George Washington called the troops together at Valley Forge to tell them he had good news and bad news. First the good news. Today you all get a change of underwear. The bad news, Smith, you change with Jones, Davis, you change with Evans, etc.
That’s the message today with this column. I have both good news and bad news. First the good news. The Supreme Court had held, in a five to four split, that the second amendment to the Constitution is in fact valid and we the people of this great country have the right to keep and bear arms. But Ron, what on earth could be bad news after that, you ask? The bad news is that on our Supreme Court we have four individuals who cannot read. Either they cannot read or they are just plain, complete idiots. There is no way that any person with an ounce of sense and judgment could find any other way but to agree with the majority opinion in this case. The language of the second amendment is crystal clear and unambiguous. The authors of this amendment meant it and clearly laid out the fact that Americans have the right to arm themselves.
There are many reasons for this right to be a part of our Constitution but I will not use this column to go into them. This column has another purpose. That purpose is to once again point out the importance of elections.
With this decision by the Court, we came within one vote of the destruction of the Constitution of the United States of America. That’s right, one vote. So you don’t think who is elected to the Congress or the White House is important? This should for now and forevermore clearly prove that importance.
The Mayor of Chicago has decided that they will just re-write their ordinance to further challenge this Court decision. People like Daley just don’t get it. Gun control laws do nothing to prevent bad guys from getting guns. They only make their good citizens vulnerable. Here’s the rule. The only way to stop a gun is with a gun. If the thugs and gang bangers in Chicago had to face armed citizens they may well be a bit more cautious. The Daleys and the Bloombergs of this country will probably never get it. They are just political animals who play on the sympathy of what they believe to be their base with no regard to the Constitutional rights of all the citizens. To hell with the Constitution, let’s just put into place “feel good” legislation that will guarantee my re-election.
I am issuing a challenge to all of you who read this. Let us get rid of these morons who would re-arrange the laws of this country to suit themselves. A five to four decision is just too close for comfort. Sure, America won this one but what is going to happen the next time? How long will it take for another group of so-called do-gooders to bring another lawsuit? Will this country be fortunate enough to have in place a Supreme Court that is composed of true Americans or will it be packed with political animals from the left hell-bent on destroying this country and our Constitution? As for me, I don’t want to be around for that.
I hope you will take to heart this message and spread the word that we came within an inch of Constitutional destruction. Next time we may not be so lucky. In the meantime, keep your powder dry. Oh, and keep an extra set of underwear nearby. You never know.
Ron Scarbro June 29, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
THE BLAME GAME
(The following was published in the Newsleader on June 25, 2010)
Barak Obama is no more responsible for the problem in the Gulf of Mexico than George Bush was for Hurricane Katrina. For some reason the media seems to believe that constant screaming about this oil spill will somehow take care of it. The Congress, in their questionable wisdom, has held hearings where BP’s CEO Hayward was “raked over the coals” and “taken to the woodshed” as a punishment for BP’s actions. Did any of this stop the oil spill? Did the hearings clean up any of the beaches? Was anything positive accomplished by these immature reactions? Clearly the answer is no.
This is called the “blame game”. One political party thinks they might get an advantage over the other party if they can somehow taint them with the latest crisis. I tried to watch some of the hearings and to be honest, they were tiring. They were ridiculous. We had bombastic loud mouths from both parties looking for TV face time at the expense of an individual who seemed unconcerned and totally unaffected by the attacks. All the while, nothing was done to take care of the problem.
As a private citizen here is what I want from anyone who can accomplish it, PLUG THE DAMN LEAK!!!! After it is repaired, then we can set about affixing blame and securing financial solutions for both the environment and the people who have been adversely affected. Everything is not about politics. Everything is not about getting an advantage. Sometimes it is just about dealing with the situation until it is solved.
This should not be news to you. We are a petroleum based economy. Most of our products and services are in some way related to oil. From the food we eat to the cars we drive to the clothes we wear to the medicines we take. That is just how it is. As for me, I would love to have alternate forms of energy. I would love to tell the Middle East and Venezuela to stuff it. I dislike the smell of burning oil. I detest the sight of diesel trucks fouling the air with their exhaust pipes belching black smoke. I hate being at the mercy of two bit dictators from third world countries. The fact is we have little choice right now. Hopefully, at sometime in the future, we won’t be so dependent on petroleum, but alas that is well into the future. Today we must do what is necessary to take care of our existing needs. We can’t wish it away.
I would love to never have to tempt fate by drilling in the ocean or in the wild areas of this great country, but the facts are we need the oil. We can’t just snap our fingers and have things suddenly change.
I don’t have the solutions, but I know what doesn’t work. Television broadcasts of inane hearings starring your favorite Congressperson who cares only about getting publicity on camera is an example of what doesn’t fix anything. Twenty-four hour coverage of a spill pouring out into the environment doesn’t plug the hole.
The time has long since come for the adults to step up and deal with the reality of the situation. Stop the poisonous rhetoric. Get the experts together, not in some cozy air conditioned hotel, but at the scene of the disaster. Come up with the fix and don’t leave until you do. This ain’t politics. This is real life. Set about to immediately inspect every single well currently pumping in the Gulf. If they have the necessary systems in place to deal with a similar problem, let them produce. If they don’t, shut them down until they do.
One final thought. Any regulator or official or politician who is found to be in bed with any oil company should be prosecuted without mercy. The facts are clear. Oil companies have been pumping for years with few major incidents. When properly regulated and inspected, they should be able to continue. We need them. We need their product. Knee-jerk reaction accomplishes nothing. We need intelligent well thought out solutions. It is way past time.
Ron Scarbro June 19, 2010
Barak Obama is no more responsible for the problem in the Gulf of Mexico than George Bush was for Hurricane Katrina. For some reason the media seems to believe that constant screaming about this oil spill will somehow take care of it. The Congress, in their questionable wisdom, has held hearings where BP’s CEO Hayward was “raked over the coals” and “taken to the woodshed” as a punishment for BP’s actions. Did any of this stop the oil spill? Did the hearings clean up any of the beaches? Was anything positive accomplished by these immature reactions? Clearly the answer is no.
This is called the “blame game”. One political party thinks they might get an advantage over the other party if they can somehow taint them with the latest crisis. I tried to watch some of the hearings and to be honest, they were tiring. They were ridiculous. We had bombastic loud mouths from both parties looking for TV face time at the expense of an individual who seemed unconcerned and totally unaffected by the attacks. All the while, nothing was done to take care of the problem.
As a private citizen here is what I want from anyone who can accomplish it, PLUG THE DAMN LEAK!!!! After it is repaired, then we can set about affixing blame and securing financial solutions for both the environment and the people who have been adversely affected. Everything is not about politics. Everything is not about getting an advantage. Sometimes it is just about dealing with the situation until it is solved.
This should not be news to you. We are a petroleum based economy. Most of our products and services are in some way related to oil. From the food we eat to the cars we drive to the clothes we wear to the medicines we take. That is just how it is. As for me, I would love to have alternate forms of energy. I would love to tell the Middle East and Venezuela to stuff it. I dislike the smell of burning oil. I detest the sight of diesel trucks fouling the air with their exhaust pipes belching black smoke. I hate being at the mercy of two bit dictators from third world countries. The fact is we have little choice right now. Hopefully, at sometime in the future, we won’t be so dependent on petroleum, but alas that is well into the future. Today we must do what is necessary to take care of our existing needs. We can’t wish it away.
I would love to never have to tempt fate by drilling in the ocean or in the wild areas of this great country, but the facts are we need the oil. We can’t just snap our fingers and have things suddenly change.
I don’t have the solutions, but I know what doesn’t work. Television broadcasts of inane hearings starring your favorite Congressperson who cares only about getting publicity on camera is an example of what doesn’t fix anything. Twenty-four hour coverage of a spill pouring out into the environment doesn’t plug the hole.
The time has long since come for the adults to step up and deal with the reality of the situation. Stop the poisonous rhetoric. Get the experts together, not in some cozy air conditioned hotel, but at the scene of the disaster. Come up with the fix and don’t leave until you do. This ain’t politics. This is real life. Set about to immediately inspect every single well currently pumping in the Gulf. If they have the necessary systems in place to deal with a similar problem, let them produce. If they don’t, shut them down until they do.
One final thought. Any regulator or official or politician who is found to be in bed with any oil company should be prosecuted without mercy. The facts are clear. Oil companies have been pumping for years with few major incidents. When properly regulated and inspected, they should be able to continue. We need them. We need their product. Knee-jerk reaction accomplishes nothing. We need intelligent well thought out solutions. It is way past time.
Ron Scarbro June 19, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
JUNE MORON OF THE MONTH
You've all heard this. "It is better to sit around looking like an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." I mention this because it perfectly describes our honoree for June. I know that it's early in the month but this couldn't wait. This month's choice for "Moron of the Month" is none other than aging rocker, Paul McCartney.
I have written before about so-called celebrities who use their "star status" to inflict upon the rest of the world their usually lame opinions and political preferences. The fact is it's a free country. Americans can and do opine on a regular basis about all things which might disturb them. From the Dixie Chicks, to Bruce Springsteen to John Cougar Mellencamp. I don't have to like their opinions and I don't have to buy their music. The fact is I do like the Dixie Chicks but I do not go to them as an intellectual or political exercise. I do not look to them for political opinion or solutions to world problems. No I look to them for music, plain and simple.
So, you ask, what is my problem with Sir Paul? He was honored recently at the Library of Congress with the Gershwin award for song writing. In accepting this award on American soil this British subject said that it was a great honor to accept this award and particularly in the Library of Congress. His comments were something like this. It is good we now have, after eight years, a President who knows what a library is. Paul, Obama is President of the US, not Great Britain. He is not your President. Further, George Bush was not your President either. You are not a part of we. I don't know or care what your educational background is but I'm pretty sure it doesn't include an MBA from Harvard. You and your pathetic liberal friends are getting very tiresome with your continued criticism of a man whose shoes you couldn't shine.
To me this is yet another example of the fact that money and success in a particular field of entertainment as well as heavy involvement in many different types of illegal drugs, does not infer upon anyone intelligence or class. McCartney made millions selling records to Americans. Now as a senior citizen, he seems to believe that he is also somehow qualified to instruct us on whom we should elect as our leaders. Sir Paul has done more to isolate himself from his so-called fan base in one quick moment than all he has done in a lifetime of performing. Just another pitiful moron.
Comments like McCartney's and others are not funny. They're not evidence of intellect and they certainly are not examples of class. The American people will elect their leaders and they will change that leadership when they feel so inclined. The absolute last thing we need is assistance from an aging has-been rock and roll artist, especially when he is not even a citizen of this country.
For the record, I believe we Americans have the absolute right to criticize our government and our leaders. I believe we have the absolute right to opine in writing even if it shows the world that we might just be morons too. After all, I am offering by this writing my opinion. That is my right. As my reader you have the right to accept or reject my opinions. It is another matter entirely though, when a citizen from another country comes here to American soil and criticizes our government. Whether that criticism comes from a rock and roll singer or a Mexican President, it shows no class.
Ron Scarbro June 9, 2010
I have written before about so-called celebrities who use their "star status" to inflict upon the rest of the world their usually lame opinions and political preferences. The fact is it's a free country. Americans can and do opine on a regular basis about all things which might disturb them. From the Dixie Chicks, to Bruce Springsteen to John Cougar Mellencamp. I don't have to like their opinions and I don't have to buy their music. The fact is I do like the Dixie Chicks but I do not go to them as an intellectual or political exercise. I do not look to them for political opinion or solutions to world problems. No I look to them for music, plain and simple.
So, you ask, what is my problem with Sir Paul? He was honored recently at the Library of Congress with the Gershwin award for song writing. In accepting this award on American soil this British subject said that it was a great honor to accept this award and particularly in the Library of Congress. His comments were something like this. It is good we now have, after eight years, a President who knows what a library is. Paul, Obama is President of the US, not Great Britain. He is not your President. Further, George Bush was not your President either. You are not a part of we. I don't know or care what your educational background is but I'm pretty sure it doesn't include an MBA from Harvard. You and your pathetic liberal friends are getting very tiresome with your continued criticism of a man whose shoes you couldn't shine.
To me this is yet another example of the fact that money and success in a particular field of entertainment as well as heavy involvement in many different types of illegal drugs, does not infer upon anyone intelligence or class. McCartney made millions selling records to Americans. Now as a senior citizen, he seems to believe that he is also somehow qualified to instruct us on whom we should elect as our leaders. Sir Paul has done more to isolate himself from his so-called fan base in one quick moment than all he has done in a lifetime of performing. Just another pitiful moron.
Comments like McCartney's and others are not funny. They're not evidence of intellect and they certainly are not examples of class. The American people will elect their leaders and they will change that leadership when they feel so inclined. The absolute last thing we need is assistance from an aging has-been rock and roll artist, especially when he is not even a citizen of this country.
For the record, I believe we Americans have the absolute right to criticize our government and our leaders. I believe we have the absolute right to opine in writing even if it shows the world that we might just be morons too. After all, I am offering by this writing my opinion. That is my right. As my reader you have the right to accept or reject my opinions. It is another matter entirely though, when a citizen from another country comes here to American soil and criticizes our government. Whether that criticism comes from a rock and roll singer or a Mexican President, it shows no class.
Ron Scarbro June 9, 2010
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