Children in the Market
Posted by Adam Graham in : Bill SaliToday, America faces numerous problems, including a dedicated ring of terrorists that seek to kill us.
We have millions of children raised without fathers.
Social Security is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
Our Congress spends tax money profligately, handing out no bid contracts to special interest groups.
In the midst of this, what takes priority on your Idaho liberal blogs? That Bill Sali objected to a Hindu prayer offered in the Senate (and clarified in the Statesman.)That’s the big whupdee-doo.
Of course, this has nothing to do with what Sali said or did. You can’t identify a single blogger whose mouthing off on this issue who hasn’t been attacking Sali for the past year and a half now.
Sali is the man who can do no right in the eyes of Idaho’s left. He’s attacked as an extremist for standing up against outrageous federal spending, as the argument goes that if 300 members of Congress say it’s right, then Bill Sali is wrong. We’re told that Bill Sali can’t get things done for Idaho because he’s a partisan bomb thrower. And when seeking modest funding for proposals such as highways and detox centers, he’s attacked as a pork barrel politician on par with those who hand out no-bid $2 million earmarks to Sherwin Williams in the Defense Spending bill the Pentagon never asked for. In 6 months in Congress, Bill Sali has done nothing at all right, if these folks are to be believed.
These blogs are playing partisan games. So they focus on irrelevant issues. Big news, Democratic Chairman Dick Stallings has called for Sali to resign and the partisan leftist blogs have splattered it all over the Internet. They focus on the fact that 300 Members of Congress voted for pork barrel spending and that Bill Sali said no rather than whether he was right to say no.
Why don’t Democrats brag about how much Idaho’s missing out on by not having great Democratic reformers in Congress? Perhaps, because only fourteen percent of the American people have confidence in that Democratic Congress. Here on my blog, I posted a video from CNN that exposed how the Democratic Party in office gutted earmarks reform and passed countless pieces of unnecessary pork spending, broke their promise to the American people, and behaved in a disreputable and arrogant fashion. Alan at Idablue stopped to complain. No, he didn’t complain the report misrepresented his party’s abysmal record. You see, he took offense that I referred to the Democratic Majority as the Democrat Majority. Alan writes:
Engage the issues seriously. Avoid name calling; it’s beneath you.
I’m glad Alan thinks I’m above name-calling. Funny he doesn’t think that fellow liberal Julie Fanselow is above name-calling. Julie called College Republicans, “College Repugnicans,” called me a “Theocon” and MGR has called me an “extreme rite winger” and yet, Alan was nowhere to be found. You want to insist that people only be called what they want to be called? Then might I suggest cleaning up your own side’s house.
As for engaging issues seriously, I more often than not feel in a minority in doing that as it seems the Leftosphere is more obsessed with being little more than online infomercials for the Democratic Party. Last year, I can remember many more posts about the goings on in Washington and the scandals of Congress, yet it seems that for the most part, my liberal colleagues have taken a see-no-evil (other than Bill Sali) approach to Washington. That is unfair to readers and unjust to Washington.
They’ve got a lot to hide and ignore, if they seriously expect the corrupt Democratic Majority to claim Idaho’s 1st District seat. So, we ignore the big issues and focus on minutae. The current state of our politics reminds me of something Christ said:
But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets and calling unto their fellows and saying, `We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, `He hath a devil!’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, `Behold a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”-Matt. 11:16-20
Rather than addressing the serious points of the messages of Christ and John the Baptist, the people of that day, like children played games and focused on irrelevant sidebars to avoid facing the truth. Of course, this isn’t just true of Idaho politics: from the debates over whether Jeri Thompson’s a trophy wife or Fred’s a trophy candidate to the Hillary Clinton cleavage issue to the absurd debate between campaigns over petty little issues, our politics and become more childish and silly.
Now, lest I be misquoted, I don’t think either Bill Sali or I am on par with Christ or John the Baptist, but judging the state of our current politics, folks in general haven’t changed a whole lot in 2000 years.
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Comment by Bubblehead
But what about Rep. Sali wanting to replace “In God We Trust” as our national motto with something that’s not even in English? I discuss this shocking development in the update to my post on the issue: http://bubbleheads.blogspot.com/2007/08/bill-sali-embarrasses-idaho-again.html
Seriously, though, why shouldn’t we — the anti-Sali bloggers — want to use whatever “influence” we have to show that Rep. Sali isn’t representing our district as effectively as someone like Larry Grant could? You just had a good post showing that your Congressman isn’t doing as well as you’d like him to; we’re just doing the same thing, but generally in a snarkier way. Plus, Rep. Sali just says so many funny things, it’s hard not to hold him up for public mocking and belittlement.
Comment by Adam Graham
Well first of all, did Bill Sali sai E Pluribus Unum was the national motto or did the Agape Press person? Not really clear from reading it.
The difference here is that I’m being honest about my Congressman’s failings, as well as his strengths. The fact is that you act like there’s nothing Bill Sali has done that’s praiseworthy or commendable. If you just honestly say, “I will criticize Bill Sali no matter what he does and am intentionally overlooking anything he positive he does.” That’d at least be honest rather than pretending to actually be outraged.
I think blind criticism of a member of Congress as a primary focus doesn’t advance the country. In order to achieve your goal, you’re turning a blind eye to the way Democrats are abusing our country. You haven’t even raised a peap about the Democrat efforts to undermine our nation’s military through these blasted defunding efforts, because if you start talking about those things, you find Bill Sali standing on the right side of an issue.
I want to be honest and right for the best interest of the country, which is not served by giving away our country to pork barrel politicians. You’re not making the country better or concerned about, just tearing down a man who’s trying his best to do the right thing. You’re tearing down someone you met in person and said sounded like a reasonable man. Truth is that you haven’t even given Congressman Sali a chance. You’ve focus on gaffes rather than what he’s doing for the nation. You don’t help America by being an idiot partisan. The end of the efforts of Hate Sali folks and Hate Bush folks and Hate Clinton folks is all the same. It’s personality, not principle, and that poisons the well and makes are politics uglier, nastier, and distaseful.
If you succeed, you’ll get a Congressman into power who will vote for more pork, the destruction of our health care system, and if he stays in Congress long enough, and the burdening of all people with more taxes and an ever-increasing amount of taxes. Maybe, it won’t matter to you. Maybe you don’t think Calvary Chapel members are fit to serve in Congress, maybe you think we’d better off with a pro-choice member of Congress no matter what they do. Or maybe you don’t like losing and thing despite that Mr. Grant will melt like before the leadership of the House (which he already took tens of thousands of dollars from) he’s a peachy keen guy. But guess what, but I’m going to be the guy who’ll eventually end up sending 80% of my paycheck to the government.
Comment by Julie Fanselow
OK, here’s a criticism of the Democrats: The fact that only 14% of Americans have confidence in the Democrats in Congress stems mostly from the fact that some Ds are failing to stand up to Bush on the war and on civil liberties, as people demanded with their votes last year.
It’s about time that Sali’s comments – and his votes – are getting the scrutiny they deserve. His views and yours represent those of a minority of Idaho voters.
Comment by Adam Graham
Democrats have low approval ratings because they haven’t stood up to Bush? Really? Hey, it’s at least an attempt, I’ll give you that. Could it be that the Democratic Congress has lied when it promised to the most open and ethical Congress in history? Would you like to debate whether Nancy Pelosi kept her promise or broke it?
You know his vote against pork barrel projects that Larry Grant would have supported? Tell me, Julie why is it right to give $2 million of my money to Sherwin Williams to fund a project that the Pentagon didn’t ask for and the end of result which will not be owned by the American people but by Sherwin Williams. Your party gave that money away and no one has the guts to address it.
Finally, whether Bill Sali or I in the Majority isn’t up for debate. The voice of the Majority isn’t the voice of God, or indicative of what’s right. Rather, you want to argue ironically that might makes right. If the Majority believe it, that is correct. So when the majority believed in slavery and that women wouldn’t vote were they right?
Of course, the irony comes from the fact that you’re making this argument as the member of a minority in our state, with a Senate delegation with less seats than a Toyota Sequoia. The proof of what the Majority you claim to speak for thinks would seem to come at the ballot box.
Comment by MountainGoat
Adam, you have to admit that it would be a big “whupdee-doo” to you if someone was undermining your right to free religious expression. The truth is it is a big deal when a U.S. Congressman says that a form of religious expression is dangerous for the country. As Thomas Jefferson said, “But if we choose for ourselves, we must allow others to choose also, and so reciprocally, this establishes religious liberty.” People can’t really be free unless they allow others to be free also and the Founders knew that.
Also, it is really too bad that you feel that reporting on Sali’s voting record is an attack on him. How else does a voter judge the effectiveness of a congressman? If you see the good things that Sali is doing, you’re free to report on them.
And to your point in the previous comment about the mighty majority not being right, I’m guessing that when the majority of Idahoans passed the marriage amendment you feel that wasn’t right either.
Peace, Adam. Your frustration is showing.
Comment by Adam Graham
Bill Sali never said he would forbid someone from becoming a Hindu.
I don’t feel reporting on Sali’s voting record is an attack, I feel reporting on his voting record, having no clue what’s actually being debated and what both sides are is an attack, that shows more concern for simply attacking the Congressman than understanding our government and communicating what’s going on to your readers.
My point is not that the majority is always right or always wrong.
However, Julie was clearly making an Argumentum ad populum, ignoring the substance of the issue and appealing to the majority, while ironically in no position to claim to speak for them. The Marriage Amendment stands on its own merits not because a majority approved it.
Good pick up on the frustration, but you missed the source. My frustration isn’t with losing. When it comes to winning elections in Idaho, my candidates have done quite well. I fully expect that Congressman Sali will survive the attacks of the anti-Sali blog alliance.
What’s taken a hit is my opinion and hopes for the blogosphere at least on the left side of Idaho. I’d hoped that we could have a dignified, good-spirited debate, but when we had times and occasions to, we could come together for the interest of the common good of our State.
Sadly, what I’ve found is that the entire left wing of the Idaho blogosphere to be partisans who put party before country or state, and will only tell truth if it’s negative about Republicans. And excessive partisanship kills the possibility of cooperation across party lines. Thus why the Democratic alternative to Governor Risch’s reduction in property taxes combined with a sales tax increase went nowhere. They came up and sold it as partisan hacks looking to find a way to gain seats and the plan lost.
I’ve shown that I’m not shilling for my party. My politics are driven by consistent values and beliefs. You may not like them, but so be it. I’ve called out and defended our state’s Senior Senator at various times, I’ve called out and Defended my Congressman. Yet, what I’m dealing with in the Idaho leftosphere are shills who simply post press releases and worship at the altar of the Golden Donkey. (I exclude W. Lane Startin and Branden Durst from this criticism.)
So, the possibility of working together is limited. But, it’s part of growing up or perhaps just growing older that you realize not every enemy can be a friend, and not every opponent will like you or try to understand you. I’ve come to accept this. I’ll be hated by the Idaho leftwing blogosphere no matter what I do, as long as I stand for Conservative values. I’ll get criticized for calling the Democratic Party, the Democrat Party while the same folks ignore allegations that I’m trying to establish a theocracy. I’ve come to realize it’s nothing more than a game by people who want to play games rather than talk about the issues that matter to our country.
So be it, while someday we might have a liberal blogger that’s more than a partisan hack, I’ll focus my energy on other areas of life, and focus my blogging on defeating my distiniguished opponents.
Comment by MountainGoat
Adam, look at things from our perspective a minute. We live in a state where, as you say Democrats have “a Senate delegation with less seats than a Toyota Sequoia.” In my mind at least (I won’t claim to speak for the entire liberal blogosphere), we’re struggling against a formidible foe in the Idaho Republicans. That’s why it’s slightly amusing to hear you railing against us as if your party was in the minority. I’m literally fighting for what I believe in as I know you are. We won’t always agree on things, sometimes we’ll agree on nothing, including the tactics or methods we use. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate and respect what you do. I really do mean it when I say, “Peace,” Adam.
Comment by Adam Graham
I think the perspective of being in the minority comes from the fact that I’m dealing with a lot more liberal blogs, and I’m also against party leadership on various issue. I think you’re fighting for your party, but you’d do better if you had principles you’d stand up for greater than party and make our state a better place. The Democratic tax plan for example would have had a better chance if it weren’t just seen as a partisan election scheme.
Comment by MountainGoat
Implying that I don’t have principles that I’d stand up for is offensive, Adam. The very fact that I’m blogging now is a testiment otherwise. That’s just the sort of personal attack you’re accusing us Democratic bloggers of using. Cast the mote my friend.
Comment by Adam Graham
No, I’m not implying you don’t have principles. I’m implying that your principle don’t drive your blogging. Or do you really think that requesting Highway money for Idaho highways is the same as giving Sherwin Williams a $2 million no bid contract to develop a product the Pentagon didn’t ask for? You attacked Bill Sali’s as a porker. Do you really think money for a drug rehab center when we’re fighting the war on drugs is pork? And do you really think that there’s any of the spending you attacked Bill Sali over that Larry Grant wouldn’t have asked for and then some?