"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." (1918, President Theodore Roosevelt)

YOU can help-Vietnam Traveling Memorial wall coming to Tallahassee

 Hit the link to find out how:

Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall Tallahassee update-How you can help

 

 

 A TIME OF REFLECTION

RESPECT

HONOR

AND 

HEALINGAdd to Technorati Favorites

Some pics from the SSgt  Simmons run courtesy of Hollywood
here (bottom of Page).

Thanks Hollywood and Thanks Again SSgt SimmonsAdd to Technorati Favorites

An Excerpt message sent by Ed Moreland and renewal of our call to THROW THE BUMS OUT

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE (Written by Ed Moreland)

Voting Now, And Combating Threats In The Future, Are Key.

The upcoming national elections are likely to be the most historic in recent memory. And given the hand-wringing, chad-counting and late-night punditry that accompanied the last few elections, that's saying something.

We are at a watershed moment in American politics. More importantly, we stand at a crossroads in American motorcycling politics that is likely to have far-reaching implications for riders well into the future.

Now, more than ever, it is critical that we remain engaged in the electoral process, advocate for our core issues and increase our efforts to expand the depth and breadth of motorcyclists' interests in the halls of Congress and across America.

Naturally, most of the bright lights have been shining recently on the presidential race. But given the nature of most motorcycling legislation--they're often small pieces of much larger bills--side-by-side comparisons of voting records aren't enough to gauge a presidential candidate's true position on motorcycling issues.

That's why it's important to remember that when it comes to riders' issues, the more significant battles are taking place in Congress.

All 435 members of the House of Representatives and a third of U.S. Senators are up for election. Why is this so important? Because it's in the halls of Congress that legislation is dreamed up crafted and voted on for the President to sign into law. And the upcoming 111th Congress is likely to weigh in on nearly every core issue of interest to American riders. (The letter in its entirety can be viewed here).

About Mr. Moreland:
Ed Moreland is the Vice President for Government Relations of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).

We have the greatest respect for Mr. Moreland.  We also believe that this election cycle, when voter confidence is at a all time low, provides us with a unique opportunity send a loud and clear message to all elected officials.  If you believe your representatives are operating with your best interst at heart then read no further.  If you are not happy with the duplicity of "both" parties, then read on. Is it insane? Maybe.  Is it any worse than continuing to bend over with out the vaseline?  I think not.

Posted previously here

This is a  way of using YOUR VOTE to send a clear and convincing message to every politician in America.

However to engage in this campaign requires 3 things:

1. An acceptance of the fact that no political party is solely to blame for the current state of the country. They are all slurping at the pig trough kept full by our sweat.

2.  The ability to move beyond personal ideological bias for the good of the country.  It means that you/I may have to vote for somebody we do not support and against somebody we do.  But consider this.  All of us are usually choosing between the lessor of two evils.

3. Action, ya got to do it and encourage others to do it.

HOW WILL THIS WORK?

Simple. Vote against every incumbent. Regardless of party affiliation. Of course since we do not have an incumbent president you will have at least one choice.

WHY THIS WILL WORK?

As people start posting this campaign on their blogs, websites, and mailing lists. As they start doing the FWD gig, sooner or later the press is gonna get hold of it.  Sooner or later if enough do it, they are going to report on it.  "IF" enough actually follow through with it you will hear the talking heads on campaign night talking about how the PEOPLE of AMERICA have sent a loud and clear message politicians on both sides of the ISLE.

THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THEIR COWARDLY INCOMPETENCE AND OVERT DESTRUCTION OF THIS COUNTRY ANYMORE! WE WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE!

We also let them know that two years from now when the next elections come up we are going to do the exact same thing. We, the American people are cleaning house.

You don't think this can work?  Imagine how fast these suckers will start scrambling to get things right if they knew that if they didn't they would not be in office long enough to get rich off of us.

Now you can ignore this message as the ravings of a mad man. Or you can keep doing what you have always done and be assured that you will keep getting what you have always got. SCREWED!

Yes we know that it means you may actually have to break years of tradition and vote for somebody in the party that makes you puke.  But ask yourself a question, what has loyalty to any particular party got you to date?  I thought so.  So pass it on, and send the bums in Washington a clear message. One they can not helbp ut listen to.

  Do not be separate along party lines. But Unite as AmericansAdd to Technorati Favorites

40 months for two lives, is it enough?

From Freep.com

A Brownstown Township man was sentenced to 40 months in prison this morning for killing a husband and wife and injuring another couple as the four rode their motorcycles along Telegraph Road in May.

Patrick Shope, 34, was charged with two counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death and two counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing injury. He was sentenced this morning by Wayne County Circuit Judge Margie Braxton.

The crash killed Dan and Jennifer Tarjeft of Trenton and injured Aaron and Jennifer Wilmoth of Taylor.

Jennifer Wilmoth hugged Shope’s wife in court today after the sentence was read. Shope has apologized to the families.

Is this enough? Should it be more?  Had Patrick Shope been using a cell phone as opposed to being under the influence of alcohol would it have been the same?Add to Technorati Favorites

Now it's Baltimore jumping on the MC seizure train

Thanks to the Dragon for this one from Baltimore.  A few excepts below if you want the whole story go here

Police say their options have been limited as they grapple with the nagging problem of dirt bikes in Baltimore.

It's too dangerous to chase them, they say. And while it is illegal to drive the vehicles in the city, there have been few ways to crack down on the young men who routinely ignore the rules, taunting law enforcement and threatening residents such as the Rosenbergs.

So city leaders are turning to new tactics. A law took effect last month that allows police to seize any unlocked dirt bike - in an alley, driveway, front yard or street. A court can then order the bikes forfeited, and they are later destroyed.

"The fact of the matter is that these dirt bikes drive people in neighborhoods nuts," Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III said. "We're not talking about filling jails full of dirt biker offenders. We'll seize the bike, and it is game over."

Is that a law? Is it against the law in Baltimore to drive somebody nuts? So does this mean they can confiscate your ol lady (or ol man. Hey we gotta be politically correct don't we).

  "It is been an issue for so long that I remember talking to it about then-councilman Martin O'Malley," said Chris Muldowney, Vice President of Lauraville Improvement Association, referring to Maryland's governor, a city councilman from 1991 to 1999. "They've had little kids and dogs almost hit by dirt bikes, because that is the game I guess.

Mr. Muldowney, is that why you are a former councilman? You spent to much time guessing and not enough time finding out what is true or what ain't?

  Occasionally, the police helicopter, Foxtrot, will follow bikers and radio patrol officer to tell them where they are. "We are literally keeping an eye on the person from the sky," said James H. Green, a police department attorney.

Well thank God he cleared that one up cause was was thinkin if they was using a helicopter they might have been watching from a river.

Some council members believe officers should use more aggressive techniques. "I think we need to have a policy where we cordon off the streets and stop them," said city Councilman Bernard "Jack" Young. "People are afraid of these guys because they think most of them are drug dealers."

Well yes, if somebody is running from the law a good way to stop them is a road block. That is called "Police Work" not an "aggressive technique".  Confiscating personal property because somebody forgot to lock it?  Thats aggressive with the constitution being the victim.

Rosenberg, a longtime city resident, said she wasn't afraid at first as the dirt bikers popped wheelies and revved their engines near her one evening last July. She asked her husband to slow down the car so the group would pass.

Instead the bikers stayed with the couple's car and one rammed into it.

"The others thought that was kind of funny," Rosenberg said. The rest of the bikers joined in, bumping into the car over and over. Shaking, she locked the doors and windows. She called 911. "They continued banging into us," she said. "I am petrified by this time."

There is this funky concept called personal responsibility.  When you are born you will not be assigned your own personal cop whose job will be to shadow you all your life to insure your safety.
There may arise an occasion or two in your lifetime when your failure to accept the responsibility for your own safety/survival will not have good consequences.  Being "petrified", although understandable, is not a particular good survival skill if one is frozen into inaction.


Think about it, you were in an enclosed vehicle with 4 wheels. They were on dirt bikes. You had options. An individual whose safety is threatened has the right to exercise certain options. So you have had a "learning experience". 



We do not support the actions of two bit cowards who attack in groups in an attempt to intimidate or threaten.  We do support personal empowerment.  When enough people learn that they/YOU are more powerful than they/you may believe, we will no longer need legislatures dictating our every movement.


Our forefathers endowed us with certain rights and liberties.  They also left us with the responsibility to use them!


No one is free who is chained to their fear! rcAdd to Technorati Favorites

U.S. Army worried about "Twitter Terrorists"

From "Wired"

Could Twitter become terrorists' newest killer app? A draft Army intelligence report, making its way through spy circles, thinks the miniature messaging software could be used as an effective tool for coordinating militant attacks.

For years, American analysts have been concerned that militants would take advantage of commercial hardware and software to help plan and carry out their strikes. Everything from online games to remote-controlled toys to social network sites to garage door openers has been fingered as possible tools for mayhem.

This recent presentation -- put together on the Army's 304th Military Intelligence Battalion and found on the Federation of the American Scientists website -- focuses on some of the newer applications for mobile phones: digital maps, GPS locators, photo swappers, and Twitter mash-ups of it all.

Anyone want to make a bet that this will become the next excuse for monitoring your internet and cell phones?  Not that they aren't already. Quick, peek out the window.

I have a rich fantasy life. So I remember the first time breaking 200,000 on tetris my brain goes, the gov probably has this gig wired and when you break a certain score they come to your house and recruit you for missile mapping. But then I remembered that the Chinese got their first high powered ability to track missiles from smuggled in American Equipment. Then I got really scarred and thought, oh shit it's the Chinese that are going to come knocking.  Then a friend goes, "like no way dude, you gotta break 500,000 before they will even consider ya." (for those not familiar with my propensity to stick 9 volt batteries to my tongue and watch the TV channel, please note the the word "fantasy").

Proof that one does not have to be a meth freak to suffer from paranoiaAdd to Technorati Favorites.