The Wholesome Junk Food Blog

There is a lot to dislike about this election, the candidates and the antics of two big parties as they attempt to hold onto power versus serve.

Let's clear the air.

1. Ron Paul was cheated out of his rightful 15-minute time slot and place on the ballot at the RNC by Mitt Romney and the GOP. A really foolish and petty Romney decision that alienated millions of Ron Paul voters from the GOP. For what reason? To prevent a 15-minute speech and a debate at the convention? To date, there has been zero accountability or apologies from Romney.

2. Much of the media is taking sides and acting on behalf of one candidate and running with negative stories about the other candidate while defending and covering up negative stories about their preferred person. As Americans, we do occasionally get to see Mitt Romney and Barack Obama during the debates and in other forums without it being spun.

3. Much of the media is ignoring the third-party candidates, such as Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate, so most Americas have no idea who he is and what he wants to do for America. The Libertarian platform has some ideas Americans might want to incorporate. Larry King is moderating a debate with the lesser-known candidates.

4. The last four debates were held by what Republicans consider Democrat-leaning networks with Democrat-leaning moderators and have prevented any third-party candidates from being heard by 65 million people. The two big parties are cutting out the third-party candidates. Gary Johnson was suing to be included.

5. The Democrats took "God", support of Israel and "to make abortion rare" out of their platform. Then, the DNC put the first two back in using similar tactics that the GOP used to silence Ron Paul supporters at the RNC.

6. Many politicians and their ads seem to care more about being elected or re-elected and keeping their power than doing the right thing. The lack of honor and decency is upsetting.

7. Voter fraud is being bandied back and forth with voter suppression. The Democrats claim that Republicans want to suppress minority voters when Republicans want voter ID laws. Republicans are convinced that the Democrats win by having people vote multiple times and for people who are no longer alive. Why would 140 billboards that tell the consequences for voter fraud be considered voter suppression? The only organization I can find addressing this is www.truethevote.org. But for the U.S. to have UN observers of our vote is not okay either. Can't America be somewhat honest and respectful concerning our own elections? Where is the joint Democratic and Republican request for peaceful and legal elections and two-party condemnation of any election fraud and/or violence?

What 5 reasons should you consider changing your vote to Mitt Romney instead of Barack Obama, Gary Johnson or writing in Ron Paul, especially if you live in a swing state, like Wisconsin, Iowa and Ohio? Isn't that rolling over? No, because Americans, Democrats, Republicans and Independents, will hold Mitt Romney accountable.


5. Obama has no second-term plan and his first-term plan has failed. It's time to kick Obama off the team and try a new starting quarterback. To vote based on gender, race or party, or to make excuses due to gender, race or party is foolish. America's debt went from $10 trillion to $16 trillion under Obama's watch. More than two-thirds of deaths in Afghanistan occurred on Obama's watch, not Bush's (he was not a great president either). Chavez, Putin and the Castro family have endorsed Obama.

4. Romney and Ryan have a plan, but it is going to take Americans and non-two party ideas, like Ron Paul's and Gary Johnson's, to stabilize America and make it great again. What if Romney booted Ben Bernanke and appointed Ron Paul as Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank? A variety of American voices and parties matter.

3. It is better to address real problems proactively, like social security, so our country has stability for 100 percent of Americans. Without financial stability, America becomes vulnerable to other countries and could lose the constitutional rights we take for granted. Women make up approximately 50 percent of the population. Is protecting the reproductive rights of 50 percent of Americans more important than protecting the Constitution for 100 percent? I say, "No." Both parties are too extreme and illogical on abortion and misuse this sensitive issue to manipulate voters instead of being rational and compassionate.

2. Americans are not being told the whole story about the Benghazi incident.

1. Americans deserve a great government. The last president I liked and respected was Harry Truman, a Democrat. He was a straight shooter who served America. Granted, the government reflects the people so if Americans are electing lousy people to office, we have no one to blame but ourselves. Many of us have been uninformed, sat out elections, voted party lines or on one issue. But, now Americans are awake and getting involved by contacting representatives and senators.

So, Mitt Romney, if Americans elect you, we are watching. You will not get free passes from Republicans or Ron Paul supporters or other supporters who have taken a risk on you. Every blogger and media outlet will be evaluating and fact-checking you and your team. If you surround yourself with "yes" people and ignore Americans, we will fire you.

We expect you to tell us the truth, keep your word of what you have run your campaign on and tell us if you can't and why.

We expect you to honor the Constitution, look out for American citizens' interests and America as a whole first and foremost -- not your own, the GOP or big money interests. Don't blame Obama for inheriting a mess from him, like he did with Bush. We don't want to hear any more excuses like we have for four years. If we elect you, the buck stops with you and you have four years to show us what you've got. If you don't come through and if the U.S. is not in better shape in many areas, we will fire you. We will not be not re-electing you and will elect the Democratic or third-party candidate in 2016. Americans cannot afford to fall asleep, vote party lines and avoid criticizing our government and own party out of loyalty.

America need leaders with great courage and moral clarity.

I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man. -- George Washington

Wait, isn't Dr. Ron Paul out of the presidential race? Isn't it all tied up nicely in a bow with the Romney/Ryan ticket?

No.

Why would the GOP be scared of Ron Paul but end up nominating him?

I'll explain.

Romney and the GOP have demonstrated both poor judgment and poor sportsmanship that might cost them by damaging Romney's electability among the Ron Paul supporters thus leading to a splitting of votes, which in turn, could cost the GOP the entire election.

Dr. Ron Paul is still in the race for president and is a strong contender for the 2012 GOP nomination.

To be on the GOP ballot Aug. 27, 2012 in Tampa and get a 15-minute speaking slot, a candidate must have won the plurality (majority) of delegates in at least 5 states.

Well, Ron Paul did win the plurality of delegates in 5 states, enough to be eligible for the nomination and a 15-minute speaking slot at the GOP convention. The states he won are Louisiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Maine and Nevada. Then Ron Paul went on to win the plurality in Massachusetts, Romney's home state and half the delegates in Oregon. Dr. Ron Paul also has around 500 delegates who support him. The exact number of delegates that Romney and Paul have is still a mystery but should be clarified at the convention.

So... Ron Paul won his 5-plus states, he's on the ballot and writing his speech, right? Not exactly.

What happened next is what may cost the Republicans and Romney the entire election. Instead of accepting that Ron Paul, the GOP underdog, had won enough delegates in enough states to be allowed his rightful place on the ballot and his 15-minute speaking slot, the GOP and Romney's people decided to try and take these legitimate wins away from Ron Paul and his supporters. Ron Paul supporters fought hard, played fair and won. Romney supporters didn't play fair and still lost those 5-plus states. These Ron Paul pluralities were won in spite of shenanigans and tricks tried by Romney supporters and the GOP to prevent or undermine Ron Paul wins. The Ron Paul supporters were well prepared and won the needed amount of states anyway.

So, how did Romney and his supporters handle their losses of five measly states to Ron Paul? Honorably? Graciously? With dignity? Maturely?

No. Quite the opposite.

Romney's people ran to Big Daddy GOP to rescue them from their defeats by trying to disqualify the valid Ron Paul delegates and to take away Ron Paul's right to speak and be on the ballot by reducing his states won to fewer than the five needed.

So far, Romney and the GOP have contested the Ron Paul wins in Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts and Oregon. They threw out the Massachusetts Ron Paul delegates after the GOP tried to force the delegates to sign a long legal document that required them to vote for Romney. This was not something that had ever been done before. The GOP allowed Romney, big lawyers and big bullying to invalidate Ron Paul's solid win in Massachusetts.

As in the other states, the Ron Paul delegates in Maine played by the rules and won. Even Governor LePage of Maine, a Republican, is appalled with GOP efforts to throw out the duly-elected Ron Paul delegates.

The entire plot to reduce Ron Paul wins to under five states to take his name off the ballot and take away his 15-minute speaking slot is well under way. If Romney/Ryan are so great, why can't they handle a little competition without whining and crying like sore losers?

Are they afraid of losing the 2012 nomination to Ron Paul if he speaks and is on the ballot?

Why not play fair and let the best man win?

Who cheats? The lazy, bratty, insecure and less-qualified people who can't win honestly and fairly. Is that really presidential material?

I wonder if Romney and the GOP are worried that if Ron Paul speaks and gets the nomination, that Ron Paul will fire all of them. Is the GOP that terrified of change, even if it is for the betterment of the country?

Here is why I think that Ron Paul might still walk away with the nomination.

4. Lots of regular "little people", like me, want Ron Paul to be the 2012 GOP presidential candidate. We, the little people, do not like being trod upon and when we join together, we are stronger than big money. Remember, "We the People"? Ron Paul's donors are regular working people, many military men and women, not banks.

3. Ron Paul is the David to Romney's Goliath Machine but the spirit, character and faith of we "little people" count more in America than just money. Romney has raised $152 million to Paul's $39 million. Ron Paul has more passionate support from his supporters due to Ron Paul's character and dedication to serving America and Americans based on our founding principles embodied in our Constitution. Money, media manipulation and bullying can't buy this type of support. But, Romney and his lawyers couldn't let Ron Paul keep 5-plus wins?

2. Ron Paul wants to serve his country, and has served in the military, and would end the wars. Ron Paul's supporters and Americans want someone they can trust and believe in. Dr. Paul is that man.

1. Mitt Romney is much less qualified to be president than Ron Paul, who understands the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Watch this link where Romney is asked a basic Constitutional question and replies, "I'll have to ask my lawyers". Ron Paul tells Mitt Romney, "Read the Constitution." Ron Paul is the only Republican Presidential candidate who is qualified, experienced and credible.

We, little people, similar to Ron Paul and his supporters, work hard, play fair and expect the same from others.

If Romney and his supporters had been gracious losers about Ron Paul's 5-plus state wins and Ron Paul's 15-minute speech, Romney had a chance to garner both the GOP 2012 nomination plus the support and votes of Ron Paul and his supporters. (I say "a chance" because many Ron Paul supporters do not see Romney as a fiscal conservative.)

Not anymore. It is hard to vote for someone who has acted so dishonorably, even for the sake of party loyalty.

The misguided Machiavellian advice Romney got and took to "win at all costs," may cost him dearly in November due to the bad will generated with Ron Paul supporters. Too many people have lost too much respect for Romney to vote for him. To the contrary, even though Ron Paul's campaign was repeatedly slighted and undermined by Romney and his supporters, Ron Paul stayed gracious and denounced mistreatment of Romney. He has told his delegates to "Make yourself heard but be respectful."

By playing dirty and being greedy, Romney supporters may have lost Romney both the nomination and the election.

Romney and the national GOP are showing their ugly colors by attempting to take away Ron Paul state delegate wins that were earned fair and square.

In speaking with some Ron Paul supporters, here is their current plan. If Ron Paul doesn't win the 2012 GOP nomination, many Ron Paul supporters will elect to vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian presidential candidate. Why wouldn't Ron Paul supporters write in Ron Paul on ballots around the country? For those write-in votes to count, a write-in candidate must be listed in every state and some Ron Paul supporters do not know if their Ron Paul votes would count.

And, due to the shabby treatment Ron Paul and his supporters have received from the GOP and Romney's people, many Ron Paul supporters may refuse to vote for Romney in 2012, even if it means Obama being re-elected for four more years. One supporter told me, "I want the GOP to see how many votes they lost by playing dirty. They will only be able to count all the lost votes if I vote for Gary Johnson."

If you want to learn more about Gary Johnson click here. He stands for small government, government staying out of your business, liberty and fiscal responsibility. He is like Ron Paul without the Roe v Wade concern. Gary Johnson has had virtually no media coverage so you may not have heard of him.

As I heard in grammar school and it remains true: "Cheat, Cheat Never Beat".

Ron Paul is the only qualified person for the 2012 Republican Nomination who can unify conservative Republicans, Independents, Libertarians and stabilize the economy. If the GOP is smart and humble enough to do a mea culpa and nominate Ron Paul, Republicans stand a better chance of winning in November. If Ron Paul doesn't get the nomination, many Ron Paul supporters will likely be voting for Gary Johnson. All Romney and the GOP had to do was play fair and win honorably, but I guess that was too much to ask.

But here is the GOP's conflict: If the GOP nominates Ron Paul and he wins, many of the GOP cronies will be shown the door. There will be a big house cleaning of corrupt politicians, like turning on the lights and the cockroaches scatter. On the other hand, if they don't nominate Ron Paul, they risk losing all the Ron Paul supporters, which would likely split the vote and lose the 2012 election entirely.

It is hard to make those type of decisions when choosing what is best for the country doesn't figure in at all, but choosing what is best for their own selfish principles of self-preservation, greed and thirst for power rule the day.

Romney and the GOP need to leave Ron Paul's five-plus states alone, place him on the ballot and allow Ron Paul to speak.

"Human rights can only be assured among a virtuous people. The general government... can never be in danger of degenerating into a monarchy, an oligarchy, an aristocracy, or any despotic or oppressive form so long as there is any virtue in the body of the people." -- George Washington


With many Republicans excited about Paul Ryan's being selected as Mitt Romney's running mate, there is one Republican who is less than enthusiastic: Dr. Ron Paul.

Ron Paul's budget plan would balance the budget in three years and lower taxes.

In an interview Mid-March 2012, 2012 on Fox News, Dr. Ron Paul called Ryan's a timid plan that adds to warmongering and money the U.S. spends overseas and cuts social programs, like Medicare. He doesn't like that the Ryan plan might balance the budget in 30 years. Dr. Paul wants to cut overseas spending by first stopping "militarism" (policing the world), which he differentiates from national defense spending.

"In my program... I address that first [cutting overseas military spending] I want to get home so that you don't have to attack child health care or Medicare, even though those programs are bankrupt and you have to deal with them. But even in my first year of cutting a trillion dollars, I don't touch that stuff [child health care or Medicare]."

"I'm not going after the benefits the Medicare, I'm not doing that initially... I would cut the money that they are screaming about, this overseas militarism."

"I see people coming together... 67 percent people now want to come home from Afghanistan... I think the Republican lose the political argument immediately." The Republican plan is "We want more weapons but we are going to deny the elderly for their healthcare."

Rep. Paul has an excellent point.

Our liberty depends on two things, being informed and having virtue.

"Convinced that the people are the only safe depositories of their own liberty, and that they are not safe unless enlightened to a certain degree, I have looked on our present state of liberty as a short-lived possession unless the mass of the people could be informed to a certain degree." --Thomas Jefferson to Littleton Waller Tazewell, 1805.

"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Benjamin Franklin

For several years eggs received a bad rap. People were cautioned against having more than a few a week because of  high cholesterol concerns.  That has all changed, and eggs are now recognized for the perfect food that they always were.

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/family-nutrition/eggs

Eggs can, however, vary in quality. Try to find a local source of eggs from free-range chickens. They will be much fresher, and their nutritional quality will  be higher.

http://www.ecobuzzla.com/five-reasons-to-buy-eggs-at-farmers-market

While some people prefer ethically to eat vegan and others have dietary restrictions and can not consume eggs, for those of you who enjoy them, read these articles and consider adding some of your favorite egg-based meals back into your diet. An omelet is a fast and simple dinner that can be loaded with vegetables, made with some almond or coconut milk and be big enough to share!

The Wholesome Junk Food Cookbook has proven to be a favorite for busy moms who want to see that their kids have healthy snacks -  as well as for new moms who want to get off on the right foot from the start. And don’t forget grandmothers, who if they’re like me, are regularly – and joyfully – involved in the care of their grandkids.

You can order it here:
http://www.lauraswholesomejunkfood.com/products/the-wholesome-junk-food-cookbook