Lola Sez

Great Sadness

2011-11-21T08:33:00.001-05:00

Hi, I am Sally Peterson. One of Lola's daughter-in-laws. It is with great sadness that I must report that Lola passed away yesterday afternoon. Please her husband, Don, and our family in your thoughts and prayers.

Hey, Occupiers! You're in the Wrong Places! Congress Makes the Laws!

2011-10-25T09:15:00.002-04:00

And look what they did when they passed the restrictions on your lives if you ever take out a student loan!!!

Two thirds of you are in debt to the tune of about a Trillion Dollars. You are now a part of our debtor status. And you can never escape! Unlike a mortgage, no one can repossess your degree or your debtor obligation status.

Get this: Student loans are not "dischargeable." If you file for bankruptcy, student loans cannot be included but will continue in perpetuity. Your debt will follow you for life, even to the point of having your wages garnisheed.

They will get first dibs on your tax refunds.

You will be ineligible for federal employment.

Professional licenses can be revoked AND

even your Social Security checks will be docked when you retire!

So, hang out and take free food and make a mess in as many cities as you can, but you can never escape your student loans.

Good luck and

God bless...

Obama: "Solyndra deal was Complicated"

2011-10-09T22:54:00.002-04:00

How complicated can it be to give money to political friends or decide to borrow money from competitors?

What competitors, you ask? Well, since we borrow so much from China it's not a stretch to figure we are borrowing from them to prop up solar power companies to compete with the Chinese, right?

Another sleight of hand: 103,000 "new" jobs? When over 40,000 of them are just Verizon workers going back to work after their strike? Really.

And I wonder where all those union workers think their pension funds are invested. Couldn't be the stock market where they are protesting with the, some paid, some not, demonstrators around the country protesting capitalist greed...

And last, did you know that the average age of the homeless is Nine (9)? Yes, and as soon as one is identified in any school district the feds put up a quota which must be met to still get the Title I funds due them?

What is the definition of "homeless?" Say a family loses their home due to foreclosure and they go to live with Grandma. The kids are now considered homeless. What a scam.

No wonder no one is working on the jobs issue--they're too busy thinking up ways to con the public into knuckling in another direction. Such as, the new Labor Relations regulations saying 16 year olds on farms can't recognize the dangers of any machinery that isn't hand or foot powered and a whole lot more. Couple that with the EPA regulations against raising any dust in a field or a gravel road in the country.

Will it never end?

God bless...

What's All the Whining about Civil Rights for a Traitor?

2011-10-04T23:05:00.002-04:00

Am I the only one to draw the correlation between the FBI's Most Wanted List and the legitimacy of information gathering by the Executive Branch? A relatively small agency has more power than one third of the branches of government? Too much time on their hands.

God bless...

HELP!! STOP THAT MAN!! YES, HERMAN CAIN!!

2011-10-03T19:02:00.002-04:00

Can you afford 15% sales tax on your next car? Do you really think Michigan can survive another dip in the recession??

And when we've finished with the car companies, the next step will be the rest of us. Who in his right mind would call a 21% tax rate (which is his flat 9% plus his 9% sales tax which those of us in the middle would get hit with since we actually do pretty much spend our entire income--and half of the Michigan 6% that is used for hard goods) fair? And don't forget, there are many states with higher sales tax and income tax rates than we have.

Start counting the tax on every dollar spent. Doctors, lawyers, insurance policies, school tuitions, college tuitions and loans, barbers, beauticians, lawn and garden services--see where we're going?

Come on, Republicans. Get real.

Next on the list has to be Romney. He is way too much a gentleman than to get down and dirty and fight Obama who knows how to fight gangsta style Chicago politics. Not only that, how is a guy with his wealth and upbringing going to connect with folks who have had to struggle and work their way up out of the trenches to get a toe hold on the good life? He has no idea what it is to make a choice between which kid gets to get the new pair of tennis shoes this paycheck and which one, just as needy, has to wait.

If Newt had a sense of decency in his younger days he'd probably be a shoo in, but he just didn't plan ahead and the rest of those guys just have delusions of grandeur.

Just my opinion...

Don't mean to take too much of your time, but we need to talk about the guy from Solyndra who spent so much time at the White House talking to the President about his philanthropies. Really? And no, neither Eric Holder nor the President saw any kind of memo regarding the ATF's Fast and Furious. No joke. Holder said he'd only heard about it within the last few weeks even though memos have crossed his desk at least twice, April and October of 2010. Really? (When I earned a paycheck one of the prime responsibilities from any boss I ever had was "Don't ever let me be surprised." Do you suppose Obama and Holder have given instructions to "don't tell me anything?" Yeah, right.Don't worry, there will be more.

Transparency? What's that"

God bless...

What's Different from the Forties to Today?

2011-09-08T23:23:00.002-04:00

(Sorry about the absence-had a bad reaction to a prescribed med.)

Folks have been talking about how the country worked together for the 4 years of WWII by rationing, tax increases, making sacrifices and how everyone was on the same page. And that now we, unless we have a family member engaged in the war(s) are mere spectators.

I believe there is something more than just the change in culture of the entire time frame. There is something more insidious going on. But first I'd like to share a theory I've had for some time.

The entire generation of the "greatest" encompassed the Depression and then the war. In my humble opinion I believe that when the men and some women came home from the service they had the mindset that their children "were never going to have to go through the hardships of life that they had to." Consequently, for lack of a better description, we spoiled our kids rotten. The boomers are the instant gratification generation.

Our children also benefited from parents who qualified for the GI bill which put them in line for being much better off financially than their parents and they made sure their kids also wanted for nothing. It has escalated through the years and our grandchildren also feel they are "entitled."

Along with all the extra money and no need to work for it plus the celebrity culture it's been a generation waiting for an accident to happen. Respect for authority and coupled with "don't trust anyone over 30" learned from their parents who were their buddies rather than authority figures were just not adding up to responsibility and accountability.

Maybe a bit simplistic and certainly not a 100% outcome, but shared sacrifice is a foreign concept to many. (My own kids are examples whose parents remember their parents' hard lives and easy come easy go doesn't happen at our address.)

The other part of this I've added since early development of this theory. Politics took on that difference as well. The flower children are the liberals of their generation and when George W, in their minds "stole the election" I can say that the lack of the respect for the Presidency in the Clinton years by Conservatives was transferred to the liberals' animosity of President Bush.

Which brings us to a point where lack of respect and anathema against the opposite party when asked to cooperate for the common good (not in the socialistic sense) it is also a foreign concept. Who really thinks they should sacrifice to anyone else?

Not really sure how to solve this, but I'm quite proud of Boehner and Cantor who don't think an olive branch is just a twig. Let's see where this takes us.''God bless...

Where Has All the Money Gone??

2011-09-01T22:54:00.003-04:00

Did you happen to hear that Solyndra Inc which received a $535 million loan guarantee in 2009 to build a plant in northern California closed its doors and had to lay off all its workers a year ago. Yup! The same Solyndra that today declared bankruptcy after a more recent $500 million boost from the same Department of Energy.

And, I kid you not, they are defending themselves with remarks such as "While not every company will succeed in this competitive industry, we believe that solar generation and manufacturing play an important role in helping America win the clean energy race."

Then there's SoloPower, Inc which makes lightweight solar panels in San Jose. This month the White House finalized a $197 million guarantee for them with two other loans for solar power combined for $425 million to be awarded before the September 30 deadline.

Another business Evergreen Solar Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection after closing a Massachusetts plant which had been built with local and state subsidies.

I guess after looking at all these closings the least we can do is wish the new recipients good luck.

Not to be outdone, the battery business is looking rather bleak. With so many companies and so many countries getting into the development of said car batteries, the market expects a glut long before the 2020 deadline everyone is aiming at.

By everyone we mean: SB LiMotive, a joint venture between German automotive supplier Robert Bosch and Samsung SDI of South Korea; Renault and Nissan investing $5.76 billion (actually being revamped to move ahead without subsidies); LG Chem Ltd of South Korea; A123 Systems Inc and Enerl Inc from the U.S. who are smaller in scale. Actually there is much talk about too much capacity by 2015 so each of these companies are hedging their bets in various ways, but looking at a $300 billion market for electric vehicles and looking at $50billion of that amount for the batteries, no one wants to back out just yet.

However, we have pumped in $5 billion with $2.6 billion for batteries in the car business. Sounds like a lot? China is pumping $15 billion over 10 years into alternative vehicle technology and South Korea has committed $12.5 billion into the 2020 Battery Project.

Looks like a fight to the finish.

God bless...

WE THE PEOPLE.....promote the general Welfare--

2011-08-31T09:24:00.002-04:00

This little phrase appears to be the backbone of the liberals who defend Obamacare as constitutional. Lo and behold, a quote from Thomas Jefferson, from Opinion on National Bank in 1791 wrote this:

"They are not to do anything they please to provide for the general welfare, but only to lay taxes for that purpose. To consider the latter phrase not as describing the purpose of the first, but as giving a distinct and independent power to do any act they please which may be good for the Union, would render all the preceding and subsequent enumerations of power completely useless. It would reduce the whole instrument to a single phrase, that of instituting a Congress with power to do whatever would be for the good of the United States; and as they would be the sole judges of the good or evil, it would be also a power to do whatever evil they please."

So when you hear or are confronted by someone using the "promote general welfare" argument, you can answer with what the thinking was then and is logical today.

God bless...

Immigration - Simple Solution

2011-08-29T23:12:00.002-04:00

The Cit Pat limits issues letters to 300 words so much of what one would like to say simply "doesn't fit." The following will soon appear in the Jax Cit Pat.

"First, ignore all Southwest and border states clergy. Americans respect human dignity, feeding and sheltering the poor. It's our heritage. They who had the power and influence, however, chose to encourage rather than instigate mission programs early on before the rest of the country knew the depth of the problem. Their hands are not clean. They could have mitigated much of the damage done in the last 20 years.
Then, face facts. Logistically it is impossible to "send them all back."

Third, have them all registered within 6 months, use the Post Office which is cutting staff. How? Not registering will mean automatic deportation when they are identified. Registration leads to citizenship and probationary status. In justice to those who have entered the country legally, there must be some restitution for their crime of being illegal--not "undocumented." Illegal and undocumented are not synonyms.

Next, they pay a nominal fee, back taxes or any other monetary restitution. The probationary period is for learning the language, studying American history and passing the citizenship test to prove that they want to be Americans. No dual citizenship. If gainfully employed, the employer who benefited needs to be fined.

How to enforce? Friends and family can be monetarily rewarded for reporting others. $500 to $1000: enough to make it practical. Not a bounty. No warrants issued, no chasing down, just a businesslike decision for those who truly wish to become citizens and those wanting an end to this mess.

The probationary period should be long enough to make reporting every 6 months or yearly enough to remind them and others that they chose to enter the country by breaking a law, a serious infraction in a nation of laws. Five to ten years sounds reasonable.

Some, like little kids, will need case by case attention by Congress."

Like putting the tax code in a notebook and putting tax forms on a post care, this should be a pretty short, up front way of getting the job done. If adopted, ICE, ATF and other law enforcement agencies can concentrate on the crooks.

We really need to get this taken care of and if the hard nosed folks still want to finish the fences, this can be done simultaneously since it will be cost efficient. Do you think we could interest Tim Walberg?

God bless...

Poor President Obama--BooHoo-Jobs Plan? Really?

2011-08-28T22:51:00.003-04:00

He keeps getting caught between that rock and that hard place. How is he going to do anything constructive about jobs and continue placating all his leftist supporters? Last I heard, there has been a net loss of 900,000 jobs since his inauguration. Maybe he'd like to work on those first.

Here's an idea: You've heard about the Trans Canada pipeline which would send oil from the Alberta tar sands and go down to the refineries in Oklahoma and Texas? Have you also heard that the only thing stopping them is the fact that the State Department has to approve the whole thing because it crosses the 49th parallel?

The building of that pipeline and peripheral jobs would net 131,000 jobs at one fell swoop along with the $20 billion investment. Oh, by the way, 13,000 of those jobs would be union jobs. Sorry, guys.

First we have to have all the environmental impact statements from 8 of our finest regulatory agencies plus State. How's that going? Well, the first request was made back in 2008 with a report finally being issued in April of last year. The big 5 were EPA, DOT, USDA, DOI, DOE plus a few smaller entities. The report actually said there appeared to be little risk to the environment.

Stop! EPA speaking and forcing another study which resulted in 8 volumes. That also resulted in "no significant impact" on the environment. So is it a done deal? No-o-o-o. Now we have to have a 90 day review to see if the project is in the national interest. Economics, energy, security, foreign policy--you name it--will all have something to say.

The State Dept. will have public comment, both in person and online and hold hearings in the six states which will be crossed plus Washington, D. C. And guess what, the Executive Order also says it should have comment from 8 of the involved agencies.

Does anyone want to bet how important 131,000 jobs and enough oil to equal the entire production equal to the 830,000 barrels a day produced by Oman in the Arabian Peninsula is to the President?

Doesn't he keep saying the Republicans should keep politics out of the job problem? Again leading from behind.

Please, God, bless us...

Where's Waldo? Who Cares-WHERE'S MARK SCHAUER??

2011-08-27T16:33:00.002-04:00

MARK SCHAUER WAS SIGHTED IN LENAWEE COUNTY LAST WEEK TAKING COPIOUS NOTES AT A teeny
little Ogden Township meeting where a Supervisor and a Clerk had been recalled. He was accompanied by a couple of guys who might have been mistaken for body guards, but one of which turned out to be akin to a PR person or maybe an Advance Man.

Publicly he has been identified as still working for the Green Alliance--any correlation?

Also, he has apparently tapped into the kitty he left office with and is supporting the Democrats on the non-partisan ballot for the Jackson City Council election in the fall. (Headed, of course, by one of his best buds, Marty Griffin.)

Guess we'll have to wait and see unless someone wants to share the skinny.

It's been a beautiful day today. Thunderstorms earlier this week were awesome!

God bless...

A Tribute

2011-08-26T12:13:00.004-04:00

http://xfinity.comcast.net/video/2105702905/mans_best_friend_stays_loyal_to_fallen_seal

I don't know if this will work, but as the
YOuTube instructions said: If clicking on the link
doesn't work, try copying and pasting it into your
browser and his "enter.")

And if that doesn't work, just type it in yourself.

God bless...

http://www.Mackinac.org/15605

2011-08-23T23:36:00.003-04:00

Please access the Midland based Mackinac Center website to get the latest and best information on:

Ann Arbor is considering issuing fines for cars that idle too long. I kid you not! Check it out!

Evergreen Solar has gone bankrupt because there are just too many start up businesses in competition. Undoubtedly all with stimulus money from the government.

MEA members who may want to withdraw from the union may only do so during the month of August. Depending on your newspaper or radio talk show, this is the time to get a notice out. Let teachers know they can give themselves a raise in conjunction with making their own political contributions.

Also, many more communities are deciding to hire private firms to do some of the jobs that were union jobs and saving along the lines of $400,000 a year. Not bad.

These and other stories are to be found in detail at the above address. Take advantage of it--they publish this once a month plus many other items of interest.

God bless...

Clean Up Headlines

2011-08-22T23:02:00.003-04:00

#1 - It seems those who have watched Wisconsin recalls are comfortable with the Republicans having maintained control. Just a word to the wise: Apparently one of the Republicans, Repr. Schultz, is very soft and may be leaning toward working with Democrats. Bears watching.

#2 - Japanese survivors are in the process of memorializing a WWII Internment Camp in Wyoming. There were several others on the West coast and in Alaska. Wonder if they are also being remembered. Plus it makes me wonder if there is any recognition of the many POW camps in China and Japan used to "house" Americans.

@3 - Our State Dept. and administration appear to be ignoring the quashing of the Honduran press by the newest dictator. No press, make no mistake, indicates the relationship with Venezuela and Hugo Chavez is pretty much a done deal. Shouldn't we be just a tad bit outraged?

#4 - EPA again jumped the gun and banned the use of BPA (can't possibly spell it.) After finding out there was no danger in its use, it was also found out that at least one company has gone bankrupt due to the regulations thrust upon them. Our government at work.

#5 - The Tea Party seems to be taking it on the chin by liberals led by Maxine Waters. Last week it was mentioned that the Tea Party is reminiscent of the old Silent Majority waking up. The only difference as I see it is that the Tea Party is extremely active and I fear only one thing. I am reminded of the "rather be right than President" groups through the years and if they decide to run Ron Paul or one of their favorites as a Third Party, they will split the vote guaranteeing another four years of Obama.

Warning: Regulations put forth by unelected agencies and Executive Orders may truly be our worst nightmare.

The people who have been sending suggestions to pray at 9:00 pm (or I'm thinking any other time) have it right. Like chicken soup, couldn't hurt, might help, right?

God bless...

More Fun Than A Picnic

2011-08-22T05:10:00.002-04:00

I may be sorry about 1% of what I just accomplished, but I found the secret to making my computer much faster and it had nothing to do with viruses or any other sophisticated remedies that cost money to fix.

Everyone else in the whole world must know this already, but it took a friend to tell me that I had way too much information that was using space and slowing things down. I always thought that once you deleted something it was gone, forever. Not so.

I hadn't thought about the Recycle Bin for a long time, it usually had little in it. However, I accidentally clicked on it and lo and behold! There was so much junk on there I checked it all out and deleted it. Then I went to the place, also accidentally, where it had stuff like cookies, all the websites I'd ever visited, etc., etc. So I got rid of that also. Yes, I will have to replace the ones I really use, but that's not a big problem. Probably not more than 12 to 20 that I use more than once a week or so.

Just in case I have someone who is as slow on the uptake as I have been, this is a good tip and the rest of you can laugh and laugh at the old dog learning new tricks. How very cool.

Anyway, that's what took up my time last night so I'll post sometime today.

God bless...

Headlines for your Attention

2011-08-21T00:11:00.002-04:00

#1 - Union target: FoMoCo - The union is leaving those of us who were stung by the GM failure to honor commitments due to government interference and enriched unions at GM while Chrysler was being sold down the river to Fiat.

I took delivery of a Ford May 31, but I can tell you this: if Ford caves to the union, it will be my last "American" car. Any foreign car made in the USA by non-union labor will be my next ride.

#2 - Millionaires are Disappearing - There are 13% fewer workers who earned more than $200,000 now than in 2007; 39% fewer than there were in 2007 earning $1 million and above; 55% fewer earning $10 million and above in the same time frame. The recession was the cause of the decline.

Wouldn't it seem that rather than have the remaining wealthy folks pay more taxes that the business climate be improved so more people would become millionaires and pay more taxes?

#3 - Exxon Works for Years on New Oil Field - After putting in huge amounts of money for over 10 years they are bumping up to the end of the contracted time. Now the government wants to deny them an extension so they can sell the same field again. So they have to go to court.

Government-what a way to run a business!

#4 - Farmer Attempts Conversation with President on His "Listening Tour"

Poor guy in Illinois asked the President to please not enforce the regulations being talked about which would have the government coming out into the countryside to measure how much dust is in the air, particularly that which might fall on some endangered flowers in Colorado. Farmers who live on dirt roads would be fined for raising dust on more than 21 days a year. The same for working in the fields with plows, discs. combines, etc., etc.

Obama's answer: "if something hasn't happened, don't always believe what you hear." Wouldn't that have been a great time to learn something?

Time to lean back and look forward to a lazy Sunday-
God bless...

Illegal is Illegal is Illegal- (as in Immigration)

2011-08-20T03:22:00.003-04:00

We also must consider compassion for those who are not at fault--children below the age of reason. Just as with any other crime, however, there must be restitution or some kind of punishment. Parents of children are guilty not only of breaking the law, but of causing an innocent to break the law. This is a double whammy. It is simply un-American to cause someone else to go astray.

And practicality is practicality is practicality. It should be simple enough to set some ground rules. As long as the authorities have thousands upon thousands of records already in hand, they should have no problem adding to it. First, WE SHOULD JUST ASK THOSE WHO ARE HERE ILLEGALLY TO REPORT TO THE NEAREST IMMIGRATION OFFICE. This should not be a problem since they know they won't be deported.

Second, and I know opponents will call this a bounty, we can think of other words to describe the reward to be given to those who may be willing to report someone who is breaking the law.

Third, Everyone, including employers, should make the government whole by paying any back taxes or FICA for any of these individuals who have been gainfully employed. There might be no jail time or punitive fines, but if the agreement has been worked out "under the table" again, all taxes and FICA shall be paid.

Fourth, The registration might be likened to probation; they have, after all, broken a very basic law. A time period such as 10 years during which classes must be taken to earn Naturalized Citizenship. Even though a Citizenship test has been taken and an illegal immigrant has successfully passed all requirements for citizenship and is now considered a bona fide citizen, he or she must "report in" once a year for the remainder of the 10 year period.

Fifth, One of the education requirements shall be English classes until such time as they can pass the equivalent of 10th grade levels.

Sixth, There must be reporting requirements such as twice a year during the period of probation. We need to keep track of these people.

Seventh, For those who have served or are serving in the military, upon Honorable Discharge and the passing of a basic test, Citizenship will be bestowed immediately.

Eighth, certainly there will arise unique situations which deserve separate action. These very few may be acted upon by a voluntary recommendation of the individual's local Congressman or Senator to the full body of Congress for exception and action.

This should satisfy pretty much every level of liberal or conservative citizens. If some still call it amnesty, they must come up with a plan that is cost effective and detailed enough that others may make intelligent judgment. Two specific questions? How much will it cost - and this includes record keeping, feeding, housing, and guarding after arrest? And how long will it take?

Don't fofget the injustices suffered by those who have entered this country through legitimate means. And please don't consider those up to 35 years old as was the case in the Dream Act.

Good luck and God bless...

Syria's leader and military are guilty of killing Civilians---

2011-08-18T23:14:00.002-04:00

That's right. President Obama had Secretary of State Clinton relay the message to Assad that he should step down. In effect, saying "it's not right to kill innocent civilians."

I must say, it's no contest. Between Clinton and Obama and their championing of abortion rights they are guilty of the deaths of thousands and thousands of innocents being murdered.

All the rest of the day's news is just more of same old, same old. The President has been telling the world that he wakes up every morning with what on his mind? Oh, yeah, jobs. Well, that's as far as it goes. He is thinking about it, has talked about it endlessly starting in 2009, and he is still thinking and talking about it.

Now he is accusing Republicans of putting politics ahead of the country. Just another example of thinking that everyone thinks as he does. He has taken quite a few plays from Bill Clinton's playbook but the most impressive is: Never leave campaign mode.

I'm quite sure that the main reason he is in Martha's Vineyard is to just let things cool down and to come back with a pile of speeches ready to blame the Tea Party for events that occurred before we even heard about them. Good grief!

It's getting difficult just trying to keep abreast of what's happening. And even a bit depressing.

God bless...

There Is Such A Thing As A Free Lunch!!!

2011-08-17T10:20:00.005-04:00

I don't read the Detroit News, but have a friend who does. She sent me the following: I hope I don't get sued for copyright infringement. Some of you may have seen this, but it bears repeating.

DPS students to get free breakfast, lunch during school day - Santiago Esparza/Detroit News

Detroit -- All Detroit Public Schools students will receive free breakfast, lunch and a snack during the school day in the coming year as part of a federal pilot program aimed at making sure youngsters are receiving healthy meals.

Students are eligible for the program offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Eligibility Option Program regardless of income. Michigan is one of the three states selected for the program.

Schools and districts in the state can participate in the program if at least 40 per cent of their students qualify for public assistance.

Another goal of the program is to eliminate the stigma some may feel about not paying for their lunches, said DPS Chief Operating Officer Mark Schrupp.

"Some students would skip important meals to avoid being identified as low-income," Schrupp said in a press release. "Now, all students will walk through a lunch line and not have to pay. Low-income students will not be easily identifiable and will be less likely to skip meals."

The Agriculture Department's option program is part of President Barack Obama's Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. Illinois and Kentucky were the other states selected to be part of the program.

ALL STATES WILL BE PART OF THE PROGRAM BY THE 2014-15 SCHOOL YEAR. (my caps)

God bless us all...

OBAMA IS MAKING A CAMPAIGN TOUR! USE CAMPAIGN FUNDS!!

2011-08-16T22:21:00.002-04:00

Even the AP is describing a campaign tour with headlines such as "Obama criticizes the GOP." We all need to not only call our own Congressmen and Senators, we should be sending the message to our friends and relatives across the country suggesting they do the same.

$2 million worth of buses, ie., a million apiece should not be billed to the taxpayers.

So now after talking about JOBS being his highest priority through the first 2 1/2 years of his presidency, he may be forced into doing something. But guess what? First he has to spend the money to generate a new bureaucracy to deal with it. More and more money being spent. Is spending other people's money a disease? If there isn't a name or label for it yet, there should be.

And now there are shortages of drugs that we talked about. So many generics the pharmaceutical companies don't have enough profits to do their usual amount of R & D, of all things, there are drugs that the FDA has approved for both human and animal use so the demand is up, because of limited supplies the purchasing departments are not giving themselves enough lead time and hospitals are running short of drug supplies, etc. Good grief!

Wonder what is coming next.

God bless...

Generic Drugs

2011-08-15T22:55:00.002-04:00

If you will think back to the first time Debbie Stabenow ran for the Senate you will remember that she, along with any other Democrat candidate in a border state, really picked up votes by chartering buses to take senior citizens to Canada to buy cheap prescription drugs.

As the campaign went along the Democrats were touting the purchase of drugs from abroad plus being able to get generic drugs in quantity through government purchases. AT the time there was little proof/investigation but now we have evidence in abundance that drugs formulated in India and China in particular are far from safe.

I'll do my best to collect information for us to use in the campaign, but ask that if you run across anything that you submit it as well. Some of these copycats are extremely dangerous either through contamination or lack of potency.

The primary will take care of itself, it is time to start working on campaign issues.

God bless...

New Dream Team

2011-08-15T13:02:00.002-04:00

I'm going to add Herman Cain to my Dream Team. Perry/Cain or Bachman.

And I'm being lazy by just giving you a website that has done our homework for us. Surely the Dems will come up with everything they can to toss at Rick Perry, but www.PeskyTruth.wordpress.com has done the grunt work.

I really want to just get it on the blog so I know where to find it when I want it. I read it all and think it will be helpful.

Consider this Sunday night and I'll post tonight.

God Bless...

A Conservative Teacher: Rick Perry, The Next President: Analysis and Proje...

2011-08-13T20:14:00.001-04:00

I trust you'll find this interesting--just click on the first line

A Conservative Teacher: Rick Perry, The Next President: Analysis and Proje...: "Rick Perry may just be the next President of the United States. Last month I ran into Matt Keelen, who is the founder and President of the..."

U. S. Department of Injustice?

2011-08-11T23:29:00.003-04:00

Eric Holder has a lot to be accountable for starting with the folks who were intimidated by Black Panthers on the steps of the building where they were supposed to vote in Philadelphia. And it went down hill from there.

We had the attempt to move the "residents" of the Country Club in Cuba aka Guantanamo to New York, Illinois or someplace in the contiguous United States where great numbers of American citizens would be manipulated, disrespected and made to dance around while their rights were being trampled on.

Every now and then we are treated to another of these attempts to change our system of justice by Mr. Holder and his minions.

This time, however, it is totally obvious that the so-called attorneys in the Justice Dept. have gone bonkers. We all know how serious the so-called gun running sting on the southern border resulted in guns landing in the hands of the drug cartels with many lives lost. Lives lost as a direct result of our government employees putting guns in the hands of violent thugs.

One of those casualties was a young man living in Arizona. His parents would like to be in the court room and make a statement to the judge as is usually a right that is recognized by the judicial branch and also usually, supported by the U. S. Prosecutors. Not so this time. Even though this particular Prosecutor had spoken earlier about the need to bring justice, it was learned today that he has quashed a motion to allow the parents to make a statement. Apparently he now believes the crime is "against society" and an individual cannot be identified. What???

There ca be no doubt that this is one of the most obvious examples of CYA ever. The Prosecutor in the case was a participant in the sting and now he is a participant in the cover up. Shame on him and the rest of those guys right up to the very top.

Governor Perry really has it right. Prayer is totally necessary at this time. We are on a sinking ship and the Almighty may be the only way to save our country.

God bless...

Something to Think About--

2011-08-11T00:01:00.002-04:00

Heard a fellow from Britain today giving an opinion on why the riots in London which he followed by giving his opinion that the reason for much of the unrest in the world is due to the fact that world wide there are no great leaders.

We started to think about it and decided that he is right. After listing the leaders of various countries from Sarkozy to whom? We couldn't even come up with that many names and finally decided only Angela Merkel of Germany comes any place close to fitting that description.

Do we have anyone who fits that description who is even mildly interested in running for President? Don't leave out the Democrats, this is just an exercise in an attempt to find out where all the qualified leaders have gone. Can't think of any there either.

As for the military, Petraeus is thought to be a good General and we have heard of others also, but it just doesn't seem that one stands out above the others. Then look at the business world. Do we even know who heads some of the largest companies in our own country let alone someone internationally?

We do know a few who are good investors and have become wealthy in the process. Soros, Trump, Immelt, Ackerson, Buffet, Gates, Jobs and maybe a few more, but not one of them exhibits what might be called governmental leadership ability.

Houston, we have a problem. It's a worrisome thing when it's important to take a coin to flip when it's time to cast a vote. Maybe Perry has it right: turn over our problems to God.

God bless...

More on Soros-

2011-08-09T22:40:00.002-04:00

Now that we know how Soros is circumventing the new rules on hedge funds by making it a family affair, my eyes perked up when I saw the following in "The Progressive Farmer." If I haven't mentioned it before, friend husband grew up on a farm and as they say, you can take the boy off the farm but you can't take the farm from the boy. He still eats it up and shared the following:

"Big Money has long played a hand in commodity markets, but a new breed of global investors have their eyes on ag. They hope to strike gold by not simply buying future contracts, but by investing directly in the world's frontier farmland....." (There has been a huge investment of billions of dollars in the last five years to develop South American farms. Increased production will only come from tilling more land. New technology alone cannot increase yields fast enough.) "...Wall Street analysts believe the real estate drives will relaunch once Brazilians clarify the law, perhaps within the next few months."

"In January, Adecoagro, a South American farming venture backed by billionaire George Soros, raised $42.3 million in its initial public offering. The Argentine based firm already owns 320,000 acres in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay and is carving out a niche as a sugar cane processor and real estate developer."

So add that to the $2 billion loan received from President Obama for his oil interests in Brazil plus making it easy for the Brazilians to market their oil and use the rigs that Americans can't because of the difficulty in getting permits for gulf drilling and we have another recipe for lower gdp and employment rates in our country.

God bless our out of work people...

Investigation???????

2011-08-07T23:48:00.002-04:00

A tragedy such as the loss of 30 servicemen should be mourned, not investigated.

What is it about the air in Washington that makes the first reaction to just about any problem turn into a blame game?

Did you hear that there are some who are critical of the fact that there were so many troops on the helicopter which went down with 30 aboard and no survivors? It brings back the fact that we should not be waging the war from the White House or Halls of Congress; we should let the military make the decisions they are trained to do. They should be allowed to do their jobs without interference from amateurs whose only goal is to get their names and faces in the news.

It just seems that every time we turn around there is something else amiss in our nation's capitol. I'm as partisan as most and more than many, but "we have a problem, Houston." There is a mindset which will soon start pitting neighbor against neighbor. It appears to have already started with the class warfare thing, and if we're not careful it's going to be 1984.

Be wary.

God bless...

Deja Vu and It's No Joke-

2011-08-06T23:21:00.002-04:00

Back when Bill Clinton was elected I was a lot less cynical and truly felt that he couldn't do too much damage in one term and that we could be rid of him after four years, but he was just smart enough to take advantage of the situation.

When we swept into control on the Contract for America and put into place the policies which were good for the country he stood back and let it happen and then took credit for the whole thing. And the rest is history. (His personal problems didn't do anything except cost those who supported him their own self respect and tons of money if they had to hire lawyers when subpoenaed by the grand jury. Water under the bridge.)

This time, however, it's a different story. Obamacare is in place (Hillary just couldn't make it with her socialized medicine plan even with the AARP backing her) until 2013 but that's not a done deal either. And the damage done to our economy including the job picture and the stock market is really heart breaking.

The kicker is that when I said a couple of days ago that this would cost us money, I really didn't anticipate S&P's action which makes for a real problem. From my 80 year old vantage point may I say that if you have any variable interest rate loans tomorrow is the time to try to get them fixed.

Gov. Rick Perry has it right. At this point in time, and he was thinking about this many months ago as was I, that prayer may be one of the best weapons we have. There is a message going around the internet asking that those who believe should take out a minute or so at 9:00 Eastern every night to offer prayer as Churchill convinced many to do during WWII. Please consider joining in.

Good luck on your financial situations and God bless...

Consumers Power Brags About Being Progressive

2011-08-05T22:09:00.002-04:00

We finally have most people aware that the true definition of Liberal includes "Progressive/Liberal" and headlines in the local paper yesterday gave evidence that the monopoly aka Consumers Power, but which lost a little of their complete control due to letting a few people choose to purchase power from another source is now admittedly progressive in philosophy.

They were not even trying to camouflage their intent. Remember last year, can't pinpoint the exact date, but this blog demonstrated that Consumers was adding a surcharge for some green projects including giving people $25 to cart away old, outdated refrigerators, etc.

The headline yesterday indicated that they had run out of their allowance this early in the year due to so many businesses taking advantage of one of their programs being financed with the "surcharge" being paid by all Consumers' customers.

So instead of Robin Hood robbing the rich to give to the poor, Consumers has been robbing ALL their customers to give to businesses. As I recall this was a five year plan. Don't you feel good about being taxed by Consumers?

Progressives: redistribute the wealth--they know what's good for the rest of us. We aren't smart enough to know how to spend our own money. And don't forget, they are using other tax money collected by the government to put electric chargers in the city garage.

God bless us all because we certainly aren't getting any good vibes from the other entities which control our lives...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT! You got just what you wanted: a $500 Drop in the Stock Market -- another way of saying there is nothing special about

2011-08-04T23:29:00.002-04:00

our country. That we deserve what we get and you and your rich friends are laughing all the way to the bank buying gold and making investments that the little people in the country not only can't dream about, they don't even know they exist.

Who are your friends? Was it really the best you could do on your birthday to spend it asking people to pay money to spend "quality" time with you? We just never hear that that you and the girls and the First Lady are entertaining their best friends from school and meeting their parents. We've never heard of old friends from college days being invited to the White House or Camp David for a good old fashioned reunion. You'd be surprised how much fun that is and how human it might make you look to the voters.

They say it's lonely at the top, but this is really pushing the envelope. Even those of us who disagree with your politics and what you are doing and your plans for our futures do not wish you ill will. You, as a professed Christian even though you say our country is not religious, know that God loves everyone and that final judgment is His.

Picture this: If the Progressives end up with all the wealth and "rule the world" with all the rest of the people working in service jobs to do the work to keep you happy, comfortable and supplied with the "necessities" of life and all of the job suppliers have been taxed into non-existence, and you end up with everyone on welfare, unemployment etc., etc. who is going to prepare and cook the food in the restaurant, park your car, set the tables, wash the dishes, take your orders and serve your pleasure? Who will build your houses, cars, design your jewelry and sell anything at retail?

Someplace along the line it all breaks down and some of you might have to get your hands dirty. Just think twice, please, about taxing our children and grandchildren out of existence.

God bless...

Is the Whole World Anti Social?

2011-08-03T23:45:00.001-04:00

It seems that Indiana has passed a law which gives schools a pass if they no longer want to teach cursive handwriting. Maybe kids would some day have to learn how to sign their names so they can be identified legally, but that would be about it. Am I the only person in the world that thinks that things are going just a bit too far in having the government interfere with schools being controlled by local school boards?

Society as a whole is already going toward a time when everyone will soon be able, if they so desire, to take a computer and hole up in a cave and have their meals delivered. I always thought it took a very special type of personality to be a computer programmer given that interruptions really could mess up their efforts and now it looks like anyone can do it.

I can remember wanting my kids to look at me when I was talking to them and I certainly gave them my rapt attention when they were talking to me. I cared and still do care about what they are saying and the facial expressions in many cases are as important as the words. It's called c-0-m-m-u-i-c-a-t-i-o-n, folks.

Look around the next time you go to a restaurant. A friend pointed out to me that she and her family went out to dinner and nearby there was a family of 5. Two of them were staring at different television sets (two different programs) while the other three were texting. There was no conversation. Now, please tell me why they even bothered to leave home together.

Kids of today aren't too great about writing thank you notes for birthday gifts and I'm afraid my generation is partially responsible. In fact, whenever the grandparents sent checks or special gifts to my kids, it seemed appropriate that we spend the money and time to give them a call and thank them in person or as close as we could get to it being a few hundred miles away. Calls were a great treat for all.

But the next generation will undoubtedly either email or text and if Grandma isn't proficient in either one, oh, well...

On those rare occasions when families get together, given that many of us don't live in the same states, I really value conversations with not only my grandchildren, but my children and their spouses as well. As far as I know evolution isn't moving fast enough yet to change the art of conversation in one generation.

I realize that I've lived through give or take four generations, but right now we are where we are and we've grown together so it shouldn't be too tough to be able to talk to each other without the aid of an i-pad. So call me crotchety, but please don't be in such a hurry to advance that you forget where you came from and don't leave those you love out of your lives if they require a little patience.

God bless...

Questions aboaut Michelle Bachman

2011-08-02T23:07:00.004-04:00

I could probably spend a few hours researching these questions, but perhaps someone who supports her would like to answer them.

Does Ms. Bachman run as a Republican from her district? And in what part of Minnesota is her home?

Was she a part of the Tea Party Express or one of the factions that presumably make up what for lack of a better term would be the "National Tea Party?"

Was she ever opposed in a primary? If so, in what party primary?

Does she use her adult children as surrogate speakers?

Does she still have an interest in her business?

Is she the kind of person who can take constructive criticism and use suggestions? I ask this because up until yesterday I had only seen her on television with the usual sound bites and prepared remarks on the campaign trail. Yesterday I heard her reading a speech over the radio and she either needs to stop using that method of communication or get some speech advice.

As I have said earlier she is a part of my dream ticket, but I admit to not having done any homework and may have to re-visit that decision.

Thanks to anyone with information and

God bless.....

Time to go Back to Daily Postings

2011-08-01T07:34:00.002-04:00

First, I'm sorry I forgot to warn you that I would be gone last week. Hopefully it won't happen again. I am compelled to say, however, that 6 days with less than a half hour of news alerts or newscasters droning on and on was a true blessing. Try it sometime.

When we started this blog it was about the same time frame before the last Presidential election and it seems that there truly are more topics to address so maybe shorter but more frequent posts will fit your schedule as well. August just seems like a good time to get going. I only wish the primaries were closer so we can draw the lines between candidates rather than looking at the "field."

First item: Everyone knows all they want or need to know about the debt ceiling, but no matter the outcome, you can be sure it will cost you money, big bucks, dollars and dollars--however you want to categorize it. Just days before the true negotiations started, the Prez announced his newest spending spree: the Consumers Financial Protection at a cost of a half a billion dollars just to set it up. The man just can't quit. Is spending other people's money considered a clinical addiction yet? If not, it should be and he should be treated for the malady.

EPA's fight against the ozone is said to be going to cost a dollar a gallon of gas when finished and all for a few tenths of a percent more. The highest cost, of course, will the in the number of jobs lost.

No more corporate jet allowable expense? Remember the last time we threw an excise tax on so-called luxury items? That cost in jobs of people who worked at plants which provided such items was astronomical!

Is it just me or are we all just plain scared of a double dip recession before the last one is over? And don't tell me the economists say the markers indicated it was over a few months ago. As far as I'm concerned, it isn't over until it's over and that will happen when everyone who wants a job has one.

Tomorrow let's talk about what's going on in Brazil with the help of money we had to borrow to help them and the oil platforms which were taken from our Gulf after the spill and that are chugging along off that country making them unavailable to us.

Our Christmas in July last week was fantastic! It sure beat traveling in the winter and everyone was there.

God bless.........

ROCK VS HARD PLACE

2011-07-17T23:18:00.005-04:00

No matter what we think about Obama's abilities or motivation or "what does he want to accomplish while in office?" will the end result be the same? Dictatorship by Czars and Bureaucrats plus an occasional Executive Order tossed in may be the answer. Afraid so.

He can talk his way into being re-elected through sheer numbers. How many people do we need to educate? 300,000,000 million being our present population. (actually a little more, but this way the arithmetic is ease) With 13% of the population being Black we have a total population of we have 39 million and 90% who will vote Democratic we have 11.7% of the total. Hispanics are 16% which becomes 48 million and give them perhaps 60% due to the immigration situation and we have 28.8 million. Then we have to add the 1/3 of the Democrat base who would never vote for anything but a straight ticket and we have 99 million but we don't want to count the black and Hispanics already in that number so we subtract one fourth just to be safe and end up with 75 million. Now add them up. (And if you're a real pessimist and think that 70 or 80 per cent of Hispanics will automatically vote Democrat the picture becomes even more bleak.)

I've been rounding up so if I haven't really messed up we're sitting at right around 140 million guaranteed Democrat votes. This comes within 10 million plus one needed to take a victory lap. Given that Republicans come close to one third as well, that leaves the approximately 30 million in the middle called Independents. They only have to get one third of them and we need double that.

Now I realize we are not talking registered voters and all the sophisticated ways of counting Presidential year vote counts, etc., etc. All I want to do is demonstrate that we have a tougher job than they do and that is the Rock.

The Hard Place is going to be whether or not the Tea Party voters will put in the time and effort to really figure out the problems with giving new legislators only one chance before they kick them out. Will they be satisfied to have put them in office and if they don't perform as "ordered" out they go proving that cutting off one's nose to spite one's face is not a dying art.

Please look at the pros and cons of shutting down the government and letting a petty and vindictive President take it out on the Military, poor people and Seniors and successfully blaming it on the Republicans. Kick them out and what do you have? A hat trick for the Democrats and complete control by the very Progressives who are trying to destroy this country.

Maybe a little prayer time along with political study will help.

God bless.......

A Perfect Storm? Everything Goes Wrong at the Same Time.....

2011-07-10T22:28:00.005-04:00

How can anyone make a priority list on the problems we have and which need to be addressed first? Debt ceiling? Cut Spending? Jobs, Jobs, Jobs? Social Security? Medicare? Medicaid? Immigration? States/Appeals Court Systems? Education and Teacher's Strikes? Class Warfare?

Everything is connected to everything else and each affects the next one in line. We're in campaign mode in Chicago and DC on the Dem side and the Republicans are dancing up a storm. (FYI-my dream team would be Rick Perry/Michelle Bachman which should guarantee 24 years of Republicans in the White House. (I carry it one step further: Michelle puts Rubio on her ticket and he finishes out the first 24 years. After that, you're on your own--since I'm 80 I really don't have a dog in that hunt any later.)

My apologies for skipping a week. Just not enough minutes in the day. We did have a successful program at the Under the Oaks event Wednesday evening and on a really serious side may I make the following observation?

I have been involved with that park since we built and dedicated it in 1987 and have spent much time either in the park or studying its history. However, since the event this year involved more research than any up until now, there came a few moments when I was alone and looked around the area. It occurred to me that the first State Convention comprised of over 3000 participants, delegates and nominees was a truly important piece of history. Many people left their parties for what was certainly a just cause and banded together to form a new political organization. There can be no doubt that some of the boys in Jackson in 1854 had become of age by 1861 and went on to fight for what they believed in and what their parents had instilled in them.

I believe that we can say that this cause was the first time that men and some women went to war to earn the freedom of complete strangers and men, women and children of a different race. We can now look back and weep as we count over 600,000 who never returned to their homes and families and realize that number as being larger than adding together all the fatalities of all wars this country has fought. Jackson, indeed, played a very large part in what has become a 50 state country. You can let your imagination run wild thinking of what may or may not have happened had there been no one to fight a war for individual and equal freedoms and to keep the states together.

A couple of points to ponder:

My brother-in-law in Wisconsin received a call from a union member asking him to support their cause and vote for the union sponsored judge a few weeks ago. During the conversation he learned that the beginning salary of a teacher in Wisconsin is $63,000 plus benefits. He has been retired for a number of years and after telling the caller that he had never made that much in his life, he used a few choice words and hung up. No wonder they did $340,000 worth of damage to the State Capitol. They certainly don't know the value of a dollar.

Did you hear about the Washington Post reporter who "came out of the illegal closet" and admitted that his parents came into this country illegally and brought him with them, of course, so he is one who is strongly in favor of the Dream Act? This guy benefited from all the American education facilities, and now wants not only forgiveness, but wants everyone else to get the same benefits. There are many sets of statistics on the costs of illegals, but I have not seen those that would tell us how many jobs have been taken by illegals and their children which could and should have gone to American citizens. More on this next week.

And another illegal influence. How many of the houses that are now being foreclosed on and are depreciating the value of real estate in their neighborhoods can be laid at their doorstep? In our local newspaper today they have finally come out with an exact number in the 8,000 range.

There is so much for those of us who are able to help others and are relatively secure, but so many problems to be concerned about. Not an easy time to live, is it? The Fourth of July is an upbeat time, but not for everyone.

God bless....

AT WHAT POINT TREASON?

2011-06-22T21:12:00.004-04:00

When I think of treason I usually conjure up a visual of spies, espionage and the selling of state secrets by those who would destroy our way of life, our very country for either money or power. I think of the "high crimes and misdemeanors" stuff. So I looked in a dictionary (I don't do Blackberry) and found: to deliver up. Disloyalty or treachery to one's country.

Certainly it doesn't have to be one major incident or act as I see it because we have a history of the actions of President Obama that would certainly add up to an astronomical quantity that at some point becomes the very recognized object which cannot be denied.

Think about it.

Before he was elected he worked with ACORN and pushed the idea that everyone should have a home whether or not they could afford it and even gave them extra cash at the end of the deal. The end result? A totally depressed housing market that has double dipped and everyone in the country in varying degrees has lost net worth in the process. Shouldn't it be called theft?

The nation's debt was around $10 trillion when he took office (It had taken 8 years to go from $5 to $10 trillion) and since Obama was elected it has increased $4 trillion more.
The worst part of that whole story is that it does not include the unfunded liabilities of Social Security, but he keeps telling the country that Social Security is fine until 2036. NOT! If the IOUs are not paid off between now and then, there is no way that can happen.

Our freedoms are eroding faster than the earth being lost through the worst floods in history. Rather than having Congress pass laws that affect our lives, he has loaded up the Cabinet and Bureaus who pronounce by fiat regulations that hamstring business (so he can satisfy his people in the unions.) He had already stolen money from investors who held secured bonds and preferred stock in GM and Chrysler to benefit the union members and Fiat--I just don't know the details of that deal yet. Usually people who are guilty of theft are arrested and punished.

EPA and OSHA have been controlling our lives for so long it's almost taken for granted by now. Scandalous. Let's lump Transportation safety in that category also.

NLRB is the latest to infringe on a business' right to manage within the law by saying Boeing cannot use the building in North Carolina which had been built for expansion. No present union jobs would have been lost. That is dictatorship.

TARP and Stimulus money was spent to increase the size of public unions which would be helpful in his future election. The cost of each job ran into hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Energy costs have risen because the President is out to destroy the coal, oil and nuclear companies in this country while subsidizing foreign entities. A coal fired plant provides energy at 4 cents per kwh while solar and others are over 20 cents per hour. The American public whether employed or unemployed are forced to lower their standards of living to feed his quest of destruction of our country and frankly, I don't see or hear anyone stepping up.

Homeland Security is an oxymoron. American citizens being killed by guns that were provided by our government and approved by the ATF under the jurisdiction of Eric Holder is an abomination. Remember Harry Truman? He had a slogan that the buck stopped in the Oval Office. What's going on today is nowhere close.

Subsidies. How much buying power is taken from the average American taxpayer to pay out subsidies for things we don't need, didn't ask for and who themselves don't need? Think about ethanol, farmers, high speed rail, Brazilian oil drillers, climate change propaganda programs, on and on and on. Hindus in India don't lose as many freedoms at the altars of Sacred Cows as we do.

And let's not forget Obamacare! Why have so many thousands of people asked for and received waivers? Unbelievable! It's a great political exercise. Just ask Debbie Stabenow. She got elected by taking busloads of gullible seniors to Canada to get cheap drugs, but never told them one word about the down side of socialized medicine and its rationing. Her buses needed to stay out of the way of the exodus of Canadians coming across the border this way to get services not readily available in their one size fits all system.

I'm sure I've forgotten the pet peeve of many of you, but there is a limit to how long you can sit still. Try not to let it get you down, but also try not to let him get away with it. Anytime you hear someone spreading errors, it's up to us to correct them as best we can. It's our duty. Think about the future generations.

God bless....

Just realized I missed the Executive Order--such as implementing the Dream Act over the weekend that failed in every major way earlier. More on the numbers next week.

So Many Things to Raise the Blood Pressure---

2011-06-13T10:38:00.002-04:00

1-There goes another subsidy!! Now they have something called "Nascar Ethanol" which cannot mean anything other than the guys who are driving for a profit are now receiving subsidies taken not only from fans, but from those who think a sport is more than sitting in a car and turning left.

2- We now have another name to hang on the President: First Enabler. How? He is enabling folks who have no business thinking they should own a home worth hundreds of thousands of dollars when their income is in the $30 to $50,000 range. This business of affordability programs is nothing more than feeding a gambling addition or any other addictive behavior.

3-Our local paper described 5 companies in the county who have received stimulus money. Four of the 5 put the funds, some refi for good reasons, but basically they either hired more people immediately or strengthened the companies for future hiring. The fifth, however, apparently just moved around things in their accounting procedures, etc. to make their bottom line look a whole lot better. This from the housing and rehab and nursing facility that is more expensive than any of the others in the area. Why would they need the "help?" So your taxes go to keep the upper class lifestyle "looking good." Their words, not mine. (Another enabling example?)

4- Last week we talked about getting rid of the excess prisoner levels in California by deporting all the illegals. Now we hear Eric Holder is implementing the law passed last August letting out the guys who had prison sentences which were "too long" when comparing crack vs powder cocaine.

This was in view of the recent Supreme Court ruling which showed that when Pennsylvania let out a similar group due to the ruling of overcrowding the city of Philadelphia subsequently arrested thousands of those prisoners as follows: 9,732 new crimes including 79 murders, 90 rapes, 1,113 assaults, 959 robberies, 701 burglaries and 2,748 thefts, not to mention thousands of drug offences. And, yes, they had been careful not to release anyone who had originally been arrested with a violent aspect to their crimes.

Added note: Last year the statistics showed a 40 year low in violent crime. Wonder why and wonder what will happen now.... (Another enabling example?)

5- And finally, a little difference of opinion, or at least another aspect of thinking. Stu Varney, one of the financial experts on Fox and a likeable guy from the UK now a naturalized citizen, opined yesterday that we were in trouble because the government's regulations, rules, etc. were keeping small businesses from venturing into the market. Also, as we all know, small business acounts for the majority of jobs. However, I think he forgot one thing in his formula.

From the high point in the 90s when we had huge numbers of new business until now, normal behavior takes us from the introduction of the goods or services, to the acceptance, want and need of that new product, to perhaps what we have now: saturation of the market. The numbers of businesses equal the numbers of customers. (I'm not saying that is the entire answer, just saying it should not be ignored. Of course in a slow market folks with an idea will be more prudent with an investment of time and money that could wipe them out as well as make them rich.)

We went from tropical temperatures last week to frigid temps and cold toes yesterday. At least we weren't flooded out or swept away on the winds.

God bless.........

I'm Just Askin'............

2011-06-08T14:28:00.003-04:00

Why in the world would the Clintons feel bad about a couple where the husband was involved in sexual pecadillos, the wife finds out about it second or third hand, he lies in public and refuses to resign. DIDN'T THEY SET THE PRECEDENT?????

Other than that and the usual dismal economic news which will get worse when the new Commerce Secretary gets going, could we call this stability?

One announcement I would like to make however, is that the Jackson County Republicans are having a program as usual on July 6 at 6:30 PM to commemorate the founding/birthplace of the Republican Party. We always try to have a theme and this year we are going to do a re-enactment of the original events of 157 years ago. The casting has begun, we are asking members of the audience come prepared to interact with the speakers and officeholders and seekers, bring signs and enthusiasm. The event will be historically correct so folks can bring their kids and leave with a history lesson presented as fun filled entertainment. I will be putting the finishing touches on the script when I finish this and won't go to bed until I'm finished. Promise.

If you live close enough to Jackson, please mark your calendars and join us!

Blessings on your summer........

Let's Help out California--

2011-05-22T09:58:00.006-04:00

Item-Not sure how many there are, but how about instead of letting the 40,000 felons who are responsible(?) for the overcrowding in the prisons go free, that they first take all the illegals out of the system and deport them? Some of them may not want to go, but too darn bad.

In fact, did you hear that there were over 500 in a semi truck parade standing and holding straps as politely as subway riders in New York? It would seem to be a good way to get rid of them- killing two birds with one stone as it were. I'll try to get the number and see how far it would go to solving the problem.

Item-How stupid do you have to be or, put another way, how stupid does this administration think we are, that we don't get the irony in concern about the national debt vs borrowing money to loan to foreign countries?

Item-"Our Sunday Visitor" is a Catholic weekly paper which each week features a column of Quotes. This week we read this:

"This vote is a serious disappointment and hopefully does not reflect the views of the faculty as a whole." from Holy Cross Father Bill Miscamble, president of Notre Dame's University Faculty for Life chapter, after the school's faculty senate failed to approve a motion commending the university president's commitment to life and dignity."

After the display of the Obama honors a couple of years ago and the subsequent arrests of truly pro life peaceful demonstrators, it would have been the height of hypocrisy to have commended the university president for commitment to life and dignity. In my opinion this is a breath of fresh air and a victory for honesty.

Now if they would only FREE THE 88! (This was written before I rec'd the news that the 88 have, indeed, been finally freed. Charges have been dropped. What a fiasco that was!

And finally, if you're in the Jackson area, please join us at the Under the Oaks Park for the commemoration of the founding of the Republican Party through the first State Convention and first actual use of the term "Republican." We will be giving an entertaining history lesson by a short reenactment replicating that day's events. We are encouraging the use of political signs and crowd participation. July 6 at Second and Franklin - 6:30 PM.

God bless and have a great Memorial Day and weekend.

Black President, White House, anti-Semite, pro-Semite????

2011-05-20T10:43:00.002-04:00

Can't tell the player without a program. This has to be the epitome of trying to have it both ways. And who has ever played the game better.....

What was to be gained by the speech of Thursday when he told the Palestinians they had weeks or months to come up with a way to define a plausible or acceptable way to again tell the world that they do not believe Israel has a right to exist?

And how many times has he told the Jewish people that they are the ones who have to give up land or whatever else is necessary to achieve peace by his personal definition?

Since the entire exercise is predicated on how many votes he can get from both factions I'd like to see the actual population numbers and their voting patterns. I can tell you one thing. I am old enough to remember that in 1948 there wasn't an Arab in the world who was interested in Israel until the Jews went in and transformed it into a productive and profitable land. And then all hell broke loose. The first time it was brought to the world's attention in a violent way was the Arafat led atrocity at the Olympics and since then it seems everyone is taking sides.

All I can say is: With as few friends as we have remaining in the world, despite his Apology Tour early on, it would behoove him to stop. And if he won't, we need to stop him. He needs to be replaced.

Other things to think about:

Now that we are getting back the tail section of the helicopter, the next thing is to stop the check writing to our enemies. And call them that if the shoe fits.

Why is there another "Obama Affordable Housing" program starting? We can't even see the end of the first one.

Enough with the pretense of favoring drilling.

My back surgery patient is doing very well, thank you, and the cataract procedure of Wednesday is Okay as well. Thanks for asking.

God bless.....

The President Stands Alone!

2011-05-10T23:10:00.003-04:00

As far as I know or have ever heard, we have never had a President who delights in ridiculing the very people he wants to vote for him. Or is it only those who disagree with him. No matter, what is demonstrated on nearly a daily basis, he has absolutely no respect for the citizens of a country and its forbears who have made it great.

Item: A few days ago he was heard to say that no matter whether our ancestors came over on a slave ship or through Ellis Island or swam the Rio Grande, we are all equal citizens of this country. Folks, I beg to differ. My dad and somewhere back in your lineage, I'm sure there was someone who worked hard to become a naturalized citizen so we could be American citizens by birth. HE IS WRONG! to equate swimming the Rio Grande with Ellis Island.

Item: Today instead of accepting the fact that border security has suffered under his administration he took the time to ridicule those who feel the importance of border defenses by saying they won't be satisfied even with a moat. Now really.

Item: A note about oil. It seems that the media is so wrapped up in blaming the oil companies whose names we know for high gas prices that they haven't done their homework. The big 8 used to include Exxon, Standard Oil, BP, Shell, Chevron, Mobil, Sunoco, Phillips, and others who merged and or bought out each other. Now things have settled down to the Big 4 which include Exxon, Chevron, Shell and BP. In reality, the biggest oil companies are the countries where the oil is produced such as Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and others in OPEC who have national ownership. It seems that about 6 cents is the profit margin of oil companies who have to make the huge investments but sometimes come up with dry holes, are mired in lawsuits, etc., etc. Just keep an open mind. Bill O'Reilly and other conspiracy theorists have not thought it completely through.

Item: A couple of examples of why the US Post Office keeps losing money and needs subsidies. I mailed a package and inadvertently used an old address where rural addresses had been given Road or Street names. Now we're talking really small town and country areas where everybody knows everybody else. I understand they don't have to forward mail after a specified time, but I'll bet it took more time to return the package to me than it would have to deliver it. Anyway, that was my first anecdote.

This week my daughter told me that one day she and her husband needed to mail a letter and stopped at Lowe's on the way to the Post Office. As they were leaving the store they met a postman in uniform entering. They took the opportunity to ask him if there were a nearby drop box and his response: "I'm off the clock." Can you imagine?

Item: How times have changed. When daughter graduated from college in 1975 we helped finance a 6 week trip to Europe with a friend. (Brother was career Air Force and stationed in Europe at the time which made us feel relatively safe as to both comfort zones.) They backpacked and used Eurorail and had a great time. We were reminiscing the other day and agreed that anyone letting two young women do that in this day and age would have to be looney.

Item: In a conversation with #2 son we wondered if it would help if we could insert ethics into the curriculum of every student starting really early in the elementary levels and then keep updating as they worked their way through all the grades. It just seems that so much bad behavior is becoming the norm that we need to call a halt. Teachers blame parents, parents blame teachers and everyone blames the unions for supporting the worst of their membership. How can we stop this and get back to the basic purpose of education?

We are still in the Easter season and should probably be taking advantage of it.

God bless...

Life Returns----in Bits and Pieces

2011-05-03T22:20:00.007-04:00

My high maintenance husband is returning tomorrow; all the preparations are in place, we have what we used to call a child proof home. Actually, not a bad feeling and the perfect excuse for less concern for aesthetics for awhile. We're getting our lives back!!!

A few bits and pieces collected over the last few weeks:

Peter King, R NY, held some rather brief hearings that had been widely criticized in advance, but which were apparently no real or lasting problem, but all that publicity got me to thinking. Is it too late to have some hearings on the Hispanic illegal immigration issue? I'd certainly entertain any comments and try to research any question that might arise.

The Muslim worry for many people, and certainly understandably for those who lives have been touched by Muslim radicals or terrorists, seem to be focused on Sharia law and the shadow of home grown terrorists. There can be no doubt that light should be shone on the subject. Just sweeping anything as serious as that should not be swept under the rug to fester and grow.

The Hispanic problem is similar in many ways with the violence and way too many deaths but the American public has been frightened into being politically correct and so far there really hasn't been any true investigation. Homeland Security and particularly Janet Napolitano keep trying to soothe away by sheer words and brazenly made up statistics to make it into a non problem.

Neither of these issues should be ignored. In order to work to eradicate serious problems such as these we have to have open dialog and honest discussions. It's like taking a half dose of antibiotic and keep hoping the sickness will go away.

I have news for you, folks--not gonna happen. It will only get worse. It's time to drop an honesty chit in the ear of your Congressman or woman. Please?

Something else that has been bothering me. We get the monthly employment figures but we never get any breakdowns. If we can't get statistics as to age groups, types of jobs, private and public employment, gender distribution and the like, how can a truly effective plan for solving the problem ever be worked out in the critical areas? And if they already exist (I'm pretty sure they do) what makes them so secret? Some of the Progressives who think they are smarter than anyone else in the country might learn something. Common sense and logic belongs to all of us and all of us live life in a way that we can see what some who breathe only rarefied air don't think we have the ability to figure out. Put together pictures of types of jobs, careers, education levels and find out how to get them together. Outside the box, people!! Think!!

Time to storm the ramparts! And from the looks of comments and Letter to the editor around the country some of those ideas cannot be stopped. We really need to find our voices so that we know we are not standing alone. It's amazing how many folks there are who are on the same wave length.

If you think we should be getting spending concessions with every couple of months of ratcheting up the debt, start talking to your legislators. They like to get re-elected. Your voice will be heard.

Here we are in May--
Easter's Resurrection seemed long in coming this year, but finally--
God bless...

Sorry I Shortchanged You Last Week--

2011-04-23T06:56:00.003-04:00

An attempt to make up for it by being early this week. Warning: this will take a while to read so you can either read half now or come back when you have more time. I'd guess it will take at least 10 minutes. (I will attempt to maintain anonymity for the individuals and the facility since I have learned a few lessons along the way. You must know, however, that the main characters are me and my husband, aka Pete.))

The whole darn saga started with a scheduled back surgery for a problem which has developed through the years. Three verterbrae were deteriorating and pressing on the nerves around them resulting in extreme pain. There comes a time when something must be done. And you go in knowing that you have probably not experienced comparable pain before.

The story of the hospitalization is a chapter in itself and can wait. This mostly concerns the Rehab facility which is like a nursing home but involves physical problems rather than medical problems. The first few days in the hospital were relatively routine so the move to Rehab was made on the 5th day. We soon found that there were no instructions for continuing pain management from the surgeon and we had to start from scratch. Our first decision became the opportunity to "stay with your primary care physician or go with the house doctor." No further description of the differences was forthcoming so we elected our own Doc who knows Pete very well as opposed to a complete stranger. First decision, first mistake.

After 2-3 days of limited pain control our doctor did prescribe drugs to make him more comfortable and the following day a drug to help control edema - probably the partial result from inactivity. Since I had to make the request from our doctor, we could see that there was little involvement from the facility and this would be an untenable situation so on advice from our doc we changed to the in house doctor.

We are now coming up on the weekend and another problem has developed. Some years previously Pete had surgery on his right knee due to damage from our 130# dog who gave him what you guys call a cross body block. And, about 2 years ago, he had spoken to the orthopedic surgeon about developing problems. Naturally? the perfect storm occurred at this time. The rehab for back is walking and more walking. The knee simply failed and that pain eclipsed the back pain for a couple of days. At that time I had to threaten to move him back to the hospital if they did not at least order an x-ray so we could eliminate the kind of thing that may have been evident through that first step. They finally did this and I'm not sure whether it was with or without a doctor's order. (The in house doc had rec'd notice Friday at noon that he had a new patient.) It wasn't until Tuesday that a Physicians' Asst. popped her head in his door, introduced herself and was gone.

I had learned by Saturday evening that the radiologist had diagnosed "degenerative joint disease." This told us what we already knew so we waited and waited on Monday for the doc to talk to us about what should be done next. Catch 22. No walking, no back healing. Resting the knee, no walking. I stalked the PA, stole 3 minutes of her time and determined that nothing was in the offing as far as medical care was concerned.

My next move on Wednesday was to ask the ortho surgeon for some advice and assistance as to what we should be doing next. On Tuesday I had written a description of our problems to the Administrator of the facility who was apparently surprised that we had not had the usual family conference with the Social Worker, Lead RN, Activities Director, Asst to and the Rehab Director. As it turns out, there is a government regulation requiring that to happen within 5 days of entrance to the facility. We were then 8 days in. On the 9th day we had what I can only call an adversarial conference.

The opening salvo was fired by the Rehab Dir who said that Pete was being non-compliant and twisting his body which caused the pain in his upper thigh and knee. Of course Pete was upset by this and I knew it wasn't true having spent the better part of each day at the facility. (I double checked my observations with 2 adult kids who had visited as well.) It was downhill from there. Later in the conversation the Rehab Dir indicated that she knew the history of the knee (previous surgery, etc.) but had not included it in any of her reports due to "lack of space" on her forms. No way. When we had tried to tell anyone at all, we were given the brush off. They simply were not interested.

I then had a problem with the Social worker about follow up on the ortho thing. On Wednesday I just went ahead and was able to get an appt for 1:50 that afternoon at which time he rec'd a cortisone shot so he could start moving around and after the back thing is finished he will have to go to work on the knee. Incidentally, FYI, Pete is 83 if you're curious. His improvement has been almost instantaneous.

The RN tried to stress their dedication to pain management which as you already know I had to institute with our family doc and the fact that the in house doctors were on call 24/7. You have got to be kidding. She also said we really didn't have a complaint since it is only required that a patient see a doctor within a week after admittance. One week of simply being in pain with no recourse? I stopped the recorder, the meeting was over and we returned to his room. A half hour investment in nothing more than confirmation that inept is the most kind word I can think of.

The whole thing was a nightmare. The last straw was when I had time to reflect on the x-ray. The ortho doc took an x-ray that even I could look at and see the problem. I'm now thinking, what in the world was going through the minds of the Rehab gal, the PA and the in house doc when they looked at that x-ray and didn't understand the consequences? When I asked, I was told that they had never seen it. They rely only on the radiologist's diagnosis. This is incredible and dangerous. Even if he could have stood and put weight on it, it would only have made a bad situation worse. The deterioration could have been anything between 5% and 95%--who could know?

I tried to get him transported to a nearby facility but there was no room at their inn so we backed off and he is still in the original facility.

During the 3 hours generally spent in church on Good Friday I took some down time for prayer and reflection which resulted in my writing an apology to the administrator (partly because I didn't want them taking out their frustrations on Pete.) However, the other reason for doing so was to try to give them an out by pointing to the fact that undoubtedly the government regulations which govern much of their behavior has only resulted in giving the lowest common denominator of service. Call it human nature, but if they don't have to see a family for 5 days, are they going to break their necks doing it earlier? If they are allowed not to see a patient for a week, will they really try to see them earlier unless the RNs are screaming because the patient is screaming?

End result is that the apology made me slow down, the Administrator moved Pete to the window bed that had been vacated the day before and they changed out the mattress that he had requested, and the Rehab has improved immeasurably. (The climate in the Rehab had been frosty for a couple of days but has now totally improved.)

We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, Easter is tomorrow and I'm off to Bible Study with three of the kids expected for a visit by noon today. My Parish Commission committee is responsible for the Easter Egg hunt and we have a big pink bunny arriving at 11:30. I think the nightmare is over. (I'll come back later to proof this thing.)

God bless....

Caught in a Nightmare

2011-04-20T18:16:00.002-04:00

So sorry there is nothing for you--

I feel as though I'm one of the characters in an episode of "the operation was a success but the patient died." The operation was a success, but the aftermath has been pure hell. I feel really sorry for elderly folks who have no one with them to battle the powers that be in hospitals and rehab centers. And all the while my husband has to bear the pain and frustration.

After this is all over I have a feeling I will be on a mission of trying to be a voice for those who have no voice.

Will get back to you as soon as I can.

In the meantime, have a Happy Easter!

God bless....

FULL FAITH AND CREDIT???????

2011-04-13T08:54:00.004-04:00

That phrase and its true meaning has evaporated over the years with the activities of all the administrations since Lyndon Baines Johnson and their accompanying Congressional bodies.

It is one thing to call Social Security a Ponzi scheme. It is quite another to define the term: Everyone of those legislators who voted to use excess funds as though it were a piggy bank for their fun and games plus every President who signed on to their spending sprees is a CROOK! They have stolen, without any plan for pay back, funds that belong to the American citizens.

Today they are chasing their tails looking for ways to cover up their shenanigans and placing the blame any where it might stick. Disgraceful! I've always hated to hear a certain segment of the population who has opined "They are all crooks!" But they have been right all along, haven't they?

Does a debt of over $14 trillion bother you? It should, but what if the real numbers were included? It would be close to $23 trillion if the same level of unfunded liabilities would be included. (I just extrapolated the numbers from 2004 which were $9 trillion debt plus $6 trillion unfunded liabilities as proportionally as I could.) Anyway, you get the picture.

Double sets of books, NON-transparency at its best. If you don't like the looks of the bottom line, just take off a portion so the public can't see it.

Now we have a group of new "young Turks" who truly see the problem and want to get a start on fixing it. But what can they do with a President who not only won't try to decrease our spending but actually wants to increase it??? And along with that, wants to increase taxes on those who actually make jobs for others?

Until next week when I'll try to give you the highlights, one of my daughters-in-law shared with me a WSJ editorial by Stephen Moore from April 1 (which may still be in the stack I had saved when I was away for a few days) entitled "We've Become a Nation of Takers, Not Makers." If it's still in the archives it is a good read. Thanks, Jen. Remember Greece last year? When the nation's debt either comes close to or exceeds the GNP it spells disaster with a capital D. The next step toward our downfall is when the vote is 51% of those on government programs vs. the givers.

Sorry to sound so pessimistic.
God bless....

Added Thursday morning: Passing by a gas station this morning it occurred to me that it's either ironic or a major scam by the "green energy at any cost" folks (read Obama) to have to pay to subsidize the manufacture of ethanol and then to pay for the increased cost of the gasoline that is now 10% ethanol no matter whether or not you want or asked for it. How gullible are we?

When is a Vacation NOT a Vacation?

2011-04-06T08:56:00.003-04:00

When the time available only gives you more time to think of the miserable state of what's going on in the world and in Washington or wherever Obama is at the moment.

Example: Had I been busy at home would I have considered that when the Prez said that he goes to bed at night and wakes up in the morning thinking about jobs--With the next thought being: Gee, that sounds like the equivalent of Clinton's euphemistic "I feel your pain."

And when the buzz-phrase of one day last week was "if the Republicans mess with the health care bill 70,000 children will die due to lack of medical care" it occurs that as far as we've heard, there is no place in that monstrous bill that says hospitals will no longer be obligated to serve anyone who appears in the ER. Not only that, but since when have Democrats been concerned about the health of children when they think it's perfectly OK to kill off 1.5 million per year through abortion?
Big whoop choice?

Since when did reading words from a teleprompter define "great communicator?"

Not sure if it had anything to do with being on the East coast, but the number of foreign cars actually built in foreign countries appeared to be far larger than those of the Midwest. It would certainly be interesting to check out the correlation between those numbers and economic demographics...

In fact, I've always wondered what the proportion of foreign cars in domestic auto manufacturing parking lots would show up on the bottom line of their employers...

Glad to be home--
God bless...

Warning About Pain Killers

2011-03-29T05:17:00.003-04:00

Have you heard about Nsaids? I have no clue what that stands for, but apparently is an umbrella term for certain types of pain killers such as Motrin and Aleve. I learned of this first a couple of years ago after taking prescribed ibuprofin to help me through a bout of sciatica. Through ordinary tests done in connection with my yearly physical I was directed to stop using it immediately. It had done damage to my kidneys which are now getting back to a normal range.

Just last week my husband who had been taking Aleve for back pain also found that product had done kidney damage and we'll be working on that problem now.

So, I feel that our experience is enough for me to tell you to be absolutely sure you don't use more than the labels direct, but also be sure that even that isn't too much for you. Please be tested if you've been using those products for any length of time.

Next, I had in mind that we might have a problem in Jackson's Special Education area of the schools. I am relieved to tell you that it was a false alarm, but it needs to be publicly clarified.

I was concerned that when Jackson Public schools announced pink slips for a number of special ed administrators and staff for a savings in the $600,000 range and a couple of days later there was a piece in the paper about the upcoming ISD millage request for Special Ed that it seemed a bit fishy. After talking with the ISD Director I learned that this is the last year of the old way of funding the programs.

Apparently the schools in the program turn their expenses in to the ISD who then distribute according to a formula making the actual funds of about $200,000 available to Jackson Public and others are something like pro rated. This is the last year for that system. Next year and after the ISD will be paying all salaries making it more efficient and looking at the big picture. ISD will be able to hold down the costs for all.

Now, if I have made any mistake in this explanation I apologize, but the article in the paper made it sound like Jackson was going to lay off people and keep the $630,000 while ISD was going to pick up the expense for the future. Sounded like a shell game to me so I asked and am glad to report that I made a mistake and hopefully the paper will clarify.

Last, I'm back on Soros again. After learning that most of the rigs that were in the Gulf are now being used off the Brazil coast so that even if Obama really meant to give the go ahead to drilling again and Gee, maybe giving back some jobs in the United States, there won't be any rigs available. Hmmm. And then I hear that Mr. Soros has authority to put in one of the largest storage facilities ever in the Gulf. If that thing ever develops a leak it would make the BP accident look minuscule.

I'm just thinking: rather than be concerned about Obama's birth certificate, shouldn't we be wondering why (I'm assuming he is a naturalized citizen) we aren't looking into how some Hungarian with some smarts has come into our country, as have so many others to make his fortune, is at the same time making investments which are devastating our job market, not to mention the political scene. This is way past coincidence cause and effect. What is the real motive?

Going off for a few days for what I hope is well deserved R&R. See you next week.

God bless...

Psssst! I've Got a Secret!!

2011-03-21T13:45:00.004-04:00

And it's in Victoria's Secret closet... A friend sent me a note about the raunchy commercials Victoria's Secret airs on television and told me she sent them an email suggesting that they were more than suggestive, they were motivational. She then gave me the website address since I hadn't seen them.

Well, the website is enough. In light of our conversation, I could not help thinking that it wouldn't take much for this to be the next popular court room defense: the Victoria's Secret Defense which would go something like "but Judge, it's not my fault, Victoria's Secret made me do it."

Have I really passed into the old age part of my life where I just don't relate to what is going on with anyone 20 years younger than I? Or could it possibly be that there really is no working moral compass giving direction to the future generations? I just don't know, but I find it more than a little bit scary. How about you?

Gut Check Time. #1-I just have a feeling that when we think about the entire world situation and how nations relate to each other we have just come to that fork in the road that Yogi Berra did when he said "Take it." We perhaps need to face up to the fact that the Mideast countries are looking around at themselves and each other and realize that they all would like to be free rather than to have dictators directing them in all things. They must have realized that all of their neighboring countries have somewhat the same problems and it just won't do to have them as they are now - some free, some enslaved. And they see that it also includes gender. Plus, we don't get to tell them what they should be doing. And, at this point, we know that this is not the time to sit back and watch while some dictator wipes out a good share of the population in any country.

#2-Our country's friends aka allies which would include most of Europe, parts of Latin and South America, Russia, India, Japan and maybe a couple of African nations have also come to a late realization. The U.S. may still be a major power, but we made the mistake of putting an immature kid in a position of leadership before he had mastered the skills necessary to do the job. So, it's not his fault, but they should, instead of waiting for him to display leadership just live with the facts and go ahead without him. They will be kind and bring him along the path of any mentor or parent and hope for the best while he learns his lessons. Hopefully none of those missed lessons will be disastrous life experiences for him or for us.

This evening brings Lincoln Day in Jackson with Gov. Snyder. If anything new breaks, I'll check in tomorrow---

God bless...

Teachers Unions explained

2011-03-20T17:29:00.001-04:00

I am loving this!

MISSED OPPORTUNITY? (or Opportunities)

2011-03-15T12:34:00.002-04:00

There are ways, I understand, to construct a no-fly zone without actually starting a shooting war - logistically and safely from ships comfortably away from the sites of interest. Especially in coastal areas which is where most of the population of Libya actually is. I realize there are no "leaders" as such in the rebel ranks, but if we allowed for them to keep the towns they have, it sounds like a good deal while they sort things out for themselves. Now that Gadhafi appears to have taken back most of towns does anyone believe that he will do other than clamp down in the most ways and all things torturous will be the order of the day?

It seems that the countries of freedom and civil rights sorta sat on their hands, did nothing and just Let things happen. Where was the leadership? Where is the outrage? So we're back at square one. It seems that we are practicing a "sit on your hands and wait to see what happens before moving forward" policy.

Next big worry--like the Jewish mother I'm not happy unless I'm worrying about something... With Japan having to build, rebuild and need all kinds of emergency funding, what if they call in all our loans? With China and Japan our two largest debt holders, where would we get the money to repay one or the other? These things have a ripple effect. If other debt holders of the U. S. want to loan funds to Japan in their current crisis they could call our debt as well to make that possible.

Last for today: So they found on the federal level 81 duplicative departments or tasks in similar departments. They found on the state level other areas where there are duplications and many wasted funds. Now I ask you,

Why in the world can't they have "key" numbers for jobs that do the same thing? And then why can't they write a program which indicates a particular job has already been done and in that event, why are those results not generating a report that will go up the chain high enough to make a determination to eliminate all but one of those departments and send the information back through the maze so everyone is operating under the same numbers?

Puh-leeze do not try to tell me this cannot be done. I only spent one semester on writing and programming and I KNOW it can be done. So let's demand that they do it!

Spring is coming! Do not despair--
God bless...

The Internal Combustion Engine is not Dead!

2011-03-08T10:43:00.003-05:00

I believe this is good news, contrary to what Obama and the Green community would have you believe. Wisconsin may be taking it on the chin media-wise, but my retired Mechanical Engineer husband is still on certain mailing lists, among them:

University of Wisconsin's Engineering Dept. sends information on workshops, etc. It is a real pleasure to tell you that 4 events are scheduled between March 28 and May 16 with what should excite those of us who still love gasoline powered automobiles. Just in case you're interested they are working on Fundamental Considerations in New Engine Development, Cranktrain Development for Piston Engines, Friction, Lubrication and Bearing System Development for Internal Combustion Engines and Valvetrain Development Workshop for Internal Combustion Engines.

Now I'm not saying that we shouldn't be working on alternative ways of movement on the highway, just that throwing out the baby with the bathwater before its replacement is economically feasible for way over half the population is premature to say the least.

So take heart, hopefully the "apps" developed in and by academia will make our lives and even the next generation's more pleasant without catastrophic life style changes.

That being said: short notes on other hot topics:

Libya needs help. Am I totally old fashioned or just ignorant if I ask the question: Whatever happened to the French Foreign Legion or perhaps that kind of organization which may have segued to another label? They could certainly come in handy in Libya today.

Wonder what Obama's taste of crow was like when he announced reverting to the Bush policy at Guantanamo...

And Kathleen Sibelius' having to admit to double counting in the health care bill amounting to $500 billion...

And the $105 billion of spending in the health care bill which has already been spent and should be returned...

Please don't insult our intelligence by saying if our State tax was zero before that the Homestead tax credit would be equal to increased taxes and make the effective tax rate still zero even if you have to write a check for over $1500...

Last, the next time I hear Alan Simpson, (R) Wyoming retired, tell the public that retired people are being greedy because they didn't put all that much into Social Security anyway, when he is living high on the hog having been part of the Congresses who stole the so-called Trust Fund from the American workers and exempted themselves from the Social Security Retirement system among other sleight of hand maneuvers to make themselves look good, I am going to barf. The only pleasure I would get from that exercise would be if I were close enough for it to land on the shoes of one of the lying, conniving, holier-than-thou types like Mr. Simpson.

I'm having real trouble, Lord, keeping a generous heart when the very people who are supposed to represent us are the ones who sometimes make life miserable for way too many people. In the meantime,

God bless........

DO YOU WANT A RAISE? IT'S EASY!

2011-02-28T13:54:00.002-05:00

Just access WWW.UNIONREFUND.ORG. And it's your money! A 1988 Supreme Court decision gives union members the right to get back any part of their dues which is used for political purposes. It is easy-just click on the state in which you live, a list of every union in the state will pop up, make your hcoice and the computer will generate an accurate request and put it in the form of a letter for you and Voila! a stamp and envelope and it wings its way to those guys who are playing with your money. Fantastic!

I have two comments on the Wisconsin mess: 1) Hang in there, Governor Walker and 2) Parents of children in the Wisconsin public schools should ask to have their children removed from any classroom being taught by a teacher who took part in the demonstrations. Many of them are guilty of fraud unless they use their vacation days, but particularly if they try to use a sham doctor's excuse to have their cake and eat it too. (If they were actually seen lying to a reporter that compounds the problem.)

Last: Donald Rumsfeld has written a book. Surprise! Surprise! What really surprises me is that he appeared on "The View" with a covey of women who I'm surprised even invited him. Wellll, actually I shouldn't be. That invitation was undoubtedly issued so they would have a target for the day. And did they ever!

Barbara WaWa suggested that he should apologize to the audience and the country for taking our country to war when there were no WMD. She was quite sure that anyone who waa injured or killed had served in vain. Rumsfeld handled himself well and defended his position and the military indicating, as we all know, that there was no one who did not believe that there were WMD in Iraq.

In my opinion Ms. Walters and her cohorts are so full of hate for conservatives who love this country, they should not only apologize to their audience (although they are probably like-minded thinkers if they think before they fall in line,) then the entire country and particularly the military, and then get down on their knees and beg their forgiveness. In a word, leeches who live the high life, stroke each other ad nauseum, and game the systems for all they are worth.

This has not been kind, I know, but I'm asking that some of us at least try to tell those who find them entertaining that they should look at both sides of whatever they are selling.

One of my kids once gave me a little plaque with a photo of a kitten hanging from a branch with the caption "Just hang in there, baby" and I guess that's all we can do.

God bless.........

Columbia Graduates Leaders?

2011-02-21T20:48:00.008-05:00

When it comes time to vote for someone who will have an influence on your family in the future, will it be one of those snotty kids who laughed at and jeered a young man who had been shot a dozen times and awarded a Purple Heart, or the young Veteran himself? Or, as a matter of fact, do you want to go to the Columbia grad's store or dealership, or his law office or doctor's office, or preaching in your church, or running a factory producing parts with safety features, or building structures or elevators that could fail, or God forbid, teaching your children? Or patronize whatever the young Veteran decides to do?

Be very wary. The damage which can be done by Columbia grads who go on to Harvard Law and end up writing laws and telling future generations how to live their lives can last for generations and have disastrous effects on our country. Or, as Judge Judy has been known to say, these are the people who can have their dog pee on your leg and then tell you it's raining.

Do not let this happen. On a lower economic scale we have teachers striking and setting examples for our kids that are also disastrous. Can you imagine Woody Hayes saying what his grandson said yesterday? The union advocates for me so I can advocate for my students? Is he kidding? I thought teachers were supposed to teach! Where did this kid go to school?

And speaking of school, there was a blurb in our local paper, the beloved Cit Pat, telling the story of how Michelle Obama mentors kids and has convinced Barak to join her with the message that "if they can find time to do it, anyone can find time." She has to be kidding too!

Let's see, She rises in the morning, is served breakfast, sees the girls off to school, goes to her many appointments, etc., meets with her staff and gives them directions, sometimes flies off in her private jet--you get the picture. Now look at your own schedule, man or woman: Rise in the morning, get that breakfast, be sure that all kids are presentable, clean up kitchen, be sure everyone in family has lunch or lunch money and books or briefcase and ipod, everyone in the car, sometimes pump your own gas, drop everyone off and arrive at your job. Put in an 8 hour day and stop on the way home to pick up cleaning, a few groceries, fix dinner, eat, clean up, help with homework, have 15 minute conversation with spouse (if not a single parent) and prepare for sleep if you didn't have to do your own study and preparation for next day. Oh, forgot laundry. Or promise made by one of the kids that you would help out at school in one of a hundred different ways. Weekends are catchup time. And, oh yes, it would be nice to phone your folks once in awhile or talk to a friend or make plans for a night out maybe once a month. (No Air Force jet to take you to New York to see a play or a 2 week trip with a hundred of your closest friends to Spain.) And everyone of you can add at least a dozen things to this list, right?

Oh, shoot!!! You missed your mentoring appointment! A good share of those Columbia grads came from families closer to Michelle's schedules (don't forget the time spent on fittings for First Lady fashions) than they do to ours. And those who started out as we did don't have much trouble learning to live like the elite they strive to be.

Don't let it happen, folks. We need to keep this country pure where even though we are not equally gifted, our vote counts the same and we can have a certain influence for the good in our own little corners of the world and watch it spread as long as we work together. And please, try to carve out a little time for yourself. Read a book, watch or go to a ball game with friends, see a movie, go to Church, attenc a play (amateur or professional,) or play in the sand and lake in the summertime or go skiing or sledding this weekend or play a card game--for fun. Even God rested.

God bless.......

Protest at the Wisconsin Capitol, Saturday, Part 15

2011-02-20T13:10:00.000-05:00

Some Things to Think About--- (and Added Wednesday)

2011-02-15T16:12:00.004-05:00

Janet Napolitano and the Jackson County Commission have something in common:

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT PREVENTION AND BEING PROACTIVE MEAN!!!!!

This morning we heard that one Border Agent was killed and one was injured while in Mexico as part of their job with their diplomatic papers and badges in order. After being identified apparently a drug cartel member had a problem with them. And guess what? Janet extended the sympathies of herself and the country and said they would be looking for those responsible.

It took her two years to get used to using the term Terrorist--remember when the Obama administration would only recognize an "overseas contingency operation?" How long will it take her to stop telling us that the borders are in the best shape they have ever been? Unbelievable!

Same thing with Jackson County. Every dog now gets a free bite as long as the owner can show Homeowners Liability insurance in the amount of $100,000. Then a dog gets tagged with being "aggressive, etc." and restrictions are put on the owner. Well, duh, that is just not going to cut it. Little kids need protection, not get their doctor bills paid! And we, with the larger brains, are supposed to be able to think about how to do it. Com'on. Give us a break.

1) So the new Obama budget is out. $3.71 trillion. Please don't hold me to this, but back when I was keeping track of these numbers more closely (in the 1998 to 2004 time frame) the budget stayed at "around" $2 trillion with the GNP at "around" $20 trillion. Some quick and dirty arithmetic would indicate about a 1 to 10 ratio.

And what is the GNP today? I haven't researched this number but I have a strong feeling that our GNP is not over $37 trillion. So how much of a spending increase in the last two years did it take for our President to be able to look like the Great Compromiser rather than a shyster horse trader? This leads to--

2) Oprah--the gal who is on the feminine side of the "controllers" along with Michelle wants us to play nice and respect the President because he holds the title. Well, folks, Respect begets respect. Certainly he doesn't respect the electorate if he is constantly trying to fool, or make fools of, us. We can respect the office of the President, but respecting a guy who lies on a constant basis as far as abortion is concerned (yes, it's back in the Obamacare bill) is getting a "twofer" -- two bad acts for the price of one.

3) All of the left wing's push toward Green Power is also lacking in honesty. Just think. If we had nothing but electric cars and didn't need a drop of oil except for heating and incidentals don't you wonder what the costs of operation might be? How about the fact that all that Lithium needed for batteries presently comes from China. They have 30% of the world's supply, but presently actually supply 95% of the world's needs. Australia has some, California has some, and the rest of the supply is extremely difficult and expensive to get.

Have you heard of supply and demand? Given that the batteries in my son's all electric car are projected to last 10 years at which time if they are replaced, the bill will be $10,000. Do you even want to go there? And will the subsidies still be in place? Or will we all be scrambling to pay our energy bills. Hmmmmm...

I'm thinking this is probably just the tip of the iceberg and we don't want to go into information overload today, but my husband thinks we are fat, dumb and happy and waiting for the other shoe to drop. What do you think?

God bless...
Need Him more every day--

Pretty Is As Pretty Does...

2011-02-07T23:14:00.004-05:00

Just a phrase that Momma used to use when she thought it was time to bring her daughters down a notch or two. It comes to mind after hearing the message from Obama to the Chamber of Commerce today. When I first turned on the radio, I could have sworn I was hearing a quote of something that a Republican had said and the Prez was quoting. And then came the "other side of the story" and what he was prepared to do such as telling us the difference between "good" and "bad" regulations ie., good are those he likes and bad are those he doesn't like and don't you ever forget it!

Brings to mind that he uses "my" when talking about "his" administration or "his" cabinet member. Frankly, if he didn't have such an ego he might realize that this is not "his" country, it's OUR country. How about using the Royal We concept and refer to us as a group rather than making us think that everything belongs to him and if we're good little girls and boys he might let us go along for the ride.

And every time he tries to tell us we need to work together someone should remind him that he planted a subliminal seed when he told McCain that he should remember who won and deal with it--words to that effect, but certainly not forgotten. It's tough not to have a Pavlovian response when he lectures us on compromise.

Now Michelle's latest attempt to throw her weight around (pun intended) to intimidate restaurants into serving smaller portions "for our own good" of course, is an abomination in a country where free enterprise is where we shine. In fact, I'd like to have her tout her body fat measurement before she casts stones at the rest of us and our kids. I still think the answer to the latter is to let some of the buses sit in their barns and make the kids walk to school and back again. Just think, it would help kids physically and save money on transportation as well.

Does anyone else think that 'truth in advertising' should include pricing out the cost of KWH in ads or public service announcements pushing green power? Wonder how to get that done....

Just a little more wondering: heard a scientist describing the expansion of the universe the other day and he said "again" which would mean that since we are seeing the light from stars that are probably already dead, having taken millions of years for the light to reach our visibility zone, that the universe will expand billions of years from now to extinction. For us, no worries, but the fact that he said "again" tells me that there has already been an ebb and flow so why is it not possible for another decrease and how long might this go on? Just a thought...

Forecast is for really, really cold weather midweek, so bundle up and,
God bless...

Colonel Allen West Answers a Marine's Question

2011-02-01T14:36:00.000-05:00

Category: Be Careful What You Wish For

2011-01-31T23:11:00.003-05:00

Nothing could be more apt when trying to figure out what may happen in any of several scenarios in the whole of the Mid East and specifically Egypt. It is an ongoing event and we view the daily scene in constant flux. Certainly I know less than the experts, but sometimes keeping things simple and hopefully logical will help us see the big picture clearly.

I can only put together certain points beginning with accepting the purely mercenary benefits of $250 billion yearly in foreign aid to the country who has supported our position in several areas and has been instrumental in keeping the peace with Israel. It should not be necessary to list the obvious here relative to allies, etc. The importance of the Suez Canal also needs to be taken into consideration.

We must be wary of the foxes who may be able to fool the younger people who are involved in the actual street battles into believing their rhetoric and end up with a Muslim Brotherhood which may or may not be a Jihadist organization. What would be the consequences of a free election if the government just became another dictatorship?

The military position is not known, but up until now it is apparent that they have avoided open antagonism and have shown restraint. In my opinion they have demonstrated that they are patriots first and do not play favorites. Historically some military have shown their partisanship or even have leveraged power and leadership into a new brand of dictatorship. I hope my optimism is not misplaced when I say I believe the Egyptian military would be the examples of discipline and strong character that the protesters may be looking for.

Watching this protest unfold has led me to hope that Mubarak retires, his VP, just appointed but almost surely acceptable to the military, will also be able to convince the protesters that he is a sincere and able leader and will be given time to form a new government which will address their concerns but keep in place whatever is necessary to stabilize the atmosphere. One can only hope and pray.

One other little story tonight. Due to an accident our car insurance had taken s jump and at just the right time an insurance company did a bulk mailing. My husband called and since we have both auto and Homeowner with the same company we asked for both quotes to compare. Surprise! Because of the market devaluation--countrywide--we would be able to get only about half the actual replacement coverage. And that was the end of that. Needless to say we're staying with our present insurer, but...

I have no idea what the statistics on catastrophic events on homes might be, but there must be an appreciable number of folks who are not only "under water" or upside down on their homes but have sustained some kind of loss and now owe more than a house was worth and there is no longer a house!!! I haven't heard of this kind of problem, but it's scary to even think of it.

I'm thinking prayers for the unemployed and for our legislators and leadership to be able to find the path out of this mess.
God bless...

The Long Awaited Speech is Over...

2011-01-24T23:04:00.004-05:00

I DVRd it and watched the commentary and responses afterward. Maybe tomorrow I'll start looking at it in 5-10 minute snippets since that's about all I can handle at one time from our Master Teleprompter Reader. Suffice to say that Ryan gave the usual Republican response and Bachman was refreshing. Let's face it, the politeness demonstrated by Ryan is exactly the reason why the ruthless Democrats manage to roll over us ad nauseum. Those of us who are courteous in our ordinary life understand the necessity, but sometimes it's just necessary that our opponents be shown that we really, hopefully, are not going to let it happen this time. The old bulls can't pass anything without the new kids on the block.

Now to what really threw me for a loop yesterday. Regular readers know that in our lifetimes this family has owned 24 GM cars and a smattering of the other 2 of the Big Three. You also know that we lost several thousands of dollars in preferred GM stock during the takeover and I have vowed that the only car I will buy when my lease is up in June is a Ford or a foreign car manufactured in the United States.

Now King, the new head of the UAW is planning to use $40 to $60 million of their $800 million strike fund to play all the dirty tricks he can think of and then some, including sending 1000 members to Congress to lobby for help to unionize at least one of those plants located in Southern states.

Since most of us who can see the damage done by unions in this country, evidenced by the cities and states beholden to the SEIU, AFSME, NEA, AFT and private unions which have become the curse of private industry this would be a catastrophe. Therefore, my plan is to ask as many people as are sympathetic to that position to write letters of support to the newspapers in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and as many as I can find addresses for throughout the country. We in Michigan especially need to point out to them how much damage the UAW can do.

I will try to have the names and addresses of several newspapers later in the week and I plan to make a list of those in my address book so I can email others to ask for their help and hope you will do the same.

Maybe we as citizens can help the employment situation in spite of what they are doing in Washington and some of the liberal states.

With our new legislators in office, it's time to look up their numbers and put them in the speed dial--
God bless.....

The Mind Wanders...

2011-01-17T21:45:00.002-05:00

We've been seeing and hearing much more from Debbie Stabenow, haven't we? Oh, yes, she's up for re-election in 2012 so she needs to be a little more visible in her "home" state.

How is it that a guy who told McCain that "we won" and who passed the Healthcare bill over numerous objections and it was rammed down our throats without knowing what was in it, is now insisting that we "play nice?" Let's face it, without a costly tragedy in Arizona these comments would not have been made.

A friend of mine observed that probably the best way for civility to really take center stage would be to have Obama apologize to Bush. Not gonna happen.

When they talk about the "full faith and trust" of the American government don't you just want to barf? They lost all semblance of either of those sentiments when they started to steal the Social Security funds replacing them with worthless, non negotiable IOUs commonly known as Treasury bonds, but these can't be spent. That many years takes in a whole bunch of Congressmen and women.

Speaking of legislatures, did you hear that our State House and Senate may take a pay cut? All that would do, as I see it, is rectify just a little part of the scandal when they voted to pay themselves their astronomical salaries and Phil Hoffman said he didn't feel guilty, he earned it. Yeah, right, he and all the rest of them. Now Michigan is right up there with the worst of the states who should declare bankruptcy but there is no legislation which spells out how to do it. Duh!

Mr. Jors of Consumers has it right. We have pointed out before that there are only a couple of pockets of land in Michigan which can generate enough wind to make wind power feasible (plus shorelines which generally fall in the NIMBY category.) The plains states including Minnesota, the Dakotas, etc. are where that kind of investment should be made. We can only hope that he and some others with common sense may be able to convince the Feds that the bill that will charge us for the transmission is certainly an injustice.

Be careful out there. Icy streets and roads are in the offing.
God bless.......

Let the Blame Games Begin/Paul Krugman Notwithstanding-

2011-01-10T22:40:00.003-05:00

You just knew that some liberal types like good old Paul would try to lay the blame for the terrible attack Saturday on Congresswoman Giffords and other innocents on Rush Limbaugh and other conservative speakers trying to make a case for hate speech/crimes. As is the usual case, there is enough blame to go around.

Let me just say that as easy as it is to get a gun in Arizona I would think it would be mandatory for, despite privacy concerns, when incidents such as the Community College faced, repeat, it would be MANDATORY that it be reported to the "gun control system," whatever its title. That's for Arizona. Lest one would think the Feds have clean hands, may I point out that they have failed in their duty to protect American citizens in border states and the fact that Arizona families have lost members to illegals crossing their land makes it understandable that a militia type "personal protection" mindset has developed in the area.

With that in mind, I share with you a few quotes from our President as he speaks to his supporters:

1- They bring a knife...We bring a gun.
2- Get in their faces!
3- I don't want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry! I'm angry!
4- Hit back twice as hard!
5- We talk to these folks...so I know whose ass to kick.
6- a Republican victory could mean "hand to hand combat."
7- It's time to fight for it.
8- Punish your enemies.
9-I'm itching for a fight.

(To be used only if some liberal tries to "get in your face" with liberal accusations.)
~~~~~~~~
Does this sound a little like a fishy deal to you?

Mayor Richard Daly of Chicago decides not to run again...
Rahm Emanuel decides to go to Chicago to run for Mayor...
Bill Daly (Richard's brother) gets the nod to take Rahm's job...

Nah, couldn't be?
~~~~~~~~

If the liberals use the term "full faith and credit of the American government" in an attempt to lift the debt ceiling, just where do you think that "full faith and credit" is buried when they talk about changing the contract with the American public and the Social Security program? It's time to separate the crooks from the honest guys in Congress.

~~~~~~~~

Don't be fooled. If Obama tries to pull a Clinton and look conservative for the next two years and God forbid is re-elected, just watch him during the 2012-2016 term. Woe is us....

Try to keep warm, the forecast is nasty--
God bless........

HAPPY NEW POLITICAL YEAR HEADLINES!

2011-01-03T21:32:00.005-05:00

*Can't help thinking JANET NAPOLITANO should be thinking that if she wants a "better feel for actual conditions" by 'being there' that she should visit the borders of our Southern states, especially Arizona, before she spends taxpayer monies and her time and that of her entourage and support staff traveling in areas that have little or no bearing on our homeland security.

*So Eric Holder adds a Deputy who agrees with him and the Prez that defining terrorism is not the problem since 9-11 was on a par with a criminal element or a gang war and we can take care of prosecution in neighborhood courts. Obama picks up the ball and makes an Executive appointment. Mercy me.

*Now that there is a moratorium on gulf oil drilling and we are printing money devaluing our buying power do you think the Las Vegas odds makers are laying down the line for $5 gasoline?

*Was the slow down of snow removal by the Sanitation workers in New York "business as usual" with New York union activity? Or will Bloomberg fire those responsible? What does it take to avenge the deaths of an elderly woman and a baby born on the street? How liberal can a liberal be? We'll see if or when there are repercussions.

*Added thought: Wonder what the unemployment numbers are in New York? If each of them were given a snow shovel would it have made a difference? (Would they have had to give them lesons?) And since they had to pick up 40,000 tons of litter after New Year's Eve from Times Square has anyone added their overtime pay to that picture?

*LAST BUT NOT LEAST--You all know I'm not nuts about football, but I like my kids' alma maters winning and if I have to watch or listen to Rich Rod one more year, I'M GOING TO SCREAM! I've trusted Dave Brandon and other Republicans on the Board of Regents, now as AD he needs to get that job done....

Now that Congress is going back in session, I'm considering getting back to daily posts--think about it.
God bless....

Joseph's Song Michael Card

2010-12-29T09:20:00.001-05:00

I've never heard this before and thought it should be shared. Fr. Tim at Queen's sang it before Midnight Mass.

A LETTER FROM SANTA-

2010-12-27T10:32:00.002-05:00

One of my kids has been the voice of Santa for many years after his major attempt at making sure he was believable by making tracks on the roof and leaving a bicycle for his 5 year old leaning against the chimney because "it wouldn't fit." The latest effort:

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas to the Peterson Family!

Cyber Santa is coming to you from Lola's computer. You don't know how much Santa appreciates the fact that you left the computer on for me to write you a little thank-you note. If all gift recipients were to do what the Peterson's have done, Santa wouldn't have to pay overtime to the reindeer. This evening's trip could be done in the traditional 8 hours rather than the 16 hours it has take for the last 2000 years.

Hey, that is no exaggeration,folks. You figure that old Santa can type 55 words a minute with no errors compared to the 17 words a minute that I use to dictate to Carla and then Edith has to edit, well shoot, that is 38 seconds saved per home times 2.7 billion homes and yes, race fans, Santa would be faster than Jimmy Johnson at Talladega. Who are Carla and Edith you ask? Well, they are both reassigned to the "Letter to Santa Reply Department" which will make them happy, both don't really like the high altitudes and never did get reindeer humor. Moving along on the improved efficiency Santa doesn't need Carla the Copy Queen and Edith the Editor to proof my work, which leaves room for two more elves in the sleigh which makes present sorting and delivery so much more efficient. I'm not sure how to market this for it to spread by next year.....Hmmmmmmmmm......

I have it!!! Lola, use your blog to spread the word. I know you weren't' a card carrying member of the TEA Party but could you be the lead marketer of the newly created JESUS Party? This is a neat way to spread the word that if people help Cyber Santa be more efficient by leaving their computer, I-phone or any suitable device turned on, it will save Santa time and make sure the North Pole Enterprises doesn't go bankrupt. Lola, use your Blog to start the message and just like any worthwhile grass roots movement it will grow and be a huge success. And just think--if you do this for Cyber Santa you will also be reminding the entire world of the reason for the season, JESUS, at the same time. Santa is smarter than you thought, eh?

More questions I see...Why is Santa calling it the JESUS Party? Good question, I got ahead of myself and didn't explain this very well, although as smart as the Peterson family is I thought you would have it figured out by now. Yes, Miss 97% Anna Kate....., don't you know? Mr. Stanford man, any guesses.....? Well, Cyber Santa needs to get to Indiana by 12:18 to keep on schedule so I'll just tell you.

J Just
E Enough
S "Syber"
U Usage
S Saves time

Not bad for a spur of the moment thing, eh?

Hey, before I go, it must be said, Thanks for the Georgia Peterson's to come north for Christmas, and Aunt Kath from the Carolina's for birthdays.

PS. Not to be a downer but I get so mad when Santa is taken for granted. Paula, didn't you read the fine print in the metal roof literature? Oh, stupid me, you are like your Dad, you don't read manuals...Anyway, all owners of metal roofs are supposed to contact Santa by December 23rd to alert Santa and his team of the new "slippery" roof surface. I now have two reindeer on the DL, one with a torn hoof and the other with a black and blue nose instead of a red one. As your brother so lovingly reminds us, "it is not always about you."

Well, Merry Christmas, and say a prayer for Santa and the quick recovery of his team.

PSS. The cookies were great as usual, don't be mad but I shared them with Bo.

There you have it--including a few inside the family references which brought huge laughs, but when Santa asks, we accommodate, right?

Trusting that your Christmas was blessed, Merry Christmas! (Now I'm going to start doing my Christmas cards which will carry the notice that my Christmas Season starts with Advent but doesn't end until Epiphany--just a bit of rationalization.)

A LETTER FROM SANTA-

2010-12-27T10:32:00.000-05:00

Thoughts on Education

2010-12-20T05:20:00.003-05:00

Disclaimer: Now that I'm officially in my 80s, I need to realize that I just don't see things the way the next generations do, but I'm honor bound to share a bit of general philosophy that I only hope does not get lost as time goes by.

Premise: I've been reading lately about the horrible placement on a global marking system the United States holds. And that Asian countries are far and above us in intelligence and performance.

Question: Just as we constantly debate the "nature vs nurture" question, are we sure that we want to emulate those who test better than our kids do? Has it occurred to our politicos who are up in arms about the results how any one group arrives at the final ranking? In other words, does it occur to them that many of the Asian countries are Communist? That the talented children are taken from their homes to lead lives without any outside activity other than learning facts, figures and perhaps, theories? (The parents of Asian kids who top the scales in the U.S. also put top priority on education.) The other option is to be put in those classes or left in their homes where they will lead lives of "service" to the elites?

Can the other side of the coin be found in taking the theories and bringing them into the market place as a product or a new way of looking at a problem where it is more important to solve the problem than to be rewarded for the intelligence used to arrive at the conclusion? At one point in time everything from automobiles to electronics were invented in the U.S. and the production (also methods adopted from those developed in the U.S.) was refined elsewhere.

Granted we didn't invent "everything" but you see what I mean.

Take it a step further. Would we give up the freedoms and opportunities we have for a rigid society where individual thought is stifled? Would you give up taking your children to the zoo, Disneyland, the park or just over to Grandma's house for the chance to send them to a boarding school where they always wear the same clothing, eat the same food, take the same classes, their futures are predetermined according to IQ tests, etc.?

Does anyone younger than I remember lying on new mown grass in the middle of summer looking at the skies at night for Northern lights and shooting stars and catching lightning bugs in jars or in the daytime recognizing patterns in the clouds of watching a storm move across the horizon? Would you deny your children that kind of opportunity?

I just can't help wondering if curiosity is one of the missing elements in the education of our kids.... I wonder if ideas aren't more important than memorization. I believe I have shared with you early on that other than "Everything I needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" to my high school debate squad and the Senior Govt/Econ teacher who taught that it wasn't "what you know, but knowing where to find it" is the key to education. And now you have the internet and computers! What largess!

And at this Christmas season it should go without saying that the freedom of religion sets us apart from many of the other parts of the world where it might be said that education is their religion. That topic could take up many more pages, but I leave it to you to determine its importance in your life.

That being said, this is the last week of Advent--the preparation for the commemoration of the birth which is the "reason for the season" and I wish you the most blessed of Christmases.

Important Video on Drunk Driving

2010-12-13T21:17:00.004-05:00

I need to ask you to be patient and understand why I can't make this easy for you. I received a You Tube video which is the most powerful "scared straight" type I have ever seen. The thing is, it isn't just for drunk or drug impaired driving which is the obvious lesson to be learned; it demonstrates what any distraction can cause and how important it is to be alert and attentive and practice defensive driving techniques at all times.

The problem with just going the usual route of embedding a video in the blog is that it doesn't include the sound due to some copyright problem. The person who sent it to me used an address which I will attempt to duplicate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Z2mf8DtWWd8

If that doesn't automatically get that line under it so you can just click on it, I'm quite sure that if you type it into the address line it will go directly to the video. Time consuming but worth it. I can't imagine why they would try to keep people from seeing it else why did they put it up in the first place?

Why am I so adamant about this? Probably most of you are unaware that in 1988 one of my four sons was killed in a motorcycle accident. Fortunately there was no alcohol or drug involved, but it may have been had it been another time. I can guarantee you that it is every Mother's prayer that if anyone in her family is involved in an accident that her family member is not at fault causing an innocent person to be hurt or killed and that her own child or family member is not a victim of the same kind of behavior.

God bless....
.....and be vigilant-

There are Heroes and There are Heroes...

2010-12-06T22:30:00.002-05:00

With the heroes who fought in WWII which, by the way, is being remembered on Tuesday the 7th of December, numbering in the thousands upon thousands, you'll forgive me if Charlie Rangel and his friends and a number of "admirers" who referred to his heroism as part of the reason why they will forgive him his crimes rings hollow in my ears.

The ordinary veteran of that war and others that have followed are the men and women who make up the backbone of this country and very, very few of them have committed any kind of crime at all let alone try to justify their actions by saying that their many heroic and good deeds makes up for their "mistakes." Of course, the worst part of the entire story lies in the fact there are so many people who accept and agree with that reasoning.

How our culture has changed. True humility would be to simply admit his wrongdoing, not defend himself.

It would seem to me that the unemployment question regarding how long to continue benefits might be partially solved if the amounts are reduced on a downward sliding scale. Example: the average amount is about $1000 per month. So how about reducing the amount by 5-10% per month so by the end of a year it would be only half or less so it would pay them to get at least a part time job and be working to be free of unemployment comp. Just thinking...

Not only should government employees take a 10% pay cut, but those employed in the last few months, should be either laid off or go part time or job sharing.

Subsidies for green energy both in transportation and utilities should be stopped. If the private sector cannot work profitably, too bad.

And last, did you know that Chrysler/Fiat are investing more than $1.3 billion American in a plant in Milan to build Jeeps, expecting that over half will be sold in North America. We're subsidizing a foreign car company, folks. How does that grab you?

The cold temps are early this year.
God bless......

GM Rubbing Salt in the Wound...

2010-11-29T10:05:00.003-05:00

I know, you are tired of hearing me complain about GM, but they just can't quit. Did anyone else catch the new ad during the NFL games where there is lovely piano music in the background and beginning with a boxer being knocked to the canvas? The next scene featured a space vehicle starting to rise and then settling back down, followed by Popeye falling (or drowning.) Next we see Evil Knievel missing a stunt and a guy holding him, then a guy on his hands and knees in sepia colors (to make it look like an old classic) apparently being watched by a room full of dejected guys -Popeye still falling, and Harry Truman holding up a newspaper featuring the headline touting "Dewey beats Truman." (For you younger people, he didn't.)

Ta da! Popeye magically pulls out his can of spinach, kicking his way to the surface, the boxer on the canvas shakes it off and gets up and screen black with the words: We all fall down - followed by something about needing help to get up and finally, "Thank You from GM" (Big difference, except for Knievel, there was no evidence of anyone else getting any help.)

To begin with, Obama didn't give us any choice in the matter, they profess to have paid back every penny and their spokespersons last week again lied by saying that the preferred stock holders and bond holders have been made whole, and they are the beneficiaries of $45 gazillion in tax credits over the next 20 years. All in all it gives me real heartburn to know that they have fooled the American public once again. Oh, and I still get letters from them thanking me for my loyalty and don't I want to come in and check out the new models.

A couple of topics we may want to dig into a little more deeply:

1-A friend who is undergoing chemo and has been getting a $1000 shot on a monthly basis has been told, through (not by) her doctor that the FDA says she now needs two shots instead of one. No government control?

2-Since there is no excess Social Security in the pot for the government to take and replace with a worthless IOU, they are just not going to pay the interest due on all the so-called loans they have taken thus far.

3-Wouldn't it be really easy for there to be a box on the IRS form for those making over $250,000 to check if they are a business? Then the really rich could go on to pay more--just like Warren Buffet, Ted Turner, Bill Gates, etc. Just do it without forcing their guilty consciences on others.

4-Still need to address earmarks as stand alone items. What's so hard about that?

5-Russia has finally admitted to it being Stalin who was responsible for the 1940 massacre of 22,000 Poles in the Katyn Forest--not the Nazis as they have been saying all along. (Nazis have more than their share of that kind of behavior.)

One wonders if the Japanese will ever admit to their own people, let alone the rest of the world, that they attacked Pearl Harbor and other South Pacific outposts on Dec. 7, 1941. That's a date which is coming up next week lest we forget.

What with all of the problems abounding we still had much for which to be thankful last week and which we should praise God the rest of the days. God bless......

A Slight Change of Focus

2010-11-22T07:49:00.003-05:00

Since the Jackson County Republicans have seen the need for new blood I have been relieved of my duties on the Executive Committee which opens up new opportunities including what I started talking about last week.

We will be starting a group comprised of folks who are intensely interested in the issues of the day. You know, the kind of thing that we only briefly address on a blog which by necessity cannot be long enough to cover any subject in its entirety.

If any of you readers out there are local and would like to participate, you are more than welcome. Perhaps the best way would be to post a comment and we can exchange contact information.

This will be a casual group--no dues, meeting when we decide to, choosing our topics as we go, but really researching and sharing information. Perhaps an occasional speaker may join us--we are fortunate to have some experts in various fields living around us. We may even evolve into being able to give our legislators information that would take pressure off their staffs. At the very least, we'll give it the old college try.

Other than the lame ducks which are actually pretty crippled as I see it and the flap over the new TSA methods of screening passengers which is again a reactive position rather than being proactive we've been treading water lately. The shakeups in the political parties are probably more exciting than politics at this point with challengers beginning to line up against Michael Steele.

Not that there aren't any other topics to talk about, it's just that it looks like we might have exciting times of learning and sharing ahead of us and I'm anxious to see how many folks agree.

So God bless and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We still have an overabundance of most everything in this fantastic place we call our homeland.

It's Just About Time......

2010-11-15T16:15:00.002-05:00

Now that we're past the "same old, same old" and things are beginning to sift out, there are getting to be more topics than can be addressed once a week. Consider:

If Rolls Royce can fix those engines as fast as they indicate, doesn't it mean that they knew there was a problem and they've already been working on it and perhaps they should have grounded fleets earlier? Just thinking...

Obama's "Get Outta Dodge" trip was the most obvious, cowardly move ever, even for him.

When is this government going to get over the fact that subsidies have no place in a capitalistic society? If Tyson and others want to sell their chicken fat to extend bio diesel, let them, but don't ask us to pay to make it happen.

Does anyone know whether or not the bankruptcy laws in states such as Florida which protect a family homestead can also prevent foreclosure?

When visiting India, did it appear unseemly to anyone else that it was way too familiar a gesture to Obama to have his arm around the shoulders of Prime Minister Singh?

If the new Tea Party Congressmen start to trade off tax increases for cuts, we'll know it was all for naught. Let's remind all our newly elected representatives that what we're looking for is CUTS FIRST! Ad even if, by McConnell's definition earmarks are a minuscule part of the budget (my word, not his, but that's what he meant) it's the symbolism and honesty involved.

The next message: If it's important enough to be in a bill as an earmark, it should be important enough to STAND ALONE!

China is now making deals for coal with Australia. Their usage is skyrocketing and where does that leave us with our EPA trying to single-handeddly destroy businesses who need that kind of energy.

Speaking of energy, some time has elapsed since we visited the costs of solar and wind power and how much we spend in subsidies for those two. You just can't turn around without running into another way to spend our money or anything they can borrow.

One to two year old second hand cars cost more than new ones? Maybe it's because a whole bunch of "used" cars got smashed to smithereens during the Cash for Clunkers program. That's not the entire story, but it needs investigating.

Quotes heard during Obama's Asian trip:

"The Fed's mandate, my mandate, is to grow our economy. And that's not just good for the United States, that's good for the world as a whole." Obama

"The last time there was a competitive devaluation of currencies it ended up where it did, in the Second World War." Brazils President-elect, Dilma Rouseff

"It doesn't add up when the Americans accuse the Chinese of currency manipulation and then...artificially lower the value of the dollar." Wolfgang Schluble, German Finance Minister

Russia's president will insist "such actions (as pumping cash into the U.S. economy( are taken with preliminary consultations with other members of the G-20." Arkady Dvorkovich, Russian G-20 negotiator

"The U.S. decision does not recognize, as a country that issues one of the world's major reserve currencies, its obligation to stabilize capital markets." Zhu Guangyao, Chinese Vice Finance Minister.

And all the people said, "Amen" because they couldn't argue with any of them with the possible exception of our President.

I'm thinking my future includes beginning a monthly program with speakers and participation research which can then be shared with membership, legislators, the public and any other audiences we can serve. It's a big job which needs more than my personal input. I generally have a biased opinion. What do you think?

God bless.......

Of Course We are Grateful-

2010-11-08T07:51:00.001-05:00

At 1:45 Wednesday morning I posted on Facebook something like: I have a Congressman! I have two Representatives from Jackson County as well as two Senators! I have a conservative Supreme Court! And of course we have good representation on the college boards...

However, when we all awoke from our euphoria we realized that the work is just beginning. So Praise God for what we have, but now we have to keep and build on it.

This will be difficult with a President who considers Republicans his enemies. And please don't consider this a mistake. I believe the real description is a Freudian Slip which means that what he really meant slipped out without his thinking. Can't help wondering why he is campaigning in India. No joke, doesn't it sound like he is running for something over there?

We also have to watch the Fed. What is Bernanke thinking? Printing more money so the value and interest rates go down? How low can they go? Pretty soon they may pay folks to borrow money. This is scary stuff and we need to remind people that this is counter productive.

However, the week ended on another bright note. My husband came home just glowing with the story of liberal University of Michigan's incredible win on the football field, but more so because of the patriotic flavor of the day at the Big House. Honor was given to veterans all through the afternoon, all branches of the military along with a flyover originating in Texas with pilots who were grads of U of M and patriotic music throughout. Again, who could ask for anything more?

God bless.......

Is he kidding? "A CREDIBLE TERRORIST THREAT?"

2010-10-31T23:36:00.002-04:00

Call it what it was and is: A THWARTED TERRORIST ATTACK! Is the man nuts or is this one of Obama's many denials? He just doesn't get it. Or at least he pretends so he can go out flying around the country on Air Force I doing what he loves best: Campaigning. Undoubtedly on our nickel, right? What a guy...

The other bit of news or maybe it's not new to you and I've been asleep at the switch, they even have a name for those unemployed citizens who are nearing the end of their unemployment: 99ers because their 99 weeks are coming to an end in the near future.

The first million will be hitting the wall in December and another 3 to 4 million by the end of April.

What will that do to the economy unless the private sector can get some straight answers on tax structure and necessary changes in Obamacare?

Even if it seems like a lost cause, please call anyone you know and plead with them to vote Tuesday. Do you have relatives or friends or even business associates in Nevada, Washington or California? Call them, please.

I somehow ended up on a mailing list for the Democrat Senatorial Committee and you would not believe the pressure they are putting on the millions of people who get their emails. And every big name you can think of has been signing letters and asking for anything from $5 to $10 to $25 every time. Sometimes as many as 2-3 a day. They are really working to move their base and we need to keep up our pressure also. Personal contacts are the best. Emails, cards, letters and robo calls just don't get the job done.

And a few prayers asking for guidance for all of us to do the best for our country.

God bless.........

The Patriot Post

2010-10-25T13:32:00.004-04:00

If you are not already a subscriber, I highly recommend The Patriot Post at www.patriotpost.us which always has interesting, informative and just plain common sense articles ranging from cartoons, to Founder's Quotes to inspire and commentary which will stand anyone in good stead. I must admit that I am not a follower of blogs like the Drudge report, Rush Limbaugh's thoughts and other extremely well known commentators. I fear that they are more interested in the numbers of readers and in some cases, their advertisers needs.

As most of you know, I have always looked for stories that will have an effect on the economy of our state and nation and above all, the ultimate effect on our own pocketbooks and bank accounts. The personal influence on the way we think and the way we act toward our friends and neighbors is not to be found on the web, but in what we are taught or glean from our studies on and attitude toward moral law, natural law and even eternal law. (This from a few weeks of attending a seminar fostering discussions on putting together our personal religious viewpoints plus the influences and benefits of living in a country where we have the freedom to do so.)

This was an opportunity to put a few things together at a critical point in history given that the election to be held next week will either confirm the loss of certain freedoms or open the door to the knowledge that we have time to save ourselves from further loss and reinstate previous and precious freedoms--both God given and those fostered from the beginnings of our Republic.

It is an absolute imperative that we use our rights as citizens and recognize that we need to put forth that little bit of extra effort in encouraging (in any way from push to shove) your friends, neighbors and relatives to vote. As one of the early church fathers put it, it is a moral obligation to exercise the rights of a good citizen ie., one who studies issues and candidates. Not only that, but that it is very "difficult to be a good Christian without being a good citizen." And all the people said "Amen."

God bless.......

Is Everything Redundant?

2010-10-17T22:41:00.002-04:00

It just seems that everything political has been said before and not just once but many times over. It's just plain scary that pounding on the same misinformation is productive when mining for votes. At this point in time I only want it finished.

Maybe because I started this blog 2 years ago last August and wrote daily until our recent primary?

Some of the issues that have much to do with the global economy and the future of not only America, but other countries as well are still pertinent. Some recent headlines:

How to Reform Obamacare
Document Questions (re Foreclosures) Cloud Recovery
The U.S. Will Lose a China Trade War
Goodbye, Free Trade?
China Sharpens Its Steelmaking Game
Why Liberals Don't Get the Tea Party Movement
and my personal favorite--
Japan Scrambles for Rare Earth

The whole concept of rare earth minerals is fascinating and can make or break specific companies and even countries. We've discussed it before, and will do so again since we can't be sure if our readers are up to speed.

I am really looking forward to a weekly posting concerning issues rather than the personalities and politics of the elections. If you have suggestions for topics you'd like me to research, please feel free to comment.

In the meantime, it's time to swap out summer and winter clothes closets. And, if you're a little lazy like me, run those washable gloves and scarves through the laundry.

The colors are absolutely gorgeous!
God bless........

Mark Brewer Lies Again: manufactures "sleeping judge" photos of Justice ---COMMENTARY FOLLOWS

2010-10-09T03:20:00.004-04:00

THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! IT WORKED WITH CLIFF Taylor, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK THIS TIME.

It is way past time that we use the "L" word to describe liars. No more Mr. Nice Guy! Let's get this out wherever we can. Put it on your Facebook page or any other venue you have.

God bless the good guys and Bob Young is one of the best!

Commentary for this week:

I feel no need to go into detail about any of the following subjects or issues. Suffice to say that nothing has changed, at least not for the better, with any problems we have been agonizing over the last 21-22 months. Let's take a walk down memory land.

Remember Cash for Clunkers? And you older folks can hark back to Nixon's wage and price freeze. What was the net result? It delayed the actual problem which we were trying to avoid. Exactly the same thing is happening with the FORECLOSURE issue. By putting a moratorium on them, it will just be delaying the inevitable and if the Democrats are still in control, they will try another band aid approach and there will be no improvement in the economy or jobs market and all housing values will be down whether you have been in arrears or not.

Schauer is still lying, now even the strongest of supporting unions are asking for waivers from the health care bill, unemployment is stagnant at over 9% unless you live in one of the states such as Michigan where it is still above the average.

The Dems are still using Social Security as a wedge issue when in fact they are holding secret meetings with secret plans to increase the retirement age just wondering if it will be a Lame Duck issue. Of course Schauer still says it is perfectly healthy and nothing needs to be done.

Obama is still campaigning, guess I should say he has ratcheted up his campaigning, and is singling out Karl Rove and others as targets. Strange, isn't it? First he took on the entire state of Arizona and now he sits idly by while foreign countries do his dirty work for him. How proud he must be. So his anti America, anti business and apology tours continue unchecked while he blames the American public for their own unemployment saying we aren't smart enough to retrain for some types of jobs.

I'm going to say it out loud. I've whispered it to a few friends, but in my opinion I doubt that he has ever taken an economics course. Either he had a live stand in or a cardboard cutout going in his place. He just doesn't get it. He wouldn't know a Laffer curve from an S curve let alone a graph showing diminishing returns.

I heard a Democrat pundit opine that there should be at least one thing both parties should be able to agree on. Well, I have the answer: No More Earmarks! Now who do you think is the Party of No?

Today's beauty was a gift from God, hope you enjoyed it.
God bless......

Obama's Attempts at Mind Control or Control of Belief Systems--

2010-10-03T21:07:00.002-04:00

A friend sent me a piece from the "New York Times" of September 28 which was a hodge podge of topics from the Supreme Court (both historically and current,) Justices, segueing to definitions of law and Obama's accidental but actually planned, since remarks had been published previously, which in some religious circumstances would be called sins of omission.

In particular we were given sufficient evidence to realize that he was intentionally omitting the Creator in the familiar "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed with certain inalienable rights: life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness." One of the incidents happened during in a speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on September 15.

We will probably never know what he is really up to, or maybe we will, it doesn't matter. There are as many opinions and theories as there are pundits plus a goodly number of ordinary but curious citizens as well. What was of more than passing interest, however, especially coming from the NY Times, was the following paragraph concerning George W:

After pointing out that Obama had omitted reference to the Creator it went on to say "George W. Bush, not usually credited by the media with high powers of mind, gave a truer version of the Founding principle when he famously observed that "we" did not give these rights to each other. If we gave these rights to each other--if we ourselves were the source of those rights or the authority that conferred--we could not as readily withdraw them. But those rights were thought to bring them from the very nature of human beings that no man was by nature the ruler of other men in the way that God was by nature the ruler of men, and then were by nature the rulers of horses and cows. These rights were taught them to spring from the 'laws of nature and of Nature's God.'"

Is he trying to confuse everyone? Or is he just trying to change the subject? Does it not seem that he is just trying to change the subject so folks forget about his religion and the accompanying theories on his birth. If he's a Muslim, why doesn't he just say so? I truly doubt that it would upset many people. The American citizen just doesn't like to be lied to. And look around--we're really pretty darn tolerant and forgiving.

But I do love the fact that even the NYT has eaten a little crow and admits that good old "W" is a pretty good thinker. Sure wish there were a few good men and women with some common sense in the White House and the rest of those buildings in D.C.

Caught Off the Record Friday evening and Breslin and Lyons acquitted themselves nicely, but the Democrat woman (think she's a McNamara) came off as a throwback to the good old tax and spend Democrat. Didn't catch the name of the Democrat fellow, but he was difficult to read. It seems he is digging as deeply as he can to find issues that may or may not be relevant, but he thinks it makes him look as though he knows all the intricacies of MSU. Don't forget to vote the entire ballot where the judges and education contests are.

Have a good week-
God bless.......

Does Anyone Remember What the Definition of "Is" is?

2010-09-27T21:30:00.003-04:00

I just can't look at the former President without thinking of him concerned about the definition of "is" and the fact that he "did not have sex with that woman." I just can't imagine that anyone would ask that man to participate in a campaign when everyone knows full well that unless he is under oath (and even then one can't be sure) that he has a lot of trouble with telling the truth.

I don't know enough about subconscious thought or subliminal suggestions, but it would seem to me that any candidate would want someone of good character, integrity and at least a modicum of honor to speak for and ask for support. Hmmm, maybe it's because the choices for believable former and present Dem Presidents is so limited....

Read a short piece written by a surgeon who has been helping out in Haiti both immediately after and periodically since the earthquake. After such a horrendous experience and given that it's not the first time that island has suffered a disaster, I started wondering what it is about the human race that pushes us to keep "returning to the scene of the crime." I mean, rebuilding after a flood, or a forest fire or a hurricane or even a volcano.

Is it because we all deep down enjoy the excitement? Or might it be a simple trade off of risk vs the sheer beauty of a location and joy at being able to wake up every day looking at a picture post card scene? The next thought was wondering if that mindset is similar to the one which leads some folks to vote for a government which takes away freedoms in exchange for security? Does it seem that these two positions are so opposite as to be a comment on the gamut of emotions between risk and security? Those of us who consider ourselves somewhere in the middle look at the extremes and mutter, "Go figure."

It looks as though Obama is trying to convince people that his health care plan is a positive and one of the issues being talked about this week is the one allowing folks to keep their kids on their insurance plan until age 26. I called a couple of companies but of course they wouldn't commit to an actual number (I had seen $3000 as the average cost for such coverage) but it was frustrating for me when they said that of course this was not going to be free coverage, but couldn't explain why the insurance companies weren't clarifying the fact.

Have you heard anyone at all indicate that there will be a cost for this benefit? If you did, I'm sure it was in the small print or an afterthought. Just another example of a half truth. It seems pretty obvious that the public has already made up their minds and the polls are not changing. Too little, too late, Mr. President.
When Ms. Pelosi said we had to pass the bill to see what was in it, apparently she spoke the truth. All the warnings were accurate.

Had a request on how to make a comment. When this is posted, I will click on the pencil and at that point if memory serves, a screen will appear, you can choose any name you want, and follow the prompts. I'll give it a try. It's been a long time.

Sorry I'm a day late, have my husband in the cardiac unit at the local hospital. He rec'd 3 stents and I'm bringing him home tomorrow.
God bless.........

Washington, DC - the Largest Example of Discrimination in the Whole Darn Country!

2010-09-19T22:43:00.004-04:00

1-And much of it is self-imposed. For years and years and years Blacks in DC have had to suffer second rate schools for their children. They took part in lotteries and made applications for the few spots given as scholarships in the private schools in their city. They existed in a constant state of fear and hope for the futures of their children.

Then, when they elected themselves a mayor who championed the betterment of the public schools with test scores moving up and things in general were looking up, along came the election just a few short days ago. They turned out a mayor who was concerned for their children's education because he was too friendly to white people. Now they have a mayor who made some pretty tepid promises. Wonder how long it will take for him and the electorate to forget them.

2-Just one word to the Democrats like Mark Schauer who don't want to do anything about Social Security knowing full well that they won't have to take the heat when there will be absolutely nothing left for the next generation who will be paying through the nose for the baby boomers.

The very word PRIVATIZATION is what is driving the argument. We need to demand that both parties plus the CBO and OMB "run the numbers" and figure out exactly how much the twenty-somethings and the thirties and perhaps into the forties might be phased in and let them see where there is equilibrium to pay those who are already retired or close to it will be collecting what is due.

We need to start using terms like PERSONAL SAVINGS SECURITY or something akin to it to demonstrate that this is not the risky "toss it all into the stock market" that Schauer would have them believe. He is such a charlatan. Mortgaging our children and grandchildren's futures with borrowed money while at the same time being blind to the need to actually protect Social Security rather than let it go to the point where even the IOUs are worthless.

Allowing for a personal retirement account for the younger half of the workforce ranging from 15 to 30% of their FICA tax would mean that everyone would have money that actually belongs to the individual -- actually have it in their own name and be able to spend, save or will it. It's their money!

3-I must have missed the actual date that the Student Loan program turned into the "College Grant" program. A loan needs to be repaid. A grant is free money. Now tell me-if all loans will be forgiven after a period of years depending on whether or not the recipient works for the public or private sector-doesn't that make them grants? Just more socialism and he calls it "cradle to career." He is truly a master of deceit.

4-Speaking of government jobs, how about this? We know that wage and price controls don't work. But how about freezing public job hiring? How about a 5 year attrition program?

5-Deja vu? Where have we heard the buzz words before? The stimulus money (which he now calls something else) is being doled out and millions are being spent on 55 jobs here and 24 jobs there, etc., etc. They could make these people millionaires who could live off their investments and do it cheaper having money left over. They're not calling it "shovel ready" this time, it's repairing the infrastructure. And don't forget the $26 billion a few weeks ago that saved or created so many teachers' jobs. Top it off with the bundling of mortgage money again and selling it to Fannie and Freddie. Same old, same old. The recession will not be over until they get a handle on the housing market. Visualize this: I'm sitting here just moving my head back and forth, back and forth. I just don't get it. How can they think it will work this time when it didn't the last time.?

First day of Fall is Wednesday-
Beautiful time of the year-
God bless...........

Are You Stressed Out Yet?

2010-09-14T16:08:00.005-04:00

I know it sounds conspiracy theorist, but it just seems to me that there are too many people or factions who are hell bent on putting as much pressure on the rest of the population that they will fall without a fight because we simply are using all our energy just to maintain equilibrium and get our jobs done. Say it isn't so!

How many hours have been wasted by how many people over the question of where or if to build a mosque when there already is one four blocks away? How many people have agonized over hearing an Imam who is on the U. S. payroll making a foreign tour as our representative who returns to U. S. soil to make the observation that the concept of hallowed ground at Ground Zero is disingenuous? This is freedom run amok. It would seem to me that if localities can make laws keeping one individual from building something that obstructs another's view, there should certainly be a way to stop this nonsense, but politics will prevail when liberals are involved.

We went through months and months of being told how much money we would save with Obama Care and now the Democrats are being told not to use that as an argument in favor of it. Pelosi said we had to pass the bill to see what was in it and here we are at the same old place with more people every day deciding it was the worst thing they could have imagined.

Rec'd a photo of the speakers on the speakers' platform at Ft. Hood during the flag ceremony with everyone but the President saluting. Obama's hands folded in front of him in what was termed "the Presidential Crotch Salute." It's enough to make us scream.

Adding insult to injury, the Democrats are lying about their votes during the past 20 months like Mark Schauer. The local newspaper quoted him in one of his ads and then went on to list the ways he was not telling the truth. He is taking advantage of senior citizens by lying about privatization and NAFTA. They just parrot what he has told them. Reminds me of when that "lady" told the same story to 5 different Democrat candidates who used it as though she lived in their districts when that was not the case, but the story was a lie to begin with.

Democrat politicians have a practiced leader in Mark Brewer whose playbook contains lies, lies and more lies. "Tell it often enough and they will believe it."

We are waiting to hear whether the Tea Party will win in Delaware where they have truly become a third party and have split the Republican vote. If the young lady wins, the race will go to the Democrats as happened in New York's 23rd. Of course, that candidate was no better than the Democrat, but at least would have voted for Republican leadership which is another chapter in political science.

And of course we now have the President in full campaign mode, campaigning now on the taxpayer's dollar. For a guy who pretends to be a unifier he bad mouths the very people he says he wants to work with. And just for the record, if he cons the Republicans into giving him something, we can be sure that he will not keep any word that he gives to work with them in a future area. Remember Reagan-he worked with a tax increase with the understanding that they would cut spending. Yeah. Right. In your dreams.

How hypocritical will it be if I say "have a good day" after all this?

So I'll just say-have as good a day as you can make it--love your kids.
God bless......

Home is not a House? or "He has the attention span of a gnat on crack"?

2010-09-05T21:35:00.003-04:00

The gnat remark I just wanted to share. Read it in a book a few days ago and thought it descriptive of a whole lot of people as individuals or groups who say they are representative of vast numbers of citizens.

As for the "home is not a house" reference, as I was watching a TV show following a character walking into an apartment building through a narrow hallway lined with glazed brick, it brought me up short. In college days our apartment and the first job after graduation also, were the second story of private homes. I am not suggesting that one is better than the other, but the way folks have grown up and where they have lived will certainly give different ways of looking at life in general and in specific instances too numerous to list. Can there be any wonder that we have so many varied outlooks on political issues? Just saying...

Posting on a weekly basis certainly gives one a different perspective. For two years every day brought what might be called a "headline news" mentality where we felt outrage on a daily basis interspersed with a rare feeling of euphoria and many times, however near despair. How is it that the general public just won't accept the truth so often but just as often will repeat outright lies so easily?

I am so tired of Democrats slapping a "PRIVATIZATION" label on the Republican idea of giving young people up to a certain age the opportunity to INVEST a portion of their Social Security tax in stocks or bonds or other approved areas on a VOLUNTARY basis!! This would belong to the individual! Private property which they could leave to their families in case of a fatal accident. As it is now, you get a monthly check until you die and that's the end of the whole thing.

The entire so-called Trust Fund which the Democrats say will fund SS until 2037 is nothing but a bunch of IOUs in a file cabinet in Parkersburg. The government will have to be borrowing money from China and Japan to pay back the money they have stolen from the fund over the years. How stupid and gullible do they think we are?
One other comment on SS - by the President. In trying to balance the budget there will be nothing left off the table, including Social Security. Watch out!!

Just like Obama, Pelosi and their spokespersons keep saying that the stimulus money goes to the people which increases their wealth. Really? Since we don't have the money and need to borrow, again from foreign countries, any interest and repayments go to the foreign countries!! Undoubtedly there may be a small percentage of Americans who buy Treasury bonds, but that number is certainly dwindling and is minuscule in the big picture.

An interesting couple of numbers: American businesses on average through the years carry about a 7% cash to assets. It now stands at 11%. Wouldn't you think they could use some of that to hire workers? Democrats say it's because there is no market for their product. Businessmen say it is because they don't know what the future tax structure will look like and they have no clue what the health care plan will actually cost them. So who are you going to believe?

Ran across a photo of twisted steel which has been formed into a cross at the site of the BP Horizon explosion. I double dare the ACLU and the Atheists groups to suggest that it be taken down.

On the "withdrawal" of troops from Iraq. Overheard several Democrat apologists opine that Iraq is worse off than when we went over there since there were civilian casualties. Can't help wondering if they have forgotten about the 350,000 Iraqis found in mass graves. God bless our troops who have given hope to so many Iraqis.

It's at this point I'm tempted to go back to more frequent posts. I would like to tell you the entire story of how we, and the rest of the world, are getting glass from China, but it would go on too long. Suffice to say that Toledo, Ohio used to be called Glass City. My son swam on the Glass City Aquatic YMCA team for a number of years so it's close to my heart.

As it turns out the making of glass is hugely power intensive and to put it simply, from a satellite camera it is easy to see that where China has smokestacks generating power, the United States has the equivalent in stacks of pollution control equipment and restrictions prohibiting that generation. This is a much more detailed story, but you get the message.

The worst part of it is that it also connects with the other American companies in China who are not making the kind of profit they anticipated because China is starting to regulate foreign countries means of production and favor their own burgeoning companies. As you know,many of those companies' foreign profits have enabled them to stay in business here at home. It also has implications on the manipulation of the rare earth minerals we have discussed before.

Final comment: Start correcting people who call Rick Snyder a moderate. The Democrats slapped that label on him shortly after his name recognition started picking up. I have to hand it to them. It's always a good idea if you can define your opponent, but we really need to fight back on this. I do believe Rick is going to clarify his position on abortion. He really hasn't made a definitive statement. But no matter what his position might be, he can't begin to look as liberal as Virg Bernero who is a flaming pro abortion candidate, make no mistake. That is the only issue about which one might use the term moderate, making it truly a moot point.

He's a great candidate and Brian Calley's background is only a super plus. So let's get rid of the moderate label. Next week I want to talk about Con Con.

Have a good Labor Day--
God bless...........

Deficits, Debts and Unfunded Liabilities: The Consequences of Excessive ...

2010-08-29T22:43:00.002-04:00

I found this video while researching material for the trifold which I hope to have ready shortly. It will not only be available online, but can be printed out for folks to share with those who are either not adept at working the internet or on principle don't use it. I think you will find it worth your while.

You've probably already heard and read about the Republican State Convention yesterday. Yes, it was a long day but the undercurrent of excitement kept one from being bored or impatient (unless you were held up in the registration fiasco) and between talking to old friends, sharing stories and experiences it was time well spent.

One piece of good news this week. The UAW has demonstrated common sense in that they worked with Navistar Casting in Indianapolis which was scheduled to close before the end of August will be back in production by summer's end. Chalk one up for the good guys.

The bad news on the union (Teamster's) front was that as a result of not allowing Mexican trucks into the United States even though they have passed muster on the safety front, has resulted in tariffs being put on more American goods--so the unions have benefited again while other farmers and production folks suffer.

So figure. Have a good week.
God bless.........

I Want Your Money Trailer (2010) HD

2010-08-26T12:20:00.001-04:00

I just put this on to see if I could do it.

Where to Start? Mosques? Tea Party? State Convention? Pundits?

2010-08-22T21:52:00.003-04:00

CALL it chutzpah - there's no other appropriate label for Tea Party people who think that because they are getting a lot of press and no one can get elected without them, they think the world is their oyster. And in some ways it is. We've always said we are really glad to see so many people interested in the world of politics. Better late than never, but those who think they can come off the street and run for Secretary of State or Attorney General must have stars in their eyes and need to come back down to earth.

Up until now they have been content to probably vote, sort of know what is going on in Lansing and DC and complain quite a bit. Then the 2008 election was the straw that broke the camel's back and they are out in force. They are ready to throw out the baby with the bath water and are looking to replace all the volunteers in several counties. The elections for Republican Executive Committees is in November with elections of officers in December or January. At that point, excuse the expression, all hell may break loose.

Not that anyone is indispensable, it just doesn't seem that it would be a productive exercise to toss out several hundred years of experience and service to the political/governmental structures which, whether they like it or not, are necessary to keep certain services running efficiently. I guess it could be likened to term limits on steroids when everyone has to leave at the same time. Let's wait and see.

Not much to say about mosques that hasn't been said already, but to actually have a piece of an airplane land on the roof of that building and the possibility that some body parts may also have landed there and decomposed before being found makes any arguments about proximity moot. On top of that, they didn't even talk about a Cultural Center until there were some voiced objections. The holier than thou elites are having their opportunity to feel superior as always.

AS FOR the "Is the President a Christian?" question, may I point out that we do allow courts to convict criminals on circumstantial evidence. How does this grab you? His pastor of 18 years made a habit of damning America; He cancelled the National Day of Prayer; followed by his participation in Muslim ceremonies; he announced to the world that the United States was no longer a Christian nation; so what are we to think? Doesn't the Bible have references to "go out to all the world and spread the good news?" I'd say he appears to be doing the opposite. But that's just what we can see. We can't see into his heart, and he has made it difficult for us to believe the White House press release. Actions speak louder than words according to my mom.

One more thing: his book (or prop) carried when leaving the golf course one day was "Age of Unthinkable" with pundits noting that a companion volume was "Survivor's Club." What the heck?

THOSE same pundits are about as insulated as the politicians they seem to think they know all about how they think. My opinion: they all have one thing in common: they don't have a clue what middle America and the anyone west of Washington may think about any issue. Some day they ought to let some of us draw straws to appear on those talking head shows and I'll bet they'd come closer to the truth. They keep putting words in our mouths that are incredible. Whatever happened to their memories of growing up? Please don't tell me they all came from New York, New England, Chicago and California......

Republican State convention coming up Saturday. I have no clue how that will go. Don't even want to predict except for one thing. There will be many, many sore backs from sitting in bleachers all day long. Whose idea was that? We'll talk next week.

God bless.........

UAW Planning to Double Their Membership?

2010-08-15T23:03:00.002-04:00

According to a recent article in WARD'S Auto World that is just exactly what they have in mind and the game plan has to do with the foreign car makers in the U.S. who are not as yet unionized, but the workers have now reached an average age of 43 which gives the UAW the idea that they can be tempted to unionize given the bait of pension and retirement benefits.

For the last 25 years this has been an impenetrable goal because the Japanese have worked very hard to make the benefits available to employees without going through a strike process. However, with the Obama administration having made the National Labor Relations Board much more friendly to the unions, one never knows what avenues they will travel to make inroads.

Bob King, the new president of the UAW "has Toyota in his cross hairs." Since that company has had more than their share of bad press along with recalls he apparently figures they are in a weakened position and it may be time to "strike" while the iron is hot. Rumor has it that the UAW is organizing protests at the dealerships which are targeted toward putting pressure to the point of driving away business.

The writer, John McElroy, is guessing at a 50-50 chance of success. I'm thinking on a personal level as we have discussed before that those of us who were stung by GM and/or Chrysler via the payback to unions by the Obama administration, that it is time to change the effort just a little.

My first impulse was to either buy Ford or any foreign car that is actually Made in America. At the first sign of a demonstration by the UAW at a Toyota or other foreign car maker, I will probably have to take Ford off the top of my list. If the minority which is composed of auto workers thinks they can change the face of the automotive business I am wary that this would be one more example of the minority winning out over the majority. We have watched this happen in so many different venues of late that I can only pray that folks who have watched their own freedoms being lost will rise up and fight back against this kind of thuggery.

Michigan cannot afford to lose any contests for the good will of potential customers of their product at this point. If they are depending on unemployed auto workers to do the protesting I would hope they see the futility of such a move and we could all benefit from some common sense. If they "rent mobs" on the other hand, we probably don't stand a chance. It's a sorry state of affairs when the rank and file faithfully pay their dues so their leadership can not only take home six figure salaries but can put the remainder of their jobs in jeopardy.

Next, I'd like to put out the word on Ann Rice, an author who has had great success in the past, but obviously she needed a new way to pad her bank account. Maybe her latest vampire books (I started to read one once, but my 50 page rule--if it doesn't grab my attention in 50 pages I don't spend any more time on it--) weren't selling as well as earlier stories, but she has spent about 7-8 years recently saying she had gone back to her roots in the Catholic church, wrote a few books, had reviewers, clergy, and the public eating it up. She milked that market and just a short time ago she dumped her Christianity, turned back to atheism and made the announcement on Facebook. How shallow can you get?

Can you spell h-y-p-o-c-r-i-s-y and g-r-e-e-d? Can you see any logic or anything other than grasping at straws for reasons in the following rant? "In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refer to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen."

For anyone with a triple digit IQ there is no credibility in the above cry baby effort. She makes assumptions that can only be called diametrically opposed to each other and her final conclusion. How in the world can she equate saying "in the name of Christ" I am no longer Christian. Go figure.

And finally, maybe we should call this the "Quote of the Week" we tell the story of Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn) who proposed that borrowers be required to make a minimum 5% down payment in order to qualify for Fannie or Freddy loans. The proposal was rejected 57-42 on a party-line vote because, as Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn) put it, "passage of such a requirement would restrict home ownership to only those who can afford it." And we still haven't had an investigation into Fanny and Freddy and their effect on the country's meltdown. And we sent these people to Washington.

Have a good week-looks like it will be cooling off a bit-
God bless...........

Weekly Wrap-up

2010-08-08T23:06:00.002-04:00

Second thought time: Sunday evening is the better time for gathering information rather than Saturday.

First priority: I would like to make a suggestion that we all touch base with friends, family and the candidates strongly suggesting that unless they make a pledge NOT to pass detrimental lame duck legislation they will not get our vote. Not sure how much good it might do, but like chicken soup, probably wouldn't hurt.

Second priority: Now that we have nominated the gubernatorial candidates, we know their differences. For instance, for the pro life people, even though it is my understanding that Rick Snyder's position is weakened by support for embryonic stem cell research. The first thing we do is pray that we can change his mind on this, but bottom line, that is far superior to Virg Bernaro's extreme pro abortion position.

Next, if you read this early enough, there is a rally sponsored by the Americans for Prosperity meeting at the tanning salon just north of the CVS pharmacy across the street from Schauer's office at West and Ganson. There will be a counter demonstration so it would be helpful if you could join the crowd.

One of my resources just returned from a few days vacation in Europe with his son who is stationed in Germany. He reported that probably because of the large Muslim influx they found Al Jezeera television with English subtitles in all the hotels. The most interesting show he ran across was a critique of Al Gore which was anything but flattering. Interesting, right?

Have a good week--
God bless.........

Notice of Change of Frequency of Posting

2010-08-04T21:27:00.003-04:00

It seems as though there is so much repetition and campaigning ad nauseum and such lack of credibility that the news of the day any more is trying to put a different slant on the same old, same old. It is b-o-r-i-n-g!

When I had a website from 1998-2004 it was posted on a weekly basis and the hits were generally in the 2500 per month range. At that time the reports were so detailed that you could tell where they were coming from, how long it took them to read the material (or at least how long they stayed at the site) and individual email addresses. It was easy to print out and compare information which helped in formulating what kind of information was accessed and what was largely ignored. This is no longer the case unless you want to pay for it--pretty much everything has a commercial value on it now.

For that reason since the fields of candidates has been winnowed down for the general and within a couple of weeks the State Conventions in Michigan will take care of a few more races, it seems we just won't need to try to find different ways of saying much the same thing any more.

Therefore, I plan to post on a weekly rather than daily basis--we're close to 700 postings and frankly, that's enough.

If I find a subject such as windpower or rare minerals or some of the other topics we have covered before they were "common knowledge" or if there is new info about things we have already discussed, that is what you will find plus anything I think that you may not have already read about in a dozen other places.

I just don't want to waste your time, or mine, any more. I'm thinking I will probably post on Saturdays but that is not cast in stone. I hope and pray that you will have a pleasant last of summer and fall and that we all benefit from the mid term elections.

God bless.......

ps-the big difference as I see it between websites of the early days and today's blogs are the ability to comment. I have looked at others and some folks write paragraph after paragraph which I doubt anyone reads in its entirety, but every once in awhile you find a nugget of wisdom that no one else has thought about yet. I hope we find a few on this blog. Please feel free--

Counterfeit Government?

2010-08-03T23:37:00.003-04:00

Watched an informational story today which was a warning against identity theft of children too young to buy anything on credit thereby having a clean credit record. The Social Security numbers are stolen and given to adults with poor credit and merged with theirs to make a positive uptick. And they called them counterfeit cards.

Then the little ones turn 18 and they find they have a lousy credit history and consequently have trouble developing a decent credit rating. These things really do present a problem which takes long delays and time spent unproductively for everyone concerned.

Then on the evening news there was a story about counterfeit goods such as handbags, accessories and anything that can be sold from a kiosk or more easily than anything needing a fitting room. Plus the fact that ICE (immigration and customs people) were spending lots of time tracking them down in high end marketing cities. I realize this is theft similar to a copyright or patent, but they haven't gotten that far yet and I'm thinking if you see a vendor selling Gucci bags you know they are a knock off and if you have no problem using an inferior product at a lesser price, why should it warrant the time of ICE officers when people in border communities have to deal with assaults, home invasions, etc. where, if I were President, would set my priorities.

It occurs to me that we have several counterfeit individuals working in our government presently. Napolitano declares the borders are safer than ever. Just tell that to the survivors of a murder, or the guy in the hospital after being beaten by a member of a drug cartel. Sec'y Sebelius who is to protect the health of our country's individuals, staunchly supports abortion. Where's the protection? Geithner is supposed to make laws and recommendations concerning monetary matters but cheats on his taxes. How does that figure?

We could go on with the Rangels, the Waters, any of the others who support any and every way to shortcut the system by being just a teeny tiny bit unethical. Not hurting anybody?

What a mess!

God bless...........

Same Old, Same Old

2010-08-02T23:08:00.004-04:00

On the news front we had more stories about ethics infractions, their effect on elections, the Prez trying to make veterans think he really cares about them with promises and more promises, and the ads and robo calls continue ad nauseum.

Sorta reminds me of the old days when coaching summer time swim teams. The practice time, watching strokes and timing comparisons--you know the serious work. Finally you put the team together with each kid slotted where he or she can do their best so you kick back, relax and watch it happen. Oh, yeah, you cheer them on, but coaches are not allowed to get close enough to interfere with lane judges, timers, etc. so it's time to relax.

At that point in time you pray for perfect strokes, turns, touches and knowledge of the rules about being overly exuberant after the final relay and hope it's your turn to get tossed into the pool--that's like the football coach getting doused in Gatorade.

The primary is like an Invitational, but it's only mid season. The big one, the State or even National Championships are still to come in November, but there is much to be learned tomorrow.

Don't forget to vote and if you live in Summit Twp, a vote for Public Safety would be appreciated-
God bless..............

CBS Sunday Morning Show Disappoints Big Time!

2010-08-01T22:34:00.003-04:00

Usually there are some pretty good pieces on the show--it's one that you can read the Sunday paper and watch at the same time and lose little content from either, but today it was horrendous.

Item: They did a lengthy promo about not using air conditioning in order to make kids sweat and lose weight along with a/c units sending heat into the streets making it hotter outdoors with snide remarks done in baby talk on other points. I paid particular attention so I could see what organization took responsibility and guess what- there was none. It was strictly a part of the program and their efforts at controlling general behavior.

Item: The interview with Obama was nothing more than an infomercial putting him in the best possible light with much misleading information and conclusions with the obvious intent to make folks feel good about him leading up to the primaries. In fact, the second part will be aired on the CBS Morning Show. Does the Prez ever owe them!

Item: The featured story was about Hugh Hefner who took credit for helping influence Roe v. Wade, women's liberation and many other topics. He was so proud of his achievements and all I could think was that he should also be credited with a good share of broken homes, divorces and millions of children growing up without the loving guidance of two parents in one home. And since he brought it up, I have no qualms for giving him the credit for millions of abortions including the fact that nearly 70% of the abortions are performed on African American women who are less than 15% of the population. Now tell me, shouldn't he be given credit for genocide as well?

Item: Commentary about the possibility that with the war going badly Obama may get competition from his left in the next election. Observation that they don't want to install a Jeffersonian Democracy in Afghanistan, they just want to stop the war. You and I both know that there would be a slaughter that would make Vietnam look like kid's play if we pull out before the civilians can defend themselves from the Taliban. We have spoken before about plowing up those poppy fields and starting other businesses before we can conscientiously walk away.

Last thought: And this is not CBS' fault, it just happened to be in their time frame: Like Mother, like Son. A political ad for Kwame's mom featured lots of people thanking her for her service and ended with her thanking them for their support. But guess what was missing? The disclaimer at the end which has the candidate saying "This is _____ and I approve this message." It's the law, Mrs. Kilpatrick, but then you and Kwame think you are above it, right?

What a way to start a week.
We need God's blessings........

Straws that Break Backs or

2010-07-31T22:10:00.003-04:00

Sometimes it's the little things that drive you nuts!!

Don't they say that the American Presidency is the most powerful and important job in the world? Then will someone tell me why everyone is hung up on how to stop the guy that is endangering lives of our servicemen and women and civilians in Pakistan by putting out lists of people helping our military on Wikileaks?

If the Chinese can tie up the internet in China to the point where major companies were stymied in doing business over there, why can't our president get with the powers that be and do the same thing? Does he have a clue why his numbers are so low? He uses Executive Orders for anything he fancies; why not in this instance?

It should be a given that Fox News is the channel du jour in this household, no surprise there. But there is a problem with that. Geraldo Rivera. I can never hear his voice without thinking of the time he was broadcasting from a "military post" in Iraq and was ducking and dodging each time you could hear gunfire. He lost all credibility when they forgot to turn off the camera at the end of the shot and pulled away showing that he was on a very high and far away bluff at the time and certainly in no danger.

Now there's another one. A girl named Judy Miller who is described as a Pulitzer author. One of the first things I heard her say on an early show was to ridicule the American public for putting "more stock in the weather reporting of local reporters" than meteorologists. Well, duh- where does she think those charts and reports come from? Right straight from that kind of source and wherever we have lived through the years, most of the people she calls reporters really are graduate meteorologists as well. No credibility there either.

And last but not least, the White House paraded 3 unemployed folks who need further benefits this past week, one of whom couldn't work because she was in jail for a year and they didn't know she still carries the felon label.

Have as good a weekend as possible--
God bless........

Cynicism or Acceptance--

2010-07-30T22:07:00.002-04:00

With the advent of Charlie Rangel's improprieties coming to the forefront, the reaction of pundits, his contemporaries - Congressmen and women, plus the general public it really is a bit of a surprise that no one appears to be in the mood to bring a cheat to justice.

It also brought thoughts of other public figures who have been found out to be, shall we say, less than honest? Guys in high places such as Geithner who also cheated on his taxes, but it made no difference to anyone and he is named Secretary of the Treasury. I'm not going to start making a list, but you all know you could add at least one and there would be few duplications.

So the question is: Is dishonesty and cheating, primarily among political leaders, so prevalent that it is just accepted practice now? Or has the general public really become so cynical that the "everybody does it" syndrome pervades every aspect of our lives? We won't go into the cases of the clergy either tom-catting around or having extra marital affairs, but mention it just to demonstrate there are no barriers or exceptions from one profession to another. Maybe a lot of divorce has made it more acceptable.....

I really have no judgments to make nor do I have an answer for the root cause of bad behavior, just that it is a very sad and disappointing circumstance.

Maybe we had one little hint. Back when President Clinton committed perjury and caused many of his staff people to spend thousands and thousands of dollars for legal assistance when called before a grand jury at that time and absolutely nothing happened to him for setting a truly bad example for everyone, from children to adults, we may have seen the handwriting on the wall.

Have we ever witnessed anyone express true sorrow for their actions? Or have we seen the repeated "I'm sorry if I offended anyone" with the unspoken but obvious thought that they were mostly sorry that they were caught. Go figure.

Have a good weekend--
God bless.........

Californians Boycotting Arizona?

2010-07-29T22:41:00.002-04:00

Do you suppose they packed their lunch and carried their bedrolls with them? All those protesters from the left coat who came to protest had to eat and sleep somewhere and I'm sure they didn't want to spend any money in that despicable state.

That total jerk, head of ICE Morton and an accomplice, Mr. Bersin of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, attempted to pull the wool over the eyes of the WSJ readers today.

"Illegal crossings were down 23% last year, to a fraction of their all-time high." Really? Gee, 7/8 is a fraction, right? Who cares what it as actually? There are undoubtedly many reasons why crossings are down, such as: poor job market here; fear of the gang wars in border areas; the fact that Americans have been advised NOT to visit at least 3 Mexican cities--it just isn't safe in those border areas; others of which we're unaware.

"Today, the Border Patrol is better staffed........nearly doubling its personnel since 2004..." Hmmmm-any chance that a good share of the increased numbers were noted from 2004-2009? Do they really think folks don't absorb what they read any better than that? Those were Bush years! Obama's 1200 which have been identified as mostly desk jobs just doesn't cut it.

The Sheriff in the county next to Tucson reported today that the statistics for that area were 200,000 crossings along that county line for 2,000 per mile. Would you be boasting of that kind of record? Didn't think so.

This is just scandalous!
God bless.....

ps-I reported a couple of days ago that the NRA was afraid Schumer would be the next Senate majority leader. Today I found a piece that indicated Dick Durbin and Chuckie are fighting it out.

Y'all Come On In Now, Y'hear? The Borders are Officially Open!!

2010-07-28T23:57:00.002-04:00

Are we all living lives of quiet desperation yet? I think we have met the enemy and he is definitely not us, he is an Unimpeachable President. I say that knowing it will never happen, but can't help thinking that one of the duties he voiced when he took the oath of office was to (and I can't quote it exactly) defend our country and one would assume that means having secure borders, would it not?

If we ever needed a demonstration of how important it is to have the power to name the judges who, when they are Democrats, are likely to change the law rather than enforce it. So just wait until Kagan teams up with Sotomayer and Ginsberg.

Back to the Arizona decision or at least what is purported to be a decision. It is, rather, sort of a pick and choose sort of game.

Grasping at straws is also a game of sorts. First thought: When the first assault occurs, and we can guarantee there will be some blood shed by Arizonans or others, or God forbid someone is murdered and his/her survivors are the ones to attempt to get some justice, how will it be manifested? Is there a snowball's chance that any one could sue Judge Bolton or our Attorney General for conspiracy, aiding or abetting or even giving aid or comfort to criminals? I'm sure someone with a lot more experience could come up with something to grab some attention. Of course the buck should stop with the President, but he has too many protectors.

Second thought: Since the Feds are not enforcing the law, would it be a possibility that some really gutsy guy or guys could make a citizen's arrest? They would probably try to call it vigilantism, but it seems to me to be worth a try.

It is just so distressing to see those who are supposed to be protecting the public not only shirk their duties but actively prohibit individuals from self defensive actions. Sorta reminds one of those two border patrol guys who were tried in court after they enforced a U.S. law.

There's just gotta be a way around an administration that cares little about its responsibilities and even less about the safety of the citizens. So sad--
God bless.........

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR--

2010-07-27T23:29:00.002-04:00

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY--

It used to be that if you didn't want anything attributed to you it was important that you didn't "put it in writing." It still is, of course, but add to that the fact that videos complete with sound can be taped at the drop of a hat by anyone who happens to be within spitting distance.

Read a report the other day about how the media reports certain incidents either by putting some front and center and others are just ignored. Of course it is nearly totally dependent on who uttered the words. There were several examples set forth, but the ones that stuck out front and center for me were those by Michelle Obama.

Apparently there was an agreement, spoken or just "understood among friends" that she would get a pass on her opinion that until her husband was nominated for the Presidency she had never been proud of America. The second was that this country is "mean spirited."

Now that it looks like she is working so hard to get all the kids to slim down that she will go to any lengths to get that job done. The rumors are flying as to whether or not some schools will levy fines on kids who are overweight. Also that some schools are finding ways to put the information on report cards thereby making it a part of a formal record. (Up until now most younger kids didn't have to worry about the "permanent record" that follows them to college or beyond, but now who knows?)

The elites of this country are so focused on the redesign of our country that I can't see where the control will stop. Set your thermostat at___, get up at ___am, go to bed at ____pm, have breakfast, lunch and dinner at the same time every day, go to the bank, the dry cleaners, the grocery store, car wash on _____day, check your internet using only 18 minutes per day or some such. Go to this doctor, this dentist, this movie, this school or college or this apprenticeship and buy this brand. There will be no end to this.

Scarier and scarier--
God bless..........

NRA - Friend or Foe?

2010-07-26T23:25:00.004-04:00

Found out something we didn't know about the NRA the other evening. Perhaps it is general knowledge, but I either didn't hear it properly or just didn't want to accept it. So I spoke to a long time member Thursday evening and asked how they rationalize endorsing Harry Reid when his opponent appears to be much more conservative than he.

The answer was that Harry Reid has been a staunch supporter of the NRA and if he were to be defeated the next majority leader would probably be Charles Schumer or someone equally as liberal. I just had not anticipated finding out that their single issue trumped having any position on any other issue no matter what.

So there you have it. They are complete takers and expect anyone else to give to them with no thought or hint of any reciprocal action. That is one of the problems in this country -- that there are too many people who can and will sit on their duffs and expect others to supply them with the wherewithal to supply them with what they consider the necessities of life. As far as the NRA is concerned, that is all that matters to them--that they can own guns.

Well, folks, I happen to think that there is a lot more to life than owning a gun even though I have stood up for the NRA on many occasions. That will never happen again. When they ask me for anything, the answer will be a resounding "NO!"

I always used to say that I didn't want a gun in my house but wanted my neighbor to be armed. No longer. Guess I should stock up on pepper spray and wasp and hornet spray for defensive purposes.

Sleep well--
God bless........

Bouchard in Town

2010-07-25T23:33:00.003-04:00

This just in: Joe Arpaio, toughest Sheriff in Arizona and many agree in the entire country, has just endorsed Mike Bouchard!

Please don't forget to drop by the King Center between 5 and 6 or Spring Arbor McDonald's between 6:30 and 7:30 this evening.

And don't forget that there is still ample opportunity to file an intent to run for precinct delegate as a write in preferably by next Friday but it can be done on the day of the election at the polling place. Just know that the latest filings will slow down the process for everyone.

And don't forget what his financial advisors have been saying about keeping taxes low and diminishing pending. They realize the importance of the process. You wouldn't know it, however, with the President in campaign mode and criticizing John Boehner for saying exactly the same thing. He is still pointing fingers at Bush and completely forgetting that he has added 1.3 trillion to the national debt in his short time of 1.5 years.

Lastly, don't forget to encourage your friends to vote on August 3rd.

God bless.........

TownHall.com

2010-07-24T23:45:00.005-04:00

None of us has the time to read everything we would like if you have any kind of life away from the computer. The only one I check on a daily basis is Town Hall. If you are not a regular reader of Town Hall, I recommend you access it today to read the complete article by Floyd and Mary Beth Brown.

Here is a paragraph from today's piece on the Obama Commission for tax hikes aka the Fiscal Commission. Can't help but be just a little disappointed in Sen. Judd Gregg. I've always looked on him as being a conservative stalwart. This is a quote not only from the piece, but it quotes Gregg:

"Everything has to be on the table - there's no question about that. Erskine Bowles, one of the co-chairmen of the commission, has suggested a 75-25 split - 75percent of the savings being in spending, and 25 percent in revenues. I think it's likely that there will have to be a revenue component, but it should be significantly, dramatically - and a 3-1 ratio is pretty dramatic - dramatically less than the initiatives in the spending side of the ledger."

It goes on to say that they can only be talking about cutting $3 in promised Social Security and Medicare benefits in exchange for $1 in tax increases....To close this gap with one-quarter tax hikes is, therefore, to raise taxes by $26.7 Trillion.

It goes on and on and on to the point where you almost can't believe it and want to throw up your hands. One more thing--don't forget that Erskine Bowles has always been a Clinton person and with the scuttlebutt floating around about Hillary's potential run in 2012, there may be more than taxes involved here--it could be cover for Mrs. Clinton's run. My opinion, not theirs.

God bless......

End of the Week Observations

2010-07-23T21:27:00.002-04:00

Charlie Crist of Florida should return all contributions made to him by Republicans during the past 18 months.

There's one thing I admire about diplomats because I'm absolutely sure that being polite to people who have insulted you and your country would be beyond me. Case in point: Mr. Cameron from the UK after the rude brush off they received the last time they were here and the examples of the Obama administration from Day 1. Remember the first gift the Prez game the Queen? An IPod with Obama speeches on it? And one of the first official acts of the President was the return of the Churchill bust?

The press conference after their visit was a sham. Mr. Cameron made a series of remarks and instead of just politely agreeing with him, the Prsident proceeded to make a speech of his own trying to make it look like he sort of agreed but wanted to show that he was smarter than his guest. Good grief!

And last, this business of the racist remarks of Shirley Sherrod being taken out of context. This was a total faux pas by the White House and Mr. Vilsack, her boss at the Ag Dept. I'm sure you know the story. Apparently this is kicking off a silly season on how the President will handle the topic of racism that he will now not be able to avoid because the press is going to make a big deal of it. Especially since he has had to personally apologize to her--somewhat similarly to the Beer Conference on the White House grounds after the fiasco when he called a Connecticut cop stupid.

My prediction: that anything he does or doesn't do, says or doesn't say will not be his fault. He is surrounded by all of his Marxist Socialist advisors whose opinions are at least 180 degrees from either whites or blacks in this country. He has a Cabinet full of Yes men and women who are knee jerk liberals and think we're all racists plus all the Czars, again whose opinions don't make a darn bit of difference to you or me or anyone else in the country. So President Obama cannot be faulted for anything given that he will be taking advice from "all of the above." And we certainly won't be able to tell if he has a personal opinion at all. Bottom line, he will get a pass. No harm, no foul. No responsibility taken, always the buck passer.

Today's storms were different in that it was just as hot after as before and there were at least two of them--
God bless...........

Released Today by WSJ--"Oldest kid" resource sent it a few days ago--

2010-07-22T23:04:00.008-04:00

CONTAINMENT SYSTEM TO IMPROVE CAPABILITIES IN EVENT OF FUTURE BLOWOUT IN GULF--
A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN CHEVRON, CONOCO PHILLIPS, EXXON MOBIL AND SHELL

Complete with diagrams showing the Capture Vessel, with Off Loading Line connected to the Shuttle Tanker. Connections to underwaterequipment/machineryconsisting basically of Umbilical cord from Capture vessel to Riser which is connected to a Manifold and to Subsea Containment Assembly including Dispersant System and Accumulator Unit. You engineering types probably understand this kind of system without a diagram. The rest of us can visualize equipment connected with tubes leading from one unit to another and with the following explanation can get an idea of how this will work.

"The system offers key advantages to the current response equipment in that it will be pre-engineered, constructed, tested and ready for rapid deployment in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Its primary objective is to fully contain the oil with no flow to the sea....It will be responsive to a wide range of potential scenarios, depths up to 10,000 feet, weather and flow rates exceeding the size and scope of the current spill....." In case of another incident this can be launched within days and fully operational within weeks.

SUBSEA COMPONENTS consist of: containment assembly creating a permanent connection and seal to prevent oil from escaping into water; interface points include wellhead, blowout preventer stack, lower marine riser package and casing strings with interchangeable equipment; prevention of hydrate formation and blockage; capture of caisson assemblies if required to enclose connector or leak outside well casings with watertight seals; capture and move flow through flexible pipe to riser assemblies made of seabed foundation, vertical pipe, buoyancy tanks and flexible connectors; systems supplied with hydraulizc/electric controls and chemical injection; riser assemblies and cords designed for quick disconnect from capture vessels so all subsea equipment stays in place in case of hurricane.

SURFACE COMPONENTS include the surface vessels, construction of modular process equipment to assist in connecting the riser assembly, separate oil from gas, flare the gas and safely store and offload oil to shuttle tankers which will be U.S. flagged and Jones Act compliant.

THE COMMITMENT from the sponsor companies is to immediately start the design, procurement and construction of equipment for this system. Initial investment is expected to be approximately $1 billion.ExxonMobil is to lead the engineering, procurement and construction. Existing equipment will be secured within six months and the new system target completion date is 18 months. The project is to form a new non-profit organization, the Marine Well Containment Company (MWC) to operate and maintain the system. Other Gulf of Mexico operators are encouraged to participate in this new organization.

Hope this is not "too much information" and at the same time I hope there is enough to get a fix on the project and know that even though we don't like our gas prices to go up, we need our gas and oil products and it's good to know that these companies are working together not only for their benefit, but the general public as well. We sure don't want to go through this kind of disaster again.

Hope you escaped the turbulent weather this evening--
God bless........