End of the Year Blog Comedy Closeout Courtesy of Tim Slagle

Tim Slagle was a featured comedian on Chicago's WLSAM Jerry Agar's conservative talk show. Let's end this year with some smiles, instead of wondering why the government is so careless with our tax dollars. Happy New Year and thanks so much for giving a few minutes of your time each day to read my opinions and my fight for America!

Why is it the IRS has No Problem Tracking My Money, But the Government Can't Track the Bailout Money?

The Internal Revenue Service appears to have a solid system in place for tracking the revenue of most Americans. Sure, you can make the argument that loopholes in the system allow Americans to protect what is rightfully theirs. Eventually, if you protect too much they have a way of finding every dime. No American wants to go through the bullying process which is an IRS audit. Owing the IRS back taxes is just as bad as owing a credit card company. Sure they have payment plans, but they are modeled after the credit card companies' models. Bottom line is, there isn't much you can hide that they won't find out about.

So why is it the Associated Press is reporting once again that tracking the bailout money is challenging for the government? Jeannine Aversa tries to explain in her article why it's difficult. Really, she just wasted the ink in her pen.

When has the government ever cared about the money going out the door Jeannine? That's the answer to your question. Sure, it's rhetorical, but it doesn't take a genius to know that the United States government bullies its citizens into paying taxes on nearly anything. They sit in committees wondering what else they can tax to increase the revenue, but they don't give a damn about giving us a break by actually monitoring and limiting what they spend.

So Jeannine, do you really believe that American people are surprised that once again our money has been foolishly handed out by the band of fools in Congress? They passed this bailout so quickly that you'd have been a fool not to foresee this. Congress was too busy adding earmarks to ever consider where the money was really headed. Once again, they will pass the cost off to us, because THEY CAN.

It's too bad these morons don't actually have to produce a product to fund their mad spending sprees. Then maybe, and I do mean maybe, they might be responsible on occasion.

Governor Blunt Maintains Ties With Mitt Romney: Joins Solamere Capital Investment Group

Governor Matt Blunt's term soon ends as governor of Missouri. Much speculation has occurred to what Blunt will do once his term is over. Governor Blunt officially announced he has accepted a position in the investment sector with Mitt Romney's oldest son.

Blunt begins at Solamere Capital the day after he leaves office. It's unsure what his role will be. The investment group is located in Boston, but Governor Blunt will maintain his residence in Springfield, Missouri.

Here's wishing the Governor the best of luck with his new position.

Economy Tough For NASCAR: Richard Petty Closing Petty Enterprises

The winningest number in NASCAR will no longer belong to Richard Petty and Petty Enterprises. Petty Enterprises will shut their doors today after 60 glorious years in stock car racing.

Many smaller NASCAR teams are struggling to put advertisers on the hoods of their cars, and Petty's cars have struggled on the track and with advertisers. The #43 will move to Gillett Evernham Racing. Petty agreed to a deal with the other Dodge team.

I am sad to see the 'King' close his doors. I think NASCAR faces some tough challenges in the next few years. I think Petty realizes this. Not only does a tough economy challenge the smaller teams, but Obama's war on CO2 will impact stock car racing.

Fans found it harder to attend races this past summer with fuel prices reaching record prices mixed with the cost of tickets. 2008 was the first year I didn't attend a race in quite a while.

Bungalow Bill's Conservative Wisdom Year in Review: Top Ten Most Popular Posts of 2008

During this time of reflection, I thought I would share with you the ten most popular posts of conservative wisdom for 2008. As I look at these stories, they aren't necessarily the stories that I felt would generate hits, so it's been a surprise to me watching the analytic reports as my blog continues to grow in readership.

Shortly after I started this blog, I was approached by Western Front America to contribute to their site. That was an exciting development this year.

I am very appreciative of my new conservative readers who exchange ideas with their comments and their blogs. I look forward to working with all of you in 2009 to continue to fight the Reagan revolution of conservatism.

Here are the top ten Bungalow Bill blogs for 2008:

10. The Dangers of the Veterans Disarmament Act: Thousands of US war veterans are being denied their Second Amendment rights, and it doesn't stop there. Keep your children off Ritalin, Concerta, and other mind numbing behavior drugs, or they may lose their right too.

9. Dixie Chick Natalie Maines Doesn't Know How to Keep Her Mouth Shut: First Maines goes to Europe and tells audiences how embarrassed she is of our President, and a few years later she accuses without a doubt a man of murder, who she is currently being sued by.

8. Utah Environmentalist Commits Auction Fraud for Oil Rights: Tim DeChristopher believed he could walk into an auction for oil rights, bid up the auctions, and walk away for environmentalism. He now faces charges. This was my first blog in which a person claiming to be a friend of the subject of the blog commented.

7. Reagan's Vision of Preparedness: Obama's Target: I remember watching Ronald Reagan as a young kid discuss the Strategic Defense Initiative. Reagan's vision is a military reality, and Obama may make drastic cuts to the program in a very dangerous time.

6. The Peace of Mind Letter Campaign: The Obama Birth Certificate: The Obama birth certificate, Constitutional requirements, and the issue of natural born citizenship spread across the Internet like a wildfire, but in the end, it never plagued the Obama campaign.

5. One Clinton Advisor Will be Missed for Not Making the Obama Recycled Variety Show: The single bright light of the Clinton administration was Dick Morris. Morris pulled Clinton to the right, which saved the Clinton Presidency, but the Clinton liberal agenda would have been in full play had Morris not had the President's ear. As we watch Obama recycle the Clinton administration through his cabinet choices, it's obvious one person is missing--Dick Morris.

4. Animal Rights Activists Upset with IKEA Over Rudolph Salami: If there is one clear way to attract libs to your site, post a single issue environmental story. I believe this was the first story I experimented with to attract libs to my site. The PETA crowd decided to protest European IKEA stores for selling caribou salami. Yes, the libs showed up. This was a number one blog for quite some time, which I never expected.

3. 60 More Minutes of Obama: Another story which gained the attention of a friend of the subject and a lib. The friend claims to be the son of Frank Marshall Davis, who was reported to have communist ties in Hawaii and was thoughtfully written of in Obama's Book, Dreams of My Father. Mark Kaleokualoha Davis is disputing those stories which appear on many blogs. The blog was to point out that 60 Minutes had produced a 60 minute fluff piece on the President elect, which includes the Obama's talking about dish washing. The blog never accused FM Davis of being a communist. I personally am not familiar enough with FM Davis to accuse him of anything but being a controversial associate of Obama's, a fact that Mark Kaleokualoha Davis can't dispute.

2. Eugenics: What Even Barack Obama Should Know About Planned Parenthood: There is very little doubt that abortion will be crammed down the throats of taxpayers after Obama swears into office. No doubt, Planned Parenthood lobbyist will lead the charge for tax payer funded abortions. There is a darker history to Planned Parenthood that Obama should be aware of. Planned Parenthood practiced Eugenics, the Darwinian belief of removing the weak, sick, black, and homosexuals out of the gene pool. Margaret Sanger founded Planned Parenthood and its 'Negro Project' that attempted to slow down and control the black population.

1. Lack of Sunspots May Provide Solid Proof the Earth is Not Warming: Want to upset the global warming fruitcakes? Post a story on sunspots! There is little doubt to anyone with common sense that 2008 was a mild year; yet the global warming crowd insists it was one of the hottest ever (which is what they said about 2007 and 2006 and 2005...). I started studying the lack of sunspots in 2008 and found some interesting details about prior periods which had little solar activity. This brought out the alarmist in droves. They never tried to discredit the sunspot theory, rather they tried to discredit a simple quote I placed in the blog to discredit the piece. Even after a few weeks in circulation, I still receive comments on the quote. I don't feel I used the quote out of context, but I will let you decide.

Bungalow Bill's Wacky Liberal of the Year Award, Robert Byrd

And the Wacky Liberal of the Year Award goes to...

...Robert Byrd. No other liberal silliness shines above this moment on the Senate floor after Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Would someone please tell the Senator that Ted is still alive? You would think Byrd and Kennedy may have been lovers based on what you are about to see. This love fest is embarrassing for the good people of West Virginia. The rest of the country now knows the truth that they elected a senile old man to represent them.

Why West Virginia, why?

Finally, who could forget Peggy Joseph as we wrap up the year. She may not have won Bungalow Bill's Waky Liberal of the Year, but she gave Senator Robert Byrd a good run for his money. One more time for 2008, here's the spokeswoman for the entitlement generation, a woman who will be disappointed this time next year, and an example of what's wrong with America today, Peggy Joseph.

We don't see great things for Peggy Jospeph's future if she continues down the road of government dependence and entitlement. The greatest help anyone could give Peggy is this... Go out and make it happen on your own. You will be far happier.

Happy 2009 Everyone! Let's make it the year of the conservative voice.

Tales From a Meth House

I never knew what crystal meth was until I moved back to Springfield, Missouri, after years of living in Chicago. The drug scene in Chicago from what I knew revolved around pot and more expensive drugs like cocaine and heroin. Although, it was never my scene, I met doctors, co-workers, and other people who were users.

When I would drive home for Christmas, I would see the signs along Interstate 44. They always advertised ways for help or reporting your neighbors if you suspected they were making it. Other than the signs, I was ignorant of how people used the drug, the ingredients, or how they went about making it. All of that was about to change.

I left Southwest Missouri State University between my junior and senior of college. I was offered a great sales job for a dental supply company out of Canton, Michigan. The offer was for more money than my friends with degrees were making (a dirty little secret about a college education), so it was off to the big city of Chicago. After years on the road and especially post 9/11 airport security, I got tired of taking off my shoes at metal detectors and looking through a windshield driving up and down I-65. I knew the time was coming to finish my degree, and I saved money and planned for the day.

After looking at all my possibilities, I knew it was best to come back to southwest Missouri. Southwest Missouri State had just been renamed Missouri State thanks to my childhood friend and governor, Matt Blunt. I reapplied, and I began looking for an apartment that would accept my dog Kayleigh. After a day of searching, I found a little studio apartment off National and Division. I knew it was a rough part of town, but I had seen worse selling to doctors in some of the south side neighborhoods of Chicago. It would only be a year anyway.

My Dad came up to Chicago and drove the U-Haul back to Springfield. The next day, we went and got the keys to the little studio apartment, which was an old house turned into three apartments. It was going to be cramped. I felt bad for my lab. She was use to stretching her legs and getting out in Chicago, and now we were going to be on top of each other.

I quickly got a taste of my neighbors. A gangsta looking man, almost Snoop Dog in appearance walked into my apartment while we were moving stuff in. I got a little worried, but he claimed he worked for the owner and he had to get some things out of the closet that he stored for his girlfriend. We moved in.

I watched my use of my electricity closely. I hardly ever ran the heat, after all, I was now Chicago tough. I had been through the worst of winters I would probably ever see, I could handle the mild winters here. I had a little space heater that worked just fine. The first two months were great. My bills were small.

The third month, they finally rented out the largest of the three units. I caught them moving in while I was off to school on my Scooter one morning—more gang bangers. Lucky me! I will just keep to myself. Keep my doors locked, and hope that Kayleigh would be a deterrent. Shortly after they moved in, I got a nearly $300 electric bill. I freaked. I was a student now. How could this be?

I called Springfield City Utilities. I explained that I live in a very small apartment and I never run my heat. I was use to paying Commonwealth Edison for my power, and they are among the highest in the country. Never did I have a bill that was even close to this much. I demanded that they check my meter. They came out and reread it. It was correct according to them. I wrote the check knowing that I would not be able to survive if this kept up. I became a miser—more blankets at night and I turned off the space heater. The next month, the bill came again. It was even higher. I dialed CU.

I demanded that they come out to check the meter again. I met the guy outside, and asked him to make sure the meters weren’t crossed. When he flipped the switch, my lights stayed on. You could hear the fan from the heat pump next door shut off. He flipped it on again. When he flipped the other switch that he thought was my neighbors, my lights went off. I had been paying the neighbors high electric bills.

I thanked him for coming out, and I knocked on the door of my gang banger neighbors. A man dressed in North Carolina powder blue sweat suit and gold incisors groggily answered the door. “Wus up?” His head moved upward diagonally to the right.

I kept it short. “Our power lines were crossed, so I have been paying your electric bill and you have been paying my electric bill. City Utilities will make the adjustments on the next bill.” I knew I probably wasn’t going to have an electric bill for the rest of my lease in the little apartment.

A few days later I came home from classes on my scooter. I parked it under the stairs up to the upstairs apartment, and walked to the front porch. A trail of blood ran up the wooden stairs to Snoop Dog’s apartment. I followed it back to the mailboxes on the front porch. I didn’t want to know.

I sat in my apartment wondering if someone was stabbed. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to stir things up. This wasn’t a situation I wanted to be in. I slept on it.

The next day, I took my dog outside and walked. After she did her business, I walked back into my apartment and carelessly left the door unlocked. As I was shaving in the bathroom, Snoop Dog’s girlfriend comes rushing through my front door and quickly locks it.

“My old man is going to beat me,” she frantically screamed as I come out of the bathroom. “May I leave this stuff here?” There was a green duffel back and a framed lithograph. I said sure, without thinking. She then quickly left and ran down the road.

The cops soon came. Snoop Dog said he cut himself. He had medical bandages. I doubt he was telling them the truth.

I never saw her again, and the bag sat by the front door, and it had an odor. After a few days, I set it outside.

A few days later the landlord showed up, and Snoop Dog was gone. Somewhere during all this, the gold toothed guy and his friends moved out. They stiffed the landlord a bunch of money. He didn’t tell me this.

It took a few months to fill the vacancy. I heard the moving truck pull up, and a single mom and her baby began moving in. We would talk passing by, but it wasn’t until the roof started leaking and warping into her apartment that I would find out what was going on next door. She came over and asked if I had some buckets. I gave her my map bucket, and she discouragingly said she had enough of the apartment. It had been nothing but problems.

Her heater had gone out, so she and her baby were living off space heaters. I turned my heater on and invited them over to watch movies. Springfield, Missouri was suffering the worst early winter in years, and I was just a few short weeks from graduation. Classes were called that day, so we watched movies.

She told me that she couldn’t immediately move into the apartment. The landlord had to have it specially cleaned because they suspected they were cooking methamphetamine. He had to replace all the screens on the windows. They had used them to filter the crystals.

I asked her about her electric bill, and she said it ran just under $100, less than half of what I was charged when the lines were crossed.

She was surprised I never smelled anything, but sense of smell is my worse sense. I was gone so much for school and other things that I was rarely at the apartment when they were there anyway. Since then, I have learned this frequently goes on in smaller apartments and hotel rooms in Missouri. I was shocked that it was going under my nose.

The Reagan Quote of the Day (12/31/2008)

Some may try and tell us that this is the end of an era. But what they overlook is that in America, every day is a new beginning, and every sunset is merely the latest milestone on a voyage that never ends. For this is the land that has never become, but it is the act of becoming. Emerson was right: America is the Land of Tomorrow. January 13, 1993

While Everyone is Looking at Race: Here's Something Else to Consider About Roland Burris

Roland Burris will be the next Senator from Illinois regardless what Harry Reid says. Even though Illinois Secretary of State Jessie White claims he will not sign off on the Blagojevich appointment, Bobby Rush will continue his lynching and hanging rhetoric creating increased racial tensions in the final weeks leading to the inauguration of Barack Obama. This isn't the atmosphere the Democrats want before Obama' big celebration. They will back down.

There is something that is overlooked--age. During the 2008 election, age was an issue. John McCain is less than a year older than Burris. Yet, race is the primary discussion. I thought the election of Barack Obama was going end the racial divide in this country, but as we can see, black leaders have become more active with their racial rhetoric. Shouldn't we discuss age as well? After all, age was a primary concern for John McCain, and unlike Ronald Reagan, McCain never showed the quick wit to get around the issue. Given the fact that Blago isn't stepping down, may not be impeached, and hasn't been found guilty, he might be given the chance based on Burris's age to sell another Senate Seat--that is if Burris kicks the bucket or becomes ill during the next two years.

I may be one of the few conservatives discussing this aspect of the pick. Democrats love to show what they see in people (like color and sex). If you are a Democrat, it's never about qualifications. If it's a Republican, the mainstream media and Democrats would be yelling that he is too old to serve. It's always a double standard, and the Burris pick not only exemplifies it with skin color but with age as well.

Fortunately, the pick won't immediately cost taxpayers beyond the normal salary. Burris must serve five years to receive a Congressional pension.

PETA: Does This Fur Make My Butt Look Big?

Did you receive a beautiful fur coat this year for Christmas? (By the way don't forget to insure it in case a PETA member decides to infringe on your right to wear fur with a can of Krylon.) I received a coat this year with real raccoon trim, but I might reconsider wearing it now. According to a PETA official, it may make my butt look big.

According to PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews, "Fur adds 20 years and 20 pounds." He recently commented on the Olsen Twins, as 'fur toting trolls' after seeing Mary Kate wearing fur in Obamazine, US. Obviously just another loving comment from a tolerant liberal, right?

It amazes me that these animals eventually rot and the beautiful fur winds up in the belly of an ugly vulture, and the wasted fur gets coughed up as a hairball. Don't they understand this?

Nope, PETA is following the political obesity war to advance it's message. You look fat is not enough to change my mind about putting a steak on my table, a warm coat lined with goose feathers on my back, or my new raccoon trim on my hood.

Blago Picks Roland Burris

The arrogance of Rod Blagojevich reached new heights today. In the middle of a scandal and possible impeachment, Blago scheduled a press conference to name Roland Burris as Obama's replacement. The news conference is scheduled for 1:00 CST.

Burris lost the democratic nomination for the US Senate in 1984 against Paul Simon.

The Boy Scouts, Victim of Bully Laws: Why Laws Similar to Sara Lampe’s Bill Go Too Far

I was elected to Order of the Arrow in 1984. My fellow Scouts from Troop 1, Springfield, Missouri, voted for my induction into the national scouting honor society. It would be a couple more months before I know the outcome of the vote. Order of the Arrow uses traditional American Indian symbolism and ceremonies throughout its hierarchy.

Order of the Arrow (OA) ceremony night was Wednesday at Camp Arrowhead, found in Marshfield, Missouri. We met behind the mess hall after dark. Troop by troop marched single file into the dark Camp Arrowhead woods to the sound of an Indian drumbeat. As we got closer to the OA ring, the drum became louder. We continued to march until we arrived at the ring. The large campfire gave our first light since we left the mess hall.

All the troops at camp that week formed a large circle around the campfire. Behind the circle marched three scouts, dressed as Indians, suddenly pulled a scout by both arms out of the circle and then forced him to run with the three scouts to the chief of the ceremony. Two of the scouts released the arms of the chosen scout and the chief instructed the scout and gave an OA sash to wear on his uniform. One of the instructions was not to talk. I completed the ordeal that year.

I loved the OA ceremony. It has a sense of mystery to it, mainly, how did they know which scout to pull out of the circle to begin their ‘ordeal’ into full membership into OA.

I returned to Camp Arrowhead this year. I asked about the ceremony in hopes that someone would tell me how they know which scout to pull. The answer saddened me. They no longer pull the Scouts out like that. It’s considered hazing (bullying).

Yesterday, I blogged about Missouri State Representative Sara Lampe’s bill to discourage bullying, which focuses on gay teenagers. While I am sure Lampe’s intentions are good, legislators often fail to realize the full effect of their good intentions. Political correctness kills great traditions, just like the OA tradition to begin a chosen Scout’s ordeal. The more I think about Lampe’s bill and other bills similar to it, the angrier I get thinking about the consequences of this legislation. Lampe’s bill is a freedom killer, and I doubt she considers this as she obviously believes her bill brings about positive change.

The OA still performs the tapout ceremony, but the part of the mystique of the ceremony has been removed.

Obama's Transparency Issue: Openess or Scandal Filled?

Barack Obama promised during the Democratic primary that his administration would be transparent and open. Now, during the transition, we have been given a taste of Chicago style politics, and Obama's transparency was quickly painted black. We may never know how much Obama had to do with Blagojevich's decision to sell the Illinois Senate seat, but we do know to keep an eye on Obama.

I predict the Obama administration will be the most corrupt in U.S. history. You don't advance through Chicago politics without your stains, and politicians are Skinner rats, given multiple paths full of self-serving rewards. Obama's transparency statement will plague the administration from its earliest days. I can't help wonder how the press will behave with they are not provided privileged information they feel should be transparent.

The media provided Americans plenty of examples during Bush's war on terror. They felt entitled to war strategy before the attacks. They used the withheld information to continue their war on the President.

Political favors and approval comes at a huge cost to Chicago residents. Each city contract comes with a huge cost to the bidder. Chicago politicians play like their more likable Chicago mafia counterparts--anything for a price. Blagojevich hasn't done anything that Mayor Richard Daley hasn't been guilty of. Blagojevich just got caught. Blagojevich introduced all Americans to Chicago politics whether they know it or not. These are the rules of Daley, and they are what Obama was conditioned to as he worked his way up the Illinois power ladder.

Obama brings the corrupt Chicago politics to the national stage. Someone close to Obama will always financially benefit from Obama's decision. Every few weeks in Chicago, there a story of how someone around Mayor Daley benefits from Daley's doings. This is how it works in Chicago. I find it hard that anyone from Chicago would be surprised of the Senate seat for sell in Illinois. I wasn't.

The word transparent will haunt Obama for the next four years; after all, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. We know Obama has looked deeply into Chicago for aids and cabinet appointees. These positions will only play out Chicago corruption on the national stage. It will be interesting to watch how Mayor Daley uses the new President to build more power in Chicago. I do expect Daley to be a player, just like I expect William Ayers will advocate education policy through Arne Duncan. Had Obama not been so inclusive of Chicago politicians in his administration, there might be hope for transparency. Nothing is clean in Chicago, nothing.

Add all of this with Obama's inexperience. Obama repelled the 'i' word and allowed the media to look at Sarah Palin's inexperience over his. Now the spotlights shine on him, and I guarantee you mistakes will be made because of inexperience that will need to be covered up. Obama won't allow himself to be seen as inexperienced, although, once all of this gets going, it will be hard to hide. In their attempts to hide, they will become used to sweeping things under the rug. It will come back on them. There will be nothing transparent about the Obama adminsitration, and an attempt to portray Obama as the transparent President will lead to scandals. We have seen the preview; although, Obama has studied Clinton history and so far has done a good job of keeping his nose clean. If I were a betting man, I'd bet the Blagojevich scandal involves many more than just Rod and Rahm.

Bungalow Bill's Wacky Liberal of the Year Runner Up, Father Michael Phleger

This was a tough contest, but Father Michael Phleger of Chicago falls just short in this excellent attempt to be the wacky liberal of the year. This cracks me up every time I hear it. Here's the good padre:

Did you ever think the day would come that you would see this kind of animosity against the Clintons?

The Reagan Quote of the Day (12/30/08)

The Founding Fathers believed that faith in God was the key to our being a good people and America's becoming a great nation. George Washington kissed the Bible at his inauguration. And to those who would have government separate from religion, he had these words: "Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." And Ben Franklin, at the time when they were struggling with what was to be the American Constitution, finally one day said to those who were working with him that, "Without God's help, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel." October 13, 1983

An Interesting Development on My Blog: The Son of Frank Marshall Davis?

Yesterday, I posted a story about the upcoming 60 Minutes episode that featured 60 minutes of the Obama family. It quickly took the interest of a man named Mark Kaleokualoha Davis, who has left several comments on my posting. I accused him of being an Obama Troll since the post only mentioned F.M. Davis, and was about how softly the news media is covering Obama. Am I being duped or is this really the son of F.M. Davis?

He claims he is the son, and is correcting what has been said about his father. My blog is still relatively small, even though I am shooting for the stars, so why he has spent so much time on my blog, which accuses his father of only having a relationship that was questionable with Obama?

http://bungalowbillscw.blogspot.com/2008/12/60-more-minutes-of-obama.html

Breastfeeding Protest in Front of Facebook Headquarters

A group of twenty protesters marched in front of Facebook's Palo Alto, California, headquarters yesterday. Angered about the removal of a woman's pictures of her breastfeeding her baby, the group is claiming discrimination of nursing mothers and wants the pictures placed back online.

Earlier this year, homosexual groups took E-Harmony to court for their policies banning gay matches. E-Harmony agreed to place homosexual options on the site after the case.

There is clearly a problem established with these protests and the eventual court cases? The courts now rule over private business practices which leads to a court's influence of a company's product. Company's are losing their rights to run their businesses in ways that reflect the ownership's beliefs. I find the judicial road we are on disturbing.

If Facebook's policy includes no nudity on their Web site, then they should be allowed to enforce their policy. I am sure the courts will soon be involved.

What happens when NAMBLA feels discriminated against on the internet? The courts are opening a huge can of worms.

MO State Rep. Sara Lampe Wants to Protect Children from Bullies: More Feel Good, Pathos Legislation

Missouri State Representative Sara Lampe (Democrat) wants to protect children from bullies. She has proposed Missouri House Bill 1751 in hopes of stopping bullies in their tracks. Now it’s the job of government to stop bullies? And how does Representative Lampe plan to do that?

After reading the Springfield News-Leader’s article in today’s paper, it appears this legislation is geared to protect homosexual teenagers. It’s another piece of legislation that will cost Missouri taxpayers while resulting in little success. Bullies are going to exist as long as humanity exists. They may eventually drug bullies like they drug any other child that shows the slightest bit of energy they consider out of control, but other than that, what are they going do?

Notice they make a drug for nearly every childhood condition now from hyperactivity to depression, but I don’t know of one yet to help teenagers deal with sexuality issues. I never advocate destroying a child’s personality with psychological drugs like Ritalin or Concerta. Please note that some childhood issues are dealt with drugs and others with legislation. Why is that? Why do lawmakers and psychologist discriminate behaviors?

A walk on today’s college and high school campuses displays all the failed efforts to stop bullying. There are safe zones for gay students, they have clubs to help kids deal with their sexual identities, and various faculty members are available to put out the fires and discuss bully/victim issues. All the money, training, and awareness programs provided, and bullying still occurs. Now Representative Lampe wants to throw more Missourians’ money at the problem.

Bullying is such a broad topic, that it’s nearly impossible to define all the behavior that is considered bullying. Heck, if you don’t wear the right clothes in school, you get bullied. If you don’t take part in sports, you get bullied. With Representative Lampe’s bill, we have another example of how government keeps us divided. In this case, it’s the rainbow divide. We always define students in groups, which is what Lampe’s bill continues to do. It’s them vs. us. Once you create the line, kids often see how far over the line they can go.

There were times in my life where I was bullied for different reasons. I feel bullying is a chance for a child to build some character. Of course, society doesn’t like for children to feel pain these days, so we get useless emotional legislation from government officials like Lampe. A child can learn to do two things with the bully. They can fuel the bully by running, showing fear, commenting in a manner the bully wants, or tattle telling, or they can learn not to fuel the bully. Learning not to fuel the bully is the key, not more government.

If we don’t start teaching children how to deal with pain, you can count on more senseless violence from the same overprotected children. It’s time we seriously evaluate how we raise children, and we don’t’ need a government program created to do it. It starts with learning you are going to get your feelings hurt many times in life. Deal with it!

Lampe’s legislation should already be common sense. It includes no name calling, no bullying on school busses, required reporting and response mechanisms, and more faculty training. Nothing revolutionary! Representative Lampe isn’t a genius here, and why they celebrate hers today on the front page of the Springfield News-Leader is beyond me. Clearly, the news in the Middle East wasn’t as important at Gregory Trotter’s front page headlines.

Here’s an idea for Lampe that would gain my respect. Why not introduce a bill protecting hard-working Americans from the bully known as the IRS? Oh, that’s right, she’s a Democrat—the party of nickel and diming Americans.

Wacky Liberal Celebrities Can't Win

I found this comic on The Daily Green Web site. It appears that a few in green community tire of crazy liberal celebrities as well. Of course, they are too self-important to catch on.

Oregon Governor Moves Forward with Satellite Driving Tax

While there is talk for a $1.50 per gallon tax on gasoline (a global warming tax in disguise), Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski says he’s ready for the Oregon legislature to move to a tax per mile using satellite technology. The Oregon plan would place a tracking GPS in your car and tax you based on your use.

“As Oregonians drive less and demand more fuel-efficient vehicles, it is increasingly important that the state find a new way, other than the gas tax, to finance our transportation system.”

Everywhere I look, I see cameras--cameras that watch our movements. Now they want to attach GPS to our chief mode of transportation? Do you see the violation of your liberty and freedom caused by all these governmental uses of technology? Not only that, notice all the new ways they want to take your money. Every time you turn around, there is talk of a new tax.

Of course the government would never implant GPS devices to track the movements of illegal aliens. They are going to attach them to law abiding American citizens.

The more we accept that these cameras and GPS devices as necessary evils of government, the more freedoms we lose and the more government picks from our pocket.

Last year many state governments looked at placing a sensor in your tire valves that would monitor your speed. Sensors along the road would record the tire valve sensor, and you would be sent a ticket if you were speeding. They can easily do the same with a mandated GPS in your car. States with tollways use automatic toll paying transponders to track your speeds as well, which is why I returned my iPass to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

I love technology, but not when it's in a taxing government's hand.

Bungalow Bill's Wacky Liberal of the Year Award: Third Place, Jeremiah Wright

Wacky liberals showed their true colors in 2008, and many of them found Barack Obama attached to them. Jeremiah Wright is far too hateful to be wacky, so he made the podium winning the bronze medal for Bungalow Bill's Wacky Liberal of the year.

The Democrat's Immigration Jig Saw Puzzle

The historians will be justified when they write the Democratic party was the most selfish bunch of people ever to exist. They sold out their own country for votes. It was always about votes, not what was good for the country.

I remind you how many trillions of dollars taxpayers owe for bailouts of U.S. banks, the UAW, General Motors, Chrysler, and whatever else poorly ran company sticks its hand out looking for the largest corporate welfare check written by the US government. Over the next four years Barack Obama and his band of Congressional nitwits will continue to steal money from the taxpayers to fund programs designed to keep Democrats in power.

The largest recipients of these new big government welfare programs won't be U.S. citizens. The Democrats designed these programs for the millions of illegal aliens who should be deported, but will soon be on the fast track to citizenship and voting. The Democrats will continue to bankrupt our country to secure the Latino vote.

Democratic issues are like puzzle pieces. That fact gets past most Americans, and you must dive beyond the surface to start to see how they snap into place with one another. The Immigration puzzle pieces include: a comprehensive immigration bill, nationalized health care and other social programs, and increasing the numbers coming across the border.

Comprehensive Immigration Bill

The Democrats will allow illegal aliens to stay in the country. Let's not forget, they are breaking the law.

Let's put this in perspective, try not paying your income taxes. You go to jail. Come over to this country illegally and milk the system: the Democrats embrace you, regardless of the costs to the taxpayers.

Democrats don't care if they are educated, speak English, have serious health issues, or criminal records. They don't want to offend a block of voters knowing they can secure 90% of them by embracing them with social welfare programs.

The Democrats played this card with blacks. Would someone please tell me how the Democrats have improved the black condition in America? I lived in Chicago. I saw the government housing that keeps many of them fat and stupid and voting Democrat. Jesse Jackson saw it too, but he took a payoff in the form of a beer distributorship to keep his mouth shut. Now the brothers in the hood stay drunk on 40s from Jackson's racket. Jackson pretends to care, but like Al Gore, he profits from stupidity.

The result, the Democrats continue to hand out welfare to poor black communities in exchange for votes. Blacks should be offended at how the Democrats look down on them, and it's not going to change with electing Barack Obama. Keep them down and threaten the Republicans will take it away, and they continue to vote for the party that offers no hope. Obama is just for show. The Democrats will provide the same leadership to the Latino community.

Nationalized Health Care

The Democrats like to throw around numbers to create pathos. The numbers usually create an emotional response from you in hopes that you never question or wonder about the breakup of those numbers. Uninsured Americans is one of their favorite numbers they throw out.

The Democrats raise health insurance concerns by citing there are 45 million uninsured in this country. Have you stopped to consider who those uninsured are? Many times they use uninsured as a noun, not an adjective. Think about that. They leave off Americans on purpose.

The breakdown shows they include their voting target in these numbers. According to Dick Morris, the numbers break down as follows:

• 10 million are illegal immigrants-They are driving up health care costs because they can't be denied in the nation's emergency rooms. Their lack of green card translates to lack of responsibility for their bills.


• 15 million are eligible for Medicare but don't apply (Let's hope this includes the hundred of thousands of UAW members that retire with sweet health care benefits, which are getting bailed out.)


• 15 million adults whose children are eligible for free health insurance


• 10 million childless adults

Redefining the Democrat's rhetoric weakens their argument. In the United States, not one of these 45 million people would be denied in an emergency room, even the people breaking the law (illegal aliens).

The argument was always weak. It's pathos designed for you to feel sympathetic for those Americans whose employers aren't generous enough to provide health insurance. I know, with the exception of keeping score at a local softball complex, every job I have had, has health benefits. This includes McDonald's providing you work enough hours.

The Democrats lie about it. They want to create health care envy like they created class envy. It's all designed to gain votes. Put the pieces together. Ten million illegal aliens without health care will be insured if the Democrats successfully pass nationalized health care. From Spanish to English, that translates to votes.

Latino Populations

I watched the increase of Latinos in Cook County, Illinois, where I called home for over ten years. In the coming years, the Latino community will be the majority in Cook County, and this trend is occurring in other key states--California, New York, Texas, and Florida. If Republicans lose Texas and Florida, it will make winning national elections tough.

This is obviously the final piece of our puzzle. Democrats know that if they allow illegals to come into the country, give them amnesty to become citizens, and then shower them with social welfare, states like Texas will turn from red, to purple, to blue. Honestly, purple is wishful thinking.

The Hill Magazine published an alarming trend for Republicans. By the year 2020, The Hill predicts 20 percent of the total voters will be Latino. No wonder the Democrats are pushing so hard, while selling their country out for immigration legislation that legalizes the millions of illegals in this country.

The Costs

The current law-abiding citizens of the United States will pay the most for the Democrat's greed. Not only will the costs of nationalizing health care drive up taxes, like it has everywhere it's been tried, it will also force rationing of health care. In other words, the government decides how important your life is compared to the treatment you need. Could party identification come into play one day when it's your life? You never know, but you may soon find out.

The promise of amnesty will drive even more people across the border. Education and housing costs will rise. Our infrastructure will be furthered taxed by the increase use. It will have a domino effect justifying higher taxes as well. At the same time, the more people who are in the job market, the lower the wages paid. It's a simple supply and demand principle that not only applies to products but to people as well.

I am not even going to mention the threat of terrorism. These democratic sponsored programs open the doors for increased terrorism as well.

The national debt has skyrocketed since FDR's New Deal. Don't kid yourself, the New Deal carried this same thinking of securing democratic power. This extension of New Deal thinking comes with a huge price--a price America might not be able to pay, especially after the bailouts.

The Reagan Quote of the Day (12/29/2008)

There was a time when empires were defined by land mass, subjugated peoples, and military might. But the United States is unique because we are an empire of ideals. For two hundred years, we have been set apart by our faith in the ideals of democracy, of free men and free markets, and of the extraordinary possibilities that lie within seemingly ordinary men and women. We believe that no power of government is as formidable a force for good as the creativity and entrepreneurial drive of the American people. Republican National Convention, Houston, TX, August 17, 1992

60 More Minutes of Obama

As if we haven't gotten enough Barack Obama Christmas vacation news, 60 Minutes is presenting the entire hour on the Obama family. The preview shows the joking family laughing about Barry's dish washing contributions. I can't help but think back to how 60 Minutes made the Clinton's look like the Ward and June Cleaver.

60 Minutes had plenty of opportunities to show you inside the real world of the Obama's. The world containing Sal Alinsky, William Ayers, Tony Rezko, Jeremiah Wright, the mysterious Frank (Marshall Davis) and the latest scandal, Rod Blagojevich. They would rather discuss dish washing. It's in the commercial they use to entice you to watch. Journalism stinks in 2008. This is the Obama America still needs to discover.

If you want to see the main stream media's bias on display in it's full glory, tonight's the night to tune in. Watch as 60 Minutes presents radicals Barry and Michelle as Dr. and Mrs. Cliff Huxtable (The Cosby Show).

Think about how much coverage he has received for the Hawaiian vacation, and then think what the week of January 20th is going to be like. I think I will turn my TV off for the month. Thank God the Superbowl is February 1.

PETA: Adding Insult to the Janesville GM Plant Layoff Injury

PETA is offering free TOFUrkys to GM workers who lost their jobs when the Janesville, Wisconsin, GM plant closed last week. Although the gesture appears noble, I doubt the the individuals who work all day on the assembly line and then go out drinking beers with the guys after work are the fufu tofu types. I am sure they would rather come home to a big juicy steak.

If you are going to do a good deed that really matters, don't push your political vegetarian agenda off on families who could use the help right now. Canned vegetables is one thing, but tofu is pushing an agenda disguised as charity if you want my opinion. These people just lost their jobs. Offer them real help.

Just looking at that picture, I doubt I could even swallow that stuff without gagging. Of course, I have tried tofu at BD's Mongolian, and that was the last time it touched my mouth. If someone from BD's reads this, I would love to see a location in Springfield, MO. I lived close to the one in Naperville, Illinois, and I miss it filling my bowl with lamb, beef, salmon, and on occasion crayfish. YUM!

School Fundraising Disgust: A Follow Up to the Ozark High School's Taxpayers' Abuse

Property taxes are rising across the United States, as the nation's schools claim they aren't receiving enough money to provide quality education. All my life, money has been the answer for improving schools; yet, year after year, education quality falls regardless of increased spending. Politicians promise to improve the failing schools each election cycle. (It's funny how issues in government never get fixed, but remain to give candidates issues for the next election.)

Ozark High School, like many of the nation's schools, teach salesmanship through fundraising for a number of causes, including buying test computers for the classrooms. Fifth graders carried around order forms selling cookie dough and other foods to help make up the deficit needed for additional computers. These forms constantly sit our break room at work. Schools should focus on the 'three Rs' not fundraising, which is obviously left up to the parents in many cases. What an insult considering the parents are paying property taxes to help fund the schools!

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Ozark High School funded a beautiful new sports facility complete with a section of stadium seating, live video scoreboard, a luxury field house, weight facilities that rival college and NFL teams, artificial turf, and I could go on and on. Ozark High School, like many schools, has its priorities in the wrong direction.

My cousin's children attend Ozark schools. I asked her about the constant fundraising. She rolled her eyes and told me her kids are no longer allowed to fund raise. I think this should be the attitude of all parents who already pay the rising cost property taxes. Parents should send a message to their school by sending empty forms back to the teachers in protest. Demand your children are educated beyond the sports arena. Don't get me wrong, physical education is important, but it's not the priority. Make academics a priority and quit this endless spending on high school athletic programs. It's out of control.

Ozark Tiger Football Stadium with the high school a few yards behind the
stadium.

The Ozark Tiger scoreboard with live video play back.

The press box and the section of stadium seating.

Apparently the walk to the high school was too much for the kids, so they
spent more of Christian County tax payers' money to build a field house.

Of course, you can't go anywhere without Big Brother watching these days.
Ozark residents aren't allowed to use the facility they paid for. They can't
walk on the track for exercise or use the field for a pick up game. The gates
are locked and there are security cameras everywhere you look. Keep in mind,
Ozark and Christian County residents and business owners pay the stadium's bill, while the
students raise funds for classroom computers.

The concession area

Even the baseball field was built beyond the basic needs.

Bungalow Bill's Wacky Liberal of the Year Award: Fourth Place, Barney Frank

Barney Frank likes to play the gay policeman, outing gay republicans in Congress. Congressman Frank doesn't like it when people like Bill O'Reilly polices him.

Frank finished fourth in Bungalow Bill's Wacky Liberal of the Year.

Politicians Actually Read Blogs: Well, They Hire People to Read Them

I recently received an e-mail from an unfamiliar name. Normally, I set them aside and look at them when I get time. I would have set this one aside too, but it was a slow e-mail day. The subject line read, "If I May Introduce Myself..." I thought sure figuring it was from a Kenyan who needed a donation to fight the evil regime; perhaps, he was going to tell me of a way to stuff envelopes and make some money. I was wrong.

The e-mail complimented me on my blogs. It then went on to ask what I think of a certain politician. (I am purposely withholding names.) He asked me not to sugarcoat it.

I answered the e-mail back and stated my policy on discussing certain politicians. I still had no clue who I was talking to though. I didn't even know if I would get a reply.

After a few exchanges, I find out that he works for this politician, and part of his job is to read blogs of constituents and report how the public feels about the issues of the day, how favorably the politician is doing their job, and surprisingly enough, shape political discussions. In his e-mail, he says he is regular contact with many of the bloggers, and at times he invites bloggers to conference calls to discuss topics with this politician.

It's good to know that some politicians are paying attention to the blogosphere, and ideas coming out of the blogosphere that are shaping policy. That shouldn't scare you. The mainstream media has shaped policy for years, and I bet they don't do half the homework of many of the talented bloggers writing opinions.

The Reagan Quote of the Day (12/28/2008)

The last thing George said to me, ‘Rock,’ he said, ‘Sometime when the team is up against it and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go out there with all they’ve got and win just one for the Gipper.’ Knute Rockne, All American 1940

An Amazing Video about the Star of Bethlehem

I sat in church on Christmas Eve wondering what was the Star of Bethlehem. I came across the video on this Internet. Computers are used to trace what the sky looked like during the birth of Christ. What they discovered is amazing. Please take a few more minutes to celebrate Christmas.

Ann Coulter: Kwanzaa is Right About Where We Want It -- Gone

I don't often repost articles on my blog, but I found this piece by Ann Coulter brilliant as usual. Plus, I love the term 'first Halfrican President.' Liberals are often offended when you point out a truth like Obama is half white and half black.

From Coulter:

Is it just me, or does Kwanzaa seem to come earlier and earlier each year?

This year, I believe my triumph over this synthetic holiday is nearly complete. The only mentions of Kwanzaa I’ve seen are humorous ones. Most important, for the first time in eight years, President George W. Bush appears not to have issued “Kwanzaa greetings” to honor this phony non-Christian holiday that is younger than I am.

It is a fact that Kwanzaa was invented in 1966 by a black radical FBI stooge, Ron Karenga, aka Dr. Maulana Karenga. Karenga was a founder of United Slaves, a violent nationalist rival to the Black Panthers and a dupe of the FBI.

In what was probably ultimately a foolish gamble, during the madness of the ’60s the FBI encouraged the most extreme black nationalist organizations in order to discredit and split the left. The more preposterous the organization, the better. Using that criterion, Karenga’s United Slaves was perfect. In the annals of the American ’60s, Karenga was the Father Gapon, stooge of the czarist police.

Despite modern perceptions that blend all the black activists of the ’60s, the Black Panthers did not hate whites. They did not seek armed revolution. Those were the precepts of Karenga’s United Slaves. United Slaves were proto-fascists, walking around in dashikis, gunning down Black Panthers and adopting invented “African” names. (That was a big help to the black community: How many boys named “Jamal” currently sit on death row?)

Whether Karenga was a willing dupe, or just a dupe, remains unclear. Curiously, in a 1995 interview with Ethnic NewsWatch, Karenga matter of factly explained that the forces out to get O.J. Simpson for the “framed” murder of two whites included: “the FBI, the CIA, the State Department, Interpol, the Chicago Police Department” and so on. Karenga should know about FBI infiltration. (He further noted that the evidence against O.J. “was not strong enough to prohibit or eliminate unreasonable doubt” — an interesting standard of proof.)

In the category of the-gentleman-doth-protest-too-much, back in the ’70s, Karenga was quick to criticize rumors that black radicals were government-supported. When Nigerian newspapers claimed that some American black radicals were CIA operatives, Karenga publicly denounced the idea, saying, “Africans must stop generalizing about the loyalties and motives of Afro-Americans, including the widespread suspicion of black Americans being CIA agents.”

Now we know that the FBI fueled the bloody rivalry between the Panthers and United Slaves. In one barbarous outburst, Karenga’s United Slaves shot to death Black Panthers Al “Bunchy” Carter and deputy minister John Huggins on the UCLA campus. Karenga himself served time, a useful steppingstone for his current position as a black studies professor at California State University at Long Beach.

(Sing to “Jingle Bells”)Kwanzaa bells, dashikis sellWhitey has to pay;Burning, shooting, oh what funOn this made-up holiday!

Kwanzaa itself is a nutty blend of schmaltzy ’60s rhetoric, black racism and Marxism. Indeed, the seven “principles” of Kwanzaa praise collectivism in every possible arena of life — economics, work, personality, even litter removal. (“Kuumba: Everyone should strive to improve the community and make it more beautiful.”) It takes a village to raise a police snitch.

When Karenga was asked to distinguish Kawaida, the philosophy underlying Kwanzaa, from “classical Marxism,” he essentially explained that under Kawaida, we also hate whites. While taking the “best of early Chinese and Cuban socialism” — which one assumes would exclude the forced abortions, imprisonment of homosexuals and forced labor — Kawaida practitioners believe one’s racial identity “determines life conditions, life chances and self-understanding.” There’s an inclusive philosophy for you.

Coincidentally, the seven principles of Kwanzaa are the very same seven principles of the Symbionese Liberation Army, another charming invention of the Worst Generation. In 1974, Patricia Hearst, kidnap victim-cum-SLA revolutionary, posed next to the banner of her alleged captors, a seven-headed cobra. Each snake head stood for one of the SLA’s revolutionary principles: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba and Imani — the exact same seven “principles” of Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa was the result of a ’60s psychosis grafted onto the black community. Liberals have become so mesmerized by multicultural nonsense that they have forgotten the real history of Kwanzaa and Karenga’s United Slaves — the violence, the Marxism, the insanity. Most absurdly, for leftists anyway, is that they have forgotten the FBI’s tacit encouragement of this murderous black nationalist cult founded by the father of Kwanzaa.

This is a holiday for white liberals — the kind of holiday Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn probably celebrate. Meanwhile, most blacks celebrate Christmas.

Kwanzaa liberates no one; Christianity liberates everyone, proclaiming that we are all equal before God. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Not surprisingly, it was practitioners of that faith who were at the forefront of the abolitionist and civil rights movements.

Next year this time, we’ll find out if our new “Halfrican” president is really black or just another white liberal. If he’s black enough to say the “brothers should pull up their pants,” surely Barack Obama can just say no to Kwanzaa.

The Earth's Medicine is More Powerful than Man's

When the Tsunami tore through Indonesia four years ago, devastated environmental scientists predicted it would take ten years for the coral to heal itself. Four years later, the coral has bounced back providing an environmental boom to the life it supports and an economic boom for the region. I am often reminded of man's lack of knowledge of our planet as we hear scientists, politicians, and the occasional actor predict doom and gloom.

In 1988, actor Ted Danson (Sam Malone, Cheers) predicted the oceans would die in ten years and man would soon follow. Twenty years later, we are shown how healthy our oceans are. The coral reef has restored itself in less than half the time that scientists said it would.

Doom and gloom science fills the airwaves and creates the greatest economic impact, but once again we are shown that the Earth's medicine is stronger than the greed (green) medicine--the dollar. I for once would love to read a finding where man made it worse by interfering with the natural cycles of the earth.

Bungalow Bill's Wacky Liberal of the Year: Fifth Place, Keith Olbermann

Number five is a lib that disgusts me with his hateful rhetoric blended in huge words that I don't even believe he understands. I couldn't stand him on ESPN. Now he is helping sink MSNBC, which isn't a bad thing.

Would someone tell Keith Olbermann that if Bill Clinton had taken terrorism seriously, George W. Bush may not have had to clean up Iraq. Of course, Olbermann will never admit that truth. He has made a name for himself screaming at W. Well, he doesn't have W. to scream at in a few short days, so we will surely watch Olbermann ride off in the failed Franken sunset. By the way Keith, Saddam used plenty of weapons of mass destruction during his tenure as a hateful tyrant, and he is responsible for more deaths than any other middle eastern Islamic terrorist. I hope this statistic remains true, Mr. Olbermann, for if it doesn't, you might be a shadowy remain on a New York sidewalk wishing for the leadership that Bush provided just before your demise. You are a disgrace to journalism Mr. Olbermann, and you are Bungalow Bill's fifth place Wacky Liberal of the Year.

By the way, Chris Matthews deserves dishonorable mention for his Obagasms on national TV. "I have to tell you, you know, it's part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama's speech. My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often."

The Reagan Quote of the Day (12/27/08)

When challenged, look for positive outcomes. When knocked down, get up. When wrong, accept responsibility. When others are in need, help.

Global Warming Debate Friends at CNN?

A second CNN meteorologist has come out against man-mad global warming calling it arrogant. Chad Meyers expressed his views on the Lou Dobb's show last week.

“You know, to think that we could affect weather all that much is pretty arrogant.”

"But this is like, you know you said – in your career – my career has been 22 years long,” Myers said. “That’s a good career in TV, but talking about climate – it’s like having a car for three days and saying, ‘This is a great car.’ Well, yeah – it was for three days, but maybe in days five, six and seven it won’t be so good. And that’s what we’re doing here. We have 100 years worth of data, not millions of years that the world’s been around."

Dr. Jay Lehr, and expert on environmental policy supported Meyers view during the show.

“If we go back really, in recorded human history, in the 13th Century, we were probably 7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than we are now and it was a very prosperous time for mankind,” Lehr said. “If go back to the Revolutionary War 300 years ago, it was very, very cold. We’ve been warming out of that cold spell from the Revolutionary War period and now we’re back into a cooling cycle.”

Lehr suggested the earth is presently entering a cooling cycle – a result of nature, not man.

“The last 10 years have been quite cool, and right now, I think we’re going into cooling rather than warming and that should be a much greater concern for humankind. But, all we can do is adapt. It is the sun that does it, not man.” (Did you hear that Dan Shapley?)

The first CNN meteorologist, Rob Marciano, spoke out on the inconvenient lies of Al Gore and his doom and gloom movie. Marciano claimed the An Inconvenient Lie (Truth) had a number of inaccuracies. “The biggest thing I have a problem with is this implication that Katrina was caused by global warming.”

Unfortunately, the global warming advocates stormed the lines at CNN (a technique we saw happen at WGN Chicago from the Obama campaign), and obviously CNN's view won out. The next day Marciano supported that status quo. “The globe is getting warmer and humans are the likely the main cause of it.” Sad how many people sell their souls for a paycheck, huh Rob?

I am sure in the days to come that Meyers will present a different view--one more in line with the views of CNN. I am probably celebrating too soon in thinking we have a real friend on the global warming debate in Meyers. I bet he has a wife and kids to feed, and CNN is the first to remind us how rotten the economy is.

Some End of the Week Humor at Al Gore's Expense from Tim Slagle

WLS AM Chicago featured comedian Tim Slagle on Jerry Agar's pre-Rush Limbaugh 9-11 slot. Jerry's Kidders were a group of political comedians that complimented Agar's conservative views. Since it's the end of a slow news week, and you may have been standing in the return lines all day long, I figured it's time to laugh a little bit at the expense of Al Gore and the IRS.

Jerry Agar and the Kidders are no longer featured on WLS. WLS recently hired Erich 'Mancow' Muller for the 9-11 spot. (Rush Limbaugh, a Missourian like Mancow, congratulated Mancow on his first day at WLS. Mancow wrote a few spoofs for Limbaugh.) Agar has filled in for Mark Levin, and I am sure we haven't heard the last of from Agar. Here's a couple of Slagle's routines:

Tim Slagle on Taxes

Tim Slagle on Al Gore and Global Warming

Viagra: The Latest Weapon for the War on Terror

Proving the power of a woman over a man, the CIA Viagra fights the war on terror with Viagra. US officials in Afghanistan exchange the little blue pill in exchange for valuable information about the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

The CIA recently offered four pills to a 60 plus year-old tribal leader and husband of four young wives. Four days later, he returned to the tribe and received a smile and all sorts of information about Taliban movements and supply routes.

It's not uncommon for American conveniences to be used for information, but Viagra is performing miracles in more ways than one. Not only that, but you have to love how America uses its ingenuity.

Is There Such a Thing as a Liberal Backbone?

Over the past few weeks, I have listened to many libs say something, and then not have the backbone to maintain their statement once the pressure built. Gay folk singer Rufus Wainwright is the latest lib to prove he is spineless.

"Oddly enough, I'm actually not a huge gay-marriage supporter," said Wainwright. After he upset a few of his 'Soooooper' friends, he retracted his statement. "I am not nor have I ever been opposed to anyone's right to marry -- straight or gay."

Geez! Stand for something or shut up!

Marley & Me Tops at Box Office: Economy Not so Good for Other Dogs

Earlier this year, I finally read Marley & Me. I had bought the book a year earlier, and placed it in the long queue of books to read. I wished I moved the book up the queue faster, but sometimes life gets so busy that you are just lucky if you get the time to read. Now the movie is number one at the box office.

My best friend is a five-year-old, energetic chocolate and yellow mix Labrador Retriever named Kayleigh. Often, I feel like she is the ghost of Marley. She has an amazing sense of smell, which often gets the better of her. Her curiosity creates mess after mess. Last year she dragged my mom across her driveway as she took off after a stray cat, but I still love her. One day, I will have to say goodbye to her, just like John Grogan had to say goodbye to Marley. I'm not looking foward to that day.

Our times with our dogs go by quickly, and the soon become chapters in our lives. My life is full of wonderful dogs like Kayleigh to the occasional dog that never fit it, but we loved them anyway. I have had a fascination with dog stories since I read Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. Through these stories, we easily attach to Dan and Little Ann, to Marley, Marley, and most recently to Mark Levin's rescued dog, Sprite. We know the outcome we read to, and we know the pain the end of the book brings. I always cry, and I have since Billy laid those hound dogs into the ground after a vicious cougar attack in the Ozarks.

Dog stories always teach us how to deal with a loss. Few people affect us in books the way that dogs do. Maybe that's I believe dogs give unconditional love and loyalty through thick and thin, while many friends fail us along the way. I am guilty, so this isn't pointing fingers. I am pointing fingers today at many dog owners throughout the United States.

Too many dogs are being dumped off at Walmart parking lots and other locations because people cannot afford to feed and take care of them. It saddens me every time I see a dog looking for its way along a city street. During the depression, parents often dumped their children off to orphanages for the same reasons. Please give your dog the same chance by taking it to a shelter. This winter has been cold. Your dog and many other dogs deserve better.

Knowing how much joy Kayleigh gives me, I don't even see how it's humanly possible to dump a dog off. Shame on those who do.