Knowing Kennedy

As anticipated, the Vice Presidential debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan was sure interesting. What most took away from it was the Paul Ryan seemed logical and measured while Joe Biden came across practically unhinged, with excessive laughter and smirking, a condescending demeanor and incessant interrupting.

Certainly, the behavior Biden exhibited was not becoming someone who holds such a high position in our government; our citizenry should demand more. Media across the spectrum have weighed in unfavorably for Biden, from his lack of truthfulness in Investors Business Daily to his rude behavior on NBC's Saturday Night Live.

The RNC wasted no time in releasing a hard hitting video ad:





Even though there have been some great lines over the years, Vice Presidential debates typically do not move the needle very much in terms of the outcome of the general election.

Say it ain't so Joe! Certainly, fresh in our minds was the strong performance of Sarah Palin in 2008, and who can forget Lloyd Bentsen catching Dan Quayle in stage fright after his ill advised quote in comparison of John F. "Jack" Kennedy.

In the recent VP debate, Biden seem poised to grab a "Lloyd Bentsen moment", as Glenn Beck posted, but failed in his effort in trying to tag Ryan as attempting to cast himself as comparable to former President Kennedy.

No such luck for cranky Uncle Joe.  As it turns out, Biden was wrong, again, and Ryan was correct.  While JFK seems off limits for debate comparison for some reason, I would like to indulge Biden and have a conversation about the beloved former President.  Who, if anyone, and whose policies are similar to the arena of ideas and philosophies Kennedy advocated?

It is not Obama and Biden, as we noted it would not be back in 2008.

I understand how so many in my parents generation, my parents included, held great admiration for President Kennedy, similar in many ways how a greater majority of my generation, inclusive of myself, hold President Reagan in such high regard.

Certainly, in the era of televisions becoming widespread, there was the whole Camelot phenomenon that enhanced the romance of the young President and his beautiful family.  Unfortunately, on a dreadful day in Dallas in November of 1963, the dream was over and the innocence of the country was lost. In seconds.

One would have to imagine that their infatuation and support of President Kennedy was largely due to agreeing with a large degree of the policies President Kennedy advocated. We can begin with perhaps the most famous quote from JFK, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country", which cannot be regarded as a ringing endorsement of expansive government entitlements.

Under the Obama administration, excessive regulation and taxation, increasing stimulus and expansive entitlements have been stunning in their advance, in no way resembling the positions JFK took with regard to this type of governance.

President Kennedy fought for tax cuts, noting they are an integral part of creating a growing and thriving economy.  While JFK thought, correctly, that free market capitalism requires a base of regulatory foundation, economies function best when those are not variable and are held to a minimum. 

In addition, and perhaps most importantly, Kennedy wanted to help create an environment where the citizens of America can pursue happiness, where hard work is rewarded with market driven pay scales allowing workers opportunities for advancement; morally, financially and ethically.  Kennedy was not a supporter of an expansion of entitlements, which creates a culture of dependency which restricts the freedom and incentive of the individual, robbing them of their identity.

Some say Ronald Reagan would be unable to be elected in the GOP of today.  Hogwash!  Reagan would be leading the opposition against the Progressives; in both parties.  In fact, the man who would not be elected in his own party, is John F. Kennedy.

In response to the disagreement over the truth in the debate, Western Free Press grabbed some old video and presented the answers.  Take a thorough listen:




Sadly, when reviewing many of the Democrats in support of Obama and his platform, it would be news to them that their beloved JFK would an opponent. I encourage those Camelot Democrats to expand their knowledge in getting to know Kennedy beyond the images associated with Camelot.  In his own words.

Don't tell Uncle Joe, but maybe Paul Ryan is the man who can carry the JFK torch? Just sayin.

Royal Wedding Spencer Style

On Friday, April 29, 2011, Prince William will marry Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in a wedding sure to be watched by millions around the globe.

The only Royals I am into play hardball in Kansas City, but I do recognize the impact of this event. Certainly, from what I can tell, both Prince William and Miss Middleton seem to carry themselves well and I do wish them all the best.

Without a doubt, this is the biggest Royal deal since Prince Charles married the former Miss Diana Spencer in July of 1981. I thought highly of Princess Di, and her tragic death was most unfortunate. I suspect she would be proud of William.

I do recall the wedding of Miss Diana Spencer and Prince Charles in 1981, but it was not the wedding event of the year.

That was the wedding of another Spencer, one Lucas Lorenzo Spencer, as he married Laura Webber Baldwin on November 16, 1981 in Port Charles, New York. Some 30 million daytime viewers took in the wedding of Luke and Laura on ABC's General Hospital. I remember it well, with Robert Scorpio standing tall as Luke's best man and Elizabeth Taylor in attendance.



Recently, ABC has announced plans to cancel two running soaps in All My Children and One Life To Live. Although AMC ran against NBC's very popular Days of Our Lives, it was well done and star Susan Lucci is a household name. OLTL seemed to never materialize as a top notch soap, but hung on for decades airing between AMC and GH. General Hospital and Days of Our Lives are still running strong, but many long running soap operas have been gone to sunset.

Given the demise of these long running programs, while looking back this weekend a very significant television event against the backdrop of a royal wedding, it is amazing to contemplate the demise of most all of the soaps. The soap opera, diminishing in its gallantry in recent years, remains a historically interesting and valuable part of our entertainment culture, as does the goings on of the royal family in Great Britain.

BAHL's Babes: Farrah Fawcett

Even though we knew it was coming, it drew a tear to the eye to learn of the death of Farrah Fawcett, the original BAHL's Babe, from cancer. Like seemingly every other little kid, the poster of all posters hung on the wall in my bedroom and Charlies Angels was must see television.













Farrah, from Corpus Christi, TX, was also an athlete, often spending time on the tennis courts.

I was pleased to learn that the other Angels, Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson, had been visiting and helping Farrah through her trying time. Both had spent time over the past year with her and I think that says quite a bit in itself. Certainly, along with Nebraska native David Doyle as Bosley, Charlie's Angels was an enjoyable show back in the day.

I first became aware of Farrah when she was Farrah Fawcett-Majors, as I was a big fan of Lee Majors in both The Big Valley and The Six Million Dollar Man, where Farrah has a small part in few episodes. Although she had been well known for her work on the commercial side, it was Charlie's Angels that made her a star, and with her head of hair which spawned copy cat styles across America, she will always be one of America's top sex symbols.

During her fight with cancer she displayed courage and strength and with her faith she traveled her final journey with class and dignity. God Bless You Farrah!

"She was an angel on Earth and now an angel forever." - Lee Majors

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RACE TO CURE CANCER HERE

Barkleys Best of The West

Recently, The Western Writers of America released their list of The Greatest TV Western Series of All Time, and CBS's long running series Gunsmoke topped the list.

The top five, as determined by the organization of some "600 writers founded in the 1950s to promote and honor the best literature about the American West" is as follows:

1. Gunsmoke (1955-75)
2. Maverick (1957-62)
3. Rawhide (1959-66)
4. Bonanza (1959-73)
5. Have Gun, Will Travel (1957-63)

Although only two of these ran current within my lifetime, I have watched episodes of four of the five and cannot quarrel with the findings of the group. Certainly, Gunsmoke and Bonanza have to rank high on any ones list.

I have a clear cut favorite and it came in ranked at 14, and that is The Big Valley. The Big Valley, which ran current from 1965-69 on ABC television, portrayed the Barkley clan of Stockton, CA. The cast consisted of Miss Barbara Stanwyck as Victoria Barkley, Linda Evans as Audra Barkley, Richard Long as Jarrod Barkley, Lee Majors as Heath Barkley and Peter Breck as Nick Barkley. Napoleon Whiting played the butler Silas.

Miss Barbara Stanwyck was quite an established actor prior to the series and added immediate credibility to the cast. Lee Majors went on to not only marry Farrah Fawcett, but star as The Six Million Dollar Man (watched every episode) and as The Fall Guy on ABC while Linda Evans is well known for her role of Krystle Carrington on ABC's Dynasty. The show had great story lines, and while Jarrod was often off handling legal responsibilities at his law office, Nick and Heath were kicking ass whenever necessary.

The Big Valley was a great show and, by far, my favorite western.

HT LMM

The House That Ruth Built

Prior to the 2008 All Star Game at Yankee Stadium, many Hall of Famers were honored which turned out to be the most stout collections of baseballs greats ever to be on the same field.

This is the final season for The House That Ruth Built as a new Yankee Stadium will be ready next spring. Although I like the Yankees and appreciate the history of the franchise, my favorite player of all time had tremendous success and fame at Yankee Stadium, Kansas City's George Brett. Brett, pictured at left, was one of the HOF players honored tonight. Over the years, he blasted towering home runs and got up close and personal with pine tar at Yankee Stadium.

Among the Yankee greats, and there are many of them, one of my favorites is Yogi Berra, a great New Yorker indeed. Yogi Berra is quite a character and participated in one the greatest television commercials of all time. Yogi at his finest!



If you get hurt and miss work, it don't hurt to miss work!