In what sounds like an introduction of Hubert Humphrey, Ronald Reagan rails against the Republicans back in 1948. It’s amazing to me how similar the problems of yesteryear sound like they could be incorporated into Obama or Hillary McClintons speeches today…if they could quit sniping at each other and address the real issues.

A tip of the space helmet to Snakebite.

A thousand years John? Fifty is too many.

McCain needs to rethink his policy of the occupation of Iraq before he bumbles all of our resources away.

From VoteVets.org

A tip of my space helmet to Army of Dude.

Yeah. I know. They are a big corporation that only cares about the bottom line. I know I am just a disabled working guy that doesn’t have any pull. I know that the relationship with big companies and the Average Joe usually ends up with the corporation winning but today I am furious. Here’s why.
I had been getting horrible service since August of 2007. I called the service department of Dish Network because the DVR kept displaying that it had a critical hard drive malfunction and needed service. They promised they would send a box for me to return it and they would replace it. Never happened.
On November 21 of 2007 I switched my service to a local cable company for better reliability, phone and internet service. When I called Dish Network to have my service discontinued they told me they would send a box to return my equipment in. They also told me I would owe them $40 for breaking my 18 month contract early. Cool. That was something I knew about and had even signed paperwork saying that I agreed to do. I didn’t mind.
I never received communication from them after that. No box. No bills. No deduction of the $40. Nothing.
I called them just before the Christmas holiday season wondering about the box. They told me that no box had been sent because the call on Nov. 21 had been disconnected and that I should have called them back right away. They indicated this was my fault and should know about it. I was then promised a box again and was told that I would be responsible only for the $40 as their mistake would be rewarded by me not having to pay for services they had provided from October to November. Cool again. No box.
On January 8 I noticed they were hitting my bank accounts debit card that was on file for $2, $48, $2, $9.50….. I called them again. They promised a box would be sent again. Still no box.
They continued hitting my card for amounts ranging from $2 to $157. three or four charges a day. I called again. Over and over I have called. They said the charges were for equipment rental for the reciever I hadn’t returned.
I said no box. They have agreed to send the box every time I called. Still no box.
The last time I called I offered to send the equipment at my shipping expense. They told me that this wasn’t possible. I had to have the proper numbers for their records. I asked the guy to give me the numbers and was told that they were only issued with the box and label they would send me. But they aren’t sending a box so what the fuck!!!
Today I received my Social Security payment directly deposited into my account. Yes. the check I rely on to pay my rent, utilities and phone. But….But…But…you are right. Dish Network had already taken it all plus I am over drawn $3.54.
Rent can’t be paid. Phone and electric may get shut off. No groceries will be bought. My medicine will have to be put on hold. My life has been shut down.
Dish Networks representatives have repeatedly told me that it is my fault. I haven’t sent them the equipment so it is out of their hands. The only way it is my fault that I can see is that I signed on with them in the first place.
This morning I told my room mate Cat about this. She Googled “Dish Network Complaints”. She didn’t expect that it would return 238,000 hits under this search. I guess this blog will be 238,001.

The State Of The Union Address sounded like the last 6. Kinda like a KC and the Sunshine Band greatest hits album. The same old shit with new names. You know, like K-Tel’s offerings in the ’70’s and ’80’s TeeVee ads. Nothing thinking people want to hear. Just sappy drivel that may sell to the mentally challenged.

While babbling the reruns he tried to sell America that the State of the Union is strong. Issues addressed were tired old things like reforming Social Security, No Child Left behind and vouchers for schools. He called them “Pell Grants For Kids” but they are still just vouchers that will divert even more money from already underfunded public schools and giving the elite an upper hand.

Surprisingly he called for more support of clean energy and reducing dependancy on oil. I think this was just pandering to the green thinking populace and he really doesn’t care. Reducing the need for oil may hurt his income so I think it was just B.S..

Reforming “entitlement spending”, or social security, seemed to me to be about reducing benefits for those who have payed into this fund for life. Doesn’t sound at all like entitlement. Just getting back what you payed in.

Doubling federal border agents on the Mexican border and more fences were his solve all for immigration. He said we should take measures to make America unappealing. I wonder if that means lowering wages here so people wouldn’t want to come here to work.

When he started calling for more defense in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan Speaker Nancy Pelosi started to read disinterestedly. Watching Cheney and nancy sitting behind Bush was more enlightening than any of the crap spewing from his mouth. She showed disdain by her reading and I thought Dick was going to have heart failure from all the standing and sitting he endured. If he would have died it would have saved him the shame of impeachment. Now to get on with that. I hope.

While sending 3200 Marines to Afghanistan he called the elections there a success. I noticed that congresspersons on both sides of the aisle applauding. It’s not their kids over there fighting so I guess they can praise this louder. The surge in Iraq is working, he said, so we are bringing 20,000 soldiers home in the next few months. He seemed proud of this like he actually was bringing our kids home. Even with 20 thousand coming back there will still be too many US troops staying.

After he renamed the Iraq conflict “Protective Overwatch Mission”, basically admitting a long occupation is planned, his threats to Iran weren’t a surprise. If we keep soldiers there it will be easier to attack Iran short range. The attacks threatened because America will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf.

We need to “defend America’ by monitoring the peoples communication, he said. We will be in “great danger” if congress doesn’t reapprove the spying on America crap that expires February first. Heckuva way to protect us.

He claimed a 95% increase in veteran benefits funding in the last four years. To “meet the needs of a new war” says they are planning a new conflict. Probably with Iran.

All in all it was just rehash of the crap we have heard since the Bushman took office. Old babble mixed with not so new rhetoric. alQaida on the run, Katrina hero’s from ‘05, 2005’s Iraq elections (2503 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq since the “freedom” came in those elections) and the rehashing of “stopping terrorist plots” in 2002/03.

Just a talking head spewing his “greatest hits”.

Hits that didn’t sell the first time.

Like KC and the Sunshine Band there was no substance.

Although I don’t always agree with Alex Jones his website sometimes prints tidbits worth looking at. This article written by Phil Leggiere and posted on Truth News Dec. 4, 2007 is worth a read. Link.

9/11 Giuliani has been running on the bombings that happened in NYC while he was mayor. If it hadn’t been for that tragic attack Rudy would be a has been mayor and may be under indictment for some of the things done by people he associated with. He hasn’t really been a viable presidential candidate but support has been even less than what he expected.

The right wing has never been fond of him because of his views on immigration and his fondness of dressing as a woman. The left think he has just been a bad leader and don’t think he can run a country if he had so many problems running a city. Both sides of the fence realize he has no substance and is riding the wave of fame that came from 9/11.

Now it seems he is even selling classic cars on E Bay to finance his campaign. He is going broke indicated by his staff not taking paychecks and support down. His 1966 Corvair convertable is for sale.

According to Time magazine 1 in 5 returning Iraq war vets have brain injuries.Most of these aren’t recognized bu the Veterans Administration as war injuries.

We need to demand our troops be returned home where they belong.
Mike The Mad Biologist has the story.

720 million dollars a day is being spent on this stupid war. I found this cool site on Drinking Liberally that you can add your voice to a petition to bring our soldiers home by cutting the spending and deployment of our troops. Follow this link.

George W and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke are trying to buy the favor of the American people it seems. They call it stimulating the economy through tax breaks, extending unemployment benefits and increasing benefits to welfare recipients. They figure dumping 100 billion back into the economy will keep us out of a recession. Maybe so but I think its just another ploy to gain favor for Republicans in the upcoming elections. Story link.

New Orleans Social Club doing an old John Fogerty song “Fortunate Son”. Filmed in October 2006 the ending refers to the politics surrounding Katrina relief but it helped, rather than detracted, from the song. Ivan Neville sings and does a jam up job. TURN IT UP!!

In New Hampshire today Hillary Clinton’s voice kinda cracked and a little tear came to her eye as she spoke to reporters. The good ol’ boy media jumped on this as a sign of weakness. They are playing up the emotion as a symbol of the tried and false assumption that a woman can’t be a good leader. That she would break down in times of crisis and couldn’t make decisions under pressure. I say this coverage is bullshit.

First off I want everyone to realize that I am not a Clinton supporter. I have my personal reasons and they aren’t important for this post. I do believe that she, like most of America, sees the need for change in our country. Change from the war machine pulling Bush’s strings to make the dance of death even more grotesque. Change to include more help for Americans and less spending on an illegal war based on lies. Change from the business as usual politics on the hill and most importantly change for those too poor to have any influence in their own lives.

A lot of what Hillary says is truth. She is a politician and like all of them should never be taken at face value. However she has some ideas that because of her strong voice and political clout the other presidential candidates have to talk about. Her issues should be kept in the forefront. Issues like health care for everyone. Civil rights for everyone regardless of sex, age or orientation. If these issues are kept alive others will have to answer questions and will be forced to deal with them.

I don’t see her tear or two as weakness. I think the campaign trail is tough. I think she needs a good night sleep. But most of all I see the emotion as a grief for the way our country has been treated under the Cheney/Bush administration. She is crying for change.

Yeah, I’m not all PC and hope I don’t disturb your senses with wishing Christmas happiness. It is after all that day all over the world. True there are folks of other religions, or no religion, that don’t recognize the celebration of the birth of the Christian mangod, but the wish of happiness on this day doesn’t mean any less to me than any other day. I wish you all the happiness the other 364 days of the year as well.

Although I was raised in a fundamentalist preachers home it didn’t rub off on me. I am not a Christian and don’t really celebrate this holiday but I remember the Peace On Earth, Goodwill Toward Men creedo and try to have a good time during the holiday season. The days are getting longer now and the new year is only a week away. New starts come around this time of year and with the passing of the winter solstice the light shines bright for the future.

I do have a big problem with what the celebration of this holiday season has become though. Overly commercialized with a spend, spend, spend sense of obligation pushed on us by the teevee ads and pressure they bring, the goodwill part of the season has all but disappeared. Greedy consumerism has replaced the kindness of this seasons roots. The kids all expect a gaudy show of product under the dead tree opulently placed in front of the picture window of a home thats about to be foreclosed on because of credit card bills from the over spending to be better than the neighbors. There is no more peace on earth, just gimmee more.

The traditional gift giving is based on some ancient custom and that’s not bad. Customs and tradition should be observed. The trend now though, is to see how much gift giving, and receiving, can a person do. This year the presents are bountiful and next year the kids will expect more. The bills for this Christmas will be almost paid off in some cases and the expectations will cost even more next year. Spoiling the kids will make the “me first” attitude hide the peace and goodwill that should be the message of the season.

I guess I’m a bit old fashioned in this season but I don’t apologize. It is a celebration of Christs birth. Jesus taught harmony and neighborliness so without giving to those with less the holiday has lost it’s meaning. If the kids have a lot and then get more there isn’t a lot left for those less fortunate. Greed has overcome the sense of sharing and thats not a good thing. Jesus would spin in his grave if he knew how folks were celebrating his birth.

I was somewhat happy to see the downturn of spending this year. The increased fuel prices have caused everyone to spend less on product and more on gas. A year with gas prices hovering around the three dollar a gallon price has affected every aspect of our lives. Fuel prices have made the cost of production and shipping go up. The consumer has absorbed these costs and spending for unnecessary items went way down. After all everyone needs the money for gas to get to work next year so they can attempt to repeat the cycle next December.

Maybe the tight belts and reduced time at the mall gave some folks time to reflect on the real reason for the season. PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TOWARD ALL.