DID YOU KNOW NEW YORK NO LONGER REQUIRES NATIONAL GUARD PROTECTION?

Once again the Democrats are working on ratcheting down our military. Last time they were able to accomplish that was when Bill Clinton “streamlined” the Federal payroll by cutting the military. The result was that our early Iraq warriors were not decently equipped. Now, New York State is cutting use of the National Guard, and the result is that high target areas like Grand Central Station, airports, and subways will no longer be guarded. Our infamous and thankfully former Governor Eliot Spitzer even wanted nuclear power plants to pay for the Guard’s protection—the only installations required to do so—but in that case cool heads prevailed and the legislature turned it down.

Now under our new “I did it too but I got a pass” governor, Patterson, we are getting a bunch of double-speak. Here’s a choice quote from Eric Durr, director of public affairs (you know Durr’s job creates lots of methane gas) for the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, “You might not see the guy at Grand Central Station everyday…but that doesn’t mean you’re alone.” I’d like to know what it does mean.

The new budget for the Division represents a $400 million decrease from last year that Durr assures us isn’t quite as bad as it seems because it represents “federal money for disaster relief stuff, for emergency preparedness stuff, for Homeland Security.” Huh???? I guess the Democratic controlled Congress is really concerned about our safety—NOT.

It all falls into place when you look at the entire Democratic approach to Homeland Security coupled with their salivating appetite for the White House. It’s all about the election. Lull us into the false security we felt prior to 2001.

Juxtapose this Democratic view with the fact that we have not had an attack since 9/11 although the government has foiled plots against us and the terrorists have continued to strike in other countries.

It’s a lot easier to sleep at night if you buy in to the Democrats. The trouble is you might not wake up in the morning.

"New+York" "National+Guard" security "Homeland+Security" Patterson Spitzer Democrats military Clinton airports subways "Grand+Central+Station" government election opinion commentary politics politicians congress

THE DALAI LAMA SPEAKS OF FREEDOM AND PEACE

With all the hoopla about the Olympics in China and the disruptions along the Olympic Flame’s route by protestors on both sides of the Tibet issue, it was interesting this morning to hear the Dalai Lama express his views.

The Dalai Lama said that protests are good—on both sides. It is worse to stifle voices than it is to allow them to be heard. The problem in Tibet stems from taking away Freedom—particularly Freedom of Speech. Freedom is what brings Peace.

Apply those sage ideas to our own situation in the United States. I have heard that same idea in relation to Iraq. I’ve heard it from President Bush even as he is vilified by his opponents for taking that stand. Freedom brings peace. It doesn’t do it overnight, and freedom is certainly not easy to achieve, but Peace is not found without it.

Think about it.

"Dalai+Lama" freedom peace Tibet protests Olympics "Olympic+torch" China "United+States" Bush commentary politics politicians news media "political+blogs" opinion

PORK BARREL SPENDING ROBS TAXPAYERS

Probably bald-faced lying gets me the most, and we have a Congress complaining about pork barrel spending yet refusing to stop bringing home the bacon—at our— taxpayers' expense. The Democrats swooped into office like vultures and, voila, “earmark” spending tripled in 2007. So much for another Democratic Party promise. Not that Republicans act any better. Three of the top five recipients of earmarks are Republicans.

But let’s look at our candidates as a hint to the future:

Hillary Clinton brought to NY a whopping 296 million dollars! Does this make her a good Senator? NOT. But look at her history; she’s used to living off the government.

Barak Obama took a measly 97 million dollars back home!

John McCain came in a distant third. He took nothing back to Arizona. HE NEVER HAS TAKEN HOME A PENNY IN PORK. And he keeps getting re-elected. It points out the truth about us voters: we DO WANT INTEGRITY; we WANT OUR TAX MONEY RESPECTED.

On an interview from Jacksonville, Florida this morning, I heard McCain say he WILL VETO ANY BILL THAT HAS EARMARK SPENDING ATTACHED. That’s a promise I hope he’ll keep.

There are some real CHUTZBAH CANDIDATES:

New York City Congressman Charles B. Rangel (D) secured $1,950,000 for (get this) The Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at CUNY. You just can’t make up this kind of irony !!!!! Public Service?????? Public Theft is more like it.

Maine Senators Snowe (R) and Collins (R) fished a whopping $188,000 out of the sea of taxpayer money for a Lobster Institute. How delicious is that! I think we were the ones caught in a trap.

Despite their public statements, Congress recently shot down, by a big majority, a bill to put a one-year moratorium on earmark spending. This while they complain that the country is about to enter a recession. You just cannot make this stuff up!!!!

"political+blogs" politicians taxes earmarks "pork+barrel" Congress government money "Hillary+Clinton" "Barak+Obama" "John+McCain" Democrats Republicans "Charles+Rangel" Snowe Collins "New+York" Illinois Arizona Maine taxpayers

HOMELAND SECURITY VS ENVIRONMENTALISTS

Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff is up against some real loonies in trying to get 670 miles of fence built along the U.S./Mexican border. Weigh this in your scales of justice: maybe habitat---U.S. border security. Environmentalists flood the courts with lawsuits while drug-runners, potential terrorist, illegals, and every other kind of parasitic, bottom feeder blithely scoots into our country.

Thrice before Chertoff suspended environmental regulations to get portions of the job done, and, wattayouknow, no problem!

Consider Chertoff’s simple rational: "Criminal activity at the border does not stop for endless debate or protracted litigation," Chertoff states. "The waivers will enable important security projects to keep moving forward."

Works for me. I want the border secured!

But leave it to some asinine Democratic (yes, this is definitely a partisan issue) Congressman to say, "Today's waiver represents an extreme abuse of authority," House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said. "Waiver authority should only be used as a last resort."

I’m not sure when “last resort” becomes operative—perhaps after the next 9/11, Congressman Thompson!

And while I am quoting stupid remarks, here’s one from the Audubon Society president, John Flicker (is he for real with that name; we have flickers at our bird feeders regularly): "The DHS decision … will jeopardize the economy, quality of life and beauty of South Texas,"

Economy, quality or life and beauty….Doesn’t he read the papers about what’s happening to areas along the border? What does he expect happens when drug smugglers, people smugglers, and people out to create chaos here come across? I guess he’s like an ostrich with his head in the sand! He should be saying, “The early bird catches the worm!”

I’m not a big fan of the virtual fence, and I’m not a big fan of Chertoff, but in this case, the man has 100% of my support. Let’s get this done!

"Homeland+Security" "Michael+Chertoff" politics Democrats border "border+security" illegals drugs smugglers 9/11 "Audubon+Society" "Bennie+Thompson" Texas Arizona environmentalists

10 MORE REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR BARAK OBAMA

Barak Obama never had a shot at my vote, but having watched this latest mess unfold--the video clips, Obama's interview with Fox's Major Garrett and today's speech by him, here are 10 more reasons Barak Obama shouldn't get anyone's vote.

1. He looked directly into the camera and denied to Major Garrett that he had ever had .... oops, I forgot for a second it wasn't Bill Clinton I was listening to .... denied he had ever heard or had an inkling of Pastor Jeremiah Wright's feelings.
2. He told Major Garrett that had he known, he would have left that church.
3. In Major Garrett's interview, he refused to condemn Wright's words and ideas: that the U.S. introduced AIDS as a means of genocide, that 9/11 was "chickens coming home to roost," that we supported apartheid in South Africa, sing not "God Bless America" but "God Damn America," didn't give a second thought to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, etc.
4. He called Pastor Jeremiah Wright his spiritual guide and mentor. If not for the beliefs we heard, in what ways does Pastor Wright guide and mentor him? Obama's general phrase, "social gospel" is too general and Black Liberation Theology is too.
5. Today he said he was aware of the Pastor's feelings but could not distance himself from the man any more than he could distance himself from his white grandmother who said she was afraid if a black man was approaching on the street. Are those comments moral equivalency? And what happened to the original denial? Someone is not telling the truth!!!! 'Fess up, Barak. We should worry when our potential president has a hatemonger as a spiritual advisor and mentor.
6. Today he suggested that the kind of rhetoric spewing from Jeremiah Wright can be heard in churches and synagogues across the country. Not mine. Yours? I'd bet not. Is he suggesting that many clergyman like the idea of God Damn America? And do congregations chant and scream and rise up in agreement of anti-American sentiment? Not my experience.
7. Obama suggested that he is the candidate to bring change to America and heal racial tensions. Seems to me that Obama is the poster boy for change in America. His candidacy attests to a changing America. He is the product of continuing change and forward motion. Until he brought it up, as early as when he claimed that he would never deal with someone who made despicable comments as Don Imus did and then going after Geraldine Ferraro and today by changing the real problem with Jeremiah Wright from his rabid anti-Americanism to problems with race relations, race was less of an issue in deciding on a candidate than it is today.
8. When people questioned Michelle Obama's statements that she was finally proud of our country or that America was mean, I did not hear or read any suggested racial connection. So why is that coming up now? The Obama camp is using race as a defense, and that makes it an issue to consider in determining our next president.
9. Obama has already admitted that he will seek advice before removing troops from Iraq. That's not quite the stance he originally took saying he would move them home immediately. Guess we can't trust his word there either.
10. We still know so little about him, but what we are getting to know is that we cannot trust his word. If we cannot trust his word, we cannot trust his judgement for us as President.

politics politicians "Barak+Obama" "Jeremiah+Wright" elections president racism "racial+relations" "Michelle+Obama" "10+Reasons" "Fox+News" "Major+Garrett" interviews

HOPEFULLY SPITZER IS ON HIS WAY OUT

Don't say I didn't warn you; way back in January, I wrote about Elliot Spitzer--his arrogance, his dis-service to the people of New York (http://a-big-bang.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20York)

Today's scandal as breaking news doesn't surprise me at all. Here is a guy who rode a wave of deceit into office, and with any luck, his deceit will wash him away with the tide. The statement he issued--read in a voice totally devoid of remorse--stated that politics is NOT about Private Individuals. NOT!!!! Even the NYTimes came out against that one! (I can't begin to deal with that hypocrisy here)

Spitzer billed himself a "clean-up" guy. When he was attorney general, he went after white collar criminals--big companies, etc. That's where he built his reputation. He was successful, but he didn't go after, for instance, drug conglomerates or other kinds of criminals. (contrast him with Rudy Guiliani, for instance)

He won big in New York, having fooled the populace (as skillful politicians often do), but immediately alienated people with "dirty tricks," using the State Police to go after opponents, particularly Joseph Bruno. Then he got himself into trouble offering illegals NYState driver's licenses. That even caught Hillary Clinton off guard, and that caused trouble. He talked about "steamrolling," and that backfired on him. During his short term, he has alienated the politicians, the press, and anybody who might have offered some sympathy to him.

With any luck, New York will be gone. No more busting prostitution rings; he's been busted. How's that for hubris (and irony)--a guy busted by a bust!

My advice is for Andrew Cuomo, our Attorney General. You go after high profile businesses too. How about working to clean up what immediately hurts us too. Your dad, Mario, used this tactic with high profile "causes." He didn't make it higher than governor. Methinks you've set your sights higher.
Spitzer "Elliot+Spitzer" politics "political+blogs" "Hillary+Clinton" NY "New+York" media NYTimes "New+York+Times" "political+corruption"

WE FOOT THE BILL AND STILL GET KICKED IN THE REAR END

I wondered the other day (http://a-big-bang.blogspot.com/2008/03/irs-scores-points-on-stupidity-scale.html) how much money it cost US to have the IRS send those letters to millions of taxpayers reminding them to pay their 2007 taxes in order to get their rebates. The Associated Press today gaveus that amount--are you sitting--42 MILLION DOLLARS of our money. Can you believe the incredible nerve--the incredible gall of the IRS.

politics "political+blogs" taxes IRS