This little post is worth the read
There are some really good writers at work out there in the blogosphere, writing on guns and other conservative issues. One of these days, my new site will be up and I'll blogroll all these good sites.
Reasonable Nut hyped me to this one.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Thanks, That Helped
Rep. Sensenbrenner says the Senate's idiotic bill passage has already increased the flow of illegal aliens into the U.S.
Apparently, the news was good to the mojados.
Thanks, we needed that.
Morons.
Apparently, the news was good to the mojados.
Thanks, we needed that.
Morons.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
"The Evil That Men Do...."
I can honestly say that most of my education has come from reading outside the classroom. I learned more reading on my own than I ever did in or for school. It may also surprise the reader to find out that I have learned more from fiction books than I ever have reading history, science, etc. Good fiction is well-researched, and leads you off on all kinds of interesting tangents.
At any rate, I digress. I read an interesting proposition, put forth by a fictional character in Joel Rosenberg's THE LAST JIHAD. One of the good guys makes a profound statement. Without quoting it directly, the character states that America's biggest problem is that we don't believe in evil.
This little tidbit struck me as somewhat profound. I read a couple of years ago a book by Gavin De Becker, called THE GIFT OF FEAR. It's actually nonfiction, so that sort of belies my earlier paragraph. De Becker notes that most people in modern society suppress their natural fear signals, by telling themselves that the danger doesn't really exist. Basically, we tell ourselves something to the effect of, "that doesn't REALLY happen to people." Thus, we get robbed, raped, or ripped off. This is despite the fact that warning signals are flashing merrily in our minds. But we turn them off, because after all, people aren't really that bad, are they?
Yes, they are. Or at least, they can be. Evil does exist, and we have to accept the possibility the man outside selling vacuum cleaners might actually be a serial rapist, and treat him accordingly. I'm not talking about preemptively shooting him or anything like that. Just do not let him inside, and call the police.
The point is this: we often subvert our own survival instincts, to keep from hurting other people's feelings, to keep from looking like a bigot, to keep from looking intolerant, etc. But we do so at the risk of opening ourselves up to all kinds of horrible things that can happen to us.
Liberalism has been really great about denying the existence of God, and of teaching that one's own happiness is the guiding light of morality. In other words, if it makes you happy, then it can't be wrong. So if there aren't any objective good moral standards to apply, then there can't really be evil out there. Which takes us down a bit of a slippery slope. We aren't allowed to make value judgments on behavior, because there isn't any behavior that's wrong.
There was a great quote from somebody, somewhere that I cannot remember verbatim, unfortunately. The gist of it was the greatest trick the Devil pulled off is convincing people that he didn't exist. I think that was from THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE. Not the Ambrose Bierce stuff, but the Keanu Reeves movie. Boy, there's a world of difference for you.
Anyway, it seems to me that denying evil exists blinds us to all sorts of dangers. But we can't say evil exists without defining things that are good. That means making value judgments on things, such as behavior, beliefs, etc. That means taking a stand on some things.
For example, if we simply say that illegal aliens are coming here simply to find a better life, we blind ourselves to the fact that there are a lot of drug-courier/mules crossing the border. There are thieves and murderers. There are terrorists. Sure, the band of illegal aliens crossing your land might just be heading to Chicago to work in a restaurant bussing tables. They might be carrying a ton of drugs, and are willing to kill a ranching family to get their product to its destination.
Some things might seem innocuous. They might even BE innocuous. To ignore the possibility these things MIGHT be dangerous, however, is foolishness to a Darwinian extreme. We have to recognize that evil exists, and defend ourselves accordingly.
At any rate, I digress. I read an interesting proposition, put forth by a fictional character in Joel Rosenberg's THE LAST JIHAD. One of the good guys makes a profound statement. Without quoting it directly, the character states that America's biggest problem is that we don't believe in evil.
This little tidbit struck me as somewhat profound. I read a couple of years ago a book by Gavin De Becker, called THE GIFT OF FEAR. It's actually nonfiction, so that sort of belies my earlier paragraph. De Becker notes that most people in modern society suppress their natural fear signals, by telling themselves that the danger doesn't really exist. Basically, we tell ourselves something to the effect of, "that doesn't REALLY happen to people." Thus, we get robbed, raped, or ripped off. This is despite the fact that warning signals are flashing merrily in our minds. But we turn them off, because after all, people aren't really that bad, are they?
Yes, they are. Or at least, they can be. Evil does exist, and we have to accept the possibility the man outside selling vacuum cleaners might actually be a serial rapist, and treat him accordingly. I'm not talking about preemptively shooting him or anything like that. Just do not let him inside, and call the police.
The point is this: we often subvert our own survival instincts, to keep from hurting other people's feelings, to keep from looking like a bigot, to keep from looking intolerant, etc. But we do so at the risk of opening ourselves up to all kinds of horrible things that can happen to us.
Liberalism has been really great about denying the existence of God, and of teaching that one's own happiness is the guiding light of morality. In other words, if it makes you happy, then it can't be wrong. So if there aren't any objective good moral standards to apply, then there can't really be evil out there. Which takes us down a bit of a slippery slope. We aren't allowed to make value judgments on behavior, because there isn't any behavior that's wrong.
There was a great quote from somebody, somewhere that I cannot remember verbatim, unfortunately. The gist of it was the greatest trick the Devil pulled off is convincing people that he didn't exist. I think that was from THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE. Not the Ambrose Bierce stuff, but the Keanu Reeves movie. Boy, there's a world of difference for you.
Anyway, it seems to me that denying evil exists blinds us to all sorts of dangers. But we can't say evil exists without defining things that are good. That means making value judgments on things, such as behavior, beliefs, etc. That means taking a stand on some things.
For example, if we simply say that illegal aliens are coming here simply to find a better life, we blind ourselves to the fact that there are a lot of drug-courier/mules crossing the border. There are thieves and murderers. There are terrorists. Sure, the band of illegal aliens crossing your land might just be heading to Chicago to work in a restaurant bussing tables. They might be carrying a ton of drugs, and are willing to kill a ranching family to get their product to its destination.
Some things might seem innocuous. They might even BE innocuous. To ignore the possibility these things MIGHT be dangerous, however, is foolishness to a Darwinian extreme. We have to recognize that evil exists, and defend ourselves accordingly.
2,990 Miles To Go
The Minutemen are building a 10 mile fence on the Arizona Border.
Way to go, boys. Glad somebody actually cares enough about the country to try and protect it. Now all they need are machine guns, a moat, and 2,990 more miles of the same.
Of course, our vaunted government can't stand the thought of it. Let's run these Washington bums out of office, before it's too late. You people in Arizona are absolutely nuts if you let John McCain back into office.
Paul Harvey mentioned the other day a perfect solution to our problems in the U.S. right now. He suggested we dig a moat all the way across the border, use the dirt to shore up New Orleans, then fill the moat with Florida alligators. Sounds OK.
Way to go, boys. Glad somebody actually cares enough about the country to try and protect it. Now all they need are machine guns, a moat, and 2,990 more miles of the same.
Of course, our vaunted government can't stand the thought of it. Let's run these Washington bums out of office, before it's too late. You people in Arizona are absolutely nuts if you let John McCain back into office.
Paul Harvey mentioned the other day a perfect solution to our problems in the U.S. right now. He suggested we dig a moat all the way across the border, use the dirt to shore up New Orleans, then fill the moat with Florida alligators. Sounds OK.
Above The Law
Apparently, our elected officials now think they are above the law. Not that this is something new. Witness Cynthia McKinney slapping a capitol police officer earlier this year, then screaming "racism" when she draws heat for it. Or Patrick Kennedy getting drunk, smashing his car up, and then yelling that he was on his way to a vote when the police were about to hit him with a breathalyzer.
Now, we have the legislative branch screaming about warrants being served by the FBI, or the executive branch, to get hyper-technical. Rep. William Jefferson is caught with $100,000 in hard cold cash. Literally. The FBI found it in his refrigerator.
I am glad to see the attorney general doing the right thing on this one. I think President Bush is showing yet again his true colors, by ordering the evidence sealed until the Constitutional issue can be settled. Why is there even an issue? Why would he even allow the temporary sealing of the evidence?
Every branch of government needs to be subjected to the rule of law. Why should a member's elected status exempt him or her from following the same laws as the rest of us?
It shouldn't. Plain and simple. However, our elected officials seem to think they are better than us. Elitism of the finest sort, and even our vaunted President appears to have fallen into the trap.
I really don't like anyone who looks down their nose at me.
Those of us who work for a living can't slap police officers. We can't get drunk. smash up our cars, and then get away with it. We can't accept bribes, and then scream about our constitutional rights being violated when we get caught. So what makes them better than us?
Lately, there seems to be a blatant disregard for the people by our elected representatives. The Senate and their immigration bill is just one of the more obvious examples. This business of hiding behind the offical color of office really chaps me. That's something that earmarks corruption. It earmarks a government that is no longer really governing with the consent of the governed.
Lest we forget: God gave us cerain unalienable rights. God gave us, not the government. The government exists at our pleasure, not the other way around. When it starts to shape up otherwise, we are in trouble.
Well, sound the alarm: We are officially in trouble.
Now, we have the legislative branch screaming about warrants being served by the FBI, or the executive branch, to get hyper-technical. Rep. William Jefferson is caught with $100,000 in hard cold cash. Literally. The FBI found it in his refrigerator.
I am glad to see the attorney general doing the right thing on this one. I think President Bush is showing yet again his true colors, by ordering the evidence sealed until the Constitutional issue can be settled. Why is there even an issue? Why would he even allow the temporary sealing of the evidence?
Every branch of government needs to be subjected to the rule of law. Why should a member's elected status exempt him or her from following the same laws as the rest of us?
It shouldn't. Plain and simple. However, our elected officials seem to think they are better than us. Elitism of the finest sort, and even our vaunted President appears to have fallen into the trap.
I really don't like anyone who looks down their nose at me.
Those of us who work for a living can't slap police officers. We can't get drunk. smash up our cars, and then get away with it. We can't accept bribes, and then scream about our constitutional rights being violated when we get caught. So what makes them better than us?
Lately, there seems to be a blatant disregard for the people by our elected representatives. The Senate and their immigration bill is just one of the more obvious examples. This business of hiding behind the offical color of office really chaps me. That's something that earmarks corruption. It earmarks a government that is no longer really governing with the consent of the governed.
Lest we forget: God gave us cerain unalienable rights. God gave us, not the government. The government exists at our pleasure, not the other way around. When it starts to shape up otherwise, we are in trouble.
Well, sound the alarm: We are officially in trouble.
Friday, May 26, 2006
B.O.H.I.C.A.
This lovely acronym pretty much sums up how I feel about the whole Senate immigration bill. See if you can figure it out. I'll post the decryption in my comments section, if you can't figure it out.
Tony Snow, conservative Judas now under Pilate Bush as press lapdog, is comparing illegal alien status as similar to having a traffic ticket: if you pay it, your debt is forgiven.
What does that spell? What does the Senate bill spell? What are we going to have to live with unless we send a clear message that we're going to vote out these bums? A-M-N-E-S-T-Y.
Memo to President Bush: we have your measure, now. The Harriet Myers thing was bad enough, and don't think we've forgotten nor forgiven that one. You're alienating the base, and we have had about all of you we can stand.
He's not exactly acting like a conservative anymore, is he? So I feel he's sold us out.
Vicente Fox is running around the country, trying to gear up support for the immigration bill the Senate proposes. He should be arrested and tried as a terrorist.
Think about it. He actively supports the attack of our economic infrastructure by his hordes of poverty-stricken scum that sneak over here. They eat up public assistance, education, health care, social security, you name it. They clog our jails. They refuse to assimilate into our culture. Sounds like a hostile invasion to me.
What the Senate did today is basically say to the American people: we don't care what you think. We don't care that you are going to have a heavier tax burden to support all the mojados that we are going to allow in here. We don't care that you want a closed border. We don't care about you, period. Bush is saying the same thing.
I'd vote him out right now if I could. All of them.
But what am I left with? Nothing. There's nobody out there that I would vote to take his place. Certainly not a Democrat.
John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchinson actually voted the right way. I'm proud of them. The rest of the Senate I have no use for whatsoever. I guess I'd support Cornyn if he ran. Hutchinson is pretty much a lightweight Senator, truth be told. She seems to be doing the right thing when she votes, but she doesn't have the gravitas to carry a presidential bid.
I say again: we need a conservative party. Republican just isn't going to cut it anymore. Bring back FDR and the Bull Moose party.
And support the Minutemen. They are the only ones trying to keep our border safe.
Tony Snow, conservative Judas now under Pilate Bush as press lapdog, is comparing illegal alien status as similar to having a traffic ticket: if you pay it, your debt is forgiven.
What does that spell? What does the Senate bill spell? What are we going to have to live with unless we send a clear message that we're going to vote out these bums? A-M-N-E-S-T-Y.
Memo to President Bush: we have your measure, now. The Harriet Myers thing was bad enough, and don't think we've forgotten nor forgiven that one. You're alienating the base, and we have had about all of you we can stand.
He's not exactly acting like a conservative anymore, is he? So I feel he's sold us out.
Vicente Fox is running around the country, trying to gear up support for the immigration bill the Senate proposes. He should be arrested and tried as a terrorist.
Think about it. He actively supports the attack of our economic infrastructure by his hordes of poverty-stricken scum that sneak over here. They eat up public assistance, education, health care, social security, you name it. They clog our jails. They refuse to assimilate into our culture. Sounds like a hostile invasion to me.
What the Senate did today is basically say to the American people: we don't care what you think. We don't care that you are going to have a heavier tax burden to support all the mojados that we are going to allow in here. We don't care that you want a closed border. We don't care about you, period. Bush is saying the same thing.
I'd vote him out right now if I could. All of them.
But what am I left with? Nothing. There's nobody out there that I would vote to take his place. Certainly not a Democrat.
John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchinson actually voted the right way. I'm proud of them. The rest of the Senate I have no use for whatsoever. I guess I'd support Cornyn if he ran. Hutchinson is pretty much a lightweight Senator, truth be told. She seems to be doing the right thing when she votes, but she doesn't have the gravitas to carry a presidential bid.
I say again: we need a conservative party. Republican just isn't going to cut it anymore. Bring back FDR and the Bull Moose party.
And support the Minutemen. They are the only ones trying to keep our border safe.
Support The Minutemen
They are apparently the only organization in America willing to do the right thing about border security.
Simcox's statement says it all, and is the same message I've sent to my Congressmen: Shut the borders down, or we'll do our best to vote you out of a job.
Simcox's statement says it all, and is the same message I've sent to my Congressmen: Shut the borders down, or we'll do our best to vote you out of a job.
Monday, May 22, 2006
I'm Starting To Feel Persecuted, Part 1000
Why is this allowed to happen?
I love Michelle Malkin, but her site scares the fire out of me, sometimes....
So we can teach school kids to get a prayer rug, bow to Mecca, and take an Islamic name? But we can't say a Christian prayer at a football game for fear of offending any other religion?
I'm pretty dang offended right now. If my child comes home and says the teacher is making them wear a burkha and pray to Allah, somebody IS going to suffer a beheading.
It's OK to pray, as long as it's not a Christian prayer. It's ok to wear religious symbols, as long as they're not Christian ones.
Feeling persecuted yet?
I love Michelle Malkin, but her site scares the fire out of me, sometimes....
So we can teach school kids to get a prayer rug, bow to Mecca, and take an Islamic name? But we can't say a Christian prayer at a football game for fear of offending any other religion?
I'm pretty dang offended right now. If my child comes home and says the teacher is making them wear a burkha and pray to Allah, somebody IS going to suffer a beheading.
It's OK to pray, as long as it's not a Christian prayer. It's ok to wear religious symbols, as long as they're not Christian ones.
Feeling persecuted yet?
If 135 People You Know Ain't In the Crossbar Hotel, Chances Are It's You...
1 out of 136 people in the US are in jail.
Mull that one over a minute. Then go lock your doors and hide your valuables. The prison and jail populations are climbing.
I bet 20 million new "guest workers" from Mexico will really cut that ratio down. Note the sarcasm.
Mull that one over a minute. Then go lock your doors and hide your valuables. The prison and jail populations are climbing.
I bet 20 million new "guest workers" from Mexico will really cut that ratio down. Note the sarcasm.
An Affirmation Of Sorts
I wrote Saturday regarding the various feelings of guilt that we all carry around with us, and how that can completely poison a person, if we let it.
I was in the gym this evening, and struck up a conversation with a fellow. It turns out the guy is a physician's assistant in a prison, not too far away. He mentioned one particualr inmate they were having to give medical attention fairly often. The inmate was guilty of beating his wife almost to death, and was suffering from detox because he hadn't had any alcohol in quite awhile. The PA told me that he had asked the inmate if he was a man of faith. The man replied that he used to be, but wasn't anymore. When asked why, the inmate said that God wouldn't be able to forgive him for all the bad things that he's done. He could even quote some Scripture to back up his feelings that God has had it with him.
This sounds like a classic example of a person who has just killed himself with the burden of guilt. He did some bad things, and thinks he can't ever overcome them. He thinks that God himself has turned away from him. So he keeps doing what he was doing, because he thinks that's the best that he can hope for. He's wrong on so many levels. And it's sad. I shudder to think how many people in the world carry around the burden of their failures, and let them consume their whole lives.
Let me set something straight. The man's in prison because he deserves to be. He did some bad things, and he needs to be punished within the full bounds of the law. I'm still a firm believer in capital punishment, preferably doled out within hours of arrest. I am not soft on crime in any way, shape, or form. He'll pay the earthly price for what he did, but he's not a lost soul yet.
The amazing thing to me is that once he does his time, he can walk out and start all over again. Granted, he's a convict with a domestic violence rap that will haunt him the rest of his earthly days. He still has to pay the earthly price for what he's done. But he can start his life over again, amking it better than it was before. All he has to do is jettision the burden, give it over to the Man Upstairs.
This prisoner thinks that he's been cast aside by God. He doesn't realize that God's just waiting to swoop in and help him out. God's probably not going to get him out of prison anytime soon. But God can bring him peace in his life, and help make his life so much better than it has been.
He doesn't cast anyone aside. If he loved mankind enough to become flesh and blood, get beaten within an inch of his life, get nailed to a piece of wood and speared through the side; all to allow man to avoid having to pay the ultimate price for its sin, there's nothing this inmate can do to alienate the Big Guy.
The trick is getting the inmate to realize it. And the rest of us, for that matter.
I was in the gym this evening, and struck up a conversation with a fellow. It turns out the guy is a physician's assistant in a prison, not too far away. He mentioned one particualr inmate they were having to give medical attention fairly often. The inmate was guilty of beating his wife almost to death, and was suffering from detox because he hadn't had any alcohol in quite awhile. The PA told me that he had asked the inmate if he was a man of faith. The man replied that he used to be, but wasn't anymore. When asked why, the inmate said that God wouldn't be able to forgive him for all the bad things that he's done. He could even quote some Scripture to back up his feelings that God has had it with him.
This sounds like a classic example of a person who has just killed himself with the burden of guilt. He did some bad things, and thinks he can't ever overcome them. He thinks that God himself has turned away from him. So he keeps doing what he was doing, because he thinks that's the best that he can hope for. He's wrong on so many levels. And it's sad. I shudder to think how many people in the world carry around the burden of their failures, and let them consume their whole lives.
Let me set something straight. The man's in prison because he deserves to be. He did some bad things, and he needs to be punished within the full bounds of the law. I'm still a firm believer in capital punishment, preferably doled out within hours of arrest. I am not soft on crime in any way, shape, or form. He'll pay the earthly price for what he did, but he's not a lost soul yet.
The amazing thing to me is that once he does his time, he can walk out and start all over again. Granted, he's a convict with a domestic violence rap that will haunt him the rest of his earthly days. He still has to pay the earthly price for what he's done. But he can start his life over again, amking it better than it was before. All he has to do is jettision the burden, give it over to the Man Upstairs.
This prisoner thinks that he's been cast aside by God. He doesn't realize that God's just waiting to swoop in and help him out. God's probably not going to get him out of prison anytime soon. But God can bring him peace in his life, and help make his life so much better than it has been.
He doesn't cast anyone aside. If he loved mankind enough to become flesh and blood, get beaten within an inch of his life, get nailed to a piece of wood and speared through the side; all to allow man to avoid having to pay the ultimate price for its sin, there's nothing this inmate can do to alienate the Big Guy.
The trick is getting the inmate to realize it. And the rest of us, for that matter.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
An Inquiry Regarding New Toys
Has anyone out there shot the new Beretta PX4 pistol? If so, do you like it? Is is worth the investment?
Secondly, has anyone shot the Smith and Wesson M&P? How would you rate it?
I am somewhat leery of Berettas, since I had one blow up on me a couple of months ago. I'm pretty sure it was bad ammo, but still. It scared the fire out me, one way or the other. I am also somewhat concerned with Smith's quality, since a Sigma I was shooting decided to spit out a plastic bolt from around the trigger assembly during the shoot. I know, Sigmas have never been rated much higher than a Jennings, but still....
So that's why I'm asking. Both guns appear to have great designs, but previous history with the companies' products lead me to be somewhat nervous about their new offerings.
I eagerly await any and all information that might be forthcoming.
Secondly, has anyone shot the Smith and Wesson M&P? How would you rate it?
I am somewhat leery of Berettas, since I had one blow up on me a couple of months ago. I'm pretty sure it was bad ammo, but still. It scared the fire out me, one way or the other. I am also somewhat concerned with Smith's quality, since a Sigma I was shooting decided to spit out a plastic bolt from around the trigger assembly during the shoot. I know, Sigmas have never been rated much higher than a Jennings, but still....
So that's why I'm asking. Both guns appear to have great designs, but previous history with the companies' products lead me to be somewhat nervous about their new offerings.
I eagerly await any and all information that might be forthcoming.
Fear and Loathing Of The Elected
So, who's hacked off about the spineless Senate on the immigration issue?
Appreantly I didn't make myself clear to one of my duly elected Senators: vote for any kind of amnesty and/or guest worker program, and you've lost my vote. Kay Bailey Hutchinson responded to my email with a letter informing me that she supports a guest worker program. And the malarkey that Bush spewed on us this week is simply incredible. How can he support anything that will bring in 100+ million immigrants in the next 20 years? How does he think we can handle all of that? How does he think social security can handle bringing in elderly family members, and allowing them to draw benefits from a program they never paid into??? Bottom line: taxpayers will get a further molestation.
OK, be that way. You just lost one vote. Again, I'll NEVER vote for a democrat. Ever. But a third-party candidate would look awfully appealing to me right about now. It's not like I haven't protest voted before. I was suckered by Perot like a bunch of others. Looks like I'm heading that way again.
However, Cornyn has done good work up there. I'll still give him my vote.
It's up to the House at this point. I don't hold much hope.
As always, and as is best, it will be up to private citizens to deal with this mess. Support the Minutemen. Push for a conservative third-party candidate out there.
And get ready. I have a feeling things are going to get worse. Especially as long as the PC crowd is still allowed to flourish.
Appreantly I didn't make myself clear to one of my duly elected Senators: vote for any kind of amnesty and/or guest worker program, and you've lost my vote. Kay Bailey Hutchinson responded to my email with a letter informing me that she supports a guest worker program. And the malarkey that Bush spewed on us this week is simply incredible. How can he support anything that will bring in 100+ million immigrants in the next 20 years? How does he think we can handle all of that? How does he think social security can handle bringing in elderly family members, and allowing them to draw benefits from a program they never paid into??? Bottom line: taxpayers will get a further molestation.
OK, be that way. You just lost one vote. Again, I'll NEVER vote for a democrat. Ever. But a third-party candidate would look awfully appealing to me right about now. It's not like I haven't protest voted before. I was suckered by Perot like a bunch of others. Looks like I'm heading that way again.
However, Cornyn has done good work up there. I'll still give him my vote.
It's up to the House at this point. I don't hold much hope.
As always, and as is best, it will be up to private citizens to deal with this mess. Support the Minutemen. Push for a conservative third-party candidate out there.
And get ready. I have a feeling things are going to get worse. Especially as long as the PC crowd is still allowed to flourish.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
"To Sleep, Perchance to Dream.."
Since I've started back up on my blog, I haven't posted as much. I'm simply sleeping more. This is not a bad thing.
I've pretty much been a lifelong insomniac. The wee hours have always been the best time of day for me. I'm awake, the rest of the world is dark and still, and I'm alone with my thoughts. In the last 15 or so years, this is not such a good thing.
I've always been somewhat of a worrier. All those worries and anxieties really hit hard in the middle of the night, when I have time to think about them all. That really kept me up later at night than anything else: constant worry.
In the last year or so, I've just found myself sleeping more. Part of it is that I'm getting a bit older now. There are a ton of cliches about what happens to your body as you get older. A whole lot of them tend to be true.
Another part of it is that worry, guilt, and sorrow have become much less of a factor in my life than they were before. I cna actually sleep with a clearer conscience than I ever have before. No school to worry about, no trouble with the significant other, no real family issues, no work issues worth worrying about, etc.
So how did I jettision this burden from my conscience? First, a realization that I'm not really the one in charge of everything. I lived most of my life thinking that I ran the show. I got through school, I dealt with this problem or that one, I, I, I.... I went through life thinking that simply through my force of will could I make things happen. Whatever the problem, whatever I wanted, I could do it if I wanted it bad enough.
Looking back on it, I see that was pretty arrogant of me. I needed a bit of humbling. Well, a lot, actually. The more I tried to assert control, the more it slipped away. Whether it was school, work, relationships, whatever; I couldn't make it work. Despite all the valiant effort I put into it, things spiralled more and more out of control.
The more things got out of control, the worse I felt. Relationships crashed and burned. Jobs didn't go as they should have. Things just got worse. Along with all that came a tremendous load of guilt. I felt that all these things were my fault. If I had tried harder, I could have saved the situation. I treated this person badly, etc. This stuff kept me up at night.
It also served to poison whatever else I was doing. Guilt and grief are powerful toxins, and they will ruin a life completely, if they get in control. And so they do.
Sometimes you have to be in the right frame of mind in order to realize when you are being taught something. Much like an alcoholic, you have to hit rock bottom. I did. Once I did, I realized that I just am not strong enough to handle all of this stuff. The pressure seems unbearable, and life seems like it's falling apart. Despite my best efforts, life was out of control. So what did I learn?
God allows this kind of thing to happen, and there's a reason for it. I finally realized that I am not capable of handling these burdens of life. I am not able to carry the weight of all the guilt, shame and grief. I can't handle the desperation. I had to be humbled a bit. "The world weighs on my shoulders, but what am I to do?"
Fortunately, I don't have to do much of anything. But I learned a few things. The first thing is that I can't run this ship. Second, God is in control, not me. His will plays out, despite my best efforts to the contrary.
The third big realization is that God absolutely loves us, like a parent loves their child. Even if the child does some pretty awful things, the parent still loves them. Jeffery Dahmer had a mother, and she still loved him despite his peculiar culinary habits. Except God's love is apparently even deeper than that. There's NOTHING that I could do to push him away. No matter how guilty I felt, no matter how bad I tore myself up over wrong turns I made, God still loved, and loves, me. That's pretty powerful. So how much does he love me? Enough to make himself mortal, take all of my sins and trangressions, and pay the ultimate price for them. Not only for me, but everybody.
Along with that unconditional love comes the fourth big realization: forgiveness. All that stuff is water under the bridge, as far as God's concerned. It's like it never happened.
The fifth big realization is that God wants a relationship with me. I can't alienate him. He's forgiven whatever transgressions that I've made. He knows I can't handle all of this stuff. So he's willing to step in, and take it all from me. All he asks is that I ask. All he asks is that I surrender the burden, let him into my life, and listen to what he has to say.
This doesn't mean the problems magically disappear. Life still is going to kick the tar out of me, or at least try. All it means is that God will get me through it. He won't abandon me. He'll provide the guidance and strength, just like he's been doing all along. He doesn't want us to suffer through the bad stuff the world throws at us. He'll guide us, but we have to surrender to his guidance. That's the tough part for me.
Sounds pretty farfetched, doesn't it? I can't argue with the results, though. I can sleep at night, probably for the first time ever in my life. My writing's suffering a bit, unfortunately. All in all though, it's not a bad trade.
I've pretty much been a lifelong insomniac. The wee hours have always been the best time of day for me. I'm awake, the rest of the world is dark and still, and I'm alone with my thoughts. In the last 15 or so years, this is not such a good thing.
I've always been somewhat of a worrier. All those worries and anxieties really hit hard in the middle of the night, when I have time to think about them all. That really kept me up later at night than anything else: constant worry.
In the last year or so, I've just found myself sleeping more. Part of it is that I'm getting a bit older now. There are a ton of cliches about what happens to your body as you get older. A whole lot of them tend to be true.
Another part of it is that worry, guilt, and sorrow have become much less of a factor in my life than they were before. I cna actually sleep with a clearer conscience than I ever have before. No school to worry about, no trouble with the significant other, no real family issues, no work issues worth worrying about, etc.
So how did I jettision this burden from my conscience? First, a realization that I'm not really the one in charge of everything. I lived most of my life thinking that I ran the show. I got through school, I dealt with this problem or that one, I, I, I.... I went through life thinking that simply through my force of will could I make things happen. Whatever the problem, whatever I wanted, I could do it if I wanted it bad enough.
Looking back on it, I see that was pretty arrogant of me. I needed a bit of humbling. Well, a lot, actually. The more I tried to assert control, the more it slipped away. Whether it was school, work, relationships, whatever; I couldn't make it work. Despite all the valiant effort I put into it, things spiralled more and more out of control.
The more things got out of control, the worse I felt. Relationships crashed and burned. Jobs didn't go as they should have. Things just got worse. Along with all that came a tremendous load of guilt. I felt that all these things were my fault. If I had tried harder, I could have saved the situation. I treated this person badly, etc. This stuff kept me up at night.
It also served to poison whatever else I was doing. Guilt and grief are powerful toxins, and they will ruin a life completely, if they get in control. And so they do.
Sometimes you have to be in the right frame of mind in order to realize when you are being taught something. Much like an alcoholic, you have to hit rock bottom. I did. Once I did, I realized that I just am not strong enough to handle all of this stuff. The pressure seems unbearable, and life seems like it's falling apart. Despite my best efforts, life was out of control. So what did I learn?
God allows this kind of thing to happen, and there's a reason for it. I finally realized that I am not capable of handling these burdens of life. I am not able to carry the weight of all the guilt, shame and grief. I can't handle the desperation. I had to be humbled a bit. "The world weighs on my shoulders, but what am I to do?"
Fortunately, I don't have to do much of anything. But I learned a few things. The first thing is that I can't run this ship. Second, God is in control, not me. His will plays out, despite my best efforts to the contrary.
The third big realization is that God absolutely loves us, like a parent loves their child. Even if the child does some pretty awful things, the parent still loves them. Jeffery Dahmer had a mother, and she still loved him despite his peculiar culinary habits. Except God's love is apparently even deeper than that. There's NOTHING that I could do to push him away. No matter how guilty I felt, no matter how bad I tore myself up over wrong turns I made, God still loved, and loves, me. That's pretty powerful. So how much does he love me? Enough to make himself mortal, take all of my sins and trangressions, and pay the ultimate price for them. Not only for me, but everybody.
Along with that unconditional love comes the fourth big realization: forgiveness. All that stuff is water under the bridge, as far as God's concerned. It's like it never happened.
The fifth big realization is that God wants a relationship with me. I can't alienate him. He's forgiven whatever transgressions that I've made. He knows I can't handle all of this stuff. So he's willing to step in, and take it all from me. All he asks is that I ask. All he asks is that I surrender the burden, let him into my life, and listen to what he has to say.
This doesn't mean the problems magically disappear. Life still is going to kick the tar out of me, or at least try. All it means is that God will get me through it. He won't abandon me. He'll provide the guidance and strength, just like he's been doing all along. He doesn't want us to suffer through the bad stuff the world throws at us. He'll guide us, but we have to surrender to his guidance. That's the tough part for me.
Sounds pretty farfetched, doesn't it? I can't argue with the results, though. I can sleep at night, probably for the first time ever in my life. My writing's suffering a bit, unfortunately. All in all though, it's not a bad trade.
Friday, May 19, 2006
She Literally Got Him By The @#&!
Via the Drudge Report.
This story is simply to horrible to contemplate. But I shall, just because I'm that kind of guy.
You may have been threatened with this before, but now there's undisputed evidence it can actually happen. It's all fun to laugh about it, until somebody gets hurt.
There are entirely too many funny things to be said about this. Let the pun begin. Keeping in mind, of course, anything said is simply whistling past the graveyard for the males of the species.
Thank heavens for the miracles of modern medicine.....
This story is simply to horrible to contemplate. But I shall, just because I'm that kind of guy.
You may have been threatened with this before, but now there's undisputed evidence it can actually happen. It's all fun to laugh about it, until somebody gets hurt.
There are entirely too many funny things to be said about this. Let the pun begin. Keeping in mind, of course, anything said is simply whistling past the graveyard for the males of the species.
Thank heavens for the miracles of modern medicine.....
Fight The Power!!!
This story is incredibly anger-provoking, via the Drudge Report. It's a flagrant abuse of authority, to say the least.
I'll post more on this story later. I have lots of both good and bad to say about law enforcement in this country.
Don't think it can't happen to you.
In other news, I haven't posted much lately. I'll expound on that later as well, I hope.
I'll post more on this story later. I have lots of both good and bad to say about law enforcement in this country.
Don't think it can't happen to you.
In other news, I haven't posted much lately. I'll expound on that later as well, I hope.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Fun With W's Empty Speech
I think the blogosphere calls this sort of thing "fisking." Bush's speech, with my comments in italics. The text comes from here.
"Good evening. I have asked for a few minutes of your time to discuss a matter of national importance: the reform of America's immigration system.
Yeah, it's only important because the polls say it is, and we the people are about to start cleaning house. You're worried about the Republicans getting run out of office next year. You should be.
The issue of immigration stirs intense emotions and in recent weeks, Americans have seen those emotions on display. On the streets of major cities, crowds have rallied in support of those in our country illegally. At our southern border, others have organized to stop illegal immigrants from coming in. Across the country, Americans are trying to reconcile these contrasting images.
Not to hard to contrast, really. People sneaking in, bad. People supporting people sneaking in, bad. People trying to keep the sneakers out, good. Government not protecting us from a menace on the southern border, evil.
And in Washington, the debate over immigration reform has reached a time of decision. Tonight, I will make it clear where I stand, and where I want to lead our country on this vital issue.
Clear as mud, W.
We must begin by recognizing the problems with our immigration system. For decades, the United States has not been in complete control of its borders. As a result, many who want to work in our economy have been able to sneak across our border and millions have stayed.
About the only thing he said that actually has a ring of truth to it.
Once here, illegal immigrants live in the shadows of our society. Many use forged documents to get jobs, and that makes it difficult for employers to verify that the workers they hire are legal. Illegal immigration puts pressure on public schools and hospitals, strains state and local budgets, and brings crime to our communities. These are real problems, yet we must remember that the vast majority of illegal immigrants are decent people who work hard, support their families, practice their faith, and lead responsible lives. They are a part of American life but they are beyond the reach and protection of American law.
If you call the "shadows" the middle of our major streets, yelling and screaming about their rights, I guess so. I will majorly disagree with the statement about them being decent people. Every single one of them has proven they are OK with breaking the law, sucking up government assistance, and crashing our healthcare system, which has enough problems as it is. Call it straight, for a change.
We are a nation of laws, and we must enforce our laws. We are also a nation of immigrants, and we must uphold that tradition, which has strengthened our country in so many ways. These are not contradictory goals. America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time. We will fix the problems created by illegal immigration, and we will deliver a system that is secure, orderly and fair. So I support comprehensive immigration reform that will accomplish five clear objectives.
The laws don't apply to some of us, now do they? You know, those that sneak in? They get free healthcare, subsidized by my tax dollars. Yet a hospital will SUE me if I don't pay my bill on time. Why? They know that they can get money out of me, and they know an illegal can just slither back across the border.
First, the United States must secure its borders. This is a basic responsibility of a sovereign nation. It is also an urgent requirement of our national security. Our objective is straightforward: The border should be open to trade and lawful immigration and shut to illegal immigrants, as well as criminals, drug dealers and terrorists.
Duh.
I was the governor of a state that has a 1,200-mile border with Mexico. So I know how difficult it is to enforce the border, and how important it is. Since I became president, we have increased funding for border security by 66 percent, and expanded the Border Patrol from about 9,000 to 12,000 agents. The men and women of our Border Patrol are doing a fine job in difficult circumstances, and over the past five years, we have apprehended and sent home about 6 million people entering America illegally.
It isn't that difficult to enforce. It took a posse of the people to show the rest of the country that it can be done. You just never had the cojones to do anything about it until the polls put some heat on you. And the six million that you caught? They all snuck back in, bringing their friends.
Despite this progress, we do not yet have full control of the border, and I am determined to change that. Tonight I am calling on Congress to provide funding for dramatic improvements in manpower and technology at the border. By the end of 2008, we will increase the number of Border Patrol officers by an additional 6,000. When these new agents are deployed, we will have more than doubled the size of the Border Patrol during my presidency.
Not bad, but the heck with this technology stuff. Build a wall. Razor wire is cheaper.
At the same time, we are launching the most technologically advanced border security initiative in American history. We will construct high-tech fences in urban corridors, and build new patrol roads and barriers in rural areas. We will employ motion sensors infrared cameras and unmanned aerial vehicles to prevent illegal crossings. America has the best technology in the world and we will ensure that the Border Patrol has the technology they need to do their job and secure our border.
I still like my idea of growing a bunch of Godzillas and letting them run up and down the border. Nothing keeps people away like a radioactive 400 foot tall lizard with a taste for Tex-Mex.
Training thousands of new Border Patrol agents and bringing the most advanced technology to the border will take time. Yet the need to secure our border is urgent. So I am announcing several immediate steps to strengthen border enforcement during this period of transition:
"Immediate." Oh, the irony....
One way to help during this transition is to use the National Guard. So in coordination with governors, up to 6,000 Guard members will be deployed to our southern border. The Border Patrol will remain in the lead. The Guard will assist the Border Patrol by operating surveillance systems analyzing intelligence installing fences and vehicle barriers building patrol roads and providing training. Guard units will not be involved in direct law enforcement activities that duty will be done by the Border Patrol. This initial commitment of Guard members would last for a period of one year. After that, the number of Guard forces will be reduced as new Border Patrol agents and new technologies come online. It is important for Americans to know that we have enough Guard forces to win the war on terror, respond to natural disasters, and help secure our border.
So what exactly is the Guard GOING to be able to do down there? Yell, "alto" everytime they see an illegal? They're going to lose their voices pretty quick. It's not really going to help unless they get to shoot back.
The United States is not going to militarize the southern border. Mexico is our neighbor, and our friend. We will continue to work cooperatively to improve security on both sides of the border, to confront common problems like drug trafficking and crime, and to reduce illegal immigration.
We aren't, but Mexico doesn't have a problem with militarizing their borders. It's ok for the rest of the world, but we do it and the rest of the world squalls like babies. They may be our neighbor, but they sure as heck ain't our friend. W apparently has a different standard for friendship than I.
Another way to help during this period of transition is through state and local law enforcement in our border communities. So we will increase federal funding for state and local authorities assisting the Border Patrol on targeted enforcement missions. And we will give state and local authorities the specialized training they need to help federal officers apprehend and detain illegal immigrants. State and local law enforcement officials are an important resource and they are part of our strategy to secure our border communities.
So why not deputize the Minutemen? You've got a whole volunteer force that wants to help. Forget actually letting the PEOPLE take care of themselves....
The steps I have outlined will improve our ability to catch people entering our country illegally. At the same time, we must ensure that every illegal immigrant we catch crossing our southern border is returned home.
I have one thing to say: lizard chow.
More than 85 percent of the illegal immigrants we catch crossing the southern border are Mexicans, and most are sent back home within 24 hours.
The 6 million we caught? It was probably the same ten people caught 600,000 times. They just turned around and came back.
But when we catch illegal immigrants from other countries, it is not as easy to send them home. For many years, the government did not have enough space in our detention facilities to hold them while the legal process unfolded. So most were released back into our society and asked to return for a court date. When the date arrived, the vast majority did not show up. This practice, called "catch and release," is unacceptable and we will end it.
Sounds like a fish and wildlife problem.
We are taking several important steps to meet this goal. We have expanded the number of beds in our detention facilities, and we will continue to add more.
Why? They snuck over here under the floorboards of trucks. Now we're giving them beds? What's wrong with cold concrete, standing room only?
We have expedited the legal process to cut the average deportation time. And we are making it clear to foreign governments that they must accept back their citizens who violate our immigration laws. As a result of these actions, we have ended "catch and release" for illegal immigrants from some countries. And I will ask Congress for additional funding and legal authority, so we can end "catch and release" at the southern border once and for all. When people know that they will be caught and sent home if they enter our country illegally, they will be less likely to try to sneak in.
They're less likely to sneak in if a giant firebreathing lizard was to eat a few of them, too.
Second, to secure our border, we must create a temporary worker program. The reality is that there are many people on the other side of our border who will do anything to come to America to work and build a better life. They walk across miles of desert in the summer heat, or hide in the back of 18-wheelers to reach our country. This creates enormous pressure on our border that walls and patrols alone will not stop. To secure the border effectively, we must reduce the numbers of people trying to sneak across.
Why? Shut the sucker down, and let the economy adjust itself. I guarantee there will be plenty of workforce out there, if you cut off the stupid welfare.
Therefore, I support a temporary worker program that would create a legal path for foreign workers to enter our country in an orderly way, for a limited period of time. This program would match willing foreign workers with willing American employers for jobs Americans are not doing. Every worker who applies for the program would be required to pass criminal background checks. And temporary workers must return to their home country at the conclusion of their stay.
That has worked great so far, hasn't it? They just line up to return after their visas expire.
A temporary worker program would meet the needs of our economy, and it would give honest immigrants a way to provide for their families while respecting the law. A temporary worker program would reduce the appeal of human smugglers and make it less likely that people would risk their lives to cross the border. It would ease the financial burden on state and local governments, by replacing illegal workers with lawful taxpayers. And above all, a temporary worker program would add to our security by making certain we know who is in our country and why they are here.
We know, already. Everybody knows but the government, apparently.
Third, we need to hold employers to account for the workers they hire. It is against the law to hire someone who is in this country illegally. Yet businesses often cannot verify the legal status of their employees, because of the widespread problem of document fraud. Therefore, comprehensive immigration reform must include a better system for verifying documents and work eligibility. A key part of that system should be a new identification card for every legal foreign worker. This card should use biometric technology, such as digital fingerprints, to make it tamper-proof. A tamper-proof card would help us enforce the law and leave employers with no excuse for violating it. And by making it harder for illegal immigrants to find work in our country, we would discourage people from crossing the border illegally in the first place.
So would a nice, big FENCE, you dope....
Fourth, we must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants are already here. They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship. This is amnesty, and I oppose it. Amnesty would be unfair to those who are here lawfully and it would invite further waves of illegal immigration.
About the only thing I agree with, but he loses it in a minute....
Some in this country argue that the solution is to deport every illegal immigrant and that any proposal short of this amounts to amnesty. I disagree. It is neither wise nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States, and send them across the border. There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant, and a program of mass deportation. That middle ground recognizes that there are differences between an illegal immigrant who crossed the border recently and someone who has worked here for many years, and has a home, a family, and an otherwise clean record. I believe that illegal immigrants who have roots in our country and want to stay should have to pay a meaningful penalty for breaking the law to pay their taxes to learn English and to work in a job for a number of years. People who meet these conditions should be able to apply for citizenship but approval would not be automatic, and they will have to wait in line behind those who played by the rules and followed the law. What I have just described is not amnesty it is a way for those who have broken the law to pay their debt to society, and demonstrate the character that makes a good citizen.
What the @*!!! do you call it then, W?
Fifth, we must honor the great American tradition of the melting pot, which has made us one Nation out of many peoples. The success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate into our society, and embrace our common identity as Americans. Americans are bound together by our shared ideals, an appreciation of our history, respect for the flag we fly, and an ability to speak and write the English language. English is also the key to unlocking the opportunity of America. English allows newcomers to go from picking crops to opening a grocery from cleaning offices to running offices from a life of low- paying jobs to a diploma, a career, and a home of their own. When immigrants assimilate and advance in our society, they realize their dreams, they renew our spirit and they add to the unity of America.
English only, then? I'm all for it.
Tonight, I want to speak directly to members of the House and the Senate: An immigration reform bill needs to be comprehensive, because all elements of this problem must be addressed together or none of them will be solved at all. The House has passed an immigration bill. The Senate should act by the end of this month so we can work out the differences between the two bills, and Congress can pass a comprehensive bill for me to sign into law.
Good luck with that. You'll forgive me if I don't hold my breath....
America needs to conduct this debate on immigration in a reasoned and respectful tone. Feelings run deep on this issue and as we work it out, all of us need to keep some things in mind. We cannot build a unified country by inciting people to anger, or playing on anyone's fears, or exploiting the issue of immigration for political gain. We must always remember that real lives will be affected by our debates and decisions, and that every human being has dignity and value no matter what their citizenship papers say.
We ARE being reasoned and respectful. Don't make us angry, W. You wouldn't like us when we're angry. We might do something crazy, like create an actual conservative third party...
I know many of you listening tonight have a parent or a grandparent who came here from another country with dreams of a better life. You know what freedom meant to them, and you know that America is a more hopeful country because of their hard work and sacrifice. As President, I have had the opportunity to meet people of many backgrounds, and hear what America means to them. On a visit to Bethesda Naval Hospital, Laura and I met a wounded Marine named Guadalupe Denogean. Master Gunnery Sergeant Denogean came to the United States from Mexico when he was a boy. He spent his summers picking crops with his family, and then he volunteered for the United States Marine Corps as soon as he was able. During the liberation of Iraq, Master Gunnery Sergeant Denogean was seriously injured. When asked if he had any requests, he made two a promotion for the corporal who helped rescue him and the chance to become an American citizen. And when this brave Marine raised his right hand, and swore an oath to become a citizen of the country he had defended for more than 26 years, I was honored to stand at his side.
Hard to argue that one, but the majority of the problem doesn't have a face on it like this.
We will always be proud to welcome people like Guadalupe Denogean as fellow Americans. Our new immigrants are just what they have always been people willing to risk everything for the dream of freedom. And America remains what she has always been the great hope on the horizon an open door to the future a blessed and promised land. We honor the heritage of all who come here, no matter where they are from, because we trust in our country's genius for making us all Americans, one nation under God. Thank you, and good night."
There's more cliches in here than I care to count....
END
"Good evening. I have asked for a few minutes of your time to discuss a matter of national importance: the reform of America's immigration system.
Yeah, it's only important because the polls say it is, and we the people are about to start cleaning house. You're worried about the Republicans getting run out of office next year. You should be.
The issue of immigration stirs intense emotions and in recent weeks, Americans have seen those emotions on display. On the streets of major cities, crowds have rallied in support of those in our country illegally. At our southern border, others have organized to stop illegal immigrants from coming in. Across the country, Americans are trying to reconcile these contrasting images.
Not to hard to contrast, really. People sneaking in, bad. People supporting people sneaking in, bad. People trying to keep the sneakers out, good. Government not protecting us from a menace on the southern border, evil.
And in Washington, the debate over immigration reform has reached a time of decision. Tonight, I will make it clear where I stand, and where I want to lead our country on this vital issue.
Clear as mud, W.
We must begin by recognizing the problems with our immigration system. For decades, the United States has not been in complete control of its borders. As a result, many who want to work in our economy have been able to sneak across our border and millions have stayed.
About the only thing he said that actually has a ring of truth to it.
Once here, illegal immigrants live in the shadows of our society. Many use forged documents to get jobs, and that makes it difficult for employers to verify that the workers they hire are legal. Illegal immigration puts pressure on public schools and hospitals, strains state and local budgets, and brings crime to our communities. These are real problems, yet we must remember that the vast majority of illegal immigrants are decent people who work hard, support their families, practice their faith, and lead responsible lives. They are a part of American life but they are beyond the reach and protection of American law.
If you call the "shadows" the middle of our major streets, yelling and screaming about their rights, I guess so. I will majorly disagree with the statement about them being decent people. Every single one of them has proven they are OK with breaking the law, sucking up government assistance, and crashing our healthcare system, which has enough problems as it is. Call it straight, for a change.
We are a nation of laws, and we must enforce our laws. We are also a nation of immigrants, and we must uphold that tradition, which has strengthened our country in so many ways. These are not contradictory goals. America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time. We will fix the problems created by illegal immigration, and we will deliver a system that is secure, orderly and fair. So I support comprehensive immigration reform that will accomplish five clear objectives.
The laws don't apply to some of us, now do they? You know, those that sneak in? They get free healthcare, subsidized by my tax dollars. Yet a hospital will SUE me if I don't pay my bill on time. Why? They know that they can get money out of me, and they know an illegal can just slither back across the border.
First, the United States must secure its borders. This is a basic responsibility of a sovereign nation. It is also an urgent requirement of our national security. Our objective is straightforward: The border should be open to trade and lawful immigration and shut to illegal immigrants, as well as criminals, drug dealers and terrorists.
Duh.
I was the governor of a state that has a 1,200-mile border with Mexico. So I know how difficult it is to enforce the border, and how important it is. Since I became president, we have increased funding for border security by 66 percent, and expanded the Border Patrol from about 9,000 to 12,000 agents. The men and women of our Border Patrol are doing a fine job in difficult circumstances, and over the past five years, we have apprehended and sent home about 6 million people entering America illegally.
It isn't that difficult to enforce. It took a posse of the people to show the rest of the country that it can be done. You just never had the cojones to do anything about it until the polls put some heat on you. And the six million that you caught? They all snuck back in, bringing their friends.
Despite this progress, we do not yet have full control of the border, and I am determined to change that. Tonight I am calling on Congress to provide funding for dramatic improvements in manpower and technology at the border. By the end of 2008, we will increase the number of Border Patrol officers by an additional 6,000. When these new agents are deployed, we will have more than doubled the size of the Border Patrol during my presidency.
Not bad, but the heck with this technology stuff. Build a wall. Razor wire is cheaper.
At the same time, we are launching the most technologically advanced border security initiative in American history. We will construct high-tech fences in urban corridors, and build new patrol roads and barriers in rural areas. We will employ motion sensors infrared cameras and unmanned aerial vehicles to prevent illegal crossings. America has the best technology in the world and we will ensure that the Border Patrol has the technology they need to do their job and secure our border.
I still like my idea of growing a bunch of Godzillas and letting them run up and down the border. Nothing keeps people away like a radioactive 400 foot tall lizard with a taste for Tex-Mex.
Training thousands of new Border Patrol agents and bringing the most advanced technology to the border will take time. Yet the need to secure our border is urgent. So I am announcing several immediate steps to strengthen border enforcement during this period of transition:
"Immediate." Oh, the irony....
One way to help during this transition is to use the National Guard. So in coordination with governors, up to 6,000 Guard members will be deployed to our southern border. The Border Patrol will remain in the lead. The Guard will assist the Border Patrol by operating surveillance systems analyzing intelligence installing fences and vehicle barriers building patrol roads and providing training. Guard units will not be involved in direct law enforcement activities that duty will be done by the Border Patrol. This initial commitment of Guard members would last for a period of one year. After that, the number of Guard forces will be reduced as new Border Patrol agents and new technologies come online. It is important for Americans to know that we have enough Guard forces to win the war on terror, respond to natural disasters, and help secure our border.
So what exactly is the Guard GOING to be able to do down there? Yell, "alto" everytime they see an illegal? They're going to lose their voices pretty quick. It's not really going to help unless they get to shoot back.
The United States is not going to militarize the southern border. Mexico is our neighbor, and our friend. We will continue to work cooperatively to improve security on both sides of the border, to confront common problems like drug trafficking and crime, and to reduce illegal immigration.
We aren't, but Mexico doesn't have a problem with militarizing their borders. It's ok for the rest of the world, but we do it and the rest of the world squalls like babies. They may be our neighbor, but they sure as heck ain't our friend. W apparently has a different standard for friendship than I.
Another way to help during this period of transition is through state and local law enforcement in our border communities. So we will increase federal funding for state and local authorities assisting the Border Patrol on targeted enforcement missions. And we will give state and local authorities the specialized training they need to help federal officers apprehend and detain illegal immigrants. State and local law enforcement officials are an important resource and they are part of our strategy to secure our border communities.
So why not deputize the Minutemen? You've got a whole volunteer force that wants to help. Forget actually letting the PEOPLE take care of themselves....
The steps I have outlined will improve our ability to catch people entering our country illegally. At the same time, we must ensure that every illegal immigrant we catch crossing our southern border is returned home.
I have one thing to say: lizard chow.
More than 85 percent of the illegal immigrants we catch crossing the southern border are Mexicans, and most are sent back home within 24 hours.
The 6 million we caught? It was probably the same ten people caught 600,000 times. They just turned around and came back.
But when we catch illegal immigrants from other countries, it is not as easy to send them home. For many years, the government did not have enough space in our detention facilities to hold them while the legal process unfolded. So most were released back into our society and asked to return for a court date. When the date arrived, the vast majority did not show up. This practice, called "catch and release," is unacceptable and we will end it.
Sounds like a fish and wildlife problem.
We are taking several important steps to meet this goal. We have expanded the number of beds in our detention facilities, and we will continue to add more.
Why? They snuck over here under the floorboards of trucks. Now we're giving them beds? What's wrong with cold concrete, standing room only?
We have expedited the legal process to cut the average deportation time. And we are making it clear to foreign governments that they must accept back their citizens who violate our immigration laws. As a result of these actions, we have ended "catch and release" for illegal immigrants from some countries. And I will ask Congress for additional funding and legal authority, so we can end "catch and release" at the southern border once and for all. When people know that they will be caught and sent home if they enter our country illegally, they will be less likely to try to sneak in.
They're less likely to sneak in if a giant firebreathing lizard was to eat a few of them, too.
Second, to secure our border, we must create a temporary worker program. The reality is that there are many people on the other side of our border who will do anything to come to America to work and build a better life. They walk across miles of desert in the summer heat, or hide in the back of 18-wheelers to reach our country. This creates enormous pressure on our border that walls and patrols alone will not stop. To secure the border effectively, we must reduce the numbers of people trying to sneak across.
Why? Shut the sucker down, and let the economy adjust itself. I guarantee there will be plenty of workforce out there, if you cut off the stupid welfare.
Therefore, I support a temporary worker program that would create a legal path for foreign workers to enter our country in an orderly way, for a limited period of time. This program would match willing foreign workers with willing American employers for jobs Americans are not doing. Every worker who applies for the program would be required to pass criminal background checks. And temporary workers must return to their home country at the conclusion of their stay.
That has worked great so far, hasn't it? They just line up to return after their visas expire.
A temporary worker program would meet the needs of our economy, and it would give honest immigrants a way to provide for their families while respecting the law. A temporary worker program would reduce the appeal of human smugglers and make it less likely that people would risk their lives to cross the border. It would ease the financial burden on state and local governments, by replacing illegal workers with lawful taxpayers. And above all, a temporary worker program would add to our security by making certain we know who is in our country and why they are here.
We know, already. Everybody knows but the government, apparently.
Third, we need to hold employers to account for the workers they hire. It is against the law to hire someone who is in this country illegally. Yet businesses often cannot verify the legal status of their employees, because of the widespread problem of document fraud. Therefore, comprehensive immigration reform must include a better system for verifying documents and work eligibility. A key part of that system should be a new identification card for every legal foreign worker. This card should use biometric technology, such as digital fingerprints, to make it tamper-proof. A tamper-proof card would help us enforce the law and leave employers with no excuse for violating it. And by making it harder for illegal immigrants to find work in our country, we would discourage people from crossing the border illegally in the first place.
So would a nice, big FENCE, you dope....
Fourth, we must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants are already here. They should not be given an automatic path to citizenship. This is amnesty, and I oppose it. Amnesty would be unfair to those who are here lawfully and it would invite further waves of illegal immigration.
About the only thing I agree with, but he loses it in a minute....
Some in this country argue that the solution is to deport every illegal immigrant and that any proposal short of this amounts to amnesty. I disagree. It is neither wise nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States, and send them across the border. There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant, and a program of mass deportation. That middle ground recognizes that there are differences between an illegal immigrant who crossed the border recently and someone who has worked here for many years, and has a home, a family, and an otherwise clean record. I believe that illegal immigrants who have roots in our country and want to stay should have to pay a meaningful penalty for breaking the law to pay their taxes to learn English and to work in a job for a number of years. People who meet these conditions should be able to apply for citizenship but approval would not be automatic, and they will have to wait in line behind those who played by the rules and followed the law. What I have just described is not amnesty it is a way for those who have broken the law to pay their debt to society, and demonstrate the character that makes a good citizen.
What the @*!!! do you call it then, W?
Fifth, we must honor the great American tradition of the melting pot, which has made us one Nation out of many peoples. The success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate into our society, and embrace our common identity as Americans. Americans are bound together by our shared ideals, an appreciation of our history, respect for the flag we fly, and an ability to speak and write the English language. English is also the key to unlocking the opportunity of America. English allows newcomers to go from picking crops to opening a grocery from cleaning offices to running offices from a life of low- paying jobs to a diploma, a career, and a home of their own. When immigrants assimilate and advance in our society, they realize their dreams, they renew our spirit and they add to the unity of America.
English only, then? I'm all for it.
Tonight, I want to speak directly to members of the House and the Senate: An immigration reform bill needs to be comprehensive, because all elements of this problem must be addressed together or none of them will be solved at all. The House has passed an immigration bill. The Senate should act by the end of this month so we can work out the differences between the two bills, and Congress can pass a comprehensive bill for me to sign into law.
Good luck with that. You'll forgive me if I don't hold my breath....
America needs to conduct this debate on immigration in a reasoned and respectful tone. Feelings run deep on this issue and as we work it out, all of us need to keep some things in mind. We cannot build a unified country by inciting people to anger, or playing on anyone's fears, or exploiting the issue of immigration for political gain. We must always remember that real lives will be affected by our debates and decisions, and that every human being has dignity and value no matter what their citizenship papers say.
We ARE being reasoned and respectful. Don't make us angry, W. You wouldn't like us when we're angry. We might do something crazy, like create an actual conservative third party...
I know many of you listening tonight have a parent or a grandparent who came here from another country with dreams of a better life. You know what freedom meant to them, and you know that America is a more hopeful country because of their hard work and sacrifice. As President, I have had the opportunity to meet people of many backgrounds, and hear what America means to them. On a visit to Bethesda Naval Hospital, Laura and I met a wounded Marine named Guadalupe Denogean. Master Gunnery Sergeant Denogean came to the United States from Mexico when he was a boy. He spent his summers picking crops with his family, and then he volunteered for the United States Marine Corps as soon as he was able. During the liberation of Iraq, Master Gunnery Sergeant Denogean was seriously injured. When asked if he had any requests, he made two a promotion for the corporal who helped rescue him and the chance to become an American citizen. And when this brave Marine raised his right hand, and swore an oath to become a citizen of the country he had defended for more than 26 years, I was honored to stand at his side.
Hard to argue that one, but the majority of the problem doesn't have a face on it like this.
We will always be proud to welcome people like Guadalupe Denogean as fellow Americans. Our new immigrants are just what they have always been people willing to risk everything for the dream of freedom. And America remains what she has always been the great hope on the horizon an open door to the future a blessed and promised land. We honor the heritage of all who come here, no matter where they are from, because we trust in our country's genius for making us all Americans, one nation under God. Thank you, and good night."
There's more cliches in here than I care to count....
END
Saturday, May 13, 2006
New Fun Website
I have been searching for a good analysis of the motivation of Islamic terror. It appears that I have found it with this website and this author.
I have ordered a couple of Robert Spencer's books. This is what I have been looking for: an in-depth analysis of Islam, and what it extorts its followers to do. It is also a pretty good explanation of how Muslims treat non-Muslims. This is summed up by the concept of Dhimmi, and what that would mean to any country that lives under Sharia.
This is a bit worrisome to me, and it should be to the rest of the world. If the holy books of this particular religion demand total subjugation of non-believers, to the point of killing or enslaving them, it doesn't leave much room for peaceful resolution, does it? Read this article for a quick analysis of the peaceful teachings of Islam.
I found this stuff while searching for info about Mohammed Reza Tahiri-azar the Chapel Hill student who ran his SUV into a crowd at the Unversity, intending to kill as many as he could hit in the name of Allah. He has been writing helpful explanations as to why he did what he did from jail.
If this stuff doesn't scare you, I don't know what will.
I have ordered a couple of Robert Spencer's books. This is what I have been looking for: an in-depth analysis of Islam, and what it extorts its followers to do. It is also a pretty good explanation of how Muslims treat non-Muslims. This is summed up by the concept of Dhimmi, and what that would mean to any country that lives under Sharia.
This is a bit worrisome to me, and it should be to the rest of the world. If the holy books of this particular religion demand total subjugation of non-believers, to the point of killing or enslaving them, it doesn't leave much room for peaceful resolution, does it? Read this article for a quick analysis of the peaceful teachings of Islam.
I found this stuff while searching for info about Mohammed Reza Tahiri-azar the Chapel Hill student who ran his SUV into a crowd at the Unversity, intending to kill as many as he could hit in the name of Allah. He has been writing helpful explanations as to why he did what he did from jail.
If this stuff doesn't scare you, I don't know what will.
A Step In the Right Direction???
White House sources are apparently "leaking" word that Bush is considering the use of national guard troops on the border. He's expected to release some sort of annoucement about it next week.
Not a bad idea at all. The problem is that it seems Bush is only doing it now to appease the conservative base. We all know his heart isn't in shutting down the border traffic, or he'd have done it already. He's not fooling anyone at this point. He's soft on illegal immigration.
In my opinion, that means he's soft on the war on terror. If he's serious about it, then why not shut the border down as the first thing done after 9/11? Then worry about slapping the terrorists and rogue nations around, after you've secured the home front.
I hate to say it, but I don't trust W anymore. I'll NEVER vote democrat, don't get me wrong. "Republican" doesn't describe me anymore. "Conservative" does quite nicely, but the two terms aren't really the same thing anymore, are they? This looks like more of a political appeasement tactic than a guy trying to do the right thing. When our elected representatives start doing things just because of political pressure, I lose respect for them in a big way. This won't cure my trust issues with him.
Troops on the Border aren't a bad way to go, but it should just be a start until the Great Wall of America gets built.
Defending and closing the border isn't all that hard. All it takes is the will to muster the resources and the manpower, and to ignore the flak coming from the quasi-militant hispanic crowd. The Minutemen have proven it can be done.
Not a bad idea at all. The problem is that it seems Bush is only doing it now to appease the conservative base. We all know his heart isn't in shutting down the border traffic, or he'd have done it already. He's not fooling anyone at this point. He's soft on illegal immigration.
In my opinion, that means he's soft on the war on terror. If he's serious about it, then why not shut the border down as the first thing done after 9/11? Then worry about slapping the terrorists and rogue nations around, after you've secured the home front.
I hate to say it, but I don't trust W anymore. I'll NEVER vote democrat, don't get me wrong. "Republican" doesn't describe me anymore. "Conservative" does quite nicely, but the two terms aren't really the same thing anymore, are they? This looks like more of a political appeasement tactic than a guy trying to do the right thing. When our elected representatives start doing things just because of political pressure, I lose respect for them in a big way. This won't cure my trust issues with him.
Troops on the Border aren't a bad way to go, but it should just be a start until the Great Wall of America gets built.
Defending and closing the border isn't all that hard. All it takes is the will to muster the resources and the manpower, and to ignore the flak coming from the quasi-militant hispanic crowd. The Minutemen have proven it can be done.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Food For Thought
So what would we all do in this situation?
Anybody who carries concealed needs to think about this.
Via Hell In a Handbasket, via Reasonablenut
Honestly, this is one of my worst fears. That I don't react quickly enough, that I hesitate, that I second-guess myself.
Then something like this could happen.
This just emphasizes the first rule of gunfighting: have a gun. This guy had the primary rule handled just fine. It's after that things got a bit dodgy.
Anybody who carries concealed needs to think about this.
Via Hell In a Handbasket, via Reasonablenut
Honestly, this is one of my worst fears. That I don't react quickly enough, that I hesitate, that I second-guess myself.
Then something like this could happen.
This just emphasizes the first rule of gunfighting: have a gun. This guy had the primary rule handled just fine. It's after that things got a bit dodgy.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
I hereby vow....
....Not to look at any more pictures, spoilers, trailers, etc. regarding XMEN3. I think I've seen the whole darn movie online. Enough.
But I also used to unwrap my Christmas presents early.
It's a promising movie summer so far. If we can afford to go with the price of gas getting as high as it is.
I'm done for the night. I'm going to play the new bass, and turn in early for a change.
But I also used to unwrap my Christmas presents early.
It's a promising movie summer so far. If we can afford to go with the price of gas getting as high as it is.
I'm done for the night. I'm going to play the new bass, and turn in early for a change.
The Harsh Truth Is.....
Political correctness often is simply a misguided attempt not to hurt anyone's feelings. "Cultural sensitivity," as it is so often labeled, is often a group refusing to hear the negative but painfully honest things about themselves.
Not only is it dishonest, it is dangerous in this day and age.
The harsh truth is illegal aliens cost the United States taxpayers billions of dollars per year. The harsh truth is their beneficial impact on the economy (if there is one) is far outweighed by the free healthcare they get, the education their children get in our schools, the lawsuits they file when they get in car wrecks, the welfare their families receive while over here, and the expanding prison population their criminals are contributing to. Not to mention the drug cartels running their product over our borders, the gang problems and dangers posed by thugs like MS-13, and et cetera.
Go to any urban or suburban emergency room. You'll find it full of people who are there for a cold or minor medical emergency, of the sort your family doctor would normally take care of. A large percentage are likely illegal immigrants. They know they can't be turned away from the emergency room. They know they won't be forced to pay anything for their healthcare. The taxpayers darn sure will, however.
Go to a county jail sometime, and see how many incarcerated there are illegal aliens. The number will shock you.
The harsh truth is that this illegal population is expanding geometrically, both in the number of people coming into the US, and the number of children born to that population in the United States. The Anglo-Saxon is already a minority in Texas, for that reason.
The harsh truth is this group refuses to assimilate to American society, keeping their language and culture, and refusing to adapt to ours. Michael Savage preaches that a country cannot be a country without borders, language, and culture. He's right.
The harsh truth is there is a large segment of the world's population that hates every one of us that does not bow to Islam. That includes those who vote Democrat and preach tolerance and compassion for the poor Muslims of the world. They don't care. They'll kill or enslave them, too. They're no less infidels because they vote Democrat or oppose the War on Terror. It's not a question of tolerance for them. It's a belief their way is the only way. Buy into it, or die. History teaches that, if one cares to study it.
The harsh truth is that people of this country have to decide whether they will allow themselves to be slaughtered. Or will they put their collective feet down, close their borders, and deal with these problems facing the United States?
The harsh truth is that there is a right and wrong, and the time fast approaches to get off the fence and make a stand about such things. The harsh truth is that value judgments have to be made. People have to be willing to say that our way of life is worth protecting from all enemies, foreign or domestic. It's worth it because it is intrinsically better than anything else. It's worth going to war over. It's worth guarding and protecting. The United States cannot defend itself without closing its borders, and creating a safe place to garrison itself from attacks. It cannot defend itself if its resources are being squandered on prisons, free medical care, free food, free housing, and free goodies for people who enter the country illegally.
The harsh truth is that it's not about racism or intolerance. It's about good versus evil. It's about survival.
Not only is it dishonest, it is dangerous in this day and age.
The harsh truth is illegal aliens cost the United States taxpayers billions of dollars per year. The harsh truth is their beneficial impact on the economy (if there is one) is far outweighed by the free healthcare they get, the education their children get in our schools, the lawsuits they file when they get in car wrecks, the welfare their families receive while over here, and the expanding prison population their criminals are contributing to. Not to mention the drug cartels running their product over our borders, the gang problems and dangers posed by thugs like MS-13, and et cetera.
Go to any urban or suburban emergency room. You'll find it full of people who are there for a cold or minor medical emergency, of the sort your family doctor would normally take care of. A large percentage are likely illegal immigrants. They know they can't be turned away from the emergency room. They know they won't be forced to pay anything for their healthcare. The taxpayers darn sure will, however.
Go to a county jail sometime, and see how many incarcerated there are illegal aliens. The number will shock you.
The harsh truth is that this illegal population is expanding geometrically, both in the number of people coming into the US, and the number of children born to that population in the United States. The Anglo-Saxon is already a minority in Texas, for that reason.
The harsh truth is this group refuses to assimilate to American society, keeping their language and culture, and refusing to adapt to ours. Michael Savage preaches that a country cannot be a country without borders, language, and culture. He's right.
The harsh truth is there is a large segment of the world's population that hates every one of us that does not bow to Islam. That includes those who vote Democrat and preach tolerance and compassion for the poor Muslims of the world. They don't care. They'll kill or enslave them, too. They're no less infidels because they vote Democrat or oppose the War on Terror. It's not a question of tolerance for them. It's a belief their way is the only way. Buy into it, or die. History teaches that, if one cares to study it.
The harsh truth is that people of this country have to decide whether they will allow themselves to be slaughtered. Or will they put their collective feet down, close their borders, and deal with these problems facing the United States?
The harsh truth is that there is a right and wrong, and the time fast approaches to get off the fence and make a stand about such things. The harsh truth is that value judgments have to be made. People have to be willing to say that our way of life is worth protecting from all enemies, foreign or domestic. It's worth it because it is intrinsically better than anything else. It's worth going to war over. It's worth guarding and protecting. The United States cannot defend itself without closing its borders, and creating a safe place to garrison itself from attacks. It cannot defend itself if its resources are being squandered on prisons, free medical care, free food, free housing, and free goodies for people who enter the country illegally.
The harsh truth is that it's not about racism or intolerance. It's about good versus evil. It's about survival.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
We Even Give The Mexicans Office Space
Not only does our Border Patrol report to the Mexicans, they GIVE THEM OFFICE SPACE!!!
This is insane.
Again, this comes from the incomparable Michelle Malkin....
I am thoroughly disgusted....
This is insane.
Again, this comes from the incomparable Michelle Malkin....
I am thoroughly disgusted....
Government Lies About The Border Patrol Snitching On The Minutemen
As always, the incomparable Michelle Malkin with the scoop on your government lying through its teeth about the Border Patrol being ordered to report on the Minutemen stopping illegal aliens. You know, actually DOING something about the illegal alien problem.
It's all a matter of political will, and apparently the government doesn't want to do anything about the problem.
It's up to us.
It's all a matter of political will, and apparently the government doesn't want to do anything about the problem.
It's up to us.
Here's The Way The Illegal Problem NEEDS To Be Handled...
This sheriff is doing the right thing about the illegal problem.
More power to him.
If the government isn't going to help us, it's our job to help ourselves.
More power to him.
If the government isn't going to help us, it's our job to help ourselves.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Whose Side Is Our Government On, Anyway?
This disturbing post via Drudge Report.
I'll get to this more later. But it was too freaky not to put up now. What in the world are they thinking? Has the whole world just gone nuts???
The question is: what do we do about it? I think it's obvious the Minutemen are working, that's why they are getting reported. The problem with our border is simply politics. There's only one way to fix that, and that's vote the scumbags out of office that are allowing this sort of thing. Then have the elected officials deal with the bureaucracy, which also seems to be a problem.
But end it must, one way or the other. It looks like we need more civilian volunteers at the border.
I'll get to this more later. But it was too freaky not to put up now. What in the world are they thinking? Has the whole world just gone nuts???
The question is: what do we do about it? I think it's obvious the Minutemen are working, that's why they are getting reported. The problem with our border is simply politics. There's only one way to fix that, and that's vote the scumbags out of office that are allowing this sort of thing. Then have the elected officials deal with the bureaucracy, which also seems to be a problem.
But end it must, one way or the other. It looks like we need more civilian volunteers at the border.
Predator and Prey in the Workplace
This evening's entry is what one might call a cathartic exercise. That's the polite term for being mad as hell and having to vent somewhere, or simply having my head explode.
It is a well-settled fact that one can only be betrayed by a trusted person. You'd think after a few years in the legal profession, I would have picked up on that one by now, and taken appropriate steps to safeguard from such attacks. Wrong. My better half tells me time and time again that my naivete will be my undoing. She's probably right.
Without getting much into the particulars, I got stabbed in the back by a coworker, about as badly as I could have ever imagined. This co-worker was the first one to tell me when I got on this job how bad the bosses were, how lazy everyone else in the office is, and what a model employee that she is. To make matters worse, she's a person that I have supervisory duties over. So I've already stuck my neck out for her on a couple of occasions. I've done what I thought is the right thing by her. Namely, I've stuck up for my employee's position.
A situation came up, and I thought I gave pretty clear instructions on how to handle it. I'm learning the system here, I still make mistakes. But I learn best by doing it as I go. As long as I don't commit some form of malpractice, there's not much that can't be fixed. This was one of those situations. I goofed a bit, but nothing that hurt anything, or that couldn't be fixed relatively easy.
Apparently, my handling of the situation was not to the employee's satisfaction. I had talked to one of the bosses about it, and he seemed ok with how I was handling the problem. It certainly wasn't like I was hiding anything from anyone, or trying to pass it off on somebody else. At any rate, my answer wasn't good enough, so she goes over my head to the other boss. It draws a bit of fire my way.
What is the biggest deal here is the betrayal. This incident really should clue me into the nature of this person. After hearing her rag on the bosses with a vengeance, I should have known something like this was possible. This person strikes me as an opportunist, with no interest other than making herself look good at the expense of others, at any cost. Even me. The person who stuck his neck out for her.
Well, I've had it with people like that. I have a tendency to be more of a friend than a boss to my coworkers. I've always liked people, and I think they generally like me. I think people will work better for you if they like you. But there's a fine line there. Your supervised employees also have to respect the fact that you can crush them if they get out of line. That message hasn't gotten across, apparently. I guess I have to do something I abhor, and start establishing my status at the top of the food chain.
I hate doing stuff like that. It's just not in my nature. But I'll be a monkey's uncle if I let this sort of thing happen again. I like my new job. I like the guys that I work for. I'm going to keep this job.
So here's how I'm going to deal with it: 1. Tell her flat-out that problems or disagreements need to be handled by us, between us. If something needs to go up the ladder, it's my job to take it there. 2. No more griping about the office situation to me. She's lost her ally forever more on that, because the trust has been destroyed. Her word is up there with politicians, at this point. If she has a problem with conditions or what her coworkers do, she can live with it or leave. I don't care which. As stated, I'm not sticking my neck out anymore for her. 3. Make it clear that if this ever happens again, one of us isn't going to be working there anymore. I'm going to keep my job. Do the math. 4. My kung fu is greater.
End of story. Venting complete. Tomorrow is not going to be a fun day for me.
It is a well-settled fact that one can only be betrayed by a trusted person. You'd think after a few years in the legal profession, I would have picked up on that one by now, and taken appropriate steps to safeguard from such attacks. Wrong. My better half tells me time and time again that my naivete will be my undoing. She's probably right.
Without getting much into the particulars, I got stabbed in the back by a coworker, about as badly as I could have ever imagined. This co-worker was the first one to tell me when I got on this job how bad the bosses were, how lazy everyone else in the office is, and what a model employee that she is. To make matters worse, she's a person that I have supervisory duties over. So I've already stuck my neck out for her on a couple of occasions. I've done what I thought is the right thing by her. Namely, I've stuck up for my employee's position.
A situation came up, and I thought I gave pretty clear instructions on how to handle it. I'm learning the system here, I still make mistakes. But I learn best by doing it as I go. As long as I don't commit some form of malpractice, there's not much that can't be fixed. This was one of those situations. I goofed a bit, but nothing that hurt anything, or that couldn't be fixed relatively easy.
Apparently, my handling of the situation was not to the employee's satisfaction. I had talked to one of the bosses about it, and he seemed ok with how I was handling the problem. It certainly wasn't like I was hiding anything from anyone, or trying to pass it off on somebody else. At any rate, my answer wasn't good enough, so she goes over my head to the other boss. It draws a bit of fire my way.
What is the biggest deal here is the betrayal. This incident really should clue me into the nature of this person. After hearing her rag on the bosses with a vengeance, I should have known something like this was possible. This person strikes me as an opportunist, with no interest other than making herself look good at the expense of others, at any cost. Even me. The person who stuck his neck out for her.
Well, I've had it with people like that. I have a tendency to be more of a friend than a boss to my coworkers. I've always liked people, and I think they generally like me. I think people will work better for you if they like you. But there's a fine line there. Your supervised employees also have to respect the fact that you can crush them if they get out of line. That message hasn't gotten across, apparently. I guess I have to do something I abhor, and start establishing my status at the top of the food chain.
I hate doing stuff like that. It's just not in my nature. But I'll be a monkey's uncle if I let this sort of thing happen again. I like my new job. I like the guys that I work for. I'm going to keep this job.
So here's how I'm going to deal with it: 1. Tell her flat-out that problems or disagreements need to be handled by us, between us. If something needs to go up the ladder, it's my job to take it there. 2. No more griping about the office situation to me. She's lost her ally forever more on that, because the trust has been destroyed. Her word is up there with politicians, at this point. If she has a problem with conditions or what her coworkers do, she can live with it or leave. I don't care which. As stated, I'm not sticking my neck out anymore for her. 3. Make it clear that if this ever happens again, one of us isn't going to be working there anymore. I'm going to keep my job. Do the math. 4. My kung fu is greater.
End of story. Venting complete. Tomorrow is not going to be a fun day for me.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
"No One Expects The Spanish Inquisition...."
OK, where'd that line come from??
Normally, I am a great fan of the horror genre. Nobody gets more out of a good horror movie than I. “Good,” however, is something of a subjective term when it comes to horror. I hate pure gore in a movie. That grosses me out. It's not scary; grossed-out and scared are two different visceral reactions altogether.
I had the misfortune to watch SILENT HILL earlier today. I left WAY less than impressed, to say the least.
SILENT HILL tells the story of a young mother who has adopted a child who sleepwalks, draws strange and disturbing pictures, and cries about a place called SILENT HILL in her dreams. Mom figures the only way to deal with this problem is to take her back to Silent Hill. Real smart, in my opinion. The place was obviously bad enough to cause all sorts of trauma to this girl. Mom does some research, and finds out the place is a big ghost town, rumored to be haunted, which is usually another helpful hint that maybe this might be a nice place to stay the heck away from.
These things would be good hints, for anyone with the brain of processed tuna. But Mom apparently doesn’t have that much mental acuity. She sure didn’t pack for a supernatural adventure. Mom sets off with not even a flashlight, much less good stuff like a handy-dandy Glock with about 50 extra rounds of ammunition, fire, high explosives, and the A-Team. Mom doesn’t even have a backpack with water, or anything else one might find handy in dealing with supernatural monsters. To top it off, everything she’s read indicates the town is full of poison fumes, and Mom doesn’t even back along a gas mask.
Mom, in short, is an idiot. She flees the cops for no apparent reason, then proceeds to get her daughter lost in the ghost town. Hilarity ensues.
One critical comment is that the script was horrible. Mom does some really stupid stuff, that just doesn’t make any sense. For another, the and major plot points are pretty awful. I’m smart enough to see what they were trying to do with the so-called twists, but I don’t think they were well-done at all in the script.
This was also poorly directed. There were very few parts in the movie that made you jump. It was a horror movie with no scares in it. I’ve griped before about the lack of suspense in horror movies. Hollywood goes for the gross-out, as opposed to actually scaring you any more. The exception would be M. Night Shmalyan, of course. That guy is in a class by himself, deserving a full post and dissertation some other time.
There was a small bit with a Sig-Sauer that was actually used correctly in the movie. That’s a small plus, I suppose.
For those of you who actually want to see the movie: read no further. I am about to attack a major plot point of the movie and ruin it for you. Ok, you were warned.
This movie attacks Christianity in a big way. It’s not even all that subtle of an attack. Here’s where I am pretty bothered. Basically, the evil that was inflicted on this town is the result of a fanatical Christian cult that seriously injured a young girl. Her pain was so great it attracted a demon, who enabled her to exact her revenge on the townspeople, who could avoid her wrath only by hiding in a church. Mom actually allows herself to be possessed by the demon so it can exact its revenge. In other words, the DEMON IS THE GOOD GUY IN THIS MOVIE. Anybody else have a problem with that?
The so-called Christians in this movie perform human sacrifices, dress weird, and are the cause of all the problems this town has faced. They’re very cultishly portrayed. It appears to be that Hollywood has an image in their mind as to what a Christian is supposed to be like. Intolerant, bigoted, cruel, ignorant, practitioners of human sacrifice. I could go on. Personally, I haven’t performed a human sacrifice in church for YEARS.
Every negative thing one could say about Christianity got worked into this movie somehow. By far the most troubling portion of the movie was making the demon out to be the aggrieved party in this deal. The greatest trick the devil pulled was convincing people that he doesn’t exist. The second one is convincing people that he’s not the bad guy in the whole deal. Whoever wrote this movie sure seems convinced of that.
I’m not going to rant and rave, or tell you not to see this movie. I’m just not like that. I’m not going to preach to you, or try and convert you if you don’t happen to believe what I believe. Just understand this movie has a very negative portrayal of Christianity. Understand that if you feel this movie is on target in its portrayal of faith, I think you’ve been misled. Something probably convinced you that the whole Christ thing is a crock. You either went to a bad church, you got really burned by a professed “Christian” and your stomach turned at the hypocrisy of it all, somebody tried to force-feed you some weird, un-truthful stuff, or something along those lines. If you feel that way about a church that you went to, you have good reasons for feeling negative about it. Trust those feelings, because that’s not what it’s all supposed to be about.
Hollywood is the bastion of the Left. The Left can’t pass themselves off as people of faith, because Christian faith is the antithesis of everything they believe in. So they try and convince those who might be on the fence that Christianity is intolerant, stupid, and dangerous. They do this through movies that portray religion in as poor a light as possible. This is just another example of it. So anyway, I’m not going to tell you to boycott the movie or anything. I’m simply observing and commenting on a few things, here. Christians may have messed up the whole religion thing quite nicely, but the devil is STILL the bad guy in the whole grand scheme of things.
Normally, I am a great fan of the horror genre. Nobody gets more out of a good horror movie than I. “Good,” however, is something of a subjective term when it comes to horror. I hate pure gore in a movie. That grosses me out. It's not scary; grossed-out and scared are two different visceral reactions altogether.
I had the misfortune to watch SILENT HILL earlier today. I left WAY less than impressed, to say the least.
SILENT HILL tells the story of a young mother who has adopted a child who sleepwalks, draws strange and disturbing pictures, and cries about a place called SILENT HILL in her dreams. Mom figures the only way to deal with this problem is to take her back to Silent Hill. Real smart, in my opinion. The place was obviously bad enough to cause all sorts of trauma to this girl. Mom does some research, and finds out the place is a big ghost town, rumored to be haunted, which is usually another helpful hint that maybe this might be a nice place to stay the heck away from.
These things would be good hints, for anyone with the brain of processed tuna. But Mom apparently doesn’t have that much mental acuity. She sure didn’t pack for a supernatural adventure. Mom sets off with not even a flashlight, much less good stuff like a handy-dandy Glock with about 50 extra rounds of ammunition, fire, high explosives, and the A-Team. Mom doesn’t even have a backpack with water, or anything else one might find handy in dealing with supernatural monsters. To top it off, everything she’s read indicates the town is full of poison fumes, and Mom doesn’t even back along a gas mask.
Mom, in short, is an idiot. She flees the cops for no apparent reason, then proceeds to get her daughter lost in the ghost town. Hilarity ensues.
One critical comment is that the script was horrible. Mom does some really stupid stuff, that just doesn’t make any sense. For another, the and major plot points are pretty awful. I’m smart enough to see what they were trying to do with the so-called twists, but I don’t think they were well-done at all in the script.
This was also poorly directed. There were very few parts in the movie that made you jump. It was a horror movie with no scares in it. I’ve griped before about the lack of suspense in horror movies. Hollywood goes for the gross-out, as opposed to actually scaring you any more. The exception would be M. Night Shmalyan, of course. That guy is in a class by himself, deserving a full post and dissertation some other time.
There was a small bit with a Sig-Sauer that was actually used correctly in the movie. That’s a small plus, I suppose.
For those of you who actually want to see the movie: read no further. I am about to attack a major plot point of the movie and ruin it for you. Ok, you were warned.
This movie attacks Christianity in a big way. It’s not even all that subtle of an attack. Here’s where I am pretty bothered. Basically, the evil that was inflicted on this town is the result of a fanatical Christian cult that seriously injured a young girl. Her pain was so great it attracted a demon, who enabled her to exact her revenge on the townspeople, who could avoid her wrath only by hiding in a church. Mom actually allows herself to be possessed by the demon so it can exact its revenge. In other words, the DEMON IS THE GOOD GUY IN THIS MOVIE. Anybody else have a problem with that?
The so-called Christians in this movie perform human sacrifices, dress weird, and are the cause of all the problems this town has faced. They’re very cultishly portrayed. It appears to be that Hollywood has an image in their mind as to what a Christian is supposed to be like. Intolerant, bigoted, cruel, ignorant, practitioners of human sacrifice. I could go on. Personally, I haven’t performed a human sacrifice in church for YEARS.
Every negative thing one could say about Christianity got worked into this movie somehow. By far the most troubling portion of the movie was making the demon out to be the aggrieved party in this deal. The greatest trick the devil pulled was convincing people that he doesn’t exist. The second one is convincing people that he’s not the bad guy in the whole deal. Whoever wrote this movie sure seems convinced of that.
I’m not going to rant and rave, or tell you not to see this movie. I’m just not like that. I’m not going to preach to you, or try and convert you if you don’t happen to believe what I believe. Just understand this movie has a very negative portrayal of Christianity. Understand that if you feel this movie is on target in its portrayal of faith, I think you’ve been misled. Something probably convinced you that the whole Christ thing is a crock. You either went to a bad church, you got really burned by a professed “Christian” and your stomach turned at the hypocrisy of it all, somebody tried to force-feed you some weird, un-truthful stuff, or something along those lines. If you feel that way about a church that you went to, you have good reasons for feeling negative about it. Trust those feelings, because that’s not what it’s all supposed to be about.
Hollywood is the bastion of the Left. The Left can’t pass themselves off as people of faith, because Christian faith is the antithesis of everything they believe in. So they try and convince those who might be on the fence that Christianity is intolerant, stupid, and dangerous. They do this through movies that portray religion in as poor a light as possible. This is just another example of it. So anyway, I’m not going to tell you to boycott the movie or anything. I’m simply observing and commenting on a few things, here. Christians may have messed up the whole religion thing quite nicely, but the devil is STILL the bad guy in the whole grand scheme of things.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
The Dog Thinks I'm Crazy....
...But I laughed my rear off at this post.
Guns ain't for playtime, kiddies.....
Sorry the posting has been light. I've had the uncontrollable urge to sleep over the last few nights. How weird.
Maybe the rain tomorrow will keep me indoors, where I can blog to my heart's content. Until the PGA Tour comes on in the afternoon, that is. David Duval, my personal golf idol, actually made the cut to play on the weekend. I watched him a few years ago at the Byron Nelson Classic, the year after winning the British Open. And I don't think he's made a cut on the Tour ever since. Let's hope this will be a resurgence of his career. I hate to see him Ian Baker-Finch his way into obscurity. You'd have to be somewhat of a golf geek to understand this paragraph, I suppose.
My problem is that I have more hobbies than I have actual time. Golf, shooting, etc. All of it takes time, and that is the most precious resource that I have anymore. How to allocate it? That's probably the toughest issue I have to deal with, and it doesn't get any easier as the years keep rushing on.
Guns ain't for playtime, kiddies.....
Sorry the posting has been light. I've had the uncontrollable urge to sleep over the last few nights. How weird.
Maybe the rain tomorrow will keep me indoors, where I can blog to my heart's content. Until the PGA Tour comes on in the afternoon, that is. David Duval, my personal golf idol, actually made the cut to play on the weekend. I watched him a few years ago at the Byron Nelson Classic, the year after winning the British Open. And I don't think he's made a cut on the Tour ever since. Let's hope this will be a resurgence of his career. I hate to see him Ian Baker-Finch his way into obscurity. You'd have to be somewhat of a golf geek to understand this paragraph, I suppose.
My problem is that I have more hobbies than I have actual time. Golf, shooting, etc. All of it takes time, and that is the most precious resource that I have anymore. How to allocate it? That's probably the toughest issue I have to deal with, and it doesn't get any easier as the years keep rushing on.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
"No. There is another....."
Just when I think George Lucas can't possibly debase himself any worse than the late shift in a Filipino brothel, he manages to exceed my low expectations yet again.
Unfortunately, I find myself happy about this new ploy. He's going to release more special editions of the original STAR WARS trilogy. These will contain the original versions of STAR WARS, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and RETURN OF THE JEDI. That's what I've been waiting for. I thought Lucas was going to completely ignore his core fan base, and forever claim those putrid special editions were the "real thing." It was like changing the formula of Coca-Cola. Boy, I really dated myself with that reference, didn't I?
I vowed the fuzzy-faced egomaniac wasn't going to get any more of my money, but he's found a way to sucker me in one more time. Apparently the mortgage is due on the new Lucasarts facility in the old Presidio.
For the generation that has now grown up watching the horrible special editions, this will really be a big deal. It will change their whole tiny worlds. I will go on record right now as saying this is as big as the Zapruder film.
We can now prove definitively that Han Solo shot FIRST to these little punks.
Unfortunately, I find myself happy about this new ploy. He's going to release more special editions of the original STAR WARS trilogy. These will contain the original versions of STAR WARS, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and RETURN OF THE JEDI. That's what I've been waiting for. I thought Lucas was going to completely ignore his core fan base, and forever claim those putrid special editions were the "real thing." It was like changing the formula of Coca-Cola. Boy, I really dated myself with that reference, didn't I?
I vowed the fuzzy-faced egomaniac wasn't going to get any more of my money, but he's found a way to sucker me in one more time. Apparently the mortgage is due on the new Lucasarts facility in the old Presidio.
For the generation that has now grown up watching the horrible special editions, this will really be a big deal. It will change their whole tiny worlds. I will go on record right now as saying this is as big as the Zapruder film.
We can now prove definitively that Han Solo shot FIRST to these little punks.
"1 Sucka Dead, L.A. Times Front Page"
I bet there's a few of you out there who can name the tune the title of this post has been lifted from, as well as the artist and album. It's somewhat obscure, but I have no doubt my intrepid readership will figure it out.
Anyway, the title seemed appropriate, having found this website on self-defense shootings in America.
These guys are doing a great job here. I've mentioned on this blog before that guns are used an estimated 1.7 MILLION times per year by law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and their families from the bad things in the world. Firearms are simply the backbone of democracy, no two ways about it.
Anyway, the title seemed appropriate, having found this website on self-defense shootings in America.
These guys are doing a great job here. I've mentioned on this blog before that guns are used an estimated 1.7 MILLION times per year by law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and their families from the bad things in the world. Firearms are simply the backbone of democracy, no two ways about it.
A Fun New Website
I found this cool website linked by Reasonablenut.
It's called Random Nuclear Strikes. The title alone makes it worth checking out. But when it proves itself through sheer genius like this joke, well, I'll be stopping back by.
It may not be your kind of humor, but I laughed. Hard. So sue me.....
It's called Random Nuclear Strikes. The title alone makes it worth checking out. But when it proves itself through sheer genius like this joke, well, I'll be stopping back by.
It may not be your kind of humor, but I laughed. Hard. So sue me.....
Stuff You Oughta Know
Again, from Michelle Malkin's blog, which is one of the best on the web, in my opinion.
This Jihad stuff is nothing new, it's been ongoing for centuries. The left can't understand it or sympathize with it to make it go away.
I hate being right all the time....
This Jihad stuff is nothing new, it's been ongoing for centuries. The left can't understand it or sympathize with it to make it go away.
I hate being right all the time....
Monday, May 01, 2006
Sinking Faster Than The Titanic?
This is a day of bothers. Driving back from the big city got downright depressing. There were several stations that just were not carrying regular unleaded. They didn’t have it. Sold out. On the other hand, a Randall’s store was carrying nothing BUT regular unleaded fuel. Smart folks. They’ll get more of my business, I think.
Fuel was right around $3.00 per gallon just about everywhere. It is really getting to the point to where I won’t travel outside the city limits unless I have to. We just can’t afford it.
I shudder to think what is going to happen this summer. I predict the economy is going to take a sharp smack upside the nose. People won’t travel as much this summer, unless they booked flights well in advance. The average American family won’t drive anywhere long distance this summer because of fuel costs. I don’t think the average family will be able to travel unless the place they are going to is within 100 miles of their home. That’s my prediction, anyway. It’s worth what you paid for it.
Have you noticed the price of your everyday items creeping up a little? I have. Think it’s not a fuel cost issue? Think again.
Possible solutions to the fuel dilemma:
1. Reduce dependence on foreign oil: Sounds logical, but how? The eco-weenies won’t let us drill in Alaska, despite the fact our economy is sucking worse than Britney Spears at an ice cream buffet. Hybrid cars? No way, not until they make one that looks and runs like a Ford F-250 and will pull a trailer. So start drilling ANWAR, you morons....
2. Take it from Iraq and Afghanistan: I’m all for this one. No, we didn’t go to war for oil. It’s a darn nice fringe benefit, though. To the victor go the spoils. They made us come over there, the least they can do is foot the bill.
2b. Take it from Mexico. Ok, fine. Keep aiding and abetting your people sneaking over here, we’ll start taking your oil. Fair trade, I would think. Our resources are dwindling, you’re allowing people to come here illegally, we don’t have the resources to support them, etc. Guess what? Time to pay the bills, pendejos.....
3. Cut the gas tax: Another great idea that our gutless politicians won’t even consider. Which is why it’s time to run ALL our politicians out of office, and start over with real people who work real jobs. I’m to the point that you probably shouldn’t be allowed to run if you’re a lawyer, either. That’s like putting terrorists in charge of airport security......
4. Harpoon Rosie O’Donnell and render her down for kerosene.
5. Go nuclear: Again, eco-weenies would hate it, but if it keeps the lights on safely, why not?
6. Figure out how to use self-satisfied smugness to generate energy: Tom Cruise and George Clooney could probably end our energy crisis by themselves. Put Hollywood to doing something beneficial, for a change.
At any rate, that’s the way I see the whole ridiculous situation.
DID YOU NOTICE....
The illegal alien/Hispanic/whatever they are walk-out today? Me neither. Maybe they aren’t as important as they like to think they are in terms of productivity. Now in terms of costs to the taxpayer, they are right there at the top.
Every one of the miserable wretches that DID walk out should get fired, unless they took a legitimate vacation day.
Fuel was right around $3.00 per gallon just about everywhere. It is really getting to the point to where I won’t travel outside the city limits unless I have to. We just can’t afford it.
I shudder to think what is going to happen this summer. I predict the economy is going to take a sharp smack upside the nose. People won’t travel as much this summer, unless they booked flights well in advance. The average American family won’t drive anywhere long distance this summer because of fuel costs. I don’t think the average family will be able to travel unless the place they are going to is within 100 miles of their home. That’s my prediction, anyway. It’s worth what you paid for it.
Have you noticed the price of your everyday items creeping up a little? I have. Think it’s not a fuel cost issue? Think again.
Possible solutions to the fuel dilemma:
1. Reduce dependence on foreign oil: Sounds logical, but how? The eco-weenies won’t let us drill in Alaska, despite the fact our economy is sucking worse than Britney Spears at an ice cream buffet. Hybrid cars? No way, not until they make one that looks and runs like a Ford F-250 and will pull a trailer. So start drilling ANWAR, you morons....
2. Take it from Iraq and Afghanistan: I’m all for this one. No, we didn’t go to war for oil. It’s a darn nice fringe benefit, though. To the victor go the spoils. They made us come over there, the least they can do is foot the bill.
2b. Take it from Mexico. Ok, fine. Keep aiding and abetting your people sneaking over here, we’ll start taking your oil. Fair trade, I would think. Our resources are dwindling, you’re allowing people to come here illegally, we don’t have the resources to support them, etc. Guess what? Time to pay the bills, pendejos.....
3. Cut the gas tax: Another great idea that our gutless politicians won’t even consider. Which is why it’s time to run ALL our politicians out of office, and start over with real people who work real jobs. I’m to the point that you probably shouldn’t be allowed to run if you’re a lawyer, either. That’s like putting terrorists in charge of airport security......
4. Harpoon Rosie O’Donnell and render her down for kerosene.
5. Go nuclear: Again, eco-weenies would hate it, but if it keeps the lights on safely, why not?
6. Figure out how to use self-satisfied smugness to generate energy: Tom Cruise and George Clooney could probably end our energy crisis by themselves. Put Hollywood to doing something beneficial, for a change.
At any rate, that’s the way I see the whole ridiculous situation.
DID YOU NOTICE....
The illegal alien/Hispanic/whatever they are walk-out today? Me neither. Maybe they aren’t as important as they like to think they are in terms of productivity. Now in terms of costs to the taxpayer, they are right there at the top.
Every one of the miserable wretches that DID walk out should get fired, unless they took a legitimate vacation day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)