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Who earned it..?

September 12, 2007

This is an email I got and thought I would pass it along.

Desks

*A lesson that should be taught in all schools!*

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies schoolteacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten.

On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. Looking around, confused, they asked, “Ms. Cothren, where’re our desks?” She replied, “You can’t have a desk until you tell me what you have done to earn the right to sit at a desk. “They thought, “Well, maybe it’s our grades. “No,” she said. Maybe it’s our behavior.” She told them, “No, it’s not even your behavior.

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms. Cothren’s classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room. The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the diskless classroom. Martha Cothren said, “Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom.

Now I am going to tell you.” At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned. Martha said, “You didn’t earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it’s up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don’t ever forget it.” By the way, this is a true story…. If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you read it in English, thank a soldier.

Posted in Economics, Editorial, Opinion, Education, Immigration, Local Politics Colorado, Men's Issues, News, Politics, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Who earned it..?

Fred Thompson, and why I am not jumping on the Bandwagon

September 6, 2007

It seems that many of my best bloging friends are jumping onto the Fred Thompson bandwagon. I am not, and will not. I have serious doubts that I will at any point. Long time readers of this blog are more than aware that my biggest domestic political issues are the first, and second amendment.

Senator Thompson supported McCain Feingold, and apparently still does. That alone, is enough for disqualification in my book.

He also supported, and apparently still does support the Lautenberg Act. That would be the one that turned Anglo American Law on it’s head; Ex Post Facto application of law, the taking of Civil Liberties based upon less than felony conviction, or serious mental disorder, the blocking of any ability for restoring those rights, and, the de facto sexist enforcement of said laws.

Senator Thompson also took great pride in helping to destroy American Tradition by making it impossible for young people to actually own a firearm. No, thanks to Fred and company, you cannot any longer give little Johnny his very first 22 rifle or shotgun.

Check the following for further documentation;

http://gunowners.org/pres08/thompson2.htm

Fred Thompson: “Generally” Consistent
by Craig Fields
Director of Internet Operations

When a person simply musing about the possibility of running for the GOP presidential nomination finds himself essentially tied with the Democratic frontrunner overnight,1 something has happened.

That something was a collective sigh of relief across America’s conservative base. Finally (it was thought), a high-profile candidate… without the liberal baggage of a Giuliani, Romney or McCain.

That’s because Thompson is relatively conservative in his overall philosophy. He has no need to convince voters that he has changed his ways and now sees the light, because he has been fairly consistent throughout his career.

He is in his own words “against gun control, generally.”2 And his voting record shows that to be true, generally. When he voted anti-gun, it was usually to expand federal authority. This is unfortunately consistent with his being a “law and order conservative” (pardon the pun). A complete report on each individual vote is appended below.

Gun owners should also be aware that Thompson unabashedly favors the odious McCain-Feingold Incumbent Protection Act. This legislation, characterized by its proponents as campaign finance reform, severely limits the abilities of groups like GOA to inform the public about the gun rights voting records of politicians already in office. In many cases, it becomes illegal to even mention a politician’s name in on-air advertising the month before an election. Thompson — having voted in favor of the restrictions several times — thinks doing so is “not a non-conservative position, although I agree that a lot of people have interpreted it that way.”3

Fred Thompson was elected to the Senate as a Republican in 1994 — the 105th Congress — to fill the remaining two years of then-Vice-President Al Gore’s term. Thompson was reelected (handily) in 1996 to a full six-year term.

The timing was such that many of his “gun votes” on Capitol Hill came during the hysteria following the Columbine tragedy in 1999. It seemed that everyone in the country (except GOA supporters) considered it a foregone conclusion that something regarding gun control had to pass Congress that summer.

The Republican Leadership, especially in the Senate, adopted a “Gun Control Lite” strategy — hoping to preclude major gun bans by passing specific and less onerous restrictions that were largely extensions of current law.

Happily, GOA supporters rose up in truly Herculean fashion that summer, and when the smoke cleared no new gun control at all had made it to the President’s desk. Thompson’s actions at that time were somewhat haphazard (he voted both for and against the “Lite” strategy at different points, while voting against most, but not all, anti-gun amendments brought by other Senators).

In total, GOA tracked 33 votes in the U.S. Senate while Thompson was there. He voted pro-gun 19 times. Those votes are detailed below:

The U.S. Senate Debated:

Thompson
Voted:
Government wiretapping of innocent citizens.4

Anti-gun
Anti-gun terror bill (S. 735 ).5

Anti-gun
Taxpayer funding to anti-gun lobby groups.6

Pro-gun
Taxpayer funding to anti-gun groups — 2nd vote.7

Pro-gun
Anti-gun terror bill — final passage.8

Anti-gun
Taggants in gunpowder.9

Anti-gun
Lautenberg Domestic Confiscation gun ban.10

Anti-gun
Kohl “Gun Free Zones” ban.11

Pro-gun
Free Speech restrictions.12

Anti-gun
Smith “Anti-Brady” Amendment.13

Anti-gun
Gutting of the Smith “Anti-Brady” Amendment.14

Pro-gun
Banning the importation of magazines.15

Pro-gun
Mandatory unsafe gun storage requirements.16

Pro-gun
“Lock Up Your Safety” mandatory trigger locks.17

Pro-gun
Anti-gun Clinton judge appointment.18

Anti-gun
Anti-gun Surgeon General.19

Anti-gun
Ending the filibuster of a major anti-gun crime bill.20

Anti-gun
Background registration checks.21

Pro-gun
Banning private sales of firearms at gun shows.22

Pro-gun
Anti-gun juvenile crime bill (S. 254).23

Pro-gun
Mandatory trigger locks with new handgun sales.24

Pro-gun
Hatch-Craig Gun Control “Lite”.25

Pro-gun
More severe regulation of internet gun sales.26

Pro-gun
Young adult gun ban.27

Anti-gun
Medium-capacity magazine ban.28

Pro-gun
Adopting the “Gun Control Lite” strategy.29

Anti-gun
Gun show ban.30

Pro-gun
Praising the gun control mommies.31

Pro-gun
Senate instructions to pass gun control (Reed).32

Pro-gun
Senate instructions to pass gun control (Boxer).33

Pro-gun
Attacking gun makers in court.34

Pro-gun
McCain’s Incumbent Protection (2000 version).35

Anti-gun
Incumbent Protection (2002 failed filibuster).36

Anti-gun
1A national telephone survey conducted by Rasmussen Reports March 21-22, 2007 showed Thompson at 44% vs. then-Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton at 43%.
2Fox News Sunday, March 11, 2007, transcript at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258222,00.html.
3Ibid.
4On June 6, 1995, the Senate voted for “roving wiretaps” by a vote of 77-19. This amendment to the government terror bill (S. 735) would allow government officials to wiretap one’s home if a person under investigation visits the home — even if one had no knowledge the person was a suspect. Thompson voted in favor of this expansion of government power.
5On June 7, 1995, the Senate passed an anti-gun terror bill (S. 735) by a vote of 91-8. This version of the terror bill included: a BATF pay increase of $100 million; a provision authorizing “roving wiretaps” allowing government officials to wiretap one’s home if a person under investigation visits the home — even if one had no knowledge the person was a suspect; a weakening of the Posse Commitatus law to give the military more authority to get involved in law enforcement in certain circumstances; a grant of power to the FBI to conduct “fishing expeditions” and secure one’s financial and travel records in certain circumstances without any evidence one has committed a crime; and finally, the “Randy Weaver entrapment provision” which extends the statute of limitations for violations under the National Firearms Act of 1934 from three to five years. Thompson voted in favor of the bill.
6On November 9, 1995, the Senate rejected (by a vote of 49 to 46) the so-called Simpson-Istook provision which would restrict welfare to lobby organizations. This provision was of great interest to pro-gun groups as it would help “level the playing field” by severely limiting federal dollars to groups that have often lobbied for gun control — groups like the American Bar Association, the American Association of Retired Persons and many, many others.
7On November 9, 1995, the Senate passed a compromise version of the Simpson-Istook provision (see note 6). The compromise which passed would only limit those non-profit groups with budgets of more than $3 million from both lobbying and receiving federal grants.
8On April 17, 1996, the Senate passed the conference version of the anti-terrorism bill by a vote of 91-8. The final version of the bill (S. 735) contained several problems, including ones that will: order an “anti-hunter” rifle and ammo study; authorize a $40 million pay increase for the BATF (through the Treasury Department); potentially punish gun dealers (and individuals) for selling ammunition to someone they should have known would commit a violent crime; federalize many state crimes, thus tremendously increasing the scope and jurisdiction of the BATF; restrict the right of habeas corpus in such a way as to severely damage the ability of the courts to rescue honest gun owners who are unjustly incarcerated; allow the government to use “secret evidence” against certain individuals; remove protections against wiretapping wireless data; and require banks to freeze the assets of domestic groups in certain situations. Thompson once again voted in favor of the bill.
9On September 12, 1996, the Senate voted (57-42) to keep an anti-gun amendment off of the Treasury-Postal appropriations bill (H.R. 3756). The Kerry amendment — which Thompson voted for — would have made funds available for a study of tagging explosive materials, including black and smokeless powders (thus setting the stage for registering ammunition). The amendment also sought to further demonize firearms by selectively examining the misuse of firearms by criminals. The study would not examine the number of times firearms are used to save the lives of decent citizens.
10On September 12, 1996, the Senate passed the Lautenberg gun ban as an amendment to the Treasury-Postal appropriations bill (H.R. 3756). The Lautenberg Domestic Confiscation Gun Ban disarms gun owners for small (misdemeanor) offenses in the home — “offenses” as slight as spanking a child or grabbing a spouse. This lifetime ban, in certain cases, can even be imposed without a trial by jury. It is also retroactive, so it does not matter if the offense occurred 20 years ago. Thompson voted in favor of the amendment.
11On September 12, 1996, the Senate failed to defeat an anti-gun amendment introduced by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI). The Kohl Gun Free Zones Ban creates a virtual one-half mile wide “gun free” circle around every American school (or a 1,000 foot zone going in any direction from any school) — a zone which could even include home schools.
12On October 7, 1997, the Senate defeated an “Incumbent Protection Bill” (S. 25) which would have resulted in the government regulation of GOA’s newsletters and other communications with its members, while expanding the relative political power of the liberal media and other anti-gun forces. Senators failed in their effort, 53 to 47, to shut down a filibuster of the bill that was ostensibly aimed at reforming campaign finance laws.
13On July 21, 1998, pro-gun Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) introduced an “Anti-Brady” amendment that passed by a vote of 69-31. The Smith amendment would prohibit the FBI from using Brady background checks to tax or register gun owners. Further, the amendment requires the “immediate destruction of all [gun buyer] information, in any form whatsoever.” Finally, if the FBI disregards this latter provision, the Smith language will allow private citizens to sue the agency and collect monetary damages, including attorney’s fees. Thompson, in keeping with his tendency to usually vote for expanded federal police power, voted against this limitation of FBI registration of gun owners.
14After the Senate passed the landmark Smith amendment by a veto-proof vote of 69-31, a joint House-Senate appropriations conference committee severely weakened its language when reporting it as part of the Omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 4328). Originally, the Smith amendment provided for three things (see note 13 above.) Unfortunately, the requirement to immediately destroy the names was deleted. And, the “private cause of action” was stripped from the bill, meaning that aggrieved gun owners must rely on “oversight” of the FBI to obtain any relief. In a letter sent to Capitol Hill before the vote, GOA urged legislators to vote against the appropriations bill rather than accept this egregious compromise. Nonetheless, The Senate passed the Omnibus bill on October 21, 1998 by a vote of 65-29.
15On July 28, 1998, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) offered an anti-gun provision as an amendment to S. 2312. Her language would prohibit the importation of firearm magazines holding over 10 rounds that were manufactured before the 1994 semi-auto ban was enacted.
16The Senate on July 22, 1998, defeated an anti-gun amendment introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) by a vote of 69-31. Durbin’s provision would make it a federal crime to keep a firearm and ammunition on your premises under the following conditions: you know or should know that a juvenile can gain access to your firearm, and a juvenile does obtain access to it and does as little as exhibit it. Exceptions are provided for guns stored under major security measures (such as lock boxes), for police, or for self-defense.
17The Senate on July 21, 1998, defeated a “lock-up-your-safety” amendment by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) that would make it a federal violation — subject to a $10,000 “civil penalty” — for an FFL dealer to transfer a firearm to a non-dealer without a trigger lock or comparable locking device.
18On February 11, 1998, the Senate voted 67-28 to confirm Margaret Morrow to the Federal bench. GOA vigorously opposed this Clinton-appointed judge, as she has not only taken strident anti-gun positions, she has showed herself to be a gun control activist.
19Having nominated anti-gun David Satcher for Surgeon General, President Bill Clinton was forced to wait several months as debate raged over his controversial pick. But on February 10, 1998, the President finally realized victory. By a vote of 75-23, anti-gun Republicans teamed up with the Democrats to kill the filibuster over the Satcher nomination. Mr. Satcher was later confirmed by a vote of 63-35. Since the key vote was to end the filibuster, that is the one that was rated by GOA.
20On July 28, 1999, the Senate ended a filibuster led by Senator Bob Smith (I-NH) — a filibuster intended to keep anti-gun crime legislation from progressing any further. After the 77-22 vote, the Senate moved to send the language of the anti-gun Senate crime bill (S. 254) to a House-Senate conference committee. Thompson voted to break the pro-gun filibuster.
21On May 20, 1999, Republican Senators Gordon Smith (OR) and James Jeffords (VT) offered up more restrictions on the sale of firearms. Their amendment, which passed 79-21, subjects pawn shop and repair shop transactions to the same registration and background check requirements as purchases from dealers.
22After a series of votes on provisions relating to gun shows, this amendment offered by Sen. Lautenberg of New Jersey gained the ascendancy. This amendment would ban private sales at gun shows– sales between two PRIVATE individuals — unless the buyer first submits to a background registration check. (Private firearms sales must be routed through a licensed dealer, and the purchase of more than one handgun by an individual will result in that information being sent to the BATF.) Even displaying a firearm at a gun show, and subsequently transferring that gun to a non-licensee (if it is displayed with a notice that it is for sale), will result in a two-year prison sentence– five years for the second violation. This amendment would also impose a series of restrictions and requirements upon gun show promoters. Finally, this provision grants BATF open-ended inspection authority to harass vendors at gun shows, and explicitly gives BATF the right to keep a gun owner registration list for up to 90 days. On May 20, 1999, this amendment passed 51-50, with Vice President Al Gore breaking the tie.
23The Senate passed the gun control laden juvenile crime bill by a 73-25 vote on May 20, 1999. Besides the several provisions related to punishing juveniles who commit crimes, S. 254 contained several gun control amendments (such as not allowing teenagers to even touch certain semi-autos, a ban on magazine imports, a ban on private sales at gun shows, and mandatory trigger locks).
24On May 18, 1999, the Senate passed an amendment introduced by Senators Orrin Hatch (R) and Herb Kohl (D). This amendment forces gun sellers to include trigger locks with every handgun sold.
25On May 14, 1999, the Senate passed the Hatch-Craig gun control amendment by a 48-47 vote in an attempt to stave off a more severe version of gun control favored by Senate Democrats. Nonetheless, this “gun control lite” amendment would impose several Second Amendment restrictions. It would ban ANY private sale at a gun show that does not first go through a background registration check. In addition, the Hatch-Craig amendment would assign one U.S. attorney in every district exclusively to harass gun owners. And of the $50,000,000 allocated towards this purpose, a full $40 million of it will go to increasing the presence of the BATF– not to investigate murders, violent felonies, or crimes of violence, but to pursue “firearms” offenses (most of which will be recordkeeping and other innocuous errors by law-abiding Americans). It would also impose a lifetime gun ban for juveniles committing youthful indiscretions at a very young age; extend the arcane and confusing juvenile handgun ban to semi-autos; and increase penalties for violating the almost incomprehensible regulations governing the circumstances under which one may legally take one’s child hunting or target shooting with a handgun or semi-auto.
26On May 14, 1999, the Senate tabled (or defeated) an amendment introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) that would regulate the transfer of firearms over the Internet.
27The young adult gun ban could severely punish parents who allow their kids to even touch a so-called semi-automatic “assault weapon.” While the amendment allows for certain exemptions, there are some imponderable questions which NO senator could answer, but which a parent would have to answer in order to avoid incarceration. For example: What is a “semiautomatic assault weapon”? The definition, plus exemptions, takes up six pages of fine print in the U.S. Code. Second, a child can handle a banned semi-auto if he is in the “immediate and supervisory presence” of a parent or if he possess a written permission slip from the parent. But what happens when, during a target practice session, the parent walks to the car to retrieve his lunch and the juvenile is no longer in the parents “immediate” presence and does not have a permission slip? A parent can receive jail time for this infraction. The provision passed the Senate on May 13, 1999, with Thompson voting in the majority.
28Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) pushed an amendment through the Senate on May 13, 1999. The provision would ban the importation of any magazine that can hold over 10 rounds– no matter when the magazine was manufactured. The Senate passed the amendment on a voice vote after Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) put forth a motion to table (or kill) the amendment. His attempt to stop the amendment failed by a vote of 59-39; since that was the deciding vote, it is the one that was rated by GOA.
29On May 13, 1999, a majority of Senators — including Thompson — defeated a motion to table (or kill) an anti-gun amendment introduced by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Larry Craig (R-UT). This amendment was offered as an alternative to gun control proposals being pushed by Sen. Frank Lautenberg. [For specifics of the amendment, see note 22.]
30On May 12, 1999, the Senate tabled (defeated) an amendment introduced by anti-gun Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) on a vote of 51-47. The provision would have banned the private sales of firearms at gun shows unless buyers submitted to background registration checks. Draconian restrictions would have also been imposed on gun show promoters.
31On May 17, 2000 Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) offered a resolution praising the marchers at the so-called Million Mom March, and calling on Congress to pass the anti-gun juvenile crime bill. The non-binding resolution narrowly passed 50-49.
32On Thursday, April 6, 2000, the Senate attached a non-binding gun amendment to the budget bill for 2001. The Senate voted 53-47 in favor of an amendment offered by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)– a non-binding provision that asks the House-Senate conferees to get the juvenile anti-gun bill to the floor of each house in no more than two weeks.
33On March 1, 2000, Sen. Barbara Boxer failed in her attempt to instruct House-Senate conferees to finish its work on the anti-gun juvenile crime bill. After attacking Gun Owners of America for its refusal to compromise and for opposing firearms restrictions, Boxer saw her non-binding resolution fail on a 49-49 tie.
34On February 2, 2000, Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) offered an anti-gun amendment to S. 625 in an effort to help the cities bringing frivolous suits against gun makers. Specifically, the Levin amendment prevents gun makers from declaring legitimate bankruptcy, and thus, discharging any enormous judgments that result from frivolous lawsuits. The amendment failed on a 68-29 vote.
35By 59 to 41, the Senate passed S. 27, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to include Incumbent Protection provisions. The bill severely curtails the ability of outside groups such as GOA to communicate the actions of incumbent politicians to members and supporters prior to an election.
36This was the key vote in the Senate regarding the odious Incumbent Protection bill in 2002 (H.R. 2356). The legislation (see note 35 above) finally became law that year. As he had on previous occasions, Thompson voted in favor of the bill.

So there you have it friends. He looks like a classic Washington insider to me.

Posted in Domestic Violence, Economics, Editorial, Opinion, Gun Control, Immigration, Men's Issues, News, Politics, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Fred Thompson, and why I am not jumping on the Bandwagon

Abbott and Costello in the computer age

August 17, 2007

You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to
REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this.
For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on
.

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, “Who
s on First?” might have turned out something like this:

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks. I’m setting up an office in my den and I’m thinking about
buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name’s Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don’t own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name’s Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don’t know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals
, trac k expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO:! Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let’s just say I’m
sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal.
What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue “W”.

COSTELLO: I’m going to cli ck your blue “w” if you don’t start with some
straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping?
You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOT T: Money.

COSTELLO: That’s right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What’s bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn’t it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on “START”………….

Posted in Economics, Education, Humor, News, Stupid is as Stupid Does, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Since things appear so quiet…

August 15, 2007

flying pigThe blogs appear to be very quiet today so I suppose that something needs to be done to stir things up a bit. The blogosphere thrives on controversy, or at least so it appears. A few well chosen key words might just spice things up! 🙂

  • The Drug War: Making thugs into millionaires!
  • Gun Control: Hitting the intended target each time, every time!
  • Politics: Warfare by another name, and just as deadly in the long run.
  • Education: Never assume that letters following a name have the least bit to do with intelligence. ( Unknown Professor at UCSD circa 1969)
  • The Democrat Party: A Communist plot!

That should get things going today! Enjoy!

Posted in Contemporary Quotes, Economics, Editorial, Opinion, Gun Control, Humor, Local Politics Colorado, Men's Issues, Politics, Uncategorized, War | 6 Comments »

Government Health Care?

August 2, 2007

“There’s absolutely no mystery why our greatest complaints are in the arena of government-delivered services and the fewest in market-delivered services. In the market, there are the ruthless forces of profit, loss and bankruptcy that make producers accountable to us. In the arena of government-delivered services, there’s no such accountability… Our health care system is hampered by government intervention, and the solution is not more government intervention but less… Before we buy into single-payer health care systems like Canada’s and the United Kingdom’s, we might want to do a bit of research. The Vancouver, British Columbia-based Fraser Institute annually publishes ‘Waiting Your Turn.’ Its 2006 edition gives waiting times, by treatments, from a person’s referral by a general practitioner to treatment by a specialist. The shortest waiting time was for oncology (4.9 weeks). The longest waiting time was for orthopedic surgery (40.3 weeks), followed by plastic surgery not including lipo alternative (35.4 weeks) and neurosurgery (31.7 weeks). As reported in the June 28 National Center for Policy Analysis’ ‘Daily Policy Digest,’ Britain’s Department of Health recently acknowledged that one in eight patients waits more than a year for surgery. France’s failed health care system resulted in the deaths of 13,000 people, mostly of dehydration, during the heat spell of 2003. Hospitals stopped answering the phones, and ambulance attendants told people to fend for themselves. I don’t think most Americans would like more socialized medicine in our country.” —Walter Williams

This really is quite a simple issue to analyze; Look at the Veterans Administration for a preview of what socialized medicine would be like in America.

Posted in Economics, Editorial, Opinion, Education, Local Politics Colorado, Men's Issues, News, Politics, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Global Warming! Global Cooling!

July 18, 2007

“When a conservative appears on talk radio, liberals cry for the Fairness Doctrine. Seventy-five free hours for Archbishop Gore’s Church of Climate Change? Not a peep.” —Investor’s Business Daily

The shear idiocy of global warming, is much the same as the shear idiocy that global cooling was.

The so-called scientist’s that have latched onto this utter nonsense have divorced themselves from something that might just be of importance; Scientific method.

Commentary from the supporters of such ideology are free to comment. Only though after satisfactorily answering this question;

Other than the nano second or so for transition, when has the Earth not been either warming or cooling?

Posted in Economics, Editorial, Opinion, Education, News, Politics, Stupid is as Stupid Does, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Activist Blogging

July 15, 2007

http://texasfred.net/archives/344/trackback/

C’mon Blog World!! Let’s get with the program, I know not all of you live in the D/FW area and can’t meet for lunch on Monday, I know this has been thrown together on pretty short notice for those that DO live in the area, and I completely understand too, but here’s what you CAN do…Copy my post and make a post in YOUR blog, link it back to here and I will return the favor, just posting about this is a tremendous help, the more bloggers that post this, the more people that will see it, and if you’re able, send the guy a $5 or $10 donation, and in the ‘MEMO’ line write in Blogger Support, we CAN help this guy, bloggers ARE a force to be reckoned with, put your money where your keyboard is, we are…

I’m sending out a BIG Texas ‘Hat Tip’ to Murray at Lone Star Diary for sending me this story, great catch Murray!!I just talked to Dave, the Deli owner and he will be open this Sunday, but it will be his last Sunday, business is that bad, it appears that Farmers Branch has a lot of illegals focused on shutting this guy down, well, the wife and I are going to go have lunch at the Blue Star Deli Monday…

Anyone in the D/FW area that wants to get together and have a bloggers lunch, a get together meet and greet, drop me an email and we’ll coordinate an effort for NOON on Monday, July 16th…Others that are blogging in support:AZAMATTEROFACT Right Truth An Ol’ Broads Ramblings The Ranando Report Isn’t it Rich I’m Thinking of the “O” Word War Tomorrow Coalition Against Illegal Immigration Charming, Just Charming Blah Blah Blog PA Pundits “7.62mm Justice” ™ Miss Beth’s Victory Dance Hillbilly Willy -Fun, Food & Politics Some Things Need to be Said Blue Star Chronicles Southern Sass on Crime DeMediacratic Nation American Truckers at War Bohography Southern Sass on Crime Chicago Ray The Common Sense Conservative

Dave Mooney, owner of the Blue Star Deli in Farmers Branch, Texas, is feeling the backlash of his support of Farmers Branch. Dave has been in the forefront of support, opening up his cafe for all types of activities to support Farmers Branch and what that city has tried to do to stop the harm illegal immigration is doing.News has surfaced from Halliburton employees that a boycott has been called by the Hispanic and pro-illegal employees. Although, Dave didn’t have a contract for business lunches, he did receive orders to provide business lunches from time to time. These orders have now stopped. Also, it is being reported that Hispanic radio stations are broadcasting a boycott of the Blue Star.

Dave is experiencing a 50% decrease in sales receipts due to this boycott and has now taken a second job. The call is out for all of us do what we can to help Dave. If you are in the area, stop by and have one of Dave’s good hamburgers, tell others about the Blue Star Deli.

Call KSKY radio’s Mike Gallagher, KLIF’s Jeff Bolton and John David Wells, all who have had broadcasts at the Blue Star Deli, to ask their listening audience to support Dave. Let’s all do what we can to keep Dave in business.

U.S Border Watch will be sending a check to Mr Mooney, and we encourage everyone else to send him a few bucks. Five or ten dollars in a restaurant business is a lot of money. We must help those who have put their business on the line to help our cause. Below is the address and web site for the Blue Star Deli, and if you are in the area drop in and thank this fine Patriot for his support and have a burger.Blue Star Deli
14724 Webb Chapel Rd.
Farmers Branch, TX 75234
http://www.bluestardeli.com/
Phone 972-247-8681

Posted in Economics, Editorial, Opinion, Immigration, News, Politics, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Aren’t Older Women Great

June 17, 2007

After I’d been married 50 years, I took a look at my wife one day
and said

  “Honey, 50 years ago, we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept
on a sofa bed and watched a 10-inch black and white TV, but I got to
sleep every night with a hot 22 year old brunette.

  Now, we have a nice house, nice car, big bed and plasma screen TV,
but I’m sleeping with a 70 year old grandma. It seems to me that you
are not holding up your side of things.”

  My wife is a very reasonable woman. She told me to go out and find
a hot 22 year old brunette, and she would make sure that I would once
again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car, sleeping on
a sofa bed, and watching a 10-inch black and white TV.

  Aren’t older women great?  They really know how to solve your
mid-life crisis…

Posted in Economics, Humor, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

TWO MAJOR ENERGY COMPANIES KEEP PRIVATE LAND OPEN FOR HUNTERS

June 9, 2007

Bull ElkTWO MAJOR ENERGY COMPANIES KEEP PRIVATE LAND OPEN FOR HUNTERS


Working with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, EnCana and Shell have agreed to keep several large privately-owned parcels open for public hunting in the Piceance Creek area.
 
The two energy firms have reached separate agreements with the DOW to allow hunting on private land owned by the companies.
 
The EnCana agreement is a one year commitment by the company to keep approximately 17,000 acres of private land on the Roan Plateau open during the 2007 big game hunting seasons.
 
“We’re pleased that we can once again open this beautiful area up for the season and we’re especially proud of the partnership that has developed with the Division of Wildlife,” said Darrin Henke, Vice President of EnCana’s South Rockies Business Unit. 
 
Access to property owned by Shell is maintained through a ten year hunting access lease that Shell and the DOW entered into in 2006. The agreement leases more than 19,000 acres of land to the DOW for hunting access for $1 per year.
 
“We understand that the sport of hunting is important to west slope communities,” said Jill Davis, senior public affairs representative for the Shell Mahogany Research Project.  “Part of doing oil shale the right way is to maintain and improve northwestern Colorado’s way of life. Maintaining hunting access to the Piceance basin is certainly a part of that.”
 
To protect the safety of energy exploration workers that may be operating in the areas the agreement lays out specific areas where hunting is allowed. For more information about hunting access locations, please contact the DOW Meeker office at (970) 878-6090 or PO Box 1181, Meeker, CO 81641.
 
The specific properties are located in what is commonly called the “Girls Claims”.
The Girls Claims were originally operated as public land by the Bureau of Land Management, but an agreement signed in 1980 provided provisions allowing energy companies to claim the land and convert it to private ownership. One part of the agreement required that the land remain open to the public for 25 years. The agreement expired in August, 2005 and private property signs began appearing in these areas.
 
“It was frustrating for some of our hunters when they arrived in these areas where they may have hunted for years, or in some cases generations, only to find that they were no longer welcome,” explained DOW Area Wildlife Manager Bill deVergie. “It’s great that these two companies have agreed to keep these lands open to hunters.”
 
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation. The Division is funded through hunting and fishing license fees, federal grants and Colorado Lottery proceeds through Great Outdoors Colorado.
 
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For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

Posted in Economics, Hunting Fishing and the Great Outdoors, Local Politics Colorado, News, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

More on immigration

June 9, 2007

This is good! Below is a good example of a discussion with a master of circular logic. Don’t be logical, don’t
respect the truth or your adversary, just say what you think makes a new case when the previous case gets too
difficult to defend. On the streets of downtown Houston, May 1, 2006.

Jim Moore reporting for a Houston TV station:

Jim: Juan, I see that you and thousands of other protesters are marching in the streets to demonstrate for your
cause. Exactly what is your cause and what do you expect to accomplish by this protest?

Juan: We want our rights. We will show you how powerful we are. We will bringHouston to its knees!

Jim: What rights?

Juan: Our right to live here…legally. Our right to get all the benefits you g et.

Jim: When did you come to the United States?

Juan: Six years ago. I crossed over the border at night with seven other friends.

Jim: Why did you come?

Juan: For work. I can earn as much in a month as I could in a year in Mexico. Besides, I get free health care, our
Mexican children can go to school free, if I lose my job I will get Welfare, and someday I will have the Social
Security. Nothing like that inMexico!

Jim: Did you feel badly about breaking our immigration laws when you came?

Juan: No! Why should I feel bad? I have a right to be here. I have a right to amnesty. I paid lots of money for my
Social Security and Green Cards.

Jim: How did you acquire those documents?

Juan: From a guy in Dallas. He charged me a lot of money too.

Jim: Did you know that those documents were forged?

Juan: It is of no matter. I have a right to be here and work.

Jim: What is the “right” you speak of?

Juan: The right of all Aliens. It is found in your Constitution. Read it!

Jim: I have read it, but I do not remember it saying anything about rights for Aliens.

Juan: It is in that part where it says that all men have Alien rights, like the right to pursue happiness. I
wasn’t happy in Mexico, so I came here.

Jim: I think you are referring to the declaration of Independence and that document speaks to unalienable
rights .. Not Alien rights.

Juan: Whatever.

Jim: Since you are demanding to become an American citizen, why then are you carrying a Mexican Flag?

< /FONT>Juan: Because I am Mexican.

Jim: But you said you want to be given amnesty … to become a US citizen.

Juan: No. This is not what we want. This is our country, a part of Mexico that you Gringos stole from us. We want
it returned to its rightful owner.

< SPAN style=”FONT-SIZE: 18px; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial”>Jim: Juan, you are standing in Texas. After
wining the war with Mexico, Texasbecame a Republic, and later Texans voted to join the USA. It was not stolen
fromMexico.

Juan: That is a Gringo lie. Texas was stolen. So was California, New Mexico andArizona. It is just like all the
other stuff you Gringos steal, like oil and babies. You are a country of thieves.

Jim: Babies? You think we steal babies?

Juan: Sure. Like from Korea and Vietnam and China. I see them all over the place. You let all these foreigners in,
but try to keep us Mexicans out. How is this fair? 

Jim: So, you really don’t want to become an American citizen then.

Juan: I just want my rights! Everyone has a right to live, work, and speak their native language wherever and
whenever they please. That’s another thing we demand. All signs and official documents should be in Spanish .
Teachers must teach in Spanish. Soon, more people here in Houston will speak Spanish than English. It is our right!

Jim: If I were to cross over the border into Mexico without proper documentation, what rights would I have there?

Juan: None. You would probably go to jail, but that’s different.

Jim: How is it different? You said everyone has the right to live wherever they please.

Juan: You Gringos are a bunch of land grabbing thieves. Now you want Mexico too?Mexico has its rights. You Gringos
have no rights in Mexico. Why would you want to go there anyway? There is no free medical service, schools, or
welfare there for foreigners such as you. You cannot even own land in my country. Stay in the country of your
birth.

Jim: I can see that there is no way that we can agree on this issue. Thank you for your comments.

Juan: Viva Mexico!

You will not see this heart-stopping photo on the front page of the NY Times or on the lead story of the major
news networks. The protestors put up the Mexican flag over the American flag flying upside down at Montebello High
School in California.

I predict this stunt will be the nail in the coffin of any guest-worker/amnesty plan on the table in Washington.
The image of the American flag subsumed to another and turned upside down on American soil is already spreading on
In ternet forums and via e-mail.

Pass this along to every American citizen in your address books and to every representative in the state and
federal government. If you choose to remain uninvolved, do not be amazed when you no longer have a nation to call
your own nor anything you have worked for left since it will be “redistributed” to the activists while you are so
peacefully staying out of the “fray”. Check history, it is full of nations/empires that disappeared when its
citizens no longer held their core beliefs and values. One person CAN make a difference. One plus one plus one
plus one plus one plus one……..

The battle for our secure borders and immigration laws that actually mean something, however, hasn’t even begun.

Posted in Economics, Education, Local Politics Colorado, News, Politics, Stupid is as Stupid Does, Uncategorized | Comments Off on More on immigration

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