Let's Make A Deal

We've all read or heard how the EuroPeons favor Obama. Being the generous folks we are, I think we should send them Obama to run the EU. They could send us some german cars, french wine, belgian chocolate and the Swedish Bikini Team.

Just a thought.

Who Won The Debate?

The first debate between Senators Obama & McCain was held last night. Somehow, the idea seems to become prevelant that instead of the debate being a forum for each to postulate his ideas and convictions, it is instead a contest to be won or lost.

I don't agree with that. The debate should be a forum where each is asked the same question, given a chance to make his point uninterrupted (Senator Obama, if that word is new to you, have an aide explain it) and if necessary, allow each a chance to rebut their opponent's statement.

As for the winner of last night's debate....well, I think Senator McCain held his composure much better, provided clear and concise answers, and came out looking better than Senator Obama. From what I've seen on TV, CNN disagrees with me, Fox news agrees with me. So all is normal in our world.

I, too, Am An American!

In his blog today, Chuck Baldwin proclaims "I Am An American!" He makes a very compelling argument about the U.S.A. of today versus the U.S.A. of yesteryear. And where this country is headed, if people don't wake up.

For those who don't know, Chuck Baldwin is running for President as the Constitution Party candidate. His article and his candidacy deserve your serious consideration.

Something to Consider

I get a lot of email. At various times I also get the usual "boycott this", "buy that" chain emails. Those are deleted without being sent on. However, this one caught my eye. It addresses two items that are dear to me.

#1) Buy American when possible.

#2) Don't buy Chinese if at all possible.

It is already past June 4th, but I am going to pass it on for your perusal. (Some formatting may be changed in teh cut & paste ... sorry)

Are we Americans as dumb as we appear or is itthat we just do not think? While the Chinese,knowingly and intentionally, export inferior products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets, the media wrings its hands and criticizes the Bush Administration for perceived errors. Yet 70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended. Well, duh..why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? DO IT YOURSELF!! Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, however you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example, the point is.. do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.

If 200 million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!! (Jeff's note: I come up with $4 Billion so I don't know how they are figuring) The downside? Some American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory. ** Downside ?? The solution ? Let's give them fair warning and send our ownmessage. We will not implement this UNTIL June 4,and we will only continue it until July 4. That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hitthe Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arroganceand lawlessness were worth it. Remember, June 4 to July 4.Send this to everybody you know. Show them we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted.

If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives,WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!Pass it on America !!!

Oil & Speculators

An article from GlobalResearch.CA tells us what we have all suspected, and shows the reasons behind it.

"Perhaps 60% of today's oil price is speculation".

Read about it here.

Land of the Formerly Free

In his post yesterday, The Lawdog brings to attention a plan by the Washington D.C. Police to establish neighborhood checkpoints and only allow in residents and those who have a "good reason" to be there. Read about it here.

Free Speech? Apparently Not In Canada

From the five feet of fury blog, comes the story of Canadian harassment of conservative bloggers.

"Richard Warman's friends at the Canadian Human Rights Commission say "freedom of speech is an American concept" they refuse to recognize."

Another blogger being sued by Warman is Ezra Levant, who tells his story here.

As you read their storys, take a minute and consider if it could happen here.

Fed Says "Recession Possible"

According to this article in Yahoo! Finance:

"For the first time, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke acknowledged the U.S. could reel into recession from the powerful punches of housing, credit and financial crises."

Possible? I think if you ask many of the thousands who have lost their job, who have seen their home values drop, who are choosing between food or gas, who have seen the buying power of their dollars drop, that maybe those folks would opine that a recession has already begun.

Granted, not everyone is out of work, not everyone has a home who has dramatically lost value. In some areas, home prices are still increasing, just not at the astronomical rates of the past few years.

But for those who have lost jobs, lost equity and are having a tough time making ends meet, I think they would say the recession is here.

Video Possibly Explains Cockpit Accidental Discharge

Here is a video showing a possible explanation for the accidental dishcharge of a pilot's handgun as he was preparing to start his landing approach.

Heading For Jericho?

Interesting essay on Chuck Baldwin dot Com

:A friend recently turned me on to the CBS television series, Jericho. I watch so little network television that I confess to never having seen the show before this week. Obviously, then, I am quite uninformed as to the overall plot and previous episodes. What I saw Tuesday evening, however, stunned me. Why? Because it very aptly depicted what could become a very real-life scenario for these United States in the not-so-distant future." (Emphasis mine)

Read the whole article by clicking here.

Iranians Feeling Jiggy?

I heard on the radio this morning that Iranian Republican Guard troops in fast attack boats were buzzing a few of our navy ships as they were preparing to enter The Straight of Hormuz. In addition, they dropped boxes in the waters and made threats over the radio to the navy ships. The broadcaster said one ship was very close to "defending itself" against the Iranian boats.

I wish it had. Apparently the Iranians are feeling their oats and feel they can harass us with impunity. It's time to bitch slap them back into their place.

A Little Humor

A recent telephone poll asked people in Texas whether or not they think illegal immigration is a serious problem.




29% of respondents answered: "Yes, it is a serious problem."

71% of respondents answered: "No es una problema seriosa."

Lest We Forget

Even if you didn't think of it yourself, it will be pretty hard not to see something today that will remind you of what happened 6 years ago today, on September 11th, 2001.

There will be lots of different prognostications about the event and what has happened since. A read worthy of your time can be found on Dave Markowitz's "Blog O'Stuff".

My own thoughts are in a different direction. I have heard that back in the days of The American Revolution, somewhere between 15% - 30% of the colonialists were pro-revolution, a similar number favored staying British, and the rest were in the middle. Probably much like folks today, there were more concerned with making a living, keeping their kids out of trouble and just wanting a peaceful life.

Many today tell me that only a small percentage of Islamic believers are the radicals we might catigorize as "Islamofacists." That most followers of Islam are just like us, they seek peace, want to work at getting ahead and want a better life. That may be true, I don't know.

What troubles me is this. If a minority of the "Americans" living in the colonial area that became the original 13 States could start a revolution that birthed a country, what could a minority of Islamofacists do on a worldwide scale, if they are not fought against, and fought with the goal of winning?

Think on it.

Ya Think?

The Government Accountability Office says the Department of Homeland Security is failing in it's mission to protect "The Homeland." Whoda thunk it?

Read about it here

More Real ID Stuff

From an article in USA Today: "Six state legislatures are defying a federal law requiring new driver's licenses that aim to prevent identity theft, fraud and terrorism."

Hopefully, this is just the beginning and the actions of these States will prompt others to stand up to the FedGov on Real ID and it's implications as a national ID card. It will be interesting to watch the actions of the feds as this unfolds. Will the feds bow to the states, or respond in a manner to force compliance? We shall see....

Is she really going to go?

Some time back, I wrote a little about Cindy Sheehan. In that post, I pointed out my opinion of what Cindy Sheehan was really after. Early this morning, I read an article on AOL (yeah, I know....YUK!) regarding her stepping down as the "face of the peace movement" and returning to California. Since it was early and I was preparing for other things, I only had time to skim the article, but there were references in it that ripped little miss Cindy. Imagine my surprise when I went back later only to find a different AP article under the same headline that was more complimentary to her.

This article is most similar to the one I originally saw this morning. "Good Riddance Attention Whore". Hmmmm, I can only think of one thing to say to the first person that said that about Ms. Sheehan.

I wish I had your way with words.

Like I said in my original post about Cindy Sheehan, her 15 minutes of fame would fade and she will now, hopefully, drift off to oblivion.

He Said What???

I had planned to post a liitle bit this morning about a car show at a festival I went to in Harrison, AR yesterday. Instead, I see a headline on my computer about comments made by former President Jimmy Carter regarding the current administration.

What I find particularly galling about his comments in this article was President Carter referring to President Bush's adminstrayion as "the worst in history" in international relations. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't he the man who sat in the Oval Office while Iranian militants held U.S. Citizens hostage for 444 days? Isn't he the man who's inaction emboldened third world countries to start taking action against the United States, instead of the verbal pot shots they had limited thremselves to prior to the Iranian Hostage Crisis? This from a man who was afraid to take action to protect this country, and instead chose to react (poorly, IMNSHO) to events as they happened?

I have often heard of President Carter's administration referred to as the worst in modern history. Maybe he is just trying to push that label on someone else.

President Carter, stick to building houses for poor folks, and leave governing to others.

I Like Mike

After taking a look at the GOP candidates being offered, I have decided I like Former Govenor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas. His positions are closest to my own out of those running. He appears to be a true "Reagan Rupublican", a conservative running in a party where many have become RINOs (Republican In Name Only).

Take a minute and check out his website, ExploreHuckabee, and see how his views compare with your own.

Will This Be the 2008 Campaign Cry?

Despite the fact that research on Global Warming and Greenhouse Gases is still ongoing, Democrat Presidential Candidate John Edwards is calling for caps on "greenhouse gas emissions." Read the article here.

If I sound like a skeptic on global warming, it is because I am. When I was in High School (mid 70s) the "cause de jour" was the coming ice age. We were told that a new ice age was coming and there was nothing that could be done to stop it. Then the shift started to global warming, only this time we are told that by massive restrictions on "greenhouse gas emissions" we can delay and/or stop it. Unless you follow the theory that says global warming is inevitable and will melt the polar ice caps and cause a massive increase in cloud cover (due to more moisture in the air), which will reflect the Sun's energy away from Earth and cause a new ice age.

Despite the claims of many, global warming is still a theory. But I feel it will become a focal point of the 2008 Presidential Campaign, a race that may be run on conflicting theorys of psuedo-science and used to deflect attention from real problems and possible solutions.

Check out these books on Global Warming

Warming to Hit DC

Former VP Al Gore is set to testify about "Global Warming" today before the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee. He is demanding special treatment (typical) but even after being granted waivers and exceptions to the rules, he is refusing to follow the special accords granted to him. Read more.

Regardless of when (or if) he submits his testimony, I think it will be a warm day inside the Senate EPW Committee.

Check out Books on Global Warming