Delftsman

Let The Games Begin...

McVain has made his choice, and I think it just may be a winner for him. This poster I borrowed stole from GUYK pretty much sums it up:

I would only change it to read "the Keynan Socialist and the Delaware Socialist", but thats just a minor quibble..

Blog Ranking

While checking to see if there was actually anyone reading what I put forth here in my little corner of the B'sphere, I noticed that my TTLB ranking had dropped to the status of "Wiggly Worm"...I had always said that I didn't do this Blog as anything other than a way to vent my opinions, but I must say that it IS bit discouraging that I don't have the talent to evoke any more interest in my opinions than that of fish bait.

Too bad for those unfortunates that stumble in here that I have waaaaay too large an ego to just quit. I intend to continue to the bitter end.

I do have just one question..just how are these ratings concocted anyway?
Two days ago I was at least a "Slithering Reptile", just how do you far so far so fast? I remember the heady days when I was a "Marauding Marsupial", and I know why I fell from that stage, but I just don't get the quick fall in two days with no variables seeming to have changed in that time.

Enough whining for now, lest you think I may be turning into a Dim-0-crat.

Quote of the Day

The biggest problem we face today is the abject apathy of people that don't even know they are "We the People" -- Ted Nugent

I heard this statement today in an interview Glenn Beck and even though the Nuge said it as a throw away line in the course of conversation, I believe that it truly encapsulates what is wrong with our country today.

Our Forefathers founded this nation on a truly revolutionary idea; that the PEOPLE were to be the power in charge of our society. That idea has served us in good stead for over two hundred years, but things seem to be falling apart in the last twenty years or so, and Mr. Nugents statement explains it all.

A country founded on the idea that power flows from the governed to the governors can only succeed and flourish if the PEOPLE remain engaged and actively participate in that governance.
Somewhere down the line "We the People" seem to have been infected with the intellectually lazy idea that we can "let the government take of of it" and still remain a free society.
That attitude inevitably leads to tyranny, and at this juncture we have progressed at least (a) quarter half of the way to that foul state.

It is somewhat discouraging to realize that someone who describes himself as "just a guitar player" is one of the most astute voices for freedom in evidence today.

This country needs to awaken from its state of somnambulism , and SOON, or we will wake up in the near future to find we have put ourselves in the bonds of servitude to the State just because we were too damned lazy to do the work and maintain the vigilism necessary to maintain our individual freedom.

Just for Grins

Talk Dirty to Me

What is it when a man talks dirty to a woman?
Sexual harassment.

What is it when a woman talks dirty to a man?
$3.99 a minute.

Minnesota Funny

Now this is just Minnesota funny

The Presidential election was too close to call. Neither the Republican candidate nor the Democratic candidate had enough votes to win.. There was much talk about ballot recounting, court challenges, etc., but a week-long ice fishing competition seemed the sportsmanlike way to settle things. The candidate that caught the most fish at the end of the week would win the election.

Therefore, it was decided that there should be an ice fishing contest between the two candidates to determine the winner.

After much of back and forth discussion, it was decided that the contest take place on a remote frozen lake in northern Minnesota ..

There were to be no observers present, and both men were to be sent out separately on this isolated lake and return at 5 P.M. with their catch for counting and verification by a team of neutral parties. At the end of the first day, John McCain returned to the starting line and he had ten fish.

Soon, Obama returned and had no fish. Well, everyone assumed he was just having bad day or something and hopefully, he would catch up the next day.

At the end of the 2nd day John McCain came in with 20 fish and Obama came in again with none.

That evening, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, got together secretly with Obama and said, "Obama, we think John McCain is a low-life, cheatin' son-of-a-gun. We want you to go out tomorrow and don't even bother with fishing. Just spy on him and see just how he is cheating."

The next night (after John McCain returns with 50 fish),
Harry and Nancy said to Obama,

"Well, tell us, how is John Mc. cheating?"

Obama replied, "You're not going to believe this,

but he's cutting holes in the ice!"

H/T to Jack and Catfish

Good guys 1, Goblin 0

Here is a story of a Goblin that found out just a minute too late that he had bitten off more than he could chew, even though he had come prepared with both a firearm and a baseball bat.

The story of what ensued when said goblin accosted two (seemingly) defenseless naked (?) homeowners in an attempt to redistribute the wealth they possessed (goblin MUST be a Democrat who thought he was a politician!) puts the lie to "submit when faced with a violent criminal act to prevent getting hurt"..while they DID sustain some minor contusions and one bite, the attacker fared far worse, and if convicted of all charges (after he's discharged from the hospital), he will have approximately 10 to 15 years in the grey bar hotel to contemplate his folly.

The only thing that would make me happier is if the Angevines had been a little more aggressive and used the goblins firearm against him and sent him to the morgue instead of to the court, still, I LOVE it when a crime turns out right for the good like this one did. Lets just hope the Court doesn't mess this one up and let the SOB back out with a slap on the wrist and a "play nice now" admonition.

One Insurance Guy Gets It

The sentiment of this sign encapsulates the stark IDIOCY of the Dem's base.

Right now they keep saying "you can't drill your way to energy independence", yet they think that the "Rich" are an inexaustible source of revenue ?!?

Interesting question: IF the federal government would tax confiscate 100% of any personal earnings over $500,000.00, how long could it operate the government on those funds at current rates of expenditure?

I'm still researching it, but I think the answer will/would shock most taxpayers.
If you happen to know the figure, please let me know.

In the mean time, here are some (outrageous to me) Tax Facts:

1. There are 1.2 MILLION paid tax preparers in the US. (that is SIX times the number of troops we have in Iraq. These are some of the best and brightest minds we have in our populace and all their efforts are expended to feed the greed of the Federal government; instead of contributing to the GNP, they are working to be accountants on the drain of the GNP by government.
Think of it...we have a veritable "Tax Army" working right here in the good ol'e US of A !

2 The number of pages in the tax code and regulations stands at 54,846 in 2003. (according to tax publisher CCH.) Any wonder that no can understand the Tax Code any more? (Complexity is one way to increase and/or hide revenue; when even two IRS agents can't agree on the answer to a majority of tax questions; it's easy to abuse the system against the payor in favor of the government.)

3 AMT designed to catch 155 taxpayers will soon catch 37 million.
The alternative minimum tax is an unneeded parallel tax system alongside the ordinary income tax. It began life in 1969 after Congress was shocked (shocked!) to learn that 155 wealthy individuals were not paying tax because they used too many of the deductions that Congress had provided them. The AMT has been a complex nuisance ever since. But this dumb idea aimed at the rich is set to explode on the middle-class as the number of AMT taxpayers skyrockets from 3 million today to 36 million by 2010.

4 Taxes are an overwhelming burden on every family's budget planning.
Shouldn't saving for education, retirement, and other items be as simple as putting money in the bank? Instead, Congress has manufactured hundreds of special savings rules, such as for 401(k)s, Keoghs, deductible IRAs, nondeductible IRAs, education IRAs, Roth IRAs, traditional pension plans, annuities, SIMPLEs, SEPs, MSAs, and others.
(The IRS guide to IRAs alone is 105 pages long!)

5 American taxpayers spend $200 billion and 5.4 billion hours working to comply with federal taxes each year. That is time,money, and effort that is not contributing in any way to the GNP, but wasted on compliance with government mandates.

The complexity of the tax code encourages evasion, and gives inordinate power to our elected officials and the lobbyists for special interests that would co-opt them. It is also the single largest drain on our GNP, as it is estimated that over $1.5 TRILLION is sequestered in offshore accounts to evade taxation. That is money that is NOT working for our economy, but for the economies of foreign countries.

I have said it before, and I am going to sound like broken record in the future for any constant readers here (as if I HAD any! LOL), but we need to
PASS THE FAIR TAX NOW.

'Nuff said.

constitutional preamble(s)

The subject of the role of religion in the Socio-Political Sphere has been visited often in the last thirty years or so, usually as the result of Atheistic/ Humanist /Progressive protestations of outrage at any mention whatsoever of a Supreme Being in any Public discussion.

The A.C.L.U. has often led the fight in the courts for the precept of "there being absolutely no room for any religious thought, precept or even MENTION of same in the Public Arena." Many times activist Judges have used their good offices in promulgating/promoting that same view into the Law. And as is noted in the First Amendment, the Founding Fathers DID (RIGHTLY) decree that there should never be a State established Religion, stating in part: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.."
The Secularists have taken that statement to mean that the precepts of Religion have no place in the Public sphere, but did the Founders really mean that to be the case? Personally, I don't believe so. I believe that they wished all men to be free to let their religious convictions to be their personal guide in public concourse, but with no singular religion to be forced upon anyone.

Not all the Founding Fathers were Christian, but every single one of them DID believe in a Supreme Being of some type, and that Being had endowed every Human being with certain Rights by virtue of simple existence. That was the truly singular revolutionary idea behind the American Revolution; that Humans had rights by virtue of simply being CREATED Human by a Higher Being. They also believed that every single Human had the right to believe (or not believe) in that Higher Power in any way they wished to without coercion or favor.
WITHOUT that singular belief, this country would never have been created in the form it was in the first place, as there would have been no authority to establish, as the FF's stated in the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed..."

That was the revolutionary idea here; that Men were created with innate rights, and that they held the power to constitute a government to secure those rights, and that the power was to flow FROM the People TO the Government rather than in the reverse , which was the standard order of the period.

Such a system cannot succeed without a general consensus of the People believing in a Higher Power of some sort, for without that unassailable moral authority, sooner or later the system will break down.

The A.C.L.U. and the activist Courts have been denigrating that Higher Moral Authority for at least the last thirty years, and we have demonstrably suffered for it.

As John Adams notably said on October 11, 1798 :

"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

The governments of EVERY state in the Union acknowledged a Higher Power/Being in the preambles of their own State Constitutions. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

After reviewing these acknowledgments of God by ALL 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that just MAYBE, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!

(Please note that at no time is anyone told that they MUST worship God.)

'Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.' - William Penn

God Bless America!!!!!

Do you know the Preamble for your state? Here are the Preambles of all 50 States in alphabetical order and the year in which they were ratified:

Alabama 1901, Preamble: We the people of the State of Alabama, Invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution...

Alaska 1956, Preamble: We, the people of Alaska, Grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land...

Arizona 1911, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Arizona, Grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

Arkansas 1874, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Arkansas, Grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...

California 1879, Preamble: We, the People of the State of California, Grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...

Colorado 1876, Preamble: We, the people of Colorado, With profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...

Connecticut 1818, Preamble: The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy...

Delaware 1897, Preamble: Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences....

Florida 1885, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution....

Georgia 1777, Preamble: We, the people of Georgia, Relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...

Hawaii 1959, Preamble: We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution...

Idaho 1889, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings....

Illinois 1870, Preamble: We, the people of the state of Illinois, grate full to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors...
( Too bad you don't prescribe to your "native State's" precepts Obama!)

Indiana 1851, Preamble: We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government...

Iowa 1857, Preamble: We, the People of the State of Iowa, Grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuance of those blessings...

Kansas 1859, Preamble: We, the people of Kansas, Grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges...

Kentucky 1891, Preamble: We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties...

Louisiana 1921, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy...

Maine 1820, Preamble: We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity. And imploring His aid and direction... .

Maryland 1776, Preamble: We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...

Massachusetts 1780, Preamble: We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction...

Michigan 1908, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Michigan, Grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom....

Minnesota, 1857, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Minnesota, Grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings...

Mississippi 1890, Preamble: We, the people of Mississippi In convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work....

Missouri 1845, Preamble: We, the people of Missouri, With profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness. Establish this Constitution. ..

Montana 1889, Preamble: We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty.....

Nebraska 1875, Preamble: We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom....

Nevada 1864, Preamble: We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...

New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V: Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience....

New Jersey 1844, Preamble: We, the people of the state of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors... .

New Mexico 1911, Preamble: We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty....

New York 1846, Preamble: We, the people of the State of New York, Grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings... .

North Carolina 1868, Preamble: We the people of the state of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...

North Dakota 1889, Preamble: We, the people of North Dakota, Grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...

Ohio 1852, Preamble: We the people of the state of Ohio, Grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common...

Oklahoma 1907, Preamble: Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty....

Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2: All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences...

Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble: We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance...

Rhode Island 1842, Preamble: We the People of the state of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing...

South Carolina, 1778, Preamble: We, the people of the State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties...

South Dakota 1889, Preamble: We, the people of South Dakota, Grateful to Almighty God for our civil a and religious liberties... .

Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III.: That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience.. .

Texas 1845, Preamble: We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.....

Utah 1896, Preamble: Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty....

Vermont 1777, Preamble: Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man...

Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI: Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other ....

Washington 1889, Preamble: We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties...

West Virginia 1872, Preamble: Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia Reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ...

Wisconsin 1848, Preamble: We, the people of Wisconsin, Grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility. ..

Wyoming 1890, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Wyoming, Grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties... ..

Think about sending this list to your congressman or congress woman the next time you hear any public Progressive historical revisionist blathering about how we have "a total separation of Church and State with no Public references to God allowed under the Constitution."

A new Addition, and a Subtraction

I have been meaning to add a new blog to the collection that is the A-I Empire.

Please welcome Nicki of The Liberty Zone.

She recently returned from Kosevo, having completed her last hitch with Uncle Sam's own, the U.S. Army. HOO-AH! (Yeah, the Marines may take land, but the Army KEEPS it ours!, so There!)

On a sad note, my "Nephew", 'SlagleRock', has decided to take down his blog for personal and professional reasons. His is a voice that WILL be missed in the MilBlog set; no matter that he wasn't one of the "Big Dogs".
He is, and will always be, one of my personal heroes (regardless of the fact that he joined the wrong service branch lol ).
I just learned this afternoon that he is returning to the Sandbox tomorrow afternoon for his third tour there. Stay safe and keep your head down Rob!

On the Second Amendment,

I was forwarded this information from the NRA web site by another member of my 2nd Amendment group, and I think that any open-minded person that reviews these FACTS will realize that Barry HUSSEIN Obama is the last person we would want to consider as our President.

As the article states, don't listen to the empty rhetoric, look at the concrete ACTIONS Obama has taken in the past to get the measure of the man, and remember that character DOES matter.

Remember that even though the NRA collated the information, that information came from verifiable independent/public sources, so don't reject it out of hand as 'partisan gun propaganda'.

The presidential primary season is finally over, and it is now time for gun owners to take a careful look at just where apparent nominee Barack Obama stands on issues related to the Second Amendment. During the primaries, Obama tried to hide behind vague statements of support for “sportsmen” or unfounded claims of general support for the right to keep and bear arms.
But his real record, based on votes taken, political associations, and long standing positions, shows that Barack Obama is a serious threat to Second Amendment liberties. Don’t listen to his campaign rhetoric! Look instead to what he has said and done during his entire political career.

FACT: Barack Obama voted against the confirmation of 2 of the 5 Justices that affirmed an individual right to keep and bear arms.

FACT: Barack Obama voted to allow reckless lawsuits designed to bankrupt the firearms industry.1

FACT: Barack Obama wants to re-impose the failed and discredited Clinton Gun Ban.15

FACT: Barack Obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting.3

FACT: Barack Obama has endorsed a 500% increase in the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition.9

FACT: Barack Obama has endorsed a complete ban on handgun ownership.2

FACT: Barack Obama supports local gun bans in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and other cities.4

FACT: Barack Obama voted to uphold local gun bans and the criminal prosecution of people
who use firearms in self-defense.5

FACT: Barack Obama supports gun owner licensing and gun registration.6

FACT: Barack Obama refused to sign a friend-of-the-court Brief in support of individual Second Amendment rights in the Heller case.

FACT: Barack Obama opposes Right to Carry laws.7

FACT: Barack Obama was a member of the Board of Directors of the Joyce Foundation, the leading source of funds for anti-gun organizations and “research.”8

FACT: Barack Obama supported a proposal to ban gun stores within 5 miles of a school or park, which would eliminate almost every gun store in America.9

FACT: Barack Obama voted not to notify gun owners when the state of Illinois did records searches on them.10

FACT: Barack Obama voted against a measure to lower the Firearms Owners Identification card age minimum from 21 to 18, a measure designed to assist young people in the military.11

FACT: Barack Obama favors a ban on standard capacity magazines.12

FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory micro-stamping.13

FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory waiting periods.2

FACT: Barack Obama supports repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment, which prohibits information on gun traces collected by the BATFE from being used in reckless lawsuits against firearm dealers and manufacturers.14

FACT: Barack Obama supports one-gun-a-month handgun purchase restrictions.16

FACT: Barack Obama supports a ban on inexpensive handguns.9

FACT: Barack Obama supports a ban on the resale of police issued firearms, even if the money is going to police departments for replacement equipment.9

FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory firearm training requirements for all gun owners and a ban on gun ownership for persons under the age of 21.9

1. United States Senate, S. 397, vote number 219, July 2, 2005. (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00219)

2. Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization general candidate questionnaire, Sept. 9, 1996. The responses on this survey were described in “Obama had greater role on liberal survey,” Politico, March 31, 20087. (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/9269.html)

3. United States Senate, S. 397, vote number 217, Kennedy amendment July 2, 2005. (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00217)

4. David Wright, Ursula Fahy and Sunlen Miller, "Obama: 'Common Sense Regulation' On Gun Owners' Rights," ABC News' "Political Radar" Blog, http://blogs.abcnews.com, 2/15/08. (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/02/obama-common-se.html)

5. Illinois Senate, March 25, 2004 SB 2165, vote 20.

6. In the Illinois Senate, Obama sponsored SB-1136, which would have amended Illinois licensing laws by increasing the requirements for the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification card. When asked about registration during the Nevada Democratic debate on January 17, 2008, Obama did not oppose it, but simply stated, “I don’t think that we can get that done.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/us/politics/15demdebate-transcript.html?pagewanted=all)

7. “Candidates' gun control positions may figure in Pa. vote,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Wednesday, April 2, 2008, and "Keyes, Obama Are Far Apart On Guns," Chicago Tribune, 9/15/04. (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_560181.html)

8. 1998 Joyce Foundation Annual Report, p. 7.

9. “Obama and Gun Control,” The Volokh Conspiracy, taken from the Chicago Defender, Dec. 13, 1999. (http://www.volokh.com/posts/1203389334.shtml)

10. Illinois Senate, May 5, 2002, SB 1936 Con., vote 26.

11. Illinois Senate, March 25, 2003, SB 2163, vote 18.

12. “Clinton, Edwards, Obama on gun control,” Radio Iowa, Sunday, April 22, 2007. (http://learfield.typepad.com/radioiowa/2007/04/clinton_edwards.html)

13. Chicago Tribune blogs, “Barack Obama: NIU Shootings call for action,” February 15, 2008, (http://blogs.trb.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/barack_obama_comments_on_shoot.html)

14. Barack Obama campaign website: “As president, Barack Obama would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment . . .” (http://www.barackobama.com/issues/urbanpolicy/#crime-and-law-enforcement.)

15. Illinois Senate Debate #3: Barack Obama vs. Alan Keyes (http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Gun_Control.htm and http://www.ontheissues.org/IL_2004_Senate_3rd.htm) Oct 21, 2004.

16. Illinois Senate, May 16, 2003, HB 2579, vote 34.

IF YOU NEED MORE PROOF OF OBAMA'S STANCE VIS A VIS THE 2ND AMENDMENT; HERE IT IS IN HIS OWN WORDS:

Concealed Carry

"...I am consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry," Obama said. Chicago Tribune, April 27, 2004

Ammunition Retrictions -- "micro-stamping"

"There was a discussion today about a law that has just passed in California that allows micro-tracing of bullets that have been discharged in a crime so that they can immediately be traced," he said. "This is something that California has passed over the strong objections of the NRA…That's the kind of common sense gun law that gun owners as well as victims of gun violence can get behind." Barack Obama, Feb. 15, 2008 Baltimore Sun.com Feb. 15, 2008

Local Gun Bans

"I think that local jurisdictions have the capacity to institute their own gun laws…The City of Chicago has gun laws, as does Washington, D.C.," he said. Barack Obama, Feb. 15, 2008 Baltimore Sun.com

Licensing and Registering gun owners

Q: When you were in the state senate, you talked about licensing and registering gun owners. Would you do that as president?

A: I don't think that we can get that done.

2008 Democratic debate in Las Vegas Jan 15, 2008

Common Sense

Lifted from the Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler; Some uncommon Common Sense:

As Misha says:"Listen to it, Learn it, LIVE it."

Alternative energy source?
Hook up the corpses of our Founding Fathers spinning in their graves at how we have failed their vision and sacrifices, and we would have enough power generated to end the energy crises for the next thousand years.

As "Thomas Paine" exhorted in the video, we need to wake up to what is happening to our American Dream and bring the ship of State back on the true course set for her by some of the most intelligent people that have ever lived.

If we don't do it, and do it soon, we will founder on the dismal shores of Socialistic Tyranny.

THE BEST Put Down LINE EVER

For those that don't know him, Major General Peter Cosgrove is an 'Australian treasure!'

General Cosgrove was interviewed on the radio recently.
You'll love his reply to the lady who interviewed him concerning guns and children. Regardless of how you feel about gun laws you gotta love this! This is one of the best comeback lines of all time. It is a portion of an ABC interview between a female broadcaster and General Cosgrove who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting his military headquarters.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
So, General Cosgrove, what things are you going to teach these young boys when they visit your base?

GENERAL COSGROVE:
We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery and shooting.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?

GENERAL COSGROVE:
I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the rifle range.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?

GENERAL COSGROVE:
I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
But you're equipping them to become violent killers.

GENERAL COSGROVE:
Well, Ma'am, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're not one, are you?

The radio went silent and the interview ended.

Unfaithful Wives

Paddy and his two friends are talking at a bar.
His first friend says: "I think my wife is having an affair with the electrician. The other day I came home and found wire cutters under our bed and they weren't mine."

His second friend says: "I think my wife is having an affair with the plumber. The other day I found a wrench under the bed and it wasn't mine."

Paddy says: "I think my wife is having an affair with a horse." Both his friends look at him with utter disbelief.

"No, I'm serious. The other day I came home and found a jockey under our bed."

Taxes

I'm tired, I don't have the energy to be truly original, so here is my plagiarized post of the day, after all GMTA, and I do provide a link to what I think is the best solution at the end.

The class-warfare elitists such as Barack "don't call me Hussein" Obama say:

"The rich don't pay their fair share"

OH, Really ? According to the Tax Foundation, in 2005 the top 1% of wage-earners in this country payed nearly 40% of the burden (an 11% INCREASE, BTW, over 1999, when WHO was President? Oh that's right...Bill Clinton).

Not fair?!?

'Well', you may be saying, 'that's because they have ALL the wealth!' Wrong again.

The top 1% of earners account for just 21% of the total adjusted gross income. Hmm. Come to think of it...you're RIGHT! That really isn't fair. They're paying DOUBLE what they should be.

By the way, the top 10% of earners pay 70% of the load. When you get all the way down to the top 50% of earners, they account for 96.4% of the entire tax burden. The next 10% pays 3.6%. And the bottom 40% of wage earners...pay NOTHING. That's right, nothing. In fact, they pay nothing, and then often get a "refund" (in reality it's a handout) at years end.

The Leftist politicians continue the pandering to the electorate by saying:

"The working class carries the full load in this country, while the rich just keep getting richer, and paying LESS"

The facts prove that this is more than just incorrect, it's plain out-and-out LYING... in fact it's an argument straight out of the "Communist Manifesto" by our friend, Karl Marx (no, not Groucho Marx, the comedian...this is the OTHER Marx brother) Simply substitute the words "working class" for proletariat and "rich" for bourgeoisie, and voila! Class warfare, Marxist style. Besides, do you know ANY rich people who don't work hard? Only 2% of this country's rich inherited their money, like the Kennedy's...the rest, earned it.

'Well', you say, 'How about those 50 hedge fund managers Barack Obama talks about all the time who made $29 billion, but actually paid less in taxes than their $60,000 a year SECRETARIES!'

The "50 Hedge Fund managers' who made a combined $29 billion in profit is one of my favorite Barack Obama campaign stories pandering lies. It's true, of course. At least the part about how much money they made. (Legally, by the way) But to say that a billionaire pays less in taxes than his secretary is preposterous at best. It's impossible. I would need to see their 1040 form to even begin to believe it. Even IF they would pay a smaller percentage than their secretary did, their accountant needs to be made President of the United States of America, immediately. No campaign, no election. Just based on amazing skills, he would be the best-qualified person to direct our economy EVAH !

It's also interesting to note that one of those Hedge Fund managers, of whom Obama speaks, but never names, is....George Soros. $2.9 Billion last year. Keep those Moveon.org ads coming, Georgie! (being the big-hearted, big government guy he is, it's surprising he hasn't voluntarily written out huge extra checks to the Federal Government to make up any discrepancy).

Another oft heard bleat from the Leftist Politico is:

"I'm sick and tired of all the corporate welfare in this country"

For a case in point, I refer you to all the recent attacks (mainly) from the Left on the "evil oil companies"...who, from 1977-2004 made over $643 billion in profits.
But, during that same time span, their disgusting "corporate welfare" situation allowed them to pay a paltry $1.343 TRILLION in state and federal taxes. What a free ride! Is it just me or am I the only one who sees a little disconnect from reality there?

My big point here is that the present tax system is tailor-made to make it all too easy to allow pandering to the economically illiterate electorate by demagogic/populist politicos.

What we need is a new way of taxation that is unquestionably even-handed in it's application to all and still provides the amount of funds needed to run a reasonable modern government OF and BY the People.

Such a plan DOES exist. This plan takes the tax code out of the manipulating hands of the special interest groups and the politicians they have bought. This plan ensures that you have the greatest amount of control over the amount of taxes you pay in your own hands, and in a manner that you don't need an accounting degree to do so.

ENACT THE FAIR TAX

Blond Jokes

Yeah I KNOW its not PC to make jokes about any minorities, but C'MOOOON, it's not like any blonds will get them and be offended anyway....and LORD knows, I've heard ALL the Dutch jokes I care to.
________________________________________________________________

Two blondes with hammers, Carol and Debbie, were doing some carpenter work
on a Habitat for Humanity house. Carol, who was nailing down house siding, would
reach into her nail pouch, pull out a nail, and either toss it over her
shoulder or nail it in.
Debbie, figuring this was worth looking into, asked, 'Why are you throwing
those nails away?'
Carol explained, 'When I pull a nail out of my pouch, about half of them
have the head on the wrong end, and I throw them away.'
Debbie got completely upset and yelled, 'You moron! Those nails aren't
defective! They're for the other side of the house!'

********************************************************************

Did you hear about the two blondes who froze to death in a drive-in movie?
They had gone to see 'Closed for the winter.'

**********************************************************************


A blonde hurried into the emergency room late one night with the tip of
her index finger shot off.
'How did this happen?' the emergency room doctor asked her.
'Well, I was trying to commit suicide,' the blonde replied.
'What?' sputtered the doctor, 'You tried to commit suicide by shooting off
your finger?'
'No, Silly, 'the blonde said, 'First I put the gun to my chest, and then I
thought, I just paid $6,000.00 for these implants. I'm not shooting myself in
the chest.'
'So then?' asked the doctor.
'Then I put the gun in my mouth, and I thought, 'I just paid $3,000.00 to
get my teeth straightened. I'm not shooting myself in the mouth.'
'So then?'
'Then I put the gun to my ear, and I thought: 'This is going to make a
loud noise. So I put my finger in my other ear before I pulled the trigger.'

**************************************************************************************

A blonde was driving home after a game, and got caught in a really bad
hailstorm. Her car was covered with dents, so the next day she took it to a
repair shop. The shop owner saw that she was a blonde, so he decided to have
some fun. He told her to go home and blow into the tail pipe really hard, and
all the dents would pop out. So the blonde went home, got down on her hands and
knees, and started blowing into her tailpipe. Nothing happened. So she blew a
little harder, and still nothing happened. Her blonde roommate saw her , and
asked, 'What are you doing?' The first blonde told her how the repairman had
instructed her to blow into the tail pipe in order to get all the dents to pop
out. The room mate rolled her eyes and said, 'Uh, helloooo!!! You need to roll
up the windows first !!!!'

*****************************************************************************************


A blonde was shopping at Target, and came across a shiny silver thermos.
She was quite fascinated by it, so she picked it up and took it to the clerk to
ask what it was. The clerk said, 'Why, that's a thermos..... It keeps hot things
hot and cold things cold.'
'Wow, said the blonde, 'that's amazing...I'm going to buy it!' So she
bought the thermos and took it to work the next day.
Her boss saw it on her desk. 'What' s that ?' he asked.
'Why, that's a thermos..... It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold,'
she replied.
Her boss inquired, 'What do you have in it?'
The blond replied..... 'Two Popsicles and some coffee.'

*****************************************************************************


AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST

A blonde goes into work one morning crying her eyes out. Her boss asked
sympathetically, 'What's the matter?' The blonde replies, 'Early this morning I
got a phone call saying that my mother had passed away.' The boss, feeling sorry
for her, says, 'Why don't you go home for the day? Take the day off to relax and
rest.'

'Thanks, but I'd be better off here. I need to keep my mind off it, and I
have the best chance of doing that here.'

The boss agrees and allows the blonde to work as usual. A couple of hours
pass, and the boss decides to check on the blonde. He looks out from his office,
and sees the blonde crying hysterically.

'What's so bad now? Are you gonna be okay?' he asks. 'No!' exclaims the
blonde. 'I just received a horrible call from my sister. Her mother died, too!'

Post Turtle

If you drive along country roads, you might catch sight of a turtle balanced on top of a fence post, where it clearly didn't get on its own, where it doesn't belong, and where it has no idea what to do. You'll probably wonder what kind of jackasses put it up there. It is only a matter of time before it falls. Most likely you'll want to help the poor dumb thing down.
Remind you of anyone?

A good Marine

One sunny day in 2008, an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench.

He spoke to the Marine standing guard and said, 'I would like to go in and meet with President Obama.'

The Marine replied, 'Sir, Mr. Obama is not President and doesn't reside here.'
The old man said, 'Okay,' and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, 'I would like to go in and meet with President Obama'.

The Marine again told the man, 'Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Obama is not President and doesn't reside here.'

The man thanked him and again walked away . .

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same Marine, saying 'I would like to go in and meet with President Obama.'

The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, 'Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Obama. I've told you already several times that Mr. Obama is not the President and doesn't reside here. Don't you understand?'

The old man answered, 'Oh, I understand you fine, I just love hearing your answer!'

The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said,

'See you tomorrow Sir.

(May the answer ever stay the same !!)

Thanks for the link Sis !

Quote of the Day

The next time you hear some Leftist Moonbat howl about "U.S. Imperialism" or "North American Hegemony", think of our history and KNOW that you can ignore anything else that raving moonbat lunatic (but I repeat myself) has to say. Ronaldus Maximus iterated it best (as only he was so adept at doing):

“When World War II ended, the United States had the only undamaged industrial power in the world. Our military might was at its peak, and we alone had the ultimate weapon, the nuclear weapon, with the unquestioned ability to deliver it anywhere in the world. If we had sought world domination then, who could have opposed us? But the United States followed a different course, one unique in all the history of mankind. We used our power and wealth to rebuild the war-ravished economies of the world, including those of the nations who had been our enemies. May I say, there is absolutely no substance to charges that the United States is guilty of imperialism or attempts to impose its will on other countries, by use of force.” —Ronald Reagan

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

On this day in 1790, the U.S. Coast Guard was created by Congress, which authorized Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton to build a small fleet of ten cutters to protect the coast. The Coast Guard continues to serve a critical role under the Department of Homeland Security I would like to speak for all my readers in offering our thanks for a job well done.

The Coast Guard is often the "forgotten service" when it comes to public attention and recognition, and that is something that should be brought to everyone's attention and rectified ASAP.

To all the brave men and women that serve with distinction and honor in the Forgotten Service:

Call the WAaaambulance!

As usual, the New York Slimes are in the wrong on an important issue.

The way I look at it, the subject of the story got 1.5 MILLION (!??) in medical care that he did NOT have any right to expect in the first place.

My regular readers know that I have intimate knowledge with expensive medical care -- My OWN, and I don't have any national news rag bemoaning that my insurance doesn't nearly cover all the costs. I just try to get my medical providers to take what I can afford to pay monthly on what I owe until the debt is settled; they usually go along with this, knowing full well that, with my income level, I will be dead before I get anywhere near to retiring the debt, the important thing being that I'm trying to repay.

I don't feel any responsibility whatsoever towards people that are breaking our laws by the simple fact of just being here. It's a slap in the face to everyone that took the time,trouble, and in some cases, the money, to come here legally.
We don't help in their health care any more than we do for any other citizen, so why ARE WE SO BLOODY DETERMINED TO GIVE THE STORE AWAY TO THOSE THAT COME HERE ILLEGALLY?
Sorry to yell, it just chaps my ass to even consider this subject...and to be talked down to by my "betters" at the NYS about it is just the frosting on the shit cake.

NO ONE is turned away in our hospitals when they need critical care; they may be saddled with a large debt load the rest of their lives, but even there, the key is merely showing a willingness to do what you reasonably can to repay.

I find it infuriating that medical costs are so high due in large part to (usually well meaning) governmental interference in medical care, and the insurance industry; meanwhile HOSPITALS are forced by economics to do what the government SHOULD be doing, ie; deporting illegals.

The health care system in their home country sucks? How is that OUR problem?!? Sometimes, it just sucks to be a furriner IMHO (one reason why I became a LEGAL citizen of the U.S.).

Quote of the Day

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.
Thomas Jefferson

Finally, the GOP shows some gonads

Well, with whats happening in the halls of Congress today, it's obvious what the Demoncrat energy policy is:

AND it's obvious what tactics that they will employ to get their way:

MY stance ?

I'm glad to see that there are still some in the GOP that have the guts to stick up for their principles...just hope it's not too little,too late.

Folks, these politicians are playing with the future of our country; and I for one believe that our future shouldn't be viewed as a game, as the Dems seem to do. They are like spoiled brats that say "if you don't do what I want; I won't play". In reading the comments at Politico, I saw there were a number of ignorant people that still have nothing to contribute but "drilling now won't lower prices" (despite the FACT that Pres. Bush just ending the symbolic Presidential ban on offshore drilling has ALREADY lowered the cost of crude by $20. a barrel). they decry that "speculators" are the cost of high oil prices, and then deny that future production has any effect on those speculators actions...seems they all must have slept through Econ 101.

They also wail that Big Oil makes too much profit, and "something should be done to those greedy b*st*rds". Three points I'd like to make about that issue;

1) Oil companies by and large have one of the smallest profit margins of any industry. Just citing final (net) profits is almost meaningless; you have to know the cost to return ratio (profit margin) to really understand what it takes to get that gallon of gasoline to the consumer. if we go by stark net profit, there are many companies that are far worse offenders than Big Oil.

2) There is a player in this game that makes almost TWICE as much "profit" off of each gallon of gas than the Oil companies themselves make; this player castigates the oil companies for being "greedy" at the same time that it makes double that profit, while doing nothing to find, produce, refine, or distribute that oil. That player is CONGRESS **.

3) Some demagogues say that the oil companies have million of acres where they have oil leases where they aren't drilling, and they should drill there before trying for the offshore/Anwar deposits. Guess what, it's TRUE that the companies DO have many millions of acres where they do have a legal right to drill and they aren't drilling...because they have determined that there is no oil to drill for on that land. Congress seems to think that all you have to do is drill a hole and you get oil every time, usually you have to drill five or six holes to get ONE producing well, and the rate of production from even the wet holes may not offset the costs of drilling. Companies obtain oil rights on vast areas of land just to try to explore where oil may be found; just because they have the right to produce on any given piece of land doesn't mean that they CAN produce any oil on that land, no matter what political demagogues try to say.

4) The Left is saying we need to use "alternative energy sources" rather than oil....and they are correct in that we do need to find newer resources, after all, oil IS a finite commodity. But I'd like to ask them, just WHAT those resources should be...they cringe at the thought of building new Nuclear plants...heaven forfend we should use coal, even though we have invented methods to clean the exhaust of the plants...they say WIND and SOLAR is the way to go...yeah, okay...what happens when the winds don't blow hard enough, or its too cloudy to get the best capture of solar power (disregarding the FACT that the best solar efficiency we have to date is a mere 12-18%!, hardly good use in large industrial settings.) And WHO is doing the research on those alternative energy sources? MOST of it is funded by Big Oil. And what do they use to provide that funding? The PROFIT they make from oil production.

Enough of ranting for now, I know I won't change any already closed minds anyway, but it sure is frustrating to see so many such morons in positions of power that affect every aspect of our future. I sure hope that G-d does, indeed, Bless America, we sure don't help ourselves too much.

**A barrel of crude oil contains 42 gallons and currently costs (at time of publishing) about $130. That means the raw material costs $3.10 a gallon. For finding the oil, getting it out of the ground, transporting it to a refinery, turning it into gasoline, and distributing that gasoline, ExxonMobil cleared about 58 cents per gallon in 2007, based on figures in its annual report. Of that 58 cents, Exxon paid about 25 cents in federal income tax. The feds also collected 18.4 cents of excise tax per gallon. Meanwhile, the state (Michigan, for example) collects 19.875 cents per gallon of "excise and environmental" taxes, along with 24 cents of sales tax (at $4 per gallon). So, ExxonMobil nets 33 cents per gallon, while our federal and state governments take 87 cents per gallon.

So, who profits more from high oil prices? Big oil or big government?