My blog entries have been missing lately because of health concerns I've had to deal with.  I intend to return to posting my blogs regularly.

And as part of patriotic effort to be 'green', I'm going to recycle by heavily editing and updating one of my blogs from two years ago.  Amazingly, the gist of the blog is still quite current.

I'm always amazed at the number of people who respond to the Conservative columns and articles on various web sites.  Indeed, I'm amazed at the passion, vitriol, misinformation, lack of logic,  mis-interpretation of events, and  the ability to create something from nothing.  I speak, of course, of our 'friends' the Liberals.

Tell me please, were they all born like that?  Or was their Liberalism a taught or conscious effort?  I can't understand such continual manipulation of reality coming from a serious person.  So, I must conclude that a genetic flaw or a special kind of insanity must be required to be a Liberal.

I was once read an opinion by Dinesh D'Souza about Liberal myths and radical Islam, and it was followed by over a hundred comments of varying quality, mostly the poorly written Liberal kind.  Perhaps Liberals should be forced to take literacy and intelligence tests before being given keyboards?

What I've learned over the years is that the radical Islamic Arabs don't need any particular reason to hate. Their lives are devoted to misinterpretation, misinformation, hate, murder, racism, mysogyny and the expected 70 virgins each in Heaven after they've killed themselves [I know.  The last two concepts don't really mesh.]  They're taught those things from toddlerhood.  I can't say they're killing an inordinate number of westerners in Iraq with their suicide bombing---some yes, but not as many as the main-stream media would have us believe.  Actually, they're killing mostly fellow Islamic Arabs.  And thankfully, such bombings are in decline.

Tell me now, do the above mentioned activities rate high on the list of anyone's understanding of right and wrong or God?  And for you you pavlovian Liberal reactors, would you like to spend a month living in Bagdad interacting with the populace?

For a moment, let's assume there are 70 virgins in Heaven for each suicide bomber [Though, I'm not sure how many virgin hunks are reserved for the female bombers.]  And it's uncertain where these virgins would come from---but let's skip that problem for this discussion.  If they're [the virgins] in Heaven to glorify God as passed souls are, why would they be interested in some sleazeball, maniacal suicide bombers of men, women, and children?  And won't these bombers be missing a few vital body parts as well?  Bombs do distribute "debris", don't they?  Since they don't believe in our Western concept of the soul, just what part of them is going to be in the hereafter or hereunder?  Is Isis or her handmaidens going to be around to put these suicide bombers back together again?  Why would the goddess want to do it anyway?  Didn't she have enough trouble with her brother Osiris?  [Humpty Dumpty call your office.]

On the other hand, what makes anyone think that such bombers will gain Heaven in the first place?  Is that the kind of Heaven the average Islamic ArabS think exists?  That doesn't seem quite right.  Heaven is Heaven.  Heaven is a reward for good in its many manifestations.  Murderers need not apply.

But one has to wonder as well, why do the so-called peaceful Islamic Arabs permit this pernicious radicalism to continue?  How can we believe that Islam is a religion and not a cult?  How can we believe that Islam has peace in it's message?  It's up to the average adherents of Islam to start showing some common sense, toleration, and a real message of peace.  They need to start actively opposing the radicals.

This farce of a peaceful religion---has been apparent for centuries.

In 1786, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were sent to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They inquired "concerning the ground[s] of the pretensions [of Tripoli] to make war upon nations who had done them no injury." The ambassador replied:

"It was written in their Koran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every muslim who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise. He said, also, that the man who was the first to board a vessel had one slave over and above his share, and that when they sprang to the deck of an enemy's ship, every sailor held a dagger in each hand and a third in his mouth; which usually struck such terror into the foe that they cried out for quarter at once." 

Another thing I wonder about is the philosophical and scientific thought of the Middle East.  Recently, our President spouted the non-existent contributions to our society by the Muslims.  It was laughable, and proves again this Country is being 'led' by a group of amateurs.  Several thousand years ago, some of the Arabic doctors, thinkers and tinkerers were the best in the world.  What happened?  Oh, wait a minute?  The Arabs didn't invade the area until the 7th century.  I forgot.  Anyway, anything modern in the Arab world seems to originate in the West.  Tell me now.  Take away the so-called 'Koran scholars' and what's left?  Where are the Arab thinkers?  Scientists?  Where are the Arab scientific institutes?  The Arab airplane factories?  The Arab think-tanks? International Arab auditing firms?  The sanctioned Arab Women Rights groups? The large scale Arab Food production?  Anyone taste the new Jordanian Cornflakes lately?  

I've got nothing against average Arabs mind you [I like the people, their food, and much of their culture], but their radical brethren have done them a great disservice with their criminal activities, as has their adherence to a violent 'religion.'  As Will Rogers used to say, "I only know what I read in the papers."  And I don't see anything that impresses me about the Middle East lately, even with the Liberal bias in most main-stream media news items.  Besides, you don't have to be among the radical Arabs to be maniacal.  The Iranians aren't Arabs.  In reality, they're Persians---from the name of the country before Iran.  I like the old labeling better.  Yet, they're all Muslims with the associative violent and sexist agendas.  And I wouldn't be holding a beer and hot dog picnic in Iran anytime soon, despite recent reformist uprisings.

Our interest in the Middle East is essentially based on the need for oil.  There's no secret about it.  Our national interests depend on oil.  Our military needs oil.  Our industry depends on oil.  Our farms, homes, and consumer product industries depend on oil.  Gasoline; plastics; chemicals; foods; clothing; paints; inks; aeronautical fuel; pesticides; handheld blackberries; computers; telephones; buildings; swimming pools---Can the Liberals shun all these and other related products?  If they did, we wouldn't have to worry about them. They'd probably lack even the essentials of civilization.  [Though they could still have toilet paper, as long as it's all handmade from dead leaves, and they only use a few sheets at a time.]  The same with all the other Liberals and closet communists around the world.  [Don't worry Ted; scotch isn't made with oil; they use peat for the smoke.]

Alternatives to oil used for energy?  Well, we can't produce more nuclear power because the Liberals keep fighting plant construction.  We can't build more dams for hydroelectric power because the Liberals don't like them either.  And don't put up any windmills near a Liberal's home, they'll spoil the view.  Though a few windmills near Al Gore's home might be a good idea.  Imagine being able to put all that hot air to good use.

Pundits now say that oil is headed for $250 a barrel.  Imagine that?  And still the Liberals call for more windmills, solar power panels, fewer nuclear power plants, and most dastardly, less exploration and use of our own oil and coal resources.  It seems they want the US to fail.

If no oil was to be found in the Middle East, the rest of the world would probably leave the area alone so the radicals could play King of the sand dune and kill one other---as long as they kept it local, no one would be concerned.  But they probably wouldn't.  Exportation of terror seems to be an inborn trait and would probably continue no matter what the circumstances.  [Let's see, 70 virgins times a million or so suicide bombers is about 70 million virgins just for the radical Islamic Arabs themselves.  That's a lot of chastity!]

But, stability in the Middle East is now essential for everyone, and allowing the radical and semi-radical Islamic Arabs to kill each other won't do anyone any good, especially those on the short end of the stick.  So are we there trying to knock some sense into a subjugated people, or to allow them to gain their own freedom and rule with some chance of peace and tranquility for a change?  Haven't we deposed a maniacal leader who has used WMD in the past [against his own citizens?]  Haven't we killed a pile of terrorists who would otherwise be killing people in the US and other countries---even more than they do now?

Is everything going to turn to crapola if we leave too soon?  You bet it is.  $10 gasoline would be the least of our worries.  The Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe would feel the effects of unbridled Islamic terror, and they would have no rights left to ask the US for help as they have so often in the past.  And now our President wants to close Gitmo and foist the dangerous radicals back on the American people with all the rights we thought we had, but which are slowly eroding under the Obama administration.  Along with his apologizing for everything else American, I'm surprised President Obama hasn't apologized for 9/11.

Well King Kong is dead, and the lemurs aren't big enough.  Now, as a parting thought, why don't we move the Liberals to the Middle East where they can have love-ins with the resident maniacs and sleazeballs.  To paraphrase Neville Chamberlain: "We could have peace in our time."

I heard these commercials recently.  Yeah, I did!  They're all over the airwaves.

1.  The lawyers [commercial running every ten minutes, 24 hours a day.]

Have you suffered financially or physically from the new administration's quest to throw money at, buy into, and socialize everything in sight?  Are you suffering from the constant attacks on traditional religion and free speech, the increasingly accepted aberrant behavior, the loss of Constitutional protections and the higher cost of living?  It's easy to suffer since the threats are so pervasive.  If so, call 1-800-555-0000 and speak with one of our 32,642 attorneys manning the phones 25/8.  You've been hurt, and you deserve satisfaction with a high monetary settlement so you can pay the excessive new taxes due now or in the near future, and help your grandchildren pay off the fast increasing national debt.* As an ad says, 'Nobody intimidates our clients.  Nobody.'**

*Our 45% of the settlements received fund our payroll of $249,999 per attorney.
** except us

2.  The coin [commercial running every three minutes, 24 hours a day.]

Now available!  A 24-carat gold* quarter-sized coin of the new Presidential administration.  Deeply etched on the front side is the image of the President bowing deeply to an Arab prince because the prince is only one foot tall.  Surrounding the scene are the letters spelling 'United Socialized States of America', and in large letters the positive accomplishments of the Obama administration so far or anticipated.

On the reverse are the images of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi [with tiny representations of Hillary Clinton, Jeremiah Wright, and Bill Ayres.]  Words surrounding the images convey the accomplishments of the Democrat Congress in the past five years along with the complete list of positive political and social results from Democrats in the past twenty years, and the qualifications of the President for his office.  No state identification is provided because of the uncertainty as to where the President was born.  The images of Africa and a bald eagle with toupe and lead wing weights are in the center, backing the above noted faces.

Buy your collector's coin or coins at an amazing television direct price of $0!  That's no misprint folks.  The cost is $0$  Just pay shipping and handling of $2,000 per coin--call now folks, 'cause you know we can't do this all day.  There's a limit of 20 coins per caller**, and all profits go directly to the House and Senate Democrat slush fund.  You can't do any better than that!***

* plated over plastic
** per broadcast
*** each coin is imbedded in pure plastic to prevent fingerprints and examination

3.  The Food Ad

Buy now at great prices!  Buy your bread and milk directly from Acme Bread and Milk Conglamerate.  Pay for ten or more years of bread and milk products now for future delivery.  Avoid the 150% taxes of the Obama administration on these items set to take place in three months.  Selection of breads is large, and costs only $8.95 per loaf; milk and cream productions range from $10 per gallon to $6 per pint.  And as a special for our law enforcement families, donuts are on the menu at only $3 each!  Choices will be stored in our airy, wooden warehouses for free for the selected time period!  Payment in advance is required to avoid the new taxes.  Delivery is free except for the new $200 per order delivery tax.  We use only rehabilitated, electric- and peddle-driven Volkswagon Beetles for these deliveries driven by uniformed grade schoolers.  Call now at the number shown on the screen.  We have warehouses across the country, and our corporate offices are in the Grand Caymens.  We aim to please!  We aim to save you $thousands of the new taxes.  Buy now and receive a free collectors coin---as noted in our previous ad---for only $50!

*Sorry, but freshness and purity not guaranteed.

The sad thing about these ads is that they could all be true.  Our future is in the hands of amateurs.  Please God, bring 2010 quickly.

Hi folks.  It's me again.  You know, one from the patriotic and disgusted American populace?  You remember us.  We're the millions of people who disagree with Congress and the President in Washington as they continue to dismantle our Country.  Each day brings us so much closer to collapse, while our PO bows to foreign 'leaders' and gives away the store---including our armament, while sitting idly by while foreign maniacs do their missile tests and continue to defy sanctions.  [Which really don't do any good when you're dealing with maniacal dictators.]  And don't give our PO credit for the rescue of Richard Phillips.  Give it to the officer on site who ordered it.  It was something that he should have been permitted to do immediately.

According to Homeland Security's what's-her-name, pretty much anyone who disagrees with the current dismantling of the Country is a extremist right-wing zealot---and that includes the returning military who are liable to join the radicals.

Sure, she apologized later, but that doesn't make a bit of difference.  The administration said it because it believes it.  The Democrats lie and cheat and fight every election to disqualify the military absentee ballots, and hide their own pre-election ballots for their candidate so they can be found afterwards.  They're the dangerous ones.

This administration has shown itself to be against homeland defense, the defense of liberty, and our sovereignty.  Example after example comes to the fore every day.  I don't need to repeat every item as there are so many: illegal immigration and amnesty; closing of Gitmo and releasing prisoners who will rush to the nearest al-Quaeda cell to start plotting against us; destruction of our national sovereignty; over-the-top spending of our heirs' money; general mismanagement of the Country's assets; you name a right, and Washington is currently working to deny it.

Since PO is such a fan of Abraham Lincoln---who's probably rolling over in his grave---here are a few quotes from our sixteenth President that should be guiding the administration of the forty-fourth president.

    - "You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves."  This should be read and understood by those who handle our welfare systems.

    - "Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties."  These words should be studied by PO and the those in power in Congress.  None of them seem to understand our Constitution and the guarantees of rights---not the bestowing of rights---the guarantees of rights already in the lives of men and women.

    - "We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution."  Our PO and the Democrat power brokers in Congress should read these words daily and try to understand them.  I know the understanding may be above their 'pay grades,' but they need to try.

Oh Oh!  Here comes Thomas Jefferson [President number three] to make his voice heard.

    - "A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government."  I known. I know.  This is quite a mouthful.  But OUR servants in Washington should be understanding the concept and pursuing it in law.  They tax productivity highly, and give the funds away to those who don't want to work or are here illegally [and those who don't want to work].  [Don't complain.  I known there are worthy cases for welfare.  I'm not against them.]  If these Congressional spendthrifts can't understand the concept, they should resign their offices.

    - "Never spend your money before you have earned it." Now this is a concept foreign to politicians in Washington.  There efforts can be called: 'Spend all you can now to install socialism and let your grandchildren and great-grandchildren pay the bills.'

Now, let's consider our first president, George Washington.

    - "If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led like sheep to the slaughter."  Tell this to those loonies who want the mis-named 'Fairness Doctrine' [---designed to quell conservative radio speech.  The liberals can't draw much of an audience, and thus they go off the air with all sorts of excuses.]  The Liberals and Socialists-in-chief are attacking anyone who voices a problem with this out-of-control administration and claiming them to be 'right-wing extremists', and so identifying any dissident voice as 'radical' and 'dangerous.'  Those clowns in Washington are the dangerous ones.

Let us depart with some words of wisdom from Ronald Reagan, our fortieth President.

    - "Protecting the rights of even the least individual among us is basically the only excuse the government has for even existing." And the least 'individuals' of this country are being sacrificed on the altar of socialism.

    - "Man is not free unless government is limited."  That sounds like a quote from one of the founding fathers, and it says it all.

    - "If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." And that's where we're headed.  The constant attacks on Christians and any religion other than Islam is running at ridiculous proportions.

    - "To paraphrase Winston Churchill, I did not take the oath I have just taken with the intention of presiding over the dissolution of the world's strongest economy."  Unfortunately, our current PO took the oath with just that in mind.

Big Brotherism is working hard to destroy us.  And, I'm thoroughly disgusted with these current political activities and fearful for our future---if any.  I can't get around like I used to, but if I could I'd be at every Tea Party I could find.

Back in 1980, Robin Williams starred in the movie 'Popeye,' and I thought it was a terrific and funny effort.  I especially noted the unnamed 'taxman' who walked around taxing everything and everybody.  Sound familiar?  Just for a reference, let's take a look at a small portion of the movie dialogue shortly after Popeye enters Sweet Haven.  The taxman bicycled out on the pier before Popeye could light his pipe.

"The Tax Man: You just docked?
Popeye: I has.
The Tax Man: Ah ha, let's see here, that'll be 25¢ docking tax.
Popeye: What for?
The Tax Man: Where's your sea craft?
Popeye: It ain't no sea craft, it's me dinghy and it's under the wharf.
The Tax Man: Ah ha. ahh-ha. This your goods?
Popeye: They is.
The Tax Man: Yeah. You're new in town right?
Popeye: If you call this a town, yes.
The Tax Man: Well, first of all, there's 17¢ new-in-town tax, and there's 45¢ rowboat-under-the-wharf tax, and one dollar leaving-your-junk-lying-around-the-wharf tax, so all together, you owe the Commodore $1.87.
Popeye: Uh, who's this Commodore?
The Tax Man: Is that the nature of question? There's a nickel question tax."

Does that sound a lot like our federal and state tax departments?             

Well consider these recent tidbits from a mostly Democrat-led Congress and State Legislatures.

Federal tobacco taxes went through the roof April 1, basically from 39 cents a pack to $1.01.  Many states are up to $2 a pack, with New York taxing $2.76 per pack.  A friend of mine now says packs here in Connecticut are up to $7 retail.  A newspaper article from a small town in New York says it's over $8, and I'm told it's $9 in New York City.

The federal tax on cigarette-sized cigars went from 4 cents to the $1.01. increasing the retail price accordingly.         

According to Reuters, "State and local lawmakers are pushing taxes on booze, drugs, strip clubs and just about everything under the sun...New York's resident grinch, Gov. David Paterson, tried suggesting a kind of omnibus fun-busting budget that would have taxed New Yorkers for skiing, golfing, camping, being fat, being skinny, going to the movies, going to plays, wearing clothing, going to strip clubs and having more than six fingers or toes. The governor, who is up for re-election next year, came to his senses about three weeks ago and renounced the budget, perhaps when an adviser noted that political contributions aren't tax-deductible.

"Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty has proposed a slew of new taxes...to meet his city's massive deficit. His first target: budget-busting street lights, which Washingtonians will now fund with an extra $51 monthly tax.

Bloomberg news noted that "President Barack Obama is putting former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker in charge of a tax-code review aimed at closing loopholes, streamlining the law and generating revenue, budget Director Peter Orszag said."

Breitbart reports that "President Barack Obama is defending a budget idea that would reduce the tax deduction that wealthier families can take when they make charitable donations...President Obama's recommended reduction in the tax deduction for charitable giving reflects his fundamental belief that only the government can or should help the poor. He wants to keep the impoverished directly dependent on the government -- and the Democratic Party -- for their daily bread."

Again, Bloomberg reports that "the U.S. Senate rejected a proposal by President Barack Obama to finance an overhaul of the nation’s health-care system by limiting the ability of the well-to-do to take tax deductions for charitable contributions."

It's also been reported that the White House said it would launch a search for new tax revenues, as Congressional leaders moved to scale back proposed spending increases and tax cuts in President Barack Obama's ambitious budget.

Now, all you readers who believed in hope and change can enthusiastically start forking over your money to the Obama-ites.  The above aren't the only cases of new taxes or tax increases. 

It all makes one wonder how long it'll be before the taxes exceed our incomes.  Maybe Sweet Haven with all the comic characters wouldn't be such a bad place after all.

Actually, the 'Big O' nomen was first applied to Oscar Robinson, a former NBA star when 'star' was only used to designate true 'stars', and not every player scoring five points in a basketball game.
***
One of the first things the new President did was to appoint Rahm Emmanuel to chief of staff.  Emmanuel is a harsh partisan, and his appointment as chief of staff had been previously denied by Obama during the campaign.  And of course, we're also supposed to forget his connection with the disgraced Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich---not to mention Presidential friends and confidants Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers.  Naturally, the Obama administration has denied any wrongdoing or connections.

Mark January 20, 2009 as the beginning of the end of America's superpower status.  Not only that, but an ailing economy will be given a dose of poison.  It's past health will determine how much damage can be done.  The Liberals have pulled the wool over the eyes of the electorate majority, and now we're going to see just how much damage the Liberal/Socialists will do to us.
***
Seen in a recent email from my brother:

'PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Due to the recent economic crisis, stock market crash, budget cuts,
rising unemployment, unstable world conditions, outsourcing of
business, the cost of insurance, electricity, petroleum and taxes of
all kinds, we regret to advise you that the Light at the End of the
Tunnel has been turned off until further notice.

We apologize for any inconvenience.'
***
Sad to say, apparently a meteorite landed in Westchester County a few months ago with quite a boom.  The newspaper article was short and to the point, but the comments had a distinctly juvenile flavor.  Virtually all I read were concentrated on the 'Alien vs Earthman' concept.  Earth to the newest generations!!  Is anyone there?
***
'Excuses' is the major new industry in the 21st Century.  True to the Democrat/Liberal way of life, no one is responsible for anything.  It's always the other guy, be he a business owner, rich man or woman, Republican or Conservative, or average white male.  And that's part of the problem plaguing the new years of the 21st Century.  Blame it on Bush.  Blame it on Republicans or Conservatives.  Run and hide from the truth.  Be sure you have an excuse when you're caught.  It was drugs, alcohol or national economic poison pills or the racism---which I see mostly in the black community.  Surely, these Liberal/Socialists were forced on you?  Or did you choose to partake and be sucked into the trap?
***
President Obama says that handing out the AIG bonuses is 'hard to understand.'  I find his comment hard to understand.  During the campaign numerous voices were raised telling all Americans how Obama lacked the experience and executive know-how to run the country.  Being an ego-driven socialist at heart, Obama has added the 'I' to 'run the country' thus creating a phrase 'ruin the country.'

Bonuses are contractual in many companies, and in AIG they're probably going to people who had little or no responsibility for the virtual collapse.  And these are just the people needed to bring the company back to health.  Thus, if Congress is going to tax them 90%, these people might bolt to other companies who actually appreciate their abilities.  Besides, the specific 90% tax is probably unconstitutional.  And it is being put into place to cover the Democrat screw-ups, such as Senator Dodd's amendment 'protecting' the bonuses, and the whole spending spree in general.  If this is a sign of how the 'government ownership' will be plyed, the free market system is in for a beating.

Is it any coincidence that some Europeans are calling for the demise of the dollar as an International currency?  And what is Obama doing while these things are going on?  Bowling, picking NCAA brackets, and appearing on a late night comedy-variety show---surprisingly without teleprompters---thus his spoken gaff?  He's letting his socialist, tax evading appointees to do the dirty work.
***
Actually, the public should be hopping mad.  Not about the AIG bonuses, but against the billions of $$$ of pork in the spending bills.  That's the real waste in the economy. Not only are $$$ being sent for pork projects, money is going to socialist groups like ACORN---though Obama and friends claim to never have known the group.  Obama worked for them, but he doesn't remember it.  Besides, the current spending spree is very ill advised and not going to solve our economic problems---only expand them.

President Obama is not only spending money like a drunken sailor, but he is presiding over the unconstitutional AIG bonus tax; at least $1 trillion in new taxes---notably on the job and economic providers; a huge deficit and public debt because of the poorly structured 'stimulus' bills, and everything else he and his henchmen touch.

It'll be 2010 before we can do anything about this.  And in that election we can at least make our voices heard in Congress.  But right now, if we got rid of Obama, we'd be stuck with the fumbling ninny, Joe Biden.  And after him is screaming mimi Nancy Pelosi, and then the sometimes incoherent socialist Harry Reid---who needs no other introduction.  We have to go down the list until we reach Joe the Plumber before we can appoint a reasonable person.

Good luck my friends, it's going to be a rocky future.

It appears the made-for-tv-sale coin dealers are back again with their half truths and misleading statements.  Case in point is the NCM offer of a 1929 Indian Head Proof for $24.45 delivered.  Though the large print says 'Last $5 Indian ever struck by the U.S. Gov't---that is not what you'd be buying.  '...Non-legal tender proof is a classic collectible...'  Maybe, depending on what you're collecting and how smart a collector you are.  These are certainly not real coins nor even completely gold.  The original $5 Indian coin is 90% pure gold, [100% gold would be unworkably soft] while this 'replica' is only gold plated.

The term 'proof' is also bandied about.  However, much as that would indicate a struck coin proof, this is not the case.  Why?  Because this is not a U S coin!  Furthermore I don't know what the NCM uses for research, but I question the statement that '...With its historic importance, scarce population and unique design, it's no wonder that one of the original 1929 $5 Gold Indians recently sold for $34,100!...'  You can get an uncirculated $5 gold Indian [the real McCoy] from the Home Shopping Network for $710, a more realistic price to quote.

Again, the NCM states that '...There is a strict limit of five Proofs per order. Orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis...'  I found the same 'gold piece' being offered on at least seven other websites for similar prices.  And I don't remember any of them limiting the purchases to five or any other number.  I don't believe the NCM limitation will be followed.  If you have the money, NCM has the product!  No real limitation.  Just for you, we'll make an exception.

According to my calculations with the current retail price of gold leaf, I've considered one-eighth of a gram of gold leaf per coin.  I sent an email to NCM [1/19/09] asking about the gold content, but I haven't heard back yet [3/09/09.]  In any case, the bulk-buying cost of an 1/8th gram of gold leaf [1 sheet] would be about $6.  So, your '1929 Indian Head Proof' from NCM has about $6 in gold.  Although I saw the piece for sale on Ebay for $60 [I also saw numerous inexpensive books selling for $1,000,000 each!  A matter of listing order on the database, I suppose], most resales should be much lower than $24.45.

And you can't accept any claims that the piece is uncirculated, because it's not a coin, and it would never be circulated in the first place. So, as I noted in my last essay on silver pieces, 'buy the ['1929 $5 Indian Head Proof'] if you want, but don't buy it for use or investment.'
***
Aren't you sick and tired---as I am---of these tv ads for lawyers?  It seems they'll pounce on anything to make a buck.  You see, according to the legal profession---like the Liberals---no one is guilty of anything.  To the contrary, someone else is always guilty---even if the practice or product in question has been accepted for many years or decades without the dubious advantage of today's Liberal hindsight.

Take cigarettes for an example.  Even as a school kid in the fifties, I knew their use would lead to cancer or breathing problems.  I didn't need a surgeon general or lawyer to tell me.  Everyone I knew who used cigarettes, knew they were dangerous.  But their pleasure outweighed the danger, so they continued.  And, by the way, I liked Joe Camel and he didn't entice me to buy Camels or any other cigarettes.  And I've never seen any positive proof that children were adversely influenced by smokey Joe.  I like Popeye, but I don't buy his canned spinach.  Nor do I buy Mickey Mouse coloring books.

Now we have court cases awarding millions and billions of dollars to 'aggrieved' parties.  If you smoke, you have no business suing the cigarette manufacturers.  You knew the danger.  Just like we know the danger of driving cars on highways; or hunting; or working in the kitchen; or flying; or entering the military; or riding with a Massachusett's senator on a Saturday night near water.

Life is a continuous flow of danger, and we have to make our ways through it with a minimum of damage to live a long life.

Besides, what the lawyers don't tell you is that they'll take at least a third of your award---if any.  So if you win $50,000, you can say good-bye to $15,000 plus the lawyer's expenses.  If you win $500,000, you can do the math.  And the expenses will suddenly escalate to the lawyer's advantage.  Some lawyers will take 40% as a matter of course, so keep your wallets closed.

We have a litigious society simply because the lawyers want it so.  And their Liberal cohorts in office continue to provide opportunities for the public to sue everyone else for real or perceived injuries.  If you haven't got a case, your lawyer will manufacture one from the flimsiest data he or she can find.  All for your benefit?  Sometimes I wonder.  Meanwhile, resulting prices of our commodities and services will increase to cover the spurious awards---not to mention climbing insurance rates.

Remember, the increasing number of lawyers need more and more litigations to pay their bills and give them lifestyles they think they're entitled to.  So, stay in bed and be sure you don't get bed sores.
***
I keep seeing these tv commercials about feeding the poor children of the World, such as 'CCFund'.  It usually bothers me when I see these sad stories narrated by overweight people.  It seems to me, they should be doing a little sacrificing themselves.  Sally Struthers call your office.
***
UScoinnetwork.com has an announcer for the Obama commemorative coins who sounds exactly like Obama.  That's no coincidence.  It's a clever c'mon to make the coins to have more of a Presidential connection and sound more momentous than they really are.
***
There's a tv advertisement for a to-be-nameless [I don't want the firm suing me!] law firm, you know, one of the millions advertising for mesothelioma cases?  One supposed happy client said it all. "They are more than lawyers, they are human beings."  So, I guess lawyers are level 1 and humans are level 2?

I was in a group recently, and several members were extolling the hope and expectations of the Obama administration.  One was so vehement about her support of Obama, I told her she's either still mesmerized by Obamas speaking or else she just drank the 'Kool-Aid.'  I thought that was a fair comment to a Liberal who thinks as Obama does, what with the tremendous, pork-filled expenditure authorization and the poor picks for the cabinet and so much more.

So, in her Liberal way, she immediately attacked me for making a racist statement.  Racist?  Where?  When? How?  Apparently, my mention of 'Kool-Aid' drinking was racist to her.  I'm not surprised that a Liberal would trot out the race card to avoid talking about something substantive---like where are we going with this $12 trillion dollar debt?  Why do Liberals instinctively throw money at a problem?  There's no substantial economic stimulus in the so-called stimulus bill, on top of the bailout, and now with talks about a second stimulus bill.

Shades of Calumet Farm and the trouble created by Bill Lunday in the 1980s!  A once successful, glorious and profitable stable was transformed by his excess living and poor management to bankruptcy and almost to liquidation.  Is that what we can foresee from the Obama admistration and Democrat Congress?

By the way, the 'Kool-Aid' reference harkens back to the Jonesboro tragedy and later use by newscasters, and commentators in general.  According to Wordspy.com drinking the 'Kool-Aid' is "to become a firm believer in something; to accept an argument or philosophy wholeheartedly or blindly."

That's the usual usage of the term.  It's the one I was using.  And you Liberals out there who continually believe that every word out of a Conservative person's mouth amounts to racism better get your minds cleaned of all the hogwash.
***
A few days ago, the new US Attorney General, Eric Holder, called us all cowards because he believes we don't talk enough about race to each other.  Well, that's not surprising when you consider that most of us can't talk about race because the Liberals are out there calling everybody racists---willy nilly.  And to add insult to injury, you Liberals are constantly lying---yes lying!---to others, Liberal and Conservative, about the truth regarding race relationships over the years.  And we're talking here of blacks and whites, since the current Attorney General is black and most of us are white.  The Liberal purpose?  Why to get black votes, of course.
***
One vocal black woman is Frances Rice, head of the Black Republican Association.  She recently gave an interview that can be seen and heard on 'You Tube.'  She's saying things that many of us already know.  And it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure this stuff out either.  Simple understanding of history---true history and not the stuff the Liberals try to foist off on everybody!---will easily lead you to the truth about race relations.

It's well worth going to 'You Tube' and listening to this interview.  It may open your eyes.  Below are the links to the interview [it's in three parts], or at least I think they may follow.  Sometimes, I can't get a link into these blogs.  If nothing shows, then go to "You Tube' and enter her name, Frances Rice.  That should work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YdEmn7IYOg&feature=related     Part One

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2l8NT3XfZE&feature=related      Part Two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdNbO4RCj0I&feature=related     Part Three

I faced the stone with downcast mien;
Before the words:  Beloved husband
And father, John.  May he rest with
The peace so worthy of his gentle heart.

And joined with his soul in glory earned,
Is the weary soul of his Beloved Wife---
Mother of four.  May Gertrude rest
with peace as John.  Amen.

We miss them with our saddened
Souls, and repent not being
With them in their final days of  
Pain. 

This strange Earth of
Contradictory feelings and beliefs
Witnessed their lifelong hard work.
Success comes in many guises,
Not only wealth of dollars, but
Wealth of spirit.  They had it.

May they rest in peace.

I'm still fascinated and depressed at the hold Democrats/Liberals have over people.  They have a history of involving us in most of our Wars [the Gulf Wars excepted]: WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and many minor skirmishes: Bosnia, Serbia, African aspirin factories.  They define themselves with higher taxes, ever-greater spending of our money, over-spending on social programs to the result of bloated, poorly working efforts, reduction of appropriate defense spending and operation, and an excessive 'pork' or 'earmark' policy to keep the voters loyal to them.  And then they top it off by claiming to be anti-war.

Democrat/Liberal Lyndon Johnson micro-managed a excursion to Vietnam, thus insuring a loss.  Jimmy Carter promised hope, blamed Americans for the national malaise, couldn't free the hostages in Iran, and both went to the bottom of the Presidential list.  Neither one was particularly religious in outlook, either.

There are, of course, some exceptions to the Democrat = Liberal equation.  And there is a difference between today's Democrat/Liberal and those from the past.  In the past, the Liberal was for personal freedom---especially about personal effort and wealth accumulation---appropriate religious influence [i.e. Founding Fathers], individual parenting, accurate education---you know, truth and morality.  The revered Democrat, St John F Kennedy, would never have considered himself a Liberal within the modern definition.  He knew that reducing taxes increases federal tax collections.  But despite the definitive history of this knowledge, Democrats/Liberals continue to want higher taxes to cover the costs of their social policies.

But the modern Democrat/Liberal is different: high taxes, unequal wealth re-distribution from one group to another, thus an attempt to negate the concept of personal effort to gain wealth; throwing money at problems, resulting in more and more money for less and less success; the removal of faith and religious influence from anything remotely the 'state' or group politics; more and more of the 'nanny' state involvement in a personal life; biased and inaccurate education, sometimes akin to Liberal brainwashing.

So, the involvement of the Liberal in 'faith outreach' is not only hypocritical to the real nature of the Liberal, but quite laughable in it's obvious political use.

The Democrats/Liberals are interested in votes, power, and personal aggrandizement.  They'll use anything to defeat and destroy their opponents.  [Consider Al Gore and Al Frankenstein] Faith outreach is just one more arena in which the Democrat/Liberal will try to mislead the public.  While it may work on some people, the citizens of the US who understand the real nature of the Democrats/Liberals will see through their hypocritical and dangerous efforts.

These politicians and power brokers know it's important for the votes and theoretical political backing for them to pursue policies perpetuating moral and economic decline seen in single motherhood, gay 'marriage', over-burdened small business [taxes and regulations], racial preferences, and liberal bias in all areas of culture.

All voters should read between the lines with politicians and hold them to a standard of faith, morality, and truthfulness.  Unfortunately, I don't know any of them who could stand up to a real 'Faith Outreach.'  Consequently, I expect their efforts to be faithfully futile.

Our president-elect is one of these Liberals, perhaps even a devout socialist.  His choices for cabinet positions and other government offices show his socialist bent---and his 'change' is one that brings back many from the Clinton administration.  His other announced and 'secret' efforts will fritter away family oriented-religious-free society as we used to know it.  PCism and Liberal thought police are turning us into a Country of penned sheep who will believe what Liberals say instead of what they do---not that the latter is particularly good for us. 

How blacks can continue to vote Democrat all the time is beyond me.  The Democrats have hurt them and promoted selfish attitudes and policies to keep their votes for years, and the Liberal press remains quiet.  Racial preferences do little more than provide a fish bowl existence for the blacks and other 'minorities', and harm their potential acceptance as real doers and achievers.  But these Democrat/Liberal race and 'minority'preferences, and the use of the 'race card' wherever possible are the bane of our modern culture.  Does anyone really think Governor Blagojevich picked Roland Burris for his exceptional talent worthy of Senatorship?

And the Liberal NY Times is not the only part of the media blaming George Bush for just about everything.  I expect we'll be hearing a President Obama echoing the sentiment for many years.  [Please God!  Don't let him and the Democrats get voted in again.]  As anyone knows, this present economic debacle was many many years and decades in the making, and the Democrat Congresses can shoulder a lot of blame---though the Liberal media wouldn't even report such truths.  It's easier to blame the Republicans.  And all this money [debt] being thrown about is a disgrace for the free enterprise system.  You can't save all companies and firms and individuals from ruin.  It's economically and morally wrong.  And it's a continuing effort that will lead to national bankruptcy and moral ruin.

Well, gird yourself and get ready for the next four years [or two years, depending on how much damage the Democrats can do.]  It's likely to be a real free-for-all.

Everytime I read an article about the latest Congressional shenanigans, I get depressed.  Unfortunately, I'm not in a position anymore to do anything tangible about my beliefs.  I must leave that to the younger conservatives.  All I can do is write about it and hope people listen.

I read today about the latest omnibus bill [Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 - S-22] from Harry Reid and Company.  It's 1200 pages long---which only the Democrat legal aides can understand---and it's filled with pork.  So much for the change we were told to expect.  For the most part, the Democrats are ignoring the Republicans and common sense in their ideas for our collective future.

One part of the bill wants to allocate about $500,000,000 to 'restore' a river with at least 500 salmon.  [What's that you say?  $1,000,000 per salmon? Yup!]  Aren't these the creatures which swim against the flow and up the river to spawn?  Yup!  And then they die---with no guarantees that the little salmon will survive.  Harry Reid apparently wants to change that natural fact.

All this is occuring, of course, while we're facing multi-trillion dollar bailouts that won't work in the long run.  We'll incur debt while we pay for the mistakes of businesses in the free market system.  A grand cleaning is necessary, and bailing out supposed 'vital' industries is poor judgment for our Country's future.

Reid [and sadly one Conservative-Republican ] want to transfer a pile of land that has any chance of containing drillable energy into the federal responsibility acreage where even bicycles won't be allowed.  If we continue to leave things up to Reid and the Liberals/Democrats, we'll soon live in one big federally operated reserve, where no drilling or other human activity can take place.  Of course [again], that would make us easy pickin's for an enemy, but at least the environment would be Liberal pristine---until the enemy turns it into war-like uses.

One can only be happy that Reid and the Liberals and the Democrats weren't around in the ageless past.  They'd have tried to stop the dinosaurs from dying [by edict if necessary], put the Mastadons on the endagered species list, negotiated with Yeti, built fires along the northern border of ice to melt it during the ice age, and then blamed the fires on George Bush as promoting global warming.

I thank God that I'm not a future historian who has to look back to this chaos.  I feel like Oliver Hardy, as he dead pans the Democrat leadership:  "Here's another fine mess you've gotten me into!"

It seems that after more than two hundred years, this Country should have been able to set up an effective election process.  Instead, we have States with faulty equipment, registration fraud, voter fraud and recount manipulation---usually all by a specific party whose initials are D*e*m*o*c*r*a*t.

In recent years we've seen the chaos in Florida, Washington State, and Minnesota.  Illinois, especially in the Chicago area, is story by itself when it comes to the above noted manipulations of the voting process.  Chicago didn't get its reputation for nothing.  Nor did the Democrat party over the years.  "If you can't win it, steal it."  Or, as seen recently with the---surprise!!---Illinois Governor:  "if you have an empty Senate seat, sell it!"

In Florida in 2000, despite all the Democrats' tries, including the hanging chads and "intent" of chosen voters, the Republican Presidential candidate still won the state.  The Supreme Court merely put a stop to the endless recounts and "hanging chad" attempts.  Otherwise, we'd have had no President for the past eight years.  We'd still have the endless recounts.  [In fact, the Liberal press later finished another recount and came up with the same winner.]

In Washington State, the same process went on in the gubernatorial race.  The Democrats kept "finding" more ballots, seemingly whenever they needed them during the recount.

And now we have Minnesota.  Why the disgusting personage, Al Franken, was nominated, I'll never know.  Why the original tally was so close, I'll never know.  But here again, with the help of that same Washington State gubernatorial operative, the Democrats are finding Franken votes all over the place.  Well, I don't believe they are proper nor was the initial count correct, either.  I believe there were many frauds apparent and in the Democrats' favor.  Simply do the math.

And now, Franken wants the names of some voters so he can check on their votes.  [Leonid, call your office.]  It would be funny if it weren't so tragic.  He needs some serious institutional time---and not the Senate.

If Al Franken and the Democrats steal this election, my belief in a fair election system in the Country will be seriously shaken.  We need a new, more countrywide conforming system:  Picture ID, proof of residence and citizenship, and personally showing up to register; Picture ID for voting.  No mail in votes other than for a dam good reason, like it was decades ago; no same day registration/voting; and severely restricted early balloting.  The time to stop all this fraud and nonsense is now.  Let's get together and get it done.  The right to vote is too sacred a right in this Country to let it be constantly manipulated with registration fraud, voter fraud, recount manipulation, non-citizens voting, and the policy of voting early and often with the dead people.

I've spent many hours watching Christmas movies and specials on both the broadcast and cable networks.  And the references to the religious aspect of the day are few and far between.  In fact most of the movies concern variations on "A Christmas Carol" or danger to Santa and the North Pole or the problems of his children or elves, etc.  And this is only television.

In general society there has been and is an attack on Christmas from many sides.  It seems that any type of 'Christmas' sentiment or display in public is case for a court battle.  Or the party in question simply gives in and removes what was there.

This commercialization of and attacks on Christmas have gone too far.  I realize that I grew up at a time when the religious nature of Christmas was still fairly strong.  But now, not only do the children of the Country not know our religious heritage and special days, they aren't even brought up with a religious attitude.  How are they supposed to understand right from wrong?  Or even why?

This year, the University of North Carolina removed Christmas trees from its libraries at Chapel Hill NC because of several complaints.

Per the Charlotte Observer:  "The trees, which have stood in the lobby areas of Wilson and Davis libraries each December, were kept in storage this year at the behest of Sarah Michalak, the associate provost for university libraries...Michalak's decision followed several years of queries and complaints from library employees and patrons bothered by the Christian display, Michalak said this week."  [Scrooge call your office!]

Florida Gulf State University simply banned all open expressions of Christmas.

Per USA Today:  "...The newspaper says FGCU administration has banned all holiday decorations from common spaces on campus and canceled a popular greeting card design contest, which is being replaced by an ugly sweater competition...University President Wilson Bradshaw, citing "legal limitations," [anybody know what that nonsensical phrase is supposed to mean?] told the faculty and staff in a memo that many public institutions 'struggle' with how best to  honor and respect all traditions during the holiday and FGCU is no exception...He says the decision was not an 'attempt to suppress expression of the holiday spirit.' Staffers will be permitted to display holiday decorations on their desks, but not on their office doors or in common spaces..."

From World Net Daily:  "At a time when Americans of many faiths – and even no faith – gear up to celebrate Christmas this year, a first-grade teacher in Sacramento Co., Calif., says she's been ordered by her principal not to utter the word "Christmas" at school...The 24-year education veteran, who wishes to keep her name and the school anonymous at this time, claims she and two fellow instructors were told that use of the word "Christmas" in the classroom or in written materials was now prohibited."

And Bill O'Reilly writes:  "Just in time for the Christmas season, Washington State Gov. Christine Gregoire has insulted Christians all over the world...Inside the state Capitol building in Olympia there is a traditional holiday display featuring a tree and the Nativity scene; perfectly appropriate since the federal and state Christmas holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem...But this year Gregoire decided to add another item to the display...Standing alongside the baby Jesus is a giant placard designed by atheists that reads: 'There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.'"

These are just a few examples of what's happening in our society.  It's mind boggling.  It seems the anti-Christ is arriving in many guises and in public places.  Even retail stores and malls have changed 'Merry Christmas' to 'Happy Holidays.'

I recently read the story of a thirty-four year old woman who grew up areligious [thinking the Bible was just a book of fairy tales], became an agnostic, an atheist, spent time involved in modified Satanism and traditional Satanism, and finally settled down to some sort of Christianity because her new boyfriend is Christian.  While doing all this she married and divorced a drug-addicted man, and spent too much time in an abusive and brainwashing relationship.  This is not the way to live---going from one mess to another.  Her parents neglected her upbringing, leading to the later difficulties.  We have to try to prevent this sort of thing.  We need to instill in our children a minimum sense of religion, anyway.  We owe it to them to try.  We're the parents, remember?  We have a responsibility.

With many of our public schools prohibiting any sign of religion at or near the schools and church attendance down, one has no reason to wonder at the lack of religious thoughts at this time of year---not for Easter either.  Much of it is due to cowardice in the face of ACLU threats.  [Please, may I have a Christmas present: dissolution of the current ACLU?]

Children are now more interested in electronic games and cell phones [and Easter bunnies and candy] than they are of any religious significance of the day[s].  Creches are hidden if not forgotten.  Many children don't see or have never seen the interior of a Church.  Sadly, some of the older ones don't care about the day and its meaning or the attacks on it every year.  They just want to go and see the new movies which open on December 25th.

We as a nation are forgetting that religious tolerance was a contributing factor in the setting up of our original colonies.  It was a stalwart basis for the general responsibilty and work ethic of our new American country.  And it was on the minds of the drafters of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.  Our Country should be striving to "form a more perfect union" and not to deny religious expression anywhere except the basements and hidden caves or catacombs.  Haven't we seen enough of that already?

Agnostics, atheists, and the infamous bastardized ACLU have joined together [though still a very small minority, mind you] to stifle religious expressions anywhere outside the home [for now, anyway.]  While minorities should always be respected, they should not have the power to shut down expression in the majority.  The majority rule has fallen prey to the minority 'rights' people, thus forcing our Country to become more and more areligious and forgetful of our common heritages and continuing religious rights.

Whether it be Church or Temple, Christmas or Channukah, let's do better to celebrate the season as it should be: with reverence, memory, and humility.  It's a celebration of God.  The gifts and movies can come later.

When I was a kid, I had a lot of respect and awe for the winners of the Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes, and Oscars.  I watched the latter every year with bated breath.  [I also voted for Miss Rheingold] They were all awards for excellence in my young eyes.

As I grew older [past 12], I realized that there were a lot of somethings wrong with these awards.  [Of course, not the Miss Rheingold election---that was one of real consequence.]  Reality grew on me slowly---but it did grow.  And now, I see so much Liberal crap and politics tied up into these awards---well, they are virtually worthless in my estimation.  C'mon now!  An award of excellence for Al Gore?  Michael Mooooore?  It seems that raw Liberalism, inane politicians and sex sex sex are the new manifestations of the 'modern' Liberal beliefs and activities.

Now, we know that a lot of Liberals get these awards for being Liberal and promoting Liberal propaganda.  Can't refute that.  Do a little research, and you'll find the processes in recent years [up to 30-40] disgustingly unfair and slanted with just that result.  [Have you watched a Michael Mooooore movie?]

I've tried to watch, listen to, or read columns and articles by some of these prominent Liberals: Cynthia Tucker; William Raspberry; Michael Moooore; Maureen Dowd; Al Frankenstein; Ellen Goodman; Anthony Lewis; Tom Wicker---and of course those delightfully sensitive whackos on the radio, Don Imus and Howard Stern.  I can't do it.  They turn me off very quickly with the misinformation, assumption of divinity, vitriol in their hate of anything Republican, Conservative or religious [or in some cases, simple common decency], and basically poor or gutter-like writing or communicating skills. 

And they're often hypocrites.  Remember when William Raspberry wrote columns that promoted gun control and getting all guns off the street and out of the hands of citizens?  It was shortly thereafter that he was arrested for having an unlicensed gun in his possession---and of course, he was released quickly with a slap on the wrist, and the story was conspicuously missing from the Liberal Press after the first, small print revelations.  [I imagine if he had been a Conservative columnist, we'd still be hearing and reading about it.]

Liberal Mantra: do what I say, not what I do.  And the mantra is normally written by its propagandists in many forms.  I once visited the Daily Kos---soiling my mind---and found little there but the usual vitriol against Bush, McCain, Palin and the Republicans and---oh yes, some reporting of rumors in an attempt to find someone [other than the shooter] to blame for the VA Tech tragedy in recent history.  [One, of course, set the responsibility at President Bush's door!]

Yes, Liberals do, as a rule, write nonsense, and they shouldn't be awarded anything for it.  Some see an improvement in their grammar and basic skills as the years progress---but most don't.  I wouldn't even give them an 'A' for effort because they usually fall flat from lack of truth and reality.

I found out recently an Australian scientist claims that cremation is causing global warming [the furnaces, you know] and we should bury our dead in cardboard boxes underneath trees so the decomposing bodies can nourish them to great heights.  I can just see Uncle Fred's countenance budding on a hundred branches.  Owwwww!  Anyway, isn't there a scientific award just for him? [The scientist, not Uncle Fred.]  The Al Gore Award for Scientific Accuracy?  Or the Michael Moooore 'Truth' in Liberal 'Science' Award?  Or the Cheryl Crowe One Square on the Fly Award for Excellence?

One Townhall poster claimed that, since the left controls the awards, left wing writers should be winning most of them.  Well, the last time I checked, being a Liberal [in its current or recent manifestation] was not among the original criteria for any of these awards.  As I remember it, the word "Excellence" was always bandied about.  And there aren't any Liberals of excellence---or at least I haven't come across any.  Propaganda is NOT excellence.  So again, why no excellent Conservative writers in the chase?  Too sane for the judges?

I once owned a book store, and after Maya Angelou won the Pulitzer prize, I tried to read her books of poems and autobiography.  They are unreadable, uninteresting, and definitely not worth the time invested.  I found the same problems with other Liberal authors---whose books never sold.  There are too many to mention individuals, but the names Koch and Greene come to mind.

Let's get back to 'excellence' instead of 'ideology' as the basis for awards.  And, personally, I think my blog should receive and award from Joe the Pulitzer or somebody.  At least it's not Liberal.

Since the Global Warming religion has been given a lot of air time, I thought I'd bring out some truths that are generally accepted.  We anti-believers need the air time too.

Book of Genesis:  "...So God created man in His own image...male and female...and God blessed them...be fruitful and multiply [hardly an approval of the gay life, is it?,] and replenish the Earth, subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the Earth..."

Now, I'm no theologian or deep reader of the Bible, but I do believe it is the inspired Word of God; and it seems clear to me that Man [a traditional collective word to mean men and women] is responsible for the Earth, and he can use the animals as needed for food or other purposes. 

Our bodies are not made to prosper with only grains, fruits, and vegetables [or tofu.]  Beef, lamb, fish, crustaceans, fowl, pork, and other meats and delicious delicacies are traditional foods and necessary varieties in our omnivoric diet---along with the popular grains, vegetables, and fruits and related beverages.  Of course those of you eating legumes may get a substantial amount of protein [and gas], but it's not the same quality.  Meat of all kinds is a necessary and concentrated source of protein.  'Man cannot live on beans alone.'

Why do you think herbivores have to eat so much?  It's not because they really like it [after all, they're eating grass, roots, leaves, hay, etc.], it's because they have to eat a great deal of vegetable matter to gain their needed nutrients.

By the way, animal carnivores aren't too fussy.  They'll devour most animals they can run down and eat---including us.  They seem to know which of their fellow animals they can devour---except those protected by nature like porcupines, skunks and the like.  If the PC crowd wants something to do, how about working to change nature so that these carnivores can be satisfied with a vegetarian menu of salads and, oh say, watercress sandwiches.  They can have well-dressed penguins serve them.  I'll finance a trip to the Serengeti for two or three of the crowd to try their efforts with pride[s].

Now, I'm not promoting cruelty to animals in any way.  We have pets and there are wild animals that need reasonable protection.  As for raised, hunted and butchered animals, they deserve protection from cruelty until the end.  It's what the human in us demands.  Of course, many people don't like butchering, but they're fine eating the resultant products.  They also wear shoe leather and use other animal byproducts, such as some perfumes.

One concept that most sane scientists grasp---but which Liberals don't---is that no matter what man does---or can do right now---he isn't going to affect the globe as a whole to a great extent.  Really!  And when there are global changes---and there still will be---they will be natural and in spite of all of our efforts to change them.  'Terraforming' is still a science-fiction subject.  But of course, local climate can still be affected by us, such as smog and other pollution.  But, that still will be localized [locality can encompass thousands of square miles], and we should fight it locally.  So, stop the global panic, already.  If a meteor hits or a volcano annihilates itself, our weather will change for quite some time, maybe even for a few years.  But don't blame man.

[Actually, if a meteor hits and affects the weather, it will already have killed millions.  So, we'll have other things to worry about.] 

Our current global fair weather is not the norm, no matter how many Al Gores out there may think it is.  Ice ages, warming trends, and additional earthquake and volcano activity are typical to Earth, and they aren't going to stop because we wish them to.

So, think about it.  The Earth has survived greater problems than man can throw at it, what with meteors, comets, volcanos, deadly atmospheres, earthquakes, ice ages, solar flares and the like.   But expensive 'solutions' to try and deal with unchangeable problems or natural changes in climate are just like 'pi$$ing against the wind'.

So, Liberals, lock the doors of your Global Warming Churches and Temples and go home.  Your crabgrass is calling you.

Many authors in times past have had unique commentary on the politics of the time.  None seemed particularly enamored of politicians in general or Congressmen [male or female, and to include the Senators] in particular.  And among the greater minds commenting on this subject was Mark Twain. 

"Fleas can be taught anything that a Congressman can."

Congress isn't very popular these days---and with good reason.  Over the last few years in particular, the work of Congress hasn't been above average in any way.  Bills and attitudes have been far away from the good of the people but close to the interests of the same Congressmen and their friends. 

"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress.  But I repeat myself."

Some Congressmen have been investigated for wrong-doing---though nowhere near enough---some convicted, and some running for the hills of their home states.  And we still have un-convicted [and convicted] Ku Klux Klanners, manslaughterers, and bribe takers representing us.  Constituent approval ratings have hovered in the single digits.  Yet these criminals continue to be elected and ply their 'wares.'

"It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress."

And what about our courts?  Noteworthy is the Supreme Court, where there may be several replacement justices in the next several years.  They won't be Conservatives, that's for sure.

"I hate to hear people say this Judge will vote so and so, because he is a Democrat -- and this one so and so because he is a Republican. It is shameful. The Judges have the Constitution for their guidance; they have no right to any politics save the politics of rigid right and justice when they are sitting in judgment upon the great matters that come before them."

Unfortunately, a Liberal judge will always gum up the wheels of progress.  There is a solid track record here.  Legislating from the bench has been and will always be a problem---and yet it remains so very popular.

And what about the current crop of 'journalists?'  I speak softly there because the journalism today is not what it has been in the past.  It was more civil back in Twain's day, and he still had little good to say about the practitioners.  Even in Franklin Roosevelt's time there was more civility.  Case in point was the unwritten rule that no photographs of the President's crutches and braces were ever shown in the newspapers or newsreals.  There were other such civilities from the press, notably in the war where so many embedded journalists wrote about the war with the idea of a victory in mind.  Today, America is at fault---especially President Bush---for seemingly every conflict and problem in the World.

"That awful power, the public opinion of a nation, is created in America by a horde of ignorant, self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditching and shoemaking and fetched up in journalism on their way to the poorhouse."

So, it seems Mark Twain---more than a hundred years ago---recognized the present and future pulse of Congress and Journalism.  We've seen both fail us in numerous ways, and I don't expect it to stop.  It's too bad honest people in Congress never seem to get the important leadership positions.  If they could, they might be able to raise the Congressional approval rating a few points.

'Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest.'