The Diff between Dems and Repubs...

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (Dem) appeared at the University of Illinois in Urbana yesterday. He's touting a decision to sell off some of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission's student loan portfolio. Governor Blagojevich says that this will free up money for more student aid.

Apparently, some College Republican students disagree with this. Which is not surprising because right now the Dems can't agree with the Repubs and vice versa. If these two groups each came up with the exact same idea -- they would still argue about it!

Anyway, these students wore t-shirts that said, "Blagojevich sucks", which I think might be rude -- I wouldn't wear any of the anti-Bush tees I sell in front of President Bush, but hey, this is their right to wear what they want.

Did Blagojevich have the students removed?

GASP! Shockingly, no!

Did he single the kids out as a group who were just trying to cause trouble for the administration?

DOUBLE GASP! No!

He said, "I promise you if I get a blue one like that, I'll wear it when I go out jogging."

The students gave him one and then -- hold on to your hats -- posed with the governor.

Let me repeat that:

HE POSED WITH THE PROTESTING STUDENTS!.

I challenge any reader to find one Republican since Ronald Reagan who was so gracious to those who oppose him.

Go on, I'm betting you can't find one.

And, that is the difference between Dems and Repubs.

God Bless

If this is true, then the Bush boys are jerks...

According to the NY Times, President Bush and his brother , Jeb, have not been standing behind Katherine Harris in her bid for the Republican Senate nomination.

Now, I don't live in Florida, so it is really none of my concern who becomes the next Senator from there, but what is up with the Bush boys? Didn't Barbara and George Sr. teach them to stand by their friends? Didn't they show them how to be gracious?

The Bush boys have been pushing for Allan Bense to run for the nomination. And, on Monday, Jeb Bush publicly announced that he didn't think MS Harris could win and he mentioned that she has problems in her campaign.

Now, maybe, with President Bush's ratings dropping to toilet level, his lack of endorsement for MS Harris won't matter. Or, maybe she's doing so poorly, because MS Harris is linked so closely with the 2000 election and President Bush and the people of Florida are mad their state went to Bush. Again, I don't know, I don't live there.

So, enough with the speculation.

I'm still upset that the President and Governor cannot stick by their friend. It shouldn't matter whether or not she can win, she's one of their friends and friends always stick up for friends -- at least publicly.

God Bless

Bill Maher and Victor Davis Hanson

Bill Maher had Victor Davis Hanson, the author of "A War Like No Other", on his show recently. I'm not sure what date, because I was watching HBO on Demand.

Normally, I don't review TV shows, but Mr. Maher asked a question I would like someone to give me a straight answer to: "If we had to go around the world and attack all the countries that were evil, we'd never really stop. Why don't we attack Darfur?"

Mr. Hanson interjected with "We're not at all." Then, his answer was "We're not. Secretary Rice gave a very good lecture to the Egyptians about reforming their political process last summer. We put pressure on the Saudis..." He went on to mention the other places we've been putting pressure on, but he never answered the question. "Why don't we attack Darfur?"

Why can't anyone answer that question? If we didn't like the killings Saddam Hussein was committing in Iraq and he was evil enough to take out of office by starting a war, why aren't the people of Dafur just as important?

God Bless

Consumer Reports

Do you have a subscription to Consumer Reports? Do you pick it up on the newsstand? Well, you should. Cheryl and I subscribed just over a year ago. She's really big on reading all the reviews on , well, everything. My wife wants to know everything she can about anything we're going to purchase -- cars, TV's, Stereos, etc. So, Cheryl subscribed us to Consumer Reports.

Did you know that they DON'T accept any advertising in their magazine (and, I'm assuming, their website).

Did you know that they DON'T accept anything they test for free. They purchase all of it -- and the consumer versions, so that what they review is what we, the consumers, will be purchasing. They conduct reader surveys so that when you purchase a product, you know what other people thought of it.

In this month's issue, the have an interesting article about Privacy and the RFID tags that can now be found in all kinds of products. I didn't know a lot about the RFID tags, but I remember reading an article about them a couple of years ago. Wal-Mart was going to start adding them to the products they sell, so they can track all their products in a particular store. Great idea for any retail environment. You can keep track of all your inventory within minutes.

However, what I didn't know about RFID tags is that they can be tracked as far away as 750 feet. I'm not going to rewrite the whole article here, you can get your own subscription, but after reading the CR article, I'm a little leery of these tags. All ready my purchases are tracked by my Jewel, Pick N Save and Barnes & Noble cards. Now, according to CR, these purchases can be linked to my credit card and more of my personal information. I'm a little concerned at the idea that the government could, at a whim, ask Barnes & Noble and my local library what books I read (I like to screw with the system and every so often I research bomb building or anarchy in books or on the Internet, guess the government isn't paying any attention to little old me). But, I'm not comfortable with my shopping habits and my prescription needs are in a database that easily hacked. Yes, I know that ShopKo and Walgreens have my prescriptions in their databases, but I worry that more and more of my personal information is getting spread out over more databases, which makes it more venerable.

Or, maybe, I'm just paranoid for no reason at all.

God Bless

Lesbians' Brains...

I'm not sure that I like the news that the Stockholm Brain Institute has discovered that there is indeed a biological difference between Lesbians and Straight women, proving that sexual orientation is more than just a learned behavior.

I have a friend who has a relative who once was gay but now has been found and proclaims that he is no longer gay. Now, I know that there are some men and women who dabbled in homosexuality for whatever reason and then decided it wasn't for them and now live "straight" lives (whatever that means). But, no, sorry, you didn't find God and suddenly change your sexual orientation. You merely choose NOT to live a "gay" life (whatever that means).

You can't change your sexual orientation, you can only change how you accept it. I went through many years trying to change myself and all I was left with was a broken heart, the realization that I'm gay and the knowledge that I wasted a lot of years trying to be someone I'm not.

So, on one hand, I'm thrilled to be able to point to my disbelieving brethen and say, "Hey, my parents didn't cause this. I didn't choose this. This is simple biology."

On the other hand, I'm not to keen on the idea to discover that my brain works in a similar manner to that of a straight man.

I mean, ignoring all the man hating jokes I could put here (afterall, I don't have to live with them), I have been battling with my parents for over 10 years that they did not raise three boys. They did raise a daughter and two sons. Constantly, I hear otherwise and its annoying! I'm a girl -- got it?

So, finding out that my brain reacts like a guy's brain is really not helping my cause.

But, it might help the further cause that FINALLY gays are treated like human beings and not second class citizens and for that, I'm willing to put up with some teasing.

God Bless

Who is General Michael Hayden?

Let me say right up front that I don't know much about General Hayden. So, I don't know if he is the right man for the CIA job or not, but, what's the deal?

It seems like Congress is all ready waiting to throw darts at this man. Can't we all just learn something about him before we qualify or denounce Bush's choice?

And, what's wrong with the idea that a military man runs the CIA? Since they (and the FBI) managed to screw up the events leading to 9/11, wouldn't it be a good thing to have someone with military discipline running the show?

So, here's what I'm saying, let's try something new in this country and learn something about General Hayden before we judge whether or not he's worthy to run the CIA.

God Bless

Closed Caption

Have you ever used the closed caption option on your TV? I have on numerous occasions. I'm hard of hearing and some TV shows sound to me like the actors are mumbling, so I'll turn on the Closed Caption so I don't miss anything.

Well, I want to know how you get the job to be a Closed Caption typist. Sometimes, I didn't hear the word and I can't read it because it is so far misspelled it is unbelievable. Now, maybe, they use voice recognition and it isn't really up to par. I really have no idea, because I've never tried to research it.

I was watching a tape episode of the View and the closed captioning was horrid -- which is why I'm blogging about it right now -- I know that the gals talk over each other and they are hard to understand, but this was the follow up to the Emmys, where Mario Caltone (I think that's how you spell it) does his little blurb. He called the ladies Losers (because they lost the Emmy, yet again). The word on the screen was loer. What? That isn't even close.

Now, that's just one minor example and I could list others, but I don't have that much time. I feel sorry for someone who is deaf and can't rely on their own hearing to know what's going on.

So, basically, I'm just complaining today.

God Bless

Remember Cole Hein?

Remember way back in December I mentioned Cole Hein -- this is the little boy who chokes and stops breathing and his mom is searching for a cure. Well, I posted a blurb about him on all my blogs and even my myspace blog -- which I hardly ever post on.

His mom, Mandi, wrote me a short note thanking me for posting about her son. So, I revisited the website and it is way cool! Make sure to visit it and send little Cole an email.

Here's a blurb of Cole's condition from the website:

" Cole Hein has an undiagnosed illness. Cole can "retch or dry heave" morning, noon, or night while playing, eating, sleeping, or even just watching TV. When Cole "retches" he can stop breathing and when he does someone needs to be there to either stimulate him by rubbing his back or even give him CPR to get him breathing again. COLE DOES NOT SELFRECOVER. You NEVER know when Cole will "retch" or even when he does "retch" that that is going to be the time he stops breathing because he doesn't always stop breathing when he "retches" We do know that a bronchial cough or stomach flu brings on more consistent if not constant "retching” Bingo Cole's dog has been trained to "bark" whenever Cole makes the "retching" sound. Bingo is a godsend she is an extra set of ears for Cole. We still continue to watch and listen to Cole but having Bingo has ease the burden! Cure4Cole.com is part of an international effort with the help from Lamar Outdoor advertising to find anyone with information that could help save Cole's life! This site is an effort to help save our son's life and spread the word about this unknown illness and find a diagnosis for him! Thank you for stopping by please sign the guestbook as I read them to Cole everyday and he loves when I read him his "stories” God Bless, Mandi (Mom), Dwayne (Dad), Kaela (sister 11) and Eric (Cole's twin brother 4)"

So, I thought it was time to re-visit the topic of Cole. If you know someone who can help, send them to Cole's Website. I don't know anything about medical conditions, so I'm no help, but at least I can post a blurb here. It's the least I can do.

Feel free to copy this info and post it on your own blog or send it off to your friends. It takes a village to raise a child, it might take the world to cure Cole.

God Bless

What is going on?

What is up with all these people resigning from the Bush White House / administration? And, who is going to be next? Should we be taking bets?

Porter Goss just resigned as the CIA chief. He hasn't even been there for a full two years.

Now, maybe, President Bush is asking for resignations. I don't know, he doesn't call me to let me know, but I can't remember this many resignations such Nixon! (That's a joke, I really didn't pay too much attention to White House staff until President Bush.)

Maybe this isn't uncommon -- maybe the information age just makes it easier for us to all be aware that staff is changing.

Well, I wish him all the best in his future endeavors, but I'm really glad my co-workers don't change this often!

God Bless

Supply, Demand and Gas Prices

Cheryl and I were talking about our budget this week -- as I'm sure most couples do. We were trying to figure out just why we suddenly don't have any money.

Is it the extra we spend on our grandsons? No, we buy only one case of diapers that usually costs around $15.00 -- we certainly shouldn't even notice that in a month.

Are we eating out more? No, that's not it. In fact, since Cheryl decided to put us on a diet, we're actually eating at home more and eating out less.

Then, it dawned on me, we're buying the same amount of gas per month, but spending nearly twice as much for it.

Simple supply and demand, right?

Well, for most things, like say oranges, that would probably be the case. When the orange crop is low, we pay more for our oranges, but we, also, can lower our demand. If I was going to have to pay $10.00 for a bag of oranges, I would most likely not buy oranges -- hence, the high price will cause the demand to drop.

But, gas does not work that way. Case in point, my own gas usage.

I drive 50 miles to work one way, five days a week. I fill my 6 year old mini-SUV's tank once every four days. The only variance is the once per month we visit our grandsons in Green Bay. For that, I purchase one extra tank of gas.

I can't control my gas usage. I keep my car in tip top shape -- change my air filter every other oil change, whether it needs it or not. My vehicle is maintained so that I get the most mileage per mile possible -- I average between 25 and 28 MPG. I try, in the summer, to not run my air conditioner. If I could take a bus or a train that would drop me off near work -- and wouldn't take 6 transfers and 3 hours of travel time -- I would only drive to work on days when I have other appointments.

Now, I could buy another car that gets better gas mileage, but Cheryl and I can't afford two car payments, and her car is 14 years old. It's time for it to be replaced.

Anyway, this is a long way to get to my point which is just because gas prices go up, the demand is not falling off as it does in other goods. In fact, the demand stays the same -- it probably goes up some, as we gain new drivers, etc.

Now, Jake brought up a point in a comment he made (BTW, Jake, that was a guest blog, which means I didn't write it) that when you adjust the cost of gas from the 70's to now, we're actually paying less. I haven't done the math, but I'll take his word for it.

But, in the 70's, we had a real shortage. I remember the long lines at the pump and the stations that were closed due to a lack of gas. Plus, you couldn't even buy gas on Sundays.

I don't buy this "shortage" that is driving these prices up. None of my local gas stations have had to close due to a lack of gas. Plus, I really don't trust any industry that is producing record profits while telling consumers they're raising prices because of a shortage. (When you can afford to grant a retiring CEO a 400 million dollar retirement package -- you aren't hurting for money.)

I don't recall orange growers posting record profits during years the orange crop sucks.

God Bless.

Deadbeat Parents

So, I was watching TMJ4 last night and saw a story about Deadbeat Dads, but to be fair, there are some deadbeat moms out there, too.

Anyway, first, why is the federal money drying up to prevent these guys from getting away with not providing for their children?

Second, why are states like Texas allowing these jerks to not pay their child support?

Third, why aren't more of us doing something about it?

While we sit in our comfortable homes, we really should be out there getting our legistlation to put these guys in jail, garnish their wages or not allow them to flee to states that don't enforce child support payments. (What the Hell did Bush do as Governor of Texas? Why didn't he stop this crap?) We should have a federal law that will allow one state to garnish the wages of a non-paying parent who lives in another state.

Screw state rights -- could care less if Texas is offended -- our nation's children should come first.

God Bless.

Off the Top of My Head...

I was thinking last night, as I got ready for bed, just how much the world has changed in the last sixty years. Not the technology, but the people.

Now, I know that not everyone in this country supported WWII, at least not in the beginning and I know that there were dissenters, but the people rallied around the troops more. We were willing to ration meat, sugar, gas, etc. We bought war bonds and volunteered at USOs. We pulled together to get our nation through a difficult time.

So, it made me wonder, what are we doing now to support our troops in Iraq? Are we sending them books, letters, supplies to let them know that we love them and we're behind them all the way? Why isn't the government offering war bonds? Wouldn't that be a way to finance the war rather than go as far into debt as we've gone? Wouldn't it help.

And, yes, I don't believe we should be in Iraq and yes, I support the right of dissenters, but we're there and I was just thinking we should be doing more for the troops.

Well, I wasn't sure what we could do for the troops, but then I remembered Operation Dear Abby. It's now offered year round. Let's all join together and send a letter to a member of our armed forces. It'll only take a few minutes and it'll brighten our day -- and it might make up for what we are lacking in supporting our troops.

God Bless

Moussaoui Gets Life

Al Qaeda Terrorist Moussaoui received life in prison and, as he was leaving the courtroom, he said, according to CNN, "America, you lost."

No, Mr. Moussaoui, you lost. You now have to spend the rest of your days in one of our prisons. You and the other terrorists who died trying to destroy America lost the battle and the war. We're still here.

And, Mr. Moussaoui, death would be too good for you. You should have to live knowing that you can't harm any of us. You should live knowing that no matter how much we fight amongst ourselves that we will stand united against any foe. You will live with the knowledge that you and your terrorist friends did not succeed. America grows stronger every day. America is the beacon of freedom for the whole world and she stood tall on 9/11, she's standing tall now and she will remain standing long after your bones turn to dust.

I know that some will say the jury should've given you a sentence of death, but as a Catholic and a Christian, I can't abide by the death penalty. Everyone has to be given the chance to ask Jesus Christ for forgiveness so they can stand at His side during the end of time. You, Mr. Moussaoui, you will not ask him for forgiveness, so once you are done living our your days in a jail cell -- where most likely, you'll have to be kept from the rest of the prisoners -- you will spend eternity suffering in the fires of Hell for what you did.

God Bless

Like I'm surprised....

I'm shocked that the GOP -- that Grand Old Party that during my childhood was the one who fought for the little guy and (with the exception of Nixon) gave us all the feeling that they cared -- has killed the ethics bill that would make them be accountable to us -- the people who pay their salaries. Only 5 of them broke from party lines and voted the right way. They are: Sheryl Albers of Reedsburg, Brett Davis of Oregon, J.A. "Doc" Hines of Oxford, Terri McCormick of Appleton and Mark Pettis of Hertel. Now, I don't know anything about them, they don't represent my district, but here's the deal.

This November, vote them all out -- every single one of those unethical, moronic Republicans who have managed to mangled this great state. I'm not sure if he's running, but I'll check, so we can start with that big jerk Robin Vos of Racine.

God Bless

Guest Blog -- Oil Price Gouging and Republican Responsibility

Most American consumers understand that the energy policies of the Republican Party simply stink of oil money. The ties between the Bush White House and oil interests are well understood. The policies pursued by the Bush Republicans in terms of energy, environmental regulations, monopolies, taxation and foreign policy are those of the largest oil companies instead of the American consumer.

Recently on MSNBC, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn attempted to blame high oil prices on liberals and environmentalists. The attempt was pathetic and a classical Blackburn tactic. Blackburn often goes into a standard speech mode attacking liberals, environmentalists and/or Democrats or repeating some standard Republican talking points when she has no logical response to politically uncomfortable facts.

While visiting her office with a delegation of Tennessee auto workers, I saw her filibuster the members of the delegation. She quickly excused herself for a pressing meeting with a business lobby as soon as the auto workers started discussing policy issues of importance to working Americans. She refused to let these auto workers even state their concerns. Blackburn votes with the largest corporations on every importance piece of legislation and routinely against her largely middle class Congressional District.

Blackburn is a typical example of a Republican member of Congress. Her campaign coffers are stuffed with Corporate money. She always votes in the interest of the wealthiest of the wealthy. Her political story shows how Big Oil has been able to rape the American consumer with the active assistance of a Republican dominated federal government.

The largest oil companies have used their huge cash reserves to buy up other competing oil companies without the government halting these anti-competitive, monopolistic acquisitions. These huge cash reserves were not used to expand refinery expansion or to expand other forms of renewable energy sources in significant ways.

Some internal oil company documents and emails made public seem to indicate that supplies were deliberately tightened by oil industry actions in order to drive up prices and oil industry profits. The oil industry made scapegoats out of environmentalists, and Republican political allies picked-up this theme, in order to cover their apparent manipulation of markets. This market manipulation should have been illegal. Congress needs to investigate the oil industry at the highest levels. This investigation should be focused largely on refinery operations and the anti-competitive situation created by oil company consolidations.

In her MSNBC appearance, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn urged an investigation of individual gas stations. I believe Blackburn was trying to derail an investigation of Big Oil by misdirection of a Congressional investigation.

This writer believes that Democrats should push for the break-up of the largest oil companies. We need more competition in the energy sector. If criminal price-gouging can be proved, oil industry executive responsible should serve long jail terms. Excessive oil industry profits should be taxed. Blackburn publicly announced her opposition to this taxation policy. Her position is shared by almost all Republican members of Congress and the Bush White House.

Our government should stop creating foreign policy crises with major oil producing nations like Iran and Venezuela. The Bush Republican foreign policy seems to be designed to drive up international oil prices by creating crisis after crisis and constantly threatening war with oil producing nations. Greg Palast has a new book coming out soon that explores the possibility that the Bush White House pushed the United States into a war with Iraq to keep Iraqi oil off the international market. This interesting idea makes sense in that tight oil supplies permitted Bush’s friends in the oil industry to make billions and billions in excess profits. These oil industry people have funded Bush Republican politicians all over the nation.

The only defense American consumers have to fight back is their votes. Every Republican Senator and Congressperson should be voted out of office in 2006 and 2008. We need to enact laws to promote competition, peace, energy conservation and renewable energy. This cannot be done with the Bush Republicans in control of our federal government.

Written by Stephen Crockett (co-host of Democratic Talk Radio http://www.DemocraticTalkRadio.com ). Mail: P.O. Box 283, Earleville, Maryland 21919. Email: midsouthcm@aol.com . Phone: 443-907-2367.

SAVE THE INTERNET

I received the following email this morning. I received a different one from moveon.org yesterday. This isn't a liberal issue and it isn't a conservative issue -- It's a freedom issue.

It's not just my blog that will be slowed down because I'm not paying Internet providers to allow their customers to view my blog -- it'll be all of our little blogs that rant about politics or exchange receipes or even post pictures of our grandchildren.

I, for one, do not want Verizon, Comcast and Time Warner to decide what websites I can and cannot see. I don't want to hand over my Internet reins to someone else.

Do you? Read the below letter and take action -- now, not later and stand on top of you representative to do the right thing.

God Bless.

Dear media reformer,

Congress is about to sell out the Internet by letting big phone and cable companies set up toll booths along the information superhighway.

Companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast are spending tens of millions in Washington to kill "network neutrality" -- a principle that keeps the Internet open to all.

A bill moving quickly through Congress would let these companies become Internet gatekeepers, deciding which Web sites go fast or slow -- and which won't load at all -- based on who pays them more. The rest of us will be detoured to the "slow lane," clicking furiously and waiting for our favorite sites to download.

Don't let Congress ruin the Internet:

Tell Congress to Save Net Neutrality Now

Our elected representatives are trading favors for campaign donations from phone and cable companies. They're being wooed by people like AT&T's CEO, who says "the Internet can't be free" and wants to decide what you do, where you go and what you watch online.

The best ideas never come from those with the deepest pockets. If the phone and cable companies get their way, the free and open Internet could soon be fenced in by large corporations. If Congress turns the Internet over to giants like AT&T, everyone who uses the Internet will suffer:

* Google users -- Another search engine could pay AT&T to guarantee that it opens faster than Google on your computer.

* iPod listeners -- Comcast could slow access to iTunes, steering you to a higher-priced music service that paid for the privilege.

* Work-at-home parents -- Connecting to your office could take longer if you don't purchase your carrier's preferred applications. Sending family photos and videos could slow to a crawl.

* Retirees -- Web pages you always use for online banking, access to health care information, planning a trip or communicating with friends and family could fall victim to Verizon's pay-for-speed schemes.

* Bloggers -- Costs will skyrocket to post and share video and audio clips -- silencing citizen journalists and amplifying the mainstream media.

* Online activists -- Political organizing could be slowed by the handful of dominant Internet providers who ask advocacy groups to pay a fee to join the "fast lane."

* Small businesses -- When AT&T favors their own services, you won't be able to choose more affordable providers for online video, teleconferencing, and Internet phone calls.

* Innovators with the "next big idea" -- Startups and entrepreneurs will be muscled out of the marketplace by big corporations that pay for a top spot on the Web.

We can't let Congress ruin the free and open Internet.

Let Congress Know that You Want Net Neutrality Now

We must act now or lose the Internet as we know it.

Onward,

Robert W. McChesney
President
Free Press
www.freepress.net

P.S. Visit www.SavetheInternet.com to contact your representative, learn more about this issue, and discuss this campaign with other activists.

Terra Naomi -- Something Good to Show You

I received an email from Terra Naomi today. She has written a song called Something Good to Show You. She asked me to post about it.

So, I checked out her MySpace page and I listened to the song. I like it -- both the song itself and the lyrics.

So, I highly recommend that all of you check it out.

God Bless

PS. Sorry about no posts the last few days. I'm researching one and should have it done by the weekend -- I hope.

Shame on Comedy Central

So it is okay for South Park, that godawful show I NEVER watch, to show Jesus Christ defecating on the American flag and our president -- which I personally take offense to -- BUT, don't show any picture of Mohammed.

For fear of sounding like a right-wing person -- what's the deal?!?

It's okay to knock Christianity and make fun of Christ and Bush and disgrace our flag, but it's not okay to show a picture of Mohammed?

Why not?

According to CNN.com, "William Donohue of the anti-defamation group Catholic League, called on Parker and Stone to resign out of principle for being censored." He said (again quoting from CNN),

"The ultimate hypocrite is not Comedy Central -- that's their decision not to show the image of Mohammed or not -- it's Parker and Stone," he said. "Like little whores, they'll sit there and grab the bucks. They'll sit there and they'll whine and they'll take their shot at Jesus. That's their stock in trade."

I disagree with Mr. Donohue. Parker and Stone have always pushed the envelope on South Park. The real issue here is that Comedy Central, who makes a lot of money off of the show, turns chicken when the religion is Muslim.

As a co-worker of mine would say, "What is up with that?"

That's what I would like to know.

God Bless

Local Public Pay...

This is going to be really quick, as I'm backed up today, but since when does the state legislature get to have a say-so in how much money local county, city and town workers get paid? And, why is this such a hot amendment when we can't get the good things the state needs out of committee -- see my article on insurance companies discriminating against dog breeds from earlier this year?

Legislating raises is a bad idea -- having the legislature vote on it without a proper review is an even worst idea.

Representative Wood, go back to Chippewa Falls and just keep your bad ideas to yourself.

God Bless

If You Talk Like A Bigot...

Religious Wrongs are claiming that being required to attend diversity trainings or not being allowed to harass gay students is against their religion. They are claiming that they are being persecuted in this country.

Persecuted? They don't know the meaning of the word! Try being told on a daily basis that you're going to Hell. Of course, if you're one of those right wing so-called "Christians", you think somehow you have a right to judge someone else's life. Seems to me, that Jesus didn't approve of us judging each other. If you're going to talk the talk, you need to walk the walk and these "Christians" can't take step one to follow Jesus.

Jon Davidson who is the legal director of Lambda Legal said, "What if a person felt their religious view was that African Americans shouldn't mingle with Caucasians, or that women shouldn't work?"

"Christian" activist Gregory S. Baylor "says he supports policies that protect people from discrimination based on race and gender. But he draws a distinction when he argues that sexual orientation is different — a lifestyle choice, not an inborn trait."

Baylor went on to say, "Think how marginalized racists are. If we don't address this now, it will only get worse."

What? You wish to speak against an entire group of people based on the fact that you don't like the way God made them and you're worried about "Christians" being marginalized?

But, ignoring the bigoted view that gays have made "lifestyle choice", how would Baylor feel if someone took offense to the way he drives his car?

To run this point further home, can I go to work and preach to my co-workers about the evils of drinking? Drinking is a lifestyle choice, if I know that a co-worker drinks -- even if it doesn't interfere with his or her work -- can I continually tell them what a horrible habit it is and how they shouldn't drink?

What about smoking? If I know a co-worker smokes, can I bring pictures of lungs ravaged with cancer into work and hang them on their cubicles? Can I hang them in mine? Isn't that showing a lack of tolerance that is required for people to be able to work together to get a job done?

How is that different from hanging anti-gay signs in your cubicle?

Sitting next to a person who is gay and being tolerant is NOT being "anti-Christian", it is being Christian.

Let me remind the "Christian" fakers, Jesus wouldn't be sitting with you when breaking the bread, he would be sitting with those who are truly marginalized b society and ntrulyyy persecuted. That isn't going to be the ones who only think they're being marginalized and persecuted, he'll be with the ones who really are.

I'll bet my spot at Jesus' right hand for all eternity on it.

God Bless.

Thomas Hose

Just a quick post -- have you been following this story. A young lady returned to her family ten years after she was missing. She claims she was held against her will for the last ten years. Thomas Hose -- the abductor -- claims that he "never forced Kach to live with him and that the woman had access to a cell phone during their time together."

She was fourteen years old when she disappeared! FOURTEEN YEARS OLD. She wasn't a responsible adult and how can that be a legal defense?!?

Sometimes, I wonder about things.

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow, April 8th, is my wife's 50th birthday. Now, Cheryl is fairly easy to buy for -- just pick up a shiny object at your nearest jewelry store and wrap it. Shopping complete.

But, I wanted to get her something special, something she'd never forget -- or quite possibly -- forgive me for. I got her a guest spot in a webcomic!

Yes, sir, you can head on over to PC Weenies and check her and the comic out! I highly recommend this as a gift for nearly everyone. This might even surpass the Christmas present I gave her, which I'll post about some other time.

So, just to recap, Check out PC Weenies and if you see Cheryl tomorrow, wish her a happy birthday!

More lack of Background Checks

On the heels of Brian J. Doyle's arrest for being a child molester, I receive my usual weekly email from The Economist. The email contains this little blurb:

Two federal air marshals pleaded guilty of planning to smuggle cocaine on a flight from Houston to Las Vegas. The pair, arrested in a sting operation in February, were hired after the expansion in airline security following the September 11th attacks.

Okay, so NOBODY goes through background checks anymore?!?

What happened to In God We Trust, all others we run through NCIC?

Just how easy is it to get a Federal Air Marshall's job anyway AND are these the kind of people we want protecting our skies?!?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that 95% of our Federal Air Marshalls are upstanding citizens who do the best job they can, but if I was one of them, I'd be really mad that the government let these two yahoo's slip by.

Just where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?

God Bless.

Stop Senators Santorum and Frist...

According to the Human Rights Organization, "After a request from notoriously anti-gay Senator Rick Santorum, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced his intention to force a vote on the so-called Marriage Protection Amendment during the week of June 5."

It's time we put a stop to this. Write your Senators and tell them that we don't need this vote and we don't need this Amendment. Even if you're against gay marriage, you should realize that this is just a ploy to bring out the extreme right in a mid-term election year, because these morons haven't done anything in the last six years to deserve re-election.

Further, if you live in Tennesse or Pennsylvania you need to vote these guys out. Stand up for what is right and just and eliminate these guys from politics. Personally, I'd like to see both of them shot, but that's not going to happen.

Oh, and a message to anyone in Pennsylvania, I've been doing some reading about the history of your great state. Pennsylvania is the home of the liberty bell -- how can you guys let a hatemonger like Santorum be your Senator?!? Who's your other Senator, Hitler?

These guys are too chicken to stand up with Feingold and censure Bush for his illegal actions, yet, they think that they are morally correct on the Anti-gay amendment?

May God have mercy on their souls, because if I ever get a chance to meet up with these two morons, I won't.

God Bless

What happened to background checks?!?

Brian J. Doyle, who is the fourth-ranking official in the Homeland Security's department of public affairs, has been "charged with using a computer to seduce a child"¹ after being caught in a sting operation.

Are you kidding me?

Just who is running the government? This is ridiculous! We have a child molester working as a deputy press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security?!? And, no, I'm not using the word allegedly, as they caught the guy still sitting at his computer!

I'm really getting worried about this administration's judgement when it comes to hiring people. The sad fact is that by the time the average child molester has been caught, he has molested ten kids. Ten kids. Think about that. That's ten lives that have been ruined. That's ten kids that lose their childhoods. That's ten kids who never feel safe again.

And, this guy is speaking for Homeland Security?!?

God Bless us All, cause we're screwed.

---

1Chicago Tribune April 5

My thoughts exactly....

Here's a political cartoon by David Horsey:



I've been saying this all along. Wish the Religious Right could hear Jesus' cry like this.

God Bless.

McReynolds Doesn't Support Open Government

Racine County Executive Bill "I want a 19million dollar jail" McReynolds does not believe in an open government and he convinced other members of the County Board to agree with him. Two weeks ago, Supervisor Diane Lange "called for the County Board to support 'unconditional commitment to open communication' between the board and the executive branch." Tuesday night, the Board decided that they didn't want any open communication and they don't want county employees to be allowed to speak with elected officials.

Here's my point...

McReynolds is running for Cathy Stepp's Senate seat. He has supported a $19million dollar jail Racine doesn't need. And, now, he doesn't want to keep the lines of communication open.

Just think how well he'll do if he makes it to the Wisconsin Senate!

God Bless

Comments -- Revisited

On March 21, I wrote an entry about Feingold and the Republican party. This was in relation to Feingold's call for censure of the President for his illegal acts.

Someone calling himself Publius2008 wrote two different comments, disagreeing with my blog and writing that in summary, the President didn't do anything illegal.

"He was intercepting wireless communications that were inbound to the United States and acting on that information pursuant to his war powers granted him by the U.S. Constitution and subsequent authorizations by Congress."

So, I wrote back and stated,

"What war powers granted by the U.S. constitution? Which amendment allows the President not to obtain a warrant in wartime? Which one? Post it, as I'm sure we would all like to see it.

What authorizations by Congress? Post them. I'd like to see the ones that allows a President to circumvent the due process of law."

I haven't heard back from him and I really would like to read his response.

Now, I'm picking on Publius2008, but I've seen this happen on blogs all the time. Someone posts their response, but the either never check back to post facts or answer questions or they cannot present the evidence that what they are saying is fact.

I've looked and I cannot find anything in the Constitution that would allow Bush to intercept wireless communications that are inbound to the United States without obtaining a warrant in order to do so.

Now, if Publius2008 or anyone else would wish to point out that which I have missed, please do so.

God Bless.

SUPPORT INCREASES TO HEALTH AND EDUCATION

I received the following information in an email from the Human Rights Campaign. I called Representative Paul Ryan and -- if you live in his district -- I encourage all my readers to do the same thing.

If you don't live in his district, call your Federal Representative to make your voice heard. Cutting money from supporting education and healthcare is just plain dumb.

URGE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO SUPPORT NEEDED
INCREASES TO HEALTH AND EDUCATION

We need you to call your Representative TODAY to urge that they vote YES on an important amendment that will increase health and education spending. Without this increase, critical funding for most of the important HIV/AIDS and other federal programs important to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community could be cut. The vote is tomorrow, Wednesday, March 29, so it's urgent that you make your call as soon as possible. Read on for background information, talking points, and your Representative's phone number.

THE ISSUE: President Bush did not include sufficient funds for health and education programs in the budget he submitted to Congress. Senators Specter (R-PA) and Harkin (D-IA) offered a bipartisan amendment in the Senate that passed 73-27 and increased spending for health care and education by $7 billion.

THE VOTE: Your representative sits on the House Budget Committee, which will consider the amendment tomorrow, March 29th. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) is offering the same amendment as the Senators did that will increase health and education spending. Without this increase, much needed increases in funding for the CARE Act and the CDC's HIV Prevention Program will be in serious jeopardy.

CALL TODAY: Your Member of Congress is on the House Budget Committee. Call Representative Paul Ryan at (202) 225-3031

THE ASK: Please urge them to vote FOR the DeLauro amendment to increase health and education spending, including those programs that help people living with HIV/AIDS; and those programs which prevent HIV.

LET US KNOW YOU CALLED: e-mail us at field@hrc.org to let us know that you called and to tell us what your Representative said.

Thank you! This phone call WILL make a difference.

Sincerely,

Human Rights Campaign

As always, God Bless.

An upset White House

According to U.S. News and World Reports, the White House is upset that the so-called Liberal Media has spent more time on the Dubai ports deal than on how Bush's tax cuts have strengthened the economy.

Strengthen the economy? Is he kidding?

How strengthen can the economy be when I'm paying .75 cents more a gallon this year for gasoline than the same time last year. (I know this because I'm anal and I write down my gas costs.)

My gas/electric bill has gone from $90.00 per month -- I use the budget plan -- to roughly $124.00 per month.

It seems to me, from where I sit, the only people making any money in Bush's economy are the gas, oil and electric companies. Us average Joes, we're not making so much.

President Bush is going to spend our tax dollars to stump around the country and try to convince us that Big Media should take the blame for the mess we're in. Also, to stump for the Republicans mid-term elections.

God bless us all, we're gonna need it!

An interesting slip of the tongue

So, tell me, just how does one mean the word coup and say the word coon? When I think of coup, I think overthrow, so I don't think the word coon would come out of my mouth.

But, they did come out of Dave Lenihan's mouth, while he was praising Condoleeza Rice. He said, according to the CNN article,

"She's been chancellor of Stanford. She's got the patent resume of somebody that has serious skill. She loves football. She's African-American, which would kind of be a big coon. A big coon. Oh my God. I am totally, totally, totally, totally, totally sorry for that."

So, here's my take on it.

First, I don't believe someone should be fired for the slip of the tongue. It seems to me he didn't mean to say the word. Plus, I don't think you should be fired ever for something you said.

Second, I just wonder -- and I don't know anything about this DJ -- but I just wonder if deep down inside, he meant it. I mean, a lot of the right-wing conservatives I know are closet bigots -- so, while Mr. Lenihan was praising MS Rice was it really killing him to do so? It's just a thought and probably a mean one at that, I'm just curious.

God Bless

Please tell Bush has been misquoted...

According to CNN, President Bush (in West Virginia) said the following:

"Now it's time for a government to get stood up,' Bush said. "There's time for the elected representatives -- or those who represent the voters, the political parties -- to come together and form a unity government. That's what the people want. Otherwise they wouldn't have gone to the polls, would they have?"

First, what the hell does he mean by "time for a goverment to get stood up"? Does this mean he wants us to ignore our government? Ask it out on a date and then not show? (Before I get the Bush supporters writing in, I really think he means it's time for the government to stand up.)

But, come on now. Why can't I expect the leader of the greatest nation on earth to talk as if there's a brain in his head? Why is this so hard?

Now, I have another question, what's the difference between the elected representatives and those who represent the voters? Is Bush implying that some representatives weren't really elected by the people?

And, on a serious note, I'd like all my readers to say a prayer for Abdul Rahman, an Afghan man who converted from Muslim to Christianity and has been arrested for it. (I'm curious how we allowed Afghanistan to not include religious freedom after we destroyed its government, but that's for another discussion.)

One final note, I just received word that a friend of mine from high school, Chris Aho, died last week. We hadn't been closed for a lot of years, but I was saddened at the news of his passing. I offer my condolences to his parents and siblings. I just wanted to post a goodbye here. BTW, Chris, if you're able to read this wherever you are, the answer is John Lennon. Godspeed, friend.

God Bless

Republicans are full of Crap

Okay, no more Mrs. Nice Gal! I have had it with Republicans and their full of crap politics.

Now, the National GOP is planning on running ads in our great state of Wisconsin aimed to scare us into complying with our lying, illegal wiretapping President and to turn us against the one man in this nation brave enough to stand up for what is right and just -- Senator Russ Feingold.

Click the link to read the ad.

I am so sick and tired of the bullshit that spews out of the mouths of Republicans. The majority of these bastards decided Clinton should be impeached for sex, but President Bush can trample all over our civil liberties and we should just sit here and take it!

If this was a movie, I'd get up and walk out, but unfortunately, this is real life and we're stuck with these rambling idiots ruining our nation.

Ben Franklin put it best, "If we give up our liberty for security, we will have neither."

The Republicans want you to give up your liberty.

The Republicans want you to trust a man who lied.

The Republicans want Russ Feingold to sit down and shut up.

The Republicans want to silence the 49% of us who didn't vote for Bush in the first place.

It is wrong for any sitting President to illegally wiretap anyone for any reason. There is no provision in either the law nor the Constitution of the United States of America to allow the President of the United States to circumvent the system and spy on our citizens.

It is immoral for our President to think that he is infallible and to remove our civil liberties.

May God find time to have mercy on our souls for allowing Bush to degrade the freedoms we have in this country.

God Bless.

Another Reason Straights Should Not Be Parents

Maybe, I'm just still angry about a discussion I had with my manicurist on Saturday. She kept bringing up ways that a child would suffer if reared by gay parents.

So, I tried to educate her on the ins and outs of parenting. I let her know that studies have been conducted and gay parents fair about the same as straight parents. Children of gays do not suffer from strange ailments any more so than children of straights do.

Then, I see the headline on CNN, reminding me of the couple who locked their 11 adopted, handicap children in cages in the basement and I think -- Gays are bad parents?

I have not read one story -- seen one newscast -- been told one tale by anybody that showed a gay parent abusing their child in some manner -- NOT ONE.

And, yet, when I mention my desire to be a parent, I'm told all sorts of made up horror stories that a child -- who isn't even here -- will have to suffer through because he or she will have two moms.

So, for all those out there who seem to think gays are bad parents, read the article. These are straight, upstanding American parents. I'll bet they even voted Republican.

They abused their children -- and, worst than that, they aren't alone.

God bless those poor kids. I hope they find happiness with better parents who will love them.

God have mercy on the souls of those who helped these two monsters become parents.

God bless the rest of us.

There is still hope for the Human Race

I'm not going to just re-write the article from the Journal Sentinel, I just want my readers to go read the whole story for themselves. A 28 year old widow left a pregnant teenager a $1000 tip.

Just to be nice.

Just to be helpful.

Sometimes, I wonder with all our wars and bombing, in-fighting and injustice if maybe, we, as a race, are doomed to destroy ourselves and our planet. Then, I read a small story like this and it gives me pause and a chance to remember that God works in mysterious ways and that He has not yet abandoned us. He's just put a few angels among us to help out.

God Bless

Oh, and Happy St. Patty's Day!

Journal Sentinel is full of Crap

Apparently, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel thinks that censuring the President of the United States is merely an election ploy. They go on record to state:

"This quest for censure, though no doubt driven by principle, has something of a tilting-at-windmills quality that will only distract from more urgent business."

However, they even agree with Feingold that the President has broken the law:

"Feingold is correct that President Bush does appear to have violated the 1978 law that prohibits warrantless wiretapping."

So, if Feingold is correct and our dear President has broken the law, how could a censure by the United States Senate be incorrect and premature? I hate to bring up the past, but the Journal Sentinel did not feel this way during the Clinton years.
I guess I've watched "All the President's Men" too many times, because I believe that the journalists in this country are the ones to point out wrongs and stand up for what is right and just. But, the Journal Sentinel has proven me wrong and that's a shame. They should be standing solidly behind Senator Feingold and calling for the censure of an American President who has broken the law.
Instead, they cry, "Election ploy" and say that the censure is wrong.

Where's Woodward and Bernstein when we need them?

God Bless

Casper D Dog

As you may or may not know, I run another blog for my American Eskimo Dog. It's just a cute little blog about his "adventures". Anyway, few weeks ago, another Eskie stopped by and left a comment. I didn't check out his blog right away, but by the time I did, I saw that the little guy is suffering from Evan's Syndrome.

So, if you're an animal lover and have a couple extra bucks to spare, please read Casper's story and donate to his medical bills.

God Bless

Julie

Crawford's Take: Fourth Amendment...Pass it on!

I'm not going to pretend that I thought of posting the 4th Amendment. I saw Renee Crawford's blog suggesting that all of us bloggers post the 4th Amendment.

Considering a discussion I had with my younger brother about it being okay for President Bush to order illegal wiretaps without obtaining warrants, because we're at war, I hope he reads this amendment -- it doesn't give the President a way out by saying all of this doesn't matter if the nation is at war.

Bush broke the law and apparently Congress, with the exception of Feingold and Harkin, is too weak-willed to call the President on his illegal activity and censuring him. They weren't weak-willed about censuring Clinton for lying about sex.

Hypocrites.

So, anyway, here it is -- the 4th Amendment of the United States Constitution:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

God Bless

Obesity Lawsuits

I can't believe that someone would actually sue a fast food restaurant because they ate fast food and became fat! The thought is totally absurd.

But then, the idea someone would sue McDonald's because she managed to spill hot coffee in her lap -- and win -- was once absurd, as well.

Right now on Governor Doyle's desk is a bill that will prevent people from suing fast food restaurants because of their own weight problems. He doesn't think he needs to sign it, because there has never been a suit such as that in Wisconsin, but I disagree.

Sign the bill, Governor Doyle. We have enough ridiculous lawsuits cluttering up our courts as it is. We don't need any others.

And, before I get letters over the use of fat -- I'm a big gal -- and I'm not going to soften the blow of fat by saying obese or overweight.

By the way, if Governor Doyle doesn't sign the bill, perhaps I should sue Taco Bell for assisting me in being such a tubby.

Just a thought.

God Bless

SHOCKING BUT TRUE

If you, like my brother, believe that we are at war and this justifies Bush's spying on ordinary American citizens, then ask yourself this one question: "If this was Bill Clinton and the circumstances were exactly the same, would I still be supporting this trashing of our 4th Amendment rights?" If you answer yes, well, we both know you're lying, as 99% of conservatives in this country were against anything Bill Clinton did.

Spying on American citizens without a warrant is wrong, it is illegal and it is NOT protected by the constitution of the United States of America. And, if you think this falls under Executive Privileged, you're wrong again -- There is no concept of Executive Privileged in the Constitution. (See, isn't that how it is for both sides of the fence, most Americans have never made it passed the bill of rights, so you can say anything is in the Constitution and they'll believe you -- no matter if you are left, wrong or in the middle.)

Anyway, the ACLU is suing to protect our rights and I believe that we, as free American citizens, should stand up and support them. I'm including the text from an email I received regarding this and the above link is for a web ad they're promoting.

"Something is wrong in our country. The president is overreaching his authority with a vast program of illegal spying on Americans, and Congress, which is supposed to check executive power, is preparing to ratify his illegal surveillance program after the fact.

In a backroom deal announced this week, key Senate Republicans met with Vice President Dick Cheney and agreed to create legislation that would rewrite our laws by requiring less disclosure and less judicial power to check wiretaps than current law demands.

The message these partisans are sending to the people and the country is clear: partisans are willing to put party loyalty over fundamental and timeless values, such as the preservation of the Constitution and the rightful power of Congress as a check on the president. Many Americans are appalled that our President has not only ordered warrantless spying on Americans, but has unapologetically claimed that he has the power to break the law.

The question for us now is: What message will we the people send Congress?

The ACLU is asking you to join with us in declaring unequivocally that warrantless spying on innocent Americans is unacceptable.

It's at moments like these that our system of checks and balances matters most. When the president asserts absolute power and the legislative branch abdicates its responsibilities, we must turn to the courts: the third pillar of our democracy.

Yesterday, the ACLU asked the judge in our NSA lawsuit to immediately block the illegal NSA spying program in order to prevent "concrete harm"” to our plaintiffs --— journalists, non-profit groups and other advocates --— and to the American way of life. The ACLU V. NSA lawsuit aggressively challenges the Bush Administration'’s abuse of power, charging that the spying violates all Americans' rights to free speech and privacy under the First and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution.

White House allies in Congress may be willing to help cover up this illegal program, and other lawmakers may be willing to stand on the sidelines, but when the president breaks the law, neither Congress nor the courts should give him a get-out-of-jail free card.

I urge you to stay involved as we work to end illegal government spying and restore the rule of law. The debate in Congress is far from over, and our legal challenge to the NSA has only just begun. We must stay vigilant if we want to preserve a democracy where the people are both safe and free.

Sincerely,

Anthony D. Romero
Executive Director"

Keep this in mine, my conservative friends, accept this law now and when a liberal is back in the Presidential office, you won't be able to blow a gasket when he commits an illegal spying act.

God Bless

Bush Worried about Arab Message

President George W. Bush says "In order to win the war on terror, we've got to strengthen our relationships and friendships with moderate Arab countries." He believes the failed port deal sends the wrong message to our Arab buddies.

Really?

What message did you not want to send, Mr. President?

The message that if you funded terrorists, which the United Arab Emirates did and if two of the 9/11 hijackers came from your country, we're not turning over the safety and security of our shipping ports over to you.

Apparently, Mr. President, you wanted to send the message that we're tough on terror, but only if you're in a country we're not too keen on.

Personally, I don't think any of our major shipping ports should be controlled by any company that is owned by a foreign company, period. I don't care if the father company is in Britian, we should control our own shipping ports, our own airports and our own roads and borders. We should not be putting the safety of the American public in the hands of someone who isn't an American.

That's the message I want sent to all nations, Mr. President, and you should, too.

God Bless

WI Senate Strikes Again!

Just two days after the Senate decided that Wisconsin Voters should decide if we want the death penalty or not, the Senate has gone and made sure that the ethanol bill is totally dead in the water.

Now, I'm not sure if I support this bill or not, but it seems to me that we should have some hearings and discussion about it before it is indefinitely postponed. But, that's not how our Senate works. No, they don't want to deal with the idea that this might make things better in the state and it might ease our dependence on foreign oil -- let's kill it before we review all the evidence.

By the way, the Assembly approved the measure way back in December -- so just what has our State Senate been doing for the last four months? Oh, yeah, they've been pushing for the anti-gay amendment. Well, it's nice to see that they've been too busy to give an important bill any consideration.

Here's what I purpose in the 2006 elections -- vote them all out -- everyone of these do-nothing Wisconsin State Senators. We don't need the death penalty, we don't need an amendment limiting the Governor's veto ability and we don't need an anti-gay amendment. We do need better schools, more jobs and lower taxes, but I haven't seen any of that on the Senate's agenda.

God Bless

Should Straight People be allowed to be Police Officers?

This story is actually from Illinois. An Illinois State trooper is getting six months in jail for sexually harrassing a couple. He's been on the force for ten years, so I just wonder how many more couples he has harrassed. I don't see why he should only get 6 months in jail and I see this as one more reason why straight people -- especially straight men -- should be constantly monitored. It is totally apparent that they cannot be trusted to behave themselves in polite company.

God Bless

God Hates Straight People

I've decided to fight fire with fire and say what everyone has been thinking, "God hates Straight People." Sure, straights rule the world, but they also suffer the most.

They're murdered in higher numbers than their gay brethren.

They suffer from heart disease and cancer at a higher rate.

When there is a Natural -- read: God caused -- disaster, the majority of those who are killed and injured are, what else, straight people.

So, what does this tell us? It tells us that God is really pissed off and mad at the Straight people of the world. In the Bible, He admonishes gays twice (in Lev.), but he has left 365 rules for the Straights. I'm thinking, He knew they would need more guidance and more watching over.

That's sad, isn't it? They think they rule the world, but really, they're just messing it up.

God Bless

Another Creep Arrested...

Am I the only person on the planet who thinks these creeps should be shot on sight? Police officers who arrest child molesters should be allowed to shoot first and ask questions later.

Here's the story, five teenage boys use My Space to pose as a teenage girl. Pervert Michael Ramos of Fontana, CA starts sending her emails and pictures. Then, he arranges to meet her at a park. The boys go (as there isn't a girl) and they call the cops. The cops, who should've just shot the man, arrest him.

I'd like to mention that this man -- straight man I might add -- went to molest a teenage girl. Now, I hear a lot of talk about male creeps molesting teenage boys and then I hear that it is one of the reason gays shouldn't be allowed to have children or raise them, etc. But, the fact remains that 75% of child molesters are straight, white men.

Maybe, they're the ones who shouldn't be allowed to raise children.

God Bless

God Hates George W. Bush

Here's a thought that I haven't read on a blog or heard on the radio, but what if 9/11 happened because God hates George W. Bush? What if our soldiers are dying in Iraq, not because we are harboring homosexuals in this country, but because we elected George W. Bush our leader? What if those who suffered in Louisana did so as punishment for voting for George W. Bush?

I've read on the right-wing sites and I've heard the suggestions made in the media (right-wing media) that God has abandoned America because of our sinful ways, but America has always had sinful ways. The idea that America has been this innocent, saintly nation is absurd. There have always been sinners in our midst -- from the very beginning -- but, there hasn't always been a George W. Bush.

Bush has only been our president since 2001, the year that the World Trade Center was destroyed and, according to Falwell and the like, 2001 was also the year that God lifted His protections from this great country. Coincedence? I don't think so. God protected the World Trade Center from being destroyed in 1993, when Bill Clinton was president, but He allowed it to be destroyed when George W. Bush was president.

Perhaps, God id trying to tell us something.

Just a thought.

God Bless

Little Brother is Watching

I received an email from Dustin J. Below is what he said:

"I've never written before and actually after reading your site for a
while I never had anything cogent to add but I thought this might be
of interest.

A friend of mine took this picture while we waiting for the train on our way to class. It of Boston Mayor, Tom Menino. Notice the billboard over his right shoulder! This is a big billboard right next to Fenway Park with a picture of President Bush's eyes with the line "Little Brother Is Watching" plus a website
www.littlebrotheriswatching.com. Its up right now. I have no idea who did it but its a pretty bold challenge to the President in the one
of the biggest markets in country.

I am surprised it has not gotten more press? Crazy.

Dustin J"

I checked out the website and it is interesting. It contains links to other sites regarding the illegal survellience President Bush is conducting. If you get a chance, check it out.

Thanks for the email, Dustin.

God Bless

Today's Vote!

According to JSONLINE, the Republicans don't expect anyone to put up much of a fight regarding today's vote on the anti-gay ban. They figure it's a slam dunk and they can all go home and pat themselves on the back. (And, pray to God that He forgives them for their sins, I'm sure.)

Anyway, I just received an email from a buddy of mine who let me know what happened on the floor. I'm posting it here, verbatim.

"I have to share with you what just happened on the Assembly Floor. Representative Jon Richards (Dem-Milwaukee) introduced a constituent in the gallery who fought on the U.S.S. Wisconsin. A real war hero. Everyone stood up and cheered -- the Republicans cheering the loudest. (They love their war heroes). Then Representative Richards introduced this man's gay partner to much cheering from the Democrats and much less from the Republicans. :-)"

Guess Republicans aren't too keen on gay war heroes and their husbands.

Keep good thoughts that right will win over might and somehow this won't pass.

God Bless us all.

JS Online:Don't cut Guard funds, forces, Doyle, governors tell president

JS Online:Don't cut Guard funds, forces, Doyle, governors tell president

Are these reports that the President wants to cut spending and manpower from the National Guard true?

While we have a shortage of manpower?

While 47% of our fighting force in Iraq and Afghanistan are from National Guard Units?

This is when our President decides, hey, let's cut the money?

Why? What could he possibly be thinking?

Cutting our military, especially in a time of War (and that's what the right-wing keeps saying, we're at war. We can illegally wiretap your phone, because we're at War.) is not going to help the situation.

The National Guard serves both the states and the federal government. This is not when we should be cutting their budget.

God Bless

Breast Cancer

Last night, I'm talking with my sister-in-law, Robyn, who is married to my brother, Scott. She mentions to me that my sister-in-law, Tara, (who is married to my brother, Brian) is participating in the Breast Cancer Walk -- the one for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation -- in Chicago in September. So, Robyn tells me that Tara is planning on sending out a notice to all our family members, so I get the information together and send an email to all of my friends -- and who is the first to respond? Darren Pillsbury of Imaginary Friends. He has even offered to put a link on his site to the donation site!

Thanks so much, Darren!

So, if you would like to donate to this worthy cause in my sister-in-law's name, click this link. Or, go to the website: www.the3day.org. Click on Donate. On the left side, choose Chicago. Under Participant's Name, enter Tara Totsch and hit search. Visit the link to donate in Tara's name.

Thanks in advance!

God Bless!

CNN.com - Bush: No need to worry about port security - Feb 23, 2006

CNN.com - Bush: No need to worry about port security - Feb 23, 2006

Okay, I know I said I wasn't going to write anything about the shipping ports until I received more facts, but this quote from President Bush bugs the hell out of me.

He says, "People don't need to worry about security."

We don't? Since when?

Since 9/11, we've been told -- through various people and groups -- that we need to watch what we say, we need to pay attention due to security concerns, etc, etc. We've been told that the President is allowed to circumvent the Constitution of the United States of America because we are at war with terrorists.

But now, President Bush has decided that we don't need to worry about security.

Really?

I'm going to double-check these facts, but Dubai Ports World company will be purchasing Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation -- the company who manages the U.S. Ports now for over 6 billion dollars. Now, Dubai Ports World is located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) -- a country that has terrorist ties. Money that went to fund the 9/11 attacks came from the banks of Dubai. Two of the 9/11 hijackers were from UAE and Bush considers them our friends? With friends like these, who needs enemies? (she asks in her best Yiddish accent.)

I could go on.

I'm sure someone will jump on the support Bush at all costs bandwagon, but isn't there a place where we should draw a line and say, "No, we don't support you in this?"

God have mercy on us all, because we know the terrorists won't.

God Bless

2/23/1996 - 2/23/2006 -- Ten Years and counting...

Well, I could write about Cheney's hunting accident and the political fallout, but I'm sure everyone is just sick about the story.

I could write about Bush refusing to relent on letting an Arab country take over not one, but six of our seaports. But, I want to do some more research and make sure I have all my facts straight.

So, since today is Feb. 23, 2006 and it was ten years ago today that my now wife allowed me to escort her to a party, I thought that I'd write about us.

Cheryl and I were among the first guests at the party and we were the last to leave. We barely noticed that anyone else even existed. We still have days where we only see each other and don't seem to notice that anyone else even floats near our existence.

She is the best part of my life -- the best thing to ever happen to me -- and I think every day, I fall more and more in love with her. Do we have problems? Sure, we do, just like everyone else does, but since we're such good friends, we're able to work them out.

Prior to Cheryl, I wasn't really a long term relationship kind of person. Eight months was pretty much long enough for me. Then, came Cheryl. She is my sun and moon and puts the stars in the sky. Without her, I'd probably be a wreck, but with her, there isn't anything I cannot achieve.

I sent her 10 red roses -- one for every year -- and the florist asked me if Cheryl reciprocates. I told her not in flowers. I don't have roses or even carnations on my desk today, but I have magic drawers that are filled with clean underwear and socks and magic closets that fill back up with clean clothes on a regular basis. So, no, I won't be getting flowers, but Cheryl tells me that she loves me on a daily basis more so than I could ever tell her.

So, in case you've forgotten, babe, I love you, more today than yesterday and less than tomorrow.

All My Love Forever,

Julie

CNN.com - Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protests - Feb 21, 2006

I've always loved Bikers. Nearly everytime I have come in contact with a biker it has been a positive experience.

The Patroit Guard Riders are no exception to this rule. They are going from military funeral to military funeral to shield the families of our deceased military service personnel from the hate-mongers of the Westboro Baptist Church. (This is the hate-filled church who used to protest outside AIDS victims funerals.)

The Patroit Guard Riders wave American Flags and chants in order to drown out the un-Christian, un-American, sinful, blasphemer members of the Westboro Baptist Church. (This church is not affiliated with any large Baptist organization and is mostly attended and run by family members of the self-proclaimed Rev. Fred Phelps -- may he not rest in peace and my God descend from Heaven above to throw Rev. Phelps into the pit of Hell and may I be there to witness it. -- Sorry, gentle readers, but my Christian forgiveness is long forgotten when it comes to this man, but I'm working on it.)

Kudos to the Patroit Guard Riders -- thanks for reminding me that there are good people still living in America.

Oh, and when you vote this next election, remember that the amendment against gays in this state just gives power and support to people like Phelps and his sick, twisted cult of a family.

Our service men and women fight for our freedoms everyday, so when a group such as this appears at their funerals to protest, every American should drive 300 miles to protect and shield their families.

And, don't get me started on their signs that thank God for IEDs (the explosives by which the majority of our soldiers are killed in Iraq).

God Bless.

If the right gets their way...

Here's a story I took from the ACLU website (and it's true).

The story of Sam Beaumont is a perfect example of how same-sex couples are harmed when they are denied legal recognition. Sam and his partner Earl Meadows spent over 20 years building and working an 80-acre ranch in Bristow, Oklahoma. Together they raised Sam's three sons from a previous marriage. When Earl's parents got older, Sam tended to their every need, often spending the night with Earl's mother when she got to sick too care for herself. They shared a quiet life together, building a family, tending cattle and raising prize-winning chickens.

Their time together came to an end in 2000 when Earl died of a stroke. Unfortunately, the notarized will Earl drafted to leave everything to Sam had only one witness - Oklahoma requires two. To make matters worse, almost all the couple's assets were in Earl's name.

If Sam and Earl could have married, the property would have passed to Sam automatically. But since Oklahoma law doesn't recognize same-sex relationships, it's only a matter of time before the home Sam and Earl shared will go to Earl's disapproving cousins who rarely spoke to Earl when he was alive and had never even set foot on the property. Meanwhile, Sam is struggling to hold on to what little he has left.

Remember, that if the Wisconsin amendment passes, this will happen to gay -- and straight, unwed couples -- in this state. Imagine, you work hard all your life and some distant, homophobic cousin comes along and rips your hardwork away from you, because your spouse passed away. NO ONE should be allowed EVER to CONTEST this type of a will. It's ridiculous to think one of my cousins could contest my will. What right do they have?!?

Also, June 5th, Congress is giving it yet another go at the anti-gay amendment. Wouldn't it be nice if they could find the time to eliminate poverty in this country or do something about the trade deficit? No, they want to make our Constitution a mandate of hate. While our sons and daughters are fighting for democracy in Iraq, we will elimate democracy here at home!

I can remember how the conservatives used to be when I was growing up - little government interference, always wanting to stick up for the little guy, but not anymore. Now, the conservatives are looking out for hate-filled, backward, incompetent, Bible-thumping (but not Bible-reading), small-minded, insensitive, freedom hating, hypocritical, right-wing, psudeo-Christians, who's hearts are like those of the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus' day.

May God have mercy on all of their souls, for on judgement day Jesus will be casting them aside like goats because they did not help the oppressed and they reached out and even harmed the oppressed. Won't they be surprised when they are cast down into the fires of Hell and their hate-filled hearts will be filled with more agony than the agony they have chosen to inflict on Gays and Lesbians.

Never forget that Jesus ate with the poor, downtrodden, the outcasts, the unwanteds and the unloved. He did not entertain the hypocrites, Sadducees and Pharisees.

MATTHEW 21:42-43 STATES:
"42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

43Therefore say I unto you (THE PHARISEES), The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."

God Bless

Ameriquest

Okay, now I'm mad and when I get mad, I blog about it.

Ameriquest sold our mortgage -- the one we just took out with them less than 3 months ago -- to CitiFinancial, who sucks.

We went with Ameriquest BECAUSE we could 1) do automatic withdrawals on payments and 2) do bi-weekly payments. This will cut our 15 year mortgage down to 121/2. BUT NO-- Citifinancial will not honor these payment arrangements because -- according to them -- they are not required to by law.

So, making a customer -- who is forced to do business with you -- happy isn't something you -- Citifinancial -- are in the business to do. Okay, fine. I called the Wisconsin State Attorney General's office this morning. I'm filing a complaint against both Ameriquest and CitiFinancial.

And, I'm going to blog the whole bloody process. Plus, I'm going to start a new blog, just for the process.

Right now, I suggest that no one do business with either of these companies if you can help it.

God Bless.

Concealed Carry

Someone recently blogged that the Democrats need to come up with their own concealed carry law, as the Republicans are not going to give up on this. So, that set me thinking as to what I would want to see in a Concealed Carry law.

Let's keep this in mind, the Second Amendment states,

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

This means, at least to me, that our founding fathers knew that we would have the need to regulate our weapons. So, I have no problems with controlling who does and who doesn't receive a concealed carry permit. If you disagree with this, ask yourself -- do you really want me to be allowed to carry a handgun?

Anyway, here's my list (and I reserve the right to add to it at a later time):

The permit should not cost less than $150.00. If you want to carry a weapon in Wisconsin, you should have to show that you are serious about it.

If you are caught without your permit and you are carrying a weapon, it's NOT a $25.00 fine, it's a $100.00 fine. Get caught a second time, automatic 3 month suspension of your Concealed Carry Permit and the police officer confiscates your weapon immediately -- you may have it returned to you AFTER the suspension is up. Get caught a third time, your Concealed Carry is revoked -- Period. If you can't manage to carry the permit on you at all times, apparently, you aren't mature enough to have one.

Either lie to a police officer about having the permit or not handing it over when asked for it, automatic 6 month suspension of your Concealed Carry Permit and the police officer may confiscate your weapon immediately -- you may have it returned to you AFTER the suspension is up. Do it a second time and the permit is revoked.

If you have ever had a restraining order for domestic abuse or been charged with domestic abuse, no permit. Yeah, this might be a little harsh, but tell that to the dead, abused spouse.

A waiting period -- three days if you are all ready registers a weapon and seven days if you are not. I want the background check to be extensive. Something might have changed between when you registered your weapon and when you apply for a Concealed Carry permit.

Police officers any time they come in contact with a person -- traffic stop, domestic violence call, witness to a crime, victim of a crime, whatever it is, have the right to check if you have a Concealed Carry permit. ANYTIME.

I'll probably add to this list, but this is a good place to start.

God Bless.

The Right only Tells half the story -- Go figure

Hit the above link and you can read a transcript regarding how CNN senior analyst, Jeff Greenfield, feels about political remarks stated at Coretta Scott King's funeral on Tuesday. Apparently, Mr. Greenfield is unhappy that President Carter remarked on the illegal wiretapping of the Kings, implying that this was a dig at the current administration. The transcript, also, implies that President Clinton and Joseph Lowery took some jabs at President Bush. Unfortunately, I don't happen to have a transcript of the actual funeral, so I can't comment on their remarks.

However, CNN was nice enough to print President Carter's remarks. I don't feel that President Carter was making a dig -- he was stating a fact:

"It was difficult for them personally with the civil liberties of both husband and wife violated as they became the targets of secret government wiretapping, other surveillance."

Like it or not, that happened -- illegal wiretaps and, like it or not, this administration has done its fairshare of illegal wiretaps.

If you read the entire transcript, you would think that ONLY liberals made any protests or did anything inappropriate. Now, since I don't hear the King family disagreeing with anything that was said, how can anyone say it was inappropriate. If the King family wasn't offended, no one else should take offense.

(Plus, they act like Pres Bush did the Kings a favor for showing up and making nice. I really resent that. The King family did a favor for by not asking him not to come so he could have his photo ops. Plus, Bush isn't supported by 49% of the population, that isn't a small minority, that's nearly half the nation. I'm sure he's a big enough man to realize some people aren't going to like him or his policies.)

Anyway, what you won't read in the transcript of the interview with Jeff Greenfield is what I found in another article regarding the funeral:

"Funeral-goers were met outside the church by a protest by members of the Westboro Baptist Church. The Topeka, Kansas-based congregation is known for its anti-gay stands and frequently pickets the funerals of people supportive of gay rights, as Mrs. King was."

Apparently, Mr. Greenfield thinks that protesting should be reserved for those on the far right and not the far left.

Isn't that just like a conservative?

God Bless.

PS. Godspeed, Mrs. King, may God grant you a very special place in Heaven above.

Update -- Adrial C. White

According to the medical examiner's report, Christopher Carbajal was killed in a "execution-style shooting". I've received a couple of comments from people who clearly support Mr. White's shooting.
Two of them are below:

" Maybe someday you'll get the chance to thank someone for trying to steal something from you."

"FREE ADRIAL WHITE, KEEP FREE WHOEVER REALLY SHOT THE MEN WHO WERE TERRORIZING RACINE WITH THESE THEFTS."

Clearly, these are from White supporters, but I wonder if they are supporting him now? The evidence is beginning to show that Mr. White did not act in self-defense, as earlier believed.

Yes, Another Video

Baby Videos

Okay all my friends and family, I've posted another video of Da Boys! Take a look. I still say they are the cutest little guys on the planet!

Also, so you know, the vid is over 5MB.

God Bless

CNN.com - Christian group angry over Britney 'Will' - Feb 3, 2006

CNN.com - Christian group angry over Britney 'Will' - Feb 3, 2006

Apparently, the American Family Association thinks that the only protrait we should have in this country is the one they proclaim is correct. According to them, if Britney Spears appears as a Conservative Christian in Will and Grace it will "further denigrate Christianity". You can read the whole story for yourself, but here is my thought -- the American Family Association wants to claim Christianity for itself and only have their one belief system shown to the public.

They want the public to believe that the right-wing, fundelmentalist christian belief system is the "correct" one. Hey, Will and Grace -- not going to denigrate Christianity -- The Book of Daniel -- not going to denigrate Christianity -- the American Family Association -- definitely denigrating Christianity.

The truth of the world is:

Ministers are not perfect.
There are Christian gays.
Christians cannot walk on water.

We are a sinful and imperfect bunch of people. Unfortunately, we all forget that our beliefs are not the only beliefs. Too bad the AFA doesn't feel the same way.

Blessings

Hooters Opens Vegas Casino...

Mixed in with real news stories on the front page of JSOnline, under Top Stories is the headline: Hooters Opens Vegas Casino. Is this really news? Is this really something that should be classified as a top story?

Ooooh, another casino filled with half-naked women opens in Vegas! Film at Eleven!

Give me a Break!

Blessings.

CNN.com - Man, 18, sought after gun, hatchet attack at gay bar - Feb 2, 2006

CNN.com - Man, 18, sought after gun, hatchet attack at gay bar - Feb 2, 2006

With anti-gay legistlation mounting around the country, I'm sure that more attacks such as this one are just around the bend.

May God have mercy on Jacob Robida's soul.

Blessings.

JS Online: Funeral protest measure advances

JS Online: Funeral protest measure advances

I'm not sure how I feel about this bill. On one hand, I'm not keen on anything that limits free speech, but on the other hand, protesting at someone's funeral -- be it a military member or a gay person who died of AIDS -- is the samething as yelling "fire" in a crowded movie theatre.

This bill is mainly aimed at stopping the Westboro Baptist Church led by the so-called Reverend Phelps from protesting at military funerals. The bill is being written to prevent protestors from being within 500 feet of any funeral -- Read it again -- ANY FUNERAL.

Reverend Phelps -- a Beacon of darkness, hate and the Anti-Christ -- has been protesting at gay funerals for at least the last five years. He holds up signs that state, "God Hates Fags" and yells derogatory things to the family and friends of the decease. I have never been to a funeral when Mr. Phelps has protested and he should thank his lucky stars for that. Because if I ever saw him and his demon followers, I think I would forget about being a Christian and I would fight hate with hate with a wrath similar to what can be found in the Old Testament.

One last comment -- I wonder why when the protestors were at gay funerals everyone supported it and it took these evil people protesting at military funerals before something was done about it? I guess it is just one more sign of why Gays feel like second class citizens.

God Bless.

Women I wish I had known...

In the past year, we lost four African American women who made considerable differences in the lives of African Americans and women of all races. These women stood up (well, one sat) for what they believed in and changed the face of America and, maybe the world, forever.

Even though it might be a little late to announce their all but one of their deaths, I thought I should mention them, as we enter Black History Month.

***

I really hate to admit this, but before September 15, 2005, I had never heard of Constance Baker Motley and, yet, she made such an impact on both African Americans and women, I just wonder why I had never heard of her.

In 1966, President Johnson appointed her United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She became the first Africian-American appointed to the Federal Court. But, that wasn't her only first -- she was also the first Africian-American woman to serve in the Federal Senate.

***

On June 11, 1963, a young woman walked into the University of Alabama and registered for class. The news carried her picture and her name, but for me, her name was lost someone in the history books.

Unfortunately it wasn't until Oct. 13, 2005, that I finally learned her name -- Vivian Malone Jones -- when the first African American graduate of the University of Alabama passed from this world into the next.

After graduation, MS Jones worked for the U.S. Department of Justice's civil rights division. She had originally enrolled in the University of Alabama along with James Hood. Unfortunately, Mr. Hood transferred to Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan two months later.

Thirty-three years later, the man who stood at the door of the auditorium and barred MS Jones and Mr. Hood from entering, George Wallace, gave MS Jones the Lurleen B. Wallace Award for Courage and he asked for forgiveness. (FYI, she was the first recipient of the award.)

I wish I had been able to meet her. But, from now on, when it feels as if my classes are piling up and I just can't take the pressure, I'm going to remember the quiet woman in the pale dress walking up to register and, without crumbling under the pressure, being able to graduate. Anything I do is a cakewalk in comparison.

***

On October 24, 2005, the woman who would not give up her seat -- Rosa Parks -- left our inequitable world to join her Heavenly Father. She was a strong woman in turbulent times. Because of her choice, she lost her job and even had to move out of Montgomery, AL. But, she never gave up.

Man, I wish I had known her. Think of the things I could've learned. Think of what I could've gained. To have known Rosa Parks must've given one the feeling that they were standing next to greatness.

***

On April 5, 1968, this woman became a widow and she went on to not just follow in her husband's footsteps, but to lead them in a new direction. Coretta Scott King raised herself up from the grief of losing a husband, raised their four children and carried on her husband's stand for civil rights.

There isn't anything I can write about Mrs. King that you don't all ready know, but I can tell you this -- I've met two of her children and spent time with them. For all her civil rights speeches and stumping to get the word out, she must've been an excellent mother, because both Martin III and Bernice are two of the nicest people -- even if I disagree with Bernice on some issues -- I have ever met.

I had a close brush with an opportunity to meet Mrs. King fifteen years ago and it has always been and, since we lost her yesterday, shall remain my biggest regret.

God Bless.