"...You didn't create that..."

I have been seething for the past month or so since I heard President Obama utter those words at a factory with  union workers on one of his campaign stops. Another thing Mr. Obama, union workers were not the only ones that built this country, ordinary men and women did also.

WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK CREATED SMALL BUSINESS' MR. PRESIDENT??? Surely not you or your ancestors. Sure as hell was NOT the government. It was the small business owner who took a loan, albeit, a SBA (Small Business Administration) loan to get their business started, but the owners and workers of these small business' made these business' NOT YOU or the GOVERNMENT!!!

I was reading a book, "Images of America COLUMBUS ITALIANS", when I came across a picture of the DiPaolo Food Shoppe. This was a small Italian grocery store in my mother's neighborhood that opened in 1915, it was the local shop where one could buy their cheese, meats, and provisions. That small family owned and operated food store would become a very successful $75-million food distribution empire. YOU DID NOT CREATE IT MR. OBAMA, Mr. & Mrs. DiPaolo did!!!

Across America there are thousands more of these mom & pop operations that began with a little bit of money and a dream.  The government is slowly killing these business' by over taxing them, making them buy expensive insurance products that do not cover much in the way of medical care.

You Mr. Obama created a mess with your promises of "CHANGE" when you were elected in 2008, with your promises of lowering the debt, it is now in the trillions; lowering fuel prices (approx $1.85/gal in 2008, $3.85/gal now); pushing through a $500-billion energy bill that former President Bush did not approve because of the business (Solyndra) being a money pit; you cut Medicare (when our seniors can barely afford prescriptions) to pay for Medicade. The alumni at Columbia Law do not remember you ever attending class, let alone receiving your Juris Doctor: your wife lost her license to practice law for accepting a bribe. You both deserve to be deported from the White House, but before you go, write the American taxpayers a check for Mrs. Obama's extravagant clothes & vacations, the girls salaries which they did not earn. Turn in your U.S. passport, you gained it illegally (have to show a BIRTH CERTIFICATE to obtain one which you obviously did not). Forget about taking Secret Service protection with you when you leave the White House, you can deal with the fallout you caused.

One last thing, Mr. Obama quit criticizing Mr. Romney, while you were busy trying to figure out first grade math, Mr. Romney's father was marching in the streets to bring equality to all. Mr. Romney is not perfect, however he has faced many more challenges than you have in his life, he knows how to read a balance sheet, and believes in LESS GOVERNMENT not more.

BUY AMERICAN -- AUGUST 1st -- SEPTEMBER 1st

This article was forwarded to me by a good friend. It is very enlightening just how much comes from China these days. So as the article states, let's "Buy American" for 30 days to send China a message, that America does NOT need their goods.

AUGUST 1st to Sept. 1st

Did y'all see Diane Sawyer's special report? They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family's home that were not made in the USA .

There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they showed truckloads of items - USA made - being brought in to replace everything and talked about how to find these items and the difference in price etc.. 

It was interesting that Diane said if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs! 

I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WALMART and ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA'; FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA', I WAS SHOCKED SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTYGOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT'S FROM CALIFORNIA

Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think? The Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets .

 70 % of Americans,.. believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended .

 Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? You Can..DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA!! 

Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or ' PRC' ( and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products , and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without. 

Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example. The point is do not wait for the government to act . Just go ahead and assume control on your own. 

THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans each refuse to buy just $20 of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor ...fast!! 

Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on Aug . 1st and continue it until Sept. 1st . That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they might have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it.

Remember, August 1st to Sept. 1st!  START NOW.

 Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted. If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!

Lawmaker Berates Double Amputee

It is my guess that some members of Congress find veterans second class citizens. Rep. Joseph Walsh-IL(R) is doing his best to get reelected in his district, running against him is a combat veteran, who risked her life fighting for the belief that all people should be free. In that battle she lost her legs, while this would deter many, it hasn't dampened her spirit, nor her fight for freedom. 

My guess is that Rep. Walsh cannot find a single thing out of place in this veteran's background to cast dispersion upon so he uses her own words against her, the ones where she explains to her would be constituents how she lost her legs, and why she feels she must runs for public office. She is being "honest & upfront" about her disability, which means she openly talks about how she lost her legs. 

I guess Rep. Walsh was raised by wolves, and never learned the following golden rule: "If you cannot say something nice, don't say anything at all."

 http://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/07/06/lawmaker-berates-double-amputee-rival.html?ESRC=marine-a.nl

No Minors Policy....Where Are the Parents???

I just read an article at Syracuse.com* about a young juvenile who was arrested in possession of a sawed off shotgun, shells, and a bad temper , so bad a temper he was arrested for resisting arrest. The mall he was arrested at has a "NO MINORS" without an accompanying adult**. Now my question is where was the accompanying adult when this boy knocked out another patron, dropped shotgun shells, ran from mall officers (I am not talking about "Paul Blart: Mall Cop") as well as Syracuse Police Officers whom patrol the mall in the evenings. 

Was this a "gang initiation"? Retaliation for the latest shooting? A dare? Given that many of our youths think that being a "gang banger" is cool because of what they see on television, in music videos, and in the movies. It is NOT!!! It is a life of crime, and punishment. When this young man goes into court, we are going to hear about how "bad" he has it at home. Maybe we should start charging the parents as well as the juvenile offenders. Maybe this would be a WAKE UP call to all children/young adults. 

Yes I do believe it takes a village to raise a child. It also takes time and energy to discipline children, it is obvious that too many homes today are "one parent" and the main parent is working to keep a roof over the families head. My generation (I was born in 1962) had very few "one parent families"; okay so maybe discipline was left up to mom (or dad) however what you didn't hear from one of them you heard from the other, then you heard it from your friends parents, and then your family. I have great respect for single parents whom raise their children to become productive adults, who graduate high school, a trade program, technical school, or college. 

FOOTNOTES:
*  http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/syracuse_police_15-year-old_in.html

** http://www.carouselcenter.com/index.php?page=information

Fast & Furious...

Okay so we all have heard or seen the movies "The Fast & The Furious", however this is NOT a fictional movie where the hero drives away with the car. This is REAL LIFE where a Border Patrol Agent, Brian Terry was gunned down with weapons sold by the American government to the Mexican government and then distributed to the drug kingpins. What were they thinking???? 

Brian Terry was doing his JOB when he was gunned down. He was killed in the line of duty, he was protecting the border of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. Still no one has been brought to justice. Why you ask, because Eric Holder, the Attorney General thinks this is a laughing matter. IT ISN'T Mr. Holder. You , your office, your cronies are RESPONSIBLE for this man's death. You NEED to come clean about your role in this. WE THE PEOPLE demand it of you. 

Here is the link to the Fox News article: 

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/02/03/mother-of-brian-terry-lashes-out-at-eric-holder-on-facebook-calls-him-a-coward-politician/ 

Here is the link to Brian Terry's Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Remember-Border-Patrol-Agent-Brian-A-Terry/126724297415207

 PLEASE pass this onto your friends. We need answers. 

Two Women....

Today I read two articles, when stood side by side both women mirrored each other, maybe not in style, but in the way they lived their lives. The women are: Eleanor Mondale and Kara Kennedy.

Both women were from prominent political families. Both women campaigned for their fathers, and both women had cancer. Both women lived life on their own terms, with dignity, grace, and a love of life that would not stop them even when several operations for lung cancer sidelined Kara for a while, and an in-operable brain tumor shrunk with chemotherapy and radiation sidelined Eleanor for bit. Both women fought the cancer and won, Kara surviving, accepting the "Presidential Medal of Freedom" for her father. Eleanor turned to radio broadcasting until the cancer reared its ugly head again. Neither woman went down without a fight. 

My heart goes out to both families that lost a daughter, a sister, a mother. The world lost two women who did their very best when faced with adversity. Both women are role models for children of politicians today. Rest in peace Eleanor and Kara. 

Remembering 9/11...

Today is 9/11, it is a day this nation will NEVER, EVER forget. Like those who remember where they were when the attack at Pearl Harbor happened, I know that there is not any one of us who does not remember where we were when this attack happened. Like FDR stated in his famous radio address during WWII, "...this is a day that will live in infamy...". It will, we as Americans have become resilient, we have shown the world that while we are a "melting pot" we are AMERICANS, we fly one flag, we support and defend the constitution of the United States of America, and WE LOVE OUR COUNTRY. 


In know I will never forget where I was, how I felt, how I watched as the second plane hit the second tower. How when I went home I tried calling my cousin who worked for the WTC Properties, but could not reach him, we finally found out a few hours later he was not in the building, thank God. I watched as firefighters, police officers, rushed in while everyone else was rushing out. I watched as the buildings crumbled, crushing everything in it's path, and covering the area with grey blanket of dust. I remember, praying rosary after rosary for those in the buildings, the  people trying to do their jobs, the children who went to school across the street, and in all that carnage I saw the church which stood not damaged in any way. It gave me hope. Hope that there were survivors, hope that whomever did this would be caught. 

Then another report came, a plane crashed into the Pentagon. The Pentagon, the symbol of our armed forces, the symbol of the men and women who choose to put on a uniform and serve OUR country, OUR flag. I watched as firefighters once again rushed in as others ran out. Again, I prayed for survivors.

Then another report, of a plane going down in a field, crashing because four men chose to give up their lives to save another target in Washington, DC. These four men, came together, formed a plan, charged the cockpit knowing that they may not, would not survive but they would save lives. Again, I prayed. 

I called my daughter's school. The school was on "lock down" meaning that all of the school children were together in the gymnasium, some of them not knowing what was going on. But knowing "something" was very wrong. My girlfriend picked up her son and my daughter that day from school, she held both of them tight, that night as she watched the news with my mother and I she asked, "Why?" and I could not give her an answer. Today we know the answer to that question.

I put up my flag that day, I kept it up day and night. I bought socks and t-shirts that were given to the rescue people who came from all over the U.S. to do their part. They worked tirelessly for days and weeks looking for survivors, then looking for the fallen. I watched young men and women walk into recruiting centers to volunteer to serve our country, knowing full well they would be going to a war they may never come back from. I went to prayer services, I held hands with others as we prayed for those lost that day, and for the United States. 

I have not forgotten that day, I truly doubt I ever will. I shaped how I travel, how much has changed when I buy a train ticket. How much the New York skyline has changed. As the new "Freedom Tower" rises like a phoenix from the ashes, I will never forget being a teenager, standing at ground level and looking up at the twin towers at amazement. I will never forget how I feel when I walked by the new site, while it is amazing, for me it reminds me that we will never be "innocent" again.

To the Firefighters, EMT's, Police Officers, & Armed Forces, "THANK YOU". You are all in my thoughts and prayers this day and every day.