545 vs 300,000,000

545 PEOPLE -- By Charlie Reese




Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he/she votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.... . The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace

545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red ..

If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power..

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
What you do with this article now that you have read it......... Is up to you.

Sales Tax

School Tax

Liquor Tax

Luxury Tax

Excise Taxes

Property Tax

Cigarette Tax

Medicare Tax

Inventory Tax

Real Estate Tax

Well Permit Tax

Fuel Permit Tax

Inheritance Tax

Road Usage Tax

CDL license Tax

Dog License Tax

State Income Tax

Food License Tax

Vehicle Sales Tax

Gross Receipts Tax

Social Security Tax

Service Charge Tax

Fishing License Tax

Federal Income Tax

Building Permit Tax

IRS Interest Charges

Hunting License Tax

Marriage License Tax

Corporate Income Tax

Personal Property Tax

Accounts Receivable Tax

Recreational Vehicle Tax

Workers Compensation Tax

Watercraft Registration Tax

Telephone Usage Charge Tax

Telephone Federal Excise Tax

Telephone State and Local Tax

IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)

State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)

Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax

Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax

Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)

Utility Taxes Vehicle License Registration Tax

Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes

Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened? Can you spell 'politicians? ' I hope this goes around THE USA at least 100 times!!!

YOU can help it get there!!! GO AHEAD - - - BE AN AMERICAN!!!

Dreams

Do dreams have to happen instantly or should they happen gradually? And which is better? Make sure graphs are used. 50% of your grade depends on it.

Moody

Does anyone know what “Not in the Mood” means? I have used it myself, and I don’t think it means what I think it means, when a woman says it,, it only seems to have one meaning, not fair of course, cause when I use it,, it might mean ice cream or perhaps a bungee jump, but when a woman says it the crashing sound of lost dreams is loud.

Friends

There are some people that seem to mesh so well so quickly that they are almost instant friends, I had a call from someone like that tonight, it made my whole day, we rarely talk, we mostly meet on-line but numbers were exchanged, and I know I am bad about calling anyone period, but she has called several times and each time has been a treasure, it made me ask myself a question that I am still working on, am I a treasure to talk to? Am I a treasure to some people and is my non calling a bad thing? Should I up my anti and perhaps become friendlier and more outgoing? The answer is of course YES, the answer and the ability are always at odds, but I will work on this.

Brothers

I never talk about my brothers much, well I do but not where they would hear it, but they mean a lot to me, Todd is my go to guy for anything, and I mean anything, my sounding board and my twin in so many ways.  Kelly and Clay are my first choice of people I want to talk to I miss them a lot and I missed a lot of them while I was in the military, we are blood, but we are still learning each other because of my time away, I am eager to learn more and find my brothers. I will of course continue to be mean, I think that is required of big brothers, so it seems I must continue tradition.

Traps

The wheelchair is a trap, oh it is a subtle one I give it that, but it is a trap. The first 3 days that I had to use it were days of extreme pain I could not get around without it, it gave me travel I would not have you know. But after three days I could stand and yet I chose the chair for its ease of transport, on the 5^th day, I realized the trap and put the wheelchair in the corner and did not use it again, it almost got me, it almost lured me in with its comfort and mobility, I almost stayed in it and that would have been failure, and I will not fail this is a fight I know well and a fight I can win. The chair is parked I will not dust it, I want it to get cobwebs.

Fun Times

My E.R. Adventures,


Or stuck in pain limbo.

By: Brian Saul



I arrived at the ER at around 5:30 on the afternoon of the 14th of September. One of the security personnel got a wheel chair for me since I could not walk. Yes there is a back story I will get to that later. The chair he brought for me was freakin HUGE, twice as wide as any I have ever seen, it would have comfortably held two of me with room for bags, it felt like some kind of Disney ride with only me in it.

He wheeled me towards the ER entrance, the side entrance; the big entrance is only for Ambulances. The side entrance is a 32 inch door and would not accommodate the ultra large carriage that I was in, so back to the drawing board to get a smaller size wheel chair, that accomplished we then entered the “sick zone” the place was not full, maybe 5 or 6 people ahead of me, not bad, with the pain I am in I figured I would take a priority and move to the head of the waiting list. Nope, there was a child that had bumped her head sitting and fidgeting that was called in ahead of me, and then,, an all stop , ambulances arrived, the base police arrived and the local cops arrived, not sure what happened but my bet was on an idiot driving like an idiot and causing an accident. So, 2 hours later in extreme pain, I am still waiting and as we all know, if your mind is not occupied then the pain magnifies, hence why I am writing this particular article.

Anyway, still here, and I suppose the back story should be told now, as I sit in pain I might as well go on with it, so…

8 days ago, arthritis started worming it’s way into my left foot, this is nothing new, I have it everywhere, so I am used to a twinge of pain most every day, this however decided to come on with vengeance, the left foot effectively as Amber said after seeing the picture, “looks like a piñata Dad”, LOL, gotta love my daughters, the pain was such that there was no way I could put my foot on the floor much less weight on it, as I said this is almost a normal occurrence this time however it spread and fast.

The right hand decided to join the party and became a useless but quite painful appendage, the left knee not to be left out joined the party, and so there was no jealousy the right foot jumped on the band wagon as well. Now picture this, both legs and one arm totally unworkable and screaming with pain, and here I am trying to do the normal routines of daily care and feeding of myself. LOL a funny sight I assure you, I do have an electric wheel chair, but getting in and out of it is an adventure in and of it’s self. To put it bluntly I was so worn out from the pain and the limited ability that I had to rest between bouts of getting in and out of the chair before I could do anything.

Now on to the fun part: I endured this for as I said 8 days before I ran out of the meds, now normally this only would last 3 or 4 days, and only hit me in one or two spots, this tried to take over in a blitzkrieg maneuver. Having run out of options I finally had to break down and call for help, if you know me at all you know I hated that with a passion but I called, got a ride to the ER and here we are, any way on with the story..

So after waiting in the lobby, I was finally called back, told the doc what it was what I needed and why, he looked at me smiled and said “played this game before have you”? so I got a steroid shot a shot of my old pal morphine a butt load of pain pills and scripts for the anti inflamitories, this time however the doc after the exam told me to stay in the chair for at least another week, no driving for that time and after that to use the crutches ONLY if I could use the hand. HA HA,, funny, the hand is defunct so basically I am in solitary confinement at the house for the next few weeks.

Worst part of this is I have more or less no outside communication other than the phone. I do not have internet and dam I practically live in the intertubes Al Gore invented.

As I said before unoccupied mind yada yada. So I have started writing again, my agent is ecstatic, why I do not know it is not like I am writing to be published again, well at least not yet, but I have to admit the sense of freedom and fun I used to have with writing is back and the muse has come to life again so we shall see.

However the reason I thought to explain my absence from the social scene is more or less a way to accept my new limits, limits that I swear I will over come in time, as needful as the wheel chair is at this time, I am determined to drop kick that sucker into the back room as quickly as I can. NO I do not want sympathy nor condolences Holy smokes I would much prefer if my infallibilities were not even remarked on. What I just wanted to say was,,,,Look out world I will be back.

Thanks all for listening to my ramblings, rants and gut rumbles. I am fine as always and I will perhaps by the end of the month get back to my duties and start hassling everyone as soon as I can.

God Bless and smile when ya think of me trying to buy left handed toilet paper.

Brian Saul

Are you ready for some football?




1. What does the average Univ. of Florida player get on his SATs?

……..Drool.



2. What do you get when you put 32 West Virginia cheerleaders in one room?

……..A full set of teeth.



3. How do you get a Nebraska cheerleader into your dorm room?

……..Grease her hips and push.



4. How do you get an Ohio State graduate off your porch?

………Pay him for the pizza.



5. How do you know if an Alabama football player has a girlfriend?

……There is tobacco spit on both sides of his pickup.



6. Why is the Kentucky football team like a possum?

….Because they play dead at home and get killed on the road.



7. What are the longest three years of a Texas Longhorn football player’s life?

……..His freshman year.



8. How many Oklahoma freshmen does it take to change a light bulb?

……..None. That’s a sophomore course.



9. Where was O. J. Headed in the white Bronco?

……. Durham , North Carolina. He knew that the police would never look at Duke for a Heisman Trophy winner.



10. How do you keep an FSU football player out of your front yard?

Erect a goal post!



11. Why did Tennessee choose orange as their team color?

……..You can wear it to the game on Saturday, hunting on Sunday, and picking up trash along the highways the rest of the week.

My Brother and Sis in Law are visiting

Now this may not sound bad, and it isn't, I love them to death, BUT,, there is one thing that makes me crazy. He being the jack of all trades can see thousands of things that need to be done and drags me kicking and screaming into working either on the house or a vehicle. Yea Yea i know, it takes a second set of eyes, and I love the way he sees things. So I will be busy for the next week learning new curse words as he puts me to work on MY house and MY vehicles. I realy like these visits,, wish I lived closer so I could do the same to him, we have fun together.

That will be all for a day or so, will update with projects as they arize.
Take care all and God Bless
Brian

Sorry, been away for a bit

Just got a call, the daughter needs to buy her books now, the money has not arrived and the college will not save her books, first come first serve, can't argue with that policy, it sucks but it is correct. So,, gonna have to dig into my "I can use this for food" funds and send her the HOLY CRAP,, $500 she will need, anyone wanting to send me some change please by all means.  I am on a fixed income,, many of us are, and all of us budget to get by, I wil,l have, and will again sacrifise for my daughters, we all do, I still have that American Dream of them having it better than i did, I just after the Obamby fiasco think I have set my sights considerably lower, I HOPE they have a life at least on par with mine and not worse.

Sorry for being gone so long, I am back now and promise to bore the crap out of the one possibly two readers I have
God Bless.
Brian

yes

The Gipper

The Gipper


"The fact is, we'll never build a lasting economic recovery by going deeper into debt at a faster rate than we ever have before. ... Inflation is the cause of recession and unemployment. And we're not going to have real prosperity or recovery until we stop fighting the symptoms and start fighting the disease. There's only one cause for inflation -- government spending more than government takes in. The cure is a balanced budget. Ah, but they tell us, 80 percent of the budget is uncontrollable. It's fixed by laws passed by Congress. Well, laws passed by Congress can be repealed by Congress. And, if Congress is unwilling to do this, then isn't it time we elect a Congress that will?" --Ronald Reagan

Food for Thought

George Washington, in a letter to John Adams, stated that immigrants should be absorbed into American life so that “by an intermixture with our people, they, or their descendants, get assimilated to our customs, measures, laws: in a word soon become one people.”




In a 1790 speech to Congress on the naturalization of immigrants, James Madison stated that America should welcome the immigrant who could assimilate, but exclude the immigrant who could not readily “incorporate himself into our society.”



Alexander Hamilton wrote in 1802: “The safety of a republic depends essentially on the energy of a common national sentiment; on a uniformity of principles and habits; on the exemption of the citizens from foreign bias and prejudice; and on that love of country which will almost invariably be found to be closely connected with birth, education and family.”



Hamilton further warned that “The United States have already felt the evils of incorporating a large number of foreigners into their national mass; by promoting in different classes different predilections in favor of particular foreign nations, and antipathies against others, it has served very much to divide the community and to distract our councils. It has been often likely to compromise the interests of our own country in favor of another. The permanent effect of such a policy will be, that in times of great public danger there will be always a numerous body of men, of whom there may be just grounds of distrust; the suspicion alone will weaken the strength of the nation, but their force may be actually employed in assisting an invader.”



The survival of the American republic, Hamilton maintained, depends upon “the preservation of a national spirit and a national character.” “To admit foreigners indiscriminately to the rights of citizens the moment they put foot in our country would be nothing less than to admit the Grecian horse into the citadel of our liberty and sovereignty.”



As pro-amnesty extremists moan that “we didn’t cross the borders, the borders crossed us” and illegal alien marchers haul foreign flags above Old Glory, President Obama pretends that the “common national sentiment” our Founding Fathers embraced still binds us all together. Many of us still have faith in a strong, sovereign America — the unhyphenated, the law-abiding, the gratitude-filled sons and daughters and grandchildren of legal immigrants for whom such distinctions still matter. But it’s no thanks to the assimilation saboteurs who put “one world” over “one nation under God.”

read the rest at

Government!

"Who is in charge of stopping the oil leak and the cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico -- BP or the Obama administration? If you have a hard time answering the question, it probably is because the president has told us the 'buck stops' with him and officials of his administration say they are 'in charge.' Yet the administration also tells us that BP has the responsibility for stopping the leak and for the cleanup -- but the company's every action has to be approved by the government. If you have noticed a lot of ambiguity in the statements of the government officials, that is because they want to be able to position themselves to take credit for whatever success occurs (no matter who is responsible for the success) yet be able to blame others for failure (if even their own). ... One, among several, major reasons government agencies tend not to perform as well as private ones is because often there is little or no accountability. Those in favor of bigger government are using BP as an example of why the private sector cannot be trusted and why we must have more government. However, they conveniently overlook the fact that everything BP did was overseen and approved by the U.S. government and that the reason BP and the other big oil companies are off drilling in mile-deep water is because this same government will not allow them to drill in closer-in, shallower water or on much of the land where large quantities of oil are known to exist (e.g., the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) and where accidents could be handled quickly and with little damage. BP stockholders are being severely punished because of the failure of BP's management to prevent this crisis -- and you can bet many heads will roll at BP. Yet how many heads will roll in the U.S. government, which had the responsibility to make sure BP operated safely and that the beaches and marshes were protected?" --Cato Institute senior fellow Richard W. Rahn

Okaloosa Rocks!

DESTIN — Okaloosa County isn’t taking oil spill orders any more.




County commissioners voted unanimously to give their emergency management team the power to take whatever action it deems necessary to prevent oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill from entering Choctawhatchee Bay through the East Pass.



That means the team, led by Public Safety Director Dino Villani, can take whatever action it sees fit to protect the pass without having its plans approved by state or federal authorities.

Commission chairman Wayne Harris said he and his fellow commissioners made their unanimous decision knowing full well they could be prosecuted for it.



“We made the decision legislatively to break the laws if necessary. We will do whatever it takes to protect our county’s waterways and we’re prepared to go to jail to do it,” he said.





It's good to see some politicians pretending to have balls. You and I both know that if public sentiment wasn't in their favor, these guys would've just sat on their hands.

Awesome, from Big Dick

Thanks Dimocrats

Devastating hurricanes like Katrina are unpreventable natural events. But man-made catastrophes created by Big Government’s bureaucratic incompetence, regulatory inefficiency and political infighting don’t have to occur. How much more damage has to be inflicted on the people, economy and environment of Louisiana before Washington gets the message?

This has now travelled to my home territory on Okaloosa Island, no more swimming, Oil has been found on the beaches, the economy will tank, the Obama legacy will live forever as a failed and incompetent flag ship for 100 years.

Found at Tam's

http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2010/06/fundamental-disconnects.htmlFundamental disconnects.


1. Banning objects doesn't work. If people get a mad on and decide to off some folks, nothing is going to stop them. If they can't get a gun, they'll make a bomb. If they can't get a bomb, they'll run amok in a classroom or train car with a cooking implement. It's a punk's game and you can't win it.



2. Group punishment is not something that applies to free adults. Unless you are in Cell Block D, Mrs. Krabapple's third grade classroom, or Recruit Training Platoon 101, then punishing, penalizing, or in any way inconveniencing Person A for the malfeasance of Person B is a BS non-starter, okay?



3. Lastly, contrary to the maundering of that idiot Limey poet, I am an island; get it? There are quite literally billions of individuals on this planet whose demise would not diminish me, (or you, for that matter) in the slightest. If anything, going into spasms of hand-wringing and what-shall-we-do? over the death of someone you never met and never would have met actually strikes me as a little disrespectful to the people who actually were diminished by their death.

Florida's Idiot

The Government

"The American president has the power to control America's borders if he wants to, but George W. Bush and Barack Obama did not and do not want to, and for the same reason, and we all know what it is. The fastest-growing demographic in America is the Hispanic vote, and if either party cracks down on illegal immigration, it risks losing that vote for generations. But while the Democrats worry about the prospects of the Democrats and the Republicans about the well-being of the Republicans, who worries about America? No one. Which the American people have noticed, and which adds to the dangerous alienation -- actually it's at the heart of the alienation -- of the age. In the past four years, I have argued in this space that nothing can or should be done, no new federal law passed, until the border itself is secure. That is the predicate, the common sense first step. Once existing laws are enforced and the border made peaceful, everyone in the country will be able to breathe easier and consider, without an air of clamor and crisis, what should be done next. ... Not everything has to be settled right away. Only controlling the border has to be settled right away. Instead, our national establishments deliberately allow the crisis to grow and fester, ignoring public unrest and amusing themselves by damning anyone's attempt to deal with the problem they fear to address. Why does the federal government do this? Because so many within it are stupid and unimaginative and don't trust the American people. Which of course the American people have noticed." --columnist Peggy Noonan

Quote of the day

"On every question of construction carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Johnson, 1823

Dribbles in the Misty Muck

the title of a book my daughter is writting, and a perfect analogy of this administration, the funny part is,, this is a childrens book and yet the title could be the same for a tell all of Obambi and his evil empire.

just a thought

I tend to agree

email from a soldier who is in Iraq

This email from a soldier who is in Iraq. No politics here; just a soldier with a bird's eye view:

US Weapons:

1) The M-16 rifle: Thumbs down. Chronic jamming problems with the talcum powder like sand over there. The sand is everywhere. Jordan says you feel filthy 2 minutes after coming out of the shower. The M-4 carbine version is more popular because it's lighter and shorter, but it has jamming problems also. They lack the ability to mount the various optical gun sights and weapons lights on the picatinny rails, but the weapon itself is not great in a desert environment. They all hate the 5.56mm (.223) round. Poor penetration on the cinderblock structure common over there and even torso hits can't be reliably counted on to put the enemy down. ... See More

Fun fact: Random autopsies on dead insurgents show a high level of opiate use.

2) The M243 SAW (squad assault weapon): 223 cal. Drum fed light machine gun. Big thumbs down. Universally considered a piece of sh*t. Chronic jamming problems, most of which require partial disassembly (that's fun in the middle of a firefight).

3) The M9 Beretta 9mm: Mixed bag. Good gun, performs well in desert environment; but they all hate the 9mm cartridge. The use of handguns for self-defense is actually fairly common. Same old story on the 9mm: Bad guys hit multiple times and still in the fight.

4) Mossberg 12ga. Military shotgun: Works well, used frequently for clearing houses to good effect.

5) The M240 Machine Gun: 7.62 NATO (.308) cal. belt fed machine gun, developed to replace the old M-60 (what a beautiful weapon that was!!) Thumbs up. Accurate, reliable, and the 7.62 round puts 'em down. Originally developed as a vehicle mounted weapon, more and more are being dismounted and taken into the field by infantry. The 7..62 round chews up the structure over there.

6) The M2 50 cal heavy machine gun: Thumbs way, way up. "Ma Deuce" is still worth her considerable weight in gold. The ultimate fight stopper - puts their dicks in the dirt every time. The most coveted weapon in-theater.

7) The .45 pistol: Thumbs up. Still the best pistol around out there. Everybody authorized to carry a sidearm is trying to get their hands on one. With few exceptions, can reliably be expected to put 'em down with a torso hit. The special ops guys (who are doing most of the pistol work) use the HK military model and supposedly love it. The old government model .45's are being re-issued en masse.

8) The M-14: Thumbs up. They are being re-issued in bulk, mostly in a modified version to special ops guys. Modifications include lightweight Kevlar stocks and low power red dot or ACOG sights. Very reliable in the sandy environment, and they love the 7.62 round.

9) The Barrett .50 cal sniper rifle: Thumbs way up. Spectacular range and accuracy and hits like a freight train. Used frequently to take out vehicle suicide bombers (we actually stop a lot of them) and barricaded enemy. It is definitely here to stay.

10) The M24 sniper rifle: Thumbs up. Mostly in .308 but some in 300 win mag. Heavily modified Remington 700's. Great performance. Snipers have been used heavily to great effect. Rumor has it a marine sniper on his third tour in Anbar province has actually exceeded Carlos Hathcock's record for confirmed kills with OVER 100.

11) The new body armor: Thumbs up. Relatively light at approx. 6 lbs.and can reliably be expected to soak up small shrapnel and even will stop an AK-47 round. The bad news: Hot as sh*t to wear, almost unbearable in the summer heat (which averages over 120 degrees). Also, the enemy now goes for head shots whenever possible. All the bullsh*t about the "old" body armor making our guys vulnerable to the IED's was a non-starter. The IED explosions are enormous and body armor doesn't make any difference at all in most cases.

12) Night Vision and Infrared Equipment: Thumbs way up. Spectacular performance. Our guys see in the dark and own the night, period. Very little enemy action after evening prayers. More and more enemy being whacked at night during movement by our hunter-killer teams. We've all seen the videos.

13) Lights: Thumbs up. Most of the weapon mounted and personal lights are Surefire's, and the troops love 'em. Invaluable for night urban operations. Jordan carried a $34 Surefire G2 on a neck lanyard and loved it. I cant help but notice that most of the good fighting weapons and ordnance are 50 or more years old!! With all our technology, it's the WWII and Vietnam era weapons that everybody wants!! The infantry fighting is frequent, up close and brutal. No quarter is given or shown.

Bad guy weapons:

1) Mostly AK47's. The entire country is an arsenal. Works better in the desert than the M16 and the .308 Russian round kills reliably. PKM belt fed light machine guns are also common and effective. Luckily, the enemy mostly shoots like sh*t. Undisciplined "spray and pray" type fire. However, they are seeing more and more precision weapons, especially sniper rifles. ( Iran, again)

2) The RPG: Probably the infantry weapon most feared by our guys. Simple, reliable and as common as dogsh*t. The enemy responded to our up-armored Humvees by aiming at the windshields, often at point blank range. Still killing a lot of our guys.

3) The IED: The biggest killer of all. Can be anything from old Soviet anti-armor mines to jury rigged artillery shells. A lot found in Jordan's area were in abandoned cars. The enemy would take 2 or 3 155 mm artillery shells and wire them together. Most were detonated by cell phone and the explosions are enormous. You're not safe in any vehicle, even an M1 tank. Driving is by far the most dangerous thing our guys do over there. Lately, they are much more sophisticated "shape charges" (Iranian) specifically designed to penetrate armor. Fact: Most of the ready made IED's are supplied by Iran, who is also providing terrorists (Hezbollah types) to train the insurgents in their use and tactics. That's why the attacks have been so deadly lately. Their concealment methods are ingenious, the latest being shape charges, in Styrofoam containers spray painted to look like the cinderblocks that litter all Iraqi roads. We find about 40% before they detonate, and the bomb disposal guys are unsung heroes of this war.

4) Mortars and rockets: Very prevalent. The soviet era 122mm rockets (with an 18km range) are becoming more prevalent. One of Jordan 's NCO's lost a leg to one. These weapons cause a lot of damage "inside the wire". Jordan's base was hit almost daily his entire time there by mortar and rocket fire, often at night to disrupt sleep patterns and cause fatigue (It did). More of a psychological weapon than anything else. The enemy mortar teams would jump out of vehicles, fire a few rounds, and then haul ass in a matter of seconds.

Fun fact: Captured enemy have apparently marveled at the marksmanship of our guys and how hard they fight. They are apparently told in Jihad school that the Americans rely solely on technology, and can be easily beaten in close quarters combat for their lack of toughness. Let's just say they know better now.

Bad guy technology: Simple yet effective. Most communication is by cell and satellite phones and also by email on laptops. They use handheld GPS units for navigation and "Google Earth" for overhead views of our positions. Their weapons are good, if not fancy, and prevalent. Their explosives and bomb technology is TOP OF THE LINE. Night vision is rare. They are very careless with their equipment and the captured GPS units and laptops are treasure troves of Intel when captured.

Who are the bad guys? Most of the carnage is caused by the Zarqawi Al Qaeda group. They operate mostly in Anbar province (Fallujah and Ramadi). These are mostly "foreigners", non-Iraqi Sunni Arab Jihadists from all over the Muslim world (and Europe

How interesting, from riehl world view

Is The GOP Lecturing Charlie Crist?


Dan Quayle, Haley Barbour and other Republicans have felt it necessary to lecture the Tea Party movement about not going third party. Actually, I've heard more talk of it from the establishment GOP, than I have from Tea Party people.



Given Crist's veto today and the fall-out now stemming from it, has anyone bothered to lecture him on what an Independent run might do? If he runs as an Independent and wins, a GOP that would welcome him into the caucus in the Senate will be doomed. If Crist bolts, instead of accepting defeat like a man, and supposed Republican, it will confirm what many people think about the GOP and could kick off a disaster for the party heading into the fall.



Mack wrote a terse, two-paragraph letter to his one-time protege that said Crist was wrong to veto a bill (SB 6) that would have made it easier to fire teachers and tie their pay to student test scores.



"As you know, I strongly disagree with your veto," Mack wrote his fellow Republican. "Your veto I believe undermines our education system in Florida and the principles for which I have always stood."



Mack went on to say that Crist's decision to veto the bill was "unsupportable and wrong."



"As you can understand, I can no longer serve as chairman for your campaign for the United States Senate," Mack wrote.



Mack, who retired in early 2001 after a dozen years in the U.S. Senate, addressed the letter to "Charlie" and said he valued their long friendship.



A phone message left on the governor's cell phone and with campaign officials was not immediately returned.



It was a difficult day for the first-term governor, who was also rebuked by his predecessor, Jeb Bush, for the veto. Crist announced the veto only a few hours after a poll by Quinnipiac (Conn.) University showed him trailing former House Speaker Marco Rubio by 23 points in their race to win the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate.



That poll, however, suggested Crist could win a three-way contest if he chose to leave his party and run as an independent.



http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2010/04/is-the-gop-lecturing-charlie-crist.html

Tax Day tea parties!

unfortunately I could not attend, however i did get a few pictures of fellow patriots, i will not share them too many sites do a damn site better at the reporting, let me just say, 1. the MSM are idiots, every race was in evidence with one agenda, 2. Obambi and his ilk were seriosly talked about in terms that were NOT racist, and the proposed VAT is realy making people that are taxed to death mad. Seems to me, that the Taxation Without Representation thing is gonna be Mr. O's downfall. people are tired of thier hard earned monies going into the cofers of incopetent idiots that are in office. This election time in November might be interesting, I urge all to vote the incompetent incumbants out and let real patriotic Americans take the charge and get rid of the government that "Shall Not Stop growing" and put limits on what OUR monies are spent on.

Sorry, but I am tired of my tax dollars being spent in a way I am not liking.

Stand up and shout, shout it to the Heavens with your Vote.

Fun in The Sun

Eglin AFB hosted the Thunderbirds, it was awesome, they flew over the AMVETS Post many times, we watched them from the parking lot and had a grand old time while they punched holes in the clouds. There was also a Scout Jamboree at the same time this weekend, i spent a lot of time out with the scouts looking at all thier activities, this was the 100th year anniversary for the Boy Scouts, and Henry Rifles made a commemorative rifle for this, nice rifle, the scouts were auctioning it off, last bid I saw was $1,550. a tidy sum for the scouts, I am sure the bids got higher. The turn out for the scouts was incredible, estimates were over 1,000 scouts attended. fun was had by all, Thunderbirds, Scouts, and Veterans alike had one hell of a weekend. Pictures will be posted at a later date.

Yall take care, and enjoy the sun

Jane Fonda,,good for something afterall

I'm Tired

"I'm 63 and I Tired"


by Robert A. Hall

I'm 63. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I've worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven't called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired. Very tired.

I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.

I'm tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to "keep people in their homes." Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I'm willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the left-wing Congress-critters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them with their own money.

I'm tired of being told how bad America is by left-wing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood Entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the economy of Zimbabwe , the freedom of the press of China , the crime and violence of Mexico , the tolerance for Christian people of Iran , and the freedom of speech of Venezuela .

I'm tired of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.

I'm tired of being told that "race doesn't matter" in the post-racial world of Obama, when it's all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of U.S. Senators from Illinois.

I think it's very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less arrogantly of an all-knowing government.

I'm tired of a news media that thinks Bush's fundraising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think Obama's, at triple the cost, were wonderful; that thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress; that picked over every line of Bush's military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his; that slammed Palin, with two years as governor, for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever. Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to Fox News? Get a clue. I didn't vote for Bush in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004.

I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America , while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.

I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore's, and if you're greener than Gore, you're green enough.

I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don't think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I'm tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana.

I'm tired of illegal aliens being called "undocumented workers," especially the ones who aren't working, but are living on welfare or crime. What's next? Calling drug dealers, "Undocumented Pharmacists"? And, no, I'm not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic, and it's been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I'm willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person, who can speak English, doesn't have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military.... Those are the citizens we need.

I'm tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years and still are? Not even close. So here's the deal. I'll let mys elf be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims, who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we'll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.

I'm tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers; bums are bipartisan. And I'm tired of people telling me we need bipartisanship. I live in Illinois , where the "Illinois Combine" of Democrats has worked to loot the public for years. Not to mention the tax cheats in Obama's cabinet.

I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.

Speaking of poor, I'm tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn't have that in 1970, but we didn't know we were "poor." The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.

I'm real tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.

Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter.

Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate.

Issues

Still having some issues with interweb at home, so my postings may be a bit spotty. Otherwise everything is going along well, the Grand Bug got dressed in her finest for a photo shoot on Easter. Lovely little princess that she is, she mugged for the camera and had a great time being spoiled by all and sundry. I took her out for a picnic on the beach saturday, and I think I might have a photo  to post if I can find it on this cursed computer. The water is still a bit cold but she did not mind it a bit till she came out and the breeze turned her purple and shivery, it was funny. With all the sun block we put on her she was an oily wet slippery thing and fun to try to hold onto.

Take care all I will update as i can
Happy Easter

Brian

borrowed from Theo

saber rattling

Will you continue to acquiesce to the corruption of a criminal mafia hiding behind the robes of goodness and mercy? Wolves in sheep's clothing who steal your freeborn birthrights; abscond with your Liberties: not like a thief in the dark of night, but as quislings and scoundrels looting in broad daylight daring any of us to declare their treacherous perfidy null and void; challenging us to repeal our impoverishment. We are taunted with distortions and crooked deals, our freedoms have been mocked.
Read the rest at:
http://washingtonrebel.typepad.com/washington_rebel/2010/03/rattling-the-second-amendment-saber.html

What Change Looks Like

Found at LAW DOG, and I thought it needed to be spread around.
http://thelawdogfiles.blogspot.com/


Wednesday, March 24, 2010


Fine. You want to play rough?

"The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate. "



--Article Five of the Constitution of the United States.



"On the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States"



If thirty-eight States have a case of the hips regarding ObamaCare, and given that Congress is apparently in a mood to ram stuff down the throat of the electorate, it occurs to Your Humble Correspondent that it just might be time to return the favour.



Someone check my math, but isn't thirty-eight just a bit more than the three-quarters of fifty States required to ram the next Amendment to the Constitution of the United States far enough up the Federal Government that they'd choke on the hair at the back of their throats?



So, how does:



"No person shall be mandated by law to purchase any goods or service, at any time"



sound for the 28th Amendment?



Or shall we go for the poetic justice route, and hoist them on their own petards by way of:



"Only excepting such limited protection as offered by Article One, Section Six, Congress is hereby prohibited from exempting its Members from each, any, and all effects, duties or obligations rendered upon any citizen, or citizens, by any Law, Tax, or other action passed by Congress."



What do you think, Gentle Readers? Is it time to remind Congress who they work for by beating them firmly about the head and shoulders with a Constitutional amendment?



Discuss.



LawDog

Not everyone is a DEEMocrat

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL-01) issued the following statement following the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:


“After over a year of trying to ram through a trillion dollar government takeover of our health care system, Nancy Pelosi and the majority party waited until the middle of the night to take one of the most important votes in history. This bill was written behind closed doors using backroom deals to buy enough votes to pass, and puts the future of our great country at great risk. It does nothing to protect the sanctity of human life, will not lower health care costs for the American family, cuts Medicare by $500 billion, and raises taxes on middle-class Americans. I strongly denounce the passage of this bill and will work for its swift repeal.”

Personaly, tar and feathering is not cruel enough for the idiotic stupidity that allowed this injustice
Brian

Deem Deemocrats Deemons

Borrowed shamelessly from Sondrak

http://www.sondrak.com/

Things that make ya go..... HUH?

Let me get this straight......we're trying to pass a health care


plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't

understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but

exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president that

also hasn't read it and who smokes, with funding administered by

a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, all to be overseen by

a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country

that's broke.



What the hell could possibly go wrong????

46% of Doctors Would Consider Leaving Medicine if ObamaCare passes

46.3% of primary care physicians (family medicine and internal medicine) feel that the passing of health reform will either force them out of medicine or make them want to leave medicine.


36% of physicians would not recommend medicine as a career, regardless of health reform. 27% would recommend medicine as a career but not if health reform passes.

62.7% of physicians feel that health reform is needed but should be implemented in a more targeted, gradual way, as opposed to the sweeping overhaul that is in legislation.

read the rest at http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/2010/03/46-of-doctors-w.html

The Gipper

I am a firm believer that if I have to take a drug test to make money, those on the dole recieving my monies should take a drug test as well. or as the Gipper said:

"Welfare is another of our major problems. We are a humane and generous people and we accept without reservation our obligation to help the aged, disabled, and those unfortunates who, through no fault of their own, must depend on their fellow man. But we are not going to perpetuate poverty by substituting a permanent dole for a paycheck. There is no humanity or charity in destroying self-reliance, dignity, and self-respect ... the very substance of moral fiber." --Ronald Reagan


Brian

Let Stupid Laws Die

TALLAHASSEE Florida law requires sheriffs to live within two miles of the county seat — close enough to get there quickly by horse.
The rule is long since obsolete, but like scores of other old laws sometimes dating back a century or more, it remains on the books.
Not for much longer.

Florida's legislators are taking an eraser to state law, scrubbing out rules that stick out worse than a Walkman in an iPod world.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/elections/fl-legislature-repealers-20100312,0,2574543,full.story

A good read, and who rides a horse to work anymore. I hope other states will do this and get rid of those blue laws still on the books, if your not gonna enforce them, why have them.

Found on Say Uncle   http://www.saysuncle.com/

DoD Assessing Disability Ratings

A recent review by a Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) resulted in 61 percent of applicants having their status changed from a medical separation to retirement on the permanent disability list. This review is open to eligible veterans of the DoD, Guard and Reserve and Coast Guard. Eligible veterans can request a PDBR by submitting a Department of Defense Form 294, which is available at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd0294.pdf. Veterans requesting a PDBR must mail their completed and signed DD Form 294 to SAF/MRBR, 550 C St. W., Suite 41, Randolph Air Force Base, TX 78150-4743. Applicants may submit statements, briefs, medical records or affidavits supporting their application

AMVETS Post 135

Found an AMVETS here in GA,, fairly close by. No phone number on the door or opening closing times. Not a problem I thought, so I looked on the National registry,, Hmm not listed,, that is not realy a surprise, if they are new, they might not be registered. So next best thing,, 411 to get a number,, There is no number,, interesting,, they must be realy new. So... I drive by again and go to the mexican resteraunt to ask if they know when they open.. well well well.. seems they are only open on weekends. Now that kinda burst my bubble, I am only here for 2 weeks and I leave this weekend. well darn, guess I can't go make my presents known. Ohh well, if they last, maybe i can come back and visit.

Seems a shame though that they are only open on the weekends. Hopefuly they will become big enough to be open all week.

yall have fun

SSI Excludes Combat-Related Pay

The Social Security Administration (SSI) is no longer considering combat-related military pay in determining whether spouses and children of servicemembers are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The Social Security Administration also will not consider retroactive payments of certain military pay as resources for nine months following receipt. This change in the rules protects spouses and children of servicemembers serving in a combat zone from a reduction in or loss of benefits due to combat-related military pay. For more information, visit the Social Security Administration website at http://www.ssa.gov/.

Go Read!

A once and true posting that needs a complete read, here is just a taste. read the rest@ http://seanlinnane.blogspot.com/2010/03/sea-change.html

I am not a political shill or activist; I am a soldier, a philosopher, a businessman and a laissez-faire capitalist. Recently however, I have become aware of an extremely disturbing development - a thing so vile, so evil, so insidious that the Obama Administration has embraced and unleashed upon our children.

from Storm Bringer

Flood waters

They say when it rains it pours, well this evidently is more true than I expected. My great aunt passed yesterday. A bit more sudden than we thought but not unexpected. The viewing is today, the funeral is tomorrow. Posting may be a little light for a day or so as we sort this out. Yall take care, and I will post later.

Brian

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Birthday whippings to AMBER who has just turned a quarter Century today!! Enjoy the Snow dawlin. I love you

Dad

Rain

rained all day yesterday and is still raining today. The news said flood watches and warnings. Now normally in Florida this would not concern me, I live on a veritable mountain in Florida. my house is about 44 feet above sea level. By Florida standards a Mountain, so flooding other than some of the lower streets and then only for a bit while it rains is all i ever see. Here in Georgia, that is a totally different story.

I had forgotten all the little hills and valleys that make up northern Ga an how fast a road is gone with just a light down pour. This is not a light down pour and it is supposed to keep raining for the next 4 days. Already some of the roads are washed out and the drive-way to the house here has seen better days after the wash out.

Twisty up and down turning hills with no or limited sight distance,, definitely not flat Florida. deep ditches or huge drop offs, Lovely, and if anyone has actually driven here on these you know the locals take them at high speed like a rally race.

Last night heading home, I did not scream like a girl when I topped a hill to see head lights on my side of the road heading toward me spraying a rooster tail of muddy water, that was my brakes. and that is my story.

Brian

Advertisement

As i said in the Post below, I am trying to drum up business for my brothers Rhino Linings company, what I failed to mention is that,, the Linings is only part of the business, every thing made under the sun for a vehicle can be found there. If you want it, he can get it,, and pretty much beat the living crap out of other prices from other people.

There, nuff said,, I advertised.

Rhino Linings Of Cartersville Georgia
770-387-4334

tell them Brian sent ya

and NO i do not get one thin dime from this, nor do I want any, this is his thing not mine, but thanks for listening.

Brian

Travel update

I am in Georgia helping my brother in his business for the next couple weeks. Rhino Linings Of Cartersville Ga. A good business, he just needed an office bi*ch, and since that is what I do for the Commander of AMVETS Post 78 in FL, he decided it would be a good idea for me to come up and help him. I of course refused, so he drove the 6 hr trip to my house and effectively kidnapped me. So for the next couple weeks i will be working for him at the same rate of pay i get for working for AMVETS,, a big fat ZERO!,, Ha Ha gotta love it, but I Will do what ever I can to make this a viable business for him. look him up if your in Ga, he has about anything and everything for your vehicles and he is a certified Rhino Linings sprayer. Tell him Brian sent ya and he might give ya a free cup of coffee.

Brian

Awesome Article

Found this over at micheal Banes Blog. Here is just the first paragraph. Go there to read the rest.http://michaelbane.blogspot.com/2010/03/great-article-on-self-defense.html

The people of an orderly nation surrender the business of vengeance to the government, replacing it with the rule of law. They cannot be expected to surrender the right of defense. The right to protect yourself, and your family, from injury and death is an essential part of your dignity as a free man or woman. Without the First Amendment, you are a slave. Without the Second, you are a child.

Rapeconcilliation

Congressman Replies

I wrote to my congressman Jeff Miller concerning the Health Care fiasco that congress and the pResident are shoving on us and his views on the matter, Below you will find a well thought out answer that makes me proud Jeff Miller represents me.



Dear Mr. Saul,



Thank you for contacting my office regarding your perspectives the proposed health care reform legislation. I appreciate knowing your views about issues affecting Northwest Florida and our nation.

As you are likely aware, the House voted to pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962, on November 7, 2009. The Senate passed a completely different version of the health care bill - the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - on December 24, 2009. President Obama has now come out with his own version of legislation incorporating proposals from both bills. And although the President held a health care summit to hear from Republicans, ultimately, the vast majority of our proposals were rejected. The majority party now stands poised to push through health care legislation using the budget reconciliation process, requiring only 50 votes in the Senate and subverting the legislative process completely.



I remain opposed to both the House and Senate health care bills for a multitude of reasons, and I am strongly against using reconciliation to force them through. The President's plan still includes a massive government-run health insurance option based on insurance exchanges. The federal government would require minimum benefits that will apply to all insurance plans, driving up the price of insurance for everyone. The bill mandates that everyone must have health insurance and that all employers must provide a government-qualifying plan. Steep tax penalties are placed on any individual or business that does not comply with this mandate. Third, the President's plan would cost $950 billion and the CBO predicts that the legislation will actually raise the cost of your health insurance premiums. To pay for this massive legislation, the bill employs a variety of new taxes varying from a tax on small businesses to the so-called "Cadillac tax" on high-cost insurance plans. Raising taxes and monthly premiums is not the way to reform the health care system.



Meriting special mention in the health care bill is the issue of abortion coverage. In order to win enough Democrats' support for the underlying health care bill, the majority party allowed a vote on the so-called "Stupak Amendment" that prohibits any federal funding from being used to fund abortion services. I voted for this pro-life amendment, and it passed overwhelmingly. This amendment was not included in the Senate version, and it is not included in the President's version. Although I do not support the Democrat bills or government-run health care, I will continue to fight vigorously to ensure that any health care legislation specifically bans federal funds from being used in abortions.



Finally, not only are the Senate, House, and President's versions of the bill bad for Americans, but the process by which this legislation has taken shape is beyond deplorable. On the House side, the legislation was put together behind closed doors by the majority party with little Republican input. Most of the amendments offered by Republican colleagues were voted down in committee, and few of the surviving amendments actually made it into the final House version. Along with many of my Republican colleagues, I am a co-sponsor of H.Res. 615 which would require any member of Congress that votes for government-run health care to be automatically enrolled in that public option.

On the Senate side, sweetheart deals were given to any Senator on the fence including Medicare money for Senators Ben Nelson and Mary Landrieu to buy their vote. After majority leaders secured 60 votes to pass a bill in the Senate, they immediately closed ranks to work on legislation that could pass in both chambers. And now, despite promises to work in a bipartisan fashion, the President and majority party leaders are intent on forcing through this legislation using the reconciliation process. This process is meant to pass budget bills only, not to create a trillion dollar government takeover of health care.

The people of Northwest Florida and across the country continue to agree that government-run health care is not the answer. The way this legislation was put together is outrageous, and the implications for our country are dangerous. I will continue to fight against this type of health care reform. We can achieve real health care reform without the government-run health care, higher taxes, or Medicare cuts seen in the Democratic legislation.

Again, thank you for contacting me about this important issue. If you would like to receive further information on issues of importance to you, please log on to my website at http://www.house.gov/jeffmiller. As always, please feel free to contact my office if you have any further concerns.








Sincerely,

Jeff Miller
Member of Congress

Why I Voted Democrat

I voted Democrat, because
I love the fact that I can now marry whatever I want.
I've decided to marry my horse.

I voted Democrat, because I believe oil companies' profits of
4% on a gallon of gas are obscene, but the government taxing
the same gallon of gas at 15% isn't.

I voted Democrat, because
I believe the government will do a better job of
spending the money I earn than I would.

I voted Democrat, because
Freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.

I voted Democrat, because
When we pull out of Iraq I trust that the bad guys will stop what
they are doing, because they now think we are good people.

I voted Democrat, because
I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local
police are all I need to protect me from murderers and thieves.

I voted Democrat, because
I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday can tell us
that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius.

I voted Democrat, because I'm not concerned about the slaughter
of millions of babies so long as we keep all death row inmates alive.

I voted Democrat, because I think illegal aliens have a right to free health care,
education, and Social Security benefits.

I voted Democrat, because
I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for
themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to
the government for redistribution as the Democrats see fit.

I voted Democrat, because
I believe liberal judges need to rewrite The Constitution every few days to
suit some fringe kooks who would never get their agendas past the voters.

I voted Democrat, because
My head is so firmly menially disoriented that it is unlikely
that I'll ever have another point of view.

Thanks Theo

Theo Sparks who runs the blog "Last of The Few" was kind enough to actualy post our AMVETS News letter,, thanks so much Theo,, if you have not had the pleasure of visiting Theo's blog, by all means do so,, A Gentalman and a scholar,,

tha Bastages

Jason, Mike and I just got back from the Hill tonight,, and after an outing like that,, posting is not gonna happen,, however,, we have agreed to work on this sorry excuse for a blog and try to at least post a couple times a day,, Yea right,, but at least now we are on the same page and can do this.

Help is appreciated

Just got notification that our Commander is in the hospital with blood clots, this is bad for a number of reasons that i will not go into, sufice it to say,, this is way not good. I cancelled the reservations we had for the Orlando AMVETS Convention, he is no longer going to be able to go. Please say a prayer for our commander.

In other news, My daughters Band,, i call it her band it is not her husband playes in it, had thier debut at the AMVETS post, not bad for a garage band, we are going to book them as often as I can,, well as often as the Post will let me,, I hope to post a video of them,, yea lost of mistakes,, laughter and miscues, but that too added to the fun.

Again, sorry for the total lack of postings,, Jason and Mike are fgoing to start helping in that area as soon as I can find them.

that is all,, remember the commander.

Brian

Climbing Into The Saddle

Getting back to the Blog is taking a smidge longer than I thought it would, However, I am getting better at feeling guilty. Be that as it may, I am going to contribute,, just not in the manor I was used to. Stay tuned,, there will be more Veterans News coming out soon, and I do plan to add a few more people to help with the lack on my part for postings.
Be afraid,, some of them are not politicaly correct,, well nor am I, but I am a bit more moderate in some ways. Stay tuned!

Brian

sorry for the lack of posting

been out of touch for a bit,, this is going to change after the convention the 27th of Feb. Pictures will be posted,, and much flag waving will be done,, stay tuned