Pride, Ego or Fear…

    Back in days of old as people sat discussing concerns of their group (or society) one of them came up with naming this activity, they called it “POLITICS”.  The second word introduced must have been COVER-UP.  It seems the two words have gone hand-in-hand from the beginning.  Over the years every government, every political party has been involved in a scandal that they tried to cover-up and it always seems to turn out the same, the cover-up gets them into more trouble than the original scandal would have.  Politicians always forget rule number one, If you’re going to do something stupid, do it by yourself!!!  The minute you do something stupid with one, two or more people around somebody’s going to tell on you.  Why do they continue to try to cover-up their mistakes?  I don’t know, maybe they are too proud to admit they are human (like the rest of us).  It could be their ego makes them think they’re above living by the same rules as the rest of society.  Or it’s just plain old fear, fear of what others may say, of what others may think.  Whatever the reason they still do it.

    Again as a nation we get to watch another administration crumble under the weight of a cover-up.  Of all the silly stuff Mr. Obama and his staff have pulled, the repaying of campaign contributors through stimulus funds, the national security leaks, cash for clunkers and so on, nothing seemed to stick.  Nothing until now.

    What’s being called “BenghaziGate” I think is going to be the one that brings the Obama administration down and the thing is, it was the easiest of all to avoid.  As soon as I heard of the September 11 attack I started recording news segments on the television that had anything to do with the then called “Video instigated protest that got out of hand”.  From the very start things I was hearing on the network news just didn’t add up.  I wrote a bit on it on the 12^th and posted it on the 13^th (The Party is Planned).  Within six hours of the attack just from what I gleaned from the news and the web I knew a planned terrorist attack had occurred, yet the government with its $50 billion a year intelligence organization continued to site an obscure YouTube Video as the cause for the violence.  What was I, an old man in the middle of fly over country picking up on that the experts in D.C. didn’t see?  Absolutely nothing…   I sensed the first draft of a cover-up blowing in.

Let’s do a little timeline exercise. (If you watch ABC, NBC, CBS or CNN news much of this will be new to you).

May/June/July 2012:  Diplomatic mission to Libya had made at least twelve requests for additional security measures be implemented but the requests were denied by Mr. Obama’s State Department (Documents leaked to the press Oct. 3^rd, I said someone would tell).  By the way, REAT-A-COP’s. Are you kidding me?  Where were the U.S. Marines?  Give a few of them and several dozen terrorist will be stopped… Stopped DEAD! 

July 2012:  General Carter Ham (U.S. Africa Command) reports al Qaeda has not been degraded in Libyan region. (You should listen to the boots on the ground).

July 2012:  British Foreign Office withdrew its consular staff from Benghazi because of al Qaeda operating openly in the area confirmed by both MI6 and CIA.  (Again the danger was being signaled by boots on the ground but the Obama administration chose to ignore the warnings).

August 2012:  Defense Department releases an unclassified report documenting factions of al Qaeda in Libya were gaining strength and likely joining forces. (I would like to see what the classified version said, there’s always a classified version).

September 5 2012: Last intelligence briefing attended by President Obama (Briefing is scheduled to be held daily.  Guess Clint Eastwoods' empty chair was there listening).

September 5-6 2012:  Democratic National Convention; The speakers repeatedly touted the killing of Osama bin Laden and that al Qaeda has been crippled and on the path to defeat.  (Nothing like a little nose rubbing to spool someone up.  They thought they were rubbing Republicans noses in it, I wonder who else was listening?)

September 10 2012: al Qaeda’s Emir calls for revenge for the death of Libyan terrorist Abu Yahiya al-Libi, Killed in a drone strike in June.  (I think being the day before the anniversary of the 2001 attack; I’d have taken some definitive actions to insure the safety of personal in the region).

September 11 2012:  Egyptian government had called for and scheduled anti-American protest; they also televised an obscure YouTube video to the Cairo population as pretence for the protest.  (This may or may not have been coordinated with the group planning the assault in Benghazi but was loosely tied to their request for an additional $450 million in additional “Aid” on top of the $1.2 billion given each year.  Let’s all say it together, EXTORTION).

September 11 2012: (Evening) Reports start coming in on an attack occurring on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi Libya.

September 12 2012:  Ambassador Stevens and three other U.S. citizens are reported as casualties as a result of anti-American protest “that got out of hand”.  (The cover-up machine is starting to spool up but still time to stop it).

September 12 2012:  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton holds a press conference calls for religious tolerance and makes first statements blaming “Video” for violence. (Still early enough in the game that the statement could be based on suspect information.  Why not say so).

September 12 2012: President Obama makes a statement pledges “Justice will be done”.  (Still statement could be based on suspect information.  Again, why not say so).

September 12 2012:  The U.S. Intelligence community classifies the attack as a terrorist action. Intercepts a phone call immediately after the attack between al Qaeda linked groups implicating al Qaeda involvement.  (This is the point where the truth is told or the cover-up begins).            

September 12 2012:  President Obama tapes segment for 60 Minutes (news show) refers to attack as “bump in the road” then jets off to Las Vegas for a fund raiser event.  (Really? I know where President Bush would be!)

September 12-13 2012: President Obama continues campaign stops in Nevada and Colorado.

September 12-13:  Intel leaks to press “was a terrorist attack and al Qaeda likely involved”. (Same conclusion I came to and I’m in the middle of a cornfield in Indiana.)

  

September 13 2012:  State Department Spokesperson stresses “Security at consulate in Benghazi was appropriate” (The cover-up is on!!!  Remember May/June/July the diplomatic mission to Libya had made requests for additional security and were denied).

September 13 2012:  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton again blames video for violence. (September 12 The U.S. Intelligence community classifies the attack as a terrorist action she was privy to the information.  I’d thought she was too smart to cover for Obama… Bill must be steamed now).

September 13: FBI investigation team dispatched to Libya.

September 14 2012: Bodies of the slain arrive at Andrews AFB. MD. In Mr. Obama’s statements he refers to the “Video” as the reason. (September 12 the attack was classified as a terrorist action.  He just couldn’t bring himself to speak the truth… Pride, Ego or Fear?  The COVER-UP is now his).

September 14: White House Press Secretary Jay Carrney officially blames “Video” for the attack and they (the administration) has no reason to “Suspect the attack was preplanned.”  (See The Party is Planned, posted Sept 13. I had a reason to suspect the attack was preplanned…  Why didn’t they?  Cover-up!!!)

September 16:  United States Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice goes on five Sunday talk shows repeating each time “The attack was a spontaneous reaction to the VIDEO and not preplanned”.  (Just keep repeating the lie enough… Someone’s going to believe you).

September 17:  State Department Spokesperson again refuses to admit the attack could be related to terrorist activity when directly questioned by the press.  (The story is in place, stick to it.  Note: She squirmed like a child caught with a marker in her hand and a wall covered with stick people drawings).

September 18:  President Obama again blames “VIDEO” for violence during interview on the Letterman Show.  (One full week after knowing otherwise…  Just keep telling the lie).

September 19: The head of National Counter Terrorism Center testifies on Capital Hill, “Yes, they were killed in the course of a terrorist attack.”  (An honest man speaks out.  The lie begins to crack).

September 20: White House Press Secretary Jay Carrney backhandedly admits it was a terrorist attack.  (It only took nine days for the administration to start coming clean).

September 20: President Obama, during an interview on Spanish language Univision, Still refuses to admit the attack was terrorism.  (Still holding to the “Video” narrative.  Guess he hadn’t gotten the word… The truth is out!  We know you’re lying to us!!! )

September 21:  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton admits “the assault was in-fact a terrorist action. (I knew a Clinton wouldn’t fall on their sword for Obama).

September 24: President Obama, during appearance on The View still will not admit the attack was terrorism.  (Doesn’t anyone tell him anything?  The attack has been classified as terrorism for twelve days now).

September 25: President Obama, speaking before the United Nations again blames the “VIDEO” for the violence.  (Guess his thinking is, “It’s my lie, I’m sticking with it.  Besides I’m smarter than anyone in the world” after all he is addressing the U.N.).

September 26:  Maker of the Video is arrested.  The charges are murky… (Associated to YouTube video?)

September 26: Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi speaking before the U.N. demands “$450 million of additional aid from the U.S. and that the U.S. put restrictions on the freedom of speech of its citizens”. (Only comment that does justice to Mohamed’s demands… BITE ME!)

 September 26:  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton briefs press on expansion of terrorism in North Africa and Libya.  Mirroring August 2012 Defense Department report.  (Did they just get around to reading it?)

September 27:  Secretary of Defense Leon Penyeta states “it was a terrorist attack” (Guess he doesn’t want to take the fall).

September 28: NBC news reports Intelligence Agencies “got it wrong” sites statement released by Department of National Intelligence. (Time to offer up the sacrificial lamb.  Didn’t they classify it as terrorism on Sept 12 and give several warnings in prior months???).

September 28: Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper makes the statement “the intelligence community failed the White House”.  (Nicely done, don’t fall on the sword yourself… Shove the Intel guys on it!  Had been classified as terrorism by Intel since Sept. 12)

September 28:  Reports leak out, fifteen days after being dispatched; FBI investigators still have not gone to the seen of the Benghazi attack.  Safety of the team is given as the reason for the delay.  (But Sept 13 State Department Spokesperson stresses “Security at consulate in Benghazi was appropriate.)

September 30:  President Obama campaigning again in Nevada, starts touting the killing of Osama bin Lauden and that “al Qaeda is on the path to defeat”.  (Back to the same message as Sept 5-6 as if the Benghazi attack never happened, as if the ambassador and three others were never murdered).

September 30:  Afghanistan President Karzai appeared on 60 Minutes news show stating “Terrorism has increased” also appearing on 60 Minutes was General John Allen (the head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan), he stated “al Qaeda has come back” (Do you think boots on the ground in the region may have better insight than someone who has not attended the intelligence briefings?)

October 1:  John Stewart on his comedy satire news show reported more information more accurately about the Benghazi attack than the news on ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN had reported in the past twenty days.  He called the administration on the lack of honesty coming out during news conferences. (A liberal comedian doing a better job than professional news originations… What up with that?)

I’ve been at this for over twenty days.  That’s enough, I’ve convinced myself… There was an attempted cover-up that exploded in the administrations collective faces. 

How could this have been avoided? Three very simple steps.

1)  Listen to your boots on the ground.  July/August: Add security as requested or pull the consulate staff out.

2) September 12 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Press conference: An attack on our consulate in Benghazi has taken place.  We will provide more information as we get it.

3) September 13 President Obama, Press conference:  It appears al Qaeda or an affiliate may have been involved in the Benghazi attack.  If so we will track them down and JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED!  (Also take a couple days off from campaigning so you at least appear involved).

That’s it, the story is over.  It’s always the cover-up ya morons…   

    What makes this different from previous screw-ups?  Why will this stick to the “Teflon President”?  Very simple the blood of four American citizens has been poured on the floor at the feet of Mr. Obama.  He sloughed off the incident as a mere “bump in the road” and continued his campaigning while lying directly to the American public.  For years the mainstream news outlets have quietly brushed unflattering stories of Obama under the rug or very lightly glossed over them as if not being worthy of much attention.  The mainstream news can not ignore this story any longer without openly exposing their compliancy in the cover-up effort.  The American public is starting to take note of how they have been lied to and misinformed by news sources for the past four plus years.  Will this be the turning point for the network news?  Will this be the story that makes the new Walter Cronkite?  Someone that America can turn to for honest, informative information.  Or will the news originations continue to be commercials for dubious men and policies.  Will America seek out an old man in the middle of an Indiana cornfield for honesty and integrity?

I know it was a bit long.

Thank you for sticking with it.

The TOMCAT

     Hay Akmed, That sure was one Jihad of a party!                           Yes, Truly one for the Qur'an

   I thought for sure we were busted after that Stevens thing...            We would have been if not for
.                                                                                                       Hussein coming up with that
.                                                                                                       story...

Pledge Allegiance to the Flag (Whatever flag they offer)

    The Flag of the United States of America, also known as ”The Stars and Stripes”, “The Stars and Bars”, “Old Glory”, “The Star Spangled Banner” and simply “The American Flag” has been the symbol of our nation almost from the beginning.  In one form or another it has been present at times of our greatest achievements and our darkest moments.  It has led our troops into battle, it was left behind on the moon (6 times), it stood guard over the rescuers as they searched through the rubble of the World Trade Center.  Even at a time of division, during the civil war both the Union and Confederacy marched under stars, bars and the red, white and blue colors of our nation.

    On June 14, 1777 the first version of The Stars and Stripes (13 stars) was adopted as our national flag.  It has changed only slightly over the years to include additional stars in the blue field as new states joined the union.  Then on July 4, 1960 the current version (50 stars) was officially adopted (executive order Aug 21, 1959).  Each part of the flag has a significant meaning.  The seven red and six white stripes represent the original thirteen colonies, the blue field represents the union and each star represents the members of the union.  Over the years meaning has also been attached to the colors themselves. White signifies purity and innocence, Red for hardiness & valor, finally Blue represents perseverance & justice.  Beyond the official description of the significance of each part of Old Glory, to the people of the United States, the people of the world it has been a rally point for principles, ideas, safety and hope.

    For twenty years in the military it was my honor to wear the flag on my sleeve.  It was my honor to face it and salute at the beginning and end of each duty day.  Now I take pride in displaying it in front of my home.  To this day, anytime I walk pass the Flag of the United States of America I pause for a moment to reach out and lightly touch the pole that supports it.  I do this to remember the ones who have given something in its service, to remember the ones who have given all in its service.   

    All this being said, I found it curious that the Obama re-election campaign would choose to take such an iconic symbol and mutate it into their image.

The Obamanation (spelling is different but sounds about right) and the Obama Banner.

I’m sure when the idea was first considered they thought their adaptation would be harrowed by the masses.  Copies would hang upon the walls of classrooms.  Families would display the treasured print in a place of honor in their homes.  Men like Chris Matthews would stare longingly at its magnificence while reliving the moment of the “tingle up the leg”.  THEY couldn’t have been more wrong.

    For all their belief that the American public lives for the thought of Obama, their adaptation of the American Flag was met with scorn and ridicule.  They failed to realize the iconic symbolism of the Stars and Stripes was built over a couple of hundred years of trials, action, deeds and bravery, it could not be replaced by a couple of years of narcissistic hype.  No, the Obamanation print will not replace the American Flag in the classrooms.  Very few families if any rush home to gather around the Obama Banner to sing songs of praise.  They may have gotten the Chris Matthews part right, he’s likely spending some lonely time with it right now (sorry about that mental image).  They did however, spark a firestorm of creative adaptations that I’m sure they never dreamed of…  (or saw coming). ENJOY.   

There are some funny folks out there.  The next design was my first submission, featured in last weeks posting and also appeared on www.thepeoplescube.com 

    Like the original Stars and Stripes, I have attached meaning to the sections and the colors of this poorly thought-out monstrosity.  The red and white stripes stand for the categories the American public has been divided into. The blue circle represents the insulation of the administration (and friends) from rules and regulations placed upon the nation at large.  White signifies the absence of transparency and leadership, Red for the blood spilt due to the administrations dereliction and indifference, finally Blue represents the mood of the American public after they realize they have followed a charlatan and scoundrel.

 

    Shortly after the prints initial offering (for $35) they were quietly removed.  Was it because of the backlash or the creative mockery?   Myself, I’d like to think word came down…

My Final Offering.     The TOMCAT

As it has always been.

     I’m a night-shift worker so I get up in the afternoon, start the coffee, pack my lunch and get ready for work.   As the day comes to a close for most people mine is just starting.  I have a five mile drive to work down country roads past the corn and bean fields, past the dairy farms.  Down the same roads day in and day out the view is the same with only subtle changes, hardly noticeable from one day to the next.  On my drive I could easily be lulled into thinking everything is normal, everything is as it has always been. 

    Then it comes to me, it’s not the same.  The combines are starting to pull into the fields to harvest, while not so many months back the farmers were tilling the fields and laying the seeds for this year’s crop.  The late winter rains and warm spring soon produced sprouts in the fields with the hopes of a bumper crop.  All looked to be going in the farmers favor, that is until the heat of summer rolled in and the rain stopped.  The once lush green fields began to yellow as the corn and beans started to wither and die. 

     I pulled to the side of the road and stopped along side a field of corn today. As I stepped from the car I could see the stunted ears on the brown lifeless stalks.  The field that once held so much promise and hope has now dwindled to a harvest of desperation.  There has been change.  What I looked at day in, day out and came to accept as normal is nothing short of a disaster.  The field will be harvested and the grain that can be salvaged will be but, is this to become the accepted norm?  Is this harvest going to be the benchmark to strive for in the future? 

    As I think about the field I widen my view and wonder, what else has become the new normal?  What else have I (and those around me) seen day in and day out till we think of it as the way it’s always been?  Do we find ourselves wishing gasoline was back to $3.58 a gallon instead of $3.98 or more? (It was $1.86)  We casually carry on with our daily routines as the announcements of coal industry layoffs continue, just this week 1,200 miners were told they will be losing their jobs due to the administrations war on coal (1,200 is not just a number, its families and communities).  Are we now thankful for 8.2% unemployment (actual is 16.1%) and a loss of 5,000,000 people who are no longer participating in the workforce?  Is the thought of having 4 trillion dollars added to the national debt and another 5 trillion projected something we just shrug our collective shoulders at?  Instead of celebrating achievement and success the new normal is to berate it.  Our embassies are being sacked around the world and diplomatic staff members have been wounded and murdered, is it now the accepted norm to respond to these attacks with apologies and appeasement to those who would attack us? 

Is what we are seeing day in and day out our new benchmark?

Something to strive for?

Is it, as it has always been…?

The TOMCAT 

 

Is it too hot to be thinking about this?

  I had written the first portion of this a few years back

 (March 2011, part of another project).

    (October-November 2010) as I was checking the furnace and getting it ready for winter I noticed my liquid propane gas tank was down to just below 30% (approximately 180 gallons remaining). I would normally have a truck come out and service it up to at least 80% (say 500 gallons) so I was looking at purchasing 325 gallons of liquid propane at $3.56 a gallon, just over $1,100 to heat the house over the winter (OUCH!).  I made my mind up that I was going to make it through this winter burning wood and using the LP gas as little as possible. 

   

    Just up from my house about ¼ of a mile is a hillside that had been logged a year or so back, as they pulled the trees out they left the tops lay and pretty much left it a mess.  So one day each week I would go along the hill with my 20” Stihl chainsaw and spend a couple hours cutting, hauling and splitting fire wood (Actually I looked forward to my time in the woods, the snow, the occasional deer, the peace and some exercise).  As I had mentioned it’s now late March and the LP tank is now at 20% (the water heater also runs off LP gas) there were a few sick days through the winter or times I just couldn’t get the fire wood in so the LP furnace kicked in every once in awhile (I kind of took the sound of the gas furnace kicking on as a bit of a defeat).

   

    The wood burner in my house is a little supplemental unit that was already installed when we bought the house (I had to do a bit of work on it when we first moved in, it had not been used for a few years) the actual box size is 12” wide, 18” tall and 24” deep, not a big unit.  Each night I would load it up before I went to work then the wife would load it again before she went to bed and in the morning when I got home I would load it before I went to bed.  This kept the house at 65* to 68*F through the harshest part of the winter.  Now I just load it up before I go to work to keep the evening chill off (house gets up to around 70* to 72*F now).

   

    The cost for me to heat with wood was not bad at all.  After each use I use a drimmel tool to sharpen the cutting links on the chain myself (no cost). I did buy a new chain mid season ($28.89) I used 5 gallons of fuel ($17.00) 1 quart of 2 cycle engine oil ($3.75) 1 gallon of chain lube ($9.60) and I’ll add 10 gallons of diesel fuel for the tractor driving back and forth hauling the log’s ($36.50) totaling out at $96.00.  Also my saw is 9 years old so this past weekend I bought a new clutch, bar and chain ($92.80) but now the saw cuts like new and is ready for next winter.  Either way you look at it I saved $900 to $1,000 and gained a bit of personal pride in setting a goal and achieving it. In the grand scheme of things a little victory but a victory just the same. 

    Welcome back to today.  I had used the supplemental wood burner for a couple of seasons and almost exclusively heated the house with it the past two winters but I was always a bit uncomfortable with having the fire inside the house.  There is always the potential for an accident plus the chimney is well over fifty years old and is due some major refurbishment (an easy $1,000+ to do it right).  After saving on fuel cost over the years and being comfortable with the supply of timber in the area I’ve decided to upgrade to an outdoor wood boiler unit.  Starting early this summer I began watching for sales on the different company’s web sites.  I finally settled on a company outside of Indianapolis, IN. (www.woodboilerusa.com)..   The unit cost me $4,500 and the installation package (pump, tubing, ect…) was an additional $900 plus $340 sales tax.  In addition to heating the house it also preheats the water going into the hot water heater (this should be a small but noticeable savings).    Being that it was only 200 miles round trip I was able to drive to pick it up from the manufactures shop and make it back home the same day (My fuel expense was $127.00).  I did the installation myself over a few weekends.  A bit of a note on the installation, I did it by myself but it took all of my skills to put it in.  The unit weighed close to 2,000 lbs. a real hand full to move off the trailer onto the concrete pad.  I had to dig an 85’ trench 20” deep, drill and chip out a 6” hole through a 10” brick and concrete wall, all to run the supply and return water lines.  Then I had to run the inside plumbing lines and circulation pump to the furnace and water heater.  There was sheet metal work to mount the water to air heat exchanger in the furnace unit. Then there was some electrical wiring for the pump and thermostats.  I also took the opportunity to move the water heater closer to the furnace so this required some rerouting of the liquid propane gas supply line.  Not a job for the novice and you will need some specialized tools but what a feeling of accomplishment when you’re done.

        

    With a more efficient burn chamber that’s over three times the size of what I’m using now plus the option of mixing in a bit of coal I’m expecting to reduce the amount of wood used throughout the season and more importantly my wife shouldn’t have to stoke the fire at night.  Not that she can’t, I just prefer she not have to (Ya got to pamper the wife whenever you can).  All total, I’m about $6,300 invested into this project but I should start seeing a return within four years after deducting the savings from the past couple of years from using the small unit plus I have the peace of mind from not having the fire inside the house.          

Just a little step back from the world and a glimpse into what I’ve been up to…

I hope you have a good week

The TOMCAT

The Party is Planned (Just waiting on the invitations)

11, September 2012…  Islamic extremists around the world were set to celebrate the anniversary of the most devastating blow cast down upon the infidels of the west.  They just needed a reason to get the party started…   Any reason would do…

    This time the Islamic extremists pointed to an obscure thirteen minute video that in their words “Offended their religious sensibilities”.  Had it not been the video it would have been a cartoon in some rag newspaper or they could smell bacon being fried in the embassy or they had seen a picture of President Obama eating a pulled pork sandwich during the DNC convention.  You see the excuse was unimportant other than to place a religious veil around the attacks in Egypt and Libya.  Both assaults were planned in advanced, coordinated with Egypt and Libya government support and executed with deliberate military tactics. 

    The attack on the compound in Benghazi Libya was particularly brutal and effective, killing four and wounding at least three of the American Consulate staff.  What proof could I have for my assertion that the attack was preplanned, coordinated and officially supported?   Simple answer.

1.)  The assailants’ targeted a specific building within the compound then targeted another building as Ambassador Stevens and staff were moved.  This required reconannce and intelligence gathering (just not a spur of the moment thing.  PLANNING).

2.)  The assault lasted for 4+ hours requiring several thousand rounds of ammunition.  The assailants would not have been able to carry this weight.  (They required resupply, the when and where meant there was COORDINATION).

3.)  Consulate grounds in this region of the world are designed and built with defensive considerations taken into account.  The firepower required to overcome these defenses well exceed the normal religious zealots’ access.  Superior firepower had to be provided by a government entity. (OFFICIAIL SUPPORT).

    By any definition these attacks were acts of war and require an equal and immediate response.  There was no loss of life in Egypt so a cut off of monetary aid will suffice.  On the other hand Libya must be punished in kind.  Much like President Reagan’s 1986 Air Show over Libya with the FB-111’s, its time to call upon the 48^th Tactical Fighter Wing again.  Send a pack of F-15 Strike Eagles to devastate two of Libya’s main military bases.                   

   

    Talk about a leader stepping up to make the “Hard Call”, again it’s a no brainer…  Why does the thought of Mr. Obama doing the Happy Dance and singing Go Team Islam pop-up in my mind as I picture him taking the call about the consulate attacks, on 9/11?  Guess I’m a bit jaded by his history in the region…  Most likely he’ll bomb them with a few billion tax payer dollars and an apology note.  Well maybe not right away, after all he had to cut his briefing short yesterday “Got to catch a flight, there’s a fund raiser in Vegas Baby”.  Nothing like a man that can set priorities, This Party was Planned also .

The TOMCAT

Where Did That Come From?

    I was listening to the radio a couple of weekend back while I was working on a project (I believe it was a repeat of Sean Hannity from earlier that week).  Any way a young lady called in and her final comment kind of got me thinking.  She told Sean “What’s Romney going to give ME!   I mean, if he’s (Romney) not going to give me anything I’ll vote for Obama”.

    I stopped what I was doing and sat back for a moment.  I waited to hear what this young lady needed.  What was she so desperate for in her life that she was willing to follow anyone, Romney, Obama or whoever, if they offered to give it to her?  She never said she just hung up the phone.  I sat there thinking, Where did that come from?

    So I considered what are we being offered, what special needs have been spoken of?

 Mr. Obama has a track record now, his actions match his offers.

     African Americans have an unemployment rate of 14%+ with no prospects of lowering the rate.  In fact he has begun a program that’s giving illegal immigrants work visas so African Americans will face more competition for available employment opportunities.  President Obama has offered this group 4 more years of not just dependency but growing dependency.

    The Latino community has been offered what amounts to back door amnesty using vague criteria and inconsistent regulatory oversight.  Mr. Obama’s administration has coordinated to have this group take advantage of welfare programs.  President Obama has offered this group not the American Dream they seek but a life of dependency on the government.  (Side Note:  Any immigrant willing to serve 6+ years in the military deserves instant citizenship, they’ve shown a commitment to our nation that I feel is commendable and worthy of our thanks. I stand by them as brothers and sisters.)

     The women of America have been battered with a barrage of “women’s health issues” all with the same goal.  Birth control pills, morning after pills, abortion on demand and sterilization.  Listening to the Obama campaign rhetoric, birth control is the only issue important to the women of America and anyone voicing a different opinion is waging a war on women.  My wife said it best “Anytime a man offers to pay for your birth control he’s planning on F#@KING YOU!”  Figuratively or literally.

    The Green Energy Movement has witnessed a covert and sometimes an overt war on America’s fossil fuel production capabilities.  Through mounting EPA regulation, restrictive DoE permit requirements and suspicious presidential mandates.  Mr. Obama’s actions have not furthered the movements’ goals, in fact by throwing billions of dollars at campaign contributors failing companies he has wasted funding that could have been better spent perusing a functional renewable energy program.  Much like President Kennedy's challenge to the nation to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade in the 60’s, President Obama could have challenged the nation to achieve energy independence by the end of this decade while focusing on renewable components as a center piece of the vision.  Americans Love a Challenge.  Mr. Obama gave you cronie energy that failed to meet the nation’s needs and a cloud of doubt that will linger over future prospects.  

     Health Care…  So many directions I could go with this, I think I’ll go with the 18 to 26 year-old children.  It’s time to let go of mommy’s apron string (and get your hand out of daddy’s pocket).  Had President Obama focused on getting Americans back to work and strengthening the economy, most likely you could stand tall on your own.  Instead you’ll turn 27 and be at the level of an 18 year-old of not so many years back.  Life isn’t always easy and sometimes it doesn’t workout the way we wish, but the sense of accomplishment when you make it work is fantastic.  Mr. Obama has delayed your adulthood. 

     Students for Obama…  My favorite group, their starry eyed naïveté makes me giggle.  President Obama has been on this campus or at that university what seems like daily, always preaching the same lines over and over to the silly putty minds of an easily persuaded youth.  Affordable education, cheap student loans and the ever present “The Government will provide”, often followed with “The Republicans want to abandon you”.  The youthful crowd cheers and falls in line behind the Anointed One. 

Wake UP!  Your problem isn’t affordability; your problem is you can’t find a job that is commensurable to you educational investment.  I’d like to introduce you to, well, ME (and many more like me).  I have a degree (it took me 10 years while working full time, never took a loan). I have a 35 year work history with a list of real world accomplishments, achievements and experience.  I’m proven, dependable and stable.  I and those like me are going to be your competition for the limited number of good paying jobs out there…  Guess who’s going to get the good jobs.  Now for the good news (just because you are young and persuadable) get use to working for your dreams, scream for good paying jobs not handouts and you will succeed.  Paying for even a “Cheap Student Loans” is going to suck on a Pizza Hut paycheck.  President Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign platform has no mention of a plan for job creation over the next four years; he has given up on fighting unemployment. Fall in line behind “The Anointed One” and the "99%" crowed for now if you like (I guess its kind of hip and cool).  We’ll be out here waiting… 

I’d like extra cheese on that.    

         

       With this final pandering gift from Mr. Obama I will shatter some people’s dreams but it has to be said…  Mr. Obama has forwarded the calls for equal rights for the Gay and Lesbian people within our society by equating them to the civil rights movement of African Americans or the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.  Jewish people were not targeted because they entered the synagogue to practice their faith; they were targeted because of the blood that flowed through their veins. The black man could no more change the color of his skin.   These groups were not capable of changing their physical being.  Gay and Lesbian behavior is just that, a behavior.  Not unlike smoking, alcohol consumption, illicit drug use or pedophilia.  It sounds harsh but think back 50, 30 or even 10 years ago, what were the accepted norms of behavior?  Me, being a smoker and somewhat of a drinker, I have seen the backlash of a changing society views on behavior.  Force feeding a society and its institutions an unnatural behavior as legitimate always results in a backlash.  What will the backlash be?  I don’t know.  What social changes will come about in 10, 30 or 50 years?  Maybe an adult will be taking a 12 year-old girl as a mate, a 7 year-old boy as a “life partner” or even marriage to a goat will be the norm. I doubt it.  The change in a society has always been like the swing of the pendulum, the further left it is pushed the further it goes to the right on the return swing.  History has repeated this fact time and time again.  Mr. Obama has bestowed a false sense of legitimacy.

Now that I’ve offended a majority of the top tier special interest groups and as long as we’re all asking for something, I have a few requests…

Please give me NO handout

Please give me NO hand-up

Please let me work for what I want

Please let me enjoy what I’ve earned

Please let the men and women standing to my left and to my right do the same…

The TOMCAT

The 2012 Smash Summer Movie, Say it ain’t so Joe (The Comedy?)

    Looking back over the past years at Vice-President Joe Biden’s most memorable moments I’ve come to realize his most notable accomplishment is to have had a phrase coined after him, “Bidenisms”. 

    Bidenisms (otherwise known as “Open mouth, insert foot disease”) have been around for years and have afflicted many politicians.  Normally I would let the occasional slip of the tongue or errant phrase go with a slight giggle while thinking to myself “He’s human after all”.  I’ll start with my favorite Joe quote or BIDENISM

    Looking back over the past years at Vice-President Joe Biden’s most memorable moments I’ve come to realize his most notable accomplishment is to have had a phrase coined after him, “Bidenisms”. 

    Bidenisms (otherwise known as “Open mouth, insert foot disease”) have been around for years and have afflicted many politicians.  Normally I would let the occasional slip of the tongue or errant phrase go with a slight giggle while thinking to myself “He’s human after all”.  I’ll start with my favorite Joe quote or BIDENISM.

Sep. 22, 2008  “When the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television and didn’t just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed. He said, Look here’s what happened.”

Is that so, Joe?  The stock market crashed in Oct. 1929, Herbert Hoover was the President  and television was still in development.  FDR became president in 1933.      

     But reading over VP Joe’s remarks something kind of caught my attention, I noticed a consistency that became a bit disturbing to me.  Look over this list of Joe’s questionable remarks and see what comes to mind…

1.)  Jul. 6, 2006  “You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent… I’m not joking.”

Really?  Immigrants from India are relegated to retail service jobs?  I’ve met a few people who came from India over the years, several were doctors…

2.) Aug. 27, 2006  “You don’t know my state.  My state was a slave state…” [Delaware]

His explanation to news interviewers question on how he would remain competitive in the Democratic Presidential Primaries when they entered the southern states. 

3.) Jan. 31, 2007  “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking man.”

Is that to say before Obama African-American’s were not articulate, not bright, not clean or nice-looking?  Sorry Sir, but Mr. Obama is standing on the shoulders of giants.  The list of articulate and bright African-American’s is long, it could fill many pages but perhaps one will do… Dr. KING       

4.)  Aug. 14, 2012  “… he’s [Romney] going to let the big banks write their own rules.  Unchain Wall Street.  They’re going to put y’all back in chains.”

Speaking to a largely African-American audience in Virginia…  What picture was he trying to paint with his words?     I know what I pictured as I listened to him…

    During my time in the military if I had publicly uttered any one of these phrases I would have been putting my career at risk.  In the military if a subordinate had spoken this way I’d have called them on it, there and then.  A single occurrence O.K. a case of engage mouth disengage brain, followed with an uncomfortable smirk then let it pass.  But Joe has displayed a history in various situations (seems a bit closer to the sheets and hooded Democratic Party of the 1800’s).  Falling back on stereotypical assumptions, he all too easily slips into painting groups of people with a broad brush…  Joe has not limited his Bidenisms to race or culture there are many list on the web.  Pick a subject and most likely you will find a Bidenism.  All-in-all you could find humor in the situation, a screen writer could have a ready-made script for the bumbling miss-speaking dolt in the white house.  Yes very funny, until you realize this man is #2, he’s one heart beat away from the presidency.  One Person did take this fact into consideration, papers found during the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound reveled the al-Qaida leader wanted to assassinate President Obama putting an “utterly unprepared VP Biden into the Oval Office”.  Osama bin Laden thought having Joe as president would “send the United States spiraling into chaos.”

         I find it alarming that our enemies consider the VP to be a viable weapon of mass destruction to be used against us.  What I find more alarming is the news outlets that most Americans rely on to find accurate information to make informed decisions choose to gloss-over or completely omit pertinent facts.  I never seen the report about the bin Laden papers on the T.V. news (and I’m a news junkie).  Had you seen this story?     

November 6^th is coming

Its time to take a weapon out of our enemies’ arsenal

The TOMCAT