This and That

Who Does That?

(**sidenote: The second picture is from The Office. It reads: Assistant of the Regional Manager**)

Me: I didn't realize the President Elect was an actual position that warrants a sign.

The CoWorker: I didn't either, but it matches his custom presidential seal. Total disrespect for W if you ask me.

...um...you think? Yet, people can be kicked off football teams, fired from jobs and suspended from school for even THINKING a negative thought about the O. It's disgusting, the double standards the libs set for the rest of the country. I wish they would all move to California and leave us alone.

And Then a Little Bit of This...

Headline: Obama Names Bill Clinton to Presidential Post (thanks Treacher...this was a great laugh)

Me: This is great.

The CoWorker: That's pretty funny. I wish it were true. --Did I just say that I wish Clinton were President again?

...um...yes, CoWorker you did. You did just say that. (and yes...we are keeping it positive this week--visualize dancing snoopy emoticon here)

In Your Face Michael Moore...and all you other LIBBYS

A Thanksgiving Story

**an oldie but goodie** By Rush Limbaugh

Happy Thanksgiving!! "The story of the Pilgrims begins in the early part of the seventeenth century (that's the 1600s for those of you in Rio Linda, California). The Church of England under King James I was persecuting anyone and everyone who did not recognize its absolute civil and spiritual authority. Those who challenged ecclesiastical authority and those who believed strongly in freedom of worship were hunted down, imprisoned, and sometimes executed for their beliefs. A group of separatists first fled to Holland and established a community. After eleven years, about forty of them agreed to make a perilous journey to the New World, where they would certainly face hardships, but could live and worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. On August 1, 1620, the Mayflower set sail. It carried a total of 102 passengers, including forty Pilgrims led by William Bradford. On the journey, Bradford set up an agreement, a contract, that established just and equal laws for all members of the new community, irrespective of their religious beliefs. Where did the revolutionary ideas expressed in the Mayflower Compact come from? From the Bible. "The Pilgrims were a people completely steeped in the lessons of the Old and New Testaments. They looked to the ancient Israelites for their example. And, because of the biblical precedents set forth in Scripture, they never doubted that their experiment would work. But this was no pleasure cruise, friends. The journey to the New World was a long and arduous one. And when the Pilgrims landed in New England in November, they found, according to Bradford's detailed journal, a cold, barren, desolate wilderness. There were no friends to greet them, he wrote. There were no houses to shelter them. There were no inns where they could refresh themselves. And the sacrifice they had made for freedom was just beginning. During the first winter, half the Pilgrims – including Bradford's own wife – died of either starvation, sickness or exposure. When spring finally came, Indians taught the settlers how to plant corn, fish for cod and skin beavers for coats. Life improved for the Pilgrims, but they did not yet prosper! "This is important to understand because this is where modern American history lessons often end. Thanksgiving is actually explained in some textbooks as a holiday for which the Pilgrims gave thanks to the Indians for saving their lives, rather than as a devout expression of gratitude grounded in the tradition of both the Old and New Testaments. Here is the part that has been omitted: The original contract the Pilgrims had entered into with their merchant-sponsors in London called for everything they produced to go into a common store, and each member of the community was entitled to one common share. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belong to the community as well. Bradford, who had become the new governor of the colony, recognized that this form of collectivism was as costly and destructive to the Pilgrims as that first harsh winter, which had taken so many lives. "He decided to take bold action. Bradford assigned a plot of land to each family to work and manage, thus turning loose the power of the marketplace. That's right. Long before Karl Marx was even born, the Pilgrims had discovered and experimented with what could only be described as socialism. And what happened? It didn't work! Fast Forward... Here now, in its entirety, the William Bradford journal, what he wrote about the social experiment after abandoning what essentially was socialism shortly after the Pilgrims had arrived in the United States or in the new world: "'The experience that we had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years...that by taking away property, and bringing community into a common wealth, would make them happy and flourishing – as if they were wiser than God,' Bradford wrote. 'For this community [so far as it was] was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children without any recompense...that was thought injustice.' Do you hear what he was saying, ladies and gentlemen? The Pilgrims found that people could not be expected to do their best work without incentive. So what did Bradford's community try next? They un-harnessed the power of good old free enterprise by invoking the undergirding capitalistic principle of private property. Every family was assigned its own plot of land to work and permitted to market its own crops and products.'" To see the full story click here. Hmmm...it took the Pilgrims only a couple of years to learn what the Democrats refuse to accept. I've said this before and I'll say it again. If you don't believe that giving handouts is more harmful than good, I ask you to go visit an inner-city, where generation after generation have been dependent on the government and community organizations. Very rarely do these citizens ever try to better themselves--and why should they? The government gives them money, food, medical assistance...and what they don't get from the government, they can simply take from others. The prisons are so over-populated that the chances of them actually having to stay in jail for something as minor as a robbery are slim to none. Again, someone explain to me why pure socialism is better? The Other Co Worker often likes to tell me that we already live in a socialistic society. Ok. Well...whatever society we're currently living in is obviously NOT working. Rather than try to make it MORE socialistic, why not try to rewind and take it a little closer to capitalism? Positive productivity is much more likely when a person knows he'll get to keep his rewards--rather than have to give them away to some schmuck that sits on his couch waitin' for his check from da gub'ment. I hope everyone that reads this has a very happy Thanksgiving and is able to find plenty to be thankful for. Money simply produces material things...it can't buy the love and happiness friends and family give for free! God Bless.

Holiday Hiatus

As Thursday approaches, I'm going to try my very best to think about nothing but family, friends, wrapping up the work week (ugh, I am NOT a fan of Black Friday right now!!) and getting the house ready for guests (ugh, I am NOT a fan of house guests right now!!). Not promising that I'll succeed...but I'm going to try. **edited 11/25/08: of course, I didn't succeed!!**

COMING HOME!!!

Just wanted to take a minute to express my pure JOY that a group of soldiers very near and dear to my heart have begun the process of coming home from their second tour of Iraq!! Just in time for the Holidays!!

In fact, a close family friend is already back in the States...he gets to spend Thanksgiving with his family (though, he's still being debriefed so his family has to travel to him...but I'm sure they're not complaining, well, in fact I KNOW they're not complaining!!)

I am so ready for each and everyone of these soldiers to be home...

The soldiers of the past 39th Infantry Brigade helped mold who I am today...and quite a few of the soldiers of the present 39th are dear friends of mine. Completeing their second tour to Iraq, it's time for them to be home!!

2025: Russia a Powerhouse?

Well, the way things are going...it may not even take that long (Year 2025) for Russia to regain the strength it once had. Vladimir Putin (creepy, creepy) is drooling over there, waiting for a moment of weakness from the USA. "Intel report predicts U.S. decline, Russia's rise U.S. trend analysis cites Moscow oil boom, dollar woes and al-Qaida's decay Associated Press WASHINGTON - Global warming could be a boon to Russia, a European country could be overrun by organized crime and the U.S. and its dollar could further decline in importance during the next two decades, says a U.S. intelligence report with predictions for the world in 2025. The report, Global Trends 2025, is published every four years by the National Intelligence Council to give U.S. leaders insight into looming problems and opportunities. The report says the warming earth will extend Russia and Canada's growing season and ease their access to northern oil fields, strengthening their economies. But Russia's potential emergence as a world power may be clouded by lagging investment in its energy sector, persistent crime and government corruption, the report says. Analysts also warn that the same kind of organized crime plaguing Russia could eventually take over the government of an Eastern or Central European country. The report is silent on which one. It also says countries in Africa and South Asia may find themselves unstable and ungoverned, as state regimes collapse or wither away under security problems and water and food shortages brought about by climate change and a population increase of 1.4 billion. The potential for conflict will be greater in 2025 than it is now, as the world's population competes for declining and shifting food, water and energy resources. Al-Qaida's decay--Despite a more precarious world situation, the report also says al-Qaida's terrorist franchise could decay "sooner than people think." It cites its growing unpopularity in the Muslim world, where it kills most of its victims. "The prospect that al-Qaida will be among the small number of groups able to transcend the generational timeline is not high, given its harsh ideology, unachievable strategic objectives and inability to become a mass movement," the report states. The report forecasts a geopolitical rise in non-Arab Muslim states outside of the Middle East, including Turkey and Indonesia, and says Iran could also be a central player in a new world order if it sheds its theocracy. Decline in America's global power--The report, a year in the making, also suggests the world may complete its move away from its dependence on oil, and that the U.S. dollar, while remaining important, will decline to "first among equals" among other national currencies. U.S. global power also will likely decline, as Americans' concerns about putting resources into solving domestic problems may cause the United States to pull resources from foreign and global problems." Comforting, isn't it?

Stand in Line...like the Canadians.

It seems that I have been prefacing many of my posts with the phrase "It would be ideal..." Here is yet another one: While it would be ideal that every American have the opportunity to have a "good" healthcare plan, I have to say, I don't believe that the Universal plan is the way to go. Though it is not official, word is spreading that former Senator Tom Daschle will be named Secretary of Health and Human Services (hmmm...he sure was active in that Clinton administration--loving all this CHANGE). With the "spreading rumor" of this appointment, our lovely Senators have begun to "hit the ground running" to press ahead on healthcare issues, despite the poor economy. Check out this blog from NY Times: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/senators-begin-setting-agenda-on-health-care/ A couple of questions. 1) What is this agenda they speak of? 2) Can someone please define for me "meaningful health care reform?" (Why can't we get a straight answer ANYWHERE?!?!--because this sure doesn't answer any questions I have...) And with that...what everybody keeps pointing at is the Universal Healthcare System in Canada and Great Britain. Ha. Seems to me some peeps need to catch up on their reading. "Mountain-bike enthusiast Suzanne Aucoin had to fight more than her Stage IV colon cancer. Her doctor suggested Erbitux—a proven cancer drug that targets cancer cells exclusively, unlike conventional chemotherapies that more crudely kill all fast-growing cells in the body—and Aucoin went to a clinic to begin treatment. But if Erbitux offered hope, Aucoin's insurance didn't: she received one inscrutable form letter after another, rejecting her claim for reimbursement. Yet another example of the callous hand of managed care, depriving someone of needed medical help, right? Guess again. Erbitux is standard treatment, covered by insurance companies—in the United States. Aucoin lives in Ontario, Canada. When Aucoin appealed to an official ombudsman, the Ontario government claimed that her treatment was unproven and that she had gone to an unaccredited clinic. But the FDA in the U.S. had approved Erbitux, and her clinic was a cancer center affiliated with a prominent Catholic hospital in Buffalo. This January, the ombudsman ruled in Aucoin's favor, awarding her the cost of treatment. She represents a dramatic new trend in Canadian health-care advocacy: finding the treatment you need in another country, and then fighting Canadian bureaucrats (and often suing) to get them to pick up the tab." Is it not concerning that these countries that have relied on socialized healthcare are starting to look at private sectors for health care? From same article as above: Another sign of transformation: Canadian doctors, long silent on the health-care system's problems, are starting to speak up. Last August, they voted Brian Day president of their national association. A former socialist who counts Fidel Castro as a personal acquaintance, Day has nevertheless become perhaps the most vocal critic of Canadian public health care, having opened his own private surgery center as a remedy for long waiting lists and then challenged the government to shut him down. "This is a country in which dogs can get a hip replacement in under a week," he fumed to the New York Times, "and in which humans can wait two to three years."And now even Canadian governments are looking to the private sector to shrink the waiting lists. Day's clinic, for instance, handles workers'-compensation cases for employees of both public and private corporations. In British Columbia, private clinics perform roughly 80 percent of government-funded diagnostic testing. In Ontario, where fealty to socialized medicine has always been strong, the government recently hired a private firm to staff a rural hospital's emergency room.This privatizing trend is reaching Europe, too. Britain's government-run health care dates back to the 1940s. Yet the Labour Party—which originally created the National Health Service and used to bristle at the suggestion of private medicine, dismissing it as "Americanization"—now openly favors privatization. Come on. LEARN FROM OTHER'S MISTAKES and ACTIONS. England has had a National Health Service since the 1940s and are now openly favoring privatization. Riddle me this? IF MEDICARE and MEDICAID are not working NOW, why on earth do these government officials believe they can move us ALL to one healthcare system?!? (Bi-partisan statement, anti-politican statement: I mean, they manage our money so well as it is...) All I know is--when it's my turn to need something, or my mother's turn, or my father's turn or any loved one of mine's turn...I'll be DAMNED if they're going to have to wait in line for healthcare because BO and friends think we need to give everyone the same amount of healthcare. You get in what you put in. EDITED November 21 , 2008: After speaking with The Social Worker last night (her character will likely be introduced soon to this blog), we both decided it's not Universal Health Care this country needs. In fact, Universal ANYTHING will make this country worse (ahhh--and you read it right, someone in the Social Welfare system is agreeing with me...more to come on that). What we need is the Feds to put stricter regulations on those blasted insurance companies that make you pay $400/month to be insured, yet won't cover your birth control (though, in case you're wondering, Viagra IS covered). **Side note. I know Birth Control is frowned upon, especially in my religious community. But I also grew up in the Public School system and have watched how young people learn at a very early age how to take advantage of the system...simply by having those bebes. I DO support birth control (NOT to be mistaken with if you have already conceived) and believe strongly that insurance companies should support birth control as well. Well, unless they're wanting to inherit a bebe because Mama got knocked up?

Priorities.

© David Fitzsimmons

Irony.

"So, this is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause." --George Lucas

...who donated $33,100 to the Obama campaign, according to this website: http://www.virtualworldlets.net/Archive/IndividualNews.php?News=3290

Holly-Bama...

Thank you Holly-Bama...And now, Snoop Dog's artistic contribution to the President-Elect...

Lovely interpretation of things to come.

Hmmm...he did remove the American flag from his campaign plane...who is to say he won't do something to alter Air Force One?

Ahhh...Ghetto Fabbbbbuuuuulous.

For those of you that can't view the video...check out Soul Plane clips...you'll get the gist (the video originally comes from the movie, Soul Plane).

The end of the clip reads, "God Speed Obama."

To add insult to injury...check out the quote below:

Seriously? Snoop Dogg The rapper comments on the effect of Barack Obama's candidacy on the African-American community Posted September 30, 2008 "People that I know that have never cared about politics are registering to vote this time: gang members, ex-cons, you name it. I hate to see a lot of that hope go down the drain, and if he loses, it will." —Rapper Snoop Dogg in Newsweek talking about the African-American community getting involved in the election because of Barack Obama's candidacy

Please, throw me under the bus!

I know...old news...but reminders never hurt. On March 18, 2008, in a speech on race relations in Philadelphia in the wake of controversial videos of Obama's pastor Jeremiah Wright surfacing, Obama described his grandmother: "I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother - a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.[20]" On March 20, 2008, in a radio interview on Philadelphia's WIP (AM), Obama explained this remark by saying: "The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity - she doesn't. But she is a typical white person, who, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know...there's a reaction that's been bred into our experiences that don't go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way, and that's just the nature of race in our society.[21][22][dead link]" Obama's use of the phrase "typical white person" was highlighted by a gossip columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News and subsequently picked up by commentators on the Huffington Post blog, ABC News and other media outlets.[23][24][25][26] In a CNN interview, when Larry King asked him to clarify the "typical white person" remark, Obama said: "Well, what I meant really was that some of the fears of street crime and some of the stereotypes that go along with that were responses that I think many people feel. She's not extraordinary in that regard. She is somebody that I love as much as anybody. I mean, she has literally helped to raise me. But those are fears that are embedded in our culture, and embedded in our society, and even within our own families, even within a family like mine that is diverse.[26]" She was "his rock." Ha. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. And I'll tell you what, if I were to ever be in the acquaintance of Mr. Obama, I'd be watching out for large vehicles and watching my back. If he has no qualms about throwing his loved ones under the bus, what makes any of us think he has any regard for us "mere citizens?"

Daddy's Poem

This poem has been circulated a few times via email.

Daddy's Poem

Her hair was up in a pony tail,her favorite dress tied with a bow.

Today was Daddy's Day at school,and she couldn't wait to go. But her mommy tried to tell her,that she probably should stay home.

Why the kids might not understand,if she went to school alone. But she was not afraid;she knew just what to say.

What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today. But still her mother worried,for her to face this day alone.

And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home. But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all.

About a dad she never sees, a dad who never calls. There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet.

Children squirming impatiently,anxious in their seats. One by one the teacher called a student from the class.

To introduce their daddy,as seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name,every child turned to stare.

Each of them was searching, a man who wasn't there. 'Where's her daddy at?'She heard a boy call out.

'She probably doesn't have one,'another student dared to shout. And from somewhere near the back,she heard a daddy say,

'Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day.' The words did not offend her,as she smiled up at her Mom,

and looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak.

And out from the mouth of a child,c ame words incredibly unique. 'My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away.

But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day. And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know.

All about my daddy,and how much he loves me so. He loved to tell me stories, he taught me to ride my bike.

He surprised me with pink roses,and taught me to fly a kite. We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone.

And though you cannot see him. I'm not standing here alone. 'Cause my daddy's always with me,even though we are apart,

I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart.'

With that, her little hand reached up,and lay across her chest.

Feeling her own heartbeat,beneath her favorite dress. And from somewhere there in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears.

Proudly watching her daughter,who was wise beyond her years. For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life.

Doing what was best for her, doing what was right. And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd.

She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud. 'I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star.

And if he could, he'd be here,but heaven's just too far. You see he is a Marine and died just this past year

when a roadside bomb hit his convoy

and taught Americans to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes,it's like he never went away'

And then she closed her eyes,and saw him there that day. And to her mother's amazement,she witnessed with surprise.

A room full of daddies and children,all starting to close their eyes. Who knows what they saw before them,who knows what they felt inside.

Perhaps for merely a second,they saw him at her side.

'I know you're with me Daddy,'to the silence she called out.

And what happened next made believers,of those once filled with doubt. Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed.

But there on the desk beside her,was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose. And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star.

And given the gift of believing,that heaven is never too far. There must be many children in the same boat as this little girl, thanks to our servicemen and women and their families for the sacrifice they are making to keep our country Free.

Civilian National Security Force

"We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we have set," Obama said in July. "We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded." While the suggestion of having a civilian group that's sole purpose is to promote loyalty to the United States is ideal (children learning what it is like to be proud to be American) what Mr. Obama states above is beyond frightening (more like young adults brainwashed to carry out Mr. O's ideas). Nothing needs to be more powerful, just as strong or as well funded as the United States military. Nothing. The below is a bit long winded, I apologize. Lets have a little history lesson. In 1933, a "secret" force of the Security Police was formed in Germany. The title of this "secret police" was the Gestapo. The Gestapo had the authority to investigate treason, espionage and sabotage cases and cases of criminal attack on the Nazis and Germany (hmmmm...wonder what the Civilian National Security Force will have the power to do?) In 1936, a law was passed that allowed the Gestapo to operate Carte Blanche without judicial oversight. The Gestapo were exempted from responsibility to administrative courts; the Gestapo's actions were not subject to judicial review. By 1936, Concentration Camps were created to hold those that acted against the Gestapo and Nazis in Schutazhaft (which is protective custody). People were imprisoned without judicial proceedings for speaking out against the Nazis, for protesting and for simply being the "wrong religion." How on earth did the Gestapo get so powerful? Funny you ask. A man by the name of Adolf Hitler worked his magic. Click here for a complete view of the Rise of Hitler. Let's take it past the Gestapo. Let's now look at the Hitler Jugend. The Hitler Youth movement emphasized activism, physical training, NAZI ideology, especially nationalism and racial concepts, and absolute obedience to Hitler and the NAZI Party. Indoctrinating children in National Socialist idelogy was a key goal of the NAZI Party. Once Hitler assumed control over the German state, he used the Goverment to make the Hitler Youth the country's all encompasing youth movement. Hitler and other NAZIs leaders saw the indoctrination of young Germans as of critical importance. In the same year that they took power, the NAZIs organized German youth organizations into two branches of the Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugen), one branch for boys and one for girls. Membership was eventually made compulsory and all boys had to report to a neigborhood office to have his racial background checked and be registered for membership. For the purposes of this blog entry, I'm going to stick to three critical events in Hitler's rise (as they could be crucial to USA's own future): 1. Reichstag Fire Decree, 1933. This decree nullified many key civil liberties of German citizens. Nazis used the decree as a legal basis of imprisonment of anyone considered opponents of Nazis. In essence, this decree suspended the BASIC rights of German citizens, including Habeas Corpus. With Nazis in powerful positions of the German government, the decree was used as the legal basis of imprisonment of anyone considered to be opponents of the Nazis, and was used to suppress publications not considered "friendly" to the Nazi cause. In other words, legislative power... 2. Enabling Act, 1933. Signed by President Hindenburg (hmm...does Mr. O have a puppetmaster as President Hindenburg did--Hitler?). This was the second major step through which Hitler obtained plenary powers (the complete power of a governing body) using legal means. The Act granted the Cabinet of Germany (Chief executive body of the Federal Republic of Germany. Consists of the Chancellor and Cabinet ministers) the authority to enact laws without the participation of the Reichstag (Germany's parliament) for four years. In other words, executive power... 3. Removal of Remaining Limits. With the combination of legislative (Reichstag Fire Decree) and executive (Enabling Act) power, the Third Reicht was able to take control of the German government, resulting in a dictatorship from 1933 to 1945. Hitler suppressed opposing power by means of bans (exum...FAIRNESS ACT) or by forcing groups opposed to Hitler's ideas into dissolving (is it the end of Republicans?!?). Eventually, the removal of remaining limits led to the creation of only ONE party legally recognized by Germany, the National Socialist German Workers Party (nazi). What does the above information have to do with Obama's Civilian National Security Force you ask? Let's start with this: The text from Obama's change.gov website, which went online shortly after the election result, originally appeared as follows (emphasis mine). Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by developing a plan to require 50 hours of community service in middle school and high school and 100 hours of community service in college every year. The text was changed at some point on Friday afternoon/evening to the following (emphasis mine). Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by setting a goal that all middle school and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year and by developing a plan so that all college students who conduct 100 hours of community service receive a universal and fully refundable tax credit ensuring that the first $4,000 of their college education is completely free. Go to the following link to see the two changes (and full text of this posting): http://researchris.blogspot.com/2008/11/obama-website-scrubs-mandatory.html On a separate area of the website, the program was also described under the heading "Require 100 hours of service in college," but this has also since disappeared. The General makes a point or two himself regarding some of the suggestions Obama has put out there: The General: (conversation inspired by comment made by Jarrett) Obama's campaign appeared to take the egalitarian, mass-based view of Progressives, celebrating human fraternity and dignity. But the German classical political philosophers from which fascism grew, such as Nietzsche, had disdain for such movements, and advocated state power, believing individual rights were a joke - a passion for the rule of the strong over the weak, a love of inequality, enforced by the will to power. In other words, from the same roots, we can have socialism, liberalism or progressivism, or we can have fascism, Nazism, totalitarianism. Just depends on the guy and how big his army is. Under either construct, we do NOT have the natural rights and individual freedoms clearly favored by the founders, and the reason they chose a limited government model. And apparently all it takes is Congressional adjustments to the Posse Comitatus Act and the Insurrection Act (which was done temporarily in 2007 for anti-terrorist purposes) –and the creation of a Gestapo/Hitler Jugend—oops, I mean “Civilian National Security Force”—to create something similar to the “Removal of Remaining Limits” and to do away with the current Constitution. The Democrats will, by January 2009, have majority in all levels of our government--so checks and balances will be null and void. O will not have to worry about "uprisings" and "protests" as he has already thought of that. The CIVILIAN National Security Force--which we will assume will not have to follow the same laws as the military, as it is a different entity--will most likely be able to quash anyone protesting the liberal Democratic ideas. Though no one should be compared to the likes of Hitler, as he was an evil, dangerous man, no one can help but notice the similarities the two men (Obama and...) share. Namely, no one knew much about either man until he took power (ok, we still don't know much about Obama, which is scary in itself). Click here to view an interesting article to illustrate such comparisons.

So, I'd say as responsible Americans there are a few things to start watching for: who do we become Allies with? Who is going to lead our Department of National Defense? Who is going to lead the Civilian National Security Force?

The answers to those questions will let us know what we're about to deal with...

Til then. XOXO.

Catholics and ACORN.

CCHD ends funding to ACORN over financial irregularities By Dennis SadowskiCatholic News ServiceWASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Catholic Campaign for Human Development suspended funding a nationwide community organizing group after it was disclosed June 2 that nearly $1 million had been embezzled. Funding was suspended for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, popularly known as ACORN, because of the financial irregularities, said Ralph McCloud, executive director of CCHD, the U.S. bishops' domestic anti-poverty and social justice program."We're not funding them at any level," McCloud told Catholic News Service Oct. 15. The suspension covers all 40 ACORN affiliates nationwide that had been approved for $1.13 million in grants for the funding cycle that started July 1, 2008.McCloud said the suspension came soon after his office learned that ACORN disclosed that Dale Rathke, the brother of ACORN founder Wade Rathke, had embezzled nearly $1 million from the organization and its affiliates in 1999 and 2000. Dale Rathke stepped down from his position with the organization in June when the matter became public; no charges were filed against him. Wade Rathke stepped down as the group's lead organizer at the same time but remains chief organizer for ACORN International LLC.CCHD has hired specialists in forensic accounting to investigate whether any of its grant funding has been misappropriated, McCloud added.Since revealing its financial troubles, the organization has come under intense scrutiny because of its voter registration practices. In several states voter registration forms have been found to include nonexistent or dead people. Some registrants have told elections officials they completed multiple cards at the urging of ACORN canvassers who claimed they would be fired if they did not meet a daily quota for signing up new voters.McCloud released information showing that CCHD funded more than 320 ACORN projects with grants totaling more than $7.3 million during the last 10 years. He said the community organization also had received funds since early in CCHD's history.CCHD's Web site reveals the campaign gave about $1.11 million to 40 ACORN affiliates in 2007 and $1.17 million to 45 affiliates in 2006.Over the years, some of the funds undoubtedly were used for voter registration drives, McCloud said."It probably was," he told CNS. "But by the same token, we didn't find any voter registration irregularities, the allegations we are finding now."McCloud also said that CCHD guidelines require that organizations in line for funding "go through a great deal of scrutiny."Prior to the awarding of grants, applications from local organizations are vetted at the diocesan level by a funding committee, endorsed by the local bishop, and then scrutinized by the national CCHD staff and a committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, McCloud explained."The whole idea is making sure that the efforts of the groups we fund are working in nonpartisan efforts and focusing on the kind of work that we would like for them to do," McCloud said.The organization has not returned several calls from CNS seeking comment about the suspension of funding.However, ACORN officials are defending the organization's voter registration practices. During an Oct. 14 press conference, spokesman Patrick Whelan acknowledged that some of the organizations 13,000 canvassers submitted duplicate or false registrations, but said they represented a tiny fraction of the 1.3 million new voters signed up for the Nov. 4 election. He said the organization itself discovered many of the problem registrations.Traditionally drawn to causes usually backed by Democrats, the 38-year-old organization has conducted organizing campaigns in low- and moderate-income communities on issues such as unemployment, affordable housing, predatory lending, health care, minimum wage and living wage, and immigration. ACORN also has conducted voter registration drives throughout its history by hiring canvassers to go door to door and to visit public sites where people gather.The organization has more than 1,200 chapters in 110 cities, according to its Web site. Hmmm...the monsignor in my parish made it a point to let the parishioners know that NO money given next Sunday for the CCHD campaign will be granted to ACORN. Uh--you think? When you google CCHD and ACORN blogs pop up left and right that state quite simply, "This is one Second Sunday Collection that will not see my money!" Bishops have expressed concern about the entire motivation of CCHD and where the money has been or will be going. If the CCHD has been funding groups like ACORN--who is to say other groups have not benefitted from the fund that are openly against the Church's mission. "Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz asked pointedly whether funds are given to Catholic organizations or not. The answer was that they don't necessarily have to be Catholic." I am personally outraged by this development. Earlier in the year, an organization that I support whole-heartedly came under fire in our Diocese. The parishioners in our Diocese were told to stop supporting Susan G. Komen (an organization very near and dear to my heart) because money raised based on what was believed to be "fact" during fundraisers was being sent to Planned Parenthood. Fortunately, the organization leaders met with our then Diocesan Administrator and the miscommunication was retracted. I'm upset that an organization that truly works for the best (Susan G. Komen)--is ridiculed because of a "possible link" to Planned Parenthood, yet an organization like ACORN has been reaping the benefits of Catholics' charity and good will for years. Hmmm...wonder if any of our money wound up in B.O's campaign fund (ACORN, the group, which is suppose to be a non-profit and non-partisan group that publicly backed the Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama). We might as well send the money directly to Planned Parenthood if that's the case.

...

Do you care to join me in writing a Eulogy?

Recurring Nightmare

"On each landing, opposite the lift-shaft, the poster with the enormous face gazed from the wall. It was one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption beneath it ran...(narrative contines...)The Ministry of Truth -- Minitrue, in Newspeak -- was startlingly different from any other object in sight. It was an enormous pyramidal structure of glittering white concrete, soaring up, terrace after terrace, 300 metres into the air. From where Winston stood it was just possible to read, picked out on its white face in elegant lettering, the three slogans of the Party: WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. " 1984, George Orwell. I fear that one day this blog will not exist. Or, if it does, that each letter entered will be scrutinized--and each word that speaks blasphemy of Barack Obama will be subject to punishment. Yet, I fear more, that my fear is becoming reality. That it is ok for the Hollywood types to speak treason of our nation, but God forbid, a college kid say something wrong about B.O. That it is ok for people to call us "whitey" but God forbid anyone mention Barack's preacher's animosity toward the nation. College kids...it's not safe. Civil servants (i.e. POLICE OFFICERS, not O's Civil Army)...it's not safe. Bloggers...well, we all know where we're going. Just pray it's not like Germany in the 30s/40s. Someone pinch me.

The Day Journalism Died.

I grew up adoring journalism and everything it represented. I loved Murphy Brown and wanted to be her one day. Now, I duck my head and quite often am ashamed to admit that I received my B.A. in Journalism. A co-worker and I were discussing the Palin issue yesterday ...the conversation went like this: Me: "I like this quote: "Kudos to the inventor of this whole thing," Stein wrote. "My only consolation is that if I had as much time on my hands as he clearly does, I probably would have figured this out and saved myself a fair amount of embarrassment." –Jonathan Stein I like this quote because Journalism 101 is CHECK YOUR FACTS before you publish a story. And...isn't that his JOB...to check the facts? Where does all his time go if he's not doing his job correctly? Seriously. Learned that day #1." Co Worker: "I haven’t been in journalism since 10th grade but I think I remember that you’re supposed to have two reliable sources. Sometimes the real news is too boring or not scandalous enough so the “drive-bys” create it." Me: "JOUR 1023--Media and Society…”always check your sources and cover all aspects of the story.” Worse class ever? JOUR 3333—don’t remember prof’s name, former New York Times reporter, “Ethics in Journalism”…took it in Spring 2003—my father is in the military (that is the same time as the Iraq war "kick off"). Needless to say, I stirred the pot quite a few times. Only 2 other “conservatives” in the entire class besides me. Ha. The prof LOVED me, though! I challenged him each and every class. Yeah—we’re really required to take this class. Too bad no one pays attention." hmmm... Then good ol' Treacher posted this on his blog later in the day...seems I'm not alone in my thoughts of (hatred) toward the media these days... (summary): Journalism has been sick for months, years...little hope for recovery, but still hope (ME: loving that word "HOPE"). "Some Republican governors tell CNN they were not particularly happy with the way the Republican Governors Association press conference was executed Thursday, saying that they agreed to go as a show of GOP governors' unity -- but they ended up feeling like silent Palin supporters, since it was clearly a press conference called for her. The GOP governors spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity." Think about this last sentence for a minute. It shouldn't take you nearly that long. Think about what it says about the person who wrote it. Think about what it says about the person who allowed it to be published. Think about the entirety of the institution they belong to, which says things like this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without batting an eye. An institution that, in fact, blames us for noticing. I wonder if some musician will compose a song about the day the news died? But of course, we won't drive any Chevys to the levies...unless they're hybrid.

Gun Sales Rise on Heels of Democrats Taking D.C.

PROTECTING GUN RIGHTS Respect the Second Amendment: Millions of hunters and shooters own and use guns each year. Barack Obama believes the Second Amendment creates an individual right, and he respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms. He will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns.

In contrast to the above statement, President Elect's voting record is below: Barack Obama's Gun-Related Votes The U.S. Senate Debated: ObamaVoted: Supporting concealed carry for citizens Anti-gun Banning many common semi-automatic firearms Anti-gun Disallowing self-defense in towns where guns are banned Anti-gun Imposing one handgun a month restrictions Anti-gun Requiring lock up your safety trigger locks Anti-gun Protecting gun dealers from frivolous lawsuits Anti-gun Outlawing gun confiscations during a national emergency Pro-gun Squelching the free speech rights of gun owners Anti-gun Restricting the interstate sales of firearms Anti-gun Repealing the gun ban in Washington, DC Anti-gun RIDDLE ME THIS...if gun owners were not so concerned about their 2nd Amendment right--why have guns sales increased DRAMATICALLY in a time of recession...when the average Joe can barely afford his groceries? ...sure hope Biden gets this violence thing under control...scary thought, huh? 26 year old females with guns. *gasp* Gun sales rise in state on heels of Democrats taking reins in D.C. BY NOEL E. OMAN AND BILL BOWDEN Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Sales of handguns and semiautomatic assault-style rifles have been up sharply in recent weeks, according to the proprietors of area gun stores. The rise in gun purchases in Arkansas mirrors increases seen in the rest of the nation, fueled by anxiety and uncertainty over what limits might be placed on future gun purchases in the wake of last week’s election that gave the Democratic Party control over the White House and Congress for the first time in more than a decade. “People are nervous,” said Charles Lawson of Don’s Weaponry at 4116 E. Broadway in North Little Rock. “It’s a substantial increase: Personal protection, handguns, shotguns, rifles. You name it — people want to buy it.” At 12: 30 p.m. Monday, the counter in front of the handgun display wall at Fort Thompson, 5802 Warden Road in North Little Rock, was lined with people, who after a few minutes had handguns picked out and forms completed before heading to the cashier. A longer counter in front of the hunting rifles and shotguns on the other side of the store was empty. “We’ve had a tremendous increase” in sales, said Tom Denniston, Fort Thompson owner for the past 24 years. “It’s probably up 60 to 70 percent.” The wall display holds up to 250 handgun models, including three different barrel lengths for some models. Still, about 50 display slots were empty, the models sold out. A smaller wall display for military-style assault weapons was missing some models, which had sold out as well. “Middle-class America is arming itself,” said Gordy Oates of Lonoke, a professional hunter who allowed that he had “personally ordered two cases of buckshot.” A woman from Vilonia who declined to give her name walked out of the store with a new Springfield XD semiautomatic pistol. “I needed a weapon for protection,” she said. “I just never got around to it before now. I didn’t have one I needed for carry. It’s our right, fortunately.” Benny Arego of Arego Guns in Hot Springs said sales are up significantly at his store. “I’d say it’s gone up 250 percent,” said Arego, who ships guns all over the nation. “If it’s black and it holds a lot of bullets — black, high-cap [capacity ] anything, mostly assault weapons.” Gun dealers in Northwest Arkansas have seen the same thing. “My handgun sales — and especially the clip guns like AK-47, AR-15 and the Sega big-clip shotguns and rifles — are up probably 30 percent,” said Clint Cornett, owner of C&S Gun & Pawn Shop in Springdale. “Our sales would be up even more, but we can’t get the product. It’s a problem nationwide.” Cornett said shoppers tell him they want to buy handguns and semiautomatic tactical weapons now because they think a Democratic president and majority Democratic Congress will ban those weapons. He said ammunition has jumped in price by about 20 percent over the past two weeks. Cornett said he stocked up on rifles for deer season, which began Saturday, and he still has some of those guns in stock. John May, sales manager for Wilson Combat and Scattergun Technologies of Berryville, said hunting guns are not selling well nationwide, but stores can’t keep tactical weapons on the shelf. May said Wilson Combat, which manufactures custom guns, saw orders for tactical weapons jump by about 60 percent last week. Orders for handguns are also up, he said. “If they hold a lot of rounds and they’re a tactical gun, then they’re selling well,” he said. “We deal with dealers mostly.... From what I hear, there’s no ammo anywhere.” Wilson Combat was having a record year before last week’s election, May said, but since then, “It’s significantly more crazy than it was.” It takes Wilson Combat about three months to make a custom handgun, which can range from $ 2, 800 to $ 8, 000, May said. Building a tactical rifle, such as an AR-15, takes four to six weeks, and the cost is usually around $ 2, 000. Wilson Combat specializes in handguns, manufacturing about 250 handguns a month. Darinda Sharp, communications and research director for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, suspects something more cynical might be fueling the gun sales. “I can’t think of a single lawabiding citizen who has lost their gun as a result of a Democratic or Republican administration,” she said. “It sounds like a good marketing ploy.” Not all recent gun purchases were about the election. Another factor locally has been the slaying of Anne Pressly, 26, morning news anchor for Little Rock television station KATV, Channel 7. Pressly was found beaten inside her Heights neighborhood home on Oct. 20. She died five days later. “That’s been a big [factor ] in the increase in sales,” said Kevin Lloyd, manager of Bullseye Guns & Ammo at 205 N. Shackleford Road in Little Rock. “A lot are people in the Heights, who lived close to her or who knew her.” As a result of the slaying, people also are purchasing “pepper sprays and stun guns like crazy,” he said. Arego agreed that Pressly’s death has fueled some sales. The weekend before Tuesday’s vote, Arego participated in a gun show in Little Rock and said he’d never had so many first-time gun buyers. “This time it’s more fear,” he said. “Dads bringing their 26-year-old daughter to buy a handgun out of fear. That had nothing to do with the election.”

TWO PHRASES

What two phrases do NOT belong in the sentence below: “…it’s important that President Elect Obama is prepared to take power and begin to rule day one.” --Valerie Jarrett, on Meet the Press, 11/9/08

When did the President of the United States stop governing?

Apparently, according to Ms. Jarrett...the Prez is "ruling" January 21, 2009.

BLOG UPDATE

well guys...please excuse the mess...as the saying goes. I'm in the process of working on my blog layout and it is taking more time than I had expected. Sorry about the LEFT focus of the layout. I am working on correcting this. As for this blog--I believe I'm going to take it on another route these days. As a true lover of history, I intend to post blogs related to events of the past--and how now they are similar to events of our present and future. I'm sure I'll still post rants and raves from time to time, but I would like this to be a more structured blog. Of course, that takes more time...so again. Please excuse the mess. Bless Our Hearts will be updated as soon as humanly (and "computerly") possible. AS OF 11/14/08: Still working on it...but apparently, I will never get away from that stray thought. THIS is my haven for stray thoughts...for all those that never want to listen, this is MY release. So, the blog may not change too much--but it will always be ME. Ms. P. (Big Brother IS watching...)

Happy Veterans Day!!

THANK YOU...from the very bottom of my heart...to each and every Veteran--that have protected this nation in both peaceful and non times. Without you--where would I be today? THANK YOU!!!

My 401K

...may become a thing of the past. My IRAs ...may become a thing of the past. My Social Security ...is already a non-existent entity for someone my age And the government... is wanting to control my personal retirement funds AND my social security (which they've done such a great job on thus far)... So, essentially what will happen? I will not have any Social Security (ok, I've accepted that) and NOW I won't have a 401K...because all the money I have and I will set aside will be able to be used like the money in Social Security. I'll have nothing. Brilliant. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=79168 http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081012/REG/310139971 http://www.plnewsforum.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/43528/ http://www.nd.edu/~tghilard/ MORE TO COME...