Right As Usual

There's going to be a lot of pressure, and we know how pliable those RINOs are. What to contact their offices about: The DREAM Act - yeah, they're still pushing that. The extension of tax cuts - everyone wants to keep them for the middle-class, but differ on what to do about the rich.  The increase that is passes, will likely NOT include the likes of Hollywood celebrities, the Senators who are loaded, and George Soros. More $$$$$ to the usual suspects who benefited from the previous bail-outs. Share

I'm tired.  I'm going to the motel (after picking up some food), and going to sack it in.  I have no energy, and my throat is itchy.  I need R & R, and I'm going to get it. Share

I have been following the "controversy" about Pope Benedict XVI's recent comment in an interview about condoms.  It's awe-inspiring to see just how much the relatively secular press can twist a plain statement into something that "proves" their strongest biases. What the pope said: There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be the first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants. What the media heard: Condoms are GREAT!  EVERYONE should use them, and have as much random sex as possible! Amazing the difference between those two. Share

Go HERE to sign a petition to stop further tax hikes. Share

Major League PITA - Pain in the A$$ While out shopping, we accidentally lost a wallet full of credit cards (no cash, Thank God).  I've been on the phone for the last hour canceling cards.  It could be worse - I was able to access the account information online, which made canceling them SO much easier.  Only 1 had been used, right in that area. Not horrible, just terribly inconvenient. Share

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Some links to other pages: From Clifford D. May at National Review . What lurks in your Thansgiving dinner. A Thank You from the American Thinker. An unusual thank you: Thank God for the dirty dishes For they've a story to tell And from the stack I have to wash We've eaten very well. While folks in other lands, Are glad for just a crust From this stack of evidence God's mighty good to us. Yet another Pilgrim tale. Share

This is a great year - for the first time in several years, neither my husband nor I, nor any member of my immediate family, are sick.  So, not only can we enjoy all of the holiday to the fullest, but we won't be infecting anyone else, as well. I'm thankful for: My family - both immediate and extended, and, of course, those who have become part of my family through bonds of love The troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, and all of the other hot spots in the world - I only wish that next year, they may also experience the Thanksgiving holiday with those they love at home The election results - I'm looking forward to applying the reverse pedal to all of the ridiculous spending that has been planned My computers - both the Linux-based PC, and the MACbook - they're working, and they allow me to do all of the work I have (or want) to do Hope - I have some, now, that we we may weather the difficult times without breaking apart, either as a nation, or as a family That I...

Was the final result EVER in question? Was there ANYONE so clueless that they thought Bristol might win? In the end, everyone was gracious (OK, they DIDN'T ask Brandi about HER feelings), and seemed to be content with the final verdict. I really do think that Bristol's partner, Mark, earned a special reward.  He was the only professional dancer that had a TOTAL NEWBIE, and made her look adequate each week, some weeks better than that.  That takes a LOT of skill.  And he didn't exploit her, nor make her look foolish. He was a gentleman.  That's rare these days. One last note - I noticed the contrast between Brandi and Bristol in a picture last week, when Brandi was eliminated. This photo says it all: Notice how Brandi and her partner look out to the audience while waiting for the verdict. Notice that both Bristol and her partner have their heads bowed, eyes closed, in the prayer position. Share

I've been thinking about this lately.  One major problem is that the people in charge of the state and federal governments are primarily lawyers. Lawyers are people whose grasp on basic money principles is rather shaky.  Think about it - what's one of the commonest ways to structure a legal case? 1/3 - 2/3. The lawyer takes a gamble that he can make enough of a nuisance of himself that he can recover his costs (plus a profit), even if he doesn't win.  He takes on enough of these cases that the odds favor him, and, as a result, makes a living even though he seldom wins.  Sort of like hitting the slots, hoping to break more-or-less even on most bets, over on a few (there's the "profit), and, occasionally hitting the jackpot. Is this the mindset of someone we want to have responsible for our government budgets? We need to encourage people who know how to balance their budgets; people who have a long-term approach to saving; people who realize that when the f...

I've added a couple of tools to the blog sidebar: Amazon search - if you use it to access Amazon, I can get credit when you purchase (and it doesn't add to your cost).  If you were thinking about buying something from Amazon, consider using it. Amazon contextual ads - this is supposed to bring up suggested purchases, based on the text on the blog.  I'm not sure how well this will work, but I'm willing to give it a try. For those who (like me) use Kindle for the computer (not a separate device, just allowing you to read books on the computer), consider buying suggested books that way - no need to wait for shipment and delivery, convenient, and, of course, environmentally friendly. Share

I only occasionally read Ann Coulter - she does seem, to me, to be needlessly snarky and over-the-top in her acerbic commentary. But, this makes some sense - she suggests that we use European standards for determining citizenship - most specifically, Sweden (Land of the most generous social net).  It turns out that just dropping the kid on Swedish soil doesn't count - there are standards that have to be met. Share

This is my light-hearted solution to the deficit problem.  It's a NY Times interactive that allows anyone to "balance" the US budget. This is my solution (Warning:  I really don't like these choices - I believe that there are better choices.  Such as National Endowment for the Humanities, or perks for Congressmen). Share

On National Review's The Corner: For years, illegal-alien advocates have opposed any cooperation between local jail and prison officials, on the one hand, and federal immigration authorities, on the other, that could result in the detection and possible deportation of illegal-alien inmates. The ground of this opposition is rarely stated. Occasionally the advocates recycle the hoary argument that underlies sanctuary laws (those local ordinances which ban information sharing between  all  local government officials, especially the police, and ICE): That illegal-alien crime victims and witnesses will fail to cooperate with a police investigation if they think that their immigration status will be disclosed to ICE. The  New York Times   recently blasted  jailhouse programs to identify illegal-alien inmates for “undermining . . . public safety.” There is a reason why this argument is rarely trotted out: It is ludicrous. The illegal alien in jail isn’t a crime victim...

...don't pi$$ off American Bikers. Nothing says "in your face" like an escort of bikers to school. Share

Honestly, it's all going to vary by: Your circumstances - are you employed, do you have any energy left, what is your bank account telling you, how urgent is the need for activism in your state? Your state/region - what are the issues, will you need to work for the party in the off-season (preparing), are there local issues to contend with? What is your passion - issues, dreams, plans, relationships?  Is there a current issue that drives you?  For me, it is always immigration - those Congressional cockroaches always seem to have another proposed bill up their sleeves.  Although the need ebbs and flows, most of the time, I need to be on top of this issue, lest they slip a fast one by us. I've been working to set up some post-dated posts - some non-time urgent posts that will be scheduled for publication, to keep my blog in the forefront of people's thoughts.  I've been setting up ads (see sidebar), and updating some old money-churning activities.  Expect to ...

Click the link above to download ITunes. Why would you do that?  You don't own an IPod. Because ANY computer (Mac or PC) can use the application.  AND, there are Thousands of podcasts on a wide variety of topics - education, leisure, exercise (both audio and video), religions, and, yes - politics. I have several podcasts that I subscribe to - though they are delivered without any more effort, I still have choices - I can listen to them, download them to an mp3 player (NOT just an IPod), or, if the topic isn't that interesting to me, I can delete them. One such pocasts that I'm listening to right now is Newt Gingrich's speech at this year's CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee).  I never voted for Gingrich, don't plan to, but he is a remarkably clear and compelling speaker.  He lays out issues in understandable language, and speaks both knowledgeably and straightforwardly. Here's the podcast. Share

Do, in fact, gay teens commit suicide more frequently than non-gay teens? It appears that the answer is "NO". Share

There's a great article on The American Thinker, by Andrew Thomas. He contrasts two "republics" (one in-name-only), in the same part of the world, with the same ethnic people.   One followed Marx and Mao, the other followed the Free Market example set by Adam Smith and his philosophical progeny. Here's the picture. Now, go read about the differences that caused that picture. Share

I was sent an email about the government committee to combat waste. Obama panel probes stimulus waste -- at Ritz Carlton By:  Byron York Chief Political Correspondent 11/11/10 10:10 AM EST Members of a key panel created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus bill, have scheduled a meeting on November 22 to consider ways to prevent "fraud, waste, and abuse of Recovery Act funds." The meeting will be held at the super-luxe Ritz Carlton Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. The group is the Recovery Independent Advisory Panel, a sub-committee of the larger Recovery Accountability and Transparency board (sometimes known as the RAT board). The stimulus bill set up the Recovery Independent Advisory Panel, or RIAP, to make recommendations to identify and prevent waste of the bill's $814 billion in stimulus spending. "The purpose of the November 22, 2010 meeting is to allow the RIAP to have an open dialogue, with input from the public, on iss...

I've been reading Radical-in-Chief, by Stanley Kurtz, and its been a real page-turner.  The section I'm at now deals with the Midwest Academy.   That organization is the training ground of MANY "progressive" organizations.  If you Google "midwest academy training", you'll pop up a lot of choices, that reference it.  It's a handy way to find out where the radicals are, and get a look at the real objectives of many of those bland-sounding groups. For example, one is the Student Environmental Action Committee .  If my child (or, rather, grandchild) came home saying that he/she'd joined, I wouldn't have thought anything of it but that it was "nice" for them to take an interest in cleaning up the world. Hah! The full description of their mission: The Student Environmental Action Coalition  or  SEAC  is a student and youth run national network of progressive organizations and individuals whose aim is to uproot environmental injusti...

Todd Hartch is a very brave man - as a professor at Eastern Kentucky University, he dared to challenge the conventional thinking of the academic world. Professor Hartch is a conservative on the issue of same-sex marriage.  When his university proposed to grant benefits for domestic partnerships, he publicly took a stand.  Initially, he took the heat, and criticism alone. But, as his stance became better known, he started hearing from the others - those who agreed with him.  And his thinking widened to accept that contrarian academics need to start risking exposing their unpopular views: In the midst of all this, while reading George Weigel’s  The End and the Beginning , the second volume of his biography of Pope John Paul II, it occurred to me that John Paul might have something valuable to teach me. His predecessors, Popes John XXIII and Paul VI, treated the Soviet bloc as a permanent fixture in modern Europe. Their so-called “Ostpolitik” sought to preserve wha...

Is there, in fact, going to be a massive inflation of the currency? Well, if you believe Sarah Palin, yes. But, of course, she's a dummy, isn't she?  Where could she have possibly gotten that idea? From the newspaper of the reporter questioning her understanding and knowledge of economics , of course. I think this is what my son would call a Boo-Yah! moment. But, why would inflation be such an unmitigated disaster for the American public. On this, I have some expertise.  I lived through the inflation of the 1970s.  It was dreadful.  It eroded buying power, and made strikes near-constant.  Why?  Because the unions' members couldn't manage on  wages previously adequate. The higher wages resulting from those strikes led to higher prices - and, inevitably, to calls for increased wages.  For union members, it was a cycle without end.  For those who didn't belong to a union, it was a nightmare - our bosses had trouble meeting wage dem...

I worked today - it was tough.  I have a cold, and I basically felt like #$%^&*(. But, with only 1 day before the weekend, it didn't seem worth taking off (trust me, for teachers, it's a LOT more trouble to take a day off than to go in sick).  I did so, and, with the help of tea, cough drops, and a lot of decongestant, I survived. Also, I might add, thanks to some wonderful kids that knew I wasn't feeling well (they just had to look at me), and who rose to the occasion.  Bless them, all of them. I'm home.  I'm lounging around, taking in liquids of the type that I can't at school, and enjoying the evening.  I'll probably turn in soon (again, thanks to those liquids). Share

First, I find it amazing that in just 2 short years (and a few months), Gov. Palin has become well-known enough that she's one of those select few that are commonly referred to by only 1 name. Second, read her article in National Review - it's worth the time. A small sample - referring to her support of more conservative candidates - whether or not they are more electable - she writes: Certainly we can and should back sensible center-right candidates in bluer states, but I see no point in backing someone who supports cap-and-tax, Obamacare, bailouts, taxes, and more useless stimulus packages. If you think such a candidate will be with us when it comes time to vote down an Obama Supreme Court nominee, you’re living on a unicorn ranch in fantasy land. She has some advice: The first lesson is simple:   Set the narrative . The second lesson of this election is one a number of the candidates had to learn to their cost:  Fight back the lies immediately and consistently. An...

I'm no great fan of the anti-business types; too often, they oppose big businesses just to be difficult, if not with the specific intent of undermining capitalism. This time, they're right to oppose the robo-signing of foreclosure documents. The slice-and-dice breaking apart of the original mortgages enabled companies to sell what are called "mortgage derivatives".  One big user of the instrument was Countrywide (full disclosure:  I used them twice, in 2 different home sales).  Apparently, they weren't fussy about paperwork, and granted MANY mortgages with shaky financing. Because the mortgages were re-sold in parts, they were considered "safer" than selling a single mortgage, which would have to be scrutinized to see whether it was a good deal for the purchaser of the mortgage.  As a result, when a bank re-sold a single mortgage, they had to have all the paperwork intact and looking good. Not so derivatives.  Now that there is a need to foreclos...

I found this on Big Government - it was produced by Tim Hawkins , who produces comedy and a whole lot more. Share

Wow!   Peggy Noonan, the squishy,loves-everybody, semi-Conservative-but-really-willing-to-compromise-with-liberals columnist, is SO over Obama: On to the aftermath of the election. On Wednesday, President Obama gave a news conference to share his thoughts. Viewers would have found it disappointing if there had been any viewers. The president is speaking, in effect, to an empty room. From my notes five minutes in: "This wet blanket, this occupier of the least interesting corner of the faculty lounge, this joy-free zone, this inert gas." By the end I was certain he will never produce a successful stimulus because he is a human depression.   Actually I thought the worst thing you can say about a president: He won't even make a good former president. This is it, folks!  When Peggy Noonan has nothing but bad to say about you, you better start packing your bags. Share

Found on VodkaMom : Oh, yeah, I TOTALLY get that! NOTE:  Men, if you find this, do NOT show it to her!  She will only find it true/funny/not sexist if SHE finds it and shows it around. You will thank me for that information; it may save your life (see that last dwarf?  You will meet her in person if you laugh and show the picture to your wife). Share

I found this at Curmudgeonly & Skeptical.  It's long, but oddly reminiscent of certain conversations I have had with SOME people (NOTE:  Contrary to what this implies, conservation with liberals is NOT always futile.  However, to a true believer - of ANY extreme political position - it can, sadly, be all too true). Share

Reid's campaign probably broke the law by pressuring the casinos to MAKE their employees vote, and overseeing their ballots. Share

I like Debbie Schlussel.  I've been reading her for some time, and I really do think she gets a bum rap from some other bloggers.  True, she had feuds with some, but I'm not close enough to the circumstances to know what the tangled details reveal, and, frankly, I haven't the time to untangle them. This link is LONG - but important to read, in full , as it traces the long and convoluted road from the murder of a rabbi, to 9/11 and beyond.  You need to inform yourself, so the next step on the road doesn't come as a surprise. Share

I received this information in an email today.  I made a point of checking out the link, as well as making sure that it wasn't an urban rumor. 52 Mil To Restore Habitat Damaged By Border Fence by  Judicial Watch, Inc.  on Monday, November 1, 2010 The region where an illegal immigrant murdered an Arizona rancher six months ago remains plagued by Mexican drug-cartel violence yet the Obama Administration has chosen to spend $52 million on restoring habitat damaged by the border fence rather than secure the area. A chunk of the cash—$14.3 million—will fund more than a dozen habitat restoration projects in a region long afflicted by the violence of Mexican drug and human smuggling operations. It’s an area where earlier this year a veteran cattle rancher (Robert Krentz) was gunned down by an illegal immigrant on his 34,000-acre property in Cochise County near the southern border. Instead of dedicating resources to securing the crime-infested border region, the government will ...

Barack Obama Elitist, arrogant Incapable of talking without a teleprompter A disaster for our economy His fumbling incompetence makes Jimmuh look good. Share

36 Reasons to vote Democrat. Share

The American Thinker has a post on organizations that endorsed policies that not only DIDN'T benefit its members, but directly HURT them.   On of those organizations is AARP. Founded as a nonprofit advocate for retirees on issues affecting older Americans, AARP counts 40 million members. It is ten times the size of the National Rifle Association and not far behind the 68-million-member Catholic Church. Two-thirds of its $800-million annual budget comes from insurance sales , and another $240 million from membership dues, giving it a budget five times the size of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It is arguably the most powerful lobbying group for seniors and Baby Boomers. But AARP's endorsement of ObamaCare was clearly made at the expense of its members' best interests. Obama's health insurance program targets seniors for $313 billion in Medicare cuts over the next ten years. That gives AARP a profitable opportunity to sell Medigap insurance. With fewer seniors on Medic...

Barack Obama is slated to appear before American Idol's Ryan Seacrest today in an apparent effort to drum up the youth vote. Lots of luck, Mr. President. That's right, the young people aren't as excited to vote this time, because you haven't made enough trendy appearances. It couldn't have anything to do with the fact that you didn't deliver on campaign promises that meant the most to them - jobs, DADT, closing down the War on Terror, environmental issues, making it possible for them to move out of Mumsy and Daddums house, etc. Ohhhh, no - it was just that they are too mentally feeble ("feebs") to find the spot on the channel changer where REAL presidents appear - the news shows - and needed you to hunt them down on their "fluff shows". Yeah, that's the ticket. Good thing you chose Ryan Seacrest - he's used to dealing with overinflated ego-driven divas. You should be right at home. Share

This was nice. "Young" Bush rode out, accompanied by his dad, HW. The elder Bush was clearly a little frail, had a hip that was apparently "dinky". He leaned heavily on his cane. The younger Bush stood with his dad for a short while, enjoying the moment, and probably enjoying having his dad share the moment with him. Then, he wound up, and sailed a lazy one, right into the catcher's mitt. No trying for the fastball, no dramatics. It was clearly something he'd done many times in the past, and was comfortable with. Click on the link on the title to see it. Share