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Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

Free Pocket Constitution and Declaration of Independence

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Sometimes we wake up and read the newspaper headlines and truly wonder if we are still living in America. I drive down the street in Cupertino and all I see is Chinese writing on company signs, or read the headlines that Congress is leaning toward some form of amnesty for illegal aliens.

To help keep us centered, The Heritage Foundation is offering a free pocket-sized Declaration of Independence and Constitution for simply filling out a form. No strings attached or donations required, though I am sure they would be welcomed.

Let’s keep America strong – learn our history and study the writings of our Founding Fathers.

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Tags: keep america strong, the heritage foundation
Posted in Community, Politics | No Comments »

Ford Selling Volvo to Chinese Company Geely

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Volvo was the car that was safe, boring and something that your friend’s parents drove. That was when safe meant dull, boring and I hope nobody sees me in this car.

Then they started to get a bit sporty when they paid top-dollar to have their new Volvo C70 coupe featured in the Val Kilmer movie, The Saint. Sales weren’t great, as they were competing against the Nissan Z, the Toyota Supra and Mazda RX, but they did have the cool-factor.

Volvo C70 in The Saint with Val Kilmer

The SUV craze hit and Volvo was there once again – not as a market leader but a company with a presence and a company that still pushed their safety records. Volvo was moderately cool, less dull and just as safe as our parents’ Volvo.

Owned by Ford, Volvo has been a money-loser and Ford has been seeking a buyer, and since neither General Motors or Chrysler are in the market for another under-performing car line, it was clear that either an overseas buyer would have to step up, or the brand would cease to exist similar to Saturn’s demise earlier this year. Volvo’s price tag is in the $2 billion range.

Volvo Will Now Be A Chinese Company

It was announced today that the apparent new owner of the Volvo brand name will be a Chinese company named Geely Group. Swedish car made in China. Something is really wrong with this picture.

I have no issue with Chinese-made goods, in fact I am sure I am wearing something made in China at this very moment, I have a computer monitor made in China, and use cookware made in China on most nights. I don’t place my family in any of these Chinese-made items and travel at 65 mph down the highway, that’s the difference.

Let’s be real here, China has no semblance of laws when it comes to copyright laws – they are the global leaders in counterfeit goods, they have little or no litigation, and they have very little quality control. I am not China-bashing here, just pointing out reality: Chinese goods are generally cheaper than other goods for a reason – cheap unchecked labor and no laws governing consumer protection.

I would buy a Korean-made car before I buy a Chinese-made car, and I won’t buy a Korean car. Socks, televisions, staplers, telephones, basic electronics, fine. A Volvo from China? Sorry, Charlie.

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Tags: cheap labor, Ford, geely group, korean cars, made in china, swedish, the saint, val kilmer, volvo, volvo c70
Posted in Business, Politics, The Economy | 1 Comment »

Exporting American Products and Intellectual Property

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Whenever there is a loss of jobs, particularly in the manufacturing sector, the cries begin from union leaders and pro-union politicians that we need to protect “our” jobs. What they really mean is we Americans need to keep the status-quo, not deal with the progress of technology, the global economy, and reality.

Cars are made by robots and machines with an assist from humans, automated attendants help callers navigate through phone systems at companies large and small, but there are still jobs here at home – just maybe not the same job your grandfather held decades ago. It is called progress.

Because of the perceived loss of jobs, the word “import” has negative connotations in some areas, but we have to realize it is a balance and that American-made exports are nothing to sneeze at.

Exporting American Intellectual Property

Hollywood movies are played around the world to audiences in hundreds of countries, and Justin Timberlake doesn’t just sell CDs and iTunes downloads in Ohio. Yes, many software development and tennis shoe manufacturing jobs are now in Sri Lanka and Vietnam, but Boeing still builds jets in Washington, not in Bulgaria. In fact, Boeing’s revenue in 2008 included $23.8 billion from outside the United States.

But looking closer to home, Toyota has built trucks in Texas since 2006, Mercedes builds SUVs in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Hyundai’s factory is in Montgomery, Alabama.

Hyundai Factory in Montgomery, Alabama

Nebraska Exported $5 Billion of Products in 2008

Soybeans are exported around the world to the tune of 15 million metric tons, and the state of Nebraska – yes Nebraska, exported over $5 billion in goods in 2008.

Workers become more specialized as technology advances, and this is the reason why horses are no longer used to plow fields, and why toll takers on bridges are being replaced with electronic devices such as FasTrak which sticks to your windshield and is read by a scanning device.

One sector shrinks and another expands – always has and always will.

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Tags: boeing, fastrak, hyundai, intellectual property, itunes, justin timberlake, manufacturing, mercedes benz, nebraska, outsourcing jobs, technology, toyota, u.s. exports, u.s. imports, unemployment, unions
Posted in Business, Community, Politics, The Economy | No Comments »

Did An Illegal Alien Steal My Car Registration Tags?

Monday, December 7th, 2009

I noticed yesterday that someone stole the registration tags off the license plates of one of our cars. The car is 8 years old and had stickers dating back to the early 2000’s with the latest being 2010.

I went to open the trunk of the car and looked down to see someone has scraped off the stack of stickers to get the latest. These stickers are nearly impossible to get off quickly when there is just one on a plate, but after they pile up over the years, I would imagine a screw driver or butter knife could be used to pry them off.

Outside of the inconvenience of having to report the theft to cover my own butt in case I get pulled over, I need to report the theft to the DMV, and oh how the Department of Motor Vehicles is a joy to deal with. I am hoping to avoid waiting in line and see if the process can be handled with a phone call.

Let’s jump ahead and think about who would steal a registration tag? Two types of people fall into this category:

1) Someone who for whatever reason cannot afford to register their car and to avoid being pulled over for expired tags, steals a legitimate set and places it on their own car.

2) An illegal alien, illegal immigrant, a criminal alien, an undocumented person – I am covering all grounds here to categorize a border jumper who drives a car without holding a driver’s license, possessing insurance and knowledge of basic traffic laws. Since this person cannot legally own or drive a car, they cannot register a car they may have purchased so they steal a legitimate registration tag to place on their plates so they don’t draw attention.

I spoke with a police officer I ran into at the Starbucks parking lot near my home, and he told me that they do not track registration tags – meaning that even if this person is caught, next to nothing can happen to them.

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Tags: car registration tags, criminal aliens, dmv, illegal aliens, license plates, stolen
Posted in Community, Politics, Things That Irritate Me | 1 Comment »

LogicalRepublican.com Appearing on An American Warning Radio

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Yours truly, Logical Republican, will be a guest on An American Warning Radio, tomorrow, Tuesday November 24^th from 2:30 to 3:00 Central Time.

David Robertson is the show’s host, and I am not sure if we are discussing my point of view on immigration or he will nail me on my gun control stance. Either way it should be an interesting segment!

An American Warning Radio David Robertson

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Tags: An American Warning Radio, david robertson, gun control, illegal immigration, Logical Republican, logicalrepublican.com
Posted in Political Satire, Politics | No Comments »

Arrogant Liberal-Owned Bookstores Don’t Carry Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

Sarah Palin’s book, “Going Rogue,” was released this past week with some major fanfare. Palin was on the Oprah Winfrey show, and had her public relations team working overtime handling book signings throughout the Midwest. The major booksellers had large posters in their windows alerting customers of the date it will hit their shelves for over one month.

Sarah Palin on the Oprah Winfrey Show

Ever since Palin burst on the scene as a virtual unknown at the Republican National Convention as John McCain’s improbable running mate, she has gone from overnight sensation, to a running joke to tabloid fodder, for various reasons. I honestly felt McCain stole the election when I heard her acceptance speech – I was blown away by her communications skills, and felt her blue-collar background, teamed with a card-holding union member husband and heart-string-pulling autistic child sealed the deal.

Then something happened. She went dark the week following the convention and everyone assumed she was being coached by Team McCain for the grilling she would face as a vice-presidential candidate. The coaching was piss-poor and the liberal, Obama-loving press turned her into the class dunce, whether accurate or not. Palin went from an asset to a liability in a matter of weeks, and was ridiculed at every level.

Fast-forward one year, and Palin has mysteriously stepped down from her elected position as governor of Alaska, entered into a feud with Levi Johnston, the father of her illegitimate grandchild, and written a book that will pad her bank account to the tune of several million dollars. Good for her on the dollars.

Closed-Minded Liberal Bookstores Spit on Sarah Palin’s Book

I am writing this entry at the Portland Airport and can buy her book at the many kiosks, or at any local Border’s or Barnes and Noble. Yet there are many holier-than-thou independent bookstores that have chosen not to stock the book for no other reason than she is Sarah Palin – Republican.

Imagine for a moment if Bob’s Books in Hackensack, decided not to carry either of the Barack Obama books because his is a democrat? Reverend Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson would mobilize the troops and protest, targeting all who enter the store with insults and deem the owner and patrons as racist scum. TV camera crews would paint the store owner as intolerant, closed-minded and hateful, and you would have the reporter finding the tree-hugger in the crowd to get a juicy quote on how such despicable acts in this day and age are unacceptable and how he/she felt we have, as a society moved beyond censoring a community from books.

Liberal Censorship of a Republican is OK, Apparently

Witness the liberal double-standard of the #1 book on the Amazon.com Best Seller List: Nathan Embretson of Pendragon Books in Oakland, California, states in the San Francisco Chronicle, “Our customers are thinking people, they aren’t into reading drivel,” while Emily Stackhouse, the unbiased clerk at San Francisco’s Cover to Cover stated that the book “would gross us all out,” and that “you carry (books) because of freedom of speech, but a book like that is just gross.” Apparently freedom of speech applies to liberals and to muzzle a Republican is humorous.

There are no pickets outside either bookstore by the National Organization of Women or any other group that would show up if they refused to stock Hilary Clinton’s “Living History” book. Clinton, you see, is a democrat, and by virtue of her political affiliation has built-in virtue, and her book demonstrates insight and a value to the greater good of society.

That is the rule for republicans – deal with censorship; the regulations are different for liberals. Liberals cannot be racist, intolerant or closed-minded; it’s not in their DNA. They believe in free speech – provided the speech is in agreement with what they believe. Deviate or disagree and they will berate, belittle and call you names.

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Tags: censorship, cover to cover, democrats, emily stackhouse, freedom of speech, going rogue, liberals, nathan embretson, oprah winfrey show, pendragon books, republicans, sarah palin
Posted in Community, Politics | 8 Comments »

Republicans For Gun Control

Monday, November 16th, 2009

I’ve gotten into a few jousting matches in the last week regarding gun control, or my statements that I, personally, will likely never need to own a gun. I believe my statement was something like, “I live in San Jose and cannot go hunting at the park where my kids play, and since I don’t feel a need to pack heat when I go grocery shopping, my desire for a Glock is less than minimal.” Apparently this is blasphemy for some. Guess what – gun ownership beliefs do not define political beliefs any more than your religion, or lack thereof!

Let me clear some things up:

1) I am not against gun control in that I feel people should be able to own a firearm. I do not see a need however, for any private citizen to own an assault weapon or any other weapon that fires more than a single bullet per trigger squeeze.

2) I agree with the statement that “guns don’t kill people, people do,” as much as I agree with the statement, “needles don’t inject heroin; addicts do.”

3) Other than target practice, a handgun does not have much use for a private citizen, since you are not going duck hunting with a Glock.

Dirty Harry needs a gun, I don't

Guns don’t kill people, people kill people – stupid people with guns

Since there are a lot of right-winged yahoos out there who think that anyone who thinks like me cannot be a registered Republican, here is a thought…in fact a solution for the rampant crime in our cities that comes from guns…I mean people, since guns cannot think or commit crimes. Ready, Charlton Heston followers…here goes:

Moving forward (that means from this point on, for you under-educated folk), all handguns sold in this country will be test-fired upon sale, and that bullet and accompanying ballistics will be entered into a data base. Ballistics, for those who are not familiar with the term, is like a gun’s fingerprints.

With the gun’s fingerprint on file, it will be less likely that a gun owner will be inclined to commit a crime. Ah, but what if the gun is “lost” or stolen, and “another person” does something unsavory with this gun, you ask? Well, maybe you don’t have the gun anymore, but at least if a crime is committed and a bullet recovered, we know where to start the search for the criminal – your front door.

My idea still gives you Second Amendment rights, but may help solve crimes as older guns fall by the wayside. So go ahead, let me have it…any argument for gun ownership other than hunting, target practice or protecting a home isn’t going to get very far!

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Tags: ballistics, charlton heston, dirty harry, gun control, Republican, second amendment
Posted in Political Satire, Politics | 8 Comments »

Republicans Are Stupid…Too

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Stupidity is equal opportunity. There are stupid Democrats, stupid Republicans, stupid men, women and kids. Fat idiots and skinny alike, and there are midget morons as well as very tall morons.

Some Republicans Are Idiots

I came across one Republican on Facebook last week who decided I was in the Stupid category because I disagreed with him on gun ownership and gun control.

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

I told him that I don’t need a gun and likely never will. I live in San Jose and cannot go hunting at the park where my kids play, and since I don’t feel a need to pack heat when I go grocery shopping, my desire for a Glock is less than minimal.

This set him off. Not only did he call me stupid, he went on this rampage:

“OMG I cannot understand how you can be so stupid. You and this site with it’s comments. Just think about this- the only reason you and I can put our thoughts on this or any other site is because of the 2nd amendment. The only reason our home land, the USA, has never been invaded is because we have the right to own guns, the only reason you have freedom of speech is because we have the right to own guns, the only reason you get to work where you wish, shop where you wish, watch movies made by idoits(Chris Rock), see any doctor you wish and pee in you own home is all because of the 2nd Amendment and our guns. If you had half a brain you would do a little research of the countries in this world who do not have the right to own guns and you will discover just how much there crime rates have risen and oh by the way Germany abolished gun ownership and lets see who took power– Nazi’s and they killed millions of people just like you. Keep thinking the way you do an you will find yourself clawing you way to the top of a pile of dead people. GUNS do not KILL people. PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE. That would be you–Yoonsun and Logical Gop. Idiots. I am a true God fearing American, my father fought and was wounded in WWII and I fought in VietNam both of us did so gladly so you could say whatever you like. And guess what we would do it all again for FREEDOM. GOD, FAMILY, COUNTRY are the only things that matter. I you do not like it then please leave and donot let the door hit you in the ass as you go. IDIOTS.”

I congratulated and thanked him for his service to his country, but asked a very pointed question: Please tell me one instance in history when a private citizen has stopped an enemy invasion of the United States with his own firearm? I also suggested he use a spell check – the post is verbatim.

He had no response and deleted me as a friend on Facebook.

Either I am really stupid for not defending our country with my own MX8 assault rifle and keeping Silicon Valley free of invading troops or my opening statement is true…stupidity is equal opportunity.

XM8 Assault Rifle

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Tags: 2nd amendment, assault rifle, democrats, glock, gun control, idiots, mx8, republicans, silicon valley, stupid
Posted in Community, Political Satire, Politics | 3 Comments »

Eliminate Government Pensions

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Here is a thought: Moving forward, eliminate all pensions for government jobs where you do not risk life and limb.

The secretary who works at the DMV? She can have a 401k like the rest of us.

The Assistant DA for the county? He gets access to a non-matching 401k just like his peers in the private sector.

Bridge Toll Taker

The Golden Gate Bridge District is once again facing a deficit north of $100 million, and they are looking at ways to raise cash such as letting people walk under the bridge and of course, raising tolls. Never mind that there is a Bridge Commission that draws a salary and other perks such as a pension. Or all the bridge workers that will get paid until the day they die that are factored into this deficit that we, the taxpayer, must make up.

The City of Vallejo, which is also broke, wants to tax people for text messaging. The absurdity of it all…taxing texts!

It’s a never ending cycle of bureaus, task forces, committees and administrative assistants all getting benefits that far exceed the private sector and then can collect a check forever if they are able to slack for a couple of decades

Highway Patrol, State Troopers, police, fire, Secret Service and military – all exempt from this new ruling. Anyone who needs to carry a firearm or goes into situation where they can potentially die, you get a check. Teachers, you get a check, too. You should also get a raise, but the union gardeners are getting that allocation.

If you sit in front of a computer, clean trash receptacles, or take my picture at DMV, welcome to the real world of getting a paycheck twice a month and worrying about retirement like the rest of us.

How can we make this reality? I am not sure, but I am open to your suggestions and would love to hear your thoughts.

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Tags: 401k, golden gate bridge, government pensions, taxes, text messages, vallejo
Posted in Community, Politics, The Economy | No Comments »

Gavin Newsom Exits Race – Bad News For Republicans

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsom, decided to drop out of the race to become California’s next governor. This is bad news for Republicans, as this leaves Jerry Brown as the early favorite to win the Democratic nomination for the 2010 election.

You remember him, Governor Moonbeam from the 1970’s? He dated Linda Ronstadt because everyone thought he was really gay.

The Republican’s hope is likely ex-eBay CEO Meg Whitman, who has a boatload of money but no political experience and forgot to vote in a number of elections because she was too busy.

Newsom, love him or hate him, would have been better for the state than Brown, if the Democrats won the office back. Newsom is logical and actually cares about doing what is correct whereas Brown gives the aura of needing to be correct to feed his ego and “politically correct” to show he isn’t really just a rich white guy who’s never held a real job. In other words, the lesser of two evils, from a Republican point of view.

Newsom would have brought some elegance to the office. He has movie star looks and an heiress for a wife, along with a newborn baby. He can throw out the first pitch at a ball game and not embarrass himself. Brown looks like an angry old man, and Meg Whitman looks like she can beat Brown or Newsom in an arm wrestling match.

Meg Whitman Air-Kissing John McCain

Whitman does bring common sense and decades of real-world business experience that should, in a perfect world, have an impact on the state. The problem is she will likely run into the same brick wall that Arnold banged his head into when trying to bring sense to the school systems, voting districts and spending. The unions and Democrats ganged up and twisted the truth, not for the betterment of the state, but for the betterment of their padded taxpayer-paid pensions.

Think about this for a second…California leans left, meaning the chances of a Republican winning are slim to begin with. We pay the most taxes in the nation and we lead the world in innovation, but the state is broke. I know why and you know why, and Meg knows why, but she would be powerless to fix the problems, and Jerry Brown will just make things worse with more departments, bureaus and task forces. That is why we should be more than a bit worried. Sorry to see you go, Gavin.

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Tags: california, democrats, ebay, gavin newsom, gay, governor's race, jerry brown, meg whitman, republicans, san francisco
Posted in Politics, The Economy | 2 Comments »

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Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

Volvo Will Now Be A Chinese Company

Exporting American Intellectual Property

Nebraska Exported $5 Billion of Products in 2008

Closed-Minded Liberal Bookstores Spit on Sarah Palin’s Book

Liberal Censorship of a Republican is OK, Apparently

Guns don’t kill people, people kill people – stupid people with guns

Some Republicans Are Idiots