tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86673059438255737262024-03-05T00:09:35.019-05:00Big Poppa PoliticsRantin' & Ravin' about American Political Pop CultureAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-16916301060672982782014-08-01T10:47:00.001-04:002014-08-01T10:47:33.582-04:00"I" is for Idiocracy not for Impeachment (The Boehner Lawsuit triple dog dare) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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Is it any wonder why the 113th Congress is pathetically the least approved in US history? <br />
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Today was to be Congress' first day of their scheduled August vacation.. Oops my bad, it's a called "Congressional Recess," but the House has decided to stay in session to work on the GOP $659 million border bill that failed to get enough GOP support. Truly it's because some GOP members feared backlash from the voting populace for leaving work undone. <br />
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Remember it's more about their cushy Congressional chair then your worn out sofa. <br />
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In my opinion, they're staying to make sure the "Great O" doesn't pull off any Executive Orders while they're supposedly back in their districts kissing babies and talking about "Impeachment." <br />
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Ah yes the "I" word, today in DC that's a bad for any political party to verbalize these days, well actually since 1998.<br />
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Just look at the past two days for example when the GOP led House passed their “Boehner" lawsuit against the “Great O” decrying his abuse (or use depending on your party affiliation) of Presidential power by consistently moving ACA law at his will. <br />
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That’s what this "Bo<strike>eh</strike>ner" lawsuit is about after all. Yet many people believe the lawsuit is against the “Great O” for actions ranging from Benghazi to Bergdahl to "Obama-phones" to IRS issues, but nope they're wrong, it’s against his actions on moving the ACA’s deadline of employer mandate to provide health insurance for their employees and only that. <br />
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The legislation passed by vote 225-201, with Republicans Paul Broun (R-MD), Walter Jones (R-NC), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Steve Stockman (R-TX), and (Scott Garret (R-NJ) all voted “no.” <br />
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Sounds like this Fab 5 of Republicans didn’t believe in the measure or are just trying to save their cozy plush political seat.<br />
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But weren’t the GOP complaining that “O” should hold off on the mandate a few months ago, yet now complaining after he did? <br />
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It’s also fact that back in November 2013, the GOP released plans to fix the issues they had with ACA even while they rallied to defund/repeal it at the same time.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJ7PuMqntFStsYt7EKNhyaV5SmR5H0ZCT3_Tl8CGiMLeh3I10NOeL0IDZWLzcM0jCSeM_T9Wq0OraDMHhyphenhyphenEE1UBKIeLbW9PT2-gjMyzy1zf4d03vpHYiBBvz8V5kjNuxIh1yDb2zgerw/s1600/mcarthy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJ7PuMqntFStsYt7EKNhyaV5SmR5H0ZCT3_Tl8CGiMLeh3I10NOeL0IDZWLzcM0jCSeM_T9Wq0OraDMHhyphenhyphenEE1UBKIeLbW9PT2-gjMyzy1zf4d03vpHYiBBvz8V5kjNuxIh1yDb2zgerw/s200/mcarthy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
But don't call it "Impeachment", as according to Speaker Boehner no one in the GOP has mentioned such a thing and Rep Paul Ryan (vying a possible 2016 Pres run) has stated that Obama's actions "do not rise to that of high crimes and misdemeanor to warrant impeachment."<br />
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Over the past year or so, GOP members from Michelle Bachmann to Jason Chaffetz to Steve Stockman (yes the same Steve Stockman that voted "no" on the Boehner lawsuit), have stated they have proof and plan to possibly file Articles of Impeachment against the “ Great O,” only to have Speaker Boehner declare on Wednesday that no one has talked or spoken about doing so. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufm9f7afdCEIyVj1F6X81Ss-0FwjWWYiVJCRQyTMbusmPvdvbS2VtURLD64QUerYwguf_hAVfDRJLMTX3bUKwY7ir6BK2TOfq-CxbcaKi5pNKdNwvGikltBkJ0Z4EnT3NbLpWHLNYxb8/s1600/151641_600-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufm9f7afdCEIyVj1F6X81Ss-0FwjWWYiVJCRQyTMbusmPvdvbS2VtURLD64QUerYwguf_hAVfDRJLMTX3bUKwY7ir6BK2TOfq-CxbcaKi5pNKdNwvGikltBkJ0Z4EnT3NbLpWHLNYxb8/s200/151641_600-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Apparently Speaker Boehner doesn’t read much or watch the news in the Speaker’s chamber while smokin' a Camel and swiggin' down some hooch. <br />
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Don’t get me wrong, the Democrats are just as guilty of “Impeachment” during the two terms of President “W” Bush as well. Rep Sheila Lee Jackson and 10 other Dems co-sponsored HR 1258. A bill introduced by Ohio's Dennis Kucinich back in June 2008. Although, unlike their current GOP counterparts who talk more then walk, they took the steps to begin a process only never going any further than that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EylUrQgScjvTvsqbWWY40bDt81p0kRESi4I5-EqsRSXHjWTq9z2PwKsWOD1kj-Bj4FcMOigu376v48v6DL3CUlL8pHmyXIfJtvHnpsGnhmCzGFAheL8zGdQuz9WPX0AJj60UeiMSh9Y/s1600/e6e27090-18be-11e4-a575-398d09c9d592_Jackson-Lee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EylUrQgScjvTvsqbWWY40bDt81p0kRESi4I5-EqsRSXHjWTq9z2PwKsWOD1kj-Bj4FcMOigu376v48v6DL3CUlL8pHmyXIfJtvHnpsGnhmCzGFAheL8zGdQuz9WPX0AJj60UeiMSh9Y/s320/e6e27090-18be-11e4-a575-398d09c9d592_Jackson-Lee.jpg" /></a></div><br />
But neither party have/had the political balls to walk the line and request a formal investigation of "W" or "O." It's all for political game and their faithful base of slobbering pawns to jump in unison with their misspelled rally signs. <br />
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According to Speaker Boehner and other GOP members, today's usage of the "I" word is strictly for pandering to the base for campaign funds, not by the GOP but by their Democrat counterparts. <br />
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But is it a political scam?<br />
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The week prior to the "Bo<strike>eh</strike>ner" lawsuit the Democrats raked in a couple of million dollars, thanks to the "Great O" talking about it leading to impeachment. The total donation count as of today has reached over $7 million in the bank.<br />
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Man, is the "Great O" a salesman or what? <br />
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Yet, just as GOP are calling the Dems fundraising off of "Impeachment" a scam, Rush Limbaugh has called the "Bo<strike>eh</strike>ner" lawsuit nothing more then a PR election campaign stunt on his 7/31 broadcast or to paraphrase Limbaugh "there's no balls attached if there is no 'impeachment' to the lawsuit."<br />
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The lawsuit essentially does nothing (!) accept slap Obama and quite possibly future presidents on the hand over Executive Orders. Kinda like a victim yelling at a robber "stop or I'll say stop again!" It's all show for the Media to beat a dramatic drum.<br />
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And this is exactly what the "Bo<strike>eh</strike>ner" lawsuit is, a PR stunt to help get a larger GOP majority in the House and possible GOP majority Senate. <br />
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The timing couldn't be perfect for this lawsuit to come, so close to mid-term elections. An election cycle many draw away from because, well, there's no pageantry for the Media to boast about. <br />
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But why?<br />
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Well it's simple plan to explain as a good friend of mine told me, "It's best to steer away from impeachment and win the Congress to neuter Obama's final 2 years."<br />
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Makes sense to me. Win the Congress and cut off Obama from any Presidential movement and force him to do something or nothing on legislation. Plus, historically more Republicans come out to vote in mid-terms then Democrats. Yes Democratic voters can be lazy during mid-terms. <br />
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The "Bo<strike>eh</strike>ner" lawsuit is a spin job to say "our hands are clean, look what they are doing" while campaign coffers are being stuffed for both sides of the political aisle and there's no doubt that both parties have the weakest leadership ever in Congressional history and the poll numbers prove that after the November election, they both need leadership change.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGih5k2Y35p9dXXW-wua6n5JHg9whNshIcLItTMcEFe4y-MhZQacU81VchnXiiBOWBTBxV6MpIpVLvc0Nw9VCJLGUWPGWV6EBnuo_Z2X06dCVtJtXnn-sWZjaepWcohTUnLZdg6DPXl4/s1600/298_298_the-25-best-beers-in-the-world-ninkasi-total-domination-ipa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGih5k2Y35p9dXXW-wua6n5JHg9whNshIcLItTMcEFe4y-MhZQacU81VchnXiiBOWBTBxV6MpIpVLvc0Nw9VCJLGUWPGWV6EBnuo_Z2X06dCVtJtXnn-sWZjaepWcohTUnLZdg6DPXl4/s200/298_298_the-25-best-beers-in-the-world-ninkasi-total-domination-ipa.jpg" /></a></div>That's it, slap the tap on some "Total Domination" pale ale and pass the peanuts while flipping the bill for another Congressional vacation. Maybe it's best they stay on vacation, it might be a better society if they do. <strike></strike><br />
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CHEERS! <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-81596024219270807512014-07-02T08:29:00.002-04:002014-07-02T08:30:30.724-04:00THE DETRACTING MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT IS MAINSTREAM MEDIA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>There has been a perception that American Media is largely dominated by “Left leaning” sources, however it’s safe to say that quantity does not equate to quality when reviewing weekly Radio/TV ratings and its influence over the populace.<br />
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Over the past few weeks, there have been numerous articles written about today’s Media influence that helped the Virginia primary loss of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor to who is has larger fault for Iraq's downfall and other abbreviated narrative with other daily issues.<br />
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Yes, it’s true that the Media does influence the populace on issues, even though many will squeal that they are not “sheeple.” Sorry folks, whether it’s politics, sports or any other story, many are programmed to accept the force fed Media opinion as their own.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8KDPL3pe2hCwOr1kt907xnDc1iAezUa0vMqqA4pwKU4c2Y4SaSxAmPRc1uSBrYJIH7mBvreF0WAzvlInd1ULSXGTiMpcG1LgtBGFzNNDwJ2E_CWY7QOu_qDRVajEUHgKxpaPrYWWIWA/s1600/news.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8KDPL3pe2hCwOr1kt907xnDc1iAezUa0vMqqA4pwKU4c2Y4SaSxAmPRc1uSBrYJIH7mBvreF0WAzvlInd1ULSXGTiMpcG1LgtBGFzNNDwJ2E_CWY7QOu_qDRVajEUHgKxpaPrYWWIWA/s200/news.png" /></a></div><br />
However, there’s this “myth” that we are led by the “Left leaning” media, but that’s only true when speaking of the over abundance of TV Media.<br />
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CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, and CNN are all considered as pawns to the Left. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylmq-JfVXnuabTDzy_CaKRvPYlzVUrJvZEyXsfrsAldClh1aAi5S9RwUaSQKm0mvdnJxXANjzY0gySU2IoEl2Vx_ct2rnF2Ai8U7M9bfLda5LJIynn6z9M287-K_6H0sfG9B4pPcB7SY/s1600/koala.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylmq-JfVXnuabTDzy_CaKRvPYlzVUrJvZEyXsfrsAldClh1aAi5S9RwUaSQKm0mvdnJxXANjzY0gySU2IoEl2Vx_ct2rnF2Ai8U7M9bfLda5LJIynn6z9M287-K_6H0sfG9B4pPcB7SY/s200/koala.png" /></a></div>CBS, NBC and ABC only report the news in a 30 minute sprint after the local news. Now if we add those boring morning shows to the equation and the time frame jumps to 2 hours 30 minutes, even though that time is filled with “fluff” pieces of dancing puppies and smoking Koala bears.<br />
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I will not argue that MSNBC is far Left of center in their reporting, which also explains why their ratings are so dismal. Outside of the 3 hours of Morning Joe, each hour features a new talking head repeating the same story in different voice with each going further Left.<br />
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And for the life of me, I still don’t know why Al Sharpton has a talk show and I don’t! Maybe I'm too wide for TV.<br />
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Per Zap2it.com for the week of June 16, after Morning Joe at 9am MSNBC averages roughly around 326,000 viewers till the 5pm. That’s when partisan talker Ed Shultz vents his frustrations and the number jumps up by about 160,000 viewers.<br />
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CNN has been re-inventing itself for the past decade and it seems they finally found a path to success, but their ratings fall roughly 80,000 short of MSNBCs<br />
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By comparison, even when combining CNN & MSNBC ratings, they fall extremely short of FOX News.<br />
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Fox & Friends, too which I find Steve Doocy the most annoying personality in Media next to Al Sharpton, averages 954,000 viewers daily, with the numbers jumping to an average 1.12 million till 5pm.<br />
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I still find humor when FOX News points out, with graphics, that they are reporting on a topic while other networks aren’t. It takes the slogan “Only on (blank)” one step further. I’m positive there will be a future 60 minute report on FOX News with guerilla reporters stalking network VP’s as to why they are not reporting on some topic like FOX<br />
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Oh wait they already do that with Jessie Watters.<br />
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But it’s the partisan Poli-Yakkers between 7p-11p that have the biggest influence and this is where the networks make their money. These partisan Poli-Yakkers and their passion grab the viewers to regurgitate their words on Social Media or the next day inside the cubicle. And FOX News, again, leads the pack by an average of 1 million viewer difference of the combined CNN/MSNBC ratings.<br />
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The sad part, from MSNBC to FOX, viewers take this passion as a “whole story” when in truth it’s a passionate abbreviated narrative.<br />
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So again, it’s the quality that equals domination, meaning that yes FOX News is Mainstream media no matter how much they and their viewers squawk against it.<br />
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I admit, I enjoy flipping between FOX, MSNBC and CNN every 15 minutes to see what and how the news is being reported. At one point I thought CNN’s management was punishing Martin Savidge by keeping him hostage in a flight simulator and mini-sub for the 2 months non-stop coverage of Malaysian Flight 370.<br />
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But the Conservative Mainstream domination is not only on the TV. Even on radio, where most point to NPR as the leader in Liberal reporting, Conservative talk radio is the force in media dominance.<br />
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Currently there are roughly 2,000 forms of Conservative talk radio shows compared to nearly 100 Liberal talk radio shows. <br />
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Per Talkers.com, the June 2014 numbers all too well tell the tale of what is Mainstream on the radio, Conservative Poli-Yakkers. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuA4D9t_tvOBNheoZdy-Hv99DllNWlO23fGIIVDaMscFG8a-i0MgGShvyY5DUL9SYIZ7UUlaWjdU3cZNYwS3ygEEgwfbHSyz2YuWadvh-rfsjl5VLt77rqK6cBX7O7lCp_zJfR47YK0kw/s1600/audiencechart_june141+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuA4D9t_tvOBNheoZdy-Hv99DllNWlO23fGIIVDaMscFG8a-i0MgGShvyY5DUL9SYIZ7UUlaWjdU3cZNYwS3ygEEgwfbHSyz2YuWadvh-rfsjl5VLt77rqK6cBX7O7lCp_zJfR47YK0kw/s320/audiencechart_june141+(1).jpg" /></a></div><br />
Now the list is filled with all types of talkers. Dave Ramsey and Clark Howard may put a political spit & polish comment into the mix, they are not Conservative talkers. So you have to go to #8 to find Thom Hartmann to find the leading Liberal talker. <br />
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There are 11 names ahead of Hartmann, who is roughly 11 million less in listeners than the leading voice of Limbaugh. <br />
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Oh sure there was the 6 year stunt of a complete Liberal radio network called Air America. 6 dreadful years it lasted, constantly revamping its lineup till the plug was pulled. From comedians to actors to actual journalists, Air America was dead on arrival. With names like Rachel Maddow, Al Franken, Ron Reagan, Montel Williams and so on, it was a Hollywood wet dream. <br />
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It wasn’t the “talent” that killed Air America, it was the constant turnover of higher management that sank the venture. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaDpwNZVl70y-mmVviRTwt8NRahfsfIHazEHO2IPMEXVffrao7Qy9NenBgrfjhuhNPDu85fZWmMF_OBbprO-PG3ZH_S-shtwZEtLlxWVBrHF_PDpWrae3CkCksBothyphenhyphenm-5dGItpwLjwk/s1600/download+(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaDpwNZVl70y-mmVviRTwt8NRahfsfIHazEHO2IPMEXVffrao7Qy9NenBgrfjhuhNPDu85fZWmMF_OBbprO-PG3ZH_S-shtwZEtLlxWVBrHF_PDpWrae3CkCksBothyphenhyphenm-5dGItpwLjwk/s320/download+(6).jpg" /></a></div><br />
In my opinion, it was Tucker Carlson’s failed MSNBC stint that brought Rachel Maddow from radio to TV and her current Liberal reign at MSNBC, as she was a regular guest and fill-in host when Carlson was out Bowtie shopping.<br />
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I’m not knocking Limbaugh’s dominance of the golden mic, he has his disciples that listen to every word as if it’s Gospel. <br />
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I admit, I listen to Conservative talk radio; an hour of Beck, an hour of Limbaugh and an hour of Hannity, the Big 3 have set the Conservative political talk standard. But the ones I truly enjoy the most; Doyle and Savage can’t be found in my town. And I’ve slowly grown to enjoy Andy Dean’s show as well.<br />
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Yet the true reason I enjoy Savage, Doyle and Dean is that they do not fall into the daily talking points memo cycle and go against the grain of the Big 3 Conservative talkers. They are not afraid to call out a GOP member for mistakes and stupidity with equal venom of a Dem, unlike the Big 3 whipping boys. Hell they even call the Big 3 out for being party suck ups. <br />
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Wait, is Beck still considered a Conservative talker? I mean he changes his political posing each Presidential cycle. One year he considers himself a Conservative, than an Independent and I believe recently he’s called himself a Libertarian. At least Liberals stay true to their political calling. <br />
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Ratings don’t lie, Conservative talkers from all aspects of Media source; Radio, TV, and Interweb are leading the pack, because money talks. You want to make money in talk radio, be a Conservative voice and you’ll get picked up immediately. Just ask Dennis Miller, once a Liberal hack and out of a job, he turned tables to being a Conservative hack and the paycheck clears all the time. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQyNsAr8poDaNxnNgiACFlEQrBTA193TocUq8Xpbyi5i4XtpP2M2KmEFZq59m5zxiUxFYVGbCvYm3wuFwK3mOC_lp8-Edor6dUdj6qFIBK8O4kPNH0RO0fSy56pU-qxtaNdV8FpsCSZY/s1600/ab+beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQyNsAr8poDaNxnNgiACFlEQrBTA193TocUq8Xpbyi5i4XtpP2M2KmEFZq59m5zxiUxFYVGbCvYm3wuFwK3mOC_lp8-Edor6dUdj6qFIBK8O4kPNH0RO0fSy56pU-qxtaNdV8FpsCSZY/s200/ab+beer.jpg" /></a></div>In the end, people are going to take the force fed Media abbreviated narrative of their favorite Poli-Yakker as truth, no matter right or wrong. Hell even Beck admitted he was wrong and Liberals were right on Iraq and no one changed the channel.<br />
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That’s it, slap the tap on the Arrogant Bastard Ale, pass the peanut bowl and keep swallowing the Media drivel as unvarnished truth. <br />
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CHEERS! <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-25409019558632223582014-06-07T11:27:00.000-04:002014-06-07T11:27:40.972-04:00The US “Nation Building” Process- Building dysfunctional democracies since 1898<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>The US “Nation Building” Process- Building dysfunctional democracies since 1898<br />
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In the past 116+ years of "Nation Building" it's of great concern that in today's world, the US Government sucks at this process and truly needs to rethink any future endeavors.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lftTEJWRgqO6QJSdtaiqWiaj5C4BTulh3ODgxKInBxp0K3b_hD9eyxzcIU3gjjVXyC-LgEheW1iz6rLxrLFAWA5B4nnGU3SD3zdE-ckYn0nyAC4lQYcS1oOUcuvL1GztoUqlIiPiJlg/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lftTEJWRgqO6QJSdtaiqWiaj5C4BTulh3ODgxKInBxp0K3b_hD9eyxzcIU3gjjVXyC-LgEheW1iz6rLxrLFAWA5B4nnGU3SD3zdE-ckYn0nyAC4lQYcS1oOUcuvL1GztoUqlIiPiJlg/s200/untitled.png" /></a></div>Now for many of you that do not know the meaning of “nation building,” it’s the process of securing peace, providing a constitutional government, restoring government services and providing economic aid through grants and/or private capital while the United States retains a massive amount of control.<br />
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To shorten that definition to just a single word, it's bribery, extortion, slush-money, payoff, protection, milking, exaction and so on.<br />
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One can argue with that sentiment, but basically we’re paying countries to be our “friend and ally” with Humanitarian Aid, Military Aid and sometimes good old cash money. A notch below the neighborhood bully in demands that your convert to a form of democracy that never flourishes. <br />
<br />
Prior to the current attempts to “nation build” in Iraq and Afghanistan, the last time the United States attempted to simultaneously "nation build" was the turn of the 20th century with Cuba and the Philippines during the Spanish American War.<br />
<br />
To recap, before the “yellow journalism” of William Randolf Hearst & Joseph Pulitzer that led the US into the Spanish American War, the US had general interest in a possible Cuban statehood since it was extremely close to Florida. Yet when war was declared, Congress decided not to lay claim to Cuba, instead settling on the notion of “influence.”<br />
<br />
After two and half months of war, Spain called for a cease fire and left Cuba in the hands of the US to begin their “influence.” The influence directive was to create a mirror image of the US. Cuba was to; have a Constitution, free elections and prosperous economy, not to mention a portion of the island to be sovereign to US at Guantanamo Bay. <br />
<br />
A new Cuban government agreed to a US likeness only because of fear of a permanent US occupation. Then three years later and large amounts of US dollars spent to help improve Cuba’s population in health, sanitation, education and so on, the US called its endeavor a success and left Cuba. <br />
<br />
Shortly after the US walked away, many Cubans became impatient with their new found democracy and within a span of 10 years had three separate uprisings, opening the door for a temporary US return. <br />
<br />
Now when the US declared war on Spain in Cuba, Teddy Roosevelt, then the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, without Navy Secretary John Long’s knowledge, sent a telegraph message to Commodore Dewey to move the Pacific Fleet to the Philippines to keep the Spanish fleet at bay.<br />
<br />
Sec. Long let the order hold and a few months later Commodore Dewey sent word that he had destroyed the Spanish Fleet. Yet (here’s the clincher), President McKinley was excited by the news but did not know where the Philippines were and since there was no plan to “nation build” there, it was decided that the Philippines would be a US Colony but under self rule. <br />
<br />
Well it wasn’t that easy, we actually bought the Philippines for $20 million in the Treaty of Paris. <br />
<br />
But unlike the Cubans that were overjoyed by the US involvement, the Filipinos wanted nothing to do with Spain and the US and a small amount of guerilla warfare broke out for about 2 years, eventually contained and finally a form of “nation building” was set.<br />
<br />
OK, that history recap was a little wordy, but now fast forward to today, does any of this sound familiar about today’s ventures in Afghanistan and Iraq? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5p1WJD1gjAseMpt3nz-dd1dYxRsHc8HcbzHiL1X2xuhDuex3c0C1JGacF8c3rjNtm4QaIWqgwZmsL0WT3TsgPZMdEF_jvkWG6v1DmtDmyQlS7mUBQDsVfxj6p4ETsYHMuoqjq7BnpzfU/s1600/dead+sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5p1WJD1gjAseMpt3nz-dd1dYxRsHc8HcbzHiL1X2xuhDuex3c0C1JGacF8c3rjNtm4QaIWqgwZmsL0WT3TsgPZMdEF_jvkWG6v1DmtDmyQlS7mUBQDsVfxj6p4ETsYHMuoqjq7BnpzfU/s200/dead+sam.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We went into Iraq mostly on false information received by our own intelligence gathering almost equals that of the “yellow journalism” received about Cuba. And as quickly as we left Cuba, internal strife begun, just like in Iraq between Sunni and Shiite. <br />
<br />
I can completely believe that the US actions in Afghanistan are close to that of the Philippines, as we’ve never planned on “occupying” Afghanistan, but the time has come for the US to leave. The mission is complete as revenge upon a Taliban government for harboring Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda terrorist group and their attacks on 9/11. <br />
<br />
<i>“Since September 11, I think everyone understands that we have a stake in the future of Afghanistan that is not simply nation-building for the sake of the Afghan people, it’s security-building for prevent terrorists from returning. That’s not a mission we ever thought about before in the United States,”</i> – Unnamed senior US official (http://www.fas.org/man/eprint/carson.pdf)<br />
<br />
So we’ve jumped the shark from “nation building” to “security building” when it comes to Afghanistan and there’s a great reason for this; Afghanistan has no real economic infrastructure and not to mention that it’s run by provincial tribal warlords, not a government, so it’s a haven for terrorists to set up camp.<br />
<br />
In Afghanistan, there is no capital when your biggest export product is an illegal product in Opium, which overshadows the legal products of carpets and fruits. Think about it, each year since the US invaded Afghanistan; Opium harvesting has increased and expanded across the land. It’s a multi-billion dollar a year operation. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs0Kbzke4jjeA9s6-nOVshNs3JZevfBowZQseeGT1HO4BA_H_C7Y9vTOOH9UDkrjO6ciDNa-o34vZNbzYqvfDrIpfQv4N1D_psJ3b_AsRasTrjtEJoq2wQykfHJ0t_9ofa4Q5ynMej9o/s1600/images0VPA0H91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs0Kbzke4jjeA9s6-nOVshNs3JZevfBowZQseeGT1HO4BA_H_C7Y9vTOOH9UDkrjO6ciDNa-o34vZNbzYqvfDrIpfQv4N1D_psJ3b_AsRasTrjtEJoq2wQykfHJ0t_9ofa4Q5ynMej9o/s200/images0VPA0H91.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The very same Air Force the US developed with Russian built equipment and US tax dollars has become the logistical arm for drug lords. Opium distribution is so large that the Afghanistan Air Force has become the “mule” for drug running purposes. <br />
<br />
A large majority of the airplanes in the Afghan Air Force cannot fly due to cost of fuel and/or part shortages and those that can fly are used by Generals and VIPs as limo services or transport Opium to various locations. <br />
<br />
We’ve built power stations at $300 million a pop that cannot be turned on due to fear of Warlord/Taliban threats or they cannot afford the diesel to run the generators. <br />
<br />
We’ve built roads to help commerce move through the country only to have those roads destroyed by Warlord/Taliban actions <br />
<br />
But for some odd reasoning, there are those in DC and Media that believe we must stay even though it’s been stated by the Afghan government, one that we placed, to get the f*ck out. <br />
<br />
These are the very same folks that cry “government needs to spend less” on a daily basis but refuse to come to reality that Afghanistan is not run by our well placed government, its run by tribal warlords that yield the higher power.<br />
<br />
We’ve spent upwards near $460+ billion dollars just on the war in Afghanistan since 2001 and have no problems of the planned expenditure of close to $4 billion till 2024 to pay for Afghanistan’s National Security Force of 350,000 personnel and their salaries yet scream about not having money for our own military and their benefits! <br />
<br />
I understand the politics of using people, whether it religious or economic demographics, as pawns. And it’s understandable that those being used are too ignorant to see they’re being bent over, but it’s truly disgusting when these political players use the men and women, those that have served and currently serving as pawns to win over the heart strings of the ignorant to win political points. <br />
<br />
They want us to stay in Afghanistan that never truly wanted the US, not in the 80’s, not now and not in the future to rebuild their infrastructure while our own is crumbling around us. It’s pure political genius and their winning at it.<br />
<br />
If we couldn’t help Afghanistan 34 years ago, we sure as hell will not help it tomorrow. It’s time to go, it’s time to return, it’s time to put the money back into the United States. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHx7_HrerN0yzWCQL-9xshY_ZQE7dJCMLsmOA9jiy3JMx4V0mXh_iEg4YcQ671ECsb-8w9e1j84RUOSPFhjclbeqv7tsWIS239j3fbRRwPD7tx-Uqbj2Wq0sZ7Al1lzJRZ18mYlcwoFY/s1600/luna-wit-badge.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHx7_HrerN0yzWCQL-9xshY_ZQE7dJCMLsmOA9jiy3JMx4V0mXh_iEg4YcQ671ECsb-8w9e1j84RUOSPFhjclbeqv7tsWIS239j3fbRRwPD7tx-Uqbj2Wq0sZ7Al1lzJRZ18mYlcwoFY/s200/luna-wit-badge.gif" /></a></div>That’s it, Slap the tap on a cold Brew Moon Luna-Wit, pass the nuts and thank a veteran for their unselfish act of volunteering to protect our freedoms.<br />
<br />
CHEERS!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-83303782150954531652014-05-20T08:53:00.000-04:002014-05-20T08:54:15.142-04:00Can Social Media Hashtagging Save The World? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>There’s no doubt that when any issue becomes headline news a celebrity and/or politician will co-opt, hijack, corrupt and spin the issue into a personal political agenda with added monetary value and suffocate the issue with over exposure that will nudge people too tune out within a week’s time.<br />
<br />
In my opinion, the normal lifespan of a media born narrative lasts 6 days in headline status and then dwindles to back page filler depending on the outlet before becoming obsolete. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-M3M06l2lQ8dXOIpjacKmRd_353UcAmcn7twSmkr8ipDrtl-HEYQ_PxY9KpTf-t9qublGBVplAWi2ltA37fs5P80kBZdi-By5ojSIm9YFojFirDHGbLUvusGhZ_rMPR6HADkOK6JNNIA/s1600/blank-newspaper-copyspace-shows-news-showing-media-headline-space-34211246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-M3M06l2lQ8dXOIpjacKmRd_353UcAmcn7twSmkr8ipDrtl-HEYQ_PxY9KpTf-t9qublGBVplAWi2ltA37fs5P80kBZdi-By5ojSIm9YFojFirDHGbLUvusGhZ_rMPR6HADkOK6JNNIA/s320/blank-newspaper-copyspace-shows-news-showing-media-headline-space-34211246.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Whether it’s Sandra Fluke or Texas Boll Weevil or Cliven Bundy, the carousel of Media darling come and go, leaving many to do whatever it needs to keep oneself relevant in the public eye. But for that moment in time, they are paraded around the Media dial gaining support/protest while the clock ticks down.<br />
<br />
Determining which side of the issue that politicians, frankly those pseudo-politicians, and celebrities will jump also determines the Media narrative coverage that follows. <br />
It’s easy to quickly point the crooked finger at the Liberal mindset when thinking about those that co-opt and corrupt an issue as it seems they jump faster and further to get their grubby hands on it and turn towards their liking. <br />
<br />
For every Sandra Fluke abortion rights soapbox for Liberals there’s a Chic-Fil-A freedom of speech/religion platform for Conservatives to march behind as well. It’s all in ones perspective as which is right or wrong to follow.<br />
<br />
Absolutely the Nigerian schoolgirl kidnapping is a tragedy and it only opens one’s eye to the horror of human trafficking that is present Worldwide, even if the focus is on just that of Nigeria. Face it from the dawn of the slave trade to today's latest kidnapping; the World’s history of human trafficking has been unkind to the continent of Africa and its inhabitants. Why is this situation any different than the missing child on the milk carton? <br />
<br />
Is it the number of children taken at one time or the fact that a Radical Islamist some-what terrorist group called Boko Harem committed this atrocity? <br />
<br />
My guess, it’s the latter and I’m trying to figure out how some poli-yankers are blaming the fall of Libya and the US’s passive involvement that led to the current Nigerian kidnapping.<br />
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Please don't take me as insensitive of the Nigerian kidnapping situation; being a parent myself I worry even when my son is 20 feet away on the playground. Yet it takes one issue for people to get behind, whether ordinary Joe to celebrity to politician.<br />
I don't see anything wrong with those that feel they're doing some sort of right by tweeting a picture of them holding signs with “#bringbackourgirls,” if they believe that's helping. But contrary to poli-yanking media host, it's far from just a bunch of Hollywood liberals holding court.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iYTtyxWxumzyQ1fckqqJsRxYmikJ4LdFhhqcXwXX5Wj_sRmeu6oFsQS_iWp9pcWDEMGjZtDjjPPajm5oN1p8MFDNk6UKIkTBU0OoUhvfo1wqWnaqqmkeVQeLrSGRorZKvdxAhKgEi8c/s1600/rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iYTtyxWxumzyQ1fckqqJsRxYmikJ4LdFhhqcXwXX5Wj_sRmeu6oFsQS_iWp9pcWDEMGjZtDjjPPajm5oN1p8MFDNk6UKIkTBU0OoUhvfo1wqWnaqqmkeVQeLrSGRorZKvdxAhKgEi8c/s200/rock.jpg" /></a></div>Yes, FLOTUS Michelle Obama has joined Sean Penn and Alicia Keyes with many others, including Dwayne Johnson. Yes the very Republican card carrying member Dwayne Johnson of WWE /action movie fame is among them. OMG! Does that make him a closet Liberal or just someone believing in a cause? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbRX66Qfxy4YPITs1SH4SxtGLpu0Bs3m5FOtE3tHYNbJuzknmR7BPdi0FXvqOZm3ungLognyrjshLccY9hgcVbDAJ8hf0eQUtcH3kXeOd_XyB5Hc8nrtHSaKBkyYmuZNhfdMde7lewFo/s1600/cameron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbRX66Qfxy4YPITs1SH4SxtGLpu0Bs3m5FOtE3tHYNbJuzknmR7BPdi0FXvqOZm3ungLognyrjshLccY9hgcVbDAJ8hf0eQUtcH3kXeOd_XyB5Hc8nrtHSaKBkyYmuZNhfdMde7lewFo/s200/cameron.jpg" /></a></div>Or how about Political America's favorite Brit, PM and Conservative leader Cameron, is he now coming out of his limey bastard Liberal leaning closet?<br />
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The answer is simple, neither are doing nothing of the sort except showing a new awareness of the human trafficking issues abound. And in PM Cameron’s case, he can actually do something about it in form of government policy. <br />
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Yet, this is the USA, no matter the issue, a political agenda must be found to exploit and absolutely "Never let a crisis go to waste." If our Media was smart, they would push the agenda but talk more about the disturbing numbers of human trafficking in fact filled narrative without placing blame on any administration.<br />
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But that doesn’t bring in ratings, so it’s a pipedream. <br />
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Here are some figures to catch your eye (thanks to UNICEF for the info): <br />
-<i>Roughly 2,300 children go missing daily by either abduction or runaway status in the US</i><br />
-<i>Worldwide an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked yearly, with approximately 27 million people enslaved around the World</i><br />
-<i>In South Africa, an estimated 30,000 children are prostitutes due to human trafficking, some as young as 14 years old </i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkWuOFhFAAwuaYOu2mMZ3nvxHBTTBcbjbfF3iYcUWWdxNVaDrX0y6KY0ma-z7k6A6dXZbgqM4y1Q55UG1WjPOSQTZA0J5qoRFSU4W31URNgrAclC2mLN8h9SEqJPKk5cJkHwEml1jJKw/s1600/human-trafficking-visualized1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkWuOFhFAAwuaYOu2mMZ3nvxHBTTBcbjbfF3iYcUWWdxNVaDrX0y6KY0ma-z7k6A6dXZbgqM4y1Q55UG1WjPOSQTZA0J5qoRFSU4W31URNgrAclC2mLN8h9SEqJPKk5cJkHwEml1jJKw/s320/human-trafficking-visualized1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Those are staggering numbers to digest!<br />
<br />
But we’re the U.S of A and well there are people who just can’t hold back to mock their divisive voice on an issue, including the Nigerian kidnapping.<br />
<br />
Probably one of my least favorite poli-yankers is Ann Coulter. So when I read about Ms. Coulter’s attempt to be funny and hijack the “#bringourgirlsback” campaign with “#bringourcountryback,” my eyes rolled while saying “poor timing” for her attempted sense of humor. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmwGUMofbUKEA0coqGU65CWNHtnv7YVlYOgIfOOeYtPQUf2OZfQ_-Y1OXYy9hASh-9jfH2qhdYL0yhiKey1fjkPXbS2Kawf63415x_nZXkuGwhWCWsCQEwdQHBothhPstUg89EhjIDjw/s1600/coulter.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmwGUMofbUKEA0coqGU65CWNHtnv7YVlYOgIfOOeYtPQUf2OZfQ_-Y1OXYy9hASh-9jfH2qhdYL0yhiKey1fjkPXbS2Kawf63415x_nZXkuGwhWCWsCQEwdQHBothhPstUg89EhjIDjw/s200/coulter.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz2ERxvHFkE6uzCgutdA4C4RpX1IhG0b3oPwHYaSCXbta3Qv-WLNq3eOG_T5cUJLRsskuwRn2IkHxm6zElPiIrvCMopQQj1gwbkO8sFirhdBV_usPrQ_yQ7Mvn-FWhCli-Mjha7R9PT4/s1600/coulter+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz2ERxvHFkE6uzCgutdA4C4RpX1IhG0b3oPwHYaSCXbta3Qv-WLNq3eOG_T5cUJLRsskuwRn2IkHxm6zElPiIrvCMopQQj1gwbkO8sFirhdBV_usPrQ_yQ7Mvn-FWhCli-Mjha7R9PT4/s200/coulter+2.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahvb3_6ipiMWeIwcwdj2Aq92ml_voKiTVLdqztAEFPCFhP39KKgrfL1AtAQJhL7VWyJuZoGwnL4zKGaNkdXzrCjy6YlihOj9IYN7n6uJ5UP6_lpqezqk4rfkrVM55W4QT1Jmk_3_XPsY/s1600/coulter+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahvb3_6ipiMWeIwcwdj2Aq92ml_voKiTVLdqztAEFPCFhP39KKgrfL1AtAQJhL7VWyJuZoGwnL4zKGaNkdXzrCjy6YlihOj9IYN7n6uJ5UP6_lpqezqk4rfkrVM55W4QT1Jmk_3_XPsY/s200/coulter+3.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
I give her points for making a political statement that is entirely true, but hijacking a current soapbox and rewriting it, well it’s cheesy and unoriginal. But the backlash that ensued was extremely comical that for someone as technically advanced as Coulter is should have expected the Photoshop-mania that went wild on Twitter afterwards. <br />
<br />
Maybe Ms. Coulter should point to her fellow poli-yankers on both sides of the partisan divide and ask them why so many of them are for sending in the US military in attempts to find the Nigerian children yet say nothing about concerns about US children being abducted? <br />
<br />
I bet if Nancy Grace jumped on board (as she did with Natalie Holloway) and the News executives watch her ratings, they would dispatch reporters worldwide holding milk cartons in attempts for a ratings snatch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBy7SHCzlIRXtwe3s3yx9FFOJaSURUs_vwPreASOF__TTf6fnRKFpEhaUe3PIzD7cP-vYMZ29b3sNU6W8iIKtFKnmT1XOFkK2baxrylz9PBIpnygiLhauRwr7xRW_OYBh5_kNpIS1TOQ/s1600/omission.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBy7SHCzlIRXtwe3s3yx9FFOJaSURUs_vwPreASOF__TTf6fnRKFpEhaUe3PIzD7cP-vYMZ29b3sNU6W8iIKtFKnmT1XOFkK2baxrylz9PBIpnygiLhauRwr7xRW_OYBh5_kNpIS1TOQ/s200/omission.jpg" /></a></div>That’s it, Slap the Tap on some “Omission” and don’t choke on your favorite abbreviated narrative as a full report. <br />
CHEERS!<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-71221729620541180322014-04-27T12:35:00.000-04:002014-04-27T12:35:23.513-04:00US vs Cliven Bundy: How Yellow Journalism mutes Common Sense for ratings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>We live in a knee-jerk reaction society that causes more division and strife among the masses that we lose sight of what was the original cause of action.<br />
<br />
Over the past 15 or so days, I've been watching & listening to many poli-talkers along with ordinary people concerning Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and his 20 year plus battle concerning grazing rights on <b>federal land</b> and what great theater it has been so far.<br />
<br />
So enjoyable to watch a section of media gloss over facts and push an agenda driven mantra during an election cycle while others mock them. Yes, every media outlet wants a piece of Cliven Bundy, just a small morsel to help in their ratings.<br />
<br />
However, we as viewers & readers have to admit to our addiction to the “Yellow Journalism” that has placed us in a hallucinated state over the past 120+ years. We are forced fed what we're told to be "truth" yet it's an abbreviated narrative truth. <br />
<br />
In case you've forgotten, Yellow Journalism is defined as “journalism that distorts, exaggerates the news to create sensationalism to attract readers,” which pretty much sums about the vast majority of what we hear every day in our media. Notice I stated "vast majority" and did not point fingers to either Right or Left, but grouped together.<br />
<br />
Along with our “Yellow Journalism” ways, we have to thank Social Media and the ever ending memes that help pass along falsehoods on issues. Yes I know I mock Social Media and stil use it fully for its intended purposes to pass along family news, connect with friends and pass news articles that I find enjoyable that leaves my intentions suspect to others.<br />
<br />
OK enough dribble, let’s put fact to blog and rant when appropriate. <br />
<br />
Mr. Bundy claims ancestral rights to the land his cattle graze upon, yet the lineage that he claims is skewed in that the maternal side of his family is of Mormon faith and polygamist marriages ran rampant. So even though his ancestors had moved to the Bunkerville, Nevada area in the 1880’s, it was not a homestead as the family moved back and forth between Nevada and Utah until land was eventually bought in 1948-1949.<br />
<br />
And it wasn’t for another 5 years, in 1954, that the Bundy ranch took up cattle operations. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEVBLSKlE1T1c28cT2Pj1nXvBaqmj5B3ewd9SXd25SI0lcy9K8K1sBpNw2mYCVGk5IzEw9Qrr6bMevAg6oNU6kjU-UKUckINHY9mbnyGxSFOdx3BG4pHaJmqNVQ30gp7sgvuOOtPjxQU/s1600/10156041_10152118541976275_746292480374780595_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEVBLSKlE1T1c28cT2Pj1nXvBaqmj5B3ewd9SXd25SI0lcy9K8K1sBpNw2mYCVGk5IzEw9Qrr6bMevAg6oNU6kjU-UKUckINHY9mbnyGxSFOdx3BG4pHaJmqNVQ30gp7sgvuOOtPjxQU/s320/10156041_10152118541976275_746292480374780595_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
So the claim of 180 years of grazing cattle can be cut by less than half when taking into consideration the 1954 established operation year. Yet, it’s the timeframe between 1954 and 1993 that’s hazy, fuzzy, and blurred when it comes to grazing cattle. <br />
<br />
For close to 39 years, the lands operated by the Bureau of Land Management and the Bundy ranch were all chummy with permits being paid on time and rule of law being followed. Now whether it’s to be blamed on the “Smokey Rainbow Hair Tortoise” or whatever environmental reasoning, but in 1993 the rules changed and the BLM had requested the Bundy’s to lower their cattle grazing to less then 150. <br />
<br />
And this is when and how the 20 year fight began with laws being broken and court orders given that has Cliven Bundy in the news talking about who’s a better worker between Negros and Mexicans and how he doesn't believe the US Government exists. <br />
<br />
Bundy refused to lower his cattle as requested/required, continued to illegally let them graze on federal land and by 1998 was taken to court (<i>United States v. Bundy</i>) where the ruling favored the US Gov/BLM. The court order gave Bundy up to 30 days to remove his cattle from federal land and as expected Bundy did not comply.<br />
<br />
It must be addressed that during the 1993-2014 time period, the BLM did not impound any cattle owned by Bundy until just a few days ago, which they had the legal right to do.<br />
<br />
As well everyone should know that other injunctions were judged against Bundy between 1999 and 2013 for his illegal actions from fines to destruction of public property and so on. <br />
<br />
OK, did you get that, he was illegally using federal land and judgment passed against him that he blatantly ignored. Can anyone tell me what happens if you get caught using Federal or State land improperly? Yes, you get fined and possible jail time.<br />
<br />
And here we are today, Poli-talkers bickering back and forth (Hannity and Stewart) to the amusement of many as well as politicians stepping up for Bundy and then away days later over the illegal actions of Bundy against the BLM.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmiX3J1KoA7h2DPUmm5qlVnV6O-o379qZBIXWCVuyYvlxOf3mzoNWLaitvs3JJ-277XhWNacXtfXk10On_pLgRYBf131VsgHje1Rp8xavDPmFqqhMtmvcQd5ABvCnJqBQNLb5Tn1rUWs/s1600/flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmiX3J1KoA7h2DPUmm5qlVnV6O-o379qZBIXWCVuyYvlxOf3mzoNWLaitvs3JJ-277XhWNacXtfXk10On_pLgRYBf131VsgHje1Rp8xavDPmFqqhMtmvcQd5ABvCnJqBQNLb5Tn1rUWs/s320/flag.jpg" /></a></div><br />
But isn't funny how this BLM/Bundy issue is happening in 2014, an election cycle and better that it's also an election involving Nevada's Harry Reid, a man hated more by the Right then President Obama. <br />
<br />
I am no Harry Reid supporter and believe he's one of the most arrogant members in Congress!<br />
<br />
But it's coincidental that Harry Reid is up for re-election and the Right so desperately wants to gain seats in the Senate that creating some controversy helps (the House will easily stay in their hands).<br />
<br />
Absolutely Senator Harry Reid is a fool and dumb enough to walk into the muck by addressing the protestors backing Bundy as "domestic terrorists." By responding he helped opposition create new campaign ads without no effort.<br />
<br />
I gotta give props to Glenn Beck and his staff for their actions/stance on this situation.<br />
<br />
When Beck left FOX News a few years ago too venture into his own Media soapbox, I called him the next "Ted Turner" and he's proven me correct ever since. It's the major reason why Beck has taken the calm/collective route concerning BLM/Bundy, that reason being that his actions/reactions will affect his company. He does not have Roger Ailes to protect him and hug sponsors/advertisers, he must personally face any backlash that affects the lives that he employs. <br />
<br />
To quote Glenn Beck from his radio show on 4/24 "It is hard, because we believe the government is out of control, we believe the government is growing as an oppressor... But you have to know who you’re standing with.”<br />
<br />
Too simplify that quote "Be responsible in your actions. Bundy and the BLM are in the wrong on this issue."<br />
<br />
Absolutely the actions of the BLM actions of armed enforcement against Bundy is over reaching, but it's also over reaching to have armed protestors wanting to act against the government.<br />
<br />
Fact is fact on this issue, however Media and their viewers/listening will take their "Yellow Journalism" by the scoopful and lessen the fat known as Common Sense to fulfill their cravings. <br />
<br />
That's it, Slap the tap on a frosty cool one, pass the peanut bowl and hit the play button to watch the movie Idiocracy to realize where we're headed. <br />
<br />
CHEERS! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-88770386373695127042014-04-09T22:25:00.000-04:002014-04-09T22:25:34.216-04:00Return of the Great Gun Debate: Sally take your Prozac and hide your Glock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>In between the many news reports of how "Obamacare signups caused Malaysian Flight 370 into a Wormhole" there was yet another senseless shooting at Fort Hood that could've been avoided but instead has caused another political kneejerk reaction. <br />
<br />
Less then 12 hours after the 2nd tragic shooting at Fort Hood, Speaker John Boehner stated "<i>there’s “no question” that mentally ill people should be prevented from buying guns.</i>" However the problem this time around, is the mentally ill Speaker Boehner speaks of happens to be a member of the US Military. Which actually sparks larger debate after the first Foot Hood shooting by Nidal Hasan about all members of the military should be carrying a pistol or rifle.<br />
<br />
There are many positions one can hold while serving our nation and not all of those position require a person to carry a weapon. From administrative to medical staff to cooks, unless they are Steven Seagal in the movie "<i>Under Siege</i>," the need for a weapon for every service member is minimal.<br />
<br />
Then again, shooting the vending machine for letting the Kit Kat hang is an actionable offense for anyone. <br />
<br />
We really need to look at the words of Speaker Boehner's concerning mentally ill as they are extremely vague in detail and not limited to the discussion of the US Military only.<br />
<br />
Now, to Speaker Boehner's thought, I do agree that yes guns should not be allowed to be owned by the mentally ill but honestly, who is going to re-define the term "mentally ill."<br />
<br />
A simple definition of mentally ill is "that of unsound mind" and even that is too vague to give description as in today's world it doesn't take much to label someone "unsound." <br />
<br />
WebMD.com has 2 pages of best known labels for the term mentally ill: Anxiety disorders, Mood disorders, Psychotic disorders (come to think of it that's describes 1/2 my past girlfriends), Eating disorders, Impulse disorders, Adjustment disorders, Sexual disorders, Tic disorders, Dementia, Alzheimer's, and sleep disorder just too name a few.<br />
<br />
So where would he begin in his new definition? <br />
<br />
In the case of the current Fort Hood incident, Spc. Ivan Lopez was being treated for post traumatic stress disorder, yet also had a history of depression and anxiety. And again, everyone has become an overnight expert on PTSD saying that because he saw no combat while in Afghanistan there is no way he could have PTSD. <br />
<br />
Um, yes he can by just seeing those returning from battle or hearing the constant explosions miles away, it doesn't take much and even the medical experts are discovering more reason as to how one can have PTSD symptoms. <br />
<br />
Yes, after the shooting of 28 children and adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School by Adam Lanza, everyone became an expert overnight of Autism and Asperger's that it disgusted me. Why? Simple, I am a father of an Asperger's child and everyday the spectrum and knowledge changes. <br />
<br />
Again, I ask, where or how do we redefine the definition of mentally ill?<br />
<br />
What if someone is prescribed an anti-inflammatory drug like Naproxen for joint, muscle and/or arthritis pain? <br />
<br />
Sounds simple enough even though a side effect is mental/mood swings, could that person be defined as mentally ill?<br />
<br />
OK, so we really can't redefine mentally ill unless we list specific illness, because if we went by prescriptions, well I'd say 70% of the country would be on a "watch list." <br />
<br />
Got Anxiety Disorder? Well step right up as there are over 20+ prescription drugs too choose from to help. <br />
<br />
The point being, for every disorder there at least 3 prescriptions to help ease the situation. If we do not redefine the term mentally ill then maybe suspend the 2nd Amendment right for those prescribed certain drugs.<br />
<br />
Now if, for some cosmic planetary alignment, Congress would pass the notion of redefining an incredible demographic of American populace, what do to with all these newly acquired weapons?<br />
<br />
Think about it for a moment, would Congress "grandfather" weapons for the newly diagnosed? "If you own a gun today and become medically diagnosed with erectile dysfunction and need to be prescribed Viagra which has mood disorder side effects, under this new law you can still keep your gun."<br />
<br />
It's an honest question with a follow up notion that under a newly created mentally ill definition, how many would end up collecting SSI and other entitlements? <br />
<br />
Fraudulent lawyers and doctors could see massive future riches with claim suits. <br />
<br />
One could even further the gun debate and possible place a suspension on gun ownership to members of the Military returning from active combat until cleared for PTSD. <br />
<br />
That idea could destroy any political career in a snap.<br />
<br />
Well if we rewind back to January 2014, Attorney General Eric Holder was a few steps ahead of Speaker Boehner when he introduced a plan that would further and tighten the limits of gun sales to the mentally ill.<br />
<br />
As reported in the USA Today, AG Holder stated "We are taking an important, common sense step to clarify the federal firearms regulations, which will strengthen our ability to keep dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands, this step will provide clear guidance on who is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law for reasons related to mental health, enabling America's brave law enforcement and public safety officials to better protect the American people and ensure the safety of our homes and communities.''<br />
<br />
The plan actually expanded the definition to include "committed to a mental institution." The addition to the definition includes those that are involuntarily placed in outpatient and inpatient commitments to be prohibited from purchasing firearms. <br />
<br />
To further clarify the federal redefinition by AG Holder, the addition also shall include "persons who are found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect; persons lacking mental responsibility or deemed insane; and persons found guilty but mentally ill, regardless of whether these determinations are made by a state, local, federal or military court."<br />
<br />
So a new question now becomes "Who do you trust more on limiting mentally ill gun ownership; One who has produced a plan or One who spoke about a possible future plan?"<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, that question will be lengthened by adding "Who do you trust more on limiting mentally ill gun ownership; A Democrat who has produced a plan or a Republican who spoke about a possible future plan?"<br />
<br />
That's it, Slap the Tap, take a big gulp, pass the peanuts and wait for the next gun debate knee jerk reaction that will fall on deaf ears thanks to the political divide.<br />
<br />
CHEERS!<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-60149947601583911352014-03-14T09:27:00.000-04:002014-03-14T09:27:55.041-04:00Tuesday Political Quibblers Club: A Skeptics Delight for a Political Price<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UOfWi8ufAsSvX4UwYRzdox5cj3JgbrRpoxdsCeSKsSD4XWUNdBy7HPoBWzRTp2ja4kUJuzOZQFYS2QxbgpjdLpH4l4OceqZoAPh59Aczlr8eLaRjSiqb5boaj3DcsirijnPlyWWPDY4/s1600/download+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UOfWi8ufAsSvX4UwYRzdox5cj3JgbrRpoxdsCeSKsSD4XWUNdBy7HPoBWzRTp2ja4kUJuzOZQFYS2QxbgpjdLpH4l4OceqZoAPh59Aczlr8eLaRjSiqb5boaj3DcsirijnPlyWWPDY4/s400/download+(5).jpg" /></a></div>Somewhere in a basement in “Anywhere, USA” someone is pondering some premise of theory/thought that will make its way thru the bowels of the Interweb and one day become “truth” for a few. <br />
<br />
Now whether that notion is political or historical in content will determine its validity amongst the masses of tin foil hats. Plus in today’s techie Social Media “Gotta an app” smothered world, it doesn’t take long for the notion to flow like oil from the Deepwater Horizon. <br />
<br />
Take the other day for instance, I was dining out with my family and it must’ve been the weekly "Tuesday Political Quibblers Club” night out for the table next to us as their conversation ran a gambit of various zany political thoughts within minutes of being seated. <br />
<br />
Now I don’t like to listen to strangers conversation, I’ll leave that to Agents Jones & Smith of the NSA to do. However this group of grown men that ranged in various age, was spitting out theory after thought in such high revolution that I can only compare them to that of a group of giddy 13 year old girls talking about a member of One Direction (honestly I've heard grown women talk the same as well about One Direction and it’s scary).<br />
<br />
Yet one statement has kept with me only because it's intriguing. Now I'm paraphrasing this statement but it goes a little something like:<br />
<br />
"What we really should do is split the US. The Northern States go Democratic, the Southern States go Republican and then we'll see who has the better ideology."<br />
<br />
I missed what was said next as I was being pulled away by family, but this I know is an awesomely bad idea, yet had to ponder how the US would look if it would flourish.<br />
<br />
Yet every theory/thought needs a nickname, so how about “The Quibbler: A theory for a new US Polity.”<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqfNcPO65nZRVKEmpfmvflMzJTolc2p2D31pYNGz0CWvczFKr44sPqE3pA0FNGmp_FHfdRZK8P06kXfb7lcozbnFozLIyzxdilTh539jftYocKgD46I9VviKbj5NOSZCmKWtOl0N-6sY/s1600/us+split+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqfNcPO65nZRVKEmpfmvflMzJTolc2p2D31pYNGz0CWvczFKr44sPqE3pA0FNGmp_FHfdRZK8P06kXfb7lcozbnFozLIyzxdilTh539jftYocKgD46I9VviKbj5NOSZCmKWtOl0N-6sY/s400/us+split+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Now there are gaps and holes to fill on the "Quibbler theory" as I was unable to finish listening in but I'm absolutely positive I can do some hot patch work better then a "Yinzer" road crew.<br />
<br />
OK, so what would a split US look like and how to decide where the split exists between North and South? Well that’s easy if we use the Missouri Compromise. <br />
<br />
See the Missouri Compromise helped set up the partition between impending Slave and Free States of any territory wanting to join the Union west of the Mississippi River as well as helped set up how future States would be formed by creating a border that runs along the 36th parallel of latitude. It helped to not have the cluster of States that we know of the East Coast. <br />
<br />
So that covers Western States, as for the Eastern half, well we’ll use the Civil War divide.<br />
<br />
Contrary to myth, the Mason/Dixon line was not the border between North & South during the Civil War even though it was regarded as such. Maryland never declared itself North or South and even to this day, Marylanders debate if they are considered one or the other. <br />
<br />
So for this, Maryland will be considered a Northern state along with West Virginia and Alaska with Hawaii going to the South. So let’s do the math, that’s 28 Democratic states to 22 Republican states.<br />
<br />
Seems a little off balanced from the start for the “Quibbler theory" but we’re just beginning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIusfcP8Xe_qyRqrvVDlAQjdF15LBqoBk-E3nGRADlgez_DTtaVAOxapf1vGmlCkm6aEWMSthLPfeWsexyaCAYPvPWRuZjerXt8NQzPTiODVtXT4Ep0Ouv8MvkcsZ01MkKQsh2OYSd6f0/s1600/USA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIusfcP8Xe_qyRqrvVDlAQjdF15LBqoBk-E3nGRADlgez_DTtaVAOxapf1vGmlCkm6aEWMSthLPfeWsexyaCAYPvPWRuZjerXt8NQzPTiODVtXT4Ep0Ouv8MvkcsZ01MkKQsh2OYSd6f0/s320/USA.jpg" /></a></div><br />
So all Northern states shall be under Democratic governorship as well their state legislature and the equal for the Southern states under Republican leadership, doesn’t quite have the feel of a Free Republic. <br />
<br />
So draw a line across the top border of California, follow that line across to Missouri and then down around Illinois the top of Kentucky, below West Virginia and Maryland all the way to the Atlantic. I know it's wordy to read but without a GPS someone might get lost. <br />
<br />
But how does this split affect the business of Federal Government? <br />
<br />
James Madison’s Federalist #39 states that "The House of Representatives will derive its powers from the people of America....The Senate, on the other hand, will derive its powers from the States, as political and co-equal societies."<br />
<br />
Now under Constitutional Law, each State is guaranteed 2 Senate appointments which means under this theory the Senate shall be democratically led 56-44 as there are more Northern then Southern states. <br />
<br />
Well looks like the political power dips further Left which doesn’t seem to be the intention of the “Quibblers theory.”<br />
<br />
Under the same law, each State is given 1 guaranteed appointment to the House and other appointments are placed by size of populace. California, Texas and Florida have roughly 116 total Representatives and by “Quibblers theory" the House then would favor the Republicans 245 to 190.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNQZR1y5z0MHQ50QIp8SbgL05kQ5GZu66peb4OzhPq1cqCnHLeTZo095vYxNH-IeB3RNrKq6g0sy1TnDRsAOe6-OOW0K6hzaeOaYHedsJfnm1A6QWZrehaIeK58iX7fLx-8cSWm9dYl4/s1600/us+split.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNQZR1y5z0MHQ50QIp8SbgL05kQ5GZu66peb4OzhPq1cqCnHLeTZo095vYxNH-IeB3RNrKq6g0sy1TnDRsAOe6-OOW0K6hzaeOaYHedsJfnm1A6QWZrehaIeK58iX7fLx-8cSWm9dYl4/s400/us+split.jpg" /></a></div>As we see in today's reality, a split Congress is gridlocked and under “Quibblers theory" it strengthens political ideology divide with lopsided numbers that only the moderates of either party, you know those “RINO’s and Blue Dogs” poli-talkers despise, would be the only ones to help push legislation thru to the Oval Office. <br />
<br />
It's that or an obscene amount of Executive Orders by whomever sits behind the Resolute Desk. <br />
<br />
It's hard to tell how each State would be run with such a political unhinged balance amongst them. By unhinged I reference one political thought running about per State. Yes, I’m positive those reading that are Left/Right will stomp their feet and hold their breath that their party is the one truest. So let’s look at reality, because it appears these “theorists” are not part of.<br />
<br />
Currently there are 29 Republican governors at the helm since 2011 and they are scattered across the land. But how are they doing compared to their Democratic equals?<br />
<br />
Well Daily Finance released a “Top 5 Best & Worst” run states report not long ago and the results were:<br />
<br />
Best 5: 5.Iowa (R), 4.Utah (R), 3.Nebraska (R), 2.Wyoming (R), 1.North Dakota (R)<br />
Worst 5: 5.New Jersey (R), 4.Arizona (R), 3.Illinois (D), 2.Rhode Island (I), 1.California (D)<br />
<br />
Doesn't say much for the governorship of New Jersey's Chris Christie and Arizona's Jan Brewer? <br />
<br />
California being the worst run state is not a shocker, it's been that way for the past 30 years no matter which party is leading and please don't say "Well when Reagan was governor..." because that was 50 years past.<br />
<br />
The average population between the "Top 5 Best" equals roughly 1,833,000, so it's quite easy to govern a small populace in wide open ranges when compared to the size of the “#2 Worst” and smallest state of Rhode Island.<br />
<br />
What about the Richest and Poorest of States? Where’s all the wealth sitting or poor squatting? Well thanks to the Wall Street Journal, the list varies deeply from the "Best & Worst" run;<br />
<br />
Top 5- 5.Hawaii (D), 4.Connecticut (D), 3.Alaska (R), 2.New Jersey (R), 1.Maryland (D)<br />
Bottom 5- 5.Kentucky (D), 4.Alabama (R), 3.West Virginia (D), 2.Arkansas (D), 1.Mississippi (D)<br />
<br />
It’s easy to say that New Jersey & Maryland should be on the list considering they are located near NYC and DC. All that wealth in Connecticut can’t be from WWE’s McMahon family, could it?<br />
<br />
I’m sure I can research more “Best & Worst” lists from education, beer halls, roads, drivers and waistlines to dissect and tape together to figure which way to split the States into this or that. However I’m extremely nauseated with this “Quibblers theory" and believe it’s the silliest idea to come along since politicians reading Dr Seuss to explain their discourse. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumsYDGq6lfL3zsU5wb25PkO6_C1zHOHJzGhzmboIbEkyKFjUAboWJg6OK50gQcuHO7PEuaG6RNvtKRarLiWdeXJz80rMNGQxqitTxB2RLrX-3pKXT_K6LELJiIECxu4mAv7O8WLcmojM/s1600/529e38ffec362.preview-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumsYDGq6lfL3zsU5wb25PkO6_C1zHOHJzGhzmboIbEkyKFjUAboWJg6OK50gQcuHO7PEuaG6RNvtKRarLiWdeXJz80rMNGQxqitTxB2RLrX-3pKXT_K6LELJiIECxu4mAv7O8WLcmojM/s400/529e38ffec362.preview-300.jpg" /></a></div>This “Quibblers theory" of splitting the US between Democratic North & Republican South just doesn’t work even though it sounds great was first spoken and currently the States seem to be running quite well as they are, depending on “how well” one thinks.<br />
<br />
That’s it, Slap the tap, pass the chicken wings and pay your political bill before someone figures out a better way to scam it away with another political theory<br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-2311647297316877592014-03-07T10:32:00.002-05:002014-03-07T10:32:57.979-05:00Presidential Conventions 2016- Drugs, Strippers and Fire Trucks Oh My!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZry7T2D7pMaKSNuH1RJpmCpW9D2nyUJNh4OaVF-GsU6z2YvuIzMS3qgaSBuYpGiw68inaHQqKmA23FB1TGKi8xlHe1eluB04dxsI2RmahOdRatBP34Q9GE0w5A7clwfbx4ToO4J1BuKs/s1600/freedomofspeech.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZry7T2D7pMaKSNuH1RJpmCpW9D2nyUJNh4OaVF-GsU6z2YvuIzMS3qgaSBuYpGiw68inaHQqKmA23FB1TGKi8xlHe1eluB04dxsI2RmahOdRatBP34Q9GE0w5A7clwfbx4ToO4J1BuKs/s320/freedomofspeech.jpg" /></a></div>It’s easy to say that right now in 2014, both the Republican National Committee & Democratic National Committee conventions are homeless and many cities mentioned as targets, well many are shrugging their shoulders with very little delight of wanting to host<br />
<br />
It’s absolutely mind-numbing reading about which city is on which list and which of those cities does & does not want to be involved in the 2016 convention race. Many of the "hopeful" cities cite “funding” as being the main issue for declining and criteria being second; hotels, transportation, airport, prostitution/strippers, drugs and alcohol must reach a premium to the liking of delegates.<br />
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Oh come on, you don’t believe that “P/S, D & A” aren’t a major issue concerning “host” cities?<br />
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Sex is big at these conventions or did everyone forget the Rob Lowe 1989 RNC Convention sex tape?<br />
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These conventions have become a week long sales pitch for the Party and their agenda because by the time the convention begins, the candidate has already been chosen. Well ok, not chosen just the last one standing with enough money to go from Primary campaign to Presidential campaign.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RK203q8vYddE3ByqCrt68T4ce6LaUeXc1cgK5uMV4bwald_be7gC1oVQE71adpGbs4HnZ7fo4d7k6Kc5jWx9yGGzY45I3-H464gTKtmMqyMvkZgsN64FhjI11AxsAhGgMJiP2KfbRX0/s1600/ConventionBumps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RK203q8vYddE3ByqCrt68T4ce6LaUeXc1cgK5uMV4bwald_be7gC1oVQE71adpGbs4HnZ7fo4d7k6Kc5jWx9yGGzY45I3-H464gTKtmMqyMvkZgsN64FhjI11AxsAhGgMJiP2KfbRX0/s320/ConventionBumps.jpg" /></a></div>As RNC head honcho Reince Priebus told Daily Caller's Alexis Pappas, “We have to make sure that we put on a convention that gives our nominee a bump. That to me is the No. 1 purpose of having a convention.” A post convention bump helps navigate the candidates heading into the exciting & electrifying presidential debates. <br />
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Honestly, these debates should be produced by the Vinnie Mac and the WWE because who wouldn't wanna see a "Hell in the Cell Presidential Debate?" <br />
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However, the past 2 convention cycles, the candidates only received modest bumps. Yes, in 2008 John McCain received a huge post-convention bump, yet that bump was created by the allure of the “Who the hell is that?” Vice President running mate selection of Sarah Palin and after a week the shine dulled. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lBmrkoElVKjlyoCQKG5oCmCVMgUigDiB_JBQm6R5XeWXIdtw8yT-K4Q_hc9KUr2IrcN0VoH-bKRS29-bkcY7oqU5Qhwq01AANXczG2YYKLDMNb66-NAyYf94G16bft7QJlgf58gRYmE/s1600/2012-08-28-Blumenthal-holbrookbumps2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lBmrkoElVKjlyoCQKG5oCmCVMgUigDiB_JBQm6R5XeWXIdtw8yT-K4Q_hc9KUr2IrcN0VoH-bKRS29-bkcY7oqU5Qhwq01AANXczG2YYKLDMNb66-NAyYf94G16bft7QJlgf58gRYmE/s320/2012-08-28-Blumenthal-holbrookbumps2.png" /></a></div><br />
And strike the notion that the host city helps the candidate win the State as in 2012, the DNC pitched their tents in Charlotte and Obama lost by 97000+ votes and while the RNC held their convention in Tampa a few weeks prior, Romney lost 73000+. <br />
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AS I said, these conventions are less about the candidates and more about, well, partying. According to Asawin Suesbsaeng of Mother Jones, Tampa was expecting 50,000 people to attend the RNC Convention with only 35,000 heading to Charlotte, of which 37.5% (close to 31,000)of attendees had press credentials. So how does one keep 54,000 delegates happy? Alcohol, drugs and strippers. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmaYjZKLC6h_R9441EFG6NzSZleUFinEVZat_e_1K3sEw5f0eEhkkbOavn0zcp8pSGrXuH2IZskJbHObMWvw4-7T6SUlQvsnb2PLDGHEiClha3ZOqBW0wS-mDZbnP2vrHT750WAmdy0A/s1600/s-TATTLETALES-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmaYjZKLC6h_R9441EFG6NzSZleUFinEVZat_e_1K3sEw5f0eEhkkbOavn0zcp8pSGrXuH2IZskJbHObMWvw4-7T6SUlQvsnb2PLDGHEiClha3ZOqBW0wS-mDZbnP2vrHT750WAmdy0A/s320/s-TATTLETALES-large.jpg" /></a></div><br />
When a national convention comes to town, strippers countrywide travel to the host city to make large amounts of money dressed in their most patriotic G-strings. <br />
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Per a Huffpost article from Aug 2012, the Association of Club Executives (representing 4,000 strip clubs) when a national convention comes to town, Republicans outspend Democrats three-to-one, plunking down an average $150 per person compared to $50 for Democrats. <br />
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One Tampa strip club scheduled porn star Lisa Ann, best known for her porn portrayal as "Serra Paylin."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimtDl2h4saM_Xp2JLpw6lmE5otuYWZGSHYJ9IeFqsX9OBAW6wOd7XNbnHN5jf25zTuI_aMQH89svK_Grg2NF0NGwjozCQ2aHdLcBn9csFMXtR0DEbqqv-7DszvCrfIj_69KWd1vy3hW0/s1600/paylin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimtDl2h4saM_Xp2JLpw6lmE5otuYWZGSHYJ9IeFqsX9OBAW6wOd7XNbnHN5jf25zTuI_aMQH89svK_Grg2NF0NGwjozCQ2aHdLcBn9csFMXtR0DEbqqv-7DszvCrfIj_69KWd1vy3hW0/s320/paylin.jpg" /></a></div>And yes, Charlotte's strip scene cleaned up and added venues, however Charlotte's used to big crowds especially when NASCAR thunders into town. <br />
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It's rather ironic that in 2008, DNC convention host Denver passed an ordinance that discouraged local authorities from “arresting, detaining or issuing a citation” to any adult caught with up to one ounce of marijuana during the four-day convention. <br />
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And skip forward to Charlotte 2012, when the Republican led North Carolina state legislature amended their blue laws to allow alcohol sales on Sunday for the DNC convention. See, compromise can happen. <br />
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Within the next month or so, both parties will draft their 2016 convention home, interesting enough, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio are on both boards. Why not, since Ohio has been the biggest headache for both parties over the past 3 Presidential elections. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZb0M7ovalWhuapumUS464bu3_V3GliPMa_pmBUa8fzVk1chExHg0CAWNoZIwxQxXeg2Q_BEF0b6zdw8JVkMaiovXrVebxTFvc6GMabDOnZtFpYOSI-A73-XglIdgKc-SW2VAynNWK58/s1600/imagesYZ1CWRV5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZb0M7ovalWhuapumUS464bu3_V3GliPMa_pmBUa8fzVk1chExHg0CAWNoZIwxQxXeg2Q_BEF0b6zdw8JVkMaiovXrVebxTFvc6GMabDOnZtFpYOSI-A73-XglIdgKc-SW2VAynNWK58/s200/imagesYZ1CWRV5.jpg" /></a></div>Being the "yinzer" that I am, I'm hoping that the DNC takes Pittsburgh off the list, as we do not want a bunch of politicians and delegates hanging around during our most coveted annual convention, the Furries, err I mean "Anthrocon." <br />
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Then again, how much would a strippin' "Furry" make during a national convention?<br />
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That's it, Slap the Tap on a cold Apocalypse Cow, pay your political tab and leave the buffet open for Chris Christie's acceptance speech. <br />
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Cheers! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFJEbWSnZtjUikpXLwgj6TaYyzFRqqVIDaZfbj2YXhjfFtyug9DN3qQiXBvVjiElTGT00S6uG6d7EJ6F7JW2KwFJKmKqKmdrWh22NeablClcrvZrx3BM3Ot7xw0Id0QG4TLM-ohs0x1M/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFJEbWSnZtjUikpXLwgj6TaYyzFRqqVIDaZfbj2YXhjfFtyug9DN3qQiXBvVjiElTGT00S6uG6d7EJ6F7JW2KwFJKmKqKmdrWh22NeablClcrvZrx3BM3Ot7xw0Id0QG4TLM-ohs0x1M/s320/untitled.png" /></a></div><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-81746083399123586132014-02-26T20:02:00.001-05:002014-02-26T20:02:08.265-05:00Debate over discrimination or Arizona's right to use "Gaydar"? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCH7eV6VA6r9MBiiE0qfdbH14kgJLkdnxii45h87r6Eo8g9GQNGnCK4JTkp6j5gCjQswrYlUfuBW5-oZL6ODVwGZLvtdFNX8EDS1xRL-05lHfFdCB5mZtdQv8SSKFSNbdryB7jEJx7Io/s1600/Arizona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCH7eV6VA6r9MBiiE0qfdbH14kgJLkdnxii45h87r6Eo8g9GQNGnCK4JTkp6j5gCjQswrYlUfuBW5-oZL6ODVwGZLvtdFNX8EDS1xRL-05lHfFdCB5mZtdQv8SSKFSNbdryB7jEJx7Io/s320/Arizona.jpg" /></a></div>Over the past month, it makes me wonder what goes thru people’s minds that want to regress our society 50 years. One day it’s a redefined “poll tax” and now it’s a form of discrimination that’s not pointed to one group but to all.<br />
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Yes, I’m talking about the Arizona State Bill #1062 that Media is misrepresenting as an “Anti-Gay” bill even though it’s called a “Freedom of Religion” bill. <br />
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But why am I saying it’s being misrepresented? Because, as pointed about by the folks at Arizona Central (azcentral.com), the law states: <br />
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“It broadens the definition of the person who can invoke a shield against being sued for denying service or any other action if that denial is based on religious beliefs.”<br />
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Which means a person or business can deny service for any reason to anyone upon ones religious belief. So if someone is LGBT or Muslim or Atheist, yes Bob’s Bistro can tell you to get lost without legal recourse.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7iYM4pigSFexHb4oWcSf2b_7G_iAnATlxWLHjnvzlwQ86eQD35fUX3edc3910SyxFtBByqVkB5erhms_UuwbDPi8Q0xW2ESKU73kIPuu8CEXjulNKoIacqGQEySDSGYtVnJc_ylq548/s1600/arizona_pizza_protest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7iYM4pigSFexHb4oWcSf2b_7G_iAnATlxWLHjnvzlwQ86eQD35fUX3edc3910SyxFtBByqVkB5erhms_UuwbDPi8Q0xW2ESKU73kIPuu8CEXjulNKoIacqGQEySDSGYtVnJc_ylq548/s320/arizona_pizza_protest.jpg" /></a></div><br />
So imagine walking into fictional Bob’s Bistro waiting area, to have this happen:<br />
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<i>Waitress: Welcome to Bob’s Bistro, how many will be in your party<br />
Diner: 4<br />
Waitress: Booth or Table?<br />
Diner: Booth<br />
Waitress: Jesus or Allah?<br />
Diner: What?<br />
Waitress: Sir please read the placard; we have the religious belief backed by current law to deny service to anyone that does not worship Jesus Christ.<br />
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Sounds harsh and it could happen but then again, how does a business know unless they ask?<br />
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At worst, this law could hurt different types of Arizona business and it’s already begun before the law has been signed by Gov Jan Brewer<br />
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From Apple to the NFL, many companies are informing Gov Brewer that by signing the law may hurt future business within the State.<br />
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Sure, Rush Limbaugh has stated Gov Brewer is being bullied by LGBT groups, but that’s half truth as even those that passed the law, even Sen. Bob Worsely (R-Mesa) one of the co-authors of the law, are now pleading for her to veto it.<br />
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Talk about a John Kerry Syndrome moment during an election year!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZwttS_5J6-V95ETQ6LWLctCHuIC1bh9bhk2jUJQfccv9fPXk-_Rxsl4kMHq10F7diyGwHQHbfaoeSyzbslRCDR1gR9zvVNLPDsKzRnOuvZsXOfRNCHJZ3pMGflKIDYSwmso490LomaM/s1600/images+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZwttS_5J6-V95ETQ6LWLctCHuIC1bh9bhk2jUJQfccv9fPXk-_Rxsl4kMHq10F7diyGwHQHbfaoeSyzbslRCDR1gR9zvVNLPDsKzRnOuvZsXOfRNCHJZ3pMGflKIDYSwmso490LomaM/s320/images+(2).jpg" /></a></div><br />
Coincidentally there are other States joining the charge, or shall I say the coincidence being Republican led States joining. <br />
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For example, Georgia has open legislation that would allow the “right to act or refuse to act in a manner substantially motivated by a sincerely held religious tenet or belief whether or not the exercise is compulsory or a central part or requirement of the person’s religious tenets or beliefs.”<br />
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I must've missed the sale of Gaydar detection equipment on QVC, because there sure does seem to be a lot of cause to find these people and ostracize them from society. <br />
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Society has the issue and that issue stumbles into business ignorance.<br />
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For instance take lawsuit in New Mexico against Elaine Huguenin, a New Mexican photographer that refused to photo the ceremony of a gay wedding in 2006 due to “religious belief.”<br />
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The couple sued over discrimination as it is illegal in New Mexico to refuse services as state law entitled New Mexico Human Rights Act states “it is illegal for a business to refuse its services to an individual because of that person’s sexual orientation. The same law also prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry and gender.”<br />
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From being denied service to being denied employment in the NFL, the ostracism of LGBT is blanketing our society better then the Polar Vortex.<br />
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So Washington lobbyist, Jack Burkman states he is pushing Congress to pass a law that would ban any gay athlete from playing in the NFL and he states he has some legislators backing his notion, even though he won’t mention names. <br />
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Yes, the very same lobbyists that help right the majority of legislation and knock on congressional doors with cash & prize in hand. It’s no wonder why Washington is the dumbest place to work with lobbyist like this pushing goodies. <br />
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“If the NFL has no morals and no values, then Congress must find values for it,” Burkman said.<br />
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What?! Wait, many complain about government intrusion into private business, yet there are people wanting government intrusion for this? <br />
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Per Burkman, "Imagine your son being forced to shower with a gay man. That’s a horrifying prospect for every mom in the country. What in the world has this nation come to? We are losing our decency as a nation.” <br />
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Hey Burkman, imagine a priest groping your son in the backroom of the rectory. Where’s your morality law on that? <br />
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Ok so say the law passes and players stay quiet their entire career and upon retirement comes out and says “I’m gay.” Can other players sue the gay player? Can the NFL deny them their pension? <br />
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Seriously the questions can be endless.<br />
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By the way this law has no chance; I mean what’s congress going to do threaten the NFL tax exempt status?<br />
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As we spin society backwards with modern ignorance we might as well demand GM re-produce the Chevy Corsair and Ford the Pinto so we can spin out of control and explode in a fireball of brilliance<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmmG29plvIU-Ptozw-bxp6L6dG0JmNQWDneZyAAkXJPEjSsic94ELkrAM2LNoM6pqoW7NRVhb9Mz_Q8NDz5v5AJXTPHFcvm9neeVcGECeCf0oQF_PDQDCOQdGP0Qq3zVN5ffdOV5q2b8/s1600/sheep+shagger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmmG29plvIU-Ptozw-bxp6L6dG0JmNQWDneZyAAkXJPEjSsic94ELkrAM2LNoM6pqoW7NRVhb9Mz_Q8NDz5v5AJXTPHFcvm9neeVcGECeCf0oQF_PDQDCOQdGP0Qq3zVN5ffdOV5q2b8/s320/sheep+shagger.jpg" /></a></div>That’s it, Slap the Tap and pour a cool Sheep Shagger Scottish Ale and pay your political tab because it’s an election year and we have to pay for stupid to debate stupid so stupid can pass stupidity.<br />
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CHEERS! <br />
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http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/the-next-state-discriminate<br />
http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/20140224an-overview-controversy-around-sb.html?nclick_check=1<br />
http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/199057-lobbyist-drafting-bill-to-ban-gays-from-nfl#.UwysYyLg74E.twitter<br />
http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshsteimle/2013/08/28/entrepreneurship-threatened-by-ruling-in-new-mexico-gay-marriage-case/<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-41217596269097349732014-02-19T09:24:00.000-05:002014-02-19T09:24:36.591-05:00Voter Eligibilty of the 21st Century: Take Your Redefined Poll Tax & Shove It<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>Here we are, a few months away from the Mid-term elections and the great “Voter” debate is picking up steam. However, this time around the debate has gone away from the “Voter ID” to the larger view of “Eligible Voter.”<br />
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By now everyone should know what it takes to be an eligible voter, right?<br />
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Hm, yeah that’s what I thought. OK, let’s refresh our modern poli-talking Media minds and remember to be an eligible one must be: 1. U.S. Citizen, 2. 18 years old or older, 3.Meet State Requirements, 4.Be a registered voter (except North Dakota) <br />
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Let’s not forget that there is something called the National Mail Voter Registration Form. This little nugget is the only document that will allow a person to vote anywhere in the US. <br />
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Seems rather a simple process, 4 little rules yet somehow/somewhere people like to stick their politics into a simple system and create havoc for many. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcERMkI1ukWMHr7BIMHvRusOuZJhpUcqLciAmzGsdXlfd_QWpirTR-nfA0CPs51JKTI7WGE0j9PQYhsPUoPog6uk3W10B-pLw6y0GsgfAqt8txWYZyvi-6XvQG5uo7meB-jl4j1UV-tjs/s1600/POLL+TAX+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcERMkI1ukWMHr7BIMHvRusOuZJhpUcqLciAmzGsdXlfd_QWpirTR-nfA0CPs51JKTI7WGE0j9PQYhsPUoPog6uk3W10B-pLw6y0GsgfAqt8txWYZyvi-6XvQG5uo7meB-jl4j1UV-tjs/s400/POLL+TAX+3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Now, a few days ago, wealthy venture capitalist Mr. Tom Perkins was asked "what one idea would change the world?" Well Mr. Perkins simply stated "The Tom Perkins system is: You don't get to vote unless you pay a dollar of taxes."<br />
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Now stop right there and think about it, what one idea would change the world and this man answers with an "only those that pay can play" scenario. <br />
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Then again this is also the same ass-clown that wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal a few weeks past stating that the attack on the wealthy is comparable to the Nazi pre-Holocaust attacks on the Jews. <br />
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OK, so per the “Perkins Scenario” only those that pay taxes should be allowed to vote and to add salt to the wound, he believes the amount of tax you pay equals the amount of votes one can cast. <br />
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So $1,000 tax paid = 1,000 votes cast. <br />
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Well there are many people jumping on this scenario bandwagon, because many think only the wretched losers of our society skip out on paying taxes. <br />
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So who doesn't pay taxes in the U.S.? <br />
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Well according to CNN Money 43% of U.S. households (that's 70 million homes) ended up owing no federal income tax in 2013. And of those 70 million homes, a whopping 67% have incomes below $30k, which equals zero tax liability. <br />
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How can someone have "zero tax liability?" Well many take advantage of the many exclusions, exemptions, deductions and tax credits that cancel out any owed tax that would be paid and others simply have too little of an income to owe a tax. <br />
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Did you get that? These losers are using the tax code to their advantage. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghh41cYBX9Bq3ododRBmBS5WkFeNPeo7bYgfUsHc3SbTZy9ZoqZjVNhCcxiHlpl-dSjFWpkirhl7A7mnRwKwZXG0BFIRCNSb_yJpCzArbGBmoUDIIk771Hk5G6lXIID0gzgUOK33HiNbU/s1600/1964-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghh41cYBX9Bq3ododRBmBS5WkFeNPeo7bYgfUsHc3SbTZy9ZoqZjVNhCcxiHlpl-dSjFWpkirhl7A7mnRwKwZXG0BFIRCNSb_yJpCzArbGBmoUDIIk771Hk5G6lXIID0gzgUOK33HiNbU/s400/1964-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
So these people, per the “Perkins Scenario” would lose their right to vote. Do you really think our Political parties would let 70 million households go without, regardless of their affiliation? <br />
<br />
But the Non-Paying "loser" taxpayer is not just that earning $30K or less in income. Nope there are roughly 18,000 US households earning $500k to over $1 million that are deducting, exempting, excluding and crediting their way to zero federal tax as well. <br />
<br />
Now hold on, by all research, there are people making $500k and above also using the tax code to their advantage and have “zero tax liability?” <br />
<br />
Wow the losers keep adding up and losing out on the “Perkins Scenario.” <br />
<br />
In other words, the “Perkins Scenario” is just another attempt to tighten the rules on voting, much like how many believe Voter I.D. laws will do.<br />
<br />
Personally, my only squabble with Voter I.D. laws is that lately States attempt to pass them during an Election year. But I do not have an issue with the law itself as I show my I.D., along with my Voter Registration card every time I vote and each time I've received a "thank you" by the precinct official even though they know who I am.<br />
<br />
No, the “Perkins Scenario” truly is a new version of a "poll tax" even if not identified as one by the many poli-talking media experts. <br />
<br />
OK, I understand many do not know what a "poll tax" is, so let's review: A poll tax is an inherent pre-condition of the exercise of the capacity to vote.<br />
<br />
A little American history lesson will tell us the under the 15th Amendment (1870) gave the ability to vote to all races, yet Southern States placed many “poll tax” laws to restrict eligible voters from their right to vote.<br />
<br />
Some of these restrictions allowed only adult males, mostly white, whose father or grandfather had voted in a previous election prior to the 13th Amendment (1865 - Abolition of slavery), without having to pay a tax.<br />
<br />
These poll taxes effectively prohibited Poor Whites, Native Americans and African Americans.<br />
<br />
Poll taxes stood in place around the Nation close to 100 years until 1964 when the 24th Amendment was ratified and stated:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MpQujwCSwkKdIU6d802wtNdDr0f_wfpsbjNxLnBFW5zAuUdvz4PU5y4XaMj0Pc5G5i0BEsEYMWFej9tyyGzFsokOwJt0Ty3DoiuFsv1bll-ltSWBmO_g6AYCWztB_rcyoKMRoSumCgw/s1600/046013c69b87dfc225253650b9c69f6b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MpQujwCSwkKdIU6d802wtNdDr0f_wfpsbjNxLnBFW5zAuUdvz4PU5y4XaMj0Pc5G5i0BEsEYMWFej9tyyGzFsokOwJt0Ty3DoiuFsv1bll-ltSWBmO_g6AYCWztB_rcyoKMRoSumCgw/s400/046013c69b87dfc225253650b9c69f6b.jpg" /></a></div><br />
So here we are, some 50 years later, debating who is eligible and non-eligible all over again.<br />
<br />
Now there are some State restrictions that determine who cannot vote such as most States restrict voting rights to those that have been convicted of felony crimes like murder for life. But that restriction varies from State to State where as in Washington felons cannot vote while still in prison but in Ohio a convicted felon can register to vote once released. <br />
<br />
And while no one under 18 years old cannot vote in a Federal election, some States allow the under 18 year old demographic to vote in State and Local elections.<br />
And currently there is a movement to restrict the mentally ill/mentally handicap from casting a vote in any election. <br />
<br />
Ain’t living in a Democracy awesome! <br />
<br />
The “Perkins Scenario” is flawed in many ways and I do not see politicians letting 43% of American households, with a wide range in the economic ladder from poor to wealthy, young to elderly, student to business owner lose their right to vote over a tax code that many take advantage of.<br />
<br />
In all honestly, I believe we are about 15 years away from a thumb scan voter registration to determine one’s eligibility. But then again I’m positive someone will speak about the ills of such a system as an invasion of privacy act.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlld6UoNPH7ARzOkwx6t0WPJZHtDvx0dd59iWDH67rGgYiNGAtemNekNSDuXMj5gsOPFLDYVeEk-XGGm1nu-Uur-svcvdKqsXlg5XiIG0nx6BCJTuE-J-N_uSbgxOHiUG0s2x2A6Et9Mc/s1600/old+chub+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlld6UoNPH7ARzOkwx6t0WPJZHtDvx0dd59iWDH67rGgYiNGAtemNekNSDuXMj5gsOPFLDYVeEk-XGGm1nu-Uur-svcvdKqsXlg5XiIG0nx6BCJTuE-J-N_uSbgxOHiUG0s2x2A6Et9Mc/s320/old+chub+2.jpg" /></a></div>That’s it, Slap the Tap on a tall cold Old Chub Scottish Ale and pay your political tab.<br />
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Cheers! <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-57102465545598540182014-02-04T09:06:00.000-05:002014-02-04T09:06:54.723-05:00The Great Melting Pot: America, America Xenophobia Reign Supreme<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>In the late 1800’s, Ralph Waldo Emerson coined the phrase the “melting pot” to describe how the mixing of different nationalities of Europe with the current American populace was transforming America with multiple types of religions, race and individualism. <br />
<br />
I’ve always loved history and to me one of the greatest topics was learning about was how all those new immigrants, desperately wanting to come to the land of opportunity, seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time and reading:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnrUpknAO3UmSWu-sDiSHctjyOqwtcUrbZlvVllhJzK9cCBRzjzAT7OJv3MoO21DY_cQzxZp-qMRU96oXP9Zi2rRDkUm7mjKIAauwSBT2Jgxj_2ovaQiJ0AjjBTMc7uP36M-kTPYpLkA/s1600/lazarus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnrUpknAO3UmSWu-sDiSHctjyOqwtcUrbZlvVllhJzK9cCBRzjzAT7OJv3MoO21DY_cQzxZp-qMRU96oXP9Zi2rRDkUm7mjKIAauwSBT2Jgxj_2ovaQiJ0AjjBTMc7uP36M-kTPYpLkA/s320/lazarus.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And for today’s mindset, that famous phrase should be updated by adding “leave your religious belief and native tongue, to be American you need to speak it or be gone.”<br />
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Hm, imagine where many of us would be had our great grandparents had not made that dream trip of freedom of religion and ignorance.<br />
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I love the fact that my 7 year old is so enthralled with his family’s heritage. Oh the travel plans of Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Germany are pinned on a map of his youthful bucket list. <br />
<br />
Xenophobia is not new to the American mind as even at the beginning of the 1900 and the Industrial Revolution, the fear of losing one’s job to a foreigner caused mass hysteria and myth of one’s race. The mania has only intensified to critical stages on 9/11/01 and has yet begun to lower. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCVaUbuyRwqaYdd377ZCqC4q_2aCEjm3C5ni7xFaWCVYYyak1iZKB0s9BqZp5d9l0TjesBwjEY6P18tGXJbpZXxVDnoNQceiUkKPeiIkjzW9T2VZQzqCu1a69YN03YPkYW4oVAgCaeGA/s1600/eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCVaUbuyRwqaYdd377ZCqC4q_2aCEjm3C5ni7xFaWCVYYyak1iZKB0s9BqZp5d9l0TjesBwjEY6P18tGXJbpZXxVDnoNQceiUkKPeiIkjzW9T2VZQzqCu1a69YN03YPkYW4oVAgCaeGA/s320/eagle.jpg" /></a></div><br />
So it does not surprise me that as the Super Bowl played out on Feb 2, people massed together to cheer for either the Broncos or Seahawks and enjoy what has become a bigger spectacle of commercial watching, that some commercials would draw ire of a few. <br />
<br />
So, as bored as I was during the game, I took to Twitter and Facebook to read posts of silliness until Coca-Cola aired that horrible commercial of people singing “America the Beautiful” in their native dialect. <br />
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How deplorable was it to have people, who want to be part of the “melting pot” society, dare think of singing that song and not in English by far!<br />
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Sometimes I wonder how far we’ve come to know how far we’ve fallen. In other words, people need to revisit American history and get some schoolin’.<br />
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Many found the commercial uneasy to accept but added “Maybe if they sang it in their new American language it might be acceptable.”<br />
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Have we forgotten American Idol contestant William Hung singing “She Bang?”<br />
<br />
To borrow portions of former Rep Allan West’s online response to the commercial: <br />
<b><i>“Every immigrant who comes here should be required within five years to learn English or leave the country.”</i></b><br />
<br />
Many families have that one or more members that speak in their native immigrant tongue. I know I still have a few members that speak fluent Italian daily with broken English second. More people complain about those of Latino nationality not learning/speaking English but turn blind eye to the Italian or Asian or German that speak native tongue<br />
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<i><b>“In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn’t doing his part as an American”</b></i><br />
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While we’re at it, let’s get rid of accents as well. If there’s anything that annoys me more are accents. New Yorkers, Yinzers, Northwestern accents, get rid of them all. All those living in heritage communities; Latino, Chinatown, Germantown and so forth, drop your accents and your ancestral beliefs. Everyone shall now speak identically in monotone voice fashioned after Ben Stein and for that matter dress akin as in some Utopian-style life like Logan’s Run while changing their last name to either Smith or Jones. <br />
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Will that make everyone happy? <br />
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Within the realm of recent American history and remembering that many immigrants, without a syllable of English when they arrived have become titans of industry, created jobs and not once thinking differently of whom they employ.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Eqb3AlvsX9Mt0sUjXpXS_74jxWyRyo9Yy0yOhapgsP7jcz49Blr30AqZagQXkhXxdFN8fngyGnYeuvihuJ7ILtQukZGQH4rhIj5bbzA5kE61qXDNG_e6Xqhgxxie1EkfxgAAikx2ZWw/s1600/bloddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Eqb3AlvsX9Mt0sUjXpXS_74jxWyRyo9Yy0yOhapgsP7jcz49Blr30AqZagQXkhXxdFN8fngyGnYeuvihuJ7ILtQukZGQH4rhIj5bbzA5kE61qXDNG_e6Xqhgxxie1EkfxgAAikx2ZWw/s320/bloddy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Sergey Brin (Russian) – Founder of Google; Alexander Graham Bell (Scottish) – AT&T; Maxwell Kohl (German) – Kohl’s Department Store; Pierre Omidyar (French) – Ebay<br />
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Let’s not forget how would one pop a Viagra pill for a booty call without Germany’s Charles Pfizer? <br />
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How long did it take you to learn a foreign language? 3 high school semesters and I bet you weren’t even fluent in that language<br />
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It seems rather selfish when we must consider that we, as a nation are not a purebred nation, we are the definition of mutts. <br />
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Then again, life in the US would be healthier without allowing Justin Bieber a US work visa.<br />
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That’s it, instead of slapping the tap, this one time only, I’m pouring a tall glass of Cap’n & Coke. So pay your political tab in yen or rubles, but leave the loon at home.<br />
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Cheers<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-25209760783263244872014-01-28T09:57:00.000-05:002014-01-28T09:57:30.055-05:002016 GOP Presidential Bracketology: Winner! Winner! Chick-Fil-A Dinner <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>On November 6, 2012 we held a Presidential election and the next day a new direction was set forth. No I'm not talking about a Pres O second term, I'm talking about how our Media switched to the 2016 Presidential election in a blink.<br />
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For the past 6 Presidential election cycles, as soon as the last vote was counted and conspired against, the Media has trampled each other to be the first to guess who has the "It Factor" four years down the road, mainly because many voters do not care about the Mid-term election no matter how hard the Media attempts to push it. <br />
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So here we are, some 14 months after the 2012 election that saw the "beatable" Pres O win by a 4% popular vote margin and all we've heard about since has been the next Democratic challenger is Hillary Clinton.<br />
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So engulfed in that notion the Media is that the RNC has only focused on her and nothing or anyone else. Which, in some minds is a smart path to follow, because who could possibly challenge and beat Hillary Clinton in a Democratic primary?<br />
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Yet on the other side of the political pillow, it seems no one can decide who shall be the chosen one GOPer but all names mentioned have some sort of "It Factor" to appeal to different demographics. It doesn't take Albert Einstein to comprehend the fact that 2016 is the GOP's to lose, well as long as they don't let the Circus return that was 2012.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xf_Zk3Kn3KFVL8WRMl8zvTC41l_vytZRw0ofkN2fw5rfTUhpbVAij4umMZtwEdPVBC7sAGCUbycuJMZBpfyPvWvzCbcmUsEJkMm2ylgPxgc5FMSon7XZ1hMPLfu3XyLJtlgDX3a-VrM/s1600/PresidentialStrawPollFullGrid080613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xf_Zk3Kn3KFVL8WRMl8zvTC41l_vytZRw0ofkN2fw5rfTUhpbVAij4umMZtwEdPVBC7sAGCUbycuJMZBpfyPvWvzCbcmUsEJkMm2ylgPxgc5FMSon7XZ1hMPLfu3XyLJtlgDX3a-VrM/s320/PresidentialStrawPollFullGrid080613.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Face it, the GOP should've won 2012 but the cast of characters (has been & never were) that were presented had zero viability and, unfortunately for him, Willard Romney was chosen only because he was the last man standing.<br />
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So somewhere in the dark basement of every major media hub, there are people putting draft boards together in NFL-esque style. And if they say they aren’t, they’re lying!<br />
Heck, just Google "2016 GOP Candidates" and you'll get 2,860,000 in 0.26 seconds.<br />
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Here, let me give you at least one website to peruse: http://2016.republican-candidates.org<br />
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Media darlings like Chris Christie, Randall Paul, Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan, and Marco Rubio are all names that have been in the news and their appeal differs week to week. Well actually I should say interview to interview. <br />
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Yes I too have been placing post-it notes in places I didn't even know existed concerning 2016 and then it happened, like a flash of lightening, Glenn Beck and The Fix tossed the dry erase board aside in a caffeine driven rage and turned to March Madness bracketology to determine the GOP's only hope. <br />
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OK, maybe it wasn't that dramatic (Beck is Mormon and not allowed to drink caffeine), but it gave character to a mind-numbing process. Yet, this is Beck's list so it must be worth noting, right?<br />
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Who made Beck's “32 Hopefuls” bracket? Well, it's close to 95% of every list of possible candidates written so far, but let’s look:<br />
<i><br />
Sen. Kelly Ayotte, of New Hampshire - Haley Barbour, former Mississippi governor - John Bolton, former ambassador to the United Nations - Jeb Bush, former Florida governor - Herman Cain, radio host and former CEO - Ben Carson, author and neurosurgeon - Chris Christie, New Jersey governor - Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas - Mitch Daniels, former Indiana governor - Newt Gingrich, former House speaker - Nikki Haley, South Carolina governor - Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor - Bobby Jindal, Louisiana governor - John Kasich, Ohio governor - Rep. Peter King, of New York - Susana Martinez, New Mexico governor - Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor - Sen. Randal Paul, of Kentucky - Former Rep. Ron Paul, of Texas - Tim Pawlenty, former Minnesota governor - Mike Pence, Indiana governor - Rick Perry, Texas governor - Sen. Rob Portman, of Ohio - Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state - Sen. Marco Rubio, of Florida - Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin - Brian Sandoval, Nevada governor - Rick Santorum, former Pennsylvania senator - Sen. Tim Scott, of South Carolina - Sen. John Thune, of South Dakota - Scott Walker, Wisconsin governor - Former Rep. Allen West, of Florida</i><br />
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On Palin, On Santorum, On Cain and Pawlenty they called out in cozy studio lair. Bring in Christie, Cruz, Ryan and Paul no less with Newt, Herman and Ricky the fearless to spare. <br />
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In the end, Beck finished his bracket with: Randal Paul, Ted Cruz, Allen West and Scott Walker. <br />
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Too me, of the four on Beck's list only Scott Walker is viable as he's actually doing something! <br />
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Don't give me it's Harry Reid and the Democratic Senate holding back Cruz and Paul, that's bunk. Just look at their congressional record in their time in office. There's nothing there, an open cavernous dark pit of wasted time.<br />
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Since 2010, Rand Paul has introduced 40 Sponsored bills and Zero has passed as well as 75 Co-Sponsored bills to which only 2 have passed (http://www.opencongress.org/people/bills/412492_Rand_Paul).<br />
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I'll give Ted Cruz some leeway as he's only been in office for a year now (http://www.opencongress.org/people/voting_history/412573_Ted_Cruz).<br />
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Oh sure, words, words they are full of as we've seen week in and out as they are drawn to a camera and microphone as a junkie to needle and spoon.<br />
And I still do not understand the appeal of Allen West.<br />
<br />
However, The Fix went a step further (or maybe that’s a step backward) and broke it down to just 16 GOP Hopefuls vs. 16 DEM Hopefuls<br />
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Once again, the GOP names don’t stray from the norm, but at least they made a true game of it. If you want to play along, here’s the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/03/20/the-fixs-sweet-2016-bracket-competition/<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zBludxQ6yi7xChKZiiZYV46BTzmH5Kq_elO-CoQlmF5jjj0FhXUkUpcAPpHEzGc2c7lpFABtcxgqqylX-JAZVyF28ei63TtYeDFv1OWRcuyyzMk-XHY9ZU6jRVV8-zT9NQBYQ0TXwFo/s1600/Bracket.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zBludxQ6yi7xChKZiiZYV46BTzmH5Kq_elO-CoQlmF5jjj0FhXUkUpcAPpHEzGc2c7lpFABtcxgqqylX-JAZVyF28ei63TtYeDFv1OWRcuyyzMk-XHY9ZU6jRVV8-zT9NQBYQ0TXwFo/s320/Bracket.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
But the question at hand; Is the Media doing a disservice to the political process and educating the voting populace by glazing over 2014 Mid-Term elections for the bittersweet ratings grab of 2016? <br />
<br />
Just like 2012, the 2016 Presidential election is the GOPs to lose and the current crop of “hopefuls” have given a brighter edge, but who does one follow; An accomplished Governor or a has-been politician looking for book sales or a celebrity looking for a new Media contract? <br />
<br />
As for Hillary, if she runs and loses again, who will her flock blame for yet another loss? <br />
<br />
Hey why you looking at me? Don't go "fat shaming" me because I am not a fan of Hillary.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5egrObH4sDliS7CgsBLiQlyp5pQ9b4xo1V_NCl2tGO94cL0RJKwPNSxQrWz3iHNshsnSIQHx4I9bPNXPpeubrrQAP1pApDdipwXV2zSnUPix9p-turbQTzu6ZEM_lt6HscmqWsIn9fk/s1600/bigboss_angry_angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5egrObH4sDliS7CgsBLiQlyp5pQ9b4xo1V_NCl2tGO94cL0RJKwPNSxQrWz3iHNshsnSIQHx4I9bPNXPpeubrrQAP1pApDdipwXV2zSnUPix9p-turbQTzu6ZEM_lt6HscmqWsIn9fk/s320/bigboss_angry_angel.jpg" /></a></div>That’s it, Slap the Tap, and pour an ice cold Big Boss Angry Angel Ale and enjoy the Winter Vortex. Damn you Al Gore!<br />
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Cheers!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-33048633293554879082014-01-09T09:36:00.003-05:002014-01-09T09:36:43.580-05:00Orgasms of the Celebrity Pop Cultures Freedom of Speech (I'd rather listen to my pet rock) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>We value our freedoms in the United States and one can say we even abuse them for the better good of one’s personal gain. Take the Freedom of Speech, it’s probably the most over abused Constitutional Right used by the majority of people, whether it being belligerent at a sporting event to heat of argument to sarcasm to historical sentiment. How those words are interpreted by others is the consequence, especially when talking about Social issues and politics.<br />
<br />
Thank you to Social Media and the Political partisan talking machine for being the "X" factor by pushing the use of (certain) offensive language to convey any political message on Social issues to the edge of obscene ignorance bliss.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUwjmY9GmKukAARf7nqW-1su6xZ-VwfFEznwyZFWNlSbShIXRpWWFlb8GTaB9K6sTVpcEk7PGsmoTcwgVA2G7F8wdE8OZcBvMHLSlQ6rOBWJ7kxCarkVSbXDhDce32rsjzzVGSo49jfc/s1600/1488271_587846841303023_63989389_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUwjmY9GmKukAARf7nqW-1su6xZ-VwfFEznwyZFWNlSbShIXRpWWFlb8GTaB9K6sTVpcEk7PGsmoTcwgVA2G7F8wdE8OZcBvMHLSlQ6rOBWJ7kxCarkVSbXDhDce32rsjzzVGSo49jfc/s320/1488271_587846841303023_63989389_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
One could write chapter after chapter of the month by month fast decline of MSNBC as their so-called "journalists" have made inflammatory comments as of late from Bashir's defecation to Harris-Perry racial adoption jokes.<br />
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Even though he worked at MSNBC for about a millisecond, we have to face the fact that Alec Baldwin isn't a journalist, but a celebrity that makes news by being a dipshit d-bag. Honestly, I think people have become desensitized by anything Baldwin says and just enjoy watching him making an ass of himself.<br />
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Yet, we love our celebrities, well any celebrity if you include the pseudo celebrity, you know the D listers and reality stars because they'll say anything just to get some attention after the cameras left them 8 minutes into their 15 minutes of fame.<br />
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Nowadays, it’s seems a standard has been set that any celebrity during any interview is asked their political view of this or that.<br />
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Yes, I agree Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson has every Constitutional right to say how he feels about his religious beliefs; after all he is a self proclaimed bible thumper per the GQ article. And yes, A&E runs a business and they had/have every contractual right to suspend/fire anyone under their employment.<br />
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If I, in my personal time, did anything that could harm my employer, be it financial or what have you, they has every right to suspend/fire me as well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2Qlf3RVDTbR9CuG1FUmM-H50DGKSGQFWIYmdC49Q1y6LFniD3jptfcXvmxbmBNkdXsVQjl-kE1mYpzNUKiV7-oVBRlJPxBW4BoOhaCgLGfKWGMMS5cgQomHJwl-BEE8_hi-Bi9GvrA0/s1600/imagesEEPNH7UZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2Qlf3RVDTbR9CuG1FUmM-H50DGKSGQFWIYmdC49Q1y6LFniD3jptfcXvmxbmBNkdXsVQjl-kE1mYpzNUKiV7-oVBRlJPxBW4BoOhaCgLGfKWGMMS5cgQomHJwl-BEE8_hi-Bi9GvrA0/s320/imagesEEPNH7UZ.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Media and the people only focused on Robertson's words on gays, no one cared about Robertson's other words on Jim Crowe Laws or how in 1972 he beat a bar owner half to death along with the bar owner's wife then ran to neighboring state of Arkansas to hide only to have his wife pay off the couple so their wouldn't press charges.<br />
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That payoff was half of Phil's life savings and he never once attempted to apologize to them for his actions.<br />
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Yep, he's a good man<br />
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No, this is not a Duck Dynasty bashing blog, as I feel each entity had their right to do as they pleased.<br />
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I, however find our society so split on Social Issues that there's an cross epidemic of John Kerry Syndrome sweeping our nation, meaning people love their Freedom of Speech until they dislike the words and especially when it comes to celebrity/pseudo celebrity genre.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsX6WnQYMAxTLGk_JyJKukmJByyn7AFZw7v-dxtm1hHLHYc-s_b4Bq0P_VQN2g6aRTRmQthf6p1zPmA_EUDp5VOCl2gdQ5a4Gct5OMp7DZOMD_TF6Mt_LX69X-1SN6asoxg4t3HlO1nc/s1600/1532132_10151881301571275_1816764201_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsX6WnQYMAxTLGk_JyJKukmJByyn7AFZw7v-dxtm1hHLHYc-s_b4Bq0P_VQN2g6aRTRmQthf6p1zPmA_EUDp5VOCl2gdQ5a4Gct5OMp7DZOMD_TF6Mt_LX69X-1SN6asoxg4t3HlO1nc/s320/1532132_10151881301571275_1816764201_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Does anyone recall the country group the Dixie Chicks? They were extremely popular in the late 90's early 00's until one day they spoke their mind about the Iraq War and felt the wrath of many Americans and labeled unpatriotic.<br />
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Let's recap: So one day on tour in England, lead singer Natalie Maines stated "Just so you know, we're on the good side with y'all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas," before playing their song <i>Traveling Soldier</i>.<br />
<br />
However, FOX News only reported a portion of the statement with "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." (Here's the original column from their website: http://www.foxnews.com/story/2003/03/14/chicks-critical-remarks-about-bush-create-controversy/)<br />
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Were they not allowed to speak their mind?<br />
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Where were all the people "Standing with...” them? <br />
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I'll bet my paycheck had they stated the same about President Obama their fan base would've grown tremendously. And there's massive proof to prove I'm correct.<br />
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Ted Nugent comes to mind quickly. Back in 1994, Nugent was quoted calling Hillary Clinton a "two bit whore" and "toxic cunt" with very little backlash or protest. <br />
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There is no difference between the words of Martin Bashir towards Sarah Palin and that of Ted Nugent towards Hillary Clinton. Too many the answer is no because it's all in presentation, because Hillary has been hated for over 30 years, Palin a mere 6 years.<br />
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Then again I belief Nugent is upset that his biggest commercial success was the 1990 song "Can You Take Me High Enough" as part of the Damn Yankees ensemble.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n2T_uxSzNIbN-162bhuWqfUFTylcVkgPb333BQ90S0In5NwxrNCgb5h-veExVGFZ6BoSj_lzSl72mTIVLkOiNBmAST3S0AXrZdq9-rvd1DEukGbjayq4u3CnrJCcLZ-xj6u_9eU9VTg/s1600/dixie-nugget.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n2T_uxSzNIbN-162bhuWqfUFTylcVkgPb333BQ90S0In5NwxrNCgb5h-veExVGFZ6BoSj_lzSl72mTIVLkOiNBmAST3S0AXrZdq9-rvd1DEukGbjayq4u3CnrJCcLZ-xj6u_9eU9VTg/s320/dixie-nugget.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
How about Victoria Jackson, Jon Lovitz and Rob Schneide? All former Saturday Night Live cast members that have had little to zero success after leaving the show; all recently have spoken out against President Obama and/or being cast aside for being Conservatives in Hollywood only to have people post in Social Media that they are now fans.<br />
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And the people who now say they are fans yet couldn't name anything they have done in the past 20 years. Please, if it weren't for Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider would have nothing, and Lovitz is probably looking for a guest gig with Dennis Miller.<br />
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Now don't get me wrong about Rob Schneider because if you've ever heard him in an interview, the man is a cornucopia of political knowledge that could shame half the "experts" on any of the Cable News channels.<br />
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Yet the problem is that journalists feel the need to add political questions to a celebrity interview as they feel they hold the pulse of the nation with their words.<br />
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For every Matt Damon interview with a political answer people are quick to jump on him as "a liberal making money off what he's against, violence and guns." Ok but what about Vince Vaughn<br />
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Vaughn recently came out saying he's part of the Conservative minority in Liberal Hollywood and instantly two frames of thought came out from the public; 1. He's not a liberal? And 2. I'm now a huge fan.<br />
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When Vince Vaughn spoke his political view of President Obama, many people stated on social media that they are now fans of his. The man has always been a conservative in personal life even though 98% of Vince Vaughn's movie catalog he plays mostly liberal minded, immature, debauchery type characters his entire career.<br />
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There's no difference between Vaughn and Damon, it's all in perception of the viewer.<br />
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Here’s a hint, I don’t give a rats rear about a celebrity’s political affiliation or product endorsement, however I do care about the product they put out and it must be worth my dollar to buy it.<br />
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I know many people that disliked the band 3 Doors Down until they played at the 2012 RNC convention. The next day, those very same people downloaded to their IPods the entire 3 Doors Down music catalog and are now huge fans.<br />
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On the flip, I also know many former Pearl Jam fans that tired of lead singer Eddie Vedder's constant political long winded dribble during concerts that deleted every downloadable Pearl Jam tune they had.<br />
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I'm not a fan of celebrity political endorsements and I still remember attending a John Kerry Presidential campaign stop in Wheeling, WV with my then Liberal mother and upon hearing that Ben Affleck was there shooting campaign footage for a John Kerry documentary as endorsement; well I rolled my eyes and moved to the back of the crowd. <br />
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Yes I admit I went to a John Kerry campaign stop, but I've also been to Tea Party rallies as well, so don't judge me.<br />
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It's all about what one hears that will drive one to their beliefs.<br />
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After the Phil Robertson controversy, like a landslide, people in droves posted "I Stand with Phil" and created Facebook pages dedicated to boycott any business that suspended their endorsement of he and Duck Dynasty.<br />
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I wonder how many people that decided to boycott Cracker Barrel actually stepped foot in one of their restaurants prior to their endorsement suspension? <br />
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Eventually Cracker Barrel caved and used Social Media to win back their patronage, if it existed at all.<br />
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Country Star Toby Keith decided not to allow handguns, even for those with legal concealed weapons permits in gun loving Virginia, into his restaurant. Is it not his decision as a business owner to decide whom he is allowed to serve? <br />
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Apparently some felt differently, decided to protest his restaurant and last I heard, Keith did not back down.<br />
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Where’s Hannity on that decision? Isn’t Hannity one of his biggest fans?<br />
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Contrary to Social belief, Toby Keith is not a Republican, even though many believe he is for the songs he writes. <br />
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Per Toby Keith, “If you're an average Joe, you never heard about me or that the one-eyed soldier that I write about - my dad - were Democrats and that his father was a Democrat. There's never been a Republican in my family tree. You never heard that. People assume you're a right-wing nut Republican….You just scratch your head and think, ‘You can't fight them all, just let them think what they want to think.' "<br />
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To be correct, Toby Keith isn’t a Democrat as he left the Democratic Party and has been a registered Independent for some time now. How you like him now?<br />
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We hold are love of celebrity to a higher standard and love or loathe them when they speak their political view, yet truly don't know if they are Right or Left until they display that donation check. It’s absolutely nauseating enough to make one want to watch Barney with a Nerf Gun to their head. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBevbSPO8rMb78gHY-TFBpWpTyypNwSFFL2_qISFuXCr8eg67NLCgWpv2mMFkrGAXdjvvIA4Ovm9vFRqyKU2u8-uUEH6dxntE_Aw4cL2kYHffRDuw5yNjRQnohBvF8CHk1TjDK5AB9nY/s1600/Jailhouse-Misdemeanor-Ale-12oz-310x210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBevbSPO8rMb78gHY-TFBpWpTyypNwSFFL2_qISFuXCr8eg67NLCgWpv2mMFkrGAXdjvvIA4Ovm9vFRqyKU2u8-uUEH6dxntE_Aw4cL2kYHffRDuw5yNjRQnohBvF8CHk1TjDK5AB9nY/s320/Jailhouse-Misdemeanor-Ale-12oz-310x210.jpg" /></a></div>That’s it, Slap the Tap, I’m heading to the pub for some Jailhouse Misdemeanor Ale. Pay your political tab<br />
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Cheers! <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-6339198886542177162013-12-03T22:11:00.001-05:002013-12-03T22:11:29.911-05:00How the Affordable Care Act helps Immigration Reform equal Corporate Profit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>There are roughly over 18 million different types of business operating in the United States today, ranging from 1 to 10,000 employees and the way the Media has been reporting lately, one could easily think that every one of those business’ has been laying off employees since the Affordable Care Act became law.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVGvYzzoW0mPmkLWsabOTSV4F57WUFU7kuQcAvlizpdpI-D2hmuiGwK8209HgDtIZhFBIWz-1CaLrNqlTNaL2gofgg3uB71eza_zoh6D4vHpBn3LOJ5QA7dqev9_Mcc6xjH90bRuciIo/s1600/615878083_130330_obamacare_pink_slip3s_xlarge.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVGvYzzoW0mPmkLWsabOTSV4F57WUFU7kuQcAvlizpdpI-D2hmuiGwK8209HgDtIZhFBIWz-1CaLrNqlTNaL2gofgg3uB71eza_zoh6D4vHpBn3LOJ5QA7dqev9_Mcc6xjH90bRuciIo/s200/615878083_130330_obamacare_pink_slip3s_xlarge.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
Sometimes the Media gets it right but way too often they pad the numbers for great political theatre to get people talking. Take for instance the report of one of Pres O's favorite medical facilities, the Cleveland Clinic.<br />
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It’s been reported that because of the Affordable Care Act that the Cleveland Clinic, a massive 4,400 bed hospital system that stretches operations from Cleveland, Ohio to Miami Florida, announced it will be laying off some 3,000 employees.<br />
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However this report is over dramatized as the Cleveland Clinic actually stated that they are streamlining many services and departments that will not impact employees and those "3,000 employees" reported to be laid off are employees eligible for voluntary early retirement.<br />
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This sounds very familiar, as the move to push employees eligible for early retirement is no different than that of some States that recently forced early retirement on State Union Employees from 2009 to 2012, wouldn't you agree Ohio Gov Kasich?<br />
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Now I do recall many in so-called Media praising those Governors for their action as taxpayers pay those Union salaries. But isn’t one of the issues of high Health Care costs that of expensive overhead? <br />
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Why praise one form of lay-off or early retirement over another? <br />
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But the misrepresentation of the Cleveland Clinic announcement is only one in a few of poor Media reporting, as even my own employer made one of the “lay-off” Affordable Care Act lists during the summer of 2012.<br />
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I work for a worldwide company (I will not state their name) and it was reported that my company was laying-off employees due to Affordable Care Act. That couldn't be further from the truth as the "lay-off" in question was due to a worldwide re-organization as a portion of the company was sold. There was no need to have excessive employees in Management, Sales, Logistics, and so on. So a corporate stream line was set in place, not because of the Affordable Care Act.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTsCezSSeN2kuhmGlhoWAM58a8cXlOPojzTTQkaSvS1JCEBUVEGRqTJmXsGpsGHsgGKBgG_emz577MMcblYvKOmU_hwmYMRggoOzhl-oCTOrpwaVNO8p8J9uv0VhLWleQ5vL9Wk6jxK4/s1600/bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTsCezSSeN2kuhmGlhoWAM58a8cXlOPojzTTQkaSvS1JCEBUVEGRqTJmXsGpsGHsgGKBgG_emz577MMcblYvKOmU_hwmYMRggoOzhl-oCTOrpwaVNO8p8J9uv0VhLWleQ5vL9Wk6jxK4/s320/bird.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It doesn’t matter how many credits and/or deductions Congress creates to get business to hire, they will not hire unless they need bodies. And business will not give benefits if it is not warranted, so if the Affordable Care Act states a fine will be imposed if business does not offer health insurance, well it’s cheaper for business to take the $2k-$3k “fine” then pay an individual the average American median income of $51k + benefits.<br />
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Yes, I understand it’s the principle of Government imposing law and fines upon business. I agree, it’s wrong, as business shouldn’t be forced to give benefits, be it health insurance to retirement to any employee unless the business exercises that option.<br />
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But what does the Affordable Care Act have to do with Immigration? <br />
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It has been reported since the beginning of 2013 and it has been my understanding that under the Affordable Care Act a business with fewer than 50 employees does not have to offer/buy health insurance for their employees. However those business’ with 50 or more employees has to either provide a form of health insurance or pay a “fine” between $2k to $3k for employees that buy into one of the various health insurance exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act. <br />
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Also consider that the majority of legislation is written and/or driven by business lobbyists, so while the majority of business have been announcing lay-offs due to the Affordable Care Act, many of them are also lobbying for a new Immigration law to hire temporary visa or blue card holding workers at a cheaper labor rate while not having to offer a single benefit as they are not eligible for the health insurance exchange. <br />
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So in layman terms, the Affordable Care Act is the enabling scapegoat for business to hire a new immigrant over an American citizen. And for Corporate America, everyone knows that cheaper labor equates to a higher profit margin which leads to a sweet payout on the stock options.<br />
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So who does one hate or point a crooked finger at: Our ineffective Congress or our inept President or Corporate America? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSgcNQ21MqVzJtm6kqEcbslmv8tyGLXwnZzoEnG3sbZyMW-rjoTvwbAsMOIHhJGAHS8oEBeE0uQ27bJbbMHPu_dc1FnBi8tq2mUWifBQ8l1xHQYkdIHT1vvDRs_x6oOYEBIHWSr8AXaY/s1600/arrogant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSgcNQ21MqVzJtm6kqEcbslmv8tyGLXwnZzoEnG3sbZyMW-rjoTvwbAsMOIHhJGAHS8oEBeE0uQ27bJbbMHPu_dc1FnBi8tq2mUWifBQ8l1xHQYkdIHT1vvDRs_x6oOYEBIHWSr8AXaY/s320/arrogant.jpg" /></a></div>That’s it “slap the tap,” and enjoy a frosty arrogant bastard ale while watching Speaker Boehner’s tan fade as I stole the lights to his tanning bed from his Congressional office. Hey he’s not paying the electric bill!!<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-32086918127615292692013-10-18T21:41:00.000-04:002013-10-18T21:41:13.653-04:00Government Shutdown? More like "5 O'Clock Charlie"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><br />
If there's one thing we've learned in the 2 weeks of what was the government shutdown, it's that America has become more divided then ever thanks to Media and Social Networking. <br />
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They've become "5 o'clock Charlie (M*A*S*H* reference) that without doubt they drop bombs that miss the mark thanks to partisan reporting. Yet we buy it as a truth and most re-post over and over again. <br />
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How gullible have many become? Extremely as way too many only read the Headline or the first paragraph to determine their belief. <br />
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I love the site dailycurrant.com, its political satire of another form. Recently they posted an article titled "House Republicans Schedule Obama Impeachment Hearings" to which I had to link to my Facebook page just to see who would bite. And many did and re-posted as well. <br />
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Others posted stories they swore to be true, yet were only abbreviated narrative from their favorite "Right or Left" website, only to be revised by others of the complete story.<br />
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Stop reading partisan websites as they only tell part of the story! <br />
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There is so much discourse and hate for either side of political thought that many discredit the idea of actually listening, respectfully listening to another thought that, well we end up with the 535 current incompetent, grandstanding, photo opt, leeches in Congress today. <br />
<br />
Just think about it for a moment.<br />
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The best examples of my description come from the weekend of Oct 14-15, when a planned Immigration rally had Democrats run for to shake hands of possible future voters and the other being the Million Vet March the next day when a large group of Veterans planned a protest the barricading (the Right uses the cute "Barrycade" slogan) of War Memorials. <br />
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Yes, I was disgusted by Democrats for campaigning on the Immigration shoulders but I was even more disgusted by members of Congress using veterans to photo op for their personal political gain. <br />
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Some of those veterans were upset about it as well, as the reports of Veterans carrying barricades from the Memorials to the White House weren't Veterans but members of the Tea Party, who "hi-jacked" someone else's protest. <br />
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I have no problem with protests, it's part of American history and lore, however, unfortunately so is one's joining a protest for political gain as well. <br />
Democrats, Republicans and the Tea Party all gained financially as well during the shutdown. <br />
<br />
Media darling Ted Cruz (R-TX) campaign received close to $1 million in donations during shutdown and the DCCC reports a September haul of $8.4 million on pre-shutdown fear.<br />
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So was the shutdown more for political gain or true political stance? <br />
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Currently there are reports that the Tea Party is planning a new fundraising campaign on the betrayal of the Republican Party alone.<br />
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Some will blame the President, whether past, present or future and not look within their own party as these battles are becoming too predictable as well as too common, that the World is laughing at us.<br />
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) blames the House Republicans for the current deal because they gave him nothing viable to work with while House Republicans are calling the shutdown a victory, yet they won nothing.<br />
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Americans are calling for a third option and I say it's time for the Tea Party to get off the Republican teat and break away. But, just as they complain Americans are too dependent on Government money, they themselves are too dependent on Republican financial backing to stay in the game. <br />
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What should the American voter do?<br />
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For me the answer was simple. <br />
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Although I have always had the dreaded "D" on my voter registration card (thanks to parental influence of my youth and the fact you gotta have "D" or "R" to vote in PA primaries) I have never voted straight party ticket. <br />
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The beginning of 2013, I threw away that voter registration card and applied for a new one, this one with an "I" for Independent. <br />
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I refuse to give money to any candidate and I think it's wrong that taxpayers must pay for their primaries as well. <br />
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If the American voter wants to prove a point to our politicians, I suggest everyone should do the same. Re-register as either an Independent or No Party Affiliation, stop giving your money to their campaigns or PAC's, push for Congressional (and Supreme Court) term limits, write letters to Capitol Hill telling them to repeal the Constitutional Amendment that states that they get paid whether Government is funded or not, and by all means turn off the partisan media and listen, truthfully listen to the other side not in sound bites or abbreviation but as a whole. <br />
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I fear many will not do so, because we always need a villain to hate yet blind to the villain that stands before them. <br />
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So please stop being a “5 O’clock Charlie” and discontinue the meaningless misleading Social Media posts from partisan reports. Don’t we have enough mislead lemming voters?<br />
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That’s it, slap the tap on some Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale and a huge shout at to my friend (and sometimes political cohort) Laura on the release of her blog http://themilfsurvivalguide.com. <br />
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Cheers! <br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-21214562618989471302013-09-05T21:54:00.001-04:002013-09-05T21:54:14.370-04:00THE IMPEACHMENT IS COMING! THE IMPEACHMENT IS COMING!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsYcUV1GcJYyqHA2AtFVRQ8P42lThkTLzWZ4R_M8PDFd-A7I74_irdjINug7ln6rUDCpsxzbW8gHUwgdm8iy7ql-dFApSEMnsNhY_fogTv_AlIjVf1rTWXAj_3o3jElcYYfux7tKp5e0/s1600/impeach_500_379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsYcUV1GcJYyqHA2AtFVRQ8P42lThkTLzWZ4R_M8PDFd-A7I74_irdjINug7ln6rUDCpsxzbW8gHUwgdm8iy7ql-dFApSEMnsNhY_fogTv_AlIjVf1rTWXAj_3o3jElcYYfux7tKp5e0/s320/impeach_500_379.jpg" /></a></div><br />
No not really, but since so many members of Congress and Media alike have been voicing such for the past month, I figured I’d pull at your heart strings as well. <br />
<br />
Over the past few weeks there have been many article and blog rumblings contemplating impeachment of President Obama and, as normal, the majority of those posts only speak of possible “high crimes and misdemeanors” in abbreviated narrative all the while forgetting the process of impeachment.<br />
<br />
Here's a hint: It doesn't happen over night!<br />
<br />
It would be boring to the entire story, which is the problem with today’s Media; they only want you to know the juicy stuff. Why would anyone want to have a well informed reader?<br />
<br />
Any Political novice knows that Political Science 101 informs us that for any <i>Impeachment of a President</i> to happen it must begin with the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee and only the House Judiciary Committee chairman can decide whether or not a presidential action is an impeachable action.<br />
<br />
So let’s stop there and think about that. Has any member of the HRJC introduced any impeachment resolution? No. <br />
<br />
Yet the talk of such is lustful just to get the people enraged for one. <br />
<br />
Take Texas Rep Blake Farenthold, whom at a town hall meeting in August stated that “the House Republicans have enough votes to impeach President Obama” but within the same breathe said “it would be unsuccessful and could damage the country.”<br />
<br />
Dangle the carrot a little more why don’t you Blake? <br />
<br />
No, ok so I will just for your entertainment value or is it my entertainment value?<br />
<br />
Of all the complaints of NSA spying, Benghazi, IRS scandal and even the “Birther” notion, not one of these constitutes reason for resolution? <br />
<br />
Cowards<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYO-AAVtKiZN1nYe0cGzk53Sa4vC0EHoGR5YG1c2GxqoU1DJw2UI3f_J11hRCEtnH8JoNM5TVERAj6jtpj3CSimuYT0Uev4253dH3h6tGlw8jqcSFRiYbcRDtbnSwlQr65HLb8R1jR1s/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYO-AAVtKiZN1nYe0cGzk53Sa4vC0EHoGR5YG1c2GxqoU1DJw2UI3f_J11hRCEtnH8JoNM5TVERAj6jtpj3CSimuYT0Uev4253dH3h6tGlw8jqcSFRiYbcRDtbnSwlQr65HLb8R1jR1s/s320/images.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Now, if the Judiciary Committee chairman deems an action as impeachable, that person can introduce a resolution calling for a formal inquiry into the issue of impeachment and those findings will create yet another resolution to be sent to the House on whether or not impeachment proceeding get a “green light.”<br />
<br />
But the amount of time between the formal inquiry resolution and “green light” resolution can be lengthy.<br />
<br />
For example, in 1994, the House began an inquiry investigation into President Clinton over Whitewater within months of taking office. That investigation led into the Monica Lewinsky inquiry investigation over a year later. <br />
<br />
By December 1998, the House finally had the “green light” to start the Impeachment debate<br />
<br />
Got that, it took 4 years to go from Point A to Point B.<br />
<br />
Once the House has voted in favor of Impeachment, it all comes down to the Senate to hold the trial and they get to set the rules (Reminder: Democrats hold the majority in today's Senate, so guess how this may go).<br />
<br />
In any impeachment trial, the President is represented by his lawyers, selected House members play Prosecutors, Supreme Court Chief Justice holds the gavel and all 100 members of the Senate play jury. <br />
<br />
Returning to the example of the President Clinton impeachment trial, it began on Jan 9, 1999 and ended on Feb 12, 1999. That’s 5 weeks of trial, so that’s plenty of time for Senator John McCain to play his Iphone poker app.<br />
<br />
For a sitting president to be convicted it takes 2/3 of the Senate to vote in favor of impeachment and removal from office. And for added salt to the impeachment wound, the Senate can also add a provision of prohibiting the impeached from ever holding public office in any form ever again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtGLETg-qz5rOoNlRVNrnzSomVnE0YvkZbRecSlpJnYVaPMwoKZCqaNhR1Szgo39PreRicPsoxZialo_dwjw8qow4aZn-k8fPIuslDkhEcX5PvPH6ghdArVrfydYHV_u0FdvGScOQWwg/s1600/afraid-impeach.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtGLETg-qz5rOoNlRVNrnzSomVnE0YvkZbRecSlpJnYVaPMwoKZCqaNhR1Szgo39PreRicPsoxZialo_dwjw8qow4aZn-k8fPIuslDkhEcX5PvPH6ghdArVrfydYHV_u0FdvGScOQWwg/s320/afraid-impeach.gif" /></a></div><br />
See how boring fact-filled articles can be? No wonder Media strays away from it so often.<br />
<br />
So fast forwarded to today and the calls to start Impeachment of President Barrack Obama and just using the exampled President Clinton time frame, if the House began Impeachment inquiry today, one could expect a Senate impeachment trial to begin for President Obama around December 28, 2016 and vote by Inauguration Day 2017. <br />
<br />
That’s it, slap the tap, I’ll keep the beer cool and the peanut bowl filled waiting for you on the ascension swearing in of the new President Biden/VP Boehner. <br />
<br />
Until then, pay your political tab.<br />
<br />
Cheers! <br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-3002970788109157502013-09-02T19:17:00.001-04:002013-09-02T19:17:50.838-04:00SEPARATED AT BIRTH #371<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>SEPARATED AT BIRTH? YOU DECIDE.....<br />
<br />
ACTOR DAVE FOLEY FROM <i>KIDS IN THE HALL </i>AND <i>NEWSRADIO</i> FAME AND SENATOR LINDSAY GRAHAM, BETTER KNOWN FOR HIS BROMANCE WITH SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCV56prhyphenhyphenx-I5dI1-eUj-bte_QhOd1RbNDZ_hhcDHoRZMaGE8ljo_rK4Q1EWZOBAa0g_GakBmKiRFc6gbG8FxZbLVdauNTnH5YkxgdQEBV3RoLyr9su2kPI6OlVXbgfmf_UG9XxOT_VSg/s1600/Dave%2520Foley-ALO-104729.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCV56prhyphenhyphenx-I5dI1-eUj-bte_QhOd1RbNDZ_hhcDHoRZMaGE8ljo_rK4Q1EWZOBAa0g_GakBmKiRFc6gbG8FxZbLVdauNTnH5YkxgdQEBV3RoLyr9su2kPI6OlVXbgfmf_UG9XxOT_VSg/s320/Dave%2520Foley-ALO-104729.jpg" /><br />
<br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPrHYzVC5fQ7FAox_swiYyi-WRxfZFFVJJPA9nkPYcLza27yphM4bEfpeOBaDCNAhAuj5l-hVfpa1CxaSZurOemKMPkGKN2KiMd204tO7KdyI81ZkJZq2Ba_CFOcaWyGqqKZPeskGAPk/s1600/l+g.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPrHYzVC5fQ7FAox_swiYyi-WRxfZFFVJJPA9nkPYcLza27yphM4bEfpeOBaDCNAhAuj5l-hVfpa1CxaSZurOemKMPkGKN2KiMd204tO7KdyI81ZkJZq2Ba_CFOcaWyGqqKZPeskGAPk/s320/l+g.png" /></a><br />
<br />
SLAP THE TAP<br />
<br />
CHEERS!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-6583817051088264152013-08-21T22:40:00.000-04:002013-08-21T22:40:09.605-04:00How The Platypus Can Save The 2016 Presidential Campaign<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>Oh what sweet hell is this?<br />
<br />
A political party has decided to vote against the media exposure of their 2016 primary season, to which is 3 years away, due to their involvement to 2 different bio-pics of a person who has yet to even announce their intention of a possible presidential campaign for an election that is over 3 ½ years away.<br />
<br />
Someone’s been hitting the fantasy bottle a little too early haven’t they?<br />
<br />
OK, so of course I’m talking about Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus squawking the past few weeks about MSNBC and CNN’s involvement in 2 bio-pics of Hillary Rodham Clinton. A person who has already been anointed as the Democratic challenger for the 2016 Presidential campaign that has yet to even announce her candidacy. <br />
<br />
Hm, maybe if Chairman Priebus hit the bottle he wouldn’t slur his words and make sense.<br />
<br />
It’s absolutely hilarious that the RBC is of single-thought and focusing all their talking points against Clinton to an election that’s 3 ½ years away. It would be even funnier if all the wasted time on her is for not and she says “nope I gotta keep an eye on Billy boy.”<br />
<br />
But low and behold, the RNC voted last Friday to stick it to MSNBC and CNN by unanimous vote and will block them from the Party primaries.<br />
<br />
Thank the maker, as I was worried about possibly missing an episode of “America’s Got Talent” or whatever they broadcast on CNN as entertainment. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaxjRj7HLvGQbTXYPFPmm0Dt4dLEZZe8QOOqJOkaZM6mUh6tJBVbRIzoAJUJ47hWmO4onYNxtqinuXzG8wq_xxF8jpBDr_fJMdQZ23P82W_RSMXX_b9M3GflXOBVfumZGv6ZLf1xI2ug/s1600/EC_121114_ramirez425x283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaxjRj7HLvGQbTXYPFPmm0Dt4dLEZZe8QOOqJOkaZM6mUh6tJBVbRIzoAJUJ47hWmO4onYNxtqinuXzG8wq_xxF8jpBDr_fJMdQZ23P82W_RSMXX_b9M3GflXOBVfumZGv6ZLf1xI2ug/s400/EC_121114_ramirez425x283.jpg" /></a></div>Priebus is so busy blaming these bio-pics as an unfair advantage towards their candidates, yet fails to comprehend that “it’s not the primary coverage that’s at issue with the GOP, it’s their candidates” as Business Insider’s David Swerdlick happily pointed out. <br />
<br />
Of the cast of characters that ran in 2012, only Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum were worth the 20+ primary debates scheduled. The rest had no reason to be there, if not to further their political persona in book deals or lame TV/radio shows. <br />
<br />
However, when it comes to the 2016 campaigns, without doubt, both the Democratic and Republican candidates will be a cast of characters, with a higher entertainment value than that of any Reality TV show featuring Duck Decoys or Has-Been Music stars.<br />
<br />
Yes, it’s easy to blame the moderators for the failure of the candidates’ performance, but as many forget, the parties agree (!) to who moderates what and when. They can only blame themselves and if that happened, well the Apocalypse is near. <br />
<br />
So I present the “Platypus Effect” to help the candidates, the parties and overall ratings. <br />
<br />
To paraphrase Robin Williams, “You think God was stoned when he created the Platypus? (Take a huge bong hit) OK let’s take a beaver, slap on a duck’s bill and let it lay eggs! Screw you Darwin”<br />
<br />
So the body of this political platypus starts with the Primaries by limiting their existence to just 6 debates for each, using only 6 of the most Conservative and Liberal “Media” Journalists one can find and only let these 6 moderate. <br />
<br />
It’s already been rumored that the RNC was hinting at having Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Mark Levin play moderator too which Limbaugh mockingly answered that he was too famous to do such a stint. <br />
<br />
Or was that stunt? <br />
<br />
But the slap of the political platypus’ bill comes in the form that the opposition shall moderate the others debate.<br />
<br />
So basically at the first DNC primary, the candidates of Hillary Clinton, Sen. Mark Warner, VP Joe Biden and Sec John Kerry could be standing in front of Ann Coulter, Paul Gigot and Nick Gillespie.<br />
<br />
Or at the first RNC primary, the candidates of Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Rand Paul, Sen. Marco Rubio and Rick Santorum could be standing in front of Ed Shultz, Ezra Klein, and Fred Hiatt. <br />
<br />
Sounds fair and yes, you have to have at least 2 characters amongst the lot just for entertainment value, hence the choice of Coulter and Shultz. <br />
<br />
Once the primaries are over and those that conceded their campaigns for lucrative book deals or quick short term contract with the Media networks, we shall be left with 2 contenders. Not chosen by you, that would be ludicrous; no everyone knows the Media chooses the victors. <br />
<br />
Now comes the egg laying part by the political platypus as 2 new moderators, one Liberal and one Conservative appear before us for 3 wonderful over-bloated Presidential debates. <br />
<br />
Yes the chosen ones shall have to face that of………………. Bill O’Reilly and Jon Stewart.<br />
<br />
Now that’s a golden platypus egg worth millions.<br />
<br />
That’s it, special thanks to the good people of Sam Adams for quenching my Summer Ale thirst, pass the salty nuts and pay your political tab<br />
<br />
Cheer<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-26860227381573036252013-08-17T15:37:00.001-04:002013-08-17T15:37:42.766-04:00Summer vacation is over<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>Summer vacation is over.. OK so it's been since Tax Day 2013 since my last blog. But it's time to re-open the Big Poppa PoliticsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-44236934845598645632013-04-15T23:24:00.000-04:002013-04-15T23:24:07.845-04:00The Boston Marathon explosion: Our Perversion to Tragedy exploited by Media<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIL9KM0ARC8WOW9S7yq1_ZS-T_6bJ4V9K2g-tncSNjGCGxcQxnG1Mrn68FbRkQtuVTSZK89f9JLNgVyOXk9BNVi3_xlp2mF2S3CsoPeevSF0PXgxr3gqfCNn6rgqsPUikNK_MniupcZM/s1600/images+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIL9KM0ARC8WOW9S7yq1_ZS-T_6bJ4V9K2g-tncSNjGCGxcQxnG1Mrn68FbRkQtuVTSZK89f9JLNgVyOXk9BNVi3_xlp2mF2S3CsoPeevSF0PXgxr3gqfCNn6rgqsPUikNK_MniupcZM/s320/images+(1).jpg" /></a><br />
It didn’t take long after the twin explosions during the Boston Marathon for everyone from News Media to Hack Conspiracy Media to Social Media to point fingers and lay blame. As the saying goes “If it bleeds it leads” and our perversion for tragedy is a Media ratings juggernaut.<br />
<br />
There is a desire for many in this country to watch any report that has to deal with death and despair, whether it about the Boston Marathon or Jodi Arias trial to Louisville basketball player Kevin Ware, that attracts people like moths to the flame.<br />
<br />
But the disregard for death is the most disgusting response one can have. <br />
<br />
Immediately after the blast was reported, reporters and social media hacks took to interweb to give a recount of the happenings. So quickly that the first response by all was “it’s a bomb,” yet no one knew for sure. <br />
<br />
What if it were a gas explosion from days gone by frail gas line? <br />
<br />
Or a propane tank from a food vendor? <br />
<br />
Nope, it was a bomb regardless and of course a Middle Eastern terrorist, a “Muslim Saudi” man that was in the area so rapidly reported. Or so Media presumed as it’s the go-to knee jerk reaction to blame any bomb involved tragedy as of Muslim work.<br />
<br />
Funny how quick our Media wants to be first to (mis)lead the masses and cement the thought. <br />
<br />
Yet in today’s ratings infused Media journalists affairs, it only took about an hour for conspiracies to reign supreme on Social media.<br />
<br />
The “Conspiracy King,” Alex Jones, was quick to blame the Boston Marathon tragedy as a “Governmental Inside Job.” Yes the same guy that still calls 9/11 an inside job, jumped his own proverbial shark of Nut-Job padded cell thought to place Waldo in the grassy knoll across the street by the hot dog vendor holding a thermal detonator while Chewbacca stood on point.<br />
<br />
Not to be outdone, MSNBC’s resident ass-clown, Chris Matthews along with Massachusetts Rep William Keating (D) spent quality air time trying to link the bombing with it being April 15th, better known to all Americans as “Tax Day.” <br />
<br />
Note to MSNBC Media management, next time just show a clip of Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on first” comedy sketch. The viewing public would enjoy it more. <br />
Yet I think the best was over at CNN for people to play connect the dots of journalistic conspiracy thought. <br />
<br />
Wolfe Blitzer, one of great historical intrigue and lack of journalistic skill, let viewers know that it was a Bostonian holiday, “Patriot Day.” Yes Patriot Day, a day when Boston celebrates the American Revolution’s battles of Lexington and Concorde. <br />
<br />
Think about it? Tax Day + Patriot’s Day = Tea Party. Light the fuse.<br />
<br />
Yes, somebody connected the dots and gave notion that “Wolfie” tried to subliminally link the Boston Marathon bombing and Patriot’s Day to the dreaded affair of Tax Day and therefore a possible Tea Party involvement. <br />
<br />
I find reading the jokes on a Bazooka Joe gum wrapper gives one higher intelligence. <br />
Sometimes I think the conspiracy theorists have more involvement in the incident than just spewing stupidity. <br />
<br />
But let’s have fun with this and I’ll create my own conspiracy theory:<br />
<i>Most marathons are won by Kenyans or Ethiopians and since the “birther” notion has President Obama born in either of these two countries and didn’t have a strong contingent of runners this year, President Obama devised a plan to have bombs placed throughout the course. By using his “Obama phone” he was able to detonate the bombs, causing great tragedy and forcing runners and spectators harm and injury to be rushed to any of the nearby hospitals for care. Thereby, thanks to his Affordable Care Act, all will receive medical attention without having to worry about massive future hospital bills.</i> <br />
<br />
WOW! I don’t think that theory is too far-fetched. How about you?<br />
<br />
So as stupidity saturated the interweb throughout the day, we leave it to President Obama to give people the biggest nugget to verbal diarrhea. <br />
<br />
Yes, people cried foul that it took the Big “O” 3.2 hours (!) to address the nation about the Boston Marathon bombings. That’s the biggest atrocity of the day was that it took a sitting president over three hours to respond?!<br />
<br />
When I questioned one of these great Social Media thinkers about how long did it take President “W” to address the nation about 9/11, they immediately went to the well with “Oh sure bring President Bush into this! He was traveling the nation, flying on Air Force 1 from base to base to keep safe!” <br />
<br />
Actually, neither “W” or “O’s” whereabouts nor the amount of time it took them to address the nation means nothing to me. But then again, I wonder if people will complain about the amount of time it takes any sitting president to address the nation after nuclear annihilation? (Think about it…. We’d all be dead to listen.) <br />
<br />
But the true disgust was the non-stop viewing of the victims. And I’m not just talking about events that happen here, but from around the World. <br />
<br />
Why are we such a bloodlust society that we are entranced by the violent pictures of blood soaked victims and/or dead bodies? Do we have no personal filter? <br />
<br />
Within the next few days, like an avalanche, these pictures will be posted on Facebook or Twitter with political statements condemning affiliations from politics to religious belief to gun control. Hell I’ve already seen the “Arm yourself to stop this from happening” posts and it’s disgusting. <br />
<br />
Be thankful for our first responders who don’t put themselves first. <br />
<br />
Say prays to all victims and families of tragedy. <br />
<br />
And to all the Alex Jones' disciples, the day you can prove to me that the plastic ball at the bottom of my Guinness Draught can is a government devise that tracks how many times the can is tilted in consumption to somehow re-instate the anti-saloon temperance prohibition due to excess, well then I’ll tip the can in your direction in approval.<br />
<br />
That’s it, “Slap the Tap” on the Ol’ Leghumper Ale and pay the political tab<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG9_Jzu7MzDnZEqcR3tAbu7Sh7bRvkZJA9FdTRP7QbvgCy_yU45nXPMK6Ea0Hvu08zJUH3JwoR7QhSTjVYVpS8DIirGT2vGIQwpyZMJv2WLK9CShEx_nq1MY1FhY0gr4RrEKnqJXgYyg/s1600/leghumper.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG9_Jzu7MzDnZEqcR3tAbu7Sh7bRvkZJA9FdTRP7QbvgCy_yU45nXPMK6Ea0Hvu08zJUH3JwoR7QhSTjVYVpS8DIirGT2vGIQwpyZMJv2WLK9CShEx_nq1MY1FhY0gr4RrEKnqJXgYyg/s320/leghumper.jpg" /></a><br />
Cheers!<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-26710029358835750762013-04-04T23:09:00.001-04:002013-04-04T23:09:46.351-04:00The NRA’s School Shield Study or better known as “Don’t Fuck with the French Teacher” <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>It’s here! It’s here! <br />
<br />
The much anticipated, newly improved National Rifle Association’s $1 million, 225 page School Shield study arrived and here’s the clincher: No price tag, no new ideas, just filled with updated stats (resourced from FBI, DHS, FEMA and Uni of Texas) in a fancy colorful PDF packet.<br />
<br />
All that was missing was a pretty red bow around it. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVAyzJHLWJy2WJ37aWUJoLclfo3Ckaaj9jibCuzN5tjjHbYQj95QXmP0DgJ3dRLL8k_l4YZNxydl9E2ZGe85OzdnLVpWFsa-P1hI_GwtuqdJIqMLtLGWeY5ZiU3HhCdiaaamOGdF_W0I/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVAyzJHLWJy2WJ37aWUJoLclfo3Ckaaj9jibCuzN5tjjHbYQj95QXmP0DgJ3dRLL8k_l4YZNxydl9E2ZGe85OzdnLVpWFsa-P1hI_GwtuqdJIqMLtLGWeY5ZiU3HhCdiaaamOGdF_W0I/s320/images.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
The NRASS study is an incomplete work, for it lacks any estimated costs, therefore the viewing public are relegated to assumption of ease to implement to all public schools across the nation. So let me add the depth to which the study lacks for free!<br />
<br />
There are roughly 98,800 public schools in the United States with over 49,800,000 students attending on any given day of a school year. Fuzzy math will place that around 500 students per school. <br />
<br />
Now, the average student to teacher per classroom ratio is 16:1, so the thought of placing an armed guard in every class room needs to thrown out the door. Although, the amount of security hires would crush the Unemployment rate if anyone off the street were to be hired. <br />
<br />
So, let’s go with 2 Security guards per school with a total of number of hires would be 197,600. <br />
<br />
But what should they get paid? Well according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage is $11.76/hour or $24,450/yearly for those working in the Investigation and Security Service. <br />
<br />
But these are public schools where local /state government rule as well as unionized labor, so we’ll have to bump that up as per the BLS states that this sector of security average $15.56/hour or $32,370/yearly. <br />
<br />
So going with the latter average and the need for 2 guards per school, that’s additional $64,740 the school district and/or local/state government needs to shell out. <br />
<br />
I don’t even want to get into the additional Insurances needed, but the number could jump close to $80-$90,000 yearly for 2 security guards. <br />
<br />
Now there’s also the cost for needed equipment. <br />
<br />
Every school will need to install a Walk-Thru metal detector at the front entrance and there’s a large assortment of these on the market. Versions for courthouses, schools, airports, and loss prevention are available in the security market and the price range for a school Walk-Thru metal detector range from $2598 to $4195.<br />
<br />
Now there’s a lot of human traffic in the morning at a school, so if a school wishes they can go on the cheap and get a cool Random Fail System which portable and can be set up anywhere for around $2000. <br />
<br />
However, outside of carrying a firearm our schools should also invest in the Handheld metal detector wands as well and those can be bought for from anywhere from $93 to $435. <br />
<br />
So let’s see how our School Security shopping lists looks so far:<br />
1. 2 Security guards = $64,740 (combined yearly salary) <br />
2. 2 Handheld metal detector wands= $186 (using the cheapest market value)<br />
3. 1 Walk-Thru metal detector= $2598 (using the cheapest market value)<br />
<br />
OK, so not including the Insurances, it’s gonna cost a school district roughly $67,524 to start up. With the insurances the start up price jumps to $92,784.<br />
<br />
By why stop there, why not give every student a neat little Magnet Strip ID Card as well. A school can buy the cards in bulk (up to 1,000 cards) for $200, as well as the printer from anywhere from $1400 to $3500.<br />
<br />
Alrighty so now we’re at $69,124 ($94,384 w/insurances) for taxpayers, school district and the local/state government to split. <br />
<br />
But wait, according to the NRASS study, costs could be offset by having charity or corporate sponsorship. Wouldn’t be cool to have a corporate logo like Pepsi or Taco Bell on your son or daughter’s ID card? <br />
<br />
There’s also the cost of the Magnetic Card readers that range from $98 to $399, which should be placed at every entrance/exit doorway at the school, well if the school has 6 of said doorways, that’s 12 needed at the cost of $1176 (using lowest market value).<br />
Not to mention the cost of the electrician and/or security firm to set up the card swipes and card reader technology. <br />
<br />
Hmm, I lost track of total cost… Oh yeah we’re just around $71,000 ($96,000w/insurance.) So we’re really near the $100Kbudget buster mark. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir83Bv27xNltxR1l1wXTirc1MSRNo1SeoZfiMgBl5MQHgNu5LMpyOK52vjw4rz-0WUMrRVU8EEqDt4a36dBBiejFjJMl8flcpVo7aiy-faCbKJBUOvpyVR2KiD_r58TWBCt-BelXdFOXU/s1600/bilde.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir83Bv27xNltxR1l1wXTirc1MSRNo1SeoZfiMgBl5MQHgNu5LMpyOK52vjw4rz-0WUMrRVU8EEqDt4a36dBBiejFjJMl8flcpVo7aiy-faCbKJBUOvpyVR2KiD_r58TWBCt-BelXdFOXU/s320/bilde.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Of course, this is cost for one school building; I haven’t gotten to the other part of the NRASS Study of landscaping and outside security measures from fencing /walls to deter climbing to road/pathway barriers to security cameras. <br />
<br />
Hell, I’d add a few roaming Doberman’s to the list, but that’s just preposterous in thought and couldn’t make this study seem realistic. <br />
<br />
I know, I know, many of you are saying “Let’s arm a few teachers” instead of hiring new security officers and save a few bucks. <br />
<br />
Well good idea, but who will man the front door entrance to the school when class is in session? Maude the 70 year old cafeteria lady is not as big of threat as one might believe. <br />
<br />
Personally, I am not against having members of a school staff armed, but only limiting to: Principle, Vice Principle and Maintenance Staff as they are not bound to any classroom and can freely roam the halls without much interruption.<br />
<br />
I’m against arming a teacher in the thought of if an armed intruder were to gain access to a school, that the armed teacher would huddle their class to the back of the room, then leave the students unprotected in the classroom and go rogue to roam the halls in search of the intruder. <br />
<br />
That and I’m positive the Teachers Union would want extra-activity pay for these armed educators as well. <br />
<br />
In the end, when we round up the cost of one school adding to what the NRASS study suggests it will cost that school between $100,000- $175,000 for building and grounds security improvements.<br />
<br />
Remember, I said there’s roughly 98,800 public schools, so nationwide and some fuzzy math, the first year start up comes to somewhere between $9,880,000,000 to $17,290,000,000. <br />
<br />
Now we know why the NRASS study has ZERO monetary values entered to the final version. <br />
One thing that must be agreed on, there is no “one fix fits all” answer in protecting the 98,800 public schools in the Nation. The main problem for any school district will be money and affordability of the security improvement.<br />
<br />
Hmm, come to think about, seems about time to start the Big Poppa Security Agency before Halliburton jumps on this study. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsH1jmzz_mDM1niDP5mM0OuvfS3SEs1jMnGQdP6nn3FTbNGIk3xsYcSMlHqagiXFGN5JBMbO8n5Nf6l3rCCARLW-Rrr-hk7eHmWHOTgv03sP0B4r_TlQ28Pqhvm97ZMUoBpyYtjP6AiFs/s1600/images+(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsH1jmzz_mDM1niDP5mM0OuvfS3SEs1jMnGQdP6nn3FTbNGIk3xsYcSMlHqagiXFGN5JBMbO8n5Nf6l3rCCARLW-Rrr-hk7eHmWHOTgv03sP0B4r_TlQ28Pqhvm97ZMUoBpyYtjP6AiFs/s320/images+(8).jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
That’s it, Slap the Tap on some “Great Dane Un-leashed” and put some fuzzy math to work on how many ounces I’ll drink tonight. Pass the cafeteria Sloppy Joe and Green potato salad and pay the political tab. <br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
Facebook- todd.kelly.3591 <br />
Twitter- @bigpopapolitics<br />
<br />
http://www.nraschoolshield.com/NSS_Final_FULL.pdf<br />
http://www.nraschoolshield.com/NSS_Final.pdf<br />
http://thehill.com/homenews/news/291435-nra-task-force-recommends-armed-staff-in-every-school<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-61565977635735639202013-03-20T22:17:00.000-04:002013-03-20T22:17:04.004-04:00Legislation hits Senate floor to fire federal employees who owe back taxes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><br />
The article below is something I would normally post on my Facebook page with some sort of sarcastic comment. However, there's just way to much here to question.<br />
<br />
http://dailycaller.com/2013/03/20/federal-employees-who-dont-pay-taxes-would-be-fired-under-bill-that-passed-committee/<br />
<br />
Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz's legislation to make it legal to fire federal employees that do not pay taxes has passed committee and being sent to the Senate floor for debate. <br />
<br />
It's an interesting piece of legislation but the question is "is firing to extreme?"<br />
<br />
According to article written by Alex Pappas, over 100K federal employees owe more than $1 billion in federal taxes. That's a ridiculous sum of money to owe our close-to-bankrupt government, but what is the definition of a "federal employee?"<br />
<br />
Think about it, what do you consider a federal employee?<br />
<br />
Many simply believe a federal employee is one that sits behind a desk or in a cubicle at a federal building across the country, but what about those that work abroad? What about the soldier in the field or the government contractor or (yes) a member of Congress? <br />
<br />
To use the term "federal employee" is a broad stroke at best. Yes, unfortunately everyone has to pay taxes, but to fire seems harsh at best.<br />
<br />
Of course, Rep. Chaffetz has opposition to his legislation in the form of Rep. Elijah Cummings, but even Rep. Cummings opposition is weak in punch. <br />
<br />
“In fact enactment of this legislation will increase costs to the taxpayers by requiring agencies to spend time and resources to review public records to find tax liens filed against current or prospective employees,” per Rep. Cummings. <br />
<br />
If the federal employee is a contractor, well many contractor normally file tax extension to get their finances in order. Hell, many accountants do the same as they are busy during tax season. <br />
<br />
Why not wage garnishment for federal employees to pay the back tax? Yes, the employee would receive a smaller paycheck as the outcome, but would still be working, receiving a paycheck, and still contributing to the community in many forms. <br />
<br />
As people argue about shrinking the size of government, we don't want to shrink the size of its bank account either. The less that are working means the less goes into funding for Military, Social Security, Medicare and paying off the of two Wars. <br />
<br />
You make the call while I "slap the tap" on a frosty cold brew. <br />
<br />
As always, please join the conversation on Facebook (todd kelly) and Twitter (@bigpopapolitics). Just look for the Leprechaun icon<br />
<br />
http://dailycaller.com/2013/03/20/federal-employees-who-dont-pay-taxes-would-be-fired-under-bill-that-passed-committee/Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-18516207234211179082013-03-12T21:57:00.000-04:002013-03-12T21:57:39.230-04:00Sorry for lack of blogging in 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>SORRY FOLKS FOR THE LACK OF BLOGS IN 2013, BUT LIFE GETS IN THE WAY OF RANTIN' AND RAVIN' ABOUT OUR AMERICAN POLITICAL POP CULTURE.<br />
<br />
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO RE-BUILD THE WEBSITE AND GET AWAY FROM SMALL BLOGGING SITES. HEY, WHO KNOWS WHERE A "INTER-WEB" PRESENCE SHALL LEAD MY WARPED MIND. <br />
<br />
BUT NEW THOUGHTS ARE ON THE WAY WHILE CURL UP IN A FETAL POSITION AND THINK ABOUT TURNING 40 IN A FEW WEEKS. <br />
<br />
SO UNTIL THE NEXT POST, HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY AND SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT. <br />
<br />
SLAP THE TAP.... BIG POPPA POLITICS<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKDXjYch7EYOtBFfUSKdaLcJnm4S63rF_HEZtm-uk8KK7q6_S4ul239HzIG0nbZuU30HM2yP5HSMBQ7Da7yIRsZs8xczRSLn2sDu8RogM5Q-gQQBLuwPhk1DGFb6gFOVJ7bDGutpzCrg/s1600/735132_439178829489968_1210042012_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKDXjYch7EYOtBFfUSKdaLcJnm4S63rF_HEZtm-uk8KK7q6_S4ul239HzIG0nbZuU30HM2yP5HSMBQ7Da7yIRsZs8xczRSLn2sDu8RogM5Q-gQQBLuwPhk1DGFb6gFOVJ7bDGutpzCrg/s320/735132_439178829489968_1210042012_n.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-b0vslwXwr4vc3YTFsXh0VbU942qps1rNxk1DkYppKAn9QLO8nenXldiBTETqS1RFQMdP0OoZFD3LeKb1BSeZ1W9raci4Rph1qUBAE8qwjDjQIJdPaQkaQjJX3X0hIzPMb-LPf7Nv-kY/s1600/images+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-b0vslwXwr4vc3YTFsXh0VbU942qps1rNxk1DkYppKAn9QLO8nenXldiBTETqS1RFQMdP0OoZFD3LeKb1BSeZ1W9raci4Rph1qUBAE8qwjDjQIJdPaQkaQjJX3X0hIzPMb-LPf7Nv-kY/s320/images+(3).jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQFykZ3Q5heE1xytKoLvQO9mOFumJU6gNlsfPIpE_iUp3H9QwQ0nItFvrBYclstmy5jOxB8RKehC8FC37OFjSc5XWnenoeWtB_GurVjFmHqxrJpQoWsuX8h7YkemzcfW4VGdGZpXKzDw/s1600/images+(13).jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQFykZ3Q5heE1xytKoLvQO9mOFumJU6gNlsfPIpE_iUp3H9QwQ0nItFvrBYclstmy5jOxB8RKehC8FC37OFjSc5XWnenoeWtB_GurVjFmHqxrJpQoWsuX8h7YkemzcfW4VGdGZpXKzDw/s320/images+(13).jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirX9yGvKYFBzx9dA5flWJ6wNOQ6RZvR_m_-mPFsntFo4Iz8lNcUoeV_SqDFuMlJNEvCcv-QTsCu4ViYeK79uIe5cSQTMfqj39eMWjj_DsNmXquFaBjxk9IAkYi3ZDzLPae2W_4w83vNaI/s1600/images+(12).jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirX9yGvKYFBzx9dA5flWJ6wNOQ6RZvR_m_-mPFsntFo4Iz8lNcUoeV_SqDFuMlJNEvCcv-QTsCu4ViYeK79uIe5cSQTMfqj39eMWjj_DsNmXquFaBjxk9IAkYi3ZDzLPae2W_4w83vNaI/s320/images+(12).jpg" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-47544710706791970532013-01-31T21:13:00.002-05:002013-01-31T21:13:22.675-05:00The Love Of Unions Or Are You Ready For Some Football<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div>This Sunday, it's expected that about 115 million people will watch the San Francisco 49ers Vs the Baltimore Ravens play in Super Bowl XLVII and the Unions, from all forms of industry, want to thank you for your patronage.<br />
<br />
From professional hockey, football, bull-riding and even the officials, Unions are everywhere in sports. Yet even those that despise Unions still tune in to watch or pay the outrageous cost to attend at the taxpayer built arena. I find it hilarious how people will talk about their blood boiling hatred of Unions, yet the exception comes in the form of professional sports and the unionized players & officials.<br />
<br />
The best example of this irony happened at the beginning of the 2012 NFL season as the Union officials were locked out by the NFL owners due to contract negotiations. Replacement officials were brought in and the fans became outraged, due to a multitude of mistakes being made by the “scabs.”<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqvsmBtE0Fu1lREEairPcuy44UKBpUMYXysFYd0HdeQV3xZoxzjSNyk6bozbuelIHpdKNNOiIEoPGpnt8u2HfZpNFoxng0JSthEQUOcHC_5tivvAJz-YSX1ZAo4iUXJscXmpu3kx3M9w/s1600/images+%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqvsmBtE0Fu1lREEairPcuy44UKBpUMYXysFYd0HdeQV3xZoxzjSNyk6bozbuelIHpdKNNOiIEoPGpnt8u2HfZpNFoxng0JSthEQUOcHC_5tivvAJz-YSX1ZAo4iUXJscXmpu3kx3M9w/s200/images+%25289%2529.jpg" /></a></div>First of all, these replacement officials weren’t just some guys off the street, they officiated football games from smaller divisional college brackets to the lingerie league. OK, not your typical acclaimed officiating gigs, but the rulebooks are similar.<br />
<br />
So as the NFL owners locked out the Union officials, the replacements hurt the games in play and folks from fandom to Vegas to sports journalism became enraged. Seems rather strange, or maybe because many fans are also involved in gambling on games, run the weekly office poll or take part in the billion dollar fantasy football industry, to throw disgust at non-Union employees trying to a job. <br />
<br />
Unlike other pro sports like hockey, basketball and baseball, NFL referees are considered “part-timers” yet earn on average $149K/yearly with benefits, while holding down regular gigs during the Monday-Friday work week.<br />
<br />
Outside of Congress, who else can say they have a $149k/yearly part-time job with benefits?<br />
<br />
The NFL prides itself in the off field employment endeavors of their Union officiating staff. The most famous amongst the modern official is Ed Hochuli, better known for his massive biceps; well he’s a partner of a civil litigation firm. Others such as Walt Anderson (Dentist), Gene Seratore (NCAA Basketball official), and Bill Leavy (police officer) all hold well paid normal jobs.<br />
<br />
Well it only took the NFL owners a few weeks into the season to make a generous contract offer, too which the Union officials signed and were welcomed back with standing ovations by fans and Media at the next game.<br />
<br />
So what did they get? Well apart from their new benefit package, the game officials’ compensation will increase from an average of $149K in 2011 to $173K in 2013, and then rise again to $205K by 2019. Not bad for part-timers, eh?<br />
<br />
But why when the Union officials held a strike, the fans stood behind them, not the NFL ownership? If this were GM or Ford locking out the UAW, people would stand by the company, with the complaint that their next car could cost more even though no one is holding a gun to their head to buy a GM or Ford product. <br />
<br />
Is this the only instance that the CEO/Owner back-lash is possible, our recreational television viewing?<br />
<br />
The Super Bowl isn’t just big for the NFL, but for many of their sponsors. The Super Bowl counts for a ¼ of the yearly revenue. And many of those companies have Union employees and once again they thank you.<br />
<br />
Guess one never thought about how many Union jobs depend on the Super Bowl being a success. From the Pepsi delivery driver to the grocery store clerk to the food/beverage suppliers at the Mercedes Benz Superdome, one’s passion of football carries over to the very same to which one despises, Unions.<br />
<br />
It’s estimated that during Super Bowl Week, New Orleans could see between $300-$450 million pumped into its economy and probably a quarter of it will land in the paychecks of Union employees. <br />
<br />
If you able to attend the game, Union labor will be tossing your peanuts, pouring your frosty cold beverage, keeping you safe & secure, flying the plane, cleaning up after the 76K attendees leave the Superdome and those who visited just to relish in the festivities<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMoOkDPb1hiFrBjmrxK8keGLKtFiDnLJyrr2HffqmLNAmTTZSSmSOM8Qg-k7TtkkACIFBwop66v0eJO13CECJPwwBFVKw4ek4wUfv7nNmSgnCzIKUiIGQNlgoJ4VsgZlnKAVIFDWi144/s1600/union+made.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMoOkDPb1hiFrBjmrxK8keGLKtFiDnLJyrr2HffqmLNAmTTZSSmSOM8Qg-k7TtkkACIFBwop66v0eJO13CECJPwwBFVKw4ek4wUfv7nNmSgnCzIKUiIGQNlgoJ4VsgZlnKAVIFDWi144/s200/union+made.png" /></a></div><br />
Just think, while you and others sit around the house, devouring 2500 calories in the first half, many companies spent roughly $4 million/30 second commercial to be viewed, with some only showing one commercial 3xs or just one commercial 1x. <br />
<br />
Pepsi-Frito Lay, Coca-Cola, Chrysler, Anheuser-Busch, Volkswagen, Papa John’s and a host of others shelled out $4- $8- $12 million advertising dollars that could’ve been shifted, along with the multi millions in their Political contributions, to other company departments for fuel costs, equipment updates and even the dreaded healthcare costs. That $4 million for 30 seconds is not going to turn into revenue immediately either.<br />
<br />
And half those companies have some type of Union employee thanking you for shelling out so much cash to shovel artichoke dip and beverage down your throat. Of course after eating and drinking too much, the Union nurse in the emergency room won’t be happy lifting your overstuffed fat ass into the hospital bed.<br />
<br />
Yep, hate Unions except when it comes to recreational activity. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3H00I1rp5YZo7P7cwY9ZRrXWLt31HwH42Zyf67wIiz4yYGEszbXrL-SfOI9TtwvHOsWIYrmmDEkFcOg7x6le02ggO4HcYx8zc3MyqsIRxY8mTfl7n3TkwFn8HZzDfyboA7jPhGA0bcY/s1600/strange-beer-names_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3H00I1rp5YZo7P7cwY9ZRrXWLt31HwH42Zyf67wIiz4yYGEszbXrL-SfOI9TtwvHOsWIYrmmDEkFcOg7x6le02ggO4HcYx8zc3MyqsIRxY8mTfl7n3TkwFn8HZzDfyboA7jPhGA0bcY/s200/strange-beer-names_3.jpg" /></a></div>That’s it, “Slap the Tap,” pour me a tall glass of Arrogant Bastard Ale, keep your dirty hands off my 6 pounds of Buffalo Chicken Dip as I lip-sync with Beyonce singing Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever."<br />
<br />
CHEERS!<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16518991081992051062noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667305943825573726.post-32492437507252641312013-01-18T07:30:00.000-05:002013-01-18T07:30:02.895-05:00The2nd Inaugural Indoctrination of the People by the People (well 51.9% of the People)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsfEmXkqgrMDpPTRQdXLYxsxpT1tUZuBLklzdQUeeHs35L0tlc0KUeIcjWJEIhWUeNeO4lGCBKB66QUtvAHLlhVPe6vpMnfs7JIXJJy9esvnvU-hS9s0juC9jOKhYnGA6_IKzrfOrPf8/s1600/imagesCAB4O32V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsfEmXkqgrMDpPTRQdXLYxsxpT1tUZuBLklzdQUeeHs35L0tlc0KUeIcjWJEIhWUeNeO4lGCBKB66QUtvAHLlhVPe6vpMnfs7JIXJJy9esvnvU-hS9s0juC9jOKhYnGA6_IKzrfOrPf8/s200/imagesCAB4O32V.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Let the silliness begin by the partisan media and the minions that enjoy their escapades. No, it has nothing to do with the Kardashians! It’s the Presidential Inauguration. <br />
<br />
Yes folks, it comes every 4 years, it’s the American version of celebrating royalty.<br />
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As the countdown to the 57th Presidential Inauguration is under way, today’s “interweb” linked world gives Americans multiple ways of communicating their love and loathe of the First Family. Oh I can just imagine the snarky remarks over Michelle’s dress plastered across Facebook and Twitter or the trail of Kleenex left by Speaker Boehner on his way to his favorite stool at the <i>Dubliner</i>.<br />
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Everyone should know by now that since the 20th Amendment was ratified on January 23, 1933, the Inauguration happens on January 20th, which this year happens to fall on a Sunday.<br />
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There will be multiple times that Media will talk about how we celebrate the late Martin Luther King, Jr on January 21st, with panning shots of the Lincoln Memorial and significance of the ceremonial coronation of the Big “O’s” 2nd term as the first black President and how he’ll use both the Lincoln and MLK, Jr bibles to be sworn in.<br />
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Nauseated yet? <br />
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Already there have been postings about “Keeping the Bible in the Inauguration,” as well as people decrying that “If Obama doesn’t use a Bible at his ‘swearing in’ then it’s not a legal Presidency.” If the latter is the case, then, um, well by that notion there would be quite a few Presidencies that were illegal actions. <br />
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Per the wonderful folks at www.inaugural.senate.gov, the following “Swearing In” proceedings did not have Bibles present: Washington (2nd), Jefferson (1st & 2nd), Madison (1st & 2nd), Monroe (1st & 2nd), Jackson (1st & 2nd), Van Buren, W.H. Harrison, Tyler, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan, Grant (1st), T Roosevelt (after McKinley death), and L.B. Johnson (after Kennedy death) .<br />
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John Quincy Adams used some variant volume of Law book at his only Inauguration.<br />
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So what’s the count equal then? Yes that would be 20 illegitimate Presidencies, and some by the very Founding Fathers! <br />
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There is no rule that states a Bible needs to be used for the “swearing in” of any President, it just sounds good.<br />
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Outside of the whole “Bible qualification” spasms by a small grouping, I actually have an argument for this Inauguration, as I do for all 2nd terms. It’s not needed!<br />
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Inauguration Day has grown into an annoyance of monstrous proportions that I’d rather watch a Honey Boo-Boo marathon on TLC. Such a dog and pony show it has become that I think sitting through a 2 hour Ben Stein lectern would have more appeal and zest. <br />
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By Noon on Sunday, January 20th, the Big “O” will begin his 2nd term, whether or not Justice Roberts has him take the oath of office. And the Big “O” is not the first to have this happen. <br />
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Here’s some history for the naysayers. <br />
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The first President-elect to have his Inauguration Day land on a Sunday was James Monroe in 1821. Go figure, Congress didn’t know what to do, since Courts and Public Institutions were closed, they had to confer with the Supreme Court on what to do. So after some debate the Supreme Court said “Move it to Monday.” GENUIS!<br />
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In 1849, once again Inauguration Day fell upon a Sunday and Zachary Taylor was told to wait 24 hours to take his oath of office. <br />
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President-elects Rutherford B. Hayes, Woodrow Wilson and Dwight Eisenhower all fell victim to the calendar as well and decided to take their oaths of office in private ceremony at the White House and hold a public ceremony the following Monday. <br />
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But the best nugget of useless historical Inauguration fact happened under William McKinley. <br />
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Back in 1897, the Senate received twice as many Inauguration tickets then the House of Representatives, so naturally the House held a protest of holding their breath and stomping their feet. Apparently the Senate felt that since they confer more with the President then the House, they deserved more tickets. <br />
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So what does a split Congress do in such a situation? They form a committee to make sure tickets are properly distributed among Congress and in 1901 the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies was formed. <br />
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Yes, even then special committees were formed to break impasse in Congress. <br />
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So at Noon on Sunday January 20th, no matter what, the Big “O” will begin his 2nd term no matter when the 'swearing in' begins. I did hear that ESPN’s NFL pre-show will broadcast from outside the Oval Office. <br />
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But with great ceremony comes great expense and who pays for it? Believe it or not, the winning party pays the majority of the bill. <br />
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Which leads into the latest Obama controversy as to why he is hitting up Corporate America for donations? <br />
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In 2009 the Big “O” raised over $53 million in private cash to pay for his Royal, err, I mean Inauguration. That cash was to pay for all the many pageant balls, enormous parade, and even the toilets! Just bring your own toilet paper. <br />
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But, yes, we taxpayers have to flip some the bill, because it wouldn’t be a Washington DC function if we didn’t pay something and in 2009 that came at a cool $40+ million.<br />
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So what did we pay for?<br />
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How about $4.2 million(!) paid to some person with the title of “Architect of the Capital” $4.2 million for the responsibility of making the Capital all pretty and clearing out all the vagrants that reside inside the Capitol as well as the building of the grandstand and bleachers.<br />
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Of course one of the most corrupt cities receives around $2 million for the US Capital Police to direct people to the port-a-potties. <br />
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And the remaining $35 million went to Secret Services, but they won't talk about it.<br />
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It wouldn’t shock me if less people watched the Big “O’s” 2nd Inauguration then tuned in to watch the Royal Wedding in 2011. Hell more people may have watched the final episode of <i>Full House</i>.<br />
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In the end, as with many past Inaugurations, we will hear the newly elected President speak of “the greatness of America past and how the future is bright (gotta wear shades)” and “we’ve seen great riches (head over seas), prosperity has strengthen and bound us together like a Rawlings baseball” and the ever present “there’s a shiny house on a hill with a foreclosed sign on it, we need to restore that house.”<br />
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All the while, many students will be enjoying the day off school in Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by playing HALO 4 or posting complaints on Facebook that there’s nothing on TV. <br />
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That’s it, Slap the Tap, as I’ll be spending Inauguration Day drinking a $100 6-pack of Westvleren 12 beer with the Belgian Monks. <br />
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Cheers!<br />
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