Best Practices

Abigail and Dolley Blogspot is dedicated to exploring the logic and the facts behind issues of the day. So let us endeavor into another corporate buzzword that has been adopted into our lexicon. Best Practices - this one perhaps embodies a degree of common sense that others of its ilk have not done. It is not terribly fancy sounding and I seriously doubt that anyone uses it to make themselves look smart. Our Government and Corporate America are full of blowhard pretenders that hide their minimal intelligence and incompetance behind veils constructed of the latest catch phrases, can you say "Customer Centric" or "Social Justice"? In the case of Best Practices, though, the principal and thought behind it is actually not far fetched and for once, makes sense.

In all affairs; personal, professional, and governmental the examination of what works and what does not is nothing more than common sense. Why then do so many disregard this basic premise and proceed willy nilly down a path of failure or worse one of complete destruction? My Mother has a saying, "Those who do not listen, must feel." She is of course very wise in this regard.

It is frustrating to watch a loved one go down the wrong path, specifically if you yourself have recently done the same and tried to warn them of the pending outcome. It is nerve wracking to watch your company go down paths of futility and usually send me on a job search.

In the public arena where the stakes are higher and the costs are immeasurable we have an entire political class that constantly and consistently leads our local, state, and national government down the road to ruin. Our government is no longer concerned with doing things well and more concerned with doing things their own way. These ineffective measures have bankrupted us at all levels. We can no longer afford their arrogance and complete disregard for what actually works.

Economic stimulus - taxes and government spending have NEVER worked. Tax cuts and putting money in the hands of taxpayers and corporations have ALWAYS worked. Why are we doing the opposite?

Health Care - in states that have eased regulation on insurance companies, instituted tort reform, promoted medical savings accounts, allowed collective buying for small business, and fostered an environment of competition and free market - they are successful. Socialized and heavily regulated medicine are DISMAL failures. Why are we trying to choose the path of failure?

Environmental - common sense stewardship of the Earth, with Man in his proper place as Master and Caretaker of the Planet and not the subject of it leads to growth, prosperity, and a betterment of our World. Illogical is the idealogy that says that Man is subject to the Earth and Human concerns must always take a back seat to the needs of the Earth. This policy can be seen in full display in the absolute destruction of the Timber Industry in Oregon and Washington. Decreased numbers of the all important Spotted Owl took precedence over the lifes and welfare of human beings. The richest and most prosperous counties in the two states a decade ago now host 25% unemployment and are now the poorest. That in and of itself is a tragedy, but when you find out the Timber Industry had NOTHING to do with the Spotted Owls decline in numbers it borders on criminal. Yes, folks, the Spotted Owl is being killed by a bigger, stronger, meaner owl - yet the Timber Industry remains idle and our people remain unemployed and the human suffering that goes with the debacle is immeasurable.

Show me what works and do that! Is it too much to demand from our elected officials that they stop the waste, the favors, the pay offs and actually do what works and what is right?

the oPad

Abigail and Dolley readers this clever video embedded below is brilliant in its satirical look at Government run anything! As of this morning it only had a couple hundred views, but I have a feeling its going to go viral. Enjoy!

Need I Say More?

Abigail and Dolley readers this picture says it all!

Random Thoughts Observations and Quotes

Healthcare - everyone can pick some good things out of it, it really is no different than a superb pan of brownies. The brownies are made with the highest quality chocolate, flour, organic eggs, and vanilla but mixed in is a huge pile of German shepherd poop. The liberals keep pointing out the high quality flour and the conservatives keep screaming that we aren't eating the damn brownies because of the poop - Dolley Madison aka me

Find out what people will submit to, and you’ll have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them.”Frederick Douglass, the famed abolitionist.  From a Great Article in the Boston Herald  

Squatter Up Date on Belinda Kendal of Charlotte NC:  "Good News - she didn't even show up! I did get what is called a "write of possession" - she is allowed 10 days to file an appeal - if an appeal has not been filed and she has not vacated-on the 12th I go back to the clerk of courts and file a writ of possession and then the sheriff's goes out and padlock's it immediately. If she is caught on the premises after this she will be arrested for trespassing."  Connie Holloway

I Will Not Comply: "...we see the Tea Party movement as a grassroots explosion of righteous anger and resolute activism. We see it as a portent of the political future. We see it as a last, great hope for preventing America from abandoning its constitutional traditions of individual liberty and limited government – and descending into a European-style welfare state that will sap our economic vitality and curtail our freedom."

Energy Fascists

The below provides the back ground to the Yuka Mountain Facility and I originally published this several months ago.

Fascism... the phrase is thrown around so lightly these days that I believe in order to support the title, I must define the word.  Abigail and Dolley readers know that while some posts may be tongue in cheek, most are well reasoned works by thoughtful individuals, the rest are written by me.  (There's that tongue in cheek thing again...)

Merriman's Online Dictionary defines fascist as: a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.

According to your worldview or political philosophy you will infer what you wish to our present leadership and circumstances.  I submit to you an example of such fascism as displayed this week by the closing of the Yuka Mountain Nuclear Waste storage facility.  William La Jeunesse wrote a great piece on this and I encourage you to read the article.

Basically, it boils down to this:  Nuclear energy is the cleanest, safest, greenest, abundant, renewable energy source in the world.  It is just not politically popular.  This bad rap is not based on facts, but irrational fear and Hollywood hype.  It is the ultimate in green energy, yet it is shunned in favor of expensive windmills that kill tens of thousands of birds a year, solar farms that are an eyesore, and other "green" solutions that costs 10, 20, 50, 200% more per power unit than nuclear power.

For decades, the Federal Government has been charging every household in America an excise tax on your power bill to pay for a nuclear waste disposal facility in the middle of no where.  The Obama Administration has decided to close the Yuka Mountain facility leaving the nation without a place to store it's nuclear waste.

Do I sense a little "nudge" from the Obama crowd?  What happens to all the waste currently being produced?  Doesn't that sound unreasonable to you, to close a billion dollar facility with no alternative?  Could their motive be to shut down nuclear power in the USA?  Could their motive be a way to force power companies to raise rates and thus open the way for government to intervene against the evil power companies?  Could their motive be to force the cap and trade bill though the Congress by demonizing electric companies who endanger the public with their dangerous nuclear waste?  Could they intervene through the take over of health care and declare nuclear power a danger to our health?  What about intervening from a National Security perspective since the power companies must now protect nuclear material?

Let's review:  

fascist as: a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.

Did You Hear That?

It was the collect sigh of relief heard today when Nancy Pelosi admitted they did not have the votes to pass the Healthcare Disaster!  She then proceeded to allude to some smaller things they could work on the ironically exactly mirror several GOP proposals that have been summarily dismissed until now.

Thank you, Lord.

The Skinned Knee

A Skinned knee - remember those? I can still remember watching Fantasy Island one Saturday night in 1977 after a fall on the concrete; my knee stiff and throbbing in pain. Not only do they hurt when they happen, but the worst is yet to come. They stiffen up, ache, throb, the scab cracks and heals over and over again. Sometimes you would forget about it and accidentally hit it again or even worse knock the scab off, ugh! They are painful, they do not heal well, they last a lot longer than they should, and they leave a scar.

America - on November 4, 2008 you got a skinned knee. It hurt like the dickens when it happened. We looked down and recognized it as a really bad one. We'd seen this sort of thing before and we knew that while it really hurt right then, it was going to get a whole lot worse.

You see, there was all kinds of dirt and particles in the knee that were buried under the blood and deep in the tissue. All the neighborhood kids were running around having fun, after all, it was a celebration, right? So, you didn't bother going inside and having it cleaned up, you just kept right on playing.

Inauguration Day was like getting in the bath tub. You knew it was going to be bad, but YOW! That really stings! Unfortunately, all that dirt and concrete was covered under a new scab and there was no way we were going to scrub that stuff out.

The next morning they passed the stimulus bill and when you stepped out of bed you felt the scab crack and knew, owww, that hurt.

Through the Spring it got infected with Cap and Trade, Hate Crimes Legislation, a wise Latina Judge, and your friends told you to stop complaining about your knee.

The Summer Town Halls found you at the country doctors, who told you to pick out the old gravel and pour alcohol on the cut. It would be painful, but in the end it would heal better. You called him a simpleton and trouble maker. Your friends told you to stay away from that backward Tea sipping doctor.

The Fall finds you with a festering wound, how could this happen? It was just a skinned knee, right?

Over Christmas you got the news, they were going to have to amputate the leg. Unfortunately, all the doctors are now ticked off because even though they told you what to do in the summer you wouldn't listen. You have accused them of amputating for profit and told everyone that the government could do it better.

So America, your skinned knee now needs amputation, but there are no more doctors left to do it. I guess you will be grabbing a bottle of whiskey and a bandanna. Ah, the good old days. Bring me the saw boys, we have some cutting to do.

A Tale of Two Mothers

(The purpose of this tale is to demonstrate how choices we make effect our lives.  Please do not regale me with debate on the circumstances that formed and shaped mother #2.  That discussion is outside of the realm and scope of this piece.)

I want to present to you a tale of two Mothers.  I will play the first mother.  (That is a picture of me and my son when he was a day or so old, I am a heifer there, but he is so adorable...)

When my son was born, I wanted more than anything else in the world to stay home and raise him.  I had fantastic visions of outings to the park, learning to sew, gourmet cooking, and intellectually stimulating sessions with my child, who would of course be brilliant because of all the stimulation he received from Super Mom.  Alas, it did not happen.

I can not convey to you how difficult it was taking him to Day Care and going back to work.  I do not know if I have ever done anything harder in my life.  It was only after the Lord spoke to my heart and affirmed to me that HE loved my son even more than I and HE would be with him while I was away, that I was able to find the strength to do what I had to do.  Why go back, you ask?  Because, you see my son was born with a medical issue that we all knew would eventually require surgery.  My husband was a small business man and we could not go without health insurance, so I went back to work.  I sacrificed, I made the tough choices, I did not ask anyone to take care of me, I did it myself.

We struggled mightily during those Day Care years and as a consequence I never had another child.  I always wanted two kids, but I had to face the hard truth that the timing was never right, the money not there, and in the end I gave up that dream.  As a consequence, I stayed in the work force and now find myself extremely successful.  I work for a great company and enjoy a generous salary and benefits.  I have a Cadillac Health Plan., but I sacrificed for it.  I worked hard, I missed precious moments of my baby's life, I struggled, but I persevered and by the grace of God everything turned out just fine.  

 Now let's take another woman, she had four children and has never worked.  She lives in a lovely house that is paid for completely by alimony and child support.  They live in squalor.  Everyday on my way to work, I see her in her raggedy sweat pants walking the dog.  She lays around her house and Facebooks all day.  Yet, we are regaled by her absolute demand that Health Care is a RIGHT and she should be able to have it for free.

I am sorry, but that just makes me insane!  What has she sacrificed to earn healthcare?  Where am I every morning rushing around like a crazy women to get my son off to school and my butt to my job, while she lazes around her filthy house, drinking coffee, and writing status updates about why we should be giving her something!  Why should I, who has made very tough choices in my life now have to pay for her healthcare?  You give me one good reason why that should happen?  Now, not only will I have to pay for her healthcare, I am going to be taxed out the wazoo for the privilege.

You see, my husband and I are quickly finding ourselves in the "rich" category and will be mightily punished for our success.  How is that right?  It is theft pure and simple and it makes me mad enough to spit nails.

(Pictured:  My son and I after a 10 hour day at the office and two hour commute, painting the rock outside his school for his 8th Birthday.)   

Torte Reform - Some Numbers for You

Abigail and Dolley readers know I have been yelling from the roof tops that any meaningful health care REFORM (not take over or destruction) must include lawsuit/torte reform.  None of the bills in Congress address this issue at all.  Some provisions actually give tax breaks and hand outs to the trial lawyers, why you ask?  Money and special interest - the trial lawyers bought Congress and Congress is paying them back.

Driving home late last night, I heard Jason Lewis throw out some figures - I will need to do a bit more research and verify these numbers since I wasn't taking notes.  Forgive me if I am off a few bucks here, but I think this may startle you.  Perhaps it will cause you to act:

1. A family of 4 right now spends $9800 annually more from products so that companies can pay their liability insurance.  That's right, the helmet you bought, the skateboard you bought, the knife you bought, the cookware you bought, the hammer you bought... all have frivolous law suit money and protection built in to them.
2. The estimated annual cost for medical malpractice insurance in the USA is $100 Billion Dollars.
3. The estimated annual cost for defensive medicine (ordering test you really don't need to cover the DR. in case you sue them) is $163 Billion Dollars.
4. $0.54 of every health care dollar goes to administration/paperwork, malpractice insurance, and lawyers.

Now, you tell me, why would we not be looking at this first?  I hold, because it is not about doing what is right, it is about taking control and power.  It is not about doing good, it is about paying back your buddies.  It is a lack of honor, honesty, and humility that has fueled the anger of the American people.  Even if you are for the reformation of the healthcare system, you can not as an American oppose torte reform.  If this is not in the bill, then ask yourself, what is?

Callling Them Out - Harry Reid

I can't stand a liar, so today, I am calling one out.  I know you Abigail and Dolley readers will find this amazing, but for much of the last decade I completely tuned out of news and politics, I just couldn't take the lies.  My philosophy was that I knew what I stood for, I knew the party that lined up with my beliefs, and being involved did nothing other than raise my blood pressure.  That was of course a different time and a different world.  I find that I can no longer sit on the side lines and do nothing, so here we are.  Anyway, I digress, I really do hate a liar.

Check out the first few seconds of this Fox News video:

More Cheerleading?

It it Harry Reid, the Democratic Senate Majority Leader makes a statement that is absolutely untrue.  The consequences to our Country are dire if this lie is allowed to become law.  

Lies he tells:

• Our Program saves lives - LIE - their program will cost lives by fundamentally changing the greatest health care system in the world.  Ask the Brits and the Canadians, hell for that matter ask those living under Romney care in Massachusetts.
• Our Program saves Money - At a 2 TRILLION dollar cost for the first 10 years (of which benefits are only paid for 5 but fees and taxes are collected for the full 10) this is a LIE.  The government has not historically been very good contemplating the long term cost of things, check out original estimates of Medicare - we are now 2000% higher than estimated, can we afford another entitlement?
• Our Program saves Medicare - This is another joke - Medicare is broke, this healthcare debacle cuts Medicare payments and moves everyone to the government DMV style healthcare.
• The Republicans don't have a plan - this is so blatantly untrue that any reasonably informed American knows this is a LIE.  I have seen the Coburn-Burr legislation.  Republicans have offered over 800 amendments that have all been rejected.

The days when all Americans got their news from the direction of the NY Times of over, Harry.  We know you are lying to us, SHAME on YOU, HARRY REID.

Harry Reid - Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

Liberal Rantings or More Tactics?

"A lie told often enough becomes truth" Vladimir Lenin

William James - father of modern Psychology "There's nothing so absurd that if you repeat it often enough, people will believe it."

This is a tactic used with great effectiveness on both sides, but perhaps with even greater cunning on the left than the right. I say this not as a partisan but because I firmly believe the Left does not hold itself accountable to any standard other than their own. Whilst the Right, must answer to the Christians and if they are Christians themselves, well then they have to answer to the Lord. Make no mistake, all will one day "give an account of their actions and deed", but the ultimate and just judgment of the Lord is not the subject of this article (though I must confess to a certain peace and comfort that comes with recalling WHO is actually in charge).

Now, I may have misspoke, because it seems the Liberals do hold themselves to a certain standard, that laid out by Saul Alinsky, (if you are unfamiliar with this book dedicated to Satan and studied as gospel by Obama, see my numerous blogs on the suject). Saul Alinsky advised "make the other side live up to their own standards"- thus, the liberals can repeat a lie in a Talking Points that permeates the media and after hammering it in day after day, year after year, it becomes "truth".

Mark my words - Socialism will be tied as a code word for racism. I have heard it numerous times in the last few days, liberals espousing the view that those calling Obama and his plans socialism are actually really wanting to call him a N#*%$#@. Normal thinking Americans always reject the lie upon first hearing, but repeated enough times.....

The protesters are "mobs" of uninformed red neck racists. The protesters are not real Americans. The DNC machine is spouting these lies on an hourly basis and they will get away with much of it, too - unless the media begins doing its job. There are some stirrings of this in the market, perhaps the Fat Lady will not quite get to sing yet.

So I did a social experiment today, I must confess I reminded myself of a little child being forced to choke down something truly unappealing, but my fortitude was strong and I listened to some liberal talk radio and even read a few articles on ABC news and Salon.com. It was truly amazing, okay I admit it the ABC article was a link on Drudge and the Salon.com was a Facebook post by a conservative friend, the articles were actually encouraging because even the liberal media is starting to call the health care and domestic debacle as they see it. The talk radio was strictly my own doing and it was torturous.

The mocking of the people who hold views other than the ultra liberal was amazing. The host so deluded she said that people are upset about the health care plan because for the last 8 years the GWB administration scared the American people so bad they no longer trust the government. I swear, I am not making it up. This being said of a nation that was founded in rebellion to a tyranical government and king. George Washington said government is not benevolence, government is force and the Founders knew that when they constructed our forms of government. Ronald Reagan said the scariest words you could ever hear are, "I am from the government and I am here to help."

So no matter how many times they repeat the lie, it is still a lie. Remember that America.

The Green Movement - The Marriage of Envirnomentalist and Anarchist

This was a particularly hard Abigail and Dolley post to write since it deals with an aspect of life that most people will go through their entire lives without considering.  This post deals with the Super Natural and how events in the invisible world effect the visible one.

The Green Movement; are these well meaning folks, concerned with the Earth and the environment or are they something more sinister? Would you believe me if I told you both? A year ago, I would have scoffed at such a conspiratorial supposition. "Tree Huggers" are a bit misguided, but dangerous? The hippies of the 60's are now running the show and if you recall there were two types - the ones that promoted peace, love, and lots of drugs and the ones that blew stuff up, killed people, and robbed banks. Well, they found each other in the hippie retirement home and got married. They now go by the name Mr. and Mrs. Green.

To fully understand, you have to start at the beginning. This story begins in a garden. A place of perfection and an Environmentalist wildest dream. You see, love of the Earth and protection of the environment is nothing new. Human kind was created in part to be the caretaker of this planet, this was instilled in us by God in the Garden of Eden; it is hard coded into our DNA. He also instilled within us a desire to commune with Him, to walk with Him in the cool of the day. Some invite and allow God to occupy that space inside of them, others do not. Those that reject Him are consequently left with an unfulfillable void, a God Spot so to speak. People can not tolerate the emptiness in their spirit and will search to find something to fill it. Some choose drugs, some alcohol, some choose Mother Earth, the environment, and holistic health and diet.

They embrace the love of Earth because it corresponds so closely in their hearts to a life giving and loving God. But this god is not the life giving and loving god they are searching for, this god is is false. Followers think they set the rules, when in fact they are commanded to take care of her, this god needs them to DO things for her. This god demands that her devotees make disciples of all men, otherwise, she will die and it will be your fault. Earth does not tolerate dissent or facts that contradict well established doctrines of worship. This god perpetuates crisis to keep her followers in a state of panic and turmoil. What started out as such a beautiful and peaceful way of life begins to consume the disciple, it is no longer comforting to meditate on the beauty of a tree because the capitalist pigs are destroying the air, the soil, and the water and that tree is going to die - unless YOU do something about it.

Enter in the origin of the second member of Mr. and Mrs. Green - you remember, the blow your shit up partner? Well, he's cleaned up his act since the 60's, he learned from the Master Saul Alinsky, and now he wears a suit and a tie. This is the guy in the Garden that whispered into Eve's ear, that God was really not a benevolent Father - God was the oppressor, He's just trying to keep you down! What's He going to do anyway, you need to take some of that power He's been hoarding for Himself. Go ahead, get you some. Yeah, I know He said it was against the law, but who is He anyway? Who says you have to listen to Him? Besides, everybody is always telling you what to do around here, isn't it time you stood up for yourself? After you take this, life will be so much better - you will be like God, knowing, seeing, and being! So out of the perfection of Eden, the Anarchist is born.

Throughout history the Anarchist seeks to destroy and overthrow, with temporal and mild success. The Earth continues with an outward sign of peace and love, but is on many levels becoming angry at the lack of real progress. And one day it happens, Anarchist is walking by and sees the Earth and instead of scoffing and ignoring each other, as they have been for millennium, they wearily fall onto the park bench and heave a sigh of frustration.

The year is 1990, and both are looking a lot worse for the wear. Anarchist has just lost his temporary glory with the fall of Communism and now has no where else to go. The Environmentalist is frustrated because all of the things she has been fighting for are being put into place and she doesn't feel needed anymore. So in mutual misery they sit, each feeding off the others misfortunes and runs of bad luck. Before long, though, they begin to look at each other in a different light. The Environmentalist gazes upon the strength and fire and anger of the Anarchist, this is what she has been missing. Anarchist looks upon the Environmentalist and at last grasps the idea that people in large part are not drawn toward him, but wow, look at her. She's stunning and as a team, they are perfect together.

The soft spoken Earth Lover orders water shut of to the Farmers in the San Joachim Valley to protect the precious delta smelt, while Anarchist stirs up hatred among the poor and displaced farm workers. They wouldn't be in that position if the Capitalist oppressors would just let the water go. The poor people in central California are being beaten with both sides of the same stick and don't even know it.

The lumberjacks in Washington and Oregon are accused by the Earth Child of killing the spotted owl, the Anarchist chains himself to a tree. Together, they destroy the most prosperous and prolific timber industry in the world and they are ready to take on more.

They find the perfect vehicle, a former Vice President. His back ground and education do not make his a traditional figure head, but he is embittered and he is ambitious. He has one thing Mr. and Mrs. Green don't have - International clout. They strike up an alliance. The learn from each other. They put a fresh coat of paint on the movement and reemerge.

Do not loose sight of who is behind this movement! Anarchist is intent on the complete and total destruction of all civil society. Earth embraces dedevelopment and communism, Earth demands of her subjects slavery.

Even more frightening, is Mr. and Mrs. Green have moved into the White House with Mr. and Mrs. Obama. What a fine time they are having, staying up late, plotting the next move described as a green job, Earth has learned her craft well and Anarchist has polished his image so much, you might even invite him to dinner. It looks as if the White House has.

As such, the motivations of all that comes from this movement are foul for a bad tree can not bear good fruit. The radical environmental policies of these groups must be resisted. To not, is to endanger the Republic and the future of this country.

God Bless us and guide us in this treacherous time.

Can You Imagine if A Conservative Did This?

I love this game - I post it often.  Please play along with me, okay?

Let's play a little game of make believe shall we? Imagine a world where the press hammered Obama like they did George W Bush.

Can you imagine if George W Bush had given a speech in Austria and referred to a non existent "Austrian" language?

Can you imagine if on an overseas visit GWB had mispronounce name of a foreign leader or had trouble with Putins correct title?

Can you imagine if GWB would have said he and Laura met at school instead of a friend's BBQ?

Can you imagine if GWB would have gotten is daughters age wrong?

Can you imagine if GWB would have made a joke about the Special Olympics?

Can you imagine if GWB would have tried to push through "pro-business" energy and staffed his entire department with former oil executives?

Can you imagine if after initiating said policy that he called out the oil unions to squash environmental protestors?

Can you imagine if Newt Gingrich had called environmental protestors astroturf, un-american, swastika carrying.....

If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?

If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia?

If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current on their income taxes?

If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to “Cinco de Cuatro” in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the fourth of May (Cuatro de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?

If George W. Bush had mis-spelled the word advice would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potatoe as “proof” of what a dunce he is?

If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on “Earth Day,” would you have concluded he’s a hypocrite?

If George W. Bush’s administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually “get” what happened on 9-11?

If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a teleprompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how he inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?

If George W. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans, would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?

If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had proposed to double the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan’s holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?

If the Inspector General of Americorp was fired because he was critical of a GWB fund raiser and supporter?

If GWB had said he planned to arm and mobilize citizens as well as the US armed services to "change" the country?

Can you imagine if GWB refused to produce an original long form birth certificate?

Can you imagine if GWB had been a follower and teacher of a book called "rules for conservatives" that was dedicated to Satan?

Can you imagine if GWB's mentor growing up was a communist?

Can you imagine if GWB was on film multiple times saying he was for eliminating private health insurance?

Can you imagine if GWB had bragged after passing a stimulus bill that did nothing for the country and was merely a political payback that "he had won"?

Can you imagine if GWB's preacher for 20 years was the head of the KKK?

Can you imagine if Sarah Palin said anything that has ever come out of Joe Biden's mouth?

Can you imagine if Sarah Palin plagarized and was caught?

Can you imagine if Dick Cheney quadrupled his net worth since leaving office by supporting a false scientific premise?

Can you imagine if Dick Cheney compared environmental concerns with fighting Nazism in WWII?

Can you imagine if Barak Obama had to water board THREE terrorists after 9/11 and uncovered life saving information, would you be mad?

Can you imagine if Newt Gingrich had accused the CIA of lying to congress on a regular basis?

Can you imagine if Dick Armey stood up and mocked members of Congress for demanding he read the bill he was voting on?

Can you imagine if Trent Lott had said, "Americans don't care about these "porky" parts of the bill, they demand action."

Can you imagine if a Republican Congressman's wife had been convicted on Federal corruption charges, been forced to resign from the Detroit City Council and absconding with over $21,000 in city equipment and funds? (Rep Conyers wife)

Let's keep it going - feel free to add your comments. I am sure by tomorrow there will be more to add....

I am sure there are more....

Obama Declares War on China

This is a rant.  This is not the normal, well thought out, poetic prose, that Abigail and Dolley readers usually get.  This is a tantrum!  You see, I am involved in International Trade, I have an Economics  Degree, I am a Customs House Broker, I am also an avid reader and history buff - as such, I am well qualified to loose my freaking mind over the latest debacle by the Union Organizer and Chief.


Would somebody PLEASE give Barack Hussein Obama a blessed history book?  On the road to quickly becoming the worst President ever, Obama sets a punitive tariff on imported Chinese tires!  Can somebody please tell this idiot that the Great Depression was only begun after the Smoot Hawley tariffs were put into place?  For those of you who don't know what that was, it was a protectionist tariff designed to increase the costs of imported goods and "protect" our industries.  (If you are so inclined I can send you a link that will show they are still on the books and reserved for countries we have embargoes against.  Thus, if you want to bring in a blanket from North Korea, even though it is illegal, you would pay the duty on the Smoot Hawley rate which is around 50%)

Protectionism DOES NOT work, in fact it always has the opposite effect and sent the world into the Great Depression.  Right now in history, our fragile economy has been allowed to operate for a few months without more HELP from the government, and is showing signs of hope.  Obama crushes the new shoot with a giant foot.  (This has to be on purpose.... No way do they not know what this will do.)

Over the weekend, our second largest trading partner is slapped with a punitive (not Constitutionally authorized) 35% punitive tariff on Chinese tires.  The Chinese of course are furious and will retaliate.

I don't even technically know what it is being called because CUSTOMS has not issued any directives to the industry to tell us what it is or how we are supposed to implement the latest from the Idiot and Chief!

 The kicker in this whole thing, is normal channels are not being followed.

Typically what happens, is someone in the industry being "hurt" files a motion in court.  A a case is opened by the ITC (International Trade Commission) and the industry is asked for input during an investigation period.  Comments from concerned parties are entertained and an investigation is launched.  There is a process, there is an acceptable way of doing this kind of thing, but of course these rules don't apply to King Barack Obama.  This due process allows people to prepare for possible cost increases in their product and to adjust prices to their customers.  This allows importers to budget their costs and adjust their forecasts.  This due process allows time for computer programs to be changed to accommodate the new laws, rates, and case numbers.  This due process prevents special interests from getting a hold of a person in power and having them willey nilley screw up trade relations with another country as political payback or favor granting.

Who knew that one day the Presidency would be bought and paid for by Special Interests?  Who knew that one day the President would be at the beck and call of the Unions?  Who knew that the Unions would one day OWN the President of the United States and be free direct policy on trade, fire CEO's and take over industries, direct stimulus, health care, and energy policy.  If you doubt me, research it!  Go to Youtube and type in SEIU and Obama.  Do some homework, you will find I am right.

The pisser of the whole thing?  YOU get screwed.  That's right folks, take it from an economics major, I don't remember much, but I sure do remember the empirical FACTUAL evidence that the only people that benefit from a situation like this are the unions and the consumers pay the price. 

So bend over America as you change that flat tire on the side of the road.  Barack Obama has a jack and he knows exactly where to put it.

Healthcare Reform - Start With Your Own Mouth

My husband and I just returned from the beach and I must say that I am absolutely appalled at what we saw. We have become a nation of Lard Asses. There is no nice way of putting it, as a nation we are disgustingly fat. There were more 300 pound women on the beach than there were women in shape. So as not be be accused of sexism, the men were bad, just not as bad as the women. I grew up at the beach and it is clearly getting worse.

Not only are we out of shape and fat - we don't seem to care. String bikinis and guts, thongs and cellulite, and the new trend - the top of the butt crack showing - nasty! Our family makes a trek to the beach once or twice a year and I am always extremely cognizant of my shape and attire. When I was heavier, I covered up! Black one piece suit with a sarong, silver jewelry, nails and toes done- I was heavy but I looked the best I could. I am obviously in the minority.

I believe instead of taking care of our own bodies and making the sacrifices and hard choices, we secretly despise those who are in shape. We scorn and stare at them as we stroll along the beach while they are sweating and huffing trying to finish a hard run. We scoff at the weird woman doing yoga at 6:30 am and go back inside and eat another doughnut. As a culture, we complain that airplane seats are too small and wait in parking lots blocking traffic to get 20 feet closer to the door.

This phenomenon crosses sex, age, ethnicity, and even body type. The biggest culprit?
I believe it is portion control. When did restaurants start serving platters to people instead of plates? George and I regularly split an entree and still take food home. We as a culture know very little about what to actually do to get this under control, we are looking for the quick fix, the pill, or the easy new diet. No one wants to hear diet and exercise. We cling to our favorite "diet" food, the salad - full of bacon, cheese, fried chicken, and gobs of ranch dressing, all served in a bowl larger than my Mother used to feed our family of FOUR.

As a culture, we must stop this gluttonous behavior and take responsibility for the size of our own guts. Health Care reform starts at home - at your own table, on your own plate, in your own mouth.

It's Torte Reform, Stupid

Instead of taking over and destroying the greatest health care system on the planet, let's talk tort reform. That's right folks, step right up and hear all about it - tort reform is the single biggest area for health care reform that the Federal and State Governments could enact and guess what? It doesn't cost anything! Shocking I know, but all the LAWYERS in government need to change the way our judicial system processes medical related lawsuits.

The cost of malpractice insurance is one of the largest costs a doctor's office has to bear - more than rent and salaries. The expensive tests they order are part of the defensive medicine practice, would cease. The class action lawsuits advertised during daytime TV - gone for the most part. The lawyers are getting rich, not the doctors.

Fix two things - Loser pays, where if you sue someone and loose, you pay for their legal costs. Takes care of stupid and frivolous lawsuits. Cap punitive damages - if the doctor is guilty of malpractice the patient should be compensated maximum for their lifetime of lost income and punitive damages capped at $250K. We should not be in the practice of making people rich from these lawsuits.

The have capped the punitive damages in Texas and it has been wildly successful. Kansas has also adopted similar measures and have seen their costs go down and doctors come back to the state.

Last thing - get the states and the governments out of insurance writing. For example, in Virginia it is a state mandatory provision for all health insurance to cover cranial prosthetic - you know what that is? A wig, a freaking wig. So Joe 22 year old healthy guy goes in to buy health insurance and he HAS to have wig coverage - that drives the cost up for Joe, even though he will never use it.

I have a radical idea? What if I want to start a charity to help people that have lost their hair buy wigs? Wouldn't that be better? But of course, after I pay my 60% taxes, I can't give to the charity anyway - cause hey, "I'm just trying to spread the wealth around".

Warning Warning - Permanent Bureaucracy Ahead

As our faithful Abigail and Dolley readers know, this blog is not the mouthpiece of the GOP. As the political wind blows we have in fact probably been more angry with them than the Democrats, because you expect that from them.

The below outlines 53 new offices created by the Health Care monstrosity. If it costs a dollar and lasts a day....

http://www.gop.gov/download?folder=recesskits&file=2009-august-healthcare-bureaucracies.pdf