Miasmatic Review

Tired of political BS.

Hypocrisy, it is the basis of just about every political debate in America right now. Liberals and Conservatives, Democrats and Republicans blast each other for doing stuff they do themselves. The problem is that both sides are so blinded by their own self serving needs to see that they are doing the same thing the other side does.

I see it at political functions, rallies, work, on the internet and talking to friends. It’s so frustrating that it’s making me want to give up what little hope I have left for this country. Really, I believe the only hope that is left is for a complete and total collapse of government and a clean start.

Let’s just say that if this was 200 years ago, I’d be packing my family and heading to the frontier with like minded individuals to start our own community.

Now back to our regularly scheduled sporadic blogging about Beer.

The GOP is done.

I don’t post a lot of stuff regarding politics because I was raised there was two things you don’t discuss in politer conversation, religion and politics. Before one of my friends goes off any makes the comment about me being polite is a joke, just shut it now. This, however, is something that just struck me as something I had to talk about. Republicans considering ideological purity test for candidates.

Ten members of the Republican National Committee are proposing a resolution demanding candidates embrace at least eight of 10 conservative principles if they hope to receive financial support and an official endorsement from the RNC.

What are those ten principles?

(1) We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama's "stimulus" bill;

(2) We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run healthcare;

(3) We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;

(4) We support workers' right to secret ballot by opposing card check;

(5) We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;

(6) We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;

(7) We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat;

(8) We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;

(9) We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and

(10) We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership;

Some will disagree with me on this, but I see this as the Death Knell of America as we know it. First off if one of the TWO political parties is in such a bad shape that it is trying to force it’s members to live up to it’s standards and principles through a series of reward/punishment (i.e., if you do this, you get money and support. If you don’t, you won’t get anything.) then it can’t be long for the world. In my opinion we’ll end up with a one party system until IT splinters and fractures.

Secondly, to me it shows that politicians that are conservative are a dying breed. Most of them are middle of the road have some conservative views and others that are liberal. As some of my readers and other blogs I read have said, The Republican party is no longer Conservative.

Lastly, if I ran for an office, I would not get the support of the GOP. I don’t agree with at least 8 of the 10 principles. I only meet seven of the ten. I’ll let you guess which three I don’t agree with. I will give you one tip though, I agree completely with number 10.

Some of my friends and readers have joked for years that I’m on watch lists out there. Not very high on them, but still on the lists. Well, what I’m about to say probably isn’t going to help me any if it’s true.

I have no faith left in the American Political system. It’s broken and as far as I’m concerned, beyond repair. The problem with it is what is keeping it from being repairable, the politicians. The good ones don’t seem to go anywhere on a major level and the mediocre, sub par and horrible ones seem to sky rocket all the way to the presidency. I’m not even talking about just the current politicians, any of them over the last 20 years.

I have yet to work or deal with a politician at the Federal level that I honestly felt I could trust or believe what they tell me 50% of the time. I don’t feel they are out for the betterment of America, just for themselves, their careers and their legacy. They twist what should be a simple basic political system as documented in the Constitution of the United States into something that fits their own wants, needs and ambitions. I fear what amendments to the constitution they propose.

I love and support The Constitution of the United States. I, however, loathe the government. I’m just hoping the rest of the American Sheeple wake up before it’s too late.

Time to test Obama's abilities.

I'm sitting at home when my phone starts to vibrate. It's notifying me of breaking news. I open the application and what do I see? Somali pirates hijack ship; 20 Americans aboard.

Somali pirates on Wednesday hijacked a U.S.-flagged cargo ship with 20 American crew members onboard, hundreds of miles from the nearest U.S. military vessel in some of the most dangerous waters in the world.

Emphasis mine

Okay Mr. President, Mr. Change, Mr. Hope... Do something about this.

I, as a citizen of the United States, demand that swift and decisive action be taken against these scofflaws. I understand that our Navy, as formidable as it is, can not be everywhere all the time, so there was no way for them to stop it as it happened. These pirates have not attacked American vessels in the past, so maybe we had other fish to fry and not focus on them. Now they have gone and attacked an U.S. –flagged ship and have 20 Americans hostage. It is time to do something about this, and do it NOW!

Or maybe Mr. Obama you are too busy bowing to foreign powers and stroking the press with stories about what TV shows you watch.

Grade Obama

MSNBC has a pole to Give President Obama A Grade.

At the time of this post, 38% give him an A, 7.3% Give him a B. 4.6% Give him a C, 12% give him a D, and 39% give him an F. That is with 1,430,640 responses.

So what this poll tells me is that people either really like him or really hate him, with under 25% somewhere in the middle. I'm curious to see what the outcome is when it is over.

Off to IGOLD

I know I haven't been around much. I took Ktreva into Chicago last weekend for a little romantic weekend away. After all she went through with the Cancer, we had decided back in January that we needed a weekend alone. Unfortunately we had to wait until we both had a free weekend to do it, which was this past weekend.

As I said it was a romantic weekend, so I'm not sharing any details. Let's just say I could have bought a shirt that said, "I went to Chicago, and I got way more than this T-shirt"... if you know what I mean.

Work has been full of drama. I've pretty much put in my notice there. I haven't quit yet, but they know that my long term plans no longer involve working there.

Now tomorrow I'm heading down to Springfield with Bruce and our friend J-man. We are heading down for IGOLD to help lobby for pro-firearm rights, and to lobby against some laws that are trying to make firearms prohibitive. I'll be gone for a couple of days having some fun.

If any of you are down in Springfield, IL at the time... e-mail me and we can get together.

Second American Revolution

Over at Bad Example, Harvey has a post up regarding The Blood of Patriots and Tyrants. It's a short read, but it gives his take on how the next American Revolution could be done via the ballot. The title of his post is in reference to a famous Thomas Jefferson quote "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." In his comments the debate has been a rather back and forth with both sides giving their opinion.

I for one believe that at some point there is going to be an uprising of American citizens against the government. Why? Because no one has any faith left in politicians and the government anymore. I've been saying for years that it is coming. If you know where to look and talk to the right people you could see the movement growing. It's not just liberal or conservative whack jobs. It's your everyday person, you neighbors, bosses, employees and friends. It may even be members of your own family.

I've talked to individuals that are liberals, conservatives and moderates. People from every political affiliations have said they are just waiting for the right time and they would be more then willing to join the cause. There is only two things I can figure out at this time that is preventing anything from happening. The first is that so far there hasn't been any reliable movement with a competent leader. The second is that there is a fear that will the military side with the patriots/rebels or will they fire upon them.

Each year, month, week and day I receive more an more information about various people deciding that the time is getting nearer for the citizens to take back their country. I know that for last least 9 months various new groups have been forming. Back in July this video first started making the rounds:

Folks, I admit I agree with most of what he says. I had originally been sent this video back in August while in Oklahoma. It was sent to me again in October, December and now just today. I hadn't shared it at the previous times because I was waiting for the right time. Well, Harvey's post made this the right time.

In the video they are calling for a peaceful revolution by putting pressure on the government. Honestly, I don't know if that will work. I hope it does, but honestly I'm more prepared for the other.

Our Politicians.

My friend Smokepoles was upset over the whole stimulus plan that the government has proposed. With Billions of dollars being spent frivolously and wastefully that will have to be paid back in the future by our children and grand children. Feeling it was his civic duty he sent a letter to US Senator Dick Durbin D-IL expressing his opinion. Attached is the response he received. Unfortunately the original letter was sent by Senator Durbin’s website so he couldn’t forward it to me. This response is so helpful.

March 3, 2009 Mr. Smokepoles 1000 Main St. YourTown, IL 60000 Dear Mr. Smokepoles: Thank you for contacting me regarding the economic recovery package. I appreciate hearing from you. We are facing tough economic times. Americans across the country are feeling the squeeze of this recession as hardworking men and women lose their jobs, state and local governments cut services to avoid deep deficits, and credit is cut back. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) (P.L. 111-5) enacts a broad mix of tax cuts and incentives aimed at individuals and small businesses. The act also makes investments in infrastructure, moves forward on alternative energy development, and provides tax relief to working families across the country. These provisions are designed to help our economy on the road to recovery. Critics of the recovery bill argued that the measure does nothing to scale back foreclosure - the number one cause of the economic downturn. The Obama Administration has announced an aggressive new policy to stem foreclosures, and Congress is considering legislation to help homeowners stay in their homes and strengthen regulation of the mortgage market. Some have expressed concern that the bill adds to the federal budget deficit. While we need to address the deficit over time, the first order of business is to put our economy back on track. No earmarks were included in this bill. This legislation is a necessary step toward economic recovery. Thank you again for writing to me. I will keep your thoughts in mind as Congress considers legislation to address the downturn. Please feel free to keep in touch. Sincerely, Richard J. Durbin United States Senator RJD/ms

Names changed to protect the identity of my friend

Smokepoles did NOT like the vagueness of the response. He responded with the following:

Senator Durbin, I appreciate you taking the time in responding to my letter. It saddens me however as I do not believe that you really have listened to the voters. The stock market and economists do not believe in your plan and America continues to suffer. Companies that run their businesses into the ground deserve to fail. If my company fails would you and Mr. Obama be there holding my hand and giving me millions? That answer is a resounding "NO" and we both know it. It would appear that this plan does nothing to benefit the everyday tax paying American, only the people that made huge donations to certain campaigns. No earmarks you say? Please take the time and re-read the document in which you back. There are too many hands in the cookie jar and the cookie jar is empty. We have borrowed so much money from foreign countries that even China will lend us no more. What is being used as collateral? Our county's national parks perhaps? Do you want to help stimulate our economy? Do away with the many draws on it. Here is something that should be of great interest.

Back during The Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover ordered the deportation of ALL illegal aliens in order to make jobs available to American citizens that desperately needed work.

Harry Truman deported over two million Illegals after WWII to create jobs for returning veterans.

And then again in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower deported 13 million Mexican nationals! The program was called 'Operation Wetback' so that American WWII and Korean veterans had a better chance at jobs.

It took 2 Years, but they deported them!

If you have doubts about the truth of this information, enter "Operation Wetback" into your favorite search engine and like I tell my many friends, confirm it for yourself.

Now, if they could deport the illegals back then you can sure do it today!! I might suggest naming something else though.

This would help the health care system lower their costs, insurance companies would be able to lower our premiums as well as the costs to the taxpayers of the many welfare programs that get abused. Thanks to the banking institutions and their loan practices, Illegal immigrants were able to buy homes in neighborhoods that I would not be able to buy in.... and then there is surprise when the loans default?

This is but one aspect where funds can be found and used.

I am sorry that you have taken this stand on this topic and America will be even more sorry in the long run. Your plan will only build skyscrapers on a foundation of sand.

I understand that I am but one person but be certain that I am a voter. Many citizens have forgotten that this is a republic, but I have not. Do you really think that we aren't smart enough to figure out that socialism is where you are leading us?

I love my country, but my government disgusts me.

Sincerely,
Smokepoles Name changed to protect the innocent, the rest of the letter is as originally written

Now Smokepoles sent me this letter, because he knows that I share his disdain for the bailouts and stimulus package. Now before his letter I had never heard of Operation Wetback, in fact I thought he was making it up, but he wasn’t. Operation Wetback actually existed.

As for the rest of the letter, I agree with him 100 percent. I think the whole package in and of itself is a bad idea, and that it’s just going to cause more problems in the long run.

These letters reprinted with permission of Smokepoles

Posted by Contagion at 09:59 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

HR 45 Blair Holt

I've received numerous emails from friends, aquantances and as a part of mailers for groups in which I belong. They were regarding the HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009. Which was introduced by Bobby Rush D-IL. I'm not surprised that this started in Illinois. If there is anything that involves the restriction of freedom, individual rights, or firearms an Illinois politician will be all over it like a pack of wolves on a wounded deer. The only thing that might distract them would be a way for them to make money.

Let me give you the basics as to what this bill is going to do:

*Prohibit possession of any handguns or any semiautomatic firearms that can accept detachable ammunition-feeding devices (excluding antiques) by anyone who has not been issued a firearm license.

*Require all sales of those types of firearms to go through licensed dealers

*Direct the Attorney General to establish and run a federal record-of-sale system.

*Require the possessors of firearms to secure them (by secure gun storage or safety devices) when they are kept in locales where children might be capable of gaining access to those firearms.

Basically this would make it illegal to own a firearm (any rifle with a magazine or ANY pistol) unless you have a license and it is registered.

That might not sound too bad to some, but if you look at what you need to get that license you need the following:

(a) In General- In order to be issued a firearm license under this title, an individual shall submit to the Attorney General (in accordance with the regulations promulgated under subsection (b)) an application, which shall include--

(1) a current, passport-sized photograph of the applicant that provides a clear, accurate likeness of the applicant;

(2) the name, address, and date and place of birth of the applicant;

(3) any other name that the applicant has ever used or by which the applicant has ever been known;

(4) a clear thumb print of the applicant, which shall be made when, and in the presence of the entity to whom, the application is submitted;

(5) with respect to each category of person prohibited by Federal law, or by the law of the State of residence of the applicant, from obtaining a firearm, a statement that the individual is not a person prohibited from obtaining a firearm;

(6) a certification by the applicant that the applicant will keep any firearm owned by the applicant safely stored and out of the possession of persons who have not attained 18 years of age;

(7) a certificate attesting to the completion at the time of application of a written firearms examination, which shall test the knowledge and ability of the applicant regarding--

(A) the safe storage of firearms, particularly in the vicinity of persons who have not attained 18 years of age;

(B) the safe handling of firearms;

(C) the use of firearms in the home and the risks associated with such use;

(D) the legal responsibilities of firearms owners, including Federal, State, and local laws relating to requirements for the possession and storage of firearms, and relating to reporting requirements with respect to firearms; and

(E) any other subjects, as the Attorney General determines to be appropriate;

(8) an authorization by the applicant to release to the Attorney General or an authorized representative of the Attorney General any mental health records pertaining to the applicant;

(9) the date on which the application was submitted; and

(10) the signature of the applicant.

What a load of baloney! Trust me folks, this is just the first step to the actual banning. See, they will use this to get all of us legal gun owners to go register our firearms with the government so that when they do the ban, they know exactly where to go and what to look for when they confiscate our firearms. If you think I'm kidding, look at what happened in England, and the history of how their firearm ban went.

It started with the Pistols Act of 1903. This seemingly reasonable law forbade selling pistols to minors or felons and established that handgun sales were to be made only to those who had a license. The Firearms Act of 1920 expanded licensing to include not only handguns but all firearms except shotguns. Later laws passed in 1953 and 1967 outlawed the carrying of any weapon by private citizens and mandated the registration of all shotguns.

Then in Dunblane Scotland an incident happened where a man killed 16 children and a teacher at a school. After that incident laws were passed that banned firearms. Citizens who owned handguns were given three months to turn them over to local authorities. Being good British subjects, most people obeyed the law. The few who didn't were visited by police and threatened with ten-year prison sentences if they didn't comply. Police later bragged that they'd taken nearly 200,000 handguns from private citizens.

How did the authorities know who had handguns? The guns had been registered and licensed. Kinda like cars.

Why would we want to let this start to happen to us in the US? Can't we learn from the UK's mistakes and not repeat them? Please contact your congressmen and have them oppose this bill.

Right now it's only in committee and realistically has a small chance of going to the floor. It doesn't even have a co-sponsor. That doesn't mean you shouldn't let your voice be known. Prevent this from turning into something bigger.

Ding dong the Governors Gone.

Well it looks like the circus involving the Illinois governor is over; Ill. senate votes 59-0 to remove Gov. Blagojevich.

YES!!!!! I've never seen a more incompetent politician in my political experience. I'm sure there are more out there, but I just have never had it where their incompetency directly impacted me before.

I kind of figured he was going to get impeached, and removed from office, but this surprised me:

"After a four-day trial, the Illinois Senate voted 59-0 to convict him of abuse of power, automatically removing the second-term Democrat. Democratic Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, one of his critics, immediately became governor.

In a second 59-0 vote, the Senate further barred Blagojevich from ever holding public office in Illinois again."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Serves him right. I'm just wondering if this ego maniacal, delusional, corrupt, sociopath is going to try to take up politics in a different state. Hey, maybe Obama will give him a position... Secretary of pot hole filling!

Honestly, I figured he would be impeached and booted out of office. I was pretty sure they would never let him hold a political office in Illinois, the fact that the man didn't have anyone in the senate to stand up for him is surprising. All 59 of the Illinois senators voted yes to booting him out. That has to be a blow to the ego.

Now we just have to wait for the Feds to get done with him. With that Big Boy Restaurant mascot haircut of his, I bet he'd have a good time in prison.

Blagojevich's defense is a media blitz.

Well the circus that is the Illinois state government has taken another odd step as the impeachment trial is under way. Now instead of being there to defend himself, Blago has decided that his best defense is a media blitz in New York.

Blagojevich is not expected to attend the trial. Today, he has been getting interviewed on various national television programs, including "The View" on ABC.

I know he also did the Today show and Larry King Show. But it's the view that's gonna be his defense, because once he gets Barbara on his side, he's won! Just kidding, but he might think that way. Honestly I think he's doing it to contaminate the jury pool for the federal corruption charges. Think about it, he's being on national television means that a lot of people are going to see it and form an opinion in advance of the trail. Meaning it's going to limit those that can sit jury to the limited few that live under a rock.

So now instead of trying to defend himself, he's throwing a media broadcasted temper tantrum. He claims that they are trying to run him out of office so they can increase taxes. Well they wouldn't have to if he hadn't ruined the state budget by over spending. He also claims they are preventing him from defending himself because he can't call witnesses. Well this isn't a trail and the senate can't call witnesses either. The feds won't let them call any witnesses that may be part of the federal trail due to the possible damage it could cause to their case.

We'll have to wait to see how this little governmental joke goes.

He's here.

Obama took the oath of office today and is now officially our President. No, I didn't vote for him. No, I don't think he is qualified to do the job. No, I don't think he's what the country needs. With that being said, he is my President. I hope and wish the best for him. In the end I really hope he can pull our country out of the downward spiral it's in, but I just don't see it happening.

What gets me is all the pomp and circumstance around this man. I have never before in my life seen more people cheering on, celebrating and just singing the praises of a man that has done nothing. He did nothing as a state senator, he did nothing as a US senator and now he's the President. Other than being the first African American to rise to that office, he really has done nothing. I really can't understand why he was Time's man of the year. I wish someone could explain it to me.

My office even let people stop working so they could watch the inauguration of him. They never let anyone do that for the last two inaugurations. There were advertised parties and tons of media coverage for the man. I don't recall any of that for the last 20 years.

Either way, I think everyone is getting their hopes and aspirations set high just for a fall.

It looks like the Brit's may have learned a lesson.

People have been talking about banning guns for a while. In the UK they did an all out gun ban. Well it looks like the people there have decided they have had enough.

I like how at the 3:50 mark the Bobbie (Police officer) talks about how the gun ban has actually increased the amount of crimes where a firearm has used.

And the case of Tony Martin sounds earily familiar. Could it be because it's like an incident that happened here locally, in Stillman Valley last April. In America he gentleman defending himself wasn't charged with a crime... because it's not illegal... yet.

IGOLD 2009

IGOLD Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day!
Wednesday March 11, 2009
Springfield, IL

11:00 a.m. Doors open, come early, get a good seat!!

12:00 p.m. Registration/legislative briefing Prairie Capitol Convention Ctr.
1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield, IL

1:15 p.m. March to State Capitol - Illinois Gun Owners lobby legislators

4:00 p.m. Reception with legislators - Prairie Capitol Convention Center

Do not miss the largest gun rights rally and Second Amendment lobbying event in Illinois history! We need thousands of Illinois gun owners, hunters, sport shooters, plinkers, target shooters, and those who simply wish to defend their right to keep and bear arms in order to protect their families and themselves to gather at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center, march down Capitol Avenue, rally on the Capitol steps, then proceed inside to lobby legislators to make our presence known. There will be no mistaking that Illinois gun owners intend to stand up and speak out for our right to keep and bear arms in the state of Illinois!!

Do whatever you have to do to be there! Schedule a vacation day, take a personal day , whatever it takes - for one of the most important days of the year for Illinois gun owners.

Charter buses which will be traveling from every corner of the state! Departure points will include Moline, Galesburg, Peoria, Rockford, Mendota, Bloomington, Dundee, Aurora, Rosement, Evergreen Park, Joliet, Chenoa, Urbana, Decatur, Effingham, Vandalia, Litchfield, Fairview Hts, Mt. Vernon and Marion. Skip the parking hassles, and enjoy the trip with like-minded friends!

Starting Jan. 2 Online bus reservations will be accepted at IGOLD.isra.org. Phone reservations will be accepted beginning Jan.5, call the Illinois State Rifle Association at 815-635-3198.

For downloadable fliers go to IllinoisCarry.com

Thank you to IllinoisCarry.com for spreading the word and providing the above wording.

Christmas Miracles do happen!

Upon my arrival at work today I was greated with the news Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been arrested. To be honest, this couldn't have happened to a better man. The guy was runing ruining the state. Between his wasteful spending plans, inability to balance the budget, selling off state assets and just being incompetent overall. The man was killing the state by driving off businesses and trying to keep new industries away.

There were corruption accusations being thrown around for over a year involving him, so I wasn't too surprised when he was arrested. I was surprised that the man was stupid enough to try to sell a senate seat!

""The Senate seat, as recently as days ago, seemed to be on the verge of being auctioned off," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said. "The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave."

Federal investigators bugged the governor's campaign offices and tapped his home phone, capturing conversations laced with profanity and tough-guy talk from the governor. Chicago FBI chief Robert Grant said even seasoned investigators were stunned by what they heard, particularly since the governor had known for at least three years he was under investigation for alleged hiring fraud and clearly realized agents might be listening in.

The FBI said in court papers that the governor was overheard conspiring to sell the Senate seat for campaign cash or lucrative jobs for himself or his wife, Patti, a real estate agent. He spoke of using the Senate appointment to land a job with a nonprofit foundation or a union-affiliated group, and even held out hope of getting appointed as Obama's secretary of health and human services or an ambassador.

According to court papers, the governor tried to make it known through emissaries, including union officials and fundraisers, that the seat could be had for the right price. Blagojevich allegedly had a salary in mind — $250,000 to $300,00 a year — and also spoke of collecting half-million and million-dollar political contributions."

emphasis mine

Hell, why not just put the seat up on Ebay (funny link). Well if there is any doubt that Illinois has not improved it's politics, this is it. Hell he even went stereotypical and involved unions. I couldn't believe it when I read that.

Now every politician in the state has issued a statement calling for Blagojevich's resignation or impeachment. Well all except for one, Chuck Jefferson. I heard a radio interview with him on WNTA where he made statements that almost sounded like he was defending Blago. That doesn't mean he is, yet I haven't found a statement from him calling for his resignation. Then again, it looks like Blago isn't about to resign: Attorney: Blagojevich has no plans of resigning. That doesn't surprise me either. I mean c'mon look at what he did, and what he's done. He's a narcissistic egotist that is out for himself. He wouldn't get ANYTHING if he resigned.

However, I think that's a moot point. Most likely this will be the catalyst that is needed for their to be an impeachment. I'm just wondering what outlandish thing he might do until then... like appoint himself to the Senate.

Car Czar... Really?

It looks like the politicians are rushing through a 15 billion dollar loan to the big three. (Ford, GM and Chrysler) This plan includes the position of... I kid you not... what they are calling a Car Czar.

I've heard both sides of the argument about whether or not the government should do this. Personally, I'm against it. I think the government has no business loaning money, bailing out or getting involved in this manner with private businesses. I also feel that this is continuing down the same slippery slope that the Economic Stimulus package and the Bailout of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

What's next? Are they going to start buying stock and shares in companies? Are we even going to be allowed to have privately owned companies, or is everything going to be owned and ran by the State?

The worse part of this whole thing is that I really don't think that this is going to help in the long run. We are throwing 15 billion dollars into three companies that aren't long for this world anyway. Through mismanagement, the greed of unions and the inability to create a product that can compete with foreign competitors. Sorry folks, but if they could I wouldn't have to pay for extended warranties on both of my vehicles that don't even cover the length of the standard warranties on their foreign competitors.

The only thing I can see that would save the American motor companies would be to completely reinvent how they work from the ground up. Starting with the termination of most of their higher end executives and then getting rid of the unions. Anything short is just prolonging the death of an American industry.

State of annoyance

I'm so tired of hearing about Obama and how everything is so much better now. I hate to break this to everyone, but just because he was elected it doesn't mean that the new lower gas prices are a result of him. If that was the case, then the problems with Wall Street over the last couple of weeks is also his fault. I'm reserving complete judgment until he actually gets into office. What I do know is that some of his choices for his cabinet and key political positions as well as some of the people he is considering for positions, such as Hillary Clinton for the Secretary of State (Full body shudder), are some of the key people in the Clinton era. As a guy on local radio put it today, "Where is all the change if we are getting the same Clintonista's in the cabinet?"

McCain and Obama are working together. Really, he lost the election and if I never hear about him again I'd be happy. I didn't vote for him andI could care less that he is meeting one on one with Obama. We already know he sold us out, we don't need any more proof.

Why the hell do I keep seeing Palin's name and picture all over the place? I see her on CNN, News papers, Local News, State News, National News and online news sources. Again, she was the VP candidate that ran and lost and she's getting more press than Biden. In fact as far as I know Biden went on a walking tour of the Everglades. I've seen everything from wild accusations with no proof to pure speculation that she cost McCain the Election. Honestly, for me, she didn't play a part in my decision not to vote for McCain, that was all him.

I couldn't wait for the election to get over so I could stop hearing about these people. It seems like since the election they are all I hear about.

For the Vets.

I know it's late in the day, but I would like to take a moment to thank all the Veterans that have fought in the defense of our country. Thank you for the sacrifices you've made, both in war times and in peace. Thank you for standing up and doing what many others either would or could not do. Thank you for making our country safe. Words can not adequately convey my appreciation for everything that you have done.

For all of you I found a poster from World War II, when our country was at it's greatest.

And for the men and women currently serving over sees, I hope that all of you come home safely and I'm sorry for the quagmire that our politicians have gotten not only you, but our country into.

For those of you that know your history.

The election results are in.

It's time.

How accurate is the media?

How the heck can they call a state for a candidate when they have less than 75% of the precincts reporting? Hell, the call Illinois for the Obamanation at 0% reporting. Seriously, this is why people decide that voting doesn't matter.

Sick, sick, Sick

The first polls are closing and I have a sick feeling in my stomach. You know the feeling I'm talking about, the one where something horribly bad is about to happen and you have no way to stop it. I really hope I'm wrong.... but I doubt it.

Reckoning '08

The day of reckoning is here in America. Today is the day that we, the people, will decide which leaders is going to flush our futures down there drain. That’s right, I’m telling you now it doesn’t matter which party wins, we are equally in trouble.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my country but seriously I think we are in a lot of trouble. I think we are on the brink a chasm that is going to swallow us and render a once mighty nation nothing more than the global whipping nation for every other country. I don’t see a bright spot to this election at all, and that scares me. Hell, I didn’t see a bright side to the election in 2004 and I was correct in my observations at that time. Now, now I’m just scared and I hope to survive the turmoil of the next decade.

The only upside is that in the local election there was this:

Question of Enacting Concealed Carry.

Shall the General Assembly enact legislation to permit the carrying of concealed firearms?

I’ve got a bad feeling we’re going to need this now more than ever.

Whew, that's a weight off my back.

According to all of the media sources I don't need to vote for president. Apparently Obama has already won.

They are calling that Obama has 355 electoral votes and McCain has 156. I guess us third party voters don't even get enough to get our candidate even 1 electoral vote.

The elections, I've had enough.

I hate to sound like a broken record, but I know my posting has been off the last couple of weeks. A lot of that has to do with the fact that I've been up to my eyeballs in the upcoming elections. I'm not talking just Federal, but also state and local. I've been spending a lot of time doing research, listening to radio shows and watching debates and news reports. Sometime in the last couple of days I've reached a boiling point of anger and frustration that folks, honestly I just kind of started not caring.

I'm tried of all the mud slinging. Look, I don't need a commercial that twists the facts, gives partial truths and is biased to try to sway me to vote for their candidate. Seriously mud slinging is the lowest form of campaigning that I, personally, compare to bullying and playground harassment. Seriously, I know that there are some people that will fall for this type of shenanigans, I just think that if you are going to use mud slinging you are highlighting your opponents weakness because you don't have any strengths.

Then there is the endorsements. I have some news for these candidates, some of your endorsement hurt you more than help you. IE when you get an endorsement from Governor Blagojevich (with his 13% approval rating), you may not be getting the boost that you want. IE if you are trying to get me to vote for you, getting an endorsement from Blagojevich, Rockford Mayor Morrissey, local hero I've never heard of, anyone being investigated by the feds, any foreign government or figure or any celebrity is not going to help your case. I'm sorry. I mean seriously there is a local politician that has a quote from Blago on his mailer, two more have Morrissey. A man running for an elected office is using a "ten time local high school championship winning hockey coach" for an endorsement. I've never heard of this guy before, and honestly just because he can coach a high school hockey team to a championship doesn't mean his opinion means anything to me.

Then there is the buddy-buddy campaign. You know, the one where the candidate is trying to be your friend and he makes all of these promises on what he's going to do for us in the position he's running for. Then at the end he makes "the promise". ie "I'm going to save the tax payers money, you have my word on it!" Really? You're word, you don't say. Well that changes everything. I mean, c'mon, I don't know you from Adam yet I'm supposed to take you at your word that your going to do something. Since I'm just a naturally trusting and gullible individual, I'm just going to blindly take you at your word. I mean it's not like you've done anything to prove yourself trustworthy to me. As far as I'm concerned your word is no better than that of the bum that sits on the corner that promises to pick up the trash in my alley if I give him $10.00.

Now mix that in with the fact that I honestly don't like most of the candidates that are running for positions, I've just had enough. Especially at the presidential level. I stopped caring if Obama or McCain win, because honestly folks, we're screwed either way. I'm voting libertarian because I honestly can't cast a vote for either one of those tools.

Bob Barr

Shadoglare of Refractional Darkness is fed up with the Candidates. To be honest so am I. I've been caught muttering "McCain, Obama... either way we're screwed". Shadoglare decided to look at the Libertarian candidate running for president, Bob Barr. After checking out his website, I think I found my new candidate. I don't agree with his war strategy, but the other issues I'm concerned about are either acceptable or I agree with them. So I say, Vote Bob Barr!

Candidate Health care stances

As many people are really tired of poltics and hearing about the lack luster candidates (McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden, either way we're screwed). Here's something else to make you question both of the "top" candidates.

Over at Health08.org they have a handy side by side comparison of the candidates views and platforms on Health care and Health care related issues.

"Health care has been an important issue in this year's presidential campaign and the candidates have staked out positions on key health care issues. Both major party candidates have developed comprehensive health care reform proposals addressing health coverage and access, rising health care costs and health care quality. A side-by-side comparison of these proposals has been prepared and is available..."

It's actually a very useful page, so if you want to learn more, it's a good resource.

Time for some Campaignin'

okay, they took down the Palin/Clinton SNL skit video, but this one shouldn't go anywhere. This really doesn't help my feelings about this election, since they seem to pretty much hit the nail on the head, both candidates are just whores for a vote.

Time for Some Campaignin' | Funny Jokes at JibJab

And yes, I'm still planning on voting Obama, just because he's not McCain.

Too Funny

For those of you that missed it, here is the intro to Saturday Night Live this last week. Tina Fey does an excellent Palin. She looks and sounds like her. For those that follow politics, this is hilarious.

SNL Palin Clinton Show Intro
Uploaded by gaijinhito

McCain is the Green Lantern?

As I was stumbling through my weekly random crap I ran across a guy that found a startling resemblance between McCain and the Green Lantern.

This still will not make me vote for him.

We win! UPDATED!

Supreme Court Says Americans have right to guns.

I received a text message in a meeting with this news. I jumped out of my seat and cheered. Then I got to explain to the anti-gun liberals at work why they were wrong!

Drinks on me tonight for anyone that can make it to my house!

UPDATE: Shadoglare sent me a link to the NY Times article (Justices Rule for Individual Gun Rights and Gun Control Supporters Show Outrage)on the story. They of course put a very anti-gun spin on the whole thing, especially the second article.

If there was any doubt that other bans would be in peril, the National Rifle Association quickly put those questions to rest when it announced shortly after the ruling that it would file a flurry of lawsuits challenging restrictions in San Francisco, Chicago and several Chicago suburbs. The law in Washington, which spelled out rules for the storage of weapons and made it extremely difficult for most people in the district to legally possess a handgun, was among the strictest in the nation.

...

In Chicago, Mayor Richard M. Daley, a staunch supporter of gun control, called the decision “frightening” and said he was bracing for a fight with the gun lobby, which has long criticized the city’s ban on the sale and registration of handguns for everyone but police officers and a handful of others. Enacted in 1982, the law was created in response to the murders of two police officers and the assassination attempt on former president Ronald Reagan.

“Does this lead to everyone having a gun in our society?” he said at a news conference. “If they think that’s the answer, then they’re greatly mistaken. Then, why don’t we do away with the court system and go back to the Old West? You have a gun and I have a gun and we’ll settle in the streets.

“They’re changing the rules,” Mr. Daley said of the Supreme Court. “Why should we as a city not be able to protect ourselves from those who want guns in our society?”

Senator Dianne Feinstein, a former mayor of San Francisco, which also restricts the owning of guns, reacted strongly to the ruling, saying she was “viscerally affected” by it and worried for the nation’s safety.

“I speak as somebody who has watched this nation with its huge homicide rate, when countries that have sane restrictions on weapons do not have that homicide rate,” she said. “And I happen to believe that this is now going to open the door to litigation against every gun safety law that states have passed — assault weapons bans, trigger locks, and all the rest of it.”

Emphasis Mine.

Of course they went straight to Daley. That man would try to take away any rights a person has if it was a threat to his power in Illinois. And, no we don't want to get rid of law and order. We, the law abiding citizens of the US, want the rights that are afforded to us in the Constitution. Just because I own a handgun, rifle or shotgun that does NOT mean I am going to commit a crime. In fact if you look at the statistics, most firearm violence is perpetrated by people that own them ILLEGALLY!

We don't want the wild west, we want law and order. We just want to have our own firearms and to be able to protect ourselves, go hunting, sport shooting or just collect them. But these individuals don't see it that way. They believe anyone that wants a firearm is going to commit a crime or become a vigilante.

I'm not touching the part about McCain and Obama, since they both equally annoy me and I'm not voting for either one.

UPDATE AGAIN: I thought New York was Bad, The Chicago Sun Times article, Court gun ruling has Chicago thinking it's next is even worse. The second half reads like an editorial.

Winnebago County Considers concealed carry

For those of you that don't live in the state of Illinois, or even if you do, you may not have heard but the Winnebago County Board is considering approving it's own concealed carry law. For those of you that don't know, Winnebago county is where Rockford is located, my home city. This goes against the laws that the State of Illinois has in place. Illinois is one of only 48 2 states that doesn't have some kind of concealed carry law or permit. The other is Wisconsin.

Now, none of this is new information. As you can see in the above article which was dated May 8th, 2008, this has been discussed or written about a lot over the last month. Over at IllinoisCarry.com they have a whole thread dedicated to this topic. If none of this is new, why am I posting about it?

They had another meeting with the sub-committee on it tonight. Unfortunately I was not able to attend due to work and family. Since I was not able to attend, I thought I would voice my opinion on the whole matter here. Plus if I did attend, they would have limited me to two minutes and anyone that knows me knows I can't introduce myself in under two minutes!

First off I applaud Doug Aurand, D-3, and Randy Olson, R-1 who are chairing this committee. It's nice to see two politicians of different parties putting lines behind them and doing something that not only is right, but also actually beneficial for the community. In this state of strong anti-firearm sentiment, AKA Chicago dictating policy to the rest of the state, to have two politicians buck the questionable legislation in this state to keep firearms out of the hands of honest, law abiding citizens is refreshing!

Secondly, anyone that has done any reasonable research into gun control knows that concealed carry actually does deter crime! There are numerous sights that support this, one of the better free online resources is GunFacts.info. There are other sites out there that also confirm the fire arm statistics. It's hard to argue with the statistics, well you can if you want to completely just ignore they exist. Firearms in the hands of honest citizens that own them legally deter crime, plain and simple.

Now I know that if Winnebago county passes this, the State of Illinois will bring down it's full wrath upon it for going against them. The whole thing will end up in the courts and what not. I'm hoping that this legislation and, more than likely, upcoming lawsuit is something that brings about freedom to the rest of us living in Illinois.

It will let us take back our streets.
It will let us take back our neighborhoods.
It will let us take back our cities!

And more than likely, it won't be because we fired a gun, but because criminals hate an armed populous and the fear of honest, armed citizens will push them back into their holes.

Chicago now trying to control the U.S.

Anyone that lives in Illinois knows that Chicago is the 300 pound gorilla that controls the state. It seems that what ever the politicians, AKA King Richard Daley and his cronies want, they try to stuff down the rest of the states throat. It makes living in this state dang near a headache. Heaven forbid you don’t agree with something that Chicago wants. If you do than they feel you are an uneducated rube that needs them to take care of you for them. Chicago is the starting point for every anti-gun law, stupid tax and freedom ban in what used to be a free state.

Now it seems that Chicago wants to do a hostile takeover of the rest of the United States. They are no longer happy just controlling us lowly serfs here in the Socialist Republic of Illinois. Nope, the city council has decided that they are going to vote on a resolution to ban the war in Iran. Yes, I said Iran. Here’s the PDF version of the resolution from No War on Iran.

The last time I checked, the city council of Chicago, let alone any city, has the right to ban or stop the Federal government from doing anything. Okay, really the resolution is a message to the Illinois Congressional delegate and this may just be a symbol of how strong they feel about a war on Iran, but seriously don’t the people in Chicago think that there are better things that their City Council could be handling? Let’s face it, this is a waste of tax-payers time and money.

I thought they were illegal?

Shadoglare sent me notice of a story in the Chicago Tribune. Boy, 4, wounded on South Side after gun hidden in oven discharges, cops say.

This whole thing is a tragedy, fortunately it sounds as if the kids are going to be okay. What really gets me about this story is

Smith, a felon, had hidden the revolver in the oven in a home in the 4800 block of South Racine Avenue, Bright said.

emphasis mine.

First I thought handguns are banned in Chicago. Wait, they are. See how well banning handguns and firearms works from people getting hurt?

Secondly this guy is a felon. Which means that even if he left the city of Chicago to buy a handgun, he can't legally own one in Illinois. That means he bought it... ILLEGALLY! That's right, he probably bought it on the streets. I know he didn't buy one in the store because he can't have a FOID (Firearms Owners Identification) card that you must have in Illinois to even buy a firearm. As soon as he's convicted of a felony they suspend the card and when the background check was run, they would have red flagged this guy.

If the mighty Mayor Daley and the Chicago police can't even keep a felon from obtaining and owning a firearm with in the limited confines of their little kingdom, what makes them think that they can do anything about the rest of the state.

We don't need more gun laws. We need to better enforce the laws that we have. Banning doesn't work.

IGOLD Results

Even though I don't have any official figures, I think yesterday went really well. According to reports thousands of firearms owners lent their support. I also don't have many pictures as I forgot the digital camera at home... again. Actually I remembered to grab it yesterday morning. Making sure I wouldn’t forget it, I set it on the shelf next to my phone and some other items I was taking with me. Upon my return home, there it still sits. Yes, I had my phone with me, but for whatever reason, I left the camera here. I did try to snap some pictures of the event on my phone, only two really turned out. Sorry for the quality.

March to the Capital (We were in the middle of the the march.)

End of the March.

Rally at the Capital Steps.

Both of the pictures are from the march. My friend J-man went with to show his support. We started at the Springfield Hilton hotel where we received instructions, an agenda, lobbying cards and various speakers, Senators and State Reps gave speeches regarding the individual right of the public to have firearms. One of the speakers, whom I can’t remember his name, made the comment along the lines that “… as Firearm owners we all must stick together.” I can’t remember exactly what he said, but basically the Constitution does not guarantee your right to hunt or target shoot. It guarantees your right to own firearms. If you are a trap shooter, or a target sportsman or even just a casual firearm owner, we all need to stick together. Any law the effects one will sooner or later affect the other. Even if you only shoot shotgun and you don’t own a handgun, you still should stand up against the banning of handguns. No, it may not directly affect you, but they could use this later on as a stepping-stone to ban shotguns. I believe he called it the “The gun owners UN”. Not that I support the UN, but I do support this idea. I may not own a shotgun, but if they made a law banning shotguns, I’d be against it.

After the speech we all marched to the state capital building. It wasn’t a long walk, but I think we made our presence known. We had permits and a police escort so everything was nice and legal. At the steps of the capital there was a quick rally with a couple of more speeches and words of encouragement for politicians. To be honest since I have a deep mistrust of 99.9% of elected officials, I’m not sure I trust anything these politicians said for their actual beliefs or if they were campaigning. Especially since there were a couple of comments made regarding two of them possibly running for governor in the future.

After the rally we headed in to deliver lobbying cards to our State Senators and Representatives. I hit both Dave Syverson’s and Chuck Jefferson’s office. Neither one of them were in. As much as I believe Senator Syverson is pro-firearm, I also believe that Chuck Jefferson is anti-firearm. It would have been nice if either one of them had been in their offices when I stopped by, but they weren’t. I really wanted to speak with Chuck Jefferson since he has never returned a phone call or e-mail of mine over the last 3 years. I guess since either I’m independent or pro-firearm; I’m not worth talking to in his mind. We also had cards for the Senate and House Majority and Minority leaders. If I’m not mistaken the leaders of the Senate and the House are anti-firearm and deeply involved in the Chicago “good ol’ boy network”. Meaning they are heavily anti-firearm.

After delivering the cards J-man and I hung around for a while going to let our presence be known by the politicians. Most of the committees seemed to be scheduled early that day, so we didn’t get in to too many of them. The ones that were being held were packed.

Overall we had a good time. I think we did good and at the very least I hope we hope to hold our ground so that no new anti-firearm legislation can be passed.

I would like to thank the Illinois State Rifle Association, Illinois Carry, Champaign County Rifle Association and the Sangamon County Rifle Association for organizing and hosting this event. Keep up the good work!

Off I go.

I'm getting ready to head down to Springfield (The State Capital of Illinois for clarification). I'm picking up my friend J-man and we are off to IGOLD 08. We are doing this to speak up for our rights as legal firearm owners in the state of Illinois. If we are lucky we'll at least do as well as last year and stall out all of the anti-firearm legislation. If things go really well, maybe we can get some looser laws. And in my dreams, concealed carry.

Wish us luck.

And for those of you that wanted to make the trip but just couldn't. I'll make sure to speak up even louder for each of you. If you have my cell phone and want an update on how things are going live. Feel free to call or text me.

This made me laugh.

When I saw this article: Weather Channel Founder Wants to Sue Al Gore, I laughed. I laughed for multiple reasons.

ohn Coleman wants to sue Al Gore for fraud. Coleman, who founded the Weather Channel in 1982, thinks taking legal action against Al Gore would be a great "vehicle to finally put some light on the fraud of global warming." Coleman rejects the notion that people must take drastic actions to reduce their energy use.

First I don't buy the global warming alarmist stuff, I don't see enough scientific data to prove anything. I'm sorry, the earth has been around more than the 100 years worth of reliable data they are basing this on. There is other evidence that the earth goes through cycles like this over large spans of time. So we are on a warm up, well in so many years we'll have a cool down. If Coleman won, I would love to see Al Gore's reaction. Which would probably be the same he has for everything else, damn robot.

Second, As much as I would love to see this happen, I think the guy would be throwing his money away. There is no way that any judge would let this go to court. Most of them wouldn't want to stand in the middle of this kind of political mess. Even if it did go to court, I highly doubt a judge would rule in favor of Coleman.

Anyways, It made me chuckle.

Gas is expensive?

I just returned from running to the store to pick up some necessary items. During my travel there and back I was listening to talk radio. The host and callers were talking about how Bush was surprised to hear that they are forecasting gas to rise over $4.00 a gallon. Most of us have been hearing this for over a month now.

I'm not a Bush supporter. What he's done in office angers me on levels more than I can fathom. And no, I didn't vote for him last time. I didn't vote for Kerry either, I ended up writing in a candidate. With that being said, this really doesn't surprise me. But then again I don't think most politicians have any idea what the average American citizen pays for things and what the costs are going to be on those items in years to come.

Honestly I think if you went up to any politician and asked them the simple question of "Do you know how much it costs to fill the gas tank on a (insert car here)?" they probably wouldn't know. Now of course if I asked many of you "Do you know how much it costs to fill up a Chevy Silverado or a Chevy Venture?" you'd probably be able to get close to the ball park. Why? Because you pay for your gas.

Most of the politicians I know and have worked with have staff that fills the tanks on their cars or has someone drive them, especially at the Federal level. I'm sure career politicians probably couldn't tell you what side of the car their gas cap is on. And this is just another reason I believe they are out of touch with the American public.

So does it surprise me Bush didn't know? Not at all.

We might be moving.

There is still hope, a place fore a disenfranchised individual as myself to go. up until about 100 years ago there was always someplace for an individual to go when they were tired of their government. It was the frontier. People that wanted to get away from government persecution or what they felt where unjust laws or just to get away from others would head to the frontiers. Hell, North America was originally settled by people trying to get away from the government.

So where is this place? Why, it's Montana. That's right, Montana. According to the Washington post, "Montana insists on gun rights" Do you hear that? It's the sounds of angels singing.

Montana officials are warning that if the Supreme Court rules in the D.C. gun ban case that the right to keep and bear arms protects only state-run militias like the National Guard, then the federal government will have breached Montana's statehood contract.

I've already spoke with Ktreva and depending on how things go, we may up and move. If on the off chance they actually do try to break free of the ever tightening grasp of the Feds, I'd help them out.

Thanks to Ogre for the good news.

Illinois is at it again.

If you wondered why I'm taking my time to attend the Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day (IGOLD), an article in the Rockford Register Star sums it up, Gun Control Proposal Clears House Committee. Now, this has just passed the committee, it hasn't actually passed the house or been made a law yet, but lets take a look at what this law is trying to ban.

Proposals that would ban semi-automatic assault weapons and outlaw the purchase of more than one handgun a month cleared an Illinois House committee today....

Technically these are two separate bills, one for the assault weapons and one for the handguns. We can't expect the media to get anything everything correct.
Not that I've ever bought more than one handgun a month, but I really don't think the government needs to tell me I can't. Seriously, if I went out and bought a handgun only to turn around a week later and find a really good deal on another, (estate sale, friend selling one, gun show, etc.) then I should still be able to purchase it. Hell that's how we obtained Ktreva's Colt 1991. This is just a silly piece of legislative BS brought on by people that are afraid of firearms and want to take them away from law abiding citizens like myself.

House Bill 4393, sponsored by Chicago Democratic Rep. Luis Arroyo, would limit handgun purchases to one every 30 days...

..."For years, we’ve been trying to pass common-sense gun-law legislation," Acevedo said.

His House Bill 4357 would ban the sale or purchase of semi-automatic assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, .50-caliber rifles or .50-caliber cartridges.

"These military-style weapons have no place on our streets," a supporter of the bill, Nina Vinik, legal director for the Evanston-based Legal Community Against Violence, told the committee.

Common sense gun law? It's only common sense if you A) don't know much about firearms, B) Have an irrational fear of fire arms, C) What to use this as a stepping stone to disarm the masses or D) all of the above.

None of the weapons they want banned are truly "Military-style". They may look like it, but trust me our military more than likely wouldn't use them unless they had no other option. The military is more fond of fully-automatic. If you are not sure what the difference is, see this excellent video. 50 caliber is military grade? The sad thing is that if you read the actual bill, it doesn't specify modern or black powder. So any of us re-enactors wanting to buy a .50 cal black powder rifle in the future may have problems, it says there are exceptions but it doesn't list them. I wonder what they would think of my .75 caliber Brown Bess Musket. Hell it's a military style weapon, it was what the British used mainly during the Rev War. Mine has a bayonet, military sling, etc. I guess it could be considered an assault weapon.

It's because of these types of laws that I'm going to go lobby against them. I'm tired of the government taking away my rights and liberties just so they can better control me. Well I'm not going to go down with out a fight.

Thanks to Shadoglare of Refractional Darkness for getting my blood pressure up again.

Another reason McCain won't get my vote.

Ogre's Politics and Views directed me to an article written by Chuck Baldwin titled John McCain is a Liberal Gun Grabber. Where as I am not familiar with Chuck Baldwin, his radio show or his principles, I do know that I agree with what he wrote here. He has a lot of good points and even some outstanding ones.

Let me say it straight out: a John McCain Presidency would be far worse than a Barack Obama Presidency. With a Democrat in the White House, conservatives and Christians suddenly find their principles and are able to offer resistance. Put a Republican in the Oval Office, however, and those same people become blind, deaf, and dumb to most any principle they profess.

I've been saying basically that same thing for a long time now. I've had the arguments that "Obama or Clinton in the white house would deliver us into a state of ruin." The problem is that, so will McCain, he'll just have an R behind his name. Shadoglare did a nice little breakdown of the candidates and which one came across as the best. It was good and informational. The only beef I had with it is that it's based on quotes not voting records and that the quotes can be interpreted differently be each reader. He ended up taking a stance that he's going to vote for the lesser of evil or the candidate that is closest to what he believes. (Albeit it none of them really are close at all.)

I've stated and sticking with my stance that I'm not casting my vote for McCain (or against his opponents). That doesn't mean I'm voting Obama/Clinton that just means I may end up writing in a candidate or seeing if there is a third party candidate I agree with more.

But if you want to know more about McCain and his voting records regarding firearms, please go read the article by Chuck Baldwin.

More election surprises.

There were a couple of primaries over the weekend, some of them had interesting turnouts, or so I thought. The fact that Huckabee won Kansas, Louisiana (although not by enough to get any delegates), and Washington was too close to count so they have to continue to do so today before they call it. Right now McCain is in the lead.

Since I brought that up, does anyone else get bothered when they call an election with less than 95% of the votes in? Shouldn’t they at least pretend that our votes matter and count them all before they name a winner? I saw one last week where it was at 54% reporting, it was a narrow margin (Less than 4% difference) and they were calling a winner already. If I’m not mistaken those other 46% could have voted for the underdog and it actually turned out they won.

Obama stormed the Dems winning Nebraska, Washington and Louisiana primaries. He’s still behind Clinton in the overall, but it’s only a 30-point difference. At least this race is still close. Obama and Clinton really have their work cut out for them if the want the nomination, unlike the Reps primary. Heck, Huckabee doesn’t even have as many delegates as Romney does and Romney is out of the race. McCain has three times the amount of delegates as Huckabee does. As for Ron Paul, I know some of my readers are staunch supporters of his, but seriously, he only has 14 delegates so far. Do you really think he’s going to be able to pull this off?

Actually after doing the math, it’s not possible for Paul to win. You need to have 1,191 delegates to win; there are only 2,380 total delegates. 1,265 of those delegates have been designated already. That leaves 1,115 remaining nominations. So if Paul received 100% of the remaining nominations it leaves him at 1129, well short of what is needed. If that does happen, no one would have enough, and I’m not sure exactly what happens. I just don’t see that as happening. It’s really looking like it is going to be McCain for the Republicans. Honestly I think a little part of me dies every time I type that.

I’m still at a loss as to what I’m going to do for the presidential race. No one has sold me on why one of the probable candidates would be best for the job.

F#CK!

First Bloodspite sent me an e-mail warning me. Then I get home and see this headline: McCain all but clinches: Romney Departs. Okay, he wasn't the most conservative candidate running, but he was more conservative than McCain. He actually had a snowballs chance of winning. But he dropped out.

It dawned on me. First I threw my support behind Thompson and he dropped out. Then I threw my support behind Romney and HE dropped out. So I got to thinking, hey, if I throw my support behind McCain maybe he will drop out. At this point my sadistically cruel loving wife pointed out that "The third time's the charm." Meaning that if I supported McCain he'd win.

DAMMIT!

I really hope a decent third party/independent candidate comes crawling out of the wood work. Because there is no way, no way that McCain will ever get my vote.

McCain wins?

I wrote and published a post yesterday that has since disappeared. I’m really not sure what happened to it, but it’s gone. I’m not going to try to re-write it as it was a lot of my venting anger and frustration at the current state of politics and voting in the US. The main gist of it was that I backed down and actually voted for one of the candidates that were still in the running. I voted for Romney, mainly because out of the four front runners I felt he was closest to what I want for our government. It didn’t matter because Illinois went to McCain. For those of you that think that if you vote for a third party or Independent candidate that you are throwing your vote away, well the same can be said if you vote for the loser.

Any way I can’t replicate what I was feeling when I wrote that post, so I’m not going to try. Mainly that is because I have a different anger and frustration today, McCain.

I can NOT believe that McCain is doing as well as he is. Let’s face it; it looks like he is going to take the Republican nomination. He is the clear front runner and has a commanding lead over Romney and Huckabee. But since when is the Republican Party Liberal? Don’t tell me it’s not. If it really wasn’t, McCain wouldn’t be in the lead. Please, McCain, Clinton, Obama are all cut from the same material. There really is not that big a difference in on their platforms or positions.

The only thing I can figure out is that the sheeple of the US would rather see someone in the White House with an R next to their name, even if they truly don’t uphold the party beliefs. I know, I’m not Republican, but I am financially conservative. I want lesser taxes, lesser government, secure borders and national defense. Socially I’m liberal, or as some people say, “Libertarian”. I don’t care about abortion, gay marriage or religion; I don’t think the government really should be involved in those topics. Since I am more conservative I do look to the Republican Party more for politicians that I agree. How anyone that considers themselves a true conservative could vote for McCain is flabbergasting.

I will tell you this, if it does end up with McCain as the Republican candidate for president and there isn’t a good independent candidate running, I probably will vote for Clinton or Obama. At least with them I know for sure what I’m getting. McCain will never, ever get my vote.

It just keeps getting worse.

I woke up to the news McCain won the Florida primary. He is the only "conservative" I know that would actually make me seriously consider voting for a liberal candidate. It's not that I think that Romney and Huckabee are good, or even satisfactory, it's just that they are much better than John "Amnesty for all" McCain.

After every election I get a new sense of loss and a growing sinking feeling that I'm witnessing my country die a slow painful death. GAH! I'm pretty much convinced that the U.S. is standing on the crumbling edge of the pit of ruin. It's only a matter of time before our weakened, pathetic, useless, incompetent government takes away more of our rights, takes away more of our money, or allows us to be attacked.

Actually I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if things keep going the way they are you will see another attack on American soil by either a foreign enemy or a revolt of its own citizens.

Lack of useful information.

Illinois moved up its spring election to next Tuesday so that we can be more important in the primaries. Actually all it does is move is to “Super Tuesday” with a ton of other states. Besides being the primary, we have other elections going on at the same time. Of course those are all local ones. I’ve seen posters, signs, fliers and hand bills regarding the candidates and I’ve come to a conclusion.

They are trying to win on name recognition only.

There is nothing on any of their signs or handouts that tell you a damn thing about them or their position on anything. You really need to go out and do some searching on these individuals. Then to top it off, if you find their websites, some of them still don’t state a whole lot of anything. Yes, there are a ton of endorsements from other people in the community for them, but nothing that really tells you what these individuals’ stances are on the different platforms or issues that involve the local community.

In one election I didn’t like any of the officials that I’ve heard of due to past experience and tried to find if anyone else is running. I couldn’t find anything. I checked the website for the county clerk’s board of elections and they had nothing. I’m still waiting on a phone call back from them. The only thing we have is the overly biased local media. Which is pushing one candidate over another. It’s a good thing I don’t trust them either.

What really irks me is that I just now really noticed this, and it’s not just true on the local level. If I look at the presidential candidates unless you are looking at the “big two parties” you have a hard time finding anything out for third party or independent candidates wanting to run right now.

And people wonder why I’m so damn surly when it comes to politics.

Will the rebate work?

By now everyone has heard of the rebate that the government is going to be giving all of us. Does this move strike anyone else besides me as not just a bad idea, but also as kind of fishy? It’s almost like the government is trying to buy happiness from the public by throwing money at the huddled masses. Actually it’s more like they are trying to distract us like a laser pointer does a cat. I just can’t help to thing they are trying to soften us up for something horrible coming down the road, besides the election, or if they are trying to draw our attention away from something they don’t want us scrutinizing too much… like the upcoming election.

With that being said, really do any of you think this is a good idea? Do you really think this is going to solve our economic problems? Does throwing money at a faltering economy with rising inflation really solve the problem? Now of course I like the idea of getting some of my hard earned money back from an overspending government. I’m not going to lie and say I’m going to turn it down. I just don’t think this is going to have the effects they want.

Sure at first it will. People will use that money by impulse spending it away, kind of like our government. Then they will be back in the same boat. The ones that could use it to help get out of debt, probably won’t. Want to bet you’ll see a large jump in the HDTVs sales to the lower class by June? Especially since in 2008 High Definition is going to be the government mandated standard. (I’d go off on this, but it deserves a post of it’s own.) Either that or they will use the money to buy a Wii, Xbox or Playstation 3. To be honest I don’t know how they will use the money. I do know from first hand experience that most individuals in the lower cast tend to view this money as a windfall that they can blow instead of using to better their situation.

If they really wanted to help our economy they would bring it back to an industrial base instead of a service base. When our economy was the strongest we had a strong manufacturing backbone to our society. Most of the jobs worked in a field that the parent company actually made something. Today we are in a service base economy. Most of the jobs in the U.S. are now with companies that don’t make anything, but provide a service to get the items you want or services you need. The company I work for is a fortune 500 company and there is not one factory anywhere that we own. We sell a complete service for billions of dollars a year. That’s all we do. I can actually count on my fingers the number of friends I have that do work for a manufacturing base company. Two of them actually work for a company that all the manufacturing is done in other countries. Another two work for a company that has some manufacturing here in the States, but are owned overseas.

Because of this we are exporting our wealth to other countries. We are dependant on other countries making the items we need and want. If we can transfer it so that we are making more of our own products and not as dependant on foreign countries to do it, I think you would see a turn around in the economy.

bleak future.

It’s been two days since Thompson has pulled out of the presidential race and since then I’ve done a lot of thinking. It’s not that I thought Thompson was perfect or that I agreed with him on everything, quite to the contrary. I only agreed with him on about 65-70% of the things. I know I’ll never find a politician that I agree with 100%, but the major issues are ones that I did agree with him on. It’s just that he has been the first candidate in a long time that I actually felt that I was voting for, not against another.

Now I’ve been sitting here in a funk. I’m scared, I’m scared for my country, I’m scared for my job and I’m scared for my family. I look at the list of candidates and the current front-runners and I shudder. Romney, Huckabee and McCain for the Republicans and Clinton, Obama and Edwards for the Democrats, just thinking of any of those names with the term President in front if it almost makes me cry in frustration and anger. To think that out of the 300 million Americans, these were the best we could come up with is just down right frightening.

And the American sheeple is going to vote one of these mentally myopic individuals into the top office of the land. Well the 65% of the public that votes during an election year will at least. The other 35% will just complain about who is in office. Why are we going to elect these pieces of living bio-waste? Because of that 65% that actually vote, most of them are too narrow minded to think about voting outside of the way the government wants them to. Meaning they will only vote Democrat or Republican. They won’t even look at a third party candidate. The government (I.e. Republicans and Democrats) wants it that way. Face it folks, the two parties are in bed with each other. As long as they stick together, they won’t lose power. And that’s what it’s really all about. They want power.

Me, I don’t know. I’m going to look at third party and independent candidates to see if there is anyone there that might be better then the laughable six. If enough Americans do the same thing, maybe just maybe we can send a message to the parties that we want, nay we demand better candidates then what they throw at us.

But folks mark my words, if things keep going down the grim path we are headed; there is trouble for America. Be it another attack on our soil, another civil war or even a long overdue revolution. Maybe not in the next four years, but it is coming. It is coming.

This is not a good week.

First my Packers lose in the NFC Championship game and then today I see that Fred Thompson has withdrawn from the Presidential Race. Which leaves me in a quandry. There is no one else running under either ticket that I like or am willing to give my vote to.

Bah! I hate politicians. Not a one of them is worth a damn thing and the last three presidents we've had should have been left in the baby diapers their respective parties found them in. Looking at the primaries, I'm pretty much sure that the next President will come out of the same cloth.

At this point I'm almost wondering if I should start a write-in campaign for the Presidency. Contagion for President! I want less government, less spending and more individual rights.

If there is anyone out there that thinks they can sell me on a candidate that is currently running, go for it. But I want arguements for voting for your candidate, not voting against another.

Illinois Gun Owner's Lobby Day 2008

You may all remember that last year I participated in the Illinois Gun Owner's Lobby Day (IGOLD) last year. I just received an e-mail that this years scheduled IGOLD is on March 11th. The website for IGOLD hasn't been updated yet, but I assure you the e-mail is legit.

IGOLD 2008 is officially set for Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Mark that day on your calendar, schedule a vacation day, personal day, whatever you have to do to be in Springfield on that day!!

With the Illinois General Assembly back in session all the anti-gun owner bills of 2007 are back in play. The Illinois State Police are setting their own rules on FOID card requirements bringing a whole new meaning to the words "subject to police power" in the Illinois State Constitution. Cook County is trying to expand Chicago's firearm registration style gun control to the whole county plus trying to shut down all firearm retailers and gun shows in Cook County.

Now is not the time to sit idly by and wring our hands. NOW is the time to show up at the Illinois State Capitol and let our voices be heard - the voices of Illinois Gun owners - loud clear voices that we have had enough infringements on our rights - we'll budge no further. In fact, not only do we stand our ground, we want ground back that's been lost.

48 STATES ARE NOT WRONG!!
WE WANT OUR RIGHT TO CARRY FOR DEFENSE OF SELF AND FAMILY RECOGNIZED IN THIS STATE WITH A RIGHT-TO-CARRY LAW!!

Last year more than 1,500 Illinois gun owners swarmed the Capitol complex lobbying state legislators for firearm owners rights and the need for a Right to Carry law in Illinois.

Like I need to state this, but hell yea I'm going. If any of you from Northern Illinois would like to join me, just let me know and we'll work out details.

Must read if you live in Illinois.

Illinois Senators Dave Syverson and Brad Burzynski held Breakfast with the Senator this morning. They had done this every couple of weeks last spring and I attended every one of them. I found each one to be informative and exposing of the problems of Illinois Government. They haven’t had one since last May, which I sorely missed. Shadoglare joined me for this one.

The point of the breakfast was to discuss multiple topics including the status of the Capital Plan, Status of the RTA-CTA (Regional Transportation Authority –Chicago Transportation Authority), Blagojevich’s Health Plan, and budget updates. There was also an open question time. While everyone was eating they showed the below clip from the CBS affiliate in Chicago, CBS2, report, “Exposing Blagojevich: Governor’s Style and Obstacle” It’s about 8 minutes long, but it is worth the watch.

The worst part of this clip is the interviews and quotes from not only political players in his own party, but also his own staff! I’ve said for years this man is trying to destroy Illinois, but I never imagined it was this bad. He continually tries to overspend our income. Illinois is already in fiscal trouble due to over spending, bad budgeting and poor money management by our government. If he can’t get the funding through taxes, he’ll sell 25-year bonds, take the money from pension funds or take monies from taxes earmarked to be spent elsewhere. He is trying to push a Health Care plan that covers everyone in Illinois with a household income under $85,000.00, including illegal aliens.

If he gets voted in for a third term, so help me I think that will be the nail in the coffin of any hope I have that this Nanny State will get any better.

Mandatory Service.

The other day on the radio they were having a political discussions and one of the guests made the statement that he felt that everyone in America should have to do a mandatory 4 years military service before the age of 40. It doesn't necessarily have to be in a combat role, but they have to serve in some capacity. (Clerks, supply, etc)

This topic was debated by the hosts, other guests and callers and made me wonder. I think military service is a good thing. Yet I don't know if I like the idea of mandatory military service as you may get undesirable candidates in the military. It's no secret that I never served. Not that I didn't try, but I was rejected from all branches of the military due to a medical problem... mainly that I had four metal pins in my left leg holding it together. After college I just wanted to get my career started. By this guests plan I would have served, probably as a clerk, but I still would have served.

But would I have gotten the same experience if I had? Part of the reason I was rejected is because they didn't think I would make it through boot with out damaging my leg even worse. So if I don't go through boot, am I not missing out on the opportunities and experience he wants me to have? You know, the discipline, camaraderie and spirit of our fighting men and women.

So what do you think, is mandatory military service a good thing?

Indecision 2008

Friend and long time reader Petey sent me this video clip for his candidate of choice, Mike Huckabee.

I'm in the Fred Thompson boat, but damn that was just too funny.

National Ammo Day 2007

I know I'm a little late in getting this out, but today, November 19th, is National Ammo day. What is National Ammo Day? Well in their own words:

It is a nationwide BUYcott of ammunition. You buy ammunition. 100 Rounds a person.

The goals of Ammo Day:

The goal of National Ammo Day is to empty the ammunition from the shelves of your local gun store, sporting goods, or hardware store and put that ammunition in the hands of law-abiding citizens. Make your support of the Second Amendment known--by voting with your dollars!

There are an estimated 75 MILLION gun owners in the United States of America. If each gun owner or Second Amendment supporter buys 100 rounds of ammunition, that’s 7.5 BILLION rounds in the hands of law-abiding citizens!

The gun/ammunition manufacturers have been taking the brunt of all the frivolous lawsuits, trying to put these folks out of business. Well, not if we can help it! And we CAN help it by buying ammunition on November 19!

I actually bought 120 rounds. 100 .45 ACP and 20 7.62X39mm. It's not like its not going to be used, and if it helps send a pro-firearm message, even the better. So if you haven't done it yet, go ahead and do so, even if it is a day late.

Go Fred Go!

For those of you that haven’t heard, Fred Thompson declared he is running for the U.S. top job, President of the United States. Since he is the first candidate in years that not only I like, but I also agree with on a majority of the topics, I’m going to help with some local campaigning.

One of the things I’ve done was put up a donation button for his campaign. Not that I think I’m going to drive a lot of donations his way, but I figure it couldn’t hurt.

Right now I’m just excited by the fact that I actually have a candidate that I like and will support. In years past I ended up debating on which candidate was the greater evil and actually ended up not voting for one person, but against the other.

If all debates were like this, I might watch... muted.

Want to get more people interested in politics. How about hiring a bunch of girls to sing for your debate. Such as this clip of an Obama Vs Giuliani Debate… with dancers!

Taxes and wages increased yesterday.

I am a wee bit perturbed today. The City of Rockford’s one percent higher sales tax started yesterday. That means my boycott of the City of Rockford’s businesses started. But to add insult to injury, so did the State of Illinois increase in minimum wage from $6.50 and hour to $7.50 an hour. Of course all of those that were making minimum wage are rejoicing. Those that advocated the increase state there is going to be little to no impact on the cost of living in the state.

Yea, I’m sure they are right. I’m sure all those employers are going to give up that extra money out of their profits. Why wouldn’t they carry the burden of the loss instead of passing it on to the consumer? I mean the price on everything in this area is shooting up. Hell, it’s getting to the point that it’s cheaper for me to buy gas then milk! So I’m sure these companies and business owners are just going to pony up and say, “You know what, we are making too much profit as it is. Let’s not change anything.” Then again, maybe they won’t.

Maybe they’ll realize that now that the minimum wage has been increased, they are going to have to make up for that difference. Maybe they’ll cut back on hours, maybe they’ll cut back on benefits (like healthcare), or maybe they will turn that increased cost around to the consumer by adding to the price of their products and services? And hell, why not? If they just increased the cost of their products by 15% it won’t have that big of an effect? I mean think about it. All of these people are running around with more money in their pockets. They can afford and extra 15%, right? I mean if the employers can afford to give up an extra 15%, why can’t the consumer?

But what about those that make more then minimum wage? Does anyone think the employers are going to give everyone an extra $1.00 an hour to their wages? There may be some, but if they do I’d be more surprised than expecting it. I know my employer isn’t going to increase my wages any. So I guess that puts me just a little bit closer to the poverty level. Essentially the government just took a dollar an hour away from me. Well, okay maybe not… but that’s how it feels.

The kicker to this whole thing is that part of the law that increased our minimum wage, will also increase the minimum wage every year on July 1 by 25 cents through 2010. Increased taxes, increased gas prices, increased corn prices, increased cost of living and increased government control.

I really wish these fiscally irresponsible types would stop asking me to pay for their incompetence.

Both suck.

I heard an interesting argument on the radio the other day and I had been mulling it over ever since. They were discussing which presidency was better Clinton or Bush. Of course this turned into a very heated debate. Since this was on talk radio, in general both sides argued their points honorably and fairly. Yes, there were some that did some name calling and made absurd statements. Ie “God will strike Clinton down” or “Bush is a racist”. I almost called in after one caller made some comments that were utterly stupid.

Since then, I’ve been thinking long and hard about the last 15 years. Which was the better president? After much contemplation I’ve decided that they both pretty much are incompetent, self-absurd, egotistical politicians. That’s right; I’m just going to admit that I don’t like either one. Bush was the lesser of two evils in the last presidential campaign, and even the third party candidates didn’t look good. Clinton as far as I’m concerned did nothing to help strengthen America, only helped to weaken it. Bush’s big folly is the War in Iraq. The whole thing was mismanaged and run as a media campaign. You can’t win a war with a muzzled military, and that is what we have.

America is on the brink of disaster, and we are to blame. Be it The House, The Senate or The Presidency, Politicians are slowly dragging us down. Both Republican and Democrat are eroding away at America. It is a time of mediocre politicians, and an American public’s apathy to accept them. Instead of demanding or putting up stronger candidates, we as the public keep choosing to accept which Politically Correct party line puppets that are put in front of us. Everyone is brainwashed into thinking Democrat and Republican are the only way to vote. But that is an issue for another time.

Senate Bill 1007 passes.

I received a call from my friend Matt tonight that Senate Bill 1007 (SB1007) passed the Illinois Senate today. Unfortunately I can not find anything online the corroborates this, but if it just happened today, tomorrow may be the earliest the various websites are updated. For those of you that don’t know what SB1007 is, basically bans all magazines holding more than ten rounds.

Provides that beginning 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, it is unlawful for any person within this State to knowingly manufacture, deliver, sell, purchase, or possess or cause to be manufactured, delivered sold, purchased, or possessed a large capacity ammunition feeding device. Provides that these provisions do not apply to a person who possessed a prohibited weapon, device, or attachment before the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides that on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, such person may transfer such device only to an heir, an individual residing in another state maintaining that device in another state, or a dealer licensed as a federal firearms dealer. Specifies penalties for violations. Provides exemptions. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable. Effective immediately.

Emphasis Mine

Folks that little highlighted phrase pretty much sums up the bill. However, notice they have the word deliver in there. That means that if a visitor from out of state comes to Illinois with a large capacity magazine, say as the standard magazine for some Ruger 9MM handguns they own. They are at a range with some friends and loan them some mags to be used in their own Ruger 9mm. They technically are in violation of the law. Yes, I know it’s a stretch, but that is how it’s worded.

Right now if you live in Illinois our only hope is that the house votes this bill down. I urge, no let me take that back, I beg you to contact your State Representative, which can be found here if you don't know who it is, and tell them to oppose the passing of this bill. If you think it won’t pass, remember it’s already two thirds of the way there. We all know the Governor will sign this law. Lets stop it in its tracks now.

My major problem with this is that it’s a gateway bill. A gateway to the more oppressive Senate Bill 16 (SB0016) that pretty much bans all “assault weapons” and their definition of assault weapon is pretty loose, including most semi-automatic weapons. That’s just opening the way to banning all firearms.

Since we are on the subject of Assault Weapons, I found this very informative video clip that truly explains the difference between an assault weapon and a semi-auto and how they are easily confused together.

Fong the Illegals.

It is at the point that I’m wondering when I’m going to snap. Let me just say that when I first heard about this immigration proposal I was driving home from work. It angered me so much that I almost ran over a small car with a Viva Mexico and Estados Unidos De America Mexico sticker on it. Some deity has a sick joke with that timing; either that or the fates are testing my anger management.

When I got home I wanted to run right in here and write a twenty-page rant on the entire situation. The only problem is that every other word would have been an expletive and probably incoherent due to anger babble. So I went out back took a hatchet to a pole I’m working for my new tent, smoked some chicken, and put 5,000 rounds through Boopie’s Air Soft M-16 into a target box. Well, what’s left of the target box. After that and eating dinner I’ve calmed down enough to sum up my frustration into this:

These are our political leaders. These are the people we put into office. These are the ones that feel that the best way to deal with the problem is basically to throw out our laws and tell those that broke them that, “It’s okay, we love you” er I guess that should be, “Está bien, nosotros amor usted.” These people honestly do NOT care about America, it’s security or it’s citizens. They just want to create a new base of voters to help keep them in office. To give them even more power. They view us as their vassals, their serfs, their subjects to serve and provide for them. This little agreement has made them happy as a sailor at a hooker convention. It gives them what they want. Something for both sides to help keep them in their positions.

I am not anti-immigration. Actually I’m pro-immigration. Pro LEGAL immigration that is. Yes, the laws that one must jump through to be a legal citizen needs to be revisited because they are almost unrealistically difficult. However, that does not mean someone can just choose to ignore that law to get what they want. Think about it, I want to have concealed carry in Illinois. That does not mean since the laws don’t give me that ability, and getting them changed is a long tedious process I should just start packing my .45. Because if I did, and I got caught I’d have to pay the penalty, fines and jail time. Now with this proposal those in this country will get off with a $5,000.00 fine. BAH! Yes, that is going to be a chunk of money, but after that they are citizens. Does anyone else look at this as kind of a bribe? I mean think about it. If they come forward and pay $5,000.00 to the government you get to be a citizen.

Then again, will this make any difference? It is not like the illegals care about or respect our laws now. What makes them think they will in the future? I highly doubt this will do anything except motivate them to go back to what ever country they came from to get more of their friends and family.

I just wonder how much longer the American citizenship is going to put up with this before they start voting these clowns out of office.

Foid Cards for Everyone!

Folks, I’m tellin’ ya gun laws just don’t work. Lets look at Illinois if you will. We have this fancy registration system. You have to have a license to own a gun; it’s called a Firearm Owners Identification card (FOID). But what good is it, if they state doesn’t monitor it or issues them to anyone that applies and pays their fee. Like say a 10-month-old child? That’s right, the state of Illinois issued a FOID card to a ten-month-old child.

"Anyone who wants to own a firearm or purchase a firearm needs a FOID card," Ludwig told FOX News. "I applied for one of these for my son. Now ironically he can’t buy a gun until he’s 18 years old, but if he wants to own one -- which he does thanks to Grandpa -- he needs one of these cards anyhow."

How stupid is that? Lets face it, the state just wants to make money by having us pay ever 5 years to own a firearm. They don't really care who gets the card.

Pike County Rocks!

Holy crap, there may still be hope for Illinois! It seems that Pike County in Illinois adopted a resolution last month to oppose ANY legislation that infringes on the right to keep and bear arms. It seems that the citizens of the county were afraid that all of the anti-gun legislation that is being pushed through Springfield is going to not only jeopardize their Constitutional rights, but also hurt their tourism industry. Pike county is famous for it’s hunting. I know a lot of people that have traveled there to go Deer Hunting. The citizens and county board feel that the State’s attempt to ban firearms would end that hunting tradition.

On April 24, 2007 in a 7-2 vote they adopted a resolution that read:

” Now, Therefore, It Be And Is Hereby Resolved, that the people of Pike County, Illinois, do oppose the enactment of any legislation that would infringe upon the Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms, and deem such laws to be Unconstitutional and beyond lawful Legislative Authority.”

IE if the State does pass such laws, they aren’t going to enforce them. I’m sure they will run into problems with the State Police and government over this, if anything comes to head. Until then I hope that other counties and citizens take this example and run with it. Remember Illinois, we are NOT Chicago. What Mayor Daley and Governor Blagojevich want is to control the entire state. They want to make us all like Chicago. You know, big city, big crime, crooked politics and infringed rights. It’s time to take back our state and tell them in a loud and strong voice, WE ARE NOT CHICAGO!

"What we are trying to do here is protect rights we already have," board member Robert Kenady said. And

"We have to stand up," said board member Mark Mountain, who proposed the resolution. "We have to voice our opinion. As an individual, it doesn't mean much. As a county, it means more. As three or four counties, it means a lot."

Nothing I could write would put it better then those two quotes. I applaud you Pike County, I applaud you and your citizens for symbolically firing the first shot in what I hope is a revolution to keep our rights. Yes, I know this is mostly symbolic, but it’s a good start. If only it wasn't so far down state, I'd move there.

Next I won't be allowed to drink a beer.

We have yet another example of how the Illinois Government is trying to control its citizens. Yesterday the Illinois House passed a statewide smoking ban. Folks, this is just another freedom taken away from us by the government.

First let me preface this by saying I don’t smoke… anymore. I quit on November 18th cold turkey and I haven’t looked back. Yes I still have the urge to light one up, especially when I’ve been drinking. But I just ignore it, and it goes away. So this ban really doesn’t have that big of an effect on me… or does it?

When I did smoke, and some businesses around here voluntarily went smokeless, I was upset. I liked those establishments, however I wasn’t going to go to a bar or restaurant that I couldn’t smoke in. Thus I stopped frequenting those establishments for other businesses that would allow me to smoke while I had a pint or two. (Okay twelve, whom am I kidding) Now I may have quit, but I have many of friends that do smoke. When we go out, they like to light up while we sit at the bar.

We can’t smoke in the bars here? Well Wisconsin is only 30 minutes north of here, oh and they have a lower sales tax rate… LETS GO THERE! So no, it’s not going to have an affect on my smoking habits, just where I am going to go drinking on the weekends when I hang out with my friends that do. Trust me, smokers are a resilient group. My company banned smoking on the grounds last November. Even on the coldest days of the winter our employees that didn’t want to quit smoking could be seen standing out in the street braving the wind and the cold just to light up. Do you really think by banning smoking is going to stop them?

Now someone will tell me that they aren’t doing this to stop people from smoking, just protect non-smokers from second hand smoke. I say bullshite. First off, you are protecting no one. Anybody that claims that they don’t know smoking is bad for them has either had a full lobotomy or is just plain dealing with a single digit IQ. Ever since I can remember they government and every medical professional I know has been harping on the fact that smoking is bad for you. Now, I know the arguments for whether or not second hand smoke is bad for you. Folks, I’ll be honest I don’t know which side to believe. Mainly because I have spent absolutely NO time looking into it or doing any of my own research. I just don’t care, but for the sake of this argument I will acquiesce that it is harmful.

So if it’s harmful, and people are aware that it is harmful, why do they just not avoid it? There are plenty of bars, restaurants and pubs that the OWNERS chose to be smoke free. Why not just go there? If you go to an establishment that you know allows smoking, then you are choosing to expose yourself to it. If you can’t control your own actions, then maybe you should not leave your house with out proper supervision. If you take your kids to one of these places, it’s your own damned fault for doing so. But NOOOOoooo, instead these whiney self-centered jerks went off and got the government to inconvenience everyone else just so THEY could go to places they wanted.

Personally, I think the whole smoking issue should be up the individual that smokes and the establishment owner. If a person wants to smoke, that is there right. If a proprietor wants to allow smoking at their place of business, that should be their decision. The government needs to keep to running the country and not our lives. They need to look after the war, the illegal immigrants and enforcing the laws that exist.

It’s time to start voting these jokers out of office.

Boycott Rockford Illinois

The citizens of Rockford have voted in the 1 percent sales tax increase. That gives the City of Rockford the second highest property AND sales tax in the state of Illinois. That means I am going to boycott Rockford.

Now before I get the normal comment about growing up and to quit pitching a fit, let me explain. Yes, this makes more sense then the bond issues we issued to fix the roads. I was always against the bonds because it was like using a credit card to pay for the roads. There was a lot of interest and we ended up paying a lot more to have work done than it should have. Not that I believe that all that money actually went to the roads, but that’s a topic for another time. But I honestly believe that if the Rockford government better managed its money instead of wasting it on various projects, the roads could get fixed with out the sales tax.

This tax increase is just the cherry on top of the “How to get more money from the public” sundae. If we look at the new taxes that the State wants (Sales, Income and Gross Receipts), any increase the Federal Government may want to pass, inflation, the overall cost of living increases and increased property value, we have to wonder if the government wants us to just turn over one paycheck a month to them. Part of the misinformation used to pass this bond was that it was going to lower property taxes. When in all actuality it is only going to cause them not to increase as much. Just in increased property value based on the assessment this year, our property taxes are going to increase. The average reduction due to this bond value is something like $14.00. Also remember we just sold bonds to renovate the Metrocentre and buy a hockey team.

Many will, and have said to me that the overall cost is not going to be that much. They would be right, if I spent $50,000.00 a year on items other then groceries, medication and titled property (The only things this tax does NOT apply to, it does apply to services) I’d only pay $500.00 more this year. For actual figures on the average family in Rockford in 2001 see this comparison. That is not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things. But on the other hand, that is a hell of a lot more then the $14.00 savings we are getting from our property tax. This brings my next favorite comment, “You’re being foolish by driving the extra distance to buy products outside of the city. You’re spending more money in gas.” Well yes and no. I travel outside the city limits daily, so I’m not really going out of my way. But even if I did have to, it’s not that I’m trying to save money by doing this. It’s a protest, out of principle. I am tired of the government taking my money just so they can mismanage it. Just so they can spend it on frivolous items like a river walk and waste it on Mayoral spending.

Let me put it in a way that we should all be able to understand. You own a home. You want to get new furniture, a new TV, some new carpet and a better dishwasher this year. All of a sudden your car dies and you need to come up with an additional $2,000.00 to get it fixed. Now you’ve budgeted and have the money for the furniture, TV, carpet and dishwasher with out putting a hardship on your finances. What do you do? You have a couple of choices. You either forgo getting one or a couple of the other items you budgeted for, don’t get the car repaired at this time, try to get a loan or pay with a credit card. Well as we all know the later two are going to cause you to earn interest. So you are going to end up paying more for the items then they are worth. The best way to get your car fixed is to not get one or more of the items you had budgeted. What you wouldn’t do is go to your employer and demand a salary increase to cover your expenses. If you did, your employer is more then likely going to laugh at you. Trust me on this, I tried it out just to see what happened and my manager just kind of laughed and said no. Even after I explained how urgent it was.

Well that’s kind of like the government. They overspent, they didn’t budget accordingly and now they are turning to their employer, the people, and asking for a raise. Yet we gave it to them. We didn’t demand they do better with the money they have, we just threw more money at them. Partially because they threatened not to fix the roads if we didn’t approve this tax.

The worst part is the wording of this referendum. They toted it was for the roads, but the actual wording is;

“Shall the City of Rockford, Illinois impose a sales tax, for expenditure on public infrastructure, of 1% of gross receipts on person engaged in the business of selling or transferring personal property other than food, medicine and titled property, at retail or incidental to the sale of service, until December 21, 2012.”

Expenditure on public infrastructure? If they are only going to use it to fix the roads, why not say that? Public infrastructure is a pretty broad term that can include many different things from transportation to just about anything that could be viewed as helping the public. Try searching for it, seriously. Since I don’t have any trust for our city government to begin with, I can see them siphoning money out of this to all their little pet projects that helps the public… like a new hockey team. Okay, I’m stretching it a little there.

So there it is, I’m done with Rockford. I live here, but I’m going to do everything in my power to not purchase anything with in the city limits once it goes into effect. That includes going to local eating and drinking establishments. And I would encourage anyone that wants to send a message to the government to do the same. Let them know we’re tired of them taking our money. We’d rather choose how to spend our money then to give it over to them. Visitors to our city, I would recommend trying to avoid any establishments in the city limits of Rockford after July 1st. Bring anything you need with you and if you are spending the night or eating here, travel to Cherry Valley, Loves Park or Machesney Park. You may end up saving yourself a little money.

Illinois Tax Unfairness.

Citizens of Illinois this message is for you. Our esteemed(?) Governor Rod “Blago” Blagojevich has proposed a Gross Receipts Tax, that he likes to refer to as a “fair tax” Sadly enough his idea of a fair tax appears to be anything but fair. Not only is this the largest state tax increase of this decade, it seems to be aimed at driving business out of the state.

This tax is aimed at any company that grosses more then 1 million dollars a year. That’s gross people, not net. That means that if a business sells large ticket items, like say cars, this could easily drive them out of business. Think about it, if a car dealer sells one car a week at just over $19,231.00, they would gross a million dollars in a year. However, if you take out how much it costs to run the business: buy inventory, pay staff, equipment, supplies, etc… they didn’t actually make a million dollars. In some cases they may just be making a profit of about $100,000.00 a year… but they pay taxes on ten times that amount.

After talking with some local small business owners, they state that in their books they gross a million dollars. However, their businesses are barely staying afloat due to the expenses. One of these businesses is a Jewelry store; insurance is expensive. All of these owners are saying the same thing, if this tax goes through it’s going to drive them out of business. Or there is the other option, moving out of the state.

Which is what some big businesses more then likely will do. Why stay in Illinois if you can cut your costs of operation by moving to another state? Here in Rockford we are only 30 minutes from the Wisconsin state line. What’s keeping businesses from just moving over the boarder? Hell, Beloit could get a much-needed boost to its economy and growth.

Many elected officials have publicly opposed this plan.

” Governor Blagojevich has pitched his Gross Receipts Tax as a tax fairness plan but there is nothing fair about this plan," said Syverson. "Consumers will pay the ultimate price - either through higher prices or future taxes because this tax ran all the businesses and revenues out of Illinois.”

This was from an e-mail newsletter the senator’s office sent out. He even has a link to an online e-Petition regarding this issue. If you would like to voice your opposition to this tax, and live in Illinois, please go add your name to this petition.

Illinois wants the Illegals.

It took me 15 tries just to start the next sentence I’m so angry. The Illinois House has approved a bill that will give driving “Certificates” to Illegal immigrants. Seriously, they did, in a 60-56 vote.

”The state would offer driving “certificates” to people who lack the valid Social Security number needed to obtain a regular license. The certificates would allow them to drive and buy auto insurance, but couldn’t be used as identification”

Seriously folks, it’s bad enough that my governor wants to jack up my taxes and drive businesses out of the state so he can bring in a health plan that will cover ANYONE who is in the state. Now the house wants to give a valid driving “certificate” to any Tom, Dick and Juan that wants one? Sure there are some requirements to get one:

”To get the certificates, people would have to provide a photo ID, such as a passport from their native country, and submit fingerprints. They also would have to prove they’ve obtained insurance within a month or the certificate would be canceled.”

I don’t know if the illegals bring a passport or not with them, but I’m willing to bet they are going to start. About the only upside to this that I can see is that if they apply for one, at least now we might be able to track them and finally deport their illegal arses if our government ever decides to rectify their rectal-cranial inversion. On the downside we’re just caving in more and more to the illegal culture.

On my way home they where discussing this on the radio, and much to Ktreva’s shame and embarrassment I actually called in on it. Some of the supporters are toeing the line that the Illegals are driving anyway and tend to flee the scene of accidents because they don’t have a valid license or insurance. They are saying that with this at least if a citizen is hit by an illegal the citizen’s vehicle and medical bills will be paid. I’m saying that if we deported the illegals, they wouldn’t be driving on our roads anyway. And it’s not going to cause more lines at the already overcrowded Department of Motor Vehicles.

On the radio and in the above linked article there is talk about a similar program created by Tennessee in 2004 that failed in less then two years because people were coming from other states to get a certificate through fraud. Mix our licensing issue AND the fact we want to give free* healthcare to anyone in the state, citizen or not, I can see our illegal population skyrocketing.

At least there is still hope. Maybe the state Senate will vote this down. I guess I know what I’m going to be talking to Senator Dave Syverson about in a couple of weeks.

*By free I mean being paid for in the exuberant taxes that are going to have to be paid by legal citizens of the state.

Watch for flying mud.

I heard about this video clip on the radio yesterday morning on the way to work. Then again today on a different show they mentioned it, I hadn’t seen any of the blogs I normally read post this. I’m not saying they didn’t, I may have just missed it.

I guess the mudslinging and image bashing start early this election season. What really gets my goat, besides the fact that Obama is from Illinois, is that Obama didn’t feel he had the merits to go toe-to-toe with Hillary. They had to result to crap like this already. Sure some of you might think that mudslinging and this type of crap doesn’t have any insight into the candidate that is opposing the “victim”. I disagree.

When I see crap like this, it just tells me that Obama’s people feel that Hillary is better for the job, so they need to make her look worse in the publics eye. That way Obama will look better. And that folks is just me simplifying it down to basics, it’s really not that plain. If Obama really were the better candidate, he would be able to sell himself on his platforms, accomplishments and accolades alone. He wouldn’t need his campaign people or supporters starting a smear campaign. Since there is nothing that actually links this commercial to Obama's campaign staff, I can't give him too much crap. But we can tell it was done by someone that supports him over Hillary.

Don’t get me wrong; I know a lot of candidates do this. That doesn’t make it right. I don’t care if they are liberal, conservative or independent. It just tells me that the candidates that are being put forth are lacking in character. Those types of candidates are not the ones I want in office.

Fortunately in the Democratic primaries I don’t have to worry too much about who I’m going to vote for, I don’t get to. I’m not a registered Democrat; then again I’m not a registered Republican either. I just love my independence.

Second Ammendment wins.

Damn, I can’t believe I missed this:

Court Overturns DC Handgun Ban

A U.S. appeals court on Friday struck down a 30-year-old Washington, D.C., law that bans handguns in homes, a precedent-setting ruling that dealt a setback to a city with one of America's highest crime rates.

By a 2-1 vote, the appeals court broadly interpreted an individual's constitutional right under the Second Amendment to bear arms, and concluded the law violated those rights.

Hey, maybe things are starting to swing our way! Go over and read the rest if you are interested in how the courts may be positioning on similar bans. I wonder how this will affect Chicago?

Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day 2007

What a whirlwind two days. My friend J-man and I went to Springfield for the Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day (IGOLD). It didn’t go quite as planned, but I still feel that something was accomplished, and I honestly feel like I did something good. I would like to thank the Illinois State Rifle Association for sponsoring the event, I think they did a fabulous job and what problems there were really could not be laid at their feet.

To be honest there where only a couple of real problems in my handbook. Since I drove down to Springfield, and didn’t take one of the buses, I had to find a place to park. Apparently there is a severe shortage of public parking places in Springfield. I drove around for 30 minutes trying to find anything. Most of the metered spots were only for 30 minutes to 2 hours and when I did find a 5-hour spot the damn meter was broken. I ended up parking in an abandoned lot with a bunch of other vehicles. Technically I think I was parked illegally, but I didn’t get a ticket so I don’t care.

When we arrived at the Howlett building, there was a line waiting to get in. No problem, most government buildings have strict security. A gentleman in a suit, whom unfortunately I missed his name, came out and advised that the reason for the hold up was that the room was packed. They had a much larger then expected crowd turn out. I believe he said it was almost three times as many people then they anticipated. Which was cool, it’s good to see that there are enough citizens that are concerned with this issue. I didn’t mind waiting, as I felt this was a good cause and I was glad so many people showed up.

When we finally got into the auditorium for our session, I was a little disappointed. First the PA system in the building worked horribly. All it seemed to do was take the words the speaker was making them into a slightly louder garbled mess. Since I already have some hearing problems, I missed about 75% of what was said. J-man said he missed over half. We were given a packet of information and some directions on what they wanted us to do (Which we couldn’t hear). Both J-man and myself were hoping that in this session there were going to be people talking about and explaining in more detail the various laws they want us to oppose or support. I’ve read their material, but both of us really wanted a more in-depth explanation behind these bills. I think the ISRA missed out on an opportunity to educate here.

The Howlett building, the Capitol and the Stratton building (Where a lot of the representative’s offices and meeting rooms are) are all connected by tunnels. They told us that we want to use the tunnels so we don’t have the hassle of having to go through metal detectors and security check points each time. That sounded great… at first. The problem was that with as many people that showed up, plus the normal staff, other visitors and what ever other people where there, it was hot and stuffy. To make matters worse, it was unseasonable warm, a nice 75 degrees and I overheard one of the staff members saying that there was a problem with the ventilation system, and it wasn’t working. That made it at least 95 degrees in that building. Everyone was sweating like a dog. Towards the end of the day we ran into another friend of mine Giles and a friend of his. We all decided to go to the same committee to let our presence be known. Giles and his friends are smokers, so they wanted to walk outside to the Stratton building instead of taking the tunnels. At first I was just going to meet them there, because I didn’t want to deal with security. I’m glad I changed my mind. It was so much cooler and nicer outside. It was a much-needed break from the stagnant heat.

I never was able to see my Representative or Senator, they where in committee meetings the whole time, or avoiding the crowd. We did leaving calling cards as to why we were there. When we showed up to most of the committee meetings, they where packed with people, most of the time it was standing room only. Everywhere you turned in any building you would see someone wearing an IGOLD button or shirt showing his or her support for the Second Amendment. There was no mistaking the presence of the pro-firearm lobbyists on Wednesday.

Now we just wait and see if we had the impact we were hoping for.