Hurray!Adam & Marissa got engaged!You are such a cute couple-just made for each other!May you have a long and wunderful marriage that is blessed by God & family.
Stat Counter
Friday, December 30, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
A Drew 102 Repeat:An Open Letter To Go Comics
This post was orginally published Sept. 18,2006.
First off,I am a BIG Bob Dylan fan.I have been one since way back in high school when my brother,Greg,got a couple of his greatest hits albums,and we played them over and over.In College,Dylan was touring for his 'Saved' LP.He only sang the songs from his newer religious stuff{from 'Saved' and what I consider his best album of all time,'Slowtrain'},and he was GREAT.To this day,I say his concert at The Akron Civic Theater was one of the very best concerts I have ever been to.IT IS the only concert that I have ever been to where after they had already turned up the house lights,people kept cheering:AND HE CAME BACK OUT TO PLAY SOME MORE.I like Bob Dylan so much that when I found out that my boys liked lyrics that mattered,I recently burnt them a CD of some of his better stuff.Now,I have my kids singing 'Hurricane Carter' back to me.WoW!good stuff.
I know you have heard that all good artists,borrow from other artists,and that great artists steal.And I also know you probably have heard of Milton Berle saying that he,'knows a good joke when he steals one',but Bobby on his new CD,'Modern Times',takes stealing to a new level.
The CD title is itself a rip-off of Charlie Chaplin's movie of the same name.The CD cover art,is the same 1947 photo (Taxi,New York Night,by Ted Croner)that appears on an EP by a band called Luna.It is on their 1995 'Hedgehog' release.Not only does Mr.Dylan take credit for writing a 'traditional' song called,'Rollin' and Tumblin',but,as you can see from above,that at least four of his songs have almost identical lyrical word usage as the 19th century poet,Henry Timrod.
Wowzer!Each of these things separately could be considered as borrowing unintentionally.But put together....man....it seems like Bobby boy had to be doing this on purpose.
In these days of constant sampling,is this really that bad?I think so.But could Bob Dylan's intent-simply by doing all this-be his social commentary on today's society?Or is that just a too easy of an excuse that I am willing to give to him because I enjoy his music?
Either way,I just know I am going to get the CD.And,in spite of myself,probably like it.
First off,I am a BIG Bob Dylan fan.I have been one since way back in high school when my brother,Greg,got a couple of his greatest hits albums,and we played them over and over.In College,Dylan was touring for his 'Saved' LP.He only sang the songs from his newer religious stuff{from 'Saved' and what I consider his best album of all time,'Slowtrain'},and he was GREAT.To this day,I say his concert at The Akron Civic Theater was one of the very best concerts I have ever been to.IT IS the only concert that I have ever been to where after they had already turned up the house lights,people kept cheering:AND HE CAME BACK OUT TO PLAY SOME MORE.I like Bob Dylan so much that when I found out that my boys liked lyrics that mattered,I recently burnt them a CD of some of his better stuff.Now,I have my kids singing 'Hurricane Carter' back to me.WoW!good stuff.
I know you have heard that all good artists,borrow from other artists,and that great artists steal.And I also know you probably have heard of Milton Berle saying that he,'knows a good joke when he steals one',but Bobby on his new CD,'Modern Times',takes stealing to a new level.
Maybe,I should be writing this post after I have actually purchased the CD,but this post isn't about the music(the lyrics,in part-maybe-but not the yet,as unheard of by me,music).
This post is about Bob's thievery.
The CD title is itself a rip-off of Charlie Chaplin's movie of the same name.The CD cover art,is the same 1947 photo (Taxi,New York Night,by Ted Croner)that appears on an EP by a band called Luna.It is on their 1995 'Hedgehog' release.Not only does Mr.Dylan take credit for writing a 'traditional' song called,'Rollin' and Tumblin',but,as you can see from above,that at least four of his songs have almost identical lyrical word usage as the 19th century poet,Henry Timrod.
Wowzer!Each of these things separately could be considered as borrowing unintentionally.But put together....man....it seems like Bobby boy had to be doing this on purpose.
In these days of constant sampling,is this really that bad?I think so.But could Bob Dylan's intent-simply by doing all this-be his social commentary on today's society?Or is that just a too easy of an excuse that I am willing to give to him because I enjoy his music?
Either way,I just know I am going to get the CD.And,in spite of myself,probably like it.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
You May Be A Redneck..Tea Party Version Pt III
You may be a Tea party Redneck If...
...you think the "Honkies For Herman " bumper sticker is funny,but not racist.
...you think the sexual harassment charges against Herman Cain are funny and made up,but condemn Penn State,because Penn State involved defenseless children,but Herman Cain involved adult women who should have known better.
...umm,third is..umm.
...you believe the Wall Street Occupiers should be jailed,while the Tea Party demonstrators are proud Americans.
...you think McCain is a fast food pizza joint.
...you think it's OK for CEO's to make 300 plus times more than their average employees and then blame the said employees for making too much money for their companies to compete in America.
...you believe Mitt Romney belongs to a cult,but you will vote for him anyway if your party can't find someone better.
...you believe a straight out lie from your candidate if it gives you a chance to give it to the other guy.
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Replacing The Ten Commandments
As both an American and as a Christian,I believe that God is the divine providence that blesses America.However,one of the major things that I believe that helps keep America great is our God given right to believe[or not believe] as one sees fit.
What America does not need is a force claiming to be the welding arm of God,nor one that then forces this power on the American people against the American people's will.
This,in my opinion,has more to do with following God as one chooses more than disarming,destroying and/or forcing God out of America.For I believe you can not extinguish God out of America any more than you can extinguish God.
Is God any less because someone states that God does not exist?No.Mankind could vanish or learn to totally ignore God,and God would still be the creator of all things.
This is why America is so great.We acknowledge the divine providence that is God.God is on our money.We swear by God in our courts.We live as though God is providing for us.In this way we give thanks and praise.
But by forcing faith on those whom choose not to believe as we do,we open a Pandora's box against ourselves that we can not easily close.For,who are 'WE'?
By forcing claims of faith upon the people of America,how are we as Americans to know whether we are following the will of our Lord or the excess's of man?
I could prophesize to you or you to me.Do you baptise me as a babe,or I you as a willing adult?Do we drink real wine or grape juice to share in the blood of Christ?Soon,we are no longer free in the message of the good news,but muddled down in which rules and regulations we are to follow.Next,we are arguing if we should even be following the rules and laws or relying on the grace and mercy of God's will.
This nit picking of intolerance gathers steam into a those who are not with us are against us tirades.Our strongest strength,the strength of God is whittled down to the choosing the chosen few.Divine providence is no longer over the whole land,just mine,or yours.
While belief in God is worth fighting for,we end up fighting against the very thing we already have.The right to believe the way we so choose.
Therefore,only by keeping the church and state separate can America keep God's providence over the land.By fighting for the right to believe[or not believe] as we each personally choose,we truly allow for each person to keep God utmost in their hearts and souls(if they so chose to do so),thus we increase God's hand upon the land.
For our faith comes from God.Not man.
This is way I am against the Ten Commandments being posted on City,State or Federal property.
Much has been written about this[read this and this] position.Suffice it to say that there is not just one Ten Commandments in The Bible,not only even these two versions [Exodus 20:1-17 & Deuteronomy 5:1-21 ],but a third lesser used version that is the only one that actual claims to be the Ten Commandments[Exodus 34:15-28]!Complicating things,different faiths have different opinions on how these commandments are divided up,and different versions of the Bible state them differently.
Not only that,but only when the Hollywood movie mongol Cecil B. DeMille got together in 1955 with the F.O.E.(Fraternal Order Of Eagles) did the Commandments actually become a traditional display on State and Federal grounds [read here ].
Despite all this,the best argument against posting the commandments on public property is that they are virtually universally ignored and send no message except that these are laws which few choose to follow.It is only the arrogant piety of a selected few that would hypocritically even want to post these.
Before I am stoned by the masses,let me go through as far as a need be to to explain my position.I am not against the Ten Commandments.As a Christian I see the need for them.However,as a Christian,I don't see them as being the most Christian of doctrines,or the need for them to be posted everywhere.I intend to go through the commandments,state my case,and then,as a Christian offer an alternative more in line with the Christian message.
I will use the Ten Commandments found on the F.O.E. monuments.
#1:Thy Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me...Jesus said,“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Jesus also said,‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Of all the Ten,this seems the commandment most people tend to follow.Yet,how many of us-at least at times-put our jobs,or other factors before God?And doesn't Jesus appear to be discounting the rest of the Ten by saying all the rest of these laws are based on loving God and our neighbors as ourselves?
#2:Thy Shall Not Make To Thyself Any Graven Images...The cross-alone-could be considered a graven image.But paintings,Statues,even movies such as 'The Ten Commandments' could also foot this bill.In a bit of irony,monuments of the commandments could even break this commandment.
#3:Thy Shall Not Use The Name Of The Lord God In Vain...OMG!We are all very lax in this to the point of absurdity.
#4:Remember The Sabbath Day And Keep It Holy...The Biblical passages[Exodus 20:8-11] goes into much more detail about this.No work at all!None!Jesus cured on the Sabbath.If Jesus negated this commandment...why are we so adamant about about it?And not many Christians are.This is the absurdity of wanting the Ten Commandants posted at the courthouse:Most court houses are open on Saturday!
#5:Honor Thy Father And Thy Mother That Thy Days May be Long Upon The Land Which The Lord God Giveth Thee...These are good words.We all should honor our parents,and most people do.I believe the whole commandment is printed here as a blessing upon America when this commandment is carried out.But Jesus,in Mark 7:5-23,questions the letter of the law over the law itself.In order to save America you must love it.It must come from your heart.You can't force morality.That turns people clever in ways of avoiding the laws.
#6:Thy Shall Not Kill...There is legal murder everywhere.Yet,Jesus Christ not only died on the cross,he forgave those that did it.Even in life,Jesus proclaimed,"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell." The 6th commandment is superseded by Christ's message.To forgive.To have mercy.To settle things.
#7:Thy Shall Not Commit Adultery...Here,Jesus does not only forgive the adulteress["Then neither do I condemn you.Go and sin not more."],but again superseded the commandment:For Jesus said,"“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Jesus goes further on to say,"If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."I don't see too many one eyed followers of Christ.I don't hear this preached.But I do see allot of lustful situations on Tv.On the radio.Tv commercials!It seems our whole society is built on lust.Like Jesus,I will not condemn.But in #7,we don't do too much of looking the other way..in fact,we can't keep our eyes off it.This is a big case for love,mercy and forgiveness.
#8:Thy Shall Not Steal....Again,Jesus' authority comes into play:"If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic."And ,"“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” These are both cases for 'Christian' charity.But,too many times in America today,the corporations teach the value of America is ,'I've got mine',and that the poor are lecherous,greedy,lazy and deserving of everything they get and don't get.The stealing the poor do is easily and readily condemned.The stealing the rich do is easily overlooked and justified.Money is the root of all evil....not the lack of it.
#9:Thy Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor...In The Parable Of The Good Samaritan,Jesus clarifies that even our enemies are our neighbors.Yet,politicians,Tv news and Wall Street commercials bear false witness all the time.It is no longer easy to vote on a candidate's merits,but by which politician is less creepy.Slander,is a given.
#10:Thy shall Not Covet Thy Neighbor's House.Thy Shall Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Wife,Nor His Manservant,Nor His Maidservant,Nor His Cattle,Nor Anything That Is Thy Neighbor's....This is where those that claim that America is a Capitalistic society come in direct conflict with the Ten commandments.We,as Americans,are taught to covet from birth.The grass is always greener.You can't be happy unless you have this new and improved this or that.Posting 'Thy Shall Not Covet' to Americans is a joke.Christianity and Capitalism are almost always at conflict.Greed vs. charity.Selfishness vs. love.Ministers in Cadillacs.It just doesn't fit.
As you can see,the Ten Commandments are not as a good an example to Americans as one would suppose.Their religious values can not be denied,but as you have just read,most of them have either been superseded by Jesus or mostly or totally ignored by most mostly good Americans.
Why there is a fight to put these up on public governmental property is almost beyond me.One must ask,just whose purpose does their display serve?God's?The Government's?Either?Neither?Both?Just whom are they commanding?
You can not command faith.
I purpose a compromise.Not commands.Not condemnation.But blessings that serve the American purpose.I suggest if Americans have to post any doctrine,it be the Christian,Jesus said Beatitudes:
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
I know that the Beatitudes don't have the reach or the inclusiveness of the Ten Commandments,but what it does have is a tone more in tune with the American spirit and the American documents such as The Declaration Of Independence and The Constitution.
The Beatitudes order no one.Give no commands.But blesses those that need blessed.
I believe-if any religious purpose should be posted in public at all-The Beatitudes are the correct choice.
What America does not need is a force claiming to be the welding arm of God,nor one that then forces this power on the American people against the American people's will.
This,in my opinion,has more to do with following God as one chooses more than disarming,destroying and/or forcing God out of America.For I believe you can not extinguish God out of America any more than you can extinguish God.
Is God any less because someone states that God does not exist?No.Mankind could vanish or learn to totally ignore God,and God would still be the creator of all things.
This is why America is so great.We acknowledge the divine providence that is God.God is on our money.We swear by God in our courts.We live as though God is providing for us.In this way we give thanks and praise.
But by forcing faith on those whom choose not to believe as we do,we open a Pandora's box against ourselves that we can not easily close.For,who are 'WE'?
By forcing claims of faith upon the people of America,how are we as Americans to know whether we are following the will of our Lord or the excess's of man?
I could prophesize to you or you to me.Do you baptise me as a babe,or I you as a willing adult?Do we drink real wine or grape juice to share in the blood of Christ?Soon,we are no longer free in the message of the good news,but muddled down in which rules and regulations we are to follow.Next,we are arguing if we should even be following the rules and laws or relying on the grace and mercy of God's will.
This nit picking of intolerance gathers steam into a those who are not with us are against us tirades.Our strongest strength,the strength of God is whittled down to the choosing the chosen few.Divine providence is no longer over the whole land,just mine,or yours.
While belief in God is worth fighting for,we end up fighting against the very thing we already have.The right to believe the way we so choose.
Therefore,only by keeping the church and state separate can America keep God's providence over the land.By fighting for the right to believe[or not believe] as we each personally choose,we truly allow for each person to keep God utmost in their hearts and souls(if they so chose to do so),thus we increase God's hand upon the land.
For our faith comes from God.Not man.
This is way I am against the Ten Commandments being posted on City,State or Federal property.
Much has been written about this[read this and this] position.Suffice it to say that there is not just one Ten Commandments in The Bible,not only even these two versions [Exodus 20:1-17 & Deuteronomy 5:1-21 ],but a third lesser used version that is the only one that actual claims to be the Ten Commandments[Exodus 34:15-28]!Complicating things,different faiths have different opinions on how these commandments are divided up,and different versions of the Bible state them differently.
Not only that,but only when the Hollywood movie mongol Cecil B. DeMille got together in 1955 with the F.O.E.(Fraternal Order Of Eagles) did the Commandments actually become a traditional display on State and Federal grounds [read here ].
Despite all this,the best argument against posting the commandments on public property is that they are virtually universally ignored and send no message except that these are laws which few choose to follow.It is only the arrogant piety of a selected few that would hypocritically even want to post these.
Before I am stoned by the masses,let me go through as far as a need be to to explain my position.I am not against the Ten Commandments.As a Christian I see the need for them.However,as a Christian,I don't see them as being the most Christian of doctrines,or the need for them to be posted everywhere.I intend to go through the commandments,state my case,and then,as a Christian offer an alternative more in line with the Christian message.
I will use the Ten Commandments found on the F.O.E. monuments.
#1:Thy Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me...Jesus said,“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Jesus also said,‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Of all the Ten,this seems the commandment most people tend to follow.Yet,how many of us-at least at times-put our jobs,or other factors before God?And doesn't Jesus appear to be discounting the rest of the Ten by saying all the rest of these laws are based on loving God and our neighbors as ourselves?
#2:Thy Shall Not Make To Thyself Any Graven Images...The cross-alone-could be considered a graven image.But paintings,Statues,even movies such as 'The Ten Commandments' could also foot this bill.In a bit of irony,monuments of the commandments could even break this commandment.
#3:Thy Shall Not Use The Name Of The Lord God In Vain...OMG!We are all very lax in this to the point of absurdity.
#4:Remember The Sabbath Day And Keep It Holy...The Biblical passages[Exodus 20:8-11] goes into much more detail about this.No work at all!None!Jesus cured on the Sabbath.If Jesus negated this commandment...why are we so adamant about about it?And not many Christians are.This is the absurdity of wanting the Ten Commandants posted at the courthouse:Most court houses are open on Saturday!
#5:Honor Thy Father And Thy Mother That Thy Days May be Long Upon The Land Which The Lord God Giveth Thee...These are good words.We all should honor our parents,and most people do.I believe the whole commandment is printed here as a blessing upon America when this commandment is carried out.But Jesus,in Mark 7:5-23,questions the letter of the law over the law itself.In order to save America you must love it.It must come from your heart.You can't force morality.That turns people clever in ways of avoiding the laws.
#6:Thy Shall Not Kill...There is legal murder everywhere.Yet,Jesus Christ not only died on the cross,he forgave those that did it.Even in life,Jesus proclaimed,"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell." The 6th commandment is superseded by Christ's message.To forgive.To have mercy.To settle things.
#7:Thy Shall Not Commit Adultery...Here,Jesus does not only forgive the adulteress["Then neither do I condemn you.Go and sin not more."],but again superseded the commandment:For Jesus said,"“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Jesus goes further on to say,"If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."I don't see too many one eyed followers of Christ.I don't hear this preached.But I do see allot of lustful situations on Tv.On the radio.Tv commercials!It seems our whole society is built on lust.Like Jesus,I will not condemn.But in #7,we don't do too much of looking the other way..in fact,we can't keep our eyes off it.This is a big case for love,mercy and forgiveness.
#8:Thy Shall Not Steal....Again,Jesus' authority comes into play:"If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic."And ,"“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” These are both cases for 'Christian' charity.But,too many times in America today,the corporations teach the value of America is ,'I've got mine',and that the poor are lecherous,greedy,lazy and deserving of everything they get and don't get.The stealing the poor do is easily and readily condemned.The stealing the rich do is easily overlooked and justified.Money is the root of all evil....not the lack of it.
#9:Thy Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor...In The Parable Of The Good Samaritan,Jesus clarifies that even our enemies are our neighbors.Yet,politicians,Tv news and Wall Street commercials bear false witness all the time.It is no longer easy to vote on a candidate's merits,but by which politician is less creepy.Slander,is a given.
#10:Thy shall Not Covet Thy Neighbor's House.Thy Shall Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Wife,Nor His Manservant,Nor His Maidservant,Nor His Cattle,Nor Anything That Is Thy Neighbor's....This is where those that claim that America is a Capitalistic society come in direct conflict with the Ten commandments.We,as Americans,are taught to covet from birth.The grass is always greener.You can't be happy unless you have this new and improved this or that.Posting 'Thy Shall Not Covet' to Americans is a joke.Christianity and Capitalism are almost always at conflict.Greed vs. charity.Selfishness vs. love.Ministers in Cadillacs.It just doesn't fit.
As you can see,the Ten Commandments are not as a good an example to Americans as one would suppose.Their religious values can not be denied,but as you have just read,most of them have either been superseded by Jesus or mostly or totally ignored by most mostly good Americans.
Why there is a fight to put these up on public governmental property is almost beyond me.One must ask,just whose purpose does their display serve?God's?The Government's?Either?Neither?Both?Just whom are they commanding?
You can not command faith.
I purpose a compromise.Not commands.Not condemnation.But blessings that serve the American purpose.I suggest if Americans have to post any doctrine,it be the Christian,Jesus said Beatitudes:
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
I know that the Beatitudes don't have the reach or the inclusiveness of the Ten Commandments,but what it does have is a tone more in tune with the American spirit and the American documents such as The Declaration Of Independence and The Constitution.
The Beatitudes order no one.Give no commands.But blesses those that need blessed.
I believe-if any religious purpose should be posted in public at all-The Beatitudes are the correct choice.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
You May Be A Redneck...Tea Party Version..Pt.II
You maybe a Tea Party Redneck if...
...your idea of political action is Googling 'Michele Bachmann- corndog'
...you think the bumpersticker,'Don't Blame Me/I Voted For The White Guy' is funny,but not racist.
...your car is up on blocks and still think the working man has it too cozy.
..you like Rick Perry because you like his idea of strengthening state rights by changing federal laws.
...you believe the best way to save America is by destroying it.
...you say that corporations shouldn't have to pay taxes,but then say that those that don't pay taxes shouldn't have access to health care,police and fire protection.
...you think the Civil War was fought over state rights.
...believe that Jesus would wear a rebel flag ballcap.
...you think that it's okay for the Patriot Act to take away your Constitutional freedoms,but then you say you have the right to bear arms because you're a Constitution sort of guy.
...you hate our government but call yourself a proud American.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Monday, September 05, 2011
A Drew102 Repeat:JFK Labor Day Speech-Sept 5th,1960 And Doonesbury Cartoon
I have come here today, on this day that belongs to all the people, to state my case and my cause to you * * * the American people. I am here to ask for a mandate - a mandate to achieve the promises of that stirring and historic document the 1960 Democratic platform. I am here to ask for men - the men who can translate that platform into action.
Give me your mandate. Give me the men. Give us more men in the Senate like Phil Hart and Pat McNamara. We only need a few more. A shift of only four votes would have given us a decent bill to provide medical care for the aged under the social security system. And next January we will have those votes. We will not be threatened with a Presidential veto. And we will not have to settle for a medical care program that is based on the pauper's oath.
Give me a Congress next January with more members like your Michigan Democratic Congressmen. We only need a few more. A shift of four or five votes in the House last June would have enacted a real minimum wage bill, with coverage for several million more families and a minimum of $1.25 an hour. Next January we will have those votes - and you will have a President who knows what a strong minimum wage law means to stop runaway shops and to raise living standards.
I ask you also to elect John Swainson as Governor of Michigan - a great Governor to succeed a great Governor. And I intend to work with both John Swainson and Mennen Williams to lead this State and Nation to a future of hope and promise.
I am taking my case to the American people because that is where it belongs - because that is where there will be no threat of veto or parliamentary obstruction - and because that is where we can always place our confidence. I take our case to you because I am confident that the American people want an enduring peace in which human dignity, truth, and justice under law are secured for all men everywhere. I take our case to you because I am confident that you are willing to do whatever has to be done to make us first in the world militarily, and thus first in the fight for peace.
I take our case to you because I am confident that all of us here, as descendants of immigrants, are ready to renew our hospitality to the homeless, the tired, and the poor, from other lands, without discrimination as to national origin. I take our case to you because I am confident that, as citizens of one world, we are willing to share our plenty with our brothers in the new states of Asia and Africa, and with those in Europe and Latin America, who need our help and our friendship.
I take my case to you because I am confident that the American people are not going to tolerate pockets of poverty and chronic unemployment in this land, the waste of idle men and women who are ready, willing, and able to work, or the decline of our farms. I take my case to you because I know you agree with me that racial discrimination must be eliminated everywhere in our society; in jobs, in housing, in voting, in lunch counters, and in schools.
And finally, I am here because I know we share a deep-seated belief in free collective bargaining, and in the growth and development of free and responsible unions - and unlike our opponents, we do not believe in this only on Labor Day.
I welcome the support of the working men and women of this country. I am proud of the fact that I was endorsed by the AFL-CIO. For I know that the American Labor movement wants for America what I want for America: the elimination of poverty and unemployment, the reestablishment of America's world leadership, the guarantee of full civil rights for all our citizens. I know the American labor movement opposes what I oppose: complacency, unemployment, economic stagnation, racial discrimination, and national insecurity.
Our labor unions are not narrow, self-seeking groups. They have raised wages, shortened hours, and provided supplemental benefits. Through collective bargaining and grievance procedures, they have brought justice and democracy to the shop floor. But their work goes beyond their own jobs, and even beyond our borders.
Our unions have fought for aid to education, for better housing, for development of our natural resources, and for saving the family-sized farms. They have contributed funds and talent to improve our oversea relations. They have spoken, not for narrow self-interest, but for the public interest and for the people.
For the labor movement is people. Our unions have brought millions of men and women together, made them members one of another, and given them common tools for common goals.
Their goals are goals for all America - and their enemies are the enemies of all progress.
The two cannot be separated. The man who opposes a decent increase in the minimum wage is not likely to be more generous toward a badly underpaid schoolteacher. The man who opposes proper medical care for the aged has no more compassion for the small farmer or the small businessman or the hungry families in this Nation and around the world. He likes things the way they are. He sees no need to change - no need to grow. His theme song is: "You never had it so good."
But let him try to tell that to the more than 4 million men and women who cannot find employment. Let him try to tell that to the 3 million men forced to work less than full time. Let him try to tell that to those who live on our hard-hit farms, in our depressed areas, in our deserted textile and coal mine towns. Let him try to tell that to 5 million men, women, and children trying to get by on an average of $20 worth of surplus food a month - or the millions of retired workers trying to get by on all average annual income of less than $2,000 a year.
This is the greatest country in the world. But we can be still greater. This is the most prosperous country in the world. But we can be still more prosperous . . . so that every American can share in that prosperity. We have the means to achieve our goals - to put our house in order - to regain our position of preeminence in the world. It all comes under the name of "economic growth" and today I want to talk with you about economic growth. There is nothing cold or dull about the meaning of economic growth. It means jobs and homes and schools for our children. Lack of growth means unemployment and pockets of poverty and a weak, declining nation.
Under Republican leadership, we have not been growing. The workers have noted it in unemployment and short workweeks. Businessmen have noted it in idle plant capacity and rising inventories. And Mr. Khrushchev noted it when he promised to "bury" us.
Three facts are indisputable:
Fact No.1: Between 1947 and 1953, under the administration of Harry Truman, our average annual rate of growth was 4 1/2 percent. Between 1953 and 1959, under a Republican administration, the rate was only 2 1/2 percent - less than half as much. And today our key industries such as auto and steel are operating at much less than full capacity.
Fact No.2: While our economy is crawling forward at an average rate of only 2 1/2 percent, the Russian gross national product is annually increasing 7 percent - three times as fast.
Fact No.3: Our rate of growth was surpassed by almost every major industrial nation during the past years of drift and indecision - including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Japan. These are the facts which we must face. This is the record which our opponents have described as a "healthy rate of growth." And I defy them to find anything healthy about it.
When this country, with all its potential, is growing at less than half the rate achieved by the Soviet Union, less than the rate of almost every major industrial nation on earth, then our health is obviously down and we had better call for a new doctor in Washington. These facts and figures are not remote. They affect the welfare of everyone. With a really healthy rate of growth, each family of four would have received, on the average, an additional $1,300 every year between 1953 and 1959 - a total of more than $7,000 - $7,000 you could have had for a rainy day, or to finance a college education, or to take a trip, or help buy a house - $7,000 that these restrictive policies have kept out of your pocket.
With a really healthy rate of growth, we can have full employment - and let me make clear right now my conviction that in this country we cannot afford to have any goal except genuine full employment.
With a really healthy rate of growth, we can end the gnawing doubts about our national defense. If we had maintained a healthy rate of growth, it would have paid many times over the cost of the vital defense programs which the administration has said we cannot afford - the cost of putting our Strategic Air Command on a continuous air alert, the cost of modernizing our Army and Navy, and the cost of building more Polaris and Minuteman missiles. These are steps which must be taken and, once this country starts moving again, these are steps that will be taken.
With a really healthy rate of growth, we can provide our children with the best in education and eliminate the shortage of classrooms and the scarcity of teachers which is depriving millions of young Americans of adequate school training. And finally, with a really healthy rate of growth, we will win the crusade for economic justice. Here we have no time to spare. For it is a shameful fact that 32 million people in this, the richest land on earth, are forced to live on a standard of living that is woefully inadequate - a standard below that which $2,600 a year would buy for a family of four. It is a shameful fact that 7 million of our fellow citizens are dependent upon charity for their existence - that 5 million city homes lack plumbing - that breeding places of juvenile crime abound in our cities - and that abject poverty characterizes too much of our farm community.
These are some of the reasons why I say economic growth is not simply a cold, remote statistic. And these are some of the reasons why it is not enough to merely talk about it. It is time to do something about it - and we are going to start on next November 8.
The first step we must take is to put into office an administration which has faith in a growing America. The Republican Party, since the departure of Theodore Roosevelt some 48 years ago, has not had this faith - and it does not have it today. For example, on August 10 the President said that automobile production may exceed 6 million - and this, he said, "is really a very fine year." But the facts of the matter are that we made 7.5 million cars a few years ago. The facts of the matter are that thousands of autoworkers are out of jobs today or working on short time. If this is "a very fine year," I don't want to see a very bad one.
While these men are idle - while these facilities are idle - we see critical needs on every side of us that could "consume and absorb" their output, if only given a chance. We see the need for schools - for highways - for dams and powerplants, homes and hospitals, stronger defenses, and a rebirth of our cities. These projects need busy plans and working men. And so our second step toward economic growth must be to put back to work our idle machines and men - to return to the Democratic policy of full employment which for 8 years has been shamefully neglected. We have the tools - the legislation and the programs to put men back to work - and in 1961 we are going to do it.
As a third step, we can help our Nation grow by unlocking the riches of our natural resources. From our forest must come the timber, from our rivers must come the water and power, and from our mines must come the fuels and metals to meet the needs of an expanding population. Franklin Roosevelt raised the economy of an entire region through unified development of the Tennessee Valley. The Bonneville and Grand Coulee Dams have repaid their cost a hundredfold. Yet the Republican policy is "no new starts."
Fourth, we must put to work the wonders of automation in a way which will be a blessing for all America - not merely a curse for the workers. In the coal beds of West Virginia automation means joblessness, poverty, and deprivation. But automation can also bring lighter work, lower prices, and better jobs under a Government which cares for people - a Government which is unwilling to have men thrown on the scrap heap like obsolete machines.
And fifth and finally, if we want to grow, let us put an end to scarce money and high interest. Those who collect the interest may have profited. But every American who has financed a home, an automobile, a refrigerator, or a television set has suffered. Those of you who buy a home with a $10,000, 30-year mortgage today will pay out $3,300 more in interest charges than you would have paid under the last Democratic administration - $3,300 that could have been put to better use for you and your family.
This is a sound workable program to stimulate the growth of our free enterprise economy - a program which will keep our economy healthy and free - a program which will bring growth without inflation or increased government controls. We have heard that this kind of growth is merely an idle dream. But this country was built by dreamers - not by those of weak hearts and little faith.
In 1776 there were those who said that national independence was an idle dream. In 1789 there were those who said that a sovereign union of equal states was an idle dream. In 1860 there were those who said that freeing the slaves was an idle dream. In 1932 there were those who said that a New Deal for the American people was an idle dream.
Now, in 1960, we face problems unlike any we have faced before. Never has the challenge been so great. Never have the stakes been so large. Never have the dreams and the ideals and the dedication of free men been so essential.
We have no time for complacency, timidity, or doubt. This is a time for courage and action. This is a time for strong leaders - leaders who are not afraid of New Frontiers - leaders who are not afraid of the facts - leaders who can turn our dreams into reality.
Give me your mandate. Give us the men. For I believe the job can be done.
During the dark days of World War II, Winston Churchill appealed to America for help, pleading "Give us the tools and we will finish the job." Today - in 1960 - when America faces challenges and perils greater than ever before, I say to all Americans who want to build a better America - "Give us the job for we have the tools."
Give me your mandate. Give me the men. Give us more men in the Senate like Phil Hart and Pat McNamara. We only need a few more. A shift of only four votes would have given us a decent bill to provide medical care for the aged under the social security system. And next January we will have those votes. We will not be threatened with a Presidential veto. And we will not have to settle for a medical care program that is based on the pauper's oath.
Give me a Congress next January with more members like your Michigan Democratic Congressmen. We only need a few more. A shift of four or five votes in the House last June would have enacted a real minimum wage bill, with coverage for several million more families and a minimum of $1.25 an hour. Next January we will have those votes - and you will have a President who knows what a strong minimum wage law means to stop runaway shops and to raise living standards.
I ask you also to elect John Swainson as Governor of Michigan - a great Governor to succeed a great Governor. And I intend to work with both John Swainson and Mennen Williams to lead this State and Nation to a future of hope and promise.
I am taking my case to the American people because that is where it belongs - because that is where there will be no threat of veto or parliamentary obstruction - and because that is where we can always place our confidence. I take our case to you because I am confident that the American people want an enduring peace in which human dignity, truth, and justice under law are secured for all men everywhere. I take our case to you because I am confident that you are willing to do whatever has to be done to make us first in the world militarily, and thus first in the fight for peace.
I take our case to you because I am confident that all of us here, as descendants of immigrants, are ready to renew our hospitality to the homeless, the tired, and the poor, from other lands, without discrimination as to national origin. I take our case to you because I am confident that, as citizens of one world, we are willing to share our plenty with our brothers in the new states of Asia and Africa, and with those in Europe and Latin America, who need our help and our friendship.
I take my case to you because I am confident that the American people are not going to tolerate pockets of poverty and chronic unemployment in this land, the waste of idle men and women who are ready, willing, and able to work, or the decline of our farms. I take my case to you because I know you agree with me that racial discrimination must be eliminated everywhere in our society; in jobs, in housing, in voting, in lunch counters, and in schools.
And finally, I am here because I know we share a deep-seated belief in free collective bargaining, and in the growth and development of free and responsible unions - and unlike our opponents, we do not believe in this only on Labor Day.
I welcome the support of the working men and women of this country. I am proud of the fact that I was endorsed by the AFL-CIO. For I know that the American Labor movement wants for America what I want for America: the elimination of poverty and unemployment, the reestablishment of America's world leadership, the guarantee of full civil rights for all our citizens. I know the American labor movement opposes what I oppose: complacency, unemployment, economic stagnation, racial discrimination, and national insecurity.
Our labor unions are not narrow, self-seeking groups. They have raised wages, shortened hours, and provided supplemental benefits. Through collective bargaining and grievance procedures, they have brought justice and democracy to the shop floor. But their work goes beyond their own jobs, and even beyond our borders.
Our unions have fought for aid to education, for better housing, for development of our natural resources, and for saving the family-sized farms. They have contributed funds and talent to improve our oversea relations. They have spoken, not for narrow self-interest, but for the public interest and for the people.
For the labor movement is people. Our unions have brought millions of men and women together, made them members one of another, and given them common tools for common goals.
Their goals are goals for all America - and their enemies are the enemies of all progress.
The two cannot be separated. The man who opposes a decent increase in the minimum wage is not likely to be more generous toward a badly underpaid schoolteacher. The man who opposes proper medical care for the aged has no more compassion for the small farmer or the small businessman or the hungry families in this Nation and around the world. He likes things the way they are. He sees no need to change - no need to grow. His theme song is: "You never had it so good."
But let him try to tell that to the more than 4 million men and women who cannot find employment. Let him try to tell that to the 3 million men forced to work less than full time. Let him try to tell that to those who live on our hard-hit farms, in our depressed areas, in our deserted textile and coal mine towns. Let him try to tell that to 5 million men, women, and children trying to get by on an average of $20 worth of surplus food a month - or the millions of retired workers trying to get by on all average annual income of less than $2,000 a year.
This is the greatest country in the world. But we can be still greater. This is the most prosperous country in the world. But we can be still more prosperous . . . so that every American can share in that prosperity. We have the means to achieve our goals - to put our house in order - to regain our position of preeminence in the world. It all comes under the name of "economic growth" and today I want to talk with you about economic growth. There is nothing cold or dull about the meaning of economic growth. It means jobs and homes and schools for our children. Lack of growth means unemployment and pockets of poverty and a weak, declining nation.
Under Republican leadership, we have not been growing. The workers have noted it in unemployment and short workweeks. Businessmen have noted it in idle plant capacity and rising inventories. And Mr. Khrushchev noted it when he promised to "bury" us.
Three facts are indisputable:
Fact No.1: Between 1947 and 1953, under the administration of Harry Truman, our average annual rate of growth was 4 1/2 percent. Between 1953 and 1959, under a Republican administration, the rate was only 2 1/2 percent - less than half as much. And today our key industries such as auto and steel are operating at much less than full capacity.
Fact No.2: While our economy is crawling forward at an average rate of only 2 1/2 percent, the Russian gross national product is annually increasing 7 percent - three times as fast.
Fact No.3: Our rate of growth was surpassed by almost every major industrial nation during the past years of drift and indecision - including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Japan. These are the facts which we must face. This is the record which our opponents have described as a "healthy rate of growth." And I defy them to find anything healthy about it.
When this country, with all its potential, is growing at less than half the rate achieved by the Soviet Union, less than the rate of almost every major industrial nation on earth, then our health is obviously down and we had better call for a new doctor in Washington. These facts and figures are not remote. They affect the welfare of everyone. With a really healthy rate of growth, each family of four would have received, on the average, an additional $1,300 every year between 1953 and 1959 - a total of more than $7,000 - $7,000 you could have had for a rainy day, or to finance a college education, or to take a trip, or help buy a house - $7,000 that these restrictive policies have kept out of your pocket.
With a really healthy rate of growth, we can have full employment - and let me make clear right now my conviction that in this country we cannot afford to have any goal except genuine full employment.
With a really healthy rate of growth, we can end the gnawing doubts about our national defense. If we had maintained a healthy rate of growth, it would have paid many times over the cost of the vital defense programs which the administration has said we cannot afford - the cost of putting our Strategic Air Command on a continuous air alert, the cost of modernizing our Army and Navy, and the cost of building more Polaris and Minuteman missiles. These are steps which must be taken and, once this country starts moving again, these are steps that will be taken.
With a really healthy rate of growth, we can provide our children with the best in education and eliminate the shortage of classrooms and the scarcity of teachers which is depriving millions of young Americans of adequate school training. And finally, with a really healthy rate of growth, we will win the crusade for economic justice. Here we have no time to spare. For it is a shameful fact that 32 million people in this, the richest land on earth, are forced to live on a standard of living that is woefully inadequate - a standard below that which $2,600 a year would buy for a family of four. It is a shameful fact that 7 million of our fellow citizens are dependent upon charity for their existence - that 5 million city homes lack plumbing - that breeding places of juvenile crime abound in our cities - and that abject poverty characterizes too much of our farm community.
These are some of the reasons why I say economic growth is not simply a cold, remote statistic. And these are some of the reasons why it is not enough to merely talk about it. It is time to do something about it - and we are going to start on next November 8.
The first step we must take is to put into office an administration which has faith in a growing America. The Republican Party, since the departure of Theodore Roosevelt some 48 years ago, has not had this faith - and it does not have it today. For example, on August 10 the President said that automobile production may exceed 6 million - and this, he said, "is really a very fine year." But the facts of the matter are that we made 7.5 million cars a few years ago. The facts of the matter are that thousands of autoworkers are out of jobs today or working on short time. If this is "a very fine year," I don't want to see a very bad one.
While these men are idle - while these facilities are idle - we see critical needs on every side of us that could "consume and absorb" their output, if only given a chance. We see the need for schools - for highways - for dams and powerplants, homes and hospitals, stronger defenses, and a rebirth of our cities. These projects need busy plans and working men. And so our second step toward economic growth must be to put back to work our idle machines and men - to return to the Democratic policy of full employment which for 8 years has been shamefully neglected. We have the tools - the legislation and the programs to put men back to work - and in 1961 we are going to do it.
As a third step, we can help our Nation grow by unlocking the riches of our natural resources. From our forest must come the timber, from our rivers must come the water and power, and from our mines must come the fuels and metals to meet the needs of an expanding population. Franklin Roosevelt raised the economy of an entire region through unified development of the Tennessee Valley. The Bonneville and Grand Coulee Dams have repaid their cost a hundredfold. Yet the Republican policy is "no new starts."
Fourth, we must put to work the wonders of automation in a way which will be a blessing for all America - not merely a curse for the workers. In the coal beds of West Virginia automation means joblessness, poverty, and deprivation. But automation can also bring lighter work, lower prices, and better jobs under a Government which cares for people - a Government which is unwilling to have men thrown on the scrap heap like obsolete machines.
And fifth and finally, if we want to grow, let us put an end to scarce money and high interest. Those who collect the interest may have profited. But every American who has financed a home, an automobile, a refrigerator, or a television set has suffered. Those of you who buy a home with a $10,000, 30-year mortgage today will pay out $3,300 more in interest charges than you would have paid under the last Democratic administration - $3,300 that could have been put to better use for you and your family.
This is a sound workable program to stimulate the growth of our free enterprise economy - a program which will keep our economy healthy and free - a program which will bring growth without inflation or increased government controls. We have heard that this kind of growth is merely an idle dream. But this country was built by dreamers - not by those of weak hearts and little faith.
In 1776 there were those who said that national independence was an idle dream. In 1789 there were those who said that a sovereign union of equal states was an idle dream. In 1860 there were those who said that freeing the slaves was an idle dream. In 1932 there were those who said that a New Deal for the American people was an idle dream.
Now, in 1960, we face problems unlike any we have faced before. Never has the challenge been so great. Never have the stakes been so large. Never have the dreams and the ideals and the dedication of free men been so essential.
We have no time for complacency, timidity, or doubt. This is a time for courage and action. This is a time for strong leaders - leaders who are not afraid of New Frontiers - leaders who are not afraid of the facts - leaders who can turn our dreams into reality.
Give me your mandate. Give us the men. For I believe the job can be done.
During the dark days of World War II, Winston Churchill appealed to America for help, pleading "Give us the tools and we will finish the job." Today - in 1960 - when America faces challenges and perils greater than ever before, I say to all Americans who want to build a better America - "Give us the job for we have the tools."
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Rick Perry Is Pro-Gun Control
These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
but their heart isn't in it.
They act like they're worshiping me,
but they don't mean it.
They just use me as a cover
for teaching whatever suits their fancy."
I,as an American,could never vote for a person that spouted secessionism,even if only as a veiled threat.But,it seemed that there are plenty of people ready and willing to drink the tea tinged Kool-Aid of Texas governor Rick Perry.
Gov. Perry,a career politician,pretends to be anti-Washington big government.He pretends to be all about state rights,but his very actions say otherwise.That he chooses to say one thing and then do another is very telling.One has to ask,why would he choose to mis-lead rather than lead?Does he have a hidden agenda?Sounds very Washington~esque to me.
Of course this is just my opinion.Let's explore shall we?
Gov.Perry is a states rights sort of guy.By definition,this means that he believes that the states should be able to handle their problems on their own without any or little federal government interference.
Then why,we must ask,is Governor Rick Perry so gung ho about changing the United States of America's Constitution seven times if he is so against the use of these very same federal powers to begin with?I reckon it is either because he feels he is impotent as a state governor to change these positions within his own state,or that he realizes that there is more power at the federal level to enact these changes.He is openly chasing the very power he is rallying against-thus nullifying his own argument.
Some Constitutional amendments have been good.Others not so.Perhaps we should look at these Constitutional changes to see why the governor of the great state of Texas is willing to make these changes:
1. Abolish lifetime tenure for federal judges by amending Article III, Section I of the Constitution.
This amendment is aimed at judges not judging with their mind on the Constitution.Lifetime tenure was created to make the judges less susceptible to outside influences.This meant that they didn't have to worry about re-elections or outside sponsors.They could judge with their minds and hearts-be they liberal or conservative.Evidently,Rick Perry must feel that this goes against individual states say so.This bias would have been very convenient during the civil rights era.Or maybe,even more so during the next close presidential election.On the forefront this looks like a no brainer for state rights...but it's just another federal power grab that makes it just a tad bit easier to steal away state rights.
2. Congress should have the power to override Supreme Court decisions with a two-thirds vote.
Hmm,consolidating federal power into two branches instead of three...I can see how this would evolve into less power at the federal level.
3. Scrap the federal income tax by repealing the Sixteenth Amendment.The plan to scrap the federal income tax sounds appealing until you realize that it benefits mostly the upper class.Taxing the rich became a wartime event.After all,it was their factories benefiting from the wartime production.The government overpays for tanks and guns,you give a little bit of the money back and everyone goes home happy.Alas,these are the old rules.Corporate welfare is the new acceptable greed.CEO's making in half a day what their average employee does in a year should more than make up for what little money the feds want back.It doesn't.If the FIT is leading to serfdom,it's only in the fact the money is now going to everywhere except into the serf's pockets.
4. End the direct election of senators by repealing the Seventeenth Amendment.What?!? Let the serfs have a say?Why they might actually vote in a Democrat!
5. Require the federal government to balance its budget every year.
OK.We start by repealing the tax subsidies(breaks) to the rich and the corporations.That's the way Clinton did it.
6. The federal Constitution should define marriage as between one man and one woman in all 50 states.
Just what the states need...another federal law.Even Jesus was against the union of religion and government(Give to Caesar what is Caesars,and give to God what is God's---by the way,Jesus paid his tax!) Who is this for anyway?Not only are the majority of Americans now for gay marriages,there are also Christian churches supporting gay unions!So...this is for a limited Christian religious minority?Are all Christians now supposed to bow to the beliefs a just a few?This stinks of the beginnings of a federally run religion.Kennedy said he would not let his Catholicism run his politics.I bet if you put all of our founding fathers in a room to debate their religious views,you never would have gotten them to agree on much except that we are a country of divine providence.A state run religion might work great in Saudi Arabia or Iran,and you can evangelize me all you want.But my house follows The Lord.I don't bow to you.
7. Abortion should be made illegal throughout the country.
Man,Gov.Perry,do you believe in state rights at all?Do you?Yes,we all believe that abortion is murder.States killing innocent men is murder,too.When did you become so squeamish?What type of government do you believe in that forces me to chose an unborn child over the life of my wife?What right does the federal government have in interfering in such a personal life or death decision ?This is not the U.S.S.R.if you truly believed that abortion was murder,you would preach programs that made sexual education more prominent.But,no.You don't.You try to convert your fellow Americans to your state run religion,and instead of making their tasks easier,you make it harder.
All this leads to is a smoke and mirrors campaign.Mis-leading instead of leading.Mr.governor,in my opinion,you are a Pontius Pilot Christian...Just what is the truth?Anything you want to make it?You are washing your hands of both the truth and justice.All I call say is that your constituents better pack up and hide their guns.Because Republicans used to preach the power of the Constitution in order to protect their guns.Now,Rick Perry wants to gut it for no purposeful reason.He talks gun,but with this many Constitutional amendments,how long can it be before he throws it all away ?How long can we believe that he is anything but anti-gun?You speak with a forked tongue,gov.Perry.You say you are pro-state,all the while trying to push federal law after federal law down our states' throats.You speak like you want us to be free.You actions tell as if you want to enslave us.
You'll never get my vote.
Live Free or Die.
but their heart isn't in it.
They act like they're worshiping me,
but they don't mean it.
They just use me as a cover
for teaching whatever suits their fancy."
I,as an American,could never vote for a person that spouted secessionism,even if only as a veiled threat.But,it seemed that there are plenty of people ready and willing to drink the tea tinged Kool-Aid of Texas governor Rick Perry.
Gov. Perry,a career politician,pretends to be anti-Washington big government.He pretends to be all about state rights,but his very actions say otherwise.That he chooses to say one thing and then do another is very telling.One has to ask,why would he choose to mis-lead rather than lead?Does he have a hidden agenda?Sounds very Washington~esque to me.
Of course this is just my opinion.Let's explore shall we?
Gov.Perry is a states rights sort of guy.By definition,this means that he believes that the states should be able to handle their problems on their own without any or little federal government interference.
Then why,we must ask,is Governor Rick Perry so gung ho about changing the United States of America's Constitution seven times if he is so against the use of these very same federal powers to begin with?I reckon it is either because he feels he is impotent as a state governor to change these positions within his own state,or that he realizes that there is more power at the federal level to enact these changes.He is openly chasing the very power he is rallying against-thus nullifying his own argument.
Some Constitutional amendments have been good.Others not so.Perhaps we should look at these Constitutional changes to see why the governor of the great state of Texas is willing to make these changes:
1. Abolish lifetime tenure for federal judges by amending Article III, Section I of the Constitution.
This amendment is aimed at judges not judging with their mind on the Constitution.Lifetime tenure was created to make the judges less susceptible to outside influences.This meant that they didn't have to worry about re-elections or outside sponsors.They could judge with their minds and hearts-be they liberal or conservative.Evidently,Rick Perry must feel that this goes against individual states say so.This bias would have been very convenient during the civil rights era.Or maybe,even more so during the next close presidential election.On the forefront this looks like a no brainer for state rights...but it's just another federal power grab that makes it just a tad bit easier to steal away state rights.
2. Congress should have the power to override Supreme Court decisions with a two-thirds vote.
Hmm,consolidating federal power into two branches instead of three...I can see how this would evolve into less power at the federal level.
3. Scrap the federal income tax by repealing the Sixteenth Amendment.The plan to scrap the federal income tax sounds appealing until you realize that it benefits mostly the upper class.Taxing the rich became a wartime event.After all,it was their factories benefiting from the wartime production.The government overpays for tanks and guns,you give a little bit of the money back and everyone goes home happy.Alas,these are the old rules.Corporate welfare is the new acceptable greed.CEO's making in half a day what their average employee does in a year should more than make up for what little money the feds want back.It doesn't.If the FIT is leading to serfdom,it's only in the fact the money is now going to everywhere except into the serf's pockets.
4. End the direct election of senators by repealing the Seventeenth Amendment.What?!? Let the serfs have a say?Why they might actually vote in a Democrat!
5. Require the federal government to balance its budget every year.
OK.We start by repealing the tax subsidies(breaks) to the rich and the corporations.That's the way Clinton did it.
6. The federal Constitution should define marriage as between one man and one woman in all 50 states.
Just what the states need...another federal law.Even Jesus was against the union of religion and government(Give to Caesar what is Caesars,and give to God what is God's---by the way,Jesus paid his tax!) Who is this for anyway?Not only are the majority of Americans now for gay marriages,there are also Christian churches supporting gay unions!So...this is for a limited Christian religious minority?Are all Christians now supposed to bow to the beliefs a just a few?This stinks of the beginnings of a federally run religion.Kennedy said he would not let his Catholicism run his politics.I bet if you put all of our founding fathers in a room to debate their religious views,you never would have gotten them to agree on much except that we are a country of divine providence.A state run religion might work great in Saudi Arabia or Iran,and you can evangelize me all you want.But my house follows The Lord.I don't bow to you.
7. Abortion should be made illegal throughout the country.
Man,Gov.Perry,do you believe in state rights at all?Do you?Yes,we all believe that abortion is murder.States killing innocent men is murder,too.When did you become so squeamish?What type of government do you believe in that forces me to chose an unborn child over the life of my wife?What right does the federal government have in interfering in such a personal life or death decision ?This is not the U.S.S.R.if you truly believed that abortion was murder,you would preach programs that made sexual education more prominent.But,no.You don't.You try to convert your fellow Americans to your state run religion,and instead of making their tasks easier,you make it harder.
All this leads to is a smoke and mirrors campaign.Mis-leading instead of leading.Mr.governor,in my opinion,you are a Pontius Pilot Christian...Just what is the truth?Anything you want to make it?You are washing your hands of both the truth and justice.All I call say is that your constituents better pack up and hide their guns.Because Republicans used to preach the power of the Constitution in order to protect their guns.Now,Rick Perry wants to gut it for no purposeful reason.He talks gun,but with this many Constitutional amendments,how long can it be before he throws it all away ?How long can we believe that he is anything but anti-gun?You speak with a forked tongue,gov.Perry.You say you are pro-state,all the while trying to push federal law after federal law down our states' throats.You speak like you want us to be free.You actions tell as if you want to enslave us.
You'll never get my vote.
Live Free or Die.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Tea Party Distancing Itself From Michele Bachmann
Asked to explain her comment our source continued,"It's bad enough that she has too eat footlong corndogs in front of our men folk so suggestively,but...going sleeveless?Think of our daughters!
"And,she even danced with her husband in front of God and everyone!This is going too too far."
Another Tea Party source told us,"My husband is always explaining to me that a woman's place is in the home.That she should always obey only her husband.When I questioned him on why we like Michele,he told me to shut up and get him a beer.A woman running for president is just too liberal for me.Next thing you know husbands will be getting their own beers.Then where will we be?"
A third source didn't understand why she just didn't marry Mitt Romney,"She's so hoi polloi.Why doesn't she just marry him?Mormons are allowed to marry more than one wife,right?Wouldn't that be like getting two presidents for the price of one?"
Yet,another source claimed,"I used to believe that the Tea Party stood for something.Michele Bachmann makes me forgot just what that was."
The Hypocritic Party doesn't know whether these sources are loose cannon Tea Party outsiders,comic fodder or something in between.But it does appear that some partyers are distancing themselves from their queen.
Monday, August 01, 2011
An Open Letter To The Tea Party
The Tea Party purports to speak for the average United States citizen.
I don't believe them.
They usually profess in every preamble that ,'The American people want this," or that,"The American people need that."
I don't believe them.
Don't presume to tell me you know what I want.You can say,'most of ', or ,'we believe that' the American people think this way or that.But how dare you imply that that we of the people, by the people, for the people all believe in every single idea that comes out of your mouth.
We don't.
Most of us love our government.We are the government.We love one man,one vote.We love having duly elected officials.We love the benefits of living in a republic.
Don't tell us that we would rather have our government default than raise the debt ceiling.You act like a balanced budget is impossible to achieve through the proper governmental channels. It isn't .The Clinton administration achieved this-to you-seemingly impossible goal beginning in 1994!It balanced the budget!
How?!?
By {gasp} tax increases to the rich.
Thus,when George W.Bush gave his tax subsidies(not,cuts) to the rich,he was -in fact-helping to create the deficit hole which you,the Tea Party,find so impossible for us to get out of.
Even if George W. Bush's intentions with the tax subsidies were honorable,the proof is in the pudding.They didn't work.If they did,would we be here where we are now?Would you,the Tea Party,be fighting so hard to maintain the cuts:AT THE COST OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RENEGING ON IT'S DEBTS?!?
You see,if you claim to speak for the people,why are you so for renewing a tax subsidy that started this unchecked deficit in the first place?Why are you against getting us out of this hole at the expense of only 2% of the population,and only at the cost of this subsidy's removal?
In fact,Mr. & Mrs.Tea Partier,why are you,instead,willing to recover this debt on the back of 98 % of the people you are presumably speaking up for?Why are you saying that you speak for us when you shout out that unions are costing America jobs?!?Aren't CEO's making 350 times on average what the average Joe makes?!?Why are you not shouting for them to lower 'their' wages and hire back hundreds of employees?!?
Why do you that supposedly speak for me,support international businesses interests when they are the ones that have sent our good jobs overseas?Enjoy international tax loopholes,hire lobbyists that try hand over foot to corrupt our congress?
Are you insane?
Are you corrupt?
Are you racist?
How can you purport to speak for the American people when your thinking is so terribly askew?
If you think the government is so devoid of righteousness,why are you clamoring so hard to get in bed with all that's wrong with it?You claim to love God and country,but your rants on how our elected officials can not balance the budget proves-despite that we have done it before-that you believe in neither.
Yes,I do believe you are the new Tea Party.But it is US that you are throwing aboard.
I don't believe them.
They usually profess in every preamble that ,'The American people want this," or that,"The American people need that."
I don't believe them.
Don't presume to tell me you know what I want.You can say,'most of ', or ,'we believe that' the American people think this way or that.But how dare you imply that that we of the people, by the people, for the people all believe in every single idea that comes out of your mouth.
We don't.
Most of us love our government.We are the government.We love one man,one vote.We love having duly elected officials.We love the benefits of living in a republic.
Don't tell us that we would rather have our government default than raise the debt ceiling.You act like a balanced budget is impossible to achieve through the proper governmental channels. It isn't .The Clinton administration achieved this-to you-seemingly impossible goal beginning in 1994!It balanced the budget!
How?!?
By {gasp} tax increases to the rich.
Thus,when George W.Bush gave his tax subsidies(not,cuts) to the rich,he was -in fact-helping to create the deficit hole which you,the Tea Party,find so impossible for us to get out of.
Even if George W. Bush's intentions with the tax subsidies were honorable,the proof is in the pudding.They didn't work.If they did,would we be here where we are now?Would you,the Tea Party,be fighting so hard to maintain the cuts:AT THE COST OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RENEGING ON IT'S DEBTS?!?
You see,if you claim to speak for the people,why are you so for renewing a tax subsidy that started this unchecked deficit in the first place?Why are you against getting us out of this hole at the expense of only 2% of the population,and only at the cost of this subsidy's removal?
In fact,Mr. & Mrs.Tea Partier,why are you,instead,willing to recover this debt on the back of 98 % of the people you are presumably speaking up for?Why are you saying that you speak for us when you shout out that unions are costing America jobs?!?Aren't CEO's making 350 times on average what the average Joe makes?!?Why are you not shouting for them to lower 'their' wages and hire back hundreds of employees?!?
Why do you that supposedly speak for me,support international businesses interests when they are the ones that have sent our good jobs overseas?Enjoy international tax loopholes,hire lobbyists that try hand over foot to corrupt our congress?
Are you insane?
Are you corrupt?
Are you racist?
How can you purport to speak for the American people when your thinking is so terribly askew?
If you think the government is so devoid of righteousness,why are you clamoring so hard to get in bed with all that's wrong with it?You claim to love God and country,but your rants on how our elected officials can not balance the budget proves-despite that we have done it before-that you believe in neither.
Yes,I do believe you are the new Tea Party.But it is US that you are throwing aboard.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
End Tax Subsidies For The Very Rich
...in the beginning,only rich white male homeowners paid taxes because they were considered the only true source of revenue.When they lived in a country great enough to call itself the land of opportunity the rich accepted these taxes because there were very few places on earth where they could have made these riches and still lived free.
During The Civil War the wealthy were again called to the help their country.Ditto,The next few big wars including WWI & WWII.
Today's very rich are not so patriotic.In our longest most expensive war they don't mind not only being war profiteers,but also having the lowest tax rate in their bracket in over 100(!) years.
...this is due to the Bush Tax Cuts,or to be more precise:Tax Subsidies:government support to the rich so they can survive.
This comes from the mouths of the very people whom are receiving these subsidies.They claim getting rid of this subsidy would hurt them and our country.
Calling them Tax Cuts instead of a subsidies does not make this rose smell any better.CEO's and their ilk are robbing their compamies of their wealth with hugh bonues and are paying themselves up to 500 times more their average employee's wages;corporate welfare(we've all heard about the five hundred dollar hammers)..corporate tax havens in Wyoming and the Bahamas...etc,etc,and so forth.
Just how much wealth are the wealthy TAKING away from the tit of The United States Of America,anyway?!?
If these self-same corporate heros are going to tell the rest of us that we are all going to have to bite the bullet and wean ourselves off of governmental based services-basic stuff like schools,protection,food and medicine-they should-at least-put their money where their mouth is and lead by example.They should be taking the silver spoon out of their own mouths and stop feeding off the government and make this a true free market country.
Of course,this will happen when Hell freezes over.
But,perhaps,the sense of entitlement via the governmental tit is not the most apropos analogy.
What is that big business saying...."it's not what you know,,,,it's who you blow."
Nuff Said.
Monday, July 04, 2011
Friday, July 01, 2011
A DREW102 REPEAT: How CEO's-Not Unions- Are Destroying America:
Here is a repeat of a previous post:
It is easier for a camel to get through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God
In 1965 the average company CEO made 24 times more than his average worker.What this meant was that it took this average worker 24 days to earn what this CEO did in one day.
Today,the average CEO's paid package conservatively makes a staggering 364(some modern statistics go higher and claim up to 500) times more than their average employee.
While it can be said that figures lie and liars figure,I am going to say that these numbers,in most circles,add up correctly.I am not absolutely certain however,because of the different ways of adding CEO pay both favorably and vice versa.
That being said,it is a jaw dropping statistic:modern CEO's make in ONE day(!)what it takes one of their average employees to incur in a whole year.Day after day,the company CEO,over and over again,remakes a whole year worth of wages of someone in his employment.
What-to me-makes this so so shocking,is the fact that American businesses don't seem to be doing 340 times better than their 1965 counterparts.
In fact,just the opposite seems to be true.For instance,bankers/speculators/mortgage barons are bankrupting our economy and getting government bailouts to save everything from supposedly collapsing under their tutelage.Million dollar bonuses paid via these government handouts seem just par for the course.
No one seem to be asking,if these are their bonuses for screwing up...just what were their paychecks worth,anyway?
When more and more average Joes are being laid off,getting their pay cut and told time and time again that they must sacrifice in lieu of the global economy because these are tough times just how much are these CEO's willing to sacrifice?
It appears they aren't.
It makes me wonder...just how much does the global economy actually have to do with the tough times most blue collar workers are experiencing?
How much is class injustice?How much is corporate greed?
Let's not get into leverage buyouts and their ilk.Let's just concentrate on the average CEO wages.
It would not be unfair to assume that a fair and reasonable wage for a CEO should be 100 times more than his 1965 counterpart.After all,the CEO,while not 'the company' is an integral part of the ship.The rudder,perhaps,even the engine.124 times the ship's nuts and bolts seems a very good compensation.Company first and all that rot.
That leaves one hundred forty positions that could be filled within the company at no cost to the company.Hell,hire half that and you still have a very tight ship.
Now,multiply that by the hundreds of corporate CEO's out there and this economic downturn suddenly seems not caused by the global economy,but rather on corporate greed.
How many Americans are out of work simply because the men at the top are over paying themselves times the hundreds?
This is outrageous behavior.No wonder corporate America has so ingrained itself within the government.No wonder they have to spend so much money on the thousand of lobbyists they throw into congress.
If their causes were so just would they need to lavish senators and U.S. Representatives so persuasively?Would they have to blitz the media so seductively so all of the time?
No.They wouldn't.
Yes,I know what you are thinking.If we don't cower before the might of these kings of industry that they will go and take their money elsewhere.
I say,let them.First off,they are already half way there.These muti-national corporation giants don't generally give a hoot about America's well being anyway.So,leave.Take off.Do what ya gotta do.
Why do I shout this?Because where are they going to have it better off than right here in the good ol' U.S.A.?Nowhere,that's where.But,if they are strong on leaving go.
Why?Because America is still the land of opportunity.Immigrants,both legal and illegally are dying to get into this great land and make a name for themselves.
So,Mr.BigWig CEO.Take off.Don't let the door hit you on the way out.Don't go away mad.Just go away.I'm not worried that you leaving will in anyway leave a muti-millionaire CEO leadership void.
America has got you covered.We'll make more.
Jesus answered,"If you want to be perfect,go,sellyour possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in Heaven.Then come follow me.When the young man heard this statement,he went away sad,for he had many possessions.
It is easier for a camel to get through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God
In 1965 the average company CEO made 24 times more than his average worker.What this meant was that it took this average worker 24 days to earn what this CEO did in one day.
Today,the average CEO's paid package conservatively makes a staggering 364(some modern statistics go higher and claim up to 500) times more than their average employee.
While it can be said that figures lie and liars figure,I am going to say that these numbers,in most circles,add up correctly.I am not absolutely certain however,because of the different ways of adding CEO pay both favorably and vice versa.
That being said,it is a jaw dropping statistic:modern CEO's make in ONE day(!)what it takes one of their average employees to incur in a whole year.Day after day,the company CEO,over and over again,remakes a whole year worth of wages of someone in his employment.
What-to me-makes this so so shocking,is the fact that American businesses don't seem to be doing 340 times better than their 1965 counterparts.
In fact,just the opposite seems to be true.For instance,bankers/speculators/mortgage barons are bankrupting our economy and getting government bailouts to save everything from supposedly collapsing under their tutelage.Million dollar bonuses paid via these government handouts seem just par for the course.
No one seem to be asking,if these are their bonuses for screwing up...just what were their paychecks worth,anyway?
When more and more average Joes are being laid off,getting their pay cut and told time and time again that they must sacrifice in lieu of the global economy because these are tough times just how much are these CEO's willing to sacrifice?
It appears they aren't.
It makes me wonder...just how much does the global economy actually have to do with the tough times most blue collar workers are experiencing?
How much is class injustice?How much is corporate greed?
Let's not get into leverage buyouts and their ilk.Let's just concentrate on the average CEO wages.
It would not be unfair to assume that a fair and reasonable wage for a CEO should be 100 times more than his 1965 counterpart.After all,the CEO,while not 'the company' is an integral part of the ship.The rudder,perhaps,even the engine.124 times the ship's nuts and bolts seems a very good compensation.Company first and all that rot.
That leaves one hundred forty positions that could be filled within the company at no cost to the company.Hell,hire half that and you still have a very tight ship.
Now,multiply that by the hundreds of corporate CEO's out there and this economic downturn suddenly seems not caused by the global economy,but rather on corporate greed.
How many Americans are out of work simply because the men at the top are over paying themselves times the hundreds?
This is outrageous behavior.No wonder corporate America has so ingrained itself within the government.No wonder they have to spend so much money on the thousand of lobbyists they throw into congress.
If their causes were so just would they need to lavish senators and U.S. Representatives so persuasively?Would they have to blitz the media so seductively so all of the time?
No.They wouldn't.
Yes,I know what you are thinking.If we don't cower before the might of these kings of industry that they will go and take their money elsewhere.
I say,let them.First off,they are already half way there.These muti-national corporation giants don't generally give a hoot about America's well being anyway.So,leave.Take off.Do what ya gotta do.
Why do I shout this?Because where are they going to have it better off than right here in the good ol' U.S.A.?Nowhere,that's where.But,if they are strong on leaving go.
Why?Because America is still the land of opportunity.Immigrants,both legal and illegally are dying to get into this great land and make a name for themselves.
So,Mr.BigWig CEO.Take off.Don't let the door hit you on the way out.Don't go away mad.Just go away.I'm not worried that you leaving will in anyway leave a muti-millionaire CEO leadership void.
America has got you covered.We'll make more.
Jesus answered,"If you want to be perfect,go,sellyour possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in Heaven.Then come follow me.When the young man heard this statement,he went away sad,for he had many possessions.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Recent Going Ons
c |
| The fresh raspberry boo-boos were church softball related.Left:sliding into third/Right:diving into third to make the force out.Brother Carl says that getting older means accepting the outcome instead of hurting the knees. |
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| Crack sealing for The DOT |
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| I took a day or three off from my normal readings to breeze through this quick read.Not only was it truly inspirational ,it was a local story as well.No Malarkey. |
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| I paid less than two bucks for this album of tunes from the Broadway show from the alternative universe of the South Park guys.Who'd thunk that a play that goes on and on about female genital mutilation/screwing frogs and eschewing religion to the point that it somewhat validates it,could be so much fun. |
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| We went down to Nelsonville to watch Tyler graduate from Hocking College.Way to go son.We are soo proud of you:-) |
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
...What I Am Drinking,Now...
I bought a 12 pack of this nice dry beer.It is a famous historic beer from the Toledo area remade by a modern micro-brew in Toledo called The Maumee Bay Brewing Co.
It is moderately priced(around $12.00),but worth every penny.Light in color,it has a somewhat buttery taste[NOTE:I am not very good at tasting hints of acorns,nor either am I able to tell the after tastes of coffee served warm not,but hot...so any description I use is based on my non-refined taste buds].It has that forties/fifties style of taste to it,yet is unique in it's own right.
I served it in my Toledo Rockets glass(chilled).And,in a habit that I got from my Mother,added a touch of salt and pepper.Aah,this is best cold and it tastes great from the bottle as well.
Unlike the going ons with the Columbus football Buckeyes,this Buckeye brew is quite easy to swallow...good stuff.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Fun At The Indianapolis 500
My Dad,brothers,Ted & Carl,nephew Tom and nephew-in-law,Sam had a great time at the Indy 500.Front row(section 26)!We saw this just before the race.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
MORE DOLLAR TREE BOOKS
An Act Of State-The Execution Of Martin Luther King,by William F.Scott : I would have thought this book to be a far fetched,want to believe,government conspiracy nut job except for the fact that it is endorsed by all those close to MLK-His family,His Library,former high up govt officials and major newspapers.
A Durable Peace-Israel And Its Place Among The Nations,by Benjamin Netanyahu :This book is just as relevant today after 9/11 as it was when it was published in the year 2000.Sure,it takes a pro-Israeli stand(Duh),but it is very hard to refute its step by step,argument by argument case for itself.I have always been pro-Israel(except for the ghetto and a few other minor things),but this book makes damn good sense why Israel has a right to exist.Obama should read this before he starts spouting off about things.
I Is For Infidel-From Holy War To Holy Terror:18 Years Inside Afghanistan,by Kathy Gannon : Sort of a companion piece to the above book.No,not everything is black and white.Not all things have easy answers or can or should be easily labeled.Cause and effect.Missed chances.Greed.Manipulation.Hatred & bitterness.Oh,a tangled web.Another good read.
Rhett Butler's People,by Donald McCaig : This is the authorized novel (I hear there's another one out there somewhere) based on Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind.This ain't 'War & Peace',but then neither was 'War & Peace'.This is better then good pulp fiction:this is good fiction.When you are reading multiple books sometimes you find yourself trudging through all of them,until,sometimes,one picks you up and you can't put it down.That is this book.Of course I could only see Rhett Butler as Clark Gable and Scarlett as Vivien Leigh.But I fell in love with Rhett-the man.He was the man.Donald McCaig had Rhett down to a tee.His speech and mannerisms were perfect.Also,Mr.McCaig's portrayal of the south was totally right on...I even learned a thing or three.One good read.'Nuff said.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Obama's Israel Lunacy
Watch this video filmed November 2nd,2007.At 6:10 into it,soon to be assassinated former Prime Minister of Pakistan,Benazir Bhutto,while being interviewed by David Frost,talks about Osama Bin Laden as already being dead.This opens up a whole can of worms about President Obama which I only get into to question why he is doing what he is doing.
Because asking Israel to go back to it's pre-Six Day War borders is sheer lunacy.
Before I go any further,because I can't stand it anymore,lets call Palestine by it's real name:The country of Israel.Why Israel is being called Palestine is beyond me.Oh,that's right,so Arabs that are living in Israel can claim it as their homeland.
Well,there is part of 'Palestine' that Arabs can go to to live that is controlled by Arabs...it's called Lebanon.If living in a free Jewish state is too much for the Arab Palestinian,he can still stay in his/her homeland,just move to Lebanon.
Why do I say this so harshly?Because the land was won in a war!And the war-both sides claim it to be a preemptive war-was won by the Israelis(land,by the way,that was not only used to attack Israel over and over again,but was mandated to the Israel cause by the League Of Nations).
Should The United States give all of the native American lands back?How many victors settle on the loser's terms?
Does anyone,anywhere actually believe that the Israelites giving up any amount of land will appease the Palestinian Arab?
But here is the rub of all rubs...president Obama says if the Israelis want peace that they should give back the the pre-Six Day War land.
Is that a veiled threat?Is that a terroristic threat of war unless the Arab Palestinian gets his way?Isn't that what al-Qaida always threatens The United States with?
Does it all come down to give them what they want or I promise you there will be a war?
Sounds like our president is on the wrong side of this one.Advocating peaceful protests in the middle east is one thing...especially from a president into three Arab wars...but threatening our allies with the threat of war if they don't comply is quite another.
It is sheer lunacy.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
You May Be A Redneck...Tea Party Version
You may be a Red Neck if...
...you believe Sarah Palin should be president because she's hot.
...you'll never believe president Obama was born a U.S. citizen.
...you believe the bumper sticker,'Don't Renege In 2012', is funny,but not racist.
...you believe our firemen,policeman and teachers are all heroes...over paid heroes who shouldn't have the right to support each other by forming groups..but,still,heroes..
...you believe not everyone should have access to health care.
...you believe the government should continue subsidizing the super rich with continuous tax cuts,but should cut farm subsides because farmers shouldn't mooch off the government.
...you believe welfare should be stopped to those lazy good for nothing poor ethnic people while supporting corporate welfare because the rich will leave the country if we don't.
...Rush Limbaugh can do no wrong.
...you believe FOX news is fair and balanced.
...that you claim to be an independent yet would rather have your children turn gay then become a democrat
...you think the media is evil and liberal
...you believe whatever the Republican party tells you to believe
...you believe Sarah Palin should be president because she's hot.
...you'll never believe president Obama was born a U.S. citizen.
...you believe the bumper sticker,'Don't Renege In 2012', is funny,but not racist.
...you believe our firemen,policeman and teachers are all heroes...over paid heroes who shouldn't have the right to support each other by forming groups..but,still,heroes..
...you believe not everyone should have access to health care.
...you believe the government should continue subsidizing the super rich with continuous tax cuts,but should cut farm subsides because farmers shouldn't mooch off the government.
...you believe welfare should be stopped to those lazy good for nothing poor ethnic people while supporting corporate welfare because the rich will leave the country if we don't.
...Rush Limbaugh can do no wrong.
...you believe FOX news is fair and balanced.
...that you claim to be an independent yet would rather have your children turn gay then become a democrat
...you think the media is evil and liberal
...you believe whatever the Republican party tells you to believe
Monday, May 09, 2011
Obama /Bin Laden Questions
First off,I am a big President Obama fan.I think he has done wonders for this country.I am proud to call him my president.Second,I am glad Osama bin Laden is dead.
But,I have a question surrounding bin Laden's death that no one else seems to be asking.If President Obama and his staff were watching the Osama raid 'live',how is it that they at first released over~exaggerated amount of resistance news reports to the media?
Why report that the black ops team was in a massive gun fight when they only came across a couple holding hands.Why state Osama bin Laden fought back with weapons when he was unarmed,with his wife,in their bedroom?
Why go through the Pat Tillman type subterfuge when the whole White House staff saw:in real time((!)) that this did not happen?
And why has no one else asked this serious question?
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Flaw In Wal*Mart Low Price Guarantee
While Mother's Day shopping for a bicycle for the cute girl,Robyn and I found out this little bit of information.It appears Walmart's low price guarantee does not apply to the online version of itself. If you find an item cheaper online at Walmart,they do not have to honor that lower price at the store.While wiley Robyn bullied the manager into giving her the online price,we were assured,getting said lower price was not the Walmart company practice.
I hate guarantee's filled with 'Viagra' commercial type small print warnings and exclusions.Here's hoping Walmart sees this flaw and fixes it so that their stores even honor their own lower on line prices
P.S. The bike was $50.00 cheaper on line!
Thursday, May 05, 2011
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