 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
I'm very tired of the press.
The way they have handled themselves regarding Katrina has pretty much turned me off getting my news from anywhere other than blogs on the net (as opposed to, you know, blogs on any other medium).
It came to an all-time low for me today on the way home. NPR interviewed another news reporter (WTF??? nobody else would talk to them???) in order to get "the true" story from the ground. This reporter described how "people were dying all around him" and he had "seen several people one morning only to see their corpses later that night".
I have one suggestion for all these damn reporters and "news corporations" that can do nothing but spin, speculate, profit from, or otherwise demean everyone else that is attempting to help people in great need:
SHUT THE FUCK UP, TURN OFF THE DAMN CAMERA, AND DRIVE SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF THERE YOU IDIOT!!!!!!
In reference to my Media Rant a bit ago, I decided to keep a list this week of all the shows that aired this week on NPR that had a positive note to it.
Ready? Here are the numbers:
Total "Fact Based" news reports ran - 194
Total "Op Ed" reports - 9
Total Combined Positive Reports (Fact and OpEd) - 7 !!!!!
I was thinking about doing this collection for an extended period of time, then write an Op Ed of my own regarding it... but honestly, after paying such close attention for just this one week, I'm already feeling a little negative on everything.
Thinking of watching a Charlie Brown Christmas for some positive mojo.
Side Note, Corri wanted me to link to her new garden pictures so her mother could see them... so here ya go dear.
Ok, this is a rant, it’s 100% rant, so be warned.
For the past many years, as I drove into work, to visit a client, to deliver a program, or doing anything else that required me to drive during business hours I would listen to talk radio. There are many different stations and shows in which to choose from. For the morning drive in, and the afternoon drive home, I have always listened to NPR. Mainly because it is on FM and I get better quality sound from it, and because NPR has always in the past provided good mixes of views and interesting topics. However, in dealing with the war in Iraq, they have gone the route of drama.
Yesterday morning as I drove in, listening to (as usual) NPR, they aired a story on a soldier who was killed on Memorial Day in Iraq. Granted, I get upset hearing that anyone has given their life in any war, but to be honest, there was nothing out of the ordinary about this soldiers death other than the fact that it occurred on Memorial Day. So, NPR decided to play on the drama of the family. The story began telling about how this particular soldier had wanted to be a cop. In high school (pre 9/11) another cop had told him that the best training he could get would be in the military. So the boy joined the Marine Corp and off he went. They commented “Then 9-11 happened and no longer was [soldiers name] getting the easy, free training, he had been looking for. Now he was going to war”. They then had his parents discuss how they were so proud when he joined the Corp. but then were scared when the prospect of war came along. They cried, talking about how great of a boy he was, what type of plans he had, he was engaged, etc. It was tearful, it was sad… it was pathetic for NPR.
First off, here is a little clue for anyone thinking of joining our armed forces, get out your pen and paper because this is something you will not want to forget: You May Have to Go to War if You Join the Military. Shocking right? I can not stand that the citizens of the United States look to the military to get “free and easy” training for their future and then get pissed off when they are called to employ their training on the battlefield. It’s a risk; it has happened in the past, it will happen in the future.
Moving on… The MAIN thing that really got me upset when NPR aired this story is the fact that there was NOTHING to report. Yes, a soldier died. It’s tragic. However, it was nothing that was unexpected or surprising. Soldiers die in battle, however horrible that is, it does happen. NPR was airing was a “tear jerker”. There was a ton of crying on the report, a ton of “tisk tisk, look at what this war is doing to our young men and women” and a hint of “President Bush, are you listening to this?” They added no value to my life, no information to my day, and no insight.
Regardless of what political views you might follow, here is an insight: The different political parties are NOT the irresponsible groups, the media is. The story that NPR aired was irresponsible, tactless, and just plain spin. A “News Organization” should NEVER air anything just because. It does nothing but falsely lead people to conclusions, stir up negative sentiment, and tick people off.
Three Texas surgeons were having lunch together and discussing surgeries they had performed. One of them said, "I'm the best surgeon in Texas. A concert pianist lost 7 fingers in an accident, I reattached them and 8 months later he performed a private concert for the Queen of England."
One of the others said. "That's nothing. A young man lost both arms and legs in a terrible accident, I reattached them and 2 years later he won 2 gold medals in field events in the Olympics."
The third surgeon said, "You guys are amateurs. Several years ago a guy who was high on cocaine and alcohol rode a horse head-on into a train traveling 80 miles an hour. All I had left to work with was the horse's ass and the guy's mouth. Now he's running as the Democrat candidate for President of the United States."
A powerful senator dies after a prolonged illness. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the guy.
"Well, I'd like to but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven," says the senator.
"I'm sorry but we have our rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a club and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him, everyone is very happy and in evening attire. They run to greet him, hug him, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar. Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that, before he realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a big hug and waves while the elevator rises.
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.
"Now it's time to visit Heaven."
So 24 hours pass with the head of state joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well then, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your eternity."
He reflects for a minute, then the senator answers, "Well, I would never have said it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. The Devil comes over to him and lays his arm on his neck.
"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and club and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now all there is, is a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.
The Devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning...Today you voted for us!"
VOTE WISELY THIS COMING ELECTION!!
While suturing a laceration on the hand of a 70-year-old Massachusetts business Tycoon (whose hand had been caught in a fence while working at his country home), a doctor and the old man were talking about Senator John Kerry possibly being in the White House one day. The old Tycoon said, "Well, ya know, Kerry is a 'post turtle'."
Not knowing what the old man meant, the doctor asked him what a post turtle was. The old man said, "When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle."
The old man saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain, "You know he didn't get there by himself, he doesn't belong there, he is not getting anything done while he's up there, and you just want to help the poor stupid thing get down."
In 1950, The Star of Hope (a shelter for the homeless) built and dedicated a monument to philanthropist William S. Mosher, who among other things gave money to the Star of Hope shelter.
The monument was a display of the King James Bible resting under glass atop a 4 foot stone base. Each week the SoH would turn the page of the bible and clean the glass.
Does this in anyway sound like the local government promoting religion?
Well, the monument (built and maintained through private funds) is outside the Harris County Civil Courthouse. Now you have a reason for the jacked-up-left to get pissy about it.
Kay Staley, a Real Estate Broker and Lawyer (That's an ugly combination) sued the county (the COUNTY!!!) to have it removed. She did not sue the people who built it and maintained it, no, she went after the county to make a political point. Well, the U.S. District Courts deemed it Unconstitutional (or rather, they deemed it against their political orientation) and have ordered Harris County to remove it. They then decided that the COUNTY (again, remember, private funds here, not county funds) had to pay the court costs for Staley to the tune of $41,000.
In another article that talked about this last week, Staley had stated that she always wanted to challenge the placement and existence of this moment. Since Law School she thought it should be taken down, however, she didn't feel the public would support her. She decided that now was the time because society was "tired of God" and she knew the courts were liberal enough.
Either nobody bothered to contact the SoH to get a reaction, or (most likely) they did get a reaction and simply couldn't print it in the public media.
What really chaps me about all this is not so much about the removal of the monument. Our courts are very far to the left and most of the judges feel they have to pander to the left in order to ... um... hell, I can't seem to come up with a good reason as to why they do it. No, the thing that gets me is the fact that the county has to pay the court costs. Normally $41,000 is not too big a hit for the county, but these days all budgets are very short. We don't have enough school books, our school buses are loosing bumpers as they drive down the street, schools are closing, we don't have enough teachers, they don't have the right equipment in classrooms... well, you get the idea. So instead of $41,000 going to educate our children, or improve our roadways, it's having to pay for some cracked up liberal to sue them!
Now, down here in Texas we are known for our swift and harsh judgement. So I'm heading on down there with a rope to string this lady up and get her off our streets so people can concentrate on matters that are actually important. I think it a must that we do this before this lady goes and sues the city for having trees too tall or something.
Nick sent this over to me...
The Ant and the Grasshopper.
OLD VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house
and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the
summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.
The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!
MODERN VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house
and laying up supplies for the winter.
The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the
summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference
and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed
while others are cold and starving.
CBS, NBC, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper
next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with
food.
America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country
of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the
Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they
sing, "It's Not Easy Being Green."
Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the
news stations film the group singing, "We shall overcome." Jesse then has
the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.
Tom Daschle & John Kerry exclaim in an interview with Peter Jennings that
the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for
an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his "fair share."
Finally, the EEOC drafts the "Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act,"
retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to
hire a proportionate! number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay
his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.
Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation
suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges
that Bill appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients.
The ant loses the case.
The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the
ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the
ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it.
The ant has disappeared in the snow.
The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now
abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once
peaceful neighborhood.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Vote Republican
The Pope is visiting Washington, D.C. and President Bush takes him out for
an afternoon on the Potomac sailing on the Presidential yacht, the Sequoia.
They're admiring the sights when, all of a sudden, the Pope's hat blows off
his head and out into the water.
Secret service guys start to launch a boat, but President Bush waves them
off, saying, "Wait, wait. I'll take care of this. Don't worry."
Bush then steps off the yacht onto the surface of the water and walks out to
the Holy Father's little hat, bends over and picks it up, then walks back to
the yacht and climbs aboard. He hands the hat to the Pope amid stunned
silence.
The next morning the headlines in New York Times, Boston Globe, Milwaukee
Sentinel-Journal, Minneapolis Tribune, Denver Post, Albuquerque Journal, Los
Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle proclaim in bold headlines:
"BUSH CAN'T SWIM"
This update is a long time coming I know, however this has been a very long and busy week so forgive me.
Last Saturday (March 27, 2004) I was honored to fill the roll of Precinct 0709 Republican Delegate. Each election year, a convention is held in which local residence who voted within their parties primary election are able to attend. This is actually an elected office that is gained while attending the local party precinct convention, which is held the night of the primary elections.
Enough dates and stuff though, lets get to the heart of it all. The (official) purpose of the District Convention is to approve resolutions that our district wants sent to the state and federal Republican party for the official platform. But, what I found out was that the real reason to attend is because it is a stepping stone to the State Convention held this coming June, more on that later.
The convention started early and I was the first to arrive from my precinct.
I would estimate that as the day got fully rolling there were anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 people there (just a guess though).
Many of the big speakers came out to talk to us and get us all pumped up.
Paul Bettencourt
Ted Poe
Judge Robert Eckels
and
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay
Those are some pretty big names. I snapped a picture while Congressman DeLay was speaking, but it didn't turn out all that well.
(He is standing on a platform between the flags)
Anyway, it was a real interesting time. This is as "local" as local politics can get. I was pretty excited to hear the different speakers get up and be pretty candid since they were standing in the middle of a bunch of supporters and had no press around (which I was VERY thankful for).
But, as I mentioned, the big thing is the state convention elections. I am fortunate enough to be able to go this year June 3-5th in San Antonio. I will be there as a District 7 Delegate which is very exciting. This is the big convention for the GOP in the state of Texas. For us, the only other bigger party is the National party. So as you can imagine, there will be thousands of people there, and of course, it stretches over many days.
By the end of day, I was tired of hearing people say "Aye" or "Nay", but not tired of what it represented. This was a moment in which the little guys (or gals) voice got out there. Now granted, it didn't make an immediate difference today, however, it easily plants a seed in your head that you can make a difference by yourself if you keep trying. I'll head to the state convention in June and hopefully get to rub elbows with more powerful and interesting people... who knows, maybe I'll join Ted Poe's campaign or something and see if I can ride along with his group for a bit.
It's not what happened at that convention that got me excited, it's the fact that it's the first step to getting places where real change happens... and persistence will get me there.
Ask anyone on the far left side of the isle if there is a moral decline in today's children and they will state that "no such findings have been verified".
That's of course a political way to side step a question that they don't wish to answer. It's a pretty common tactic of the left to simply ignore what they don't want to address for fear of stepping on the toes of "artists" or "expressionists" that have gone too far out there in their work. When I say "too far" I mean putting up one killing after another on some show aired during prime-time that our children can watch. Or insisting that it is crucial to the story of ER to show a topless woman (regardless of age) in the distance. If this is the case then tell a different story! Not to mention the fact that parents today screen less and less of what their kids are watching... or they simply don't agree that it is wrong to let our kids get soaked in sex and killings every night; but that's a different rant for a different day.
The result (and the point I am not making very well) is that our kids today grow less and less concerned with what is right instead concentrating on what is cool. To illustrate, here is a NEWS STORY about two second graders (8 years old!) and a fifth grader (11) who sneaked a gun and knife to school, buried them in the playground and were intending to shot and stab a third grade girl because she had teased them! 8 Years Old People! It's sick that these kids would be able to put the thought together in their mind of "OK, this bitch teased us. Lets get a gun, sneak it into the playground and smoke her ass."
Moral decline in the U.S.? Nah... the research doesn't support that finding... elect John Kerry!
Followup - 17 year old high school student takes 20 bombs to school and tries to kill all his fellow students.
There has been a good deal of talk on the radio, TV, and at the water cooler about the prices of gasoline. I find this pretty amusing. While working in Scotland, I found that gas (petrol) was between $5 and $7 per gallon. It would cost me about $45 USD to fill up my little econ 3 cylinder engine car. If we get over $2 per gallon the entire country falls apart. Of course, according to the Dem's, we went to war in Iraq for oil... now I suppose we just need to find a country with a dictator and lots of refining capacity to attack.
But to put things in perspective, I would like to show you something that someone else sent to me.
Diet Snapple
16 oz $1.29 ........ $10.32 per gallon
Lipton Ice Tea
16 oz $1.19 ...........$9.52 per gallon
Gatorade 20 oz
$1.59 ..... $10.17 per gallon
Ocean Spray 16 oz
$1.25 ........ $10.00 per gallon
Brake Fluid 12 oz
$3.15 .......... $33.60 per gallon
Vick's Nyquil 6 oz
$8.35 ... $178.13 per gallon
Pepto Bismol 4 oz
$3.85 ...... $123.20 per gallon
Whiteout 7 oz
$1.39 ...... $25.42 per gallon
Scope 1.5 oz
$0.99 .......$84.48 per gallon
And this is the REAL KICKER...
Evian water 9 oz $1.49..........$21.19 per gallon?! $21.19 for WATER - and the buyers don't even know the source.
A correction has been sent to my attention. Jan Aragon was NOT my fathers English teacher as stated in the post dated March 9, 2004. She was instead his History teacher. My father then goes on to point out that if I am going to be in politics, I must get my facts "... just close enough so that when folks check them out, enough are correct to my you believable."
Wise words, thanks dad.
Today was the Texas Primary Election. I did make it down to Jan Aragon Middle School (Ironic as Jan Aragon was my High School Principle and my Dad's English Teacher) to cast my ballot for my party. As I was there, I learned of a Delegate Nomination and Issue Caucus tonight. I asked to attend, and got great feedback about what it was all about. It seems that not many people under 30 would actually go to something like this (and I can attest to being the only one there).
So tonight at 7:30 PM I ventured back to the aforementioned school and participated in politics at the lowest level... the precinct level. It was a great time really, to see politics on a true "grass roots" level. We were able to argue issues that we wanted passed up to the State Convention in three weeks, and then we nominated delegates to represent our precinct at the State Convention. I was nominated to be one. So three weeks from this Saturday, I will head to the University of Houston for an all day convention in which I will be representing my local district to the Republican Party.
I have ranted here on my website for long enough, it's time to finally get involved at the local level and see about what types of changes I can help bring about!
Some will agree with me that this is exciting, while others, knowing well my views, will think it scary.
In THIS ARTICLE John Kerry did a wonderful job of creating his own demand...
As everyone knows, I'm in the Technology industry. There have been many times in which business was slow, and if I would simply log onto one of my clients networks and introduce a virus onto their systems, I would get a call from them to come out and fix it all. Thus creating demand for myself and making money at it.
That basically is how I see today's Democrat party. During the Clinton years, the controlling House and Senate DemocRATS down-sized the nations military budgets along with its equipment. Bush took over in 2000 and found a military that was drastically understaffed, underfunded, and under supplied. Now, you have to understand that the President (no matter who he is) can not simply say "Give them more money". No, it must go through the House and Senate and the various budgetary comities that approve these types of funding. Three months ago, Bush finally got his equipment spending bill approved (after tons of concessions to the RATS by the way) and began to get the military re-equipped properly.
Now of course, the RATS are stumping about how Bush has left our boys in bad situations because HE would not give them the proper equipment, no matter that it was the RATS that held up the bills for funding.
I think I will go and send those viruses out to ALL my clients now... I mean if the RATS can set the example on this, then why not follow their lead? What are these people teaching our children... *sigh*
In a recent interview, General Norman Schwartzkof was asked if he thought there was room for forgiveness toward the people who have harbored and abetted the terrorists who perpetrated the 9/11 attacks on America....
His Answer:
"I believe that forgiving them is God's function. Our job is simply to arrange the meeting."
For those that oppose what we do in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hot beds of terrorism around the world, and would in turn rather have today's news and topics revolve around who did or did not bare a breast during the Super Bowl, I bid you to look HERE and never forget.
Last night after listening to "W" address the nation along with the follow-up from the Democrats I was of course itching to head to my trusty PC to post some comments. I decided instead to rant about with Nick over the phone and cool off a bit before posting anything.
My general reaction is to feel good about the amount of integrity displayed by our President while standing in front of obvious opponents.
In more detail, I felt the President did a wonderful job of not politicizing any issues. He gave a good idea of the state of our union (which is the point of his address) and listed out some policy issues that he would like to see enacted. I did not once hear him say "Democrats" or "The Left" or "Liberals". He seemed to speak above such words and leveled his message at both sides of the isle.
What I got really heated about was not what he said, but the reaction to him. Yes to him, not just his words, but to he himself. It is expected that the minority party will not applaud, not stand, or often times sit on their hands to show they do not stand behind his words. But when Bush spoke of making the tax cuts permanent, the Democrats Booed him. Booed HIM! This goes beyond showing their opposition to a bill or policy, this demonstrates disrespect for the man holding this countries highest office. I have often times disagreed with a president, but NEVER have I felt inclined to BOO at him. I feel that the office of president deserves greater respect than what you might find being given to an opposing hockey team as they come out of the lockers.
For them to BOO like that, not only tells me that they do not respect the man, but that they feel you and I are just too stupid to hold on to the money that we work hard for. They of course know better how to spend the money I worked for today than I do.
I will say, my favorite moment came when Bush said "The Patriot Act you passed is set to expire next year...." the Democrats began to cheer, and he let them. Then followed up with "Unfortunately, the terrorists agenda does not." A large smile spread over my face at that point, because the Democrats could do nothing but sit there and look like buffoons.
The follow-up by the two morticians, Nancy Pelosi and Tom Daschle, had nothing at all to do with the state of our union, nor did it have to do with policy. From start to finish the entire reaction was "Bush lied, Bush is wrong, Bush is bad". My question to that is "About what, in what way, you think you're better?" Why does it seem that the Democrats are working from the "1 inch thick" front? Their campaign is 1,000 miles wide attacking anything and everything around them, but it is only 1 inch thick.
Not sure if you noticed or not, but Bush spoke at 9:06 PM in Washington, D.C. Pelosi and Daschle both spoke from D.C. as well, but oddly, it was light outside the window when they did...
Texas Democrats just can't admit someone beat them. In THIS ARTICLE in the Houston Chronicle, we see that the Dems are going to take a Texas STATE issue up to the Federal Supreme Court.
Texas citizens voted in exactly who they wanted voted in. That's pretty plain and simple. Texas is lead by a Republican majority both in the house and the Senate. So, the GOP party created a new vote districting map over the past year. When the Dems found out that their political power would be reduced because of it, they tried to defeat it within the Texas Congress. That is as it should be, it's politics. If the other party is doing something you don't like, well, you try to block it or offer up something in return for it. However, the Dems could not do this. Instead they walked out twice in order to break quorum so that it would not be passed. Gov. Rick Perry and Tom DeLay put pressure on them and made them come back. They took a vote, and sure enough, the new districting map went into effect.
Now that is the political process at work, end of story. But the Dems seem to think that either a) the voters who put in a majority Republican party are stupid, b) they know better than anyone else or c) the political process is broken because they decided (like usual) to take an issue that they could not win in congress to the courts. So here we go on a ride through each level of the courts, spending tax payer dollars and taking up the judges time. Of course, three different levels of the courts have rejected their claim, and their only option now is the Federal Supreme court.
Now this really bothers me. Texas politics is Texas politics. And if the elected members of Texas pass a new plan or bill what right does the Federal government (judges for the dems) have to step in and say different? Where does that leave state politics? Correct me if I am wrong, but does not the charter of our federal government guarantee that states will have the right to control themselves? With federal guidance only on issues that affect all the states?
If you loose, you loose. If this was a footrace, the Democrats would have a set of their own judges at the finish line to challenge the official ruling, even if the other team finished minutes ahead of them... they would of course say it was discrimination against minorities if they didn't win.
Since when is it discrimination when the elected white democratic party doesn't win?
Once again, a news article has gotten me ticked off (Surprise!). I should really just stop reading the news or get up and do something to try and change it.
Reported in the Houston Chronicle, THIS ARTICLE talks about a Plano, TX school that is not allowing an 8 year old student to pass out gifts because of "religious content".
A boy wanted to pass out Candy Canes to his friends that had a flier stapled to them telling the Legend of the Candy Cane. Legend says that the candy is hard because Jesus is the Rock of Ages. Additionally it says that the candy was made into a "J" for Jesus.
Well, that was "promoting religion" and therefore not allowed. There might be some kid that does not believe in God that would get offended. Of course, he would get offended just after he finished his candy cane and found out there was none left.
The school suggested that the boy could give the candy and flier to his classmates outside the school on the public sidewalk. Now I ask you, why is it that a "public" school is allowed to suppress these ideas but on a "public" sidewalk it's allowed? Where in the constitution does it say it's not allowed in schools, but OK on the sidewalk? I really think, no I take that back, I really KNOW that liberalism has gone way too far within our country. To take a sentence from the constitution that states "The government shall establish no religious body" and turning that into "no Christianity anywhere we can see it" is the most incredible stretch I have ever seen.
Right now in France, the government there is passing laws that will ban any type of "head scarves or skull caps that represent religion or the practice of religion". Of course here in the U.S. those same democrats insisting that no religion be allowed in schools are saying that France is being too heavy handed and that those head coverings don't represent religion but culture.
I ask you, when did liberals get it into their heads that religion equals Christianity? Obviously for some reason they think that Islam, Buddhism, and other religions will be more understanding of their "rights" to have same sex couples marry, and to promote it on TV. Or to have people on TV run outside, shoot someone then go back in and screw the brains out of some little chick that is underage, all shown in a graphic manner and targeted at our kids. I can't wait for them to find out that almost every other religious body is going to not only frown on such actions but completely remove their support from these liberals. Of course, you can't tell them that right now, it's getting too much coverage by CNN so it must be what the American people want right?
I hold to the old saying of "your a product of your surroundings". It seems pretty simple and straight forward; you become "used" to those things you are exposed to, surrounded by, or are taught by your teachers and peers as you grow.
Today, it's a trend to take a stance or position on anything that deals with the raising of children. It's funny in that it is usually those without children of their own that take a "position" on such things as Internet Pornography, State Education, Child Health Care, etc. Those with children usually don't have time to take a position on anything, they are too busy raising their kids. But if you stop any of them long enough, they will tell you exactly what they think.
I bring this up because, those same people who take a position in order to be politically hip, only want to discuss things that make the news. They most likely will avoid talking to you about anything that might actually affect themselves. I think this is the case in almost every politicians life.
For example. A study was done of the amount of violence shown during prime time television hours. The findings can be reviewed HERE in this Houston Chronicle article.
It states that violence more than doubled between 1998 and 2002. A rise of over 60% was common on most network channels. Now keep in mind, this is a study of network stations such as NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, and others. Not the study of cable T.V. Another report shows that violence within childrens cartoons has rising at nearly the same rate.
These politicians who take a position on such things, refuse to look at television and what is happening to it. How can anyone with two eyes even begin to argue that more violence on T.V. does not equal more violence within a childs mind? I can't fathom it. If you are brought up around violence you will have increased chances to perform violent acts as a teenager or adult. However, since the experts have not proven or disproven this claim, politicians will not act, it might destroy their evening enjoyment, or worse, make them unpopular in today's politically hip arenas.
I want to know the location of the "common sense bank". It's obvious our governmental leaders stop by and make a large deposit just prior to assuming their elected office.
The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reported today about a women name Waynetta Nolan who flew into a rage after being denied mayonnaise on her McDonald's hamburger. She threw her cheeseburger back through the drive through window and started yelling at the 18 year old attendant. She was asked to pull forward to another window and speak with the manager. The manager then made her a special burger with mayo on it, the lady then yelled about how cold her fries had become while waiting for the special burger. Upon getting new fries she then demanded a new drink. The manager of the store, unable to pacify the customer, next called the police. The police told her to take down the lady's license plate number. The manager then walked outside to the customers car and began writing the number down. The customer, seeing the manager doing this, gunned her car and struck the manager dragging her 20 feet then fled into oncoming traffic. She was later arrested at her home.
Yesterday this lady was convicted of aggravated assault and today was convicted to 10 years in prison.
Need I say more about the downward spiral our society is in?
Last week, I talked about the guy who allegedly stole the toys from the boy with cancer after a shopping spree. Well today, the cab driver turned to Quanell X, the leader of the "New Black Panthers" to help him out. In An Article, Q stated that the cab driver was afraid "he might be beaten by officers if he surrendered alone".
If you read the article however, you will find that the man was in custody just last week. If he was going to be beaten, last week before all the media attention was on the guy is when it would have happened. What the hell does the Black Panther party have ANYTHING do with helping alleged thieves anyway?
The only thing I can see here is a setup for this cab driver to pull the racial card in front of a jury. Fine, have it, the prosecutors will put this young boy on the stand, who is dying of cancer and no jury in the world will look away.
Once again, the people who always accuse "The White Man" of being racist is pulling out the Race Card.
In an ARTICLE a woman in Florida was waiting in line at six in the morning for the sale to start yesterday morning. When Walmart sounded the buzzer signaling the opening of the sale, people shoved past this woman, knocking her to the floor. She was trampled into unconsciousness and had a seizure. She will be hospitalized over the weekend due to a mad dash for a $29 DVD player.
Is there anyway we can be, as a nation, proud of events like this? Has capitalism taken over and replaced our humane tendencies? If you took any one of the people that walked on this poor lady and told them this story, they would say of course that they would have stopped to help. That they would not have been party to an event like this. Yet none of those people will come forward now I am sure. The commercialization of Christmas has taken on its own life, and its disgusting. How can saving some money on a DVD player make a person go into some sort of animal frenzy in order to get it? We live in a nation of "Might, Right, and Me" and that attitude percolates through all advertising, media, and stories. People forget about their fellow man at exactly the time when we should remember and celebrate them instead.
I'm pretty disgusted with people like this. Will they be able to give these as gifts now without feeling some great guilt? No doubt people capable of acts like this will be able to rationalize within themselves and be just fine when their son or daughter plugs it in and hits play for the first time.
Just a bit back, I commented on a guy who should be taken out back and shot. Luckily, the community agreed and the boy is now happy once again. READ HERE
Nick and I follow Orson Scott Card and his writings over at his Official Website (For those that don't know, OSC is a popular author of things such as Enders Game, Alvin Maker, and The Worthing Saga)
Anyway, OSC rights some wonder Essays and Op-Ed's about local things going on, his thoughts on culture and society, and about the War on Terrorism. Today I read a great Essay he wrote and wanted to highlight a great conversation he quotes at the end. Take a moment to READ THIS and if you only have time to read the last half (which is the quoted conversation) you will get a good script for discussing the war.
So, there are people in the streets over there killing our soldiers, dragging them out of their cars, and mutilating their dead bodies as they drag them down the street. It's one thing if a soldier dies in battle when he can see his enemy, or knows who the enemy is. As horrible as a soldiers death is, it is what we as a collective society are willing to accept. It is something completely different when the enemy is unknown or, as in this case, are the very people you are trying to protect. When it comes down to situations like this, my first reaction is to say "Pack up the boys and put Saddam back in power.. see how they like it." It's a knee-jerk reaction, and unfortunately one that most American's will stick with. After some thought however, it's easy to understand that these very few people who do such incomprehensible acts, represent a very small minority and my reaction becomes "Stay in there for the long haul. Purge the area of these monsters and give the 99% of the people who do want peace, a chance."
It is unfortunate that most people here in the U.S. will not take the time to think past their first thoughts They will take their Knee-Jerk reaction to heart and then begin to spout it on the radio, TV, and in the papers infecting the minds of those citizens who do not stay current of events on their own.
We as American's have a bad habit in the current age of Technology and Instant-On news of becoming arm-chair quarterbacks on every subject. We turn on the TV, watch for 10 minutes, read two articles on the INTERNET, then discuss what we know with others as if we were experts on the subject. This results in too many Chiefs and not enough Indians. It makes for such a split society that we can no longer agree on even the little aspects of such events due to the fact that we all "know more than you".
What perpetuates this practice even further is the fact that the T.V. and News articles we read, are almost always slanted and couched within the views of the reporter/writer. Two dozen years ago, reporters reported. That's it. Today, reporters not only report, but they attempt to advise and teach us. Nothing is objective anymore when it comes through the established outlets of the media.
Why does this upset me enough to write about it? Because I too no longer can be objective. I have been forced to hear and attempt to understand something through another persons beliefs, thoughts, and opinions. It makes comprehension about as easy as watching the news through a glass bottle.
An article in the Chronicle describes two robbers who stole someones car, gun, 4-wheeler, and cell phone. You know the next part... the cops called the cell phone and sure enough the idiots answered. If that wasn't bad enough, they didn't know how to turn the phone off. So the cops listened to them for a long time, heard them talk of other crimes, of where they were, what they had done, and of course used the open line as a way to get a "fix" on them.
Luckily they are off the street now and are behind bars. I understand that in jail, there is a small sign next to each phone giving exact instructions of how to place a call, talk, and most importantly for these individuals, how to hang up.
Just another set of stupid people off the road that you and I don't have to deal with.
Long ago, when you and I were in elementary school, we had recess every day unless it rained. When I think back on my early years in school, I recall that one really odd teacher we all had, the library and film days, book fairs, cup cake day, and most of all recess.
When I read This Article I was shocked. Kids today get TWO 10-20 recesses PER WEEK! Holy Cow! Two per week? That's it?
The reasons stated for this by the teachers is that the tests the children have to pass in order to advance to the next grade are much more demanding today than they were 15 years ago. They have the same resources today that they had back then, but have twice as much to teach. What the hell has our country become when we can no longer afford recess for our children? What happens to a child when they are forced to spend all their time inside a classroom at the age of 7? Children that don't get to run and play on a regular basis will turn into burnt-out young teenagers.
However, I must present an alternate theory here. Is it really that the teachers are being required by the state to teach twice as much, or is it that today's parents have become so lazy in teaching their own young that the teachers are having to make up for them, thus increasing the amount they must teach?
I submit that it is the later. Today, if a child is lucky enough to have both a mother and a father, or if the left gets its way two mothers/fathers (a rant for another day there), then most likely both of them work. Today's parents are just "too busy" to teach their kids. "That's why they go to school isn't it?" they would ask. NO! Children go to school to learn how to grow, to learn the finer aspects of education, to learn how to socialize. All the things that can't be demonstrated at home. But today's parents are so caught up in the rat-race of buying the next bigger house, or getting the newest SUV, that they neglect their primary responsibility... their children.
I suggest we hold on to that mid 90's SUV just a bit longer. Eat out just a bit less. Take a vacation in a tent instead of some fancy hotel (which by the way is better for family bonding). Take responsibility for your children and let the teachers do what they need to... provide the education to your children that you and I can't at home, not what we wont.
The Chronicle reported this:
FORT WORTH -- A man changing a flat tire choked to death on a bag of marijuana he stuffed down his throat in an apparent attempt to hide it from police who stopped to help him early today.
Cpl. Frank Lott of the Corinth Police Department said officers had no idea Nickolas Sandoval, 24, of Ponder, had drugs when they spotted him on Interstate 35E in Corinth, about 45 miles northeast of Fort Worth.
"Officers went from 'Oh, hey, here is someone with a flat tire' to 'Hey, this guy is choking,'" Lott told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for its online edition today.
Officers noticed a plastic bag lodged in the man's throat, but it was too far down for them to extract. They kept trying to dislodge it until an ambulance arrived, and medical personnel were able to remove it, Lott said.
Sandoval was pronounced dead at Denton Regional Medical Center about 3:30 a.m., said Linda Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office. The cause of death has been ruled as "asphyxiation due to aspiration of plastic bag," she said.
Sandoval had been convicted in Denton County of multiple counts of marijuana possession, a Class B misdemeanor, between September 1999 and December 2001, court records show. He pleaded guilty to the charge in September 1999 and received a deferred adjudication sentence after 12 months of probation.
In August 2000, he pleaded no contest to another marijuana possession charge and was sentenced to 40 days in jail. In December 2001, he was convicted of possession of marijuana and sentenced to 95 days in jail. Also in December 2001, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving and was sentenced to another 95 days in jail.
--End Article--
I suppose we should be happy reading things like this, it verifies that stupid people all around the globe are thinning the ranks for us.
In today's news, we hear so many bad things, that I always make a special point to highlight the goods things when I see them.
Here is one
So some people come across the border, illegally, get jobs (paying more then they could earn back home), then get busted in a raid, arrested, and possibly deported. Hmmmm.... sounds about correct. Is that not the way the law is supposed to work? But now, a group of liberals has gotten ears of these aliens and convinced them to SUE WALMART for... get this... ready? Discrimination! How in the hell can these people think they were discriminated against? They claim they did not make the same pay, have the same benefits, or get the same vacation time as legalized employees! NO SHIT! These idiots are lucky they had a job... discrimination my butt! And WHAT judge allowed them into a courtroom anyway? They are ILLEGALLY HERE, they have NO RIGHTS under the constitution. The Bill of Rights? Doesn't apply.
Put them on a truck and ship them back to the other side of the border, lets see if they get discriminated on their return.
Well great, seems that the un-informed voters of the Harris county area have spoken and they went ahead and approved Metro's light rail system. So now the city of Houston will get more rail to go along with the already useless rail we have being put it. $7.5 billion to move 1% of the people in Houston. Now tell me where is the math in that? For $7.5 billion Metro could give ever single resident of Harris County a new Ferrari. What a waste. I am always amazed at how people vote with their "heart" and not with their "head". Oh well, so the corrupt Metro system will have its crown jewels to show off to other cities and say "Look at our new toy train... what? How many people use it for something other than a joy ride? Well, we really aren't sure, but that's not important is it?" grumble grumble.
I must have missed a lesson in school (stop smirking) at some point. Let me see if I understand this properly:
1) Senator or Representative proposes a bill
2) The Senate and House debate the merits of the bill and gather support
3) Vote is taken, and if passed by both the House and the Senate it goes to the President.
4) If the President agrees with the bill he signs it into law.
When the hell did we add another step?
5) If the democrats and liberals disagree then have the courts step in to block it AFTER steps 1-4.
What's the point of steps 1-4? Since when did our judicial system turn into the legislative branch of our government? The freaking libs can't get anything passed in the Senate or House on its own merrits, so over the past many years they have coined the practice of "law from the bench". Meaning, they get these idiots on the 9th Circus Court of Appeals to set precident and change laws. If that's the way the libs want to operate, then let them get a law degree, practice law, and become a judge. But I KNOW that we do NOT elect representative to head off to CALIFORNIA or in the case of THIS to Nebraska and run the courts for us. Want to know why things don't get done in Washington? It's because all the stupid democRATS are spending too much time with the judges that currently sit on the bench, or blocking the ones appointed.
I see a dark path ahead. The American people have elected less and less liberals to office, so the ones there have to find new ways to get their minority agenda passed, which means more and more laws will be set or demed Unconstitutional by the courts instead of the people you and I elect into office.
Well that's fine... you know I'm very tired of paying taxes, I think I'll get the bum on the corner washing windows to declare it uneccessary to pay them... think he would?
Got to love it when the democRATS try their hand at Spin Control... You can't count on a single one to stick to their guns ever.
This is something to think about! Since America is typically
represented by an eagle. Saddam should have read up on his Muslim
passages... The following verse is from the Quran, (the Islamic Bible)
Quran (9:11) -- For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a
fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout
the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in
despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the
lands of Allah; and there was peace.
Note the verse number!!!!!)
Articles like this one really piss me off.
Read it... it's about what people "FEEL" not about the reality. The article goes on to state in the last paragraph that "Those surveyed felt that cultural and language barriers were most to blame". So since illegal aliens wont learn the English language we have a problem? Doctors must learn all the languages in the world to properly treat people? And now it's the "white mans" fault?
People need to stop placing the blame of racism at the feet of the "white man", it's a problem with all humanity, not just "white" humanity. Care to research it yourself? Go Here and then scroll down the area with links to Africa & the Middle East. You will find that racism is a far greater problem in countries such as those, countries by the way where the "white man" has very little presence.
Stop pointing at me telling me I'm racist, I didn't even notice you had a different skin color until you started yelling at me about it.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How God could let something like this happen?" (Regarding the attacks on Sept. 11).
Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.
And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"
In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.
Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school .... the Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.
Then someone said teachers and principals better not discipline our children when they misbehave. The school administrators said no faculty member in this school better touch a student when they misbehave because we don't want any bad publicity, and we surely don't want to be sued (there's a big difference between disciplining, touching, beating, smacking, humiliating, kicking, etc.). And we said OK.
Then someone said, let's let our daughters have abortions if they want, and they won't even have to tell their parents. And we said OK.
Then some wise school board member said, since boys will be boys and they're going to do it anyway, let's give our sons all the condoms they want so they can have all the fun they desire, and we won't have to tell their parents they got them at school. And we said OK.
Then some of our top elected officials said it doesn't matter what we do in private as long as we do our jobs. Agreeing with them, we said it doesn't matter to me what anyone, including the President, does in private as long as I have a job a