Failout - Strong Language follows...

We all know I'm against the bailout.  That said, let the finger pointing begin...

Bush wants the bailout and 140 Democrats were willing to give it to him.  Only 63 Republicans agreed with our commander and chief.  <sigh>  The Republican Party has found it's balls at the wrong time for some people (well, except for the pussy who didn't put in a vote at all).  The Dow dropped over 600 points at the sound of the failure.

But, what I find most humorous is that Barney Frank blames the Republicans and Rep John Boehner blames Nancy Pelosi.  She gave some speech and the Republican Party balked and said we're taking home our ball and we're not playing. 

Yeah, that's helping us right now, fellows.  I disagreed with the bailout because there wasn't enough protection for the taxpayers.  I don't want to pay 700 billion dollars to bailout financial institutions.  You want to spend 700 billion dollars, how about putting that money aside and let homeowners who need a little help borrow the money from the government.  Let's say everyone who owns a home and is in an ARM can refinance their homes to get out from under that ARM.  That should save some homeowners.  But, if you have chosen to not pay for your home and there isn't a reason, such as job loss or medical illness, you just lose your damn home.  If you've lost your job, you can borrow from the government, if not, too bad.  If you need retraining because you've lost your job and your skillset isn't able to get you a new one, let's loan you the money with which you can go to school.

But, instead, the Republicans did not follow through on their promise and they want to blame it on a speech.  Well, see if that helps you in the next election, fellows.  You've let down a lot of Americans.  I'm in the minority on this bailout.  You've screwed yourselves.

One last thought:  We are not going to save our economy by balancing it on the back of home values, which is what we've been doing the last couple of years.  We spend 10 billion a month in Iraq -- that's 120 billion dollars a year.  Think of how well our economy might be running if that money had been spent here.

God Bless

PS.  Note to GOP:  Hope you don't need a new home loan.

Baseball

You're probably wondering why I've been so quiet with all that's going on.  The answer is I'm working and haven't had time to do much of anything else.

Except, I did one thing last night that I highly recommend.  I went to a baseball game. 

I should say that I was a New York Yankee fan when I was a teenager.  My late grandfather was a Cubs fan and we'd sometimes bond over those games.  I remember sitting at the Robinsons' house and watching Billy Buckner play for the Cubs.  Outside of this, I really don't know a lot about baseball.  I don't follow the sport.  I only know the Cubs clinched because Brian told me so.

That said, I love and I mean LOVE, to go to the stadium and watch a game.  The Brewers have never lost a game when I've been sitting in the stands.  (And, yes, Brewer organization, I would accept season tickets if you'd like to send them to me).  Baseball games are the absolute best.  From that long walk in (at least at Miller Park) to the seventh inning stretch to the long walk out -- I love it all!  No where in the world do you ever become instant friends and family members with strangers as you do at a Baseball game.  I've been to professional football games and it doesn't happen there like it does at a Baseball game.

When you're at a baseball game, you can yell anything and I have.  When you're at a baseball game, you really feel like you're a part in what's going on down there at home plate.  When you're at a game, you really believe they can hear you.  You do the wave, you sing Take me out to the Ballgame, you eat a hot dog with stadium sauce and grilled onions, drink beer (or in my case, soda) and for those 9, 10 or more innings, everything is right with the world.  We're at peace, gas prices aren't outrageous and the financial markets are secure.  Your team gets a guy on second base and it all starts to come together.  The bases are loaded, there's two outs, Ryan Braun comes up to bat and you just know this is going to be good.  When that ball goes up in the air, you hold your breath with everyone else and when it comes down in the stands -- you scream with everyone else.  Maybe, since you've never been in the stadium when a player hits a grand slam, you might just tear up a little.

And, the place erupts and the joy carries you to your car and all the way home.

And, life is good.

God Bless

Good Guys

Maybe, I'm just feeling sorry for myself today because I received some bad news yesterday, but I'm a little pissed off.  I'm really tired of doing the right thing - repeatedly - and not getting anywhere, aren't you?

Seriously, the head of Lehman Brothers will walk away with $400 million dollars, while his staff will walk away with unemployment.  Try paying the rent with unemployment.

Congress is arguing over these bailouts not because the taxpayers will pay for them, but because they want to send the executives in charge away with their golden parachutes!  Are they kidding?!?

I'm beginning to believe that the only time the good guys win is in the movies -- and sometimes, they don't even win there.

I'm losing hope, which pretty much was the only thing going for me.  I watch a co-worker who should be fired just do whatever every single freaking day of the week, while I bust my ass doing a good job and I think WTF.  I hear about people getting away with murder at their jobs or I hear about how someone received too much back in change and they laugh about it, instead of running back to the store to give back what wasn't theirs in the first place.  Meanwhile, good Americans are busting their butts doing a good job and living paycheck to paycheck.  Where's our golden parachute?  Where's the light at the end of our tunnel? 

Fourteen years ago, I was involved in a car accident.  It was completely the other person's fault.  She received the ticket and I received a damaged kidney (that has since healed) and my back hurt -- also completely healed now.  I didn't sue.  Due to a billing error the hospital made, my insurance company didn't even collect on my whole medical bill.  My settlement was a lousy $3,000.  But, I didn't want to be greedy, I didn't want to do the wrong thing.  I didn't want to waste the court's time.  I'm fine, she's fine.  My car was fixed, etc.  I had friends who said I was stupid -- you don't get rewarded for being good -- and I was wasting my chance for some easy money.  What was I thinking?

Today, if I got into that same accident, I'd probably sue, because I'm pissed off and mad.  But then, I couldn't possibly look myself in the mirror and know that I did the right thing.

I'm really, really tired of doing the right thing.

I'd say God Bless, but today I'm not sure He's listening.  I don't think He's here with a helping hand for America.  I think -- and I blame the haters in this nation (you know who you are) -- He's deserted us.

$700 Billion Bailout - No strings attached!

What is wrong with George W. Bush?  What is wrong with all of Congress?  We should just hand $700 billion over to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and trust that he will use it wisely to bailout the failing Wall Street firms.  And, not only are we expected to hand it over, but we can't ask for an expense report to see how it has been used.  The amount comes to over $2,000 per taxpayer.  If you want to help the American economy, why don't you send the $2,000 to every taxpayer?  Every single one of us could put it to good use.

Nope, they want us to get screwed and no one is buying us dinner first.

I feel so cheap.

On top of that, my grandchildren's grandchildren will end up paying it back.

According to a MoveOn email I received, Obama has a better idea and I think we should do what he says.

No blank check. We must insist on independent accountability and oversight.

Main Street, not just Wall Street. We need an emergency economic plan to help working families-a plan that would help folks cope with rising gas and food prices, create infrastructure jobs, etc.

Help homeowners stay in their homes. We cannot have a plan for Wall Street banks that does not help homeowners stay in their homes and help distressed communities.

Taxpayers should be protected. This should not be a handout to Wall Street.

Rescue requires mutual responsibility. Institutions that benefit from taxpayer help must help protect American homeowners and the American economy. We cannot underwrite continued irresponsibility.

Build a regulatory structure for the 21st Century. We should commit ourselves to new rules of the road for the 21st Century economy.

A global response. The United States must lead, but we must also insist that other nations, who have a huge stake in the outcome, join us in helping to secure the financial markets.

But, he's only one voice and we're just screwed.

God Bless

An Nation of Underachievers

The school Distict in Dallas, TX has changed its grading policy and it is a sad day for education in America if the rest of the nation follows. (see article) Now, let me tell you why this is a bad idea.

When I was in school, I was a lousy student. I couldn't sit still - rarely stopped talking - and was nothing but a headache for my teachers. On the flipside of this, I was a nice kid who didn't get into any real trouble, but I did spend my fair share of time in the Principal's office. Flash forward thirty years and it turns out I'm ADHD, but that's no excuse for my poor performance. Yet, I was never held back. I didn't flunk classes and I was always passed along -- to be the next teacher's problem. This went on for all of grade school and junior high.

Then, I reached high school. For a reason I don't understand, I decided I wanted to take Russian History my freshman year with Miss Willis. Wow, that was a huge slap in the face. I didn't do my homework, I scored poorly on my exams and guess what -- I flunked.

Flunked! Who dare flunk me?

A teacher and a very good teacher. Miss Willis taught me a lesson I haven't forgotten in the twenty plus years since I sat my butt in her class. If you don't try, you won't pass. If you don't pass, you don't learn. If you don't learn, you won't get ahead.

Now, I'm not going to lie and say that I've been the world's greatest student since then. I do all right. I graduated in the top half of my high school class and I've gone on to obtain a college degree. And, I've failed or succeeded because of choices I made. If I studied hard enough, I passed. (Even in Math, which is my worse subject. I worked my butt off to get that C+!)

In Dallas, they always want the student to have a second chance. That isn't teaching their students the life lesson they're going to need in life. It certainly wouldn't have flown in Miss Willis' Russian History class.

So, Miss Willis, who taught history at Waukegan East High School between 1981 and 1985, I don't know where you are, but thanks for flunking me. It's served me well in the 27 years I've lived since then.

God Bless

Sorry, Cheryl, I love Brad Pitt...

That headline certainly got your attention, didn't it? So, let me explain...

Brad Pitt just gave $100,000 to Californians Against Eliminating Basic Rights -- a group who is fighting the anti-gay Proposition 8 in California. According to the People.com article , the man of dreams said, "Because no one has the right to deny another their life even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn't harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8."

Be still my heart.

Of course some anti-human being group made a statement that Brad Pitt isn't an example of a good marriage, but those people are just haters. He seems like a pretty darn good family man to me. He supports Angelina, he's a good father and he puts his money where his heart and mouth are. Sounds like an upstanding young man to me. (The fact that he's hunky is just a bonus.)

If you live in California, please vote against Proposition 8. Our country was built on freedom not discrimination -- actually, that isn't true. Our country was built that white male landowners were free, but times have changed.

God Bless

PS. Dear Angelina, you don't have to worry. I'm sure Brad and I will probably never meet and I'll never have the chance to sweep him off his feet. :-) Although, I'm sure this old, overweight lesbian probably could. :-D

Let Them Fail...

I believe that when things go bad, you pull yourself up by your boot straps and you take care of it yourself. For the most part (if I ignore my twenties), I've followed this my whole life. Even while I was still in college and hadn't completed my degree, I worked to pay off my student loans.

Now, I'm sorry the people who work for these financial companies are going to lose their jobs, but let the companies fail. By bailing out AIG, we're sending the wrong message to companies. Take big risks and if you're large enough, the government will bail you out so you don't lose your shirt. Well, maybe, they should lose their shirts. The government wouldn't be bailing me out if I overextended on my credit cards, took out a second mortgage on my house (that's what an equity line is no matter what they tell you) and racked up huge bills. No one would be walking around to hand me money, so why should my tax dollars be used to bail out a company that put too much money into subprime mortgages?

When are we going to say enough is enough?

God Bless

I just saw it on CNN.com: Palin staff won't testify in trooper probe, AG says

Powered by See story below. I could blog on this and just link to the story, but what could I add? She's just started gaining national attention and all ready she's taking a page out of the we have nothing to show you Bush playbook. She claims she welcomes the investigation and she has nothing to hide, but she won't cooperate and neither will her staff. Anyone that wants to vote for McCain after he picked this beauty queen must have rocks in their head! Click the following to access the sent link: Palin staff won't testify in trooper probe, AG says - CNN.com* Get your EMAIL THIS Browser Button and use it to email content from any Web site. Click here for more information. *This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire address below into your web browser. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/17/palin.investigation/index.html

Confusion -- Thanks Walter!

I received this in an email and it hits the nail right on the head, so I'm posting it here. BTW, if you wrote it, please contact me. I think we have a lot in common. In the interest of full disclosure, I cleaned up some spelling and grammar mistakes and I added a couple of notes.

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....

· If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "Exotic, different."

· Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers yours is the quintessential American story.

· If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

· Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

· Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.

· Attend 5 different small colleges graduating, you're well-grounded.

· If you spend 3 years as a community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

· If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people (where less than 1,500 actually voted in the election), 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive and next in line behind a man in his eighth decade.

· If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

· If you cheated on your first wife with a rich, pretty heiress, and then left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a true Christian.

· If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

· If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with neither option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

· If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.

· If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

Bill O'Reilly

I don't always agree with Bill O'Reilly and most of the time I think he's a jerk (but I love watching his visits on the View). I'm going to push this aside. I found the below quote on Time magazine's website. If Bill O'Reilly has to come to the Obama's aid, you know the media has NOT been unkind to the GOP. But don't tell them that. They are so out of touch with America that they don't know good coverage when they see/hear/read it.*

For anyone to say that Barack Obama consciously compared Mrs. Palin to a pig is unfair.

• BILL O'REILLY,
• Fox anchor, blasting the McCain campaign and the media for insinuating that the Democrat's use of the phrase "lipstick on a pig" referred to the Republican vice-presidential nominee

God Bless

* But, after watching the GOP destroy this nation for the last eight years, I wouldn't really expect them to do anything more than whine that they're being unfairly treated.

Wall Street and De-Regulation...

Let me start by saying that I'm not that knowledgeable about de-regulation. I'm not sure who started it and I'm not sure why when things started to go south, why no one stepped in and stopped it.

Here's what I do know about de-regulation, the cable companies were de-regulated 12 years ago. The idea was that with more competion, we'd pay less for our cable service.

Well, that never happened. I pay more for cable (although, I do admit this does include phone and broadband) then I ever have. Even if I take out the fees for the phone and broadband, I'm paying a lot of dough.

And, competition? I haven't seen any. Our competition choice is Time Warner or satillite. So, I pay more, get less and I'm not better off, but the cable companies are. How is that a good thing for consumers?

So, when we de-regulated Wall Street and now it crashes, why is anyone upset or surprised?

I think I'm missing something here I will have to research more indepth than I really have th etime to do so.

God Bless

Hey You...

Yeah, you. The one reading my blog who still hasn't decided how to vote in November. Or, you -- the guy on the couch, who is going to vote for the third party candidate. This blog is for you, so pay attention.
DON'T VOTE FOR MCCAIN Period. End of Sentence.
First, don't vote for McCain if just to keep that Palin out of the West Wing. Can you imagine her with her backwards ideas visiting heads of state in other countries? Sure, she looks nice, but then she'd open her mouth and that would be it.
Second, take a good look around, are you really happy about the state of our country? The economy is in the toliet. Seriously, in the toliet. Not that you'd ever hear how bad it really is from anyone in the GOP. Those guys want you to really, truly believe that everything's okay. But, I did the math and I double checked my figures. My salary in 12 years has more than doubled and I'm still living paycheck to paycheck and just barely keeping my head above water.
Third, McCain has just chosen a great story to be his running mate. A mother of five? A hockey mom. Someone who rose from City Council to Mayor to Governor of the State. Damn, that is a great story, but she's isn't an honest Vice Presidential Candidate. She truly does not belong a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
Finally, we need to take back this nation from those who want to see our freedoms restricted and I never thought this would ever be the case, but it's the Republicans who are trying to restrict our freedoms. Can you say the Patriot Act, boys and girls? In the past sixteen years, the Republican Party has grown from the party of small government to the party of intolerant, uneducated masses. A vote for the McCain/Palin ticket will only strengthen the right wing Christians' hold and make it that much harder for real change to happen in this country. The party of God, guns and gays do not care if you can feed your children or if your small business survives in these hard economic times. They care that they can slam God down your child's throat -- whether you want them to or not. They care that anyone can purchase a weapon and can fill that weapon with armor piercing bullets (and the only thing an armor piercing bullet is for is killing a cop). They care that gays are punished for being born and have no rights whatsoever in this country.
A vote for McCain/Palin is a vote for the end of progress. And, if that happens, God help us all.

God Bless

Poor, Poor Pitiful Me...

I want to write about how the Republicans are full of it when they say their open because five of them have gotten together to sue to stop an investigation into Sarah Palin. First, we're not supposed to ask her hard questions and now, we can't even make sure she's honest. Oh, and don't get me started on the BS the right wing people are feeding this nation on how the media picks on her. She is nothing more than a beauty queen hoping to look smart by wearing glasses. Well, you can put glasses on a dog, it doesn't make it smart and it annoys the dog.

Anyway, I'm in pain and lots of it. Six of the fillings that have been in my mouth were deteriating, so my dentist said we need to replace them. On top of that, I had a new cavitiy that needed to be filled. So, this morning I went to the dentist to have them all done and my mouth hurts. It hurts too much to do much of anything, so I can't even bring myself to blog about the news today.

Maybe, I'll feel better tomorrow.

God Bless

FL.Republicans want special Treatment for Pallin

Don't look for Sarah Palin or, for that matter, any Presidential candidate on the Oprah couch. Oprah came out and said she wasn't going to use her show as a platform.

However; the Florida Federation of Republican Women doesn't like that idea. They think that Oprah should interview Palin and they're doing something about it. They're calling for boycotts for Oprah's show and Oprah's magazine.

What they're really doing is creating a mountain out of a molehill. They're creating a smoke screen that makes it look like the media isn't helping out Palin. They know they can't win the election on issues, so they make this an Oprah vs Palin debate, which will distract women for at least a couple of days.

Don't fall for it. Oprah said she isn't going to use her show and she isn't. I applaud her for leaving her show out of it.

Besides, what do the FFRW think they'll gain if Oprah did interview Palin? When Oprah took the gloves off and asked the really hard questions, how will they complain the media is sexist and picking on her?

Below is the video from CNN.

God Bless

PS. To sbaldwinus at YouTube, this is an example of the media playing nice with Palin. This wouldn't be worth mentioning if the battle was McCain vs Oprah or Oprah vs Anyone else on the planet. And, what happens when the media reports on this? The headline on CNN is "Oprah boycotted for Palin interview snub", but if you watch the video, you find it isn't a snub. But, a lot of people will just read the headline and move on.

I can't defend this...

I'm not going to lie and make you think I completely support Obama and Biden. Joe Biden released 10 years worth of tax returns that shows he donated .2% of his income to charity. For last year, he donated a whopping $995.00. How can that be? He made more than $300,000 and he gave less than $1,000. That's less than I gave to charity last year.

Now, don't think this means I'm not going to vote for him, I'm just disappointed in his lack of giving.

On the other hand, where are Sarah Palin's tax returns? At least Biden has released ten years of his tax returns. Palin has released none. McCain has released two years compared to Obama's seven.

At least we know the Democratic candidates have nothing to hide. McCain doesn't even file his taxes jointly with his wife because he'd like you to believe he's just like the rest of us. Well, the us that travels in private jets and earns $400,000 a year. Yes, all the candidates earn more than you and me, but some of them more than others.

It would be nice if Biden had given more to charity.

God Bless

Support Obama

I hadn't designed a shirt or mug in support of Obama because I wasn't going to get into the mess of designing campaign shirts, but this stuff with Palin has really gotten my panties in an uproar and I feel that I have to show my support for Obama. So, I've updated a couple of my earlier posts with links to the shirt and here's the new design. There will be more to follow.

Pin a Medal on the Dad...

I just read a news article that said a father hit and chased away a naked teenage boy out of his daughter's bedroom.  Now, he's being charged with "with aggravated battery on a child". 

On one hand, this father needs to be smacked because 1) he didn't know his teenage daughter had a boyfriend and 2) he didn't notice this boy had been sneaking into his daughter's bedroom for more than a year.

On the other hand, PIN A MEDAL TO THIS MAN'S CHEST.  Talk about a deterent.  The boy should be grateful for two things:  1) the father didn't have a gun and 2) it wasn't my daughter's room.  Give me a break, the father goes into his daughter's room, finds a naked man and proceeds to hit and chase him out of the house.  Sounds like the father did the right thing.  The charges need to be dropped.  Any boy who has the lack of respect for the girl that he sneaks into her bedroom (and lack of respect for her parents) deserves to get hit with a lead pipe.  His parents should be in trouble for not keeping better tabs on their son.

Sure, I know I'll get posts about double standards, but I did say the father of the girl should've known what was going on.  Her parents should have taught her to have more respect for herself and her family by not letting this boy sneak into her room for more than a year.

If this was my teenage daughter, the boy wouldn't have gotten away before I beaten him within an inch of his life.  Trust me, I have no qualms about doing it.  But, if this was my teenage daughter, I would have taught her to have more respect for her body and her mind than to have sex with this creepy kid in the first place.  Sex is not a teenage pasttime, it is an adult activity that comes with adult consequences that teenagers are not ready to suffer and they are not prepared to handle.

God Bless 

Women are NOT interchangeable!

In 1920, women finally gained the right to vote (144 years after the nation was formed). In the last 88 years, you would think that men would've learned something about women -- anything. Yet, in a US News & World article I was reading this morning, a male writer (and I would tell you which one, but I left the magazine at home) wrote something to the effect that disillusioned women Hillary voters will now back McCain because of Palin.

I hate to burst his bubble, but Hillary supporters aren't going to vote for McCain because of Palin. That would be tantamount to slitting their own throats. Women who supported Hillary believe what Hillary believes -- they're pro-choice, against the war in Iraq and for public healthcare coverage. This is everything Palin isn't.

The battle between the two would be interesting.

The lawyer who stood by her philandering husband versus the sports reporter who is forcing her 17 year old daughter to marry to save face.

The Senator from the 3rd largest state versus the Governor from the 3rd smallest state (by population, not land area).

Except this race isn't about Hillary and it isn't about Sarah; it is about Barack Obama and John McCain and which MAN we think will lead our country into a bright future.

It's really too bad the election isn't between Hillary and Sarah. It would make for a more interesting race. And, since it isn't about the two of them, let me just shout this out to the men, WOMEN ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE!!!!!!

God Bless

No Questions For Palin

Does anyone beside me think it is really odd that the only interview -- as of this writing -- that Sarah Palin has given was to People magazine on the day McCain announced she was his choice for running mate?

People magazine.

A magazine that is well known for it's in-depth, journalistic integrity. A magazine that is truly known for asking those hard questions.

And, McCain accused Obama of being a celebrity.

Palin is scheduled to be interviewed by Charlie Gibson. I don't envy him. If he asks the tough questions, we'll all get to hear about how he's too tough on her because she's a woman. If he doesn't, we'll all hear about how he let her slide because she's a woman.

I hope he doesn't bother with the tough questions. From where I'm sitting, the GOP doesn't want anyone asking their beauty queen Vice-Presidential candidate any hardass questions. I'm thinking it's because women on the right aren't as tough as women on the left. They can't handle it.

God Bless

Wondering...

The Republicans seized Obama's pig remark and claimed it was sexist and aimed at Sarah Palin. Can you see me rolling my eyes? This morning, Obama slammed the GOP for not discussing the issues and "seize on an innocent remark, take it out of context, throw up an outrageous ad because they know it is catnip for the news media."¹ And, that got me thinking. What if all these divisions between the red states and blue states are solely because of the news media?

Think about it, Obama and McCain debate each other and stick totally on the issues, how boring is that? How many news magazines would that sell? How many news stations want to cover an adult debate? How many papers would sell if it was only issues McCain and Obama mentioned? I'm going to do this when I'm President and my opponent wants to do something else. How many times a day would you check CNN if the breaking news was: McCain announces his healthcare plan?

I'm not sure who decided dirty campaigning made for better news, but isn't it time that the American public stopped paying attention? Don't click on the headline that states McCain slaps Obama or Obama sticks it to McCain. Click on the headline that says McCain's withdrawal plan for Iraq or Obama's solution for the North Korea problem.

And, while I'm on the subject, stop paying attention when they feed us stories about Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears. Don't buy the magazine with Brad and Angelina's twins in it. For that matter, don't buy the one that tells you all about Jennifer Anniston's break up with John Mayer.

Buy the magazine that gives you real news, not eye catching headlines.

Then, maybe, we can deal with the issues.

God Bless

Could we discuss the issues?

I've got to say, I'm really, really tired of Sarah Palin. I'm tired of seeing her picture on magazine covers. I'm tired of hearing about her pregnant daughter. I don't want to hear about her religious past, present or future. I want to know what McCain plans on doing if he's elected President. I want to know what Obama plans on doing if he's elected President.

That said, since we're on the topic, I think Obama has taken the high road in all of this -- not that anyone will give him any credit for it. I'm not exactly sure where Obama was when he made the remarks -- the article is vague, but someone said that Obama should make a statement that candidates' families and religion were off limits. Obama responded that he had all ready said families were off limits. He, also, said, "... don't give people some sort of religious litmus test because I don't want somebody to question my faith and I'm certainly not going to question somebody else's."¹

Too bad no one took this into consideration when people decided to question Obama's Christian faith.

On the other hand, why is it that the GOP doesn't want us questioning Palin's faith? Why shouldn't we ask questions about what it is exactly she believes? Why did she belong to a Pentecostal faith for twenty years and then in 2002, she suddenly switches to a non-denominational church? What happened in 2002 that made her change faiths and churches, but not completely cut the Pentecostal out of her life?

If Obama had to take the punches about his religion and his religious beliefs, why shouldn't Palin?

Palin said just a couple of months ago: "Pray for our military men and women who are striving do to what is right. Also for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending them out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for -- that there is a plan, and that plan is God's plan."² She invokes God, so why shouldn't we ask her about her beliefs?

I guess we shouldn't ask her because Obama should have never been asked. Obama wants to take the high road. He wants us to leave Palin's family and religion alone, but no one will notice those remarks. Even the article from where I took the quote is leaning toward McCain: McCain camp angry over Obama's 'lipstick' comment. If you just read the first couple of paragraphs, you'd never know that Obama wants to leave Palin's family alone.

But, Obama takes the high road doesn't sell newspapers and it doesn't make you click on the article link.

Only 56 more days until this is all over.

God Bless

Matching to a Candidate

Powered by * Please note, the sender's email address has not been verified. I'm not sure if this will post correctly, but here's my results on the USA Today Candidate Match Game. Click the following to access the sent link: Candidate Match Game II* Get your EMAIL THIS Browser Button and use it to email content from any Web site. Click here for more information. *This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire address below into your web browser. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/candidate-match-game.htm?friendA=1,2,1.5-2,-1,1-3,2,1-4,-2,1-5,-2,2-6,1,0.666666666666667-7,-2,1-8,-1,1-9,2,1-10,-2,2-11,2,1-12,1,1-

Another Slide Video

Oh, I know you think I should write something serious regarding the great revelation that Palin used to be a Pentecostal, but come on, we knew she was conservative. Besides, I don't care what religion she is or was. None of my business if she believes in the End Days and speaking in tongues and faith healing. That is between her and God.
Besides, I still have cute videos of the boys and the slide to post. Much more important that Sarah Palin's religion.

It is entirely possible that Danny just might have a future in gymnastics!

Alex might want to consider not going into gymnastics.

God Bless

Post Secret

I went out with my friend, Vicy, last week and she mentioned the website PostSecret.com. She said I had to check it out. I wouldn't believe what people write. I had vaguely heard about this site before Vicy mentioned it, but I had never checked it out. Today, I'm home sick from work and I figured I'd check it out.
The very first postcard said, "On my wedding day, I danced with two people. The one I married and the one I wish I had married instead." Wow. I can't imagine being married to someone I thought wasn't the right person for me. I can't imagine what kind of anguish this person is going through. It really must be awful.
Then, I read the next one and the next one and the next one. And, I'm thinking, this is kind of fascinating and I can see why people keep reading these. There are four different books, all with these post card secrets on them.

If you haven't checked this site out, you should do it now.

God Bless

Slide Fun

Danny and Alex playing in Door County this past weekend. They loved the big boy slide. We love taking the boys up there. They also went to The Farm. We take them every year and the trip is well worth it. If I hadn't hurt my foot, it would've been even more fun.

God Bless

I Am Woman

Sarah Palin is only the second woman in American history to be nominated to be the Vice President of these United States. The first time this happened, the lady was Geraldine Ferraro and the year was 1984 (when I was still a proud card carrying Republican). I can remember discussions at that time that Mondale would win because "them Women Libbers" will vote for a woman. Mondale lost and if I remember correctly, he only won his home state of Minnesota. Apparently, not enough women chose to vote for Mondale.

Now, here it is 24 years later and I'm seeing headlines and hearing people say things like "McCain's going to win. The women will vote for Palin."

Are we still in the dark ages? What woman is going to vote for McCain just because he picked a woman as his running mate? I'm not.

Just like I didn't cast my vote for Hillary, I'm not going to cast a vote for Palin. And, to the people who think one woman is the same as another, Sarah Palin is NOT Hillary Clinton. Palin wants us all to go back to the stone age and Hillary embraces the future, so they're nothing a like.

But, getting back to my point. What was my point?

Oh, yeah, all these crazy statements just distract from the real issues of the campaign. What will happen when either of these men make it to the White House.

So, to my female readers, please don't vote for McCain because he picked a woman running mate, just like I wouldn't expect my black readers to vote for Obama because he's 1/2 black.

There's going to be a lot of tough decisions to be made in the next four years. We need to find out how to insure the 45 million working Americans that have no health insurance. We need to find a way to walk away from the War in Iraq that won't come back to bite us in the ass twenty years from now. We need to find Bin Laden and bring him to justice -- on American soil. We need to lower the unemployement rate. We need to ensure that Social Security will be there when we retire. We have an infastructure in this country that's falling apart, we need to fix it. We need to find better ways to build cars and end our dependence on oil -- all of it, not just the foreign oil. We need to stop the ownership of our major companies from going overseas. We need to find a better way -- if we're truly a Christian nation -- to help our neighbors.

I believe that if we've learned anything from the past eight years, a divided house may keep going, but the road is easier to travel if we are united.

So, in November, when you're voting, think which candidate is going to join us together to work for a better, brighter future for America.

In the immortal words of Charlie Daniels, "this lady may have stumbled, but she ain't never fell."

God Bless

McCain's Health Plan

Right now I work for an employer that #1. Doesn't know how to get the best deal for their employees for healthcare and #2. would love it if they didn't have to provide health insurance for their 5,000 plus employees. I purchase the highest health plan and that means I pay more in premiums than some of my co-workers. I don't use the HSA, so I can have a better health plan and I do use the FSA. I don't have a lot of health issues. I do have asthma and thank goodness I haven't had to use my healthcare much because my healthcare plan sucks. Believe me, when I leave this job it will be for two reasons and one of them is the lousy insurance.

I've heard of jobs where the pay is a little lower, but the benefits packages (tuition reimbursement, healthcare, etc.) are excellent. These positions have made me stop and think about whether I would jump ship to gain better benefits, but not gain much more in money.

Let me say this: I don't want the government supplying me with healthcare -- I want my employer subsdizing it. Right now, one of the few tax breaks I get is the pre-tax healthcare benefit for which I pay $84.49 per month or $1013.88 per year. Remember, this is completely tax free.

McCain wants to take that little tax break away. According to CNN Money, the amount my employer pays "would become taxable income. But anyone who buys insurance would receive a refundable tax credit worth $2,500 per person ($5,000 per family). That's a dollar-for-dollar reduction of your tax bill, or, if you don't have a tax bill, a dollar-for-dollar increase in the amount of money Uncle Sam would send your way."

Except it isn't. Right now, my employer pays $276.82 per month or $3321.84 per year. Under McCain's plan, I'll be taxed on that amount. So, I won't get the out of pocket pre-tax break and now my income will look like it has gone up and I'll be paying even more in taxes. But, McCain gets to tell you that he's offering you a tax break. Let's take a look at that.

McCain wants to give a single person a tax credit (and by the way, there's a difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit. A tax credit reduces what you owe and a tax deduction reduces the amount on which you pay) a total of $2,500. So, if I purchase the insurance I have now, it will cost me $4335.72 -- because the tax break is only for those people who buy their own insurance. The government will be giving me $2500 back, bringing my grand total to $1835.72, which is not only $821.84 more than I pay out of pocket now, but it's all taxed, which adds to the amount that I give back to the government.

Let's just see how much more someone who makes $50,000 a year will pay our government and for health insurance.

I'm using last year's tax tables and I'm going to make the assumption that I'm still allowed to put tax free money into flexiben, which'll keep some figures the same. I'm, also, assuming that I can even purchase the insurance and maintain at least the same coverage for the same price as my employer, but we know that won't be true. Also, keep in mind, your salary goes up on your Federal form, it goes up on your state form. (And, yeah, I know, some states don't have income tax. Bully for you.)

Under the current system, taking off the $1,013.88 for current healthcare costs and $2,500 for Flexiben a single person's taxable income (with no deductions, but the standard) is $41,136.12. The tax amount is $6,705.00. That comes to 16.29% for Federal Tax. And, I've only paid $1,013.88 for healthcare.

Now, the new system:
$50,000.00 salary
$ 2,500.00 flexiben
$ 5,350.00 standard deduction
$42,150.00 taxable income

$6,955.00 taxable amount

My tax amount is now $250.00 higher under the new system. I'm now taxed at the higher amount of 16.50%. Oh, wait, I did forget to take the tax credit off.

Okay, now, I'm paying $4,455.00 in Federal income tax. That's a lowering of my taxes by just under 6%. Hey, that sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

Except my state income tax rate is 6.5%. Under the old system, I report $41,136.12 in income and I'm taxed: $2,673.84. Under the new system, I report $42,150.00 in income and I'm taxed: $2,739.75. A difference of $65.91. So, now, I've paid more in taxes -- not much more, but still more AND I've paid more for my insurance coverage: $821.84 more.

And, what did I get for it? $821.84 could pay for a new laptop or pay for a gifts for my grandsons. Maybe, I might give that money to charity.

But, who benefits?

My employer. They now get to save $3321.84 and if you think they'll pass that savings on to me in the form of a raise -- think again. It goes in their pocket. Multiply that by 5,000 employees and they've saved $16,609,200.00. It isn't going to be in the employees' pockets -- I can guarntee you that. Some companies might be willing to pass the savings along, but most won't and you know they won't.

You know who else benefits?

The insurance companies. They can then charge me more for insurance because I'm no longer a part of a group.

You know who won't benefit?

American workers. They'll have even less in their pockets than they do now. According to McCain, that'll be a good thing. But, then, the Republicans are acting like our country is chugging along just fine and we don't need to fix it. Life is good. And, if you think the economy is bad, you have a mental condition.

Someone recently called me a single issue voter, but I'm not. I have loads of reasons for no longer backing McCain. His ideas are not good for me. Ask yourself, are they going to be good for you?

God Bless

Jailing Journalists?

Say it isn't so. I received an email from a respected organization. This is insane. This is America.

Jailing journalists is unacceptable in a democracy. But that's exactly what is happening at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Award winning journalist and host of "Democracy Now" Amy Goodman was arrested by St. Paul police while covering a protest outside the Republican National Convention. Though clearly identified as press, Goodman was charged with "obstruction of a legal process and interference with a 'peace officer.'" Two of her producers were arrested for "suspicion of felony riot."
To tell you that this arrest was brutal and upsetting simply doesn't do it justice. Watch this video to see for yourself. Then take action.
I just e-mailed the presidents of CNN and NBC News (which oversees MSNBC) to demand that their networks cover this important story. I hope you will too.
Please have a look and take action.
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/dont_arrest_journalists/?r_by=803-699154-_2EakGx&rc=paste
While the flag waving is going on inside the convention, a threat to democracy is taking place outside.

God Bless us everyone

Stop Questioning Palin

Okay, I'm confused. Sarah Palin has been selected by John McCain to be his Vice President candidate. Until McCain picked her, 90% of this nation never heard of her. No one knew her name -- for the most part -- outside of Alaska. Yet, McCain's campaign engine has "declared heatedly it was time to stop questioning her background."¹

Are they kidding?

The woman is running for Vice President of the United States of America. I think she needs to answer some questions. Like, how is she going to do in energy meetings when her husband works for an oil company? According to "Tucker Eskew, a senior McCain advisor"² she is "someone with both hands on the steering wheet of America's energy economy."³ Probably because she sleeps with someone who works for an OIL COMPANY.

The campaign is trying to play the sex card because the media is just out to "destroy the first female Republican nominee."⁴ When Hillary tried to play the sex card, the media and the GOP just made fun of her, but I guess you can play it when the female is a Republican and it is okay. If she isn't tough enough to answer questions now before she's even officially nominated as Vice President, how the hell is she ever going to be tough enough to be Vice President?

And, by not asking her questions, by not looking into her background, is the GOP just wanting us to accept four more years of secrecy and lies? Are we as a nation supposed to just lie there and blindly agree with our government? Haven't we had enough of that?

And, another thing, I don't think people should have us ignore Palin's inexperience and then knock Obama's. That's being a hypocrite. And, if you're wondering, Yes, I'm talking directly to you, Fred Thompson. (But, if you're reading this, I loved you on Law & Order.)

God Bless

I've looked far and wide and all I see are hypocrites...

Sarah Palin's seventeen year old daughter is pregnant. Now I know that Obama states that Palin's family is off-limits, but I disagree. Palin supports abstinence education, hmmm, how's that working out for you, Sarah? The Palin's are going to compound the issue by having their 17 year old daughter marry the father of the baby. Well, that sounds like a match made in Heaven.

What really burns my butt on this is the wrong-wing Christians who are rallying behind Palin. Oh, this just shows she's human. This can happen to any family. Blah, blah, blah. This is BS because you and I both know if the shoe was on the other foot and it was a Democrat's child, they would be all over it like white on rice. This, also burns my butt because this is a clearcut example of how abstinence education DOESN'T work.

I'm sorry this seventeen year old girl is going through a pregnancy the whole world knows about. I can only imagine how thrilled she must be that her mother's running for VP, so this is no longer a private family matter. I wonder if she even loves the guy she now has to marry to help her mother save face?

And, on top of all this, I have to hear from my mom that: 1) Palin should resign, so she can take care of her family and 2) if she wasn't governor, her daughter wouldn't be pregnant out of wedlock. Like somehow working mothers are to blame when their children are pregnant out of wedlock and the fact that my mom was a stay at home mom is the only reason I didn't end up being a pregnant teenager. (Trust me, Mom, that had nothing to do with it.)

God Bless

Musings Off the Top Of My Head

Yesterday, on my way home from Green Bay, I was thinking about my blog and what I would write about this week. First, I should offer up some prayers for those affected by Hurricane Gustav, especially those who lost their lives. I should probably offer up a prayer for the Republican Party, as Gustav has messed with their convention plans.

Second, if you know any servicemen or women heading for Iraq, my cousin - Tiffany (her husband has just been sent back) - let me know that they could use body wash and shampoo, as the BX runs out of these items regularly. Also, bottle water drink mixes are welcomed as well as calling cards. So, if you know someone who is sending a care package over to the troops, drop some of these items in. I'm going to do some research on different charities and organizations that support our troops and I'll post about them here. As Americans, we can't do enough for our men and women in uniform.

Third, on the more humorous side, why is it that when I get off at my exit in Green Bay and head for Kim and Dustin's that it seems to take forever to get to their house, but when I'm driving home, Highway 43 is just a matter of a few short minutes away?

Fourth, have you ever noticed that there are two types of drivers from Illinois: those who can only drive under the speed limit in the left lane and those who think that the starter gun for the race has been shot and they have to get there before you?

Fifth, my mother is all up in arms that Sarah Palin's seventeen year old daughter is unwed and pregnant, but it doesn't seem to bother her that Palin's husband works in the oil industry, which to me is the larger problem with voting for her.

Finally, why is it that summer is so short and winter is so long?

God Bless