Sometimes I forget that the entire reasoning behind this blog’s name, Matt’s Musings, is to allow me to contemplatively share with readers what is on my mind. I manage several other blogs and most of those are business-oriented – meaning I must do plenty of research before publishing by interviewing people, confirming and citing sources, and obtaining permission to republish photos, logos, etc. Thankfully, on this site I can let my remaining hairs down and just speak my mind!

Post-election, I have written one piece directly addressing the coming Obama regime and that article was crafted from a strictly Christian perspective for my WordJourney blog. The article has been good reminder for me because a number of times over the past few days I’ve been bothered by what I see coming down the pike for this country, stuff that tends to rattle my peace. The article serves as a reminder to me that God is my foundation and if the Rock on which I stand isn’t firmly in place, then there is no comfort and there is certainly no peace. Your comments have been an encouragement to me too.

Where I’ve Been; Where I’m Heading

I must share with you that I wasn’t quite sure what direction this blog would be taking over the coming months, given that all of my recent posts have been politically centered, with a focus on this year’s election. Part of me just wants to move on to discussing other subjects including business development, personal finance, marketing, SEO and other topics I’ve covered over the past year, but my heart just isn’t there right now. I’m still digesting the election results, planning my next course of action, and weighing the impact those changes might have on my freelance writing business, on my family, my home, etc.

But, I will tell you this: when I find the appropriate button to replace the McCain/Palin ad on this site, it’ll probably be something political as I will continue to raise my voice as long as the very breath of life is in me, joining a chorus of thousands of concerned citizens who want to make sure that Truth has her day!

Kudos to Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin remains very much on my mind lately – in my thoughts and prayers as she has been savaged royally, allegedly by McCain aids and other RINO (Republican In Name Only) people who see her correctly as an ongoing threat to their livelihood.

You know what? She is! No matter what the reason was for John McCain to choose her as his running mate – and we can debate several of those reasons without getting anywhere – her introduction to the American people ignited a fire. Conservatives love her because she is a strong reminder of Ronald Reagan, a man who was passionately for the American people, the real “yes we can!” politician who believed that all good things come from the citizenry and not from some elite political base astride the Potomac River.

On the other hand, there is an element of the population who despise her and, if you would permit me to put my finger on what I believe is really going on, I believe that there is a strong spiritual component going on as she represents truth, righteousness, love, compassion, forbearance and other works of the Spirit of God that are the antithesis of how they live their own lives.

Trig – yes, little Down’s Syndrome Trig — was the flash point of the campaign: his young life is an affront to many, especially those who embrace a culture of death. You could almost hear the whispers when her family was introduced with Trig quietly resting in his oldest sister’s embrace — “How could she give birth to that child?” “He isn’t normal!” “She should have had an abortion!!!”

From the start, those of us who love life and who understand that God gives and God takes away – knew that Sarah Palin represents so very much of what we believe: a woman of influence who would not sweep away for convenience’s sake the young life growing within her, even when that child was known to have special needs. Courageously, Todd and Sarah Palin stood tall on principle, a foundation of life that trusts their Maker for guidance and support. That, my friends, is what bothers the Palin-haters so much as she is a woman who puts the needs of others before her own ambition.

Giving Due Credit to Three People

Before I close, please allow me to mention three people who have offered much encouragement to me over the past several weeks, particularly as I covered the election. Likely, they aren’t even aware of their influence, but it has been there nonetheless:

Pat is a great-grandmother from California who frequently finds and sends to me some of the best articles online. We met on Stumble Upon and she has been quite active on Facebook. To my knowledge she doesn’t have a website or blog of her own, but she certainly knows her way around the internet.

Vlad is from the old USSR and is passionate about his new country. What is it about our newest (legal) citizens and their deep love for America? Freedom is the answer to that question as people like Vlad serve as a strong reminder to native born Americans that freedom isn’t free.

Dominique is from France and is also passionate about America. She is a big Mike Huckabee fan, hates the current U.S. Tax code and she packs heat! I credit (or blame) her for my recent spurt of political activism.

I appreciate everyone who stops by, shares a comment, or sends me a personal note. We’ve got our work cut out for us and the task at hand won’t be easy (gosh, I sound like Obama!) but we’ll persevere, making sure that our voices are raised and that our way of living isn’t trampled on by those whose agenda is to exert government control over every aspect of our lives.

Barack Obama as our nation’s first African-American candidate (okay, he really is half white) and Sarah Palin as just our nation’s second woman vice-presidential candidate have heightened interest in this campaign, perhaps well beyond what we could have ever expected. Then again, how many of us thought that Hillary Clinton would represent the Democrats this November and that someone else, besides John McCain, would win the Republican nomination? This year has certainly had its share of surprises!

This particular election though has bothered me considerably, especially as the Democratic candidate’s obvious shortcomings have not been fully vetted by the media which has been openly supporting his candidacy throughout. What we have here is an attractive candidate, one with star-studded glamour appeal, a top notch orator — at least as long as the teleprompter is working!

But, we also have a candidate who holds some dangerous views, a person who is sending out strong signals that he’ll be spreading the wealth (your wealth) around, sitting down with dictators, and ushering in what will likely be a new era of repression not seen in this country since the McCarthy era. With the Fairness Doctrine rising up out of the dust, abortion on demand implemented across the board, and the likely appointment of at least two Supreme Court justices who devalue life, the spiritual darkness ready to descend on our land is thick and heavy. That is, if Obama wins.

My other beef with this election is the mindless tripe I constantly find online. Certainly, online access to the news and the blogosphere have impacted the way news is disseminated tremendously, but it is clearly one-sided.

Worse, is the public’s willingness to embrace a candidate whose mantra of Change, Hope, Believe says absolutely nothing, giving warm touchie-feelies to millions of adherents. Mindless and empty platitudes combined with dangerously vapid hyperbole from a throng of hysterical supporters who you dare not cross.

On the Republican side, we have John McCain — a centrist candidate who admittedly did much damage to the conservative movement. Until Sarah Palin came along, his chances of winning the election were quite small, but by pulling in a charming, but quite unknown conservative from Alaska, his campaign received new life and the conservative base has been energized to a level not seen since Ronald Reagan was president. Credit Palin, not McCain with this energy, but I’m not about to be too hard on McCain who truly fought for our country, suffered the consequences, and has a track record that Obama can only dream of.

The media has done their best to rip apart Sarah Palin but for those of us who love our God and our nation, respect life, and prefer minimal government intervention, Governor Palin is the right tonic for a political party that has taken its lumps. True, we know of her shortcomings as we do know Senator McCain’s, but Obama (and Biden) have quite a few of their own, difficult as it has been to learn of through the newspapers, network news shows, and other sources controlled by the left.

As for me, I’ll continue to share what I believe to be important on this blog as well as on other sites that I manage. I would hope that relevant news would be disseminated by the mainstream media, but we’re not likely to see that happen regardless of who is in the White House or what political party controls Congress. That leaves this responsibility to bloggers and online journalists who have a passion for the truth and don’t want our nation to sink into one party obscurity where their thoughts are your thoughts or else!

Early voting has been going on for some time here in North Carolina and I haven’t gotten to the polls yet. Whether I vote before November 4th or wait until polls open on Election Day, you can bet I’ll be there at some point to make sure that my voice is heard. I hope that you are planning to do the same.

The following are my choices for several contests directly impacting me and the reasons why my vote is going to a particular candidate:

President/Vice-President of the United States of America — The only conservative candidate running this year is Sarah Palin, therefore my endorsement of the McCain/Palin ticket is a lock. John McCain has certainly lived up to his maverick label for many years, going against standard Republican policy particularly in the area of immigration reform. Though I disagree with McCain on several decisions he has made (even vehemently), this man offers a clear alternative to Obama/Biden with his choice of Governor Palin being a stroke of genius.

Barack Obama is untested, unknown, and a controversial figure. He also has a magnetism to him that I do not like, has been a strident supporter of abortion, and has strong socialist tendencies that I cannot support. Purporting to support the average American, his tactics to destroy “Joe the Plumber” while having antipathy for those who cling to guns and their religion prove that this man is an elitist who shouldn’t hold the highest seat in our land.

United States Senator, State of North Carolina — Elizabeth (Libby) Dole has served admirably in the U.S. Senate during her first term and should be sent back to Washington, DC. Working with the McCain administration, I believe that Libby would be an effective voice for good immigration reform, defend American interests abroad, and see to it that America’s reliance on foreign fuel sources is reduced.

Kay Hagan is relatively unknown to me, but I know that she serves in the North Carolina Assembly, via the 27th district, a position she has held since 1999.  Top national Democrats have targeted this election, concluding that Dole is vulnerable and have poured millions into Hagan’s campaign. Hagan’s actions have been given a lot of scrutiny from Republicans who contend that she has raised debt levels in the Tarheel State, enough of a reason for me to fear what she would do in D.C.

United States House of Representatives, State of North Carolina (District 4) — I learned about Republican candidate William (B.J.) Lawson through online sources and quickly realized that he wants to unseat incumbent David Price in my district. Lawson has a strong libertarian streak and has been making a compelling case that Price’s campaign is being funded by corporate interests. Lawson’s appeal to Libertarians and Constitutionalists is evident, good reasons for me to support his candidacy.

Governor of North Carolina — I’ve been a resident of North Carolina for four years and have had plenty of time to understand how politics works here. Most residents are conservative and tend to vote for Democrats on the state level, while regularly sending Republican U.S. senators to D.C. Almost always, the state opts for the Republican presidential candidate.

State politics, however, reminds me of the good ‘ole boy network where backroom deals and other favors are routinely dispensed.  Our state has seen enough scandals over the past several years, many of which have taken place under the leadership of our outgoing governor, Mike Easley. Pat McCrory’s stance on illegal immigration, education, government reform, and economic development resonates with me and that is why he is getting my vote. Bev Perdue, on the other hand, seems to represent the type of network I would like to see disappear in this state.

There are a lot of other contests being waged which impact me that I haven’t mentioned here. Still, when it comes time to go to the polls, I’ll carefully study what each candidate is proposing and vote accordingly. There are no bond issues or referendums on the ballot this year.

This election cycle seems to have gone on and on and I’ll be glad when it is over. However, I’m very grateful for the right to vote and hope that you are too.

Change. Hope. Believe. Never before has an American presidential candidate's personal history been so obscured. Will certain forces have their way and install Barack Obama as America's next president or will voters rise up and let their voices be heard at the election booth on November 4th?

Election Day is fast approaching and I, for one, will be glad when it is all over.

This election cycle was ridiculously long, dating back to about January 2007 when the intentions of several of the candidates was made known.  At the beginning of this year I had Rudy Guiliani and Hillary Clinton squaring off for presidential honors, but we’ve been left instead with John McCain, Barack Obama, and a handful of third party candidates from which to choose the next president of these United States.

The Running Mates

I’ve been amused at how the whole campaign process has unfolded over the past few months, particularly as Barack Obama selected Delaware Senator Joe Biden as his running mate while John McCain chose Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his veep selection. The amusing part is the mainstream media who has clearly demonstrated that they want Barack Obama to be our next president. I could be aggravated by their one sidedness, but have chosen not to be — they’re making a pitiful attempt to influence the outcome of elections on all levels.

With their influence, the mainstream media (MSM) has been peddling distortions, exaggerations, and some outright lies over the past few weeks. Little, if anything is directed at our mystery candidate, Barack Obama — instead, just about every attack is focused on the McCain-Palin ticket, with the harshest criticism given to the Alaska governor. Obama has never been fully vetted and the MSM continually covers up his many associations with some of the most unseemly characters out there.

Give Up! Obama Has Won!

Lately, we’ve been hearing a trend being played out by the MSM in a renewed bid to influence how you vote. Specifically, we’ve heard news that an Irish bookie was already paying out to people who bet on Obama, figuring that the junior senator from Illinois has the election locked up. We’ve also heard stories about how Obama will win in a landslide and also have discovered Obama’s plan to meet with Congress in November to push through legislation including a possible stimulus package.

To hear this sort of news makes you think that the election is in Obama’s bag, but I’m here to tell you that this election is very close and that the media types want to discourage you from voting in the first place. Especially if you support the Republican ticket.

Destroying Joe the Plumber

If Obama and Company was so confident that they were going to win, he would be in seclusion until Election Day to avoid the possibility of saying something damaging along the lines of his over the top conversation with Joe the Plumber earlier this month. Just look at how vicious the left has been as they ripped this guy apart, an ordinary Joe who helped reveal Obama’s socialist agenda for all of the world to hear, “…and I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”

The person whom the Democrats have been trying to put a lid on is Joe Biden who pegs the gaffe meter like no other candidate. Biden’s curious remarks recently that Obama would be tested via a major crisis should get everyone’s attention — would terrorists, rogue nations, or communist dictatorships dare to do the same with John McCain in the White House? I think not!

Let’s Riot — The Election Was Stolen

Perhaps the worst thing being bandied about lately is the call from some quarters to unleash civil protest should Obama lose. Some people are thinking that the Republicans will steal the election (just like they did in 2000 and 2004 — ) and that Obama will be the upset loser. Saying that some will riot if Obama loses demonstrates just how crazy things are getting.

Let me tell you this: if Obama does lose it is because the American people have figured out that he is much too dangerous a person to run our country — untested, untried, and very mysterious. The thought that both the Administration and Congress might be controlled by a veto-proof Democratic Party with a far-left agenda is sending shudders up and down the spine of voters, with the potential to force gay marriage on the country, remove any restrictions on abortion, and raise taxes across the board.

Is McCain the ideal candidate? No, because some of his policies are clearly in opposition of what conservative voters want, but to vote for Obama or throw away a vote by choosing a third-party candidate is unthinkable, especially this year when the stakes are so high.

Raising (Mc)Cain

Once McCain is in office, the pressure should be on him to keep his promises and quit kissing up to the far left. Sure, go ahead and build a coalition that includes Joe Lieberman and some of the more moderate thinking Democrats, but watch your back: the extreme left will bash you like they’ve been doing to George Bush for eight years, spreading lies and undermining our troops, selling out the US to foreign interests, and pushing the most awful political agenda ever.

Above everything, don’t believe the polls — this year they’re likely to be more inacurrate than ever before as the push to “select” Obama mounts and the lies, distortions, and whackiness continues to grow as November 4th approaches.

Unlike the mainstream media who, for the most part, pretends that they are impartial, I’m not — at least when it comes to political reporting, a topic I rarely cover. In my opinion, I believe that Sarah Palin is the most refreshing of the four candidates on this year’s Prez-VP ticket.

I am a registered Republican, but more importantly than that I am a conservative. Above even that, I’m a Christian and try to look at politics through my spiritual lens. This doesn’t mean that I am readily predictable in my political beliefs, rather I have certain expectations when it comes to a candidate and Sarah Palin is the rare person who meets most of mine. I’m not the type of person who will even consider a Democratic candidate, choosing to go third party if the Republican Party gets flaky and offers up a closet liberal instead.

Holding Back Sarah Palin

Yesterday, I was waiting in nervous anticipation for the debate, praying throughout the day for Governor Palin that she would find her voice in time to take on Joe Biden. I had seen snippets of her interview with Katie Couric recently and was, like many, disappointed on how poorly she performed. However, I also felt that she was being held back by the McCain camp who had been on the defensive mode too long, making it difficult for her to be just herself.

Leading up to the 9 p.m. (ET) start, I watched the Bill O’Reilly show (The Factor) which only stirred up my anticipation. The flamboyant O’Reilly can be difficult to watch and last night he was all that and more, letting Rep. Barney Frank have it with both barrels over the congressman’s involvement in the Fannie Mae debacle. By the time the interview was over I was on edge, wanting to put that boisterous confrontation behind me and enjoy the debate.

A Compromised Moderator?

I was also bothered by the news that the moderator, Gwen Ifill, had failed to disclose that she was writing a book that is favorable to Barack Obama, a publication that is to be released on Inauguration Day, coinciding with what some hope will be Obama’s ascent to the presidency. In my opinion, Ifill should have recused herself, but since the McCain camp didn’t demand that she do so, she went ahead and moderated. FYI – Ifill did a fabulous job, remaining impartial throughout the debate and keeping everything moving like clockwork.

Without rehashing every point made last night I believe that both candidates performed well, though I take exception to some of Biden’s claims, particularly relating to McCain’s maverick ways. McCain is the reason why so many conservatives were on the sidelines until he named Sarah Palin as his running mate, a politician who has long irked people for crossing party lines and thumbing his nose at established Republican practices. For better or for worse, McCain crossed party lines more frequently than Biden and certainly much more often than the junior senator from Illinois.

Sarah Palin — Mainstream American

Throughout the debate, I found Sarah to be confident, poised, easy to understand, knowledgeable and most definitely someone who walks in the same shoes that the average American walks in. Quite easily, I believe that Sarah can relate to us and we can relate to her, unless you’re an elitist, an avowed liberal, or simply someone who cannot stand the woman.

Harnessing her experience as governor, we learned that Mrs. Palin works across party lines, was able to get the oil companies to pass some of their profits to Alaskans, and has plenty of executive and leadership experience dating back two decades when she first started out as a PTA mom. Sarah held her own when it came to world affairs, correcting Biden on several issues including Obama’s deplorable refusal to acknowledge that the Iraqi surge was a success, articulating that a troop build up plan tailor made for Afghanistan was necessary, and making an impassionate case for our country to stand up to Iran and defend Israel if need be.

When the debate was over, both candidates were standing, but I must say that Palin exceeded expectations while Biden performed as expected. This doesn’t mean that I’m taking anything away from Joe Biden, I’m simply recognizing that he have his game day plan in place or risk losing to the governor.

At the end, the candidates shook hands, talked with Gwen Ifill, and had their families come up on stage to meet each other. That last act was priceless, a rare public display of cordiality between political families.

Will The Veepstakes Help?

Will the Veep debate help the McCain/Palin ticket? That is hard to say at this point. Clearly, Governor Palin allayed fears some people had about her, proving once again that she is smart, witty, fun, and just the right person to stand with John McCain should he become president. No doubt, I believe that the governor is a fast learner and, if something terrible happened to President McCain, she’d be able to step right in and command our nation – with God’s help, of course!