"Jumping On the Bandwagon!"

As most of you know, I'm a diehard White Sox fan. From the time I was a young boy, I followed the "South-Siders" with vigor, hope, and dedication. At the tender age of twelve, I watched hopefully as my beloved Sox took on the Dodgers in the 1959 World Series. My room was covered with newspaper articles taped to the walls (Mom wasn't too pleased). Back then the "Series" was played in September, when it was still warm in Chicago, and the city was electric over a World Series appearance. Unfortunately, my Sox lost in six games and I was cast into the abyss of waiting till next year for many seasons (many of my Cub friends can identify with this).

I'm a realist, the Cubs are Americas' darlings and they get most of the press coverage, not only nationally but locally, the White Sox have been poor relations for years. Most of us are used to this "back seat" treatment and just "blow it off ".

In 2005, I was as excited as I have ever been over the success my boys were having during the regular season. They were unstoppable, they were cruising until September; they hit a slump that practically stopped my heart. But all true champions show their stuff when their backs are up against it and the Sox won the American League Pennant. I held my breath and watched with hope and anticipation as the Sox swept the World Series in four games!!

To my amazement, the fan base for the Sox multiplied exponentially overnight; "fair weather fans, band wagon jumpers". People like to identify with winners; we like to be identified with what is popular.

Immigration reform is now in the forefront of the news; Arizona has forced the hand of the federal government to take sides and face the issue. Both Bush and Obama have been avoiding border security for too long; pushing it aside for other issues has caused the American public to take their own actions. Suddenly, we have a plethora of senators and representatives "jumping on the band wagon" over this issue who previously kept it at arm's length. One has to ask why it took the independent action from Arizona to provoke reaction to a condition that has been plaguing this nation for years?

Immigration has virtually only been mentioned in passing by both Bush and Obama; our borders are no more secure than they were 20 years ago, no matter what Mr. Obama says.

I'll make no apologies; I believe entering this country illegally is a crime and should be treated as such. Illegal aliens are criminals, regardless of their reasons for coming here. This was an important issue ten years ago; it's too bad it took all this time to actually address it now. Well, I guess it's better late than never; now that Washington is on the "bandwagon", perhaps they will finally protect our borders!

( this is my last post this week as I have some commitments on Friday; have a nice week-end)

" Home Improvement?"

I live in an area known as the "Lincoln Corridor" in Illinois. We are surrounded by Lincoln historical sites; we even have a small museum in town where one of the "Lincoln-Douglas" debates took place. Our town has been around a very long time.

My house is one of the oldest in town. Each year I must do my annual spring maintenance. My home is about 160 years old, Abe probably drove by it on his way to his debate with Stephen Douglas. Let me tell you that any house as old as this one takes a lot of care and attention. Over the years we have done some upgrades, yet we are careful not to change the integrity of the house. We replaced all the windows and have steel doors, front and back, but for all intents and purposes the house is close to the original structure. We take care to make sure the house is regularly sprayed and inspected to protect it from those pests who could do damage to the house or its foundation. I am about to embark on my regular quest with my caulking gun to seal any possible leaks around the windows and doors before I install the air conditioners for the summer. I've repainted the front porch already, as it usually needs a new coat about every two years. I could buy a new house that doesn't need all this care, but I appreciate this house and its history. Each of us are fond of our homes, even though at times they need expensive repair to keep them standing. I do quite a bit of my own repair, I'm the type of a person who likes things done my way, so most repairmen don't appreciate me. I believe my home is special to me and my family and I have a duty to keep it in good repair.

Over two hundred and thirty years ago we were given a "national" home to take care of by our founding fathers. They broke the ground, shaved the wood, and put in the stone foundation of what became the United States of America, the greatest nation in the world. They gave us the principles of the freest society ever conceived on this planet, structured through a document that still functions today as the blueprint for freedom to the rest of the world.

We have been given the "keys" to this house. We have been entrusted with the care of this great bastion of freedom. It is our responsibility to watch over every attempt that is made to change this "residence" by any "repairman" and make sure the integrity of the "home" is not compromised. The structure of America is sound, as long as we don't tamper with its "foundation", the Constitution, as it is written. Our country has a "stone" foundation, we cannot remove any of those stones without destroying the structure; it will collapse.

We must be wary when making changes to our "home", quick fixes always come back to haunt you later. Let's make sure we are careful about our repairs, or we could damage more than we fix!

" Thank You Arizona!"

Recently Arizona passed a law; it makes it illegal to be in Arizona if one is an illegal alien. This law has caused a firestorm of controversy from the left as they feel it will promote racial profiling and be an infringement on civil rights. Al Sharpton has weighed in with his usual diatribe against anything the conservatives in this country endorse. His usual cacophony of rhetoric and insult has become tiresome and almost comedic in its delivery.

The federal government has fallen woefully short in addressing the problem of "illegals" entering this country for years, both republicans and democrats alike are to blame for this. Both parties are afraid to do something substantial to stop this flow of criminal invasion on our southern border.

The people of Arizona should be lauded for doing something about the protection of the law-abiding citizens of their state. They have suffered in silence long enough waiting for the federal government to do something besides wring their hands and make speeches that accomplish nothing.

Those who oppose this law have probably not read it; it is a mirror of the federal law, it doesn't give anyone the power to stop a person unless they are exhibiting criminal behavior (probable cause). Is there the possibility of abuse? Of course, abuse is always a possibility in the enforcement of any law. All the possibilities must be weighed and measured against the positive impact this will have in the safety of the community. No American will endorse Gestapo tactics from any arm of the government, yet few can argue with giving our police the tools they need to protect honest citizens.

The state of Arizona has suffered greatly by the invasion from the south; home invasions, kidnapping, and murder have been the fruits of our open border and loose enforcement. The people of Arizona have been "up close and personal" when it comes to illegal aliens, they are the real experts on this situation. Our federal officials could take a lesson from Arizona in the protection of our nation; strong enforcement is the only real solution to this problem or it will only worsen. This will not go away on its own. The people are fed up. Instead of being overly critical of Arizona,Washington should take a look at what the will of the people is and respect it. If some feelings are hurt it is a small price to pay for the security of our borders. America is for Americans and those who are here legally; not for those who begin their lives here with the commission of a criminal act.

" A Job Well Done?"

I've spoken of my Dad before on this blog and his effects on me as a man. When I was sixteen years old I got my first real job. A dear friend of the family said he could get me a summer job at Riverview Park, at the time Riverview was the premier amusement park in the Midwest. Riverview was open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, six days a week being closed on Monday. My job was not very glamorous, I arose each day and took the C.T.A. bus to work, where I was one of those people who cleaned up leftovers from someone elses good time. To be more specific, all the garbage, all the midways, all the undigested treats that were tributes to the roller coasters (yuck); you know the people you never see, but you must have to make the park a pleasant place each day. I did my share of complaining each night. My Dad took me aside and said " Remember you are getting a paycheck and you are obligated to do your job to the best of your ability, whether your job is pleasant or not. It's all about your good name and your integrity. What you do, how you present yourself, not only reflects on you, but, also on your family." I understood what Dad meant, as my father was a great example of integrity in his work ethic; he took great pride in doing a good job. My Dad's words stuck with me throughout my life. When I was a squad leader in the infantry, I tried to lead by example showing my men responsibility and pride, making them better soldiers, and perhaps better men.

Every job I've ever worked I've tried to do my best, I owed this to my employer, and in a way to myself. Last week, we saw allegations of members of the S.E.C. spending hours on the job watching pornography instead of doing their prescribed duties. It has also been alleged that many of them were making a very generous salary while they were "entertaining" themselves on the internet. While they were doing this, men like Bernie Madoff were busy swindling thousands of Americans out of their life savings.

This issue transcends political philosophy, it is a question of integrity and responsibility. How does anyone feel entitled to waste time on a job that is supposed to be a watchdog for the good of the American people? This attitude of "just getting by" is not limited to government, we see it in daily life at every level of society. Americans used to be lauded for their ambition and perseverance toward success. Somewhere, we lost the drive to do our best as individuals, we decided to settle back and do as little as possible. When we tolerate this attitude in our society, we will certainly decline as a nation. Perhaps that is why public entitlements have become so attractive today; "just give it to me" seems to be gaining popularity and hard work and ethical behavior is falling by the wayside.

America needs to redefine itself, we need to once again exhibit a "can do" attitude. We need to instill pride in a job well done. If we can accomplish this we can change our nation from a "give it to me" to a "go out and get it" society. When we begin to restore responsibility and pride, America will be on the way back to the glory and prosperity we seek. It all starts at home with a few words of wisdom.

" Daniel Webster, Where Are You?"

"I shall stand by the Union..with absolute disregard of personal consequences. What are personal consequences..in comparison with the good and evil which may befall a great country in a crisis like this?.. Let the consequences be what they will..No man can suffer too much, no man can fall too soon, if he suffer or if he fall in defense of the liberties and constitution of his country." These inspiring words are from Daniel Webster. Some of you may ask, who is that guy?

Daniel Webster was born January 18, 1782 in New England, way back when America was a young nation still in its adolescence, stretching its muscles and relishing in the freedom of the new republic. Patriotism was the order of the day, and the term lobbyist was not heard or seen in the public forum. Webster served our nation as a Congressman, Senator, and Secretary of State; all of these offices were held with great dignity, honor, and patriotism. He was revered for his honesty and ability. His devotion to the Union was and is still unmatched to this day.

When examining his life one cannot help seeing the selflessness he exhibited in his service, and the genuine love of country that seemed to go to the marrow of his bones.

We could certainly use a man like Daniel Webster today; both political parties have real character issues, and such deep partisan division that it seems as if love of the Union is secondary and personal agenda is primary. Webster was honored in 1957 by the United States Senate as one of its' five most outstanding members; quite a tribute for someone who died in 1852, and yet is still held in such regard by those who claim to be his peers.

We need people of integrity as our representatives in government, men who care more for our Constitution and our Union than any personal pursuit.

An excerpt from " The Devil and Daniel Webster" by Steven Vincent Benet says something very telling that it would behoove us all to listen to..."Yes Dan'l Webster's dead..or, at least, they buried him. But every time there is a thunderstorm around Marshfield they say you can hear his rolling voice in the hollows of the sky. And they say that if you go to his grave and speak loud and clear, "Dan'l, Dan'l Webster!", the ground'll begin to shiver and the trees begin to shake. And after a while you'll hear a deep voice saying, " Neighbor, how stands the Union?" Then you better answer the Union stands as she stood, rock-bottomed and copper sheathed, one and indivisible, or he's liable to rear right out of the ground. at least that's what I was told when I was a youngster."

I know this is a line from a work of literature yet, how wonderful to have a reputation that it could inspire an author to attribute these words to this great patriot. I long for public servants and citizens alike to aspire to become more like Webster and less like ourselves. America would be what it purports itself to be.

"National Day of Prayer"

" National Day Of Prayer", who would have thought this would be a controversial subject? Like it or not our founding fathers prayed for this nation on a regular basis. Sorry if I'm offending some of you, but our founding fathers believed we needed Divine help and direction in the way we govern America. They believed we should not establish a national religion, but they also felt we should not limit the free exercise of religion. As long as you don't preach violence, and don't infringe on the rights of others to worship in their own way you are pretty much free to do what you want.

I'm a Christian, I believe that Jesus is the Messiah of the bible; it is my right to believe this. I have friends who are Jewish who don't believe what I believe, this is their right. We don't hate each other, we just believe differently. Muslims, although I'm not well versed in Islam, don't believe what I believe about Jesus, they believe he was a great teacher, this is their right. I'm sure there are numerous belief systems in America that I as a Christian would find unusual; yet I defend their rights to believe as they wish.

If asked about my beliefs I would gladly speak about them and their differences with other faiths. Obviously I will have beliefs that others would doubt, yet as long as I'm respectful in my beliefs I have the right to express my faith.

Franklin Graham has been "uninvited" from the "National Day of Prayer" at the Pentagon; It has been said he used "hate speech" about Muslims, when in actuality he was just exercising his right of free speech. The son of Billy Graham, a gentle and peaceful man, was commenting on radical Muslims who have committed acts that have endangered us all.

I'm sure every religion has its share of radical believers. As a Christian I know people have died at the hands of anti-abortion activists who claim to be Christians. These people have certainly missed the boat on the teaching of Jesus Christ and are not "main stream" as believers.

As we approach "National Day of Prayer" we need to remember why we pray, and to whom we pray. We are asking for help, and guidance from someone greater than ourselves. Political correctness has gotten so out of hand that the slightest word is put under a microscope, and when it comes to God you will always offend somebody. Just make sure you don't offend God!

" Reconciliation and the People"

RECONCILIATION, once again that word has been uttered by the democrats; this time it is in regard to financial reform. Reconciliation, although it has been used in the past by other administrations, is a radical way to pass legislation when bipartisan endorsement cannot be reached and the legislation is necessary to address an issue that could be a national emergency. Accepted practice of the use of reconciliation is for situations that need immediate (instantaneous) action to an imminent threat or disaster that could take place. Heinous disregard for the public good, impending societal collapse are reasons to act in such haste and to short cut the legislative process. This is a radical action; I know the Bush administration used this process on several occasions, yet it was never for domestic policies that would effect the nation for generations to come.

Domestic policies should reflect the will of ALL the people, not just a simple majority. Our legislators should act with discretion when considering this radical policy. Quick fix isn't always the best course of action. "Act in haste and repent in leisure" is a good axiom to follow when considering prospective legislative actions.

I'm afraid reconciliation is becoming a "drug" that is infecting our Congress; an "addictive drug" that could have a crippling effect on the way American government is run. We must take time to examine all legislation; rushing is only good in a football game not in the making of national law and policy.

Financial reform is an issue that needs to be addressed, yet we shouldn't rush headlong into any bill or policy; careful examination, cautious action, these are the actions of a responsible legislator.

The image of the Obama administration is one of "Hurry up and get it done!, Force it through whether they want it or not!". If this administration continues with this policy of bypassing the process America will suffer. I'm afraid Mr. Obama's legacy will be as the President who refused to listen to the people in pursuit of his own agenda. That will be a tough image to reconcile!

" Lets Remember Everything, Okay!"

This week we are remembering the "Oklahoma Bombing" anniversary; the act of cowardly terrorists against an innocent populous. These low life morons are a perfect example of their radical end of a political group with collective I.Q.'s of 23 who wish to blame society for their own shortcomings in life. These are people who take no responsibility for their problems; its always someone elses fault, the rich, the whites, the blacks, the government, space aliens, men, women, and Cub Scouts. It is always somebody else, when in truth they have only themselves to blame for their poor lives. These fringe thinkers get a lot or press coverage; lets face it lunatics sell newspapers and improve ratings on T.V. and radio. We have a morbid fascination with these loose nuts.

When we identify legitimate dissent with these types we do our Constitution a disservice, and we put our free speech rights in jeopardy. When a former President casts aspersions against a group who has demonstrated peacefully and suggests they are encouraging the truly dangerous elements of our society he does a terrible disservice to all Americans. What would have happened during the Civil Rights movement of the sixties if the President would have said "Those Black Panthers are the way all those people are and we better be careful about them"; it would have demonized their entire movement!

When television commentators, news organizations, or ordinary citizens are labeled as "Un-American, militant, seditious, or traitorous" our country is in great trouble. How soon we forget the past when former presidents were defiled as murderers( Bush, Johnson, Nixon, and even FDR), when bombs were thrown at draft offices during the war in Viet Nam, and at times innocent citizens died because of these radical lunatics. Some of those are now regarded as icons of the sixties, instead of the criminals that they are.

It is odd that those who honestly criticize are considered dangerous, yet excuses are made for those who have exhibited violence against our nation because of their "overzealous" feelings or diminished mental capacities.

We must never forget the "Oklahoma Bombing", it was a terrible tragedy and an action that was beyond despicable. Violence for any purpose should not be tolerated; but free expression should never be suppressed. I don't approve of NAZI propaganda, yet as disgusting as it is, it is protected by the first amendment. Why should conservative views be considered seditious? No one is obligated to listen to any news organization or commentator; in America we get to choose. Its probably a good idea to keep it that way!

" Wake Up Call?"

I have been reminded in the past that polls can be manipulated to the purpose of whomever may be using them. This is a valid point and should be taken seriously. After all we don't want a twisted view of facts on any issue. When you see a poll result posted always read the whole posting and see if it says "this is not a scientific poll"; if it does be careful about putting too much stock in the results. For example, if I stood outside of "Giordano's" and took a poll about the best pizza in Chicago I'm pretty sure the results would favor "Giordano's", if I took the same poll outside of "Pizzeria Uno" the results would favor "Uno's". These are the results one would read in the restaurant section of the paper; not really scientific! The smartest thing to do is go there and try out the pizza yourself; I've had both, go to "Lou Malnati's" that's the best!

In today's paper I read an article stating that 80% of Americans have little confidence in the federal bureaucracy's ability to solve today's problems. This poll was released on Sunday by the Pew research center. I decided to do a little research of my own when I started to read this article. I thought it was best to practice what I preach so I looked up the Pew research center.

The Pew Research Center's motto is "for the people and the press",sounds pretty good. It was established in 1948 by Joseph Pew and his family, the owners of Sun Oil Company. It was originally a conservative advocate, but is now a centrist organization. It is based in Washington D.C. and has a reputation of fair mindedness and impartiality. After reading up on this organization I continued with the article in the paper.

The survey stated that just 22% of the people polled believe they can trust Washington. It states that the people now believe that politicians make promises they don't intend to keep just to get elected (wow that's a revelation). It also states that the people now believe Washington has grown too large and infringes on too much in state and local matters.

This survey certainly explains the popularity of the "Tea Party Movement" in America today. It seems that the majority of Americans want more local control and less Federal control. I think I read about this concept in a document called "The Constitution of the United States of America". Limited federal control is not a novel idea, but it is still a good one, as America is discovering again.

Eighty per cent is a pretty big number, perhaps our current administration will take notice and think about the will of the people, and take some time before they do more to invade the rights of our state and local governments. Those first ten amendments weren't suggestions; they were precepts to be followed. Maybe now Washington will get the hint!

"CLOSE THE BUFFET !! "

My wife and I enjoy going out for dinner. As I advance in age it seems my dinner hour has become progressively earlier, I guess that comes with age. About once a week we go out. My wife is a deal finder and she can tell me where all the "specials" are and what the constraints of each "special" is. Time limits, age requirements, and days of the week are common provisos of these "special" deals.

Many restaurants now have the "all you can eat" option on their menus, or the "unlimited salad bar", as an added attraction for their diners. The "all you can eat" variety can consist of fried chicken, beef, tacos, pizza, barbecue, pasta, pancakes, sausage, bacon, grits, etc.; this is usually coupled with all the dinner trimmings such as potatoes of all types, bread and rolls, hot vegetables, soups, and cold meats and cheeses. If this is not enough we have the dessert section; a virtual sea of calories, ice cream, cake of every type, brownies, pudding, cookies, and tortes.

As a diabetic and a sufferer of high cholesterol I'm limited as to what I can eat (actually my wife yells at me), so the "all you can eat" option is not too good for me. As most of you know I'm Italian and eating is very important to us! Well I am forced to choose wisely or suffer the consequences, which can be quite uncomfortable, and dangerous. I could eat everything I wanted and be "happy" for a short time and then go to the hospital; or I could use my brain and live to eat another day. Its all about choice!

Pending legislation is kind of like that all you can eat buffet, everything is laying in front of the prospective "diners" in all its glory. It is a political glutton's paradise, an ocean of taxpayer money and it is all yours. "What do I want?,How much can I eat?"; this is a question many of our representatives ask themselves as they "pick up their plate".

This is an indictment of both parties; there are countless examples of this type of behavior on both sides of the aisles of Congress. Why can't the bills that are voted on in Congress be limited to the actual subject being addressed? Why must each legislator get his "piece of the action"?

We are in the middle a situation of "economic diabetes", and our nation must watch our "diet" or we face a fiscal "coma" that we may not recover from. Democrats and Republicans alike must begin to exercise good judgement in legislation, forget about personal "pork" and work only for national interest. If current practices continue we will end up with a fatal attack on our "digestive system". The days of "All You Can Eat!" must come to an end!!

"Great Freedom, Great Responsibility"

Today I'm doing something completely different; today I'm commenting on internet blogs in general.

I love the first amendment, it is great to live in a nation where anybody can speak out on virtually any subject or cause and the only consequence of that is listening to those who don't agree with you. This is a small price to pay to be heard. I have a regular commenter on this blog who regularly disagrees with me. He is respectful and well spoken in his criticism; I appreciate this. We will probably never agree on any political issue, yet I'm sure we will agree on the value of a system that allows for the free exchange of ideas.

As I said my friend is respectful and well spoken; this makes all the difference in the world when one is trying to make a point or issuing a criticism. Obviously people are passionate about certain subjects and at times all people will get their "dander up". We all need to stop at times and take a breath before we speak or we are in danger of engaging in a conversation of diatribes and epithets that will prove nothing but ignorance and discourtesy.

The freedom we enjoy on the internet is a wonderful thing, it opens our ability to communicate with everyone within "earshot". With this great freedom comes responsibility. Any of us engaging in this forum needs to be educated in what we believe, and we must also exercise good judgement and decorum in our demeanor when addressing anyone, regardless of their beliefs.

We are living in stressful times, our nation seems to be polarized as never before. There will always be differing opinions in America, thank God for that! Although my friend and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum politically I'm thankful we live in a place where each of us can speak without fear.

My message today is this, appreciate each other, respect each other, enjoy each other for our differences as well as our similarities. Remember we are all Americans; respect each others freedoms!

" We Should All Be Heard "

The "Tea Party" has been all over the news lately. Voices, both pro and con, have been loud and long about this political movement. The members have been accused of being NAZIS and racists, gun nuts, and uneducated. I find these general indictments both ridiculous and insulting. As a conservative I understand the frustration of the members of the "tea party movement", they are upset by a government that is growing by leaps and bounds, and a growing deficit that will soon tax our citizens into oblivion. They see a poor policy of national defense, and a disregard of our Constitution as it is written.

I've recently heard of a movement on the internet from the left to infiltrate "tea party" demonstrations and act in the roles of "racists, NAZIS, and illiterates" in an attempt to cast an aspersion on the validity of the "tea party". They also say they want to incite violence. What are the folks on the left so afraid of ? Is their position so threatened by this group that they must try to disrupt the free speech rights of the "tea party" by staging controversy?

We now live in the world of video recording of just about everything. Video cameras are everywhere, they are at intersections recording traffic violations, in stores watching employees and customers alike. Public events are a virtual sea of recording devices. When the healthcare bill was passed several allegations of threats and racial epithets were made, yet, nothing to date has been shown to be truthful. The media, and the private video community have yet to come forward with any proof of these allegations. Is it possible that these events didn't take place? Is it possible that these events have been embellished to something more than what they were? I'm sure the "tea party" has its share of nuts, just like any other political movement, this is only a reasonable assumption, yet by and large these people are hard working Americans who are tired of the direction this administration is taking our country.

As an American, regardless of political affiliation, I find it offensive that any group should face this type of unscrupulous action in an attempt to undermine the validity of their position. What's next? Disrupting political demonstrations is the first step in political oppression. The next step is a "gulag or concentration camp". America should not be travelling down this road, we are founded on the right to dissent, the right to opinion. Any faction that feels differently should examine their patriotism. When any group has its free speech infringed upon, all groups are threatened; this is when we are in danger of losing America!

"Side Effects"

Over the last few years I've noticed more and more advertisements for "so-called" miracle drugs. Years ago I received the drug tagamet for heart burn and esophagitis. To me this was the "miracle" as I suffered for many years with a very uncomfortable medical condition. Today we have Prilosec, Prevacid, Pepcid, and a host of other medicines to reduce acid and allow us to pursue a diet of hot peppers, and spicy food of all types. Being an Italian-American I can't thank the drug industry enough for the great gift they have given me with these drugs. My wife said I should just change what I eat and I could find relief from my stomach problems; what a foolish suggestion. Asking an Italian to stop eating spicy food is not an option! We now have drugs for depression, anxiety, baldness, skin rashes, and erectile dysfunction; along with a host of other conditions too long to mention. You can hardly turn on the television without seeing a new drug being touted for some new medical problem.

Most of the ads we see for these new "miracle" drugs have a disclaimer that is quickly run through at the close of the commercial, the "side effects". I've heard the words vomiting, hair loss, anal leakage, thoughts of suicide, diarrhea, and severe headache attached to many of the new crop of these medical breakthroughs. Our laws require the drug industry to inform us of the possible side effects of any medicine we take. The next time you pick up a prescription you should find a list in your bag stating what your drug does, its dosage, and any restrictions you should follow when taking the drug. Your druggist will probably ask you if you have any questions regarding your prescription, just to make sure you understand what you are taking. All this is done for your protection.

Wouldn't it be great if we could have the same protection when dealing with our political process? You know, have someone explain exactly what each bill contained and the possible repercussions of those bills. Have someone who is acting only in our interests without influence of any other body or organization. HEY isn't that what Congress is supposed to do!? WOW what a realization, I almost forgot the purpose of our elected officials, to look out for us! It seems our representatives have forgotten why they are there; not to serve their party or philosophy, but to serve and protect the American people.

We now are seeing the "side effects" of Obamacare being revealed; after the fact. America has been given a drug without the explanation of what it will do besides cure the condition it was prescribed for. Hidden tax, denial of treatment, higher cost, none of this was mentioned by the "chemists" who concocted this bill. We received no information about the negative effects we would be experiencing.

We need some new rules for our senators and representatives; we want the whole truth about any proposed legislation or policy. It is the right of every American to know all of the facts, not just what sounds good to our ears. The omission of facts is the same as lying about the facts. The voters of America will not forget who "lied"through omission; November is coming. Remember America!

" OATH,PROMISE,PLEDGE,DECEIT!"

A while back I posted the oaths of office of our office of president and congress. I thought it would be a good idea to see what our civil servants said when they took office.

What is an "oath"?
OATH-"A solemn, formal declaration of promise to fulfill a pledge, often calling on God, a god, or a sacred object."

What is promise?
PROMISE-"A declaration assuring that one will or will not do something, a vow. To commit oneself , to do or give by pledge."

What is a pledge?
PLEDGE-"To bind or engage by promise or declaration; to engage solemnly; to pledge one's word of honor.

Oaths seem to be a pretty serious thing, God is called into play, honor is called upon also. Obviously one should never take an oath lightly or with the purpose of perversion of that oath. Oaths are usually clear-cut in their meaning, not much ambiguity, not much left open to interpretation, plain and easy to understand.

Both oaths of office I previously wrote about had the words "to protect and defend the Constitution" in them; very clear-cut, not open to interpretation, plain and easy to understand.

Now lets look up another word, deceit.
DECEIT-Given to cheating. Deliberately misleading, deceptive, dishonest.

The word deceit doesn't appear anywhere in the definition of an oath; it has nothing to do with God, or honor. It does have a lot to do with the disregard of an oath, the twisting of a promise, the distortion of a pledge; yet we have seen deception and perversion by the very people we were supposed to trust to follow the will of the people.

No taxes on the middle class, I remember that, it is now on its way out the window as we can see this health-care monstrosity now begins revelations of hidden costs emerge which can only be remedied by loss of benefits and added tax. All this was kept under the carpet, hidden from the people by our president and our elected representatives. Is this not deception? Is this not a broken pledge?

Last week a congressman said "We do what we want" in total disregard of his congressional oath. What happened to "protect and defend the Constitution"? This attitude of arrogance seems to be the order of the day in this current administration. We tread on dangerous ground when elected officials "make it up as they go along" instead of following their "solemn" oath. Deceit is not in your oath!

" Barack Insults Israel ! "

Over the course of the last sixty years Israel has supported, and been supported, by the United States of America. Israel is the only real democratic government in the middle-east, it is the only ally we can count on without reservation. The Jewish community in America has a special allegiance to Israel; it is the homeland promised to the children of Abraham in the Bible, and the home established by the survivors of the N.A.Z.I. holocaust.

The great thing about Israel is they won't put up with any, for lack of a better word, crap, from anybody. Ask Egypt about Israel; it took a week to let Egypt know Israel was not to be fooled with and not expect consequences they wouldn't like.

This relatively small nation nestled in the heart of the middle-east is the target of practically all of its neighboring nations. Saddam Hussein sent scud missiles flying into Israel during "Desert Storm", and Israel exercised restraint while America "convinced" Saddam this was a bad idea. Israel was vital in keeping this conflict from accelerating into something much worse than what it was. Israel allowed its citizens to be a target when it had every right to bomb Iraq into non-existence, yet it exercised restraint to help America in a difficult situation. This was truly the act of a staunch ally and friend! Golda Meir, David Ben-Gurion, both strong Israeli Prime Ministers, were great friends of America. Our nations enjoyed a special relationship, perhaps even deeper than the relationship with Britain.

Evidently Barack Obama doesn't feel a strong relationship with Israel is as important as it used to be. Iran has made direct threats toward Israel and our government has done little to nothing in recognizing these aggressive statements. Instead Joe Biden chastises Israel for building homes in its own land.


Earlier this week our great leader snubbed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, refusing to meet with him at the White House. This is the President who said he would meet with the Taliban and speak without conditions, yet, he insults one of America's greatest friends at a time when Israel faces a serious threat from a Muslim radical. This action by Obama is an affront to a nation whose support may be vital at a time when the middle-east is at its most fragile.

What has happened to this country? We have signed a treaty, yet to be ratified, with Russia to deplete our ability to defend ourselves. Now we distance ourselves from the only nation in this powder keg that has ever shown us any real friendship and support.

Barack Obama has shown us his lack of respect for the will of the people domestically, now he shows his lack of respect for those who support America in foreign policy. How much more damage will Barack Obama do?

" F@*+king Huge!!"

Not long ago Obama-care was signed by the President and as Mr. Obama was about to make his remarks to the press he was introduced by Vice-President Joe Biden. Before Mr. Obama spoke Mr. Biden leaned into the President's ear and said, "This is F@*+king Huge!", within earshot of an open microphone. Regardless of my feelings about both of these men I think the use of such expletives in a public forum does a disservice to the offices they hold. I've always had my doubts about Joe Biden, personally I couldn't believe Obama picked him as a running mate, he is a walking disaster when it comes to political gaffs and has a brain fairly low on the evolutionary chart. Throughout the election, Biden continually made errors in judgement and facts coupled with a complete lack of tact. I must admit, I pray for a hedge of protection around Mr Obama for fear we would be left with Biden, the buffoon, as chief executive.

I remember the days of Dwight Eisenhower when the White House was a place of dignity and decorum, a place where respect for the office was taken seriously. Although Dick Nixon did his share of cussing, it was always done in private, never did it end up on a "Tee-Shirt Slogan". High office should have high standards.

I'm not so naive as to believe that foul language doesn't take place in any government office, yet, I believe those who hold public office must try to comport themselves with some dignity as they are supposed to be the model of what an American citizen should be. At times we exhibit shock over song lyrics and movie dialogue, yet not much was said when the man who holds the second highest office in America uses a word we see spray painted on an overpass to shock those who read it as they drive by.

We are molded by those we hold in high esteem, we emulate those we consider to be the model of what we want to achieve. Its funny that I've never heard Beck or Limbaugh use "gutter language", yet their words are soundly condemned by the left.

Perhaps the reason that the rhetoric of today is so vile is that the people for whom they speak are using the words of a street gang instead of the words of the educated. I hope the next time Mr. Biden gets excited about something, he will choose his words more wisely; Who knows someday he could be President.

"America First!"

I'm a citizen of America in the state of Illinois; I'm not a citizen of Germany, Italy, Russia, France, or any other foreign nation. As a citizen of America I am not bound by the laws of any other foreign nation unless I'm within their borders. I didn't vote for the presidents or prime ministers of any foreign nations and I'm not subject to their powers. The United States of America is a sovereign nation who should never yield its power to any foreign nation or body of world government. My senators and representatives have been elected to serve the interests of the people of the United States, not the interests of any other nation, governing body, or private institutions ( lobbyists). Any public official who serves for any purpose other than following the will of the people of the United States of America is derelict in his duties and should be dismissed from his office.

We are now engaged in the policy of becoming citizens of the world; a policy of America becoming something less than what its founders intended it to be. We have a man in leadership who has exhibited an attitude of subservience to other nations and world bodies. Our nation does not need the approval of other nations in our own governance, nor do we need the interference of any governing body in dictating our foreign policy.

Recently President Obama met with Nicolas Sarkozy of France to show unity in nuclear disarmament, as we again agree to virtually cut off the testicles of our national defense in an attempt to become "citizens of the world". They talked about sanctions against Iran again, and once again Iran has treated this like a monologue from Jay Leno, laughing in their faces. Russia is sending missile technology to Hugo Chavez, you've got to love that Putin. The Russians and the Red Chinese have already said they would not support any serious sanctions against Iran as Iran is a large economic market for them and they won't rock that boat!

Barack Obama continues to give and give, yield and bow, showing an attitude of submissiveness to the rest of the world. Our enemies see a face of weakness, they see a nation on the decline.

I believe we are more than a nation that bows and kneels; we are America, the greatest nation on this planet, and it is time for our president to behave like it and put America first!

" Wah, Wah, Wah!!"

When I was a little boy there was a kid on the block who would pick on me, call me names and generally make fun of me and other kids. I was about seven or eight years old when Tony was in his heyday of bullying, and I didn't like it. I told my Mom and Dad about it. My Dad was quick with this bit of wisdom; " Nobody can stop a bully by going to somebody else to fight the battle for you, if you don't stop him he will continue to pick on you forever. I can't help you in this and neither can your mother." Well a few days later Tony and I were locked in the usual battle of name calling, but this time it finally turned into a fist fight. We fought with the ferocity of two seven year old boys in mortal combat; I was victorious as Tony ran home crying, sobbing " I'm gonna tell my Mommy!" Well I guess parents of the last generation were different than they are now, because Tony's Mom said he had to fight his own battles too. Eventually Tony and I became good friends and the day of the "Battle of the Century" was forgotten. In today's world there would probably be a legal proceeding and news coverage about curbing youth violence.

The political arena is one that causes quite a bit of virtual bloodletting; politics is not an arena for the weak or thin-skinned. It has been said, " If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!" For eight years George Bush put up with the most vile personal attacks I've ever seen; yet Bush never responded in kind to his critics, lowering the prestige of the presidency to that of a whining school boy.

Recently Barack Obama has been crying about Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. People who never listen to either of these men, or have heard their words taken out of context should stop and take a breath. Be thorough before you judge these voices. I'll admit they are caustic, but I'll also admit they are factual. Beck has issued challenge after challenge to the Obama White House to call if they find anything inaccurate in his reporting; the phone has yet to ring. Limbaugh has made prediction after prediction about Obama's actions and has been almost supernatural in his accuracy, yet he remains unanswered on any real issues from the Obama leftists.

Now Barack Obama is asking Americans not to listen to these two men. I find this quite disturbing; what is it Barack doesn't want America to hear? Why doesn't Obama face this like a man instead of like seven year old boy? He is now parading across the country pleading with the people to turn off their minds, not to listen to opposing viewpoints, to follow him blindly. All Mr. Obama needs to do is to prove them wrong in the public forum, yet he refuses to do so. His virtual cries if "Mommy,Mommy!" certainly doesn't sound like the voice that should be that of the leader of the free world.

Politics is a rough business Mr. Obama, coming from Cook County you should be quite aware of that. You used all of your Cook County expertise to manipulate Congress and Beck and Limbaugh put it under a spotlight; so now they are enemies of the state. Suck it up Mr.President, its all part of the job. Americans have a right to listen to all sides whether you like it or not. Grow up Mr. President!