Common Sense Guide to Voting

Sometimes I get into discussions with people that invariably go wrong. By “go wrong” I mean run off track; to a place not originally intended. If there’s one theme that’s most likely to perform this service, it’s politics.

There’s a great deal wrong with politics. Most of which is (unfortunately) unavoidable. Humans are flawed. Flawed humans make mistakes. The greater the responsibility, the greater the opportunity of huge mistakes. Anyway, back to the reason for this post.

How do you decide who to vote for?

If you do nothing else, please don’t vote for someone simply because of their party. Please, please, please! For all that is good and pure, just don’t do it. It’s the lazy way out. Lazy isn’t cool, is it?

So then, how do you choose? Simple. Vote for people who most closely share your values. In your life, what do you value most?

Me? Glad you asked. ;^)

I value Jesus above all else. When I die, I’m fully expecting Him to save me from an eternity of separation from God. Next I value my wife, kids and family. Then my beloved Wildcats friends, career, et al.

So how do I find out how the politicians voted on issues important to me? Well, I utilize an organizaton that shares those values to produce a scorecard of sorts. In fact, they call it the Vote Scorecard.

Below are the 17 most important issues of the 110th Congress, in terms of lining up with my values.

Faith
* Prevent Faith-Based Discrimination in Head Start Program
* Federal Hate Crimes Act

Family
* Prevent DC Gay Marriage
* Prohibits Federal Implementation of Fairness Doctrine

Friends (Human Life)
* Prohibition on Funding Human Cloning
* Embryonic Stem Cell Research Act
* Human Cloning Protection Act
* Embryonic Stem Cell Research Act
* Maintain Abstinence and Faithfulness Programs to Prevent Spread of HIV/AIDs
* Undermine Mexico City Policy by Funding International Abortion Groups
* Maintain Mexico City Policy on International Abortion Funding
* Restrict Funding to Planned Parenthood
* Children’s Health Bill for Low-Income Families

Other
* Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill
* Prohibit Funding for Washington DC Needle Exchange Program
* Employment Non-Discrimination Act
* Exploit the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA)

If we look at how our elected representative voted, rather than what they may have said in, for example, recent campaign commercials (which we all know are biased to the extreme), we get a more accurate view of them. For example, looking at both of Kentucky’s Senators, Bunning and McConnell, they voted 100% of the time with my values. Awesome!

My congressman, John Yarmuth, voted with me on only 11% of the 17 items. That’s not a very high percentage. I’m probably not going to vote for Yarmuth in the next election, especially considering his opponent, Ann Northup, usually ranks much higher on my scorecard.

So, I’m not voting for someone simply because I like the way they look on TV, or the way they respond to media questions, but by how they shape my America with their votes. It’s really just common sense.

If you do your homework, vote your conscious then at the end of the day, I can’t complain. But if you simply pull the party lever, you haven’t taken advantage of one of the greatest privileges we have as Americans.

Dojo Info 9/29/08

1. AMAZING!: Palin carved into Ohio cornfield
   I’m not sure how these people get templates to create these pictures. Pretty astounding.
2. Man, 112, says secret to long life is being active
   No, really? Guess I better hit that treadmill a little bit, eh?
3. Google phone to cost $179, debut Oct. 22
   That’s a pretty low price point for such an anticipated appliance.
4. Intel WiMax to go live, will devices follow?
   4G? Now you’re talkin’ baby!
5. Nero Liquid TV: TiVo for your PC
   TiVo on your computer? I guess that’s a good thing but why?

Seinfeld Bloopers

Hysterical! [via KSR]

Dojo Info 9/27/08

1. Real world instruments included in ROCK BAND 2
   That title is misleading. What’s happening is that companies that create real instruments have recognized the value of building products for the Rock Band world and are signing on. Smart move and one that makes me all tingly inside.
2. Oden’s is no crossover artist – and he knows it
   Obviously… no duh, but the real question is will he ever live up to his potential? Ahhh… now that’s highly debatable.
3. Receiver Makes Unbelievable Catch
   There’s good, there’s great, then there’s this INCREDIBLE catch.
4. Mad Catz’s Portable ‘Rock Band’ Drums
   Not exactly “solid” but maybe they’ll be a hit. Get it? A hit?!? Ok, I’ll shut up now.
5. Game|Life the Video 29: Top 5 Rock Band 2 Improvements
   Yeah, the new song selection menu is much, MUCH better.

AC/DC Is King of Simple Rock

Only AC/DC could write music so astoundingly simple that one person could play it all by himself. [via Andrew]

YouTube Joins Google in Censorship of Pro-Life Posts

It just never stops does it? Well, we’ve all heard “There’s no rest for the wicked.” Just read this from the FRC:

As more organizations try to shine light on Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) abortion record in Illinois, his campaign has possibly found an ally in YouTube. The video clearinghouse, which has become one of the Internet’s biggest sensations, blocked a pro-life post from the Kansas Coalition for Life that detailed Obama’s unconditional support of abortion–including partial-birth abortion. As an explanation, the Coalition received only a simple message from YouTube stating that the video violated its “community guideline[s].” Although other posts contained similar footage of abortion procedures, they were not removed-presumably because they made no mention of Obama.

Google, YouTube’s parent company, is no stranger to censoring pro-life message. As we mentioned last week, a Christian group just took the online superpower to court for refusing to let a British organization buy ad space to promote life. Unfortunately, this is hardly the first time YouTube has engaged in political censorship. Lila Rose, the UCLA student who taped Planned Parenthood’s willingness to earmark donations for black babies, has also been blocked from posting videos that would incriminate the nation’s largest abortion merchant.

Hoping to defray his opposition to the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, Obama’s campaign released a new ad saying his votes on the issue “were taken out of context” and people suggesting otherwise were guilty of “despicable lie[s].” Yet even the Associated Press corroborates pro-lifers’ claims, writing, “As an Illinois state senator, Obama opposed three legislative efforts in 2001, 2002, and 2003 to give legal protections to any aborted fetus that showed signs of life.” [link]

Obama’s voting record is available for everyone to see, even if he claims that we’re “taking them out of context” but that’s hogwash. He’s just spinning. Like all politicians do. *sigh*

When will it all end?

U.S.A. Wins the 2008 Ryder Cup

We saw some amazing golf these last three days. Very cool to have this event in hometown of Louisville! Great job U.S.A. team with Kentuckians Kenny Perry and J.B. Holmes coming up big on the final day.

Rush DLC Finally Coming? They Better Hope So!

Back on August 23rd Harmonix toyed with my heart. Now, I hear they’re at it again. Keep the electroshock paddles handy.

Here’s what they’re saying this time:

Looks like the technicals have been taken care of. Rush’s “Moving Pictures” comes out for real next week! In addition we have tracks from Bad Religion, The Cult, Hot Hot Heat, Kasabian, Sleater-Kinney, and Stone Roses! [link]

There will be a heavy price to pay if these people slight me again. Seriously, Cambridge, MA is only 15 hours 43 mins away…

I will also be buying some of this alternative goodness:

“She Sells Sanctuary” by The Cult
“Shoot the Runner” by Kasabian
“Love Spreads” by Stone Roses

Rock on!

Dojo Info 9/19/08

1. Teens view cell phones as essential
   Teens?! What about 10-year-olds?!?! It’s all we hear about from our kids these days.
2. Congress questions high cost of texting
   I was questioning that myself the other day. That, the fact that the government taxes each kind of telecommunication separately, which adds up to more for them. Bah!
3. Tesla to open plant for Model S electric sedan
   $60,000 is pretty pricey but I bet the car is solid. Why they chose to build the plant in tax-heavy California, I can’t comprehend.
4. iLike launches developer platform: Playlists rock!
   iLike is a sweet site… been using it for years. I’m just waiting for them to put all the goodies behind subscription.
5. First Google-Powered Phone to be Unveiled Sept. 23
   If past performance is any indication for future results, this should be good.

rb2

cant talk… plyaing rb2… more to follow… or not

Matt Damon Really Wants to Know

There must be something in California’s lattes that affects some people’s enormous egos to where they think they’re so much smarter than everyone else on the planet. We must all be absolute morons by comparison. Wow.

I didn’t know the Dorian Grey Syndrome had this many side-effects.

Say ‘Hi’ to the Camera Mom

*giggle* *giggle* *SNORT!*

Dojo Info 9/12/08

1. Is it a classic if no one is watching? Guess you’ll have to take my word for it.
   My sentiments exactly. The USA Basketball Gold Medal game was a pressure cooker.
2. Global computer network behind the Big Bang probe
   Interesting stuff. I’m sure we’ll learn some stuff but as to origins, we’re decades away.
3. Airline seeks bald men as walking billboards
   Easy money baby. What’s next? Fat bellies?
4. Pearl Flip is First BlackBerry that Folds Up
   Not sure what this adds to the mix. Now the Bold, that’s a different story.
5. Finally, a reality show about ‘Rock Band 2’
   Ok, I’m a huge fan of reality TV and Rock Band but even I don’t think this is a good idea. Perhaps Mark Burnett is jumping the shark?

Everybody Knows Duke Is the Worst

Wow. I’m surprised the Dukies didn’t send in some hitmen to take this lady out. No wait, she’s their legal counsel. LOL!

So great, I watched it twice. (via aSoB)

Rock Band 2, XBox Commercial

My music-rhythm-puzzle-game obsession knows no bounds. Trust me… I’m hooked.