Pass Healthcare Reform by Thanksgiving or I'll Kill This Dog!

Defend the Tiahrt Amendment

"Obama and Biden would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent. "

This is taken verbatim (bold added) from the Change.gov website, and seriously misinforms about the Tiahrt amendment, which in no way limits police officers and other legitimate law enforcement uses of the BATFE database. The Tiahrt amendment prohibits illegitimate misuse of the database, and is fully supported by all major law enforcement organizations and the BATFE. The mayors of cities such as Chicago, New York and Washington, DC want access so as to enable filing of fraudulent and destructive lawsuits against manufacturers and dealers, and future gun confiscation schemes.

Tiahrt acknowledges there are ways to improve the Tiahrt Amendment to make some provisions more clear. However, it is false to claim that law enforcement does not have access to gun trace data, even from other jurisdictions. Local law enforcement agencies are allowed to share the data from their jurisdictions with any other entity they choose. Repealing the Tiahrt Amendment means anyone can receive the names of investigators, targeted gun dealers and other specific information related to criminal investigations. There is at least one website that exposes police informants. Tiahrt is concerned the mayors are now opening up the possibility of new websites exposing undercover agents as well. “I have reached out to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and others to try to reach compromise on some of the Tiahrt Amendment provisions. However, the current version of the Tiahrt Amendment, which protects law enforcement officers and their investigations, is better than repeal that results in total public access to data that could help criminals and end up killing cops,” Tiahrt said, June 12, 2007.

I urge everyone to become familiar with this important law and be prepared to fight Obama and Biden on this issue, as well as on the assault weapons ban.

Thank you President Bush

I have many reasons to thank you for your years of service to our country. First, and most important to me, is the fact that thanks to you there have been no terrorist attacks on our soil since 9/11/01. You have shown the countries that have sponsored terrorism against the USA that they do so at their peril, and they haven't done so for seven years and two months. Now that you are leaving office, they may be emboldened to try it again. I hope not, and I pray that your successor will have the fortitude to respond appropriately.

Secondly, I thank you for the prosperity we have enjoyed under your leadership. The recent economic disaster will be blamed on you, but is clearly the result of the Democratic leadership's blocking reforms of FM/FM, and the financial ties of Dodd, Frank and Obama to those corrupt entities.

Finally, thank you for your strength, your commitment to our country, your humanity, and your decency. And thanks to Laura, also, and her support for Letters About Literature and other programs.

Update, Dec. 22, 2008

No thanks for the bailout! Still your friend,

Buck

Time to visit the Hardware Store?

Just thinking that the old toolchest might need a few more slots filled in. Never can tell when a shortage might develop. A few nails to go with the hammer isn't a bad idea. See you at the store.

Joe the doctor

I am Joe. Like Joe the Plumber, I have major differences with the Democrat candidate for President of the United States. Also, like Joe, I have things in my past that I would not necessarily want to see reported on television. That would be one of the reasons I am not running for office. The fact that that is an issue is one of the things that most concerns me about this election. The major networks are so in the bag for Obama, that he gets a total pass on everything in his past, but a citizen who asks a fair question gets "vetted" and everything embarrassing is out there in public.

Where are the questions for Obama? I'll suggest a few. Why are you hiding your actual birth certificate, your college and law school records, your thesis, and your connections with the unrepentant radicals? Here I am referring to Pelosi, Dodd, Reid and Frank, but you might answer about Ayers, Dohrn, Wright, Alinsky, Al Mansour, Klonsky, Khalidi, and Davis, as well. What is your past and current relationship with ACORN? After you give us those answers, I will have a few followup questions. While I wait, let me toss you a few softballs. What is your most significant accomplishment up until today that shows how you are qualified to serve as President? What person close to you has had the most influence on your philosophy of life? What foreign leader, present or past, do you most admire? Which foreign government has done the best job of providing health care for its citizens?

I have been providing care to injured patients without regard to race, creed, color, national origin or ability to pay, for about 43 years. I will continue to do so as long as I am able. I would not be willing or able to do so under a compulsory system of socialized medicine. Look at our current government programs, Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare. Although covering less than half of our population, they cost over half of our annual health care budget, and will have cost overruns in the trillions of dollars even if not expanded as Obama proposes to do. I believe that we need, and deserve, better than that. That is one reason why I am for McCain-Palin.

The most important reason why I am against Obama is his position on our national defense. As a patriot who volunteered to serve our country in two wars, I cannot support a candidate who has said he will ‘cut investments in unproven missile defense systems’; he will ‘not weaponize space’; he will ‘slow our development of future combat systems’; and he will also ‘not develop nuclear weapons,’ pledging to seek ‘deep cuts’ in America’s arsenal, thus unilaterally disabling its nuclear deterrent as Russia and China engage in massive military buildups, and NoKo and Iran are working on nuclear weapons. Yes, I believe that Obama would be tested within six months of his election, and that he would fail the test, to our severe loss. Think before you vote, please.

Educating the Idiots

As a retired educator, I applaud the Democrat party for their announced program, targeted at minorities, dropouts, and GED certificate holders. In my previous employment, I found it easiest to educate people of normal intelligence, and somewhat more difficult to educate geniuses and idiots, for different reasons. Two things that seemed to apply to all groups were that it was easiest to teach when I knew more than the students, and when there was an atmosphere of mutual respect. Both elements seem to be lacking, here.

12 reasons not to vote for McCain/Palin

I am going to try and summarize what I believe to be the most significant reasons not to vote for Sarah Palin and her running mate from my viewing of network coverage of the campaign to date:

1. Inexperience

Under this heading we have her record of service in elective offices with administrative duties: city council, mayor, chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, governor. Also appointed service at state level, and track record as a reformer. None of the other three candidates has as much executive experience.

2. Values

She is a conservative, Christian, pro-life American patriot. No wonder the left hates her! She is pretty close to the exact antithesis of "The One".

3. She has a young special needs child

The rest of her family is pretty darned special, too. Piper spit-combing Trig's hair is an image that will stick with many of us.

4. She supports the NRA

She is the only candidate that really will keep the (required) oath to defend the Constitution. There can be no doubt that the second amendment is a part of the Constitution, that it protects an individual right, and that it has nothing to do with hunting!

5. Her daughter is pregnant

Her daughter is not a candidate for public office, not a public figure, and not a legitimate target for public scorn. The liberal blogs and MSM attacking her, and in particular, examining pictures of her abdomen back to 2006 and seeing evidence of pregnancy, made necessary the announcement, in view of her obvious pregnancy by the time of the convention. I hope she sues the ones responsible, and I hope I can be on the jury!

6. She has five children

Yes, she does. And your point? McCain has quite a few, also. Come to think of it, so do I. I hope everyone who has children will take a close look at this issue, and make it a really big factor in this campaign.

7. She kills animals

Yes, she does. And, reportedly, skins, dresses, cubes, sautes, and makes stew out of them, or, occasionally burgers and steaks.

8. The left hates her

Not to mention how they fear her. Why wouldn't they? She is their polar opposite, and she is going to win, and win, and win again.

9. The right loves her

Why wouldn't they? For almost the exact same reasons as above.

10. She's not Hillary

This is her biggest weakness in the election campaign. She won't be able to capture the Hillary voters, at least not the ones whose only issue is abortion rights. The others may be in play, more especially if the sexism by the Obama campaign continues.

11. She's attractive, in a cheap way

Actually, she is well beyond beautiful, in a wholesome way. She has enormous appeal, and her detractors are hurting themselves and their candidate badly on this issue.

12. She's not "the one"

How true. She is however, part of "the two". This is definitely the best election year, ever. And you know who benefits the most from all this. Yep, this guy.

Armed Self Defense

There is a significant increase in interest in armed self defense in recent years, and now a majority of states permit it. Even after the recent Supreme Court decision, there exist a few jurisdictions that still deny citizens this right. I am still one of the bitter clingers, but you may hope that I will change. There isn't much chance of that, as I just took the course to get my concealed handgun permit. I had one a few years ago, but allowed it to expire, after moving away from the state that issued it. It is a good idea to take a refresher course every few years, as laws change from time to time, and range practice is always a good idea. Here is a link to a great introduction to the subject. I am fortunate to live in a state that permits open carry to all citizens who may lawfully possess a firearm. Only concealed carry requires a permit. I prefer to be discreet, most of the time, so I am getting the permit. When should one carry? Always, with the exception of in places where it is illegal. And most of the time you should avoid those places, because they aren't safe.