GeMa and Papa

Band of Brothers Adventure

2009-12-05T11:18:00.002-06:00

Paul and I went to the Strategic Air Command Museum this morning to meet and get autographs of some of the original members of the World War II saga "Band of Brothers". There were over 900 people there to do the exact same thing! In the one hour and 15 minutes they alloted for signing we were able to get two signatures! But they were really cool.

This is TSgt Donald Malarkey signing our book "Band of Brothers" by Stephen Ambrose who, by the way, was not there to sign autographs. Seems he passed away in 2002 unbeknownst to me. That is another emabarrasing story best not told here...

Here is Edward Heffron signing our book.

In an interesting side note to the autographs, Mr. Malarkey explained that in this book there is a page quoting Shakesphere that says, "From this day to the ending of the World, ...we in it shall be remembered...we ban of brothers" which is from the play Henry V. He and Mr. Heffron always sign that page in honor of the seargant who suggested the quote to Stephen Ambrose as the title of the book.

We hope the recipient of this autographed book enjoys having this memento in their collection. These gentlemen were a pleasure to meet and their efforts during World War II in behalf of our Nation and freedoms are very much appreciated.

Annual Robbins Family Christmas Exchange

2009-11-27T20:31:00.002-06:00

So...here is the news that you have all been waiting for...the results of the annual Robbins Family Christmas Exchange drawing.

And the results are.....

This Family..........Buys for this Family

Mom and Dad..........Denos Family
Newton Family........Jon Family
Jason Family.........Hughes Family
Jon Family...........Mom and Dad
Paul (Family???).....Doty Family
Doty Family..........Newton Family
Denos Family.........Jason Family

Merry Christmas to all!!!!!

Finally-An Accurate Explanation

2009-11-25T11:41:00.002-06:00

When someone annoys me or I disagree with someone during a discussion/argument I generally get emotional during the argument and yes, I even have been known to become angry. But as anyone who knows me well will tell you once I have gotten angry (or as I like to describe it...become passonate) I get over it and I generally get over it pretty quickly and forget about it.

Because of this it has been difficult for me to understand why those in the press, politics, and academia have not let go of Sarah Palin. At this time last year she and Senator McCain were soundly defeated in the general election. She has since resigned her governership (which, in some circles, could be considered another defeat of Mrs. Palin). So why, in the name of all that is important have these folks continued to villify, demean, attack, and ridicule Mrs Palin over the past year? You would think they would move on to attend to their liberal agenda. I have been unable to adequatly explain this behavior. Until yesterday.

Robin of Berkley, apparently a lifelong liberal who has recently denounced her liberal beliefs, provided what I think is the most insightful analysis of this behavior. In the process she also provides enlightment into the liberal mind that I have been unable to coherently describe in my attempts to articulate what really scares me about liberal thought.

I encourage you to read her analysis which can be found in the article The Wilding of Sarah Palin at the American Thinker web site.

Please comment on your opinions about her thoughts.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Zip Lines at the Berry Farm

2009-10-17T19:08:00.006-05:00

The kids had some fun on the zip lines at the Berry Farm Haunted Playground!

Gabe was the expert and zoomed along on the zip line with no problem.

Then Sammy got onboard and hung on as long as he could.

Then there was Alycia...I have no words for this...you just have to see it.

Berry Farm Fun at Halloween

2009-10-17T19:01:00.001-05:00

On a cold Saturday afternoon we decided a trip to the Bellevue Berry Farm was in order with Greg and Alycia's family. For me at least it has been about 25 years since I have been back and we had a ball. The kids played in the haunted playgrounds, roamed the pumpkin patch field and picked out their Halloween pumpkins and enjoyed some hot chocolate around the cast iron fire stove in the main Barn. We had a ball! See for yourself.

On our way up to the barn to visit the Farm! Lots of ghosts and folks to greet us on the way in.

I really liked this cowboy hanging on the front of one of the barns! The kids didn't see him at first but when we got in the wagon they all looked up and saw him for the first time! Their eyes got kinda big. If it were night I think they would have really freaked!

The kids are ready to go and play with the resident characters!

We are off on the hay ride through the haunted farm where we see lots and lots of haunted areas of the farm before getting out to the pumpkin patch itself!

Then we made it out to the pumpkin patch and the kids were very excited to get out of the wagon and find their pumpkins!

Pumpkins are cool but getting your hands muddy is not! Just ask Sammy! He did not like the mud or tripping over the vines left on the ground.

Enjoying hot chocolate in the Barn!

And as always...watching the caramel apples being made...nice and hot!!
What a great day at the Berry Farm...we loved it.

Abbott and Costello and Computers???

2009-10-17T08:58:00.004-05:00

This is TOO good! Yes, this IS what they would do if they were still here!
Read on:
You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this. For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on....If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, 'Who's on First?' might have turned out something like this:

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one..

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'.

COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on 'START'.............

SlapHappy at GeMa's

2009-10-11T20:42:00.004-05:00

A typical Sunday evening at GeMa's house...I can't explain it...you just have to see it to believe it!
Enjoy.

Snow in the Graveyard!!

2009-10-10T15:24:00.003-05:00

Mark this day my friends...Saturday October 10, 2009...first snowfall of the year in Omaha...high today...38 degrees! Hey Al (Gore) I'm still looking for that Global Warming you keep telling us about!! Our first snowfall last year came on November 12, 2008 so we are a whole month earlier than last year. I forecast a long and cold winter!

Our snow covered graveyard in front of the house...the pumpkins don't know what to do!

We got about 4 inches but the ground is still warm so it is not going to stay around long.

Even Mr. Gouhl and Ms. Witch got snowblown...the bat is hunkering in Mr. Gouhl's lap to keep warm!!

Compare this picture with the picture of the front of the house in the previous post..same view different sight! Notice how the snow is not sticking to the ground yet! That will soon change...maybe tonight. We have a HARD FREEZE warning issued for Saturday night through Sunday afternoon.
Jon and Cheryl...hope you still want to come out in two weeks! The forecast is still calling for an Indian Summer (tempratures in the 80's) for the end of the month. We will see.

Halloween at Home

2009-10-03T20:09:00.004-05:00

So this year Marlene wanted to decorate the house early for Halloween! Two weeks ago Paul came over and got out the few things she has bought over the past year or two. So now right outside of Tricia's window is the Haunted grave yard!

On the porch our visitors are greeted by Mom and Dad who are just hanging out! This is what we look like after not showering for a few days!

Ashley and Savannah worked on their pumpkins and they are on the porch to greet all who would like to enter the house. You may ask what ever happened to "carving" a pumpkin. My answer to you is...Knives, Ashely, Savannah...are you kidding me??!!!

What is a "Welcome" sign without someone there to greet you??? This fella has lost his head he is so happy to see you!!

A few fall pumpkins set in Mom's planter to protect he south end of the grave yard!

Gargoyles set out just to set the tone! If they don't keep out the unwanteds then we have ADT to take care of the situation!

Terrorist Catch and Release Program

2009-08-24T22:02:00.004-05:00

In 2003 the US Navy saw the handwriting on the wall when it came to dealing with captured terrorists and they instituted a heretofore classified program to ensure that both the terrorists and the bleeding heart liberals were appeased. This program was recently made public given the current mood in Washington to investigate every "torture" claim alleged during the Bush administration.

The new "terrorist catch and release" program is believed to have been approved by then Vice President Cheney himself. According to sources that spoke to me on condition of anonomitity, becaue the program unitl just today was classified, Vice President Cheney signed the order himself and when asked by President Bush about the program VP Cheney supposedly answered, "Not to worry Mr. President, I hear it'sreally an E Ticket ride! They will love it!".

Recently, a demonstration of this new policy was provided aboard the USS Enterprise during a visit to the Persian Gulf region. The results were...well...see for yourself!

Our sources tell us these particular terrorists were never touched...they were captured in this very automobile in downtown Bagdad and transported directly to the ship. This is in keeping with the older DoD policy of "Don't ask, Don't Tell". We don't ask them if they are terrorists anymore since, according to the Main Street Media they weren't telling us anyway. They were caught...and then released! With this new policy...who needs waterboarding?! How do you say, "Tally-Ho" in Taliban-ese?

Obama Declares Conservitives Enemies of the State

2009-04-15T07:23:00.003-05:00

As President Obama moves closer to completing his first 100 days in office his administration continues to set the foundation of how they will govern the United States through his presidential term as any new administration would be expected to do.

The Obama administration released a report through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on April 7, 2009 identifying groups who are threats to the security of the United States and who he will order his administration to concentrate their efforts on to stop any threat to this country.

So how will President Obama deal with the North Koreans, Chinese, Russians, Islamist extremists, Iranians, Syrians, Columbians, Cubans and other countries who are the stated enemies of the United States? This report doesn’t tell us. Why? Because the enemy identified in this report are citizens of the United States who happen to have conservative political beliefs.

Did you get that? CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES WHO ARE IDEOLOGICAL OPPONENTS OF LIBERAL POLITICAL BELIEFS ARE A GREATER THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES (ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT OBAMA) THAN COUNTRIES WHO HAVE OPENLY STATED THE UNITED STATES IS THE GREAT SATAN AND SHOULD BE DESTROYED BY ANY AND ALL MEANS POSSIBLE!

I know this is hard to believe because you would expect our President to put American citizens at the top of his list to serve, protect and defend as he swore to do when he took the oath of office to be the President of all U.S. Citizens but folks, I’m telling you President Obama sees the America that you and I grew up and believe in as an America that has been unfair to the “have nots” and he is out to right this great wrong. He is going to even the playing field first by making it impossible for the “evil, greedy corporations” to earn a profit and then he is going to take the profits that are made by the evil corporations and give that to the people who have been without for so many years.

Pure liberal thought! In order to make this happen he has to portray ANY opposition to this purpose as an enemy to the United States that he can attack using the resources of the United States (FBI, CIA, Department of Defense, etc) to legally oppose under the authority granted to him by the Constitution to “defend against any enemy, foreign or domestic”.

Here is just an example of what the nine page report says.

"Rightwing extremists are harnessing this historical election as a recruitment tool. Many rightwing extremists are antagonistic toward the new presidential administration and its perceived stance on a range of issues, including immigration and citizenship, the expansion of social programs to minorities, and restrictions on firearms ownership and use. Rightwing extremists are increasingly galvanized by these concerns and leverage them as drivers for recruitment. From the 2008 election timeframe to the present, rightwing extremists have capitalized on related racial and political prejudices in expanded propaganda campaigns, thereby reaching out to a wider audience of potential sympathizers."

The report continues:

"Rightwing extremists are harnessing this historical election as a recruitment tool. Many rightwing extremists are antagonistic toward the new presidential administration and its perceived stance on a range of issues, including immigration and citizenship, the expansion of social programs to minorities, and restrictions on firearms ownership and use. Rightwing extremists are increasingly galvanized by these concerns and leverage them as drivers for recruitment. From the 2008 election timeframe to the present, rightwing extremists have capitalized on related racial and political prejudices in expanded propaganda campaigns, thereby reaching out to a wider audience of potential sympathizers."

This is very scary stuff folks! Our government has just officially declared that what has, up until now, has been considered normal everyday conservative thought is now being declared as rightwing extremism. In this report DHS has outlined to all enforcement agencies, both federal and state, that those who participate in “rightwing extremism” are represent a threat to the United States and will be monitored and where appropriate will have every resource of the United States brought to bear to oppose any threat.

And folks in this country thought the Bush Administration’s Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (where it was thought that the Bush Administration was spying on U.S. Citizens…and which President Obama has kept in place) was such an infringement on our rights! This president has just declared that what almost half of American citizens believe to be “extremist” and therefore a threat to the security of the United States.

What can you do? The most effective means of ensuring your rights is ensure this president and his administration, the congress and the judiciary are given the constitutional obstacles needed…an active participation in the Congress and Senate. Let your elected officials (at all levels of government) know who you are and how you feel about what they are doing. In other words…hold our elected officials accountable. Secondly, start preparing now for the coming elections in 2010. Take back the Congress and Senate by electing those with strong Conservative values to oppose the efforts of this administration to subvert our unalienable rights granted by God and espoused in our constitution.

The DHS report can be found here.

Blessing Day for Mallory Kate Robbins

2009-04-12T16:55:00.006-05:00

Easter Sunday saw a gathering of a good portion of the Robbins Clan for the blessing of Mallory Kate Robbins at the La Mesa 2nd Ward in La Mesa, California. Proud daddy Jon blessed his daughter with a circle consisting of his Dad, brothers Jason and Paul and a gaggle of other family and frineds. Here are some of the pictures taken just after Sacrament meeting outside the chapel.

Mommy Cheryl holds the beautiful baby Mallory (she could loose the headband...but that's another story). Mallory is really a beautiful baby!

Drago the Dragon wormed his way into the family picture.

Leave it to Jason to arrive late at the picture taking...

Getting everyone set up for the shot is not an easy task!

Emily spotted Drago and grabbed hold...I thought he was going to be kidnapped.

Da Boys with baby Mallory!

The Proud Grandparents with the Robbins Family

Brady is the proud Big Brother...he loves baby Mallory!

Will the Achievers Win?

2009-02-25T11:25:00.004-06:00

We've been in the midst of an assault on the founding of the American way of life for decades, and most people have lived under the assumption this is just the way the country is. We've got leftists, and we've got us, and there's always going to be a battle with these people. But I don't think anybody ever saw, average Americans didn't see this kind of assault on the basic premise that is the United States of America in their lives. They think they win some, they lose some, we go back and forth with Republican presidents, Democrat presidents and so forth. Be a constant battle. I think what's settled in here is a realization among people who make the country work: there's nothing to stop this. It's totally up to Obama. We've got a sycophant, slavish press, which is praising all of this. Newsweek magazine, "We're All Socialists Now," was the cover two issues ago, happy and giving evidence why. Oh, we're happy, we're socialists now, we're all socialists -- this is an objective that many people have sought, and it's an assault on freedom, it's an assault on liberty, and a lot of people don't see any stopping it.

Let me share with you some excerpts of Thomas Sowell today. "A Fatal Trajectory," is the title of his piece. "An increasing number of recent letters and e-mails from readers strike a note, not only of unhappiness with the way things are going in our society, but of despair. Those of us who are pessimists are only a step away from despair ourselves, so we may not be the ones to offer the best antidote to the view that America has seen its best days and is degenerating toward what may well be its worst. Yet what hope remains is no less precious nor any less worthy of being preserved. First of all, the day-to-day life of most Americans in these times is nowhere near as dire as that of the band of cold, ragged, and hungry men who gathered around George Washington in the winter at Valley Forge, to which they had been driven by defeat after defeat. Only the most reckless gambler would have bet on them to win. Only an optimist would have expected them to survive."

Against the background of those and other desperate times that this country has been through, we cannot whine today because the stocks in our pension plans have gone down or the inflated value that our houses had just a few years ago has now evaporated. In another sense, however, looming ahead of us -- and our children and their children -- are dangers that can utterly destroy American society. Worse yet, there are moral corrosions within ourselves that weaken our ability to face the challenges ahead. One of the many symptoms of this decay from within is that we are preoccupied with the pay of corporate executives while the leading terrorist-sponsoring nation on earth is moving steadily toward creating nuclear bombs. Does anyone imagine that we will care what anyone’s paycheck is when we see an American city in radioactive ruins? Yet the only serious obstacle to that happening is that the Israelis may disregard the lofty blather coming out of the White House and destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities before the Iranian fanatics can destroy Israel.

"If by some miracle we manage to avoid the fatal dangers of a nuclear Iran, there will no doubt be others, including a nuclear North Korea. Although, in some sense, the United States of America is still the strongest nation on earth militarily, that means absolutely nothing if our enemies are willing to die and we are not. It took only two nuclear bombs to get Japan to surrender -- and the Japanese of that era were far tougher than most Americans today. Just one bomb -- dropped on New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles -- might be enough to get us to surrender. If we are still made of sterner stuff than it looks like, then it might take two or maybe even three or four nuclear bombs, but we will surrender. It doesn’t matter if we retaliate and kill millions of innocent Iranian civilians -- at least it will not matter to the fanatics in charge of Iran or the fanatics in charge of the international terrorist organizations that Iran supplies. Ultimately, it all comes down to who is willing to die and who is not. How did we get to this point? It was no single thing.

"The dumbing down of our education, the undermining of moral values with the fad of 'non-judgmental' affectations, the denigration of our nation through poisonous propaganda from the movies to the universities. The list goes on and on. The trajectory of our course leads to a fate that would fully justify despair. The only saving grace is that even the trajectory of a bullet can be changed by the wind. We have been saved by miraculous good fortune before in our history. The overwhelming military and naval expedition that Britain sent to New York to annihilate George Washington’s army was totally immobilized by a vast impenetrable fog that allowed the Americans to escape. That is how they ended up in Valley Forge. In the World War II naval battle of Midway, if things had not happened just the way they did, at just the time they did, the American naval force would not only have lost, but could have been wiped out by the far larger Japanese fleet. Over the years, we have had our share of miraculous deliverances. But that our fate today depends on yet another miracle is what can turn pessimism to despair."

That's Thomas Sowell and it sounds like he's turned to despair, sounds like he's admitting that he is in the midst of despair. Now, I am like every one of you. I look around and I see these momentous, never dreamed of changes taking place left and right. I don't know about you, but the thing that frightens or angers or frustrates me more than anything is not that there are people who would try it, because they've always been there, they've always been amongst us; we've always had our totalitarians living amongst us; we've always had our authoritarians, and we've always had them making plays and attempts at control. The thing that we look out and see different today is the complacency among an increasing number of our fellow citizens, and that is what we look at and say, "How the hell do we change that?" We've talked numerous times about how the pop culture has been lost, that it is just assumed now that everything in it is liberal, and that's just normalcy. It's not even ideological. And that people who are not that way are nerds, geeks, kooks, freaks, people to be laughed at and made fun of.

We have a significant number of Americans, young, who really don't care, not aware, life is too good, life is too happy, they're just going through things trying to enjoy the day as best they can, being told they have no morality, no judgmentalism, there is no right and wrong, nobody has the right to say that about anybody else's actions. People have been silenced into acquiescence because they fear being labeled racist or sexist or homophobic or bigoted. Trial lawyers have made entrepreneurism even tougher. They've reduced the number of entrepreneurs because entrepreneurism is by definition risk taking. The trial lawyers, the tort bar is right out there ready to sue anybody that does anything wrong in the process of trying to innovate. And so the fear of being sued, the fear of losing it all, the fear of litigation, the fear of having to hire a lawyer has caused a lot of entrepreneurs just to shut down. So there are serious things, and we've got a president who is the exact opposite of the way he is portrayed. We have a president who has ambitions that are not being reported on. We have a president who was not vetted.

We have a president who was purposely not vetted, a man whose associations, voting record, life, all tell us precisely that none of us should be surprised at anything he says, anything he does, anything he's trying to achieve. Any attempt to be truthful about it is met with, "Oh, come on, don't be paranoid, don't be paranoid." It's a challenging time. And again, I think one of the greatest fears that people have is how to stop it. We've always thought you stop it at the ballot box. We look out across the countryside, and we see too many people who don't want to stop it. They want to get in on it. We don't have any political leadership on our side of significant voice, elected political leadership in Washington. So it's all up to individuals here to do the best they can. People want leaders. People respond to leadership. They're desperately crying for some at the elected level in Washington, DC. So we're left to hope that something out of our control arrests all this, like Obama overreaching or the media suddenly seeing the light and start to criticize Obama, all these things that we really can't make happen, like the fog that stopped the British from wiping out George Washington.

People don't like having to place hope in things that they have no idea if they'll ever happen, much less win. So it's left up to individuals now simple to not participate in this. It's time for entrepreneurs to go ahead and be entrepreneurial. It's time for people to start accessing the opportunities that still do exist in this country. It is the people who have always made this country work, it's the people who will continue to make it work, and it's the people who will eventually turn this tide, and it will be turned, because these people are going to overreach. We have been here before. You think it's bad now, you shoulda seen what Republican conservatism was like in 1965, after Goldwater's defeat. It was bad, and incidentally, back then, at that time, the party's moderates were telling us, the conservatives of that day, the same thing we're hearing, don't be conservative, shut up, we must become a moderate party.

Look at what happened to us with Goldwater. We just got shellacked. "We can't do it." The moderates tried to take over the party back then, history is repeating itself in this party, as I speak. It's all happened before. Look at what happened. From 1965 through 1976, we had conservatives made up of our conservative intelligentsia that I often refer to on this program telling us to nominate candidates like McCain, to try to work with Obama, to go out and get some Democrat votes by being this, to get other Democrat votes by being that, we've gotta broaden our horizons, conservatism alone is not enough, we've gotta moderate, we've gotta be moderates, and they lost every election that mattered. And when we did have a Republican president win like Nixon, we created OSHA, we created the EPA, we had a president trying to please Democrats because he knew they hated him and he wanted to be loved. We had wage and price controls when unemployment was 3.6%, inflation was hardly anything. Then we had Watergate, and it was bad after Watergate. It was bad.

Now, in 1965, we didn't have the home problem, we did have the mortgage crisis, but we did have LBJ taking over everything, we had the Great Society, we had it all, we've been through it, we went through it with the New Deal, it took us decades -- this is what depresses people -- took us decades to recover from Roosevelt, took us decades to recover from Johnson. Will it take us decades this time and will we have the decades?

Folks, the bottom line here is, yes, there's some despair. But we have been here before in history, and it's not time to tune out and give up. You might want to try an Atlas Shrugged, but you're going to have to feed your family. You're going to have to do what you have to do to feed your family, to feed yourself -- and really, at this point, the country (whether they know it or not) is depending on us to make the country work. They may think they're depending on Obama. Obama will not make the country work. Obama is a cog in the wheel. White House people put out a statement today to Jake Tapper that Obama has accomplished more in the first 30 days than any president in recent history.

That's true, but "accomplishments" are not always positive. He has wreaked a lot of havoc. He has sown the seeds of a lot of truly dangerous things lurking down the road. We have always had obstacles place in front of ourselves, and the obstacles we have today are not insurmountable. Thomas Sowell is right: They're not nearly as bad as what George Washington faced. They're not nearly as bad as what the Donner Party faced. They're bad in the sense that all history begins when we were born, and so the things that are happening to us, who cares what happened to other people? They're bad! But it always helps to maintain some perspective, because people who have been through far worse have emerged, and have led the country out of these doldrums. It can happen again because it must. If there is to be a country as we grew up in it, suitable to be inherited by your kids and grandkids, that's totally up to us. We cannot quit.

---Rush Limbaugh Monolouge - 24 February 2009

The Administration and the Stock Market

2009-02-21T05:03:00.005-06:00

Why isn’t President Obama and his Administration concerned about the staggering losses in the stock market? (Note: In August 2008 the Dow Jones Industrial average (DJI) was at 13,000 today it is at 7,000…a drop of over 6,000 points!)

Because he wants the stock market to fail...it's as simple as that. Through the implementation of the bailout, stimulus, bank recovery act and now the housing bailout he has created an environment to encourage investors to pull out of the stock market. Causing a staggering loss of wealth.

Why? Fairness.

What does “Fairness” mean?

The stock market has lost trillions of dollars of value…which means families have lost what they have invested for the future. Invested by “the rich”. He doesn’t care…because now those rich are going to be just like the poor. Without money. President Obama is happy! This is fairness. To make everyone share the same level of misery. Make everyone poor. Except of course…those who control the purse strings. Him. His administration. Those in Congress.

Further, fairness means, in the terms of those of the liberal mindset, that those who HAVE in this country (the rich…or those who invest in the stock market) need to be FORCED to give of their means (the stimulus package) to those who do not HAVE (the poor of this country). Furthermore, the Administration (Attorney General Coulter) has said the “poor” in this country are the “people of color” and those who believe the stimulus package is unfair are “racist”!

Here we have it folks…the CHANGE President Obama ran on in his campaign is simply this…they are now in charge of the treasury. They have their hands on the money (taxpayers money…paid by those who pay taxes…by definition those who are NOT poor) and they are going to give it to those are poor. The poor …they who are the “victims” of capitalism! The poor who have not…even with all the gains brought about by affirmative action. They have had it…they are tired of waiting. They are in power now and they are going to take what they think is theirs (your tax money) and give it to those who they think should have it. They are going to take from those who play by the rules, invest in this country (the stock market), make a better life for themselves and their families, pay their bills, and play the game of life by the rules and just GIVE what is not theirs to those who have not earned it!

Take that you rich (white) folks!

And we are the racists!!

Get ready folks...there is more to come!

There is also a backlash coming!

History Will Vindicate President Bush

2009-01-15T11:40:00.002-06:00

Farewell President Bush! Good luck to you in your retirement. I for one appreciate your stewardship of the Presidency of the United States and believe the measures you to0k to ensure our safety were appropriate.

History will be kind to you as predicted in this article!

100 Things...Challenge from Heidi

2008-12-03T12:01:00.003-06:00

So I have taken the challenge from Heidi to paste this list into my blog and highlight those items that I have done in my life and add a few comments for you to get to know (or know more) about me. So, here goes!

Copy and paste it into your blog and then just bold the things you've done!

1. Started your own blog (You are reading it)
2. Slept under the stars (On many occasions...sometimes I didn't even want too)
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain (We won't say that we barely survived!)
9. Held a praying mantis (Have done the praying mantis too!)
10. Sang a solo (Only in the shower)
11. Bungee jumped (NOT going to happen)
12. Gone on a hot air balloon ride
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (A very excellent experience)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (Don't eat the raw squid in Korea!)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (Flown over it several times)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (Slept on a daytime train too)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (In Britan!)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (Oh the shame!!!)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (Now theres a picture no one wants!!!)
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (Not directly...had to use a cardboard box with a hole in it)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (Both...once even saw a sunset twice in one day!)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise (Do Navy cruises count??)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (From the air! Looks wet...)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (Nice but no thanks....)
36. Taught yourself a new language (German!)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (Never going to happen!)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (You don't want this to happen...trust me)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (Way cool...)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (Not cool!)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (Smaller than it looks in pictures...)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia (Unofficially...don't ask)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (Would rather eat them...reduces sales though!)
62. Gone whale watching (From the balcony of my hotel in Hawaii)
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (Once...passed out too!)
65. Gone sky diving (Well sort of...jumped out of a C-130 at night over a communist country)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (Yes...and paid for it too!!)
68. Flown in a helicopter (Including to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba! Quite the ride!)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar (Yuk!)
72. Pieced a quilt (Church service project...we even have pictures!)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (Heaven forbid!)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London
77. Broken a bone (Does breaking someone else's count??)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (It's bigger than it looks)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican (Even saw the Pope!)
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (No...not in the police blotter section)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (With Ronald Reagan)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one (Ask Ginger, Alycia and Tori! Found them too...Oh you mean...dead..Yes)
94. Had a baby (NOT going to happen)!
95. Seen the Alamo in person (The real one AND the one John Wayne defended)!
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (Not good for scuba or snorkling!)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own

Results of the Annual Thanksgiving Day Family Christmas Draw From the Hat

2008-11-28T12:59:00.003-06:00

OK...I know YOU are all dying to know who has drawn who for the Christmas gift exchange. So without further delay here are the results (fully certified by the accounting firm of Robbins, Hughes, Denos, and Doty)!

Mom and Dad buy for the Denos Family
Newtons buy for Paul
Ginger and Greg buy for Jon, Cheryl, Brady and new baby
Jason and Heidi buy for the Doty Family plus one
Alycia and Greg buy for the Newton Family
Jon and Cheryl buy for Jason, Heidi and Emily
Paul buys for the Hughes Family
Tori and Shawn buy for Mom and Dad

The only rule is this...the present cannot suck!

Happy Shopping!

The Pilgrims...Incentive Works

2008-11-22T07:51:00.004-06:00

This is a great story from the LA Times...Reminding us, as we seem to need to be reminded now more than ever, that individualism, not soicalism, is key to our way of life! Enjoy the story. Online the story can be found on the LA Times website.

'Giving Thanks'

Courtesy of Curtis Publishing Company.
"Freedom From Want," a painting by Norman Rockwell.

It was Thanksgiving, and for the first time our whole family was together.
By Jennifer James November 23, 2008

It was Thanksgiving, and for the first time our whole family was together. Mom and Dad had to drive all night just to get here, but boy was it worth it! The Grandsters really know how to do it up right. The Grandsters being Grandpa and Grandma. We were all seated at the table, and I couldn't wait to dive into those mashed potatoes and gravy. And the smell of the turkey -- I thought I was going to faint with happiness.

"What's that, Mindy?" demanded my little cousin Sam. He can be such a pain. He is 8 years old, two years younger than I am.

"What's what?" I asked.He pointed to a little paper cup containing just three kernels of corn beside Grandpa's plate. I opened my mouth to answer and then realized I didn't know. Ugh! How I hate admitting that I don't know something!

Grandma answered, "It is to pay tribute to the Pilgrims."

"But why three kernels?" asked the always curious Sam. Give it a rest, I thought.

Grandpa answered, "It reminds me of what a tough time the Pilgrims had. In the beginning, three kernels of corn was each person's daily food ration."

The table got real quiet after he said that.

Grandpa continued, "Against all odds, they made a life for themselves in the wilderness. Let's talk more about it after dinner.

"Sure enough, dinner was over and Sam wanted to know more."

Squanto taught the Pilgrims to grow corn!" Sam exclaimed.

He's never going to forget that -- he played Squanto in the Thanksgiving Day play at school.

"That's right," Grandpa said. "But at first the Pilgrims were terrified of the Indians, as they called them. Then one day a tribesman named Samoset ventured into their encampment. He was tall and dark and by many accounts quite handsome. Loudly and plainly he proclaimed, 'Welcome!' in perfect English."

"The Pilgrims must have freaked!" shouted Sam.

Grandpa laughed and agreed. "I'm sure you're right. He had learned the language from English fishermen. For the Pilgrims, life was a constant battle for survival. Later, Governor William Bradford made a decision. Instead of the colonists sharing their crops equally, he assigned a parcel of land to each family and told them they could keep whatever they produced for themselves."

"Then what happened?" asked Sam.

"At last the Pilgrims began to prosper. Governor William Bradford wrote in his book 'Of Plimoth Plantation,' 'This had very good success, for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.' ""Shoot! If you can keep everything you make, of course you're going to work harder. Everybody knows that."

Grandpa answered, "The first seed had been planted for the American Revolution. People were free to practice their religions as they saw fit and were free to keep the fruits of their labor. This had never happened before in the history of mankind.

In the words of William Bradford, 'As one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation.' "

"That William Bradford sounds like a pretty cool guy," said Sam.

"He was a pretty cool guy," Grandpa said with a chuckle.

A Vetrans Day Salute to Our Military Past and Present

2008-11-11T13:32:00.003-06:00

To Our Vetrans...
Thank You for your service,
your courage,
your heroism,
your conviction,
your dedication,
your sacrafice,
but most of all for our Freedom!

In Salute see all of the pictures in the following links...

http://www.tom-phillips.info/images/cool.pics.military.htm
http://www.tom-phillips.info/images/cool.pics.military.2.htm
http://www.tom-phillips.info/images/cool.pics.military.3.htm

Obama to "Rule" not "Govern"

2008-11-10T10:46:00.006-06:00

CHANGE is coming! Instead of the Leader of the Free World governing as a "lone wolf" and not conferring with America's leaders, the UN and the Global leadership before taking unilateral action our President Elect has decided that he will be ready to "Rule" on day 1.

Huh??

That's right..."rule" not "govern". I thought this kind of thinking was what they wanted to change...a leader (George Bush) imposing his will on the country? I have three words for you...Bait and Switch!

Here it is at NewsBusters.org (if the article has not been taken down)...

Obama Spokesman Says 'Obama Ready to RULE on Day 1'
By Warner Todd Huston November 10, 2008 - 02:02
**Video Below the Fold**
The co-chair of Barack Obama's Transition Team, Valerie Jarrett, appeared on Meet the Press this weekend and used, shall we say, an interesting word to described what she thinks Barack Obama will be doing in January when he's officially sworn into office. She told Tom Brokaw that Obama will be ready to "rule" on day one. It's a word that reflects the worst fears that people have for Obama the "arrogant," the "messiah," that imagines he's here to "rule" instead of govern.
Jarret told Brokaw that "given the daunting challenges that we face, it's important that president elect Obama is prepared to really take power and begin to rule day one."

Prop 8 Thoughts

2008-11-08T07:25:00.003-06:00

I just wanted to take a second and say how proud I am of Jason, Heidi, Jon and Cheryl for their involvement in getting out the vote for the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign in California. For those of you who are not familiar with the issue Proposition 8 is an inititave to amend the California State Constitution to define "Marriage" as being between a Man and a Woman.

This issue was placed on the ballot after the California Supreme court, by a vote of 5-4, overturned the will of the citizens of California last year by striking down a law, passed by a large majority of California to define marriage. Since that law was struck down as being "discriminative" over 18,000 same-sex marriages have been performed in California.

Anyway...you guys rock! Mom and I are very proud! We are sure you really learned alot from your experience!

I am watching the protests going on in California at both the Oakland and Los Angeles temples and reading the several hundred posts to protest blogs. The ignorance of people just overwhelms me.

This is irony...Several thousand people who want to practice a "non-traditional" form of marriage (same-sex) which has been forbidden by law as desired by the majority of the populace are protesting! Who do they choose to protest? The one group, among many, who supported the proposition who also desired to practice a non-traditional form of marriage (poligamy) which was banned by law and who have adbided by the rule of law for the past hundred and thirty years!

Go Figure!!!

I am also surprised (not really) that there are only 70,000 Mormons in California but the Yes on Prop 8 vote count exceeded 5,280,000 and they are singleing out the Mormons for retribution! You guys must have really made an impression and upset the applecart!

GOOD JOB!!!

Newsweek: President Elect Obama is "Creepy"!

2008-11-08T06:52:00.005-06:00

Barack Obama is my President. He is the President of the United States of America...that's a done deal. This in no way changes what I believe about him. I am just waiting for the day when those who so enthusatistically voted him into office realize they bought into someone who is not capable of accomplishing the things he promised but rather were sold a bill of goods by a very sophisciated used car salesman!

What I cannot believe nor explain is the behavior of most of the main stream media who, even though they were not convinced of Mr. Obama's credibility pushed for his election. Part of the explanation has to be so they could claim at least partial responsibility for getting the first black man elected to the hightest office in the country and pad their diversity credentials regardless of the impact on the country and the world. Sheer arrogance coupled with blatant ingnorance!

Here is the proof of that behavior. Wednesday night on the Charlie Rose Show, Evan Thomas and Jon Meacham from Newsweek are on the show talking about Obama and how "creepy" he is...

MEACHAM: He's very elusive, Obama, which is fascinating for a man who's written two memoirs. At Grant Park he walks out with the family, and then they go away.

ROSE: Mmm. Mmm-hmm.

MEACHAM: Biden's back, you know, locked in the bar or something.

ROSE: (haughty chuckle)

MEACHAM: You know, they don't let him out. And have you ever seen a victory speech where there was no one else on stage?

ROSE: Mmm.

MEACHAM: No adoring wife, no cute kid. He is the messenger.

THOMAS: There is a slightly creepy cult of personality about all this. I mean, he's such an admirable --

ROSE: Slightly. Creepy. Cult of personality.

THOMAS: Yes.

ROSE: What's slightly creepy about it?

THOMAS: It -- it -- it just makes me a little uneasy that he's so singular. He's clearly managing his own spectacle. He's a deeply manipulative guy.

MY COMMENT: These guys, they've been bugged by Obama all this time, they buried it, and only now they are starting to admit how they really feel, "slightly creepy cult of personality about this that just makes me a little uneasy, so singular, clearly managing his own spectacle, he's a deeply manipulative guy." You are hearing fear expressed here. The conversation continues...

ROSE: Watching him last night in that speech, he finishes --

MEACHAM: Yeah.

ROSE: -- and he sort of -- it's almost like he then ascends to look at the circumstance.

MEACHAM: He watches us watching him.

THOMAS: Watching him!

ROSE: Exactly!

THOMAS: He does --

MEACHAM: It's amazing.

ROSE: It is amazing.

THOMAS: He writes about this metaphor being a screen upon which Americans will project. He said they want of Barack Obama; I'm not sure I am Barack Obama.

ROSE: Mmm.

THOMAS: He has the self-awareness to know that this creature he's designed isn't necessarily a real person, and he's self-aware enough --

ROSE: Ahhhhhh.

MY COMMENT: They are now saying Mr. Obams ascends after his speech. He ascends and he watches us watching him. He has a self-awareness to know that this creature he's designed isn't necessarily a real person. What, are they calling him a phony? Yes indeed they are. So...buyers remorse started even before the purchase was made! And now they are afraind of what they bought! This is going to be interesting folks.

B-2 Crash Investigation Results

2008-11-03T15:16:00.005-06:00

FULL DISCLOSURE: Most of this post comes from the September 2008 Issue of Popular Mechanics.

For nearly 20 years the Air Force's B-2 stealth bomber had a perfect flying safety record. that ended last February when the B-2 Spirit of Kansas crashed on take-off at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The warplane ataggered just above the runway before dragging a wingtip on the ground and tumbling into a fireball. both pilots ejected safely a split second before impact. rsults of the Air Force's four month investigation have been released: the $1.4 billion technical marvel was brought down by a few drops of water in therr of the 24 air-pressure sensors that feed data to the B-2's flight control system (FCS). The "fly-by-wire" system's four computers translate the pilot's stick-and-rudder input into movement of the plane's control surfaces. The water, most likely the result of high humidity, distorted the plane's air-pressure readings. A crewman recalibrated the sensore, but once the moisture evaporated, the sensors gave false data. The FCS triggered a premature take-off and overruled the pilot's efforts to regain control. "The pressure differences were miniscule, but they were enough to confuse the FCS, "Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter, who headed the Air Force's investigation, tells PM. The sensors rearly pick up moisture in the climate-controlled hangars of the B-2's base in Missouri. but in Guam the planes are sometimes stored outside. Crews will now heat the sensors to evaporate any condensed water before calibrating them. (END OF POPULAR MECHANICS STORY).

The video below was released by the Air Force. This video shows two B-2 takes offs...the first is successful the second is the Spirit of Kansas. The camera used is most likely mounted atop the tower or some other tall building in close proximity to the runway.

A Must Read by Orson Scott Card

2008-10-23T07:34:00.004-05:00

This article is a great read and explains a great many things we have thought, discussed or observed but were unable to put into words concerning the fourth branch of government ( the Press) and how they are invested in the election of Barack Obama to the Presidency. Orson Scott Card is a Democrat and a newspaper columnist, and in the opinion he writes he takes on both the Democrats and press community. A little about Orson...

Born in Richland, Washington, Card grew up in California, Arizona, and Utah. He lived in Brazil for two years as missionary for the LDS Church. He received degrees from Brigham Young University (1975) and the University of Utah (1981). He currently lives in Greensboro, North Carolina. He and his wife, Kristine, are the parents of five children: Geoffrey, Emily, Charles, Zina Margaret, and Erin Louisa (named for Chaucer, Bronte and Dickinson, Dickens, Mitchell, and Alcott, respectively).

Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?

THE AP SAYS IT'S A DEAD HEAT!

2008-10-22T12:38:00.003-05:00

Folks...I know you are getting dishartened because of all the reports in the media saying the election is over and the Obama folks are already planning their win party and selecting the members of their administration!

Well folks...it's not true and you have to keep positive! REMEMBER...the press has a stake in getting Obama elected so they are going to do whatever it takes....EVEN NOT REPORTING THE TRUTH...to make you believe Senator McCain does not have a chance!

As the election gets closer the polls are going to start reporting what is really happening out there and not what they want to happen. WHY? Because in the end their credibility is at stake.

The AP themselves show this is not true. Click here to read that the election is really a DEAD HEAT!

Ahh...Getting Old!!

2008-10-22T08:47:00.007-05:00

It was fun being a baby boomer... until now. Some of the artists of the 60's are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate aging baby boomers:

They include:

Herman's Hermits --- Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker.
Ringo Starr --- I Get By With a Little Help From Depends.
The Bee Gees --- How Can You Mend a Broken Hip ?
Bobby Darin --- Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash.
Roberta Flack --- The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face.
Johnny Nash --- I Can't See Clearly Now !
Paul Simon --- Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver
The Commodores --- Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom.
Marvin Gaye --- Heard It Through the Grape Nuts.
Procol Harem --- A Whiter Shade of Hair !
Leo Sayer--- You Make Me Feel Like Napping.
The Temptations --- Papa's Got a Kidney Stone.
Abba --- Denture Queen !
Tony Orlando --- Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall.
Helen Reddy --- I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore !
Leslie Gore --- It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want Too !

And my favorite:

Willie Nelson --- On the Commode Again!!

Reasons To Believe In McCain

2008-10-21T10:46:00.002-05:00

Debra Saunders from, of all places, the San Francisco shares with us a very good summary of why John McCain is worth voting to be the President of the United States. Her article can be found by clicking here!

This article really captures the same feelings I have about Mr. McCain and I agree with most of Ms. Saunders analysis. Give it a read.

Magic Mirror

2008-10-21T09:31:00.004-05:00

If anyone knows which Wal-Mart is selling this mirror we would like to know right away!

Adapt, Overcome, Improvise!!

2008-10-21T09:11:00.006-05:00

Even the military has shortages of supplies. When told by the Air Force of a shortage of bullets for close air support used to support troops on the ground the Army answered with their own version of an airborne machine gun!!

I wonder if he gets frequent flyer miles??

What manpower shortage?

Jon...Is That You??

2008-10-16T13:45:00.002-05:00

Knowing my son the way I do I just had to ask this question when I saw this picture!

In His Own Words

2008-10-14T07:44:00.003-05:00

A Little Story...

Dad listened to his daughters impassioned plea not to vote for the Republican ticket. She learned at school and from her friends that the Democrats had the right idea...they want to ensure equality for those who are not so fortunate and who are being treated unfairly. Isn't that the compassion that is missing from the world to make living here a better place? What better place to make that happen than in the wealthiest country in the world!

His attempts to explain the concept of "redistributing wealth" were falling on deaf ears. She was just adamanat her Dad did not understand and was one of the "greed mongers" America had created.

So Dad decided to make the discussion personal.

He asked, "What is your grade point average in school?"

She replied proudly, "Dad, you know I get A's on most of my work. I have a 3.9 GPA!"

Dad asked, "Is that what most of the students in your classes carry?".

"Of course not, most of the class are "C" students or less!", she said.

Dad replied, "Do you think that is fair?"

"It's what they earn" the daughter said.

"Let's say the principle instituted a new policy at school," Dad said, "that borrows one or two grade points from those who make 2.5 or better and gave them to those who are only earning 2.0 or lower grades. That way everyone would be a "C" student and everyone would be helping out everyone else?"

"NO WAY!", she shouted, "I work hard for my grade...why shouldn't I get the whole grade!".

"Exactly," said Dad, "How is that any different that me earning my salary and not wanting to share it with anyone else?"

A Quote from Senator Barack Obama on Monday October 13, 2008 during a campaign rally...

"It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too." Sen. Barack Obama's words to a plummer when asked to justify the taxing of those who make over $250,000.

And now...a definition...

Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, and the creation of an egalitarian society. Modern socialism originated in the late nineteenth-century working class political movement. Karl Marx posited that socialism would be achieved via class struggle and a proletarian revolution, socialism being the transitional stage between capitalism and communism.

Socialists mainly share the belief that capitalism unfairly concentrates power and wealth into a small section of society who control capital, and creates an unequal society. All socialists advocate the creation of an egalitarian society, in which wealth and power are distributed more evenly, although there is considerable disagreement among socialists over how, and to what extent this could be achieved.

CAPITIALISM WORKS EVERY TIME IT IS TRIED!

SOCIALISM FAILS EVERY TIME IT IS TRIED!

No matter how you cut it Senator Barrack Obama is a socialist. The change he will bring will be change we cannot afford.

You decide!

Who Won the VP Debate?

2008-10-03T05:58:00.008-05:00

Sarah Palin won the VP debate. How do I know? Because I wanted her to win. Actually, she won because she did nothing to lose the debate. She performed just as any reasonable reviewer would expect her to have done. She was articulate, passionate, clearly in command of the facts of those issues she is well versed in and less in command of issues that are just now coming on to her radar screen...such as foreign policy. She was happy, upbeat and presented herself well. So did Joe (yes...he said she could call her Joe) who did better than expected because he limited himself to speaking like a person and not the tired 36 year Senator that he is...in other words...his answers were short.

Folks...debates are, at best, opportunites for the candidates to blow it! By not blowing it each did well. In this case Sarah could be said to have won the debate because if she clearly blew it the McCain/Palin ticket would have lost more than if Joe blew it (we would have just said, "That's the same old Joe").

As many of you know I like the comments of Peggy Noonan alot because she has a pretty sober outlook on things. You can read her take on the debate by clicking here.

A word of encouragement...please don't take too much stock in what you are hearing in the news media...if you listen to them the election is all over and Obama has already won.

Get fired up along with the folks at the after debate party...click here.

Only you can decide!

We Need a Little Humor Right Now

2008-10-03T04:42:00.004-05:00

These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are things people actually said in court, word for word , taken down and now published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan!
______________________ ________________
ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo?
WITNESS: We both do.
ATTORNEY: Voodoo?
WITNESS: We do.
ATTORNEY: You do?
WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
____________________________________
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: Uh, he's twenty-one.
________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you kidding me?
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Uh....
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS : Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Now whose death do you suppose terminated it?
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Guess.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All my autopsies are performed on dead people. Would you like to rephrase that?
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 P.M.
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy on him!
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Huh....are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________
And the best for last:

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law

**********************************
TO PUT A PRACTICAL SPIN ON THIS HUMOR REMEMBER THIS...

THERE IS ONLY ONE PRESIDNETIAL CANDIDATE WHO IS A LAWYER AND ITS NOT MCAIN!!!

Bankrupcy Is the Best Course of Action!

2008-09-30T11:55:00.002-05:00

Jeffery A Miron provides the best solution and the explanation that I have heard anywhere. You can read it by clicking here. It is well worth the read and once you have heard it please take the time to let your elected reprasenatives know you don't support the "rescue" or "bailout"!

Ding Dong the Bill Is Dead!

2008-09-29T23:29:00.006-05:00

The "bailout" bill has died an ugly death in the House by a vote of 228 to 205. After all the bargining, all the rheortic, all the posturing, begging and strong arming the House Republicans did not cave in. The defeat is a true representation of the failed leadership of the wicked witch of the house...Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Here is why the failure of the bill is a GOOD thing:

1) The taxpayers are paying for this bailout without getting anything in return (don't believe the story that the taxpayers will actually "make" money on the deal. Not one cent would ever make it's way to a taxpayer).
2) There is NO imminent stock market crash. If a crash were imminent companies would not be buying other companies. They would be liquidating their assets and their investors would be making a run on the banks to get their cash. In fact, most of the failed institutions are being purchased. In the last three weeks Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathawy has purchased three large corporations.
3) The reason the lending institutions are not currently lending is because they are waiting for the Government bailout. They are not even attempting to pursue any other course of action (which would cost them money and not give them the best deal). The government should tell these institutions they are on their own. Believe me, someone (even foriegn investors) would come calling quickly.
4) REMEMBER: If there were truly a crisis and imminent failure of the economy the democratic controlled House and Senate could pass any legeslation they desired. THEY ARE IN THE MAJORITY! They have not done that. WHY? Becuase the bailout is meant to help the financial institutions and the executives who run them...NOT YOU AND ME. The Democrats do not want to move forward on this without the Republicans because when it doesn't work they don't want to be left holding the bag alone. THIS BAILOUT IS ALL ABOUT POLITICS PURE AND SIMPLE!!!

Oh...for the record...I am VERY DISAPPOINTED in President Bush for caving in to the Democrats. And look what that got him. Nancy Pelosi once again stabbed the President in the back during her speech on the floor of the House blaming him for THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL MESS. For a woman...she has a large set of cojones!

Have faith folks! And remember who came back to town to run the failed bailout meetings at the White House! That's right...Mr. Change, Mr. "I Can Bring Consensus", ...the leader of the Democratic Party, the Democratic Nominee for President of the United States...Senator Barrack Obama.

You Decide!!!

If It's So Great - Why Don't the Democrats Pass It On Their Own?

2008-09-27T05:38:00.004-05:00

Now, you have three factions out of four who agree with the so-called rescue. And the rescue, the best way to explain what the immediate objective of the rescue is is to provide liquidity for banks. It's about the banking system so they can loan money, borrow money, and all of that. So you've got Treasury Secretary Paulson and President Bush and the Democrats that make up three legs of this stool, and then you have the conservative House Republicans who make up the fourth leg. Now, here's what you have to know. It's something very simple. All you have to know is this. The Democrats can make this happen in both the House and the Senate without a significant number of Republican votes.

So you might ask, "Well, then, why all this hassle? Why are the Democrats insisting on Republican support for a deal that the Democrats and Bush and Paulson could do without the Republicans, and they could cut the Republicans out of it?" I'll tell you why... They don't want to be on the hook alone because their mail and phone calls on Capitol Hill is overwhelmingly opposed to this, whether the people understand it or not, they're overwhelmingly opposed to it, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid admits that in a lame and very aggravating press conference Friday morning with Senator Chris Dodd (who is one of the senators responsible for the failure of Freddie and Fannie Mac in the first place).

Now, the Democrats, said on Thursday, "We had a deal, we had a deal, and then the House Republicans showed up and they sabotaged it." Let me ask a very simple question. Everybody knows the House Republicans are conservative. How in the world can it be a surprise that the House Republicans' attitude about this is going to be conservative? There never was a deal! The Democrats are continuing that lie today, from Harry Reid to Claire McCaskill on down the line, Chris Dodd, Chuck Schumer, they are all trying to say there was a deal done until McCain showed up and inserted presidential politics into this. This is a clear attempt by the Democrats here to ace out McCain, but there's something else going on. The Democrats have a majority in both Houses. They can do whatever they want. The House Republicans, Boehner and his gang, God bless them, they were cut out of this process by the same Democrats who are demanding their support. The Democrats are demanding that the Republicans cave on what they believe. The Republicans are insisting as part of the "rescue plan" that true ecnomic stimulants like Capital Gain and Corporate taxes are reduced, even if for a short time. The Democrats are saying, "Capital gains, what are you talking about, capital gains? Corporate tax cut, what are you talking about? Are you guys from Mars?" And the House Republicans so far are holding firm.

Now, if this bill that the Democrats and Henry Paulson and Bush want, if it's so wonderful, why don't they do it? And why don't they say, "Screw you, Boehner, and screw you, House Republicans? We're going to do this wonderfully great bill and you're going to get the left out of getting any of the credit for it." The Democrats want it both ways. If this bill is so good, they should pass it, they should brag about it, they should take credit for it.

But they have not done this...so, what do we know? What can we learn? What we can learn is that the Democrats understand this bill is dirty!!. Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican, South Carolina - Serves on Senate Armed Services and Judiciary Committees) was on Greta Van Susteren's show on Fox and said, (paraphrasing) "Look, one of the things that the House Republicans have found here is that 20% of something in this bailout is going to go to ACORN," -- the illegal Democrat fraudulent voter registration group that is directly tied to Barack Obama. Not 20% of the whole amount, but 20% of something in this bailout is going to ACORN. Well, how can the House Republicans support that? They have to fight that kind of thing. ACORN is in court half the time defending what they're doing, and half the time the liberal judges find them not guilty.

What they really want, what this is about in addition to many other things, they want the Republicans in the House to repudiate their own philosophy. They want the Republicans in the House to repudiate their base: us. Why? It's not just for bragging rights. It's because if the House Republicans will cave here on conservative principles -- you know, principles are principles. You don't cave on principles. You might cave on a tactic or a strategy, but you don't cave on principles. Now, if the Republicans can be forced into caving on their core principles, then can you imagine the The Democrats will say...Well, you did it once. So politically here, there is a lot at stake. You could say that the Republicans are fighting a hugely important battle, and they are doing terrific work. If this bill gets signed as it's apparently designed by the Democrats, then the Republican base will be very angry at the Republicans in the House, the conservatives, for abandoning them.

So that's part of what's going on.

The Democrats cannot get their story straight. It's beyond dispute at this point that congressional Republicans were never on board this, and yet the Democrats continue to say that they had agreed to a framework on Thursday. It is equally clear that the Democrat majority doesn't want to act without the cover of a substantial number of Republican votes.

Now, again, it needs to be pointed out, if this bill is so wonderful, and if it's so great, and if it's got so much in it that will save America, why don't the Democrats just say, "Okay, you guys don't want to be part of this, fine, we'll sign it, we'll handle it, we'll take all the credit for this, and you guys are going to be left holding the bag when America ends up loving us." If it's that wonderful, if it's that great, why do they want Republicans with them on the hook?

What we really want to happen here is a rescue, temproary in nature, to get cash into these financial institutions and the way to do that is to purchase these mortages from the troubled financial institutions as is being done...but we don't need the all the additional funds that the Democrats want to attach to the bill...like the funds to go to organizations like ACORN. The rescue bill should have stipulations that limit the use of the rescue funds to loans, credit and mortgages and don't allow executive payouts. In addition, to stimulate the economy, we need to suspend taxes on capital gains and corporate entities even if only for a limited time...this stimulates the economy...it has worked every time it has been tried. And lastly...we need to hold the executives and government overseers who are responsible for this situation accountable! Where is the special prosecuter for this. You know...the Democrats have wanted to investigate everything the Bush administration has done but there is absolute silence form the Democratic majority of both the House and Senate on having an invetigation into this financial crisis by a special prosecuter. I wonder why that is???

You decide!

Largest Re-Enlistment Ceremony - EVER!

2008-09-25T10:11:00.004-05:00

I'm sure you already know about this. It was shown over and over on
TV, right? OK, so maybe it wasn't shown over and over, but surely it was shown on TV at least one time, wasn't it ? This was the largest re-enlistment ceremony ever held in military history. The ceremony was held on the 4th of July, 2008 at Al Faw Palace, Baghdad, Iraq . General David Petraeus officiated. This amazing story was ignored by the 'mainstream' media. For those who have been in the Al Faw Palace, you'll have a better appreciation of the number of people crammed around the rotunda supporting the re-enlisting soldiers.

American men and women volunteering to stay longer in Iraq, so that when we leave, the new democracy will have a chance of surviving, is the exact opposite of what the media wants you to think about Iraq. If only a bomb had killed 5 civilians in a marketplace - now that's the kind of news the media is eager to tell you about. A pizzeria in Chicago donated 2000 pizzas that were made and shipped toBaghdad , and were delivered on the 4th. The media did report that 2000 pizzas were sent to Iraq on July 4th... The only part they left out of the report was the event for which the pizzas were sent.

I can't help but wonder... What would the opinion of Americans be if they weren't getting such obviously biased 'news?'

Typewriter Art

2008-09-23T10:11:00.003-05:00

Amazing talent!

Paul Smith, the man with extraordinary talent was born in Philadelphia on September 21, 1921 with severe cerebral palsy.
Not only had Paul beaten the odds of a life with spastic cerebral palsy, a disability that impeded his speech &mobility but also taught himself to become a master artist as well as a terrific chess player even after being devoid of a formal education as a child.
"When typing, Paul used his left hand to steady his right one. Since he couldn't press two keys at the same time, he almost always locked the shift key down and made his pictures using the symbols at the top of the number keys. In other words, his pictures were based on these characters .... @ # $ % ^ &* ( ) _ .Across seven decades, Paul created hundreds of pictures.

He often gave the originals away. Sometimes, but not always, he kept or received a copy for his own records.As his mastery of the typewriter grew, he developed techniques to create shadings, colors, and textures that made his work resemble pencil or charcoal drawings."
This great man passed away on June 25, 2007, but left behind a collection of his amazing artwork that will be an inspiration for many.

A Veterans Message for Senator Obama

2008-09-22T15:28:00.007-05:00

The war in Iraq has been put on the back burner for the most part late in this Presidential Campaign but the next President will have to deal with our military efforts in Iraq and Iran not to mention the next place we will have to fight (and don't fool yourselves...there will be a next place).

As a veteran enlisted airman I can attest to the intuitive sense each soldier has when it comes to evaluating their leaders...in particular their Commander-In-Chief...and deciding if that person is worth respecting as a leader.

So with that in mind lets cut away all the pizazz and hype and get down to brass tacks! I have my thoughts concerning the two men who desire to become the CINC (that's military jargon for Commander-In-Chief) but I am not on the battlefield right now. So here is a message from someone who has "been there and done that" to someone who wants to be there but really has no clue...watch, enjoy and once again marvel at our young men and women!

Wall Street "Crisis"

2008-09-17T09:18:00.009-05:00

***** SEE UPDATE AT THE END OF THE STORY 9/18/08 *****

Another crisis! The current Wall Street situation is not a crisis! It is a "market correction" that is as natural in the world of finance as passing gas after you eat beans! We are seeing what happens when the government meddles too much with the intuitive process of capitalism. So we ask...why is Wall Street in the situation it finds itself in? The answer is...politics. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac...both institutions set up by government and run by government appointed boards and subject to government regulation failed. Why...because they were required to adhere to government regulations! What government regulations? If you listen to the current congressional leadership...it is the fault of President Bush!

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, when asked Tuesday whether Democrats bear some of the responsibility regarding the current crisis on Wall Street, had a one-word answer: “No.”
Pelosi (D-Calif.) ripped President Bush’s “mismanagement” of the economy and a lack of regulation that led to the current situation.“I think the American people have had it with this situation where the middle-income people in our country are not protected from the ramifications of the risk-taking and the greed of these financial institutions,” Pelosi told MSNBC.When asked whether the Democrats “deserve some responsibility” regarding the economic crisis, Pelosi responded: “No.” (Source: The Hill Online: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pelosi-dems-bear-no-responsibility-for-economic-crisis-2008-09-16.html)

Well...I don't think so and to help me with my argument lets hear what Robert Reich, former Labor Secretary under President Clinton says about the current situation...(taken from MSNBC news transcripts on Monday September 15)...

"In the latter years of the Clinton administration -- when I was not there any longer, I should add -- there was an attempt by Alan Greenspan and Bob Rubin and a few others to deregulate financial markets, and they did. They split commercial banking off from investment banking. And many people say, "Well, that was the beginning of the problem," and then, of course, in 2003-2004, Alan Greenspan reduced short-term interest rates to the point where every single bank wanted to lend money. I mean, if you could stand up straight you could get a bank loan because there was so much pressure to get that money out the door. Money was so cheap. So, yes, there is some responsibility on Democrats, some responsibility on Alan Greenspan and the Fed. Barack Obama and Democrats blame the historic financial turmoil on the market. But if it's dysfunctional, Democrats during the Clinton years are a prime reason for it. The Clinton Administration was obsessed with multiculturalism, that dictated where mortgage lenders could lend, and originally helped create the market for the high-risk subprime loans now infecting like a retrovirus the balance sheets of many of Wall Street's most revered institutions. Tough new regulations forced lenders into high-risk areas where they had no choice but to lower lending standards to make the loans that sound business practices had previously guarded against making."

"It was either that or face stiff government penalties. The untold story in this whole national crisis is that President Clinton put on steroids the Community Redevelopment Act, a well-intended Carter-era law designed to encourage minority homeownership. And in so doing, he helped create the market for the risky subprime loans that he and Democrats now decry as not only greedy but 'predatory'".

So folks...there it is in a nutshell! Wall Street is going through some tough times and will for the next year or so. Now the Democrats are calling for MORE regulation of these markets. What we really need is more ACCOUNABILITY and less regulation (read meddling by the government) in this situation. Certainly we don't need the congress, who benefited most from the Freddie's and Fannie's existenance, to be investigating themselves. What we need is a special proscutor to investigate the government and it's REGULATION of the finance industry.

Mr. McCain is calling for accountability...Mr. Obama is calling for more regulation!

You decide...

***** UPDATE *****

The old saying goes that "You are judged by the company you keep"! Well folks much has been said about certain individuals Mr. Obama has associated with in the past...and that is what most folks will tell you, that those associations are in the past (Robert Ailes, Rev. Jerimiaha Wright, etc.) so OK. But what about those folks who Mr. Obama is choosing to associate with now? As we have been talking about the economy and financial worlds guess who are the economic advisors to Mr.Obama? Well...none other than Jim Johnson and Franklin Raines who just happen to be the recently dismissed heads of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae! That's right! This is what Mr. Obama calls CHANGE. Bring in the leaders of the oldest and largest financial institutions in the country whose collapse has been the major driver of our current economic situation!

How's that for leadership, judgement, experience and change?

USS New York LPD-21 We Will Never Forget

2008-09-11T14:05:00.007-05:00

USS New York
It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center .
It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.
Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,' recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. 'It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.'
Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and 'the hair on my neck stood up. It had a big meaning to it for all of us. They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back.'
The ship's motto?
'Never Forget'

Why "Community Organizer" is not a Resume Enhancer for Obama

2008-09-05T08:02:00.005-05:00

Over the past couple of nights Mrs. Palin and Mr. McCain and their supporters have made a mockery of Mr. Obama's experience as a community organizer being solid building block material to be counted as experience for "executive office". I certainly agree with this premise but I am hearing many people express resentment that the Republicans would mock the efforts of community organizers and their efforts to help those in need and reform communities. In my opinion the Republicans have not defamed the efforts of these organizers.

To make the point Michelle Malkin has filled in the details. Her comments can be read by clicking here. It is well worth the read and explains quite a lot!

Enjoy!!

Forget the Hype...Ask...How will Obama Govern??

2008-09-03T12:53:00.006-05:00

OK...it's time to get over the looks, feel and glitz of the Obama campaign and take a look at what Obama is trying to sell. In case you have not noticed Mr. Obama's poll numbers vs his Republican opponent are pretty close. That, in and of itself, is an interesting fact given Mr. Obama has been on the campaign trail for almost two years and has had more than his share of coverage from the Main Street Press (actually by a four to one margin...Mr. Obama has, for example, been on the cover of Time magazine seven times in the last year to Mr. McCain's two times...go figure). So why can't Mr. Obama close the sale

Foreign Policy Experience: None! But Mr. Biden (a 36 year member of the Senate and the current chairman of the Senate Foriegn Relations Committee) has a bunch! Mr. Obama only gives us "one-liners" when speaking of his diplomacy plans with China, Europe and Russia as it pertains to the security of America and our allies.

Tax Policy: What can I say? Up to now his policy and practice has been increase taxes and spend more money. Can we expect anything different? Oh yea, I forgot he has promised change! What change? Well...he has promised massive tax increases on investors, business owners, and the "wealthy". Since I am an investor (my 401K...my retirement...is my investment portofiolo) I can look forward to being taxed more. As I see it his tax plans would directly or indirectly harm US investors by raising the capital gains and dividends taxes. Since more than half of US households are equity owners I see this as alienaiting half the US population! About 38% of the US households pay no income tax today. Under President Obama (whose policies would shave 15.3 million households off the tax roles) that share would grow to nearly half of all american households. We have been told that everyone should pay their fair share...sounds pretty unfair to me!

Health Care: A national health insurance, heavily subsidized by taxpayers, would be offered to the currently uninsured. Mr. Obamas instincts on health care are always to move more people onto rolls of government-paid and government-mandated insurance, while depriving the marketplace the oxygen i needs for greater innovation, life-saving cures and efficiency. We have heard all of this before and no matter how much Mr. Obama promises us CHANGE we know a government giveaway when we see it!

Energy: Drill less, consume less, tax more, spend more. Not even a whisper about nuclear energy - the only meaningfully large, carbon-free source of domestic energy - he is promising a massive increase in domestic, noncarbon-based energy from sources that produce only a fraction of our energy now. Oh yea...he has also proposed massive tax increases on US oil and gas companies while continuing to cut off vast swaths of US territory to drilling! He can't close the deal because he does not get that the American people are wiser than they are given credit for...they know that if you restrict supplies and tax production the prices GO UP!

So what can we expect from a President Obama? Change?! Yup. A change in the tax rate! BUT...he promises he will only tax businesses! We don't have to worry about tax increases if we don't purchase any goods or services from businesses! We don't have about tax increases if we on our paychecks from businesses! DO WE?? And he will increase taxes on investors...we don't have to worry if we are not in the 50% of Americans who invest!

Hollywood has it's cause in Mr. Barack Obama! The media has it's historical change...a Black Man...that they want to take credit for getting into the White House. Washington has it's man in 36 year Senator Joe Biden who is the consumate beltway insider and professional politician! This is the ticket of the non-thinker...which is exactly who they want to attract to their cause.

If you listen to the hype and process the words they say nothing. If you review Mr. Obama's plans you will see the typical failed "tax and spend" strategies we have seen for years...repackaged.

Mr. Obama talks the "change" talk but walks the "same" walk.

We're the Ones with a Babe on the Ticket!!

2008-08-31T07:43:00.006-05:00

Yup...McCain is a Maverick! Who would have thought that his choice for VP would be a gun totin, pot smokin, pro-life, mother of five who just happens to be the Governor of Alaska and has earned the nickname "Sarah the Barracuda"!! And to announce that selection just hours after Mr. Obama's acceptance speech was a stroke of pure genius! And just when you thought it couldn't get any more interesting she turns out to really be a "babe"!! She was actually the runner up in the Miss Alaska contest...was chosen as Miss Congeniality (I don't think she had the M-16 with her then)! The otherwise very scary and uninteresting Presidential race has just become a "not to miss" event!

So who is Sarah Palin and why did McCain choose her (besides the obvious reasons that all know in our own minds)? The "who" is a young, articulate, smart, tough, pro-life woman who is the governor of our northernmost state. She is conservative and a mother of five, including a son in the Army who is set to be deployed to Iraq on September 11. Her youngest child has Down syndrome. The "Barracuda" nickname came from her aggressive basketball play on the state championship basketball team. She is a hunter, pilot and lifetime member of the NRA. She is blunt, outspoken and charming. And don't assume she can't stand toe-to-toe with Joe Biden. She is a great debater. And she was runner-up for the Miss Alaska title, won Miss Congeniality in that contest and plays the flute. She was born in the conservative heartland of Idaho before moving to Alaska as a baby. At school she was nicknamed Sarah Barracuda on the basketball court because she was so competitive and she led the prayers before each game. She was a “hockey mom” who cut her teeth at the parent-teacher association before becoming mayor of Wasilla, a suburb of Anchorage with a population under 7,000.

In 2006 she beat the corrupt male establishment in Alaska to win the governorship. She opposes same-sex marriage, but one of her first acts in office was to veto a bill blocking health benefits for gay lovers of public employees. She hunts, ice-fishes and is a crack shot who knows how to fire an M16 rifle. “I was raised in a family where gender was not going to be an issue,” she said. “The girls did what the boys did.” No softy, she sued to stop the federal government making polar bears an endangered species and favours drilling for oil in the Arctic wildlife refuge. However, she also levied a windfall tax on oil companies.

Palin was glamorous enough to have entered beauty contests to earn money for college. She was crowned Miss Wasilla in her home town and was runner-up in the 1984 Miss Alaska contest. “They made us line up in bathing suits and turn our backs so the male judges could look at our butts. I couldn’t believe it,” she told Vogue, more amused than outraged. Counterbalancing McCain’s reputation as a political dinosaur, Palin smoked pot when it was legal in Alaska, admitting, “I can’t claim a Bill Clinton and say I never inhaled”, and her children, Track, 19, Bristol, 17, Willow, 13, Piper, 7, and Trig, four months, have hippie-sounding names. Track, who joined the US infantry in September last year, is about to be deployed to Iraq. “It has really opened my eyes to international events and how war impacts everyday Americans like us,” she said. She also has a compelling story and is a most interesting choice. She will be known by all in 24 to 48 hours in this instant media world, and I am betting she will be well-liked.

The "why" is she is a governor and outside the Beltway. Conservatives love her, and she shares John McCain's value system. She is also known for taking on the establishment and ethics is her forte. She defeated the longtime senator and Republican governor in a primary and then went on and defeated the former Democratic governor. I don't believe people vote for vice president but only for president. That said, I think she is every bit as good a choice as Biden. Alaska has three electoral votes, and so does Delaware, so that part ends up being a wash. I think the potential for her to attract women voters is immense.

Palin’s selection on the eve of the Republican convention in St Paul, Minnesota, has set the stage for an epic battle for the votes of women, African-Americans, evangelical Christians and the young. The demographic wars that dominated the contest between Obama and Hillary Clinton are now set to be replicated in the national election. After Obama’s acceptance speech was wiped from the front pages, even he was forced to acknowledge that she “seems like a compelling person . . . with a terrific personal story”. Republicans are hailing their potential new vice-president as the all-American girl of their dreams.

Palin is gunning for the 18m women who voted for Hillary Clinton — a third of whom have not made up their mind to back Obama, according to the latest polls. McCain specifically deployed the language of feminism and civil rights when announcing her candidacy. “She stands up for what’s right and she doesn’t let anyone tell her to sit down,” he said.
Palin’s parents learnt that she had been selected by McCain while they were heading for a remote camp in Alaska to hunt caribou. “I was speechless,” her father said. The skin of a grizzly bear that he shot drapes the sofa in her office.

On stage in Ohio, the Palin family looked every bit as photogenic as the Obamas on their big night in Denver. Todd, her rugged husband, is part Yupik Eskimo and is four-time champion of the 2,000-mile Iron Dog snowmobile race. If that is not macho enough, he is a member of the steelworkers’ union and a seasonal oil production operator for BP, from which he earned $93,000 last year. He also helps to run the family’s commercial fishing business. They eloped in 1988 to avoid the cost of a wedding. “We had a bad fishing year so we didn’t have any money,” he said. Like his wife, he is able to swap the traditional roles. “My husband loves being a dad as much as I love being a mom,” Palin said. “I’ve got great help there.” She needs it. They “wanted enough kids for a basketball team”, she once said, but Trig was born this year with Down’s syndrome. Palin knew there were complications while she was pregnant but never considered an abortion. When he was born, she said, “I’m looking at him right now and I see perfection. Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking: in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?” Undaunted, she held a meeting as governor three days after giving birth. “I just put down the BlackBerrys and pick up the breast pump,” she said of her life as a working mother.

Folks, I think we have a winner here...there is one debate I will not miss...when Mrs. Palin wipes the floor with Joe Biden!

Stay tuned....

(My thanks to "The Sunday Times (Times Online http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4641030.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797093) and Ed Rollins at CNN Online)

Insight From Peggy

2008-08-28T06:28:00.007-05:00

One of my favorite political commentators is Peggy Noonan who writes weekly for the Wall Street Journal in the Opinion section. Today she offers some insight into the Dem convention to date and provides one of the most suscint explanations of the differences between the two political parties.

Click on the title of this post to view the entire article...good reading!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

From Peggy: Democrats in the end speak most of, and seem to hold the most sympathy for, the beset-upon single mother without medical coverage for her children, and the soldier back from the war who needs more help with post-traumatic stress disorder. They express the most sympathy for the needy, the yearning, the marginalized and unwell. For those, in short, who need more help from the government, meaning from the government's treasury, meaning the money got from taxpayers.
Who happen, also, to be a generally beset-upon group.

Democrats show little expressed sympathy for those who work to make the money the government taxes to help the beset-upon mother and the soldier and the kids. They express little sympathy for the middle-aged woman who owns a small dry cleaner and employs six people and is, actually, day to day, stressed and depressed from the burden of state, local and federal taxes, and regulations, and lawsuits, and meetings with the accountant, and complaints as to insufficient or incorrect efforts to meet guidelines regarding various employee/employer rules and regulations. At Republican conventions they express sympathy for this woman, as they do for those who are entrepreneurial, who start businesses and create jobs and build things. Republicans have, that is, sympathy for taxpayers. But they don't dwell all that much, or show much expressed sympathy for, the sick mother with the uninsured kids, and the soldier with the shot nerves.

Neither party ever gets it quite right, the balance between the taxed and the needy, the suffering of one sort and the suffering of another. You might say that in this both parties are equally cold and equally warm, only to two different classes of citizens.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Personally, I resent the part where we (the taxpayer) have to pay the bill for the Dems sympathy! And they don't seem to mind that arrangement at all!

Why We Should Want to be a Member of Congress

2008-08-28T05:37:00.004-05:00

Uncle Jay's recent lesson describing the essential differences between being in school and being "on the job" as a member of Congress! You would be surprised how much simularity there is. After you view this video you should be able to answer the most nagging questions you have about our Legeslative Branch of Government. Thank You Nacny and Harry!

Ask Me Why Dems Patriotism is Questioned!!!

2008-08-26T11:42:00.000-05:00

Yup, that's right folks...this is a picture of one of the screens at the Dem Convention on opening night...what you see are the words to the Pledge of Alliegiance! How many of you have to READ the Pledge of Allegiance???

This should tell you everything you need to know about the Dems...!

Dog Sense Politics

2008-08-26T08:33:00.001-05:00

Have you ever heard that a dog 'knows' when an earthquake is about to hit?

Have you ever heard that a dog can 'sense' when a tornado is stirring up, even 20 miles away?

Do you remember hearing that before the December tsunami struck Southeast Asia, dogs started running frantically away from the seashore at breakneak speed?

Do you know that dogs can detect cancer and other serious illnesses and can detect the danger of fire?

You have seen that somehow dogs always know when they can 'go for a ride' before you even ask...and how do those dogs get home from hundreds of miles away?

I'm a firm beliver that animals, especially dogs, have keen insights into the Truth.

And you can't tell me that dogs can't sense a potentially terrible disaster well in advance!

Simply said...a dog just KNOWS when something isn't right...when impending doom is upon us...they will always try to warn us....!!!

BE WARNED........

My view of the upcoming election is that no matter who is the Republican nominee Mr. Obama is the worst possible choice for the White House! He is a US Senator (read someone who has never "governed" anything) with 140 days of Senatorial experience and 12 plus years as a street activist! His running mate is another US Senator who not only has had a failed bid as a presidential contender but has labled Mr. Obama as "a man who is absolutley unqualified to be the President of the United States". On this Senator Biden and I agree!

Younger and Younger!!

2008-01-22T17:08:00.000-06:00

Then one morning Ginger went to change Maddies diaper! All of a sudden Ginger let out a yell. Maddie has been inducted into a secret society during the night as evidenced by the body art on her backside.

Upon inquiring we have discovered Maddie belongs to the secret order of Link...one of the followers of the game icon Link!

I smell the dastardly work of Paul the evil uncle in video land.

Christmas Party Pictures

2007-12-10T21:59:00.000-06:00

This past Saturday the Harris Omaha office held it's annual children's Christmas party at the movie theatre in Bellevue. We all got to the theater at 8:30 AM and met Santa (everyone got a Candy Cane) and got to sit on Santa's lap!

After visiting with Santa the kids got a popcorn/soda package and we all went in to see the movie Enchanted...everyone had a good time. We just thought we would share these Santa pictures!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

CHRISTMAS EXCHANGE

2007-11-25T10:20:00.000-06:00

As is Robbins Family tradition the Christmas Exchange drawing was conducted on Thanksgiving Day and here are the results!

Tricia - Jason, Heidi & Emily
Jon & Cheryl - The Hughes Family
Jason and Heidi - Jon, Cheryl & Brady (oh yea...Ranger too)!
Paul - The Newton Family
Mom & Dad - The Denos Family
Tori & Shaun - Mom & Dad
Greg & Ginger - The (soon too be) Doty Family
Greg & Alycia - Paul

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2007-11-25T09:59:00.000-06:00

A good portion of the family gathered in our new home this Thanksgiving and we were lucky enough to have Russ, Sue and Adrian visiting us from Missouri! We had lots of fun, food and football (the three F's!). The weather was cloudy a little snowy (about 1/4") and VERY cold (12 degrees)! The girls (well...most of them...were out on town at 4 AM on Friday getting those shopping specials while the men folk (and some of the women folk too) were snug under their quilted blankets!

Mom's New Dining Room Table

The Kids Table

Family and Friends Enjoy Thanksgiving!

Hot Dogs and SMOR's

2007-11-11T20:30:00.000-06:00

Papa finally got his backyard fire pit and the family came over to cook hot dogs and SMOR's on Sunday night! On Saturday Paul and Papa went out to Fremont to Brother Laymans farm and cut some logs so we have a stack of firewood to burn! It is going to be a fun winter!

Here is our new Big Sky fire-pit! The kids love

to identify the wild animals on the side and

they really get exicted when fire comes out

of the animals!

Hot Dogs are almost done...Gabe and Zachary

can't wait for dinner!

Pictures You Find When Unpacking!!

2007-08-17T06:53:00.000-05:00

We came across many pictures while packing and unpacking for our recent move. Many brought back fond memories, gave us laughs and some brought tears to our eyes. This picture did all of the above! Here we have the happy, the curious, the dapper, the elegant, the confused and the HAIRDO! Jason...I really don't know what to say!

Yes!!! You Need a Wake Up Call.

2007-07-24T10:52:00.000-05:00

This "Letter to the Editor" was sent to a Phoenix newspaper by an anonomous writer who, in my opinion, needs to have a reality check...

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being
surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base
and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were.
A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big
pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke
AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that
disturbed his/her day at the mall. When that individual read the
response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit.

The complaint:

"Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we
thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 a.m.,
a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall,
continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our
good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call [emphasis added by the blog editor], or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special? Any response would be appreciated."

The response:
Regarding "A wake-up call from Luke's jets" (Letters,
Thursday): On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed
four-ship flyby of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air
Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques.
Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was
previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on
May 30, Memorial Day. At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends
gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a
husband, son and friend.
Based on the letter writer's recount of the flyby, and
because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute,
the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt.
Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of
the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who
understand the sacrifices they have endured. A four-ship flyby is a
display of respect the Air Force pays to those who give their lives in
defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs
seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four
officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.
The letter writer asks, "Whom do we thank for the
morning air show?" The 56th Fighter Wing will call for you, and
forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques, and
thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the
most honorable formation of their lives.

Lt. Col. Scott Pleus
Commanding Officer
63rd Fighter Squadron
Luke AFB, Arizona

The New House

2007-07-22T17:29:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures of the new house in Papillion. This is the first home we have purchased. We were lucky to find this model ranch home and we are looking forward to getting moved in in early August 2007. The house is less than a half mile from Alycia, Ginger and Tori's homes so it will be nice to be so close and have the grandkids be able to ride over when they want too. We are just south of Walnut Creek Recreation Area (a.k.a. the fishin hole...for Reba it is the swimming hole)!

The nice part is the landscaping is already done!

No the house is not crooked...that's just me holding the camera lopsided...not unusual! I like the three car garage...now if Marlene will let me buy two more cars (or maybe a car and a boat)!

(More to Follow)

This is the view of Walnut Creek Lake just to our North.

The Family "POTTERHEAD"

2007-07-21T20:15:00.000-05:00

True to his nature as the family "GEEK" Paul was the first in line at the local Barnes and Nobel bookstore last night (actually at 4 AM)! View the coverage of your favorite "POTTERHEAD" by clicking here.

Making the family proud! Brother (Paul) and Sister (Tori) at Barnes and Nobles sometime during the witching hour!

Paul actually has one of these boxes at home. He needed to have the box so he could carry the $235 worth of hardback books, deluxe edition and audio CD's of the book. (In all fairness he was buying all of those for family and friends as well as himself).

Billboard Of The Day!!

2007-07-06T10:46:00.000-05:00

Space Shuttle Atlantis at Offutt AFB

2007-07-02T08:45:00.000-05:00

The Space Shuttle Atlantis was diverted to Offutt AFB on Sunday July 1, 2007 due to bad weather in Florida. The Shuttle spent the night at Offutt prior to departing Monday morning. This is the second shuttle to visit Offutt AFB...the 1st was in April 1985 (we were at Offutt then too) but that was just a quick refueling stop. We were able to run out to the base Sunday night and again Monday morning just prior to departure.

When last we saw Shuttle Atlantis she was...where???

She was docked to the International Space Station 265 miles overhead...then she comes to Omaha!

Ashley and Paul at Shuttle Atlantis just after arrival

Greg, Alycia and Family at the Shuttle just prior to it's departure Monday Morning

We were able to bring the Burton Family out to Offutt to see the shuttle!

Shuttle Atlantis being prepared for departure to Ft. Campbell KY then on to Florida

Shuttle Atlantis departing Offutt...2 July 2007

Eternal Emily

2007-06-25T11:59:00.000-05:00

On Saturday June 23, 2007 Emily Lynn Robbins was sealed to her parents Jason and Heidi Robbins at the San Diego Temple with hoardes of family in attendance! GeMa and Papa of courese were there and I can tell you it was a very emotional event.

GeMa and Papa with the sealed family!

Patriariach Dane from the Santee Stake performed the sealing! He also performed the partiarichical blessings for both Jason and Heidi before they were married! That was pretty special!

Of course afterwards we had to have a party so we all went over to Jason and Heidi's apartment complex and had a pool party that was not a "pool party" (to keep in compliance with the apartment laws against "partying" or some such reason).

Emily with the "mullett" look! She was jealous of her Dad's new look.

Laying the plans of attack! (It's always about a plan with Jason)

Dad still has to take care of business even at a party!

Emily seems to enjoy the attention!

Brady and Madelynne just hanging out (they are actually filling diapers)!

EMILY OUR "MIRACLE" CHILD

2007-06-22T17:05:00.001-05:00

On June 21, 2007 Emily became an "official" member of the Robbins family see details here! Not that she has been anything but our granddaughter since she came to live with Jason and Heidi! Waiting for the legalalities to catch up with the reality went really fast and the process of legalizing what Heavenly Father has made possible went even faster (three minutes according to Heidi)!

So GeMa and Papa are happy that all is finalized and we want Emily to know how much we love her. We have been amazed at the miracles she has wrought within our faimly from literally the first moment she came into our lives. Emily is truly a gift from God and we are looking forward to spoiling her and watching her grow strong in the gospel! We also are anticipating the moments she will provide her parents (with particular emphasis on her Father) that will remind him of his childhood activities!