Conservative Commentary

Conservative Commentary Evolves - Click The Link!

2008-11-13T18:33:00.004-06:00

Evolution is a political debate of its own. However, in real life things evolve and hopefully it is always for better. Conservative Commentary has evolved into a new partnership and a new focus.

I started this blog a couple of years ago...I guess almost three years, as an online journal of sorts and a place to discuss things politic. As the opening header says it was never a place for action or scholarly discussions. It was an open forum to express opinions. Sometimes those were researched, most were not, but it was my escape from the news cycle.

I should thank many people for keeping me company here. Many are no longer around, some stop in occasionally, and some have just plain dropped off the radar.

The Beltway Bastard: A good friend in blogland, and he has disappeared from the web. If you read this then I expect an email.

Nicho: One of the first people who found us here, and he got frustrated with what he percieved as a party line. Nicho, I wish you well.

Jenn: More about Jenn later. But she is one who kept me posting when I didn't feel like it because I signed on to check her place and then, since I was signed in, might as well make a fool of myself.

Rockync and Swampcracker and Ecophotos: I know where all three of them are, but they have engaged in being good sports here and have kept me company with some interesting discussions.

There are others I have forgotten for the moment, and others with whom I still converse.

I mentioned evolution, and more about Jenn. An idea that has tickled the brain housing group for a while has finally transpired. In the days leading to the Presidential election of '08, I realized that I was bored with blogging and needed something fresh. After the election, and having visited a new friends blog, I decided to act on my old idea. I sent Jenn an email, proposed a joint effort, and she said yes! So the next day we worked together to get it set up, and with her magic we published the blog the very next morning. That was only six days ago and things are working out well! This collaboarative effort has turned into more than we originally talked about, and now we have a team of four bloggers, and something much different than my blog here - a mission! It is more mature, more focused, more informational, and the quality of writing is far better than you will find here.

Thank you friends, for you visits and discussions over the years. If you are a regular I know you have already moved to the new house, but if not, go right now to Conservativeconvictions.blogspot.com.

Help us out and tell your friends, subscribe to it, email it, and visit often and post often. We want voices....voices sounding off as one to get a message across.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

2008-11-08T10:00:00.005-06:00

My Fellow Americans,

I come to you today as an agent of change. This past Tuesday America spoke loudly for change. And made histopry in doing so. Forget the politics for a few moments. Sometimes change is good, sometimes bad. Sometimes we resist change just because it is different. Sometimes we welcome it because it is exciting. In these uncertain times we need change that gives us confidence! We need change that allows us to forge a resolve in the fires of strength and wisdom, certainty of purpose and an understanding of the world in which we live.

I have also called for change within the GOP, although it isn’t a new cry from me as I have been doing it for years. America wants change, and so they shall have it. Conservative Commentary has long been dedicated to speaking from the conservative perspective. I am happy to announce an exciting change in the blogosphere, and it is a change that will pave the way for a new conservative movement within the GOP.

Conservative Commentary has always been my place to talk about the things that interest me. Politics, Auburn football, my kids….but today we begin a new era! Beginning today, while not reaching my hand across the aisle, I have reached out the hand of friendship to begin a new partnership.

Jenn, the Conservative Chic who resides in the Palace For A Princess, and I have formed a partnership and today begin a joint effort in a new place dedicated to defining and demanding a return to conservative principles in the Grand Old Party.

Our new place is Conservative Convictions, and can be found at .www.conservativeconvictions.blogspot.com If you have bookmarked either of our blogs, please add this new combined blog to your list.

I have followed Jenn since her first day in the blogworld and have always enjoyed reading her work and pondering her pespective. She writes from a very personal view and exhibits a great deal of passion in writing about those things that capture her attention and imagination. We have communicated directly over the past couple of years and between us there is a natural connection, commonality of thought, similarity in family, and in our discussion about this effort everything fell into place in a short time.

So change is here! I hope that you will find this a place of great interest, good debate, friendship, and solid conservatism. As always, your contributions as encouraged and welcomed regardless of where you sit on the political line! As we move forward, there will be modifications and changes as we work through small details, but drop in often!

Jenn will retain her blog at Palace For A Princess.

BIG NEWS COMING SOON!

2008-11-06T21:55:00.002-06:00

There is some exciting news for Conservative Commentary, and I am thrilled to make an announcement very soon....working out some details....Stay tuned!

What Now?

2008-11-05T14:31:00.005-06:00

Before I begin my diatribe against the GOP, I want to offer my perspective on last night and my personal standing with President-elect Obama.

If you take out the specific policies and philosophies of the players, last night was an amazing event. A black person was elected leader of the free world in a country that is consistently raked across the coals by her own citizens for being evil in regard to racism. I hope that this brings the nation to a new realization about race, and racism. I hope this new realization is the truth of the matter as I have known it for decades. Racism in this country is not, and has not been for some time, what you hear in the media and from the Rainbow Coalition and NAACP.

I say that because I was born in Montgomery, Alabama. My mother was raised in Montgomery literally on a section of street between the Governor’s mansion and Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where Dr. King was pastor. She lived there during the bus boycotts, lunch counter sit-ins, the Selma to Montgomery march, and the violence of the movement. I have lived in the south my entire life, with the exception of a relatively brief period in St. Louis when I was young and my trips in the military. I currently live in a suburb of Birmingham, home of Bull Conner and the 16th Street Baptist Church where bombings killed black children.

I was a deputy sheriff with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. There are people who worked there in the late 1990s who participated in some of the incomprehensible acts against protestors. There are those in the city who won’t call the police to this day because of their experiences as youth. Montgomery is a city that is divided along what many say are racial lines. Whites move east and blacks move east into the subdivisions abandoned by whites. The lines are more economic than racial. Montgomery is home to the largest Air Force training base. Much of the citizenship is comprised of retired Air Force personnel.

Race was not a factor last night, except for the segment of the black population that voted FOR a race. Were it not for enormous numbers of white dems, Obama would not have been elected. Obama won the state of Mississippi! That is the home of more institutionalized racism in our nation than any other one state. I hope that we can put some of the racial politics behind us now. (As an aside - Jesse Jackson was in tears at the Obama rally. Was he crying from happiness for Obama and black America, or because Obama was taking Jackson’s place on stage?)

I think Obama had an incredible presence last night during his acceptance speech. It was amazing to see the crowd and the way they respond to him. His speech was a summation of his campaign – hope and energy and affirmation. McCain conceded in the manner befitting his character, very gracious and supportive and complimentary of Obama. I couldn’t help but wonder last night where that John McCain had been for the last 12 months. Had his presence and persona been at the debates, it might be a different story. Regardless, Obama will be my President. He will receive my support and prayers. He will encounter my political dissent on issues at times, but we will all work for a better, stronger America.

So what does the GOP need to do for the next four years? We need to do exactly as I have been saying for about the last eight years. We need to return to our conservative principles and find new faces and personalities. We need to govern, and lead, and grow out of the moderate mold. We spent so much time trying to get in power before 1994, and then after we won we acted like the war was over! We stopped doing what we had done to achieve power, and it didn’t take long to lose it. We became exactly what we fought against – selfish, short sighted, power hungry, negligent, sluggish, and lazy. Instead of concentrating of working to make progress and solidify America, we spent our years trying to hold on to our power by being moderate.

We need new faces. Palin is hot, energetic, Reaganesque in her politics and philosophy, and not ready for the top billing on the ticket. I hope Rove works his magic and gets her ready for something in 2012. Aside from her, we have to find young energetic people. We have to refuse the coronation of the person who has earned their turn at the nomination as determined by the establishment. We have to insist that the party revert back to 1980 thinking and add to the mix 21st century methods.

We need conservatism. People want to feel safe and secure in their leaders. They want their society to be valuable, and valued. They want the title of American to mean strength, and good will. Power, and discretion. Wealth, and charity. Self-reliance, yet compassion. Marriage should mean something. Religion has a place in society, just as it has every society since the beginning of time. War has a place, as does diplomacy.

Finally, the GOP needs to listen to the base of the party. Some will say that the conservative values of Reagan and the Moral Majority have passed. That those people should be shunned from our party. The opposite is true. Those people have seen the strong party of 1984 and 1994 walk away from their beliefs and ideas. They have been left behind as we try to look good in polls. They have seen us try to be friends with Brutus.

Conservatives have work to do. In the next four years we should work with President Obama in good will and good faith. We should work toward finding those areas where we can agree. We should move forward as one in actions that strengthen America. In those many areas where there can be no agreement, we must fight every step of the way and let the citizenry decide the final outcome of the issue. We must rebuild the GOP to be what it is supposed to be, and forget polls and elections.

We must start within our house, and not worry about what is happening across the street.

2008-11-05T08:28:00.000-06:00

Highlighted Blog: The Swash Zone

2008-11-03T05:42:00.005-06:00

Octopus has been a recent visitor here and we have engaged in some discussion and a very different perspective. His blog is a team effort with five(?) writers. While it is definitively a left leaning place, the conversations are of substance. I am adding it to my blogroll, and in my links.

The Swashzone

Are We Ahead Of Schedule?

2008-11-01T11:04:00.005-05:00

The video portion of this is irrelevant. Listen to the audio; it is about 2 1/2 minuts long. It is Dwight Eisenhower's Secretary of Agriculture talking about his encounter with Kruschev, and how his words are coming true and America will one day succumb to communism.

This Needs To Be Out To Everyone, And Fast

2008-10-31T14:56:00.003-05:00

To all those people who hate those who make more than $250,000 because you are green with envy, did you think you were safe? Did you think you would get something and sit back and watch those who spend three times as much money as you get screwed? You know, the guy who can afford the Hummer that your dad/brother/son/husband sold him? Now he can get the shaft and might not be able to buy one. Of course, if no one is buying them, then there isn't a need for Hummer salesmen. If we aren't selling them, then we don't need a truck driver to get them to dealerships. If dealerships don't have sales, then there is no need for people to change the oil in cars that don't get bought, so the autoshop at Wal-Mart doesn't need those guys. And since no one is selling or buying them, we don't need anyone to make them, so the 4,000 people at the factory are laid off. If the factory closes, then we don't need people to cut the grass at the factory or clean the floors, electricians to make changes, human resources to support the workers, maintenance men to change lightbulbs, or painters to keep the place new and fresh.

So while you are miserable because someone has more than you, and because you want to government to equalize the playing field, you have put 6,000 people out of work because of your envy. What did you just do to the economy? How do you think you will get your handout if 6,000 people aren't working, and standing in line with you?

So we need to drop that 250K threshold to $150K, or at least that's what Biden said a week ago.

Couple that with the announcement today that Obama advisors are creating a plan to lower economic expectations, despite the hope and change he has been selling. Now it seems that the magic number is $120,000 according to Obama. Apparently, $120,000 is the upper limit of the middle class and only those who make below that number get a tax cut. Where do you fall on the income line? Do you feel so safe now? Listen to this clip from Governor Bill Richardson, telling us what the Obama number is for his tax plan.

Trying a Few Things Today, Please Be Patient

2008-10-31T10:45:00.002-05:00

Trying a few new things like a new comments tool from JS-Kit, and a few modifications to the general site. Its been a while since we did any renovations around here.

A couple of posts have come and gone, but I am working to fix it. There was a glitch and I thought I had lost the thousands of comments since inception.

Anyway, be patient and I will straighten it out as soon as I work through it.

"Hope" and "Change" Are Both Fleeting And Disingenuous

2008-10-31T08:53:00.002-05:00

The advisors for Obama are crafting plans to lower expectations for change if his deception of the masses is successful next Tuesday.

It seems that his tax policies and his economic agenda are not appropriate to the economic situation that America is facing at the moment. Any surprise there?

One senior adviser told The Times that the first few weeks of the transition, immediately after the election, were critical, "so there's not a vast mood swing from exhilaration and euphoria to despair."

The aide said that Obama himself was the first to realize that expectations risked being inflated.

In an interview with a Colorado radio station, Obama appeared to be engaged already in expectation lowering. Asked about his goals for the first hundred days, he said he would need more time to tackle such big and costly issues as health care reform, global warming and Iraq.

"The first hundred days is going to be important, but it's probably going to be the first thousand days that makes the difference," he said. He has also been reminding crowds in recent days how "hard" it will be to achieve his goals, and that it will take time.

It seems as if Obama knows damn well that his plans cannot be achieved. Unfortunately, he has spent the last year deceiving those who don't apply reason, just emotion and rhetoric.

A strong economy demands that people are successful. Not the government deciding who should receive handouts, either individual or corporate. Those who earn a living and who aim for excellence should keep what they eran, not have the government distribute it to those who do not hae the drive or the skill sets to accomplish the same.

If the Obama campaign says that it needs three years to get it together, why is anyone voting for him?

You MUST Watch This Video

2008-10-31T08:51:00.002-05:00

It is two minutes long, and worth every second. An Iraqi war vet explains why he is supporting John McCain for President. A vet myself, I teared at the end.

We CAN Win Next Tuesday!

2008-10-30T13:48:00.001-05:00

Polls the last two days are showing McCain slipping up on Obama, with the results being within the margin of error. Some of the key demographics are independents, which have moved Four points toward McCain, and the endency of new voters to favor Obama 54-38.

Work your likely GOP voting acquaintances hard...we need as many people as possible voting next Tuesday. The early voting is probably going to Obama, so we have to work hard the next six days to make this happen!

Might As Well, He Wants The Government To Feed Your Families Anyway

2008-10-28T10:58:00.003-05:00

Image courtesy of FoxNews.com

Obama's new ad encourages everyone to take the day off next Tuesday to work for his campaign. I guess they might as well, since he doesn't plan on the free market being relevant much longer. I wonder what the economic impact of 100 million people calling in to work sick on the same day would be?

And if 100 million people did, where would the tax money come from to bail them out of the hole they dug by not having that income?

I guess that is grounds for another tax on the "rich", and the rich would probably be defined as everyone who didn't take the day off to work on the campaign.

A Rose By Any Other Name.....

2008-10-27T10:12:00.005-05:00

"And I think one of the tragedies of the civil rights movement was that the civil rights movement became so court-focused, I think there was a tendency to lose track of the political and organizing activities on the ground that are able to bring about the coalitions of power through which you bring about redistributive change, and in some ways we still suffer from that" - Barak Obama

From "Dreams From My Father", Obama's autobiography - "To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students. The foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminists." He chose to associate with Marxists and radicals and today knows that no one cares so he readily admits the fact.

The newest firestorm, and I hope it catches on within the next seven days. Obama has a Marxist philosophy, has had one for his entire life, and desires that legislatures bring about "redistributive change" to equalize the financial possessions of citizens. Do you understand what that means? He wants the governments of the U.S. and the individual states to engage in policies of redistributing wealth and forcing confiscatory tax policy.

Are people so incredibly stupid that this is what they want in America?

Awww, He Didn't Like The Questions

2008-10-25T20:18:00.004-05:00

Biden was being interviewed by a television reporter in Florida and didn't like the questions. For the first time that I can remember, a reporter asked some tough questions, almost exactly like I would ask them. The station is now banned from access to the campaign.

“This cancellation is non-negotiable, and further opportunities for your station to interview with this campaign are unlikely, at best for the duration of the remaining days until the election," wrote Laura K. McGinnis, Central Florida communications director for the Obama campaign, according to the Sentinel.

The Man Who Should Be Our Nominee...

2008-10-24T20:55:00.001-05:00

Watch it to the end, it is a good one!

Ideology Does Matter, Dammit.

2008-10-20T16:27:00.005-05:00

By show of hands, does anyone know any of the following groups?
1. Weather Underground Organization(WUO)
2. Black Panthers (BP)
3. The Weathermen (TW)
4. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)
5. May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO)
6. Prairie Fire

If you were born after about 1960 like I was, then you have no personal recollection of these groups or if you do, it was only because you were stuck watching the news at 12 years of age when the antennae couldn't quite pick up the other two channels. These groups are one and the same, sort of. I won't bother you with a detailed chronology, but the SDS was a communist oriented group organized by Tom Hayden, former husband of Jane Fonda and a senator from California. Hayden was one of the "Chicago Seven" that organized a violent demonstration at the 1968 democratic convention (If you ever want to discuss this, I am friends with one of the federal law enforcement officers who spent two years undercover and was there for all of this).

So the SDS evolved into The Weatherman with influences from the Black Panthers. The Weatherman were involved in a number of incidents. In the late 1960s there was a faction of TW that wanted a more Marxist and more violent approach to their movement. The Weather Underground was a split from The Weathermen, and Bill Ayers was one of the Weather Underground's leaders. The guy that everyone is painting as a gentle, non-issue to the Obama campaign was a terrorist who wanted a Marxist approach to society in America.

I should mention here that the Weather Underground was responsible for a number of bombings: in San Francisco that killed a police officer, a New York city police station, a bombing in Greenwich village, and the bombing of the Pentagon on the birthday of Ho Chi Minh that destroyed classified information are just a few.

WUO, more specifically Bernadine Dorhn and Bill Ayers, published the group's manifesto, called "Prairie Fire: The Politics of Revolutionary Anti-Imperialism". These are people that hated America, and still do. They are people who refused to support democracy and have attempted their entire lives to disrupt America. They described themselves as communists! (More info HERE)

Yet we are told that the relationship between Obama and Ayers is cursory and doesn't mean anything. We are told that Obama was eight years old when the WUO was active. Today, it was revealed that in 1997 Obama endorsed a book by Ayers. You will hear that it really doesn't matter, that it wasn't a review of the book and that Ayers and Obama aren't really connected. So you have to believe one of two things: Either Obama is lying about his relationship with Ayers, or that he is a liar when he gave a resounding endorsement of a book, but now says he didn't know enough about the author and couldn't be trusted when he recommended the book with his picture inside! Hell, Obama was mentioned in the book by Ayers as an acquaintance. Oh, by the way, it was in 2002 that Ayers said he wished he had done more to disrupt America, and that the group should have been more violent. Obama may have been eight when Ayers was setting off bombs, but he was a state senator when the guy who asked him to recommend his book was saying that he wasn't enough of a terrorist to get the job done.

It matters. Ideology matters. Don't fall for this tripe about how we should be bipartisan. That might be appropriate when supporting our troops in war, but it is damned irresponsible when we are talking about democracy and socialism and communism. Stand by your convictions. Stand by America, and stand by democracy. We cannot allow friends of communist terrorists to occupy our White House.

Obama's First Presidential Crisis!

2008-10-20T12:49:00.003-05:00

This has the potential to be the first international crisis faced by President Obama, and it presents the opportunity for him to stand by his statements of discussing issues with our enemies with no preconditions. It will force a confrontation between liberal special interests and the liberal platform of negotiating with our enemies.

SPY PIGEONS HAVE BEEN CAPTURED IN IRAN! No Kidding - Iran has reported that two spy pigeons were captured near the uranium enrichment sites that don't exist! These obviously infidel fowl were wearing metal rings with, get this, invisible strings attached to them!

That isn't a joke people. Follow the link to the story. So now Obama has to decide if he will negotiate with Tehran with no pre-conditions, or either demand the release of these pigeons! We can't have a regime violating these poor birds animal rights, now can we? Who cares if they make nuclear weapons, but we must stop the kidnapping and holding of innocent birds!

Seriously, follow the link. Then tell me if there is a single person in Iran sane enough to sit down and discuss the security of the entire world.

This Is An Awesome Post

2008-10-19T09:55:00.002-05:00

Believe it or not friends, I didn't write it. I found it over at Heidi's place - linked at left - and it is a fantastic summary of democratic philosophy on taxation. Click the title link and take a gander, you will be glad you did.

This Is Rich

2008-10-17T18:00:00.000-05:00

I related this at Heidi's place, linked at the left under my recommended blogs:

While playing hooky from work today I watched election coverage and Obama was making a speech in Ohio. He related one of those campaign stories about encountering the owner of a restaurant and the following things came out during the convo:
-The owner is republican.
-Business isn't great.
-Customers can't afford to eat out these days.
-Republicans ran the economy for the last eight years

So Obama then uttered the most apt description of his platform and the democrat economic policy ever:

"Why not choose democrats for change? We can't do any worse!"

Let's Face It, A Vote For Obama Is Unpatriotic

2008-10-11T13:25:00.002-05:00

A post that has been festering in my mind for a while now……

Something not unique to America yet important to our very existence is the presence of patriots. Those who signed the Declaration of Independence did so knowing that they would be put to death if captured. We call those who forged this nation and fought and defeated the most powerful military in the world with little more than determination. Read accounts of Valley Forge…it was cold and miserable and many died. Those who fought in WWII are known as patriots. They took on the greatest threat to democracy and liberty of the last century. They left their nation to storm the beaches at Anzio and Normandy; they fought with desperation at Midway and Guadalcanal; they died by the scores at Okinawa and Iwo Jima. We call the members of our military patriots, whether they serve in combat or not.

So what is the common thread that runs through those that we call patriots? It would seem to be those that sacrifice their own needs, or those things in their personal best interest, for the cause of something greater than themselves. Surely the large signature of Jon Hancock on the Declaration of Independence signaled that he was willing to die for the cause of liberty. Had be been concerned about his own pocketbook and his own interests, he would have stayed home and not attended the founding of a nation.

The Continental Army was composed of volunteers. Thee was no government to draft, and individuals enlisted because they desired to fight. When there was no food and clothing, and when the miserable, deadly winter set in at Valley Forge, these men re-enlisted without a second thought. Sure, many deserted and many went home, but many men were “patriots” and stayed for the long haul.

In the current political lexicon, we don’t want to call anyone unpatriotic because their opinions are different than ours. We might agree on the goals, but not on the course of action and therefore we allow those actions to be left untouched and allowed to be granted merit. The truth is that there is little that can be said to be in the best national interest in the Obama campaign. A vote for Obama is unpatriotic. It is putting personal feelings and desires ahead of the nest interests of the nation. It is not in America's best interest to raise taxes on ANYONE, to sit down and give equality at the negotiation table with terrorists, to equate the desires of Islamic radicalism to eradicate Israel with the desire of Israel to simply exist, or to want to exacerbate the class warfare that permeates the very fabric of our society.

The patriots of 1776 wanted liberty for everyone. Those who stormed the beaches and Normandy wanted to go home and live free. They wanted to quash the socialist/fascist/communist line of thought and defeat Germany. Today, the left wants us to insert our mores on no one, and to punish our own citizens for success. Could we again confront forces of evil as represented by the Axis powers? Do we have enough people willing to sacrifice their own lives, and loves, and futures for the grander scheme of liberty and America?

Before you pull that lever or push that button or pop out that chad, ask yourself why you are voting for your candidate. If the answer is just to change, then you’re picking the wrong person. If it is to save your own fortunes or save a mortgage you shouldn’t have gotten in the first place, then you are picking the wrong person. If you are simply looking to replace Bush, think long and hard about your choice.

Obama is associated with Bill Ayers, a man whose terrorist group killed police officers and bombed the U.S. Capital. John McCain comes from a family of warriors, and when given the chance to be released from a Vietnamese prison camp, he refused to do so because his men were not being released. He voluntarily endured years of torture and abuse because of his personal integrity and a blind eye to his own self interest. He was beaten day after day, and now suffers physical problems and can't raise his arm above his shoulders. Can you imagine a lifetime not being able to brush your own teeth?

One of our candidates is a patriot. Are you one?

And They Say Conservatives Are Nuts?

2008-10-02T16:40:00.003-05:00

People who live in glass houses.....or even houses with the windows covered in foil to block the mindrays....

Former democratic congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who was disgraced and defeated and now surfaces as the Green Party candidate for President, says that the efense Department executed 5,000 prisoners by shooting them in the head and dumping their bodies in Lousiana swamps during Hurricane Katrina.

I think that says it all.

And In The Left Corner, Wearing The Clown Suit....

2008-09-18T09:02:00.006-05:00

...Is the Democratic Congress and their candidate for President.

The country just needs to stop what it is doing. Sometimes the right thing to do is nothing, yet we insist on action. Our government is in a state of panic. They say they aren’t, but they are biting their nails over the current economic situation and making a daily reactive decision to daily events.

Take a minute and read about “Whack-A-Mole Management” and see if this is exactly what the government is doing. They just spent $85 BILLION dollars of YOUR money to bail out a private company. This is a week after taking over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which will cost billions more of YOUR money.

Fannie and Freddie are private entities, yet the losses are incurred by YOU. They were a concoction of a democrat congress where the companies keep the profits, but the government absorbs any losses. If you owned a company, and it didn’t matter how irresponsible you were with the policies and actions of your company because you would never lose a dime, what is the motivation for making sound decisions?

The market should be allowed to function – success or fail – on its own. Congress refused to provide oversight or program management and encouraged the companies, and individuals, to take risky loans. Market corrections are essential, and making bad decisions to prop up certain industries will have negative effects. Where was this congress when Enron and Worldcom failed?

There is nothing wrong with a business bankruptcy. Apparently people seem to think that if the company declares bankruptcy then they will have to give up their homes or that people all of a sudden are homeless. A bankruptcy simply changes the operations of the company and someone else will but it and do a better job of managing it. Why is our government deciding what businesses fail and which ones do not?

Now we have Joe Biden saying that it is the patriotic duty of wealthy Americans to pay more in taxes. This is illustrative of how we have come to be slaves of the government. People are screaming for the government tot ake action and save the economy and they don’t realize that the government is the cause of all of this because they are doing too much already! “Biden told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Thursday that, in his words, “it’s time to be patriotic … time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut.” Joe Biden believes, setting aside the asinine patriotic comment, that by giving the government more money, then the economy will be revived. I defy anyone to show me one example of higher taxes stimulating economic growth. It doesn’t happen.

This is the same campaign message generated by every democratic candidate in ever election. The rich should pay more and the middle class should pay less. What they should be encouraging is wealthier Americans spending more. Investing more. Keeping more of what they earn so they can spend more. I am not sure what Biden thinks is going to happen when the government gets the money, but I am pretty sure it is to give it to someone who doesn’t work as hard as you and I.

Walter Williams, the noted economist and professor and George Mason University was on the radio this morning and had a great point about the government. What are all the things that Americans are dissatisfied with today? Things come to mind like the Post Office, Public Schools, Congress, Gas prices. What are Americans happy with? Their computer store, Costco, their favorite restaurant, their sports team. The things people are unhappy with are all things that government is either involved with or controls. The things we are happy about are things controlled by private industry.

Is it that hard to see the origin of the problem?

We Have Freedom Of Speech For The Comedy Value

2008-09-15T08:46:00.002-05:00

We all operate under the assumption that the 1st Amendment was supposed to protect political speech. I think it was to protect idiots from being censured so that we can all get a good laugh.

I hardly ever pay attention to celebrities and actors for their movies, much less for their political views. However, this one jumped out at me this morning. From the renowned political philospher, Lindsay Lohan on Sarah Palin:

"I find it quite interesting that a woman who now is running to be second in command of the United States, only 4 years ago had aspirations to be a television anchor. Which is probably all she is qualified to be... Also interesting that she got her passport in 2006.. And that she is not fond of environmental protection considering she's FOR drilling for oil in some of our protected land.... Well hey, if she wants to drill for oil, she should DO IT IN HER OWN backyard."

I have no idea what the comment regarding the passport means. I guess that is the most important document Lohan owns and Palin instead relied on a college degree on her wall. Obviously Lohan knows nothing about environmental protection, since she thinks the simple fact of drilling for oil will reduce the world to ash...and she knows even less about Geography, because Palin IS FOR DRILLING IN HER BACKYARD! Someone please point out to Lohan where Alaska is on the map....

I guess she has a problem with Palin's aspirations to be a television anchor. We all have aspirations. I hope Lohan reaches her goal of being an actress someday....

Seven Years

2008-09-11T10:04:00.004-05:00

No big emotional tribute to 9/11 today from me. I just want to point out that it has been seven years with no subsequent attacks. That doesn't mean that there is no threat, because there is and always will be.

It means that the threat is being mitigated through intelligence, law enforcement, and military actions in other countries. Have you noticed that there have been no attacks in ANY country from Al-Qaeda in more than a year? The military is bearing the brunt of what is left of Al-Qaeda in Iraq and Afghanistan. Due to their actions, those terrorists have a target in their own backyards instead of new York City or Washington, D.C.

We talk about military members fighting and dying for us, and that is true. But there is no more direct link than one of the dying from a terrorist attack in Iraq, because if that bad guy wasn't bombing military convoys, he would be bombing airports in the U.S.

Say what you will, we have decimated an organization that outgrew its britches. Click HERE for a summary of foiled attacks since 9/11.

Why The Left Hates Palin

2008-09-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Go and read THIS!

Who Knew A Woman Would Eradicate Liberal Feminism?

2008-09-10T13:08:00.004-05:00

I have been on a couple of blogs this past week where the discussion centered around Sarah Palin, her physical appearance, and her qualifications and competence. Other bloggers like me have commented that Sarah Palin is hot. I don’t think there is a significant amount or argument about that fact.

After the commentary about her hotness, there is further discussion about her appeal to conservatives and how she is the personification of energy. When she take the lectern to speak the crowd is automatically alert and in tune. Her political views are about as conservative as one can get and are reminiscent of Goldwater and Reagan. However, I have been called a sexist for even pointing out that I think Palin is an attractive woman.
She believes in the power of individuals. She believes in limited government and that when appropriate functions are conducted by government then they should be done ethically, morally, and within the confines of their authority.
Further, she is exactly what young conservatives have been seeking.

Now for the best part of her candidacy. I have not heard, despite decades of liberal/democrat assertions, a single conservative say she is unqualified because she is a woman. No conservative has expressed remorse that she is wearing shoes and has a job. No conservatives have questioned her ability to make choices in her life regarding the balance of family and work. No one on the right has said that she is not “tough” enough to handle the environment of Washington. Of course, no one on the right has made a lifetime campaign of “women’s rights” and staking their every move and thought on finding sexism.

Enter the National Organization for Women and Oprah. The NOW gang has made an industry out of “public service” and trying to help women break the glass ceiling. They supported Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton. They were beside themselves with the belief that Hillary was a shoe-in for President and finally a woman would break through and the world would erupt in puppies and rainbows, and peace and justice would fall like manna from heaven.

Oprah broke ranks with her sisters to support her brother. Enter the democrat party that nominated a black man instead of the woman. It derailed the exodus from oppression that all women feel.

Enter John McCain and the GOP. A very attractive, energetic, competent, confident, conservative woman was asked to be the Vice-Presidential nominee. Oprah can come back to the fold! The NOW gang can punch through that ceiling once and for all! The heavens can still open and bring justice to oppressed women everywhere! But wait, did someone say she wasn’t a liberal?

The rabid, radical, extreme feminist movement has hopefully been fully exposed. Exposed for the lying, hypocritical, liberal movement that is radical feminism. They care nothing about women’s rights. What they care about is liberal women’s rights and forcing people to feel bad that a woman hasn’t been elected. They are not joining the Palin movement, they are not citing the benefit to women, they are not supportive at all of her candidacy. Oprah refuses to have her on the show, despite her years of advocacy for women’s issues. The bottom line is that they don’t care for a woman on the ticket unless she is a liberal woman. It is justice from heaven that the republican party, and conservative America will elect the first woman to the Vice-Presidency and unless she blows it, elect the first woman to the White House.

These left wing fanatics have been exposed for the world to see. I hope that as the glass ceiling shatters it will drown out the nails being driven in the coffin of liberal feminism.

EDIT: I knew I forgot to mention something. Wasn't it the extremist fems that have ranted and tailed about Hilalry's treatment by the media? Yet they engage in the same behavior toward Palin? hippopot....Hypnotis...what is that word? Hypocrisy....yeah, that the one I was looking for.

Single Issue Voting

2008-09-04T07:42:00.003-05:00

I have never understood people who decide a candidate based on their opinion on a single issue. I would not vote for a republican who was liberal on fiscal issues, national defense, U.S. Supreme Court nominees, the Second Amendment, and spitting on the sidewalk but was pro-life. I think we should evaluate the candidate and the totality of their beliefs.

That being said, I am going to be a single issue voter this time. Sarah Palin is my single issue. She is hot. Not only attractive, but intelligent. She brings excitement to the GOP. She is young and bright in a party of dull, stagnant, forgot-why-they-got-elected old guys. She will only get better over time.

I am feeling the excitement of the political season for the first time in years. Usually this time of the year I am excited about Auburn football, yet I really haven't felt much in that regard as of yet. I am sure it will come, as it always does. Perhaps I need a road trip to the campus to invigorate myself.

But I digress. There is much trash being thrown about regarding Palin and her life. I have yet to hear anything that will stand the test of time. What I see in her is fresh ideas, a fresh perspective, and the potential for a new direction in D.C.

There hasn't been a better choice for a nominee since Reagan. My good friend Truth-Pain had this post about the cool factor needing to be established in the GOP couple of months ago, and hit the nail on the head. Too bad he didn't get paid for it. He told me just a few minutes ago that Palin had made conservatism cool again. I couldn't agree more. This will be one fun season!

A Loss To Us All

2008-09-02T10:13:00.003-05:00

There are people who we know from afar by their accomplishments - George Washington, Michelangelo, Hemingway, Poe....There are those we know for their money - Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Sam Walton. Others we know for their faces - Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy...

One person I have never seen but enjoyed years of his voice has passed away. Don LaFontaine, the voice of movie previews and commercials with his golden, deep tones passed away yesterday at 68. He had 350,000 movies to his credit.

No politics involved. Just a guy making a living with a rare talent who made the very best of it.

Gustav - And How The Government Learned

2008-09-01T20:45:00.003-05:00

Gustav roared ashore but was soon after a simple Cat I Hurricane. On the Gulf of Mexico, this is just a big old summer storm....Perhaps a bit hyperbolic but you get the drift.

The government took no chances. There was a forced evacuation and pre-positioned supplies. The National Guard was activated five days before for hurricane relief in multiple states. The evacuation was orderly and there was adequate transportation. The GOP was smart enough to postpone a good amount of the convention, to preserve the perception that they were heartless.

I think they panicked, personally. Mass evacuations were talked about before the thing even entered the 5 day forecast models, and those are inaccurate. I think it probably shows that New Orleans isn;t any more ready for catastrophe any more than they were before Katrina. If the levee money was wasted before 2004, what would you say happened since 2004?

I have always loved N'awlins as a getaway spot. There is nothing better than beignets and chicory coffee at Cafe du Monde at sunrise. Little House of Blues and a cigar-smoke filled room. Pat O'Brians hurricanes in a gallon size cup while taking in the immorality of Bourbon Street. I only wish that the excitement over the good things about the city transferred to public officials in preparing the lesser attractive parts for disaster.

Sarah Palin - What I have Been Waiting For

2008-08-30T15:11:00.003-05:00

BB, I tried for some time yesterday to post but for some reason I couldn't get signed in, so here goes:

Let me get this out of the way first: Sarah Palin is HOT...

I awoke yesterday with the rumors that Palin was going to be the GOP ticket for VP. A few hours later it was confirmed, and I was amazed and just outright giddy with the choice. Everyone has heard of her background, and I won't rehash it here except to say that this is the kind of person who was intended to lead our nation. Someone with conviction and purpose. Someone who understands the real world. Someone who has worked and toiled and prefers to serve the country over her personal gain.

As I watched and listened to her acceptance speech, it was the first time in my life, other than Ronald Reagan's speeches, that I felt a politician was being completely sincere and honest. I think with Palin we get what we see - a mother and someone who didn't set out to be a career politician, but someone who has become a leader at various levels and now is prepared to be a maverick like McCain.

I think Palin is a breath of fresh air into a party that has become stagnant and weak. I think she can provide some energy, and perhaps change the paradigm of elected politics and make us all look to new faces and new ideas and stop sending people to Washington for 30 years like Joe Biden.

I cant wait to see her in office. Won't it be something for it to be the GOP that provides the first woman in the White House?

This One Shocked Me Into Writing...

2008-08-13T14:49:00.002-05:00

Yes, I have been gone for a few weeks and having the time of my life. Well, maybe not the time of my life but certianly the best times I have had in years. This news story shocked me into writing today. Less shock actually than irritation....

A judge in Los Angeles, California has declared that the University system there may deny credit to graduates of Christian high schools if they were taught science with textbooks that deny evolution and declare the bible infallible. The reasoning is that the textbooks do not involve critical thinking and omitted important science and history lesions.

This case is headed to the ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is the most overturned court in America, where it will most likely be affirmed. Then it will be off to the U.S. Supreme Court.

This is absurd. While I insist that all academic works contain all of the theories and rationale behind anything possible, the part that declares it omits important science and history lessons is disturbing. I don’t remember my high school science and history texts very well, but I think I am safe to say that we never discussed creation. But what larger historical reference can there be other than religion? It is the basis for visually everything that has happened in history to one degree or another. The battles between Israel and Palestinians dates to the Old Testament. The War on Terror is rooted in the Crusades begun by the Catholic Church. America herself was begun because of the philosophical religions battles with the Anglican Church.

To deny evolution in a Christian High School is silly. But no more so than denying the importance of religion in s secular history classes. Is it too much to ask for some consistency? Maybe a little respect for academic institutions that allow for open minded thinking and the evaluation of all possible information. The whole point to academia is not to learn facts by rote, but to enable the mind to explore all options and come to a thoughtful conclusion.

But then again, we are talking about California. These are people who believe that their are no differences between men and women.

I am pretty sure that even Bill Clinton would disagree. John Edwards surely does.

Stay tuned in October of 2010 when this decision emerges from the U.S. Supreme Court!

Porsche Racing Today

2008-07-19T15:13:00.001-05:00

I don't know hot the pic will show, but we are enjoying racing at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, al today. My wife's company has a Kids Pavilion thing with moonwalks and all, and since she basically owns the party side of the business then her weekend is occupied. So we get free passes and hang out.

Do What I Say, Not What I Do...

2008-07-19T08:23:00.002-05:00

How many of you have heard that from parents or even spoken it to your children? I know I have. Sometimes adults do things that aren't appropriate for children, and sometimes we are just bad examples and want our kids to ignore that we are being rude, or bad, or immoral while we continue to do the act anyway.

So my question to libs is this: Don't you get tired of being the child of the democrat party? I am talking specifically in this case about Al Gore and his horrendous use of energy at his mansion while winning and whining the Nobel Peace Prize for his environmental activism. He wants you to ignore what he does, and go out and do as he says. Terrible. I would think that those on the left would tire of this two-tiered approach to politics. One tier for the politicians, the second tier for the lambs.

The same is true of taxes. All of these libs want more taxes, yet I don't know a single one of them who voluntarily pays 50% of their income every April. I would think if they believed in it then they would lead by example.

Then we have Jesse Jackson, who believes that he should be allowed to say whatever he wants, yet barrage anyone else who makes statements he doesn't like. He has engaged in many crusades, many of them unfounded, against people who speak the same language he uses in his private life.

I am amazed that these people continue to have the following that they enjoy.

Time Flies!

2008-07-17T10:36:00.002-05:00

And I have been absolutely pathetic as far as posting. I have missed too many good stories, but the summer has been too fun lately, hanging with the kids and finding a new sense of being alive..

I won't bore you with the details, but will fill them in as time goes by. I am a pretty rigid guy. i can be spontaneous, as long as you schedule a time for it...lol. CC and I seems to be at odds often about this difference in personalities, because she lives her life by the minute and I live mine by the calendar.

She enjoys her life much more than I do sometimes, and lately I have been making an effort to change that a little, maybe even to a significant extent. She and I have been spending some real quality time together, something we haven't done in years. I think it is paying off, as the stress level is down and the laughter level is up.

We have also joined a gym, and are resolved to be fit once again. It has helped our energy level and outlook on life, and I am enjoying every minute of it. We have a trainer we are working with, and will keep doing it until the recreation fund runs dry, but it has taught us alot about our nutrition, keeping fit, how our bodies work, and how to eat to live instead of living to eat.

We went to my brother's Episcopal wedding and I was intrigued. I was raised a Baptist and have refused to go anywhere else. Both of my brothers have become Episcopalians over the last 15 years, and I see why now. So CC and I have visited an Episcopal Church and plan on doing so again this weekend. I am thrilled to find a place where worship is the center of the service, not the collection plate to build another $20 million sanctuary. More on that later.

So, I have been enjoying my real life and you guys have suffered (NOT) in my absence. I am experiencing a sensation of being alive more than I have in 10 years. It will provide, I hope, fuel for some interesting discussions.

Don't give up on me yet. I am still alive and well!

Hanging at the pool in the rain

2008-07-05T16:28:00.001-05:00

A very relaxing holiday weekend. Hanging at the pool in the rain...

This Has Gone Too Far......

2008-07-01T21:47:00.002-05:00

I know that gas prices are high. I know that there is a cascading impact on the rest of the economy (libs, reference trickle down economics. It works the same way except with positive results). I know a good many people are having to tighten up their budgets in places where they don't want to tighten.

But people, please, just don't participate in the recession. I refuse to participate. I am a bit smarter about my driving habits, but I still drive to work and to Civitan meetings and all the other places I went before. I am going to live my life the same as I did before, just a little smarter perhaps.

The stock market crash in 1929 was unnecessary. People responded in panic to a psychological trigger, not a logical trigger. It was the panic that lead to the Great Depression, not a true state of our economy. The same is happening now. People have stopped spending money because we are oil thirsty and because a whole bunch of people made a dumb decision about their mortgages. Nothing more. No section of the economy has failed, no country is threatening our shores....

So now we have reached a serious problem. Starbucks is closing 600 stores! I have now had my caffeine potentially interrupted and this cannot stand! I hope that my favorite store is not one that is going to be boarded up, but one never knows. What I do know is that Starbucks sales are down because of gas prices.

People, don't take away my fuel just because your car has become expensive. Get out and buy a Starbucks today, just for me!

Please Excuse The Noise, The Firearm You Hear Is The Sound Of Freedom

2008-06-26T12:41:00.004-05:00

And a bullet to the heart of experimental socialism and liberalism. In one of the most brilliant rulings in its history, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Washington, D.C. restriction of private ownership of most firearms. A split 5-4 decision, but a win for good across the land!

The District of Columbia had a restriction against owning handguns, and residents could own rifles and shotguns as long as they were either disassembled or equipped with trigger locks. Did I mention that they must be unloaded? A unloaded shotgun is as effective as a stapler without staples. As the saying goes, there is nothing more useless than an unloaded weapon.

And so the rights of man have been re-established in the place that rules the free world. I have always thought that a bit ironic, that the city that provides freedom to millions of others around the world denies it for its own citizens. There is no greater responsibility for an adult than to protect the family. For too long people in D.C. have been unable to fulfill this duty.

From the title link: "Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a leading gun control advocate in Congress, criticized the ruling. "I believe the people of this great country will be less safe because of it," she said."

I make my prediction now, so write it down and be prepared to reference it. In 2009 when the FBI releases the 2008 Uniform Crime Reports, violent crimes will be on a downward trend over the statistics from not just last year, but compared to the first six months of this year as well. in 2010 when the 2009 reports are released, then violent crime in the District will be down by 25-30%. Staggering numbers, are they not? There is precedence for this type of prediction. In Kennesaw, Georgia a law was enacted that requires homeowners to own a firearm in their home. Similar numbers were reported and an incredible drop in crime for Kennesaw, despite being a suburb of Atlanta.

No matter what the analysts and politicians say, no matter your personal comfort level with firearms, the good guys won one today. One of the purposes of the Second Amendment is to prevent government from getting out of control. Critics say that today the notion of an armed citizenry standing firm against modern technology and our military is absurd.

If you hear anyone say this, tell them to look at Iraq.

Is Anyone Actively Involved?

2008-06-22T07:23:00.003-05:00

No matter where I go or to whom I speak, the price of gas is mentioned. Everyone is in a tizzy about how much it takes to fill their tank and what it means to their family's finances.

I use one tank per week. A 16 gallon tank means a $16 increase when gas moved from $3 to $4. A grand total of $64 a month. It isn't the end of the world to me, and I can absorb it. Add in the increase for my wife and we have about a $100 increase to that section of our budget. Others can't absorb it, and I sympathize with them.

It goes further. The price of gas impacts the financial markets. So much of the stock market is psychological in nature and not business in nature. The current stagnation in the economy is driven by the high price of oil. People are leery of the future price of gas so they stop spending discretionary funds. The cycle repeats itself until something breaks it.

I don't understand why the people in D.C. don't get the solutions. I have written about it several times, and it still amazes me that they are not feeling the pressure to change ALL of the things that can get us out of this mess, many of them permanently. Then I ask myself "How many of those that I hear complain write a simple email to their representatives and senators to force some change?" The answer must be "few" because when I ask this question of someone who is complaining I have yet to find someone who responded in the affirmative.

Every time a dem is interviewed and asked about what needs to be done, I hear Charlie Brown's mom respond. "Wah wahh wahhh, wahh wahh waaahhh wahhh wa." It involves taxing oil companies because they shouldn't actually make large profits. They should give them back to us. Then there is this absolute crap about "legislating higher fuel efficiency standards" for automakers, as if a 5mpg increase in efficiency will save the world.

GOPers aren't much better. All I hear is that production needs increased. We all know it does, but it seems they want OPEC to increase production and ignore the fact the the region of the world that controls these things is the very region of the world where Americans can't walk down the street safely. They hate us, yet we continue to provide them tens of billions of dollars in oil revenues that is used to build IEDs and kill Americans. If we didn't have to purchase oil from them, do you know what their countries would rely upon for revenue? NOTHING. There is no manufacturing base, no technology base, nothing but lots of sand to make glass. The slide rule was the latest innovation to come from the region. Can you name a single invention? Have you ever purchased a vehicle from an Iraqi car manufacturer? How about a computer from Iran? Anyone seen an appliance for their home manufactured in Kuwait? Have you peeled a sticker from a product that says "Made in Bahrain"?

They have ONE product that controls the world. There is ONE export that defines us as a nation. People who control the price of oil, control the U.S. economy. Want to stop terrorism? Let them drown in their oil, leave them to fight amongst themselves and bring every American Marine and soldier home and then see how attractive the jihad becomes when they are killing themselves to achieve control over billions of barrels of SAND! Hamas, Hezbollah....both dry up without Iranian and Syrian support. Al-Queda? Hard to hate Americans when you are scrapping for food.

When are we going to be fed up with a mess that only we can fix? When are we going to stop accepting mindless actions that solve nothing? When are we going to demand that the U.S. become a superpower again, and decide that we want to control our own destiny?

The absurdity of politics on this issue is laughable, or at least it would be were it not such a serious issue for every single person in this country.

Real Heroes Are Quiet

2008-06-10T12:36:00.003-05:00

Have you ever known a guy who talked constantly about his exploits in the military and in combat? Some guy who was a Recon Marine, then got bored and joined the Army and was in Special Forces, and then decided he wanted to be Delta Force because they needed someone to teach them proper tactics? A hint to those who don't know better, those people are full of it.

I don't mean the guy, like me, who is justifiably proud of his service. I am proud to have served my country, proud to be a combat vet who stood up and did what I had to do when I had to do it, and who wants his children to respect the sacrifice of our military and our veterans so I make sure to tell them about such sacrifice. I mean the guy who wants the world to think that he is Rambo.

The most humble and quiet people I have ever known are those people who can walk the walk, but do it without the talk. Guys who have done things and been places where they shouldn't be and no one will acknowledge any of it. Guys who probably can kill you a thousand different ways.

The real heroes are the quiet ones. People like Paul Newman, who is the main subject of this post, who just gave away an entire lifetime of fortune building for a charity. Newman, who has quietly been diagnosed with lung cancer and who treats the disease like everything else in his personal life - quietly - has given away his $120 million fortune to a charity. Apparently the gift was arranged before he knew he was ill, and he did it to celebrate his 80th birthday. How different than the way most of us live our lives. We become irritable when our spouse didn't take the hint that we wanted a new iPod for our birthday, or a new flat screen monitor for Father's Day, or a day at the spa for Mother's Day. Newman gave away a lifetime of work to celebrate his own birthday.

Here is a paragraph from the article:

According to Newman’s Own federal tax filing for 2006, the actor personally gave away $8,746,500 to a variety of groups that support children, hurricane relief in the Gulf Coast, education and the arts.

What more can be said?

Can We Reboot Politicians Like We Have To Reboot Windows?

2008-06-10T10:25:00.002-05:00

If only it were so easy...I know it is annoying when you are sitting there humming along and some piece of technology like an internet browser or a modem burps and you have to stop what you are doing, sometimes losing your work, and reboot the device.

But wouldn't it be convenient if we could do this to our political parties? BOTH of them need some serious upgrades, and if you don't believe it look at the current debate over gas prices. Seriously, STOP what you are doing right this minute and spend a couple of minutes in silent thought.

My belief is that the two parties have to different ideas as to what needs done for energy. Unfortunately, both of them are missing have of the solution. The GOP wants to expand oil production and refining capabilities. This is a good measure that should have been done at any point in the last three decades.

The Dems want to set a "reasonable" profit on oil companies and tax them at higher rates for anything over this arbitrary and senseless limit. What is ironic is that they want to punish price fixing on the part of OPEC countries, yet insist on price fixing by way of taxation on American companies. They really want to tell American companies what profits are acceptable and what profits are too high. How about passing all of the investments that Senators have to a citizen review board and let us draw the "reasonable" line on their income? maybe we should draw a "reasonable" line on Al Gore's movie and book deals. Perhaps Whitewater returns were over the "reasonable" mark. How about the books written by the Clintons? Were their profits "reasonable? Maybe set a limit of 1,000 for Bill Clinton speeches, and limit them to once per week. I bet this wouldn't fly, hmmmmmmm?

So we need a reboot. The parties are stuck in a boot loop and we need to break it. We need a combination of ideas that encourage alternative energy production while increasing our current technology, and that is oil. Are you mad at the oil companies? I think you are just mad that it takes $60 to fill the tank. I know I am....

But we need real solutions and not pandering ones. We need people in government to take this seriously, because they don't. Terrorism hell, we are being held captive by a supplier who holds all the cards! And the entire time they are laughing because we are buying from them a product that we already have. Kind of like the buying sand from Florida residents...doesn't make much sense.

And neither does stomping on capitalism and reducing the profit motive of companies. Instead of eliminating tax breaks, CHANGE the parameters of those breaks. Make them a dollar for dollar break against research and development of alternative energy. Give them a ten year deadline to produce a technology that will replace gasoline in cars. You have to set performance standards as well. If necessary, deadlines can be extended.

We all need to let our people know that some bipartisanship and common sense is needed on this issue. We all share a common interest, indeed a common need, for sensibility in this arena of public policy.

Holy Cow! It Has Been 10 Days!

2008-06-09T19:04:00.003-05:00

I am sorry to have been absent for so long, my friends. Perhaps I have been lurking at Truth-Pain's place for too long and his affinity for sabbaticals has transferred to my brain.

Much has happened! The big news is that the Dems have conceded the '08 election to John McCain by selecting Obama as their man. It won't be easy, since the electorate has enjoyed four additional years of public schools since the last election. Imagine this...my daughter was in 9th grade when I voted in 2004, this year will be her first election. She is incapable of selecting a prom dress on her own, much less the leader of the free world...I am scared.

But nonetheless, we press on here despite our absence. I don't even know why life has been so crazy, but it has been utter chaos! Not really, but the hot Alabama summer is upon us and we have been at the lake and doing Civitan projects and enjoying the kids being out of school. What more can life offer...

So I leave you again with the promise that it won't be 10 days. Maybe three, perhaps nineteen....but you have my word that it won't be 10....

Keep the sense of humor!

Obama Learns, But The Message Persists

2008-05-30T06:39:00.002-05:00

Obama has another thorn in the side from a preacher at his church. Michael Pfleger decided that the pulpit was designed not for preaching grace and divine love, but race and hate. I can't deny that Clinton thinks she is entitled to not only the dem nomination but the Presidency itself, but to insert a racial component to that notion is a little much.

Obama learned from the first flap, and quickly denounced the words. He did not denounce the man and his perspective. In fact, Obama earmarked $100,000 for Pfleger's youth center. The message of race still persists, and Obama will begin to lose support if this continues to happen.

Here in the south we have been looked down upon by those more "enlightened" folks from north of Tennessee and west of Arkansas. We have been abused by Hollywood in their hyperbolic cinema manifestations of life in the south. People look down their noses at the south because we are "backwards"; I guess that means we aren't as progressive and intellectual as those from the north. We are forever marked as racists and bigots, when in truth the south has risen above the sad history of racial conflicts. Perhaps not completely, as there are racial lines in geography just as in every city in America. The most desperate social conflict in America today is economics, not race.

I say that to say this: The south has no issues with a woman running the free world. We have no issues with a black man running the free world. What we have a problem with is ultra liberals running anything that affects us on a daily basis, and that includes the free world.
It isn't white America that fosters racial divide. It isn't southern rednecks who assert racial hatred. It is the liberal wing of the dem party that does so.

Your friends define who you are as a person and as a public figure. My friends are parents, and sports coaches, and cub scout leaders and business owners. Some are everyday hard working people who barbecue on my lawn while our kids play. Not a single one of them has radical ideas or fanatical beliefs (Auburn and Alabama football excepted).

You can't escape your associations. Obama is appearing more and more to be party to those who have a slanted notion of America and of race. Pay attention to this issue. It is an important one.

Been A Long Week....

2008-05-24T10:12:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted since Monday, and there have been some really good topics this week but I have been far too busy...

We finished our baseball season this past Monday night, and we finished out at 11-3. My son saved his best game of the season for the finale - 4 for 4, including a home run, a double, and four RBI. Actually, one of the hits was an error on the first baseman, but at this level we don't count those yet, so it went as a single. So baseball is put to rest until we play fall ball. Next year there will be playoffs, so this is my last short season.

That is my youngest. My oldest graduated from high school this week, and has ended a phase of life and has no clue what the next phase holds for her. She is still reveling in being a high school graduate with a full time summer job, and hasn't yet begun to prepare for college. She has something I didn't at this age, and knows what she wants (at this point anyway) to do in life.

We had a party for her family (step-daughter, most of her family came from hours away) and served a late lunch on the lawn complete with buffet service and music. We are still cleaning up...

Yesterday my youngest started running a fever that continues this morning...no other symptoms, just a fever and upset stomach. Hopefully it will pass...

Oh, and this was the last week of school. I don't know how we stay productive in this busy age....

And In The Pathetic Corner, Wearing The Clown Suit(s)....

2008-05-19T12:29:00.005-05:00

Are the parents who are suing the manufacturer of a baseball bat because their child was injured playing baseball. This is a terrible event that resulted in brain damage to a child who has had an otherwise normal life tragically changed. I have a daughter that is developmentally delayed, and despite being nine is academically at a kindergarten level. I understand their frustrations and fears and sadness. I understand their anger and their love and their confusion. I feel for the son and the parents and wish I could dream it all away for them, but I can't.

Steven Domalewski was a 12 year old boy pitching in a baseball game when another child hit a ball and it struck Steven just above the heart, stopping it for 15 minutes or more and causing irreparable brain damage. It is a terrible situation and one that no one probably conceived of every happening. My son plays baseball and it has never crossed my mind that he would experience the same problem.

It is not the fault of the baseball bat. It is not the fault of the ball, the groundskeeper, the coach, the rules committee of the little league who decides that the pitching mound will be 10 inches higher than the rest of the field. It is not the fault of the baseball manufacturer, the league for not providing kevlar baseball caps, the uniform makers for not having law enforcement trauma plates inside the baseball uniform.

It is an unfortunate event that we all wish could be undone. I understand their anger and desire to blame someone and get some closure, but this is mis-directed. If this suit is successful, the way of life for young athletes will be changed.

Of course, maybe this will make us do away with the stupid designated hitter rule in MLB.

The Saudis Are An Unappreciative Bunch Of Bastards

2008-05-16T16:57:00.004-05:00

Since they refuse to increase oil production and let us suffer in misery. Perhaps not misery, but in discomfort at least.

It is YOUR fault..my fault too, but collectively it is the fault of the people who elect the 535 morons we have in the Senate and House. We have tens of billions of barrels of oil within reach...ANWR, the continental shelf, the coast of Florida, and further in the Gulf. But guess what? Your boneheaded senator and representative---yes YOURS, not just the guy in Cali or Texas or Massachusetts--YOUR incumbent, has decided that it is in the best interest of our nation to pay other countries to send us oil. They have decided that you should pay $5 a gallon for gas. They have decided that you are too stupid and they too intelligent and they have to decide what you need.

Aren't you fed up with it? The Saudis bring oil out of the ground for $1.50 a barrel and sell it today for $127. They produce 9.4 million barrels of oil per day. You do the math. They are sitting and laughing their camel riding asses off at us every day because we have oil under our feet yet give money and lives and tether our economy to their lazy pathetic country. They think we are foolish while they buy our military protection and pretend to be our friends. Withdraw from Iraq and Kuwait and see how fast the goat herding bastards start pumping oil and begging for protection.

YOU should be embarrassed, as I am, that the President of the United States was forced by the liberals in this country to beg Saudi Arabia for cheaper oil. We need a comprehensive strategy, much as I have defined, and we need it twenty years ago. I want them to drown in oil, and leave them high and dry and pop some popcorn to watch those wretched countries feed on themselves.

Feed 'em fish heads, BB.

Our Civilization Is Doomed

2008-05-15T16:15:00.005-05:00

And for some reason we all tolerate it like sheep to slaughter. If it were medieval times I would don my armor, mount my dark steed and venture into the valley of death to slaughter dragons. The problem with this scenario is that while romantic it is delusional. Rarely does the guy with a sword on a horse slay a dragon the size of corporate headquarters.

No, I am not smoking dope, nor have I overindulged in my favorite mood altering substance - Jack Daniels Old #7. I am offering a visual on the massive battle that took place over the previous 43 hours to simply communicate in this modern era.

Two nights ago, around 500 pm, my internet service was disrupted. Not a frequent happening, but often enough that I knew it would be back in service within a few minutes or that I needed to reset my router. Some time went by and I called AT&T "customer care" (whoever recorded their new "speech" system missed the voices in the background snickering at that expression - I see a Dilbert cartoon in my head) and after confirming my phone number, last four of my social, my name, total amount of my mortgage payment, my car tag, my daughter's boyfriends mother's maiden name, and the due date for my dog''s rabies shot, went through about 10 minutes of hold and then the idiots who read from a card telling me how to reboot my router. Eventually I was told that my account was disabled due to non-payment for more than 30 days. Obviously a mistake since I paid my bill last Thursday, and it wasn't even overdue. So, after confirming my phone number, last four of my social, my name, total amount of my mortgage payment, my car tag, my daughter's boyfriends mother's maiden name, and the due date for my dog''s rabies shot I was talking to someone in billing who said that the girl was obviously mistaken because I had just paid my bill on Thursday and it wasn't even overdue. She then sent me back, despite my protests, to tech support where I then had to confirm phone number, last four of my social, my name, total amount of my mortgage payment, my car tag, my daughter's boyfriends mother's maiden name, and the due date for my dog''s rabies shot.

We began the tech support script once again, and at some point I was told that my account had been disabled because of non-payment for more than 30 days, and I needed to talk to someone in billing, but unfortunately they were closed for the day. I explained that I had just talked to someone in billing and that is why I was again talking to them, and was told that I would have to call back at 800 am the next day. So I responded with a very mature "Oh hell no, I want a supervisor!"

While waiting or a supervisor I was disconnected. i called back and after confirming my phone number, last four of my social, my name, total amount of my mortgage payment, my car tag, my daughter's boyfriends mother's maiden name, and the due date for my dog''s rabies shot, was asked to hold for a supervisor - FINALLY - and was told that there was nothing that they could do until 800 am the next day. I asked the obvious question at this point, why I could be disconnected after hours accidentally, but couldn't have my service restored intentionally? You would have thought I asked them to recite the value of pi to 945 digits.

So the next morning at 800 am I call and a very nice person told me that she would process my order, apologized profusely for my service being disrupted, and promised to call me personally when the order had been processed, which took about a hour. She called as promised, and when I got home there was no internet service. So I call, and you guessed it, after confirming my phone number, last four of my social, my name, total amount of my mortgage payment, my car tag, my daughter's boyfriends mother's maiden name, and the due date for my dog''s rabies shot I was told that it would be restored sometime "today" which is actually sometime before midnight. Much like the normal " we will be there between 900 am and 1oo pm, and then show up at about 330 pm.

I waited all night with no results. I woke up this morning to no internet service. I called three different times today and got nothing.

My service was restored at 1130 today, a full 43 hours from when it was disrupted and a full 25 hours after being told it was restored.

We are doomed. The US dollar is not weak because of our economy or our debt. It is week because foreign bankers come to our country and drive through McDonald's where is takes 16 minutes a a drive through to get a double cheeseburger. They go to the grocery store to see teenagers unable to give correct change without putting it into the register and having a display spell it out for them. They go to buy gas and when they walk int he store to get a warm coke out of the cooler they hear the two male clerks cursing like sailors about the chick pumping gas (mind you, she was well worth talking about. However, doing so with strip club language in front of people you have never seen before should be socially unacceptable. I was 20 years old and a U.S. Marine before I even uttered a "damn" in front of my dad, much less F words in front of strangers in a place of business).

I have my internet service back, but I am too tired from fighting the dragon to a draw. So much needs talked about but I soaking my fire roasted butt from running away.

A Humanitarian Disaster That Is Becoming Criminal

2008-05-09T09:19:00.003-05:00

The military government of Myanmar is confiscating relief supplies being flown to the country. It is estimated that the death toll will reach 100,000 from the post-disaster illnesses and such, and right now there are at least 22,00 dead and 40,000 missing. The government is refusing to allow relief workers from outside, and is denying U.S. aid.

Further, there is a holiday in Myanmar that the government is actually going to shut down and celebrate. They are refusing to work over the weekend to process visas for assistance. They actually turned an aircraft full of supplies away because it included a relief team.

There are two things that the U.S. military is good at without fail. One is killing people and breaking things. The other is rapidly providing humanitarian assistance as was done after the Tsunamis in 2004. No other country in the world has our capability do respond as quickly and as overwhelmingly as the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Marine Expeditionary Units are designed so that they can be on the ground anywhere in the world within 48 hours and conduct combat operations for 30 days without resupply or assistance. An aircraft carrier battle group responding to the disaster would save thousands of lives, and in this case possible tens of thousands.

The government of Myanmar is corrupt, immoral, and just downright evil to refuse help for their citizens where they have no hope of being able to do it themselves. I support unilateral action - the Navy and Marine Corps should immediately begin air drops and relief operations with or without the support of the military government of Myanmar. I am pretty sure that they can't stop us.

Code Pink Is A Bunch Of Witches...

2008-05-08T14:26:00.003-05:00

...or at least they are this week. Code Pink, protesting the U.S. Marine Corps recruiting office in Berkeley, California has called upon all of the protesters to come dressed as witches, clowns, and sirens as the theme for Friday's protest. You have to go rad the article in the title link, because it is hilarious.

"Women are coming to cast spells and do rituals and to impart wisdom to
figure out how we're going to end war," Zanne Sam Joi of Bay Area Code Pink
told FOXNews.com.

Captain John Paul Wheatcroft - "As for what's brewing outside his recruiting center this week, Wheatcroft responded, "I think witches won't shock me, but it'll be a change of pace, so that's nice.
"Do you think they'll bring their cauldron?"

Cast spells to end war. Isn't that cute.

Code Pink has seen dwindling numbers of protestors, while the Marines have seen a significant rise in recruiting numbers. The free publicity has brought people to their door seekign the recruiters, making it easy for them. They state that the publicity has seen benefits and that the Marines would not have been able to afford the amount of advertising they have received in the news.

Too funny.

No Joy In Mudville....

2008-05-08T07:40:00.003-05:00

One of the most frustrating things in sports is a rivalry that always places you on the short end of the stick. While the axiom about any team beating any other team on a given day is true, sometimes it doesn't work out that way. We lost a hard fought and exciting game last night...

We are the home team, so we bat last.
1st inning - We are down 5-4
2nd inning - We lead 11-5 (We hold them to one and we score six)
3rd inning - We lead 17-11 (They score six and we score six)
4th inning - Tied 17-17 (They score six and we scored a big 0 at bat this inning)
5th inning and final score - 22-19 (They score five, we score two, and the tying run strikes out with two left on base)

The purpose of the game at this age, and the focus of our coaching staff, is several items:
1) To teach the game of baseball, and the fundamentals
2) To teach teamwork and hustle
3) To teach competitiveness and the desire to win

We have been relatively successful, I think, because the kids are disappointed with losing. Part of our responsibility is to teach how to lose respectfully and with dignity. We tell them that they shouldn't like it, but that they have to be good sports and have good attitudes.

8-3 for the year so far with four games left. We don't play this team again, and I am glad because they seem to have our number. All three losses are to the same kids. Someone forgot to tell them that every other team fears our bats.....lol.

So we press on and hope that we can win out and the other team loses two.

Do You Know A Hero?

2008-05-07T13:35:00.002-05:00

I didn't know Joseph Richardson. I don't know if he was a veteran or a janitor, alcoholic or a saint. What I do know is that he loved his daughter more than he loved his own life. As he and his four year old daughter Kaniyah were walking to McDonald's for some burgers, a car driven by someone under the influence of a controlled substance drove on the curb. He grabbed his daughter just before the car struck him and hit a fence, killing Richardson. Kaniyah is fine.

I don't know for sure, but I have a feeling that Joseph Richardson would have done the same thing if it were my kid or your kid in the same situation. Character is character, and I hope I would have been in a state of mind to do the same.

We talk about our combat vets being heroes, and they are indeed. We talk about our police officers and firefighters as heroes, and heroes they are. What we don't hear about is the everyday guy who is a hero. Who saves a life or many lives. The guy who rights the wrongs as best he can.

I salute Joseph Richardson for doing what I would hope to do in the same situation. God Bless You and your incredible family.

8-2

2008-05-06T12:26:00.003-05:00

Our baseball team is 8-2 for the year, with both losses coming to the same team. We play them again Wednesday night for first place in our league.

Who knew six year old baseball would be so much fun? I don't know about him, but I am having a blast. A couple weeks ago he got the game ball for 1 triple, 2 doubles, and 4 RBI. He also made two great stops to hold doubles to singles, and tagged a runner out at 2nd.

I can't wait to update Thursday. Win or lose, my son has his first rivalry....

Energy Issues And Solving The Problem

2008-05-06T08:24:00.002-05:00

The democrat candidates have been back and forth about gas tax holidays and other nonsense, so let me give you the solution to our energy problem. It is amazing in simplicity. First let me talk about the plan de jure of the candidates.

Hillary wants a gas tax holiday, but only if the money is offset by taxation of the oil companies. Class and capitalism warfare at its finest. For the life of me I can't understand why oil is treated any differently than sports tickets. It is an item that is up for sale. The same as tickets to the Super Bowl, or a gallon of milk. It would seem that her principles of capitalism are situational, therefore not very principled at all.

Obama wants something, but at this point I am not sure what. I think he wants a gas tax holiday.

So the people who want to be President are giving a plan to help us out for about 60 days. Then what? This problem has been int he making for 20 years, and our politicians have ignored it. Why aren't people angry about it? One of the mouthpieces for Hillary, I think it was, stated the other day that more production is not the answer, because domestic drilling would take 15 years to come on line. They said the same thing 15 years ago. This was only three days after saying that President Bush should be pushing OPEC to increase production. So production is the answer, but only if it is done somewhere else and we are lining some other country's pockets.

So here we go:

1) Immediately open the domestic sources for production. Yes, it will take 15 years. No, we won't see any result for a while. However, we will be preparing for the long term and not for November. In addition, don't you think that OPEC will respond with lower prices because of the threat to their livelihood? Those countries have nothing to offer the world market except for oil. let them drown in it.

2) Provide incentives for energy companies to develop alternative fuels. Trust me, they see that somewhere down the line that someone will be making huge profits in lithium batteries or hydrogen or vanilla bean oil or whatever it is that will power our society. They want a piece of that pie, and who better to provide the answers than those who already have the infrastructure? I mean REAL incentives. At the moment they are making record profits from oil. Let us direct them to other sources of their riches.

3) Provide real tax breaks for people who improve their home with energy efficient changes. Not a minuscule tax deduction, but a dollar for dollar credit. Be bold and make this happen. I can't afford to install solar panels in my roof and on-demand water heaters and Pella windows, but if I got a credit for every dollar of it then I would make it happen.

4) The Dept of Transportation should be actively engaged in finding solutions for mass transit for medium and large cities. In the south, we don't do public transportation very often. In Birmingham, there is a huge metro area that drives into Birmingham for work, and then out of Birmingham in all directions to go home. The traffic is a nightmare at rush hours and some of the solutions being discussed are elevated highways and carpool lanes expansions. How about a rail system like in Baltimore? How about a rail/bus system like in Washington, D.C.? I have relied on both of those systems for long periods of time and they are very convenient, cheap, and reliable. The DOT should be active in getting cities to bring about mass transit in 2008, not 1960s solutions.

5) Allow construction of refineries and nuclear plants. Seriously.

6) A concentrated public service education campaign about saving energy. Let people know that they can do small things (and get 1 to 1 tax credits) for energy efficient changes. Conservation is part of the overall solution.

We have to demand real answers from our politicians. Instead of facing the real problem they spend their time trying to make us angry with oil companies, or other countries. We can solve our own problems, we just need someone bold enough to do so.

Is Being Late Really Better Than Never?

2008-04-29T14:15:00.002-05:00

Barack Obama: In a press conference in North Carolina, the Illinois senator used his strongest language to date to condemn Wright’s controversial sermons, which have remained a burden on his campaign since they became national news more than a month ago. Wright spoke Monday at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Obama said Wright’s assertion that the U.S. government was somehow responsible for afflicting the black community with HIV was “ridiculous.” He said he was offended by Wright’s argument that the United States brought terrorism upon itself by committing similar acts overseas. Wright repeated that argument Monday.

Congress and other elected officials really have no idea of the disdain that normal, hard working, everyday Americans hold for them at any given time. We all know of the black power/black racist diatribes of Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the story that has lingered for so long. Finally, Obama decided to actually speak out against Wright and his stupid uttering.

The problem that I have with it is that it isn't natural nor is it heartfelt. Were it so, I would think that as soon as the story became news that Obama would articulate his position on these statements, yet he did not. He tried to pacify criticism while holding onto Wright's friendship and the support of his multi-thousand member church. He tried to play both ends of the race spectrum by hiding in the shadow.

I don't know how many of you heard Fox and Friends this morning, but Dick Morris said this very day that Obama needs to come out and speak completely against and repudiate Wright for his rantings. Hours later, Obama does just that. A leader would have stepped forward immediately, the way John McCain did over the North Carolina ad. he didn't wait for public opinion and didn't wait for political advice. He woke up, heard the news, and spoke out.

A leader doesn't wait to see where the wind blows, he sets sail and allows the wind to catch up. Unfortunately, Obama is disingenuous with his repudiation and not sincere in his criticisms. one more reason that the more things change, the more they stay the same, at least on the American political left.

And In The Left Corner, Wearing The Clown Suit....

2008-04-25T11:27:00.003-05:00

Bush haters. This phenomenon has reached absurd and childish proportions. It is like a bunch of elementary school kids running around calling each other names. However, in this case one of the morons went to jail, and rightly so.

Laure and Jenna Bush were at the 92nd Street YMCA promoting their new children's book. As they were leaving, so were people who had been there to hear them. One couple, pushing their 18 year old daughter in a wheelchair - the girl has cerebral palsy - was walking out when the moron in question was screaming at Laura and Jenna about Iraq and whatever the other lunatic comments were, and the couple told him to shut up because this wasn't politics, it was about children and books.

The moron punched the girl in the wheelchair. A girl with cerebral palsy who couldn't walk into the YMCA or to the car. Incredible.

So I have been sick this week, still am. A terrible sinus infection that resulted in a shot to my butt and three scrips and still not over it. I was also interviewed for that position I talked about last week, and tonight will be enjoying a Birmingham Baron's baseball game....tomorrow also!

Conservative Commentary Buffet

2008-04-21T11:02:00.005-05:00

A diverse range of content today, none of which is too serious - one item that has my goat today, but I will get to it.

I am not a tree-hugger by any means, but I believe in a clean, safe environment for all. I was a scout in my younger days, and then as a Marine we obviously try to keep our presence unknown in the woods. The Scouts have a philosophy of "Leave No Trace" when we are conducting our activities, and that includes meetings or major campouts. My dad always taught us boys to leave nature cleaner than we found it, and pick up any trash and not just ours.

Technology has advanced us to a point where we produce mass amounts of plastics and use chemicals for everything from swimming pools to space stations. We are a victim, so to speak, of our own brilliance. We can keep food for decades, but the unintended consequence is the effect of the packaging. In my county, the Cahaba River is the main source of drinking water, and there is a volunteer organization that works to keep it clean, in conjunction with our District Civitan organization. So, at 500 am this past Saturday my wife, son, and I boarded a canoe with 29 other canoes of volunteers and cleaned a seven mile stretch of the Cahaba. Being a take charge kind of person, as well as a little green amphibious monster (Marine) who loves all things water related, I was a "team leader" for the event. It was my job to clean as I could, but to help out all the others and make sure everyone was safe. So how did that work?

About mile 1.5 we took a nice little swim while crossing some rapids. It has rained here more in the last month than it did all past year, and the river was deep and fast moving. Other than a moment of panic to find my son, and a few scrapes and bruises from the rocks, we were fine. Until today. I think I have a little bronchitis developing from our cold water adventure. We live on a mountain, so the water here is cold. But we did a good thing, cleaned hundreds of pounds of waste, a half dozens tires, and had a good time.
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We are playing baseball, and my son's team is 5-1 for the year. Nothing is more exciting in the world of sports than seeing a group of six year olds developing knowledge of a game and learning sportsmanship.

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My Civitan Club is chartering next week, and we will begin with at least 25, maybe 30, charter members.
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The item that gets my goat? Defense Secretary Gates said at Maxwell AFB today (my hometown) that the Air Force is not doing enough in Afghanistan and Iraq, and needed to do more. Apparently he has been "...trying for months..." to get the Air Force to increase the capabilities of aerial platform for surveillance and it is like "...pulling teeth..." to make this happen. I am confused. Has out military become so pitiful that they don't recognize a tasking order? I will go on a limb and say that this would never happen to the Marine Corps. Geesh, give us the Air Force budget and we could take on the world by ourselves. Since we only get 12% of the defense budget, can you imagine what the Marines could do with some real money?

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Have a great day!

The Missing Ingredient in 2008 Is Leadership

2008-04-17T07:40:00.002-05:00

I finally found it. There was something bugging me about what was missing from all of the presidential candidates this year, and it was across the board. Dems and GOPs both had something lacking.

Leadership. The biggest complaint about John McCain is that he was too wishy-washy and too compromising. Actually the word is too "caving" as compromise is an act of statesmanship in most cases. Do not misunderstand me - I have as much respect for Senator McCain as I do for my dad. He has proven his character and integrity and leadership time and again, and I believe that he will do so again. He has reached out to the base of the party and he as had the opportunity to move about the country appearing Presidential, while the Bobsey Twins on the left have their powder puff boxing match drag on longer than a dry August day in Alabama.

I started my drive to work today as I do everyday, with my XM radio tuned to FoxNews. There were a couple of soundbites from the dem debate last night, and I find the two of them to be lacking anything resembling leadership, and seriously lacking in thought. The first one involved both Clinton and Obama stating that regardless of what the military command advised, they would immediately withdraw our troops from Iraq. Obama sounded like he was out to prove a point when he said, and I slightly paraphrase, "The President defines the mission and the generals carry it out." Technically true, but it was his tone of voice and demeanor that sounded like he was stomping his feet in a tantrum and waiting to show that he was in charge.

I am disgusted by the fact that two people who wish to be the leader of this country will actually tell the world "to hell with previous foreign policy, we do what we want because our we are pandering to our base." Regardless of your perspective of the validity of the mission in Iraq, and I do not want to discuss that here, the United States has committed our armed forces to a mission, made a commitment to that mission, and we should accomplish that mission. I don't give a hoot in hell what polls say or what a political party says, we should stand by our word or our word isn't worth the words we speak. Clinton says we have to leave to restore our reputation in the world. I say that the worst thing for our reputation, since everyone hates us anyway, is to fail in honoring what we start.

Clinton asked Congress yesterday to send her every bill that was vetoed by President Bush and she would sign it. No discussions, no debates, just a blanket approach.

The thing about leadership is that sometimes it means moving forward against the best wishes of people involved because it is the best thing in the bigger picture. I always look back to my Marine Corps training and experience, and there are 14 leadership traits taught by the Corps. Review your candidate against these, and see where he/she sits:

1) Dependability - the certainty of proper performance of duty.
2) Bearing - creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance and personal conduct at all times.
3) Courage - the mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a man to proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness.
4) Decisiveness - ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in clear, forceful manner.
5) Endurance - the mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress and hardship.
6) Enthusiasm - the display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duty.
7) Initiative - taking action in the absence of orders.
8) Integrity - uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles; includes the qualities of truthfulness and honesty.
9) Judgment - the ability to weigh facts and possible solutions on which to base sound decisions.
10) Justice - giving reward and punishment according to merits of the case in question. the ability to administer a system of rewards and punishments impartially and consistently.
11) Knowledge - understanding of a science or an art. the range of one's information, including professional knowledge and an understanding of your marines.
12) Tact - the ability to deal with others without creating offense.
13) Unselfishness - avoidance of providing for one's own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others.
14) Loyalty - the quality of faithfulness to country, the corps, the unit, to one's seniors, subordinates and peers.

Contemplating Careers And Balancing Life

2008-04-16T12:40:00.002-05:00

Today I find myself struggling with a decision that might need to be made in the coming weeks and I am uncomfortable with both options. I received a call last week from a someone I know with a corporation wanting to know if I would be interested in a position. I am always interested in a discussion and believe that I shouldn't close doors to potentially good things on my own. So I said yes and had a couple of discussions about this opportunity.

I wouldn't dare bore you with a resume posted here, but this opportunity is within my area of expertise and it is a great position to hold when people call me offering, instead of me calling and asking.

I am not unhappy where I am, and in fact my overall life situation is extremely satisfactory. CC and I have a beautiful home with a street full of neighbors we call friends. The children have great schools and extracurricular activities, and a multitude of friends. We live in a place where the police blotter is three or four incidents per week, instead of pages per day as it was where I was in law enforcement. I am a cub scout leader, a baseball coach, and on the board of our new Civitan club.

So life is good and I wasn't looking to make a change. This offer will have to be seriously considered, however, if/when, it comes. It will more than likely come next week. The offer must be reviewed for several reasons. The first is financial. We are not poor, nor are we rich. We are comfortable most of the time, stretched thin sometimes, cut coupons regularly but go to the beach once in a while also. (note to self: our last vacation was in 2004. We need to go somewhere this summer) This corporation, to my understanding, is quite generous with the offers they are making. In addition, there is the potential for free tuition at state universities, and with one graduating in six weeks and another in three years, it sure would be a great deal.

So on one hand I am very satisfied with life at the moment and not looking to change. On the other hand, there are enhancements and value in the change as well. My hope, to be quite honest, is that the offer will not be sufficient for me to seriously consider and they make it easy to decline.

I value my family and the time I am spending with my son. I value the routine we have set up and I enjoy the environment of our neighborhood and city. How do I balance the issues? Is it more important to be satisfied with what I have, or more important to take a good opportunity and let it enhance the quality of life for the entire family? Could it be that the quality of life we have now is more than enough? Am I cheating them of something by turning this down?

Not sure which was to turn at the moment. Stay tuned, and i will let you know if I am destined for a new home. No matter which way I go, the URL for this home will stay the same!

The Dems Are Hilarious Up To A Point

2008-04-11T18:51:00.002-05:00

I have been having a grand time watching the Clinton-Obama variety show. A little song and dance about the Reverent Wright, a stand up routine about dodging sniper fire as a little eight year old girl read poetry, and finally, a comedy skit involving both candidates in a "he said - she said" dialogue that is vaguely pre-elementary at best.

Then of course we have the Clinton "first lady-elect" attempting to take up for his wife and defend her Bosnian recollections, yet made EIGHT untrue statements while doing it. Well, maybe a few of them were simple mistakes. You know how those recollections of important things like running for your life can be easily forgotten. I know my recollections of combat in Kuwait involve pellet guns and water balloons.

The comedy stopped for a bit today when I got angry. Obama seems to think that people in small town America only cling to religions and guns because they are angry about losing jobs. In fact, the only reason people are against illegal immigrants are because rich people got tax cuts.
He also made a statement a couple of days ago about how unemployment was at its worst in several years. Well, if unemployment has been 4%, which is about where it has been for many years, and it is now 4.5%, then he is technically right. However, he was attempting to impugn the Bush administration by implying that there was something critical about the unemployment numbers.

4%-6% is healthy unemployment. It means that there are people looking for work and that there are jobs available. Less than 4% means that there are few jobs, and more than 6% means that there are few jobs. There has to be a certain percentage of unemployed people to make the job market competitive and to grow. I don't personally know a single person out of work or losing their home, and all of those people I know who are against illegal aliens and who go to church and who value their liberty to own firearms actually go to work everyday and BBQ on weekends, and show up at their kids baseball games.

Surely the nation is due someone with a little more intelligence and a little less arrogance. We are owed leaders who lead and not pretend to lead. We are owed people who believe in things and don't make policy decisions based on polls that ask questions about international issues and get answers from people who argue with their spouse about which gang their child will join.

The variety show ended for me today. I think it is time, however bitter it may be, to take a bite out of the McCain menu and get to work.

At least he won't shoot himself in the foot with his mouth.

If Mankind Is So Advanced, Then Please Explain These Idiots

2008-04-11T13:18:00.003-05:00

I would have to guess public education drop outs. Despite being an educated guy I don't have all the answers. Shoot, I rarely have any of the answers to stuff that goes on in my own house. I try not to impugn any one's intelligence, but sometimes I just can't stop myself.

I would think that most people have some inherent desire to see their children succeed and thrive. I guess this isn't true, since THESE PEOPLE have got to be some of the most ignorant and idiotic people that I have ever heard. The father was arrested for causing s public disturbance in a store while he and his wife were arguing over which street gang that their FOUR YEAR OLD SON would join when he was older.

Dad is in a Hispanic gang, mom is black and in a black gang. He threatened to kill her over this! What in the world are some people thinking? I suppose they really aren't doing much thinking, but this is incredibly moronic.

And tax cuts are to blame for the downfall of our country?

A Long Week, Friends

2008-04-05T10:55:00.002-05:00

I can't possibly bore you with the details, but two weeks ago I spent more days in Montgomery with my mom. She was diagnosed with something terminal, and had very little time left with us. She went home from the hospital on March 28th. I was there, we got her settled in, and a Hospice nurse was in attendance for the night. I headed home to Birmingham because my son had an 800 am baseball game. We played the game, I came home and made my TSA post.

At about 530 my dad called and said that mom was very ill and he couldn't wake her. The hospice nurse called for an ambulance, and they were going to the hospital. I told dad to call me when they got there, and was debating heading back to Montgomery. An hour later my brother called and said my mom had passed.

So I headed to Montgomery where the family and I spent the last week, and I came home last evening. Mom was buried on Wednesday, and her earthly struggles are over. She had made peace with dying, and was looking forward to seeing the fields of daisies and butterflies, as she was envisioning it the past few days.

I shall return when I have mustered the energy to be motivated about something. All is well here, but as the oldest child I was taking care of dad and all of the visitors and details of the last week. I am just mentally exhausted from the week.

See you soon!

Abolish TSA Now - Or, Why We Deserve To Be Laughed At Around The World

2008-03-29T12:35:00.001-05:00

I don’t think there has been another period in American history when we looked as foolish and pathetic as we do now. There has been much made of the reputation of the U.S. with the rest of the world and how we have damaged it almost beyond repair. I don’t think that reputation suffers as much from the war in Iraq and it has come to a head because of the weak constitution of Americans.

There is a story about the Transportation Security Administration and how it is changing a policy because of one complaint. A woman had a piercing in a private location and was asked to remove it to proceed to an aircraft. She has complained because one of her piercings had become stuck as the skin healed around it, and she told the officer that she couldn’t remove it except with pliers. So, the officer complied with her request and provided a pair of pliers. Now the woman wants to sue. And TSA has decided to change their policy.

For those who do not know, I worked for TSA for five years. I was one of the first employees hired after 9/11, and spent the first eight months managing security and training workforces during the federalization of the workforce. I handled nine airports, and in the early days TSA had a great opportunity to define itself as an important and effective agency in the war on terror and in the security of our nation. It was top-heavy in law enforcement experience, and that served the security function well.

Then TSA became “customer sensitive.” I have always disliked the word “customer” when dealing with security issues, and the focus on worrying about everyone’s feelings has decreased the security posture of our airport security officers. Most people do not understand the true threat we face from radical theologies. Most people don’t have the first notion as to what is involved in security operations and how many ways someone can carry out an attack. I am so tired of hearing about how we harass grandmothers and children at airports. Your grandmother may not be a suicide bomber, but is there a mandatory retirement age for terrorists?

The rates at which elderly people are being used to smuggle drugs into America is on the rise. Is it that hard to conceive of an elderly person being angry at the government, or something, and blow up an aircraft? Remember all of those radical 60s hippies who planted bombs? They are still alive, but getting older. You don’t think that one of them might get a brilliant idea about resurrecting the Weather Underground or the SDS?

It doesn’t take a large bomb to bring down an aircraft. The bomb that brought down Pan Am 103 at Lockerbie, Scotland is estimated to have contained SIX OUNCES of plastic explosive. That is less than the hamburger you bought at McDonald’s today. It was packed in a small “boom box” and punched a hole in the fuselage – nature and physics took care of the rest.

TSA does a poor job of managing resources. They do a poor job of putting security first. I have experienced firsthand the poor priorities of the agency. In one entire quarter of 2006, TSA spent more hours on “diversity training” than they did on security training. Procedures are written by people who have never conducted any of the procedures in an airport.

I don’t think that TSA should truly be abolished. The officer at the operations level is the most committed and serious professional you will find. They take the job seriously and want to do a good job each and every day. The problem lies with the political correctness and whiny perspective of every day Americans. Taking their shoes off is too much trouble, despite the fact that someone really did put a bomb in their shoes and try to blow up an aircraft. People want to walk through screening with metal piercings without being screened, and don’t understand that some detonators are smaller than a golf pencil. Standing in line is ok if they want a Mocha Latte at Starbucks, but to make sure that 300+ people actually live through an entire flight is too much.

We have to want to win. This war has seen no sacrifice required from the general citizenry, but they don’t want to be imposed upon to take off their belt at a checkpoint. We have to re-focus on the reality of today.

Speak out against this nonsense. Speak up for real security measures. I don’t know about you, but if I have to fly I am more than happy to do it however they need me to because I want to get home to my children. Is it logical to change a national security policy because one woman has piercings in a place where no one can see them? The rest of the world scoffs at our weakness…

Today's Rant - Social Security

2008-03-21T18:48:00.002-05:00

My mom is still in the hospital. She is still here-eight weeks tomorrow, and won't ever go home. She has but a few weeks left, two months at best. Mom isn't a fighter and now that the prognosis has had a few days to sink in, is more worried about my dad than anything.

I know that the people who visit my place here wish her well and will offer your prayers and for that I thank you. Please offer them for my dad.

My dad has retired three times. He isn't eating cat food, but they aren't buying a retirement home in the Keys either. While here talking to dad about arrangements and finances. My mom is 10 years younger than my dad and was still working in the administration building of this very hospital when she got ill.

So I clicked over to SSA.gov yesterday to find out a few things. I knew most of it, and was basically checking on the process for applying for SS Disability. Mom obviously won't be back at work with only a short time left among us, but it takes FIVE MONTHS best case to get a check.

Mom worked her entire life and at times she worked two jobs. She never cheated or stole anything in her life. She once went two years without a winter coat so that her three sons could get them. She and dad both worked two jobs during the Carter years to keep food on the table.

She and dad raised three sons, two of which went on to become Marines, combat vets, and fathers. The other is a great dad who was working on his Ph.D at Vanderbilt University when his second son was born and stopped to be a dad.

When she passes on, do you realize that every dime she contributed to Medicare and SS will disappear? Dad won't get a penny of it despite the fact that it was money that they could have used over the years.

At sometime in the 1960s my dad had an opportunity to buy McDonalds stock for 25 cents per share. A Marine Gunnery Sergeant in those days probably made $300 a month. He didn't buy any because he didn't think anyone would sink their hard earned money into stock for a "hamburger joint." Of course he kicks himself now...

What if I had a couple of hundred extra bucks a month to invest? What if my dad could have spared some money over the years in stocks? A $5,000 investment in Walmart in the late 70s would have paid more than $15 million in 2004. Then there would be a beneficiary for the money, and not the government.

I am furious about this fact. I. Am furious that partly due to government policy, I have to divide my time between spending time with my mom and worrying about my dad.

Unintended consequences. Those who are the most responsible and work the longest contribute the most and get the least.

And In The Left Corner, Wearing The Clown Suit....

2008-03-20T13:44:00.003-05:00

In your daily life, what do you expect from your government? Mentally review the events of today, and see where you had an expectations of the government to provide a service to you. Here goes my normal day:
0530 - Leave home from work. I get behind a little elderly woman every day who drives 15 in a 40, and holds up a line of 30 cars on a 10 mile stretch of two lane road. We attempt to merge on the interstate and she STOPS at the top of the merge lane. Literally. Cars rushing by at 90, she stops, and turns on her left turn signal and waits for thee to be NOTHING coming for about a mile. My expectation of the government is that if they require a license to operate a vehicle, then they should test people when they obviously shouldn't be driving. If you want to kill yourself, fine. But leave me out of it.

Of course, I expect the government at some level to take care of the roads and change out lights when they go out.

0600-whenever I go home. I expect nothing of the government. I have no thoughts about the government except for what I see on the news and blogs while at work.

Going home - I have to stop for gas. I expect the government to enact policies that control what gas costs and deal with the other countries who sell it. Since the government refuses to take action so that we can be self-reliant, I expect them to counter that level of idiocy by making my gas cheaper so that I can drive places and spend money for the economy to remain strong. I am close to postulating that I can claim the three Iraqi oil field workers as dependents because so much of my income goes to support their families and not mine.

At home - Nothing. An underlying expectation that no jack-booted liberal thugs come crashing through my door to take my weapons, but other than that I don't expect them to do anything. Wait---I do have an expectation that since I live in the present time and electricity is a really nice luxury item, and since electricity has been one of the incredible items that raised the overall quality of life in the world, I expect the government to keep the prices reasonable so that I don't have to ration lights in my home.

See a trend? About the only thing I expect the government to do on a daily basis is to have domestic and international policy geared that makes my life easier, not harder. Policy that improves the quality of my life and that of my family, not makes us choose between spending money to eat dinner at a restaurant and staying home to eat peanut butter when the pantry is empty because we haven't been to the store in weeks.

Now wearing the Conservative Commentary Clown Suit is Michigan's Senator Dingle, a democrat if you can believe that, who wants to raise taxes on gasoline by .50 per gallon. Yes, you read it correctly, he wants to raise my gas taxed by $9.00 a tank. There are some environmentalists that want to raise it by that much every year for 10 years. The aim here is to punish consumers and polluters, or so they say. I guess that we are too successful and can afford to buy big cars and drive and fly so much.

I think it is a ploy to get more money from you and me. It flies in the face of every logical train of thought, so it must be about getting more money to spend. I don't know what else it could be. You do know that 40% of the current gas price is tax, right?

Perhaps the government should return all of that tax to the energy companies who will put it into alternative fuels. Maybe they should stop with the nonsense about domestic production and let the wells flow! Maybe they should stop trying to raise so many damned taxes and find ways to let me keep my money to spend.

Maybe voters should spend less time listening to the news and more time thinking about the big picture.

Race In Politics - Is The Dynamic Changing?

2008-03-18T08:46:00.002-05:00

We are all familiar with the media frenzy over Obama's church pastor and some of the comments that he has made. I won't rehash it here but a comment by Al Sharpton of all people gave me pause to consider a changing paradigm in the politics of race.

He was asked a question yesterday regarding the early reluctance of black America (I use the term for the purpose of this post and it is not necesarily my perspective on how we should define groups - Go with it here) to support Obama. Sharpton said that it was because people didn't know him, but now that his policies and ideas were being made known that black America is supporting him. He also said that it was a backlash against the race issues that Hillary inserted into the campaign.

Traditionally, the issue of race was used to gain support. Candidate A would point out something about the Candidate B that black America should be concerned about, and that gained Candidate A traction and support. It appears in this case that instead of being concerned about the issues that the backlash is against the person who inserted race into the campaign. Quite different than it normally works. Are we facing a change in the pattern of racial politics?

I would encourage this change. Of course, there is a dynamic here that has never been seen in politics - a woman and a black man. The politics of race may have changed because of this, but regardless of the reason, I am glad to see that people may finally be tired of the old style politics that is irritating and irrelevant in most cases. We should view ourselves as Americans, and while I know that there are entirely too many people in this country who still view race as an issue, the fact that there is a viable and potential black man as President should advance our society significantly.

Your take on this?

Does This Surprise You?

2008-03-13T20:27:00.002-05:00

A study conducted shows that insurgents benefit from anti-war reporting. The National Bureau of Economic Research concluded that there was a seven to ten percent increase in attacks following a streak of reporting deemed "anti resolve."

The media certainly won't take this into account when reporting. I wonder how many deaths of American troops can be taken into account because of this negative and biased reporting?

I Am In Despair....The French Don't Like Us

2008-03-13T07:59:00.004-05:00

So the French Prime Minister says the magic of the United States in over. I may need to seek anti-depressant medication to get through my life until this situation is rectified.

My suggestion to the French is that they stop looking down their long noses at the U.S., and turn around and look at the pitiful state of their own country. Incredible levels of unemployment, an arrogance that is nothing more than cover for national cowardice, and a military that couldn't stop the Girl Scouts from invading Normandy and occupying every cupboard in Paris with Thin Mints.

I have never even thought much of their wine.....

Are We Finally At The Top Of The Minority Mountain?

2008-03-11T07:50:00.005-05:00

Civil Rights opened the windows. When you open the windows, it does not mean that everybody will get through. We must create our own opportunities.” Mary Francis Berry

Racial issues have defined many aspects of politics and culture for several generations. From slavery to Jim Crowe to George Wallace standing in the doorway, the struggle for civil rights on the part of black Americans has been profound. I will say that Martin Luther King, Jr is a man for which I have the greatest respect - almost as much as I respect Ronald Reagan. He was a leader who motivated people to change an entire society through peace and the demonstration of integrity and dignity. Unfortunately, those who have followed him have not participated in the same way as Dr. King.

We have heard how biased America as a whole has been toward women and blacks, and how the Republican Party is a bunch of rich white guys sitting around reading the Wall Street Journal. I disagree to the point of saying that it has been the Republican party that has been open to a candidacy on the part of women. The difference is that we want conservative women, not just a woman.

This year has seen a woman and a black man as the candidates for a political party nomination. A first in American history and I hope a turning point in race relations and racial politics. Perhaps we can move past these asinine comments:

A new breed of Uncle Tom [and] some of the biggest liars the world ever saw - Former NAACP executive director Benjamin Hooks on black Conservatives

I hope his wife feeds him lots of eggs and butter and he dies early, like many black men do, of heart disease -- Julianne Malveaux speaking about U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas

The Hillary camp said yesterday that Obama would lose in the general election because he is untested and inexperienced. I would like to point something out to the campaign folks: A black man won political primaries in the states of Alabama, Georgia,Louisiana,South Carolina,and Tennessee. The same black man is poised to win the state of Mississippi today! Is it necessary to point out that these states were slave states in the 1800s? That these states are the ones considered backward by those who consider themselves superior to southerners? That some of these states are the ones who opposed civil rights and turned dogs and water hoses on civil rights marchers?

I consider that Obama has carried every Dixie state except Arkansas to be monumental. If those who still cry racism at every turn really wanted equality and not power, they would take note and see a positive movement from this election cycle.

I live in Alabama, was born and raised in Montgomery. Incidentally, if you have never considered this, the Civil War began with a telegram sent from Montgomery, and the Civil Rights movement was spurred by Rosa Parks and Dr. King, both Montgomery residents. Of all places who has lived and understood racism, Montgomery is the place. I live int he Birmingham metro area. Birmingham is where the 16th Avenue Baptist church was bombed and children killed.

My mother was raised on South Court Street in Montgomery. Court Street feeds into the downtown area, and she was a personal witness to the bus boycotts and protests. When I was in law enforcement I worked for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. I think it was 1999 when we were cleaning out an old storage facility to use as a storage and training facility for our dogs, and found a stash of equipment that included the protective gear (helmets, batons, etc) used during the Selma to Montgomery march. Pieces of history that were long forgotten....

Race is a fact of life around here. Always has been, and I presume it always will be. I hope that Obama has made inroads so that race becomes less of an issue, and more of a discussion. I am truly surprised that Obama has won the south, and even more shocked at the margins. I am not blind to the fact that people are still morons and that prejudice exists. On Interstate 65 about halfway between Montgomery and Birmingham is a garrison sized confederate flag on the west side of the interstate, and only about 50 feet off the right of way. It was placed there by the Sons of the South, or some other idiotic organization.

We can discuss the aims of the confederacy if you wish, but for this post I just want to point out that the south wanted independence. They wanted to be free of an oppressive federal government. Slavery was an issue, but not the only issue. There was a driving force of independence in the civil war. However, this flag is placed there as a thumb in the eye toward civilization. This particular flag is there to make a racist statement. These people live only because it is illegal to kill them.

I can promise you this: If John McCain wins the 2008 election, a great hue and cry will rise from the media about the discrimination of the American people, and the right in particular.

Don't give in to the politics of race. Continue to find the best candidate for the greater good of the people.

Testing Again

2008-03-10T09:05:00.001-05:00

Reliability Test

I Have Had Too Much Free Time Today...

2008-03-09T19:11:00.003-05:00

...and have been taking some time to catch up on some blog reading. As I did so I came across a post from Otto that reminds me of dcades past. It includes a speech made by former Prime Minister John Howard, and breaks down the case ofr remaining steadfast in our beliefs. It shows, briefly, why the conservative minds of our time knew who they were and who we are as nations.

Please go HERE and read it.

Sometimes I Think We Are Doomed

2008-03-09T16:24:00.002-05:00

Follow THIS LINK where Wight Wing Wadical discuses creeping Socialism. I personally think it is far beyond socalism, but the point is that we are losing our country each and every day.

In this post, which I won't rehash too much, is that a court in California has found that there is no "constitutional right" for parents to home school their own children. I know that my education was provided by extremists, but I sure thought that the Constitution of our country was designed to prohibit certain actions by the government, and list specifically the powers divided between the states and the federal government. I know that line of thought is so 1787 and no one thinks it today...But I still do.

The judiciary in this country has become far too liberal. They should not be looking to the constitution to find "permissions" for individuals. They should be finding probibitions for government actions.

Please Visit This New Blog

2008-03-09T11:35:00.009-05:00

If you don't click here I will be in big trouble, so help me out. The address is
www.potpourripersonality.blogspot.com
During my two years here I have mentioned my wife and some of the chaos that happens in our house. She has decided to begin a blog of her own and I would consider it a personal favor if you would drop by and visit.

I am not exactly sure what kind of blog it will be, as "potpourri personality" is as apt a description as one can give her. It won't be political, although if she drop by my place sometimes she will surely rant and rave about something she considers wrong...she isn't conservative, but not really a lib either. She is probably on average as moderate as one can be. It will probably be personal musings, things that draw her attention, and maybe just an online journal...whatever the case may be, it surely won't be boring.

Today is her first post, so drop by today and encourage her efforts. We all know how frustrating it can be to see the big "0 Comments week after week". I thought we could help give her a leg up the first time. You earn brownie points by going by there in the coming days and seeing if it develops into something that you like to read.

Jenn, you surely should drop by and visit. You two have a lot in common, I think. I will point Connie in your direction as well.

Testing Mobile Blogging

2008-03-09T11:18:00.002-05:00

I have a new toy..A BlackBerry Curve. Yes, I have fallen and gotten a "CrackBerry" so I am experimenting.

We shall see...

UPDATE: The above was posted via mobile device. It appeared exactly as other posts and I didn't have to do a single thing. It posted quickly, as I sent it and it was there by the time I reached the mouse and opened Internet Explorer. I thought I would offer some testiony in case you were considering it.

Arrest In The Lauren Burk Case

2008-03-08T10:38:00.003-06:00

Auburn police announced an arrest in the murder of Auburn University student Lauren Burk. The suspect was arrested following a traffic stop in Phenix City, Al which is about 35 minutes from Auburn at the Alabama/Georgia line.

The task force did some great work, and my congratulations to all the hard working law enforcement personnel who did some fantastic work to bring this case to a conclusion in less than five days. The charge is capital murder, which in this case is murder during an attempted rape, and is a death penalty case. Knowing Alabama juries, this will probably be the result. There is apparently a significant amount of evidence and this suspect was identified less than 12 hours after the murder.

I have the privilege of knowing several of the members of the task force, and have worked with a few of them professionally. They are dedicated and I know they got little sleep while working this case.

I continue to keep the family and friends in my thoughts and prayers.

Another Conservative Commentary Temper Tantrum

2008-03-07T15:58:00.002-06:00

A judge in California has denied a 17 year old foster child the right to serve his country. It is apparently the law in Cali that a foster child cannnot enlist in the military without the permission of a judge. In this case, the judge apparently was anti-military and allowed some personal bias, for some reason, to enter the decision.

Shawn Sage wanted to enlist in the Marine Corp's Delayed Entry Program. This is an excellent way to enlist. It allows 17 year olds the ability to enlist while remaining at their high school for their senior year. During that year, they meet with other recruits to learn Marine Corp culture, engage in physical training, and other things that prepare them for their new life in the Marines. The $10,000 signing bonus doesn't hurt either.

In this case, the judge, and the bailiff, said some insulting things to Sgt. Guillermo Medrano, who appeared with Shawn in his dress blues to support Sage. The judge, and the bailiff, made the comments on the record that the recruiters didn't care about their enlistees - only numbers. Sgt. Medrano refuted the statements and said that he cared about every person he recruited.

This temper tantrum is toward those small minded, biased, incompetent, and completely ignorant people - especially liberal activists who think they know everything. It is also directed at the judiciary in California, which is a blight on the halls of justice. The 9th Circuit court is the most overturned court in the country. Before any of you object, this judge was a Superior Court judge in Los Angeles, but where do you think the 9th Circuit's cases come from?

The Marine Corps is an institution that lives by a certain creed, some written as in Semper Fi, some unwritten that accompany the motto of Semper Fi. For those that don't know, it is latin for "Always Faithful" and Marines throughout history have lived by this ...it isn't an expression, it is a way of life. Marines have given their lives on many occasions to recover the bodies of dead Marines. Marines have given their lives to save Marines that they didn't even know!

Unless you are a Marine, you cannot understand how this is part of you until your dying breath. I can express it in words, but you would never understand. These young boys who enlist in the Marines will experience honor and courage and integrity. Boys from foster homes will find a home full of brothers that will never let them down, unlike the liberal state of California who denied a motivated and focused young man the ability to follow his convictions.

What is happening to our country when the United States Marine Corps is more hated than the enemy?

A Tragic Event at Auburn University

2008-03-05T19:11:00.007-06:00

Auburn is the latest university campus to experience a tragic murder. Freshman Lauren Burk, 18 of Marietta, Georgia was found injured from a gunshot on North College Street. She was alive but died soon after at the hospital. A few minutes after the call to police about an injured woman, a call went out to the fire department about a car burning in a parking lot at nearby Hinton Field that is the practice field for the university marching band. I think this used to be the main soccer field.

The article states that it was not on the campus, but North College Street is mere feet away from the boundary of the campus. Were it not for the University, Auburn would be a sleepy little southern town with nothing but scenery to impress visitors. North College Street is home to many businesses and during football season is packed with people going to restaurants and bookstores. The whole story isn't out yet, but it is somewhat unbelievable to me that this happened at this particular location without a hundred witnesses.

I don't understand why the best and brightest of our youth fall prey to these senseless crimes. A beautiful young woman, Burk was a pledge for Delta Gamma sorority and was living the dream of almost every 18 year old. She was a student at one of the most energetic and alive campuses in the country, and had her entire life before her.

My thoughts and prayers are with her family tonight.

UPDATE: I have found out more information about this, some of which has not appeared in the papers so I won't pass it on yet.

The section of North College Street where she was found was not adjacent to the campus. It is about five miles from the campus near an intersection with a U.S. highway, so there probably will be few witnesses if any.

Updated FoxNews Story HERE. According to the story, there are some witnesses although I don't think they will ahve seen the actual crime. I know Assistant Chief Dawson, and can tell you that this crime will occupy every minute of the Auburn P.D. until it is resolved. From what I know about the crime, there will probably be an arrest very soon.

And now the breaking news story about the Student Body President at the University of North Carolina being shot to death today. Bad week for college campuses in the media.

Hillary Making A Comeback?

2008-03-05T08:02:00.002-06:00

Interesting developments in the dem campaign last night in these two states. I was surprised that Obama lost in Texas especially. My youngest brother is a moderate, leangin toward the elft on social issues but to the right on military and fiscal issues. He is in academia in Texas, and he told me last week that virtually all the people he knew that were voting in the dem primary were voting for Obama. That micro-poll was not an indication of the end result.

This is really interesting, and there is an irony that I can't help but mention. I am not the first to do so by any means, but I can't stop myself.

The dems have hemmed and hawed about how every vote should count and how our elected officials should be decided by the populular vote. Every vote should count! The will of the people should not be subverted by process! Obama has the lead in committed delegates, but now Hillary wants the "superdelegates" to trump the popular vote. So much for the will of the people.

This could be good for McCain, since the dem candidates have to keep spending money for the next two months on the primaries yet he can take a bit of a break and raise money for the general election. He can also sit back and see where the dems strike blows on each other and have an early advantage in tactics for November.

The dems get what they asked for. They forced all of these states to hold primaries earlier so that they can decide the issue earlier and not have the largest states dominating the process. It turns out that in doing this they have made each and every vote count more than ever before.

I heard Hillary today talking about her being Commander-In-Chief. The only thing more scary than that is Obama filling that role. Hang on, the summer is going to be a wild political ride!

Helena, Alabama

2008-02-27T08:18:00.007-06:00

First a shot of the new Helena Middle School that is under construction. Surrounded by great scenery.

A moment to brag about my city since it was discussed in the last post. I can't tell you enough about the good things in Helena, and why my wife and I have joined the Buck Creek Civitan Club to work and improve Helena, if that is even possible. I can't possibly tell you all about Helena here, but I will give you some pics and links. For a good place to start, should you care to move here, go to The City of Helena website.

A Helena Blog

Information about Helena provided by Money Magazine which ranked Helena the #13 city in the country to raise a family.

Ok, so Buck Creek is the most interesting geographical feature of Helena. It runs through the middle of downtown. When I say downtown, I mean all three blocks of it.

One of the most fun activities in the city is the "Sundown Cinemas" hosted in the amphitheater located by Buck Creek. Every Friday night throughout the summer family movies are played. The first weekend we lived here was my oldest daughter's birthday. I picked up a few of her friends in Montgomery and brought them here for a weekend slumber party, and they saw "E.T." for the first time. I know, a classic for us but my kids have never seen it. So we took our folding chairs and went to the park with about 400 other people and watched a movie in the glorious August evening. Here is a pic of a very crowded stage there when Bo Bice, a Helena resident, came home to play with Lynard Skynard.

A shot of the main street in downtown Helena.

I am going to give you one more picture, and it doesn't really do you much good except to get an overview. Oak Mountain State Park is 10 minutes from my home. It covers almost the entirety of Oak Mountain, and I can see part of it called Double Oak Mountain from my street. From my yard at the top of a hill I can see Shades Crest, which is in the other direction. Wonderful views from where I live.

Thankful For Freedom

2008-02-22T14:22:00.002-06:00

I received an email today from Ryan at Thankful For Freedom, a new organization with a mission of supporting our troops through donations to four respected and beneficial organizations. Please visit and read their materials. It won't take but a couple of minutes, and I think that my regulars will be in support of this endeavor.

Brings me around to the post below this one, where I encouraged participation in another worthwhile cause. First, it turns out that Ryan is a brother in Pi Kappa Phi, and I am sure there is no coincidence that I posted that today. I guess he did a search or something. Anyway, it also brings me to a point I made to some friends in an email the other night.

My little city of Helena, Al was rated by Money Magazine as the #1 city to live in Alabama, and in the top 50 of cities in the country with populations under 50,000 in the "best place to raise a family" category. It would be impossible to convey to you the Mayberry atmosphere in a city only a few miles from the largest city in the state, but the condition here is exactly like that, except our police chief carries a weapon...lol.

I got an invitation Monday to attend an organizational meeting for a Civitan Club in the Buck Creek Area, which will be based in Helena and serve two other communities. I joined a a charter member, and I am looking forward to being able to serve my community with my hands, and not just my words and an occasional donation.

So my point is this: The quality of life in any particular place is due to the inhabitants of that place. A cul-de-sac, a city, a state, a region, or a country. Individuals work to make things positive. The Buck Creek Civitan Club will take a few hours each month, but by building to a hundred members that will be hundreds of hours each month to build wheelchair ramps or sponsor baseball teams or work with the Special Olympics or other projects. Life depends on us to take a few minutes and contribute.

The post earlier just required a change of search engines. This post requires the click of a mouse and the optional purchase of a t-shirt. Little things go a long way.

I am thankful for the men and women who carry the torch and guarantee my freedom. They receive enough negatives from so many - please take a minute or three to look at the site for a few people who want to do their few minutes to support heroes.

Taking A Breath and Hillary Should Too

2008-02-22T08:03:00.004-06:00

Do you ever look up at the road ahead and see this enormous steamroller bearing down on you? Figuratively speaking, that is what has happened to me the past week or so. Mom is coming home from the hospital, and a huge thank you to everyone for their thoughts and prayers. It was looking bad for a while, but she began slow improvement and it has built speed. A 33 day hospital stay is ending just a week after leaving ICU.

Hillary is on the ropes. She doesn't get it. I am impressed with Obama. Not with his politics, but with his speeches and his ability to inspire people. Implant some Reagan DNA in him and he would be a great president. In fact, I think he will be the next president.

I knew and have said for a decade that Hillary was unelectable, and that her as the nominee would be an easy win for the GOP. I didn't realize that she would go down in flames before she got the dem nomination, and I wouldn't be honest if I said I wasn't taking some joy from watching it. However, Obama has personality - which appeals to most voters far more than issues, and he has a new outlook - which is what the dem party has been crying for for years, and he has managed to inspire people despite his extreme left wing positions. He is even more lib than Hillary, but no one has noticed because he has managed to hide this so far.

McCain. I don't know what to say. I have no choice but to support him, and I guess because of that I have mentally been edging toward supporting him completely. This paradigm of "the lesser evil" has to end soon.

Finally, I am going to give you and opportunity to help a great cause and it wont require anything but 30 seconds of your time and you will help raise money for severely handicapped children just by doing what you normally do on your computer.

My college fraternity was Pi Kappa Phi. We had plenty of keg parties and band parties and parties after parties, but we worked to support PUSH AMERICA. Pi Kappa Phi is the only greek fraternity to create and support its own philanthropy. PUSH AMERICA has evolved and raises money for awareness and support of severely handicapped children. I would do them a dis-service by explaining all of it because they do it quite well themselves. Go to the Pi Kappa Phi website here, and the PUSH AMERICA site here and see for yourself.

Then go to Goodsearch.com. It is a Yahoo application that installs a search bar on your browser. You select PUSH AMERICA from the list of charities, and then each time you use it to search the internet they make a donation to PUSH AMERICA. I just found out about this last week, and have begun using it myself.

For those of us who believe that people need help but shouldn't always get it from our tax dollars, put that into practice and do a small thing for others.

The Future Has Arrived

2008-02-13T13:48:00.005-06:00

From a social science perspective, it is interesting that we make "friends" in the blogosphere. Until the last couple of decades, and actually not even that long, social interaction was done over cocktails or dinner or at a church function or a physical location where people with similar interests gathered. Now we do a significant amount of our socializing online, and we make friends. I would tie this in to Maslow and his heirarchy of needs, but I am not feeling that intellectually motivated today.

One of my blogger friends is Truth-Pain. T-P is an interesting guy, not to mention he has wonderful taste in haircuts. If you read his blog you know that he is apt to disappear for long stretches, followed by explosive lengths of blogging, and the cycle repeats. When most of us do this we lose readers, but I think he has purposefully crafted this reputation to stimulate interest. Whatever the reason, it works because he has a unique style that is both entertaining and thought provoking. Please take a few moments and click HERE for his most recent post that is one of his best of all time. Go read it and then return, please.

I connect his post (with a thin line, yet I pull it off) with the news story that tells us about the first baby boomer collecting her first social security check. For decades we have been warned about the future of social security, and have continued to ignore the imminent truth - the federal government has been taking massive amounts of money from the population and soon that poorly conceived, yet well intentioned effort is about to create massive problems for my children. It will actually create problems for me and my generation as well, but I am resilient and worried more for my children than myself. I have lived in the mud and eaten cold food chased by hot water, I can do it again if need be. My children on the other hand, wouldn't last a week without a text message stimuli......

So we have talked ourselves to death about social security to the point that we don't talk about it much because we know no one will do anything. We have reached a point where we are firmly convined either consciously or subconsciously that the government will bail it out. Or because we rarely ever face the consequences of poor policies that we don't understand what will happen when the bottom falls through. Regardless, the disaster that was coming 20 years ago is here, and we still stick our heads in the sand and refuse to confront it.

Here is my solution to social security. If you are 45 years of age or older, you are guaranteed your social security. Forget the trust funds, forget the pyramid scheme. The government promised that something would happen and now they have to honor their commitment. At 45, people can still start a 20 year career somewhere to build retirement and still not reach the minimum age for their benefits. They have time.

For those under 45, we forfeit everything we have contributed. We no longer contribute to social security. Before you wail, keep in mind that the government already has it, and will find ways to tax you to make up the difference in a few years anyway. Foresaking your contributions now actually saves you money.

We forfeit our contributions, and get nothing at retirement from the government. However, they have to get our of my way and allow me to invest as much as I want however I want with no tax obligation, and that includes capital gains.

Simple. Common sense. And everyone wins, except for politicians that will be forfeiting some of their ability to hold issues over the heads of elderly people.

But isn't that a good thing?

I Thought This Was Funny

2008-02-11T08:47:00.000-06:00

God was missing for six days. Eventually, Michael, the archangel, found him,
resting on the seventh day. He inquired, "Where have you been?"

God smiled deeply and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look,
Michael. Look what I've made."

Archangel Michael looked puzzled, and said, "What is it?"
"It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put Life on it. I'm going to call it
Earth and it's going to be a place to test Balance."

"Balance?" inquired Michael, "I'm still confused."

God explained, pointing to different parts of earth. "For example, norther n
Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth, while southern
Europe is going to be poor. Over there I've placed a continent of white
people, and over there is a continent of black people. Balance in all
things" God continued pointing to different countries. "This one will be
extremely hot, while this one will be very cold and covered in ice."
The Archangel , impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land area and
said, "What's that one?"

"That's Washington State , the most glorious place on earth. There are
beautiful mountains, rivers and streams, lakes, forests, hills, and plains.
The people from Washington State are going to be handsome, modest,
intelligent, and humorous, and they are going to travel the world. They
will be extremely sociable, hardworking, high achieving, and they will be
known throughout the world as diplomats, carriers of peace, and producers of
software!." Michael gasped in wonder and admiration, but then asked, "But
what about balance, God? You said there would be balance."

God smiled, "There is another Washington . Wait till you see the idiots I put
there."

TOledo Joins Berkeley As Anti-Military

2008-02-09T17:48:00.000-06:00

I hope that when a natural disaster or a terrorist attacks hits Toledo, that the U.S. government has the cojones to refuse to send military aid.

Marine resevists have been conducting an urban training cycle for the past three years in Toledo. This weekend, the mayor turned their buses around. He said their training might frighten people.

I am sure our enemies are shaking in fear at our resolve to be strong.

After Super Tuesday Blues

2008-02-06T13:53:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I told you that I had no idea which lever I might pull. In actuality we use paper ballots, and it consists of filling in an arrow to point to a candidate.

I was torn between wanting the party to defeat Hillary - in which case McCain was the best candidate - and sticking to my conservative beliefs as closely as I could - in which case Romney was the best candidate - and finding some integrity on the social conservative side - in which case Huckabee was the best candidate.

My issues with McCain have been about his reluctance to stick with the party on issues that matter the most. McCain-Feingold is of course a prime example of him departing for the liberal side. I think that he might be more Reagan-esque than I previously thought, as his ability to work with moderates and find compromises that make the important thing work. A McCain presidency could be the best thing for conservatives - they might become motivated to find a candidate that represents our values a little better. After the left villifies McCain for either four or eight years, we could offer something as a change in 2016.

Why can't the GOP find a candidate that is a mix of all three choices? Why do we have to continually struggle with sorting our our own beliefs and choosing between a fiscal conservative and an evangelical one?

In the end my ballot pointed at Romney. Huckabee won Alabama and Romney finished a pretty distant 3rd place, but I couldn't help it. In the end, I figured I can fight over the social issues, but the fiscal issues need someone in place to wage those battles.

Last night was interesting. I thought Obama might trounce Hillary a little better, but she is on the ropes regardless. I do have one totally partisan question. Actually, it isn't really partisan except that Hillary isn't my candidate. Here goes:

I was watching the news coverage when Hillary came on stage for her speech. It was the typical dem speech, intended to reach out to the left and the poor. Part of her speech was insisting that they needed her in the White House because the President had done nothing for eight years. She said over and over that someone need to be in place to do things that should have been done for years.

The only thing that kept going through my head was "Haven't you been on the Hill for more than four years? Hasn't your party had control of the legislature for two years? Aren't you the one touting all of your "experience?" Why haven't you done all of these things yourself?"

Update and Super Tuesday

2008-02-05T09:21:00.000-06:00

First the update. Since I posted last mom has been moved to an ICU, and for a couple of reasons that I won't bore you with took a downturn. There has been some improvement, but we are still about three days from being past the infections. There has been some improvement and we are hoping that she will leave ICU before Sunday, although she will probably be hospitalized for a few days after that. Bottom line, she is slowly improving and your prayers and wishes were heard. Still some concern, but things are getting better.

Super Tuesday. I headed to work as always way before the polls opened, so I will vote on the way home. There is so much that can be said about today, but I don't think that I can contribute anything truly unique so I won't try.

I find is humorous that Hillary did the deperation "wipe a tear" tactic yesterday. I think that she needs to be the dem nominee because we could beat her senseless in November, but I can't bring myself to not get pleasure in Obama making her look like a has-been. it is kind of like my football support. The Auburn/Alabama rivalry is not about sports; it is a way of life here. I always say that I want Alabama to win except when they play us, but if the truth be told I take great pleasure in seeing them lose no matter when or where. Same with Hillary.

I also think that it is not good for the Leader of the free world to be crying on worldwide television. Please tell me which muslim terrorist leader is going to be touched by that. I hear the laughter echoing across the Persian Gulf as we speak.

I don't know at this late date which lever I will pull. I know the polls show McCain as the winner over anyone and everyone in a national election, but Romney better fits my beliefs. Don't get me wrong, there are no candidates that I am 100% behind, and we have discussed that ad nauseum. It is make or break time today, and I am not convinced which lever to pull.

I heard Rudy on FoxNews today and I almost wish I had supported him. He lost the nomination because of a bad strategy. No one knew it was bad and until he lost Florida I thought it was the best one. I never knew that I had an ancestor named Custer.

I want a leader as much or more than I want someone who believes as I do on every issue. So much about the position of "Leader of the free world" has nothing to do with economics, abortion, tax policy, welfare policy, yadda yadda---but it has everything to do with confidence and principle and integrity. We can shape policy by our interaction with the legislature, but we can't make a President change his fortitude over serious issues. Rudy fits that bill, although his social conservative credentials are a bit smudged.

If you are conservative, go vote. If you are a dem, go vote. Our process relies on educated people making educated decisions. Make yours count!

Do You Think McCain Is THIS Liberal?

2008-01-31T19:15:00.000-06:00

For those of you who doubt whether we should support John McCain if he becomes the GOP nominee, click on the title link and read.

The City of Berkeley, California has voted that the U.S. Marine Corps is not welcome in their city. I am not kidding. They have granted Code Pink a parking space in front of the recruiting station, and will allow them to protest without charge for a protest permit ince a week.

This is what the mayor of an American city said: "I believe in the Code Pink cause. The Marines don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here, and they should leave," said Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates.

Can you believe this? I am beside myself and speechless. I think the Congress should stop any federal money from going there, and should prohibit the state from spending any money there that originated with the federal government. That includes welfare, roads, the U.S. Post Office, and anything else.

Disgusting. Pathetic. And a bunch of words I won't say here. I can see Hillary and Obama applauding this action.

Vote GOP.

I Am Even More Convinced That Hillary Is Un-electable

2008-01-29T13:00:00.000-06:00

Check out this article at FoxNews.com.

I have said it for years, and I say it again. Hillary Clinton has a snowball's chance at being the President of the United States.

Old school liberalism must die. She is the most disingenuous person in politics, and the man previously known as President Clinton is busy nailing the coffin shut.

My Presence Will Be Unpredictable

2008-01-29T06:18:00.000-06:00

My amatuer political thoughts were way off base in South Carolina. I didn't think Obama would be able to pull off that kind of win.

My mother is very sick, and almost passed this past Sunday. Please keep coming by and continuing the conversations, but please forgive me if my presence is spotty. She is in the hospital an hour from me and I will have to be making some trips back and forth.

I will still be around, just know that I am not ignoring anyone.

A Brief News Snippet That Should Be Analyzed

2008-01-26T10:11:00.000-06:00

I saw a news story at FoxNews.com this morning that has already been moved from the top three stories, but it is an important one, I think.

It is a story about a Saddam Hussein interrogator that said Hussein never expected an American invasion of Iraq. Hussein said that while he had all manner of scientists on the payroll, he did not have a WMD program and only allowed the world to believe it to prevent an Iranian invasion.

The part that needs to be know and analyzed is that Hussein didn't not expect a real invasion. This should send a message about our foreign policy and the manner in which we conduct same. Military force is but an extension of foreign policy, and is used when diplomacy fails. When tyrants around the world do not take us seriously, we have a problem in the image department.

Saber rattling is important. It is a tool that is used by Presidents and policy makers to send a message about the importance of an issue. Take Iran for example. President Bush and others made may statements about the seriousness of the nuclear issue, and implied that the U.S. might use military options if Iran wouldn't cooperate. That was saber rattling. What happened next? The media and the left began the campaign against this, claiming that President Bush was preparing for war in Iran and we must stop it! Obama stated that we needed to "talk" to tyrants so that we can get along.

It is this type of behavior that leads to further problems on these issues. It is this type of behavior that makes tyrants not believe our claims, and continue to play their games and make us look like paper tigers.

No one yearns for war. No one, particularly those who have been there, desire more of it. As we have said hundreds of time, though, sometimes it is necessary. Sun Tzu said that the most effective weapon is the one that is never used. He was referring to strength and to your enemy fearing your capabilities.

It holds true today; rather, it would hold true if the left would get on board and help deter the use of force instead of taking poll driven measures that only assure military action in the future.

Thompson Out, Pundits Confused

2008-01-23T07:54:00.000-06:00

Fred Thompson never got his campaign off the ground. Despite his protestations that he was serious, I don't think his heart was ever really in this race. After a lackluster finish in South Carolina he has withdrawn from the race.

Rudy is all but out. I thought a few weeks ago that his strategy was the right one for this new primary setup, but it looks like he lost a lead that he has held since 2002. The pundits have been wrong about this since the beginning. It looks like it will be a Romney/Huckabee race, and I think the one that wins John McCain as VP will win the Presidency.

Hillary and Obama are like feuding middle school girls. It is funny to watch. It is also patently humorous that Hillary is accusing Obama of doubletalk.

The other day there was a flap over whether Obama said something positive about President Reagan. He spent half the debate on the defense. I think he should have answered like this:

"I did indeed say that President Reagan was a transformative leader for America. He took the reigns of this nation at a crucial point in history and led with passion and conviction of belief. While I do not agree with all of his policies, and I do not think that America benefited from all of his decisions, Reagan was a leader. I think that one of the most important qualifications of a President is an objective view of history and a recognition of past events so that we may go forward and capitalize on successes while avoiding the mistakes. For a Presidential candidate to ignore the history of our country and be unable to see where our leaders not only went wrong, but where they went right, I think it speaks volumes about the qualifications of a candidate and the American people should seriously reconsider who they support."

That answer would have taken votes meant for Republican candidates. The left wing in the GOP is craving a middle of the roader, and this statement would have been strong and garnered support that Hillary will never get.

A Crazy Weekend In Alabama

2008-01-21T21:27:00.000-06:00

My Front Yard

For those who don't live around here, snow falls about once a decade in Central Alabama. Inhabitants of the deep south who are originally from Ohio and other foreign countries laugh at the chaos that snow brings, but there are good reasons for it. One, snow only falls once a decade. We use rock salt in Alabama for making ice cream to relieve the 100 degree summer days, not to waste on the roads. Two, our power infrastucture is designed for heat, not for ice and snow. Power lines drop like flies when ice storms descend. Three, there are only two snow plows in the entire state, and they are no where near here. Four, no one knows how to drive in ice and snow here.

Needless to say it is a fun time when it does fall. This past Saturday, we were treated to about 2 inches where I am, five inches just south and west about an hour. It melted and was just a memory after about for hours, but it was fun while it lasted. It was the ony time my little ones had ever seen it, and probably will be the last until they are in high school or college, if the average timeline holds. Here I will share a couple of pics of the deep south from Saturday.

My Lauren (left) and friends

My son in yellow, Lauren, neighbors and neighbor's dog Samson.

A Lesson For The GOP

2008-01-16T07:21:00.000-06:00

This isn't the post I promised rockync, but it is what you get today. It has been a busy week at work, I have 3 nights of scouting ahead of me, and I had to spend several hours with my daughter in an emergency room situation. She is fine. She had her hand slammed in the door at school the other day and we just new that she had a broken hand. About the time the X-rays were taken she said she felt better and wanted Mexican for dinner. Nothing broken and a couple of days with some Tylenol and she is good as new.

Romney won Michigan last night, and there is something the GOP needs to take away from this primary. Conservative and GOP voters are begging for someone to take charge, and that person needs to be conservative. I don't mean to proclaim conservative, I mean Reagan-like in his/her conservatism.

Huck won Iowa with his social and religious views. McCain won New Hampshire with his fiscal views and his ability to play the middle. Romney won Michigan for his business and middle-class message. What does that tell us? it tells us that there are several constituencies within the GOP, and they all have a perspective that is important to them. It tells us that there is a wide variety of conservatives who are wanting someone to wrap all of those messages and philosophies into one package. We need someone who give each of these various constituencies what they need. Not what they want to hear, but what they need.

I have posted many times about how the GOP has squandered their chance between 1994 and 2004. I posted last week about the most important issues to me. Since change is the catchword of this electoral cycle, I think a true conservative would be a substantial change from what we have had since 1988.

Why can the GOP not get this message?

Edit: Go to Heidi's Place at Big Girl Pants for this outstanding post about comparing GOP candidates to views on Federalism. It is a good read.

What Exactly Is The Conservative Commentary Conservatism?

2008-01-11T10:28:00.000-06:00

In the previous post Ecophotos pointed out that there are different types of conservatives, and unless one is specific about which “camp” one belongs to it is hard to gauge his beliefs. I will attempt to self-define my conservatism. As you read this you must separate the GOP stereotypes as they exist today.

I define myself as a Reagan conservative. I believe that government is most often the problem and that the private sector and individuals provide not only the fuel to the economy but the innovative solutions that overcome challenges. Government has a role that was properly defined in the Constitution: provide for the general welfare of the citizenry, and do the things that the individual people cannot do for themselves. I think this consists of things like national defense, law enforcement, regulatory oversight of things involved in interstate commerce, and public health. I don’t think that means a socialistic health care system, but the Surgeon General’s office that looks out for the general health of the nation.

Socially I am conservative, but not to the extreme of the spectrum. I think that government has a role in maintaining an orderly society. I think that government should not find invisible ink between the lines to accommodate every tiny minority, but establish law that serves, again, the general welfare of the people. We should protect minorities, whether due to race or religion, so that the majority doesn’t trample anyone’s rights. However, when 4,000 people sit at a high school graduation and have no problem with a public prayer, an outside group who hears of it later should not be able to sue and change society.

I believe in the power of the individual. I believe that if I work my tail off to become prosperous, then I should be respected for it and not vilified because I don’t have to clip coupons or use public assistance to feed my family. If I reach a status where I can buy my 16 year old an H2 then that is my money spent how I wish to spend it and it is not your place to steal it from me and give to someone else. Not that I would do that for my children if I had a billion dollars. My daughter has a friend who has one and I think it does a terrible disservice to children to give them these things without a sense of what it takes to earn it. That should be MY decision though.

I have made both good and bad decisions in my life just like everyone else. I have made more good ones than bad ones, and I enjoy the benefits of those such as getting an education and working hard and participating in my community. I pay a relatively large sum of money in mortgage payments to live where I do so that my family can enjoy a community with a wonderful quality of life. I have a few bucks in my pocket to take my kids to a movie and to do scouting and have my son play baseball. I WORKED FOR IT. There was a time when I robbed Peter to pay Paul every week of every month. I didn’t demand government help nor did I resort to spending my time envious of others who had more than I. What I did was set goals, find a way to achieve them, and then attack them with 100% effort. Once I achieved them I set others, and the process will continue until I either die or retire with enough to keep me from being bored.

I do not lust for money or material things, BTW. I am not trying to get a 24,000 sq. ft mansion like John Edwards. I don’t want a private 747 like John Travolta. I don’t need a billion dollars and a butler. What I lust for is a quality of life where I can send my kids to school knowing that they are not going to be the victim of a drive-by while at the bus stop. A quality of life where they can play outside and the worst threat I feel is a teenaged driver coming around a curve. A quality of life that allows my children the opportunity to excel by going to a University. One where I can get a pay-per-view movie occasionally for no other reason than my daughter asked. I want to assure that my special needs daughter has the medical and special attention that she requires and that once I am gone she will be provided for by what I leave behind.

So government needs to get out of my way. Government needs to stop taking so much of my damned paycheck and give me my social security contributions back so I can realize those goals. I don't need them to take my money and save it for me, to return it with a pitiful 3% increase when i can doubld my money every ten years with some good mutual fund choices. For example, if at age 20 you save $300 a month for 40 years, at a very liberal 9% interest rate, at the age of 60 you wil have $1.5 million dollars. At the top social security payment which is about $2500 a month, it would take 46 years to get that much from the system. Since 20 year olds today can't get full benefits until the age of 72, what are the chances? I would rather have that $1.5 million at age 60, than wait until the government tells me I can retire on my own money.

I don’t need them to tell me that I shouldn’t eat Big Macs five times a week. I don’t need them to tell me that a video game called “Grand theft Auto” shouldn’t be given to kids under 16, nor that my 8 year old shouldn’t see pornography in a movie theater.

What I need is for government to help me achieve my goals by securing our borders and making sure that my family isn’t killed in a dirty bomb attack. I need them to make sure that there will be an American Dream left for my kids.

I am conservative, and proudly proclaim it. I hope this helps with the understanding of my personal conservatism.

I Think I Am Alone This Political Year

2008-01-10T09:18:00.000-06:00

I have no excitement about any candidate. Sometimes we have to pick the lesser of two evils. This year we are forced to pick the lesser of two evil positions. There is no candidate for which I can display more than 50% agreement. Maybe I am missing something, but I think it is more because I have become so hardened to the political rhetoric that means nothing. At the moment, everyone is staying as close to both sides of their parties as possible, and not wanting to alienate anyone.

For me to be excited about a candidate, I need one who:

1) WILL secure the borders. Our nation is so large that there is no way to completely stop every single determined person from getting in across one of our borders. However, there are entire criminal enterprise built around exporting people to America. This is not only an economic problem, but one that is a serious national security gap.

2) Supports and WILL reduce government spending. The GOP is as bad as the dems on this issue. I tire of the NEA grants and bridges to nowhere. I worked for the government, and I know first hand that the procurement and purchasing system wastes about 40% of every dime spent. To purchase lysol for an office: $8.00. I am not kidding. Did you know that many government offices RENT furniture instead of purchasing it? I worked in an office where the annual rental of furniture was over $50,000. We rented for FOUR YEARS. We probably could have purchased it all for $60,000. This is a post-it note on the budget, I know, but it is an example of the outdated and out-moded and just plain negligence on the part of congress to deal with real issues. We need less involvement in professional sports and a little more attention to what they should actually be doing on the hill. If you don't expect them to be responsible with your money, why do you elect them? Just to posture for your pet cause?

3) Recognizes that radical Islam and this war on terror SHOULD last for several generations. I warn you now that as soon as we can leave Iraq, people will be so delighted and at the same time so short-sighted that we will not pursue any of the other problems such as Syria and Pakistan. This is an effort that should continue, both diplomatically and militarily. (Off point but on topic - I bet you have no idea how many U.S. troops were killed in Iraq in December. I bet there has been NO report of this number lately, because while it is news it isn't news that fits an agenda. They loved to tell you when the number was over 100, but not now that the violence has been largely quashed. To save you the effort, the number is 23. in the month of the second most important Christian holiday, in a country where two years ago we were clueless, the numebr was 23.)

We can actually look at Hezbollah and HAMAS for some counter terrorist strategies. My graduate thesis included this concept, and I could have written another hundred pages. These groups do more than conduct terrorist operations; they have political and social wings that drive the public support. In the world of terrorism, the most important level of support is passive support. That is the population as a whole that supports the efforts of the group. These two organizations recognized that a long time ago, and have capitalized on it. We need a multi-faceted strategy that included humanitarian efforts, diplomatic efforts, and military pressures.

4) Begins a real effort at tax reform.

5) Finds a realistic and responsible answer for health care/insurance. I am not ignorant of the outrageous cost of health care and insurance. I am aware of the correlation between poor health, death, and the quality of care based on the ability to pay. However, imposing fines and making me a criminal because I don't sign up for a federal health insurance plan is not the answer. Forcing a huge tax increase so that I have to pay for my own insurance and then everyone else's insurance is not the answer. We need work, not words and ideas that make people feel good.

6) Has the mindset that we need strong minds on the U.S. Supreme Court (USSC) and nominate Justices that apply the rule of law and don't become creative with the U.S. Constitution. You would think that many USSC sessions are a deleted scene from the movie "National Treasure" and they look for the invisible ink between the lines. This has to stop.

These are my biggest concerns. Notice that these issues deal with the "general welfare" of the people and not any particular pet cause that I support. There is nothing about special rights for groups, no socially conscious issues like three toed tree sloths and their shrinking habitat because someone cut some trees in Arkansas. These are things that affect us all, and have languished because of politics for a long time.

What are your main interests in a candidate?

My First Award!

2008-01-10T09:13:00.000-06:00

From Jenn at Conservative Chic. I am humbled, and would like to thank the many small people who brought me here.

I will try and earn one for next year too!

What Is Next In The Hunt For The White House?

2008-01-09T09:33:00.000-06:00

I don't get to involved in primary analysis because the winds change each and every hour. We saw that yesterday in New Hampshire. I will offer a couple of thoughts, however.

The Clinton camp doesn't need to get so excited. A 3% victory in a state that is in love with McCain is nothing to brag about. Between Obama and McCain, their message is quite different than the Clinton liberal-esque message that the independents went to McCain which hurt Obama. I think time will tell us that the I voters do not move to the Clinton camp, even if she does turn out to be the Dem nominee. I still assert that she is unelectable in a national election, tears or no tears.

I have no idea what to make of the Republican field. There is no one that makes me enthused about November. Romney has never made a connection with me, and Rudy doesn't do it for me either. Don't misunderstand me, Rudy is a solid leader but the lack of a true conservative in this race is de-moralizing for me and most conservative voters. At this point I have not made up my mind about who I will support. Thompson has fallen by the wayside before he even got the cruise control set.

I hope that Clinton actually does go back to hubby's advisers and inner circle. The Clinton camp does not get this election, and I can't believe that so many people are not seeing the changes in message and attitude for what it is - blatant pandering. They are not focused on the real issues. Someone needs to tell her that this isn't 1963. Vietnam and Watergate are but a bad aftertaste for most of the population. New world, new issues, new threats.

I am curious to see whether Bloomberg decides to throw his name in as an independent. If he does, I think we would see a GOP win for sure. Time will tell...

Can Blogging Be A Bad Thing For Our Nation?

2008-01-05T11:18:00.000-06:00

This post may ramble a bit as I have a line of thought that hasn't fully matured, but I thought I would go ahead and post about it.

I said something a few days ago about not paying much attention to the Iowa Caucus. It doesn't really mean much except for giving the winners a little more media attention. I did find it interesting that once again the polls were wrong. The polls said there was a three way tie in each party, but it didn't finish that way. There were clear winners on both sides. I will say once again that I have had the opinion for almost a decade that Hillary wasn't electable, but I am a bit surprised that her campaign is now falling behind the upstart Obama.

Which leads me to the point of this post. The democrats have called for change for seven years now. They have refused to govern responsibly since they wont the mid term elections, and have accomplished absolutely nothing that they said was on their agenda. In fact, they made many promises that were just smoke from the beginning. One of those was to be the Congress that worked more than any other. Not that I want them in session more, but you get the point.

The cry for change has consumed so many that they are willing to vote for anything different. I think this is wholly irresponsible. Obama appears to be the new change and Oprah can claim some credit for this phenomena. Have we really reached the point where people listen more to a daytime drama queen than to their own minds?

We know that people vote in a reactionary fashion. They vote based on their personal circumstances more than anything. Appearances and soundbites are far ore important than real stories and analytical introspective.

The internet has created tens of thousands of people like you and me. We sit here day after day and give our opinions. We comment to each other in an attempt to exchange ideas and provide support for those ideas. What about those who don't blog, but actually seek information from blogs? Are they swayed by opinions and partial facts? Are they impacted by the analysis given here?

I think this may be more true than we think. I have looked at many blogs over the last couple of days following Iowa, and on the lib blogs there is a tendency to pose Governor Huckabee as the "extreme right wing" candidate, when that is not the truth. I have heard the word "evangelical" more time the past two days than in the last ten years. How many people visit blogs to find out about him? If they do, they are getting bad information. The conservatives I know, myself included, don't have a decent candidate in this race. I m not excited about any of my choices.

That doesn't matter for the 80% that will support their party. The 20% that are middle of the road voters and can go either way for a candidate are what is up for grabs. I am a little concerned that the information available about Obama and Huckabee will lead them astray. Can anyone tell me a single issue that Obama supported in the Illinois legislature? Can anyone tell me what his position is on anything outside the ignorant statements that we need to dialogue with tyrants?

How about Huckabee? Can anyone tell me what he think about North Korea? Syria? Russia selling nuclear equipment to Iran? It seems as if he may not the the sharpest tack in the box about current events.

This push for change may lead people to look outside the MSM for thoughts and ideas. Do bloggers do a disservice to our nation by the amateur analysis that we provide? We need intelligent voters who can decipher the sound bites and media spin and decide who should lead this nation. The rush for change may have a place, but I am not sure the internet should be its roots.

It Is A New Year!

2008-01-02T10:18:00.000-06:00

I am sure that isn't news to you, but I had to title this something. It has been almost a week since I have posted here, and I have enjoyed my time off. Playing Santa, having a New Year's Eve Auburn Football party, New Year's Day football (Did anyone see Georgia embarass Hawaii last night?) and generally hanging out with the kids.

The Iowa caucus is upon us, but I could really care less. It sets a tone for the rest of the race, but having it this early doesn't tell us much. I still don't know who I should support because Thompson is basically out of it. Maybe something will generate a post about that, but at this point it is just a conversation piece.

I do want to post this. I am sure most of you have seen it, but it was sent by a friend of mine before Christmas and I overlooked it. I just opened it a few minutes ago. While on the subject, I wish all of you a blessed, hally, prosperous, and rewarding 2008!

For My Democrat Friends and Family:
"Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere, and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishes. By accepting these greetings you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself or himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher."

For My Republican Friends and Family:

Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year!

Blue Fridays

2007-12-28T07:40:00.000-06:00

I usually do not even read those chain emails that take 20 clicks to get to the message, but a good friend of mine sent one yesterday that was interesting. It is a drive to gain participation, and is something that requires absolutely no effort on the part of anyone to be a part of it. I think I am going to take part, and by sheer circumstance I am wearing blue today. The message follows:

Blue Fridays.
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing
blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who support
our troops used to be called the 'silent majority' We
are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for
God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We
are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.
Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends,
simply want to recognize that the vast majority of
America supports our troops. Our idea of showing
solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and
respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and
every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a
deafening message that ... every red-blooded American
who supports our men and women afar, will wear
something blue.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United
States on every Friday a sea of blue much like a
homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every
one of us who loves this country will share this with
acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will
not be long before the USA is covered in BLUE and it
will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is
on their side more than ever, certainly more than the
media lets on.
The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can
we do to make things better for you?' is ...'We need
your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out
and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear
something blue every Friday.

WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE

Hello Friends, And Welcome To The Post-Christmas World

2007-12-27T09:39:00.000-06:00

As much as I love Christmas, I love the post-Christmas quiet as well. My two oldest go and visit their bio-father's side of the family, and the phones stop ringing and people stop dropping in at all hours of the evening.

For those that are regulars here, you know I left the Department of Homeland Security last November to try out the corporate world. I am still not sure if I made the right move, but that isn't the point. I spent the last 13 months with no vacation. I had vacation time, but there has been so much going on in taking over the operation that I just didn't have time. I am a big family man and usually make time for such things, but in reality it just wasn't possible this past year. Of course, part of being a family man is making sure they eat, and since I can't break them of that habit then my work sometimes has to take priority.

This year, I decided to take vacation time at Christmas, and am back at work today after seven straight days of almost uninterrupted family time. It was great and I am working two days and then off for four more. I am always afraid to be gone too long other wise someone will realize that they don't really need me.

So I left at lunchtime last Wednesday. Thursday night left my entire city without power for about four hours because of some 50+ MPH winds and storms. I personally loved it. No television or computers, and I broke out my backpack and my camping stove and cooked dinner over a one burner propane stove. I popped out some chemlights (those glow in the dark things you get at amusement parks. If you have kids, go to Walmart and get some. They are $1.88 for two, and they glow for 12 hours. When the power goes out the kids love them, and don't burn up your flashlights. They are also great treats once in a while when they are bored and they love to play with them and take them to bed with them. I keep a dozen pair of them in my pack for camping and for the house) That weather knocked down four trees on my property - four trees that were in excess of 50 feet tall. One of them took out my neighbors fence. We discovered them Friday afternoon, so my Saturday was spent playing lumberjack and repairing fence. Anyone need 220 feet of pine?

The rest of Saturday was hanging around the house and cleaning for our parents arrival. Sunday we spent picking up the last few items for Santa, and shopping at Costco.

Sunday brought Connie's parents, and Monday brought mine. Cooking, cleaning and eating were the orders of the day. Then, of course, was Christmas and hours of wrapping undone in less than 30 minutes.

It was wonderful. It was great family time and probably the best Christmas we have had in years. No one was stressed (we shopped almost exclusively online, wrapped Saturday and Sunday and didn't have to stay up all night, and my wife had everything just perfect for entertaining). The kids even worked really hard to clean the house without whining too much.

A good kick-off for a new year! By the way, Auburn plays Clemson New Year's Eve at 7:00 pm Central Time. I won't bombard you with my pre-game week as I did in November, but I am sure it will come up a time or two. Auburn has a new O coordinator who lives by the spread. It will be a great game.

I will return to serious posting soon, but at the moment I am in too good a mood to ruin it....