Watch Your Wallet

I don't get it. Why are politicians so dim that they can't see the forest for the trees? The new "Healthcare Reform Bill," almost 2000 pages was introduced by Pelosi today and she wants a vote by this time next week. HOW ABOUT READING THE DAMN THING! Why is the current administration hell bent to rush through something that so obviously to some is bound to fail. You cannot continue to tax the rich to pay for the poor, or the rich will eventually leave as they are in New York...by the droves. When they go, they take their innovative and prosperous businesses with them, thus increasing unemployment and marking failure of this bill which should in reality be called a TAX bill since it just heaps more onto some already broken medical programs that are government run.

Government intervention in anything doesn't work!!! Think about where you experience long lines, sour people, and extreme waits: DMV, post office, social services...

As reported on Fox new business this morning, each car sold under the Cash for Clunkers program cost tax payers over twenty-thousand dollars. Most who bought were not in need of a new automobile, but drive by the incentive program and would have purchased one in the near future anyhow. Those who drive the real "clunkers" are living on unemployment, facing foreclosuree and couldn't afford to create a car payment. So who did this really help?

Ask the dealers who are still waiting for their payments if they think it was a good program? Obama keeps bragging about jobs created, but he refuses to acknowledge and more and more are lost daily. Even with my increasing health benefit, I would much rather continue to pay and KEEP the government out of my business.

I'm sick and tired of those with a "gimme, gimme" attitude. People see "FREE" and think there is no long-term cost involved. TAXES people...you'll pay in the long run, or so well-known and experienced economists predict. I believe them over dimwits in Washington who know nothing about finances who continue to overburden and future generations with little or no regard. Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know Timothy Geithner has a degree...well, he couldn't even "remember" to pay his own taxes, so what does that tell you? T

Reform is a good thing, but take time and FIX the problem...don't just scotch tape it together and sell it as new and improved.

By the way, it you watched Sixty-Minutes on Sunday night, you must have been just as amazed as me at the man who so easily bilked Medicare out of over twenty million dollars and told people exactly how he did it. He was never questioned, but just paid for his fradulent claims. The government would never have known had the people involved in the scam noticed the erroneous charges on their Explanation of Benefits.

I know I may have mentioned this before, but my sister worked for a Hospice in Southern California as the Quality Control Person. When she discovered that home visits to dying people were not being made as reported, medications not given but charges submitted, she mailed, at her own expense, copies of documentation as proof, to at least a half dozen programs involved with Medicare. NOT one responded, and when she pressed, she was told unless the claim amounted to millions, they weren't interested. Is this how you want you tax dollars spent? Think about it, and speak up or forever slap yourself for being uninformed and stupidly believing the BS that's been fed to you by the current administration. Vote the bums out!!!

Oh yeah...one more burr in my side. In this day and age when people are facing the end of their unemployment benefits, still haven't found a job, can't afford to relocate and hope one is elsewhere...how can the President, in clear conscience, still fire up AF One and fly to New Jersey and Virginia to campaign for the Democratic governmors there? How much does that cost the tax payers? And how about equal representation??? What does his negating the importance of the other candidates because of their "party affiliation" contribute to equality? Further proof we need to obliterate party lines and be ONE!!!!!

Follow the Leader - No Thanks!

Maybe this picture DID mean something. There were plenty of excuses for why Mr. Obama looked like someone with no respect for our flag or anthem, but he got elected and people still follow and believe in him. Picture me with a big question mark over my head, and it has nothing to do with the fact that he's a democrat. I could give a crap about that!

I have NO party affiliation. As I've said, I vote for A man, not THE logo he flies, and I believe everyone should do the same. Party division is the reason for finger-pointing and blame, and right now I would have a problem realizing pride in either the Democrats or the Republicans. Both are equally guilty of spinning their wheels on important issues while they occupy their time coming up for reasons to cast aspersions on the "other side."

There shouldn't be an "other side." Case in point, I offer the following to those who still like to blame George W. Bush for everything that is happening now. Sure, the man had his faults, but we have a Congress made up of both sides, so where is their blame. I'm sick of hearing it's the Democrat's fault...no it's the GOP. NO!!!! It's our fault for not speaking up and taking back control of a government that is clearly failing!

One man can't move a mountain alone, but it appears that Mr. Obama is certainly committing more than his share of political faux pas...and all on his own. (the following was received via email.)

If George Bush was an idiot. . . .

If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a teleprompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how he inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?

If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan's holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?

If George W.Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?

If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia , would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the
non-existent "Austrian language," would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?

If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to "Cinco de Cuatro" in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?

If George W. Bush had mis-spelled the word "advice" would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potato as proof of what a dunce he is?

If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he's a hypocrite?

If George W. Bush's administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?

If George W. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans , would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?

If George W. Bush had created the position of 32 Czars who report directly to him, bypassing the House and Senate on much of what is happening in America,would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major
corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so,would you have approved?

If George W Bush had proposed to double the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had referred to the 58 states that make up these United States, would you have thought him "geographically challenged"?

So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can't think of anything? Don't worry. He's done all this in ten months -- so you'll have three years and two months to come up with an answer.

NOTE: Thanks to whoever compiled this list. There is so much more to add, but I think this gives you food for thought. No one wants our President to fail. I know I certainly don't, but when he apologized for America he ceased to be anyone I want to follow. Of course my reasons have been re-enforced ten fold since then. Sad!

Dizzing Progression

NOTE: I blog-jacked this great pic from my new favorite spot, http://www.iowntheworld.com.

I find great consolation in finding supportive comments on my blog, and I thank those few who follow and continue to read what I have to day.

Like Elizabeth who commented yesterday, I feel the gray blanket of doom descending on us. How much more can we take? The jobless rate keeps climbing, and although bailout money was supposed to create jobs, unless you are a highway worker or heavy equipment operator, there still isn't anything out there for the common folk. Have you noticed, like I have, that those pimply-faced kids working in Taco Bell and Burger King have been replaced with much older folk?

Watching the news has become unbearable. The ridiculousness I see reported makes me scratch my head and wonder how so many can still support the fruitless endeavors of a president who honestly doesn't have a clue. Men and women are dying in Afghanistan, and he doesn't have a plan despite his hand-picked General issuing an urgent request for more troops. Have we abandoned those there? I'd rather see the money spent on that space shuttle yesterday put into bunker bombs and sent to Afghanistan to blow up all those mountain ranges where the Taliban hides. UPS can track a package across the nation, know where it is at a moment's notice, but our entire military compilation and CIA can't find Bin Laden. Strange!

Clearly the bailout didn't work. I agree with my sister. If that money had been split and sent to each household across the US, we would already have witnessed an improvement. People would have been able to make their house payments buy cars, pay bills, shop, eat out, invest...but I guess that made too much sense.

What makes me angriest is that instead of concentrating efforts on the needs of his constituency, he traipses all over the country, to places like Virginia where he urgently needed to campaign for the democratic candidate who is losing there. These non-essential trips he makes cost us money to fire up that jet and enlist his secret service corp. And, I think we needed money more than the Palestinians and Pakistanis. Don't you? Oh, I could rant all day, but it just makes my blood pressure rise.

California - Bah!!!!

I'm pissed. I was born and raised in California and waited until I was eligible for the senior meal at Denny's to leave the state. California is a true example of how politicians have lost sight of their goals. Shouldn't someone have noticed the money problems long before they became so serious? Where was the treasurer...the oversight? Just as our federal government is operating, too many people are padding their own pockets, looking the other way while corruption blossoms, and seeing their mission as increasing their own wealth.

So, how does this affect me, you ask, since I'm no longer a resident? I worked for over twenty years for a major university there. I recently received my "benefit package for 2010," and I knew when the accompanying letter started with rambling rhetoric about the state of the economy and need for increased revenues, I was in deep doo doo. Blah blah blah!

Of course, retiree benefits are always good places to cut or eliminate, and I'm appalled that the health care I have...and the only one for which I am eligible since I'm out-of-state (Anthem Blue Cross) is more than doubling their yearly premium. Last year I paid $156 and effective January 1, I'll be required to pay over $300 if I want to keep my policy in force. Once I hit sixty-five, it will reduce substantially since I will then become a Medicare victim, but in lieu of my whopping ten percent COLA and no increase in my social security benefits, I wonder how I'll afford it. I can't live without it, and I certainly don't want NOBAMA and his Congress handling my health issues.

I don't know if I'm angrier about the increase or the fact that because my life circumstances have required me to relocate, I'm being unduly punished by not having a choice as those in California do. This is a great example of how buying insurance across state lines would make health insurance more competitive and most likely, lower rates.

Government tends to F**k everything up these days. Have you noticed? What do you expect when people like Keith Olbermann continue to rave about what a wonderful job Washington is doing. Pah-lease! Don't get me started on that moron.

The Official Pace Car

I'm more confused than ever about the ongoing debates over health care. This picture seems to be worth a thousand words...especially for those reaching our happy golden years and turning "disposable" when it comes to the government saving money.

Sure Fire Job Creation

As you can see, I blogjacked this from one of my favorite sites, IOwnTheWorld.com. Gotta love the creativity there...especially if you aren't real happy with the current administration.

H1N1 Flu

Lost in the reporting of the idiot dad who tried to report his son lost in a balloon is this little item:

Inmates to get swine flu shots

BOSTON - Massachusetts health officials have decided to give swine flu vaccinations to state prisoners before the rest of the population. FOX25's Bob Ward reports.

Does this piss anyone else off? What about school children who live in a hot bed of germs? How about nursing homes? What about the rest of us who abide by the laws, then stand by and see that breaking them gets you more privileges? Honestly, I think my grandson's life is worth far more than a rapist or murderer, and I can't imagine who decided this was a good idea. Massachusetts is known for being a liberal state, but WTF!!!

What Are You Going to Be for Halloween?

Wouldn't it be fun to don a happy face and know the world was in good hands. Hey, at this point, I'm thinking Allstate might do a better job than our current administration. Thanks to my friends, I'm getting lots of blog fodder. As much as it's human nature to want something for nothing, it's not the fair and equitable way. Consider the following quotes seriously:

"You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation..

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

Adrian Rogers, 1931

(How about we require this quote to be prominently published in every public building?)

I Told You So...

Network news spoonfeeds watchers only what they've been allowed to share. I "borrowed" the following from World Net Daily. I thank them for posting it.

WorldNetDaily Exclusive
White House admits (on camera): We 'control' news media

Communications chief offers shocking confession to foreign government
Posted: October 18, 2009
7:11 pm Eastern


By Aaron Klein
WorldNetDaily


TEL AVIV – President Obama's presidential campaign focused on "making" the news media cover certain issues while rarely communicating anything to the press unless it was "controlled," White House Communications Director Anita Dunn disclosed to the Dominican government at a videotaped conference.

"Very rarely did we communicate through the press anything that we didn't absolutely control," said Dunn.

"One of the reasons we did so many of the David Plouffe videos was not just for our supporters, but also because it was a way for us to get our message out without having to actually talk to reporters," said Dunn, referring to Plouffe, who was Obama's chief campaign manager.

"We just put that out there and made them write what Plouffe had said as opposed to Plouffe doing an interview with a reporter. So it was very much we controlled it as opposed to the press controlled it," Dunn said.

Check out the hot new best-seller -- "Muslim Mafia"

Continued Dunn: "Whether it was a David Plouffe video or an Obama speech, a huge part of our press strategy was focused on making the media cover what Obama was actually saying as opposed to why the campaign was saying it, what the tactic was. … Making the press cover what we were saying." Dunn was speaking at a Jan. 12, 2009, event focusing on Obama's media tactics and hosted by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development, which seeks to promote collaboration between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic. The event was held in Santo Domingo and was attended by the country's president.

Dunn has been facing some criticism since she led a White House campaign last week against Fox News, slamming the top-rated network as an "arm of the Republican Party" and "opinion journalism masquerading as news."

Fox hit back this past Friday, releasing a video of Dunn speaking to high school students last June in which she lists her two "favorite political philosophers," including Communist Chinese leader Mao Tse-tung, whose draconian policies are blamed for the deaths of tens of millions of people.

Video of Dunn's speech stating the facts about media control can be viewed below:

Is Your Head Spinning Yet?

Since I babysat all week, I missed watching the news and posting here. I was totally immersed in old episodes of Star Wars with my grandson, who sees them a new and exciting. I must say, I don't recall Harrison Ford looking so sexy! OMG...but then I digress.

I returned to the computer and read all the posts, went to Facebook and perused the notices people left, and I had to stop and wonder...doesn't anyone care or realize the issues of real importance?

Sure...I want to sell my books as much as anyone, but I'm having a hard time begging someone to spend $5.95 for a download when Seniors aren't getting a COLA for the first time in ages because according to whoever decides these things...the cost of living didn't rise. ON WHAT PLANET???? Hell, the cost of gasoline here went up sixteen cents in two days this week, and Walmart prices have risen so much I don't shop there anymore.

The President has decided, after the uproar, to give each senior citizen $250.00. That averages out to $1.46 a day, and that won't even buy a gallon of gasoline. I guess we should be thankful, but then someone on Fox pointed out that we already have a national debt in the trillions and the President just keeps coming up with new ways to spend money we don't have.

Hey...remember the millions NObama gave to the Palestinians to repair damage done by Israel in their retaliation against the constant lobbing of bombs into their backyard? That would come in pretty handy right now. I believe in charity, but doesn't it start at home? That's what the saying is, I think.

I saw a perfect sign on the internet. "Stop apologizing FOR America and apologize TO America." Right now the Prez and his VP are stomping around the "blue" states and trying to rebuild their lost popularity. Imagine how much it costs to fire up Air Force One for all his jaunts around the world. If he just stayed HOME and and saved on that expense, he could save taxpayers a ton...maybe even discuss the importance of reading bills before they're signed. I can't believe that's even an issue, but it is. Hey...the Dems are FOR it...sign...Nah, the GOP likes it, let's trash it. Get rid of party lines America. Let's all work together instead of against each other.

As for health reform...why doesn't the government pay attention to the polls. Health reform places last on the concern meter. Unemployment is the real emergency. I may be stupid...and probably am, but I really can't understand why there is an urgency to shove this plan down America's throat in such a hurry. Why not fix Medicare, Medicaid and the Veteran's Administration...find the corrupt people taking advantage and enhance oversight. Add another program to help those who don't have insurance, but stop trying to control the doctors and medicine. AND why, I ask, would the bill mandate that everyone who doesn't have insurance PURCHASE it or be fined. If they had the money, don't you think they would already have done that? Okay...you argue, some people sit back and want something for nothing. Well, there's a good example of punishing the masses for the sins of a few. Oversight!!!! Learn the word Congress and appoint people to follow up on the programs now in place. FIX THEM and leave the rest of us alone.

Okay...I'm on a rant. I want to be able to promote my books and not have this blog, but I fear things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better...if they do. Too many people still have their heads in the sand and avoid the unpleasant topic of politics. Well folks...like it or not, your world revolves around politics, and right now the current administration is spinning out of control.

How Much Do You Know About Politics?

I found this quiz through my following of the Blog, Wake Up America. I totally agree with the site's title... Wake Up America. Those who follow the current administration blindly are ME a few years ago. I watched only network news and considered I was informed. WRONG. I knew very little about what went on behind the scenes, and never realized I was being force-fed approved newscasts and denied the facts important to all of us. Fox news has changed my outlook and made me more aware and informed about our world and what happens each and every day. If you watch only network news, you might know how many people have been murdered in your city or area, the weather, the road conditions and see a brief skim of the political arena, but you're missing the big picture. This is OUR government, and if you don't WAKE UP AMERICA, you don't have a right to complain...nor do you have a right to judge my opinions until you have ALL the facts.

I surprised myself by scoring ten out of twelve in the quiz. I didn't know the Dow Jones average or exactly how many troops are in Afghanistan.

Take the quiz: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1378/political-news-iq-quiz

The Voice of An Angel

Since I've been grandson sitting at my son's house, I've missed all my Fox news and reasons to rant. Instead, today, I found this beautiful video in my email and decided to (SHOCK!) share something other than politics. This gives me goosebumps.
Declan was younger when he wrote and recorded this. He now has an official website and more beautiful songs. Oh, if only I could carry a tune. :)

Even I Have One Now

It's easy, smeasy, lemon squeezy to get your very own Nobel Peace Prize. Since the stardards have recently been lowered, all you need do is visit and declare your party affiliation. Of course, Democrats are favored with "Other" coming in a close second, so if you check Republican, don't be surprised if you are in the loser category. As an "Other" I was surprised to squeak by in the voting. Wow...imagine me, a Nobel Peace Prize Winner...and just like President Obama, I did absolutely nothing to deserve it.

P.S. I forgot to add...unlike the "real" award, this one comes with no monetary stipend. You don't get a trip to Oslo to accept it, but there is a link if you wish to book a cruise yourself. :)

There's Always Fodder for Ranting

My friend Sue is at fault. She keeps sending me links, then I follow other ones and get carried away. I came across a post today on The Cookie Blog about Rep. Charles Rangel. I couldn't help myself. You might want to go by and leave a comment of your own. This man is a crook and people just keep letting him get away with it. Why? Does he have to murder someone? Like I said in my comment, I'm thinking it's time he checks into Hotel Arpaio in Arizona and dawns a pair of pink undies.

Nobel Peace Prize - Picture me Stunned.

So, President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. I suppose congratulations are in order, but I for one, am stunned. His apology to the Muslims and other European nations on behalf of Americans, must have paid off. But when France announces they believe our leader has no spine and other nations have no respect for him, how could he even have been in the running? Maybe it's because Khadaffi stated he thinks Obama should be president forever. There's an edorsement from a stable person we should all heed. *lol*

I don't think Israel is all that impressed with his efforts to support them as they've supported us for years...and I'm not talking money. Honestly, I can't imagine he would be honored for a Peace prize by having no plan or strategy in the Aghan war, and by his hesistancy to make a decision, more of our troops have been killed because of the lack of support (more man/woman power and equipment.)

While he might receive recognition in the form of this award for making strides for world peace...eivdently Iran doesn't appreciate his efforts as the headlines today reveal, "Iran is still thumbing their nose at the West." Hmmm. Does that mean we can expect a nuclear blast any day now? Somehow the criteria for this award has gone down hill. Who in their right mind would put Barak Obama and Al Gore in the same league with Mother Teresa? AND... I wonder if the committee who made the award realizes how divided our own nation has become since he's become President. Interesting thought.


In my opinion, he was already a narcissistic, arrogant personality. Now I can only imagine how inflated his ego will become. Open wide, America...we're about to have healthcare rammed down our throats, like it or not. It's not about pleasing everyone, it's more about keeping on task for Change!!!






2009 - Barack Obama
2008 - Martti Ahtisaari
2007 - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Al Gore
2006 - Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank
2005 - International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei
2004 - Wangari Maathai
2003 - Shirin Ebadi
2002 - Jimmy Carter
2001 - United Nations, Kofi Annan
2000 - Kim Dae-jung
1999 - Médecins Sans Frontières
1998 - John Hume, David Trimble
1997 - International Campaign to Ban Landmines, Jody Williams
1996 - Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, José Ramos-Horta
1995 - Joseph Rotblat, Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
1994 - Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin
1993 - Nelson Mandela, F.W. de Klerk
1992 - Rigoberta Menchú Tum
1991 - Aung San Suu Kyi
1990 - Mikhail Gorbachev
1989 - The 14th Dalai Lama
1988 - United Nations Peacekeeping Forces
1987 - Oscar Arias Sánchez
1986 - Elie Wiesel
1985 - International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War
1984 - Desmond Tutu
1983 - Lech Walesa
1982 - Alva Myrdal, Alfonso García Robles
1981 - Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
1980 - Adolfo Pérez Esquivel
1979 - Mother Teresa
1978 - Anwar al-Sadat, Menachem Begin
1977 - Amnesty International
1976 - Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan
1975 - Andrei Sakharov
1974 - Seán MacBride, Eisaku Sato
1973 - Henry Kissinger, Le Duc Tho
1972 - The prize money for 1972 was allocated to the Main Fund
1971 - Willy Brandt
1970 - Norman Borlaug
1969 - International Labour Organization
1968 - René Cassin
1967 - The prize money was with 1/3 allocated to the Main Fund and with 2/3 to the Special Fund of this prize section
1966 - The prize money was allocated to the Special Fund of this prize section
1965 - United Nations Children's Fund
1964 - Martin Luther King Jr.
1963 - International Committee of the Red Cross, League of Red Cross Societies
1962 - Linus Pauling
1961 - Dag Hammarskjöld
1960 - Albert Lutuli
1959 - Philip Noel-Baker
1958 - Georges Pire
1957 - Lester Bowles Pearson
1956 - The prize money was with 1/3 allocated to the Main Fund and with 2/3 to the Special Fund of this prize section
1955 - The prize money was allocated to the Special Fund of this prize section
1954 - Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
1953 - George C. Marshall
1952 - Albert Schweitzer
1951 - Léon Jouhaux
1950 - Ralph Bunche
1949 - Lord Boyd Orr
1948 - The prize money was with 1/3 allocated to the Main Fund and with 2/3 to the Special Fund of this prize section
1947 - Friends Service Council, American Friends Service Committee
1946 - Emily Greene Balch, John R. Mott
1945 - Cordell Hull
1944 - International Committee of the Red Cross
1943 - The prize money was with 1/3 allocated to the Main Fund and with 2/3 to the Special Fund of this prize section
1942 - The prize money was with 1/3 allocated to the Main Fund and with 2/3 to the Special Fund of this prize section
1941 - The prize money was with 1/3 allocated to the Main Fund and with 2/3 to the Special Fund of this prize section
1940 - The prize money was with 1/3 allocated to the Main Fund and with 2/3 to the Special Fund of this prize section
1939 - The prize money was with 1/3 allocated to the Main Fund and with 2/3 to the Special Fund of this prize section
1938 - Nansen International Office for Refugees
1937 - Robert Cecil
1936 - Carlos Saavedra Lamas
1935 - Carl von Ossietzky
1934 - Arthur Henderson
1933 - Sir Norman Angell
1932 - The prize money was allocated to the Special Fund of this prize section
1931 - Jane Addams, Nicholas Murray Butler
1930 - Nathan Söderblom
1929 - Frank B. Kellogg
1928 - The prize money was allocated to the Special Fund of this prize section
1927 - Ferdinand Buisson, Ludwig Quidde
1926 - Aristide Briand, Gustav Stresemann
1925 - Sir Austen Chamberlain, Charles G. Dawes
1924 - The prize money was allocated to the Special Fund of this prize section
1923 - The prize money was allocated to the Special Fund of this prize section
1922 - Fridtjof Nansen
1921 - Hjalmar Branting, Christian Lange
1920 - Léon Bourgeois
1919 - Woodrow Wilson
1918 - The prize money was allocated to the Special Fund of this prize section
1917 - International Committee of the Red Cross
1916 - The prize money was allocated to the Special Fund of this prize section
1915 - The prize money was allocated to the Special Fund of this prize section
1914 - The prize money was allocated to the Special Fund of this prize section
1913 - Henri La Fontaine
1912 - Elihu Root
1911 - Tobias Asser, Alfred Fried
1910 - Permanent International Peace Bureau
1909 - Auguste Beernaert, Paul Henri d'Estournelles de Constant
1908 - Klas Pontus Arnoldson, Fredrik Bajer
1907 - Ernesto Teodoro Moneta, Louis Renault
1906 - Theodore Roosevelt
1905 - Bertha von Suttner
1904 - Institute of International Law
1903 - Randal Cremer
1902 - Élie Ducommun, Albert Gobat
1901 - Henry Dunant, Frédéric Passy

You Probably Know Him as Americ'as Toughest Sheriff...

A name given to him years ago by the media. It’s a name he certainly has earned as head of the nation’s third largest Sheriff’s Office which employs over 3000 people. But even before he became Sheriff in 1993, Joe Arpaio was one tough lawman. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1953, and as a Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas, NV, police officer for almost five years, Arpaio went on to build a federal law enforcement career and a reputation for fighting crime and drug trafficking around the world. (All information describing Arpaio has been borrowed from the Arizona Sheriff's website)... so tell me why the following has happened:

U.S. limits Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio's immigration powers
By Associated Press
October 06, 2009, 8:55PM
JACQUES BILLEAUD, Associated Press

PHOENIX, Arizona — An Arizona sheriff known for aggressively cracking down on illegal immigration has been stripped of some of his special power to enforce federal immigration law, and he claims the Obama administration is taking away his authority for political reasons.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose office faces racial profiling allegations over crime and immigration sweeps in some heavily Latino areas of metro Phoenix, said officials from Washington won't let him renew a deal that let his deputies make federal immigration arrests.

"Let them all go brag that they took away the sheriff's authority. Let them all do that. That doesn't bother me. I don't have an ego. I will continue doing the same thing," the Republican sheriff said, noting he can still enforce state immigration laws. "What has changed, other than the politics and the perception emanating from Washington?"

More on immigration
The U.S. government, which does most of the nation's immigration enforcement, is changing its rules for allowing local police to enforce more expansive federal immigration laws. Nationally, more than 1,000 local police and jail officers have been granted the power since 2002 to make immigration requests and speed up deportations.

Arpaio has more officers with the special powers than any other local police agency in the country. For more than two years, 100 of his deputies have made immigration arrests and another 60 jail officers have identified inmates who are illegal immigrants.

Even though federal officials declined to let the sheriff keep making immigration arrests, Arpaio last week renewed a deal that will let his jail officers determine inmates' immigration status.

Arpaio said federal officials offered no explanation of why his powers were cut in half.

Vinnie Picard, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which grants the special powers, declined to comment on the curtailment of Arpaio's powers or whether any of the other 62 participating local agencies across the country have been denied renewals.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement will make no final decisions on the agreements until Oct. 14, which is the deadline for renewing the agreements. So far, at least three agencies have dropped out of the program.

Giving federal powers to local police helps supplement the small staff of federal agents who enforce immigration laws in the country's interior, said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favors tougher immigration enforcement.

He said it's hard to tell whether the limits on Arpaio's authority will extend to other agencies and would hamper the movement for local police to confront illegal immigration.

"I suspect there is some effort there to send a warning to other police departments: Don't get too aggressive with this, because we will yank it out from under you," Mehlman said.

Joan Friedland, immigration policy director for the National Immigration Law Center, said the federal government wasn't making a serious attempt to rein in Arpaio, because his jail officers still have the power to question jailed people about their immigration status.

"All he has to do is get people to the jail, rather than being able to question them about their immigration status on the street," said Friedland, whose group advocates for low-income immigrants.

For his part, Arpaio said he plans to continue cracking down illegal immigration by enforcing state laws that prohibit immigrant smuggling and ban employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.

Arpaio said his deputies can still detain suspected illegal immigrants who haven't committed state crimes, as long as his officers call Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to pick them up.

Critics say some of Arpaio's deputies racially profiled people during immigration sweeps. Arpaio maintains that people pulled over in the sweeps were approached because deputies had probable cause to believe they had committed crimes.

His office is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations of discrimination and unconstitutional searches and seizures.

A September 2008 audit by Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the relationship between that agency and the sheriff's office was good, but noted that most rank-and-file patrol deputies who had the special training and who weren't part of a special smuggling unit had rarely used their federal powers, because they didn't have the experience — or didn't want to take the time — to process illegal immigrants.

The review also noted that the local FBI office received no complaints against officers with the special training.

Arpaio's approach to immigration has frustrated other public officials.

The mayor of Mesa complained in 2008 that Arpaio didn't warn his city of raids by deputies who were looking for illegal immigrants working at his city's library and City Hall.

And as Arpaio's sweeps began to draw heavy criticism in 2008, then-Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, cut off immigration enforcement dollars to his office.

Napolitano, who as the country's homeland security secretary now oversees the federal government's immigration agencies, had said it wasn't an attempt to change Arpaio's approach to cracking down on illegal immigration. Rather, she said the funding was reallocated to try to clear a backlog of thousands of outstanding felony warrants across the state.

Bullshit! Janet Napolitano has had a long fued with Sheriff Arpaio, and I'm sure she realizes his continued attempts to handle immigration problems will make her look like the dunce she is. The man has a vested interested. Hasn't the news been filled with reports of high murder rates and rapes at the hands of illegal drug cartels that have infiltrated Phoenix? Why wouldn't a Sheriff want to take action, and why would the head of Immigration tie his hands? Another idiot move on the part of an appointed government official.

The following is the remainder of what I highjacked from the Arizona Sheriff's website. Continue to read about this amazing man and it might make you believe we should consider cloning:


He (Joe Arpaio) began his career as a federal narcotics agent, establishing a stellar record in infiltrating drug organizations from Turkey to the Middle East to Mexico, Central, and South America to cities around the U.S. His expertise and success led him to top management positions around the world with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He concluded his remarkable 32-year federal career as head of the DEA for Arizona.

In 1992 Arpaio successfully campaigned to become the Sheriff of Maricopa County. Since then he has been reelected to an unprecedented five 4-year terms. During his tenure as Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arpaio has consistently earned extraordinarily high public approval ratings.

With over four decades experience in law enforcement, Arpaio knows what the public wants, “The public is my boss,” he says, “so I serve the public.” He has served them well by establishing several unique programs.

Arpaio has over 10,000 inmates in his jail system. In August, 1993, he started the nation’s largest Tent City for convicted inmates. Two thousand convicted men and women serve their sentences in a canvas incarceration compound. It is a remarkable success story that has attracted the attention of government officials, presidential candidates, and media worldwide.

Of equal success and notoriety are his chain gangs, which contribute thousands of dollars of free labor to the community. The male chain gang, and the world’s first-ever female and juvenile chain gangs, clean streets, paint over graffiti, and bury the indigent in the county cemetery.

Also impressive are the Sheriff’s get tough policies. For example, he banned smoking, coffee, movies, pornographic magazines, and unrestricted TV in all jails. He has the cheapest meals in the U.S. too. The average meal costs about 15 cents, and inmates are fed only twice daily, to cut the labor costs of meal delivery. He even stopped serving them salt and pepper to save tax payers $20,000 a year.

Another program Arpaio is very wellknown for is the pink under shorts he makes all inmates wear. Years ago, when the Sheriff learned that inmates were stealing jailhouse white boxers, Arpaio had all inmate underwear dyed pink for better inventory control. The same is true for the Sheriff’s handcuffs. When they started disappearing, he ordered pink handcuffs as a replacement. And later, when the Sheriff learned the calming, psychological effects of the color pink—sheets, towels, socks— everything inmates wear, except for the old-fashioned black and white striped uniform, were dyed pink.

Arpaio has started another controversial program, the website WWW.MCSO.org, so that all those arrested (about 300 per day) are recorded on the Sheriff’s website as they are booked and processed into jail. Just under a million hits daily come into the website, making it one of the most visible law enforcement sites on the World Wide Web.

In addition to these tough measures, the Sheriff has launched rehabilitative programs like “Hard Knocks High,” the only accredited high school under a Sheriff in an American jail, and ALPHA, an anti-substance-abuse program that has greatly reduced recidivism.

As chief law enforcement officer for the county, Arpaio continues to reduce crime with hard-hitting enforcement methods. His deputies and detectives have solved several high-profile murder cases, including nine child murders. The posse, whose ranks have increased to 3,000 members under Arpaio, is the nation’s largest volunteer posse. Posse men and women help in search and rescue and other traditional police work as well as in special operations like rounding up deadbeat parents, fighting prostitution, patrolling malls during holidays, and investigating animal cruelty complaints. The posse’s contributions are invaluable and essentially free to taxpayers.

No wonder Sheriff Arpaio has been profiled in over 2,000 U.S. and foreign newspapers, magazines, and TV news programs. His leadership and the excellent work of his staff have catapulted the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office into the ranks of elite law enforcement agencies.

On a personal note, Sheriff Arpaio and his wife Ava have been married for over 51 years and have two children, both residing in the Phoenix area. The Arpaios have four grandchildren.

Arpaio looks forward to many more years as Sheriff of Maricopa County.

NOTE: Well, not if Janet Napolitano has her way. My question...why isn't Joe Arpaio the head of Immigration instead of Ms. Napolitano? Remember her...she's the one who labeled tea party attendees as "right wing extremists." In my opinion, following Sheriff Joe's assessment... she should be wearing pink undershorts and living in a tent.

The Truth About Health Reform

I'm sure proponents of Health Care Reform will claim this video has been "doctored" to discredit the wonderful health care reform bill now being considered, but this apparently was filmed during a session in congress and scary portions of that very bill are cited.

What Congressman Mike Rogers says is going to come to pass if something isn't done to stop this ridiculous bill and the money that will be wasted on it. Those adoring fans of our president want to take their lips off Obama's butt and watch this, although I doubt it. Avoiding the truth seems to be easier for them.

I believe people who are FOR this bill see this as a free ticket, but if you haven't already discovered the secret...nothing in life is free. This bill will cost us all, big time. I like my health care, I earned it, and I want to keep it. I'm sorry there are some who don't have it, but why not address that problem, fix it, and leave the rest of us alone? I have co-pays, but they are fair and reasonable, and I really don't give a flip if someone here illegally has to pay to see a doctor. Don't like the rules...then go home. Besides, if Janet Napolitano would stop discrediting proactive people like Sheriff Joe Arpaio from Arizona, we might be able to handle the immigration problem. I can't believe the absurdity of that action, but that's fodder for tomorrow's blog.

Please, if after watching this video, you still support health care reform, explain why, because I just don't get it.

The following was received in an email and I do not know who the author is. I do appreciate the information, and agree that our government has grown deep pockets and gained a special interest in benefiting themselves over those they are elected to serve. To ask the question: Should congress read the bills they sign, only proves that people vote party lines due to pressure from their own side and could care less what pork or ridiculous alterations in our constitutional rights are being suggested.

We need to take a step back and time and remember when people were honest and held the office of President with some degree of pride.

Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or more important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.

The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri . His wife had inherited the house from her mother and father and other than their years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year..

After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There was no Secret Service following them.

When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale."

Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise."

As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale. (sic. Illinois )

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, "My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!

I say dig him up and clone him!!

Maxine for President

(Received via email...I wish I could claim the creativity, but I share the thoughts *smile*)

Sometimes I think Maxine should run for president. She was right on with this one!

Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately: illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida ...





Not me. I concentrate on solutions for the problems. It's a win-win situation.

+ Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.

+ Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levies.

+ Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.

Any other problems you would like for me to solve today ? Yes?

Think about this one:

1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments


COWS

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow. Note from Ginger: UPS and FEDEX can locate one single package in billions mailed daily, but our national intelligence can't find where one major terrorist is hiding. Maybe we should turn the problem over to UPS!

THE CONSTITUTION

They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq .... Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this:

You cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal,' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judge s and politicians..It creates a hostile work environment.

PART OF THE PROBLEM
Also, Think about this: If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone-- YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!

It is Time for America to Speak up !

America, Canada , all Europe ...... needs a President like
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia.

The following isn't a "current" sentiment, but one that bears repeating in the light of the recent foiled terror attacks in our own backyard. Punishments under Sharia Law have already taken place in the United States, and we continue to look the other way, thus as they say with alcoholics, "enabling bad behavior." President Obama wants to play nice with the Muslim nations, and I'm all for peace, but war in the Middle East over religion has been going on for ages; it's not likely he can initiate a peace negotiation that's going to change that. Now we have to worry about Iran and the nut at the helm of that nation. Sometimes you have to stand up and tell it like it is, and Mr. Howard did that in his 2005 speech.

If you'd like to check the validity of Mr. Howard's speech and found the minute inaccuracies in the email version I received, I invite you to visit Snopes.

Quote:

"IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians."

"This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, Learn the Language!"

"Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture."

"We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us."

"This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE."

"If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted."

End Quote

By the way...while I was perusing Snopes.com I found these pictures taken during a protest over the use of a cartoon of their prophet,Muhammad, pictured in a Scandinavian periodical. If they get this angry over a cartoon, I think I can see how they would react so poorly to other things. I've heard many a joke about Baptists, Methodists and Catholics, but I never saw anyone toting a sign that encouraged murder because of them.










Isn't it time that we speak up? It's not enough that we build footbaths in our airports and allow them mats, Korans and assembly places in prison, must we agree with outrageous behavior that allows for a woman to be stoned or beheaded because as a rape victim she dishonors her husband?

If you agree, please pass on this link. If someone is not a radical Muslim, they shouldn't be offended by this post, rather by the behavior of those who share their belief and utilize it to do the worst. According to the Koran, if you aren't Muslim, you should be dead. Radical Muslims have infiltrated our nation and are working to make that happen. And our President apologized for US??? It's a sad day when the French President calls our leader arrogant and narcissistic.