http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com Politics and Food: Essentials Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:46:11 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Are we to jettison that which makes us great? The essential issues: What is the essence of America? Are we are to surrender that which makes us a country worthy of our ideals in an effort to preserve the empty shell that remains? In recent weeks, protests have been heard against the construction of a [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/272/uncategorized/our-national-values-should-be-treasured/ Reactions to my postings on a number of websites in which I take positions that are admittedly to the left of center are, often, argumentative. Many of my immediate family’s views are far more to the right than mine and we have spirited conversations which I find stimulating and literally exciting. On the other hand, [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/269/politics/you%e2%80%99re-going-to-vote-whether-you-want-to-or-not/ The Essence of Liberalism One of the primary epithets in this and other recent election cycles is “Liberal”. I am an unabashed liberal, or “progressive” if one prefers. Moreover, I believe that most thinking Americans are basically “liberal” – even if the term has been vilified by the Right. The traditional role of the conservative [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/266/politics/what-is-a-liberal-and-why-im-proud-to-be-one/ The bills have to get paid. Period. And wishful thinking and pandering politicians are not helpful. The other day Joan, my wife of over a half-century and I went to the supermarket. (I am usually not allowed to assist with the shopping because of an addiction to the olives at the antipasto bar, at prices [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/263/politics/a-politician-willing-to-govern/ A primer on the filibuster. First, a definition: A filibuster is a delaying tactic that is a part of the rules of the United States Senate. According to etymologists it is a word that comes from the Spanish filibustero meaning “freebooter” or “pirate.” The origin seems to be that a person who filibusters is plundering [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/260/politics/a-way-to-defeat-the-peoples-will/ The Supreme Court has, in the past few years, upheld (or discovered) the constitutional right of an individual to own a handgun, based, primarily, on the right to defend one’s self against bad guys. I had previously written about the need to re-examine the meaning and scope of the Second Amendment in the light of [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/258/politics/weapons-are-not-political-discourse/ Americans have a plethora of concerns. None is as important as jobs. Barack Obama became president in the midst of crises. The economy of the nation was in tatters; huge financial institutions which had been considered solid as Gibraltar had foundations of worthless assets and outright chicanery, international respect for the United States had been [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/256/politics/americans-have-a-plethora-of-concerns-none-is-as-important-as-jobs/ What do Republicans really want? From the earliest days of the Obama administration, the GOP aim was clearly stated by Rush and the other denizens of the World of Fox: the failure of the Obama agenda and, as a result of that failure, the recapture of the White House and Congress in 2012 and 2010, [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/253/politics/gop-delays-benefits-to-1-3-million-americans-go-on-vacation/ A while ago, speaking from the White House Oval Office, a locale reserved for the most important of addresses to the American public, President Obama spoke of the social and economic disaster that has been a consequence of the failure of BP’s Deepwater Horizon well. The investigations may continue beyond the eventual capping of the [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/251/politics/liberals-have-no-reason-to-lose-confidence/ Oh Charlie, where have you been? Charlie Crist: a reason to have optimism. I am 75 years old and have voted in every election since 1956 when I cast my first presidential vote for Democrat Adlai Stevenson over the then incumbent, Dwight Eisenhower. This was a rematch of the 1952 contest, the Korean War had [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/248/uncategorized/oh-charlie-where-have-you-been/ Mr. President, grab the chance to be great. Our last several presidents, Democrat and Republican, have spoken about America’s “addiction to oil”. We use the stuff to fuel our inefficient gas guzzlers, buy military sized Hummers to drop the kids off at soccer practice or go to the supermarket to pick up a bottle of [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/243/politics/mr-president-grab-the-mantle-of-greatness/ I am an old fashioned kind of guy. After 75 years of chomping on pizza, from New England, to New York and New Jersey, and on to Florida, I am rather set in my ways. Pizza is supposed to have red sauce, pepperoni, cheese, perhaps some limited veggies (green peppers, onions) and not much more. [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/240/cultures-and-lifestyles/restaurants-tampa-bay-area/tampas-gourmet-pizza-company-non-traditional-and-great/ Helen Thomas has resigned, under fire, as a columnist for Hearst, under pressure for making a statement that is consistent with her well known anti-Jewish opinions. There are those who raise First Amendment rights that are being infringed but, of course, the Constitution’s guarantee of free speech only applies to governmental action; Hearst has every [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/237/uncategorized/the-real-tragedy-of-helen-thomas/ Perhaps BP is not “at fault” for the Gulf disaster. There is a well-known fable about a scorpion and a frog. For any reader who is unfamiliar with the tale, this is from Wikipedia: The story is about a scorpion asking a frog to carry him across a river. The frog is afraid of being [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/235/politics/bp-is-not-solely-responsible/ A few weeks ago, Joan and I ventured to the east side of Florida to meet with friends, Lida and Roy Kaplan. The four of us were to board the Noordam the following day on a ten-day cruise to the southern end of the Caribbean. Although we were aware that the Holland America line had [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/228/cultures-and-lifestyles/restaurants-florida/pineapple-joes-in-fort-pierce/ One of the more prolific writers on another site to which I contribute, S.L. Bradish, has posted comments relating to a Tea Party. I should note here that Ms Bradish firmly believes in many silly things, as the President being an alien whose main purpose on Earth is to ensure the destruction of America. “Last [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/231/politics/the-tea-party-folks-have-our-attention-now-what/ President Obama’s position on health care delivery systems and the need for comprehensive reform is totally consistent with the ideals and traditions of the nation. The Republican continuing assertion that an apparent populist aversion to the reforms should prevent their adoption reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the underpinnings of America. I will assume, without much [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/226/politics/president-obama-displays-political-guts/ Almost every weekday evening I can be found in my red VW Beetle driving the 30 to 40 minutes from my Jackson Hewitt Tax Service kiosk at a nearby Walmart where I am, for 105 days, office manager of the location. The ride is not that exciting and I invariably put the radio on and [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/223/politics/the-last-word-on-health-care/ It seems that people, unlike Gaul, are divided into two groups when it comes to the red sauce on pasta at local establishments. Our very close friends choose a sweeter version of the ubiquitous red sauce; Joan and I prefer one that is less sweet. The Tampa area has fine examples of both varieties and, [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/220/cultures-and-lifestyles/sans-italian-restaurant-is-a-neighborhood-treat/ Wherein I acknowledge the error of my ways I have to confess that, to some members of my family, I am politically a disgrace, leaning so far to the Left as to have abandoned all rational thinking! I believe (or did before my new-found appreciation for the truths of the Right) in social programs to [...]]]> http://jimspoliticalcertainty.worldblogosphere.com/218/politics/maybe-the-right-is-right/