Tag Archives: election

Jan 25 2009

President Obama, Change I can’t believe in


The morning after President Obama’s inauguration I typed http://whitehouse.gov into my web browser and clicked on the tab labeled “Agenda”. For several minutes I read item after item and thought to myself, man are we in a heap of trouble. In the few days since then the national news has spoken in some detail about Executive Orders by the President and their impact on our country. So far, this is change I can’t believe in.

They are dated January 22, 2009

The people who are very pleased with this agenda of change thay want you to believe in, other than liberal Democrats, are our sworn enemies. We can no longer extract  information using methods that are clearly effective. That is immoral. However, it is moral to kill them. So in the mind of Mr. Obama it is better to kill than to water board an enemy combatant. Will this part of the “Agenda” of the President make us more safe, or less safe? I can’t believe in this kind of change.

The prison for war criminals at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba will be closed in one year. Neither the President nor any of his administration knows where the prisoners will go when it is closed. Will they be freed? Will they be brought to America? Will they be given all the rights of due process American citizens enjoy? Will we fly in radical Islam fanatics so they can have a jury of their peers? This is not change I can believe in.

And, the President, by a stroke of his pen, insured that your tax dollars and mine will be used to kill unborn babies around the world. President Regan made it illegal for U.S. taxpayer money to be used for abortion in places where we provide foreign aid. President Clinton reversed that by executive order. President Bush put it back into effect, and now President Obama has reversed policy once more. Now a portion of your tax dollars and mine can fund the murder of unborns, not only here in the U.S., the mecca of infanticide, but around the world. This is not change I can believe in.

To his discredit, President Bush and President Obama believe our weakening economy can be cured by massive government spending the likes of which history has not ever seen. The U.S. government does not create jobs except for government jobs that we have to pay for. President Obama is pushing some tax cuts and some welfare checks called tax cuts but remember you heard it here, tax hikes are coming. I don’t know how long it will be before reality sets in but there is no other solution to deficits in the trillions for the near future at a minimum. This is change I can’t believe in.

I will give the President credit for one thing. He said as a candidate what he intended to do and he is only keeping his campaign promises.

Jan 21 2009

How should we then live?


obama

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior”
(1 Timothy 2:1-3 ESV)

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.”(Romans 13:1-5 ESV)

It is striking that those inspired words from the hand of Paul the Apostle, both in 1 Timothy and Romans, were written during the reign of Nero, the Roman Emperor. Nero was not a nice guy. Early writers, from the first century through the fourth, recorded that Apostles Paul and Peter were finally executed under Nero’s reign. Although there is no evidence the executions were at his command, they were in his tradition, having executed his own mother and adopted brother.

Paul, writing from Corinth to the saints at Rome instructs as to how they should live in relationship to the emperor and his government. Paul’s letter to Timothy, pastor of the church in Ephesus instructed the young preacher to pray “for kings and all those in high positions”.

President Obama was not my choice for President. And, I am not fond of some of his people and policies, but he is no Nero. My sense is that he is a decent man. A man who loves his wife and two daughters, and his country. And, according to his words, he claims Jesus as Lord.

So, as I write this post on inauguration evening I ask myself and you, will we follow Paul’s inspired instructions? As a follower of Jesus I have no choice “if” I want to be the citizen God expects me to be. As an American citizen my duty demands that I respect not only the office of the United States presidency, but the man who holds the office. If we don’t, how shall we then live?

My God bless President Obama and may God bless America.

Peace to you,
Royce

Nov 6 2008

YES WE CAN!


President Elect Obama

President Elect Obama

As I watched the news unfold last night I couldn’t help but be happy for the people with tears streaming down as they listened while President Elect Obamaspoke to the 100,000 or so folks in Grant Square. I was touched seeing Rev. Jessie Jackson and Opra among the masses, evidently deeply touched that a black man, one of them, was finally elevated to the highest office in the United States. It is easy to brush aside what it must be like to hope that the day will come when people are not treated as less than others because they have dark skin. The raw facts of slavery and the historic struggles of the African American people are seemingly built into the DNA of every person with African heritage. So, my sincere congratulations to President Elect Obama, his family and friends, campaign workers, and all those who voted for him.
It is likely that we know less about Barack Obama than any other person ever elected President of the United States. Soon we will get to know him as we observe how he governs. I’m sure he would agree that it’s one thing to make a speech but quite another to actually put those hopes, dreams, and aspirations into policy and see them through. He will be my President and I wish him the very best. I told someone at an early small group meeting today that I hope he turns out to be the best president in my lifetime. How wonderful would that be? What a statement to the possibilities of being an American citizen?
I did not vote for Mr. Obama based on his lack of experience, poor judgement, and liberal political theory. I hope he now governs differently than what he campaigned on in several areas. I believe he will. I’m sure he does not want to be a one term president, or to preside over the Democrats loosing many of the seats in Congress they have gained in the last two election cycles. I wish him great success.
This historic election is not a rejection of conservative principals and governance but rather this is what filled the void left by it’s absence. I listened to pundit after pundit spout off the death rites of conservatism last evening as I surfed the news channels. Their belief is that the country has now swung left of center because of gains by Democrats and the election of Obama. Nothing is farther from the truth. The ballot initiatives across the states upholding traditional marriage, against homosexual marriage, and for life had wide support. And, there is no sane American who would not like to keep more of his wages and be able to conduct business with less government interference.
Conservatives made the near fatal mistake of believing the lie that the road to success was to straddle the political fence and try to please everyone on both sides. Minus 25 seats in the U.S. Congress last election and 15 more lost this time, and loosing the White House was the reward. Being right wing conservative is not the problem it is rather the lack of it that is the problem. Gov. Sarah Palin was the only conservative in the race and she being a late comer couldn’t carry the water for a weak McCain.
Unless conservatives put forth candidates who are unashamedly pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, for lower/fairer taxes, strong national defense, tough on crime, lovers of and loyal to the Constitution, for smaller more accountable government, and sensible spending, we will continue to slowly slide away into history and become only what once was.
Liberalism unchecked is dangerous and based wholly upon it’s logical end, cannot be sustained over time. In a system of government that rewards the least productive citizens at the expense of the most productive always leaves the masses of working people poor and oppressed. As Ronald Regan said “Government is not the solution to all of our problems, government is the problem”. He was right when he said it and he is still right.
Finally, I might be the only person in America who still likes Geroge Bush. None, I repeat NONE, of his critics are willing to factor in the tragic events of 9-11 and how that terrible episode changed the course of history. Hypocrites who voted for the war in Iraq are the loudest critics of Bush. I’ll be the first to admit he did some things very wrong. He was wrong on immigration and became a big spender just as if he was a Yellow Dog Democrat. I do believe history will be more kind to him than CNN and MSNBC has been. He is a good man who always tried to do what he thought was right for the country and the world.
Now before us is an unprecidented opportunity to unite behind our leader and work together for the common good. I am all for bipartisanship so long as we are all working toward good policy and practice. I will pray for President Obama, support him all I can, hold him accountable as much as possible, and try to correct him when he is wrong.
Can America still lead the free world? Can we get out of our economic slump? Can we still be the place where the nations of the earth look to for hope and opportunity? YES WE CAN!
God bless Barrack Obama and God bless America
Royce Ogle
Sep 18 2008

Obama vs. McCain Race….or racial?


The United States of America has made a lot of progress sense the days of slavery. Blacks in Africa sold their own people to white slave brokers who transported them to America to be owned like cattle as they worked cotton fields for white plantation owners. The Civil War was the bloodiest war ever fought by Americans, largely over the slavery disagreement. It is worthy of note that American whites did not invent slavery. Slavery is as old as human history.

We have made great progress. Either a woman will be Vice President or a black man will be President in just a few weeks. And, a powerful, smart woman, Sen. Hillary Clinton was runner up in the primaries for the Democrats. Progress? Not so fast!

I believe it is wrong to refuse to vote for a candidate because he or she is a person of color. There is no question about that. However, I believe it is just as wrong to vote for a candidate only because he or she is a person of color. It is wrong but it is a right in a free society.

Estimates are that around 90% of black Americans who vote will vote for Obama, and I believe most of those votes will be because he is an African American. It is largely the same mentality as the O.J. jury, “Don’t bother me with the facts, the brother is innocent”. On the flip side, there is no question that a large segment of the white population, across the south especially, will not consider any African American for President of the United States. These are sad facts but entirely true. There is a better than average possibility that the presidential race will be decided on racial preferences, not on policy positions.

The worst enemy the African Americans in our country have ever had is the Democrat Party. For many decades, especially during the 40 years Tip O’Neal and the Democrats had control of the congress, Democrats have adopted public policy that keeps minority people on the lowest rung of society. Their policies have stripped the black community of it’s dignity by producing several generations who have been trained to think the government is their caretaker and that they deserve a check each month because they are black and poor. To add to the problem the Democrats have enacted policy that rewards unemployment, immorality, and dependency on government. I have spoken with folks who tell me they would have to take a pay cut if they got a job. And, young women only have to have one more child to get a raise on the monthly welfare check.

Democrats did not intend this end, they only wanted to buy votes and keep political power but the end result is a large percentage of Americans with little self worth, fatherless homes, high crime, poor education, and little hope. Thank you Democrats.

Today in a country that most people think is progressive, blacks have much higher percentages of children born to unwed mothers, substance abuse, incarcerated males, children who do not graduate from high school or go to college, and are born with disadvantages that most will never overcome. All of this because Democrats want to keep political power. The Rev Jessie Jackson, Rev Al Sharpton, and other so called “black leaders” have only added to the problem and have done nothing to solve it.

The more political power the Democrats have the longer African Americans will suffer. But, because for decades they have been brain washed to believe that government is their saviour, they vote in mass for Democrats.

It is a mathematical impossibility for our country to continue on the present course. At some point, and soon I think, there will be more on the receiving end than on the productive end and it will come crashing down. Every dollar spent by government must be earned by an American citizen and taxed out of his pocket by the U.S. government.

Republicans are only slightly better than Democrats on domestic policy. Very slightly. On national security they are far better. Common sense demands that I vote for McCain-Palin. Gov. Sarah Palin has little experience but is the only real conservative in the race. Come to think of it, Abraham Lincoln had less experience than Gov. Palin. I think he worked out pretty well.

Agree or disagree, that’s the way I see it.

Royce