Monday, September 30, 2013

Let's Talk...

In 2009, Eric Holder called us a nation of cowards because we don't talk about race enough.  Can you imagine what Holder would say in that conversation?

"Black people aren't smart enough to get identification, so you can't require it to vote."

"Black people can't get to polls on election day, so we have to have election month."

"Black police officers and firefighters are not as smart as their white counterparts, so written tests can't be used for promotions.

"Black people can't get good credit, so we need to force banks to loan money to them."




If I were black, I would not want to have that conversation with Holder...

Friday, September 27, 2013

Saddest Boy Ever...

I was watching a video on You Tube, and saw the title of this video on the side.  So I watched.

Apparently the Jenny Jones show, back in the day, did an episode of "Boot Camp my pre-teen" wherein they had parents bring their misbehaving kids on the show, and a "Drill Instructor" scared them straight....

...but look what happened.





He didn't need a boot camp, he needed a Dad.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The Burden...

"...there's no federal cost in raising the minimum wage.  There's no federal government cost in pay equality. These are policy issues.  The childcare issue probably has to be done in steps...and when the children are in preschool, that frees parents to earn without carrying the burden of childcare."
                                                                                                    - Nancy Pelosi, July 28, 2013







Former Speaker of the House Pelosi is talking about having the government fund daycare.  This is from her website:



Note the second bullet point, "...yet in the U.S., families are generally left on their own for providing child care."  Then read all the solutions.  It is no wonder the country is broke.  And there is no wonder who is to blame.  There is no possible way to fix it with people like her in power.

...and what the hell is "Access to Child Support"?

In the above mentioned interview, she also added:

"And what we want to do is reduce the deficit, and nothing does that more than investing in education."

That part it true Nance, NOTHING reduces over-spending like spending more money.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Winning...




...and as most of you know, I'm all about awards, certificates, and plaques.  And, I have won again, along with several dozen random bloggers, THIS LADY gave me an award.  And as a winner, I have to answer some questions.  Normally I would tell her to process her request through the fan-club, but as they seem to be very busy at the moment, I will indulge.  Also...I don't feel like blogging that much, sometimes it just feels like beating a dead horse.  Now, I know, beating a dead horse can be very entertaining, after all, they can't fight back.  For example:






...but I digress.

Here are the questions I won:

1.  What's the last great book you read
I have read some non-great books lately.  I can't think of the last GREAT book I read.  I think John Adams was a great book.  But I read that a while ago.  I am currently reading Alas, Babylon, again.  Its a post-apocalyptic written in the late 1950's.  I don't know if its "great," but I recommend it, and like I said, I'm re-reading it.

2.  Who would you most love to meet from blogland?  
I would have to say LL.  Mostly because he has the coolest toys.

3.  What's your favorite go-to recipe for company?
Squirrel cookies made by Mrs. Bannon - they're to die for. Especially for the squirrels.

4.  What's your favorite blog post that you've written?  
I deleted it.  It had personal information in it.  While some people try to 'out' me, and its not that hard, I try to keep my blogging life separate from my super-hero duties.  I'm pretty much a show off, and I was showing off one of my accomplishments in that post.

5.  How many blogs do you read a week? Name a few..
Non-professional blogs, probably a dozen.  But I like to see who reads those blogs, and a couple times a week I go to the blogs of the commenters or followers of those blogs.   I usually start off with LL's blogs, American Perspective, and Woodsterman (rated PG-13)), and then spin off into their readership.  I read another dozen professional blogs.

6.  What do you hope people take away from your blog?
I started the blog to get out my simple thoughts on complex issues.  I hope people (all 4 of them) get out  of it that the 'big thinkers' that run our country (and our states, and our cities) are not that smart.  I don't hold that against them, I hold it against them that they NEVER seem to leave.  Take Newark Mayor Corey Booker.  Not the worst Democrat around - but he has done nothing to improve Newark, and now he is running for US Senate.  Chris Christie too, New Jersey isn't fixed - please don't apply for President when New Jersey is your last job.  I guess that makes it sound like I think I am smarter, but I hope it sounds more like, "we all can be."

7.  What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Coffee. I love coffee ice cream with coffee.  I like to throw peanut butter in there somewhere too.

8.  If today was your last day alive, what five things would you make sure you do?
   1.  First is easy - clear out the local Cinnabon.
   2.  Get a clean body shave and put on nice clothes - I've worked my share of dead bodies - there is hair everywhere!
   3.  Tell somebody where all the money is buried.
   4.  I would spend every minute with Mrs. Bannon, and all the little Bannons.  I've worked alot of hours in my medium-length life, away from family, and I have a thankless job - except they always thank me, they know.
   5.  Probably go to the next Cinnabon down the road, I mean, I might have a stomach ache, but it will all be over soon, right?  Those things are yummy!

9.  What bugs you about other people's blogs?
That's hard.  I guess I don't go back to Blogs that bug me? I rarely return to a blog that seems childish.  For example, if I read a post with ad hominem comments like, "Obama is an idiot, and a Muslim."  I don't need a blog to tell me that.

10.  Do you actually read my blog, or just skim it for the pictures?
I read alot of it. Most of it.  But I'm a VERY fast reader - especially when there are ALOT of words.  I don't need to read every single...okay I mostly look at the pictures.  Just kidding, of course I read it.

Friday, September 20, 2013

To Regulate Commerce...

I was listening to (Right wing) talk radio (propaganda) the other day, when a snarky caller said to the host, "I hear you bashing Obamacare all the time, well, I would like to know what your alternative is?"

Hands clearly at 9 and 3
I think the caller was one of those low information voters (I really like that term) who was under the impression that the Republicans do not have a plan?  Their are plenty out there.   But my answer (which I screamed to myself in the car...texting is illegal, but screaming an emotional tirade at the radio is perfectly fine) would have been, "My alternative is for the Government to have nothing to do with your healthcare, and to stay out of the relationship between you and your doctor."

Surgeon General Whats-her-face
Anything that gets in between buyer (patient) and seller (doctor) COSTS money.

The sad fact is that the caller on that show, as well as many, many, Americans have begun to accept that the Government has to have a health care law, that health insurance comes from your job, and that consumers need protection from doctors and insurance companies?

This all started from the expanded use by the Federal Government of the Commerce Clause.  Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, Congress shall have the power to...regulate commerce...among the several states...  Traditionally this did not cover things that happened within one state.  I'm sure it happens, but for the most part we don't cross state lines to see the doctor.

All of this must be reversed.  Not just Obamacare, but the unconstitutional nature of what the Congress does and what the Supreme Court allows.  This was the goal of Chief Justice John Roberts when he said Obamacare was "constitutional."  He said Congress has the power to tax, that is the first sentence in Section 8 (he completely missed the point that as written, Obamacare is MUCH, MUCH more than a tax).  But Roberts also said that Congress did NOT have the power to regulate Commerce in the way they have been.  But we have yet to see any fruit from that tree...

They can "defund" Obamacare all they want - they will just write more bad law later.

*Interesting fact, one of the points of many, if not all, Republican plans is to allow insurance plans to be able to cross state lines (opening up competition, and lower prices, as well as 'portability').  Ironic, that what Congress IS allowed to regulate, they have just stopped altogether.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Putin it on Thick...

President Obama has lead us to a place where Vladimir Putin is writing Op Ed's in the New York Times regarding our foreign policy, our values, how to support democracy around the world, and how violence is not the answer...

"Under current international law, force is permitted only in self-defense or by the decision of the (UN) Security Council.  Anything else is unacceptable under the United Nations Charter and would constitute an act of aggression.  

It is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United STates.  Is it in America's long-term interest? I doubt it.  Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan "you're either with us or against us."

"It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation."

I will say the following, noting that I am against current military intervention in Syria (partly because BOTH sides are anti-American ((but that may have to be overcome at some point: see WWII, which Mr. Putin mentions)), and partly because if the United Nations did agree to act - it would really be the United States acting anyway...)

 - The United States is the sole "superpower," and Russia is not our equal.  The United States never ceded our autonomy to the United Nations - and you can "constitute" military action however you want, Vlad, there is nothing you or anybody else can do about it.

 - Military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has been commonplace for the United States for most of our 200 years (Vlad, I suggest you read The Savage Wars of Peace: Small Wars and the Rise of American Power by Max Boot).  You yourself mentioned that "foreign fighters" are in Syria - I think that nullifies the "internal"-ness of the conflict?

 - You are correct, to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional is dangerous - in your country, in Syria, and in many parts of the world.  America happened because exceptional people saw themselves as such.  Mere visions of American freedom are what brought down the Soviet Union, and communism.  You are fortunate to have floated to the top of the ash heap, and have gotten rich and powerful off of promising such freedom to millions of poor Russians.  Someday, maybe, they will experience the exceptionalism for themselves.


...and thank you, Mr. Obama, for allowing us this special moment in history.





Wednesday, September 11, 2013

9-11

FBI Special Agent Lenny Hatton



Special Agent Leonard W. Hatton was assigned to the New York Division of the FBI at the time of his death. On September 11, 2001, Special Agent Hatton was killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City. Special Agent Hatton was on his way to work in the New York Division office when he saw smoke and fire coming from the North Tower of the WTC. On his own initiative, he responded directly to the WTC site and, from the roof of the Marriott Hotel, he reported the second airliner strike on the South Tower.
Due to falling debris, he moved from the roof and joined the New York Fire Department firefighters in evacuating occupants. Special Agent Hatton was inside the WTC when the buildings collapsed.

SA Hatton's Glock was recovered in the debris and is preserved at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Oh, We Believe...

Rush Limbaugh:  "John Kerry gives Assad one week to give up, or face an unbelievably small attack."





Only a Leftist like Kerry can put things this way.  He does not consider that people will be in body bags...just not our people.  He does not consider that there may be repercussions and unintended consequences to attacking another country.  He does not get it, that other people understand him - they just don't agree with him.

He was so opposed to night time raids in Afghanistan, and even accused soldiers in his own war (remember, he was in Vietnam) of acting like Genghis Khan...but the missiles he sends will be during the day, and will only blow up deserving bad people, and the Syrians will thank us, and we don't need a coalition... I bet Kerry never pulled his trigger in Vietnam - and if he did, there was never anybody in the sights.

My thoughts on Syria - I think its complicated.  Contrary to what Kerry says, nobody is considering, or wants, boots on the ground.  But what Kerry and his boss don't realize, is that talking tough, and not backing it up - will result in many body bags (hence the continued use of chemical weapons after the "red line" was drawn).

Only in America can Obama say what he said, push it to the brink, and then punt to congress - and NOT be called out by the press.  What happens if in the next three years Obama wants to use force again - and he doesn't seek congressional approval.  Will he be called out by the press? By Democrats in congress? By republicans in congress?