Senatorial candidates Chuck DeVore in California, and Marlin Stutzman in Indiana.
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Oil Spills Suck. But Don’t Be an Ass.
April 29, 2010 by 1 Comment
There is a horrible oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico right now. On April 22nd, there was an explosion that killed eleven people and has caused crude oil to pour into the ocean and encroach upon wild marshlands at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Make no mistake — this is a tragedy. The lives lost in the explosion, the destruction to our environment, and the potential loss of livelihood should the oil move into the areas where many commercial fishermen earn their living.
I personally believe that we all need to come together to support the effort to get this mess cleaned up. I also think we need to figure out what caused it, so that other oil drilling sites can make sure they’re not at risk for the same type of disaster.
But I still support drilling for oil. To say we should hault the collection of one of our most valuable resources is like saying a person shouldn’t live in California because there’s a high risk of earthquakes. Or that no one should teach their kid to ride a bike because they might fall off and hurt themselves.
The fact is that there is risk to everything. Even getting out of bed in the morning poses a risk of tripping and falling in clumsy sleepiness. The goal is to take calculated risks. To look at the potential benefits and weigh them against the potential downfalls, and make the best decision that you can at the time.
I read this tweet from Bill Maher today:
Every asshole who ever chanted ‘Drill baby drill’ should have to report to the Gulf coast today for cleanup duty
Really? Asshole? Bill Maher is certainly entitled to his opinion, but unless he lives in a hut in the woods, he’s a total hypocrite. I’m sure that Mr. Maher uses more than his fair share of oil, so he would be wise not to criticize the collection of it. It’s stuff like this that makes it impossible for people to take him seriously.
It would be nice if Mr. Maher would use some of his money, influence, and power to mobilize some help to clean this oily mess up, rather than insult and criticize Americans that would like to see gasoline under three dollars a gallon again.
The Smart Girl Report – Episode 0027
April 28, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Jenny talks about the new immigrant law in Arizona, Ned Ryun of American Majority joins to share the low-down on Post Party Summits, conservative chick chat with Brittany Cohan, and cocktails with Mike G.
Enjoy!
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Unions and Stockholm Syndrome
April 27, 2010 by 2 Comments
This story ticks me off. It sounds more like something that would happen in Cuba, rather than good ol’ US of A.
Desperate times call for desperate measures – even if it means camping out in the rain for a chance at a job application.
Hundreds of job-seekers did just that in Queens in the hopes of landing a coveted union job.
Construction workers, engineers, electricians — hundreds spent the weekend right here. Many left with a job application, while many others walked away empty-handed.
“The sky’s the limit after this!” said Aaron Johnson of Mount Vernon.
Johnson is living month-to-month, struggling to pay the bills, with a 4-year-old daughter to support — and he was one of the lucky ones.
After three days of sleeping on the street, he left with one of just 750 job applications handed out for a position as an elevator technician apprentice — a secure job with pension and benefits and an earning potential up to $40 an hour.
“You don’t wanna keep working these dead-end jobs, check to check to check to check. I don’t want to do that anymore,” Johnson said.
More than 1,000 eager applicants began lining up as early as Friday morning armed with a variety of skills — and warm blankets.
Though many near the end of the line knew they probably wouldn’t even get an application, desperation to land a job fueled their determination to stand on line anyway — and hope for the best.
“I got laid off and that’s why I’m here, looking for my future,” said Benny Rodriguez of Flushing, Queens.
“Oh it’s real tough. Last night I was watching the news and they said 1 out of 10 New Yorkers are out of work. And it’s not getting any better,” said Scott Power of Patchogue.
But for the fortunate few who walked out with the precious piece of paper, things may be looking up.
“Right here, baby girl … she’s depending on my in three years to have the big house … and that’s what I’m working on,” Johnson said.
The union plans to hire about 75 people — and possibly more depending on the economy.
Has anyone ever heard of Stockholm Syndrome? The fact that these people are idolizing the union and practically begging for scraps (even $40/hour is scraps when compared to what the Big Bosses rake in) drives me bonkers. These unions dangle out enticing bait, and people jump at it. People waited in that line for days with the hope of winning the lottery and not having to work those “dead end” jobs anymore.
Here’s a thought — maybe a person should develop their skills, talk to their employer about moving up the ladder, and put their nose to the grindstone. Anyone that has time while unemployed to sit outside in the cold for days for the slim chance of winning a union job is not trying very hard to get a job. Do you have any idea how many interviews you can do in three days? Job applications you can fill out? Free online typing classes you can take at the public library?
The unions don’t really want to help the little guy. They want to keep the little guy little. I want to build someone up, give them the tools to succeed, and the encouragement to help them on their path. Unions tell people that they’re not smart enough to take care of themselves, and they should be thankful if they happen to catch one of their positions.
Geez. Have a little faith in yourself. Unions sure don’t have faith in you.
Running for Senate, A Sore Loser, & Baby Fever
April 25, 2010 by 2 Comments
The following is a conversation with my husband Leif. We were driving home from somewhere, and the car is definitely the place where all important conversations take place and difficult decisions are made.
“Someone asked why I wasn’t planning to run for elected office in the near future. I told him that my husband didn’t want me to.”
“Yeah?” He asked with an eyebrow slightly raised. “What did he say?”
“Something along the lines of ‘was I going to let that stop me?’”
“And you said…” The eyebrow shifted up even higher.
“I said of course it would stop me. Just like if you wanted to make a major career change that disrupted our entire life together, not to mention the effect on our kids, I would never expect you to go ahead with it if I weren’t completely on board.”
“So you don’t think I should quit my job and go to seminary and become a pastor?”
“Um…no. I didn’t marry a pastor, I married a software engineer.”
“So what do you have against pastors?”
“Nothing. I just don’t want to be married to one.”
“Well I don’t want to go to seminary anyway.”
“I know! So it’s totally different, because I actually want to run for Senate.”
That’s when I got the my-wife-is-ridiculous-but-adorable-so-I-love-her-quirks look.
“What?” I asked incredulously. “I could totally run for Senate. If I had a supportive husband, that is.” I tried my best to glower. I don’t think it worked very well.
“Next time someone asks you why you let your husband boss you around, just tell them it’s because I beat you.”
“You only beat me because you’re crazy good at games and never let me win.”
“If you played more, you’d get better at them and then maybe you’d really win.”
“I would, but I hate to lose.”
“And you want to run for Senate?”
“Completely different. I wouldn’t LOSE that!”
A clucked tongue and “um-hmm.” was all I got in reply.
“Well I wouldn’t.”
“Jennifer, no one’s going to let you win a Senate race.”
“You’re just scared I’ll lose and be an impossible biotchay to live with.”
“Damn straight.”
“You may have a point.”
After a moment or two of pondering, I only had one more thought to add.
“Except I wouldn’t lose.”
And then my smartypants hubby did the only thing he could to get out of his wife pestering him. He said, “I have no doubt you wouldn’t lose. But we’d miss you too much if you were a Senator.”
It’s true, you know. If I were a Senator, Leif might actually have to learn to do laundry. The horror!
“Well I’m still not ruling it out.”
And that’s when we got home and saw the neighbors struggling to bring in a new crib. Apparently they’re expecting a little girl in August. And that’s when my uterus throbbed and I thought about having another baby in a couple of years instead of running for Senate.
Except maybe I think I’ll do both.
Time to Vote!
April 24, 2010 by 2 Comments
The finalists for the Name the New Show Contest are in and it’s time to vote for your favorite. The poll closes Monday night at midnight Eastern time, so quit yer dilly-dallying and go vote.
Visit From the Right Radio to choose your favorite!
The finalists are:
Inside the Right Side (Maria Whitehead)
Who’s Gonna Run Your Country? (Evan Pokroy)
In For a Penny (Jillian Wolf)
In Her Right Mind (Brittany Cohan)
Right Turn to Washington (Jimmie Bise)
The Ballot Beat (Tommy Harris)
The Problem With the New Arizona Law
April 23, 2010 by 4 Comments
Ok, there are lots of problems with the new legislation signed into law today in Arizona by Governor Jan Brewer.
The sweeping legislation makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally. It also requires local police officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants.
So basically, if you have a tan and can properly pronounce “carne asada,” then you better carry your identification with you at all times. Otherwise you might get arrested. This new law is ridiculous, and I suspect that it is more a bold proclamation to shed light onto an area of federal government that badly needs reform.
Seriously. Just take a look at this chart.
The new *law* does nothing to address the real issue. It is so flippin’ hard to come into this country legally that millions are doing it illegally. And they are living in fear of the government, to the point where they won’t report crimes in their neighborhoods for fear of being deported.
I am in no way advocating open borders, but I think it’s ridiculous not to offer visas to the hard working men and women that want to become legal citizens, but lack the money or political connections to do so.
I’m pretty sure I’m going to come off like a bleeding heart liberal by saying this, but I can’t get this Thomas More quote out of my head:
For if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded from this, but that you first make thieves and then punish them. (Utopia)
I only hope that this weird new law sheds light into an area that badly needs reforming. Please, can we let more people in that want to work hard and build a better life, and try harder to keep the panty-bombers out?
Thanks.
The Happy Feminist
April 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Last week I spoke at a tea party. Maybe you heard about it. Or saw me on zee teevee. It was very cool. The reporter that interviewed me, Vikki Vargas, was very nice, and even pat my back a little when I had to sit down as waves of nervous nausea overtook me. Or maybe it was the lack of sleep and food that caused the tummy rumbles. Maybe all of the above.
But I digress.
Vikki and I talked off camera for a while, her asking questions, me answering, and her jotting down notes in a cute little pad. I need a cute little pad to carry around so that I can jot down notes when I ask people questions and they actually respond. Maybe I’ll fool them into thinking I know what I’m doing. Because Ms. Vargas was pro-fesh-in-all to a T. She was awesome.
Again, I digress.
One of the reasons that she wanted to interview me was because I’m a young, blonde, California female that happens to be a conservative. Apparently I’m an anomaly. To me, it just makes sense. I’m a rebel with a cause, what can I say? Through one line of questioning, I mean conversation, we got to talking about feminism. I mentioned Leslie Sanchez, an awesomely amazing woman that wrote a book about feminism in politics, and whom I was able to interview once upon a time for The Smart Girl Report.
We were interrupted briefly by the camera girl for some instructions on angles or vantage points or something else technically related, and then by someone that wanted to say hi, and then by my need to put a brownie into my nervous mouth and my subsequent need to wash down the brownie with half a bottle of water because said nervous mouth was drier than rice cakes… well, you get the picture.
Vikki and I finally got back to our chat.
“So how would you describe yourself?” She asked me.
Hmmm… that’s a difficult question. Sure, I’m a crusader for truth, but I didn’t want to give a cheesy answer. A mom? I am a mom, and I’d walk through fire for my kids (heck, I do it metaphorically everyday just by virtue of being an outspoken conservative female fighting for their future), but that doesn’t define me. Am I domestic? Sure. I cook & clean. But’s what I do, not what I am. Wowza, I was taking waaaay too long to answer the question.
So I finally spit something out.
“I guess…I would describe myself as happy.”
Yup, that pretty much fit the bill. I’m sassy and smart-mouthed for sure, but generally speaking, I’m a make lemonade out of lemons kinda girl. Ok, I’m a make margaritas out of limes kinda girl, but let’s not split hairs.
“Uh, I meant would you describe yourself as a feminist…”
D’oh!
The Smart Girl Report – Episode 0026
April 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment
A new contest, the tea parties and extremism, Smart Girl updates, and cocktails with Mike G.
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Name Jenny’s New Show & Win!
April 20, 2010 by 10 Comments
I really, really love hosting The Smart Girl Report for Smart Girl Politics.
I really, really love interviewing candidates. I think it’s essential that we get to know those running for office before we vote for them.
Unfortunately, the two weren’t meant to live together. Smart Girl Politics is a non-profit organization, and in order to keep everything on the up and up, I’m no longer able to interview and/or endorse candidates on The Smart Girl Report.
I totally understand that. But I’m hesitant to give up a platform that allows candidates to get their message out to the public. And the public is hungry to hear from our guys and girls working to get elected.
So…all of that just to say…
I’m starting a new show. In addition to The Smart Girl Report, I’ll also be hosting a weekly 30 minute show that will focus on the upcoming primaries and the November elections. I already have some great candidates lined up, as well as some special guest co-hosts, and needless to say, I’m very excited about it.
BUT.
I’m horrible at coming up with names for things. Really. The ability to come up with something clever or funny or smart for a title eludes me. There are people that are a lot better at that stuff. Which is why I’m turning to you guys.
I’m holding a contest to figure out the name of this new show that will air each week on From the Right Radio.
How to enter: Email me (jenny@fromtherightradio.com) with your suggestions by midnight this Friday (Eastern). I’ll pick 4 or 5 of my favorites and put up a poll on www.FTRradio.com, which everyone will vote on until Monday night at midnight. The winner will be announced Next Tuesday morning.
How do you win? That’s easy. The person that suggests the winning title is the winner! If more than one person happens to suggest the same name, and it happens to be the winner, I’ll throw their names into a hat and pick one. I’m good at the randomness technology.
What do you win? A $50 gift certificate to Amazon. Woohoo! Who doesn’t love Amazon?
Ok.
On your mark…
Get set…
Go!
Good luck!
Find Jenny on the SocNets