tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37102662009-07-08T21:41:24.372-05:00This is blog for an endangered species-the old Rockefeller Republican. Expect news and opinion from this site.Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.comBlogger427125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1137563053185625432006-01-17T23:42:00.000-06:002006-01-20T11:45:30.996-06:00

I decided to create a new blog called NeoMugwump. So, if you want to know what thoughts (or lack thereof) are tumbling out of my head, please go to the new site and enjoy!

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1137219482138833712006-01-14T00:12:00.000-06:002006-01-14T00:18:02.153-06:00

Vacation time is almost over.As most of you know, I've been taking some time off from blogging since being let go from my job in mid-November. After the emotional experience I had, blogging was the last thing on my mind. I'm still looking for work, but I think things are looking up and I've noticed that I'm regaining an interest in blogging again.The world hasn't stopped since I've blogged.

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1135096862638609622005-12-20T10:24:00.000-06:002005-12-20T10:41:02.656-06:00

A good friend reminded me that I probably should update the goings on concerning Ford and ads in gay publications. Last week, Ford reversed it's earlier decision to drop advertising in gay publications. You can read about it here. After a meeting with several gay rights organizations, including the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Human Rights Campaign, Ford decided to not only

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1133800009905422752005-12-05T10:07:00.000-06:002005-12-05T10:26:49.916-06:00

Unless you've been living in a cage, you know that the American auto industry is in a bad fix. While Chrysler is doing well with the help of it's German friends, Ford and GM are struggling. A lot of this is self imposed, with both companies placing too many eggs in the Truck/SUV market and not enough in cars. Both companies need to start making good cars and getting people to buy them. And

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1133755911701937812005-12-04T21:45:00.000-06:002005-12-04T22:11:51.713-06:00

I wanted to write something so that people know I'm still around. Since I was let go of my job on Veteran's Day, I've been taking a sort of vacation from blogging. I've been using most of the time to of course look for work, do some PR work arts group, do work for the church I'm co-pastor at and spend time with my boyfriend.In that time, I haven't blogged much, nor have I kept up with other

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1132416817240447672005-11-19T09:57:00.000-06:002005-11-19T10:13:37.256-06:00

It never ceases to amaze me how low my own party can go at times. Look at these words from junior (in more ways than one) congresswoman Jean Schmidt, a Republican from Ohio addressed to Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha:The fiery, emotional debate climaxed when Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, the most junior member of the House, told of a phone call she received from a Marine colonel. ``He asked

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1132295848677684352005-11-18T00:08:00.000-06:002005-11-18T00:37:28.693-06:00

And God stepped out on space,And he looked around and said:I'm lonely--I'll make me a world. So begins the poem "Creation" by James Weldon Johnson. This poem was Johnson's wonderfully intimate re-telling of biblical story of creation found in the book of Genesis. This past Sunday, the associate minister of another congregation I'm a part of did an interpretive dance to the poem as it was read

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1132242371300530642005-11-17T09:36:00.000-06:002005-11-17T11:26:16.850-06:00

So, if you follow this blog, you've noticed that I've been quiet for almost a week. As my close friend and contributing blogger, Mark said in a post yesterday, I took sometime off to deal with some other issues in my life. You see, last Friday, I was let go of from my job. It was all rather sudden and let's just say it didn't start the weekend off on the right foot. Thankfully, I have a

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131723070828670392005-11-11T09:29:00.000-06:002005-11-11T09:31:10.843-06:00

For all those who have served our country....Thanks.

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131718653292099142005-11-11T07:57:00.000-06:002005-11-11T08:17:33.306-06:00

I really feel proud to be a moderate Republican these days. Moderate Republicans in Congress, taking a cue from Tuesday's election results, the President's sagging approval numbers, and scandals plauging the House leadership, have decided now to strike back at the party's far right leaders. Fellow moderate elephant Jeremy over at Charging RINO gives a good summary of the "November Rebellion" by

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131652274107957372005-11-10T13:47:00.000-06:002005-11-10T13:51:14.120-06:00

From the stupid Republican files: "I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover. If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city. And don't wonder why He hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for His help

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131646704893782582005-11-10T11:52:00.000-06:002005-11-10T12:18:24.906-06:00

Jeremy over at Charging RINO wonders if Moderate Republicans are finally coming into their own after Tuesday's defeats. The moderates in the House were able to sucessfully strike a provision that would have allowed drilling in the Alaska Wildlife Refuge or ANWR. It also looks like Senate Moderates are also acting up:In the Senate, a similar showdown will occur today, as the Finance Committee

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131634413105281322005-11-10T08:50:00.000-06:002005-11-10T08:53:33.116-06:00

Via Andrew Sullivan, Sojourners, the progressive evangelical organization (yes, they exist)has an easy way for persons of faith to write to House Speaker Dennis Hastert and your own representative to support the McCain Amendment against torture. Make your voice heard.

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131599628641667122005-11-09T22:23:00.000-06:002005-11-09T23:13:48.656-06:00

After yesterday's wins in Vriginia and New Jersey, Democrats are celebrating. This story shows how some Democrats are acting like, well sore winners.But what was yesterday all about? Does this mean that the Democrats will make some gains come 2006 as some are saying?Well, probably maybe. I think the odds are about 70 percent in their favor. Why only 70 percent? Because anything can happen

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131570227859393862005-11-09T15:02:00.000-06:002005-11-09T15:03:47.863-06:00

One thing I've been thinking about was a letter to the editor that showed up in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune. It's an argument that I hear all the time concerning gay marriage. I used to agree with it, but I don't anymore. The impetus of this is a column written by the Strib's token conservative columnist, Katherine Kersten (being center-right in my politics, I like to see conservative

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131550910642249442005-11-09T09:34:00.000-06:002005-11-09T15:02:06.100-06:00

From Republicans for Environmental Protection:Protect Arctic Refuge: Time to Act Is NowClimactic Vote on Oil Drilling at Hand There have been past votes to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, but never before has the threat been so high or the vote so final. On Nov. 3, drilling proponents won passage of a Senate budget bill that would open the refuge to oil drilling.During

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131473081288539602005-11-08T11:57:00.000-06:002005-11-08T12:04:41.306-06:00

Blogger Mike Bawden responds to my earlier post:Dennis,Great post.As an American doing business with people from all around the world (most of whom are located in Europe) and as a student of European history, let me say that racism is alive and well in all of Europe - not just France. The problem is that American culture tends to bring the associated violence and struggle to the surface (through

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131460943358989472005-11-08T08:14:00.000-06:002005-11-08T08:42:23.373-06:00

As the Paris suburbs, heck as most of France, is awash in violence, I've been doing some thinking and listening. I believe that there are lessons for both liberals and conservatives in the wake of the recent fighting.First, the liberals. Those on the Left tend to look to Europe as some kind of heavenly realm where the government takes care of everything and there is no poverty or racism as

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131373068349648172005-11-07T07:53:00.000-06:002005-11-07T08:17:48.423-06:00

The Washingoton Post has what can only be best described as a chilling piece about how Vice President Dick Cheney has waged a major offensive to stop Congress from imposing more restrictive rules regarding the handling of terror suspects. He has done this despite signs that Congress and even some in the Bush Administration such as Secretary of State Condi Rice are supporting some kind of

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131117605672624822005-11-04T08:56:00.000-06:002005-11-04T09:20:05.686-06:00

Slate has an interesting article by Jacob Wiesberg comparing Karl Rove to the turn of the last century political operative Mark Hanna. It says a lot of the usual about how Bush has governed from the right and how that hasn't lead to a sustainable governing strategy. What is fascinating is that like Hanna of old, Rove has an enemy that threatens to undo his strategy. Hanna didn't like Teddy

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131048626620041832005-11-03T14:08:00.000-06:002005-11-03T14:10:26.636-06:00

I want to introduce an occasional Blogger to the Moderate Republican. His name is Mark and he hails from Minneapolis. Look for his insights soon.

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1131032086257514262005-11-03T09:20:00.000-06:002005-11-03T09:34:46.270-06:00

The Washington Post has a great op-ed about the Bush Administration's apparent approval of the abuse of detainees. Please read it, but I want to focus on the last paragraph. The editorial talks about the work of people like Senator John McCain and some in the military who are trying to restore the Geneva convention guidelines. However, one group is missing:There is no more important issue

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1130908481529882062005-11-01T22:44:00.000-06:002005-11-01T23:14:41.540-06:00

Church, religion and God have always played an important aspect in my life. When I came to an understanding that I was gay, I did a lot of thinking and praying. Throughout the process, I always knew God loved me regardless. It gave me comfort during some hard times. I decided to become a pastor regardless of my sexual orientation because I felt called by God to be a minister. And God didn't

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1130863889598838762005-11-01T10:43:00.000-06:002005-11-01T10:51:29.620-06:00

Today, I am going to get my flu shot. Also today, President Bush has asked Congress to put up $7.1 billion to prepare for Avian Flu, should it become a pandemic. Here are the details:—$1.2 billion for the government to buy enough doses of the vaccine against the current strain of bird flu to protect 20 million Americans;—$1 billion to stockpile more anti-viral drugs that lessen the severity of

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3710266.post-1130791423346444252005-10-31T14:33:00.000-06:002005-10-31T14:43:43.360-06:00

The media and the blogsphere is abuzz with the nomination this morning of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. Already, those on the left are saying that Bush caved in to the far right and gave them a Scalia-clone. Listen to what Bull Moose says:The Alito nomination is evidence that Mr. Rove is once again riding high in the saddle. The Rovian solution to all of the Administration woes is a to

Dennis Sandersnoreply@blogger.com1