Where have all the Conservatives gone?

When I was a kid, being a conservative -- and, by extension, a Republican -- meant that you supported lower taxes, more fiscal responsiblity, less government interference in business and less government interference in individual lives. What happened to that? Now, it seems as if the conservative party has become strong armed by the so-called right-wing Christians, who want all of us to be Christians, not be gay and don't care how much money the government spends -- as long as it is corporate welfare and not on social needs. How did this happen? I saw a news report where James Dobson -- the head of Focus on Family -- is going to have his group shop for a new Presidential candidate if the Republican party doesn't back the anti-gay amendment that his group thinks this country needs. Hasn't this mess gone too far?  When will we stop worrying about someone else getting something we don't think they should have?  And, when willl the conservatives and Republicans get back to their roots? I miss them. God Bless.

Don't believe Ann's Lies...

The truth about Ann Coulter is finally coming out. She hates Jews -- and anyone else who is not a Christian.

I heard her remark: "Jews are going to be perfected. " After a break and she was confronted, she changed her earlier remark to "I don't think you should take it that way, but that is what Christians consider themselves: perfected Jews. "

Coulter is claiming that her statement was misquoted:

"Let's rewrite the NJDC statement to refer to what I actually said: 'How does someone who says it would be better if everyone were a Christian or practicing Jew continue to receive a megaphone and platform from the news networks? When will the media say 'enough is enough'? "

She didn't say that. I heard what she said with my own two ears. I was so stunned by it that I rewound it and played it again.

By the way, I am a Christian and I don't consider myself a perfected Jew.

God Bless us EVERYONE

Ellen and the Dog

I wasn't going to weigh in on this issue that Ellen is having because she gave her adopted dog to her hairdresser, because I understand both sides of the issue.  Ellen signed an agreement that she would notify the Mutts and Moms adoption group if she couldn't keep him.  I understand that agreement and I do agree with it.

What I don't agree with is the Mutts and Moms group deciding that the hairdressers home isn't fit for Iggy.  They have a rule that small dogs cannot be adopted into families that have children under 14.  While as a general rule that's a good idea for the protection of the dog, in this case, the children are 11 and 12 -- ages that know how to treat an animal.  The group should check out the situation in the home and then decide if Iggy can go back or not.  They shouldn't just say no without at least inspecting the home.

Further, I have an American Eskimo Dog -- he's considered small.  I, also, have two rambunctious two year old grandsons.  There's never been a problem between the three.  Have Danny and Alex been a little rough with Skywalker?  Sure, but Sky's the type of dog that takes it in stride.  The closest thing to an issue that we've had was the day Danny smacked Sky across the face and Sky reacted by knocking Danny to the floor and then walking away.  Danny learned not to hit Sky and Sky showed his amazing restraint by walking away from the situation.  I don't think Ellen's hairdresser would come close to having this kind of an issue with Iggy, since her girls are much older than 2.

Rather than have a broad rule banning kids under 14 from having small dogs, the group should weigh this on a case by case basis.

(BTW, in the case of Danny and Sky, the two are best of friends.  Danny grabs Sky by the tail and Sky leads him around the house in this follow the leader game the two of them enjoy.  Many kisses have been exhanged between the two.)

God Bless

Computer Update...

Well, Best Buy called yesterday with good news and bad news.  The good news is that my screen has been repaired, my laptop is fine and they cleaned out the fans -- all of which is covered under my warranty, which expires this month.  The bad news is that the blue screen of death which I received is NOT a hardware issue (if you had seen the error message, you would've thought it was a bad harddrive).  But, they can reinstall Windows for $129.00 or I can contact Gateway and purchase a restore CD and wait 6 to 8 weeks for it to get here.

I opted for the former and should have my laptop back on Saturday.  Why can I only keep a laptop running for 3 years?

Oh, well, a new laptop is not in the cards until next summer, so hopefully, this one will keep chugging along until then.

The good news for you, dear readers, is that I'll be able to update the site to look a little better AND I'll be able to write early morning posts!  Yea!

God Bless

Bad Link in Last Post...

Ah, computer problems -- gotta love them.

I discovered that the link is bad in the last post for St. Richard's Sweetest Day Pasta dinner.  Go to the Church's website and click on the Fund Raising link for more information.

Sorry about that.  I can post from work, but can't fix any bad posts!  Go figure!

God Bless

Blog Update...

In case you haven't noticed, I've been pretty quiet the last few days.  One of the reasons is that my home pc is down.  It's in the shop getting fixed.  (I seem to only be able to keep a laptop alive for three years.)  I should have it back some time next week. (I hope)

Another is that due to the laptop being down and being extremely busy at work, I haven't had any time to keep up with the news.  I've read some articles in US News and World Report, Newsweek and Vanity Fair, but I'll think of a blog post and lose it out of my mind by the time I am able to write it!

Sorry.

Although, I'd like to make mention of just a couple of things:

1. I really liked Princess Diana and mourned her death, like a lot of people.  However; can't we just let her rest in peace?  Does the new inquiry into her death have to be front page news?  Do I have to see the pictures of the car she was in?  I wonder just how this affects her sons, who were young boys when it happened and have to relive it now that they are grown men.
2. What's up with all this Britney coverage?  Aren't there more important things going on in the world?  Should she have her kids, should she not?  Frankly, I no longer care and I can't believe anyone else does either.
3. Angie and Brad -- can't these two be left in peace?  Did they break up?  Did they get back together?  Is Brad talking to Jennifer?  I DON'T CARE!  Why are they pictures staring out at me at every checkout?!?
4. How does a 20 year old in Wisconsin get to be a police officer?  I know Illinois has the age limit of 21, why doesn't Wisconsin?  And, why wouldn't a police officer have to go through a psychological exam?  Do we just give anyone a gun and a badge and say go to it?

That's all for now...

Wait, one last item...St. Richard's Catholic Church in Racine is holding a pasta dinner on Oct. 20th.  If you live in or near Racine, you should try to attend.  It'll be a nice evening.

God Bless

Republicans - Fair weather friends?

Senator Craig has decided to stay in office and serve out his term.  He pled guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct, so what's the big deal if he stays?

According to the Republicans, he's putting the Idaho Senator spot in a bad place ie, a place where it could be taken by a Democrat.

Really?

If the people from Idaho elected a Republican then, most likely, they'll elect a Republican again.  I don't foresee them changing their minds.  But, if the bigshots in the party don't stand behind Senator Craig, they might not see a Republican in that Senate seat.

Now, I'm not too keen on Senator Craig sticking around, but it is his choice, not mine.  But, while I understand on one level -- as I've written before -- as to why the Republicans won't Stand By Their Man, I think it's a pretty crappy idea.

Let Senator Craig do what he has to do.  A misdemeanor is no more serious than a speeding ticket for Pete's sake!  If this was a felony crime, then we should be calling for his ouster, but it's a misdemeanor!  Let him stay and stand up and say, "He's my friend and colleague and I support his decisions."

But, that'll never happen, Republicans aren't going to risk their own welfare to stand up for one of their own.

I'm sure the Democrats wouldn't do it either.  No one has any balls anymore, do they?

God Bless

Rush Insults Troops

I'm constantly reading stories about some liberal who is being called on the carpet for insulting our troops.  Yet, the biggest conservative in the country (Rush Limbaugh) can refer to our troops who do not support the War in Iraq as "phony soldiers" on September 26 and I don't see anything about on CNN.  (Admittedly, my pc at home is shot, so I might've missed something.)

We need to tell this blowhard to shut his non-serving, 4F mouth when it comes to the troops.

Everyday, our service men and women risk their lives so I can sit in my armchair and exercise my right to free speech.  They deserve our praise, support and our applause, not insults and scorn.

I'm a military brat and I take great pride in my retired Navy father (who fought in 'Nam) and my late, Army serving grandfather (who landed at Normandy).

I do believe in Rush having free speech, but sometimes free speech goes too far -- and just as you can't yell fire in a crowded movie theatre, you shouldn't be allowed to insult our troops.  The men and women who serve our country deserve our respect and should not be insulted because they exercise their right to free speech.

No matter which side of the issue you're on.

God Bless

 

Guess Bush doesn't really mean No Child Left Behind...

President Bush has vetoed a bipartisan bill that will allow another four million children to have health insurance.  It would be funded by a higher federal tax on cigarettes (which I think would kill it eventually, since smokers die at a high rate).  It would only cost -- if my math is correct -- $8750.00 per child, which is around the same cost as most insurance paid by employers.

Aren't our children worth $8750 a year?

Apparently, Bush doesn't think so.

Well, what can you expect a lot of low paying employers feel the same way.

God Bless

What's wrong with this picture?

Mr. Zielinkski used to run a junkyard on his property.  Then, Oak Creek became a city and refused to give him a business license -- even though he had run the salvage yard on the property years before Oak Creek was a city.  Then the city cleaned up the salvage yard essentially putting a small business man out of work.

The topper to this story is the city is trying to get a court order to make Mr. Zielinski to pay for the cleanup effort.

Is this America or a dictatorship?  Where is this man suppose to get $156,000?

(Read the story in here.)

Now, the city -- if they get his land -- can have a pretty hefty payoff.  The 4.5 acres are surrounded by expensive subdivisions. 

Where's the grandfather clause?  And, why are they picking on a man who served in the Army and has a third grade education?

Judge David Hansher is now charged with the task of deciding if he should reopen the case.  I think he should.  The law should protect everyone equally and not put a man out of business and take his very last dime.

God Bless

I want my Constitutional Rights BACK -- Please

I don't know about you, but I want the Constitution restored -- completely.  I don't want illegal wiretaps, I don't want the government being able to listen in on my phone calls at their whim.  I want our fourth amendment rights put back in place.  That's why I'm just forwarding on this email I received from the ACLU.

If you're for the government wiretapping without a warrant, I want you to stop and think about this:

If you'll let Bush listen in, would you have wanted Clinton listening in as well?  If the answer is no, then you can't allow our Fourth Amendment rights to be taken away by this legislation.  Our government should always have to seek a warrant for searches and wiretaps period.

God Bless and, please, read on:

Dear Friend,

Fix it. Defend the Constitution! That's the message we have to send to Speaker Pelosi, Senator Reid and every member of Congress over the next 20 days.

By all indications, the House and Senate will cast critical votes within three weeks — deciding whether or not to make the vast new spying powers that they granted the Bush Administration in August permanent.

We can't let that happen. That's why we're starting the FISA Flood of 2007 with today's leadership switchboard shutdown. All our members of Congress but especially leadership — who control the agenda and whose actions impact us all — need to know just how many Americans demand they act to restore the Constitution.  Here's three things you can do, right now:

1. Call House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at (202) 225-4965.

2. Call Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at (202) 224-3542.

3. Call your own representative. You can look up your representative's phone number here.

It's clear what freedom demands. And this is what we need every Member of Congress to hear:

• Congress should not act on FISA until the Bush administration hands over the documents about the NSA wiretapping program. 
   
• Any legislation to permanently amend FISA must restore judicial review and protect the privacy rights of innocent Americans.
   
• The government should receive only the information it is authorized to intercept by law, it should not be given direct and unfettered access to telecommunications infrastructure.
   
• And the legislation must not grant amnesty to telecom companies that broke the law by illegally releasing Americans' phone calls and records to the government.

Call right now as we launch the FISA Flood of 2007 — a monumental outpouring of grassroots energy. Demand that Congress stand strong by standing up for the Constitution, not caving in to the Bush Administration.

When Congress caved in to Bush fear-mongering by passing FISA legislation temporarily allowing the government to intercept the calls and emails of innocent Americans without a court order, there was a massive outcry from freedom-loving people across the country. Reeling from the backlash, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi promised to "fix" the legislation on their return this fall.

Now, as critical new votes approach, we've got to make it absolutely clear to Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and every member of Congress that fixing — not expanding — this ill-begotten law is exactly what we expect and demand.

Call right now: Join the the FISA Flood of 2007.

Earlier this week, the ACLU launched Don't Wait for '08 — a 100-day campaign urging Congress to act now to restore liberties lost during the relentless Bush assault on our civil liberties. Now, it seems apparent that the first 20 days of that campaign leading up to "make-or-break" FISA votes in mid-October could well be the most critical.

Given this Congress' track record, we can't leave anything to chance. In the days ahead, The FISA Flood of 2007 will unleash wave after wave of grassroots actions making it clear that we won't tolerate waffling, wavering or wimping out when our fundamental freedoms are on the line.

We've got to make ourselves heard. Let our members of Congress know: if they stand tall for freedom, we will stand with them through thick and thin. And make sure they understand that, if they sell out the Constitution, we will unleash a wave of public protests and outrage unlike anything they have ever seen.

Make three phone calls for the Constitution right now.

Next, record your participation in our FISA Flood of 2007 tally. And then, forward this message to as many people as possible.

The ACLU is reaching out not only to our 550,000 ACLU members, but to every online activist who cares about protecting our most cherished freedoms. We need you to act immediately.

Help launch the FISA Flood of 2007 right now. Be part of a dramatic and sustained outpouring of concern that won't yield until Congress has acted to protect the Constitution and reverse the civil liberties travesty that Congress perpetrated on the American people by granting President Bush vast new spying powers.

Thanks for standing with us.

Sincerely,

Caroline Fredrickson, Director
ACLU Washington Legislative Office

P.S.  Help build the first powerful wave of the FISA Flood of 2007. Make your three phone calls for the Constitution right now. Next, record your participation in our FISA Flood of 2007 tally. And then, forward this message to as many people as possible.

© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor New York, NY 10004

Happy Birthday...

To my brother, Scott!

Country Music Redux...

Way back in June, I posted a list of ten Country music songs you had to know in order to be considered a true country music fan.  After one comment and a couple of emails – and a lot of soul searching – I've decided to explain the list to twenty songs you should know and be able to sing along (even if it isn't well) when you hear them on a jukebox.  Here's the updated list:

 

1. Crazy
2. He Stopped Loving Her Today
3. Walk the Line
4. The Devil Went Down to Georgia
5. Originally, I said anything by Hank, Sr., but I'm changing it to Hey Good Lookin'
6. The Dance
7. Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
8. Stand by You Man
9. You ain't Woman Enough to Take my man
10. I was Country Before Country Was Cool
11. Kiss an Angel Good Morning
12. A Good Hearted Woman
13. Your Cheatin' Heart (I actually love Elvis' version best)
14. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
15. Highway Man
16. Hello Darlin
17. Mama Tried
18. God Bless the USA
19. Only In America
20. A Country Boy Can Survive

 

I'm waiting to hear from all of you for your selections…

 

God Bless

 

Integrity

Yesterday, my brother was on a roll about how Bush isn't at fault with his response to the people of Louisiana after Katrina. Then, he said, "Senator Craig would still have his job, if he were a Democrat." He went on to mention that Clinton had sex in the Oval office and kept his job.

He missed the point entirely. Craig did not lose his job for having sex. He lost his job because he approached an undercover officer for sex in a mens room at an airport. Further, Craig has publicly supported anti-gay legislation and when you've done that, you don't want to get caught trying to have sex with a man in an airport bathroom. It isn't the sex itself, it's the fact that Senator Craig is a hypocrite.

Then, my cool headed brother ranted and raved that Craig's fellow Republicans have deserted him and they should've stood by him. All right and what would they gain with that?

Fred Thompson is against an anti-gay marriage amendment. He wants one that would prevent one state from imposing its laws on another state. The Religious Right have gone shopping for another candidate because they want true anti-gay legislation and this isn't it. (I'll rant about the amendment Mr. Thompson is proposing on another day.)

Republican candidates believe - and probably rightly so - that they can't get elected without the support of the Religious Wrongs. This is one of the reasons I don't vote for Republican Candidates, I can't stand their pandering to the Religious Wrongs. So, what would make my brother thing that Republicans will stand up for Craig? And, why should they take a risk of offending the Religious Wrongs and lose their own jobs for a hypocrite like Craig?

Now, Craig probably shouldn't have lost his job until he was convicted -- rather if he is convicted. We still have innocent until proven guilty in this country. On the other hand, maybe he shouldn't have tapped the right foot of the person in the next stall in the first place. Maybe, if he has gay tendencies, he shouldn't have voted against gay rights and he could be living his life openly and wouldn't have to look for sex in bathrooms in the first place.

But, then he would have integrity and that's something we seem to have lost in this country a long time ago.

God Bless

Reading List...

Here's what I'm currently reading, you might find the listed books interesting...Some are for work and the others are for fun.  I'm sure you can figure out which is which.

 

God answers Lawsuit -- He Doesn't sound happy

State Senator Ernie Chambers -- a state legislator from Nebraska -- has filed suit against God in the County District Court in Omaha, Nebaska.  (read story here). God doesn't has decided that He shouldn't answer to our courts and that they have no jurisdiction over Him.

I tend to agree with God.  Senator Chambers is "blaming God for human oppression and suffering".  God contends that He gave us free will.  Again, I agree with God.  Man is to blame for our own oppression and suffering.  We can choose to help the helpless or we can stand idly by and let them suffer.  It's our own free will that controls how we act.  If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

What a country we live in!

God Bless

Some people just can't be happy...

Check this link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22439270-2,00.html.  Apparently, a lesbian couple are being ungrateful because they ended up having two babies instead of just one.  They claim that they told the doctor to only implant one embroyo, the doctor implanted two and now they have one baby too many.

First, I'd like to call them the most ungrateful bitches on the planet.  There are a lot of people in this world who can't even have one baby.

Second, what the hell are they thinking? Some people don't even think lesbians (or gay men) should even be parents, so why make us all look bad by suing?  I'm sure that at sometime today, I will be called upon to defend these two jerks and there is no defense for it.  I hope the court kicks the case out.

Third, if they don't want the extra kid, I'll take the baby and raise it as my own.

There have been a lot of things going on lately and I meant to write about them, but I didn't get the chance.  This article caught my eye and I just couldn't remain silent.

God Bless

Same Sex Marriage Legal - In Iowa?

Judge Robert Hanson struck down an Iowa law that declared marriage off limits for same sex couples.  According to CNN, Judge Hanson ruled that same-sex couples can marry based on the state constitution's guarantee of equal treatment.

Man, I hope that guy was appointed to his seat and not elected.  If he was elected, he won't be an Iowa judge for much longer.

Then again, I'll bet people in California would have never guessed that Wisconsin would be the first state to make it illegal to deny housing and jobs to gays, so maybe the people of Iowa will rise up and take a stand on the right side of the issue.  (In case you have been following, the right side of the issue would be to be for gay marriage.)

The Polk County Attorney, John Sarcone, will be asking for a stay and he will be appealling.

I never thought a lawyer wouldn't support civil rights, but then I don't know that many lawyers.

I, also, don't know that many people in Iowa.  My sister-in-law is from there and I've ordered a signed print from a gallery there -- the man that sold it to me was very nice -- but I don't know much else.

God Bless Iowa and Judge Robert Hanson!

And, while He's at it, God Bless the rest of us, too.

Here's an interesting tidbit...

Reading in this nation has been falling off for quite sometime -- even in the face of the Harry Potter phonenom. According to an article on CNN.com, one in four people didn't read a single book last year. The average number of books read was four books.

Being a book lover, I wonder about someone who has only read four books in a year. If the books are romance or fiction, the number seems too small. If the books are nonfiction, then that seems a little more likely, since those are generally larger and become slower reads.

According to the article, people in the South read more than other regions of the country. However; Democrats and Liberals read more than Republicans and Conservatives. That is something I found very interesting. First, I thought most of the South was made up of Conservatives, so how do Liberals come out on top? Second, it makes sense that Liberals read more than Conservatives. There has been an anti-intellectual "movement" (for lack of a better term) in this country for years.

Let's explore that.

Since when has it ever been a bad thing to be smart? Since when has discussions of philosphy, religion and politics ever hurt? It seems as if people don't want to be smart. That might explain some of the book reading dropoff -- although, I think 160 cable channels and video games need to shoulder some of the blame.
Well, I guess it really don't make me no never mind if the rest of the country doesn't enjoy reading as much as I do. Currently, I'm reading one book on CD, another book at home, one that I read at lunch and one that stays in the car for when I have to wait.  I keep my local library humming with activity.

Feel free to join me.

God Bless

A few of books I've been reading...

Crap Email

As you may or may not know, I have subscribed to NewsMax.com's email service. I did this to read the "conservative" side of the news. I write conservative in quotes because I think the makers of NewsMax.com are just playing into people's fears and not really reporting news.

Anyway, I received one more email from them that stated: "Urgent - You Need to Read This". Thinking that this might be a notification that their email list was compromised or something big has happened in the news and I missed it, I opened the email. Here's what I saw:

From "NewsMax.com" <newsmax@reply.newsmax.com>
Sent Thursday, August 23, 2007 2:58 pm
Subject Urgent - You Need to Read This


Dear NewsMax Reader:

Please find below a special message from our sponsor, Early to Rise. They have some important information to share with you.

Thank you.

NewsMax.com

URGENT!

Dear NewsMax Reader:,

We almost had a rebellion on our hands and thankfully I just put the fire out. You see, I recently sent you an invitation to join a profit-party like none other and WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THE RESPONSE. It was overwhelming. And we ran out of places too fast...

Many were disappointed as those golden gates closed. Perhaps you were one of them?

That's why I had to plead to have more places released (I actually wondered if I would start getting hate-mail otherwise!). So what's all the fuss about...?

Well, once in a blue moon, you have a revelation. Something which makes you kick yourself and ask: "I can't believe I've been so blind! How could I have missed this?"

I'm talking about a whole new trading ball-game here... if you're interested in setting up an AUTOMATED extra few grand a month in your spare time, this will undoubtedly be the most important report you read.

So you think this might be about trading shares or commodities? Think again! You're about to walk into a whole new investment world; the LARGEST and most amazingly uncomplicated trading on the planet!

A mountain of solid-gold has passed us by for a long time... but not anymore!

This Insider slapped a brown paper envelope on my desk- a highly confidential report. I read... and realized I was about to make a select number of my subscribers the proposition of a lifetime... so here I am.

I must warn you though, what you're about to read is... well, a little stirring. Just remember though, it's ENTIRELY legal (or I wouldn't be mentioning it to you!) and completely factual.

Just click here.

It'll only take a few minutes to read, but I assure you, it's like nothing you've ever read!

Sincerely,

Patrick Coffey
NewsMax Reader

This e-mail was sent by:
NewsMax.com
4152 West Blue Heron Blvd, Ste 1114
Riviera Beach, FL, 33404 USA

99712

Now, I added the italics, just so you knew what was mine and what was sent.  I, also, removed the blah, blah, email sent with permission from the bottom, the rest is the actual email, minus my personal email address.

There's a link, which I've disabled.  The link leads to a site that promises great wealth if you buy their CDs.  This isn't news and it certainly shouldn't have been sent with a Urgent notice on it.  When I sign up for Newsletters, I realize a certain amount of spam will come along, but this is just ridiculous!

God Bless

A Question...

I was watching the last part of "The American President" yesterday and it got me to thinking.

Why is it that belonging to the NRA is considered being a conservative, yet, if you belong to the ACLU, you're a liberal?

Our founding fathers put freedom of religion, speech and the right to assemble as our number one amendment.  In all our rights as Americans, this one came first.  The ACLU works tirelessly to defend the First Amendment.  As Americans, we should all support their efforts -- in theory, as I don't believe we should just mindlessly follow any group.  Have I agreed with the ACLU always?  No, I haven't, but I know that they work to protect my right to disagee.

Our Second Amendment is the right to bear arms in order to form a militia.  Now, I don't see the need for a citizen militia, as we have the National Guard, as well as our Military, but I don't think any lawabiding citizen should not be allowed the right to own a weapon.  The NRA works tirelessly to defend the Second Amendment.  As Americans, we should all support their efforts, just like we should support the ACLU.

Now, I used to be a member of the NRA, as I believe I've mentioned before.  I dropped my membership when I believe the NRA went a bit too far in their zeal to protect the Second Amendment by supporting armor piercing bullets.  Just like I don't think one should be allowed to yell FIRE in a crowded theatre (unless there really is a fire), I don't think one should be allowed to own Armor piercing bullets.

But, I don't think this is a conservative issue, nor is it a liberal issue.  Defending our Constitutional rights is an American issue.  We should get involved to ensure that illegal wiretapping isn't done by our government.  We should ensure that our right to bear arms is not removed.  We should ensure that our right to agree or disagree with our government is protected. 

So, I don't understand why these two groups have become so polairized that they are considered one side or the other.

I once had a conversation with a current member of the NRA, who hated the ACLU.  I found that humorous, for without the First Amendment (and those who work to protect it), the NRA itself could be outlawed.  Which is to say, without the "liberal" group, the "conservative" group might not exist.  Doesn't that mean that in the large picture, we all need each other?  I think so.

So, if you're a member of the ACLU, thank a member of the NRA (my mother always taught me that one reason no one has invaded us is because we have the guns to defend our homes).  And, if you're a member of the NRA, thank a member of the ACLU.

I'll say a little prayer for both groups.

God Bless.

Introducing

Message: Cole Porter

Guest Column: Karl Rove

 

Karl Rove: Democratic Secret Weapon

 

Karl Rove gave the Republican Party the political equivalent of the credit card teaser rate! It sure seemed good in the short term but reality sets in over the long run. Yes, "political genius" Karl Rove is the Democratic secret weapon that spells many, many Democratic victories over the next generation.

 

The big problem for an evil "genius" is that they are evil and the American people really are not evil. Yes, Americans can be deceived and manipulated with scare tactics, lies, dirty tricks and simplistic slogans.. for awhile. In the long term, those efforts always backfire. When these "darkside" political tactics get transferred from election strategy to policy, they will inevitably blow-up in the face of their users. Karl Rove never learned this lesson from the era of Richard Nixon.

 

We should realize that Karl Rove was not the only top Republican to misunderstand the lessons of the greater Watergate scandal. Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, most Republicans in Congress and the Republican National Committee are equally blind. In the Republican Party, they are all Rovians! Hurrah for us Democrats that they are!

 

Voter suppression, tampering with the voter rolls, intimidation, fear, slander, lies, deception and obsessive secrecy were keys to Republican victories in 2000, 2002 and 2004. These "darkside" tactics led to the Rovian Republican dream of a permanent Right Wing Majority ruling America for the next generation. It was always a crazy dream. It only made sense if you lived in the distorted, alternative reality of 24 hour Fox News and Rush Limbaugh-style talk radio. Most Americans live in the real world.

 

Even the short term victories from 2000 to 2004 were only possible because Democrats had not held firm against the creeping subversion by the Republican Right of our courts and regulatory agencies. Democrats should never have permitted Right Wing radicals like Thomas and Scalia to have become Supreme Court Justices before 2000. Bush did not legitimately take control of the Presidency in 2000.

 

Rovian tactics like the illegal, false felon purge by Katherine Harris in Florida before Election Day 2000 made the Florida vote close enough to let the Supreme Court thwart the will of the people and select George W. Bush over the real winner, Al Gore. Thus began the rule by Rovian policy which we call the Bush 43 Presidency.

 

In policy terms, the triumph of Rovian policy meant secret government by and for the economic elite. Trillions in tax cuts for the wealthiest of the wealthy and a few extra dollars in tax breaks for the rest of us were the first order of business. Most of us saw our tiny tax breaks disappear into our gas tanks as the oil companies who bankrolled the Rovian Republican Revolution financially raped us. California got punished by Bush (Rovian) energy allies like Enron in an illegal, electricity price-gouging scheme that federal regulators should have stopped immediately. Unfortunately, the Rovians got to the regulatory agencies first.

 

There was an immediate drop in Bush's approval rating. Only the 9-11 attacks saved Bush from one-term status and allowed the Rovian Revolution to last past the first few months.

 

Bankruptcy laws were changed to screw-over debtors. Polluters got pretty much everything they wanted. Trade pacts were signed all over the third world so companies could ship good American jobs out of the country while flooding us with cheap, often dangerous imports. Within a couple of years, the 9-11 scare tactics and secrecy were not being truly effective in keeping Americans in line politically.

 

Karl Rove, Dick Cheney and George W. Bush dreamed up a war in Iraq! It was a great political success and Rovian Republicanism was soon in total political control. All government policy was soon Rovian Republican!

 

Then the results of Rovian Republicanism became apparent. Afghanistan did not turn-out to be a mission completed as the Rovians had told us. The same goes for Iraq but multiply the mistake fifty times. Osama never got caught. The anthrax terrorist was never caught. Food and energy costs rose sharply. Republican officeholders were caught in scandal after scandal. The White House got caught in lie after lie. Stonewalling and claims of executive privilege became the order of the day. The national debt exploded. The super rich got much richer while everyone else got poorer.

 

The true nature of the Rovian Revolution which is Bush Republicanism has been revealed. It is out of touch with real American values.

 

Americans support Social Security and do not want it privatized. They support universal health care. They do not want the Bill of Rights trampled on by power crazed public officials. Americans do not want endless war. Americans want a strong defense but realize stupid can never be strong. Most Americans want to be union members. Most citizens want to protect American manufacturing and American jobs. Americans want renewable energy, safe products and bridges that will not collapse under them. They want honest elections where everyone gets to vote and have their vote counted. Americans like balanced budgets. They want to rich to pay their fair share of the tax burden. Americans want to be able to sue corporations when those corporations wrong them.

 

Americans do not want the kind of Republican rule that Karl Rove was selling. Americans in increasing numbers like the Democratic approach over the Republican one. Thank goodness, the Democrats had their secret weapon.. Karl Rove (and crew).

 

Written by Stephen Crockett (co-host of Democratic Talk Radio http://www.DemocraticTalkRadio.com ). Email: midsouthcm@aol.com . Mail: P.O. Box 283, Earleville, Maryland21919. Phone: 443-907-2367

 

Feel free to publish without prior permission at no charge.

Rove a No Show

A Senate Judiciary Committee subpoenaed both Scott Jennings and Karl Rove, according to a CNN article.  However, Mr. Rove thinks that he is somehow above the law and "refused to show up".

Well, that must be a nice feeling to be above the law.  If you or I had been subpoenaed and we didn't appear, I'm sure we're be sitting in jail right about now.

This executive privilege crap has got to go.  Our founding fathers never wanted to create an imperial presidency, but that's what we have now.  And, it's wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. 

God Bless

America's Got Talent...

Have you been watching this show? We've taped them, so we're a week behind. The competition was wheedled down to the top 20. And, here's what I have to say about that. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd agree with David Hasselholf, but I do. That Boy Shakira is the dumbest act I've ever seen in my life. How they could let Bryon not make it to the top 35 and then send home little 7 year old -- damn, I can't remember his name -- is a crazy decision. That Kashif should have never even made it to the top 75.

Getting back to Boy Shakira, I can't stand acts like that. People like him is one of the reasons gay people have a hard time getting our rights and to be thought of as normal. Backwoods America see a guy like that and they think we're all freaks.

Let's get together and vote him OFF!

White House: Clinton shameless in Libby comments - CNN.com

Powered by    * Please note, the sender's email address has not been verified.       Apparently, two wrongs do make a right. Tony Snow seems to think that if Clinton can pardon, Bush can commute. Now, I don't know how I feel about Clinton's Pardons, but I know that Bush is on shaky legal ground here. Of course, it is always the right's answer to point to someone else and say, "He did it." God Bless             Click the following to access the sent link:       White House: Clinton shameless in Libby comments - CNN.com*                 Get your EMAIL THIS Browser Button and use it to email information from any Web site.   *This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire address below into your web browser. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/05/clinton.libby/index.html

Global Warming

I get these email updates from a magazine called Newsmax.  Now, I signed up for it to get the "other" side's version of the truth.  (I still say that for the most part, the only non-leaning magazine is US News & World Report.)  Anyway, I'm pretty sick of this updates.  They have extreme headlines, such as "Al Gore's Lie", and a lot of times all the updates do is tout some book I'm not interested in reading.  I don't think Newsmax represents the right wing as a whole, just the radical right fringe.

Today's headline was the aforementioned "Al Gore's Lie".  It is about how Global Warming doesn't exist and isn't a worry for any of us.

How can anyone on this planet not believe in Global Warming?

Global Warming is a naturally occurring event.  The earth has been warming up for thousands of years.  That being said, just because Global Warming occurs naturally, does not mean that it isn't affected by what we do.  In fact, we've made it worst over the years. 

I took a science class while in college and had a professor that would be classified as right wing.  He was very conservative in his views.  He assigned us what I thought at the time was the worst final paper ever.  We had to write and prove scientifically whether or not man caused Global Warming.

So, I did my research, which included an experiment on how the earth cools and warms, and I had to conclude that man did not cause Global Warming.

However; using the same experiment, I concluded that while man didn't cause Global Warming, he's certainly made it worst.

So, I really don't understand what the fight is all about. 

Don't we want clean air to breath for ourselves and our children?

Don't we want clean water to drink?

Don't we want to invent products that do no harm to the planet?

How can anyone in their right mind argue with that?

Let's just say, hypothetically, that Global Warming doesn't exist.  What difference would it make?  Why wouldn't we want to make the air cleaner and our water safer to drink?

It just stands to reason.

God Bless

Bush Commutes Libby's Prison Sentence

I don't even know what to say. I know that Presidents and Governors have commuted and pardoned people since the beginning of our nation, but come one. The fact that Bush commuted Libby's sentence isn't a big surprise. What I am surprised about is that some of the Republican candidates feel the need to defend it.

Why?

Bush's numbers are in the toilet. Wouldn't you think they would want to distance themselves from him? It would make sense to me. I certainly wouldn't want to have to defend his decision. Plus, personally, I think -- unless you can be proven innocent -- you should have to serve out your whole sentence. No time off for good behavior, no commuting of sentences, no pardons. I think that's what's wrong in this country, we're not tough enough on criminals.

We can be good Christians and forgive criminals, but it doesn't mean that they shouldn't have to serve out their sentences.

God Bless

No Smoking - Day Two.

Today is day two of my not smoking. I had stopped smoking back in 1996 and then I fell off the wagon and quit again. This last time, I just started around four months ago. You would think that this would be easy, but I woke up yesterday morning wanting a cigarette and I work up this morning wanting a cigarette.

Now, every time I've quit smoking prior to now, I've never used that Nicorette gum. I have used Wellbutrin, but that doesn't seem to be working anymore. So, last night while I was in Walgreen's, I decided I should try some of this gum.

Let me tell you, this is the worst tasting gum I've ever had. My throat hurt, the fruity flavor isn't very fruity. There has to be something better!

But, I didn't read the instructions and now I learn from the Nicorette site that I wasn't chewing the gum correctly.

I don't know if this is going to work, but at least I'm trying. I have to try this time. Cheryl was not only mad when she discovered I was smoking again, but she was really pissed to discover that I was smoking Pall Malls! Apparently, that's the brand her father smoked and he died of lung cancer.

God Bless

White House Papers

First let me begin by saying that in this country everyone is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. I believe in this. However; I, also, believe in the saying my late grandmother taught me: Where there's smoke, there's fire.

The White House keeps claiming Executive Privilege every time they are asked for anything,
visitor logs, papers, notes. According to Bush and Cheney EVERYTHING is off limits. I'm curious, just who do these guys think they are? President Bush and Vice President Cheney have apparently forgotten the Preamble to the Constitution -- We the People. They work for us. And, if my employer has the right to read my email and view my notes, then I have the right to do the same to Bush and Cheney. This is not, as Bush said recently, HIS GOVERNMENT. This is OUR GOVERNMENT.

The White House papers should be turned over NOW - not later. By them
not turning over the uncensored papers, it makes me wonder what they
have to hide. By not allowing Harriet Miers to testify, what are they
hiding?

Even if you think that Bush is God's right hand man, you have to
realize that he is acting more like a dictator than a President.

Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.

Hatefilled People

I want to know why people are filled with hate think they have a right to sprout off to whomever they want about whatever they want. I'm not talking about someone who disagrees with my viewpoints, I'm talking about someone who is completely filled with nothing but hate.

Take for example, Ann Coulter. How could she possibly think that it is completely okay to say (and I quote) "If I'm gonna say anything about John Edwards in the future, I'll just wish he had been killed in a terrorist assassination plot."

Wouldn't she be having a fit if John Edwards said that about her? Wouldn't the whole right wing be having a fit?

I'm really coming to the conclusion that this woman is just plain mean. There cannot be a loving bone in her body. You don't like someone, fine, but where does she get off making personal attacks? If she doesn't like how John Edwards runs his campaign, fine, say something about that. But, she's been calling him names and not really saying anything of substance. I wonder why that is. Could it be that she doesn't really know anything?

Oh and did you see Hardball with Chris Matthews, when Elizabeth Edwards politely asked Coulter to stop the personal attacks? I think Ann was too busy messing with her hair to actually be listening. I couldn't watch the whole thing, because Coulter can't even be gracious.

And, it's not just Ann Coulter. It's people in general who seem to think that they have the right to yell and scream at someone when they disagree with them. When did this happen in our nation? When did politeness leave the building? No one has the right to humiliate another human being in that manner. I don't think I've ever written in my blog that I wish someone died in a terrorist attack.

So, all of this brings me to an article I was reading in Newsweek. It appears as if scientists have discovered that we can actually change people's brains. So, a psychopath who has no empathy for other people can have their brain altered to have compassion. Someone who is filled with hate for another group can have their mind altered to eliminate the hate. Someone who wasn't born with a maternal instinct could be given one.

Pretty cool, huh. We could eliminate the need for war and hurt and anger with just a rewiring of the offender's brain. This is years away, of course, but years away will be here soon enough.

But, then, I wonder, who would make that determination of what was hate and what was right and wrong? What if Ann Coulter was the one to make that determination? Would we all be hatefilled as she is?

Anyway, it's an interesting concept and one I'm sure we'll end up debating for years to come.

God Bless

PS. Side note to Ann Coulter: Just because you have free speech doesn't mean you should necessarily use it all the time. Sometimes, it's best to be quiet.

Dennis Troha -- Yes, again..

In March of this year, I wrote the following blog about Dennis Troha:

I know I'm probably a little late with this news, but I've been a little busy. Anyway, pretty interesting that Dennis Troha pulled out of the Kenosha casino project less than a week before he was indicted on charges of fraud and making a false statement to the FBI.

That's all I've got to say.

Except, it sounds like I might've been right about him.


A reader commented and I quote: "I'm sorry, but I missed the news reports saying that he was convicted. Funny how you liberals are the first to recite the constituion and free speech rights, but have memory loss when it comes to the right to a fair trial and innocent until proven guilty."
(BTW, the misspelling of constitution is the readers and not mine.)

Well, well, well, Dennis Troha will be entering his guilty plead within the next two weeks according to the Racine Journal Times. (Sorry I'm late on this, I was out of town this past weekend)

So, I'll say it again.

Looks like I was right about him.

God Bless

Can Anyone Confirm this?

I'm posting this, but I'm not sure if it is true or not.  If anyone of my readers can confirm this, I'd really appreciate it.

NBA OR NFL? 
36
have been accused of spousal abuse


7
have been arrested for fraud


19
have been accused of writing bad checks

  
117
have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

 

3
have done time for assault 

71

 cannot
get a credit card due to bad credit

  14
have been arrested on drug-related charges

  8
have been arrested for shoplifting

 


 

21
currently
are defendants in lawsuits, and

 


 

84
have been arrested for drunk driving
in
the last year

 


 

Can
you guess which organization this is?

 


 

Give
up yet?

Neither, it's the 535 members of the United
StatesCongress.

  
The same group of Idiots that crank out hundreds of new laws each year
designed to keep the rest of us in line.




AND THEY JUST VOTED THEMSELVES $15,000 PER MONTH PENSION FOR LIFE AFTER SERVING ONLY ONE TERM IN CONGRESS!! *

 

* - I'm not sure about this part.  Although, if it is true, I want to run for Congress.

God Bless

 

 

Health Care

Today it was difficult to settle on a topic. Ann Coulter just made an outragerous remark against John Edwards, so I could discuss that. But, I was thinking, hasn't that hateful woman received enough attention? So, I decided to write about another subject: Health Care.

A while back, I contacted the Human Resources department where I work and requested the opportunity to purchase additional coverage -- coverage that I was willing to pay for, but since it would be through the company, I could receive at a lower cost. On Tuesday, I received a we're sorry, but no, along with a lecture on the rising cost of health care and the flexible spending accounts.

Okay, I'm not even going to get into the fact that I understand about flexible spending and it was obvious to me that the woman who answered my email never bothered to see that I put a lot of money into my flexible spending account all ready. What really bothered me was the condescending air that health care is some sort of privilege and I should be grateful that they let me have it.

Excuse me, but I work hard for a living. I give my all at work and I care about the company for which I work. All of this talk lately about health care centers around the fact that somehow in employers' minds, workers don't deserve health care. They shouldn't have to put out the money for the premiums.

Well, that's just wrong. Health care is a business expense, like the computer on my desk, the paper in the printer and the electricity that lights the building. I give them a honest days work and they give me a honest day's pay and health care. That's the deal for which I signed on.

But, it isn't just the company from whom I work, it's all of them. Chrysler, Ford, etc. are blaming their financial woes on the high cost of health care (which was cited in the email), which if they made cars we want to buy, they'd make money.

And, it's the same with other companies. They have these huge payouts for their CEOs, but they don't want to spend the same amount on the people who are actually making them money. I'm sorry, but you know what gets sugar on the table? It's not a CEO, it's the little people who do all the work. And, that's a fact, Jack.

I know that health care costs have gotten out of hand, but I'm tired of these companies wanting to take away the little in benefits they offer.

God Bless

Jib-Jab and Net Neutrality...

I just read an article about the human brain and I was going to write about it, but CNN had Jib-Jab's Star Spangled Banner video, so I thought rather than write an article about brains, I'd link you over to Jib-Jab's site, so you can watch it.

And, speaking of watching videos on your computer, did you know that the United States (according to a Newsweek article) lags behind Japan in the amount of money spent for high speed broadband? In Japan, 50Mbps costs about $30.00 per month. In the US, we pay $40.00 a month for 4Mbps. Also, we lag behind other countries in the percentage of people with broadband. Isn't that sad?

It'll only get worst if AT&T and Verizon have their way and eliminate Net Neutrality. (Watch this video at You Tube.) There's only 18 more days left -- tell your story and help save the Internet.

God Bless