A New Broom

There's an old adage, "A new broom sweeps clean." Apparently the voters of America may have something even more drastic in mind.

From the NY Post:

A Rasmussen Reports survey released yesterday found 65 percent of likely voters would prefer to fire every member of Congress and start from scratch.

A whopping 82 percent of Republicans and 78 percent of independents told the pollsters they wanted to give everyone on Capitol Hill the heave-ho.

And despite the Democratic Party being in charge of both the House and the Senate, registered Democrats split on the question -- 44 percent said keep Congress as is and 38 percent said give them all the boot.

The heck with a broom, I want to use something like this:

Only 20 percent of all voters wanted to keep the entire Congress unchanged.

Might as well do the job right. Run this puppy right through the Capitol and the office buildings where those rats are hiding.

"If you needed any more confirmation that Washington is perceived as a broken entity by the American people, well, this is it," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain.

Neither party fared well on the poll's favorability meter: 53 percent of American voters dislike Democrats, and 54 percent dislike Republicans.

Only 61 percent of Republican voters had something nice to say about their party.

Rasmussen said that reflects "the fact that most Republican voters believe their party leaders are out of touch with the base."

I still don't think any politician will know just how pissed off the American people truly are until Tuesday.

Religion Of Peace - Explosives Bound For U.S.

Explosives were found aboard two commercial cargo carriers in England and Dubai today. The packages were mailed from Yemen and addressed to Jewish synagogues in the United States. One synagogue is in Chicago.

So tell me, what's the difference?

Signs And Omens

Deus Ex Machina

The expression "deus ex machina" (literally "god out of the machine") comes to us from classical Greek plays where an actor portraying a god was introduced. This is a way to resolve an intracable plot element - another actor or set of circumstances is suddenly introduced and the story ends. In a way this can be viewed as a miraculous end to a seemingly impossible situation - it is as if God suddenly intervened.

As gamblers have a way of cutting through the crap and putting their money where their mouth is, the deus ex machina option may be the only way out of the election next week for the Dems. They may as well stop throwing money at television and radio advertisements and start praying.

For the bookies have spoken.

Saying there's no way Democrats can keep control of the House, Ireland's largest bookie on Wednesday said it has already paid off all bettors who wagered the GOP would capture the chamber.

“In our opinion this race is well and truly over with nothing short of a miracle stopping the Republicans taking down the House," said Ken Robertson, communications manager for Paddy Power, the Irish bookmaker.

Mr. Robertson said the odds had tipped so much in Republicans' favor it made no sense to continue taking bets. In July Democrats were favored 8-11 to keep control, but by Wednesday the GOP was favored 1-50, meaning it would take a bet of $50 would win just an addition $1.

Other overseas bookies are still taking bets on control of the House. Victor Chandler betting house, for example, gives the GOP 1-25 odds while Betfair gives them 1-10 odds.

Thieves And Traitors

More lies and deceit from the Democrat elites.
From Fox News:

EXCLUSIVE: Aide to Harry Reid Lied to Feds, Submitted False Documents About Sham Marriage

A former aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid repeatedly lied to federal immigration and FBI agents and submitted false federal documents to the Department of Homeland Security to cover up her illegal seven-year marriage to a Lebanese national who was the subject of an Oklahoma City Joint Terror Task Force investigation, FoxNews.com has learned.

Diana Tejada, Reid’s Hispanic Press Secretary, admitted to receiving payment for “some of her expenses” in exchange for fraudulently marrying Bassam Mahmoud Tarhini in 2003, strictly so he could obtain permanent U.S. residency, according to court documents.

Tarhini, now 37, was held in jail and at an immigration detention center in connection with his 2009 indictment on felony charges, documents show. He pleaded guilty to entering a fraudulent marriage to evade immigration laws — a Class D felony — in November 2009, and he was deported in March 2010.

Tejada, now 28, was never charged for her role in the crime.

Vote The Commies Out

The Mind Numbed Robot has a list of socialists in the state legislatures who are members of the Progressive States Network - a network of Communists progressives who are actively engaged in destroying our freedoms in all 57 States. These are state senators and assembymen who work with each other to pass laws that strangle liberty.

I scanned the list to look at New York, my crib. There were only eight!

Asm. James Brennan (NY)
Asm. Adriano Espaillat (NY), Member, Committee on Insurance
Sen. Liz Krueger (NY)
Asm. Joseph Lentol (NY)
Asm. Barbara
Lifton (NY), Member, Mental Health Committee
Asm. Joan Millman (NY)
Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer (NY)
Sen. Eric Schneiderman (NY)

I guess the commies feel that NYS is a charter member of the Union of American Socialist States (U-ASS) and there is no need for additional pressure. On the other hand, the commie network is very active throughout the rest of the country: North Carolina has 36, Texas has 35, Connecticut has 45, Minnesota has 44 and Rhode Island has 42. Forty-two! That's half the entire State!

Wherever they are, vote them the hell out!

Better Late Than Never

The Washington Post is the first of the MSM to finally commit a few columns reporting the travesty of justice committed by the US Department of Justice when it dropped the prosecution case against Maruse Heath and the New Black Panther Party. The WP story details the division and contentious relationships within the Department's Civil Rights Division and how lawyers on the public payroll believe that, unless you are a minority, you have no civil rights.

Interviews and government documents reviewed by The Washington Post show that the case tapped into deep divisions within the Justice Department that persist today over whether the agency should focus on protecting historically oppressed minorities or enforce laws without regard to race.

That this is a matter of controversy within a government agency is astounding. The law is the law no matter what color you are. Can you imagine police making DWI arrests only for black people, - then can you imagine the outrage?

Civil rights officials from the Bush administration have said that enforcement should be race-neutral. But some officials from the Obama administration, which took office vowing to reinvigorate civil rights enforcement, thought the agency should focus primarily on cases filed on behalf of minorities.

[...] Justice Department officials say they treat everyone equally. Holder, in a speech last year to the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs said the department's "commitment to Equal Protection - and to full participation in our nation's elections - will not waiver. Never."

Liar.

This story has finally grown some legs outside of internet sources. Let the voters decide what party they want in control of their government. Let loose the Kraken.

No Truer Words...

This was not written by Don Rickles. It was created by Doug Ross last year and it is right on the money!

Hello, dummies! Oh my God, look at you. Anyone else hurt in the accident?

Seriously, Senator Reid has a face of a Saint - A Saint Bernard. Now I know why they call you the arithmetic man. You add partisanship, subtract pleasure, divide attention, and multiply ignorance. Reid is so physically unimposing, he makes Pee Wee Herman look like Mr. T.

And Reid's so dumb, he makes Speaker Pelosi look like an intellectual. Nevada is soooo screwed! If I were less polite, I'd say Reid makes Kevin Federline look successful.

Speaking of the Speaker .... Nancy Pelosi, hubba, hubba! Hey baby, you must've been something before electricity. Seriously, the Speaker may look like an idiot and talks like an idiot but don't let that fool you. She really is an idiot.

Charlie Rangel ... still alive and still robbing the taxpayers blind. What does that make, six decades of theft? Rangel's the only man with a rent-controlled mansion.

He's the guy who writes our tax laws but forgot to pay taxes on $75 grand in rental income! So why isn't he the Treasury Secretary? Rangel runs more scams than a Nigerian Banker.

Barney Frank ... he's a better actor than Fred Flintstone. Consider that he and Dodd caused the whole financial meltdown, and they're not only not serving time with Bubba and Rodney, they're still heading up the financial system!

Let's all admit it ... Barney Frank slobbers more than a sheepdog on Novocain.. How did this guy get elected? Oh, that's right .... he's from Massachusetts . That's the state that elects Mr. Charisma, John Kerry -- man of the people!

You know, if Senator Dodd were any more crooked, you could open wine bottles with him. Here's a news flash, Dodd: when your local newspaper calls you a "lying weasel," it may be time to retire.

Dodd's involved in more shady deals than the Clintons (Read "Hell To Pay" by Barbra Olsen) . Even Rangel looks up to him!

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, I really respect you ... especially given your upbringing ~ All you've overcome. I heard your birth certificate is an apology from the condom factory.

I don't know what makes you so dumb, but it really works for you. Personally, I don't think you're a fool, but what's my opinion compared to that of thousands of others?

As for President Obama, what can I say? They say President Obama's arrogant and aloof, but I don't agree. Now it's true when you enter the room, you have to kiss his ring. I don't mind, but he has it in his back pocket.

His mind is open to new ideas -- so open that ideas simply pass through it. Obama lies so much, I was actually surprised to find out his first name really was Barack. Just don't ask about his middle name!

But Obama was able to set a record ... he actually lied more in 60 days than Bill Clinton. As far as his administration -- what with the tax cheat and lobbyists -- well, in the words of Patches O'Houlihan, "It's like watching a bunch of retards trying to hump a doorknob out there."

Of Pets and Men

I took today off as my wife had in-patient surgery for a torn rotator cuff this morning. She is doing well and right now is resting comfortably on the other side of the couch.

I haven't read any of his books in years, but my daughter gave me her copy of Stephen King's "The Eyes of the Dragon" last week and I took it to have something to read in the waiting room during my wife's surgery. On page 21 I read this:

"[...] When dogs are excited and confused, they may bite; when men are excited and confused, they may fight. Dogs are great pets because they are loyal, but if a pet is all a man is, he is a bad man.

[...] A dog is just as eager to lick the hand of a bad master as he is to lick the hand of a good master, because dogs don't know the difference between good and bad. A dog will eat slops, vomit up the part his stomach can't stand, and then go back for more."

Gallop: Latest Trends

This Gallop poll is based on registered voters, not likely voters. When likely voters are polled, the difference is larger.

If the elections were held today and roughly 40% of voters turned out -- a rate typical in recent years -- Gallup's Oct. 7-17 polling suggests Republicans would win 56% of the vote -- 8 points greater than their support from registered voters, and 17 points ahead of Democrats, at 39%. If turnout is significantly higher, Republicans would receive 53% of the vote (a 5-point improvement over their registered-voter figure), and the Democrats, 42%.

The likely voter estimates at both turnout levels have been consistent over the past three weeks.

For more on likely voters go here and for related subjects, visit PoliPundit and National ReviewOnline.

Why?

Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist who went on a murderous shooting rampage that killed 13 and wounded 32 others at Fort Hood last year, is in pretrial motions. During the hearings, a witness, Pfc. Lance Aviles, stated that he recorded some of the bloodshed with his cellphone camera, but

[...] was ordered by an officer to delete both videos, a military court heard Friday.
Under cross examination, Pfc. Lance Aviles told an Article 32 hearing that his noncommissioned officer ordered him to destroy the two videos on Nov. 5, the same day a gunman unleashed a volley of bullets inside a processing center at the Texas Army post.

The footage could have been used as evidence at the military hearing to decide if Maj. Nidal Hasan should stand trial in the shootings. The 40-year-old American-born Muslim has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder.

Twenty-nine witnesses over three days have appeared either in a courtroom or by video link. Prosecutors have not said whether they'll seek the death penalty if the case goes to trial.
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The name of the non-commissioned officcer is not given for some reason. This order was illegal as it involved the destruction of evidence. There has got to be more to this story. Why wasn't this officer prosecuted? I do not like the implications of this story. Is there still an Army CYA operation in effect?

More at jihadwatch.

Faith From The Depths Of the Earth

Are you claustrophobic? In Chile, thirty-three men spent nine weeks buried in a cave beneath a half mile of stone. It was seventeen days after the cave-in before anyone knew they were still alive.

And I get the sweats and all twitchy-like when I'm stuffed inside an MRI machine for only a few minutes.

It boogles the mind what these men endured as their nation struggled to rescue them.

There is no question that the Chilean rescue involved expert planning, top notch engineering, quality equipment, and the ingenious problem solving of experts from a number of countries around the world. In addition, the miners give appropriate credit to their leaders, who kept them strong emotionally and physically.

But they had a Friend, and help from Above; through adversity, we discover the source of our strength.

Villarroel said, "We had a boss ... every day he would tell us we had to be strong ... we didn't have hope. Strength comes from internal energy and prayer ... I never used to pray, [but] here I learned to pray. I got closer to God."

In Time Magazine, of all places, it was reported that:

"the atmosphere underground as being like a church service."

Nearly to a man the miners praised God as they emerged from the depths.

Jimmy Sanchez, one of the outspoken believers, said, "There are actually 34 of us, because God has never left us down here." Ultimately, Villarroel and the other rescued Chilean miners recognized -- as we must all learn to do -- that their fate rested not in human hands or expert plans alone, but in the providence of God. Villarroel surely spoke for the other miners -- many fell to their knees in prayer as they came out of the rescue capsule -- when he thanked God for a second chance at life. Omar Reygadas clutched his Bible as he exited the rescue capsule, and he knelt in prayer when his feet touched ground. His first words were "God Lives." From the first to the last rescued Chilean miner, these 33 men have learned much they can teach us about faith and what is real.

Politics As Usual

Living in NY as long as I have, I can't say that the following story surprises me. Disgust yes, surprise, no.

[...] election officials in New York City and Erie, Niagara, Putnam and Westchester counties missed an Oct. 1 deadline for mailing ballots to troops overseas.

What this means is that the fix is in. If anything happens at all, the heads of minor functionaries will roll ... to the next patronage job.

The Dems know that the Republicans are well represented in the military and they remember all the bad PR the party received in Florida when Gore's lawyers attempted to disqualify tens of thousands of military ballots in the 2000 election. So the best thing is to make sure that the ballots never get sent. This outrageous criminal act mishap

[...] means that service members may not receive their ballots in time to vote in the Nov. 2 elections. The state has 320,000 overseas and military voters.

The nine counties enumerated above represent 54% of the total population of the State of New York. There are over 49,400 registered NY voters who reside overseas, most are in the military.

And of course Schumer is crying crocodile tears over this. Despite his present feigned outrage, Schumer made no attempt to get his colleagues in the House to pass HR 5673, the Military Voting Protection Act of 2008.

Pumpkin Heads

Holloween is only a few weeks away.

Time to carve some pumpkins!

Change Is Good

I changed the template to allow for more content and less distractions. I hope you like it.

The Real Reason Why Sea Turtles Are Endangered

SUV's, carbon emissions and global warming have nothing to do with the plight of the sea turtle. The following pictures show what happens in Costa Rico when female sea turtles lay their eggs on the beaches. Granted, most of the hatchings never will make it to adulthood even if they were not harvested, but that is the reason why so many eggs are laid - some do make it and the species survives. By taking so many eggs even fewer adults will be available for breeding and the species is then threatened.

I am not a bleeding heart eco-loon by any means. But even an idiot knows what will happen if this is not stopped.

Now if you look at the seventh picture, there is a man wearing light colored shorts with a blue tank top and a blue carry bag slung over his right shoulder. Look at the area by his right hip: is that a pistol holster? Sure looks like one to me.

Please distribute these photos.

The Turtle eggs are stolen to be sold.

Obamanomics Made Easy

Bar Stool Economics:

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers, he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings).
The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28% savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

'I only got a dollar out of the $20', declared the sixth man.
He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!'

'Yeah, that's right', exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than me!'

'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'

'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

This humorous essay has been bouncing around the internet since 2001. No one is sure who wrote it, but it is still a timely piece.



A big H/T to Charley the ChiTown Cop

This Turns My Stomach

Police corruption is like a pox on society. We are so blessed in this country that we have, for the most part, an objective and honest law enforcement community.

I'm neither stupid nor blind. There are crooked cops. I have assisted in police corruption investigations and I have absolutely no pity for brother officers who cross the line. My badge and my honor is not worth whatever advantage I might gain from an illegal act. Unfortunately there are officers who do not think the same way.

Here are two examples; one involves widespread serial corruption and the other is just some idiot with a badge trying to scam the system.

FBI Launches Largest Cop Corruption Case Ever in Puerto Rico
The FBI launched what it calls the "largest police corruption case" in the history of the agency early this morning in Puerto Rico, arresting 129 people around the country -- most of whom were public servants ranging from police officers to municipal workers to U.S. Army soldiers. The defendants face drug trafficking charges with possible sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison.

"The actions of these individuals proved they were not worthy of the title of public servant," Luis Fraticelli, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Juan office, said in a statement. "They violated the public's trust by using their authority for personal gain."

Read more here.

Next up is an example of a man who was smart enough to pass a civil service test and too stupid to stay out of jail.

MURRIETA — A San Diego police officer and his wife pleaded not guilty Wednesday to accusations that they trashed their foreclosed home and stole major appliances and decorative features before vacating.

A judge ordered Robert and Monique Acosta each to be held on $65,000 bail, during an arraignment in Riverside County Superior Court in Murrieta. They have been charged with one count each of damaging or destroying an encumbered property — a felony.

[...] A $200,000 arrest warrant was issued for the couple on Sept. 27, but authorities waited for them to show for the arraignment before arresting them.

A notice of sale was posted on their French Valley-area home on May 21, giving the couple until June 14 to vacate, according to the arrest warrant.

A representative of the San Diego Metropolitan Credit Union called Riverside County sheriff’s deputies on June 15 when she discovered the house had been trashed.

Rock facing on the front of the Via Laguna home had been ripped off, black paint and hair dye squirted all over the carpeting, the walls spray painted and electrical wires dug out from walls and cut, the affidavit described.

Missing from the home were the flagstone porch and walkway, garage doors, kitchen cabinet doors and drawers, air conditioners, a wrought iron gate, wooden beams from the living room ceiling, appliances and vanities.

[...] The total damage is estimated at $165,000, and an additional $44,000 in property was stolen.

A neighbor told investigators that he took photos of the couple moving items to two large storage units on June 12.

I guess we don't have to worry about this couple becoming master minds of a criminal empire.

Lex Luther - you may rest easy.

Waste Not, Want Not

Leave it to Ramirez. Perfect.

H/T to Cap'n Bob & Damsel.

Home From Kunar

Last night we attended a celebration at an American Legion Post for Billy. He came home on leave the day after I posted that earlier video of his unit under attack. He is in great spirits and his parents are absolutely delighted that he could be with them even for a short time. We managed to spent some time with the family during the celebration.

Billy had some more information on the IED ambush as mentioned in one of the recent posts below this one. He was riding "shotgun" in the same MRAP where the soldier in the weapons mount was shot in the helmet.

As Billy explained it, the bullet (a 7.62X54) that pierced the helmet was from a sniper rifle. It is a more powerful round than that which is used in an AK-47 (7.62X39). It penetrated the helmet, traveled over the solider's skull through the liner and put a three inch gash in the back of his head as it exited. The GI is only nineteen; it was his third day there - he was brand new. He is back in action but a little leery now, more cautious.

The driver of the lead MRAP that was damaged by the IED is not doing as well. His right arm was amputated below the elbow but there are complications: he has malaria and the skin grafts are not taking. He is currently recuperating at Walter Reed Hospital in DC.

We talked for a bit more and he is grateful for the prayers everyone has directed towards him. He is flying back to Afghanistan in ten days - upon his return he will be promoted to sergeant.

Speaking to his dad I got some ideas on what to send our daughter when she goes to Afghanistan next month. Snacks, personal hygiene items, powered energy beverages and small packages of candy (like Halloween portions) to hand out to Afghani children. Hooah.

Can You Name The President?

My wife's cousin, Isabelle, had a stroke last night. She is doing much better right now, but will need therapy to recover full speech capabilities. While in the emergency room, the physician asked her a number of questions to determine her extent of mental acuteness and possible brain damage. She is in her mid-eighties and even after being in America for over fifty years, she still speaks English with a heavy accent.

One of the questions posed to her by the doctor was, "Can you name the President of the United States?" Isabelle struggled with the words and stammered, "The black guy.... the idiot."

She obviously has full control of her mental facilities.