Taxed Enough Already

Tea Party. I just realized I haven't really written about them. Ever. Which means I now feel obligated to do so.

Shall we start with a list of issues that the Tea Party has come up against?
1. They are not organized. Anyone can start a rally. There is no firm leadership, and people are taking advantage of this, charging hundreds of dollars to enter some rallies.
2. The group is almost entirely caucasian. This starts the claims of racism, blah blah blah. Maybe there are some racists in the group. Does that somehow change the fact that they have a legitimate gripe about the state of our country? NO IT DOES NOT. You can be the biggest douche bag out there and still think that we are getting taxed too much and that the current administration is corrupt.
3. A lot of people out there hate this group with the burning passion of a thousand suns. As I'm reading the opposite point of view, I get a lot of "these are uneducated hicks who believe guns fix everything," "racists," "violent people," "racists," "Glenn Beck lovers," oh and did I mention racists? The truth is, I can't actually find a sound argument against the movement. I actually read something on a Democrat blog that said something along the lines of, "I wouldn't mind a new party if they were in the middle, or a little left of center."

Okay, so the movement shouldn't exist because it's not where you want it to be aligned politically? Wow. That would be a major fail. They don't agree with you, so you don't want them to exist. Well that settles it. OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!

Sorry, I just found that statement to be incredibly arrogant.

I think I will leave you with this for now. Look for part II, where we examine why it is awesome that this many people are using their anger in a productive way.

Don't Even Get Me Started...

...on the Healthcare Bill. It has taken me a week to even wrap my head around the fact that Congress was ballsy enough to pass it. Of course, I'm pretty sure their approval rating dropped even lower to around a measely 17% of the country. Personally, I would love to knw who these people are that approve of Congress right now. Mostly, so I can beat them upside the head with a 2 by 4 so they are no longer mentally capable of voting. Not that they should be in the first place.

Actually, I want to know who wanted the Bill from Hell (as I shall refer to it from now on) to pass. I want to know the reasoning behind it, and if they've been living UNDER A FREAKING ROCK FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS! Now, I completely agree that something in our healthcare system needed to change, but not like this. Here's how I would have done it.

1. Eliminate the so called "pre-existing condition," unless there was a diagnosis before the person had insurance. This screws more people than I am willing to count.
2. Check to see if hospitals are screwing their patients. No more $300 toothbrushes or $4000 showers. That is just absolutely ridiculous.
3. Don't even touch the abortion issue. I hate abortion, and the thought that funding will be going toward abortions just plain pisses me off. I don't care if it is limited or not.

The problem with Health Insurance, or any insurance really, is that it is the only industry that makes money by denying services.

The biggest issue I have is that this Bill from Hell forces people to buy insurance, I think. We can't really tell because the bill was passed and signed, and now Congress has to iron out all the problems in the damned thing. Idiotic in my opinion. Anyways, I'm pretty sure the government cannot force you to buy something.

So what has been done?

So far, many states have filed lawsuits. Along with this, many have proposed legislation to counteract the BfH, some even suggesting a change of the State Constitution. This created quite a connundrum for the Supreme Court, should a case make it there.

Article VI, Clause 2. Also known as the Supremacy Clause.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

If the Supreme Court were to reference this and this only, then the BfH will be declared legal and binding, and Pelosi and Reid and the bunch will have the last laugh. However...

Amendment X. Also known as Reserved Powers.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

If the Supreme Court decides in favor of power to the States, then this amendment will be referenced and the Bill will be declared unconstitutional. People will throw ticker tape parades and celebrate in the streets.

So, who on earth will win the final battle? Because the signing of the Bill was definitely not the end of it, believe me.

Really Congress?

I'm to the point where I just want to scrap the entire group of government representatives and begin all over again. What ever happened to the guys like the fiscally responsible Grover Cleveland, the humble Forefathers, or even the ever serious Ronald Reagan? This is the type of person I want to see again.

41 Is My Magic Number...

As well as the magic number of the Republicans. They now have the ability to filibuster. Big shocker. Anyone who knows about the fight for term limits had only to point to the Massachusetts seat that Ted Kennedy had for 47 years. Thats right, folks. 47 years. That's pretty ridiculous. While I'm on the subject, will the voters in California flipping wake up and vote Pelosi out of office already? Come on, folks.

But back to my point. 41 votes is enough to filibuster (I dearly hope I'm spelling this correctly). And thank goodness for that. I am a conservative that leans toward the Constitutionalists and Tea Party, so the Republicans are my only representation. Do I want a totally Republican government? Hell, no. Split government for me, thank you very much. Millions shouldn't be overrun just because they don't have a Senate party with the ability to stop some truly outrageous legislation.

All I'm asking for is a little balance. When millions protest something, like, oh, say, the healthcare bill, maybe Congress should open up their flipping ears and listen already! It makes me utterly insane that they insist on plowing right over the masses.

Hopefully the smaller (but growing) portion of the country will have a voice that will actually be allowed to speak with meaning now.

Homeowner's Associations

If you've heard of them, then you know that they can be a pain in the ass. You grass can only get so tall, your house can only be certain colors, and god forbid you have too many vehicles for your garage. For some reason, the keep insisting that flag poles are against the rules.

Really? A flag pole? Apparently, they violate the asthetic guidelines. At least that is what one homeowner's association told a 90 year old war veteran. He's been in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He has a Purple Heart and a Medal of Honor, plus others.

Mistake Number 1: telling people they may not have an American flag in their front yard. Last time I saw something like this in the news, the guy painted his house yellow with purple polka dots in protest.

Mistake Number 2: threatening to take a 90 year old to court over this. Did they want to look like bullies?

Mistake Number 3 (and possibly the biggest of them all): Medal of Honor. All veterans deserve respect, but those who get the Medal of Honor especially. You do not disrespect them. You do not threaten to take them to court over such a tiny thing. And you do not tell them they may not have a flag in their front yard.

It took two Senators, White House press secretaries, and a lot of press to convince the association to overlook this "transgression." People need to pull their head out of their asses. I am disgusted. Asthetic guidelines? This is too far. Someone in Virginia has their nose so high in the air that they would drown in a rainstorm. Retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot, fly that flag high and proud.

Give The Attackers A Trial?

The latest and greatest controversy has been uttered by our great and powerful President. He wants to try those responsible for the 9/11 attacks in New York. And to this I say, seriously?

No judge or jury will ever utter the word innocent in this case. It's ridiculous. Is there even a single person in that area who would not be considered "prejudiced?"

This is ignorant and stupid and is just giving the evil men responsible a chance to rip open the barely healed wound.

Someone had turned on CNN in the chow hall the other morning when they were discussing this, and one of the anchors asked the question, "Would the prosecutors pursue the death penalty in this case?"

Do you actually need to ask that question? I wanted to smack her upside the head. Gee, let's think about this one. They only murdered 3,000 people. That number doesn't even take into account the amount of people who have fallen sick and died later because of what they inhaled while trying to save the poor souls who were trapped, and later, to recover bodies.

Now Congress is arguing over whether or not the trial should happen. Dems say yes, Republicans steadfastly dissagree.

Know what's even more ridiculous? The lawyer, and yes, the "main" man responsible has a lawyer, says that the confession should be thrown out because he was coerced. Documentation shows that he was waterboarded about 183 times. Now, I'm sorry, but he was put into Gitmo for a reason. And don't even get me started on waterboarding and why it should be continued. As a senior in high school, my AP English class did presentations on torture, modern and ancient. Waterboarding is ridiculously nice compared to what other countries have done, and, in some cases, still do.

Anyways, I want to hear what you have to say about this trial. Yea, or nay?

I'd Like to Give a Shout-Out

First of all, my thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by the Fort Hood shooting. This is a horrible attack, and those responsible will pay. I still have confidence in our military.

Now...

Never have I ever been more pissed off at a person.

You do not do what President Obama has done today, folks.

Missed it? Look up the Fort Hood shooting, and Obama's reaction to this horrible massacre. Make sure you get the entire clip. You'll be able to tell. The beginning has laughter and a light-hearted feel while Obama talks about a conference. He gives a shout-out. Seriously. Then, and only then, does he mention, almost as an afterthought, that twelve people who fight for us, including one policeman, have died. Another thirty-one have been wounded.

I'm sorry, but when something like this happens, you do not combine it with your thoughts about a conference that the Department of the Interior had earlier.

Never again do I want to hear about Bush finishing up reading a book to an elementary class on September 11th. He, at least, can respect the loss of lives.

There is no possible way to defend this. These were two separate issues that should have been addressed as such, and Fort Hood definitely should have been first.

At least on September 11th, no one was really sure if they were terrorist attacks in the beginning. There was too much chaos. A shooting, on the otherhand, is pretty obvious.

I am utterly disgusted. This was entirely inappropriate. I want to see someone defend this error. I actually dare them to try.

Update: As of November 6th at 9 a.m. EST there have been thirteen killed and thirty wounded.