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You are un-American if you . . .
…espouse solving our energy problems by using the “drill baby drill” philosophy.
(The burning of fossil fuels is said to be at the center of our highly controversial global-warming problems!
Think what you want to think about global warming but never forget, it is always best to err on the side of caution.)
Will we ever know?
How many millions of dollars are spent with American Manufacturers for the importation
of firearms for non-military use into the country of Mexico?
Quote in Our Time
“May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to
the needs of others with kindness and compassion”
Thomas Jefferson
Comment of The Month?
“Not only is homosexuality a sin, but anyone who supports fags is just as
guilty as they are. You are both worthy of death.
Fred Phelps
Westboro Baptist Church
(a man of God)
Class Act of 2009!
It should go to Dr. Wilson G. Bradshaw, President of Florida Gulf Coast University! When Bradshaw’s contract reached the automatic $70,000.00 increase plateau, he said, “No!” It was his opinion that while members of his faculty and staff had to go without a raise during bad economic times, he had no business accepting a salary increase.
Want to create a mob scene? Merely put 700 hundred dollar bills on a table – color of table is optional - in the food sampling aisle of a Florida club membership retailer! Make sure you have your insurance paid-up and know where the nearest fire exit is located before you even entertaining the thought of venturing upon the scene.
Moments of Hypocrisy!
The American taxpayer is really behind the Congressional eight ball! The nation’s capitol building is filled with more hypocrisy than you can find at a church bazaar. (So, what else is new?) For us, it is a matter of discussing what we consider to be OUTSTANDING hypocrites and it seems that Senator Joe Lieberman (I - Conn) is the current holder of this dubious distinction.
Here’s a Senator whose oath of office centered around service to the people and it appears that Lieberman is not only serving himself, he did his best to serve the insurance industry.
Since Hartford, Connecticut is the “insurance capital” of the world, it comes as no surprise to be reminded that Aetna Health Insurance has its headquarters in that fair city. Nor did it come as any surprise to hear that Aetna gave Joe Lieberman more than $1-mil in the form of campaign contributions. Lieberman is also a “representative” of the many that contradict themselves in order to bend with any political wind! What’s that old expression about dancing with the person that brought ya? And, it has been said, Joe’s wife, Hadassah, gets a nice paycheck from the pharmaceutical industry. Dollar-chasing continues. This all reminds us part of the closing lines of the Gettysburg Address, “- - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, . . .” Wow!
Albert Einstein Society Nominees
There is so much from which to choose! When you see U.S. Senators on TV in deep vocalizing prayer with a beseeching message which in effect implored from our Creator, “Oh please dear Lord, stop the health care reform bill!” - you have every right to be worried, very worried! Imagine this type of mentality in one of the world’s leading governing bodies! Imagine the mental complexion of those districts that put such these jokers into the hallways of Congress! It actually happened not too long ago!
On camera - for the TV viewing audience was - Senator Michele Bachmann (R) - Minnesota; Senator Jim DeMint (R) - South Carolina and Senator Sam Brownback (R) - Kansas – engaged in making anguished pleas – gnashing teeth and hair-pulling were optional - for the Almighty’s direct interference against that sinful health reform bill! And you think imploring the intervention of a higher being occurred only in Iran?
While these three were beseeching the Heavenly Powers, you have to ask, “What comprises a true democracy.” The aforementioned situation is an indisputable fact. The aforementioned also adds credence in the first amendment of the United States as it relates to “separation of church and state.” It appears that these ding dongs are hell-bent to create an Americanized Iran!
But, it doesn’t end there! It is reported that none other than Rick Warren – a self-avowed man of God who delivered the Obama inauguration prayer and Senators Coburn and Inhofe – plus a gaggle of others - have flown to Uganda to conduct and/or participate in prayer breakfasts. Never mind that local Kiwanis Clubs can whip-up pancakes capable of delivering the glories of God over an American griddle.
To add insult to injury – it is Uganda that very recently wanted to pass legislation that penalized homosexuality with death! Now, the proposed Ugandan legislation calls for a jail sentence for homosexuality - as opposed to death. (Is this a reverse case of throwing Christians to the kittens instead of the lions?) It was mentioned that THREE Evangelical leaders had visited Uganda! The mere presence of these men of God, associates them with the original Ugandan death penalty. We know that Rick Warren was there. Who were the other two? Does any member of this pitiful proselytizing trio have American military service records? If not, then it is not unreasonable to assume that all armed conflict can be prayed away! It is doubtful that grits were served at those breakfasts inspired by these men of God!
One – of many – nagging question was, did Warren, Coburn and Inhofe fly to Uganda “first class?” Regardless, who paid for the air ticket? This is a good question since it is an accepted fact that very, very few people want to go to Uganda, let alone pay the air fare!
Why weren’t Coburn, Inhofe and Warren representing their own respective constituents/flocks without having to fly thousands of miles to bring another blessingover ham and eggs at a Ugandan prayer fest? It does not surprise us to know that Uganda wanted to eradicate homosexuality within their borders via the death sentence. This is the same country that was home to the ruling despot Idi Amin who was said to have killed more than 100,000 people (estimates range as high as 500,000.) Idi got to live-out his natural life alive in Saudi Arabia! We have to ask, “Why would Coburn, Inhofe and Warren ever want to have ANY relationship with any country with Uganda’s history?” Coburn and Inhofe areglowing testimonials for congressional term limits!
The final upshot is, apparently the Almighty did not see fit to respond to the fervid prayers of Senators Bachman, DeMint and Brownback. Oh, nertz!
Vote The Bums Out!
Emails are being widely circulated with virtually the same message. Their headlines vary slightly but, in essence, they all say the same thing. One says, “PASS IT ON FOR OUR COUNTRY.” These emails state that a majority of Congress of the United States is corrupt which embraces both Houses and both major parties. These are the guys that enjoy an enviable health care program. They also voted themselves raises but voted NOT to grant a cost of living increase for Social Security recipients.
In November 2010 the entire House of Representatives will stand for re-election – all 435 of them. One third of the Senate – a total of 33 – will also stand for re-election. “Vote every incumbent out!” The objective is to start all over with people that ostensibly lack experience in the devious routes taken to profit from Congressional membership! Conversely, it also means fresh legislative membership will have no political favors owed other than a governing concern for the welfare of each representative’s constituents.
These emails go on to suggest that this same routine should be followed in 2012 and in 2014 which the emails’ authors opine, Congress will have all new faces!
It doesn’t stop there! These emails also suggests term limits on the “new bunch” two terms for members of the House and two terms for members of the Senate. More than one email clearly stated, “We have term limited the President – now lets’ term limit the legislators.”
These emails close by stating that both the special retirement system and the special health program - currently enjoyed by our legislators, must come to an end with the voice of the people being properly represented. This could well mark the end of “lobbyists” as we know them today.
We cannot fault these recommendations one bit. These communications cover what we have long espoused i. e., that too Democratic or Republican politicians approached personal re-election first and the people’s welfare secondly. We suggest each reader - of this little story – to pass it on. It is long overdue for the power abusers get voted out of office. Any thinking citizen will not be able to find one scintilla of unreasonableness in this email’s message.
In a way, we disagree with one email when it says, “Let’s take America back!” We are of the opinion that for the very sake of our very survival as a nation, we have no alternative but to raise cane with the existing plethora of political hacks . (There will be many, many more such emails.)
Interesting Facts About Our Illustrious Congress!
MILITARY SERVICE: In the 11th Congress, the number of members in the U S. House of Representatives and the U. S. Senate combined, total 535. Of this combined number, only 121 have any record of any type military service. In other words, 23% of Congress has any record of military service.
AGE: The average age of Members of the 111th Congress is among the highest of any Congress in recent U. S. history. For Senators, the average wage is 63.1 years. For Representatives, the average age is 57.2 years.
LENGTH OF SERVICE: In the U. S. House, the average length of service is 11.0 years – 5.5 terms. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) can boast the longest service of any House Member in history – 53.8 years. John has received big taxpayer subsidized pay checks since January 1959. That’s adds-up to a lot of money!
In the U. S. Senate, the average length of service is 12.9 years (2.2 terms). Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) has served longer than any Senator in history. Senator Byrd went on the public dole beginning in 1959. (It wasn’t too long ago that another U. S. Senator had to be carried into the Senate chambers on a chair during the last three years of his life!)
We know who pays the salaries of these Congressmen, but who had to pay for the services of the guys carrying that aforementioned Congressman into the Senate Chambers on that chair? Better yet, who paid for the chair? You can bet your last drachma, the chair bearers nor the chair were paid-for out of the respective congressman’s pocket!)
That which we find particularly alarming is, if a Congressman HAS to be carried into Congressional chambers on a chair, how effective can he be in representing the people?
Kentucky deserves better. Don’t they?
The state of Kentucky can boast two senators that - many believe – leave a bit to be desired. Currently they have a Senator Jim Bunning who founded the Jim Bunning Foundation. It is reported that Bunning paid himself a $180,000 annual salary – ostensibly to manage the charity - for what was said to average only one hour a week. That combined with his Senate salary, we would not be surprised that good ole’ Jim would hire somebody to carry his brief case up the capitol building’s steps. (Bunning almost qualifies for a job on Wall Street.)
Some years back, Bunning was a professional baseball player. He is said to have raked-in another $61,631.00 for his charity as a result of autographs! It stands to reason that Bunning is a fast writer!
Then, there’s Senator Mitch McConnel. The State of Kentucky can boast the largest Toyota assembly plant outside of Japan. It is also reported that Mitch tootles around – when in his home state – in a Toyota. It is also known that Senator McConnel has thrown everything but the family Toyota into the path of the health-care reform train. When the Democrats mustered enough votes to break a Republican filibuster on health care reform, McConnel called it an, “Outrage.” That’s the pot calling the kettle chartreuse! Can anybody recall McConnel ever having supported any legislation for the welfare of the people?
In both cases these are classic examples of elected office holders looking-out for themselves first and people’s welfare is definitely a secondary consideration. These are not exceptions – these constitute unethical activities by elected Congressional representation and the sorry situation prevails in too many states. A disregard for ethics isn’t confined solely to Senators. One - of many - good example is the South Carolina governor that flew to Argentina - it wasn’t to go fishing on the Rio de la Plata river.
Then and Now!
THEN: Who can forget our former Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice? She had the reputation for tickling the keyboard of a piano with flair! We can’t make a determination of any special international accomplishment while she was in office, but she was Secretary of State during the ill-fated Bush Administration. It is said that when 9-11 took place, “Condi” was on NYC’s Fifth Avenue purchasing a pair of $1,500.00 boots. (And, them boots were indeed made for walk’n.)
TODAY: Condi can still play a mean piano. She has gone back to California and is on the faculty of Stanford University. We don’t know what happened to that pair of alleged $1,500.00 boots! Do you suppose she is teaching “foreign policy?” Surely Stanford would steer away from that one!
Dumb BunnyAwards!
If you had a teen-age son that handled the family car like our representation in Washington handles serving the American people, your son wouldn’t be able to sit down for a month. Here we go again with Banal Boehner (R), Ohio who we feel qualifies for a Dumb Bunny Award. It is said to be a real challenge to get Banal off the golf course in spite of the fact he has some severe poverty pockets in his home state of Ohio. These poverty pockets are so bad, CBS covered one in a fairly recent 60 MINUTES airing. But what difference does that make when there was something to hate - like health care reform? If somebody said that Boehner epitomizes partisan politics, we could find no sound reason to disagree with such an observation!
How can we overlook another dumb bunny – in our estimation – and it is Senator James Inhofe, (R ) - OK. When the subject of Global Warming comes-up, when hasn’t Senator Inhofe intoned the word “hoax” with the conviction of a preacher delivering a sermon on Easter Sunday morning? In our estimation, Inhofe’s compatriot, Senator Tom Colburn (R ) – OK, also qualifies for the Dumb Bunny Award. This is the guy that was said as being responsible for holding-up a key piece of legislation – legislation that was created to benefit our veterans. Sen. Coburn is the same man that has absolutely no record of military service plus well established connections with the infamous “Family” on D. C.’s “K” Street – the Gaud fearing bunch! This is the same Coburn that is credited with the afore-mentioned trips to Uganda? This is the same Coburn that opined on the floor of the U. S. Senate that people should pray against the passage of health care reform. (This too was afore-mentioned.) History is replete with those that justify their actions in the name of GOD! We call them “sorry losers.” It would appear that losers have been voting for losers.
They Say, We Say
TS: What is your “take” on Joe Scarborough and the Morning Joe show on MSNBC
Myra . . . Muscle Shoals
WS: It is difficult to establish a “take” on Joe Scarborough (R ), Florida since mystery surrounds the man. We do know he abruptly resigned from Congress shortly after the mysterious death of a female staff member in his Ft. Walton, Beach office. He was accused of infidelities before his divorce. In spite of all these, Joe still says – time and again – “When I was in Congress.” Why MSNBC insists on having Scarborough on TV escapes our wildest imagination. A kid in the network’s mail room would get fired with the discovery of a similar background. (Yet, - you must admit - the mail room kid could very well make a refreshing addition to Congress!)
TS: Were you surprised to see the blatant partisanship insofar as the recent health care reform brouhaha?
Harold . . . Lake Tahoe
WS: Not really! Looking back in history, you have to ask yourself these questions: “What political party was dead-set against Social Security? What political party was dead-set against Medicare/Medicaid? Incidentally, members of that party have not stuck with their convictions since they take advantage of both SS and health care programs with aplomb. One would have to be terribly dense not to observe a continued partisan approach in health care reform. Political party anti-this and anti-that, is another example of political party first and citizen welfare second.
TS: What are the educational requirements to become a member of Congress?
Marie . . . Tucson
WS: Just as is the case with voters, there are no educational requirements. Twenty-seven members of the House and one Senator have no educational degree beyond a high school diploma. There also seems to be a paucity of common sense. This bit of trivia could confirm your worst suspicions.
TS: I am sure you have an opinion on Senator Ben Nelson (D) – Nebraska – don’t you?
Sandra . . . Placid Lake
WS: Do we ever! He has expressed considerable concern as to how the proposed health care reform bill might affect abortions but doesn’t seem to grasp the horrible fact that approximately 110 people a day die as a result of no health insurance! The Republican Party should consider this but won’t. This is arguably minute when compared to the daily death toll resulting from lack of health insurance! Ben did a great job of black-mailing to get a big “freebie” for the citizens of his state. The fact that he has withdrawn his “you get my vote for this” routine, the fact still remains, Ben Nelson originally cooked-up an idea that benefited only one state out of the fifty comprising the United States.
TS: Is there any one incident during the recent health reform brouhaha that sticks in your mind?
Zander . . . Toronto
WS: There was an incredible number of health care reform incidents but one, I consider the most humorous. We refer to it as the “Say It Isn’t So” trio consisting of Olympia (What’s The Rush?) Snowe (R) – Maine; Bart (Shine The Light On Me!) Stupak (D) – Michigan and, Joe (Ain’t I great?) Lieberman (I) – Connecticut.
TS: Do you have any criticism of the new health care “reform” bill?
Lucille . . . Mexico City
WS: Health care reform was badly needed. We should be terribly concerned over the fantastic difficulties faced in the pursuit of something that is for the public good. For instance, it is inexcusable that concessions were made to Mary Landrieu, (D) – Louisiana; Ben Nelson, (D) – Nebraska – as mentioned earlier; Bill Nelson, (D) – Florida; Chris Dodd (D) Conn. In essence, they sold their votes!
Holding-out on a special vote for concessions for their own states is political black-mail at its best. These politicians vote on measures that effect us all and we all have to pay for the concessions that these characters “brought home” to their voters with the intent of being re-elected to office. This is exactly what is wrong with America.
TS: You seem to be pro-draft. Is this a correct assumption?
Arthur . . . Buffalo
WS: We sure are! When it is not uncommon for our current-day troops to be on a fourth tour of duty – plus, plus - in the Middle East and observe the divisiveness on the citizen-political scene, we have to spread the load more evenly. We desperately need a greater cohesiveness nationally and a non-exempt draft would go a long way in correcting a dire situation.
TS: Do you agree with Dick Cheney on our national security picture?
Sherry . . . Biloxi
WS: Dick Cheney is the best reason anybody would vote for the family dog before voting for anybody that associates with him politically. DickCheney will go down in history as “Five Deferment Dick.”Cheney’s His daughter - Liz - is a good example of the applies not falling too far from the tree!
CORRECTION: In the October 18th They Say, We Say segment we stated that armed conflicts were costing the American taxpayers $50-bil a month. This is incorrect. It should have read, “More than $5-bil a month.” (Thus far, Obama has not been accused of causing any of any costly armed conflict outside of the Middle East.)
(Should you have any comments relating to the foregoing commentary, you can contact me at efrick@edfrickauthor.com Compliments are ecstatically welcomed!) |
