"What is Christmas?"

Next week, we will all be thinking about tinsel, stockings, carols, presents and trees. Children will be asking Mom and Dad what they might get under the tree, hoping for that special gift they have their hearts set on. Dad will be thinking about the great dinner and the gathering of his extended family around the table. Christmas is certainly a joyous occasion for families. The question is "do we really understand what this holiday means, other than trees, stockings, carols and toys?"

Department stores and "Big Box" stores do their best merchandising at this time of year; it's all about "the bottom line" of profit; not "prophet". In reality, we should be giving honor and glory on this holiday; everything else is secondary. This holiday is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy; the birth of the "Messiah"; the Redeemer of man and the propitiation for all of man's sins: that means Jesus is the vehicle for forgiveness of the sins of all men who choose to accept Him as Lord and Savior. Christmas actually has nothing to do with "elves, Santa, the North Pole or flying reindeer"; it has everything to do with God's love for mankind by providing us with a way to have our sins erased and attain righteousness through His Son's sacrifice on the cross.

We live in a society that doesn't like to acknowledge Jesus very much; yet, everybody wants this holiday. Atheists should just go about their regular business on Christmas Day, as this day is a celebration of the Christ, not "the elves or Santa"! Muslims, Hindus, Maoists, Marxists or any group that doesn't acknowledge Jesus should not have any part in Christmas; it is a CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY!

Over the next several days, I hope everyone who recognizes Jesus as Lord and Savior has a great time with their loved ones. Laugh and tell stories, eat well and celebrate His birth, and talk about His Resurrection and what it all means, to you and to your friends in Christ.

Presents are a nice thing to receive from anyone, and I don't begrudge anybody a gift; but don't forget the "Ultimate Gift" which was given by Jesus. Before you open any presents on Christmas morning, think about His "presence" in your life. Those few minutes you spend with Him will be well worth it; after all, he wants to spend an "eternity" with you!


(This is my last blog until January 4, 2012; have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! T.P.)

"Playing on a Level Field; I Don't Know?"

Last year the "Green Bay Packers" won the Super Bowl. This was played on a neutral field so neither team would have an unfair advantage. It appears that the "Packers" have an inside track to this years' "Big Game" once again; thus far, they are undefeated. All of my "Packer Friends" must be very happy. There is possibly one thing that could make them happier; if the game was played in Lambeau Field, in Green Bay Wisconsin. I guess that would kind of "stack the deck" for the Packers. I would feel the same way if the Bears would play that game in "Soldier Field".

Most Americans like the idea of "fair play' in all contests. Not too long ago, an NBA referee was found to be taking bribes to change the course of a game, and the league and the fans didn't take it lightly. Pete Rose isn't getting into the Hall of Fame because of his gambling problems, as they cast a shadow on the integrity of his game. For years, boxing has had the reputation of being "dirty" when it came to "fixed fights". Americans don't like any "rigged" contests.

I remember our last Presidential election in 2008; and I remember allegations of voter fraud and voter intimidation during that election. The most vivid incident I remember, as I have mentioned it before, is the "New Black Panthers" who stood outside a polling place carrying batons and hurling epithets at people as they entered. The entire incident was captured on video, without any editing. This behavior broke numerous laws in regards to polling place behavior; yet, Eric Holder chose not to prosecute these thugs, men who interfered with our most precious franchise. We must remember this interesting fact!

On December 13th, our Attorney General, Eric Holder said the United States election system must be free of discrimination and attempts at political gain. He said he will fully enforce civil rights protection in next years' election; what a champion of justice! He went on to say ,"We need elections that are free from fraud, discrimination and partisan influence--and are more, not less, accessible to the citizens of this country"! I find Mr. Holder's new grasp on voter's rights astounding; especially, since he failed to prosecute voter intimidation in the last election! This is typical of Holder and the entire Obama administration; who freely trade in hypocrisy so well! Holder is currently having his veracity challenged in Congressional Investigating Committees, so I don't put much stock in what he holds as truthful or ethical. Perhaps his little speech is to put a better face on himself to America, maybe? I personally think it is Mr. Holder's way of trying to get a better "playing field" for himself and his boss, Barack Obama. What do you think, Hmm...?

"Naughty or Nice?"

We are now in full Christmas mode; commercials and television shows are on nearly every night showcasing the Christmas Season. I remember the song "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"; it says Santa has a list who tells who is naughty and who is nice! When I was a little kid, I believed this stuff, and I spent some time rationalizing my behavior of the year gone by. After all, in a family of many children, there is a constant flow of arguments and altercations over the course of a year. Still in all, "Santa" was pretty good to all of us.

As I look at America, I am thinking of making out my own naughty or nice list. America certainly has had its share of naughty from politicians, actors, musicians and media folks. Illinois has sent another governor to prison; mark down one "naughty" for Illinois. Illinois is in some of the worst debt in its history; mark down another "naughty" for Illinois. Jesse Jackson Jr. is being looked at for soliciting a vacant senate seat; another "naughty" for Illinois. Wow; Illinois seems to have its share of "naughties" this year! Alas, Illinois isn't alone in its "naughtiness". Eric Holder is caught up in "Fast and Furious" not quite telling the truth; sounds kind of "naughty" Eric! Eric is also not quite telling the truth in the SOLYNDRA scandal; Eric is a "naughty boy"! "OCCUPY Wall Street" has had multiple arrests and possible homicide; now that is "naughty"! Even Charlie Rangel was caught not declaring his assets to the IRS; that's a "naughty' for Charlie! Just a couple of days ago, Al Sharpton had been alleged to owe over a MILLION DOLLARS in unpaid taxes; Al, you have been "naughty" too, and you, a Reverend!! I can't begin to cover the "naughties" of our current President, Barack Obama, who has juggled the truth on unemployment and continued to discount his own responsibility for America's fiscal downward spiral; and continues to yield to a far left agenda; he is a giant on the "naughty" list.

Is there anybody on the nice list? Every man or woman who has given up their time to defend our nation, are certainly at the top of my "nice list"; we are certainly fortunate that we have them! The TEA PARTY, who had ZERO arrests, and stayed within the law during their demonstrations are on my "nice" list. Those folks who defend the rights of unborn children are definitely on my "nice" list. The people who remember that Christmas is about the birth of JESUS are at the top of my "nice" list!

Now, I'm sure I missed some "naughties" and "nices" on my list, and I apologize to forgetting a name or two; you can fill in your own list too. One thing I promise is that I will be "checking it twice" before next years' election. Make sure you "check your list too"!!

"A Word Game!"

I had a wonderful Mom; she gave me a love for music, art and fine literature. She also gave me a weird sense of humor and an affinity for word games. We would play Scrabble and she was a fierce competitor, with high intelligence. She would do the New York Times crossword puzzle; a feat few people attempt. My Internet addiction is to a game called "Bookworm" which tests your vocabulary and spelling skills; I sometimes will sit for over two hours, glued to my screen. I also do crossword puzzles regularly; not the New York Times though.

I would like to do something a little different today. Being the "Holiday Season", I put together a word search game that is relevant to our current political situation in America today. There are about sixteen words hidden in this puzzle, all relating to the Obama administration and current politics. Have some fun and see how many you can find.

OBAMA SEARCH:

I N C O M P E T E N T O A W E A K L

N Z I V C A G O N O Y N E V I L B O

E L E A T R O R V N K A E C J O L N

P E C R V I S I O R M E A T J O K E

T A X E S T S O N E O R A O M I L T

A R R O G A N C E S O K N N A C R E

C L O U F A R T Y P T D S O R K I R

G O O F F R E E T O S P E N D I J M

L E A H A L L Y Z N L O I L D O G E

O V A C A T I O N S B C A N C E W R

P S O R T Y R E U I S C R A S Q P H

E B A R S E A R T V X U Y N L U Z O

S H A Y O R K Y M E T P D C L U E H

S O C I A L I S T X T Y O Y V I S E

T E R M L I M I T S F A C T H E L P

I hope you have some fun with this; it was a pain to put together! As you read these words, you may laugh, and that's okay; but, unfortunately these words do reflect an administration that has lost the confidence of the people of America, and it is not likely to regain it soon! Government is more than just a "word game", but our President doesn't seem to understand that!

"A Bad Risk!"

What is worse than a bad job; NO JOB! What is better than $3.50 a gallon for gas; $2.50 a gallon! Did we elect a man who doesn't understand this simple fact; YES, WE DID! As America has been suffering through 34 months of Obama's spurious economic and ecological policies, common sense has been ignored at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Countless studies have shown the wealth of fossil fuels we have stored under America's surface and CLOSELY off shore. We are still sitting on 9% unemployment after 3/4 of a trillion dollars in stimulus spending; most of it wasted on "green projects" that are folding up faster than a $2.00 folding chair! Scandals and spending seem to be the "accomplishments" of the Obama administration. By the way, Britain is talking about huge cuts in their government run health care, as it has become too costly and the care isn't quite up to expectations; this should give us all something to think about here! We are also looking at a further down-grade of American bond status because of our poor economic policies, something that was unprecedented until Barack Obama sat in the Oval Office. Mr. Obama now chides Congress about jobs and spending, although there have been several bills that have been proposed to remedy our desperate economic situation. Mr. Obama has dismissed these remedies out of hand, unless they are the plans Mr. Obama has "dictated".

We are now being ignored AGAIN, as Barack Obama is delaying a decision on the Canadian-Texas pipeline. The construction alone will produce many jobs, along with the shot in the arm to suppliers of material and side businesses all along the route of the pipeline. If he won't allow us to get our own resources, why can't we, at least, get oil from a "friendly nation" other than OPEC!? It seems Mr. Obama is, once again, pandering to the far left "greenies" and forgetting about common sense Americans. Obama says unemployment extensions will create more jobs than this pipeline: oddly, those pipeline jobs will create more taxpayers, and unemployment extensions will create greater debt on the taxpayers who will reap no benefit from this further deficit spending. This is why we need a President who actually worked for a living!

Obama is now in full campaign mode, and he is touting himself as the savior of our nation for the last 34 months, and blaming Congress for our problems. Well, for the first 24 months he was right, the Democratic Congress certainly buried us in debt up to our collective eyebrows. Since the mid-terms, the conservative Republicans have been trying to find our way back to a common sense government; and Obama doesn't like it! He must have special "Obama Glasses" when he looks at America, because I personally see nothing but a devastated economy and a weak leader, who refuses to accept responsibility for any of his own actions. I hope America will take the time to examine all of the decisions made in the White House by its current resident before we renew his lease next November. I think he's a BAD RISK!

"Initial Event!"

Have you ever noticed how quickly time passes as you get a little "long in the tooth"? It seems like Christmas was just here, and now it's back again. This coming year, I will be celebrating my 45th year out of high school (I still look good)! Thirty-four years ago Earl Campbell won the Heisman Trophy, the NFL played its 5000th game (Bengals 27- Chiefs 7) and Star Wars was the top box office smash.

What is an anniversary? Anniversary: a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. I guess that sums it up pretty well, except it does leave out some stuff, like what has gone on since that "initial event". My "initial event" took place thirty-four years ago, when my wonderful wife decided to take my name, and my life changed forever. I certainly didn't deserve her, she was, and is, vibrant, soft-hearted, kind, considerate, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful and, did I say, beautiful! We have shared dinners, breakfasts and ice cream cones, and with her each time is a memory for me. She carries me when things aren't so good, and keeps me humble when I get "full of myself". When all else fails, I know she will always be there for me, and I know she feels the same way about me!

If I could put my heart in my hands, it would have "Adrienne" printed across it. I could not imagine my life without her. An unknown writer once said "You don't marry someone you can live with - you marry the person you cannot live without"; I don't know who he was, but he couldn't have been more right.

Each day I pray, and in my prayers I always thank God for allowing me to have "My Adrienne", the best answer I ever had to any prayer! My words are weak when I try to say what she means to me, it's like trying to hold a bubble without breaking it, or capture a ring of smoke.

As I close this message to the world about my wife, I will turn to some who are more well spoken than I: "I love you, not for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you", Roy Croft: and this final statement which really says it all, "Real love stories never have endings", Richard Bach. I know all these words to be true. Happy Anniversary to my WONDERFUL, AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL WIFE!! I LOVE YOU ADRIENNE!!

"If It Works, Don't Fix It!"

There is an old saying: "If something works, don't fix it!" There is quite a bit of truth in this old axiom. We are constantly trying to improve on everything; make it last longer or taste better, and by and large this is a good idea; it encourages imagination and creativity. Some things are best left alone, like my Mom's pasta sauce recipe; it is perfect! Sometimes things are best left alone, and should not be tampered with, like my Dad's tools.

When the pilgrims arrived here, they wanted a couple of things; freedom to worship and a non-intrusive government so they could pursue their own success. Those pilgrims weren't looking for a free ride from anybody. Once America established our wonderful Constitution, our citizens were able to pursue wealth and happiness to their hearts content; of course, there is a measure of work involved in that pursuit.

Our President, Barack Obama, said recently that "free market capitalism doesn't work"; I think he must be smoking something other than cigars, if he really believes this.

Here are some examples of free-market capitalism: Henry Ford, Eli Whitney, Thomas Edison, Robert Fulton, Orville and Wilbur Wright, and more recently Bill Gates and Steve Jobs; these folks all did fairly well in a free market economy. Let's name some companies: Sears, Wal-Mart, U.S. Steel, EXXON-MOBIL, McDonald's and Ford Motors; they have done fairly well in a free market economy too. Now, I know somebody will say "look at how many, wealthy people are making money from those companies", and they would be right. Who do you think invests in those companies, and takes great risks with their capital; some are rich people, and some are small investors, people like you and me. Besides making money for their stockholders, these companies also employ hundreds of thousands of people who buy cars, appliances, homes, fuel, clothes and groceries for their families.

America, despite our shortcomings, has the best "standard of living" on this planet. We have been having people standing in line to move here for over two hundred years; that should tell you something. Immigrants came here at the turn of the 20th century with nothing but a dream of living in the "land of opportunity", and whatever skills they brought with them. A good portion of those folks are the rich people in America today; perhaps the President should ask them if free-market capitalism works!

Will everybody get rich in America: probably not. There are NO GUARANTEES of wealth or position in this country, there is only the promise of a chance to try. This system, in this country, is the best place to live on this entire planet, BAR NONE!

I know Mr. Obama loves radical socialist planning, with massive government regulation and control, and sharing the wealth of others with those who haven't become wealthy; you have probably heard the saying "What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine." This is Barack Obama's "mantra" of re-distribution. He wants to even everything out, so we can all be EQUALLY MISERABLE! I would ask Mr. Obama this question, "If our system doesn't work, then why is it that we are the envy of the world?" Of course, this was before we elected Barack Obama President!

"Prayer and Leadership"

Seventy years ago today, America suffered an unprovoked attack from the Empire of Japan, and we, as a nation and as individuals, would never be the same again. Thousands of innocent Americans died at Pearl Harbor, and the remains of many still rest in that harbor. America heaved a great sigh, and then set to the work of defeating two enemies who were a direct threat to the entire world. We stood arm in arm with Britain and France and Russia in order to restore peace during the greatest conflagration the world has seen to date.

On June 6, 1944, all of our countries launched Operation Overlord, D-Day, and this set in motion the ultimate defeat of NAZI Germany and the Empire of Japan. We were doing God's work, and we thanked Him for His help to victory every day.

Franklin Roosevelt said these words: My fellow Americans: last night when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer.

"Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, and stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest until victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violence of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom."

Roosevelt went on to say these words: "O Lord give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith united in our crusade."

Currently, our President has decided to omit this prayer from the WWII Memorial. I find it an insult not only to Franklin Roosevelt, but to all those men and women who gave so much for America during her greatest trial. For whatever reason, Barack Obama has a problem with the mention of God and prayer in America, and I believe this gives all Americans a reason to give pause and think about our choice of Barack Obama as our President. I don't believe America can do very well without the help of Almighty God; evidently, Mr. Obama sees things differently than I. Ask yourself this question:" Is this the man I want to lead America in the most trying time since World War II?"

"VACATION AGAIN!!!"

I remember when I was a little boy the anticipation I had for Christmas vacation. School would let out about three days before the "Big Day", and we would not have to go back until the third of January! My Dad got off a half day on Christmas Eve and had to go back to work on the next work day after Christmas, and it was the same way on New Years for him. I guess the most days he would get off were about four, if the holidays fell on week-ends. It was great to be a kid at Christmas; we just had a party at school, went home and had fun for two whole weeks, and didn't have to think about "readin', writin' or arithmetic" the entire time! Dad, unfortunately, had to go back to work while the toys were still under the tree. I asked him once why he couldn't stay home during our vacation, and he said "I have a job to do, and I have an obligation to be there so I can earn money for all you kids and Mom. You guys are depending on me." Dad was very big on taking care of our family, and fulfilling his obligations, but it sure would have been fun having him around a few more days. As I grew older, I understood exactly what my father meant, as I became a father and husband myself; although, I still wish vacations could last a lot longer!

As you all know, Congress is still confused over what to do about our budget and job situation in America. Bills and proposals are flying back and forth like ping-pong balls at a Chinese picnic. Reid is blaming Boehner, and Boehner is blaming Reid; and nobody seems to be finding any cooperation from anyone. Now, this is big government in action! Barack Obama is very upset by this situation, and he has issued strong words to all the parties involved, threatening a delay in the Christmas break so some agreement can be reached; now that is some pretty strong talk, as long as you don't have to actually do it yourself! It is always easier to tell someone to do something you have no plan of doing yourself!

As Christmas is nearing, Barack Obama is planning a 17 day break in Hawaii for himself and his family (it's good to be the king). Our absentee President who runs off to holidays at every occasion is once again running off into the sunset and avoiding his responsibility as Chief Executive. Be it Hawaii or Martha's Vineyard, Barack Obama likes everywhere better than Washington D.C.! Teddy Roosevelt believed to be a good president said that you need to "Walk softly, and carry a big stick." Barack Obama feels like you need to "Walk 18 holes, and carry a small putter".

When I see Barack Obama's attitude toward the office he holds, I'm astounded by his lack of immediacy to America's pressing situations, I don't see a Jack Kennedy or a Ronald Reagan behaving in the manner Obama has adopted, and I fear for America. I believe we need to send a man to Washington who understands how imminent the dangers are to America; not some guy who likes to GOLF!

"Stocking Stuffer!"

When it comes to shopping, I'm the typical man; I HATE to shop. I don't like going to the mall, or specialty shops or discount houses; and shoe stores are like volunteering for purgatory duty. I mildly enjoy the grocery store, as I always manage to put a few of my favorite snacks into our cart, otherwise shopping isn't my thing. My wife, my daughter and my sister are shopping "gurus", who can spot sales and discounts at 100 meters! At this time of the year, thousands of people flock to malls and department stores all over America.

We are a week passed "Black Friday", a day when folks set alarm clocks to begin their Christmas "hunting trips" early. The figures are now in for that "purchasing event" and they are slightly up from last year. Any rise in spending is good news for our ailing economy. Electronics seem to be the big winner according to the stores; everybody wants a big television or the latest electronic device for Christmas; after all, who wouldn't want to see the "Super Bowl" on a 51" screen!

There was another product that seemed to dominate some of that "Black Friday" spending and some of you might be surprised by what it was; FIREARMS! Yes, my fellow Americans, it was GUNS. The F.B.I. has been flooded with requests for background checks for gun purchases; it seems Americans are arming themselves. Strangely, this is in direct correlation with a DROP IN CRIME in America. Who would've THUNK IT? The more households with guns we have, the fewer the criminals want to enter them; maybe those crooks aren't as dumb as we think they are. I guess I'm a little ahead of the pack on this issue, but I urge the rest of my readers to catch up; armed citizens are BAD FOR CRIMINALS!

Now, I know that people on the left don't agree with me on this issue; and I don't really care. They don't understand that a criminal isn't going to spend $500 on a hand gun; he will get a "black market" weapon for $50 or $75, and then he will mug your grandmother!! I know the Obama administration is anti-gun, because they feel it gives us citizens too much control; kind of the way Mao, Stalin and Hitler felt about guns in public hands.

Now, as I said, I'm not much of a shopper; but I will happily go with my lovely wife to any gun shop she likes to purchase a small caliber hand gun for her personal use; she can even have a "pearl handle" if she likes! So my friends, as Christmas approaches, think about a nice .38 caliber "stocking stuffer" for a loved one. It could be a "bang-up" gift!

(Thanks to my niece Lizzy!)

"A Line In The Sand!"

How far are we allowed to go to protect ourselves and our families? I believe I'm the "first line of defense" in my home. I own several firearms; a hand gun, two rifles and a twelve gauge shot gun; I know how to use all of them. I am also willing to use all of them if the situation warrants their use. Anyone who intrudes into my home may well be left lying on the floor, and leave in a bag. Don't misunderstand me, I have no wish to shoot anybody, but I will protect my household! For generations, America has been a kind of "watchman" for the world, silently walking behind the rest of the world, keeping an eye on those who have questionable ambitions, and keeping them in check. Usually, we don't have to resort to bloodshed, but, at times, the security of America calls for a forcible response to an immediate threat. How much must any nation endure before they can take an action to defend their people? We spent years fighting a "cold war" with the Communists; we only won that war by "out-gunning" them (Thanks, Ron). We had a stalemate in Viet Nam because of failure to use the entire might of the United States arsenal against our enemy (media interference). Our current administration is in the process of "surgically removing" America's military "testicles", because of our WEAK President. I hope America doesn't face any serious threats while Barack Obama is in the Oval Office, or we are truly "screwed".

Unlike America, Israel has just about reached its' limits with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian lunatic. The pursuit of nuclear weapons capability by Iran is moving at virtual light speed, and they are a definite and immediate threat to Israel. This is not a big news flash to anyone who has followed the continued crisis between these two nations. If this is news to any of my readers, please turn off reality T.V. and watch the NEWS!

Yesterday, Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, said an Iranian preemptive strike is in the realm of possible action by Israel. The prevailing opinion in Israel is that Iran's continued pursuit of nuclear capability is a direct threat to the people of Israel; and I have a tendency to believe this myself. Iran's feigned excuse of seeking "peaceful nuclear power" doesn't ring true, as statements from Ahmadinejad consistently call for the destruction of Israel. The rest of the world seems to be disregarding those threats, and the outcries of the government of Israel. Iran is a ROGUE nation, with bad intentions for Israel, and it seems that the U.N. and the U.S. are willing to hang Israel out to dry. I believe the only thing Iran will understand at this point is some type of military intervention, and no other nation on this planet is willing to step up; therefore I commend Israel as they "draw a line in the sand" to defend their people; I know you have the courage of your convictions!

"It's Not Just In Cook County!"

Have you ever been pressured into doing something? Perhaps an over-zealous salesman or teacher or coach put you "on the spot" to do or try something you really didn't want to do. Sometimes we submit to pressure out of fear of consequence, or intimidation, and end up later regretting our decisions. Having lived in the Chicago area for many years, I understand pressure from government; the political system in Cook County is infamous for its corruption and legendary stories of vote fraud and voter intimidation. Dead people vote in most Cook County elections, and real threats from an opposition opponent are quickly resolved by the party in power (if you know what I mean). When bribery doesn't work, threats of investigation and veiled blackmail aren't above the area of possibility when dealing with a political opponent; but, all in all, Chicago is still the "City that Works!" even though its wheels are greased with alleged graft and corruption. Voters in the "City" know how they are "supposed to vote".

Even our national elections have had their share of vote fraud and intimidation. I recall vividly those "New Black Panthers" standing outside a Pennsylvania polling place wielding batons and hurling epithets to people as they entered to cast their votes; frightening some into turning away for fear of bodily harm. Oddly, this prosecution was never pursued by the Obama administration. Voter intimidation and illegal influence are very bad things in the election process.

I have just come across an article dealing with the upcoming election for Russian President and other parliament positions. It seems that there has been some "pressure" put upon potential voters to vote for the Kremlin's party. I guess some things never really change, and the ways of the old U.S.S.R. are alive and well in "Mother Russia". I can't say I'm too surprised by this, as I predicted Vladimir Putin's bid for the presidency last year, and it looks like a foregone conclusion. The old KGB Chief doesn't really seem like the flag bearer of a democratic republic to me. He has already started making noises about a confrontation with the United States over missile defense in Eastern Europe. I can't say that I blame him, as Obama's weak defense posture is an easy target and he will likely give in to intimidation.

As the Russian election is being approached, there are stories of vote buying and pressure to stay home, away from the election. Students have alleged they have been "advised" on the proper candidates to vote for to insure funding for their universities. University officials have denied trying to use influence toward the students.

A republic is a difficult form of government to maintain; we have been trying in America for over two-hundred and thirty years. I don't know how the Russian Constitution reads, but if it is at all designed like America's, guard it with all your heart and mind, because there are those who will, willingly try to steal your freedom by twisting its' precepts. I wish all of the Russian people well as they try to maintain a free republic. Please, don't give in to intimidation of any kind or generations will suffer for it!

"The Queen of Denial!!"

There was a country song called "The Queen of Denial" which played several years ago. It was the usual country fare about lost love, and it was pretty funny. Denial is something which we all deal with at one time or another in our lives. Whether it be in dealing with the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a job, or a sweetheart; there are some things which we find too painful to face. When my dog Charlie had to be "put down", I had a very difficult time in accepting that; and I was in a real state of denial. Eventually, I had to give in to the fact that my "good friend" was in too much pain and only I could remedy his situation, by ending his life. If we get caught in a lie, we will sometimes deny that we said or did certain things so we can avoid responsibility for our actions. There are quite a few people in prison who continue to live in a state of denial.

A couple of days ago Barney Frank (D-Mass) announced his retirement from Congress. Of all the decisions Barney has made over the course of his tenure in Congress, I must admit, I support him completely on this one. Frank has been in Congress since 1980, and has been a thorn in the side of Constitutional government for his entire political life. He is one of the chief perpetrators in the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae real estate debacle which triggered our current fiscal disaster in the home buying industry. His encouragement of spurious loans to unqualified buyers has brought banking and the real estate market to their knees. Oddly, Mr. Frank now denies his complicity in this travesty; even though there is plenty of evidence to the contrary, both on paper and on video. Sorry Barney, but the toothpaste is out of the tube and you can't push it back in! Barney even has the audacity of, once again, calling out the name of George Bush as the wrongdoer in this mess; even after there is hard evidence of the Bush administration asking for better oversight of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2003. It looks as if Barney Frank is the real "Queen of Denial" in this situation. I guess denial is a problem of this entire administration, as Barney's boss, Barack Obama continues to deny that our continued high unemployment and plummeting credit rating are not a result of his "drunken spending spree" of the last three years which has made America a financial joke to the RED CHINESE! We are getting financial advice from a COMMUNIST NATION! Yes America, we are becoming a nation in denial of our problem; which is a Barack Obama presidency! The only thing left for us is to DENY OBAMA A SECOND TERM!!!

"Thanks to Who?"

I remember watching "Captain Kangaroo" when I was little; I also remember his "magic words"; they were "Ab bra Cadabbra, please and thank you". From the time we were small, our parents always taught us to say "please and thank you" in our home. Polite was very big in our house; I never addressed an adult by their first name, it was always Mister, Miss or Misses; failing to do so was "frowned upon" by my Dad, and he was right. When we would go into a restaurant, we always thanked the waitstaff, and I believe they appreciated it. In the grocery store, we always thanked the checker, and she would usually smile. Even in my later life, I continue to thank people who render me a service. One time I even thanked a policeman for a traffic ticket; of course, that time it was just out of habit. We even thanked our Mom for cooking dinner, I think she liked that; I know Dad did.

We just celebrated "Thanksgiving" last week, and after dinner, we discussed what we were thankful for with one another. It was very enjoyable to hear that none of us were thankful for a new car or television set; we were thankful for each other, the real treasure in our lives. I gave the blessing at the table, and Jesus was prominently mentioned, without any disdain from any of us; no one was offended.

America is a blessed nation, we have food more plentiful than anywhere else in the world, we have the rights of free speech and assembly, and we have a Constitution based on individual freedom. This is a "pretty good" place to live. Those pilgrims came here so they could worship God as they pleased, and after a horrible first year, filled with death and starvation, they bounced back and brought in a fruitful crop. They then decided to offer thanks to God for their bounty, because they believe God brought them through a terrible and trying time. Americans have been thanking God ever since!

Last week, our President, Barack Obama, gave his "speech of thanks" to the nation: it was full of the usual platitudes I've become used to from Obama; but one thing was obvious in its absence; God was left out! All of our Presidents who served America previously always managed to give some thanks to ALMIGHTY GOD; but Barack Obama didn't seem to feel that was necessary! Mr. Obama's distancing himself from God seems to be a regular thing for him, as he just denied Franklin Roosevelt's prayer being placed on the World War II memorial; perhaps he thought it was divisive! I don't know what was said at the Obama table on Thanksgiving Day; I guess he would have been uncomfortable at our table; we LIKE GOD!!

"Great Memories!"

Next Thursday is "Thanksgiving Day"; a time for all of us to remember and reflect on all the things for which we are thankful. Today, I would like to reminisce about my early life and how I remember "Thanksgiving" as a young boy. When I was nine or ten, Thanksgiving started about two weeks before the actual day itself; school started telling us about the first Thanksgiving that the Pilgrims had, and we had plays and pageants. We made "hand turkeys" and dioramas. I remember mounds of colored construction paper and globs of "Elmer's Glue" used in making a cornucopia for our table at home.

I remember the "shopping trip" to "Taylor Street" with my Dad to an Italian market called "Conta Savoy", where nobody spoke English, but it smelled amazing. We would buy what seemed like a ton of Italian meats and cheeses, breads and rolls, and marinated olives and mushrooms, all to be consumed at one meal. My Mom would find a turkey the size of an ostrich, always over twenty pounds; it would have to be big enough to feed the entire clan. The family dinner included all of us: Mom, Dad, Nona, my three sisters and two brothers, my uncle Sam and his family, my Aunt Pookie, and cousins James and Susan, my Great Uncle Salvatore, my Great Uncle Louis and Great Aunt Mary; this was quite a crowd!

The cooking started the day before the holiday. My Grandmother was in charge of the candied sweet potatoes (the best in the world), and the pasta course; it wouldn't be an Italian home without a pasta course. The house smelled of meatballs and sauce, the entire first day, and it made all of us "drool" in anticipation of the coming meal. My Dad made the antipasto of Italian meats and cheeses, Genoa salami, pepperoni, and mortadella, surrounded by imported provolone and Romano cheese; this could have easily been a meal by itself. My Mom was in charge of the turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. She would get up about 4:00 A.M. on Thanksgiving morning to get started; our meal started about 2:00 P.M. , Mom worked the hardest of everybody, but never complained!

Family started arriving about 12:30; it was about to become "party central" as we all greeted each other with hugs and kisses, and laughing and jokes. My Dad and my Uncle Sam were the "clowns" most of the time and they were a "blast". Nona, Uncle Louis, Aunt Mary and Uncle Salvatore would sit together and talk about "the old country"; some pretty interesting stories were exchanged. The kids ran crazy everywhere; laughter was resounding, and our families were celebrating being a family.

When the food finally was placed on the table, all the proper "oooh's and ahhhhs" were sounded. I sat at the right hand of my Dad, as was custom in an Italian house, and we would exchange comments on how delicious everything was; he would steal food off my plate! The meal took about three plus hours, before we ate any desert, which was usually cannoli, homemade cream puffs and assorted Italian cookies. I'm feeling full just writing about this stuff.

About 10 o'clock everybody was ready to leave; "care packages" were sent home with each family; there was a lot of hugging and kissing again. As we said good bye, we talked about seeing them all again for Christmas, where we once again would celebrate being a family.

I hope all of you who are reading this have such memories to recall and enjoy. Please have a great Thanksgiving Holiday!


(This is my last blog until a week from Tuesday; I'm taking a little family time off!)

"Omerta!"

Once a month, we take communion at the church we attend. One of the precepts we follow is that we take stock in ourselves, silently, and confess our sins to God, so we can take communion with a clear heart and clear head. We all know the sins described in the Ten Commandments, but there is a sin which is not stated in those commands: it is called the sin of omission; the sin of not being totally honest by leaving out something that would contribute to the truth. This isn't exactly lying; it's kind of like the MAFIA policy of "Omerta"; silence when being questioned by authority, holding back evidence by not admitting that it exists, as Robert Di Niro said in Goodfellas: "Always keep your mouth shut, and never rat on your friends!"

Washington insiders have had a policy of "Omerta" for generations. Lobbyists have been buying influence so long now that it has become a way of life for some career politicians, and it exists on both sides of the aisle. Political contributions have become a tool for corruption and influence and are a real threat to our constitutional government.

Today, on the "Hill", testimony is now being taken in the SOLYNDRA scandal. Steven Chu, the Energy Secretary, will be testifying as to who knew what and when they knew it. The investigating committee has already accumulated numerous e-mails which are damning to the current administration. Recently, some facts about SOLYNDRA layoffs and firings were uncovered, which say the White House told SOLYNDRA not to announce them until the mid-term election were over, even though they knew about them several days prior. It seems that the White House felt that this news was too damaging to be released to the voters before last November's conservative landslide. I guess it didn't really matter! The real problem here is the withholding of pertinent information from the American voters. A SOLYNDRA investor adviser wrote on October 30: "They (the White House) did push us very hard to hold our announcement (layoff-firing) of the consolidation to employees and vendors to November 3rd; oddly, they didn't give a reason for that date." The more this "onion is peeled" the more it "smells". The fact that the Obama administration is so uncooperative is, at least suspicious, at most a criminal conspiracy to conceal evidence of criminal activity.

What will be the next act of "THE MOST TRANSPARENT ADMINISTRATION" we will ever have in Washington? How much more of this transparency can we stand? What are you hiding, Mr. Obama?

"Solomon's Wisdom"

Do you have wisdom? I guess we all believe we have some type of wisdom, be it "street smarts" or "book learnin'" each of us has some knowledge that we believe gives us a source of wisdom. Some of us have degrees from a college or university; others of us have a degree from the "college of concrete"; you know; life. We need to ask ourselves, is knowledge the same thing as wisdom? We have many people who possess multiple degrees, yet exhibit very little common sense. Perhaps wisdom is the ability to separate the truth from the crapola. I think that we need people of wisdom and discernment in our public offices. We also need people of high integrity in public offices; liars need not apply!

In the bible, it says in 1Kings 3:9-"So give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil....". Solomon wanted wisdom and discernment more than gold or silver; he was a pretty smart guy! He is the type of guy I would like to have on Congressional Investigating Committees; he could figure out who was lying and who wasn't. You see, God granted Solomon that wisdom and discernment he asked for, that's why we have the catch phrase "the wisdom of Solomon".

Sometimes, we need more than a feeling to establish the truth or untruth of someone's statements. Congressional investigators accumulate evidence to establish facts to either verify or refute the testimony of an individual. Facts are a good thing to have. Unfortunately, the Obama administration isn't forthright in its presentation of facts. Both the White House and Attorney General Eric Holder have been obstructive and evasive when it comes to presenting facts to Congress. Mr. Holder has been caught in conflicting statements about his involvement in the "Fast and Furious" scandal, and his current statements are extremely evasive. The White House has refused to supply documents requested under subpoena which are relevant to the SOLYNDRA scandal. "Fast and Furious" is tied to the deaths of many innocent people, including law enforcement officers, facts tie Holder to this from its inception, yet he is in denial of his involvement. Several members of Congress are now calling for his resignation; he is ignoring that request. The White House is still refusing to submit documents to the Congressional investigators about the 528 million dollar debacle which seems tied to influence peddling.

My fellow Americans, I don't claim to have the "wisdom of Solomon", but this stuff SMELLS, and it doesn't take Solomon to figure it out! We, as Americans, better exhibit better wisdom and discernment next November than we did four years earlier. Where is Solomon when we need him?

"I'M OFFENDED!"

Have you ever been offended by a remark made by someone else? I've heard remarks that insult people of Italian heritage, Irish heritage, Jewish heritage, Polish heritage; virtually every race or ethnic group has had its share of insults and aspersions. Most Americans have developed a pretty thick skin over the course of our existence, and we let quite a bit roll off our collective backs. Currently, we are going through a phase called "political correctness", in which every word or phrase we use is examined in order not to offend anyone who may hear our words. Now please don't misunderstand what I'm getting at here; I'm not endorsing racial epithets or ethnic slurs from anybody. I write most of my blogs from a conservative viewpoint, and some folks don't appreciate what my views are, and they could become offended by my words. My answer to those people is "You can stop reading my stuff, or you can give me a cogent argument to change my opinion." I really don't care if my words are offensive to those with whom I disagree; I believe I present my views in a logical and respectful manner. I don't resort to name calling and insult in my blogs; but, at times, they may have a tinge of sarcasm. Freedom needs open speech, without the reigns of unnecessary censorship: after all, the Supreme Court found in favor of Larry Flynt, the well known pornographer. If pornography has the right to be spoken, why should America be so concerned with personal spiritual convictions.

Yesterday, Matt Lauer had an interview with the wife of a Navy Seal who was killed on August 6th. Lauer asked personal questions about how she and her children were handling the loss of her husband: she began her statement with the words "His love for Christ..."and then continued on with some other reflections. Over the course of the day, when this interview was replayed, the words "His love for Christ" were edited from the tapes. The reason given for this editing was that they could be offensive to others. In America, I find this astounding! In a country that was founded on a cornerstone of free speech, what is more offensive, Jesus or pornography?

Oddly, we seem to be bending over backwards not to offend everyone in America other than Christians: you know, those people who believe in the words that say "Love one another", and "Thou shall not kill".

As a Christian, I am totally offended that this honest expression of faith was found to be unfit for consumption by the media. Obviously, NBC has an "axe to grind" against Christians, and I ask all of my Christian friends to make some contact with NBC, and let them know WE ARE OFFENDED! My Lord is a merciful God; my Lord doesn't preach "holy war" and my God says each person can make their own choices. I ask the "Big Shots" at NBC "What is offensive about this?" I'm sure there is an e-mail address we can reach all the "Honchos" from NBC; perhaps they would just edit them out anyway!

(Thank you, Judy!!!)

"Pretenders of Dr. King"

I have many sports jerseys; White Sox and Chicago Bears clothing is displayed in my clothes closet to great excess. I must have over fifty hats and stocking caps with logos of my favorite teams. I have a large Bears helmet magnet on my refrigerator. I even have a Bears ornament for my Christmas tree. I wear a Sox jacket in the spring and a Bears jacket in the winter.

Although I have all of that clothing, it doesn't make me a Chicago Bear, or a White Sox ball player. There is an old saying that states "Even if you stand in a garage; it doesn't make you a car." One can give the appearance of something, yet they are not the thing they imitate.

Recently, the Reverend Jesse Jackson has made some statements about the unruly crowds of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. Jackson, who did march along with many civil rights activists, said that this movement is the same as Dr. Martin Luther King's civil rights movement in the 1960s. I have a real difference of opinion with Jackson on this observation; I don't believe Dr. King ever advocated the destruction of property, or violence of any type. I don't believe Dr. King would ever have accepted support from any group that had an openly anti-Semitic agenda. I do believe Dr. King would have openly condemned confrontation that resulted in death or injury to any individual, regardless of their political affiliation. I don't believe Dr. King would have much to do with Neo-Nazis, communists or a Klansman. They are all standing for this spurious movement. This movement has little to do with civil rights, but it has plenty to do with "class warfare". These are a group of miscreants that are unhappy with a system that makes you earn your own living, and doesn't allow you to steal from those who do. Dr. King wanted equal rights and equal justice under the LAW; no more, no less; basically, the rights guaranteed under the United States Constitution; a really good idea! Dr. King never asked for a free ride from the government; just an equal chance to "pursue happiness".

If you ever watch those old newsreels from the 1960s Civil Rights marches, you will see groups marching with Dr. King in an orderly and peaceable manner. If there was any violence, it was rarely instigated by anyone affiliated with Dr. King; he believed in civil disobedience, not any VIOLENCE.

Jesse Jackson is in support of a group consisting of the outcasts of America, Neo-Nazis, communists and anti-Semites. There have been robberies, rapes, assaults and suspected murders which have been perpetrated by these "social activists". Businesses and private citizens have been deprived of their rights in order to appease these miscreants. They may be "wearing the jersey" of the civil rights movement; but believe me America, they are "light years" away from the principles of Martin Luther King.

"C-Rats and Dusty Boots"

I carry a large group of keys with me; my key ring looks like it belongs to a jailer. Some of the items on my ring are a couple of sets of car keys, church keys, house keys, lock box key, discount tags for some stores, a key for a traffic control and something else. That something else is a piece of pressed metal about an inch and a half long and an inch wide; it has letters and numbers pressed into it, and it is over forty-three years old; it is my old "dog tag" from my days in the Army. Years ago, I found it while cleaning out some old boxes from our shed, I held it in my hand for a while; I rubbed my fingers over the letters of my name; it almost had a magical quality as it carried me back to a twenty-one year old Joe, standing in formation with a group of men he became very close too. Some of us were volunteers; some of us were draftees, all of us were soldiers. Our job description was ELEVEN BRAVO, combat infantrymen. I was a sergeant, a rifle squad leader; later to be a platoon sergeant. These men were gathered from all over the United States: Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Kentucky, Alabama, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia, to name just some of their home states. This started out as a group of strangers, but it didn't finish that way.

Every college and university has courses on learning about relationships with other people; how we can all get along better. I'm sure you've watched Oprah or Dr. Phil or Dr. Oz, or some other "guru" of understanding, speak about the subject of how to bridge our differences with others.

I have my own plan on relationship resolution: sit in a hole that took you three hours to dig, don't take a shower, eat a dinner of cold ham and eggs out of a can, walk into the nearest clump of trees to relieve yourself and then sit with a relative stranger in total darkness, staring directly in front of yourself, hoping nothing will happen. I guarantee you a conversation will start about everything that has happened in your life up to that point. This is an amazing relationship starter! You are both covered in sweat and dirt, but your rifle is clean, and you begin to share stories; first is usually girls, followed by cars and then family. By the end of your "camp out" you will have formed a bond that is virtually unbreakable. I remember the favorite meals and best hangouts of numerous men that I haven't seen in decades; I remember seeing pictures of Moms and Dads, sisters and brothers and girlfriends, as I'm sure they remember mine. Several years ago, while sitting in restaurant with my wife, I heard a familiar voice behind me; it was my old platoon leader, Lieutenant Horowitz, a great guy, I turned and addressed him as lieutenant, and he looked at me and said "Joe", in total surprise; we talked and I introduced him to Adrienne: it was as if time had never passed, I really missed him. This is a bond that is reflective of every person who has worn a uniform for their country.

Tomorrow is "Veteran's Day": I remember it every year with both fondness and sorrow. I remember those "dusty boots" and "C-Rats" and friends of years ago. If you know a "vet", say something nice to him tomorrow. I promise he will appreciate it, even if he says "No big deal".

(I'm taking tomorrow off to remember some old friends; see you on Monday.)

"Better People Are Available!"

Currently Herman Cain is under some extreme scrutiny about some alleged sexual harassment charges from his past. I don't know how true or false these allegations are, and I have yet seen any hard and fast facts to support or deny these claims. One fact I do know is that Herman Cain is the current front runner in the Republican race for the presidential nomination. As the leader, Mr. Cain is now the preferred target for the media; any aspersion cast upon Cain at this time is fodder for every commentator and pundit on television, the radio or the internet. This charge is one of the most volatile that can be leveled against any public figure, as it raises questions about that person's character and personal habits. My personal belief about this is that I find it very strange that none of this behavior was mentioned until Mr. Cain became a serious candidate, and the severity of these charges are so heinous, I find it difficult to believe Cain would seek this office, knowing how closely his life would be examined. Cain is not a stupid or naive man, and I'm sure he would never believe that such behavior wouldn't be uncovered if it were truthful. Mr. Cain's behavior, thus far, seems like a man caught in disbelief. He has consistently denied these charges and has said he is willing to submit to a polygraph examination; this hardly seems like the actions of a guilty man. He seems willing to face his accusers (unlike some men previously accused of the same acts).

I hope America can see this issue resolved in a timely manner, and a just manner. If these allegations prove to be spurious, then America has been, once again, made to take its focus off the real issues of our next election in order to shift attention away from a poorly managed Presidency by an ill-equipped leader.

Regardless of the outcome of these allegations, America must focus on the actual problem of a Barack Obama Presidency, which has left America in shambles. With the possible exception of Ron Paul, I believe any of the Republican field of candidates would do a better job in Washington then our current Chief Executive. If Herman Cain's campaign survives this attack, and these charges are proved untrue, I'm positive he would do a more competent job in the Oval Office than Barack Obama is doing now! If it is not Herman Cain, if it is any of the other potential candidates, I know America would be better served by any of them rather than four more years of this incompetent leadership. I wish Mr. Cain the best in this bad situation, and I hope he can get past it quickly; for himself, his family and for America.

"Casual Remarks"

Do you have a best friend? I have a best friend, his name is Phil. We have been friends for very many years. I was the best man at his wedding, and he was my best man when I renewed our vows on our 25th anniversary several years ago. I trust Phil implicitly; there is no doubt in my mind that he will always do things for me that are in my best interests; as I would for him. We often kid each other and make fun of one another; the laughs make our friendship great. We share common memories, and often reflect on our shared experiences. I have NEVER talked behind Phil's back, as I am sure he would never do so to me.

There are few real democratic republics in the world today. America is the model for all democratic republics, and we should embrace all those nations who emulate our values. It was said that when FDR met Winston Churchill, they had an immediate bond of trust and sincere affection; this was fortunate for both England and America; that trust and affection was a key to our joint victory in World War II. Hitler was a "so-called" friend of Stalin; until he launched an attack against the Russians and opened up the second front. I guess dictators are true friends.

Yesterday, the worst thing that can happen to a politician happened to French President Sarkozy and U.S. President Barack Obama; the dreaded "open mike"! Yes, my fellow Americans, these two world leaders were caught exchanging "honest thoughts" about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It is alleged that Sarkozy said of Netanyahu, "I can't look at him, he is a liar", to which Obama replied, "You've had enough, but I have to deal with him every day."

This is quite a few collective toes to have in the mouths of two of the world's democratic leaders; especially when the remarks were directed against the only real democratic republic in the Middle-East. Prime Minister Netanyahu has not responded about the alleged remarks; but how must he feel as his nation now sits under the gun of Iran, and his nation is seemingly being parceled out to Palestine by the United Nations.

As an American, I am aghast at the remarks that were exchanged by these two men about the only leader of an actual democratic republic in the most volatile area of our globe. Mr. Netanyahu must now weigh heavily all of the statements of "support" he receives from our current President. He must ask himself if Barack Obama is a sincere man, who can be trusted, or just another politician whose word means little to nothing? What do you think, America?

"A Seat On The Chopper!"

How many of you out there remember the "Watergate Scandal" from way back in the administration of Richard M. Nixon? How many of you remember the "White House Tapes" and those missing 18 minutes that were mysteriously erased, by accident? Watergate brought down a standing President; something that had never before happened in United States history. Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace because he tried to cover up a crime perpetrated by some of his closest advisers.

When all the facts were coming to light, the Senate held hearings to try to discover who knew what and when they knew it. Even the White House appointed a special prosecutor to "get to the bottom of this crime"; his name was Archibald Cox, and he took his job seriously (I don't think he was supposed to though). When Mr. Cox found out that audio tapes existed during the times of the "cover-up", he immediately wanted those tapes subpoenaed. This came as a surprise to the Nixon White House and this request was immediately refused under the shield of "executive privilege", and Mr. Cox was fired for his actions. He was not fired immediately; Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Cox, but Mr. Richardson refused to do so and resigned his office (integrity). The person to finally fire Mr. Cox was Robert Bork, the Solicitor General.

There were things on those tapes that Mr. Nixon didn't want disclosed, and as history has unfolded, we have all seen what they were. Nixon did send out several "edited volumes" of transcripts to the Senate Watergate Committee. Later, under testimony of John Dean, some of the conversations which were "edited" in the transcripts became very clear; the results were Dick Nixon bidding farewell to America from the door of a helicopter, disgraced forever.

When Congress requests a subpoena, it isn't something that should be ignored. Currently, a house committee which is investigating the SOLYNDRA scandal sent a subpoena to the White House in regards to meetings with the principals involved in this financial debacle. Strangely, the most transparent administration in history is stone-walling this subpoena: the excuse being used by the White House is that they feel this is politically driven; really, 528 million dollars of taxpayer's money has been thrown away! Why does the White House believe this is political? Is it not proper for Congress to investigate the facts behind such a grave loss of taxpayer's money; especially if there is any hint of influence peddling involved? Previous documents have revealed that the White House was aware of SOLYNDRA's financial problems, yet this massive funding was still permitted; in fact, expedited through the system. This is at least curious, and at the most, possibly criminal. This is not political, it is essential; the American people have a right to know what was going on in the White House at that time! WHAT IS THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HIDING? I'm not sure, but I'll bet that helicopter has an empty seat right now and there's plenty of room for Barack Obama. Remember these words: "I'm not a crook!"

"Corner Men!"

I am old enough to remember when Joe Louis fought Rocky Marciano; Rocky knocked Joe through the ropes and ended the career of one of America's greatest fighters. Joe Louis was one of those people who transcended politics, race and creed. My Dad talked fondly of Louis, saying that there wasn't a modern heavyweight around who could hold a candle to the "Brown Bomber". Way back then, civil rights weren't even discussed, yet a commentator once said "Joe Louis is a credit to his race, the human race": it couldn't have been said any better than that. Joe met cheering crowds wherever he went. Joe was a great contributor to the war effort, doing exhibition fights and selling War Bonds. Joe Louis was a great champion, but more than that, he was a great American. Joe ended up dying broke; he wasn't too smart with his money and the IRS cleaned him out. Nothing that happened to Joe was intentional, he was just trusting and innocent; this was a real American tragedy! Sometimes trusting the wrong people can cause big problems. Sometimes you can't believe that people are always acting in your best interests.

America is like a great fighter who has been the champion for many decades. We have had numerous knockouts which left our opponents hanging on the ropes, and like the true champion that America is, she picks up her opponent and helps him back on his feet. America is a gracious victor. We aren't a nation that shops for new territory; we are liberators, not OCCUPIERS! Unlike Nazis, communists or socialists, we believe in the freedom of each individual to determine his or her own destiny; like a fighter in the ring. Our "corner men" were Washington, Jefferson, Adams and Franklin; not Marx, Hitler or Mao! We have had some pretty good advice come from our "corner men"; not so much from that other bunch. If we examine the body count of innocents from Marx, Hitler and Mao, I don't think their followers of today would be so vocal. You see, in America, we don't murder dissidents, we let them vent no matter how stupid their ideas may be. Oddly, they complain the loudest when the people who pay the taxes want their own rights defended, when they want their own property protected. I guess they want those "preferred rights" instead of "equal rights", and when the "referee (police)" step in, they don't like the rules. They have gotten bad advice from their "corner men", they told them to use "low blows" and it didn't work. Success in America depends on the individual, just like the boxer, your fate rests with you. Life in America can be "won or lost" on the effort the individual puts forth, just like a fighter. If you really want to occupy something, occupy your mind with some individual initiative instead of "collective crap!" You will find that our "Founding Fathers" were the best "corner men" in history; the rest are pretenders!

"Expert Advice!"

Growing up, I constantly asked my Dad questions. I was probably a pest, but he never complained; he was a cool Dad. I always wondered how he knew where he was going when we went out in our car, all I knew was the walk to school; two left turns and I was lost! Dad never got lost going anywhere; at least, if he did, I didn't know about it. I always asked him for directions and he never let me down; he knew what he was talking about. After a few years of driving a truck around Chicago, I was pretty good at directions too; it became fairly difficult for me to lose my way in the city. I learned from the best. When we are new on a job, or taking on a new task, it is always a good idea to ask questions of those people who have done it before us, especially if they are good at it. Obviously, there are folks out there who have been doing things for many years who are still not very good at it, and their reputation usually precedes them. If you go into a barber shop always go to the barber with the worst haircut because they cut each other's hair; both barbers may have the same years on the job, but one is better than the other! They are both barbers; one good, one, not so good!

President Obama is in Paris at the G-20 economic conference. Europe, especially Greece, is in dire financial straits and general belt tightening is definitely in order. Greece is close to financial collapse and the EU wants to offer a bailout package, but it requires some loss of entitlements to make it a soluble solution and the Greek people don't want to give anything up. The Greek Prime Minister has said he will resign, which will put added pressure on an already volatile situation. If there is a financial collapse in Greece, all of Europe will feel its effects. Too many public entitlements and high taxes have put Greece into this dire state; the nation can't survive under this continued policy.

Barack Obama said the United States will do it's best to advise the Greek government on fiscal solvency. Now I'm not Greek, but if I were Greek, I don't believe I would want any financial advice from Barack Obama. In about three years, he has piloted the United States into near bankruptcy compiling the largest deficit in American history. For the very first time in American history, our bond rating has been lowered, and there is a distinct possibility it could be lowered again; this is not a glowing endorsement of Mr. Obama's financial smarts. Mr. Obama's idea of smart finances is for the government to spend MORE money and ENLARGE U.S. debt; to me, this sounds STUPID!

My advice to my Greek friends is: hand Barack a gyro sandwich and send him away; he will only make things worse!!

"Limited Menu!"

Whenever I visit Chicago, I try to go to some of my favorite places to eat; I'm Italian! I used to frequent a place called "Gene and Jude's", a "hot dog joint", and one of the best in the Chicagoland area: it was in business long before I started going there in the late fifties. All they have on their menu is hot dogs, fries, tamales and soda; NOTHING ELSE. On mostly any given night, you will find a line that leads out the door into the parking lot; and nobody complains. Most of the food is carried out to the customer's cars; if you want to eat inside, you are welcome to stand at a counter with no stools; ambiance isn't this places strong suit. If you were to walk in and ask for Italian Beef or gyros, you would probably be laughed at by most of the patrons and the staff; you won't find those things at "Gene and Jude's"; it's strictly "dogs". No one going into "Gene and Jude's" is expecting anything but a great hot dog; and they are certainly worth standing in line for.

Recently, a professor from George Washington University, John Banzhaf, filed a complaint against the Catholic University of America. By its name, you may be able to guess that this is not a secular place of learning, yet they do admit students of other faiths, as this university has a fine reputation. Professor Banzhaf is complaining that Muslim students don't have anywhere to have Muslim prayer on the campus, and all the facilities that are provided have "Crosses" in them, thus those students are being discriminated against. Currently, there are less than 150 Muslim students in the Catholic University of America, and none of them have registered any complaint to the university previous to that which was brought forth by this professor. Evidently, everything was going along quite well there until Professor Banzhaf decided to "stick in his two cents"!

Banzhaf has been an activist for some years now; he was an anti-smoking advocate and is also engaged in the anti-obesity campaign that is now being pursued by some health advocates. The professor is a man who likes to "rock the boat"; I guess he like the attention. I don't smoke, and I would like to lose a few pounds, but I would like to use my own responsibility in all those matters and leave the government out of it; they will only screw it up!

There was no valid reason for Banzhaf to start this trouble! The Muslim students knew when they enrolled in the CATHOLIC University of America they were not entering a secular school. Professor, there is only one thing I can say to you: "This school has a limited menu, no changes allowed!" Professor, you can't get hamburgers at a hot dog joint!

"Play Clock!"

Last week, the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series; one of the best Series ever played, and I have watched quite a few. I remember when my White Sox won in 2005; I sat, transfixed, in the final game, counting the balls, strikes and finally the last out! I can identify with all those Cardinal fans; nothing feels quite like that sigh of relief and that rush of exultation that flows throughout your body when the victory is, at last, achieved! I recall the Bears win in 1985 and counting the last seconds on the time clock before they were official Super Bowl Champions (I still watch the DVD). I also have tapes of the Bulls Championship wins, and I watch them regularly; it may be the only professional basketball I can see this year. Those last moments in each of those contests are thrilling and exhilarating. Every fan knows these feelings; like they used to say on "Wide World of Sports", "The thrill of victory; and the agony of defeat"; sometimes only a few seconds separates one from the other.

One year from today, we will be choosing a President for the United States of America; that is just TWELVE MONTHS, my fellow Americans, not a very long time! This is so much more than a championship game; this is the path America will be on for our future, and the next season won't be back until 2016, so we better be sure we don't make a mistake again! I make no apologies for my opinion of Barack Obama; I believe he is the worst President we have ever had in our history. He has admitted that he will work his way around our Constitution to achieve his goals; he has been a caster of blame on the last administration continuously since entering office; never accepting responsibility for any of his own actions. He has made statements pitting one segment of our society against another, in an effort to demonize his opposition. Be it race or ideology, or economic strata, Mr. Obama wants every American to feel that their neighbors are their enemies if they are at all different in any way. Mr. Obama now blames Congress and the Republicans for our economic disaster, although he held a congressional majority for his first two years in office; which was a virtual "rubber stamp" for him. Once again, I cite "Obama-care" as a program that he is "proud of"; as a symbol of his arrogance in office. Seventy per cent of America didn't want this giant debt-filled debacle, yet the Pelosi-Reid Congress shoved it down America's throat!

The last seconds on our political clock are starting to count down; this "game" can be in real jeopardy all the way to the "last buzzer". I know Obama is about as popular as the plague right now, but this is no time to relax America. He depends on the ignorance of the average uninformed to achieve his victory and we can't allow that to happen. Engage those who support Obama on the issues, be knowledgeable of what you are speaking, don't make it a personal argument. An educated electorate is our greatest weapon against four more years of disaster from Barack Obama. Watch that "Play Clock"; our time is short!

"Zombieland!"

Monday is Halloween: when I was a young boy, this was one of my favorite holidays. Candy and costumes, what could possibly be better than that! We all marched out of our house dressed in our favorite characters on a quest for FREE CANDY!! Many of our neighbors made "homemade treats"; back then, there was little concern over poison and razor blades concealed in a sugary confection. The scariest costumes were usually ghosts and witches, not too much bloodiness was used back then. I don't remember any zombies or other types of flesh eaters. I always preferred the classic cowboy, as I longed to be like my television and movie heroes like Roy Rogers or John Wayne. The neighborhood was a virtual parade of children; kids filled the streets (not as protesters though).

As time has gone on, Halloween has extended from the children to young adults where parties and costumes are in vogue for these "grown-ups". Vampires, werewolves and flesh-eating zombies are the most popular character choices; really violent and scary stuff, not for children's consumption.

In Washington, we have our own "Land of Zombies", which is populated by "flesh-eaters" who are Hell bent on consuming as much taxpayer's money as they can. We do have some "zombie killers" that took office after the last Congressional Election a year ago, and they are trying to destroy the "tax-eaters" from the previous Congress. Instead of flesh being consumed, it is the finances of the United States; and it is very scary as these "zombies" continue to march toward our collective bank accounts, drooling at the thought of "eating us alive" with more stimulus spending, and draining the "life blood" of America. Soon, if left to their own devices, these "monsters" will leave us with nothing but a "rotting corpse" of a nation. The "Chief Zombie" is now traveling across America trying to mesmerize our populous into sacrificing more of our "life blood" to feed the "monsters"! What is his evil plan?

This is no "monster movie" America; this is real and imminent, unless we do something to stop the "Chief Zombie" in his tracks. I don't want the White House to become a "house of horrors" because of these "monstrous" economic blunders! America, we need some angry villagers to carry those torches in the next election; or the "Zombie will return" for four more years!!

(I will be off Monday; I hope I don't run into any zombies!)

"To Tell The Truth?!"

I remember black and white television very well; I remember all of those old quiz shows when way back then $100 was quite a bit of money, and people in the audience would cheer wildly if a contestant won $1000! Now you get $1000 for showing up on "Wheel of Fortune". There were a couple of shows we watched all the time; "I've Got a Secret" and "To Tell the Truth"; these were standards in most homes that had a T.V. way back then. Questions on "I've Got a Secret" were intended to find out what the person's secret was, and they had to tell the truth! If you could get past the entire panel, I think you won $250, WOW! On the show called "To Tell the Truth", three contestants were questioned by a panel to find out which contestant was the real person behind a story told to them. The actual person was sworn to tell the truth; all the others could lie until they turned blue, in an attempt to fool the celebrity panel. These shows were a lot of fun to watch, to see who was the most accomplished liar, or how much information a person could hold back to avoid being discovered. This kind of stuff is fun on television, but not in real life; in real life, we want the whole truth, and all the facts with nothing left out or deleted.

Yesterday, I heard about something that is being talked about in our government that I find quite disturbing. The article I read said that the government could be allowed to lie about the existence of documents when questioned about them. Now I'm used to being lied to from politicians, that is nothing new; but for the government to come right out and say they are going to lie straight to our faces seems to be a new height of arrogance.

We have the Freedom of Information Act, which came in under Lyndon Johnson, allowing a citizen to inquire about virtually all government actions; a really good idea, I want to know what they are doing! If this proposal goes through, you can make an inquiry and the person with whom you are dealing decides to tell you that information doesn't exist, has the ability to lie to you without consequence. Thank God Mr. Obama has the most transparent administration in American history?! If this course of action continues from our government, what can we next expect to happen? Will we have a Ministry of Government Control of Information? If we inquire too many times about some touchy subject, will we become suspect of a new "crime" against the government? NO PERSON IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SHOULD BE GIVEN THE POWER TO WITHHOLD INFORMATION, OR LIE TO OUR CITIZENS!!!

I certainly hope this proposal will be dismissed without any serious consideration from any person in our government. I would certainly like to know the names of those who thought this was a good idea, but I'll bet that document doesn't exist!

"Is America Okay On Wall Street?"

What is the definition of okay? When you ask most people "How's it going?", the usual response is "I'm okay." I'm one of those folks who use this response. I have arthritis, diabetes and borderline cholesterol. I take pills for everything; I rattle when I walk! I don't feel that the things that are wrong with me keep me from being "okay". Now, if I'm sick, that could be a different story; vomiting and diarrhea definitely are not okay! We can accept certain problems and still be okay, yet some problems and circumstances are unacceptable and are never "okay".

I have friends with opinions that are much different than mine, and that is usually okay with me. If you read this regularly, you know I love that 1st amendment, and I urge everyone to exercise this right vigorously. I used to have a reader who was my polar opposite politically; I haven't heard from him for a while. I think I made my points more often than he liked; I miss him. It is okay that he didn't agree with me; he was a progressive, not an idiot.

We are seeing a continual flow of news about the "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrators. There have been, and continue to be, arrests at nearly every site where these protestors have gathered. Many prominent people have spoken both for and against these people. The President, the Vice-President, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and numerous members of the entertainment industry have spoken in support of these dissidents. Many conservatives have spoken about them also; but not in such glowing terms. These folks have been supported by organizations too. I already mentioned the American Nazi Party, and the American Communist Party along with SEIU and other various unions. I guess this is "okay" with them.

Recently, this fringe group got another endorsement; David Dukes came out in support of this movement. Yes, my fellow Americans, David Dukes is on the bandwagon of these anarchists, socialists and communists: what a great victory for these oppressed people! This movement has attracted the dregs of humanity for sympathy and support. Dukes is the lowest form of scum that crawls upon the earth. He is a notorious anti- Semite Nazi scuzzball. I hope our President and Vice-President are happy to be united in a cause supported by this pile of human compost! This, my fellow Americans, is NOT OKAY with me! Dukes came out with this statement, "Our clear goal must be the advancement of the white race and separation of the white and black races. This goal must include the freeing of the American media and government from subservient Jewish interests!" THIS IS NOT OKAY!!!!

Should our elected officials align themselves with a cause that reflects this type of support? Should we re-elect officials who stand in support of a movement that accepts this type endorsement? I'm sorry Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden; but you are NOT OKAY WITH ME!!

"It's Mr. President, Not Your Majesty!"

What does it mean to be unique? Great actors are unique, as they are different in each role; Olivier, Burton, Brando and Tracey are just some of the actors that come to mind when I think of uniqueness. Some athletes are unique; Ali, Rodman, Joe Namath, Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson are some of those athletes with unique qualities. Musicians can be unique; Sinatra, Elvis, Madonna, Elton John and the Beatles had unique talents which are difficult to imitate.

There are always actors, athletes and musicians who are being touted as the next "Sinatra, Brando or Ali"; yet, very few accomplish those heights of uniqueness. In reality, many times we get a cheap copy of those who have achieved greatness from those who emulate to be them.

America is a very unique nation, built upon the principles of individual freedom. At the time of America's inception, no other people on earth had these dreams. The French spoke of "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity"; America spoke of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness", not exactly the same thing. We have a government constructed on equal houses of government, so none would be able to take singular hold on the decisions made for the nation. Our Founding Fathers were brilliant men, for over 230 years America has been a tribute to the vision of those brave and intelligent men. Our Constitution is designed so Americans won't get policies shoved down their throats (sorry about Obama-care). Just because Congress wants something done doesn't mean it will get done; the same thing goes for the President, and everything that is being done must stand the test of "Constitutionality" from the Supreme Court! No President or House of Congress has the right to do an "end-around" the Constitution. It is supposed to be "THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE"!

A few days ago an upset Barack Obama was addressing a crowd in Nevada. Nevada has the highest unemployment rate in America, along with the highest foreclosure rate on housing. Poor representation from their Congressmen and Senators must account for much of their problems. I recently did a blog on the "stellar job" Harry Reid has done in the last Congress; I don't know how he was re-elected!

Mr. Obama stated that he was going to use the power of his office to back-door some of the items on his controversial job and tax bill; he's tired of waiting for Congress! Don't you think any sitting President should wait for the decisions of the representatives of the people of the United States before he "ram-rods" his plans through the back door of the White House? I didn't vote for Barack Obama, which I'm sure is no surprise to anyone who reads this blog. Regardless of whom any American votes for, I don't believe any of us want a "king", who dictates whatever he wishes to the American people. Mr. Obama needs to read his "job description" before he gets fitted for a "CROWN"!

"Mini-Brain in Charge!"

I don't know how many of you have seen the "Austin Powers" movies; but take it from me, they are very funny. They are a satire of the James Bond and spy genre movies. They say all the things we have thought at one time or another while watching James Bond. The villain would always have Bond in some horrible torture device that was intended to kill him, but he never remains to see if Bond is killed. The villain never does the most obvious thing; he never chooses to just shoot Bond in the head. The villain in the Powers movies is "Doctor Evil" (he spent eight years in evil medical school). Alongside Doctor Evil sits Mini-Me, a tiny clone of the Doctor; just as evil, but on a smaller scale! Mike Myers is the comic genius who created the Austin Powers character, along with Doctor Evil and Mini-Me. If you have never seen these movies, I urge you to give them a look; you will laugh!

I've gotten quite a bit of mileage out of Obama's SOLYNDRA scandal lately, as it just continues to get worse and worse as the levels of ineptitude are revealed. The "green initiative" is turning into a "moldy green initiative", as it rots around Barack Obama.

SOLYNDRA and some of its large money wasters that accompany it in this terrible squandering of taxpayer's money cause us to want to pull the hair from our collective heads. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been mentioned in several of these "green debacles". We have a danger here, as we may become callous to the "small thefts" from our "green movement".

About two weeks ago, another "small scandal" was uncovered; by small, I mean it was under a million dollars; this is small by government standard as our government like to waste our money on a much grander scale. A company in Tennessee called Mountain Plaza received $424,000 in government stimulus money, and they have gone totally bankrupt! This company was to use these funds for electrical hook-ups at a truck stop in the city of Dandridge, Tennessee. The reason for this was so the truckers wouldn't run their engines at the truck stop and save on diesel fuel. This may have been a good idea; I don't know. The real mystery behind all of this is that the Mountain Plaza project went out of business before they were issued the $424,000!!

I believe sometimes stupidity should be considered a crime! I know this isn't 528 million dollars like SOLYNDRA, but it still bothers me. I would like a check for $424,000; to me, this is a pretty nice check to get for screwing up; especially if you receive it after you did the screwing up!

How much more will we put up with from the Obama administration? How many more tax dollars will we see thrown away because of ineptitude or worse? Obama now asks for more money and higher taxes. Why? Has Mr. Obama found some new ways to make our taxpayer dollars evaporate into thin air? I don't believe America can stand four more years of Mr. Obama's method of saving the American economy; do you?

"Family Values!"

I'm a big fan of "The Godfather". It is arguably the best movie ever made; superb acting, amazing set design, great directing and absorbing dialogue. Being an Italian, I have to admit, it is a cool movie; although, I don't advocate the Mafia! There is a scene in the film when all of the heads of the "Five Families" are gathered in a large conference room to discuss Don Corleone's help in using his influence to promote the heroin trade in New York. During the conversation, the head of the Barzini Family stated that "Of course you will be compensated for your help, after all we are not communists." Thus, the drug traffic in New York was shared by all those who helped in the "new venture"; it is good to help "family members" when you have the influence!

Lately, I have spent some time talking about the SOLYNDRA scandal which is surrounding the Obama administration. Billions of American dollars have been given away to the "green initiative" since Barack Obama has taken office; unfortunately, most of it is not giving America a very good return for her investment. SOLYNDRA wasted 528 million taxpayer dollars; that is a big chunk of money! SOLYNDRA is bankrupt, and our money is gone!! There is quite a bit of talk about how this was a "sweetheart deal" from its inception, because of campaign donations to Barack Obama.

I believe it is good to take care of your family, when you can. Nancy Pelosi must feel the same way about her family; after all, she's "not a communist". Five hundred twenty eight million is a big number; but not as big as 737 million taxpayer dollars, which is what Crescent Dunes project received from the Obama administration. The program, thus far, is disappointing; not even getting close to its projected promises of power production or energy savings. By the way, one of the Crescent Dunes players is Ronald Pelosi; Nancy's brother-in-law. Now if I was a suspicious person, I could come to the conclusion that perhaps Nancy used her influence to channel some of that STIMULUS money toward her brother-in-law. It is good to take care of your family!

There may not have been a huge conference table, or consiglieries seated next to their Dons, but there is certainly reason to suggest that deals were made, and public money was divided. The more we look into the "green initiative", the more it looks like the green was our green! To take a page from "I Love Lucy" I'd like to say, "Nancy, you've got some splainin to do!"

"There's a Giant on the Beach!"

Remember the really old cartoons: Max Fleshier, Walt Disney and Walter Lantz were the pioneers, way back when. Fleshier and Disney were the first to make feature length cartoons; the amount of work for a feature cartoon is staggering. Hundreds of animation artists worked long hours for only a few minutes of film, but in the end, the results were magnificent. I vividly remember the Fleshier feature of "Gulliver's Travels"; this was a landmark accomplishment in animation (I own the DVD). I remember the giant Gulliver prone on the beach as the people of Lilliput gathered tons of food to assuage the giant's enormous appetite. He tossed down basket after basket of bread, vegetables and fruits as if they were thimbles. No matter how much food those poor Lilliputians brought him, he was insatiable. It takes an awful lot of food to feed a giant!

Recently, my favorite senator, Harry Reid, has stated that the private sector is doing just fine in job growth. I find this interesting, as Nevada is still at over 12% unemployment; I guess that's what Harry believes is just fine. Harry went on to promote the new Obama "Spend and Tax" jobs bill, stating we need more billions of dollars to hire more government workers. The current Democrat wisdom believes this is the only way we can hire more teachers, police officers and firefighters.

We are in an overtaxed emergency in America right now! An increased tax to hire an already overburdened populous is a stupid idea; sorry Harry! States, cities and counties are losing staff because of the reduced tax base from the record unemployment in the PRIVATE SECTOR!! If we continue to bleed the private sector to "feed the giant", eventually we will have no "food" to feed ourselves, Harry! Conversely, if we promote deregulation and pursue an aggressive domestic energy agenda, we will increase our tax base without raising taxes; GET IT HARRY! The more citizens we have working in the PRIVATE SECTOR, the more taxes we will have to hire public servants. Is that simple enough Harry?

This idea of continued government spending and regulation will only delay any possible economic recovery; this is common sense! As we confront a 14 trillion dollar debt, further government spending to add to the "Octopus" is a very bad idea; especially since the last mountain of money was so poorly used!

America, it is time for us to put our collective feet down and stop feeding the "Giant on the beach"; we have a "Gulliver" of a government, and his appetite is INSATIABLE!

"The Company We Keep!"

There are many fraternal organizations to which people belong: ELKS, MOOSE, JAYCEES, VFW and the American Legion are just a few of the lodges and clubs people can belong to. We are a nation that loves our clubs and lodges. Many of these organizations do philanthropic work for disease cures or famine across the world. These are pretty good things to belong to; they try to be humanitarians.

There are other groups that aren't quite so good to belong to: NEO-NAZIS, American Communist Party, the MAFIA, Hell's Angels, Crips and the Bloods. These groups don't do too much humanitarian work, and I don't recommend joining any of the above mentioned organizations; in fact, I don't think it is a good idea to be endorsed by any of those groups either; they're not nice!

NEO-NAZIS and the American Communist Party are big supporters of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. I don't think Neo-Nazis or communists have the best interests of America at heart; I am fairly certain that those IDIOTS want the complete collapse of our Constitution and our country.

Some folks on the left are saying the "Occupy Wall Street Movement" is the same as the TEA Party Movement. As I examine each organization, I don't get the comparison from the left. Peaceful demonstrations from the TEA Party were the norm, with little incident of violence; "Wall Street" has been rampant with violent confrontation and numerous arrests. The TEA Party endorses constitutional government; "Wall Street" is being endorsed by those who advocate the violent overthrow of the United States of America. Does anyone else find this comparison strange?

Today, President Barack Obama said he sees similarities between the "TEA Party Movement" and the "Occupy Wall Street Movement", and he said he understands those who are disrupting the business districts of America, and he is exhibiting sympathy and support for them. If we then "connect all the dots", this means Mr. Obama is in agreement with Neo-Nazis and the American Communist Party. No matter how you try to spin this, it puts Mr. Obama in the company of anti-American radical lunatics.

When we go to the polls in November 2012, I believe we must remember with whom our current Chief Executive aligns himself, with whom he has sympathy and who he identifies with. I want a President who endorses the Constitution of the United States of America, and wants to stay as far from communists and Nazis as possible. Our choice is becoming clearer every day. Does Barack Obama deserve another term in office?