An In Depth Conversation With Dr. Carson *Open Thread*
Recently, I was alerted to a special Sean Hannity Program with Dr. Benjamin Carson from February 15 posted at Common Cents. Not only was Dr. Carson on the entire time, but there was also a live audience, from . I just finished listening to the entire program (bonus – no commercials!). I am more impressed with this man now than before after watching his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast recently. I didn’t think that was possible, considering how impressive that speech was!
And I invite you to see for yourselves. The program is broken up into four parts, all of which are below:
There were so many great moments in this presentation, but I really appreciated Dr. Carson’s response to Jennifer Stefano in the fourth part when she asked: “how can we best limit government in a way that creates a million Mrs. Carsons raising up her sons, and herself, out of poverty into prosperity? How do we do that?”
Dr. Carson’s response? “We become smart voters. He went on from there to say that many people vote for people whose names sound familiar, that that is often all they know about the person. There was more, and urge you to watch the entire program, if you can.
Honestly, we need not just more politicians like Dr. Carson, we need more CITIZENS like Dr. Carson. People who believe in a hand up, not a hand out; who believe in education as a means out of poverty; who are willing to work hard to achieve their goals, and not to think they are entitled to the labors of others; someone who is humble, yet not afraid to speak his mind; someone who believes in holding elected officials accountable for the policies they enact on our behalf; and someone who expects our media to do its job of informing the citizenry so we can make informed decisions. Dr. Carson embodies that and more.
Yes, I’d say we could use quite a few more like him, don’t you?
For just for the sheer joy of it, I give you this video:
How ADORABLE is that baby elephant?!? Made me very happy to watch it play; I hope it did you, as well!
This is an Open Thread. Discuss the videos above, or anything else on your minds!
We do absolutely need more citizens like Dr. Carson. He’s a real patriot.
People who believe in a hand up, not a hand out; who believe in education as a means out of poverty; who are willing to work hard to achieve their goals, and not to think they are entitled to the labors of others; someone who is humble, yet not afraid to speak his mind; someone who believes in holding elected officials accountable for the policies they enact on our behalf; and someone who expects our media to do its job of informing the citizenry so we can make informed decisions. Dr. Carson embodies that and more.
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Well said and a hearty Amen to that. Many citizens have lost the can-do attitude that at one time characterized this great nation. All too often, particularly at work, I get the “it can’t be done” or “it is too difficult”. I’m certainly glad previous generations didn’t think this way or we would be speaking German, Japanese, Russian, or Chinese. The only limitations we have are self-inflicted and therefore treatable. All of us need to start demanding excellence again and not cater to the lowest-common denominator.
“…….. and not cater to the lowest-common denominator.”
Or elect him as the President.
Too late, done that twice. Although that was them, not us!
So right Keno…
Thank you, Ferd. I appreciate that. Suzy and I were talking on the way home from lunch a few minutes ago. I was thinking, “have I really become so conservative or is it as others (like you) have said, I didn’t leave the party, the party left me?” I think it is the latter.
I have always believed that people can work their way up if they have enough determination, and work hard in school, rather than subscribe to some victimology. As we continued to discuss this, Suzy mentioned Bill Clinton’s “Welfare to Work” program. That was NOT that long ago. How did we come from THAT mindset to the one we have today?? I just do not understand it, I just don’t.
So yeah – I think the Party has changed, and in ways I simply cannot accept. This whole “nanny state” thing is abt as un-American as you can get…
I’ve watched Dr, Carson’s “Prayer Breakfast” presentation three or four times now. The first time I watched it I was mesmerized by his calm delivery of enumerable common-sense, bomb-proof arguments for Capitalism, individual initiative, and traditional American know-how to solve most of the problems that are crippling this country.
The next time I watched it, I focused entirely on the petulant man-child President’s reactions as he squirmed, pouted, smirked, and feigned disinterest as though he was a five year old sitting in church. I’m not an expert on body language, but I don’t need to be to have recognized Obama’s poorly concealed discomfort and ire while the good Dr. kept pointing out, in various ways, that our dipshit Emperor has no clothes. Maybe it was just my imagination, but at several times during the speech, I thought I saw smoke coming out of Obama’s dinner-plate ears. I could tell that, rather than objectively and thoughtfully considering the Doctor’s brilliant observations for their merits, Obama seemed to be more concerned about how this guy slipped under Valerie Jarret’s radar, and how this uppity AA brain surgeon skillfully swiped the stage and the spotlight at a public event, a big NO-NO when in the presence of the gossamer skinned Narcissist in Chief.
It’s no wonder that the leftist media went bonkers when they were forced into the dilemma of protecting their Golden Child by trashing an extremely accomplished and well spoken AA Dr. and his unassailable observations. So rather than attempting to attack or refute the Doctor’s observations on an intellectual level, the increasingly lazy media took the much easier tack of expressing their outrage that the Dr. “inappropriately” chose the Prayer Breakfast to express his views, thereby hijacking the event to embarrass their beloved Prince. How dare that snooty Dr. wander off the plantation and act like a free American!
For some reason I dont think the left is done with this man, which is sad.
Remember what they did to Cain..
I still believe that it was more than the female rumors that made Cain drop out. I still believe that it was things that Cain actually did, yet how does one report threats from the annointed one..
This is exactly the sort of thing they did to Cain. And I don’t think Cain did anything wrong for if he did, he would actually have been taken to court (see Bill Clinton). It was a high-tech lynching, which is what the good doctor may be in for if he doesn’t mend his intellectual ways. Blacks can’t just leave the democrat plantation–not in the 1800s and not now.
Indeed, Ferd. I thought Dr. Carson’s response to Hannity abt this very thing said it all. He said there are NO skeletons in his closet, people can look all they want. He believes in right living, and not lying. What a change, huh?
Excellent analysis, Onofre.
Kin, you are so correct when you say “I don’t think the left is done with this man.” He’s going to be forced to run the gauntlet. People like Chris Matthews & Ed Schultz are going to try to crucify him. Jesse Jackson Jr. won’t get a word from these a-holes, but Carson must be destroyed no matter what. Good thing for Carson that he didn’t commit the fatal faux pas of taking a sip of water during his appearances!
You said it, oowawa. I felt compelled to write our paper today when the story abt Jesse Jackson, Jr. was buried at the bottom of page 4, while the story abt Rubio taking a sip of water – GASP! – was on page 3, above the fold. What a dereliction of journalistic duty. Anyway, I have no doubt the media will continue to ignore the very REAL wrongdoings of people on their team (still can’t believe Charlie Tax Fraud Rangel claimed Rubio’s career was over).
So, yeah – when they continue to protect criminals like Jackson, Rangel, Menendez, et al., while going after decent people, you know we have a long way to go…
Thank you, OA – excellent observations on your part, both in terms of Obama’s response to Dr. Carson, and the media’s. How difficult it must be for them to have to defend Obama against one of the top neurosurgeons in the WORLD, someone with remarkable credentials, WAY better than being a failed community organizer.
Thank You RRRA.. It seems that Dr. Carson has become the talk of the internet lately..
I posted this on one of the open threads, since it is about Carson I’m reposting it here.
Was turned on to the quote and video at the bottom by an email from another friend.
I have a feeling that Obama is more than a bit afraid of this man.
Carson does speak his mind and speaks it well. Carson has earned the right to speak his mind and the Obama kool aide drinkers need to lay off Carson, .and realize that Carson is much more of a man than Obama is or ever will be. Carson is much more of a black man than Obama will ever be.
I actually am surprised that there is not more heat under him from the Obama media. You know heat about all the bad things that he did and does (you know the rumor meda that noone will prove or disprove since its an supposed enemy of Obama’s.
“Dr. Carson responded to those critical of his speech by stating, “Well, when did this become a monarchy? You know, we are the people. The president works for us and, you know, we need to remember that. This is a country that is for of and by the people, not for of and by the government and that is the big battle that we are in right now.”
YES – we do need to remember that the president is our EMPLOYEE, not our dictator (though Obama is lamenting that he is NOT a dictator. No, really – he did: http://m.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-problem-i-m-not-emperor-united-states_701295.html). No doubt, that is why Dr. Carson resonates with us, people who believe in what the USA is, and should be, believe in hard work, people standing on their own two feet, and doing what they can for the nation.
And no doubt that is why many are attacking Dr. Carson, some even because he is religious. (And that is a bad thing WHY, exactly? Because he’s Christian? I wonder if they would say the same if he was Jewish, or Hindu, or Buddhist? I suspect not.) It is because he is calling the nation back to the path of greatness, of everyone having skin in the game (and you know, I have always said that EVERYONE should have to pay some taxes – something so everyone feels invested in this nation, instead of looking at it as a honey pot. Again, I do believe we have to help those who cannot help themselves, sick, elderly, or who have fallen on hard times. That is not the same as one thinking they are ENTITLED to the labors of others.).
“Because he’s Christian? I wonder if they would say the same if he was Jewish, or Hindu, or Buddhist?”
If he were Jewish, or Hindu or Buddhist, he would still be targeted for unfair attacks. However, if he were Muslim, he would be untouchable by the MSM. Leftist “political correctness” overrules everything else.
Sadly, I fear you are right abt that, oowawa…
Kin, thank you so much for finding that video. I remember watching it, and never connected the dots that that was THE same Dr. Carson. I’m back from a weekend at the lake, and I’ve got his Hannity show DVR’d, and that was just the teaser I needed. After watching it, I may cruise on over to DU or Ko’s to see if they have found any dirt on him. Because I know they are trying hard to do just that.
I feel sort of like we are back in the 60s. Sort of reverse discrimination from back then.
In the 60s any white person with a name or high level political position in the south that stood up for MLK and the Civil Rights movement was cremated by all the Southern media and their white peers.
Convincing people that they are victims in need of the Government’s support is just a soul killing concept that literally destroys people. At the moment we have these people who, because of the economy and the President’s policies, lost their jobs, became chronically unemployed, and now view themselves as “disabled.” (We now have more people applying for disability then any other time in history.) Naturally they’re depressed, which leads to medication and sitting around watching TV all day, which eventually creates some genuine disabilities, diabetes, high blood pressure. And actually you can’t heal or get well, or you’ll lose your only means of support. The sicker you can get, the more likely you are to keep a roof over your head. So now you’re trapped in poverty, trapped in illness, trapped in a disability.
I totally blame the Left who creates generational cycles of poverty under the guise of compassion. It’s not compassion, it’s selfishness. They don’t want to feel bad about what others sometimes have to go through.They also like to feel superior because they’re so much more compassionate then anybody else. But I blame the Right for pretending there are “welfare queens” or people who thrive off of government assistance, as if everyday were just a celebration of all this free money you’ve scammed off the Gov. For the most part, we’re creating people who have no hope, no sense of accomplishment, no ability to even dream of a different future.
I love conservatives like Dr. Carson, like Sarah Palin, who understand that if we genuinely want to help people, we need to lift them up, to empower them to pursue their dreams. Palin has a disabled child, she probably knows that you need to feed that child’s soul with a part time job, with education, with activities, with a social life, not tuck him away somewhere, “safe” on the Gov dole.
Those that believe there are better off with the government supporting them, had better look at those that felt like that in the past history of the world..
Once you give the government too much control, then you are doomed…
Outstanding comment, yttik – you said it. There is an air of superiority abt helping the “little people,” those poor people who just can’t take care of themselves. Ugh.
And yes, it is staggering how many people are now on disability, whether they should be initially, or end up legitimately being on. It says a lot abt where our country is these days.
You know, I could be wrong, but didn’t it used to just be an American way of thinking that people wanted to be lifted up, to be giving a hand up, rather than being taken care of by others? That wasn’t that long ago. How did we get so far removed from that mindset in so little time?
If guns are bad and people shouldn’t have them, why the hell is the DHS buying so many bullets?
http://www.businessinsider.com/dhs-fletc-ammunition-purchases-750-million-200-million-40-caliber-rounds-2013-1
http://www.infowars.com/dhs-purchases-21-6-million-more-rounds-of-ammunition/
Isn’t the DHS “Homeland” security? What kind of war on our soil are they expecting?
I’ve been following this, oowawa. Whatever is happening, it is affecting my ability to purchase ammunition. Indeed, other items such as reloading equipment, brass, bullets, primers, and powder are all on backorder most everywhere. It is likely a combination of millions of Americans stocking up and the government trying to use up resources. Attrition comes to mind.
Ferd, I could understand it if the Defense Department were buying ammo for the military services, but the DHS? That’s scary. It’s even more scary to think that the Department of Homeland Security is buying all this ammo while trying to disarm the citizenry.
If the government can’t legally take away our weapons, oowawa, they are going to make it difficult for us to use what weapons we do have. And the DHS does not need all that ammunition, some of it jacketed hollow point, which is illegal for military use.
Right, Ferd. From the Infowars article cited above: “The solicitation asks for 10 million pistol cartridge .40 caliber 165 Grain, jacketed Hollow point bullets (100 quantities of 100,000 rounds) and 10 million 9mm 115 grain jacketed hollow point bullets (100 quantities of 100,000 rounds).”
I didn’t realize that was “illegal for military use.” Designed to do as much damage as possible to human flesh, right? Too inhumane for our troops overseas, but okay for use on homeland soil……on whom?
On us. The military uses a full-metal jacket (hence the name of the movie). It doesn’t cause as much damage as a hollow-point. In addition, using a full-metal jacket means the rifle doesn’t have to be cleaned as often. Lead really fouls a rifle/pistol, which is mitigated by the use of an FMJ-type bullet.
Interesting……
I should have added, that a rifle like the M-16, gas-operated, *really* gets fouled with lead and will soon become inoperable without a thorough cleaning, which is not always possible in war-time action.
Not sure what this is, but many are wondering too..
This along with the new gun bans they want makes one wonder what is the next step…
A next step that I dont fell will be good for America
The only guns bans I see coming may be by executive fiat–the House will never go along with what the White House and the progressives want. It ain’t happening. Several states are thinking about enacting laws to negate the presidential orders. There are a large number of elected sheriffs who are also refusing to comply and making promises to arrest any federal agents who attempt to enforce these illegal orders. It is going to get a lot worse if Obongo insists on trying his hand at tinhorn dictatorship.
Imagine the danger to law enforcement personnel, sheriff departments, etc., if they are forced to try to confiscate guns……
Yeah, oowawa, they’re better off telling the feds to fornicate themselves.
This is going around face book
Australian Gun Law Update�
Here’s a thought to warm some of your hearts….
From: Ed Chenel, A police officer in Australia
Hi Yanks, I thought you all would like to see the real
figures from Down Under.
It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by a new law to
surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by our own
government, a program costing Australia taxpayers
more than $500 million dollars.
The first year results are now in:
Australia-wide, homicides are up 6.2 percent,
Australia-wide, assaults are up 9.6 percent;
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!
In the state of Victoria…..
lone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent.(Note that
while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not
and criminals still possess their guns!)
While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady
decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months, since the criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins andassaults of the elderly, while the resident is at home.
Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public
safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in ‘successfully ridding Australian society of guns….’ You won’t see this on the American evening news or hear your governor or members of the State Assembly disseminating this information.
The Australian experience speaks for itself. Guns in the
hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws affect only the law-abiding citizens.
Take note Americans, before it’s too late!
Will you be one of the sheep to turn yours in?
WHY? You will need it.
It seems that the Dems are sticking their noses into some of the state political arenas to get the laws they want passed. I have a feeling that its mostly the states that are a bit on the fence as to guns..
Vice President Biden twists arms to get Colorado House to move on gun control
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/feb/16/vice-president-biden-twists-arms-get-colorado-hous/
And many in Colorado are up in arms, if you will, about this. Two major firearms makers will pull out of Colorado if the bill passes the Senate and is signed into law by the governor.
It seemed that even a few of the Colorado Democrats where not to happy with Biden’s call either..
Seems that the administration is not letting it go…
What I think is kind of sad is they are not letting Newtown die a natural death either..I will bet that quite a few of the survivors do not like the constant reminder of the tragedy..Its been two months now and the Dems are using it on a weekly basis if not daily basis for their own politcal gain.
That’s what progressives do–overwhelm the media with constant reminders of tragedy and that *their* policies will end such tragedies. That their policies never do is not brought up. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Leave it to Candy to be an A…Hole
CNN Panel Debates: Was Doctor’s Conservative Speech In Front Of Obama ‘Offensive,’ ‘Inappropriate’
Jackass. She is a SORRY excuse for a journalist. Heck, I don’t think that word even applies to her. “Partisan hack” might be more appropriate…