A couple of days ago I linked to the video of Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee talking on her cell phone during a townhall meeting while being asked a question by one of the people she WORKS FOR! And I commented on her arrogance. Well last night Ms. Lee was on Greta Van Susteren and once again should her holier than thou arrogance. and the phone call that was SO IMPORTANT was to a hotline set up for her constituents, recorded calls she could have listen to anytime... then way was she talking into the phone??
Ok Here is the line that got me..
Shelia Jackson Lee: But I, Shelia Jackson Lee, I remain steadfast, ready to hear, and trying to convince them.
So she is not listening she is just trying to convince people. This woman simple does not listen!
Video Here:
Fully Story Here
Friday, August 14, 2009
Funding the Taliban
Wow... talk about aiding the enemy. Sadly this in no way surprises me. Now I understand having to win the hearts and minds of the people of Afghanistan through projects and aid but there has to be a better way to accomplish it without funding the enemy!
KABUL — It is the open secret no one wants to talk about, the unwelcome truth that most prefer to hide. In Afghanistan, one of the richest sources of Taliban funding is the foreign assistance coming into the country.
Virtually every major project includes a healthy cut for the insurgents. Call it protection money, call it extortion, or, as the Taliban themselves prefer to term it, “spoils of war,” the fact remains that international donors, primarily the United States, are to a large extent financing their own enemy.
“Everyone knows this is going on,” said one U.S. Embassy official, speaking privately.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Health, Wealth and Happiness
Health, wealth and happiness is a toast we make on many occasions. Weddings, Birthdays, and New Years. These three things are not guaranteed in life these are things that are earned. So how is it that the government is trying so very hard to give us these things?
Wealth is earned through hard work and careful management of the money you earn. Of course there are types of wealth that are not of monetary value but these too are earned through learning to appreciate them... like your family and friends.
Health too is earned through our lifestyles. Granted getting sick and dying are two of the four things we can not control in life. But honestly we all know that eating well, exercising and not allowing ourselves to become overly stressed so we can rest well is key to good health. If we choose to drink too much, smoke, and do drugs we all are aware of the consequences and therefore responsible for them ourselves.
Now some people my not agree with me that happiness is earned. But by making the choice to find the silver lining and "turning the poison into medicine" we can be happier in life. I'm not saying even when we make the effort to be happy we are going to be all the time. No one dances around singing in happiness 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Life brings sadness and anger. But without those we could not fully appreciate the joys and be happy.
So back to my question.. How can the government "give" and regulate through law things that are earned and must be earned to be fully appreciated? If a person is going to be lazy and not work then they are not going to have wealth of any kind. Why should others give it to them? If a person is sick or injured and can't work and has the wealth of family and friends that they've earned then they are the ones who would and should step up to help them. If a person goes out and lives a lifestyle that is dangerous to their health knowing then why should others be made to pay for fixing their health? They choose to destroy it. And if a person wants to be angry and wallow in unhappiness instead of working to create happiness in themselves and their lives then no one else is going to change that.
The Government needs to get out of the business of taking care of people. That is in no way it's job. In this nation we are free... free means that people get to do things we don't like as long as they aren't involving others. Free means you have to take on the responsibility for how you live your life. free means when you see someone else doing well who has health wealth and happiness.. you don't get to be jealous and demand the same for yourself. It means you should be inspired to go EARN it for yourself!
Wealth is earned through hard work and careful management of the money you earn. Of course there are types of wealth that are not of monetary value but these too are earned through learning to appreciate them... like your family and friends.
Health too is earned through our lifestyles. Granted getting sick and dying are two of the four things we can not control in life. But honestly we all know that eating well, exercising and not allowing ourselves to become overly stressed so we can rest well is key to good health. If we choose to drink too much, smoke, and do drugs we all are aware of the consequences and therefore responsible for them ourselves.
Now some people my not agree with me that happiness is earned. But by making the choice to find the silver lining and "turning the poison into medicine" we can be happier in life. I'm not saying even when we make the effort to be happy we are going to be all the time. No one dances around singing in happiness 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Life brings sadness and anger. But without those we could not fully appreciate the joys and be happy.
So back to my question.. How can the government "give" and regulate through law things that are earned and must be earned to be fully appreciated? If a person is going to be lazy and not work then they are not going to have wealth of any kind. Why should others give it to them? If a person is sick or injured and can't work and has the wealth of family and friends that they've earned then they are the ones who would and should step up to help them. If a person goes out and lives a lifestyle that is dangerous to their health knowing then why should others be made to pay for fixing their health? They choose to destroy it. And if a person wants to be angry and wallow in unhappiness instead of working to create happiness in themselves and their lives then no one else is going to change that.
The Government needs to get out of the business of taking care of people. That is in no way it's job. In this nation we are free... free means that people get to do things we don't like as long as they aren't involving others. Free means you have to take on the responsibility for how you live your life. free means when you see someone else doing well who has health wealth and happiness.. you don't get to be jealous and demand the same for yourself. It means you should be inspired to go EARN it for yourself!
Your Laptops Are Not Private Anymmore...
Department of homeland security has done it once again... Forgetting about that pesky little document our nation is based on. Now when you travel and carry on your laptop they can confiscate it and go through all your personal and business files with no cause at all. This is a clear violation of the 4th Amendment. Hey you folks at DHS... Have you ever heard of "probably cause"? How about "unlawful search and seizures"? Where the line be drawn? I understand having my baggage x-rayed and having to walk through a metal detector before i board an airplane. But when you have absolutely no indication of wrong doing there is no reason to take the safety procedure any further. at some point you are simply being nosy and infringing on the rights of the people that are secured in the 4th Amendment. In case you are unsure what exactly what the 4th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States says I have posted it below.
FOURTH AMENDMENT [U.S. Constitution] - 'The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.'
FOURTH AMENDMENT [U.S. Constitution] - 'The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.'
"Congress recently forced the department to admit it has assumed authority to take an air traveler's laptop computer (or any other electronic device) to an undisclosed location for an unspecified time to check for suspicious files - even "absent individualized suspicion" of wrongdoing."
Stand To, Marine Supporters! Our Marines Need Help!
Hat tip to Alamo City Pundit
Republished
Republished
August 12, 2009 by Johnny Alamo
Patriot Room Blog has this appeal to help out some Marines overseas:
Time to make our men and women in Afghanistan know we are proud of them. Just got alerted to this from PR Friend American Genie … the text below is a cut-and-paste. There is nothing more important than thanking the men and women that are defending our lives with theirs. Thanks for your help!
I have had a request from a friend to ask for some volunteers to send care packages to a particular Marine unit that is currently in Afghanistan (3rd Btn 11th Marines). They are desperately in need of some basic “non-military” supplies and could definitely benefit from hearing some words of support from home accompanying these items. In particular, some items they would like to receive would include:
– “Boot Socks: Black or Tan (white seems to be popular with it being so hot)
– Underwear: All Sizes (either boxers or briefs or some of each)
– Baby Wipes
– Soap/Body Wash
– Deodorant
– Razor Cartridges (All Brands)
– Drink Mixes (Crystal Light, Propel, Sugar Free type stuff)
– Solar Shower Bags (you can find these in camping stores or the internet/ebay or look here
– Any type of fitness equipment or gadgets
From previous experiences with sending care packages, please do not send edible stuff that will melt (e.g. chocolate). Feel free to include any other types of items you think our Marines might enjoy. Please DO send a personal note of encouragement and thanks to them. Please box up whatever items you wish to send and send them directly to:
1st Sgt Jason Hanson
3/11 HQ Battery: HBO
Unit 41630
FPO AP 96427-16301Sgt Hanson is the HQ Battery 1Sgt and will distribute items within the Btn. There are about 150 Marines in 3/11, so the more you send, the more they can be taken care of and know that we at home care about what they are doing and care for them.
For anyone who’s interested in some background, they deployed this spring as part of the surge. This is their official unit web page. This is the Marine Parents page for the unit. And this is the most recent news article I could find on the unit.
This is entirely voluntary and I thank you in advance for those of you who choose to act on this request.
And I can vouch from my time in Desert Storm that the Drink Mixes are the most efficient and most appreciated things you can send. Energy bars, granola, and other type “mix” bars are also appreciated.
It sounds to me like these guys were already on a deployment when they got diverted to Afghanistan and have been out there a Long, Loooong time without being able to get to a PX — which is a bad way to go. So these are the guys desperately in need right now. Even something as simple as a newspaper, a magazine would be greatly appreciated. And you can never have enough Hot Sauce, Fruit snacks, or cookies — trust me on this.
This is my plan, which I’m going to do tomorrow morning:
- Got To Post Office.
- Buy 2 or 3 of those new “Flat-rate Shipping” Boxes they have now. No Weighing, just fill and mail.
- Take boxes to Wal-Mart.
- Fill ‘em up!
- Mail those suckers.
I’m making a list right now for Wal-Mart tomorrow. Let’s get this going on, people!
~Johnny~
Arrogance of Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee
This pretty much says all there is to say about how most of our Congress representatives think. The absolute arrogance of Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee to talk on her cell phone instead of listening to this woman's real concerns. It is quite obvious she does not listen to her constituents. I would really like to know what is so important that she couldn't wait and call the person back.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
PA to CUT National Guard Active-Duty Stipends Because of Budget Impass
Ok I can understand needing to cut cost.. but cutting the pay of our military men and women come on... Are you seriously telling me there is no other areas of the budget to cut.. like real wasteful spending??
Over 500 members of the Pennsylvania National Guard -- many of whom have served in Iraq and Afghanistan -- are also state employees out a gratuity stipend due to the budget impasse, a spokesman with the state department of Military and Veterans Affairs confirmed Friday.
Over 500 members of the Pennsylvania National Guard -- many of whom have served in Iraq and Afghanistan -- are also state employees out a gratuity stipend due to the budget impasse, a spokesman with the state department of Military and Veterans Affairs confirmed Friday.
The stipends, due to members of the National Guard on active duty, are payments of $520 a month on top of the federal salary paid to active military members, said Kevin Cramsey, a spokesman with the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Rep. Duncan Hunter Questions the Limited Number of Medal of Honors
Rep. Duncan Hunter of CA has officially asked the question I myself have been asking. Why are there so few recognition of heroic acts during this war? And why have the 6 Medal of Honors that have been awarded gone to those who have fallen? I do not want to take anything from those men because I know they deserve the honor and so much more. I remember them and say their names daily. But I have heard the stories of other heroic acts that are all to similar.. but those men came home to hug their families. Dying doesn't make you a hero.. it is the acts of selflessness to protect others that does.
WASHINGTON – Eight years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. About 4,000 members of the U.S. military killed in action. More than 34,000 wounded. Just six considered worthy of America's highest military award for battlefield valor.
For some veterans and members of Congress, that last number doesn't add up.
They question how so few Medals of Honor — all awarded posthumously — could be bestowed for wars of such magnitude and duration.
Those explanations don't tell the whole story, said Rep. Duncan Hunter, a first-term lawmaker who served combat tours as a Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has sponsored legislation that directs the defense secretary to review current trends in awarding the Medal of Honor to determine what's behind the low count.
The bill passed the House. If Senate negotiators go along, Secretary Robert Gates would have to report back by March 31.
"It seems like our collective standard for who gets the Medal of Honor has been raised," said Hunter, R-Calif.
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