Chappaquiddick

"Do we operate under a system of equal justice under law?Or is there one system for the average citizen and another for the high and mighty?"- Senator Ted Kennedy, 1973 -

Let's call him.....Mr. High & Mighty. A product of a truly disfunctional family, Ted Kennedy defines the term "pond scum."

He is the Joseph McCarthy of the Democratic Party. But unlike "Gunner Joe," Ted has never did anything for this country. McCarthy, at least, exposed Communists, a fact that was just recently proven when the archives of the former Soviet Union were opened. Also McCarthy served his country in the military.

Joseph Kennedy, the father, made his money as a rum-runner during the period known as "prohibition." His gains were of the illegal type. Did he go to jail, and have his ill gotten fortune taken from him? No.

My first experience with someone stealing a national election was the election of 1960 when Ted's brother John, with the help of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, was elected President thanks to the Illinois electoral vote. (My second experience was Al Gore trying again in 2000) Then.... John picks his brother Bobby to be Attorney General of the U.S.. Ted was just a lazy drunk during this period. When brother John was killed, and Bobby was killed, Ted became Senator from the deluded State of Massachusetts. (Home of Mike Dukakis and John Kerry---Both men rejected, not elected.)

On July 19, 1969, Ted and a young intern named Mary Jo went for a drive. Unfortunately, Ted was drunk. And of course, Ted was not a womanizer like his brothers were. Oh know! Not Ted! (cough) During this drunken drive, drunken Ted drove the car off a bridge into the Chappaquiddick river. Ted somehow managed to remove himself from the car, his own personal safety being paramount here. Shaken, and definitely drunk, he managed to find his way home.

Up until this point everything that happened that night could be rationally explained. But here's the kicker. Ted gathered himself enough after TEN HOURS to call police. Mary Jo could not hold here breath for 10 hours. Why did it take ten hours?..... You'll have to ask Teddy.

Funny how different people are. I can only speak for myself.....but if it were me....I would of made every attempt to extract her from the car. As the man, as the driver, who was responsible for the deadly plunge, I would of tried to save her. And, if I couldn't, I would of ran, and ran, and ran until I could get help and call the police...... But that's just me.

I only bring this up because just yesterday I saw Teddy on the Television casting judgment on another human being. A Human who was not a drunk or directly responsible for the death of another. His comments are regularly published and I can't figure out why. Teddy is wrong all the time. If you have any doubts of what "upisdown" means........Ted Kennedy is the poster child.

"Senator! Have you no decency?"

LOL. That's my point, he has none.

London Bridges Falling Down

Today, the evil called "TERROR" hit home in the grand city of London, England. During "rush hour" today 4 bombs exploded. One in a double decker bus, and three in the city's underground subway called the "Tube" by London natives. Not surprisingly, a muslim terror group took credit for the bombings. Last I heard, two other bombs were discovered which did not explode.

Much like my own country's 9/11, and the Madrid bombings, innocent people were targeted. Innocents who were working, or traversing to and from work, were killed in all three attacks. Innocents who have every right to live their lives free from suicide bombers, or threats from radical brain-washed zealots who kill in the name of a deity, in the name of God! What god would sanction the senseless death of Innocents.

The people of London are well aware of terrorism. Most recent in their history they had to deal with the IRA (Irish Republican Army). When Americans try to describe the character of the English people we emphasize the "stiff upper lip" facade done so well by londoners. Today we all saw that trait exhibited by the citizens of London. . . . Americans love Brits.

These bombers are vermin. Anytime now the muslim community should stand up and denounce these muslims. I encourage them because I'm concerned about Innocents. Should there ever be a backlash toward the Islamic community in the US of A, many innocent people will die. When that happens we act much like our enemies act. Not good. Not good at all. It's time for the muslim leaders to assert their doctrine of peace that the "West" hears so much about.


(Photo/AP)

DA FRENCH

One of the first enemies the United States had was the French. I once heard that the French were a people who wanted to rule the world but couldn't even rule themselves. A story comes to mind.

A U.S. Marine Corps Officer attended a conference in Europe where Admirals from the U.S., France and other NATO countries were present. This officer overheard a French Admiral commenting, "We, in France, speak many languages, as does all of Europe. Whereas, the Americans only speak one language. Why must we speak in English only at these meetings? Why can't we speak French?"

The Marine officer chimed in, "Maybe because we secured an agreement that you wouldn't have to speak German!"

The room fell silent.

Father of the Year

This week the National Father's Day Council announced the picks for their 64th annual award. This year it went to four individuals. If I told you that Donald Trump was one of them you probably wouldn't believe me. Donald Trump is a millionaire whose projects tend to fail, but he continues to prosper. I think he is married, but I am not positive about that. I know his ex-wife sued him in a very public divorce. Father of the year you say?

The National Council trumped themselves by their next pick. The Radio/TV host Larry King. He does have 6 children which is wonderful. The only problem is the fact that this man has been married 7 times.

It's apparent that the National Father's Day Council has redefined what a "good" father is. The odd thing is, the current definition, as defined by this strange council, was the definition of a "bad" father only 20 years ago. (UPISDOWN)

Larry King is Father of the Year. (UPISDOWN)

Using the council's criteria for Father of the Year, it's a good guess that ex-President Bill Clinton was Father of the Year in 1998.

The White Christian Party

Most imbecile's are placid and never amount to much. But from time to time an imbecile surfaces who is not happy with just embarrassing himself----he must embarrass the human species. Howard Dean is such an imbecile.

The newly elected chairman of the Democratic Party is not the " sharpest tool in the shed." I'm glad he is given so much exposure, it saves so much time when I explain what an American is. All I have to do is say, "You know who Howard Dean is, right? OK, that is not an American. He demonstrates not one true American quality."

On Monday, June 6, 2005, Mr. Dean energized the Democratic faithful by saying of the Republican Party, "It's pretty much a white, Christian party."

This "missing link" has a way with words. I am pressed to come up with other words I have heard lately that were so stupid and bizarre. The chairman of the Democratic Party just offended 85% of his membership. (Homer Simpson would go, "DOOH!")

If you are a Republican, you have to be giggling to yourself and shaking your head side to side. If you are a Democrat, and also a "Christian White," I am here to inform you that you are a member of the wrong Party. (DOOH!)

GEE! Does that make the Democratic Party "pretty much a black Christian Party?"

"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! Grab the women and children.......THE CHRISTIANS ARE COMING!...THE CHRISTIANS ARE COMING!"

Guess what. Howard Dean is a white Christian. Odd? Or what.

DOOH!

A Memorial

Today at 3PM we all remember the citizens who died for a reason. Today at 3PM we all memorialise their lives, the citizens who died for a grand reason. Today at 3PM we all experience what it truly "feels" to be an American. Some Americans don't even know it, they won't even "feel" it, at 3PM. What a shame.

There is no greater sacrifice than to give your life for your country. There just isn't.

Especially, if that country is the United States of America.

I always wonder on this day---Memorial Day---and Veteran's Day----what the people who didn't serve their country, even though they could of, "feel" on this day. I hope some degree of shame should appear to them. Appear, in the form of a tombstone decorated with small American flags. This day, to them, would be a soul-searching day at the very least. I would only hope these people wouldn't disrespect the day.

Nobody wants to die. There is always that next sunrise we can count on. So we use this day to remember those who didn't know which sunrise was their last.

I don't know if these citizens who we remember today can read this. There's a good chance they don't have internet access wherever they are. But, who knows. So I am hoping they can read what I am about to write.

Today I remember you and your sacrifice. It was once said, by Martin Luther King, "A man who won't die for something is not fit to live."

John Paul II the Great

At 1:37 PM CST on April 2nd, 2005, Pope John Paul II died in his apartment at the Vatican, Rome, Italy. Born Karol Wojtyla in the town of Wadowice, Poland in 1920. He was Pastor and Holy Father to over one billion people here on earth. He was also the first non-Italian pope in 455 years.

His father was in the Polish Army. His mother died when he was 8. His father died 2 years after the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland. Karol went underground and studied at a secret seminary during Nazi occupation. He was ordained a priest in 1946 at the age of 26, and became Poland's youngest bishop 12 years later.

Pope John Paul II will be remembered for his travels. He went to every major country in the world with the exception of China and Russia. He was the first pope to visit the United States. His travels were equivalent to going around the world 30 times. But foremost he will always be remembered for his hard stance against communism, and his endless promotion of freedom. Both the Pope and President Reagan (pictured right) are credited with orchestrating the demise of the former godless nation known as the Soviet Union. His beloved Poland, and their worker protests were instrumental in the downfall of yet another futile attempt at making socialism work in the form of the Soviet Union. These polish protests were the beginning of the end.

Here is what I will remember about him:

• He saved the Catholic church. His liberal predecessors caused a mass exodus of Catholics to Protestant religions. This Pope stemmed the tide by reaffirming church doctrine on abortion, premarital sex, woman in the priesthood, and priests marrying.
• In a 1997 sermon he questioned a society who would "kill its own children."
• His concern about the American Catholics, known as "Cafeteria Catholics," because they choose and pick what they believe.
• In 2000 he went to Jerusalem and slipped a small note in one of the cracks of the western wall, imploring forgiveness for the persecution of Jews instigated by the Catholic church.
• His wish that the wealthy nations help out the poorer.

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The only negative that will hang over his papacy would be the child abuse cases placed upon homosexual priests. The pope could not say he didn't know because I knew and I'm not a Catholic. I worked in a Correctional Institution in the 80's and the 90's. All priests that I saw coming to the prison were openly, demonstratively homosexual. I have never heard John Paul II explain why he allowed them to become priests. We now know that homosexual activities were widespread in the Church.

(I call them homosexual priests because they are. The mainstream media refer to these priests as pedafiles. Of course they do not want to appear homophobic. Pedafiles, especially male pedafiles assault girls, young girls. They sexually assault them and very often kill them. The actions of the Catholic priests who fondled and sexually assaulted almost exclusively young boys were homosexuals trying to feed their demented sexual appetites.)

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I doubt that I will soon forget this pope, and here is why. His face. His face was the match that lit the fire of faith and love in people. I will remember the faces of the children when they saw him----and because of all his travels many did. It was a face that saw the death of his mother and brother while he was young. A face that saw German storm troopers stomp through his beloved Poland. A face that saw Poland fall under the enslavement of godless communism. A tear stained face who witnessed war he could not stop.

I will remember a very special moment. It occurred at a youth rally, in the year 2000, I think. In Toronto, Canada, I think. But what happened I am crystal clear.

The Pope was hunched in his chair. He was exhausted from the evening. He witnessed a day of Catholic Youth organizations singing, praying, and patiently listening.

He offered Mass, and all the rituals germane to this rally. He was tired. It was a very long day. But in an instant, his head rose and his eyes met the eyes of tens of thousands of young people in the crowd... smiling the Holy Father said in perfect English, "Well. What do we do now?" At the crowd roared approval of Their Pontiff.

Pope John Paul could not disconnect his heart from the hearts of those young people. It was obvious this Pope was energized by the youth. He never wanted that evening to end. It was a Miracle.

The 264th successor to St. Peter will one day be called "Pope John Paul II the Great."

(photos/AP)

Racist Lawyer Dies

Today the infamous racist lawyer, Johnnie Cochran, age 67, died in Los Angelas of a brain tumor.

Cochran's philosophy was to get black members of a jury to acquit guilty black defendants to "get back at" white people. He was a master at playing the race card.

Eighth Grade Education in 1895

I remember my Grandfather doing the crossword puzzle every morning while he had his coffee and breakfast. I would look at the completed puzzle with true amazement. My Grandfather had to be the smartest person on earth I thought, no wonder Grandma married this guy.

I was partially amazed at the small amount of time it took him to complete the puzzle, while at the same time conversing with my Grandmother, and keeping a close watch on me so I wouldn't slip food to the dog under the table. I was totally amazed because I knew he had only completed the 7th or 8th grade in school. He was born in 1898, and we were all told that children had to leave school early, back then, to help on the farm, or at the very least go to work to help out the family finances. It was so sad. Or was it?

I saw in a post today the 8th Grade test given to students in 1895 in the state of Kansas. Kansas would definitely represent that rural farm culture that would require family assistance. Click on link below to see the test:

8th Grade Final Exam. Salinas, KS 1895

My first reaction when I saw this test was, "My God! Kids in the 8th Grade today couldn't spell CROSSWORD PUZZLE let alone do one!" What I thought was sad, the fact that my Grandfather and his buddies had to leave school early, was not sad at all. What is sad is the state of our schools today. They graduate high school students today who for all practical purposes can't read or write. I wonder why?

CLASS SIZE: In 1895 all eight grades were in the same room.

SALARY: Not paid enough? If you think that a teacher who can't teach children will miraculously acquire that ability if given more money you are stupid, or a product of the Public School system 1965- present.

DISCIPLINE: In 1895 you never "talked back," or were allowed to "strike" your teacher. You were taught how to act at home by your parent(s), then taught how to act away from home , in public, by your teacher. Inversely, you can tell how a child was brought up at home by how he acts in public.

SUPPLIES & BOOKS: In 1895 most students did not have their own books, most were shared with other students. The ballpoint pen wasn't invented until 1945.

Excuses, excuses. We are into our second generation of lost children. Does it seem that we are figuring out the problem today? NO, not at all. What we must do is reject the participation of liberal/socialist Teacher Unions, and liberal/socialist Administrators from having anything to do with educating American children. Their cock-eyed scheme of education has been a total and complete failure. There is a cyber-puter term that describes the liberal education agenda as we have it today: [Garbage in---Garbage out].

If you, the reader, attended public school in the 70's, 80's, and 90's, I have a question for you. Did you do the crossword in the paper this morning while having breakfast? Do you want your children too?

It's time to wise up!

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?

Retrospectively, there are many people who have done things for me in my life. Whether financially, emotionally, or spiritually, I will always be grateful to them.

But of all my troubles, none compare to those of my sinful nature. I was born with it. We all sin, we all confront our primal urges on a daily basis. But as we mature we acquire "Rights" and "Wrongs." We file all that info into a folder labeled "conscience." Once the conscience is established, we find one undeniable truth, that we are sinners and always will be.

In the movie The Italian Job, actor Donald Sutherland is chided by a companion, "You have to trust people more." Sutherland responded, "Oh I trust people, it's the devil in them that I don't trust."

Today Christians observe Good Friday. It's the day we remember Jesus, and his sacrifice, torture, and love for us. All for the forgiveness of those sins we commit.

"My God, My God, why hath thou forsaken me." Words of a Son to his Father. Words of torment that prove that Jesus did feel and think like mere mortals while he was here on earth. Shortly thereafter Jesus announced, "It is finished," and died. He died for me and you. How sobering for us to realize his last words were so humanly recognizable to anyone who has faced disappointment and pain in their life.

God offered his Son to die for me, to forgive me of my sins. That's truly the greatest thing anyone has ever done for me.

R U OVERPAID?

There is an old adage: "If someone is willing to do your job as well as you but for less money, you are overpaid."

There is an interesting article today in Wired magazine, click here to read the article.

Germany is a socialist welfare state. The same type of state that liberal Democrats in the U.S. want for us. Socialism has been a disaster wherever it has been instituted. Germany's unemployment rate is at about 12%. Imagine if that happened in this country. Well, if you vote for Democrats that's exactly what you will get. Insanely, that is what they want. Stalin called you (Democrats), "useful idiots." He was right on the mark. When you rely on the Government for everything, life as we know it will evaporate.

Right now in Germany, employers post jobs, and potential employees bid on jobs. That's right, they bid on jobs. Here is an example: One employee says he will clean offices for 10 Euros a hour. Another applies and says that he will do it for 8 Euros, and so on and so on.

Watch for the people who say we should listen to Germany, France, and even Canada for our values. (upisdown) Then reject these people at the ballot box. Europe should look toward the United States for answers.

Brooklyn Boy Held Captive

In 1982 an American born Israeli soldier was captured in Lebanon. His Father has received information that his son is still alive, held captive by Syria.

Native Nazi?

Yesterday tradgedy struck the small town of Red Lake, Minnesota. Red Lake is on an Indian Reservation (Chipewa). A 16 year old student, after killing his Grandfather and his friend, went to his high school and gunned down a security guard, a teacher, and five students before killing himself. Reports state that the motive was not known.

I have an idea. The motive? The kid was mentally ill, he was nuts, he was evil.

What do we know about this boy. His name is Jeff Weise. His father committed suicide four years ago, and his mother is presently in a hospital suffering from brain injury caused by a auto accident. It's tough for any kid to grow up without a loving mother and father, let alone existing without neither. Jeff was banished from school because of his behavior, he was at the time home tutored. That might of made him angry. Jeff was a "Goth." Goth's are these anti-social minions who wear long trench coats and wear black lipstick. Their motives and music are dark and negative. Classmates made fun of Jeff. Well sure, he was a Goth. What's not to make fun of. The Columbine murder at a Colorado high school in 1999 was done by two students who wore dark trenchcoats. I'm sure they were made fun of. Jeff Weise also admired Hitler and Nazis. His screen name where he posted on a pro-Nazi website was "Todesengel," which in German means "angel of death." Jeff was even involved in a bomb threat against the school that was to take place on Hitler's birthday.

No motive has been found yet.

Isn't self-hate a motive.

Where are the Mental Health professionals here? I don't know what more Jeff could of done to tell someone that he was messed up, or to tell someone he didn't like himself and the situation he was in. Kicked out of school. Dressed funny. Loved Hitler. Our schools are failing our kids in so many ways.

Where were the Mental Health professionals in Jeff Weise's case. We need more options for our kids today. A mentoring program or religious experiences should be considered along with the "pills" handed out.

Do I have the answers? Hell no, I'm not a Mental Health professional. They get the big bucks to figure these things out. And the use of common sense should factor in here. If there are anymore Native American Nazis living on Reservations I would watch them closely. I would reach out and help them before they live out their self loathing.

(above picture is photo submitted by Herr Weise for his Yahoo Profile)

Mark McGwire

On the 17th of March, 2005, a congressional committee met to investigate the use of steroids, and other performance enhancing drugs taken by Major League Baseball players. Almost universally, we all agree that consumption of these drugs is cheating. This has only come to our attention because of a tell-all book written by a former player who admitted using steroids. He admitted injecting Mark McGwire who went on to break Roger Maris's home run record before retiring.

Did Major League Baseball know of the problem? If you didn't consider who the Commissioner of Baseball was you would think that they had to know. But after seeing and hearing, Bud Selig, the Commissioner of Baseball, and digesting his performance at this hearing, you could come to the conclusion that this guy is so stupid he probably did not know. MLB's reaction to the increase in Home Runs hit was to check out the manufacturer of the baseball used, to see if the ball was "juiced." Which way did they go.....which way did they go! Okay, MLB is clueless, but the fans were not. They recognized something was up when players gained 40 pounds of massive muscle during their off season. But we, as fans, thought the games integrity was foremost in the eyes of the league and the players. Here we were the stupid ones. Baseball and players only think about money, care about money and themselves.

All Mark McGwire had to do was say, "I did not take steroids." Mr. McGwire appeared much smaller than I remember him. In his opening remarks he cried and whimpered like a little girl, making obscure references to sexual preferences of his team mates, and unlike the other players present, never said that he did not take steroids. In two hours of testimony Mr. McGwire took himself from the pinnacle of success, to the mire of the scandal known to fans as the Black Sox scandal.

Mr. McGwire looked like a little girl who was caught in the act of cheating. He refused to answer any question concerning his use, or his knowledge of any use by other players. Almost 70 times he responded, "I will not talk about the past." Will not talk about the past? I wonder why.

I will talk about the past. In the past I saw a good player become a great, almost the greatest player in baseball history. I saw a player bulk up before my eyes who eventually looked liked the "Amazing Hulk" cartoon character. MLB didn't know----but the fans knew----and the players knew. I saw balls hit that would of normally gone for a long fly out become 450 foot monster home runs.

Mark McGwire is a cheater. Mark McGwire repeated, "I will not talk about the past, I am here to talk about positive things." He sat like that bump on a log, with a "why am I here" persona. Well, "in the future" we will remember that the reason he was there was to expose him for the fraud he was and is.

"Say it ain't so Mark!"

"I'm not here to talk about the past!"

Refusing to answer a question will always shroud your answer in suspicion. I think he broke down and whimpered because at that time everything he feared, came together for him. He knows that he cheated. You can run but you can't hide. Lies are fleeting. Only the truth endures. And the truth is: your home run output goes down as you age. Mr. McGwire's totals went up every year until his retirement. It would be nice to hear Mark's explanation, but conveniently he won't talk about the past. Darn.

TOYOTA ANYONE?

DETROIT -- The United Auto Workers union waved a white flag Monday in its parking skirmish with neighboring reservists, but the 1st Battalion, 24th Marines are not accepting surrender.

Facing intense criticism, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger reversed his decision to ban Marine Corps reserves driving foreign cars or displaying pro-President Bush bumper stickers from parking at the union's Solidarity House headquarters in Detroit.

"I made the wrong call on the parking issue, and I have notified the Marine Corps that all reserves are welcome to park at Solidarity House as they have for the past 10 years," Gettelfinger said in a statement.

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I can always tell a union member, but I can't tell him much. Seriously, I can tell 99.9% of the time if a person is a union member. How? That's simple, all you have to do is ask him/her how much they like their jobs. If they answer, "It sucks, I'm underpaid, overworked, and I hate it!" That is a union member! If the response is, "I love it, I like my co-workers, and it puts food on the table," that's a non-union member responding.

I have one major problem with Unions----they are vessels of pure communism that infects everything around them in a negative manner. They help the American worker likes cole sores help our appearance. Every union building should have this sign above their doorway, "DEMOCRACY ENDS HERE."

Currently, Federal Labor Law says that if you have so many employees they can vote on whether they want to unionize. If they vote "in" the union that's it, two or four years down the road another vote cannot be called to disavow this relationship. The unions are there forever. Doesn't sound fair. You're right, it's UNION, fair is just a four letter word to them. The reason "re-votes" are not allowed should be obvious, the workers would vote out the unions one by one.

I was a union member all my life. I never wanted to be a member. I was in AFSCME, a public servant union, their slogan is "the union that works for you." You betcha they do--NOT. They work for themselves, they work for the small brain dead zombie clique know as "leadership" and the Democratic Party. Being a public employee I was under the "fair share" (there's that F word again) edict. I was not forced to join the union, but if I chose not to join, dues would still be deducted from my paycheck. Boy, that's fair alright. Hear again, if they allowed the employees to decide if they wanted to pay union dues, nobody would sign up.

In the year that I was a Union Steward I received such an education. I always suspected the leadership was corrupt----my suspicions are usually correct, and they were this time. I once went with a friend of mine who happened to be President of our local Guard chapter. He lived in an apartment building, kind of seedy, in downtown Milwaukee. When we entered the lobby of the building he went to the area where all the mailboxes were. With a key he opened his box and retrieved his mail. "Mike do you notice anything on these mailboxes?" He quipped. I looked and at first nothing clicked. "The names!" He snorted. Oh my God! I saw the name of our vice-president, our staff rep, the head steward, and others in top leadership positions. Naively I said, "You mean all these people live here in your building?" He calmly explained that no, none of them lived there, he said that because the County of Milwaukee had a residency requirement, this was their address of record. Those Bastards, I thought. When I digested this reality I said, "You mean that nobody notices that all these people basically have the same address?" Head cocked, he replied, "They're the Union!"

Liberals love Unions. Liberals hate Democracy. Liberals can't operate in a fair system because there would be no participants for their folly. Liberals love employees----Liberals hate employers. What sense does that make?

Unions help American workers. (upisdown)

The UAW blocked the Marines from parking in their lot. Fair? The Marines told them to shove it, that they will find alternative parking. The UAW action exposes the true face of Unions. And it is an ugly face that hates America and all values America holds dear. Next time you are car shopping consider Toyota. Who knows, maybe Toyotas are made by happy people, who respect, honor, and appreciate the men and women in our military. Maybe Toyotas are made by people who are tolerant of other beliefs unlike their own. And maybe Toyotas are made by people who aren't being robbed by corrupt freeloaders extracting dues every month. Dues which are then spent to overthrow the government at the ballot box, pure and simple. Next time you vote, consider the party financed by Labor Unions and reject that party. Now that would be fair.

photo by Todd McInture/The Detroit News

DEANHOLIO

The concept of the word upisdown is really simple. Remember that it means: "Everything a liberal says is the total opposite of the truth."

Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee said yesterday:

"this is a struggle of good and evil. And we're the good."

See, that's one example of upisdown.

LEGENDARY??

I just read this article on the "Drudge Report" which talks about the suicide death of a man named Hunter S. Thompson. Here is what the Denver Post wrote:

"Regarded as one of the most legendary writers of the 20th century, Thompson is best known for the 1972 classic "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." He is also credited with pioneering gonzo journalism - a style of writing that breaks tradition rules of news reporting and is purposefully slanted."

How can you be legendary if no one has ever heard of you. I've never heard his name, or even heard about his classic (?) "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Also, he is credited with gonzo journalism, whatever that is. Gonzo journalism inspires breaking the rules, and purposely slanting a story towards the ideas of the writer ----sounds like "poor" writing to me, and who better than me to know poor writing. Also Gonzo sounds stupid.

This man's death is a terrible thing. My issue is with the wunderkind who, like the Denver Post, think Hunter Thompson is legendary and not pathetic. Don't get me wrong, you can be pathetic and legendary at the same time, (i.e. Adolph Hitler, Michael Jackson, Howard Stern), but Hunter was just pathetic, not legendary.

Hunter never met a drug he didn't like. He was a remnant of the 60's "clique/experiment gone awry" misfits, called Hippies. Hippies ingested large amounts of "mind altering" drugs, emphasis on the keywords mind altering. The word "alter" in Latin means "to go on trip." [LOL] Now, there is only two schools of thought when it comes to these people who are overly represented in our universities, media and judicial system. I refer to them pathetically as ex-Hippies. You either, like I, think that taking mass quantities of mind altering drugs messes up your mind to the extent that reality takes its leave. Or you think that it does not, that it is just like taking aspirin, and the mind heals itself over time.

Many Hippies will deny even today that they ever indulged in drugs. (i.e.Clinton, Kerry, Dean) I guess they would just excuse themselves and leave whenever someone pulled out a "doobie." Sure, they deny that all the drugs they did not take had no affect on them. Their minds have been altered. How would they know? Hey, that's the big downside of drugs, they make you stupid. What Hippies call enlightened, I call stupid. You know what's funny? They think, the ex-Hippies that is, that they are smarter than people who didn't "trip out" and routinely got a haircut.

Why do I sense that the looney lefties see this man as legendary solely because he was a looney lefty.

Affirmative Gerrymandering

This evening the Governor of CaLEEfornia, Arnold Schwarzenegger, appeared on the "Larry Elder" radio program. He spoke of gerrymandering. He didn't directly speak of gerrymandering, but it's what the GOV was talking about. Governor Schwarzenegger told how when he took the citizenship test, it espoused the fact that the people, or voters, pick their representatives. But because it was left to the legislatures to draw district lines in CaLEEfornia, the representatives actually pick the voters. Arnold was right.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 makes it illegal to draw boundaries of an electoral district that purposely excludes minority groups. The same Law makes it legal to draw lines that favor a minority group. That's crazy!

I recalled that recently they drew new boundaries for the aldermanic districts in the city I reside. The new district I am in looks like a worm. Somebody had to of had a smile on his face when they drew, and endorsed my district. There are probably 15 or so districts in Milwaukee, my district is the only one that looks like a worm. This district was redrawn last year to guaranty a black alderman will be elected here.

Elbridge Gerry, who was Governor of Massachusetts (1810), was very interested in retaining the governorship. So his pals in the statehouse drew up the districts to favor him, one district was drawn that looked like a salamander. Thus, the world was given the word "gerrymander." I wish my district was drawn like an eagle, or maybe a monkey, almost anything would be better than a worm.

Favoring one minority or racial group over another should be illegal. The practice is racist and extremely hateful. The Democratic Party embraces all forms of racism and hate. If you think the KKK is the #1 hate group in America, then the Democratic Party is #2.

All districts should be drawn as squares, rectangles, circles or monkeys. Never worms, or salamanders for that matter.

Iraqi Vote

On January 30th of this year, 2005, the people who chose to do so, voted for the first time in fifty years in Iraq. Even though they were discouraged to vote because of death threats, as many as 60-70% of registered voters actually dared to vote. This was a huge turn out when you consider that 50% turn out in the USA is spectacular. Many Americans are so lazy that all it would take would be a rain cloud to appear in the sky for them to decide not to vote.

What caught my curiosity was the fact that it had been 50 years since the last free vote in Iraq. What appears to have happened back then was the growing threat of communism. It was the "cold war" and a free vote would almost certainly have gone to the communists. To squelch such a reality, the British installed a monarchy in Iraq---at the same time the Shah was handed power in neighboring Iran. It would take the Americans to reinstate a democratic government 50 years later.

It was reported that when the polls opened on that monumental January morning, people generally milled around outside the designated voting buildings. Murdering Muslim fanatics had threatened violence. Bombs, snipers, rockets and mortar fire were promised by the evil-doers to discourage participation in this historic vote.

Now, as the local residents assessed their predicament, something American happened........A women broke from the crowd and walked straight to the polling site. Courage, and conviction are as American as Apple Pie. This woman was probably thinking, "Nobody is going to scare me and tell me what I can and cannot do. Not anymore! Never again, Allah willing." The crowd must of been dumbfounded by this woman's daring assault of her right to vote. It is said that when the woman reappeared from the building, she held up a purple stained finger, a gesture to be repeated thousands of times this day. The stained finger signified that she had voted, it was used to deter multiple voting, because the ink was impossible to remove immediately. The purple finger signifies honor, courage, and above all, freedom.

Two more Iraqis separated from the crowd and approached the voting site, then three, then ten. If a mortar round hit the building, so be it. They were going to vote, nothing would stop them. So went the rest of the day, a massive turn out under any standards. When the Iraqis saw their friends and neighbors with purple fingers they couldn't be out done, so they went and received one too. The basic keeping up with the Mohhamed's.

Did you vote last election? If not, Why? Are you afraid?
[photo/Reuters]

A Stranger by the Gulf (1953)

Meet Betsy

Every car I have owned has been named Betsy. Automobiles are the only objects I have owned that I have given a name too. The Lawn Mower, Weed Whacker, and Walkman Radio all remain nameless. Here is Betsy: Betsy was born in Michigan in 1997. Some call her by her proper name "Chevrolet Blazer," but to me, she's Betsy. Our relationship is solid. I encourage her to be the best she can be. "Come on, Come on Betsy, you can do it," can be heard from me as we plow through snow. When a speeding projectile hit and chipped the window Betsy was assured an appointment to the "Window Doctor" was coming post haste. She is always my fellow companion as I tour Terra Firma. I am never alone. "Betsy, did you see that jerk who almost cut us off?" "Where did he learn to drive, Wal-Mart?" "If brains were dynamite he couldn't blow his nose!" See, I am never alone.

Betsy spends a large portion of the time in the garage, which is also nameless. Being out of the elements and separated from public nuisances makes Betsy happy. From time to time I will look in the garage window at her and gesture, acknowledging her presence.

I used to smoke cigarettes until I got Betsy. Haven't smoked since. The reason is simple, Betsy abhors cigarette smoke.

Betsy is actually Betsy VII. All my cars have been named Betsy. Cars don't have souls, but they do have a spirit, and this spirit goes on and on, from my first car to the present.

We talk much of freedom and what the word means and is worth. But, because of Betsy and all other automobiles we can travel anywhere at ease and in comfort. Ultimate freedom. It would be hard to deny the automobile a place on the list of greatest inventions ever. If you would ask Betsy or me, we should say it's a no-brainer.