Your Business Blogger
in a central China
university amphitheater When Your Business Blogger was consulting in China, I visited a large university (redundant: there are no small Chinese universities) and had a conversation with a post-grad working on international contract law. His English was better than my Chinese.

In every Chinese town there is an "English Corner," just as every major American city has a "Chinatown." These corners in China are where the locals gather to practice speaking English.

The inverse parallel is, of course, that the Chinese speak English in both China and America, and the Americans speak English in both China and America.

Anyway, I asked the student what he wanted to do with his advanced degree. Without prompting, he says, "I want to work for Wal*Mart. It is big and powerful."

"Powerful?" I ask.

"Yes, more powerful than some countries."

And Wal*Mart is getting powerful in China. To make the move to world-wide acceptance, Wal*Mart is assuming the triple-threat position: Unions, Communism, Homosexuality.

Alert Readers will recall that Your Business Blogger is was an enthusiastic cheerleader for the Bentonville World Dominator. The Penta-Posse et. al. consumed $4,328.37 in consumable goods in the 12 trailing months at Sam's Club.

The embrace of Unions and Communism are in China, of course. As a compromise to get sales. The embrace of Homosexuality is here in the U S of A as a compromise... to get more sales?

A source close to Wal*Mart who preferred to be off-the-record, emailed Your Business Blogger:

...the [homosexual] chamber that Wal-Mart has joined is simply that -- a chamber of commerce -- and organization of businesses. And, as I said, Wal-Mart is a member of dozens of them. Wal-Mart isn't trying to make a political statement by joining. And it's certainly not ascribing to any particular agenda.

But Wal*Mart/Sam's does fit a particular agenda because of the particular demographic. Wal*Mart shoppers have lots of kids, and those parents of lots of kids are conservatives: Liberals don't breed. Which gives us the Roe Effect. Allan Carlson, President of the Howard Center wrote in The Weekly Standard that,

IN THE INTERNAL POLITICS OF the Republican coalition, some members are consistently more equal than others. In particular, where the interests of the proverbial "Sam's Club Republicans" collide with the interests of the great banks, the Sam's Club set might as well pile into the family car and go home.

Go home, stay home. Indeed. Dr. Carlson reminds us that,

...when push comes to shove, social conservatives remain second class citizens under the Republican tent. During the 2004 Republican convention, they were virtually confined to the party's attic, kept off the main stage, treated like slightly lunatic children. Republican lobbyist Michael Scanlon's infamous candid comment--"The wackos get their information [from] the Christian right [and] Christian radio"--suggests a common opinion among the dominant "K Street" Republicans toward their coalition allies.

Conservatives are maligned from the right and the left.

Tony Perkins, the President of Family Research Council, says:

In an apparent concession to the heat from the radical left, Wal-Mart has entered into a new partnership with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

... Recently, they described efforts to defend traditional marriage as an attempt to "write discrimination into the Constitution..."

The NGLCC also advocated attaching a pro-homosexual "hate crimes" amendment to legislation intended to protect children from violent sex offenders. Their advocacy delayed the legislation for several months.

What demographic is Wal*Mart pursuing? What new market segment? Do the boys in Bentonville really think boy-toys from the Tenderloin will truck to Sam's for the two-gallon jar of pickles?

"Dee Breazeale, vice president of divisional merchandise for SAM'S CLUB Jewelry will serve on the organization's [National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce] Corporate Advisory Council," reports 247gay.com.

As if. As if any homosexual would buy jewelry from Sam's.

Goodness, even I wouldn't buy the jewelry from SAM'S.

Oh no, I do have something in common with gay men!

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Full Disclosure: Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D., is the Vice President of Communications at The Family Research Council and is the wife of Your Business Blogger. And I have a mail box on "K Street" in Washington, DC.

A Lady's Ruminations has more: Sickening news.

The Bleechers has the Christmas story.

Starling Hunter, Ph.D. has all the news on Wal*Mart.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

lil' duck duck's got it

Posted at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

And brilliantly hosted by The Owner's Manual. Go visit #144.

Posted at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On the C-SPAN set Charmaine has been doing media interviews for a couple of decades on the "shouting shows." Debating or interviewing Andrew Dice Clay, Jesse Jackson, Bill Mahr, Chris Matthews, Gloria Steinem, Patricia Ireland, Vanessa Redgrave, Dennis Weaver, Jason Alexander, David Crosby, Ray Ramono, Adam Goldberg, Victoria Jackson, Maury Povich, Christopher Titus, Mmi Rogers, Larry Flynt, Alexandra Wentworth, Joshusa Morrow, John Salley, John McLaughlin, Katie Couric, Naomie Wolf, Sean Hannity, James Carville, Michael Kinsley, Pat Buchannan, John Sununu, Bob Novak, Tucker Carlson, Ron Wydne, Bob Beckel, Lynne Cheney, Heather Wilson, Stephanie Coontz, MacNeil-Lehrer, Phil Donahue, Mo Rocca, Jesse Ventura, Jeff Greenfield, Montel Williams, Sam Donaldson and others.

But this debate on C-SPAN this Saturday was the worse. It was the first time a debating opponent accused her of witchcraft. And that Planned Parenthood receives no government funding (!).

Here's the C-SPAN clip of Charmaine "debating" the local president of Planned Parenthood, Jatrice Martel Gaiter.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Yes, they did spell Your Business Blogger's last name wrong. Won't be the last. But C-SPAN did spell "Jatrice Martel Gaiter," correctly. Go figure.

Posted at 11:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

KARMAH, Iraq -- Lance Cpl. Erin Libby doesn't want to be treated the same as her male Marine Corps counterparts. But she does want to be treated as an equal -- even in combat.

In a way, she got her chance last weekend when Marines from the 3rd Battalion...

Photo: Sandra Jontz
Chief Warrant Officer 2
Jill St. John
Combat Logistics Battalion 8

Here we go. Again. From the Stars and Stripes, "Marine raid breaks gender barrier." (See story at Lucianne.)

Photo: Sandra Jontz
Lance Cpl. Erin Libby
"Rocking on the front line"
Handing out toys in Karmah

The Stars and Stripes is reporting that this past Saturday, the Marines took 14 women from the Combat Logistics Battalion 8 with them on a raid 15 miles northeast of Fallujah. The women's usual jobs involve "supplying ammunition, food, water, fuel and mail."

The reason for the change in job assignment?

Cultural sensitivities precluded male Marines from searching women, so the female Marines were meant to deflate fears of Iraqi men and women, said the battalion executive officer, Maj. Larry Miller. It was a first in Iraq to have female Marines embedded at the lowest levels of infantry companies and working alongside their male counterparts.

So "cultural sensitivities" now justify violating Department of Defense regulations against taking women into combat and the law which requires Congressional notification before doing so?

The problem with this vignette explodes in several directions. The article uses female suicide bombers to explain why we need to be searching Iraqi women.

That's a real problem. But let us 'understand' our enemy: because terrorists encourage their women to blow themselves up, we have to send our women into harm's way? To respect "cultural sensitivities?"

Here's Daniel Pipes on our efforts at cultural sensitivity: "This is probably the most "culturally sensitive" occupation of a country in all of recorded history. . . and is not likely to be rewarded with reciprocal good will."

And then there's the inherent contradictions in the situation -- they're in a combat zone. . . handing out teddy bears and plush toys. It's like some sort of weird fluffernutter sandwich. They are using this experience to say that women can handle combat as well as men, boiling a frog thread; this is a perfect example) but they have enough leeway to take time and hand out stuffed animals afterward.

Lance Corporal Erin Libby is quoted as saying: "We're out here, and we're rocking on the front line."

Our cultural sensitivities, and our law, includes not sending women into combat. This issue of using female soldiers to pat-down female Iraqi's did come up in our recent Pentagon meeting: it's time for Congress to exercise oversight about women in combat policy.

This an example of the Marine's taking female support troops along on a combat raid, in the same duplicitous double-talk that is the Army's argument with the gender-integrated Forward Support Companies. Where women are taken into combat.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Cross Post from Charmaine at Reasoned Audacity.

The Belmont Club points us to The Washington Post that has risk analysis in Iraq.

BaylyBlog has the question: Women and Children First(?) With compelling insight,

...if you think about it does it seem just that the sex that's already had her body split open and shed her blood to give birth to the child should also have to shed her blood to defend that child? Isn't one war enough for women? Why can't men step up the plate and bear their fair share?

Satyameva Jayathe has a new high in PC about the challenge of women in combat in India.

On One Foot has Thoughts on a sensitive subject... homosexuals and women in combat in the same post.

Soldier's Angels has a big day.

Mudville Gazette has a toast to Maryann at Soldiers Angels.

Posted at 9:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

C-SPAN Charmaine will be on C-SPAN tomorrow Saturday at 0800hrs, that would be 8:00 am, EST civilian time. Debating the Plan B political play and other news stories of the day.

We all are going with the Penta-Posse to watch from the green room. And eat all their donuts.

C-SPAN Washington Journal video here.

Tune in or TiVo and let us know what you think.

Check local listing here.

The press release from Barr,

Plan B should not be used as routine contraception and does not protect against HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

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Barr's release, continues:

FDA Grants OTC Status to Barr's Plan B(R) Emergency Contraceptive Historic Dual Status Decision Provides OTC Access to Those 18 Years of Age and Older; Remains Prescription for Women 17 and Younger

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: BRL) today said that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) filed by Barr's wholly-owned subsidiary, Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to market the Plan B(R) (levonorgestrel) emergency contraceptive Over-The-Counter (OTC) without a prescription. In approving the sNDA, FDA granted OTC status for consumers 18 years of age and older, while maintaining the prescription status for women 17 and younger. The Company's Plan B OTC product and the prescription product will be marketed as a single package, which will allow for a prescription label to be adhered to the package when dispensed to women age 17 and younger. Because Plan B will still remain a prescription product for women 17 and younger, it will be sold in retail pharmacy outlets from behind the counter. Duramed plans to introduce the dual status Rx/OTC version of the product before the end of the calendar year.

More on Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc..

Posted at 3:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MSNBC

Interview Scheduled for: 12:45 PM ET

Topic: Plan B

Charmaine will be opposite Donna Crane from NARAL to debate the morning after pill.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

August 24, 2006 - Thursday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 24, 2006 CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Bethanie Swendsen, (866) FRC-NEWS

Washington, D.C. - Today the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Barr Laboratory's application for over-the-counter status of the drug Plan B for women over the age of 18. Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins released the following statement:

"I am greatly troubled that the FDA has sacrificed women's health in the name of politics. Just days after Barr Laboratories admitted its inability to enforce dual-status sale of the drug, the FDA has gone beyond its rule-making authority by granting Barr's request.

"An agency charged with protecting the health interests of the country, must be held to high standards of accountability. Congress must respond to this outrageous action by the FDA.

"Family Research Council is pursuing legal and legislative options against the FDA for its deliberate disregard for women's health and the law."

To schedule an interview with someone at Family Research Council please contact the FRC press office at (866)- FRC-NEWS

Posted at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Cross post from Jack Yoest at Media Alert.

Charmaine will be on ABC News Now at 12 noon EST talking again about Plan B.

You can watch streaming video live online here. Subscription based.

Charmaine's boss, Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council says,

Today President Bush threw his support behind Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach's plan to approve Plan B for over-the-counter (OTC) sale to women 18 and older, while keeping it prescription (Rx) for teen girls. The FDA lacks the legal authority to approve "dual status" marketing of the same dosage of a drug, and they lack the authority to enforce an age-restriction. How will the FDA ensure that Barr Laboratories confines OTC sale of Plan B to women 18 and older? Indeed, the CEO of Barr has already told the press that it can't be held responsible for pharmacists who do sell Plan B to younger teens.

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Thankyou (foot)notes:

Charmaine blogs at Reasoned Audacity and is the wife of Your Business Blogger.

Posted at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Charmaine will be on ABC News Now at 12 noon EST talking again about Plan B.

You can watch streaming video live online here. Subscription based -- but ABC is running a free trial.

Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council says,

Today President Bush threw his support behind Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach's plan to approve Plan B for over-the-counter (OTC) sale to women 18 and older, while keeping it prescription (Rx) for teen girls. The FDA lacks the legal authority to approve "dual status" marketing of the same dosage of a drug, and they lack the authority to enforce an age-restriction. How will the FDA ensure that Barr Laboratories confines OTC sale of Plan B to women 18 and older? Indeed, the CEO of Barr has already told the press that it can't be held responsible for pharmacists who do sell Plan B to younger teens.

Please comment.
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Thankyou (foot)notes:

Charmaine blogs at Reasoned Audacity and is the wife of Your Business Blogger.

Posted at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BreederLast week Charmaine participated in a round table discussion on the world's de-population. The take-away from the research was that a growing population is a market driver. That there was more innovation from 1900 to 1950, than from 1950 to 2000 -- As good as life has become in the last 50 years all advances, including, well, blogs, were merely incremental improvements. As compared to the great advancing leaps in the first 50.

Growing populations are wealth creators and wealth drivers. Growing populations produce innovation and inventors. And more. De- population doesn't. For example, the creator of the HIV-AIDS vaccine...was aborted in 1974.

This is a cross post from Charmaine late last year.

The New York Times is horrified. Elite young women at prestigious Ivy League schools are indicating an interest in, gasp, motherhood.

The article and its supporting 'research' is heavy on anecdote and fails to explain its methodology -- the source of its "data" is email responses from some young women at the Ivy's. So, even though I think the conclusion is interesting and one that I agree with, in all honesty the researcher in me has to point out to you that this is not terribly reliable reporting.

The more interesting question is: what is that sterile Grey Lady, The Times up to here?

Well, the headline may read neutrally: "Many Women at Elite Colleges Set Career Path to Motherhood," but the text is anything but. The idea that young women might choose motherhood is clearly, from their perspective, a bad trend.

Let me offer my own anecdotal evidence: frankly, the young women The Times quotes, who feel comfortable expressing a preference for motherhood, don't sound at all like the co-eds I taught at the University of Virginia, a few years ago, who felt pressured to be single-mindedly devoted to a high-powered career track, and would admit to interests in marriage and motherhood only sotto voce.

Here's the good news, Shirley Tilghman, President of Princeton, [now the #1 school, besting Harvard] said to the reporter:

"There is nothing inconsistent with being a leader and a stay-at-home parent. Some women (and a handful of men) whom I have known who have done this have had a powerful impact on their communities."

Cheers for her.

Here's the bad, from Peter Salovey, dean of Yale:

What does concern me, is that so few students seem to be able to think outside the box; so few students seem to be able to imagine a life for themselves that isn't constructed along traditional gender roles.

The man is dean at Yale and he misses the irony that he is the one who isn't thinking outside the box?

Memo to Peter: You've got it exactly backward. In today's world, thinking outside the box involves constructing a life outside traditional male career paths. For both men and women, but especially for young women.

It is precisely the female inclination to think outside the box -- sequencing, part-time work, entrepreneurial innovation -- that is enlivening the 21st century work world.

Alert Reader, Carl at Gelf Magazine has outstanding reporting and an astute observation.

Dr. Yoest, I saw your post about yesterday's NYT article ...And noticed your comment about the methodology: "The article is heavy on anecdote and fails to ever explain its methodology, the source of its "data" is email responses from some young women at the Ivy's. So, even though I think the conclusion is interesting and one that I agree with, in all honesty the researcher in me has to point out to you that this is not terribly reliable reporting."

Carl continues:

It seems you had reason to be suspicious. Over at Gelf, to which I contribute, we've run a copy of the survey the NYT reporter emailed to Yale students, as sent to us by one of the recipients. The survey seems to have leading questions, basically implying that all Yale women must be straight and want kids: story here David Goldenberg byline .

Well said. Carl nails it down:

Among the leading questions, many from right at the top of the survey:

When you have children, do you plan to stay at home with them or do you plan to continue working? Why?

If you plan to continue working, do you plan to work full-time in an office, or full-time from your house, or part-time in an office, or part-time from your house? Why?

If you plan to stay at home with your kids, do you plan to return to work? If so, how old will you wait for your kids to be when you return?

Was your mom a stay-at-home mom? Explain whether she worked, and how much she worked! Were you glad with her choice (to either work or stay-at-home or whatever combination she did)?

How do you think college-age men at Yale feel about whether wives should stay at home with their kids?

In polling we call this "priming the pump." It is used to direct answers with subtle questions with subtle assumptions. Good polls are designed to uncover the truth (of opinion) across a broad sample. Bad polls have an agenda. This is, as Carl suggests, a bad survey.

No matter what our differences in the blogosphere, the work by Gelf Magazine shows us why the NYT chopped 500 off the head count and is bleeding red ink. The NYT has lost the public trust -- because of such questionable reporting.

As Arthur C. Brooks writes in The Wall Street Journal in The Fertility Gap, swing states like Ohio will soon be populated with the next generation -- that is tilting toward conservatives. The Roe Effect.

Thankyou (foot)notes:

The New York Times isn't doing much better since Charmaine's post from last September.

Outside The Beltway has more on the NYT's firings.

Posted at 11:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse.
John Stuart Mill

A person's highest most prized value, most prized possession is that person's idol.

To die for.

Posted at 11:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There might be some confusion between God, the Creator and marketing the created.

But good marketing, well, does seem to be all-powerful.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

And if there is one thing Hugh at gapingvoid can do
is to prompt critical, logical thinking, as in:

All flowers are plants
All weeds are plants
ergo
All flowers are weeds

And not all are happy with Hugh's provocation, see theotherblog.

And is Hugh McLeod talented or lucky?

Posted at 10:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Jack has a marketing angle to the love, marriage, children business.

Tom McMahon's 4-Block World is proof that truth is simple as salt and sells.

Tom points us to the block to be in for us marketing guys positioning a brand: Love and Respect.

Love and Respect. Ying and Yang. Nuts and Bolts. Male and Female. Like Sex.

It has ancient Biblical proportions. Where each gender has a different directive from that Good Book: Men are commanded to Love their wives. Wives are commanded to Respect their husbands.

Together, the two become one. Eternal. Brand.

With children as dividends.

As a Lovemark.

Bookmark Tom McMahon for your daily reading enjoyment.

Cross Post from Jack Yoest and Great Brands.

Posted at 10:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

NOW Chapter President
Desiree Nall
Admitted Rape Hoaxer It is a lie, that women never lie.

And when it comes to rape, women tell the truth about half the time.

Which creates a problem for law enforcement. When a woman cries, "Rape," a crime has been committed. The challenge for cops is, who is the criminal -- the man or the woman? Either a rape has occured. Or a slander has occured. The police officer could flip a coin to determine truth with equal statistical probability.

Or could he. Are there other indicators that law enforcement could use to determine the likelyhood of the crime of rape?

Elaine Donnelly, to whom I report to at the Center for Military Readiness has Sex, Lies, and Rape: How to Distinguish Truthful Allegations form False Ones.

She cites Eugene J. Kanin, Ph.D. and Charles P. McDowell, Ph.D. who have made a number of studies involving women who claimed rape, then recanted the charge -- even under the criminal penalty of filing a false report.

Bottom line: Some women lie. Here's how the legal eagles spot the liars:

1) Revenge -- Is the girl out to get even with a man or boyfriend?
2) Alibi -- Does the girl need an explanation for having sex?
3) Emotional Instability -- Does the girl have problems or a desire for attention?
4) Timeliness -- How long did she wait to report the crime? -- Some women take a year to file a police report.
5) Physical Evidence -- There may not be any.
6) Self Inflicted Wounds -- But never sensitive areas: no lips, eyes, gentialia, nipples.
7) Incapacitated -- Drunk or drugged remembering few details.

These clues are merely clues, but can help alert investigators on the credibility of a complainant.

Donnelly quotes Warren Farrell, a former board member of the National Organization for Women who matured from a male feminist to an advocate of truth and equality that does not discriminate against men,

False accusations are not a rarity, they are themselves a form of rape...

But not all NOW-ists have so matured. Wendy McElroy writes about one Desiree Nall, that,

On April 8, [2005] the president of the Brevard, Fla., chapter of the National Organization for Women was charged by the Florida state attorney's office with filing a false rape report and making a false official statement.

She could be imprisoned for one year on each count and forced to pay for the police investigation she incurred. The case has far-reaching implications for gender politics and for women who report sexual assault in the future.

And the NOW chapter president recanted; the rape was a hoax, McElroy continues,

According to police, on Nov. 19, Nall phoned and asked to have the case dropped. When Detective Jon Askins questioned her original report, Nall reportedly confessed that she was "not a victim of a sexual batter." The police speculate that Nall, a vocal feminist, may have been trying to "make a statement" about violence against women. The alleged rape occurred during Sexual Assault Awareness Week, which was intended to highlight the issue of sexual violence against women.

As feminist Cathy Young correctly says,

We need a serious, honest, open discussion on false accusations of rape. Being able to accuse someone of rape is a form of power (of course that's true of any accusation, but a charge of rape packs a unique emotional and legal punch); and it would be naive to expect women never to abuse the power they have, just as it would be naive to expect it of men.

Our feminist friends should join us conservatives to focus scarce law enforcement resources on the actual crimes of criminals. And not waste time with liars, hoax-ers and false accusers.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Your Business Blogger is proud to serve as the Vice President of the Center for Military Readiness.

Elaine Donnelly is quoted in Martha Mendoza's AP Probe Looks at Recruiting Misconduct.

Wendy McElroy writes False Rape Accusations May be more Common Than Thought in Fox

Alec Rawls has clear thinking on the science.

Glenn Sacks is re-running an interesting column on Research Shows False Accusations of Rape Common.

Army veteran Billoblog has insight at False Rape Accusations Are Not Rare.

Cathy Young has Who says women never lie about Rape? in Salon. Cathy Young blogs and has a post on Rape, lies, and videotape.

Columbian Journalism Review has analysis.

Alas (a blog) has False Rape Reports.

Update 19 Sept 2006 -- Also see another 'Victim" in the Washington Post.

Posted at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tom McMahon's 4-Block World is proof that truth is simple as salt and sells.

Tom points us to the block to be in for us marketing guys positioning a brand: Love and Respect.

Love and Respect. Ying and Yang. Nuts and Bolts. Male and Female. Like Sex.

It has ancient Biblical proportions. Where each gender has a different directive from that Good Book: Men are commanded to Love their wives. Wives are commanded to Respect their husbands.

Together, the two become one. Eternal. Brand.

With children as dividends.

As a Lovemark.

Was this helpful? Do comment.
Consider a free eMail subscription for this site.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Be sure to bookmark Tom McMahon for your daily reading enjoyment. You'll love it; I guarantee it. 4-Bock World. 4-Ever.

Posted at 12:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (1)

Microsoft has one real point measurement for hiring.

IQ

Your Business Blogger has hired (computer) coders, sales reps...and government bureaucrats.

When given the option of head count and budget flexibility, I always recommended to my managers to hire the most expensive talent possible -- the Super Stars.

Even when hiring government workers.

Into Good and Evil reminds us that when talent really counts, when talent determines life and death, who would get hired? He points us to Professor Kingsley Browne in The Ace and the Turkeys,

"Given the cognitive and temperamental patterns required, it is not surprising to find that the ability to fly aircraft successfully in combat is an ability that not many have. Indeed, it is not an ability that even all combat pilots have. Aviation analysts recognize that the majority of combat kills are scored by a small minority of pilots. Mike Spick has observed: "The gulf between the average fighter pilot and the successful one is very wide. In fact it is arguable that there are almost no average fighter pilots; just aces and turkeys; killers and victims."

Fighter pilots, like sales guys in a role playing exercise, can practice and give a passable presentation, but,

As one Air Force pilot stated, "Most guys can master the mechanics of the systems, but it's instinctive to be able to assimilate all the data, get a big picture, and react offensively. Not a lot of guys can do that."

But the Air Force has a challenge most sales managers don't: Separating the Aces from the Turkeys,

Ideally, one would have only "aces" or "killers," leaving the "turkeys" and "victims" to another career path. The difficulty lies, however, in the fact that there is no known way to separate the aces and the turkeys prior to combat. Unfortunately, many of those who will end up being turkeys often do not know what they are getting into. These pilots may have the ability, intelligence, and know-how to fly the plane well, but they ultimately lack the "fighting spirit" that they will need in combat. " (Buffalo Law Review,Winter, 2001, 49 Buffalo L. Rev. 51,Women at War: An Evolutionary Perspective By Kingsley R. Browne)

But the hiring manager does have an advantage over an Air Force Wing Commander, the civilian Ace has a track record of Kills.

The best indication of future performance is past performance. Our armed forces are hampered by looking only to recent combat or aerial engagements -- and there aren't that many of those dogfights. The hiring manager has different metrics of combat measures for top business talent. Eat what you kill. Who had produced the best numbers?

In this human resource practice and strategy, there are down-sides as Anita Campbell, my editrix at Small Business Trends citing the Trizoko Biz Journal mentions. She and others make the valid point that Super Star and Aces are nearly impossible to manage. And, indeed, can only be managed by Super Star managers.

But if these crazy iconoclasts can be harnessed, a big 'if' to be sure, big numbers are sure to follow. For example, when I had a modest software company, I learned the hard way that a one genius coder was worth a half dozen coders. And not because he (and he was usually a 'he') was faster, but that his work was nearly bug-free. Which saved me from hiring three coders just to patch.

With my sales teams, Pareto's 80/20 Principle always played out. But the top guy, usually a deviant was always a standard deviation above the norm. My #1 sales guy was sometimes double the sales of #2, the rest of the sales team on the long tail. That #1 guy drove me nuts. But I loved his numbers.

And government bureaucrats? Goodness. I once had an agency head 'lose' a $100 million department. It was necessary to find it for obvious political reasons, but we only became aware of the lost unit because I was working the Y2K rollover and really needed to find all the laptops. We finally found it. Hidden away, quietly working away. And there were lots of good excuses why it was floating alone off on its own org chart, in its own universe. How they got paid is outside the scope of this post. I was assured that it was not illegal.

So Anita and Trizoko Biz are right, Super Stars are a pain.

But I wonder how many $100 million business units are lost. And could be found with a few dozen more IQ points.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Your Business Blogger's columns appear in Small Business Trends on Tuesdays and Small Business Trends Radio on Fridays. Please tune in.

Posted at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)

Maintaining trust is the first characteristic of effective leadership. Early this year President Bush gave a terrific State of the Union Speech. He gave an excellent review-- I cheered through most of it. But. CQ ran a story the about the State of the Union with a graphical illustration of the number of times the President mentioned certain issues. (Subscription required -- it's on page 25.)

Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, had an interesting suggestion: add social issues to the graph; let's see what happens.

The result was incredible. The graph you see above powerfully illustrates empirically, exactly what many of us felt after watching the speech.

Click on the image for Tony's comments -- thanks to Andy McDonald for the graphic and Dawn Marie Powers for the research. Cross-posted from FRCBlog.com.

The 'values voter' didn't get much attention back then. The 'values voter' is being ignored today. The Bush personnel policy that pushes Democrat-donating-liberals into substantial positions, such as Andrew von Eschenbach and Janet Neff would not help future get-out-the-vote strategies.

No one would question George Bush's leadership integrity. However, it might be helpful to acknowledge the customers who bought the conservative agenda of Bush.

Andrew von Eschenbach
acting FDA Commissioner Dr. von Eschenbach is a nice guy. He really, really cares about people. Cares about suffering. Ridding the world of misery. He's such a contradiction: compassion from a Bush appointee? How, do you wonder, could a guy like this ever be a conservative?

Well...he's not.

Von Eschenbach and his wife Madelyn gave $1,000 to SHEILA JACKSON LEE FOR CONGRESS in 2000, the 18th in Houston. Alert Texans will know that Missouri City, where von E hails, is a suburb of Houston.

von E is in trouble, as he should be, over his friends and the acid affects of Plan B.

NOW President Kim Gandy joined
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas)
and Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.)
at a May 12 news conference
criticizing the FDA's decision to
block easier access to
emergency contraception.
Photo by Lisa BennettJackson Lee is one of the most liberal democrats on the planet, or Texas, whichever is larger, and the von Eschenbach's love her. Four figure's worth. SHEILA JACKSON LEE FOR CONGRESS: Abortion, Acid, Amnesty: a Jimmy Carter do-over in a do-rag. (If do-rag is politically incorrect, would somebody please tell Your Business Blogger? Charmaine is out of town.) (But the kids got fed.) (I think.)

So there is little inconsistency in von E's position on providing powerful drugs over the counter to little girls. von E is in complete agreement with abortion money maker Planned Parenthood. Normally a physician with four kids doesn't hang (politically) with abortion providers. But von E swings both ways contributing to both political parties. He's got all the angles covered. A terrific politician. Who serves at the Pleasure of the President and supports abortion Democrats. And Plan B.

Tony Perkins, at the Family Research Council says,

Barr Laboratories is moving toward a compromise with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a "dual track" distribution of the so-called Plan B "emergency contraceptive." Barr has modified its push for over-the-counter (OTC) sales to females age 16 and over and now will limit sales to females 18 and over.

But Plan B is a powerful PILL. And the Pill requires a doctor's prescription. Plan B wouldn't. Perkins continues,

Barr is in the drug business so its position is understandable. What's not understandable is why acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, a Bush appointee, would go along with Barr's plan. There are problems with this "compromise": the health affects of these mega doses of birth control are unknown, and a dual track for distribution is unprecedented and unenforceable. Does anyone think that Planned Parenthood, which distributes Plan B, would conscientiously require prescriptions before giving it to minors?

Don't count on the wisdom of Planned Parenthood. Even though they get hundreds of millions of your tax dollars.

Tony Perkins reminds us that,

This clearly is inconsistent with the Bush administration's effort to advance a Culture of Life. We continue to oppose OTC distribution of Plan B--and we oppose the confirmation of Dr. von Eschenbach as FDA Commissioner.

Ronald Reagan suggested that Personnel is Policy. A policy lesson lost on this administration.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Full Disclosure: Charmaine Yoest, Ph,D. is the Vice President of Communications for the Family Research Council and blogs at Reasoned Audacity and FRCBlog. She is the wife of Your Business Blogger.

And see how to get on the Bush A list -- contribute to Democrats.

Posted at 9:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jesse Brown A mentor, like a good Board of Directors, offers the CEO (that would be you, the mentee) three talents:

Contacts

Consulting

Capital

Black Belt Productivity reminds us that,

The word "Mentor" originally comes from Homer's epic The Odyssey. When Odysseus went to fight in the Trojan War, he handed the reigns of his kingdom to Mentor. One of Mentor's most important duties was to oversee the education of the king's son, Telemachus.

So what does this education look like in today's business climate? How can you help your mentor help you?

A seasoned mentor has a fat rolodex (whatever that is) and an extensive list of contacts and links in the good ol' boy network. A phone call or two and the best mentors can introduce you to anyone, anywhere you need. If an advisor won't open his data base -- he is not a mentor. I've dealt with this; the non performing mentor, as you will also someday. Don't bother to train. Leave.

A wise old man, an experienced guide makes the best teacher. I like my mentors old and gray and grizzled. If your company or personal data-base doesn't have one of these, go buy yourself one. Warning: They are frightfully expensive, if purchased on the open market. Try exchanging favors in your warm body network. For example, one of my mentors served on the Board of Avis in its early days. His advice was so good, I married his daughter. What a deal. Now I get free consulting.

Access to capital is a necessary trait for a board member -- especially a start-up. But a mentor doesn't necessarily mean money; a direct cash transfer. What a competent mentor does is to guide the mentee on the strategies on how to get bigger bucks: How to earn W-2 $'s. And how to negotiate the office politics to get a bigger budget to advance your agenda within your company.

Your Business Blogger has been blessed with a number on mentors and advisors over the decades; some were paid, most not.

One of my all-time favorite mentors was Jesse Brown.

Jesse Brown, passed away 15 August four years ago. He was my friend and business partner. He was only 58. I dedicated my inaugural post on Labor Day 2005 to honor his memory and his work.

He was wounded by enemy fire in Vietnam leaving his right arm and hand partially paralyzed. This never slowed him down. A Marine who knew how to make a buck.

I once asked him when he was at the pinnacle of his career what drove him to work so hard. Money, I thought; status, celebrity? No. "I just want to help my friends," he said.

His passion for service helped him become the Veteran's Affairs Secretary for Bill Clinton.

And yet he helped me, a nobody who worked for a Republican governor.

Jesse is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, not far from my dad. Two warriors to whom I owe so much.

Semper Fidelis

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Thank you (foot)notes:

See Reasoned Audacity for more on the Arlington National Cemetery.

Posted at 4:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Josh Trevino, Charmaine, John Aravosis Last July '05 Charmaine traveled with a team of bloggers to the G-8 Summit in Edinburg. The Summit was soon forgotten in the 7.7 blow-up of London. In keeping with the reporting dictum: If it bleeds, it leads.

Anyway, the war on terror came to the England bloggers and made a few, a happy few, band of brothers.

John took a picture of Charmaine in a pub -- it was perhaps one of the best photographs of her ever taken by anyone (and she takes a good picture -- the camera likes her). And he posted on his site. Gorgeous. Sadly, he removed it when his readership became...animated, over his friendship with a conservative.

Charmaine and John became fast friends fast , as one would expect. Shared danger. Shared experience. Shared pursuit of the truth. John and I know each other only thru email and vector Charmaine. I genuinely like the guy.

And we disagree on most everything political. But John was always a gentleman. In debates and IRL.

One of our disagreements would be homosexuals in the military. I think they can serve their country elsewhere -- where I say, "out," John says "out of the closet."

And Lieutenant Alexander Raggio's award-winning paper at the army's West Point academy brought out our differences. And sharp words from John.

LT. Raggio's paper is a philosophic defense of allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the armed services. He would advocate dropping the ban on homosexual service.

But our debate turned a unfortunate corner when John's hair caught fire with the inflammatory "BIGOTED" cliche ricochet.

John's emotion-laden invective makes him read like a blogger yes, a blogger. But his insults missed his mark -- that would be Charmaine and me in his target-rich environment.

Winston Churchill once said that nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result.

But I am not exhilarated, even with John's off-target bigot-bomb.

I am saddened not because he missed, but because he pulled the trigger. Firing into the crowd that contained his remaining conservative Jesus-Freak-friends on the right.

I expected a more reasoned debate from John. I expected more from a friend.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Alexander H. Raggio's paper is Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Be: A Philosophical Analysis of the Gay Ban in the US Military. His paper won the prestigious Brig. Gen. Carroll E. Adams Award, and was written up by AP.

Agape Press has the interview with Elaine Donnelly that started all this.

See Charmaine's post on John Aravosis.

Full Disclosure: Your Business Blogger is honored to serve as the Vice President for the Center for Military Readiness with Elaine Donnelly.

Andrew Sullivan doesn't care for the gay ban.

Dropping Knowlege has rights and the war.

Pam's House Blend has more on anti-DADT.

Mudville Gazette has happy place.

The Debate Link has Silenced Soldiers.

Kathy has no worries.

James Joyner has both sides of the debate.

Posted at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Feminist Janet Neff Alert Readers will remember Michigan Senator Carl Levin (D) has got a deal with Harriet Miers to appoint Judge Janet T. Neff, a liberal member of the Michigan Court of Appeals, to the U.S. District Court (Western District).

If a political appointment is made by a conservative President one would expect a conservative candidate.

You would be wrong.

Janet Neff officiated a ceremony to join together (lest no man cast asunder) two lesbians, Karen Debra Adelman and Mary Catherine Curtin. I was wrong to suggest that large farm animals were a part of the festivities.

The concern of Your Business Blogger is less with whom Janet "married" -- as to whom Janet is married.

A donor to the Democrat party. David A. Neff, her husband, contributed $750 to Democrat candidates -- STABENOW FOR US SENATE -- DEMOCRAT.

There is no record of donations of Janet Neff. Perhaps she is unaware of, or uncaring of the liberals her husband supports. No matter: Donate to Democrats, and the GOP will appoint you a judge.

There is an unfortunate pattern emerging here.

Alert Readers will also remember our concerns with liberal Indra Nooyi, the President and CFO of Pepsi-Co -- she's the one who gave a speech May 15th, 2005 in which she referred to the United States as the middle finger of the world.

Indra Nooyi dined at the White House last year. She is enjoying Pan-roasted Halibut and Basmati Rice with Pistachios and Currants along with Hartford Court Pinot Noir Arrendell 2002.

She was escorted by her husband, Raj K. Nooyi, who was among the top 150 individual donors -- $27,000 US -- to John Kerry's presidential campaign.

PowerLine's Scott Johnson said "That hurts."

Insult America and get invited to a State Dinner.

The only minor consolation is that they served "Mango, Chocolate-Cardamom and Cashew Ice Creams" for dessert which sounds disgusting.

So. Insult conservative values, insult America, donate to Democrats, and get rewarded by this Administration.

This is not what Reagan meant in Personnel is Policy.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

No, homosexuals should not get married. But should a business hire a homosexual? Yes, and here's why.

For more see FRC's Judicial Activism and the Threat to the Constitution

See Charmaine's post on Nooyi.

Update: Wall Street Journal reports: August 14, 2006, Indra Nooyi has just been promoted to CEO.

Two Babes and a Brain with Nutty Same Brownback have a different take.

Posted at 3:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Great Seal The World's Only Super Power wields its power through the arrows of the Armed Services in one hand and in the other hand is the olive branch of...marketing.

The olive branch is traditionally known for peace, but also for known for prosperity. Commerce is usually difficult in times of war. The olive branch these days seems to represent peace as the absence of warfighting, but might also be seen in the marketing in warfighting.

If there is anything we Americans know how to do -- is fight wars and sell stuff.

The Army now has a combined arms team of lethal power. Nothing on earth can resist the might of our military co-located with its American Marketing Machine. That is being turned loose on the masses of US lasses to put women in combat.

The marketing message is delivered with smart bomb precision and subtlety. It began with omissions, as when the Air Force Academy took down its huge sign, Bring Me Men. And now is actively selling with clever word changes.

Which is marketing defined. As Mark Twain said about the right word being as powerful as the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.

Words count. Army Regulation 600-13, Army Policy for the Assignment of Female Soldiers, Dated March 1992,

...allows women to serve...except those battalion size or smaller units which are assigned a primary mission to engage in direct ground combat or which collocate routinely with units assigned a direct ground combat mission.

It is the intent of Congress, the President and Army Regulation that women are not permitted in ground combat.

But note how the feminists in the armed forces are changing wording to change policy. For example,

The Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) Rifle Squad variant and Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) Weapons Squad variant each deliver 9-person infantry squads to a location from which they will conduct a close assault.

Close assault is ground combat, from which women are excluded. The Alert Reader will notice that the Army calls this fighting machine a 9-person vehicle. Where it should be a 9-MAN infantry squad.

The Army substitutes "person" for "man." Which is the feminist agenda. Male substitution wherever possible.

The military goes a-marketing.

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See the Army's website.

More on the Seal at the jump.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ned Lamont It was a small mistake. A goof anyone could make. And trust me, Your Business Blogger knows how to screw up. Lamont made a simple slip.

Except if you knew something about the Armed Services.

Last Sunday on This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Ned Lamont talked about, "Blue Star moms, Silver Star moms, ...Gold Star moms..." attempting to get pacifist viewers to get weepy or to get angry. About the horrors of war. Where good men die.

Lamont when on to win the Democrat primary in Connecticut yesterday.

Silver Star But not clear was what Ned Lamont was referring to about "Silver Star moms."

Perhaps Ned means either mothers of soldiers awarded a Silver Star.

Blue Star Family Or Ned Lamont doesn't know what he's talking about. Does not know anything about matters military.

I would submit that Ned doesn't know, nor like, nor support the American Armed Services. Simply: A Democrat.

A vote for Lamont is a vote for appeasement; for losing a war.

Losing wars is bad for business.

Gold Star And will produce more Gold Star Moms.

Ned Lamont did get that one right.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

See more on the Gold Star Moms.

Captain's Quarters has more.

See RedState analhttp://www.redstate.com/stories/featured_stories/politics_east_and_westysis.

Don Suber has weep not for Lieberman.

Wall Street Journal has more on the new Democrats.

Posted at 1:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Naomi Watts

The January issue of Vanity Fair features Naomi Watts, the new Fay Wraye in King Kong, on the cover.

After years and years of B roles, Watts has finally "made it."

And yet.

Rigg, Kidman, Watts
Credit: American Photo


The article features quotes from her friend and fellow Aussie, Nicole Kidman, who talks about their friendship with another less-famous fellow actress, Rebecca Rigg:

We always say to Rebecca that she is the successful one because she has the successful marriage with the three kids. . .

In our house we call three kids a 'starter family.'

The Penta-Posse

But the girls are on to something. Something bigger than themselves.

What are they doing in Hollywood?

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Cross Post from Reasoned Audacity.

Posted at 10:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

What's a Feminist to do?

All of modern marketing makes clear that the modern girl doesn't need a man...

Don't need a man
if you got a can
of Pepsi, Please

All of academia tells the young lasses to burn their bras.

Professor Diana York, Women's Studies

From higher education to edgy advertising the Feminists become empowered. And they can then become combat veterans:

Lynndie London, the empowered Feminist at Abu Ghraib jail.

As this Feminist points out, Men? Who needs 'em? I got all I can handle.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Feminists Law Professors have more. Fun.

Be sure to bookmark Ipso Facto comic blog.

Posted at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Beats me. It's yesterday's news, it's hard copy,
and you have to pay for it."

The Chronicle of Higher Education gets it right. This time without nudity.

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The cartoon is from The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 4, 2006. Used with attribution, but without permission.

For more on chronicling The Chronicle, see the archives. Adult content.

Posted at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

United Nations
Korean War Medal The United States hasn't gotten our money's worth from our dues to the UN. But my dad did get a nifty UN medal. He got some others with a "V" device. But US troops are still in Korea.

The UN continues its poor track record. A few years ago Charmaine wrote an article detailing how the UN thinks and presents global legislation. None of it good for the US of A.

And the UN has improved little since then.

Beware of big sister: Charmaine Yoest exposes a troubling treaty with a teflon title. Get ready for more shenanigans at the UN

AN OBSCURE TRIBUNAL known as The Committee has urged China and Mexico to decriminalize prostitution, chided the tiny nation of Belarus for reintroducing Mother's Day--the holiday promotes a "sexual stereotype"--prodded the U.K. to begin sex education in primary school, and informed the Irish that "the time had come" to revise their restrictive abortion law.

Although The Committee can express displeasure with any U.S. policy that strikes its fancy; it currently has little impact in this country. But that may soon change. Its mission is to assess the status of women in countries that have ratified the UN's Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, known as CEDAW Iraq, Cuba, and other global model citizens have ratified the convention, but the United States hasn't--at least not yet.

Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Joseph Biden (D-DE), member and chairman respectively of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, are trying to change this. They have held hearings aimed at ratifying the convention. Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the UN, described CEDAW as a "key pillar of international human rights law," which stands as a milestone" in the quest to define "the universal norms of gender equality." The United States is the only western industrialized democracy that has nor ratified....

Continue reading at the jump.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D. blogs at Reasoned Audacity and FRCBlog.

The article first appeared in the Women's Quarterly, Autumn, 2002.

Continue Reading »

Posted at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Feminist Janet Neff Michigan Senator Carl Levin (D) has got a deal with Harriet Miers to appoint Judge Janet T. Neff, a liberal member of the Michigan Court of Appeals, to the U.S. District Court (Western District).

Which proves conclusively that Miers was never a conservative. Miers, a Bush appointee, almost made it to the Supreme Court.

On September 21, 2002, Janet Neff sprinkled fairy dust over a commitment ceremony for lesbians Karen Debra Adelman and Mary Catherine Curtin and their pet pussy cat named Boots...

...I made up the Boots part. I think.

Ronald Reagan said that Personnel is Policy.

Tech guys say Garbage in; Garbage out.

We can all say this Personnel Policy is Garbage.

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No, homosexuals should not get married. But should a business hire a homosexual? Yes, and here's why.

For more see FRC's Judicial Activism and the Threat to the Constitution

Posted at 5:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A few months ago, President Bush paid tribute to Staff Sergeant Dan Clay, who died in Iraq. The President read portions of a letter Dan wrote to his family. But his full letter gives a powerful testimony to his eternal values -- my friend Stacy Harp at Writing Right has posted that letter:

MOM, DAD, KRISTIE, JODIE, KIMBERLY, ROBERT, KATY, RICHARD, AND MY LISA: Boy do I love each and every one of you. This letter being read means that I have been deemed worthy of being with Christ. With MaMa Jo, MaMa Clay, Jennifer ... all those we have been without for our time during the race.

This is not a bad thing. It is what we hope for. The secret is out. He lives and His promises are real! It is not faith that supports this ... But fact and I now am a part of the promise. Here is notice! Wake up! All that we hope for is Real. Not a hope. But Real.

But here is something tangible. What we have done in Iraq is worth any sacrifice. Why? Because it was our duty. That sounds simple. But all of us have a duty. Duty is defined as a God given task. Without duty life is worthless. It holds no type of fulfillment.

The simple fact that our bodies are built for work has to lead us to the conclusion that God (who made us) put us together to do His work. His work is different for each of us. Mom, yours was to be the glue of our family, to be a pillar for those women (all women around you), Dad, yours was to train and build us (like a Platoon Sgt.) to better serve Him. Kristie, Kim, Katy you are the five team leaders who support your Squad ldrs, Jodie, Robert and Richard. Lisa you too.

You are my XO and you did a hell of a job. You all have your duties. Be thankful that God in His wisdom gives us work. Mine was to ensure that you did not have to experience what it takes to protect what we have as a family. This I am so thankful for.

I know what honor is. It is not a word to be thrown around. It has been an Honor to protect and serve all of you. I faced death with the secure knowledge that you would not have to. This is as close to Christ-like I can be. That emulation is where all honor lies. I thank you for making it worthwhile.

As a Marine this is not the last Chapter. I have the privilege of being one who has finished the race. I have been in the company of heroes. I now am counted among them. Never falter! Don't hesitate to honor and support those of us who have the honor of protecting that which is worth protecting.

Now here are my final wishes. Do not cry! To do so is to not realize what we have placed all our hope and faith in. We should not fear. We should not be sad. Be thankful. Be so thankful. All we hoped for is true. Celebrate! My race is over, my time in war zone is over. My trials are done. A short time separates all of us from His reality. So laugh. Enjoy the moments and your duty. God is wonderful.

I love each and every one of you.

Spread the word ..... Christ lives and He is Real.

Semper Fidelis

Always Faithful

God bless the Clay family. How humbling -- we all live more safely today because of the ultimate sacrifice of their son. Greater love hath no man... May we make grateful and good use of that gift.

Thankyou (foot)notes:

Cross Post from Reasoned Audacity.

Posted at 5:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Messaging and Legislating. Stephen Clouse recently said that it is not enough to have good ideas, an advocate must persuade, must sell the idea. Frist knows how to sell.

Steve Rucinski was hosting Small Business Trends Radio yesterday with Dawn Rivers Baker. She was concerned that Congress was not addressing affordable healthcare for small businesses. And that our elected officials had legislation bottled up.

She was making sense. So Your Business Blogger decided to get some answers. And I always go to the top. Anita Campbell was out of town, so I had to settle for Bill Frist, MD, Senate Majority Leader.

The appointment was for 4pm. I arrive a bit early; punctuality is the courtesy of kings and all.

But I was prepared to be kept waiting. I made a friendly wager with the staff that the Senator would surely be running late. This is DC, you see. I was guessing that he'd arrive at 4:17. I am ready to be miffed -- I am a busy man, very busy. The committee Senate staffer looks at me funny, and says, "Senator Frist late? I don't think so." She's from Long Island; she should know late.

At 4:06 Senator Frist, a very busy man, walks in. On time. This is no ordinary event.



R to L Jack Yoest, Mary Katharine Ham,
Steve O'Connor, Bill Frist, Dave Kralik,
Rob Bluey, Larry Scholer, Ivy Sellers,
John O'Hara, Brendan Steinhauser Your Business Blogger is joined in the Senator's conference room with Dave Kralik from the National Association of Manufacturers, Steve O'Connor from Human Events, Larry Scholer from Heritage Foundation, Brendan Steinhauser from FreedomWorks, Mary Katharine Ham from TownHall.com, Ron Bluey from Human Events OnLine and John O'Hara from The Spectator and Ivy Sellers.

We get to ask questions. We ask Dr. Frist about health plans for small business. Dawn Rivers Baker said that this should not be partisan politics, but a simple, common sense policy issue.

The Senate Majority leader is an active proponent of Association Health Plans.

Frist said that the GOP will continue to win because they can "show contrast" comparing philosophies with Democrats. Frist outlined the values differences including the sanctity of life (except for embryonic stem cells); where Democrats embrace the culture of Hollywood. Frist has a simple agenda,

Secure the homeland
Secure prosperity
Secure values

Frist is also pushing for the Custody Protection Act. The bill makes it illegal for anyone except a parent to transport an underage girl across a state line to get an abortion. It has a strong, bipartisan majority. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) with clever parliamentary maneuvering, stalled the bill.

The Democrats want the status quo. The GOP wants change. Republicans are the new [gasp] progressives.

The GOP wants: To Win the war on terror, Low taxes, Energy independence, Small Business Health Plans.

From Senator's Frist's website (yes, he's got a blog) we learn,

In the days ahead, we will further promote Health Savings Accounts ...a common sense way for Americans to save money tax-free to help with their healthcare expenses.

We will also continue to lead the way on promoting Association Health Plans that sweep away burdensome state regulations and make it possible for small employers to purchase health insurance on the same terms as large ones.

And we will commit to developing a 21st Century system for the delivery of health care information that is ACCURATE, INTEROPERABLE and easily ACCESSIBLE.

By doing each of these things and more, we're working to build a system that's consumer-driven, patient-centered, and provider friendly -- a system driven by knowledge, choice, and control.

So why do we, small business owners, not have Association Health Plans?

Senator Frist reports that the Democrats across the aisle are "obstructing events" to gain political points. Frist does not have 60 votes to bring bills to a vote. It is not certain if our deliberative body will deliver Association Health Plans.

But the good-guys will win. On the GOP energy bill, Frist feels, "fantastic...optimistic." He wants to build a fence on the Mexican boarder. He wants to repeal the "Death Tax." He wants all the tax cuts permanent. (The average household of four and $60K would see taxes increase by 58% if the tax cuts lapse as Democrats want.)

I ask Frist if the Democrats are holding up the Defense funding as a political ploy, or have lost the will to win. Frist said that the most important issue for his constituents back home in Tennessee is that they "want to feel secure." Do the Democrats want to 'cut and run' in this war? Frist says that Pelosi certainly wants to "Cut and jog" away from winning the war.

Messaging and legislation. I also ask Frist, "Are we [bloggers] part of the messaging?" Because Frist knows the value of all media. And knows how to persuade and how to sell his message.

At 4:55, Senator Frist must leave for a floor vote at 5.

I dally in his outer offices after he leaves and see him on C-SPAN. Selling.

Physician, Citizen Legislator, and now, Salesman.

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Thank you (foot)notes:

Rob Bluey from Human Events OnLine regularly organizes blogger meet-ups.

It is rumored that Frist sleeps but 3 hours a night. And keeps in his office an old filibuster couch that the senators would sleep on during real 'hold the floor forever' filibusters. Frist also keeps in the Senate Majority Leader's office (which is a bit larger than my first apartment) a medical bag. He was the first on the scene at the shooting of Capital Police a few years ago.

Posted at 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

RedState.org RedState is one of the best sites for red-blooded Americans. They are getting better all the time -- the Red States and RedState.org,

As you know, we're only days away from launching the new Redstate backend - as well as some exciting new features for you, our readers.

Be sure to blog roll RedState and watch what happens on 7 August.

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Be sure to Update Your Email Address for Redstate 2.0,

RedState is focused on politics, and is dedicated to the construction of a Republican majority in the United States. We hope to unite serious, innovative, and accomplished voices from government, politics, activism, civil society, journalism, and, not least of all, ordinary folks, to participate in this work.

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