The Shape of Things to Come

It is time to bid farewell to 2007 and welcome in the new year. I still have high hopes for the country in '08, and I still think Rudy Guliani is the right man for the job of President of the United States at this time.

Many people recognize the brilliant job Mr. Guliani did immediately following the events of 9/11. Far fewer ever discuss what he accomplished before that infamous day.

I have resided in New York City since 1980 and I have lived through several mayoral administrations here. This city was once widely believed, by even the most liberal of observers, to be ungovernable.

When Rudy was elected mayor, crime was rampant. Every subway car and many buildings were covered in graffiti and the "homeless" were everywhere. Times Square was a hellhole and organized crime held all the cards. They had complete control of the garbage carting industry, cement, the Fulton Fish Market and the Jacob Javits Convention Center among many others.

Every time you walked out of a cash machine foyer at night you were harassed for money by an unwholesome character. I have several friends who were assaulted by squeegee men, one of them who lost an eye. There were many parts of the city that were unsafe at anytime of day. People who live elsewhere think this is an exaggeration, but it was the reality of life in New York City at the time.

All that changed under Rudy. His policies on crime, taxes, tourism, business and government in general were groundbreaking and immensely effective.
Guliani invented new ways to prosecute organized crime. He empowered the Police Department to raise the quality of life for all citizens, regardless of color. The city became one of the safest in the country.

He brought investment back to the city by creating a tax environment that encouraged it. Times Square and the Fulton Fish Market are now major tourism destinations for people from around the world. The city I live in today is vastly different from the one I knew then. It is cleaner, safer, and more profitable. Guliani managed to get all these things done in the most hostile political environment in the country.

He always spoke his mind and sometimes rubbed people the wrong way, but the city thrived under his leadership and continues to do so today because of his efforts. Then, when 19 Islamic terrorists came to this city and changed life for everyone everywhere, Rudy demonstrated what a real leader does in a crisis...he led.

A Need To Believe

I was in the middle of reading another hysterical Global Warming article by Sharon Begley in Newsweek when I began to wonder...why does she feel so certain, so sure, that we are all doomed. She assures us with each new effort that the seas will rise and engulf our coastal cities and crops will wither and turn to dust in the coming droughts in the midwest.

I understand that she is a Yale educated science writer and that she surely knows more than I regarding Climatology. But I thought the whole point of science was to question common wisdom. Even I am aware, that according to a recent U.S. Senate report, 400 prominent scientists "voiced significant objections to major aspects of the so-called ‘consensus' on man-made global warming."

I have taken a look at some of the credentials of those who signed the letter. They are an impressive and distinguished group to say the least. Why would Sharon Begley completely ignore these and many other "deniers". It doesn't make any sense until you look at the question from a faith perspective. Let me say that I am an atheist, and I have no problem with anyones belief system, no matter what it may be.

It occurs to me that some on the left side of this issue need to believe in something. They desire passion in their lives. Global Warming fills that void quite neatly. It allows them to fight the good fight, expose the bad guys and also be a little condescending for a good cause. It is the ultimate Liberal Issue. With Global Warming you can enlarge the government because of course we'll need several dozen committees, myriad agencies and legions of inspectors to combat the ultimate evil. It will allow you to tax things you don't like so much, like SUVs and the timber industry. Even better, you can point the finger of blame at corporations. No wonder they ignore any evidence that contradicts The Great Belief.

The next big question that pops in my head is, what happens in 15 years when none of the apocalyptic predictions come to be? I mentioned this to my wife and she answered it quite eloquently. She said, " They'll say it didn't happen because of all of their interventions and efforts". She's right, they'll never admit they were wrong.

That's when I realized that this really was the perfect political issue for the left. They can't lose and they can't be proven wrong. They also get to write hysterical articles about it.
A few links for support:
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/01/06/br_r_r_where_did_global_warming_go/

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=f80a6386-802a-23ad-40c8-3c63dc2d02cb

The Greatest Cliche

It pains me to say it, but we have arrived at a point in our history where we are truly living the Orwellian ideal. How many pundits have uttered that term while describing a statement made by a politician? It doesn't matter, I am about to join their ranks.
I was reading an article about a speech Hillary Clinton made the other day. The one in which she stated that the OPEC nations would instantly lower the price of oil the moment she was elected. (I believe it was on crooksandliars.com ). That statement received a lot of attention in the media.
But as outrageous and implausible as it sounds, it was not the sound byte that stuck in my craw. What really shocked me is when, later in that same speech, she stated that President Carter had our country heading in the right direction in the 70's regarding energy independence, but that Reagan "dismantled" his work.
I remember the 70's quite clearly, with odd and even gas purchasing days, and long lines waiting to fill up. Not to mention double digit inflation, hostages in Iran, and huge unemployment.
To credit Carter with anything positive during his Presidency, much less energy independence, is nothing short of rewriting history. The saddest part for me is that no one challenged her on it, and there are probably many who believe it.
If I remember Orwells' 1984 correctly, there were whole departments within the gov't. dedicated to to revising history to fit their narrative. If Hillary Clinton wins the Presidency, that will become a reality.

The truth hurts...me

I live in New York City and it goes with the territory that conservatives here are a tiny minority. With that said, I am constantly amazed by my liberal friends in terms of their unwillingness to discuss issues.

Perhaps I should clarify that. They are perfectly willing to discuss the issues with you...as long as you agree with them. The moment you present a fact supporting an opposing argument, their eyes glaze over as if they are receiving an incoming message from the mothership.

You may not realize it, but the discussion is officially over. Even if you foolishly continue to speak or present fact or opinion, it is absorbed by the force field of liberal pathology that has descended.

If you find this disturbing, brace yourself. You have triggered a mechanism that has a cascading effect. An intruder alert if you will. A silent alarm that is never the less heard by many.
You will now be perceived as an outsider, and a dim witted one at that. A troublemaker with dangerous ideas. A throwback to the days when Neanderthals competed for valuable resources.
It would have been simpler to just have your forehead tattooed.

I experienced this phenomenon recently while having a holiday drink with an old friend who I always assumed to be apolitical. He and the bartender were talking when it dawned on me that they were both saying that the American economy was practically in ruin.

I quietly asked them to provide evidence of this and the silence fell about me. I perceived what could only be described as a look of pity on their faces. The poor ignorant slob, how does he feed himself? , they must have thought to themselves.

To add injury to insult, I stupidly recited some common economical statistics on GDP, employment and the stock market. I had now crossed the line from innocent ignoramus to pernicious interloper. I had to be stopped.

Needless to say, I had no more drinks bought for me that night and I have another friend who is not really a friend anymore.
Maybe I'll start a blog.