Which Party Do You Lean?

Saw this on a blog and couldn't resist taking it, even though it is 10-years old. I'm talking about the Kamber / O'Leary political quiz to see what part of the political fence one leans. I scored pretty close to what I figured - 26, with 0 being pinko liberal and 40 being caveman conservative. My score of 26 is a moderate conservative. According to the testers, it is right there by the president that I voted for and liked - Papa Bush.

I disagree with their picturing Reagan as a 40 though. 40 is for Pat Robertson.

When Stubbornness in the Right Is Wrong

Some friends of mine think sticking to one's guns is the essence of great leadership in politics. I disagree.

The Vice President seems to think it is. Cheney told ABC's George Stephanopoulis that the election and public sentiment will not affect the administration's war policy; in other words, stubbornness in the "right". In an interview to be broadcast Sunday on "This Week", the VP said:

"It may not be popular with the public — it doesn't matter in the sense that we have to continue the mission and do what we think is right. And that's exactly what we're doing," Cheney said. "We're not running for office. We're doing what we think is right."

Cheney's headstrong full steam ahead no matter what happens does not exhibit good leadership qualities.

Even God bent to the political will of the people. Remember when the Israelites wanted the hip world of kings instead of judges? Wallah! After a political science lecture by God on why kings were bad, the people's wish was not only granted but also supported. Enter King Saul, who in turn was followed by the heavenly anointed King David.

Of course, the brilliance of our system is that our politicians are set up to be responsive to the American people. God cherishes our freedoms and liberties to choose. But even if it were conceivable that He did not, we'd still want our current system that is of the people, by the people and for the people.

A new congress may have to remind the Vice President how little a presidency can do without Congressional approval. At a minimum, congress has the purse strings and can literally stop the cogs of government from turning. Stubbornness in following what they think is right above what the American people might think ultimately has dire consequences for those in power. It's the beauty of the American system and its check on elitist thinking.

The Corpse of Habeas Corpus

"All we have to fear is fear itself." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

The ease in which habeas corpus has been compromised is alarming. As the dear reader knows, habeas corpus is a concept that precedes our system of government by centuries, thanks to the British.

Habeas Corpus looking more like a corpse.

The Geneva Convention seems convened.

And Olbermann waxes poetic on both (Video - 8:42 min).

Economist: Europeans Were Spectacularly Wrong

"A DECADE ago, Americans began a bold social experiment. In August 1996, Bill Clinton signed into law the bill that introduced “welfare to work”. From that point, poor families could no longer claim welfare indefinitely as an entitlement. Instead, parents had to find a job. The reform, controversial enough in America, was reviled in many parts of Europe. Its opponents said that welfare claimants, most of them single mothers, would be unable to find work. They and their families, it was argued, were being condemned to destitution. Ten years on, such dire warnings have been proved spectacularly wrong. America's welfare rolls have fallen by over half as existing claimants have found work and fewer people have gone on benefit in the first place."