Obama backs Chrysler bankruptcy as wise move

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090430/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_automakers;_ylt=AoA86pcO5Ie9zUC616WTgn0DW7oF

"The president said that Chrysler has been responsible for helping to build the American middle class, but over the years also had been weakened by "papering over tough problems and avoiding hard choices.""

I agree with President Obama.

I can only wonder if one of the tough choices that the President was referring to was high union wages.

Sa weet!

sweet! I have a "follower". I feel like I'm somebody :) I was also recently cited in another Blog too. I feel all warm inside :)

But not to sound like I blog for the attention....I primarily blog to vent, rant, have a voice, and get the truth out there.

But I have to admit that it is nice to know that someone is reading this.

Thanks to all that check in. You are all ladies, gentlemen and scholars of such magnitude that surely compliments your good looks and friendly manners.

Not 183. Instead merely five

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/28/despite-reports-khalid-sheikh-mohammed-waterboarded-times/

It turns out that the 183 alleged waterboarding sessions of KSM was at best just a misrepresentation, hyperbole and shameful spin; at worst: a flat out lie.

"A U.S. official with knowledge of the interrogation program told FOX News that the much-cited figure represents the number of times water was poured onto Mohammed's face -- not the number of times the CIA applied the simulated-drowning technique on the terror suspect. According to a 2007 Red Cross report, he was subjected a total of "five sessions of ill-treatment."

H/T http://sistertoldjah.com/

More TRUTH on Waterboarding

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/24/AR2009042403339_pf.html

Like I’ve said before, the recent dragging of waterboarding through the mud is pure stinky stinky politics. But I failed to mention the negative impact on our Nation’s security.

This article by the ex-CIA Director, Porter J. Goss, covers that quite well. His bottom line: “Trading security for partisan political popularity will ensure that our secrets are not secret and that our intelligence is destined to fail us.”

Please read the whole article. It tells the truth about the Democratic blessing of enhanced interrogation techniques and their current flip-flop for stinky political gain.

Hope and Change

It seems to me that when you are selling Hope and Change, you must also have some oppostition to point down at. It's a take on the politics of fear. Because with no doom and gloom, there's less need for hope and change.

But I could be wrong. There may be other even better explanations for why the left incessantly slings mud at straw men.

Pandering for Popularity

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama100_days_ap_poll;_ylt=At1Z3jnhOyzmAVrCwITYniEDW7oF

I do not doubt the validity of the poll. "For the first time in years, more Americans than not say the country is headed in the right direction, a sign that Barack Obama has used the first 100 days of his presidency to lift the public's mood and inspire hopes for a brighter future."

I could be wrong, but it seems to me that he bought and paid for each and every popularity point with $trillions of dollars in debt.

Earmarks

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/66146.html

If you KNOW that earmarks, and pet projects, and pork that only benefit a small segment of society do not belong riding on the coattails of legitimate legislation, then please read this article.

Then check your congressman's web site, then email them and let them know what you think.

I dare ya. I did it, so it can't be that difficult.

I was Waterboarded

I was waterboarded in SERE school in 1995. The reason that's relevant is because it sets a precedent. Not only was I was waterboarded in SERE school, but also hundreds if not thousands of other Sailors and Marines have been waterboarded and have set this long established precedent that it is a safe legal technique when administered properly.

From the excerpts from "memo's" that I've read, SERE instructors passed on the same techniques to the CIA.

If it's legal to be administered on me, then how can it be ILLEGAL when administered to an enemy combatant as an interrogation technique?

Yes it may be immoral. Yes it can be of questionable strategic intelligence value. Yes it has invigorated our enemies. Maybe it should never have been used. But Illegal??? Um no.

Double Dog Dare

I double dog dare any liberal or progressive to quote a section of the Constitution that supports the lib/progressive thought that "I am my brother's keeper" as Candidate Obama proclaimed in his DNC acceptance speech.

The 800 Pound Gorilla

I’ve heard this term used before. I assume it refers to an issue so large and potentially devastating that no one wants to address it. Instead they prefer to tip toe around it. Pacify it. Feed and cater to it. Heck often even make it bigger and stronger by avoiding dealing with it.
I think that the federal budget deficit is an 800 pound gorilla that is not receiving the focus that it deserves.

Why is that?

Conservatives seem to mention it on occasion, but they seem powerless even rudderless to make any progress in this regard. So, they effectively contribute to gorilla delinquency even though they talk a good game behind his back.

But the Democrats that have controlled Congress (aka legislation and budgets and spending) for years and years now; is it an issue for them? What’s their plan? Spend more? If so, WOW!

If there ever was a bi-partisan issue, paying off this debt is one of them. For this, we are truly all in the same boat.

So who has the b@ll$ to poke the gorilla in the belly? and say, “Dude, you are going on a slim fast diet and jogging regimen.”

What's Wrong with the GOP?

My poll in the right hand column was about what I thought is wrong with the GOP. If you can't tell I think it's their reputation as a bunch of wacko haters, gun nuts, abortion Dr haters, war mongers, gay bashers etc... i.e. that they are generally a bunch of intolerant rich fat white guys. (OBTW, that's exactly how the left is painting the tea baggers.)

Not one person has yet voted similarly. Perhaps it's that the options available were too limited. If so, touche.

But let's just cut to the chase. If the intolerance reputation is NOT what's wrong with the GOP, then what is?

Racism (Continued...)

It's my belief that many of those that are "against" Affirmative Action at best do not understand that (1) racism exists and (2) that it's government's role to establish justice as well as they could. Or at worst, they do not care about 1 and 2.

IMHO if they understood, then their feelings may be different. And more understanding can be achieved through awareness and education.

Yes, there has to be fair, just, and legal ways to implement AA policies. Let me say that one more time: Yes there has to be fair, just and legal ways to implement AA policies, but in my humble opinion we will never make great progress towards justice if we lack understanding or fail to care about the fact that Racism exists and that it is the role of government to establish justice.

If I were an elected official, I would attempt to focus AA efforts on the education of #1 and #2. And I'd focus AA policies toward prosecution and fines for all injustice towards protected classes, including racism.

Bottom line: I think way too much emphasis is made about bad AA policies. Instead we'd all be better off focusing on calling out the haters among us (i.e. doing something about it) and admitting that racism exists, and not sitting idly by.

But that's just me. And my kooky views on justice.

http://www.stopkillingjobs.com/

http://dailykenoshan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7526&Itemid=104

FYI only.

It seems like more of the same high taxes kill jobs message.

Respect

OK, I've had enough of hearing "Mr. Obama". He's the President. So, he's to be referred to as "President Obama" not Mr Obama. Unless people are referring to his father or brother, then Mr. Obama would be appropriate.

Maybe it's the way my parents raised me, or that I was a Boy Scout, or the over 20 years that I was in the Navy, but....Senators are called Senator Schmuckatelli, or at least the Honorable Mister Schmuckatelli. So, the President deserves the same courtesy and respect.

Perhaps some people are not aware of this etiquette. Perhaps some are purposefully trying to be disrespectful. But whatever the reason, it's still disrespectful and a breach of etiquette.

My Views pt 1, Affirmative Action

I thought I should take a few lines and explain one of my views that I feel sets me apart from many other conservatives:

I believe that (1) racism exists, and (2) I believe that it is government's role to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, and secure the blessings of liberty by doing something about countering racism. IHMO, the words "affirmative" and "action" when put together merely mean doing something about it; i.e. they literally mean to take positive steps against racism. To not do so, would be tacit approval of racism and the injustice that goes with it.

Now,,,,,what actions and steps are the right ones? That's a whole nuther topic. For now, let's just stick to #1 and #2.

Woman's tofu license plate curdles in Colo.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090409/ap_on_fe_st/odd_tofu_snafu;_ylt=AiCasViSuQ1w9N77b6kRHfkDW7oF

Another head line that I just couldn't pass up.

I suppose that ILVTOFU too... I mean TOFU is proof that God loves us, right?

Electing conservatives is like hiring a carpenter who thinks hammers are evil.

I read that blurb on dkos a while back. What bothers me about it is that some people may think that it’s a profound (yet snarky) description of Conservatives. Um, no.

#1. I get it. I don’t agree, but I do see and understand the implications that elected officials are assumed to be elected to build and do. They are expected to perform and make things better. And the implication is that Conservatives don’t like the government, so they would not want to use government for those purposes. Got it.

But here are some things to consider: HAMMERS can be dangerous! Would you give one to a 3 year old? Heck I wouldn’t give one to some adults that I know; at least not to work on MY house. They’d do more damage than if they had done nothing at all. Therefore, hammers should be used wisely. They are precision tools that need to be used cautiously, aka conservatively. You don't just go around swinging more and more hammers thinking the more you swing the more you'll fix!

Also, there are many different types of hammers. It takes some expertise to be able to know which one is best for the task at hand. It also takes some insight into the 2nd and third order effects of swinging the hammer; i.e. you don’t swing as hard when in a 100 year old house with fragile plaster walls. Yes hammers are useful, but they can also do damage, But they are not evil.

Likewise, the government and legislation can also be dangerous. So they should be used wisely. Legislation should normally be a precision tool that needs to be used cautiously. Care needs to be taken about the 2nd and 3rd order effects of proposed legislation.

But Government, if done properly, wisely, cautiously, dare I say it: conservatively, is not (necessarily in and of itself) evil.

But I could be wrong, I often am.

Congrats to the Victors

Congrats to Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, Tony Evers (DPI Sup), Chad Kerkman (Judge, Kenosha County Circuit Court) and Clyde Allen (Village of PP Trustee).

It seems to me that mostly incumbents won.

What does it take to defeat an incumbent? Perhaps it's tarnish. As in the CDO mess at KUSD.
I see that Carl Bryan, Pam Stevens, and Mary Snyder defeated Mark Hujik and Eric Olson for School Board.

Again, congrats to the victors.

Now let's get some things done!

Kenosha deputy in undies tracks down drunk driver

http://www.waow.com/Global/story.asp?S=9976258

Not only do I know this guy, but we share the same last name.

I don't know how I missed this article. It's a month old.

But I just can't pass up a headline like that.

Election Day

I voted! I usually put it off until on the way home, but I wanted to get on my blog and type the words, "I voted!" as soon as possible.

Perhaps it'll motivate people to get out and vote. With my luck it'll actually motivate more progressive liberal democrats to get out and counter my vote :(

But it's all good.

Disappointed

I see no real debate at realdebatewisconsin.blogspot.com. It's more like real mud slinging.

I see little (I admitt there is some) "COEXIST"ing at Most liberal/progressive blogs.

I see wayyy too much name calling on conservative blogs.

If it's all a bunch of partisan name-calling, finger-pointing and playing "gotcha", there seems to be no point to it.

Has anyone else felt similarly?

Leading a Horse to Water

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. ESPECIALLY if you are forcing his head under the water!!! I bet he'll fight back. Ya think?

I thought of this analogy (that I had heard previously from a boss of mine back in like 2004) the other day, because I goofed on my peanut butter analogy (can you tell that I like analogies?) when trying to explain ACORN's responsibility for registration fraud. I thought to myself, "Why didn't JCG get it?" I mean, I lead him right up to the water!

Perhaps, it was because I was too forceful when forcing my views on the situation. If so,,,,my bad.

And I see wayyyy too much of that forcefulness on the blogosphere. I say "wayyy too much", because, is it working? Is anyone actually being convinced of anything? If so, then heave at it. If not, then perhaps more people would be willing to be led and even be willing to accept a "drink" if there wasn't so much mashing of heads under water.

But I could be wrong, I often am.

My lame poll

I see that I now have multiple votes that I need more categories for the poll.

I'm taking suggestions.

Please leave a comment.