Subject #242 * sigh *

I got another "Fwd" e-mail the other day:

-----

----- Start Original Message -----

If each person sends this to a minimum of twenty people on their address list, in three days, all people in The United States of America would have the message. I believe this is one proposal that really should be passed around.

[IMAGE -- sorry, I do not know how to add a picture here, but it was of then-candidate Barak Obama carrying a book]

The name of the book Obama is reading is called: "The Post-American World," and it was written by a fellow Muslim. "Post" America means the world after America! Please forward this picture to everyone you know, conservative or liberal. We must expose Obama's radical ideas and his intent to bring down our beloved America!

----- End Forwarded Message -----

-----

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/postamerican.asp

The author is NOT Muslim; the book is NOT about America defeated....

* sigh *

The author has brown skin and a strange name -- therefore, he's a Muslim. I guess that sums up the intellectual firepower of the 'loyal opposition,' eh?

Why must peeps get their news from e-mail? Stick to blogs. :p

Or 'real' news:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38786992/

The quiet resurgence of George W. Bush? Well, the article does not advocate --note the "?." So, l rest easy, right? But, if ya read the comments, it seems that a lot of folks get their news from e-mail.

I got one 'nutty' e-mail not long ago that included a link to info about the e-mail at " snopes.com " and claimed that the info was true because it was at " snopes.com ." Being the curious type, I clicked the link... and found the e-mail was %100 false. How many of the 1000s who got that e-mail bothered to click that link? Um, I do not really want to know.

* sigh *

Post #241 The Mosque: A Sensitive Opinion

President Barack Obama should not express an opinion on the 'Ground Zero' mosque. Neither should anybody else who holds an elected office nor anybody who wants to be President or hold any other elected office.

The Constitution of the United States clearly states in the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" -- government should stay out of religion. Article 6, Section 3, states: "[N]o religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States" -- religion should stay out of government. What could be clearer than that!?!

This issue is about sensitivity: Let's be sensitive to the Constitution, shall we? Do not let the mob rule. In a free society, the only legitimate role of government is to protect liberty.

If you believe that we are at war with Islam, then opposition to the mosque makes sense. If you believe that we are at war with a bunch of thugs who (mis)use Islam to justify their terrorist acts, then the whole debate is a waste of time. Indeed, the protests are a recruiting tool for terrorists and their 'holy war.' The protesters are giving aid and comfort to the enemy, our real enemy.

I believe we must kill them before they kill us. I also believe that we must correctly identify 'them.' If we do not, if we act as tho a religion is our enemy, we risk becoming terrorists ourselves.

It does me no injury if Obama prays to Jesus or Allah or an oak tree. But there seems to a religious test going on. I'm not sure how Jesus got into the public discourse. Oh, fudge, I know exactly: The specter of Jesus stirs up fears and resentments... and votes -- 'they' is getting ahead 'us.'

Post #240: :D

I've been cleaning out my e-box, and I just got to blog this....

That "almost a woman" line -- ;O

Johnstown, PA (GlossyNews) - Local and state police scoured the hills outside rural Johnstown, Pennsylvania, after reports of three animal rights activists missing after attempting to protest the wearing of leather at a large motorcycle gang rally this weekend. Two others, previously reported missing, were discovered by fast food workers "duct taped inside several fast food restaurant dumpsters," according to police
officials. "Something just went wrong," said a still visibly shaken organizer of the protest. "Something just went horribly, horribly, wrong."

The organizer said a group of concerned animal rights activist groups, "growing tired of throwing fake blood and shouting profanities at older women wearing leather or fur coats," decided to protest the annual motorcycle club event "in a hope to show them our outrage at their wanton use of leather in their clothing and motor bike seats." "In fact," said the organizer, "motorcycle gangs are one of the biggest abusers of wearing leather, and we decided it was high time that we let them know that we disagree with them using it... ergo, they should stop."

According to witnesses, protesters arrived at the event in a vintage 1960's era Volkswagen van and began to pelt the gang members with alloons filled with red colored water, simulating blood, and shouting "you're murderers" to passers by. This, evidently, is when the brouhaha began.

"They peed on me!!!" charged one activist. "They grabbed me, said I looked like I was French, started calling me 'La Trene', and duct taped me to a tree so they could pee on me all day!"

"I... I was trying to show my outrage at a man with a heavy leather jacket, and he... he didn't even care. I called him a murderer, and all he said was, 'You can't prove that.' Next thing I know he forced me to ride on the back of his motorcycle all day, and would not let me off, because his girl friend was out of town and I was almost a woman."

Still others claimed they were forced to eat hamburgers and hot dogs under duress. Those who resisted were allegedly held down while several bikers "farted on their heads."

Police officials declined comments on any leads or arrests due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, however, organizers for the motorcycle club rally expressed "surprise" at the allegations.

"That's preposterous," said one high-ranking member of the biker organizing committee. "We were having a party, and these people showed up and were very rude to us. They threw things at us, called us names, and tried to ruin the entire event. So, what did we do? We invited them to the party! What could be more friendly than that? You know, just because we are all members of motorcycle clubs does not mean we do not care about inclusiveness. Personally, I think it shows a lack of character for them
to be saying such nasty things about us after we bent over backwards to make them feel welcome."

When confronted with the allegations of force-feeding the activists meat, using them as ad hoc latrines, leaving them incapacitated in fast food restaurant dumpsters, and 'farting on their heads,' the organizer declined to comment in detail. "That's just our secret handshake," assured the organizer.

Post #239 Modest Proposals For Arizona

I've been doing a lot of thinking about Arizona lately -- which is probably not a good thing. :p

My first proposal for Arizona immigration reform is based on the idea that carrying your 'papers' is not a big inconvenience -- an opinion I've heard expressed a lot. OK, based on the fact that most illegal immigrants jump the fence, so to speak, at night, I propose a dusk to dawn curfew. After all, decent people are home at night anyway.

Maybe something can be worked out for when the Suns play at home -- armed escorts for fans?

Oh, of course, I'm not serious. I just wanted to point out that one man's minor inconvenience is another man's big hassle.

I am disappointed that libertarian/conservatives who rail against big government support Arizona 1070 with its expansion of police powers. In the name of Barry Goldwater, where is the voice that will cry "Don't shred my Constitution for your security" -- who will that be?

A serious proposal -- which I've had this idea for quite a while, by the way -- involves amending the Constitution to change the requirements for citizenship. I'm not sure why this idea has created such a stir lately.

Indeed, the Founding Fathers provided a way for the Constitution to be amended. If you could bring 'em back in a time machine, I'm sure the Founding Fathers would be proud tnat we're still using their Constitution and appalled that we haven't amended it more since we are no longer a 17th century rural society.

Look, the 'born here' part was put in the Constitution to protect former slaves -- well, their children. It should have been changed in 1920 when we began to have an immigration policy and any former slaves were beyond child-bearing years -- "Any child born in the United States with at least one parent being a citizen of the United States shall be a citizen of the United States, too." And that should take care of the 'anchor babies' problem.

In contrast, I also propose -- and I haven't decided yet whether I'm serious or not -- opening the doors to everybody, a pre-1920 immigration policy. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" -- a nice ring, huh?

Post #238 Revolution

;O Read this piece -- it's funny:

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/if-life-hands-you-lemons-dont-make-lemonade-without-a-permit/

Sadly, some of the commentators seemed too have taken this a little too seriously.

To all politicians and political supporters: Either have the balls to kill a program -- stand up and take responsibility, or fully fund the program. To cut off funds -- 'to starve the beast,' as one commentator eloquently put it -- is the coward's way.

I'm not sure where all the anti-government paranoia comes from. At least, the girl was not taken by the Black Helicopters. And neither will you be.

Post #238 All Is Quiet On The Arizona Front

My TV was on the news the other night -- I was not really paying attention, but some flashing police lights caught my eye. There were two police cars with their lights flashing pulled around a -- I presumed -- dead body, and there were several cops standing around. And a voice of doom said, "War rages in Arizona. Details next."

Well, during the commercials, I thought about the 'invasion' -- 1000s of armored vehicles pouring over the border, house-to-house combat, search-and-destroy missions, right? Well, Ft. Sumter has not been fired upon; Pearl Harbor has not been bombed; there has been no Bunker Hill.

But the 'invasion?' "This is a media-created event," Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said. "I hear politicians on TV saying the border has gotten worse. Well, the fact of the matter is that the border has never been more secure."

Oh, pardon me, surely, there is a crime wave that's got 'talking heads' talking. I did a quick 'google' -- Arizona crime rate -- and found that the hype is overblown. Indeed, the crime rates in Arizona are at their lowest point in decades. The violent crime rate in Arizona is lower than any year since 1983. The property crime rate in Arizona is lower than any year since 1968. Simply, there is no war raging in Arizona... or even a crime wave.

Why listen to the 'talking heads' in Washington and New York with their overheated rhetoric? Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris: "Proponents of [1070] have repeatedly said that the new law provides a tool for local law enforcement. But I don't really believe that that's true or accurate. We have the tools that we need to enforce laws in this state to reduce property crime and to reduce violent crime, to go after criminals that are responsible for human smuggling, to go after criminals that are responsible for those home invasions, kidnappings, robberies, murders. We have those tools."

The 'invasion' is a scam -- it stirs up fears and resentments... and votes. Ask Arizona Governor Jan Brewer where her poll numbers are now.

Oh, by the way, that scene on my TV had nothing to do with immigration. I guess they just liked the dramatic lights.

----- End Forwarded Message -----

Post #237 George W. Bush is a Towel-Head *

Well, well, well, it makes sense now Connect the dots, peeps.

Who was the President who issued a Christmas stamp for Muslims on 9/01 in 2001?

Who forgot the Muslim bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon?

Who forgot the Muslim bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

Who forgot the Muslim bombing of the WorldTradeCenter in 1993..

Who forgot the Muslim bombing of the American embassies in Africa.

Who forgot the Muslim bombing of the USS Cole.

And who forgot the Muslim bombing of 9/11 and renewed the stamp in 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2008?

Who was the President who let Osama bin Laden go and turned his attention to the secular Saddam Hussein?

I think, when George W. Bush gave up alcohol and began 'paling around' with Daddy's Saudi friends, that he converted. I hope he enjoys his 72 virgins when he gets to heaven.

* This is satire aimed at those who get their news from e-mail. If you'd like to know more about the e-mail I'm making fun of:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/stamps/eidstamp.asp

Post #236 Human Decency

"conformity with the commonly accepted standards of what is right and respectable"

In life, there are certain things you just do not do. You do not mock somebody's religion. You do not make fun of someone's handicap. You do not take pot shots at race. Some things are off limits because of basic human decency.

Mark Williams is indecent. A Tea Party Express spokesman, he wrote an online post of a fictional letter from what he called "Colored People" to President Abraham Lincoln. He called it satire.

I'm sure that many will breathlessly jump to defend Williams' Constitutional right to write satire Nobody is arguing against Williams' Constitutional right to be indecent -- just as surely nobody is arguing that Williams should be accepted and his views endorsed.

Now, I like satire and enjoy all sorts of humor. Of course, Williams can joke. Nobody has to laugh.

That's why the National Tea Party Federation expelling a member group after it failed to rebuke and remove Williams was the right thing to do. "They have no intention of taking the action we required for their group to continue as a member of the National Tea Party Federation," the federation stated. "Therefore, effective immediately the National Tea Party Federation is expelling Tea Party Express from the ranks of our membership."

Federation spokesman David Webb, interviewed Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation," called the blog post "clearly offensive."

Yes, it was. The racial hatred shown by some at Tea Party events dooms the overall movement. Many moderates would much rather vote for a Democrat than a Tea Party candidate -- probably some Republicans, too.

Good call, David -- keep it up!

Post #235 The Haircut

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied,'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop came in for a haircut, and when he tried to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I can not accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Congressman was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were adozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut....

Post #234 God Bless Texas -- Texans Need It

"It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God."
--Thomas Jefferson, 1782

Hmph! That attitude makes it harder for people who believe correctly to impose their beliefs on those heathens who do not.

One female school board member in Texas, who home-schools own her children, by the way, and therefore doesn't have a dog in this fight, said, "There seems to be a denial that this was a nation founded under God. We had to go back and make some corrections."

I got news for ya, lady: Ya wouldn't recognize the God of most of the Founding Fathers.

For example, Jefferson, that guy ya want to downplay in history, said, "... the whole American people which declared that their Legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church and State."

Ooo, dang, there is that confounded idea again. No wonder Jefferson is to be downplayed in the history taught to Texas children -- they might get the idea that religion is nobody's business.

I remember the assignment I had in 4th grade U.S. History class: Who are the four Presidents on Mt. Rushmore, and why were they chosen? Maybe Mt. Rushmore can be downplayed, too.

Post #233 Newt says "maybe;" America yawns

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Monday he's seriously considering seeking the Republican presidential nomination and will announce his decision early next year.

Why? What will Gingrich bring to the table as a candidate? And why make this announcement now?

Gingrich, 67, said that he would focus on helping Republican candidates through the midterm elections in November, then decide in February or March whether to seek the GOP nomination.

"I've never been this serious," Gingrich said. "It's fair to say that by February the groundwork will have been laid to consider seriously whether or not to run."

Gingrich predicted President Barack Obama would be a one-term president. Obama's poll numbers have dropped below 50 percent, and Gingrich predicted they would continue to fall, making him vulnerable in 2012.

But why, Newt, why? You smell opportunity and...

Gingrich had a long congressional career and was House speaker from 1995 to 1999. He was given much of the credit for the Republican takeover of the House in 1994. But he abruptly resigned from Congress in 1998 after his party faired poorly in midterm elections. He also was reprimanded by the House ethics panel for using tax-exempt funding to advance his political goals.

The former speaker, who championed a family values agenda, spearheaded efforts to impeach President Bill Clinton for perjury over his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Ah, yes, that is why the Republicans faired poorly in midterm elections. So much for Gingrich's political nose. :p

I, personally, was proud to see Lindsey Graham on the House floor reading the impeachment charges -- the rule of law, ya know. I also was proud that the Senate voted NOT to remove Clinton -- a political smear is what it was, ya know. Is Gingrich proud of his role?

Gingrich later admitted having an extramarital affair of his own in 1998 with a former congressional aide. He married her after divorcing his second wife whom, I believe, had also been a former congressional aide. His second wife was dying anyway.

Is that Gingrich's calling card, a hypocritical political opportunist?

Post #232 Merry 4th!

The signers of the Declaration of Independence showed courage -- by putting their names on a document that repudiated their own government, they had every reason to believe at the time that they might well be hanged for having done so. We should honor that.

I got a stirring "Fwd" e-mail that told of the hardships some of the signers endured. Unfortunately, the e-mail was full of 'embellishments,' politely speaking.

Have you ever wondered what really happened to the 56 men who signed The Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British.

Four were captured during battle and served time as a prisoner of war. George Walton was captured after being wounded while commanding militia at the Battle of Savannah in December 1778, and Thomas Heyward, Jr., Arthur Middleton, and Edward Rutledge -- three of the four signers from South Carolina -- were taken prisoner at the Siege of Charleston in May 1780. All four men were eventually released.

Only one signer -- Richard Stockton of New Jersey -- was taken prisoner specifically because he signed the Declaration of Independence. He was able to get a pardon and his release from imprisonment by disavowing his signature on the Declaration and signing an oath of allegiance to King George III.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned -- as did thousands of other colonists who lived in the war zone.

One lost his son serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. John Witherspoon of New Jersey had his eldest son, James, killed in the Battle of Germantown in October 1777. Abraham Clark of New Jersey had two of his sons captured.

Nine died during course of the Revolutionary War. Eight died of natural causes, and Button Gwinnett of Georgia died of wounds received in duel in May 1777.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty could be death if they were captured.

But no one was hanged, tortured or died in poverty -- as all the signers were able to recover at least some of their fortune. To 'embellish' the hardships of the signers diminishes the courage and sacrifices to support the revolutionary cause by people whose names are not immortalized on a piece of parchment.

Let's honor them all.

If you'd like to know more about the e-mail I got:

http://snopes.com/history/american/pricepaid.asp

Post #231 ... more from FOX News

I saw Anne Coulter on FOX News* today, and she was spewing some garbage about President Obama playing golf while that oil well is still spewing in the Gulf of Mexico. I thought surely that she was full of crap -- much like Bill O'Reilly had been when he claimed to have the socialistic ramblings of Barak Obama's college thesis. That turned out not to true, but O'Reilly "stood by the document" as it sounded like what he believed Obama would say.

But then I saw the video.

My apologies to Coulter: For there on the video, President Obama was playing golf.

Megyn Kelly -- who is not just another pretty face -- smartly asked if the President wasn't deserving of a break, we don't need a President who is cooped up in the Oval Office, 24/7. right? Of course, said Coulter, but he shouldn't take a break during a "crisis."

Uh, what was a bigger "crisis" than 9/11? And where was your criticism of the President who took breaks while Osama was on the lose?

Consistency, please.

* I still have a crush on Megyn Kelly, OK?

Post #230 Stop the Ignorance!

I do not know whether to laugh or cry. I got another "Fwd" e-mail the other day.

Jt was about immigration -- more specifically, the idea that 'they' are taking over 'our' country. It lists 10 facts that were published in the "Los Angeles Times" -- it said, as tho that made facts true. Well, only one fact was from the "L.A. Times" and all of them were in dispute.

http://snopes.com/politics/immigration/taxes.asp

But I was in luck: I got two 'nutty' e-mails in one.

The second half was about Nancy Pelosi and her proposed windfall profits tax on retirement income... which is %100 false -- the quotes attributed to Pelosi are %100 made-up.

http://snopes.com/politics/pelosi/windfall.asp

The e-mail ironically asks, "WHERE DO WE GET THESE MORONS?"

Post #229 Secure Communities?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20100610/cm_csm/307078

And how does using fingerprints in a database constitute racial profiling? Obviously, there are flaws here -- NO way to fight detention, %5 of the 'hits' are wrong.

But I think the author just wants to criticize President Obama. He says that Janet Napolitano should appear before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees to answer questions about this program. Yes -- and the obvious implication is that Obama is hiding her.

The real problem is that NOBODY has asked -- Congress should be criticized for not asking.

My Dad has said that people often get into trouble at their jobs because they do not know what their duties are and that it is the responsibility of the boss to explain those duties. Well, guess what? We the people are the boss.

Post #228 OBAMAMAN! *

Our tall lanky hero work as President during the day,...

On the White House backporch watching the sunset, his ears tune in: "Help us, Mr. President. Help us." Barack Obama steps back into the living quarters and ducks into the closet, He emerges in green tights, white trunks and with a gold shield covering his chest and abdomen labeled with a big red "O" -- OBAMAMAN! He emerges, puts one foot on the porch railing and... takes off.

On a beach in Louisiana, a small boy points and says, "Look. Up in the air. It's a bird." A girl chimes in, "It's a plane." A black man steps forward, "It's OBAMAMAN!"

OBAMAMAN plunges to the depths of the chilly Gulf of Mexico, wraps his lips around that spewing oil pipe and blows -- creating enough pressure to stop the flow. He then pinches the pipe and covers it with sand. OBAMAMAN flies back to the White House.

As he enters the living quarters, there is a knock at the door: "Daddy, can you help with my spelling list?" Into the closet goes OBAMAMAN; out comes Barak Obama: "Sure, sweetie."

Obama puts his daughter on his knee and picks up the list. "The first word is 'superior.'" "What does that mean, Daddy?" Obama looks at the audience and winks.

* patent pending

Post #227 Shocked, Appalled, Dismayed, Pt. III

Re: immigration

I've got no dog in this fight -- regarding immigration -- unless the price of food goes up! No experience here with legal or illegal immigration. A good thing, tho, to realize is that every law effects real people.

Prior to 1921, anybody could show up in the United States and be a legal immigrant. If we had the same rules for citizenship for everybody that are in place for immigrants today, we could eliminate some idiots from sucking up social programs that are available only to citizens.

We apply much tighter rules for immigration today on our neighbors from Mexico than our own ancestors faced. Indeed, the irony is that we acquired much of the southwest, including Arizona, by illegal immigration. In the 1820s, after Mexico gained independence from Spain, immigrants from the United States poured in. Those 'settlers' declared independence and eventually were able to 'secede' from Mexico with half of Mexico's original territory and 'unite' with the United States.

Which, of course, doesn't make the Arizona immigration law bad. But you now have something to think about when somebody shouts "ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL!"

But the Arizona law stinks -- smells like politics. I think 'Bumper Sticker' politics came into play.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer remained silent on the measure while weighing the consequences. During the bill's development, her staff had gone over its language line by line with the bill's author, State Senator Russell Pearce -- tho tellingly not with her attorney general. But she has claimed that she also had concerns about several of its provisions.

A poll showed wide support for the bill among likely voters in the state -- 70 percent in favor and 23 percent opposed. Governor Brewer faced an upcoming Republican Party primary in the 2010 Arizona gubernatorial election from other conservative opponents supporting the bill.

United States Senator from Arizona John McCain faced a primary battle against the more conservative J. D. Hayworth -- who had made measures against illegal immigration a central point of his candidacy. McCain said, "It's the drivers of cars with illegals in it that are intentionally causing accidents on the freeway. Look, our border is not secured. Our citizens are not safe." Uh, it sounds like McCain is criticizing the Arizona Highway Patrol for not doing its job.

McCain has been saying that the state had been forced to take action given the federal government's inability to control the border. He is correct. But who has been a part of that federal government, Senator McCain?

Look, I don't know what to do about immigration -- only that it should be comprehensive covering all issues, from 'anchor babies' to the greedy capitalists who hire illegals. But I do know the Arizona law stinks -- it allows each individual cop to decide how much his own prejudice goes into law enforcement. If the Arizona lawmakers could not define "reasonable suspicion," they just should have stayed home that day.

Post #226 Shocked, Appalled, Dismayed, Pt. II

Re: Arizona immigration law

UnConstitutional? I don't think so. I understand the arguments about the federal government taking the lead in immigration and violations of civil rights. But let's face it: This Supreme Court will not throw out a law that is popular with the Republican base.

The Arizona immigration law makes it a crime to be caught in Arizona without your 'papers.' Police must make an attempt, when practicable during a "lawful stop, detention or arrest made by a law enforcement official," to determine a person's immigration status.

It is not well-thought-out. It is vague and may have unintended negative consequences. The problem with this law is it gives too much power to the cop on the street -- prosecutor, judge, jury, executioner. It calls for racial profiling -- despite language against that -- under the guise of "reasonable suspicion."

Let's be honest: There is NOTHING a person can do that will create a reasonable suspicion of being an illegal immigrant -- except for having brown skin. Even a "I'm an illegal immigrant" T-shirt should be reasonably seen as a political statement -- especially when worn by Megan McCain. :p The legal definition of "reasonable suspicion" will be tied up in court for years.

I criticize the Arizona lawmakers for coming up with a week law that will drain the resources of Arizona's courts.

And other resources. The Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police criticized the legislation, saying that it will negatively affect the ability of law enforcement agencies across the state to fulfill their many responsibilities in a timely manner. Simply, solving crimes against Arizona citizens gets harder as you scare a portion of the population into not cooperating.

However, there is still no reason to applaud the Mexican President's criticism before Congress.

P.S.: There are two things I learned while researching this topic:
1. No illegal immigrant is living 'the American Dream.'
2. It's harder to become legal than I thought.

Post #225 Shocked, Appalled, Dismayed

I saw Anne Coulter on FOX News* the other day, and she was spewing some garbage about Dems cheering when the Mexican President criticized the Arizona immigration law before a joint session of Congress. I thought surely that she was full of crap -- much like Bill O'Reilly had been when he claimed to have the socialistic ramblings of Barak Obama's college thesis. That turned out not to true, but O'Reilly "stood by the document" as it sounded like what he believed Obama would say.

But then I saw the video.

My apologies to Coulter: For there on the video, the Democratic side of the joint session of Congress cheered -- a standing ovation, for goodness sake -- the Mexican President's criticism.

That was an unpatriotic act -- no matter how you feel about the Arizona immigration law. And politically stupid, too, for Republicans will play that video over and over for the November 2010 eletions -- as well they should.

There are two places where it is appropriate to applaud during a speeh by a foreign dignitary before a joint session of Congress: the beginning and the end. Is that too hard to understand?

If I was President Obama, I'd fire every Cabinet member who participated in the spectacle and fire my vice-president. If he does not, well, that says a lot.

* I have a crush on Megyn Kelly, OK?

Post #224 'Where I be from?'

I never thought it was important, but, recently, I was doing some research and....

I've tried to be fair in this blog. I've tried to always treat everybody with respect -- even when George Weasel Bush didn't deserve it! :p

My guiding quote in this blog... and life: "Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him." And, of course, the opposite: "I am every man's superior in that he may learn from me."

Anyway, I am from North Carolina. We were the last state to secede from the Union in 1861 and join the Confederacy. We knew it was a bad idea -- not swayed by the overheated rhetoric of our cousins in South Carolina.

Indeed, North Carolina's aversion to overheated rhetoric continues today... and, hopefully, reflected in this blog.

Which brings up the Tea Party.

In Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city, recently, the Tea Party organized a 'human chain' to surround the Bank of America headquarters to protest that the Bank of America has repaid its 'bailout.' The event drew seven protesters to form the chain.

[rolleyes]

North Carolina only joined the Confederacy after we were surrounded by Confederate states and the War had actually started -- we realized it was not in our best interests to be a Union outpost. Once we joined, North Carolina lost more troops supporting 'the cause' -- despite ranking #7 in slaves.

The moral: Listening to overheated rhetoric will burn.