I could not be more proud of my neighbors than I am today. Hundreds of people gathered in Fort Worth and Dallas to protest the stimulus today joining thousands of people across the country in a unified grass roots movement.
We will not quietly pay for the mistakes of others.
The Tea Party Movement lives!!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sign slogans for YOUR local tea party!
Thanks to Liberty Bell for posting these sign slogans! Break out the poster board and markers, people!
Chattering classes protest pork
Recently, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) let Americans know what he really thought about the stimulus plan and how he believes his constituents want him to vote.
“Let me say this to all of the chattering class that so much focuses on those little, tiny, yes, porky amendments — the American people really don ’t care,” he said.
Be careful of the arrogant words you throw around, Schumer, because you might not like the results.
In response to his supercilious comment, radio talk show host Leland Conway encouraged his listeners to send in bags of pork rinds to News Radio 630 WLAP to be forwarded to Schumer as a message. A message that, yes, the American people do actually care about those porky amendments.
How dare he assume that we, the “chattering class,” wouldn’t care about amendments that are obviously agenda-driven pork of politicians getting too big for their britches.
WLAP received 1,500 bags of pork rinds from their listeners, which the station shipped to Schumer with a letter from radio personalities Conway, Dusty Dan and Jason Phillips.
“The fact is Americans do care about wasteful spending and corruption in government. Remember that government has nothing that it doesn’t first take from its citizens,” the letter said.
Citizens in Seattle, Denver and Mesa, Ariz., protested the stimulus days before and after the legislation was signed.
“Atlas will shrug.” “Henrietta got a house. All I want’s a swimming pool.” “I will be paying your bills the rest of my life!” “Say no to generational theft. ”
These slogans are just a few of the ones plastered on signs that protesters displayed to make their feelings about the stimulus known.
Demonstrators also made a point to feast on pulled pork and a whole roasted pig for lunch.
What is the point of protesting legislation even after it has been signed into terrifying life? The
point is we care. Citizens are angry and afraid this behemoth is going to hurt their future rather than help the present economy.
Despite this, the men and women who are supposed to represent our best interests brought the monster to life.
If they are not going to pay heed to their constituents, then it is time for the “chattering classes ” to make their collective voice heard.
We will not be underestimated, talked down to and scraped off the boot of government.
Protect your future. Make your voice heard.
*Published in The Collegian Feb. 18, 2009
“Let me say this to all of the chattering class that so much focuses on those little, tiny, yes, porky amendments — the American people really don ’t care,” he said.
Be careful of the arrogant words you throw around, Schumer, because you might not like the results.
In response to his supercilious comment, radio talk show host Leland Conway encouraged his listeners to send in bags of pork rinds to News Radio 630 WLAP to be forwarded to Schumer as a message. A message that, yes, the American people do actually care about those porky amendments.
How dare he assume that we, the “chattering class,” wouldn’t care about amendments that are obviously agenda-driven pork of politicians getting too big for their britches.
WLAP received 1,500 bags of pork rinds from their listeners, which the station shipped to Schumer with a letter from radio personalities Conway, Dusty Dan and Jason Phillips.
“The fact is Americans do care about wasteful spending and corruption in government. Remember that government has nothing that it doesn’t first take from its citizens,” the letter said.
Citizens in Seattle, Denver and Mesa, Ariz., protested the stimulus days before and after the legislation was signed.
“Atlas will shrug.” “Henrietta got a house. All I want’s a swimming pool.” “I will be paying your bills the rest of my life!” “Say no to generational theft. ”
These slogans are just a few of the ones plastered on signs that protesters displayed to make their feelings about the stimulus known.
Demonstrators also made a point to feast on pulled pork and a whole roasted pig for lunch.
What is the point of protesting legislation even after it has been signed into terrifying life? The
point is we care. Citizens are angry and afraid this behemoth is going to hurt their future rather than help the present economy.
Despite this, the men and women who are supposed to represent our best interests brought the monster to life.
If they are not going to pay heed to their constituents, then it is time for the “chattering classes ” to make their collective voice heard.
We will not be underestimated, talked down to and scraped off the boot of government.
Protect your future. Make your voice heard.
*Published in The Collegian Feb. 18, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Texas Tea Party!!
Locals in the Metroplex can release their pent up frustrations about the pork-filled stimulus this Friday 3 p.m.-7 p.m. at The Cowtown Bar & Grill.
I'm working during that time, so, unless some miracle of God get's me out of the office early, I won't be able to make it.
Here's the details:
3 p.m.-7 p.m.
7108 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX
There will be food, music and hopefully coverage by the local media.
The guy arranging the whole thing put an announcement here.
Please go out and make your voice heard!
Props to Michelle Malkin for promoting!
I'm working during that time, so, unless some miracle of God get's me out of the office early, I won't be able to make it.
Here's the details:
3 p.m.-7 p.m.
7108 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX
There will be food, music and hopefully coverage by the local media.
The guy arranging the whole thing put an announcement here.
Please go out and make your voice heard!
Props to Michelle Malkin for promoting!
ABC needs to broaden its polling pool
It has been bandied about by ABC that Obama has done more in 30 days than any other president.
"So far, 60 percent of Americans approve of the president's handling of the economy, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll."
Really? Sixty percent of which Americans? Sixty percent of Americans living in Chicago? How about 60 percent of Americans on happy pills? Sixty percent of Democrats would be closer to the truth.
"Half of all voters (51%) continue to believe it is at least somewhat likely that the stimulus plan passed by Congress will make things worse instead of better. That figure includes 32% who say it’s Very Likely to hurt," a Rasmussen report reveals.
Fifty-four percent of Americans are anti-bailout. These people do not want to pay for the auto companies, finance industry or homeowners.
Has Obama done more than any other president in his first 30 days? Probably.
Is that something he should be proud of? Not with those percentages.
"So far, 60 percent of Americans approve of the president's handling of the economy, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll."
Really? Sixty percent of which Americans? Sixty percent of Americans living in Chicago? How about 60 percent of Americans on happy pills? Sixty percent of Democrats would be closer to the truth.
"Half of all voters (51%) continue to believe it is at least somewhat likely that the stimulus plan passed by Congress will make things worse instead of better. That figure includes 32% who say it’s Very Likely to hurt," a Rasmussen report reveals.
Fifty-four percent of Americans are anti-bailout. These people do not want to pay for the auto companies, finance industry or homeowners.
Has Obama done more than any other president in his first 30 days? Probably.
Is that something he should be proud of? Not with those percentages.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
CD Review: The Fray
The Fray’s self-titled sophomore album does not disappoint fans of its double-platinum debut album How to Save a Life.
The same emotion-filled lyrics and piano-driven music draws listeners in with the first song.
In “You Found Me,” vocalist Isaac Slade questions faith. In several interviews, he alluded to the song ’s inspiration.
“I kept getting these phone calls from home — tragedy after tragedy. If there is some kind of person in charge of this planet — are they sleeping? Smoking? Where are they? I just imagined running into God standing on a street corner like Bruce Springsteen, smoking a cigarette, and I’d have it out with him,” he said in one interview.
Listeners can relate to the difficulty of retaining faith during hard times and the doubt of anything to have faith in.
The pulsing beats will have fans nodding their heads in time through the whole album.
The Fray’s mellow melodies are perfect for unwinding after a long, stressful day. It definitely makes the bubble bath-music list.
Hard-core Fray addicts can purchase the deluxe version. With this edition, fans get piano and acoustic versions of several of the songs. The disk also includes the music video for “You Found Me,” “The Making of You Found Me” video and a “Making the Album” video.
*Published in The Collegian Feb. 18, 2009
www.tccd.edu/collegian
The same emotion-filled lyrics and piano-driven music draws listeners in with the first song.
In “You Found Me,” vocalist Isaac Slade questions faith. In several interviews, he alluded to the song ’s inspiration.
“I kept getting these phone calls from home — tragedy after tragedy. If there is some kind of person in charge of this planet — are they sleeping? Smoking? Where are they? I just imagined running into God standing on a street corner like Bruce Springsteen, smoking a cigarette, and I’d have it out with him,” he said in one interview.
Listeners can relate to the difficulty of retaining faith during hard times and the doubt of anything to have faith in.
The pulsing beats will have fans nodding their heads in time through the whole album.
The Fray’s mellow melodies are perfect for unwinding after a long, stressful day. It definitely makes the bubble bath-music list.
Hard-core Fray addicts can purchase the deluxe version. With this edition, fans get piano and acoustic versions of several of the songs. The disk also includes the music video for “You Found Me,” “The Making of You Found Me” video and a “Making the Album” video.
*Published in The Collegian Feb. 18, 2009
www.tccd.edu/collegian
Monday, February 23, 2009
Facebook Hazardous to Careers
Students don’t realize that everyone can view the content of their social networking Web sites like MySpace and Facebook.
A recent study by the Pew Research Center concluded that two-thirds of Americans age 18-29 use these sites
Digital dirt, unfavorable information about people on the Internet, can hamper employment prospects and even harm their standing at the jobs they already have.
Employment recruiters frequently use search engines to uncover digital dirt on prospective employees. They utilize Web sites like Google.com, WhoZat.com and Wink.com to see who they are really interviewing.
Recruiters want to know how potential employees will represent the company, and employers have access to the same resources. So be careful even if you’re already gainfully employed.
Don’t fall prey to the practice of posting pictures that are not “grandma-friendly.”
Those half-naked photos of you double-fisting a couple of drinks over your last spring break will not impress the recruiters or your current boss.
Also, that blog you posted when you were 13 years old confessing your undying love for the Backstreet Boys may not be something you want floating around anymore.
A good general rule of thumb is if it’s not something that goes on your resume, don’t post it on the Internet.Go to Google and type in your name in quotation marks. Look at the results. Next, click on Google images, rinse and repeat.
Don’t like what you see? Tough.
You can e-mail a Web site and request that it take down your digital dirt, but it is not required to take down anything.
If you have flaunted your indiscretions and worry about getting that dream job (or even the interview), start doing some damage control now.
Take down those imprudent photos, and ask friends to do the same. Start a PR blitz and sell yourself.
Blog about your professional interests and research you’ve done on topics that interest you. Give examples of your great qualities. Don’t just say you’re a multitasker. Give examples. Show those recruiters that you worked on Project A while researching Project B. They want to interview people who will be assets to the company.
Maybe you volunteer for Habitat for Humanity or the local shelter in your spare time. Post those photos. These days, more companies encourage their employees to get out in the community and contribute. When employees give back, it ’s good for their reputation.
None of this will get rid of the Backstreet Boys love letters, but the more you post, the further back in the search results all of those old blog entries will be.
Once you’ve cleaned up your online image, keep it that way by setting up a Google alert for your name. Google will send an e-mail anytime it indexes a new page that features your name.
Don’t let your past come back to haunt you. Clean up your online persona, and keep it that way.
*Published Feb. 18, 2009 in The Collegian
http://www.tccd.edu/collegian
A recent study by the Pew Research Center concluded that two-thirds of Americans age 18-29 use these sites
Digital dirt, unfavorable information about people on the Internet, can hamper employment prospects and even harm their standing at the jobs they already have.
Employment recruiters frequently use search engines to uncover digital dirt on prospective employees. They utilize Web sites like Google.com, WhoZat.com and Wink.com to see who they are really interviewing.
Recruiters want to know how potential employees will represent the company, and employers have access to the same resources. So be careful even if you’re already gainfully employed.
Don’t fall prey to the practice of posting pictures that are not “grandma-friendly.”
Those half-naked photos of you double-fisting a couple of drinks over your last spring break will not impress the recruiters or your current boss.
Also, that blog you posted when you were 13 years old confessing your undying love for the Backstreet Boys may not be something you want floating around anymore.
A good general rule of thumb is if it’s not something that goes on your resume, don’t post it on the Internet.Go to Google and type in your name in quotation marks. Look at the results. Next, click on Google images, rinse and repeat.
Don’t like what you see? Tough.
You can e-mail a Web site and request that it take down your digital dirt, but it is not required to take down anything.
If you have flaunted your indiscretions and worry about getting that dream job (or even the interview), start doing some damage control now.
Take down those imprudent photos, and ask friends to do the same. Start a PR blitz and sell yourself.
Blog about your professional interests and research you’ve done on topics that interest you. Give examples of your great qualities. Don’t just say you’re a multitasker. Give examples. Show those recruiters that you worked on Project A while researching Project B. They want to interview people who will be assets to the company.
Maybe you volunteer for Habitat for Humanity or the local shelter in your spare time. Post those photos. These days, more companies encourage their employees to get out in the community and contribute. When employees give back, it ’s good for their reputation.
None of this will get rid of the Backstreet Boys love letters, but the more you post, the further back in the search results all of those old blog entries will be.
Once you’ve cleaned up your online image, keep it that way by setting up a Google alert for your name. Google will send an e-mail anytime it indexes a new page that features your name.
Don’t let your past come back to haunt you. Clean up your online persona, and keep it that way.
*Published Feb. 18, 2009 in The Collegian
http://www.tccd.edu/collegian
U.S. Interests Should be Priority
Everyone is entitled to live without fear of terrorist attacks.
Unfortunately, we don’t live in a world where that is possible.
Despite this, some things make me feel safer. Our troops overseas, countries striving to achieve democracy and my dad are just a few that help me sleep at night.
President Barack Obama’s intent to close Guantanamo Bay in his first 100 days in office is not something that makes me feel safe.
I don’t see how we can possibly shut the prison down without endangering American lives. What happens when one of these men decides to hijack a plane full of innocent civilians? I don’t want a repeat of Sept. 11.
Also, consider the people who live in the countries these detainees would be shipped back to. If one prisoner straps on a bomb and blows himself up in the middle of a market in Iraq, the administration would be responsible for the inflicted injuries and deaths.
Opponents of Gitmo cite tactics used by guards and interrogators to gather intelligence information from detainees as inhumane.
I don’t like the idea of torture anymore than I like the idea of suicide bombers killing innocents. However, I don’t consider a prisoner being chained to the ground with rock music blaring and a strobe light going torture — a common practice used by interrogators at Gitmo.
Critics have questioned the conditions of the detainees. While I agree that every human deserves fair treatment, these people receive access to a dentist and medical treatment — treatment paid for by tax dollars. Those conditions sound pretty fair.
And while I’m sure they appreciate the fillings, I doubt they’re all ready to call a truce.
Evidence of this was recently presented when a Saudi government spokesman released its most wanted list. Eleven former Guantanamo Bay detainees made it on the list.
Consider the message the closing would send to our troops overseas. They’re over there fighting and dying, and we’re going to beef up Team Terrorism.
American citizens have the right to live without fear of being attacked by terrorists.
All of Obama’s decisions should be made in the best interests of the American people, not the terrorists that attack us.
The administration’s actions show me that the government is more concerned with terrorists’ rights than our right to safety.
*Published Feb. 18, 2009 in The Collegian
http://www.tccd.edu/collegian
Unfortunately, we don’t live in a world where that is possible.
Despite this, some things make me feel safer. Our troops overseas, countries striving to achieve democracy and my dad are just a few that help me sleep at night.
President Barack Obama’s intent to close Guantanamo Bay in his first 100 days in office is not something that makes me feel safe.
I don’t see how we can possibly shut the prison down without endangering American lives. What happens when one of these men decides to hijack a plane full of innocent civilians? I don’t want a repeat of Sept. 11.
Also, consider the people who live in the countries these detainees would be shipped back to. If one prisoner straps on a bomb and blows himself up in the middle of a market in Iraq, the administration would be responsible for the inflicted injuries and deaths.
Opponents of Gitmo cite tactics used by guards and interrogators to gather intelligence information from detainees as inhumane.
I don’t like the idea of torture anymore than I like the idea of suicide bombers killing innocents. However, I don’t consider a prisoner being chained to the ground with rock music blaring and a strobe light going torture — a common practice used by interrogators at Gitmo.
Critics have questioned the conditions of the detainees. While I agree that every human deserves fair treatment, these people receive access to a dentist and medical treatment — treatment paid for by tax dollars. Those conditions sound pretty fair.
And while I’m sure they appreciate the fillings, I doubt they’re all ready to call a truce.
Evidence of this was recently presented when a Saudi government spokesman released its most wanted list. Eleven former Guantanamo Bay detainees made it on the list.
Consider the message the closing would send to our troops overseas. They’re over there fighting and dying, and we’re going to beef up Team Terrorism.
American citizens have the right to live without fear of being attacked by terrorists.
All of Obama’s decisions should be made in the best interests of the American people, not the terrorists that attack us.
The administration’s actions show me that the government is more concerned with terrorists’ rights than our right to safety.
*Published Feb. 18, 2009 in The Collegian
http://www.tccd.edu/collegian
Earmarks Don't Generate Jobs
President Obama has promised to create or preserve 3 million jobs through the stimulus plan, a.k.a. “the tab my children and grandchildren will pick up.”
The economy is in bad shape, but how does a provision granting $246 million in special tax breaks for the film industry help?
Thankfully, the Senate passed an amendment to strike the provision. However, the vote was only 52-45. If it had gone a few votes in the other direction, we would have been bailing out Hollywood.
The stimulus includes some worthy causes and institutions, such as the digital television converter box program, but $650 million toward that doesn’t stimulate the economy.
With so many earmarks and ridiculous proposals in this behemoth, I’m surprised it passed in Congress.
For example, take the “Making Work Pay” credit. This proposes to give $500 to every individual making less than $75,000 a year or $1,000 to couples making less than $150,000 a year. Sounds pretty great, right? Wait, there’s a catch — people who did not make enough money to contribute to income tax will also receive this refund. This begs the question, if they didn’t contribute anything to income tax, then where does their refund come from? That’s right. It’s coming from you and me.
The same goes for the proposed $75 million earmarked for “smoking cessation activities.”
Smoking causes lung cancer, and no one argues that smokers slowly kill themselves with their cancer sticks.
However, if grown people choose to smoke, should taxpayers financially contribute to teaching them smoking is bad? They know it’s bad — every pack of cigarettes sold in the U.S. has the surgeon general’s warning.
Trying to convince smokers to quit smoking does not belong in the stimulus plan. It doesn’t create jobs.
The officials writing the stimulus need to take a step back and look at what they’ve created. Billions of dollars of extras won’t do anything to help the economy.
Instead of throwing away money they don’t actually have to fix the economy, the government officials should stop pursuing their personal agendas and consider other alternatives such as tax breaks.
What a novel idea. Instead of taxing people and then refunding it to people who didn’t contribute, they can leave a little more in the pockets of the average person. I bet when the 300 million Americans who have that extra money spend it, it ’ll help the economy.
*Published Feb. 11, 2009 in The Collegian
http://www.tccd.edu/collegian
The economy is in bad shape, but how does a provision granting $246 million in special tax breaks for the film industry help?
Thankfully, the Senate passed an amendment to strike the provision. However, the vote was only 52-45. If it had gone a few votes in the other direction, we would have been bailing out Hollywood.
The stimulus includes some worthy causes and institutions, such as the digital television converter box program, but $650 million toward that doesn’t stimulate the economy.
With so many earmarks and ridiculous proposals in this behemoth, I’m surprised it passed in Congress.
For example, take the “Making Work Pay” credit. This proposes to give $500 to every individual making less than $75,000 a year or $1,000 to couples making less than $150,000 a year. Sounds pretty great, right? Wait, there’s a catch — people who did not make enough money to contribute to income tax will also receive this refund. This begs the question, if they didn’t contribute anything to income tax, then where does their refund come from? That’s right. It’s coming from you and me.
The same goes for the proposed $75 million earmarked for “smoking cessation activities.”
Smoking causes lung cancer, and no one argues that smokers slowly kill themselves with their cancer sticks.
However, if grown people choose to smoke, should taxpayers financially contribute to teaching them smoking is bad? They know it’s bad — every pack of cigarettes sold in the U.S. has the surgeon general’s warning.
Trying to convince smokers to quit smoking does not belong in the stimulus plan. It doesn’t create jobs.
The officials writing the stimulus need to take a step back and look at what they’ve created. Billions of dollars of extras won’t do anything to help the economy.
Instead of throwing away money they don’t actually have to fix the economy, the government officials should stop pursuing their personal agendas and consider other alternatives such as tax breaks.
What a novel idea. Instead of taxing people and then refunding it to people who didn’t contribute, they can leave a little more in the pockets of the average person. I bet when the 300 million Americans who have that extra money spend it, it ’ll help the economy.
*Published Feb. 11, 2009 in The Collegian
http://www.tccd.edu/collegian
American Dream Disappears
Robert Reich, economic adviser to President Obama, has made some disturbing comments regarding his vision of how jobs created by the stimulus package should be distributed.
In January, he appeared before the House Democratic Caucus Steering and Policy Committee, where he said jobs created by the stimulus should not “simply go to high-skilled people who are already professionals or to white, male construction workers. ”
Reich said he doesn’t have anything against white, male construction workers, but that other people have needs as well.
Basically, he wants to award jobs to people based on skin color, gender and their socioeconomic status — everything but their qualifications.
Rather than focusing on who he thinks these jobs should go to, Reich should consider ways to keep them from going to illegal immigrants. That would certainly help our current unemployment woes.
In the meantime, Reich cannot justify reserving jobs created by the stimulus for people not qualified to do them.
Since we, our children and our grandchildren are paying for this stimulus package, we deserve to have our roads, bridges, levees and schools built by the person most able to do the job not someone who got it because of skin color or sex.
I don’t care what color or sex you are. If you have put in the work to become qualified for a job, then you deserve it.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Famous words by a noble man. Mr. Reich needs to take a page from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s book.
What happened to the American Dream? The dream where people could work hard and make better lives for themselves.
If we are going to start taking jobs that deserve to go to qualified people and giving them to people who haven’t earned them, then there is nothing for people to work for --— no promise of a better life to motivate them to put in the hard work.
No one is entitled to a job. It is something everyone has to work for, whether it is through school or on-the-job training. The work put in to overcome obstacles is what defines character.
Hopefully, Obama will keep Dr. King’s message in mind when he considers Reich’s image of our future.
*Published Feb. 4, 2009 in The Collegian
www.tccd.edu/collegian
In January, he appeared before the House Democratic Caucus Steering and Policy Committee, where he said jobs created by the stimulus should not “simply go to high-skilled people who are already professionals or to white, male construction workers. ”
Reich said he doesn’t have anything against white, male construction workers, but that other people have needs as well.
Basically, he wants to award jobs to people based on skin color, gender and their socioeconomic status — everything but their qualifications.
Rather than focusing on who he thinks these jobs should go to, Reich should consider ways to keep them from going to illegal immigrants. That would certainly help our current unemployment woes.
In the meantime, Reich cannot justify reserving jobs created by the stimulus for people not qualified to do them.
Since we, our children and our grandchildren are paying for this stimulus package, we deserve to have our roads, bridges, levees and schools built by the person most able to do the job not someone who got it because of skin color or sex.
I don’t care what color or sex you are. If you have put in the work to become qualified for a job, then you deserve it.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Famous words by a noble man. Mr. Reich needs to take a page from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s book.
What happened to the American Dream? The dream where people could work hard and make better lives for themselves.
If we are going to start taking jobs that deserve to go to qualified people and giving them to people who haven’t earned them, then there is nothing for people to work for --— no promise of a better life to motivate them to put in the hard work.
No one is entitled to a job. It is something everyone has to work for, whether it is through school or on-the-job training. The work put in to overcome obstacles is what defines character.
Hopefully, Obama will keep Dr. King’s message in mind when he considers Reich’s image of our future.
*Published Feb. 4, 2009 in The Collegian
www.tccd.edu/collegian
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