More Immigration Crap

I ran across this little POV while randomly blog surfing:

"What people like the George W. Bush don’t understand is that capitalism is not a one-way street. When the demand for workers is high and the supply of laborers is low, the rational solution would be for employers to raise wages, increase benefits, or both to ensure that supply catches up to demand. But that would mean actually spending more money, and we can’t have that."


Isn't that how free market economics supposed to work? Frankly we have a long bad history when it comes to the lovely job of crop picking of using the cheapest labor we can possibly find from slaves to share croppers to migrant workers and now illegal immigrants. This goes back to my very first post in this blog about how this administration pays lip service to free market economic theory (amongst other things). The guest worker program is a soft subsidy to the agriculture, construction, food and beverage, hospitality, and food processing industries. It artificially depresses wages thereby keeping prices low. Americans will do the work just not for what the industries want to pay.

And to be perfectly honest once this work is done by guest workers rather than illegal immigrants you're looking at the very real possibility of a Guest Workers Union. And then we're screwed in a new way.

Now how do ya like them apples?

Red Vs Blue? Opt out

Believe it or not, I don't read a lot of blogs regularly. I tend to click a link on my alliance blog roll and see where it takes me and then follow a link from there to somewhere else. About once a week I visit DailyKoS or Instapundit to see what's up. Slowly this random blog surfing has reinforced one belief of mine and that's this: There are a lot of sheep out there. Red sheep, Blue Sheep, and just plain freaky conspiracy theory oriented sheep that think the Illuminati stole their wool. (That last herd of sheep can make for some highly entertaining reading though.)

I'll come back to that later. Having been on the internet now for 12 years and having been a BBSer before that I am well aware of one of the true downsides of e-communication. It allows people to behave really badly in "public" with no real consequences. Then came blogs where you could yell whatever you want all day long. And boy is it ugly out there. I get 1300 hits on Google when I search for the phrase "Kill all liberals". Is the country really that divided?

Nope.

But there are those who have elected to be spoon fed their information by sources they know are biased and they have bought every word lock stock and barrel. They have isolated themselves from any voice other than that which they already want to believe. And those media sources sell a "we are better than them" package of goods. And I'm sure that's comforting to some and its nice to feel that your right and superior and all. But its an illusion. Nothing more.
The Democratic Party stinks. The Republican Party stinks. Why? Because they are both all about money, influence, and agendas. Theirs. Not yours.

And to this end they are buying media so that more people can further insulate themselves from dissenting voices. And we are falling for it en masse.

So here's a radical idea.

Opt Out.

We aren't going to get real solutions that work to solve this countries problems until most of us decide to stop being spoon fed biased pablum and become engaged in the national debate. If all you are doing is regurgitating what some pundit or talking head said then you are part of the problem. Real answers come from real debate and the free exchange of NEW ideas. If you're buying what they are selling you then you aren't contributing new ideas.

And frankly this is a new world that's changing every minute of every day and America needs every new idea it can get. The competition is fierce out there.

Here is what I am asking you to do, watch some BBC News, read some Reuters, go see what the Libertarians are up to, go chat with members of the Reform party, and the next time someone spouts off an opinion that's the complete opposite of yours ask them why and then actually listen. Why? Because they may not be completely wrong. Complex problems get solved by looking at them from every angle. Not right angles or even left angles. (I know, but work with me here)

And Now For Something Completely Different...

Bunny Suicide

Condolences

I'd like to offer my condolences to Glen Reynolds and family. Instapundit's Grandmother, Charlsie Farrior Teal, passed away today at the age of 91.

Illegal Immigration Indecision 2006

Unless you've had your head in the sand you've heard part of the ongoing debate about immigration reform. I live in Texas so conversations about illegal immigration, illegal immigrants, and border security are only slightly less common than conversations about college football. And in an environment like that you rapidly come to a few conclusions:

A: Everyone has an opinion on it.
B: People opinions on it actually have little to do with which party they vote for.
C: Border security is a joke.

A comes as no surprise in a state that borders Mexico. B is suprising because you rarely ever find any other issue that card carrying PETA members and NRA members actually agree on (except for maybe a balanced budget). And C is just disturbing.

One charge against illegals is that they raise the crime rate. And the simple fact of the matter is its true. Now before I get strung up in a tree and beaten like a pinata let me explain why its true.

On average 3% of the total population has arrested for something. Public Intoxication, Driving Under the Influence, driving with no liscence etc etc at 13,000,000 illegals that an extra 390,000 crimes.
Of the 1% of the population thats actually been busted for a felony that boils down to 130,000 felonies. Thats leaves 230,000 misdemeanors many of which were avoidable had said illegal immigrant actually gone through legal channels where they bring you up to speed on the differences between Mexican law and US and state law. And thats only if they commit a single crime apiece.

And you run into some really weird misconceptions about the law from illegals and some legals. A good common example is the number of immigrants that believe donating to the Fraternal Order of Police or the Police Benevolence Association is the same as making your monthly bribe payment to the local police chief. Few things piss off a cop more than saying that you've already paid your bribe to them that month. Its a great way to turn a speeding ticket into something worse.

Here's another common problem. The age for consent in Mexico is 13. Its 17 in Texas AND you cannot be more than 3 years older than your partner. I can go to Meganslaw.com and pull up a huge list of "sex offenders" that would have really benefitted by having been brought up to speed on that fact. And you run across other little legal differences like firing guns in the air in the city limits is illegal regardless of what holiday it is. Same goes for fireworks, open containers of alcohol, corporal punishment of spouses etc etc etc ad nauseum. (For the record I'm dating a public defender. And its her stories from work I'm referring to.)

If both sides of the aisle weren't so worried about the Latino vote we may have seen a solution by now. But they are, so we haven't.

So here is what I think we really need a bipartisan bill that:

• Strengthens border security
• Punishes employers for hiring illegals
• A guest worker program that doesn't create a class of disposable abusable workers
• A 6 month grace period for illegals to declare themselves and apply for guest worker status, go home, and/or apply for citizenship
• Altering our sucktacular War on Drugs so that its actually a War on Trafficking and put the Coyotes and the Drug smugglers out of buisness as they use the many of the same routes and methods
• Altering NAFTA to provide more stimulus to Mexico's economy preferably by rewarding the removal of corrupt officials and cracking down on trafficking on Mexico's side of the border.
  

Then both parties twist arms until it gets near unanimous approval and they both find some other issue to garner Hispanic support for their parties.

You'll note I didn't put build a whopping great wall on the border in that list. Why? Because unless your mine the length of the wall and install enough gun turrets on it so that every inch of the wall can be covered by crossfire it won't work. It'll just be a waste of taxpayer money and there's enough of that going on as it is.

Or

The legal citizens of America conspire to fake another great depression and then all the illegals go home on their own. Which is about as likely to happen as my first suggestion.

My proposal isn't a cure by any means, but its a good place to start.

Downing Street Memo 2.0

I get to be right twice in the same week. After this post I'm going out for beer. Beer made in Texas by Americans dammit!

First Up Downing Street Memo 2.0 has been released. W had every intention of going after Saddam no matter what. I steadfastly maintained that he would try to finish his Father's work if elected and I think as time goes on I'll be proven right. But here its is:

NY Times

March 27, 2006

Leaders

Bush Was Set on Path to War, British Memo Says

By Don Van Notta Jr.

LONDON — In the weeks before the United States-led invasion of Iraq, as the United States and Britain pressed for a second United Nations resolution condemning Iraq, President Bush's public ultimatum to Saddam Hussein was blunt: Disarm or face war.

But behind closed doors, the president was certain that war was inevitable. During a private two-hour meeting in the Oval Office on Jan. 31, 2003, he made clear to Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain that he was determined to invade Iraq without the second resolution, or even if international arms inspectors failed to find unconventional weapons, said a confidential memo about the meeting written by Mr. Blair's top foreign policy adviser and reviewed by The New York Times.

"Our diplomatic strategy had to be arranged around the military planning," David Manning, Mr. Blair's chief foreign policy adviser at the time, wrote in the memo that summarized the discussion between Mr. Bush, Mr. Blair and six of their top aides.

"The start date for the military campaign was now penciled in for 10 March," Mr. Manning wrote, paraphrasing the president. "This was when the bombing would begin."

Here's a little commentary from the Washington Posts chief political reporter Dan Balz from earlier today

Dan Balz: The Times story follows up with more detail about the memo detailing the meeting between Bush and Blair in early 2003. There's no question about the authenticity of the memo, nor was there any doubt about the validity of the infamous Downing Street Memo, written in the summer of 2002.

Some of the information is not new and by now there is a pretty substantial body of evidence that the Bush administration was planning for war with Iraq for more than a year before the invasion.

More


Now the funny thing is I expect to hear a big red So What? from certain sides of the blogosphere. Followed by numerous defenses of his actions. He lied to us to promote his agenda. He's done it since and he'll do it again. And what I have to say about it is this:

Dammit, I knew we should have sent in a second pretzel!

I told you so....

The last sentence in an earlier post of mine stated that I don't believe the administration has a clear plan to get Iraq fixed and our troops out of there. Looks like I was right

Bush: Troops to Stay in Iraq Past '08

By Jim VandeHei

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 22, 2006; Page A01

President Bush acknowledged yesterday that the war in Iraq is dominating nearly every aspect of his presidency, and he served notice for the first time that he expects the decision on when all U.S. troops come home to fall on his successors.

In an hour-long news conference, Bush said the "trauma" of war has left the public and even some lawmakers in his own party understandably shaken and skeptical of his vow that the United States will prevail.

The president rejected calls for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, chief architect of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Listen, every war plan looks good on paper until you meet the enemy," Bush said, acknowledging mistakes as the United States was forced to switch tactics and change a reconstruction strategy that offered targets for insurgents.

Resign? Hell no. After all by his standards the mission is accomplished.
He should be canned. Or better still, Rumsfeld should commit Sepuku!

"I regret that I have but one life to give for my country!"

Although I'm not sure if you can disembowel yourself while your head is in your ass. Unless you've bent over backwards to do it. But honestly I don't think Rumsfeld would bend over backwards for anyone including himself. And I don't think he's very flexible. I mean he makes Al Gore look effin limber after all. I'm curious as to who would be his second? Wolfowitz? I should start a petition or maybe an open letter to Rumsfeld. I'll draft that after dinner.

And while we are talking about Secretaries of Defense. Farewell to Casper Weinberger a man of conviction, courage, and restraint. Unbeknownst to most people he was also a hilarious talk show guest and could have had a second successful career as a comedian. Thank you for your service. You'd have done a better job than Rumsfeld by far. I'm pretty certain he died of an apoplectic fit after reading Rumsfeld's article in the Washington Post.

(Kudos to Everything Between for pointing me to that last link)

And in non news I ran across this while randomly surfing blogs

Chickenhawky

(With sincere apologies to Lewis Carroll's ghost)

'Twas Cheney and the Slimy Rove
Didst Rice and Rumsfeld in the shade
Convince the mimsy Bush to go
And to Iraq invade

More

The first line is the best IMO

New Filthy Lie Assignment: Evil Glenn's Exciting Weekend

To be honest I could not possibly fathom what Darth Glenn would find exiting. Our minds exist on two vastly different planes. I hold true to a higher calling while he is..well...Glen. Do angels know of what demons dream? I think not. Nor should they. So rather than risk my sanity descending the darkest depths of Darth's debauchery I can instead show you how that weekend would begin...

5:59 am arise from brooding on the throne (Evil never sleeps after all)
6:00 am begin cooking breakfast

1 pound butterflies

3 penguin embryos (shells on)

1 cup lemon juice

1 Tbsp of cayenne pepper

½ cup of grits

1 cup of water

De-wing butterflies. Place wings in separate bowl from bodies. Place butterfly bodies in microwave for two minutes. Watch carefully. Once popping stops remove bodies from microwave. Discard bodies.

Place embryos in pants. Once embryos are warm place embryos in blender (shells included) and combine remaining ingredients on high until a paste is formed. Set aside.

In a small pot bring water to boil add grits and cook for 5 minutes then reduce heat to low and cover. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste

Take butterfly wing/penguin/pepper paste and rub into the eyes of nearest captive hobo. Relish the screams of pain and note the clawing at the eyes. Photograph, record, or video tape according to taste. Repeat as desired.

Serves 12

Eat the grits.

Serves 1

Leftover wing/penguin/pepper paste can be frozen in a plastic container for later use.

Official Stance on the War in Iraq

Since its rather hard to tell from previous posts just exactly what my stance is I'll make it clear.

1: We should have finished mop up operations in Afghanistan before doing anything in Iraq.
2: Right or wrong its being really badly run and has from the beginning.
3: We broke Iraq we should stay there long enough to fix it.

I don't believe W's motives were pure when it came to invading Iraq. I stated the day he won the first election, "He's going to do two things; lower the capital gains tax and declare war on Iraq." And my reason for saying this has alot more to do with the dynamics of his family than anything. I think deep down inside he just wanted to finish what his father started and make his dad proud. Not exactly the most sinister of motives is it?

And frankly I could see the political logic of a war in Iraq. However I believe that we should have had more international support before doing so. If a much broader internationally supported coalition had done the job when they didn't find the WMDs it wouldn't have looked anywhere near as bad for us.

Now back to my original statement. This war has been poorly run from the get go. We didn't build a large enough coalition, we didn't send in enough troops, we didn't stop the looting of Baghdad therby preventing weapons caches from falling into the wrong hands, we refused to allow Iraqi police recruits to be trained by non coalition forces (like France and Germany) outside the country the list goes on and on.....

And who do I blame? Donald Rumsfeld. Period. The original decision to send in one quarter of the troops Generals requested was his. A tabletop war gamer could have done a better job. I've played games whose artificial intelligences had a better sense of strategy than Rumsfeld.

I was for getting rid of Saddam and I never ever imagined that the operation would handled so poorly that we'd still be there today. But there we are and frankly unless we want another to create another unfriendly radically governed Islamic nation in the middle east we're going to have to stay there and see this thing through.

Women Wage Key Campaigns for Democrats

NARBERTH, Pa. — If the Democrats have their way, the 2006 Congressional elections will be the revenge of the mommy party.

Democratic women are running major campaigns in nearly half of the two dozen most competitive House races where their party hopes to pick up enough Republican seats to regain control of the House. Democratic strategists are betting that the voters' unrest and hunger for change — reflected consistently in public opinion polls — create the perfect conditions for their party's female candidates this year.

"In an environment where people are disgusted with politics in general, who represents clean and change?" asks Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Women."



I think this strategy falls under the category of "Its so crazy it just might work!"

Now before the boos and jeers start allow me to explain why its a smart idea. Nothing breaks up an old boys network like women of equal status. And the Republican Party readiily falls into that category.

Additionally given the times the same positions that could hurt a male candidate in a race against an incumbent Republican would be far more appealing when expressed by a female candidate. Why? Because women can't look wimpy.

IMO This is the only decent idea the DCCC has had this campaign season. However they have implemented it poorly. They have trampled on other Democratic candidates that had broad grassroots support and had previously lost to Republican incumbents by less than 5%. Instead they are shoving hand picked outside the district candidates down their constituents throats and have really pissed off a lot of people.

They screwed over what may have been their best hope in Ohio Paul Hackett and pulled his backing.

And there are other races where the DCCC has done similiar things to get its way. I may not be a political genius but pissing off your ground level supporters and making people fearful of becoming candidates for your party because you will bail on them as soon as you find someone shinier isn't the best way to retain party loyalty. In fact its a great way of creating a new party and royally screwing yourself over in the process.

Morons vs Justice

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1729396,00.html

The link is to an article about threats to the Judiciary from right wind nuts egged on an/or justified by none other than a few of Texans like Senator John Cornyn and the ever popular Tom "Ethics Schmethics" Delay.

Ya know. If it were anyone else I might be surprised. As advesarial as politcs is the level of behaviour we're seeing from our leaders is really getting deplorable. And not even the fun deplorable like Italy where fistfights in parliment aren't uncommon. Then you could see your Congressional Reps on ESPN and CSpan! Wee!!! Maybe then people would be more interested in politics. We need to fire them all, change campaign finance laws, and then have new elections.


Thats it for today. I'll get back on track tomorrow. Started a new job and have training classes that start at 7 am. Bleh.

Alliance Filthy Lie Assignment: Smoke and Mirrors

Instapundit noted how Wal-Mart was using bloggers to try to dilute its image as The Source of All Evil. Since we in the Alliance of Free Blogs know that Glen is the source of all evil we feel the need to explain what is really going on.

Wal Mart and Glen are one. Follow me down this dark and dangerous driveway of logic if you will.

A: Glen is the source of all evil.
B: Wal Mart is Evil
C: Wal Mart is Glen.

Simple enough? No? Sit there for a second. Lose your preconceived notions of reality. Feel the evil. Taste it. Roll it around on your palette. Do you understand now? Its obvious isn't it? Darth Glen is trying to foist his past misdeeds onto his Wal Mart subsidiary thereby lowering the publics perception of his truly evil nature! Then the PR firm of "Wal Mart" makes nicey nice with the public and once again Glen's records of misdeeds are effectively expunged. Do you see the genius of it?!?! He'll be free to do as he anything. Leave the house, run for office, play Keno in Reno with Deano, or whatever pleases him! He'll have a clean slate!

I say thee nay! Not while I have breath in my body! I shall not allow this deviously daring deception to dawn! And I charge you gentle reader to unite with me in the great cause!

Here's how.

First load your ENTIRE address book into one email.
Second Copy and paste a link to this warning of the machinations of evil into the aforementioned email without the usual glowing praise of my true genius.
Third at the end of the email ask them to forward it to their family and loved ones.
Fourth and Finally make the subject line the following phrase:

Sub: What a Freaking Weirdo!

I know that in your heart of hearts it pains you to denigrate me so. But fear not for the reason of the neccessity for blasphemy is nigh, They will be awestruck that you had the audacity...Nay the Temerity to speak so cruelly of me and will initially be so outraged that they in turn will write to all of their friends, family, coworkers, former school mates, old flames, and elementary school teachers bombasting you for such profane abuse of me BEFORE they even read these words of warning! And thus shall the entire world be warned within mere seconds! And Darth Glen will be duly thwarted again! And the world will have me to thank once again.

Now you see the true genius of my plan.

Feel free to comment amongst yourselves AFTER you write that email.


Tags: *instapundit* *Satire* *humor* *alliance of free blogs*

And They're Off!

I would like to personally take the time to thank the 87 out of 93.5% of registered voters in Texas that read my blog who took my advice and saved themselves for Kinky. Now that the Texas primaries are over here is the lay of the land:

The Dem's have a true underdog in the race for the US Senate its Barbara Ann Radnofsky vs Tom "What me, ethics?" Delay bedfellow Kay "I only vote the party line" Bailey Hutchinson. Radnofsky does have the small technicality of a runoff election vs perrenial losing candidate Gene Kelly. A man that has lost so many senate races that some suspect he's in the employ of the GOP. Frankly I think he's running as good of a race as a tree sloth can. But thats just me.

I'll be covering that race quite a bit as I would so loooove to see KBH out of that seat. Why? *sniffle* She talked mean to me! Ok actually it would be more accurate to say her aides send out really condescending form letters whenever you contact KBH by fax or email. So go Barbara Ann! They'll also both be facing Minuteman and Mensa member (Yes, you can be a member of both.) Arthur W. Loux as an independent candidate (provided he can get the 45,00 signatures needed to appear on the ballot)

Here's how the US House races are looking:

Primary races involving an Incumbent are in boldface followed by an asterisk (*)

• in CD 1
  • Democrats have nominated Roger L. Owen
• in CD 3
  • Republicans* have re-nominated Congressman Sam Johnson
• in CD 7
  • Democrats have nominated Jim Henley
• in CD 10
  • Democrats Ted Ankrum (38%) and Paul Foreman (35%) appear headed for a Runoff on Tuesday 11 April
• in CD 14
  • Republicans* have re-nominated Congressman Ron Paul
• in CD 15
  • Republicans have nominated Paul Haring
• in CD 16
  • Democrats* have re-nominated Congressman Silvestre Reyes
• in CD 17
  • Republicans have nominated Nicholas Vancampen "Van" Taylor
• in CD 22
  • Republicans* have re-nominated Congressman Tom DeLay
• in CD 28
  • Democrats* have nominated Congressman Henry R. Cuellar
• in CD 30
  • Republicans Wilson Aurbach (45%) and Amir Omar (36%) appear headed for a Runoff on Tuesday 11 April
• 
  

Tags: *Texas* *Texas Primary Results* *Elections*

Texas Primaries Begin

The Texas primaries begin today so make sure you don't go.

Remember to Save Yourself for Kinky!

Middle Eastern Madness

Have you noticed that it looks like the Middle East is about to explode like a barrel of highly flammable stuff that mom said would put your eye out?

I will make a prediction. It won’t any time soon. Now keep in mind that my last prediction was made the day W was “elected” president. And that prediction was this,”He’ll lower the capital gains tax and invade Iraq.” So, so far I’m 1 for 1.

1: Iran nuclear capabilities

They are about 10 years from being able to produce nuclear weapons. Now should the US or Israel do a few air strikes or missile strikes they’ll double their efforts and have them in 5 years. And for those 5 years both of us will be putting up with more terrorist attacks than we can shake a plutonium rod at.

Now as for their threats if they are referred to the UN Security Council they’ll do X, Y, or Z? They aren’t letting us inspect and they are planning on going full scale anyway otherwise why would they kick inspectors out? Additionally the Security Council isn’t going to do Iraq style sanctions. Why? Because Iran supplies 20% of the worlds oil (The US buys none from them.) and if they turn off the taps gas will shoot to 5$ a gallon and we’ll be wondering who is sanctioning who. What will most likely happen is most of their embassies will be closed and all of their diplomat's passports will be revoked cutting off the Govt from the rest of the world. The people's lives go on and Iraq's Government ends up looking weak. Iran’s economy sucks, the president isn’t too popular and this is pretty much his way of keeping the people distracted and putting the blame elsewhere “Its not me, it’s the MAN keeping us down!”

2: Hammas in charge of Palestine

If they could do something, they’d have done long before now. The most they’ve ever managed to do was make perfect copies of US 100 and 20$ bills by the billions and build hospitals, schools, and buy weapons. (Incidentally Syria gave them the printing presses and the all important paper for that piece of work) Of course they paid the teachers salary and dictated the curriculum. All they had to do was wait until the kids were of voting age to win the elections. That shows that someone there has a brain or two and can think in the long term. Lets hope Israel didn't kill whoever came up with that plan. He might come in useful soon.

3: Iraq Civil War

Nope. Why? Because in the entire 5000 years that they’ve been a country they’ve never had a civil war. Ever. Sectarian violence yes, civil war no. Sectarian violence isn’t uncommon in the middle east. Happened in Pakistan a few mos ago. Bombings everywhere. Happens in Palestine but it gets very little news coverage.

What you are going to see is Iran start howling about the nuclear trade deal the W just gave India and using that as another excuse to continue enrichment. The administration will give a lame reason like, “India is our friend! Iran talks mean to us.” Which is true however Iran is still mad at us for Toppling their Government and installing the Shah after which the whole country went into the crapper. And I can say that if the situation were reversed we’d still be pissed at them too. Really pissed. Pissed with a capital P.

Hammas is going to talk big but do little. Otherwise all that aid to Palestine dries up and people start dying of hunger and disease and Hammas’ hospitals will be standing room only. Then the PLO gets voted back in. They don't want that.

As for Iraq? I know one thing. By the end of summer ALL of the National Guard comes home. Why? Because the National Guard is under the authority of the State governments. They can only be loaned to the Federal government 3 years out of every 5.

And then things in Iraq will get really interesting. What will the administration do? I don’t know. And I have a feeling that they don’t either.

Bush Shafts Veterans Again

Once again W has discovered a new way to cut costs by screwing over veterans. First it was deducting disability payments from military pensions
Now its cutting the healthcare benefits they were promised when they signed up.

"WASHINGTON - At least tens of thousands of veterans with non-critical medical issues could suffer delayed or even denied care in coming years to enable President Bush to meet his promise of cutting the deficit in half - if the White House is serious about its proposed budget.

After an increase for next year, the Bush budget would turn current trends on their head. Even though the cost of providing medical care to veterans has been growing by leaps and bounds, White House budget documents assume a cutback in 2008 and further cuts thereafter."

More


The first article was the point I completely gave up on Bush. When he was first seeking election he courted Veterans heavily. This is what he calls gratitude? Thanks but no thanks. At least when soldiers are in the field they know exactly who their friends are. None of this "Hi stick with me so I can stab you in the back when its convenient" crap. To quote Teddy Roosevelt,
"A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards."

Oh and to those who believe that none should speak ill of the president I leave you with another Teddy Roosevelt quote:

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."

Corruption and Waste Still Par for the Course

Here's a great article about a well meaning piece of old legislation being used to bilk billions of dollars from Joe Taxpayer every year.

"Buried in the huge budget-reconciliation bill, on which House and Senate conferees are putting the final touches right now, are a few paragraphs that accomplish an extraordinary feat. They roll back the price of a barrel of crude oil to what it sold for two years ago. They create this pretend price for the benefit of a small group of the politically well connected. You still won't be able to buy gasoline for $1.73 per gal. as you did then, instead of today's $2.28. You still won't be able to buy home heating oil for $1.60 per gal., in place of today's $2.39. But a select group of investors and companies will walk away with billions of dollars in tax subsidies, not from oil but from the marketing of a dubious concoction of synthetic fuel produced from coal and dependent on government tax credits tied to the price of oil."

more


Here's a the great part The recent cuts on school lunch programs, student loans, etc etc didn't save as much as this gem wastes.

I'm really starting to feel that none of our leaders have a real long term plan for America. Only short term financial and political interests. If politics get any more corrupt than they are now we'll be seeing a return to the late 1800's when Congress received stock as gifts from companies they supposed to legislate and when the Federal Govt turned a blind eye to the massacres of striking railroad workers.