No Immigration Bill This Year

Success! With a hat tip to the Power Line guys, the Associated Press is reporting that the immigration bill is "all but doomed for the year." Rock on House Republicans! Thank you for standing up for what's right.

Social Security for Illegal Aliens

My Congressman is a wonderful guy. He is the Honorable John Culberson (R-TX). Being a conservative and being from Houston, illegal immigration is one of his key areas of interest. And my Congressman is on the correct side of the issue. He recently made an alarming discovery. Did you know that the Bush Administration signed a Totalization Agreement with Mexico on June 29, 2004. What does this "Totalization Agreement" do? Are you sitting down?

...the White House will not let Congress see it [the agreement], which makes me very suspicious. Reliable reports tell me that this agreement will put every illegal alien from Mexico and their entire extended family anywhere in the world on our overburdened Social Security system.

Here's the rest of Rep. Culberson's statement. (Don't worry. John is on the case. He was even on Your World with Cavuto today discussing the issue!)

Now that I have your attention...The United States Social Security System is already the largest legalized Ponzi Scheme in the universe. Why in the world are people trying to make it even bigger and even more of a scheme?

"Is it Al-Qaeda or is it America?"

That's the question, isn't it? And, given how disappointed the left seems to be at the progress of freedom and democracy in Iraq, it's a valid question. And thankfully, it's a question the Republicans are asking in the House of Representatives. Rep. Charles Norwood of Georgia asked this specific question today.

Finally, we see some conservative backbone. God bless the House Republicans. "Keep at it!" Make the liberals answer this question and others. Force them to choose between standing up for what is right or aiding an avowed enemy of freedom and democracy. Make them cast a vote so that they can explain it to their potential voters in November. I look forward to posting the vote results later today.

UPDATE - America wins, 256-153.

It's been a tough week for the liberals

First, Zarqawi was killed, along with seven of his aides. On that same day, Israel killed a Hamas commander. Iraqi Security Minister appointments were completed. Then Karl Rove was cleared. Then President Bush showed up in Iraq. Hillary got booed. President Bush said he was "upbeat" about Iraq at his press conference. Speaker Hastert said that he wanted to "take a long look" at the Senate Amnesty Bill before convening a Conference Committee on the matter.

Now we find out that a treasure chest of Al-Qaeda information has been found. Furthermore, over 400 raids have been carried out since Zarqawi's death. And Ann Coulter's new book, Godless, will debut at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Pray for your liberal friends. They need it.

Chance or Design?

You be the judge.


As for me and my house, we've made our decision.

Talking points for al-Zarqawi's death

It seems many in the media want to create their own spin on al-Zarqawi's death. The vile left (sorry, redundant) are creating and using their own talking points on the event. So I thought I'd take a shot. No, I don't expect anyone to notice or even use them. But you gotta be prepared.

Here we go.

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and seven aides were sent to eternity when two 500 pound laser-guided bombs were dropped on them by the armed forces of the United States of America.

TALKING POINTS

1. This is good. A bad guy has been removed from the Earth. No more will he perpetrate acts of evil.


2. This is great. Al-Qaeda in Iraq must now find a new leader. We might see increased short-term, random violence, but the snake has had its head cut off. It must now grow a new one. This is not an easy thing to do. Moreover, growing that new head will provide our side an opportunity to gather better intelligence on the evil-doers as they create their new networks.


3. This is outstanding. The Unity Government of Iraq has been given a tremendous boost. What a great day for freedom and democracy in Iraq. (Sorry to offend all the liberals out there with those offensive words, freedom and democracy.)


4. Do it again. Once again, the world has seen the capabilities of the armed forces of the United States of America in action. There is no better military in the world. Let’s see another example.

In summary: al-Zarqawi is dead. Good. Great. Outstanding. Do it again.

END OF TALKING POINTS

God Bless America.

UPDATE - Oil drops below $70 after Zarqawi killed

A great day for freedom

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is dead, along with seven of his aides.



And today, the U.S.S. Cole returns to service.


Let Freedom Reign.

Two years ago today...

Two years ago today, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the greatest president of the 20th century, passed away.

Since he left office in 1988 and told us of his Alzheimer's in 1994, no one has yet to pick up the mantle of conservatism.

Newt Gingrich did well in 1994. The Contract With America was brilliant in its audacity and simplicity. Imagine: Congress being audited for the first time in 42 years. And imagine: Congress actually having to abide by the laws they pass for the rest of us. Sadly, Mr. Gingrich's personal life did not comport with that of a conservative leader.

President Bush has tried and done a decent job. He is firmly committed to tax cuts, and they have worked very well. But President Bush is no Reagan. He has kept our border open for far too long and refuses to close it even in the face of increased border crossings. Reagan would not have put up with this. I believe Reagan might have prosecuted the War on Terror differently as well. Our armed forces have not been allowed to use their full might against the enemy. Reagan would have turned them loose.

I miss you President Reagan.

Who will take your place?

Governor Perry, please visit the real world soon

I received a letter from Governor Perry's office a few days ago. I had previously sent e-mails and logged phone calls with his office asking him to veto HB1 and HB3. (Unfortunately, he signed both of these bills into law in May.) I think this letter was an attempt to mollify the disgust I displayed in my communications with his office. The letter lists several bulleted reasons why his "School Finance Reform" package is a good thing. If you listen to conservative talk radio in Houston you've probably heard a political ad from Rick Perry's campaign with Mr. Perry listing (supposed) accomplishments during the special session (and there's a companion television ad. This letter is the long, drawn-out companion to that ad. Here's the second bullet point from the Governor's letter:

• 33 percent reduction in school taxes: For example, in Harris County, the owner of an average-priced home will see a property tax reduction of more than $2,000 over the next three years.

Boy, that sounds great, doesn't it? I'd certainly like $2,000 back in my pocket. The problem is I'll never see this $2,000 because this claim is (and this is a technical term here) a lie from the pit of hell. Here's Rick Casey in the Houston Chronicle:

In Harris County, the average appraisal of a home is $140,578, says Guy Griscom, assistant chief appraiser for the Harris County Appraisal District. But the latest average sales price for the Houston area is $190,800.

The reason, explained Griscom, is that older houses at the low end of the price spectrum don't tend to sell. New homes, mostly priced between $200,000 and $250,000, make up a large portion of sales, he said.

"They're not building a lot of low-end housing," he said.

You can understand Gov. Perry's unfamiliarity with this notion. He doesn't get together much with people who live in the kind of houses that don't sell.

Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn said at a press conference the governor's numbers are nonsense. The average tax cut the first year will be just $52, or enough "to buy one more Coca-Cola out of a vending machine each week," she predicted at a press conference.

But Strayhorn is running against Perry for governor, so let's look at the figures of a non-candidate: Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt.

He's even more pessimistic.

Bettencourt projects an average savings of a miniscule $23 next year, less than $2 a month, or about the tax increase on two packs of cigarettes.

The next year, Bettencourt predicts an average savings of another $268.

To reach these figures, Bettencourt factors in two real-world factors that Perry does not.

The first is that this year's average appraisal is up nearly 7 percent, which will eat up part of the tax savings. He figures next year's average will rise another 7 percent.

Bettencourt also expects school districts to raise their tax rates 4 cents the first year. It is a reasonable expectation.

The new law not only allows districts to enact that raise, it encourages them to do so.

Under the law, that amount of raise is not covered by "Robin Hood." Property-rich school districts can raise their rates that much without sending money off to poorer districts.

And if poorer districts raise their rates that much, the state will match the raise with state funds.

Most boards will take advantage of this provision, especially since any hike above that will require approval by the voters.

Also, did you notice that the Governor tried to use a Harris County example? And did you notice how the Tax Collector for Harris County, Paul Bettencourt, shot down his argument? People outside of Harris County are beginning to notice.

Governor Perry, the people advising you are morons. Please exit your Austin bubble for a while and see what reality has to offer. One thing's for sure: reality does not have $2,000 waiting for me over the next three years.

The Largest Tax Increase in Texas History

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, our state legislature here in Texas was presented with an $8.2 billion surplus. For me and many others, this represents $8.2 billion of over-taxation. Our legislators didn't see it that way. Instead, in a fit of unadulterated, tax-and-spend liberalism, they decided to pass the largest tax increase in Texas history. Please understand that both houses of the legislature are (supposedly) controlled by the Republican Party in Texas. Furthermore, no small number of Republicans in both houses voted FOR the tax increase. Sadly, this past Wednesday, our (supposedly) Republican governor, Rick Perry, signed this bill into law instituting (just in case I didn't get through) the largest tax increase in Texas history. This is House Bill (HB) 1. Another bill, HB 3, instituted a new franchise tax in our state. It passed and was signed on May 19. (I'll have more later concerning the anticipated effects of these ridiculous pieces of legislature.)

How does this kind of thing happen? How do people, who were sent to Austin to represent their constituents in accordance with a common set of principles and a known party platform, veer so far from that known path? I visited the Republican Party of Texas web site, and found the most recent Republican Party platform. Here's item number four:

We believe that government spending is out of control and needs to be reduced. We support fundamental, immediate tax reform that is simple, fair, and fully disclosed. We commend President George W. Bush’s principled stand to reduce taxes and stimulate the economy.

What's so difficult to understand about that?

This weekend is the state Republican Party convention in San Antonio. To those of you attending, here are some requests. Can someone administer some discipline to our legislators, our Lieutenant Government (although, he may be beyond help), and our Governor? Can someone tell them that this is NOT the way Republicans are supposed to govern? Can someone show them our party platform? Most importantly, can someone please tell them that we will remember this?Tell them that we're the real elephants; we won't forget.

Today is Friday

Make it a RED FRIDAY.

Hurricane Season Starts Today!

Hurricane season starts today. Already, some organizations are predicting "an 80% chance of an above-normal hurricane season" with "4-6 major hurricanes." I'm not making this up. Check out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) lengthy discussion for yourself. There are others. Here are the 2006 tropical storm names.

So the question is this — are you ready?

Here are FEMA recommendations for your family and your property and businesss. Here is a link to the City of Houston Disaster Preparedness Guide. Here is a link to the Governor's Division of Emergency Management. These plans have been enhanced from last year's plans. (One can hope.) Speaking of enhancement, here are the State of Louisiana's plans and the City of New Orleans' plan, including an impressive (so as to avoid culpability) comprehensive plan.

Isn't it good to know that there are now plans in place for New Orleans and Louisiana? Of course, there were plans in place last year.

The story of buses has become the seminal tale of dereliction in New Orleans. Though the city owned hundreds of buses, it failed to use them to move its most vulnerable citizens — vulnerable either because of poverty or physical infirmity — out of the bowl-shaped city to safe higher ground. Initially it seemed as if the city that knew the levees protecting it would one day break just didn't have a plan to move so many people to safety. But it turns out that emergency-preparedness officials in New Orleans did have a plan, and they did think to use buses to evacuate the city before a major hurricane. They just decided not to fully implement it as Plan A. The plan was developed as a hurricane Georges lesson learned. This appeared in an article that appeared in November 2004 in the Natural Hazards Observer:

Residents who did not have personal transportation were unable to evacuate even if they wanted to. Approximately 120,000 residents (51,000 housing units x 2.4 persons/unit) do not have cars. A proposal made after the evacuation for Hurricane Georges to use public transit buses to assist in their evacuation out of the city was not implemented for Ivan. If Ivan had struck New Orleans directly it is estimated that 40-60,000 residents of the area would have perished.

So the question after dodging the Georges bullet seemed to be, "Do we figure out a way to use buses or do we allow 50,000 people to die for the crime of not having a car?" They chose Plan B.

Yes, as far back as 2004, New Orleans officials knew what to do. They just decided not to do it. Read the entire article on National Review Online to become even more disgusted.

So, as it turns out, the question is not "are you ready?" The question is, "will you follow your plan?"

Memoral Day

Today we remember those who have given their lives in service to our country. We would not have the freedoms that we enjoy and take for granted if it were not for their sacrifice.



Because of you, I'm free.

House Republicans - Stay Strong!!!

Yesterday, the Senate passed its Amnesty Bill. (Yes, I know, it's really called the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, but it has nothing to do with immigration.) Truly, it's an awful thing. And to list all of the reasons why it's an awful thing would take an awfully long time. But, at least, I can start.

Here are Senator Jim DeMint's "Top Ten Reasons to Oppose the Senate Amnesty Bill". Incredible stuff. He links to the article in the New York Times by Ed Meese that compares the 2006 Amnesty Bill to the 1986 Amnesty Bill.

Here are Senator Charles Grassley's "TOP 10 FLAWS WITH AMNESTY AND GUEST WORKER OF COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL". Senator Grassley voted for the 1986 Amnesty Bill. To quote Senator Grassley:

I was burned once in 1986 when I voted for amnesty believing that it would solve our problems. Now, we have a 12 million illegal immigrant problem. I'm not getting burned again.

Oh, did you hear? The bill contains a provision requiring Mexico to be consulted and giving them veto power concerning any new border wall construction. I am not joking.

But most of all, Jimmy Carter, our nation's worst president, likes it. Short of the hand of Almighty God ripping this bill to shreds, I can think of no better way to show its worthlessness.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

All of this and more, most of you probably know. But, for some reason, many of our Republican politicians — my beloved President Bush included — have decided to turn their deaf ear toward those of us who simply want our nation protected and our borders treated as . . . well, borders. After all, it is one of the specified duties of Congress listed in Article I Section 8 of our nation's constitution. It's not rocket science. Thankfully, there are Republicans in the House of Representatives who share the desire to see our southern border treated as a border once again and not as a sieve. Since the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed two different versions of what is supposed to be the same bill, a conference committee will be formed with the goal of producing a compromise bill that can be passed by both houses and forwarded to President Bush for his signature and enactment into law.

So, from my humble corner of the cyberuniverse, I wish to send the House Republicans a message:

Stay Strong!!!
Do NOT compromise!
Seal the border FIRST.

And if, because you are uncompromising, you are labeled as stubborn or racists or "nativists", don't worry. We know you are doing the right thing. We know you are doing the job we sent you to Washington, D.C. to do. Let the Liberals and the McCainiacs squeal all they need to. We need you to do the right thing.

A few days ago, I told you of my imaginary dinner with President Bush and the First Lady, and how my imagination wouldn't let me finish the dinner after my first question. Now I know why; I hate nightmares.

His Grace is Still Sufficient for Me

A month ago, I wrote about my little girl's onset of Juvenile Diabetes.

And our first month has been relatively easy. My daughter has taken to her new lifestyle quite handily. We have regulated her blood sugar readings from the too common 300s down to an average range of 100-150. She does her own blood tests when needed (four times a day) without crying and takes her shots very well with some discomfort occasionally. All in all, she seems to be a professional already.

Thank you so much for your prayers for her and for our family. Our first diabetic check-up is later today; I'll provide an update then.

UPDATE - My son's A1c blood test was 7.0 and my daughter's was 8.6. This is a wonderful number for my son. It's a high number for my daughter, but she was over 10 when she was admitted to the emergency room last month, so this is a good report and a good trend.

New Orleans: Stuck on Stupid

The citizens of New Orleans . . . well, that's not right. Let me try that again.

Some people who currently live in New Orleans and some people who claim to have formerly lived in New Orleans but who actually live in other towns (is this a great country or what?) voted yesterday in the New Orleans Mayoral run-off election. The result: New Orleans is "Stuck on Stupid."

A majority of New Orleanians chose . . . oh, I did it again. Sorry.

A majority of the voters in yesterday's election chose Ray "School Bus" Nagin to continue serving . . . good grief, you'd think I'd learn . . . occupying the office of Mayor of the City of New Orleans.

Now, to be honest, half of me really doesn't care what happens in New Orleans. If the people who voted really want the guy who will be remembered for this picture —

— to be mayor again, that's just peachy. And, they really didn't have much of a choice. It was either School Bus or Mitch Landrieu, Louisiana's current Lieutenant Governor, brother of current Louisiana Senator Mary "I'll punch him" Landrieu, and son of former New Orleans Mayor Moon Landrieu. As Rush Limbaugh so expertly put it last Friday, it's like asking who you'd like your daughter to go out on a date with, Teddy Kennedy or Bill Clinton.

But on the other hand, the people who voted in yesterday's election have given the rest of the nation four more years of irresponsibility, incompetence, and whining about a supposed lack of "chocolate." I'm not looking forward to it.

Leslie Cauley: the next Mary Mapes

Remember Mary Mapes? Yes, that >Mary Mapes who lives in some freaky, alternative universe where "fake but accurate" is grounds for producing a television news segment. Well, it seems that Leslie Cauley is trying desperately to take over Ms. Mapes' title as Miss Alternative Universe.

On May 11, USA Today published a story written by Ms. Cauley claiming that several telecommunications companies, BellSouth among them, have provided phone call record data to the National Security Agency. Well, in the rush to publish her story, it seems that Ms. Cauley might not have had all her facts straight. You see, BellSouth is calling for a retraction.

In a letter to the newspaper's publisher, Craig Moon, the company noted that the story said BellSouth is "working under contract with the NSA" to provide "phone call records of tens of millions of Americans" that have been incorporated into the database.

"No such proof was offered by your newspaper because no such contracts exist," stated the letter, portions of which were read by spokesman Jeff Battcher. "You have offered no proof that BellSouth provided massive calling data to the NSA as part of a warrantless program because it simply did not happen."

Oh, by the way, in her May 11 article, Ms. Cauley failed to mention that this story was first reported by the New York Times in December of 2005.

And she also failed to mention that the Communication Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) permits this type of government activity.

And she also failed to mention that CALEA was signed into law in 1994 by the excreable William Jefferson Blythe Clinton, a Democrat.

And she also failed to mention that she's a Democratic campaign donor.

And . . . I'm certain there's more she failed to mention. It just hasn't been discovered yet.

HUGE Hat Tip to NewsBusters - what a wonderful comfort to know that resourceful people like the folks at NewsBusters are watching the Drive-By Media and exposing their bias.

Book Review: Black Hawk Down

Finally, one of those book reviews I mentioned a few weeks ago.

I remember seeing the naked bodies of our soldiers being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu in 1993. I remember thinking how could some renegade tribal chief on the other side of the world do something like this?

I've just finished reading Black Hawk Down, a narrative history of the events around October 3, 1993 in Somalia, and I now understand much better how something like this could happen.

When our nation's military might is used to conquer bad guys, we commonly assume that the "people" of the bad guy's land want the bad guy conquered. This was not the case in Somalia. Our soldiers, Army Rangers and Delta force members, the vast majority under 24 years old, were faced with an enemy that looked like a mother holding an infant in one arm and a handgun in the other. What would you do? She's about to shoot you, and she's holding a baby.

Author Mark Bowden tells a gripping, fast-paced story. He writes this history as a narrative history, which is my favorite kind. It's not the ordinary, "Private Jones shot first. Private Smith shot next." Anyone could do that. In stead, Bowden takes his readers to the streets of Mogadishu. He tells us what life on the army base is like. Besides the targets they're shooting and the movements they make, Bowden gives us glimpses into the private lives of the Rangers being shot. He even gives us an idea of what some of the Somalis are thinking. A great and eye-opening read. Of course, you could watch the movie.

Next from Bowden is Guests of the Ayatollah, a telling of the Iranian hostage story. Can't wait.

Speech tonight: will he pull a rabbit from his hat?

Our President will address the nation this evening. Unfortunately, I will not be able to watch it, as I will be somewhere near the California-Nevada border at around 30,000 feet.

The professional bloggers have been gearing up for days, it seems. The intrepid Michelle Malkin has a link-fest of a posting on her site, all fantastic information. And, from her site, Allah has posted the "mother-of-all-Bush-speech-posts" on Michelle's companion site, Hot Air. Wow. These are the times that I feel inadequate having a blog. Still, I'll say something.

But first (just so you know my mindset), how do I feel, generally, about George W. Bush? Truthfully, he is the right man for the job. I mean, let's be serious. Can you even imagine where our nation would be today had Albert Gore, Jr. been in the Whitehouse when September 11, 2001 happened? What a nightmare. Similarly, can you imagine what kind of global predicament we'd be experiencing today if John Kerry, who served in Vietnam, had won the 2004 election? I believe the fact that GWB won both of these elections is a blessing from Almighty God. Moreover, the team he assembled — Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, Condeleza Rice, and so many others — were the right people for those jobs as well. They did their jobs expertly and continue to prosecute this war on terror.

I have quite an imagination, when I have time to employ it. One of the things I have imagined since my late 20's, was receiving a visit from the President of the United States. I've imagined this as sort of like winning a national lottery, if you will. Five or ten citizens are selected at random to receive the Present and the First Lady as guests in their home. I'm selected and fix a nice dinner (under the eyes of Secret Service personnel) for the first couple.

Now, if this had happened before 2001, I would have microwaved a couple of Lean Cuisine dinners, told the verminous, excreable William Jefferson Blythe Clinton what I thought of him, and sent him on his way. I would have said even less to her vileness, his wife, the swamp sow.

But if George and Laura Bush came to visit, well . . .

I would get out the fine china. I'd fix one of my best recipes. My wife would look stunning, as she can so easily do. My children would be squeaky clean and dressed like catalog-model children. The Bushes would enter. I might be overcome to tears at seeing them enter my house. We'd have some small talk, let them meet the kids, see our house. Then we'd all sit down to dinner. I would pray and thank God for our meal, for our President, for our nation, for the many blessings we have as Americans. We'd eat, and hopefully they'd like it. Then I'd ask my first question:

Mr. President, last night it is estimated that over 30,000 people illegally crossed the border from Mexico into the United States. Can you guarantee me that not one of those 30,000 people were carrying a suitcase nuclear weapon? And if you can't, what did you do today and what will you do tomorrow that will reduce that number from 30,000 down to 0 by tomorrow?

That's where my imagination stops, because I think I don't want to finish the scene.

I pray that, with his speech tonight, he will change this scene in my imagination from a nightmare into a hopeful dream.

Communism has been very, very good to Fidel

Have you seen or heard about this? Forbes magazine does a yearly listing of the richest people, actors, whatever. This year they did the same for world rulers.

Do you know who came in at number seven? Fidel Castro at $900 million. Yes, that Fidel, the same guy who runs a government ostensibly promoting common ownership of all property, where no one is richer than his or her neighbor, and everyone receives what he or she needs.

Ain't hypocracy grand?

"Los Rangers" on "Cinco de Mayo" are "Stupido"

All of us learn at different speeds on different levels and in different ways. Apparently the Texas Rangers baseball team is on a learning plane far removed from the rest of us. Michelle Malkin has the details. You've really got to see it to believe it.

Moussaoui Verdict: Wrong, Wrong, Wrong

For his involvement in the heinous acts of September 11, 2001, Zacharias Moussaoui has been blessed with life at a taxpayer cost of over $100,000 per year. This is incredibly distressing to me. It means that twelve Americans sat together for days, deliberated a verdict, answered an onerous verdict form, and couldn't arrive at the correct one.

"The correct one" you may ask? Indeed, the correct one. And here is a wonderful argument for its justification from Patrick Buchanan's Right from the Beginning:

A modern society that outlaws the death penalty does not send a message of reverence for life, but a message of moral confusion. When we outlaw the death penalty, we tell the murderer, the rapist, the cutthroat that, no matter what he may do to innocent people in our custody and care, women, children, old people, his most treasured possession, his life, is secure. We guarantee it — in advance. Just as a nation that declares that nothing will make it go to war finds itself at the mercy of warlike regimes, so a society that will not put the worst of its criminals to death will find itself at the mercy of criminals who have no qualms about putting innocent people to death.

How prescient Buchanan was then. And how awful the verdict is today.

Is it any wonder the terrorists do not fear us?

UPDATE: The always-eloquent Peggy Noonan weighs in on this subject.

The new May Day - do it all again tomorrow!!!

I want to echo a sentiment that I've heard all day long, even from those who comment on my blog.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Illegal Aliens,

Please do it all again tomorrow! Driving to work was easy. There was less traffic and far less fear of being hit by an uninsured motorist. I was able to get my clothes cleaned (thanks to a wonderful cleaners run by an Asian American family (who undoubtedly consider themselves Americans first!)). I took my kids out to eat—Italian.

And our country is still standing. So, please, do it all again tomorrow and on and on and on.

Sincerely,

Mr. Light Bulb

Things to do on the new May Day

Here are some things you might consider doing today:

• Eat out - Italian or Greek or Chinese or even American
  


• Watch "The Alamo"
  


• Read A Line in the Sand

What did you do on the new May Day?

It's the new May Day

During the Cold War, which was won by Ronald Reagan, the former Soviet Union, which now lies on the ash heap of history, needed to continually prove to the world that Communism and Socialism really worked. One of the ways it tried to accomplish this impossible task was to put its military strength on display from time to time for all the world to see—in a completely non-threatening, warm-fuzzy-inducing kind of way, of course. Much the same way a mugger might approach you and say:

Greetings, fellow citizen. I'd like to prove to you that thievery and violence are perfectly acceptable, functional, and sustainable ways of life. See my shiny new gun? It has the capability of blowing your brains out, should I choose to fire it at you. I see that you're impressed. Now would be the appropriate time to hand over all of your money.

The former Soviet Union did this each year on May 1st, or May Day. Across, over, and through Moscow Square, missiles and tanks would roll, planes would fly, and troops would parade past the sitting Soviet leader, as a show to the world that Communism and Socialism would one day be coming to an economy and government near you.

I wonder what sentiments we can infer from today's May Day activities here on our very own soil?

More as the day progresses...

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