Politics in Action

Preident Obamas' Secret Weapon

2010-02-02T11:04:00.000-08:00

Ever since President Obama came to office, I've seen a change in the reporting coming from Afghanistan, and I don't mean the increase in US casualties.

While Bush was in office, the Predator drone came into it's own. From eyes in the sky to a real killing machine, once it was armed. Again, while Bush was president, we'd receive reports of strikes. How many missiles were fired and how many militants were killed. They also would include the number of innocent civilians that were killed or injured. Innocent women and children were always killed or injured back then.

Now we have a new administration and a new president. I don't hear about innocent life being taken in air strikes any more. Only militants. I don't think they chase everyone out of town (for their own safety) when they ride in, do you? How could they recruit female bombers?

All that makes me think that we must have some new kind of missile or targeting technology. To accomplish killing 20 or 30 at a crack takes a pretty well aimed big bomb # 1, or # 2 we've developed some kind of serious laser targeting optics to be able to pick only the militants out.

Either way, I can't wait to hear what the secret is. It surely can't be the liberal press.

The Obama Administration v. The Truth

2010-02-01T20:48:00.000-08:00

Talk about truth in government. All the presidents men were out in force explaining the nations defenses success in foiling the "the Christmas Day Bomber", Abdulmutallab.

Truth # 1; The Obama admin originally told the "American People" that he was a "Lone Wolf" and the system worked "Perfectly and flawlessly", no less. No worries. That the FBI collected all the intel it possibly could. That all the necessary parties were consulted, they all sighed off, then and only then, properly mirandized.

Truth # 2; Janet Napolitano, David Axelrod, Gibbs et.al. started to backtrack and try to rewrite the history of the event after it started to leak about what really happened during the "Interrogations". Everything pretty much stayed the same, except for little things like the timeline for the "Interrogations" and how quickly he was mirandized.

Truth # 3; Now the real truth. From reports we learned he was "Interrogated" for all of 50 minutes and then was given all the rights of a shoplifter. Nobody in real authority was informed and, well, basically they were trying to cover their asses.
50 minutes, though. What would you be talking about if your pecker and nuts had 2nd and 3rd degree burns all over? Terrorists, operatives, bases and names, or a big ass shot of Demerol?
Drugged or burned to a crisp, how much "Useful" info can you possibly get in either situation.
Now information's starting to surface about a possible connection between Abdulmutallab and 10 suspected terrorists in Malaysia.

I feel safer already.

Obama and "Treasure Island"

2010-01-25T10:22:00.000-08:00

The Obama mystique seems to be fading. His soaring oratory doesn't seem to have the inspiration it once had.
First, we apologized all over the place, extended our hand, lost the olympics, and then Copenhagen. Although he really didn't loose anything perse`, but they sure were flops. That is unless you were one of the more than 100 members of our fiscally conservative congress (after the state of the union speech, maybe) and their family members who took the taxpayer funded trip.
Then came the last 4 elections. The 2 for governor , one for the house, and the senate race.
President Obama campaigned for the 2 democrats running and they for rejected big time.
In the senate race, the President sure didn't help, or maybe he did and it would've been worse.
The house race? Once the republicans found a candidate they, and not the party honchos, liked, he almost won.
But, you can't tell them that. Take health care. The public doesn't like what they've seen. For dems to say the President hasn't tried to make his case is insane. He's made what 60-70 speeches just on the subject? Every topic is tied to health care.
Getting an endorsement from the Obama administration reminds me of the movie scene where Long John Silver got the "Black Spot" from his mates. Long John (Coakly) was happy to see them at first, but disappointed when he held out his hand. Long John Silver was able to get the crew to take it back with lies and trickery. It'll be interesting to see if other dems can do the same.

Obamas' Health Care

2009-07-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

The health care debate rages but there seems to be a few things that aren't being discussed often enough.

First there is the the thought of me losing the ins. plan I already have. 20 years ago our plan covered everything including a vision and dental plan. Vision and dental had a limit, but it was more than adequate for my family. Then came PPO's and HMO's. Our contractors, eager to reduce costs, forced the union to accept them, and that was without a presidential or congressional endorsement. Funny how noone seems to remember the grief from all segments of the American labor force who were forced into them. The president says we can keep what we have, but that's only if it's offered.

If you look at life survival rates for the major diseases, the US rates in the top 10%. Take cancer. In the U.K. only one type of cancer has a survival rate 90% or more. The US has 5 at or above 90%. Pick your own disease and check it out.

Let's face it, they can't read muchless debate over 1000 pages in the time left. Now that we can see the stimulus bill, the American People are nervous and rightfully so about effecting 18% of the economy. Besides, chairman Conyers said it's just a waste of time anyway. He says you need a lawyer for that and a couple of days, so why bother.

I keep hearing all this talk about wringing billions of dollars of waste out of medicare and medicaid. If there were that much waste, why'd they wait so long? I would've thought that they (congress) would've done that years ago to be able to pay doctors more so seniors don't have to get supplemental ins. to help them pay thir bills.

If singe-payer's the goal, then why do so many foriegners come here? Public broadcasting on the radio (NPR) has a program called "As it Happens" produced by the Canadian broadcasting co. and I've heard many programs about the Canadian health care system. Right now the big fight in their congress is about purchasing private ins. Liberals want to outlaw the purchase of private insurance. Imagine that. They call it "Jumping the Line" and say it's unfair to others who either can't afford to or don't want to buy it.

The president and some lawmakers are saying that we're already paying for the uninsured with higher rates. If we're paying for them now for X amount of dollars, why is it going to cost a trillion dollars more for the same thing?

Nancy Pelosi says the Illegal Aliens won't becovered in the bill. That should lower costs, right? Wrong. After pressing her and a lot of stammering she brought up the fine point about noone being turned away from an emergency room. Looks like we're going to be hearing about the uninsured for a long, long, time.

Then there's the publically funded abortion issue. Nancy really did some twisting and turning on that one. She kept on insisting that abortion wasn't the point. I already know that. It's just a part. Never did give an answer.

Bushs' Bet Pays Off

2009-06-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

Looks like Bushs' plan to give democracy a chance in the Middle East is starting to pay dividends. For the last 7 yrs., dems have been poking fun at his plan as folly.
But, it looks like Iran is having it's share of problems. I think the main reason is the Iranians watching the Iraqies vote for the people they want to represent them and not be overruled by the "supreme leader". They might not do the things the people actually wantdone, but then, neither do ours. Right? I mean, let's get real here.
They risk getting killed, but they're showing the world that it's worth the risk to secure your own future.
This is driving the the mullahs bonkers. The only way they seem to be able to fight back is with bullets.
It makes my heart sing to see the turmoil in Iran right now. I just wish the mullahs and army were the ones suffering and not the Iranian people. I'm 60 yrs. old and I've seen what the Iranian leaders have done the US citizens, and others, over the years.
I think of politics as more of a sport, and (to me) a very exciting one at that. I mean, nothing gets the blood flowing like a good old political fight, right? I'll bet that the more the Iraqies participate in their government, they'll come to see it that way too.
I wish the Iranians a lot of luck in their endevor. It's not easy to change a form of government and people don't give up their powerful positions easily. These mullahs aren't going to roll over like the Marcos', and it was plenty hard to get them out.

President Obama and the Pirate Czar

2009-04-15T00:36:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, when Andy Jackson was pres., the word czar was a bad thing. He used the term in his war with the banks.

Then in later years the term came more acceptable. In the 20's we had the "baseball", "beer", and "boxing" czars. Believe it or not, we even had a speaker of the house known as the "genial" czar.

During the Roosevelt admin. They had "price control", "production", "ships(?)" among others. They even had cartoons in the papers of the day about all of them. By the time Nixon's "drug czar"(1971) and the more famous "energy czar" (1973) came along, the word czar was falling into disrepute again. And we can see why. Jimmy Carter gave us "inflation" czars and it went to all time highs. Bush didn't use the term, and Obamas' not going to either.

But that doesn't mean we doesn't.

Right now we have an "energy", "urban affairs", "drug", etc, and talk of "cyber", "car", and whatever else they dream up.

I have a suggestion for them. We need a "PIRATE CZAR".

Shock Jocks

2009-02-18T00:50:00.000-08:00

I got a chuckle today when I saw the shock in people's eyes when they heard the auto industry would shed about 25,000 more jobs, close plants, and eliminate some car model lines.

Memories sure are short. A week ago, newscasters were talking about how the congress of the US virtually mandated that they do just that.

That they (the auto comps.) come up with a survival and repayment plan. The only way to do that is to slash saleries, reduce pension costs, and the like.

That they (the auto comps.) increase fuel efficency. The only way to do that is to stop making big cars and build smaller cars. The only problem is that people aren't buying any cars right now, big or small, and that leads to lay-offs.

But, congress knows best.

Gotta Love that Nancy and the Gang

2009-02-07T00:34:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that those Dems sure know how to build a "Stimulus" bill. It stimulated the whole nation. Two weeks ago, we were just cruising along sleepily. Then we were awakened with cold water in our faces.
The quote, unquote, "stimulus bill" did it. Some of that stuff was a real stretch as far as stimulating goes. One was birth control as a cost reduction tool. My first thought was that she and other dems think that there are too many poor (minority) kids being born, but was afraid to say that in so many words. Maybe I'm just being too cynical, but I just can't put anything past congress.
I'll bet our poor president never dreamed that something like this would ever happen. Whoever thought Obama would have trouble keeping dems onboard. Even Diane Fienstien has reservations about the effectiveness dems claim.
Dems under Pelosis' leadership, and Obamas' own words about posting bills on the White House website, really screwed him. All the paybacks for their friends blew up in their faces. I can't believe that the President doesn't know that they have to be herded like cattle. The only problem is they're more like cats. Slealthy, quiet, and independant.
The word on the street is that a back-room, closed-door deal has been reached. I wonder if they smoked? But we'll never see it though, until it's too late. Ried was going to call a vote tonite, but changed his mind. Moved it to Sunday.
He's scared dems will bolt and I can't blame him. Once the houses' plan came to light, the American People turned on it. Even a blind person can see that a better way is to drag out the process so that the final bill is presented to the President on the last day. It'll be easier to reinstate any stripped-out pet projects that way, and provides cover too.
Then congress et al. can stand there straight-faced, maws agape, and say "I don't know" when the American People get to eyeball it.
But anyway, the real action comes next week when the 2 bills have to be reconciled. I can see some real gnashing of teeth when the dems meet. Some say Nancy is pissed about the senate stripping out some of their pork. I can't see what that was though. A $819 billion dollar bill was sent over and was reduced to $780 Billion, but with another $50 Billion added in ammendments. To me, that adds up to $830 Billion. What's-up? That's cutting to the bone? But that's guarenteed to start a big fight. By the time they're done, if it passes, it'll barely make it to the Presidents' desk in time. So much for the American Peopls input.
Me? I can't wait until the real catfight starts next week.

Flg Flap

2008-07-03T22:56:00.000-07:00

To hear congressional democrats agonize over where U.S. flags are made sure gave me a chuckle. Once again congress' ineptitude gave us a problem that now has to be solved. It's just to bad that they don't realize that they aren't the solution, they're the problem.

It was all part of what I call the "congressional enlightening". It took place during the 1970's. Congressional members who were there and still are might not remember the debates, but I do. Democrats had control of both houses and they were flexing their muscles.

First of all, democrats in congress were having a fit about how much the defense dept. was being charged for parts by the defense contractors. Funny how they always seem to forget about how the ridiculous rules and requirements they specify drive up costs.

At the same time the world, led by Japan, began a full blown campaign to break into our markets. Back in those days it seemed like everything made in the world came from America.

Congressional democrats in their zeal to teach the contractors a lesson and to show the world their human face, passed a bunch of new laws, rules, and regulations on where and how our military bought parts. That opened the door and the rest is history.

First the Japanese cornered the market on our goods. Then when their items became to expensive, the Taiwanese stepped in. Then the Koreans and now China.

For me to think that the congress that devised this mess is going to be able to solve the problem is totally beyond my comprehension. I think the best thing to do is for them to stay on vacation so they can't do anything. Sooner or later the American People will get sick and tired of cheap products that only work once or twice and change their ways to demand and buy American once again.

Democrats, Going Green, and High Oil

2008-07-01T20:13:00.000-07:00

Everyday pundits, right and left, lament yet another new daily high price for gas and oil. Some seem to know the answer and others seem confused. When the reporters ask members of congress for answers, they just never seem to ask the really tough ones.

I have one for them. Are congressional democrats purposely driving the cost of gas and oil sky-high because they are pushing for alternatives?

Although no one likes to, sometimes you have to call a spade a spade. Democrats know that only high gas prices will pave the way for their "Green Policy". The first 6 years of the bush presidency, gas went from about $1.50 a gallon to about $2.25 a gallon. Since the democrats took control of congress less than 2 years ago, gas has gone from $2.25 a gallon to over $4.25 a gallon with no end in sight. That's impressive.

The democratic nominee, Barack Obama said that he would have preferred a slower rise so the "American People" could adjust to it easier. That's beautiful. His and congressional democrats answer that we should Go Green and Not Drive. What a great answer. Why didn't I think of that. Duh!

Only 1 little problem though, the burg I live in doesn't have that stuff.

Let's see, less than 2 years into the new democratic American direction gas has tripled, oil has tripled, corn has doubled, all grains have doubled, trucking costs for those still in the business have doubled, home heating fuel has doubled, electric rates have doubled, natural gas has doubled. Did I forget anything?

Well I guess that I did.I almost forgot to mention the food riots that have started since we became enlightened.

Last week when I saw the committee hearings with the oil execs., I couldn't help but think that the ones at the table should be members of congress themselves. I think Nancy, Barbara, Harry, Carl, should be sworn in, sat down, and made to fess up to the "American People" about their plan. But then again, did you ever notice that it's never congress? That they always have the right plan and solution? That it's always someone elses' fault?

Democrats have been working overtime to convince the "American People" that it's the fault of the oil companies, but it's just not working for them. 75% of the "American People" are seeing through the charade. They realize that we need to drill and refine also. Even Californians!

But remember, our esteemed congress has worked hard these last few weeks after their last vacation. They're all burned out and had to take their 4th of July vacation without doing anything at all about our energy problems, much less the housing problem. It's just to hard for them to concentrate on this right now and they had to go home.

So good luck to everyone, it looks like democrats in congress are going to keep oil prices sky-high for a very long time to come. It's the only way to make "renewables" alive.

Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama

2008-05-30T01:04:00.000-07:00

Declining home values, increasing taxes, lost jobs, unpopular war, sky-rocketing gas prices. For some strange reason, I feel like I'm going to have my own "Ground Hog Day" experience. I hope I'm wrong, but I can't help but think that we (the American People) are in for a rough few years. I'm older and when I look around I feel like I'm looking at a 70's rerun. It's definitely a thriller, but probably more like a horror film for some.
The 70's made people want change from the establishment. We turned to a plain spoken man from Plaines, Ga., Jimmy Carter. New and Improved foreign policy, go green to get off oil, human rights, etc. That's when the disaster really started. Carters' foreign policy gave us Islamic fundamentalism for the 1st time and in our faces. Home prices sunk, gas prices soared, jobs left America in droves, intrest rates went to over 20%, America seemed doomed. The only difference between then and now are the intrest rates and I fear that it's just a matter of time.
After that fiasco the "American People" really wanted change and we got Ron Reagan, Reagan dems., and the Reagan Revolution.
I don't know why, but I have a feeling that a Barack Obama presidency will do for the Republican party what Carters' did. Put them back in power for a long time.

Audacity of Hope

2008-04-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

Senator Obama cried Mama. What's a candidate to do? Pesky debates and questions. That darn Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopolis had the "Audacity of Hope" to expect him to answer some questions that the "American People" might want to hear. I guess Charlie and George didn't realize the audience was there to hear another campaign speech about "Hope " and "Change".
How he'll actually do it is another story. He doesn't seem to have a idea, or even an clue as to how. I haven't heard a workable plan from the senator. I guess that's all we can hope for from Barack.
Being from Chicago, Il., where 39 people were shot and 9 killed last Saturday and Sunday, I don't expect much more than a "Present" from him. I can honestly say I never heard of him until he ran for the U.S. senate. I can only surmise that's because he doesn't really have a plan or an agenda to push. Only "Hope" and "Change". Barack voted present most of the time in the Il. senate, so atleast he showed up there, unlike his performance in the U.S. senate. All he's done there is campaign, even with all the shooting and killing that's been going on in his old hometown.
But I have to admit, he sure does know how to get ahead. He has a nice home in Chicago, thanks to indicted political fundraiser Tony Rezko who basically gave himhalf of his land in a deal. I should say a "Great" deal.
An annual income that rose from $200,000 a year when he was an Il. senator to $4,200,000 now that he's in the U.S. senate. PUBLIC SERVICE pays.
I'll bet he's "Hoping" that won't "Change" anytime soon. I'm sure it won't.
After more than a year on the campaign trail I'ld have thought that he'ld have something more to say than "Let's hope".

"Political Economy at Any Speed"

2007-05-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

It'll be summer soon, I hope, and soon the individual states will unleash the state troopers on us. Ofcourse they'll tell us that it's for safeties sake, but now the truth be told, as they say. Another insight into the workings of government.

I ran across an interesting article in the Chicago Tribune today. The article is written by Jon Hilkovitch and is about a study done by Michael Makowsky, a PhD candidate in economics at George Mason U., who did it with econ. prof. Thomas Stratmann. The data is based on traffic stop data from about 350 municipalities in Massachusetts. They said the findings are universal and prove what many people already believe.

Makowsky got the idea for the study after his vehicle with out-of-state plates was pulled over for speeding. He was going 75 in a 65 mph zone, but was in the right hand lane because he was being passed by other drivers. He got a ticket.

Makowsky said "the police are almost exclusively writing higher numbers of tickets to out-of-town drivers in the year that a referendum proposal fails. It's an interesting way to export the tax to non-voters. It's hardly likely that drivers are becoming more reckless when they go through towns that are running out of money. The data showed us that while it's the police officers job to to write tickets to violators, police also respond to incentives put out there by their supervisors, and also to elected officials responding to economic issues."

Stratmann said that he was looking for evidence that "justice was blind." But,"what we found was in fact, people weren't treated remotely equally under the law."

People have suspected that ethnicity and race have something to do with a driver being stopped, but this study documents additional reasons showing that ALL drivers are not treated equally under the law.

According to the study-
Drivers with out-of-state plates are 50% more likely to be ticketed, compared to 30% for locals.
The farther a driver lives to a courthouse where a ticket could be challenged, the more likely you'll get a ticket and the fines would probably be higher.
In municipalities where a property tax increase has been voted down, you have a 28% chance of a ticket and higher fines.
In other municipalities, there's only a 10% chance.
In towns with tourist attractions, the police issue fewer tickets.
On average female drivers are 35% less likely to receive a ticket.

So remember, for your own good, that there are a lot of towns that have rejected tax increases this year, so be careful! As Makowsky added " the police aren't told to catch more burglars as a way to raise more revenue."

Obama: How He Did It

2007-04-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

Presidential candidate and freshman senator Barack Obama has been in the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper lately. The headline is " Obama and His Slumlord Patron". It's a long story spanning a 17 year friendship. Almost all of Illinois' Democratic politicians are involved somehow (MONEY) with the main character.You've got the Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), Mayor Rich Daley (D), the Cook County Board Pres. (D), Ill. Attorney General (D), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D), a few Chicago alderman (all D), and more, just about all of them, except Sen. Durbin (D). So far.

The slumlord patron is Antoin "Tony" Rezko. He's an indicted businessman. Tony was indicted for influence-peddling and demanding kick-backs on state business deals under Gov. Blagojevich (D). HE gave the Gov. $117,652 and helped raise millions and the Gov. gave his friends jobs and state appointments. Simple right, but that's history.

Rezko got into the low-income rehab business from 1989 - 1998. The company name was "Rezmar". He got millions in state loans and more millions in federal rehab money and even more millions courtesy of the city of Chicago, read taxpayers. All the while he acquired apartment buildings. 30 in all for a total of 1,025 apartments. The last 15 buildings (at least $43 million in loans) involved the law firm where Obama worked and while he was working there. The firm specialized in low-income housing development. Rezko and a partner also managed the buildings and were supposed to provide low-income aparts. for 25- 30 years.

Every project ran into trouble. Here's a partial list.
-17 buildings, alot with code violations, including no heat, ended in foreclosure. 1 building (31 apartments) in Obama's state senate district, had no heat from Dec. 27,1996 until atleast Feb. 3, 1997 when the city sued to have it turned on. Obama recieved a $1,000 donation from Rezko on Jan. 12, 1997 while the heat was off. There are 10 more of Rezkos' buildings in Obamas' dist. also. Some with 60 - 100 apartments.
-6 are boarded-up
-Hundreds of apartments are empty and need major repairs
-The City of Chicago has sued him at least 12 times for lack of heat
-The Taxpayers are stuck with millions in unpaid loans.
Got the picture?

As I said, the law firm Obama worked at handled Rezkos' business. The Chicago Sun-Times asked one of the partners, Judson Miller, the late Mayor Harold Washingtons' main man, for a list of the Rezko cases Obama worked on. They were told it would take 1 or 2 days to compile. That was on March 13, 2007 and to date, no response or list.

The Sun-Times reported that, for the last 5 weeks they have tried to interview the senator himself, but to no avail. His STAFF would only accept written questions, and then, didn't even answer them all.

Obama started his political career 2 years after he started with the firm. The Rezko dollars started to flow. Newly elected state sen. Barack Obama worked for the firm another 8 years while serving in the Il. senate. His presidential campaign staff has admitted that Obama did work on Rezko deals, but nobody knows which ones. And I mean N O B O D Y. Not even the senator. He said that he heard a lot of complaints, but NEVER one from a Rezko tenant. Imagine, no heat in the middle of winter and it gets cold here too, and not one word. Not one complaint. Nothing. Those are good tenants.

Rezko was a good friend to Obama and a good fund-raiser. Obama appointed him to his U.S. Senate finance committee. They raised $14 million according to the FEC and helped Obama go to Washington.

Then 2 years ago, Obama bought a mansion in the Kenwood neighborhood of Chicagos' South Side. The same day, Rezkos' wife bought the vacant lot next door even though the property was only one listing. The owner sold the mansion to Obama for $300,000 LESS than the asking price, while getting his full asking price from Mrs. Rezko for the vacant lot. Then last year Obama wanted to make his lot bigger, so he bought a strip of the land from Mrs. Rezko for $104,000.

It had already been reported that Rezko was under investigation when Obama bought the land.

But when you ask the good senator about any of this, He Can't Remember. He Doesn't Recall, so to speak. The Sun Times can't get the answers, nor can NBC News. The Sun Times' Tim Novack and NBCs' Carol Marin had to team up to get what little we did get.

Memories from a By-Gone Era

2007-03-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

WOW! What a sight to behold. I never thought I'd see anything like this.

Let me start from the beginning. Today America honored the Tuskegee Airmen for their valor and service to the U.S. during WW2. This is something that's long overdue. I saw the movie, I bought it to see it.

Anyway, there on the dais was the honorable senator Robert Byrd. Been in congress forever. He was all smiles and looking proud as he looked on. Kinda like he just had a new grandchild. He looked as if he had something to do with the creation of the group or was one of their main supporters. He just beamed.

Then reality set in. It brought back memories of the old days. I can't remember exactly when this event took place, but it was in the late 60's or early 70's.

Yep, back then the nation was caught up in the civil rights movement. I was pretty young back then, but as I remember it, the honorable sen. Robt. Byrd was a loyal member of the Ku Klux Klan, along with others. There was a major row over the fact that some senators were admitted members and wouldn't renounce their memberships. All of a sudden, I came home one day, turned on the news, and after the Viet Nam coverage, there was the honorable sen. Robert Byrd on TV, tearing up his membership card. To me, back then, it seemed like it took years of brow-beating for the honorable sen. Robt. Byrd to throw in the towel.

Ah yes, the hypocrisy of it all. I almost died when I saw him standing there today. Just when you think that you've seen it all, a brick hits you in the head.

Jimmy Carter's response

2007-03-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

I got a kick out of hearing former Pres. Jimmy Carter speaking about Pres. Bushs' remarks on the similarities between the Iraq and Revolutionary Wars. I thought it was a joke at first, then I realized that he was either serious or trying to rewrite history.

He said that the Revolution was an unnecessary war and that we'd be a free country today anyway. I guess he thinks we should have waited for over 300 years for our bold expirement.

The British government didn't break-up the Empire out of the kindness of their hearts. I sure don't remember it that way and having been in politics at the time it occurred, I'm sure that he knows the truth too. It all started with African nations wanting to throw off the chains of Colonial Europe. The British, French, and Portugese. The U.S. didn't have any colonies. Then it spread around the Empire to other countries. After years of riots and revolts, trying to hold it all together, they came up with the Commonwealth idea. Those countries fought long and hard for their independance.

The part I really can't believe is not one reporter or anyone else has tried to set the story straight.

Searching, Searching

2007-03-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

Congress is hunt again. Searching high and low, for who's responsible for the conditions at Walter Reed Hospital.

The U. S. Congress, the most gutless assembly that I can remember, Are all looking for the responsible party, or parties, in the plight of our wounded Soldiers. It'll never in a million years occur to our elite members of congress, that THEY are partly to blame too. More them than anyone else as far as I'm concerned.

Our gutless elite didn't have the guts to debate the base closings when the time came, so they did one of the things that they do best. PASS THE BUCK ! Congress, in all it's wisdom, PASSED THE BUCK and left it up to a commission, then JUST HAD TO VOTE FOR THE BILL. They didn't have any choice. Poor babies. Funny how if you're on the hot seat in front of them, you can't PASS THE BUCK, unless it's to blame Bush for it. They always want to hold someones' feet to the fire. They don't understand how anyone could forget either, unless they're the ones under indictment.

The commissions recommendations were put into a bill and passed by congress, under duress, I'm sure. As usual they probably didn't have time in their busy schedules to read the entire bill, and must not have noticed Walter Reed was on the list to be closed. (Probably out raising money for their reelections.) So our wise leaders CUT FUNDING FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS FOR CERTAIN BASES. DUH!!!!! That leads to reductions in everything and that ain't rocket science. But maybe we need a STUDY first.

You know, the more I think about it, it seems like every time our noble congress gets involved to fix something, it really stinks later. And I mean everything. Just look at the security letters that have been sent out. In 1986 Sen. Pat Leahy got a bill passed allowing the FBI to use them. Now they (FBI) are, they (congress) don't like it, and are trying to PASS THE BUCK off on the Bush admin. Not to loudly though, lest the truth get out among the masses.

Soon it'll be immigration. But at times I think that we might have to wait until after the 2008 elections for that present to our children. The last thing dems want to do is give President Bush an accomplishment to point to.

Sticks and Stones

2007-02-28T19:47:00.000-08:00

I watched an interview on PBS's Lehrer News Hour and their guest was the Sec. of Veterans Affairs. This guy stunk. He was really bad. I would've thought that he would've brushed up on what he was going to say. At the very least, they should have sent someone more polished. I sure don't like what I've been hearing about the treatment of our Vets lately, so I wanted to hear what he had to say.

He said that the V.A. sees over a million people per week, has a budget of 78 billion dollars, was going before congress tomorrow to ask for 10 billion more, and that they are learning about how to treat head wounds. I almost fell out of my chair when I heard that one. I could understand the problems there are though.

But, Armies have been seeing head wounds ever since the 1st Man picked up the 1st rock or stick and let the 1st somebody have it in the 1st back of the head.

I got into an argument with my ex about it. Her brother is a Viet Nam Vet too, and he was wounded in the head. He lived and although he lost some of field of vision, he's all right. He can drive and do everything he wants to do. She started talking about her brother and I said that they are seeing more severe cases now. Medical tech. has come a long way in the last 37 years. Half the people they are saving now probably would have died back then. That doesn't excuse whats happening now though. I can see where the magnitude of the injuries and numbers of them could lead to problems, but get more money or doctors or whatever.

It's one thing to keep people alive, but another to heal a brain. Our doctors are still in kindergarten when it comes to that stuff. There's going to be alot of learning to do, for everybody. I just hate to see research being done this way.

The Sec. said he was going before congress tomorrow to ask for more money. Only problem is, right now congress is getting ready to express its will to the "American People". They are trying to figure out a way to make 12 million ILLEGAL ALIENS and then their families, legal and not make it look like the duck it is. AMNESTY. Our esteemed members of congress, who didn't have the guts or backbone to do this before the election, are planning on spending billions of "AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS" giving aid and comfort and everything under the sun to the ILLEGAL ALIENS. Don't get me wrong, I think some Illegals and their families should be allowed into this country and made immediate citizens. They are the ones who are or were U.S. Soldiers. As far as I'm concerned, if you want to come here so badly that you're willing to join the Military and fight for this country, you stay!

We'll see tomorrow how much and how fast the congress acts to take care of our own soldiers. I can't wait to see what they vote on 1st. Immigration or Our Vets. I just hope that enough of them cut their campaigns short so that they can hear what this guy has to say. I understand how tough that might be though, with the next election only 2 short years away and all.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

2007-02-13T04:49:00.000-08:00

It seems like Hollywood has found a new star. It wasn't on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, not on stage, or even in the heavens. I should rephrase that, it was on stage, and in Springfield, Il. of all places. It's always the last place you look.

Excuse me for not falling all over myself over our native son (?), but I'm from The Great State of Illinois and I've seen Barak in action. I'll have to rephrase again, I HAVEN'T seen him in action. Now that I think about it, I can't remember one thing he did or even said. I don't remember any speeches, news quotes, interviews, Nothing. People in the Great State of Illinois would be hard-pressed to point to one accomplishment, law, bill, or anything. He's a professor of constitutional law, but so what? Any problems arising from disagreements between the executive and legislative branches of govt. are handled by the third branch (judiciary). The 1st time I can remember hearing about him was when he ran for the U.S. Senate.

I read the glowing reports in the Chicago Sun-Times and looked for the reason. They reported he wanted to do the same things that everybody else wants to do. Everybody there was all agog over his presence and all that. No specifics or banter about healing the Nation's Wounds. That'll come later, I guess. Just how excited this or that person was to be in his presence. The Press is really behind him with more media outlets seeing the vision everyday. Some still feel some loyalty to the Clintons, but that's going fast. If Barak can pass the Black Enough test, he's the man. There's no record to defend. Kerry should have been so lucky.

I guess that's why the Hollywood left is jumping ship. It's been reported that David Giffon and Jeff Katzenburg (Dreamworks Film Studios) are booking up. Former President Clinton had to personally intervene to stop Steven Spielburg from endorsing Barak. Bummer. They all plan to hold a big fund-raiser for Barak on Feb. 20 in L.A.

I'm starting to see problems with my "Swiftboat" theory, but the election is a long way off. It's so long that I think I'll suffer from Burnout long before it ever comes to pass. I'm getting tired already just thinking about what we're in for. They're all talking about spending hundreds of millions of dollars, and you know what that means.

We Were Cavemen

2007-02-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

So, the big, long-awaited report on Global Warming finally came out. It's to bad that some of the scientists left the group because they didn't agree with some of the conclusions. Naturally, humans are to blame. Never mind that Canada, the upper US, and the northern halves of Europe and Russia were covered by a sheet of ice more than 1 mile deep only 25,000 years ago. I actually think that's when global warming started.

I was watching an interview on TV (Lerher News Hour, I think) and one of the people was Prof. Oppenhiemer, Princeton U. He said something I found very interesting but was probebly missed by 90% of the audience and, it seems to me, the interviewer. That person didn't ask anything about what he had just said.

He was questioned about predictions of the effects of global warming. He said that the Earth was much warmer once in the past than it's projected to get and that we could get some clues from the LAST TIME EARTH THE EARTH WAS WARM.

THE LAST TIME THE EARTH WAS WARM? That had to be atleast 400,000 years ago or more. A couple of days ago, there was a news report about the LAST ICE-AGE. Fox News reported that scientists now think the LAST ICE-AGE lasted 400,000 years. They made their conclusions from the fosselized teeth of extinct horses. A few months ago, there was another news report that the surface of the planet Mars has been getting warmer. Who do we blame for that? The US's Mars Rovers?

As far as I know, there haven't been any reports of anyone ever finding 50,000 year old coal-fired power plants, cars, or buried cities. Well there may be cities, afterall, we are still looking for Atlantis.

Scientists say that We Were Still CAVEMEN back then. Going out day after day, looking for food, and clubbing women over the head to get a mate. Yet, day after day, we keep hearing about what we did to cause global warming. Just being born and sucking up oxygen causes one man's pollution, I guess.

I guess I just don't get it. I agree that we haven't made things any better, but whatever is gong to happen is going to happen no matter what we do. The planet is starting to warm-up again. We might contribute, but it's just "NATURE RUNNING IT'S COURSE", kinda like being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Our Real Mid-East Friends

2007-01-26T10:01:00.000-08:00

It isn't Egypt, Lybia, Pakistan or even Turkey. There's only one country in the middle-east with any guts to stand-up to Iran. You'd be hard pressed to get any of the Elites in congress to recognise that fact though. Our allies, the Saudi Arabians are the only ones willing to sacrifice for the good of the world. They're moving to cutoff Iran's money supply.

A few months ago, oil was $80 a barrel and looked like it was headed even higher. Now it's down in the $50 range and looking like it's going lower. Yes, some will say that we've had a mild winter, and it may have started that way, but it's back to normal now.The Europeans had a good shot of winter also.

The Saudis did something our own Elites in congress would never do. I don't know if congress lacks the vision, intelligence, or both. The Saudis chose to fight fire with fire. They seem to be trying to cut-off Iran's money supply. I think it's really a very good idea. Flood the oil markets and Iran runs low on Money. Da! It makes sense to me. All we hear in America is, "it's going to take 10 years to get the arctic oil developed." They may be right, But we've been hearing that song and dance since the "OIL SHOCK" back in 1976 when Jimmy Carter set the whole 1,000,000 acres in the arctic refuge aside for oil drilling. Even he knew we had to do something. For the youngsters, those were the days we had to wait in lines to buy gas, when it was available. And then, only on even or odd days.

I'm not stupid enough to think that the Saudis did it for our good. They did it to protect themselves. They aren't stupid enough to believe that anyone can negotiate with Iran. They've been members of the UN for to long to know that they can't do anything either. Our congressional goofs still think that Iran wants to negotiate. They aren't looking for negotiations anymore than al Qaeda is. They have an agenda and plan to carry it out no matter what.

Iran's president told the world to "let America bring it on". That America's not capable of doing much harm to them. The best that our Elites in congress can come up with is Negotiate? With who and for how long? 50 years or so? All the Democrats in the hallowed halls of congress seem to want to do is make a deal. Are we talking about the kind Bill Clinton made with N. Korea? You know, make a deal, give them a whole bunch of money, and then have them do what the N. Koreans did to Bill and us? Feed the army and build "the bomb"?

The Saudis know that the UN is too impotent to do anything about Iran. Our congress sure doesn't have the balls. So they decided to apply their own sanctions. Deprive Iran of their revenues, and they can't cause more mischief than they already are. Iran must be starting to feel the pinch too. They are lashing out using their proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Sadr in Iraq.

I'm sure the Saudis heard about the N. Koreans helping Iran build long range missles by now, and I'll bet they're worried. I wouldn't be surprised to see all those oil producing countries ramp up production and drive the price down to $25 a barrel again, but that won't happen. But I'm sure they are willing to do almost anything to stop Iran even if we aren't.

That helps us with Chavez too. He was living large, passing out dough to all his U.S. hating pals. But now, with oil dropping, I'll bet we hear less from him too. He'll probebly lash out somehow trying to get our attention, but hopefully, he won't be able to do much damage.

It's just to bad that our very own elites in the hallowed halls of congress can't see the forest through the trees.

Thank you Saudi Arabia.

Push, push of the Bush

2007-01-19T15:43:00.000-08:00

Call it a conspiracy if you want, but I think I see a plan in action. The senate and house democrats have their play book in hand, and they're executing their plan right now. And it doesn't include anything that might actually benefit the "American People".
It seems like the democrats will do anything that they have to, to lose this war. I couldn't understand their reasoning before, but I think I get it now.
Stop Bush! Only I don't think they're talking about George, I think it's Jeb they're worried about. He was pretty popular a couple of years ago, and it must've really put a scare into alot of democrats.I've never seen our hard working, elected officials in such a frenzy. Every Sunday on the talk shows, there is a parade of democrats Bushing this and Bushing that. I'm always amazed at how they can find so many complainers and hardly anyone who agrees.
It's a simple plan. Stop everything that the President is trying to do to protect the "American People" from Islamic crazies. They managed to stop the SWIFT program (following the money trail), put a stop on electronic intercepts,rendition, interrogations, and are still trying to get rid of Gitmo. Then all you have to do is, "Just say it didn't work". George Bush and the republicans lost the war. They didn't know what to do. Drag George Bush's name through the mud and make the Bush name one to fear. George Bush is stupid, he can't speak, he's incompetent, a war-monger, an abuser of the constitution, and on and on and hope that it rubs off on the Jebster. Jeb is more articulate than his brother, so that will present a problem for them. That's why they are getting started now.
Their plan seems to be working though. Even some republicans are starting to jump ship. It seems like people have a hard time believing that there's someone out there wanting and waiting to kill us.
The constant drumbeat for negotiations, but with who? People who will tell us anything we want to hear, just to get what they want? Bill Clinton sent Madeline over to negotiate with North Korea, and wow did they make a great deal for the U.S. We gave them food aid (probably went to the army), and oil and lots of other goodies. What did Kim do with all the money we saved them? He made extra money counterfeiting and developed a nuclear bomb, or so they say. He also worked and starved his people to death. All I can say is, thank you for sending Madeline over there. She did such a great job for the world and mankind. The whole world is much better off today, because of their foresight. Then there's Bosnia. 15 years ago, Bill Clinton told us American troops would only be there for 1 year. Out of the 20,000 NATO forces still there, 3/4's of them are US soldiers (18,000). Plus, we provide everything.
Then there's the "Bring the troops Home, because we're the problem" crowd. When the troops in Okinawa were a problem a couple of years ago because of a rape accusation, I don't recall anyone calling for the troops to come home. They don't like us there. We're the problem there. We've had 40,000 troops occupying their land for 60 years now. 80,000 occupying German soil to protect Europe from something. There's plenty of trouble there too. Bombings and everything. That doesn't sound like we're loved there to me. 37,000 troops occupying South Korea. It seems like every week there are riots and protests about our troops being there. They say we're the problem and don't want us there. Nobody here in the hallowed halls of congress seems to hear that though.
I sure hope that the next president is a democrat. I wouldn't be surprised to see alot of hand-wring and squirming when the next president says his hands are tied and there's nothing he can do. Alot of finger pointing as they try to undo what they did to Bush. Either that, or we'll be hearing Bush did this and Bush did that for the next 20 years. Hillary is already complaining about the next president having to deal with the situation.
Later.

A Railroad Story

2007-01-18T14:25:00.000-08:00

Just a note to start; the Village of Orland Park recently enacted a smoking ban for the welfare of the world's citizens. Naturally, the restaurants and bars lost 30% of their business, and thus the town 30% of those revenues. All of a sudden, the town's leaders decided that this was a little hasty. The law is going to be studied for it's effect on the community, so it'll be lifted starting now, which co-incidentally happens to a Bears playoff game day. I'm sure they'll be done with their study after either the playoffs, or if the Bears win, the Superbowl. So much for public servants and the health of the nation.

I see that Jane Bond, a.k.a. Valerie Plame, is in the news again. Time to railroad another govt. official for not remembering. It seems like none of them, and I mean from the president all the way down to the "dog catcher", ever remembers anything. Yet, they wouldn't understand you not remembering. They're going to get "Scooter' Libby for not remembering the right way (lying).

We have to get this straight. Even though it's now known that Richard Armitage (Media darling Colin Powell's aide) originally leaked her name to the press, we're going after "Scooter". Even though Joe Wilson lied about who sent him to Niger, and who "pulled his name out a hat", we're going after "Scooter". From what I saw on
Fox News and CNN just about everyone in her neighborhood knew that she drove her shiny, new red Jaguar off to Langley everyday. The only people who didn't know who she was, were the American People.

The real story is Aldridge Ames gave up the goods on operations and ops. personnel in the former U.S.S.R. and then Russia back in 1985. His operation lasted until 1994 when he got caught. By them we lost about 130 agents. Atleast 9 of them were executed by the KGB. If it were me, I'd be thankful that the U.S. was able to get her out alive so that she could work at Langley as an analyst. Instead Mr. Wilson feels he's been done wronged, lied to.

It's not like she can ever be a "top secret agent" ever again. After the Ames expose`, every security service in the whole world knew who she was and what she looked like. I'm sure that if they needed her expertise, they could find someone, somewhere in the country to fill her shoes at Langley.

Then we have to hear the likes of Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy, Carl Levin, Hillary, John Kerry, and the rest all wondering what happened to our intelligence. Those who don't learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.

Those Educated Letter Writers

2007-01-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

I ran across a letter to the editor last Sat. 1-13-07. It was written by an elite. The Asst. Prof. of History at Northwestern Univ., Melissa McCauley. I can see that these kids are getting a real education from her.
In the letter, she talks about the “Voo-Doo” economics of the Bush administration. I don’t know if she can’t read, is just ignorant of the facts, just doesn’t care, or what, but according to the news reports of the last 5 years, the receipts into the treasury have been going up every year, year after year. I’m confused. Is the Liberal Press lying for the Bush administration? I doubt it. That doesn’t sound like “Voo-Doo” economics to me. It sounds like somebody actually might have gotten it right. Imagine that. Soon, after our taxes are paid, we’ll read and hear about it again.
She also talked about “Realistic Dreams” and “Winning Hearts and Minds”. What’s unrealistic about thinking that another group of people could hope to have some of the freedoms we have here? Professor, do you think that Iraqi’s are incapable of choosing their own destiny? Why do they all flock to the United States, if given the chance, if it’s so bad here? I just don’t get it.
As far as “winning hearts and minds” goes, who ever dreamed that these people would start killing each other with such ferocity? I can sleep at night knowing that this wasn’t the outcome people were expecting. I was under the impression that the Sunni and Shi’a settled their differences 1,000 years ago, but I guess I was wrong about that. This is just Iraqi against Iraqi, seeking revenge, plain and simple. All George Bush did was take the lid off and the pot boiled over.
Imagine if when President Kennedy was assassinated, all the Catholics and Protestants, or the Christians and non-Christians started killing and blowing each other to smithereens for a few years. We’ll have to bring in some Canadians or maybe Mexicans to kill people in both of our groups. Maybe some torture with a power drill for a little extra added excitement. You couldn’t even imagine that happening here or England or France or Germany or where ever, so why should we expect that kind of activity in Iraq? It looks as if we here in the West are just going to have to “Understand” and “Feel their pain”. You know, like we’re told. They have some shaking-out to do. Maybe the Rev. Jesse Jackson or Gov. Bill Richardson can go there and do something. But that’s wishful thinking. The Rev. Jackson is busy shaking down various businesses and the Governor is busy wrapping up the “crisis in Darfur”. Good Job.
Maybe cutting and running’s the way to go. I doubt it. I don’t think that even our “Friends” even believe that or that we would do it. Well maybe do it. After all, they’ve seen us run away before like with Viet Nam. We left with our tails between our legs, and a few million people died. But, “We felt Their Pain”, I’m sure. I was around then, but I can’t say I felt any pain. But, in the end, who really cares? Certainly not Sen. John Kerry or Rep. Jack Murtha or most any other democrat, that’s for sure. They led the Abandonment charge back then, and they are proudly doing the same thing today.
She wrote about how history looks back on presidents, but got it all wrong. History will smile on Goerge Bush. He’s the only president prepared to do what really is for the good of the American People. Make these Muslims deal with this nonsense, once and for all, I hope. That’s more than you can say for the Clinton administration. They had Sandy Burgler go and steal damaging, sensitive papers and destroy them before the truth could come out.
Repeat a lie enough and it becomes the TRUTH.