An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for August 2009
A Special Place In Hell
Prison officials in the United Kingdom are considering whether to release 57-year-old former Libyan intelligence agent Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, who is serving a 27-year minimum term for his role in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Mr. Megrahi is suffering from terminal prostate cancer, and the early release is being sought on humanitarian grounds. Mercy for this man would be a mistake.
On Dec. 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was traveling from London to New York when it exploded at 7:02 p.m. local time. The Boeing 747 disintegrated in a fireball and plummeted 31,000 feet to Earth. The debris dug a 50-foot crater in the town of Lockerbie. All 259 people on the plane were killed, along with 11 more innocents on the ground who were crushed under the wreckage. The source of the explosion was a bomb in a suitcase in the forward cargo hold. Subsequent investigation tied Mr. Megrahi to the suitcase containing the bomb, and on Jan. 31, 2001, he was convicted of 270 counts of murder. It was one of the largest convictions for terrorism in history, if not the largest.
Read the rest here.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. ‘Nuff said!
Letter to the Editor
While snooping around this morning, I came across a letter in the Memphis Commercial Appeal that got my attention. It addressed the recent ‘town halls’ held by Marsha Blackburn. The last couple of paragraphs of the letter pretty much mirrors my own thoughts:
This meeting was so different from what the newspaper reported at Rep. Steve Cohen’s meeting. I heard that only written questions were taken from the audience there and that Cohen avoided answering questions directly. Blackburn admitted when she didn’t know the answer to questions, and was never defensive or combative. She said Republicans have been criticized for saying no to voting on the bill, that we need to know the bill before they vote on it — so what’s the rush — and I agree.
Cohen has made up his mind in support of President Barack Obama. Blackburn is supporting the people. Perhaps the reason we saw such a difference in these two meetings is we saw a Republican congresswoman and her desire to listen to the people and a Democratic congressman and his desire to push party agenda on the people.
Yep. Pretty much what I saw at the one I attended in Savannah. So, I ask, are those making comments at Post Politics calling this lady a ‘lying tea bagger’ too? Are they ralphing on their shoes when reading her take of the meeting? It’s such a shame that there are so many out there, with the privilege to vote, that are so unbelievably clueless. Just a crying shame.
Weasel Time
Are You Ready For Some Football????
Well, I sure hope so, cuz ol’ Ick has his picks up for a few upcoming games. Go! Check ‘em out.
How the world works lately…
If a man cuts his finger off while slicing salami at work, he blames the restaurant.
If you smoke three packs a day for 40 years and die of lung cancer, your family blames the tobacco company.
If your neighbor crashes into a tree while driving home drunk, he blames the bartender.
If your grandchildren are Brats without manners, you blame television.
If your friend is shot by a deranged madman, you blame the gun manufacturer.
And if a crazed person breaks into the cockpit and tries to kill the pilot at 35,000 feet, and the passengers
kill him instead, the mother of the crazed deceased blames the airline.
I must have lived too long to understand the world as it is anymore.
So, if I die while my OLD WRINKLED ASS is parked in front of this computer, I want you to blame Bill Gates.
Shared by Sharon.
Decisions, Decisions
How cool. TN State Rep. Stacey Campfield interviewed the Republican candidates for governor.
Looks like at least one of the Democrat candidates has accepted his ‘invitation’ to be interviewed too. We shall see if the others will step forward as well. I sure hope so. Since I’m not a Republican or a Democrat, I’d like to base my support on the candidate, NOT the party, so I’d be interested to see what all of them have to say.
Ok, let’s be realistic here. Odds are, I won’t be supporting a Dem, but hey, you never know. Anything could happen, right? Heh.
Saturday Afternoon – Not Much Time – No Laundry Done
Smart Cars: A good way to reduce end-of-life health care costs – Doug Ross
Fake Doctor Gets Front Row Seat at Dem Town Hall Meeting – Flopping Aces
“The Gilly” Gilliard Grant Awarded at the Nutroots (DKOS) Convention again this year. Again, I salute the winner! – The Cutting Edge
Most unbelievable quote of the day. – Right at Home
Obama Tactics – Rule Number 12 of Saul Alinksy’s “Rules for Radicals” – Bear Creek Ledger
Joker lands in Nashville – Kay Brooks
Postal carrier has driver on route because of DUI – Taxing Tennessee
The Union City Rally Aftermath – Mike Slater
The President Officially Throws The Remaining 95% Of Tax Payers Under The Bus – Wizbang
playing make-believe – walls of the city
Obama’s political agenda means more to him than race relations… – Disgruntled Truck Driver!
Where I Talk About Rape – Newscoma
Weary President Wraps up Town Hall Tour – Feed Your ADHD
Woodstock- 40 Years..And A Clear-Headed Translation – Dave Foulk
As a Black Conservative, Should I Be Afraid? – Lloyd Marcus
The One On Health Care – Hear It From.Us
A Train De-Railed? – Real Debate Wisconsin
Democrat interviews? – Camp4U
Blackburn Town Hall
Well, the Mr and I headed on over to Savannah (TN) this afternoon for one of the MANY townhall’s our Representative, Marsha Blackburn was holding. I’ve been trying to figure out why she scheduled so many in one day. Each stop only got 45 minutes, which, in the scheme of things, isn’t a whole lot of time, giving herself, basically, about 15 minutes to get to the next stop. I’m impressed! She was only a few minutes late. 
So, anyway, evidently when we got there, the restaurant had told folks they’d be meeting outside. Uh huh. 91 degrees, a bit of humidity, not a lot of shade, old folks. Goes real well together, doesn’t it. It actually wasn’t too bad, thanks to the fans.
We arrived about 25 minutes early, bought something to drink (sweet tea for me, of course), and found a table outside with no problem at all.
I’m glad we showed up early cuz the crowd was growing fairly quickly, and the outdoor area isn’t that big.
About 5 minutes before Marsha was scheduled to arrive, the restaurant evidently decided it would be prudent to allow all the old folks into the air conditioning. Seems there were people standing out on the street that we weren’t able to see, because once that was announced, people came out of the woodwork. Gracious sakes!
You can’t tell from that picture, but it’s a pretty good sized place for a small town. The Mr and I estimated there were between 150 to maybe 200 folks there, with standing room only by the front door.
Before the Congresswoman arrived, a couple of ……I think they were State Troopers (?) came in and looked around. The younger one, he must have been about 12 or 13, kept eye balling at my attire. It took me a few minutes to figure out why he was looking at me like that. So, I looked down, smiled at him, and held out my t-shirt so he could read it.
He smiled back.
Finally, Rep. Blackburn arrived. She made a brief statement, thanking folks for coming out, and telling us how impressed she was at the turn out in each of the towns she had visited. The biggest, by far, seems to have been over there in Franklin, where in the hotel itself, there were about 1300 people, 900 inside, and another 400 in the hallway, plus several hundred more outside.
She spoke of the Crap and Tax bill, which would pretty much turn off Tennessee’s electricity, since the TVA uses coal, and O & Co. don’t much like coal. Or nuclear energy, for that matter, which is another way we get our lights to turn on.
Then, the biggie…..ObamaCare. I can guarantee, there were only 2 people in that room that seems to approve of this travesty. One said he was a doctor, from the county next to this one, but he sounded more like a government bureaucrat. The other was a younger fellow who appeared to approve, by his applause for things no one else in the room was too fond of.
One gentleman, who really IS a local doctor, runs a non profit clinic which caters to the TennCare, Medicare, and low income folks with no insurance. He was ADAMANTLY opposed to ObamaCare, as seems a good chunk of doctors are.
One of the issues was the cost related to Tort Reform. Did you know that in 2006, Congress passed a bi-partisan bill to do some serious reforming on all thefrivolous lawsuits that bog down the courts, and shove medical costs sky high, only to have it die a horrible death in the Senate?
I was able to ask a question, which was something to the effect of why is there so much reference to the tax code in this bill. Well, the explanation? I have NO idea. Something to do with they aren’t allowed to strike through things, so all the bills coming out of Congress refer back to something or other. What a crock. No wonder those people up there have no idea what they are voting for or against….the dadburn things make no sense.
All in all, it was a pretty good meet up. There was no screaming, no shouting down, no name calling. But then, there weren’t any ACORN, SEIU reps, and no Dem operatives were bussed in. Not to mention the fact that the Congresswoman is opposed to this bill (smart woman), and she actually LISTENED to WE, The People, and responded to the various questions and concerns.
I really appreciate her taking the time to actually come and speak to the people who pay her salary. She’s one of the few working in D.C. these days who remembers who she works for, and not the other way around.
Uh Huh.
Well, it seems my youngest granddaughter wants to be a clown when she grows up.
That’s a real good start there, Short Person. REAL good. 
Still Relevant
“God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion.
The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is
wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts
they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions,
it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. …
And what country can preserve its liberties, if it’s rulers are not
warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of
resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as
to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost
in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from
time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
It is its natural manure.”
~ Thomas Jefferson ~
Innocents Betrayed – The History of Gun Control
Parts I & II
Parts III & IV
Parts V & VI
Get Use To It!
SORRY, SNOBS: TOWN-HALL RAGE IS REAL DEMOCRACY
by Rich Lowry
THE best moment of almost every YouTube video of the raucous town-hall meetings on health care is the same: It’s the nonplussed look on the face of the senators and congressmen who have rarely suffered such indignity.
Psst! HEY! Yahoos! Just who do you think pays your bills? Oh, wait a minute…the BIG bills gets paid by ‘special interest’. Well, if it weren’t for us little folks, they wouldn’t have those fancy offices paid for by the taxpayer!
Be assured: No one talks to them that way in the “members only” elevators in the US Capitol.
Well, maybe they should. Maybe they should get a slap down on a regular basis!
Nancy Pelosi and Co. insist that the town-hall protesters are the tools of special interests. Not likely. Almost all of the special interests have been enticed or bullied into cooperating with ObamaCare.
No honey, that’s YOU who are the tool of those special interest. Our only ‘special interest’ is our country, our families, and our wallets….which, by the way, you keep shoving your hand in, and believe me, you ain’t my type! BACK OFF!
Oh yeah….it’s REAL alright, and y’all better start paying attention!
Go read the whole column. It’s terrific.
The Chicago Way
Time To Take A Stand
We Warned Democrats Would Overreach – And They Have!
by J.D. Longstreet
Just a snippet:
ObamaCare is all about power. It is the ultimate power grab by the US government. Let’s face it, folks. The politicians don’t like taking orders from us. I mean, who the hell do we think we are, anyway? We’re just supposed to vote and then sit down and shut up. I believe the President, himself, said something on that order just recently. I mean about “sitting down and shutting up!”
Our government is out of control and the American people have just now recognized that fact.
Read the whole post here!
I just want to insert a few things here. Our nation is at a crossroads, and which direction we take depends on what we believe are our core values. Not right and left, but right and wrong.
TEN PLANKS OF THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO: Marx described the following ten steps as necessary steps to be taken to destroy a free enterprise society!!
1. Abolition of property in land and the application of all rents of land to public purposes. With the abuse of the 5th Amendment “takings” clause becoming more prevalent (ex: Kelo v City of New London), foreclosures, and such, this is being enacted right before our eyes, and we aren’t really noticing. Oh, we see the foreclosure signs, and watch the news, but are we really paying close attention?
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax. Own property? Have you seen changes? The value of your home has dropped, but I can pretty much bet the tax didn’t go down.
3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance. A father/mother works hard to leave their children better off, yet the government believes it’s entitled to a VERY LARGE chunk of the proceeds, even though taxes had been paid throughout their lifetime. Isn’t that like double taxation? What did the government do to earn such an inheritance? Not a dadburn thing except write a bill insisting they deserve it more than your children.
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels. Even though we haven’t seen any obvious cases of this happening, I have no doubt in my mind, if things continue on the same course they have been, we WILL see it!
5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the State. Bank bailouts anyone?
6. Centralization of the means of communications and transportation in the hands of the State. FCC. ‘Nuff said.
7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State. General Motors, Chrysler.
8. Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial armies especially for agriculture. How many family farms are left? Compared to what there were 100 years ago, not a whole hell of a lot. They have been taken over, or run out of business by the ever increasing regulations, and taxation.
9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries, gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equitable distribution of population over the country. See above.
10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children’s factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production. Ok, I see no problem with not having child labor. Kids have a right to be kids. And I’m not real sure where the get the idea that public education is free since it’s paid for by the taxpayers, even though who have no children. I’ve always thought that once your kids are out of school, you shouldn’t be paying those taxes, but that’s just me. Instead scrapping one of the best health care systems in the world, and replacing it with a system that puts your life at risk, why not scrap the current education system?
With the continued attacks on the foundations of our faith, the errosion of the family, and the oblivity of those we, sadly, elected to public office, either we stand up now, and we will be forever sentenced to a life of servitude of the government. I, personally, do not play the submissive role too well. What about you? Will you stand up? Take our country back from those who co-opted it for their own person power and pleasure? The choice is yours, and I’m really hoping you’re going to make the RIGHT choice.
Not Just Un-Constitutional….ANTI Constitution
Is Obamacare Consistent With Our First Principles?
During one of Sen. Arlen Specter’s (D-PA) early health care townhalls in Lebanon, Pennsylvania; mother of two Katy Abrams told the audience: “I don’t believe this is just about health care. It’s not about TARP. It’s not about left and right. This is about the systematic dismantling of this country. I’m only 35 years-old. I’ve never been interested in politics. You have awakened the sleeping giant.” Abrams is dead on. Our federal government has, unfortunately, long been drifting away from the limited government principles first envisioned by our founders. But over the past eleven months, that drift has turned into an all out sprint towards an undemocratic, technocratic, leviathan state … a type of government that our Constitution was specifically designed to prevent.
As Abrams points out, both political parties have been complicit in the rapid deterioration of our founding principles. It was after all President Bush who pushed for and signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 which created the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). When the Bush administration submitted their legislation to Congress we warned: “From a constitutional standpoint, the current versions of the legislation are different in scope, and especially in kind, from almost any federal legislation that has come before.” Specifically we identified: (1) Congress’s enumerated power—or lack thereof—to intervene with private markets in the manner contemplated, (2) the lack of meaningful standards to guide the extremely broad grant of discretion to the Treasury secretary (the “legislative delegation” problem), (3) limitations on judicial review over the exercise of that almost limitless discretion, and (4) related separation of powers concerns.
