My Letter to NBC Regarding the Closing Ceremony Debacle
Dear NBC-
I often start my days with the Today Show, and end them watching the late local news on my local NBC affiliate. Some of my all-time favorite shows have been on NBC. I enjoyed most of the last two weeks watching the Olympics. I even defended your choice to time-delay the Olympics.
However, what I witnessed tonight has made me and my family extremely upset. You decided to interrupt your coverage of the Olympic Closing Ceremonies to show us a preview of one of your new fall shows.
I find this not only in extremely poor taste, but an insult to the Olympics and to your viewers. My sister, who didn't watch any of the Olympics, re-arranged her work schedule tonight just to watch the Olympic Closing Ceremony with our family.
It makes me sad to think that I can't trust NBC to provide excellent coverage of any event again. Whether it's an awards show or the Super Bowl, how do I know you won't interrupt the program to preview a new show?
Bad move, NBC. You've lost a loyal viewer.
-Bob Aagard
Salt Lake City, Utah
Paul Ryan supports Ayn Rand's Morality. Ayn Rand's Morality is not Mormonism's Morality
This Morning, Mitt Romney named Paul Ryan to be his Vice President Nominee.
When the news broke while I was watching the Olympics, I was excited. I may have cheered just a little.
You see, there has always been a certain "Greed is Good" mentality to the Romney campaign -- the more money you make, the better person you are.
And then, just to confirm this, he nominates Paul Ryan to be VP.
Paul Ryan once said "“Rand more than anyone else did a fantastic job of explaining the morality of capitalism, the morality of individualism… It’s that kind of thinking, that kind of writing that is sorely needed right now.”" Don't believe me? Well, he said it in a video he posted on his Facebook account.
And, well, there's this video, which takes Ryan's comments and intersperses them with Ayn Rand's:
And, another awesome quote from Ayn Rand: “Each man must live as an end in himself and follow his own rational self-interest.”
For more info on how Christians must distance themselves from Ayn Rand, follow this link.
So, how does this doctrine of individuality mesh with the doctrine of Mormonism? Well, not very well.
When the news broke while I was watching the Olympics, I was excited. I may have cheered just a little.
You see, there has always been a certain "Greed is Good" mentality to the Romney campaign -- the more money you make, the better person you are.
And then, just to confirm this, he nominates Paul Ryan to be VP.
Paul Ryan once said "“Rand more than anyone else did a fantastic job of explaining the morality of capitalism, the morality of individualism… It’s that kind of thinking, that kind of writing that is sorely needed right now.”" Don't believe me? Well, he said it in a video he posted on his Facebook account.
And, well, there's this video, which takes Ryan's comments and intersperses them with Ayn Rand's:
And, another awesome quote from Ayn Rand: “Each man must live as an end in himself and follow his own rational self-interest.”
For more info on how Christians must distance themselves from Ayn Rand, follow this link.
So, how does this doctrine of individuality mesh with the doctrine of Mormonism? Well, not very well.
"We live in perilous times when many believe we are not accountable to God and that we do not have personal responsibility or stewardship for ourselves or others. Many in the world are focused on self-gratification, put themselves first, and love pleasure more than they love righteousness. They do not believe they are their brother’s keeper. In the Church, however, we believe that these stewardships are a sacred trust." -Elder Quentin L Cook, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, October 2009
I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives. -President Thomas S Monson, October 2009
Man’s greatest happiness comes from losing himself for the good of others. -President David O McKay, October 1963
Satan’s position is the opposite. He sponsors self-interest, raw and unrefined by any other consideration. One of his most effective tools is the temptation to take unfair advantage in order to get gain. It has been so from the beginning. -Elder Dallin H Oaks, October 1986
FOX News Poll Bad For Romney
Fox News, that bastion of liberal media, released a new poll today.
And, well that poll looks bad. It's bad for Mitt Romney.
The poll was conducted by live telephone calls on both cell phones and land line phones August 5-7. All respondents were registered voters. Margin of error is 3 points.
Romney 40%
Obama 49%
Other 2%
Would Vote 2%
Don't Know 8%
So, what you have is Obama with a 9-point lead over Romney. In their July 15-17 poll, that number was 45-41 Obama, so he's increasing his lead.
One thing that made me nervous was that respondents were asked how interested about the election they were. Of those who were "Extremely Interested" (42% of the sample), The Romney-Obama race was tied at 48-48. However, in the previous poll, Romney led extremely interested voters 53-42. So, Romney is losing ground with those extremely interested.
On Favorable/Unfavorable ratings for the candidates, we see Obama is more favorable than Romney
Obama 54% Favorable 42% Unfavorable
Romney 46% Favorable 45% Unfavorable
And, according to this poll, Obama has a 49% approval rating (46% disapprove). President Obama has hovered between 42-49% since he hit 55% approval in May 2011 (just after the bin Laden kill). While it's tough to win as an incumbent with an approval rating below 50%, It seems kike many of those who don't approve of Obama still won't vote for Mitt.
Regardless of how you would vote, how comfortable would you be with Mitt Romney as President?
Extremely Comfortable 8%
Very Comfortable 18%
Somewhat Comfortable 33%
Not at All comfortable 38%
Don't Know 3%
And, they asked the 71% that would be somewhat or not very comfortable with a President Romney what the main reason they felt that way. And, the answers they gave showed us where Romney fails:
His positions on the issues 17%
Phony/Dishonest 9%
Out of Touch 8%
Republican/Conservative 7%
For the Rich 7%
Everything 6%
His Wealth/He's rich 5%
Changes his positions/Flip flops 5%
Don't know enough about him 5%
Business Background/experience 4%
No Substance 3%
Too Conservative 2%
Religion/Mormonism 2%
Arrogant 2%
No Charisma 1%
Not Conservative enough 1%
Too close to Bush/Same as Bush 1%
Other 6%
Don't know 9%
So, most of the answers given are about Mitt the man, and it's hard to reintroduce yourself to the American people. It can be done, but it's hard. Especially when people have an opinion that you are an out of touch, dishonest rich politician in it for yourself.
Let's look at Obama on the same question:
Extremely Comfortable 21%
Very Comfortable 20%
Somewhat comfortable 22%
Not at all Comfortable 37%
Don't know 1%
Of the 59% of people who were somewhat or not at all comfortable with a second term for President Obama, they gave these reasons why:
Performance as President: 25%
Unemployment/Jobs/No economic recovery 15%
His positions on the issues 14%
Everything 9%
Health Care plan 6%
Big Government spending 5%
Socialist policies 4%
Phony/Dishonest 4%
Changes his positions/Flip flops 3%
Democrat/Liberal 2%
Taxes 2%
No substance/just a celebrity 1%
Arrogant 1%
Against business -
His background/race -
Other 5%
Don't know 4%
But, here's the kicker question, the question that has to have Team Mitt shaking in their shoes:
If Barack Obama is re-elected as president, which of the following best describes your feelings?
42% The country's going down the drain and I am dreading what is going to happen in the next four years.
18% The country's improving every day and I look forward to another four years.
7% neither
3% Don't know
And, well that poll looks bad. It's bad for Mitt Romney.
The poll was conducted by live telephone calls on both cell phones and land line phones August 5-7. All respondents were registered voters. Margin of error is 3 points.
Romney 40%
Obama 49%
Other 2%
Would Vote 2%
Don't Know 8%
So, what you have is Obama with a 9-point lead over Romney. In their July 15-17 poll, that number was 45-41 Obama, so he's increasing his lead.
One thing that made me nervous was that respondents were asked how interested about the election they were. Of those who were "Extremely Interested" (42% of the sample), The Romney-Obama race was tied at 48-48. However, in the previous poll, Romney led extremely interested voters 53-42. So, Romney is losing ground with those extremely interested.
On Favorable/Unfavorable ratings for the candidates, we see Obama is more favorable than Romney
Obama 54% Favorable 42% Unfavorable
Romney 46% Favorable 45% Unfavorable
And, according to this poll, Obama has a 49% approval rating (46% disapprove). President Obama has hovered between 42-49% since he hit 55% approval in May 2011 (just after the bin Laden kill). While it's tough to win as an incumbent with an approval rating below 50%, It seems kike many of those who don't approve of Obama still won't vote for Mitt.
Regardless of how you would vote, how comfortable would you be with Mitt Romney as President?
Extremely Comfortable 8%
Very Comfortable 18%
Somewhat Comfortable 33%
Not at All comfortable 38%
Don't Know 3%
And, they asked the 71% that would be somewhat or not very comfortable with a President Romney what the main reason they felt that way. And, the answers they gave showed us where Romney fails:
His positions on the issues 17%
Phony/Dishonest 9%
Out of Touch 8%
Republican/Conservative 7%
For the Rich 7%
Everything 6%
His Wealth/He's rich 5%
Changes his positions/Flip flops 5%
Don't know enough about him 5%
Business Background/experience 4%
No Substance 3%
Too Conservative 2%
Religion/Mormonism 2%
Arrogant 2%
No Charisma 1%
Not Conservative enough 1%
Too close to Bush/Same as Bush 1%
Other 6%
Don't know 9%
So, most of the answers given are about Mitt the man, and it's hard to reintroduce yourself to the American people. It can be done, but it's hard. Especially when people have an opinion that you are an out of touch, dishonest rich politician in it for yourself.
Let's look at Obama on the same question:
Extremely Comfortable 21%
Very Comfortable 20%
Somewhat comfortable 22%
Not at all Comfortable 37%
Don't know 1%
Of the 59% of people who were somewhat or not at all comfortable with a second term for President Obama, they gave these reasons why:
Performance as President: 25%
Unemployment/Jobs/No economic recovery 15%
His positions on the issues 14%
Everything 9%
Health Care plan 6%
Big Government spending 5%
Socialist policies 4%
Phony/Dishonest 4%
Changes his positions/Flip flops 3%
Democrat/Liberal 2%
Taxes 2%
No substance/just a celebrity 1%
Arrogant 1%
Against business -
His background/race -
Other 5%
Don't know 4%
But, here's the kicker question, the question that has to have Team Mitt shaking in their shoes:
If Barack Obama is re-elected as president, which of the following best describes your feelings?
42% The country's going down the drain and I am dreading what is going to happen in the next four years.
18% The country's improving every day and I look forward to another four years.
7% neither
3% Don't know
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