For Those Of My Friends Who Feel Their President Has Let Them Down For One Or More Reasons

President Barack Obama, the sign says he is open for questions.

Soap Box Ravings would like to point out the following website for those Obama voters suffering a change of heart:

http://www.iamsorryivotedforobama.com/

The Stuff Of Legends

Soap Box Ravings presents this as a legend. Legend is defined as a non historical or unverifiable story handed down by tradition from earlier times and popularly accepted as historical. Many folks accept this as a fact, however, I am not able to verify the story hence the legend moniker.

A Letter From Granpa

No, I did not write this. It came to me from the Internet. If I knew who wrote it, I would be proud to give him or her full credit. I have found various renditions of this on the Internet but nothing giving the identity of the author.
Soap Box Ravings



John is 63 years old and owns his own business. He is a life-long Republican and sees his dream of retiring next year is now all but gone. With the stock market crashing and all the new taxes coming his way, John knows he will be working for many more years.

John has a Granddaughter, Ashley, a recent college graduate. Ashley drives a late model car, wears all the latest fashions, and also likes going out and
eating out a lot.

Ashley campaigned hard for Mr. Obama, and after he won the election she made sure
her Grandfather (and all other Republican family members) received more than an earful on how the world is going to be a much better place now that Obama won
the election.

Ashley recently found herself short of cash and cannot pay her bills, again. As she has done many other times in the past, she e-mailed her Grandfather asking for
some financial help.

Here is his reply:

Sweetheart,

I am replying to your request for more money.

Ashley, you know I love you dearly and am sympathetic to your financial plight. Unfortunately, times have changed. With the election of President Obama, your Grandmother and I have had to set forth a bold new economic plan of our own....the 'Ashley Economic Plan'.

Let me explain. Your grandmother and I are highly productive, wage-earning tax payers. We have lived a comfortable life and in return have forgone many things like fancy vacations, luxury cars, etc.

We have worked hard and were looking forward to retiring soon. But our plan has changed. Your president is significantly raising our personal and business taxes. He says it is so he can give our hard earned money to other people.

Do you know what this means, Ashley?

It means less income for us. Less income means we must cut back on many business and personal expenditures. Do you remember my Secretary, Mary? She always gave you candy when you visited my office. Did you know she worked for us for the past 18 years? I can't afford her anymore. That is a taste of the business side.

Some personal economic affects of Obama's new taxation policies include none other than you. You know very well that over the years we have given you cash, tuition assistance, food, housing, clothing, gifts, etc., etc.

By your vote, you have chosen another family over ours for help.

Judging from your Email requesting more money, I recommend you call 202-456-1111. That is the direct telephone number for the White House.

You, yourself, repeatedly told me I was foolish to vote Republican. You said Mr. Obama is going to be the people's president and is going to help every American live a better life. Based upon everything you have told me and things we heard from him as he campaigned, I am sure Mr. Obama will be happy to send you a check or transfer money into your checking account.

Have him call me for the transaction and account numbers, which by now I know by heart.

Perhaps you now can understand what I have been saying for all my life: those who vote for the president should consider what the impact of an election will be on the nation as a whole, and not just be concerned with what they can get for themselves (welfare, etc.).

What Obama voters don't seem to realize is all of the "government's" money that he he is “redistributing” to illegal aliens and non-taxpaying Americans (deemed "less fortunate") comes from tax money collected from income tax-paying families.

Remember how you told me, "Only the richest of the rich will be affected"? Well, guess what, honey? Because of our business, your Grandmother and I are now considered to be the richest of the rich.

On paper, it might look that way. But in the real world, we are far from it. But, as you said while campaigning for Mr. Obama, some people will have to carry more of the burden so all of America can prosper.

You understand what that means, right? It means that raising taxes on productive people results in them having less money. Less money for everything, including granddaughters!

Congratulations on your choice for "change". For future reference, I encourage you to attempt to add up the total value of the gifts and money you've received from us over the years, and compare it to what you expect to receive over the next four years from President Obama.

Remember, we love you dearly... but from now on you'll need to call The White House number 202-456-1111 when you need help..

Good luck, Sweetheart.

Love,

Grandpa

What Do You See In This Picture

President Barack Obama, Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sergeant James Crowley walk from the Oval Office to the Rose Garden of the White House, July 30, 2009. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Soap Box Ravings is amazed at this picture Of President Barack Obama and his personal friend Professor Henry Louise Gates of Harvard on their way to have a beer with accused racist Sergeant Crowley of the Cambridge Police Department.

As a retired airport police officer, Soap Box Ravings would guess that this is not the first person with a cane Sergeant Crowley has ever helped down a flight of stairs.

On the other hand, the President appears to have no concern for his own friend as he seems to be out in front with a somewhat detached air about him.

As I cop, I learned to watch people's body language for clues to what they may do or say; my safety depended on it sometimes. The body language in this offical government photo released by the White House says volumes.

It Is Better To Keep Your Mouth Shut And Look Stupid Than To Open Your Mouth And Demonstrate Your Stupidity

Obama said that while “I don’t know all the facts” of the arrest or the role race played in it, the case highlighted “a long history in this country of African- Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately.” He also added: “That’s just a fact.”

ABC News

Soap Box Ravings invites you to look at the picture of the much abused Mr. Gates as he exits his house under arrest. I can see that his mouth is open, wide open. I doubt he is engaged in polite discourse. On the right is a police officer who looks exactly like someone trying to calm Mr. Gates down. On his left is an officer who is guiding Mr Gates by touch. Mr Gates is not subject to any type of hold causing him to comply. In short, a minimum amount of force is in use in this picture.In front of Mr. Gates is a police sergeant who looks like he is very tired of listening to Mr. Gates.

Now lets look at the facts:

A neighbor reports a possible burglary in progress on a house that has been previously burglarized.

A police sergeant comes to the house to ascertain if it is a burglary. At this point the officer probably does not know who owns the house, or who is allowed inside the house.

The police reports indicate that Mr. Gates goes hostile when questioned by the responding police sergeant, a white police officer..

The police sergeant, for the safety of Mr. Gates' and himself, is trying to determine if Mr. Gates is the homeowner and if so could there be unknown people in the house. I believe the reporting neighbor reported two black males breaking into the house. Also it is not unknown for a person present illegally to lie and claim to be the homeowner, such as a black man who could have stole Mr Gates' wallet. Plus there is also the question of where is the second man reported by the neighbor.

Mr Gates refused to talk about the situation politely but then it appears he tried to change a situation of his making, into a situation of racial harassment. Mr. Gates attempted to take control of the officer and his investigation. If the officer left without making positive identification and the officer had been fooled by a burglar, the real homeowner, Mr Gates would have really been incensed.

Lets look at some possible reasons for Mr Gates behavior:

He could be upset because the officer does not recognize him as an important person, or perhaps he is embarrassed because he had to break down his own door after not be able to open his door with the key and now a neighbor, the police radio and a white cop all know what he did.

Check here for some more thoughts on this issue:
http://pandagon.net/index.php/site/comments/why_class_does_matter_in_the_gates_arrest_debate/

In Soap Box Ravings opinion, Mr gates is acting as an "elite or moneyed" person trying to place the situational blame elsewhere and in particular on someone, the officer, who Mr. Gates sees as less than his equal.

Obama also continued with "But I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry."

Soap Box Ravings wonders why any homeowner would be pretty angry that a police officer showed up with regard to a "Burglary in Progress" call in the homeowners own residence that had suffered a previous burglary. He also wonders why a homeowner would claim harassment for being a Black man in America when the officer, who is there to specifically present to protect the homeowner.

In Soap Bax Ravings opinion, Obama acted like a black community organizer from Chicago, not the President of the United States. Soap Box Ravings feels that Obama acted in accordance with the teachings of Reverend Wright. The same Pastor he claimed never to have listened to for 20 years while he attended the Reverend Wright's church. Obama has certainly done his level best in this instance to set back police, community relationships in this country. But I guess this just adds to the growing chaos laid on this country by his administration. After all his administration said ‘no crisis should be allowed to go to waste’and I suppose that means even if he caused the crisis.

As a elitist, Obama finds it impossible to publicly apologize to the officers and department involved for his behavior, yet many continue to believe it is not all about him. Shame on him.

Obama also took another shot at police professionalism in his interview by reflecting that he'd hope the police were called if he were seen breaking into his own house. He then paused and said "I guess this is my house now," remarking of the White House. "Here I’d get shot."

In Soap Box Ravings opinion, the Secret Service which protects the President of the United States deals with erratic civilian behavior on a daily basis and as far as I know they shoot very, very, few of them. I think Obama has done a disservice to the organization sworn to protect him with his "open mouth , sink ships" comment.


Sunday, July 26, 2009 (Addition)
Gates Says Time to 'Move On' From Arrest
http://news.aol.com/article/henry-gates-says-move-on/579147

In this article from www.politicsdaily.com Gates promised to do all he could so others could learn from his arrest. "This could and should be a profound teaching moment in the history of race relations in America," Gates said. "I sincerely hope that the Cambridge police department will choose to work with me toward that goal."

Soap Box Ravings says that if you are present in your home after jimmying the door to gain access, commonly known as breaking and entering, and a police officer shows up responding to a "burglary in progress" call acting like an idiot may get you arrested regardless of your skin color or perceived social status.

Soap Box Ravings also says that since the elite Gates was involved, obviously it would have to be a "profound" teaching moment. Most likely, all of professor Gates teachings are "profound" since he is a Harvard professor (i.e., a person who professes to be an expert in some art or science).

In Soap Box Ravings' opinion, Gates agreed to have a beer with Obama and Crowley in order that he, Gates, and Obama can square that white boy away. It definitely would not be to resolve any perceived problem as neither Gates nor Obama have really expressed any remorse for their actions. In fact many think, Obama threw down his comments to distract and take the heat off of his health care plan.


Since 1991, Gates has been teaching African American studies at Harvard, where he serves as the director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. De Bois, an American civil rights activist, sociologist, historian and author, was an avowed communist and socialist sympathizer.

See: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=105028 for more information regarding Mr Gates, his elitist beliefs and friends as well as his time at Harvard.

See: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=104935 for more information on Obama's Cambridge history and also comments by activist Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, founder of BOND Action, Inc. and entertainer Bill Cosby.

And Now It's The Social Security Administration Following The Lead Of Their Boss.

May 31, 2009The President and spouse leave the "Marine One" Helicopter en route to their aircraft to fly to NY City for a date night.

At the entrance of the aircraft carrying the President and his spouse to New York City is most likely a secret service agent. The majority of the agents accompanying the President will not fly on the Presidential aircraft. They and the required vehicles will be flown to New York by another aircraft. At least, they are not using the normal "Air Force One."

A copy of their itinerary. One also has to wonder what the expenses were for the City of New York who is required to backup all of the President's security.


The White House refused to say how much the trip cost taxpayers.


June 08, 2009Michelle One
When President Obama flew back to the United States on Air Force One after his Paris visit. His wife, two daughters and her mother did a bit of shopping in Paris before taking their own Boeing 757 (C-32) over to London to do some sight seeing. Do you know how big a Boeing 757 (C32) is?

The motorcade prepares to move Michelle Obama, her children and her mother through London. Do any of you wonder what this sightseeing trip cost the United States or The United Kingdom.


We all remember Obama's admonishment to corporate CEO's in February 2009:

"You can't get corporate jets, you can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers dime."

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceoY1h5SYkQ)


Apparently that doesn't apply to either him or his wife.


AND NOW WE HAVE THIS FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PRESIDENT BARACK H. OBAMA:

July 9, 2009

Social Security Admin trains hundreds at Arizona Biltmore

Kay B. Day

The U.S. Social Security Administration is dubbed one of the best agencies to work for, and judging by a training conference, I can see why. Fox News scooped the training conference held at the Arizona Biltmore, a facility claiming to be "known throughout the world as the 'Jewel of the Desert.'"Every room has a well-stocked mini-bar and for the weight conscious, a scale. The SSA, Fox said, flew 700 managers to the resort for a conference with skits, a dance troupe, Casino Night and door prizes.

If you're recalling President Barack Obama's fit about private companies doing the wine- and-dine in exotic locations after taking taxpayer bailout money, you're not alone. The federal government spends taxpayer money with no shame, no integrity and no accountability.

The Fox reporter asked a SSA spokesman, "With withering criticism over the misuse of taxpayer dollars, many people will look at this and go, 'Wait, same thing.'"

The spokesman replied, "There's a clear distinction between the two. They received specific bailout dollars. We didn't. We're not using any recovery money. There's no ARA money involved in this."

That sort of brain-dead reasoning prevails in Washington. Bureaucrats think if the bucks don't come from one pot, it's fine if they come from another. There's a complete lack of consciousness regarding safeguarding taxpayer dollars.

Every taxpayer in the nation should send the SSA a bill for any federal funds used on this excursion .

With billions of tax dollars wasted on overpayment's, the SSA should be sending employees to stay in a wilderness camp. The only reason they won't: those people wouldn't survive the challenge.

The entire department management should be fired, and so should the agency heads. Once again, the federal government proves its ineptitude as we, the taxpayer, face a government composed of looters.

Soap Box Ravings would like to point out that all the money the government spends comes from taxes on it's citizens. The only other way to get money is to print it willy-nilly and that will cause inflation. Wait, that's what we are doing now under the Messiah's Divine Guidance.

There are a lot of changes being made, none of which Soap Box Ravings sees as relating to increased honesty and integrity of government.

Soap Box Ravings wonders: Can you feel the change?

American Superhero Decides It Is Easier To Fight Corruption In Africa

The Associated Press reported today: "Obama Tells Africa to End Corruption"

Full story at: http://news.aol.com/article/obamas-visit-ghana/565798

Soap Box Ravings interpretation of this would be that it is much easier to tell people you don't know to clean up their f&^%&^g sh*t than to tell your political associates, your financial backers and your supporters to clean up their f%*^%^g sh*t.

But the media shows him "looking good" as he strolls around with his jacket off waving to the crowd and I guess that's what really matters.

Are There Cracks In The Armor, Or Are The Weak Showing Signs Of Panic?

May 2009, Warren Buffett warns "Inflation on the horizon"


July 2009, Colin Powell Warns Obama: “And We Can’t Pay for it All”

Soap Box Ravings says these are not the words of your average rabid talk show hosts. Conservative talk show hosts have been saying these things in one form or another since Obama set out to run for President. These are high ranking people who supported Obama and helped him reach the presidency.

Powell claims to be a Republican but his actions speak louder than his words and right now he seems to be excited because Obama is ordering up things he can't pay for. There may be a Conservative ideal in his head and I know he had many years of equal opportunity training while in the US Army, but he allowed color to rule.

As a retired navy E-9, I can't help but think some of my army peers failed Colin Powell as a junior officer during his formative years when he was supposed to learn army ethics and values.

Soap Box Ravings can't wait to see who is the next one to start muttering.

Attention Pennsylvania Hunters, Can you Identify This Photo

The Pennsylvania State Police are interested in identifying the location of this Polaroid photo which is believed be related to the whereabouts of two children who went missing 30 years ago.



Karen and Michael Reinert vanished from Ardmore, Pennsylvania in June 1979. Their mother, Susan Reinert, was found murdered but police have never learned of their fate.

Trooper Brian Krause of the Pennsylvania State Police asks anyone who can identify the location of the mystery photo or anyone who may have information about what happened to Karen and Michael Reinert to call 717-671-7537.

Some Random Thoughts

Taken from The American Rifleman July 2009 column " standing guard" by Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President National Rifle Association.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell

Quoted from Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell on the possession of a firearm on the side of good:

"It's nuts for ordinary citizens to go out and buy assault weapons. Assault weapons are difficult to operate, they jam easily. If you want a gun to protect your home, it's the last thing you should have... If you have an assault weapon to protect your house, you're crazy...they're not very effective."

In the hands of criminals, (those who do evil) Rendell said:

"Assault weapons have only one purpose...They fire at short range; they put out a ton of fire at one time; and they are very powerful...There is no purpose for these guns but to kill or maim."

As Soap Box Ravings understands Governor Rendells statements, assault weapons are not suitable for defense but they are suitable for offense.

According to the article, all of Rendell's double talk was said virtually in the same breath.

Soap Box ravings memory recalls the communist militaries and those they supported used the AK-47 assault weapon which Rendell says is difficult to operate. They used this weapon family because any peasant whether they be Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Nigerian, Iranian, Iraqi, Afghani, or whatever could be trained in their use. This weapon family functioned with very little factory maintenance in countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Vietnam, North Korea, and anywhere else around the world while being used by these same peasants.

I doubt my military peers with an extensive small arms background would agree with the Governor of Pennsylvania's above statements regarding "assault" weapons.

Side Note: The term doublespeak was coined in the early 1950s. It is often incorrectly attributed to George Orwell and his 1949 dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. The term does not appear in that novel, although Orwell did coin newspeak, oldspeak, and doublethink, and his novel made fashionable composite nouns with speak as the second element, which were previously unknown in English. Doublespeak may be considered, in Orwell's lexicography, as the vocabulary of Newspeak, words "deliberately constructed for political purposes: words, that is to say, which not only had in every case a political implication, but were intended to impose a desirable mental attitude upon the person using them." The term double talk (with a similar meaning) dates back to at least 1936. [1]

Soap Box Ravings believes the Governor's lack of knowledge on his subject matter shines like a headlight in a dark tunnel.

Fully automatic assault weapons (those that put out a "ton" of fire) are regulated by the U.S. Government; their rate of fire is also affected by the size of the individual firearm's magazine. Semiautomatic firearms mislabeled as assault weapons fire one round with each squeeze of the trigger. Their rate of fire is also affected by the size of the magazine. There is essentially no difference in rate of fire among semiautomatic firearms whether they have been wrongly identified as "assault weapons" or are described as hunting rifles. Each semiautomatic rifle, pistol, or shotgun will essentially fire as fast as the trigger can be pulled regardless of caliber or gauge until the magazine is empty.

The labeling of firearms as "assault weapons" is basically to vilify the firearm so those who do not support Second Amendment Rights can restrict firearm use to whatever they think you should possess until you are left with very little or nothing as citizens now are in many other English speaking countries..

As you decide how you should defend your family, remember: The police are only minutes away. That of course disregards such things as: budget cuts, blue flu, vacation and training days, etc. Ask yourself how many people live in your area and how many officers work in your area? How many work all night long? How is it working for you at this point.

Planning for self preservation before an incident allows many people to survive the first incident. Failure to plan relies on luck alone.

The Teleprompter Speaks

From http://2conservativewomen.blogspot.com/2009

"For too long we've seen taxes used as a wedge to scare people into supporting policies that actually increase the burden on working people instead of helping them live their dreams. That has to change, and that's the work that we've begun. We've passed tax cuts that will help our economy grow. We've made a clear promise that families that earn less than $250,000 a year will not see their taxes increase by a single dime. We're giving tax relief to the Americans who need it and the workers who have earned it. So, on this April 15th, we're reminded of the enormous responsibility that comes with handling people's tax dollars and we're renewing our commitment to a simpler tax code that rewards work and the pursuit of the American dream." --The ObamaPrompter via The Patriot Post, 17 April 2009

In the opinion of Soap Box Ravings this is about as close to truth as the promises made by all concerned last year when our governmental representatives, as well as those running for office, were running scared from the "drill here, drill now crowd." When I see this country building new oil refineries and opening up oil fields off our coasts for the drilling of oil, perhaps then I may believe when the teleprompter speaks. Until then, as I see it, what POTUS says and what he does are never the same. The recent tobacco taxes applied to smokers with an income below $250,000 annually and so will the increased costs of his Cap and Trade program. Remember, if the federal government took all the monies taxpayers made over over $250,000 annually they could not cover what is being spent.

Thoughts For RNC Chairman Michael Steele

The other day, I got a survey from the Republican Party. While filling it out, I started to think about the paper I was holding in my hands. The Title was "2009 State of the Republican Party." The longer I held it, the more I thought about the survey.

In a previous life as a senior petty officer, I wrote, disseminated and tracked surveys for the Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Institute (DEOMI). I do not consider myself as an expert survey person but something about this "survey" was bugging me.

I have had previous surveys from the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the all seemed to be somewhat off for lack of a better term. But, after some thought I figured out what was bothering me. The "survey" is nothing but a vehicle to raise money for the RNC.

And in my opinion, this survey indicates a major problem with Republican Party leadership.

A few days ago I exchanged e-mails from a friend who was recently elected to Congress. He pointed out the problem he and other Republicans have in raising money while their Democrat opponents have plenty of money.

Thinking about this, after reading the survey, my conclusion is Democrats work to ensure their supporters want to donate their money. I think they do this by letting their supporters feel like they have inputs into the party. But once the supporters are on line (so to speak) they volunteer their money.

The Republican Party has sent me emails and letters that basically and consistently say that my money is urgently needed to save the world from whatever "demon" Democrat is running for office or some idea some Democrat in office has put forth.

At the same time, the Republicans seem to have abandoned what I consider are unchanging principles such as:

Family Values: Family values are important, but Republican family values now are basically regarding abortion. Abortion is a smokescreen and is basically legislation of moral values. If the Republicans actually worked on family values, abortions could be a very minor problem.

International Trade: Everything comes from Red China and they don't like us yet we do not share enough business with our South and Central American Allies. More money spent there would work to reduce our illegal border crossings.

Elimination of plans that do not work. During 45 years of military and law enforcement, I never used marijuana. However, the war on drugs costs billions and mexico is about to have anarchy. Legalizing marijuana means more money is available to use on useful projects.

The "War on Poverty" named that by President Johnson but which had it's roots under President F. D. Roosevelt has only produced a large class of people who are designated "poor" but drive nice cars and own plasma TVs. Many of them also look down on persons in their neighborhood who try to better themselves.

The Bill of Rights, government schools have so much crap they are responsible for they don't spend a lot of time teaching such important theories such as freedom and the bill of rights.

Breakfasts for underprivileged children probably spend more to ensure the wrong kid doesn't get a meal than if the school cafeterias provided a free breakfast to every child. The program basically provides lots of jobs to administrators..kind of like the Bureau of Indian affairs. I am sure it could be handled with a giant computer sending checks to the schools and eliminating all bureaucrats except for a finance officer and the computer operator


The survey got basically hit a few panic button and scare type questions designed to separate a little old lady or old man from some of their cash.

However, I say if the RNC really wants to restore the Party then I suggest they get some various groups together to identify some survey questions that will provide the ideas they can use to breath life into the Republican Party. Ideas that will get people excited enough to want to donate, not people that donate because they were scared.

These groups need to be made up of, but not limited to, such thinkers as: Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, Neal Boortz, Walter Williams, Herman Cain, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Alan Keyes, and perhaps even Dick Morris. The purpose of the group is not to write the survey or the party platform, their purpose is to brainstorm ideas. You can use multiple groups since not all of those folks get along. Again the object, as much as possible, is to get ideas regarding real concerns that would cause Republicans to re-energize.

To do nothing means you will continue to send out scare type money requests posing as surveys and the party will go nowhere.

Ask The Experts..........

Of the dictators shown above, only Qadaffi and Kim Jong-il still remain in power. But there have also been other recent dictators:

Such as Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri Castelli (July 15, 1926 - January 12, 2003) was an Argentine general and President of Argentina from 22 December 1981 to 18 June 1982, during the last military dictatorship. The death squad Intelligence Battalion 601 directly reported to him. He lost power soon after the British retook the Falklands Islands whose invasion by Argentine forces he had ordered.


Or, Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte (November 25, 1915 – December 10, 2006) was a Chilean army general and dictator. He was the Commander in Chief of the Chilean army from 1973 to 1998, President of the Government Junta of Chile from 1973 to 1974 and President of Chile from 1974 until the return of democratic rule in 1990. From the beginning, Pinochet's the military government implemented harsh measures against their political opponents, which included but was not limited to systematic suspensions of civil liberties and violations of human rights. The Rettig Report concluded that 2,279 persons who disappeared during the military government were killed for political reasons, and approximately 30,000 tortured according to the later Valech Report, while several thousand were exiled.

And lets not forget Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti, April 28, 1937 – December 30, 2006, was the President of Iraq from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. He was responsible for thousands of his countrymen being tortured or murdered by Iraqi security forces.

Soap Box Ravings believes that the Second Amendment of our country's Bill of Rights prevents this type of happening. The Second Amendment was purposely designed by our forefathers to ensure a abusive government could not remain in power such as happened earlier between the colonists and the King of England.

When the people turn themselves over to their government the government then owns them like slaves on a plantation. When the Massa wants to beat them, they are beaten. When the Massa wants to F#*k them they are screwed. And should the Massa decide they no longer have the right to live, then they will be put down by representatives of the government.

It's Milking Time Again

What's To Understand About AIG Bonuses

Soap Box Ravings just wants to understand what is happening here. When the initial TARP monies were distributed, there was media noise about bonuses being paid. Not a lot, but enough to alert everyone who is not a politician.

Then the Messiah took over the reins of government. The porculus bill was written behind closed doors by a Democrat controlled Congress. The Dodd Amendment was written by the Senator who put his name on the amendment. Then the messiah signed the porculus bill.

Suddenly on a Monday following dissemination of billions of dollars on the previous Friday the Messiah and crew find out that some number of millions went to pay bonuses to AIG personnel.

To make matters worse, the Messiah almost incites the public to riot over the bonuses.

But then it turns out the bonuses were allowed by the Dodd Amendment. Senator Dodd did not and then did write the amendment authorizing the bonuses.

Then lastly, the Messiah who claimed he was not responsible for the bonuses, even though the were legal IAW the porculus bill he signed as President, then claims to take responsibility by using a variation of Harry Truman's line, "The Buck Stops here".

Now in all of this furor over millions (about 135 million dollars) the Messiah has not discussed the billions (about 175+ Billion)funneled through AIG to banks in Europe and other places such as Goldman Sachs.

And to frost the cake, rumor has it that the Senate and the House of Representatives use AIG to handle their retirement accounts.

You just can't invent this shit!

Prisoners of W...

January 22, 2009, President Obama signs order to close Guantanamo Bay prison facility

See the full story "Prisoners of W--" dated Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123734209584965205.html

Soap Box Ravings can't help but wonder what happened to all the drama regarding those innocent prisoners being held and tortured by President G.W. Bush in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba now that the Messiah is in charge.

As the article, "Prisoners of W--", states President Obama's lather-rinse-repeat approach to the legal war on terror is familiar: He lambastes his predecessor, then makes cosmetic changes that leave the substance of Bush policy intact.

Although, he did make one major change last week when he firmly and resolutely renounced the term "enemy combatant" although his the "new standard" for detaining terrorists is identical to the old one.

Canadian Officials Visit US Deserter

Borys Wrzesnewskyj, MP

Canadian Officials Visit US Deserter, full story at:
http://www.military.com/news/article/March-2009/canadian-officials-visit-us-deserter.html?wh=news

Soap Box Ravings thinks it is interesting the a member of the Canadian Parliament, Borys Wrzesnewskyj, would say that Robin Long, a US Army deserter, "took a principled stand against the war in Iraq and he has borne severe consequences." Doesn't Borys understand their are always consequences to a "principled stand?" Or does Borys believe that if you make the effort to make the "principled stand" there should be no consequences.

Borys also stated that he he was troubled to learn from Long, who crossed an international border to avoid capture, was handed over in handcuffs and had to surrender his military documents to Canadian authorities.

Soap Box Ravings can only wonder about the thought processes of these members of the Canadian Parliament. As a retired law enforcement officer, Soap Box Ravings understands that handcuffs ensure the safety of the law enforcement officers involved and the prisoner. Even mild mannered nice guys have decided they did not want to comply with deadly results for someone involved.

Anyhow, Borys, Thanks for thinking of us. Perhaps some of our legislators will go North and check up on your jails to make themselves look good.

Another Evil Thought From President Obama

From: my.barackobama.com, Doesn't he look like your friend?

From: my.barackobama.com

The Obama administration is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service-related injuries.
http://www.military.com/news/article/vets-rap-wh-plan-on-paying-for-care.html?ESRC=eb.nl

Soap Box Ravings is reminded of a song sung by Connie Francis entitled, "Who's Sorry Now."

Who's sorry now, who's sorry now
Whose heart is achin' for breakin' each vow
Who's sad and blue, who's cryin' too
Just like I cried over you

Right to the end just like a friend
I tried to warn you somehow
You had your way, now you must pay
I'm glad that you're sorry now

Right to the end just like a friend
I tried to warn you somehow
You had your way, now you must pay
I'm glad that you're sorry now

Soap Box Ravings expects this to soon be followed by Obama's request to tax employee medical benefits for those who are employed and have medical benefits. It is all part of the process of stripping what the haves have so they will be more like the have-nots. Obama is not interested in helping the have-nots move up the ladder of success. He wants to destroy the successful.

Some Scary Thinking Brought To You By Congress, And President Barack Obama

Chip Somodevilla / Getty

Congress May Tax AIG Bonuses see: http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/congress-may-tax-aig-bonuses/384322

Soap Box Ravings wonders how Congress can write a retroactive tax to get bonuses that the government knew were contracted before they gave billions of dollars to AIG. Yet, Congress, the government and by definition, President Barack Obama failed to make that a criteria of the loan.

Soap Box Ravings also feels the AIG bonuses are a government smokescreen to keep peoples attention focused away from questions that should be asked, such as "Why was over one-half of the 179 Billion dollars given to AIG forwarded to Goldman Sachs (who refused bailout money) and to various European banks.

It is a bad thing when our federal government writes rules to "punish" ordinary people who follow the rules. Rules, written by Congress telling investment banks how to lend their money and offering up punishment to those investment banks that don't follow the rules.

But relax you who read this, today it is them; but tomorrow it may be you.

As a retired US Navy sailor and a Florida law enforcement officer, I can assure you that when you try to write rules to cover every detail, something detail is always missed. For example, by definition TSA prohibited items are the only things turned back. Terrorists and people that operate against terrorists know there are many dangerous items allowed on aircraft because they are not on the prohibited list. Many items not dangerous such as Disney flintlock toy souvenir pistols are prohibited because they look like a gun.

No need, not to worry, check out the story below:
Obama's AIG Outrage: All Talk, No Action
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1885668,00.html

Soap Box Ravings says it's Obama's and the Democrat party's thoughts that count. Obama and his peers may not be able to stop the bonuses from being paid, I don't think they care at this moment. However, They have talked now about a new "punishment" tax. And Obama has again distracted many people from asking questions like: "What role did Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and the Democrat Party have to do with how we got here?" And also: "Why is AIG giving US Dollars to foreign banks to shore them up?"

Diver Kills Aggressive Tiger Shark

Photograph by D.J. Struntz

Along with an article titled "Shark Video Triggers Some Backlash"
at: http://news.aol.com/article/shark-video-triggers-some-backlash/381492
the attached AOL survey asks "Do you think the killing of the shark was justified?"

According to the responses when I responded, the responses were: Probably 49%, Probably not 42%, and Not sure 9%.

In Soap Box Ravings opinion those who responded "probably not" and "not sure" would be most likely to raise chimpanzees in their homes.

Aggressive animals, whether on land, in the air or the ocean only respond to a force large enough to deter them as many people continue to find much to their surprise and sometimes detriment, every year.

When you are confronted by an aggressive animal if you are not prepared, you are almost instantly out of options.

A couple of years ago while on an Alaskan cruise, we went on a Alaskan Brown Bear sightseeing trip. There were roughly 30, mostly older people, walking through the forest with three native Inuit guides. The last man of which carried a Ruger .338 Winchester Magnum rifle. Since he was a retired Marine and I am retired Navy we chatted. The excursion was to see one or more Alaskan Brown Bears. The rifle was in case we did see one or more Alaskan Brown Bears.

I truly believed our Inuit guide when he said it would bother him to shoot a bear, but I also knew he would kill the bear should the bear endanger a member of the excursion we were on.