Brrrr..... and more weird news

It appears winter has arrived in Texas, at least for a few days. Brrr..... it's pretty chilly this morning. Fortunately, Cowboy is home today, so he can take the garbage down to the road for pick up. And walk the dogs. And bring in the firewood. I, on the other hand, am sipping my coffee and reading the blogs. Sometimes, life is really, really good.

Looks like the majority of the precipitation is going right over the top of Cowchild at college, so he's really in for a cold and wet day.

From my initial blog reading and from the Drudge Report, it appears that once again, all the news should fall into the category of "Weird News."

For instance, Drudge leads with the Dems are now breaking promises to fully implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. Well, since those recommendations have almost all been implemented, it wouldn't seem like too onerous a task to implement the remainder, but hey! Wouldn't that involve funding for a war the Dems don't believe we are actually in? Isn't this, after all, just a misunderstanding with people who want to kill us? If we are very nice to them, they will understand how sweet we are, and they will leave us alone. Right? Uh, yeh, right...

Stephen Hawking says that "man must leave planet earth."
I will be happy to provide the list of men (and a few women) who should leave.

Here's another good one. Africa Faces a Growing Obesity Problem So what's all this crap we hear constantly about Africans starving to death? Are the fat ones, the ones who ate the skinny ones? Somebody needs to get their stories straight. Either people are starving or they are fat. Choose one.

Some rich guy is trying to take over the NYT. Didn't bother reading the article. Shouldn't be too difficult to buy a failing newspaper specializing in fiction.

And then, there is the letter from that sweet, misunderstood man in Iran, Ahmadinejad issuing more threats to America. Haven't read that either. I think that one will have to wait until this evening after a glass of wine.

Apparently, Danny Divito, is on U-tube Bush bashing. How original. Imagine that, a Hollywood type bashing the President during a time of war. No news here...move along.

Like I said, its all "weird news."

On the other hand, Dafydd at Big Lizards has a couple of brilliant posts.

One starts out:

A federal judge has struck down a critical element of "connecting the dots" to fight against terrorism: she says it's unconstitutional to freeze assets of terrorist groups -- because terrorist groups are designated by the president, rather than by a laborious, multi-year process involving Congress and the judiciary, clerks and aides, and the entire labor force of the Bureau of Procrastination... during which multiple challenges could be filed, rulings made and overturned, written, published, discussed, stamped, mailed, folded, spindled, and mutilated, stretching the procedure out long enough to give the bad guys plenty of time (even at a snail's pace) to transfer all the funds to another dummy organization.

Read the whole thing. It's great!

The other post is a post about the Federal judge ordering $100 bills to be made identifiable by blind people. This one is priceless, no pun intended, and complements nicely my recent comments on this issue.

Well, I think I am going to start some chili in the crock pot and make a pan of cornbread and an apple pie. Now, that's comfort food for a very cold day. Cowboy will be very pleased.

Cowgirl out.

Busy day on the ranch!!

No musings thus far today about politics or the state of the world. Today, has been one of those, "Oh my gosh!! The cold front is moving in!!!" days. In North Central Texas, we have enjoyed very warm weather thus far, with a few coolish days here and there, but mostly wonderful weather. Except dry. Very, very dry.

By 9:30 a.m. I had both of the manure-divers bathed and in the kennel, so they can come inside the next few days when the Arctic front hits. All the garden hoses had to be drained; faucet covers installed; hay rings moved to a pasture with more shelter; cows moved to same pasture; all in all, a busy morning.

Then off to town for some last minute errand running: bank, library, groceries, and lunch with a friend.

Now home again, and the rain has started. Actually, we must have gotten a pretty good rain while I was gone. The wind is very strong out of the south, but I expect it will start to swing around to the north in the next few hours. The waterfowl are all fed, and the shop kittie is in the shop. So, I think I've completed my major tasks for the day. Hope at least one of the library books will be good. I just grabbed a few that looked like they might possibly be interesting. Soup is cooking in the crock pot, and I'm ready for some cold weather!!!

Bizarre news

As best I can tell, all the news I have heard and read today, should rightfully have been posted under "Weird News." My earlier posting today just about put me over the edge. Then tonight, Cowboy told me that some Federal court had ruled that the Treasury Department had to make all $100 bills so that blind people could detect what they are. I wonder exactly how many blind people there are in this country? What are they going to do about color blind people or dyslexic people (001$)?

And then, I get this email (posted below), which I have NOT verified. However, if it is true, I had better get busy finding a whopping good tax lawyer, because you know good and well that if a rich old bag like Pelosi raises the taxes, there are going to be plenty of loopholes so she and her ilk won't have to pay 'em! I recommend reading this and having a glass of your adult beverage of choice readily at hand!

Published: October 22, 2006
Nancy Pelosi condemed the new record highs of the stock market as "just another example of Bush policies helping the rich get richer". "First Bush cut taxes for the rich and the economy has rebounded with new record low unemployment rates, which only means wealthy employers are getting even wealthier at the expense of the underpaid working class". She went on to say "Despite the billions of dollars being spent in Iraq our economy is still strong and government tax revenues are at all time highs. "What this really means is" that business is exploiting the war effort and working Americans, just to put money in their own pockets".

When questioned about recent stock market highs she responded "Only the rich benefit from these record highs. Working Americans, welfare recipients, the unemployed and minorities are not sharing in these obscene record highs". "There is no question these windfall profits and income created by the Bush administration need to be taxed at 100% rate and those dollars redistributed to the poor and working class". "Profits from the stock market do not reward the hard work of our working class who, by their hard work, are responsible for generating these corporate profits that create stock market profits for the rich. We in congress will need to address this issue to either tax these profits or to control the stock market to prevent this unearned income to flow to the rich".

When asked about the fact that over 80% of all Americans have investments in mutual funds, retirement funds, 401K's, and the stock market she replied "That may be true, but probably only 5% account for 90% of all these investment dollars. That's just more "trickle down" economics claiming that if a corporation is successful that everyone from the CEO to the floor sweeper benefit from higher wages and job security which is ridiculous". How much of this "trickle down" ever get to the unemployed and minorites in our county? None, and that's the tragedy of these stock market highs." "We democrats are going to address this issue after the election when we take control of the congress. We will return to the 60% to 80% tax rates on the rich and we will be able to take at least 30% of all currrent lower Federal Income Tax taxpayers off the roles and increase government income substantially. We need to work toward the goal of equalizing income in our country and at the same time limiting the amount the rich can invest."

When asked how these new tax dollars would be spent, she replied "We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrents in our country who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits taxes could go a long ways to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as "Americans"

A Bush spoksman responded to this interview by saying "Mrs. Pelosi has set a new standard for the spin business".

Way too much insanity going around

More on the Traveling Imams
There is a good article in The Washington Times by Audrey Hudson, written from the perspective of a neutral purveyor of information, explaining how the Traveling Imams terrorized the other passengers on the US Airways flight from which they were eventually removed.

Apparently, in addition to the loud praying and shouts of "Allah" in the boarding area, once on the plane, the men did not sit in their assigned seats, and assumed the seating profile of the 9/11 hijackers, as well as making visits to each other's seats up and down the length of the plane. This was the first I had heard that the seat belt extensions the men requested were put on the floor in front of their seats once they had obtained them.

Had I been on that flight, I would have demanded the men be removed from the flight, or I would have removed myself from the plane.

Clearly, this was an instance of behavior profiling, although I do not have a problem with racial profiling when it comes to terrorism and potential death.

Major kudos to US Airways for putting the safety of the passengers first.

Hat tip: Drudge Report

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Talks between Iraq, Syria and Iran

I've been just disgusted with what I've been hearing and reading about talks between Iraq/Syria/Iran. This is a total disconnect. Doesn't everyone realize that Iran and Syria are the prime sponsors for the continuing bloodshed in Iraq? Iran provides the terrorists and trains the terrorist wannabes, and Syria faciliates movement by them back and forth across the Iraqi border. Isn't this common knowledge?

I don't give a rat's a**, what the Baker Commission, or any other study group concludes about the situation in Iraq. Who the hell elected those people to call the shots? Unless the United States Constitution has changed since November 7th, I believe the President is still the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, thereby putting him in charge of this war.

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I Wanna Be an Illegal Alien!!
Captains Quarters reports that Rep. Bennie Thompson, the incoming chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has threatened to file lawsuits against employers following the President's directive "for employers to verify workers' eligibility and continue to hold them accountable for those they hire." In other words, illegal aliens are above the law. Our laws are apparently only to be enforced against citizens. I wanna be an illegal alien!!!!

OK. This is about all the insanity I can stand for one day. Cowgirl over and out.

Show us your patriotism!!

The following is one of those email forwards, purportedly from an American Airlines pilot. Whether or not that is true, this is brilliant and expresses my sentiments exactly. Cowgirl

By American Airlines Pilot - Captain John Maniscalco

"I've been trying to say this since 9-11 but you worry me. I wish you
didn't. I wish when I walked down the streets of this country that I
love, that your color and culture still blended with the beautiful
human landscape we enjoy in this country. But you don't blend in
anymore. I notice you, and it worries me. I notice you because I can't
help it anymore. People from your homelands, professing to be Muslims,
have been attacking and killing my fellow citizens and our friends for
more than 20 years now. I don't fully understand their grievances and
hate but I know that nothing can justify the inhumanity of their
attacks.

On September 11, nineteen ARAB-MUSLIMS hijacked four jetliners in my
country. They cut the throats of women in front of children and
brutally stabbed to death others. They took control of those planes
and crashed them into buildings killing thousands of proud fathers,
loving sons, wise grandparents, elegant daughters, best friends,
favorite coaches, fearless public servants, and children's mothers.
The Palestinians Celebrated, The Iraqis were overjoyed as was most of
the Arab world.

So I notice you now. I don't want to be worried. I don't want to be
consumed by the same rage and hate and prejudice that has destroyed
the soul of these terrorists. But I need your help. As a rational
American, trying to protect my country and family in an irrational and
unsafe world, I must know how to tell the difference between you, and
the Arab/Muslim terrorist.

How do I differentiate between the true Arab/Muslim-Americans and the
Arab/Muslims in our communities who are attending our schools,
enjoying our parks, and living in OUR communities under the protection
of OUR constitution, while they plot the next attack that will
slaughter these same good neighbors and children? The events of
September 11th changed the answer. It is not my responsibility to
determine which of you embraces our great country, with ALL of its
religions, with ALL of its different citizens, with all of its faults.
It is time for every Arab/Muslim in this country to determine it for
me.

I want to know, I demand to know, and I have a right to know whether
or not you love America. Do you pledge allegiance to its flag? Do you
proudly display it in front of your house, or on your car?
Do you pray in your many daily prayers that Allah will bless this
nation, that He will protect and prosper it? Or do you pray that Allah
will destroy it in one of your "Jihads"? Are you thankful for the
freedom that only this nation affords? A freedom that was paid for by
the blood of hundreds of thousands of patriots who gave their lives
for this country? Are you willing to preserve this freedom by paying
the ultimate sacrifice? Do you love America? If this is your
commitment, then I need YOU to start letting ME know about it.

Your Muslim leaders in this nation should be flooding the media at
this time with hard facts on your faith, and what hard actions you are
taking as a community and as a religion to protect the United States
of America. Please, no more benign overtures of regret for the death
of the innocent because I worry about whom you regard as innocent. No
more benign overtures of condemnation for the unprovoked attacks
because I worry about what is unprovoked to you. I am not interested
in any more sympathy...I am only interested in action. What will you
do for America - our great country -- at this time of crisis, at this
time of war?

I want to see Arab-Muslims waving the AMERICAN flag in the streets. I
want to hear you chant "Allah Bless America ." I want to see young
Arab/Muslim men enlisting in the military. I want to see a commitment
of money, time, and emotion to the victims of this butchering and to
this nation as a whole The FBI has a list of over 400 people they want
to talk to regarding the WTC attack. Many of these people live and
socialize in Muslim communities. You know them You know where they
are.

Hand them over to us, now! But I have seen little even approaching
this sort of action. Instead I have seen an already closed and
secretive community close even tighter. You have disappeared from the
streets. You have posted armed security guards at your facilities. You
have threatened lawsuits. You have screamed for protection from
reprisals.

The very few Arab/Muslim representatives that HAVE appeared in the
media were defensive and equivocating. They seemed more concerned with
making sure that the United States proves who was responsible before
taking action. They seemed more concerned with protecting their fellow
Muslims from violence directed towards them in the United States and
abroad than they did with supporting our country and denouncing
"leaders" like Khadafi, Hussein, Farrakhan, and Arafat. If the true
teachings of Islam proclaim tolerance and peace and love for all
people then I want chapter and verse from the Koran and statements
from popular Muslim leaders to back it up. What good is it if the
teachings in the Koran are good and pure and true when your "leaders"
are teaching fanatical interpretations, terrorism, and intolerance?

It matters little how good Islam SHOULD BE if large numbers of the
world's Muslims interpret the teachings of Mohammed incorrectly and
adhere to a degenerative form of the religion. A form that has been
demonstrated to us over and over again. A form whose structure is
built upon a foundation of violence, death, and suicide. A form whose
members are recruited from the prisons around the world. A form whose
members (some as young as five years old) are seen day after day, week
in and week out, year after year, marching in the streets around the
world, burning effigies of our presidents, burning the American flag,
shooting weapons into the air. A form whose members convert from a
peaceful religion, only to take up arms against the great United
States of America, the country of their birth. A form whose rules are
so twisted, that their traveling members refuse to show their faces at
airport security checkpoints, in the name of Islam.

Do you and your fellow Muslims hate us because our women proudly show
their faces in public rather than cover up like a shameful whore? Do
you and your fellow Muslims hate us because we drink wine with dinner,
or celebrate Christmas? Do you and you fellow Muslims hate us because
we have befriended Israel, the ONLY civilized democratic nation in the
entire Middle East?

And if you and your fellow Muslims hate us, then why in the world are
you even here? Are you here to take our money? Are you here to
undermine our peace and stability? Are you here to destroy us? If so,
I want you to leave I want you to go back to your desert sandpit where
women are treated like rats and dogs. I want you to take your
religion, your friends, and your family back to your Islamic
extremists, and STAY THERE! We will NEVER give in to your influence,
your retarded mentality, your twisted, violent, intolerant religion.
We will NEVER allow the attacks of September 11, or any others for
that matter, to take away that which is so precious to us: Our rights
under the greatest constitution in the world. I want to know where
every Arab/ Muslim in this country stands and I think it is my right
and the right of every true citizen of this country to demand it. A
right paid for by the blood of thousands of my brothers and sisters
who died protecting the very constitution that is protecting you and
your family. I am pleading with you to let me know. I want you here as
my brother, my neighbor, my friend, as a fellow American. But there
can be no gray areas or ambivalence regarding your allegiance and it
is up to YOU, to show ME, where YOU stand." "Until then .. you worry
me" ""

Albanian illegals in South Texas

Sorry, we don't yet have an Albanian illegal alien sprite, so Ali Oburrito will have to suffice.

Chase ends in deadly rollover [Albanian illegals in South Texas]
San Antonio Rio Grande Valley Bureau ^ | 11/16/2006 | Jesse Bogan
McALLEN — A white Suburban being chased by Brooks County deputies on U.S. 281 rolled over near Falfurrias early Thursday, killing one undocumented immigrant and injuring 11 others.
The 10-mile chase started when Falfurrias police tried to pull the Suburban over for going 55 in a 45-mph zone, but the driver sped off. Police backed off and let the deputies take over when they reached the city limits. Deputies told Alice-based Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Robert Vasquez they stayed about 100 yards behind the vehicle.
"Right now there are a lot of unknowns," Vasquez said of the 12:51 a.m. crash that injured 11 people, including four Hondurans, three Salvadorans, and four Albanians.
The 21-year-old man who died was also from the Balkan country of Albania, but his name was not immediately released. The driver of the 2001 Suburban, which was purchased Nov. 5 from a used car lot in Houston, escaped on foot, Vasquez said.
"It seems that it's a common occurrence, that whether they are injured or not, their legs aren't because they always flee the scene," Vasquez said of the unknown smuggler, who may have been talking on his cell phone as the chase reached about 90 miles per hour before he lost control.
All of the injured were taken to area hospitals. The worst off were listed in stable condition, Vasquez said. It is likely the others will be deported.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Luisa Deason in Houston confirmed the fatality, but would only say they are investigating the incident with DPS and the Brooks County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks County Sheriff Baldi Lozano did not return calls seeking comment, nor did Falfurrias Police Chief Eden Garcia.
Asked if the pursuing officers followed proper procedures chasing the vehicle, Vasquez said it's a different policy for each agency and the incident will be reviewed by his supervisors, which is routine.
The last fatality in the area happened in July, when two undocumented immigrants died in a rollover. Six died in January when an 18-wheeler T-boned a pickup loaded with immigrants a few miles before the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint just south of Falfurrias.
Immigrants commonly either try to sneak through the checkpoint in vehicles and in tractor-trailer rigs, or hike through the area brush around it, which was the case for the group that crashed early Thursday. Vasquez said they were picked up in Falfurrias.
"It just seems that they really like to go around this checkpoint. It's just one of those things," Vasquez said. "If you happen to find a violation on one of these people driving these vehicles they are not going to want to stop at any cost."
Asked if she thought the area was a likely spot for accidents, Deason, of ICE, said it can happen anywhere.
"It happens in a lot of different cities, here in Houston, in Arizona," she said. "Anytime you have illegal aliens jump into a vehicle with a smuggler they are going to be in grave danger."

More on the Traveling Imams & Some Other Stuff

UPDATE: for more information on the traveling imams and the Arizona connection, check out Powerline and Robert Spencer's article at Front Page

I sure hope the Feds are keeping an eye on that Islamic Center in Tucson.

There is lots of good information and food for thought at Sachi's post at Big Lizards, Good Hunting in Ramadi which post led me to Victor Davis Hanson's piece at NRO, entitled The Fighting Over the Fighting.

Cowchild made me a Muslim cleric sprite over the holiday, and has named him Ali Gopray.

Finally, boots on the ground!

Are we going to have to wait until the entire Southern border is a battleground before the Feds step up to the plate and secure that border? Fabens is a little town SE of El Paso. Look for the + on the map south of Socorro.

Read this article and then zip off some emails/faxes/letters to your elected officials.

Threat to US citizens forces Mx officials to lock down town, Tx. Sheriff boosts security

Nov 21, 2006 11:45 AM

EAST EL PASO COUNTY, Tx. - Residents of the Mexican border town of Guadalupe, across the Rio Grande from Fabens, are dealing with armed checkpoints and car-by-car searches.

The small farming community is under tight surveillance by officials in Mexico, and now in the United States. The scene in Guadalupe Bravo could most accurately be described as a town under lockdown.

The Mexican military increased its presence in the town, and Hudspeth County Sheriff Arvin West tells ABC-7 he's ready to send man power into the area on the US side of the border.

Sheriff West added that his office recently heard of plans to kidnap US citizens, and transport them across the border to be killed in Guadalupe. According to Sheriff West, Victor Canello a man with ties to Fort Hancock was taken to Guadalupe and shot.

West adds that he and his office are treating the threat seriously.

Sheriff West also says, "That's the innocent people that might get involved in this and get caught up in this is the people we are here to protect today...I've got officers as far away as Valverde County helping us with this...DPS, Game Wardens, and the Texas Rangers as well."

The increase in security is likely to continue for some time. Residents in Guadalupe also welcomed the strict military presence.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

A couple of Thanksgiving classics, for your entertainment.

Alice's Restaurant



WKRP Thanksgiving Turkey Episode

6 Imans Removed from Twin Cities Flight

AP reports that six Muslim imans were removed from a US Airways flight because they freaked out the other passengers. Guess where they were headed? Phoenix. Hmmm. Phoenix again. Remember when the Phoenix area was mostly inhabited by retired white people and Americans of Mexican descent? Sounds like it has become a Middle Eastern country, as all the news from there involves Muslims.

Apparently, the imams complained that they were disrespected by being removed from the plane (presumably, as opposed to the other passengers beating the living crap out of them). They assured the reporter that US Airways would be hearing from CAIR (big surprise).

Personally, I cannot imagine why the other passengers would freak out if 6 Muslims with prayer shawls got on their airplane. Silly Americans. Always over-reacting.

Ali Obombu by Cowchild

Things to Ponder Today & Cowgirl's To-Do List

Powerline reports that radical (is there any other kind?) Muslim groups in Indonesia are threatening the life of our President during his upcoming visit. Can you guess how much money I will send to them the next time they have a natural disaster? Above is a pic lifted from Powerline, which leaves no doubt as to what the Indonesians have in mind.


Hugh Hewitt indicated that a show of force (a/k/a "exercises") by a couple of U.S. carrier groups in the Persian Gulf is making Iran a little nervous. Works for me.

Captain Ed has a good post on global freezing vs. global warming. I, too, am old enough to remember the "scientific" predictions in the late 1960's and early 1970's that a return to the ice age was imminent.

I'm sticking with weather cycles are cyclical (thus the term "cycles"), and since scientists cannot accurately predict weather, often times, even a day ahead, I'm not losing any sleep over their down-the-road predictions. I only check the "weather" to decide how to dress each day.

Dafydd at Big Lizards has a great post on the Democrat solutions to the "culture of corruption" in Congress, which apparently means something to the effect, that now all the graft goes to the Democrats. Dafydd defines earmarks as, "an earmark is the primary means of payback by a politician to a private person or company in exchange for the legal bribery of campaign contributions." Read the whole post; great as usual.


Ok, that's it for me. Sounds like the news is "same-o, same-o." Today is house blessing day, make the cornbread day, put the frozen turkey in the fridge day, and get nails done day. Plus, running as many of those last minute errands as possible, considering every one I have on the list involves places that will be closed from Thursday until next Monday.

Frank Sinatra Sings

It will bring tears to your eyes to listen to the late, great Frank Sinatra singing "Strangers on My Flight."

Now this isn't suspicious at all

Now this isn't at all suspicious.

"An unemployed U.S. citizen" from Dallas, by the name of Sisayehiticha Dinssa (a very common name in Texas), was arrested at the airport in Detroit after a flight from Nigeria via Amsterdam, with Phoenix as the next stop on his journey. Apparently, drug sniffing canines got a whiff of drugs on the $78,000+ in his briefcase, which is what tipped the authorities to checking the guy. He also had a laptop "containing information about nuclear materials and cyanide."
Being politically correct, there was no mention in the article about him being Muslim, but anyone want to bet on that? Just a little tip, you might want to consider the number of Muslim organizations in Arizona, keeping in mind that several of the 9/11 hijackers had Arizona connections.

Ali Obombu sprite by Cowchild

Where are the conservatives?

This is a cross-post of my comment at Captains Quarters.

I cannot really understand why on earth anyone would want to run for public office, especially as a conservative.

They would have to know that the media, working with the Democrats, will be against them, misrepresenting everything they have ever done in their lives, as well as their intentions, and their words. If there is not enough ammunication in the conservative candidate's past, then the media and the Democratic party will just make something up.

As if the media and the always generous media coverage of Democrats who feel free to say anything that comes to mind, regardless of truth so long as it makes a great soundbite, wasn't enough, factor in the turncoats like John McCain, who want to "big-dog-it" and make horrendous deals with the liberals, and in effect sell out their party and the core conservative principles, in exchange for a short-lived and generally ill-advised political gain.

I don't mean to be fatalistic about this, but really, why would a person choose to subject themselves and their families to such unrelenting abuse?

Unless another Newt Gingrich type person emerges in the GOP, with a solid proposal like the Contract with America, and with the GOP on board unanimously, it does not appear to me that the GOP will fare much better in the 2008 elections than they did this year.

There will always be people lusting after power. In most cases, those are the people who run for office, and end up making it a career. Remember that the original intent for Congress, was to be a part-time civic duty kind of job, because the people in Congress had real lives and real jobs back in their districts. Those days of course, are long gone. Today it seems that once a person is elected to Congress, the reaction is something like, "Woo-hoo!! I'm gonna be rich!!!"

Over half of this country is conservative, both fiscally and socially. There is no current political party that reflects these values, and the American people who vote understand that.

A bad wind is a'blowing

I'm bummed today.

It doesn't help that the wind is blowing about 40 mph. I live on a hill in a valley, and the result of that is that the wind tends to swirl around my house. There is no side of the house without a gale force wind. I would have been one of those women who went stark raving mad during the Dustbowl days.

Then, I read Taxing the Red to Support the Blue on Powerline, reminding me that "Charlie Rangel will be in charge of writing tax legislation," which then triggered the annual panic attack caused by wondering how on earth I'm going to pay property/school taxes as well as income tax.

I was really hoping that the FAIR tax might have a chance, but that would be against socialist dogma. Imagine the 50 million illegal aliens and other entitlement recipients paying tax at the same rate as hard-working, responsible citizens. We cannot have that, can we?

This blows, and I'm not talking about the wind.

Guess I'd better apply for a couple of those 0% interest-for-a-year credit cards, and find a good tax lawyer.

Kudos to Farmers Branch City Council

Monday night, the Farmers Branch City Council, took the first steps to take back their city from illegal aliens by voting unanimously on the following items:

Require city officials to conduct nearly all official business in English.

Prohibit landlords from renting apartments to people who cannot prove their citizenship or legal status.

Have city police enter into a cooperative agreement with federal immigration officials to target "criminal aliens."

LULAC and the ACLU are threatening lawsuits over the Council's actions. Those groups, who have thus far been able to bully other towns to prevent adoption of what basically are provisions to enforce existing law, were infuriated that Farmers Branch ignored their threats.

It's nice to know there are some towns who want to remain American, and insist that federal, state and local laws be enforced. If only the United States Congress had the testosterone to act as forthrightly as the little City Council of Farmers Branch, Texas.

Here's the thing, if we depend on the Federal government to defend our country from the invasion of over one million people each year, which people have no interest in assimilating into our society, we will wake up one day, to find out that we have lost our country without a shot being fired. It's time we get actively involved at the local level, and demand that our laws be enforced. If we don't, our great nation will be relegated to third world country status within one generation. It's just that simple.

Juan Waytrip sprite by Cowchild

Touche, Senator

Senator John Kerry
304 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

Dear Senator Kerry:

We are still laughing over here in Iraq at your joke about the troops being
dumb. We do recognize that you are a lot smarter than we are because you
were able to get out combat in three months. This is why we are seeking your
advice. Please give us guidance.

1.) Where is the least painful area on the body to inflict a wound?
2.) Does it have to bleed or will a scratch do?
3.) Where do you get the forms to fill out recommending yourself for a
purple heart?
4.) Do you need a witness? If so, how much does that cost?
5.) Are three purple hearts still good for a trip home?
6.) What is a realistic period of time in which to acquire these wounds?

Less than three months sounds a little suspicious even to us.

Thanks for your help and keep the jokes coming.

Just a dumb G. I.


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I have no idea to whom credit for this should go, as it came in on email today. However, I love it! Cowgirl

(Sprite by Cowchild)

The President's Next Speech on Iraq

You have got to go to Big Lizards and read what Dafydd hatched today about the President's next speech on Iraq!! You will be standing up at your desk, pumping your fist and yelling, "Yeah!!"

This is a great read. Do not consider missing it.

Demoralized troops: my first concern upon hearing the election results

I lifted this from Wake Up America.  I had feared this would be the troops' reaction, and they are entirely justified in feeling this way.  Someone please tell them that not everyone let them down.  There were a lot of us who bit the bullet and voted for people we didn't particularly care for, simply because to vote any other way would be construed as a vote against our troops and their mission.

This cowgirl appreciates the men and women in our military's service, and understand the honor of your mission.  Thank you so very much.

The remainder of this page is what was lifted from Wake Up America.

The Rusty Humphries Show
received a message from a soldier in Iraq and although it is not
pleasant to read, this soldiers and all the soldiers in Iraq deserve to
be heard.

Dear Rusty,

I know you probably get a lot of messages asking you to read stuff on your show, but I BEG you to read this...... I would like you to tell America exactly what they did to their soldiers on Tuesday, and what WE
think about our countrymen right now.

"I hope you are satisfied with what you have done...

Today in the mess hall, where there is usually jovial conversation, there was silence, long faces, and broken spirits... Everyone, to include all American soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, Iraqi Nationals, Bulgarian
Soldiers, etc, etc... was speechless, tired, demoralized and stunned.... all ate in erie silence.....

Last night, while we watched the press conference with the President, there was utter disgust, and the common feeling amongst us all that we soldiers are now the loneliest people on Earth.... we fight an enemy over here, and we have a country full of enemies to go home to that are our countrymen.
We watched President Bush say his own political funeral, our commander
and chief.. as well as ours..... He tried so hard to spin it, but...
well.. there is no way to soften such a morale blow.

While you sit and Monday morning quarterback what we work so hard to do for you out here, just know that the spirit of your team is wounded..... YOU liberals, you America have done a great job of demoralizing us...

Thank you. Do us a favor though, when we do come home, spare us the ceremony....... We all now know that it is a bunch of crap, and what you think of us.......

I have to say that right now, I would rather be a pussy ass Frenchman, even though they have no will to fight, at least they have the balls to make a decision and stick with it...... They stuck to thier guns about staying out of this war, even if it was the wrong decision......America on the other hand, goes off half cocked, and when the decision appears to be a hard one, or something that might cost a little bit, they turn tail and run.....

WHAT A NATION OF PUSSIES!!!!

This week I am NOT proud to say that I am an American.......... I think it is obvious why... See, we just have told the world that we are not a nation of people who are tough, and will fight for what we believe
in... We have told the world that we are a giant coward that will shy away from any difficult challenge...

So, while you eat your cheetos, and sit there and watch your lazy ass get fatter, dumber and happier Joe Citizen.. Just remember this, I, and all my commrades payed a dear price to come this far and have you decide that we should fail...

Realize this, because of your action this week America.... do not expect so many men to be so willing to stand up for your next little whim just to be cut down in the middle of it all............

Realize this also.. you have just put a heavy price on the heads of us all...... Now that we are branded as cowards, we are an easy target, oh so inviting
for the taking....... I swore to protect your children in your beds....
yet you fling the door wide open inspite of me to invite the scourge.... Well.... have it your way then.

Because of this, September 11th will soon be overshadowed by these same enemies.. my advice to you is get your lazy, self centered ass up and make peace with your God, and your family.. cause, time will come when they may not be there for you................Because you kicked me in the teeth, and so many others, I know I won't any more.. "

Aaron.

Ah-ha! Just as I Predicted...

This evening, the Cowboy and I were watching the local news. The temp is supposed to dip tonight, so we broke down and turned on the "news."

We were updated on the Dallas County elections. It appears that, for the first time in my lifetime, Dallas County has gone Democratic. It was only a matter of time, as white flight has been going on for ages, and the minorities rule these days. I'm hoping the effect of that is that the current President Bush will decide to build his library in Waco rather than Dallas, because I avoid Dallas like the plague!

However, to get to the point, as the "news" progressed, the highly esteemed Harry Reid appeared on the screen. I swiftly hit the mute button on the remote. Cowboy grabbed the remote and changed to the SPEED channel. We looked at each other and laughed. Cowboy then said, "That guy doesn't have anything to say that I want to hear."

My sentiments exactly.

Cowboy is now watching truck races, and I've fled to cyberspace. Glad we are both on the same page.

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Where do we go from here?

After somewhat digesting the President's press conference yesterday, and with Captain's Quarters mirroring my own thoughts, combined with Rush Limbaugh's interesting comments yesterday, my question is where do we go from here?

What will actually be different with the Democrats in the majority?

If it is only for two years, we can probably live with it. Actually, we must. No choice there. But really, what's the big difference?

The elected GOP have failed to lead. They have failed to circle the wagons and push through conservative legislation and judicial appointments. The elected GOP continually "worked with" the Dems, thereby watering down (and in most cases, making completely useless) necessary legislation.

They did not secure our borders, and in the Senate, have attempted to hoodwink us into thinking that granting amnesty to 15 million invaders is a good thing.

They did not fight for what is necessary and required in the global war, and have left us more vulnerable.

In other words, the Dems ran the show, even when they were in the minority, and all the GOP did was attempt some badly boggled damage control, as opposed to going on the offensive, fighting for conservative principles, and, ..... you know.... acting like they were the majority party.

So, what will be different now?

For starters, the President is going to have hell on earth for the next two years. I am sorry about that. Even if he has border blindness, I still like and support him.

The news will be even more dedicated to Democratic sound bites. For me, that probably means more radio and internet news, and far less tv news. Our tv is way too expensive to risk something being thrown through the screen at a high velocity, which is always a possibility when one of many Democrats' faces and voices appear. I'll still try to watch Special Report, and will thank God for the mute button on the remote and fast acting eyelids.

One thing I hope to witness in the next two years is the GOP getting it together, and acting as a cohesive unit, and forget all this middle of the road stuff. You are either a conservative or you are not. If you are, act like it. If you aren't, jump ship.

That's where I am at today with this disgusting turn of events. And now, after 6 months of being very politically active, mostly with the Minutemen (any bets on whether that border fence gets funded now?) and the local GOP, I plan to spend the day trying to figure out what in the heck to do about my overgrown flower beds!

What Happened?!?!?

Well.

Hmmmm.

It appears the good guys don't always win. Of course, when the good guys start acting like the bad guys, how does one tell the difference?

The lesson for the GOP here is that if they don't listen to their base, they cannot count on their votes.

The GOP lost their base on two major issues, neither of which was the war in Iraq. One issue was in not securing our borders, combined with the assinine guest worker program. The other issue was general incompetency.

As to the first issue, we are in a global war against an enemy without borders. We apparently live in a country without borders. Having personally seen a group of armed Middle Eastern invaders crossing our southern border, I know for a fact, that we are in big trouble on that one. We will be in even bigger trouble as a result of yesterday's elections, as the Democrats will continue to kowtow to the illegal aliens and their supporters among us, as well as every anti-American, anti-morals, anti-everything group in this country, or the world, for that matter. Remember the Democrats believe the United Nations should dictate our foreign policy.

As to the second issue, the GOP over the past 2 years have exhibited a stunning example of cluelessness. They have wildly overspent. They have not operated as a cohesive group. The House and Senate leadership were unable to rein in renegade members. They were always a day late and a dollar short on damage control, particularly regarding false allegations made by the Democrats and the media. Worst of all, they ignored their base, passing bills for political effect, but which had no true force (i.e. the unfunded Border Fence). The GOP has had 5 years to make a difference, and they have squandered it all by their incompetence.

The next two years will be hell on earth for the President. Even though I have disagreed with him on a few (to me) key issues, the remainder of his term is going to be hard to take, for both he and for the citizens of this country. If the rantings of the Democrats were horrendous for the last 5 years when they were in the minority in Congress, they are going to be completely off the scale on the horrendous meter for the next two years.

This election was the GOP's to lose, and they did so spectacularly. This loss was needless, and if the GOP ever wants to become the majority again, they had better return to their core conservative values.

Update: Interestingly enough, CQ has a post this morning by the same title.

The Day before Election Day

This morning I dressed up (not my usual jeans and boots) and drove to Waco to a press conference at Congressional candidate, Van Taylor's headquarters. Sen. John Cornyn was there as well. Although I have already voted, and voted for Van Taylor, I had not met him. My first thought was, "Wow. If only all the other people in Congress were as nice as Van is." That was my second thought as well.

The point here is why should we settle for smarmy, professional politicians to represent us, when there are smart, sincere, and ... what can only be described as...nice, people running for office? Well, we shouldn't settle for less. The original plan was that our elected representatives were to represent us, our values, our principles, our dreams. Sadly, over the last couple hundred years, the majority of our elected officials seek public office just to fatten up their own personal coffers. It is our job to weed those guys (and gals) out. If we do not get back to our basic core values, we are going to be in a whole heep o' trouble.

Although I've voted for Sen. Cornyn everytime he's been on the ballot, I had never met him until a couple of months ago. At that first meeting, he thought we were acquainted. Should I be embarassed that my name probably sounded familiar to him because of the hundreds of emails, faxes and phone calls I've sent to his office? The comment I wanted to make regarding Sen. Cornyn is that he seems like a really decent human being. We had a brief conversation about the border issue, and not only does he does understand the ramifications of a porous border, but he has a good perspective on the "big picture", and he is doing all he can in the Senate to provide funding for securing the border, as well as dealing with the illegal aliens in our midst. Imagine that! A Senator with a clue! Amazing.

So, what this boils down to is, we, citizens, must get more involved with the political process. During the primary season, take an hour or so out of your busy life, and get your tail down to campaign headquarters, and meet the candidates. Ask them their views on issues you are concerned with. If you really like them, then how 'bout helping them get elected? It's time we got back to choosing representatives who actually do represent us, and unless you've actually spoken to the candidate, how will you really know?

If you haven't voted, be sure to vote tomorrow. If the Iraqis can turn out to vote, not knowing if they will return from the poll alive, I think we should be able to run down to the corner and vote, don't you?

Email from a Soldier in Iraq

The following is an email received by one of my cousins from her grandson in Iraq. Names have been deleted.


A letter from my grandson I received tonight. He is finally starting to understand what this country is about and the danger of losing our freedoms that we so take for granted. He is in the Persian area and just doing his job. Had to share it with you.


Subject: Re: Troops ans. John Kerry


Hey Grandma,

I thought you might like to hear my words on what John Kerry said at the university. Feel free to share it. I think that a lot of the people that oppose the war need to hear this. Maybe they will understand. I heard the news about an hour after it happened. I was eating at 10:00 pm over here. The troops in the picture are throwing John Kerry's words right back in his face. The problem that we face is that we aren't allowed to voice our opinions due to the oath that we accept when we join the military. Yet, I know that there are those of us who are blunt in what we say. I love the people that I've left back in the states, but yet, I know that there is a good reason for me being here. Even if my job is just in supporting the other troops and making sure that they have a comfortable bed to sleep in. Feel free to send this to anyone, it needs to be addressed. There is too much focus on the politics and not enough on the events of what has happened.

There are a lot of ticked off troops over here about his remark. It's in the letters to the popular newspaper Stars and Stripes. The comment wasn't discussed properly by the newspaper and many people have sent in letters complaining about it. Furthermore, when they did discuss it, they put it on page nine, where many people thought that it should have been front page news seeing how it is focused as a direct insult to us (the troops who are giving up there lives for the freedom for him to say such a comment). I am, to be quite frank about it, pretty upset about it. You have people who want to justify his comment (even a few random troops out here), and say that it was targeted at President Bush. Truth be told, however, that they are being paid too much money and have to much at stake to say such an insulting comment. Not only that, but his actions weren't immediately corrected. He left them as it was, without appology. It is the most ridiculous thing that I have seen someone say. Yet... this is someone that people voted for as a President.

I am tired of the politics in the U.S. to be honest. They are too worried over the little things that don't matter (all parties alike), and create an unstable environment for those of us who are overseas trying to make the best out of something that surely needs it. Sure, the countries around the middle east aren't great; however, how are they going to be great if we don't do something about it. It's not a matter of who is at fault. It's a matter of who is willing to do something about it. I've had too many co-workers, friends, go to places like Iraq and never come back. But yet, we have people bickering in politics about Bush leading us to our deaths? We chose to fight on the front lines to protect our freedoms from those who lead us away. They do their job very well, I'm afraid to say, but we are the only place in the world who have freedoms and laws established to protect those of different sex, race, religion, etc.

Just like in any war, there are going to be conflicts, but critizing the troops is wrong on so many levels. They are the ones fighting for that right. If someone wants to say something like that, I would consider you a terrorist. Move to a place where your freedoms are stripped. Try Iraq. What we are doing here is right! If you allow someone who has no interest in what is going on in the war, or if you allow someone to pull us from the war, we will lose. It won't be a defeat like in previous wars. It will be a defeat in our ways of life. Morals, values and faith (regardless of religion) will be thrown out the window and we will be forced to live in fear. If that happens, don't the terrorists win?

For those of you who have given up a loved one, the answer isn't to blame President Bush. Blame those who critize the troops. Blame those who try to put fear into our lives through terror. They are the real enemy. If you truly know that loved one, then you should know what they are fighting for. Everyone has their own reason. All those reasons are enough to make us fight for a common goal, freedom.

Airman First Class
(Name Deleted)


On another note, how are things over there? Are you feeling better? How's Grandpa doing? It's been warm over here. Probably close to 90-100 during the day and dropping to the 70's at night. Things are going pretty well for the most part. I am waiting for an e-mail from the University of Utah. I am looking at their Computer Science major. I don't know if I am going to attend there but I would like to compare the university to a technical university to see which degree will be more widely accepted. I thought that you might like to hear that I have about $2000 saved up at the moment, and that should increase to about 4500-5000 before I leave. I have paid off my credit card. Trying to stay away from spending, I have been reading a lot. I am on finishing my fifth book since I've been here. I bought a Playstation Portable due to having too much free time. Other than that, I bought the camera and that's it. I haven't much of anything from D-M, which I consider good news. What I did hear was that we are up for the Hennessy award (best dining facility in the Air Combat Command), and the Inn Keeper Award (best lodging facility in the A.C.C.). We also have Wing troop of the year not to mention civilian of the year as well. Services is doing amazing this year. It was our work before we left that set them up for these awards.

Recently, we had the Chief Master Sgt of the Air Force here to speak to us. It set things a bit crazy for a bit. Now that it's over, we had a few of the capable to visit Medal of Honor individuals come here and speak as well.

Like I said, other then these events, things are quiet. I have gained about ten pounds (which I am trying to). Make sure that you tell everyone hi for me. Actually, if the bishop doesn't have a problem with it, you can go ahead and print this for the ward. Love you all and best wishes. Stay safe.

With Love,

(Name Deleted)

Ya just gotta love our warriors!