Orlando Republican Debate

So what was different this time than from the last? Let’s see Perry got flustered when he was attacked by almost every other Candidate. Romney did look very Presidential and stayed on point which put him up by a few points but otherwise not much much was different but some things did stand out. First Herman Cain seemed to get a bit more time and he was on the spot on his answers. Next Ron Paul did say he’d eliminate the Department of Education (DOE) and that was echoed by several others.

Huntsman stepped up and proved he could play with the big boys. If there was a clear winner, and there wasn’t, in my never to be bias opinion he came close. He spoke of his foreign service, his desire to kill O’Bama care and on every question he was on point, actually quite impressive.  I especially liked his line: “The world is a better place when the United Sates is Strong.” Then there was his line that got a big applause from the crowd when he said; “…all I want at this point in history is for America to save America.”

Ron Paul’s supporters were all over the two conservative chat sites I was contributing to and they were pushing his numbers up on the informal pole and I did have to laugh when he said of himself that he was a “Top Tier Candidate”. He did say he would veto every bill that went against the 10th Amendment, which I don’t recall anyone else saying. And I did like his comment concerning Government Education when he said; “If you care about your kids you’ll get the Government out of Education.” There’s an old Communist proverb that says if you want to spread communism let the government educate your children.

Bachmann both during the debate and especially after the debate when interviewed by Sean Hannity reminded me of a concerned Soccer Mom rather than a candidate for President. She did have a few gotcha points like “closing the doors and turning off the lights on the DOE.”

Newt had one good memorable line when he said; “It is fundamentally wrong to give people money for 99 weeks for doing nothing..”

Herman Cain who won the Orlando Straw Vote did well when he took a shot at Romney when he said Romney was hooked on the current Tax Code and “That dog won’t hunt.” He did give a personal moment discussing his cancer and O’Bama Care.
Santorum reminded me of a man trying to grasp at a float ring while drowning in the ocean. He scrapped and attacked but made no real impression on anyone but himself. He does look like a good choice for VP especially when he spoke of education; “It is Parent’s responsibility to educate their children.” That only works for those of us who are in the minority who do. Most parents could care less and they treat educators like glorified babysitters.

In conclusion Perry seemed on the defensive, Romeny seemed polished and very Presidential compared to the field. Gov. Johnson in his first appearance spoke of his neighbor’s dogs making “shovel ready” jobs but otherwise I wasn’t impressed and other than Huntsman, Perry and Romney nobody really stood out for more than a single line or two. Politico and Newsmax are saying that Christie is being pushed hard to get into the race. As I’ve said before, the Conservative voters want someone to bring Nationalism or a sense of Patriotism back to our country and only Christie or Trump could do it. The Candidates on the stage did little to inspire anyone including the voters.

Doc

President O'Bama's Job Speech

Okay, he’s finally on TV for a legit reason…supposedly. In the past when the President wanted to speak to Congress on TV all he had to do was ask and everyone jumped to accommodate him. But now we have a President with such little credibility that he tried twice and then was deemed less important than a football game. Let me explain why…

1.  He wants regulation reform: Yet the EPA has filed suit against a farmer for polluting the air because his hay bales are NOT covered.
2.  He wants Tax Reform that has “everyone paying their fare share.” Well Mr. President, haven’t you ever heard of the FLAT TAX? But he put his statement in the form of Class warfare.
3.  “Every proposal” he says have been voted on by “both parties” but what are the proposals? All fluff but no substance.He’s giving us a “Jobs Bill” but not telling us what’s in it. Didn’t Nancy Pelosi do that when she said Congress needed to pass a Bill so we can see what’s in it? He’s giving us ice cream but not telling us the flavor.
4. He made a point of saying he wants other countries to buy “Fords and Chevys” however Honda, Toyota and Hyundai all build cars that are stamped “Made in the USA” however they don’t kiss the ass of the UAW (United Auto Workers), funny how he left out that little part.

According to Politico the price tag is $447 Billion that he says will be paid for but how? Where is he going to make the cuts or are we going to borrow more from China, wait, I know, we’ll raise taxes on the “RICH”. Remember they don’t pay their fair share, CRAP. I’m tired of paying not only MY “Fair Share” but apparently all of those who get their Income Tax BACK and an EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) which is money they DID NOT EARN from those of us who DID. Mr. President STOP trying to sell the same old snake oil, nobody wants it anymore. CBS said that “he didn’t say Stimulus” and they are right he DIDN’T however, now call me cynical but THAT’S what it SOUNDED like to ME! 

But hey, he’s a good Speaker and in 14 months he can go out and join other Past Presidents on the Speaking circuit.

Doc

The Politics of Debt and the Whitehouse

Okay, I've kept my mouth shut long enough, this is CRAZY! If you or that kook you're friends with thinks that we (as a country) would've been in the flush cycle of the toilet more than we are now if the August debt deadline hit you're in for a rude awakening.  I like the line Bill O'Reilly mentioned "He (the President) voted present." Yes he did and if it surprised you I'd be willing to bet you DON'T PAY INCOME TAX.  Most likely you get an EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) or money from people like my family because you're either not smart enough, ambitious enough or voted for President O'Bama and that sucks for the rest of us.  I  know it's Bush's fault, and I'm really a closet liberal...NOT! After 2.5 years in the job this economy belongs to the current administration.

Listen what ever happened to actual Capitalism? Whatever happened to the idea of letting the economy heal its self by deregulation and smaller government? Oh wait the terrorists who supported candidates who actually won are now in Washington.  You know those same terrorists who want a smaller government with lower taxes and Washington to pass a balanced budget amendment; the Tea Party.  If you read my earlier post you know that the FEA is taking a clue from us Party members by trying to understand how a grassroots organization can carry so much power? It's simple, the average American is neither right nor left but votes with their wallets or what is important to them not overall ideology. 

Now, and  don't faint, in defense of the President, Hannity and others have been asking why he didn't put forth his own plan,  well,  that's really not his job it's up to the Congress and then for him to say yeah or nay.  Now tell me the truth, with Harry Reid ready to table anything remotely objectionable, why would he put his neck into the lion's mouth? Harry is his white knight and this way he's NOT on the record with the election on the horizon.  

What we really need is the Tea Party and every other American to really put the hammer down and DEMAND the elected officials CUT the budget, ELIMINATE Regulations and CREATE a smaller government or they will be UNEMPLOYED. We each have a budget to live on so should Washington, it's just that SIMPLE. Oh and if you're wondering, there are some Tea Party members of Congress that will be voting for Tax INCREASES and watch how fast they'll be UNEMPLOYED after the next election.

Here's a thought, if Trump wants in the Presidential race; RUN AS A DEMOCRAT!  I'm not the first to mention it but there are other choices...Al Gore (Global Warming is Dead), Jessie Jackson (you know this one), Nancy Pelosi (she wouldn't like the pay cut), and everyone's favorite, wait for it,  Hillary Clinton (though she won't, if for no other reason because she doesn't want Bill to be chasing Whitehouse staff again).  I'm by far not the first to say this but it's worth speculating and maybe someone out there has enough Testosterone to take the nomination away from O'Bama, what  do they have to lose? Socialism  DOESN'T WORK just ask  Spain, France, Italy and especially Greece. 

Doc

Florida Education-Support Staff-Tallahassee

I had recently had the opportunity  to join with other Union  Reps at a conference of Education Support Staff in Tampa.  It was about information to take back to the members and non-members at our work sites and act as a forum to discuss our concerns, share our stories (both successes and failures) and realize that we are NOT ALONE in our desire for better conditions and pay.  Now let me say up front that I  have been to a few others and at NO TIME have they ever made me, a Conservative,  Republican, Tea Party member feel welcome.  This time was DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT and I'm proud that they finally opened their arms to be more inclusive because, though we may be in the minority we can't afford to alienate ANYONE.

Now here's where I get to tick  off some  of you who may read this,  oh well get over it, this is how I see it and if you don't like it put your head back into the sand.  The overall appearance and feel of this and events like it that I've participated in are not much different than the Sales Seminars that I once went to when I was in the business world.  It was a lot of how to recruit, keep and convince others  to join our cause.  It had motivational speakers, a rah rah party called "Fun Night" (which I'll  discuss in a moment) and the opportunity to network with ideas, stories and concerns.

For those  of you who don't know, didn't think about it or just didn't care the term "Support Staff" refers to anyone  who is NOT either an actual Teacher or Administrator (in some capacity) or other Supervisor like the Superintendent etc.  These people are often Paraprofessionals (a teacher without a degree or the pay that goes with it); Bus Drivers; Secretaries; Cafeteria Workers; Maintenance / Custodial Workers or anyone that supports the day to day school your child attends.  If you don't think they're needed think about what would  happen if they,  not the Administrators or the Teachers didn't show up just  ONE DAY.

1.  If your child makes a mess  who would clean it up?
2.  Who will hand out supplies  to the younger  children?
3.  Who will answer the phone or make sure your concern is directed accordingly.
4.  If the toilet overflows,  who will  clean it up?
5.  When the teacher has to exit the room who will watch and care for them?
Wait, NONE of the above would  ever happen because there would  be NO BUS DRIVERS to pick them up so all of this FALLS ON YOU!!!

These people,  some  with advanced degrees,  do this EVERYDAY your child is in school and yet YOU, YOUR School Board and Legislators want to treat them like second class citizens.  Often times they must work  2 jobs because the County pays them almost minimum wage.  So you ask "why" would they do this? Even my wife says  "They made that choice." Yes they did and be VERY THANKFUL that they did make that choice.  I DARE YOU to just try and do their job and no you wouldn't do it for the pay and lack of benefits they get...at least NOT here in Florida.  The FEA, their Union, does their best to make life just a little bit better for  them by fighting Tallahassee on a daily basis but most of these people  make  so little they can't afford the dues to become members.  So when it comes  to contracts and RESPECT for their contribution to YOUR  child's  education they are often forgotten or overlooked.   They have families and lives also, just like YOU and THEY ALSO  PAY TAXES AND VOTE! It is time they are recognized accordingly by YOU!

Okay I got your attention, now there I  was sitting back in the seminars and I listened and interjected when and where I could with my take on things from a Conservative point of view.  Unlike some of the participants who were also Conservative, I wore it on my chest and dared anyone to confront me.  Whether they could or couldn't, many found me  to be exactly what they assumed a Tea Party member would be; arrogant and egotistical.  Sorry to disappoint them but there were more than just me there and these quiet members are probably their best friends.  I just hate being a lemming and I'm not afraid to engage, if I was I wouldn't be doing this blog.  Now since I'm on the "engaging" rant let's go back to "Fun Night".  Oh boy, skits and songs, not unlike a Pep Rally complete with roasting the enemy team, in this case Gov. Rick Scott, who many in the room voted for but they'd never admit it.  I listened for a few moments then walked out,  it was INAPPROPRIATE and in POOR TASTE.  As I said we can't afford to alienate ANYONE and this did it and so I left, leaving my Song Book behind, darn.  The funny part is that I was joined within a few moments by one of my liberal friends who agreed with me.  For as much as I dislike President O'Bama, if I was trying to rally "Activists" against him, I certainly wouldn't do it in such a way to belittle those who may have voted for him, but hey, that's just me.
Oh and there's something I liked that came out of this adventure.  Someone in either the FEA or the NEA or somewhere came up with the thought to replace "Volunteer" with "Activist" and I  find it PERFECT! Someone who knows who came up with this, let everyone else know whose idea this was so they may be thanked.  Anyone who is fighting for a cause is an Activist and though they may Volunteer their time they aren't volunteerists  (is that even a word)?  Another thing that I really liked  was the "Inclusion Theme" wanting to make the  Conservatives  feel welcomed, except for "Fun Night".  When I as at earlier events they were hard on or even condesending toward Conservatives but not this trip.  I know I  said it before but this was really exceptional.  They, the Speakers and Organizers,  went out of their way to even mention that there were Republicans who voted in our favor and Democrats who didn't; BRAVO!

So, now that I'll  come  off my soap box, do I think these junkets are important, YES! Times are tough all over but these people do something very special, they take care of YOUR  KIDS, stop allowing them to go  UNNOTICED, UNAPPRECIATED and especially UNDERPAID...odds  are your paperboy makes more  money and yet can he write a lesson plan, comfort an autistic child, control 20  or 30 children on a  bus or  maybe answer the phone,  schedule  students and call down a teacher all at the same time...CAN YOU!  Would you  make sure a child  has lunch money when you know you may never get it  back and yet that same  money may have been for an afternoon coffee from 7-11,  (they often  can't afford Starbucks).  Would YOU clean up the  vomit or  the blood from a child, not your own, as if it were just another day at the office? Would YOU buy classroom materials with money that was supposed to pay a bill just because you're classroom kids needed them?  These people do this EVERY DAY, WOULD YOU! Next time you see someone from your school, thank them but more than that write, call and lobby your local and state legislators to stop making budget cuts from those who can least afford it and who do a most important job, they CARE FOR YOUR CHILD!

One last thing, print this and give it to a friend, neighbor, or better yet your School Board and Legislator.

Doc

NASA - SHUTTLE REMEMBERED

So it's over, the Space Shuttle now goes down in the history books.  We all have our memories of the shuttle and what it meant to us as a Nation and I am no exception.  So lets take a walk down memory lane.

I was very young when I heard about the "Race to Space" and JFK talking about a Man going to the Moon.  We all thought it was science fiction because that's what was in the comic books and in the movies at the time; though the Russians has just launched Sputnik.  We had Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers to fuel our imagination but now here was our President saying we were going to explore the stars.

Then I watched John Glen outside of his capsule which wasn't more than a ballistic missile with a place for humans in the nose.  But with television we also got to see when the 3 parachutes opened and it landed in the Pacific Ocean, WOW!

I was watching Star Trek on our RCA XL100 the only neighborhood color TV and I wondered what was next.  I didn't have long to wait as we landed Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface and a Princeton Professor by the name of O'Neil calling for a space station and the L5 Society saying "L5 in 99"; (L5 or Lunar 5 is the spot between the Earth and the Moon best suited for a space station...I think the current one is about there right now.

There were movies like "2001 A Space Odyssey" and something on the drawing board called the Space Shuttle.  I was fascinated and so I joined the Navy as an Aerospace Medical Technition and was trained in the same facility where research went on to explore the effects of outerspace on the human body.  Soon NASA rolled out the very first Shuttle and used it as a test vehicle; it's name, "Enterprise", how appropriate.

Soon shuttle flights were common and they got little press coverage.  We as a nation were thrilled with something called "ISS" the International Space Station and the Shuttle was the workhorse to supply it.

I was fortunate enough while doing my Reserve time at Cecil Field Physiology Unit to tag along on a behind the scenes tour of NASA Operations to include an up close view of 2 of the Shuttles, the Assembly Facility, the research area for the up-coming Mars Mission and talk with the people involved.  The tour was right after the Challenger disaster and the Flight Surgeon, who was our guide, explained the changes in safety protocols that had come out of it since the days of Gemini, Apollo and now the Shuttle.  Yes, we had many set backs and I got to see the pad where the Gemini Astronauts perished in a ball of fire and pieces of the wreckage from Challenger that they were still looking over.  I held in my hand the ceramic tiles that cost so very much and had caused so many headaches both on the ground and in space for the shuttle crews. 

Still, it surprises me when Senator Nelson a former Astronaut, that NASA is now on hold and the only place we can dream is either from other countries like France and Russia or in the movies.  Our current President and obviously Senator Nelson feel NASA and the dreams of little boys and girls wanting to be Astronauts means nothing for our future.  Someone needs to explain that to me, didn't they watch the movie "October Sky"? I guess not.  For those of us who have memories of all of the short-lived NASA experience, we will continue to dream.

Doc

Debt Ceiling & Government Spending

Okay, if I'm an alcoholic and I keep escalating how much I drink until I run out of money suppose I cut back on my eating so I can spend more on alcohol.  That makes sense right? Wait, I'll stop my son's allowance therefore I can spend that on more alcohol.  Oh I just got a raise at work but I've already just boosted my money allotment but hey now I can get more.

That's where we are with the Debt Ceiling.  Though we make cuts we will still spend more on whatever, just like an alcoholic or drug addict would do.  Though we cut in other areas the spending continues if we raise the limit.  Suppose we I didn't get the pay raise? The cuts I've made would limit me and make me prioritize where I spend the money I'm now saving.  President O'Bama says we "may not have it in the budget" to pay the military and elderly.  Wait a moment, wasn't the Social Security money supposed to be in a "lock box"? Oh, no, as of LBJ's administration it's now part of the General Fund and we now have Illegal Aliens that collect from Social Security; explain to me why?  Next instead of cutting back on things like entitlements, though they also need to be modified, how about the screwy things that get funded.  Here's a few I've heard about over the course of the last few months...look them up and please verify the dollar figure.


$1,000,000.00       A study on the penis size of homosexual men.

$4,000,000.00      2 women wanted to teach men in Africa how to use condoms.

$750,000.00         A study by a University of Oklahoma student who is looking at
                            Grandparents and their relationship with their Grandchildren.

And the list goes on and on go ahead and Google them.  I have several websites that I look at each day and they're loaded with these things.  Hey how about a High Speed train that would go from Orlando to Tampa in the same amount of time as you can drive it...yeah it seems it never ends and yet we want to allow the President to spend more? Are you out of your mind.  Didn't we vote new members in because we've HAD ENOUGH of this crap? Maybe I missed the point when we become Greece with a total breakdown of all services and our country goes bankrupt because they forget that we only have a finite amount of money in the world and our pockets.  Somebody explain this to me, PLEASE! As I said in an earlier post, Sarkozy is taking France kicking and screaming into a Market Economy and away from Socialism.  When those who drain the economy rather than contributing to it outnumber the producers we're doomed...oh wait they already do! STOP THIS MADNESS! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Marco Rubio is right, "we don't need more taxes we need more Tax Payers." Spread out the tax burden and cut this "garbage" spending.  Have a "means test" for those collecting government checks and NO Illegal Aliens.  They're ILLEGAL and therefor have NO rights and contribute NOTHING.  Maybe they should return to their former country since they send so much back and I see flags flying from those countries not our flag.  And I'm NOT talking about the Germans or the Norwegians when I'm talking about illegals.  That's a whole new set of issues and I'll address it in another post.

So call, write or somehow get in touch with those knuckleheads in Washington DC (not the Washington State) and tell them ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Doc




                             

Who Cares?

This could be entitled Rants and Raves but that title has be long overdone so I ask again; "Who Cares?"

First off Libya and I ask "Who Cares?" and why exactly are we there? Several years ago we showed Madman Khadafi that we could get at him when we took out his son and other members of his family so he's kept a low profile.  There was no love for the Taliband in Libya but now there's potential for them to gain a foothold in Libya and get this, with our help; oh the irony of it all.  Somebody needs to explain to me  exactly why we are dealing with the Madman and his Civil War.

Next, Mitt Romney's thorn under his saddle Michele Bachmann.  The Tea Party's golden child and seemingly and possibly actually more right than Romney, which isn't exactly hard to do; didn't Romney say he believed in Global Warming? Okay, she's getting the hype in the polls and she is Conservative but I said it before and I'll say it again; so this is what a beauty contestant does after she looses or gets too old.  As a member of the Tea Party and self-proclaimed political junky, I just don't find ANYTHING Presidential about her.  Of course I'm the one who said O'Bama didn't have a chance against Hillary.

Then there's Pawlenty, I know who? You remember the guy who wouldn't take Romney to task during the New Hampshire Republican Debate.  Yes he's incredibly qualified to be President and he does has the look of a President...confident, regal and yet there's something about him that just doesn't sit well.  He  trails in the polls and no amount of morning news shows can seem to help him with that; I caught him on the Today Show and I'm still unimpressed. 

Lastly I have a few brief thoughts to throw out to all of you and see what actually sticks in your minds.  Why doesn't Herman Cain get more media time...he's not a politician and that's suppose to be a good thing.  He actually ran a successful business and now he's trying to run the country; why not?
What is Trump doing right now? Is he just sitting back and yawning like the rest of us waiting like a viper ready to attack at just the right moment?
When will we find out if the former Hottie from Alaska is going to get into the race? Oh for those of you who aren't as shallow as myself, I'm talking about Sarah Palin.
And what exactly did the release of the oil from the Strategic Reserves do for us...as expected, NOTHING.

Doc