Birth Certificate

Oh. My. Goodness.

Someone a part of the "mainstream media", Mr. Donald Trump, proudly exclaimed he wants President Obama to provide his birth certificate while visiting the ladies at The View. He received some shrill responses from the co-hosts. A question regarding a President Obama's birth certificate is frequently asked of most conservative or Republican political figures while visiting news media shows. Why is this? Who cares? Does it matter?

I will put my opinion out there into the internet void of the blogosphere!

Is President Obama a citizen of the United States? Yes! I believe he most definitely is.

Does it matter? It absolutely matters that he is a citizen, because it is one of the very few criteria that is constitutionally set forth for the President of the United States.

WHY hasn't an original or long form Hawaii birth certificate for President Obama been released and circulated? It is a political ploy on both sides. The liberal side continually asks conservative politicians whether or not they believe the President is a citizen to distract from credible issues. The conservative side could use this as a fiery motive to unite the base. But to the important question, WHY hasn't the original been released? I would like to politically hypothesize that the Obama camp is holding on to this until the 2012 Presidential Campaign. And in the middle of the campaign cycle and mud slinging, the original or long form that does exist, will surface. Then the fact that the birthers were wrong, will be used to make an argument against every claim that the Republican candidates will make. I can see the stump speeches now, "They were wrong about me being a citizen of this great nation. They were wrong about my heritage. What else are they wrong about???" Who else is with me? Brilliant political strategery right? Until then, we will just have to continue to suffer through the constant questioning of Republicans and annoying birthers claims.

"Group Therapy"

First, my apologies for my absence during a very politically turbulent time. When I think I've got a grasp of a current event or situation, it morphs into something much larger and deeper than I could have expected. (i.e. Wisconsin, Egypt, well the entire Middle East, constitutionality of the Health Care reform bill, to name a few). Now, don't get me wrong, I could give you my knee jerk reactions to all of them: Everyone's getting cutbacks - so put down the picket signs and get back to work, Mubarak was bad - a democracy movement pushed by Islamic extremists very bad, and mandates are UNconstitutional - start over with REAL legislation. However, that is not what I'm posting about.

Instead, I'm posting about a 10 minute segment I heard on our local popular FM radio station called "Group Therapy". A listener with a specific problem calls in, asking for solutions from the DJ's and the audience. Earlier this week, a mother of an almost 16 year old girl called in with a dilemma. Her daughter has had a boyfriend for two years, and they are "in love". They haven't had sex yet, but are very interested and are heading that direction quickly. The daughter asked the mom if they could "do it" in THEIR HOME, where she was "safe" and "felt comfortable"! [Jaw hit the floor!] And the mother was debating on whether or not she should. My jaw remained on the floor during the entire discussion, and callers voicing their opinions. The most common sentence was: "Well, you know they're going to do it anyway..."

"They're going to do it anyway" could be applied to almost everything wrong in our society. This mom was having a personal crisis because she had no expectations of her daughter's morality, therefore the daughter acted accordingly. And she is considering aiding her in doing so! As that phrase "they're going to do it anyway" rang through my head, I applied it to politics, religion, the economy, the work place, etc. On election day, majority of Americans voice their choice of a government representative at all levels with mediocre expectations of the outcome. We "hope" they will not fall prey to the lobbyists, special interests, lining their pockets... but they're going to do it anyway. "We the People", the sovereign, have little or no expectations of productive and efficient solutions from our representatives, so they act accordingly. The lack of expectations and accountability are a means to soften disappointment and responsibility of the steward. It was a wake up call for me, as a mom, that this is the society my young kids will be facing. Lowered expectations, minimal morals, zero accountability or punishment, no concept of right and wrong,

It can be a depressing outlook, until I discussed this with friends, family, neighbors, and realized, I'm not the only one! Us moms have a grave responsibility to continue to fortify our homes as a refuge from the refuse, to instill values, build confidence, and prepare them for the reality of what they are going to face. I would love some input on this!

MC Baier

I rummage through a variety of websites, including Media Matters. A few days ago I stumbled on FoxNews host of Special Report, Bret Baier performing the 1979 hip hop classic, "Rapper's Delight". He was one of the 52nd Bob Hope Classic charity golf tournament in California. He did Sugarhill Gang proud! Enjoy!

Pomp and Pageantry

Confession: I didn't watch the State of the Union, or Rep. Paul Ryan's Republican response. I know, I know. Here's why: I have been stuck at home with a house full of Influenza A ridden kids for 5 days straight. I had a birthday dinner to go to, and I jumped at the chance. I planned on watching and reading both this morning, but I can't force myself to do it. I've started BOTH videos, and I felt like I was ready to vomit along with my kids, for different reasons obviously. I typically love the time honored traditions of our political process.

But the politically inflated words are falling on deaf and cynical ears. Both parties are desperately trying to repair their image. Republicans made a grandiose gesture of reading the most recent version of the US Constitution at the opening of this congressional session. Nice gesture. We're not fooled. It was a political stunt playing to the cries from the conservatives to return to the correct form of the federal government: limited. (Which is specified in the constitution.) I'll believe it when I see it. Democrats suggested playing musical chairs, removing the dividing aisle between the two quarreling parties. Integrating the party seating. Nice gesture. I'm not buying it either. Especially when you are interviewed on the talking head news shows bad mouthing your political counterparts.

My point: When I feel like I can waste an hour and a half listening to speeches written by someone other than the orator, then I might give my two cents. But as of right now, my two cents is, WHATS THE POINT?!?! Words given at the State of the Union address are just that, words. President, let's see what you actually do to improve the economy instead of throwing hundreds of billions at it. Congress, let's see if you can actually work together to cut spending at all levels, in all sectors, and incentivize business to keep business in the US.

Here is the SOTU address.

Here is Rep. Ryan's response.

Cute and Cuddly STD's

A friend of mine had to make a visit at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, and stumbled upon a very informative booth informing the public about Oklahoma's most common STD's.

"You don't look like you have anything. Get tested for everything."

Sure, there is nothing out of the realm of possibility.... but a Priest? Really? I don't think that a man of the cloth is your target audience. Hopefully STD's don't get passed around in the confessional!

Alas, it gets even better! In order to help people understand sexually transmitted diseases even better, they hired a cartoonist to give a fun twist to Oklahoma's most popular STD's. Lets check them out!

Syphilis. Apparently with a nose like that, Syphilis reminds me of Tigger. You know: "Their bottoms made out of a spring, They're bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy; Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!"

Human Papilloma Virus: This gumball gone wrong, still seems to be content in his STD state of being. Watch out kids, this isn't candy!

HIV: This kid friendly caricature seems more inviting than frightening! Like one of those warm fuzzies that your teachers would give you in the 1st grade.

Herpes: Now this cartoon is a little more sinister looking. It might have been a little more frightening if the graphics were a little better!

Gonorrhea: This STD looks like an elderly, overly tanned, surrounded by cigarette smoke granny in a track suit playing the slots at a Casino in Las Vegas. Well, probably more like Reno.

Although this is quite hilarious, I find it slightly disturbing. Either the DHS offices in Oklahoma are targeting kids with cartoon caricatures of STD's, OR (and possibly more likely) they assume their target audience is so intellectually challenged that they had to dumb the truth down. I'm praying that it isn't the first, because the way this disfunctional STD cartoon family has been assembled, coloring pages and puppets aren't much further down the road! In all seriousness, I'm a huge proponent of knowledge and uncomfortable truth. These cuddly STD's are more inviting than a huge crotch shot of an infected genital, but which would be a better deterrant?

So Much for Civility

And this is one reason I love Anderson Cooper...and maybe why I find him somewhat attractive! I typically try not to comment on other people's comments, and instead blog my opinion on current events or political issues. But I thought this was too good, and just shows that there are some reporters who still ask the hard questions to BOTH sides. Anderson Cooper interviews democrat Rep. Steve Cohen from Tennessee, regarding his comments comparing Republican's or any who oppose President Obama's Health Care Reform bill to Goebbel's Nazi propaganda machine. It is a great discussion between the two.

A Mormon Perspective

This article was posted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Newsroom website in 2009, that is the "Official resource for news media, opinion leaders, and the public". I found it an absolutely essential read for everyone, not just the members of our Church. As typical with their timing, they are largely ahead of the game, and their words are more needed today than 2009. Without further adieu:

The Mormon Ethic of Civility