Rain, Rain. Won't you go away?

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It is almost always wet along the Central Oregon Coast. When the weather warms, the moss grows everywhere from your boots to inside your ears.

But even with the 60+ inches of rain, seldom do we have major floods. Our dams don't break, and our streets don't flood much. Sometimes a tree falls or rocks tumble across a road, but more often the roads are blocked by a herd of elk.

The ocean breeze does get stiff a few times a year, but we don't have hurricanes or tornadoes. And when the sun shines, you won't get much of a sun burn.

No earthquakes yet, but the threat of a temblor elsewhere else causing a tidal wave here raises our brows a bit.

Our 3 traffic lights along the highway through town can easily handle the tourists on the weekends and all through summer. Seems people flock here from all across the western states and Canada, and even a few from Europe. They come to see what we have I guess.

For me, this spot is a step away from Heaven. A spot away from freeways and concrete banked river beds. Away from the fast pace of the big city. Away from the forecasts of inversion layers and smog days preventing the children from having a school recess. Away from any significant crime. And away from my previous job.

I'll trade all of what was then for my musty boots of now.
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None of us knew

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I wish I knew who wrote the following, but I don't. It was simply filtered through the Thought Dock portal. Although the author is unknown, I believe it to be quite accurate. It follows now in it's unedited format:

I remember asking dad about Castro when I was about 9 years old. I asked, "Is Castro a good guy or bad?" Dad said he couldn't tell! This was about 1955 while Dad was in the Army and stationed in Louisiana. Cuba was fairly close and in the news a lot. The Cubans were asking the same question! Ike was president.

This past July, we had the pleasure of sharing a summer barbecue with a refugee from Cuba . Our dinner conversation was starkly different than most. This refugee came to the United States as a young boy in the early 1960s. His family was more fortunate than most as they were able to bring a suitcase and $100 when they fled Castro's newly formed revolutionary paradise.

Our dinner consisted of all-American fare: hamburgers, potato salad, watermelon and fresh ears of sweet corn. This is a menu shared with family and friends nationwide, while celebrating the birth of our beloved America on the Fourth of July.

We began with a simple discussion about our country and the direction it has taken since Barack Obama came to power. We shared the usual complaints about the sour economy and liberal social engineering emanating from the rulers in Washington.

But then he said it. The sentence came naturally. I assume it was unplanned. But it carried the weight of a freight train. "You know when Castro took power, none of us knew he was a Communist."

We sat stunned. He continued, "Yes, we all thought he was a patriot, a nationalist. Before the revolution he didn't sound like a radical." The comparison at this point was easy, and I interjected, "You mean just like Barack Obama?" He responded; "Yes, just like Barack Obama."

He continued, "We were all shocked as the government just continued to grab more power. First they said the revolution is over, so please turn in your guns. We all complied." "I remember my uncle saying after it started; 'Castro will only nationalize some of the big industries, he will never come and take our family hardware store.'

But that is EXACTLY what happened; Castro started with the sugar mills and the large industries, but they eventually came and knocked on the door of our family hardware store. My family had run this store for generations. They said we now own the hardware store, you work for us. And that nice, large four-bedroom home you own, it is now our property also, and you can move yourself and five children into two rooms of the house because others are moving in with you."

The lesson learned from this discussion is a lesson most Americans refuse to hear. Political leaders can lie about their agenda and once in office they can take totally unexpected turns.

If you had asked us three years ago if we thought General Motors would be nationalized, we would have never believed it. We could never contemplate a country where the rule of law, the most fundamental building block of a just society would be evaporating just like it did in Castro's Cuba in the early 1960s.

But the news of injustice keeps increasing. Black Panthers are not charged with wrongdoing by the U.S. Department of Justice because their crimes are against whites. The bondholders of GM are stripped of their assets without due process by the government. Governmental leaders are bribed in full daylight only to have all investigation of the crimes stifled by the Attorney General. The U.S. borders are overrun with crime and illegal activity and the leaders in D.C. act as if it is important to protect the lawbreakers while the innocent are killed and overrun. When local communities attempt to enforce the law, they are ridiculed and threatened as racists and bigots. They are sued by the very administration entrusted with enforcing the law..

Without the 'rule of law' the U.S. Constitution is a sham. Without the 'rule of law' our beloved America is swiftly becoming a country where only the well connected and politically powerful will be safe. As Michelle Malkin has so eloquently explained in her recent book, “ a culture of corruption ” has replaced honest government.

The only way this problem will be fixed is by massive citizen action. All honest citizens that want to be treated equally must come together and demand that the favoritism, the bribes, the uneven enforcement of law end now. And yes, it can happen here.

And may God bless the United States of America !

No Dinner Tonight

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Recently a local television news station did a story about a school bus driver, and his wife in a nearby community. Both were hailed as heroes. Here is their story.

Near the end of last year's school season, the bus driver was loading elementary school students one Friday afternoon when he noticed a first grade girl sitting alone with her head lowered and tears running from her eyes.

The driver approached her and asked why she looked so sad on a Friday afternoon when the school week was nearing its end. He told her to cheer up like all the other students. The driver reported that the little girl replied, "I'm sad because I know that there will be nothing to eat when I get home."

When the school bus driver got home that evening, he told his wife about his contact with the girl. Together, they both agreed to help. The following Friday, the bus driver gave the little girl a backpack with plenty of food in it for the weekend.

Soon there were other children on the bus driver's route that asked for food, and by year's end, the driver and his wife were packing six backpacks of food each Friday. During the summer break, the driver and his wife, working with the blessings of the school district, collected food and backpacks from the community. Today, the couple distributes over 120 backpacks every Friday to any student who asks.

Well, I guess the driver and his wife are heroes. They certainly are very compassionate and giving. But, you know I have some concerns with this.

First of all, I have difficulty believing that first little girl using those exact words when asked by the driver about why she was sad. It just seems that if there was no dinner for her on that Friday night, then the same would hold true for the other six nights of the week.

And if she was hungry, why was that? Shouldn't Children's Services have been notified? Perhaps there are issues of child neglect. And now that half of the school's student population is claiming to be underfed, there must be a significant problem in that community. Maybe it is like the Haiti syndrome where our charitable food donations never make it to the hungry. Certainly these families, if truly hungry, qualify for some government assistance, don't you think?

No, I don't think any of these scenarios really exist. I think it is more of a bunch of people taking advantage of the gullible and compassionate people in the community. And it is yet another example of how all these entitlement programs create and propagate a bunch of lazy individuals. And they are even learning it in the first grade because our schools help teach them the way.

Just as my Teacup Poodle has learned she can get a treat even though she didn't do her deed, so the entitlists get rewards simply for asking.

Have a wonderful weekend!
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Perception of Deception - Proof's in the Pudding

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Is it me, or is this whole world insane? Now even my dog is lying to me!

So, we have this 8-year old, 5 1/2 pound, Tea Cup Poodle that my spouse rescued from from the pound a few years ago. A pretty pathetic thing with bad hips, bad breath, and only 4 of her 32 teeth left and those that are left hang outside her mouth like a crocodile's. She loves to be pampered, carried, cuddled, and fed (especially treats).

Seems her hips are out of whack and her rear knees and back are really stiff. So stiff in fact that she hunches her back and walks slowly in a tight (always counter clockwise) circle as she takes a dump. I really don't know why, but I guess it helps her bowels move. Anyway, unlike our other more domesticated little dog, she can't remain on the potty pads long enough while she is walking, to drop her load. So we constantly have to take her outside where she has more space. And when it is rainy, like it often is here, she doesn't like to poop outside.

Now, to get her to go outside to poop we have trained (bribed) her by rewarding her with a treat if she pulls it off correctly, and finally she has caught on. And when she needs to do her thing, she will go to the door and bark, then do a counter clockwise Kung-Fu spin for us just before we open the door. And sometimes, she will do the spin after her good deed.

So get this! Yesterday, my spouse took her out first thing in the morning where she did her deed properly and, I presume was justly rewarded. Several hours later she went to the door and barked, did her Kung-Fu spin, and I followed her outside. Immediately, she ran to her previously dropped turd (which my wife apparently failed to properly care for), sniffed it and did a Kung-Fu spin around it. She was obviously telling me that she had done a qualifying poop.

So, unless my spouse forgot to pay her off when she dropped that load, my most faithful dog had deceived me! Proof being that these entitlement programs we have all over don't build good character.

Yes, the proof is in the poop. Uh, I mean pudding!
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Is Obama to Blame?

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As gasoline prices continue to soar, they are now more than double from what they were when our President took office.

As home values continue to decline, many of us live in homes worth less that half of what they were when our President took office.

As many Americans earn far less that what we did before our President took office, many more Americans are still searching for any job while he is still in office.

As General Motors profits from the bailout our President gave them, most of us can not afford to buy a new car. A few of us did get to buy a car under the Clunker program, but there was a cost for the rest of us.

As the banks profit from the bailout our president gave them, we still can not obtain a decent interest rate on what savings we might have, and few can purchase a home because they can not raise the 10-30% down payment they now require.

As a few of us bought homes using the Federal Tax credit, the rest of us had to pay for it.

As we struggle to overcome our own debt, our President has increased his by raising our taxes.

As more GITMO detainees are released only be re-arrested for taking arms against us, our President boasts about the conviction of one terrorist for destroying government property although he murdered over 200 people.

As our President was busy shaking hands across the world, Iran, China, and Korea have continued building their nuclear arsenals, while he has signed treaties to reduce ours.

As most of the Middle east now lies either in turmoil or destruction, most likely masterminded by our President, while our President as he acts as if he was surprised.

As state governments struggle to make drastically needed cuts, our President supports the labor unions.

As many of us have seen our medical premiums rise over 20% in the last few years, our President is confident that his plan is the way. As we grow corn to mix with gas, our food prices have also risen over 20% since our President took office.

As our President demands renewable energy, not one new solar, wind, wave, nor nuclear plant has been built. And our shores and inland oil fields are still closed to drilling.

So, is our President to blame for all of this? No, we are for putting this socialist into office. I'm sure tired of his "Spread the Wealth" program.
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Freeloader Facts . . .

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In Those Days, it seems like I always worked. As I recall, when I was young, I worked for a small allowance from my parents doing odd jobs around the house.

And then at about age 12 or so, I shovelled snow in the winters, raked leaves in the fall, mowed lawns in the summers, and helped plant gardens in the spring. What I earned, I kept. I was taught to save, and spend only what I needed, and since my wants were not much, I did well at saving.

When I was about 16, I always had a summer job like washing dishes or pumping gasoline and it was about then that I learned that my earnings were taxable. I paid unemployment tax, federal income tax, state income tax, social security tax, disability and unemployment insurance.

And I've been paying taxes ever since. In return, I've never received unemployment, disability, welfare, social security, medicare, disability, or any other assistance from the government. My children never ate a free meal at school, and never were arrested. And today, they are paying their fair share of taxes too.

But today, it has been said that nearly half of Americans don't pay taxes at all. Yet I know that those that don't pay taxes at all, receive the vast majority of government services. They are usually the ones that need police services, either because they are beating someone or getting beaten themselves. They are the ones that are on welfare, disability, or in prison.

Their ghetto houses burn more often, their children are on school lunch programs, they are more often on unemployment or disability. And, to top that off, they are the ones that steal my crap!

They often do not have driver's licenses or auto insurance. They are more often alcoholics or drug addicts. They don't bother to practice safe sex, and foster their kids out upon birth.

For example, many of these individuals beg on the streets, making 10-50 dollars an hour. Or he might work for $6 hr. He might have a wife and 5 children, although some of them might not be his. At that wage, with six dependents, he pays no income tax, yet at the end of the year, if he files an Income Tax Return, he gets an "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free.

He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent. He qualifies for food stamps..He qualifies for free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care. His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school. His kids require bilingual teachers and books. He qualifies for relief from high energy bills. If they are or become, aged, blind or disabled, they qualify for Social Security. Once qualified, they can get Medicare. All of this is at our (mine) taxpayer's expense.

He doesn't worry about car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners insurance. Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins and printed material. He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00/hour in benefits. Yet, he pays no taxes!

Now, our President is back at it again. He wants to build his fan base of freeloaders, and raise taxes for those of us that work! And, you know what? He will likely get away with it because those 50% of us that don't pay taxes. They will all vote for him. Then with just a few more ignorant socialists votes, he is in again!

Look out! Majority Rules! Oh, happy days!
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What about Mexico?

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In watching the videos coming out of the middle east, I've seen few signs of the carnage that we all seem to be so concerned about.

In Libya, I've seen only a few dead rebels that have been paraded through the streets, a few mothers morning over the loss of their child, few burned out buildings and Toyota pick up trucks, and a few tanks and buildings destroyed. I heard about one allegation of a gang rape by Libyan soldiers, and have watched rockets and bombs seemingly fall into open fields.

Videos from Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Bahrain, Iran, Yemen, and the rest of the sand land region have shown nothing different. Certainly there has be no evidence to support the genocide that I was led to believe is happening. Yet, our American led NATO is all over the place testing out their newest weapons.

Well, what about Mexico? There is evidence there that over 60,000 deaths have occurred in the past 3 years. Every day there are more and more reports of killings. Innocent Americans have been murdered, and the country is in a lawless state.

Their crime is spilling across our borders and is killing our citizens. The Mexican government is corrupt, and has been since the beginning of time. It has no desire or means to stop the carnage. Tens of thousand are fleeing their homeland and into America, yet we do nothing.

The true genocide is occurring right across our border in Mexico, and it would in our best interest to focus our attention there rather than in the giant sand trap of the Middle East (Mexico even has vast oil supplies too).
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Hoping for Change?

. President Obama is asking us to re-elect him next year. His last campaign was built upon his promise of Hope and Change. He also promised us better health care for everybody, but with lower costs, transparency in his administration, withdraw from Iraq, a stronger economy, no new taxes, and a country with less dependence on imported oil. So, let's take a look at just what, if any of his promises have been realized during the three quarters of his first term. He did give us hope. But hope is not hiring at the moment. Millions of Americans have gone from hoping just to find a job, to hoping that the rest of us will support them. Extended unemployment and welfare benefits have led us into an even more socialistic country. And he did give us change. Foreign governments both laugh and despise us. Bowing before Kings and dictators, promises to our enemies to reduce our national defense, and the appointments of his cabinet with the likes Clinton, Holder, and Napolitano, were some real changes. While Clinton travels abroad kissing ass, Holder dismisses over 200 counts of murder and to get a single guilty plea damaging government property for a terrorist (and he call that a victory), Napolitano continues searching our mothers shoes and toothpaste before boarding airplanes, instead of using profiling to focus on the real threat. Oh, but her big accomplishment was to revise the color chart for the Threat Level. So sweet. He promised transparency. Really? Like refusing to release his birth certificate? Like ramming the health care bill through so fast that no one had a chance to read it? Like appointing thugs and convicted criminals, tax evaders, and hidden tax increases? Like the bail outs given to his Wall Street buddies, his union friends, clunker and home buying programs that benefited only the recipients and his friends? And, we are so much less dependent on foreign oil. Corn prices spiked (which impacts my summer Q's) as we added ethanol in gasoline, increasing a gallon cost by 20%, but reducing fuel economy by 10. That's smart. While claiming to be fair with respect to race, gender, and religion, he embraces Islam world wide and encourages building mosques atop Ground Zero. Looking at his appointees shows just how his views on race are. And defending his professor friend while denouncing the cop, really shows his true colors! OK, cutting to the chase. Fact is, most of you put Obama on top of that pole. That's why he is there now. Most of you believed in his promises of hope and change. Most of you got duped and fell for it. Hitler, Castro, Qaddafi, and many others all came to power in the same manner as did Obama. I'm not even asking for you to admit it now. But remember what you have done. Stand firm as you did last November, and throw this bum and his friends out during the next November election. .

A Century Old View of Muslim

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Another avid Follower of this blog submitted the following viewpoint about the Muslim world. This was a short speech written by Sir Winston Churchill in 1899 at the age of 25 when he was a young soldier and journelist. I made no edits because it speaks for itself.

CHURCHILL ON ISLAM

How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy.

The effects are apparent in many countries,improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.

A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement, the next of its dignity and sanctity.

The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

Individual Muslims may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world.

Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step, and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome."

Sir Winston Churchill
(Source: The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 London )

Churchill saw it coming.............. .

Arming the Camels

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In Those Days, when satellite TV was first coming to be, I was able to watch uncut, raw footage news footage from around the world. At times, it was stomach turning to see videos that were being transmitted from abroad, before the networks had a chance to edit out the gore and present it in their own distorted way.

One video has stood out in my memory. It was from the early 1980's and showed a nomad looking character riding along a mountain ridge on a camel with a Stinger missile launcher hanging from his shoulder. A Russian jet came into view. The warrior dismounted, aimed the shoulder weapon, and launched the surface-to-air missile at the jet. The jet did everything it could, but did not escape it's doom. That half million dollar Stinger missile was provided to that camel mounted jockey jockey, that Russians would refer to as a "Rebel," compliments of America.

Eventually Russia pulled out, and Afghanistan continued on as they had been. In short, Russia wanted to beef up their failing Communist agenda by installing communism across the middle east. Russia soon learned that the Afghan people have a very different culture and could not be rehabilitated.

Ever since, America has wanted to reform the camels and their riders and modernise the country. Our efforts are proving just as futile, and the Afghan people will continue as they have been long after we decide to abandon our positions and admit defeat. And the same will prove true with Iraq, and now Libya.

But what bothers me most is that we have given them our weapons and trained their armies using our very own tactics. And what I fear most is that will all someday be used against us in the furtherance of their way of life.
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Sad Sack

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Well, did you listen to the President's explanation and justification for involving our country in the Libyan turmoil? Let me recap what he said for those of you that haven't the time to do it yourselves.

Our President explained that American might was not being used to overthrow the Libyan government. It was not in preparation of a future ground attack. And he said it was not about anything other than protecting the lives of the innocent Libyan people from thier oppressive leader.

Our President said that he believed a genocide was about to occur, which if allowed, would tarnish the very reputation of what America stands for. And he explained that he has not yet intervened in other troubled Middle East countries because they, unlike Libya, used only police instead of their military to quell their disturbances. And Obama didn't say when, ever, or if our military would pull out of the action.

Did you buy into that? Did you fall for it? Did you swallow it hook, line and sinker? Wasn't it odd that he first spent three full days preparing a 30-minute presentation, then darted from the stage without accepting a single comment or question? I guarentee you that Obama did not give us the full story and that things are about to get worse.

What genocide he was talking about. Prior to our invasion, I watched weeks worth of news video and saw but just a few of the citizens killed. Actually, I saw far more of the military killed than of the civillian population. Although, I did see a warplane or two drop a bomb or two, I never saw anything to show that any significant damage or death.

And to put things into perspective, I don't think Qaddafi even has a civillian police force in place to quell disturbances in the country, so his soldiers were his only option.

You know, right here in America, American soldiers have been deployed to quell disturbances in America, involving American citizens, and have likely killed more of our own that what Qaddafi did to his own. Remember the riots in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. Hundreds were killed by our own to protect the majority? Obama would surely do the same to protect the peace at his house.

Obama said our intent is only to save lives and stop the escalation of violence. Yet by his own admission, our planes only attacked military weapons and soldiers, without harming a single civilian! The evidence supports that Obama targeted only the Libyan military in support of the opposition rebels. Why is that, if the mission was to stop the violence and keep the peace? Why weren't the protesters targeted equally as well then?

Now I'm not a supporter of Libya, or any other radical Islamic country for that matter. But, Obama should at least tell us the truth about why he involved us in Libya. And if it was all about oil, then perhaps I'd support a full scale invasion, claim the country as our own, and take it like we are capable of doing. Kind of like the way things were in the Crusades.

Like his presidential campaign, not a bit of thruth came out of Obama's mouth. There is far more to it. For if Obama's explanation was sound, we would have invaded Cuba, Syria, Egypt,Yemen, Mexico, all of Africa, and most of South and Central America.
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We'll be in Libya for a long time to come in many more ways that what the President has told us.

What's it all about, Alfie?

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Last Friday, our President announced that he will give a presentation tonight about just why we are blasting the pants off of Libya. Now, just why does it take three days for him to conjure up justification for the invasion?

But, I'm sure he will say that it is not a war. Or is it? He'll try to write his definition.

Three weeks ago, his top general announced on national TV that it would be ill advised to intervene militarily there, citing the extreme costs, overtaxing our already taxed military, the American budget, inciting the Arab world even further against the probability of accomplishing any objective.

In contrast, Obama and Hilary called for the dictator's ouster and incited NATO to step up, do what Obama wanted, but keeping the spotlight off him. So here we are. But where are we? Obama called for a No-fly zone and has spent a half billion dollars so far, not counting the loss of an F16E, at a time when we can least afford it.

A No-fly zone that has only shot down one Libyan trainer that was trying to land. Yet, we have blasted lots of WWII era tanks, and trucks, and put two well placed cruise missiles through the roof of Qaddafi's house. So, how is attacking ground forces, and making an assignation attempt on another country's leader, justified during the enforcement of a No-fly zone?

I'll be very interested in hearing the President's explanation for that. And I'm sure he has spent the entire weekend to find to dupe us. So tune in with me and see for yourself.

Now, I'm not a supported of Khadafi, but I am tired of all the Arab baloney in the middle east. And I'm tired of our country trying to overthrow the legitimate government all across the world to force democracy in lands that can not accept one due to their religion. It did not work in Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, or any other tens of places where we have mingled into. We are not the World's police. So explain it to me, Alfie.
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Whatcha Gonna Do?

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In Those Days, Sundays were special. A time for the family. It was a day for the "Sunday Drive." With gas prices holding firm around 22 cents, we'd often hop in our 60 Chevy Biscayne station wagon (yesterday's SUV) with a basket of Mom's pan-fried chicken and head out. "Where are we going?" I'd often ask. And just as often Pop would say, "We'll find a place." But just as often, we'd dive into the chicken as we drove along the country road counting telephone poles and cows, only to return home, exhausted after not finding the "place" because we didn't have a plan.

As time passed, I continued on without a plan. Not knowing where to go, what to do, or how to do it, until during my sophomore year in high, I learned how much easier it was to have a plan. Mister M clued me in on that. And since then I have seldom been without one. And since then, life has been relatively easy for me and very rewarding.

I knew where I had been, where I wanted to go, and how to get there, and how to determine when I had arrived. I realized that not all plans are perfect and can not be so rigid that you destine it into failure. Plans must allow an "audible" to be called when it is evident it ain't working.

An effective plan seems not so apparent with President Obama. His health care plan is unworkable in it's present state, and might best be scrapped entirely.

His plan for a No-Fly zone in Libya is poorly designed, and will drag us into yet another invasion.
It has no definitions and lacks a way to determine when it will end. I never realized that Qaddafi's personal compound could actually fly and therefore could be a target of No-Fly.

His plan to make this country green, is a dream (more like a fantasy). Now he is encouraging Brazil to drill for oil off their coast. That's arrogant. Let them risk their waters while we over protect ours?

Mr. President, I urge you to use your vast community organizing skills and get an effective plan in place for our future. And include a plan for, "Whatcha gonna do when they come to get you!"
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A Special Place

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In Those Days I held a fascination for the Middle East. There was little information available to me about the region other than by reading the likes of Little Black Sambo, and watching movies such as Sinbad the Sailor, and Lawrence of Arabia.

It was a magical kind of place, with thinks like flying carpets, charmed snakes, belly dancers, tents and harems of the most beautiful women in the world. Tigers that could talk, and camels that could go without a drink for ages. Kings with huge mustaches and turbines. Beautiful women dressed in the finest linens. Sand every where. Dust storms. Blazing sun and a bit of shade from a tiny palm tree near the oasis. It was a special place that I could only dream about.

I don't think the countries we know today were even defined then as they are today, but there were places that sound familiar in today's news. Like Tripoli, Istanbul, Constantinople. And famous rivers like the Tigris, Jordan, and the Euphrates.

Now, either the Middle East has changed or perhaps it has been me. I don't understand the region any better to day, than I did then. But the magic I once knew no longer exists.

Today, I know there are no flying carpets with princes. The sand I once thought was beautiful is no planted with oil derricks, and the wind blows for ever. Although many still ride camels, they now tote AK47s instead of scimitars. They are radical, full of hate, and seem to seldom shave or shower. Lunatics and dictators. Murderers and thieves. And a religion of hate.

But it was fun for me to glance back to those magical days and places that I once thought I knew.
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The Green Thing

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The following is a reprint submitted through the Thoght Dock. The author is unknown.

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. The woman apologized to her and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.”

That’s right, they didn’t have the green thing in her day. Back then, they returned their milk bottles, Coke bottles and beer bottles to thestore. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, using the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But they didn’t have the green thing back in her day (In Those Days).

In her day,they walked up stairs, because they didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.

But she’s right. They didn’t have the green thing in her day.

Back then, they washed the baby’s diapers because they didn’t have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts – wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that old lady is right, they didn’t have the green thing back in her day.

Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a pizza dish, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn’t have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used wadded up newspaper to cushion it, not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, they didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she’s right, they didn’t have the green thing back then.

They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty, instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled pens with ink, instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But they didn’t have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus, instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But they didn't have the green thing back then!
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Most Impressed

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My heart goes out to the people of Japan. I feel their grief and loss. Having lived through a major earthquake, then did rescue and security for months following the event, I can somewhat understand what Japan has endured.

What stands out most for me though is the ethics of the Japanese people when compared to our own. Of all the films and photos that I've seen from Japan, not one showed any sign of any civil disobedience. No rioting. No looting, No shootings, No murders or violence of any kind, unlike our California quakes, and the New Orleans hurricane.

I find that amazing. Photos of store shelves running thin, no drinking water, no electricity, severe loss of life, and total devastation, yet no crime like we are getting used to in America with most every disaster.

And President Obama was quick to pledge Eight Million Dollars for their earthquake relief effort. 8 Mil?? Seems like we gave over 200 Mil to Haiti, of which there is little evidence that it ever got to the victims. What gives?
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A Union Affair

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For the most part, I've supported employee unions all my life. I've seen unfair labor practices, disparity and discrimination occur in the workplace, even in government workplaces where you would not expect it. And in many cases, the unions were the last line of defense for the employees. But times were different then. Not so any longer. It is different today.

Today, we have laws (both federal and state) the protect the employee in cases of discrimination, unfair wages and working conditions, equal opportunity, and the list goes on and on. Although I'm sure abuse continues every now and then, I'm convinced the pendulum has swung far to the side of the employee.

No longer can the employer effective manage. And it seems to be even more pronounced in the public sector workplace. Employers face great difficulties and court battles in their effort to remove a sub-standard employee. Cops that lie, cheat and beat, get heavy severance packages when they should have been sent to prison. Worthless school teachers, road maintenance crews, planners, politicians, and court executives are everywhere. No business could survive today with the typical civil servant as their employees. It's a laugher.

Unions have all but destroyed the American prosperity. Wages have risen to such a point that we no longer manufacture anything here. We buy Japanese cars, South American fruit, and most everything else from China.

A local, very tenured, school teacher goes unpunished for duct taping a child in his seat because of the union. Yet, our children's education has been evaporating for the past 30 years. North Eugene High School walk out of class yesterday in support of the rebelling Wisconsin school teachers. Now where did they get that idea if not from our very own teachers here? They need to be fired themselves for their continued pickling of our children's minds.

Michael Moore announced that the states are not even close to being broke because there are plenty of rich people in every state that are hoarding the money. Now, that's not even socialism, but pure communism in theory! And Jesse Jackson stood proudly at the steps of the Wisconsin Senate building and called for continued mass protesting (that means riot), just like he called for in Los Angeles over the Rodney King incident.

I've been raised on donuts. I'm fat just like our government. And I'm on a diet. It is very hard and I hate it. But dropping the pounds is a matter of survival for me, just like downsizing our government.

And a big first step is to getting public employee unions under control.
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The Great Pretender

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The final report to the Fort Hood massacre was released. And in it, there was no reference to radical Islam being a factor. In fact, radical Islam was not even mentioned although the shooter had denounced America's actions in Iraq and Afghanistan on his website, received instruction from a foreign Al Queda cleric, and shouted, "Allalu Akbar - god is great" as he opened fire on our unarmed soldiers. In doing so, our President denied the families of the slain soldiers the privilege of benefits awarded to soldiers killed in action.

A few weeks ago, the President refused to call the murder of American soldiers in Germany a terrorist incident, even though the shooter shouted "Allalu Akbar - god is great" as he took the lives of two innocents.

The Obama administration has stated that the way to ease the tension between Islam and America is to stop denouncing the religion and accepting the Islamic culture into or hearts.

What part of terror does he not understand? But, perhaps it is us who don't understand because we don't have the close relationship to Islam in our childhood that the President has.

He turns my stomach! Pray for him.
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Take the Escalator Mr. President

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President Obama has called for Qaddafi to step down. And actually, now that I think about it, I think that is a great idea. Perhaps he could use the escalator when he does to speed up his decent. Problem is; Who would then take his place as the Libyan leader?

I got it!!! President Obama!! A novel idea of my own.

President Obama should step down from the office that he is incapable of running, and immediately head to Libya and slap hands as he passes Qaddafi on the escalator.

Think about it. President Obama wouldn't have to prove citizenship because I doubt if the locals even keep birth certificates. His looks would be enough to get him through customs and into the office. And unlike the difficulty in translating the name Qaddafi to English, Obama could be easily translated to Arabic because it already is Muslim.

From there, he could distribute the wealth without opposition because everyone there, except the politicians, have nothing. And the billions that Qaddafi has said to have stolen and hidden away, could be President Obama's salary. A far cry from what we pay in America.

And he could unionize all the laborers so if any jobs did come he could control the people. He could save lots on a national health care plan because there are no doctors. And there would be plenty of wind to power windmills to make Libya greener. Camel dunk could also be recycled into flat bread.

He could name all his favorites like Hilary, Janet, and Eric to his closest positions. He could reduce the size of his military because there is no real military. He wouldn't be pressured to salute the flag or recite our Pledge of Allegiance, but instead could wear his preferred garb like a turbine and a purple robe.

He wouldn't have to bring his dog, because there are plenty of camels there to ride. He could raise taxes on the wealthy and businesses easily because there are few of them there. He could import his illegal alien favorite aunt from her subsidized apartment in America and provide her with a tent to pitch in the sand.

President Obama would be a better fit in Libya because there are few fat people there. And he could build that socialist-communist country he always wanted.

I'm praying for our President.
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What will he do now?

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He is still wondering. I am still wondering. No one now admits to putting him in the top spot. You know, the top post in America. The Office of the President.

He certainly couldn't have climbed there alone. Neither his youth years living in a Muslim country, nor the few years in America studying law in the Ivy League, or his time organizing neighborhoods in Chicago, or his brief time as a State Senator, nor his personal relationship with the most radical Black preacher in the U.S., or a friendship with a convicted terrorist;

None of that could have perched him at the top. But it did. What were you thinking?

And now, he can't get down, and it seems that no one wants to impeach him now. He just keeps spinning on his post, like a Frisbee balanced on a stick while everyone he appointed is dancing around and talking in circles.

He didn't know what to do about Gitmo. He didn't know what to do about our fading economy, but believed the "Cash for Clunker" program would save the day. Lies about healthcare, taxes, and supporting the unions and the Muslim world continue. Failing to prosecute the Black Panther polling terror, while supporting his Black scholar and condemning the White cops. Refusing to call a terrorist a terrorist. Jihad!! Allalu Akbar! Spreading the wealth around. Windmills and corn will save our day.

And now we have another Middle East crisis. What will he do now. That's a scary thought.

Very scary. . .Please pray.

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