Racism and Hypocrisy

Of all the comments made either written or spoken about the Sterling Affair, I believe the fairest and most honest comment made was by legendary basketball center, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. 

 In Monday's late edition of USA Today, Kareem gave his assessment of what he sees is the real evil in this sordid affair. According to him, while he sees Donald Sterling's remarks insensitive, there are other equally distressing issues at hand. Please read the article in the USA Today link. At the bottom, click on the Time link to read the commentary in its entirety.

He is right about the sin of racism being the great evil underlying this event. The problem with Sterling, of course, is two-fold: he is the owner of a team consisting of African-American players, with an African-American coach; and he apparently has not outgrown the prejudices of his youth, even as he witnessed much of the horrible racism in the last century. 

 Sadly, Donald Sterling is also a victim of hypocrisy in this way; too many other comments made by both whites and blacks about him want to ignore the fact they all tolerated his attitude, as much as say, the attitudes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. In all three cases, each man epitomizes racism and hypocrisy at its worst.

 Perhaps there is an opportunity here where we can all relearn the lessons which were taught by Dr. King. He understood that we are all human, and as humans, we will occasionally sin the sins of prejudice and racism. As a minister of God, he would forgive those who had fallen, as much as Don Sterling has. He would reach out his hand and lift the sinner out of the abyss of racism, knowing there was the possibility he would probably sin again.  

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at a book signing. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 That really was what I believe Kareem was trying to say. I have always liked Kareem. He is a big, yet gentle giant. He is a true example of a kind, considerate and devout Muslim. So when he writes his commentary, I take it as one written by a fair and reasonable man. 

 He points out the sins of all the players in the play. He points out the hypocrisy of those who are now outraged by Sterling's behavior, when they should have been disgusted with him years before. He is equally annoyed by the girlfriend, who is black and Mexican, who knew about Sterling's racism and only now decided to expose it; dollar signs come to mind. 

 In the end, Sterling will be judged by his owner peers and hopefully, the right thing will be done. He needs to go, much like the way Marge Schott or Eddie DeBartolo left their sports. Disgraced.  That would be the biggest and greatest punishment. 

In the meantime, blacks, whites, Asians and others all need to make the concerted effort to rise above the greatest of human sins, that of racism. Otherwise, we will see this occur again and again. 

 Those who fail to learn the lessons of history or racism are doomed to repeat them, again and again and again. It is time to move on, people.

History and the Communion of Two Saints

As many of you know, I love history, no matter whether it's ancient history, world history, American history, recent history or current events. As Fox News says,"Before its history, its news."

On Sunday morning, I was actually fortunate to not be able to sleep. No matter what religion you practice, history was made at 4 AM EDT and those of us, who could not sleep in this country, were witnesses to history being made in Italy; more specifically, in Vatican City.

Over 300,000 people, including dignitaries from many countries, along with representatives from every major faith were crowded in St Peter's Square to bear witness. According to reporters on the scene, there were also over half million people crowded in the streets and piazzas outside the square, just to say they bore witness to history.

Generally, the Roman Catholic Church will canonize an individual as a saint and while it is a big deal to the Church, the population at large is not really affected by the event. Sometimes, the newly canonized saint may have been a person from a century or more in the past.

Sunday was different though. Two beatified individuals were elevated to sainthood. If you were born before June 3, 1963, you lived when they lived. Even if you were a newborn or toddler, your life, especially as a Catholic, was affected by pronouncements and decisions made by both these men. If you actually met or saw either of them, you were touched and looked upon by a saint. Incredible.

St John XIII was elected pope in 1958, most probably, due to his advanced age, as a caretaker. Most cognoscenti felt he wouldn't live long and do anything to affect the direction of the Church. Instead, in late 1961, he announced that he was calling an Ecumenical Council, called Vatican II, to "open the windows and let out the stale air." The council went from 1962 to 1965, but he died in 1963 before it was completed, two months after he published his encyclical, Pacem in Terris. Call him The Originator.

St John Paul II was elected Pope in October, 1978 following the deaths of John's successor Paul VI, the Implementer, and John Paul I, who died mysteriously 33 days after his election. John Paul II was the second longest serving pope in history and like John Paul I, took his name to honor the two popes who directed the church through the council and its early years. St John Paul carried the church through the many changes initiated by Vatican II, some popular, some not so much, until he died in 2005. Call him The Interpreter.

It is fitting that The Originator and The Interpreter would be canonized together. While some saints share a Feast Day, never before did the Church intentionally canonize two saints on the same day, with two living popes completing the service.  But there is a special affinity between these two men that many may not see. While Paul VI may have implemented the wishes of Vatican II, the changes he made were really of no consequence. Instead John Paul II truly understood the intent of what John XXIII wanted to do with the Church.

One man wanted to include others, Greek and Russian Orthodox, Coptics, Protestants (all denominations), Jews, Muslims and other faiths, in making mankind better by working more on issues all religions had in common, and downplaying the differences. The other man went to virtually every country in the world to carry the message of unity and fraternity. Along the way, his message was understood in Eastern Europe and Russia, where by 1991, the shackles of communism were removed.

emblem of the Papacy: Triple tiara and keys. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Ecumenical Council was implemented to bring Christendom together and promote a worldwide influence of Christian and other religious teachings. To a degree, while some will disagree, this mission has largely been accomplished. Pope Francis believes it is a work in progress. It certainly has influenced our thinking about our religions over the last 50 years. In essence, the Church is in a state of flux, which may not be a bad thing.

John XXIII wanted to open the windows. John Paul II did and washed them, too. The Church still has far to go, but as JFK said, "Let us begin." It has taken over 50 years to get here, but that is alright. The Church has always been slow to accept change; but more change has happened since John XXIII became pope than in the 500 years before him.

So, forevermore April 27 will always be the Feast Day of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II. We were alive to see the first one and hope to be alive for many more. The influence of these two men on our view of the 20th Century will be measured by an Encyclical about Peace on Earth and how well it was achieved.

That is the history of our newest saints, two men who by themselves did some, but together did so much.

Barry's "Putin" on a Show

The United States deployed a total of 600 troops to our Eastern European allies, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Each country will have 150 troops to countermand and offset the 20,000 Russian troops sitting on the Ukrainian border.
Please read the article from Tuesday's late edition of USA TODAY.

I wonder if Vlad is rethinking his Soviet reunification policy now.

Do Barry and his boys really think 600 pairs of "boots on the ground" in Eastern Europe will be sufficient to fight off, let's face it, the Red Army? After the Barbarossa debacle, the Soviet Union never again allowed any country to push its soldiers around.

Unofficial flag of the Soviet Red Army. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Understand that Vlad is an old world Soviet through and through. Even though he was born in 1952, his veins course Soviet blood. Yes, he is a Russian national, but his brain is Soviet-wired. His true loyalty is not to the Russian Federation, but rather to the USSR.

He was 40 when the Soviet Union fell apart. Before that, he was a Colonel in his beloved USSR and since that time, he has worked, initially behind the scenes when Boris Yeltsin was President, and since 2000 out front for the world to see.

You need to recognize that Vlad is a consummate chess player, while Barry is playing jacks, checkers or more likely “Got your Nose”. Vlad is a three or four-dimensional thinker while Barry is a one-dimensional whiz. You would think that Barry would have finally realized that Vlad is socking his clock, but because he thinks he is the "smartest man in the world", I am sure he keeps overriding his military and diplomatic advisors.

I admit that while I studied History and Political Science, I am not an expert of the Soviet or Russian mindset. But I have played chess and I do understand strategic placement of my pieces in order to at least have my opponent withdraw, even if I can't beat him outright. So does Vlad.

The placement of 600 in a "Baltic Defense" is not going to have the Eurasian Union (Russia's new model of domination) withdraw from Crimea and the Ukraine region. If Russia can reclaim Ukraine and at least force it into its sphere of influence, the "breadbasket of Europe" will resolve many agricultural issues for Putin. The Russians and others will be able to eat more affordably in the future.

Vlad controls oil and natural gas distribution to the European Union and with that he is able to pay some of Russia's bills. Unfortunately for him, he is finding it difficult to feed his people. This is part of what the Ukraine strategy is about. The rest of it is to embarrass the United States and its weakened stature due to Obama's ignorance and naïveté on the world stage.

In the end, if Vlad moves westward, 600 troops will not stop the Big Red Machine. At that point, NATO (translate USA) will be forced to mobilize its armed forces in Germany, Italy and other locations in Europe in order to defend a NATO-member country.

Kennedy had Berlin to temper his decisions in the Cold War. Will Obama have Warsaw? Or will he back down as he did in Syria, Libya and Crimea?

Putin is counting on it. 

What Difference Does It Make?

Here is a story you don't hear about in the Lame Stream Media. It was revealed that the Benghazi nightmare was supposed to be a kidnapping of Ambassador Chris Stevens which went bad.  

Once he was kidnapped, he was going to be offered in trade for the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, Khalid Sheik Muhammad. But, because the three others who died with him in the fight, Sean Smith, Glen Dougherty, Tyrone Woods, and others did their jobs by fighting the attackers, the attack escalated to the point where the attackers ultimately killed Stevens and the others.

 So what did Barry and Hillary do?  They blamed a video, posted an apology and acted concerned for the deaths of these devoted Americans by assuring the families "everything will be done to bring the killers to justice."

That's right, the OJ Gambit. The only difference was that OJ went to every golf course looking for Nicole's killer, while Barry went immediately to Las Vegas to see if Stevens’ killers were there. As for Hillary, well, suddenly she was indisposed because she fell, had a headache and went to the salon to get her hair cut.

Hillary Clinton 1 (Photo credit: Angela Radulescu)

I know it isn't funny. It's really a tragedy but when you have clowns, buffoons and just plain jerks running the nuthouse and then they get re-elected to do even more damage, to wit, NSA, IRS, BLM, Fast and Furious, Snowden, Ukraine, etc. and you hear variations of the same statement, you begin to wonder who were the fools who voted for four more years of this.

In a murder, accessories to it are prosecuted along with those who pulled the trigger. Since we have not yet arrested the perpetrators, how can we go after the two accessories to this crime? I guess failure to uphold the Constitution doesn't count.

Also on Tuesday, AP reporter Matt Lee asked State Department spokesperson Jenn Psaki to name one, just one accomplishment of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her time as Secretary. Her answer was as follows: "I don't know. I wasn't here during her tenure. You have to ask someone who was."

Good answer.

On that record, Hillary is contemplating another run for the presidency. Americans need to remember the old adage of "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me".  What will be the addendum to this if we are foolish enough to be fooled a third time? "Fool me a third time, I'm a complete moron"? 

We need to remember that Hillary is responsible for the death of Ambassador Stevens and his team. It happened on her watch and it is her responsibility.

That is the answer Ms. Psaki needs to give when asked, what was Hillary's biggest accomplishment? “Failure to protect her employee”.  THAT is the difference it should make.

The Epidemic of Child Abuse

There seems to be an epidemic in this country, one which is NOT a physical disease like the flu or polio or smallpox. No, this disease is one of the mind and spirit, one which moms and dads abuse their children, beating them senseless and getting rid of them like garbage.

The most recent case involves a little boy from Fitchburg, Massachusetts named Jeremiah Oliver. He disappeared in September but was not reported missing until December. Why? The mom, Elsa Oliver and her boyfriend, Alberto Sierra were indicted in January regarding little Jeremiah's disappearance. As well, Ms. Oliver was deemed competent to stand trial. 

 Click on the link for the Huffington Post for the full story. 

The Department of Children and Families had come under fire for not protecting the Oliver children. The Agency acknowledged that the social worker assigned to the family was fired, along with two supervisors, for not visiting the home, as required.

 In some states, this agency type is known as Child Protective Services. But, sadly, they really aren’t. If they were protecting the child, we would not be leaving abused children with those who abuse them.

The family had been under the supervision of the DFC since 2011 for the abuse that seemed to be prevalent in the home.

Jose Oliver, Jeremiah's biological father has been out of the home for several years because of his own problems with drugs. He was not advised until last Monday that his son was missing.

This past Friday, Jeremiah's body was found in the brush about forty feet from I-190 near Sterling, wrapped in a blanket. The DA indicated that it appeared to be a homicide. Really?

Doesn't this sound eerily like Casey Anthony and her daughter Caylee?

English: Casey Anthony has been booked into the Orange County Jail and is being held without bail on charges of child neglect, filing false official information and obstructing an investigation. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 There are so many other cases which involve child abuse, death and the failure of Government agencies which are supposed to be dedicated to protecting our children. Instead, they are doing a very poor job. Why? Well, I believe it's because the people who are hired really don't understand the Mission Statement, which is “Thou Shalt Not Harm Children”, the innocent victims.   

 The state (pick one, they are all the same) is more concerned about hiring quotas than hiring competent people. It has nothing to do with race or ethnicity. It has to do with poor hiring practices. Today's children are at the mercy of inadequate state employees at all levels of social services. 

 There are so many families in this country that would give anything to have a child that are unable to have their own. Instead, because the state has decided that children should be with their natural parents, even after witnessing evidence of abuse, cases like Jeremiah Oliver and Caylee Anthony will continue to occur. 

 To allow the abuse to continue is a sin of the worst order. Perhaps it is time to revisit the way children services are supervised. Starting now.

 Otherwise, the epidemic will only get worse and that will be the fault of us all. 

The Poll on Polls

Here is a surprise. Well, not really. Reason/Rupe did a poll and found that 62% of all Americans favor a flat tax, most of whom feel that 15% would be a fair assessment. In addition, 67% feel that private enterprise, not government, should be the way to go to resolve income inequality.

The Reason/Rupe poll is attached for your review.

Here is the thing about polls. As much as anyone, if the results of the poll discussed counters my agenda or the result is contrary to my wish, I don't want to put creedence in the outcome. For example, if the XYZ POLL showed President Obama at a 57% approval rate on the economy, I would not want to believe the result.

 But here is the thing about polls: While a small sampling of people are used to question about a subject, say 1,000 voters, mathematically the results are fairly accurate, within a plus or minus margin of error of 3%. Since the 1930s, when George Gallup took the first one, the calculations have become better and the outcomes more accurate.

In addition, many news organizations have joined assets and work together to make certain the poll is more fair, as well. For example, ABC News, a liberal organization and the Wall Street Journal, a more conservative newspaper, is a common poll whose results are well-respected by just about anyone who looks at the poll or reports the results. Another well-respected poll is the one done by Quinnipiac University. 

 So you understand how this particular poll is conducted, I have provided the logic and procedures for the methodology used. It actually is quite fascinating.

Reason Foundation (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This poll began in 2011 when the forces of Reason Foundation and the Arthur N Rupe Foundation came together to explore what Americans really think about government and other major issues.

The bottom line is that polling has become a necessity in today's society for all of us to get a pulse on what others think about important issues, if only to validate our own opinions.

I know that the only poll that matters is the one taken on Primary Day or  Election Day. But not all polls are about candidates, right? Issues of the day probably in the long run, matter more. It is the issues which influence our feelings about a candidate, how he or she measures up to our own values. 

And while this is a rhetorical question, how did the poll discussed in the first paragraph measure up to your own opinions? I have discussed the flat tax before, so you know I believe this would be the fairest way to go.

If you are lucky enough to someday take part in a poll, remember that the rest of us are counting on you. No pun intended. 

The Meaning of Nevada

It was reported by Fox News that the federal government may have killed several bulls and cows belonging to Cliven Bundy and buried them in a mass grave because they wandered on to "federal" land. If this is proved to be true, Mr. Bundy just may have a claim against the Bureau of Land Management, the Department of Homeland Security, the President of the United States and sleazy, slimy, allegedly crooked Senator Harry Reid.

Greta Van Sustern had an interesting piece for about two minutes on Tuesday night, On The Record.

This whole circumstance is demonstrating to us all what happens when the government tries to rule the governed. It is not a welcoming sight, is it?

For months, I along with other constitutionalists have warned the populace that this administration is slowly stripping us of our rights, and this is the latest in the abuses of government foisted on us: Fast and Furious, NSA, IRS and now, BLM. 

The Bundy family has tried to do the right thing by paying the State of Nevada the grazing fees which are owed, but the State has turned down the money because the land is "managed" by the federal government. I think the State is actually afraid of Harry Reid and his family. 

By the way, how did Harry Reid have the authority to "negotiate" a deal with the People's Republic to sell us and install solar panels in Nevada, Utah and California? What or who gives a sitting U.S. Senator that right? Who is he to say that this fight is not over? Who does he control?

English: President Obama talks alone with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the Oval Office a few days after the inauguration. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Finally, with the way the troops and attack dogs showed up over the last week and weekend, it looked like it was a war zone. Or the south in the 1960s. Too bad the government didn't have as much resolve in Benghazi to protect four loyal Americans as it does to protect tortoises. The values of this administration are all flummoxed. 

As I read in another commentary this week by former Congressional Candidate Steven Foley, the First Amendment GUARANTEES the entire country as a free speech area. How dare the BLM or other government agency put up yellow caution tape to keep demonstrators out of an area of the country when there is no danger to the demonstrators or anyone for that matter? 

Or was there?

It is time for this issue to be truly diffused. Based on Reid's comments, it is a long way from being done. The President and the Attorney General spent the weekend race-baiting rather than standing up for the right of so many to exercise their right of free speech. What does that tell you?

The longer Obama, Holder and Reid remain in positions of power, the more we will see our rights visibly be stripped away. 

Come November, we all need to remember the significance of this standoff in Nevada as the government bullied the Bundy’s and their supporters. If the Senate remains under the control of Reid and Obama, who knows how many more of our rights will be stripped away.

If they have control come January, we are all Bundy’s. 

Race-Baiting and Our "Leaders"

One of the biggest race-baiters in our country today is Al Sharpton, leader of the National Action Network. I purposefully do not use his title of "reverend" because he is one of the most Un-Christian people out there today.

The Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr would be appalled with the way Sharpton and Rev King's protégé, Jesse Jackson carry themselves in today's America. In the over fifty years since the March on Washington, Rev King would be proud the way our country has tried to resolve the sins of racist America. He would agree there was more to do, but that a great start had commenced.

English: Dr. Martin Luther King giving his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington in Washington, D.C., on 28 August 1963.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yet, these two ministers of Christ have decided to scream racism at every opportunity. At least in Jackson's case, he has, from time to time, exercised some good judgment to keep his race-baiting to a minimum. But not Sharpton.

In fact, Comcast has continued to give him a forum with his show on MSNBC. Has anyone watched it? He spits his vitriol and venom each and every night for an hour, which when you think about it, results in five hours of hate every week. What would Rev King say? What would Jesus Christ say?

It is in this backdrop that our President and Attorney General both thought it would be a good idea to make appearances, meet and greet the attendees, and make speeches to a group of people, many who have good intentions, but some who believe as Al Sharpton thinks: white people are all racists.

I have listened to this man, having lived in New York City and on Long Island all my life, beat the race drum for over 35 years screaming about racist acts by people even when they weren't true. Does the Tawana Brawly case ring a bell? This girl lied about being raped and beaten, and yet there was Sharpton, carrying on, demanding justice. Where is the justice for the man she lied about? Not even crickets.

There are many other cases, too many to list here. But our chief law enforcement officer and his boss thought this was the right thing to do, to come to the National Action Network assembly and give at least tacit support to Sharpton's continual race-baiting. Even Eric Holder's speech to the group dripped of race-baiting. He said it didn't, but if you listen to it, to this listener it left no doubt.

That was a poor decision on the part of Barry and Eric to attend this meeting. They gave legitimacy to Sharpton and his cause. They owe the entire country an apology for this stupidity, but none will be forthcoming.

Al Sharpton has been invigorated by his meeting and the fact that he can claim that the President of the United States supports his cause and believes in his message. Even if he doesn't, by attending this meeting, Barry's actions speak much louder than his words.

Because of this, race-baiter Sharpton will continue with his divisiveness and hate. And Americans, black and white, will be worse for it.

Rockin' on Long Island with No Regrets

 have previously reviewed regional bands which play on Long Island and elsewhere in the region. On Friday April 11, I had occasion to be at Molly Malone's on the water in Bay Shore. Trust me.  I have “No Regrets”.

This group is another of boomer people who began playing years ago, I am sure dreaming of future success, but for whatever life circumstances gave them, never got the Big Break. You know what? That is our gain.

No Regrets played a range of music, from a day gone by, from the early and later Beatles and Stones, to the great Janis Joplin and Linda Ronstadt, to CCR, and so much more.

The band consists of Jerry Wilder, keys and guitar, Tony Polimeni, drums, Steve Matonti, vocals and guitar, Chris Arrigo, bass, and Nancy Walter, vocals and percussion. If you close your eyes, when Nancy belted out Me and Bobby Magee, and Piece of My Heart, you would think Janis Herself was on stage.

Cover of Janis Joplin

There was a lot, and I mean A LOT of interaction between the band and the audience. It included dialog and banter, audience participation in singing some of the songs and so much more. Perhaps the logistics and closeness of the band being on the floor rather than up on a stage allowed for that, but that made it so much fun.

As one who was in his share of bands back in the day, playing and singing some of the same music, I felt I was transported back to my teens and twenties, pining for the innocence of that time. That is the beauty of seeing your peers, your "boomer-mates" up there doing the things you left behind. They didn't, and they truly enjoyed performing for all of us.

You know what else is cool? I met others just like me, looking for a good night out, reliving their youth, even for just a few hours. And when there is great music to round out the evening, well, what else could we hope for?

There were some differences in the crowd, of course. We were older, grayer, the tie-dyed shirts were gone and so were the bell bottoms. But one thing for sure remained: Enjoying great music played by a great band.

By the way, if you are on Long Island or in the New York metro area in the near future and want some great music for an evening, visit their website, No Regrets or like them on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/pages/no-regrets-band-official/127906230607821. You will be glad you did.

Be there or be square, I say, YEAH!!

Mary Jane's Business Model

Okay, another commentary on marijuana for us to ponder. It seems several times a month another news event prompts me to write an additional story about a product which by now should be as legal as tobacco and alcohol.

This time, as reported in the Wednesday afternoon edition of USA Today is a forecast in Colorado and Washington, by 2018, there will be $8 BILLION in sales between medical and recreational sales. This in only two states! Approximately $4 billion in each category and this is a conservative estimate. 

At a 15% tax rate applied to the retailer as a Federal excise tax,  that translates to $1.2 billion to the Federal treasury. In more populous states, like California, New York, Florida and Texas, at gross sales of $10 billion in each state, that would push a total of $6 billion more into Federal coffers. These are of course, conservative estimates. 

Then, in order to maximize the return to the states, let's say another 10% special State excise tax is applied BEFORE it reaches the retailer, just like alcohol and tobacco. So now, as it reaches the retailer in New York or Florida, that $10 billion harvest price is now almost $13 billion. 

The retailer adds another $2 billion to cover his cost and profit on the sale, so it is now $15 billion before sales tax. In New York, on Long Island where I live, that is an additional state and local tax at 8.625%, bringing the total cost to the consumer to $16.2 billion. Seems like a lot, but think what we spend on a 750ml bottle of a domestic bottle of Jack Daniels. $42 sound right to you? As one who drank Jack for years, it seems right to me. 

For alcohol sales generally, both the Federal and State governments added excise taxes, and New York added state and local sales taxes to that.

A carton of cigarettes can range to as much as $100 or more on Long Island for ten packs of a product we know will give you cancer and other health problems. The Federal and State governments added excise taxes, and of course New York adds the customary sales tax on top.

English: Excise Cigarette tax per state. Information from Cigarette taxes in the United States No Excise Tax Per Pack $2 Excise Tax Per Pack $4 Excise Tax Per Pack $6 Excise Tax Per Pack  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is a lot of money which could be made by all the players in the game. The consumer will pay the price because it isn't really all that much in the scheme of things that we all purchase. After all, if we want it, we will pay whatever the cost.

At least marijuana, currently, is not known to make you sick. In fact, it has medicinal purposes, known for years to help ease the pain from many diseases, and helps you through the effects of some cures, like chemotherapy.

Remember, my numbers are conservative. Imagine if they were twice or three times my estimates. Then, we would be talking serious money….. Just saying.

Don't forget the money the federal and state governments will save not having to pursue “criminals” who sell marijuana since they will be in licensed facilities. Or jail them. Oh, and the fees the state will take in granting dispensary licenses? Don't forget those fees. Renewal fees? Yep! Does it start to make sense now?

It takes courage to take that huge next step. Who will that be?

The Lerner Lesson

I am glad the House Oversight Committee finally, FINALLY, did its job by finding former IRS Department Chief Lois Lerner in Contempt of Congress. It only took since last May, you know, just about 11 months ago. Sadly, the vote was divided along party lines.

I guess that's about right. It is, after all, a government operation! Why would this be any more efficient than anything else the government or its agencies run?!?

Here is how I see this.

If George Bush were President and Alberto Gonzalez were Attorney General, and Lois Lerner were a Republican, would the Republicans be as persistent as they were now? Would the Democrats be as protective as they are now? Please. Would someone from the House please stand up and tell me that my skepticism is misplaced? Anyone?

I didn't think so.

To the Democrats, led by Barry and Eric, and voiced by Elijah: you are defending a criminal who violated many individuals' and groups' civil rights while you stand up and loudly defend Ms Lerner's civil rights to plead the Fifth.

To the Republicans, led and voiced by Darrell and Trey: you allowed this to drag on for far too long until it became so unbearable, you were forced to act when you should have acted last year.

To both parties: in 1974, Richard Nixon was driven from office for abusing his power, partly by using the IRS as a tool to attack his enemies. You were horrified that a President would attempt to use what is supposed to be an unbiased, apolitical agency for his own political gain.

Congress One Job (Photo credit: BWJones)

Guess what boys and girls? It happened again and you did nothing, NOTHING, to stop it until Ms Lerner actually blew the top off when she answered a planted question. You screwed up, all of you. So your act of "righteous indignation" is sheer hypocrisy. On both sides.

The first thing that you need to do is disband this corrupt agency within the Department of Treasury. Then, in its place, create an entity which is supervised and controlled by the Congress. After all, since Article I gives the power to the Congress to create tax law, then you must be accountable for its proper administration, not the President. Since both parties would be involved in the supervision, the chances of abuse would be minimized.

The second thing you must do is to make certain this new Entity have its enforcement guidelines reviewed by you and be voted on by both houses of Congress, requiring a 2/3 assenting vote to be placed in effect.

Finally, revision of the tax code is absolutely essential. Too many loopholes exist where some can avoid, essentially evade, their total tax liability, while others are held to pay more than those who could afford more. A 10 or 15% flat tax, with no deductions except for retirement accounts with annual contribution caps, would probably be much fairer than what exists now.

Then, this all would eliminate one man or woman having absolute control over the way the government tax business is conducted.

The government is supposed to WORK for the people. Right now, that system is broken.

Fix it!

No Justice One Year Later

Tuesday, April 15, 2013 and the succeeding days, will be forever etched as a day and a week where a joyful day in Boston and Massachusetts was brought to tragedy in a matter of seconds. It was ironically, Patriots' Day.

Tuesday is the one year anniversary of this horror, and what has been done to bring Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to justice? Anything?

Yes, we have heard that it was his brother's idea but, that does not excuse Tsarnaev from blame. He was and is a mature adult who knew the consequences. After all, he was adult enough to swear to become an American citizen, was he not? So, to decide to stick with his brother's tragic plan, rather than turn his brother in to at least the local authorities borders on treason.

Think about the week which followed. Three people died on April 15 as a result of the bombing, two young women and an eight year old boy. On the night of the 18th, a police officer was killed during a shootout on the Cambridge campus of MIT after it was learned that the perpetrators might be on campus. Finally, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the author of this nightmare, was killed during a police chase and shootout.

Watertown, MA - search for alleged marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (Photo credit: IronHide)

A total of 280 people were injured related to the bombing. Of that total, 264 were injured at the bombing site and 16 police officers were injured during the gunfight of the 18th and 19th.

Finally, the younger Tsarnaev was captured when a homeowner went out to his backyard because his covered boat appeared to be out of sorts and he noticed blood on the side of his boat. The capture occurred after a lock down of Boston and several surrounding towns. People were forced to stay in their homes, and  schools and businesses forced to close for the people’s safety.

The tragedy which was the Boston Marathon Bombing came finally to an end on Friday, April 19, 2013 about 7:45 that night.

President Barack Obama vowed, "Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice." As we have learned, these words ring as hollow and as meaningless as any other pronouncement this failure of a president has uttered in the last 5 1/2 years.

I imagine as much as the first Fort Hood Massacre or Benghazi, nothing will be done because Islamist terrorists were involved, for as long as Barack Obama remains president. It must be nice to be able to put his head in the sand when it involves his kindred spirits. Perfect, actually.

Meanwhile, the families of the people who lost loved ones and those who have lost limbs, eyesight, etc., await justice. Until 2017, sadly, they will wait for that justice. As for our Department of Justice, nothing will be done while the “Contemptible One” remains at the helm.

To my friends in Boston and Massachusetts, just know that Americans from all over this great country stand with you as you remain "Boston Strong".

The Iranian Block Gambit

It appears finally, that the Obama administration won't be overriding the unanimous vote in the Senate and the apparent unanimous vote to come in the House as it relates to having Iran's designated Ambassador to the UN, Hamid Aboutalebi, be admitted into the United States any time soon.

It was reported in the late Tuesday online edition of the New York Times that Iran's "diplomat" was not viable because of his active role in the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis, when "students" overtook our embassy, took our representatives hostage and abused them contrary to all diplomatic procedure and protocol.

As the host country to the United Nations, based on a treaty we signed in 1947, we are supposed to accept whoever a member country sends as its Ambassador. This appointment however went far beyond what our Leaders like Senator Ted Cruz found acceptable. He and several others put extraordinary pressure on our State Department and the Administration, to the point of having legislation drawn up to prevent this terrorist into our country. There was no way the President could disobey a unanimous vote.

Seal of the United States Department of State. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Iran, of course, is not happy. Well, that's too bad. Should we really care what Iran thinks? And if another country, say Russia or China, decides to create a problem because of our actions, they are more than welcome to become the host country and incur the majority of the cost to support this inept and corrupt entity.

Iran has not yet complied with the nuclear agreement that Russia, the United States and several European countries demanded from Iran in order to lift the sanctions. Iran really doesn't care because other countries are skirting the agreement too. And John Kerry removed its teeth before he even left the conference when the agreement was drawn up.

Many of the former hostages are still working in various capacities for the State Department and other agencies, and were very vocal when the announcement was made by Iran. At first, it seemed the State Department was going to stand by that treaty from 1947. Fortunately, smarter heads prevailed.

Let us hope that the Obama Administration stands by this decision to prevent this terrorist or any other participant of that diplomatic embarrassment we suffered through those many years ago from ever setting foot into this country. Let's hope there is no loophole or back door that could allow this from happening.

It is up to all of us to remain vigilant and keep that pressure on the administration, if for nothing else but to never forget the 444 days it took for 52 Americans to be freed from the shackles of the Islamist "Republic" of Iran.