Poor Abneris!

Abneris Santiago kept her three children locked in a filthy motel bathroom for over a year. She rarely fed them, but she and her boyfriend ate hot dogs, Oreos, and other snacks. She went to work every day, but never bothered to pick up the phone and ask someone to help her children. The boyfriend repeatedly raped the little girl. When the children were finally rescued, observers said they looked like holocaust victims. They required weeks of hospitalization, and their emotional therapy is ongoing.

Poor Abneris! She told the judge at her trial, "I've been through so much . . . out of one nightmare and into another." Excuse me, Abneris, if I don't shed any tears for you.

"Mother plans to change plea to guilty, meets briefly with girl." The Dallas Morning News; July 30, 2010; p. 7A.

More on Diversity

I mentioned yesterday the few blacks in our community who insist on pasting a racist label on anyone who has a pale skin. There was a recent case where a policeman had to get a little rough with a troublemaker who happened to be black. There would have been no reason for him to get rough had there not been a crowd of the suspect's angry friends and relatives making threatening gestures toward the officer. At any rate, the Police Chief determined that he had used more force than was necessary to effect the arrest, and the officer was suspended for two days. He appealed. After viewing the video of the incident and listening to testimony, an independent arbitrator found that the officer had properly acted under the circumstances, and his pay was re-instated and the incident cleared from his record.

One of the black people who insists we're all racists was quoted in The Dallas Morning News after the arbitrator's decision was announced. "What's going to stop the officer from doing that again and again? It makes me fearful." In answer to the question, nothing -- he did nothing wrong in the performance of his duties, so it's perfectly OK for him to do the same thing again and again. She's operating from the premise that he did something wrong, and he didn't. In response to her "fear"? Don't do something you shouldn't be doing, and it's highly likely you'll never have an encounter with a police officer. And if you do, then just do what he says and he won't have to throw you down on the hood of his car.

"Review backs white officer's use of force on black man." The Dallas Morning News; July 30, 2010; p. 6A.

Where are the black people?

A few of the black people in our community like to label the whole city as a bunch of racists. So some very well-meaning people have come up with the "Diversity Task Force" to bring the races together. I'm not sure we have a problem to begin with, but if we do, I have an observation to make.

The Task Force recently had a diversity dinner where people of all colors were to come together to discuss relationships, issues, etc. The photograph in the newspaper was quite revealing. I counted 27 white people in the photograph, and 5 black people. They didn't say, but I'm quite sure that table seating was intentionally planned to reflect "diversity." If that's the case, there weren't even enough black people at the event to insure that each table had black representation.

That's my observation, now here's my question: If a problem exists, which race is really serious about addressing it?

"Discussion groups search for strengths among differences." The Paris News; August 2, 2010; p. 1A.

Hurry and get yours before they're gone!

I recently speculated that Obama would soon direct that everyone had to buy an electric car battery because the government has poured billions of your hard-earned dollars into that industry when there is virtually no demand for it. In July, Obama visited the GM factory where the Chevrolet Volt is manufactured. I'm sure you'll want to run out and get one right away when you find out that:

1) The sticker price starts at $41,000. But the government (again using your hard-earned dollars) is offering a federal tax credit of $7,500 if you buy one. That's not a deduction, that's a credit -- it's subtracted from your total tax bill. So those of us who can't afford a $33,500 car will be subsidizing those who can.
2) It will take about 10 hours to fully charge the vehicle. That's using the electricity we've been told we should conserve. Now that Oncor has installed smart meters, what happens when they decide you've used enough current for the day and turn you off? Guess that means you won't be driving your uncharged electric car the next day.
3) The effective range of the Volt on one charge is about 40 miles. So there won't be any driving to Dallas for the day in it. In fact, if you live in the country, you'll be lucky to make it to town to work and back home before the charge gives out. But, GM says, you can charge it while you're at work. I kind of wonder what your employer is going to think about everyone running up the company's electricity bill to charge their cars. Anyway, the Volt has a gasoline engine that will kick in when the charge runs out. I thought the whole idea of this thing was to go green, and here it is using electricity from coal-fueled power plants and (gasp!) gasoline.

So hurrry up, folks, because I predict these things will sell like hotcakes (week-old hotcakes, maybe).

"Volt prices start at $41,000." The Dallas Morning News; July 28, 2010; p. 3D.

If you don't break the law . . .

What discrimination! What a travesty! For a quarter-century, tens of thousands of blacks have been subjected to long prison terms for crack cocaine convictions. This isn't fair! Everyone knows that crack is the cocaine form of choice for blacks because it's cheap -- much cheaper than the powder form preferred by whites, and sentencing them just like they do the whites is just plain racist!

So our Congress has passed legislation to ease up on these poor black guys. Obama said during his campaign that the tough sentencing "cannot be justified" and such a tough stance should be eliminated. So I'm sure he'll sign the bill.

What I don't understand is this . . . if these guys aren't out buying and selling crack, why do they care what the penalties are? Incidentally, the tough penalties that have been changed are:

1) Under the old legislation, a person convicted of crack cocaine possession got the same mandatory prison term as someown with 100 times the same amount of powder cocaine. Under the new legislation, that ratio is reduced to 18 to 1. They could have accomplished the same thing by increasing the penalty for the powder cocaine possession.

2) The new legislation eliminates the five-year mandatory minimum for first-time possession of crack.

I agree with Rep. Lamar Smith of San Antonio who said, "Why are we coddling some of the most dangerous drug traffickers in America?" I can guarantee you that when the crime rate soars in the black areas of the major cities, the NAACP will be whining about how law enforcement ignores black areas. But if they go in and clean it up, they'll whine about how blacks are unfairly targeted. I say, "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime no matter what color you are!"

"New terms for crack crimes OK'd." The Dallas Morning News; July 29, 2010; p. 4A.

Well, you know, it just is . . .

Kathleen Sebelius told a bunch of senior citizens the other day that "a lot of misinformation was put out to seniors from people who did not want this bill [Obamacare] to pass." She apparently didn't get any more specific than that. Despite this lack of information, these poor old people fell for it.

Robert Gamez admits he doesn't understand the law, "But it's going to be better than what we have now," he says. If he doesn't understand the law, how can he say that? Virginia Manriqez says, "As long as they pay my bills, I'm OK." Think so, Virginia? What about if they say we'll pay your bills, but you can't see Dr. X, or you can only see him once a year? What if they pay your bills, but you can't find a doctor or a hospital that accepts Medicare? What if they pay your bills, but you have to wait three years for a surgery? What if they pay your bills, but your premiums go up 500%?

Wake up! Ask some hard questions! We've been sold a bill of goods, and you people are swallowing it hook, line, and sinker!

"Health secretary says new law helps seniors." The Dallas Morning News; July 20, 2010; p. 3D.

Did they take the day off?

ShaVunda Horsley and about 50 others gathered at Dallas City Hall Plaza in their swimsuits on a Wednesday afternoon to protest the closure of some of the municipal swimming pools. "We think it is unfair to hold down the taxes of the rich by tearing down the programs of the poor. I've never seen such affluence refusing to tax itself," said community organizer John Fullinwider. Then they pulled out the old "if our kids don't have anything to do they'll be criminals" gag. One of the protesters said, "To me, it's leading to the criminalization of our youth." That's a new one to use as a defence -- "Judge, I couldn't help it. I didn't have a swimming pool when I was in the 'hood." Give me a break!

My first question is why these people aren't at work in the middle of a weekday. My second question is why it's someone else's responsibility to provide them a swimming pool.

My observation is that "community organizers" (remember, Obama was a community organizer) like to claim they've done something to help the poor when really all they've done is robbed the rich (and their definition of rich is anyone who works hard for a living and takes care of himself and his family). The real definition of community organizing is "redistributing the wealth." If Mr. Fullinwider wants to be a community organizer in a true sense, he won't be at City Hall trying to take someone else's money for something that's non-essential. He and his "community" will be out WORKING and raising funds to build their own community pool.

"Rally tries to make waves." The Dallas Morning News; August 19, 2010; p. 11B.