What is the Tragedy?

The death of people in fires is a tragedy.  I am not here to make light of that.  However, under the "Local" section of the New York Post and not the "Strange but True" section is this story.

Homeschoolers Take a Big Hit

Click on the title.  Big Government attacks the liberty of parents again as the court rules that it takes village idiots to educate children.

Those Shirts

Obama's Racist Pastor

The Reverend Jeremiah Wright, whom Obama defends, is very scary man. Click on this post's title for more.

The Truth on Taxes

Will the two remaining candidates for the Democratic nomination for president please shut up about the evil tax structure that punishes the average man and let's the rich off easy. Looking at the tax structure for the years 2000 and 2007, you will see that the rates dropped for everyone, but that the richest folks will pay 35% of their income to the Federal government (this does not include what they may owe in their own states). This is a drop of 4.6 % from the year 2000.

If you compare what I made last year and adjust it for inflation and compare it to 2000, my tax rate has dropped 3% from 28% to 25%. Looking at the links in the previous paragraph, you will see that all Americans have benefited contrary to what Billary and Obamarama keep claiming.

Long May She Wave

Senator Obama has CHOSEN not to wear a lapel pin of the American flag as a sign of his protest against the war. Heck, why doesn't he end every campaign rally with a flag burning? (click on posts title)

He is an unpatriotic jackass. He can certainly be against the war in Iraq while still showing respect for the flag and all the good that it represents.

Maybe he can make a trip to visit Bin Laden and have his picture taken with said terrorist. Maybe that would make people forget about Hanoi Jane!

Crazy California Legislators (Democrats)

A couple of days ago, Bill Stall wrote a silly little opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times arguing for an increase in taxes because even Governor Reagan had raised taxes. He also took a swipe at people who buy yachts and get tax credits. What he conveniently ignores are true hard facts: 2% of the population pay over 50% of all taxes; the bottom 50% pays only 3%; our state budget was $105.3 Billion in fiscal year 2004-05; the original proposed budget for 2007-08 was $143.4 Billion. I seriously doubt that our expenses have risen around $38 Billion in three years. Methinks there is too much spending by liberal politicians who think like Bill Stall.

Uncle Gerry: 1927-2008 R.I.P.

Dear Uncle Gerry:

First of all, I am flattered and gratified that you kept asking about when my sister, Maureen, and I would arrive to visit you.

I am lucky that I was able to spend some quality time with you (as you happily ate, in your words, your favorite food of mashed potatoes, gravy, meat and butter - that butter being on the potatoes as you were a "Wisconsin Yankee!").

Conversing with you during your last supper in your R.V. (or "The Box" as your beloved family calls it) was an honor and a privilege for both Maureen and me. I am still in your debt for your spiritual, physical, and emotional help that you gave to my mother (and me), Sylvia, a few short years ago.

I hope and pray (as have my girls) that you now have a prime seat that would make the horsemen at Santa Anita jealous. Give my love to my Mother, Ida, Ralph, Don, Chuck, Cal and all the rest.......................

While in Wisconsin, thanks for treating my family and me like honored guests as we came through Marengo even though we did not stay in the house. Thanks for allowing my two oldest (when they were three and two) to run up and down the stairs, as I did as a child, while you laughed.

Thanks for coming out and sharing the Rose Parade, the VIP Party and game with me.

Thanks for being there after my Mom died.

Thanks for making Mom (Sylvia) proud by your actions after Uncle Vernon died.

Thanks for offering me Ida's "you know what"... that my mom insisted be framed... may it find worthy hands.

Thank you soooooo much for being FAMILY.

May you rest in peace.

God Bless!
Vivat Jesus

Your nephew,
Matthew J.McKinley
SK/PGK

Shootin' for the Moon

While traveling today in Louisiana, I was listening to KEEL AM radio 710 out of Shreveport to radio commentator Moon Griffon who was commentating on the Saturday primary in his state. Perhaps he clarified his views (or maybe a caller did) at a time when I was not able to listen, but, for the sake of this post, I will assume that he did not.

Mr. Griffon was concerned that conservative voters in the GOP might feel the need to vote for Senator McCain tomorrow in order to show party unity. He argued that a protest vote was in order, and, based on the brief time that I was able to listen, implied that the protest vote would be for Mitt Romney.

Now the three of you who read this blog know that I endorsed Mitt ages ago (although the Thompson campaign made me rethink that position), voted for him in California (and by the way, donated to him last week), and still respect him a great deal. My objection with Mr. Griffon's position is that a vote for Romney is not a protest vote; rather, it will send a clear signal to Mr. McCain that his mea culpa (sort of) at the CPAC convention was not enough.

I hope all the conservatives yet to vote choose to vote for Romney (versus Mr. West Virginia back-door winner Huckabee).

Send the RIGHT signal.

(and I hope the knucklehead in the room next to my shuts up soon!)

The Aftermath

The title of this post is a link to Hugh Hewitt who is absolutely correct when he argues that if McCain is the Republican nominee, those of us who don't like him need to hold our noses and vote for him because the War on Terror and the potential to nominate six Supreme Court Justices are issues that cannot be left in the hands of Obama or Clinton. That said, the Dobson Declaration is idiotic. If he really is interested in promoting family values, letting the Democrats take over the Supreme Court is a sure way to see those values critically injured for the next 40 years.

Spanking Berkeley

The leftist nut jobs in Berkeley are at it again. Click on the link above to see Senator De Mint's brilliant idea of how to deal with these nuts.

More Election Blathering

First, let me say that I messed up with the 91 vote as it is a redundant piece of legislation. So, if I had to do it all over again, it would be "No" vote.

Huckabee needs to realize that as much as he might dislike Romney personally, a Romney presidency would be more sympathetic to his core cultural values than a McCain one; thus, Huck needs to get out now. Unfortunately, his ego probably won't let him.

The only good news is that the latest Rasmussen poll shows McCain defeating both Obama and Clinton. McCain would be better than either of those two, but by how much?

My Vote

The title of this post is a link to the CA SOS office and the official voter's guide for the Feb. election.

I voted absentee yesterday:

President - Mitt Romney
With Thompson out, Mitt is the best conservative alternative. Is he perfect? No, but let's face it, the only other person who has a shot at beating the Dems is Rudy, and his campaign maybe dead after Florida. McCain needs to be beaten.

Prop 91
Yes - stop redirecting infrastructure money for the roads.

Prop 92
No - poorly written. On top of that, we need to have a serious discussion on the role of Community Colleges. They should be Colleges, not grades 13 and 14 with silly community driven classes (the old basket weaving joke) added. Vocational education could be accommodated as a branch of CCs while the other branches actually have college rigor.

Prop 93
Yes - this will allow current legislators to extend their time in office. That is a good thing. In fact, term limits should be abolished completely. The current system has allowed lobbyists and staffers to become even more powerful. They are unelected, and their newly found power is undemocratic. The focus should be on reasonably created districts and not term limits.

Props 94 - 97
No - poorly written; non-gaming tribes could see significant reductions in funds received. I could care less about expansions, but I have no interest in awarding tribes who got lucky because Eisenhower created an interstate system. Rewrite and resubmit.

Romney is Winning

Just in case you missed the real news, Romney is winning as he has 30 delegates, Huckabee has 21, and McCain has 10... my favorite, Thompson, has 6. Now, I endorsed Romney ages ago since Fred was unwilling to jump in when the race was heating up early on.

Frankly, I am bitter about Thompson not getting in earlier. Even though I am a fan of absentee balloting, I may wait and submit my vote on election day.

I would have posted this about an hour ago but I gouged my left index finger today at lunch at Joe's Crab Shack due to their error and typing requires on less finger and a lot of corrections.

Thompson-Romney! if that is typed correctly... ouch... typing hurts and my right hand is now out of it... no pun intended.

Don't Tread on Me!

The CVUSD has been blocking webpages because of content... or so they say. Now I understand that some content on the web is reprehensible and has no place in an education setting. However, the blocking includes many political websites that can provide very important information for both students and teachers alike, especially those studying government and politics.

I got tired of fighting with the district, so I bought a Sierra Wireless USB 881 connection and subscribed to AT&T's wireless network service. Teachers often complain that they have to spend money out of their own pockets for basic supplies. In this day and age, isn't relevant information a basic supply?

In Covina-Valley, it is not.

Pete "Barry Switzer" Carroll

Given USC's poor sportsmanship on display yesterday during the Rose Bowl, it appears that the Trojans are starting to behave like Oklahoma and Miami did before their programs imploded from poor behavior. It began with the goofy dancing with each kickoff. Perhaps that was just a way for the players to get up for the game, but when the same players began to mock the Illinois fans by clapping above their heads along with the Illinois fans to one of their bands numbers, it became embarrassing. Add that mocking behavior to the idiocy of Desmond Reed and the others who got unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, and the smell of the Rose was just not as sweet.

How Can Tony Blair be a Catholic?

Or so asks a commentator in the English Press (as seen in the link above). The questions are fair enough, except for one thing- they are based on Blair's behavior and actions from before his official conversion. If Blair continues his anti-Catholic positions now that he has converted, then criticism of him is fair... but only when that happens.

Pakistan

Unstable? Corrupt? Anti-democratic?

Why is ANY of this news. Assassinations are horrid; but, let's be honest, the country is a basket case.

How the Coaches Voted

The BCS championship game should be between two of the following three teams: LSU, Oklahoma and USC. Ohio State, with its lousy non-conference scheduled coupled with a very weak Big 10 (for the second year in a row) does not deserve a shot.

I don't blame Frank Beamer of Va Tech for voting LSU first and his team second.

However, the following is a list of coaches that really need to have their heads examined:

Mike Belotti (Oregon): #1 Ohio State

Bret Bielema (Wisconsin): #1 Ohio State

Larry Blakeney (Troy): #1 Ohio State

Bobby "Senile" Bowden (FSU): #2 Ohio State, #8 Arizona State and #9 USC!!!!!

Tommy Bowden (Clemson): #1 Ohio State

The list goes on and on... the following are knuckleheads who voted for Ohio State either first or second:

Jeff Bower, Mack Brown, Bill "Fired" Callahan, Neil Callaway, Lloyd "Forced to Retire" Carr, Sylvester Croom, Bill Cubit, Mark Dantonio, Bill "Fired" Doba, Randy Edsall, Dennis "Forced to Resign" Franchione, Phillip Fulmer, Jeff Genyk, Jim Grobe, Steve Kragthorpe, Mike Leach, Rocky Long, Sonny "Forced to Retire" Lubbick, Bill Lynch, Doug Martin, Les Miles (setting up a patsy game with his LSU Tigers first, and the Buckeyes second), Shane Montgomery, Hal Mumme (Whoa there Hal! Hawaii #1 and OSU #2????), Joe Novak, Houston "See y'all later" Nutt, Tom O'Brien, George "Liar" O'Leary, Gary Patterson, Chris Petersen, Mark Richt, Mike Riley, Rich Rodriguez, Greg Schiano, Howard "Should be retired" Schnellenberger, Mark Snyder, Frank Solich, Rick Stockstill, Bob Stoops (OK #1 and OSU #2), Jeff Tedford, Joe Tiller, Bob Toledo, Dick Tomey, Jim Tressel (well, you can't blame him), Charlie Weiss, Tyrone Willingham, and Ron Zook.

Now, I have to give some credit to the following (whose names appear above):

Neil Callaway's 2-5: GA, LSU, USC OK.

Tedford, Doba and Willingham had USC second.

Tressel's 2-4: LSU, USC and OK.

And for the coaches who appear to have some sense:

Art Briles (Houston to Baylor) #1 LSU and #2 OK

Butch Davis (North Carolina): #1 LSU and #2 USC.

Joe Glenn (Wyoming): #1 LSU and #2 OK.

Steve Superior (So. Carolina): #1 OK and #2 LSU

Tommy Tuberville (Auburn): #1 LSU and #2 OK.

Fire the Tournament

USC v. Illinois??????

The White Coats should be flogged.