Why is it that the Republicans have to compromise with the Democrats? Why don't the Senate Democrats compromise to the House of Representative's position? The media would have you believe it is the Republicans being recalcitrant. It is Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats who refuse to accommodate the American people -- after all there are more elected Republicans at the Federal level than Democrats. Public polling shows the public wants ObamaCare gone or at least reformed in significant ways (choose any poll you like, they all agree). Americans want the Feds to spend less money, but the Democrats refuse to pass a budget.
I say shut the f-er down. Stand firm, see who blinks.
I know, the Stupid Party will cave. The leadership has no backbone. I suspect I am not alone when I tell you this crisis is an audition of sorts for the Republican Party. My votes future support and donations are at stake. Do they want to be the party of conservative values, of limited government or do they want to be Democrat-lites and moderates?
September 30, 2013
Twenty
Join me in wishing my youngest son best wishes for a happy 20th birthday today. Yes, long time readers, the little one is twenty years old!
September 29, 2013
Hooray! Woot!
Forget that boring crap below, I have breaking news of the best kind!
There was Wonder Bread at the store today! Queue up the marching band! Use more exclamation points!
Ch-ch-changes
I am certain it is fair to say I have been a faithful correspondent at this blog. I make no claims as to quality, but I have presented you with quantity. I have averaged about 40 posts a month since the last week of March 2005 (102 months and 4,230 posts). There are people who post more. But all things considered, I think I have faithfully followed the Acidman's admonition to post every single day*.
Anyway, this post is to beg your indulgence in the coming weeks as my electronic scribblings may miss a day or two here and there. I am facing a brutal work schedule and the wife and I have decided to make some changes. We bought a house on the north side of the big city this week. We are leaving this hamlet for the delights of suburbia.
The change was harder for my wife than it was for me. We have lived in this town for 24 years (not in the same house). She has strong ties to the community and knows a lot of people here. I have never worked locally. When we first moved here and I worked at a factory, it was in another town. When I went into sales it was in an office by my lonesome. Working from home has also kept me sheltered. I know some folks from coaching various sports when my kids were small, but I have not formed the attachment my wife has through raising the kids, school, PTO,play group, clubs, and work.
In any case this is my typical long-winded way of telling you that painting and packing and moving and maintaining my work schedule will all take precedence over bloggedity philosophizing. Oh, it could be I won't miss a beat. After all, as evidenced by much of my body of work, I spend about 15 minutes a day writing this stuff. But I am warning you things may get spotty.
All of which begs the question, would anyone have even noticed?**
*sadly, today much of the blog world has no idea who the Acidman was.
**nothing like ending a post with a one sentence paragraph comprised of passive voice. That is surely the way to leave 'em longing for more!
Anyway, this post is to beg your indulgence in the coming weeks as my electronic scribblings may miss a day or two here and there. I am facing a brutal work schedule and the wife and I have decided to make some changes. We bought a house on the north side of the big city this week. We are leaving this hamlet for the delights of suburbia.
The change was harder for my wife than it was for me. We have lived in this town for 24 years (not in the same house). She has strong ties to the community and knows a lot of people here. I have never worked locally. When we first moved here and I worked at a factory, it was in another town. When I went into sales it was in an office by my lonesome. Working from home has also kept me sheltered. I know some folks from coaching various sports when my kids were small, but I have not formed the attachment my wife has through raising the kids, school, PTO,play group, clubs, and work.
In any case this is my typical long-winded way of telling you that painting and packing and moving and maintaining my work schedule will all take precedence over bloggedity philosophizing. Oh, it could be I won't miss a beat. After all, as evidenced by much of my body of work, I spend about 15 minutes a day writing this stuff. But I am warning you things may get spotty.
All of which begs the question, would anyone have even noticed?**
*sadly, today much of the blog world has no idea who the Acidman was.
**nothing like ending a post with a one sentence paragraph comprised of passive voice. That is surely the way to leave 'em longing for more!
September 28, 2013
Weekend Funny
A five year old boy asked his friend what a penis was. His friend's
response was that he would ask his dad. That evening the second boy
asked his father. His dad gladly exposed himself to his son, and holding
his penis in one hand said "Son, this is a penis. In fact, if you take a
closer look you will see this is a perfect penis."
September 27, 2013
Friday Covers
Neal Young is a lousy singer. His tone is akin to cats fighting inside a metal trash can. Somehow, his tone is perfect for the songs he writes.
Jewel has a beautiful voice, but this version just seems to lack the emotion Young puts into it, for me, it comes across as contrived.
Metal band Seether offers a straight-up take. I rather like this one.
September 26, 2013
Oh yeah, he did mention something about that...
You cannot stand it that you have no idea what I was doing yesterday while on vacation. I know it is true. I suspect you sat around mumbling all evening, changing the channels in frustration, your attention span shortened, your temper kicking off with the slightest provocation. I am certain you tossed and turned all night, kicking the sheets and blankets off, pulling them over your head in an endless cycle of restless dozing.
Or maybe not.
Anyway, here is a brief musical interlude that hints at the events not far in my future:
Plus, it is always good to jam with The Animals
Or maybe not.
Anyway, here is a brief musical interlude that hints at the events not far in my future:
Plus, it is always good to jam with The Animals
September 25, 2013
It is Trash Day in my neighborhood
I am on vacation today. I have important stuff to do. I rolled the garbage cans to the curb already. I drank one cup of coffee and ate a granola bar. I just poured another cuppa Joe. Later, I will be very busy doing very important, life changing stuff.
September 24, 2013
I wonder...
...how many Republicans truly have the courage of their convictions? I wonder how many of our modern politicians believe in their cause sufficiently to endanger their next election? Read the biographies of the antebellum Congressmen and Senators. Some were on the wrong side of history, some stood for principles in spite of heavy public pressure. But they stood by their convictions.
Congressional courage will be tested in the coming weeks. Let the Democrats shut down the beast. Take the blame. Remember, almost 70% of the country does not like ObamaCare. We don't want it and this is last and best hope to kill it. For once, stand firm with a clear message -- "The Democrats forced this unpopular law on us, The Democrats are shutting down the Government." Repeat every time a talking head shoves a microphone in your face with the conviction of a POW citing name, rank, and serial number. Say no more and say no less and make sure every diarrhea mouth politician in the Party sticks to the short and simple two-line script.
Congressional courage will be tested in the coming weeks. Let the Democrats shut down the beast. Take the blame. Remember, almost 70% of the country does not like ObamaCare. We don't want it and this is last and best hope to kill it. For once, stand firm with a clear message -- "The Democrats forced this unpopular law on us, The Democrats are shutting down the Government." Repeat every time a talking head shoves a microphone in your face with the conviction of a POW citing name, rank, and serial number. Say no more and say no less and make sure every diarrhea mouth politician in the Party sticks to the short and simple two-line script.
September 23, 2013
They really hate you and wish you would die a slow painful death.
I have long maintained history never repeats. But we can learn lessons, and history never lies (historians do, that is another post, though). Lefties get outraged, they stamp their feet, cover their ears and mumble "na,na,na,na" when we point out the record of tyranny, murder, and misery perpetuated by the leftist governments in the past 100 or so years. The lessons of the French Revolution are ignored as mere excess. Yet the the height of the Reign of Terror saw French Society adopt every leftists' wet dream -- outlawing religion, class warfare on a grand scale, the rich losing their heads just for being rich, complete and total equality. Every citizen was guaranteed and equal outcome, not opportunity. The result was squalor, famine, and despotism. It was like Occupy Wall Street and the Haymarket riots and Mao and Joe Stalin combined in one bloody monumental failure.
But that could never happen in America. Our lefties are civilized, they only want the best for America. Our Progressives only want to help the less fortunate. That is why they are using the IRS to target Americans who hold a different viewpoint. That is why we see lefties hoping Second Amendment supporter's kids get shot, like a professor in Kansas tweeted. That is why Democrats wish those who oppose ObamaCare could be denied healthcare.
No, Lefties in America would never succumb to the historical excesses imposed whenever progressive ideology has been implemented. The previous sentence is dripping in sarcasm in case your screen does not recognize my custom sarcasm font.
But that could never happen in America. Our lefties are civilized, they only want the best for America. Our Progressives only want to help the less fortunate. That is why they are using the IRS to target Americans who hold a different viewpoint. That is why we see lefties hoping Second Amendment supporter's kids get shot, like a professor in Kansas tweeted. That is why Democrats wish those who oppose ObamaCare could be denied healthcare.
No, Lefties in America would never succumb to the historical excesses imposed whenever progressive ideology has been implemented. The previous sentence is dripping in sarcasm in case your screen does not recognize my custom sarcasm font.
Weekend observations
The wife and I made our way to Brown County, Indiana on Saturday afternoon. Nashville is a charming little tourist trap arts and crafts community. Mostly, I stood or sat around outside people watching while the wife fought the crowds in the shops and stores. The weather was pleasant and following her around was better than mowing the yard or cleaning the garage or doing other chores.
I will say this about the crowds; if every person walking the streets of Nashville in Harley garb actually owned a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, that company would be more valuable than Apple and there would be more black and orange badged cycles on the roads than cars built by GM.
I will say this about the crowds; if every person walking the streets of Nashville in Harley garb actually owned a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, that company would be more valuable than Apple and there would be more black and orange badged cycles on the roads than cars built by GM.
September 22, 2013
Save the puppies!
What say you wish my big brother the happiest of birthdays today?
Hope you have a good one Otter.
Hope you have a good one Otter.
September 21, 2013
Weekend Funny
A lady goes to the doctor and complains that her husband is losing interest in sex. The doctor gives her a pill, but warns her that it's still experimental. He tells her to slip into her husband's mashed potatoes at dinner. So that night she does just that.
A week later she is back at the doctor and and says "Doc, the pill worked great! I put it into his potatoes like you said. Not even five minutes later he jumped up, raked the dishes and food onto the floor, ripped off all of my clothes and ravished me right there on the table!"
The Doctor says, "I'm sorry, we did not realize the pill was so strong. The drug company will pay for the broken dishes and any damages."
"Nah", she says, "That's OK. We're not going back to that restaurant anyway."
A week later she is back at the doctor and and says "Doc, the pill worked great! I put it into his potatoes like you said. Not even five minutes later he jumped up, raked the dishes and food onto the floor, ripped off all of my clothes and ravished me right there on the table!"
The Doctor says, "I'm sorry, we did not realize the pill was so strong. The drug company will pay for the broken dishes and any damages."
"Nah", she says, "That's OK. We're not going back to that restaurant anyway."
September 20, 2013
Coffee and cartridges
See, here is the thing, if the Big Cheese at Starbucks decides that asking you not tote a gun onto his premises is the best thing for his business and stockholders, so be it. Buy your coffee elsewhere. Make it at home. Start your own coffee shop. You have options. Your rights are not being trampled here.
September 19, 2013
Words fail me. Our perhaps it is the ability to form words. Or maybe I just don't know what the heck I am doing.
I have had this vague outline for a post rattling around in my brain for a long time now. I am frustrated in that I lack the ability to move my thoughts to paper electronic screen. It is, alas, a nostalgia post. Perhaps you enjoy those walks back through my own Vaseline-smeared lens of past reflection. More likely, you read a line or two and move on. Such is life in the blogging world.
My great-grandma Hoosierboy's house had a particular smell that I can sniff clearly in my brain but escapes description via letters and words. It was the smell of cooking grease, and pipe tobacco, and old people; all supported by a subtle, permeating odor of apples in the cellar. It is my failure to accurately depict that particular olfactory base that plagues me to no end.
I never imagined myself a good writer. I strike out more often than not. I have occasionally hit a solid single up the middle. A few times I succeed with a little bloop to shallow right. The post swirling unformed in my skull will take true Mantle-esque home run power, perhaps even juiced with steroids and a corked bat to succeed. Unfortunately, that effort is far beyond my meager writing skills. I fear I will never put the unformed thoughts to electronic page and you will never have the option skip right over the words.
My great-grandma Hoosierboy's house had a particular smell that I can sniff clearly in my brain but escapes description via letters and words. It was the smell of cooking grease, and pipe tobacco, and old people; all supported by a subtle, permeating odor of apples in the cellar. It is my failure to accurately depict that particular olfactory base that plagues me to no end.
I never imagined myself a good writer. I strike out more often than not. I have occasionally hit a solid single up the middle. A few times I succeed with a little bloop to shallow right. The post swirling unformed in my skull will take true Mantle-esque home run power, perhaps even juiced with steroids and a corked bat to succeed. Unfortunately, that effort is far beyond my meager writing skills. I fear I will never put the unformed thoughts to electronic page and you will never have the option skip right over the words.
September 18, 2013
Can we check some facts?
Popular sentiment is the public punished the Republicans severely for shutting down the Government during the Clinton administration. But the losses in the following 1996 elections amounted to two seats in the House of Representatives. Republicans gained two seats in the Senate. Clinton bowed under pressure to institute welfare reform and budget cuts, and Republicans maintained control of Congress. The result of the governmental shutdown was not the stinging rebuke from the electorate the media or Republican leadership would have us believe.
The media went apeshit and was mean to sitting Congressmen, but in the end, the shutdown had little effect on the Party and a significant effect on policy going forward. Clinton won the propaganda war, the Republicans won the policy war. I will take that every time.
The media went apeshit and was mean to sitting Congressmen, but in the end, the shutdown had little effect on the Party and a significant effect on policy going forward. Clinton won the propaganda war, the Republicans won the policy war. I will take that every time.
Dear Republican Party
I am sorry to put this in such stark terms. I am a conservative first, Republican second. It is time for for all Republicans to stand for your beliefs. Perhaps you should take a page from the Democrat playbook. They took the opportunity to pass ObamaCare when they had a chance, despite the certainty it would cost the party seats in the House and Senate. Wrong-headed legislation was the result, but at least they stood by their political convictions. It is time to see if the Republican Party is the Party of Reagan or of Rockefeller. If the Republican Party is really aiming to be Democrats-lite, it is time to find an organization that represents my political beliefs.
Too many Republicans, especially the leadership, are only interested in staying in power. During the last election top Republicans were livid over right-wing TEA Party types offering primary challenges to old-line Republican RINOs. I say better a Democrat than a Democrat-lite. Who wants RC when Coke is available?
You are faced with an opportunity to slow and or stop ObamaCare. Every Republican has paid lip service to ending this miserable legislation. Now it is time to put courage to your convictions. If this is not the issue to take a stand, then what is? At some point you must have principles, even if it means you may lose the next election. We sent you to Congress to represent the People, not the Party. Perhaps the leadership of the Republican Party failed to pay attention in history class. In the antebellum period the Whigs tried to straddle the slavery issue, mouthing platitudes, but never taking a firm stand, more interested in winning elections than doing the right thing. In case you have not noticed, there has not been a Whig Party for 150 years.
I am certain I speak for millions of Americans when I vow going forward I will vote only for candidates that represent my limited Government, free enterprise convictions -- regardless of party. If that means I have to "waste" my vote on Libertarian legalize marijuana nut-jobs, so be it. If that means I "waste" my vote by choosing "none of the above", so be it. I would rather let a liberal win than vote for a moral political coward only interested in power, not principle. I will never hold my nose and choose the "lesser of two evils" again. After all, isn't that still a vote for evil?
UPDATE:
It looks like I am not alone when I say shut it down, cut spending, defund the ACA. Most of you agree with me.
Too many Republicans, especially the leadership, are only interested in staying in power. During the last election top Republicans were livid over right-wing TEA Party types offering primary challenges to old-line Republican RINOs. I say better a Democrat than a Democrat-lite. Who wants RC when Coke is available?
You are faced with an opportunity to slow and or stop ObamaCare. Every Republican has paid lip service to ending this miserable legislation. Now it is time to put courage to your convictions. If this is not the issue to take a stand, then what is? At some point you must have principles, even if it means you may lose the next election. We sent you to Congress to represent the People, not the Party. Perhaps the leadership of the Republican Party failed to pay attention in history class. In the antebellum period the Whigs tried to straddle the slavery issue, mouthing platitudes, but never taking a firm stand, more interested in winning elections than doing the right thing. In case you have not noticed, there has not been a Whig Party for 150 years.
I am certain I speak for millions of Americans when I vow going forward I will vote only for candidates that represent my limited Government, free enterprise convictions -- regardless of party. If that means I have to "waste" my vote on Libertarian legalize marijuana nut-jobs, so be it. If that means I "waste" my vote by choosing "none of the above", so be it. I would rather let a liberal win than vote for a moral political coward only interested in power, not principle. I will never hold my nose and choose the "lesser of two evils" again. After all, isn't that still a vote for evil?
UPDATE:
It looks like I am not alone when I say shut it down, cut spending, defund the ACA. Most of you agree with me.
September 17, 2013
You want gun control?
Then how about we have Obama stop arming Mexican Drug Lords, and terrorist groups in Syria? I suspect not giving those killers weapons would have saved far more lives than the creation of a gun registry in America. Never running guns to Mexico is more likely to save lives than limiting magazines capacities at home.
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