senihele

So you say you're a Christian

2009-08-12T10:28:00.002-04:00

Good. Maybe you can answer some things for me because I don't understand some of the "Christian" logic.

How can you call yourself a Christian and then judge those in poverty? Didn't Christ say "judge not less you be judged"? How can you condemn them as shiftless or unwilling to work especially without even meeting them? How can that attitude be reconciled with Christ's message?

How can you offer to pray for the well being of people and then want to deny them health care? You'll pray for God to heal them but aren't willing to support the programs that might do the same? Did you ever think that the answer to your prayers might be you?

How can you be pro life and then not care about the quality of life those children live? How can you resent the medical and nutritional programs designed to keep that precious life that you advocated so hard for, healthy?

How can you call yourself a Christian and then judge or condemn another's opinion as less than Christ like if it differs from yours?

How can you profess Christianity and then seek to disrupt the process established to represent all by angry shouts and angry words?

How can you call yourself Christian and then deny the least of these? Wasn't that one of the mandates of Christ? And didn't he say when you attended them you would be attending Him? Or do you get to pick and chose who is and isn't worthy of help? Was that in his message? Could you show me where because I've missed it?

How can you call yourself a Christian and then not uphold the greatest of these? To love your fellow man as yourself. The greatest of these is love. Where is the love in the anger? Where is the love when you treat those without as simply lazy freeloaders? I see the judging but where is the love?

How can you call yourself Christian and then call into question a man's heritage simply because he's black? And please, let's not cloak that debate in the more politically correct terms. We both know much of this dissent is motivated by racism. Do you realize Christ wasn't white, despite the many portraits American's cling to that portray him as such.

We must be worshipping two different Christian Gods because I don't believe mine would ever uphold the greedy, condemning, judgemental words I'm hearing from "Christians" today.

I don't get it. I don't get how true Christians or Americans can turn their backs on those in need and then still claim the title of either.

When are we going to put our money where our mouth is? When do we begin to live up to the rhetoric we proclaim?

When will God be pleased with our actions and words? I'm sure He isn't now.

We're Making History Today

2009-01-20T08:13:00.001-05:00

I can't help it. I'm am excited. Not because Bush is leaving office, although that's decidedly a good thing imo, but because we're going to make history today. It is a new era. I know that sounds trite but in my opinion it is.

When I was young I went to an all white pool. Blacks weren't allowed in. I still remember the change in society's laws and their arrival to the facility. Some parents refused to allow their children to swim there afterwards.

I remember the owner of a department store in Charleston barricading himself inside with a shotgun and refusing to allow blacks to shop in his store.

I remember the little school on the hill that used to be the "colored" school.

and now we are going to see our first black president. I am proud of America. Proud to the point of tears. Barack Obama's inaguration signals progress. Signals hope.

I was blessed with a father and mother who saw color, appreciated that people were different in many ways, but didn't make the difference in how they treated people. A man was a man regardless of color of his skin, money in his pocket or cut of his clothes. I am thankful for their influence.

Prejudice is still an ugly fact of our society but...

We're making history today and I am so excited to be able to see it and experience it in some form.

RIP Art Harvath

2008-12-09T21:53:00.002-05:00

Anyone with any political involvement in Huntington will know his name. Word came through another forum this afternoon that Art lost his battle with cancer today. I didn't always agree with Art but no one could question his passion and committment, not to mention his love, of Huntington. Huntington has lost one of her most dedicated sons. Prayers for his family. We are less today with his passing.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words..

2008-12-09T21:50:00.002-05:00

...especially when it has narration.

So ironic

2008-07-31T12:18:00.001-04:00

and very well done

Best political comeback yet

2008-07-30T18:55:00.002-04:00

John McCain has subcumbed, in spite of his promises not to do so, to the political muck raking and negative politics of his predicessors. But I heard the absolute BEST rebuttal from Obama today that I've heard in ages.

In reply to McCain's snarky ads which attribute positions to Obama that he hasn't taken, Obama said:

"Someone needs to ask John McCain what he's FOR instead of just what he's AGAINST."

I love it. Succinct and to the point. Bravo Barack Obama.

The Prostitute Known As Ralph Nader

2008-07-25T18:32:00.001-04:00

His people are in WV again, canvasing for signatures so that Nader can run again in the general election.

I have come to despise this man. His supporters drone on about the corruption of both parties while Nader takes contributions from republicans to disrupt the process. He doesn't want to win. He has no real desire to be president. If he did he would begin his campaign early.

Instead he is a prostitute, selling himself to interfere with with the process. Please DON'T make me ill by saying my irritation at his antics means I don't want people to have choices. You HAD choices during the primary. Where was Nader then? He was sitting back, waiting on the highest bidder.

He's a sham. He cost Gore the election and did damage to Kerry. He needs to disappear from the political scene completely.

Have radio personalities lost it?

2008-07-23T23:04:00.004-04:00

Don Imus has allowed his common sense to take a vacation more than once in recent years but as repugnant as his comments were, I think Michael Savage takes the cake.

What did he hope to accomplish when he called most autistic children "brats"? Was he hoping to increase slumping radio listeners by staring a conflict that would bring him attention or is he simply so moronic that he believes the bile he drools?

If Imus was fired for his comments about black women, then Savage needs to be permanently banned for his comments about autism. It shows his arrogance and his ignorance and neither is pretty.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25788692/

Some parents of autistic children have called for Savage’s firing after he described autism as a racket last week. “In 99 percent of the cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out,” Savage said on his radio program last Wednesday.

Savage offered no apology in a message posted Monday on his Web site. He said greedy doctors and drug companies were creating a “national panic” by overdiagnosing autism, a mental disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate.

On his radio show last week, he said: “What do you mean they scream and they’re silent? They don’t have a father around to tell them, ‘Don’t act like a moron. You’ll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there crying and screaming, you idiot.”’

Savage, you're a moron.

Dear Rich Rod...

2008-06-14T09:20:00.005-04:00

Ole Coach Rod was on WOWK's Decision maker's this morning. Talk about SPIN!

Quit whining.
Pay the money.
How stupid do you think we are? Attempting to be concerned about OUR attorney fees doesn't come across with even a modicum of sincerity. You're not going to convince us you're right.

Attempting to paint yourself as a victim shows a marked lack of intelligence on your part. Poor pitiful you!?! NOT A CHANCE. Why don't YOU give US a break?

And if your family is embarrassed? Tough! You're the embarrassment.

You signed a contract. You left our kids hanging at the worst possible time.

Pay up, big boy.

Thank you, Dick Cheney!!!

2008-06-03T09:16:00.000-04:00

For the best state slogan in decades!!!

"Dick Cheney Is Not From Here!"

I expect the business and tourists to begin rolling in!

*I actually didn't come up with that myself. One of our reps, Nick Joe Rahall, did. Only thing he's done in decades that I approved of.*

Can America elect a minority president? Are we ready?

2008-05-23T17:45:00.002-04:00

Whether it's a woman or a man, are we ready? I'm not asking are they capable, I'm asking can America put aside her petty prejudices as a nation and elect someone that represents a minority if he or she is the best candidate.

I sat and listened last night to a conversation where a gentleman recited the hyperbole circulated on the web that Obama has middle eastern connections. I got an email this morning that I replied all to (which I almost never do) claiming he was sworn in on the Quran and not the bible. Earlier in the year I made a someone angry after she sent me another message claiming Obama was muslem (which wouldn't bother me) and had ties to terrorists.

Can we elect a minority? Are there enough educated and informed people in America that actually PAY ATTENTION to the facts that can stand up and elect someone who is not white and male?

I'm not sure we can. Especially when only 40% of the population bothers to vote.

Please give Dulcy and Tess a chance to live

2008-04-21T19:33:00.001-04:00

This was sent by a friend. Please spread the word about Dulcy and Tess? Give them a chance to live after losing their "mom" to cancer. What a shame for these two loving animals to be destroyed.

Dulcy and Tess
Apr. 21st, 2008 at 3:11 PM

I posted this on a local forum, but I'm trying to get as much exposure for these two as possible. If you know of someone who can help, please let me know...

Here is another adoption story, but one with a slightly more dire deadline... Elderly dogs are always hard to rehome and these two, while healthy, may not have much longer to live before they are euthanized simply because no one will take them. These dogs have done nothing more than outlive their owner:

Dulcy and Tess are 12 years old. They were adopted as babies, and lived happily together in Ardencroft until their “mom” died last October.

Now, Underground Dog Rescue (UDR) volunteer Beverly Ford says unless someone gives them a home, they are going to die, too.

Tess is a healthy female Labrador Retriever. Dulcy, short for Dulcinea, is a female Golden Retriever showing early signs of arthritis in one hind leg, but is otherwise healthy. Both dogs come with complete medical records.

Both were well groomed, fed and cared for by Donna Dreisbach until she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November 2006. As Dreisbach’s health deteriorated and hospitals stays lengthened, a family friend helped look after the dogs in Dreisbach’s Veale Road home, in Brandywine Hundred. The following August, the friend moved in to be a companion for Dreisbach in her final months.

Before Dreisbach died, she made her family promise that her beloved pups would never see a shelter.

That’s been a tough promise to keep for Dreisbach’s sister, Heidi Springer, because she has a dog of her own that she rescued in 1999, one that is too aggressive for other animals to share in the Coatsville, Pa. home.

For the past six months, the family friend has continued to live at Dreisbach’s house rent-free in exchange for caring for the dogs, everyone hoping a new home could be found for them.

But the Petfinder.com: Adopt a pet and help an animal shelter rescue a puppy or kitten. listing through UDR has not found a family, the burden of two mortgages has been hard on Springer, and she finally put Dreisbach’s house the market. When it’s sold, the dogs will have nowhere to go.

“The sad truth is that they will be euthanized,” Springer says.

Ford hopes someone will come forward before that happens. In one last blitz effort, UDR volunteers canvassed area pet stores recently with pictures of the dogs and their story.

Ford, a government affairs official, was a founding member of the rescue nearly four years ago, and has been passionate about the issue for more than 20 years, because she has seen too many cases like this –healthy, happy dogs killed because no one wants them.

“There are a lot of Dulcy and Tesses out there, and the number is rising as foreclosures force more families out of their homes into housing that often doesn’t allow dogs,” Ford says. “I am not an activist, but I respect dogs, and I think they deserve better.”

The Chadds Ford, Pa. based rescue takes shelter dogs just before they slated to be destroyed, then works to permanently place them in appropriate homes. So far, UDR has been directly responsible for saving 55 dogs. Volunteer staff “temperament test” each dog to ensure the best family match.

(http://communitypub.com/stories/04-1...nize-dogs.html)

UDR does not have facilities, but rather works through fostering their animals until an adoptive home can be found. If you are interested in adopting Dulcy and Tess or can foster them until an adoptive home can be found, please contact Beverly Ford at 559-4793.

For more on Dulcy and Tess, go to: www.petfinder.com/shelters/PA395.html

Dear John and Hillary

2008-04-15T16:05:00.004-04:00

I hate to break this to you but Obama was right. I *am* bitter. I am a baby boomer who has worked hard her whole life in an attempt to find the American dream but it keeps moving on me.

I thought teaching was a noble profession that would earn me a comfortable living but in the past few decades teachers have become punching bags for all the fobiles of education as well as being underpaid and over worked. We teach to the test, not to the child.

I thought buying a home and becoming a contributing member of the community would occur with age but I find myself so harried and hurried to keep afloat financially that I have neither the time nor energy to contribute to my community.

I *am* bitter, John and Hillary, that I've struggled for so many years and still worry about the price of gas or heating busting my budget and throwing me in to credit hades.

I'm bitter that health care is still not there for the most vulnerable, our elderly and our children. I'm bitter that politicans are still splitting hairs over providing this modicum of comfort while immersing themselves in something as banal as baseball.

I'm bitter that even after, what? three years? We STILL haven't put New Orleans back together, leaving the ravages of Katrina - mostly the separation of communities - on the back burner until we figure a way to give business first dibs on the property.

I'm bitter AND angry that the political divide has grown so wide that instead of an "us" that works together for compromise, there is a "we" vs "them" mentality that feels like one party has to win it all and anyone that opposes you is evil.

I'm bitter, I'm angry and I'm tired of snark. I'm sick to death of the machinations that take the words of an earnest man and twist them for political purposes. And SHAME on BOTH of you, because you yourself have been victims yet now proceed to inflict that same damage on someone else. And for what? A political victory? At what cost will you win? I'm most bitter that those in power are more concerned with rhetoric than helping our citizenry find solutions.

I AM bitter.
I AM angry and while I may not cling to a gun or embrace religion for that reason, the emotions are very real and very much in the fore front of the mind of this middle class american middle aged woman.

Don't talk down to us.
Don't think we don't see what's being done.
Address the issues. If you can't win on them, WE DON'T NEED YOU.

Signed
Ms Bitter

Dear Bobby Rush....

2008-02-27T17:13:00.002-05:00

So you find it offensive that I don't care about steroid use in sports?

Let me then reaffirm my total disinterest in your opinion. I am paying over 3.25 at the pumps to make my hourly commute to work. I am paying almost 23% more in heating costs this year vs last as well as dealing with increases in other utilities and food costs. Not only don't I CARE about what professional sports figures who are making millions of dollars DO with their bodies, I find it offensive that YOU waste MY time and money on this in congress.

If you want to regulate "drug" use then turn your attention towards the huge meth industry that is thriving. Put some money into law enforcement and rehab treatments. Ben tobacco sales once and for all.

But PLEASE don't try to bullshit America with your concern for sports figures.

Bobby Rush is a senator from Illnois. He is the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection and made the comment today that those who find congress's obsession with this issue "elitists, the cynics and cultural critics".
He wants to move forward with meaningful legislation for the sports industry. I want him to move forward with meaningful legislation that will help the kids down the road whose parents were arrested for cooking meth.

Get some priorities, RUSH!

Pedigree kills me again

2008-02-07T11:45:00.000-05:00

New commerical this morning

Beautiful german shepard being driven down the street in a nice car.
Duchovney's voice over says: "Imagine your family moves"
Cut to a picture of the shepard in a shelter cage and the voice:
"and they don't take you"

http://www.pedigree.com/03Adoption/Adoption%20Video/AdoptionCommercials.aspx
The second selection

*tears*

Go see these videos
Bailey was turned in because her family didn't "have time" for her
http://www.pedigree.com/03Adoption/Adoption%20Video/Default.aspx

If you can donate to Pedigree's adoption fund, please do. Last year they raised 900,000 for pet adoptions.

If you can't donate, please consider posting this info or emailing it to others who might.

GOOD!! Pet Food Indictments

2008-02-06T16:31:00.000-05:00

3 companies indicted in pet food case

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080206/ap_on_bi_ge/toxic_pet_food

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Two Chinese businesses and a U.S. company were indicted Wednesday in the tainted pet food incidents that killed dozens of animals last year and raised worries about products made in China.

Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co., Suzhou Textiles, Silk, Light Industrial Products, Arts and Crafts I/E Co., and Las Vegas-based Chemnutra Inc. were charged in two separate but related indictments. The U.S. attorney's office in Kansas City said the tainted food led to the death and serious illness of pets in the U.S. last year.

One of the indictments charges Xuzhou Anying Biologic, located in China's Jiangsu Province, and Suzhou Textiles, in Suzhou, China, with 13 counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce and 13 counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce.

ChemNutra and company owners Sally Quing Miller, 31, a Chinese national, and her husband, Stephen S. Miller, 55, were charged with 13 counts of introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce, 13 counts of introduction of misbranded food into interstate commerce and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Couple of Predictions

2008-02-03T23:00:00.000-05:00

If anyone had told me 3 months ago that John McCain would be the republican nominee, I would have scoffed. McCain leaves a bad taste in my mouth. He sold out to the Bushites by cow towing and pandering for their favor. He was spineless. I have no desire to vote for him BUT

I don't see Hillary as electable. If she wins the nomination then McCain will be our next president. Clinton is simply too divisive. She has always been seen as shrill and this campaign, along with her husband's tactics, has not changed that impression.

Obama is now neck and neck in the super Tuesday states. I sincerely believe if the democrats want to take the white house, they must nominate Obama.

Remember the bridge?

2008-01-16T09:09:00.000-05:00

It was a heart wrenching story with much sorrow, but some miracles of survival. Truthfully, it was a miracle that more didn't perish.

But the pundits were so quick to exclaim a political fault. Why, of course it had to be the fault of Bush and his budget cuts that allowed the bridge to fall into disarray! Barring that, then it , of course, had to be the fault of the state political leadership who didn't allocate funding for upkeep! And when I suggested we wait for answers, those who claimed to be for freedom (play on word there bulletin board fans) shouted me down for being contentious.

Well, throw the crap in your own face. It was a design flaw and had nothing to do with the repairs that were needed OR GW.

Read it here

I don't like George Bush. I think he will be on record as the worst president in our history, but he's not evil incarnate. When your hyperbole drowns out common sense and the ability to look at any situation objectively, YOU are what you decry.

WV Department of Oral Health

2008-01-07T17:55:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's simply time to abolish the West Virginia legislature and end their misery.

Seriously

Do they not have enough to do?
Because kids have cavities they want to abolish all soda and sugary snacks from schools and create a new, more ludicrous, aspect of government. The "Department of Oral Health".

*sigh*

First: If you want to improve ANY medical condition in WV then you target the parents and educate them. You do NOT usurp their authority. In this case, dental care.

Secondly: Do you know why kids buy snacks at school? Because the meals served are so regulated they're often tasteless AND because a number of kids - especially growing teens - don't get full on the portions served. It's sad to watch a kid nearing 6 foot be fed three chicken strips and a few fries and be satisfied. Anyone who's had a teenage boy in their home knows it's often like stoking a furance. They're almost impossible to fill up. The meager portions in our high schools don't come close.

Do us a favor, legislators: Put your attention towards kids who do without. Without food. Without insurance. Without parental care. We don't need more red tape in our government.

Let's be realistic

2008-01-05T13:25:00.001-05:00

There will be a republican candidate for President.
You didn't like Rudy.
You didn't like McCain.
You didn't like Fred.
You didn't like Mitch.

Democrats have decried every single candidate, mostly out of hand, on the republican ticket. You've taken preemptive strikes at every candidate that steps forward. So now Huckabee has risen from the bottom of the pack to the top you can pat yourselves on the back. Huckabee didn't begin as a serious threat until the noise machines started taking on the top runners. So now we deal with another evangelical in politics. The best way to place people on the defensive is to attack a wide berth of players. In doing so the democrats have rallied the troops.

The republican party thanks you.

I want this kid in jail for life

2008-01-05T13:22:00.000-05:00

Aside from this just being a senseless and immensely cruel action, this kid has serial killer written all over him. Show the ass the same mercy he showed the dog and the owner. NONE

Click for full story

Children were demanding $600 or else they would kill Edna, his beloved beagle mix. Whiting listened in horror to what sounded like the jingle of Edna's collar, and an animal yelping in pain. He agreed to pay the ransom.

"You don't understand, mister," a boy replied. "I want to kill your dog anyway."

What happened to Edna remains a mystery, but Philadelphia police have charged a 15-year-old with harassment, terroristic threats, theft by extortion and other counts for allegedly calling Whiting. Police have yet to find the dog.

I've had tears today a couple of times. I don't see any happy news in this," a heartbroken Whiting said Friday. "I don't have a dog coming back, apparently." He also said he believes at least two children were involved.

Edna had been Whiting's constant companion for more than 10 years. The 57-year-old employee of the University of Pennsylvania's archaeology museum described Edna as a gentle dog that loved children and had been a therapy animal at nursing homes and hospitals.

Whiting went to a police station in the middle of the night to make a report. When he returned home a few hours later, his land line rang almost immediately. "We killed your dog," the voice said. "It's dead."

The RIAA is simply ridiculous

2007-12-31T10:27:00.001-05:00

Ever make a copy of a CD to safeguard your original? Ever download the CD onto your computer for easy mixing and playing? Well, prepare to be sued. The RIAA is simply ridiculous. It's time the courts stopped catering to their greed and persecution of youths. They ask for obscenely high penalities which also needs to end. But this...THIS...takes the absolute cake.

Washington Post Story here

Now, in an unusual case in which an Arizona recipient of an RIAA letter has fought back in court rather than write a check to avoid hefty legal fees, the industry is taking its argument against music sharing one step further: In legal documents in its federal case against Jeffrey Howell, a Scottsdale, Ariz., man who kept a collection of about 2,000 music recordings on his personal computer, the industry maintains that it is illegal for someone who has *LEGALLY* purchased a CD to transfer that music into his computer.

And I wonder how the RIAA found out what was on his computer? Why isn't this unlawful search and seizure? WHy can't the RIAA be sued for invasion of privacy? Aren't hackers prosecuted???

Politics during mourning

2007-12-27T15:04:00.000-05:00

The people of pakistan are in my thoughts today. A woman I saw as a brave visionary is dead. A victim, I believe, of political machinations.
The focus should be on Pakistan. She will undergo violent discord in the next few weeks. Emotions and anger are running high and an outlet, not necessarily a productive one, will be found.

Pakistan has been embroiled in political division for some time. Perhaps it was not pleasant but it has been necessary for the US to keep diplomatic ties open with Pakistan even if we were not supportive of it's ruler's decisions.

So I find it increasingly irritating that instead of focusing on the loss of this brave woman, some factions here decide to attempt to paint this situation as being brought about by US failed foreign policy.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has always been a man who does as he chooses despite other opinions. For example, Rice spent time attempting to convince him not to declare emergency rule. Ultimately he did anyway. We have limited influence there but in order to have any chance of making inroads into Bin Laden's hideaways, we must have some sort of relationship with him.

Let today, at least, be about the loss of a woman who was a true leader. Save the rhetoric for tomorrow.

The Obvious?

2007-12-19T21:25:00.000-05:00

Well....ya think!?!?!

NEW YORK - Lynne Spears' book about parenting has been delayed indefinitely

Click here for the obvious

Good Riddance, Coach Rod

2007-12-18T21:15:00.000-05:00

WVU has lost their football coach. Now, I haven't been a rabid Mountaineer fan since the mid 80's when Saturday's routine meant a big screen and beer with friends.
But I intensely dislike Rich Rod's handling of this issue.

It's suppose to be about the kids. Seriously. It's suppose to be about the kids. Regardless of their abilities, college kids are still just that: Kids
The game for Rich was about Rich. WVU's players have put their hearts and souls into the team and truthfully into following Rich Rod. Now two weeks before the biggest game some of them will play, he packs it up and takes off. With two of their assistant coaches as well, if what I read is correct.

That's classless. That's tasteless. It's in bad form and it reeks of self interest.

I truly don't care if Rich Rod leaves, but when he disregards the kids who have followed him, it warrants comment.

Uncle joe has this one right. Why expect the kids to live up to the terms of their scholarships and promises if the coaches are held to different standards? Pony up, Rich. All 4 million.

National respect for religion

2007-12-02T22:46:00.000-05:00

There has been an outcry for the past decade from evangelical Christian that declare Christianity and government are good bedfellows and should merge together for the sake of our country. I suspect those same people would, if they could, like to see legislation adopted that would make it a crime to deface religious artifacts or blaspheme Christian beliefs.

I wonder if they truly picture what America would be like if their desires were fulfilled.

Perhaps this would help:
www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/12/02/sudan.teacher/index.html

Has Feinstein jumped the shark?

2007-11-25T18:50:00.001-05:00

Dianne Feinstein has made some interesting decisions about what she will and won't support the past few months. From my viewpoint it seems she has reversed a lot of her stances taken prior to the election. Her support of Casey truly bothered me since I viewed him as shifty with his refusal to answer a direct, and simple, question.

Now she believes that visitors to the smithsonian should be charged admission. The Smithsonian is a depository for our public history. It is where the tangible view of our past is housed and protected. But the Smithsonian is being allowed to fall apart. They need funding from congress to repair and restore the buildings. If congress doesn't fund this repair, we stand to lose valuable items that we won't ever be able to replace.

Instead of championing this cause, Feinstein has suggested that we need to charge visitors. Make the Smithsonian into a profitable institution instead of a public trust.

I'm disenchanted with the woman.

Swearing off toxic places

2007-10-28T15:51:00.000-04:00

This has been building for awhile. I'm swearing off discussion boards, at least for a long while. They're simply toxic to me. The amount of rhetoric and spin on both sides of the political aisle is ridiculous and counter productive. It is impossible to attempt to be objective without having someone accuse you of positions you haven't taken and thoughts you haven't expressed.

Life is too short.

We have fooled ourselves into believing the dialogue means something. Perhaps it does on some nebulous stage but I think, in most instances, people who have strong opinions aren't interested in the dialogue, they're interested in the noise created by the voices. It does no good, imo, to continually rehash the same issues in different modes and hope for a different outcome.

The dialogue generated by the masses, meaning us, I believe sometimes blocks out what's being said by the people who represent us. When hear say and regurgitated platforms begin to be more important that the positions actually taken by our elected officials, I think its time to speak less and listen more.

To Read Or Not To Read - That Is The Question

2007-10-18T05:54:00.000-04:00

There's a contraversy brewing locally over a reading list for an advance course literature class. One of the title is Prince Of Tides. Now, never mind that any student can walk into Blockbusters and rent the film, some parents/community leaders have decided this is material students shouldn't read. They claim it is obscene, that the graphic violence is not suitable for "children". Oh, and did I mention one of the characters is gay?

Graphic violence: Okay. Let's do a reality check then. Shall we also ban all news broadcasts until after "children" go to bed? Should we make newspapers a restrictive item? What about video games that blow body parts off complete with spraying blood?

Have I mentioned yet that these "children" are junior and senior high school students, many who have been recruited already by armed forces representatives?

You can't have it both ways. You can't claim high school students are impressionable "children" who shouldn't be exposed to violence and gay issues because their tender brains haven't developed and THEN turn and claim they're able to realistically understand what war includes and profess they can stand up against the pressures of recruiters.

If they can't read about gays without being influenced to "turn gay", then how can they possibly in any way stand up to the influence of the US Military?

If they can't handle graphic violence how the hell do you justify sending 18 year olds to kill?

And let me be clear: I support our military. This is not a slam to them. But it is a hiddeous job and no one should enter into a contract to perform their duties without being fully informed. Evidently some people in WV can't see the contradictions in their concerns, however.

Has Don Blankenship jumped the shark?

2007-10-17T22:13:00.000-04:00

Don Blankenship believes himself to be a political mover and shaker. Unfortunately he assumes the role of the WV version of Karl Rove. Every issue is twisted and spun. Evidently Mr Blankenship believes those of us in West Virginia are simply too...well....simple...to see through his obvious spin.

Now he's suing Joe Manchin and says if he doesn't win his lawsuit against Manchin, which claims to have violated Blankenships right to free speech, he'll quit politics.

I'd say uncork the bottles and celebrate but in reality Blankenship has had little effect on the political face of WV. The issues he spent millions championing did not turn in his favor.

Now he's sunk so low as to play a victim?

Come on, Don. Take it like a man and admit that your finger missed the political pulse of WV. Stick to what you know, and it ain't politics.

http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/wv/news1.shtml

Some things are more than just wrong...

2007-10-16T22:39:00.000-04:00

There are few things that make me so angry I want to cry. This is one of those things. I've never been a fan of Ellen's brand of comedy but I respect her efforts to find homes for stray animals. As strongly as I feel about her actions, I feel the same level of disgust at a "rescue" who hides behind self righteous smugness and cares more about the letter of their "rules" than they do the spirit of rescue.

Mutts and Moms in Pasadena California appear to be one of those places. It's a "rescue" run from a pet boutique called Paw Boutique in Pasadena, California. Just as an aside, they have removed all their information from Petfinder and taken down their webpage, I would guess in an effort not to have to address the press or the public in regard to their actions.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071017/ap_on_en_tv/people_degeneres
Paw Boutique
523 S. Raymond Ave Pasadena, CA
(626) 396-1136

Is their contact information in case anyone wants to drop them a line.

My issue with their actions is this:
The dog had a good family. It is totally ridiculous to say that a dog shouldn't be owned by families with children under 14. I will grant you not all dogs are suitable for under 14 kids but then at the same time, dogs don't come in a one size fits all body!! It's arrogant and prejudicial to believe kids can't be good around animals.

They need to get their heads outta their butts, imo, and do a home visit then give . the . dog . back!!!

Do you realize they called the POLICE and went to get the animal? Now they absolutely REFUSE to consider giving the dog back because the girls in the family are 11 and 12. What a crock!

Things That Make You Go "Ooooooops!"

2007-09-23T16:13:00.000-04:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070921/ap_on_fe_st/odd_bungling_burglars

ANTIOCH, Calif. - Two men who police said broke into a building to steal copper wiring got more than they bargained for: a room full of police officers. Police said 26-year-old James Ayers and Frederick Guilliee, 38, broke into the 40,000-square-foot building at about 6 p.m. Tuesday.

What they hadn't planned for is the Antioch police K-9 unit who was holding a training session there.

Surprise! Surprise!

I know it's been six years

2007-09-16T13:06:00.001-04:00

but this will make you cry. It was only aired once: During the superbowl in 2002, just months after 9-11, 2001. It has no narrative but is simple and clear in its message. It will tug at your heart strings.

To all the families of 9-11....we remember....

2007-09-11T17:17:00.000-04:00

Stealing the title from Oprah's show today. She broadcast from New York and featured many of the families of 9-11 victims as well as the men and women who still serve NYC.

We visited the site of the trade centers while we were in NYC last April. It is a sobering experience. Seeing the gaping hole that's left where so many lives so sadly ended...

Yes, the attack was used as propaganda. Yes, we failed them by not continuing on to capture the man responsible. But the heart ache collectively felt by our nation on 9-11 has not disappeared.

My parent's generation asked the question: "Do you remember where you were when Pearl Harbor was attacked?" That event molded their future. The attacks on 9-11 have molded ours.

"Where were you on 9-11?" That's a question I've heard all day. Where was I? Traveling from one school to another. I walked into the office and the secretaries told me a plane hit the first tower. As we talked the second plane hit and we looked at each other, stunned, because when it was one plane we could hope it was an accident. Two meant something very bad was happening. I remember having to go to class and not speak of it to the kids. My heart hurt. I wanted nothing more to leave and get to my family.

Finally our principal allowed us to turn a sanitized news channel for kids on. The news was filtering through the school and he thought it best to tell the kids himself what was happening. We saw the towers fall. The kids asked such good questions and then asked if we were going to war. Ironically some of those, at the time, 7th and 8th graders are now in the military.

Soon tho, state police told our super to get us home. Remember flight 93 dropped its transponder somewhere over WV. They didn't know where the next hit would be or how many more were coming.

I left and went to my mom's. Stayed there until long into the night. I was just shell shocked.

My heart still hurts.

Regardless of what you believe politically, surely we can agree that the attacks on 9-11 were done by cowards to innocents. I don't care what Bin Laden's issues are with America. On 9-11 he sucker punched America and proved himself to be a coward.

We won't forget. We still mourn. Our hearts will remain heavy as long as one person lives that remembers that day of sadness.

Written 1 year after 9-11...

Threads of anger reached across the sea,
winding their way around innocent hearts.
Hate whipped into a frenzy tore sharply into
the fabric of America.

Fingers of rage closed around fragile
lives and claimed them as victims
of their impotent vengeance.

They sought to crush not just the life
but the spirit of America and her people.

Many angels traveled home that day.
Many tears were shed in anguish and sorrow.
Much loathing was returned to those nameless
and faceless mongers of destruction.

But their task failed.

We suffered greatly, but we survived.
We bent, but we were not broken.
We mourn, but we are not in despair.
We hurt, but we are not crippled.
We lost, but we gained in return.
We suffered, but we remembered our pride.
We questioned. We doubted.
But we found ourselves again.

Remember the brave.
Remember the souls that perished.
Honor their memory by
embracing the living.
Honor them by never forgetting.
Honor them by being Americans who live
and work with pride in
themselves as a people.

As long as the American Spirit continues,
we will never be broken.
And we will always remember
who the real heroes are.

In memory of those who perished
in NYC and Washington, DC
on September 11th, 2001
With compassion and a prayer for comfort
for their families and loved ones.

Bubba land is alive and well

2007-09-11T14:02:00.000-04:00

When does this type of putrid stupidity end? I hope these cretins spend the rest of their lives in jail. Want to know what holds WV back? It is the lack of culture, the lack of acceptance of diversity. It is that stone age mentality of white man america that refuses to believe that another's success does not equal the decline of your own. It is the fertile ground of hate that gave birth to many a KKK member.

And it still exists today:

http://wvgazette.com/section/News/2007091022

YASUS!!! What is WRONG with people!?!?

2007-09-08T23:42:00.000-04:00

What is wrong with people!?
The principal at McNair High School in Georgia led his students in a prayer for leniency for Michael Vick. I can not understand why anyone would support giving this man a break.

http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/mcnairhs/

http://countenance.wordpress.com:80/2007/08/27/school-prayer/

James Jones, the principal of McNair High School in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, held an assembly of his school this morning, wherein he had students pray that the Federal judge presiding over the case of the now-admitted Federal felon, Michael Vick, grants leniency in sentencing.

So...you tell me

2007-09-08T09:26:00.000-04:00

Madeline McCann was a three year old from England on an exciting adventure, that being a vacation to Portugal, with her parents when she suddenly went "missing."

And how did she go "missing"? Well, the parents say they went to have dinner with friends and left the 3 year old in their motel room with her twin two year old siblings.

Yes, friends, that's right. The parents went out and left a 3 year old and two 2 year olds in the room alone.

Now immediately alarms flare in my head. What intelligent (did I mention both parents are lawyers?) and responsible parent leave three toddlers in a room alone in a foreign country? If they weren't complicit in her "disappearance" they were certainly negligent.

They claimed they checked on the kids as they ate. Again, this flies in the face of responsible parenting. If you want to be an adult, find friends and a restaurant that won't mind you bringing your toddlers with you OR ask the motel to find you a sitter. If you're both attornies and taking a vacation in Portugal it's not as if you can't afford it.

At first the search for Madeline focused on strangers but now the parents themselves have come under fire. There are a number of circumstances that I question.

1 - The "sniffer" dogs hit on the scent of a dead body in the room rented by Madeline's parents.
2 - Blood was found in the car they rented while in Portugal.
3 - The demeanor of Madeline's mother has been questioned as she has never shown emotion and remains stolic and calm through out this ordeal.
4 - But the thing that bothers me most is their blantent use of Madeline's disappearance as a fund raiser. If you go to their website you will see up front and apparently most importantly a plea for donations, a paypal link to use to facillitate those donations and an online "store" for Madeline products. Want to put up a poster of Madeline as a missing child? You can buy it there.

Madeline went "missing" in May and already in August they have made her disappearance as a business designed to bring in money. This bothers me as much as any of the other circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

So...
Is Madeline missing or was she murdered?
My further thoughts under the first comment tab as I don't want to preempty any comments that might be made with my own thoughts.

Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6983604.stm
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20070907/wl_time/couldkatemccannbeamurderer
http://www.findmadeleine.com/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070907/ap_on_re_eu/portugal_missing_girl_chronolongy_1

Another Corporation Fails To Take A Stand

2007-08-28T18:27:00.000-04:00

Stephon Marbury of the NY Knicks decided Michael Vick wasn't such a bad person. I mean, he's a good guy, right? Dog fighting isn't so bad, right? It's no worse than hunting.

Stephon needs to get his head outta his butt.

I have no smooth words when it comes to this issue. There's little profound or poetic that travels from my fingers to the screen.

I am angry.

I'm angry that this country condones such viciousness. I'm angry that innocent creatures can be used in such vile activities. In some ways dog fighting is symptomatic of what's wrong with us as a society. That we think its okay to use licing things and then throw them away or destroy them if they don't live up to our standards says much about the kind of selfish, egotistical, thoughtless, throw away people we are.

We abuse our animals. We abuse our kids, we abuse each other. We are thoughtless, self absorbed and so centered on self gratification that we forget to be thankful for the things that offer us love.

I am angry.

And it breaks my heart to think of the animals that trusted only to be betrayed.

But back to Marbury:

I wrote "Steve and Jerry's" who are the sole distributor of Stephon Marbury's athletic shoe. The reply, their defense of Marbury, was disappointing.

The email I received read:

Hi,

Thank you for your email. Stephon Marbury and his Starbury brand have done great things over the past year for kids and families across the country.

While Mr. Marbury is not a spokesperson or an employee of Steve & Barry's, but rather of his own Starbury brand, and his opinions on all topics are his alone and do not in any way express those of Steve & Barry's, it has been widely reported and clarified (The New York Times, August 24th edition, and other national media) that he does not condone illegal dogfighting, and he has emphasized that Michael Vick was wrong for his participation in this and should be punished.

We appreciate your concern on this matter, and we also share your concerns at the highest level. Thanks once again for sharing your thoughts with us.

Warm Regards,
Valario

Well, Valario, you LIED. He most certainly DID excuse Vick. He most certainly DID defend Vick.

People are tired of this stupidity. I wish more voices would make them hear, make them understand that ANY attempt to rationalize dog fighting is WRONG.

If you ever thought dog fighting wasn't so bad...

2007-08-27T16:49:00.000-04:00

http://www.hsus.org/acf/news/vote_video_contest.htm

This is the one that broke my heart
But its graphic so be warned. There are two more at the webpage above

Vick should be made to work with these dogs every day he's in prison. He should be made to go to a shelter, work with a vet as they try to put these animals back together. I hope he gets the max. If THIS doesn't bring an end to this activity then we're doomed to remain an ignorant country. I'm tired of the BS that its cultural.

Vicks has company in the Idjit Box

2007-08-22T22:26:00.000-04:00

This one made me cry.

Dog fighting is a brutal activity. It's purpose is simply to watch two creatures inflict great pain and torment as they tear each other apart. No one, and I mean NO ONE in their right mind supports this type of activity.

And no one excuses it.

Stephon Marbury of the New York Knicks has decided poor Michael has been "piled on".
His comments about dog fighting?

"I think it's tough,'' Marbury said, according to Albany TV station Capital News 9. "I think, you know, we don't say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals. You know, from what I hear, dogfighting is a sport. It's just behind closed doors.''

Well, NO Marbury, dog fighting is not a "sport". It's an inhumane activity for low lifes. It's no where near the same as hunting. I know of no real hunter who WANTS to inflict as much suffering as possible. I know of no hunter who makes bets on how and when an animal dies and I know no real hunter who cages an animal and shoots it for "sport".

I called the Knicks office tonight and their main mailbox is full. So I left a message on the voicemail of their VP. (Star A will get you a directory for names)

I also emailed Steve And Barry's http://steveandbarrys.com/ who sell Murbury's shoes and suggested to both organizations that they might want to educate the man. Email address is customerservice@steveandbarrys.com

Dog fighting needs to end.
Perhaps there is now enough public outrage to make it happen.

Knicks emails.
http://www.nba.com/knicks/seasonsubs/index.html#acctexec

Madison Square Garden
Two Pennsylvania Plaza
New York, NY, 10121-0091

Madison Square Garden Training Center
711 Old Saw Mill River Road
Tarrytown, NY 10591

Business: (212) 465-6471
Ticket Information: (877) NYK-DUNK

President & Chief Executive Officer, Cablevision Systems Corporation;
Chairman, Madison Square Garden and NBA Governor James L. Dolan

Vice Chairman, Cablevision Systems Corporation;
Vice Chairman, Madison Square Garden and NBA Alternate Governor Hank J. Ratner

President & Chief Operating Officer, MSG Sports, and NBA Alternate Governor Steve Mills

President, Basketball Operations & Head Coach Isiah Thomas

PLEASE make your voice heard.

Giving business a bad name

2007-08-19T16:37:00.000-04:00

The press conference last week of Utah mine owner, Murray, was bizarre to say the least. Murray took time donated to him for an update on the missing miners and turned it into a twilight zone style of political rant.

His behavior hasn't improved. His claims that seizmic activity keeps the mine unstable is simply a mistruth. He lies.

The ground around the Utah mine has been over worked. Reports have been given to the press that tell of unstable and shifting dirt caused by years of deep mining and retreat mining. It was probably inadvisable to open another shaft in that mountain to begin with.

Still, Murray wants to insist it's God's work and not his incompetence and lack of over sight.

Now it appears what I feared has come to fruition. Even while MSHA officials are saying its too soon to give up home, Murray Energy Group officials are saying the bodies may never be recovered.

I mourn the loss of any jobs, especially when they come after a loss of life, but justice would be done imo if Murray had to liquidate his assets and give them all to the families of the 9 men who lost their lives and to those workers who are now unemployed.

It is men like Murray and his partner who give business a bad name.

For the record, no I don't think they'll be found and their internment won't be the first time the shafts they worked have become the tombs of lost miners.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/19/utah.mine/index.html

"It's likely that these miners may not be found," Rob Moore, vice president of mine operator Murray Energy, said Sunday.

Stickler told reporters he did not believe the time had come to give up. View the miners' profiles »

"People have survived extended periods of time without food," he said. "We have the food, the water, everything available that we can deliver to the miners as soon as we find them alive."

Texas Church Cancels Funeral

2007-08-11T00:38:00.000-04:00

This bothers me. Regardless of how you feel about the morality of gays, refusing to host the funeral after offering to do so and making that refusal AFTER the obit appears in the paper is simply wrong. The man was a worker there. He was a church employee. If he was good enough to clean their crap off the pews he was certainly good enough to have his funeral there. Where's their Christian love? Where's their concern for the family. This wasn't about what was RIGHT, it was about APPEARANCES. As a Christian this repulses me. The concern should be for the deceased and his family, not their image. They managed to make a difficult and emotional time for the deceased's family even worse with their callous disregard for the man's passing.

Story Here

ARLINGTON, Texas - A megachurch canceled a memorial service for a Navy veteran 24 hours before it was to start because the deceased was gay.

Officials at the nondenominational High Point Church knew that Cecil Howard Sinclair was gay when they offered to host his service, said his sister, Kathleen Wright. But after his obituary listed his life partner as one of his survivors, she said, it was called off.

"It's a slap in the face. It's like, 'Oh, we're sorry he died, but he's gay so we can't help you,'" she said Friday.

Wright said High Point offered to hold the service for Sinclair because their brother is a janitor there. Sinclair, who served in the first Gulf War, died Monday at age 46 from an infection after surgery to prepare him for a heart transplant.

Michael Vicks Rant

2007-08-10T13:01:00.000-04:00

I hope this comes through. It's a pit that was rescued from Vick's place. Notice him licking the face of his rescuer?

I hope I'm wrong

2007-08-10T09:25:00.001-04:00

but I suspect the president and co owner of Murray Energy group in Utah may suggest they can't recover the bodies of those trapped miners. And I think he'll claim its too costly and difficult. They were 3 miles back in that tunnel. 3 miles is a tremendous distance when there's no plan in place to recover you if the thing collapses.

Politcal Funnies via Late Night Humor

2007-08-09T22:55:00.000-04:00

Compiled by about.com

"Last night President Bush did not call Barry Bonds after he broke Hank Aaron's homerun record, but today, Bush decided to make the call. Bush said, 'I realized I had a rare opportunity to talk to the only guy in the country who is less popular than I am.'" --Conan O'Brien

"Latest on the campaign: It was reported that things are going so badly for Sen John McCain, McCain has to carry his own luggage. Meanwhile, things are going so badly for Dennis Kucinich’s campaign, he has to carry Barack Obama’s luggage." --Conan O'Brien

"Elizabeth Edwards is speaking out again. She's a little upset. She said the problem with her husband John Edwards' fundraising -- you know, compared to the other candidates -- is she can't make him black and she can't make him a woman. That's the same problem Michael Jackson's people have." –Jay Leno

"The presidential race heating up slowly over the last nine years. ... Potential Republican candidate -- he hasn't declared yet, but a lot of people think he's going to run -- Fred Thompson is now busy defending his much younger wife. In a recent interview, Senator Fred Thompson said that all criticism of his wife should be directed at him. As a result, conservative groups told Thompson he's been showing too much cleavage." --Conan O'Brien

"Anybody watch the Republican candidates debate this weekend? ... The last time I saw that many white guys arguing was the last Republican debate" --Jay Leno

"Actor Sean Penn is currently touring Venezuela with President Hugo Chavez. Penn said that between listening to Chavez attack President Bush and calling us the Great Satan, it was like being back in Malibu." --Jay Leno

"Congratulations to Matt Damon. His movie, 'The Bourne Ultimatum,' had the biggest movie opening ever for the month of August. It made $70 million. Today, Senator John McCain asked Matt Damon to be his running mate." --Jay Leno

"Yesterday at Camp David, President Bush signed a bill into law that expands his wiretapping powers. President Bush said he knew the bill would pass because he had bugs planted in both houses of Congress." --Jay Leno

"Starting today, the New York Times reduced the size of their newspaper. They cut the paper's width by an inch and a half. The move was announced with the headline 'Big Changes At New York Tim.'" --Conan O'Brien

"The big story in Washington D.C. . . . not the war in Iraq, not Alberto Gonzales lying to Congress, not healthcare . . . the big story everyone is talking about, Hillary Clinton showing a little cleavage. It's amazing isn't it? The United States is 231 years old, but apparently the media is only 13." --Jay Leno

"Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said today that he would not use nuclear weapons under any circumstances. I didn't realize his battle with Hillary had escalated to this level. I just thought there was a little friction.' --Jay Leno

Mine Collapse Part 2

2007-08-09T14:37:00.000-04:00

They now report that rescuers should reach the miners in the next 4-5 hours. I assume that's an air duct, etc.

The CEO of Murray has been keeping relatives sequestered and asking them not to speak to the media. This coming from CNN. Talk about blackmail. The man who holds your family member's rescue in his hand makes a demand. How do you not comply?

Murray evidently walked out of the meeting with families once, he became angry over their questions:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070809/ap_on_re_us/utah_mine_collapse

Maria Buenrostro, the sister of trapped miner Manuel Sanchez, said Murray got angry with relatives' questions and walked out. She also said there was no interpreter for three Spanish-speaking families.

"We want the truth, that's all we want," said Buenrostro, 40. "If there's nothing that they can do about it, you know, just tell us so we know what to expect when they bring them out."

God be with those miners and their families.

Utah Mine collapse - a CEO's meltdown

2007-08-07T11:49:00.000-04:00

This is a subject WVians are well versed in. Mine tradegies. The public focus goes to the families of the trapped miners, for their comfort. All avenues are focused on the rescue or recovery of their loved ones. The respect for the lives in jeopardy are foremost concern.

So I'm sitting here listening to a bizarre press interview of the Murray Group's president who appears intent on absolving his corporation from any responsibility in the cave in. He's making political arguments about the bills passed by congress attempting to block the use of coal. He's using press time given for reports on the miners situation to make a political speak. He's demanding the Sheriff remove the helicopters from overhead and stop all traffic in the area until he's done with his "press" conference. He's blaming the cave ins on an earthquake.

He has taken the time to blast the press for interviewing family members of those trapped or for talking with UMWA officials. I am just totally offended and appalled at his actions. Over and over he calls out the names of the people the press have interviewed, claiming they know nothing of what is going on at the mine.

Regardless of the cause of the collapse, I'm finding this highly offensive. This isn't the time for him to seek to absolve himself of responsibility. He went as far as to say that he didn't know if the men were alive or dead and the tone of his voice...it just seemed not to matter to him. It's almost as if he's having a meltdown.

He claims it will take 2 to 3 days to even be able to get to the miners but smiles as he says the small hole they'll open up after those two or three days will allow them to get air and food to the miners. Um...if they don't have air now....Mister, you've lost it.

Where is his concern for the miners, their friends and family??? He's covering his ass!

This is the most putrid excuse of a CEO I've seen in a LONG time.

Law By Executive Order??? Since when!?

2007-07-20T13:56:00.000-04:00

Okay
This goes to another letter writing campaign.
Call or write your representatives. This executive order opens up a vast amount of possible abuse of power. The terms are too vague and obviously meant to punish the dissenting voice.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20...20070717-3.html

I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that, due to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by acts of violence threatening the peace and stability of Iraq and undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq and to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, it is in the interests of the United States to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, and expanded in Executive Order 13315 of August 28, 2003, and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, and Executive Order 13364 of November 29, 2004. I hereby order:

Section 1. (a) Except to the extent provided in section 203(B)(1), (3), and (4) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(B)(1), (3), and (4)), or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the date of this order, all property and interests in property of the following persons, that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of United States persons, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense,

(i) to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of:

(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or

(B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people;

(ii) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, such an act or acts of violence or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or

(iii) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.

(B) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section include, but are not limited to, (i) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order, and (ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

(B) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

Sec. 3. For purposes of this order:

(a) the term "person" means an individual or entity;

(B) the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization; and

© the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States

Michael Vicks - Send a strong message to those that support dogfighting

2007-07-18T15:53:00.000-04:00

This infuriates and sickens me. Vicks needs to be stripped of all he's gained. LIKE IT OR NOT these players are role models for our youth. I want to see Michael Vicks in jail! Please copy and spread this information around.

Indictment of Michael Vick

From the Humane Society of the United States:

This dog was one of 52 pit bulls seized from Michael Vick's property. ©The HSUS

Late yesterday, a federal grand jury indicted NFL star quarterback Michael Vick and three cohorts on felony dogfighting charges. It’s the latest disturbing news in a case that The Humane Society of the United States has assisted with since the alleged cruelties came to light in Virginia last April.

I hope you will take action today to urge the NFL to suspend Michael Vick indefinitely.

The abuses described in the 19-page indictment are almost beyond belief:

IIn or about March of 2003, PEACE [one of Vick’s co-defendants], after consulting with VICK about the losing female pit bull's condition, executed the losing dog by wetting the dog down with water and electrocuting the animal.

In or about April 2007, PEACE, PHILLIPS, and VICK executed approximately 8 dogs that did not perform well in "testing" sessions...by various methods, including hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground."

The NFL expressed “disappointment” and said yesterday that “we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts.”

Well, that’s just not good enough. These acts were not petty or harmless; they were nothing short of gruesome and barbaric. And there is precedent for a suspension: Other NFL players, such as Pacman Jones and Chris Henry, have been suspended while they awaited trial and before they were convicted. Please contact the NFL today and urge the league to suspend Michael Vick.

For details about the case and The HSUS’s role in assisting federal prosecutors with the investigation and the care of 52 pit bulls taken from Vick’s property, click here. And if you are able, please make a special donation today to help us care for those animals while the case is being pursued by federal authorities.

Thank you for all you do for animals.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

Edited to add:
For those attempting to access the humane Society page, it's evidently being overloaded.
But there are two other options available to you and SPREAD THESE AROUND.
Use the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons websites to tell them what you think:

The NFL:
http://www.nfl.com/help/emailtech

And the Atlanta Falcons who say they want to hear YOUR voice:
http://www.atlantafalcons.com/About/Contact_Us.aspx

What do you contribute?

2007-07-18T10:39:00.000-04:00

Have you noticed something about our political debates? They're less and less about the positives of a chosen candidate and more bent on bashing or discouraging any support of the people we *don't* like.

Maybe this is the first step in de-polarizing the political impass.

Perhaps if we became resolute that we would argue for the strengths of our chosen candidates rather than harping on the points of those we dislike, the climate for politics in American would drastically change.

Give me a reason, folks, to support your candidate other than s/he's NOT someone else.

Toxic

2007-07-13T20:50:00.000-04:00

If you want to make a point to the powers that make or break the decisions in this country, then pick up the phone, a pen or take to the keyboard and let them know how you feel.

I have come to the conclusion that arguing among the lower levels of the political parties, namely us, does nothing but divide the nation further. Doesn't matter how we debate an issue back and forth, Washington is where our voice needs to be heard.

Taking a break me thinks from most boards. The anger and toxicity is deadly as well as being futile.

Division As A Political Tool

2007-06-30T11:22:00.000-04:00

There are those that know and understand that division will sometimes happen in politics and in life. We accept the condition but yet work to fill in the gaps because we acknowledge that division does nothing to improve the political landscape. Nothing will grow on land that is pocked by deep chasms of political division. It is imperitive that we find a compromise that allows us to bridge the gap.

Then there are those so short sighted and so blind that they believe division is the only way politics should work. These are the people motivated by their own self interests. The ones who could care less about progressing this nation and worry only about their political concerns. Their care is NOT for the common man or even the common good but is completely and totally motivated by what profits and promotes their own agendas. These are the people we must watch, the ones that must be called on their hypocrisy.

The fight is long and tiring but if we hope to move forward as a nation it must be fought.

The supreme court has aided these people at the highest level. They have enabled a free use of "issue ads" which will come from special interest groups and which will morph and mislead the argument from both sides.

Disinformation is the rule of the day. It is being spread all the way from the big money groups to the small promoter spewing his own brand of venom.

If we don't stop the rhetoric and deal with people..
If we don't stop labeling those who disagree with us as evil...
If the main focus is not reaching an understanding instead of furthering a division..
We are doomed.

The End Of Civility?

2007-06-28T12:39:00.000-04:00

When did politics become a "we" vs "them" battle to the death? Seriously. When did it decline to these depths?

Please don't say George Bush brought us to this because much of the inability to communicate that I encounter comes from hard line left wingers who see the political arena as some sort of glorious battle that only one gladiator can emerge from with victory.

Did it begin during the turmoil of the Vietnam War and then continue through Nixon's demise? Or has the use of the media, and their need for constant ratings, simply lead to a sensationalizing of every action of our political leaders? Have they encouraged a political divisiness in order to further their own goals?

Whatever brought us to this point, if rational and caring Americans don't pull back on the rhetoric and learn to disagree with policy without condemning the person supporting it, we are a nation doomed. We will become as broken as Iraq, filled with factions that refuse to communicate, refuse to dialogue, refuse to cooperate.

Anyone who believes politics doesn't involve compromise isn't dealing with reality. If your goal is to win at all costs, you become, imo, a terrorist. You certainly aren't a patriot whose concern is for our nation. You become someone who would prefer to "win" than progress.

If the two main political factions can't dialogue with each other, we condemn our future generations to a broken America, much like we are seeing in the middle east. Believe I'm wrong? Tell me why because I don't see a lot of concern for America in the political debates of today. I see more concern about "winning" at all costs - whether right or wrong. It's become a game.

We need our statesmen back. We need the political powers who knew it was okay to disagree with the position or the policy and still respect the man. We need those who understand that the BEST comes from opposing opinions that dialogue and compromise.

What we don't need is conquering zealots looking to further their own agendas. And by that I don't mean our politicans. I mean the political wannabes that spew their venom over the net and over public discussions.

He's sometimes called the everyday man.

Voices Silenced

2007-04-17T22:41:00.001-04:00

32 people were silenced yesterday in Blacksburg, Va. Yes, I know the total death count is 33 but let's focus on the 32 first.

32 futures ended and the lives of hundreds of others that were touched by these students and teachers have been altered forever. Our attention should be on the families and friends of those left behind. I don't want to hear how GW was responsible - he wasn-t - or how he had no business at today's memorial - he did - or how the media is descending on the town. Of course they are, we the public want to know as much as we can.

If anyone there isn't focusing on the survivors then I'll be the first to condemn them but I haven't seen anything crass about the coverage or the comments being made. Let's for God's sake leave the bickering until after the funerals at LEAST,

A sick and resentful mind saw enemies. Saw people as lesser or not as real as he. His writings indicated there was some class resentment against those he encountered at VT. Why is it that anyone has to put down or look down on someone else's choices for their lifes? So what if he thought they were pretentious. Why couldn't he just move on and find others that shared his own vision instead of tearing those he disapproved of down? I don't guess we'll ever know.

Someone who wants to die and wants to create havoc as he/she goes will always find a way. We will never, ever be completely safe from this sort of situation but we must, we absolutely must, become more familiar with the signs.

God be with those at Virginia Tech, with the families of those slain and with the students who will fear and grieve for weeks to come.

And God help us to see the signs of people in need that exist all around us.

Pontificating

2007-04-09T11:19:00.000-04:00

The Pope made a rather impassioned appeal during his Easter mass for a ceasation of the violence in the middle east. For the first time he acknowledged that the blood shed was serving no purpose except to tear the region apart.

Yet at the same time, he recently sent out new guidelines for European Catholic politicans to follow, telling them basically what they could and couldn't support.

I am Catholic yet I am very uncomfortable with this role the new pope has decided to play in politics. John Paul was much more diplomatic, abet determined, to shape our policial arena. Yet he did it by appealing to the best in us, thinking that by doing so the other would follow.

Not so, Benedict. It's his contention that he has the right and obligation to tell us what we can and can't support.

Nahhhhhhh

There are many more Catholics better than I. I do not hold the pope above man, but see him as simply a man. One that may be better read than I but one who is fallible.

There should be a separation of church and politics in the world. Often the blunt truth of politics does not mesh well with religion. Let religion speak to the soul of man. Allow politics to speak to it's governing.

Amtrakmatt (Move on folks, nothing to see)

2007-03-24T09:52:00.000-04:00

It must be extremely nice to spew in a forum where you know those you lie about can not respond.

You have claimed to need evidence, Matt, yet where is your evidence of THIS:

"Simply put, LeeB was asking the members of this board to turn off Ed's show to listen to a competitor in the same time slot."

That is, simply, incorrect. It is also the third justification you've given for her banning.

1 - You claimed she made vicious personal attacks against Holmey. Where was your evidence of this?

2 - You claimed she was organizing a boycott of the ESS show. WHERE was your evidence of this?

3 - You finally admitted she was advocating others simply listen to Thom. And I use "you" because I don't care who said it first, you or Holmey, you parrot it and use it in tandem with his attacks.

HERE is what LeeB ACTUALLY posted:

QUOTE
LeeB Mar 2, 2007, 11:13 AM Post #10
Member

Group: Members
Posts: 49
Joined: 20-October 05
Member No.: 5,024

QUOTE

(reroy55 @ Mar 2 2007, 05:36 AM)

Well, Sallie, I'm on your side. I belong to the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Union, Local 300. I pay a lot more than 10 dollars. My dues are 40 dollars a month, plus I pay for a yearly membership card for the Building and Construction Trades Council. The council has lobyists in Washington. Also I pay seven dollars every time a member passes away in my local, these funds are sent to the widow.

Please don't get MAD at me Sallie, when I quote Big Eddie. He's about the only guy I know on the radio or TV that speaks out for the working person.

I would like to introduce you to The Thom Hartmann Show. He is a huge supporter of unions and workers in general. Thom is also a very prolific author and one of his recent releases (from last fall sometime, IIRC) is called SCREWED: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class and What We Can Do About It.

To be absolutely clear, I'm not advocating you stop listening to the ESS, but that you begin listening to Thom. If his show isn't carried in your area, you can stream it online from a number of stations, AAR, and free podcasts of current shows are available at www.WhiteRoseSociety.org. I think you would find Thom's take on the issue - and many, many others - extremely informative and heartening.

Can you read, dear sir? "To be absolutely clear, I'm not advocating you stop listening to the ESS"

But then, you didn't see the post, did you Matt? You took Holmey's word for it. Yet you can't understand that's not exactly a safe thing to do. It also contradicts your benevolent claims that you need "evidence". No, you don't. You simply need to know what Holmey tells you.

Menu Foods: They KNEW their food was bad in FEBRUARY

2007-03-23T08:37:00.001-04:00

Just FYI
Spread this to other communities where anyone might have lost a beloved pet.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/20/national/main2587087.shtml?source=mostpop_story

(CBS/AP) As many as one in six animals died in tests of suspect dog and cat food by the manufacturer last month after complaints the products were poisoning pets around the country, the government said Monday.

Menu Foods told the FDA it received the first complaints of kidney failure and deaths among cats and dogs from pet owners on Feb. 20. It began new tests on Feb. 27.

During those tests, the company fed its product to 40 to 50 dogs and cats and seven animals — the mix of species was not immediately known — died, Sundlof said. The contamination appeared more deadly to cats than to dogs, he said.

"Cats seem to be more susceptible to acute renal failure, what which is what this toxin is causing," Turner told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.

This woman wants to start a class action lawsuit.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/20/national/main2590696.shtml

A Chicago woman sued Menu Foods on Tuesday, alleging the pet food manufacturer delayed announcing a recall of 60 million containers of dog and cat food despite knowing its products were contaminated and potentially deadly.

Dawn Majerczyk, 43, said her orange tabby, Phoenix, fell sick last week just two days after he ate a single package of Special Kitty. It is one of 95 cat and dog food brands recalled by Menu Foods of Canada. Friday's recall came two weeks after nine cats died during routine company taste tests of its products, the Food and Drug Administration said.

Majerczyk said she took the 9-year-old cat to its first-ever veterinarian visit the day of the recall. The cat had lost six pounds in four days and was lethargic, dehydrated and nearly blind. She returned over the weekend to have him put down after his organs began to fail. Her suit, filed by Chicago attorney Jay Edelson, seeks class-action status.

Dear Amtrakmatt Part 2

2007-03-18T21:52:00.000-04:00

Are you serious? Threatening?

Here's the email I sent to you.

But there IS no more to be said on this issue because there's nothing being hidden.
You and Rich both are a disgrace for attempting to insinuate there's something nefarious not being said. Biting your tongues indeed...You are both so false. Fair weathered friends I believe is the term.

Dead to me

Dear AmtrakMatt

2007-03-17T14:29:00.000-04:00

AmtrakMatt Today, 12:08 PM Post #258

EGG HEAD

Group: Moderator
Posts: 8,193
Joined: 16-August 05
From: Erie Lackawanna country in upstate NY
Member No.: 1,683

QUOTE(Holmey @ Mar 16 2007, 10:22 PM)
She called the police on me because she disagreed about ANS

The heart of the matter. Seni was acting out of revenge, IMO. She wanted to punish you for a transgression and chose a course of action that was just plain wrong in itself.

You sir, refused to listen to both sides of the story and now prostitute yourself to stay in favor with Holmey. Remember, you didn't want to hear my side of this.

As moderator you have often taken actions as a result of harrassment. Tell me, dear Amtrak, how often a poster has to harrass someone until you take action? Once? Twice? Three times? Or do you expect one warning to suffice?

1 - He did not call when we agreed, did not want to "discuss" and later lied on the board and said I was playing a victim and didn't want to talk.

2 - He called late at night when I had no intention of talking. (He also didn't ask on that one. The calls came without warning) We agreed to "edit" two posts and he pulled the thread, claiming I agreed to it. Another lie.

3 - He called again AFTER being told not to. Now you tell me, Matt, how often does someone have to warn another before their own personal sanctuary - their home - is not in danger of being violated? On the board it would be ONE warning. I gave Holmey SEVERAL.

On the first call I said DO NOT CALL to berated me. If you want to discuss that's something else.

After the second call I posted ON THE BOARD - DO NOT CALL ME. Since he replied to one of those posts he can't claim ignorance even tho he tried.

On the third call - AFTER he was repeated warned - he still didn't have the common sense that God gave a goose and started spouting after I told him I did not wish to talk to him.

You're a hypocrite, Matt. You were so freaked out over a suggestion of a phone call that you refused to answer yet you seem to believe it's okay that Holmey makes unwanted calls. You didn't want them yourself yet its ok for The Prince to make them. That makes you a hypocrite. And now you've joined the liars club.

My making a report with the police on James Holms (wonder if that googles now) had nothing to do with dialogue over the ANS debacle as much as y'all wish it did. It was completely and solely over phone calls that I deem were harrassing and berating as well as being unwanted. The first one he had permission for, NOT the others.

What don't you get now?

**************

Speaking of getting it
Lila, you're clueless. Completely and totally lacking in comprehension.
btw
If you're married to some sort of spy person and have two kids, why'd you sign up at a singles website as Lilalove and claim to be unmarried?

Dear Lila, we knew it was you because you, lacking the common sense of a flea, posted your picture. What does it hurt? Does it hurt your family? Your husband? Does he know? Proves one thing: You lied. One place or the other is full of false information. It's an interesting discovery. You have enjoyed calling me all sorts of names when I can't defend myself. Enjoy the feeling of silence.

And LIEla
That "old profile" you filled out was in JANUARY of 2007. THIS year. Try again, dear.
You LIED. One can only wonder why a professed married woman would fill out so many profiles claiming to be single. It doesn't default, Lila.

You have no one but yourself to blame for this attention. You wanted it. You got it. Continue to dance, dear.

http://www.profile.com/Lilalove

Last Online: Jan 15, 2007
Date Joined: Jan 15, 2007

Country:
- Canada
State/Province: Ontario

Status: Single
Sex: Female
Age: 27
Sexuality: Straight

and this...definitely not the (racial slur deleted) husband you mentioned
http://www.profile.com//userimg/400/img45ac071410e10.jpg

Liiiiiiila
You forgot to tell your syncophant that you had posted a picture of yourself on the ESS boards. Yes, dear, we remember. It is you.

Alternative Realities?

2007-03-15T21:46:00.000-04:00

What tempts people to lie, either deliberately or from omission, and think that they won't be uncovered? What false hope makes them believe that when public dialogue is involved it won't one day come back and bite them in the butts? Does James Holms not know or does he simply not tell the truth? Is it from intent, design or ignorance? Is it a manipulation of the truth, leaving out bits and pieces that make him look bad, in order to promote himself and the ESS show?

For those that have been following this drama, you know that I was banned from their message boards. NOT because of anything that happened ON that board but because I reported the actions of James "Holmey" Holms. The coward silenced my voice there but he can not keep me from correcting his myths here.Allow me to address his false points in a public comment he made yesterday.

Holmey
post Yesterday,
11:50 PM
Post #166
Producer
*******
Group: Admin
Posts: 3,258
Joined: 15-July 05
From: Frozen Tundra
Member No.: 20

This is the first time I have read this thread so forgive my tardy
response. First of all, if any of you have left before I responded, I hope you
don’t let your perception of the last months events drive you away for good.
Doc, you have been a quality and welcomed member on this board. That’s why I’m
dismayed that you have decided to believe Senihele’s version of events.
Actually, I’ve read her blog about the event and it supports what I have said
all along. I have not divulged what happened because I have had numerous people
on this board tell me that she is frail. I will not say any more about her
condition because I have no proof other than word of other board members.

Name those people, Holmey. Rich apparently divuldged some personal information to you that said I had some individual personal stress going on at the time. (Thanks, Rich!!! Good buddy!!!) but you're laughed off the board when you suggest I'm "FRAIL" That's nonsense.

Shall we play tit for tat? Is this what the "producer" of the 5th most important talk show host needs to put his time on? Tell me, do you hold that any publicity is good? Do you not see the people who have stepped away from your board? Do you read the villianization of the ESS and of you on other liberal boards? Your listening audience is FINITE. Continue alienating them and see how long Ed remains "the #1 progressive talker".

I am no harasser.

Yes, sir, you ARE. When you call to berate and chew people out it makes you a HARRASSER. You didn't call to discuss, you called to set me straight. The SECOND I said DO NOT CALL ME AGAIN and you STILL called, you became a reported harrasser. How many times does someone have to tell you "no", Holmey? How many times until enough is enough. Your very first call to me was an exercise in futility. Both Rich and his wife have talked about arguing with you and remaining friends. That was their CHOICE. I chose NOT to subject myself to your tirade. One does NOT have to be afraid or in fear to say ENOUGH with the harrassment.

This IS what really happened.The dust up over ANS started on a Friday.I PMed Senihele on Saturday to ask if we could talk, she replied with her number and asked if we could wait until Sunday.I called the number she gave me on SundayShe went off on me, when I responded she hung up. I never swore at her, never called her a name and never raised my voice. She didn’t like that I had the audacity to disagree with her.

LIE. You sent me a PM and ordered me to CALL YOU. Sent your number with it as well. I told you I didn't have a long distance carrier. You then asked for my number. I hesitated because it was late and I TOLD YOU it was too late to get into it that Saturday night. I told you IF YOU WANTED TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE you could call after 6pm Sunday night. I EXPLAINED to you, giving you respect you WERE NOT DUE, that I had mass and then needed to move some furniture from my Mom's and wouldn't be home until after 6 pm. Sunday morning I was attempting to scarf down a bagel while reading the board and leaving for mass and YOU decided seeing my name online gave you permission to call. NO, IT DID NOT. I again gave you the benefit of a doubt and would have spent a few minutes dialoguing BUT you wouldn't let me finish a sentence. You talked over me. You shouted me down. You had NO DESIRE to talk but only to shove your opinion down my throat. I cut you off on that call. Told you that if you wanted to DISCUSS this issue you could call back at the previously arranged time but that I DID NOT ACCEPT phones calls to berate and harrass me. I didn't "go off" on you. I stated firmly that my phone number was not something to be abused and yes, I then hung up.A WEEK later you posted on the ESS board that I DIDN'T WANT TO TALK AND WAS PLAYING A VICTIM. That statement in itself was COMPLETELY untrue.

Almost 3 days passed with more back and forth on the board. Senihele started a “where America comes to talk” threadOn Wednesday night I called her again and we had a productive talk. We agreed that things we both posted in that thread were not good. We agreed to edit some of our responses. I pulled the thread off the board for a few minutes and deleted some of both of our posts, and then I put it back.

Productive? Really? You have an odd notion of "productive". You admitted in another thread you had second thoughts and after talking to Rich, put the thread back. Better hurry and delete all the incriminating posts before Lila pokes around again. PRoductive talk my ass. You called at 11 PM, woke my mother up and I IMMEDIATELY told you it was too late for this. You asked me to EDIT my post in a thread that suggested you had lied. I agreed IF you would edit your comment about my playing a victim.You didn't edit. YOU DELETED the thread and later admitted you did so and then reinstated it.Note to Holmey: EDITING is not DELETING. Is English your first language?

Almost 3 more days passed and she started a thread claiming that I had deleted the WACTT thread.On Saturday night I called her again, here is the transcript of the entire call.Holmey: Hi, this is James Holm from the Ed Schultz Show. Do you have a minute?Senihele: NO, CLICK.That’s it, nothing more.

YOU are a BLATENT liar or have the shortest memory retention in history. When I told you "no" your next words were "Well, let me tell you something, if you don't stop.." and yes, THEN I hung up. What part of "no" doesn't get to you, Holmey? What part of DO NOT CALL ME doesn't seep through your skull to that small center of comprehension that exists inside your head?You DIDN'T have the decency to just hang up which is why I immediately starting researching what steps I hould take to make sure you understood you were not to call my home again. MY HOME, Holmey. Not your studio. MY PRIVATE RESIDENCE. YOU don't have a right to harrass me there because of some perceived problem on an internet bulletin board.

I called Plunderer and asked how he thought we should move forward. We agreed that I would just post how I only deleted the thread to clean it up and put it back.

You just contradicted yourself, Bubba. You didn't put it back until after you talked to Rich yet you took it down only to clean it up.

About 30 minutes later my phone rings and it’s the WV state police. I told the officer the situation and he chuckled and said that I shouldn’t communicate with her anymore.

Yeah, I bet he chuckled. btw, it was nearly an HOUR after the call when I made the report. Considering your memory for details I have strong doubts about this "chuckle" however, YOU could have avoided this entire episode by listening the first time when I said DO NOT CALL ME.

I called Plunderer back and we decided that it would be best if she wasn’t a part of this community any longer.

Really??? Then how come Rich told ME that I was important to the board, that you didn't have a clue as to how to run the forum and neither did Matt, who he was not going to train - his words, and that what he wanted was what was important. He told me not to worry about it, that he would fix it, that he wanted me on the board. At least you finally admitted I was banned from the board because of my objections to your PERSONAL actions and not because of anything that happened on the board.

She never, and I repeat never, told me not to call her. In fact she gave me her number and agreed to talk.

Another LIE. Thanks Lila!

Senihele
Feb 16 2007,
05:55 AM
Post #86
Gotcha Mitzy!
18 parsys!
Group: Members
Posts: 12,436
Joined: 19-July 05
Member No.: 202
QUOTE(Holmey @ Feb 15 2007, 11:46 PM) I thought we agreed to delete it
until we talked again.

NO SIR
We did NOT
You asked me to edit my comment about you being a liar and I agree if you
would edit yours that made the claim I was avoiding talk and was playing a
victim.NO need to attempt to call me tonight,Holmey. YOU go ahead and fill in
the blanks. It seems you do that whether anyone talks to you or not. What a
SHAM. What a TOTAL Sham!

Senihele
Feb 16 2007,
04:59 AM
Post #87
Gotcha Mitzy! 18 parsys!
Group: Members
Posts: 12,436
Joined: 19-July 05
Member No.: 202
QUOTE(Holmey @ Feb 15 2007, 11:47 PM) I thought you didn't have time right
now?

I DIDN'T but YOU DELETED the THREAD.You know what, I don't HAVE to EXPLAIN my
life, my time OR my board habits to you.I don't have to explain to you that it's
almost six and I'm getting ready to leave my house whileyou're still in your
bed. I don't have to explain that at 11 at night when you call without
warningthat I don't have the energy to get into a long distribe with you - which
btw doesn't seem to matter since you hear what you want - BUT I DID. And I
invited you to call back at another time to discuss the issue.Not nowDO NOT CALL
ME AGAIN You change the meaning and intent of my words. You asked me not to say
you were lying but bud, from where I stand it sure seems like it because you
attribute things to me I DID NOT SAY.Anyone who wants my email please msg me
because I expect to be gone soon. It's obvious that dissention is not allowed in
Holmey land.

She called some of the other moderators on this board and yelled at them for hours and days after this happened. She ran my name through the mud on this and many other boards. She reached out to many of you and more or less called me a misogynist harasser.

I called RICH Saturday night, there was no yelling, and who at the end of the conversation said: IF YOU EVER HAVE A RUN IN WITH HOLMEY AGAIN, CALL ME BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE. There was no yelling and I wonder if he'll NOW have the question of conscience about which horse he ultimately backed with this. Oh wait! I did call GoU as well and asked him to delete my personal pictures. He was pleasant and wished me well.

See Holmey, the issue was never about a simple phone call, it was about the TONE yours took. My conversations with others from the board has NEVER been contentious and harrassing until YOU. Which again begs the question, why would a producer of the #5 talker take this tact?

I kept this to myself and the moderation team. I have asked them never to tell this story in fear that she would use it to bring more attention to herself.I changed my mind after reading this thread.Enough is enough.I understand the inclination to defend any woman when she accuses a man of harassment. Sadly this has gone above and beyond reason on this board.If disagreeing with someone makes you a harasser how many of you have to wear that hat?

More bullshit. I've disagreed with a lot of people at ESS and never accused any of harrassment. YOU stepped over the line with your phone calls. YOU stepped over the line when you refused to aquiese to the request NOT to call me again.

I will ask the members of this board that took Senihele's words for gospel to be as fair to me. I would also ask you this; would you let someone post a message at your workplace accusing you of harassment if you were in my shoes? This board has moved along without her, I’m assuming she has done the same.Doc, Mac and any of the rest of you, move along if you must, just be fair.I didn’t break any rules or laws. I’m not a harasser.

Yes, you ABSOLUTELY are. It wasn't just me that found themselves suspended. You suspended another member for refusing to call you. You suspended someone over the Phoenix incident because of their refusal of your phone calls. You've left a trail, Holmey, and most of us kept the private messages. (Thanks Rain!)

Please quit beating up on Matt & Plun, they both disagreed with me about ANS, and they both know the stone cold facts of the Senihele episode.

Not from you they surely don't. It's sad that they have chosen to back someone of such questionable ethics but that's their choice. But in doing so they accept the consequences of their actions and that is, they have lost the respect and good wishes of many ESS members. I bet Al's mama has an expression: Ya lie down with dogs and you get fleas.

One last thing.Did you hear what Ed called Newt on Friday?Where is the outrage--------------------HolmeyProducerEd Schultz Show

You missed it???
I think its safe to say many of us no longer listen to Ed.

**************************
Editing to add a couple of other points:
LeeB was also deleted from the ESS boards. Holmey evidently gave varying stories on why this was done. Matt first thought it was over personal attacks. (Rich and Holmey, y'all leaving him out of the loop?) and then she was accused of boycotting Ed's show. A TOTAL fabrication. Too bad the posts were deleted before the mods could actually read the comments Holmey objected to. Lemme give you a hint guys: Lee even stated she was NOT advocating anyone stop listening to Ed. Note to Holmey: You appear not to be able to understand that listening to ANOTHER progressive talker is not the same as insulting/boycotting/attacking Ed and the ESS show. What is it? Do you feel threatened by anyone else's success?

Also
The suspension of Blue, Rain and Lindy:

I got one thing to say. Evidently rules don't apply to Holmey cause you are WELL aware he has sock puppets on that board designed to divert attention and boost the appearance of support Ed receives.

Shame on all you.

********************
One more thing I want to add:
Posters have been banned from the ESS forums when they pursue another poster through private messages when someone has made the decision to end the dialogue and ignore said poster. They label it harrassing. How ironic is it that I'm condemned by the mods because I wanted no part of private communication from Holmey that I still consider harrassing? Oh, the irony. Evidently the only time they feel action is warranted is when it's against a poster who doesn't share their political ideology.

To "strike" or not to "strike"

2007-03-14T16:45:00.000-04:00

Some teachers in our state were off job today.
They were protesting a 3.5 salary increase passed by the legislature.

We haven't had a real increase since 1990 and what they toted as an increase last year was not. It was money meant to offset a 23% INCREASE in insurance premiums. Many teachers made less than they did last year.

WV is ranked either 47 or 49th in teacher salaries (not sure which) and with the sad amount of emphasis here on education, there's no drive to remedy that situation. The governor only wanted us to have a 2.5 raise which would have been about a dollar a day. Thank you, but keep that slap in the face.

It is also ironic that while the senate was telling us that they had no money for raises they also passed a bill to raise their salaries 5,000.00 a year, making them one of the HIGHEST paid legislatures in the nation. The house skuttled it - thankfully.

So some counties planned a walk out.

Except:
They waited until the bill was already passed.
They waited until the legislature had already adjourned for the season.
The amount of disorganization in taking the vote would do Dubya's brain proud.

So not all counties took part in the walkout.
Many felt the associations had waited too late to make their move.
Many felt communication SUCKED.
Many just felt it would do no good.

Beginning teachers make below 30,000 a year and those with less than 30 years experience make less than 39,000 unless they have an advanced degree. Not sure of the pay scale there.

So...What did I do? Well, my school was out and the county eventually cancelled classes for the day. I fortunately didn't have to decide which line I would be on. Was away with kids today.

The sentiment here is that these outages hurt the kids. I ask this:
In 10 years 80% of WV's teachers are going to reach retirement age. We do NOT have teachers coming up to fill those positions. Teachers that ARE being trained in college are going elsewhere for work. Each of the 5 states that surround WV have starting salaries that are at least 10,000 more than WV.

Which hurts the kids more?To lose ONE DAY of instruction now or to lose their entire education in the future when qualified teachers can't be found?

And always the why oh why that anytime they do a news report on this issue they always, ALWAYS, have someone complaining about finding a baby sitter.

The Right To Choice

2007-02-22T08:41:00.000-05:00

WV Right To Life is staging a campaign, with help from a few of our state senators, to remove abortions as part of the health care system for the poor. Meaning, the health care program for poor women in the state would no longer pay for abortions. This would leave many women in WV with no choice. Children would be born into poverty in a family that did not want them.

The spokesperson for WV RTL was on a local radio show this week and made the comment that there were no women receiving back room abortions or home abortions so it wasn't an issue.

Maddam, do you understand sub standard care and homemade abortions are not an issue in this state because present health care provides abortions for those that have made the difficult choice?

The statement shows her age. Were she into her 50's she would remember the whispers of those who had been taken to the hospital with complications.

IF abortions are removed from the list of approved proceedures that the state pays for, you will see illness and injuries return from "homemade" abortions and doctors who do back alley terminations in unsanitary and unsafe settings.

If the only reason to remove abortion from health care in WV has a resonating religious ring to it then let's stop now. Doing so would be prejudical and simply wrong.

I don't advocate abortion. I think there are other options that should be explored first but in no way do I believe the state - or any other entity - should be providing this for the mother.

If you believe abortions are wrong, then advocate help for those women who need child care to work. Advocate the system help families survive instead of punishing them twice - once by denying the abortion and the second time by denying them aid to stay afloat. Advocate adoptions be made simplier and that social worker numbers be increased to stop the abuses of over worked staffers who care, but who are overwhelmed with their case loads.

It's a front. The call to stop abortions is a superficial front.
If you care about people, about children, abortion will be the LAST issue you campaign on.

Attention James Holms - gutless wonder

2007-02-21T21:34:00.000-05:00

Talking about me without my being able to reply. Takes a real man to do that - NOT

There have been no lies, Holmey. I have presented this issue EXACTLY as it occurred.
I would strongly advise you not to lie about words or intent.

I love message archives.

Lemme see - who called who?

2007-02-21T19:32:00.000-05:00

For those that know what this is about:

"Friends" have revealed themselves to be false and willing to misrepresent the truth.
I offer the following:

will get back to you, but I wouldn't mind talking on the phone again sometime...if you are up to it. It helps me to get the pulse of whats really going on, and it might help us figure out how to go forward in this contentious election season. In all honesty, I'm always available to you, as I do consider you a friend.To cut to the chase, my number (again) is XXX-XXX-XXXX (If I ever gave you my cell phone #, it's different now). However, I don't mind calling you since I have free long distance (and, of course, your # will be held private), so don't hesitate in asking me to call you instead.Be well.Regards,Rich...

*********************************

: Re:you and I
Senihele QUOTE
Need to talk voice and iron this out.

I'm game. When's good for you? I could call you any time, for the most part, starting right now. Let me know. GoU

********************************************

BTW, I'm always willing to take a phone call from you if you've got something on your mind. Recluse that I am, I've actually found it easier to communicate sometimes over the phone. I talk to Holmey, Matt, Gounion, Norm Goldman, and others on a regular basis because of this. If anything, it's brought me more out of the real-life shell I try to conceal myself behind.Cheers,Rich...

Did progressive Talk work?

2007-02-19T22:06:00.000-05:00

Did anyone hear the claims that progressive talk wouldn't work? That it wouldn't be viable?

I don't recall hearing the comment uttered but saw several posts from those who claimed to have heard the prediction.

Well, it's been a couple of years now. Did it work?
You be the judge:

http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=44

Yes, there are a lot of conservative hosts there, the top 4 are all basically conservative, but scroll down the page and you'll see a fairly decent mixture of both conservative and liberal hosts.

It took Rush many years to open up his market. In comparison it's taken these liberal hosts a fraction of the time to make their mark.

The market is open. If someone fails they need to reconsider their tactics and style. And when someone begins to drop in these polls they might want to reconsider their methods and words.

A mixture is good. We need opposition. We need both sides to have voices. The dialogue must begin.

OH! And scifi geeks! Scroll down through that list until you get to a familiar B5 name. Jerry Doyle!!! A member of the top 100!!

More on James Holmey Holmes

2007-02-18T21:25:00.000-05:00

The Ed Schultz show has now banned me from their message boards and my emailed complaints to the admins has been rejected. Evidently Holmey, unable to intimidate me, attempts to silence me by banning me.

He is a coward as well as misrepresenting what is said to him. He does not desire to debate but to preach.

The Ed Schultz show is not where America comes to talk. It's where Ed and Holmey come to have their egos stroked.

And that's why the show will ultimately fail.

It took years for Rush's ego to over take his common sense. His show was much more energized and entertaining when he took himself less seriously.

Ed got there in a few short years. Where he used to tell his listeners it was not his job, goal or objective to be a leader for dems in politics, he now takes credit for their success. He needs to check his ego, get rid of his intimidation prone producer and get his balance back.

Disillusioned doesn't come close....

Denial of Free Speech

2007-02-16T11:56:00.000-05:00

Do forum owners owe their fans or members the right to post whatever they wish?

Well, of course not. The community belongs to them. They can censor it as they wish.
But in doing so, let's not pretend that we have a willingness to hear all sides of an issue. Let's not advocate this is where "America Comes To Talk"

That's the current motto for the Ed Schultz show and I've recently discovered how untrue that is.

A public figure is always open to criticism, that is and has been evident since the first motion picture star had his face plastered across a screen or the first politician was met with waving of flags and cheers. We, as people, seem to love the gossip of those deemed bigger than life.

Anna Nicole Smith was one of those people. She evoked strong reactions in people. Some loved her and some found no value in her.

But most kept decorum in place when she died.

No so, Ed Schultz.
With the bluster of one who felt comfortable condemning someone he had never met, Ed called the newly dead woman a "whore". His listeners reacted quickly.

A few agreed with him. Most did not.

A few women compared their own personal demons with ANS and found themselves also labeled by this term.

Instead of doing damage control or nipping it in the bud, he dug in his heels and refused to admit he might have erred by his use of the term or apologize for his comments.

His transgression was compounded by his producer, "Holmey",who continued the rant on the ESS message board.

His transgression multiplied, in my eyes, with his phone calls to me.

I have talked to many members of the ESS board through the phone. Voice makes it so much easier to get across necessary points and solve conflicts. I expected the same thing from Holmey.

He wanted to call late on a Saturday night and after a long day of working on a house project, I didn't have the energy to start a long drawn out phone conversation at bed time. So I told him to call Sunday, after 6 as I would be working once more on that house project.

Next morning as I was quickly scanning the board and scarfing down a muffin in preparation of leaving for mass, imagine my surprise when without expecting it, Holmey called. Evidently seeing my name on the ESS board is permission for him to call.

I thought, ok, a quick convo and then I'll run quickly to mass. I started by attempting to explain how offensive the term was to women and that was the LAST full sentence I got out. I was interrupted and my words were morphed in his comments. I attempted to say that virtually every woman on the ESS board took offense to the term but before I completed the sentence he was accusing me of saying ALL WOMEN EVERY WHERE took offense. Which was BS because I didn't make that claim.

After a few more attempts to speak I asked him if he were going to let me finish a sentence and then finally cut the conversation off, telling him I had to go to mass and if he wanted to call later to DISCUSS the issue he could but that I was NOT accepting calls simply to berate me.

Imagine my surprise when a week later he accused me of playing a victim and not being willing to talk.

That was simply a LIE. Now whether it was a lie because Holmey doesn't listen well or whether he wanted to make himself a victim, it was NOT the truth OR my position.

So at ELEVEN O'CLOCK PM on a school night he calls AGAIN and wants to talk. I attempted
AGAIN to tell him it had been a long day, I get up at 5 am and I was NOT going to engage in a long conversation THAT LATE at night.

We agree to talk today, actually, and he asked I edit my post so as not to reflect he was a liar, I agreed on the condition HE edited his claim I wasn't willing to talk and wanted to play a victim.

Evidently my editing wasn't up to par for him because he deleted the thread and has deleted every other comment I've made in reference to this situation.

Holmey is a hypocrite.
He cries free speech in his ability to call a newly dead woman a whore but then refuses his critics to expound on his actions.

Edited at 11:17 pm
One of the threads has been restored but NOT the ones that discuss the phone conversations.

Edited at 10:08 pm 2/17/07
Guess who called again tonight, even after my asking him not to, to berate and threaten me again? He has been reported.

Enough is enough

To Tears Again

2007-01-28T19:30:00.000-05:00

To Tears Again

I used to love the political debate. Used to love discussing the parameters of an issue. I fear that ability is gone where most of American is concerned.

I post on a couple of boards, one - The Ed Scultz Show board - started out as a fairly good place to converse. The elections changed that. It's now home to a few hate filled dems who can't talk, can't discourse, and can only manipulate words to fit their smugness.

I am what the country needs. I am a moderate. I have chosen to be republican but I
am more moderate than some dems. So these things hurt because I DO try to see all sides of an issue.

Why do I keep trying?
I'm told I ignore voter fraud
I'm told I don't want to fix the problems.
I'm told I support pedophiles.
I'm told I want to cover them up.
When I protest that these are not positions I've taken
I'm told I'm childish and have a nasty attitude.

There is no hope for us.
America will continue to divide until she dissolves.

Accusations of pedophila was thrown out on the board and
absolutely nothing was done to the poster. There's little fairness left.

A few comments directed at me....

If all the Republicans who have been excusing all these events got off their asses and demanded a fair vote system we wouldn't have these issues. Excusing voter fraud is the same as supporting it.

[I]Yesterday, 09:31 AM
Stop excusing and ignoring the problem

So because vote tampering happens a lot in your state we should just not bother securing the system because someone will tamper with it anyway. Is that your logic?

Are you actually using the “why bother” defense?

You seem to be making every effort to avoid fixing our current system and every effort to excuse those who refused to fix the problem.

Do what you want, the bottom line here has not changed your party is corrupt and now riddled with pedophiles.

There are so many Republican child molesters it's hard to keep track of them all. It goes to the general mentality of the Republican Party

I wonder how many other crimes your precious party is hiding?

The depravity issue points to a much larger picture and the general mentality of the Republican party.

So now that I understand the priorities here missing a link on a page that looks like a parakeet exploded on is by far the worst thing a guy can do but hacking our vote system is apparently no big deal.

Two people on this board admitted to dating children (clarification: they talked about dating 13 and 14 year olds when they were 19 - still in and just out of high school) I voiced my disgust at the notion. I'm sorry if dating children doesn't disgust you but I find it deplorable behavior regardless of weather it's legal in Thailand or not.

Just pointing out the pattern of corruption and depravity that you have come to know and love as the Republican Party

Thoughts on 2006

2007-01-02T22:47:00.000-05:00

Part of a personal reflection on 2006

For the past seven or eight years I’ve made a habit of sending out a collection of thoughts on New Year’s Eve to those I consider friends. It’s been harder this year to put ideas to written word. There are times when neither written nor verbal language can communicate everything that’s flitted through this mind.

The world seems to be enveloped in never ending turmoil. We near the 3,000 mark of American lives lost in Iraq. The political arena received a well pronounced wake up call this November and the middle class in America now fear for their jobs and their health in the wake of enormous social and economic changes.

Should it frighten us?

If one dwells on the uncertainties that exist then yes, it should, but as surely as the spirit can be overwhelmed by life; it is also the only thing that can triumph over struggles.

So here’s the diatribe this year. Thoughts on the year and conclusions I’ve come to. They may change before 2008, who knows, but for now they appear to be helping me find my way

Life truly is short and we should live it with as much zeal and gusto as we can.(I miss you, Steve. I wish I’d held to this while you were with us. - No, not all of you will understand that.)

Peace can elude us so easily so when we find it we need to hang on for all we’re worth and cherish it as long as it lasts.

Struggles can sometimes weigh us down but we have to remember that we never walk truly alone. God is with us and often he sends friends to remind us we don’t walk a solitary path.

We need to stop wanting to become someone new and begin appreciating who we already are. Everyone has room for improvement but no one and no essence is without merit.

If you see yourself as lacking the world will echo that vision. If you see yourself as a success no one will ever question whether you are one or not.

“Things” are nice but they don’t determine happiness. They should be icing on the cake and not the mix itself.

No one else is responsible for our happiness other than us, ourselves. If you don’t like something, change it. If you lack the initiative to change then ask yourself if you’re the one unhappy or whether others are influencing you to feel that way.
And if others are the deciding factor on how we see ourselves, ask why you trust yourself so little.

Labels mean nothing in this world. We’re individuals. If you see yourself pigeon holed into a “group” then ask yourself why you are so aware of what others think and believe.

Laughter heals our hearts and makes our souls young. If your day doesn’t begin and end with laughter maybe it’s time to take stock of your life and see if it went astray.

Know yourself. Know your strengths and your weaknesses. There is nothing wrong with failure unless it leads you to blame others and assume knowledge you don’t have. If we don’t fail we never learn.

and here’s the big one I’m working on
Know when to say enough. Don’t bite off so much for others that you don’t have time for yourself. If YOU don’t invest time in who you are and what you can be, how do you expect others to appreciate you?

I’m not making resolutions this year. I don’t personally care for them. The desire to make promises that are often too perfect as to be obtainable isn’t in me. Goals are too easily set too high and often broken so instead of setting myself up for failure I’m just going to keep working on life and see where that takes me.

I hope your day and your new year brings a smile for your lips, laughter to dwell in your heart and love to fill your life.

Tongue In Cheek

2007-01-02T05:51:00.000-05:00

Oh but this can't be true! The democrats were going to reach out across the political aisle!! They were going to unite us!! They were going to seek input from the republicans and not ignore them!!!

More proof that they don't mean what they say. Disappointed doesn't come close at this point. Their first step to proving they're as big a liars as the old republican regime.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/01/AR2007010100784.html

As they prepare to take control of Congress this week and face up to campaign pledges to restore bipartisanship and openness, Democrats are planning to largely sideline Republicans from the first burst of lawmaking.

House Democrats intend to pass a raft of popular measures as part of their well-publicized plan for the first 100 hours. They include tightening ethics rules for lawmakers, raising the minimum wage, allowing more research on stem cells and cutting interest rates on student loans.

But instead of allowing Republicans to fully participate in deliberations, as promised after the Democratic victory in the Nov. 7 midterm elections, Democrats now say they will use House rules to prevent the opposition from offering alternative measures, assuring speedy passage of the bills and allowing their party to trumpet early victories.

Dear John Roberts...

2007-01-01T18:56:00.000-05:00

I understand that we actually do pay our federal officials too little. A federal judge should be making at least 200,000 a year. That being said, please don't expect us to meet private sector wages. It ain't gonna happen.

The fact that private ventures can pay so much more than public offices can afford is an indictment of the judicial system and the run away costs of lawsuits and lawyer fees.

When we as a country stop paying exorbitant fees to lawyers and realize they are highly over rated perhaps public officials won't be so underpaid.

Face Of War

2007-01-01T17:42:00.000-05:00

Losing someone is hard. Losing someone in such a violent and contraversial way is, imo, much harder to deal with. Conflicting emotions would have to keep the wound raw. On one hand is the support of the soldier, the brave soul who puts his or herself in harms way for a noble cause, on the other hand is the massive amount of misinformation that took us to this battle.

Here, from an editor of the NY Times is a face on a casuality of war: her husband and father of her infant son.

If this doesn't touch you a re-adjustment of priorities is in order.
Such a perfect example of the sweet love of a father to a son.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/01/us/01charles.html

He drew pictures of himself with angel wings. He left a set of his dog tags on a nightstand in my Manhattan apartment. He bought a tiny blue sweat suit for our baby to wear home from the hospital.

One of the drawings First Sgt. Charles Monroe King left for his son in a journal.
Then he began to write what would become a 200-page journal for our son, in case he did not make it back from the desert in Iraq.

The journal will have to speak for Charles now. He was killed Oct. 14 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his armored vehicle in Baghdad. Charles, 48, had been assigned to the Army’s First Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, Fourth Infantry Division, based in Fort Hood, Tex. He was a month from completing his tour of duty.

For our son’s first Christmas, Charles had hoped to take him on a carriage ride through Central Park. Instead, Jordan, now 9 months old, and I snuggled under a blanket in a horse-drawn buggy. The driver seemed puzzled about why I was riding alone with a baby and crying on Christmas Day. I told him.

“No charge,” he said at the end of the ride, an act of kindness in a city that can magnify loneliness.

Even if Jordan will never hear the cadence of his father’s voice, he will know the wisdom of his words.

Never be ashamed to cry. No man is too good to get on his knee and humble himself to God. Follow your heart and look for the strength of a woman. Rainy days have their pleasures, he noted: Every now and then you get lucky and catch a rainbow.

Toward women, he displayed an old-fashioned chivalry, something he expected of our son. Remember who taught you to speak, to walk and to be a gentleman, he wrote to Jordan in his journal. These are your first teachers, my little prince. Protect them, embrace them and always treat them like a queen.

Though as a black man he sometimes felt the sting of discrimination, Charles betrayed no bitterness. It’s not fair to judge someone by the color of their skin, where they’re raised or their religious beliefs, he wrote. Appreciate people for who they are and learn from their differences.

Charles wrote about death and duty.

The 18th was a long, solemn night, he wrote in Jordan’s journal. We had a memorial for two soldiers who were killed by an improvised explosive device. None of my soldiers went to the memorial. Their excuse was that they didn’t want to go because it was depressing. I told them it was selfish of them not to pay their respects to two men who were selfless in giving their lives for their country.

Things may not always be easy or pleasant for you, that’s life, but always pay your respects for the way people lived and what they stood for. It’s the honorable thing to do.

When Jordan is old enough to ask how his father died, I will tell him of Charles’s courage and assure him of Charles’s love. And I will try to comfort him with his father’s words.

God blessed me above all I could imagine, Charles wrote in the journal. I have no regrets, serving your country is great.

He had tucked a message to me in the front of Jordan’s journal. This is the letter every soldier should write, he said. For us, life will move on through Jordan. He will be an extension of us and hopefully everything that we stand for. ... I would like to see him grow up to be a man, but only God knows what the future holds.

Take the time to read her story in the NY Times

The Death Of Saddam Hussain

2007-01-01T17:26:00.000-05:00

Seriously

Is there anyone out there that believes the death of Saddam wasn't expedited by the Americans?

Saddam was an American pawn in a sad game. Starting as far back as Reagan, Saddam was courted and manipulated by the Americans. He enjoyed their favor as long as he did what the powers that be asked and danced their tune. When he took control of his own aspirations he lost that favor and became a pawn in a different way.

I can't quite put my finger on why his execution was rushed. I'm very certain Bush will use this in 20 days in his state of the union address. He'll attempt to use it as a success in the "war on terror".

But Saddam was never part of this war. He had been neutered by observers and UN inspectors, a fact Bush refused to admit. Saddam may have wanted the US destroyed, he isn't alone in that desire, but he hadn't the means or support to actually make the effort.

US officials are "questioning" the haste in Saddam's execution. They may be asking the wrong people.

From the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/01/world/middleeast/01iraq.html

The American role extended beyond providing the helicopter that carried Mr. Hussein home. Iraqi and American officials who have discussed the intrigue and confusion that preceded the decision late on Friday to rush Mr. Hussein to the gallows have said that it was the Americans who questioned the political wisdom — and justice — of expediting the execution, in ways that required Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki to override constitutional and religious precepts that might have assured Mr. Hussein a more dignified passage to his end.

American officials in Iraq have been reluctant to say much publicly about the pell-mell nature of the hanging, apparently fearful of provoking recriminations in Washington, where the Bush administration adopted a hands-off posture, saying the timing of the execution was Iraq’s to decide.

While privately incensed at the dead-of-night rush to the gallows, the Americans here have been caught in the double bind that has ensnared them over much else about the Maliki government — frustrated at what they call the government’s failure to recognize its destructive behavior, but reluctant to speak out, or sometimes to act, for fear of undermining Mr. Maliki and worsening the situation.

But a narrative assembled from accounts by various American officials, and by Iraqis present at some of the crucial meetings between the two sides, shows that it was the Americans who counseled caution in the way the Iraqis carried out the hanging. The issues uppermost in the Americans’ minds, these officials said, were a provision in Iraq’s new Constitution that required the three-man presidency council to approve hangings, and a stipulation in a longstanding Iraqi law that no executions can be carried out during the Id al-Adha holiday, which began for Iraqi Sunnis on Saturday and Shiites on Sunday.

“The Americans said that we have no issue in handing him over, but we need everything to be in accordance with the law,” the Iraqi official said. “We do not want to break the law.”

The American pressure sent Mr. Maliki and his aides into a frantic quest for legal workarounds, the Iraqi official said. The Americans told them they needed a decree from President Jalal Talabani, signed jointly by his two vice presidents, upholding the death sentence, and a letter from the chief judge of the Iraqi High Tribunal, the court that tried Mr. Hussein, certifying the verdict. But Mr. Talabani, a Kurd, made it known that he objected to the death penalty on principle.

One participant described the meeting this way: “The Iraqis seemed quite frustrated, saying, ‘Who is going to execute him, anyway, you or us?’ The Americans replied by saying that obviously, it was the Iraqis who would carry out the hanging. So the Iraqis said, ‘This is our problem and we will handle the consequences. If there is any damage done, it is we who will be damaged, not you.’ ”

None of the Iraqi officials were able to explain why Mr. Maliki had been unwilling to allow the execution to wait. Nor would any explain why those who conducted it had allowed it to deteriorate into a sectarian free-for-all that had the effect, on the video recordings, of making Mr. Hussein, a mass murderer, appear dignified and restrained, and his executioners, representing Shiites who were his principal victims, seem like bullying street thugs.

The full story on the website.

Let's try an experiement...

2006-12-30T13:02:00.000-05:00

Let's argue opposing viewpoints. You take a position you don't agree with and I'll do the same. We'll play devil's advocate. We'll learn from this experimentation and maybe better understand the opposite position better when we're done.

Except

Instead of calling it "opposing viewpoints" or "devil's advocate" let's call it left wing and right wing. And instead of actually doing our own research into why one or the other feels that way, let's just spout reguritated talking points from both sides, after all we know why they feel the way they do so why should we do any research? And since we lump them all together we don't have to tax our brains as to why there are variances and differences in party thinking. Saves time, right?

Now how much understanding do you think someone would actually gain from this ill thought out experiment?

Me too.

I'm so thoroughly sick of partisan bullshit from both sides of the political arena. I'm sick of the labels. Sick of the mindset that republicans and democrats will never come to terms on any issue. If that's so then go ahead and blow us off the map now.

I'm sick of college kids deciding that they have the keys to the political kingdom and of the arrogance that they have nothing to learn. They, as much as any other group, widen the chasm of division.

I will leave a forum before my objections are silenced. I will cut my ties and move on. There is NOTHING to be gained in charactures of radical political beliefs being presented as party stances. If someone can't grasp that concept they aren't worth my time.

Ed Schultz is a progressive talker who had gained popularity but seems to be fading. He has a message board that I had frequented since it's inception. That changed today. Lots of good people there but they really have no desire to hear or read any opinion other than their own and they certainly don't want to be questioned.

That's sad. When we question ourselves and our motives we often grow and learn more than we ever can with complacency.

But I'm done fighting the bull shit stereotypes.

RIP President Ford

2006-12-27T10:39:00.000-05:00

I'm currently involved in a debate with someone who feels that Ford received a "kings salary" as a pension for a benign presidency.

Let's forget for a moment that Gerald Ford was president during one of the most difficult periods of our history. He followed Nixon and had the wise inclination to pardon him, thus taking away the possibility that the nation would become embroiled in bitter partisan hearings. We needed to heal, Ford realized this but admitted that pardoning Nixon was the hardest thing he had ever done. It did, however, allow us to move past Watergate and move forward instead of staying emmeshed in the deeds of a madman.

But Ford served 25 years in Congress and as Vice President before taking the fate of the US in his hands. 25 years. That's not a small amount of service.

For his efforts he received a pension of around 250,000 a year.

I doubt any "king" would survive on that.

Sometimes self centerness and self pity takes away our ability to be objective. Someone who wants so badly to be unique and out of the norm instead becomes bitter and greedy which is what I believe to have happened regarding this particuliar view.

Ford served the US wisely and for many years. The fact that we did not dissolve into a stalemate of partisanship says his term was not "benign" in any way.

Another Christmas away from home

2006-12-26T16:44:00.000-05:00

Are you still angry?

I am.

I watch video's of the attack on 9-11 and anger still seethes just below the surface composure the world sees.

I am angry that the men who perpetrated this attack have not been found. I'm angry that we, through the ineptitude, arrogance or manipulations of our government officals, have allowed them to go free.

I want Osama Bin Laden captured and tried. I want him to have to face the wrath of each person who lost a loved one on that day.

I'm angry that Bush sent our troops into Iraq without a valid reason and I'm angry that he was so short sighted that he didn't see the problems removing Saddam would bring.

I'm angry at the people who want to use 9-11 conspiracy theories as a divisive political battering ram. I'm angry that the INSANE theories about holograms and demolition are EVEN given a SLIGHT BIT of credibility.

But mostly I'm angry that honorable men and women have been put in harms way for false reasons. They deserved the truth. They deserved to be honorably dispatched. They deserved to have their lives and their service honored.

Watch
And remember...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fH7c8H6SNw

A Soldier's Silent Night

[Adapted from the original U.S.M.C. Version]

The original version was written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt in 1987 under the title "Merry Christmas, My Friend."

The audio recording of this adapted version was recorded by Father Ted Berndt and his daughter Ellen Stout. Father Berndt was a priest at Bread of Life Charismatic Episcopal Church in Dousman, Wisconsin, a proud Marine, and a WWII Purple Heart recipient.

The poem was recorded in one take. The recording received a national A.I.R. (Achievement in Radio) award from the March of Dimes and continues to be played in radio stations across the country.

Father Berndt passed away March 19th, 2004 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. According to his daughter, "All he ever wanted to do was touch lives...to make a difference. We are blessed to share "A Soldier's Silent Night" again with you this Christmas."

A Soldier's Silent Night

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY;

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.

http://www.friendshipsfire.com/untilyoureturn/index.html

A Prayer For Our Soldiers

May God walk beside you each day
May He protect you if harm comes your way.

May He give you wisdom in all that you do
and keep you safe with each task you pursue.

May He bring swift end to the world's troubled brow
and His most precious peace on us then endow.

May you know you stay in our thoughts
and our hearts
when your path and your duty keep us apart.

May the days pass quickly until you're part of
our home once again, surrounded by our love.

A Pea Story

2006-11-13T20:15:00.000-05:00

People, I don't care if this is true or not. It's essence is right on the money.

Babs Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature,ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the ragged boy next to me.

"Hello Barry, how are you today?"

"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas.
Sure look good."

"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"

"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."

"Good. Anything I can help you with?"

"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."

"Would you like to take some home?"

"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."

"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"

"All I got's my prize marble here."

"Is that right? Let me see it."

"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."

"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"

"Not zackley. but almost."

"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble."

"Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller."

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.

When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps."

I left the stand smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering.

Several years went by, each more rapid that the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could..

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts ... all very professional looking.

They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt."

"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho "

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Let me tell you this again you gutless wonder...

2006-11-12T09:06:00.000-05:00

This is MY blog, where I express MY opinions. You do not have the right to leave comments here that have no intellectual merit or redeeming debative properties.
Get a life or be MAN OR WOMAN enough to leave a coherent thought to be discussed. Otherwise I'll know you're simply flotsam floating and rotting in a sea of bile.
Oh, and sign your name if you have the courage to do it. I somehow doubt you do. That would take balls.

Earning The Right?

2006-11-10T15:31:00.000-05:00

A poster in a national forum was very snotty towards anyone republican during the election. He admitted on the forum that he was drunk. Now, a mere three days later, he seems to believe he should get a pass on that behavior. He says he "earned" the right to be belligerent that night.

Um
Since when?

How do we "earn" the right to belittle other Americans because of their party affiliation? How do we "earn" the right to prejudge their positions and comments without even taking the time to learn about the facts they post?

That's the problem, imo. The demonizing of people because of party affiliation must stop on both sides. It's an issue the dems used to almost universally agree with. Now there are some nasty bits revealing themselves.

If you've read my other posts you'll see I've been stung. Don't expect me to reach my hand out again, especially if you think you've EARNED the right to diss me.

No man has that "right".

Amazing Photos

2006-11-10T15:28:00.000-05:00

The lady in question is the wife of a photographer. They live right on a migratory route for hummingbirds. These are some of the most amazing photos I've ever seen. I'm jealous. I'd love to have the talent to take those types of pictures as well as have the opportunity to actually touch one of these amazing little birds.

http://www.abigailsings.com/hummingbirds

Election Day - Where's the difference?

2006-11-07T17:30:00.000-05:00

I'm going to piss some people off. It's not my intent but it's gonna.

In the past month the BS from BOTH sides has increased. I'm sick of it.
I used to have clearly defined opinions on which party would be best in power. Now I don't see a big difference, especially in the rank and file members.

From 2000 I have proclaimed that Dubya was NOT the best choice for president. I've railed against him in blogs and on message boards. It used to be so clear. There were the Bushites who believed everything they were told about Valerie Plame and Iraq and then there were the rest of us: Dems, Green parties, independents and those republicans, like myself, who were sick to death of Bush, his bad policies, his mangled speech and his sidekick, Rove.

A couple of months ago I started sensing a huge change from "my" side. Forget reason. Forget dialogue. They became as putrid as any Bushite ever could be. Forget examining arguments. If it was republican it was automatically evil,
would support the election being stolen again, walked in lock step with Bush and wouldn't admit that we really know the pentagon was hit by a Bush supported bomb and everything we thought we saw was a holographic image!!!!

I don't have patience for loons and hate mongers. So it's sad to say but I could care less who wins today. I have no faith that a democratically controlled congress will be so much better than one controlled by the republicans. I have every confidence that should the dems take over the revenge will begin, including the actions of those on the bottom of the party roll.

I thought politics was a noble cause. One where those concerned with the betterment of mankind and the nuture of every single American was the first and utmost importance.

I was wrong.

It's simply about power aka money. Who's got it. Who wants it. How to keep it.

Let's See A Show Of Hands

2006-11-05T16:22:00.000-05:00

Will post a few thoughts later but suffice it to say I can't wait till Tuesday is over. Can I see a show of hands of those that agree??

Fall Colors

2006-10-26T00:10:00.000-04:00

A change from my usual rants.
WV has been glorious this fall

Click here for the slideshow:

There seems to be a glitch in linking to the album so copy and paste this url:
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n170/wvposter/Fall

What Color Hat Are We Wearing?

2006-09-28T17:15:00.000-04:00

We're debating torture...

This simply amazes me. We . are . debating . torture.

The first thought that occurs to me is, wasn't this one of the reasons we thought bringing Saddam down was a good thing? How many times has the excuse been used that Saddam was a monster who tortured his own people?

So...

Is it just wrong when certain people are tortured?

Is it okay when we do it but certainly not when others who are in opposition to our political slant do the same?

America is suppose to be better than this. America is suppose to be the entity that upholds value and respect for human life. We're the good guys. The white hat dudes that charge in to right the wrong and stop the abuse. We're the ones who are suppose to understand the value of the Geneva Convention and all it's protections of human rights. So what color hat are we wearing when we advocate to uphold and legalize torture? Are we so insanely conceited that we can't grasp this will ultimately come back to haunt us when our own captured soldiers are beaten and abused?

I fear we're going to have more repercussions from the actions of our congress. It sends a loud and clear message that here is another game that the US does not intend to play fairly.

But....
If this is the case, why is Saddam on trial?

I just don't get the double standards.

If Anger Is ALL Ya Got, Ya Got Nuthin!

2006-09-18T19:15:00.000-04:00

I'm disgusted with Bush, Rove, Cheney and Rumsfield. Anyone who has read this blog knows this. I'm sure others share the sentiment but if anger is the only thing you bring to the plate then you offer nothing and the body (The US) starves.

I love the debate and the discussion when it's honest recourse and NOT vengeful diatribe but I'm finding that little of that still exists.

A local board became too inflamatory and I pulled away from it, returning only when I behaved almost as badly as the original culprits. That's about all the board was worth.

So I went in search for a board where moderates could discuss. For a few months it was wonderful and then the brigade of the angry marched in, denouncing all republicans as vile and worthless.

What does it take for people to realize you have to bring more to the plate than one liners and talk about how badly you hate people? I don't hate anyone as a person. I despise the actions and policies of this administration.

For some it's easier to hate than discuss. I wonder what they're afraid of.

The Anniversary of 9-11

2006-09-09T21:29:00.000-04:00

Please Mr TV Producer, understand something:

I remember where I was on September 11th, 2001.

At the time I was an itinerent teacher who had just arrived at the second school. The secretaries asked me if I had heard about the plane that hit the World Trade Center. Within minutes and while we pondered whether it was an accident or a suicide act, the second plane hit and there was no doubt we were under attack.

I remember watching the towers fall and feeling a pressing need to get to my elderly mother, whom I had talked with but who lived about 20 minutes from my work.

They dismissed us almost as soon as the towers crumbled. Flight 77 which ultimately hit the pentagon, turned and flew directly over our county. It's rumored the state police called the super and told him to send students home. At that time we didn't know what would be next.

When kids were gone, I went to Mom's and for the next few hours sat with her, watching in horrified shock as other planes disappeared.

I don't often cry myself to sleep but I did that night. I couldn't get the thought out of my brain that the people lost must have been horrified and terribly sad to be used as weapons of destruction the way they were.

So, I remember Mr Producer. I remember the events of the day so do us all a favor. If you're going to show some anniversary special DO IT RIGHT. Leave the bullshit partisan politics out of it. Let the people involved tell their OWN story and stop trying to make political points for ANY party from such tragedy.

NBC did a good job tonight with Skies Over America. There are reports that ABC does not intend to follow suit and will air a film entitled: The Path To 9-11 which contains FICTIONALIZED accounts of events prior to 9-11, including words and conversations attributed to Clinton and his staff that NEVER happened.

ABC will show their disrespect for the victims of 9-11 with their airing of this propeganda. It shows how low we've sunk.

I'm boycotting the film. Most won't. Morbid curosity, if nothing else, will call people to the screen.

I hold ABC in the same contempt as I do the conpiracy theorists who want to claim Bush was responsible for 9-11. that bombs really took down the WTC and that a jet couldn't have hit the pentagon.

My anger surfaces here. These people need therapy. I intently dislike Bush but no way do I believe he or Rove either would have killed more than 3000 people in order to gain power.

but for those still not convinced: Go here:http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread79655/pg1

Katrina: One year later

2006-08-29T19:44:00.000-04:00

I could post my own thoughts but sometimes othersuse their passion and fire to say it best:

http://witchofthedogs.livejournal.com/359595.html

"We failed them"

Go read. You'll be glad you did.

Totally Irreverent

2006-08-27T16:54:00.000-04:00

There's nothing profound or even thoughtful about this post. It simply made me smile.
These guys may have a little too much time on their hands but it's certainly creative.

With regards to Dave Peyton: A Post From An Angry WVian

2006-08-18T22:35:00.000-04:00

Sure, everyone enjoys lower prices but we're missing the boat here imo.

More and more of middle America is wasting away. Factories being closed or moving over seas where wages can be bare bones and much lower than what American workers will accept. OMG! We might save five dollars at Walmart from lower prices!!!!! Yippee!!! Right???

No.

We have a society of instant gratification, too much credit and no appreciation for what we have. (Speaking in general terms and not pointing a finger at anyone.) We've watched middle America lose ground and ignore it on the basis that this global economy makes prices lower.

Well, maybe it's time that 5 dollars we save each trip to Wally World is put towards keeping American's middle class jobs intact and in America. (And please, don't bother with your disingenous drone about poor foreign workers. Stuff the hypocritical and start worrying about America or these nice freedoms you enjoy that allow you to worry about the poooooor foreign workers may just disappear. And if you don't understand how economic woes can contribute to the decline of America then please, do us all a favor and just keep quiet until someone explains it in small words you can understand.)

We may have to suck it up, put off that new computer, wait to get that camera, delay the big purchases if it means bringing the jobs back here and suring up middle class America.

I'm tired of those that accept the loss of jobs, the decline of the middle class worker and the substandard wages on the alter of a lower price. It's not a noticable, in the long run, amount of savings.

Anyone else willing to make the sacrifice? And trust me, higher costs of *anything* for many of us is a sacrifice. But it's a necessary one imo.

A global market, left unchecked, is not good imo for America.

*whew*

That felt good. This would be a post from what Dave Peyton calls an angry West Virginian and he would be right. (God help me. First I start reading his columns now I'm admitting he's right. Look for hell to freeze over any time.)

Dear Arch (and his minions)

2006-08-06T11:16:00.000-04:00

First let me just say this: This is my blog and while you are free to comment I am also just as free to delete the revisionist history Ole Uncle Archie and his minions, the anons who post, are spewing.

But since I've been told to "check my facts", allow me to educate you who evidently do not read or can not comprehend.

Moore NEGOTIATED the 1 million dollar settlement. Yes, a judge approved it but it was MOORE'S hand that created it. Now maybe YOU think that was just compensation for a mining company that had regularly thumbed their nose at regulations and were responsible for more than 150 deaths but I do not. Perhaps it's time YOU educate yourself and stop drinking the drool that runs from ole Uncle Archie's mouth.

Moore even allowed Pittston to avoid the clean up costs. He was in coal's right hip pocket and altho we all knew it previously, this made the picture extremely clear. The crook used Buffalo Creek to campaign on, making promises he knew he wouldn't keep.

http://www.wvculture.org/history/arcmoore.html
Although the state sued the coal company for $100 million, Governor Moore negotiated a $1 million settlement, while the state eventually paid the federal government $9.5 million in clean-up costs and interest.

http://www.wvculture.org/HISTORY/buffcreek/buff3.html
May 1972, Governor Arch Moore, in the midst of a re-election campaign, proposed 10 redevelopment projects for Buffalo Creek, few of which were completed on time or ever materialized.

http://wvgazette.com/static/series/buffalocreek/commission.html
Since the Governor's comments indicated a reluctance to place any blame upon the Buffalo Mining Company or upon its owner, the Pittston Company, many West Virginians suspected another whitewash was in the making. Any hope for objectivity and public disclosure of the truth vanished as membership of his commission was revealed:

the heads of three state agencies with jurisdiction in the area of mining impoundments (all of whom would be concerned to prove their respective departments blameless).
a newspaper editor and a university official (both of whom are avid supporters of the coal industry).
representatives of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the U.S. Geological Survey (federal agencies which had not taken action on the basis of a study conducted five years ago indicating the weak and hazardous nature of Saunders Dam on Buffalo Creek, among others).
and as a "citizen" representative, a retired executive of FMC (a corporation that is heavily dependent on coal).

Alarmed by the obvious bias among the Governor's appointees, approximately 40 people called on the Governor requesting expansion of his commission to include representatives of people such as Buffalo Creek survivors, environmentalists, coal miners, public interest advocates and the like.

Governor Moore refused to comply.

http://wvgazette.com/static/series/buffalocreek/commission.html
Governor Moore and former Governor Hulett Smith were warned in 1967, when the Department of the Interior sent each a copy of its study completed after a coal refuse disaster in Wales. No effective action was taken by either administration

http://www.wvgazette.com/static/series/buffalocreek/BUFF301.html
Personally, I've always figured that something dishonest lurked behind this odd action. Why else would Moore have done it? A federal judge ruled, in effect, that the ex-governor lied under oath about the affair. But no clear explanation ever emerged.

The mystery came to public light when Miles Dean, finance commissioner in the Rockefeller administration, asked me to come to the Statehouse and look at some baffling records. From them, this story emerged:

The unlicensed dam had been built by former Logan County Democratic faction leader A.D. "Buster" Skaggs, who backed Republican Moore in elections. When Skaggs sold his Buffalo Mining Co. to Pittston, the dam became Pittston's responsibility.

After the 1972 tragedy, Gov. Moore's emergency director asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform recovery work at state expense. The corps repeatedly billed the state $3.7 million, but Moore kept the invoices confidential and didn't pay them.

The Legislature ordered then-Attorney General Chauncey Browning to sue Pittston for damage to the state's roads, bridges and other facilities. For the task, Browning retained Charleston lawyer Stanley Preiser, who later became Moore's personal defense attorney. Preiser sued Pittston for $100 million.

Five years later - just three days before his term ended in 1977 - Moore signed a settlement, accepting $1 million from Pittston and absolving the firm of further liability. Only a week earlier, the Corps of Engineers had sent him a registered letter saying it would sue the state for the $3.7 million.

After the Rockefeller administration took office, aides were jolted to discover the Corps of Engineers' bills. Browning and Preiser said they hadn't known of the debt while they were suing Pittston. Flabbergasted legislators held hearings, but couldn't get a straight answer from Moore as to why he hadn't required Pittston to pay the corps costs.

A corps lawsuit against the state dragged on for years - with interest on the debt growing at more than $2,000 a day. Moore testified in a deposition that he got a corps letter about the debt - then testified at a trial that he didn't get it. Federal Judge Norman Ramsey pointed out that one of his sworn statements was false.

By 1987, the state had lost in U.S. District Court, U.S. Circuit Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. West Virginia was ordered to pay the $3.7 million plus about $10 million interest.

Attorney General Charlie Brown negotiated with the corps, which agreed to accept a total of $9.5 million (which included payment for another small flood cleanup). In 1989, taxpayers coughed up this reduced amount.

So before you decide to rewrite history you might want to get rid of the evidence. I am ashamed that any West Virginian attempts to hold Moore blameless for the shame that occured after Buffalo Creek.

Who Pays? We do!

2006-07-26T14:54:00.000-04:00

Bush is coming to Charleston. His intent is to attend a fundraiser at a private residence for Shelley Moore Capito.

A question arose on Talkline this morning about who paid for the trip. Most callers wrongly said, well of course the campaign would pay for all expenses.

Not so.

But first let's look logically at this. Which campaign? Capito's? Hardly. She hopes to raise 400,000 this evening. If her campaign were to pay travel costs for the president there would be nothing left.

The GOP possibly could pay expenses but why wouldn't they simply funnel the money to her in other manners? Surely presidential expenses are going to almost equal tonight's goals.

No, dear hearts, this visit will be paid for as others have been. By the American taxpayer. During the campaign when Bush stopped in WV, it wasn't billed as a campaign stop so the government footed the bills. Bush is going to be giving out a service award at the airport this afternoon when he arrives. Bet me that this is going to be used as an excuse for his being here and the fundraiser will be an after thought.

Hoppy Kerchival, talkline host, said this morning that he would look into this issue. I hope he does.

Rewriting History

2006-07-26T14:41:00.000-04:00

Arch Moore was a popular republican governor of West Virginia. He served two terms but ended his tenure in disgrace, convicted of several felonies and sentenced to serve time in the federal pen. When he came out after 33 months, the once simply confident and popular Moore struck me as now being unrepentant and arrogant as if he asked "How DARE anyone in WV question his actions." I thought we'd heard the last of Moore but more and more his name is being dropped in republican circles.

Make no mistake about this: Arch Moore was a crook. I don't care who tries to justify his actions with the tired: "Everyone in Southern WV was doing it." It matters little to me who else might have been guilty. Instead of using that example as an excuse, those who know of illegal actions need to report them and let's clean up the pitiful image WV Politics has.

I suspect part of the reason we're being subjected to a softer portrait of Arch is the political aspirations of his daughter, Shelley Moore Capito. Capito has on more than one occassion involved her father in the political limelight, even going so far as to having him sit with her in the VIP section during one of Bush's visits.

Now comes a new book: "Arch: The Life of Arch Moore, Junior" penned by former Moore staffer Brad Crouser. Crouser is a Charleston attorney and says he was waiting for someone else to write the book. Now, come on Brad. Didn't the fact that they WEREN'T writing it tell you something?

Crouser rewrote history. Taking Moore's self grandizing statements at face value without attempting to find opposition viewpoints. For that reason he is guilty of attempting to rewrite history and sanitize the term of one of the most corrupt Governor's WV has seen.

This statement of Crouser's, from WV Talkline says much of the prospective of the book:

"You know, when they call him a corrupt governor, in the strictest sense, he was not that. He was, simply, playing a cash political game that he should not have been playing,"

Crouser is deluding himself and attempting to fool the public. You might make it, Brian, with some of the younger members of the GOP, but those of us who have been around awhile still remember the bribes, the graft and Buffalo Creek.

Altho Arch still refused to admit he did anything wrong or take responsibility for his actions the truth remains: Moore was a crook and rightfully served time.

If Capito wants to further her political career, she should distance herself politically from her father, not attempt to bring him back into the inner political circle.

Stem Cell Veto

2006-07-19T15:18:00.000-04:00

Today President Bush vetoed a bill that would have approved stem cell research.

70% of Americans support stem cell research yet the president, who supposedly represents us, has vetoed a bill that could pave the way for research that could eventually save millions of lives.

Write your representatives, please. Keep it short and sweet:

Please support the override of the president's veto to the stem cell research bill. Provide medical research the opportunity to use embryos, that would otherwise be destroyed, to gain life saving procedures from their work.

Go here to find and email your representative:
http://www.house.gov/htbin/wrep_const

Go here to contact your senator:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Then urge your friends to do the same.

For those who are concerned that embryonic "farms" created to grow specimens specifically for research: A bill banning that practice has already passed congress. It will not happen.

Feinstein NAILS Gonzales

2006-07-19T14:21:00.000-04:00

Every now and then there's a moment when you stand up and cheer for the lil guy. When Diane Feinstein nailed Gonzales in a complete lack of logical argument - I had the squeal.

From Tuesday's judiciary hearing:

Feinstein: "About FISA, you say that the President has the authority to wiretap Americans without warrants due to his war powers under Article 2, correct?"

Gonzales: "Yes."

Feinstein: "And I got a letter from your associate saying that the President could act because Congress had not set up a statute. Well, that's not true. The FISA law clearly says that the President can eavesdrop without warrants for 15 days after a declaration of war."

Gonzales: "Yes, but we didn't have a declaration of war, only an authorization to use military force, so we couldn't work with that provision."

Feinstein: "So you're saying that the AUMF does not amount to a declaration of war?"

Gonzales: "Obviously they are different."

Feinstein: "So if the AUMF is not a declaration of war, the president shouldn't have WAR powers!"

Gonzales: "................."

(whispers in the chamber...)

Honor Or Compicity?

2006-07-14T13:24:00.000-04:00

Our congress has several members who will be retiring or leaving this term. Giving a send off to coworkers who are leaving is not atypical in any work place and I certain don't begrudge them this ritual in congress.

BUT

One of the people they've honoring for a job well done is Duke Cunningham, who has already been convicted of graft and receiving bribes. While Cunningham appears to have been a productive member of his party in the early years, he personifies the bad in politics today.
I'll put a disclaimer to my comments in here in that I do believe his apology was heartfelt.

I don't even take issue with their honoring Tom Delay altho I personally believe he's going to be found guilty. But including a convicted felon somehow taints the honor that should be given to those who are departing.

Ending A Monopoly or Damage Control?

2006-07-13T00:32:00.000-04:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6071101459.html

A few weeks ago someone on TV made a comment that Bush had always been concerned about the enviroment and I thought to myself: Since when? Emission standards have been lowered. Drilling in Anwar. Industry standards on coal pollution were relaxed. I put it down to a campaign to soften Bush's image so as not to have such a negative effect on elections this fall.

Now the military contracts with Halliburton are going to be rebid, their monopoly on US paid jobs ending. (Hopefully) While this is a good thing it also takes an issue away from democrats. If Halliburton were an issue in any debate now the comment can be made: Yeah, that was wrong and we fixed it.

The cynical part of me sees this as damage control intent on changing the direction of the approval ratings and minimizing the negative effect Bush would have on republican congressional races.

I Don't Understand

2006-06-24T18:40:00.000-04:00

America's birthday is nearing. Still so much anger and division. It sometimes feels the goal is to divide.

I wrote this some time ago. The first forum I posted it on laughed but I still believe it asks questions we all should be able to answer.

I don’t understand

Why we can’t have morality without dictating religion.

Why we can’t have differences without hatred.

Why we can’t have disagreements without belittlements.

Why we can’t love a higher spirit, but each in our own way.

Why we can’t feed the homeless but can rebuild the world.

Why we can’t find charity for our neighbors but can pray for a stranger.

Why we can’t see our own faults but can so easily find them in others.

Why we can’t see the good but so readily point out the bad.

I don’t understand

Why love doesn’t return the gift of generosity.

Why we profess to value honesty then lie to protect ourselves.

Why success can’t be won without deceit.

Why we abuse the world but cherish possessions.

Why profit means more than the method that achieves it.

Why what people say isn’t what they mean.

I don’t understand

Why we complain more about what we don’t have
instead of seeing what we’ve already been given.

Why we want so much
when it’s usually the simple things that make us happy.

Why we try to be someone and something we aren’t
instead of celebrating who we truly are.

Why we aren’t more thankful for the people in our lives
instead of the things in our lives.

Do you see a war on Christianity? Comments from the Washington Post.

2006-05-07T12:54:00.000-04:00

The opinions still reflect a wide range of ideas. Honestly, I don't know where some get the ideas they have. I don't see the war on Christianity. I see disgreements with indoctrinating any public entity with religious overtones but that is not a war on Christianity as much as a war on our constitution, imo.

I grow so tired of getting emails that ask me to forward and support prayer in school. Excuse me. When was prayer outlawed? Any child can choose to bow his head and say a prayer at any given time. Are "they" trying to say that prayer has to be aloud?

Another myth is that the pledge isn't said anymore. Bull. It certainly is. I can't force a child to pledge alligence to any flag but I can ask them to stand and be quiet as the pledge is said. Know what? In all the years I've taught this has never been an issue and I've never had a child who didn't automatically cover his heart with his hand and say the pledge.

We are not a nation of people who avoid prayer and pledges. Keeping distance between religion and government does not mean moral values are not included in our daily lives.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6050500952.html

It's an interesting list of comments.

Examining My Own Conscience

2006-05-06T14:40:00.000-04:00

Do you remember where you were on 9-11-01?

I teach at two different schools. I left the first one after the first two classes and walked into the second and was met by the secretaries somber greeting. With no radio or TV on at the first school we were unaware of the events taking place in New York. While she updated me on what had occurred that morning, the second plane hit. At that point and time it became apparent to everyone in the office that this was no accident, no technical glitch and that we were under attack.

For the next half hour I swallowed my fears, went into my middle school 8th grade classroom and said nothing to my students about what was about to change their world.
Finally as word began to spread through parents and then students, our principal made an announcement about what had happened and offered a tv line to a specially filtered teen news system if we wanted to watch with our students.

Just after that the pentagon was hit and then the plane crashed in PA.

The kids were great. They asked such calm yet magnificant questions about motives and life.

But my strongest desire on that day was to leave and get to my family. Something I thankfully was able to do as we were dismissed early.

Sitting and watching the horrible scenes replayed over and over on the television, reading about them in the print media and hearing them played out again and again on radio created an almost unbearable sorrow inside me. One that became mixed with anger as time progressed.

Zacarias Moussaoui is mentally ill. Of that I am convinced. He wants to believe himself an equal and cohort of Bin Laden. Someone revered in the Al Qaida network.
I believe him to be none of these things.

As he continued to profess his own guilt the reality of the situation said he was lying. Did his lack of truthfullness cause the deaths on 911? It certainly didn't help but our own government knew this attack was planned and possible at any time and still showed no concern, so I couldn't see that the ramblings of a self deluded wannabe terrorist. I don't believe he was ever a player in the 9-11 plot or even knew much of the specifics concerning the attack. Certainly I didn't feel he deserved the death penalty.

Yet, when it came time for the verdict on whether Moussaoui would live or die I found myself conflicted. The offense replayed calls and messages from those that died. Families talked and gave interviews on how their lives had changed and I found myself thrown back to that nightmarish few weeks where the world was colored in hurt and pain.

And I didn't care if he live or died. In fact, more to the point, if he wanted to be a martyr for the cause of hate, let him. Let him die if that's what he wanted.

It was an emotion and feeling that left quickly. No, Moussaoui didn't deserve to die for something he didn't do but the anger that had consumed me, listening and watching the scenes once again, overrode my common sense for a few hours.

Many have asked how it was so easy to lead American into a war with Iraq. Why?
Because we were hurt. We were angry and we wanted retribution. Those emotions were used against us.

I was never in favor of this war. I don't see an end that will bring peace to anyone.
But I understand why it was so easy to convince Americans Iraq was part of 9-11.

Is It Too Late For BiPartisan Debate?

2006-05-06T14:18:00.000-04:00

As the 2006 elections near the rhetoric is already heating up. See, it's the proven tactic in American politics: demonize the other side, show that they don't really typlify American values and then hammer away at those points until the populace links your opponent with being UnAmerican and morally irresponsible.

It's become the expected approach. But is it productive? Do any of us want to live in a country that is always separated into we vs them? A country where yer either agin us or fer us? Is this what atmosphere we want to contribute to and live in?

Debate in politics used to be performed by statesmen. The caliber of politican who could disagree with his "opponent" but still respect the man and the viewpoint. Is that a thing of the past?

We can't seem to agree to disagree anymore. Our dialogue has to be replete with insults and barbs towards those who refuse to see the divine wisdom in our positions.

And note, people, I'm saying "our". I'll include myself in that category of non productive pundits.