They Still Don't Get It! November 15, 2006

Well, it looks like the election honeymoon lasted about a week. Now those inside the Beltway are getting down to the business of jockeying and positioning for seats of power within both parties in the upcoming new Congress that soon will soon take control. Today, the Republicans tapped Mississippi's Trent Lott for the position of minority whip by a single vote. Lott was ousted from the majority leader post four years ago after making improper remarks during a tribute to Senator Strom Thurmond. For my money, Senator Lamar Alexander from Tennessee would have been a much better choice. Alexander, former Governor of Tennessee and former presidential candidate, is a great example of everything that right with the Republican Party and not one to bow to pressure from fellow legislators. That, most likely, was also his undoing in his bid to become minority whip.

Then we come to the democrats......New majority leader Nancy Pelosi of California made a huge deal prior to the election, and in the week following, about taking America in a new direction. One of her big mantras was the she would work tirelessly to rid America's legislative body of "the graft and coruption currently associated with the Republican led Congress." Ok Ms Pelosi, let's see what you have for us so far..........

First, there's her support for John Murtha in his bid to become the #2 Dem behind behind Pelosi herself in the coming Congress. Putting aside Murtha's current stance on the Iraq war, lets look at some other Murtha tidbits. John Murtha was a major target in the FBI's ABSCAM investigation. During this investigation Murtha was caught on tape with FBI agents posing as Middle Eastern businessmen who were attempting to bribe members Congress in return for political favors for a fictional Arab sheik. On the tape (abscam 1 & abscam 2) Murtha appeared willing to deal with the men but wanted to test the waters first by getting them to invest in his district. The House Ethics Committee eventually voted along party lines not to punish Murtha because, after learning of the video, he chose to testify against fellow congressmen. The special counsel to the committee was so disgusted by the proceeding that he resigned in protest.

Then for chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee, well Pelosi wants to see Alcee Hastings get the nod there. Yep! The same Alcee Hastings that was impeached from the federal bench where as a judge, he was found to be guilty of conspiracy and accepting bribes.

What is this broad thinking????? You tell us you get the message and then turn around and promote these two people, who should be under the jail, for prominent leadership positions in our nations Congress?......deep cleansing breaths.......deep cleansing breaths

Election night, I said we'll see. Now, I guess we have. And guess what, Presidential campaigning starts shortly. Geez.........I can't wait!

Til next time....................

Originally posted 11/15/06 on Yahoo 360

Should've Taken The Train, November 12, 2006

Fortunately, I have never had a problem with Aviophobia (fear of flying). If I were the type to be prone to these types of fears, these pictures would probably be enough to push me right over the edge.......and finally.

Til next time............................

If you had all three options available to you, which would you choose?

Planes 8

Trains 1

Automobiles 6

Talking Old Soldiers, November 10, 2006

Today as the rest of America celebrates Veterans Day, my thoughts wandered back to a time a few summers back and to a stranger whose name I would never learn, but a man I would come to respect immensely. It was a summer when money was tight at times and car problems of one sort or another seemed to pop up every other day. On this particular day, we were trying to fix another of those problems and getting frustrated because things with the car just weren't going well. At the point where I was about to walk away in total frustration, this old man appeared from out of nowhere and offered a hand. After a few short moments, the problem was fixed and needless to say, I was very happy. We shared a cold drink while the old man and I chatted for a while. During the course of our conversation, I learned that he was a vet from the Korea and Vietnam eras. He saw and experienced more during his service to our country than most people do in a lifetime. And though he denied it, it was obvious from his appearance and what he was carrying with him that he was homeless. I tried to pay him for his help, but he refused. Like most veterans down on their luck, his pride would not allow him to accept the money. I was so enamored with his story that I never thought to ask his name. I did, though, see him walking up and down the street over the rest of the summer. We would always exchange greetings or handshakes and general conversation, but he was forever reluctant accept help saying that charity should be reserved for those who were worse off than him. As we entered fall and the weather cooled, we found where he was sleeping and tried to keep up with him and make sure he was ok. Then at Thanksgiving, we were planning to have him as a guest for our holiday dinner.....but we couldn't find him. We never saw the old man again and I have no idea what happened to him. That was several summers back, but to this day he still crosses my mind every once in a while.....especially on days like today. So for that old friend (where ever he may be) and all the other veterans out there (where ever you may be) I'll say a prayer of thanks and gratitude for you and your service. And of everyone else, I ask only that you say thanks to vet. Shake their hand and look them square in the eye as you thank them. It's a simple gesture that only takes a moment, doesn't cost a thing, and will mean more than almost anything else that he or she will experience that day.

"Talking Old Soldiers" Elton John & Bernie Taupin

Why hello, say can I buy you another glass of beer
Well thanks a lot that's kind of you, it's nice to know you care
These days there's so much going on
No one seems to want to know
I may be just an old soldier to some
But I know how it feels to grow old

Yeah that's right, you can see me here most every night
You'll always see me staring at the walls and at the lights
Funny I remember oh it's years ago I'd say
I'd stand at that bar with my friends who've passed away
And drink three times the beer that I can drink today
Yes I know how it feels to grow old

I know what they're saying son
There goes old man Joe again
Well I may be mad at that I've seen enough
To make a man go out his brains
Well do they know what it's like
To have a graveyard as a friend
`Cause that's where they are boy, all of them
Don't seem likely I'll get friends like that again

Well it's time I moved off
But it's been great just listening to you
And I might even see you next time I'm passing through
You're right there's so much going on
No one seems to want to know
So keep well, keep well old friend
And have another drink on me
Just ignore all the others you got your memories
You got your memories

Til Next Time...............

When The Dust Settles, November 07, 2006

Well, late on this Election Night 2006, it seems that a very loud and clear message has been sent. "Throw the Bums Out!" Yes indeed, the Democrats have finally acheived pretty much what they wanted. They now have control of the House and at this late hour the Senate is still up for grabs. In all probability, Nancy Pelosi will be the next Speaker of the House. She will have to come closer to the middle though because many of the incoming Democrats are no where near as liberal as the leadership is. In plain english, many of the newly elected Democrats appear to be more moderate when it comes to things like the Second Amendment, Flag Burning, and some abortion issues just to name a few. In some instances, you might see some of these moderate Democrats joining the Republicans on some of these issues.

One thing has not changed though......When the dust settles this country still has three major problems that have to to be addressed in a serious and honest fashion.

1. Immigration---There is not a single example of a country, society, or civilization in the history of planet earth that has survived without controlled immigration and borders. It's no different this time either. If you can find an example of one, email me and prove me wrong. But I don't think anyone can.

2. The War in Iraq---This is a touchy one for people like me. I was there the first time and felt that it was handled horribly in the end. We gave a people their country back but we also let a lot of people down back then. This is our chance to make it right and it's not too late to accomplish that. Our nation has the best military on the planet that is more than capable of any task given. We have done a lot of good things for the people of Iraq, but it has been clear for some time that some changes need to be made both in big picture strategy and leadership at the Defense Department. It's also clear that "cut and run" or "immediate redeployment" is not nor will it ever be an acceptable answer. All that will accomplish is to make our military and our nation look weak and open us up for even more problems down the road. Now it's time for the Democrats stand up, stop bashing the President, and deal with this war in a serious bi-partisan manner to come up with an acceptable plan that acomplishs our goals while giving our troops the tools and the latitude they need to do the job correctly.

3. And finally, the War on Terror---It is time that liberals across the country take this issue seriously. We are facing an enemy that is fighting by a completely different set of rules than we are. This can only end badly unless the bickering over the handling of terrorists and the execution of this war on terror ends and ends now. The enemy has been very clear and deadly serious in it's intent where western society is concerned. History has proved that they are more than capable of carrying out that intent. That is not going to change because the Democrats won big tonight.

So America has made it's voice heard and now it's time to get down to business. The solutions to this nation's problems are not out of reach, but it's going to take everyone working together to get there. And it will be up to us to hold our new House and Senate accountable for making that happen.

Til next time.................

Did You Vote Today? (closed poll)

Yes 10

No 0

Originally posted 11/7/08 on Yahoo 360

Slipped Another One By Us, November 06, 2006

Across America, people look at the state of California and just shake their heads. From Hollywood in the south to Berkley and San Francisco in the north, the state of California has some real winners breathing our air here in the "Golden State." No where is that more obvious than at the state capital in Sacramento. The people that the "left coasters" elect to the State Assembly and Senate are the best example I can give you of everything that is wrong here in California. We have assembly members who actually voted against a bill that would have made it a sex crime to posses even one child pornography picture. Then there is the assembly member name Gil "One Bill Gil" Sedeo. He has earned the nickname "One Bill Gill" because over the last few years, the only bill he has proposed in the assembly is one to give drivers licenses to illegals...repeatedly, year after year. It even cost one governor his job.

The list of goofy stuff our state assembly tries to shove down our throats is never ending. At times it's hard to even act suprised when it comes to some of their proposals. But I think they have finally found a way to top even the most bizzare of their past actions.

About eight weeks ago with virtually no publicity, Debra Bowen (D) Redondo Beach (yes the same Debra Bowen whose Voters Bill of Rights I wrote about yesterday) carried a bill in the state senate that, if signed into law, would give California's 55 Electorial College votes to the winner of the national popular vote in presidential elections. Her reasoning was that it would increase California's influence when it comes to who occupies the White House and therefore forcing candidates to spend more time in California.

What Ms Bowen, the bill's original authors, and its supporters aren't taking into account is precisely the potential senario that we have seen in the last two presidential elections. Let's say that California's 55 electoral votes go to the winner of the national poular vote. Let's also say that the final count is really, really close.....like it was in the 2000 Bush-Gore contest. Instead of having the fiasco of a Florida like recount, we would have the total unfettered chaos of a national recount. Imagine for a moment what that would be like. Lawyers in every polling place during the election, lawyers in every elections office after the election, months of recounting votes, and years and years of crying and whinning from the losers. Yes it would be chaos of epic porportions. Florida times 50.....

Secondly, there is the possibility that California's 55 electoral votes could end up going to a candidate that the majority of Californians would never support. So, in theory you could have a candidate that is extremely popular east of the Mississippi but maybe not out west. And if they won the popular vote, you could have all of California's electorial going to a candidate that only a minority of Californians voted for.

A huge portion of the country might chuckle at that prospect and say it serves California right, but before you laugh too loudly, there are 10 other states considering similar legislation including Colorado. Should this become a reality and if you live in a small or rural state this could be extremely bad news for you. This is nothing more than a power grab being played out by liberal leaning urban areas across the country who will stop at nothing to impose their will on the rest of us.

The Wall Street Journal did an excellent piece on this attempt at hijacking our electoral process. You can read about it here........... http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pdupont/?id=110008855 Oh and by the way, don't forget to vote tomorrow!

Til next time..............

originally posted 11/6/06 on Yahoo 360

Voters Bill of Rights, November 05, 2006

As this mid term election season draws to a close with elections taking place on Tuesday, one thing that I have noticed is that you can't go to a political website without seeing something about something being proposed called a "Voters Bill Of Rights." I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this one. But if there were to be a Voters Bill of Rights created, one right that I certainly would love to see included would go something like this: The right not to be subjected to two, four, or eight years of the losers crying and whining like little girls because their candidates just couldn't cut the mustard. Unfortunately, the way this mid-term election is shaping up, I don't think we'll be seeing that one anytime soon.

But back to the subject at hand......the "Voters Bill of Rights" pictured above comes from a website called www.51capitalmarch.com . This website has some pretty interesting stuff on it that is worth the read if you have the time. Also, out here in California, we have a lady named Debra Bowen running for Secretary of State. She, like many others, has a proposed "Voters Bill of Rights" on her website and it looks something like this:

The ability to register to vote, to cast a ballot, and to have that ballot counted accurately is the very foundation of our democracy. To that end, every one of California's voters is entitled to the following rights:

1. The Right To Register To Vote.
2. The Right To Vote.
3. The Right to Vote In A Tamper-Proof Election.
4. The Right To Vote On Paper.
5. The Right To Have Each Vote Counted Accurately.
6. The Right To Have Election Results Properly Audited.
7. The Right To An Open, Transparent, Public Process.
8. The Right To Elections Officials Who Operate Free of Partisan Influence.
9. The Right To Know that Elected Officials Are Free From the Influence of Campaign Contributions From Voting Machine Vendors.
10. The Right To Find Out How Money Is Being Raised And Spent In The Political Process.

Now after having having read this and perusing her website for a bit, three thoughts immediately come to mind.

1. Her website contains endorsements from several liberal newspapers, a couple dozen prominent democrat/liberal politicans on both the state and national level, and three times as many liberal organizations across the state. So much for voters right # 8.

2. Going back to my earlier "crying and whining like a little girl" comment: Read comments 1 thru 6 again. Now don't these sound an awful lot like the moans of the Gore and Kerry supporters from the 2000 and 2004 presidental elections? That crying and whining just never ends does it?

and finally, 3. All this other stuff aside......on most every one of these voters rights pages that I've seen, I have yet to see one single right that isn't already guaranteed by some already granted right or law that is currently on the books. The key is getting our government officials (whether elected or appointed) to enforce the laws that are already on the books. Whether it's elections, immigration, or any other issue currently being debated.....it is imperative that we hold our elected officials accountable for enforcing laws that are on the books.

Bottom line......Mr Politican that wants my vote......stop wasting my time and tax dollars on things like Voters Bill of Rights or Immigration Reform. All I want you to do, be honest, don't steal, and enforce the all the laws that are on the books....not just the ones that suit you. If you want my vote....that's what you are going to have to do for me.

Til Next Time....................

originally posted 11/5/06 on Yahoo 360

Idiot of the Year! November 01, 2006

Some people don't get it and some never will. John Kerry happens to be one of them......

THE STATEMENT: “You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq."

KERRY COMMENT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLuMWiQ6r2o

BUSH RESPONSE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbZ5jPJk4Dg

IMUS VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZMRecdL_No

DENNIS MILLER (very entertaining) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ItdXy9lxI note: This one is not about Kerry's most recent comments, but rather, it's a general assessment of Bush/Kerry/Iraq/UN situation . It shows how some of the Hollywood Community feels about the military, John Kerry, and the UN. It also has some adult language..... so proceed with caution.

BOTTOM LINE: The man is an embarrasement, not only to himself, but to his family, his party, his state, his nation, and the military.....that same military in which he once served. He currently has members of the Democrat Party including Hillary Clinton and Harold Ford of Tennessee telling him he should apologize and some have even gone as far as to cancel scheduled Kerry campaign visits on their behalf.

As a veteran and as a parent of a current servicemember, I find John Kerry one of the, if not the most, offensive politican in America today. He still carries that baggage of an opportunity lost two years ago and his unadulterated hatred for President Bush drives most if not all of everything he says and does today. In addition to making him offensive to most common sense people, it also makes him a very dangerous man. If given the opportunity in 2008, he would drive this country right over the edge of the cliff trying to undo everything that has been accomplished over the last 6 to 10 years. His track record of disdain for the military makes him even more dangerous and undesirable in terms of being commander in chief.

In the words of Don Imus (a Kerry supporter)......"Please stop it. Stop talking. Go home, get on the bike, go wind surfing, anything, stop it." But he won't....we all know he won't. So I think we'll just go ahead and name him our idiot of the year!

originally posted 11/1/06 on Yahoo 360

This is Why Dogs Bite! October 29, 2006

A few weeks ago I read a cautionary article, I can't remember where, about reports that dog bites always seem to increase in the fall and early winter. I wonder, if just maybe, this might have something to do with it?

I pity the fool who calls me pumpkin head!Maybe doing those Taco Bell commercials wasn't so bad after all!YO YO YO!!!!!Whatever!!!!No! Trust Me!! It Tastes Like Chicken! It Really Does!!!Who's the dumb dog now?!?!?!I swear, the next one that says I look like Cap'n Jack is going to be my personal chew toy!!!
Hey Ralphie!! Tell me again.....Why is it they call us man's best friend?Stop your snickering you fool!!! YOU'RE NEXT!!!!Confucious says..."Just a little closer....pleeeeeze. Just a little closer!"If the guys at the kennel see this, I'll be dead meat!!!
Whadda ya looking at??????Not a word........not a single word!!!!

So there you have it.......and you know something, if I were one of them I'd probably go on a biting rampage too! If you like these, I have a whole folder of these and others like them at Flickr. Just look for the folder labeled "dog-cats halloween." If you have some pics like these that aren't here and you'd like to share, feel free to send them. I'll include them in the folder. Enjoy!

Til next time...........................

Originally posted 10/29/06 on Yahoo 360

Happy 120th!!!! October 28, 2006

Today marks the 120th anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty by President Grover Cleveland in front of a huge crowd on Liberty Island. The statue which was a gift of friendship from France was first commissioned in France in the late 1860's with a planned completion 1876 just in time for America's centennial. The first small scale model was completed in 1870 and is still on display today at Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. Another copy also stands on the river Seine in Paris facing west toward the original statue in New York Harbor.

The Statue of Liberty copy on the river Seine in Paris, France.

Through the years Lady Liberty has served as an actual lighthouse with a beacon that could be seen as far as 24 nautical miles out at sea. It also survived the 1916 Black Tom Explosion but had to undergo much repair work after the explosion. In 1966, the Statue of Liberty, along with Ellis Island and Liberty Island were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Until 9/11 the Statue was open to all visitors, but after 9/11 and subsequent threats, Liberty Island, Ellis Island, and the Statue itself was closed. In August 2004 the islands and the statue pedestal and museum were reopened to the public, but the interior of the statue remains closed. In June of this year, Senate Bill 3597 was proposed and if approved will re-open the crown and the interior to visitors. In August of 2006, National Park Service Director Fran Mainella, in a letter to Congressman Anthony Weiner of New York stated that the crown and interior of the statue would remain closed indefinitely. The letter stated that "the current access patterns reflect a responsible management strategy in the best interests of all our visitors." Approval or disapproval of SB3597 isn't expected until sometime in mid 2007.

The ravages of time and weather have taken their toll, and yeah she's had a face lift or two...but she still looks great for being 120 years old. If we could look half that good at half her age, we'd be doing pretty good. Happy 120th Lady Liberty! AND HERE'S TO 120 MORE!!!

Til Next Time....................

Midweek Funnies! October 25, 2006

WHACK!!!

There was this little guy sitting in a bar, drinking his beer, minding his own business when all of a sudden this great big dude comes in and -- WHACK!! -- knocks him off the bar stool and onto the floor. The big dude says, "That was a karate chop from Korea."

The little guy thinks "GEEZ," but he gets back up on the stool and starts drinking again when all of a sudden -- WHACK!! -- the big dude knocks him down AGAIN and says, "That was a judo chop from Japan."

So the little guy has had enough of this... He gets up, brushes himself off and quietly leaves. The little guy is gone for an hour or so when he returned. Without saying a word, he walks up behind the big dude and -- WHAM!!!" -- knocks the big dude off his stool, knocking him out cold!!! The little guy looks at the bartender and says, "When he gets up, tell him that's a crowbar from Sears.

____________________

REDNECK VASECTOMY

A Kentucky couple, both bonifide rednecks, had 9 children.

They went to the doctor to see about getting the husband "fixed". The doctor gladly started the required procedure and asked them what finally made them make the decision--why after nine children, would they choose to do this

The husband replied that they had read in a recent article that one out of every ten children being born in the United States was Mexican, and they didn't want to take a chance on having a Mexican baby because neither of them could speak Spanish.

______________________

BLONDE PAINTER

A blonde, wanting to earn some extra money, decided to hire herself out as a "handy-woman" and started canvassing a nearby well-to-do neighborhood. She went to the front door of the first house, and asked the owner if he had any odd jobs for her to do.

"Well, I guess I could use somebody to paint my porch," he said, " How much will you charge me?" The blonde quickly responded, "How about $50?" The man agreed and told her that the paint and everything she would need was in the garage.

The man's wife, hearing the conversation, said to her husband, "Does she realize that our porch goes all the way around the house?" He responded, "That's a bit cynical, isn't it? The wife replied, "You're right. I guess I'm starting to believe all those dumb blonde jokes we've been getting by e-mail lately."

A short time later, the blonde came to the door to collect her money. "You're finished already?" the husband asked. "Yes," the blonde replied, "and I had paint left over, so I gave it two coats."

Impressed, the man reached into his pocket for the $50.00 and handed it to her. "And by the way," the blonde added, "it's not a Porch, it's a Lexus."

________________________

KIDS SAY THE DARNEDEST THINGS

TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America.
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America?
CLASS: Maria
TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables!
TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell "crocodile?"
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L"
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.

TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are!
TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with "I."
MILLIE: I is...
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, "I am."
MILLIE: All right..."I am the ninth letter of the alphabet."
TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him? LOUIS: Because George still had the ax in his hand.
TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.
TEACHER: Clyde, your composition on "My Dog" is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
CLYDE: No, teacher, it's the same dog.
TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher

TIL NEXT TIME...........

Rules for a Happier Life, October 24, 2006

Last night I was reading Dueces blog and it got me to thinking about life, the paths we choose, how we treat those we choose to include in our lives, and the lessons we learn or don't learn. Growing up, we are all for the most part conditioned to believe certain things and behave certain ways. Sometimes that conditioning doesn't always take. We have to learn things for ourselves. As we grow older and teach our kids we, many times, find ourselves coming full circle back around to most of the same things we were taught as children, but resisted in our youth.

Here are some (for a lack of a better word) Life Rules that my folks taught or at least tried to teach me. Some I learned the first time. Thanks Mom & Dad! Some, I had to learn for myself......Sometimes the hard way.

1. Follow the three R's Repect for self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for ALL of your actions.

2. Whenever you find yourself having to say "I'm Sorry" to someone, look them in the eye as you say it!

3.Remember that great love and great achievements always involve great risk.

4.If you say "I Love You," mean it.

5.Sometimes, not getting what you want is exactly what you need.

6.Don't let a little argument destroy a great friendship.

7.Spend some time alone everyday.

8.Silence is sometimes the only answer.

9.Keep yourself open to change, but don't let go of your values.

10.During disagreements with loved ones, deal with the present....don't bring up the past.

11.Expand your horizons. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

12.Leave you mark by sharing your knowledge. It's the only way to achieve immortality here on earth.

13.Remember, the best relationships are the ones where your love for each other far outweighs your need for each other.

14.Judge your success not by what you gained in the end, but by who you helped along the way.

By today's standards, most of these sound really cliched and really corny. But the funny thing is that they still work well today as much as they ever have in the past. If you think about it for a moment, I bet that some of these apply to you and you didn't even realize it. Yep! That's yet another lesson I learned as I try to pass these on to my boys. And just like me, they'll have to learn some the hard way as they work to build their own happy lives.

Til next time..........

Originally posted 10/24/06 on Yahoo 360

"Generations of Heroes" October 23, 2006

DALLAS (AP)-Pearl Harbor survivor Houston James embraces Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr. during a Veterans Day commemoration in Dallas yesterday. Sgt. Graunke lost a hand, a leg, and an eye while defusing a bomb in Iraq last year. This weeks images of U.S. troops in combat in Fallujah deepened the day's significance for many who attended tributes in San Diego and across the nation. (from Dallas TX earlier this year)

We truly take much for granted, including our freedom. Forget the football players and movie stars....these men (and the hundreds of thousands of men and women like them) are the true heroes. You don't have to wait for a special holiday to show your gratitude. The next time you pass a veteran or a current servicemember on the street or at the market, shake their hand and say thank you. For without them you most likely would have none of what you have today...including your freedom!

originally posted 10/23/06 on Yahoo 360

Justice Really Is Blind!!! October 22, 2006

BUT NOT IN THE WAY WE LIKE TO SAY SOMETIMES. This time around, two American Border Patrol Agents were sentenced (this past Thursday) to 11 and 12 years in federal prison......for shooting and illegal alien drug smuggler/dealer in the butt as he tried to flee agents attempting to arrest him.

The U-S Attorney in West Texas originally sought life in prison for Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean based on the following charges: assault with serious bodily injury; assault with a deadly weapon; discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence; and civil rights violations. They also were convicted of four counts and two counts, respectively, of obstruction of justice for not reporting that their weapons had been fired. The agents were acquitted of the most serious charge: assault with intent to commit murder.

This drug dealer, Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila was given immunity by the U-S Department of Justice and Homeland Security and free medical care at a U-S Army facility in return for his testimony. Shortly after the trial, this thug from Mexico was caught once again entering the country illegally with a large amount of drugs for resale in his posession. During the trial, there were no witnesses against the agents other than Aldrete-Davila himself. There are some other astounding aspects to this case that are simply put.....unbelievable. (see links below)

This one story is the best example I can find that shows how insane the handling of this nations immigration policy is. Politicians would rather have open borders and put all Americans at risk than admit that the globalist stances of the current adminstration and the idea of a North American Union (just like the European Union) is a horrible idea. I have another blog on this coming soon!

I support President Bush in almost everything he's done so far. One thing I will never support is his globalist views and his immigration policy. That policy and his relationship with the Mexican government is directly responsible for the conviction of these two border patrol agents charged with protecting this nations border.

These two agents came to America as immigrants and legal ones at that. They could have done anything with their lives, but they chose law enforcement. Not only did they choose to give something back to the country that had given them a new home, but they chose probably the most dangerous form of law enforcement when they chose the border patrol. What did they get for their efforts? SCREWED! These two guys, in all probability, kept over one million dollars in drugs out of our schools and off our streets. Ramos, a 10 year Border Patrol veteran, had even been nominated last year for "Border Patrol Agent of the Year." Nice way to say thanks there Uncle Sam. I guess it really is true what they say. Justice is blind. Blind as a frieking bat!

RELATED STORY LINKS!

1. Convicted agent tells his story 2. Troublings aspects of case against two agents 3. Convicted agents find lots of support 4. Agents' case prompts call for probe 5.Agents get congressional support 6. Leaders push for delay in agents case 7. Letter from Congress expresses need for review of agents case 8. Agents request for delay denied 9.Justice Department asked to review case 10. Families wait and worry 11.Jurors say they were misled to convict agents 12. Families get to enjoy holidays before sentence begins.

RELATED SITES

1. Agent Ramos Blog 2. US Attorney response ***note this one is in pdf format. You will need an Acrobat Reader to view this document. It should also be noted that statements contained in this document (presented as fact) are reported to have been taken from the testimony of the illegal alien drug smuggler/dealer with no coroborating evidence. IT WILL MAKE YOUR BLOOD BOIL.

If you have a strong opinion (either way) about this case, you can show your support and make your opinions heard here....

Agents Ramos and Compean US Attorneys Office for West Texas

Til Next time.....................................

Originally posted 10/22/06 on Yahoo 360

Jack-O-Lanterns Gone Wild, October 18, 2006

Ok, If Snoop Dog can do it all Spring Break, then why can't I do it at Halloween? Hang on tight boys and girls.......it's gonna get weird!

I didn't know pumpkins were cannibals. Poor little fella.

I guess it's a good thing he had a booster seat.

Stop it! That tickles!!!

Pumpkin and Jack........A dangerous combination.

Different drink......same story

Some Pumpkins just can't hold their seeds.

I think some anger management classes are in order.

Mommy! Mommy! What's that pumpkin doing?

....and the party crashing watermelon that just didn't know any better.

And if you think that was weird, just wait until the DVD comes.

Til next time...........

Originally posted 10/18/06 on Yahoo 360.

This, That, and The Other Thing! October 17, 2006

THINGS SEEM TO BE HAPPENING at a rapid pace the last couple of days. Almost so fast, it's impossible to keep up with it all. Earthquakes, storms, floods, wacky world leaders, out of control football players, more border problems than anybody could imagine, and an election that is just around the corner......whew!!!! Almost makes you wanna go buy a cabin up in the mountains and hibernate for the winter doesn't it?

First off, I hope all my friends in Texas are ok after all the storms and heavy rain. The last couple of days have been kinda rough. Judging from what I've seen this evening, the folks down there still have a lot to deal with and probably will for a few days to come.

The North Koreans are at it again too....threatening to conduct more underground nuclear tests. I wonder how long we are going to have to listen to this before someone really does something about it. I don't necessarily think we should use the "military option." The playing field here is alot different than in the Middle East and many more lives hang in the balance should Kim Jong Il decide to start lobbing missles into Seoul or nearby Japan. If negotiations don't yield some progress soon, things could get ugly quickly....especially if Japan decides to go nuclear.

And if real life wasn't intriguing enough, Hollywood has decided to weigh in the North Korea issue with today's (Tuesday) release of "Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil." This is the straight-to-DVD sequel to the 2001 big screen hit starring Gene Hackman and Owen Wilson. The plot of the action film revolves around a group of Navy SEALs dropped into North Korea to destroy its long-range missile. Twentieth Century Fox, which released the DVD, said its timing was planned months in advance and was purely coincidental. Rumor has it though, the release was delayed twice with no apparent reason being given. I guess the conspiracy theorist out there will have fun with this one. As for the movie itself, I got to see a preview copy a few days ago and I must say it was kinda errie watching what a mix of real history (complete with actual news footage at the beginning) and potential future all wrapped up into a slickly produced Hollywood production. It was a pretty good movie that I would recomend if you don't mind the somewhat blurred lines between reality and fiction.And then there's this from the world of college footbrawl: THE MIAMI HURRICANES FOOTBALL PROGRAM SHOULD BE GIVEN THE DEATH PENALTY FOR A COUPLE OF SEASONS. Yes, I said the death penalty. Basically that's a phrase used to describe shutting down a college football program for a pre determined amount of time for extreme rules violations. Remember SMU from several years back? Many people believe it's time for the sports governing body to bring this form of institutional punishment back. The NCAA has it in it's power to do so and should in order to send a strong message to athletes around the nation that behavior like we saw Saturday on national television (from Miami and Florida International) will not be tolerated....period. Today we learned that a total (from both teams)of 31 players were suspended for 1 game. In addition, FIU kicked 2 players off the team (but let them keep their scholarships)and suspended 16 players indefinitely, with all attending 10 hrs anger managment and 50 hrs community service. Miami removed no one from their team and only suspended one indefinitely. University of Miami president Donna Shalala (remember that name???? Yep it's the same lady!) refused to comment publicly, but later issued a statement calling the incident outrageous. That's some great leadership there Ms Shalala! I guess some things never change. The University of Miami (who was responsible for starting this latest melee) has had a reputation for this punk thug like behavior for years. Most recently during last seasons 40 to 3 Peach Bowl loss to LSU and earlier this season at Louisville when Miami players tried to provoke the hometown Cardinals by stomping on the Cardinal logo at midfield during pre game warmups.

It doesn't appear that the University of Miami, its current president, athletic director, or head coach is interested in changing this situation. Considering the schools track record over the last 25 years or so, maybe the NCAA should step in and drop the hammer for a couple years and send a message that is long overdue in South Florida. What do you think?

Til next time..............

Should the University of Miami receive the "death penalty" for it continued brawling ways?(closed poll)

Yes 6

No 0

Don't Know 0

(originally posetd 10-17-06 on Yahoo360)