My congressman is indeed nuts . . .

I just don't see how Alan Grayson was ever elected to public office in the first place, but we've been stuck with his "representation" of this little corner of heaven for the better part of the worst year and a half we've seen since the Great Depression.

I cringe every time I see his goofball image pop-up on a tv screen, because I know he's going to say something even more preposterous and embarassing than he has already done to bring shame on his Central Florida constituents.

Well, the latest shenanigans invaded my Sunday routine when he got his mug on my favorite CBS morning show.

Now, I realize that a lot of folks around here depend on the tourits industry, and they've been suffering greatly during the ObamaNation's lurch toward socialism.

Perhaps that is why Mr. Grayson was on the airwaves this morning, pimping his latest scheme to mandate paid vacations?

I know, I know. I'm a Grinch. But, can somebody out there explain to me just when exactly did it become the purview of the federal government of the United States of America to decree what has always been a "perk" voluntarily agreed-upon in the free market would henceforth be an entitlement?!

What's that? Oh . . . yes . . . I suppose January 2009 WOULD be a likely timeframe . . .

And, then there were FOUR?!

The political scuttlebutt around this little corner of heaven is that former State Senate Majority Leader Dan Webster will join the already crowded field of candidates in the Republican primary who are seeking to unseat the shame of Central Florida: Alan Grayson.

Nothing's official, yet. Just heard he's going to be making a statement tomorrow. But, I think we can read the tea leaves on this one . . .

Already in the race are Orlando businessman Bruce O'Donoghue; State Rep. Kurt Kelly of Ocala; and local attorney/radio show host Todd Long.

Hold on to your seats, folks! This could be a game changer!

Rights vs entitlements

What a travesty last night's vote in Congress was.

Simply put, it is the product of ignorance.

I'm not saying the perpetrators of Socialized Stealth Scare are ingorant. Far from it. Rather, the people who drink their KoolAid are the real dopes.

For instance, let's clarify the definitions of the words "right" and "entitlement."

Rights are endowed by our Creator. They are inalienable. They are NOT granted to you by the government. You are born with them.

Entitlements are simply government hand-outs. They are given or taken away at the whim of our illustrious leaders.

Of course, Socialists have been purposely using the word "right" for "entitlement" for many years, and not just as relates to Stealth Scare.

Back in the days of the late great Soviet Union, they decreed every comrade had the "right" to free food.

Those of us with a little gray hair remember how well that worked for them. Everytime we saw a news report about a grocery store in Moscow, it showed lines of people snaking around a city block. And, when the reporter asked them what they were waiting for, they never knew. They just figured since everyone else was in line . . .

Eerily similar to what's going on in the ObamaNation, no?!

I fear we have not only trashed the Constitution, but have also bankrupted ourselves and future generations . . . wonder if our unborn great-grandchildren are experiencing buyers remorse this morning?!?

I guess they're entitled to feel that way . . .

Breakfast with the candidate

Once again, our little breakfast roundtable welcomed a Congressional candidate to visit with us over our coffee and oatmeal.

Last time, it was Bruce O'Donoghue, who is seeking to unseat Alan Disgrayson in the 8th District.

Today, it was Craig Miller's turn.

Craig recently announced his candidacy in the 24th District, and faces some serious primary opponents. But, the ultimate goal is to defeat freshman Suzanne Kosmas in the general election this November.

Before entering politics, Mr. Miller was perhaps best known as the CEO of Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

But, in speaking with him this morning, I found him to be more than just a businessman with the ambition to bring some real change to Washington. I also found him to be a sincere, thoughtful, and intelligent gentleman.

Regardless of where ye socks find yourselves on the political spectrum, it's hard not to admire someone who's willing to put themselves under the level of media scrutiny that comes with running for Congress.

So, I wish Craig luck, and will be keeping a close eye on the campaign in the neighboring 24th district.

If ye socks want to learn more about the Miller campaign, check out this website:

http://www.craigmillerforcongress.com/

Who, indeed?

Congressional candidate Bruce O'Donoghue picked up two key endorsements this fine Monday morning at Four Rivers Smokehouse in Winter Park.

The first came from former U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, who has known Mr. O'Donoghue since he was in the sixth grade.

The other was made by former Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings, whose brothers went to the University of Florida with O'Donoghue.

And, yet, the guy he's campaigning to replace is pretending like he will have no real competition. When asked what he thinks of the new candidate, Alan Grayson's supporters dutifully respond, "O'Donogh-who?!"

A regular laugh riot they are, no?

I suspect, however, the joke is going to be on them come November.

That they profess not to know who O'Donoghue is only highlights how very shallow Grayson's roots are in this community.

His potential successor summarized the situation rather well. "I think that Mr. Grayson is passionate about what he believes, and his style is unique," said Mr. O'Donoghue. "But, he is somebody who doesn't represent the values of the people of Central Florida."

True.

Meet the candidate

This morning, our regular breakfast bunch was honored to welcome a special guest to the table: Bruce O'Donoghue.

As noted in a couple of posts earlier this week, Mr. O'Donoghue recently announced his candidacy for Congress.

Reading the paper, googling, and watching campaign ads on TV are the ways most of us have to learn more about the candidates whose names eventually pop-up on our ballots. But, getting to look them in the eye and ask them direct questions are rare opportunities. And, I'm glad I had both this morning.

Mr. O'Donoghue reassured me that my initial impressions of him as a serious candidate were accurate. This guy can beat Alan Grayson in the general election this fall.

Primary field narrows

Further to my post on Monday, it would appear that the crowded field of candidates who are eager to unseat our insane congressman Alan Grayson has gotten a little smaller.

Armando Gutierrez, the youthful developer and recent Harvard grad who moved to this little corner of heaven last year, decided to bow-out yesterday.

This decision came despite his great fundraising successes.

Apparently, he is putting his political ambitions on the backburner--at least temporarily--to focus his efforts on bringing a major league baseball franchise to Orlando.

I wish him luck in that endeavor.

The departure of Gutierrez leaves Bruce O'Donoghue and Kurt Kelly as the two most serious contenders in this primary . . . at least in my not-so-humble opinion.

Any more loop holes we should be aware of?!

So, the latest absurdity surrounding the Stealth Scare legislation up in DC involves the Amish.

That's right, the Amish. You know, the people who have sworn off all modern conveniences and tool around Pennsylvania in quaint little horse-drawn carriages.

We all know about the Cornhusker Kickback, whereby Senator Ben Nelson exempted his home state of Nebraska from the increased costs that the other 49 states will have to pay.

Here in Florida, our own illustrious Senator Nelson (Bill) got a similar exemption for the three southernmost (and most-Democratic) counties.

We also know about the Second Louisiana Purchase, whereby Senator Mary Landrieu netted her home state hundreds of millions of dollars to buy her vote.

We learned recently of the unions winning exemption from the new "Cadillac Tax" on their health insurance plans.

Now, we hear that the Amish are going to be exempted.

I guess my question is this: If this is such great legislation, and is going to be such a good deal for the American people, why are SO many people scrambling to find a loop hole to escape being subjected to it?!?!? Hmmmmm . . . .

Another one bites the dust

It seems none of the so-called "heavyweights" are interested in unseating Alan Grayson, the raving lunatic who hijacked Florida's 8th Congressional District last year.

First Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty bowed out of contention. Then State Rep. Steve Precourt said "no thanks" last week. And, now former Senate President Dan Webster has also declined.

This is somewhat disconcerting to yours truly, though I suppose it would be folly to nominate someone who didn't really have a fire in their belly . . . not only to defeat the blithering idiot who currently misrepresents this little corner of heaven in the vaunted halls of Congress, but to effect some real hope and change around here.

Time to start beating the bushes, I guess . . .

The real inconvenient truth

Free speech reigns in America, even in these dismal times.

There's a reason it is guaranteed in the FIRST amendment, as it is the primary cornerstone of our republic.

The odd thing is that some people think this amendment should only apply OUTSIDE of the U.S. Capitol and off the airwaves of the major networks. Or, maybe certain citizens have more of a claim to the right than others?

Inside the halls of our illustrious Congress, they would have ye socks believe that decorum and deference to the lying figurehead of a supposedly "co-equal" branch of government is more important . . .

Check your outrage at the door. Shut up. Sit quiet. And, listen to the boldest of lies as they come one after another . . .

Poppycock and piffle!

Frankly, I think we could learn a lot from our British cousins. I kinda like the raucus exchanges between the Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister.

Despite namby-pamby John McCain's assertions to the contrary, no one should apologize for or feel bad about speaking their mind in America . . . ANYWHERE or ANY TIME in America.

It may be inconvenient to the current powers-that-be, but dissension and free speech is still alive and well in this country.

Hope and change, y'all!

The "stimulus" that keeps growing, and growing, and growing . . .

Well, ye socks, I have been spending an inordinate amount of time trying to wrap my pea-picking mind around the size of the ObamaNation's "stimulus" plan.

You know the one. It fluctuates somewhere between $800,000,000,000 and $1,000,000,000,000, depending on how much more crap and nonsense our illustrious legislators are able to wedge in to the final package.

I guess I spent too many of my formative years in Texas, because my vocabulary is full of wordy witticisms that would make Dr. Phil's head spin.

One of those folksy sayings that has been on the tip of my tongue more frequently than usual is the one that goes, "The only place you'll find free cheese is in a mouse trap."

The meaning, of course, is nothing is free in this world.

And, we shouldn't be looking at this--the biggest government hi-jacking of the economy in history--as a great big freebie.

It will have some serious repercussions, not the least of which will be the astounding amount of debt our "leaders" are piling on the backs of our children, grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren.

Preserving the American Historical Record

Ok, it's not often that I ask ye socks to take action on something.

But, this is one of those times.

I'd like to ask you to contact your member of Congress, and ask them to support HR6056--the "Preserving the American Historical Record" bill.

This is a bi-partisan piece of legislation currently being co-sponsored by Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Chris Cannon (R-UT) to increase support for state and local archives, historical societies, and libraries with $50 million in annual grants to be administered by the National Archives.

For more information, including how to reach your member of Congress, go to: http://www.archivists.org/pahr

Oh, and thanks in advance for participating in this little bit of civic activism . . .

Let your voice be heard at the NARA

From previous posts, you know how I feel about the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and their efforts to both jack-up fees and change their hours of operation in what appears to be a very deliberate effort to confound family historians seeking their roots.

Well, their latest unconscionable proposal is to raise the fee for copying a Civil War pension file from $37 to a whopping $125. That's more than tripling the fee! (See http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/review/2007/0307.txt)

Now, I understand the agency has an obligation to make ends meet and operate within the budget. I can respect that. But, $125 to copy a few pages pertaining to an average American's heritage is just highway robbery.

If you agree, I would encourage you to take the following steps:

1. Go to www.regulations.gov
2. Under "Search for," select "Documents Open for Public Comment."
3. Under "Agency," select "National Archives and Records Administration."
4. Under "Document Type," select "All Document Types."
5. In the "Keyword or ID" field, type "NARA-07-0001-0001."
6. Select "Exact Phrase."
7. Click the "Submit" button.

And, if you really want to be a proactive, irate citizen, write your members of Congress at: http://www.house.gov/writerep