Life, Faith and Family

What a moving video!  I transcribed it here

This November, America's future hangs in the balance.  Catholics across the nation will have the responsibility to make their voices heard. Many issues are at stake. Some are more important than others.  No issue can be ignored, but none are more crucial to the foundation of our country than Life and Family.  The family must be strengthened not redefined. Human life is paramount and must be protected from conception to natural death.

Catholics have been integral to the success of America. Since the beginning, Catholic immigrants helped build this country and their children fought to preserve it. Now, more than any other time in history, a new generation must stand for truth. The strength of our nation is not only in its military or economic power, but in our commitment to moral values.  For the good of the world, 67 million catholics in America, working alongside countless others, can protect the values this great nation was built upon: Life, Faith and Family.

This election day, everything you hold sacred will need your vote. Vote your conscience.

This message will touch many more people of faith than just Cathloics.  Stand up and be counted.  Fear not the shame of the world.  Fight for the good and honest.  In every place there are good people running for office, seek them out.  Find someone you trust and ask their opinion.

Moroni was a prophet and a captain in an army to defend the liberty of an ancient people.  This is what he did to rouse the people to fight for the truth.

He rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole. 

And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren Alma 46:12-13

Our democratic republic will only stand as long as there are many good people willing to act.  Be willing to spend some time and energy to find out what is being decided this election.  Help a friend register to vote.  Choose wise people to represent you.

If not now, when?  If not you, then who?  

Why I am voting for April Allen

April Allen is running for the Dysart School District board (There are three 4 year terms open on the board). Here is a flyer I created that summarizes my reasons for voting for her. If you also agree, print out copies and let your friends, family and neighbors know. Encourage them to get registered and vote.

I have know April Allen for many years. She is responsible and a go getter. She is organized. I trust her to make decisions that will continue to improve the district.

Do what you can to help her get elected.

Voter Registration Resources

Here are some resources for getting registered to vote in AZ and early ballot requests in Maricopa County

https://servicearizona.com/webapp/evoter/ Register Online

http://www.azsos.gov/election/forms/VoterRegistrationForm.pdf Print a registration form to mail in.

https://recorder.maricopa.gov/earlyvoteballotnet/permanentevlist.aspx Permanent Early Voting List. "All early ballots must be received in the Office of the County Recorder, other officer in charge of elections or deposited at any polling place in the county of residence, no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day."

Why I am voting for Jen Tanner

Jennifer Tanner is running for the Dysart School District board (northwest part of Phx metro area). Here is a flyer I created that summarizes my reasons for voting for her. If you also agree, print out copies and let your friends, family and neighbors know. Encourage them to get registered and vote.

In the last seven years, I have had many opportunities to see her leadership. She has a level head. She is passionate about doing the right thing. She is compassionate with those she serves with. She is a hard worker. She will greatly benefit the students of the district.

Get out to vote on Tues Nov 4. Help Jen and other good, wise and honest leaders get elected too.

Charlie Gibson Interviews Sarah Palin

Here is part one of Charlie Gibson's interview with Sarah Palin.

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Here is Hugh Hewitt's commentary on it.  Some quotes:

Charles Gibson threw fastballs --fair, but hard fastballs-- and Sarah Palin connected on every one save the Bush Doctrine and even there she recovered nicely, demonstrating a poise that will serve her very well in the next 54 days.

My mail shows a lot of hostility to Gibson, but I think that is misplaced.  We want tough interviews of all four candidates.  We just want them of both tickets, with the same abruptness when Obama filibusters and stammers.

Two Axis on a Political Compass

I have some friends who are newer to the political world. A while ago I took the political compass survey. It was interesting. According to it I am right of center. I am also in the middle according to a authoritarian/libertarian scale (Sep 2008).

Take the survey and find out where you stand. Are the people you vote for in line with your standards?

Update 2013-12-19

Here is the result of my answers to this survey

More on political spectrum.

Update 2015-07-16

I took the political compass survey again. I haven't moved in the left/right axis but have moved towards libertarian (Economic Left/Right: 3.0, Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -4.15)

Here is my chart in relation to the 2008 primaries.

Update 2016-07-30

I took a political quiz at isidewith.com. Here are the results. 

Here is how I line up in different areas of policy. 

Here is me on a two axis graph

Update 2016-02-10

Funny labels for the original graph

Update 2020-02-25

Here is my most recent quiz.
https://www.idrlabs.com/political-coordinates/2/86.1/1/30.6/result.php

"The Double Standard and The Great Divide"

The Double Standard and The Great Divide

A great post on how differently the mainstream media treats Palin and Obama.

Watching the Polls

I have a friend who is excited at the results of the recent Presidential election polls.  Each party traditionally has had a bump in the poll after their convention.  I like the Real Clear Politics poll average.  They average out the results of several polls.  Their is margin of error in any poll.  They try to stay consistent with their methodology.  Sometimes looking at the trend of the poll is more important than the actual numbers.

It is promising to see these polls.  Another week or two will show us if this really has been a turning point in the Presidential campaign.

The Words They Used

The NY Times has an interesting graphic that shows the frequency of certain words the speakers of the two parties used in the Republican and Democrat conventions.

Sarah "Baracuda" Quotes

Collected by Hugh Hewitt, here are some awesome Palin lines from her speech at the convention:

"Some candidates use change to promote their careers. John McCain has used his career to promote change. "

"The presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery.."

"There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you."

"The special confidence of those who have seen evil and have seen how evil is overcome."

How I am Voting

For the Republican Primary today following is how I am voting for the offices that are contested.

AZ State Representative District 12
Steve Montenegro
Jerry Weiers

Voting record of Robert Blendu on votesmart.org
Voting record of Jerry Weiers on votesmart.org
Email response of Steve Montenegro
I think it would be good to have someone new that also has my values in the state leg.

AZ Corporation Commission
Rick Fowlkes
Joseph Hobbs
Keith Swapp

Links the candidate's websites
AZ Republic Reviews of the Candidates (see the links on the right)

I like having engineers and experts being in charge of this commission. I also think that incentives work better than mandates for developing new energy sources. Site for Fowlkes, Swapp and Hobbs.


Board of Supervisors
Writing in Liegh Strickman because she better supports the protection of Luke Air Force Base.

County Assessor
Kevin Ross

I think he was wrongly accused in the last election. He is for a smaller budget for his office.


Maricopa County Sheriff
Writing in "Please anyone else resonable" for the republican primary

City of El Mirage Council Member
James McPhetres
Bill Conner
Roy Delgado

Blog of Roy Delgado