Ponderstorm My Brainstorm on Life & Politics

From time to time people have asked me if I would be interested in publishing some guest blog posts on Ponderstorm. I liked the idea so much that I created a sister-blog for such articles. I’ve called this new blog PonderPost and it’s designed to serve and promote multiple-authors with the “Pithy Ponderings of Perspicacious Persons.” We’ll hopefully roll things out officially early next week with our first new article on PonderPost.

If you are a Ponderstorm reader and are interested in doing some guest writing then please contact me. Writers may write under their own name or a pseudonym. I only ask for quality writers with original, thought-provoking posts that are well-reasoned and and not knee-jerk reactions. Writers do not need to commit to a fixed writing schedule — weekly or even monthly posting is welcomed. Please note that I don’t pay for posts on this blog.

I’m working on providing a unique author page and photo (or avatar) complete with a bio for each writer. Articles will be the property of PonderPost but full credit will be given to the author of each article.

Posted under Talent
No Comments

Now that I’m more focused on preparing my own income taxes, some of the latest tax evasion scandals in the Obama Administration are even more frustrating. I think the two political cartoons below put the sins of Tom Daschle and Tim Geithner into a more proper perspective. It does seem that those with political connections are held to a lower standard than “the rest of us” who make the country work. What think you?

(Click images to enlarge)

Posted under Barack Obama, Taxes
1 Comment

Last night I watched Bobby Jindal give the Republican Response to the State of the Union. I like Bobby Jindal and I liked his message. He is a good leader who has done great things already and has incredible potential.

Unlike the opinions of many TV talking heads and analysts, I think Governor Jindal did reasonably well for such an artificial setting. In fairness, he did not shine to his potential; however, his performance was no worse than many other governors before him in previous years and was better than many. The audio quality was poor which was no fault of his own.

So, with the above in mind, why did the Republican Party allow him to be subjected to such an artificial situation? Why not put him on a stage flanked by American flags and with a crowded room of fans who would interrupt with applause lines? Why did the Republican Party not think about minimizing the contrast between the President’s amazing State of the Union setting and the almost sterile environment of the Republican Response?

I am ashamed that Bobby Jindal had to endure any national ridicule, especially over things exaggerated by aesthetics. His message was good and appropriate but the setting was no match for people who don’t think deeply. More can and should be done in future responses to level the playing field and put Republican candidates in a more favorable light.

Posted under Politics
No Comments

Now you know why I haven’t posted much recently. After months of contemplation and planning, I have decided to run for local office. My campaign website is at MikeAllen.com and contains my details on my priorities and background.

In deciding to run for alderman (what we call our city council members), I decided it was time to not just talk about public service but to perform public service. In short, I want to make a difference in my life. I want to leave my community in better shape than it is now. I want it to be a place where my children will want to call home when they establish their adult lives. That, in a nutshell, is why I am seeking this position.

Posted under Life, Mississippi
1 Comment

Sadly, NBC rejected an uplifting pro-life Super Bowl ad produced by CatholicVote.com. The excuse given is that NBC and the NFL are not interested in advertisements involving “political advocacy or issues.”

This ad is a project of the Fidelis Center for Law and Policy and represents the first release of a national media campaign. It is entitled “Life: Imagine the Potential” and you can watch it below.

Posted under Politics, Video
3 Comments