Monthly Archives: September 2009


Mission Accomplished – Faith In Our Citizens Restored

Follow this link to a letter to the editor of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. The author of the letter begins:

The results of the Telegram & Gazette poll regarding public opinion of President Barack Obama’s education address restored some of my faith in our citizens. In the poll, about 86 percent said they thought people were going too far in protesting the president’s speech being broadcast to schoolchildren. Only 14 percent said that the country has not gone too far when parents don’t want kids to hear the president talk on TV about education.

I like to think my publishing of these results in the previous blog post, Preventing People From Hearing The President, had some benefit.

Recently Sharon and I were pondering the choices we have made on where to live since we have been married.  The most favorable spin I could put on it is that we have been on a 40 year mission to live among the badly informed and try to bring the truth to our neighbors.  I guess it runs in the family.


Michael Sandel: Justice-What’s the Right Thing to Do?

Two years ago, Michael Sandel (Harvard Professor of Government) offered an online course to Harvard alumni.  The course was called “Justice” and it was superb.

Our local PBS station (WGBH) is televising a series by Professor Sandel titled Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?
The series begins in Boston on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009.
For televising on PBS, 50 minute classes are cut to 30 minutes each and two classes are shown each Sunday.

If this series is televised in your area, I strongly recommend it to you.

UPDATE 26 Sept 2009: The New York Times has an article on the series:
Morals Class is Starting; Please Pass the Popcorn.


Obama Correct To Reorient Missile Shield

The result of this poll shows that the intelligence level of the average Worcester T & G reader is growing by leaps and bounds.  They could even see through the biased way the question was phrased to come up with the intelligent conclusion that 67.5% agreed with the President in how he is reorienting the missile defense shield against potential Iranian missiles.

WTGPoll


President Obama Speaks To Wall Street

Follow this link to the C-SPAN video of President Obama’s address to Wall Street on September 14, 2009.

At about 12:25 into the speech, the President said he wants the new  rules to …make sure that markets reward those who compete honestly and vigorously within the system instead of those who are trying to game the system.


Bill Clinton on The Daily Show

Follow this link to the three video segments of Bill Clinton’s appearance on the Daily Show. Where else are you going to see an 18 minute interview without commercial interruption?

The major topics covered were Clinton’s foundation, his trip to North Korea, empowering women,  Health Care Reform, and a little on the economy.

I am so glad Jon didn’t make any jokes about the Clinton history and the topic of empowering women.


Newspapers ‘Slit Their Own Throats’

I know a lot of you may have a prejudice about listening to anything Michael Moore says, but this time I think he hit the nail right on the head. Not only that, but he introduces some information into the discussion that I had not known.

Despite what you read on the headline of the video clip below, he said no such thing in what I heard.

Follow this link to the discussion on Huffington Post.


Kennedy Recounts Decision To Endorse Obama

Follow this link to this excerpt from Ted Kennedy’s auto-biography.

This inspired me to post the following comment.

President Obama can be a great President because he inspires people to action.

That means that he can’t be a great President all by himself.  He needs the continuous support of those he inspires.  It is as much up to us to make him a great President as it is up to him.

If we can’t out talk the lies with the truth, then it is our failure as much as it is his.

Keep talking, keep posting, keep blogging, keep writing letters to editors, keep organizing, keep writing to Senators and Representatives, and keep on doing whatever you can think of to overcome the vocal minority and those who are confused by this vocal minority.