This whole thing with Obama's pastor and his latest remarks coupled with his past sermons with a similar tone, that tone being a strong critique of America and American values here and abroad, is a very ironic situation that really sheds some light on both ends of the political spectrum.  If any thing, this large outspoken collective response by the typical Republican/NeoCon Federal Government Lap Dogs, ie Conservative Radio Talking Heads, is such a clear indication of the very thing they are attempting to critique, that being racism.

If you feel the same as many of these NeoCon/Radio personalities regarding this controversy with Obama and his former pastor Jeremiah Wright, I would like to pose a few questions. 

Where was the backlash against Jerry Falwell when he clearly stated that 9/11 had happened due to our moral demise of our country and due in part more specifically because of our American gay population?  Where was the critique of those outlandish statements? 

Where was the back lash against Pat Robertson who voiced very similar statements as did his fellow crony Falwell? 

Same can be said for certain practices, both official and unofficial, at Bob Jones University.  Where was the critique there?

These two examples are disturbing because they, Robertson and Falwell, have been very liberal and outspoken in their support of various Conservative and Republican figures over the years but no one seems to hold them accountable for their statements let alone the candidates that they have endorsed in the past. 

I hate to say it, but why are they all white?  Can a African American speak his or her own mind with out being tagged with the moniker of racist or anti-American?  And why can a white religious figure say almost the very same things that Rev Wright had recently expressed about our country but remain immune to any type of critique or back-lash?  I guess it's OK to fault the moral demise of our country than the country's own global and martial efforts abroad and the inevitable affects of those efforts. 

In other words, I can say all I want about how terrible and immoral we American citizens all are but the moment I begin to critique or question the actions of our Federal Government abroad, both diplomatically and militarily, I'm all of a sudden seen as anti-American.   What gives folks?

ANOTHER QUESTION, PLEASE TELL ME EXACTLY WHEN DID THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECOME LAP DOGS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?  

WHEN DID THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TURN THEIR BACKS ON THE 50 STATES AND THEIR INHERENT POWER GRANTED TO THEM VIA THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES? 

Unfortunately the Republicans have, since their subsequent brainwashing via 9/11, become less and less Republican and more and more a representation of a CENTRALIZED BASE OF FEDERAL POWER.  This isn't exactly what the framers of the constitution had in mind when drafting that earth-moving document. 

Republicans, Conservatives, and American citizens, what has happened to you?

Have we abandoned all our abilities to reason and conduct logical analysis?  This is pitiful really.  All great civilizations and societies fall and they typically fall when they become over inflated.  They typically fall when ones pride for himself and his family is superseded by ones pride and worship of his NATION STATE. 

REPUBLICANS HAVE LOST THEIR MINDS.  WITH THEIR INSATIABLE NEED FOR BIG GOVERNMENT AND THEIR SELF-APPOINTED AND RIGHTEOUS DEMEANOR IT IS VERY SAFE TO SAY THE ONLY THING THESE FOLKS WORSHIP IS THE COUNTRY THEY CALL HOME.  WE ALL KNOW AND HAVE SEEN WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS KIND OF 'BLIND FAITH' PERSPECTIVE PRODUCES: THAT BEING THE LAST DYING BREATHS OF A ONCE GREAT NATION.

My tone in this response, that is if you're a knee-jerk personality, will probably be viewed as overly liberal and also fairly conventional in terms of what many liberals may attempt to espouse but I have to correct you in that assumption.  I'm not a democrat nor a republican.  I'm like many others who try to see things for how they are and not what we'd like them to be.  I'm neither liberal nor conservative because I feel a fervent commitment to any one ideology lends it's self toward a relinquishing ones ability to reason and speak truth to power.  I believe it's a responsibility to avoid strong political commitments because it will eventually hinder ones ability to see the forest from the trees.

I pray for my country and so should you....

RRed

This is in reference to Dennis Pragers discussion with a guest today regarding the Omaha shooting and his idea that the media is biased in its reporting of this case and similar cases.

Dennis Pragers logic by which he arrives at his conclusions, albeit much of his conclusions or opinions aren't arrived at via logical deduction but rather the etheric moral compass of his Prager-ized Judeo-Christian mentality, is severely flawed in many respects.  

Case in point.  This gun free zone issue and the idea that the media is part of some global conspiracy against reporting the fact that some of these terrible massacres have occurred in gun free zones. Last time I checked protocols such as 'a gun free zone' are up to the property ownership to determine.  Also, it may be equally important to ask the question why didn't the security guards and/or on-site mall policemen respond more quickly.  Now this last question is absurd of course but it's equally absurd to connect the media in some chain of responsibility to those guilty of pulling the trigger on innocent victims in various public places. But I get the gist of his complaint regarding this illusory 'non-reporting' by the 'media'; the proverbial 'they'.    

There has been a few violent occurrences at a local gun range here in Tampa, FL.  Of these few, one occurred this year where a man held 3 people hostage inside that gun range.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/13/Hillsborough/Hostage_crisis_at_Tam.shtml

Now I would imagine the patrons of this gun range more than likely had plenty of opportunities to take this guy out but they didn't and they were surrounded by guns and weapons. This wasn't a gun free zone.  

You see I'm not here to pick any sides to this issue of gun-control or the fact that the media is some extension of the devils propaganda machine that Dennis and his ilk would have you believe.  Rather these folks, such as Dennis, love to make noise about issues that are just par for the course in terms of every day life in America. Again 'mountains out of mole hills'.  But if it weren't for these little hills of sand Dennis would probably be out of a job.  Perhaps?

But in terms of the 2nd Amendment here are few more closing thoughts.  I've recently changed my mind from a strictly hand-gun gun control perspective to a liberal proponent of the 2nd Amendment as it relates to all types and iterations of the gun and/or rifle.  Not because I think I need to protect my self against the oh so random 'shooter', which in speaking to probabilities is less likely to occur to me than say getting hit by  lightning, but rather  I am suspect of our Government and I believe in reserving the rights of the common American citizen the ability to protect his or her self against the tyranny of their own Government.  I really don't think we have a fighting chance if the martial arms of our Gov't wanted to flex it's muscles upon it's own but at least we'd go down fighting just like our forefathers did as they eagerly fought for their own freedom.

Additionally, for all those who think that more guns in the hands of citizens would result in less crime and shootings such as the one in Omaha please take this in consideration. We have all seen the damage an irresponsible driver can cause on the road and we take that as a given risk in our every day lives.  Now picture the situation in Omaha or VA Tech, I can't trust that everyone that has the right to bear a concealed weapon has the cognizance nor ability to use and implement that same weapon. It could turn into a free for all with weapons drawn and shots fired and confusion as to who exactly is the perpetrator due to the fact that everyone is now 'the shooter'.  But perhaps that would help in the whole scheme of things.  A Darwinian process of elimination; those that are intelligent enough to see the futility in the perspective may go about their regular gun-less lives while the other John Wayne types are left to shoot amongst themselves.

RRed