Saturday Ramblings Around the Blogosphere And A Few Rambling Thoughts

When I was a kid, my family used to go on rambling Saturday afternoon drives. Now I ramble around the blogosphere.

Since you won't see it on Sinclair after all (story here), watch Stolen Honor here, here, and here. Thanks to Dean's World.

John Hawkins uses quotes by and about Kerry to show his character at Right Wing News. And David Limbaugh says he can't show who he really is.

Drudge links to a story about Bill Clinton wanting to replace Kofi Annan in 2006.

Claims of voter intimidation. Whoever is doing it is wrong and should be ashamed of themselves. I don't care which party, it's wrong. Period. And what's with Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman showing up at the polls in DelRay Beach? Did they move?

Early voting: I might call the Elections office this week to find out how the lines are. I've been hearing it's taking hours to vote early. If it's gonna take that much time, I'll wait until election day. If I get to work late, so be it.

Here's a Mom who has to say no to her daughters wanting to see a haunted house. Oh, how my heart bleeds. No concern about buying groceries or paying the mortgage. And more from Michelle Malkin about Hysterical Women for Kerry.

The Debates. They are over. I didn't see more than 5 minutes total of all three debates, but I am sure Kerry technically won all three. He is a trained lawyer. Lawyers study debating. Bush isn't a debater so he didn't do as well technically. But, you know what? The only people who care about the technique are debaters. I really don't care if Kerry had a pen or crib notes. I don't care if Bush was wired. The debates are behind us. Everybody just quit whining about who did better. In the long run, most people care more about the substance of what was said than the techniques.

Just had a phone call about the environment that started out, "Did you know that George Bush failed..." it only got that far when I asked, "I suppose you want me to vote for Kerry?". The woman on the other end said, "It doesn't matter who you vote for." Me: "Then why are you making this phone call?" Dead silence. Me: "Uh, huh. Thought so." And I hung up. Phone callers: I don't care if you want to make calls for a candidate or cause, just be honest. When you start out saying "So and So failed..." you're not telling me you want me to vote for So and So. You want me to vote for someone else, you might not care who, but you don't want my vote to go for So and So. You're being dishonest, at least to yourself.

Flu shots: Those with heart problems (Dick Cheney and Bill Clinton), and other at-risk health problems should get it. If you're healthy, you don't need it. You might get the flu, but you'll get over it. I got a flu shot only two or three times. Never got the flu, with or without. I won't get one this year, or any other year unless I become at-risk. So if I get the flu, and I'm healthy, God willing, I'll get over it.

Vaccine shortage: Part of the reason there is a shortage is because the companies that produce the vaccines don't want to be sued if someone dies. Too many trial lawyers have made a fortune suing drug companies that the drug companies just said no. There's more to it than this, of course, but remember, the dollar is usually the bottom line.

I heard about a question asked of voters (which group, I don't know) as to who they thought would win, not who they wanted to win, but who would win. The majority said Bush. I remember, back in the day when I was a Democrat, had I heard that, I probably would have voted for Bush, "because he was probably gonna win anyway." Isn't that good reasoning? Unfortunately, people think that way, so I'm sure President Bush will win some votes that way. Too bad people can't think for themselves.

Small Town Veteran speaks out.

Here's a link to the photo of President Bush hugging Ashley Faulkner. Read the story behind the photo. I see the pain on his face remembering what happened to her mother and how much he would give to make it all go away. I see the memories in his eyes. In this photo, he's not the President. He's a father trying to comfort a child who lost her mother in the most horrific event in American history. We can't forget what happened. We can't go back to September 10th. To do so, we would be invalidating the deaths of nearly 3000 people. We can only go forward. I see compassion in this face, I see faith, and I see character. Do I have to say it again? It is all about character.

Exit Polls

I have never, in umpteen years of voting (back in the days when we chiseled our votes on a slab of rock), been asked how I voted at an exit poll. I sort of feel left out. I've always wanted to be asked who I voted for so that I could:

1. Tell the truth. I'm the type, who when asked a question usually tells the truth. Especially if I wasn't prepared. Sorry, that's just the way I am. It's easier for me to tell the truth than it is to remember the lie.

2. Lie and say I voted for the "other guy" so that I can skew the exit polls. That's what I really want to do. Skew the exit polls. And, it has an added benefit: if the "other guy" wins I'm on record as saying I voted for him and I look like a genius. At least until he screws up. Then the fingers get pointed and people start saying, "this is all your fault!" I know this is opposite of #1, but it's not a lie I have to remember for any length of time. When the fingers start pointing, it won't matter, no one would believe the truth anyway.

3. I think this would be lots of fun with live TV cameras running, but cameras aren't necessary. If a camera is present, ask if we're on live. If so say, "It's none of your (insert expletive of your choice - the juicier the better) business. The last I knew, this was a (insert expletive etc) secret ballot." Of course, expletives can be inserted at any place, or multiple places, and multiple expletives can be used. This can be combined with #4.

4. Scream as loudly and as maniacally as possible, "I voted a straight Democratic ticket! You think I'm brain dead?" It seems to work for Dems like Howard Dean and Al Gore.

5. Look at the exit pollster and say, "Mommy? Mommy is that you? Mommy where have you been, I've missed you so much!" Especially beneficial if the pollster is male.

6. If you're a very good actor, you can use any combination of 3, 4, and 5 for a really good exit interview. The script would have to be re-worked, but the combination could be very effective. Of course, you might be carted off for a 72 hour observation period, but think of it as a vacation. Since you aren't going to hurt yourself or anyone else, you probably won't be kept more than a couple of hours when the therapists realize you were simply acting for the benefit of the camera.

If you choose to use any of these ideas, feel free to change the script as you choose. I must say this, however, should you use #4 and substitute Republican for Democratic, you run the risk of losing credibility. Only Democrats seem to retain credibility when coming unhinged.

Wicktory Wednesday

Well, in two weeks it will all be over. At least, the campaigning and the voting. We might be re-counting votes for weeks after, but the campaign will be over.

That means you have only 13 days to volunteer your time to the Bush campaign. If I could, I would have an election party and invite people in to watch the returns. We could cheer or commiserate with each other. But, unfortunately, that's not in my future, at least this year. Maybe in four years.

But, just because I can't have a party, doesn't mean you can't. You can have a get out the vote party, you can invite people to who are undecided and during the party, explain why they should vote for Bush/Cheney. Show the Fahrenhype 9/11 or Stolen Honor tapes. There are several things you can do other that host a party. But, there to two things you can do. One is to talk to friends and relatives, and the second is to vote. And to be sure that your friends and relatives vote, too. This year, even more than in other years, every vote will be important.

You don't have to agree with everything President Bush has done, I certainly don't. I looked at the two candidates and finally based my choice on who I though had the honor, the character, and the moral fortitute to do what's right, not what's popular. I made my choice based on the man who's spent the last four years trying to protect our country, not the one who has campaigned on military service over 30 years ago, and spent the last twenty years in Congress cutting defense spending, and trying to raise our taxes every chance he got.

President Bush has made mistakes. But I believe they were made with the safety of America in mind. Not with a "global" test or made with the United Nations in mind. Americans have always led with their hearts and asked for very little in return. We've never conquered other nations to rule them. We ask only for an area to bury our dead. We usually leave a country in better shape than when we came in. How many other countries can say the same?

It's only 13 days away. If you haven't looked at the character of the men who want to be President, please do so honestly before you vote. You will know who deserves your support and your vote.

Perhaps She Did Forget

I'm willing to give Mrs. Kerry the benefit of a doubt. Maybe she did forget that Laura Bush had been a teacher, and by saying Mrs. Bush had probably never held a "real" job since she had grown up, didn't mean to demean teachers and librarians. Hmmmm....my brother and his ex-wife were teachers until they moved into Administration, his wife is a kindergarten teacher, my grandmother, both her parents, her brothers, and several of my aunts, my cousin, and my brother's daughter were or are teachers. My mother was a librarian in the Army (she met my dad in the library, no wonder books were so important in our family!). I even planned at one time to become a teacher. I'm sure that Mrs. Kerry didn't mean to denigrate oh, close to a dozen members of my own family. I have a feeling that she just opened her mouth without thinking and the words came out. The apology wasn't much better, whether she wrote it or someone wrote it for her.

Perhaps Mrs. Kerry thinks that since she never worked outside the home, Mrs. Bush didn't either. I don't have children, but I am here to tell you, judging by what I have seen of my friends lives, it's an extremely difficult responsibility raising children in today's world. Raising the future of our country? And on top of that, doing the "normal" everyday chores that the everyone does to keep a house. And on top of that, many women also have jobs outside the home. It's not to say that those with outside jobs should receive more respect than those who choose to stay at home. It's different choices and I am not going say one is "better" than the other. I'm in awe of those who have children and those who have children and a job outside the home. I have a hard enough time, keeping house and holding down a job.

I will agree with Mrs. Kerry that their life experiences made them different people. But, if I had the choice of being either one, I'd choose to be Mrs. Bush. She's a lady in every sense of the word. She has class and grace. Something the billions of dollars Mrs. Kerry has at her disposal doesn't have and can never buy for either herself or her husband.

Troops for Truth

I said months ago that I would not post about Michael Moore. Well, I have to at least mention him and his film (to be referred to as the film or the Moore film). Now, before I go any farther, I will state that he has the absolute right to any opinion, the right to make this film, and the right to make money off it. I will not deny him that. In fact, I will stand up for that right.

That being said, other people have seen the need to show his to film be what it is: anti-Bush, anti-American, anti-war propaganda. It's full of half-truths, lies, and innuendos. He authorized his fans to make copies of the film and distribute them to troops overseas. It's been devastating to troop morale (here and here). Just what the troops need, to be questioning their reasons for being there when they are fighting for their very lives. Then he wrote a book based on letters he received from troops and their families.

Moore has made millions off this film. He's making appearances all over the country to tout the film. I personally don't believe that student union fees should be spend to pay him to appear (I also don't think student fees should pay for any political appearance, not just those with whom I have political disagreement), but that's another post.

I want to bring to your attention a film called Fahrenhype 9/11. The man behind this film is Dick Morris, who used to work for the Clinton's. He saw the need to show the truth and produced this DVD: Fahrenhype 9/11 (here's the IMdB link and a Google search link). It's available on DVD now through Overstock.com for $14.99. The original post is found at JunkYardBlog.

Troopsfortruth.org is asking for donations so that the DVD can be distributed to our troops in Iraq to counteract the effects of the Moore film. You can purchase the DVD for yourself or make a donation toward the purchase of DVD for the troops. The goal is to get one DVD for every 10 troops on the platoon level. Overstock.com has already put 5,000 DVD's in Iraq, but they need more. You can read about Overstock's contribution here.

Overstock is working with KeystoneSoldiers.com Keystone is an "interactive site to aid in the communication between deployed soldiers and their families as well as for the public to show their support for our troops." Keystone is collecting names and addresses where DVD's can be sent overseas.

You can purchase your own copy, make a donation toward a DVD, or purchase a copy to be shipped directly to a soldier overseas. I'll be making a donation and purchasing a copy of my own. I'll also put a link on the sidebar.

If you are a blogger, how about pushing this? If you blog about this, let me know and I'll link it. We know how we in the blogosphere can make a difference, why don't we use our might to prove it? This is certainly a good cause.

Some Sunday Musings and Ramblings

Opps...Kerry's beloved UN is blaming him for 50 Haitian deaths. Wonder how he feels about that? While he has decided that he wouldn't have gone to war in Iraq to remove a dictator, he would have sent the military to Haiti to protect one. And would have done so without international support (here and here). Huh? No international support? What about his global test?

Physics professor gone wild.

Wow...an ABC News headline that is Kerry-negative: Poll: Most Condemn Kerry Debate Comment. My opinion is that for Cheney to mention his daughter's sexual orientation is one thing; it's entirely different for Kerry and Junior to use her orientation for their own ends.

I heard this on Fox yesterday. Kerry was asked who his heroes were. He named three: Christopher Reeve, Michael J. Fox and Max Cleland. Can we say gratuitous? Just goes to show that he can't give an honest answer, only one that is politically motivated. Wonder who will be named the next time he's asked that question.

And here's a post from Matt Margolis regarding the story Kerry told during the debate about his mother. Wonder who he'll be getting his material from next?

Remember Kerry's promise to roll back the tax cuts for those making over $200K? Well, you might be included in the roll back if you make as little as $80K. Find it here.

I needed to see this. The latest CNN/USAToday/Gallup poll has Bush up by 8 points! You can find it here and here. Apparently the likely voters are agreeing that Kerry is too liberal. Well, he has 16 days to become more conservative. Who wants to bet that he'll try to change his image?

The RealClear Politics poll average here shows good news for Bush too. I don't pretend to understand the whys and wherefores, I'm just happy at what it shows today.

Just how many bills did Kerry pass during his Congressional career? Well, there seems to be some wordplay going on here. Factcheck.org sorts it out here. Kerry apparently managed to pass just 11 measures (some of which have no force of law) in 20 years. You've got to look at this.

And from Truth for Troops (troopsfortruth.org) you'll find a link to purchase Fahrenhype 9/11 (here's another link to the film). Purchase the DVD, make a contribution to get the film to the troops in Iraq, whatever you want. I'll be doing a separate post on this and linking on the sidebar.

Willing Worker Cards

I found this at A Physicist's Perspective. President Bush offered this at the third debate in reference to the immigration problem and illegal alien issue:

And so in order to take pressure off the borders, in order to make the borders more secure, I believe there ought to be a temporary worker card that allows a willing worker and a willing employer to mate up, so long as there's not an American willing to do that job, to join up in order to be able to fulfill the employers' needs. That has the benefit of making sure our employers aren't breaking the law as they try to fill their workforce needs. It makes sure that the people coming across the border are humanely treated, that they're not kept in the shadows of our society, that they're able to go back and forth to see their families. See, the card, it'll have a period of time attached to it. It also means it takes pressure off the border. If somebody is coming here to work with a card, it means they're not going to have to sneak across the border. It means our border patrol will be more likely to be able to focus on doing their job.

As I read this, it means that a card will be issued to workers (generally speaking, Mexicans) who want to work in the US. I have no problem with this. This means that the person presenting the card to a potential employee is authorized to be in this country. They are "legal".

My problem is with illegal aliens. I've already discussed that I believe the vast majority of them are here to work, to earn a living that they can't in Mexico. My problem is with the "illegal" part. It means they are here illegally. They have crossed the border at a place where they have not passed through customs. Can I make it any clearer? They are not "undocumented", that implies that they don't have the papers that make them legal. Illegal aliens didn't have the papers in the first place. They are criminals. They are committing a crime. Let them get the papers they need to be here legally and I won't say a word about it. Not the first word. It is against US law for people to be in this country illegally and until the law is changed, I will continue to speak out about it.

Now, considering we have thousands of miles of border that remains open, how can we stop them from entering? For the life of me, I have no idea. Unless we have personnel, military or Border Patrol constantly sweeping the borders, or standing within eyesight of each other it can't be done that I can see. The only solution I can offer is to pick up the illegals as we find them and return them to their country of origin. Pick them up, charge them with say, a lesser charge that won't prohibit them from returning legally, run them through a court, fine them a dollar amount, put them on a bus and return them to their country of origin.

Here's a thought, isn't there a tariff paid on fees coming into the US? How about raising those fees to help defray the costs of housing illegals? Of course that cost would be covered by raising the price of the goods and would be paid by the American company buying the product. Maybe if enough American companies refused to pay the higher price Mexico would begin to work with us instead of against us. What would happen is American companies would simply scream to their congressmen and get the tariff reduced because it would hurt their company. So that wouldn't work for long.

What we really have to do is get Mexico to work with us to get people who are eligible to work in the US the proper documentation to be in the US. It has to be a win-win situation in order to work.

People who simply want to make a better life for themselves and their families are becoming criminals in order to do so. Will we ever completely stop illegal traffic across the borders? No, unless we build some sort of wall or fence. I don't see that happening and I don't want it to happen. But something has to be done. There has to be an answer. The willing worker card is a beginning.

Update: I found this at Michelle Malkin just now. Liliana Plata is an illegal alien from Mexico who stole the identity papers of Cristina Alaniz, a student at Texas State University. She joined the Air Force and was deployed to Iraq. She thinks that because she served honorably in Iraq she should suffer no consequences of 1. Identity Theft, and 2. being an illegal alien (it is illegal, remember?). She has many open-border sympathizers who agree with her. And Plata is not the only one. More about this from Michelle Malkin.