MR. PRESIDENT, WHO ARE WE HELPING?

Click the header, just for fun.

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We seem to be alienating our few international friends and increasing our enemies at record speed. Granted, I am not an expert where diplomacy is concerned. I do, however, have some knowledge of picking friends and enemies. (At least on an individual basis and I've read Shakespeare's advice, too.)

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For a lot of years, we bribed and held out a carrot to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. Looks like we might have run out of carrots. To say nothing about money.

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China, while taking our money happily with one hand and clandestinely giving N.K. the needed technology to gain nukes, still lets us think we can coexist peacefully.

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The Philipines (who'd a thunk it?) are unhappy with the U.S. and are talking about "asking" us to leave their shores. (I just bet they'd still like our navy to visit regularly.)

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Mexico is sticking it to us, at us and up us at every turn. But they are still aiding and abetting acts of invasion by their citizens.

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Japan smiles and bows to us, all the while openly supporting their own automobile industry monetarily while they watch our car companies go down the tubes.

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A state (California) puts a proposition to the voters and they reject it. The people who were defeated start yelling discrimination and trying to force the bill back into life. As if it were their choice only and not all of the state's voters.

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It's being shown by automotive authorities that every single state has granted licenses to people who actually failed the written test for a driver's license. And some who failed the road test.

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Although MADD and DADD have gotten the nation up in arms about drunk drivers, no one has really done anything about the death rate from sober, speeding drivers. You know, those who think they are good drivers, but kill thousands every week. One week of their casualties takes many years for DUI drivers to equal.

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The President gives billions and billions to enterprises that were so mismanaged your sons and grand sons and 20x great grandsons will be paying the bills he is racking up. Yet he continues to destroy unions, those groups that protected the working man at one time.

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A bloke in England wanted to introduce his 14 year old son to the pleasures of sex and like any good father sought out a professional. She turned out to be a cop and the dad was arrested. The judge spared him jail because "he believed the man did not mean any harm to his son".

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Current joke: A businessman dragged himself home and barely made it to his chair before he dropped exhausted. His sympathetic wife was right there with a tall cool drink and a comforting word. "My, you look tired," she said. "You must have had a hard day today. What happened to make you so exhausted?"

"It was terrible," her husband said. "The computer broke down and I had to do my own thinking."

Isn't it something when we are so computer illiterate that we actually believe our computers

can think?

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An aside here: We're thinking of buying a 32" Vizio LCD 1080p HDTV. Any comments on it?

(It's well under $600. That's a bargain, I'm told, compared to the sets I used to pay $265 for.)

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Seems The Big O (BO?) wants $1.25 billion to settle discrimination claims by black farmers against the Agriculture Department. Just sayin'.

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I pay for a subscription for a semi nerd publication (Windows Secrets) that I joined when one of my heroes retired. Ads everywhere on the page. And what I thought was a strange offer of something for free. I can get two chapters of a book that might be of interest for nothing. (Yeah, I need to pay for the other chapters.)

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The BO was on TV today, telling us he was going to name a czar to watch over our safety on the internet. I couldn't help but wonder how many companies have already sprung up saying they will "meet government specifications on making your computer safe online"? You know, to sell to those sweet ladies and gents using Yahoo and AOL for their ISPs. He didn't mention any way this could be avoided.

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You know, of course, that BO's just setting us up to take full control of the web and read your email? Don't let him find out your an NRA member.

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A QUICKEE WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA

Be sure to click the header. I've got other bones to pick with The History Channel, too.

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Political promises, I often feel, are made especially to be broken. That's why so many of them are pie in the sky.

Pictures of Presidents are different, though:

Two women jailed over trying to steal an Obama photo by breaking in and using force.

Marla Anderson wanted that Barack Obama picture, so much so that Wyoming police say she walked into a Grove Avenue home Friday to take it.

She struggled with the owner, who called police for help. Anderson lost and ended up in the Hamilton County jail – without the photo. Officers arrested her getaway driver, 31-year-old Tamika Cornwell, of Colerain, about 10 hours after the crime. She’s accused of being an accomplice to the burglary, tampering with evidence and putting her child in danger.

Her 3-year-old son was there when the women fought over the picture.

Anderson, 24, of Wyoming, is facing the same charges.Both women are scheduled to appear in court Monday.

Can't help but wonder if they were just looking for change?

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President Obama to pay black farmers $1.5 billion

http://news.aol.com/article/obama-to-propose-125b-for-black-farmers/437055?icid=sphere_newsaol_inpage

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Jeff Dunham is a very funny ventriloquist. If you haven't seen him, try: http://news.aol.com/article/obama-to-propose-125b-for-black-farmers/437055?icid=sphere_newsaol_inpage

He has his own view about terrorists.

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One more thing. President Obama wants to do a $150 billion job on us. Er, for us.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=akjbUdlowd9c&refer=home

Who's in charge here?

"FREEDOM IS NOT FREE"

"OUR NATION HONORS HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO ANSWERED THE CALL TO DEFEND A COUNTRY THEY NEVER KNEW AND A PEOPLE THEY NEVER MET"

Please click on the header.

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The quote is from the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

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The thoughts are mine.

THIS IS NOT MY AMERICA

********************************************************************************** Interesting video under the header. No further comment. ********************************************************************************* The other day, Wild Thing and I had finished lunch and, as is our wont, we surfed through the television news channels to see what was happening in our world and our country. We do this quite often and it usually gives us a kick off point for discussions. And it certainly did that. We watched as Americans bemoaned the loss of their jobs and asked what they could do about it? One of them, a woman in her late fifties had been employed at a job which paid her more than $60,000 a year. She had worked for the company for 30 some years and had no really marketable skills in the depression market. Another, a man who seemed to be 30 something, who had lost his job at an automobile dealership. He had been making about $14 an hour. He had no degree to help him. Not even one from high school. His life was beginning to look pretty bleak. There were a number of other similar instances shown. Too many to recount here. Then we switched to another channel. The news readers were discussing the closing of automobile dealerships, using the case of a dealer who owed no one anything for the cars he was selling, was successful enough to buy the stock he needed and was making a profit. He had inherited the business from his father and had been running it for years. But he was being forced out of business because the American car manufacturer would no longer sell him automobiles. The news readers were a bit upset about this. But you could see they had no idea what to do. Couldn't think of asking people to write the President about it, either. They failed when they didn't point out that every single exporting country of cars backs their manufacturers with money. Every one, that is, except America. Every. Other. One. Another switch and a story showing the Attorney General simperingly complaining about guns in the U.S. My thoughts went to somehow alerting all real Americans to purchase full auto AKs and such. And plenty of ammunition. We continued surfing for a while, hearing all the "news" available then. A bleeding heart asking all Americans to welcome "immigrants" to the U.S. (No, he did not use the word "illegal" in conjunction with that, either.) Right after that came news of California hospitals being swamped by these "immigrants". We talked about real immigrants (those who do the request and paperwork thing and come to us legally) and how they were no problem. We wondered why those who break our laws should be rewarded. We heard about gunfire from "drug gangs" along our southern border. It was treated as if it were only "head shaking stuff, let's forget it" news. We heard about Homeland Security and how they admitted that, very likely, perhaps, maybe, terrorists were entering our country through our lack of real prevention. We heard about an attack on a preacher in Kansas City (by a female journalist) because he was not against abortions and proclaimed his belief through his church. And how he was called everything short of a dictator for his beliefs. It was gut wrenching to hear the calculated insults against a man who was only stating his beliefs. His action became using the old American tradition of stating your viewpoint. He was then vilified by people who wanted only their side heard. We also heard about trillions of dollars being pored into AIG and other conglomerates, but also heard that Chrysler motors would be shut down, which would cause untold job losses and one more step in the destruction of unionization. And unionization is what got workers health insurance, retirement benefits, vacations, reasonable pay, job security, job safety and many more benefits for the average man. You remember him don't you? You should. He's been called the backbone of America. We heard a snippet about a patriot who lowered a Mexican flag and replaced it with an American flag at our University. And was arrested for doing it. We learned that some rapper was shot somewhere. What we objected to was the use of the words "music" and "rap" in the same sentence. We heard the President remark that he was taking steps to "revive" the economy. While spending more billions of dollars. Then we heard that all the home foreclosures were slowing and stopping the economy. We were told that gasoline prices were increasing because the suppliers were expecting a surge of driving, as opposed to flying, for this summer's vacation. One announcer suggested they were simply gouging the public. Again. We heard about the more and more complicated shooting and warfare in Afghanistan and Pakistan. And about how the President wanted most of the troops out of Iraq within a year. And we wondered if our country was just switching battle areas for a while. What happened to my America?

HOW MUCH CHANGE IS ENOUGH?

Don't forget: click the header.

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The cartoonist could have added many other things to his cartoon. And it still wouldn't be funny today. Wise and perspicacious? Yes. Sad? Yes. Funny? Not deep down.

It becomes clearer and clearer that President Obama (and the power brokers) have a much, much different view of the word "Change" than did we members of that political party.

We thought it meant things like ending a stupid war, controlling the influx of illegal aliens, not allowing shoddy goods from China to be in every retail store in America (waiting to maim and kill us). We thought it meant a real fix where the outrageous cost of health care (in the wealthiest nation on earth) would send even rich people to the dole. We thought that Americans would be employed in good paying, good benefit jobs, with good retirement waiting for them after years of loyal service and trust in their employers.

We thought that we loyal Americans would be honored for our service, which we willingly rendered to the U.S. We believed that we were a part of the Constitution and it was a part of us, as much as we were faithful Americans. As much as we had been ready to give our lives for our beloved country.

We didn't expect things like http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30747452/ this to be newsworthy. After all, Wisconsin is a hunter's paradise. And those down to earth folks don't care for gangs. Are you listening Washington? Or http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30765586/ contains some interesting facts about about two males who chose to soil a nationally known site in Yellowstone Park. Those of us who were considering buying a new car now find our choice severely limited. One of our major car companies has been closed down by the Federal Government, another has been severely curtailed in what they can do. All the while the banks and the finance companies (owned by the banks) have the been allowed to stick their hands in the public coffers and fill their pockets. Did you ask who is suffering? The American worker, of course. You know, the guys and gals who were once termed the "back bone of America". When our President (and his crew) have broken enough unions into penuriousness, the time will come when all of us will get "cut back notices" on the amounts of money we will paid. (I know a couple of companies that have already done this.) I read a comedian's one liner the other day. Here it is, with no commment: I’m planning to retire and live off my savings. What I’ll do the second day, I have no idea. ********************************************************************************** This from the web: An unidentified 11th-grade student in Pelham Manor, N.Y., was called into the office for a chat with the assistant principal -- and the police. The boy was reportedly researching how to conceal a gun. After interviewing the student, the police and the principal determined that there was absolutely no threat, and in fact the report was wrong: the teen was actually researching the state's laws on guns. A school spokeswoman said the boy was not disciplined, and remains in school. So who turned him in? The Pelham Public Library. "It is not our procedure to notify somebody" about patrons' book choices, said library Director Patricia Perito, but she "had to" look into the matter by informing the school. (White Plains Journal News) We have become a nation of people who are more afraid of giving offence than interested in standing up for what is right.

A SMORGASBORD FOR YOU

Don't forget the header. Click it.

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Jose and Carlos are beggars. They beg in different areas of town.

Carlos begs for the same amount of money as Jose, but only collects about eight or nine dollars a day.

Jose brings home a suitcase full of ten dollar bills every day, he drives a Mercedes, lives in a mortgage-free house, and has a lot of money to spend.

"Hey, amigo," Carlos says to Jose, "I work just as long and hard as you do, so how come you bring home a suitcase full of ten dollarbills every day?"

Jose says, "Look at your sign, what does it say?"

Carlos' sign reads; 'I have no work, a wife and six kids to support.' "What's wrong with that?" Carlos asks him.

"No wonder you only get eight or nine dollars a day!"Carlos says,

"Alright, what does your sign say?"

It reads, says Carlos, "I only need another ten dollars to get back to Mexico." **********************************************************************************

Woman accused of stealing 500 lbs. of gold

An employee of a New York jeweler stole 513 pounds of gold from the firm over five years, taking one small piece at a time hidden in her purse, police allege.

Authorities said Wednesday that Teresa Tambunting, 50, of Scarsdale, N.Y., a longtime employee of Jacmel Jewelry, brought a suitcase filled with 66 pounds of gold worth an estimated $868,000 back into the company's office after an investigation was launched in January, The New York Times reported. Authorities allegedly found another 447 pounds of stolen gold at the vault manager's home in February, the newspaper said.

"With gold trading at nearly $900 an ounce, the defendant is accused of establishing a virtual mining operation in Long Island City which siphoned off millions of dollars' worth of the precious metal from her employer," District Attorney Richard A. Brown said in the statement.

"It is alleged that this once-trusted employee carried out her long-term scheme by concealing jewelry and raw gold in the lining of her pocketbook.

"She was released on $100,000 bail after being arraigned in Queens Criminal Court Tuesday on charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. She is expected to enter a plea May 19.

Tambunting, who had worked at the store for 28 years, faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Does that make her a gold digger?

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Remember my posts about Mrs. (Ms?) Clinton and her seeming penchant for breaking into tears no matter the reason? Well, watch this one: (I hope she doesn't get into a match with the Talaban: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n4neGXa-0g&feature=related

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Uh, oh. Our President has been accused of paying off black farmers. Doesn't look exactly that way to me. Maybe some of the liberal press is turning on him? http://news.aol.com/article/obama-to-propose-125b-for-black-farmers/437055?icid=sphere_newsaol_inpage

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News from the locam front here in Albuquerque. Our city attorney, who has been accused of being soft on illegal aliens, has this written about her:

District Attorney Kari Brandenburg says the number of meth labs has more than doubled between 2007 and 2008 due to Mexican drug cartels.

Law enforcement officials say the Mexican government is cracking down on meth labs in its country, forcing cartels to find other places, like New Mexico, to make the product.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano increased protection in New Mexico by adding two border enforcement security task forces at the state's Mexican border.

Do you suppose they'll really do something about it?

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Connecticut is made as hell and won't take it anymore:

Connecticut Town Considers Low-Pants Ban

Low Baggy Pants Could Cost You Big Bucks In Fines (CBS/AP) STRATFORD, Conn. Something that's considered fashionable could be fineable if a Stratford councilman has his way.

Councilman Alvin O'Neal is proposing a ban on baggy pants that are worn too low with a hefty fine for those caught with their pants down.

O'Neal said he is responding to complaints from senior citizens around town who notice young people wearing their baggy pants as low as possible, revealing their backsides.

The councilman has proposed a town ordinance that would make it unlawful for people to wear "pants which fall below the buttocks to expose their undergarments," with a penalty of $250. The council has set a hearing on the proposed law for Monday night at Town Hall.

"I've had a lot of senior citizens complain that they were tired of going to the store and seeing people with their pants down below their buttocks," O'Neal said Friday.

He says the target of the new law is very specific, young people who wear trousers as low as possible without them falling down completely.

"We're not out to get plumbers whose pants creep down while they're working on your pipes," O'Neal said. Any proposed ordinance would have to pass muster with the town attorney.

"We intend to review it before the Town Council votes on it," Town Attorney Richard Buturla said. "Actually, a similar ordinance is being looked at in Atlanta."

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When we rebuild a war torn city, we do it right

SEOUL (AFP) - More and more South Korean schoolchildren are searching the Internet to find someone to do their homework for a fee, a report said Monday. A portal lists more than 500 websites devoted to homework with fees to pupils ranging from 8,000-10,000 won (eight dollars 50 cents to 11 dollars), The Korea Times said. "I need to write three English diaries by the end of the week," a 12-year said in a message posted on one site. "I don't really want to write them. Who can write for me and how much do I have to pay?" There are also websites offering already-completed homework with individual material downloadable for 500 won, the paper said. Others offer children a chance to share projects. Experts worry that such sites could send students the wrong message, that they can buy whatever they want, the paper said.

See? They can so follow our lead.

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Mexican sniffer dog dognapped

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A top police sniffer dog working for an elite Mexican drug squad was stolen during an airport transfer by thieves who left a mixed-breed puppy in its place, the attorney general's office said. Rex IV, a highly trained Belgian Malinois sheepdog with a string of drug hauls behind him, was checked on to a flight from Mexico City this week with seven other police dogs bound for an operation in the northern state of Sinaloa. But when the dogs arrived at Mazatlan airport, Sinaloa, their police handlers discovered a small black mongrel puppy inside Rex IV's cage, with the sniffer dog nowhere to be seen. "In 17 years I've never seen anything like this. It's rather delicate," a Public Security Ministry spokesman told Reuters on Sunday, adding that the worry was the dog could help smugglers find new ways to conceal drugs. "It's like kidnapping an intelligence agent," he said. An airline employee told investigators a man posing as a police officer appeared at the counter and asked to switch the puppy for Rex IV because the Malinois was unwell. Rex IV is part of an elite Special Canine Unit set up in 2001 as part of Mexico's battle against cartels that smuggle South American cocaine and other drugs to the United States. President Felipe Calderon launched a new war on drug gangs when he took power in December, sending thousands of police and soldiers to northern and western states where turf wars between rival drug cartels leave dozens dead each week.

A message calling the Federales curs?