An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for 1 August 2008
Justice?
Mary Winkler Gets Daughters Back
FOX13 has learned that Mary Winkler has gotten her three daughters back. Winkler picked up her children Friday afternoon. The girls had been living with their paternal grandparents since Winkler killed her husband Matthew in 2006. Now it appears the bitter custody battle is coming to a close.
As soon as Winkler’s criminal trial ended, the custody battle began. But Friday, in an unexpected turn of events, she regained physical custody of her three children.
A source told FOX13 that Winkler picked the girls up Friday afternoon and brought them to her new home in McMinnville, Tennessee. She will soon enroll them in local schools.
“I don’t think anyone will ever understand fully or appreciate how she has felt while being separated from her children, one of which was one year old at the time,” said Rachel Putnam, the attorney handling Winkler’s custody case in a 2007 interview..
Winkler lost custody in 2006 when she was charged with the murder of her preacher husband Matthew Winkler.
Should this woman, who shot her husband in the back, get her kids back? I guess the judge thought so. Me? I’m a tad more skeptical.
No, He Really Doesn’t!
B. Hussein has a MUCH better barber!
Just a Few Reasons Why
Liberty Pundit has posted 10 Things I Believe In As A Conservative:
Just ten quick things off the top of my head (slow news day):
1] There is a God.
2] Abortion is the taking of an innocent life.
3] Lower taxes makes for a better economy, and soaking the rich never helped anyone.
4] Socialized medicine and the like will spell the end of this country as we know it. We can’t afford the entitlements we have on the books now (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.), and you can’t possibly raise taxes high enough to pay for this new stuff.
5] Unions are organizations that have outlived their usefullness (and original intent), and now solely exist to fleece big business and elect Democrats.
6] War is an ugly, but sometimes necessary, business. Likewise, the best way to prevent a war is to be prepared for one (peace through strength).
7] America is, despite everything liberals have tried to do to it, still the best nation on earth.
8] It’s not the government’s duty to feed, cloth, or house you if you’re too lazy to try and do it on your own. *
9] The law is the law is the law. Don’t like it? Get Congress to change it (not the courts). Otherwise, sit down and STFU.
10] Our standard of living/way of life is more important than the fate of some animal nobody has ever heard of before and is threatened with extinction if we keep living this way.
Like I said, just ten things off the top of my head. Feel free to add your own list in the comments or, if you have a blog, write up your own and trackback to this post.
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*I don’t mean people who, through no fault of their own, can’t help themselves (see the last paragraph of this post for an example).
Pretty much sums it up! Obviously, there are many other reasons why I am a conservative, but these 10 are a good start. The only thing I’d add, for the moment, is something about securing the borders. But I guess that can be wrapped in with #9.
Ann on Rush
The first time I heard Rush Limbaugh, back in the early 90′s, on one of Houston’s talk radio stations, I thought how odd! Someone is putting into words what I’ve been thinking for quite a while! Contrary to what the leftists believe, Limbaugh does NOT tell conservative how to think. He reflects a great deal of what we have been thinking all along, giving us a voice we never had previously. For this, I am very grateful. He opened up the door for even more conservatives to talk radio, and for that I am EXTREMELY grateful!
The story of Rush Limbaugh reminds me of a movie you wouldn’t believe could ever happen in real life. Forging his own path against all odds and under constant attack, in the end, the hero triumphs!
I knew about the prominent Limbaugh family before I ever heard of Rush. I clerked for a federal appeals court judge in Kansas City after law school, and every lawyer in the Midwest has heard of the Limbaughs–the Limbaugh judges, the Limbaugh lawyers, the Limbaugh courthouse.
But Rush spurned the law, spurned college and went on radio. He wanted to be on radio, so that’s what he did. He was a conservative, so that’s what he was.
The story of Rush Limbaugh reminds me of a movie you wouldn’t believe could ever happen in real life. Forging his own path against all odds and under constant attack, in the end, the hero triumphs!
I knew about the prominent Limbaugh family before I ever heard of Rush. I clerked for a federal appeals court judge in Kansas City after law school, and every lawyer in the Midwest has heard of the Limbaughs–the Limbaugh judges, the Limbaugh lawyers, the Limbaugh courthouse.
But Rush spurned the law, spurned college and went on radio. He wanted to be on radio, so that’s what he did. He was a conservative, so that’s what he was.
Feckless Weasel on Fox News
I can’t remember the name of the guy that’s sitting in for Neil Cavuto today, but he’s done pissed me off royally! While the Republicans were having a press conference, instead of letting people actually HEAR what the Congressman was saying (critisism of the Dhimmis for NOT doing anything about energy prices), he started talking over the man.
A Show of Spine/Cajones?
This is great stuff! And it annoys the bejabbers out of me that I can’t find ANYTHING on the usual news channels about this “New Boston Tea Party”!
House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House and turned off the lights and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.
Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi’s refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m., and they are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess.
The Queen Moonbat is dead set that we will NOT be energy independent! While gas prices sour, Nanny whines, and takes off for her vineyard, or wherever moonbats go for vacation.
There are numerous updates, and well worth your time to read. I mean since C-SPAN and the MSM aren’t allowed to cover the REAL news!
A sampling of some great stuff:
Update 4: Republican leaders just sent out a notice looking for a bullhorn, and leadership aides are trying to corral all the members who are still in town to come speak on the floor and sustain this one-sided debate.
Update 6: Rep Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) just pretended to be a Democrat. He stood on the other side of the chamber and listed all of the GOP bills that the Dems killed.
He then said, “I am a Democrat, and here is my energy plan” and he held up a picture of an old VW Bug with a sail attached to it. He paraded around the House floor with the sign while the crowd cheered.
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), who was on a plane headed home, went back to the Capitol, walking on to the floor dragging his luggage. He got a standing ovation.
Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the dimly lit chamber is a “vision of the future by the Democrat Party: The lights are out, there’s no power, and the air conditioning is gonna go off soon.”
Michigan Republican Mike Rogers returned to the House floor in shorts and sandals to take his turn at the podium, as the Republican talkathon continues on the House floor, hours after the chamber formally recessed for the week.
Just heard a snippet on Fox News….they might getting ready to share some info! Not much other than the fact this is going on, with a smidge of video from a cell phone.
Vermont Teddy Bears Might Have Lost My Business
I LOVE Vermont Teddy Bears. I send them to friends and family for the new baby arrivals mostly. I even have a few myself, including the “Crazy For You” bear.
Heh. Love that bear! 
I got an email from VT Teddy Bear promoting going “Green”.
Fer the love of pete! As a “preferred customer”, VT Teddy Bear tells me:
Make any Purchase of $60 or more and Get 2 FREE VTB Shopping Bags
Now through August 18th, make any purchase of $60 or more and receive a pair of FREE Vermont Teddy Bear Shopping Bags. Have this free gift sent to you, or along with your Bear-Gram gift.
Be Bear – Be Green! Perfect for groceries, shopping trips, books, and more, our “Be Bear” reusable totes are a great way to show your commitment to Being Bear and Being Green! Eco-Green. Biodegradable. 16¼” L x 8½” W x 14″ H.
Well, thank you! Thank you for falling for the “green” nonsense. If I’m not mistaken, if you look out your window, you’ll see a LOT of green. Well, except for those in places like New York City, or Washington D.C., or any large city that has replaced trees with concrete. For us folks out in Podunk, USA, we ARE green!
Have you noticed that those pushing the hardest for the “going green” clap trap are the ones who sit behind desks and walls that BLOCK the world outside? They are the “do as I say, not as I do” bunch.
Now, I’m not saying that the folks at VT Teddy Bear aren’t sincere acolytes of the great Boracle, but I find them falling into the trap more than just a tad disconcerting. The offer of two “free” reusable bags is very nice of them actually, but nothing more than a marketing ploy for fellow acolytes. “Oh yes, I just MUST buy one of those cute little bears so I can SAVE THE PLANET!” GAG! Meanwhile, the company sells an over priced bear, with accessories, and passes off a couple of bags that probably didn’t cost more than 20 cents for them to make. Jiminy Crickets.
Capitalism at its best!
Another GREAT Column
Charles Krauthammer is one smart cookie!
Drilling and Blissful Ignorance
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposes lifting the moratorium on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and on the Outer Continental Shelf. She won’t even allow it to come to a vote. With $4 gas having massively shifted public opinion in favor of domestic production, she wants to protect her Democratic members from having to cast an anti-drilling election-year vote. Moreover, given the public mood, she might even lose. This cannot be permitted. Why? Because as she explained to Politico: “I’m trying to save the planet; I’m trying to save the planet.”
Yes! Queen Moonbat is going to save us all from ourselves! Pfft! What Nanny understands about economics and environment wouldn’t fill up a thimble!
Please, go read the whole column!
A Letter to Editor
Today, in the Tennessean, I found this little gem from a Joe Earls in Antioch:
So, Joy Ford does not want to sell her property to Lionstone Group from Houston. Maybe they haven’t offered enough money for it!
Seems to me that the new development around her property by Lionstone has increased the value of her property well beyond $900,000.
Maybe all the fuss to condemn the property has also helped increase the property value? Seems to me she knows just exactly what she is doing.
It all boils down to supply and demand. She has the property and both Lionstone and Metro want it. Maybe Lionstone needs to up the price to $2 million to $3 million or even more (money does talk and she just might sell). That would be the American way!
I find it extremely difficult to understand why some folks just don’t get it! Miss Joy has stated that she does NOT want to sell her property to ANYONE, for ANY price. This is hers, it belongs to her. If she wants to keep it, that is up to her! Lionstone has stated they do not need the property in order to develop the property they have already.
Stating that the company should up their price to seduce her into selling is the “American way”? No Mr Earls. The American way is to back up the property owner! Prevent such actions. If Joy had wanted to sell her property, do you really believe she’d be fighting so hard to keep it from the hands of the city and developers?
Instead of writing letters to the editor, basically endorsing the abuse of eminent domain, you should be writing letters in outrage over such abuse of power.
“Monsters” Among Us
‘Montauk Monster’ Has Hamptons in a Tizzy
What’s brownish-purple, goes to the beach and stinks of rotting flesh?
New York’s celebrity-obsessed Hamptons summer season got even sillier this week when a strange-looking, very dead creature washed up on a beach in Montauk at the far eastern end of New York’s Long Island.
On Tuesday afternoon, a photo was posted on Gawker, the Big Apple’s reigning gossip blog, which treated the Montauk monster with characteristic respect: “Good Luck With Your Hell Demons.”
Whatever it is, it’s butt ugly! Hmmm…. kind of looks like it’s flipping us all off, don’cha think? 
Obamarama
Morning Coffee 08/01/08
G.M. Loses $15.5 Billion in Quarter
The General Motors Corporation reported a stunning second-quarter loss of $15.5 billion on Friday because of a dramatic decline in United States sales and charges for job cuts, plant closings and the falling value of trucks and sport utility vehicles.
Since one of the reasons prices started rising to the levels they are now, other than the cost of fuel, were the outrageous union pushed “benefits packages”. This led to the large jump in the cost of a vehicle, which in turn, led to the rise in the cost of everything else. Spreading out like an octopus, affecting us all. I wonder since they can’t sell the safer vehicles now, will the unions fade into obscurity, and more realistic prices will be introduced? Hmmm……Naw!
Official: U.S. wanted death penalty in anthrax case
A U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the ongoing grand jury investigation said prosecutors were closing in on Mr. Ivins. They were planning an indictment that would have sought the death penalty for the attacks, which killed five people, crippled the postal system and traumatized a nation still reeling from the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
I don’t understand. Why would the man murder these people? Has anyone ever figured this out? Weren’t things bad enough after 9/11 without the anthrax attacks?
Achievement doesn’t figure into state teacher rewards
Middle Tennessee school districts steered away from the pay-for-performance option of a legislative mandate to reward teachers, choosing instead to lure them to hard-to-staff positions with extra cash.
Those decisions got nods from teachers unions, which had to approve plans in districts where they have bargaining power, because the unions generally oppose payments based on student performance.
Well, of course unions oppose it! Teachers would actually be required to TEACH and get positive results. Heaven forbid if a teacher was actually required to succeed in helping students LEARN!
Darfur JEM describe court sentence as a ‘joke’
The sentences from two special courts, set up to try those rounded up in a security crackdown following the May 10 assault, bring to 30 the number of alleged members of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) condemned to death.
The JEM official said that the courts were founded by the Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir “making them an unfair venue”.
He also alleged that there 2 secret courts and described one of the judges by the name of Muatasim Tag Al-Sir as a security officer.
“These courts are unconstitutional and their purpose is clear; to blackmail us but JEM will not be intimated” he said.
Isn’t there an arrest warrant for Bashir? I was always under the impression that an arrest usually followed a warrant. Perhaps I’m just a tad confused? In the meantime, more people will die. (thumb twiddling)
Pelosi Backs Obama on Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act
If Barack Obama is elected president, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will support him in fulfilling his vow to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which currently protects states from having to recognize same-sex marriages contracted in other states as they ordinarily would be required to do by the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution.
That’s right Queen Moonbat! You just keep right on working for the destruction of the country. (insert five lettered word here) I will not recognize something that is abhorrent to my Creator! Nor should anyone else. I pray that there are those in Congress who will stand up against this fallacy!
Feds can search laptops without reason at airports
Federal agents may take a traveler’s laptop or other electronic device to an off-site location for an unspecified period of time without any suspicion of wrongdoing, as part of border search policies the Department of Homeland Security recently disclosed.
Also, officials may share copies of the laptop’s contents with other agencies and private entities for language translation, data decryption or other reasons, according to the policies, dated July 16 and issued by two DHS agencies, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“The policies … are truly alarming,” said Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., who is probing the government’s border search practices. He said he intends to introduce legislation soon that would require reasonable suspicion for border searches, as well as prohibit profiling on race, religion or national origin.
Holy crap! I’m going to agree with the smarmy little b**stard! As someone who travels with a laptop, I find it just a tad disconcerting to think that someone has the ability to just take it away for no reason. Then, on the other hand, if they have a reason to suspect me of being a terrorist, someone who may want to do harm to my country, arrest me, THEN take my laptop. But, we must remember, there IS a profile of terrorists, and it usually doesn’t include menopausal white women. Feingold might want to remember that too.
Suspect in custody in Niagara shootings
A preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were shot about 5:30 p.m. Thursday while they were out among a group of nine young adults gathered near the East Kingsford railroad bridge, located on the Menominee River, approximately three miles west of the city of Niagara and 90 miles north of Green Bay. The Menominee River forms the border between Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
More than 10 local and state law enforcement agencies, including the Wisconsin State Patrol and Michigan State Police, were involved in the search.
The shooter was described as a white male, with possibly gray or blond hair and between 30 and 50 years of age. He is about 5-feet-10-inches tall and was wearing camouflage clothing and carrying an assault rifle.
No motive has been determined, according to Sheriff Jim Kanikula, who said there was no communication between the shooter and the young people. The shooter was 7 to 10 feet away from one victim when he fired, Kanikula said.
What the hell is wrong with people? Is there a sale at the local feed stores on INSANITY? My most heartfelt prayers go out to the families of these kids.
Abbas to Open Door for Arrested Hamas Terrorists
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will free scores of Hamas terrorists and supporters arrested this week by PA security forces.
Abbas issued the order late Thursday night from Tunis, where he held talks with Tunisian officials. According to the announcement, the mass prisoner release will be carried out by Sunday.
Fatah forces have arrested approximately 200 Hamas terrorists in Judea and Samaria, more or less matching the number of Fatah loyalists rounded up by Hamas forces in Gaza last week.
Pardon my stupidity, but isn’t releasing terrorists a BAD thing to do? They want to kill people. Wouldn’t execution be a better way to solve such a problem?
Police: Pennsylvania Couple Went on 18-Month Egging Spree
A suburban Philadelphia couple is accused of damaging the property of more than 400 people during an 18-month egging spree.
According to court documents, Philip Fleck and his girlfriend, Heather Darcy, admitted to the vandalism.
Police say the couple wanted to retaliate against friends for damages they said were inflicted upon them — but the couple also egged other people to draw suspicion away from them.
Police say Fleck and Darcy caused more than $7,000 in damages.
Were they 12? What a juvenile thing to do! And one of the mothers is talking like this is no big deal. Where are the grownups?
More charges filed in Tuesday’s shooting spree
Charges against another suspect in Tuesday’s gangland-style, rolling shooting spree indicate that the gun battle started as an effort to retaliate for an incident the night before.
Charges against another suspect in Tuesday’s gangland-style, rolling shooting spree indicate that the gun battle started as an effort to retaliate for an incident the night before.
Memphis is starting look more like Chicago of the 1930′s! Although a couple of things are obviously different: the reasons for the shootings, and the other is obvious.
Wal-Mart Warns of Democratic Win
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is mobilizing its store managers and department supervisors around the country to warn that if Democrats win power in November, they’ll likely change federal law to make it easier for workers to unionize companies — including Wal-Mart.
In recent weeks, thousands of Wal-Mart store managers and department heads have been summoned to mandatory meetings at which the retailer stresses the downside for workers if stores were to be unionized.
Dhimmicrats=Unions=SOCIALISTS!
Jury deadlocked in British transit bombings trial
A jury in the trial of three British Muslims alleged to have aided the 2005 London subway bombings said Friday that it can’t agree on any verdicts.
Three men were accused of conspiring with the bombers who killed 52 commuters in attacks on three subway trains and a bus. Waheed Ali, Sadeer Saleem and Mohammed Shakil all denied the charges.
Prosecutors said they couldn’t immediately confirm whether or not they will seek a retrial in the case.
The three men, who acknowledged at their trial that they knew the four suicide bombers, are the only people so far charged over the attacks.
I wouldn’t think it would be so difficult to reach a verdict.
Afghanistan attacks on the rise
Attacks by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan have hit record highs this year with hundreds of civilians killed, including 19 aid workers.
The violence is spreading insecurity which has hampered relief work, aid groups said.
Unrest had spread to once stable areas and welfare agencies were forced to scale back aid delivery even as drought and food price hikes put millions of people in difficulty, the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (Acbar) said on Friday.
If you’re going to murder those who are trying to render aid, you’re not going to get a whole lot of volunteers to give said aid. I’m of the mindset…..they can all blow themselves up.
Not THEIR Money!
Americans love their cars, and so apparently does Uncle Sam. He’s got 642,233 of them.
Operating those vehicles – maintenance, leases and fuel – cost taxpayers a whopping $3.4 billion last year, according to General Services Administration data obtained and analyzed by The Associated Press.
While Cabinet and other officials say they need the vehicles to do their jobs, watchdogs say mismanagement of the government fleet is costing millions of dollars a year in wasteful spending.
For example:
# At the Department of Housing and Urban Development, fuel consumption and inventory are down, yet overall costs have increased significantly. Officials there can’t figure out why.
# The Interior Department was told by its own watchdog that it should cut its inventory, but it’s added hundreds of vehicles.
# The VA has some cars that are barely driven. One just disappeared.
Add to that the cost of drivers, a perk given to high-level government officials.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters has two drivers. Their salaries totaled more than $128,000 last year.
The driver for Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt earns about $90,000 a year. That’s more than double the average salary of an office manager or accountant, and about $35,000 more than a registered nurse earns, according to a salary calculator provided by CareerBuilder.com.
The government owns or leases sedans, SUVs, trucks, limousines and ambulances for more than three dozen agencies, the U.S. military and the Postal Service. Are they all really necessary?
“This is one bleeding part of a budget and not just in one department but in a lot of departments,” says Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, a longtime foe of what he considers wasteful federal spending. “When you have something bleeding like this, there can be a lot of money saved.”
Saving taxpayer dollars should be a priority, says Washington-based Citizens Against Government Waste.
“From a management standpoint, this is something that can easily be handled,” said Tom Schatz, president of the group. “It’s critical use or necessary use versus ‘well, we’ve got the money, let’s go out and buy some more cars.”‘
In Washington, it’s the “WE’ve got the money” mindset. They tend to forget that it’s not THEIR money!
Now, I have no problem with some NECESSARY vehicles. Obviously, the gubmint needs some to do the job. But I’ve got to ask, just as an example, why does the Transportation Secretary need TWO drivers? Whut? Doesn’t she have a drivers license? Doesn’t the HHS guy have one? And how does a car disappear from the VA?
Yeah, I’d say it was past time to take back our government, cuz they are obviously a bunch of incompetent boobs!
Verse of the Day
Isaiah 43:21-24
21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
22 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.
23 Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.
Another Blogger’s B-Day
Yep, we’ve got another birthday in the blogosphere this week. Ol’ Fred of Real Debate Wisconsin is celebrating in high style today…..at least I hope so!
Stop by and wish him a grand day!
