The title for this piece is probably the most discordant at first glance title I've ever put together. But, there is logic in my seemingly incongruous heading.
I just finished reading an entry over at Hot Air where my friend Ed Morrissey writes. There is an article about the Pakistani Intelligence Service (ISI) and the danger to the US and the region that the ISI loyalties are engendering. There are comments about the ISI and a nuclear Pakistan and A.Q. Khan that can be made later. What caught my eye was in the comments section by a contributor called "coldwarrior". He makes mention of the diminishing Pakistani middle class. He states that they are leaving Pakistan and had at first gone to the UK. Their reception there was less than warming and so they've started to come to the US. And any country can not survive well with only an elite and a lower class. The movement of this population gave me pause however.
I restate the obvious when I talk about illegals coming from primarily Mexico to the US. Again it's no secret why they come to America. But what a horrible indictment of the Mexican government! That your citizens find it necessary to leave their birthplace because of no discernible economic hope of improvement. And they come knowing that that is hostility towards them, that they may very well be exploited. And yet they come. But, here was where I tied the Constitution into this immigration scenario from two widely divergent countries: The Founders put great emphasis on individual and states rights. They envisioned and created a federation of individual and therefore fairly autonomous structures called states. The rights of the states were well protected within the framework of the Constitution (read the IX [aka 9th] Amendment to the Constitution). The Founders created a framework of territories (states) where if a citizen found a state inhospitable or not to his or her liking, they were able to move to a state that they found more agreeable. That as a moral and educated people, as long as neither force nor fraud were employed in any activities, we were free to be about our business as best we saw fit to pursue it. Truth be told, that if the Founders wrote a Constitution that did not guarantee that sovereignty to the states and individuals, there would have been no ratification potential by the states at all! This was the idea behind federalism. That idea is now moribund. With an overarching federal government, there is now no place to go to escape bad and crushing federal laws, bloated and "badge heavy" bureaucrats and bureaucracies with bad rules and even worse outcomes. This is not what the Founders had created. They created a constitutional republic. We now live in a functional democracy administered by a class of bureaucrats. They Founders abhorred the idea of a democracy.
And so, the Pakistanis and the many Mexicans exercise a type of international federalism in coming to the US, legally or otherwise. But they do come.
And where do we Americans go to escape a tyrananny federal government?
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Friday, July 04, 2008
Put your life at risk!
OK kids, put your life on the line! Risk being arrested and tried for treason and being executed! Step up! Sign the Declaration of Independence!
Now, a quick history refresher:
What does the 4th of July commemorate here in America? (Insert Final Jeopardy interlude music here). It commemorates the PASSING of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress, not its signing.
Anyhow, here is what the final product looks like:
Your signature appears at the bottom of the far left column.
So, there I am, Amendment X, risking the calling down of the furies for high treason against the Crown.
So be it. Bring it on!
By the way, here is the story of the Declaration of Independence and what happened to the signers.
Brave men indeed as there was no prohibition against "cruel or unusual" punishment. And high treason was punishable by drawing and quartering.
Now, a quick history refresher:
What does the 4th of July commemorate here in America? (Insert Final Jeopardy interlude music here). It commemorates the PASSING of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress, not its signing.
Anyhow, here is what the final product looks like:
Your signature appears at the bottom of the far left column.
So, there I am, Amendment X, risking the calling down of the furies for high treason against the Crown.
So be it. Bring it on!
By the way, here is the story of the Declaration of Independence and what happened to the signers.
Brave men indeed as there was no prohibition against "cruel or unusual" punishment. And high treason was punishable by drawing and quartering.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
His name is Don
He was a B-17 ball turret gunner. What he did was called "flying the ball". It, along with the tail gunner position were considered to be the most dangerous positions for the B-17 air crew.
His completed tour was supposed to be 25 missions that were upped to 30. But, he was shot down and served as a POW (prisoner of war). When being transported , the train he was on was strafed and jumped the tracks. Trains were considered "targets of opportunity" for fighters and it was not uncommon for American fighters to strafe POW trains as they were usually unmarked. He and a few other POW's, on seeing that they weren't being guarded after the derailing, took off and walked for five days, without food, and crossed the border into Switzerland where he was interred for the rest of the war.
He flew B-29's in the Pacific after being liberated in Europe, then flew B-52's.
I met Don at the Wednesday lunches for the 8th Air Force Historical Society, a group of many WWII vets including, but not limited to air and ground crew from the 8th, 15th, 9th, 12th, 7th and 20th Air Forces. We also have Navy and Marine ground and air personnel from the PTO. We also have vets from Korea, Vietnam, first Gulf War and now the second. And we have hanger-ons like me.
A couple of years ago Don was too ill to drive, so he asked me if I would pick him up for the lunches. Of course. I can't refuse a vet. How could I?
Well, I heard a bit of a different story about Don's career as a POW as we drove to Bloomington. He told me that he and a few others were fairly dissatisfied with their treatment in the Stalag. And he commented that the cuisine left much to be desired next to Mom's meatloaf. So, he said "We decided to leave. They weren't treating as nicely as we thought they should, and we heard the food was better in Switzerland. So, that's where we went." It was only later that I heard about his being on a POW train that was strafed.
And of course there was another story that took the entire twenty minutes on our second drive.
After Don was liberated, he got orders to report to California. He flew to, I believe, San Francisco. His next orders were to report to Hickam Field near Pearl Harbor. His next orders were to report to, again I believe, the Philippines. In all these orders he was never told the end point.
On that the far Pacific airbase he was told which officer to report to. The officer told him to suit up, which he did. Don, being an enlisted man, learned early on never to question orders or officers (who usually gave orders). Don suited up, was driven out to the flight line and was told to board one of these bad boys:
It's a Northrup P-61 Black Widow. And off to combat they flew. In combat, the pilot's screaming at Don "There's a Zero. Shoot the bastard!!!!" "Sergeant, what the hell's wrong with you? They're Japs all over the place and you haven't shot a single round!!! What the (very strong expletive here staring with 'F') are you doing?!?!?" Don's reply "I've never been trained as a P-61 gunner. Only a B-17 gunner!" Oops. Seems that some REMF (Rear Echelon Mother [Same expletive as before] military slang for someone behind the lines) had seen that Don went to gunnery school, was a combat experienced air crew gunner, and off he was ordered to the Pacific. To be the gunner on a P-61. Ain't the military bureaucracy grand?
Don flew B-29's afterwards,where his experience was much more relevant. And he was much happier. And the B-29 pilot didn't scream at him with nearly as much vigor (or as much colorful language) as did the P-61 driver. I failed to ask if the Air Force food was better than Swiss victuals. An oversight on my part, but a question for which Don would have had a wry answer.
Don had been in failing health over the past few years. He had gone from being old to being frail as are more and more of my WWII friends. He was on oxygen.
About two weeks ago Don fell and broke his hip. Rushed to the hospital Don was successfully operated on. All pinned up and on the mend Don was cracking wise with the hospital staff. But there was clot from the surgery. It broke loose,went to his heart and killed him.
His funeral service was Tuesday.
One of the members of his POW group led the prayer. He talked about our liberating God. How He liberated Moses and the enslaved Israelites. How He liberated Daniel from the lions' den. Liberated the three Israelites from the fiery furnace, the Israelites from Babylon and Paul and Peter from prison. Liberated Jesus from the grave. Liberated me from the consequences of my sins and my self-purchased first class one-way ticket for an eternal trip to hell.
Seems that the only acceptable currency for the purchase of liberty is blood. For us and our sins, it's the Blood of Jesus. For the luxury and liberty of being able to write, in English, and read this small memorial to Don, in the greatest nation on earth, the currency was and is the blood of soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen.
The blood of Don's brothers-in-arms.
And I feel the emptiness in my chest from missing him already.
So, go out and honor Don and others by fighting for liberty. Don and all those brothers-in-arms of his who risked all their tomorrows so we could have today.
Celebrate what he and millions of others fought and many died for.
Happy 4th of July.
By the way, here is a picture of Don and his air crew. Don is in the back row, third from the right.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Is Google Anti-American?
This may be the last blog entry for a while.
Seems there are questions regarding Google, its ownership of Blogger and the suspension of some Blogger sites that don't speak highly of the Obamamessiah.
Newsbusters has an article about the questionable suspension of these sites.
il Duce' at The Anti-Strib also has two articles .
Google, to be able to run its engine in China, agreed to censor results from searches run on its search engine.
Yahoo, Dogpile , Search and Ask (the old Ask Jeeves) are just a few alternatives. Maybe even consider MSN search. Just ignore the results from Google.
Seems there are questions regarding Google, its ownership of Blogger and the suspension of some Blogger sites that don't speak highly of the Obamamessiah.
Newsbusters has an article about the questionable suspension of these sites.
il Duce' at The Anti-Strib also has two articles .
Google, to be able to run its engine in China, agreed to censor results from searches run on its search engine.
Yahoo, Dogpile , Search and Ask (the old Ask Jeeves) are just a few alternatives. Maybe even consider MSN search. Just ignore the results from Google.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Thoughts on Heller
I had been anticipating the D.C. v Heller decision for some time. My friend Dr. Joseph Olson was one of the members of Heller's legal team in the oral arguments phase before SCOTUS.
You know some of my background when it comes to the 2nd Amendment (leadership team member for MNCCRN/GOCRA , AACFI Instructor , permit carrier under the former and present statute. I've been instructed by and shot with an Army Ranger, Air Force Intelligence officer, SWAT Sniper, member Delta Force, BCA certified Range Officer [the one responsible for teaching firearm techniques and range certifying police officers ] to name a few).
I'm not going to review the Heller decision. There are many sites that will do that for you (Second Amendment Foundation, the NRA and you can read Justice Scalia's majority opinion).
I am pleased at the Heller decision. I am also concerned. For the first time there is a SCOTUS decision that the 2nd Amendment means what it has always meant. This a significant victory. I won't discount that.The concern: it was a 5-4 decision on a case that absolutely should have been 9-0.
Now, in the late 1780's, as we were still waiting for Marconi to invent radio and Al Gore to get that internet thing up and running, the only available mechanism to broadcast the proposed Constitution was the printing press. To be sure that the citizens understood what the document meant, it was written in plain, common everyday language for the late 18th century. The federalists wrote a series of articles that collected were called the Federalist Papers that explained in detail what the framers meant. The Anti-Federalists were very concerned about this federal government, having just finished fighting the most powerful central government in the world, the British monarchy and Parliament. The Anti-Federalists were responsible for the Bill of Rights to ensure redundancy in the preservation of liberty. The Bill of Rights was also written in the common , everyday 18th Century vernacular so as to absolutely clear about intent and meaning. And with all that, there were four Supreme justices who found a new and completely contrary meaning in those 27 simple and direct words. Justice Breyer wrote :”In my view, there simply is no untouchable constitutional right guaranteed by the Second Amendment to keep loaded handguns in the house in crime-ridden urban areas.” Justice Stevens wrote that there was a "settled" precedent regarding the regulation of firearms for militia use. He then wrote:"The Court's announcement of a new constitutional right to own and use firearms for private purposes (emphasis mine) upsets that settled understanding." A "new" constitutional right. Unlike the old right of habeas corpus for foreign enemy combatants that these four plus Justice Kennedy magically "found" and "announced" this session, that somehow my copy of Constitution doesn't contain.
Justice Scalia wrote about the interest in keeping firearms out the hands of the mentally unstable and felons. And therein lies the fight: how is "mentally unstable" defined? How are they "prevented" from owning or having firearms? How well has gun control kept firearms out of the hands of criminals? The left will never, ever give up. Always remember,evil only compromises to establish the new negotiating point. Evil always wants it all.
As I told a friend of mine last night this a very important decision. But, it is only a single victory for a single battle, albeit an important battle ,as was Gettysburg, in the never ending war the left wages on America, liberty,freedom and good. How the significance of this decision plays out will show itself over the coming decades with state judges and legislatures, the federal judiciary including SCOTUS and Congress.
It bears repeating and certainly remembering: Heller was a 5-4 decision. It hung on a single Justice , Kennedy, who was also the swing vote for the child rape law and the enemy combatant/habeas majority opinions . Plessy v Ferguson established that "separate but equal" as being constitutional was overturned 58 years later by Brown v Board of Education.
Heller can also be overturned.
Some additional thoughts I posted at Hot Air.
You know some of my background when it comes to the 2nd Amendment (leadership team member for MNCCRN/GOCRA , AACFI Instructor , permit carrier under the former and present statute. I've been instructed by and shot with an Army Ranger, Air Force Intelligence officer, SWAT Sniper, member Delta Force, BCA certified Range Officer [the one responsible for teaching firearm techniques and range certifying police officers ] to name a few).
I'm not going to review the Heller decision. There are many sites that will do that for you (Second Amendment Foundation, the NRA and you can read Justice Scalia's majority opinion).
I am pleased at the Heller decision. I am also concerned. For the first time there is a SCOTUS decision that the 2nd Amendment means what it has always meant. This a significant victory. I won't discount that.The concern: it was a 5-4 decision on a case that absolutely should have been 9-0.
Now, in the late 1780's, as we were still waiting for Marconi to invent radio and Al Gore to get that internet thing up and running, the only available mechanism to broadcast the proposed Constitution was the printing press. To be sure that the citizens understood what the document meant, it was written in plain, common everyday language for the late 18th century. The federalists wrote a series of articles that collected were called the Federalist Papers that explained in detail what the framers meant. The Anti-Federalists were very concerned about this federal government, having just finished fighting the most powerful central government in the world, the British monarchy and Parliament. The Anti-Federalists were responsible for the Bill of Rights to ensure redundancy in the preservation of liberty. The Bill of Rights was also written in the common , everyday 18th Century vernacular so as to absolutely clear about intent and meaning. And with all that, there were four Supreme justices who found a new and completely contrary meaning in those 27 simple and direct words. Justice Breyer wrote :”In my view, there simply is no untouchable constitutional right guaranteed by the Second Amendment to keep loaded handguns in the house in crime-ridden urban areas.” Justice Stevens wrote that there was a "settled" precedent regarding the regulation of firearms for militia use. He then wrote:"The Court's announcement of a new constitutional right to own and use firearms for private purposes (emphasis mine) upsets that settled understanding." A "new" constitutional right. Unlike the old right of habeas corpus for foreign enemy combatants that these four plus Justice Kennedy magically "found" and "announced" this session, that somehow my copy of Constitution doesn't contain.
Justice Scalia wrote about the interest in keeping firearms out the hands of the mentally unstable and felons. And therein lies the fight: how is "mentally unstable" defined? How are they "prevented" from owning or having firearms? How well has gun control kept firearms out of the hands of criminals? The left will never, ever give up. Always remember,evil only compromises to establish the new negotiating point. Evil always wants it all.
As I told a friend of mine last night this a very important decision. But, it is only a single victory for a single battle, albeit an important battle ,as was Gettysburg, in the never ending war the left wages on America, liberty,freedom and good. How the significance of this decision plays out will show itself over the coming decades with state judges and legislatures, the federal judiciary including SCOTUS and Congress.
It bears repeating and certainly remembering: Heller was a 5-4 decision. It hung on a single Justice , Kennedy, who was also the swing vote for the child rape law and the enemy combatant/habeas majority opinions . Plessy v Ferguson established that "separate but equal" as being constitutional was overturned 58 years later by Brown v Board of Education.
Heller can also be overturned.
Some additional thoughts I posted at Hot Air.
Friday, June 20, 2008
A musical tribute to honor my worthy opponents
To honor Barack Hussein Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters and Maurice Hinchey and all left wingers ideas for energy policy, I humbly present the following more than appropriate musical tribute:
And ya know the irony of it all? The modern state of Russia is gloming onto, drilling for, mining and scraping every bit of oil/gas/uranium/coal that they can find. The Russians are better capitalists than the majority of Americans in Congress!
Go figure.
And ya know the irony of it all? The modern state of Russia is gloming onto, drilling for, mining and scraping every bit of oil/gas/uranium/coal that they can find. The Russians are better capitalists than the majority of Americans in Congress!
Go figure.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The USS Yorktown, the 35W bridge and oil
I'm a WWII history buff. Have been for years. In 1942, the USS Yorktown was heavily damaged in the Battle of the Coral Sea. She set sail for Pearl Harbor for extensive repairs. When she arrived, it was estimated that she would require at least three months of repair. As she was needed for the Battle of Midway, she was alloted 72 hours in port for repairs. She set sail three days later and fought at Midway where she was sunk. But, instead of being in dry dock, she helped mortally wound the Japanese Navy.
Last August, the 35W bridge across the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed. It's a bridge I had been across thousands of times. A socialist friend of mine kept repeating that the reason the bridge collapsed was because Gov. Pawlenty vetoed a gas tax increase. He went on to say that it would take at least five years to build a new bridge. I said, "No. We could do it in a year if the government gets out of the way!" The bridge is controlled by a number of jurisdictions: the city of Minneapolis, the federal government, Hennepin County, the State of Minnesota, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard (the Mississippi is a navigable waterway) to name a few. Then throw in the EPA, OSHA, MN Dept. of Natural Resources and a few others just for giggles.
Well, as the 35W bridge was/is critical to business all across the state. So, it was agreed to "fast track" the bridge and suspend a bunch of the regulations and just get on with it. And the new 35W bridge is set to be completed in under a year from the time the bids were let. And it will come in under budget. Not 5 years and $300,000,000 +. Newt Gingrich forcast that fast build possibility just days after the collapse.
So now, I keep hearing that it will take 5-10 years to bring new oil fields online. Nah. Well, yes it will with all the crap BS regulations from a myriad of alphabet soup agencies. However, get the Congress out of the way, kill all but absolutely essential regulations (and there precious few of those) and I'd bet the farm that we could bring oil fields online in under two years. Do something like telling oil drillers/oil companies that they get a 100% tax write-off for all their expenses. And only a 10% tax on oil revenue. Then, suspend all those crap EPA/OSHA regulations and tell the Exxon/Mobil/Chevron/Shell/ etc that they get the same deal to build 20-30 new oil refineries. 100% tax write off for all expenses. Nah, better yet, make that a 100% tax credit instead. Yah. That's the way to go. And a 10% tax on all oil revenue. And if they keep all that oil in America, the tax drops to 5% or less. just an incentive to keep the energy here.
Same type of deal for oil shale, natural gas, coal, nuclear. Cheap energy and the country hums and purrs along.
Last August, the 35W bridge across the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed. It's a bridge I had been across thousands of times. A socialist friend of mine kept repeating that the reason the bridge collapsed was because Gov. Pawlenty vetoed a gas tax increase. He went on to say that it would take at least five years to build a new bridge. I said, "No. We could do it in a year if the government gets out of the way!" The bridge is controlled by a number of jurisdictions: the city of Minneapolis, the federal government, Hennepin County, the State of Minnesota, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard (the Mississippi is a navigable waterway) to name a few. Then throw in the EPA, OSHA, MN Dept. of Natural Resources and a few others just for giggles.
Well, as the 35W bridge was/is critical to business all across the state. So, it was agreed to "fast track" the bridge and suspend a bunch of the regulations and just get on with it. And the new 35W bridge is set to be completed in under a year from the time the bids were let. And it will come in under budget. Not 5 years and $300,000,000 +. Newt Gingrich forcast that fast build possibility just days after the collapse.
So now, I keep hearing that it will take 5-10 years to bring new oil fields online. Nah. Well, yes it will with all the crap BS regulations from a myriad of alphabet soup agencies. However, get the Congress out of the way, kill all but absolutely essential regulations (and there precious few of those) and I'd bet the farm that we could bring oil fields online in under two years. Do something like telling oil drillers/oil companies that they get a 100% tax write-off for all their expenses. And only a 10% tax on oil revenue. Then, suspend all those crap EPA/OSHA regulations and tell the Exxon/Mobil/Chevron/Shell/ etc that they get the same deal to build 20-30 new oil refineries. 100% tax write off for all expenses. Nah, better yet, make that a 100% tax credit instead. Yah. That's the way to go. And a 10% tax on all oil revenue. And if they keep all that oil in America, the tax drops to 5% or less. just an incentive to keep the energy here.
Same type of deal for oil shale, natural gas, coal, nuclear. Cheap energy and the country hums and purrs along.
Friday, June 13, 2008
NBC's Tim Russert
I was shocked to read about Tim Russert's passing today.
While I don't believe we agree politically, he was a very gracious man.
I had the privilege of spending some time with him on the media level at the Republican National Convention in New York.
He took the time to talk to anyone who would stop him and even waited to take a picture with myself and Ella (the little elephant).
Losing him days before Father's day is a reminder to enjoy each moment you have with your family.
My Prayers are with his family this weekend.
While I don't believe we agree politically, he was a very gracious man.
I had the privilege of spending some time with him on the media level at the Republican National Convention in New York.
He took the time to talk to anyone who would stop him and even waited to take a picture with myself and Ella (the little elephant).
Losing him days before Father's day is a reminder to enjoy each moment you have with your family.
My Prayers are with his family this weekend.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
It's Coca Cola's fault! Or the bakers.
OK kids. Today Uncle Amendment X is going to do a lame imitation of a Dr. Walter E. Williams type economic lesson.
Now, we all know that the average price for a gallon of gas is $4.05 nationally. And the Dumbcrats want you to believe many reasons are behind this price rise. All their reasons are wrong. Dead wrong. They want you to believe that:
Now, whenever there is an increase in gas prices, as surely as the sun rises in the east, Congress hauls oil company executives into a hearing room, screams at them then commissions yet another study about collusion and price fixing within the industry. Well, review the following graph (compliments of Powerline):
Now, click on the above image. Go to the titles on the x axis and read across. Let's see, we have NIOC (the national oil company of Iran), Aramco (the Saudi Arabia national oil company) and Kuwait, Iraq, PEMEX (controlled by Mexico). Notice number 14- Exxon/Mobil. To finally come across a publicly traded (meaning private citizens own the company) you have to go to the company that is 14th on the list of how much oil/gas they control. As the chart says, 94% of all the oil and gas in the world is controlled by national oil companies. Exxon/Mobil, BP, Royal Dutch Shell, Total, Chevron, Conoco/Phillips are all owned by schlubs like you, me, Grandma and Grandpa, pension funds. Not tyrants like Hugo Chavez or a thousand princes from the House of Saud or the Royal Family of Kuwait.
Exxon/Mobil, Chevron and the others are more correctly called oil refiners, or gasoline/diesel refiners. These companies buy the oil they refine from the Aramcos/PEMEXs of the world. They are caught in a squeeze because their cost of materials has increased. So, when the trolls in Congress haul the execs from Chevron, et al before them and scream about gas prices, well, this makes as much sense as screaming at Coca Cola for high Coke prices when the price of corn goes up (high fructose corn syrup is the most expensice ingredient in Coke. And Pepsi, etc.). Or screaming at bakers for the high price of bread when there is a wheat bust and the price of wheat goes through the roof. Go here to read what I wrote about Congress and oil/gasoline two years ago. And yesterday, they, the Dumbcrats, refused to allow drilling 50 miles off shore on the continental shelf.
Save us from Congress!
Now, we all know that the average price for a gallon of gas is $4.05 nationally. And the Dumbcrats want you to believe many reasons are behind this price rise. All their reasons are wrong. Dead wrong. They want you to believe that:
- Very evil oil company executives are drooling at the thought that Grandma has to select between Alpo or Purina Dry dog food as those nasty executives are going through her retirement check with higher oil prices and therefore higher prices on everything. Well, they reckon that Granny can set fire to her table to keep warm this winter. And besides, when Grandma dies, well, less worry about that Social Security/Medicare thing you know.
- "Speculators" are driving up the cost of oil because they are greedy bastards and were also spawned from the same malevolent, vile, recalcitrant, sinful seed that produces oil company executives.
- Republicans- well, just because.
- OPEC- well worth a lawsuit, they say!
Global warming. Sorry. Climate Change! (Hard to keep up with the changing terms you know). Brought on by all the above.- YOU! You vile consuming prigs! Hurting Gaia while little children someplace are starving. And polar bears are drowning. How dare you think you have freedom to drive, eat, keep warm! WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH FOR YOU?!?!?
Now, whenever there is an increase in gas prices, as surely as the sun rises in the east, Congress hauls oil company executives into a hearing room, screams at them then commissions yet another study about collusion and price fixing within the industry. Well, review the following graph (compliments of Powerline):
Now, click on the above image. Go to the titles on the x axis and read across. Let's see, we have NIOC (the national oil company of Iran), Aramco (the Saudi Arabia national oil company) and Kuwait, Iraq, PEMEX (controlled by Mexico). Notice number 14- Exxon/Mobil. To finally come across a publicly traded (meaning private citizens own the company) you have to go to the company that is 14th on the list of how much oil/gas they control. As the chart says, 94% of all the oil and gas in the world is controlled by national oil companies. Exxon/Mobil, BP, Royal Dutch Shell, Total, Chevron, Conoco/Phillips are all owned by schlubs like you, me, Grandma and Grandpa, pension funds. Not tyrants like Hugo Chavez or a thousand princes from the House of Saud or the Royal Family of Kuwait.
Exxon/Mobil, Chevron and the others are more correctly called oil refiners, or gasoline/diesel refiners. These companies buy the oil they refine from the Aramcos/PEMEXs of the world. They are caught in a squeeze because their cost of materials has increased. So, when the trolls in Congress haul the execs from Chevron, et al before them and scream about gas prices, well, this makes as much sense as screaming at Coca Cola for high Coke prices when the price of corn goes up (high fructose corn syrup is the most expensice ingredient in Coke. And Pepsi, etc.). Or screaming at bakers for the high price of bread when there is a wheat bust and the price of wheat goes through the roof. Go here to read what I wrote about Congress and oil/gasoline two years ago. And yesterday, they, the Dumbcrats, refused to allow drilling 50 miles off shore on the continental shelf.
Save us from Congress!
Who's Responsible for $4.00+ Gas?- I Am.
And now, introducing the Official Amendment X/Savage Republican Congressional "You Don't Need Cheap Gas, We Know Best, No Drilling, Not Now, Not Ever, Death to The Evil Oil Companies, Tax Them Into Oblivion, We're Going To Appoint Maxine Waters To Run Your Miserable Oil Companies, Ignore the Fact that We In Congress Have Brought You To This Place, But Vote For All of Us This November Because We Really Do Have a Plan for Cheap Gas, Just Like Nancy Pelosi Promised Two Years Ago But Evil Dick Cheney And Puppy and Kitten Killing Satanic Halliburton Have Prevented Us From Implementing It" theme song!
George Will was interviewed on the Colbert Report. His money maker line about exactly what the government should do-"Deliver the mail, protect the shores, get out of the way." I like it. In his recent column Will is direct about who brought this crisis upon us: we did. You and me. He refers to Sen. Chuck Schumer (who excellently represents the arrogance and hubris of all Congress) and his stand on oil, gas and Saudi Arabia:" Saudi Arabia, he said, "holds the key to reducing gasoline prices at home in the short term." Therefore arms sales to that kingdom should be blocked unless it "increases its oil production by one million barrels per day," which would cause the price of gasoline to fall "50 cents a gallon almost immediately."" Will is correct in that Schumer states the obvious and is therefore aware of the connection between supply/demand and price. He and 96 other Senators voted to stop putting oil into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve thereby putting a pittance of oil into the market. Will goes on to indict Schumer with his own words:" So Schumer, according to Schumer, is complicit in taking $10 away from every American who buys 20 gallons of gasoline." Therefore, will goes on to state that those who put Schumer, (Schumer also has voted against drilling in ANWR), in office have no reason to complain about high gas prices. These people are now experiencing the consequences of their vote.
Will also states-" Also disqualified from complaining are all voters who sent to Washington senators and representatives who have voted to keep ANWR's oil in the ground and who voted to put 85 percent of America's offshore territory off-limits to drilling."
In other words, I have no reason to complain. I voted for Norm Coleman even though in 2002, at the Scott County Republican Convention , he was very clear that he was against drilling in ANWR because he was in favor of bio-diesel. He voted for Warner/Leiberman Cap and Trade. And on and on.
So, kids, we are the ones responsible for high gas prices. We voted for these people who, over 35 years (from the first oil embargo in 1973) have voted consistently to stop American oil companies from drilling and using our own resources. Even though a vast majority of Americans NOW want drilling, Congress still is voting from arrogance.
I will be calling Sen. Norm Coleman's office. I will tell the receptionist that if the Senator doesn't vote to drill anywhere, everywhere there is oil, now and doesn't get out the way, I will vote for anyone else but him this fall. If he votes again for a "Windfall Profits Tax" on oil companies, I will not vote for Uncle Al, but I will also not vote for Norm Coleman.
My next post will talk about real world common sense solutions to the crisis that we have brought upon ourselves.
BTW- I just called Sen. Coleman's office and left a messgae, with my name and bona fides, that if he votes again for a Windfall Profits Tax, Lieberman/Warner, no ANWR, that I will not be voting for the Senator this fall. I said I would not be voting for Franken either. I told the receptionist I read the Senators web page on energy and saw nowhere where oil production was increased. The receptionist said that the Senator does support drilling off the coasts. I said good but the majority of his energy policy was in supporting alternative fuels and strategies that have been a three decade failure. She said she would give him my message.
George Will was interviewed on the Colbert Report. His money maker line about exactly what the government should do-"Deliver the mail, protect the shores, get out of the way." I like it. In his recent column Will is direct about who brought this crisis upon us: we did. You and me. He refers to Sen. Chuck Schumer (who excellently represents the arrogance and hubris of all Congress) and his stand on oil, gas and Saudi Arabia:" Saudi Arabia, he said, "holds the key to reducing gasoline prices at home in the short term." Therefore arms sales to that kingdom should be blocked unless it "increases its oil production by one million barrels per day," which would cause the price of gasoline to fall "50 cents a gallon almost immediately."" Will is correct in that Schumer states the obvious and is therefore aware of the connection between supply/demand and price. He and 96 other Senators voted to stop putting oil into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve thereby putting a pittance of oil into the market. Will goes on to indict Schumer with his own words:" So Schumer, according to Schumer, is complicit in taking $10 away from every American who buys 20 gallons of gasoline." Therefore, will goes on to state that those who put Schumer, (Schumer also has voted against drilling in ANWR), in office have no reason to complain about high gas prices. These people are now experiencing the consequences of their vote.
Will also states-" Also disqualified from complaining are all voters who sent to Washington senators and representatives who have voted to keep ANWR's oil in the ground and who voted to put 85 percent of America's offshore territory off-limits to drilling."
In other words, I have no reason to complain. I voted for Norm Coleman even though in 2002, at the Scott County Republican Convention , he was very clear that he was against drilling in ANWR because he was in favor of bio-diesel. He voted for Warner/Leiberman Cap and Trade. And on and on.
So, kids, we are the ones responsible for high gas prices. We voted for these people who, over 35 years (from the first oil embargo in 1973) have voted consistently to stop American oil companies from drilling and using our own resources. Even though a vast majority of Americans NOW want drilling, Congress still is voting from arrogance.
I will be calling Sen. Norm Coleman's office. I will tell the receptionist that if the Senator doesn't vote to drill anywhere, everywhere there is oil, now and doesn't get out the way, I will vote for anyone else but him this fall. If he votes again for a "Windfall Profits Tax" on oil companies, I will not vote for Uncle Al, but I will also not vote for Norm Coleman.
My next post will talk about real world common sense solutions to the crisis that we have brought upon ourselves.
BTW- I just called Sen. Coleman's office and left a messgae, with my name and bona fides, that if he votes again for a Windfall Profits Tax, Lieberman/Warner, no ANWR, that I will not be voting for the Senator this fall. I said I would not be voting for Franken either. I told the receptionist I read the Senators web page on energy and saw nowhere where oil production was increased. The receptionist said that the Senator does support drilling off the coasts. I said good but the majority of his energy policy was in supporting alternative fuels and strategies that have been a three decade failure. She said she would give him my message.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
There is hope when we have kids like this
Sometimes it not how you win or lose, but how you play the game.
In this era of steroids, me first and gotcha politics - sometime it takes a game of ball to reminds us of the good that is America.
Better to fight the good fight with honor, then to win not on your merit but by taking advantage of your opponents weakness.
In this era of steroids, me first and gotcha politics - sometime it takes a game of ball to reminds us of the good that is America.
Better to fight the good fight with honor, then to win not on your merit but by taking advantage of your opponents weakness.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
This just in: Hugo Chavez's Lost Sister Found in America!
And she just keeps getting re-elected.
Do you think ratings for Congress can possibly get any lower? You bet they can.
Just watch.
Remember, what Congress has done for gas and food prices they'll do for health care.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
I'm an American Kid
Needed to update.
Don't feel like being serious, so a fun song from one of my favorite groups.
If you have kids - you should have these guy's CDs.
Don't feel like being serious, so a fun song from one of my favorite groups.
If you have kids - you should have these guy's CDs.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Why is this woman crying?
Her name is Marie. She is 32. She is the mother of three boys. She is a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. She has not seen her children after they were taken by CPS (Child Protective Services) in Texas. The mothers and children were taken from the church's estate, by force, under the pretext of "protecting the children". The "probable cause" was a single phone call, from an as yet undiscovered female caller that said she was sixteen and had been abused. Again, the caller has never been identified nor has she come forward nor has she been located.
Now, let me be clear: I do not support polygamy. I do not support or adhere to LDS. That being said, this situation reeks of Waco, 1993.
CPS spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner said of the operation"It's a difficult process". Yah, for the children and mothers! What was difficult for you?
The mothers are clear that the CPS lied to them:"Brenda and others were critical of CPS, saying the agency misled them as to what was to happen Monday, weren't told why the children were removed from the compound and given inaccurate messages about opportunities to meet attorneys."We got to where we said, 'We cannot believe a word you say. We cannot trust you,'" she said." Wow. Can't trust the government! Who da thunk?
The Lew Rockwell site has an excellent analysis of the constitutional issues that this huge government intrusion exposes.
There is a quote from the article that links well with one from Prairie Pravda:"Hundreds of women from the sect voluntarily followed the children…" You mean the mothers didn’t have to be compelled to follow their own children into the tender jaws of the Beast?" And from PP:" Meisner said the situation was explained and, while there were tears, the operation went smoothly." Went smoothly. Anyone wonder why the women followed their children and Miesner thought the operation "went smoothly"? How about the clue in this picture:
Now, I may be way off base here, but I bet the operation "went smoothly" and that the women followed their children because, oh, maybe there were big men with bullet proof vests and with guns on their hips herding them into buses? I don't know, but maybe.
And this screamer from Meisner on why the children were separated from their mothers:"the separation was made Monday after they( the omnipresent "experts" who provided the "advice" that "justified" this abuse of power) decided that children are more truthful in interviews about possible abuse if their parents are not around." Right. Of course. Anyone remember the horrendous McMartin Day Care Center case(in the link pay particular attention to the Country Walk , Florida case that was prosecuted by one Janet Reno. Yes, the same Janet Reno who also supervised the Branch Davidians fiasco where over eighty men, women and children were burned to death. Interestingly enough, there were also charges of child abuse within the Branch Davidians that have never been proven or even corroborated)?
Again, another case where the state knows best, the Constitution be damned. And as the government does it "for the children" they always end up "doing it to the children" and others. Always.
Update: The Daily Mail has an article where the mothers speak out
Thursday, April 10, 2008
As tax day approaches
For your perusal, the original tax rates from 1913 and as compared to 2005 dollars
And these are tax rates that people today would fight and die for.
We're not quite where the Founding Fathers wanted us to be.
My idea: eliminate tax withholding. Move Tax Day from April 15th to the first Monday in November. Hey, wait a minute. That would mean that within twenty-four hours of having to write a large check people would vote in the General Election.
Hhhhmmm...do you think writing that check might impact the vote?
Happy Tax Day.
And these are tax rates that people today would fight and die for.
Figure 1:1913 Personal Income Tax System
Figure 2:1913 Personal Income Tax System in 2005 Dollars
Figure 1:
Tax Rate- Income Level
1%- up to $20,000
2%- $20,000 - $50,000
3%- $50,000 - $75,000
4%- $75,000 - $100,000
5%- $100,000 - $250,000
6%- $250,000 - $500,000
7%- over $500,000
Figure 2:
1913 Tax Rates Adjust
Tax Rate - Income Level
1%- up to $382,189
2%- $382,198 - $955,495
3%- $955,495 - $1,433,242
4%- $1,433,242 - $1,910,990
5%- $1,910,990 - $4,299,727
6%- $4,299,727 - $9,554,950
7%- over $9,554,950
(Figure 1:A $3,000 exemption for single filers
and $4,000 for a marri
(Figure 2:A $44,776 exemption for single filers
and $59,701 for a marri
We're not quite where the Founding Fathers wanted us to be.
My idea: eliminate tax withholding. Move Tax Day from April 15th to the first Monday in November. Hey, wait a minute. That would mean that within twenty-four hours of having to write a large check people would vote in the General Election.
Hhhhmmm...do you think writing that check might impact the vote?
Happy Tax Day.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
This just in!
For years I've tried to understand how left wingers came up with policies that have always failed. There was no reason, logic, sound economic or any Constitutional underpinnings that I could ever find in their judgments and resolutions. I have now discovered how all decisions are made by the left:
I should have known.
I should have known.
Monday, April 07, 2008
How civil are we here at Savage Republican
Reading Mitch Berg over at Shot in the Dark, he had a Cuss-O-Meter. The Cuss-O-Meter scans your blog and reports on, well, how "civil" your website is.
I took the plunge.
Here is the result for SavageRepublican.com:
Created by OnePlusYou
"Around 0.1% of the pages on your website contain cussing.This is 99% LESS than other websites who took this test."
Civility as we "Crush Liberals Left and Right".
I took the plunge.
Here is the result for SavageRepublican.com:
Created by OnePlusYou
"Around 0.1% of the pages on your website contain cussing.This is 99% LESS than other websites who took this test."
Civility as we "Crush Liberals Left and Right".
Mr. Heston
We all read about the passing Charlton Heston this weekend. In October 2002 I had the opportunity to meet and talk to Mr. Heston. MN Conceal Carry Reform Now (MNCCRN/GOCRA) , the organization that got the MN Personal Protection Act passed (erroneously referred to as the conceal /carry act) put together a rally with the NRA for Duluth. We had the top of the Republican ticket there. We thought we'd have maybe 500 attendees there. We had at least 1,500. Wayne LaPierre was there and gave a stock speech that lasted twenty minutes, fifteen minutes too long. He completely forgot who his audience was: Duluth. Union guys. Reagan Democrats. Bowling and beer. LaPierre went on for twenty minutes about Chuck Schumer (silence), Charlie Wrangle (crickets), Barbara Boxer (snore), Hillary Clinton (roar and boos). Fifteen minutes too long. They had come to hear Charlton Heston defend their Second Amendment rights. Not to listen to Wayne LaPierre go on for twenty minutes about politicians they never heard of.
Mr. Heston took the stage to thunderous applause. It was apparent that he was in failing health. The body was frail. But his spirit was incredibly strong. He was committed.Just after his talk, I met and talked with him. Mr. Heston was the very definition of "gentleman": gracious, attentive, soft spoken.
I remember his comments about the upcoming election. He used a story from Ben Hur. He said that he really wanted to do a great chariot race. He knew that it would be the action highlight of the film. So, he was out working with the four horse team, eight hours a day. And a few, well, mishaps occured. Finally , the director took him to one side and said "Uh, Chuck. We appreciate your desire for authenticity in the chariot race. But, look- you're going to win the race. You really are. All you have to do is: stay in the chariot!" In the 2002 election, he told us that we were going to win. All we needed to do was stay in the chariot.
Seems that way too many Republicans have fallen out of the chariot.
Charlton Heston:Another giant from my youth who will be missed.
Mr. Heston took the stage to thunderous applause. It was apparent that he was in failing health. The body was frail. But his spirit was incredibly strong. He was committed.Just after his talk, I met and talked with him. Mr. Heston was the very definition of "gentleman": gracious, attentive, soft spoken.
I remember his comments about the upcoming election. He used a story from Ben Hur. He said that he really wanted to do a great chariot race. He knew that it would be the action highlight of the film. So, he was out working with the four horse team, eight hours a day. And a few, well, mishaps occured. Finally , the director took him to one side and said "Uh, Chuck. We appreciate your desire for authenticity in the chariot race. But, look- you're going to win the race. You really are. All you have to do is: stay in the chariot!" In the 2002 election, he told us that we were going to win. All we needed to do was stay in the chariot.
Seems that way too many Republicans have fallen out of the chariot.
Charlton Heston:Another giant from my youth who will be missed.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Make a difference!
Twila Brase at the Citizens Council on Health Care is doing yeoman's work in dealing with significant health care issues at the MN legislature. Right now, there is an issue that directly asks the question "Who owns you?" The state of MN has kept a blood and DNA sample on every child that has been born in Minnesota since July 1997. No law exists that gives the Minnesota Department of Health the authority to have done that. They just decided to do it! Why? Because they could. Or they thought they could. Or, probably more closer to the truth-"Why not? We're the state!" Not only that, but since 1986, the MDH has been providing DNA to genetic research with out the consent of the owners. In other words, the state of Minnesota believes it owns you and therefore doesn't need your permission to do research on your genetic material. Any questions slaves? The DFL seems to think not. And best you not ask any questions of your true owners.
The legislature is now deciding on an opt in clause that would give parents the power over who has their children's genetic material. Another vote would destroy all samples that were collected illegally without consent.
Go here and fill out the online petition that lets the governor know that privacy is important to you. That the state doesn't own you. That you own you.
The legislature is now deciding on an opt in clause that would give parents the power over who has their children's genetic material. Another vote would destroy all samples that were collected illegally without consent.
Go here and fill out the online petition that lets the governor know that privacy is important to you. That the state doesn't own you. That you own you.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Not a penny
As I'm wrapping up a business deal this morning, I opened Prairie Pravda to see this headline:"Senate committee authorizes Vikings stadium study". Seems the lefty controlled Senate has given 2,000,000 of your dollars to fund a study as to how much more of your money ($100,000,000's ) is going to be given to make another billionaire richer. Seems they don't have access to the polls that showed a vast majority of taxpayers did NOT want to fund the Twins stadium and make multi-billionaire Carl Pohlad richer. Anybody want to bet that those same people, and now even more people feel the same way about a Vikings stadium? Yah, the Democrats are for the common man. Right.
Hey, here's a real American capitalist idea: let the Vikings spend more of their money to study how they're going to raise their own money to make themselves richer.
Hey, here's a real American capitalist idea: let the Vikings spend more of their money to study how they're going to raise their own money to make themselves richer.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
A mea culpa
Seems that all the kerfuffle about Hillary's trip to Tuzla is definitely wrong. And I was wrong along with them.
A good friend of mine sent me a link to actual footage of Hillary's trip to Bosnia that shows that she did indeed land under sniper fire...and shows a side of Hillary I never would have imagined let alone believed without seeing this newly discovered and very impressive video:
And what does all this prove? Well, I'll let Hillary speak for me:"It proves I'm human."
A good friend of mine sent me a link to actual footage of Hillary's trip to Bosnia that shows that she did indeed land under sniper fire...and shows a side of Hillary I never would have imagined let alone believed without seeing this newly discovered and very impressive video:
And what does all this prove? Well, I'll let Hillary speak for me:"It proves I'm human."
Late night news
Frequently at night I put on the radio either the Glenn Beck Show on KTLK 100.3 or Rusty Humphries on AM1280 The Patriot. AM1280 at night is a sketchy listen sometimes down here in Savage. Last night, it was worth the static and background bounce.
I met Rusty at the Minnetonka Marriott for one of the Republican Presidential Debates when the Repubs still had 47 candidates in the running. Well spoken and a real conservative,Rusty is not a "I'm a conservative too. Watch me change" that I run into far too often in Republican circles. Anyhow, last night, he had on Colonel William "Goose" Changose (Air Force,ret.). Seems that Colonel Changose is one of the military "go to" guys that Rusty uses when he needs to flesh out a story or rumor concerning the military. The reason he called the Colonel was to find out what he knew about the about the, well, discrepancies between Hillary's recounting of her landing in Tuzla versus what the video keeps showing. Rusty recounted that the Colonel's reply was "Who told you to call me?" Rusty was a bit taken aback as the Colonel again is a go to. So Rusty asked "Well, why do you ask?" The Colonel's response "Because I was the pilot for Hillary on that C-17 that flew into Tuzla." Oh.
So, Rusty took the Colonel through Hillary's rendition of the Tuzla event.
The background: The reason a C-17 was used is because the other planes in the inventory that transport high level Administration officials (such as Air Force One, the usual 747, and others) are not capable of landing on the short runway at Tuzla. The C-17 has defensive capabilities that the other planes do not. The Secret Service was in charge of all aspects of the flight.
So, off we go.
The Colonel had flown into Tuzla at least twice before: Once with President Clinton and once with Secretary of Defense Perry (I believe is who he said. Reception, as I said was sketchy at times).
Yes, there was armor on the plane. Reason: the Secret Service.
Hillary was instructed to go to the cockpit as it heavily armored. Colonel Changose : The cockpit is armored as that's where the aircrew is. The cargo area isn't armored as, well, it's cargo. Hillary was in the cockpit to talk. Not for protection. Colonel Changose found her to pleasant and conversant. Colonel Changose also found President Clinton very personable.
Hillary said that the passengers were ordered to sit on their flak jackets. Colonel Changose replied that they were not. Colonel Changose was clear that he had never seen anyone sit on their flak jackets. He went on to say that whenever flak jackets are present, people are told to put them on, not sit on them. A comment was proffered that only in Apocalypse Now did people sat on flak jackets.
Hillary said there were evasive measures taken (corkscrewed in to Tuzla is the usual phrase). Colonel Changose replied that as there are very high hills around the Tuzla airbase, he had to come in high and drop. But that was not evasive maneuvering, it was standard landing procedure.
Hillary said that she and the passengers were told to duck and run to the cars as there was active sniper fire. Colonel Changose said there was nothing of the kind. He also had a pointed comment that reflected a thought I first had when I heard this story: if there were any sniper fire, the Secret Service would have redirected the flight away from Tuzla, immediately! No questions. Colonel Changose offered that no pilot wants to be flying the plane on which the First Lady is killed or wounded. No Secret Service agent would ever allow a landing into a hot zone. Even if Hillary screamed "We've got to get Sheryl Crowe and Sinbad to that USO performance-NOW!" the Secret Service would never have allowed it.
Hillary, wanting to showcase her deep international and diplomatic experience, commented that she was the first high level American official to visit the area after the Dayton Peace Accords. Colonel Changose said that that was correct. That after President Clinton and SecDef Perry, Hillary was the first high level official to visit Bosnia after the Dayton Peace Accords.
Rusty laughed as I smiled at Colonel Changose's dry sense of humor.
To be clear, Colonel Changose was direct. He didn't editorialize. He was an officer and gentleman in how he answered Rusty's questions. He didn't take any swipes at Hillary, though she was not his first choice for President.
I met Rusty at the Minnetonka Marriott for one of the Republican Presidential Debates when the Repubs still had 47 candidates in the running. Well spoken and a real conservative,Rusty is not a "I'm a conservative too. Watch me change" that I run into far too often in Republican circles. Anyhow, last night, he had on Colonel William "Goose" Changose (Air Force,ret.). Seems that Colonel Changose is one of the military "go to" guys that Rusty uses when he needs to flesh out a story or rumor concerning the military. The reason he called the Colonel was to find out what he knew about the about the, well, discrepancies between Hillary's recounting of her landing in Tuzla versus what the video keeps showing. Rusty recounted that the Colonel's reply was "Who told you to call me?" Rusty was a bit taken aback as the Colonel again is a go to. So Rusty asked "Well, why do you ask?" The Colonel's response "Because I was the pilot for Hillary on that C-17 that flew into Tuzla." Oh.
So, Rusty took the Colonel through Hillary's rendition of the Tuzla event.
The background: The reason a C-17 was used is because the other planes in the inventory that transport high level Administration officials (such as Air Force One, the usual 747, and others) are not capable of landing on the short runway at Tuzla. The C-17 has defensive capabilities that the other planes do not. The Secret Service was in charge of all aspects of the flight.
So, off we go.
The Colonel had flown into Tuzla at least twice before: Once with President Clinton and once with Secretary of Defense Perry (I believe is who he said. Reception, as I said was sketchy at times).
Yes, there was armor on the plane. Reason: the Secret Service.
Hillary was instructed to go to the cockpit as it heavily armored. Colonel Changose : The cockpit is armored as that's where the aircrew is. The cargo area isn't armored as, well, it's cargo. Hillary was in the cockpit to talk. Not for protection. Colonel Changose found her to pleasant and conversant. Colonel Changose also found President Clinton very personable.
Hillary said that the passengers were ordered to sit on their flak jackets. Colonel Changose replied that they were not. Colonel Changose was clear that he had never seen anyone sit on their flak jackets. He went on to say that whenever flak jackets are present, people are told to put them on, not sit on them. A comment was proffered that only in Apocalypse Now did people sat on flak jackets.
Hillary said there were evasive measures taken (corkscrewed in to Tuzla is the usual phrase). Colonel Changose replied that as there are very high hills around the Tuzla airbase, he had to come in high and drop. But that was not evasive maneuvering, it was standard landing procedure.
Hillary said that she and the passengers were told to duck and run to the cars as there was active sniper fire. Colonel Changose said there was nothing of the kind. He also had a pointed comment that reflected a thought I first had when I heard this story: if there were any sniper fire, the Secret Service would have redirected the flight away from Tuzla, immediately! No questions. Colonel Changose offered that no pilot wants to be flying the plane on which the First Lady is killed or wounded. No Secret Service agent would ever allow a landing into a hot zone. Even if Hillary screamed "We've got to get Sheryl Crowe and Sinbad to that USO performance-NOW!" the Secret Service would never have allowed it.
Hillary, wanting to showcase her deep international and diplomatic experience, commented that she was the first high level American official to visit the area after the Dayton Peace Accords. Colonel Changose said that that was correct. That after President Clinton and SecDef Perry, Hillary was the first high level official to visit Bosnia after the Dayton Peace Accords.
Rusty laughed as I smiled at Colonel Changose's dry sense of humor.
To be clear, Colonel Changose was direct. He didn't editorialize. He was an officer and gentleman in how he answered Rusty's questions. He didn't take any swipes at Hillary, though she was not his first choice for President.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
CBS
CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) used to be called the "Clinton Broadcast System".
Well, today, or at least for now, it became the"Clinton Bludgeoning System".
Go to this link that Ed Morrisey has at Hot Air and watch all three clips.
As I watch The Hillary, I remember a quote from a Vietnam vet friend of mine:"Twist and turn, crash and burn."
Well, today, or at least for now, it became the"Clinton Bludgeoning System".
Go to this link that Ed Morrisey has at Hot Air and watch all three clips.
As I watch The Hillary, I remember a quote from a Vietnam vet friend of mine:"Twist and turn, crash and burn."
Tears for Sara Jane-no Part II
And now, for your review, regurgitation and revulsion, the further pleadings , sorry, pitiful whining from the repulsive radical left wing apologists for the mother killing Kathleen Soliah:
"Olson was literally snatched by the board in the dark of night and imprisoned without notice, without a hearing and without an explanation. "
My reply:"Myrna Opsahl's innocent life was literally snatched from her and she was imprisoned in a grave, without a hearing and without an explanation."
"The board's action took a huge emotional toll on Olson and her family. "
My reply:"Cold blooded Kathleen Soliah and her fellow murders action took a huge toll on Mrs. Opsahl and took and continues to take a huge emotional toll on Mrs. Opsahl's family."
"Once an inmate is released on parole, the board can only suspend or revoke her parole"
My reply:"Once these lawless, self-congratulating, unremorseful pukes took Mrs. Opsahl's life and imposed their evil will on Mrs. Opsahl' and her family, they can't revoke or suspend the death sentence they forcibly imposed on her and her family."
Let's be real clear here kids, Kathleen Soliah could and should have been indicted for first degree murder. A fourteen year sentence with seven years served is a gift. A gift. They gave Myrna Opsahl an eternal death sentence. No parole, no time off for good behavior.
So, SHUT UP!!!
Wow, sounds like I'm angry. And repulsed.
I am.
"Olson was literally snatched by the board in the dark of night and imprisoned without notice, without a hearing and without an explanation. "
My reply:"Myrna Opsahl's innocent life was literally snatched from her and she was imprisoned in a grave, without a hearing and without an explanation."
"The board's action took a huge emotional toll on Olson and her family. "
My reply:"Cold blooded Kathleen Soliah and her fellow murders action took a huge toll on Mrs. Opsahl and took and continues to take a huge emotional toll on Mrs. Opsahl's family."
"Once an inmate is released on parole, the board can only suspend or revoke her parole"
My reply:"Once these lawless, self-congratulating, unremorseful pukes took Mrs. Opsahl's life and imposed their evil will on Mrs. Opsahl' and her family, they can't revoke or suspend the death sentence they forcibly imposed on her and her family."
Let's be real clear here kids, Kathleen Soliah could and should have been indicted for first degree murder. A fourteen year sentence with seven years served is a gift. A gift. They gave Myrna Opsahl an eternal death sentence. No parole, no time off for good behavior.
So, SHUT UP!!!
Wow, sounds like I'm angry. And repulsed.
I am.
Do the right thing
In response to the cowardly stance the Forest Lake H.S. took in canceling the Vets for Freedom Tour , the 4,000th American military death and the disgraceful Huffo post, I present this from a link at Hugh Hewitt , I present this from Freedom Never Cries :
Things to Remember during the next School Referendum and School Board election
Your Tax dollars at work --
This is who the School officials think is appropriate to inform the students about war and peace.
(This is a picture of the protester the Prior Lake School District uses for guidance for their assembly)
(Weekly War Protest.
Notice the UN flag raised, US flag lowered.
He mission is to make the UN a world Parliament)
According to school officials, This is who is a bad influence on our children (Forest Lake)
This is who the School officials think is appropriate to inform the students about war and peace.
(This is a picture of the protester the Prior Lake School District uses for guidance for their assembly)
(Weekly War Protest.
Notice the UN flag raised, US flag lowered.
He mission is to make the UN a world Parliament)
According to school officials, This is who is a bad influence on our children (Forest Lake)
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Tears for Sara Jane-no
Former parolee and convicted murderer Sara Jane Olson (scratch that. SJO is an alias. Her legal name is Mrs. Kathleen Soiah) got yanked back to prison.
And the wails of anger from her friends:
Apologist Wendy Know said about convicted murderer Olson's (sorry Soliah) return to prison-"To put her and her family through that is one more unconscionable act. I just think this kind of treatment is cruel. It's unconscionable to put her through one more thing like this. It's unbelievable!"
Dear Wendy, you insensitive, ignorant, left wing s**t.
Look at this picture:
This a picture of Myrna Opsahl. She was the woman murdered when Cookbook Queen Sara Jane (then known as Katherine Soliah) robbed the Crocker Bank that day in 1975.
She was making a deposit from her church. She was cut down by a shotgun blast because she didn't move fast enough. She was a mother of four. Her husband was a doctor at the hospital she was rushed to.
One of Soliah/Olson's fellow murderers, Emily Harris, said about the killing of Mrs. Opsahl:"Oh, she's dead, but it really doesn't matter. She was a bourgeois pig anyway. Her husband is a doctor. He was at the hospital where they brought her ".
One of the four pukes who robbed that bank that day kicked a pregnant teller in the stomach that caused her to go into premature labor.
And to add grossness to this radical left-wing insensitive vomit fest, Murderer Soliah's lawyer screamed this vileness:"This is like the Gestapo picking up somebody off the street," Nickerson said."
Yah. The Gestapo. (I mentioned this to friend in Florida-his comment was if this were like the Gestapo, Aspiring Lead Actress in the Vagina Monologues Soliah would never be seen again.)
Outrage that Murderer Soliah has to go back to prison.
Spare me now please!!!
And the wails of anger from her friends:
Apologist Wendy Know said about convicted murderer Olson's (sorry Soliah) return to prison-"To put her and her family through that is one more unconscionable act. I just think this kind of treatment is cruel. It's unconscionable to put her through one more thing like this. It's unbelievable!"
Dear Wendy, you insensitive, ignorant, left wing s**t.
Look at this picture:
This a picture of Myrna Opsahl. She was the woman murdered when Cookbook Queen Sara Jane (then known as Katherine Soliah) robbed the Crocker Bank that day in 1975.
She was making a deposit from her church. She was cut down by a shotgun blast because she didn't move fast enough. She was a mother of four. Her husband was a doctor at the hospital she was rushed to.
One of Soliah/Olson's fellow murderers, Emily Harris, said about the killing of Mrs. Opsahl:"Oh, she's dead, but it really doesn't matter. She was a bourgeois pig anyway. Her husband is a doctor. He was at the hospital where they brought her ".
One of the four pukes who robbed that bank that day kicked a pregnant teller in the stomach that caused her to go into premature labor.
And to add grossness to this radical left-wing insensitive vomit fest, Murderer Soliah's lawyer screamed this vileness:"This is like the Gestapo picking up somebody off the street," Nickerson said."
Yah. The Gestapo. (I mentioned this to friend in Florida-his comment was if this were like the Gestapo, Aspiring Lead Actress in the Vagina Monologues Soliah would never be seen again.)
Outrage that Murderer Soliah has to go back to prison.
Spare me now please!!!
Monday, March 17, 2008
"Trust me, I never____ with_____ and I would not____"
With all the flap over Pastor/Reverend/Mentor/Uncle Jeremiah Wright and Barack Obama denying that he ever heard any such sermon, Senator Obama is asking me to "suspend my disbelief" (Sorry Hillary. It was just to great a quote not to use).
I've been a member of a large suburban church for nineteen years. We've had three pastors in that time. One is my spiritual mentor. For me, within a year, I knew how each one of them viewed the world.
Senator Obama wants be to believe that he never heard any of Pastor/Reverend/Mentor/Uncle Jeremiah Wright's inflammatory, hate filled sermons. He wants me to believe that after he never heard any of these sermons, that he never heard another parishoner/church member mention to Barack "Wow! Did you hear, what did you think of Pastor Wright's sermon on _________?" And Sen. Obama expects me to believe that never happened. He wants me to believe that he never knew his mentor harbored and expanded and elaborated on these "black liberation theology" concepts? And did so in a very public way? In the church Senator Obama was a member of for twenty years?
Well, it appears that Senator Obama now needs to "man-up" with the consequences of his choice.
I've been a member of a large suburban church for nineteen years. We've had three pastors in that time. One is my spiritual mentor. For me, within a year, I knew how each one of them viewed the world.
Senator Obama wants be to believe that he never heard any of Pastor/Reverend/Mentor/Uncle Jeremiah Wright's inflammatory, hate filled sermons. He wants me to believe that after he never heard any of these sermons, that he never heard another parishoner/church member mention to Barack "Wow! Did you hear, what did you think of Pastor Wright's sermon on _________?" And Sen. Obama expects me to believe that never happened. He wants me to believe that he never knew his mentor harbored and expanded and elaborated on these "black liberation theology" concepts? And did so in a very public way? In the church Senator Obama was a member of for twenty years?
Well, it appears that Senator Obama now needs to "man-up" with the consequences of his choice.
Friday, March 14, 2008
This just in :Bush reports "Economy in trouble"
Bush reports "Economy in trouble". Ya think?
Last night on the Glenn Beck show (how does he stay on CNN?) Glenn mentioned the oil price increases. He had on a trucker who shipped eggs from Ohio to Pennsylvania. He owns nine trucks. His daily fuel costs have gone from $3,000/day to around $7,000/day. He is a small businessman (as am I). His customer has worked with him on added fuel costs (he charges a fuel surcharge). But, his customer is also feeling a fuel pinch of a separate kind:ethanol. The wholly stupid and outrageous fraud of "ethanol" has put the cost of animal feed to the point where the cost for a dozen eggs has risen 40% in a few months. Milk prices are up. Chicken is up. Food prices are up all across the board, except for beef. Why beef? Because cattle ranchers can not feed their herds so they are selling them right now, flooding the market. In other words, they're dumping their herds before they broke trying to feed the herd. And when those herds are sold and no new herds being raised to bring to market the price of beef will skyrocket. Add in transportation costs and I have a question for GWB: When the hell are you blithering idiots in D.C going to get the hell OUT-OF-THE-WAY? Why on earth are you putzes in D.C. forcing us to put our food into our cars? And why aren't we drilling in ANWR, the coastal shelf and the Gulf of Mexico?
And the credit crisis? Made up completely from D.C. and the Fed Res playing with the market. And market forces will will out. They always do. Always.
GWB said at the Renewable Fuels Conference " If you're a hog-raiser in the United States, you're beginning to worry about the cost of corn to feed your animals. I'm beginning to hear complaints from our cattlemen about the high price of corn. The high price of corn is beginning to affect the price of food. " Crimeny George, you're JUST discovering this ? And you're only hearing from cattle ranchers. Ya got a filter on your email client that stops any and all emails from all but cattle ranchers? But, not to be deterred from a failed policy, he soldiers on like Napoleon going to Moscow. In his very next statement he proclaims " And so we got to do something about it, and the best thing to do is not to retreat from our commitment to alternative fuels, but to spend research and development money on alternatives to ethanol made from other materials -- for example, cellulosic ethanol holds a lot of promise. I'm sure there are people in the industry here that will tell you how far the industry has come in a very quick period of time." ARRRRrrrrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!! The only reason that "the industry" has come so far in a very quick period of time is because of government subsidies and mandates. You people have forced this crap on us. How many days before this type of insanity ends? Bad news on the ethanol front: not for at least for another 58 months. Hillary, Obama and McCain are all ethanol/biofuels/climate change acolytes. And there are way too many of their disciples in Congress. And Archer Daniels Midland puts too much money into Washington. As do so many other lobbyists (including AARP, NEA. etc.).
So, a few simple solutions for these problems here (that will some time to work their way through the market):
Four real simple solutions (this only a start):
The only thing that will stop this is when your pain becomes so intolerable that Americans will finally vote the truth,not the empty promises.
Last night on the Glenn Beck show (how does he stay on CNN?) Glenn mentioned the oil price increases. He had on a trucker who shipped eggs from Ohio to Pennsylvania. He owns nine trucks. His daily fuel costs have gone from $3,000/day to around $7,000/day. He is a small businessman (as am I). His customer has worked with him on added fuel costs (he charges a fuel surcharge). But, his customer is also feeling a fuel pinch of a separate kind:ethanol. The wholly stupid and outrageous fraud of "ethanol" has put the cost of animal feed to the point where the cost for a dozen eggs has risen 40% in a few months. Milk prices are up. Chicken is up. Food prices are up all across the board, except for beef. Why beef? Because cattle ranchers can not feed their herds so they are selling them right now, flooding the market. In other words, they're dumping their herds before they broke trying to feed the herd. And when those herds are sold and no new herds being raised to bring to market the price of beef will skyrocket. Add in transportation costs and I have a question for GWB: When the hell are you blithering idiots in D.C going to get the hell OUT-OF-THE-WAY? Why on earth are you putzes in D.C. forcing us to put our food into our cars? And why aren't we drilling in ANWR, the coastal shelf and the Gulf of Mexico?
And the credit crisis? Made up completely from D.C. and the Fed Res playing with the market. And market forces will will out. They always do. Always.
GWB said at the Renewable Fuels Conference " If you're a hog-raiser in the United States, you're beginning to worry about the cost of corn to feed your animals. I'm beginning to hear complaints from our cattlemen about the high price of corn. The high price of corn is beginning to affect the price of food. " Crimeny George, you're JUST discovering this ? And you're only hearing from cattle ranchers. Ya got a filter on your email client that stops any and all emails from all but cattle ranchers? But, not to be deterred from a failed policy, he soldiers on like Napoleon going to Moscow. In his very next statement he proclaims " And so we got to do something about it, and the best thing to do is not to retreat from our commitment to alternative fuels, but to spend research and development money on alternatives to ethanol made from other materials -- for example, cellulosic ethanol holds a lot of promise. I'm sure there are people in the industry here that will tell you how far the industry has come in a very quick period of time." ARRRRrrrrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!! The only reason that "the industry" has come so far in a very quick period of time is because of government subsidies and mandates. You people have forced this crap on us. How many days before this type of insanity ends? Bad news on the ethanol front: not for at least for another 58 months. Hillary, Obama and McCain are all ethanol/biofuels/climate change acolytes. And there are way too many of their disciples in Congress. And Archer Daniels Midland puts too much money into Washington. As do so many other lobbyists (including AARP, NEA. etc.).
So, a few simple solutions for these problems here (that will some time to work their way through the market):
Four real simple solutions (this only a start):
- Stop and end all ethanol subsidies and mandates and any and all related mandates and subsidies. Immediately. Permanently. Forever. Got it?
- Start drilling in ANWR, the coastal shelf and the Gulf of Mexico. This morning. No later than after lunch.
- Dump the CAFE standards. Repeal the horrible new energy bill. And encourage Detroit to tell D.C. to drop dead as they have no Constitutional authority to impose any CAFE standards. Remember, CAFE standards kill people.
- Stop interfering in the credit markets. NOW! 85 years ago the tinkering of D.C. and the Fed Res set up all the conditions for the 1929 Crash. And the efforts of Washington to correct their own problem gave us The Great Depression.(Yah, I linked it twice. It's that important to read what happens when the government helps to find solutions to the problems it creates).
The only thing that will stop this is when your pain becomes so intolerable that Americans will finally vote the truth,not the empty promises.
Cheap entertainment
Last week after Super Tuesday II, I was in the chat room for Ed Morrisey's Blog Talk Radio Show. As Hillary made a comeback of sorts the topic was how this changed the race for the Democratic nomination and what the Repubs should do. Well my feeling and input is the same: You put two badgers into a tightly sealed metal garbage can and then beat on the sides. Then take the cover off in early September and watch what crawls out.
And for cut rate yuks, throw in a superdelegate NY Governor, a former 1984 female Democratic V.P. candidate and for spice add a racist hate mongering pastor, then slam down the lid...then just listen for a bit.
The gift that keeps on giving.
It so reminds me of the quote "Every revolution eats its children" and the Biblical principle of sowing and reaping.
And for cut rate yuks, throw in a superdelegate NY Governor, a former 1984 female Democratic V.P. candidate and for spice add a racist hate mongering pastor, then slam down the lid...then just listen for a bit.
The gift that keeps on giving.
It so reminds me of the quote "Every revolution eats its children" and the Biblical principle of sowing and reaping.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Yah couldn't write this stuff
Allahpundit at Hot Air has a great clip from The Daily Show with a report on Code Pink and the Berkley City Council resolution against the Marine Recruiters. I have had run ins with what I call Code Pinky Winky. They spout and continue to spout any and all lack-of-logic-looney-left-language that we've come to expect from people who lack any reasoning ability. Listen to this. It is priceless. And it reminds me of every single occurence I've ever had in talking to Code Pinky Winky:
(I had problems with the embed from Hot Air and now YouTube so I used the embed from The Daily Show
(I had problems with the embed from Hot Air and now YouTube so I used the embed from The Daily Show
Monday, March 10, 2008
John Dewey and the NEA
A California appeals court has found that California parents are idiots and dangerous to the future of their children. The appeals court has found that parents do not have a right to home school their own children. well, that is unless of course they are "credentialed" by the state. And of course, the NEA (National Education Association) heavily influences what passes as credentials. Well, The Eagle Forum has a great article on our good buddies at the NEA and what a bunch of screaming lefties they are. Pat Buchanan in his book "The Death of the West" also has a chapter on how the socialist influences of late 19th and early 20th century took root in our education system via the Frankfurt School and "cultural marxism".
Any guesses as to which party the NEA overwhelmingly contributes to? Read it here.
Wonder why lefties and lefty reps in the State Legislature and Congress hate home schooling? $$$'s.
Any guesses as to which party the NEA overwhelmingly contributes to? Read it here.
Wonder why lefties and lefty reps in the State Legislature and Congress hate home schooling? $$$'s.
And now, more adventures of Our Little Amy
Today, as we peek in on Our Little Amy, we observe her excellent and awe inspiring adventures and insight as a bio-pharmacologist and business mogul (here):
Seems that about 3,000 children a year are born with a heart condition called PDA (patent ductus arteriosis). It's a heart defect that can be cured with either a drug ( that's manufactured by a company called Ovation Pharmaceuticals ) or with surgery. Pretty neat. But,oh no- not for Our Little Amy!
The drug, called Indocin I.V. was researched and developed by Merck. Merck sold the drug to Ovation. Ovation now manufactures and distributes the drug. When Merck sold Indocin, the therapy cost $108. Ovation charges $1500. And Our Little Amy sees that the vile, repugnant and evil Ovation is reaping huge, unconscionable windfall profits on poor defenseless little babies (the same babies that Our Little Amy is more than happy to have killed via abortion). And Our Little Amy is NOT going to let this injustice go unpunished, I tell you! "We need to highlight how messed up the system is when a pharmaceutical company can rip off premature infants with bad hearts," she said Friday." You go girl!! Now, vile repugnant Ovation throws up a paltry and easily laughable defense-"It's a complex process when you're moving manufacturing from one facility to another, let alone one company to another," said Sally Benjamin Young, a spokeswoman. " Ha! We all know that Our Little Amy is an expert in bio-pharmacology.We also know that Our Little Amy, being an expert in all the thick books of all the FDA regulations that both Merck and Ovation had to know, meet and comply with to even begin the process of selling Indocin, well she saw right through that little charade of an excuse that Ovation laughably offered. Also, that Our Little Amy, with her vast background in business, drug manufacturing, margin and recovery costs (just to name a very few of her areas of expertise) knows that Ovation is just heartless. She, of course, knows that Merck is huge and makes billions of dollars (most earned unethically, of course) and that Merck may have buried the cost of this orphan drug (any drug with a prospective treatment audience of 200,000 or less) in and amongst all it profits on other pharmaceuticals. Naturally Our Little Amy then immediately recognized that Ovation's price was WAY beyond what perhaps the actual manufacturing , recovery, acquisition and compliance costs may be in that the treatment audience is only 3,000. And Our Little Amy was willing to severely punish Ovation for taking a business risk-"She's calling on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and wants the Food and Drug Administration to move faster to approve generic versions of the drug, which would cost far less" . OK, that should serve as a warning to any and all bloodsucking pharmaceutical companies that Our Little Amy isn't going to stand for companies profiting from innovation and risk taking! How dare they meet and comply with FDA regulations, EEOC, OSHA, IRS to find miracle drugs for us. Why, there might even be people out there who would say "Ya' mean there's a drug that for only $1500 can cure a heart condition in a little baby? WOW. Don't we live in the greatest nation on earth?" They need to be shown the error of their ways! And Our Little Amy has the vast and deep knowledge to do just that! Never mind that Ovation is the only company that makes a drug for PDA. But ah, Our Little Amy knows that there are 100's of companies chomping at the bit to make a generic version of a drug with just 3,000 possible customers. Does the wonderment and amazement of her knowledge, insight, wisdom and acute business acumen ever end? And we are so blessed to have Our Little Amy as, well, Our Little Amy out there working for us as a bastion against all those innovative pharmaceutical companies that could come up with, well, who knows what overpriced miracle drug .
Be sure to tune in again for the further adventures of Our Little Amy!
And be sure to visit Our Little Amy's sponsors :The Joseph Stalin School of Business and Management and the Hugo Chavez Academy for Advanced Political Thought.
Seems that about 3,000 children a year are born with a heart condition called PDA (patent ductus arteriosis). It's a heart defect that can be cured with either a drug ( that's manufactured by a company called Ovation Pharmaceuticals ) or with surgery. Pretty neat. But,oh no- not for Our Little Amy!
The drug, called Indocin I.V. was researched and developed by Merck. Merck sold the drug to Ovation. Ovation now manufactures and distributes the drug. When Merck sold Indocin, the therapy cost $108. Ovation charges $1500. And Our Little Amy sees that the vile, repugnant and evil Ovation is reaping huge, unconscionable windfall profits on poor defenseless little babies (the same babies that Our Little Amy is more than happy to have killed via abortion). And Our Little Amy is NOT going to let this injustice go unpunished, I tell you! "We need to highlight how messed up the system is when a pharmaceutical company can rip off premature infants with bad hearts," she said Friday." You go girl!! Now, vile repugnant Ovation throws up a paltry and easily laughable defense-"It's a complex process when you're moving manufacturing from one facility to another, let alone one company to another," said Sally Benjamin Young, a spokeswoman. " Ha! We all know that Our Little Amy is an expert in bio-pharmacology.We also know that Our Little Amy, being an expert in all the thick books of all the FDA regulations that both Merck and Ovation had to know, meet and comply with to even begin the process of selling Indocin, well she saw right through that little charade of an excuse that Ovation laughably offered. Also, that Our Little Amy, with her vast background in business, drug manufacturing, margin and recovery costs (just to name a very few of her areas of expertise) knows that Ovation is just heartless. She, of course, knows that Merck is huge and makes billions of dollars (most earned unethically, of course) and that Merck may have buried the cost of this orphan drug (any drug with a prospective treatment audience of 200,000 or less) in and amongst all it profits on other pharmaceuticals. Naturally Our Little Amy then immediately recognized that Ovation's price was WAY beyond what perhaps the actual manufacturing , recovery, acquisition and compliance costs may be in that the treatment audience is only 3,000. And Our Little Amy was willing to severely punish Ovation for taking a business risk-"She's calling on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and wants the Food and Drug Administration to move faster to approve generic versions of the drug, which would cost far less" . OK, that should serve as a warning to any and all bloodsucking pharmaceutical companies that Our Little Amy isn't going to stand for companies profiting from innovation and risk taking! How dare they meet and comply with FDA regulations, EEOC, OSHA, IRS to find miracle drugs for us. Why, there might even be people out there who would say "Ya' mean there's a drug that for only $1500 can cure a heart condition in a little baby? WOW. Don't we live in the greatest nation on earth?" They need to be shown the error of their ways! And Our Little Amy has the vast and deep knowledge to do just that! Never mind that Ovation is the only company that makes a drug for PDA. But ah, Our Little Amy knows that there are 100's of companies chomping at the bit to make a generic version of a drug with just 3,000 possible customers. Does the wonderment and amazement of her knowledge, insight, wisdom and acute business acumen ever end? And we are so blessed to have Our Little Amy as, well, Our Little Amy out there working for us as a bastion against all those innovative pharmaceutical companies that could come up with, well, who knows what overpriced miracle drug .
Be sure to tune in again for the further adventures of Our Little Amy!
And be sure to visit Our Little Amy's sponsors :The Joseph Stalin School of Business and Management and the Hugo Chavez Academy for Advanced Political Thought.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
When non-experts speak
As I was doing my morning news review, I went to the Drudge Report and saw this screamer headline:"Introducing the world's smallest gun that fires deadly 300 mph bullets! " complete with exclamation point! Many people know me as a certified firearms instructor. And a member of the leadership group ( a late joining member) that was responsible for passing the Minnesota Personal Protection Act (misnamed Conceal/Carry). So, I immediately knew that this was an idiot headline.
300 mph as a deadly speed is relative. A glacier moving at 300 mph would be miraculously stunning. A jet flying at 300 mph is creeping along. A comet speeding at 300 mph is not speeding. A train that goes 300 mph is noteworthy. A bullet at 300 mph is a weak sister. Real weak. 300 mph equates to 440 fps (feet per second). Ballistically that is termed as sub-sonic (sonic or the speed of sound is generally considered to be 1,100 fps). My 45 shoots at a muzzle velocity of around 830 fps. That is considered a slow round. With a heavy bullet. The reason speed is important is because it figures into muzzle energy. Speed and the weight of the round are put into a formula that tells us what the "work" of that round will be. So, taking 300 mph (440 fps and reading the article, the headline is also wrong as the speed is 270 mph and therefore muzzle speed is 330 fps) and that this is a very small round (light weight) and doing the conversion (from the Swiss Mini-Gun website ) equates to less than a foot pound of energy. The Swiss Mini-Gun website also says that the round has less energy than a BB gun. Now, don't get me wrong. I would have no desire to put the muzzle up against any part of my body. Or anything else for that matter as I observe the safety maxim "Don't ever point the muzzle of a firearm at anything that you're not willing to destroy".
But as you read the article, the writer found someone who he described as a "consultant forensics consultant" and "firearms expert " and who spoke in dire terms: puncturing skin and bones, threshold, lethal etc. However, all his warnings of lethality, when put into analysis of the facts as presented, put the specter of serious doubt as to his expertise. And the real agenda of the writer.
And this is same screaming lack of logic, we found an "expert who agrees with our agenda" that you hear from the left-on nearly every issue.
300 mph as a deadly speed is relative. A glacier moving at 300 mph would be miraculously stunning. A jet flying at 300 mph is creeping along. A comet speeding at 300 mph is not speeding. A train that goes 300 mph is noteworthy. A bullet at 300 mph is a weak sister. Real weak. 300 mph equates to 440 fps (feet per second). Ballistically that is termed as sub-sonic (sonic or the speed of sound is generally considered to be 1,100 fps). My 45 shoots at a muzzle velocity of around 830 fps. That is considered a slow round. With a heavy bullet. The reason speed is important is because it figures into muzzle energy. Speed and the weight of the round are put into a formula that tells us what the "work" of that round will be. So, taking 300 mph (440 fps and reading the article, the headline is also wrong as the speed is 270 mph and therefore muzzle speed is 330 fps) and that this is a very small round (light weight) and doing the conversion (from the Swiss Mini-Gun website ) equates to less than a foot pound of energy. The Swiss Mini-Gun website also says that the round has less energy than a BB gun. Now, don't get me wrong. I would have no desire to put the muzzle up against any part of my body. Or anything else for that matter as I observe the safety maxim "Don't ever point the muzzle of a firearm at anything that you're not willing to destroy".
But as you read the article, the writer found someone who he described as a "consultant forensics consultant" and "firearms expert " and who spoke in dire terms: puncturing skin and bones, threshold, lethal etc. However, all his warnings of lethality, when put into analysis of the facts as presented, put the specter of serious doubt as to his expertise. And the real agenda of the writer.
And this is same screaming lack of logic, we found an "expert who agrees with our agenda" that you hear from the left-on nearly every issue.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
A change of pace
With all the politics we write about, I thought I'd find something that would take a different direction:
Also, what ever you, do NOT click on any of the follow-up videos that reference the Ford SportKa and a cat!
Also, what ever you, do NOT click on any of the follow-up videos that reference the Ford SportKa and a cat!
Monday, March 03, 2008
"Because they can..."
The SD35 Republican convention was this weekend. In even numbered years the convention business is to endorse candidates and vote on resolutions. Every two years we endorse for the House of Representatives and every four years we endorse for the Senate also. Senator Claire Robling (R-SD35) gave her report on the Senate. She talked about the Senate vote not to confirm Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau head of MNDOT. Sen. Robling was very upset. She said that Carol Molnau was her representative and was also the one who encouraged her to run for Senate. And Sen. Robling was very clear that the only reason that the Senate DFL majority fired Carol Molnau was because "They could." The DFL has a long memory and no patience. Or grace. Or humility. Or logic. Or economic sense. They are a vindictive lot. And with a veto proof majority they are drunk with power. Sen. Robling also talked about the DFL victory in Tom Neuville's district (SD25) that gave the DFL the ability to override a gubernatorial veto-which they have.
The House of representatives is in a parallel strait. With an overwhelming majority in the House, the DFL is again very emboldened. And the Republicans have no one else but themselves to blame. As Savage Republican has pointed out the problem isn't that aren't enough Republicans in the House. The problem is that aren't enough conservatives (as witnessed by the 6 RINOs that voted with the radical left to override the governor's veto of the largest tax increase in Minnesota history-just when we're looking at an economic slowdown). And why is there now the largest tax increase in Minnesota history that goes NOT for roads and bridges but buildings and bike paths?
"Because they can..." It's what they do. And it's what they do to you.
Ron Carey , Executive Chair of the MN GOP showed up to address the SD35 Convention. I talked to him briefly before his address. I was clear that a perfect confluence of events, given to us by the DFL, has transpired . And that if the MN Repubs can not take back the House this election cycle, the Repubs need to close up shop and clip coupons for a living.
Unfortunately, his address was boiler plate, off the shelf stuff. Here was a golden opportunity to get the troops ready for the upcoming battle. And it was,rather unfortunately, missed.
The House of representatives is in a parallel strait. With an overwhelming majority in the House, the DFL is again very emboldened. And the Republicans have no one else but themselves to blame. As Savage Republican has pointed out the problem isn't that aren't enough Republicans in the House. The problem is that aren't enough conservatives (as witnessed by the 6 RINOs that voted with the radical left to override the governor's veto of the largest tax increase in Minnesota history-just when we're looking at an economic slowdown). And why is there now the largest tax increase in Minnesota history that goes NOT for roads and bridges but buildings and bike paths?
"Because they can..." It's what they do. And it's what they do to you.
Ron Carey , Executive Chair of the MN GOP showed up to address the SD35 Convention. I talked to him briefly before his address. I was clear that a perfect confluence of events, given to us by the DFL, has transpired . And that if the MN Repubs can not take back the House this election cycle, the Repubs need to close up shop and clip coupons for a living.
Unfortunately, his address was boiler plate, off the shelf stuff. Here was a golden opportunity to get the troops ready for the upcoming battle. And it was,rather unfortunately, missed.
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