Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

2 Years Old?

2012-01-27T07:02:00.004-06:00

My Precious Wiggleworm,

I simply cannot believe that you are 2 years old today. Time can't possibly be going that quickly. Of course, it may have something to do with the fact that I haven't seen you since you were six months old. This is what you looked like the last time I saw you.

This is what you look like now.

Listen buddy - I asked you in this post to take care of your Mom while Daddy is gone. Sweetheart - you've done an AWESOME job! You make your mommy SOOOOO happy. And that makes all of us happy. Your Daddy is SO proud of you, and so am I. And your Mommy has been incredible during this time as well. I can't wait to see you and hold you. It seems like a LOOOONG time, but I'm sure it will fly. Well, to you and mommy and daddy anyway! It can't come soon enough for me.

I love you sweetheart. And I love your Mommy and Daddy too. I'm SO grateful you will all be together again soon.

Happy 2nd Birthday Wiggleworm. I love you.

Celebrate Walker and Media Bias

2012-01-22T09:42:00.000-06:00

I had the pleasure of attending the Celebrate Walker rally in Wauwatosa yesterday with a friend of mine. Now, if you rely on the mainstream media for your news, I was one of the "hundreds" who attended. Ummm - not exactly.

It never ceases to amaze me how the lamestream media tilts something as benign as a rally to fit their agenda. I understand that they despise the fact that those of us who support our governor are willing to come out in droves on a cold January day, but honestly, can't you get the number a LITTLE closer? Hundreds? More like hundreds...and hundreds...and hundreds. The energy from the crowd was amazing and the speakers really fired everyone up. Of course, the ~~paid thugs~~ protesters had to infiltrate and attempt to shake things up. The police promptly escorted them out. However, I did find it amusing that our crowd started yelling "shame shame shame" to the point it was echoing throughout the park. Heh.

Speaking of the protesters, if you look at the pictures provided by the MSM, one would think that they had quite a showing. Ummm - again - not so much.

I'll admit that we left early - I had another engagement I had to attend. However, it seems that we left at the perfect time. As we were leaving, who should we run in to??

Yep - a good time was had by all.

The Marines and the Taliban

2012-01-14T08:16:00.000-06:00

I've been holding my tongue on this one so far, but then I figured - why the hell did I start this blog? To vent, to rant, to voice my opinions. So here goes.

Much has been made about the images of four Marines desecrating the bodies of dead members of the Taliban. While I most certainly DO NOT condone this behavior, let's look into this a little further, shall we? Were the Marines cutting off body parts? No. Were they posing the bodies? No. Were they taking pictures that were MEANT to be disseminated for all to see? No. They were urinating on the bodies. I can't emphasize enough that I don't agree with what they did, but why don't we look at it from their perspective.

I've heard from folks on the ground what it's really like over there. Chris Kyle, the most prolific sniper in history, refers to the Taliban in his book "American Sniper" as Savages. Folks - these are people who want us dead and will do anything to achieve that goal. These are people who use women and CHILDREN to kill Americans. And when they do, they celebrate. Loud and Proud. Disgusting. It doesn't matter whether or not you agree with the war...the fact is that we have our brave armed forces facing death every day from these savages. IEDs, snipers, suicide bombers...one never knows over there. I've only heard a very small portion of what the Elder has seen and faced and it breaks my heart and infuriates me at the same time.

The fact that these Marines may be facing charges demonstrates how PC this country has become. I think Allen West is SPOT ON when he says:

“The Marines were wrong. Give them a maximum punishment under field grade level Article 15 (non-judicial punishment), place a General Officer level letter of reprimand in their personnel file, and have them in full dress uniform stand before their Battalion, each personally apologize to God, Country, and Corps videotaped and conclude by singing the full US Marine Corps Hymn without a teleprompter.

“As for everyone else, unless you have been shot at by the Taliban, shut your mouth, war is hell.”

I highly recommend you read the whole thing at the link above.

The Marines:

Does that really compare with the Taliban?

Just sayin'

A Mile in their Shoes

2012-01-07T17:33:00.000-06:00

For all those bastards who decided they were in a position to judge Rick Santorum on how he and his family handled the death of their child, this is a must read. A woman who went through the same type of situation weighs in...

At first blush, the way Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum handled the death of his newborn son almost 16 years ago may seem a little bizarre to some.

But it’s not. I know because I’ve gone through it, too.

Nearly two and a half years ago, my world came crashing down.
...
One of the nurses swaddled my daughter and put her in my arms — an act for which I am eternally grateful. Despite our fears and trepidation, the nurse assured us that holding our baby daughter would help us through our ordeal. As painful as it might seem, it would help us heal.

Grace was beautiful. She had my husband’s lips and my big toe. We told her how much we loved her and how sorry we were. Our families got to see her, too, and a priest came to our hospital room to bless her.
...
Those precious moments with my daughter — the only time I ever got to see and hold her — are cherished ones. That single memory of holding Grace brings me much peace.
...
As Santorum did for his son, we had a funeral for Grace. She’s buried alongside her grandmother and her obituary ran in this newspaper.

And like Santorum, not a day goes by that I don’t think of her. My 12-year-old stepdaughter, meanwhile, wears a remembrance bracelet to honor the baby sister she never knew.

I was sickened this week when liberal pundits mocked Santorum as “weird” and “crazy,” and tried to use the tragedy to highlight his extreme right-wing views.

Some may not agree with Santorum’s ideology, but to ridicule a grief-stricken father for grappling with one of life’s most agonizing tragedies is the dirtiest of politics.

My hope is that none of his heartless critics will ever have to walk in his — or my — shoes.

You really should read the whole thing...it goes into far more detail.

As most of you know, there was a period of time after the Boy was born that we weren't sure whether or not he was going make it. Would I have done the same thing? I have NO idea. And that's the point - unless one has been through this, heaven only knows how one would react and what choices they would make.

What I DO know is no one has the right to judge this type of decision. NO ONE can say they know without a doubt what they would do in the face of such a tragic emotional event. Moreover, how DARE anyone make fun of or criticize a decision such as this. I, like the author, hope they never have to find out what they'd do in such a situation.

They should be ashamed of themselves, but since they have no shame we know that ain't gonna happen.

Reflections

2012-01-02T14:43:00.001-06:00

Well, 2011 has been a helluva year, eh?

If you're my facebook friend (and if not, why not??), y'all already know that I'm starting 2012 in a new location...professionally speaking, that is. My law firm spent the last week of 2011 moving our offices to temporary quarters until our new building is completed, which we HOPE will be around June. I'm digging the idea of starting a new year in a new place.

Soooo, 2011. As many of you know, the year didn't start so well. I missed the infamous Groundhog Day Blizzard because I was up in Green Bay watching my father in law fight for his life. Thanks to the incredible support and the outpouring of prayers from y'all, he has completely recovered. He's even gone back to working out at the health club...something I should probably think about. Or not.

In 2011 I was also blessed with many new friendships. Some of these people have become a part of my every day life and for that I am grateful. I've also reconnected with some people from my past and they too have become an incredibly important part of my life. And of course, there are those friends who have been by my side for years. I thank you ALL for...well...putting up with me! ;)

The politics. Lord have mercy - I could go on for DAYS about Wisconsin politics in 2011. February saw Wisconsin thrown into the national spotlight when 14 senate democrats decided to act like a bunch of children who get angry because they don't like the rules, so they ran away from home. I was honestly waiting for them to hold their collective breaths until they turned blue...oh wait...they're about as blue as they can possibly get, aren't they? Contemporaneous to that was the sick outs. Teachers all over the state decided that because they didn't like the idea of joining the real world by having to contribute a bit more (but much less than those of us in the private sector) to their medical insurance and pensions, they would just walk off the job. This resulted in schools shutting down and parents having to scramble to find alternate care for the children who these teachers are SUPPOSED to care about. We also had thousands of former hippies, wannabes and union thugs destroying our capital...and many of them couldn't even explain why they were there. And that was only the BEGINNING of the year. All of this culminated in the perpetual recalls which continue to this day...as does the bill to the taxpayers.

With the presidential election coming up in 2012 along with the effort to recall Governor Walker, it promises to be a very interesting year in politics. As far as personally and professionally...well, I guess that remains to be seen!

My wish for all of you is a blessed and prosperous 2012.

Food Pantry Football

2011-12-25T07:59:00.000-06:00

Okay y'all - Wendy Robinson and I are going to play food pantry football again this year. She will be donating a food item to a local food pantry for every point the Packers score this evening, and I will be doing the same for every point the Bears score. Pick your team and join the fun!! And let's hope for a high scoring game - for BOTH teams! :)

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T05:37:00.000-06:00

Wishing you all a blessed Christmas.

Protect the Vote!

2011-12-14T13:30:00.000-06:00

Okay, by now I'm sure y'all have seen stories about the Wisconsin Recall efforts - and the fraud that is sure to be involved. If you haven't, allow me to present this little tidbit from WISN:

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- A man told 12 News that he has signed as many as 80 petitions to recall Gov. Scott Walker.

The man had the following exchange with 12 News' Kent Wainscott on Thursday:

Man: "I think I signed about 80 times."

Wainscott: "You've signed 80 petitions, you think?"

Man: "I signed a lot of them for the past two weeks. I've been seeing them at the Grand Avenue Mall. Out here by Pick 'n Save and stuff like that."

Wainscott: "Well, you know they're only going to count one of your signatures?"

Man: "Oh well. Whatever it takes to get Scott Walker out of here, I'm happy."

Wainscott: "That means signing repeatedly?"

Man: "Yeah. They cheated for Bush, so hey, I'm going to cheat to get Scott Walker out of here."

You can see the video here.

Wow! Good thing we have the Government Accountability Board to protect us from duplicate and fraudulent signatures, right? Wait...what?

The signatures of Mickey Mouse and Adolf Hitler will be counted on recall petitions targeting Gov. Scott Walker as long as they are properly dated and include a Wisconsin address, the board charged with reviewing the petitions was told Tuesday.

Suspicious signatures will be noted when the Government Accountability Board reviews the petitions, but reviewers will look to see that signatures are accompanied by a Wisconsin address and are dated as having been signed during the circulation period, board elections specialist David Buerger said.

"We will flag them, but we will not strike them without challenge," Buerger said after being asked whether Mickey Mouse's signature would be counted. He noted that in previous recall petitions, Adolf Hitler's name was struck because the address given was in Germany, not because of the name itself.

Soooo, the agency that is supposed to protect the integrity of the democratic process will allow Mickey Mouse, Hitler, Donald Duck, or anyone else to sign a petition as long as it has a Wisconsin address and is dated correctly???? Are you KIDDING me? And don't think it's not happening my friends. Wisconsin conservative radio talk show host Vicki McKenna's name has already shown up on at least one petition.

Sooooo, what's a person to do? VOLUNTEER!!! There are two sites out there and admittedly, I'm not sure which one is the real deal so I signed up for both. One of the sites is http://www.verifytherecall.com/ and the other is http://www.scottwalker.org/verify.

In any event, if you know how to use a computer...and who doesn't these days...and you want to do whatever you can to keep this ridiculous recall effort as honest as possible (I know - quit laughing - that's why they need us), PLEASE sign up to help with data input. Since the Government Accountability Board is too busy (with what I have NO idea)to actually CHECK for multiple signatures, etc., it's up to us to help out. From what I understand, they simply need volunteers to input data and their software will tag duplicate names and the like. More details will be forthcoming as the time for volunteering nears.

I ask you my friends - if you value the democratic process at all, think about signing up to help. Thanks!

Christmas - American Style

2011-12-08T06:28:00.000-06:00

I saw this on facebook last night and just HAD to share it. While the quality isn't the best, I think the message comes through pretty clearly, don't you?

Oscar. Foxtrot. Sierra.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T09:46:00.000-06:00

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very blessed Thanksgiving. I have a LOT to be thankful for...friends, family, freedom. A special shout out to our troops AND their families who are unable to spend this holiday together. God bless you all.

I do NOT stand with Governor Scott Walker

2011-11-16T20:52:00.000-06:00

I don't often post something without adding commentary, but this post by Dr. Tim Nerenz needs none.

Bring It

They are at it again in Wisconsin. The perpetual hissy fit that is the Union Democrat Party in this state has launched its campaign to recall Governor Scott Walker. The rallying cry of Walker's Republican supporters is "I stand with Scott Walker".

Well, not me. I don’t stand with Scott Walker.

Nope. I stand for the right to work. I stand against compulsory unionization. I stand for the right of every employee to join a union, and for the equal right of every employee to work free of union impairment. I stand for the right of every union to collect its own dues directly from its members. I stand for the right of every business owner to deal directly with his/her employees or to work through an intermediary as he or she sees fit. I stand for the right of any business to refrain from political activity altogether without being targeted for boycotts by extortionists.

I don't stand with Scott Walker. Scott Walker stands with me.

I stand for fiscal responsibility. I stand for balancing the state budget. I stand for making government services both accessible and affordable. I stand for repaying our old debts and not taking on any new ones. I stand against raiding trust funds set up for one purpose to pay for another. I stand against increasing taxes on the overtaxed to fund lavish new benefits for the over-lavished.

I don't stand with Scott Walker. Scott Walker stands with me.

I stand for choice and competition that will improve the quality and reduce the cost of our schools. I stand for letting local school boards, teachers, parents, and taxpayers decide how best to educate their kids. I stand for rewarding the great teachers and I stand against letting the bad ones waste one more hour of our children’s precious learning time. I stand against spineless administrators, conniving pension-grubbers, placeholders counting down their days to retirement and serial indoctrinators who see 4th graders as political props.

Read the rest here.

Well said sir, well said.

Corporal Joshua Busch

2011-11-11T09:14:00.000-06:00

On this Veterans Day, I bring you the story of Joshua Busch.

Flying in to a valley in Afghanistan's dangerous Kunar province, Busch, a 21-year-old corporal, was the first to hop off the Chinook in the November darkness. On the mission were Busch's platoon of 22 guys plus six Afghan soldiers; another U.S. Army platoon landed a few miles away.

Their task? Find the enemy.

When what was left of his unit flew out of the valley six days later, Busch had assumed command of his platoon, watched his medic and all the Afghan soldiers die, called in airstrikes near his position and helped save the lives of his wounded comrades.
...
As soldiers began dropping around him, Busch transitioned from being a team leader in charge of three soldiers to platoon leader. Busch immediately began triaging the wounded and calling on the radio for close air support to drop rockets within 150 feet of his platoon's position.

"Josh, all of a sudden he went from in charge of his (team) to in charge of the whole platoon," said Spc. Robert Yates, a member of Busch's platoon.

As he was on the radio, bursts of small-arms fire missed Busch by inches.

The rest is a must read.

Compare this hero to the whining, entitlement-minded, lazy children who are a part of the "occupy" movements across the country. They are basically the same age, yet they are a WORLD apart in mind set. That this soldier has shown such bravery and leadership is is awe inspiring.

Thank you Corporal Busch. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your story. Thank you for your bravery and leadership. God Bless You.

Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T07:07:00.001-06:00

Thank you

Out of the Mouths of Babes - An Essay by Paul Driftmier, Jr.

2011-10-25T08:21:00.000-05:00

This was shared on facebook, and I'm publishing it verbatim and in its entirety since I'm not sure if y'all will be able to follow the link. This was written by Paul Driftmier, Jr., who in my opinion, is not only well spoken, but quite brave as well. For you see my friends, young Paul attends public school in DANE COUNTY!!!!

The following is a paper that my 14 year old son, Paul, Jr. asked me to read over for him before he turns it in tomorrow to his "Language Arts" teacher. I did not help him with this and I didn't even know he was writing it until minutes ago when he handed it to me. I thought it very well done and deserving of a high grade. I asked him if I could post it to my facebook page in hopes that others among my friends would read and comment upon it. I'm curious to know what you all think and what you predict his grade will-, or should-, be based soelely upon the merits of the piece.

Government Control

The laws in this country are too strict. The government is creating far too many laws that are turning America into a communist country. Whether or not you think the government is helping America in any way by increasing the number of laws it has, or the number of things it is providing to the American People, it is actually hindering its population’s ability to be independent.

For Example, a man by the name of Mr. Norris was imprisoned several times because he accidentally messed up a few papers in his small orchid selling business. He was just a 65-year-old man trying to make a living off of selling orchids to flower enthusiasts. Since the flowers he was selling were foreign and endangered, he had to get permits for every single one of them. His Latin American suppliers usually had sloppy handwriting and often messed up his papers. “It was rare for each permit to match each order perfectly.” Mr. Norris was getting repeatedly imprisoned for someone else’s’ mistakes.

Now, ask yourself this question; do you want to have your life controlled by the government? If you want to stay living in a free country, you have to stay independent. You cannot allow the government to take control over your life by relying on it for everything. In March of 2011, 60.8 million members of the American population were reportedly dependent on the government for their daily housing, food and health care. Since 2001, the dependency of the American people on the government skyrocketed 31%. At this rate, America will be almost completely dependent on the government for nearly everything.

Still, many people think that if the government does not make things required by law, then the people will not do those things on their own. Well, if “the people” let the government take control by making all sorts of things required by law, then they will do exactly that and more. The state will see that as an opportunity. It will take over all of the other aspects of the people’s lives, such as their food, clothing, housing, employment, and more. “Justice is harsher in America than in any other country.”

For Instance, 2.3 – 2.4 million people in the U.S. are imprisoned as of July of 2010. In comparison, America has 12 times more imprisoned people than Japan. The only country that compares is Russia, with 600 out of every 100,000 people imprisoned. The U.S. has over 750 out of every 100,000 people sentenced to jail.

In conclusion, the government should not the people’s into our lives by creating all kinds of laws. Many of these laws are overly strict and can get you imprisoned for simple errors in your life, like writing some permit papers incorrectly.

Kudos to you Paul...you do indeed restore my faith in the future.

Excuse Me? How DARE You!

2011-10-17T14:41:00.000-05:00

I have had just about all I can take of this president...the one who is SUPPOSED to represent we the people...dissing anyone who doesn't agree with him. Not just dissing, but insinuating that those who don't agree with him are daft. I'm starting to SERIOUSLY get pissed. This is just the latest in a LONG history of Mr. Obama (you know, the "uniter") taking a stab at those who disagree.

Against a backdrop of angry protesters and tension in the streets, President Obama embarked on a three-day bus tour Monday to scold Republicans for blocking his proposed jobs bill last week and pledge to get the legislation passed even if it's done in pieces.

"We're going to break up my jobs bill," Obama told supporters assembled at Asheville Regional Airport, where he landed to begin the tour of North Carolina and Virginia, both swing states the president won in 2008 but which could turn in 2012.

"Maybe they just couldn't understand the whole thing all at once so we're going to break it up into bite-sized pieces so they can take a thoughtful approach to this legislation."

Excuse the FUCK out of me??? Scold Republicans? Couldn't understand?? Bite-sized pieces? How DARE you, you incompetent patronizing fool! Have you forgotten that some DEMOCRATS were against this bill as a single piece of legislation?? Perhaps THEY didn't "understand the whole thing" either??

Did it ever occur to you, Mr. President, that those who oppose your so-called "jobs bill" do so because they see it for what it is? Stimulus Take 2. It is doomed to fail, just as the original stimulus failed. Perhaps, oh arrogant one, we believe that a free market economy will create jobs. Employers will not hire nor invest in their companies unless and until they know what to expect in the future. When they're unsure of the costs of doing business, what with Obamacare, regulations that are costing our economy BILLIONS of dollars, and no end in sight to governmental spending, do you really expect employers to expand and invest?? Have you learned nothing - not a single solitary thing - about what does and does not work with respect to creating jobs and kick starting this economy?

I can only hope and pray that your utter failure as a leader of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (just in case you've forgotten for whom you work) will cost you your job. It would be poetic justice if you had as much difficulty getting another job as the millions who are currently unemployed. Unfortunately, that is unlikely.

In My Happy Place

2011-10-13T09:36:00.000-05:00

You may have noticed I've not been posting a whole heckuva lot lately. Well, on second thought, you probably HAVEN'T noticed. In any event, I recently had a major health scare which took precedent over the goings on locally, nationally and over this blog. The health scare is over, but I'm still finding the news to be depressing if not downright infuriating. And what does CFR do when she gets to that point? Why - I go to my happy place of course!!

Wiggleworm and the Elder

Isn't he just the cutest? (not that I'm biased)

TSC and Wiggleworm

The Boy getting ready for his first Homecoming. I decided not to post a pic of the Boy with his girlfriend unless/until I get permission from her first, but take my word for it friends - she's a hottie!

There now. I feel better. Hope y'all got a smile or two out if it! :)

Illegal Immigrant Escapes Punishment

2011-10-07T13:21:00.000-05:00

Imagine you were an illegal immigrant. Imagine you were caught driving drunk going the wrong way on I-43. Imagine you were charged with the following (spoken through an interpreter, because you don't speak English...at least not well enough for a valid court proceeding)

1. Operating without a valid license
2. Operating a motor vehicle without insurance
3. Reckless driving - endangering safety
4. Driving wrong way on a divided highway
5. Operating w/ PAC >=0.15
6. OWI
7. 2nd Degree recklessly endangering safety

One would think you'd be screwed, right? WRONG!!!

On July 21, Armando Rodriguez-Benitez, 35, was pulled over by authorities for driving with a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit while headed in the wrong direction on the I-43, the paper reported. An oncoming car was forced to intentionally crash into the median wall to avoid a head-on collision with the intoxicated man's car, according to the report.

The paper, citing online court records, reported that a county judge sentenced him to 11 months at a county jail with so-called Huber work release privileges, under a statute that allows some inmates to leave jail to maintain their employment while serving out their sentence.

Sheriff David Clarke (yes, I'm a HUGE fan of his) reacts:

"Why would we let an illegal immigrant out on work release to look for a job he's not supposed to have? He's in the country illegally," Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. said, according to a report by The Journal Sentinel.

I'm sorry, but what the HELL? An ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT has 7 charges filed against him, and the PROSECUTOR dismissed charges 1-5? And of course, this being Wisconsin, the "punishment" for the OWI, to which he pled guilty, is merely a fine. As for charge number 7, the sentence is as follows:

The Court sentenced the defendant to serve a term of IMPRISONMENT of 54 MONTHS in the Wisconsin State Prisons, with credit for 77 days time served. CONFINEMENT of 30 MONTHS and EXTENDED SUPERVISION of 24 MONTHS. The Court STAYED the sentence and placed the defendant on probation to the State Department of Corrections for a period of 3 YEARS. Conditions of probation include: -Serve 11 MONTHS in the House of Correction with work release privilege (emphasis in the original)

The man is here ILLEGALLY, has no valid license, is drunk and driving the wrong way on a highway causing an innocent party to crash, and he gets 11 MONTHS IN JAIL WITH WORK RELEASE PRIVILEGES?? Are you KIDDING me??? What are the chances you or I would receive the same sentence? What the hell was going through the minds of the prosecutor and judge?? Why in the world was the sentence suspended? How likely is it that he will in fact be deported after serving the so-called sentence? And what, for the love of GOD, don't people understand about the word ILLEGAL. Dude's not even supposed to be here, yet he gets the privilege of working while serving this pissant sentence?

Friends, it's no wonder we have such an ILLEGAL immigration problem. Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

Get to Have???

2011-10-06T10:38:00.000-05:00

I was reading this article in the paper and a quote jumped off the page, hit me between the eyes and made my head explode. This was said by Khalil Coleman, Community Organizer and spokesman for Occupy Milwaukee.

"We're fighting for the 99% of people against the wealthiest 1% who get to have everything while everybody else suffers," he said. "It's about educating people and making them aware of what's going on"

Get to have? GET to have?? And how, Mr. Coleman, do you think they "get to have" the wealth? Perhaps by working their ASSES off for it? While all you professional protesters are busy organizing, sitting in, tuning out, protesting, or whatever the hell you do all day every day, MOST of us are busting our humps working and trying to live within our means with what money is left after the various municipalities and governmental agencies take whatever they can get. And we attempt, with whatever is left, to plan for our future, our retirement, our children's higher education. For we, you see, are NOT counting on handouts from the government. We believe that our lives and our futures are up to US - not some feel good agency.

I find it rather ironic that y'all sit there and tweet, facebook, youtube about the loss of Steve Jobs on your Iphones, Ipads and the like while wanting to take down wall street, stop corporate greed, redistribute wealth, or whatever the hell you're trying to do. Mr. Jobs was the ultimate capitalist. What do you think would have happened in the 70's and 80's if society was the way you wish it to be? Do you seriously think Steve Jobs and Apple would be where they are today if the government tried to get their sticky little paws on his "wealth"? What motivation would there be for creating new technology, for employing key people? Apple employs approximately 50,000 people worldwide. Do you seriously think that the company would be where it is today if the government thought it better to take the wealth rather than let Steve Jobs continue to use his brilliance and foresight to advance the world of technology?

Get a freakin' grip. How DARE you suggest, you little twits, that it is good and right to take from people who have EARNED, and give it to people who are too damned lazy, or too busy PROTESTING, to earn an honest living. And how badly are you REALLY "suffering"...with your latest and greatest of technoligical advances.

Get to have. Kiss my hard working ASS.

Simply Beautiful

2011-09-28T09:55:00.000-05:00

I saw this on facebook (Seal of Honor) today, and just had to share it. It most certainly brought a tear or two to my eyes.

Please meet Landon.. his dad Marine LCPL Carpenter made the ultimate sacrifice while serving with the 3/8 in Afghanistan earlier this year.. a month before his son was born. Never forget the price of freedom.

Amen. May God bless Landon, his mother, and all of our armed forces and their families.

Caption This!

2011-09-18T16:54:00.000-05:00

James T. Harris at the Drinking Right going away party in his honor. Photo courtesy of yours truly. And yes - I DID ask his permission before I posted this. ;)

Sonofabitch!!

2011-09-13T10:31:00.000-05:00

A great read by Doug Giles...

Apparently, I need to get a new dictionary. Yep, according to Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa the definition of a “son of a bitch” has changed.

Originally, “son of a bitch” (n), was a term chiefly used in the United States to describe an odious scallywag whom everyone disliked or something that was very difficult or unpleasant, such as, “that lug nut on that wheel was one tight son of a bitch.”

Additionally, “son of a bitch” was used to express surprise, disappointment or anger. For instance, I hear that’s what Ted Nugent shouted last year when he bumped into Rosie O’Donnell before she had her hair and makeup done for O’Reilly’s show.

Well, little children, according to Señor Hoffa, we may now call a huge percentage of Americans “sons of bitches” if such individuals …

1. Want to reduce government spending,

2. Believe that they’re taxed enough already,

3. Would like to see a reduction of the national debt and federal budget deficit,

4. Adhere to an originalist interpretation of the United States Constitution,

5. Want to see a reduction in the size and intrusiveness of government,

6. And no likey government-run healthcare—better known as Obamacare.

Yep, all you freaks, according to the well-modulated Hoffa, are one and all a bunch of “son of a bitches” [sic] who must be “taken out.”
...
Well, in all honesty I’d rather be called a “son of a bitch” than give up on the American dream for a socialistic nightmare.

Matter of fact, I’ll go a step farther and say that all who feel as I do should embrace our sonsabitchesness and revel in the fact that the esprit de corps is still alive and well in the U.S. of A. and forewarn these freaks that we intend to take this nation back to its original roots.

Go on - read the rest!

You know, whenever a conservative says anything slightly inflammatory, whether it is taken in context or out of context, the left starts screaming about hateful rhetoric, civil discourse, and on and on. Yet when Hoffa makes statements such as "son of a bitch" and "take them out" which were most definitely NOT taken out of context, I hear crickets chirping.

The double standard is simply breathtaking.

I Want Him.

2011-09-12T08:00:00.012-05:00

Meet Wyatt - my friend Daryl's cat. Though I've never met him, I can't help but LOVE this cat. Kind of looks like he's saying "f**k you" to the world.

His facial expression just reminds me of...well...ME!

Heh.

Remembering 9/11

2011-09-11T09:00:00.010-05:00

Warning: Graphic content

There are many blogs, news sites and news channels that are remembering 9/11 on her 10th anniversary. I am not going to post the pictures or videos that so many are...not because they're not poignant, but because that would be more of the same. We'll see the planes crashing into the towers and/or the towers crashing down. And I, for one, will watch each and every one of them.

I'm not saying I'm the only one to post this, but this particular video simply broke my heart. And strengthened it. I'd like to think I've never forgotten, but the events of 09/11/01 tend to fade into the background...life goes on, right? WRONG!

I have a son who is fighting on the ground overseas - against the sadistic BASTARDS who planned this attack. I am posting this video to remind everyone of what those innocent victims had to live...and DIE...through...and why we must rid the world of this evil.

God Bless this great country, and God Bless each and every one of those who are fighting or made the ultimate sacrifice in the war to keep our country safe from this evil twisted vermin.

I will NEVER forget.

An Innocent Life Shattered

2011-09-09T14:30:00.000-05:00

I'm beginning to think that it would be beneficial to my health to break my news addiction. You see, I take medication for high blood pressure, and when I see stories like this one, I can literally FEEL it shooting through the roof...

DALLAS (AP) -- A 22-year-old mother was facing child abuse charges Friday after police say she glued her toddler daughter's hands to a wall, kicked her in the stomach and beat her over a potty training issue.

Joselyn Cedillo, 2, was on life support with multiple internal injuries at a Dallas hospital Thursday, The Dallas Morning News reported ( http://dallasne.ws/pKJtEb ).

The newspaper, citing police records, said glue and paint were stuck to Joselyn's palms, and that skin had torn away in places.

One of the girl's brothers said their mother kicked the child in the stomach and beat her with a belt and shoe, according to police records.

Another sibling said she couldn't sleep during the night because she heard her mother yelling and the girl crying. She said Joselyn had been having difficulty with potty training. She said Escalona dragged Joselyn by her feet from the kitchen to another part of the apartment, put glue on her hands and stuck them to the wall.

"This is beyond abuse," said Dallas police Sgt. Brenda Nichols. "This is torture."

The story goes on to say that this animal is facing a felony injury to a child charge (gee, ya THINK?) which carries a sentence of up to life in prison.

I ran into a former co-worker the other day and we were discussing the judicial system and the fact that the victims are often "victimized" by the system. You see, her ex-husband has been convicted of horrible acts, the nature of which I will not discuss. He has yet to be sentenced, however the sentencing hearing is coming up soon and it appears that he might get all of 10 years in prison - maybe. This man's victims have had their innocence stripped away and their childhood became their nightmare. They have been scarred forever. Nothing - not any amount of counseling, therapy or remuneration will ever, EVER remove those scars.

This little 2 year old will also be scarred - physically and emotionally...IF she lives. What the HELL kind of world do we live in when a mother - the one person who is supposed to guard and protect the little ones - can commit such atrocities on a baby?? And what of her other children? Have they been abused as well? From the way the story reads, it almost sounds like such an occurrence was commonplace in that household. Is it any wonder the child had issues with potty training? And what about a father? Is he in the picture?

Friends, this story makes me physically ill. Part of me wants to cry, and the larger part wants to get that so-called "mother" in a room for 5 minutes alone. I cannot begin to imagine what this poor little child was thinking and feeling when the person who is supposed to love and cherish her was beating the shit out of her.

It is my fervent hope and prayer that the justice system does not fail this little one...that this cretin gets the maximum sentence. And I can't help but also hope that while in prison, she gets a little taste of her own medicine.

An Open Letter to National Conservative Groups from Wisconsin’s Conservative Bloggers

2011-09-06T15:36:00.000-05:00

This morning, Patrick (and likely a few others)posted the following open letter to conservative groups. I am adding my name to this list, as I agree with them 100%.

To: Chris Chocola, Club for Growth
The Honorable Jim DeMint, junior Senator from the Great State of South Carolina

It is with great disappointment that we have learned of the efforts of some conservatives on the national level to try to dictate to Wisconsin conservatives their choice for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Senator Herb Kohl. This is a tremendous opportunity for Wisconsinites to elect a second conservative senator worthy of holding the office, and one that Wisconsin conservatives will take very seriously. This is not only a choice of ideology but of character, and it is our responsibility to bring Mark Neumann’s lack of character to your attention.

While we do not question Neumann’s past contributions to conservatism while he was a Congressman, his actions during last year’s campaign are completely unbecoming of a conservative candidate.

We respectfully request the national conservative groups and individuals to take a second look at their endorsement of Neumann. We ask that since many of them missed the opportunity to come to Wisconsin during the recent battles over collective bargaining for state employees and the recall elections, they come to Wisconsin now to talk to true Wisconsin conservatives to find out what they think of Neumann before attempting to foist their choice upon Wisconsin.

We do not write this under direction or duress from any candidate, potential candidate, or candidate’s campaign. We write this under the knowledge that as the primary for United State Senate commences in earnest, we will likely go our separate ways and support any number of candidates. That is our right as Americans.

If the past election in Wisconsin has shown national conservatives anything, it is to trust in the faith of Badger State conservative activists. We had the foresight to supply the movement with current leaders and rock stars like Janesville Congressman Paul Ryan, Ashland Congressman Sean Duffy, Green Bay Congressman Reid Ribble, Governor Scott Walker, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, and even Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.

That is just in the past two years, and we assure you, there are plenty more where they came from.

Thank you,
(The Undersigned)

Owen Robinson
Blogger, Boots and Sabers, since 2003
West Bend, WI

Kevin Binversie
Blogger, Lakeshore Laments, since 2003
St. Francis, WI

James Wigderson,
Blogger, Wigderson Library & Pub, since 2005
Waukesha, WI

Steve Eggleston
Blogger, No Runny Eggs, since 2005
Oak Creek, WI

Patrick Dorwin
Blogger, BadgerBlogger.com, since 2004
Milwaukee, WI

Tim Gray
Blogger, UseYourGrayMatter.com, since 2010
La Crosse, WI

Ben Froland
Blogger, BenFroland.com, since 2009
Neenah, WI

Chris Krumenacher
Blogger, Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot., since 2009
Racine, WI

Grammar Optional

2011-09-06T13:08:00.000-05:00

This is getting completely out of control.

It's not how you speak English – it's about whether you know it at all.

That was the final word out of Arizona, where the state and two federal agencies reached a settlement over an allegation that the state was discriminating against teachers who may have thick accents or use bad grammar when teaching English-immersion classes.
...
The agencies alleged that application of a state law requiring English teachers to possess a good knowledge of the English language discriminated against Hispanic teachers and students.

I don't even know where to begin. Have we really come to a place and time in this country when ENGLISH teachers needn't know how to speak ENGLISH properly? How in the WORLD can a person who doesn't use proper grammar teach children the language?

Full disclosure: I freely admit that I'm a bit of a grammar nazi. Anyone who knows me will tell you that. I take pride in my son's ability to speak the language properly - much to the surprise and delight of many adults in his life. I also on occasion help a friend grade papers written by her high school students and can't tell you how dismayed I am when I ATTEMPT to decipher what it is they're trying to say.

It's bad enough that our younger generation is mangling the language to one that's nearly unrecognizable. How in the WORLD do we expect this to change if those who are supposed to be TEACHING the language to children are equally as ignorant as to proper grammar and/or pronunciation? What will become of those youngsters as they get older and try to make their way in the world?

Perhaps the proper use of the language is going by the wayside. I suppose these youngsters can hope that those in charge of hiring in the future are the same children whose papers I've been grading for years.

Sigh.

H/T Ol' Broad

DRQ - Lakefront Edition

2011-08-30T08:08:00.000-05:00

whore in church - Kate

lick my face - Frank

white stuff in my hair - dipity

got poked twice - Jimi

bad karma for my shit - CFR

eye candy - Jamie

Do her thingy - Ric

gettin in my pants - Kate

little one is me - Phel

no poking - CFR

shoot your d**k - Jimi

Chris got poked - Ric

adjusting something you don't have - Kate

make shit up later - Frank

pee on yourself - Ric

Dr. Seuss - Conservative Style

2011-08-26T10:52:00.000-05:00

I saw this on facebook and it led me to a new blog. Give a warm welcome to Mr. Conservative!

Blog Comments

2011-08-21T17:08:00.000-05:00

Until now, I've allowed people to comment anonymously on this blog. Unfortunately I will no longer allow anonymous comments as a result of one or more ignorant commenters. As I've always said, I welcome debate and differing views, however I draw the line at flat out nastiness and ugliness.

I wish I didn't have to do this, but as sometimes happens, one or two can ruin things for everyone.

Judge Dennis Barry - Suicide

2011-08-18T12:56:00.001-05:00

Well my friends, the rumors floating around are true.

Tom Terry, Racine County Medical Examiner, said the apparent cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, and that so far, authorities have "no reason to believe it was not a suicide."

Terry said Barry's wife reported him missing about 6:30 a.m., and that police on patrol noticed a car in Lincoln Park around 9:00 a.m., and that Barry's body was found nearby, partially in the water.

It's sad to think that a man so admired by so many felt that this was the only way out.

I sincerely hope that Judge Barry finds the peace he clearly couldn't find here.

Breaking: No Foul Play Suspected in the Death of Judge Dennis Barry

2011-08-18T12:49:00.000-05:00

In an update...

In a short news release, the Racine Police Department said foul play is not suspected at this time. Police said they responded to a missing-person report at about 7 a.m., responded to Lincoln Park and found the body at about 8:45 a.m.

Police said no more information will be released at this time.

Again - prayers going out to Judge Barry's family and loved ones. He was one of the good guys.

BREAKING NEWS: Judge Dennis Barry Found Dead

2011-08-18T10:53:00.000-05:00

I can't believe this!!!

RACINE - Racine County Circuit Judge Dennis Barry has been found dead in Lincoln Park just north of Spring Street.

Barry was the deputy chief district Judge for our judicial district. He was reportedly found dead in his vehicle.

Racine County Circuit Judge Judge Allan "Pat" Torhorst says he was notified by county officials at 9:30 a.m. today.

"I was notified as soon as they could by the county executive and the sheriff," Torhorst said.

Torhorst called the apparent death "a real loss to not only the community but the county."

There are 10 judges in Racine County Circuit Court, and every two years the rotate among assignments. Barry's most recent assignment was to civil court.

Racine County Executive Jim Ladwig said he learned of Barry's death at about 8:30 a.m. Thursday but declined to provide more details.

There are rumors floating around the courthouse regarding his cause and manner of death, but I will NOT repeat rumors until they are confirmed. Suffice it to say I am SHOCKED! Prayers to family and friends.

Normalizing Pedophilia???

2011-08-17T08:13:00.000-05:00

Just when I thought that NOTHING could surprise/disgust me, we have this...

If a small group of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals have their way at a conference this week, pedophiles themselves could play a role in removing pedophilia from the American Psychiatric Association’s bible of mental illnesses — the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), set to undergo a significant revision by 2013. Critics warn that their success could lead to the decriminalization of pedophilia.
...
B4U-ACT has been active attacking the APA’s definition of pedophilia in the run up to the conference, denouncing its description of “minor-attracted persons” as “inaccurate” and “misleading” because the current DSM links pedophilia with criminality.

Hmmm - could that be because it IS CRIMINAL????

Child advocate Dr. Judith Reisman, a visiting professor at Liberty University’s School of Law, said the conference is part of a strategy to condition people into accepting pedophiles.

“The first thing they do is to get the public to divest from thinking of what the offender does criminally, to thinking of the offender’s emotional state, to think of him as thinking of his emotional state, [and] to empathize and sympathize,” Reisman said. “You don’t change the nation in one fell swoop; you have to change it by conditioning. The aim is to get them [pedophiles] out of prison.”

I'll say it again - IT IS CRIMINAL. Their emotional state? Who gives a good Goddamn about their emotional state - what about the children they're molesting - any thoughts about THEIR emotional state???

What purpose does calling someone a ‘pervert’ or ‘predator’ serve anyway, other than to express contempt and hatred?” Kramer wrote in a March 14, 2009 blog entry on the website ReformSexOffenderLaws.org. “How is this productive? It certainly doesn’t protect children. I would urge all SO [sex offender] activists to listen to their own message: Stop buying into and promoting false stereotypes. Stop demonizing a whole class of people, and start learning the facts.”

Okay - note to Kramer - we express contempt and hatred because these perverts are contemptable and hated.

There is just SO much wrong with this. How is it "normal" for an adult to lust after a child? How can we decriminalize pedophilia when the children who are the potential victims are in no way, shape or form able to understand, let alone consent, to what these animals want.

I have one question for all these so-called experts. Would YOU leave these pieces of male bovine excrement alone with YOUR children? Would that "relationship" be fine and dandy with you? If so, you belong in prison. If not, you're a hypocrite.

Tragic

2011-08-14T12:05:00.000-05:00

Heartfelt prayers going out to all those affected by the tragedy in Indiana. The pictures and video are horrific.

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana State Police say a fifth person has died after a stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair Saturday, sending steel scaffolding into the terrified crowd below among fans awaiting a performance by the country band Sugarland.

Indiana State Police 1st Sgt David Bursten said Sunday that four people died when the collapse happened and the fifth person died overnight at a hospital.

The onlookers were heroic in their efforts to help those in need. I pray for strength and healing for the doctors, the victims and their loved ones.

Unemployment Benefits Create Jobs

2011-08-11T13:49:00.000-05:00

Isn't this awesome news!?

"I understand why extending unemployment insurance provides relief to people who need it, but how does that create jobs," Wall Street Journal's Laura Meckler asked Jay Carney at Wednesday's WH briefing.

Carney responded: "Oh, uh, it is by, uh, I would expect a reporter from the Wall Street Journal would know this as part of the entrance exam."

"There are few other ways that can directly put money into the economy than applying unemployment insurance," Carney said.

Carney answers the question: "It is one of the most direct ways to infuse money directly into the economy because people who are unemployed and obviously aren't running a paycheck are going to spend the money that they get. They're not going to save it, they're going to spend it. And with unemployment insurance, that way, the money goes directly back into the economy, dollar for dollar virtually."

"Every place that, that money is spent has added business and that creates growth and income for businesses that leads them to decisions about jobs, more hiring. So, there are few other ways that can directly put money into the economy than applying unemployment insurance, Carney said.

Are you EFFING kidding me? This dunce makes it sound like everyone who is collecting an unemployment check (and I myself know far too many people in this situation) are out hootin' & hollerin' and having a good ol' time with that money.

Get serious!!! MOST people on unemployment have a home (or did), families, bills to pay. Their unemployment check is a fraction
of what they were making while employed. I'd venture to guess that most of the people collecting unemployment are trying to figure out which bills to pay this month and which they can put off until next month. I know folks who are trying to figure out how they're going to pay their mortgage and whether or not they can cut down on certain insurance coverage. Does this jackass REALLY believe that the money they receive is creating jobs?

Ya know - this sounds curiously like something Nancy Pelosi said about a year ago. Tell me again how many jobs have been created?

Un-freakin-believable.

Wisconsin Has Spoken

2011-08-10T08:22:00.000-05:00

Note to the “other” side:

In the months leading up to the 2010 elections, it became very apparent that Wisconsinites were not happy with the status quo. We were disgusted with the current administration. We were tired of taxing, spending, raiding funds, the unions playing puppet master to Doyle’s puppet. We no longer wanted to be a state which was known as a business owner's nightmare and a trial lawyer’s dream. In essence, we were looking for (to borrow a phrase) change we could believe in.

I assumed, foolishly perhaps, that by November 3, 2010, the message was sent loud and clear. Not only did a virtual unknown beat 3 term senator Russ Feingold, but Republicans took the house, senate and Governor's mansion. It couldn't be much clearer than that, could it?

Since that time, we the people have had to deal with all manner of temper tantrums from the left. They simply DO NOT know how to lose gracefully. We've had to deal with special interest groups sending thousands of people to trash our capitol. Then there were the Senate Democrats who, in a gross dereliction of duty, ran away to another state in order to avoid voting on a bill to which they were opposed. Not to mention lawsuits and recall elections. And during all that, the current administration managed to do its job, and quite well I might add.

In an historic recall campaign, tens of MILLIONS of dollars flooded into Wisconsin from special interest groups to support the democratic candidates. The ads were played ad nauseum, yet not one ad had any substance. They could no longer play the collective bargaining card, as story after story will demonstrate how that is WORKING for school districts and municipalities. Quite frankly, the ads on both sides of the aisle got incredibly annoying.

Well folks, you tried, and you lost. The Republicans retained control of the senate. Y'all gave it your best shot, but it's OVER. FINISHED. Nothing to see here - move along.

So please. I'm begging you. The people have spoken time and time again. We are quite pleased with the current administration. ENOUGH with the lawsuits. Enough with the "recall Walker" garbage. If you care even the tiniest bit about democracy, the electoral process, and a government that is supposed to be of the people, by the people and FOR the people, LEAVE IT ALONE.

Wisconsin has spoken. Please hear her message.

Fair Share?

2011-08-09T08:22:00.000-05:00

As most of us are aware, as the stock market tanked, the President made yet another appearance on TV which was supposed to put our mind at ease. Essentially, we're supposed to forget that for the first time in history, our country's credit rating was downgraded. And don't worry your little head about the fact that the Dow closed down 634 points. It's okay - the Prez has our back!! Now doesn't that make you feel better?

One thing Obama said yesterday really stuck with me...

“Our challenge is the need to tackle our deficits over the long term. Last week, we agreed to [across-the-board cuts to domestic and defense spending.] There’s not much further we can cut in either of those categories. We need to couple those spending cuts with two additional steps — tax reform that will ask those who can afford it to pay their fair share and modest adjustments to health programs like Medicare." (Emphasis added)

I'd like to ask Mr. Obama a few questions - who, pray tell, will decide "who can afford it"? This wonderful super committee? And on what criteria will "they" decide who can and cannot afford it? What about the 47% of Americans who pay no income taxes? Can't they afford their fair share?

Secondly, since when is a tax voluntary? Seems to me that if we don't pay our taxes, we can get into some pretty serious trouble. Mr. President, are you really going to "ask", or are you going to demand?

Why don't you say what you really mean sir. You're not going to "ask those who can afford it to pay their fair share"...you're going to demand that the people YOU deem "rich" pay more in taxes.

By the way, in case you haven't noticed, it's policies, or even talk of policies, like this that are keeping the unemployment up and the job creation down. Are you not seeing the pattern?

A Flagrant Act of Patriotism

2011-08-07T09:18:00.000-05:00

Head on over to Patrick's place to read the story behind this...

Thanks for putting this out there Patrick!

Thank You Charlie Sykes

2011-08-05T15:21:00.002-05:00

As many of you know by now, Charlie Sykes let it slip that Milwaukee's own James T. Harris is leaving the great state of Wisconsin and heading to Tucson, Arizona. What y'all don't know is that he inadvertently screwed up several months of planning.

See, back when there were just whispers of this happening, James contacted me and said if this goes down, I'd get the first interview. He's kept me abreast of the goings on since that time. Now obviously, we didn't want to conduct an interview before the deal was done. Once it was, we set a date to sit down together next week. The plan was for me to put the interview up when JAMES announced the move.

Now JTH, bless his heart, called me within minutes of that airing. The Beautiful Man told me he was going out of town, but in order to keep his promise he'd give me an interview via phone tonight if need be.

I gotta tell you, that made my day. For someone to honor their word like that is refreshing. For someone I consider a friend to prove that he is the man I thought is rewarding.

So James - here's the deal. If you want to wait until next week when we can sit down, no problem. And for the ins and outs of The Beautiful Man's move, the new show and other dirt - stay tuned for James T. - RAW.

I HAD to do it!

2011-07-28T18:15:00.000-05:00

This comes from one of my favorite humor sites, Parents Shouldn't Text...I feel it's quite appropriate given what's been going on lately...

Heh.

A Life Cut Short

2011-07-20T10:22:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had the unpleasant task of attending a wake of a friend's 26 year old son who was killed in a motorcycle accident over the weekend. It turned out to be a reunion of sorts as there were people there who I haven't seen in 10 and 20 years. There were tears, but there was much laughter too. It was interesting to me because the woman whose son tragically passed away was at one time GREAT friends with my little sister Val, whose life was also cut short 26 years ago. We talked, reminisced, cried and laughed. We sat outside in the blistering heat smoking a cigarette and downing a cold beer. Though the circumstances couldn't have been worse, I think a lot of good came from it.

I'd like to ask you to keep Kara, her daughter Sarah and son Anthony, and all friends and family in your hearts and prayers. They will most certainly need them in the coming weeks and months.

Stop The Madness!

2011-07-19T10:06:00.000-05:00

When will this end?

Today marks the first of nine summer recall elections related to the passage of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial bill to limit collective bargaining and to require public employees to pay more into their health and pension plans. Three Democrat senators and six Republican senators face a Wisconsin voting public that wants a second say about them. Nor will the efforts to recall Wisconsin legislators end with state senators. Democrats have vowed to recall Walker, as well.

But the attempt to oust the steadfast Badger State executive demands high Democratic turnout and low GOP participation in the special election — and Democrats are already worried that, if they start collecting signatures for Walker’s recall in the fall, the recall election itself will fall on the same day as the GOP presidential primary next spring when GOP turnout would be especially high. The Washington Post’s Greg Sargent explains...

Read the rest here.

You know, I'm getting damned sick and tired of this. The radio and TV are littered with political ads. It's in the news at every turn. ENOUGH ALREADY. You democrats are acting like spoiled children. You, who opposed voter ID because it would "disenfranchise" voters, are seeking to disenfranchise every single person who voted Republican in the 2010 election cycle. Can you not see that you are trampling on the will of the majority of voters?? Between protests, senators running away from home, lawsuits, and now the recall elections, we taxpayers are paying quite a price for your hissy fits.

I know you miss the days of Diamond Jim Doyle. You miss the halcyon days of taxing, spending, unions running the show. I get that. But Wisconsin decided that we'd had about enough of that. We decided to FINALLY become fiscally responsible...to balance our budget. To put our house in order. Scott Walker's campaign focused on these ideas, and guess what? Seems as if the majority of us LIKED that idea. And now that he's putting that plan into action, y'all are attempting every trick in the book to try to negate the will of the people.

Someone once said elections have consequences. It's beyond time you realize it.

Mike Tate - Are You Serious?

2011-07-14T13:07:00.000-05:00

Is this guy for real?

Madison -- State Democratic Party chairman Mike Tate called on Republicans to pay back taxpayers for the cost of running fake Democrats who lost primaries Tuesday.

But a GOP official countered that Democrats ought to bear the costs of the recall elections overall.

Republicans ran fake Democrats, calling them protest candidates, to delay the recall elections that were organized against six GOP senators for their support of Gov. Scott Walker’s legislation ending most collective bargaining by public employees. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported that those elections -- which were won Tuesday by the real Democrats -- cost an estimated more than $475,000.

“It is time to officially call for Scott Walker and the Republican party to reimburse the taxpayers for the extra cost they were forced to bear yesterday for these fake candidates,” Tate said.

But John Hogan, who is managing Senate Republicans’ recall efforts, said that Democrats and unions promoted the idea of recalls and should be paying the costs.

“This is all Mike Tate’s doing, so he should pay for the whole thing,” Hogan said.

I have two words for Mr. Tate: Joanne Kloppenburg. Those very same unions who are behind these recalls were also behind Kloppenburg's RIDICULOUS call for a recount in the Supreme Court race, at a cost to the taxpayers which far exceeds the cost of the recall primaries.

I'd also like Mr. Tate to explain why the democrats aren't paying the taxpayers' bill for the protests in Madison. It was THEIR protest - it was the unions shipping people in from other states. It was because of them that extra security had to be present at the Capitol. It was they who vandalized the building and the grounds around it. So why should the taxpayers have to foot the bill?

Mr. Tate - do you not SEE the hypocrisy??? Yes - that was a rhetorical question.

R&R with The Elder

2011-07-10T15:57:00.000-05:00

Many of you know that The Elder has been deployed since February. While I'm not at liberty to talk about the deployment, I thought I'd share some pics from R&R for those of you who have been keeping up with the family. He's back on the ground now, but he, TSC and Wiggleworm had an AMAZING time together. Here's just a glimpse...

Godspeed babe - we're all SO proud of you. Come home safe again, y'hear?

Ol' Broad Update Part...Whatever

2011-07-02T21:02:00.000-05:00

Well, our good friend is on her way home from the hospital - actually, by now she's probably tucked in with all the felines in her life. She is in pain, and DOPED up to the high heavens! And if she pays me enough, I won't publish her texts to me. Heh. Oh stop - you KNOW you'd do the same thing.

Anyway, I'm assuming we'll be hearing from her soon...thanks y'all for caring enough about Kate to visit this little corner of the blogosphere for updates. I'll keep updating until she can do it herself.

Another Ol' Broad Update

2011-06-30T09:44:00.000-05:00

Seems like Kate's surgery went well. In her words, she's "dopey, sneezy and sleezy"...would we expect anything less? In all seriousness, she's in a LOT of pain and expects to be in the hospital for about four more days. Let's keep her in our thoughts and prayers...I have a feeling she's gonna be needing them.

Good Wishes for a Good Friend: Updated

2011-06-29T07:55:00.002-05:00

Just a shout out sending prayers and good wishes to one of the most irritating, stubborn, smart-assed, patriotic and awesome people I know. Yep - I'm talkin' about Kate. She is in surgery as we speak (or at least she's supposed to be) having a total knee replacement. I know she's nervous about this, but it's a good thing. Seriously y'all - walking with Kate is like walking with a one legged duck. Trust me, I know.

ANYWAY if you're of a mind to, send some prayers, good wishes, good thoughts, whatever it is you do her way. And ya might want to include Mr. Ol' Broad in those prayers - I have a feeling Kate's gonna be a HUGE pain in the hinder for awhile. :)

Update: Well, our favorite Ol' Broad made it through surgery. She was at the hospital at 6:00 a.m...and didn't go into surgery until a little after 3:00. Now, anyone who knows Kate will appreciate this sentiment: For the sake of everyone within a 50 mile radius, I hope they had her really, REALLY tranquilized. That woman can get ORNERY...even more so than I. Of course, she has had a LOT more time to practice. Heh.

Anyway, she should be moving up to her room soon and is expected to be in the hospital for a few days. I'll let y'all know when I learn anything new.

Just for a Giggle

2011-06-28T13:42:00.000-05:00

Got this in an email.

Thanks Dad!!

Morons!!

2011-06-22T15:43:00.000-05:00

I'm getting a little tired of this crap...

A group of New York City atheists is demanding that the city remove a street sign honoring seven firefighters killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks because they say the sign violates the separation of church and state.
...
“And it’s a totally religious statement. It’s a question of separation of church and state.” He was nonplussed over how his opposition to the street sign might be perceived – especially since the sign is honoring fallen heroes. “It’s irrelevant who it’s for,” Bronstein said. “We think this is a very bad thing,”
...
“The patriotic and right thing to do is to obey our own law and to realize that we are a diverse nation, a melting pot full of different views,” Silverman added. The local and national atheist organizations said they’ve offered alternative names that would still honor the firefighters, but without any religious affiliation
...
But the city has no intention of removing the sign. If that’s the case, Bronstein said he may consider a lawsuit.

Read the whole thing. I'm not even going to get into how SICK and TIRED I am of this country bowing down to anyone who gets their nose out of joint when it comes to Christianity. What I DO want to provide is a little history lesson...not the garbage they are now teaching in academia, but REAL American History.

Nowhere in the Constitution does the phrase "Separation of Church and State" appear!

The Constitution CLEARLY states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;...

Seems to me that these litigious groups suing left and right over Christianity are inhibiting MY free exercise of religion. But I digress.

The "separation of church and state" phrase was penned by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 in a letter to the Danbury Baptists. In it he writes:

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.

So to all those idiots out there who THINK they are pointing to the Constitution when referring to "separation of church and state"...why don't you actually READ the document to which you refer?? Sheesh!

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T07:31:00.002-05:00

To my dad, my husband, my son, my brother, and ALL you awesome dads out there.

Collective Bargaining is NOT a Right

2011-06-15T14:58:00.002-05:00

My friend Fred just sent me a link to an article that really burns my britches.

Madison, WI - The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO joins a broad coalition of worker right’s organizations today in filing a legal challenge to Gov. Walker’s Budget Repair Bill. The organizations include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 24, AFSCME Council 40, AFSCME Council 48, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), the Wisconsin State Employees Union, The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union – Health Care Wisconsin (SEIU).
...
The lawsuit charges that the Budget Repair Bill violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution by stripping away basic rights to bargain, organize and associate for the purpose of engaging in union activity, which have been in place for the last half century.
...
The lawsuit charges that the Budget Repair Bill violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution by stripping away basic rights to bargain, organize and associate for the purpose of engaging in union activity, which have been in place for the last half century.

See, the unions are PISSED because one fundemental part of this bill is what they CLAIM Governor Walker is stripping from them...freedom. With this bill, people actually have a CHOICE as to whether or not they want to join the unions, and the powers that be don't like that very much. They much prefer that membership...and DUES...be mandatory.

Okay - so let's see what the Constitution has to say about that, shall we? Lemme get out my handy dandy pocket constitution - yes - I DO carry one. Okay - here we go...

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment XIV
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Now where, pray tell, does it mention "basic rights to bargain, organize and associate for the purpose of engaging in union activity?"

Anyone? Bueller?

Drinking Right - June Edition

2011-06-14T10:36:00.000-05:00

Okay y'all - it's the second Tuesday of the month and you know what that means! Come join some of the best bloggers the Cheddarsphere has to offer (and me too!) for good times. Relax with your favorite beverage and enjoy some free pizza and GREAT conversation.

As always, it's at Papa's Social Club, 7718 W. Burleigh. The fun starts around 7:00. Hope to see you there!

Fight Club

2011-06-14T08:17:00.000-05:00

This disgusts me...

Milwaukee police busted a dogfighting operation on the city's north side, rescuing six sick and injured pit bulls and arresting one man, police said Monday.
When police entered a house Friday in the 4900 block of N. 27th St., they found six pit bulls, weight equipment, drugs - most likely antibiotics - and a treadmill used to train the dogs, police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said.

Police also found a string pull, a thick piece of leather shaped like a hook with a chain, hanging from the ceiling.

Dogs are hung from the hook by their jaws to strengthen the jaws for clamping on to other animals during a fight, said Caroline Knitter, a sergeant with Police Department's sensitive crimes unit who specializes in animal abuse. The dogs' back legs also are strengthened, she said.

"That's what they use to pitch their force during the fight," she explained. "Because often in a fight, the front legs will be broken, so they need to use their back legs to be able to get up to continue to fight."

Police photos show at least one dog, a brown pit bull, was missing an eye and was badly scarred with fresh sores on its snout. Scarring is a typical sign of dogfighting, as are heavy chains, thick locks and weights, Knitter said.

Read the rest of the disgusting details here.

What the HELL is wrong with people? Hung by their JAWS??? My GOD - these are living breathing animals - who could do this?? How can any human being treat a living creature this way??

I have an idea. How about if we hang these pieces of pond scum (my apologies to pond scum) by THEIR jaws and let those poor dogs have at it. I think that's a reasonable reaction, no?

Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

The Right Direction

2011-06-09T08:16:00.000-05:00

Heh.

Executives surveyed by Wisconsin's largest business lobbying group overwhelmingly say the state is "going in the right direction," a near-complete reversal of sentiment from a year ago that comes against a backdrop of exceptional political animosity.
...
A year ago, 10% of the survey respondents said they believed Wisconsin was going in the right direction. This year, that number jumped to 88%.

Hmmm - from 10% to 88%. Not bad - not bad at all.

Hate to say I told ya so but...aww hell...no I dont. TOLD YA SO!!

Thank you Governor Walker. Wisconsin is indeed open for business.

Honor

2011-06-06T09:54:00.000-05:00

Shamelessly swiped from Ol' Broad

Excellent!

2011-06-03T20:14:00.000-05:00

I kinda went off in this post. Seems a few things have changed since this morning.

Federal Court Lifts Ban on Public Prayer at Texas High School Graduation After Uproar

A federal appeals court has lifted the order banning public prayer at a Texas high school graduation Saturday.

The reversal comes on the heels of increasing criticism of a federal judge's earlier ruling that agreed with the parents of one graduating student that religious expression during the ceremony at Medina Valley Independent School District would cause "irreparable harm" to their son.
...
"This is a complete victory for religious freedom and for Angela," said Kelly Shackelford, president/CEO of Liberty Institute, which had represented class valedictorian Angela Hildenbrand in the appeal. "We are thrilled that she will be able to give her prayer without censorship in her valedictorian speech tomorrow night. No citizen has the right to ask the government to bind and gag the free speech of another citizen."

It's wonderful to see that there is still SOME common sense out there. It's not surprising that it's Texas that will not let ONE ruin the traditions and beliefs of MANY.

The War on Christianity

2011-06-03T08:29:00.000-05:00

Warning: I am in a FOUL mood today, and this just kinda set me off.

A federal judge has ordered a Texas school district to prohibit public prayer at a high school graduation ceremony.

Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery’s order against the Medina Valley Independent School District also forbids students from using specific religious words including “prayer” and “amen.”

The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by Christa and Danny Schultz. Their son is among those scheduled to participate in Saturday’s graduation ceremony. The judge declared that the Schultz family and their son would “suffer irreparable harm” if anyone prayed at the ceremony.

Excuse me?? Irreparable harm? Are you f*cking KIDDING me? What kind of "irreparable" harm can a simple prayer cause? And this from a JUDGE???

“It’s just a big surprise that one kid can come in and change what’s been a tradition since Medina Valley started,” student Abigail Russell told KABB-TV.

Fellow student Alicia Jade Geurin agreed.

“At graduation, I would love to be able to speak from my heart,” she told the TV station. “But in this situation I feel my freedom of speech and my First Amendment is being infringed upon if I can’t say what I feel.”

Ya know - I agree with Ms. Russell. Why is it that in so many cases like this, one kid and/or one parent can take away traditions that have been around for years?? It is utterly absurd that the desires of ONE person can ruin things for so many!! What about the rights of those who wish to pray?? Why is their free speech being trampled on?

We are on a clear path in this country to wipe away any and all forms of Christianity. Christmas trees have been replaced with holiday trees. And if you want to pray, better watch where you do it...it might be against the law. I am SICK and TIRED of having the principles and beliefs that formed this great country being hacked away, bit by bit. We are becoming an amoral society...one which condones all manner of bad behavior and punishes those who are trying to be good, God-fearing Christians.

And some wonder why this country is going to hell in a handbasket? Just look around.

Joplin

2011-05-23T13:48:00.000-05:00

This little corner of the blogosphere sends heartfelt prayers to those in Joplin, MO after the horrendous destruction from the tornado. Prayers for the dead, the wounded, and ALL affected by this tragedy. I have a feeling they're gonna need all they can get as the devastation mounts. If you can spare a dollar or two, you can donate to help those in Missouri try to piece their lives back together here. If you don't, prayers sure can't hurt.

Sigh.

What a Guy

2011-05-20T15:38:00.000-05:00

This makes me smile...

One Ohio little leaguer got a big league surprise during his game.

Cincinnati Reds All-Star Brandon Phillips showed up to a little league baseball game Thursday night after 14-year-old Connor Echols tweeted him, asking him to come.
...
Phillips said he wouldn't mind going to another little league game.

"It was just something that was real nice. I can see myself doing it again," he told the Enquirer.

Go read the whole thing.

In this day and age, when most news of athletes is about how they are behaving badly, I tip my hat to Mr. Phillips. Class act.

It's About Damned Time!

2011-05-19T16:24:00.000-05:00

Voter ID Passes

Madison - Senate Republicans approved requiring people to show photo ID at the polls amid a cacophonous vote Thursday, with eight Democrats not even voting on the measure in protest and because of confusion over how the proceedings were conducted.

Immediately afterward, the crowd in the Senate gallery thundered with chants of "Shame!" as Republicans exited the chamber. Later, they chanted, "Recall!" and sang, "We Shall Overcome."

We Shall Overcome? Are you SERIOUS?? I actually find that quite offensive.

"Requiring photo identification to vote will go a long way to eliminate the threat of voter fraud," Walker said in a statement. "If you need an ID to buy cold medicine, it's reasonable to require it to vote."

But Democrats decried the measure, saying it would do little to prevent voter fraud while disenfranchising thousands of minority, elderly and rural voters.

"This is voter suppression," said Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee). "This is voter disenfranchisement. This is voter confusion. This is voter restriction. This is a voter discouragement bill."

Oh PULEEZ. How many of those who are said to be "disenfranchised" do NOT have an ID? We need an ID for nearly EVERYTHING these days. You wanna buy benadryl? ID please. Write a check? ID please. Rent a movie? ID please.

So why do the Democrats have such a problem with having to actually prove you are who you say you are in order to vote?? Fraud. MASSIVE fraud. There is no other reason why this bill has been brought up so many times, and has been vetoed by the former governor "Diamond Jim Doyle" just as many times. It's the ONLY reason that the thought of having to prove that you have the right to vote in a particular polling location makes their heads explode.

Thank you Governor Walker. It's nice to know that I will no longer be "disenfranchised" when my LEGAL vote is voided by a fraudulent vote.

A Mother's Day Poem

2011-05-08T08:00:00.005-05:00

This is a poem written by a friend I knew decades ago and with whom I've recently re-connected. Back in the day, Daryl was an aspiring singer/songwriter. I'm pleased to see he's realized that dream. Please go check out his stuff here.

Here's wishing all of you a very Happy Mother's Day!!!

Brennan Daigle - The Littlest Soldier - Update

2011-05-06T09:16:00.002-05:00

In this post I talked about Brennan Daigle and what an inspiration he was. Just now I got a comment on that post with an update.

Community members remember 10 year-old Brennan Daigle who lost his battle to brain cancer early Thursday morning.

The Ward 6 Fire Department lined American flags along Brennan's pink army truck in honor of his strength through the battle.

Classmates, friends, and community members left heartwarming messages on Brennan's pink army truck at his home.

"We're always going to miss him," said Kaleb Mouton, Brennan's friend. "He was a very good friend to all of us."

Mouton said Brennan taught him how to be strong through any situation.

"He didn't let the cancer stop him from doing anything," said Mouton. "And he used God to give him strength."

"He was such an inspiration to all of the kids at school," said Amanda Dickerson, Brennan's teacher.

Brennan's strength went much farther than the Westlake Community, however.

"He inspired people around the world on his Facebook page," said Abbie Miller, a sophomore at Westlake High School. "He was very strong, stronger than what any of us could ever think of being."

"Everybody was just so proud of him for the little soldier that he is, a little soldier of God," said Dickerson.

Thank you Bonnie for the update. And God Bless little Brennan - he was an inspiration to many. Heartfelt prayers are going out to the friends and family of Brennan - God's littlest soldier.

The Death Photo

2011-05-04T19:07:00.000-05:00

Debates are raging all over the internet as to whether or not the White House should release "the death photo" of bin Laden. I've foolishly gotten sucked into a few of these debates, and I must say some of the ghoulishly voyeuristic comments I've seen disgust me. Sure, there have been some valid points made, but the name calling and the bloodlust is quite disconcerting.

I am against releasing these photos for one simple reason. The safety of our troops. Remember when that jackass of a "pastor" burned the Qu'ran? There were deadly consequences to our troops, many of which were not reported by the MSM. I am very well aware that the killing of bin Laden will likely result in retaliatory strikes. Releasing the photograph(s) will almost certainly result in an even more dangerous situation.

But Chris - the photos will eventually get leaked, right?

I can say with near certainty that they will. HOWEVER, in my humble opinion, that is much different than our administration publishing them. If we release those photos we are knowingly putting our men and women of the military even greater danger. That is the downside of releasing the photos. So what would be the downside to NOT publishing them? And why are people so rabid to see them? To "prove" he's dead? Oh please - get real. Those who doubt will likely always doubt. They'll question the authenticity of any pictures that are released.

I believe that the powers that be weighed the risks against the rewards, and in this case made the correct decision. So I'll say something I never thought I'd say - Kudos to you Mr. President. You made the right choice.

Note: I'm doing something I've never done before - I'm turning off the comments. I will NOT get sucked into any more debates on this issue. I'm just stating my opinion in this post - not asking for any others.

There IS a difference

2011-05-02T14:49:00.000-05:00

There's been a lot of chatter going around the internet that celebrating bin Laden's death makes us no different from those who celebrated after 9/11. I found this over at Just a Few Facts:

I understand why people went to the streets to celebrate Bin Laden's death, I truly do, but do any of you recall the supporters of Bin Laden going to the streets to celebrate the deaths of 9-11? What is the difference between us now? I am glad the evil of Bin Laden is off this earth, but as a country, we scream to anyone that listens that we are a civilized, christian type people, what I saw last night, not so much.

In this post I mention that I'm conflicted in my feelings about this. But I must point out a distinct difference in the two scenarios. Those who celebrated in the streets after 9/11 were celebrating the slaughter of thousands of innocent lives. We are "celebrating" the death of the one responsible for that slaughter and is in no way, shape or form innocent.

I honestly can't say that I'm "celebrating" the fact that this monster has assumed room temperature. I was thinking about it and I think what I feel is relief. Relief that there is finally justice for the thousands of victims of 9/11. Relief that this cretin will no longer be plotting and planning to do as much harm as possible to anyone and everyone whose beliefs differ from his.

Make no mistake here my friends - this is NOT over because he's dead. The threat continues and there may be serious backlash as a result. But knowing that the mastermind of such pure unadulterated evil makes me sleep just a little better at night.

JUSTICE at Last

2011-05-02T08:06:00.000-05:00

When I first learned the bin Laden was killed, my reaction was joy. Then for a moment I chastised myself - how can a Christian rejoice in the death of another human being? And then I remembered this:

and I figured God would give me a pass this time.

My prayers continue for our men and women serving this country and I pray that there will be no serious retaliation as a result of the death of this tyrant.

A Prayer for Ryan

2011-04-26T08:51:00.000-05:00

This from a dear friend on facebook yesterday...

Prayer Request: for my student Ryan who has major issues at home which, I believe, are at least partially responsible for his behavior at school. It hurts my heart to see a child with eyes that are just . . . dead . . . and frightens me a bit too. I believe in the power of prayer so ask for yours

I met with that friend yesterday after work, and during our conversation she spoke of Ryan. This young man - well CHILD, actually - has had more than his share of pain in his life. I'm not sure why his story touched me so much...perhaps because he's not much older than the Boy...but I couldn't stop thinking about him. So I'm asking all who are inclined to pray for Ryan - that he gets the guidance he needs, the help he needs, and the love he deserves. It not only hurts my heart, but it makes me angry that there are so many children out there who are in so much pain. These are innocents - yet the actions and inactions of the adults in their lives have had dire consequences. I'm praying that it's not too late for Ryan.

Screwed Again

2011-04-20T08:08:00.001-05:00

Bend over folks - RUSD is at it again. I'm going to try to watch my language, but can't promise anything. I'm PISSED.

The School Board decided this week to extend the school year by another day, to June 13, to make up education hours missed during a sick-out Feb. 17. Many school staff members, including 25 percent of the district's approximately 1,600 teachers, called in sick amid protests over changes Gov. Scott Walker suggested to collective bargaining and retirement and health care contributions. The changes later became law, but a judge's ruling has put the law on hold.
...
Adding the school day could cost the district as much as $478,000. The cost comes from paying staff members for an extra day after they were already paid for work Feb. 17, either because they came into work as suggested or took a paid sick or personal day. Staff members are not paid on snow days, Tapp said.
...

This is all bad enough, but what tipped me over the edge was the final paragraph...

"(The school year extension) is necessary because we had one extra snow day and school was closed on February 17, 2011," the release stated. "There is very little we can do to affect the weather. Lately, there has been very little we can do to counter the reckless and unnecessary cuts to RUSD as proposed by the Governor in his Budget Bill. It is truly unfortunate that the Governor's actions continue to penalize the District, parents, students, teachers and educational assistants."

The Governor's actions? Are you f*cking kidding me? Did the governor stage an illegal sick-out? Was it the governor's illegal sick-out that forced so many unified parents to scramble for daycare so the teachers could go have their hissy fit? Was it the governor who decided it was more important to go to Madison than teach the children for whom they claim to care about, and for which we will be paying an additional $478,000??? How can you possibly blame this on the governor? Is there NO personal responsibility left anymore??

Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

Goodbye My Friend

2011-04-17T19:04:00.000-05:00

You touched my heart. You touched my soul. I'll admit I was a bit intimidated by you in the beginning, but we had a kinship. You had a huge hand in saving my life, and touched the lives of so very many others. I love you more than words can express, and I will miss you more than you'd ever know.

Rest in peace my friend. You've most certainly earned it.

Men Can Have Abortions?!?!?!

2011-04-15T08:31:00.001-05:00

Well, according to this opinion they can. It's all about inclusion, don't ya know.

Gender is this thing that we construct out of a million different characteristics. The way we hold our hands. The length of our hair. The shape of our face. What we wear. Our voices. But then, for some reason, when we got to the question of what is it really, we go to what lives between your legs. Even though that’s not how we make gender and that’s not how gender works. It’s in that assumption that gender lives in our crotches, that we end up erasing the reality that men can have abortions, men can get pregnant and give birth.

Wow. Where to even start.

Oh! I know!! Let's start with basic biology. Now, I'm not a doctor and I don't even play one on tv, but from my admittedly limited knowledge, in order to get pregnant, one must have a UTERUS. According to Merriam Webster, a uterus is: "a muscular organ of the female mammal for containing and usually for nourishing the young during development prior to birth —called also womb." [Emphasis mine]

Okay - I'm stuck here. I don't even know what else to say about this. This is so utterly ridiculous I feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. Seriously - click on the link above and read the rest. The comments are priceless as well.

Ya know what scares me? These people vote.

H/T The Daily Gut

California v. Texas

2011-04-07T10:43:00.000-05:00

I got this email at work today. Yes, I know you've probably seen it before:

The Governor of California is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out and attacks the Governor's dog, then bites the Governor.

1. The Governor starts to intervene, but reflects upon the movie "Bambi" and then realizes he should stop because the coyote is only doing what is natural.

2. He calls animal control . Animal Control captures the coyote and bills the State $200 testing it for diseases and $500 for relocating it.

3. He calls a veterinarian. The vet collects the dead dog and bills the State $200 testing it for diseases.

4. The Governor goes to hospital and spends $3,500 getting checked for diseases from the coyote and on getting his bite wound bandaged.

5. The running trail gets shut down for 6 months while Fish & Game conducts a $100,000 survey to make sure the area is now free of dangerous animals.

6. The Governor spends $50,000 in state funds implementing a "coyote awareness program" for residents of the area.

7. The State Legislature spends $2 million to study how to better treat rabies and how to permanently eradicate the disease throughout the world.

8. The Governor's security agent is fired for not stopping the attack. The State spends $150,000 to hire and train a new agent with additional special training re: the nature of coyotes.

9. PETA protests the coyote's relocation and files a $5 million suit against the State.

Texas :

The Governor of Texas is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A Coyote jumps out and tries to attack his dog.

1. The Governor shoots the coyote with his State-issued pistol and keeps jogging. The Governor has spent $0.50 on a .45 ACP hollow point cartridge.

2. The Buzzards eat the dead coyote.

And that, my friends, is why California is broke and Texas is not.

A Note to RUSD

2011-03-31T09:41:00.000-05:00

Dear Racine Unified School District:

Lemme get this straight. You walk off the job to go protest in Madison, and when you ARE back in the classroom you diss our governor in the classroom in front of my child. You then send out mailings, emails, and finally you robocall me to go to a meeting tonight to convince me to vote yes on the referendum to give this sorry excuse of a school district tens of millions of dollars? This after you've used "the children" to pass several other referenda in the 10 years I've lived in Racine?

NOT BLOODY LIKELY!!!

A Soldier's Take on the Wisconsin 14

2011-03-30T08:45:00.000-05:00

A complete copy and paste from Kevin Binversie

A letter to the editor from a Wisconsin soldier serving in Afghanistan:

To the editor,

I am a soldier serving in the U.S. Army currently serving in Afghanistan.

I am writing as a result of recent actions, or lack of actions, in the state Senate. I am fully aware of the situation and the terms brought to the table concerning the budget and the legislation to fix it. What concerns me are not the issues at all.

Regardless of party or political view, the actions of the Democratic senators were appalling! Running away from a vote because of the fear of failure is wrong on many levels.

First of all, as a politician it is an obligation to vote on matters regarding the state and the welfare of the people of the state. An American citizen has a right to vote, which means they may choose to vote how they see fit or not to vote at all. As a senator the right to vote is now not only a right but an obligation.

Also I see a very large double standard in a senator campaigning and asking for votes to run away from a vote themselves. The job of a senator in this situation is to vote "yay" or "nay" and let the votes fall as they may. This is how democracy works, not to act like cowards and run. Running abandons Democracy and all of the American people they swore to represent.

Regardless of any views on this war we are fighting right now, my comrades and I are American soldiers. As soldiers we fight to defend democracy. Democracy is based very largely on the right-and as a senator the obligation-to vote. By "running away" the 14 Wisconsin senators slap democracy in the face, therefore slapping all who defend it in the face! Being from Wisconsin I am heartbroken and extremely let down by the appalling actions of these senators on a public, national stage.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter; So help me God."

The above is the oath of office which each Wisconsin senator swears to when entering office. The end of that oath states, "I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter; So help me God." This statement does not state, "I will vote when I feel like it and abandon my office which I have sworn to uphold when the result may be other than I would like to see." I know for a fact, having worked in the wonderful state of Wisconsin, that if any company employee blatantly decided to walk out on their job and to publicly disgrace the company they worked for they would be terminated immediately.

This may sound as a bold request to some but I am calling for the resignation of all 14 of the senators who abandoned their job, the people of the state of Wisconsin, and their duty as political officers, and publicly disgraced the entire state.

I fear what our state and furthermore our country will become if this type of action is allowed to continue without consequence.

A very concerned and insulted American soldier,

Justin Cook

Well said, sir, and may God keep you safe as you proudly serve this country. Thank you for your service.

Wait - WHUT???

2011-03-29T13:41:00.000-05:00

Ya know, sometimes I just gotta shake my head. I certainly did while reading this.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Authorities in southwest Florida say a 17-year-old girl pointed a gun at her mother, pistol-whipped her and forced her to drive to a dealership to buy her a used car.

The sheriff's office in Lee County said Monday that the teen has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, among other counts, and was being held at a juvenile detention center. The Associated Press doesn't identify minors charged with juvenile crimes.

According to officials, the mother said she didn't want to press charges because her daughter had been accepted to several Ivy League schools.

Huh???? Okay, so the kid pistol whips mom, holds her hostage at gunpoint and forced her to buy a car, but because she's allegedly been accepted to several Ivy League schools, that's acceptable behavior??? I wonder what she's going to do to her professor if she gets a bad grade!

Sheesh!! It's no wonder I like animals better than most humans!

Wanna Help Phel?

2011-03-29T08:48:00.000-05:00

A fellow blogger and someone I'm privileged to call a friend, one Mz. Phelony Jones, is asking for our help.

I'm still pretty new to cycling, so this will be very challenging for me. I'm also about as new to fund raising as I could be, but I'm ready to put myself out there and ask you for your financial support for my ride. Even if you can make a small donation, it will be very appreciated. Not just for me, but for kids and young adults in the community who like me, derived much benefit from the arts while growing up.
...
If you donate through the blog - I will write your name and donation amount on my very own limbs on the day of the ride. Just enter "Go Phel!" in the comment section for your donation and "Whallah!", you're a write-in for race day. Prime real estate such as quads and forearms go to the highest donations.

Go on - check it out!!!

Wisconsin Teachers

2011-03-28T19:56:00.000-05:00

Okay, we've all heard the whining and complaining from the teachers about how they're going to lose their house, lose their car, starve and be homeless. Click on this link to see what those teachers REALLY earn.

Yeah - I feel SO sorry for them.

Cuz it's Friday and it made me giggle.

2011-03-25T08:10:00.000-05:00

SC Johnson - A Family Company???

2011-03-24T16:47:00.000-05:00

This is despicable!!!

RACINE - Curtis Johnson, the former chairman of Diversey Inc., was charged Thursday in Racine County Circuit Court with sexual assault of a child.

The 55-year-old billionaire and son of the late Sam Johnson is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. If convicted he faces up to 40 years imprisonment.

In court Thursday, Johnson, who is not in custody, was formally charged and given a $500,000 cash bond. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim and no contact with any minor female children unless in the presence of another adult.

Court Commissioner John Bjelajac also ordered Johnson to not leave the state and to surrender his passport.

According to the criminal complaint, Johnson had inappropriate sexual contact with the now 15-year-old girl as many as 15 to 20 times. The girl told authorities that the inappropriate behavior started when she was between 6th and 7th grade, and the last incident occurred in November of 2010, according to the complaint.

Between 6th and 7th grade?!?!? I seriously hope that the justice system throws the book at him, though him being a billionaire Johnson makes that highly unlikely. I'm sure there will be a HUGE settlement to the family to attempt to keep them quiet.

However, if there is any justice in the world, he will get at least a little prison time and serve it with the general population. Pedophiles are the lowest of the low - even in prison. And I hope he gets EXACTLY what he deserves in there.

Truly disgusting!!

Yes Anaiah, You ARE a Hero

2011-03-24T08:31:00.000-05:00

What a brave little girl...

Nine-year-old Anaiah Rucker is being hailed as a hero after saving her sister from being hit by a truck last month. Anaiah told The Today Show's Ann Curry today that she didn't think twice before pushing her little sister out of the path of the vehicle as the pair crossed the street in Madison, Georgia to get to the school bus stop.

Anaiah took the hit, instead, and lost a leg and a kidney for her bravery.

"I love her more than anything," Anaiah told Channel 2's Tom Jones of her five-year-old-sister, Camry. Anaiah said it was raining and her sweatshirt hood was covering her eyes as she and her sister crossed the road. The girls' mother, Andrea Taylor, witnessed her older daughter's act of bravery from the porch of their home, where she watches the girls catch the bus each morning.

"I saw the truck and I was like, 'No,'" Taylor told Channel 2. "I seen my daughter kinda snatch my 5-year-old back, and if it wasn't for that, my 5-year-old would have ... I don't think she would have made it." The driver wasn't charged after police decided he was not at fault.

Today, Anaiah told Curry that she doesn't feel she deserves to be called a hero. She said her sister "was too young to be hit like this, and if she got hit she wouldn't hardly be alive. She would be probably gone forever."

Anaiah might also not be alive if it weren't for bus driver Loretta Berryman. Berryman pulled over immediately and started performing CPR on Anaiah, who wasn't breathing. "I instructed her mom to hold her head while I gave mouth-to-mouth, chest compressions," Berryman told NBC News. "As she took a breath, my first thing was, 'Thank God.'"

To see a video and/or find out how to help this family, click here.

Rest In Peace

2011-03-22T08:32:00.000-05:00

How tragic that this young man survived two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan only to be killed while in the line of duty by a coward who then shot himself.

Thank you for your service Officer Birkholz, and may your murderer rot in hell.

The Insanity That Surrounds Me

2011-03-18T10:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I got together with a friend for a few beers after work. It was not to celebrate St. Patrick's Day...in fact, when we made our plans I forgot that yesterday was the holiday. Rather, it seems we both wanted to sit down and get a respite from the insanity that surrounds us.

Naturally, part of the conversation involved politics. How can it not? Anyone who pays the least bit of attention to what's going on in the outside world can't help but hear about all things political. Living in Wisconsin, this is especially true. The goings-on in Wisconsin for the past month or so have not only made national news, but they have attracted ~~protesters~~ thugs from across the country. I do not use that term lightly. If you pay attention only to the MSM, you may not get the full picture of what's been going on. Oh sure - you see some bits and pieces, but even they are being reported with a left leaning slant. For the entire picture, one usually has to turn to alternative media - blogs and such. In this post, I published the despicable threatening email that was sent to Republican Senators.

One such blog has a very comprehensive timeline of what's been going on only this month, much of which you may not have heard about. Below are just a few examples.

March 17th, 2011: Threats against WI blogger and Madison Law Professor Ann Althouse:

WE WILL FUCK YOU UP. We will throw our baseballs in your lawn, you cranky oldpieces of shit, and then we will come get them back. What are you gonna do? Shootus? Get Wausau Tea Patriots to form an ad hoc militia on your front lawn? That wouldbe fucking HILAROUS to us. You could get to know the assholes on your side in realfucking life instead of sponging off the civil society we provide for you every single dayyou draw breath.

March 17th, 2011: WI Republican Senator’s property vandalized:

The office of Sen. Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse) said the senator has been subjected to damage of personal property and has received threatening statements in the wake of mass protests in recent weeks over Gov. Scott Walker’s budget-repair bill.

According to Rose Smyrski of Kapanke’s staff:

Nails were scattered on his driveway twice last week. The incidents were reported to the La Crosse Police Department.

Also, Kapanke’s’s windshield was damaged on March 9 after the Senate voted on the budget-repair bill.

March 4th, 2011: Live ammunition found at WI Capitol:

Earlier Thursday, police reported finding dozens of rounds of live ammunition outside the Capitol.

Dane County deputies found 11 rounds near the State Street entrance Thursday morning, UW-Madison Police Chief Susan Riseling said. Twenty-nine rounds were found near the King Street entrance, and one round was found near the North Hamilton Street entrance, Riseling said.

And that's just a few. Check out some videos here.

So I ask you - what happened to the "call for civility" - is this the civil discourse the dems were pleading for? Where is the outrage for such heinous threats? And what, pray tell, would the reaction be if it were Republicans making such threats to Democrats? Would the police investigate? Would there be public outrage? I think the answer is obvious.

Insanity.

NCAA Brackets

2011-03-16T13:21:00.000-05:00

Looks about right to me...

Totally swiped from Peter

Incomprehensible

2011-03-14T13:43:00.001-05:00

I believe that the word "incomprehensible" is a fairly accurate description.

If you can help - even a little - click here
I'm sure anything will help right now. Continued prayers for Japan.

UPDATE: For a more comprehensive slideshow, click here. Absolutely heartbreaking.

Death Threats to Republicans

2011-03-10T11:19:00.001-06:00

Will the person(s) who wrote this have to face any consequences? This is a crime, yet so is much of what the protesters in Madison have been doing, yet there have been no consequences. Let's hope someone takes THIS seriously.

From: XXXX
Sent: Wed 3/9/2011 9:18 PM
To: Sen.Kapanke; Sen.Darling; Sen.Cowles; Sen.Ellis; Sen.Fitzgerald; Sen.Galloway; Sen.Grothman; Sen.Harsdorf; Sen.Hopper; Sen.Kedzie; Sen.Lasee; Sen.Lazich; Sen.Leibham; Sen.Moulton; Sen.Olsen
Subject: Atten: Death threat!!!! Bomb!!!!

Please put your things in order because you will be killed and your ffamiles will also be killed due to your actions in the last 8 weeks. Please explain to them that this is because if we get rid of you and your families then it will save the rights of 300,000 people and also be able to close the deficit that you have created. I hope you have a good time in hell. Read below for more information on possible scenarios in which you will die.

WE want to make this perfectly clear. Because of your actions today and in the past couple of weeks I and the group of people that are working with me have decided that we've had enough. We feel that you and the people that support the dictator have to die. We have tried many other ways of dealing with your corruption but you have taken things too far and we will not stand for it any longer. So, this is how it's going to happen: I as well as many others know where you and your family live, it's a matter of public records.

We have all planned to assult you by arriving at your house and putting a nice little bullet in your head. However, we decided that we wouldn't leave it there. We also have decided that this may not be enough to send the message to you since you are so "high" on Koch and have decided that you are now going to single handedly make this a dictatorship instead of a
demorcratic process. So we have also built several bombs that we have placed in various locations around the areas in which we know that you frequent.

This includes, your house, your car, the state capitol, and well I won't tell you all of them because that's just no fun. Since we know that you are not smart enough to figure out why this is happening to you we have decided to make it perfectly clear to you. If you and your goonies feel that it's necessary to strip the rights of 300,000 people and ruin their lives, making them unable to feed, clothe, and provide the necessities to their families and themselves then We Will "get rid of" (in which I mean kill) you. Please understand that this does not include the heroic Rep. Senator that risked everything to go aganist what you and your goonies wanted him to do. We feel that it's worth our lives to do this, because we would be saving the lives of 300,000 people. Please make your peace with God as soon as possible and say goodbye to your loved ones we will not wait any longer. YOU WILL DIE!!!!

Now - can you begin to imagine the reaction this would get if it were an email to the Democrats? I'll be curious to see what, if any, reaction the MSM has to this filth.

H/T Sykes

Brennan Daigle - The Littlest Soldier

2011-03-10T09:54:00.000-06:00

I heard about this on the news yesterday, and it brought tears to my eyes.

Most kids might hope to get an Xbox or an iPod Touch for their 10th birthday. Brennan Daigle got a reception from a formation of soldiers, a ride in a camouflaged National Guard Humvee--and induction as an honorary member of the Army.

Since October 2009, Brennan, from Sulphur, Louisiana, has been battling embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma--a rare form of cancer in which muscular tumors attach themselves to bones, writer Rachel Reischling reports in the Fort Polk Guardian. Last month, doctors told his family there was nothing more they could do, and gave Brennan just weeks to live.
...
Becky Prejean, who runs a charity for sick kids called Dreams Come True of Louisiana, heard about Brennan's illness, and got in touch with his mother, Kristy Daigle. Brennan's greatest wish, Daigle told Prejean, was to meet some soldiers in person, before his illness worsened. So the two women contacted the Fort Polk Community Relations Office, which put out a call for a few soldiers to attend Brennan's tenth birthday on Feb. 26.

Forty showed up.

Brennan had been told he was going fishing with his father. But when he got out of his dad's truck, he was greeted by a formation of 1st MEB soldiers, standing at attention in front of a National Guard Humvee. After a moment, they all shouted "Happy Birthday, Brennan!," and broke into applause.
...
Brennan and his best friend Kaleb were invited to check out the Humvee, and Brennan sat behind the wheel. Then soldiers took the two boys out for a spin. Afterward, Brennan and Kaleb put their heads out the hatch on the vehicle's roof, while the crowd snapped pictures.

But it wasn't over. Brennan got out of the Humvee and was led to the front of the formation, where he shook hands with each soldier. He was inducted into the Army as an honorary member, then given a coin symbolizing merit and excellence, as well as a military jacket with his name on the pocket, and other Army-themed gifts.

"Brennan, you exemplify what personal courage means," Pfc. Kamesha Starkey, 1st MEB, told him.

"Words can never express what I felt seeing all those soldiers there, knowing some of them had just come back from Iraq and still took time out for just one little boy," Kristy Daigle said. "Just to know that they care enough to give their all, to give their love and support to a little boy is phenomenal. It says so much about our men and women who serve our country in the armed forces."

Godspeed Brennan - you truly ARE a profile in courage. And once again, my heart overflows with gratitude for our military men and women. They're making a difference in so many different ways.

Happy 21st Birthday!!

2011-03-10T07:00:00.008-06:00

Happy Birthday babe! I remember the day you were born as if it was yesterday. Come home to your beautiful family safe and sound, y'hear? I love you!

Jack Senzig Update

2011-03-03T14:22:00.001-06:00

I introduced you to Jack Senzig in this post. Apparently Mr. Senzig didn't like all of the wonderful publicity he was getting. According to Fred the vile pictures have been removed from the "new" blog, and if you try to click on his "joinchoir" blog it's now private.

Whassup with that?? I thought Mr. Senzig just wanted to share his thoughts...I guess he only wants to share them with those of like mind or those he indoctrinates.

What a good example you're setting as a teacher Mr. Senzig!

Jack Senzig and Ms. C - a Tale of Two Teachers

2011-03-03T08:22:00.001-06:00

Allow me to introduce you to Ms. C. She is a high school teacher and one of my best friends. This does not make me biased; rather it gives me clarity. Many people, including my friends, romanticize the life of a teacher. They get off work at 3:00. Well, school may end at 3:00, but that certainly doesn't end the work day. Ms. C and many of her colleagues rarely leave the school before 5:00, and even then they take work home. Grading, planning, what have you. But wait - don't they have planning periods? Well yes, they do. Say they have one or two planning periods a day. Do you honestly expect them to be able to do lesson plans for 4-6 classes, grade the papers from those classes and at the same time leave their door open for the (unfortunately) few students who actually give enough of a shit about their education to ask for help or guidance? Not possible.

They have summers off. Well, yes and no. While some may be able to relax and enjoy their summers, many do not have that luxury. You see, Ms. C is a divorced mother of two college aged children and one high schooler. What does this mean? This means teaching summer school or some other summer job for extra income.

It is tough? Oh hell yeah. Whether a teacher wants it or not, politics is a part of their life. I can't tell you how many times I've been on the other end of the phone or across the table from Ms. C when she was in tears because of another policy decision that was made not in the best interest of the students or the classrooms, but for political reasons. She tries her damndest NOT to get involved in the politics of teaching because you see, for her, it IS about the children. They are not her students - they are "her kids."

Now allow me to introduce you to Jack Senzig. Mr. Senzig is a middle school choir teacher for Racine's Gifford Middle School. Mr. Senzig ~~has~~ had a blog on which he posted pictures and anecdotes about his choir. He was justifiably proud of these kids. But then...THEN...

The posts turned to politics. And I'm not talking subtle politics. His first political post was entitled Governor Walker Wages War On Unions. In another post he writes:

For the haters, go back and read what I posted. I am merely trying to make sure you know that this is a volatile time and you need to know it will effect the choir. Canceling rehearsals was needed to protect the kids from being left unattended. I did not know exactly what would happen but I could not guarantee that I would be here to watch the kids. As for my political views, yes I hoped to inform those of you who would consider helping. Read the title of this blog, it is not a school website, it is my way to communicate with the world. If you don’t want your children to read this keep them off the internet.

Pardon me, but wasn't this the site to which the children could go read about their choir and see their pictures? Okay then.

His final post was titled GCC, Tour and Musical Cancelled. Yep - that's right - he has cancelled all musical events. Events these middle school children were looking forward to and worked hard for. Now, the Boy attends Racine Unified School District, yet I don't recall getting any notices cancelling his band's trip to St. Louis. In this last post Senzig links to his new blog. A blog, he says, is for his political views. I don't know about you, but it seems like his political views were rather in your face in the current blog. In any case, click on that link and what do you find from this teacher?

Ms. C and Jack Senzig. The former worthy of admiration...the latter not worthy of the title teacher.

H/T Fred

Enough!!!

2011-03-02T13:59:00.000-06:00

For the past couple of weeks, almost every blogger I know has covered the events unfolding in Wisconsin. Some in great detail, some in a more general sense. So what's with the lack of coverage in this little corner of the blogosphere? I mean, with all that is going on in Wisconsin and nationally, this should be a blogger's paradise! Why the silence here?

I'm not really sure, except to say that I'm sick of it all. I'm tired of every entry on my facebook page talking about it. I'm sick of turning on the TV and stories about what's happening in Wisconsin are headlining both the local and national news. The opposition to Governor Walker's budget repair bill has reached new lows. The protesters are getting downright dangerous. For God's sakes - we even have members of the legislature threatening death to a colleague. The Fugitive 14 are still acting like children. I still can't help but ask the question - what are they hoping to accomplish?

Seriously - get your asses back to work. If this bill and this budget are as detrimental as you say it is, it will fail miserably, chaos will ensue, Wisconsin will implode and fall off the face of the earth, and you can all pat yourselves on the back for being so wise.

In any event, I've had about enough. If that relegates me to the status of "not so serious" or "irrelevant" blogger so be it. This whole ugly situation has done something I really didn't think possible. I've lost my passion for politics.

Now, to be sure, this could be due in part to various goings on in my personal life. I've been focusing on some things that have taken up much of my time and are of a rather serious nature. I'm really hoping that this apathy is a temporary condition. It's gotten to the point that except for the fact that I promised a good friend a ride, I wouldn't even go to Drinking Right next week - I'm THAT sick of hearing/talking about the political goings on right now.

Yep - that about says it all.

A Test

2011-02-26T10:46:00.000-06:00

Yep - that about sums it up.

Disgraceful!

2011-02-25T11:23:00.000-06:00

I've been pretty quiet with respect to what's going on in Wisconsin. I mentioned it in this post, but other than that I haven't really said much. Since that post, the story has gone national and everyone and their brother has put their two cents in, whether they know what they're talking about or not.

When Obamacare was shoved down our collective throats despite the fact the citizens were against it, we heard "elections have consequences". Well, that holds true on both sides of the aisle.

Wisconsin is in a budgetary crisis. The reason for this is the past practices of bowing down to the unions, raising taxes sky high, therefore running businesses out of the state, and when faced with a shortfall, illegally raiding set-aside funds to fill the hole. Scott Walker ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility. He promised to FIX the budget - not put a band-aid on it for a couple of years, but to REPAIR it. Wisconsinites apparently took a shine to this idea, because not only did Scott Walker win the gubenatorial election, but Republicans took over the house and the senate. Now we have an administration that is attempting to do exactly what they promised - repair the budget. Imagine that.

Ahhh - but the democrats don't like that. Previously, their modus operandi would be to whine and cry, and if that didn't work they would resort to thuggery to bend the administration to do their bidding. When this didn't work with Governor Walker, what did they do? They ran away. They skipped town. Now, I don't know about you, but in MY world, things happen in my office that I don't agree with. Frequently. HOWEVER, I'm kinda thinkin' that if I just ran away because I didn't agree with the boss or the majority of the coworkers, I'd be FIRED!!! Yet these senate democrats are, in effect, holding they're breath till they turn blue hoping that the State of Wisconsin will cave. Disgraceful!! They have become an embarrassment. And to have the nerve to call it democracy?? Sounds more to me as if they don't like the way the game is being played so they're taking their ball and going home. What they DIDN'T count on is that they don't have the only ball on the playground.

The fact of the matter is that if the bill doesn't pass today, layoffs will begin. And WHO, pray tell, will they blame that on? Well Walker, of course. They will take NO responsibility for the fact that they are trying to halt the democratic process. That if the layoffs occur, the blame will lay solely on those who decided not to show up for work. Folks - they were elected to do a job, and I don't know that the job description called for them to run away when the going gets tough. I certainly hope that these senators are teaching their children better than that. What kind of example are they setting?

To the Wisconsin 14 - get back to work. You are embarrassing yourselves and you are displaying a gross dereliction of duty. Running away and hiding out in resorts is NOT what you were elected to do.

You are a disgrace.

An Open Letter to Public School Teachers

2011-02-22T19:14:00.000-06:00

I seriously wish I could take credit for this, but I can't.

I would like to introduce myself. I am Liz Nameth and I pay your wages.

First off, I do understand your plight. Far more than you realize. It really sucks that the economy took a nosedive. Believe me. I know. Ten years ago I worked in management. Today I work as a bank teller. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful I have a job. I know too many people who don’t. But, the reality is that my wages have been cut in half. To compound the problem, my husband’s business has also declined by half. To say our finances have been devastated is an understatement.

We own three cars – one with a bad engine, another with over 200,000 miles which needs work and a third with 140,000 miles which needs work. I am thankful we have transportation. A lot of people don’t.

Our house needs a lot of work as well. Our windows are ancient and don’t hold the heat well. Our bedroom roof leaks on our bed. I am thankful we have a home. A lot of people don’t.

In the last three years, we have been able to afford to go camping once. My children don’t get Christmas or birthday presents because we can’t afford it. We struggle to make $200 feed all three of us for a month. We eat a lot of canned tuna. I am thankful to have food. A lot of people don’t.

Throughout all of this, I have continued to get up and go to work every day. I have continued to laugh and love and live. I am thankful for the abundant life I have – a husband who loves me, children who love me, a roof over my head, clothes to wear and food to eat. Compared to 90% of the world, I am wealthy beyond measure.

What does this have to do with your dilemma?

I read recently that the benefits package paid to employees in our local school district cost $20,400 per year per employee. I did the math on this. Using the highest income tax bracket of 7.75% in Wisconsin, someone in the private sector needs to earn $263,000 per year just to pay the benefits for one employee. Put another way, in my town, those benefits are covered by twenty average homeowners’ property taxes.

This has not even started to pay for the building or your wages or books or anything else needed to teach our children. This is just the benefits for the lunch lady. Is this sustainable? I don’t think so.

Don’t get me wrong. I have a lot of respect for what you do. I agree you deserve to be very well compensated. But you know what? We can’t afford it anymore. What we deserve and what we can afford don’t always line up. It sucks, I know. But that is reality.

I STRONGLY encourage you to read the rest here.
Ms. Nameth - I applaud you.

DEPLOYED!!

2011-02-19T09:57:00.000-06:00

Godspeed babe. We are so incredibly proud of you.

Welcome to my World

2011-02-17T10:04:00.000-06:00

I’ve been dehumanized – I have virtually no job protection…random quote I heard on a newscast this morning.

Welcome to my world, sistah. There is no such thing as job protection in the real world.

I awoke this morning to hear that Racine Unified School District was closed today. Nope – no snow. Not a power outage or a water main break. It’s so the teachers could go to Madison and protest.

I’m sure most of you have heard what’s going on here in Wisconsin. In fact, it’s gone national – Michelle Malkin was talking about it this morning on Fox News Channel. For those of you who don’t, many public employees are protesting Governor Scott Walker’s plan to try to fix our budget crisis. A crisis which was made in large part by former Governor Doyle’s policies of illegally raiding set aside funds and kowtowing to those same said public employees, namely the teachers unions. They OWNED him. The difficulty now is that these folks have been coddled for so long they no longer live in the real world. The sense of entitlement is breathtaking. Let’s just peek into it a bit, shall we?

They will have to contribute 5% of their pay to their pension. And the problem with that is??? Friends, in these difficult economic times, most of us can’t even contribute to our own retirement funds. In fact, some of us are actually using the funds we so carefully set aside for our future in order to pay our bills today. Yet these people are whining because they might have to actually contribute a minimal amount of their own money to their pensions? Seriously??? Why the HELL should I have to pay for their retirement?

They would be required to bay 12% of their health care costs. NOT 12% of their salary, mind you, but 12% of the cost of their Cadillac health plans. I don’t know about you, but I pay WELL over 12% of my health insurance, a plan that is nowhere NEAR as comprehensive as the plans that they have, and I’m damned glad to do it. Too many businesses, as a part of cutting costs, have cut out benefits all together. Though my costs have gone through the roof, at least I still HAVE health insurance. Yet they cry and whine because they might have to actually contribute a token amount in order to have better coverage than most of the rest of us. Get real!!!

Folks, whatever happened to caring about the children? Racine Unified is consistently one of the worst school districts in the state, yet we continue to pour more and more money into this broken system. Time for a little personal disclosure here. I pay over $13,000 – yep, you read that right – thirteen THOUSAND dollars a year in property taxes, most of which goes to this inept school district. And what do I get in return? Teachers walking off the job because they refuse to live in the same world as most of the rest of us.

I'm so glad to see that they have the children's best interests at heart.

Thank You For the Miracle

2011-02-07T13:52:00.000-06:00

No, I’m not talking about the Super Bowl, though it was a fabulous game! ;)

As most of you know, this time last week my father-in-law was in very critical condition, hanging on to life by a thread. I was told that they weren’t sure he was going to make it by the time the Boy and I got to Green Bay. During the 5 days I spent up there, I sent out several prayer requests, and the response I received was astonishing. I truly believe that it was all of the prayers and good wishes sent Freddie’s way that made the difference. Well, that and he’s a helluva fighter!! But thanks to y’all, he was able to watch his Packers win the Super Bowl last night with hubby and the Boy by his side in a hospital room overlooking Lambeau Field.

He is definitely on the mend, and hopefully will be moved to the rehab floor within a matter of days. I am once again humbled by the outpouring of support that I and the whole family received. Thank you once again for the prayers and good wishes – y’all made all the difference.

Prayer Request

2011-01-30T19:44:00.000-06:00

For all of you who are inclined to do so I would appreciate some prayers sent. My father in law is in the hospital and being transferred to a "better equipped" hospital - they think his kidneys have shut down on him. We're all scared shitless, as he is nearly 85 years old and one of the sweetest men in the world. Any good wishes or prayers would be appreciated. I will update this as I know more.

Baseball Player Quits - Says He's Not Earning His Keep

2011-01-27T08:57:00.000-06:00

Wow! I've never heard of such a thing!

Okay, Gil Meche hasn't been great since signing a big contract with the Kasas City Royals. But not many players would feel so badly about their perforace that they would walk away from a guaranteed $12 million.

Meche announced last week he will retire, giving up the payday due on the la last year of his deal. Meche has always been known for his integrity, according to The New York Times, but this move left the baseball world stunned. Meche said he just didn't like the idea of not earning his keep.

“When I signed my contract, my main goal was to earn it,” Meche told the paper from his temporary home in Lafayette, La. “Once I started to realize I wasn’t earning my money, I felt bad. I was making a crazy amount of money for not even pitching. Honestly, I didn’t feel like I deserved it. I didn’t want to have those feelings again.”

Read the rest here.
Simply incredible.

Happy Birthday Wiggleworm!!!!!

2011-01-27T07:30:00.006-06:00

To my beautiful Grandson.

I can't believe that you're a year old. It seems like just yesterday I was announcing your birth to the world! Now you're running around, laughing, singing and dancing. You have brought me unspeakable joy, as have your mommy and daddy. No matter what goes on around me, it only takes a peek at your face to make me smile. Though it kills me that you are so far away from me, your mommy and daddy do a GREAT job of keeping me up to date and letting us get to know each other on Skype, and for that I am grateful.

Now, I want you to get real close and listen - you take REAL good care of your mommy while daddy is off protecting us from the bad guys, y'hear? And don't be afraid little one - your daddy is one tough soldier, and he'll be back before you know it. (And while you're at it, tell mommy to stop yelling at me for sending y'all stuff - it's what grandmas do!)

I can't WAIT for the day I can hold you in my arms again, whenever that might be. In the meantime, have a super-duper happy birthday!

With all the love a heart can hold,
Crazy Grandma

Who Does This???

2011-01-26T09:17:00.000-06:00

Cowardly bastards!!!

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) – New York City police said an 81-year-old man and his wife were severely beaten during a robbery in the lobby of their apartment building.

Joseph and Linda Naimo of Staten Island had just closed up their store and had walked over to their apartment building next door when they were attacked Sunday night.

Police said Naimo’s 75-year-old wife suffered a broken nose, broken jaw and fractured skull. She was in stable but critical condition.

Naimo suffered cuts and bruises. He had celebrated his birthday earlier in the day. The couple’s 49-year-old son was also hurt in the attack, after suffering a gash above his left eye, which was also blackened from a blow by the thieves.

So, we have a couple of thugs who decide to beat up on an elderly couple. Nice. And for what???

The robbers got away with Naimo’s wallet, which contained $18.

$18. These low-life cowards beat the hell out of an 81 year old man and 75 year old woman for $18 measly dollars. If there is any justice in the world, these two will get a taste of their own medicine. In fact, I'd be more than happy to volunteer for the task.

Time to Pay Up

2011-01-24T08:06:00.000-06:00

I issued a challenge to Bears and Packer fans in this post. Many of you took me up on the challenge in the comments and on my facebook page. Well kids - time to pay up. Regardless of how you feel about the outcome of the game (IT SUCKED!!!), I hope you follow through. To recap, Packer fans who got on board will be donating 21 food items to a local food pantry and Bears fans will be donating 14 food items. And you really don't have to limit it to that - more is always welcome!!

Feel free to take a pic of your donations and send 'em to me...I'll publish them here if you want.

Congratulations to the Packers - now go kick some Pittsburgh ASS!!!

James T. - Up Close and Personal

2011-01-23T21:28:00.001-06:00

I've mentioned my buddy James T. Harris in the past...dude ROCKS!!! Anyway, there's a great Q&A on allaccess.com with James...here's a snippet...

1. What led you into talk radio? Why radio?

It was never my plan to be a radio talk show host. I was a public school teacher and a professional public speaker. But from the very first day I heard Rush Limbaugh on the air, I became a fan. That was in 1991. Over the years I became a caller to the local talk shows in Milwaukee and, in time, I became known as "James from Sherman Park" or "James on the West Side."

There were people who suggested that I host my own show, but I can honestly tell you that I never even entertained the thought until I was asked by a PD at 620 WTMJ to sit in with him and co-host a talk show at the station. As a frequent caller over the years, I had made an impression on the station management, and they thought I had potential. That's how I got into the business.

I will just add that, at the end of the day, I'm a person who loves ideas. Talk radio is a business, but it's also a vehicle for me to satisfy my insatiable curiosity for knowledge and interact with fascinating people who all have their own story to tell.

Go on - read the rest! Dude is awesome (for a Packer fan)!!! Seriously, if you want to get a glimpse into what makes James T. tick, go read it!!!