Current Events One

Now that Obama has brought balance to his ticket—an older white guy with some 35 years of actual government work history; it is time for John McCain to bring balance to his side. Sarah Palin would be a strategically winning choice for McCain’s VP on a number of levels. This isn’t an endorsement of John McCain—I’ll probably still be pulling the Libertarian Lever in November, but if I were coaching McCain, Palin is whom I would tell him to pick.

First off, the obvious: she is a woman, she is young, and she is photogenic. It is a sad statement, but in our American-Idol-celebrity-worshiping-culture; youth and attractiveness often count more than experience and substance. Palin has experience: She has been governor of Alaska since 2006. That is two solid years of experience as Chief Executive; Obama has barely 2 years as Senator. Conservatives would love her because she attends church regularly, is pro-life, and is a lifetime member of the NRA. Centrist Republicans and Democrats will appreciate that, while she doesn’t support same-sex marriage, she is concerned with gay and lesbian discrimination and signed a same-sex benefits act into law (something the previous administration refused to do). Women who feel jilted by the Democrat party, and Obama’s VP choice, would see her as the Republican answer to Hillary: a tough-minded woman ready to lead.

In a move designed to make up for Celine Dion and Avril Levine, Canada deported the first of 200 deserters from the U.S. Military back to the U.S.

One particular deserter, Robin Long, fled to Nelson, British Columbia just as the men in his tank unit were deploying to Iraq. Long whined—I mean complained—that he would “suffer irreparable harm if he returned to the United States,” according to alertnet.org.

The Victoria Times Colonist said, “U.S. deserters who are returned to their military base can face penalties including criminal charges, being required to complete their military contract or being given an undesirable administrative discharge from army service.”

Canada took in over 50,000 deserters during the Vietnam war; they are not as accommodating this time. One of the reasons for Canada’s inhospitality to deserters might be that the U.S. hasn’t drafted anyone into the military–todays’ members are volunteers, not conscripts. The majority of these volunteers understood they may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country—except for the 200 deserters still cowering in Canada. Well, 199 now that Long is on his way back to his old unit.

Alertnet.org stated, “Long and others have argued it was only after they had joined the military that they decided the U.S. government had lied to the public about the reasons for the Iraq War, and they were refusing to fight in an illegal conflict.”

Shall we parse Long’s argument? Somehow, after Long and the other deserters joined the military, they were enlightened to information that the rest of the country, including the president, Congress, and the secretary of defense did not have. Either that, or he decided better to dodge his commitment to his country than to dodge IED. Remember, the US hasn’t had a draft since the 1970s—Long willingly volunteered to “..support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic….bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and …obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over [me], according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”

Never mind that someone else would be going in his place. Long, and those like him, who voluntarily join the US military and then cower from from their duties and responsibilities are defrauders of the highest level and deserve the most severe punishment that their crime allows. On the plus side, it is better that deserters show their dishonor before the battlefield rather than put their entire squads at risk.

I firmly believe in a person’s right to disagree with Bush’s policies. Quit your job and become a professional protester like Cindy Sheehan; slather yourself in the sweat of Al Gore while flying in a Gulfstream jet and complain about carbon poisoning, but don’t join the military for the benefits Uncle Sam offers and dishonor yourself and your country by running to Canada like a French solider in front of the German army when asked to perform your duties.

According to the Department of Defense Web site, the penalties for deserters ranges from retention and rehabilitation to dishonorable discharge and five years confinement. During wartime, the deserter could be sentenced to death. The US executed deserters during both the civil war and World War II.

Commentary by Tony Sarrecchia The T-Files

President Bush lifted the Executive ban on off shore drilling last week. The lifting of the ban was purely symbolic, but future prices on oil dropped about nine dollars a barrel while the ink was still drying on the document. Imagine that. Just the thought of the US drilling for its own oil lowered the price per barrel. What would happen if we actually started drilling?

We may never know.

Socialist, sorry, I mean Progressive Democrat and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi refuses to allow a debate to expand offshore drilling to come up on the house floor. Pelosi and her equally partisan troll Harry Ried, (Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leader) are ignoring the will of their party members (somewhat surprising), the Republican party (no surprise there) and the American people (again, no surprise there). Pelosi and Ried, would rather you and I continue to pay back breaking prices for fuel rather than reach across the aisle and work with the Republicans. She and Ried are invoking parliamentary procedures to avoid the discussion—much like spoilt birthday childen screaming ‘it’s our party and you have to do as we say’.

Pelosi is not thinking about you or your burden; she is thinking about partisan politics and saving face. According to an article in the International Herald Tribune, Pelosi is more concerned with how she is perceived than the will of the American people. (“Pelosi Stands Firm Against Offshore Drilling”, Carl Hulse, July 17, 2008 http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/17/america/pelosi.php): “In a private meeting last week, according to some in attendance, Pelosi told members of her leadership team that a decision to relent on the coastal [oil drilling] ban would amount to capitulation to Republicans and the White House.” Better you and I should pay four, five, ten dollars a gallon for fuel rather than the evil countess concede that the Republicans are correct. Peolsi needs to be reminded that she serves by the will of the people, not her obstinate desires.

Within the Democratic party, there is a group of reality based Democrats, The Blue Dog Coalition (http://www.house.gov/ross/BlueDogs/), who support fiscal responsibility and “mainstream” American values. The Blue Dogs are informally working with Republicans to “try to come up with a bipartisan response to soaring oil prices; [and] opening up new areas to drilling is part of the mix. Leaders of the Blue Dog coalition are openly pressing for drilling in the Arctic refuge and elsewhere.” Of course, the reality challenged Pelosi would rather listen to the Flying Monkey Brigade that is the rest of the Democratic party than appear to be agreeing Republicans. That the country suffers because of her partisan motivations and irrational persistence to an old-hippie ideal is of little consequence to her.

On Tuesday, July 29, American Solutions (www.AmericanSolutions.com) presented Congress with a petition of 1.3 million names in favor of the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” movement. This group of concerned Americans knows that the time for action is now. The Sioux City Journal reports that, because of rising food costs, “Meals on Wheels” in Iowa may be forced to reduce their trips to once a week rather than every day; and 75% of New Yorkers say the cost of fuel is having a serious impact on their financial situation. And yet, Pelosi lives in a world where her reputation is more important than silly things like feeding shut-ins or the financial health of citizens.

Pelosi needs to join us here in the real world. If you think it’s time to open ANWR or drill on the coasts, call her office (202-225-4965) and let her know.

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Who who who who…sorry-showing my age. I like to know about the people I read so I suppose it’s only fair I tell you about me. I know, this should have been a first post, but it wasn’t—deal with it.

I have an eclectic background; I’ve been (in no particular order) a disc jockey (both on the air and club), bouncer, sales trainer, telemarketer, electronic warfare technician, production coordinator, client services representative, technical writer, copywriter, web site developer/designer, and animator. I’ve even been know to shout out “that’s me on guitar” during the solo of any AC/DC song.

On the political compass I’m a libertarian-right (Economic 7.0, Libertian 3.9). Now, I don’t usually put much stock in on-line quizzes or tests—I think the tests in Cosmo magazine have ruined far more relationships than they’ve helped, but this one was so dead on in its results that I highly recommend it. After I took the test and clicked on the recommended reading, I almost fell out of my chair. The two books it recommended have always held a place of honor on my bookshelf . That’s one scary accurate test.

I find humor in most things, but especially: socialists who don’t know they’re socialists, myopic bible thumpers, politicians of all flavors, the nanny culture, cell phone haters, SUV drivers, the religious right, the atheist left, people who call creationism a science, folks who are offended by Christmas–the list can go on, but you get the idea.

Here is what some folks have said about me:

“Tony Sarrecchia is a stinging puncher from the left and the right, who will chew off your ear and have you smiling about it…” Jim Cohn, author of The Take.

“…a columnist on the Libertarian-right, tackles politics, society, injustice and other timely topics with wit and uncommon good sense.” Doctor Bob Rich, author.

So….who are you? Feel free to discuss in the comments section.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse. According to a story on NPR (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92529379&ft=1&f=1001), the cost of a bag of movie theater popcorn (pre-consumer) has increased by 50%. The reason? Rising fertilizer costs (the actual stuff, not what you see on the screen) and rising ethanol costs. A fifty pound bag of popcorn has gone from $12 at the start of the year to $18 today. AMC theaters in the US have already raised the price of their popcorn and other companies will likely follow suit. Before you start feeling too much sympathy for the poor, beleaguered, theater owner keep this fact in mind: According to the Nebraska Corn Board, an average $5.00 bucket ‘o popcorn contains around 3 cents of popcorn. Kinda makes the $4.00 cup of Starbucks coffee look like a bargain.

Commentary By Tony Sarrecchia The T-Files

Time: Some point in the near future

Gate Agent: You’ll have to wear this please.
Passenger: What is it?
Gate Agent: Oh, just our new safety bracelet. It snaps on your wrist so we can track your movements throughout the plane.
Passenger: I’m not wearing that.
Gate Agent: I’m sorry, but if you want to fly on the plane you will have to let Bubba and Binky the TSA representative attach this to your wrist.
Passenger: Fine.
Gate Agent: Oh, one other thing. If you get unruly–
ZAPP
Passenger falls to the terminal floor and flops around like a fish on a deck. By the way, the passenger is an older man in his 70s.

That’s not science fiction, or the hopes of a gate agent who wished she had made different career choices. Per Hahne has invented the bracelet in the scenario, and he wants US airline passengers to wear it. After all, it’s for their own good.

According to an interview with Conservative news web site World Net Daily (Inventor: Use shock bracelet or pay $14 billion a year” by Bob Unruh), Mr. Hahe said: “I would venture to say most people who are on board with a hijacker would welcome any kind of relief,” he said. “Today the only thing there is is the bullet.” The implication here is that using a bullet to stop a hijacker is a bad thing, but asking passengers to give up what little rights they have left is okay. Personally, I vote for the bullet.

The bracelet, technically an Electro-Muscular Disruption device, marketed by Lamperd Less Lethal (http://www.lamperdlesslethal.com) magnetically locks on to your wrist and contains your passenger information, and the ablity to track your movement throughout the plane. And let’s not forget the electro-muscular disruption function—the stun-gun on the wrist. That’s the part that has our government all twittery and dewy. Jeffery Denning, in a Washington Times story titled Want Some Torture With Your Peanuts quoted a letter from Paul S. Ruwaldt of the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) Science and Technology Directorate to the inventor as saying “To make it clear, we [the federal government] are interested in . . . the immobilizing security bracelet, and look forward to receiving a written proposal.” (See the complete letter here)

Does this mean that the shock bracelet would be mandatory couture for every passenger, young and old? How would you feel about some TSA employee putting this bracelet on one of your children? What happens if your flight attendant is feeling a little cranky that day? What if it malfunctions?

I appreciate the need for security, but total security can only be achieved at the cost of total freedom—let’s not move any further in that direction.

Commentary by Tony Sarrecchia

Old. That’s how participants in an AP-Yahoo news poll see John McCain.

When people were asked to describe John McCain in one word, the most common was ‘old’. The second response was ‘military service’ (9%) and the third was ‘record, qualification’ (8%).

Things weren’t quite so rosy for Barack Obama. The first word used to describe him was the non-judgmental ‘change’. His second place response was ‘lack of experience’ (13%). And third? ‘Dishonest’ (9%).

According this article: http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-candidate-images “Obama is seen as warm and empathetic and McCain as stronger and tougher”. We get to choose between the somewhat effeminate, shady but hip uncle, or the no nonsense, grizzled grandfather. Thanks, major parties, that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

The interesting part of this poll however wasn’t mentioned in many of the reports.

In a survey where the majority of the participants were Democrats (48% versus 36% Republicans) one would expect a large, if not overwhelming, number would vote for Obama if the election were held today. The actual numbers tell a different tale. Of those polled, 40% would pick Obama and 39% would vote for McCain (the rest were spread out over ‘Ralph Nader’, ‘Someone Else’ and ‘Don’t Know’.) A one percent lead for a democrat in a poll where voting democrats lead by 20% cannot be encouraging for the Obama camp. For McCain to rank so close behind Obama indicates that there is growing support among centrist (read that as ‘clear thinking’) democrats for the Old Guy.

As much as people are looking for change from the mediocrity currently in the White House, we should keep in mind that Obama has less than 48 months experience as a actual senator. Fewer months if you count the time campaigning for president, and writing books. Obama himself, on this CNN report, said “I am a believer in knowing what you’re doing when you apply for a job. And I think that if I were to seriously consider running on a national ticket I would essentially have to start now, before having served a day in the Senate. Now, there are some people who might be comfortable doing that, but I’m not one of those people.”

Yet, somewhere between 2004 and now, Obama has garnered that experience? As Oscar Wilde said, “Experience is one thing you can’t get for nothing.”

Or, to quote Bud Fox’s father from the 80’s movie Wall Street, ‘Course my son did work three summers as a baggage handler and freight loader. With those qualifications, why should I doubt his ability to run an airline?’

Obama did work as a senator for a couple of months—why should we doubt his ability to run a country.

Sources:
http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-candidates-descriptions;_ylt=AuQshnxgb5aeEi7d05faTZBxJZt4

http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-candidate-images

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/07/ask-people-to-b.html

“You’re probably not that good a rapper. Maybe you’re the next Lil Wayne, but probably not. In which case you need to stay in school.” So said Barack Obama while talking to a predominately black crowd in Powder Springs Georgia.

Obama was cautioning students to stay in school and not pin their hopes on a music career or a shot at the NBA. Obama, using a refreshing specific and concrete language rather than his usual empty rhetoric, told them that most of “you brothas” are not “really, really good basketball players,” adding “I know you think you are. But you’re not. You are overrated in your own mind. You will not play in the NBA.”

Kudos to Obama for the direct approach—now if he would just tell wanna-be gangstas to pull up their pants…(that also goes for the white kids in the burbs. Oh, and while we’re at it, turn down the car stereo.)

Obama knows about basketball. Jaymes Song, writing for the AP (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gwsvGknQXu2SINnNoGWy3G2GAuTQD91BB4TG0) said high school b-baller Obama was known as the “Obomber” for his jump shot. Despite that, Obama was delegated to the reserve squad. Obama’s high school coach said Obama may have started on any other team, but “We just happened to have just a team that was pretty loaded.”

In retrospect, Obama knew his limitations: “I could play basketball with a consuming passion that would always exceed my limited talent.” (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gwsvGknQXu2SINnNoGWy3G2GAuTQD91BB4TG0)

Obama stills plays, saying that he would like to put a court in the White House.

He went on to tell the students in Georgia that knowing a foreign language would also increase their chances at future employment. (So would pulling up their pants, but perhaps I am fixating).

This was Obama’s first visit to Georgia and part of his “Red State Express”. By visiting the so-called red states he hopes to gain ground in those states that are trending to Republican contender John McCain.

Sources:

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/07/08/obama-tells-kids-to-stay-in-school-learn-a-foreign-language/

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/obama-slams-hoo.html

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gwsvGknQXu2SINnNoGWy3G2GAuTQD91BB4TG0

I will just let the article speak for itself:

A knife-wielding prisoner at a minimum security prison in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia took a woman hostage on Monday morning to avoid being moved to a more restrictive jail.

The 45-year-old convict briefly held the woman in a building near the prison in the city of Marl near the Ruhr Valley, according to police. But he eventually released his hostage - a woman living in an adjacent managed living facility - after his doctor convinced him to give up. Besides hoping to avoid being put in a prison with heavier security, the prisoner demanded five bottles of beer.

The police surrounded the prison with a special commando team, but the man gave up without a fight. “He threw his knife away. Both the perpetrator and his victim are unharmed,” a police spokesman told the website of daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.
DPA/The Local (news@thelocal.de/+49 30 20253575)

Source: http://www.thelocal.de/12839/20080702/

A 21 year old Woodstock (Georgia) native is on her way to Las Vegas to compete in the National Rock, Paper, Scissors championship. If she wins, it’s $50,000 dollars in her pocket and a trip to the international championship in Beijing. Emma Gay is a happy girl.

As a recap, rock, paper, scissors is the childhood game where two people face each other and, at the count of three, toss out either a fist (rock), an open palm (paper) or two fingers (scissors). Paper covers rock, rock crushes scissors, scissors cut paper. Simple. And, if Gay’s streak continues, profitable.

According to an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Gay’s good fortune began this spring, during a night out with friends at Zucca Bar and Pizzeria in Kennesaw. She just happened to be there on the night Bud Light was sponsoring a Rock, Paper, Scissors competition.

Following her victory that night, she went on to compete at Turner Field against other winners from around Georgia.

From the article:

“I was like, ‘I’m just going for the free food and beer,’” she recalls. “And then I got to Turner Field, and I got really competitive. I wanted to win.”

Win she did. On the Jumbotron, no less.

A win in Vegas and Gay will pocket the cash and be off to the international championship in Beijing.

“This is cheesy,” she admits, “but ever since I saw the Olympics when I was a little kid, I’ve wanted to represent my country at something. Wouldn’t it be funny if I represented my country at the international Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament?”

While Gay believes winning is based more on luck than skill, she does have one possible strategy.

“I think I might just wear something cute, because I think there’ll be a lot of nerdy guys there, and so I’ll throw them all off by being cute.”