Friday, October 31, 2008
great way to cap off an evening of great food and fellowship...
Pawnee Bath House looking west and up the hill ...
We went to dinner last night with our dear friends Craig and Missy...
By the way, day before yesterday was Missy's 40th birthday... you know, It's amazing that she is 40.. wow! She doesn't look a day over 19...... and still acts that way too.. . HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISSY belated.. but still we wish you the best and many many more.....
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
MK sent this note along today.. hehe... hits nail on the head... I think!
'Twas the night before elections
And all through the town
Tempers were flaring
Emotions all up and down!
I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap
Had cut off the TV
Tired of political crap.
When all of a sudden
There arose such a noise
I peered out of my window
Saw Obama and his boys
They had come for my wallet
They wanted my pay
To give to the others
Who had not worked a day!
He snatched up my money
And quick as a wink
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink
He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!
' On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, On Pelosi'
He screamed at the pairs!
They took off for his cause
And as he flew out of sight
I heard him laugh at the nation
Who wouldn't stand up and fight!
So I leave you to think
On this one final note-
IF YOU DONT WANT SOCIALISM
GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!
And all through the town
Tempers were flaring
Emotions all up and down!
I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap
Had cut off the TV
Tired of political crap.
When all of a sudden
There arose such a noise
I peered out of my window
Saw Obama and his boys
They had come for my wallet
They wanted my pay
To give to the others
Who had not worked a day!
He snatched up my money
And quick as a wink
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink
He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!
' On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, On Pelosi'
He screamed at the pairs!
They took off for his cause
And as he flew out of sight
I heard him laugh at the nation
Who wouldn't stand up and fight!
So I leave you to think
On this one final note-
IF YOU DONT WANT SOCIALISM
GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
photo albums...
a couple for you to check out.. all photos are there, good bad or other... haha...
Isabella with Grandpa yesterday... dangerous thing?? hehe...
and
Kaitlyn's 4th Birthday last Saturday
Isabella with Grandpa yesterday... dangerous thing?? hehe...
and
Kaitlyn's 4th Birthday last Saturday
Monday, October 27, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
T. Boone Pickens - Capitalizing on Opportunity
Eighty-year-old billionaire T. Boone Pickens sees today's times as the next big boon for entrepreneurialism. Here are seven ways you can follow Pickens' entrepreneurial mindset - even if your bottom line doesn't include drilling for "Texas Tea."
1. TAKE A LONG VIEW. "To make the big money, I've found it's best to take a long-term view, stay focused and not get spooked by the temporary fluctuations in the market. When I have the odds in my favor, I put my money up and keep it up. If the fundamentals change, I get the hell out of there."
2. LEAD BY EXAMPLE."You don't run over your personnel, but you don't pump them up with false praise, either."
3. HAVE A PLAN."A fool with a plan can outsmart a genius with no plan."
4. MAKE THE CALL."Sometimes the window of opportunity is open only briefly. Waiting is not a decision, although many people think it is. Be willing to make decisions. That's the most important quality in a good leader. Don't fall victim to what I call the ready-aim-aim-aim-aim syndrome. You must be willing to fire."
5. BALANCE IT OUT."Work eight hours and sleep eight hours, and make sure that they are not the same eight hours."
6. LEARN FROM MISTAKES."It's all right to get your fingers crushed in the door, but don't let the same door crush them twice."
7. BE ACCESSIBLE. It creates goodwill.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Hummmmmm ok.. enough I know.. haha... but lots of truth in this.. are we what we are told ...? or what we are?
And then Dave had this to say.
' As most of you know I am not a President
Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not
about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it
seems to hit the mark
'The other day I was reading Newsweek
magazine and came across some Poll data I found
rather hard to believe. It must be true given
the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67
percent of Americans are unhappy with the
direction the country is headed and 69 percent of
the country is unhappy with the performance of
the President. In essenc e 2/3 of the citizenry
just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''
A.. Is it that we have electricity and
running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of
having air conditioning in the summer and heating
in the winter?
C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of
these unhappy folks have a job?
D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk
into a grocery store a t any time and see more
food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last
year?
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our
cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the
Atlantic Ocean without having to present
identification papers as we move through each
state?
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean
and safe motels we would find along the way that
can provide temporary shelter?
G.. I guess having thousands of
restaurants with varying cu isine from around the
world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck
our car, emergency workers show up and provide
services to help all and even send a helicopter
to take you to the hospital.
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70
percent of Americans who own a home.
J.. You may be upset with knowing that
in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of
trained firefighters will appear in moments and
use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames,
thus saving you, your family, and your
belongings.
K.. Or if, while at home watching one
of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or
prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun
and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you
and your family against attack or loss .
L.. This all in the backdrop of a
neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and
pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where
90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M.. How about the complete religious,
social and political freedoms we enjoy that are
the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks
unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of
ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever
seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet
has a great disdain for its citizens. They see
us for what we are. The most blessed people in
the world who do nothing but complain about what
we don't have, and what we hate about the country
instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the
president who took us into war and has no plan to
get us out? The president who has a measly 31
percent approval rating? Is this the same
president who guided the nation in the dark days
after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to
bring an economy out of recession? Could this
be the same guy who has been called every name in
the book for succeeding in keeping all the
spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist
attacks? The commander in chief of an
all-v olunteer army that is out there defending
you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is
on the news or talk show? Did this news affect
you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't
take a look around for yourself and see all the
good things and be glad? Think about
it......are you upset at the President because he
actually caused you personal pain OR is it
because the 'Media' told you he was failing to
kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it.
The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have
died for your freedom. There is currently no
draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with
either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than
honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a
''dishonorable' ' discharge after a few days in
the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment
in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?
Say what you want but I blame it on the
media. If it bleeds it le ads and they
specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a
car crash with blood and guts How many will
watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The
media knows this and media outlets are for-profit
corporations. They offer what sells, and when
criticized, try to defend their actions by
'justifying' them in one way or another Just ask
why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J.
Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill
his wife, but if he did he would have done it
this way......Insane!
Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New
York Times for the bottom of your bird cage.
Then start being grateful for all we have as
country. There is exponentially more good than
bad. We are among the most blessed people on
Earth and should thank God several times a day,
or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With
hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud
slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up
the country from one end to another, and with the
threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we
sure this is a good time to take God out of the
Pledge of Allegiance?'
' As most of you know I am not a President
Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not
about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it
seems to hit the mark
'The other day I was reading Newsweek
magazine and came across some Poll data I found
rather hard to believe. It must be true given
the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67
percent of Americans are unhappy with the
direction the country is headed and 69 percent of
the country is unhappy with the performance of
the President. In essenc e 2/3 of the citizenry
just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''
A.. Is it that we have electricity and
running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of
having air conditioning in the summer and heating
in the winter?
C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of
these unhappy folks have a job?
D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk
into a grocery store a t any time and see more
food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last
year?
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our
cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the
Atlantic Ocean without having to present
identification papers as we move through each
state?
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean
and safe motels we would find along the way that
can provide temporary shelter?
G.. I guess having thousands of
restaurants with varying cu isine from around the
world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck
our car, emergency workers show up and provide
services to help all and even send a helicopter
to take you to the hospital.
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70
percent of Americans who own a home.
J.. You may be upset with knowing that
in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of
trained firefighters will appear in moments and
use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames,
thus saving you, your family, and your
belongings.
K.. Or if, while at home watching one
of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or
prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun
and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you
and your family against attack or loss .
L.. This all in the backdrop of a
neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and
pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where
90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M.. How about the complete religious,
social and political freedoms we enjoy that are
the envy of everyone in the world?
Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks
unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of
ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever
seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet
has a great disdain for its citizens. They see
us for what we are. The most blessed people in
the world who do nothing but complain about what
we don't have, and what we hate about the country
instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the
president who took us into war and has no plan to
get us out? The president who has a measly 31
percent approval rating? Is this the same
president who guided the nation in the dark days
after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to
bring an economy out of recession? Could this
be the same guy who has been called every name in
the book for succeeding in keeping all the
spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist
attacks? The commander in chief of an
all-v olunteer army that is out there defending
you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is
on the news or talk show? Did this news affect
you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't
take a look around for yourself and see all the
good things and be glad? Think about
it......are you upset at the President because he
actually caused you personal pain OR is it
because the 'Media' told you he was failing to
kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it.
The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have
died for your freedom. There is currently no
draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with
either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than
honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a
''dishonorable' ' discharge after a few days in
the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment
in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?
Say what you want but I blame it on the
media. If it bleeds it le ads and they
specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a
car crash with blood and guts How many will
watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The
media knows this and media outlets are for-profit
corporations. They offer what sells, and when
criticized, try to defend their actions by
'justifying' them in one way or another Just ask
why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J.
Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill
his wife, but if he did he would have done it
this way......Insane!
Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New
York Times for the bottom of your bird cage.
Then start being grateful for all we have as
country. There is exponentially more good than
bad. We are among the most blessed people on
Earth and should thank God several times a day,
or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With
hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud
slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up
the country from one end to another, and with the
threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we
sure this is a good time to take God out of the
Pledge of Allegiance?'
Borrowed from minniepearljam blog...
OK, all you Obama people. Grab a glass of the koolaid and let's sing your song...
Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew
Cover it with choc'late and a miracle or two
The Obama Man, oh the Obama Man can
The Obama Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good
Who can take a rainbow, wrap it in a sigh
Soak it in the sun and make a groovy lemon pie
The Obama Man, the Obama Man can
The Obama Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good
Oh, who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The Obama Man, oh the Obama Man can
The Obama Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good
Who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The Obama Man, the Obama Man can
The Obama Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good
Yes, the Obama Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good
Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew
Cover it with choc'late and a miracle or two
The Obama Man, oh the Obama Man can
The Obama Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good
Who can take a rainbow, wrap it in a sigh
Soak it in the sun and make a groovy lemon pie
The Obama Man, the Obama Man can
The Obama Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good
Oh, who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The Obama Man, oh the Obama Man can
The Obama Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good
Who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The Obama Man, the Obama Man can
The Obama Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good
Yes, the Obama Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good
Borrowed from another blog.. wow... Don't worry I'm not but ... read this.. haha...
Why I am voting Democrat!
I'm voting Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending MY MONEY than I would. I think when you spread the wealth around it is good for everybody! It’s Patriotic!
I'm voting Democrat because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. All profits are evil and should be confiscated for Government Redistribution.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe that MORE Government regulations and higher taxes on Business will stop Business from exporting their jobs to Countries with LESS Government regulations and lower taxes.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe terrorists should be allowed to have trials in American courts. And be able to subpoena top secret documents, soldiers, government officials, etc. to cross examine for their defense. They should have ACLU lawyers who can help intimidate Americans who serve on the juries!
I'm voting Democrat because I believe in a FREE government health care system. I believe doctors, nurses, hospitals, drug companies, etc. will gladly donate their time, products, services, facilities, etc. for FREE and that will be a better system.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe in and support trial lawyers, frivolous lawsuits and outrageous jury verdicts.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe 9/11 was an inside job to con the American people to go to war for oil.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe social security is solvent and that there is a social security lock box and I don’t believe social security is a Ponzi scheme.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe Gay Marriage should be the law of the land and will probably produce better children.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe English should not be the official language of the United States. I don’t mind pushing one for English when I use the phone.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe partial birth abortion is okay but water boarding a terrorist is disgusting.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe having a domestic terrorist like Bill Ayers as a close friend is a good thing. It allows for great relations with foreign terrorists.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe MOST AMERICANS are bitter and cling to their guns and religion. Let’s rid our country of guns and religion!
I'm voting Democrat because I believe illegal aliens deserve all the rights of ordinary Americans plus some additional rights Americans do not have.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe groups like ACORN who register felons, drug addicts, wino’s, homeless drifters, illegal aliens, dead people, children, fictional Disney characters, etc. makes my vote count more.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe celebrating the winter solstice shows compassion for the small minority of people that do not celebrate Christmas.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe hard core criminal murders and rapists deserve life and that the innocent unborn deserve death. It’s a choice I can live with.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe Bush caused Hurricane Katrina and he blew-up the levies in the ninth ward of New Orleans.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe our soldiers are AIR RAIDING villages and killing innocent people.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe sex in the Oval Office with an intern is a private matter and that everybody lies under oath about sex.
I'm votin Demokrat becuse I wus edumkated at a publick sckrool. I lik da NEA!
I'm voting Democrat because I believe that any one who is not partaking in one of the many wonderful government programs obviously has too much money and should pay higher taxes.
I'm voting Democrat because when we pull out of Iraq the terrorists will be happy and now think of us as good people.
I'm voting Democrat because freedom of speech is fine as long as it does not offend people. Can’t we all just get along?
I'm voting Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits are wrong. I believe higher taxes on oil companies will produce lower prices at the pump.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe we need to rid ourselves of dependency on foreign oil, BUT I AM AGAINST offshore drilling for oil and natural gas, drilling in Anwar, building nuclear power plants and clean coal technology.
And finally, I'm voting Democrat because I believe Reverend Wright when he said “GODDAMN AMERICA” and “OUR CHICKENS ARE COMING HOME TO ROOST”. Hey let’s make a comfortable nest for those chickens!
Why are you voting Democrat?
I'm voting Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending MY MONEY than I would. I think when you spread the wealth around it is good for everybody! It’s Patriotic!
I'm voting Democrat because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. All profits are evil and should be confiscated for Government Redistribution.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe that MORE Government regulations and higher taxes on Business will stop Business from exporting their jobs to Countries with LESS Government regulations and lower taxes.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe terrorists should be allowed to have trials in American courts. And be able to subpoena top secret documents, soldiers, government officials, etc. to cross examine for their defense. They should have ACLU lawyers who can help intimidate Americans who serve on the juries!
I'm voting Democrat because I believe in a FREE government health care system. I believe doctors, nurses, hospitals, drug companies, etc. will gladly donate their time, products, services, facilities, etc. for FREE and that will be a better system.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe in and support trial lawyers, frivolous lawsuits and outrageous jury verdicts.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe 9/11 was an inside job to con the American people to go to war for oil.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe social security is solvent and that there is a social security lock box and I don’t believe social security is a Ponzi scheme.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe Gay Marriage should be the law of the land and will probably produce better children.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe English should not be the official language of the United States. I don’t mind pushing one for English when I use the phone.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe partial birth abortion is okay but water boarding a terrorist is disgusting.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe having a domestic terrorist like Bill Ayers as a close friend is a good thing. It allows for great relations with foreign terrorists.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe MOST AMERICANS are bitter and cling to their guns and religion. Let’s rid our country of guns and religion!
I'm voting Democrat because I believe illegal aliens deserve all the rights of ordinary Americans plus some additional rights Americans do not have.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe groups like ACORN who register felons, drug addicts, wino’s, homeless drifters, illegal aliens, dead people, children, fictional Disney characters, etc. makes my vote count more.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe celebrating the winter solstice shows compassion for the small minority of people that do not celebrate Christmas.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe hard core criminal murders and rapists deserve life and that the innocent unborn deserve death. It’s a choice I can live with.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe Bush caused Hurricane Katrina and he blew-up the levies in the ninth ward of New Orleans.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe our soldiers are AIR RAIDING villages and killing innocent people.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe sex in the Oval Office with an intern is a private matter and that everybody lies under oath about sex.
I'm votin Demokrat becuse I wus edumkated at a publick sckrool. I lik da NEA!
I'm voting Democrat because I believe that any one who is not partaking in one of the many wonderful government programs obviously has too much money and should pay higher taxes.
I'm voting Democrat because when we pull out of Iraq the terrorists will be happy and now think of us as good people.
I'm voting Democrat because freedom of speech is fine as long as it does not offend people. Can’t we all just get along?
I'm voting Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits are wrong. I believe higher taxes on oil companies will produce lower prices at the pump.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe we need to rid ourselves of dependency on foreign oil, BUT I AM AGAINST offshore drilling for oil and natural gas, drilling in Anwar, building nuclear power plants and clean coal technology.
And finally, I'm voting Democrat because I believe Reverend Wright when he said “GODDAMN AMERICA” and “OUR CHICKENS ARE COMING HOME TO ROOST”. Hey let’s make a comfortable nest for those chickens!
Why are you voting Democrat?
Friday, October 17, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Eighty-Four Percent Say They'd Never Lie To A Pollster
by Ann Coulter
Posted 10/15/2008 ET
Updated 10/15/2008 ET
With an African-American running for president this year, there has been a lot of chatter about the "Bradley effect," allowing the media to wail about institutional racism in America.
Named after Tom Bradley, who lost his election for California governor in 1982 despite a substantial lead in the polls, the Bradley effect says that black candidates will poll much stronger than the actual election results.
First of all, if true, this is the opposite of racism: It is fear of being accused of racism. For most Americans, there is nothing more terrifying than the prospect of being called a racist. It's scarier than flood or famine, terrorist attacks or flesh-eating bacteria. To some, it's even scarier than "food insecurity."
Political correctness has taught people to lie to pollsters rather than be forced to explain why they're not voting for the African-American.
This is how two typical voters might answer a pollster's question: "Whom do you support for president?"
Average Obama voter: "Obama." (Name of average Obama voter: "Mickey Mouse.")
Average McCain voter: "I'm voting for McCain, but I swear it's just about the issues. It's not because Obama's black. If Barack Obama were a little more moderate -- hey, I'd vote for Colin Powell. But my convictions force me to vote for the candidate who just happens to be white. Say, do you know where I can get Patti LaBelle tickets?"
In addition to the social pressure to constantly prove you're not a racist, apparently there is massive social pressure to prove you're not a Republican. No one is lying about voting for McCain just to sound cool.
Reviewing the polls printed in The New York Times and The Washington Post in the last month of every presidential election since 1976, I found the polls were never wrong in a friendly way to Republicans. When the polls were wrong, which was often, they overestimated support for the Democrat, usually by about 6 to 10 points.
In 1976, Jimmy Carter narrowly beat Gerald Ford 50.1 percent to 48 percent. And yet, on Sept. 1, Carter led Ford by 15 points. Just weeks before the election, on Oct. 16, 1976, Carter led Ford in the Gallup Poll by 6 percentage points -- down from his 33-point Gallup Poll lead in August.
Reading newspaper coverage of presidential elections in 1980 and 1984, I found myself paralyzed by the fear that Reagan was going to lose.
In 1980, Ronald Reagan beat Carter by nearly 10 points, 51 percent to 41 percent. In a Gallup Poll released days before the election on Oct. 27, it was Carter who led Reagan 45 percent to 42 percent.
In 1984, Reagan walloped Walter Mondale 58.8 percent to 40 percent, -- the largest electoral landslide in U.S. history. But on Oct. 15, The New York Daily News published a poll showing Mondale with only a 4-point deficit to Reagan, 45 percent to 41 percent. A Harris Poll about the same time showed Reagan with only a 9-point lead. The Oct. 19 New York Times/CBS News Poll had Mr. Reagan ahead of Mondale by 13 points. All these polls underestimated Reagan's actual margin of victory by 6 to 15 points.
In 1988, George H.W. Bush beat Michael Dukakis by a whopping 53.4 percent to 45.6 percent. A New York Times/CBS News Poll on Oct. 5 had Bush leading the Greek homunculus by a statistically insignificant 2 points -- 45 percent to 43 percent. (For the kids out there: Before it became a clearinghouse for anti-Bush conspiracy theories, CBS News was considered a credible journalistic entity.)
A week later -- or one tank ride later, depending on who's telling the story -- on Oct. 13, Bush was leading Dukakis in The New York Times Poll by a mere 5 points.
Admittedly, a 3- to 6-point error is not as crazily wrong as the 6- to 15-point error in 1984. But it's striking that even small "margin of error" mistakes never seem to benefit Republicans.
In 1992, Bill Clinton beat the first President Bush 43 percent to 37.7 percent. (Ross Perot got 18.9 percent of Bush's voters that year.) On Oct. 18, a Newsweek Poll had Clinton winning 46 percent to 31 percent, and a CBS News Poll showed Clinton winning 47 percent to 35 percent.
So in 1992, the polls had Clinton 12 to 15 points ahead, but he won by only 5.3 points.
In 1996, Bill Clinton beat Bob Dole 49 percent to 40 percent. And yet on Oct. 22, 1996, The New York Times/CBS News Poll showed Clinton leading by a massive 22 points, 55 percent to 33 percent.
In 2000, which I seem to recall as being fairly close, the October polls accurately described the election as a virtual tie, with either Bush or Al Gore 1 or 2 points ahead in various polls. But in one of the latest polls to give either candidate a clear advantage, The New York Times/CBS News Poll on Oct. 3, 2000, showed Gore winning by 45 percent to 39 percent.
In the last presidential election the polls were surprisingly accurate -- not including the massively inaccurate Election Day exit poll. In the end, Bush beat John Kerry 50.7 percent to 48.3 percent in 2004. Most of the October polls showed the candidates in a dead-heat, with Bush 1 to 3 points ahead. So either pollsters got a whole lot better starting in 2004, or Democrats stole more votes in that election than we even realized.
Posted 10/15/2008 ET
Updated 10/15/2008 ET
With an African-American running for president this year, there has been a lot of chatter about the "Bradley effect," allowing the media to wail about institutional racism in America.
Named after Tom Bradley, who lost his election for California governor in 1982 despite a substantial lead in the polls, the Bradley effect says that black candidates will poll much stronger than the actual election results.
First of all, if true, this is the opposite of racism: It is fear of being accused of racism. For most Americans, there is nothing more terrifying than the prospect of being called a racist. It's scarier than flood or famine, terrorist attacks or flesh-eating bacteria. To some, it's even scarier than "food insecurity."
Political correctness has taught people to lie to pollsters rather than be forced to explain why they're not voting for the African-American.
This is how two typical voters might answer a pollster's question: "Whom do you support for president?"
Average Obama voter: "Obama." (Name of average Obama voter: "Mickey Mouse.")
Average McCain voter: "I'm voting for McCain, but I swear it's just about the issues. It's not because Obama's black. If Barack Obama were a little more moderate -- hey, I'd vote for Colin Powell. But my convictions force me to vote for the candidate who just happens to be white. Say, do you know where I can get Patti LaBelle tickets?"
In addition to the social pressure to constantly prove you're not a racist, apparently there is massive social pressure to prove you're not a Republican. No one is lying about voting for McCain just to sound cool.
Reviewing the polls printed in The New York Times and The Washington Post in the last month of every presidential election since 1976, I found the polls were never wrong in a friendly way to Republicans. When the polls were wrong, which was often, they overestimated support for the Democrat, usually by about 6 to 10 points.
In 1976, Jimmy Carter narrowly beat Gerald Ford 50.1 percent to 48 percent. And yet, on Sept. 1, Carter led Ford by 15 points. Just weeks before the election, on Oct. 16, 1976, Carter led Ford in the Gallup Poll by 6 percentage points -- down from his 33-point Gallup Poll lead in August.
Reading newspaper coverage of presidential elections in 1980 and 1984, I found myself paralyzed by the fear that Reagan was going to lose.
In 1980, Ronald Reagan beat Carter by nearly 10 points, 51 percent to 41 percent. In a Gallup Poll released days before the election on Oct. 27, it was Carter who led Reagan 45 percent to 42 percent.
In 1984, Reagan walloped Walter Mondale 58.8 percent to 40 percent, -- the largest electoral landslide in U.S. history. But on Oct. 15, The New York Daily News published a poll showing Mondale with only a 4-point deficit to Reagan, 45 percent to 41 percent. A Harris Poll about the same time showed Reagan with only a 9-point lead. The Oct. 19 New York Times/CBS News Poll had Mr. Reagan ahead of Mondale by 13 points. All these polls underestimated Reagan's actual margin of victory by 6 to 15 points.
In 1988, George H.W. Bush beat Michael Dukakis by a whopping 53.4 percent to 45.6 percent. A New York Times/CBS News Poll on Oct. 5 had Bush leading the Greek homunculus by a statistically insignificant 2 points -- 45 percent to 43 percent. (For the kids out there: Before it became a clearinghouse for anti-Bush conspiracy theories, CBS News was considered a credible journalistic entity.)
A week later -- or one tank ride later, depending on who's telling the story -- on Oct. 13, Bush was leading Dukakis in The New York Times Poll by a mere 5 points.
Admittedly, a 3- to 6-point error is not as crazily wrong as the 6- to 15-point error in 1984. But it's striking that even small "margin of error" mistakes never seem to benefit Republicans.
In 1992, Bill Clinton beat the first President Bush 43 percent to 37.7 percent. (Ross Perot got 18.9 percent of Bush's voters that year.) On Oct. 18, a Newsweek Poll had Clinton winning 46 percent to 31 percent, and a CBS News Poll showed Clinton winning 47 percent to 35 percent.
So in 1992, the polls had Clinton 12 to 15 points ahead, but he won by only 5.3 points.
In 1996, Bill Clinton beat Bob Dole 49 percent to 40 percent. And yet on Oct. 22, 1996, The New York Times/CBS News Poll showed Clinton leading by a massive 22 points, 55 percent to 33 percent.
In 2000, which I seem to recall as being fairly close, the October polls accurately described the election as a virtual tie, with either Bush or Al Gore 1 or 2 points ahead in various polls. But in one of the latest polls to give either candidate a clear advantage, The New York Times/CBS News Poll on Oct. 3, 2000, showed Gore winning by 45 percent to 39 percent.
In the last presidential election the polls were surprisingly accurate -- not including the massively inaccurate Election Day exit poll. In the end, Bush beat John Kerry 50.7 percent to 48.3 percent in 2004. Most of the October polls showed the candidates in a dead-heat, with Bush 1 to 3 points ahead. So either pollsters got a whole lot better starting in 2004, or Democrats stole more votes in that election than we even realized.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Power of Your Positive Mind
The Power of Your Positive Mind
It's hard to believe that the father of positive thinking, Norman Vincent Peale, was once a young boy plagued by an inferiority complex. But through faith, and his realization that people take you at your own self-appraisal, Peale began a journey to a new way of thinking.
If your self-appraisal needs some refinement, incorporate Peale's timeless truths into your life:
Start thinking you can do things. When people believe in themselves they learn the first secret of success.
Practice hope. As hopefulness becomes a habit, you can achieve a permanently happy spirit.
Get fired up with enthusiasm.Those fired up with an enthusiastic idea, and who allow it to take hold and dominate their thoughts, find that new worlds open for them.
Stretch beyond your current limits. We can do just about anything that we really want and make up our minds to do. We are all capable of greater things than we realize.
Practice happy thinking.Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate. Cultivate the merry heart, develop the happiness habit, and life will become a continual feast.
Like attracts like. If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind.
Maintain enthusiasm through tough times. Cushion the painful effects of hard blows by keeping the enthusiasm going strong.
Believe things will turn out well. Believe it is possible to solve your problem. Tremendous things happen to the believer. So believe the answer will come. It will.
Change your thoughts and you change your world.
It's hard to believe that the father of positive thinking, Norman Vincent Peale, was once a young boy plagued by an inferiority complex. But through faith, and his realization that people take you at your own self-appraisal, Peale began a journey to a new way of thinking.
If your self-appraisal needs some refinement, incorporate Peale's timeless truths into your life:
Start thinking you can do things. When people believe in themselves they learn the first secret of success.
Practice hope. As hopefulness becomes a habit, you can achieve a permanently happy spirit.
Get fired up with enthusiasm.Those fired up with an enthusiastic idea, and who allow it to take hold and dominate their thoughts, find that new worlds open for them.
Stretch beyond your current limits. We can do just about anything that we really want and make up our minds to do. We are all capable of greater things than we realize.
Practice happy thinking.Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate. Cultivate the merry heart, develop the happiness habit, and life will become a continual feast.
Like attracts like. If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind.
Maintain enthusiasm through tough times. Cushion the painful effects of hard blows by keeping the enthusiasm going strong.
Believe things will turn out well. Believe it is possible to solve your problem. Tremendous things happen to the believer. So believe the answer will come. It will.
Change your thoughts and you change your world.
All Excuses Abolished - You CAN Achieve Success At Any Age!
14 Oct Posted by: Darren Hardy in: SUCCESS
I’m too old, too young or too poor. I don’t have the education. I’m not from the right family. I don’t have the connections, etc., ad nauseam.
I feel one of our jobs here at SUCCESS is to abolish the excuses we were fed to believe for why we are not living up to our potential and achieving the dreams we imagine.
In previous issues we’ve shown that the greatest entrepreneurs and achievers throughout history have come from varied backgrounds—whether born into wealth or poverty, the children of slaves or immigrants, college dropouts or intellectual giants, men or women, black or white or Asian or Hispanic. We’ve shown there is no particular cloth from which achievers are cut; they create their own destiny.
In this issue we set out to prove you can find success at any age. In the forthcoming pages we will demonstrate, through the examples of others, that there is no timeline for success—no invisible clock that says you have to be a certain age before you can achieve your goals, or that says your chance has passed, regardless of how many candles grace your birthday cake.
Having fought age discrimination myself as a young entrepreneur I can tell you firsthand, age is an illusion—for both the doer and the viewer. Like most things, age is a mindset, an attitude. You are as old as you think you are, and thus act, project and interact with the world around you. This projection is what everyone sees and feels from you, thus they respond accordingly. I have seen 80-year-olds (Paul J. Meyer, featured in the June/July issue, comes to mind) act more vivacious, youthful and energetic than most 18-year-olds. I have also met 18-year-olds more sensible, resourceful and seemingly wiser than many “veterans” in executive positions. Age is not the limitation; one’s attitude about age is.
Don’t believe me; believe Ani Patel, a 13-year-old social entrepreneur who is doing what adult onlookers thought was impossible. Then there is Dara Torres, the 41-year-old mother and Olympian who competed in Beijing against women young enough to be her children. And there is the great Tony Hawk, who has defied age on both ends of the spectrum. A pro athlete at 14, the best in the world at 16, and now, at 40 (considered “grandpa” age in skateboarding), he remains not only relevant, but in fact at the very top of a multibillion-dollar industry he helped create (hear a snippet from my interview with Tony)
So, the age card is shredded. You are free to achieve your greatest dreams no matter what age you start after them. Hey, why not start now?
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have always imagined.” —Henry David Thoreau
Darren Hardy
SUCCESS Publisher and Editorial Director
I’m too old, too young or too poor. I don’t have the education. I’m not from the right family. I don’t have the connections, etc., ad nauseam.
I feel one of our jobs here at SUCCESS is to abolish the excuses we were fed to believe for why we are not living up to our potential and achieving the dreams we imagine.
In previous issues we’ve shown that the greatest entrepreneurs and achievers throughout history have come from varied backgrounds—whether born into wealth or poverty, the children of slaves or immigrants, college dropouts or intellectual giants, men or women, black or white or Asian or Hispanic. We’ve shown there is no particular cloth from which achievers are cut; they create their own destiny.
In this issue we set out to prove you can find success at any age. In the forthcoming pages we will demonstrate, through the examples of others, that there is no timeline for success—no invisible clock that says you have to be a certain age before you can achieve your goals, or that says your chance has passed, regardless of how many candles grace your birthday cake.
Having fought age discrimination myself as a young entrepreneur I can tell you firsthand, age is an illusion—for both the doer and the viewer. Like most things, age is a mindset, an attitude. You are as old as you think you are, and thus act, project and interact with the world around you. This projection is what everyone sees and feels from you, thus they respond accordingly. I have seen 80-year-olds (Paul J. Meyer, featured in the June/July issue, comes to mind) act more vivacious, youthful and energetic than most 18-year-olds. I have also met 18-year-olds more sensible, resourceful and seemingly wiser than many “veterans” in executive positions. Age is not the limitation; one’s attitude about age is.
Don’t believe me; believe Ani Patel, a 13-year-old social entrepreneur who is doing what adult onlookers thought was impossible. Then there is Dara Torres, the 41-year-old mother and Olympian who competed in Beijing against women young enough to be her children. And there is the great Tony Hawk, who has defied age on both ends of the spectrum. A pro athlete at 14, the best in the world at 16, and now, at 40 (considered “grandpa” age in skateboarding), he remains not only relevant, but in fact at the very top of a multibillion-dollar industry he helped create (hear a snippet from my interview with Tony)
So, the age card is shredded. You are free to achieve your greatest dreams no matter what age you start after them. Hey, why not start now?
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have always imagined.” —Henry David Thoreau
Darren Hardy
SUCCESS Publisher and Editorial Director
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