Sunday, November 30, 2008

Border Gangs and Infiltration in America

A few days ago I had read just enough to want to alert you to what I saw as a conspiracy. (I'm beginning to see one behind every tree.) The first piece was about the fact that the military in Mexico appear to be the only front against drug trafficking since so many officials from law enforcement to government and judicial arenas appear to be corrupted. I was going to just put in a hint that we might be looking at a military junta in Mexico in the near future and with the unrest in other places in South America we should just be aware.

Well, Friday evening we happened on a History Channel hour describing "Gangland-Phoenix, Zeta." One of the first descriptions was that the drug cartels are so strong and so wealthy that they have hired the best of the best of Mexican military (I guess like Black Ops or Green Beret types) which makes a killing machine look like child's play.

I googled "Gangland-Phoenix, Zeta" and there were pieces from newspapers in San Diego, Dallas and Phoenix which I would recommend, but first I do want to tell you that on the program some folks appeared to put their lives on the line by just being photographed-reporter from the Washington Times and a couple of law enforcement folks.

The most shocking that, in my limited Spanish, means little Zetas or Zetillas. They also used the term Locenta or Locetta-difficult to understand, but which only means that they recruit young boys around 13 who appear to be amoral and alone to train in violence. One of the first ways they are tested is to just go up to someone, put a gun to their head and kill them with no compunction whatsoever. These people kill by burning (alive or dead,) killing with acid or fed to animals. Unbelievable!
They are told they can make a choice-plata (silver) or plomo (lead)-- live or die.

The infiltration is taking place by working into the already existing gang structure in the U.S. and using it to their advantage. This is apparently a cost benefit, saving time and money by using the Crips, Bloods, etc., etc.

It isn't as though we don't have enough problems, but burying our heads in the sand will not make it go away and will only get worse. Just be aware.

Global warming had to wait--this is more important. Wherever you are reading this, it would be interesting to know whether the media in your area is reporting on it.

God bless-

Saturday, November 29, 2008

A Gift from Planned Parenthood?

So, is this a tax deductible gift?

Seriously, the latest in weird is the Indiana Planned Parenthood initiating a new gift card which on the surface sounds like a good idea? Right! PAP smears, mammograms, copays on your insurace, etc. However, here's the kicker: Also good for the "birth control method of your choice." In Planned Parenthoodspeak that also encompasses abortion, doesn't it?

You can write the end of this column, but my comment: Only in Indiana, so far, and then it becomes "Only in America."

We need to talk about carbon tax vs cap and trade tomorrow.

See ya

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Economy Puzzle

Having a little trouble figuring out just how a stimulus to the economy will work when it is comprised of road and bridge building? Are you thinking, as I am, that these are the kinds of jobs that Americans "won't" do so we need to let illegals cross the border to fill those jobs? How is that going to help the white collar folks who have lost jobs? And anyone else, for that matter.

Then again, younger folks need to be reminded of the definition of CCC camps, PWA and WPA. If memory serves, the Civil Service camps were for men only whose contributions consisted of chores such as the felling and planting of trees in public forest areas.

I admit I had to google Public Works Administration and Works Progress Administration because I get them mixed up, but I recommend it for fascinating reading in any case.

PWA - Created in June of 1933 by the National Industrial Recovery Act and was to spend "big bucks on big projects" and "prime the pump" to encourage economic growth. Some 34,000 projects included dams for electricity, airports, aircraft carriers and seventy percent of the new schools and one third of the hospitals built during that time. Apparently they considered affordable housing to be unsuccessful. It was disbanded in June of 1941 in favor of war production efforts.

WPA - Established in 1935 by executive order and in 1939 transferred to the Federal Works Agency. Projects included highways and building construction, slum clearance, reforestation and rural rehabilitation. (Its size made waste, and political favoritism inevitable.) Interestingly, it also included artists, actors, musicians and writers which brought art to small town America. It served 8,500,000 individuals and 1,410,000 projects before it was terminated in June of 1943. Some projects overlapped the PWA or perhaps continued when PWA was disbanded. Over 651,000 miles of highways, roads and streets were constructed or improved; 124,031 bridges, 125,110 public buildings 8,192 parks and 853 landing fields were added to the list.

So on this Thanksgiving Day our hearts and hands go out to those in need, but we are still thankful that we are blessed to live in the greatest country on earth.

See ya.....

Monday, November 24, 2008

Conspiracy, anyone?

I don't usually read the money pages in the Wall Street Journal--but you don't have to in order to recognize the name Cerberus, right? You know, the "investors" who have a stake in Chrysler and GMAC as we speak? Well, guess what! They also had/have their finger in the pie which contains the fruits of Mervyn's, Dayton-Hudson's and Target.

Turns out, to make a long story short, that Cerberus came into this picture and bought Mervyn's, but did it in a way that would be the equivalent of the golden parachute for the big boy players in the event of bad business. They split the purchase into the retail operations and also the real estate which made them landlords to the stores.

For the first year things were going along nicely enough for them to get a healthy dividend but as things went south (they have a disproportionate number of stores in California) they were at the forefront and Mervyn's was liquidated, all the employees lost their jobs receiving no severance pay or accrued vacation, etc. which is now in the hands of bankruptcy judges.

And, you guessed it!! The big boys (Cerberus) still have the real estate.

What does this have to do with a conspiracy? Well, it's a stretch, but isn't it interesting that many of their "investments" aren't faring so well? Perhaps if I were more of a student of the private equity news in the financial section I would have seen this coming. I just can't help thinking that there is probably someone on the staff of each and every Congressman/woman and maybe a couple for Senators whose job it is to follow this kind of reporting.

How can Washington be so surprised? And how can they be so indignant when questioning some of the participants? Seems to me that they are a part of the problem since they sure as heck are not part of the solution. This has got to be one of the worst kept secrets on the Hill.

God bless us all--we really need it when some really smart, sneaky people are in charge of areas that affect all of us.

See ya

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Just Some Food for Thought

When I called it "Change Back" I didn't realize that someone had already coined the Obama administration the "Clinton Third Term." Seems much more appropriate.

No matter how you feel about the "assistance" to the Big Three you might be interested in the following:

#1 - The auto industry has been historically connected to Detroit. However, as an example Fairfax, Kansas assembles the Malibu and the Saturn Aura with 2500 workers plus collateral services in finance, education, healthcare, legal needs, retail, etc., etc.

#2 - U. S. based companies have 105 assembly and component plants in 30 states, including California, Texas, Louisiana and Maryland to name a few not generally considered to be dependent to any degree on the automotive field.

#3 - The Big 3 last year purchased $156 Billion in parts, materials and services which support jobs in all 50 states.

Let's just hope they do it right, whatever the action.

See ya--

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Deal or No Deal????

Oh, for Pete's sake! I just can't figure this out any more. Another Clinton appointee, Larry Sommers.

What kind of deal have they struck? It's almost as though Obama is willing to settle for 4 years so Hillary can get ready for 2012. These kinds of deals don't cost anything monetarily, but somewhere along the line Hillary has to pay off her campaign debt and Bill has to open the books on his library donations, many of which were apparently from abroad. Does this make anyone else squirm just a little bit?

Just returned from a dinner with family and friends about an hour north of Lansing. On the way we stopped at an apple orchard which does a great business selling fun for kids, gift shop in one building, winery in another, snacks such as cider and donuts in another and farm produce in another. The sign on the highway advertised Honey Crisps at 30% off so we thought we'd buy a few because they're so expensive at the supermarket. Imagine our surprise when we were told they weren't sold by the pound or even per apple, but only by the peck or bushel starting at $14.

This is either a hobby for these folks or even people on unemployment still buy apples. I guess I'd be a terrible business person 'cuz I'd surely try to sell whatever a potential customer wanted. I always thought most businesses were concerned with service and repeat business. You learn something every day, right?

Romorrow is Sunday. Have a good day and God bless--

Friday, November 21, 2008

Leaks vs Intentional Leaks?

It's getting to the point where you can't tell which is subversive, intentional or acidental or who is playing whom without a program. We need an organizational chart!

One thing we know for sure: the market reacts to anticipation and the odds on the bets make the world go 'round and 'round. The futures markets are the casinos of Wall Street. It's just too bad these guys aren't clairvoyant or we'd all be rich.
Well, maybe not. The manipulation scares the heck out of me. There is still this nagging thought in the back of my mind: Is George Soros wealthy enough and smart enough to have brought the bad economic news that elected his guy? Or is there a group out there who don't leak their intentions/actions who really are capable of manipulating the economy of not only the country but the world? Um. Um. Um.

So the losses of the past few weeks have had many cause and effect scenarios, but the "leak" of the next Treasury Sec'y is enough for the Street to anticipate what should be good news and we watch the market ramp up. There's one thing for sure. We have nowhere to go but up and the scenario calls for all the credit to go to Sen. Obama. Is this that obvious or am I that naive? Doesn't everyone see it

God bless.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Trail of Tears

The Indians' Trail of Tears ended in Oklahoma,

the 2008 Trail of Tears is ending at the White House.

You really, really need to access www.HowObamaGotElected.com

Be back later in the day.

I'm back with a question: Don't people who are shown in clips like the one we have just watched have to give permission for their photo to be shown? How could anyone who comes across as being so ignorant (not stupid--I hope they are just uneducated)sign a waiver or whatever they do to allow their picture and a Q&A such as these be used for all the world to see?

This is one documentary I will not miss!

One other note about what is bothering me today-didn't we hear about Obama bringing change ad nauseum for nearly two years and now what we are seeing is a "change back" to the Clinton years?

God bless

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Republican County Conventions

Michigan Republican County Conventions will be held Thursday evening for the purposes of choosing the volunteer side of the County Republican Executive Committees and to discuss pertinent issues. If you have any interest at all in serving in your area, please get in touch with any precinct delegate (list available at County Clerk's office) to get the time and place of the meeting.

This is the way to help out a bit but most of all acquaint yourselves with how things work, how to help and to start re-building the party NOW.

If there are vacancies in precincts in your area you may be seated by vote of the elected members present. And, you will be made to feel very welcome.

God bless--

Monday, November 17, 2008

More Bad Press for Michigan?

Why is it that when Michigan is in the national headlines all the news is bad or the comments derogatory? Case in point: Both Rick Waggoner, CEO of GM, and is it Ron
Gettlefinger?--prez of the UAW, say that they need a bailout without any kind of restriction. Rick says he won't step down nor will he take a pay cut and Ron says the union has given as much as they will give. (added Tuesday am: I am reminded that as much as I criticized Lee Iacocca for paying back the govt while some of the suppliers went under due to 120 day non-payment, at least he personally worked for $1a year and if things turned around he would recoup his losses. Not so with Rick.)

Given the mood of the electorate wouldn't you think they'd be willing to give just a little or are they so sure of the payback from the Obama campaign that they can hang in there until Jan 21 and get it all. And our good Senator, Carl Levin, wants to fire Waggoner but doesn't say a word about the union costs. That's gotta tell us something.

This family has never bought a foreign car, but given the way things are going, we are being put in the position of at least considering the pros and cons and I never thought I'd say that.

As soon as this thing is settled, we'll be back to big arguments about global warming what with that NASA guy (FOAG, Friend of Al Gore)trying to pull the wool over our eyes while we're concentrating on something else. Deliberately putting out bad numbers to make October look worse than it was is just a big, fat lie! People!
Read everything twice any more - who can we trust?

See ya-

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Transition Time for All? History Repeats.......

I have been reading a book (don't know how to italicize, sorry) called THIRTEEN MOONS which is set a couple of hundred years ago and long story short, an orphan boy is bonded to a trader who puts him in charge of one of his trading posts. As the story progresses he is freed a couple of years later and becomes owner of the store and this is his reaction to commerce:

"As for the business, I knew something about how credit worked in such a fluid and uncertain economy. It was nothing more than paper stacked on paper, varieties of hope and speculation, handshakes and promises, moonbeams and horse sh__, trust and risk layered one atop the other in thin strata like cards in a deck. And not much different from betting all you had on a shuffle and a deal."

Charles Frazier wrote the book and I recommend it for the way he uses words and the pleasure of reading them. When real life gets more than a bit trying, there's nothing like the escape to be found in the pages between two covers that takes one far away or long ago. Circumstances change, but human nature seems to stay the same and politics and commerce control our lives more than we should allow.

God bless.........

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Week-end Wrap-Up

1-Jenny is at it again. Our Governor is on her way to Jordan and Israel to bring back contracts and jobs--energy and water this time. Just a reminder. The way this works is that the grunt work is finished and that's a good thing, but instead of just making a great announcement and supporting her staff and their hard work she usually makes a big deal of flying off to Japan, Germany or other places and then coming back to make these announcements as though she accomplished it in a week. Thanks to the folks who really put it together.


2-Remember that overworked word from years past? Gravitas? Looks to me as though Obama is dragging out all of the "respected" names from the Clinton administration to give his administration that comfy, cozy and feel-good mood of the heady, glory days of the nineties, so we can lean back and figure that all is well with the world. DON'T BE CAUGHT OFF-GUARD!! He made some promises that would be better if not kept, but we need to watch carefully and keep the light of day on them.

3-So both McCain and Obama wanted to close Guantanamo and so it will be done. The probable location for those prisoners is Kansas followed by costly trials. Just a thought, but how much you wanna bet that there will be no more POWs? (Read into that anything that comes to mind.)

4-Interesting election statistics:
Catholic Church Attendance weekly-Obama 49%, McCain 50%
Less often than weekly-Obama 58%, McCain 40%
Protestant Church Attendance weekly-Obama 32%, McCain 67%
Less often than weekly-Obama 45%, McCain 54%
No Religion Obama 75%, McCain 23%
Source: CNN exit polls

What's that old adage? Work as though everything depends on you
Pray as though everything depends on God

God bless-

Friday, November 14, 2008

Time to Revisit AARP

AARP has a coalition of labor unions, some Chambers of Commerce, pharmaceutical companies -- in fact, what reads like a good cross section of political groups under the umbrella "Divided We Fail." And now, after the election, they have a new ad out which, by the way, has developed a logo of an animal half elephant, half donkey with the donkey in back kicking up its heels.

AARP is nothing if not, patient. The last time they kicked up their heels was in 1993 time frame when HillaryCare was all the rage for the Democrats and AARP was pushing it all the way to the bank. But then a strange thing happened. Members started cancelling their memberships in droves because they intuitively knew that socialized medicine is rationed care and AARP backed off. For the time being.

Now the Dems are in control again, stronger than ever-especially since Minnesota may give them a filibuster-proof Senate. They, and others like AARP and members of their coalition which will benefit the most from having the government take over the costs of medical care, have been working hard and doing a good job of keeping it under wraps until the crucial time during the past campaign.

Their new campaign slogan goes something like: President Obama, you are ready to lead and we are ready to help. I have only one question: Since AARP gets so much money from the federal government, is any of it being used to lobby for this kind of legislation? If so, Sarbannes Oxley might be interested in seeing where the advertising costs are being written off: the insurance side? or the education side?
And under what heading.

See ya

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

World Opinion-Should We Care?

I just can't seem to think it's important for us to think about what the rest of the world thinks about us. It appears that just as we have spoiled our children we have spoiled the rest of the world as well. They can act with impunity because all we do is threaten. Remember the 17 resolutions to try to make Saddam Hussein behave himself before we actually did something concrete? Apparently there are more folks who believe we should have issued another 17 or 27 resolutions in the last 7 years without taking any action for bad behavior. How many more mass graves and tortuous actions would have resulted from our empty threats? No way to know, I guess.

But now the world seems to think that we have a better chief executive at the helm. Do you suppose they will start behaving themselves? I notice there have already been suppressed threats from Iran, Russia and China. What will they be doing while the talks are going on?

The above thoughts were due to seeing some European commemorations of Armistice Day
yesterday. Wonder how long it will be before the anti-Christian and anti-religious coalitions will put a stop to this kind of activity in honor of living and dead heroes.

Joe gets back into Michigan tomorrow and instead of having Grandma cook for him he wants to go to the Outback Steak House to thank them for sending 3000 pizzas to his unit in the war zone. I had heard about it but didn't realize it was going to get personal. Oops-I mixed up my stories. The pizzas came from someplace else. The Outback Steak House went to several different locations and Joe's unit of 1200 was served a full meal-steak and trimmings. Thanks, Outback.

God bless.......

see ya

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Veteran's Day Thoughts

Thinking about the meeting between Bush and Obama yesterday I naturally thought about each of them as Commander in Chief. And how the President salutes the troops and they him as well. There's a little knot in my stomach when I think of Obama being hypocritical when he will be put on the spot and must do this. Surely the military people will have a surreal sense of the situation knowing that the President does not respect them and what they are doing for the country. A few more minutes of wool gathering leads me to wondering if the Defense Secretary could stand in for him. Could a change be made without a Constitutional Amendment? Say an Executive Order? It would certainly eliminate the rubbing of salt in the wounds of either one of them.

And did you notice that Mrs. Obama was wearing a power red dress? Mrs. Bush was wearing an understated color, so the upstaging has begun. Sometimes less is more, less is more...........

What was your reaction when a couple of weeks ago I expressed fears for the freedom of religion among other freedoms in jeopardy? Having seen no mention of this episode in the press or media in Michigan let alone outside our state I can assume that the attack by the Michigan Left known as Bash Back Lansing is not common news. Please take just a minute to access http://www.rightmichigan.com and click on September 10. You will be horrified at the description of disruption at the Mount Hope Church, but we need to know our enemies.

As for yesterday's reference to transactional analysis suffice to say that basically it points out that if one person in a relationship acts like a child, it is incumbent upon the other to become the adult and act like a grown up. It is OK to know one's background, but the only way to improve one's life is to get on with it.

See ya

Monday, November 10, 2008

A bedtime story or At Grandma's Knee

I've told this little anecdote a few times since the election so figured it deserved a little space here. Maybe the title should be "Discrimination is Dead."

When trying to explain my own attitude I can think of nothing more appropriate as to why blacks stay in a mindset which makes them either victims or vengeful than to describe the kind of Norman Rockwell moment where the kid, if it's a boy, is fishing with Grandpa or, if it's a girl, in the kitchen with Grandma. And what do you suppose they talk about?

Now raise your hands if you ever had an "elder" talk about walking 5 miles through the snow to school? Or having to build a fire for the teacher in the one room school house? Or having Monday for washing clothes, Tuesday for ironing, Wednesday for baking, Thursday for cleaning, etc., etc. (With no labor saving devices.) Or on a farm making hay and threshing. And having a paper route, being a Boy or Girl Scout or in the 4-H club and going to the county fair or even to the point of telling about the boat trip that brought them from another country to Ellis Island.

Now, if you are darker skinned, did your grandparent ever tell you the story of a grandparent, great grandparent or shirt tail relation who was lynched? Did you learn what "separate but equal" meant? Which relative had a cross burned in their yard? Which hotel would allow you to register if you were lucky enough to travel? Separate water fountains, having to move off the sidewalk when meeting certain people on the street, not being able on a hot day to buy a tall, fizzy Coke because coloreds were not allowed at the soda fountain--plus a whole bunch of other Jim Crow laws.

You're right. Those days are gone, but if those are the stories you grew up with, it would be pretty hard to just dismiss the stories of Grandma or Grandpa. Especially if there are folks around who have made a living making you feel like a victim and the monetarily successful around you are gangsta rappers, drug dealers and pimps. Not to mention single parent families, sperm donors and an abortion rate 5 times greater than white women. 50 abortions per 1000 pregnancies vs 10.5 per 1000for white women. In Mississippi, Louisiana, Maryland and Georgia more than half of all abortions are performed on black women.

So now try to tell me that they don't have good reason to shed some emotional tears. We'll get into "I'm Okay, You're Okay" aka as transactional analysis which was a popular contrast to the Freudian "Mom made me do it" era.

A Christian or spiritual attitude is going to be absolutely imperative for all of us and working together a necessity if we're to get through some pretty trying times.
I leave you with a Reagan quote if you think I am getting too Pollyanna-ish:
Trust, but verify.

See you tomorrow

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Carbon tax, executive decisions

Started thinking about these two topics today because I was quite frankly surprised at the amount of change possible in one or two days by reversing some of the Bush executive decisions. Since we as yet do not have a comprehensive list of the 200 decisions we will wait to comment, but I'm shivering at the prospect. Say what you will about George W. I would imagine that we agree with a good many of those decisions.

Now to the carbon footprint tax. The Wolverine a few weeks ago warned us to beware of that possibility--it would make the gas price look like a bargain.

I went to www.carboncounter.org to figure out just what our household emissions amount to and I had accurate, not estimated kwh and mcf. The average is 16.64 and ours is 9.17. Their "suggested donation" to offset our usage is just under $200 per year. We live modestly with no air travel this year, 2 vehicles which average 24 mpg between the two of them and approximately 2200 sq ft home and are retired.

You can either go to the website yourself or do a fairly good guesstimate using our base of .99 for heating and electricity plus 22000 miles equalling 8.18. In other words, if you have a family at home and use more utilities, need to drive to your jobs every day and transport children plus laundry, showers and day to day utility usage, you can see how it would add up.

Now think about the fact that the $200 figure is a suggested donation. When putting in a bureaucracy and the costs of running it added to the "tax" we really are talking big bucks.

Visualize this: me sitting here shaking my head back and forth..................
Ooooops..make that side to side...............

1 hour later:
Shaking more vigorously since just happened to come across a piece in the National Geographic which indicated the average footprint in the US to be 24.4 which is 50% more than the figure noted above. I'm sure we'll be seeing all kinds of numbers soon, so this is a good place to point out that everything we read needs to be verified.

see ya

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Fooling All the People All the Time?

Is there any good news out there anywhere?

From Bloomberg in New York to Arnold in California with begging hands outstretched it is hard to find any segment of the country or the population which is not in dire straits.

The kids from the South and West have checked in with the following: #1 from California says his bonus will be hurt by low gas prices (tongue in cheek--cough, cough,) #2 from South Carolina says that if all the manufacturing plants who went from the rust belt to the south to get away from unions are unionized it will compound their problems and #3 from Atlanta is the eternal optimist who says Obama is too smart to try to pay back his liberal special interest groups early on because he will ask them to be patient until his second term--that he will concentrate on the economy and things will look good for his re-election.

Personally, I think that many of his angels will be patient, but some (such as Naral, the global warming folks [which will cause another uptick in fuel because of their no drilling stance,] and possibly the unions) will be pushing at him constantly. His campaign message that his tax cuts will be paid for by leaving Iraq will evaporate when he sends 134,000 troops of the 140,000 to Afghanistan. I doubt that it costs much less to change the location.

We'll just have to wait and see. I am particularly fearful that he thinks he has a mandate to pass the Freedom of Choice as he promised would be his first signed legislation for NARAL. He has fooled some of the people on this one and it will cost the most lives. As #3 kid observed, there were 57 million who were not fooled at all. I can't put my finger on the "all of the people some of the time" issue.

Read in the paper that a Red Roof Inn room in downtown DC goes for $700 a night for the time around the inauguration. Whew!

See ya tomorrow

Friday, November 7, 2008

Jennifer Granholm? Play Nice?

Now, kids...
If you like Jennifer you'll love Obama? Last year we already had the highest tax increase in history and we are pushing 10% (9.3 at last report)unemployment here in Jackson County and you want me to give this economic team a chance to make it worse nationwide? (I should put this in context--pundits are talking about the similarities between when Carter took over from Reagan--which always reminds me of what Carter left us with. 9.7% unemployment in the country, but double digits in Michigan, 12% interest rates and as I recall, 18% or so inflation rate or maybe 18% interest/12% inflation. No matter, they are all bad.)

I would venture to guess that the highest percentage of foreign car owners are the elites who supported Obama so where do we go with that? How much help do you suppose the US auto companies will get from them?

That press conference was less than impressive. Remember when we did a columm on his first impulse being to ridicule when he couldn't use ordinary fact and logic to criticize? Well, today he did it again when his knee jerk reaction when talking about past presidents was to mention Nancy Reagan's seances. Give me a break.

Play nice? This is going to be so hard.....

see ya

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Don't Believe Everything You hear.......

At this point we should be really careful of what kind of information we pass on. Some of it can be termed rumor. Some of it can be called wishful thinking. Some of it can even come from a credible source. But most of it is bits and pieces and until there is more information to connect things, we can't be sure of some of the "stuff" we are hearing.

Just a quick example of how diverse opinions that are credible need to be looked at objectively and not jumped at as a conclusion: The stock market is down because we are in a recession. The stock market is down because the housing market collapsed. The stock market is down because people are saving too much/too little. The stock market is down because of hedge fund traders. The stock market is down because of greed by the financial institutions. The stock market is down because Greenspan didn't do something about it earlier. Too many, too few regulations. Not enough transparency. No watch dog. Fox guarding the hen house. Congressional blame?

Or, how about as simple a reason as too many people chasing too few dollars or any variation of basic supply and demand.

We talked about it before when the Congress started working on the first bailout and now we are looking at increases in that one and others standing in line. So call it unintended consequences or collateral damage or benefit, but take enough time to look at all the angles before bestowing credit or blame.

See ya,

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Index

What an experience! Watched a television program without any political ads!

This will be a start--
will add to it tomorrow

ACORN 10-9, 10-18

Carbon tax credits 8-27

Checks and Balances 10-16

Economy 9-14
9-22, 9-25, 10-1, 10-15

Energy
coal, Al Gore 9-30

Environment 9-2

Foreign Policy 9-27

Morals 10-16

Abortion 9-14
10-3
Skin color 10-12


Socialized medicine 9-12, 9-18

Tax, service 9-15

Unions 9-15

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

People of Faith

My primary concern tonight, before I know any results, is that there have been so many prayers and prayer chain type emails making the rounds that it concerns me that people of faith may have that faith tested beyond their personal limits. Of course God answers prayers. Of course He performs miracles. Of course we think we are following His will.

But think of all those on the other side of the aisle who also believe those things. I would make only this observation: I don't think I even know anyone who I would consider less than someone of faith, let alone have a leaning toward evil. So even though our prayers are aimed at following God's will, not ours, it is necessary to remember that He also gave us free will. And these may be opposed by those who do have an evil intent.

Many ugly and sinful actions have happened throughout history while men of good will must stand by and watch until numbers great enough to make a difference gather together to stop whatever evil befalls us. Apparently we have reached the threshold of 51% of voters who value security over freedom. We need to diminish those numbers.

Later-
Now I realize that Mr. Obama will be the next President. And I believe that given his position on the life issue and some of the methods used in his campaign that he is surrounded by many whose scruples are few. Now we must try to figure out how we can lessen the potential damage to our country and to our value system. It will be up to us to bombard our Congressmen/women with our opinions and try to stiffen their spines when faced with Pelosi and Reid and the President. (I usually don't touch base with Michigan's Senators because I realistically know that I have no influence. But occasionally I call to voice an opinion so they cannot say "my constituents are in unanimous agreement" or "I haven't heard any disagreement.") And I believe we need to be constant thorns in the sides of all Senators and Representatives during the next 2 years.

If we can find out who the big money people are and Obama's mentors we can anticipate some of their actions. We will need to be ready with our responses to all of the promises made during the campaign. What are our responses to legislation making all abortions legal all the time. What about energy costs both in the home and private transportation. The unions governing the school systems, public services, transportation and other areas. Using the courts to direct welfare and other financial venues such as socialized medicine will become another plum in the pie of the trial lawyers.

Tomorrow I will make a list of the topics we have covered since the beginning with the dates printed. Perhaps we can have a sort of index so we can find things easily and add your additions and thoughts more easily. We'll give it our best shot. I sincerely believe that it is our duty to study issues and take appropriate action to expose the unscrupulous.

And the good news of the day: Joe landed at the BWI in Baltimore this afternoon and as we speak is watching election results as the guest of the Maryland Republican Party. Thanks to everyone involved and God bless........

Monday, November 3, 2008

Some really, really good news!

Grandson, Joe, is to be returning from Kuwait as we speak and here's the rest of the story:

After I told you about his absentee voting story, I got another call asking me to find out where the best place to watch the election returns would be. Fortunately I know people who know people -- not that I have any great personal connections. At any rate, I emailed the Michigan State Party chair and asked him to get me the address of the Maryland State Party chair because Joe is landing in Baltimore. Within 7 minutes I had his name, phone #, address and email address. Since it was getting late I just sent an email hoping for an early return this morning and did I ever get it!

Jim sent me a flyer describing the party (to be held at the BWI Hilton) and inviting Joe to join them. Some time later I received a note from Jim's wife, Marianne, who sent a copy of the activity of the local party who welcome home the troops at BWI. What a coincidence! Of course, there's more to the rest of the story but I won't know it until after I give Joe the information tomorrow and after he reports what happened.

So, the lesson for the day is that no matter how tired we are at this minute or how we are on a roller coaster ride watching and listening to election news, there are some things which open the door to recognizing the importance of family and friends.

Hang in there!

ps-I just noticed the time stamp on these messages again--keep forgetting to tell you. Don't pay any attention to them since I can't find the list which includes the eastern time zone so it uses a default which is nowhere close. Right now it is 10:00pm.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Negative Campaigning

Added Monday morning: (from party chair's website)

Quote from John McCain--

"He (Obama) said the other day that his primary victory vindicated his faith in America. My country never had to prove anything to me, my friends, I've always had faith in America."

If this be negative, so be it. We must do everything we can in the next 24 to 40 hours, the polls close at 8, to alert folks to the consequences of an Obama presidency.

George Will had a column today in which he said something like: we have been on the short end of the stick before, vastly outnumbered in Congress and the roof hasn't fallen in. Well, that may be true, but we also didn't have the same elite liberals who have such animosity and vindictiveness against us that the only reason the rest of us are allowed to live in their society is to serve them.

When we wrote about checks and balances we should have made a list of the things that can happen in two years before we have a chance to replace enough of them to have a chance at freedom again.

Let's start with Freedom of the Press. Wonder what the NY Times and LA Times Pravda, are thinking now that three reporters were kicked off the Obama plane? They had better not even think about making a critical remark, right? And what about the Second amendment? We know that will be one of the first efforts--taking away all rights to hunt or protect. And what about the promise to the National Abortion Rights Action League by Obama that his first signed bill will be to make all abortion OK all the time.

How long do you think it will be voluntary to roll over your 401K into the Social Security fund in exchange for a 3% return on investment? I'm sure you've seen how innocently Social Security was described when it started. And if you think their nationalized health care will be on a par with what politicians get, think again. That just sounds good.

Since he thinks that those of us in flyover country take refuge in their guns and Bibles and it was easy to quash the 2nd amendment, how tough will it be to have churches free from taxation turned into cash cows, a parochial school to be forced to use NEA teachers and there will be no public mention of God anywhere, anytime.

And speaking of unions, there will be no secret ballot for union members and how long do you think right-to-work states will remain so? Economically they are now doing the best, but it appears that we will be seeking equality at the lowest levels so it shouldn't take long for that to take place either.

I could go on, but you get the picture. And add to it as well I'm sure. So just do one more thing, please: Turn on the after-burners, the end is near and it's time to sprint to the finish.

God bless you all...

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Junping the Gun?

Random thoughts while driving..........

After all the issues, personalities, weak and strong points and prejudices about all kinds of things, not just race or religion, there will probably always be topics of conversation to be researched and discussed.

My first thought was that the election itself in light of all the problems we have, who will address them and what kind of influence we will have makes it seem almost anti-climactic. How long have we been reading and listening and arguing over the same old, same old questions? Seems like forever. And will spending a few minutes every day picking up on some issue and writing a few words about it become tiresome to me and boring for you.

Or shall we just delve a little deeper into carbon footprints, global warming, how to nationalize or privatize this program or that?

Since I clip much of what interests me or put on tape or DVD an occasional video (which I could learn how to put on this blog when I'm not in the middle of election chores) or any number of ways to interact, maybe we'll just see how it goes for awhile.

Any objections?

If you haven't volunteered yet, you still have time to give a couple of hours at your local Victory Center to make Get Out The Vote calls or offer rides to the polls.

See you tomorrow-