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Intellectual Conservative PoliticsIowa.com Weekly Weblog No Runny Eggs
This is the personal weblog of Aakash Raut, established Sept. 2002. It will cover current affairs, worldwide & national topics, local & university events, and provide insight and commentary on contemporary issues and the news from his perspective. Enjoy! --------------- ARCHIVES Sept 2002 - Now -------------
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Friday, December 31, 2010
...of a different color As usual, I have a ton of things to do, before the year ends (and feel like I'm FAILing, to get them done). This time, it's kind of unique, because they involve additional areas. But also, I recently picked up steam, and actually got some tasks completed (despite being sleep-deprived, etc...) - Anyway: It's all covered, on my Twitter stream. http://twitter.com/AakashRaut Right now, there's a mixture of: The seasonal angst, the repeated regrets, the cabin fever, the agony of time slipping away (and passing), the fear of missing this key opportunity (the end of the year!) to get things done, which I should've earlier this year, but for which this could be a good time to take care of them... There's that, plus the fear I'm forgetting something. And also: The regret that I'm not out right now (the regular West Side Young Adult NewYear'sEve gathering isn't there today... I was glad to have been at those, in 2002, last year, and the year before (though in both of the latter cases, I didn't arrive till shortly after midnight, as I was doing... Well, THIS type of thing! ;-). On the up side, however... Thanks to the incredible Tyler Sickmeyer (via Twitter), along with a boost from Joyce Meyer, for providing the inspiration, to break out of the rut this early-evening. I've gotten the ball rolling, and am now going to start sending the year-end [e-mail] thank-you notes! (Really wish I'd gotten the snail-mail ones in the mail earlier, but they will be going out soon.) And who knows... I may actually get a chance to go out tonight (or will it be next year, before I get out of the house?), after all! In any case... As I said, seven years ago (wow!!) ~ PLEASE DO NOT allow what's happening on my end (both externally, and in) put a damper on your holiday spirit. Please STOP reading this, right NOW, and head over to a church service (or church gathering). At West Side, the Singles Groups is having their gathering (which some of the Young Adults will be at), despite there not being the WS YA annual party, as is usually done. In nearby Mt. Pulaski, there's a public, community-wide event, sponsored by a local church. [I've never been to Holy Ground Coffee House; I really wish I had been. They kick of the Countdown to New Year's at 9:00 PM tonight.]  Or, if you're in our neck of the state, you could also head downtown, to First Night Springfield, or perhaps to Mt. Pulaski, for their community-wide festivities!! [Also: From what I've heard, those tornados have passed away, from this area at least, by now.] So, stop reading this, and go out! (Or if you're staying at home, do something else.) Be safe this season. And also (like we advocated, for Thanksgiving), put aside the worry and angst, re: the issues/debates/problems that have been plaguing our minds... and enjoy! Merry CHRISTmas (yes, still! ;-) and happy new year, to you and yours!! Friday, December 24, 2010
Here is Pieter Friedrich's Christmas Eve 2003 entry from the now-retired 'Deux Ego' weblog: 12/24/2003: "December 24th: Spurgeon's Evening Devotional" "'The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.'--Isaiah 40:5 "We anticipate the happy day when the whole world shall be converted to Christ; when the gods of the heathen shall be cast to the moles and the bats; when Romanism shall be exploded, and the crescent of Mohammed shall wane, never again to cast its baleful rays upon the nations; when kings shall bow down before the Prince of Peace, and all nations shall call their Redeemer blessed. Some despair of this. They look upon the world as a vessel breaking up and going to pieces, never to float again. We know that the world and all that is therein is one day to be burnt up, and afterwards we look for new heavens and for a new earth; but we cannot read our Bibles without the conviction that- "'Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Does his successive journeys run.' "We are not discouraged by the length of his delays; we are not disheartened by the long period which he allots to the church in which to struggle with little success and much defeat. We believe that God will never suffer this world, which has once seen Christ's blood shed upon it, to be always the devil's stronghold. Christ came hither to deliver this world from the detested sway of the powers of darkness. What a shout shall that be when men and angels shall unite to cry 'Hallelujah, hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth!' What a satisfaction will it be in that day to have had a share in the fight, to have helped to break the arrows of the bow, and to have aided in winning the victory for our Lord! Happy are they who trust themselves with this conquering Lord, and who fight side by side with him, doing their little in his name and by his strength! How unhappy are those on the side of evil! It is a losing side, and it is a matter wherein to lose is to lose and to be lost for ever. On whose side are you?"--Charles Spurgeon Blast the Backlog (Christmastime!) In an entry below (re: Mayor Davlin's passing), I mentioned how major events will break through the "backlog" of planned entries that I have here, which has caused me to feel bad about posting new content (when there's so much other stuff, pending). While tragic events will break through the backlog, and create new content, joyous events can also do this. I know that I shouldn't have this type of hang-up, when it comes to posting here (and should be blogging more on-a-whim, as most people do); It does make me feel bad though, having so much good content, that isn't completed or published. I am thinking of a reboot-type thing, on this weblog (perhaps "University Blog 2.0" - like we have Web2.0 :-). In any case, I need to do something, to jump-start things here (and I have other blogs, as well), especially since I may be using blogging as a part-time revenue 'job'. I am actually at home, between Christmas Eve services right now (and still need to have dinner, with the RedBull!), but I am saving a few drafts here, which I plan to publish this time (like the year before last). Merry CHRISTmas Eve, all!! Monday, December 20, 2010
16 minutes till the filing deadline, for local races (here in Springfield, IL, and probably the other places in Illinois, as well). I'm wondering whether I should've run for an office, this time around. [I'm about to make a list of offices that are up, so as to at least assuage my conscience.] (I know which offices are up, but am about to compile a full list, with the candidates, for each position... That should help clear things up.) Tuesday, December 14, 2010
 Though I missed a friend's call this morning (which I'm assuming was regarding this same news), I woke up today (after sleeping in too late, once again!), as a couple of service workers were at home, one of whom asked the other if he'd heard the news today, regarding Mayor Tim Davlin; he said he'd been getting messages about that, all day. "That's crazy," they remarked. I thought that the news may be regarding some policy or personal-based development (several such items had recently been in the news). When doing a web search on my Blackberry however, I was shocked at what it actually was. Our Mayor, here in the (Illinois) capital city, was found dead today, of an apparent suicide (though the cause of death is uncertain, at this point). The Illinois State Police, from what I've read/heard, called a press conference, but didn't reveal any information. I have been a critic of the Mayor (and our successful actions in the last Municipal elections probably didn't make him too happy!), but he was a decent guy, who had tough decisions to make, and faced a lot of heat, from his fellow Democrats, in addition to Republicans. The Mayor was also respected by those, across the board. I will post more on this, as the situation develops... For now, please keep the Davlin family in your prayers. =========================== Update: From daughter Tara Davlin (via Rich Miller's Capitol Fax) Note: As mentioned numerous times before, I've had a backlog of blog entries (many miles long, and going back years!), of potential [or partially-constructed!] entries here. It is so frustrating that I haven't been able to make progress, insofar as that... Looking back, I realized that even more-recently, I've never published recaps from Right Nation 2010, as I was supposed to. (I shouldn't be so OCD-like & conscientious about this, and should instead blog more on a whim, like most people do. That's been quite a challenge though; Also, busy-ness, + 'blogging fatigue,' interferes with blogging, not to mention other tasks!) Sometimes, however, major events [whether Blagojevich-based, urgency-based, or in some cases, people's sudden passings], break through this backlog. This is one of those cases. Tuesday, November 30, 2010
When November Ends I cannot believe that November is only half an hour from being over! (Why haven't I gotten more accomplished, this month? #epicfail) Friday, October 29, 2010
Convicted by Governor Chris ChristieThe stakes are too high.I've noticed that some people (often due to very-legitimate alternative commitments) have been limiting their involvement in this year's bellwether Illinois elections. And (due to a series of developments), I was thinking that I may be one of them, as well. While I knew I would definitely be involved, due to my roles as a GOP volunteer leader, Precinct Committeeman, and CRNC [low-level] Regional officer, I am not "on staff" of any campaign... There were many, many good reasons for me to sharply-limit my political volunteerism (as I know some have been doing, due to other commitments, and busy-ness) this year; In fact, me doing so might seem to make the most sense: - I've been heavily-involved (mostly unpaid*) in election campaigns since the year 2000, and have put in so much time, effort, money, and... [headaches, etc...] and other personal sacrifices over the past decade. [*Note: I don't like terms like "unpaid" - While a position may not be monetarily paid, they payment often comes in other forms... The bottom part of this blog entry is also pertinent, in re: that.] - I was hoping, this year, to be on staff (either full- or part-time) for a 2010 ILGOP election campaign. My efforts to do so did not pan out (which has been problematic, for other reasons, but that's a topic for another time). I did not want get into a situation (as has been somewhat the case, in the past), in which I work at a level that's close to what someone on campaign staff would do (while nonetheless not being on staff). While that type of thing may have been fine, in the past, in more-recent years, I've definitely needed to be on [someone's!] staff (if not on a campaign, then elsewhere). - Though I haven't been employed by a campaign this year, I've had other occupational commitments. (After finishing a position with a national consulting group, I worked this summer full-time for a state bureau, and have now been working part-time, for a department within the university; I've also had several web design & "New Media" projects pending, which I've barely been able to make a dent in [due to my current campaign involvement, etc.]!) - Also: While I have helped out a great deal in the past, and while some [especially at the County level!!] have indeed been very appreciative, there are some in the political scene (and I've heard this from others, as well) for whom there is "no reciprocity." Certain leaders (young & old, past & present) have benefited from my prior work & sacrifices, and have then mostly-ignored my [attempted!] contacts, when I have needed something. This is something I noticed, awhile back (and I've heard similar accounts, from other people). - There are other factors (personal matters, interpersonal conflicts, etc.) as well, due to which it would make most sense for me to NOT be greatly-involved in this year's election season. To greatly-limit my [volunteer, non-staff] involvement in all of that, at this point of my life/career (due to aforesaid, and other factors) is what would appear to make the most sense.  But while there are many solid, valid reasons to limit aforesaid involvement, there is one exceptionally-good reason not to - and to do everything we can, to push our candidates (especially Brady-Plummer 2010) to victory:Don't put much stock the (publicly-accessible) polls. If they were credible, then why would campaigns be spending money on their own ("internal") polling? I was there, right before the 2002 elections, when President George W. Bush came into Springfield, to help our ILGOP ticket. Gubernatorial nominee Jim Ryan, who up till that point was viewed as being behind the Democrat nominee, emphasized the respected Zogby poll (which was also being splashed around the web, by the State Party, et. al.), showing that he was actually slightly ahead of Blagojevich! (Most polls before then had showed him behind.) Furthermore, Jim Ryan had received the nomination of just about every single major newspaper in Illinois. End Result: Jim Ryan ~ 45% Blago ~ 52 % I recall, shortly before the 2006 election (by this time, almost all of Illinois was aware that Blago was scum), a poll that excited Illinois Republicans, showing our nominee within striking distance. End Result: Judy Barr Topinka ~ 39% Blago ~ 50% WE COULD STILL LOSE this race. But here's the thing (many Republicans realize this, and I heard it again from a prominent GOP leader, just tonight): If we don't win [at the statewide level] this time, there may NEVER be another chance. A victory for the Brady-Plummer ticket is VITAL. A win for them would end not only the corrupt Democratic control of our state, but would also undermine the "moderate" (liberal) "Combine" ideology, that has been plaguing our own party. Both Bill Brady and Jason Plummer are downstate and independent-minded conservative GOP leaders. So, I know that many of us have legitimate and sensible reasons to limit our volunteer involvement, during this election period. (I've only briefly touched on mine; Yours might be solid, as well.) It might make sense, to put this low, on your priority list. ****But the stakes, this time, are just too d*mn high, to do so. Saturday, September 18, 2010
 Glenn Beck begins... As mentioned, in the update to my last post, Glenn Beck is now coming on stage. That chalkboard is up on stage, as well. I wanted to do a blog entry, amidst the "Restoring Honor" Rally, with a compilation of conservative dissent. I am not pleased with what I've heard, regarding the theological nature of that event. (There were some other problems with the main thrusts of the rally, as well.) ------ I'm glad Glenn started his speech, with a critique of President George W. Bush! Updates: Glenn Beck criticized some "who are supposed to be on our side"... He mentioned Trent Lott who recently said that we have to do something about these Tea Party people. [Note: Former Senator Lott is not a "RINO" per se, but his leadership was as such.] Beck is emphasizing reaching out, to the other side... He's not talking about elected officials, but our neighbors. (His leftist neighbor thought he was wearing an American flag swimsuit... But it's actually a Cuban flag!) Note: He mentioned how he got calls on his show about how "you shouldn't take on the right"... But he said he's not 'taking on the right'; he's taking on the GOP Establishment. (Now, that's what I want to hear!! I think that Sean Hannity, and to a lesser-extent, Hush Bimbo, need to listen up!!) Glenn Beck talks about how he used to reverse Theodore Roosevelt (had a bust of Teddy in his room; it's now the bathroom doorstop). He challenged us to learn more about T.R., and how he brought us the "Progressive" movement. This sounds kind of like my change-of-mind, regarding Abraham Lincoln. Beck is bashing Woodrow Wilson... I'm glad he got to the foreign-policy (mentioned that he brought us the "League of Nations") - but what about the neocon problem? (EPICFAIL!!! ;-) The neocons push a "progressive" foreign policy based on Wilsonian idealism, and strongly linked to liberal internationalism. (We've gone over this topic, time and time again, year after year, haven't we? ;-) ----- Now, Glenn Beck is talking about God, and citing Benjamin Franklin. While most of our Founders were Christians, some weren't... I'm thinking Ben Franklin may have been one who wasn't. Is Glenn Beck still a Mormon? If he is, then he isn't a Christian! This is one reason why many Christians had major problems, with the "Restoring Honor" Rally. ------ Beck mentioned people who are suffering, and hurting. He said that if we don't do these things ourselves (help them), then the government must... So we need to put the government out of business! [Note: I think what Beck was emphasizing is that we should do serve, and take the place of government... He then showed that triangle, and the inverted triangle, regarding what government was intended to do, and what it has become.] ------ "Get away from my french fries, Mrs. Obama!" [large applause] [Note: Check out SaltHealth.org ~ My stomach was already starting to grumble; Had to rush here; Hardly had anything today.] The first person who comes at him, with a carrot stick, he has a place for it... And it isn't in his tummy! (He said, right now the press is running out... They've got a story! - These people ARE violent! They're threatening things, with carrot sticks!) --------- Glad that Beck advocated term limits. What ever happened to that? This is a populist movement (for Congressional term limits), which I think can attract many liberal, Democrat, and independent voters. That helped us some, in 1994; too bad the GOP Congress didn't aggressively pursue that enough! www.USTermLimits.org Uh oh... Glenn Beck quoted Thomas Jefferson, regarding God (there was - UNFORTUNATELY - a small spattering of applause; perhaps from agnostics?). ------- He mentioned that Alveda King (need to do blog entry on her, and the late Angel Joy Rocker) was terrified to walk out on that stage. He is emotionally talking about how she mentioned that her uncle was killed, for what he said; her daughter cautioned her to just come home (her uncle and grandfather were killed). [Note: Dr. Alveda King's father, the Rev. A.D. King, died the year after his younger brother was assassinated. A.D. may also have been assassinated; he was apparently found dead in the pool, but the cause is disputed, I think.] Dr. Alveda King, who spoke, at UIUC (as I've blogged about here before), will be speaking, in Springfield, IL, at this year's annual Right-to-Life Banquet. I've been wanting to meet her, for awhile. ------- Beck: We are forty days and forty nights away, from restoring... America! [It will take a lot longer than that, I think... And I'm not just referencing the lame-duck issue.] But having tough-as-nails CONSERVATIVE Republicans in office is crucial. The "Republican Revolution" was stifled last time, because of too many "moderate Republicans" in Congress, who refused to push for the Contract with America principles. We need to WORK HARD, to pick up as many U.S. Congress seats as possible, and especially with conservative and pro-liberty candidates! ---- A moving rendition of "God Bless America" is being done. Some are leaving right now, but the vast majority is staying, and standing, as this is happening! (I think if this were a Democrat or "progressive" [liberal!] rally, it would be the opposite situation... Then again, would they even have this song on stage, at all?] GOD BLESS AMERICA!! Aaron Schock I didn't realize he was going to be next... Congressman Schock is my U.S. Representative (and only 1 month older than I!!). Update: I posted an entry (which is actually comprehensible, I think... Despite aforesaid circumstances! :-) at the CRNC Midwest blog. Then, had to rush to interview room (after my Congressman's speech); Didn't want to be in back again. I got some video there [didn't get a chance to Tweet it; the first of those I can't - as of yet without some trimming, as I didn't press "STOP" ;-)... The second was a Mankato, MN reporter, asking about youth issues. That's precisely what we deal with... but when I tried speaking to her, immediately afterwards, she seemed disinterested. I hope she was being straightforward; Anyway, am about to [Uber]Tweet that video, right now.] I even gave Aaron a flyer, re: my upcoming benefit; I hope he already knew about it (but from what was said, it didn't seem so). I was hoping to talk to many others about it (printed out a lot of flyers), but I've "epicfail"-ed, thus far. Fortunately, there's a Right Nation 2010 after-party, at the Marriot. Maybe I'll get a chance then. Anyway, Glenn Beck is coming on, now... Andrew Breitbart When I was in the interview room with Mr. Breitbart (right as I came in, we were invited there), I heard him talking about astroturfed protesters, against him... I didn't realize, until he just started speaking, that he was talking about earlier today (maybe while I was rushing through the interstates, to get up here), at this very event!! [Where are those people now? On their bus, on the way home!] Two "Stop the Hate" people called him a "homosexual." None of them could answer his questions. (I wish I'd been there... But apparently, it's all on video.) As I live-Tweeted (from the interview room): I hope Mr. Breitbart saw my blog entry, on Dr. Christina Jeffrey (re: the Sherrod situation). Bill Brady Bill Brady just spoke (before Andrew Breitbart). I actually had to get back onto wireless (quite a chore!), just because I closed my laptop. I'm here at Right Nation 2010. I'm on Bloggers Row. I'd wanted to, last night/this morning, post an entry (here, & here), to prepare you all (if anyone still reads here!) about this. This weblog has been in a jam, and backlogged, etc. Live-blogging with events like this breaks through that (like the last time I was on a Bloggers Row, at the 2008 "Defending the American Dream" Summit. I ended up being 45 minutes late (no excuse, despite coming up from Springfield). Then, it was a chore, getting on this wi-fi (before that though, I was in the interview room, with Andrew Breitbart, who is now speaking, right after our next state Governor, Bill Brady). Please see my #RN2010 Tweets: http://twitter.com/AakashRaut I will start the blogging now. Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Backlogs, Universities, Blagos, Jobs, etc... I have an interesting week (or rest-of-the-week!) ahead. If only I had more time, to blog about it! ;-) [Being back up here, in the PAC Atrium area (actually, in the classroom where I used to spend all morning/night on Sipe exams ;-), really is conducive, to getting stuff done!] Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Darn it! Blast the backlog, Blago-blogging... (though backlog was about to be blasted, anyway!) Like with the George Ryan verdict, this timing is bad. (Though in that case, it was due to political considerations; Wish it was earlier. This time, it's personal! [as I just Tweeted] Aside from the fact that I was resting today (before long days tomorrow & Thursday), and there was a good episode of Law&Order (it was Matlock last time - but that's not what I meant in '06, which is why I added the prior-entry link, to the "different time" text there. And this time, when just flipped back to TNT, saw it's episode I recall well, anyway) - Here's the thing: I have had a backlog here, of drafts-saved, blog entries I've been frustrating about not having published, and partially-written posts. I've tried various other strategies, to get this blog going again, but it hasn't worked out. A large part of it (very-large part!!) was an ultra-hectic schedule, along with blogging-'fatigue' (which I know happens to many bloggers, some time after they've started). But there were also focus & concentration issues (which goes along with what I just mentioned). However, I recently decided that, until I get a job I want, this fall (a GOP campaign position!), I will delve into the "Web2.0" monetization aspect. I have dipped my toes into it before, and then tried to optimize (but my that time, those above-mentioned factors had decreased my blogging rate, and thus, web traffic... I think 2005 was the last time when I've had a major blog buzz. [Well, maybe aside from the 2008 "Defending the American Dream" Summit, when I was on Bloggers Row.] Also: I am now skilled at "content-promotion" - which will enhance these efforts. (I was already doing some of that, though sometimes in ways I realize may've been considered non-mannerly! #netiquette) There are now SO MANY newfangled services, for this type of thing. Expectations In the past, I've had plans, and potential, insofar as this, but in the majority of cases, those have had to be suspended, or have not come to fruition. However, it looks like this could be a positive exception to that trend! (Then again, I do hope to get on staff soon, and when that job comes, I will gladly start working, during this crucial year!!) I say this, because in only recent days, I've actually published several new blog entries (at an alternate weblog), and also cleared a prior backlog (at another blog, though that post was almost entirely-written; There's no excuse for not posting that earlier! #fail). And I do plan to complete some of the older drafts, at this blog, as well. (That will feel quite good, I think! :-) Knowing that this Blagojevich jury situation was coming up, I was glad, when the it looked like the verdict was taking awhile, as I needed some more time, to catch up! Anticipating this, I saved a draft (below), intended to recap what's happened, over the past year, and link to those [external] blog entries, which I recently did. I will publish that draft soon, but for now: [4:42 PM]... From MSNBC (or was that CNN? I've now switched to our local station, WICS), I saw that the jury had convicted our former Governor, on one charge (a perjury one), but have failed to reach a verdict, on the many other charges. As I just mentioned on Twitter though, this should make tomorrow ("Democrat Day" at the State Fair) somewhat odd! :-) #awkward I'm glad I had a chance to run downstairs, and get some Red Bull, during this entry. I'm actually going to click "Publish" now, and then add hyperlink annotations (and grammar corrections, etc.) later on. I'll also publish the draft (below), and then do a new post, linking to those outside pieces. Please pray that I will get that campaign job soon. In the mean time, I will try and get this (monetized!) Web2.0 stuff optimized, or at least off-the-ground!! Note: And, I will probably post more coverage (Prof. Kent Redfield is talking right now, after Jon Gray Noll, on WICS... My former UIS professor just mentioned that it is bad for the Democrats, as it doesn't take the corruption issue off the table), either appended here, or in new entries. Once again, I really wish I had a few more days! :-) Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Friday, March 05, 2010
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Merry Christmas!! In response to some holiday angst that I expressed from last year, Adrianne made me aware that today is still Christmas. I am about to finish one of my overdue essays right now... I have to get many of them in within the next few days. In the meantime, I want to continue to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! (I wish I was still in Florida... ;-) **** Note: This is the same entry (I think I may start doing these straight copy-&-paste jobs) I did on this day, in 2005... But I just realized that the whited-out text from it (also included above) actually applies again! (#CRNC #Orlando) |
