Little Bunny Foo Foo

Everything in Moderation

I had a conversation recently with a man named Charles Nichols, of the California Right to Carry.  Nichols is a great example of the depths the GOP has sunken to. Through the course of the dialogue between me and Charles Nichols, he revealed his true colors by referring to some members of the Republican Party as RINO's, which refers to certain members of the GOP as "Republican In Name Only".

That term, RINO, really highlights the problem the Republican Party is facing today. Since the early 90's, they have decided to become a radical, ultra right-wing party, pledging their allegiance to the worst of the corporationists and the radical religious groups in our country, and over the last 10 years or so, have been on  a mission to force the moderates out of the party.  Because of the success of that mission, today, the bulk of the Republican party looks alot more like Michele Bauchman, Allen West, Rick Santorum, and Todd Akin than it does Olympia Snow, or even Ronald Reagan. When the majority of your supporters resemble Michele Bauchman instead of Ronald Reagan, that should be a great indication you have a serious problem.  [By the way, while we're on the topic of Santorum, try googling it, it's fun]   

But today's GOP has been living in a fantasy land of denial and self delusion, partially helped out by their cheerleaders at Fox News. Their self delusion is so deep, they actually believe Romney is a moderate, and they lost the election because they ran a candidate that is too moderate.  Really, I'm not making this up.  It makes you wonder if they started lighting up before recreational marijuana use began to become decriminalized last week.

The truth is, while Romney is skilled at acting like a moderate, there is nothing moderate about him. He is a hybrid Republican. A combination of two of the worst parts of American citizenry: He's both a corproationist, and a radical religious nut job.  Romney ties together the two radical wings of the Republican party better than anyone since Bush Jr, except unlike the Bush the second, Romney is extremely smart and shrewd.

The country as a whole, however, isn't any more like the radical republicans angry at the moderates they call RINO's, than they are like the radical democrats that get so frustrated with their own moderates, which they call, "Blue Dog Democrats".  Almost all of us lie somewhere in the middle, either slightly right of center, or slightly left.  Americans are much more like RINO's and Blue Dogs, than the GOP realizes, and not recognizing that will be the kiss of death for their party, relegating them to the status of a weak, regional party.

If either party wakes up from their self imposed delusion and realizes we are a country of moderates flanked by some very loud radicals, instead of their current view, that we are a country of radicals plagued by the existence of some moderates, then they can forge a bi-partisan coalition that can successfully govern for decades.

Gun Toting Liberal on Facebook

I just came across something new that I thought looked interesting.  I'm going to follow their page and see if they have anything worthwhile to say...  So far so good.  :)

Happy Veterans Day!

November 11th every year is always celebrated with a parade that few people show up to, a few patriotic commercials, a free entree at Applebees, and for a fortunate few, a day off work.

The National Postal Mail Handlers Union got it right in a commercial I saw on TV this morning when they said our veterans don't want a parade when they come home, they want a job.

The unemployment rate for Veterans is 6.7% on veterans day this year (that figure doesn't include long term unemployed or under employed).  If you really want to do something nice for a veteran this year, hire one...  When you hire them, pay them a living wage with medical and dental benefits.

If you're not in a position to hire a veteran this year, celebrate veterans day by volunteering at your local shelter or soup kitchen.  In 2009, over 75,000 veterans were homeless.  

Celebrate veterans day by serving those who have sacrificed so much by serving you.

Many Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day America sets aside to honor American military personnel who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained from combat. That's not quite true. Memorial Day is the day set aside to honor America's war dead.

Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors ALL American veterans, both living and dead. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for dedicated and loyal service to their country. November 11 of each year is the day that we ensure veterans know that we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they have made in their lives to keep our country free.

If you'd really like to do something for veterans, hire a veteran, feed a veteran, or hug a veteran...  That's what they really need.

Thoughts on Corporations Impact on the Enviornment

Q.   That's unbelievable!  Why do we continue to shit right where we eat?

A.  Because there are "billions of dollars of business yet to be done" with anything involving "natural resources"...

Q.  We can't put all the blame on corporations, they are just doing what they do. They exist to make money. Would you blame a rattle snake for biting you? That's their nature. I blame us, for allowing the corporations to operate with impunity without any financial consequence for the damage they cause the rest of us in the name of shareholder profit. That's what government is supposed to be used for, instead of dictating to us or marital and medical choices.

A.   Easier? I think it may be the ONLY way to solve the problem. Right now the government's being corrupted by those greedy fucks trying to tell people that "regulation is evil" and holding up cases of batshit-insane regulations (e.g. a classic case of a milk spill being regulated like an oil spill). Then people vote against regulations - like CA did in voting against GMO labeling - and everyone loses...

Q.  I suggest it should be the only way to solve the problem.  

Charles Nichols - California Right To Carry

What a disappointment! Charles Nichols, founder/organizer of California Right To Carry, while he may be doing good work with regards to suing the state over the prohibition of concealed carry, and open unloaded carry, turns out is a grade A #1 douche bag.

Right before the election, he decided to pimp his favorite candidate on the California Right To Carry Facebook Page, and when I responded with an opinion he didn't like, he deleted my posts and banned me from posting to the site.

You know your position is weak and your arguments are flawed when you can't allow anyone to see them challenged on your facebook page.

And to think I was going to open my wallet and send him a donation to help pay for the court case he's fighting.  I'm glad I hadn't sent it yet.

That guy is a joke.

You can see the conversation in the photo below.  When he refers to TB, he's talking to me.  All my posts were deleted.  I wish I had anticipated that and captured a picture to post here before he deleted my posts.  I should have known he was weak enough to pull something like that.

Thoughts on Government Assistance Programs

There is some abuse and some gaming the system for sure, but I can assure you, their lives suck as a result. They are not living high on the hog, enjoying all their "free stuff".  The truth is they are limiting their entire life with the choices they are making. That's the punishment they deserve for their poor choices. 

Are we, in order to spite a few scumbags, to deprive those who need help to educate themselves and/or their children so they can have the opportunity to contribute to our communities and our economies and create a better life for themselves and their children?

Why on earth could we ever begin to consider to raise taxes on the poor and middle class, or consider cutting benefits or entitlement programs for the middle class, or aid for the poor, without first cutting the BILLIONS of dollars GIVEN to EXTREMELY WEALTHY corporations EVERY YEAR in the form of TAX SUBSIDIES?  Does that really reflect our values as Americans?