A Man Of Need In Search Of Destiny

Rush Limbaugh Speaks At The Conservative Political Action Conference

Picture from http://aishamusic.wordpress.com/category/rush-limbaugh/

On February 28, 2009 Rush Limbaugh addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Rush spoke from his heart, not from a prepared speech laid out in front of him on a teleprompter.

The news media seems more interested in a misquote Rush made than in the body of his speech. When a liberal socialist misspeaks, they are forgiven; when a conservative misspeaks, they are made out to be ignorant oafs. But that is old news and a fact we live with.

You can find a complete transcript of Rush's speech at the following address:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_030209/content/01125106.guest.html

Why I Carry A Gun

Soap Box Ravings says, "Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you".

I was told by an old friend there comes a time in every man's life when he stops bustin' knuckles and starts bustin' caps and usually it's when he becomes too old to take an ass whoopin'."

I don't carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed.

I don't carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.

I don't carry a gun because I'm paranoid. I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.

I don't carry a gun because I'm evil. I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.

I don't carry a gun because I hate the government. I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.

I don't carry a gun because I'm angry. I carry a gun so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.

I don't carry a gun because I want to shoot someone. I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk somewhere, someday.

I don't carry a gun because I'm a cowboy. I carry a gun because, when I die and go to Heaven, I want to be a cowboy.

I don't carry a gun to make me feel like a man. I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.

I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate.

I don't carry a gun because I love it. I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.

"Police Protection" is an oxymoron, I believe free citizens must protect themselves.

Police do not protect you from crime; they usually just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.

And lastly, I carry a gun because I'm to young to die and to old to take another ass whoopin'.

US Military Equipment For Sale In Pakistani Open Air Markets

Humvees in care of contractors who were supposed to transport them to US troops in Afghanistan.

There is an interesting article on Military.com "US Gear Ending up in Pakistan Markets". You can find the entire article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/us-gear-ending-up-in-pakistan-markets.html?ESRC=eb.nl

Soap Box Ravings feels there are many ways US military equipment can get into the black markets of Afghanistan and Pakistan. In some cases it is sold by US troops for either drugs and/or money. The military makes every effort to combat this type of behavior but it seems to have continued on through the ages.

Another way equipment comes up missing is when troops are overrun or killed, their equipment is often removed by their attackers.

But Soap Box Ravings believes the most equipment disappears when contract personnel are used in place of US military personnel to transport and maintain control of US military equipment. One example would be the large number of vehicles destroyed in Pakistan recently while under the control of Pakistani watchman with no training and essentially no way to summon assistance when attacked. Now we were told those vehicles were destroyed, but what was removed from them prior to their destruction?

Over the years, government bean counters have placed contract workers throughout the entire military system, in all types of areas. They are not military people, they do not have the same background checks but they often have more access to vital equipment than the troops do.

Soap Box Ravings believes if we keep our equipment under US military control, less of it will be used against us.

Ponder This

A Thought On Taxes

Another One Bites It

Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D, CA)

It was reported today that Sam Sayyad, the husband of Congresswoman Solis, President Obama's choice to head the Labor Department, paid about $6,400 Wednesday to settle tax liens that had been outstanding for as long as 16 years.

President Obama's spokesman Robert Gibbs said he thought Solis' husband, Sam Sayyad, paid the liens because he owed the taxes, not because of White House pressure.
Los Angeles County records showed 15 outstanding state and county tax liens against Sayyad and his auto repair business, totaling $7,630. Two other liens worth $981 were released in 1999 after Sayyad repaid the taxes owed, according to county records.

White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said that Solis and Sayyad were unaware of the liens until USA TODAY asked about them Tuesday.

Previously, it is known that personal tax problems tripped up three of President Obama's nominees. On Tuesday Tom Daschle, Obama's choice head the Health and Human Services Department, and Nancy Killefer, nominated for chief performance officer withdrew their names because of their tax problems.

As Soap Box Ravings understands tax liens, which are a legal claim filed by the government against the property of a person or business to collect unpaid taxes or fees, they are not placed against a business or person in secret. Therefore, Soap Box Ravings does not accept the I did not know of these tax liens for up to 16 years.

Yes, change can be a good thing. The question is, When is it going to start?

Lost But Honest Souls Or Scum Sucking Dogs Who Fail To Pay Their Taxes

Timothy Geithner

Nancy Killefer

Tom Daschle

Soap Box Ravings is not making a call on the motivation of these folks with tax problems. Each of these people were hand selected by President Obama to serve on his team

Are they guilty as charged by the media, or just plan folks who failed to understand the US Tax Code? I really hold no proof either way.

It is interesting that two of them submitted a request to withdraw their nominations. While the other, who has been identified by some in the media as being briefed on his tax requirements by those paying him, went on to take the position offered him.

Soap Box Ravings would like to offer these folks as "Poster Children" for the need to simplify our present tax laws since they are totally out of control. If you ask three people a tax question, you get three different answers in many cases. The IRS employees do not all understand the rules and regulations they are empowered to enforce.

Geithner, Killefer, and Daschle positively exhibit the need for the "Fair Tax." If they can't figure their taxes given their professional work history, how can an ordinary person be expected to.



They alternative is that these folks actually thought they could spend their money better than the government could spend their money. Hell, we all know that; but if an ordinary person tries to do that the consequences are fairly severe.

If we can't change the tax system, then I recommend we have some escape blocks on the income tax forms which if checked means, If this form is wrong, I take the Geithner, Killefer, or Daschle defense and I should not be penalized by the IRS, even if I am wrong.

Dulles International Closes A Runway To Handle Private Jets Arriving For Obama's Coronation

Dulles International Airport has closed one runway to enable them to park up to 600 private jets expected to arrive as reported in Bloomberg for today's coronation of Barack Hussein Obama.

An Airports Authority spokesman is quoted in the article as saying,“That would set a record, topping the 300 the airport accommodated for President George W. Bush’s 2004 inaugural."

Soap Box Ravings is having a hard time believing those aircraft only flew in conservatives who wanted to congratulate Barack Hussein Obama. It will be interesting to see how much press this fact gets.

Some Thoughts Regarding Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger's Water Landing

US Airways Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III

US Airways Flight 1549

Soap Box Ravings has heard many people calling various talk shows who have a tendency to disregard the pilot's actions in landing his aircraft on the Hudson River. Their reasoning is since pilots "train" for emergencies; this wet landing is not such a big deal.

I can only assume these are the same kind of people who assume their personal protection is in the hands of the local on-duty police officer.

That pilot may have read a lot of aircraft technical manuals, he may have flown a lot of hours in a Link, or similar trainer, but to the best of my knowledge, no pilot lands "wheels up" in water with an actual aircraft regardless of the amount of training they are subject to.

That was most assuredly his first wet landing in a wheels up airliner full of passengers.

In Soap Box Ravings' opinion, the only people that have have landed their aircraft wheels up in the water and lived to talk about are referred to as survivors.

For those who think trained people standby for their protection think about this, both business and government have a tendency to reduce personnel training when money is tight such as it is now.

In addition to reduced or eliminated training, remember every training class has some people who are less skilled than others. In other words, an anchor man or woman. The word training can mean at lot less than you may think. Some organizations feel that providing a technical manual is training.

Also, let us not forget that trained skills are perishable; they need to be continually used or they are lost.

Insidious Global Warming, Coming To An Area Of Your Concern

Computer Keyboard

The TimesOnLine, Sunday reported the environmental impact of Google searches. The full story is available at: http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5489134.ece

Basically, Physicist Alex Wissner-Gross says research indicates two Google searches uses up as much energy as boiling the kettle for a cup of tea. The article estimates about 200m global Internet searches daily.

In their response, Google claims it is in the forefront of green computing.

Googles response to the article may be found at:
http://timesonline.typepad.com/technology/2009/01/googles-respons.html

Soap Box Ravings would like to point out everything has an impact on global warming. However, not everything spews black clouds into the air. Humans have to decide what is important to them, and not all humans will agree.

Perhaps in the future, government will decide everything we are allowed to possess and the type and the size of the family allowed to possess the allowed items.

Cars, TVs, computers, cattle, pets, size of residence, the list goes on of items that effect global warming. Just remember, when they get to your area of concern it may be to late to object. After all, everyone else has already given up their items of concern before you.

600 Year Old Brewery To Be Shutdown

Stag Brewery, London, UK

It's reported that Anheuser-Busch InBev, will be shutting down the historic 600-year-old Stag Brewery in London, UK. The reason, a weak economy and increased beer taxes.

Soap Box Ravings says this historic brewery is being closed by Anheuser-Busch InBev, a recent combination of the European company InBev and the US company Anheuser-Busch which merged in 2008 to become the world's largest beer brewer.

Anheuser-Busch owned the Stag Brewery and to save money, they will close down the 600 years of tradition it this brewery represents.

Restructuring operations is a companies response to low profit and high taxes, a response that those running our government may want to consider.

The reason the Stag Brewery will be shut down is of little comfort to those who have made their careers brewing beer there.

It should also sadly be noted that the Sea World and Busch Gardens parks, owned by Anheuser-Busch, will also discontinue their free beer tasting areas.

When Will We Know We Have Been Raped

Judge to prostitute, 'So when did you realize you were raped?'

Prostitute, wiping away tears: 'When the check bounced.'

Did You Ever Expect Anything Else?

Democrats Closer to Embracing Burris

The complete fairy tale as reported on AOL may be found at: http://news.aol.com/article/democrats-closer-to-embracing-burris/294426

Conservative Rush Limbaugh's comments may be found at: http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/limbaugh_reid_maddox/2009/01/06/168454.html?s=sp&promo_code=7721-1

The basic AOL story is that Roland Burris will soon be sitting in the Senate as the junior Senator representing Illinois. In the above picture, Democratic Senators Harry Reid and Dick Durbin are all smiles as they refuse to allow Roland Burris in the Senate after he was selected by Illinois Governor Blagojevich to fill the term vacated by President-elect Barack Hussein Obama.

Illinois Governor Blagojevich has been charged by the federal government with trying to sell Senator Obama's vacated, and barely used, Senate seat. Following which, the Democrats had loudly trumpeted that anyone appointed by Governor Blagojevich would not be seated in the Democrat controlled Senate.

Soap Box Ravings notes again that a Democrat and his or her principles are easily separated. You really have to wonder just what it takes to embarrass a politician, regardless of their party.

Guns

Guns have only two enemies, rust and politicians.

Bailed Out Banks Execs Get 1.6 Billion And Keep Their Corporate Jets

Bailed out bank execs get bonuses at:
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/bailed-out-banks-execs-got-16-billion/283923

Bank execs keep corporate jets at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081221/ap_on_bi_ge/meltdown_corporate_jets


Soap Box Ravings sees two major points that relate to these stories. The first point would be, were did the three major automakers go wrong since they seem to be straddled with all kinds of restrictions tied to any money they expect to receive and secondly the professional jealousy of the Washington politician as the bankers either hoard or use for executive bonuses the money they received for bailout.

Either way, the American taxpayer finds themselves firmly in the BOHICA position.

While Soap Box Ravings feels the bailouts were improper and will cause many more problems over a longer time, he also feels similar rules should have been applied to banks as were applied to the three major auto makers.

The bailout to me is the same as life support for a brain dead individual. It only holds off the funeral. And while that may be good to allow relatives to gather and to prepare for any possible transplant of organs, Soap Box Ravings does not believe there will be any preparation for the future by our politicians when the patient finally expires. The agony will have just lasted for a longer length of time and the financial costs will be much much greater.

By The Time He Signed It, I Bet He Meant It

Iraqi TV reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi

Iraqi PM's office says shoe-thrower apologizes

Story at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081218/ts_nm/us_iraq_bush_shoes
Th on-line article say that TV reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi who became famous for throwing his shoes at President George W. Bush apologized to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for embarrassing him before the watching world. The apology was in a written letter of contrition.

Zaidi's family said he suffered injuries in the take-down after throwing his shoes at President Bush. His whereabouts were not known for four days and he is believed to be held in the Green Zone in Baghdad.

Soap Box Ravings would like to see pictures of Zaidi, before the incident, immediately after the incident and after signing the letter of contrition.

Soap Box Ravings can't help but feel the penalties for embarrassing the Iraqi President exceed those of embarrassing the President of the United States. In fact, he doubts there is a crime of "Embarrassing the President" in our country. If there was, many politicians and movie stars would be sitting in a stockade somewhere.

Soap Box Ravings feels that President Bush should meet with Zaidi and issue him a pardon and perhaps bring Zaidi into the fold, so to speak. If nothing else, it might demonstrate beating prisoners for "Embarrassing the President" is not accepted.

Our Friends Pitch In To Cover Their Own Asses

Typical Off Shore Oil Rig

Headline: OPEC Cuts Production 4% to Prop Up Prices
Full story at: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/20/business/worldbusiness/20opec.html

Headline: OPEC cuts record 2.2. million barrels a day
Full story at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081217/ap_on_bi_ge/af_opec_meeting/print

Soap Box Ravings says stand by. The politicians who voted to increase drilling off shore now that they have cemented their position wish to relook at drilling off-shore.

As you can see by the two bylines above, the Saudis and other oil producing countries are being affected by the economy. Since they are not selling as much oil they need to reduce production to keep their profit margins up after. They have a standard of living to maintain.

We are not buying as much oil because our economy is bad. As the prices stay high, we will be able to buy less fuel for our vehicles or to heat our homes.

This is why we need to be drilling for our own oil, so we do not have to remain under the thumb of those we now purchase our energy from.

At the same time we need to identify other useful and cheap means of generating the power we need to run our economy. We need to build nuclear reactors, some clean coal burning plants, drill for our own oil and build new oil refineries. We do not need corn derived alcohol nor do we need miles and miles of windmills.

Soap Box Ravings believes there are intelligent ways to increase our energy without destroying our lifestyle.

If I Only Had Better People Working For Me

SEC Chairman Christopher Cox

SEC Chairman Christopher Cox says SEC failed to probe Madoff
Full story at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081217/ap_on_bi_ge/madoff_scandal/print

Soap Box Ravings wonders if the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) is capable of examining themselves. While Chairman Cox was not in charge of the SEC ten years ago many other present agency members have been in it's employ during this entire period.

Soap Box Ravings notes that while many think Chairman Cox is an honorable man, he may be in the same position as a naval commanding officer who unknowingly takes over a naval ship with a misguided and motley crew. Three years later when the ship hits a reef while under the skippers command, his career is finished. After three years at the helm, Chairman Cox should have had a better handle on his command.

Soap Box Ravings believes that Chairman Cox should resign so that a new chairman can be appointed to clean out the SEC in a proper fashion. Criminal proceedings may be required regarding those who were derelict in their duties.

The SEC should not be in charge of their own housecleaning.

A Scary Story, The Red State Army

Danielle Allen, holds two doctorates -- one in government and political theory from Harvard University and the other in classics from King's College, University of Cambridge. She is the UPS Foundation Professor of social science at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J.

In her article titled Red-State Army? printed in the Washington Post on Monday, December 15, 2008 Dr. Allen identifies some interesting happenings with our military such as, Why do red states have much higher military membership rates than blue states?

While the population of the United States has grown by about 50 percent since 1970, the number of active-duty armed forces has fallen approximately 50 percent. Now, a smaller percentage of citizens now serve in the military. In 1969 13 percent of Americans were veterans, in 2007 only 8 percent of Americans are.

More importantly, when the draft was in effect military service was distributed pretty evenly across regions. Today, that is no longer true. Residential patterns for current veterans and the patterns of state-level contributions of new recruits to the all-volunteer military have a distinct geographic tilt. And the map of those in military service since 1973 aligns closely with electoral maps distinguishing red from blue states.

Dr. Allen wonders about the effects to our society if the members of our military only come from certain states, red, and not others, blue, over time.

The full story can be found at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/14/AR2008121401815.html

Soap Box Ravings says when the draft was in effect, everyone had a chance to serve, like it or not; good or bad. The problem with an all volunteer military is eventually you end up with a warrior class and move away from the citizen soldier.

We have politicians, like John Kerry, who believe only the uneducated go into the military. He is wrong. With the equipment in use today you have to be fairly well educated as well as motivated to exist in today's military.

As it gets harder to exist it seems many more people are waiting for the government to take care of them. The politicians seem to want more and more people relying on the government. At the same time the politicians expect those who do not rely on the government to pay a greater share to support those on the dole.

Eventually, Soap Box Ravings says the warrior class will have enough and they will no longer obey the politicians. The country may end up divided as in a civil war or the military may overthrow the government and run the country themselves.

The advantage of the draft is it brings citizens into the military who at first glance may have never joined. But citizens moving through the military at all levels keeps the military from becoming a warrior class, it helps them remain as just warriors.

Soap Box Ravings feels we should have major concerns if our military is not drawn proportionally across our entire country.