There seems to be a new phenomenon….or at least new to me.

When you ask someone for details about WHY something is happening, they are proud to not know.  Here’s a bit of Q+A I’ve had recently:

QUESTION:  So this Cap and Trade thing.  If it is a good idea, please explain why you believe it is?

ANSWER:  Oh come on.  That stuff is so complicated that no one understand it.

QUESTION:  Please tell me why you think President Obama is doing a good job

ANSWER:  There is so much about politics that we just aren’t supposed to understand.  Given all he has to deal with, I am sure he’s doing the right things.

QUESTION:  Why is it that you believe the earth is heating when many scientists are saying just the opposite?

ANSWER:  Well, scientists will say whatever they’re told to say.  It’s all very complicated and I just want to do my part to help.

It seems as though those of us that seek to find the underlying truths are being seen as “disloyal“.  ”It is all very complicated so just listen to those in power and do what they say.  If you don’t or if you question it, you are stirring the pot.”

Weird, huh?

A girl of 21 years old approached me for pain in her left shoulder which has become immobile. This girl loved a person from a different caste. She was forced to stay in the house as their affair was not approved by her father.

I asked her to tell her background and narrate on what happened before she had the pain.  She broke down and said she is in love with a person and that person is good.

I told her, “Forget about your parents. Let us get an answer from the body. Even if the pain goes by 10%, then the body is confirming it”. 

She affirmed, ‘I am not worried about others as I believe that god is guiding me. God is guiding me to marry the person of my choice.’

As she said the affirmation few times, her pain went down quite a bit. This means her body is favoring the marriage. It says don’t worry about caste. Don’t worry about the approval of your marriage. God (through your body) is guiding you to marry him.  God is approving this marriage, why we need others’ approval. It is not necessary.

I asked her to honor the body by marrying her lover. She is happily married to that person now.

Left Shoulder Back Pain Indicates…

• When you are not appreciated or not recognized. 
• When you are put to shame
• When your actions are considered bad, regarded as incorrect, or not approved by others.

You will get pain initially. Then numbness will develop as more and more you go through those feelings.

Decline from 49% in September far exceeds that for other issues and for approval more broadly

by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ — Americans are far less approving of President Obama’s handling of the situation in Afghanistan than they have been in recent months, with 35% currently approving, down from 49% in September and 56% in July.

Tuesday, Obama outlines his new strategy for the war in Afghanistan in a nationally televised address. The policy has been months in the making as Obama held numerous meetings with his military and foreign policy advisers, drawing some criticism for the delay in formulating a new strategy. The commanding U.S. general in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, has recommended that the United States increase the number of troops it has in that country by about 40,000. Obama is expected to announce a slightly smaller increase.

The decline in Obama’s approval rating on Afghanistan is evident among all party groups, with double-digit decreases since September among Republicans (17 points), independents (16 points), and Democrats (10 points).

via gallup.com

Eight secondary schools and two primary schools in Lancashire are to share 100m of government funding…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: college. For a different topic see compare two cities. The blog is also related to: education department.

This morning as I was considering what to do for my Bible study time, I went over to Revive Our Hearts. I didn’t find what I was looking for, but I came across an article, Curbing the Craving for Praise, that I felt God was using to speak to my heart. The article pointed to John 12:43, so I looked it up.

Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

John 12:42-43 (Emphasis added)

Wow, what an indictment! These who believed in Christ loved the approval that man gives more than the approval that God gives. Therefore, they were unwilling to confess the Truth. Am I the same? I am not afraid of confessing Christ (at least in this society where He is accepted!), but I still have to say that I am the same. There are other ways that I seek men’s approval rather than God’s. In fact, I do it quite a lot!

As a gymnastics coach, I often find myself hoping that my students or their parents will say something to let me know that they like me as a coach. Even worse, I sometimes hope that they like me better than other coaches!

I find myself hoping similar things as a wife and a mother. My children aren’t yet old enough to “rise up and call her blessed,” but I look for praise from my husband, other moms, and relatives in regard to these things.

Even in writing these blogs, I sometimes find myself hoping for the praise of some reader who will leave a comment.

I don’t think that it is completely wrong to enjoy men’s praise. It can be a wonderful confirmation that we are doing things well. The problem is if man’s approval means more than God’s. As Paul said, “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God ? Or am I striving toplease men ? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

Paul also reminds us to do everything for the Lord since it is He who holds our inheritance and He whom we serve.

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Colossians 3:22-25

When I am doing things in order to receive man’s approval, then I’m serving my pride. I’m not serving Christ in those times. I certainly don’t want to serve my pride! I want to serve Him! And I want to do it wholeheartedly. In everything that I do!

This is one area of my life that needs some pretty major work. I try not to act like it outwardly, but inwardly my hopes and dreams of receiving the praise of men consume too many thoughts. I must take those thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and instead think on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure,whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

The author of the article that I mentioned at the beginning recommended doing something physical to help give up the desire for worldly recognition. I think it’s a great idea, though I’m not yet sure what that will be, but it will begin with some time on my knees — the only place to appropriate the grace needed for this God-sized task. I cannot, in myself, change my heart from one of pride to one of humility. But He can and will as I seek to know Him more. What a glorious God we serve that He will empower us to be what He calls us to be!

Here's the latest batch of HikiCulture members I've given VIP status to:

Glasses
Porygon
FONEternal
LyricalIllusions
Hitori
Carruthers
Knots
shorelinetrance
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sibirskaya_koshka
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Congrats.

Posted via email from HikiCulture – A Forum for Reclusive People (and Hikikomori) {hikiculture.com site blog}

by Stirling.

Rage and Loneliness often seem two sides of the same dirty little coin.  I got a free subscription to a adult web cam service.  That old hatred of woman comes up sometimes, and I fear this is the time.  There are about a thousand dudes on, and about 50 women.  A woman can get 500 views just by looking into the webcam and licking her lips.  Do you know what a man can do to get female attention? Neither do I.  I’ve studied feminism some, and I like what it says for the most part.  I know I don’t have any right to a woman.  But its so frustrating.  When I first studied feminism it made me so angry because I thought “The Patriarchy? Bullshit, women run everything.”

I’m sure that to women it is really sad and unfair that they have to sexualize themselves to be successful.  You know what’s unfair to me? That I can’t sexualize myself to be successful.  A woman can rub her breasts through her shirt, showing nothing, and 750 viewers will show up to watch, to compliment, to encourage.  There is nothing, absolutely nothing have that can motivate women to  affirm me the same way men can be motivated to affirm a woman.

So much power! A woman can get her desired sex to pay for her, compete for her, fight for her, steal for her, even kill for her.  I couldn’t get a woman to even look at me.  One woman actually talked to me.  She was 20 years older then I am, and as soon as she found out I was not available to service her that evening, she lost all interest in talking to me.  A man having the same standards under the same circumstances is laughable.  Woman can do it because whatever power the lack politically they have sexually if they chose to.  Women are competed for by men, men are not competed for by women.  Go to any place where men go to meet women, and you will find predominately men looking for women, and a handful of woman turning down man, after man, after man.

The unfairness of it all hurts sometimes.  Supposedly, as a white male I am the center of privilege and authority on earth.  I would give it up to live as man in a matriarchal society.  Imagine going into a bar, and its 80% women.  As you walk in with your buddies, every eye in the place turns to you.  Other then a few drunks and married gals, every woman there wants you naked and pressed inside her a she rides you hard into the mattress. You go up to the bar, and someone offers to buy you a drink.  You flirt for drinks, and go play pool with the best looking one woman.  She lets you win, and she takes you home to a messy apartment and fucks you.  They all want to fuck you.  Any woman you offered yourself too would fuck you, you just have to chose the good ones.

My,  it must be a rough life.

I know in my head this wrong.  I know that when a woman walks into a bar and everyone stares at her she feels like meat, and probably a bit unsafe.  The constant “I’m willing to fuck you” would get really old after awhile because at some point you would feel like “Yes, I know you want to fuck me, everyone one wants to fuck me.  But do you like me? Do you think I am a cool person? Do I make you laugh? ”   Money has value based on scarcity, and I suppose when everyone who has the opposite genitals you do would nip off behind the shed with you, sexual desire ceases to have relationship scarcity and your coin becomes something more esoteric.  It makes perfect sense, really.

And if forces me to confront the real truth.  I don’t want women to want to fuck me.  I get all the sex I need from my wife. But I am a black hole of need for approval and affirmation.

A lot of guys have fantasies about ménage à trois.  You know what my 2 woman fantasy is?  I want to sit between two women on a couch. I want their luscious hips pressed up against me. I want them to slide arms against mine as we watch a chick flick.  I want to feel them cry a bit and know that they trust me enough with their emotions to do so in front of me.  I want shinning eyes, long glances, accidental contact.  I kisses on the cheek and playful slaps on the ass.  My two woman fantasy is being the housekeeper for a lovely lesbian couple?

I don’t feel like much of real man writing this.  Doesn’t a real man want to fuck lots of women? Isn’t a real man complete in himself? Doesn’t he have sex purely for pleasure and without emotional complications?  But I know that I don’t want to see naked women who want to be fucked anymore.   I don’t want to see a woman strip to get me off.  I want a woman to reveal her self to me.  If I woman wants to be naked for me, I want it to be for the real me, not the me male stereotypes tell her I am supposed to be.

I want to be loved.  I’m sick of  the presto, ready-made, just-add-lust, kind of bliss that online relationships have.  It never tastes as good as the home made stuff.  I want to be special, approved off, sought after.

And nobody gives a shit.  So the loneliness turns to rage. I hate the whole world right now, but mostly the women.  I hate every Jimmy Cricket bullshit line I’ve ever been told about how being yourself is the real path to friends.  Myself is an straight but artistic and sensitive guy who is profoundly well read, in good shape and in a relationally (rather then sexually) open relationship.  Nobody cares what my opinion is, what I think, what book I’ve read today.  I’ married and I don’t fuck for sport so I priced myself out of the market.

Fuck you all.

The moniker of misunderstoodsunshinekid sounds like some teenage bubblegum nickname that reeks of adolescence and youthfulness. And certainly not very appropriate for a man who turned 21 for the sixth time this year. There is, of course, a meaning behind this deliberate choice of words.

Coined towards the end of my time in Ngee Ann Polytechnic where I studied Mass Communication, it first appeared in the yearbook which was contributed by and distributed to every student in the cohort. The editorial team asked each of us for a photograph and three words that best described ourselves. Come to think of it, considering that I’ve not seen 90% of my school mates since we graduated, these three words would actually go a long way in helping us remember each other.

It was really amusing to see some of the entries. The more commonly used words were “Bubbly”, “Friendly”, “Outgoing”, “Sociable”, “Funny”, etcetera – basically words that were safe, correct and well, forgettable. There were some that went out of the box with “Nobody Knows Me”, “Damned I’m Good”, “Ahh Whatever Lah” and “I Am Indescribable”. But the one that tickled me most was “Humourous, Cheerful, Easygoing” and attached with the words was a really fierce, unfriendly and serious picture. Nice.

Without going into too much detail, here’s why I chose “Misunderstood Sunshine Kid”:

Misunderstood
Half my life I’ve been misunderstood for my intentions, choice of words and actions. I’d like to believe that it’s always been love-hate with me; people don’t really have a neutral feeling towards me. They either like me or dislike me. And because of this I almost always end up leaving either a great or a horrible first impression. As I age, I’ve learnt to deal with it by simply not bothering about it; I cannot please everyone, so I’ve learnt to stop having to justify or explain what I say or do. I’ve embraced this as a part of me and the only approval I seek would be that of God’s. I’ve learnt to take myself less seriously and not be so uptight about what people say or think about me. Yeah, I know this sounds very teenage/emo/angst, but hey, this term was coined when I was a 19-year-old teenager.

Sunshine
I’ve always been a positive and optimistic person and I think that it rubs off on the people that I interact with, especially with those in my sphere of influence. I’d like to I exude a “You can do it” vibe. On a side note, my heart goes out to pessimistic and negative people, but how they live their lives is their problem, not mine. I desire to be contented and always joyful. Another ethos which I live by is, “I could always be happier but I am situationally contented”. That was a phrase I coined together with PL some years ago. To an extent this word contradicts the former, but both somehow capture a key essence of my personality and character.

Kid
I’m always up to some mischief and I’ve always enjoyed being cheeky and naughty. There is a difference between being childish and childlike. I never want to lose the sense of wonder that children have. I always want to retain the kid in me, for the kid that I will have in future. I am confident that I will be a father with the “sparkle” in his eye. You know, kids are actually very sensitive and can detect sincerity from hypocrisy. I enjoy playing with kids and I think they (know it and) enjoy it too because they see it in my eyes – that I really want to play with them and I’m not afraid of embarrassing myself. I’ve always dreamt about being the father that my father never was to me. And for that to happen, I’ll always have that boyish playfulness hidden behind a now older and wiser head.

Each word could be an entry in itself so I’ll just leave it like that until I decide to elaborate further.

Image : http://www.flickr.com

In my experience as a consultant for 40 years, I've found that love addiction and dependence are much more widespread approval than any other substance or process addiction. We live in a love-addicted, approval-addicted society.

What does it mean addicted to love / approval? Below is a checklist for you to see when you are addicted approved for love and / or. Believing any of these may indicate addiction love and appreciation.

I believe that:

* My happiness and well beingdepend on the love always from another person.

* My reasonableness, kindness and sense of self worth and self-esteem of others come and wishes me the authorization from me.

* Others mean disapproval or rejection, that I'm not good enough.

* I can not make me happy.

* I can not as happy as can anyone else.

* My best feelings do not come from myself, from, what about other people or a certain other person me and treated me.

* Others areresponsible for my feelings. So if someone takes care of me, he or she will never do anything that hurts or bothers me.

* I can not be alone. I feel like I'm going to die when I'm alone.

* If I am injured or disturbed, it is the fault of another.

* It is up to other people around me feel good about myself through the approval of me.

* I am not responsible for my feelings. Other people make me happy, sad, angry, frustrated, down or depressed. When I'm angry that someonemakes me feel so responsible for the setting and my feelings.

* I am not responsible for my behavior. Other people make me cry, act crazy, sick, laugh, cry, leave violent, or not.

* Others are selfish if they do what they want instead of what I want or need.

* If I have not connected with someone, I will die.

* I can not treat my pain, especially the pain of rejection, rejection, loneliness, the pain is ruled out – the pain of isolation andLoneliness.

Life, like love or approval addict is a very hard way to live. You must make sure that you always say, do the right thing, the right thing, and look to the right to receive the necessary love and acceptance. Your feelings are on a rollercoaster – from the feeling of the wonderful feelings that will remove more of your love and appreciation, "" the feeling of despair that comes when your "job" – the source of love and acceptance – are shut down, angry or judgmental, or isaway.

The cause of love and appreciation ADDICTION

Love and approval addiction is rooted in self-responsibility. Imagine the feeling a part of you as a child – your inner child. If you love or depend on approval, you have handed your inner child away for adoption. Instead learn to love the responsibility for your own happiness, and with the approval of yourself, you have handed your inner child, others for love and recognition – we are responsible for your otherFeelings. This inner devotion always the cause of the deep pain of low self-esteem so that you depend on others for your sense of worth.

The sad thing about all this, that love is the most common, which is in the universe. We live in a sea of love – it is always around in us and around us. It is our source. If you learn to open spirit / God / Source, it will be filled with love, with peace, with joy. The empty space within that yearns to be filled, it is filled withLove that it overflows on to others. They are found in the desire to give love and try not always get it.

As long as your other source, you will not find in the search for love, peace and joy that you take. By learning and practicing the Inner Bonding process that we teach, you can learn to fill yourself with love and heal your love and approval addiction.

Recommend : home DIY http://network-advice-network.blogspot.com/

Step 10:

You will need to apply for a homeloan. Once you have completed the home loan application forms, your bank will process the application and do the necessary credit checks and assessments. If everything is approved, you will receive a letter of approval giving the conditions and benifits of the agreement.

Almost everybody in Minnesota can refinance the terms for a loan. Even people who have a damaged credit history that you find that there are many lenders willing to work with them to refinance their homes in Minnesota out there.

Finding the right provider

Since there are so many lenders out there who are willing to treat your loan Minnesota, the real challenge lies in the fact that refinancing is the right one. You have bad credit, the bestwill be working with a lender specializing in subprime loans. This type of lender will refinance with bad credit of trust and know where to go for the best price. You can research different lenders online and instantly receive offers on rates and closing costs.

Understand the loan refinancing

It 'all too common in the market for subprime lenders take advantage of borrowers who have poor credit. This is why it is so important to youunderstand the Minnesota refinance loans you choose. Read carefully all conditions. If you have a variable rate, make sure you know what index the rate will be adjusted. If you have a balloon payment, make sure you know when the ball is coming due. Remember that your lender to answer any questions you have. Advantage of the fact and ask for clarification before you sign any papers.

In reviewing the cost

If you have bad credit, you can, Expect to pay a higher rate. Currently loan refinancing rates in Minnesota averaged 5.5 percent in 15 years of the loan. The lower your credit score is, the more we can expect to pay. However, there is no reason for you to get more than what is required to pay. Get plenty of quotes Minnesota refinance loans so that you know you have a fair vote.

Support has declined much more among whites than among nonwhites

by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ — Since the start of his presidency, U.S. President Barack Obama’s approval rating has declined more among non-Hispanic whites than among nonwhites, and now, fewer than 4 in 10 whites approve of the job Obama is doing as president.

Obama last week fell below 50% approval in Gallup Daily tracking for the first time in his presidency, both in daily three-day rolling averages and in Gallup Daily tracking results aggregated weekly.

In his first full week in office (Jan. 26-Feb. 1), an average of 66% of Americans approved of the job Obama was doing, including 61% of non-Hispanic whites and 80% of nonwhites. In the most recent week, spanning Nov. 16-22 interviewing, his approval rating averaged 49% overall, 39% among whites, and 73% among nonwhites. Thus, since the beginning of his presidency, his support has dropped 22 points among whites, compared with a 7-point loss among nonwhites.

Given the 17-point drop in his approval rating among all U.S. adults, it follows that Obama’s support has declined among all major demographic and attitudinal subgroups, with one notable exception — blacks.

Blacks’ support for Obama has averaged 93% during his time in office, and has been at or above 90% nearly every week during his presidency. Thus, part of the reason Obama’s support among nonwhites has not dropped as much as his support among other groups is because of his consistent support from blacks. (With Hispanics’ approval rating down five points, greater declines among Asians, Native Americans, and those of mixed races account for his total seven-point drop among nonwhites.)

The accompanying table shows how Obama’s approval rating has changed by subgroup from his first full week in office to the most recent week. The only subgroup showing a greater change than whites is Republicans, down 24 points during this time. Independents’ approval of Obama has declined nearly as much (down 18 points), whereas support among Democrats is down only 6 points.

Obama’s strongest support comes from blacks, Democrats, and liberals — all of whom give him approval ratings above 80%. He maintains solid support of more than 60% from nonwhites, Hispanics, and young adults.

via gallup.com

Actress and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie apparently hates Barack Obama.

On top of this, according to an Us Weekly article, she and partner Brad Pitt have a lot of fights over their differing views of the President.

Such seems surprising not just due to her high-profile activism, but also that Us Weekly, as one of the Obamas’ biggest fans, would report it.

Consider that in March 2008, UW owner Jenn Wenner wrote such a gooey endorsement of candidate Obama in his other magazine Rolling Stone that Politico’s Mike Allen suggested he and Barack should “Get a room!”

Which makes this piece all the more amazing (h/t Parcbench via Leon Todd):

Barack Obama does not have Angelina Jolie’s seal of approval.

“She hates him,” a source close to the U.N. goodwill ambassador, 34, tells the new issue of Us Weekly (on newsstands now).

“She’s into education and rehabilitation and thinks Obama is all about welfare and handouts. She thinks Obama is really a socialist in disguise,” adds the source.

NewsBusters readers are certainly aware that father Jon Voight is quite conservative, and discussed this with Matt Sheffield and me at last year’s Republican National Convention. But I digress:

“Angie isn’t Republican, but she thinks Obama is all smoke and mirrors,” the source says.

And those political views are putting her at odds with Brad Pitt, 45, who is a big fan of the president and even went solo to the 2008 election party in Chicago.

“They get in nasty arguments all the time about it,” says the source.

I hope these arguments don’t resemble the way they fought in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 27% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-two percent (42%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -15. This is the lowest Approval Index rating yet measured for President Obama (see trends).

Fifty-two percent (52%) of Democrats Strongly Approve while 68% of Republicans Strongly Disapprove. Among those not affiliated with either major political party, just 16% Strongly Approve and 51% Strongly Disapprove (see other recent demographic highlights from the tracking poll).

Forty-five percent (45%) want U.S. troops home from Afghanistan either right away or within a year.Forty-three percent (43%) are opposed to such a firm timetable.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters worry that the federal government will do too much when it comes to reacting to the nation’s financial problems. That’s up seven points since President Obama took office.

The Presidential Approval Index is calculated by subtracting the number who Strongly Disapprove from the number who Strongly Approve. It is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update). Updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.

Overall, 45% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance. That matches the lowest level of total approval yet measured for this president. Eighty-one percent (81%) of Democrats approve as do 33% of unaffiliated voters. Eighty-three percent (83%) of Republicans disapprove.

Among all voters, 54% now disapprove.

Support for the health care plan proposed by the President and Congressional Democrats has fallen to a new low of 38%. Sixty percent (60%) of voters believe passage of the bill will lead to higher health care costs.

via rasmussenreports.com

President Obama’s approval ratings hit their lowest ranking yet in the Rasmussen Reports daily tracking poll out Tuesday, with 27 percent strongly approving of the president’s job performance and 42 percent strongly disapproving, an index rating of -15.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of Democrats Strongly Approve while 68% of Republicans Strongly Disapprove. Among those not affiliated with either major political party, just 16% Strongly Approve and 51% Strongly Disapprove (see other recent demographic highlights from the tracking poll).

Forty-five percent (45%) want U.S. troops home from Afghanistan either right away or within a year.Forty-three percent (43%) are opposed to such a firm timetable.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters worry that the federal government will do too much when it comes to reacting to the nation’s financial problems. That’s up seven points since President Obama took office.

The Presidential Approval Index is calculated by subtracting the number who Strongly Disapprove from the number who Strongly Approve. It is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update). Updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.

Overall, 45% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President’s performance. That matches the lowest level of total approval yet measured for this president. Eighty-one percent (81%) of Democrats approve as do 33% of unaffiliated voters. Eighty-three percent (83%) of Republicans disapprove.

Among all voters, 54% now disapprove.

SOURCE: Rasmussen Reports

The mortgage market barely moved last week.  Rates remain at historically low levels.

 This weeks events:

Mon 11/23
Existing Sales
2-yr Auction

Tues 11/24
GDP
FOMC Minutes
5-yr Auction

Wed 11/25
Durable Orders
Core PCE
7-yr Auction

Troubled childhoods leave an indelible imprint on the “surviving” adult.  In the search for a triumphant life, adults must grapple with problems related to trust, abandonment, approval and confidence.  If wounded adults choose to ignore the power of the past, they pay a price in terms of their most meaningful relationships.

NOVEMBER 22

REFLECTION FOR TODAY

Sometimes when I live my life in the way necessary for me to maintain my wellness, I meet with other people’s disapproval.  At the time it is necessary for me to find out if I am harming anyone.  If not, I can quietly go about my business and continue to grow – without their approval.  I know it is natural for me to want approval from my loved ones, but I must remember it is unhealthy for me to need and rely on approval like an addiction.

MEDITATION FOR TODAY

May I have the courage to continue to grow – independently of others’ opinions.

TODAY I WILL REMEMBER

When I need others’ approval before I can approve of myself, it is a reflection of my low self-esteem.

FROM:  TODAY BOOK, (http://www.emotionsanonymous.org)

© Copyright 1987 Emotions Anonymous, used with permission of the EA International Service Center

President becomes fourth fastest to slip below the majority approval level

by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ — The latest Gallup Daily tracking results show 49% of Americans approving of the job Barack Obama is doing as president, putting him below the majority approval level for the first time in his presidency.

Although the current decline below 50% has symbolic significance, most of the recent decline in support for Obama occurred in July and August. He began July at 60% approval. The ongoing, contentious debate over national healthcare reform has likely served as a drag on his public support, as have continuing economic problems. Americans are also concerned about the Obama administration’s reliance on government spending to solve the nation’s problems and the growing federal budget deficit. Since September, Obama’s approval rating had been holding in the low 50s and, although it has reached 50% numerous times, it had never dropped below 50% until now.

Of the post-World War II presidents, Obama now is the fourth fastest to drop below the majority approval level, doing so in his 10th month on the job. Gerald Ford dropped below 50% approval during his third month in office, and Bill Clinton did so in his fourth month. Ronald Reagan, like Obama, also dropped below 50% in his 10th month in office, though Reagan’s drop occurred a few days sooner in that month (Nov. 13-16, 1981) than did Obama’s (Nov. 17-19, 2009).

via gallup.com

The trend is strikingly visible in a single image from Rasmussen:

The green line is the people who like Obama.  And it’s dropping like an asteroid.  The red line is the people who don’t like Obama.  And it’s going higher and higher.  And the “-14″ is the difference between the people who really like Obama from the people who really don’t like him.  As you can see, the “really don’t like hims” have it.

At traffic lights, I’m a big fan of encountering green.  Here, I really love the red.

Obama is already speaking about the possibility that he might be so politically gangrenous by 2012 that he won’t even bother to run.

“You know, if – if I feel like I’ve made the very best decisions for the American people and three years from now I look at it and, you know, my poll numbers are in the tank and because we’ve gone through these wrenching changes, you know, politically, I’m in a tough spot, I’ll – I’ll feel all right about myself,” Obama told CNN’s Ed Henry.

Obama went on to say:

“I’d feel a lot worse, if at a time of such urgency for the American people I was spending a lot of time thinking about how I could position myself to ensure reelection.

“Because if I were doing that right now, I wouldn’t have taken on health care, I wouldn’t be taking on things that are unpopular,” the president said. “I wouldn’t be closing Guantanamo. There are a whole series of choices that I’m making that I know are going to create some political turbulence. But I think they’re the right thing to do, and history will bear out my theories or not.”

All I can say is, “or not.”  You’re “theories” are bogus, Barry.

Health care was bad enough, in terms of a blatant display of either ignorance or disavowal of the clear will of the American people.  But when you look at the determination to put Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other terrorists on civilian trial in New York City in the face of overwhelming rejection of the electorate, you can see that Obama frankly doesn’t give a damn what the nation thinks.

As Rasmussen puts it:

Just 29% agree with the decision to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and five other terrorists suspects in a New York city courtroom. Only 14% believe terrorist suspects should receive the same legal rights in court as U.S. citizens.

We can add the fact that Obama hasn’t bothered to try to keep our citizens safe at home or our soldiers safe abroad (or at home for that matter).  Between Afghanistan, Fort Hood, and the H1N1 debacle, you’ve seriously got to wonder.

Only 47% of Americans at least somewhat approve of Obama.  And only 47% of Democrats strongly approve of him.

But he’s not listening to you.  He’s listening to George Soros and Andy Stern.

And there are portents of a total disaster for Democrats in 2010 if they continue on their suicidal path into the hard-core ideological liberal agenda they have been pursuing.

The Huffington Post (hardly even remotely CLOSE to being pro-conservative) has this:

NEW YORK — Despite sweeping Democratic successes in the past two national elections, continuing job losses and President Barack Obama’s slipping support could lead to double-digit losses for the party in next year’s congressional races and may even threaten their House control.

Fifty-four new Democrats were swept into the House in 2006 and 2008, helping the party claim a decisive majority as voters soured on a Republican president and embraced Obama’s message of hope and change. Many of the new Democrats are in districts carried by Republican John McCain in last year’s presidential contest; others are in traditional swing districts that have proved tough for either party to hold.

From New Hampshire to Nevada, House Democrats also will be forced to defend votes on Obama’s $787 billion economic recovery package and on energy legislation viewed by many as a job killer in an already weak economy.

Add to that the absence of Obama from the top of the ticket, which could reduce turnout among blacks, liberals and young people, and the likelihood of a highly motivated GOP base confused by the president’s proposed health care plan and angry at what they consider reckless spending and high debt.

Taken together, it could be the most toxic environment for Democrats since 1994, when the party lost 34 House incumbents and 54 seats altogether. Democrats currently have a 256-178 edge in the House, with one vacancy. Republicans would have to pick up 40 seats to regain control.

Republicans hold a six point lead over Democrats in generic balloting – and have held a lead for four months.  That hasn’t happened since the dinosaurs walked the earth.  That’s actually even bigger than it sounds, given the fact that those identifying themselves as “Republican” are considerably more likely to vote than those identifying themselves as “Democrat.”

On my own view, the Democrats aren’t in 1994 trouble; they’re actually more along the lines of being in 1997 trouble.

1997 was the year of the Heaven’s Gate cult mass suicide, as members – all wearing the same kind of Nike sneakers – committed suicide in order to beam themselves onto the spaceship hiding behind the Hale-Bopp comet.

As the Democrats pursue radical leftist policy after radical leftist policy, they are essentially saying, “Beam me up, Scotty!” just like their Heaven’s Gate intellectual forebears did before them.  As the American people clearly are turning against the Democrats’ radicalism, the Democrats are calling for still more radicalism.  It’s almost as if they’re saying, “If we guzzle more of our Kool-aid faster, we’ll be SURE to win.”

I was never a Bill Clinton fan.  But one thing you could count on Slick Willie to do was whatever was politically best for Slick Willie.  He was a liberal; but if the people demanded he be a moderate, he would suddenly discover that he was a moderate.

That isn’t Barry Hussein.  He is a hard-core ideologue.  People like me tried to warn you that the man who spent 23 years in a racist, anti-American, Marxist church would be such an ideologue.

Barry will destroy his presidency, and destroy the Democrat Party, in order to advance an agenda that is far more radical than the American people understood when they elected him.

Say hello to Obama’s little friend, the Cloward-Piven strategy.

Update, November 24:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 27% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-two percent (42%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -15. This is the lowest Approval Index rating yet measured for President Obama (see trends).

Fifty-two percent (52%) of Democrats Strongly Approve while 68% of Republicans Strongly Disapprove. Among those not affiliated with either major political party, just 16% Strongly Approve and 51% Strongly Disapprove (see other recent demographic highlights from the tracking poll).

Oh, oh, Democrats.  It looks like independents utterly despise your Messiah.