Friday, January 24

The Essence of Zen


Swinging on a vine
in Africa jungle time
grasping monkey mind

Friday, January 17

CPAC


The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) will be held March 6-8 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland.

Senate Republican Primary in South Carolina


A look at the South Carolina Senate Republican Primary: Senator Lindsey Graham is vulnerable in his re-election bid.

South Carolina has an open primary: Democrats and independents may vote in the Republican primary if they so choose.

Primary: June 10, 2014
Primary Runoff: June 24, 2014

If no candidate takes 50% or more in the primary, a runoff will be held between the top two finishers.

Candidates:
Lindsey Graham (R) a two-term RINO incumbent who has $7 million in his campaign re-election account.
Lee Bright (R) - State Sen. & Ex-Spartanburg County School Board Member
Richard Cash (R) - Pastor, Pro-Life Activist & '10 US Rep. Candidate
Bill Connor (R) - Attorney, Army Veteran & '10 Lt. Gov. Candidate
Nancy Mace (R) - Businesswoman & Author

Most recent polling indicates that Graham will receive 51% of the primary vote.

Tuesday, January 14

Article V Convention of States


The Article V Convention of States is picking up steam.

If two-thirds of states submit an application to Congress, Congress must then call a Convention of States to propose amendments to the Constitution. Each state must then send an appointed delegation to the convention, where the delegates will discuss and vote upon amendment proposals.

There is support for a Convention of States for the purpose of establishing term limits for members of Congress and a balanced-budget amendment for the federal government.

South Carolina and Virginia became the first two states to call for a convention. On Dec. 7, more than 100 state legislators from 32 states met in Washington, D.C., to begin the groundwork for filing a Convention of States.

Just recently, Governors Jindal of Louisiana and Pence of Indiana expressed support for a Convention of States to control Federal spending.

The danger involved is that a runaway States Convention may radically amend our system of government.

In 2012 The Hawaii House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for an Article V Convention which would:
(1) A declaration of the constitutionality of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), including the individual mandate requiring the purchase of health insurance;
(2) An amendment to Article I, Section 5, to prohibit the supermajority cloture requirement under Rule 22 of the United States Senate for ending floor debates and filibusters, to facilitate a more reasonable voting standard for cloture;
(3) An amendment abolishing the electoral college established under Article II, Section 1, and providing for the direct election of the United States President and Vice President by voters; and
(4) An amendment to Article II, Section 2, Clause 2, to require that Senate confirmations of appointments of officers of the United States be made by a simple majority vote within sixty days of the nomination.

I am opposed to those amendments suggested by the Hawaii House of Representatives. Perhaps, instead of a general convention we could have a specific convention to propose amendments to establish term limits for members of Congress and a balanced budget amendment for the federal government. Those are two amendments to the Constitution that we desperately need. The federal government bureaucracy is out of control and will never reform itself. The Article V Convention of States may be our best hope to save the republic.

Saturday, January 11

Evolution of the DAP


I’ve been looking into some of the history of the Dap, the greeting that can include slapping hands, bumping fists in any direction, snapping, wiggling fingers and other forms of contact which can last anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute.

It was very popular with black (African-American) soldiers during the Vietnam war and has a history that predates that conflict. It may have been an acronym for dignity and pride (DAP) which certainly was evident during the Black Power movement of the civil rights era.

Some sources say that it dates to WWI and is more than a greeting as it tells the story of a black soldier and how he died.

It is also a form of sign language that can indicate agreement, celebration, or solidarity.

Some theorists claim that it is an acceptable way to show male affection.

Now it is used primarily as gang related and athletes greeting each other. Back in the 1950s, Dap was black slang for aware and up to date.

I first saw it in the Nam when it was the common greeting between black troops. Some of the white troops developed their own parody of the greeting called the “Milk Shake.” It ended up with the guys slapping their own asses.

I’ve seen people greeting each other with a fist bump and opening their hand dramatically. The Dap seems to have evolved into the high five and the chest bump.

Friday, January 10

Presidential Lies


LBJ:
We were attacked (in the Gulf of Tonkin)

Nixon:
I am not a crook

GHW Bush:
Read my lips - No new taxes

Clinton:
I did not have sex with that woman... Miss Lewinski

GW Bush:
Iraq has weapons of mass destruction

Obama:
I will have the most transparent administration in history.
The stimulus will fund shovel-ready jobs.
I am focused like a laser on creating jobs.
The IRS is not targeting anyone.
It was a spontaneous riot about a movie.
If I had a son.
I will put an end to the type of politics that "breeds division, conflict and cynicism".
You didn't build that!
I will restore trust in Government.
The Cambridge cops acted stupidly.
The public will have 5 days to look at every bill that lands on my desk
It's not my red line - it is the world's red line.
Whistle blowers will be protected in my administration.
We got back every dime we used to rescue the banks and auto companies, with interest.
I am not spying on American citizens.
ObamaCare will be good for America
You can keep your family doctor.
Premiums will be lowered by $2500.
If you like it, you can keep your current healthcare plan
It's just like shopping at Amazon
I knew nothing about "Fast and Furious" gunrunning to Mexican drug cartels
I knew nothing about IRS targeting conservative groups
I knew nothing about what happened in Benghazi
I have never met my uncle from Kenya who is in the country illegally and that was arrested and told to leave the country over 20 years ago
And, I have never lived with that uncle. (He finally admitted (12-05-2013) that he DID know his uncle and that he DID live with him.

And the biggest one of all:
"I, Barrack Hussein Obama, pledge to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America."

Sunday, January 5

Why Do I Dislike Thee, Obama?


Why do I dislike thee, Obama?

Let me count the ways from A to Z

Aid and comfort to the enemy
Allowing illegals on mall during government shutdown
Benghazi
Blocking veterans from seeing their own memorials
Clapper lying
Common Core
Destroying coal industry
DOJ spying on the free press
Election fraud
End runs around Congress
Failing to prosecute the New Black Panthers
Fast & Furious
Forcing businesses/religious institutions to violate their religious beliefs
Giving away free cell phones
GSA waste of money on training conferences
Holder lying to Congress
Increasing welfare rolls
Increasing disability rolls
Intentionally trying to hurt Americans during the sequester
Intentionally trying to hurt Americans during government shutdown
IRS targeting conservatives
IRS targeting the Tea Party
Military not getting their votes counted
Millions losing health care coverage
Not securing our borders
NSA acting as Obama Gestapo
Obamacare web site-cronyism
Obamacare would save the average family $2500 per year
Opposing voter i.d. laws
Opposition to domestic drilling
Picking winners and losers
Quantitative Easing
Reading our e-mail
Releasing illegals from prison
Shutting down “The People's House” tours
Solyndra
Spying on Americans on American soil with drones
Suing the states
Supporting the Muslim Brotherhood with arms and money
Travon Martin comments
Unconstitutional executive orders
Unconstitutional recess appointments
Vacations, vacations, vacations
We can keep our insurance if we like it
We can keep our doctors if we like them
17 Trillion in debt

Friday, January 3

Amending the Constitution


Amending the Constitution

Good Review of the 27 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution


Amendment 1 - Freedom of religion, press, speech
Amendment 2 - Right to bear arms
Amendment 3 - Limits the quartering of soldiers
Amendment 4 - Search and seizure of property
Amendment 5 - Right to a trial if accused, no self-incrimination required, no double-jeopardy, right to compensation for takings by gov't.
Amendment 6 - Right to a speedy trial by jury and confrontation of witnesses
Amendment 7 - Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
Amendment 8 - Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment
Amendment 9 - People may have other rights, even if they are not listed here
Amendment 10 - The federal government's powers are limited to those listed in the Constitution
Amendment 11 (1798) - Judicial limits
Amendment 12 (1804) - Method for choosing the President, Vice President
Amendment 13 (1865) - Abolished slavery
Amendment 14 (1868) - Rights of citizenship to all people born in USA or naturalized
Amendment 15 (1870) - Gives the right to vote to all citizens, regardless of color or race, but women are not mentioned
Amendment 16 (1913) - Income tax authorized
Amendment 17 (1913) - Senators elected by the popular vote
Amendment 18 (1919) - Prohibition - Liquor prohibited
Amendment 19 (1920) - Women's suffrage (voting rights)
Amendment 20 (1933) - New terms of office for the President and Congress
Amendment 21 (1933) - Amendment 18 repealed (overturned)
Amendment 22 (1951) - Presidential term limited
Amendment 23 (1961) - Presidential vote given to Washington, D. C.
Amendment 24 (1964) - Poll taxes barred (you cannot charge people to vote)
Amendment 25 (1967) - Presidential disability and succession
Amendment 26 (1971) - Voting age lowered to 18 years old (same as the age at which men can be drafted into the army)
Amendment 27 (1992) - Congressional pay increases go into effect only during the next Congressional session.

Thursday, January 2

Bill of Rights


Amendment 1 - Freedom of religion, press, speech
Amendment 2 - Right to bear arms
Amendment 3 - Limits the quartering of soldiers
Amendment 4 - Search and seizure of property
Amendment 5 - Right to a trial if accused, no self-incrimination required, no double-jeopardy (you cannot be tried twice for the same crime), right to compensation for takings by gov't.
Amendment 6 - Right to a speedy trial by jury and confrontation of witnesses
Amendment 7 - Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
Amendment 8 - Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment
Amendment 9 - People may have other rights, even if they are not listed here
Amendment 10 - The federal government's powers are limited to those listed in the Constitution

Wednesday, January 1

My Favorite Politicians


How they scored on the Freedom Index (fidelity to the U.S. Constitution):

House of Representatives

Dist.3: Justin Amash (Michigan) 92%
Dist.4: Thomas Massie (Kentucky) 100%
Dist.10: Paul Broun (Georgia)90%
Dist.1: Jim Bridenstine (Oklahoma) 90%
Dist.3: Ted Yoho (Florida) 85%
Dist.6: Ron DeSantis (Florida) 85%
Dist.4: Tom McClintock (California) 93%

Senate

Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) 95%
Sen. Mike Lee (Utah) 91%
Sen. Rand Paul (Kentucky) 94%

Mark Twain Quote


"The mania for giving the Government power to meddle with the private affairs of cities or citizens is likely to cause endless trouble, through the rivalry of schools and creeds that are anxious to obtain official recognition, and there is great danger that our people will lose our independence of thought and action which is the cause of much of our greatness, and sink into the helplessness of the Frenchman or German who expects his government to feed him when hungry, clothe him when naked, to prescribe when his child may be born and when he may die, and, in time, to regulate every act of humanity from the cradle to the tomb, including the manner in which he may seek future admission to paradise." - Mark Twain

One of the key ingredients in maintaining our Republic is the right of citizens to freely speak their minds to those who represent them. In fact, it is one of the few effective tools we have left to combat government corruption and demand accountability.

Let us use social media to educate ourselves and each other in this crucial midterm election year and share our thoughts with our elected representatives.

Replace those who do not share our principles of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free market economic policies.

Our Republic depends upon us.