2012 Candidates

Three guys come to mind...

Sen. Thune (SD), Gov. Daniels (IN), Gov. Perry (TX)

Just throwing it out there.

CO2's

I think we should pump more and more CO2 in the air. The more CO2 in the air, the better plants and trees grow. The better they grow, the more food there is. The more food there is, the less starvation occurring. Sounds like an idea. There is no evidence to prove that a rise in CO2 causes more ice melt. Even if it did, maybe beaches on Greenland wouldn't be so bad afterall. Some polar bears might die but more tropical fish would thrive. Just some thoughts...

Global Warming?

When the globe stopped warming recently, liberals stopped using the term "Global Warming." They changed the term to "Climate Change." They espouse ideas to stop "Climate Change." That's funny, I never knew the climate was supposed to be static. Who would have thunk it?

Another thing...How in the world did the Ice Age come to an end without humans polluting the environment to cause "global warming?" Could it be that the earth heated up with help from the Sun? Hrmm.....

Sustainable Government

One must be a conservative to believe in sustainable living. Think about it...First why does conservative and conservation share the same base word, conserve? Conservatives believe in conserving life...all aspects of life.

A conservative government is a sustainable government. A conservative government will not spend money the country doesn't have. Yes, some republican presidents have done that. Just because some one is a republican, it doesn't mean they are conservative. I say that but you must realize some presidents need to spend more money when wars are occurring (i.e. Reagan - Cold War, Bush I - Gulf War, Bush II- Iraq, Afghanistan). In order to win a war, you must provide the troops everything they need to be victorious. That means spending money.

A liberal government who doesn't care about spending money is not sustainable. They spend money they don't have. Our country and government is going bankrupt. To be sustainable, it is essential to be conservative...economically and environmentally

Definitions

Why is a liberal called a liberal and why is a conservative called a conservative?

Answer:

Liberals want a "liberal" amount of government in their lives.
Conservatives want a "conservative" amount of government in their lives.

The more government in people's lives = less freedom individuals have.

Past Month

Afghanistan - I support the President and his plan. Give the generals what they want and need so we can be victorious. We're not their to build up Afghanistan. We're there to fight for our national security.

Jobs - Job summit = joke! President Obama is just acting like he cares about jobs.

Health Care - House passed their bill late on a Saturday night. The Senate is working through amendments as I type. They are currently debating the abortion language in the bill. This bill is a job killer not to mention a disaster for American health care.

Climate Change - Most countries are convening in Copenhagen for the summit. It's a giant sham. The leaked e-mails just proves that the "deniers" are right. Liberals are using the environment to push their agenda. If they really cared about the environment, they wouldn't have a giant convention that will put more CO2 in the air than the whole country of Morocco in one year.

WHAT??

When was it the business of the United States Congress to do business at 2100 hrs on a Saturday night? This is ridiculous!!!

Thank God we live in a great country and have checks and balances. Hopefully the senate will have more sense and reject this monstrosity.

Election Results

Va Governor:
Bob McDonnell is victorious. Great to see. Creigh Deeds is a good guy but just overmatched in this election. Four years ago, Deeds and McDonnell squared off in the Attorney General election and McDonnell won but a mere 650 votes or so. This time, McDonnell won by 17%. Is that a referendum on President Obama? Is it that Creigh Deeds was not eloquent in his points? Is it that McDonnell was a better candidate? I believe it was a combination of all three. McDonnell is one heck of a candidate and he can be penciled in as a potential presidential nomiee in the next few Presidentail elections.

NJ Governor:
Chris Christie is victorious. Great to see. Christie used his weight to squash Corzine. Corzine raised too many taxes in and the people had enough. I believe this was more about NJ than national politics. President Obama made several trips to NJ to campaign and Corzine embraced him but I still believe this was NJ saying no to Corzine. Looks like Dagget supporters wised up and voted for Christie.

NY district 23:
Disappointed in the results. I believes Dede Scoffaracvae took votes away from Hoffman. The republican candidate, Scozzafava, drops out right before the election and endorses the democrat? Come on, seriously? Hoffman should have won. If the district would have had a primary, Hoffman would have faced Scozzafava and the issue would have been settled between the two of them. Since there wasn't, Scozzafava took votes away from Hoffman. Oh well, there's always next year.

Endorsements

The Scent of Freedom has the following endorsements for today's election:

VA Gov: Bob McDonnell - Has the better plan - Jobs, transportation, education
NJ Gov: Chris Christie - Won't raise property taxes amongst other things.
NY District 23: Doug Hoffman - Fiscally conservative - Won't attempt to spend taxpayers dollars for nonsense

Potato Eggplant Curry

I recommend making this before fresh, local eggplant succumbs to the first frost in your area and potatoes are still readily available and delicious! I ate this savory dish with toasty sliced bread but think naan (Indian flat bread) would be more appropriate and better compliment the flavors. It would also taste good with rice if that's what you prefer.

-2-3 cups eggplant (chopped bite-size)
-2-3 cups potatoes (chopped bite-size)
-1 medium onion (diced)
-1-3 medium tomatoes diced (fresh or canned)
-3/4 cup green peas
-1/2 cup diced carrots
-any other veggies of choice
-2 TBSP olive oil

-2-3 tsp chili powder
-2 tsp turmeric
-1-2 TBSP curry powder
-handful of feenugreek leaves (fresh or dried)
-2 tsp ground mustard
-1 tsp dried cilantro
-1 tsp ginger
-1-2 tsp cumin
-1 tsp ground fennel seed
-salt and pepper to taste

1) heat oil in large pot- add in curry, mustard, and fennugreek
2) add onion & sautee until translucent
3) add potatoes-sautee 5 mins.
4) add eggplant and carrots-sautee 5 mins.
5) add tomatoes, peas, and remainder of spices
6) add oil or water as necessary to prevent burning
7) cover and let cook until veggies are done and mixture has thickened-checking and stirring often (less time for a crispier veggie)
8) add a little flour if needed to thicken
9) add salt and pepper to taste

Olympics part deux

Chicago was the first out. Tokyo was second. That's great news!

I bet the IOC (International Olympic Committee) didn't appreciate the Obamas coming to save the day for Chicago. The Obamas thought if President Obama could speak to everything, then Chicago would get the Olympics in a heartbeat. To his astonishment, not everyone is wooed by his words. Good for the IOC. Good for Brazil.

Olympics

Give them to Rio! They need to be in South America.

Japan recently had the winter olympics. Spain had the summer olympics in Barcelona not too long ago. The US also recently had the winter olympics in Salt Lake City not to mention Canada and this upcoming winter olympics. They need to be somewhere new.

Creamy Veggie Soup

This soup is very forgiving....you can add everything mentioned or just a few things; either way, it will be delicious and satisfying! I recommend doing plenty of tasting while you cook to find the taste you love!

-3-5 cups worth of assorted chopped veggies of choice such as: onion, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, bell pepper, mushrooms, potatoes (microwave taters until mostly tender)
-1 TBSP butter or olive oil
-1 1/2 cup milk, cream, half n half or combo
-1 1/2 cup water or veggie or chicken broth...add more water if additional liquid is needed (a splash of white wine works well too!)
-pinches of each of the following if desired: sage, thyme, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, mustard, and oregano
-salt and pepper to taste
-1/4 cup flour(to thicken)
-1/2 or more shredded cheddar cheese, Parmesan, Swiss or combo of all

1) saute all veggies together in the butter or olive oil in large pot
2) add a little water or more oil if needed to prevent burning and cook until tender
3) add in 1 1/2 cup water or broth
4) slowly add in the milk, cream, or half n half and stir well
5) add more liquid if needed to cover veggies or if you like it more soupy
6) add in herbs and spices now
7) stir in flour over medium-low heat until thickened
8) add cheese and stir until thoroughly melted
9) heat through and until you're hungry!

Tastes great with a sprinkle of cheese and some crusty bread!
Also works well blended if you like a creamier soup!

Butternut Squash Soup

I made this smooth 'n creamy, slightly spicy and very nutritious soup after picking up a beautiful squash from Findlay Market in downtown Cincinnati and fresh Fuji apples from an orchard stand in Laurelville, OH. This soup is perfect for those first nippy days of fall and for reheating on a frigid day in the dead of winter.

-2 TBSP butter or margarine
-1 small onion, chopped
-handful of chopped celery leaves or 1 stalk celery(finely chopped)
-1 medium carrot chopped or shredded
-1 or 2 medium potatoes, cubed (any type works)
-1 apple, peeled and cubed
-1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
-water, milk, chicken, vegetable stock or a combination (enough to cover veggies)
-1/4 cup sour cream
-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
-1/4 tsp. ginger
-1/2 tsp. nutmeg
-1/2 tsp. paprika
-1/4 tsp. garlic powder
-1/2-1 tsp. curry powder (optional, but recommended as it seems to accentuate the other flavors!)
-1/4 tsp. chili powder
-salt and black pepper to taste

1) Melt the butter in large pot
2) Cook onion, celery, carrot, potatoes, apples, and squash for about 10 minutes or until softened and slightly browned
3) Poor in enough liquid to cover veggies and bring to a boil
4) Reduce heat to low, stir in sour cream along with herbs and spices
5) Cover and simmer about 40 mins. stirring occasionally
6) Transfer soup to a blender and blend until smooth- careful, it's hot!
7) Taste test and perfect to your liking

CNN and First Lady

Lead story on cnn.com is "First Lady says 'gloves are off' in bid for Olympics." Here's the link: Obama on Olympics

""It's a battle -- we're going to win -- take no prisoners," the first lady said with a smile at a roundtable discussion with reporters in the White House State Dining Room...."And our view is, we're not taking a chance," she said. "We're just not going to assume that the bids -- that the decisions are made, and so that no matter what the outcome is, we'll feel as a country, as a team, that we've done everything that we can to bring it home.""

I read that and I thought it was great...they're committed to bringing our soldiers home from Afghanistan after victory.....but then I realized it was about bringing the olympics to Chicago. We have soldiers on the ground dying and Mrs. Obama is saying that the battle is on and that she'll take no prisoners. She should tell that to our soldiers fighting in rural Aghanistan. It's a shame.

Honduras Update

Former President Zalaya is back in Honduras hiding in the Brazilian embassy. The current Honduran administration gave Brazil a deadline to turn over Zalaya but still refused. The deadline has past. What now? Here's an article to understand the mess by William Ratliff from Forbes.
Understanding the Mess in Honduras

Say No to Soda Tax

A soda tax was recently passed in San Francisco as an attempt to promote healthy living. Although, it sounds good in theory, we are opposed to such an act for several reasons. First, it is a pilot program for liberals who want a national tax on soda and other sugary drinks. This is just the beginning of a long stream of similar taxation on various other aspects of our private life. The Federal Government should not have the power to dictate what we eat and drink. If it's going to be discussed then keep it as a state issue, please, right there in California.

Secondly, this tax is going to hurt poor people the most; what's new? Who drinks and eats the most unhealthy food and foodstuffs? The poor. Why is this? It is because of a lack of education, a lack of funds, and a lack of convenience and availability. How many Whole Foods set up stores in lower-income areas? It's tougher for most families who are looking for convenience and low prices to place value on buying organic, local, or more nutritional food items. Those items tend to cost more, are harder to find, and not everyone understands the disparity between real food and food products. When saving money and filling stomachs is the bottom line it's a lot easier to purchase that $0.99 two liter of coke over the $5 bottle of organic 100% fruit juice. Put a tax on that soda and the price will increase, but because it's still cheaper than some of the healthier beverage choices, the poor will continue to buy it but now at higher prices. It's very similar to the cigarette tax. Who smokes the most cigarettes? The poor. I thought the democratic party was for the "working and poor classes." If that were true don't you think they would make that $5 pack of cigarettes cheaper?

Back to the soda tax. The final and most important point is that once you start a precedent of taxing certain items in the name of health, you start a troubling trend. From there on, where does the government stop? Cup cakes? Ice cream? Donuts? Ice tea? If the government believes they can dictate what you can and cannot eat, then they gain more control over your life. It's seems quite reminiscent of the issues surrounding nationalized health care. In a nationalized health care system, the government can dictate what health care services can be provided. You smoke?.....no services for you. You don't work out?.....no services for you. You eat red meat?.....no services for you. A soda tax is just a starting point for most liberals who want more control over everybody else. They believe they can garner such control in the name of healthy eating.

I say it would be better if the San Francisco City school district taught about nutrition in health class at school. Served fresh, local produce, meat, and dairy to the children. Developed school gardens, eliminated all soda from vending machines. Showed them first hand the importance of healthy eating. Those sound like good ideas, ideas that can help a community and a population make better choices and over time, become all around wiser and healthier. Through education, people learn and understand. You don't have to hurt the poor and gain more control in the name of health. If a person is fat, that's their prerogative. That's their decision. Not the government.

No to the soda tax.

Joe Wilson was Right

Who would have thought?

Mr. Obama misleads on 20 items in joint session of Congress.

Michael Pollan's Lecture

Yesterday, we attended a lecture by Michael Pollan at Xavier University. In case you haven't heard of him, he's the author of several books about food ethics and politics such as, The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food, and The Botany of Desire. All of which, we recommend.

A few observations from his speech:

1. Don't listen to nutritionists ("It's a young science.....kind of like surgery in 1650"), food studies reported on TV, and food commercials that make health claims .
2. Eat real food. Don't buy things in boxes or "food" that needs a label.
3. Eat until you're about 80% full. Until you no longer have hunger (which comes way before feeling "full")
4. Eat mostly plants.
5. Only eat pasture-grass fed meats.

In essence, he said to act like you're living in an earlier era and that's how you should eat. Go back to nature.

Worst Foreign Policy

Mr. Obama and his foreign policy: Worst Foreign Policy Ever

"Then there is the catalogue of Mr. Obama's embarrassing moments on the world stage, a list which includes: giving England's Queen Elizabeth II an iPod with his speeches on it; giving British Prime Minister Gordon Brown a collection of DVDs that were not formatted to the European standard (by contrast, Mr. Brown gave Mr. Obama an ornamental desk-pen holder made from the oak timbers of Victorian anti-slaver HMS Gannet, among other historically significant gifts); calling "Austrian" a language; bowing to the Saudi king; releasing a photo of a conference call with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which the president was showing the soles of his shoes to the camera (an Arab insult); saying "let me be absolutely clear. Israel is a strong friend of Israel's"; saying the United States was "one of the largest Muslim countries in the world"; suggesting Arabic translators be shifted from Iraq to Afghanistan where Arabic is not a native language; sending a letter to French President Jacques Chirac when Nicolas Sarkozy was the president of France; holding a town-hall meeting in France and not calling on a single French citizen; and referring to "Cinco de Cuatro" in front of the Mexican ambassador when he meant Cinco de Mayo. Also of note was Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton giving Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a "reset" button with the Russian word for "overcharge." "