I recently became aware of a new book about President Obama by Dinesh D'Souza titled The Roots Of Obama's Rage. Mr. D'Souza is Indian and understands perfectly the relationship of colonialism and independence because of the history of the British rule in India just as they did in Kenya. He makes the case that Obama is heavily influenced by the experiences of his father and grandfather at the hands of the British and carries the "Rage" against both America and England. He does not insinuate that he bears a grievance against the American people but does want to "fundamentally change" America. Some of the things he has done so far in his first two years have seemed confusing on their own such as the returning of the Bust Of Churhill, a gift to the White House from England, but in light of this book it makes sense. You may want to pick up a copy and check it out.
Immediately after the election in November 2008, I wrote the following piece asking what have we done by electing this unknown man to the Presidency? I think Dinesh D'Souza is asking the same question.
110508
So, what has just happened? Explain to me how this happened.
Imagine if back in 1948, just seven years after Pearl Harbor, America elected as president not Harry Truman but instead chose an American Japanese. What if in 1948 Americans elected someone of German or Russian decent? Would that have been possible? I know people today that still will not buy Japanese products because of the war with Japan. My Grandfather never forgave the Japanese. I have customers who ask specifically if the motorcycles we sell are made in America and not Japan because they still have strong feelings handed down to them from a parent or Grandparent.
Just seven years ago Arab Muslims perpetrated and carried out a viscous attack on our country killing 3000 American citizens and subsequently another 3000 plus have died fighting Muslim extremists in the war in Iraq and more in Afghanistan. Now we have elected to the highest office and to the most powerful leadership position in the world a man of African descent with an Arabic name with Muslim influences as a child.
Despite all of his potentially questionable relationships with his preacher, William Ayers and Chicago politics and being endorsed by someone like Louis Farrakhan there remain many questions. Clearly, without laying any blame whatsoever on Barak Obama for the actions of the terrorists on 911, the significance of our electing this man to the presidency on the rest of the world cannot be overlooked.
Barak Obama is no ordinary black American. He does not share the same "Black Experience" African Americans have other than deciding to say he does. Barak Obama's father was a Kenyan. I grew up in Kenya. I went to school with Kenyan's. Kenyan's do not have any of the Black American experience. They do not have any of our history of slavery and civil rights and prejudice common to black Americans. They have their own struggles to be sure but their frame of reference is not the same.
Barak Obama is an American African. By that I mean that he is an American citizen with an African father. That may not mean much to people in this country but in Africa, in Kenya, that is a big deal. They never ask who your mother was but who was your father. A man can have several wives but the children all have one father and his name is most important. So in Kenya, this morning Barak Obama being elected is a very big deal. In today's East African Standard, the daily newspaper, they are celebrating the election as if he is one of their own, which in a way he is. We may not understand for a while just how big of an issue this is but Africa now has a connection to US politics they have not enjoyed before.
The significance of the name Barak Hussein Obama in the Arab and Muslim world is huge. They must be praising Allah today for America has chosen the one man that puts an Arab name on the Presidency of the United States of America. I am in shock because I never dreamed this would be possible in just seven years from the worst terrorist attack in our history. To have given our enemies this kind of inspirational victory is astounding and dreadful while our solders are still in combat. Just go to the Al Jazeera web site to see their reactions.
As for what this election means here at home consider the many reasons that Barak Obama's promise of Change appealed to the voters. It is always exciting when promises of new and better and bigger things to come are proposed. Americans love to Supersize and to have the latest greatest everything. We are so used to hearing this we expect it to work whether it is a play-station game or an new clean and free source of energy.
But what kind of change will we get? Mostly I heard things that worry me. We can be assured that we will not be doing any drilling off our shores for oil nor will we be drilling in Alaska. There won't be any new nuclear power plants, no new refineries, and no new coal powered facilities. He said that he would make the cost of new coal powered plants so expensive that to build one would bankrupt the builder. He also said that the cost of energy will necessarily have to become expensive in order to get the people to cut down on consumption. They will have to learn to turn off the lights and turn down the thermostats and of course business will have to pass their increased costs on to their customers.
This is definitely going to be change but I think we will not find it to our liking. Mostly this will discourage our productivity and our zest and enthusiasm for doing things we like to do. This may be a tactic that the Liberal Left feels will bring about cleaner air or less reliance on fossil fuels and I know they desire this but a wind powered NASCAR race is likely to reduce attendance at the events. The same thing happens when you tax something into oblivion like ammunition. Who wants to go shooting if you can't afford the bullets. It happens when we make an activity so difficult, loaded down with regulations, fees and conditions that it is easier to do something else. Snowmobiling comes to mind where a sport and an industry suffer because of government interference. Try regulating the kids on a playground at recess. See if they continue to have fun and still want to play. Grown ups are not very different.
America works best with the least government intervention and our productivity is its highest when we do things ourselves. We are very good at self regulation and at solving problems when it is time to do so. Which I suppose means we should be able to solve this one too. This may require throwing a few of our own incumbents (read dead wood) out and replacing them with our own rock stars. Too many of the members of congress have become entrenched in the way of Washington and have forgotten what life in the rest of the country is really like. When was the last time any of them, including John McCain, held real jobs like Joe the Plumber or you and I. That is why we liked Sarah Palin so much, she was one of us and despite her flaws she was not one of them. Ask yourself, if you were a young person would you be inspired by any of the boring talking heads of either party in Washington? The young people that turned out for Barak Obama responded to his youth, his looks, his exuberant style and his techno savvy approach to the campaign. I assure you they were not voting for Joe Bidenhistime. In fact the best thing in our favor is that Barak Obama is restrained not by the Republicans but by the 'Ball and Chains' of his running mate a dinosaur of a politician, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reed, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Chris Dodd, Barney Franks, Chuck Schumer, and both of the Clintons.
We have but a little time to locate and prepare our next candidate. I'm suggesting this year. That person will need to be on top of his or her game. No Ron Pauls, no Ross Perot's and they better have the appeal and charisma necessary to compete in an American Idol atmosphere. We have to have a smarter battle plan this time, the message is simple. The conservative ideals of Ronald Reagan are still relevant, we just need to revive them and apply them again.
Tim Woodsome
110508
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Art or Vandalism
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/15/renowned-street-artist-banksy-tags-detroit-ignites-controversy/?icid=mainhtmlws-main-ndl8link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autoblog.com%2F2010%2F07%2F15%2Frenowned-street-artist-banksy-tags-detroit-ignites-controversy%2F
Take a quick look at this news story. Then ask the simple question WHY? Only in America and in a goofy city like Detroit and in this present age of idiocy could this even be a question.
The place is basically a disaster cleanup site and needs to be viewed so. The graffiti is just that, Just because a so called celebrity did it neither makes it valuable nor legitimate. Suppose the building was say City Hall, it would be outright vandalism and he would be charged. It isn't even very good, almost childish. I'll get back to this point in a moment.
As for what to do about the site...... the "state" has no difficulty imposing Eminent Domain when it suits them and they could do so now more easily than usual but Detroit is broke and wants someone else to foot the bill. Else why would they want to figure out who owns the property?
The federal government under President Obama wants desperately to spend our money. They ramble on about shovel ready projects. They love giving work to Union workers. They hate cars and the auto industry. They love the whole save the earth and green theology. They like seizing other peoples property and claiming it for themselves, I mean for "the people".
So here is the solution. The feds should seize the nuisance Packard property under the law of eminent domain and spend lots of stimulus money to hire local laid off union workers to go to work on this obvious shovel ready project turning it into a green earth friendly park that incorporates some parts of the historic buildings that are structurally sound and interesting and they could even place this piece of graffiti in a central location so it could be a shrine to aspiring taggers. The park could be a dual monument that is both a tribute to the once mighty auto industry and a testament to the cost of entitlements. They could have a museum that reflected the history of what once may have been the most important city in the world.
Personally, I don't care. I won't be visiting Detroit any time soon if ever. As for Bansky's little drawing? I'm not impressed and his tag line is nonsense since he does not remember when "all this was trees", I doubt there are any that do.
Lastly, I said I would get back to the point of Bansky and his simple art. While it might be interesting it really is not all that good. If you care to see some good art work on buildings, check out the link below:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1187338/Off-wall-The-astonishing-3D-murals-painted-sides-buildings-trompe-loeil-artist.html
I'm Just sayin....
Tim
Take a quick look at this news story. Then ask the simple question WHY? Only in America and in a goofy city like Detroit and in this present age of idiocy could this even be a question.
The place is basically a disaster cleanup site and needs to be viewed so. The graffiti is just that, Just because a so called celebrity did it neither makes it valuable nor legitimate. Suppose the building was say City Hall, it would be outright vandalism and he would be charged. It isn't even very good, almost childish. I'll get back to this point in a moment.
As for what to do about the site...... the "state" has no difficulty imposing Eminent Domain when it suits them and they could do so now more easily than usual but Detroit is broke and wants someone else to foot the bill. Else why would they want to figure out who owns the property?
The federal government under President Obama wants desperately to spend our money. They ramble on about shovel ready projects. They love giving work to Union workers. They hate cars and the auto industry. They love the whole save the earth and green theology. They like seizing other peoples property and claiming it for themselves, I mean for "the people".
So here is the solution. The feds should seize the nuisance Packard property under the law of eminent domain and spend lots of stimulus money to hire local laid off union workers to go to work on this obvious shovel ready project turning it into a green earth friendly park that incorporates some parts of the historic buildings that are structurally sound and interesting and they could even place this piece of graffiti in a central location so it could be a shrine to aspiring taggers. The park could be a dual monument that is both a tribute to the once mighty auto industry and a testament to the cost of entitlements. They could have a museum that reflected the history of what once may have been the most important city in the world.
Personally, I don't care. I won't be visiting Detroit any time soon if ever. As for Bansky's little drawing? I'm not impressed and his tag line is nonsense since he does not remember when "all this was trees", I doubt there are any that do.
Lastly, I said I would get back to the point of Bansky and his simple art. While it might be interesting it really is not all that good. If you care to see some good art work on buildings, check out the link below:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1187338/Off-wall-The-astonishing-3D-murals-painted-sides-buildings-trompe-loeil-artist.html
I'm Just sayin....
Tim
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Memorial Day 2010
There are two recent exceptions of presidents missing going to
Arlington. George Bush Sr was at a ceremony in Main in 92 instead but
it also was not a time of war and he was a war veteran himself.
The second miss was in 2002 by GW. He went to Normandy to honor our
dead there.
Since we are not going to get a speech by Obama on this day, he's on vacation in Chicago, I think it
would be most fitting to read the following speach given by President Bush at Normandy in 2002:
May 27, 2002
President Bush Commemorates Memorial Day at Normandy
Remarks by the President in Memorial Day Commemoration
The Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-Sur-Mer, France
PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President and Mrs. Chirac; Secretary Powell and
Secretary Principi; members of the United States Congress; members of
the American Armed Services; veterans; family members; fellow
Americans; and friends: We have gathered on this quiet corner of
France as the sun rises on Memorial Day in the United States of
America. This is a day our country has set apart to remember what was
gained in our wars, and all that was lost.
Our wars have won for us every hour we live in freedom. Our wars have
taken from us the men and women we honor today, and every hour of the
lifetimes they had hoped to live.
This day of remembrance was first observed to recall the terrible
casualties of the war Americans fought against each other. In the
nearly 14 decades since, our nation's battles have all been far from
home. Here on the continent of Europe were some of the fiercest of
those battles, the heaviest losses, and the greatest victories.
And in all those victories American soldiers came to liberate, not to
conquer. The only land we claim as our own are the resting places of
our men and women.
More than 9,000 are buried here, and many times that number have -- of
fallen soldiers lay in our cemeteries across Europe and America. From
a distance, surveying row after row of markers, we see the scale and
heroism and sacrifice of the young. We think of units sustaining
massive casualties, men cut down crossing a beach, or taking a hill,
or securing a bridge. We think of many hundreds of sailors lost in
their ships.
The war correspondent, Ernie Pyle, told of a British officer walking
across the battlefield just after the violence had ended. Seeing the
bodies of American boys scattered everywhere, the officer said, in
sort of a hushed eulogy spoken only to himself, "Brave men, brave men."
All who come to a place like this feel the enormity of the loss. Yet,
for so many, there is a marker that seems to sit alone -- they come
looking for that one cross, that one Star of David, that one name.
Behind every grave of a fallen soldier is a story of the grief that
came to a wife, a mother, a child, a family, or a town.
A World War II orphan has described her family's life after her father
was killed on a field in Germany. "My mother," she said, "had lost
everything she was waiting for. She lost her dreams. There were an
awful lot of perfect linen tablecloths in our house that never got
used, so many things being saved for a future that was never to be."
Each person buried here understood his duty, but also dreamed of going
back home to the people and the things he knew. Each had plans and
hopes of his own, and parted with them forever when he died.
The day will come when no one is left who knew them, when no visitor
to this cemetery can stand before a grave remembering a face and a
voice. The day will never come when America forgets them. And our
nation and the world will always remember what they did here, and what
they gave here for the future of humanity.
As dawn broke during the invasion, a little boy in the village off of
Gold Beach called out to his mother, "Look, the sea is black with
boats." Spread out before them and over the horizon were more than
5,000 ships and landing craft. In the skies were some of the 12,000
planes sent on the first day of Operation Overlord. The Battle of
Normandy would last many days, but June 6th, 1944, was the crucial day.
The late President, Francois Mitterrand, said that nothing in history
compares to D-day. "The 6th of June," he observed, "sounded the hour
when history tipped toward the camp of freedom." Before dawn, the
first paratroopers already had been dropped inland. The story is told
of a group of French women finding Americans and imploring them not to
leave. The trooper said, "We're not leaving. If necessary, this is the
place we die."
Units of Army Rangers on shore, in one of history's bravest displays,
scaled cliffs directly in the gunfire, never relenting even as
comrades died all around them. When they had reached the top, the
Rangers radioed back the code for success: "Praise the Lord."
Only a man who is there, charging out of a landing craft, can know
what it was like. For the entire liberating force, there was only the
ground in front of them -- no shelter, no possibility of retreat. They
were part of the largest amphibious landing in history, and perhaps
the only great battle in which the wounded were carried forward.
Survivors remember the sight of a Catholic chaplain, Father Joe Lacey,
lifting dying men out of the water, and comforting and praying with
them. Private Jimmy Hall was seen carrying the body of his brother,
Johnny, saying, "He can't, he can't be dead. I promised Mother I'd
look after him."
Such was the size of the Battle of Normandy. Thirty-eight pairs of
brothers died in the liberation, including Bedford and Raymond Hoback
of Virginia, both who fell on D-Day. Raymond's body was never found.
All he left behind was his Bible, discovered in the sand. Their mother
asked that Bedford be buried here, as well, in the place Raymond was
lost, so her sons would always be together.
On Memorial Day, America honors her own. Yet we also remember all the
valiant young men and women from many allied nations, including
France, who shared in the struggle here, and in the suffering. We
remember the men and women who served and died alongside Americans in
so many terrible battles on this continent, and beyond.
Words can only go so far in capturing the grief and sense of loss for
the families of those who died in all our wars. For some military
families in America and in Europe, the grief is recent, with the
losses we have suffered in Afghanistan. They can know, however, that
the cause is just and, like other generations, these sacrifices have
spared many others from tyranny and sorrow.
Long after putting away his uniform, an American GI expressed his own
pride in the truth about all who served, living and dead. He said, "I
feel like I played my part in turning this from a century of darkness
into a century of light."
Here, where we stand today, the new world came back to liberate the
old. A bond was formed of shared trial and shared victory. And a light
that scattered darkness from these shores and across France would
spread to all of Europe -- in time, turning enemies into friends, and
the pursuits of war into the pursuits of peace. Our security is still
bound up together in a transatlantic alliance, with soldiers in many
uniforms defending the world from terrorists at this very hour.
The grave markers here all face west, across an ageless and
indifferent ocean to the country these men and women served and loved.
The thoughts of America on this Memorial Day turn to them and to all
their fallen comrades in arms. We think of them with lasting
gratitude; we miss them with lasting love; and we pray for them. And
we trust in the words of the Almighty God, which are inscribed in the
chapel nearby: "I give unto them eternal life, that they shall never
perish."
God bless. (Applause.)
END 2:30 P.M.
Best Wishes,
Tim Woodsome
Arlington. George Bush Sr was at a ceremony in Main in 92 instead but
it also was not a time of war and he was a war veteran himself.
The second miss was in 2002 by GW. He went to Normandy to honor our
dead there.
Since we are not going to get a speech by Obama on this day, he's on vacation in Chicago, I think it
would be most fitting to read the following speach given by President Bush at Normandy in 2002:
May 27, 2002
President Bush Commemorates Memorial Day at Normandy
Remarks by the President in Memorial Day Commemoration
The Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-Sur-Mer, France
PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President and Mrs. Chirac; Secretary Powell and
Secretary Principi; members of the United States Congress; members of
the American Armed Services; veterans; family members; fellow
Americans; and friends: We have gathered on this quiet corner of
France as the sun rises on Memorial Day in the United States of
America. This is a day our country has set apart to remember what was
gained in our wars, and all that was lost.
Our wars have won for us every hour we live in freedom. Our wars have
taken from us the men and women we honor today, and every hour of the
lifetimes they had hoped to live.
This day of remembrance was first observed to recall the terrible
casualties of the war Americans fought against each other. In the
nearly 14 decades since, our nation's battles have all been far from
home. Here on the continent of Europe were some of the fiercest of
those battles, the heaviest losses, and the greatest victories.
And in all those victories American soldiers came to liberate, not to
conquer. The only land we claim as our own are the resting places of
our men and women.
More than 9,000 are buried here, and many times that number have -- of
fallen soldiers lay in our cemeteries across Europe and America. From
a distance, surveying row after row of markers, we see the scale and
heroism and sacrifice of the young. We think of units sustaining
massive casualties, men cut down crossing a beach, or taking a hill,
or securing a bridge. We think of many hundreds of sailors lost in
their ships.
The war correspondent, Ernie Pyle, told of a British officer walking
across the battlefield just after the violence had ended. Seeing the
bodies of American boys scattered everywhere, the officer said, in
sort of a hushed eulogy spoken only to himself, "Brave men, brave men."
All who come to a place like this feel the enormity of the loss. Yet,
for so many, there is a marker that seems to sit alone -- they come
looking for that one cross, that one Star of David, that one name.
Behind every grave of a fallen soldier is a story of the grief that
came to a wife, a mother, a child, a family, or a town.
A World War II orphan has described her family's life after her father
was killed on a field in Germany. "My mother," she said, "had lost
everything she was waiting for. She lost her dreams. There were an
awful lot of perfect linen tablecloths in our house that never got
used, so many things being saved for a future that was never to be."
Each person buried here understood his duty, but also dreamed of going
back home to the people and the things he knew. Each had plans and
hopes of his own, and parted with them forever when he died.
The day will come when no one is left who knew them, when no visitor
to this cemetery can stand before a grave remembering a face and a
voice. The day will never come when America forgets them. And our
nation and the world will always remember what they did here, and what
they gave here for the future of humanity.
As dawn broke during the invasion, a little boy in the village off of
Gold Beach called out to his mother, "Look, the sea is black with
boats." Spread out before them and over the horizon were more than
5,000 ships and landing craft. In the skies were some of the 12,000
planes sent on the first day of Operation Overlord. The Battle of
Normandy would last many days, but June 6th, 1944, was the crucial day.
The late President, Francois Mitterrand, said that nothing in history
compares to D-day. "The 6th of June," he observed, "sounded the hour
when history tipped toward the camp of freedom." Before dawn, the
first paratroopers already had been dropped inland. The story is told
of a group of French women finding Americans and imploring them not to
leave. The trooper said, "We're not leaving. If necessary, this is the
place we die."
Units of Army Rangers on shore, in one of history's bravest displays,
scaled cliffs directly in the gunfire, never relenting even as
comrades died all around them. When they had reached the top, the
Rangers radioed back the code for success: "Praise the Lord."
Only a man who is there, charging out of a landing craft, can know
what it was like. For the entire liberating force, there was only the
ground in front of them -- no shelter, no possibility of retreat. They
were part of the largest amphibious landing in history, and perhaps
the only great battle in which the wounded were carried forward.
Survivors remember the sight of a Catholic chaplain, Father Joe Lacey,
lifting dying men out of the water, and comforting and praying with
them. Private Jimmy Hall was seen carrying the body of his brother,
Johnny, saying, "He can't, he can't be dead. I promised Mother I'd
look after him."
Such was the size of the Battle of Normandy. Thirty-eight pairs of
brothers died in the liberation, including Bedford and Raymond Hoback
of Virginia, both who fell on D-Day. Raymond's body was never found.
All he left behind was his Bible, discovered in the sand. Their mother
asked that Bedford be buried here, as well, in the place Raymond was
lost, so her sons would always be together.
On Memorial Day, America honors her own. Yet we also remember all the
valiant young men and women from many allied nations, including
France, who shared in the struggle here, and in the suffering. We
remember the men and women who served and died alongside Americans in
so many terrible battles on this continent, and beyond.
Words can only go so far in capturing the grief and sense of loss for
the families of those who died in all our wars. For some military
families in America and in Europe, the grief is recent, with the
losses we have suffered in Afghanistan. They can know, however, that
the cause is just and, like other generations, these sacrifices have
spared many others from tyranny and sorrow.
Long after putting away his uniform, an American GI expressed his own
pride in the truth about all who served, living and dead. He said, "I
feel like I played my part in turning this from a century of darkness
into a century of light."
Here, where we stand today, the new world came back to liberate the
old. A bond was formed of shared trial and shared victory. And a light
that scattered darkness from these shores and across France would
spread to all of Europe -- in time, turning enemies into friends, and
the pursuits of war into the pursuits of peace. Our security is still
bound up together in a transatlantic alliance, with soldiers in many
uniforms defending the world from terrorists at this very hour.
The grave markers here all face west, across an ageless and
indifferent ocean to the country these men and women served and loved.
The thoughts of America on this Memorial Day turn to them and to all
their fallen comrades in arms. We think of them with lasting
gratitude; we miss them with lasting love; and we pray for them. And
we trust in the words of the Almighty God, which are inscribed in the
chapel nearby: "I give unto them eternal life, that they shall never
perish."
God bless. (Applause.)
END 2:30 P.M.
Best Wishes,
Tim Woodsome
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
I'm Running For President
I’m thinking of running for president. That’s right, I’m pretty qualified. I started thinking about this……last night and decided I should run. I started thinking about how our president is running our country and then I wondered how does he think these huge “CHANGES” are going to work out….and that is when I started thinking about “work”.
I have been working at a job pretty much since I was 15 and had to put gas in my own motorcycle. It was a gas guzzler with only 70 mpg and gas was a whopping 17 cents per gallon. I made .65 cents/hour at the car wash working for Mr. Lunsford. I recall he had a cute daughter and a ski boat, I may have to factor that into the background vetting process. I wonder if that is considered an unclaimed benefit.
Since then I’ve had lots of jobs. I’ve had so many I could lend a couple to the politicians that have never actually had a real job. So I made a list of my jobs and their relevance:
1) Car Wash Attendant ---------Water Conservation & Environmental Impact
2) City Road Maintenance( potholes) -------- Highway Development (Shovel Ready Projects)
3) Grave Stone Setting --------- Final Arrangement Service (Death Counseling)
4) Grocery Store Stocker ----------- Food Delivery Management (FEMA)
5) Gas Station ---------- Petroleum Distribution (Alternative Energy)
6) Ranch Hand -----------Agriculture and Cattle Management
7) Mechanic --------- Automotive Emission Standards (EPA)
8) Nursing Home Orderly ---------- Senior Health Care Specialist
9) Hospital Orderly ---------- Medical Services (HIPPA)
10) Muffler Shop ----------- Environmental Noise Expert (EPA)
11) Carpet Installer -------- Adhesive and Textiles
12) General Construction Laborer --------- Commercial Contractor
13) House Painter -------- Home Improvement and Restoration
14) Furniture Mover ------- Family Relocation Services
15) Janitor ----------- Sanitation Engineer
16) Security Guard --------- Protection Services Expert
17) Tire Installer --------- Automotive Tire Inflation Specialist (good gas mileage)
18) Insurance Sales ------------ Evil Insurance Company Employee
19) Stock Broker (NASD) -------------- Greedy Investment Advisor
20) Goodyear Tire Store Manager ----------- White Collar Manager
21) Ford Service Writer --------- Corporate Automotive Executive (good)
22) GM Service Writer --------- Corporate Automotive Executive (bad)
23) Unemployed --------- Out Of Work American Without Adequate Benefits
24) Deputy Sheriff ---------- Legal and Law Professional
a) Police Patrol -------- Criminal Investigation and Response
b) DARE Officer -------- Drug Abuse Prevention Expert
c) School Officer -------- Teen Guidance Counselor
d) Speakers Bureau Citizens Groups --------- Community Organizer !!!
e) Traffic Enforcement --------- Transportation Engineer
f) Firearms Instructor ---------- Gun Control Expert (firm grip and sight alignment)
25) Motorcycle Dealership ----------- Small Business Owner (Entrepreneur /Employer)
Now that I have shown you my work related credentials and I’m sure you will agree that I have far more experience than necessary but there’s more. I was born into a military family. My father was in the army and when he got out he went to college and worked to support his wife and child at the same time earning a teaching certificate and a seminary degree. He became a minister and teacher in a poor Western town in rural Colorado till he accepted a position as a missionary in Kenya (see a connection yet).
I went to grade school in a one room school house carpooling for many miles over rough roads always aware of the people who were barefoot and walking because they lacked the resources to obtain a car of their own. I later attended the missionary boarding school where I learned the hardship of being sent away from your family and home. When I made it to high school I transferred to a British school for boys which had strict discipline and no nonsense first class teachers that held students accountable for their grades with no concern for our self esteem or feelings in either head or buttocks.
My peers were other boys from England, China, India, Pakistan, East Germany, Denmark and Yugoslavia. They were Buddhist, Hindu, Sikhs, Muslims and even Communists. I got along with all of them because we were just boys and all subject to the whims of the Prefects who strove to teach us the lessons of life that someone higher up is always there to make you miserable. Knee socks are not the only thing that goes downhill.
I learned that the American Flag provides great comfort and protection and it also can bring great animosity and derision. I learned to cherish its significance and the “Big Stick” it symbolized. Above all others, America stood for truth and justice when others faltered and most knew that.
I returned to America at the end of the fabulous ‘60s in time to learn how to drive in those wonderful gas guzzling cars, start dating and graduate high school. By my count I’ve owned 1 motor home and 2 boats and 30+ motorcycles and 30 cars (my Olds 98 was 3” longer than a 12 passenger van). I should be a Car Czar. I’ve even had 3 Toyotas.
I attended a Christian Liberal Arts College and was fashionably rebellious, liberal and full of youthful idealism. I studied to be a teacher and majored in history and social studies. After graduation, I married and moved to Southern California where I became absorbed in the human struggle to pay rent and eat. Around this time I surrounded myself with intellectual pro military conservatives (retired Navy) that began to teach me the principals of capitalism, and that if you work hard, doors of opportunity open freely.
My education continued with each new career move and by the time I entered law enforcement I was a parent with two children and I became versed in the needs of working parents for child daycare and the hardship of shift work on family life. I have a full appreciation for the cost of college tuition and for the struggle to provide adequately for retirement.
I’ve lived across the world in an underdeveloped country. I’ve traveled to many other countries that are both developed and not. I have also been all across America and seen the amazing contrasts in the way we live and the way we are free to move about and to take advantage of the opportunities we are given if we simply want to. My family came to America in the early 1700s. I know some fought in the Revolutionary War. I wonder what they thought of the achievement of the Founding Fathers and the Republic they gave us. When I took my oath of office, it was to uphold the Constitution of The United States. It was never rescinded.
I could have written a book. Lots of people do and I have read their books and used some of their material in my work. I never really felt that anyone would need to read my book since there already so many qualified writers doing the job. After all what could I add? What would make me an authority or expert on any of the subjects I’ve listed here that has not already been covered by others? You see that is exactly the question I ask about being in elected office let alone the highest office of president. What makes one qualified to be president? I’ve always believed that it should be more. He should have the best leadership qualities and should have real world experience in the areas of business and finance and trade and should also be versed in foreign affairs. I expect someone a lot more experienced than me. It should require more than a Harvard law degree and being a Community Organizer. Being groomed for the job by someone else that won’t or can’t get the job themselves worries me. It worries me that this president wants to “Fundamentally Change” America rather than protect it from those that would try to change it.
Barak Obama has demonstrated that anyone can succeed in America and become The President. That is at the same time wonderful and very very frightening. You see, I will not run for President. I do not believe I have the qualifications but I do believe that my resume, with the right shiny wrapping and clever wording and enough political money behind it would look pretty good ……….. and I would uphold the oath I took that day I put on the badge.
Did I mention my 5th cousin is Abe Lincoln?
Tim Woodsome
Runnin With Scissors
I have been working at a job pretty much since I was 15 and had to put gas in my own motorcycle. It was a gas guzzler with only 70 mpg and gas was a whopping 17 cents per gallon. I made .65 cents/hour at the car wash working for Mr. Lunsford. I recall he had a cute daughter and a ski boat, I may have to factor that into the background vetting process. I wonder if that is considered an unclaimed benefit.
Since then I’ve had lots of jobs. I’ve had so many I could lend a couple to the politicians that have never actually had a real job. So I made a list of my jobs and their relevance:
1) Car Wash Attendant ---------Water Conservation & Environmental Impact
2) City Road Maintenance( potholes) -------- Highway Development (Shovel Ready Projects)
3) Grave Stone Setting --------- Final Arrangement Service (Death Counseling)
4) Grocery Store Stocker ----------- Food Delivery Management (FEMA)
5) Gas Station ---------- Petroleum Distribution (Alternative Energy)
6) Ranch Hand -----------Agriculture and Cattle Management
7) Mechanic --------- Automotive Emission Standards (EPA)
8) Nursing Home Orderly ---------- Senior Health Care Specialist
9) Hospital Orderly ---------- Medical Services (HIPPA)
10) Muffler Shop ----------- Environmental Noise Expert (EPA)
11) Carpet Installer -------- Adhesive and Textiles
12) General Construction Laborer --------- Commercial Contractor
13) House Painter -------- Home Improvement and Restoration
14) Furniture Mover ------- Family Relocation Services
15) Janitor ----------- Sanitation Engineer
16) Security Guard --------- Protection Services Expert
17) Tire Installer --------- Automotive Tire Inflation Specialist (good gas mileage)
18) Insurance Sales ------------ Evil Insurance Company Employee
19) Stock Broker (NASD) -------------- Greedy Investment Advisor
20) Goodyear Tire Store Manager ----------- White Collar Manager
21) Ford Service Writer --------- Corporate Automotive Executive (good)
22) GM Service Writer --------- Corporate Automotive Executive (bad)
23) Unemployed --------- Out Of Work American Without Adequate Benefits
24) Deputy Sheriff ---------- Legal and Law Professional
a) Police Patrol -------- Criminal Investigation and Response
b) DARE Officer -------- Drug Abuse Prevention Expert
c) School Officer -------- Teen Guidance Counselor
d) Speakers Bureau Citizens Groups --------- Community Organizer !!!
e) Traffic Enforcement --------- Transportation Engineer
f) Firearms Instructor ---------- Gun Control Expert (firm grip and sight alignment)
25) Motorcycle Dealership ----------- Small Business Owner (Entrepreneur /Employer)
Now that I have shown you my work related credentials and I’m sure you will agree that I have far more experience than necessary but there’s more. I was born into a military family. My father was in the army and when he got out he went to college and worked to support his wife and child at the same time earning a teaching certificate and a seminary degree. He became a minister and teacher in a poor Western town in rural Colorado till he accepted a position as a missionary in Kenya (see a connection yet).
I went to grade school in a one room school house carpooling for many miles over rough roads always aware of the people who were barefoot and walking because they lacked the resources to obtain a car of their own. I later attended the missionary boarding school where I learned the hardship of being sent away from your family and home. When I made it to high school I transferred to a British school for boys which had strict discipline and no nonsense first class teachers that held students accountable for their grades with no concern for our self esteem or feelings in either head or buttocks.
My peers were other boys from England, China, India, Pakistan, East Germany, Denmark and Yugoslavia. They were Buddhist, Hindu, Sikhs, Muslims and even Communists. I got along with all of them because we were just boys and all subject to the whims of the Prefects who strove to teach us the lessons of life that someone higher up is always there to make you miserable. Knee socks are not the only thing that goes downhill.
I learned that the American Flag provides great comfort and protection and it also can bring great animosity and derision. I learned to cherish its significance and the “Big Stick” it symbolized. Above all others, America stood for truth and justice when others faltered and most knew that.
I returned to America at the end of the fabulous ‘60s in time to learn how to drive in those wonderful gas guzzling cars, start dating and graduate high school. By my count I’ve owned 1 motor home and 2 boats and 30+ motorcycles and 30 cars (my Olds 98 was 3” longer than a 12 passenger van). I should be a Car Czar. I’ve even had 3 Toyotas.
I attended a Christian Liberal Arts College and was fashionably rebellious, liberal and full of youthful idealism. I studied to be a teacher and majored in history and social studies. After graduation, I married and moved to Southern California where I became absorbed in the human struggle to pay rent and eat. Around this time I surrounded myself with intellectual pro military conservatives (retired Navy) that began to teach me the principals of capitalism, and that if you work hard, doors of opportunity open freely.
My education continued with each new career move and by the time I entered law enforcement I was a parent with two children and I became versed in the needs of working parents for child daycare and the hardship of shift work on family life. I have a full appreciation for the cost of college tuition and for the struggle to provide adequately for retirement.
I’ve lived across the world in an underdeveloped country. I’ve traveled to many other countries that are both developed and not. I have also been all across America and seen the amazing contrasts in the way we live and the way we are free to move about and to take advantage of the opportunities we are given if we simply want to. My family came to America in the early 1700s. I know some fought in the Revolutionary War. I wonder what they thought of the achievement of the Founding Fathers and the Republic they gave us. When I took my oath of office, it was to uphold the Constitution of The United States. It was never rescinded.
I could have written a book. Lots of people do and I have read their books and used some of their material in my work. I never really felt that anyone would need to read my book since there already so many qualified writers doing the job. After all what could I add? What would make me an authority or expert on any of the subjects I’ve listed here that has not already been covered by others? You see that is exactly the question I ask about being in elected office let alone the highest office of president. What makes one qualified to be president? I’ve always believed that it should be more. He should have the best leadership qualities and should have real world experience in the areas of business and finance and trade and should also be versed in foreign affairs. I expect someone a lot more experienced than me. It should require more than a Harvard law degree and being a Community Organizer. Being groomed for the job by someone else that won’t or can’t get the job themselves worries me. It worries me that this president wants to “Fundamentally Change” America rather than protect it from those that would try to change it.
Barak Obama has demonstrated that anyone can succeed in America and become The President. That is at the same time wonderful and very very frightening. You see, I will not run for President. I do not believe I have the qualifications but I do believe that my resume, with the right shiny wrapping and clever wording and enough political money behind it would look pretty good ……….. and I would uphold the oath I took that day I put on the badge.
Did I mention my 5th cousin is Abe Lincoln?
Tim Woodsome
Runnin With Scissors
Monday, March 1, 2010
My Doctor's Not A Cave Man
I'm Healthy! Old, but healthy. At least that is what I found out today from two doctors. Two very different doctors, neither of whom I would consider going to if I felt sick or was even remotely concerned about my health.
There is a new commercial on TV lately that shows a cave-man being checked out by another cave-man and then a sick guy being checked out by a witchdoctor then a guy from the middle ages and so on up to the modern era where the Lady doctor checks out a kid with a hand held device similar to the one Dr. McCoy had on Star Trek. Yeah, we're there. We just can't make instant cures yet but we're closer. The point of the commercial is to promote the new technology and says all through time there have been people that are ill and someone who says, "let me have a look."
Presently our nation is deeply divided over the issue of Health Care. We hear phrases like "1/6 of the US economy" or "30 million uninsured" or "every one has a right to equal health care" . We keep hearing that we need a "government option" and "government take over" and a "Canadian style single payer system". We also hear $$$$$$$$$$$$ billions of dollars and trillions of dollars and that the system is broke and we don't have the money to pay for it.
OK, HERE IS THE TRUTH IN A NUTSHEL. We have arguably the finest system in the history of the world. We used to joke about about the stuff of Star Trek but today I experienced some of that marvelous technology. You see I went to the Dentist and the Optometrist. My dental hygienist told me I was healthy based on the condition of my gums and mouth. I sat in the chair and watched as she cleaned my teeth, and checked every tooth against a computer screen that shows all my teeth, MY TEETH, taken from a picture taken by a very cool sort of X-ray machine and right there at her finger tips, clear and detailed. No more of those old negatives on a white screen. I have to say I don't mind going to the dentist. I'm old enough to remember the days when it was like the Little Shop of Horrors. I actually got a tooth removed when I was 19 and the dentist put his knee on my chest and used a mallet to knock the molar out. I have not felt a lick of pain at the dentist's office in the last 30 years. That fantastic !
Right after that, I rode (yes rode the motorcycle, they run so well when it is cold) to the eye guy. I was sitting in a chair surrounded by miracle machines that looked at my eyes and told the people there everything they needed to know to keep my sight at it's optimum. The doc there told me he could tell my blood pressure was great and my blood sugar is ok and I look to be in good health. My sight is fine for my age and my prescription has not changed very much in the last year. (My glasses lenses are quite scratched though, like looking through a shower door.)
While I was there in both of those fine offices I was aware of the wonderful advances we have made in our society in so few years in medical care. I try to eat well, watch my sugar and exercise at least a little. I quit smoking 23 years ago when my son was born and I watch my alcohol and unless I get whacked when I'm riding by a "texting while driving" nit wit, I stand a good chance of living long enough to be very unhappy in a bankrupt America.
Nothing is FREE. There is no free health care. I asked the eye doctor about the machines in his office as he looked at a picture of my eye showing all the details of the blood vessels and cornea, if this was all a result of our private health care and would the Obama health care plan help or hurt. He told me that yes the investment in their equipment is expensive, very. And they will not be able to do that in the future and still take on the same level of Medicare and Medicaid patients as the government cuts the payments to the doctors for those services. 20 % to 40 % cuts in payments, when they serve patient levels as high as 60% Medicare means they can not be profitable enough to make the necessary investment to keep on the cutting edge of technology. I want that latest greatest machine that makes doctors better able to do their job.
I don't want a witch doctor or some snake oil selling traveling medicine show to be my future choice. Hell, I quit Kaiser Health back in the '90s because I never got to see the same doctor twice in a row. I'll put up with the waiting to see a good one.
When I was 18, I was an orderly in a hospital. I saw some bizarre things. I once held a mental patient down while staff strapped her to a table and administered electro shock therapy (shocking experience). I saw aides sharpen scalpels and needles and other stuff we wouldn't think of doing today. We have great health care in this country. It may need some tweaking but it does not need to be destroyed like a tumor in order to save the patient.
People need to realize that free is very expensive. Insurance is a gamble and actuarial tables exist in order to calculate risk. If you live in a straw house you pay more for wolf insurance than the guy in the brick house. (aren't fables amazing how they relate to life?) If you don't pay for your share, why should I? Or better yet why should I care? There are always means to provide for the "Widdas N Orphans" in our society. I've no objection to that but when I see a guy smoking cigarettes and fat as Humpty Dumpty eatin at the buffet when I'm looking at sugar content on a bag of puffed rice, then I'm a little insensitive to his insurance needs.
So I am healthy and plan on staying that way but our America is not. She is nearly broke and this health bill is likely to be the bad medicine that will kill her. Call your politicians and tell them to scrap this nonsense or you will be seeing to it that they will not only be unemployed but standing in line with you to see the witch doctor next time they have a belly ache.
Tim Woodsome
Running with (the Nurse's) Scissors
There is a new commercial on TV lately that shows a cave-man being checked out by another cave-man and then a sick guy being checked out by a witchdoctor then a guy from the middle ages and so on up to the modern era where the Lady doctor checks out a kid with a hand held device similar to the one Dr. McCoy had on Star Trek. Yeah, we're there. We just can't make instant cures yet but we're closer. The point of the commercial is to promote the new technology and says all through time there have been people that are ill and someone who says, "let me have a look."
Presently our nation is deeply divided over the issue of Health Care. We hear phrases like "1/6 of the US economy" or "30 million uninsured" or "every one has a right to equal health care" . We keep hearing that we need a "government option" and "government take over" and a "Canadian style single payer system". We also hear $$$$$$$$$$$$ billions of dollars and trillions of dollars and that the system is broke and we don't have the money to pay for it.
OK, HERE IS THE TRUTH IN A NUTSHEL. We have arguably the finest system in the history of the world. We used to joke about about the stuff of Star Trek but today I experienced some of that marvelous technology. You see I went to the Dentist and the Optometrist. My dental hygienist told me I was healthy based on the condition of my gums and mouth. I sat in the chair and watched as she cleaned my teeth, and checked every tooth against a computer screen that shows all my teeth, MY TEETH, taken from a picture taken by a very cool sort of X-ray machine and right there at her finger tips, clear and detailed. No more of those old negatives on a white screen. I have to say I don't mind going to the dentist. I'm old enough to remember the days when it was like the Little Shop of Horrors. I actually got a tooth removed when I was 19 and the dentist put his knee on my chest and used a mallet to knock the molar out. I have not felt a lick of pain at the dentist's office in the last 30 years. That fantastic !
Right after that, I rode (yes rode the motorcycle, they run so well when it is cold) to the eye guy. I was sitting in a chair surrounded by miracle machines that looked at my eyes and told the people there everything they needed to know to keep my sight at it's optimum. The doc there told me he could tell my blood pressure was great and my blood sugar is ok and I look to be in good health. My sight is fine for my age and my prescription has not changed very much in the last year. (My glasses lenses are quite scratched though, like looking through a shower door.)
While I was there in both of those fine offices I was aware of the wonderful advances we have made in our society in so few years in medical care. I try to eat well, watch my sugar and exercise at least a little. I quit smoking 23 years ago when my son was born and I watch my alcohol and unless I get whacked when I'm riding by a "texting while driving" nit wit, I stand a good chance of living long enough to be very unhappy in a bankrupt America.
Nothing is FREE. There is no free health care. I asked the eye doctor about the machines in his office as he looked at a picture of my eye showing all the details of the blood vessels and cornea, if this was all a result of our private health care and would the Obama health care plan help or hurt. He told me that yes the investment in their equipment is expensive, very. And they will not be able to do that in the future and still take on the same level of Medicare and Medicaid patients as the government cuts the payments to the doctors for those services. 20 % to 40 % cuts in payments, when they serve patient levels as high as 60% Medicare means they can not be profitable enough to make the necessary investment to keep on the cutting edge of technology. I want that latest greatest machine that makes doctors better able to do their job.
I don't want a witch doctor or some snake oil selling traveling medicine show to be my future choice. Hell, I quit Kaiser Health back in the '90s because I never got to see the same doctor twice in a row. I'll put up with the waiting to see a good one.
When I was 18, I was an orderly in a hospital. I saw some bizarre things. I once held a mental patient down while staff strapped her to a table and administered electro shock therapy (shocking experience). I saw aides sharpen scalpels and needles and other stuff we wouldn't think of doing today. We have great health care in this country. It may need some tweaking but it does not need to be destroyed like a tumor in order to save the patient.
People need to realize that free is very expensive. Insurance is a gamble and actuarial tables exist in order to calculate risk. If you live in a straw house you pay more for wolf insurance than the guy in the brick house. (aren't fables amazing how they relate to life?) If you don't pay for your share, why should I? Or better yet why should I care? There are always means to provide for the "Widdas N Orphans" in our society. I've no objection to that but when I see a guy smoking cigarettes and fat as Humpty Dumpty eatin at the buffet when I'm looking at sugar content on a bag of puffed rice, then I'm a little insensitive to his insurance needs.
So I am healthy and plan on staying that way but our America is not. She is nearly broke and this health bill is likely to be the bad medicine that will kill her. Call your politicians and tell them to scrap this nonsense or you will be seeing to it that they will not only be unemployed but standing in line with you to see the witch doctor next time they have a belly ache.
Tim Woodsome
Running with (the Nurse's) Scissors
Monday, February 1, 2010
Hotdogs and Lech Walesa
There are certain triggers for me that will bring me back to a place in time or an event of special significance. When ever I see a pile of bottle caps ( I save em ) I am back as a little kid in Wiley, Colorado where I discovered a treasure trove of bottle caps in a stash behind Millers little grocery store. They were like gold doubloons from a pirate's chest. When I see a store bought cherry pie, I am riding my bike to King Soopers to redeem pop bottles for store tokens to buy one of their pies. Hot dogs take me back to Nairobi where Pan Am Airlines fed all Americans in attendance of the 1963 July Fourth Independance Day Celebration a real honest to gosh American hot dog. I still choke up when I hear the National Anthem because of that day.
There are a host of triggers that prompt emotions or memories that are part of our makeup. Remebering an event and where we were and what we were doing at the time are important and some events are so powerful that we never forget, like the day JFK died. I still have the old portable radio my family listened to for news of the tragedy from Voice of America that day.
Voice of America. What a powerful and important form of communication, not just for those of us living abroad but for citizens of other countries, especially those that looked to America for hope. Today, the electronic media is immediate and works both ways. I can receive an e-mail or tweet and communicate back instantly. Its astounding!
Today, I heard a name that is one of those memory triggers. Lech Walesa. Remember him? For me, his name is part of my whole memory of the fall of the USSR and the power of the individual taking a stand against the government. For a revisit to the history of this man go to Wikipedia. Quite an interesting fellow. I like this quote" Liberty is not only a right, but also our common responsibility and duty." He said this during his acceptance speech after receiving the Liberty Medal in Philidelphia on July 4th 1989.
Today I heard him onTV in an interview where he said we have lost our Moral leadership. He said we are still a leader militarially and to a lesser degree economically but we are losing ground. I sensed he was warning us that when we are no longer the world's super power, we won't be the only ones to have lost, the world loses with us. Watch his speech on You -Tube at the 4min 30sec point at www.youtube.com/watch?v=q19xd0amxSg&feature=player_embedded#
It is an amazing thing to hear someone like Lech Walesa worry for the future of America. Why can't our own leaders see the light? Why won't they listen? What does this president want and why is he so bent on changing our country into something we won't recognize? Our Liberty is Our Responsibility. It is time to be more like Lech Walesa and take a stand. We need to listen to the new Voice Of America and this time it is being broadcast through the new electronic media, not to the outside world but to Americans.
It is also time for a Pan Am hotdog.
There are a host of triggers that prompt emotions or memories that are part of our makeup. Remebering an event and where we were and what we were doing at the time are important and some events are so powerful that we never forget, like the day JFK died. I still have the old portable radio my family listened to for news of the tragedy from Voice of America that day.
Voice of America. What a powerful and important form of communication, not just for those of us living abroad but for citizens of other countries, especially those that looked to America for hope. Today, the electronic media is immediate and works both ways. I can receive an e-mail or tweet and communicate back instantly. Its astounding!
Today, I heard a name that is one of those memory triggers. Lech Walesa. Remember him? For me, his name is part of my whole memory of the fall of the USSR and the power of the individual taking a stand against the government. For a revisit to the history of this man go to Wikipedia. Quite an interesting fellow. I like this quote" Liberty is not only a right, but also our common responsibility and duty." He said this during his acceptance speech after receiving the Liberty Medal in Philidelphia on July 4th 1989.
Today I heard him onTV in an interview where he said we have lost our Moral leadership. He said we are still a leader militarially and to a lesser degree economically but we are losing ground. I sensed he was warning us that when we are no longer the world's super power, we won't be the only ones to have lost, the world loses with us. Watch his speech on You -Tube at the 4min 30sec point at www.youtube.com/watch?v=q19xd0amxSg&feature=player_embedded#
It is an amazing thing to hear someone like Lech Walesa worry for the future of America. Why can't our own leaders see the light? Why won't they listen? What does this president want and why is he so bent on changing our country into something we won't recognize? Our Liberty is Our Responsibility. It is time to be more like Lech Walesa and take a stand. We need to listen to the new Voice Of America and this time it is being broadcast through the new electronic media, not to the outside world but to Americans.
It is also time for a Pan Am hotdog.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Double Standard
Double Standard for Dems and anyone else they don't like.
The current fuss over Harry Reid's comments are more evidence of the seriously frustrating double standards that are applied to Democrats and literally everyone else, especially conservatives. When Trent Lott made some innocuous comments at the 100 year birthday party of Strom Thurmond he was lambasted by the left. His apology was rejected and he was branded a racist. You know the rest.
So thinking about this I did some browsing on the web and landed on the following two sites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrd
Read the history of both of these two old guys. My first observation is why the hell, do we let these politicians get elected for life. They are so all over the spectrum of the political landscape that their legacy is fraught with conflicting decisions. The second observation is they both started in a very different American than the one they served in their later years. Their survival required they change their spots. Not the other way around.
It would be my opinion that Thurmond was slightly better than Byrd. His military service alone is admirable. Byrd on the other hand made some seriously bad choices; like joining the KKK. Both men resisted and objected to integration and civil rights. They both changed their views in time. However, the statement made by Byrd: "I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds." is indefensible.
So why the support by the Democrats for Byrd but the condemnation for Thurmond?
Simple, Strom Thurmond switched parties in 1964 and became a Republican and a rather lousy one at that. His equally offensive remarks: "I wanna tell you, ladies and gentlemen, that there's not enough troops in the army to force the Southern people to break down segregation and admit the nigra race into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes, and into our churches." were made years earlier when he was a Democrat.
Both of these senators have long and colorful careers. It could be argued, in my opinion, that neither of them should be honored because they were both racists, wielded way too much power and likely spent way too much of the countries treasure for their own gain.
Thurmond: Thanks to his close relationship with the Nixon administration, Thurmond found himself in a position to deliver a great deal of federal money, appointments and projects to his state. With a like-minded president in the White House, Thurmond became a very effective power broker in Washington. His staffers said that he aimed to become South Carolina's "indispensable man" in D.C
Byrd: Byrd is well known for steering federal dollars to West Virginia, one of the country's poorest states. He is called by some the "King of Pork." After becoming chair of the Appropriations Committee in 1989, Byrd sought to steer, over time, a total of $1 billion for public works in the state. He passed that mark in 1991, and the steady stream of funds for highways, dams, educational institutions, and federal agency offices has continued unabated over the course of his membership. More than thirty pending or existing federal projects bear Byrd's name. He commented on his reputation for attaining funds for projects in West Virginia in August 2006 when he called himself "Big Daddy" at the dedication to the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center.
So what does this have to do with Harry Reid and his comments about Barak Obama? Nothing. Just that there is and has been a double standard employed by Liberals and the democrats for too long. Either get over it, allow that people make a few mistakes and say dumb things from time to time and with today's media it is heard around the world before you even know what you did wrong and are allowed to retract or be consistent and hold all to the same standard.
P.S.
For more on Harry Reid check him out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Reid
I especially liked this part.........he is such a calm individual on TV:
Reid lost his temper and attempted to choke Gordon, "You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me!", and was pulled off by FBI agents.
By the way, Old Harry has been at this politics thing since he got out of school. Sound familiar?
For more entertaining reading and information that as Glenn says, "will make your eyes bleed" check out a few more of these career politicians on Wikipedia. It is time to throw them out, both sides, and get some honest replacements.
Tim Woodsome
Running With Scissors
The current fuss over Harry Reid's comments are more evidence of the seriously frustrating double standards that are applied to Democrats and literally everyone else, especially conservatives. When Trent Lott made some innocuous comments at the 100 year birthday party of Strom Thurmond he was lambasted by the left. His apology was rejected and he was branded a racist. You know the rest.
So thinking about this I did some browsing on the web and landed on the following two sites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrd
Read the history of both of these two old guys. My first observation is why the hell, do we let these politicians get elected for life. They are so all over the spectrum of the political landscape that their legacy is fraught with conflicting decisions. The second observation is they both started in a very different American than the one they served in their later years. Their survival required they change their spots. Not the other way around.
It would be my opinion that Thurmond was slightly better than Byrd. His military service alone is admirable. Byrd on the other hand made some seriously bad choices; like joining the KKK. Both men resisted and objected to integration and civil rights. They both changed their views in time. However, the statement made by Byrd: "I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds." is indefensible.
So why the support by the Democrats for Byrd but the condemnation for Thurmond?
Simple, Strom Thurmond switched parties in 1964 and became a Republican and a rather lousy one at that. His equally offensive remarks: "I wanna tell you, ladies and gentlemen, that there's not enough troops in the army to force the Southern people to break down segregation and admit the nigra race into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes, and into our churches." were made years earlier when he was a Democrat.
Both of these senators have long and colorful careers. It could be argued, in my opinion, that neither of them should be honored because they were both racists, wielded way too much power and likely spent way too much of the countries treasure for their own gain.
Thurmond: Thanks to his close relationship with the Nixon administration, Thurmond found himself in a position to deliver a great deal of federal money, appointments and projects to his state. With a like-minded president in the White House, Thurmond became a very effective power broker in Washington. His staffers said that he aimed to become South Carolina's "indispensable man" in D.C
Byrd: Byrd is well known for steering federal dollars to West Virginia, one of the country's poorest states. He is called by some the "King of Pork." After becoming chair of the Appropriations Committee in 1989, Byrd sought to steer, over time, a total of $1 billion for public works in the state. He passed that mark in 1991, and the steady stream of funds for highways, dams, educational institutions, and federal agency offices has continued unabated over the course of his membership. More than thirty pending or existing federal projects bear Byrd's name. He commented on his reputation for attaining funds for projects in West Virginia in August 2006 when he called himself "Big Daddy" at the dedication to the Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center.
So what does this have to do with Harry Reid and his comments about Barak Obama? Nothing. Just that there is and has been a double standard employed by Liberals and the democrats for too long. Either get over it, allow that people make a few mistakes and say dumb things from time to time and with today's media it is heard around the world before you even know what you did wrong and are allowed to retract or be consistent and hold all to the same standard.
P.S.
For more on Harry Reid check him out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Reid
I especially liked this part.........he is such a calm individual on TV:
Reid lost his temper and attempted to choke Gordon, "You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me!", and was pulled off by FBI agents.
By the way, Old Harry has been at this politics thing since he got out of school. Sound familiar?
For more entertaining reading and information that as Glenn says, "will make your eyes bleed" check out a few more of these career politicians on Wikipedia. It is time to throw them out, both sides, and get some honest replacements.
Tim Woodsome
Running With Scissors
Monday, January 4, 2010
Flying with Scissors and Swords
Running With Scissors #2
So this is the second Blog. Where to start? It has been a slow week for the talking heads on TV. Most of my regular hosts are on vacation and the guest hosts are doing a fine job filling in but it seems like I’ve seen a lot of repeats of past shows. That suggests that not a lot of news is happening during the holiday break but then maybe it is just quiet because Congress went home. I wish they would stay home and spend some time talking to the people they are supposed to represent. Better yet I want them to have to fly back to work on the same planes they expect us to fly on. No special privileges or passes but go to the airport an hour and a half early, take off their shoes and empty their pockets and remove all their belongings and then wait in the terminal and in the event of a delay during take off, sit in the plane forever.
I got to fly on my first airplane when I was eight. Back then it was fun. As a kid you got lots of neat junk, pins with wings, luggage bags, toys and all sorts of cool stuff. The food was good and the Stewardesses were beautiful and friendly. The bathrooms had free bottles of after shave and cologne (I still have a bottle of each I never opened). You were also allowed to take anything on board. When we were flying home from Kenya in 1968, we had a layover in Barcelona. My brother and I each bought real swords which we carried onto the planes. I remember the stewardess had to tell my brother to stop using his to turn the overhead light on and off. Can you imagine what would happen today? Top that one John McClain (no, not the senator, the guy from Die Hard).
I hate flying now and avoid it whenever possible. Granted I don’t have to very often but it makes me really mad when once again the American public is punished for the actions of a few. Just like everything else government does, in order to fix a problem they look to fix it for everyone.
Remember when school was hard and if you screwed up you got kicked out? The idea was to preserve the quality of education and to get rid of the kids that weren’t there to learn. Not any more.
Our congress is determined to do the same thing with health care. Penalize the majority for the failures of the few. The others have free health care already.
It is always the same. If someone kills a person with a gun, then regulate guns for everyone else. If there are too many car accidents, make seat belts mandatory for everyone. Instead of remedial driver education for traffic offenders lower the speed limit for all drivers.
When Natasha Richardson died following a skiing accident there was quickly a call for mandatory helmets for skiers and some slopes responded accordingly by requiring their employees to wear helmets. Of course a study emerged that suggested helmets encouraged more risky behavior but that won’t deter the believers. The Nov. 11, 2009 Wall Street Journal had an article that said it might be time to retire the football helmet because the helmets provide a false sense of security and thus players hit each other harder than they would if they did not have protection, like their Rugby counterparts.
A false sense of security….imagine that. This is exactly what we can expect once again after we implement all the new regulations the TSA has in store for the flying public. As long as Janet Napolitano says the system worked like it was supposed to and the President plays golf as usual you can rest assured the only one that will be inconvenienced will be you, the good and honest and loyal American.
I can not imagine flying frequently like so many business people do. Putting up with the nonsense, knowing all the while that they can’t really do a damn thing to keep you safe on your flight. Every time you go through the security gates you are on trial. Not the bad guys. They win every time you have to throw away some belonging that is not permitted and every time you take off your shoes and walk through the detectors (they should have a sterile foot bath like at public pools), the bad guys win.
Why are our service men and women not armed on their military base and subject to as much of a threat here in the US as when overseas? Haven’t they passed the test? Why would we allow these, the best of us all, to be at risk from an individual who was clearly a red flag. Once again punishing the majority rather than doing what should have been done.
It is time that we demand to be treated like the law abiding citizens we are. If you are one of the good guys you shouldn’t have to prove it over and over. When I became a cop, I passed a mighty stringent background check and was permitted the opportunity to carry a badge and to carry a gun even in the presence of the President of the United States. I took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Colorado. I’m retired from Law Enforcement now but I have never rescinded that oath and I am the same guy I was before. Aren’t we all, at least most of us, descent and trustworthy citizens of this great country?
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
These words are inscribed on the Statue of Liberty’s Pedestal. They are attributed to Benjamin Franklin. We have given up a great deal of our Essential Liberty in exchange for very little safety. Congressman..........Are you listening?
Tim Woodsome
Running With Scissors
(and a sword)
So this is the second Blog. Where to start? It has been a slow week for the talking heads on TV. Most of my regular hosts are on vacation and the guest hosts are doing a fine job filling in but it seems like I’ve seen a lot of repeats of past shows. That suggests that not a lot of news is happening during the holiday break but then maybe it is just quiet because Congress went home. I wish they would stay home and spend some time talking to the people they are supposed to represent. Better yet I want them to have to fly back to work on the same planes they expect us to fly on. No special privileges or passes but go to the airport an hour and a half early, take off their shoes and empty their pockets and remove all their belongings and then wait in the terminal and in the event of a delay during take off, sit in the plane forever.
I got to fly on my first airplane when I was eight. Back then it was fun. As a kid you got lots of neat junk, pins with wings, luggage bags, toys and all sorts of cool stuff. The food was good and the Stewardesses were beautiful and friendly. The bathrooms had free bottles of after shave and cologne (I still have a bottle of each I never opened). You were also allowed to take anything on board. When we were flying home from Kenya in 1968, we had a layover in Barcelona. My brother and I each bought real swords which we carried onto the planes. I remember the stewardess had to tell my brother to stop using his to turn the overhead light on and off. Can you imagine what would happen today? Top that one John McClain (no, not the senator, the guy from Die Hard).
I hate flying now and avoid it whenever possible. Granted I don’t have to very often but it makes me really mad when once again the American public is punished for the actions of a few. Just like everything else government does, in order to fix a problem they look to fix it for everyone.
Remember when school was hard and if you screwed up you got kicked out? The idea was to preserve the quality of education and to get rid of the kids that weren’t there to learn. Not any more.
Our congress is determined to do the same thing with health care. Penalize the majority for the failures of the few. The others have free health care already.
It is always the same. If someone kills a person with a gun, then regulate guns for everyone else. If there are too many car accidents, make seat belts mandatory for everyone. Instead of remedial driver education for traffic offenders lower the speed limit for all drivers.
When Natasha Richardson died following a skiing accident there was quickly a call for mandatory helmets for skiers and some slopes responded accordingly by requiring their employees to wear helmets. Of course a study emerged that suggested helmets encouraged more risky behavior but that won’t deter the believers. The Nov. 11, 2009 Wall Street Journal had an article that said it might be time to retire the football helmet because the helmets provide a false sense of security and thus players hit each other harder than they would if they did not have protection, like their Rugby counterparts.
A false sense of security….imagine that. This is exactly what we can expect once again after we implement all the new regulations the TSA has in store for the flying public. As long as Janet Napolitano says the system worked like it was supposed to and the President plays golf as usual you can rest assured the only one that will be inconvenienced will be you, the good and honest and loyal American.
I can not imagine flying frequently like so many business people do. Putting up with the nonsense, knowing all the while that they can’t really do a damn thing to keep you safe on your flight. Every time you go through the security gates you are on trial. Not the bad guys. They win every time you have to throw away some belonging that is not permitted and every time you take off your shoes and walk through the detectors (they should have a sterile foot bath like at public pools), the bad guys win.
Why are our service men and women not armed on their military base and subject to as much of a threat here in the US as when overseas? Haven’t they passed the test? Why would we allow these, the best of us all, to be at risk from an individual who was clearly a red flag. Once again punishing the majority rather than doing what should have been done.
It is time that we demand to be treated like the law abiding citizens we are. If you are one of the good guys you shouldn’t have to prove it over and over. When I became a cop, I passed a mighty stringent background check and was permitted the opportunity to carry a badge and to carry a gun even in the presence of the President of the United States. I took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Colorado. I’m retired from Law Enforcement now but I have never rescinded that oath and I am the same guy I was before. Aren’t we all, at least most of us, descent and trustworthy citizens of this great country?
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
These words are inscribed on the Statue of Liberty’s Pedestal. They are attributed to Benjamin Franklin. We have given up a great deal of our Essential Liberty in exchange for very little safety. Congressman..........Are you listening?
Tim Woodsome
Running With Scissors
(and a sword)
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