Inflatable Doll

So a guy goes into an adult store and asks for an inflatable doll .
The clerk asks him ,
"Male or female ?"
Male he answers .
"Black or white" asks the clerk .
White he answers .
"Christian or Muslim ?" asks the clerk .

"How does religion fit in this ?" asks the guy .


" The Muslim one blows herself up !"

State of the Union

Photo by Katie Falkenberg Washington Times

George Bush on the state of the union January 23 , 2007 :

This is a decent and honorable country-and resiliant , too . We have
been
through a lot together. We've met challenges and faced dangers , and we
know
that more lie ahead . Yet we can go forward with confidence- because
the State
of our union is strong ...our cause in the world is right...and
tonight that
cause goes on .

God Bless

Such was the ending of the President's State of the Union speech last night , in which he outlined a few things he would like Congress to do as we enter this time of Democrat control of Congress . He is hopeful they will work together in a bi-partisan way that simply doesn't exist today .

He has presided over the growth of our economy , the creation of millions of new jobs , low unemployment , low inflation , and rising wages , but his opponents will surely downplay those achievements by telling us they are at the expense of the average workers in the country .

They tell us that rising corporate profits do not benefit us at all , only the money-grubbing corporations and their CEOs .

The President wants to continue to work on balancing the budget without raising taxes , partly by imposing spending discipline in Congress ( by the way , his regime has not done quite that yet ) , and restraining the spending appetite of the Federal government , cutting earmarks ( another thing his folks did not do ) , and reforming the budget process .

None of this will wash with the Democrats , of course . They are "progressive" to a fault and will fight him all the way . Some changes will occur , but if the Liberals have their way , all changes will be to their specifications , not worked out in a bi-partisan fashion .

Most of the rest of the speech was nothing new , even the comments on Medicare , Medicaid , and Social Security .

Bush's comments on the war on terror and the Iraq war were just reiterations of what we have been hearing plenty of lately , nothing new there .

In my view the speech was not great , nor was it revealing . More revealing was the Democrat "response" by Senator Jim Webb of Virginia , which as has been in many years past produced beforehand , and designed to be in opposition to anything offered in the President's speech . Webb even said :

It would not be possible in this short amount of time to actually rebut
the President's message , nor would it be useful .

Silence Global Warming Critics

So , if you can't prove your theory , just silence the critics !
Hard to believe , but the Weather Channel people think TV weathermen should not be certified if they don't agree with Global Warming . No open minded people allowed .
Read this
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=32abc0b0-802a-23ad-440a-88824bb8e528 from a blog on the U S Senate Commitee on Environment and Public Works website .

Posted by Marc Morano 202-224-5762 marc_morano@epw.senate.gov (8:50pm ET)

The Weather Channel’s most prominent climatologist is advocating that
broadcast
meteorologists be stripped of their scientific certification if
they express
skepticism about predictions of manmade catastrophic global
warming. This latest
call to silence skeptics follows a year (2006) in which
skeptics were compared
to "Holocaust Deniers" and Nuremberg-style war crimes
trials were advocated by
several climate alarmists.

The
Weather Channel’s (TWC) Heidi
Cullen, who hosts the weekly global warming
program "The Climate Code," is
advocating that the American Meteorological
Society (AMS) revoke their "Seal of
Approval" for any television weatherman
who expresses skepticism that human
activity is creating a climate
catastrophe.

"If a meteorologist
can't speak to the
fundamental science of climate change, then maybe the AMS
shouldn't give
them a Seal of Approval. Clearly, the AMS doesn't agree that
global warming
can be blamed on cyclical weather patterns," Cullen wrote in her
December 21
weblog on the Weather Channel Website.
Cullen’s call for decertification of TV weatherman who do not agree with
her global warming assessment follows a year (2006) in which the media,
Hollywood and environmentalists tried their hardest to demonize scientific
skeptics of manmade global warming. Scott Pelley, CBS News 60 Minutes
correspondent, compared skeptics of global warming to "Holocaust deniers" and
former Vice President turned foreign lobbyist Al Gore has repeatedly referred to
skeptics as "global warming deniers."

Yes , if deniers of Global Warming are so wrong , they MUST be silenced !

Revisiting "Fairness Doctrine"

From http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=333927 FMQB.com :

Over the weekend, the National Conference for Media Reform was held in Memphis,
TN, with a number of notable speakers on hand for the event. Rep. Dennis
Kucinich (D-OH) made an(sic) surprise appearance at the convention
to announce that he would be heading up a new House subcommittee which will
focus on issues surrounding the Federal Communications Commission.

Here we go - Liberals simply can't imagine why Conservative based talk radio is successful and Liberal based radio is not . Advertisers would flock to "progressive" hosts and programs if the public was really in favor of them . The lack of advertising is probably why Air America has struggled , even reached the point of possibly filing for bankruptcy protection , while Limbaugh , Hannity , et al , grow and prosper .

In addition to media ownership, the committee is expected to focus its attention
on issues such as net neutrality and major telecommunications mergers. Also in
consideration is the "Fairness Doctrine," which required broadcasters to present
controversial topics in a fair and honest manner. It was enforced until it was
eliminated in 1987.
Kucinich said in his speech that "We know the media has
become the servant of a very narrow corporate agenda" and added "we are now in a
position to move a progressive agenda to where it is visible."

Thus is the plan of the new power bloc in Washington ; if they can't compete , the other side MUST be acting unfairly !
I listen to radio talk shows that appeal to me and my interests , and turn off ones that do not . Is that not what the dial is for ? When the Liberals can appeal to the masses , then they will be competitive . If a business has no customers , it goes out of business , or changes its product or service . Same should be true of political entities and parties . The Republicans need to do some refocussing also , since they have lost many followers recently .

After the housewarming

The Democrats have come out of the gate with some feel-good bills , but soon will find the going tougher .
Big promises made during the election resonated with the voters , but getting things done will be tougher than they thought , especially now that Pelosi has said they will not include Republicans in the process . This is a big mistake since their majority is so slim .
The reality of politics will loom large in the next few weeks as they try to meet the expectations of their supporters . The big problem will be the war . As they try to find ways to get out , Bush has begun to finalize a strategy plan which includes more troops initially and more effort from Iraq in making themselves more self-sufficient . These are ideas the Democrats ( at least some of them ) have said they wanted . They are going to be hard-pressed to get a definite timeline for withdrawal . This issue will be the main item that stymies compromise , as Bush will probably not budge from his positions much , and the Democrats , though claiming they want co-operation , have set the stage for none . The only compromise they want is for everyone to agree with them . They don’t seem to have a will to work together with anyone that disagrees with them .
Democrats also believe that if they say or do something , it must be the correct and only way , but Bush still has a veto pen handy . The majority is only one vote in the Senate , so they have to have 100% from their members plus a few Republicans in order to avoid ties , which Cheney could break with his vote .

Now , today on Bloomberg.com , I read that some freshmen Democrats are advising Pelosi to stick to the middle , because they will lose in '08 if the Democrats veer left as is their custom .
For example , Joe Donnelly (D , Indiana) signed up with the "Blue Dog'' Democrats, a group of 44 self-described conservative lawmakers who support balanced budgets and less business regulation and are open to accommodation with moderate Republicans.

"I want to represent Democrats and Republicans,'' he says. "I am going to
hit the ball down the middle.''

The article is here - http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a7WU1_xanUrI&refer=home

Mixed emotions

I have very mixed emotions about this situation , on one hand seeing the reasons for keeping Ashley small , and on the other , trying to understand whether the parents are more concerned for the girl or themselves .

This story is heart rendering and will cause commentary for a long time .
Read it here-on dailymail.co.uk

Hero in New York

Here is a guy that did the right thing , and says it was due to his Southern upbringing .
Wesley Autrey saw a young man collapse on the tracks of a New York subway , and after ensuring the safety of his daughters with bystanders , he jumped down and covered the young man between the tracks as the train passed overhead . He said only his cap was disturbed by the train . His experience in construction working in tight places helped him determine that there was room to avoid the train .

He has received rewards befitting his heroic act .
The story can be read here from Globeandmail.com

President Ford - RIP

"A government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."

Gerald R. Ford, the nation's first unelected vice president and then its first unelected president, has died, his wife, Betty, said late yesterday. He was 93.


When Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office on August 9, 1974, he declared, "I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances.... This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts."

It was indeed an unprecedented time. He had been the first Vice President chosen under the terms of the Twenty-fifth Amendment and, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, was succeeding the first President ever to resign.

Ford was confronted with almost insuperable tasks. There were the challenges of mastering inflation, reviving a depressed economy, solving chronic energy shortages, and trying to ensure world peace.

Ford's major contribution as president was probably in providing a sense of stability and continuity of the office in the aftermath of the Watergate turmoil and the Nixon resignation.

Season's greetings !!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!

And of course all the other possible greetings of the season , just to accomodate anyone visiting Randomview , wouldn't want to be politically incorrect !
Actually , I am a Christian , so it is only natural that I would use Christmas in my greeting . I respect the right of others to follow their own faith , but ask that they NOT ask me to forget mine .
The image above is of a display my wife made for her desk at work this year , most of it was handmade or decorated by her , with a little help from me . It now sits in our breakfast nook and is the current screensaver on the computer at home .

Applicants line up at Swift

After many illegals were removed from Swift plants recently , it seems people are lining up for the open jobs .

GREELEY - The line of applicants hoping to fill jobs vacated by undocumented workers taken away by immigration agents at the Swift & Co. meat-processing plant earlier this week was out the door Thursday.

Rocky Mountain News


I am sure Swift will be more vigilant in checking citizen satus now . These jobs can and will be taken by citizens .

A different Christmas poem

This poem is traveling around the internet . I wish I knew the author so I could attribute it properly . It purportedly came from a Naval commander in Iraq .

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out there!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as
you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S.service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's
try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and
think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for
us.

ICE doing its job

It is good to see ICE is actually doing its job . A long investigation has led to the arrest and hopefully deportation of a large part of the workforce in Swift's meatpacking plants . These people have all committed at least one crime , either illegal entry into the US , or ID theft . They need to be deported forthwith . Yes , I know they will leave behind spouses and children , but such should be the consequences of criminal acts .

see the
story on myway.com .

More than 1,200 people were arrested in meatpacking plants in six states during raids that federal officials said amounted to the largest-ever workplace crackdown on illegal immigration.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Wednesday the investigation uncovered a "disturbing front" in the war against illegal immigration, in which illegal immigrants are using the identities of U.S. citizens to obtain jobs.

"Violations of our immigration laws and privacy rights often go hand in hand," he said. "Enforcement actions like this one protect the privacy rights of innocent Americans while striking a blow against illegal immigration."

The raids followed a 10-month investigation into illegal immigrants suspected of buying or stealing other people's identities to secure U.S. jobs. The scheme may have had hundreds victims, officials said.

Immigration officials last month informed Swift that it would remove unauthorized workers on Dec. 4, but Swift asked a federal judge to prevent agents from conducting the raid, arguing it would cause "substantial and irreparable injury" to its business.

The company estimated a raid would remove up to 40 percent of its 13,000 workers. Greeley-based Swift describes itself as the world's second-largest meat processor with sales of about $9 billion.

This should send a message to illegals and those who hire them .
Can't wait to see what the ACLU has to say about this , some are already whining " what about the children ?"

In a written statement, President and CEO Sam Rovit said the company has never knowingly hired illegal workers and does not condone the practice.

Swift uses a government pilot program to confirm whether Social Security numbers are valid. Company officials have raised questions about the program's ability to detect when two people are using the same number.

In the company I work for , we hire truck drivers and in the task of confirming identity , a simple program will flag an SSN or Driver License number that is duplicated . Seems a government program would at least have that capability .

Joining the enemy

Here is a Rabbi in an Orthodox sect who deeply misunderstands the goal of the radical Islamists . He doesn't realize that he will be killed just as quickly as all others if Amadinejad has his way .
He was attending the recent Holocaust Conference and was among those applauding the speech of Iran's hothead .

Yisroel Dovid Weiss is not your average rabbi sporting a black hat. As the head of the Neturei Karta sect in Monsey, Rockland County, Weiss proudly calls himself an anti-Zionist, and regularly burns the Israeli flag at demonstrations.

He's embraced Muslim leaders and went to Washington last year to greet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Yesterday, he was front and center at a conference denying the Holocaust took place. He applauded Ahmadinejad's keynote address urging Israel be "wiped off the map."

But Weiss' critics have called him anti-Semitic.

Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League branded Rabbi Weiss' group "Jews who hate Jews" and accused them of selling themselves as props for anti-Semitic groups worldwide.

"They are such perverters of what Judaism is all about they have to embrace all the enemies of Jews," said Foxman. "They dance at every wedding of Jew-haters."

Read the whole story on http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/479759p-403577c.html

Political correctness getting worse

The City of San Francisco has bowed to PC madness again ! MTA was forced by the city to stop an ad campaign which put cookie scented strips on the bus stop shelters in a "Got Milk" campaign .

It seems some people

"complained the ads could be offensive to the poor and homeless who can't afford to buy sweet treats."

Is this madness or what ? This would lead us to agree that any ad would be forbidden since anything advertised is unaffordable to someone in this world , even in America .
Why not block car ads , computer ads , jewelry ads , ad infinitum .??
here is the story .

Satan or Terrorist ?

Was it that Satan was on a flight to Texas , or had the Satan Chavez swore had preceded him to a speaker's podium been booked on the flight ?

If I were on an airplane and smelled burning matches , I would have been very worried , just as passengers were on an American Airlines flight the other day .

But it was just a passenger with a wish to cover her flatulence . Striking matches is a time-proven way to cover that smell , but on an airplane ?? In this day and age ?? Not smart . The passenger was removed after an emergency stop in Nashville ans has been questioned by authorities and was not allowed to get back on the plane with the others as it continued on to Texas .



wsmvnews.com had the story .

Santa Butt Beer

From

Portland, Maine — A beer distributor says Maine is being a Scrooge by barring it from selling a beer with a label depicting Santa Claus enjoying a pint of brew.

In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court, Shelton Brothers accuses the Maine Bureau of Liquor Enforcement of censorship for denying applications for labels for Santa's Butt Winter Porter and two other beers it wants to sell in Maine.

The episode is reminiscent of last year when Connecticut told Shelton Brothers it had problems with its Seriously Bad Elf ale. The state later approved the sale of the beer.

“Last year it was elves. This year it's Santa. Maybe next year it'll be reindeer,” said Daniel Shelton, owner of the company in Belchertown, Mass.

How far will political correctness go ? How many kids would be affected by this beer ? The ACLU needs to get a grip on reality and go back to fighting against REAL civil liberties offenders .

UN approves extension of military mission in Iraq

What do the "cut and runners" have to say about this ? Their favorite UN has approved an extension of the mission in Iraq on the urgings of Nouri Al-Maliki . If the UN says stay , do they still want us to leave before the job is done ?

The UN Security Council voted unanimously yesterday to extend the mandate of the 160,000-strong multinational force in Iraq.

The council acted quickly in response to a request from Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who said a top government priority is to assume full responsibility for security and stability in the country but that it needs more time.

The resolution, drafted by the U.S., extends the mandate of the multinational force for one year starting on Dec. 31 and authorizes a review at the request of the Iraqi government or by June 15.

The resolution contains the same provision as past resolutions: A commitment the council "will terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the government of Iraq."

Al-Maliki's request for the one-year extension with a termination clause came as the U.S. administration stepped up diplomatic efforts to stabilize the war-torn country, certain to be a top item on the agenda when U.S. President George W. Bush meets al-Maliki tomorrow in Jordan.

This report from AP should tell them that for at least a year , Iraq and the UN want the coalition to stay in Iraq .

Damned if we do , damned if we don't !

The Bush administration is facing a foreign policy crisis in Lebanon where the Iran-backed Hizbullah and Syria threaten to topple the weakened democratic government in Beirut.
"The future of the Middle East, certainly the future of Lebanon may well be decided in the next several days," U.S. envoy to the United Nations John Bolton told BBC radio. "A successful re-emergence of democracy there is being directly challenged by the terrorist Hizbullah and those who support them, Syria, Iran and others."

Thisarticle on Worldtribune.com tells us about the quandry we are entering into in Lebanon . We have committed money and supplies that could easily fall into the hands of Hezbollah and Syria . We are committed to helping Lebanon shore up the democracy , but can we be sure they won't succumb to the desires of our enemies , thus in essence paving the path for terroristic leadership ?

The U.S. dilemma is whether or not to provide up to $200 million in military aid to Lebanon over the next year.

Officials said the State Department intends to determine the stability of the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora before the aid is sent to Beirut, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the assassination of Trade Minister Pierre Gemayel and the resulting unrest could lead to a delay in U.S. weapons to Lebanon.

"The nightmare is that we help build a military that is taken over by Hizbullah or Syria," an official said.

I haven't heard any liberal saying anything about this yet , but it sure will be another thing for them to blame on the administration if things go sour . The terrorists have patience , so it would not surprise me to see them let us go ahead with this , just to take advantage of it later . It would give them money and at least a bunch of Humvees to use against Israel , not to mention air defense equipment and weapons sent as surplus .

Consider this -

Posted on Myoldtruck.com by a member there -


Civilian Versus Military
__________________________
Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10
minutes.
He stays up for days on end.
___________________________

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.

He goes days or weeks without running water.
__________________________

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.

He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
__________________________

You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go
meet up with your friends.

He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
__________________________

You make sure your cell phone is in your pocket.

He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
__________________________

You talk trash on your "buddies" that aren't with you.

He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
__________________________

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girl s.

He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
__________________________

You complain about how hot it is.

He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to
wipe his brow.
__________________________

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got
your order wrong.

He does not get to eat today.
__________________________

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.

He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons
are clean.
__________________________

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.

He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
__________________________

You are angry because your class ran five minutes over.

He is told he will be held an extra two months.
__________________________


You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.

He waits for the mail to see if there is a lette r from home.
__________________________

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.

He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.
__________________________

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if
they'll ever meet.
__________________________

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves
anything.

He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government
and remembers why he is fighting.
__________________________

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like
him.

He hears the gunfire and bombs.
__________________________

You see only what the media wants you to see.

He sees the bodies lying around him.
__________________________

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.

He does what he is told.
___________________________

You choose the path you're going to lead your life on.

He lets GOD choose his!
_________________________

You stay at home and watch TV.

He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home,
sleep, and eat.
__________________________

You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get
comfortable.

He crawls under a tank for shade and a five-minute nap, only to
be woken by gunfire.
__________________________

You sit there and judge him, saying the world is a worse place
because of men like him.

If only there were more men like him.

Blue Dog Democrats

I borrowed this info from A Way With Words through Dave Wilton's weekly newsletter of Wordorigins.org .

The name is modeled after yellow dog Democrat. A yellow dog Democrat is not
especially liberal, but is rather someone who will vote party line
regardless of the circumstances. The New York Times records this from 11
March 1883:

There is no eagerness shown, however, among Republicans to seek office at
this time, when Democrats can see nothing but certain victory awaiting them.
"Why, we could nominate yellow dogs this Spring and elect every one upon the
ticket by a big majority," said one of the Democratic ward statesmen to-day.

By 1911, the above quotation had been turned into a political buzzword when
the Mansfield News (Ohio) had this on 22 April:

He favors a job for every "yellow dog Democrat" to keep him from want,
exertion and worry.

I see some hope for middle-of-the-road politicians and the center of the citizenry , because it shows that there really are some fiscally conservative Democrats in office . In my view , these Blue Dog Democrats will find their voices as the next two years show that the far left find themselves unable to pass leftist legislation , due to their running to the center to win , then veering left to legislate . It is my fervent hope that centrist politics will prevail .

The article quoted says -

They call themselves the blue-dog Democrats-yellow-dog Democrats turned blue
by the choke hold put on them by their own liberal leadership.

For those interested in etymology , Wordorigins is a very interesting discussion group , accessed by logging on to

Wordorigins , but to participate you must register with EZboard . Spammers are not welcome , and discussions are serious , though some good-natured humor is found there at times .