Joseph Butson

Living in the Central Iowa means I see the best and worst of presidential grass roots politics. That means polished, well produced ads from the likes of Mitt Romney and local newscasts live “from someone in Des Moines’s home.”

Bill Richardson was featured last night but the local ABC affiliate commented through out his conversation so I couldn’t here a word he actually said to those assembled in the house party. He did say that he’d bring the troops home, partition Iraq and call the war over but that was no news really.

Mitt Romney’s punchy 15 and 30 second spots are as conservative as they can be in order to capture the Republicans from the Western part of the state, long known for their staunchly Republican values.

Hillary lawn signs are now everywhere as her campaign begins to fight back against Obama and Edwards. She has the local media in her pocket, which is a shame since other Democrat candidates deserve a fair shake, but fairness is hardly what the Clinton’s are known for practicing.

So I found this piece from The Telegraph very engaging in its analysis and divergence from the mainstream media. Hillary’s staffers should read it and so should all of the campaigns for that matter.

The partisan views of Iowa caucus goers needs to be balanced against the reality of the heartland, at least the way these superior journalists captured it.

Edward Hopper is an interesting painter and an incredible draftsman.

A must read, though a little dated, from Mark Steyn.

The lede is clever too and credit is Roger L. Simon of Pajama Media.

My movie going is so pathetic [Hollywood doesn’t deserve my cash!] but the idea that people actually want to see anti-war movies doesn’t seem to be a barrier to a constant stream of them.

Steyn’s comment “the audience doesn’t lie” doesn’t seem to fit the “narrative” of the anti-war crowd. The “Bush Lied” bunch are much like the Democrats in NYC back in 1972 who couldn’t believe Nixon won the presidency by a landslide. the famous remark of Georgia O’Keefe, ” I don’t know anyone who voted for him. ”

I am given to reminding many in my neighborhood that while a set of Democratic administration put the USA in the Vietnam War, escalated it and kept the draft going, Republicans ended both.

Here is a reminder of the post 9-11 world. This link gives ample video evidence of the media, political and popular support for finding and eliminating terrorists responsible for jihad against the west.

This was the consensus before the neo-isolationists, self-satisfied academic Marxists, aging boomers lusting for their anit-war “radical” roots in the 60s developed their “usual suspect” interest groups, climate warriors, anti-globalist activists and supplicant political candidates got their act together.

When is a political debate NOT a debate? When it is part of the Main Stream media!

Why does CNN need to contrive a broadcasted as “debate” to the American public? In league with a political party and insulting the intelligence of the public, CNN should be investigated by the FCC.

“In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is.

        — Yogi Berra”

Benozzo Gozzoli

“Spatially, the composition appears rather unresolved and the perspective unconvincing.” That’s true. The painting is in the process here of working out various difficulties in composition and perspective.”

ht: “A Diletante’s Guide to Art”

My eye is untrained but the beauty and complexity of this painting is breathtaking. The piece in The Smart Set discusses the book “1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die,” which strikes me as an excellent way to live.

Wow!

Here is an incredibly uplifting story.