Standing Orders

Just Words

2009-03-03T14:36:00.004-06:00

Incredibly, Barack Obama (the Chosen One) does not pay attention to the stock market. Hey Barack! The market is down 3000 points since your inauguration.

Of course, those are just words. No one is listening or paying attention. After all, this MORON (Yes, I called the President of the United States a MORON) occupies the most powerful office in the world.

Obama might not pay attention to the market, but the market is paying attention to multi-trillion dollar spending plans, bank nationalization, credit stability plans that do not exist, the assault on prosperity, extreme tax hikes amidst a recession and socialism.

Obama has yet to understand that the world is listening to his words. The President needs to promote the country, not tear it apart. Yes we have change. No, it is not the same as hope. This change is destroying the United States. He doesn't get it, or worse, maybe he does.

Off the rails

2009-02-25T21:28:00.000-06:00

The new budget bill (no not the $800 billion porklus, no not the $410 billion mini porkulus). This is a new one being pushed down our throats by the Obama (the Chosen One) team.

This bill proposes spending $634 billion for some kind of feel good health care fund. How do they propose to raise this chunk of cash?

"By trimming tax breaks for the wealthy and squeezing payments to insurers, hospitals, doctors and drug manufacturers."

This the same super rich group we are targeting for everything else. The health care system is on life support right now, because we have been squeezing insurers and hospitals and doctors and drug manufactures.

Who do you think picks up the tab for all this largess? (Hint: Check the mirror.)

Houston we may have a problem

2009-02-25T13:57:00.003-06:00

There have been recurring questions as to Obama's (The Chosen One) status as a natural born citizen. Many pundits said this was going no where.

They be right, but an interesting lawsuit is making its way through the legal gears.

First a single soldier has asked that Obama's natural born status be confirmed. He bases his query on his oath to defend and support the constitution. Now a second soldier has joined the lawsuit.

What happens if this spreads through out the soldiers, sailors and marines?

Will Obama be compelled to produce the actual documents? And can he?

And what happens if he can not produce the proof?

Insult to Injury

2009-02-21T08:43:00.005-06:00

Comrade Obama (the Chosen One) fiddles while the stock market burns. This week we have been treated to:

The $800,000,000,000 pork barrel bill signing.
The pay-for-the-deadbeat-next-door-mortgage plan.
Called cowards by the new AG.
Dealt with rumors about bank nationalization.
Learned Iran has enough material for a bomb.
Learned the government wants to ride along via GPS and count our miles.

Even Slick Willy told President Doom and Gloom to brighten up and give people hope. It just proves that Bubba can be right once every decade. Either we have put dumbest bunch in power since Jimmy Carter or we have a Chicago style gang of thugs. Time will tell.

The Wheels Come Off

2009-02-11T07:02:00.003-06:00

Be careful for what you wish is an old proverb. Perhaps, the Obama (The Chosen One) administration should heed its warning.

The overheated rhetoric about the economy only exacerbates a bad situation. A president needs to build up the country, not tear it down.

This has not been a good week so far and it is only Wednesday morning.

Item: Obama built up the treasury plan to ail out the banks. When his tax cheat treasury secretary unveiled the plan the price tag was $1.5 trillion and details sparse.

Item: People at a town hall meeting begging for new kitchens, more benefits for a burger flipper positions, and free houses do nothing eliminate the impression that this presidency is about a money grab. Your money, their grubby fingers.

Item: The stimulus passed a test vote in the Senate. This pork laden monstrosity will probably pass and when it doesn't work, then what?

We are less than a month into this administration and the wheels look like they are flying off. The 44th president appears to be a clueless light weight.

Comrade Obama

2009-02-05T07:58:00.004-06:00

Comrade Obama (the Chosen One) moved quickly to impose a maximum wage. This is something the left has always wanted for this country. It is the ultimate statement in class warfare.

This was imposed by Presidential fiat (presumably via the TARP funds) on corporations that took government bailout money and on some who were forced to take bail out money.

What Comrade Obama (The Chosen One) does not understand (really really doesn't understand) is the marketplace. So let's look at reality. Suppose your compensation was $100,000. This compensation was approved because the expectation is that you would contribute much more than the $100,000 to the bottom line.

Along comes the government and they cut your compensation by 95% or $5000. What would you do? I know what I would do. I would go get a different job.

This is outright communism!

Terrorists and Babies

2009-01-23T09:27:00.006-06:00

Barack (The Chosen One) has signed a half dozen executive orders and presidential directives. The effect of these orders is to close Gitmo, protect the rights of terrorists and reinstate funds for abortion world wide.

This is a sick start to a presidency, and we can expect more of the same: amnesty for the butchers and butchery of the babies.

I'm going to be sick

2009-01-19T22:31:00.003-06:00

Yes, elections have consequences and one of the consequences is that Barack (The Chosen One) is president. For now I am part of the minority that thinks this is not going to be all right.

I am sick of the media slobbering all over the place. I am tired of hearing about the parties and hoopla. I see little hope in the change to come.

Inauguration day simply marks the installment of another dumb liberal in the Oval Office--Jimmy Carter II.

Joker's Wild

2009-01-05T16:08:00.004-06:00

Barack Obama (The Chosen One) tapped Leon Panetta for Director CIA.

Come again!

Leon Panetta is former Congressman, director of OBM and White House Chief of Staff. He served before and during the Clinton Administration. There is nothing, nada, zip, zilch in his background to suggest he has any competence to be Director CIA.

Panetta is a political hack. That is his resume. That is his experience. He brings nothing to the table regarding national security.

This is a very, very weak pick.

Old War Horse

2009-01-03T20:39:00.003-06:00

It was a cold day at the range. A major winter storm was on the way. Of course, I figure I need to take advantage of the great weather (16 above, light wind and damp cold) before it snows.

The guys on the line with me had the usual assortment of shotguns, AR15 rifles, modern handguns. I had a couple of Glocks and a .44 Magnum Desert Eagle. We were all blasting away.

After a while, I pull out my Lee Enfield Model 2A1. Most Enfields are chambered in .303, but the Ishapore Arsenal rechambered their Enfields to .308 (NATO standard). The British .303 ammo is expensive and difficult to find. NATO 7.62 (.308) is available and there are plenty of reloading recipes.

The two guys next to me asked me about the rifle. One of them said, "That looks really solid like it has been dragged through swamps and such." I don't know how long it sat it a storage armory, but ti took me a couple of weeks to get the gunk used to preserve the gun off the stock and metal parts.

Another guy said, "It looked like a real battle rifle." My shoulder certainly attests to the fact hat it kicks like a battle rifle. It shoots a bit high, but we are still getting to know one another.

Winter Rites

2008-12-27T12:36:00.004-06:00

One of the winter rites is my escapade on ice. At least, once each winter I do the Charlie Brown football type spill. Today was the day.

I was packing up at the range. To get back to the car I had to cross this glacier like ice sheet that had formed lasted night. The ice was about an inch thick, but I have successfully navigated this hazard for the last two hours. So there I was with my orange gun bucket in one hand and a shooting bag in the other, walking like a grampa (careful!).

One step, two steps, then things did not feel quite right. The horizon flipped over and WHAM!!!! I am flat on my back. The gun bucket is bouncing on the hard ground and stuff is flying all over the place. Two guys coming back from hanging targets witnessed my back flip and asked if I was okay.

Oh yeah, I'm fine. My pride is a bit bent, but I have been here before and I guess I'll be here again. So I picked myself up and got back on my feet. More grampa steps back to the car.

Breath Taking Corruption

2008-12-09T11:30:00.001-06:00

The feds arrested Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. The Guv has problem. He is being chased by the media, the feds, the Obama maniacs and the right wing. His list of friends might include his dog, but I doubt it.

Now the Guv is a product of the Chicago Machine, just like Obama, The Chosen One. This scandal may be nothing, or it may touch everyone connected to the machine and Obama's, The Chosen One, campaign and government.

The Guv is charged with attempting sell Obama's senate seat. Evidently there was horse trading between Obama's, The Chosen One, people and the Guv. Allegedly, Jesse Jackson Jr. offered upwards of $1,000,000 for the seat. It looks a toxic mixture of influence peddling and bribes. It is utterly delicious and it couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of thugs.

Make My Day

2008-12-09T10:00:00.003-06:00

I know it is going to be a rough four years under the Obama Thugocracy, but PLEEZEE don't insult my intelligence. In light of the massive sales spike for guns and ammo since September, Obama, the Chosen One, issued a statement attempting to calm go owners. He indicated he only believed in common sense gun measures.

That's code language for hand gun bans, confiscation, bullet taxes and other Draconian measures aimed at the second amendment.

http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/Barack_Obama_Gun_Control.htm

Common sense suggests that you keep your powder dry, your guns cleaned and oiled and your ammo stocked. We went through this with Clinton and it looks like we have another horror show ahead with the Obama Administration.

Guns and Ammo

2008-12-04T13:35:00.002-06:00

The election of Barack has been a boon to the guns and ammo folks. Certain guns have vanished due to demand. All kinds of ammo have become hard to find.
On one order I made recently, the vendor sent me the following message:

"Thank you for your order. Due to the political situation we have seen an extreme increase in orders. We are doing our best to ship out orders A.S.A.P. As it stands now your order will be shipped within 10 - 14 business days. Thank you for your patience."

The political situation is that we have elected a gun grabber to the White House and all of us gun people remember the last time this happened. We had legislation that judged guns on their looks and magazine capacity. Washington punished the people most capable of protecting the Stars and Stripes. We you see a spike in sales like this, it means those same people are fearful of being punished again for doing nothing more than obeyiong the law and paying their taxes.

Range Day

2008-12-03T22:24:00.003-06:00

My neighbor (we'll call him Rambo) wanted to try out some different hand guns to figure out which one he liked the best. So I loaded up an assortment of .45 and 9mm pistols for him to try out.

I did my best to keep my bias out of the mix, although, there were 2 Glocks in the mix. I carry Glocks exclusively.

He worked his way through the auto loaders, then I gave him a .357 Magnum revolver to try. Wheel guns might not be sexy anymore, but they still deliver the goods. Rambo liked the muzzle blast and the flames licking out of the cylinder.

Rambo had a good time. He looked over at the black nylon case. I pulled out a UZI and eight magazines. Oh, he had to try that!

I mentioned I needed to test one other gun as I had changed the stock and wanted to make sure this thing behaved the way I intended.

"What is it?" asked Rambo.

"A Mossberg 590 with an adjustable stock, pistol grip, ghost ring sights and a seven round magazine."

His eyes twinkled.

"Birdshot?" he wondered as I loaded the magazine.

"No, rifled slugs," I answered. The whole reason for the Mossberg is to put an end to nasty problems.

"Rifle slugs! I've got to try those."

I ran through the magazine as fast as I could to make sure everything fed okay. Then I loaded it up for Rambo and let him have at it.

You see a Mossberg modified like this loaded with rifle slugs goes bang real loud, makes really big holes down range and produces a silly grin.

Rambo was hooked.

Stupid Orders

2008-11-10T09:22:00.004-06:00

Obama has declared that he will issue two executive orders rescinding two Bush orders. I despise the entire executive order process, because it further removes us from oversight on the mischief our elected leaders perpetrate.

The plan is to reverse the stem cell research order. Over the past 8 years, alot has happened and the need for embryonic stem cells is a moot point. However, this has nothing to do with science and everything to do with Obama's abort now and abort always ideology.

We are back to the symbolism over substance days.

The second is to reverse Bush's order lifting the the ban on drilling in America. This is a <many expletives deleted> in-your-face slap to the American consumer and tax payer as we bound aimlessly towards some holy grail of carbon offsets and Kyoto protocols. The liberals have no interest in energy independence, because that leads to liberty - and that is the last thing this new administration is interested in preserving.

Another Fine Mess

2008-11-05T13:14:00.002-06:00

One day after American elected a thug to the White House and installed democratic majorities in both houses of congress, Russian missiles are being moved closer to the Polish border, Israel and Hamas or lining up to start killing each other again, and the market drops 300 points.

Of course, this election was not about race. It certainly wasn't about ideas (lies and half truthes maybe, but not ideas).

The country will survive this mistake. And the Chosen One might discover that the Oval Office is a crucible that has crushed better men than him.

If Obama is allowed to enact his policies, he will go down with Herbert Hoover as a president who wrecked the economy.

Are we nuts?

2008-10-10T08:22:00.002-05:00

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) appears to have perpetrated massive voter fraud across the country.

We have stories of people being register 79 times, 4000 dead people on Houston voter rolls, homeless people in Ohio registering in multiple counties.

Of course, ACORN is a non-partisan group that is getting millions of dollars from the Obama campaign and even more money from the tax payers.

It is becoming clear that ACORN is attempting to subvert the national election. ACORN is a left wing group with a socialist ideology. I leave it to you to determine who that favors. What we do about it is another question.

I think one of the things that has kept the middle class in check is prosperity. What the combination of a stolen election and crumbling stock market does to suburbia is any one's guess, but I have a feeling the IRS might have a wee bit of trouble collecting taxes next April.

It is a Strategy

2008-09-09T20:07:00.002-05:00

Barry Obama and Joey Biden have a strategy. It is to denegrate Sarah Palin. For the past ten days they have done nothing but tear her down. It is astounding to watch them continue to destroy their candidacy.

The latest took place in Virginia, where Obama made a nuanced reference to Governor Palin's self reference that the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is lip stick. She made that explanation, when people cautioned her that taking on an entrench establishment could get rough. Well this campaign has gotten slimy and dirty and Obama and Biden are rolling about in pig slop.

Here's Barry blowing his chance for the White House.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPd4yk0x-eg

Nitwit

2008-09-09T17:54:00.001-05:00

Joe Biden makes the Viking's coaching staff look absolutely brilliant. Now that's hard to do since I believe we should submit the coaching staff to an MRI and determine once and for all whether they have a brain or a heart - ah but that is something a different post.

Back to Je Biden - the human foot-in-mouth candidate. Today when asked his thoughts (there was the first mistake) about Sarah Palin becming the next Vice President, he said it was a step backwards for women.

But don't take my word for it. Watch Joe's inane comments yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/v/ijGoISc7vFc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1

You have to wonder how long the Obama Campaign can hang with old Joe.

She is driving them nuts!

2008-08-31T08:38:00.003-05:00

Sarah Palin is pro life, pro gun and pro tax reform. Some say a governor without Washington experience is not qualified for president. I say that governors are where we find our presidents.

Carter, Reagan, Clinton and Bush were all governors.

Johnson, Nixon and Bush (41) were all vice presidents.

JFK was the last senator. However, JFK led men into combat. That certainly counts for some executive experience.

I would suggest that Sarah Palin is eminently qualified to be president. I think one of the problems with recent presents is the Ivy league, policy wonkish attitude towards so many things. The idea that someone with down home common sense might come to be a heart beat away from the presidency has to scare the willies out of the establishment.

And it is the established interests and biases that have brought this country to huge national debts and the social mores of the common alley cat. America is better than that, and with the right leadership she can rise to greater heights.

Zeus!

2008-08-28T15:49:00.002-05:00

Maybe it is just me, but I think it is a bad sign when people are photoshopping you into a toga on the eve of your acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination for the presidency.

It might be the Greek Temple or the open air stadium. It could be the unrelenting Messiah complex that Barry Obama continues to encourage.

Barry continues to be confused about when life begins and nuclear arms control. I guess both must be above his pay grade.

People with a God complex have come to bad ends. You see the Most High God is not amused when men place themselves above the throne of heaven. Their fall is sudden, sharp and perilous.

Biden?

2008-08-23T07:21:00.004-05:00

I saw the early stories last night and muttered, the idiot (eh, the Anointed One) picked Joe Biden - Mr. Plagiarism! In 1987, Joe got caught plagiarizing a speech by Neil Kinnock (then head of the British Labour Party). The incident blew Biden out of the presidential sweep stakes. We also discovered shortly there after that during his first year at law school he plagiarized a law review article.

Biden has been on the Senate Judiciary Committee forever. I am not sure what qualifies this hack to be there, but we heard him during the Judge Bork lynching (hearings) and the Justice Clarence Thomas smear campaign (no, those were confirmation hearings too).

The Obama/Biden ticket embodies two arrogant political hacks that love to hear themselves speak. Unfortunately, what gushes forth is a babble of nonsensical crap that parades about as stilted, intellectual gobbly-gook.

To paraphrase Rush from yesterday, "We do not pray very often here at the EIB network, but please God let it be Biden."

In all seriousness, this is a disastrous pick. Obama should have picked a Governor. Two senators with zero (or below) experience as executives generally do not make it to the White House. The last duo to achieve this was Kennedy/Johnson. However, JFK lead men in combat, and LBJ had been senator Majority Leader. They had oodles more experience than these two empty suits.

The Obama/Biden ticket embodies one man who befriends domestic terrorists and another that only knows how to follow.

More Consequences

2008-08-17T13:35:00.003-05:00

Sometimes the best guy on your team is the guy you oppose. Vlad Putin, Czar of Russia, Conqueror of Georgia, all around not-nice-guy is accomplishing things that have stymied the Bush administration for years.

Now the Ukraine wants American missiles (and with it American troops). They see the benefits of foreign troops on their soil like their neighbors in Poland.

Why? Because there is no other country that will stand up to the Russians, the Chinese and the whacko Islamists. America represents freedom and security in a troubled world. And we have a track record (one that led directly to Polish and Ukrainian freedom) of standing up to Russian imperialism.

The other consequence is the surging dollar. Money is flowing back into the dollar, because where else does the economic security for the free world exist. The dollar is up sharply against the Euro and Pound Sterling. This helps the US economy and hurts the Russian economy, since their wealth is based on oil exports.

Oh, and did anyone notice how inaccurate and primitive the Russian weapons worked. Granted they maimed and killed, but they had to be deployed with blind lethality.

Vlad, do you really want to face down super accurate, stealth based weapons? Are you really up to taking on Uncle Sam? Think carefully before you answer.

Consequences!

2008-08-15T12:53:00.003-05:00

The Soviet Invasion (darn, I keep making that mistake - Russian invasion) of Georgia produced outcomes that Vlad did not count on.

One: Poland agreed to the basing of American SDI missiles on its territory. This was deal that was all but dead, then Russian armor crossed the Russian/Georgia border. In the last century was overrun by Nazi Germany, then the Soviet Union barged in on the other side. The process a terrible scar was ripped across the whole of Poland. These people know and remember what invaders look and sound like. Russians and Germans are not embraced with open arms.

Two: Barack, the anointed one has no clue as to what to do. At one point, he urged the UN to pass a Security Council Resolution condemning Russia. EH, doesn't Russian have veto power on the Security Council - oops I guess the messiah missed that little detail.

Three: McCain instinctively understood what was going on and blasted Vlad (the Czar) Putin for empire building.

The Russians are the bad guys. The Russian Government is not a democracy, it is a dictatorship. Nothing has changed except faces and titles. Out of Bush, McCain and Obama, only McCain understood immediately what was going on, and he reacted accordingly.

That's presidential.

Russian Empire

2008-08-14T14:06:00.002-05:00

Soviet (eh, I mean Russian) armor rolled over an international border this week. They invaded Georgia (no not next to Alabama) on the Black Sea.

Then the Russians declared a truce that was not a truce. They lied about provocations. They timed their invasion to catch the Bush administration flat footed.

I was reminded of Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968 and Afghanistan in 1980. Are we shocked the Vlad Putin wants to Czar? These are Russians and they will kill, rape and maim because that is how they have andled things for hundreds of years.

The important thing here is to recognize that Russia remains an adversary, not an ally.

The Amazon Referendum

2008-08-01T12:59:00.004-05:00

The publication of a new book is an exciting moment. Believe me, you get a tingle as you wait and see what others think of your effort. Usually a process that began 12 to 18 months earlier with a blank screen on your word processor.

Or it could be a nighmare as in the case of Nancy Pelosi's just penned bomb.

I think it is indicative of her tenure as speaker that out of the 232 reviews on Amazon, a whopping 214 are 1 star reviews. I am sure most of these people would have gone lower (much lower) if they could.

Timing is critical in the publishing world, and whoever brought this mess to press should have considered that the leader of the 9% Congress and the most avid opponent of off shore oil drilling when gas is $5 a gallon might catch some flak.

Right now Nancy and company think they are going to pick up 30 seats in the house, a 60 plus seat majority in the senate and the Oval Office. Granted they are running against republicans, but I think there is a chance that all of those predictions fall short.

And Nancy it is a long long drop from House Speaker to ordinary Congressman.

Take me to your Leader

2008-07-30T15:11:00.004-05:00

Twenty years ago, the Dukakis campaign was taking measurements for the new curtains in the Oval Office. They were telling us about the changes they planned to make around the WHite House.

One problem, they lost to Vice President Bush in November 1988.

One of the most telling images from that campaign was Governor Dukaksis trying to look tough, so he took a tank ride. He reminded me of the Martian from the Bugs Bunny cartoons. Dukaksis looked like a nerd and I think people never took him serious after the tank photo.

Senator Obama (or Barry as some of us call him) could not take time to visit injured troops in Germany.

Why?

Because the Pentagon said no to turning this into another spectacle for the slobbering press gaggle, dogging his steps. So he decided to go to the gym and work out.

Today, the Obama campaign is fond of telling us that they plan to rip out the White House bowling alley and replace it with a basket ball court. I wonder if they are measuring the curtains?

I know of a wounded Marine who was flown to Germany and was probably at the military hospital at the same time Barry decided to forego his visit to the wounded troops. This Marine is 19 years old. He lost his leg below the knee. His parents reached out in prayer to other people. They thanked God when they heard that their son's conidtion had been upgraded to serious from very serious. There were a couple of days where they had no idea exactly what was going on.

I cannot imagine their pain and worry.

Barry did not have time to visit. No photo op, no Barry. I think this was Barry's tank ride.

I think I'll go vomit now.

Where the Sun Doesn't Shine

2008-07-21T16:07:00.006-05:00

Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid have such a vested interest in the whacko-eco movement and the bogus climate change argument that they care not a whit for what happens to the American tax payer.

They are all shrill and no drill.

Oil shale deposits that are largely on federal land are off limits to development. The outer continental shelf is off limits to development. The Arctic National Wildlife Reserve is off limits to development.

If you found oil in the back yard chances are the democrats would pass a law to make you keep your hands off your property.

Speaking of property, who owns all these vast reserves (estimated at 3 times the proven reserves in the Middle East)?

You do. I do. We the people have permitted a highly paid group of politicians to deprive us of our oil. They have their heads so far up that proverbial area where the sun don't shine that they probably see their tonsils.

If we elect Obama, we can expect more of the same and spiraling prices at the pump.

If you aren't angry, you should be! The source of our energy problem is Washington DC. If you look in the mirror you'll see who put them there. If we don't throw the bums out, then we're all destine become bums ourselves.

Over Heated Mismanagement

2008-07-13T11:10:00.003-05:00

Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger has aimed his blame at the Bush Administration and its failure to address the global warming scam. The raging forest fire, formerly known as Kalifornia, is the result of climate change.

Note: We call it climate change and not global warming anymore, because the bloviating scammers are no longer sure whether we are heating up or cooling down.

The forest fires (that have become a staple of life in the land nuts and berries) are caused by global warming. I guess there must be spontaneous combustion taking place at the tree line.

Of course, if you look at the satellite imagery, the fires seem to stop at the Mexican border. Based on such logic, I guess it is cooler in Baja. Or it might be the Mexican Government is managing their forest resources.

You see the Eco nut jobs want a pristine wilderness--no roads, no thinning, no logging, nothing. Just let the lightning strike and incinerate 700,000 acres. Sounds like a great plan to me. And when the liberal, wacky-doodle schemes don't work, then blame the republicans, the war mongers, the neo-cons--anything and anybody, but the misguided and myopic policies that allowed the fuel to pile up and prep the forest for a really big fire.

2nd Amendment Stands

2008-06-26T14:46:00.004-05:00

In a 5 to 4 decision, the Supremes got this one right. They struck down the DC gun ban, and indirectly took aim at similar laws in Chicago, New York and LA.

They affirmed that the 2nd Amendment guarantees an individual right to firearm ownership and the use of a weapon for self defense.

This is a ground shaking affirmation for 100 million gun owners nationwide. For people such as myself, it is a big sigh of relief. I have rights to carry in about thirty-five states: the combined coverage of my Minnesota, Florida and South Carolina carry permits.

While the decision stops at abolishing gun free zones (which are nothing more that target rich environments better labeled bullet magnets), it does clear affirm my individual right to own hand guns, and that said handgun does not need a trigger lock or to be disassembled. Furthermore, a responsible gun owner is going to have a safe to secure his or her weapons.

Of course, any weapon carried for personal protection is locked and loaded--bad guy beware.

Where Else?

2008-06-25T20:15:00.002-05:00

The Golden Arches is an American symbol. Drive up windows at fast food restaurants are part of our culture. So the Madison Planning Commission (or should we say Al Gore Commissars) want to ban drive up windows.

Wisconsn has given the country many things: brats and beer, the Green Bay Packers (and their fans). We've often suspected that all the beer had burned out their brain cells and enhanced their fat cells. Now we have proof!

These bloviated morons claim that shutting down drive through windows will help us contain global warming. Why don't we just turn out the lights everywhere and eradicate man from the globe. That's about the only thing that will make these nut jobs happy.

Global warming is a big scam, and only a bunch of social engineers (I've resisted calling them commies) with too much time on their hands would take aim at drive through windows for fast food restaurants.

sab ipod icon

2008-06-22T19:26:00.004-05:00

My Ipod just quit in the midst of a Jars of Clay Album. Terrific! My iTunes library is 1300 miles to the north, so let's see what Apple Support says.

I went through the steps on the support site, when that didn't work (i.e. my Ipod just stared at me with a fully charged battery and a very dim screen). I Googled for help.

Now this is something they don't tell you on the Apple Support site. Try tapping the Ipod on its side. You see we are trying to get to the disk reset screen. Note we ae talking about smashing the thing, just a gentle tap.

Now I thought about this for a while. There's a little disk drive deep inside this thing, and in the old days when disk platter thickness was measured in millimeters and head crashes left visible marks, you could sometimes get a reluctant disk drive to spin up again by tapping on it. This is akin to using a hammer on a seized starter motor on a car.

She came back to life, but I'll heed the warning. It is time to invest in a new generation Ipod.

sleazy

2008-06-21T13:55:00.005-05:00

Once again the Obama campaign demonstrates that there is no depth they will not dip. They have come up with the Obama sea, which is a rip off of the presidential seal.

This poor sister is showing up on podiums where this would be agent of hope and change pontificates. Granted what he says are the clueless rantings of a demagogue.

Cap and Trade

2008-05-30T09:31:00.005-05:00

The global warming scammers are at it again. The Senate is debating the Climate Security Act (S. 2191). According to the Congressional Budget Office, this bill will impose $1.2 TRILLION in next taxes over the next 10 years and $90 BILLION in unfunded mandates to the private section every year.

This is a bogus scheme to trade carbon credits (generally called cap and trade). This will not reduce emissions. This will not help the economy. This WILL NOT PRODUCE ANY MORE ENERGY.

This is just another way for government to separate you from your money in the name of climate change. Go to http://www.nocapandtrade.com and give this looney tunes a piece of your mind.

Overheated Ideas

2008-05-25T21:51:00.005-05:00

Bad ideas and democrats are a match made it hell. Recently, Obama promised enviro-whackos in Oregon that we'll stop global warming.

“We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK.”

Somewhere along the way he forgot that he wants to be President of the United States. The job requires that you stick up for us against the rest of the world.

But what can you expect from a guy who doesn't what to wear the flag and whose wife isn't exactly proud of America and whose pastor hates America?

The democrat's energy plan

2008-05-25T21:39:00.005-05:00

The democrats tell us we'll have to drive little cars that run on some magic technology, freeze during winter, bake in the summer and go hungry. Their energy plan is to turn down the thermostat, drive less and conserve. This sounds eerily like Jimmy "The Peanut Farmer" Carter when he came to the American people, wearing a cardigan sweater, and told us we needed to change our ways because the world was running out of oil. That was 1978.

However, a different energy plan emerged during the House show trials (eh, Congressional Hearings) with the oil company execs. Maxine Waters told the CEO of Shell Oil, "This liberal will be about sociali..uh..um..will be about basically taking over and letting the government running all of your companies." The CEO shot back that they'd already seen that one carried out by Hugo Chavez (current nut job running Venezuela).

Maxine wants to nationalize the oil industry! This is a member of Congress. A member of the Black Congressional Caucus. A contemporary of Barack Obama. This is someone who will have influence in a Barack Obama administration.

Wake up America!

Toes Up!

2008-05-24T21:41:00.005-05:00

When a Clinton starts talking about dead people, then you should pay attention. Troublesome people have a habit of dropping over (you know, well dead) around the Clintons. Candidate Clinton gave this explanation for staying in the race to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it."

I guess this means that dream ticket ain't gonna happen anymore.

You've got to be kidding

2008-05-21T11:23:00.003-05:00

The National Republican Congressional Committee called today.

They wanted a donation. Just $500. These are really funny folks.

I made it real simple for the poor woman on the other end of the line (what a lousy joib she has). You want a donation, then fix the oil mess and quit destroying the value of the dollar.

I gave her two ideas:

Drill for oil inside the United States. (When they had majorities in both houses, they never had the guts to make this happen.)
Support the dollar.

Drilling for oil and building refineries sounds like a no brainer, but consider the audience.

Supporting the dollar would impact the price of oil and put downward pressure on oil. However, this is an Administration policy that has absolutely no validity in the current climate.

I'll end up voting Republican again, because the other guys are basically crazy. So we enter another election cycle without a real choice.

Brain Dead

2008-05-21T11:13:00.002-05:00

Conngress just passed a law to sue OPEC for collusion.

Come again?

OPEC is an organization that is not subject to US law.

Congress wants to pass a windfalls profit tax to punish the oil companies.

Class warfare 101. Congress seeks to punish someone for the current mess.

Neither of these moves helps the price of oil or puts one more drop of oil into the system.

If these brain dead, morons want to fix the problem it is real simple. If they want to know who to blame, they should look in the mirror.

Drill! Drill in ANWR, off the west and east coasts and the Gulf of Mexico. We have barrels and barrels and barrels of oil in this country, but we won't drill and we won't build refineries.

Why? Because Congress has blocked any rational energy policy that comes down the pike.

It is time to throw the bums out and I mean all of them. Washington is severely broken and obviously corrupt.

Let's Scare Seniors... Again

2008-05-18T22:21:00.006-05:00

Change, change, change.

Blah, blah, blah.

The new politics has broken down into the same old scare tactics. Obama is warning seniors that they better vote for the democrats, otherwise, McCain and the republicans are going to take away Social Security.

It is far more likely that Social Security is going to die from neglect. But why should Congress and the special interests that run Congress care about Social Security anymore than everything else they have neglected.

Another dumb idea

2008-05-13T15:40:00.004-05:00

The pistol cam is a device to provide lights, action, camera as soon as a weapon is drawn from the holster. The New York State Police are testing this idea.

Anytime a legislative body (composed of anti gunners, non-gunners, and a sprinkling of NRA members) decides to mandate equipment for firearms, you should grab you guns and run for the hills.

I may have my differences with law enforcement training and proficiency, but I would not want a device that activated a camera and a 120 lumen bulb hanging off the end of my gun should I ever have to draw it.

Why? Glad you asked...

Many enounters requiring fire arms occur in low light. (So why would I want to tell the bad guys exactly where I am?)
Most encounters happen at a distance of 10 to 15 feet. (There are enough things happening right then, that I would not want to be bothered by a hunk of unnatural metal hanging off the end of my gun.)
This thing looks like it can snag on just about anything. (So great, I get it tangled up in my clothing or belt and meanwhile the bad guy shoots me.)
This pistol camera only activates once it is drawn from the holster. (What good does that do me? If I have reached the point in a event where I need to draw my gun, alot has happened already. None of this will show up on this handy-dandy camera.)

At best, the pistolcam is going to show where the gun was pointed and where the bullet went (maybe).

Great Gun Grabbers We Know

2008-04-14T11:10:00.001-05:00

Hell must have frozen over! Hillary (one of the great gun grabbers) is defending the Second Amendment. She even darkened the church door and drank whiskey shots.

All this to prove that she does not view America as an embittered gaggle of gun-toting, Bible thumpers. The truth is she agrees with everything Barack said, but she is crafty enough not to say it.

Have no illusions, Hillary and Barack want to take your guns away, and tax you until your eye balls fall out.

Have Dictator Will Hug

2008-04-13T07:18:00.003-05:00

Where does one begin with Jimmy Carter? He is certainly one of the worst presidents in history, and by far he is the worst ex-President we have ever had.

Not exactly the brightest bulb when it came to foreign policy while in office (Mariel boatlife when Castro emptied his jails; a hug for Brezhnev ten days before the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; and the 444 day hostage crisis in Iran).

Then there is the hit parade of after office love fests: Arafat, Chaves, Castro, North Korea (the whole bloody government), Omar al-Bashar (mass murderer of Dafur Christains) and now the head of Hamas in Syria. There are plenty more examples: Robert Mugabe, Than Shwe (who?!?). This is the current murderer who rules Myanmar (what most us remember as Burma).

Jimmy Carter fetes the blood thirty and infamous. Sometimes I think the more blood thirsty the better. He doesn't care a wit about the foreign policy implications (but he never has) as long as he can remain in the spotlight on his ill conceived and ill fated human rights tour.

The only human rights Carter seems interested in are those of bloody handed dictators and American enemies .

Hey Barack!

2008-04-12T14:59:00.003-05:00

I must be one of those bitter, gun-toting, religious nuts Barack was talking about. I don't trust government. I don't trust democrats, and I certainly don't trust Obama or Clinton.

At a San Francisco fund raising event made the following comment:

"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them...And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not.

And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Gee it is tax time and I just paid my taxes that totalled well in the high five figures. So yes, I am bitter at the waste and abuse and the seemingly endless belief that I have unlimited resources to fork over in taxes.

Yes, I own guns and I shoot guns and I believe in the 2nd Amendment. It is in the constitution.

Yes, I go to church. Not one a screwed up church like Bracks', but one that actually preaches the gospel from the pulpit.

I'm not sure what antipathy towards people means, but I am tired of tax and spend and spend and spend liberals.

I'm not anti immigrant, I just want people in this country go through the same rules and hoops my family went through to come here.

Finally, I am proponent of free and fair trade, not tariffs designed to hike prices and drive us further into recession.

I guess I am just not enl;ightened enough to vote for the liberals.

Friendly Missives

2008-03-16T14:47:00.004-05:00

I've been gone for three weeks and a mountain of mail awaited me when I returned home. Buried deep in the mound were four missives from my friends at the Internal Revenue Service.

I always appreciate their loan shark attitude (you can say anything with a smile and a gun).

Two letters were duplicates, explaining that the $3000 they filched from me last August had a slight error (heart tremor - could they want more!?!). They explained that they miscalculated my interested and owed me $11.03.

The next item was celebration of the governments phony-baloney stimulus package and all the money I am due to receive. The last time they sent me money (post 9/11 $200 per kid payments), it turned out their largess was taxable income. This time they want to send me $1200 as long as I don't make too much on my 2007 return. So another tax the rich and give to the non-taxpayer scheme.

The last item was a check for $11.03. I'll try not to blow it all in one place. If I hurry, I might still be able to buy three gallons of gas.

The Beach House

2007-12-06T07:43:00.000-06:00

Now that the kids are married and the tuition bills are behind us, we wandered off to South Carolina and purchased a townhouse.

We landed in Myrtle Beach, and this is a photo of Pier 14 on the Grand Strand. As the crow flies, this is about 3 miles from the house, of course, the streets make it a bit longer.

There are some stark contrasts between Minnesota and South Carolina during the winter months. The grass stays green in Myrtle Beach, back in Minnesota we have to wait until April to see it again. Water remains in a liquid form and sunshine is actually warm. I can run outside in a T-shirt and shorts. Last winter, I bundled up in Under Armor, long sleeve shirts and hoodies (I looked like the Michelin Man).

On the day we returned to Minnesota, the temperature difference was 69 degrees! You figure it out.

Of course, Minnesota has something we can find no where else - kids and grandkids. That makes all the difference.

The Great Hope

2007-09-06T22:59:00.000-05:00

The start of football season is always a wonderful time. There is hope that the Purple will rise again. There is talk that they'll be better than last year. Some even think they might get off to a 4-0 start before the bye.

Woof woof.

Okay, a little reality. I have been bleeding purple longer than I care to admit. We start the season with a QB that has yet to toss a TD, and a defense that might be truly scary.

The problem is - no one knows what this team will do. I have heard everything from 2-14 to 10-6.

All right, 2-14 is unlikely, and 10-6 suggests you failed your last drug screening. Personally, I can't decide whether this season's team is a 5-11 or 6-10 team. Without a credible passing attack, the running attack will suffer. Unless the defense scores 3 tds per game, we're in big trouble. If we have to rely on the offense to pull the load, then I think we're in for a whole lot of hurt.

Drinking the Kool Aid

2007-08-01T07:51:00.000-05:00

It is that euphoric time of year - training camp! A time of hope when reality is ignored, and we in Viking land are lulled into a sense of false hope.

This could be the year!

Helllllooooo - is anybody in there?

Let's see, we have an unproven receiver core, a second year quarterback, a porous secondary, and Mister Personality for a coach.

This team went six and ten last year. It sported an unimaginative offense. They were painful to watch.

Reality will soon intrude, once we start playing real games. Oh we might get off to a fast start like last year, but we'll fade to another miserable season - somewhere between 5-11 to 7-9. Maybe next year we'll get a real coach.

No! Really?

2007-04-26T07:01:00.000-05:00

The Financial Times discovered that there is rampant fraud and abuse taking place in the carbon credit market. The strive to be green is making people a lot of green.

As far as I can figure, the all you need is a printer (or better yet a pdf file - save the trees!) and a website. Start selling your basic credit for $9.95 and for the truly gullible (Al Gore, Sheryl Crow et al...) we can step up to the super duper credit $49.95.

For anyone looking for salve for your carbon guilt, go no further! Just drop by my website (DouglasDeBono.com) and send me an email, we'll happily sell you as much as you need to feel better.

And what do you get for your $9.95/credit? A really nice looking pdf certification.

Wipe Up, Wipe Out, Get Wiped

2007-04-24T07:25:00.000-05:00

Sheryl Crow global warming activist, Karl Rove fan and Al Gore groupie issued a pronouncement on how all of us can save the planet. As with all such edicts, the science is indisputable.

Ms. Crow suggest that we reduce our toilet paper usage to one square per visit. Think of the trees we can save! Think of the environmental impact! Think of the mess in your drawers, not to mention other places!

I'm sure there is scientific model in Al Gore's panafly of color slides and dubious conjectures that supports Ms. Crow's assertion, I'm just not certain I see the cost/benefit.

Of course, entrepreneurial types will simply change their marketing strategies. Instead of 1000 sheets per roll, we'll probably be treated to huge single squares. But then how do we flush that down the 1 gallon per flush toilets?

What a mess we've made...

Coward!

2007-04-20T07:25:00.000-05:00

Harry Reid declared, "The War is Lost."

Well that's great news Harry. I'm sure the men and women fighting in Iraq appreciate your sentiment. So you want to ignore the fact that al Qaeda is active in Iraq. You want to abandon Afghanistan to the Taliban. You want tuck tail and show the bad guys your yellow backside.

Did you share with the troops that you have a political agenda? Have you mentioned that your see George Bush as the greater enemy? Did September 11 kind of slip your mind?

Harry the bad guys are still out there. They want to kill us all. It is far better that they die in the sand pile called the Middle East rather than the streets of New York or Des Moines.

It is bad enough we have to fight this war in the first place. It is far worse when we have to put up with a party of panty waste wimps.

Blowing a bolt

2007-04-17T10:13:00.000-05:00

Incidents like the Virginia Tech massacre drive me nuts. In a country of 300 million people plus resident aliens, illegals etc..., there is a certain fraction of people who are just plain crazy.

Yesterday one of them blew bolt and started killing people. We have seen this before, and we have seen stringent rules regarding weapons at schools imposed. What good have they done?

Declaring some place to be a "Gun Free Zone" simply tells the bad guys and the nut jobs that here is a target rich environment where no one will shoot back. We have tried the left's prescription for school violence and it has not worked. Thirty-two victims silently attest this failure.

The shooter was armed with two handguns: a Walther P-22 and a Glock 19. One person armed with one gun could have brought this to an end. Law enforcement has proven incapable of preventing or even adequately responding to these incidents. People need to be empowered to protect themselves, but Virginia law dictates that no one is permitted to carry a weapon on campus.

That leaves only the bad guys armed. This is crazy.

Public Enemy Number 1

2007-04-17T09:37:00.000-05:00

Pictured here is the rare and dangerous killer Yorkie--all 7 pounds of her. SHe is a terror to squirrels, sticks and snacks (especially the snacks).

However, on Sunday Minnetonka's finest felt compelled to issue her a citation for being off her leash. Granted she was disconnected from her mistress, but she was less than three feet away on a trail in a park.

The cops chased her down in a SUV (something that drives me crazy when I meet them during a run down the trails). There is no room for anybody else when you meet them in their Suburbans on a running trail.

I'm not quite sure what happened to common sense, but the city has decided to strictly enforce leash laws. Meanwhile a coyote was running loose elsewhere in the park. I guess leash laws don't apply there.

Nancy and the Wolf

2007-04-07T08:27:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time (1799 to be exact), a Pennsylvanian named George Logan engaged in negotiations with the French Government. This really upset a lot of people, and Congress passed a law called the Logan Act that prohibits unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments.

John Adams signed the Logan Act into law. It seems to me that if the framers of the Constitution saw this activity as a problem, they are probably spinning in their graves over the recent stunt by Speaker Pelosi.

Clearly, Pelosi was not authorized by the Bush Administration to broker Mid East Peace. In fact, the Administration urged Speaker Pelosi to cancel her trip to Syria.

Not Nancy!

She bumbled and fumbled her way from Damascus to Riyadh, leaving a wake of miscues and outright lies.

Did she violate the Logan Act?

If you read the news accounts, it certainly sounds like it.

Did she violate separation of powers?

Most definitely. This was not a fact finding mission, this was a grand stand stunt to usurp presidential authority over foreign policy.

Will she be prosecuted?

No, but she should be. In fact, presidential administrations should vehemently defend their franchise over foreign policy.

Blasphemy

2007-04-02T23:10:00.000-05:00

Don't mind us, we're just Christians. We won't burn down your buildings or declare jihad. We'll shake our heads and probably pray for you.

Obama is not your savior. Portraying him as such alienates a good chunk of the electorate. God is not mocked.

If the Obamaites wish to pursue this offensive messiah complex, then they will go the way of the Hittites, Amorites, Moabites - well you get the picture.

British Backbone

2007-03-31T16:40:00.000-05:00

When Argentina seized the Falkland Islands, they came face to face with the Iron Lady, and Maggie Thatcher never blinked. Instead, she sent her navy, her air force and her soldiers to liberate British citizens.

Argentina committed an act of war, and that's what they got.

On March 25 2007, the Iranians committed an act of war. They abducted 15 British Marines in Iraqi waters.

This time the HMS Cornwall was close by. A type 22 frigate launched in 1985 with modern weapon systems that is more than capable of handling most threats. In addition, the Cornwall was in contact with 2 American Carrier Battle Groups. That is enough firepower to sink the entire Iranian Navy and shoot down the entire Iranian Air Force.

Incredibly, they let the Iranians retreat to their ports.

In contrast, Tony Blair has spewed harsh words and sought redress through the United Nations. Twenty years earlier, the Iron Lady sortied into the South Atlantic without regard to anyone, including her strongest ally - the United States.

Iran wants a crisis.

I say let's give them one they can't handle.

Gutless Wonders

2007-03-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

I expect Democrats to promote abortion on demand, higher taxes and restrictions on gun rights. I expect them to embrace voting rights for non-residents and gay rights for homosexuals.

However, to lay down and surrender before al Qaeda is beyond reckoning. The party of appeasement has set a dead line for the withdrawal of American Forces. Have they learned nothing from the Cold War?

Obviously, not.

America maintained forces, ready to fight and die along the border of the Iron Curtain. NATO faced down over 200 Warsaw Pact divisions. We kept nuclear armed bombers in the air for decades. We spent trillions on a war no one wanted to fight, and we kept the peace.

Appeasement emboldens our enemies, and time tables assist their vicious plans.

Of course, their latest outrage has nothing to do with the war and everything to do with George Bush.

Bush 43 might not be the best president we ever had, but he understands one thing: al Qaeda is trying to kill us and we had better kill them first.

Note to the appeasers: that's the definition of war.

Robbing Us Blind!

2007-03-29T07:54:00.000-05:00

The Democrats won last November. No surprise there, the Republicans deserved to get kicked in the kiester.

In Minnesota, our peculiar brand of Tax & Spenders inherited a 2 Billion dollar surplus. So what do they want to do: raise taxes!

They want to add 10 cents to the gas tax. They want to add another income tax tier so they can provide property tax relief (communism by any other definition). They want to spend billions more on education. They want to provide universal health care! And on and on it goes.

If the Democrats have their way, then Minnesota will be 4th highest taxed state in the Union.

Once again the legislature earns the moniker as the state's most hazardous waste dump.

We've Been Here Before

2007-03-29T07:20:00.000-05:00

Twenty-eight years ago, Jimmy Carter failed to act when Iranian students overran the American Embassy. By the time Carter realized that talking with the turban wrapped nut jobs was not working, it was too late for his presidency and effective military action.

Now the students are running the Persian sandbox and they're back to their youthful endeavors.

Iran is not interested in talk. They are making a point. They wish to humiliate Great Britain. There is only one thing they will understand - force.

If we want a successful conclusion to this latest outrage, then the west (in this case Great Britain and the United States) need to hit Iran fast, hard and continuously until the Mullahs cry uncle.

The short list includes Iran's refineries and tankers. If that fails to gain their attention, then flatten their power generation facilities. We must make it clear that the West will not tolerate outlaw actions, otherwise, we had better start learning Farsi and Arabic.

The Planet Has a Fever

2007-03-21T19:30:00.000-05:00

The man that almost became president gave dire warnings and spoke in terms of extinction to that drooling mass of humanity known as the United States Congress.

He explained, "The planet has a fever," but refused to make a personal pledge to restrict his use of energy.

So give our Mother the Earth an asprin.

Al is attempting to ride the global warming scare right into the Oval Office. He disregards the naysayers, who decry the idea of a global temperature and suggest the sun might be causing the earth to warm.

Let's face it, Al is a moron,,and this deeply disturbed man is closer to the Moveon.Org crowd than anyone wants to admit. No doubt his private pollsters are guaging when he enter the presidential sweepstakes.

Personally, I hope he does decide to run. I relish the though of democrat blood bath during the primary season.

Gee Thanks

2007-03-19T22:59:00.000-05:00

Uncle Sam sent me the little flyer telling what a great job he is doing for me on my Social Security Account. The mythical pile of money languishing in a federal vault.

He explained that I've salted away $175,000. Well whoopee-ding!

Uncle Sam is doing the equivalent of hiding my pile of loot under the mattress, but then he knows best. Were he let me invest my loot, then based on the rule of seven, in 2014 I would have $350,000 and by 2021 a tidy $700,000, and in 2028 a whopping $1,400,000.

Instead, we'll leave it under the mattress (thanks to gang running congress these days).

Uncle was kind enough to add that if I am still fogging the mirror in 2040, then all bets are off. I guess that's what the hubbub about universal health care is about.

Coaching Change!

2006-12-22T19:25:00.000-06:00

One year ago, the Vikings fired Mike Tice (who missed the playoffs and finished with a 9-7 record). Tice was replaced by Brad Childress, former offensive coordinator for the Eagles. At the time, we (the fan base, ticket buyers, purple bleeders) were told that Childress was an offensive genius.

Last night against the Packers, the Vikings racked up 3 First downs, 104 yards total offense and a defensive touch down. It is hard to get less than 3 first downs. Not since the Les Steckel (affectionately called Lester the Molester) season have Vikings fans been treated to such angst.

The local apologists tell us to calm down. You can't fire a head coach after one season. He's a first year head coach. Be patient - things will work out.

WHAT !?!

This guy refuses to make any adjustments! The play book looks like something we used to draw up in the dirt (only with less pizazz). The play calling is atrocious. When it is third and nine, why do you call a passing play that makes it back the line of scrimmage? When Dion Branch came available, did we even try to get him? The receivers on this team are miserable. Last night we were treated to Troy (brisk-for-hands) Williamson try and catch the ball with his face guard. Favre carved them up like Christmas turkey.

There are other first year coaches that seem quite capable, and some of them have less to work with than Childress. The Vikings fired Tice for missing the playoffs at 9 and 7. Childress will be lucky (like Christmas miracle lucky) to finish 7 and 9.

Oh and there have been firings after 1 year disasters in this league. Les Steckel was run out of town and Art Shell is on his way out at Oakland.

The Vikings need to admit they made a mistake and hand Childress his walking papers.

Russia - Our Friend?

2006-12-22T19:04:00.000-06:00

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, Murderer-in-Chief and former KGB Officer is at it again.

In 2001, George Bush declared that Putin was a man we could work with.

In 2006, Vlad (the impaler) has been linked to numerous deaths, including the Polonium poisoning incident in London. The offensive use of nuclear materials could be interpreted as an act of war. The Scotland Yard investigation leads right back to Moscow (and dare we whisper the Kremlin).

Vlad has other aspirations. He just bullied Shell Oil into relinquishing rights to oil fields. Those fields were developed using Shell shareholder money and technology. Czar Putin all but held a gun to Shell's head and stole the investment. (Who knows maybe Vlad did hold a gun to someone's head.).

Now he has turned right around and is threatening the same treatment against British Petroleum.

In many ways we could turn the clock back fifty or one hundred years and see the same things. Czar Nicholas was pretty corrupt. Lenin, Stalin and the rest probably murdered ninety million people between 1920 and 1953. The Gulag still functions. People vanish off the streets, and the violence that has plagued Russia over the centuries once again walks openly.

Czar Vlad is busy arming the Iranians, selling off slightly used Russian military technology to the Chinese and developing a new generation of Soviet (oops I meant to say Russian) nukes. They threaten their smaller neighbors and seek to oppose American foreign policy.

For all of you who hate America, just remember it was America (not Europe, not Asia, not Africa or the Middle East) that stood between the Free World and Soviet aggression. In the final analysis, the world will look to the Stars and Stripes to stand in the gap once again.

Robot Rights

2006-12-22T16:38:00.000-06:00

We have all heard about animal rights. the idea that animals have rights equal to people. Now don't get me wrong I have had pets all my life. I love my dogs and cats and even the annoying parakeet, but they are animals.

Now someone wants to grant rights to robots. So what is a robot. It is a lump of plastic and metal fashioned to perform a task.

That description could apply to a Roomba - an automated vacuum cleaner. Your PC - your %$#@ PC. The PDA that keeps you on schedule. The MP3 player that has reduced a room full of stereo equipment to something you clip on your belt. The cell phone that never shuts up, and on and on it goes.

Okay lets take technology. The avergae usage span for a desk top or laptop is approximately 24 months. Servers last longer, but only because they a bigger pain to swap out. PDA and cell phones last until the next big fad comes out. In the last 2 years, the technology available to cell phone users has exploded.

So what do you do when your computer runs like molasses in winter and the cell phone doesn't seem so new compared to the latest and greatest. Generally, we hand it down to grandma or the kids. Eventually, they grow out of your benevolent gift.

Sooner or later, these electronic gizmos need to be retired permanently. My preference is to blast them to bits using heavy caliber weapons. I suppose if we grant them rights, my form of payback will be branded insensitive and illegal.

And the stockings were hung...

2006-12-19T09:36:00.000-06:00

Christmas is the happiest time of year. You see I am in charge of the stockings, and stockings are a very big deal in my house. I spend a good six months figuring out what to put in each one. I try to make each present small and wonderful.

And our family continues to grow. This year we gained a new daughter (in-law), and next year a grand son and new son (in-law). Our little clan that started out so long ago as just two is a healthy dozen. So the gift selection is a constant challenge.

But there is one gift I can only tell you about.

None of this would have happened unless the greatest gift of all had come a long time ago. Isaiah writes:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Michael Card's album The Promise focuses on the propohecy and fulfillment that occurred in Bethlehem--the City of David--the House of Bread. Jesus did not come in the traditional sense of a warrior-king, but He still intended to conquer our hearts. That's the gift and wonder of Christmas that everyone from a infant child to great great grand parent can come to a saving knowledge and eternal life with God.

Jesus is the present, but like all presents you need to open it. It isn't complicated. All you need do is ask Jesus to come and live inside of you and confess your sins and ask for his forgiveness. Salvation and eternal life is for everyone.

Reflections

2006-12-19T09:00:00.000-06:00

Weddings are a good time to take stock of what is important. We had such a moment in the life of our family this past weekend. My son married the love of his life on Saturday in a marvelous ceremony.

Pastor Don delivered an excellent message. He spoke of the begiining and end of days. Ben and Annie have embarked on their new life together, and should Jesus tarry, they will end it many years from now.

Most of us are in the middle years of that journey. We have our ups and and downs, failures and successes. It is the middle journey that can be so difficult and we all know of people who have slipped away from one another.

It is so vitally important that in the busy time of career, family, and kids that couples remember who their best friend truly is. It is a struggle to keep that flame kindled. There are many things pulling us away from the love of our first days. I can easily say that the love of my life, the woman I asked to marry me 30 years ago on Christmas Eve is also my very very best friend.

They Are Awful!

2006-11-19T16:01:00.000-06:00

The Minnesota Vikings just plain stink.

I have been a Vikings fan all my life. I remember we used to get to Super Bowls. Granted we lost them, but we were a force in the seventies.

Since then we have suffered through the Steckel, Burns, Green, Tice and now Childress eras. Coach Childress was supposed to be an upgrade over Mike Tice, but Tice took essentially the same team to 9 and 7 last year. For Childress to top that he would need to win the remaining six games.

Fat chance!

Brad Childress is supposed to be an offensive genius. The offense is imagainative as white rice.

We are told that Troy Williamson can't see the ball because of the grill configuration on his helmet, or it might be that he has bricks for hands. SO FIX IT! We wasted the Randy Moss draft pick on this stiff.

The defense can stop the run, but everyone passes on us--even Joey Harrington. Golly, Joey Harrington - I think I am going to be sick.

It is obvious Childress has no offensive game plan. It is doubtful he will finish above .500. Thank goodness Detroit is in our division, otherwise, we may be looking at the cellar.

My bride told me that there is always next year, but it would really be nice if it were THIS YEAR.

Botched Joke

2006-11-19T15:40:00.000-06:00

John Kerry announced that his botched joke, delivered with all the aplomb of an accomplished stooge, will not hurt him in his 2008 presidential run.

First of all this was not a botched joke, it was clearly what he believes and has believed since he made his mark in the Winter Soldier Hearings. The man hates the military and despises military involvement anywhere in the defense of freedom.

The cut and run democrats now control both houses of congress. They are probably measuring the drape for the Oval Office. What they do not seem to understand is that George Bush is not the enemy. He may be incompetent, and the September 11th attacks was probably more than his enfeebled administration could handle. The Bush Administration did not inspire confidence with their handling of the China incident and our recon aircraft.

Unfortunately, it bears repeating. Al Qaeda attacked us in 2001. They have had safe havens and support for a group of countries, including: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Iran is full speed ahead in developing an offensive nuclear capability.

Syria is providing aid and comfort to Hezbollah and al Qaeda.

Pakistan is fearful of cracking down on the unregulated tribal areas common to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The next two years have turned very dangerous, for our enemies perceive a weakened President and a vulnerable America.

If you want to win this war, then get down in the dirt and lop off the leadership in Iran and Syria. Destroy the nuclear facilities necessary to support Iran's offensive capability. Impose an American military government in Iraq, because these losers do not understand democracy.

Sounds harsh. Believe me losing will be worse.

Sex, Lies and Politics

2006-10-02T20:18:00.000-05:00

Venal, political hacks is a study in redundancy. In past couple of days we have been treated to sex scandals: One in senate and the other in house.

Maria Cantwell (Democrat, Washington) has been identified as the other woman in messy divorce case. This came to light when an intrepid blogger questioned her financial statements, regarding loans of $15,000 to $50,000 to Ron Dotzaur.

Mark Foley (Republican, Florida) has a yen for underage male pages. This came to light when emails, instant messages and text messages revealed a very sick and twisted mind.

Eleven years ago, Mel Reynolds (Democrat, Illinois) was convicted for sexual assault, obstruction of justice and child pornography. Bill Clinton pardoned in the wild last hours of his second term.

Last year William Jefferson (Democrat, Louisiana) had $90,000 salted away in his freezer. When Katrina hit, he came back to his New Orleans district to make sure his cold cash didn't float away on Katrina's flood waters.

In 1983, Gerry Studds (Democrat, Massachuetts) admitted to having a homosexual affair with the a male page. He served another thirteen years before retiring from congress.

And the king of all, is Ted Kennedy (Democrat, Massachuettes), got away with murder almost forty years ago. He is still sitting in the senate.

In most jurisdictions, these guys would be busting rocks. In Washington D.C. they get vote on the weighty issues of taxation, foreign policy and national defense. There is nothing new about the latest scandals, besides their novelty.

People spend millions of dollars to get to Washington, and then they spend billions to stay there. What do we get for all this money? A bloated government run by people who focus on self interest and not the national interest.

I didn't have sex...

2006-09-10T09:32:00.000-05:00

The last time a camera caught Bill Clinton pounding a podium and pointing his finger, he was lieing about his relationship with Monica Lewinski.

This time he is throwing a hissy fit over the ABC docudrama. He wouldn't want lies to be told. He doesn't want the truth told either.

Funny he didn't complain about Fahrenheit 911. Strange he never felt the need to correct the record when Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth bored us silly.

The Clintons cannot have the truth told about their eight years in power when they permitted bin Laden to flourish and failed to deal decisively with terrorism. Liberals always view military force as the absolute last resort, and then, they will only use it in limited and ineffectual manners. What they fail to understand is that when they decide to use force, the amount required is always larger than if they had dealt with the problem in the first place.

Finally, terrorism is not a law enforcement issue! This is war and these people want to kill us. The only rational response is to kill them first. Unfortunately, the left in this country is neither rational or credible.

The Worms Squirm

2006-09-08T08:39:00.000-05:00

ABC will broadcast a 9/11 mini-series that seems to be somewhat close to the truth.

It traces the terrorist threat from the first World Trade Center bombing to the September 11th attacks.

So the democrats are crying foul. They claim that the actions (or inactions) of the Clintoin administration are incorrect. It is my understanding that the mini series does not go into the Somali fiasco better known as Blackhawk Down. Nor does it delve into the legal fiction concocted by Jamie Gorelick that prohibited the sharing of information between intelligence agencies such as the CIA and FBI.

There are eerie similarities between the Clinton and Bush 43 administrations. Both World Trade Center attacks took place early in the first terms. However, their responses were vastly different.

Clinton chose to treat the threat as a law enforcement issue and time after time the administration seemed sabotage attempts to either kill or apprehend bin Laden.

The Bush Administration responded the threat as a direct attack on the United States and prosecuted a war against the purveyors of terrorism.

I think success or failure can be measured in terms of results.

1) Catching bin Laden - neither side succeeded.

2) Neutralizing al Qaeda - Clinton suffered additional atatcks at the Khobar Towers, Uss Cole, and possible connections between Saddam's secet service at the Oklahoma City bombing. Bush neutralized the Taliban and destroyed Saddam's terrorist infrastructure. It is ludricous to argue these actions did not severely degrade al Qaeda and related organizations.

3) Changing the Middle east map - Clinton pushed land-for-peace in Israel. This failed formula resulted in another war in southern Lebanon, and lest we forget Israel is still prosecuting actions against Hamas and Fatah in Gaza. Land for peace is a failed policy. Bush is attempting to create a democratic regime in place of Saddam's Iraq. The jury is still out on this process, but if we use history as a measure, it should be notednthat we maintained an occupation government in both Germany and Japan for over seven years after the end of World War II. If Bush is succssful, it will dramatically change the map.

4) Nuclear proliferation - Clinton basically appeased the madmen in Pyongyang and Tehran. The result is the spectre of nuclear weapons threatening the western United States and the Pacific Rim. Bush has tried diplomacy, however, it does not appear either regime is serious. Whether or not a limited military option is possible or practical, we are quickly running out of time.

Now I'm not a Clinton fan. I think he was one of the worst Presidents in the country's history, ranking down there with Carter and Taft.

I did vote for Bush twice, but I did not feel I had a choice in either 2000 or 2004. Gore and Kerry come off as wackos. Bush policies and responses drive me crazy. For example, instead of permitting North Korea to launch their missile test, we should have destroyed their launch facilities. The jury is out on what will happen in Iran, but knocking out their nuclear production facilities should remain an active option. If we don't do it , then Israel will.

So it seems the Clintonistas have reason to squirm. Their record is on trial and they came up wanting. No wonder they are unhappy.

This is our fight too

2006-08-04T19:24:00.000-05:00

Mel Gibson has too many beers, gets pulled over, and spouts vile anti-Jewish remarks. World reaction focuses on his nut-job father, and people start whispering that maybe he should never be allowed to work again.

Israel targets buildings and villages where Hezbollah has moved launchers or has launched missiles into Northern Israel, and the people die (sometimes they're civilians, sometimes they're terrorists hiding amongst civilians). World reaction is that Israel is using a disproportionate amount of force.

Hezbollah launches rockets into Israel. These rockets are not targeting military installations or Israel's warfighting capability. These are terror weapons aimed at killing civilians. In other words, the civilians are the targets. World reaction is mostly ho-hum, been there, done that.

One CNN commentator came to the startling revelation that Hezbollah was very anti-Semitic. Really, what was your first clue? But the real anti-Semitic headline was Mel Gibson and his drunken diatribe.

Have civilian targets ever been ruthlessly targeted before? The German blitz of London, the attack on the World Trade Center--ring any bells?

What was the American response to the Septemner 11th attacks? We invaded Afghanistan and handed the Taliban their heads. We went after Saddam's Iraq and pulverized his army.

Israel is doing no less. She is reaping the abysmal land-for-peace formula pushed by successive American Presidents. Land for peace does not work, because Fatah, Hamas, Hezbollah is not interested in land or peace. They have one goal--extermination.

Hmmm, so who should we worry about? Mel Gibson or the people trying to finish Hitler's work?

Count the Cost

2006-08-04T19:02:00.000-05:00

Baby dedications are special events in the life of a family and a church. As parents we promise to raise our child as best we can to serve and love Jesus Christ and the Lord God Jehovah, but do any of us really know what that means?

We have three children, two grand children (come next February), and a wedding before year's end. So the family is growing and life shows no signs of slowing down.

I want to focus on our youngest child--Amy. She has been active all her life. She did short mission work at a trailer park not far from here. She spent a week working on a vacation bible school for kids who rarely if ever saw the inside of a church.

Then she went on short term missions overseas. She ventured to Poland to work at an English language camp. She will tell you she did not expect anything radical to happen, but it did.

You see it comes down to that dedication thing--where we parents stand up before God and promise to teach our kids about the Bible and salvation and walking the talk. Are you prepared for where it might lead?

Amy went on three or four Polish mission trips. I've lost count, because my son was doing the same thing. Only Amy decided she wanted to do more than week every summer. We found a Polish Language tutor--a wonderful woman named Elizabeth, and over a two year period, Amy learned the basics.

So where is Amy today? In Poland. She's spending a year in language school. Already she managed to hook up with some missionaries and actually did some translation work for a Norway team. If you haven't guessed, Amy intends to become a full time missionary.

So while some folks around here worry about their teenager heading off for college either in state or out, my concerns are bit broader.

Am I concerned? Yes. But you know, Amy did not get here by herself. It seems God is opening the doors and mapping her life. WIll I be flying to Poland and beyond?

You betcha, but here again God is good. We live in a marvelous age where we can talk on the phone, send email and video mail, and cross seven timezones in half a day.

Just a word of caution, count the cost when you dedicate your child, because God will take you at your word. Do I have an regrets? Nope. Do I miss her? Yep. Do I worry? Sometimes. But mostly I'm glad she can pursue the journey God has layed on her heart.

Axis of Evil

2006-07-13T23:08:00.000-05:00

Tonight Israel is fighting a war on two fronts, against two different enemies. To the south, they have engaged the Palestinian Authority and face down Fatah and Hamas - organizations known for the butchery.

To the north, they have moved against Hezbollah (a proxy agent for Iran and Syria). I watched the media coverage tonight, and most of it focused on images from Beirut. The burning fuel tanks at the airport and the bombing inside Beirut directed against Hezbollah strong holds. There was much handringing to be had over Israel's heavy handed approach. Although casualty figures for such "indiscriminate" bombing appeared very light.

Nightline broadcast none of the damage incurred along Israel's southern border from constant rocket attacks, nor did they dwell on the real target of the Hezbollah attacks driected towards Haifa and the chemical works located there. A target that could kill hundreds of people if the wrong thing exploded.

There was plenty of criticism for the United States. After all we vetoed the UN resolution that basically told Israel to cease defnding itself. The slant of the story (dare I say bias) aligned the impatial media with Hezbollah, Hamas, Fatah, Syria and Iran. The last I checked those folks would just soon shoot us too.

In the current year, Iran has declared the holocaust a hoax and threatened to blow Jerusalem off the map. They have funded Hezbollah in the form of 18,000 rockets and short range missiles, small amrs, uniforms and logistics. Syria acts as a safe haven and conduit for these thugs. We have no reason to embrace Hezbollah, they killed 241 Marines in a bombing back in 1983.

Hamas and Fatah trace their roots back to the Black September movement - those were the fun folks that went around hijacking airliners and blowing them up in the desert. It made for great TV.

What is the difference between Hezbollah and al Qaeda? Have we forgotten Jimmy Carter's impotent response to the Embassy hostage crisis? What did Arafat's twenty visits to the Clinton White House accomplish? Should we ignore that Iranian and Syrian scientists are working hand in hand with North Korea's nutcase as they launch missiles towards Japan, Hawaii and Alaska?

Two members of the Axis of Evil remain. Sooner or later the joint menace of Iran, Syria and North Korea needs to be faced. Fancy words and diplomatic niceties are not going to make it happen. The only things these people understand is force, and the only country capable of handling these fascists is America.

Crime Alert!!!

2006-07-12T16:36:00.000-05:00

Two headlines hit The Drudge Report today. The first was declaration by Washington D.C.'s police chief that a crime alert had been declared; the second was a story that Florida's violent crime rate was the lowest in 17 years.

What's the difference?

Guns! You know the evil handgun. The malicious assault weapon (whatever that is). The wild west loose in civilized society! Hide the kids Martha, the neighbor across the street may be packing!

The Washington D.C. crime alert came about, due to a couple robberies and a murder on the National Mall (Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol Dome). This area is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Park Service. You remember these folks, they were the lead investigative agency for the Vince Foster (gag, cough) suicide. Vince managed to shoot himself in the head and fall into a perfect position (like he was home asleep in bed) without getting any mud on his shoes and he even tore up the suicide note. Those folks are losing a grip on the tourist friendly National Mall.

So D.C. Metro is stepping up to meet the crisis. You have to understand that Washington has more than a dozen different law enforcement agencies running around loose. Coordination to meet criminal mischief is probably less than optimal - after all, they do have to contend with the House and Senate.

Finally, D.C. residents live under onerous gun restrictions. This means that only the bad guys have guns.

Florida on the other hand liberalized her gun laws so that residents and non-residents can carry. I hold two carry permits (one from Minnesota and the other from Florida). With those to permits, I have the privilege to carry in thirty states. Florida also passed a law that basically states you don't have to retreat in the face of the bad guys. Result: lots of people have guns (including the tourists) and the bad guys aren't real sure when the next blue haired grandma is going to pull out a Dirty Harry sized .44 and croak, "Make my day."

So you decide which system is working out better. The one where tourists are getting robbed next to the Washington Monument, or where granny's got her gun.

Fire Trap

2006-07-12T16:13:00.000-05:00

My mother has a wood stove in the barn. It looks like a relic from the century before last, and she uses it to burn the mail. Anyway the last person to do any work on the stove died five or six years ago. Some people measure things according to the calendar, my mother cites events as to when so-and-so went toes up.

I checked the stove a couple of weeks ago, noting the holes in the stove pipe. My granddaughter could probably punch her fist clean through the bottom pipe, and she is only ten months old. I explained to my mother that we needed to get a new pipe as I cast a worried eye over the rest of the contraption.

The stove pipe comes in three pieces and she figured she only needed to buy one. Further more she complained that some "darn fool" (my mother's moniker for anyone that dares disagree) changed the regulation and made the stove pipe double walled. Seemed like a reasonable idea to me.

Did I mention that stove is in a barn, and rather than go through the ordeal of opening the barn doors for ventilation we decided to sweat (you see little things like that are harder to handle than congressional edicts). While we were at it the top of the stove kind of fell apart. My son suggested that maybe she should get a new stove, but she proclaimed that so-and-so put it in and he died 3 years ago (the stove is way older than 3 years and it has been there as long as I can remember). Besides what fire inspector would authorize the permit for a new stove? It is a barn filled with hay bales, wood chips and fire wood.

We eventually got the pipe installed and the stove back together. (It is amazing what you can do with stainless steel half inch bolts.) I left her with the admonition to only make little fires in her stove. "Why should I do that?" she demanded. Because big fires might bring the whole place down.

New gadgets

2006-06-25T19:57:00.000-05:00

I received a new gadget for the gun locker. A ballistic chronograph wrapped up as a birthday present.

I got things together for a Saturday excursion to the range. Along the way, I purchased a tripod for the Chrony. When asked why I didn't use the camera tripod, I mumbled something about my bride being upset if I accidentally shot the tripod. Somehow I don't think lead and aluminum mix at point blank range, and as my friend Ray says, "We know a lot about missing."

So I set up everything. Started shooting, recorded the results in a spreadsheet on my PDA. I did notice that when I moved to the .44 Magnum that the Chrony quivered from the muzzle blast.

Now that I have real results, I can compare the .45 GAP to the .45 ACP. I think with a little work, my .45 GAP recipe will match the .45 ACP.

Murderapolis

2006-06-12T21:55:00.000-05:00

The FBI release crime statistics for violent crimes like rape and homicide. While the average for country was a modest increase of 2%, Minneapolis went up a whopping 35%. St. Paul which is part of the same metroplex went up 1.5%.

RT Rybak (our sorry excuse for a mayor) said, "The increase in Minneapolis' violent crime reports is alarming but not surprising." This idiot has been in office since 2001 and that's all he has to say! Already this we have had two high profile murders on Hennepin Avenue and in Uptown. On the North Side the cops are losing the battle, and residents report that if they dare to open their windows it sounds like fire crackers every night.

Earlier this year RT (yeah that's his name, I think ET better describes this loser) blamed the crime problem on the governor. He wrangled more money for the police department, but somewhere the Minneapolis City Council found money to enforce a smoking ban and provide for roof top flower gardens. I suspect some of these are used to cultivate wacky-tabaccy.

I'm sure the next thing RT will utter is that there are too many guns in the city. Great now we disarm the law abiding citizens and leave them at the mercy of the hooligans and thugs running roughshod.

The Minneapolis Police Department has been screwed up for a long time. Some of the problems are institutional; others stem from the fact Minneapolis is much more interested in hiring a politically correct police chief, rather than someone who knows how to get on top of these kinds of problems. The last police chief resigned, I think he had been around for about a year, and right now we have an interim chief.

If I were mayor, I'd institute the following policies:

1) Cancel the gun buy back programs (I missed out on the last one anyway. I was going palm off this broken .22... $75 working or not).
2) Take low income citizens on the North and South sides through the concealed carry program and arm them with weapons. There are plenty of guns in the city evidence locker.
3) Change state law to put into effect a "stand your ground" law like Florida has. So we can shoot the buggers if they dare attack us without fear of legal repercussions.

Once the bad guys figure out that they can't be sure who has a gun, they'll be less likely to use theirs.

For now I'll be packing my Glock .45 when I go to Minneapolis (legally by the way).

The Tommy Gun Mystique

2006-05-30T08:26:00.000-05:00

Whenever I go to the range with my Tommy Gun (i.e. Thompson Model 1927 A1) it always draws a crowd. Most people associate the Tommy Gun with the gangster movies--mobsters rolling by in sleek black cars and blasting away.

Actually the Thompson was developed for clearing trenches in World War I. In this role, the weapon was highly effective. The Tommy Gun chambers an .45 ACP, which is the same round as the Model 1911 sidearm adoopted by the army and carried by American forces for the next 70 years.

Most people associate the Tommy with a drum magazine, but I prefer the 30 round stick magazines. They are much easier to use and change. According to the manual that comes with the gun, it is effective out to 50 yards. Based on what I have seen to date, I think you could stretch that to 75 yards.

The gun weighs in around 13 pound with a fully loaded magazine. When I worked it on three staggered targets at 15, 20 and 25 yards, I can alternate between those targets and basically nail the 10 ring each time. This is from either a standing or kneeling position.

I think many people think this is a pray and spray gun, but I have found it to be a highly accurate shooting platform. Over the past 10 weeks I run about 1000 rounds through the gun. It took about 700 to really get the gun broke in and loosened up.

The other thing different from any other weapon I have is that the bolt handle sits on top of the receiver and the sights work through a groove in the handle. At first glance I thought this was going bug me, but if you concentrate on the front sight, you really don't notice it.

I did not purchase the Tommy Gun as a practical gun. It is a fun gun, and man is it it a BLAST to shoot.

An Inconvenient doof

2006-05-20T07:35:00.000-05:00

The Algore [Editor: say it fast] has put together a movie called An Inconvenient Truth. It is narrated by the Inconvenient Doof. Stick pins in my eyes to keep me awake!

You can watch the trailer on the Doof's website. Of course, this is a moral issue and not political. I guess that's why Algore opens up is introduction by saying, "I used to be the next president of the United States."

Hollywood rolled out the Green Carpet (a fashionable A Qaida green at that). Why do I make that slam, because the Doof compares Global Warming to Terrorism. Algore is nothing more than a High Priest to junk science.

Ah, but it gets better. The Doof suggests that the whole of Antarctica is going to melt and raise ocean levels by 20 feet. The next graphic depicts Florida being swallowed up by water.

You remember Florida--the land of hanging chads, dubious court decisions and funny ballot counts. A state plaster with Sore/Loserman placards. The state that Algore lost. In Al's world Florida is no longer a problem, because the ice sheets have melted.

And whose fault is that? The evil United States and all those SUVs.

But of course, this isn't political. This film is nothing more than one huge campaign spot to the looney left so that Algore can trap Hillary on the wrong end of the spectrum for the nomination.

Give Me a Break!

2006-04-29T22:18:00.000-05:00

Mexico is planning to legalize hard core drugs like cocaine and heroin. Vicenti Fox is expected sign the legislation into law.

But don't worry, it will still be illegal to sell drugs. This bizarre move is so the Mexican police can concentrate their efforts on major drug crimes.

Come again, the Mexican Police--they are part of the problem. Elements of the Mexican Army and National Police have been observed assisting the illegal transport of hard drugs across the border.

This is just another development in a long line of unfriendly acts. Consider the following:

The Mexican Government actively encourages the illegal violation of our common border by Mexican citizens.
I still remember Mexicans cheering when the World Trade Center came down on 9/11.
Mexican Army and National Police Units have violated the border and fired on American law enforcement personnel.

Now they want to legalize drugs, making it easier to traffic in hard drugs. I wonder how much the illegal drug lobby is paying to make it happen.

Fiddlers

2006-04-27T22:09:00.000-05:00

Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

Gas prices are going through the roof again, just like they have the past several summers. This is not a new story, and I never look to Washington for answers or solutions.

But it would be nice if they got of the way.

Have you asked yourself why no new refineries have been built?

Do you know why there are 35 gasoline blends?

Suddenly we are faced with an ethanol shortage and price rise.

The fiddling Congress bans off shore oil drilling and prohibits the exploitation of the Alaska reserves. This country has not built a new nuclear power plant in almost thrity years. We probably have the equivalent of 500 years of coal reserves. Oil wells remain capped through out the country, and vast land tracts are kept off limits.

Experts believe that 50 miles off shore (in the Cuban basin) there might be 9 billion barrels. Alaska probably has an additional 10 billion. Instead, we are held hostage to rising prices in places run by madmen like Iran and Venezuela.

American refineries have been running at 98% capacity for several years now. This is not a new fact. Yet nothing has been done to ease regulations.

What do these numbskulls offer as solutions?

$100 rebate to ease the pain. If this is like the child credit of a couple of years ago, they'll count it as income and tax you.
Pummel the evil oil companies for obscene profits. Well if the oil companies are making obscene profits on 8 to 10 cents per gallon, what about the 46 cent average gas tax imposed at the state and federal levels?
Blame George Bush. This is quite popular. The President deserves some blame for not pushing his energy plan. But Congress and the special interests strangling this government own the lion's share.

Quit grandstanding, get out of the way and let this country do what it does best.

Check the Mirror

2006-04-20T08:19:00.000-05:00

Somehow I have landed on one of the Democratic fund raising lists. So yesterday I received a letter from Al (Earth in the Lurch) Gore. You know Slick Willy's Veep - the man who refused to concede the election - the inspiration for the great Florida chad count.

Anyway Al's missive (I mean it was an email so I feel we're on a first name basis now) first 2 paragraphs went as follows:

In all my years of public service I have never witnessed national political leaders as corrupt, incompetent and subservient to powerful special interests as George Bush and the Republican Rubber Stamp Congress.

The level of cynicism and crass political calculation that characterizes the Bush White House and the Republican-controlled Congress is truly breathtaking.

Corruption? Cynicism? Crass political calculation?

Hey Al do you remember the attempt to nationalize health care? How about bombing Bosnia from 3 miles up to avoid casualties? Then there was Monica, Paula. Juanita and who could forget Gennifer? How about the "Pretty in Pink Press Conference" and the Rose Billing Records? Or the fellow who admitted that he lied to his diary? What did you buffoons do the first time the World Trade Center was attacked? And that little detail about taking Osama off Sudan's hands, or the USS Cole bombing? And lest our wallets forget - the largest tax increase in history. How about Pardon Gate, or trashing Air Force One?

Al, check the mirror dude! When it comes down to crass, corrupt, cynical political calculation you guys lead the way.

Nut Cutting Time

2006-04-19T09:07:00.000-05:00

A war is coming, and we (the United States) need to decide which side we are going to join. The Prophet Ezekiel talked about the kingdoms of Gog and Magog that are going to attack Israel. Now we don't know exactly who these fools are, but there are seveal theories stretching from an Islamic coalition to Europe to Russia.

It doesn't matter who they are. We need to be on the other side, because the other thing Ezekiel tells us is that Gog and Magog are going to lose.

I don't know if the current Iranian leadership is the tip of the spear or another bunch of two bit Austrian paper hanger wannabes. It wasn't that long ago when another mad man preached hate for the Jews and plunged the world into war. He sent six million people to the ovens at places called Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen and Buchenwald. His contemporaries in Soviet Russian probably killed another 100,000,000 people and who know how many vanished inside Mao's China.

It comes down to this question. Do we take the pronouncements coming out of Tehran at their word? If so, do we move preemptively and kill them before they kill Israel?

Just in case you missed it, Iran is promising to use nuclear weapons to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. They won't succeed, but they may kill millions in the process. The United States possesses the means to prevent this carnage.

No one wants another war, but sometimes you don't have a choice.

Fry Him

2006-03-28T18:47:00.000-06:00

Zacarias Moussaoui testified in open court that he and convicted shoe bomber Richard Reed were supposed to have flown a fifth airliner into the White House on September 11th.

He boasted about meeting Osama bin Laden . He seemed proud of his place in history. He testified during the penalty phase of his trial.

So impose the death penalty; strap him to a chair and fry him.

Another Misstep

2006-03-23T20:26:00.000-06:00

The Department of Homeland Security is really mislabeled. Once again, they've blown a serious bolt.

The image is of a radiation detector for scanning cargo containers. DHS has issued a no-bid contract to Hutchinson Whampoa Ltd. to run this operation in Freeport, Bahamas.

A little history lesson: Hutchinson Whampoa Ltd. is an extension of the Chinese military and it one the bribery (eh, I mean bidding war) to control the Panama Canal. It won a 25 year lease with an option for another 25 years. Yes boys and girls, Slick Willy sat by while the Chinese Communists took control of a major asset in the western hemisphere.

Freeport, Bahamas is the largest Free Trade Zone in the western hemisphere. That translates into a lot of cargo. What strikes me odd here is that a couple of years ago, the Bush Administration blocked a subsidiary company from taking control of Global Crossing (for national security concerns). In 1999 the Pentagon had a secret report citing Hutchinson Whampoa Ltd. as a potential security risk for smuggling arms and contraband into the country through Freeport.

Suddenly, its just dandy to hand over security for radiation detection to a Chinese Asset. While Hutchinson Whampoa Ltd. is technically distinct from the Beijing Government, there are major connections between senior company executives and senior Politburo members.

Lest we forget these are the same benevolent folks that forced down a Navy Rivet Joint recon plane in April 2001, and they have several nuclear missiles pointed at the western United States.

China has not renounced its claim on Taiwan. It has not retargeted its missiles, and it continues to build a military machine far in excess of its needs. Besides they are communists and how do you know a communist is lying--their lips are moving.

Corporate Manuals

2006-03-18T22:54:00.000-06:00

You need to understand that my little consulting company consists of eight legs and three heads--that's two human and Rippers the Black Lab. When it comes down to corporate manuals, they tend to cover the basics such as the menu for the nearest pizza joint.

On a recent engagement, we were given a list of phone numbers. They were organized into categoris like medical, fire, severe weather, bomb threat checklist.

Whoa! Bomb threat checklist you say. Now when it come things make loud noises with guns and fireworks, I'm all for that sort of thing. Naturally I turned to the bomb threat checklist.

So when a mad bomber calls, I am supposed to be calm, courteous and listen carefully. Whatever happened to run like hell?

After the bomber has deliver his message, then I'm supposed to ask: When will the bomb go off? Where is the bomb? What kind of bomb is it? My guess it is the kind that makes a loud noise and messes up the rest of your day.

Back to the checklist. I'm suppose to get a name and address. Perhaps an email address, website, favorite color, birthdate and pet's name. The checklist even has place for my name, date and time. Once I'm done shooting the breeze (bad choice of words) , I am immediately supposed to dial 911 and then notify the receptionist.

I guess running from building, shrieking, "Bomb! Bomb! Bomb!" is inappropriate.

Charles De Bono Award

2006-03-16T07:35:00.000-06:00

Today I will attend the Eden prairie Chamber of Commerce luncheon. I will be there as a guest seated close to the front.

The annual Charles De Bono Award will be given to someone who has shown themself to be exceptional volunteer over past several years. It is quite an honor.

People called him Charlie. He was born in 1917 or 1918 on a ship at the end of World War I. He grew up in Italy, France, and North Africa. When the next war rolled around he saw both battles for Tobruk up close and personal (he never talked about it).

He worked as an engineer for the Birtish. He came to America in 1949. One of the millions that entered through Ellis Island, and he marveled at the Statue of Liberty. Over the next four decades he worked for General Mills, raised a family and settled in Minnesota. In retirement he joined the Senior Core of Retired Executives and spent the rest of his life helping out.

The painting is of the Grand Canal in Venice. It is presented to the volunteer of year with a plaque commemorating their selflessness.

This is going to be a tough day. Old memories will float to the surface, and I'll wonder anew if I can ever stand in his shoes. You see while others called him Charlie, I called him dad.

Ruth Buzzy's rant

2006-03-15T16:24:00.000-06:00

Justice Ruth Buzzy told a South African audience that right wing, nut cases had threaten to kill her Justice O'Connor last year.

Probably not the first time someone has wanted to off a Supreme Court Justice. They have such a sterling record: Marvbury v. Madison, Dredd Scott, Roe v. Wade, Kelo v. New London.

However, blowing away one of these nimrods does not promote liberty or justice or anything else. It just makes whoever does something like that a murderer. Regardless the political motivation, assassination is not the way to go.

Now the reason for this current attack, according to Ruth, is because she and Justice O'Connor used foreign laws to determine some cases.

Gee whiz, is it any reason a few people are torqued off about that? Do we study the French for military strategy? Do we look to the Russians for lessons in democracy? Do we check out the Chinese for models in civil liberties?

I hope not, but maybe these bimbos are doing just that. The Supreme Court is an American court. It is supposed to adjudicating American laws.

There is a way to get rid of these people. IMPEACH THEM! Of course this would require the gutless wonders in the House and Senate to earn their money. And any impeachment of Ruth Buzzy would polarize into a nasty political battle.

Yet the Republic shuffles forward...

Truth in Advertising

2006-03-14T23:00:00.000-06:00

They say a picture speaks a thousand words. This one is worth about a million. Debbie Stabenow toted her placard to the well of the senate. She wants to make a point.

Of course, her point is that Bush lied or Cheney lied or the War is illegal or whatever. Listening to a senate speech is akin to having all your teeth drilled.

The Bush Administration may be tone deaf when it comes to the political impact of the Dubai ports deal, but obviously, Senator Debbie is brain dead. No one on her staff or in the democratic brain trust stopped to think how this might look to those of us in fly over country. Certainly, they never imagined that Matt Drudge would post it on his site.

DANGEROUSLY INCOMPETENT--the Democratic Party, what can I add? Nothing. The picture says it all.

Out the Airlock

2006-03-11T21:13:00.000-06:00

I knew the Battlestar Galactica crew could get back to what really counted (i.e. espisodes that advance the story and don't wander into too-cute-by-half territory).

I've seen the final season two espiode and it is classic BSG. If you thought things were grim when Adama got shot, or perhaps you only watched the miniseries and witnessed the entire human race getting nuked, things have gone from bad to worse--which is good for BSG fans.

I listened to the podcast. RDM and company were having a grand old time smoking, drinking and cussing, not necessarily in that order. It might be nice if they were little less "tuned up" when they did the podcasts, but the sound of Johnny Walker sloshing in the glasses almost makes up for the occaisional garbage truck rumbling by outside. You see the producer makes the podcasts in his 10 x 10 study at home.

I admit that I was more than a little worried as the second half of season two progressed. The the pacing and keen sense evident in season one seemed to have slipped a cog. Anyway the Galactica world has merrily sauntered out the airlock sans spacesuit, and we have to wait until October to see the next installment.

You better hurry up with the DVD set for Season Two Part Two.

Taxe$$$$ @!#%

2006-03-11T15:02:00.000-06:00

I did my taxes last night and went to bed mumbling about the frightening sum I owed Uncle Sam.

This morning I packed the Durango and headed off to the range. You see I have a tradition. After I complete the annual mugging and pilfering for April 15, I exercise my Second Amendment rights and blow plenty of holes in targets down range.

This year was heavy on the .45 ACP. I think I went through about 350 rounds, employing my Tommy Gun and full size Glock. I followed it up with some.357 Magnum and 9mm.

While the sound and the fury did not reduce my tax bill (grrrr), it did temper my outlook.

The Revolt is On

2006-03-09T21:44:00.000-06:00

South Dakota has passed and signed an abortion ban.

Mississippi is considering similar legislation.

Tennessee has started the process to amend its constitution to outlaw abortion.

States are daring to challenge the Supreme Court. Raw judicial power made Roe v Wade the law of the land. Law of the land is an odd phrase to associate with a court that does not have legislative authority.

The idea of state's rights frightens people. They dredge up memories of the Jim Crow laws. However, we seem to have traded one evil for another.

The reason nominations to the Supreme Court are so hotly contested comes down to the desires of the right and left to have their nine black robed monkeys in power. America is a republic, not a democracy, not an oligarchy.

These states and other are asserting their constitutional power and thumbing their nose (or other appendages) at the federal power.

It is long overdue.

Game 7

2006-03-07T09:41:00.000-06:00

Kirrrrrrrrrrrrby Puckett was how it went in the Twins glory days. Kirby was a larger than life character that carried the Minnesota Twins to two championships. From all accounts, he was an everyday guy that attained hero status. Certainly on the field he had no equals.

His game saving catch and game winning home run brought the Twins to Game 7 in 1991. It is the only World Series game I ever attended. While the seventh game that year game down to a pitchers duel, none of us would have been at the Metrodome to see a small market team win it all had it not been Kirby.

Unfortunately, like all men, he had feet of clay off the field. Those issues aside, Kirby suffered a massive and fatal stroke. He has gone on to his final game, for he stands before the ultimate umpire.

Thanks for the memories.

Humbling Experience

2006-03-04T20:45:00.000-06:00

On March 3, 2006 I tested for 4th degree black belt. The test consists of basic kicks, classical karate, form (i.e.kata), combination kicks and punches, and self defense.

I tested for 1st degree in 1997, 2nd in 1999, and 3rd in 2002--so the testing format was not new to me. However, I was so focused on getting to and through the test that I did not reflect on what this belt level meant until after it was over.

In the early 1990s there were Ninja Turtles and my kids wanted to take karate. I followed them into the program months later. I remember sitting down with Cris Nelson and signing up for a 1 year program. I was out of shape and overweight having feasted on Doritos and Twinkies over the years. My idea of exercise was laying on the couch with the cat and watching the Vikings.

My life style and habits have changed radically since then. Cris is now a 6th degree black belt, he runs the National Karate Schools in Chicago, and he is a good friend.

There were 79 people testing for black belts. Four were testing for 5th degree, Alex Dingmann and I were testing 4th. Everyone else was testing for a lower belt level. The four people testing for 5th were Geoff Driscoll, Jesse Zaragoza, Gregg Sutherland and Kelly Worley. (So what am I doing here?) Perhaps those names don't mean anything outside of the National Karate context, all of them were instructors before I got off the couch. I've seen what these guys can do, and here I was standing next to them and testing for a very advanced belt. (This must be somebody's idea of a joke.)

I perused the program. There is a section where they list active black belts at 3rd degreee and higher. There are less than 2 dozen active 4th degree black belts--all of those are current or former instructors (except for me). Now I'm part of that list. I shoot guns, write books and run a consulting business.

My karate is not flashy. I don't do multiple spin jumps. I don't defy gravity. I am more of a ground based creature. So for my karate to work I have to concentrate on the basics. I know how to fight. I know how to defend myself and I hit the pads really, really hard.

As with many things in life, this is bittersweet. My father never saw me get that first black belt. He was quite interested in what I was doing and most Fridays over lunch he usually asked how it was going. He died of cancer five weeks before I tested in 1997.

Finally, I was that kid in school that got picked last in Phy-Ed. I did not do well in sports or anything athletic. The same kid grew up to become a 4th degree black belt. I think the only person who thought that might be possible is Cris Nelson. It just happened to me, and I still don't believe it.

Ballistic Research #1

2006-03-04T08:05:00.000-06:00

Ballistic Research is a vital part of the Systems Consulting culture (Systems Consulting being the company that I run). Some guys play golf. Some guys fish. Some guys contemplate their navels. We all have names for what we do.

I shoot guns. Of course, I need something put in my schedule that doesn't sound like took-a-bag-of-guns-to-the-range-and-made-a-lot-of-noise, so I call it ballistic research.

Recently, I added a new gun to the arsenal of democracy--a Model 1927 Tommy Gun. I'll readily admit that this is not a practical gun. It weighs about 13 pounds and a bolt spring King Kong would find challenging, but boy does it put a smile on your face.

Brian and I went down to the Burnsville range to test it out. We had a few problems with packing grease, but once we ironed out those issues, we threw 200 rounds down range and tore out the middle of targets.

Normally, a .45 ACP pistol wears me down after while. As long as you can keep this sucker level, you can shoot all day long. Recoil is minimal, but the fun is maximum.

And isn't this better than chasing a silly white ball over grass?

Out of Synch

2006-02-27T19:23:00.000-06:00

There has been much hubbub regarding the UAE ports deal. Polls show that close to 70% of the country oppose the idea, and Republicans are deserting the President in droves.

However, Presidential wannabe Hillary Clinton has taken the controversy a step further. She ripped the Panama Canal agreement that handed over the Atlantic and Pacific port facilities to a Chinese controlled company called Hutchinson Whampoa. These are the people currently pointing several accurate ICBMs at the western United States (again thanks to different security lapse compliments of Slick's brilliant presidency).

The President that presided over this disastrous deal was none other than Hillary's estranged (or is it strange) husband--Slick Willy himself.

At the time I wrote a novel (shameless self promotion--buy a copy on Amazon) called Reap the Whirlwind. Basically RTW is a nasty tale about a missile crisis that targets the southern United States with Chinese mobile nukes in the Canal Zone.

I reasoned that anybody with half a brain might look at Chinese capabilities and the strategic dangers, and recognize that handing over the canal was a very bad idea.

However, I find delicious irony in the fact that Hillary (hell bent on her thrust for the White House) now criticizes the administration she is so closely tied to. While I agree with her assessment (i.e. the Panama Canal deal damaged American national security), I did not arrive at my position through political expediency. I've been here all along.

So to Mrs. Clinton I say, "Welcome to the party!"

But I don't wanna leave

2006-02-27T18:59:00.000-06:00

I write a quarterly newsletter connected to my book website. The most recent issue (click the link above) was less than enthusiastic when it came to the President's budgetary proposal for controlling the Mexican border.

I received an email from an upset fellow. The key phrase went as follows:

Just to let you know, I am a republican and a Bush SUPPORTER!!!!!!!!!! I feel anyone who's not a supporter of our president shouldnt have the privledge of calling themselves an American. Please, leave me alone, and while you are at it, go ahead and leave the country.

For the record, I voted for Reagan, Bush 41, Dole, and Bush 43. I've never been overjoyed about the Bush votes, but when I sat back and considered the alternatives: Gore and Kerry--the choice became obvious.

That doesn't mean Dubya is immuned from criticism. His stance on the UAE Ports deal approaches a level of poplitical incompetence that rivals Jimmy Carter. His reluctance to do something substantive on the Mexican border looks like stubborness. The President's guest worker program sounds like amnesty.

Politicians should not be trusted any further than you can throw them. A healthy republic relies on public skepticism, and we should remain vigilant of those in Washington, our State House and the jokers running the local school board.

As to my emailing reader (ex-reader now), I intend to stay and keep talking. These colors (the red, white and blue) don't run and neither do I.

What's a Quarterlifer?!?

2006-02-27T18:14:00.000-06:00

I was introduced to a new term in Sunday School (of course no one calls it Sunday School anymore, the event has morphed into Adult Bible Fellowships).

Anyway, there is a new crisis on the horizon called Quarterlifer Crisis. I suppose this is similar to the mid-life crisis except for the teen age/young adult crowd, and I guess this is different from the Social Security Crisis for the blue haired folks.

I remember the mid-life crisis pretty well. Basically it was an excuse for men to cast off all their responsibilities (you know--the wife, kids, college tuition and being a grown up), run off with the secretary, and act like a spoiled brat. Then there was the redemption phase, where the schmuck returned with hat in hand and begged forgiveness.

It made for great radio, marvelous theater, and for a while, I thought it was eclusively a born again, evangelical thing until I discovered that we (i.e. the born again Bible thumpers) had Christianized the problem.

So I listened to the Quarterlifer dilemma, and it sounded a lot like growing up. Yeah I remember those times. I got married at 21, and I realized that I barely knew how to take care of myself much less my wonderful bride.

I learned something from those days. Back then I had $200 in the bank, one car that worked, and a bad economy thanks to Jimmy Carter. I made bad decisions, lost money, lost a job and got it back. I survived, because there was no way to go but forward.

If you think I'm heartless, you're wrong. My Bride and I have poured our lives into our kids. We have done everything to help them be successful, but in the final analysis it is up to them to make the most of their opportunities. This smells like another phony crisis that provides an excuse for failure. Life isn't always easy, but it is a great journey and sometime you just have to hang on.