It really is a pain in the neck -- for me is's a pain lower down -- continously reading that if I oppose Obama for president I must be a racist.  The editorial page cartoon this morning, 29 August, is the latest in this tirade. 

I oppose Obama for several reasons, NONE of which has anything to do with the color of his skin.  He's never done anything except get himself elected from Chicago.  He has never sponsored significant legislation that has been enacted into law.  He is, at best, a socialist, at worst a marxist, who will propose budgets that will cause massive tax increases.  He has no experience in international affairs and has no idea how to use the military in the best interests of the United States.  Of course, the present president doesn't have a clue either, but that's another reason we don't need Obama.  After sixteen years of presidents who were/are clueless in using the military, we need someone who does understand what it means to send the armed forces into harms way. 

I want what and who is best for the country, and Obama isn't it.  If you still want to call me a racist, go ahead.  I've been called worse.  You can call me anything you want as long as you don't call me late for dinner.

That sound you heard was the sighs of regret from the guys at work.  Last week, we got word that effective Labor Day, even the men who do not have any customer contact must start wearing neckties.  Now, this isn't enough for most of us to start looking for other work, but it is very disappointing.  A lot of us are going to need to buy new shirts and ties.  It's been over two years since I last wore a tie and it has been a great two years.  Don't get me wrong, I still appreciate my job, enjoy the work I do and like the people with whom and for whom I work.  I just HATE neckties.  Oh, well, they do keep gravy from staining your shirt.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/...

I'm sure glad Obama is getting first class foreign policy advice.  Certainly a presidential candidate couldn't do better than George Clooney!  Let's see, it could be George as Secretary of State and perhaps Brad Pitt as Secretary of Defense.  I'm glad I'm old.  I don't think the country has much future left.  For those of you with kids, they will grow up in an America vastly different from the one in which I grew up.

 

Your poll question about who is right, Russia or Georgia, or the third option, they both should quit fighting needs a fourth option.  I think this conflict offers the United States the perfect opportunity to butt out and recognize it's none of our business.

I hope enough people buy cars from Quality Suzuki that they can afford to make a new commercial.  Their grand opening commercial has to be the longest running commercial in  the history of car dealerships.  C'mon guys, a little variety would be appreciated. 

I keep seeing stories in the blotter about people being arrested for possession of illegal drugs in a drug free zone.  Now, since possession of illegal drugs ANYWHERE is already illegal, it does my heart good to know that possession of illegal drugs in a drug free zone is illegaler.  When it comes to common sense, this is right up there with hate crime where it is somehow worse to beat up someone you hate than -- oh, I don't know -- beating up someone you like?

Congress has passed and President Bush says he'll sign a bill authorizing $48 billion for AIDS relief and the lifting of the ban of foreigners traveling into the U.S. who have HIV/AIDS.  That $48 billion is a lot of money and could do a  lot of good here at home for American citizens who don't have health insurance.  I'm not real thrilled with lifting the ban on travel into the country by people who have AIDS.   I am afraid that many will end up in the health care system here, rather than back home.  I tell you, seems like every time I hear a story that has Bush's name in it, I look more forward to the day he leaves office.  I admit I voted for him, and considering the choices I had, might still vote for him given the same circumstances.  But, he has turned out to be the biggest dissappointment I have ever seen in a public official.  January can't get here fast enough to suit me. 

It seems the authorities have discovered the "blonde, blue eyed, 14 year old girl whose call for help set off the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints raids that led to the removal of hundreds of children from their parents by CPS.  Only thing is, she ain't blonde, blue eyed, OR 14 years old.  She doesn't even live in Texas.  Her NEXT address, however should be in Texas for about twenty years.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/...

 

Five years ago, 19 people died horribly in the trailer of a truck that was suppposed to take them to Houston.  That was a tragedy of major proportions and highlighted the dangers faced by people sneaking into the country illegally.  BUT, it was five years ago and the Advocate has been running stories about it for weeks now.  You would think it was a breaking news event rather than a rehash of a five year old story.  I believe a remembrance article on the anniversary is appropriate, but I don't understand front page stories for weeks.  Is it a slow news cycle, or do newspapers have "sweeps weeks" like television stations? 

When the cameras were installed to control the traffic lights on the streets that intersect with Loop 463, I thought they might be a good idea -- if they work.  The cameras at Mockingbird and Sam Houston are a waste of money.  For sometime now on my way to work I've been frustrated by waiting at a red light on Mockingbird while almost non-existant traffic on Sam Houston has a green.  This morning was the last straw.  The green for Sam Houston lasted one minute twenty seconds and seven cars passed while traffic stacked up on Mockingbird, especially in the left turn lane.  I don't know how much money was spent on this control system, but it was too much for the benefit they might provide.  Surely the city can get someone to do something about this set of cameras and the lights they are supposed to control.  Until then, I'll take Guy Grant from Mockingbird to Navarro.