Donald Trump's Appeal

Once again WSF goes wandering about trying to make sense. A rambling and possible nonsensical blog. You have been warned.

There have been times in our recent history when bold initiatives produced great results. Foremost is WWII and the aftermath.

The Marshall Plan in Europe along with the creation of NATO were bold and daring moves. Granted, they were motivated by the fear of Communism in general and Russia in particular, but paid off. First, Western Europe recovered economically. Second, the Europeans (who so enjoy bashing the USA) haven’t been killing off each other and dragging everyone into their periodic wars.

Putting MacArthur in charge of Japan post WWII was bold. He was a polarizing man, and a flawed human being, but he was the right man at the right time.  My late father who was in India during WWII loathed MacArthur but would admit he did the job in Japan.

What have we had since then? Half assed efforts hobbled by aversion to risk taking, and politically covering of asses.

The only bold and daring recent event I can think of was Margaret Thatcher’s Falkland Island response.  

War on Terror? Give me a break. Gutless payroll patriots and poll reading politicians running a war with more interest in focus groups polling than military history. I include flag officers in this sorry mess. A Patton? A Nimitz? A Spaatz? Don’t see much resemblance to them in the current crop. More the triumph of the REMFs. 

Which leads me to Donald Trump.  He is nothing if not bold, although I see little substance in his rhetoric. I think he is tapping into this country’s desire for bold and decisive actions and results. We are still a nation of risk takers even with the deadening hand of government bureaucracy. The group of risk takers I’m most familiar with are car dealers and wholesalers. They are all in for Trump.

Is he the right person to be president? Damned if I know. What I’m enjoying is the discomfort and outrage of the professional political class, especially RINOs, with a nod to the (P)regressives being aghast. Of course, the (P)regressives think he will only help Shillary. Perhaps, if we are fortunate, she may soon self destruct. Her ethical stench is making even hardcore (P)regressives gag.

Speaking of crazy hair, how about Trey Gowdy? That is a man I could get excited about. Seems to be one of  the few Republican with brains, guts, and tenacity. 

As always, YMMV.

Racist Rant

Two “minority” members at my last job (one Chicano, one Black), are Obama supporters. They have convinced themselves any Caucasian who opposes Obama does so because he is “black”. Therefore, any failures on Obama’s part aren’t his fault because White racists are opposing everything he does.

Hear the same line from White Liberals.  It must be comforting to have a scapegoat so you don’t need to look closely at your hero and his feet of clay.  You can dismiss any criticism by labeling the critic a “racist” and avoid considering the argument

.

“Oh, poor Berry. Look at the mess he inherited.” It seems now he has inherited his own four year mess.  Still, it is blame Bush, and blame White racists.

As an aside, anyone who thinks I ever supported Bush need only read some of my old postings.

Just who is the racist? A person of color, or a woman, in positions of authority can’t be criticized? Why, because they should be immune on grounds of political correctness; that they somehow need “special” dispensation? Why, are they less capable than a “white male” and need coddling?

Yes, I know, I’m pissing into the wind.  What bothers me the most is the polarization of the people who do involve themselves, who are not sheeple, and the lack of simple courtesy. I’ve never seen such deep animosity, and I was in both the Army and college in the 60’s. I saw up close and personal, the antiwar and civil rights uproars.

Thank You For Your Service, Now Fuck Off

So good to know my son, his wife, and their five children are living a lavish life style at Dugway, Utah.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/30/defense-budget-cuts_n_2584099.html

So why is it they qualify for food stamps, WIC, and school lunches? 30% savings at the Commissary? Where did the author come up with that? When they were at Fort Carson, my frugal daughter in law shopped at WalMart.

Then there is this gem.

During Friday’s marathon gun control hearing in the Colorado Senate, Republican Sen. Kent Lambert offered an amendment to exempt active military members, veterans and their families from the gun magazine ban.

Enter Sen. Mary Hodge, a disgraceful Dem who urged fellow lawmakers to oppose the exemption because “some of them come back with significant mental health problems.”

This is my State Senator. Always thought she was sensible and fair minded. I’m shocked she is caught up in the “Chicken Little, We’ve Got to Do SOMETHING” hysteria.  The next time I see her in person, I’m telling her just how offensive I find her remarks.

I'm Perpetually Pissed Off

Doc Bailey, AKA The Mad Medic, posted something today that struck home.

http://themadmedic.blogspot.com/2013/03/certainly-one-way-to-gut-military.html

The part that caught my attention:

Tuition Assistance is not just for the troops.  May of the wives would wish to better themselves.  Imagine being stuck on a post in the middle of nowhere (which is where most Army bases are now a days) and having nothing but your husband's paycheck.  You'd probably want to better yourself too.  You could get everything from an AA, BA/BS all the way up to a Masters if you were so inclined.  I say could, because now that the Army has suspended Tuition Assistance, along with the Marine Corps that is very much in doubt.

FDIL (Favorite Daughter in Law) and my youngest son are living in one of the more isolated Army posts in the country. They are 38 miles from the nearest small town and an hour+ drive from a large city. She is always improving her education while raising five kids and dealing with the challenges of being an army wife (deployments, TDY, 48 hour duty shifts, etc). Can’t be easy, but she hasn’t quit.  She may be a dependent, but she isn’t dependent, and is working toward their future.  I’m terrible proud of both of them.

Now for the hypocrisy.

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-13/politics/military.families_1_military-families-military-spouses-obama-and-biden?_s=PM:POLITICS

Why am I not surprised?  Politicians have always been willing to sacrifice soldiers and sailors for political ends. I’ve always hoped our country is better than that. Faint hope, to be sure. This crap never ends. As for Micelle Obama, I doubt she gives one half of a rat's ass about military families.

On another note, see more folks are following this blog. Wish I was smart enough to identify you. In any case, welcome, and thank you.

Meandering

The following is a meandering ramble by an unfocused mind. Read at your own peril.

Always easy to find fault with government programs, and government employees. Fraud, waste, mismanagement, cronyism, political payoffs and the like are easy to  point out. But, is this typical or an aberration? How many government employees and contractors are doing their best to deliver a quality product or service? And doing so with little praise or acknowledgement from the public at large? Anybody want to weigh in?

How do you evaluate the success of a blog? Mine is getting more and more page views. I think mainly this is from  being linked by other bloggers. I am grateful, truly I am. The blog is my personal sounding board. Some of my extended family read it just because we are a family. That others find it interesting is an ego boost. However, if success can be measured by the number of Anonymous comments that are spam, seems I have a hardcore following in that community.  Oh well, takes just a few moments to send them off to Google spam land.

Reading Peter’s blog on the problems of California, and Old NFO’ comment about the spread of California mindset to other states,  prompts a thought or two.

http://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2013/03/is-california-past-point-of-no-return.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BayouRenaissanceMan+%28Bayou+Renaissance+Man%29


Always seems to be a split between rural and urban with the concentration of wealth and votes favoring the urban areas (Illinois and New York, anyone?). The more rural, the more self reliant the people. Then you have the rural areas that attract the wealthy. In Colorado, Steamboat Springs comes to mind. Routt County now has the one of the highest per capita income levels in Colorado. The county has some of the largest deposits of coal in the United States. It also has some of the finest grass for livestock to be found anywhere. Great hunting in the area. The conflicts that rage along the Yampa River are epic.

During 2002-2004, my employer held car sales in various communities around Colorado. My job was organizing and managing the sales. Each sale was like opening a new business from scratch. My experience was the bigger the town, the more hoops we needed to jump through. The owner’s directive was simple. “Do it right, do it legal, don’t cut corners”. Some places, like the Peoples Republic of Boulder, made you question the sanity of anyone opening a business there.  Drive around Boulder today and you can find all kinds of commercial buildings and office parks sitting vacant, both in the city and in the county.

When examining the structure and function of government, perhaps we should heed the words of a Russian philosopher,  Admiral of the Fleet Sergey Gorshkov, “Better is the enemy of good enough”. (Thanks, old NFO).

Regarding politics and politicians. They are necessary. Too many are twits; damned if I understand how they get elected. As for the need part, here is part of the general email my State Senator puts out.

Several of the bills I'm carrying this session have passed the Senate and are now being considered in the House: SB13-041, which protects water storage long-term use, SB13-072 which deals with conditional water rights, like those belonging to the Town of Bennett, SB12-074 which addresses legacy ditches, and SB13-118 which establishes procedures for private individuals when originating loans. 

Likewise, two House bills I'm carrying have been introduced in the Senate. HB13-1053 repeals the requirement that clerks of district courts execute surety bonds and is already awaiting a final vote in the Senate. HB13-1117 would consolidate several early childhood programs in the Department of Human Services and is currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. 

SJR13-005, which deals with spending on water infrastructure in Colorado has passed both the House and Senate and does not need the Governor's signature.

Boring stuff, but important to many people. These are the things that need worked on, not “Gun Control” and the like. Yeah, WSF, dream on.

Speaking of the anti gun sentiment, why does MSN Live.com “Smart Filter” always block GunActionNewsletter and not anything I receive from the Democrats?

Regarding my “Living Large” purchase of the Mighty Max pickup for $1,000, was offered $2,200 for it last Wednesday. Very difficult for this old car salesman to say, “NO”. Goes back to something I learned early on from a very wise used car manager, “It is harder to buy the right merchandise than it is to sell it“. 

Finding good stuff among the dross gets even harder at the lower price points. The search goes on for a 1991-1997 Lincoln Towncar. My last one died at 240,00 miles.  Might substitute the right Crown Vic. Something in 4x4 might also get my attention.


Light work week. Two short runs and one 750 mile Wyoming trip. Fun on the return after dark. Blowing snow, two hours of black ice from Douglas to Cheyenne,  with 35 mph wind and 50+ gusts. Wind shut down I -80 from Cheyenne to Laramie. In less than a year on this job have been in fifteen states and one province.

If you haven’t quit in boredom, thanks for reading this far. Hope to have something more interesting soon.

Fighting Against Gun Control Update

On 1/3/13 posted about a letter sent to my State Senator. Here is her reply. Not everything I had hoped for. Overall, believe it was worth the effort.

The Colorado Constitution has an even stronger 2nd Amendment. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

My name/address is blocked out to cut down on the amount of  unsolicited mail and visits by person or persons unknown.  I'm comforted by the knowledge the police are just minutes away!

Fighting Against Gun Control

So discouraged by the Lightbringer’s reelection, swore off politics. Then, Sandy Hook happened, and, once again, I am reminded why I keep involved.

The State senator from my district chairs the Appropriations Committee. I’ve always voted for her and contributed to her campaign. Don’t always agree with her politics, but have always found her to be fair minded. I think she and her husband are honest people. Certainly, their lifestyle (home, vehicles) isn’t extravagant. Honesty and integrity are more important, to me, than political ideology (plus her recent opponent is a piece of work).

Larry Correia (Monster Hunter Nation) wrote an fine piece on gun control.

http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2012/12/20/an-opinion-on-gun-control/

I copied all fourteen pages and sent it to my Senator with a brief cover letter asking her to take the time to read it. Since she knows me. I think she will read it. Will it do any good? I don’t know. Certainly, won’t do any harm.

Gridlock

What do you call this pack? A Congress of Baboons. Redistributing wealth?


Seem to remember past Congresses getting more done. Less gridlock. What is different today? How about military service?

Many of the Senators and Members of Congress in the 1950s-1970’s were veterans. Few are today.

When you enter the military service, you get tossed into a true melting pot. You end up working with people totally foreign to you and your background.  You best learn how to accept others and get along with them. You are forced to have many things in common,  including the air you breath (in a squad bay full of farters).  All of this conditions you to work for a common goal.

Today? From my state, Colorado, one veteran.

Maybe I’m way off base. To me, we now have individuals more concerned about their narrow self interests than the common need for a strong country. They have never learned to, nor had a need to, work as a group.

Solution? Damned if I know.

Gag, Barf

For my 400th post, let me share an email I received.


Today is my 25th anniversary in Congress. I want to take a moment to thank you for your support over the years.

We have made tremendous progress because you have stood with me to ensure that we continue moving America forward.

And now, it’s because of friends and supporters like you that the House Majority is within reach with five months left until Election Day.

On this special anniversary, House Democrats are focused on the 25 seats we need to win the Majority.

Please contribute $3 or more right now to ensure House Democrats have important resources to support strong Democratic candidates and Members facing tough challenges for re-election and hold Republicans accountable for their misguided agenda.

President Obama needs a strong Democratic Majority in Congress and your support will bring us closer to returning the gavel to Democrats who will focus on the people’s interests instead of the special interests.

You are the backbone of our party and we will win in November because of your tireless support and determination.

Can you chip in today?

Onward to victory,

Nancy

Still a Blue Dog in spite of  this monster; just don't vote for "Progressives". (or give them my money)

Stupidity May Save Us: Travon Martin Edition

The Democrats have lost more than one Presidential Election running on a gun control plank. Obama deliberately ignored the subject.

The far right conservatives are doing a bang up job giving away the next election by attacking Roe vs. Wade and the whole contraception issue. They would rather be "right" and "stand on their principals" than realize they can't tell over half the population what that group can, and cannot do, with their bodies. They need to go back and listen to Loretta Lynn. The candidates need to stop shaking that money tree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DcdONaKSQM

I'm a Democrat, Blue Dog faction, and a "Anyone but Obama" voter. I still get a ton of party emails, all soliciting money, and the authors are beating the drums about the women issue. I know many hard core Republican women (like my huge extended family) that are truly pissed.

Now we have the whole Sanford, FL mess. The race baiters are going all in. Unintended consequences? Read Beat and Release.

http://beatandrelease.blogspot.com/2012/03/this-one-tells-entire-story.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FHbvRt+%28Beat+and+Release%29

This is a man who has walked the walk and talks the talk as clearly as anyone you may read.

This "all in" by the Lightbringer and fellow travelers may just be what the country needs to wipe out white guilt and get people energized. Wonder how it will play with the Hispanics? Like, the Lightbringer has already fairly well screwed them.

My thoughts on the Travon Martin issue? Let the Sanford, FL criminal justice system handle it. Same reaction I had when O.J. was acquitted. The jury listened to a year's testimony and found him "not guilty". If they got it wrong, it is on them and the idiot judge. No system is always right, all the time. What else do we have?

Political Thoughts

WARNING: Long, rambling, personal political discourse. Read at your own peril.

Inspired by a remark by Old NFO. Not his fault - please don't stone him.

“You take people as far as they will go, not as far as you would like them to go”
Jeannette Rankin

“The individual woman is required a thousand times a day to choose either to accept her appointed role and thereby rescue her good disposition out of the wreckage of her self-respect, or else follow an independent line of behavior and rescue her self-respect out of the wreckage of her good disposition.”
Jeannette Rankin quotes (American Politician She was the first woman to serve in Congress (1917-19), 1880-1973)


People who stand by their convictions I admire. I may not agree with them, even emphatically disagree, but still admire them. Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to Congress. From Montana, she was elected as a “Peace” candidate. Voted against our entry in WWI and was defeated in the next election. A few years later, she was again elected to Congress as a “Peace” candidate. Voted against our entry in WWII and was defeated in the next election. Those who voted for her got what they elected. Woman had integrity.

Most all of my father’s family were involved in politics at the local and county level. At various times, my father was a GOP precinct committeeman, election judge, county chairman, candidate for Sheriff, and state delegate. My mother served for decades as an election judge. As an aside, my father was also a union shop steward. Uncles and aunts were active in adjacent counties. I don’t think any of them every made a dime off politics. It was all about citizenship.

My first direct involvement in politics was in college. Metro State in Denver had a large veteran student body. The VA at that time wasn’t responsive. Sort of a, “We won WWII and you punks are losing in Vietnam”. Harsh? Damn Skippy. Talk to a Korean vet sometime.

When you enrolled each quarter, you ran a gauntlet, past the cashier, of tables with various organizations (La Raza, Black Panthers, CORE, NAACP, Students for a Democratic Society, Friends of Transgender Cats, etc.) lining the hall. Two other vets and I had a table labeled “Metro Veterans Assoc”. We had over 400 vet students sign, complete with service numbers and branch, a letter of complaint to President Johnson. Those who followed after us grew the organization to a statewide 3,000 member organization. We had some epic confrontations with the VA, VFW, and the American Legion.

A student, who became my wife, was involved in the USO. The Air Force, at Lowry, had a retraining company infected with TB. She would smuggle the Airmen, in the trunk of her car, to a WWII vet doctor for treatment. He raised such hell with his Congressman an investigation was launched. Years later she was hired by the Department of Education as an assistant to a blind investigator. Her background clearance took several months. Her boss told her our combined FBI file was several inches thick. During our first years of marriage, we were under intermittent surveillance. Not paranoid. My neighbor, across the street, was an E-8 Green Beret. He was the one who alerted me. Such is the price of being an activist in the land of the free.

Fast forward a few years. Our first born is autistic. We lived in Utah then and there was little available for him. Seattle had more resources and I was offered a high paying job.

My wife and I, along with others, founded the Washington State Chapter of the National Society for Autistic Children. She was the President for many years and a nearly full time unpaid lobbyist. The original draft of the Education for All Act was written on our dining room table. She and some other pissed off mothers fought for three years to get it passed.

NOTE to Santorum, et al. Pissing off mothers and their daughters WILL get the Lightbringer reelected.

Still in the GOP, I was a county delegate pledged to John Miller during the Reagan sweep. I made my point at the caucus, forcefully, and was tossed out by the Sergeant of Arms. Later I was advised I was NOT welcome back. Oh well, became a Democrat.

Look at the choice. Lukewarm Chicken ala King in a meeting room at the Bellevue Holiday Inn or hearty party at the Longshoreman - Steel Worker’s bar on Harbor Island. Tough call.

Marriage for many of us is hard. Having a handicapped kid makes it even harder. The wife bailed, moved several states away, and left me the kids to raise. She left me for another man, who she thought was wealthy. I wanted to send him a thank you card but was afraid he would send her back. Turned out he was more hat than cattle. Oh well.

We had settled in Renton, WA. I made the mistake of attending a precinct caucus and ended up the precinct committeeman. Did that for a few years until family matters made a move to Colorado necessary.

Can one person make a difference? Hell, yah, at the local level. For example, traffic lights. Renton is home to a Boeing complex and PACCAR (Peterbilt, Kenworth trucks). At shift changes, traffic is horrible. I was agitating at a City Council meeting. The chief traffic screwer upper explained some lights were controlled by the City. Some by the County. Some by the State. My response was along these lines.

“We have the longest serving mayor in the area. Three of the five County Council members list Renton as their home. The Governor list Renton as his home. You mean to tell me there isn’t enough political clout in this town to get traffic lights coordinated? Bullshit, what is lacking is backbones.”

Once again I was escorted from the premises. Go figure! Strange but true; there was an improvement in traffic flow in the weeks that followed.

Get involved. Instead of bitching among friends and at home, bitch (politely) where your input has, however slight, an impact.

My involvement in the political process has greatly widened my social and business contacts. Dealing with government offices and their employees has become much easier. As my sister likes to say, "We have people." In some ways, it has made my career. This was never my goal; it is a by product.

Hope this hasn’t been too boring. Let me close with a quote from Jackie Cooper.

“If you always do, what you have always done, you will always have, what you already got.”

"White Knight" Presidential Candidate

Waco Walmsley for President
by Hal Swift

This is a story that Waco Walmsley
doesn't too often discuss.
It's about when he ran for the president's job
and all the resulting fuss.

You see, he allowed himself to get
into one of them big debates.
He didn't reckon that it'd be seen
by the whole United States.

When asked to describe the perfect marriage
his opponent turned and ran.
But not old Waco. He says, "I think
it's between a woman and man."

The subject of taxes came to the front,
and Waco allowed as how
they'd be okay as long as they don't
take the en-tire price of a cow.

The reporter makes a big mistake when she
asks what he thinks about schools.
Waco grins and says, "If reporters attended,
they wouldn't turn out such fools."

The reporter totally loses her cool,
and calls him a Chauvinist Pig.
Waco squints his good eye and says,
"At least I ain't wearin' a wig."

The reporter yells, "I'm not wearing a wig!
This hair all belongs to me!"
"Maybe so," says Waco, "but my opponent wears one.
It's as plain as plain can be.

"And I got to tell you, it makes me wonder
what else don't we know about?"
Now, Waco's opponent, who's close to tears,
lets out a defiant shout.

He figures it's time to take a stand,
and to make some sort of defense.
He swings at Waco, which anyone knows,
shows a lack of plain horse sense.

Well, Waco decks him, right then and there.
sayin', "I ain't cut out for this.
Find somebody else to run for this office,
it's somethin' that I won't miss."

So that's how Waco was almost elected
to our country's most powerful post.
Folks say he'd surely have won because
he's the candidate they liked most.

But Waco says, "There's a lesson in this,
it's the way things always have been.
In any election, you got to remember
the best man don't always win."

From my pal. Hal Swift, Nevada Poet
http://www.cowboypoetry.com/halswift.htm

New Political Party

Democrats plus Republicans for

NONE OF THE ABOVE

Hat tip to my sister, a Republican, whose message to the party is, "Is that the best your can do"?

Gloom, Despair, and "Progressive" Misery

Learning opposing points of view is something I peruse. Call me a masochist. Closed minds may be satisfying to those who have them, and labeling people (socialist, gun grabber, gun nut, Tea Partier, commie bed wetter, etc.) avoids dealing with them as people. My belief is this polarization is very harmful to our society overall.

One place I go is a site called Common Dreams. It is a handy source, with their links, to all things leftist and “progressive”.

http://www.commondreams.org/

Since the Lightbringers election, the tone of this site has gone from euphoria to anger, and now, hostility. Excuse me for my weakness and hypocrisy, but I find this highly amusing. These intelligent people (maybe misguided but not dumb) are seething with disappointment. The only thing they now seem to have in common is the belief the Republicans and George W. Bush are to blame along with Wall Street and multi national corporations. Not far from many “right wing” points of view. Their champion is exposed for what he is, a corrupt Chicago politician.

These folks are still voting for Obama. Where else are they going? Still, like me in the last election, they will be holding their noses when they vote. They may well sit on their wallets, and their asses, come the next election. Just for them this musical interlude.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ5ob9B9yD4&feature=related

Yes, Progressive Friends, I am razzing you. Deal with it.

CleanSlateNow.org

Please check out this site if you think deep pockets have too much influence on elections.

One of the founders, Ken Gordon, has walked the walk. I don't agree with him on all things but have the highest respect for him and what he has accomplished.

Latter Day Saints

So Romney is a Latter Day Saint (Mormon) . So what? I’m far more concerned that he is a RINO.

I’m not LDS. I lived in Utah for a few years and have done business in “Mormon” country most of my adult life. Once worked for a company that had two Stake Presidents and one Bishop in management. Once had a customer who is a General Authority. Point is, I know more about LDS belief and history than most folks.

I can recall only two times religion was a factor in business. One time the folks involved didn’t know I wasn’t LDS and thought I was a backslider. When that was cleared up, the problem went away. In the other case, took the two brothers aside and explained to them they were acting like asses. The conversation got quite spirited but we came to an understanding. In fact, the Church’s doctrine forbids a Saint from discriminating against a Gentile. Against amoral pieces of shit, yes, to the extent of protecting oneself.

The most important thing to Latter Day Saints is family. I was a good family man. I didn’t just talk the talk, I walked the walk, all the time. My behavior, my wife’s behavior, and my children’s behaviors were noted. We were accepted and had no problems with our neighbors. Small things, like babysitters when we wanted an evening out, were never a problem.

So, do we disqualify a candidate who’s religion focuses on morals, integrity, self reliance, family and community service?

Doubt my party will even allow a primary challenger.

I hope we get a great candidate to oppose the Lightbringer. If Romney is the candidate, his being LDS won’t influence my decision. His damn flip flopping and past Second Amendment positions will.

Watch the Circus

Link to a service that will send you emails on how your Congresscritters vote. You can specify your Congressional District and your Senators will also be reported.

What is interesting, to me, is how damn few votes are taken.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/megavote/

We Have A WHITE President????

Sure seems Mr. Obama is getting paler. Look at the four pictures.

Received my Democratic Membership letter. For the forth years, didn't send any money.

Like the slogan, "Winning the Future." Easy shorthand, WtF. Brilliant!

Dems Respond to Fast and Furious

Both my United States Senators and my District Congressman are Democrats. I've written all three, by email and snail mail, about this issue and have received zero response. What a surprise!

FEMA Prison Camp Voucher

WARNING: Long Rant

December 2008 was the start of this blog.

http://wellseasonedfool.blogspot.com/2008/12/forced-humility-sucks.html

To date, there have been 299 postings. Number 300 must be, to the best of my ability, memorable. Should I not already be on numerous shit lists, this should put me over the top. Or not; maybe I’m flattering myself and am not, in the overall scheme of things, important enough to notice! Just a trivial, bitter, clinger living in a flyover state.

http://www.sianews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1062

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/54475.htm

The Lightbringer, he of the most transparent administration, seems determined to use class warfare to get reelected. This may well work because it has a huge amount of truth to draw upon. Set aside for a moment, his ethical lapses, flip flops, Chicago style politics, etc., please, and look at the target, the financial industry. (We will ignore the money he has taken, and continues to take, from them).

Under George W. Bush, we citizens got royally fucked. The principal regulatory agency, FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corp) staff was reduced from 21,000 to 6,000.

Bair's FDIC – 106 Banks Down, 400 To Go! | OnlineForexTrading.com
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You +1'd this publicly. UndoOct 27, 2009 – The FDIC's staff was trimmed from 21000 employees to 6000 during the Bush presidency. Meanwhile the agency's capital funding is sorely ...

The FDIC wasn’t alone. One trick to gut a regulatory agency is to not fund portions of their operations.

http://www.nasaa.org/issues-and-advocacy/legislative-agenda-1/

Now I know we are over regulated, yada, yada, but the Great Depression was caused, in large part, by crooked bankers. I maintain the bulk of all regulations in this country STARTED in response to crooked dealings. Once in place, the self generating and self sustaining interests of the administrative staff starts distorting things.

The Bush family are no strangers to financial shenanigans. Ever hear of the Savings and Loan mess, circa 1980-1990?

http://rationalrevolution.net/war/bush_family_and_the_s.htm

Some say George W. Bush was the most scandalous president ever. Stiff competition there. For those who have the time, 400 scandals from his administration are here.

http://www.netrootsmass.net/hughs-bush-scandals-list/

I’m Colorado country. Damn all sleazy Texas slickers!

Now along comes the Tea Party. Great stuff! Then comes the money folks. Congresscritters elected with the help of the Tea Party activists slide over to Grover Norquist. Who elected this asshat? Not you and I. He works for the moneyed interests, not you and I. Still, look at all the newby politicians breaking a leg to get in line to sign the pledge (and get the money). Oh, WSF, you exaggerate. Really, about Jack Abramoff’s old buddy? Fuck me running!

http://www.atr.org/taxpayer-protection-pledge

Colorado produced one politician I greatly admire, Ken Gordon. I certainly don’t agree with all of his politics. I certainly think he is honest, courageous, and will stand by his principals and promises. He has some advice to those who aspire to public office.

http://thinkoutsidethecage2.blogspot.com/2008/05/ken-gordon-signs-off-with-rules-of.html

He lost his last two tries. I think most voters said, “Yeah, boy, Go! Go! Go!” then voted for Rudy Russo.

Rudy Russo, Kurt Russell’s character from my favorite movie, USED CARS, explaining to his boss why he wanted to be in politics (sorry, no YouTube):

There's an opening for state senate. The machine's looking for a fresh face, somebody with no axes to grind - - who wants to tell the people what they want to hear. They're looking for me! I talked to the party chairman last week. Sixty grand buys me the nomination.


Sixty grand, huh? That's all it takes nowadays?

No, that's like a down payment. Once I’m in, i go fifty-fifty on all the graft i take in. Politics, luke!

In total sincerity, I ask if there is anyone in Congress that would stand up to Gordon’s criteria?

Let us look at another grenade with the pin pulled, Social Security. First, be clear that FDR and the Democrats DID NOT CREATE SOCIAL SECURITY! The Republican Party created Social Security and shoved it down FDR’s throat. LBJ raided Social Security to pay for the Vietnam War.

http://romanticpoet.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/liberal-nightmare-lyndon-johnson-started-the-raid-on-social-security-for-other-government-programs-jimmy-carter-expanded-big-government-obamas-got-the-shovel/

He got away with it and his model has been used to raid trust funds every since. There are your crumbling infrastructures, your antiquated air traffic control system, etc., as a result.

George W. wasn’t the first to suggest privatizing Social Security. That towering figure of moral principals, Bill Clinton, floated the idea. So far, it hasn’t happened. Some in the financial world are saying, “Damn, there goes the second Beaver Creek trophy house!”

Another grenade with the pin pulled, the Post Office. Turns out the Post Office is really in the black. The revenue produced is misused.

http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/07/8191425-twisted-government-accounting-behind-postal-service-woes

Do any of you see a parallel between the Wall Street protesters and the Vietnam War protesters? Is this the left’s Tea Party? Good to see Oath Keepers and others getting involved in trying to reach out to the protestors and not try to marginalize them as hippies, etc. Now, the protestors aren’t sure what they want but they are sure their country’s financial institutions, most assuredly including the Federal Reserve, has been fucking them and their parents forever. Don’t discount the impact they can have on this country.

Those of us old enough to have come of age in the Vietnam era know this country was changed by protestors. Many of those same protestors are now in the Obama Administration.

Back to the upcoming election. The Lightbringer has a huge war chest and a solid target. Things will get interesting.

What am I personally going to do? Not join any “woe is me” pity parties. Will do what I always do. Work the local political structure and keep pushing my views. Donate a little money, here and there.

OK, WSF, is there anyone you like? I liked and voted for Gerald Ford. For a time, I was a John Edwards supporter - appealed to the Populist side of me. (As did a lady who was a huge Edwards fan. Politics does make bed fellows. Yes, I‘ve low standards). Today’s group? Megh.

Thank you, should you have persevered this far with this rant. STAT counters tell me many people look at my blog from all over the world. I thank each and everyone of you. I write this for me, some family members, and a few friends. If you enjoy it, or are outraged, etc., thank you for reading.

The photo? Look which hand is “over the heart”. Photoshoped? Damn good job of changing the suit buttons and wedding rings!