SHOT DEAD

SHOT DEAD! (Green Bay Press Gazette)

Well I guess it had to happen and I'm proud and profoundly sad at the same time. I'm talking about the shooting death of 82 year old Ralph Slattery Wednesday morning around 2:00 A.M. west of Marinette, Wisconsin in the town of Beaver.

I guess I'm proud because a person 82 years of age can still pose a challenge of danger to Police officers, and saddened because it cost the man his life. The actions of Slattery undoubtedly cost the man his life, and the Marinette County Sheriff officer probably had no choice in the matter. I wasn't there, so the only first hand information that I have is what the deputy reported.

The incident occurred early Wednesday morning when Slattery's wife called 911 reported a domestic violence issue with her husband, who had threatened her with his shotgun. There had never been such a call from the  address, and no other calls to 911 except for medical assistance.

I don't question the actions of the officer, like he has stated, "I had no choice," when apparently Slattery "chambered" a round in his shotgun and swing it towards the officer. The sheriff's officer let loose with three rounds from his department issued .223-caliber rifle.

All three rounds struck the elder Slattery, one in the stomach and two in the chest. According to the county coroner, "death came quickly" for the 82 year old man. The 10 year veteran of the Marinette County sheriff's department who shot his weapon and killed Slattery, was the senior officer at the scene and was in charge.

Not being a gun guy, I had to look up what a .223 caliber rifle looked like and from what I saw and read, the N.R.A would be proud of the Marinette County Sheriffs department's choice of weapon. Actually one shot from the lethal appearing rifle probably would have done the job on Slattery, but three was probably better.

I am in no way calling into question the validity of the officers decision to shoot Slattery, once the man came out of his house with a gun, rather the method and the reason for the confrontation. Mrs. Slattery was out of the house, was safe and her husband was no further threat to her well being. In addition he was not a threat to the officers at the scene, they were behind the garage.

Slattery was on his own property and by 2:00 A.M. the situation had been basically defused, so why didn't the county sheriff's officers simply wait the old fart out, I'm sure it was almost his nap time. Why wasn't pepper spray used, way wasn't a Taser used. Wasn't there any other way to keep an old 82 year old man alive?

The county sheriff Jerry Sauve has said that the correct procedures were followed, the procedure was to "shoot to stop the threat." Let that sink in for a minute....."shoot to stop the threat." Actually that means that a threat is "in the eye of the beholder," so there really isn't a "procedure." Although cops are under a microscope, from the glare of community scrutiny, to media probes, police agencies operate usually with impunity for their actions.

There jobs are thankless, dangerous and stress filled, they can be spit at, urinated on and worse, during the course of their duties. I would not want to be a police officer on any level, of any kind, I am quite happy to let those folks that seem eager for the job, to have the job.

That said, when I see a county sheriff conduct a press conference with an American flag in the background, it makes me wonder why that is, unless you think that an American flag isn't an intended prop. To me, whatever the top Marinette County cop says is somehow tainted by that single "backdrop" and no matter what the message, it is somewhat convoluted, it's more like a photo opp.

In American, there are hundreds of deadly police shootings every year, there are dozens of lethal Tazer incidents and thousands of brutal physical attacks on prisoners  by police. In addition  the dozens of corrupt cops that are exposed every year helps to paint law enforcement in not the best color possible.

Copping in the United States is not rocket science, nor brain surgery, it's upholding the law of the land, and helping little Kathy's cat out of a three. It's helping people against themselves, those crazy decisions that are made in the heat of the moment, or in a drug or alcohol induced fog. Police officers are a necessary evil in our society, not so much to protect us from others, but from ourselves.

And cops are no different, they just have  added authority that we as citizens have basically accorded them. Cops need to under public scrutiny and they should welcome it, but sadly most don't, and therein lies the problem. Most of these guys approach their work the same as anybody else, "it's a job," they want to get their 20 or 30 years in and retire to there upstate summer digs.

Remember during the course of your duties, "Mr. Police Officer," that guys just like me, all over the country are not taking what you say as gospel, we demand a clear and concise reports on ever incident, especially incidents that take what we regard as  most precious, a life. 

NATO GETS A BLAST!

NATO GETS A BLAST! (MSNBC.COM)

America's military alliance with Europe, the cornerstone of U.S. security policy for 6 decades faces a "dim If not dismal" future, according to United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a blunt speech delivered today in Brussels.

It was Gate's final policy speech as Pentagon Chief and in it, Gates questioned the viability of  NATO, saying that it's members "penny pinching and lack of political will, could hasten the end of U.S. support. It remained me of the rich kid with the only baseball on the block, and if the game didn't follow his rules, or go his way, he would take the ball and go home.

"Future U.S. political leaders, those whom the Cold War was not their formative experience, may not see the return on America's investment in NATO worth the cost. The United States funds around 25% of the 28 nation member military budget.

Gates has made no secret of his frustration with NATO bureaucracy and restrictions many European governments place on their military participation in the Afghanistan war. Early in his tenure as Pentagon chief, Gates ruffled NATO feathers when he challenged them to contribute more front-line troops that yielded few contributions.

Gates further stated that he felt that NATO was falling down on it's obligations and hoisting too much of the hard work on the U.S. Gates also pointed out his perceptions of weakness and failure in the two NATO main military operations at the present time, Afghanistan and Libya.

To increase, increasingly precious funds on behalf of nations that seem unwilling to devote the necessary resources or make the necessary changes, to be serious and capable partners in their own defense, are being met with a dwindling appetite and patience in the United States Congress to continue asking the American taxpayer to fund such an alliance.

The United States has tens of thousands of troops based in Europe, whose role is no longer to guard against cold war, but to train with European forces and promote what has been lacking for decades, the ability of Europeans to go to war alongside the U.S. in a coherent way.

The war in Afghanistan is being conducted under NATO auspices, and is, according to Gates, a prime example of U.S. frustration at European inability to provide the required resources. Despite more then 2 million uniformed troops, NATO has struggled  to sustain and control a deployment of between 25 and 45 thousand troops. There is also a lack of crucial support assets such as helicopters, transport aircraft, maintenance, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and much more.

I find Gates remarks interesting, rather unrealistic and caustic to say the least. I am shocked that he, "Gates" didn't include Iraq in with his comments about NATO. I have never been a booster of the North American Treaty Organization, although I do feel that it serves a purpose in 21st. century world affairs.

Like most people, I knew little about NATO, and what it's mission might be. I have read different accounts of what NATO is, the good points and the bad, so I thought I'd look the organization up and get a first hand look at what it's all about.

In Washington D.C. on April 4th. 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty was formed, members included Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark  and Iceland. The North American Treaty was not the first formed allegiance to safeguard against attack from an aggressor nation, but the treaty did add membership and clout.

The Treaty of Brussels was signed in March of 1947 by Brussels, Luxembourg, France and the United Kingdom and was considered the precursor to the NATO agreement. The treaty and the Soviet Berlin Blockade led to the creation of the Western European Union Defense Organization in September of 1948. However participation by the United States was thought necessary in order to counter the military of the Soviet Union, and talks began almost immediately with America.

The mission of the NATO member nations was to "reaffirm their faith in the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and their desire to live in peace with all peoples and all governments. They are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. They seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area. They are resolved to unite their efforts for collective defense and for the preservation of peace and security. They therefore agreed to this North Atlantic Treaty.

Clearly the mission of the treaty and the initial 12 member nations was not to make war, but rather to react to aggression attack whenever and wherever it might happen. A preemptive action was nowhere in any of the articles of the treaty. Countries were not allowed to make war on other nations for a "perceived" threat.

Robert Gates was brought up in the Cold War, the same as me, yet he chose a much different path then I did with regards to how one should conduct his life. Robert Gates was involved with the C.I.A. and now the defense department. His life's income is predicated on war, on conflict, on secrets, on forcing his way and ideals on others, at any cost.

To me, Robert Gates is everything that is wrong with the United States. He feels that, as a nation, we have Devin rights, we have an obligation to spread our brand of government, our economic system and probably even our religious beliefs. Robert Gates didn't start out like he now is, somewhere along the line he lost sight of the real value of life, all kinds of life and for that, I feel sorry for the man.



LEND ME MONEY RIGHT NOW!

LEND ME MONEY RIGHT NOW! (Frazer Chronicles)
Clearly 90% of us don't know a dam thing about big money, banking,  the economy of our country, or the premise that we survive,  as a nation on credit, vast credit, deficit spending and a pay-check, to pay-check mentality. Hey baby, it's the American way, Capitalism, the greatest country on the face of the planet.

We are the "I want it right now" generation.....actually several generations of "I want it right now." The "lend me money right now" no matter the consequences, no matter the payments, or "how the hell am I going to pay it back."

As a nation, we have caved into the notion that we all should own homes, have 2 cars, 3 televisions, at least a bath and a half, and 2.5 kids. Back in 2003, I can remember a speech by President George W. Bush, say "he wanted everybody to own a home," it was the best part of the American dream.

By 2008 a survey discovered that close to 75% of American families owned their homes, or more correctly, they and the bank. Everybody now knows what happened between 2008 and 2011, defaults, foreclosures and the end of a big part of the American dream.

When all of this house buying was going on, I, as an interested by-stander watched and wondered where and when it would all end, this "rush" to buy homes. Some of the people that bought homes, people that I casually knew, people that had no business in their own homes,  with all the responsibility that goes along with such a position, kept right on getting financial approval and continued buying houses.

I know the owner of one of the biggest home finance companies in Green Bay, and I asked him where he thought the bubble was going and when it would be over. His answer, "it won't, it'll keep going on." I couldn't believe that he would think that, much less say it, I am in no way an expert on loans, banking procedures, or real estate practices, but I knew it had to end, the only thing I didn't know was how it would effect the country. I didn't know that lending practices were so fractured that home ownership would bring the country to the brink of monetary ruin.

Next was governmental bank bailouts worth billions and billions of dollars, basically on the grounds that the bailout funds would stimulate lending to business and consumers alike. But it didn't and hasn't. Recent reports from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insures bank deposits and manages failing banks, shows that bank lending declined again in the 1st. quarter of 2011. in fact, since 2008, loans outstanding has fallen in 10 of 11 quarters, and the only reason it grew in the 1st. quarter last year was an accounting change.

What we had, in simple terms "was a banker's best friend, the Federal Government, giving the banks a soft landing for idiotic practices." Lending money to people that had no clue how they would ever repay the money that they borrowed." It was, in effect, a handout, a way for people to get into a house without the possibility of ever paying it off and banks and some others making lots of money.

Purchasing a home is probably the biggest of  the many American myth that there is. Let me explain the ways that home ownership is a myth:
1. You buy a 3 bedroom house with a bath and a half, a 1 stall garage and a full basement for $150 grand.
2. You have a house payment for 30 years at $1000 a month, $360 grand
3. Insurance, $1200 per year x 30 years, $36,000
4. Tax, $3000 per year x 30 years, $90,000
5. Upkeep, $1000 per year x 30, $30,000
That all totals up to a tidy half a million dollars over the 30 year life of the house payment contract, whether your well, ill, or die, "I think they make you pay even after death."

Now if you rent, say at $1000 per month for those same 30 years.....$360,000, a considerable savings over the 30 years, plus you can move on after either your lease is up, or if you get a job promotion that would require a move and breaking the lease.

I am not advocating that people rent for their entire lives, I am a home owner, but I do realize that there are advantages to renting, the same as leasing a car over ownership. I'm way past the age of worrying about whether I own or rent. In fact, with my bad back, it's sounding and looking better with each passing month.

I for one do not necessarily blame the lending institutions for watching who gets a loan in this day and age,  with the bubble burst still fresh in their minds. Banks make their livings on lending money, not on savings and checking accounts, so for them not to want to lend money is like McDonald's not wanting to sell Big Mac's.

Maybe it's time that we all re-evaluated how we do business, and possibly should start spending as we go, less credit, like some of our folks did, although they suffered through the greatest financial depression in this country's history. However it too was triggered by way to much credit and greed, just like the "o8" crash. Keep $5 tucked in your sock, it'll keep you honest.

SEX!

SEX! (Frazer Chronicles)

Now that's what I'm talking about, SEX it's a great subject for many reasons, on many levels and many positions. Dogs do it, cats do it, cows do it, even insects, birds and fishes do it. Sex is the great equalizer, everybody needs sex in one way or another.

Used in the right context, it can mean different things, in different surroundings and different groups of people. There are as many ways to say the word as there are words in the English language. And you can say anything you want about the importance of sex in people's lives, but say the word in public, loud enough to be heard, and everybody turns to listen, honest, try it sometime.

Whether it's "assume the position, bang, boom, boom boom, screw, hump, get a little, some tail, or let's have sex," almost without exception, at least in America, it would be understood that a sexual act was on the speakers mind.

Women call men animals and that sex brings out that instinct in a man, my wife has said as much during our 40 something year relationship. My dear departed mother was less forgiving, she simply said "all men are disgusting animals, to be feared at all times." Of course she was saying this to my sisters, so I took her statements with a grain of salt.

You can say whatever you want to about sex, but you will have to admit that during the throes of the act, both participants are at their most venerable. Both parties are usually completely naked and their minds are elsewhere, usually in that "happy place" of ecstasy and a herd of wild horses couldn't disturb them. Ya.....I guess having sex is the most dangerous time in a couples lives, "I keep my eyes open."

I wrote a blog yesterday about United States Representative Anthony Weiner and poked all sorts of fun at him. Weiner tweeted silly images of certain parts of his body to apparently, at least some receptive women. Tony "Baloney" has maintained that he never had actual sex with any of the women, which would mark the first time in recorded history that there was a sex scandal without the actual physical act, another reason for him to just go away.

Sex scandals in politics, with regards to our elected officials has been going on forever, according to experts, "it comes with the territory." Ambitious, aggressive people apparently have excessive appetites for as many partners  sexually as they can get ahold of.

I guess that appetite might explain why not much gets done, at least constructively, in politics, everybody is pairing up for the after-hours cocktail parties, and then nightie night time at the boom boom room, huh.....I never knew.

Sex scandals are great fodder for guys like me, there's nothing better then to write a comical laced article about some dimwit that can't keep it in his pants and at ease. However, for me, as a blog writer, I can spend as much time as I want on the subject and I won't lose much coverage on political affairs, I'm independent.

During the past several years, "about 10" there have been at least 21 scandals that have cost politicians their jobs, and their voters,  their elected representatives. These folks who have broken their constituents trust through unethical activity got exactly what they deserved, the loss of their jobs, their reputation and the scorn from almost everybody in their lives. In addition, most of these men also lost their marriages and their loved one's respect for the despicable acts.

However the worst thing that they lost, the most cherished commodity that they hold to their breast was power that came with their position.  With little exception, ever politician thirsts for power and the control that comes with that power. In the end, these people feel that they are above the law, above any and all moral values that govern the rest of us.

Some guys are unbelievable, absolute studs in their porous and thirst for the extra affair just around the corner, and if men are indeed, animals, then people in power optimize that animal.  The names read like a rouge's gallery of sex offenders, not usually law breakers, but transgressors of a higher moral character then  we expect from ourselves. We  expect those people that we elect to represent us to be above reproach and unwilling to bite from the apple of  temptation.

Anybody with a name like Weiner, "you'd think" would do his level best to steer clear of any scandal where his very name could be called into play, using one of the crass colloquial meanings of that name.

Arnold Schwarzenegger "won't be back," an affair with a house servant and illegitimate birth made sure of that. I personally enjoyed Arnie is some of his movies and enjoyed the occasional comic relief spread throughout most of his movies, but gees, Arnie, not in your own house, "that's not funny."

Dominique-Strauss-Kahn is.....old and if Alzheimer's can't be used for a defense, then it can't be used in any legal case. If Dominique-Strauss tried to buy penis insurance from his personal doctor, I'm sure the member would be found to be un-insurable. I'm sure that the cleaning lady in question is mistaken with regards to "Dom's" intentions, and I'm doubly sure that she would never consent to anything as crazy as sex with the former director of the International Monetary Fund. If anything, Kahn needs a fund to pay a posy to find it.

John Ensign, former U.S. Senator from Nevada who resigned earlier this spring let the flesh completely take over his life, but he did keep his affair in the family, "kind of." He was caught "honing," (another word for boning) one of his aids wife

The 53 year old  X Senator says that his family now comes first, well, I'm dam glad to hear that, I just wonder where his priorities were during his lengthy sexual activity with his employee was going on, ah, the bliss of redemption and an understanding wife.

Silvio Berlusconi can only be called by one name and one name only, "hatchet face."  I don't care what anybody says, these foreign guys really know how to "party hardy." This guy is one for the ages, as he sponsored what is called "Bunga Bunga parties." This party involves at least 20 prostitutes surrounding Berlusconi and a few of his best friends. As the women strip in some sort of competition, with the winner getting to have sex with old hatchet face,  the rest of the men pick out their sex-mates. I've booked myself on the next airplane to Italy, and can hardy wait for the Bunga Bunga to start.

Of course Bill Clinton and J.F.K. are the standard bearers for sex scandals in the Whitehouse. Both former presidents had years of practice and although I'd rate President Kennedy as having far superior taste in their partners, I do have a semblance of respect for former President Clinton and how he technically skirted the issue of  what sex really meant, "as a word."

IT AIN'T NO BIG THING

IT AIN'T NO BIG THING! (Frazer Chronicles)

According to Anthony Weiner, "it's a frivolous thing" is how Representative Anthony Weiner, or "Tony Baloney" explained his tweeting a photo of a man's bulging boxer briefs to a 21 year old female Washington state student. "I tweeted a photograph of myself that I intended as a direct message as part of a joke to a women in Seattle."

I guess you could call this "weeny gate," or "as the bulge goes, so goes the weeny."  Finally on Monday Representative Weiner, "could he have any other name," admitted to sending the photo, after more then a week of denial. Weiner at a news conference   said that "I'm deeply regretting what I have done and I'm not resigning," he might also have regretted getting caught.

Weiner who had been seen as a raising, "no pun intended" star among Democrats, has been a leading liberal voice in the U.S. House of Representatives had been expected to run for mayor of New York City in 2013. However with this admission of foolish activity, his, "Weiner's" chances of winning a race for dog catcher has shriveled.

In his news conference, Weiner said that "he had had several relationships with women before, and since his marriage to former Hillary Clinton aid, Huma Abedlin last year. Weiner characterised his relationships as a"frivolous thing," conducted on line only. "How in hell does that work?"

Possibly he conducted all of his extra-marital escapades over the phone, or really did have long distance "tweet-twangers." However as a man who is wise to the ways of the world, I for one very much doubt Mr. Weiner's admission, I'm sure that there was personal contact at some point. 

Was it a mistake, of course not, he admitted to doing the bulge thing on numerous occasions. Was what he did illegal, I hope not, I want to tweet something myself. Should the Representative from New York State resign, well I guess that would be up to him. If it was me, I'd simply take my computer and disappear.

They say that "a picture is worth a thousand wards," but in this case, I figure that the initial discovery, then the denial, then the admission of guilt and the fall-out, will be worth at least a hundred thousand words. No matter the record of Weiner with regards to his political career, he will now be the subject of cocktail party jokes, you know, "have you heard the one about the blown Jockey shorts."


I GOT AN IDEA, LETS FAKE IT! (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Okay, picture this, "it's a bright sunny spring day, the birds are singing, the flowers are beginning to bloom and I'm listening to a ball game on the radio, when all of a sudden, the radio announcer tells me that there really isn't a ball game, the score was fictitious and the jokes on me." Is nothing secrete, it really is spring.....isn't it, and the birds are really singing.....right?

Now we come to my new worst jerk of the week and it's only Tuesday. Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader, Scott Fitzgerald has fully endorsed the idea to field a fake Democrat in recall elections against Republicans in an effort to delay the general elections.

"It gives us another month to campaign" was the statement cited by the Republican from Juneau, Wisconsin. You know, I really can't figure it out, I thought Senators, Representative, Mayors and Governors were elected to public office, to work for the public, but I guess not.

Fitzgerald is from Juneau, Wisconsin, a picturesque little community almost directly between Milwaukee and Madison and the city motto is "city with a heart, and a head for business." As many of us know, a heart and a business head don't usually go together, and Representative Fitzgerald's latest "fakey" idea only give creditability to that statement.

A quick check of Scott Fitzgerald will also give the reader a quick idea  of exactly how the Representative deals with government. Fitzgerald's younger  brother, Jeff, is an Assembly Representative from the 39th. Assembly District, and is serving as the Assembly Speaker. The Fitzgerald brothers father, Stephen, a 68 year old veteran of law enforcement was appointed by Governor Scott "Sleepy" Walker to Wisconsin's top cop spot in February, the post pays the senior a little over $105 thousand dollars a year.

To say that the Fitzgerald's, or Wisconsin's "three musketeers" have a "vested" interest in political party power in the state,  would be an understatement. All told, the father and his two sons will be hauling in well over $200 thousand dollars this year with benefits. And now Scott Fitzgerald wants to "fake candidates," so that further campaigning can go on, well,  somethings fake, and I think most of us know what it is.

Do not get me wrong, I am not accusing Republicans of doing something that the Democrats haven't done in  the past. It was despicable last year when the Dem's did the same thing, and it's just as despicable now. Lets quite these silly political games and get down to business.

YOU WANT TO CUT MY WHAT!

YOU WANT TO CUT MY WHAT! (New York Times)

It seems almost impossible and implausible, in this day of enlightened thinking, that a minority group could push it's agenda on all peoples over an issue so mundane. When the group brought up their proposal to ban the procedure in San Francisco last fall, there was a snicker, some head shaking, and the issue was brushed aside.

Nobody is laughing anymore, as last month the required 7,100 signatures needed to get the measure on the fall ballot that would make this simple and excepted medical procedure illegal within the city limits of the community. Now several other area communities are entertaining the same activism ideals as their neighboring communities.

If the minority group has it's way, this procedure, "I'll call it a Nip and Tuck job" would become illegal across the entire country. There are varying reasons for this activists group, "they prefer to be called int-activists," but without exception, they are all religious related, raising further problems with regards to those folks who watch anything remotely related to the separation of church and state.

The procedure, in it's clinical parlance is called a "circumcision of the foreskin of the penis," ugh, although disgusting, a universally excepted medical procedure for a verity of reasons, surprisingly with little or no health benefits. To be honest, during the course of my research, I figured I would find all sorts of information with regards to health and cleanliness advantages, but there virtually aren't any.

What it boils down to is that there is a perception that circumcision is accepted and expected to be done, usually days after birth. I guess what the process is, is an antiquated and possibly outdated surgical procedure that is totally unnecessary.

Do I personally think that should be either state or federal laws to prohibit the procedure, absolutely not. With further study, research and education, I do however feel that the procedure might become an elective, almost cosmetic procedure, not covered by a basic health insurance policy, but attached by a rider that would be paid for by an individual.

A study published several years ago by a British Journal of Urology found that circumcision decreased the sensitivity of the penis by as much as 75%, for me, that fact alone would make me think about any circumcisions in my family.....for my sons.

No matter the argument against why circumcisions either continuing to allow the procedure, or not, to me is irrelevant, it is not either a state or federal law, and to mandate that the procedure be against the law, especially for religious reasons is preposterous.

Although not a part of the United States Constitution, the separation of church and state was important enough to Thomas Jefferson, that he talked at length about the subject, writing that "I contemplate with sovereign reverence  that act of the whole American people which declared that the legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and state."

The 1st. amendment states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The framers of our country saw in their infinite wisdom the differences between religion, and the politics of government, like the man said, "two things you never want to argue about are religion and politics, they will get you in trouble every time."

We are now entering what I call the "silly season," a time when grown men and women forget every ounce of intellect that they might poses, throw whatever values that they have out the window, and re-create themselves as Christan's who go to church at least twice a week, teach a Sunday school class, and lead a Bible study group.

Why do these people do this, well actually they are politicians, groping for votes from the powerful religious right in the Republican party. It is a sign of the times and a sign that the religious right is gaining an ever larger slice of the political pie and a louder voice in the country. The separation of church and state is becoming a much more blurred landscape in America, and frankly, that's not good.

BUSH AND OBAMA, PEN PALS, SURELY YOU JEST! (Frazer Chronicles)

Man there's a good one, George W. Bush and Barack Obama sharing something in common, "call in the dogs, something has truly gone wrong." On May 26th. President Obama, in Paris, with some sort of teleportable pen signed into law another 4 years of the Bush administration Patriot Act, the central domestic support apparatus devised after the bombings of September 11, 2001.

When the act passed the Senate on October 25th. 2001, the vote was 98-1, the one opposing vote by non other then Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin who thought the act went to far. Unbelievably it remains to be seen if 98 senators were right and one was wrong, or that one was right, and 98 were wrong. The reason, to date the (new) Patriot Act has not been shared with the American public.

What does that mean, well for one thing, the rules can be made up as we go along and not a lawyer or judge in America will know what the hell is going on, what is legal, or illegal, what to prosecute, or what to defend.

I read a very interesting article a few years ago, the author will remain nameless because I can't remember him, but the article talked about about some of the sweeping changes that were being made by the Bush Whitehouse

It's strange what will draw two political opposites together until a person starts to look closely at how most people deal with power and it's acquisition, and how they usually won't give it up, almost at any cost. It takes extraordinary people to look past their own vanity and to see the long view and what is truly good for the people that they govern through our  system of government.

YOU WHORE YOU!

YOU WHORE YOU! (Marquette Mining Journal)

Alger County Prosecutor, Karen Bahrman has been at her job for close to 10 years and as the only county prosecutor, with a staff of just 2 secretaries, her judicial plate can be pretty full. She operates from the courthouse complex in Munising, Michigan, where the snows of winter can stay on the ground until May, when the black fly's and mosquito's take over, and can dominate the conversation. 

Usually the worst thing that happens in this sleepy eastern Upper Peninsula community of  2500 is the occasional drunk driving arrest, or a domestic violence case. But a murder case, like the one back in 2008 is an occasion seldom seen and much interest is created simply by the sheer importance of the proceedings.

The case involved Thomas and Juanita Richardson, a rocky marriage and a 140 foot fall from a cliff at Pictured Rock National Lakeshore, causing the death of Mrs. Richardson. Thomas Richardson was accused of murdering his wife and a subsequent trail found him guilty and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

An appeal, citing  misconduct by the Alger County Prosecutor, Karen Bahrman to the Michigan Supreme Court was not allowed, and the verdict was upheld, likely ending any further legal action in the case.

In a rather interesting twist in the case,  a case that had many twists, the 7 member  Michigan Supreme Court admonished the Alger County Prosecutor for a variety of  unprofessional remarks during the course of the trail.

The prosecutor's retort was directly to the point and completely unapologetic, "if they only found a few remarks that were unprofessional in the more then 6000 pages of testimony, I'm underwhelmed, I'm not devastated by the characterization."  

No matter the outcome of the trial, calling a witness for the defense a "whore," or saying the the children of the Richardson family that testified on behalf of their father as "betraying their mother, or calling another defense witness a "bottom feeder," and referring to the murder case as, "as important as September 11th. 2001 terrorist attack is, well.....laughable.

I hate to say it, but I think Ms. Bahrman might be a candidate for the "Mega Bitch" of the Upper Peninsula and I would advise everybody to stay out of her court room, oh and by the way, don't try your antics in a real trial in front of a real jury, in a real city, they won't work.

NEED A JOB, TRY FLIPPING BURGERS, (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

This is simply fascinating, I now know where my wife can work after retirement.....McDonald's, I never knew. In this economy of hard knocks, where jobs are at a premium, people are showing up at Micky "D's" in three piece suites, brief case in hand, filling out applications as line cooks, french fry makers, or  orders takers at the drive-through windows.

Pretty soon, McDonald management positions will be filled by PHD's, computer programmers or doctorates, holy burger and fries. As times seem to be getting tougher, restaurants can be more picky, as the competition for every opening heats up.

It's not that working in a McDonald's is degrading, well, actually it is.....degrading, working at a burger joint really does offer a man or women the chance to pick up some much needed cash. These "burger" jobs were once viewed as places for young people to experience their first jobs and to learn about applying themselves and to take responsibility for their efforts and actions.

To bad the Micky "D" jobs still pay less then $10 an hour, although managers can make quite a decent living, if they are unmarried, have no children and live alone. "Hey baby, it's tough out there, a persons gotta take what he can."

SARAH, SARAH AND HER MAGICAL RIDE TO? (Frazer Chronicles)

Sarah Palin is at it again, hell I love this girl, she sure knows how to march to a different drummer. Her she is, on her bus tour, why I'll never know, traveling through Boston, she makes a stop at Paul Revere's house, possibly to use the bathroom.

In case you don't know the history of Paul Revere, he's the dude who rode from Boston harbor to warn John Hancock, "or was it Herbie Hancock," and Samuel Adams of the impending approach of the British army.

Ms.Sarah somehow had her own take on his ride, "He who warned, uh the.....British that they weren't gonna be taking away our arms, uh, by ringing those bells and, um, by making sure that as he's riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that, uh, we were gonna be secure and were gonna be free.....and we were gonna be armed."

Sarah also had a somewhat different take on the debt that President Obama has rolled up during his first two years in office, and it starts out as follows, "Look at the debt that has been accumulated in the last two years," Palin told Greta VanSusteren in a Fox interview, "it's more debt under this president, then all those other presidents combined.

I won't waste my time refuting this weak allegation, and I certainly won't dispute her her view of what Paul Revere was tyring to accomplish on his ride on that long ago night. I for one hope Palin decides to run for President, although another bus tour might be just as good.