What I Think

This is a copy of a comment I posted yesterday on another blog in response to another commenter (named Mackan) who claimed America was already a theocracy, it did not takle care of the poor and felt that Bush's tax cuts were intellectually bankrupt. I liked what I posted so much, I figured I'd post it here on my own blog for posterity. Here it is:

1. I am a republican (fallen catholic) and don't have any fears that we are about to become a theocracy (where is your overriding evidence??).
2. I believe the govt does provide substantial benefit programs to the poor (I wish more of the programs were direct cash benefits to the needy and not administered thru big, fat bureacracies).
3. I estimate fewer than 12-15 million CITIZENS can not afford or don't get health insurance at work. And it is a fact that a good percentage of those just elect to spend their money on something else besides health insurance premiums. The media uses 44 million as its uninsured but that number includes a significant number (approximately 15-25 million) of illegal immigrants and legal immigrants who are not yet citizens.
4. I believe the tax cuts were largely responsible for turning the economy around after 911 and the deficit is getting smaller and smaller (and generally deficits are less important or announced when Dems are in the majority). I also don't believe tax cuts "per se" can be intelletually bankrupt and if the govt is so worthy of more of our money, how much have you donated freely to it Mackan? I don't need a precise amount, an estimate will do.
5. I don't believe there is much we can do about global warming (if it truly occurring) so I don't support the various chicken little's running around.
6. I think social security must be fixed and it is an especially egregious disgrace if you are 25 years old and must look forward to paying in about $350,000 over the next 40 years and you are also expected to fund other retirement vehicles like an IRA because your social security benefit will be miniscule vs. what you paid in. And the party that taps this curently-dormant but enormous pool of currently screwed and eligible-age voters will reign for years!.
7. I am for term limits, reducing the size of government and encouraging every state to contribute a fixed amount per student to every school district (I believe the right amount is about $5,000).
8. I supported the Iraq War because our govt believed we were at risk to be struck by WMD because evidence said Iraq had WMD and Saddam was a no good evil son of a bitch. I am very disappointed and saddened that the war has been so deadly and costly to our troops and their families. But I recognize wars are by nature highly unpredictable and we are dealing with a very treacherous group of people in Iraq.
9. I am against voters having the option of voting the straight party ticket by pulling one lever in the polling booth. Let each and very candidate earn your vote- does the constitution state we should make it easier for major party candidates to get votes?
10. I am in favor of being given a choice to vote for "none of the above" when I vote. We should strive to reduce the power and influence of all political parties (not one or the other) and we should be more eager to battle for ideas and dreams about which we feel strongly.
11. I would encourage govt to enact regulations so that pensions for govt workers/ politicians are far less generous than those earned by our military or law enforcement officials.
12. I am in favor of school choice and giving public schools the ability to kick out of school for one year any unruly students (let their parents or social workers take over). It's not the school's job.

That is what I am for and believe in, and for now, that means I usually vote republican. And FYI- I voted for Carter/ Mondale/ Dukakis/ another Dem / and Clinton (only in 1992). I may have them in the wrong order.

Dems Have Already Started Raking In Lobbyist's Moolah

Here is a quote from the WAPO tomorrow about how the DC lobbying crowd is simply switching teams from the republicans to the democrats. Read this quote from the story and see what I mean:

"Democratic lobbyists prospected for new clients on the very night last week that House Democrats elected their leaders on an anti-lobbyist platform. Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (Md.) and Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (S.C.) were feted on the 10th and ninth floors, respectively, at 101 Constitution Ave. NW, a premier lobbying venue at the foot of Capitol Hill. Some of the city's top firms are in that building, including the lobbying arm of Goldman Sachs, the American Council of Life Insurers, Clark Consulting Federal Policy Group and Van Scoyoc Associates. Hoyer's political action committee financed his reception in a room routinely used for lobbying and other events, but Clyburn's was paid for by Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, a South Carolina-based law firm that lobbies extensively in Washington on health care and other issues and has offices in that building."

Just remember I told you "locks were made to keep out honest people".

43rd Anniversary .......

.....of the assassination of John F. Kennedy on 11/22/1963. Damn I remember that day almost like it was yesterday. It was about 130PM EST and a group of us was leaving the Church and headed next door to the classrooms when a lady across the street ran out of her house with the news that "Kennedy was shot". It was broadcast over the school intercom and I remember our sixth-grade teacher, Miss Martino, standing in front of the class with tears in her eyes.

Kennedy was a hero to many in our neighborhood because he was the first (and still is the only) Catholic to be elected as president. I remember thousands turning out when he campaigned in a motorcade down the next street over from us (Castor Avenue in northeast Philadelphia). Here's a link to ebay memorabilia webpage (can you believe that?).

Only In Philadelphia....

Only in Philadelphia, would a candidate for Mayor and current U.S. Congressman (Chaka Fattah), announce his candidacy for mayor outside a new state of the art high school because he feels he has a special focus and zeal for education issues. BUT and you knew that was coming, incredibly Fattah, himself, is a HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT. Jeez, he never even got a GED. But somehow he has received a masters degree from Penn even though he never ever attended undergraduate college and does not have an undergraduate degree. Here is the link to his candidacy announcement.

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/16072555.htm

And below is the link to the story from last week about Fattah's glaring academic shortcomings. And keep in mind, Fattah is about 50 years old; he is not one of those 80 years old codgers who truly did not have an opportunity to get formal schooling.

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/16056752.htm

What A Typical, Liberal, Kumbaya, MSM Columnist Duestchbag

John Grogan writes a column for the Philadelphia Inquirer in its metro section. Like most good (I mean typical) liberal, kumbaya, MSM columnists, Grogan regularly drifts into national politics topics even though his assigned beat is what they call the "metropolitan" section.

Here is the link to his column yesterday where Grogan calls for Bush to create a "New Energy" commission in charge of finding alternative energy course and Grogan wants Bush to put Al Gore in charge. Now keep in mind, Gore has been quoted as saying Bush has betrayed our country as to the Iraq war.

Grogan is dumb, stupid and lame to even dream up crap like this and then put it in a column. And yes, I realize the column was Grogan's poorly constructed idea of a dream sequence. And yes Grogan is the newly wealthy author of the dog book called "Marley & Me". IMHO, he is just a liberal, wuss deutshbag. And a perfect example why the MSM is failing and its circulation is dropping.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/columnists/john_grogan/16055481.htm

We now have pictures produced by cameras

As you may have noticed, I have just learned how to post pictures to blogger. So you got three straight pictures from my disposable camera film that I just got developed. I tend to buy them before a trip, use a few frames, file the camera away then repeat the process a few times over the next 12-18 months. That's why it takes me so long to use up one camera- I end up with 4-5 cameras each with about 15 pictures left on the roll. So, the pictures I just got developed included a trip to Tahoe in 2004, my trip to Phoenix in 2005 and some shots of my office taken in the summer.

Hence the post title..."we now have pictures produced by those things known as cameras". As I typed that title, I was remdined me of an old bar in North Wildwood, New Jersey. It was named Bishops High Tops or High Steps and it was said to be one of the oldest liquor licenses in the town and had been owned for about 50 years by an oldtimer named Bishop. He was slow to adapt to changes or trends but one time in the early 1980's after he had actually re-modelled his taproom, he proudly posted a new sign on one wall inside his establishment. The sign read "We Now Have Vodka and Orange juice".

"Fast Eddie" Governor Rendell Delays Announcing Tax Hike Until After Election

Taxes are going up but Governor Rendell got a pass by putting the announcement off until AFTER LAST WEEK'S ELECTION! FYI- the governor has increased total state spending by 40% in less than 4 years in office (that's an average of 10% per year). Has you paycheck increased by 40% since Fast Eddie took office as governor in 2003? No, I didn't think so and he gets an eternal pass from the MSM becasue they just love liberal Democrats who eat cheesesteaks. Below is the link to the story about your tax increase.Enjoy!

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/16002238.htm

Me In Tahoe -Fall of 2004 - Taking A Break From Hiking Around Emerald Bay

Heck, I think I was even wearing my Lake Tahoe T-shirt. This is one of my favorite vacation places. Took a couple days after a business convention in Reno, Nevade -AOPA's annual meeting.

944 County Line Road- Where I Work

Sun Devil Stadium - End Zone Photo- Arizon State Sun Devils Vs. Univ of Washington in Sept. of 2005

The Clays - Sound Like A Remarkable American Family

Read this story about a Marine sergeant and his humble but simply remarkable family. And the hat-tip goes to Real Clear Politics!

http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=114216&ran=165304

McNabb's New Clothing LIne

Already saw one gues that it's puke-resistant clothing. That's a good guess. I will go with these possible logos for my guesses:

NWB1 = Never Won Big One
DMAC = Didn't Make A Champion
RCx2 = Didn't Randall Cunningham Do This At The End Of His Career

Future Of Polling

At some point, polling methods will have to adapt to the changes in technology and lifestyles. Let's face it, a lot of people don't have landline phone service at home and many others don't answer home phones unless (1) they know who is calling and (2) they feel like talking.

That means it's very likely that polls (at some time in the future if not already) will tend to over-sample people who still rely primarily on a landline and still answer their phone on a regular basis (I suspect that is mostly elderly folks).

So, I wonder when the prototypical polling methods will finally go over the cliff in terms of reliability and accuracy? Perhaps, it is already occurring.

Election Predictions

Senate (from north to south then westward):

• Whitehouse by 4%
• Medendez by 5%
• Casey by 8%
• Upset special- Steele by 1%
• Webb by 1%
• Corker by 5%
• Talent sqeaks by less than 1% (despite Dem hankypanky in St. Louis)
• Tester by 2%.
• These results, I believe, will put the Dems in control of the senate
• And I can't wait to see the fireworks set off by Webb in the Senate. He will certainly make things interesting as he is the one who said there are too many pussies in the Dem party and I agree.

Area House Results:

• Weldon loses (my district) by only 1%
• Fitzpatrick beats Murphy by 6%
• Gerlach wins by 4% (surprisingly easy but voters just didn't warm up to Lois Murphy who strikes many people as someone with negligible experience but runs as if it's her turn to win). Thank God on this one- cause Murphy and her supporters are the ones who are spending $20,000 per student in the Lower Merion school district. That is tyranny by the majority IMHO.

This Lady Was So Thoughtful & Considerate To Die This Way

Here is a story about a very thoughtful person. Let me know if you agree.
http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/woman-dies-next-to-own-grave/n20061101091009990013?cid=936

Gotta Love How Coulter Can Turn A Phrase

Here is the funniest line from her column today......."The only way to get Democrats to focus on terrorists would be to convince them that the terrorists are interfering with a woman's right to choose or that commercial jetliners exploding in midair are a threat to America's wetlands. "

Four "D's" in His Freshman Year- even I did better than that

Due to the latest flack over John Kerry's dumb comment, I stumbled onto this old Boston Globe story comparing Kerry's college grades to Bush's. Bush actually had a 78 everage in his 4 years at Yale and the oh so smart Kerry only got a 77. And Kerry got 4 D's" in his freshman year when he took ten classes.

Christ even I did better than Kerry and it took me seven years to graduate (went to 3 colleges).
What a phony Kerry is and I love being right. Here is the link to the story.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/06/07/yale_grades_portray_kerry_as_a_lackluster_student?mode=PF