Consider This!

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Welcome to episode 10 of “Consider This!”, something of a milestone (if only a psychological one). Thanks for listening for lo these…2 months.

In this episode, I’m focusing on the choice of Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s vice presidential running mate. I’m thrilled with the choice, and this episode explains why.

Romney has had some issues with his conservative credentials, but Paul Ryan, if he’s allowed to shine and if Romney picks up on his economic themes (since, after all, Romney is the top of the ticket), this will be a great campaign, and a great presidency. The economy is the main issue, and Ryan has done his homework.

Of course, Democrats are grading that homework all over again. The Ryan budget plan has gone through a few changes, even some bipartisan ones, but it’s still constantly demagogued by opponents. They’re trotting out some of the same misinformation they did when it was first proposed, particularly regarding Medicare, and I go down a list of talking points that, by now, have been debunked.

And William Galston, writing at The New Republic (a left-leaning magazine/website) points out himself that, even though he doesn’t like the Ryan plan, demagoging Medicare changes will only mean that, should Obama win, he won’t be able to touch it. That’s not a good thing because, as Galston realizes, something has to change or it will either bankrupt us or go bankrupt itself. It must be on the table.

What do you think of the Paul Ryan pick? Let me know as a comment here or e-mail me at considerthis@ctpodcasting.com.

Mentioned links:

Paul Ryan Takes Apart Obamacare in 6 Minutes

It Begins: Democrats Repeat ‘Lie of the Year’ on Medicare

Networks Falsely Paint Ryan as Spending Cutter Who Could ‘Destroy’ Medicare

Romney’s right: Obamacare cuts Medicare by $716 billion. Here’s how.

Obama In November 2009: Right, One-Third Of ObamaCare Funding Comes From Cuts To Medicare

Why Demogoguing Paul Ryan is Bad For Democrats

Federal Spending: Ryan vs. Obama

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Of course, you can always subscribe via iTunes as well. And please leave a comment letting them know how you like it. I have it on good authority that podcasters love it when listeners leave iTunes comment, or comments on the show notes.

Filed under: Economics & Taxes • Elections

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:36 — 9.3MB)

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Now that the Olympics are over, and burning questions have been answered, like the controversy over Gabby Douglas’ hair, we can sit back and discuss the simpler questions of life, like global warming and voter fraud.

The United States is leading the world in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Yes, even without signing on to the Kyoto Protocol, if such a thing could be imagined. And it’s getting worse in Europe where cap-and-trade schemes are making the switch away from coal make less and less economic sense. But the carbon credit brokers are getting paid, so that must make it all OK.

The Norm Coleman / Al Franken election in Minnesota was decided by fewer votes than the number of felons who illegally voted. Voter fraud isn’t an issue? Really?

A new book by a guy with a front-row seat to the economic meltdown says that Ben Bernanke, even though he was a student of the Great Depression, and recognized the mistakes that the federal government made to extend the length of it, made the very same mistakes he promised Milton Friedman he wouldn’t repeat. Ah, just one more broken promise from this administration.

Mentioned links:

Inside the strange world of ‘green energy’ politics and how it’s ruining the US

Global carbon-dioxide emissions increase by 1.0 Gt in 2011 to record high

York: When 1,099 felons vote in race won by 312 ballots

Fed study says Bush and the banks didn’t cause the Great Recession. The Fed did

Filed under: Climate Change • Economics & Taxes • Voter ID

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:00 — 9.7MB)

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I’ll have 1 chicken brouhaha, please.

Back from vacation, it’s time for another episode. Niagara Falls was wonderful, thank you very much.

I start out with a run-down of the Chick-Fil-A / same-sex marriage brouhaha. Apparently, businesses are not allowed to have CEO’s with opinions. (Or at least, the  wrong opinions).

The tragic shooting in Aurora, Colorado should have the blamed placed where it belong; on the shooter, not on the gun. If only the theater had been a gun-free zone. Oh, wait…

Seven states have begun Medicare prescription drug rationing. Why do we think it’ll be any different with ObamaCare(tm)?

Mentioned links:

PleaseRobMe.com

‘Guilty as charged,’ Cathy says of Chick-fil-A’s stand on biblical & family values

With Chick-fil-A fight, progressive mayors get their ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ moment

Evolve: Obama gay marriage quotes

Rahm Emmanuel: Christian Chick-fil-A bad, anti-semitic Nation of Islam good

“Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day” Facebook page

Rick Warren: Chick-fil-A’s owner told me they set a new world record in sales today

‘Hateful,’ ‘day of intolerance’ Chick-fil-A restaurants across nation provide water … for protesters

Rationing Begins: States Limiting Drug Prescriptions for Medicaid Patients

The Right To Shoot Back: Another “Gun-Free-Zone” Fail

Filed under: Government • Gun Control • Health Care • Homosexuality • Human Sexuality • Marriage • Same-sex Marriage

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:27 — 8.3MB)

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I’m back with an Olympic sprint through politics and culture.

When you’re speaking out against voter ID laws, do you see the irony when you ask the people who come to present their ID?

Over 46,000 Canadians left their utopian health care system to get help elsewhere, most coming here. With ObamaCare waiting in the wings, where will those poor souls go?

Calling Dave Ramsey. Intervention required in San Bernadino, California, where the 3rd city this month has gone bankrupt.

Mentioned links:

Dodge for Sentate

Journalists Required To Show IDs at Eric Holder’s Talk On The Evil of IDs

We Want Voter ID: Objections and Responses

Report: Thousands fled Canada for health care in 2011

SAN BERNARDINO GOES UNDER

Trash Collection Expected To Drop During San Bernardino Fiscal Crisis

Media Voice Overs (Wayne Henderson)

Filed under: Canada • Economics & Taxes • Government • Health Care • Voter ID

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:42 — 9.4MB)

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This time, we’re back to an eclectic mix of stories.

Estonia was hit worse than Greece in the financial crisis of 2008, but they’re coming back in a big way, better than most of Europe. What’s the secret to their success?

Throw a party, play games, and learn all about food stamps. That’s the way the USDA would like seniors to sell the SNAP program.

We have a new game called “Name That Quote”. See if you can guess who said it. I give points for getting in the ballpark, but you’ll be surprised which ballpark you have to go to.

And finally, the back stories of a couple of actors you may know, that sound like a movie script they may have acted in. But this was their life.

Mentioned links:

Estonia Uses the Euro, and the Economy is Booming

The Right Mix for Reaching Seniors (PDF)

There is ‘No Place Better’ Than Church to Talk About Political Issues

Filed under: Economics & Taxes • Entitlements • Europe • Government • Interesting • Religion

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:00 — 9.7MB)

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I take a more in-depth look at what’s wrong with ObamaCare, what the Supreme Court ruling on it means for your freedom (and your wallet), and what the Republican alternative would be (an alternative that has been around for quite some time).

If the only way it’s constitutional is if it’s a tax, why does the administration continue to defend it as not at tax? What was the actual purpose of the Commerce Clause? What’s so different about giving Congress this new taxing power anyway? These and other questions are discussed

And history has been made as I answer the first bit of listener feedback! Thus, finally, the podcast begins to be more of a discussion. Bertis gets the prize for being the first. What’s the prize you ask? You’re reading it.

Mentioned links:

White House: Mandate not a tax, but a choice

WH CHIEF OF STAFF: IT DOESN’T MATTER THAT WE ARGUED HEALTH CARE REFORM IS A TAX IN COURT — IT’S NOT A TAX

Thomas Dissents: It’s All Unconstitutional

A Plan For Replacement

Filed under: Economics & Taxes • Government • Health Care • Judiciary

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:39 — 8.5MB)

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I give my first look at what the Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare(tm)) means. If you think there are places where government should just butt out of, you are not going to like what this bill let’s the government do.

A comment on a Facebook question posted by La Shawn Barber gives us a new perspective on how to deal with illegal immigrants.

You know those machines where you take the next number to be waited on? The government has one. It’s costs $19 million. Every year. Really.

And you know all those human interest stories that the media keep running to tell us that we really need ObamaCare? Do they compare to the 130,000 elderly patients in Britain that die every year so that costs can be kept down or beds can be freed up? Yup, 130,000. Every year. Really.

This show comes with a plea to both my listeners that, now that I have 4 episodes available, and that you know have some idea of what this podcast will be like, that you add a review in iTunes. Just go to the podcast page, pick a number of stars (let’s say 5, just for example), and write an honest (glowing, but honest) review. I’d appreciate it.

Mentioned links:

Government spending millions on contract to assign numbers to contractors

Top doctor’s chilling claim: The NHS kills off 130,000 elderly patients every year

Health care law survives — with Roberts’ help

Filed under: Budget & Spending • Government • Health Care • Immigration • Judiciary

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:41 — 8.5MB)

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In this episode (of less than 9 minutes this time), I take a look at what constitutes “racism” these days. You dare not call the President “cool”, or you are just one of those right-wing Republicans that are upset solely because he’s black. That’s right; the “race card” is  now cool. Sort of.

Also, I talk about slippery slope arguments last time, and now we see that, the way the health care bill was argued, Justices of the Supreme Court have the same concern. The problem was, the government couldn’t tell them where the slope would end.

And a quick story about an old phone. Really.

Mentioned links:

CBC staff: Opposition to Obama is racist

Democrats gather to hear ‘rock star’ Bill Clinton

Rough day for Obama healthcare law: Kennedy among mandate skeptics

Filed under: Health Care • Interesting • Judiciary • Race Issues

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:00 — 9.7MB)

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The main topic today is a column by Michael Fumento about why he broke from “the extreme Right”. His experience is a cautionary tale for any hyper-partisan, on either side of the aisle.

I also look at New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposals for micromanaging residents’ food intake, and wonder, if this isn’t a slippery slope, then where would the end of the line be? If you can’t draw it, it doesn’t exist.

Mentioned links:

Andrew Ian Dodge “Dodge for Senate”

NYC Anti-Salt Crusade Demands Gov’t-Run Shelters Turn Away Donated Food

Bloomberg wants to outlaw big, sugary drinks

Health panel talks about wider food ban

Bloomberg backs plan to limit marijuana arrests

My break with the extreme right, by Michael Fumento on Salon.com

Obama Derangement Syndrome

Filed under: Government • Nanny State • Partisanship

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:00 — )

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This is the very first episode of my political and cultural opinion podcast, “Consider This!” We’ll be coming to you on a “semi-irregular” basis, meaning that a show comes out when I have something to say. And I’ll say it in 10 minutes or less (mostly (I hope)).

But this isn’t just a monologue. Feel free to e-mail me or put a comment on these posts, or tweet me at @ctpodcasting. Let’s hear what you think to. Warning: Anything you say can, and just might, be used on a future episode. You have been warned.

In this episode, I give you some my background; just who is this guy, and why should I take what he says for granted. The answers are: nobody, and you shouldn’t. However, let me just add my perspective on the issues of the day, and you may just be tempted to consider this.

Mentioned links:

Homespun Bloggers

Shire Network News

Anti-Scott Walker Guests Dominate The Ed Show by 237 to 1

Filed under: Media