Big T's Pic of the Day

Worth A Thousand Words

It is said that a picture or photo is worth a thousand words, and this one may be worth even more than that. I truly can’t believe the White House PR team allowed this photo to be released onto the official White House Blog, and it is public domain. President Barrack Obama’s true colors of character are showing. It’s amazing to me no one at the White House was able to see the arrogance in body language from Obama in this photo.

Police Sgt. James Crowley is the only one to show any compassion to help the elderly Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. down the White House steps into the Rose Garden. Obama walks to steps ahead unaware of the needs of his guest, lost in his own arrogance and ignoring them.

Through my journey in life I have learned two valuable ways to judge a man’s character. Watch how they act when things are not going their way, and watch how they treat people who can’t do anything for them or are less powerful than them. Especially when they think no one is looking.

The current president could take a lesson from the former president on how to treat his elders...

Hold On to Your Wallets Middle Class!

I couldn’t help but notice Sec. of Treasury Timothy Geithner and White House advisor Larry Summers were making their rounds on the Sunday morning talk show circuit yesterday. There seemed to be a new theme coming from President Barrack Obama’s White House.

All during the campaign we heard Obama promise tax cuts for 95% of Americans, even though less than 95% of Americans pay taxes, but that is a whole different story I already covered. Anyways, now they won’t commit to uphold the tax only the rich pledge and the new theme is “We can’t rule out taxes on the middle class.”

Geithner told George Stephanopoulos deficit reduction is going to be the key to economic recovery, but when asked if the president will have to break his pledge to 95% of Americans he said this:

“We’re going to have to do what’s necessary. We have to bring these deficits down dramatically, and that is going to require some real hard choices.”

Yeah…real hard choices, not like Geinther is paying his taxes anyway.

Then we have Summers who was on CBS Face the Nation and NBC Meet the Press who admitted he cannot rule out tax increases on the middle class in order to pay for Obama’s healthcare reform plans.

“It’s never a good idea to absolutely rule things out no matter what, but what the president has been completely clear on is this:

That he is not going to pursue any of his priorities, not health care, not energy – nothing – in ways that are primarily burdening to middle-class families.”

Did you catch the key phrase that tells all? “Primarily burdening…” In plain English he is basically saying the middle-class is going to be burdened, but not burdened as much as the rich.

Hold on to your wallets middle class! They are coming for your money next.

Hawaii Residents Now Taxed On Vegas Winnings Even If They Lose!

State governments are scrambling to reform their tax codes in order to bring in more tax revenue. Are they lowering taxes to bring in more businesses, create more jobs, which generates more tax revenue? Well some states are, but the majority are finding every way they can to raise taxes.

Hawaii has recently increased its top marginal tax rate to 11 percent making it tied with Oregon for the highest in the country. Hawaii is also going to tax its residents on gross winnings from Las Vegas trips not just the net winnings.

Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle signed the bill this month that will no longer allow gamblers to offset their winnings with their losses. So, what exactly does that mean?

Well, lets say you sit down at the roulette table and win $10,000 then you go and play black jack and lose it all. You then try your luck at the craps table, but you crap out there too and lose $5,000. So now you are down lets say $5,000. That is a net loss of $5,000, but your gross winnings were $10,000. You as a Hawaii resident would now owe taxes on $10,000. Your gross winnings!

Don’t you just love government and taxes?

I Thank God My Parents Drugged Me!

This came in my e-mail today. It is so true!

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question.

"Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"

I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young:

I was drug to church on Sunday morning.

I was drug to church, weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity.

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flowerbeds and cockleburs out of dad's fields.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul, who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think.

They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

God bless the parents who drugged us.

Big T's News and Views From Around the Web

If there is only one thing you read today I hope it is this column by Charles Krauthammer on the evolution of Obama’s health care reform.

Here is a summary of House Republican’s healthcare bill they released the other day. It is not flawless, but I like it a lot better than the Democrat’s bill already on the table.

Patients in Great Britain can’t seem to get painkilling meds because the National Health Service has rationed them…I am sure that would never happen once we get national health care here!

Check out the type of health insurance and benefits Congress enjoys. Now ask, do you think they are going to drop this for the plan they are trying to give us?

Blue Dog Democrats have cut a deal. There will not be a vote on healthcare reform before the August recess.

Home schooling is already illegal in many other countries. Now the question: “Do parents or the State own the rights to educate your children?” Is being asked here. Will we outlaw home schooling as well? Power hungry politicians and teachers unions would like nothing less.

Charlie Rangel is pushing for a 5.4% tax hike, because it is “the moral thing to do.” He must think it is moral to raise them, but not to pay them. Since he didn’t pay his.

Amazing! Even the New York Times admits that Barack Obama’s pledge to only increase taxes on the rich is unsustainable.

John Stossel points out something I have been saying for years… Minimum wage equals minimum jobs. Of course he lays it out a lot better than I ever could. Good read.

There is some common sense left in DC! Liberal and Conservative Senators are uniting on a bill to reinstate the DC School Voucher program.

Imagine this…you are driving in a 30 mph zone, when you see drag racing teenagers traveling right toward you. They hit you head on at 81mph. Now one of the teenagers is suing you!!! How does this make sense? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

A bank teller in Seattle chases a robber down and detains him until police arrive…They should have gave him a medal, but instead he was fired.

Big T’s Pic of the Day

Here is a nice little Bible bag with the "Messiah" I mean President Obama...Now for those of you who think there is no way this can possibly be real, here is a link where you can order your own!

Big T is Back…unleashed and holding nothing back!

After a long break from the blogosphere, I am back, unleashed and holding nothing back! I have bit my tongue long enough…There is so much going on. Lots of stuff to blog about out there; bailouts, universal healthcare, cap and spend. I am just not sure where to start…So let’s just jump in…

Lets start with some Random Thoughts.

*If PETA thinks they are upset with President Obama for swatting a fly during an interview, they should hang out with me for a week during deer season!

*I don’t understand the backlash towards President Obama. More and more people say they regret voting for him, because this is not what they voted for…I have to ask them; What were they voting for? Obama is doing everything he said he was going to do during the campaign. This is the change you voted for. Hope you all enjoy it.

*If I haven’t offended you or made you mad yet with my insensitive approach to the world, keep reading eventually I will. If you find I can’t offend or upset you, then you just may be the type of person I would like to get a drink with…But I will just keep trying anyway!

*I have been told at least four times in the last two days that I am insane, nuts or crazy for one of my hobbies of racing go-karts…yeah maybe. Truth is I am an adrenaline junkie with a need for speed.

*It is said you learn twice as much from your mistakes than you do when you do it right. If this is true, I must be a genius…if you wrote all the mistakes I have made in my life down on paper it would require cutting down a small forest.

*I am really not seeing the difference between gambling on sports and playing the stock market right now, other than my gambling portfolio is looking a lot better than my stock market portfolio.

*I really cannot stand the idiot from the Dos Equis commercials. He is not interesting and Chuck Norris could kick his ass!

*Former President Bush can criticize big bailouts and government spending all he wants, but lets not forget he is the one that opened the door for the bailouts and spending grew to all time highs under his administration…Mr. Conservative he was not!

*So motor sport’s best known woman driver Danica Patrick wants to make the move from open wheel racing in the Indy League to stock car racing in NASCAR…hope she doesn’t get her feelings hurt when she fails to qualify and make the starting field like so many other open wheel drivers before her…

*And here is something for my baseball fans to chew on. I know many will not agree, but I think the NL Central is the best division in Major League Baseball. They have four teams above .500, and I predict the winner of this division will win the World Series…Unless it is the Cubs…It will be a cold day in hell before they win it all.

A Republican Resurgence? Not with this party!

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele vowed a few months ago that the GOP was going to go after President Barrack Obama more aggressively regardless of his popularity and claimed the Party has turned the corner predicting a Republican resurgence. A Republican Resurgence he says? Uh…not with the clowns in the Party now…

Now, apparently a lot of people within the Party do not think it is such a good idea to attack the most popular Democrat and would go after less popular Democrats to show their muscle. This next quote is actually a decent line from Steele.

"They suggest that instead we should go after Nancy Pelosi, whom nobody likes. Or Harry Reid, whom nobody knows. Or this Tim Geithner fellow, whom nobody believes. Or maybe even Barney Frank, whom nobody understands," said Steele.

After traveling around the country, Steele claims he has seen a stronger party than the one portrayed in Washington and credited last month’s “Tea Party” protests with providing a boost to the party’s grassroots. “This change comes in a tea bag,” Steele declared. Oh…what a yawner…sorry, but I just can’t get energized by this…

First off, if Steele thinks the Tea Parties is a reflection of the grass roots of the Republican Party he is more out of touch with Americans than I previously thought….unless he thinks Libertarians are grass root Republicans.

The “Tea Parties” from my experience was largely bi-partisan. I know several people who attended and out of that group there were Democrats, Independents, Libertarians and Republicans with Independents and Libertarians making up the majority. There were even people who voted for Obama that was not happy with their change!

Anyways, Steele also had this to say.

“Our success will not be found in dusting off old campaign manuals from the 70’s and 80’s,” he said. “Our success will be found in speaking directly to the American people about a rebirth of the American Dream for this generation and generations to come.”

Well Mr. Steele, perhaps you should dust off those old manuals from the 70’s and 80’s and learn the principles of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan since this was the last time the Party actually had a platform worth standing on…

Here is an idea for the Republican Party…Instead of worrying about which Democrats to point your fingers at and attack, how about coming up with some issues to run on that matter! You could start with the FairTax.

Oh yes…and while I am on the RNC. Please quit calling me and asking…no begging is a better word… for donations and support! I believe both Parties have things so messed up we may never get it right again!

It’s Those Damn Southerners… They’re ruining the Republican Party!

The latest polls show that more and more Americans now consider themselves conservative, so why is it the Republican Party’s popularity is not on the rise and they continue losing voters? Ohio Republican Senator George Voinovich has the answer.

According to him, it is because of all those damn Southerners in the party. That’s right, Southerners are to blame for the Republican’s problems. Voinovich told the Columbus Dispatch the party is being taken over by Southerners like South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint and Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn.

Isn’t that just like a good Republican, if you are not pointing fingers at Democrats just point them at each other. It has to be someone else’s fault. It couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the fact the Republican Party has lost its way, has no real platform to stand on and lacks any original ideas. I mean lets face it; the only thing the Republicans have to offer is they are not Democrats, while they then try to act more like Democrats!

It looks like quite the resurgence to me!

War Hero Deserves National Memorial Service....We should never forget that!

I did not write this and do not know who did. I do not know if the writer actually met Shifty, but that fact is irrelevant to the point of the story that hit close to home for me. I thought I should share it with all of you...

We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services. I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers. Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, partof the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.

Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked himwhen he served, and how many jumps he made.

Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . " at which point myheart skipped.

At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . do you knowwhere Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.

I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D- Day was. At that point he said "I also made asecond jump into Holland, into Arnhem." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.

I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach. He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer. There was no parade. No big event in Staples Center. No wall-to-wall, back-to-back ,24/7 news coverage. No weeping fans on television. And that's not right.

Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

Big T's News and Views From Around the Web

According to a new Rasmussen poll only 23% of Americans believe healthcare reform will lower cost. I guess all that campaigning is not working.

Politicians are trying so hard to convince us this economic stimulus plan is working that they will count a job created even if it only amounts to 35 hours worth of work.

The Government Accountability Office is expected to add the US Postal Service to its list of “high risk” government operations.

Looks like the Cash for Clunkers program is already having problems…Government ran program…gee whodathunk that?

Are you buying Barack Obama's (very expensive) plan for cleaner, more fuel efficient cars? Here's a concept…why not let the free market decide if it wants more fuel efficient cars? Oh silly me, I forgot government knows best. Almost forgot. How unpatriotic of me I am sure.

Average temperature in Chicago for July was 68.9 degrees. It was the coldest July in more than 65 years. It must have been global warming.

Here is an interesting read…This author says that Obama's proposed mileage standards may kill more Americans at a faster rate than the Iraq War. Hey, I didn’t write it…

Here is a nice piece on Flat Tax vs. FairTax. There are a few inaccuracies in the Fair Tax analysis, but the general concept is there.

President Barrack Obama doesn’t think school choice is a solution to fixing the education system in this country. Unions are against the idea too. Interestingly, Obama used school choice in deciding where to send his kids. They go to a private school by the way.

Climate change is the terrorist America should be fighting, says Muslim leader. Riiight, climate change will be wearing a suicide bomb vest onto a crowded bus any day now.

A Politician in another country is accused of giving out gifts for votes from the public assets. Wow…seriously…we have a whole two party system that does that here! One party may be guiltier than the other, but they both do it…

Big T's Pic of the Day

This kid is definately going to be alright...

Queen Pelosi’s Personal Airline: the U.S. Air Force

Democrats have consistently ridiculed and condemned Fortune 500 Companies and CEOs for use of their private jets and wasteful spending in hard economic times, but what about Nancy Pelosi?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s business of running the U.S. House of Representatives not only gives her access to one jet, but a whole fleet of jets operated and ran by the Pentagon and the U.S. Air Force.

According to a report from Judicial Watch, Pelosi has repeatedly requested military aircraft to shuttle her, her colleagues and family around the country, and has been notorious for making special demands for high-end aircraft, lodging last-minute cancellations and racking up additional expenses for the military, all on the taxpayer’s dollar.

In one case Pelosi wanted to bring her husband along to a trip to Iraq . Pentagon officials had to remind Queen Pelosi that spouses are not allowed to go along on military trips.

In an email recovered with the help of a Freedom of Information Act request, Queen Pelosi’s aid Kay King writes: “It is my understanding there are NO G5s available for the House during the Memorial Day recess. This is totally unacceptable…The Speaker will want to know where the planes are.”

Let me translate: The Queen demands to know why there are NO G5s available for the Memorial Day recess. She wants to know where her G5s are at, and who is using them so she can decide whether or not their use is more important than her request.

Is she a public servant? Hardly… I used Queen Pelosi because that is the growing mindset of the political class in D.C. These people are our RULERS, elected yes, but still rulers. In their mindset we are here to provide for them ...to provide a basis for their power.

Agreeing with Obama on Teacher Pay and Charter Schools

I don’t think Hell has frozen over or pigs are flying, but someone better check just to make sure…President Barack Obama and I actually agree on something.

Obama gave a speech on education yesterday that has the teacher’s unions breaking pencils. Personally, I thought there were some good things and some bad things about the speech, but there were definitely two ideas I support.

First is merit pay for teachers. I know seems like a common sense concept, pay people based on performance, but this is something the teachers unions have been fighting for years. In general unions hate the idea of performance-based paychecks. They believe once you have a job you are entitled to keep it and pay is based on seniority. In fact unions generally try to isolate and de-motivate anyone who tries to excel or out perform others. Everyone is equal and does equal work in a union.

The second idea I support; charter schools. Obama spoke highly of charter schools. Now he won’t go all out and support school choice, but he will acknowledge charter schools work. This also is bad news for teachers unions. Why? Competition. The teachers unions hate competing for students and tax dollars.

Big T’s Letter to the IRS

I haven’t mailed yet, but…

Dear Internal Revenue Service,

I fully regret to inform you I will more than likely not be able to pay my federal income taxes owed on April 15 for I am all taxed out!

In the hard economic times that have fallen upon us, I ran out of money paying other taxes. I renovated some rental properties to help improve the look of the buildings and had to pay a building permit tax. This raised the assessed value of my properties which increased my property taxes. I also have corporate income taxes and capitol gains tax. The stress of this led me to start drinking and smoking again, and I was hit with a cigarette and liquor tax. I needed a friend and got a dog and was hit with a pet license tax.

There were also unemployment taxes, gasoline taxes, hunting license taxes, fishing license taxes, inheritance taxes, inventory taxes, luxury taxes, Medicare taxes, social security taxes, commercial real estate taxes, toll road taxes, sales taxes, telephone federal excise tax…and other taxes I can’t think of at the moment.

So please note, when you do not receive my payment on April 15, it is an honest mistake.

I also request that I receive the same treatment as Congressmen Charlie Rangel, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, former Congressman Tom Daschle and your new boss Timothy Geithner; penalty free with no interest.

I will start payments just as soon as I get my stimulus check, or will pay in full once nominated for a cabinet position by the president.

Thanks,

Big T

Some how I don't think this is going to work out in my favor...

Big T's News and Views From Around the Web

Here are two charter schools doing wonders with some of the poorest students from one of the worst school systems in LA County.

Taxpayers for Common Sense have a list of the top 20 biggest pork spenders in Congress. They love the bacon in Alaska…

53 percent of Americans now believe America is headed for another great depression within the next few years. That is depressing… Where is all the hope??? Obama…we need hope! Where is it?

Here comes stimulus bill number two! Queen Pelosi says we may need a second stimulus bill.

According to Forbes Magazine there has never been a period in U.S. history where tax rates and the size of government both increased, and the real GDP growth accelerated as sharply as the Obama team forecasts…

Democrats have introduced the card check bill and are working on passing it ASAP.
But what will happen immediately after the card check bill? Analysts say time to get rid of your Wal-Mart stock…got rid of mine when I dumped my whole portfolio last week.

Bernard Madoff will plead guilty to 11 criminal counts and faces life in prison for his investment ponzi scheme… Ponzi schemes like Social Security are OK when the government runs it.

A West Virginia woman has had brain surgery to try and lose weight. Now that is what I call a fat head!

A driver of an SUV in Dillsburg, Pa., fell asleep at a red light with his foot on the brake and a beer in the cup holder. He slept through six green lights before the cops showed up to give him a DUI.

I’m not a fan of the show, but I guess to vote you dial 1-866-idols-01 through 12 depending on the contestant you are voting for… Guess what happens if you dial 1-866-idols-13??? “Hey there sexy guy…”

Big T's Pic of the Day

Paul Harvey

1918-2009

R.I.P.

Paul Harvey was a genuine childhood memory for me. I can remember riding with my dad in his pick-up truck and Harvey would come on with his "The Rest of the Story."

I always enjoyed listening to Harvey and can still here him sign off: "Paul Harvey.....Good Day."

Good Night Paul Harvey... you will be missed.

My First CPAC

I was able to attend my first Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday, and I must say my experience at CPAC 2009 was unforgettable to put it lightly.

I was only able to attend on Saturday, but was glad to be able to be a part of the most attended CPAC in its 36-year history. I met some amazing people and seeing Rush Limbaugh in person was a perfect way to end the day and the conference.

CPAC 2009: Can Libertarians re-shape the GOP?

I left CPAC 2009 with a feeling that the conservative movement is stronger than ever, but the Republican Party may no longer hold the monopoly on the grass roots effort of the movement. Which is something that I suspected to be true for several years as more and more conservatives like myself left the party that abandoned their core base principles of smaller government, less spending and less government interference.

There seemed to be a huge Libertarian influence at the convention, with several Libertarian organizations such as the Cato Institute, Young Americans for Liberty, Campaign for Liberty and Ron Paul who gave a speech at the conference. One attendee told me the speech was powerful and the atmosphere inside the ballroom was electrifying. Paul had an impromptu book signing in the exhibit hall following the speech that was also well attended.
Saturday Afternoon I met and spoke with a volunteer for the Campaign for Liberty. She told me they were very happy with the impact they were making at CPAC. They held a “Tea Party” at Lafayette Park Friday afternoon with an estimated crowd of 200-300 people, which was pretty high for purely Internet activism.

On Friday night CPAC attendees squeezed into a crowded Hampton Room to see the Liberty Forum and others watched the forum on a screen in the hallway. The panel was made up of Ron Paul, Judge Napolitano, Tom Woods Bruce Fein, Mark Mix and Larry Pratt. The group defended free markets, civil liberties and non-interventionist foreign policy, with each speaker giving his unique perspective on limited constitutional government and individual rights.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Libertarian influence to me was the fact that Ron Paul finished third with 14 percent in the straw poll asking: Who would you vote for as the next republican nominee for president behind Mitt Romney with 20 percent and La. Gov. Bobby Jindal with 14 percent.

There is no doubt the Libertarian influence was one of the big stories of CPAC, even though the mainstream press didn't and will never mention it.

The Republican Party no longer holds the monopoly on conservatism. If the so-called leaders of the party elite are smart enough to recognize this, they will welcome Libertarians in just like they did with the Christian right in the 1980’s.