Poll: Many Obama 2008 supporters defecting to GOP

In today's news the AP reports on a poll which suggests that MANY Obama supporters are defecting to the GOP. I don't buy it.

I do think that many Obama supporters are disgusted. Disgusted in his personal weakness as a leader, and disgusted at how watered down all his legislation has been. But I doubt that they will actually make the vast move over to the ignorant right wing.

I think the most realistic concern is that many Obama supporters will just sit the election out now that the thrill is gone. This will give the Republicans the opportunity to achieve big gains. I am still going to vote, just so I can vote against the tea party and the Republicans. But this isn't because I like or admire the Democrats.

-
-
-
-

Is Obama A Secret Closet Republican?

This is what Eric Alterman of The Daily Beast said today- “...just what the hell does the Obama administration think it is doing by kicking a key constituency in the teeth just as it appears poised to earn itself a shellacking at the polls because it can’t get its key constituencies to bother to turn out and vote?”

Key Obama staffers called progressives and liberals “retards” and they still never have apologized. He has greatly increased military activity and spending, rather than ending the wasteful wars. His actions are in direct opposition to environmentalists. In fact, environmentally he is a disaster. His performance on Universal Health Care, which evolved into a weak piece of crap intended mostly to lower expenses, was disgraceful. By refusing to endorse and support Single Payer or even the far weaker Vigorous Government Option he doomed his health reform. His Wall Street reform is tepid at best, and his economics are clearly not for the people, they are for the wealthy people.

Instead of capturing and then torturing the Muslims in Afghanistan and Pakistan like Bush and Cheney did, he has accepted the military's ideas that it is far cleaner and easier just to kill them. But doing so without a judge, jury, or trial probably is a war crime. I'm afraid that Barack Obama has very strong tendencies towards being a Republican wannabe. He also is socially inept, very surprisingly a rather poor communicator, and frankly not nearly as bright as he thinks he is. A bit arrogant actually.

None of this has anything to do with the color of his skin, his familial background, his religion, or where he was born. Lack of backbone is a big problem. He does not understand the concept of being loyal to the ideas his party and supporters stand for. He tries to pretend that he has accomplished great things when in fact they are weak and mediocre.

I am beginning to think that maybe he should in fact end up being a single term president.

-
-
–
-
-

My Modest Firearms Collection

I really am not a gun phreak. I've shot and killed one living thing in the last 60+ years – a rabbit out in the desert when I was 12.

No that is a lie, a couple of years ago I had to put down a bunny that my dog had mostly killed but was very slowly dying and suffering horribly. I also blew the head off a rattle snake that my dog was very interested in, poor snake.

I did the same when our family dog Bonnie Belle McBeatle got so old and sick that my parents decided to put her down. I took her out in the desert. Her rear legs would no longer work, but she was happy just being outside with me again. Then quickly one shotgun blast to the back of her skull – instantaneous death. I have read that the emotional suffering for you is less if you do it yourself than if you force your dog to go to a Vet (which most dogs hate), and she dies in cold, unloving conditions with strangers.

I don't have any of them anymore, but I grew up with the following firearms around the house:
-
.32 caliber semiautomatic pistol issued to the medical corps in WWII
.22 caliber long rifle semiautomatic rifle
.30-30 Winchester lever action rifle
.410 gauge pump action shotgun

In my twenties I bought a .270 bolt action hunting rifle at a gun show. When I moved to Europe I gave it and my old .410 to a friend in New Iberia, Louisiana.


Here is a list of the firearms I currently own:

.25 caliber semiautomatic Saturday Night Special. This is the original model P-25 by Raven Arms. It misfires real often, and is not at all dependable. Just an interesting bit of history.

.380 caliber semiautomatic LCP made by Ruger, with a Crimson Trace laser sight. My primary concealed carry weapon. The lightest handgun around. Very dependable, never misfired yet.

.38 special Cobra big bore 2-shot derringer. Barrel can easily be changed to a .32 magnum. Kept with my old geezer mobility scooter.

.38 special + P snub-nose revolver made by Taurus. Five shot, titanium frame, Crimson Trace laser sight. Kept in the car.

.40 caliber Smith & Wesson semiautomatic with a Crimson Trace laser sight. Each magazine holds 14 rounds, and I have several extra magazines. This S&W so much like a Glock that S&W Glock sued them and they lost the court battle. S&W had to pay some money to Glock. This is an excellent pistol, but it is too big for most concealed carry situations.

.44 magnum Tracker 5-shot revolver made by Taurus. Crimson Trace laser sight. Kept around the house. Remember the Chuck Rule; never more than 30 feet away.

.44 magnum six shot Super Redhawk revolver made by Ruger. Pistol type telescopic sight and a Crimson Trace laser. I call this my Dirty Harry Special. It is the first gun I bought when I moved back to America from Europe and the one I used to qualify for my concealed carry permit. Bedroom, home protection/self defense.

12 gauge pump action shotgun, shortest barrel allowed by law, loaded with buckshot for home safety/self protection.

.30-30 lever action rifle. Telescopic sight and laser.

.30-06 bolt action rifle. Telescopic sight and laser.


Note that I own no cop-killers, M16 simulations, AR-15, AK-47, or other assault weapons. These are the types of guns that lunatic right wing fanatics own and also the drug mafia hit men (Sicarios) in Juarez...who of course actually do use them to kill human beings.

-
-
-
-
-
-

Ladies Who Are Competent

I have always preferred lady-like women. Polite, sweet, soft spoken, sexy, motherly types.

I have also always liked ladies who also knew how to be practical. Do some minor home repair, fix a leaking faucet, change a flat tire on their car, or maybe ride a motorcycle or a Vespa scooter.

As civility dwindles and society continues to degrade, knowing some form of self defense becomes increasingly important. Maybe karate, biting, and fingers in the eyeball sockets; but also being familiar with safe and responsible firearm use.

My Dad taught me to shoot as a young boy. I have owned a collection of firearms my entire life, but I have only shot and killed one living thing in the last 60 years. A rabbit, back when I was about 12 years old. I have never had the desire to intentionally kill since watching him slowly die.

But if some drugged up lunatic wants to hurt me (or if I were a woman perhaps rape me) then the small concealed firearm that I always carry with me might help. And it might not be just self defense, it might involve defending a loved on. But a gun won't do you any good at all, in fact may be worse than nothing, if you are not trained in advance. I heartily encourage all ladies to get some training in safe gun use.

Just like learning to drive a car or motorcycle: It probably is not a good idea to have your hubby be your teacher. Assuming of course that you do desire to remain married. Go to take a professional course designed specifically for ladies at the local gun range.

-
-
-
-
-
-

WikiLeaks Funding Blocked

WikiLeaks seems surprised that the governments of Australia and the USA have black listed them, so their funding agency has dropped them. Unfair they yell! Duh, I guess so.

Bobby Fuller understood it when he sang, “I fought the law and the law won.”

That carpenter from Nazareth openly took on the power structure 2,000 years ago. The Romans had him brutally killed.

When you pick a fight with the big guy, you really should understand that the chances are very high that you will get your ass kicked; heavy duty. Some people can't seem figure that out, and there is a word to describe them: Delusional.

-
-
-
-
-
-

Predator Drones vs. Capturing Terrorists

Under Bush and Cheney terrorist suspects were captured and evidence was then tortured out of them. Unfortunately due to the petty little problem of the U.S. Constitution judges keep saying that this evidence cannot be used in a criminal trial against these bad guys.

It is all so frustrating to the military types.

Under the Obama watch they figured out that taking care of these bad guys after capturing them was just too much work. So they began summarily executing them without a judge, jury, or a conviction in the courts. Much simpler, and more permanent a solution. But maybe a war crime.

A great many countries now have unmanned drones almost as capable as ours. If this way of waging war were to become common it would result in mass chaos. Someone you have pissed off accuses you of being a terrorist or having some anti-government thoughts. Suddenly a missile from an unmanned drone levels your house.

And Obama supposedly was a constitutional scholar? Tell me another one like he is a liberal, or a good leader, or has strength of character and backbone.

-
-
-
-
-

Ethanol

Raising corn to produce ethanol to power cars and trucks is unwise environmentally. Using ethanol blends actually increases some air pollution.

Ethanol contains less energy per gallon than gasoline does, so fuel economy declines. Ethanol can damage many cars, and for those made prior to 2007 it can do very serious damage to various seals, resulting in large repair bills, fuel leaks, and fires.

And of course dedicating all that corn to ethanol production rather than the food supply results in big price increases for food grade corn and horribly worsens famine in poor countries.

The answer for America to get off of foreign oil is to consume less. Raise fuel economy standards, greatly increase fuel taxes, thus encouraging people to drive fuel efficient cars. Ethanol is not part of the answer. In many ways it is like “clean coal.” There is no such thing, it is a total myth, just a nice sounding marketing phrase.

The only thing green about ethanol is the color of all that money the corn farming industry is contributing to the politicians.

-
-
-
-
-
-

Gays and DADT

I have known a number of lesbians and homos over the course of the last 60+ years. For the most part the ones I have known were decent people. Almost without exception they had some emotional problems, particularly as related to their own self image.

I admit that in general I have felt more favorably towards the lesbians than the gay men. This idea of anal intercourse between two gay guys just strikes me as dead wrong. Butt fucking is a very good way to pass along sexually transmitted diseases like ADIS/HIV. Stupid.

In Israel, Britain, and dozens of other advanced democracies gays and lesbians are allowed to serve in the military. I see no justification for giving these lifers in the military a pass on this. In the civilian world it is considered wildly improper to be homophobic. The military should adhere to at least as high a standard as the civilians.

When you put all the lesbians, homos, and their fellow travelers (transgender, etc.) together, you still have far less than 10% of the population. In a way these people who are confused about their gender do comprise a minority of sorts, and it is improper for everyone else who does have a clear idea about their gender to be unkind to these folks. Plus with these continuous wars, the U.S. military is having a hard time getting enough volunteers. Giving exceptions to policy so that conviced felons and other unsatisfactory people with "moral" problems can serve in the military is becoming more and more common.

In the military of course it will still be improper behavior to come on to someone against their wishes.

I think the big problem here is that especially since the all volunteer army was initiated our military has consisted increasingly of lower social class, intolerant, prejudiced, and poorly educated people. I grew up in a military town, and I served three years in the Army during the Vietnam War. So most of my life I have known lots of military people. They are nice enough, for sure. But high levels of intelligence or education are not part of the culture until you get up to the social class of General Officers. It has been my experience that even though the officers for the most part are really quite pleasant, they are strikingly narrow minded and prone to racial prejudice. No doubt they feel genuinely outraged by gays and lesbians.

When racial discrimination was prohibited in the military did the Generals wait to make a decision until they had done a complete survey of all the troops regarding their feelings towards serving alongside of negroes...as EQUALS? - No of course not. The military is currently playing a dishonest game of delaying tactics; intentionally not doing what their civilian bosses want; hoping that in a short time the political climate will change.

It is too bad that these lifers don't like queers. That is exactly how they used to feel about people of color. This homosexual “problem” is with us to stay, so they must get used to it, or these closed minded people will just have to get out of the miltary.

-
-
-
–
-

Nikon D700

The Nikon D700 is what is called an FX camera in Nikon-Speak. This means that the sensor is full sized, or the same size as a 35mm negative. It sports the same number of megapixels as the D300, but since the sensor is a good bit larger, so are the pixels, which means better resolution. And great performance at low light levels.

In his review of the D700 Ken Rockwell says,



“The Nikon D700 is Nikon's, and the world's, best serious digital camera. The old professional D3 costs more and runs faster for sports, but the D700 is newer, smarter, smaller and lighter.

The D700 has image quality indistinguishable from the klunky old D3, both in terms of sharpness and at high ISOs. The D700 has the same superb 3" LCD, but handles even better than the old D3 better due to a new INFO button and smarter firmware. I own a D3, and I prefer the D700 except that the D700 lacks the 5:4 crop mode I often use (most people don't care).

Even at $8,000, the overpriced D3X isn't an improvement over the D3. Sorry rich people. The D3X is the same as the D3, except that it only has the same frame rate as the D700 (maybe even a little slower), and the D3X lacks the high ISO performance of either the D3 or D700.”




The world's best serious digital camera. Wow. And he likes it more than the D3 or the D3X. That is some recommendation!

This is Ken Rockwell's picture comparing the size of the D300 to the D700. It does have a built in flash with commander mode, and uses the same batteries and accessories as the D300.
-
If things work out properly my D700 should arrive tomorrow.


-
-
-
-
-

Why The American Government is Out Of Money

Yesterday David Brooks of the New York Times published an editorial whose thesis was that we can no longer afford to fix roads, bridges, or sewer pipes because the government was out of money. And the reason they were out of money was because the government workforce had become so bloated.

Although his arguments seem reasonable, I would suggest that for the most part he is completely off base.

The reason that we cannot afford to fix existing or build new infrastructure projects, are having to fire cops and teachers, and all of the other normal governmental functions is four fold. First, we have continued to foolishly spend billions and trillions of dollars on defense, intelligence, and the military. President Eisenhower warned us about the military-industrial complex, but no administration since then has had the backbone to stand up to the military. These continuous wars and conflicts have done nothing to make America safer, but they have led us down the path of national bankruptcy.

Second, we have continued to lower taxation, especially on the wealthy and the super wealthy.

Third, through our nation's tax laws we have actually encouraged companies to move their production out of America, and to countries which do not have any, or as rigorous, laws regarding child labor, workplace safety, and environmental protection. Actually making/producing something is what creates and maintains strong national economies. Shifting funny money around on Wall Street only creates the illusion of wealth. What is really happening is the destruction of the middle class.

Fourth, we have refused to enact laws or rules which appropriately tax senseless energy waste. So the average fuel economy of our cars and trucks is no better now than it was in the 1970s. Instead of taxing gasoline and other fossil fuels so as to encourage conservation and energy efficiency, we have allowed a vast transfer of wealth from the U.S.A. to the unstable Arab and Muslim countries in the middle east where we are widely hated.

In many ways we have done this to ourselves through greed and largely unregulated business. Why the form of democracy as practiced in America is not able to make these important and difficult decisions anymore is a critical question. Many other democratic countries around the world have governmental systems which are capable of doing what is necessary to insure self preservation, but it appears that the USA no longer is able to.

-
-
-
-
-

Delusional Palestinians

The Israelis have proposed stopping their building of settlements in the West Bank in return for the Palestinians unequivocally recognizing Israel's right to exist. The Palestinians have rejected this out of hand as absolutely absurd.

How can it be possible to negotiate a peace honestly with someone when they refuse to back off on their long standing statements that do not recognize your right to exist, and that they intend to destroy you?

Of course in the meantime Israel continues its development of the good and useful land in the West Bank. The longer the Palestinians delay the peace process, the less they will end up with. They still seem to think that the right of return to their old lands is realistic; or that Israel is going to somehow deliver them Jerusalem on a platter.

Over the years the Israelis have become increasingly ethnically biased against the Palestinians. They openly discriminate against them. With each incoming Palestinian missile, the unreasoning Israeli hate for the Palestinians, the Arabs, and the Muslims grows stronger.

But whoever is giving the Palestinians advice is doing them a gross disservice. The longer that the Palestinian delusional refusal to accept reality continues, the less good land or resources will be left for the state of Palestine.

-
-
-
-
-
-

Arzerra

My path through the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) disease is letting nature take her course. Yes, I am eating healthy, don't smoke or drink, etc., but nothing like chemotherapy or any of the other “therapies” which are normal.

My friend Betty also has CLL but she has taken the other road, being treated by virtually all of the standard drugs as well as trying new and unapproved drugs through trials. She just finished her 12th and last round of Arzerra.

Some days (especially the nights) are so bad for me that I have even considered taking my own life.

From her latest Facebook report it looks like getting the treatments may well be just as bad. She reports, “feeling positively crappy...chills, fever, delirium, fatigue, sleeping long hours in a daze, just plane punky. Plus my walking is getting worse all the time.”

If anyone tells you how lucky you are to have CLL, just punch them squarely in the nose.

-__-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Highly Alkaline Red Sludge

The red sludge pond at the aluminum processor in Kolontar, Hungary which recently burst its dikes is readily visible on Google Earth.

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Worldwide Pessimism

In the United States there is widespread pessimism on all sides of the political spectrum. America has lost its way. To quote Paul Krugman, “All vision of a better future seems to have been lost, replaced with a refusal to look beyond the narrowest, most shortsighted notion of self-interest.” There are more people excluded from the health care system every year, handgun ownership continues to skyrocket, and the middle class is disintegrating. Obesity is increasing worldwide, as are diseases which are resistant to antibiotics. The generation getting out of school right now has far fewer opportunities than their parents did. The American Dream is fading; and suddenly it all seems to be happening quite rapidly.

Worldwide religious extremism and terrorism are on the rise. Even the more conventional and middle of the road churches, like the Christian Catholic church, are following a path of blind self destruction through sexual molestation of their youth, disabled, and less fortunate parishioners. Greed and a purely self centered view are becoming the norm. Alcoholism and drug addiction are increasing; altruism is frequently laughed or scoffed at.

When talking about climate change each country has spoken lofty words in public, while at home not doing much at all. Global warming and climate change now appear to be completely unstoppable and inevitable.

Mankind seems to be sliding down a chute of negativity. I wish I could paint some kind of an optimistic solution at this point. But I cannot.

I'm thankful that my own personal life mostly took place back when people believed both that a better future was possible and and that it was coming. I have been very fortunate to have led the life I have. It is a little sad to see this period coming to an end however.

-
-
–
-
-
-
-

Private Security Contractors in Afghanistan

At some point the federal government decided to replace U.S. soldiers with private contractors or mercenaries.

The people who did this figured that this way the government wouldn't have to pay medical bills, disability pensions, or retirement benefits to these people. It was brutal and unethical but it fit well with their belief in deregulation, outsourcing, downsizing, privatizing social security, etc. In other words the greedy and dishonest Republicans, with some very real help from many Democrats, especially the Blue Dog Democrats.

The security guards for the convoys of trucks bringing in supplies (like fuel) became private contractors instead of American soldiers. Mostly Afghan citizens. As we find now when the fuel convoys are burning, these private security contractors often didn't even report for duty, so nobody was guarding these trucks. Of course us taxpayers paid the bill whether anyone was on duty or not.

Now that this whole thing has literally blown up we find that many of these Afghan private security contractors were drug addicts or criminals, or even more shocking members of the Taliban.

So our young soldiers are being sent back to Afghanistan for tour, after tour, after tour of duty. They are dying and they are being permanently damaged. All in the name of fighting and destroying the Taliban. And behind their backs our own corrupt and incompetent government has been hiring the Taliban, and paying them good money, probably more than the soldiers make, with these bungling and ineffective private security guards many times being the exact same enemy we are trying to defeat.

This whole deregulation, privatizing, let-the-market-rule ideology is horribly sick and evil. It helps the super rich get even wealthier, but it is anti-Democracy and is destroying the viability of the American middle class.

-
-

LINK TO ARTICLE: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704011904575538423731306064.html

-
-
-
-
–
-

Get Him To The Greek

I like Jonas Hill and I really, really like Russell Brand.

This movie has plenty of crude, sexual, immature male humor. I like that kind of humor.

This picture also has several of the key characters constantily behaving very rude and condescending. I don't like that sort of behavior. Didn't even finish the DVD. Sorry, not for me.

-
-
-
-
-

Convenience Store Robbery

Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Top Gear

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

Foreclosures Suspended in 23 States

It is worth noting that the three largest home mortgage companies in America, Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, and GMAC have each suspended home foreclosures in 23 states. They had expedited the foreclosures so much that their paperwork was not being prepared accurately or honestly.

The reason they are only suspending foreclosures in 23 states, rather than nationwide, is because in those 23 states there are good state laws and regulations intended to protect the consumer from fraud.

And if you live in one of the other states? Tough luck Mr. Consumer. Big business wins, you lose.

The point to be made is that it is important for states to have strong laws in place trying to protect the consumer from fraud. Because you can be sure there are always plenty of really smart people doing their best to defraud people.

Deregulation is just theft from the poor to give to the rich.

-
-
-
-
-

Rough Night

It has been a rather difficult night. I finally gave up on sleeping around 3:00 a.m. Prior to that there were a number of episodes when involuntarily, half asleep, I was making all sorts of rather loud verbal noises signaling great distress. Me sort of screaming out in pain like this really upsets my sweet little loving and empathic dog Inu.

Because of the leukemia the defective white blood cells have continued to grow to such an extent that they are now crowding out other blood components like red blood cells & hemoglobin. The hemoglobin level is now well below the normal recommended minimum. So even if the heart, blood vessels, and lungs were all in the tip top condition of a 20 year old, and my total weight was a little lower, it would still be difficult to supply enough oxygen to the the body's important tissues.

There is another element to add in to this chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) puzzle. The lymph nodes around my neck, in the groin area, and especially under the arms have grown very large and hard. The ones under the arms are the largest and are also the most troublesome. No doubt my spleen is very swollen also and maybe the liver. A little while ago I tried going back to bed, but found that almost immediately I was having problems breathing. I think that these swollen lymph nodes and other organs have actually gotten so large, and they are physically occupying so much space in the chest cavity, that they are making it difficult for the lungs (and maybe the heart) to operate properly. When I lay down in bed it seems to get worse.

I'm in my 60s. I don't think there is any question that sometime in the “near” future I will die from the combined adverse effects of this CLL. Maybe a heart attack or perhaps pneumonia. The question is, how do I know when it has all gotten so hopeless, and the suffering has reached the point where suicide is a better option than suffering? There are still lots of days where I am fairly happy and am enjoying life. Taking Inu on walks around the neighborhood, with me riding on the geezer mobility scooter. I'm reading a couple of books which I'm enjoying greatly. The days are not bad, it is the nights that are the big problem.

That poor 18 year old gay kid who jumped off the bridge because his roommate took videos of him having sex with another guy and sent them out over the internet. I guess that he felt so humiliated that he thought he had to end his own life. Stupid decision for an 18 year old. I feel bad for him and his family. A young person committing suicide is completely different than an old man who is suffering constantly from an incurable malignant cancer.

In a way I envy those ignorant religious fanatics who strap on a suicide vest and martyr themselves for Allah. Of course I guess plenty of these Muslims who do the suicide bomber routine are forced to do so. Perhaps even most of them don't do it because of some deeply held religious beliefs; who knows? I think all organized religions are a bunch of crap, so this won't work for me.

Some gutless bastards don't have the strength of character to commit suicide, so they threaten a cop with a gun. Maybe even shoot a cop. Knowing full well that the other police will then kill him. They call it SBC, suicide by cop. There is no excuse for them to take the life of another person (like a cop) just because they want to end their own life.

I have gradually fulfilled or gotten rid of almost all my duties, obligations, and responsibilities. I am no longer married; I owe no money to anyone. My child is in his mid 30s, and he is far beyond my owing him anything further. He will inherit a little bit from my estate, and money seems to be all he wants from me anyway. The only obligation I have left is to my dog Inu, but it is clear that my sister and brother in law will take good care of Inu if I die before he does.

In the last six months of her life my aunt Friede Garland talked a lot about how she was tired of living and just wanted it to end. I first learned about Do Not Ressucitate from her. I didn't understand at the time, but I am beginning to now as I get near the end.

I'm still thinking this through. I know that suicide is a very permanent solution; you certainly don't want to exercise that option lightly. I guess the answer is that if I am still questioning it, the time to shoot myself in the head has not yet arrived. Maybe it won't ever, and I'll get lucky and die quickly and naturally.

-
-
-
-
-