Good Deeds

So the UN feels that Middle America is kept in the dark about their "good deeds". Well, maybe they’re right. So, to honor the UN, here is a rundown of their good deeds:

800,000 people slaughtered in Rhuwanda over 100 days, the UN did nothing to stop it
The UN supports a global ban on sidearms
The UN embraces China, despite their shameful human rights record
The UN calls for global population control, similar to measures that China has in place
Oil-for-Food
The UN attempted to prosecute Britain for using bunker busting bombs
The UN calls for protecting the rights of children by preventing parent interference in their lives
Refuses to acknowledge Taiwan as an independent state
Has failed to stop OPEC in its artificial manipulation of the world oil market
Refused to enforce its disarm orders on Saddam Hussein
Has failed to prevent Iran from seeking WMDs
Failed to prevent Somali warlords from dominating that country

Did I miss anything? Feel free to add to this list of accomplishments. I’m not criticizing, I just feel Middle America should know the truth. After all, we don’t want anyone having false notions about them, right?

Ditsy Twits

Soda: $5

T-shirt: $25

Only selling 1/3 of the available tickets for your concert after your dunderhead lead singer inserts her foot in her mouth repeatedly: PRICELESS


What a day! It just keeps getting better!

DEAD

Al Zharqawi has been confirmed dead.

The world has just become a safer...and better, place.

Here's to a job well-done by our troops.

As for Al Zharqawi, you can run but only for so long. Eventually, we will catch up to you. So long, you psycho. Say hello to Hitler and Qusay for us. Right about now I hope those 72 virgins have you bent over and...well, you get the picture.

Remember in November

It's time for a roll call:

Akaka (D-HI) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA)Cantwell (D-WA) Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI) Clinton (D-NY) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Dayton (D-MN) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA) Gregg (R-NH) Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI) Jeffords (I-VT) Johnson (D-SD) Kennedy (D-MA) Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (D-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) McCain (R-AZ)
Menendez (D-NJ) Mikulski (D-MD) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL)
Obama (D-IL) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV)
Salazar (D-CO) Sarbanes (D-MD) Schumer (D-NY) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (R-PA) Stabenow (D-MI) Sununu (R-NH) Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 3
Dodd (D-CT)
Hagel (R-NE)
Rockefeller (D-WV

Breakdown of the states, and their respective positions on gay marriage

This website posts regular updates on the status of Defense of Marriage

41 states have laws prohibiting same sex marriage, only 9 allow it

18 states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage

So why is it that our Senators are denying the states, and therefore the people, the right to voice their opinion on this. 82% of the states have agreed to outlaw gay marriage, yet less than half of our elected Senators will agree to allow the states to decide the issue.

Somewhere there is a disconnect between the will of the people and the our US Senators. So, come November, remember this. If there is a disconnect, then it's up to the voters to correct it. So remember these names. Look for YOUR senator on the list.

Health care crisis

This is a great story from the LA Times. As a family physician, I have a strong opinion on this one.

There IS a health care crisis in this country. It’s not a developing crisis, it’s here and it’s real. It is good that this article pointed out this fact. What’s not good is some of the proposed solutions.

First, I’m okay with increasing the enrollment in medical schools nationwide, but NOT at the expense of lowering admission standards. Some may be alright with this, I think it’s a mistake. In healthcare you can have either quality or quantity, rarely both. I’d rather have quality.

Second, bringing in more foreign medical graduates is a HUGE mistake. See my reason above. Not only are FMGs held to lesser standards at overseas medical schools, but there is also difficulty developing healthy doctor-patient relationships as well as some substantial language barriers. When you’re discussing treatment plans, properly taking prescription medicines and preventive health strategies, a language barrier is a very big deal. Once again, quality or quantity?

Allow me to point out a few reasons for this health care shortage that I feel the politicians aren’t exactly going to be willing to act on:

Lawsuits – This IS the number one problem in American health care, and it must stop. Doctors are being forced out of practice all over the country because of trial lawyers. Not only that, but lawsuits are also limiting the scope of practice for many doctors. For example, as a family physician, I am licensed and trained to deliver routine OB care, but I will NOT do it because of the litigation risk. I am not alone. Couple that with the fact that OB is one of the fields that is suffering the greatest from the health care shortage and you can see my point. There must be sweeping reform here, and must be quick. The problem is that Congress is full of lawyers. They’re not going to change anything.

Medicare – The federal gov’t continues to cut payments to doctors. As a result, more physicians are eliminating medicare from their practice. In many cases, seeing these patients actually incurs an overall LOSS to the bottom line. Remember, this is how we make a living. Keep cutting medicare payments and soon this program will become obsolete because no one will be able to find a doctor who takes these patients.

Push for national health care – Socialized medicine is BAD. Listing the reasons why it’s bad is a whole other post, but I guarantee that if our lawmakers continue pushing for a national health care plan there will be a mass exodus of healthcare professionals out of the health care field. I would rather bag groceries for a living than work in a socialized medicine setting, and I am not alone in this.

Greedy insurance companies – Bottom line, the insurance companies don’t want to pay for things that we as physicians feel are necessary. So on one hand, you have the insurance companies limiting our freedom as physicians, and on the other the lawyers are suing us for NOT doing the tests that the insurance companies won’t pay for. Something has to give.

My solution: Sweeping reform of the insurance businesses and plaintiffs attorneys. Freeze or increase medicare payments to physicians – these things will stop physicians from leaving their profession and encourage more to enter it - and drop corporate taxes. Why drop corporate taxes? Because if you start providing incentives for big business to operate in the US, then they will come to the US (free trade will actually reverse direction and begin to work in our favor), which means more jobs, which means more people with health insurance. Sounds simple and easy….which is probably why our lawmakers haven’t done it yet.

No more cobra bashing

A woman who fell in love with a snake has reportedly married the reptile at a traditional Hindu wedding celebrated by 2,000 guests in India's Orissa state.

Bimbala Das wore a silk saree for the ceremony Wednesday at Atala village near the Orissa state capital Bhubaneswar.

Priests chanted mantras to seal the union, but the snake failed to come out of a nearby ant hill where it lives, the Press Trust of India (PTI) said.

Sounds like the snake didn’t want to perform on his wedding night.

But, more importantly, this is a victory for cobras all over the world who have been denied their right to love whomever they choose. At last, cobras are allowed to love and marry just like everyone else. At last, they don’t have to walk down the street in shame. They can have a normal relationship, and anti-cobra bigots are shaking their heads in disbelief.

And it’s about time. For far too long we’ve been suppressing cobras. Shame on us all. Perhaps, one day, we’ll look back on our anti-cobra mentality and feel grateful at the bravery this one cobra showed in attacking our traditional views of marriage and overcoming centuries of misconceptions about his group.

Bravo, Mr. Cobra. You’ve taught us all a valuable lesson.

Church...er...Mosque and State

At midday on Fridays, Muslims gather to pray in a basement room of the U.S. Capitol. Kneeling on sheets they've spread over the floor and facing east toward Mecca, they are members of the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association, about two dozen congressional aides who are part of a small but growing minority in America and in the halls of government.

At first just a prayer group, later a Muslim support group, the association is now looking outward to change what many see as woeful ignorance about Islam on Capitol Hill and beyond, said Jameel Aalim-Johnson, a black Muslim and chief of staff for Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York.

This story fascinates me. I ask you to click the link and read the full story once. Then read it again, but substitute Muslim with Christian. Now, this story is not really making news, I found it buried on the Las Vegas Sun website. But imagine if this were a group of Christian congressional aids. Imagine the national outcry.

How many times would we hear the phrase ‘separation of church and state’?

Or ‘Don’t impose your religious beliefs on others’?

Or ‘Christians shouldn’t be influencing members of Congress’?

Or ‘vast right wing conspiracy’?

But, since these are Muslims it’s okay, and won’t generate so much as a whimper from the mainstream press.

Anyone want to offer a guess as to how long before we are all bowing down to Mecca on a daily basis?

Purple Heart

Soldier gives CBS reporter his Purple Heart]

I wanted to share this story, since most of the news about our troops involves ‘killing innocent civilians.’

Kudos to Fox News and MSNBC for carrying the story.

It was nowhere to be found on CNN.com. Or maybe it was just hidden beneath the photo of a bloody bedroom in Haditha that they were so proudly displaying.

"Crony capitalism"

Former president Bill Clinton keynoted a Phoenix Democratic fundraiser Thursday evening, saying the Republican Party is dominated by "right-wing, white Southerners."
Clinton also hit the GOP for favoring the rich and practicing "crony capitalism".
Clinton also voiced support for raising the minimum wage above the $5.15 per hour federal baseline

I gotta say, as much as I dislike the man, Bill Clinton has got to be one of the most entertaining politicians in history. Rarely is there a story about him that doesn’t make me laugh, and this one is no different.

"Crony capitalism". What a great description. But what’s even better is that he made this statement at a $500-a-plate dinner. That’s priceless.

Raise the minimum wage? I found this story on Drudge, right next to a story that shows the unemployment rate has dropped yet again. Well, we can’t have that, can we? All these people working? No.

You know that has the libs in a panic. After all, if people are working, then they are paying taxes. And if people are paying taxes, they’re not going to like the Democratic Party. I can see them in their little private discussions.

Bill Clinton: "The unemployment rate has dropped again. How is my wife gonna get elected with all these people working?"

John Kerry: "I have a plan."

Ted Kennedy: "Hiccup…whatttifff……hiccup….we….hiccup……quagmire!"

John Kerry: "I have a plan."

Bill Clinton: "We need more layoffs. Quick, somebody order me a pizza and a stripper, I can’t think like this."

Howard Dean: "arrrrrgggghhhhh…….wahoooooo"

Robert Byrd: "How about a lynch mob?"

Al Sharpton: "That’s disgusting, disreputable, disillusioning, disrespectful, disgraceful, disenfranchising, disappearing, dismantling, disengaging, displaying, dislikable and racist."

John Kerry: "I was in Vietnam!"

Al Gore: "We can use a lockbox, or just sell them to the Chinese."

John Kerry: "Cheney’s daughter is gay!"

Bill Clinton: "She’s gay? Damn, she’s a hottie too."

Hillary: "Why not just raise the minimum wage?"

John Kerry: "I got it! Raise the minimum wage!"

I wonder if any of these minimum wage workers were invited to this $500-a-plate fund raiser in which Mr. Clinton bashed those evil crony-capitalists? Well, maybe if they keep raising the minimum wage….

As it climbs, so does the unemployment rate, which means more people jobless, which means more people dependent on the government, which means the Democrats take over, all while looking like they care about the ‘little man’. How’d they come up with such a brilliant strategy?

Give them a break

Let me start by saying that if the killings in Haditha are truly what they appear to be on the surface, then this is an unfortunate and sad thing.

I do not condone the killing of civilians in a war effort, unless those civilians, regardless of sex or age, are in any way supporting the enemy. In my mind, that makes them the enemy. Were any of these people aiding the enemy? I don’t know, and neither does anyone else.

If not, then they should not have been gunned down the way they were, and those responsible should be punished. Period.

But the fact of the matter is, we don’t know if any of these people were truly innocent. Sure, they were not in uniform, they were not part of an army, but does anyone over there who kills American soldiers fit this description? No.

My suggestion would be to give our troops the benefit of the doubt. Investigate? Yes. Punish those found to be in the wrong? Yes. But don’t convict until we know the facts. And don’t judge these young men unless you’ve experienced what they’ve experienced. It’s easy to condemn from an easy chair, but spend one day in their shoes and you’ll see how fast your attitude changes.

As for the media, I don’t think they’re entitled to as much information as they’ve been given. We already know what they do with ANY anti-military rhetoric…it becomes fact and is used against America to hinder the war effort. Personally, I think the military leadership should issue one simple statement… "An unfortunate series of events occurred in Habitha, like many other events that occur during war. It is being investigated and anyone found guilty of wrongdoing will be punished." That’s it. That’s all we need to know.

For those of you who object to this, let me remind you of something. WE ARE AT WAR! I know it’s hard for the progressives to admit that, but it’s the truth. We are at war! Say it. Repeat it. We are at war. Keep saying it until it sinks in. We are at war. And for those who don’t know, war is not about tea parties, group hugs and therapy sessions.

War is a terrible thing in which terrible things happen. People die and many times those people are innocent. Things get destroyed. Suffering occurs. That’s what makes war so terrible and is why we avoid it whenever possible. So don’t act surprised when something terrible happens during a war. We do what we can to minimize those terrible things but we will never eliminate them.

It’s easy to forget while we drive to work in our SUV and pick the kids up at soccer practice. It’s easy to forget that we are at war. So keep repeating it. We are at war. Maybe someday you’ll realize the truth and won’t gasp so hard the next time someone dies in Iraq. It’s not our fault these extremist nut cases started causing trouble over there. We didn’t ask for this. So don’t blame America for being evil and insensitive.

And don’t blame our troops for being human, even if their enemy is not. Sure, they are professionals, but they’re also kids. They’re kids under a lot of stress, fighting and dying for our freedom, to protect us from evil and to secure the rights of a civilization who couldn’t care less about them. Give them justice, demand better from them, but also…give them a break.

For those of you who believe, I ask that you remember these soldiers in your prayers. They’re going through a lot, and as the investigation continues so will their strain.

Those Christian bigots

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean claims to be reaching out to red-state voters, but yesterday, he suggested that opponents of homosexual "marriage" are bigots.


Therein lies Howard Dean’s opinion of Christianity. It amazes me that shortly after 9/11, a massive public message campaign was launched to help save Islam’s image. So now, it’s not politically correct to consider Islam a violent religion intent on murdering the innocent in the name of god, even though their scriptures command followers to "convert or kill".

So when MY religion, and I can quote the scripture directly, states that homosexuality is a sin, am I afforded the same respect? Are my beliefs tolerated? No.

Instead, I am called a bigot. Not because I harbor any ill feelings towards homosexuals, not because I want to deny them basic human rights, not because I hate homosexuals. No. I am called a bigot because I adhere to the teaching of my religion.

Thanks, Mr. Dean. You've just reaffirmed the anti-Christian mentality that your party holds.

Laugh it up

WASHINGTON - Sometimes, mail call hits Congress like a ton of bricks - literally.
One by one, opponents of illegal immigration have been sending lawmakers real, red bricks with angry messages written on the side: "Build a wall. Deport them all."

While hundreds of thousands of activists took to the streets Monday, lawmakers in Washington dealt with an increase in mail from supporters of a get-tough approach to illegal immigration.

Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., laughed about the heavy bricks he has found in his in-box, saying he'll have to weigh them against the letters and calls he receives from both sides.

"The question I have is, how do they get that through security?" Allard said. "The second thing is, how did they afford the postage? Now that is a motivated citizen."


I emphasized the words "laughed about the heavy bricks" for a reason. I think it says a lot about the cavalier attitude our lawmakers have had towards this whole illegal immigration fiasco.

That’s alright. Keep laughing. An election is just around the corner. We’ll see how funny it is on November 8.

Taps

Day is done, gone the sun, From the hills, from the lake, From the skies. All is well,safely rest, God is nigh.

Go to sleep, peaceful sleep, May the soldier or sailor, God keep. On the land or the deep, Safe in sleep.

Love, good night, Must thou go, When the day, And the night Need thee so? All is well. Speedeth all To their rest.

Fades the light; And afar Goeth day, And the stars Shineth bright, Fare thee well; Day has gone, Night is on.

Thanks and praise, For our days,' Neath the sun, Neath the stars, 'Neath the sky, As we go, This we know, God is nigh.



photo by Daniel J. Wood

The pain is real

Forgive me for getting personal...but this is something I feel the need to share.

When my wife first told me she was having pelvic pain, it wasn't much of a concern. Ovarian cysts in pregnancy can occur, and the pain she described was very characteristic of such a condition. Little did I know that twenty four hours later we'd be in the emergency room learning that she had just had a miscarriage, and a few minutes later that she had been pregnant with twins.

Even though she was only five weeks pregnant...even though I know things like "God has a plan"...even though I am otherwise very blessed, the pain is still very real. I am not writing this as a way to seek sympathy. No, to me it's more therapeutic than anything.

Yes, I know that things will work out. I know that we'll be fine and time will heal the hurt as it always does, but the pain is still very real. Things like this will make you slow down for a moment and count your blessings. I've done that. Things like this will make you realize what's truly important in life. I've done that. Things like this will always bring up the thought, "it could have been worse", and it ALWAYS can be worse. I've thought that. It's easier if you keep yourself busy, whether on the computer or at work. It helps to keep your mind off of it. I've done that. But the pain is still there and will still need time to heal. The pain is still very real.

Then (and I am by NO means politicizing what's happened to us so don't send any negative comments, this is my blog) you start to think about people who fight so hard for the right to have an abortion, and you can't help but wonder why. I think maybe it's because they don't understand. I mean, before I had kids I too was pro-choice, but when we had our first that changed quick. It didn't take long to see that even though the child is not born, he or she is still alive. This experience has solidified that point of view. Some people may think an embryo is just a mass of lifeless tissue that isn't really alive, and I couldn't disagree more.

I've had moles and skin tags removed, and it didn't cause this kind of pain. If the unborn child is not alive, then why does it hurt so much to lose one? I may not be able to prove with one hundred percent certainty that life begins at conception, but I DO know that the pain is very real. There are many out there who have had miscarriages and even elective abortions who would agree. My heart goes out to you.

I know my little twins are with God and will one day return to us when the time is right. That comforts me more than anything else. I haven't met them yet, but I truly believe that one day I will.

Perhaps there is someone out there struggling with something similar. If this helps then I'm glad. There is a reason for all things and one day, like many other things I haven't understood, I'll learn the reason for this and be all the wiser for it. But, right now, the pain is still very real.

For my twins, I love you guys and I can't wait to see you both.

Immigration reform in the Texas 24th district

Here is some information for those of you living in Texas in the 24th district for US Congress. This info was obtained at the Americans for Better Immigration website (link can be found on sidebar).

This organization has sent a series of surveys to candidates for office in the House and Senate, and based on their responses they have been categorized into those who support immigration reform and those who don't.

The candidates for the 24th district in Texas are noted.

Kenny Ewell Merchant (R) has NOT met the criteria as someone who supports immigration reform.

Mark Frohman (L) does fit the criteria as a candidate in support of immigration reform

Gary R. Page (D) has not made his position clear.

Do what you will with this information. I hope it helps.

I will continue watching for updates as other candidates across the nation take their positions. The website will continue to support those candidates who choose to take a stand against illegal immigration.

Can we trust a Fox?

Kicking off a four-day, three-state tour, Mexican President Vicente Fox said Tuesday that his nation wants to be part of the solution in the immigration debate, not the problem.
"We don't set up walls, and that's not the way you're going to fix this situation," Fox said in Spanish to representatives of groups active in Utah's Mexican community. "It's not with fences that we are going to solve this problem."


I have to say, the timing of President Fox’s visit to the US is quite suspect. It seems to me that he isn’t here to work with us on the immigration problem as much as to oppose whatever immigration reform is being proposed. This trip is nothing more than a stump tour meant to derail any political action that is gathering steam aimed at stopping illegal immigration. I don’t trust Fox in America anymore than I would trust a fox in a henhouse.

He says a wall would not help solve the situation. Of course that’s what he would say. Given his track record on immigration, would anyone have expected anything different? A wall would be disastrous for his country because it would slow down illegal immigration significantly.

Remember two things: 1) Mexico’s economy is in the toilet, 2) illegal immigration is one of their largest industries. Can you imagine our response if some of our leading trade partners tried to ban imports of US agriculture? Naturally, we would oppose any such action. That’s all Fox is doing. A wall would effectively ban the import of Mexican labor and would cost his country a great deal of money.

He feels a wall wouldn’t be very neighborly, and many on the Left agree with him. But imagine a scenario where your next door neighbor had many children who had no respect for your property line. They’re constantly in your yard, tearing up your lawn and flower beds, leaving their toys lying around for you to pick up, maybe even breaking a few of your windows and eventually spilling into your home. How long would that continue before you built a fence and began enforcing the laws of private property? If you believe the Left, they’ve be perfectly contempt with such a scenario. Fine. Instead of deporting the 12 million illegals, let’s just move them all to Massachusettes and Vermont.

Fox has done nothing to help solve this problem, and why should he? His country is making a lot of money from illegal immigrants who are being enabled by the looney Left. He has no reason to try and stop illegal immigration as long as his allies in Congress help fight his battles for him.
Once, while in our country, I want to hear him condemn those who break the law. Just say it, "Respect immigration laws. Respect the laws of our neighbor." If he did this, I might be willing to hear some of his ideas about how to stop the problem. Until then, to me he is just another invader-leech looking to attach himself to our country and suck us dry.

Capitol Hill "untouchables"

Can somebody please explain to me why the search of Congressman Jefferson’s office has so many politicians in an uproar? My understanding is this: the FBI filed an affidavit based on their claim that they discovered a large amount of cash stuffed in Jefferson’s freezer, and based on this a Judge granted a search warrant allowing them to raid his office in search of more evidence. At what point was the Congressman’s rights violated? If I’m missing something then somebody please explain it to me?

He is on tape accepting $100,000 in cash from an FBI informant, and part of this was recovered in his home…stashed in his freezer.

Shouldn’t the FBI be allowed to search his office for more evidence? Or are we willing to say that Congressmen are entitled to certain above-the-law perks that we commoners aren’t privy to?

Even Nancy Pelosi, who has been more than willing to turn the other cheek when faced with the corruption of fellow democrats, has asked for him to resign from the Ways and Means Committee, which is a reasonable request considering this committee holds jurisdiction over taxes, trade, Medicare and more. But is he willing to do this? Of course not.

Which goes a long way in expressing the difference between the GOP and the Dems. Tom Delay resigned his post the SAME DAY an investigation was announced. Why? Because corruption and public service should NOT be allowed to coexist. Yet, this idealist thought is not given much merit by the Left. To them, corruption has a disclaimer that allows more leeway for democrats.
Congrats, Mr. Jefferson, you’ve just fortified our notion that Louisiana politicians can’t be trusted.

Random comments on random headlines

Hillary Rodham Clinton will call for cutting U.S. dependence on foreign oil by 8 million barrels a day by the year 2025 — a goal she says can be met with more ethanol-based fuel and a $50 billion fund for new energy research.

Hmmm…I’ve heard this somewhere before. Oh yeah, this is Bush’s energy plan, yet he’s still cursed by the environmentalists. But something tells me that when it comes out of Senator Clinton’s mouth it will be praised as brilliant foresight by the tree-hugging lobby.


Mexico's Fox Begins U.S. Trip in Utah

I think we need to keep a close eye on President Fox while he’s in the US. Before we know it, he will have a job in construction, collecting social security and getting his medical care paid for by US taxpayers. Send the Minute Men to Utah!


La. Holds Hurricane Evacuation Drill

I wonder if it involves standing on your rooftop, cursing the government and calling everyone within earshot a racist while shooting at rescue helicopters? Because I don’t think Louisiana needs to work on THAT, they seemed to have perfected it.



Bush Snubs Gore Film on Global Warming

I plan on seeing the film, as soon as I finish a few things on my list:

1) Watch the grass grow
2) Listen to Yoko Ono’s complete collection
3) Have Janet Reno perform a full body cavity search
4) Have a few beers with Ted Kennedy, and let him drive me home
5) Take a vacation to Aruba
6) Go hunting with Dick Cheney
7) See Al Gore’s new global warming movie



My 30 hour budget flight from hell

Must have been flying from San Francisco

Shut up and sing

NEW YORK — The Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines apologized for disrespecting President George W. Bush during a London concert in 2003. But now, she's taking it back.

"I don't feel that way anymore," she told Time magazine for its issue hitting newsstands Monday. "I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever."

I lump Ms Maines in with George Clooney, Alec Baldwin, Sean Penn, Dave Letterman, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and all the other Hollywood morons who live under the delusion that we actually give a damn about what they think politically. Personally, I believe Ms Maines should focus on making music that doesn’t suck rather than open her blow-hole in regards to the President.

My point is this, either debate an issue with respect and civility or keep your mouth shut. We have enough people spouting hate without a second-rate country music singer adding to the noise. Regardless of your personal opinion, the President of the United States is ALWAYS owed respect. You can disagree with policy, yes, but disagreeing and disrespecting are two different things. It’s time for Ms Maines to retire to the rodeo and honky-tonk club scene.

No gouging (at least on our side of things)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An investigation by U.S. antitrust authorities found no evidence that oil companies illegally manipulated gasoline prices or constrained oil refining operations, the Federal Trade Commission said on Monday.
I’ve commented on this many times. I have defined the three biggest problems facing America today: 1) Terrorism, specifically Iran and North Korea and their lunatic leaders 2) Illegal immigration 3) OPEC and the power they have on the rest of the world, holding us all hostage to their commodity.

When the FCC announced the investigation into US oil companies, I didn’t think they would find evidence of price gouging. That’s because I don’t think US companies are to blame for the high price of oil, it’s simply too risky for them to do something like that when they know the FCC watchdog is right around the corner.

However, OPEC is a different story. They set the price of oil and manipulate that price by altering their production capacity. It has NOTHING to do with free market influences and natural supply and demand because the supply side of it is fabricated by the oil producing nations. OPEC claims that they can’t produce at a higher rate because supplies are limited, yet the two leading crude oil producers in the world, Saudi Arabia and Russia (who is not a member of OPEC) refuse to release data about their in-ground oil reserves.

How can supplies be limited when we don’t know how much supply there is? Actually, the producing nations DO know, they simply won’t tell us. Which leads me to believe that their reserves are plentiful. After all, if there really was a limited supply of reserves, wouldn’t OPEC release those numbers in an effort to push prices even higher?

But they don’t. Instead, they fabricate the price and rake us over the coals. Add the fact that Mexico will do little to help out (despite the millions of illegal immigrants in our country) and Venezuela’s Marxist dictator clearly has a score to settle with the US, with domestic problems in Iran and Nigeria and you can see how OPEC has all sorts of ammunition to use in their claims that they do not manipulate the price of oil.

Well, I’m not buying it. We need to take action against these thieves, whether it be legal or simply do what we can to eliminate our need for their product. OPEC has become too powerful, and when the money they make off of us goes to fund the very terrorists that are killing our troops, then we must all agree that it’s time to bring them down.

Shameless self-promotion

My book When Evil Prospers is complete. It will be available in bookstores August 8 and can currently be purchased through the publisher right now. Below is a synopsis

In the not too distant future, America's ongoing war on terror coupled with its porous southern border and a growing lack of resolve among the masses to defeat our enemies definitively leads to another massive attack on American soil. This time, the state of Texas has become the target.

The ensuing investigation reveals a stunning international plot to strike America harder than it had ever been hit before, and the Presidential administration is stunned to discover who's involved. However, this discovery comes at a price, as one of the initial arresting officers is soon charged with abusing an alleged attacker.

Now the President, an ambitious yet dovish political leader, must decide how to handle the delicate situation while responding to the brutal attack on her country. But her course of action is less than acceptable for the hawkish traditionalist Governor of Texas, who believes the country should take a much different approach.

Caught in the middle are a physician and his brother, two average Americans, whose lives were touched deeply by the horrendous attack against Texas. As the events unfold, they make a decision to take action that their prior self-involvement had never allowed them to take before. As expected, the response throughout the country to their boldness is divided, which sets off a chain of events that could destroy or rescue a nation that is in dire need of healing.

Has America become a nation that our founding fathers never intended her to be? Can she survive a determined enemy in a challenge of unprecendented proportions? What if that enemy lies within? And has our internal division become too deep to resolve with words alone?Readers will find themselves taking sides in this page-turning political thriller that will leave us all searching for answers to these questions and hoping that hope still exists for a democracy that acts as a beacon of freedom for all mankind.

www.whenevilprospers.com

A better life???

A 3-year-old boy from Mexico died while crossing the desert southwest of Tucson with his mother, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.
The boy's body was left behind by the unidentified woman, who later told border agents about his death, authorities said Tuesday.


First of all, this is tragic. A 3 year old child is dead, mainly because of the irresponsible behavior of his mother. My prayers go out to the family.
If this story circulates, there is no doubt to loony left will spin it in favor of open borders. I can hear it already:

"This poor child died because his mother was searching for a better life"
"If only these people didn’t have to be so sneaky about coming into our country"
"America’s evil caused this boy’s death"
"This is Bush’s fault"

Shame on anyone who does this. The Senate has already voted in favor of a fence across the border. The fact is, if we already had a fence, this boy would still be alive. No one can deny that. And if there was a fence, and this mother chose the apply for citizenship and legal immigration rather than sneaking through the desert, then I would welcome her into this country with open arms.

We can’t rely on people to obey the law as this case proves some people are willing to risk the lives of their children to skirt the system. It’s shameful and sad.

Build the fence. Dry up the job market for these illegals by punishing those who hire them. Immediately deport any illegal immigrant who is detained, arrested or already serving time in prison. Basically, ENFORCE THE LAW. That’s how this is solved.

I’m interested to find out what happens to this woman who is currently in custody. I’ll go out on a limb and say that she is allowed to stay in America. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if she became the Cindy Sheehan of the ‘open borders’ crowd.

It's a start

I heard what the President had to say.
I heard what some congressional leaders had to say.
I’ve heard what some of you had to say.

Now, let me add my thoughts.

First, I am for deporting any and all illegal immigrants who have broken our immigration laws. These people are not entitled in any way to American citizenship. They are criminals and should be treated as such. But, I understand Bush’s point, and I’m anything but an idealist. The reality is that it would not be socially or economically feasible to deport 12 million people. If we happen to arrest one of them, then yes, send that person back. But it’s an impossible dream to think that we can round up 12 million people and move them home. As a taxpayer, it doesn’t sound like a good idea.

Which brings me to the best part of Bush’s plan. Don’t round up and deport people. Instead, let the problem solve itself. Go after the employers. Dry up the job market. If the jobs go away, so does the motivation to immigrate illegally. That’s how you reduce the number of illegal immigrants. Make it more beneficial to people to immigrate lawfully. That's capitalism. That's the American way.

I strongly disagree with any plan that would provide ‘a path to citizenship’. This is amnesty, Mr President, no matter how you paint it. Once the job market is dried up, these people have the option of returning to their home country and applying for citizenship. That’s how our laws are set up. We should not allow them the privilege of citizenship after they have disobeyed those laws.

A fence? Absolutely. Kudos to the Senate for voting in support of this idea. I would prefer a massive wall, but this is a good start.

Troops? Yes. Again, 6,000 is a good start, but I think more will be needed, at least in the short term until these other policies can take affect.

What I’ve heard so far may not be ideal, but it’s better than what we had. It IS progress towards solving the problem. Maybe our voices are starting to be heard.

Hillary in '08...why not? I could use a good laugh.

I have to admit, although I adamantly disagree with Hillary Clinton’s politics, she makes for an entertaining public figure. I hope she runs for President in ’08, at the very least it will make for lots of laughs. This article is a must-read for those who enjoy the occasional chuckle at Hillary’s expense. I have some highlights below.

Hillary Clinton weighed in on the immigration reform debate recently by accusing the House Republicans of passing a bill that would "criminalize the Good Samaritan and probably even Jesus himself." Hillary also opined that the House bill "flew in the face" of Republicans’ stated support for faith and values.

Faith and values? Hillary Clinton is talking about faith and values? Here are a few highlights of Ms. Clinton’s track record. Read them…several times, and then you decide if she should be criticizing others for lack of faith and values.

"The unfettered free market has been the most radically disruptive force in American life in the last generation."

Response by Hillary to a constituent who expressed concern over being forced into a government-run health-care plan: "It’s time to put the common good, the national interest, ahead of individuals."

Explanation to wealthy donors regarding her support for repealing the Bush tax cuts: "Many of you are well enough off that [the] tax cuts may have helped you. We’re saying that for America to get back on track, we’re probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We’re going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."

Of the many women who have reported having sexual encounters with Bill Clinton (forced or otherwise): "These women are all trash. Nobody’s going to believe them."

At an event with preschoolers at the governor’s mansion as first lady of Arkansas Mother Clinton was overheard on the intercom system saying, "I want to get this s--- over with and get these damn people out of here."

She was certainly quick enough to demand that taxpayers fund a pool for the governor’s mansion while first "lady" of Arkansas.

This are but a few of the many priceless quotes from Clinton that will make her potential run for office a feeding frenzy. Please run, Ms Clinton. I could always use some good blog material.

Cowardice

Only one juror stood between the death penalty and Zacarias Moussaoui and that juror frustrated his colleagues because he never explained his vote, according to the foreman of the jury that sentenced the al-Qaeda operative to life in prison last week.

I’ve ranted about the Moussaoui verdict before, and now I try not to think about it too much or it gets my blood boiling. Then I read this article, and boiling blood is hardly enough to adequately describe how I feel. One vote kept Moussaoui alive, and the person who voted ‘no’ never revealed himself (the votes were anonymous) and thus never explained why he/she voted that way. He/she never defended the vote. No matter how you spin this or in what perspective you look at it, this is nothing short of pure cowardice.

I’m not condemning people who are anti-death penalty. That particular argument in light of our modern day justice system has merits. But if you take a position on something, then take your position and make your argument. Don’t hide behind anonymity like a rat and refuse to acknowledge your vote or your reasoning. Stand up and be proud of your principles. I will always respect someone who believes what they believe and isn’t afraid to make their case for those beliefs. Basically, I have more respect for Moussaoui than I do for the one juror who kept him alive. That one juror is a perfect symbol of the biggest threat to America. It’s not the Islamo-fascists, those people could be squashed quickly and easily. The biggest threat we face are the large percentage of Americans who lack the resolve to do what must be done. If our country falls, it will be because of people like this one juror.

I’ve said before that as a true enemy of this country, Moussaoui represents a threat. As long as he breathes, that threat continues. Any terrorist organization can use his imprisonment to carry out some attack, take hostages and demand his release. Suppose some of those hostages are murdered when we refuse to release him. Or even worse, suppose someone like this lone juror is calling the shots and actually agrees to release the man. There is no reason to keep him alive, and if there is then it should be argued. The fact that this person refused to even acknowledge his/her vote should have deemed that vote invalid.

I wonder if this jury represents an accurate reflection of America. Are 1 in every 12 Americans lacking in courage? That would translate into 25 million Americans who have no guts. Scary. Even worse, judging by the lack of outrage at this verdict, I would say 25 million is probably an underestimation. This spells doom for our country. If that were the case in 1941, then we’d all be speaking German right now and saluting the swastika. How long until we are bowing down to Allah?

This must stop!

This is an outrage! We need to put immigration, Iran and oil prices to the side so we can deal with this crisis. I will not tolerate a federal government who knows how many times a week I call to order Chinese take-out. This must stop!

And if they can track my phone calls today, how long until they know I like to watch The Simpsons every week? This is a violation of my civil rights that I won’t stand for. Yes, I know there are some pressing issues out there: Iran is threatening to nuke Israel, Eight thousand illegal aliens cross our borders every day, and you have to take out a second mortgage to pay for gas, but when the government knows that I called Wal-Mart yesterday to get my oil changed….well, those other things can wait. This administration has gone too far.

It’s only a matter of time before we know how often Bill Clinton dials 1-900-HOT CHIK.

Another teacher controversy

Teacher Accused Of Making Slur Against Mexicans

the teacher allegedly said "all Mexicans are criminals" and that they were "only born to clean floors."...Read more.

I consider myself to be a fair-minded person and I’m not afraid to call things as they are. I adamantly oppose illegal immigration and support closing the border and prosecuting illegals for their criminal behavior as well as those who hire them.

I also don’t support teachers who try to impose their personal views on their students. Regardless of how one feels or believes, it’s not the teacher’s job to bring those beliefs into the classroom regardless of the situation. So if this story is true, then I agree that this teacher should be fired, JUST LIKE I agree that Jay Bennish and Ward Churchill should be fired. I don’t see any difference in the three.

However, something tells me the Left would disagree. Something tells me that they will call for the ouster of this woman, and many of those will be the same ones who supported Bennish and Churchill. Where I come from, we call that hypocrisy.

This is one reason I have consistently voted Republican over the years. I see a vast difference in character among the members of the two parties. The Republicans seem to hold true to their principles while the Dems seem to let the situation dictate theirs. Such fence-riding is not the kind of behavior I like to see among my leaders.

We’ll see what happens with this teacher. If the Dems hold true to their arguments supporting Bennish and Churchill, then they should support this teacher by claiming her remarks are freedom of speech. And then pigs will fly, there’ll be snowball fights in hell and the Saints will win the Super Bowl.

Betraying the Minutemen

While Minuteman civilian patrols are keeping an eye out for illegal border crossers, the U.S. Border Patrol is keeping an eye out for Minutemen -- and telling the Mexican government where they are.

According to three documents on the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations Web site, the U.S. Border Patrol is to notify the Mexican government as to the location of Minutemen and other civilian border patrol groups when they participate in apprehending illegal immigrants -- and if and when violence is used against border crossers.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman confirmed the notification process, describing it as a standard procedure meant to reassure the Mexican government that migrants' rights are being observed.

"It's not a secret where the Minuteman volunteers are going to be," Mario Martinez said Monday. "This ... simply makes two basic statements -- that we will not allow any lawlessness of any type, and that if an alien is encountered by a Minuteman or arrested by the Minuteman, then we will allow that government to interview the person."...Read more


Consider this a test. If this story infuriates you, then you are a true red-blooded America. If not, then you need to re-evaluate your patriotism. Our government, the one WE empower, the one who is supposed to ANSWER to us, is willingly placing law-abiding American citizens in harm’s way for the sake of protecting the "rights" of illegal immigrants and maintaining a healthy diplomatic relationship with Mexico. Is this right?

Thanks to our government policy, Mexico is well-aware of the location of all the Minutemen volunteers. Knowing how corrupt that government is and how much power the drug cartels hold within that government, it’s not a far stretch to assume that the drug cartels and human smugglers also know where the Minutemen are located. Hence, the danger.

My frustration with the illegal immigration issue has reached an extreme, and this story has added to that. American citizens are taking a backseat to lawbreakers. We need to stop this and it starts in November. I intend to speak with my vote and hope to encourage others to do the same. On my sidebar you’ll find a box linking you to info about upcoming races, the candidates involved, and their position on illegal immigration. Anyone, regardless of party affiliation, who does not support closing the borders and prosecuting illegal immigrants must be voted out of office NOW. That border is a threat to my security and that of my family and I want it closed. If we don’t do this, it’s only a matter of time before tragedy strikes…then what will all you bleeding heart passivists say?

The "Sex for Food" scandal

MONROVIA, Liberia — Aid workers and U.N. peacekeepers are trading food for sex with young girls in Liberian camps housing those left homeless by years of war, an aid group said Monday....Read more


Yet the libs believe the UN is the ONLY way to solve international disputes. Let’s rundown their list of accomplishments:

Sat idly by while nearly 800,000 people were killed in Rhuwanda
Failed to stop the rebellious crime lords in Somalia
Failed to disarm Saddam Hussein
Demanding an international BAN on handguns
Supporting international laws that would limit parental influence in the lives of children
Failed to negotiate peace between Israel and the Palestinians
Booted Taiwan from the Security Council
Greeted Communist China with a standing ovation
Currently failing to stop North Korea and Iran from nuclear weapons
Failing to influence OPEC to keep oil prices reasonable
Oil For Food scandal
Currently pushing for an international tax to help fund the organization
And, now, trading food for sex with young girls

And people STILL think the UN is good for the world? The sooner we withdraw from this corrupt 3rd world-driven organization the better. The UN is incompetent and weak. Disband it.

Blair's message to Iran

Prime Minister Tony Blair says that any consideration of a nuclear attack against Iran would be "absolutely absurd," ...Read more

Great. This is just the message we want to send Iran, a nation who has ignored threats and defied UN demands to halt a nuclear weapons program. Bush has made it clear that a nuclear Iran will not be allowed. He went so far as to say that ‘all options are on the table’, which is exactly what must be said when you’re dealing with a madman. Now, Blair makes this statement that does nothing but portray weakness and lack of resolve and will, in no way, help convince Iran to stop their nuclear program.
Good job, Mr. Blair, just whose side are you on anyway?

The "Katrina Effect"

'Katrina effect' blamed for rise in homicides

Violence among Hurricane Katrina evacuees, much of it occurring in southwest Houston neighborhoods targeted in a new anti-crime campaign, accounted for nearly a quarter of homicides in the city so far this year, police officials said Friday.

Since Jan. 1, police have investigated 124 homicides, 29 of which involved evacuees as victims or attackers, said Capt. Dale Brown of the Houston Police Department. There were 103 homicides over the same period last year; without the evacuee-related deaths this year, the city would have experienced a 7.8 percent decrease.

In the last four months of 2005, evacuees were victims or suspects in 18 homicides, accounting for 13 percent of such crimes during that period. A total 336 killings were investigated last year, representing a 22 percent increase over 2004.
"As it relates to murders, there's a definite Katrina effect, and it's most noticeable since December," Brown said...read more here

Did anyone NOT think this was going to happen. I have family in New Orleans and I'm well-familiar with the lower 9th ward and some of the other areas hit the hardest by Katrina. I remember the first time I heard that Houston was 'opening its arms to welcome the victims of Katrina'. My first thought...'they're gonna regret that'. Seems as though I'm beginning to be proven right.

I also remember many of the lib and black leadership accusing the media of portraying the victims wrongfully, as thugs and criminals. I wonder what they'd say about these Houston crime statistics?

DaVinci and Darwin

This post may be a little off-topic as I move from politics to theology. I've recently read a few news reports about some Christian groups talking about boycotting the new movie The DaVinci Code. For those who are not familiar, this movie (based on the bestselling novel) is centered around the theory that Christ was married to Mary Magdelene and fathered a child and from this child a subsequent bloodline developed that thrives today. This secret has been guarded by a special sect of the Catholic Church that has resorted to extreme means to guard it. That's the theory and many Christians are up in arms about it.

Now, to illustrate my opinion I'll draw a parallel to another theory that has many Christians offended, that of Darwin's evolution. Personally, I have no problem with someone saying that humans evolved from a single-celled organism, via an ape-like species. I just don't see how that threatens my religious belief which states that God created man in his own image (which to me means that man is the only of God's creation with an eternal soul). The Bible tells us that but does NOT specify how God did this. So, if someone theorizes that God created a lifeless biomass that spurred a single-celled organism that eventually led to all life, including humans whom God eventually equipped with an eternal spirit, then I say...OK, sounds as good as anything else, and it does not threaten my core belief. I'm certainly not going to get upset about it and start an argument.

The same can be said about the big bang theory. The universe began with a boom? Sure. If that's how you think God did it, well then OK. Again, it sounds about right and doesn't threaten my belief. If anyone out there disagrees and IS offended by these ideas, then I'd love the hear your thoughts.

Now, back to DaVinci. My belief states that Christ was the unblemished Son of God who made the supreme sacrifice in order for humans to be granted salvation, freed from their sins, and allowed access to God. "Unblemished" means free from sin. This means He must be born from a virgin and NEVER commit a single sin His entire life. The DaVinci Code suggests that Christ was married and fathered a bloodline. Even if this were true, it would still NOT threaten my religion nor my salvation because the Bible does not suggest that marriage and sex within marriage is sinful. So this book and movie doesn't really offend me. Now, if one wanted to say that it challenged the Bible on the fact that the Bible does not mention Christ's marriage, then I could buy into that. After all, if Christ were married, wouldn't the Bible have made mention of it? Because of that, I don't believe in The DaVinci Code theory. I simply don't think Christ was married because it didn't say so in the Bible, not that it really matters to me if He was. To me, either way He is still the unblemished Son of God who saved my soul. Does anyone disagree with me? I'm certainly not a theologic expert and if I'm way off base I'd love to hear from you.

As far as the movie is concerned, I will choose not to see it because I read the book and it really wasn't very good. The critics love it because it is portrayed as an attack on Christianity. I read it out of curiosity and was thoroughly disappointed. If the book were about any other topic, I truly believe it would have flopped. I feel the same about the movie, and I will choose to skip it.

Iraq divided

I am by no means a democrat supporter, but I will give credit where credit is due and I think Senator Biden is on to something here.

I first heard this idea from Michael Savage, and I liked it from the beginning. History has taught us that this sort of thing works. It worked with Germany, and it worked with Bosnia. There's no reason to think it wouldn't work with Iraq. Divide the country among the three major ethnic groups and everyone leaves happy. Of course, there are naysayers. But there's no such thing as a good idea without doubters.

I would set a deadline. Give them so much time to finalize their government and if they fail, the country gets divided. That way we put it in their hands.

I've always said that Iraq is crucial, and I truly believe democracy will take hold there as long as we're willing to stay the course. But if we give up, Iraq is doomed and so are our chances at achieving a 'domino effect' on the Middle East regimes. Victory in Iraq has always been crucial, and now with Iran becoming bolder by the day that victory is even more crucial. The plan Mr Biden refers to just may be the way.

The new Civil Rights movement?

I find this story fascinating on many levels. First, I understand that Dr. King stood for the rights of all people. But for the ILLEGAL immigrants to compare themselves to the Civil Rights movement is ridiculous. The difficulties they’ve encountered aren’t even in the same ballpark as what the black race has endured. When we start traveling into Mexico and enslaving those people to work against their will, make them drink from separate water fountains, make them sit in pre-designated areas of restaurants and busses, and turn fire hoses on them, then they can compare themselves to the plight of the black race in America. Until then, any comparisons are just plain insulting…and I’m not even black.

Which brings me to the second fascination. I am interested to see how the liberal black leaders, AKA Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, respond to this. They are truly caught in the middle of a potentially dangerous political situation. In fact, this is a tough one for ALL libs. On one side, their precious illegal immigrants who deserve SO much from us, and on the other their precious voting base of African-Americans who aren’t happy with this. Hmmm, what will the Dems do if the illegal aliens continue calling this an extension of the Civil Rights movement? I don’t know, but it sure will be fun watching them squirm.

A tale of two generations

Just as the allied forces were making their final push into the heart of Germany, Hitler called up a group of elite conscripts to form a unit known as the Werwolfs. The purpose of this unit was to attack behind enemy lines. They targeted supply lines, fuel depots, airplane hangars and telegraph lines among others. They were very effective and wreaked havoc on the advancing allied forces. It was modern day terrorism in its infancy.

Whenever one of these Werwolves were captured by Patton's army, the result was always the same. He was tied to a post and shot. No jury, no trial, no defense lawyer. The punishment was swift, brutal and simple. An enemy of America ceased to exist.

That was during a time when the entire country was united in anger and resolve to destroy her enemies on the heels of a deadly surprise attack that plunged us into war. People put their own lives aside for the common good, and the defeat of evil. We emerged stronger and more powerful than ever. We emerged victorious. That generation answered the call of liberty, and defended her with ferocity. It was America at her very best, and it was a country that I fear no longer exists.

Today, Patton would certainly be fired for such actions, and would likely be prosecuted for war crimes. Such is the atmosphere in America today. Over the past 60 years we have become soft and lost that resolve that made us respected and feared across the world.

Today, our enemy walked out of the courtroom and into a prison cell, taunting us with each step. He helped carry out the worst attack ever executed against America. He gloated about it. He expressed joy for the suffering he created. He dared us not to kill him. And still, we were unable to pull the trigger. His final words to the court: "America has lost and I have won." I wonder what General Patton thinks about us now?

Some may say we are more refined, more humanitarian, more sensitive and more peace-loving than we were in the 40's. I disagree. We were all those things in the 40's. But there was one major difference. In the 40's we were gentle but fierce. Now, we are gentle and timid. No one knows this more than our enemies....including Iran.

Why did Bin Laden hit us? Because he hates America and our involvement in the Middle East? Because he 'hates freedom'? For revenge? No. He hit us because he could...because he was unafraid of the repurcussions. Will we prove him wrong? After today's verdict, I'm not sure.

This generation has been called to defend liberty as well, and we are answering with peace protests, open borders and economic sanctions. I long for Patton's America. I long for the resolve to obliterate those who stand against us. I long for the country that cherishes peace, yet is unafraid to fight brutally when the time comes. Where is that country? I fear she may be gone for good.

There has only been one person but on trial for murdering thousands of innocent American citizens on 9/11, and we didn't have to guts to put him to death.

"America has lost..." Only time well tell.

A proposal

So one side of the argument calls for open amnesty. The people who are here should be granted citizenship without exception. Never mind those who immigrated to this country legally and did things the right way. Never mind those who are currently waiting for citizenship. Basically, never mind those who OBEYED the law. Let's reward those who ignored our laws and our customs. Let's reward those who fail to respect the rules that we've laid down.

"Well, they're only trying to make a better life for themselves..."

Since when does this legitimize illegal behavior? I could make the same argument for drug dealers, prostitutes, pornographers, and Enron executives. But it doesn't change the fact that what they're doing is illegal and wrong.

"Our laws are not fair..."

So it's OK to break them? What gives people the right to pick and choose which laws they obey? Doesn't this amount to anarchy? And if these people can't respect our laws, borders and sovereignty, then how can they expected to be responsible with the priviledge of citizenship?

"It's all our fault..."

This is typical of the 'blame America first' crowd. Somehow the illegal behavior of 12 million people is my fault, or my senator's fault, or Bill Clinton's fault (for signing NAFTA). I don't get it. Why do these people hate America so much?

It's simple. These people have broken the law, and that should carry repurcussions. If they want citizenship, then it should come with a price. So here's my proposal:

Build a wall, a VERY big wall from Brownsville to San Diego. Pay for it by diverting money from 'pork spending' in the budget (and believe me, the money is there) and much of the labor costs can be offset by offering citizenship to any illegal immigrant who works on the wall for 6 months. That way they serve their new country and show some sense of loyalty, and we secure our border. Everyone wins.

Any thoughts?

Boycott? Very well...

Boycott?

Very well. If our "undocumented workers" a.k.a. lawbreaking illegal immigrants want to boycott America, then America can fight back.

This blog site will be working with other sites in taking note of businesses that will be closed during this " May 1" boycott. Such businesses WILL be posted online. Be assured, these businesses support illegal immigration by either hiring illegals or standing by them in their protest. For this, they should suffer the consequences.

I hereby call on all readers of this site to look for the names of these businesses and avoid, at all costs, patronizing them.

It's time America realizes that the most vocal aren't necessarily the majority, and in a capitalist system the voice of the majority should get their due respect.

Illegal immigration has become a parasite of our beloved country. I, like many other law-abiding Americans, work hard only to have much of my paycheck ripped from me so the federal government can enable people to break the law and take advantage of our freedoms. This will be my form of protest. I ask you to join me, and many others. Tune in for more.

The Constitution Party

I want to thank Ace in the Hole for turning me on to this party.

It's safe to say that I have become fed up with politicians. The GOP has forgotten the meaning of public service.

No public office should be so profitable as to make it desirable - Benjamin Franklin

Yeah, the party of Bill Frist hardly abides by Ol Ben's advice. And the Dems...do I have to answer that one?

So, for the upcoming elections I've been looking for other options, and I may have found one. The Constitution Party seeks to rebuild America into what she once was and was meant to be by our Founding Fathers. I looked at their website and read through their platform and found myself agreeing with everything there (except for the war on terror, they favor a more isolationist approach to terrorism, while I'm more for killing terrorists before they have a chance to do any harm).

So, I'm gonna be looking for a Constitution Party candidate on my ballot, and if there is one then there is a good chance they'll get my vote.

America's closest enemies

From NEWSMAX
]
Bolivia's new left-leaning president signed a pact with Cuba and Venezuela on Saturday rejecting U.S.-backed free trade and promising a socialist version of regional commerce and cooperation.
Cuban authorities did not release copies of the so-called Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas signed by Bolivia's Evo Morales, so its contents were unclear.

America's enemies are closer than they appear. Castro is still a dangerous man and the fact that Chavez is in control of the world's number six oil exporter makes him equally dangerous. I'm not exactly concerned that Bolivia's new leader has joined their pact, but anytime a group of countries comes together to oppose the US, we should at least take notice.

Chavez has A LOT of pull within OPEC, and if anyone doesn't think OPEC is intentionally squeezing the West, just take a look at gas prices in Venezuela. At last check, Venezuelans were paying 12 cents a gallon. What's even more worrisome is that one of Chavez's OPEC buddies is Iran.

Could these nations be circling us like sharks? I don't know, but their comraderie certainly interests me. Personally, I don't think Castro or Chavez have the guts to do anything more than they're already doing.

State senate supports criminal behavior

The California Senate is now officially on record supporting illegal immigration. Read this article for more.

This doesn't surprise me. Everyone knows the people of California are adrift on a sea illusion. Their perception of reality matches that of Peter Pan. So it's only fitting for them to elect representatives with the same imagination.

But what really struck me about this article are the comments of one Senator comparing the plight of illegal aliens to slavery and women's suffrage. I'm not black and I'm not female, and this still offended me greatly. My hope is that Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and all the feminist leadership lash out at this guy for making such a desecrating remark.

Illegal immigrants are hardly suffering. These people are getting paid better than they ever would in their own country, the get free health care, access to social security, food stamps and other government programs and do all of this without having to pay taxes. If anything, they are one of the most privilidged sub-classes in American history. Yet, one deranged California Senator likens them to the slaves and the oppresion of women. Is anyone else disgusted by this?

At some point, California became disconnected from the rest of the nation. I think too much sunshine must do damage to the part of the brain responsible for perceiving reality.

Iran getting closer

According to Israeli Intelligence, Iran now has missiles capable of reaching Europe and if Iran developes nuclear weapons these same missiles could be fitted with nuclear warheads. Granted, the Israelis were among the many intelligence services who also said Iraq had WMD’s, so this may be dismissed by many, but it will be interesting to see how the Europeans react.

I wonder if France and Germany will now become more interested in the situation in Iran?

There is no doubt in my mind that Iran has become the most dangerous nation on earth. There is also no doubt that if they acquire WMDs, they WILL use them. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either naïve or just plain ignorant. And if you don’t "think" Iran would use their nukes, are you convinced enough to allow them to continue their current progress unimpeded? Are you willing to take that chance? If so, then prove it by doing this one little experiment. Go get a pistol, load it, take the safety off and then pull the hammer back. Then hand it to your nearest 4-year old child. But be sure and tell them that there will be punishment if someone gets shot. Are you comfortable doing that?

Amadinejad is a maniac, in fact he's probably clinically insane. Allowing him to get nukes is out of the question and the UN can't stop him. So the only decision now is when do we go in and how hard do we hit when we do?

I can’t wait to see how Europe responds to those questions.

Boycott Exxon?

Here is a story about Bee County, Texas where a local judge has issued a call for a county-wide boycott of Exxon-Mobil in the wake of one of their executives receiving a multi-million dollar retirement package and suspicion of price-gauging among the major oil companies.

Now, I am 100% in favor of capitalism. If a major oil company wants to give one of their executives a multi-million dollar retirement, so be it. They have that right. But, I, as a consumer also have the right to choose not to buy their product, which is what I choose to do.

Do I agree with boycotts? Sometimes. To me, a boycott is nothing more than a group of people making a similar choice. Will this hurt Exxon-Mobil? I doubt it. In fact, it will likely hurt local gas station owners more than the oil company, but the message is still there nonetheless.

Consumers are getting fed up. Something must be done. In my opinion, OPEC is much more to blame for high oil prices than the major oil companies, but when one of these companies gives an executive such an obscene amount of money in the face of current gas prices, it is somewhat of an insult. I defend their right to do it, but I also criticize the fact that they did it. It’s clear that Exxon-Mobil doesn’t really care that much about their consumers. Therefore, I don’t really care that much about their company.

So the next time I pull off of a highway exit ramp and see an Exxon-Mobil station next to, say, a BP or Texaco, I will choose the latter. That’s what makes capitalism great. You reap what you sow, some folks may say. Here’s to free will!

Patriot Guard

A friend of a friend is a member of this group. And although I'm sure many of you are familiar with them, I still felt compelled to place their link on this blog. It's people like this who make me proud to be an American.

Keep up the good fight guys!

http://www.patriotguard.org/

A soldier's perspective

I found this on Fox News. This is a recent entry in a daily diary from US Army Captain Dan Sukman, currently deployed in Iraq. This link will take you to the full entry, but I will include a portion of it below. Capt Sukman offers his own unique perspective on the group of retired Generals who are now speaking out against the Pentagon and Rumsfeld, and the way the war has been fought.

Reading and listening to the news and discussing it, the criticism that seems to be continually brought up is: Why are they speaking up now? The answer is, because now they are no longer in the military. I know, it’s not a deep analysis, but I don’t think there is anything more to it.

He goes on to discuss the "how" and "why", but concludes with this:

I don't know the exact number, but if I were a betting man, I would wager all my money that there are some recently retired general officers who disagree with the ones speaking out now. It would be interesting to see if anyone ever attempts to interview them or get their opinion.

I couldn’t agree more, Capt Sukman. Stay safe over there and God bless you, Sir.

I guess Nagin did a good job after all

On Saturday, the citizens of New Orleans had the opportunity to finally allow their voices to be heard. Eight months after Hurricane Katrina, and the disastrous governmental response, at last the people get to speak out. So they turned out at polling places to voice their opinion of the city’s leadership…and the results: Ray Nagin received more votes than any other candidate.
That’s right.

The people of New Orleans are so upset about how their leaders responded to the crisis of Katrina that the incumbent received more votes than any other competitor. This while the reconstruction is stalled, bulldozers sit idly like a New Orleans school bus, dumbtrucks drive around town empty, yet more people vote for Ray Nagin…the man who "led" New Orleans through this crisis than for any other candidate. Does this make sense to anyone?

I’ve been to New Orleans recently, and the most shocking part of the visit was the glaring inactivity. Houses sat in shambles, street lights were non-functional, roads were in disrepair. And how many clean up crews did I see in 4 days? TWO. That’s right. Over 100 billion dollars spent on New Orleans and I see two crews working. They must be really good crews.

In all fairness, Nagin still did not receive a majority vote, no candidate did, but he led all candidates with 38% of the vote and will face the Lt Governor of Louisiana in a May runoff to decide the position. But 38 percent? Are you kidding me? This man shouldn’t have gotten nowhere near that number and should have finished somewhere below the write-in votes for Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. That is, IF the people were truly letting Nagin’s performance in office determine their vote, which is obviously not the case. I’m not one to speculate, but I would venture a guess that of those 38%, the vast majority were racially driven…but that’s my opinion.

Are 38 percent of New Orleans’ citizens really that disconnected, out of touch with reality and downright ignorant? Are 38% of the people satisfied with how things are going down there? If so, then I say we call their bluff and cut federal aid to Katrina recovery by 38%. At the very least, I no longer think the people of New Orleans have a right to gripe about the response to the disaster. Or maybe they should reduce their complaints by 38%. After all, this was their chance, their opportunity to show the city’s leader how they felt…and they failed. I think the message that sends is fairly loud. According to the people of New Orleans, Nagin did a pretty good job.

Does anyone out there agree?

Support immigration law enforcement

I stumbled across this on the blogosphere (thanks to the IRATE NATION and Numbers USA). There is an organization that promotes candidates for the upcoming elections who are determined to ENFORCE our nation's immigration laws. I have posted their link in my sidebar and the link to their website is below so others can do the same.

This is one of the top 3 issues in this election (along with the war on terror and bringing down OPEC) and I for one will support ANY candidate who commits themselves to enforcing our immigration laws.

Numbers USA

Bringing down OPEC...part III

We already have the technology needed to replace oil as an energy source and the alternative sources COST LESS than oil, so the conversion will actually produce profit. Read that sentence four of five times, because it needs to sink in before you read the options below.

In his book Over a Barrel Raymond Learsy cites Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute of Colorado as a leading advocate and researcher into these alternate energy resources. Lovins’ proposal: an initial investment of $180 billion over ten years could save the nation $70 billion a year by the year 2025, thus it would pay for itself in under 3 years. Americans spent $285 billion dollars on transportation costs in 2000. You do the math. By 2040, Lovins asserts that the US could stop importing oil altogether, by 2050 we would only be using oil as a raw material for plastics. How? Keep reading.

1) Use oil more efficiently – We doubled our efficiency of oil use after the embargo of the 1970s. We can do it again. We can double our efficiency with an investment of $12 a barrel. For example, hybrid cars are more expensive to purchase, but the added cost is made up after only 3 years of driving. Another example, Trek Bicycle Corporation. They make the carbon fiber composite for Lance Armstrong’s racing bicycles. This is a lighter and stronger frame than any other on the market resulting in a third of the weight. This same concept could be applied to the auto industry. Lighter materials like carbon fiber, new steel alloys, and advanced polymer composites would cut fuel consumption drastically without sacrificing safety (yes, it HAS been studied). It would cost more up front, like hybrid cars, but would save more in the long run. The same ideas could also be used in heavy trucks and airlines
.
Fuel efficient homes need to be built. Lovins, on a challenge by PG&E, built a home in Davis, California using high-end windows and extra insulation that actually cost $4500 less than a comparable non-energy efficient home but only consumed 48% of the energy!

He also built a home with solar heating via rooftop solar cells that saved 99% of the heating cost and resulted in a 90% reduction in electricity, with no loss of comfort! Why don’t we do more of this?

2) Develop a biofuel program – Brazil uses sugar cane for ethanol that fuels 4 million cars. This reduced their imports by $50 billion dollars. GM and Volkswagon currently sell "total flex" cars to Brazil that can use ANY pure or blended fuel, from 100% ethanol to 100% gasoline…we HAVE the technology. Why not use it? Well, the oil industry is a mighty lobbying power.

The only biofuel program the US has right now is nothing more than a way to subsidize farmers and agribusinesses for growing corn. But corn-based alcohol is too expensive, and without the government subsidies it would cost 52 cents more per gallon than gasoline. But switchgrass and woody crops like hybrid willow and poplar are a different story.

Liquid fuels from these sources cost far less, and are, of course, much cleaner burning. Not only that, but producing these crops would not interfere with food production, but would rather help farmers by preventing erosion associated with row crops.

New technology can get twice as much ethanol from these woody crops as corn and at less cost in both capital and energy. This ethanol program could generate over 700,000 new jobs (as it has done in Brazil). Government funded farm subsidies could be cut as profitable biofuel crops replaced subsidized grains, and farm income could triple.

This possibility hasn’t gone unnoticed. Shell and BP are looking into it.

So there it is, America’s way out from under the boot of OPEC. I highly encourage everyone to read Raymond Learsy’s book. You’ll never look at big oil and OPEC the same way again. This isn't a perfect solution, but it is the best option out there. To be honest, no one else seems to have a plan to get out from under OPEC's boot, and the status quo will lead us into economic disaster. Something must be done NOW.

Bringing down OPEC...Part II

How to we bring down OPEC?

Raymond Learsy offers a few suggestions on how to do this in his latest book. Here are some details of what he suggests:

1) Tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve – The actual number of barrels released would not make much of a difference on the "supply" side of supply and demand, but it would have a profound impact on the oil price. Oil prices are not driven by the free market and supply and demand. Instead, it inflates by OPEC-inspired rumor and irrational fear of certain events that attract investors seeking to make a buck on price gyrations. The result is people buying oil futures and pushing the price higher and higher. But if the government showed that a certain price for oil would trigger a release of a large quantity from the strategic reserve, then it would increase the risk of these investments and drive the speculators to the sidelines. The result…oil prices drop.

2) Nuclear Power – France is 80% nuclear. We are nowhere close to that. Why? Mainly because of political foot-dragging about nuclear waste disposal. One kg of oil produces 4 kw of electricity. One kg of uranium generates 400,000 kw of electricity (more than 7 million kw if uranium is recycled, but Jimmy Carter banned uranium recycling in 1977). It is cleaner, cheaper and if recycled will reduce the volume of nuclear waste that needed disposal. If the enviro-kooks would come to the table on this, we could get more plants built and not only reduce oil consumption, but also help protect the environment.

3) Control demand – Bush pushed through a cap-and-trade Clear Skies initiative as part of his environmental policy. This states that power companies have so many "emission credits" that they can consume, basically keeping a tally on the amount of pollution they dump into the environment. Go over your allotted credits, and you can buy more from a "cleaner" power company. This does two things. It rewards those who are friendly to the environment with more money (and NO tax dollars) and it increases costs for those who don’t take measures to reduce pollution. Why not do the same for gasoline?

Everyone gets an allotment of Gasoline Purchase Permits. Reach your allotment, and you can purchase more on the free market from the private sector (those who take the proper measures to reduce gasoline consumption). You CAN’T buy these credits from the government and therefore it won’t be a hidden tax. Instead, it will reward those who carpool, own fuel-efficient cars, and avoid discretionary driving and it will increase costs for those who don’t. The result is less oil consumption nationwide. This can even be pushed as part of the war on terror. In WWII, people who wanted to do their part against the Nazis planted victory gardens. Now, people could reduce their fuel consumption, make money by selling their allotted extra GPPs and feel that they are doing their part in keeping American money out of the pockets of the rich oil barons of the Middle East. And it would go a long way in altering the world’s perception of Americans as self-indulgent anti-environment consumers.

4) Put OPEC on trial – Oil prices are governed by collusion and OPEC is not afraid to show this when they hold meetings for the purpose of setting production quotas. The idea of these quotas is to limit the amount of crude produced and thus keep the price of oil high. THIS IS ILLEGAL. The World Trade Organization has a rule equivalent to antitrust laws in which it prohibits members from setting quantitative restrictions on imports and exports. This is an outright ban on conspiracies to artificially manipulate markets. If the US led an international "posse" aimed at putting the OPEC nations on trial for this, the "fear factor" that drives much of the oil price could begin to work in our favor and thus lead to lower prices.

5) Alternative sources of fuel – There are A LOT of options here. To do it justice, I will discuss these in a separate post. Tune in tomorrow (or later tonight depending on how much time I have).

Bringing down OPEC...part I

As oil eclipses the $70 a barrel mark, it’s evident that we have a serious problem, and the Arabs have us by the…you know what. We consume 25 million barrels of oil a day, 60% of that is imported from OPEC. The problem is that OPEC controls the price, which is driven by fear and NOT by the free market. When you consider that it costs $1.50 to pump a barrel of oil from a Saudi well, then obviously somebody is doing some major price gauging along the way…and it needs to stop.

Personally, I’m tired of overpaying for oil. Our dollars are funding extremist governments that hate America, and it’s impossible to deny that this money doesn’t end up in the hands terrorist organizations determined to destroy our nation. The Middle East is becoming more of a power and it’s because of only one reason, oil. They have us hostage and loom over us like the execution videos that they so regularly release. We, the American consumer, are on our knees hoping the worst doesn’t happen. Well, I’m tired of it. Action needs to be taken to bring down OPEC, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes.

No one in leadership seems to have any ideas. That's concerning because the status quo is simply unacceptable. The only viable ideas I've heard have been from Raymond Learsy in his book Over A Barrel. In tomorrow's post I'll detail his ideas, sure to bring OPEC to its knees. Meanwhile, I want to hear from others. I want to know how YOU would deal with our current oil situation. I'm interested to know what some think.

On the brink of another...

Believe it or not, history is actually a hobby for me, and after reading these articles on Drudge it’s almost like reading a history book from the 1930s. A crazed dictator is building his military strength with intentions of reclaiming land (ie, Israel) that was once lost. He is supported by a minority, while most of his people suffer. Neighboring nations are expressing concern about the buildup. Europe and the UN is intent on appeasement.
Doesn’t this sound familiar?

The problem is: we, as Americans, don’t have the luxury to sit this one out while waiting for Europe to realize that appeasement is a failed policy. If Iran gets nukes, our military troops and bases are in imminent danger…not to mention Israel who, along with Britain, may be our only true ally. Couple that with the fact that we import 60% of our oil from that region and suddenly the United States is facing a potential catastrophe. After all, you can’t field an army without oil, and believe me the Iranian leaders know this.

While I would like to sit back and say to the Middle East "this is your problem, deal with it", I know that is not an option. Iran and Syria are very much the world’s problem. Could they be pushing us to the brink of World War III? I say it’s VERY possible.

I’m not afraid to admit, we NEED the Middle East to be stable because we need that oil. Without it, we’re crippled. Our economy plunges and our military stalls. If America is crippled, who will stop the Islamo-fascists? Especially if the Russians, Chinese and many of our own are basically apathetic towards the whole situation and completely oblivious to the building threat. Thank God Hussein and the Taliban are no longer in power or they could very well be playing the part of Mussolini to Iran’s Nazi-like buildup.

My prayers are with President Bush and his Cabinet as they face this crisis. Once again he's going into a very difficult task. May God give him strength and wisdom.

Europe, thy name is cowardice

Some of you may have seen this before. I got it in an email from a friend. It was written by the Chief Executive of a major German publisher in the nation's largest daily paper, Die Welt. It's good to know that not everyone in Europe is completely naive.

EUROPE - THY NAME IS COWARDICE (Commentary by Mathias Dapfner CEO, Axel Springer, AG)

A few days ago Henry Broder wrote in Welt am Sonntag, "Europe - your family name is appeasement." It's a phrase you can't get out of your head because it's so terribly true.

Appeasement cost millions of Jews and non-Jews their lives as England and France, allies at the time, negotiated and hesitated too long before they noticed that Hitler had to be fought, not bound to toothless agreements.

Appeasement legitimized and stabilized Communism in the Soviet Union, then East Germany, then all the rest of Eastern Europe where for decades, inhuman suppressive, murderous governments were glorified as the ideologically correct alternative to all other possibilities.

Appeasement crippled Europe when genocide ran rampant in Kosovo, and even though we had absolute proof of ongoing mass-murder, we Europeans debated and debated and debated, and were still debating when finally the

Americans had to come from halfway around the world, into Europe yet again, and do our work for us.

Rather than protecting democracy in the Middle East, European appeasement, camouflaged behind the fuzzy word "equidistance,"now countenances suicide bombings in Israel by fundamentalist Palestinians.

Appeasement generates a mentality that allows Europe to ignore nearly 500,000 victims of Saddam's torture and murder machinery and, motivated by the self-righteousness of the peace-movement, has the gall to issue bad grades to George Bush... Even as it is uncovered that the loudest critics of the American action in Iraq made illicit billions, no, TENS of billions, in the corrupt U.N. Oil-for-Food program.

And now we are faced with a particularly grotesque form of appeasement. How is Germany reacting to the escalating violence by Islamic fundamentalists in Holland and elsewhere? By suggesting that we really should have a "Muslim Holiday" in Germany?

I wish I were joking, but I am not. A substantial fraction of our (German) Government, and if the polls are to be believed, the German people, actually believe that creating an Official State "Muslim Holiday" will somehow spare us from the wrath of the fanatical Islamists.

One cannot help but recall Britain's Neville Chamberlain waving the laughable treaty signed by Adolph Hitler, and declaring European "Peace in our time".

What else has to happen before the European public and its political leadership get it? There is a sort of crusade underway, an especially perfidious crusade consisting of systematic attacks by fanatic Muslims, focused on civilians, directed against our free, open Western societies, and intent upon Western Civilization's utter destruction.

It is a conflict that will most likely last longer than any of the great military conflicts of the last century - a conflict conducted by an enemy that cannot be tamed by "tolerance" and "accommodation" but is actually spurred on by such gestures, which have proven to be, and will always be taken by the Islamists for signs of weakness.

Only two recent American Presidents had the courage needed for anti-appeasement: Reagan and Bush.

His American critics may quibble over the details, but we Europeans know the truth. We saw it first hand: Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War, freeing half of the German people from nearly 50 years of terror and virtual slavery. And Bush, supported only by the Social Democrat Blair, acting on moral conviction, recognized the danger in the Islamic War against democracy. His place in history will have to be evaluated after a number of years have passed.

In the meantime, Europe sits back with charismatic self-confidence in the multicultural corner, instead of defending liberal society's values and being an attractive center of power on the same playing field as the true great powers, America and China.

On the contrary - we Europeans present ourselves, in contrast to those "arrogant Americans", as the World Champions of "tolerance", which even (Germany's Interior Minister) Otto Schily justifiably criticizes.

Why? Because we're so moral? I fear it's more because we're so materialistic so devoid of a moral compass.

For his policies, Bush risks the fall of the dollar, huge amounts of additional national debt, and a massive and persistent burden on the American economy - because unlike almost all of Europe, Bush realizes what is at stake - literally everything.

While we criticize the "capitalistic robber barons" of America because they seem too sure of their priorities, we timidly defend our Social Welfare systems. Stay out of it! It could get expensive! We'd rather discuss reducing our 35-hour workweek or our dental coverage, or our 4 weeks of paid vacation... Or listen to TV pastors preach about the need to "reach out to terrorists. To understand and forgive".

These days, Europe reminds me of an old woman who, with shaking hands, frantically hides her last pieces of jewelry when she notices a robber breaking into a neighbor's house.