An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for December 2009
Dumbing Down
AMERICANS DON’T KNOW nearly as much about U.S. history as they think they know. But their knowledge of popular culture is off the charts.
A new survey released this month by the nonprofit, nonpartisan American Revolution Center (ARC) of Philadelphia indicated that 80 percent of adult Americans (and 94 percent of those aged 18 to 49) were able to link the late pop star Michael Jackson to his signature songs “Beat It” and “Billie Jean.” But only slightly over half could identify James Madison as the Father of the U.S. Constitution.
Furthermore, even though “tea parties” have become a popular form of political dissent in recent months, only 12 percent could correctly identify the most important repercussion of the Boston Tea Party of 1773. That was the provoking of Parliament into enacting the Coercive Acts, which strengthened American resistance and led to convening of the First Continental Congress. Most respondents incorrectly answered on this multiple-choice test that the Tea Party resulted in repeal of the tax on tea.
Asked before taking the test to grade their historical knowledge, only 3 percent gave themselves an “F.” But 83 percent flunked, meaning they could not correctly answer more than 16 of the 27 questions.
Perhaps adults have forgotten some of the history they learned in school long ago. But the prospect of their children becoming a better-informed generation is not bright.
The study of traditional U.S. history has declined since the Vietnam era due to such divergent factors as a crowded curriculum, the spread of a separatist band of multiculturalism, and the governmental focus on testing reading and math skills to the exclusion of history and other essential elements of the liberal arts.
In the interest of reviving the discipline, organizations of the nation’s leading history scholars have repeatedly called on public school systems to require history teachers to have majored in history in college; however, no state teacher certification boards do so, and the best evidence is that relatively few history teachers have majored in history.
Read the rest here.
We have sunk to this sad state of affairs because no one was actually watching the hen house, and the fox has taken over. Perhaps if schools actually taught the REAL history of this country’s founding, we wouldn’t have so many ignorant people voting for those who would destroy her. For schools not to require a history major to teach history just boggles the mind. It seems that schools these days would prefer for our children to be ignorant, rather than informed.
It’s A Wonderful Life!
You might have noticed I haven’t really posted anything today. Why? Well, cuz it’s CHRISTmas ya doofus! DUH! Woke up WAY too early, ate WAY too much, and snoozed through what seems to be a rather boring movie. Woke up, watched Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince…..too depressing….ate some more, and decided to start deleting emails and check up on the world in general. I rather wish I hadn’t. Pfft!
It was a rather pleasant day, even if I did get an I.O.U. from the Mr. HE, on the other hand got quite a nice present from me, which of course, Ick was holding while I was taking the picture and he forgot to hold still.
In case ya can’t tell what it is……
He’s been eye-balling this thing for months. Since I had no idea what to get him, when in doubt….get a gun! 
Naturally, there was something under the tree for Rocky Moose. Unfortunately, this time, it was too big. So, Ick put in on Bocephus Beauregard.
Now, I’m SO ready to slap on the jammies, crawl in bed, and remain in a horizontal position until Sunday!
I pray everyone had a wonderful day with family, friends and food! Please remember those who are far from home, and always keep them in your prayers!
For Unto You…
Luke 2:1-16
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
A Note From Rep. Blackburn
“Tomorrow morning, Americans will wake to find that the Senate has left a lump of coal in their stocking. To get sixty votes for his health care bill, Senator Reid had to twist more arms than a chiropractor. That leaves Americans with a bill that was crafted to meet a vote threshold, not a threshold of patient care. In it, critical health care decisions are shifted away from the doctor’s office and into the bureaucratic corridors of Washington.”
“Now negotiators from the House and Senate will sit down and try and reconcile two vastly different health care bills. I urge them to do this in an open and transparent way so that the American people will truly know what is in the final bill. I hope that the conferees will address important outstanding issues; like the federal panels currently empowered in the House bill to restrict patients access to vital preventive screenings such as mammograms.”
Whether you want to believe or not, your employees in the Senate just screwed you over…..ROYALLY!
Christmas at Ick and Brat’s Place
I’m sure you’re aware by now that we are spending Christmas with my daughter and Ick in law in Texas. One of my traditions, if you’ve been around for a while, is irritating the bejabbers out of Ick by dressing up his over stuffed cat, Rocky, in a variety of things, antlers, a flashing bandanna, etc. Well, this year, I got him a Santa suit that was WAY too small. Naturally, that would not do! So, when Brat dragged me to Wally World yesterday, I just had to see what they had left by way of dressing up critters. Yes, these are dog outfits (do people really put tutus on dogs?), but with the size of this cat, he could pass for an over sized raccoon!
Short Person put the Santa suit on her cat, and it fit her kitty, Salem, just fine. Not that she was happy wearing it, but hey….
Unfortunately, Wal Mart didn’t have any more Santa suits of appropriate size for Rocky, so, we got him a “smoking jacket”. Looks like a 2 year old’s tuxedo to me, but oh well.
Much better fit, don’t you think? And it wasn’t ME that dressed him this time. It was all Brat’s doing! So, she gets the blame! Heh.
Democrat + Socialism = Slavery
A complete copy and paste! Once again, I can’t add anything to what J.D. states. The son of a b*tches in Washington, D.C. have ignored WE, The People one time too many!
The Return of Slavery to America!
by J. D. Longstreet
Isn’t it ironic that it is a black man, an African-American, (Well, at least half African-American, anyway.) as President of the United States of America, ushering in the return of SLAVERY to America? Doesn’t it just strike you as W R O N G, somehow?
Of course, it’s wrong. It doesn’t make much difference who the President is when a government goes to the dogs, as the United States government has done over the past year. But it DOES make a difference when that President is leading an entire nation into slavery to HIS government!
It has been said you cannot find anyone to defend slavery — but it is easy to find many who will defend socialism. This really puzzles me as socialism IS slavery by another name.
Ann on The Goose Steppers
In Other Words…
by Ann Coulter
Irritated at the bumps on the road to the Democrats’ Thousand-Year Reich, liberals are now claiming that Republican Sen. Tom Coburn requested a prayer for the death of Sen. Bob Byrd during the health care debate last Saturday night.
Here is what Coburn actually said: “What the American people ought to pray is that somebody can’t make the vote tonight. That’s what they ought to pray.”
After reporting Coburn’s remark, The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank added: “It was difficult to escape the conclusion that Coburn was referring to the 92-year-old, wheelchair-bound Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.V.).”
Contrary to Milbank’s claim, I find it extremely easy to get away from that conclusion. In fact, I’m a regular Houdini when it comes to that conclusion. That conclusion couldn’t hold me for a second.
Rocky, The Moose Santa
He’s gotten fatter. I think I’ll just have to hunt down a bigger size. 
No, he was not happy at all. Well, are you happy when YOUR Santa suit is too tight? Didn’t think so!
Y’all know I do this, not to annoy the cat, but to seriously irritate the Ick in law, right? Heh.
Past Time To Get Tough
CA pastor accused of student visa conspiracy
Immigration officials have accused a Southern California pastor of helping foreigners fraudulently obtain student visas and handing out phony diplomas at a fake graduation ceremony on a campus where they never attended class.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Wednesday that 65-year-old pastor Samuel Chai Cho Oh surrendered to authorities Tuesday.
Officials say Oh is accused of conspiracy to commit visa fraud for allegedly charging between $600 and $10,000 to help foreigners get visas on the premise they would attend the Christian university he owns in Fullerton.
I’m sure you’re aware if this kind of crap happened in any other country, the SOB would probably be shot, hung, or at the very least, spend the remainder of his days behind bars, surrounded by rats and roaches!
What Kind Of Garbage Do We Have In The White House?
Well, THIS kind! The kind that would decorate a CHRISTmas tree with images that have NOTHING to do with REASON for the SEASON!
Obama’s Christmas tree graced by Chairman Mao, transvestite
The face of China’s Mao Zedong, blamed for the deaths of 50 to 80 million of his countrymen, graces an ornament on the White House Christmas tree for President Obama’s first holiday season in residence.
According to BigGovernment.com, the tree also features an ornament adding Obama to Mount Rushmore.
The images, such as the “transvestite” character “Hedda Lettuce,” are attributed to the work of Simon Doonan, creative director of Barney’s New York, whose previous projects have included Margaret Thatcher as a dominatrix and Dan Quayle as a ventriloquist’s dummy, according to the New York Times.
“Why let a holiday season come between the White House and making some political statements,” Big Government’s report asked. “These photos of ornaments on the White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room were taken just days ago. Of course, Mao has his place in the White House.”
Oh, yeah, they’re BIG fans of that murderous piece of crap up there in the Obama administration. Only such a narcissistic…..whatever he is….would think putting an ornament of his face on Mt. Rushmore was a good idea. The men with their faces carved into the side of that mountain actually ACCOMPLISHED something. What has Obama done? Oh yeah….shoving legislation to DESTROY the country the others faught to build.
It is becoming more and more apparent those occupants of the White House have NO class whatsoever!
Downward Spiral
A few highlights:
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows that 26% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-four percent (44%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -18 (see trends).
Nine percent (9%) of adults rate the economy as good or excellent while 55% say it’s in poor shape. That’s one reason just 16% say they’ll be spending more on holiday gifts this season. Sixty-three percent (63%) say they’ll be spending less.
(…)
Fifty-five percent (55%) now disapprove of the President’s performance.
(…)
Most voters (55%) oppose the health care legislation working its way through Congress. Senior citizens are even more likely than younger voters to dislike the plan.
I’d suggest that Obama and Congress wet their fingers, and stick ‘em in the wind, cuz evidently, they don’t know there is a big hurricane bearing down on them!
ZoNation: Merry Christmas Rant!
Oh, So Much MORE Than “Disappointed”!
Obamacare’s Constitutional Problems Proliferating
After the Democrats cleared the second of three 60 vote hurdles last night, Republicans ceded enough debate time back to the majority so that passage of Obamacare through the Senate will take place n Christmas Eve at 8 AM. Conservatives have every right to be disappointed that Senate Republicans did not force the maximum amount of debate possible. But they can take heart in a key point of order that will be voted on later today. Sponsored by Sens. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and John Ensign (R-NV), that vote will lay the groundwork for the possible legal dismantling of Obama’s health program.
Read the whole thing here.
Excuse me, but “disappointed” isn’t exactly the word I’d use. I’m afraid that particular word doesn’t even BEGIN to cover it! Toss in a few unladylike four lettered words, call a few folks some extremely unflattering names, and you MIGHT have a good start.
Report: Hot Air Of Global Alarmists?
In case you missed it last Saturday night:
