Bless his heart!

Romell Broom, abducted, raped, and murdered a 14-year-old girl in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1984. He was sentenced to die. Now, only 25 years later, his sentence was finally being carried out in September. But he's still alive. The executioner couldn't hit a vein, so the execution was halted and his attorney secured a temporary restraining order against trying again.

"There's still a state that wants to execute Romell Broom even though he's been through this horrific, tortuous 2 1/2-hour battle with the executioners . . ." Well, bless his heart! Wonder how long it took him to rape and murder that little girl? Anyway, how many of us have not at one time or another been in the hospital and experienced the same thing when medical personnel had problems hitting a vein? It's certainly no picnic, but I don't think I'd call it horrific. Rape and murder are horrific. I have a solution -- bring back "Old Sparky." A million volts will do the job -- no vein required.

Back to the question of whether or not Romell Broom should still be executed. Is that little girl still dead?

"Judge delays 2nd try at execution after lethal injection is botched." The Dallas Morning News; September 19, 2009; p. 9A.

How come Betty gets a free pass?

When conservatives disagree with Obama's policies, they're called all sorts of names and accused of "drinking the Kool-aid" of Fox television and Rush Limbaugh. When a left-winger makes a ridiculous assertion, nobody says anything about it.

Betty Culbreath is a member of the D/FW Airport Board. She recently said, "I purchased a gun a few days ago, because as much as you hate him, with Perry putting fuel on the fire, you people will start killing black folk like back in the Klan days, and I want to be ready." Now who do you think is an extremist nut -- the person who says Obama's plan is socialism or the person who buys a gun for when we start killing black folk?

"Talking Points." The Dallas Morning News; September 13, 2009; p. 1P.

If . . .

An Associated Press article in the newspaper recently was headlined, "Dependent coverage may be in jeopardy." It was a veiled warning that we'll all be in trouble if we don't support Obama Care. But after reading the article, I've determined that the headline was disingenuous.

The coverage that is "in jeopardy" is not really -- "if you want your spouse to be included in your company's health insurance plan when you sign up for benefits in 2010, you could be paying an extra $600 to $1000 a year IF he or she has coverage available elsewhere." If your spouse is already covered through his/her employer, and you just like the coverage from your employer better, why shouldn't you have to pay? The dependent's current coverage is NOT in jeopardy.

The other point "in jeopardy" is not valid either -- "Companies are also likelier to check up on the eligibility of employees' dependents. Many more are going to require that workers provide proof that their dependents fit the plan's rules for coverage." So if you're legal now, you should have no problem. Your coverage is NOT in jeopardy. If you're not legal, that means somebody else is paying for you. You should be required to prove your eligibility!

"Dependent coverage may be in jeopardy." The Dallas Morning News; September 27, 2009; p. 33A.

Why married women in the military is not a good idea.

I'm all for women's lib. Any woman who does the same job as a man as well as he does it should receive equal pay and benefits. What I am not for is downgrading standards so women can get the jobs. If a woman can't carry enough weight to meet firefighter standards, I'll take the man rescuing me, thank you very much.

What brought this to mind was an article on mothers at war. There are more than 100,000 mothers who have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Spc. Jaymie Holschlag is one of them. She is griping because she was deployed for 12 months. She says that when she returned, her children had changed so much she didn't know them. Jaymie was not drafted. Jaymie already had her children when she joined.

Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, director of the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University, says, "The Army's challenge, but also the military's challenge, is to help service members feel they don't have to choose between family life and their military career." I disagree. The military's challenge is to train up soldiers who are dependable on the battlefield, who can defend our country at all costs. It's not to cater to whiney woman who're unhappy with the choices they made.

"Mothers at war can create a conflict at home." The Dallas Morning News; September 27, 2009; p. 10A.

Business owners, Beware!

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, he who insists paying taxes is voluntary, is ready to impose more burdens upon the backbone of our economy and society -- the business owner. Included in the health bill he endorses is a provision that would require a business owner to pay a fine if any of his employees took advantage of government subsidies for health insurance. The fine would apply not only to the employee who got the subsidy, but to all the owner's employees. And we're not talking small amounts here -- the fee could be as high as $750 per employee. That means if a company employs 50 people, and only one gets a government subsidy, the owner will have to pay $37,500 in penalties.

But I probably am fretting too much -- I suppose these penalties will be as voluntary as paying taxes.

"Health bill may lack employer mandate." The Dallas Morning News; October 26, 2009; p. 4A.

What a Mockery!

Our time-honored traditions are fast falling to perversion and anything goes. Last February, George Mason University elected Ryan Allen, a gay drag performer, as homecoming queen. "I was very touched by how Mason was so supportive through the whole process of allowing a boy in a dress to run for homecoming queen," Allen said. I think the whole college is touched!

Paris News funny for the day: This headline appeared October 11, "Westgate property most like a waste of time and money." It's not like a waste of time and money -- it is a waste of time and money. However, I think the headline writer most likely meant "likely." I'd say The News most likely hasn't hired any proofreaders recently.

"For student, this honor not a drag." The Dallas Morning News; February 21, 2009; p. 9A.

Another episode of "Doesn't anybody know how to throw away the key?"

Jerry Lee Gray shot a Texas state trooper last month. Thankfully, the officer, though seriously wounded, is expected to recover. Gray will not. He was gunned down by other officers.

Jerry Lee Gray was sentenced to 16 years for robbery in 1973. That means he should have been in prison until 1989. He was out in 1979. He committed an aggravated robbery and was sentenced to 40 years. In 1995, he received another sentence of more than 12 years for bank robbery. He was out in 2005. Since then, he has committed numerous robberies around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

By my calculations, he shouldn't have been on a public street until, at the earliest, 2041. Doesn't anybody know how to throw away the key?

Paris News funny for the day: Headline in the October 21 issue states, "Panel backs vaccine as cervical cancer alternative." Well, I would certainly choose a vaccine over cervical cancer! Do you suppose they meant "treatment alternative"?

"Slain suspect had a long rap sheet." The Dallas Morning News; September 23, 2009; p. 3B.

If his lips are moving, he's lying.

Obama has said over and over that anyone making less than $250,000 will not have their taxes raised one dime. That might be true (but it's not), unless you need diabetic supplies, or need a wheelchair, or need a hearing aid, or need some other medical supply or equipment. Senator Max Baucus's plan includes a tax on all these items. It also included contact lens solutions, maxi-pads and other items until the Republicans shamed them into removing them by calling it a "Q-Tip" tax. And Baucus still claims this will "reduce costs" for working class families.

Congressional Budget Office director Douglas Elmendorf says the plan, which would require everyone to buy insurance, could reduce benefits for seniors enrolled in private Medicare plans. But Obama says, "Nobody is talking about cutting Medicare benefits." He may not be talking about it, but he plans to do it! He's not talking about ACORN, either, but that doesn't mean they're not corrupt!

The Paris News funny for today: Mary Madewell went to the circus recently. She says it's "good to revert to the days of our youth and do something compulsive." I think she means "impulsive." But then again, maybe she's one of those people Barney Fife refers to as "compelsion nuts."

"Headaches open health care debate." The Dallas Morning News; September 23, 2009; p. 13A.

Thomas Sowell on Obama Care

"Con men understand that their job is not to use facts to convince skeptics but to use words to help the gullible to believe what they want to believe. No message has been more welcomed by the gullible, in countries around the world, than the promise of something for nothing. That is the core of Barack Obama's medical care plan."

"Mandates by politicians are what have driven up the cost of insurance already. Politicians love to play Santa Claus and leave it to others to raise prices to cover the inevitable costs."

"Barack Obama's insistence that various dangerous policies are not in the legislation he proposes sounds good but means nothing. Unbridled power is a blank check, no matter what its rationale may be."

Oh well, Sowell disagrees with Obama, so he must be a racist. Thomas Sowell is not only probably the most brilliant economist alive today; he also happens to be black.

"Obama's promises." The Dallas Morning News; September 14, 2009; p. 13A.

More media bias.

When an abortion doctor is murdered by a misguided pro-life advocate, bulletins break in on the TV programming and it's front page news. The media opine about the dangerous right-wing fundamentalists, and the heroic victim. Remember when Dr. George Tiller was killed last summer? That's all we heard about for days.

But when a pro-abortion nut murders a pro-life activist, little is said. It makes page 6 in the newspaper if it makes it at all. Harlan James Drake killed an abortion protester across the street from a high school last month because he didn't like his sign. The sign had a picture of an aborted baby on it. I guess Drake thought gunning down a man in front of the students wouldn't affect them as much as that picture.

Out of curiosity, to test my theory about media bias, I googled Harlan James Drake. I got 106,000 hits. Then I googled Scott Roeder. He's the man who killed the abortion doctor. I got 847,000 hits. What do you think?

"Gunman bearing grudges kills 2, authorities say." The Dallas Morning News; September 12, 2009; p. 6A.

God must be weeping.

Unless he repents, Reverend Jon Haack probably won't like it when he meets his Maker. Haack is the pastor of the Promise Metropolitan Community Church -- a "church" that caters to gays. He's responsible for a billboard blitz in Dallas that perverts the scriptures to condone his sin. One says, "The early church welcomed a gay man." This lie is accompanied by a reference to Matthew 8:5-13. Another says, "Jesus affirmed a gay couple." This lie is accompanied by a reference to Acts 8:26-40.

Matthew 8:5-13 is the account of Jesus healing the servant of the centurion. I can't for the life of me figure out where the gay man is in this passage, or if I missed him somewhere, where the early church welcomed him. Technically, there was not yet a "church."

Acts 8:26-40 relates the story of Philip's witness to the Ethiopian eunuch. I can't find a gay couple in the passage, and Jesus was not bodily there to "affirm" the non-existent gays.

The devil is dancing with glee for now, and God is weeping. But He will not allow them to get away with hijacking his Word.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/091209dnmetbillboard.3c6ee6a.html

I respectfully disagree, Miss Manners.

Civility is almost non-existent in our society, so I always enjoy reading Miss Manners in the newspaper. Most times, I agree with her. But this time, I must voice my disagreement with what's proper.

The question posed to her was how to address mail to same-sex married couples. Miss Manners took the politically correct way on this one. She said, "Updating old customs for new times happens to be my favorite part of this job." She offers several alternatives including using "Mesdames" and "Mssrs."

Miss Essie thinks the old ways are the best ways. Recognizing a perversion as legitimate demeans the true meaning of marriage. There is no such thing as a same-sex married couple, so how to address them is a moot point. If, however, one finds himself in the position of doing so, Miss Essie suggests using either "Lesbians" or "Homos."

"A stab at updating the rules on honorifics." The Dallas Morning News; September 20, 2009; p. 12E.

School ain't what it used to be!

Back in the spring when the Texas legislature was in session (always a scary thing!), Representative Joe Deshotel came up with a ridiculous bill. It would have payed freshmen in low-performing schools $50 for each A earned in a core subject, $35 for each B, and $20 for each C.

Wow! Far from being rewarded for C's, I was told I had to buckle down (come to think of it, that's an exaggeration -- I never got a C). Anyway, if I had, my parents would not have been pleased. What's the world coming to when we have to pay kids to do well in school? And how long before the teacher kick-back scandals get uncovered -- you know -- where the kid says I'll give you $25 if you'll give me an A? That may sound ridiculous, but we already have teachers changing test answers, so it's not that far-fetched. Thankfully, we have some legislators with more sense than Deshotel has, and the HB-3449 just sat there. I give Representative Deshotel an F.

Incidentally, The Dallas Morning News gets a D -- they referred to Deshotel as a Republican. Essie thought that was a strange bill for a Republican to introduce, so when she did a little more research, she found out that Deshotel is a Democrat.

"Bill would pay kids for good grades." The Dallas Morning News; March 14, 2009; p. 6A.

It's too easy!

We all gripe about red tape, but when it comes to passports, our government should be a bit more picky. A government investigator decided to test our security measures.

He applied for a passport using the social security number of a man who died in 1965, a fake New York birth certificate, and a fake Florida driver's license. Passport officials didn't detect the misappropriated social security number, the counterfeit birth certificate, or the counterfeit driver's license. He got the passport four days later.

In another test, the investigator used the information of a 5-year-0ld boy, but identified himself as 53 years old. He got the passport seven days later. I got mine legitimately, and it took several weeks. Gee, I wonder what exactly they check on those applications.

"Passport security fails test." The Dallas Morning News; March 14, 2009; p. 7A.

The inmates are running the asylum -- another episode.

Phillip Arnold Paul killed an elderly lady in 1987. He soaked her body in gasoline and buried her in her flower garden. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was sent to Eastern State Hospital in Washington State. In 1991, he was taken on a field trip to a lake. He walked away from the outing. He was captured, but as he was being booked into the county jail, he knocked a sheriff's deputy unconscious and was charged with first-degree escape and second-degree assault.

On a subsequent conditional release, he fathered a child. In early September, a judge ruled that he "remained a threat to the public because of his aggressive behavior and his decreased awareness of his psychosis." Just two weeks later, Paul was taken with 30 other patients to the Spokane County Fair. Despite, as required by procedure, being kept within eyesight of staff at all times, he walked away from the fair and remained on the lam for several days. He finally was captured 180 miles from the fair site.

Just the environment you want when you take your kids for a fun day at the fair -- 31 crazed killers standing in line with them. The inmates are running the asylums!

"Escaped killer recaptured." The Dallas Morning News; September 21, 2009; p. 4A.

I believe it.

Obama says the ACORN scandal is not a major national issue he pays much attention to. Sure, I believe it.

Anyway, he should. They've received millions of our money, and they are corrupt from top to bottom.

"Obama makes rounds with health care push." The Dallas Morning News; September 21, 2009; p. 1A.

If . . .?

If Obama's health care plan is so good, and everybody will be better off with it, why is he having to push it so hard?

Barack Obama - the Pervert's Best Friend

Obama talked to the gays Saturday night at the Human Rights Campaign dinner. (This group would be more aptly titled the Pervert In-Your-Face Rights Campaign). He promised them he would rescind the military "don't ask, don't tell policy." He called on Congress to rescind the "Defense of Marriage Act" which says that the federal government can't tell a state it must approve gay marriage. He called for a law to require businesses to extend benefits to "domestic partners." "We have never had a stronger ally in the White House. Never," Joe Solmonese, the HRC president, said. God help us, I have to agree with him!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091011/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_gays

How do you do that "inadvertently"?

David Letterman says of his affairs with those who work for him, "Inadvertently, I just wasn't thinking ahead."

I can tell you this, the day Mr. Essie May comes home and tells me he had an inadvertent affair will be the day he gets his inadvertent rear inadvertently kicked out of the house!

"Letterman apologizes to wife." The Dallas Morning News; October 6, 2009; p. 6A.

Sure is deep in here!

Can you imagine defending a man who raped a 13-year-old girl? That's what all the Hollywood do-gooders are doing. Roman Polanski has avoided the consequences of his actions for more than 30 years.

Polanski doesn't think what he did is so bad -- "Everyone wants to [expletive] with young girls," he said.

Whoopi Goldberg doesn't think what he did is so bad -- "I know it wasn't rape-rape. It was something else but I don't believe it was rape-rape." I'm not sure what the difference in rape-rape and rape is.

Harvey Weinstein doesn't think what he did is so bad -- "Whatever you think about the so-called crime, Polanski has served his time." No, he hasn't. He fled the country before he could be sentenced.

And here's the real kicker. Weinstein said, "Hollywood has the best moral compass, because it has compassion." Yeah, we all know what paragons of virtue all the nuts and flakes out there are.

"Hollywood's lost moral compass." The Dallas Morning News; October 5, 2009; p. 15A.

I'm not a real doctor, but I play one at the White House.

Last week, Obama had a big photo op with lots of white-coated doctors on the White House lawn. These doctors purportedly all endorsed his socialized medicine. The news reported that ". . . 150 doctors, all wearing their white coats, attended a pep rally with President Barack Obama . . ." Here's what you weren't told.

The doctors did not know why they had been summoned to the White House. They thought they were going to have a "sit-down" to tell Obama what they thought. Instead, he told them what they were supposed to think.

They didn't come in their lab coats. Those were handed out at the White House.

Many of those doctors don't agree with Obama's plan at all. Obama said in his rah-rah speech that those doctors didn't swear in their oaths to spend their time handling paperwork and wading through bureaucratic red tape. That their oaths didn't include turning away people who couldn't pay. One of them pointed out that the vast majority of the mounds of paperwork and red tape they wade through are government mandated. She also pointed out that it's the government that tells them they cannot treat a Medicare patient for free.

More of the Obama sleight of hand (and mouth) at work!

"Sides rally on costs vs. coverage." The Dallas Morning News; October 6, 2009; p. 6A.

What a kneeslapper!

Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for his vision of a world without nuclear weapons -- Iranian President Ahmadinejad, when asked for his reaction, said, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Look at all that tax money!

Our city recently voted to go "wet." One of the main arguments used by the wets was that we would gain pots full of tax money from the sales of alcoholic beverages. It would be good for us!

About the time all this was going on, there was an article in the paper about the racing commission. Texas legalized gambling some years ago on the same argument -- "Look at all the tax money we'll get!"

Well, it seems that the state Racing Commission is short about $700,000. They want a bailout of $250,000. According to executive director Charla Ann King, "The industry is on the edge of the end." And she may be right. Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie is at risk of defaulting on $175 million in loans.

Yes, I can see that drinking and gambling are really good for us!

"Racing Commission seeks bailout." The Dallas Morning News; February 27, 2009; p. 3A.

Wow -- it's, like, 3D!

American Airlines Center in Dallas has installed a big new video system over center court. They say the clarity of the screens is so good in 2D that they can simulate 3D if you're wearing the cardboard glasses.

Gee, wouldn't you get a 3D effect if you just watched the live action on the court or stage? Guess I'm just unclear on the concept.

"Getting the big picture." The Dallas Morning News; October 2, 2009; p. 1B.

Sarah Palin, where's your stand-up routine?

Calling Sarah Palin! Calling Sarah Palin! I want to hear your stand-up routine about David Letterman!

Global warming will get ya if ya don't watch out!

Guess what? Since 1997, there has been no global warming. There is evidence that global warming is not manmade at all, but a result of sunspot activity and the tilt of the earth's axis. Sunspot activity doubled during the 20th Century, when the bulk of global warming has taken place. It's decreased over the last few years when the warming has ceased. Of course, the global warming folks disagree there's anything to this theory. It has to be cars, factories, and tooting cows causing all this heating up of the earth (which isn't really heating up, but don't confuse them with the facts). Otherwise, they have no reason to take control of your lifestyle. And Obama has no platform to glorify himself as he did when he told the UN that "the United States has done more to promote clean energy and reduce carbon pollution in the last eight months than at any other time in our history."

Paris News funny headline for the day: "Goverment calls distracted driving an 'epidemic'" -- Looks like there's also an epidemic of distracted newspaper workers.

"Where's the sun?" The Dallas Morning News; September 6, 2009; p. 4P.

Is it really?

David Overton, Ian Hunter, and Gwen Lummus of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas say that "health care is a human right." Is it really? If I can afford health insurance, but I decide to spend my money on other things I want, and I get sick, should you have to pay my medical bills? I don't think so. I don't think I have a "right" to medical care under those circumstances.

David, Ian, and Gwen cite the Bible as giving a clear call to care for the poor and sick. I can agree with them there. What the Bible doesn't call for is for the government to take the money I've saved as a good steward and give it to someone else who is not a good steward. David, Ian, and Gwen say that "as the most advanced nation on earth, we have a right -- a human right -- to a better health care system." As the most advanced nation on earth, we already have the best system in the world. People come here for treatment from the countries with "universal coverage." But what kind of logic can you expect from people who go to a church that believes that everybody goes to heaven by whatever way they think they'll get there.

"The right to health care." The Dallas Morning News; September 6, 2009; p. 3P.

Barb Walters of Frisco must live under a rock.

Barb Walters of Frisco is upset at the lack of respect shown to Obama. She says she went to a townhall event and there were only "eight old white men" on the stage. Right off the bat, I could see that Barb was just full of reverence. She says of her preceived dishonor of Obama that "nothing of the sort was shown to President George W. Bush while he was in office."

I can only conclude that Barb spent much of 2001 to 2008 living under a rock. George Bush was called a hypocrite, a liar, stupid, clumsy, out of his league, and a criminal. And those were the compliments.

". . . were rude, disrespectful." The Dallas Morning News; September 6, 2009; p. 3P.

Isn't that sweet?

Just about my favorite treat is ice cream. I don't care what flavor, I just love ice cream. But if the only brand available was Ben & Jerry's, I'd have to pass.

Walt Freese, the CEO of Ben & Jerry's renamed its Chubby Hubby flavor "Hubby Hubby" in celebration of Vermont legalizing gay marriage. Said Freese, "The legalization of marriage for gay and lesbian couples in Vermont is certainly a step in the right direction and something worth celebrating with peace, love and plenty of ice cream." I'll take a double scoop of good old Texas-made Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla, please. And make it straight.

On the other side of the issue, I'll be buying Exxon gasoline whenever possible. They scored zero catering to homos. According to Daryl Herrschaft of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, "Basically, what Exxon is saying is that if you come to work for us in the U.S. and you're gay, you get compensated less." Not true -- he's talking about spousal benefits, and if a homosexual marries a person of the opposite gender, he'll get every benefit every other Exxon employee gets. So fill 'er up with some good old Texas Exxon gas!

"Talking Points." The Dallas Morning News; September 6, 2009; p. 1P.
"Texas firms rate higher on policies affecting gays." The Dallas Morning News; September 15, 1009; p. 4D.

Pot and Kettle

Obama has been upset that people are disagreeing with him on his socialistic health care proposals. He claims they are lying (by the way, Congress has said we can't call the president a liar). "We will call you out," he said when he spoke to Congress. Wonder why he's not so upset by the Democrats? Chet Edwards said, "I will wear it as a badge of honor that I was shouted at by people who oppose Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and children's health."

Honestly, do you know anybody who opposes children's health? Honestly, do you know anyone in favor of cutting retirees off their social security? Honestly, do you know anyone who wants to cut retirees off their Medicare?

Incidentally, I do oppose the concept of government run social security and medicare; however, we're saddled with them, and people have been paying premiums on them for their entire working lives, so we can't cut them off. The fiascos we see in these insolvent programs will be the end result of Obama care. But Obama doesn't care (no pun intended). He just wants to be another FDR.

"Talking Points." The Dallas Morning News; September 6, 2009; p. 1P.

Thank you, FTC!

As of September 1, you should have been getting fewer robocalls. The FTC outlawed those annoyances from the nether regions. Those making robocalls will need your written permission to call you. Of course, the lawbreakers will continue to operate -- when they give you false information and no callback numbers, what can you do? Those that are caught, though, will face fines of up to $16,000 per call. I'd answer one of the calls just to see them pay that.

And there is one thing you can do when you receive those calls. Go to www.ftc.gov and file a complaint online. You may not have much information, but there is a box for you to fill in comments. I give them the details I've been able to glean from the telemarketer there. It takes only a few minutes, and the more complaints they receive, the more likely they are to act.

"FTC to ban many telemarketing 'robocalls.'" The Dallas Morning News; August 28, 2009; p. 12A.