" Crooked Game!"

Over the course of my life I have done many different things, one of them is engaging in many games of chance. The wise gambler always knows the nature of the other players at the table. If I learned anything about gambling it is never sit in a game with complete strangers, or those people you only know through reputation. This axiom doesn't apply to controlled situations as in Las Vegas or Reno; their tables are legitimate and well policed. The games I am speaking of are the "private" games organized by a third party and are usually fairly high stakes. If you are in a game where the "pot" is only around $100 it is not likely you will be fleeced; but if it's serious money it's best to know the game and the other players.

A crooked game is usually a "set-up" to take one "mark" and cheat him over the course of an evening; an evening is usually at least 14 hours but can last the duration of a couple of days. Good cheaters will operate like surgeons, slowly separating the victim from his bankroll with dexterous dealing of the cards mixed with liquor, food, and boisterous conversation. In a well managed game the "mark" will walk away feeling he just had a bad night, a poor run of luck. The "mark" will be totally clueless to the fact that he has been plucked like a chicken by experts, he may even ask when the next game will be so he can try to get even!

Yesterday America was sitting in at a rigged game. The "Host" of the game opened up with a smile and a hearty welcome to the "marks", who were lured into the game with the promise it would be fair and honestly run. All of the "Host's" cohorts greeted their victims with cordiality. The cards were then dealt around the table and the "dance" began. Being a game with open hands the "marks" were easily pulled in believing there was no way they were being set-up. Hours went by with the simulation of "give and take" given by the "ring leader". In the end though the "mark" left the table with nothing but the assurance that they were played like a violin in front of the entire nation.

Obama's health-care summit was a sham, no real intention of reconciliation was ever present. Mr. Obama's disrespect for John Mc Cain was an insult and showed his total disregard for any opposing views. In the end he issued his "veiled threat"; that one way or another, in four to six weeks he expected a health-care reform bill to be on his desk.

Obama's invitation was an exercise in futility, and he knew it before it started. America's will means nothing to our current President. I don't know if Obamacare can be stopped. All the compromise was treated as an irritant by the democrats, their minds were set before they sat down. America it was a "rigged game" and we were the "marks". How many more times will we be taken in? America we need to walk away from the table, our President has "stacked the deck"!

" Will We Play It Again Sam?"

I'm a big fan of classic movies, Spencer Tracey, James Cagney, Errol Flynn, and Humphrey Bogart cast great presence on the "Silver Screen". I know there are some fine actors today, yet few have the screen magic of these bygone movie legends. Today's films, although entertaining, are sometimes overpowered by their special effects and the acting performances are overshadowed, when "back in the day" acting and writing were necessary for a successful film.

One of my favorite films is "Casablanca", a real classic, Bogart was at his best as "Rick Blane", the displaced American who ran "Rick's Cafe Americaine" the stopping place for intrigue in Casablanca. Claude Rains was "Captain Renault", the political police captain who would do whatever was expedient to insure the comfort of his position. I'm sure most of you know the story, it's great romance, it's showcase of good versus evil (NAZI'S), and the nobility of denial of oneself for the greater good. Rick had a comfortable position in Casablanca, he knew how the system worked and he didn't want to "rock the boat". Rick made statements like "I stick my neck out for nobody!", and "I'm the only cause I'm interested in.", he was a cynic of the first order. Underneath this skeptical exterior beat the heart of a man who wanted to do the right thing despite his image. At the end we saw Rick's nobility as he gave up his comfort and the woman he loved more than he loved his own life because he knew by doing so the greater good would be served.

As we look at Congress today what is the mindset of our current legislators? Many have been on the "Hill" for a very long time enjoying the lifestyle that accompanies the position that they hold, wealth, power, and influence. Deal making and cooperation have become embedded into the system, as we have heard it said, "One hand washes the other".

When will we find the "Rick Blanes" in our government? Who are those public servants who will choose to serve the public? All too long we Americans have put up with business as usual accepting the status quo. We've heard our representatives give us excuses upon excuses about how they tried to make changes, yet when the will of the people is so visible we still see business as usual and a plethora of excuses for not following the wishes of their constituency. Where are those who are willing to do the noble thing even if it means forfeit of personal comfort and position?

Today our President and our representatives are discussing health-care. This is our chance to see which ones are operating for the will of the people, and which ones are operating for their own personal power and comfort. Watch and remember America; this is the "litmus test" of our elected officials. Let's see who they really serve.

" Love America At All Times!"

In 1953 I was in the 1st. grade, way back then things were a bit different then they are today. It seems today we must be more sensitive to our children's' feelings as we could inhibit their spirit with too much structure or discipline and cause some kind of damage to their young minds. The parents of today must walk a delicate line that has been drawn between family taught values and political correctness.

In 1953 the first thing we learned was "The Pledge Of Allegiance"; we all stood up with our right hands over our hearts, faced the Flag, and recited the "Pledge" every day without exception. I don't ever remember anyone complaining about the practice, and if someone would have we would have probably considered it weird. We were the children of the "Greatest Generation", those Americans who stepped forward to sacrifice more than any other generation to attain victory and preserve freedom throughout the world. Back then it was in vogue to be patriotic, to wear love of country as a badge of pride and honor. Fourth of July parades across the nation always featured a large contingent of veterans, many of them were neighbors and friends, parents; just regular folks who gave to our country in time of need.

Somehow during the 60's we drifted away from patriotism into cynicism, we confused love of country with honest dissent. It was no longer fashionable to stand up for America because America wasn't doing exactly what the critics wanted. We were confusing politics with what the meaning of America really was. Our nation became polarized, them versus us, liberals against conservatives, democrats against republicans. We lost our identity as just plain Americans who have honest differences.

There is nothing wrong with honest dissent, it is the foundation of freedom, it keeps everybody "honest"; but we should never let political difference infect our dedication to our great nation. Perhaps we should revisit our youth, to remember what we memorized as children. We need to listen to the words, and their true meaning.

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,
and to the republic for which it stands,
ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE,
with Liberty and Justice,
FOR ALL."

Simple and to the point, words that we as Americans should carry with us on a daily basis. No matter what our political differences might be, no matter what the politicians do to make our collective hairs stand up; we should glorify the ideals that this "Pledge" extols. We may not like the politics, but we must love the principles. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

"Last Round?"

How many of you remember the heavyweight fights between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier? These two great fighters met three times in the ring, with Ali victorious in two encounters. Every time these two fighters met they turned their fights into more then an athletic contest, it became a battle of wills and skills of the two premier pugilists of their time. Ali was the consummate boxer, footwork and lightening fast hands, combinations of four or five punches peppering his opponents until he would wear them down and take them out. Ali was a "ring general" who could force a challenger to "fight his fight". Joe Frazier was one of the toughest men ever to lace on boxing gloves. "Smokin' Joe" was one of the best pressure fighters in history, he pursued his opponent with a relentlessness I've seen in no other fighter before or since. He had a devastating left hook that could collapse another fighter like a bolt of righteous lightening from above.

Most boxing aficionados say styles make fights, and in the case of Ali vs. Frazier they couldn't be more correct. After over thirty-plus years boxing fans still count those battles as arguably the greatest fights ever fought. These two gladiators reached the pinnacle of their sport when they faced each other. Many experts said after those encounters neither fighter was ever the same, they left their best in the ring.

The United States of America has historically been the "class of the division" when one spoke of power in the world, and we had a close challenger in the Soviet Union, who regularly flexed her muscles in numerous attempts to see if America would show weakness. We suffered a body blow at the "Bay of Pigs"yet like any "class fighter" we recovered, our nose bloodied, our pride hurt; but with a firm resolve to take the ring back from a determined foe. Not long after that the Soviets tried to deliver a knock-out punch with the "Cuban Missile Crisis", but they found out we were willing to take the fight to the limit, match them "punch for punch" if they were willing to take the risk. They retreated to their corner, they knew they were outmatched!

Years later Ronald Reagan took the fight to the Soviets, he grew our defense systems, updated our military, and pushed the Soviets into an arms race that they were incapable of winning. Like an exhausted fighter the Soviet Union sat on it's stool, beaten with no hope of a surprise knockout to save the day. We stood in the middle of the "ring", undisputed champion, the most powerful nation on Earth.

Today I feel we no longer sit in a position of power in the world. We have exhibited a tolerance for dictators, a sheepish attitude, the image of an appeaser. Iran in just the last few days has made it clear that they are steadfast in their pursuit of nuclear weapons and have no regard for the opinions of anyone else in the world, especially the United States.

Barack Obama's policy of apology and weakness is coming home to roost. Those who wish us harm are taking notice of the way we comport ourselves in this volatile situation. Weakness, real or perceived, is not the position the United States should ever occupy. Our continued reticence to show a response of strength only underlines the opinion that the United States is a nation in decline.

We are now sitting on our stool looking across the ring at a "hungry" opponent. The question is do we have anything left, or, are we "out of gas"? Are we still made of championship material? When will Mr. Obama show his "stuff"? Are we the "Champ" or a "has-been" who has passed his prime?

It's up to you Mr. President to see if we are up to the fight. Are we going to give up our title to a hungry "contender"?

"Slander Won't Sell"

When you were a kid did you ever get into an argument you couldn't win? I used to have regular arguments like that; I think it is all part of growing up. Being caught in a discourse when you don't have enough facts to back your argument is infuriating and embarrassing. Sometimes we resort to the low road; we resort to personal attacks and insults, anything to take the focus off our lack of knowledge on the subject in question. When you're little you resort to statements like "You're stupid!" or "You're fat!" or "You're Ugly!"; as we get older we use statements like "You're a racist!" or "You're anti-labor!" or "You're anti-American!".

Over the last few weeks the left has been on a rampage of insult and character assassination against anyone with a conservative point of view. I wouldn't care about this if they backed their argument with facts, but I have yet to see a cogent point of view expressed by any of the lefts "Big Guns". Constant personal attacks against Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, are the order of the day from the "libs", mostly filled with little to no substance. An issue was raised about Sarah Palin writing some key words on her hand during a speech, yet nothing is said about the constant presence of teleprompter by Barack Obama at nearly every occasion at which he speaks.

Last week Rosie O'Donnell and Janeane Garofalo went into a diatribe against the right casting a verbal assault at Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, and Fox and Friends. They question Ms. Palin's religious beliefs and her compassion for people with no factual back-up. They accused Hannity of lying with absolutely no facts. The worst statement of all was about Fox and Friends morning show and it shows the classless character of O'Donnell and Garofalo, when they refered to the members of the show as (excuse this language please) "Morning Douchebags!".

Conversely when we look at the conservative commentators we see some marked differences. Sean Hannity is perhaps the most well-read commentator in the media, and anyone who questions his facts better make sure of their argument or they will be left looking quite foolish at the end of the conversation. Rush Limbaugh's track record speaks for itself as fact after fact has come to fruition about the truthfulness of his observations, which have been amazingly accurate. Glenn Beck not only makes valid points in all his observations he continually backs them up with facts and illustrations, urging anyone who can prove him wrong to do so. Beck's show is a seminar on American history every day, filled with fact not conjecture; yet his critics call him an alarmist, hateful, and fear monger.

Last week Glenn Beck gave the key note speech at CPAC (conservative political action committee) it was not only a great speech it was a lesson to America illustrating her potential for greatness if we allow the American people to realize their potential as individuals. He finished his speech with a rousing reading of the inscription on the Statue of Liberty which was met with a standing ovation and thunderous applause.

It is time for us to take the high road in America, regardless of which end of the political spectrum we support. Venomous rhetoric will never prove a point, it only reveals ignorance.

" Big O's Health-Care Show!"

How many of you remember Monte Hall and Bob Barker? They were a staple on day-time television for numerous years as the "Kings" of the game shows. Monte's show was "Let's Make a Deal"; a show where the contestant would trade some object to Monte for a chance to pick a "door' or "curtain" and take whatever was hidden behind them. Sometimes it was a boat or car, sometimes it was a wheel barrow full of jelly beans, or a mule, like Forrest Gump said "You never know what your gonna get!". The show was a lot of fun and most of the contestants usually ended up with something of value and a funny story to tell their grandchildren.

Bob's show was "The Price Is Right", a show where contestants were called up from the audience and make their best guess as to the actual price of a showcased item. The contestant who was the closest of the bidders to the price won the item. The contestants who had won the items of greatest value got to spin the "Big Wheel" for the "Big Prize", usually a car, boat, or other high ticket item.

It was great fun to watch these shows with the wild cheering and enthusiasm of those who got to participate in the mayhem. Bob and Monte played the crowds like the experts they were, they held the audiences in the palms of their hands.

Right now, in Washington, we have our own game show going on. We could call it "You Bet Your Life"( with apologies to Groucho). Our president, like Bob and Monte, is hosting his own version of a T.V. game show toward the American people. I would like to call it "Big O's Health Care Show!". It has all the elements needed for a great game show, a huge built-in audience( America) , BIG PRIZES,( hundreds of millions of your tax dollars), BIG GAMBLES,( we don't know whats in it for certain), and at the end some members of the audience will walk out with nothing but a "funny story"!

Obama again threatens to force through his health-care agenda under a mask of phony bi-partisanship, basically telling the republicans " here is my plan, buy into it or I will label you an obstructionist". He is determined to make sure America bids on "Door Number One" and never to find out if "The Price Is Right".

If Obama succeeds at this game America will end up with a "wheel barrow full of jelly beans" and not much to laugh about. Unlike a television game show we can't change the station and tune into something more to our liking. We need to show the host we are not going to "tune in" any longer, this is one "Deal" we will not make!!

"Marriage Vows"

I've been married over thirty-two years to an amazing and wonderful woman who has put up with all of my weaknesses and foibles with great patience and affection. When we were married we made certain promises to each other, "Love, Honor, Cherish,..." I'm sure those of you that are married remember the rest of the words that accompany this vow.

Italian weddings are legendary in their salubrious nature. Much laughing, crying, eating, drinking, and dancing. Food enough to feed all of Patton's troops, all delicious, and all plentiful. Every relative from every side of the family, every friend and co-worker that the bride or groom ever knew is in attendance. The party seems as if it will never end.

Eventually the wedding gives way to the marriage, the time to test commitment, a time to refine relationship, a time to see the limits of love. It's easy to go to a party and have a great time with friends and relatives, to dance and sing; eat and drink. It's not always easy to live the day to day commitment of one person to another. Those who choose to enter into a marriage make a covenant to each other, a sacred pledge of laying down your own personal interests for the greater good of your spouse, and eventually your children. This is a commitment not to be entered into lightly; it is life long and serious.

When I earlier spoke about the "vows" there is something that isn't written in them, a promise never to lie to your spouse. Truthfulness is a key to maintaining a successful marriage. When one party or another in a marriage is deceptive or untruthful the relationship is put in great jeopardy.

An election is in many ways like a wedding, there is a big celebration, speeches, parties, back-slapping congratulations, and a general sense of euphoria by the elected official. There is a customary time of the "Honeymoon" when it seems that the new leader can do no wrong and the nation hangs on his every word as gospel. All this is well and good as long as the official doesn't break his covenant with the people who elected him. When the trust between an official is breached by deceptive actions a great chasm opens. The electorate begins to doubt their decision, to re-examine the motives of the elected leader. Was he entirely truthful in his campaign? Has he been hostile toward those who question his judgement? Who did we really elect?

Like a good marriage, a presidency must operate in an arena of trust, all the parties involved must be honest with each other in all their dialogues. When facts and figures are manipulated to present a false picture in a bad situation the shadow of doubt is now cast on all actions that have been previously taken. Mr. Obama has juggled figures to misrepresent our current unemployment crisis to offer a false picture to the American people. This deceptive move is only one example of this administrations maneuvering of facts to present a false picture to the people of the United States.

We need to let President Obama know that the "Honeymoon" is over, that the American people are not hanging on every word as the gospel truth. Mr. President you are breaking the covenant you made with the people. The "Party's over". If you don't start telling the truth there will be no "renewing of vows" in 2012 for you!!

"A Good Tracker"

A while back I wrote a story about my dog "Charlie", today I am going to write about my dog "Simon". We got "Simon" about two months after "Charlie" died. I'm a fan of big dogs, yet as soon as I saw "Simon" I was hooked. He Is only about 50 pounds, he is a Lab-Border collie mix, and he is the craziest little guy I've ever seen. He follows me everywhere, and I mean everywhere; into the kitchen, up to the bedroom, out to the deck, watching every move I make through our front windows when I pick up mail or pull in the trash can, and even manages to push open the bathroom door and peek into the shower (scared me the first time). Nothing gets by "Simon".

"Charlie" was a big dog, about 110 pounds at his peak. He was very friendly but his bark could scare a mountain lion away. "Charlie" was a great watch dog, nobody could get near the house without me knowing about it, and if you didn't know him his appearance was a little menacing. His bark and his size were his weapons, but that was as far as it went, all he wanted was "The Ball".

"Charlie" was like Robert Gibbs, large, noisy, and kind of the house watch dog with little to no bite. He growls at anything that may be a possible threat to his master, and prowls the press conferences like a "junkyard dog", in the hope that his mere presence will put off any threat of inquiry into his masters possible mistakes. In some cases his presence works, it causes some media members to "soft peddle" their questions, to always give in and not pursue a path of more pointed inquiry.

"Simon" is like FOX NEWS, he looks into everything that is going on. No event, no visitor, no noise goes by unexamined. No matter what you try to conceal, no matter how hard you try, nothing stays hidden very long, "Simon" like FOX NEWS will sniff it out. Perhaps that is why the "watch dog" doesn't want him around, turning over "baskets" and revealing things that the master wants kept out of the public eye. "Simon" has the nose of a tracker, just like FOX NEWS, if he gets the scent he will follow it to the quarry regardless of the amount of time or the resistance that the prey puts up.

The White House has announced a new policy of attack against anyone who opposes the administration's policies. Quick response toward all opponents will be the "new order" of the day, attack and destroy, demean and belittle; this is the "high road" that the Obama administration has chosen.

The thing about a good tracking dog is his tenacity, he never gives up until he reaches his prey. Mr. Obama could learn a lesson here; no matter how much he may try to "stink up" the trail a good hunter will continue to pursue to the finish. Yes Mr. Obama " This dog will Hunt!"

"Where There's Smoke!"

The next time you go to the movies look around the theater, count the exits and see if there are any fire extinguishers. All of the exits should be clearly visible even in a darkened theater, and the immediate lobby should have several fire extinguishers that are easily assessable to the public for quick use.

Does the date December 30th. 1903 mean anything to you? Most people won't remember the significance of that date, but if you ask a Chicago historian I'm sure he will give you a quick answer. On that date Chicago had one of it's most devastating disasters, The Iroquois Theater fire. The Iroquois Theater was built in 1903, it was located between State and Dearborn streets in "Downtown" Chicago. One theater critic said it was the most beautiful theater in the city.

When the theater was inspected by the fire department the warden said there were no sprinklers, no alarms, no telephone, and no water connections. He was told nothing could be done as the theater had it's own fire warden.

On December 30th. there was a matinee performance, the theater was filled with mothers and their children as the Christmas and New Years holidays were being observed and people had time off. An electric arc sparked the fire and it quickly traveled to the ceiling igniting suspended scenery and curtains. A new locking system on the exits were difficult to open, and curtains blocked some of the exits. Panicked theatergoers crushed and trampled each other in their futile attempts to exit the burning edifice. Over 500 people lost their lives in the inferno, many were children.

Yesterday Indiana Senator Evan Bayh announced that he would not seek another term in the Senate in November. Bayh is the newest on a list that includes Patrick Kennedy, Cristopher Dodd, Byron Dorgan, and Lincoln Diaz. This recent development has dealt a body blow to the Obama administration that is resonating throughout Congress. All of these men over the course of the last year have attended "Town Hall Meetings" where they were roundly criticized about the rampant spending and unwanted health-care that the Obama administration has been trying to force on the American public. Bayh expressed his views of the situation by saying he loved serving the people of Indiana but he could no longer endure the heavy handed politics of Washington. Unlike the Iroquois Theater, our Congress has had a warning, they have seen the flames of the impending fire around the Obama administration. The panic is now beginning to build among those who face re-election in November, the polls are showing more and more rejection of the Obama policies and rather than face the possibility of defeat some are choosing to leave the political arena.

The "patrons" are running for the doors, the exits are crowded, and they are beginning to trample one another to get out of the inferno of the Obama administration. How many more will crash the exits? The flames are traveling around the theater yet Mr. Obama remains on the stage watching the devastation continue, waiting for the extinguishers that aren't there. Soon only he will remain, some will escape yet others will perish in the fires of Mr. Obama's failing policies. You would be smart to smell the smoke Mr. President, it is your administration burning!

"Our Stooges!!"

When I was a boy I used to watch the "Three Stooges" nearly every day after school. I remember laughing at those old black and white shorts with all of their great slapstick humor as the Stooges bumbled from one absurd situation to another. One episode I remember in particular was when the boys went on a fishing trip. They got all of their equipment together piled into their car and off to the woods they went. They were chased by a bear, fell down a mountain, and had an encounter with a skunk before they ever got near the lake. Eventually they started to paddle away into the middle of the lake. As luck would have it about the time they got to the deepest part of the lake the boat began to leak. As water seeped in Curly began drilling holes in the bottom of the boat. Moe asked him,"What do you think your doing!!", Curly's retort was,"I'm drilling these holes to let the water out! Nyuk! Nyuk! Nyuk!". Now even as a ten year old kid I knew that drilling the holes was a bad idea, but the foolishness was very funny, as for a brief moment Moe was considering the idea as a viable option to avoid sinking.

We are in the greatest economic crisis since the "Great Depression", we have unemployment at record levels across the nation with little hope for quick improvement on any of the aforementioned problems. The average family is feeling the crunch in a very real way as they alter their spending habits and exercise stricter judgement about any expenditure they may be considering. Common sense habits tell a logical person that when times are tight one must do their best to live within one's means. Continuing to spend at reckless abandon will eventually lead to destruction.

Last week our own version of the "Three Stooges", Reid, Pelosi, and Obama, showed us their idea of the "logical course" to pursue as the "intelligent" way to cure our economic woes. We have increased our national debt ceiling to accommodate further foolish spending programs thus plunging us into even deeper debt than we have already incurred. This continued policy of more and more debt is suicidal for the economic recovery of the United States.

Like Moe, Larry, and Curly,our Stooges are in the middle of a deep economic lake of debt, and the water is seeping in the boat a a rate more rapid rate than any other time in history; and their answer to this is to drill bigger holes in our financial boat. Does this policy make any sense to the reasonable and logical citizens of America?

Our "Boat" is sinking and the "Captain" is totally oblivious to the water around his ankles. It is up to us now to condemn this ridiculous path into financial "Armageddon".

When Moe, Larry, and Curly made mistakes it was hilarious; when Nancy, Harry, and Barack make mistakes it is disastrous!!

"President's Day"

When I was a boy we would celebrate Lincoln's birthday and Washington's birthday on their respective dates and honor each man separately. Today we have "President's Day" so we can celebrate our current and all former Chief Executives. This day of honor is the least we can do to give some appreciation to those men who sought the most difficult office on the face of the earth and embraced it's duties, even at the peril of their own safety, and at times the sacrifice of their own lives.

Each president has had crisis situations during their respective terms of service that have molded their image, and defined their legacy to all those that have followed them into this most difficult of all jobs. The phrase"these are the times that try men's souls" is not lost on any of those who have occupied the Oval Office. All we need to do to see the burden of the Presidency is to examine photographs of those men who held the office at the beginning of their term and at the end. Lyndon Johnson's hair went from grey and black to stark white in only five years. F.D.R. was a worn out and tired man in his pictures near his end; although he was a sick man I'm sure the office he held took a few years away from him in the end. Jack Kennedy had grey hair showing during his term even though it was only 1000 days. Carter was drawn and careworn, a man who had the look of a beaten fighter when he left office. Bill Clinton had a head of dark hair at the inauguration, yet his hair is now white as snow, a tribute to the stress of the White House.

As Americans we sometimes take those men who choose to serve for granted, we even vilify them when things don't seem to be going the way we, as individuals, would wish them to go. Most of the time these men take criticism in stride, as it comes "with the territory", and at times these men prove their humanity by showing their displeasure at our criticism. Yet how many of us would be willing to take on the great responsibility that these men have chosen to shoulder.

I am not what you could call a friend of our current president, yet I offer him this thought. Mr. President I wish you well in your endeavors on behalf of our nation. I hope your term in office is a success for the people of the United States, that they prevail in these trying times and that you look back on your service as a time when you answered the call of duty and performed it to the best of your ability.

"Without America,Who Else?"

"Nyah, nyah, you are ugly!","Nyah, nyah you are fat!". Growing up I'm sure we've all heard these phrases uttered at one time or another either by other children or ourselves directed toward some poor kid that has been chosen to be ostracized by the group. No childhood goes by without memories of the "out-sider", the kid that everybody made fun of; the last one picked for teams, the one who is never invited to sit with you at lunch.

We had a boy in our class named Carmine, he was overweight, had "buck teeth", and body odor. He endured numerous insults from many of his class-mates, and I'm sure being an adolescent made the insults doubly hurtful.

Carmine was the manager of our football team, another name for water boy, the only way a kid with no ability could earn a letter. We stored our extra footballs and pads over the gym on the corrugated ceiling; this ceiling was thin and you had to use a suspended walkway to retrieve equipment or you would fall to the gym floor, about 25 feet down. Well you can figure out the rest of this story from here; Carmine stepped off the walkway and fell to the gym floor. Suddenly it was no longer funny to ridicule Carmine, as he now was lying on a hospital bed with multiple fractures. He became a human being instead of a joke.

I'd like to take time today to speak about the American heart, the spirit that makes our country different than all the rest. Our people are responders to emergencies whenever they a occur and wherever they occur. This is one of the reasons I'm proud to be an American.
Oddly enough this is one of the reasons the rest of the world resents the United States so fervently. We are accused of being arrogant and proud, looking down on the rest of humanity.
France, Germany, Venezuela, and others have vilified us to the other nations projecting an image of the "ugly American" who think they are superior to everyone else; yet when trouble arrives the United States is always the first that these same nations cry to for assistance and funding. Suddenly we become "Human" to them.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want us to stop giving aid to the needy, to supply food, medicine, or necessary military support to nation that are immersed in a chaotic situation. What I would like to see is a little gratitude, especially from those nations who would probably be speaking German except for the fact that the United States stepped in for them when they had little to no hope of victory in a bad situation.

For the above reasons I find it unreasonable for our President to apologize for any action we have taken for the defense of our own people from any radical group, be it foreign or domestic, and regardless of which administration was in power.
Therefore Mr. Obama I ask that you stop apologizing for our own acts of self protection, and realize that George W. Bush took the necessary steps to protect and defend the people of America in a time when we needed a strong and decisive action against an evil and dedicated enemy.

Let's forget about what the rest of the"class" says about us, after all when things get rough they call on the "nerd" for help.

"Don't Stop Listening!"

Last summer I was sitting on my recliner chair a soda by my side happily watching my White Sox on a warm afternoon, it was the eighth inning and the game was in hand, then the unthinkable happened! My faithful Toshiba of over fifteen years of service decided it would no longer meet my entertainment needs. One quick pop and years of World Series, Super Bowls, and Bulls games ended for my veteran television. My wife, who was upstairs, heard my cries of despair, as if I had lost an old friend. I told my wife we should wait until we saved some money before we purchased a new set, as I still had a set in our upstairs TV room and a smaller set in our bedroom. My wife agreed that a new television was not a priority and we should wait and then shop around for the best deal.

When it comes to shopping my wife is the all-time champion. She is like a great hunting dog, she can sniff out a deal at ten thousand yards. She checked out every television for price, and reliability, warranties and serviceability. Phone calls, Internet searches, and product reviews were all looked at before we decided which set we would purchase. We were educated buyers.

Last week Barack Obama made some disturbing remarks about not watching political pundits or cable news shows, as they would clutter your mind when making decisions. My only conclusion about this statement is that Barack Obama wants the American public to act as a group of uninformed morons who will blindly follow any policy he dictates without question or criticism. This is a frightening statement as it reflects Obama's arrogance, it reveals his belief that only he knows what is best for America and no other voice or opinion is worthy of consideration. Obama doesn't want an educated electorate, he doesn't want the citizens of the United States to know anything that is not approved by Barack Obama's administration.

I'm sure there were other presidents who felt the same way about the press and the people as our current Chief Executive does, yet none of them had the audacity to make a public proclamation about it. His attitude of "only listen to me" certainly shows his lack of respect for the 1st. amendment and the citizens of our nation.

If we become a nation that stops questioning leadership, that believes everything one person or party dictates, we will be on a fast track to the end of America as we know it. Be it a Republican or a Democrat neither party is omnipotent. We must guard ourselves against any administration that shuns the light of criticism or dissent. Those are the actions that keep politicians honest and accountable to the citizens.

America we must be educated buyers, we must listen to all sides of every issue, we must make informed choices. Beware of the "salesman" who says " look no further". If we choose to quickly we may end up with a bad case of "buyer's remorse".

"Another Custer?!"

I am somewhat of a student of history, I find it fascinating and enlightening, we can always learn something from our collective past. As a former member of the military I learned some basic strategy and military history. The accepted wisdom in the Army is try to go into any confrontation with a margin of three to one over your opponent. This margin allows for inevitable casualties and having to wait for reinforcements during times of heavy combat. I believe the American soldier is the finest soldier in the world, led by the best cadre of officers anywhere on this planet.
A battle took place many years ago that didn't reflect the best judgement of our military in a tough situation. Do any of you remember the "Battle of Greasy Grass Creek"? Perhaps the name "Little Big Horn", or "Custer's Last Stand" will ring a bell. George Armstrong Custer split his command of the 7th. Cavalry Regiment and took a relatively small company of men to the Little Big Horn in the hopes of capturing a Cheyenne village that was supposed to be occupied by hostile Indians.
To the Brigadier's surprise on his way to the village his force of about three hundred was confronted with numbers estimated between 1800 and 3000 Lakota and Cheyenne warriors, and they were all in a bad mood. Custer then proceeded to do something that can only be described as stupid, he ordered his cavalry to dismount and try to thwart the charge of the enemy.
Custer underestimated his opposition, and even when he saw that he was hopelessly outnumbered he continued in his strategy, thus sacrificing his men and losing the battle.
When the train is coming down the track it is advisable to step out of the way, or I guarantee you will end up like a bug on a windshield.
Nearly two thirds of the American people have already voiced their opinion about Barack Obama's proposed revisions to American health-care. Poll after poll show a steady decline in approval of the health-care policy which this administration wants to force upon the American people.
Barack Obama's approval rating has been on a down hill slide for months, yet , like Custer he continues to make, to say the least, questionable decisions.
Custer was a renowned ego-centric who would fly into a rage when his decisions were questioned, men in his command rarely took umbrage with General Custer.
Barack Obama exhibits many of the qualities of of George Custer, his unwillingness to admit to errors in judgement is very disturbing. His constant placing of blame on others for his mistakes. His continued pursuit of flawed policies do not bode well for the American people.
We are facing an economic "Little Big Horn", we are looking at the face of "Sitting Bull" in Iran; and I'm afraid we have a General Custer in charge of the battle.
I hope this isn't "America's Last Stand"!!

"Swimming Lessons!"

Did you ever know anyone who couldn't learn from his mistakes? You know, somebody so thick between the ears that they just don't get it. There are few things as irritating as trying to deal with a person who is just so dumb that all of your best efforts to help them to understand a problem go by them like a jet passing a slug. In high school we were required to take swimming for one quarter in our gym class. I always looked forward to it , as I really enjoyed swimming, yet some guys didn't take to the water as much as I did. We were all broken down into groups each year as to our ability in the water; non-swimmers, beginners, and advanced skills. For three consecutive years I had the same guy in my class, I'll call him Willy, every year when we were separated into groups Willy would step up to the beginners group. The first act of beginners was to jump in the pool to judge just how much the beginner knows. Every year I watched Willy jump in and proceed to drown in front of the entire class, and I would see a very irritated gym teacher go in after him. Willy never went to the non-swimmers group even though the only way he could float was with the aid of a boat. Willy was instructed year after year in basic swimming yet nothing ever sunk in. The only thing that "sunk" was Willy, he never learned!
A few days ago we heard from an old "friend", Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the lunatic from Iran. I'm sure those of you who are familiar with some of my previous blogs remember some of this maniac's earlier rants, raves and threats. Mr. Ahmaddinejad now announced that plutonium enrichment will be stepped up in Iran regardless of the objections of the United Nations and the United States. Recently he tested another missile, his way of "flipping off" the U.N. and the Obama administration. His way of saying take your "sanctions" and stick them in a warm dark place.
This action coupled with a new uranium enrichment program is a direct threat to Israel, the Middle East, the Eastern European community, and all free nations everywhere.
Months ago I pointed out that sanctions, letters, and criticism of Iran's rogue pursuits of a violent foreign policy would mean nothing to this lunatic, yet our President naively trots down his primrose path, in the belief that this will all magically go away through diplomatic efforts which have thus far yielded nothing.
Like Willy in my high school swimming class Barack Obama has learned nothing in the twelve months he has occupied the Oval Office. Over the course of the last year Ahmadinejad has become more bold in his actions, yet Obama has done little more than offer token protest over this tyrant's provocations.
It has been learned that the recent military movements in the Persian Gulf were nothing new, and not an actual show of strength, but it was brought to the attention of the press as a public relations tool to make it appear that the current administration was showing some fortitude.
If Mr. Obama continues to ignore what is happening in the Middle East disaster will soon follow, and no amount of personal charm will help him.
Mr. President you can't continue to jump in the pool if you don't remember your lessons. It's time to pay attention or you and the United States will drown!

"Don't Back Door America!"

Back during the "Great Depression" men couldn't find work, people were homeless, children roamed the streets, without food or hope of finding any food. Perhaps this was the worst domestic crisis our nation ever faced. In those horrible times, around Chicago, a private citizen stepped forward to provide "soup kitchens" for the poor people who were is such dire circumstance, and who had nowhere else to turn. Who was this noble citizen that was willing to step up when no one else would? Surprise of surprises, it was Al Capone, the head of organized crime in Chicago and the greater Cook county area. Yes the man responsible for countless murders, and criminal acts acted as a beneficent provider for the needs of the unfortunate. Meir Lansky, the good friend of Lucky Lucianno and Bugsey Seigal, and one of the heads of organized crime in New York, with ties to criminal families across America, was a great supporter of the nation of Israel it it's fight for fair treatment in the middle east. These are examples of bad people doing good things. Did their good things some how make their bad things diminish or relieve them of the responsibility of those bad acts? My grand parents came to this country around 1897 through Ellis Island, they entered this great nation the "Legal" way and built a life in this land of opportunity. Today we are faced with a great migration, mainly from our southern border, of "Illegal Aliens". The word illegal has been termed hate speech by some members of American society, yet that is a true description of who these people are. Illegal has been replaced by the word "undocumented", as Shakespeare said " a rose by any other name would smell as sweet". Changing a name doesn't change a fact. We have been told these people are hard working poor who came here because they couldn't find work in their home nations. I have no reason to doubt the above reasons to be true, yet it is also true these people committed a criminal act when they entered the United States illegally. We often hear of criminal acts such as drug dealing, robbery, and murder that have been perpetrated by some of these illegal entrants. I don't believe all "illegals" are violent criminals, yet I do believe they are all criminals by the commission of their illegal entrance into America. Our well fare system is already overburdened by legal citizens in need of assistance, our educational system is overwhelmed with our own children's needs without providing free education to those who have paid little or no taxes into our system. I'm sure there is a segment of these illegal aliens who go to work every day and stay out of trouble, and it is unfortunate that they chose an illegal method to enter America. If we allow these people to remain here then we endorse a philosophy of "the ends justify the means" and our laws lose their validity. Regardless of their good acts the fact that they were done after the commission of a bad act doesn't excuse the bad act. As I illustrated earlier even the worst of our society can perform laudable deeds, yet it doesn't wash away those unlawful deeds that were also done. We are a society of laws, and we must respect those laws. When we turn a blind eye to the law we disrespect all of the men who fought and died to keep America the great nation that it is. America has open doors for all who wish to find freedom and opportunity, but our doors are not to be knocked down or kicked in. Knock on our doors follow the rules and America will welcome you, that's what America promises!

"Rookie Season"

When we wake up on Monday morning the football season will officially be over until next fall, I know many wives will heave a sigh of relief and cast their eyes upward in thanks to the Creator. I have some bad news for you wives, baseball isn't far behind! Yes as my beloved Bears fade into the sunset I begin to focus on my Chicago White Sox and the promise of one hundred and sixty-two games from the "boys of summer". I am a life long Sox fan, I have suffered through bad seasons and cheered through good ones, and I had a life long dream fulfilled in 2005 when my White Sox won the World Series in a 4 game sweep. Each year new faces enter the "Big Show", rookie ball players with the chance of a lifetime, play major league baseball. Nearly all of these rookies were high school and college stars with statistics that would knock the eyes out of the average fan. Last year the Sox started Gordon Beckham at third base, he was highly touted as a new and exiting talent, someone worth watching. Beckham was a short stop in college so he was now learning a new position while trying to make his major league debut. For the average person this may not sound like a big transition, but believe me it is, as a former ball player I can attest to the difficulty of playing out of position. I played first base and I was once called upon to play third, everything was backwards, the way you shifted your body before a pitch, the first reaction to a batted ball, and all of your cover assignments. It isn't just catching and throwing. The first half of the season for Gordon was pretty rough, but by the time the season ended he was one of those names you heard as a "Rookie of the Year", he met his challenge like a major leaguer. Later today another "rookie" will be taking the playing field in the "Big Leagues", Scott Brown will be sworn into the United States Senate as the junior senator from Massachusetts. Scott Brown will be taking the field with the ultimate political pros and he better have his head in the game. I'm sure he will be awestruck at first, which is totally understandable, but he must adjust quickly to his new "ball park"or those "old pros" will eat him alive. Reid, Durbin, and all the rest of the "heavy hitters" will be out to get the young senator, to try to make sure he has little impact on the current policies of the Obama administration. I hope he receives the support and guidance he needs from the conservatives on the "Hill". His election put him in the "Big Game", and now it's his time to show his stuff to the "fans". Unlike a rookie baseball player if he makes a mistake the consequences will be greater than a blown play. Veteran players carry scars from every mistake they have ever made, each scar represents a delay in the pursuit of victory. When I began playing I was given some good advice, " watch the good players and learn from their actions so you won't make the mistakes they did to get where they are". My great hope is that Scott Brown is watching the "great players", the Jeffersons, Adams, Franklins, and Washingtons who are the "Hall of Famers" in American history. As he steps onto the "playing field" today I hope he is ready to rise to the challenge that lays before him. I know America wishes him well today, as do I. Let the guidance of our founding fathers influence his every decision, and the Constitution of the United States be his political "bible"during his term of service to our country. God bless you in your "rookie year", perhaps you can be an "All-Star".

"Man of Good Character!?"

As the Super Bowl approaches we often hear remarks about what makes a champion great. Obviously talent is always first on the list, followed by being a team that plays together, a team that never gives up, and the catch all phrase a team of great "character". What does that ambiguous word character mean? Walter Payton was said to be a man of good character, Lou Gherig was another man said to have character to be admired. What are those traits which we either laud as being good or condemn for being bad or weak. Honesty is usually at the top of the list when we speak of character, we like honesty "Honest Abe", a great nick-name for a politician; we all want our leaders to be honest and up front in their dealings and we all would like to trust their words as "gospel". Courage is another trait that we like to see in a man of character, the ability to stand up against threats without fear, and have the willingness to face troubles without whining or blaming others for their own problems. As we look at the past, at our founding fathers, what type of character did we see these men exhibit? Most of them were prosperous with little to gain by taking the risk of upsetting the British "apple cart", yet they believed in the rights of all people to have a voice in their government, regardless of their station in life. Their "yes was yes" and their "no was no"; they were what they purported themselves to be. As we look at our modern leaders what character traits have we seen exhibited? Richard Nixon revealed a paranoid fear of those who were different from him and his philosophy, fear to the point that he had Americans labeled as enemies. Woodrow Wilson re-segregated the military because of his belief that black people were inferior to whites, not exactly a great character trait in anyone let alone the President of the United States. U.S. Grant, an unabashed drinker who allowed lobbyists to virtually run America. Wow what would Jefferson say so far!? William Jefferson Clinton, I don't know where to start, he had the morals of an alley cat, and was accused of giving untruthful testimony under oath while in office, not exactly a "Boy Scout". Recently we have seen revelations about John Edwards, a former senator and a man who was once considered "presidential timber". After a long silence we have heard allegations of deception about an affair with a campaign worker, a pregnancy, and an elaborate cover up. This type of behavior is not limited to any political party, it is a cancer that has spread throughout our contemporary leaders. Lies, deceptive practices, and false image are now the order of the day from our current crop of politicians. When will we stop allowing "Image" to take the place of good character? I blame the media, they don't do their job when it comes to finding out who our potential leaders really are, they have bought into the "Image" and forgotten about the character that is behind the face. As we approach the next election we need to examine the character of every candidate with microscopic accuracy. We may think we're getting Lincoln and end up with something much different. America it is time to look beneath the "Image", KNOW THE MAN!

"Super Hero?"

I ride with the Lone Ranger,
And Tonto by my side,
I fly the skys with Superman,
My conscience is my guide.
I stand for truth and justice,
I try to do what's right.
If ever I see bad guys,
There's gonna be a fight.
My pals are super heroes,
They always fight for good,
They never care for their own gain,
They act like good guys should.
I swing around with Spiderman,
Always fighting crime.
Whenever there is trouble,
I get their just in time.
I search the streets with Batman,
I race around with Flash.
There's never competition,
'Cause good guys never clash.
Whenever there is trouble'
And you are in a jam,
Just call my name,
And I'll be their,
A hero's what I am!
As I look at this poem and it's message I think of America and it's heroism during times of stress and trouble throughout the world I feel a sense of loss in today's world situation. America has lost it's identity as the "Good Guy Leader" in the world forum. Our domestic leaders have become self serving demi-gods, only interested in themselves. When trouble comes be it foreign or domestic, instead of tackling the problem we see finger pointing and name calling. Our elected officials could learn alot from a children's poem, they should be the heroes, not the villains. Mr. Obama has cast himself as a hero, yet his actions certainly don't match his words as he has shown himself to be a partisan politician more interested in his agenda than protecting the American people from financial irresponsibility and foreign threats. I think our current Chief Executive should think about his motives when he make a decision. Did Superman ever consider what he wanted when he went after the bad guys? Come on Mr. President, be a real hero and put yourself last!

"New Box, Old Product"

Last night was the NFL Pro-Bowl, the showcase of the NFL's best players of the 2009 season. Usually this game would be played one week after the Super Bowl, the jewel of the NFL; this year the league opted to play the game the prior to the big show, and move the game from the tropical paradise of Hawaii to Miami where the Super Bowl is being played. Personally I think this is a brilliant marketing decision, and great for the people of Miami. The Pro-Bowl is somewhat anti-climactic when played after the Super Bowl. It seems that America stops to take a breath after the Super Bowl, thus giving the Pro-Bowl mixed revues from the football viewing audience. Offering the Pro-Bowl as an appetizer to the Super Bowl whets the interest of the fans and really turns Super Bowl week into quite an event. Pro Football is learning from Pro Baseball's All-Star Game, that spends a week of special events prior to the game keeping the fans interest riveted on the big game. Every day we watch commercials on television, these advertisements are carefully researched to focus groups as to their effectiveness and the proper time they should be aired. This is basically the same reason baseball and football make changes as I have referred to earlier. Marketing and timing the cornerstone of business when selling a product to the public. Last week Barack Obama was in the marketing business, he was putting a new picture on his "box of cereal", his agenda for America. He was taking his unpopular policies and changing their names a bit and moving them around a bit in an attempt to put a new face on an agenda that America has certainly cooled toward. Unlike the National Football League the Obama administration is selling a product that America doesn't want no matter how much they try to re-package it. Slick advertising won't change the content of what has become distasteful to the American people, arrogance and casting accusations toward opposing views are not selling well in the political market place. Obama, Pelosi, and Reid would be well counseled to actually follow the will of the people instead of trying to re-market a bad idea. The NFL should benefit from the change they made because their product is something the public wants. The new face on the "cereal box" of the Obama administration is something the American people aren't buying. As Americans we can only hope that our continued vocal opposition and the revelation of the truth about the machinations of the Obama administration will keep us from following a path that is not of our own choosing. Let's show this administration that America will not be manipulated!