More fun bumper stickers!

I Voted Today!

Really, the title says it all - I took advantage of the awesome early voting setup here in our county and I voted today. Fast and easy and, as an added and unexpected bonus, I even got to have a short conversation with a veteran of the United States Navy. As I walked outside, I was feeling quite proud of fulfilling my civic duty; I took a deep breath and filled my lungs with the clean, fresh air of liberty.

(Then, after all the poetry subsided and the music died down, I realized that my keys were securely locked inside my car - no good deed goes unpunished...)

I don't know how crowded the average voter's ballot will be this election season but here in my precinct we have a whole slew of candidates running. We get to vote on the

three Federal races: US President/Vice-President, US Senator and US Representative;
nineteen State races: Railroad Commissioner, 3 state Supreme Court Justices, 4 Court of Criminal Appeals Judges, State Board of Education Member, State Senator, State Representative and 8 District Judges;
four County races: Sheriff, Tax Assesor, J.P., Constable (all running unopposed) and
two School District Places. I'm not familiar enough with law enforcement to know why one county needs a Sheriff and a Justice of the Peace and a Constable. Does that seem redundant to anybody else? (but I digress...)

All together that's 28 decisions I had to make. Of course the 4 running unopposed only made me decide "Do I vote in this race or not?" - the short answer "No". They didn't answer questionnaires from either non-partisan group whose voting guides I was using, so I didn't vote in their silly little sham "election". Seriously, how do you lose when you run unopposed? All it takes is one person hitting the button to vote "Straight Ticket" for your party and you're in. Those races were decided in the primaries back in March.

You might think the whole point of this post is "Go Vote!". If that's what you think, you're wrong. The whole point of this post is "Educate yourself about the candidates and then go vote your conscience!"

And by the way, if you don't bother to vote then for crying out loud Don't Bother to Complain!

Elect the HERO not the ZERO

HERO: Sacrificed more than most of us can imagine.

ZERO: Smoked crack and ripped off low income people as a rabble rouser.

HERO: Kept his promise to the American people and abided by the limits of public campaign finance.

ZERO: Broke his promise to the American people to abide by the limits of public campaign finance.

HERO: Refused to give a propaganda victory to America's enemies in North Vietnam.

ZERO: Associated with marxists and started his politial career in the living room of known (unrepentant) domestic terrorists.

HERO: Served his nation honorably for many years.

ZERO: Served his racist church honorably for many years.

HERO: Has worked both sides of the aisle and authored major legislation over and over again.

ZERO: Voted present 130 times and has only been in the Senate for 143 days before thinking he was the next sultan.

(is it just me or does BO's seal look suspiciously like the communist sickle over a wheat field?)

Born Alive Truth

From bornalivetruth.org (and YouTube)

Ad featuring abortion survivor Gianna Jessen. This ad tells Obama's record of voting against protecting survivors of failed abortions.


Anuncio con Gianna Jessen. Ella sobrevivo un aborto no logrado. El anuncio dice la historia de Obama que voto' encontra de una le para protejer bebes abandonados despues de un aborto no logrado.


After the ads showing Obama's voting record, the Obama camp then released an ad attacking McCain and the abortion survivor Gianna Jessen. Here is the ad countering Obama's attack.



Here is the text of the bill that Obama voted against.

In the News

1) Sheriff's Department confused
2) The Democrats Want Your 401(k)

1) (From the LA Times) "A West Hollywood Halloween display showing a likeness of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin hanging by a noose has caused a furor among some residents who reported it as a hate crime, authorities said Monday.
Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said the mannequin sporting a beehive hairdo, glasses and a red coat does not rise to the level of a hate crime because it was part of a Halloween display."
Then we get a very telling comment from the sheriff's department's mouthpiece: Whitmore (spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department) said that potential hate crimes are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If the same display had been made of a Barack Obama-like doll, for example, authorities would have to evaluate it independently, Whitmore said.
Translation: While the sheriff's department would be really uncomfortable with anybody around here hanging a black man in effigy for any reason, we're perfectly fine if you want to string up a white lady in effigy - as long as you call it a "Halloween decoration".
Someone needs to inform the West Hollywood sheriff's department that civil rights are for everyone. Murder in effigy is either a hate crime against anyone or it is never a hate crime.

2) (heard at lunchtime on Rush) "RUSH: George Miller, who runs a congressional committee, Democrat in California, came out with the first notion of just getting rid of your being able to deduct for your income your contribution to your 401(k), that the government is "losing" $80 billion and we can't afford lose that so they want to take that away.Then they had a hearing last week ... Teresa Ghilarducci, who is a professor of economics at the New School for Social Research, and she testified before a House committee, Democrat committee last week on how she thinks the government should basically take your 401(k) and administer it, take it away from you."
"Yesterday [Monday Oct 27] in Seattle, Kirby Wilbur had this exchange with her.
She said, "Your plan, as I understand it, would end the tax deferral status of 401(k)s. I have one, and I put in a certain amount every month and that deducted from my growth so I don't pay taxes on it 'til I pull it out when I retire. So it would end that and it would bring about a new government retirement plan. Is that correct?"
GHILARDUCCI: Not quite.
WILBUR: Okay.
GHILARDUCCI: You know, Rush Limbaugh said that's what it was.
WILBUR: Okay.
GHILARDUCCI: Whatever you have in your 401(k) now will keep its tax break. So everybody who has their 401(k) plan will be grandfathered in. But what I proposed, instead of getting a tax deduction -- like a decrease in your taxes by whatever your tax rate is, so if you're at the very high income, your tax rate is 39%, and if you're at the very low, you're at 15%, and 40 million people make so little they don't pay any taxes at all. Instead of the deduction coming from your tax rate, so if you're high, whatever you put in your 401(k), like a dollar, let's say, or a hundred dollars, you get back 39 cents, or $39, if you're the high rate; 15 dollars, or 15 cents if you're at the low rate, or nothing if you're at the low rate. I proposed that we just transfer the deduction to a credit so that everybody gets $600. So I'm not taking away the tax break. I'm actually, um, giving everybody a flat amount so that it's more equal.
RUSH: (laughing) Where am I wrong about this? Everybody is going to get...? Socialism. Everybody is equal now, whether you've got a 39% tax rate and you can deduct that amount, you get that equivalent deduction. This is all gobbledygook. Basically I'm just going to give everybody 600 bucks and you give me your IRA, and I'm going to buy government bonds with it at 3% a year. I'll just give you 600 bucks and that's how we'll take care of this. So Kirby says, "Now, wait, there will be a new plan. All of us who bring in a paycheck will put 5% of our income into a retirement plan administered by Social Security -- guided by the pension folks who do Congress and the Federal Reserve and then you're gonna guarantee at least a 3% return. The government would supplement that with $600 annual payment to the plan?"
GHILARDUCCI: The government would guarantee 3% plus inflation.
WILBUR: Okay, 3%, okay, plus inflation.
GHILARDUCCI: Yes.
WILBUR: So the bonds would be adjusted. As I understand the $600 would be adjusted as well, right?
GHILARDUCCI: It would. It would.
WILBUR: Okay.
GHILARDUCCI: And what's amazing about this is that it's actually, um, doesn't cost the government anybody. (sic) I'm just rearranging the tax breaks that are available now for 401(k)s and spreading -- spreading the wealth.

I don't know about you but the reason I contribute to my company's 401(k) plan has nothing to do with "spreading the wealth".

My Wife Wins The Election!

Just kidding - my wife didn't actually "win" an election but I just got done watching Jay Leno doing his bit on "funny headlines" so I couldn't resist.

The truth is this - my wife has been going through the long process of becoming a naturalized citizen. She was sworn in as an American citizen earlier this month and just recently received her voter registration card in the mail. We have both been poring over election information to make sure that we are well informed about all the candidates on our local ballot. Due to the mass of people that I encountered during the Texas primary in March, we will both be taking advantage of early voting. Our county has many locations for early voting and they are open seven days a week!

Inform yourself! Know where ALL the candidates stand on issues that are important to you! Don't waste your vote - every current Supreme Court Justice has served as a lower court judge and many people with high political aspirations start out in small local elections.

Who will be the next President of the USA?

You can see that I didn't post anything here in August or September - I wanted my memories of Matt to stay at the top of the page for a while.

Now, with early voting already started and November 4th only days away, I'm going to be hitting this blog with a vengeance. I know that some of you will be glad to hear that it will ALL be political.

I don't support B Hussein Nobama and I'm not a huge fan of J Sydney McCain, either. But a choice has been put before us and a choice has to be made. First the issue of eligibility.



The funny thing is that Senator Obama could stop all this just by being honest and opening up his records. Some friends of mine don't trust the Bush administration because they say that "Bush lied" - remarkably these same people think that Indonesian citizen Barry Soetoro (Barack Obama) is being honest with them. Amazing.

Matt McCully

This morning I got word from my mom that a friend of mine, Matthew McCully, was walking home from work Tuesday night and was hit and killed by a drunk driver.

Matt was an aspiring writer and artist with a lot of talent. He was a smart man, creative, inventive and I consider it a privilege to have known Matt for several years.

He was a great guy and his passing is our great loss.

This is Friendship???

Anytime somebody tells you "I want to apologize for what you are about to hear" you can bet that you're not going to like what you hear next. This just makes common sense. And if you've read much of this blog, you can easily tell that I'm (sorta) paying attention to this year's politics.

Now (in the way of context), I have been very blessed to have a lot of people that I consider friends in my life. Some of these friends are very close to me. And I have had more than one disagreement with a close friend and we have remained friends. Being able to "agree to disagree" with someone is an important part of any relationship that is more than superficial.

With that in mind you can see why I was so surprised to hear on the radio Wednesday afternoon that Rev. Jesse Jackson was apologizing for "crude and hurtful remarks" that he made "in a private conversation" in front of a "hot mic". You know how radio commentators will say "Today [politician] said '' blah blah blah" and then the politician will say "No, that's not what I meant - you misquoted me", etc, etc? As I was driving down the road I kept waiting for the quote - nobody ever said what *exactly* his remarks were.

Then it hit me. Are we talking "FCC violation" crude? Holy cow, Jesse, what did you say this time?! After some searching, a video snip from "The O'Reilly Factor" turned up. You can see the video for yourself here. This is not the full clip and it is not an "FCC violation". Apparently Jesse also made some racist remarks against white people. But this is just the part that would offend B. Hussein Obama.

NOT my idea of friendship.

Fun Yard Signs

Do your neighbors "lean to the left"?

Do you want a more "distinctive" yard?

Does your lawn need a slightly more "patriotic" look?

Well, friend, I can solve your problems! For a mere $15.95 (less than the cost of a large pizza) you too can proudly display one of these yard signs and help spread the word about our Second Amendment rights as American citizens!

There is the ever popular "I'm the NRA and I vote" (commonly seen as a window sticker on pickup trucks and automobiles throughout the nation)


Or, if your neighbors have trouble understanding what is at stake...

Or you can tell it like it is in vibrant blue and orange...

And lastly, a lovely new addition inspired by a gaffe of presidential candidate B. Hussein Obama...

One question, will they really make my shrubbery look this good?

The American Flag - Section 8

The other day while talking with a friend I stated "I know that should not be done because it violates 'Rule 8'." I was wrong - the law I was thinking of is Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8.

As penance for my misquotation, here, in its entirety, is Section 8 of Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code. And one question - does letter "f" apply to a header in a pickup truck?

TITLE 4--FLAG AND SEAL, SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE STATES

CHAPTER 1--THE FLAG

Sec. 8. Respect for flag

No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

(c) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

(e) The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

(f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

(k) The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

(Added Pub. L. 105-225, Sec. 2(a), Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1497.)

Lunchtime with Cormac McCarthy

It used to be that a dear friend of mine (previously a literature professor at a local university) and I would get together on the pretense of drinking over-priced coffee and talk about life. I have no lack of friends but lately I have found myself more and more pressed for time. My friend tells me that our coffees together were good for him but I'm sure that I got the better end of the bargain. Because of one of our conversations, my friend gave me a copy of "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy.

Seriously, if you haven't read this yet and you need a good read go get this book.

Also, if a book that I might enjoy is being made into a movie, I try to read the book first. So I had no trouble when my wife called me up (both of us acting like I didn't know that she was shopping for my birthday) and she asked me to "tell her a book title". No Country For Old Men (also by Cormac McCarthy). This book now goes with me to work and I leisurely read a few pages on my lunch hour. I learned my lesson with The Road - I couldn't put it down and I was done *too* soon. I'm gonna take my time and savor this one.

"Work really cuts into your free time." - I honestly don't remember if I heard that somewhere or if I made it up myself but its very true.

"What does not kill me makes me stronger." - This one keeps getting attributed to Nietzsche but it was originally said by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. I know that "Johnny" beat "Freddy" on this one because Goethe died twelve years before Friedrich Nietzsche was born.

I guess Nietzsche had a better agent.

Cognitive Dissonance

I'm not sure where I first heard that phrase but Randy Pausch gives a humorous example of it in his Last Lecture speech - I blogged about him earlier this month. (He continues to fight his disease)

Psychology is not my strong suit (not by a long shot) so it is very possible that I am misusing this phrase but I have noticed something lately and this is the phrase that keeps popping in to my head. I have noticed that I (and quite a few other people) are greatly effected by the death of one individual.

The "wheels of justice" will turn and try to make some human solution to the horror that happened Thursday morning. While I strongly support the "rule of law", many of us know that no man or woman can find their purpose until they look beyond themselves to the Almighty.

And there are some who show us The Purpose every day of their lives.

Weekend Review

Okay I've had a couple tough weeks at work and today was no better. (btw Boss, if you're reading this, then that comment about work was just "dramatic license")

Also profound loss has recently been a significant part of the lives of those closest to me. It's not easy to watch those that you love the most suffering. Unfortunately this is part of our lot in life. But I won't get too morose. Between all the intense emotions (not just the suffering) that I've been close to during this month, I have found myself unable to muster a good political rant.

On more than one occasion this month I have started a blog entry and found myself so distracted by life that I couldn't even put a paragraph together.

I'm sure I've got something in the email box that is sufficiently "rant-worthy". More later.

Cheri Sarver

Our beloved school principal passed away from injuries received in automobile accident that happened at 8:45am this morning.