Jay Allen's Blog

It's now a bit more than 100 days into the Obama Administration. During this period, the Republicans in Washington have fought almost everything Obama has favored. And the Fox News conservatives that oppose anything related to Obama started forming Tea Parties a few weeks into the administration (after a rehearsed, televised rant by some rich guy on CNBC yelling at some other rich guys at a Chicago stock exchange about the government bailing out people other than their rich friends).

Many conservatives oppose Obama because they say he weakens America. However, conservatives should remember that in the 100 and some days since Barack Obama was inaugurated as President, America has not been attacked, we have not retreated from Iraq (a/k/a "The War on Terror"), we are not paying $10/gal for gas, abortion rates are not skyrocketing, people are not losing their guns, etc.

I don't think anyone in modern history could have handled the presidency during this most recent period any better than Obama. Therefore, my question is specifically what would be better now or in the future if McCain won?

What are your thoughts?

Best regards,
Jay

Thanks for reading! Additional blogs from Jay Allen are at BlatantPolitics.com.
© 2009 MovieVoice Production Co., All Rights Reserved.

For several weeks the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) party has promoted April 15, 2009 as a day for protests against the evil Barack Obama's immoral tax plan.  The Tea Party has garnered a great deal of exposure in light of endorsements from Newt Gingrich, the American Family Association and Fox News.

Newt Gingrich, a probable candidate for President in 2012, warned recently that a third party might have a strong foothold in next election if the GOP doesn't get its act together.  At the moment he is the featured video on the group's website.  It is apparent that Gingrich's sole purpose of promoting the Tax Party, is to be it's leader, if the Republicans remain historically unpopular and if the Democrats are unable to pull the country out of recession by the next presidential election.  In any case, this is a calculated move from Gingrich.

Last month, Donald E. Wildmon, chairman of American Family Association/Radio said" we find it immoral to pile debt on our great-grandchildren. It appears that this situation is above the pay grade of President Obama and Congress, whose only solution is to spend more money on the problem." Two things strike me about the preceding statement.  First, it is evident that Wildmon is greedy, in less than 2 sentences the man refers money 4 times.  Second, is Wildmon suggesting that because his pay grade is substantially higher than Obama's that he is the one to fix this "situation"?

And now Fox News is blatantly promoting and encouraging membership in this anti democrat/pro republican protest.  Therefore, the fair and balanced network is not only promoting but also encouraging membership in an unfair and unbalanced Republican pep rally.

I have never met a person that said they like to pay taxes.  And I would bet that you and everyone you know don't like to pay taxes either.  So, it is safe to say that no one likes to pay taxes, not just Republicans or the "Tea Party".

So, what do you think of the GOP's latest gimmick - The Tea Party?

Best regards,
Jay

Thanks for reading!  Additional blogs from Jay Allen are at BlatantPolitics.com.
© 2009 MovieVoice Production Co., All Rights Reserved.

This week, Israeli newspapers published inaugural photos of Benjamin Netanyhu's cabinet minus the two female cabinet members. The Associated Press reports that "Ultra-Orthodox newspapers consider it immodest to print images of women." 

Yated Neeman, a daily newspaper published the altered photo above and Shaa Tova, a weekly newspaper simply blacked the women out. In contrast, mainstream Israeli newspapers published the original photo and one newspaper published both pictures with the headline "Find the lady".

Most people would probably not suggest that Playboy needs to be available on newsstands for a society to be normal.  However, removing the highest ranking women in a society from pictures is, at the very least, abnormal.  "Blacking out" and "photoshopping" women sounds like something from North Korea, not from a US ally.

What are your thoughts?

Best regards,
Jay

Thanks for reading!  Additional blogs from Jay Allen are at BlatantPolitics.com.
© 2009 MovieVoice Production Co., All Rights Reserved.

I couldn't resist the temptation to post an April Fools headline.

Anyway, I hope you all have a good month!

Best regards,
Jay

Thanks for reading!  Almost all of Jay Allen's blogs are at BlatantPolitics.com.
© 2009 MovieVoice Production Co., All Rights Reserved.

It's taken several months, but the GOP is finally starting to reveal its true feelings about its 2008 VP nominee.  In summarizing the GOP sentiment, Fox News produced one of today's interesting headlines... "Republicans Disinvite Palin to Major Fundraiser".

Two weeks ago all reports indicated that Palin would be the keynote speaker at an annual Senate-House Dinner in Washington on June 8.  With today's announcement that Newt Gingrich is replacing Palin, suddenly Palin's underlings are arguing that she never committed to the event.

The future of the GOP appears dim with leadership from Limbaugh, Steele or Jindal.  And the future of the GOP appears even dimmer with prospects of leadership from Palin.  In the Alaska Governor's few months as a nationally recognized politician, Palin was as polarizing as any politician in recent history.  For example, she appeared to have even stronger convictions, and even less knowledge on those convictions, than George Bush.  At least she read a teleprompter better than Bush.

Is Sarah Palin only a part of the GOP's past... what are your thoughts?

Best regards,
Jay

Thanks for reading!  Almost all of Jay Allen's blogs are at BlatantPolitics.com.
© 2009 MovieVoice Production Co., All Rights Reserved.

Multiple news agencies are reporting that General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner is resigning, after being asked by the White House, the day before another announcement about about billions of dollars in loans to GM and Chrysler.

This is a tremendous move towards restoring GM to profitability.  A couple of days after the University of Kentucky's basketball was fired after 2 seasons, it's interesting to observe another high profile "firing".

Some people might argue that this appears to give too much direct power, or endless influence at the very least, to President Obama.  I would argue that Obama is responsible to taxpayers, and if taxpayer dollars are almost solely responsible for sustaining a multibillion dollar corporation, then the leader of our country should have the power to "fire" anyone not helping the company.

What are your thoughts?

Best regards,
Jay

Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net

BlatantPolitics.com

It is convenient for Hannity, Limbaugh and others to assert that the media treated Bush with a great deal of disdain while it treats Obama with endless respect. However, it is evident through magazine covers during Bush's early presidency that the news media respected him... despite winning a highly controversial election the media demonstrated the same respect for Bush that they've demonstrated for Obama, a winner of a landslide.

Bush's first years yielded many magazine covers among them...


Feb. 19, 2001 "Tax Cuts & You"


Dec. 3, 2001 "Where We Get Our Strength"

Nov. 18, 2002 "Top Gun"


Is Obama's media coverage fair relative to George Bush's early media coverage?  What are your thoughts?


Best regards,
Jay

Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net
http://blatantpolitics.com

In 2008, the nation was introduced to a new GOP "star" - Sarah Palin.  Earlier this week, with the Republican response to The State of the Union Address, the nation was introduced to the next GOP "star" - Bobby Jindal.

During his speech, Obama spoke to his listeners as though he were speaking to adults.  Jindal spoke to adults as though he were speaking to children of the 19th century.  During Jindal's response to Obama, he also claimed that he worked in the trenches to combat Hurricane Katrina.  He even made reference to a deceased sheriff with whom he supposedly worked.  Jindal has now retracted this claim, because it is not true.

Regardless of Jindal's lie, it is evident that the GOP appears to believe that finding an "ordinary" person to lead is a priority for the future of its party.  However, the fact is that the United States would have probably never been established had it been left to ordinary people like Palin and Jindal.  It was visionaries like our current president that made this country into what it is.

Pop quiz... Which of the following people were average?
A. Abraham Lincoln
B. Henry Ford
C. Martin Luther King, Jr.
D. Ludwig van Beethoven
E. Albert Einstein
F. Benjamin Franklin
G. None of the above

Obviously the answer is "G".  The most influential people in history have not been average, they have been extraordinary.  Change any of the people listed above to "average" and our world would be a much different place and likely a much less desirable place to live.

By historical standards, the Democrats have an extraordinary person with Barack Obama.  While the GOP is still convinced that it needs Mr. or Ms. Ordinary.

What are your thoughts?

Best regards,
Jay

Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net

In the waning days of the Bush Administration, George Bush and Bush supporters have defended him by saying, if nothing else, he was successful at preventing another terrorist attack on US soil.  However, these same people would never say the same thing about Bill Clinton.

Five weeks into Clinton's presidency, the World Trade Center was bombed.  For the next 7 years, 10 months and 3 weeks President Bill Clinton protected America from any additional domestic attacks by Islamic radicals.  Clinton also did this without invading other countries - especially ones harboring massive oil reserves.

So, if Clinton was not praised for his ability to protect our country, why should anyone praise Bush for "preventing" another terrorist attack?  Based on our economy and our stressed military, one George Bush has done more damage to our country than one thousand Osama bin Ladens.

It is also worth noting that Connecticut-born Bush is selling his ranch in Crawford, TX - the one he bought in 1999 when this "cowboy" started his campaign for the presidency.  What kind of cowboy sells his ranch to live in a recently minorities-excluded (except for maids) subdivision?

What are your thoughts?


Best regards,
Jay

Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net

Yesterday, Israel bombed the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza. This and other recent attacks have made Israel appear as the world's undisputed biggest bully.

The present conflict in the Middle East makes me wonder...

• What would Israel's military look like without billions of US dollars?
• How aggressive would Israel be without billions of US dollars?
• Would other Middle Eastern countries view Israel with as much disdain without billions of US dollars?
• Would other Middle Eastern countries view the US with as much disdain if we didn't send billions of dollars to Israel?

For good or bad, the United States has dictated which countries have power and authority in the Middle East for more than a generation. Iraq defeated Iran with American bombs and chemicals. Israel is a dominate country solely because of American military and financial contributions. So, odds are... the Palestinians would be claiming the last bit of Israeli land today, if the United States had been sending them the same money and military armament that's been sent to Israel.

The current Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the global economic meltdown are two reasons for the United States to become a bit more self-centered.  What are your thoughts?

Best regards,
Jay

Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net

This week, USA Today announced that Barack Obama is the most admired man in America. It is the first time since 1952 that a President-Elect has topped the list. The list features the most admired men and women as determined by Americans.

To me, it is encouraging to know that Americans admire the President-Elect. I hope (I am fairly certain that this is the first time in more than 100 blogs that I have used the words "I hope") that Obama's charisma, character and intelligence will help this nation avert another depression and end this recession.

Obama appears to be the third president since Kennedy to possess extraordinary charisma (Reagan and Clinton were the other 2). Many readers will dismiss Clinton... so, let's remember Reagan in 1984. The biggest problem for Walter Mondale in his bid to defeat Ronald Reagan was his inability to instill confidence and pride in voters. I remember hearing Mondale in an interview stating that many people he encountered said that they thought he had better ideas than Reagan, but that Reagan made them "proud to be an American".  If all goes well, over the next x years, Obama will generate the American pride of Reagan, the intelligence of Clinton and the American ambition of Kennedy.

A side note... there were several other possible headlines for this blog:
"Obama 16 times more admired than Pope"
"Hillary 7 times more admired than Obama's Wife"
"Americans Admire Pres-Elect 6 times more than the President"
---AND my favorite---
"Hell Freezes - Palin is more admired than Oprah"

What are your thoughts? Will admiration for Obama help to lead this country back to prosperity and international admiration?

Best regards,
Jay


Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net

This post and The Washington Post chart below would have been more interesting prior to the election.  However, I saw it for the first time today.  The chart shows an interesting, if not disturbing, comparison of Las Vegas slot machines and electronic voting machines.

Based on multiple reports about "defective" voting machines in Ohio in 2004, John Kerry would have beaten George Bush with voting machines that were up to par with slot machines.

What are your thoughts?  Should voting machines be regulated more like Las Vegas slot machines?

Best regards,
Jay

Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net

Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich was arrested this morning at his home for allegedly trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.

According to Chicago's WLS the affidavit includes the following...
During the call, Rob Blagojevich stated, "unless I get something real good for [Senate Candidate 1], s--t, I'll just send myself, you know what I'm saying."

Rob Blagojevich later stated, "I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I'm saying. And if I don't get what I want and I'm not satisfied with it, then I'll just take the Senate seat myself." Later, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that the Senate seat "is a f-ing valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing."  (For the sake of humor... I also find the use of a double negative in Blagojevich's last sentence to be troubling.)

Corruption is this decade's trend for both Republican and Democratic Illinois Governors. Blagojevich was preceded by George Ryan, who is currently serving a six and a half year sentence for corruption.

What are your thoughts?

Best regards,
Jay


Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net

Happy December 1st!

Just a month ago, I had an almost endless supply of "explosive" political blog ideas - and blog posts. Today, I have many more ideas, but nothing that strikes me as interesting, unique or as "explosive" as it was before the election. Does anyone else feel this way?

In the month leading to the election, here's some of my personal favorites...

McCain wants Obama to Win

Bush may Deserve Nobel Peace Prize

More Taxes = Fewer Abortions

Palin Still Doesn't Know What the VP Does

The Rich... Tax Them Before it's too Late

Colin Powell Endorses Obama

What many are Really Saying about Obama

Why not Endorse Barack Obama?

HUSSEIN

Did Obama Cheat on his Wife with a Rich, Thieving, Drug Addict?

Palin's lapel pin was bigger than Biden's - Other than that, Biden won by a Landslide.

Have you ever heard of Fox News, CNN, Newsweek, or The Washington Post?

What are your thoughts?

Best regards,
Jay

Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net

As I write this post, I am listening to a fantastic new Paul McCartney album!  The album, Electric Arguments, under the moniker "The Fireman" is a collaboration between McCartney and a producer named Youth.  This is the third release from The Fireman, but it seems to have attracted the most attention.  My favorite song is Traveling Light - it sounds like Pink Floyd plus Paul McCartney in 1971.

Let me know your thoughts, if you listen to the album!

Best regards,
Jay

Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net

Google has recently published several volumes of photographs from LIFE magazine.  I've spent the last hour looking at many of these fascinating, depressing, and bizarre pictures dating back to the 1870s.  Every picture I see, seems to flood my mind with more blogging ideas than I can possibly write - pictures of the Great Depression and if it relates to current economic conditions - pictures of Congress from decades ago and how odd it is to see no women and all whites - pictures of windmills from the 1800s and how odd it is to think that this "technology" is part of the future - and the list goes on...

The picture that caught my attention the most was of the Washington Monument under construction in 1876.  Construction on the monument began, nearly 30 years prior, in 1848 and the monument was not completed until 1884.  Funding problems and the Civil War were two of the primary reasons for the lengthy construction.

© Time Inc.

For some reason, the picture is calming to me, especially in our country's economic crisis.  It reminds me of the simple adage - plan your work and work your plan.  1876 was nearly 3 decades after construction began on the monument, nearly 1 decade away from the monument's completion and 1876 was not much more than a decade beyond the Civil War, our country's biggest crisis.  There's a lot more pictures and a lot more monuments 132 years later.  However, I can't help but wonder what Americans in 2140 will think of our generation.  Will we leave behind more than shopping malls?

What are your thoughts?

Best regards,
Jay

Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net

It's interesting if not astonishing to compare the $700 billion bailout to the cost of other major government projects and wars. According to CNBC, when adjusted for inflation, the Vietnam War, Korean War, Gulf Wars 1 & 2, and the war on terror have all cost less money than the bailout. And the ten years of technological advancements to send a man to the moon was 1/3 the cost of the bailout.  The following is a list of big projects with original costs and inflation adjusted costs:

Hoover Dam
Original Cost: $49 million | Inflation Adjusted Cost: $782 million

Panama Canal
Original Cost: $375 million | Inflation Adjusted Cost: $7.9 billion

Gulf War I
Original Cost: $61 billion | Inflation Adjusted Cost: $98 billion

Marshall Plan
Original Cost: $12.7 billion | Inflation Adjusted Cost: $115.3 billion

Louisiana Purchase
Original Cost: $15 million | Inflation Adjusted Cost: $217 billion

Race to the Moon
Original Cost: $36.4 billion | Inflation Adjusted Cost: $237 billion

Savings & Loan Crisis
Original Cost: $153 billion | Inflation Adjusted Cost: $256 billion

Korean War
Original Cost: $54 billion | Inflation Adjusted Cost: $454 billion

The New Deal
Original Cost: $32 billion | Inflation Adjusted Cost: $500 billion

Gulf War II / War on Terror
Original Cost: $551 billion | Inflation Adjusted Cost: $597 billion

Vietnam War
Original Cost: $111 billion | Inflation Adjusted Cost: $698 billion

NASA (Cumulative)
Original Cost: $416.7 billion | Inflation Adjusted Cost: $851.2 billion

What are your thoughts?

Best regards,
Jay

Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net

Al Gore was dull and boring, even Gore and bore rhyme. But George W. Bush was far from a bore.

With questions, George Bush was frequently at a loss for words or creating words, which made him appear spontaneous and ordinary. Many people voted for Bush because he was more "likeable" than Gore. Therefore, in 2000, voters (along with the US Supreme Court) decided that our country needed an average, likeable guy rather than an intelligent, accomplished one. Eight years later, we are paying a hefty price for having Mr. Ordinary as President.

In 2008, Ms. Ordinary is now campaigning to be the Vice President to the oldest presidential nominee in US history. However, it seems that enough people are beginning to realize that they will never meet, much less have a beer with, a presidential nominee - so, it makes no difference if the candidate is likeable - the United State needs a leader that is intelligent and healthy enough to be capable and effective.

John McCain likes war (100 years in Iraq) and Sarah Palin believes that the world may be coming to an end (her church makes Rev. Wright look like a comedian). Thus, WWIII is much more likely with McCain/Palin... McCain will create war(s) and Palin should see war as simply a part of "end times". Prior to Bush, Americans had not seen how much damage a dimwitted president could cause. With Bush's exceptionally low approval ratings, it's evident that many Americans realize they made a mistake by electing Mr. Ordinary. So, without Bush, many Americans would make a mistake by voting for Ms. Ordinary. Thus, Bush has done his part to avert World War III.

Honorable Mention for Nobel Peace Prize - Tina Fey for making a mockery of a conceited, arrogant and uninformed candidate.

What are your thoughts?

Best regards,
Jay

Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net