The Average Joe

I think Samuel Joseph Worzelbacher will get more than the cliche 15 minutes of fame he may have asked for. If that name doesn't sound familiar you may know him as "Joe the Plumber" and he was used as an example in the last presidential debate with a mention more than 22 times, several more times than the economy, or health care. The unfortunate thing for good'ole Joe is now the press is storming in to get interviews, and vetting his past like he himself is running for office. In an attempt to discredit his comments, they have determined he holds no plumbing license, and in fact owes back property taxes, both facts totally irrelevant to the conversation, and both facts he himself has no problem with. As I write, in an attempt to give poor Joe some backup, I realize that even I am allowing the media to distract us from the point that thrust Joe into the spotlight. Obama's comment. It wasn't average Joe that stirred the debate, it was the answer Obama delivered that has put the Democratic nominee on notice.

"I think that when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody," Obama told Wurzelbacher in response to a question about his tax policy.

What Joe immediately realized is Obama is in fact a socialist, and that agenda contradicts Obama's previous suggestion that he believes in the American Dream.

The social engineering that will come to play if Obama wins, and if the democrats secure a stronger hold on our legislative branch will crush prosperity. Entrepreneurs and investors will go running from our borders, the social programs will attract the rush of third world immigrants into our country like ants to sugar. The haves will flee and be replaced with the have-nots, then who will be left with the bill? If you doubt this prediction, look at the states with the highest immigration, they are blue states with the largest social programs.

China has had no problem loaning money to us, because our prosperity had until now insured a good return on investment. When the social agenda of the democratic majority starts to squash our business growth, that investment will turn to liability, and they will not only be reluctant to finance our exploding deficit, they will begin to ask for some principle in return.

Now pile the social welfare programs Obama has on his platform on top of the financial bail-out and the state of our nations economy and it spells a recipe for disaster. I don't believe we are on the path to another great depression, what I believe if Americans are sucked into Obama's hope and change message, it will be social suicide.

Yes Please, Good Measures In Oregon

Read the always exciting voters pamphlet information on the state ballot measures and was pleased with most of them for a change. I always know they are good ideas when there is one or two arguments in favor, and then 3 or 4 pages of opposition commentary from every union, organization, and bureaucracy in the state. If some of these get passed our courts will be busy overriding the voters again this year.

There are 8 of them so here is my synopsis and my vote, would love to read your comments.

54 - voter eligibility for school board elections, simply YES PLEASE
55 - legislators finish term in same district after redistricting..YES PLEASE
56 - Tax Elections! Omits requirement of over 50% turnout.. NO! Sneaky guys, trying to make it easier to raise taxes... not so fast. VOTE NO, unless you want 51% of a fractional mid-term May election turn out to result in your property taxes to get a surprise hike.
57 - Sounds good, increase sentences, but read the fine print, also prescribes treatment programs, and riskes a conflict with Measure 61 - Vote NO on 57
58 - English Teaching Non English Students - YES - English Always
59 - Deduct federal taxes on state return - YES PLEASE! Lower my taxes!
60 - Merit pay and Merit retention for teachers - OH, YES, look at all the union opposition to this one. This is how you get around the political palm greasing of the unions, put it on the ballot! VOTE YES, YES, YES, Who wouldn't want to give a good teacher a raise? HELLO?
61 - VOTE NO on 57, YES on 61 - This is the peoples lock-em-up measure. Do it!
62 - Allocation of lottery - The lottery is corrupt, so I don't want public safety counting on a voluntary tax system. I'm voting NO
63 - Exempts building permits for small improvements, Hell Yeah! Build me a shanty in the back yard, let farmer john build a pole barn. Why not, permits smermits, VOTE YES. Seriously, stop the permit racket from killing our freedoms.
64 - Penalty for public resources fundraising for political purpose, YES, I think so.
65 - Election process in nominations, NAH, Voting no, Other states have done this, it leads to fraud voting in some cases, and limits our choices in the general election. This is a good way to end up with a one party system. Vote NO.

Economics 101

San Francisco Readying For Great Depression II

"Golden Gate Bridge to get suicide net to catch would-be jumpers"
19 people have called it quits off the golden gate thus far this year. That sounds like alot, more than one per month. I'm wondering if the nets will act as a deterrent or will people liken jumping to a circus act. I'll I can say is I admit the economy may be in trouble when we start building things to catch suicide jumpers.

Eric Risberg / Associated Press

Stainless-steel netting hanging 20 feet down and extending 20 feet on either side will be placed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge to catch would-be suicide jumpers, San Francisco officials decided Friday.

Your Vote Will Count

This year, more than any other election, your vote will be clear. Do you trust government to fix your problems, or do you believe in individual freedom and choice?
While our congress feels the need to socialize more and more, our two presidential candidates could not be more different. One is for socialized health care, increased government control of our economy, eliminating your choices in education, and taking more of your wealth to fund his vision of a more powerful and far reaching government. The other believes in the fundamentals of our nations economy, free markets, and low taxes, smaller government, and the freedom that comes with personal responsibility and the power of the individual. Just ask yourself if you are yet undecided, what has government been able to effectively, efficiently, and successfully accomplish? Should we give them more or hold them to account? If you are honest with yourself and the reality that faces our nation, you will then know who is on your side.

Somebody Stumped

I know you have all seen this already, but I had to find an example worse than Sara Palin performance in the debates tonight and this is what came to mind, something needs to take the focus of what is looking like a liability.

Interesting enough, even while I post this, I am shocked by the fox news commentary that is showing she won and did better than expected. I guess my expectations were to large. I think she lost it. The public is eating her up? I'm still confused with my own reaction.

Biden Gaff Timeline

Biden On Being Presidential, Dumbass!

"When the stock market crashed, Roosevelt went on TV"
FYI, Roosevelt was not the president at the time, and I don't think he had a TV yet.

Photo Euphoria With Picasa 3 (Beta)

Google has released a new BETA version of it's photo wizard, and now it has even more super easy to use features like retouch, text overlay, & video slide show creator! If your not using picasa yet, you really don't know what you have been missing, but now you can download the new Beta3 version and get even more organized and creative with your digital collection!

Pro-Bama?

Why is the media so quick to publish personal attacks on Sarah Palin & allow the democrats to blame the current financial crisis squarely on the republicans when they have been in control of the congress for the last two years?
The only explanation is media bias.

Here is 10 underexploited scandals regarding Obama, that rarely get mainstream press:

1. Obama-Rezko
2. Obama's Red Mentor
3. Obama-Fannie Mae Money
4. Fannie Mae Thanks Obama
5. Obama-Fannie Mae Executives
6. Obama ACORN Connection
7. Obama's Pastor
8. Obama on Redistricting
9. Obama Farrakhan Connection
10. Obama's Buddy Ayres

Obama should just suspend his campaign and let the media take over. John McCain should also grow a pair and start hitting harder. His handlers are playing hopscotch while Obama is playing hardball.

The WAMU is Consumed...Whoo Hoo?

Yes, I am a Washington Mutual customer, have been for years. I used to think it was the best bank, they had a small office blocks from my office, they had ATM's and bank branches everywhere I traveled. They had a great checking plan with free money orders, and at the time, one of the best online banking sites. All was good. Then things just slid sideways, no real improvements, no real incentives to stay. I started direct deposit, so I never needed the branch. I rarely used an ATM, if I needed cash I just took cash back at the store with my debit card. The online account was good when it came out, but more often it was problematic, and slow. While other banks were offering special savings programs that tied to your checking or overdraft protection tied to savings, WAMU stayed behind. The blame will be on the mortgage securites crisis, but I think it is more than that.

If you too are a WAMU customer, the Consumerist posts an interesting account of what to expect now that CHASE has CAUGHT them.

You may also like to read my ATM opinion regarding WAMU's 1st question to every customer.

Watch Obama Spin

Unfortunately, the Republican party does a poor job of communicating their messages, and an even worse job of balancing the platform of smaller government while not looking like it is in favor of an unregulated and out of control wall street.



On the other side, Obama is going to have to continue to spin into dizzy circles to avoid the facts that surround the current securities debacle that is stemming from the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Now he is really going to have to raise our taxes to pay for that mess!

The Bloomberg.com news site has published a direct connection with the current crisis and the Democratic block on congressional reforms. As if the fact that his campaign contacted Franklin Raines seeking housing and economic advise for his campaign wasn't telling enough, it is now shown that Obama is in the top 3 recipients of campaign money from the mortgage companies.

Lies and the Lying Liars

A book by the same title of this post makes an attempt to debunk the growing feeling of an existing left leaning media bias. Unfortunately, current trends are pointing those fingers right back at the author.

I was eating lunch and grabbed the local paper, that I rarely read because of a cover story regarding Gov. Sarah Palin's speech to the troops leaving for duty (including her son) What was surprising was the tone of the write up, and the claim she was connecting 9/11 to Iraq. She clearly was speaking of Al-Qaeda. It is popular knowlege that Al-Qaeda has flooded to Iraq to engage us, and thankfully so. As was your mission to engage the enemy abroad and prevent attacks on our soil.

Several examples of media spin have recently escalated and in the blogosphere, several outright lies have been propagated. To my amazement the liberals are going from fantasy to complete fiction!

ABC Blows it!

Blogs Accuse Track Palin as a vandal!

Washington Post Blows it!

Thanks to Michelle Malkin for digging for the truth.

Never Forget

Some will be critical of the imagery of September 11th, some will say it is being put in the public eye to instill fear, and for political purpose. I say good, because on September 12th 2001, I was both afraid, and empowered. Empowered to become patriotic again, inspired to protect my country, and my freedom, from those who would see us wiped from the earth in honer of there religion, ours be damned.

Never forget, they have been fighting a Jihad with us for years, yet only on September 11th did they inflict a blow heavy enough to wake the sleeping giant. Fortunately this giant stands for freedom and liberty, and she will live in isolation no longer.

Never forget, for when we do, the virus of liberalism and pacifism can take hold. With the false hope of understanding and diplomacy, they will take with them bargaining chips in a delegation to those who's beliefs will drag us along to the grave. For our enemy glory is found through martyrdom, not peace.

Thousands of lives were lost, buildings destroyed, and our world changed forever.

Never Forget.

Sign the National Book of Remembrance

Remember

Sacrifice

Sacrifice is something I understand yet I cannot compare to the level of sacrifice that our proud men and women who serve our nation in her defense give each day. Please support John McCain for president, the majority of those who protect your freedom do, don't let them down. This is my viewpoint, feel free to comment.



This video was introduced to me by Meghan McCain's McCainBlogette, I recommend it for a great insight to life on the campaign trail with a real American hero.

Links:

Voters say McCain better suited to handle Iraq than Obama

Military favors McCain, poll finds

Veterans Solidly Back McCain

Military families support Sen. McCain

Government Transparency In Action!

The following expert from BetaNews again reinforces the position that the McCain-Palin ticket is ready to lead.

"Sen. Barack Obama has made government transparency part of his platform. Gov. Palin has indeed taken that a step further by actually taking action in Alaska government. Currently, any check written by the state government over $1,000 is posted to the Division of Finance Web site."

With the national debt at record highs, and the democratically controlled congressional approval at all time lows, the smart choice is in an administration that will control spending while protecting our nation. While Obama plans to cut spending on our national security, McCain & Palin have actual experience in confronting government waste and earmark pet projects, something Obama has no defense.

Free The Airwaves

I am a big supporter of Google tech, and for this reason I watched the video found on FreeTheAirwaves.com regarding a grass roots movement to push the FCC towards free unlicensed use of some of the radio spectrum being freed by the ban on analog TV transmission.

Unfortunately the video, and it's message is not well communicated, produced, nor clear as to what free use airwaves can mean to us, the consumer. Consumer electronic makers could provide us some exciting connectivity tools without the need for subscription based services if the FCC allows some of the new radio spectrum to become free conditional use, as opposed to licensed use as it currently is. Licensed use, such as TV broadcast, radio stations, and cell phone spectrum, only permit the companies who pay for the licenses to use the airwaves, thus we the consumer pay for access. Consider we already pay monthly fees for phone service, internet access, cable or satellite TV signals, satellite radio, and some even for wireless broadband mobile web access, does the tel com and entertainment industry really need to control more of the airwaves?

What we the public must demand of our airwaves is free use by us, our gadgets, and providers of content to deliver our entertainment and communication across our public airwaves, without service fees. Although free airwaves still may require end connection to require some access agreements like you see when you visit an airport with free-wi-fi, or login to subscription based WiFi accesspoints, the free use of the spectrum provides choice, and open access for competion.

Imagine being able to access the web in your car with a mobile WiFi signal as reliable as your FM raidio station, and free of a monthly fee. Have live content such as traffic, weather, and local news accessable wheverver you may be without paying some content provider for access to there privately licensed wireless service.

The possiblites with GPS & in car navigation systems, WiFi enabled media players, to name a few, leave unlimited possibilites.

Don't let the major media, cable, and phone companies steal our airwaves and charge us access fees to use them, sign the petition and tell your friends to support this as well. This will shape our future and how we communicate, and more importantly what it costs us to keep connected in the future.

That's It, Im Going For it And Going VIRAL!

Explore With Eye-Fi

A new version of the Eye-Fi wireless SD card has been out for a time, and I recently read a review here and was somewhat interested, however the using Skyhook Wireless as a method of geotagging does take some of the cool factor away from true GPS accuracy. Skyhook uses WiFi access point locations to approximate your position, similarly some cell phone services use your wireless signal to triangulate your location without using the global positioning satellites. Both methods get you within a few thousand yards, and can help with directions, but for photo geotagging, true accuracy within feet should be realized.

The feature that Eye-Fi Explore provides that I most see appealing is a 1 year Wayport hotspot access subscription. The original Eye-Fi card that I own, only allows pre-set hot spots to work, and only once you configure them using the provided software. This is fine for travel to frequent destinations where you can program in the access point and have your pictures transfer when you are in range. The trouble is no support for roaming access, when you are in public hot spot locations. Wayport has many public hot spots around the globe allowing your uploads to get transferred without being at your home base.

The usefulness of the Eye-Fi card is mostly realised for me around the house, taking photos for craigslisting sales, and getting shots for my work transferred in the background while I type away has saved a few valuable minutes now and again. If they could just shove a GPSr into this chip I might upgrade.

"For those who tag or organize, for those who blog or share in real-time, for those who need to upload here, there or somewhere else, and all the rest who are simply passionate about managing, sharing and saving their memories, there is now Eye-Fi Explore.
It uploads photos wirelessly to your computer and to the web, of course. But, Eye-Fi Explore also automatically adds geographic location labels to your photos and allows you to upload from more than 10,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the nation. Your memories will be easier to search and more fun to share with geotags, and you’ll be able to upload them on the go."

My Energy Plan

Watching Fox News this morning, the pundits debated the issue of off shore oil drilling, and congress failing to lift the ban. The ban will expire anyway in a few months unless the Dems are bold enough to vote on a continuation, further cementing our dependence on foreign oil, although they state they are for energy independence (just not OIL independence)

The Democratic line is "we can't drill our way out of the energy crisis" yet they want to penalize oil companies with taxes both on the incentive side as well as profit taxes. The Republicans are not much better, they are so afraid of the environmental special interests, they won't propose anything, much less point out the illogical and outright misinformation that the Democrats keep pushing.

Here is my energy policy, and why it will work:

Make a deal with US oil companies that we will allow off shore oil drilling, and drilling in ANWR provided they agree to hold actual oil production and delivery. In exchange we will not tax there profits nor withdraw tax incentives. This will put domestic oil within reach of our shores in the future, with only a switch needed to be turned on when the need arises. The oil companies will see the future potential of having these reserves online, and there stock prices will soar, while they don't even need to pump a single barrel of oil.

This provides 3 key points of national and economic security:

1. We insure we have a domestic oil supply at the ready baring any future instability in our foreign supply chain such as conflict, embargo, or countries such as china monopolizing supplies.
2. We send a message to the oil exporting nations that we currently want their oil but we don't NEED their oil. This will change the tone of negotiations when it comes to issues like Iran's nuclear ambitions, and the Saudi influence in our foreign policy.
   
3. This will bolster the US economy by creating jobs now, while eliminating uncertainty of our future energy needs without softening our current focus on conservation and alternative fuels.

Additionally this policy makes sound domestic sense. By doing so, have planned for our own future, by the time all this oil is ready to go online and into production we have eliminated our own need for it by conservation and alternatives. We should become an exporter of oil to nations like China and India, improving our trade imbalance that has been a leading cause of our current economic declines.

Unless you ride a bike to work, this issue effects you. China is fast becoming the the largest consumer of oil and energy, and they have none of the hurdles that we face, yet we continue to cripple our own nation as if we alone can save the planet. If we truly wish to be an effective environmentally conscious society, we need to strengthen our country, and demand the same environmental protectionism of China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and Africa. Before we allow the Environmentalists to bankrupt our nation, cripple our defenses, and be bought out by China we must act. Many of the European nations have already embraced offshore drilling, and nuclear energy. Why we have become a follower rather than a leader? Because of people like Nancy Peolosi. If she wants to save the planet, she needs to run for the president of the world, then we can get a speaker that wants to save the Untied States of America!