A real conservative party

I started this as a comment on Matt's blog and I really liked the thought.

I wonder what would happen if we started a third/fourth party - called the "Conservative" party.

Why you ask? Because the Republican party is NOT conservative. Don't even try arguing that. Just bashing democrats doesn't make one a conservative. Instead of the catch phrase "Tax and Spend Liberal" you can now substitute "Borrow and Spend Republican". And George Bush II to me has been the worst offender. You are a second term President. Sheesh! Use that Veto pen for something other than killing stem cell research.

The rules of entry to the Conservative Party would be simple. Proven fiscal conservatism. That would be the platform. The rules for staying in the party - no spending increases without spending cuts. Borrow even once and you are OUT. Let your voting record speak for itself.

The primary mandate of the party - balance the budget and eliminate the deficit - FOR REAL - not just on paper - with current income, NOT future projections. NO Exceptions. Your objective- cut spending, cut spending, cut spending.

The secondary mandate - eliminate the federal debt.

After that, if you have extra money left over, reduce taxes and give it back to the citizens.

On social issues - vote your conscience.

It's Simple. It's like the Dave Ramsey / Suze Orman method for Government.

Who's with me?

Elitism

Haven't posted in a while.

But just a random post about an Ad that has been running on TV for a while now. It's the American Express business card Ad that shows the "poor newbie schmuck" that pulls out his Spiderman credit card and the German business associates snicker, leave and I guess by implication nix the deal. I don't know why, but elitism like that bothers, irritates and angers me at a fundamental level.

Ask yourself the simple question. If those same snooty people were in a meeting with oh say Bill Gates or Warren Buffet and one of them pulled out a Mickey Mouse Credit card that their kid or grand kid had gifted them with, these same people would be grovelling as to how cute/unique/insert ooh-ah adjective here a card it was.

I have met many "nouveau rich" and people that are actually wealthy in my life. It is interesting to me that the people that are aspiring to belong to the upper echelon are the ones that are always elitist and the worst acting. The people that are truly wealthy and/or powerful and know that they are, seldom behave that way.

The presence of the elite and people that behave that way has always and will always leave me cold. To the guy that pulled out the Spidey card and all those like him I say you are better off. You don't HAVE to get a Gold Amex Card just to impress the condescending rif raff. Become the next Larry Page or Mark Zuckerberg and you won't have to worry about what cartoon figure is on your credit card.

Independence Day 2008

Proud to be an American!
Celebrate, Teach, Remember.

Joe "The Bull" Curtis

We lost Joe Curtis - a fellow firefighter at Lone Oak Fire Department this week. I just got back from a memorial service for him at Station #2. Joe fought many fires and survived to talk about it, but finally lost his battle with cancer.

Joe was a good fella. Stubborn and strong as his nickname suggests. I only knew him for a couple of years, but his constant picking on Ronnie and his cowboy hat will always be in my memory.

We had Joe's "final call" at the memorial service. For those who are not firefighters, the call goes out on the radio for one final time to his unit number.

Central Dispatch to Lone Oak 120 ...

Central Dispatch to Lone Oak 120 ...

Central Dispatch to Lone Oak 120 ...

Negative Contact Unit 120 ...

And the lone bell rings three times.

Goodbye Brother. Rest in Peace. You will be missed.

Memorial Day 2008

I know I always put this same poem up every Memorial Day. But that is what "remembering" is about. So as long as I can keep posting I will.

They sacrifice every day so we may live to be free.

Please take some time to remember our fallen soldiers this weekend. And if you have Children/Grandchildren, remind them too.

In Flanders Fields
- John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved,
and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep,though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

To those that I have never met but I owe my life and freedom to, I can't say anything more than Thank You.

And I promise, I will never forget.

In Mumbai

Some random observations about this Mumbai trip.

Continental's 777 direct flight to Mumbai from Newark is a great time saver. Hard on the knees in coach class but the in-flight entertainment system is nice.

The person in the seat next to me managed to somehow reboot her inflight system and lo and behold it runs Linux! I am speculating it's Mandrake but I could be wrong. But most definitely Linux with lil' Tux in the corner.

The traffic is always a shock factor when it comes to Bombay. Every time I land here it still takes me aback. I have been spoiled driving in Kentucky now for decades, and even the worst rush hour at Spaghetti junction (Louisville Interchange) is nothing compared to the average morning traffic in the outer suburbs like Navi Mumbai.

Navi Mumbai has the annoying habit of building stuff and then tearing up stuff - especially roads to build more stuff. It is a perpetual construction zone. I would like to truly see it COMPLETE some day.

The run of the mill rural hospital in Kentucky has better "small equipment" than the very well run BARC (large) hospital in Mumbai. I'm talking about Vitals monitoring, sticky pads for EKGs etc. Sorry Mr. Moore, America still has one of the best if not the BEST health care system on the planet. The nurses in India still wear the old fashioned starched white dresses with the stockings and the pinned hat. No scrubs here. Kinda nice - looks really professional.

And lastly Blogger smartly recognizes that I am in India and gives me the option to type in Hindi.

नमस्ते

Very Cool.

Favre calls it quits

Brett Favre announced this week that he will be retiring.




I had been wishing this year that he would win one more Superbowl but it was not to be. In this day of namby pamby pampered NFL players (especially quarterbacks), Favre is the glaring exception. Tough as nails and all HEART. The epitome of a football player.

Enjoy your retirement #4. You have earned it. You will be missed.

Pot - Kettle - Black

So I see that our illustrious congressmen / congresswomen are going to haul some bank executives to capitol hill and grill them regarding their high paychecks. I am sure John Q Public will be cheering on the sidelines. After all, how DARE these CEOs collect multi million dollar salaries and bonuses while the mortgage industry is in crisis !

So like the oil company execs who have to literally apologize every time the price of oil goes up and the company makes a few billion, congress is now going to look into the salaries of the banking executives.

The sheer GALL of this strikes me absurd! I have just one question. How is the Federal Government doing? By any measure - financial, productivity, pick any one. Now shall we start talking about "pay for performance"? The country is $10 TRILLION in debt and the congress and senate keep voting themselves raises year after year. How come no one is hauling them to answer before self appointed committees?

And to the John Q Public - my answer is simple. This is America. If you want to earn millions being a CEO, NO ONE is stopping you. This is just jealousy, pure and simple. If the execs are to be held accountable they need to be held accountable at a shareholders meeting. NOT on capitol hill.

Wally World goes Blue (Ray)

Looks like Wal-Mart has made it's choice in the HD wars and it is going exclusively to Blue Ray. This is pretty much the last nail in the coffin for HD-DVD. And now there are rumors that Toshiba - the only maker of HD-DVD and the primary supporter of the format is going to pull the plug on it.

I would like to note that the Microsoft supported format in the HD wars is all but officially DEAD and the Apple supported format WON. Looks like the Evil Empire's stranglehold on all things is definitely crumbling.

"No star system will dare oppose the Emperor now.
.... The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."
- Star Wars IV - A New Hope

For Shame!

No matter what you think about the Iraq war, THIS is just plain wrong. Freedom of speech and protesting the war is one thing, but this is just shameful.

Remind me to NEVER visit the City of Berkeley California, other than to go visit the Marines and say thank you. To the people who are protesting the military, your GRIPE is with the leaders who send these brave men and women into war. Don't take it out on the brave men and women that are sacrificing their lives to defend your very right to protest!