We The People… July 9, 2008

 

I just got the best email from BIll and had to blog about it. I don’t know how this has escaped me; apparently its been forwarded across teh interwebs for quite sometime. But honestly, nothing has gotten me this fired up politically in a few days. As a matter of fact, Kit and I were talking politics last night and I was kind of depressed thinking about the direction I see our country heading and the great possibility that Osama Obama may be the next President. Heaven help us. 

The best part of what you’re about to read is the fact that it was written by a Congressman from the great state of Georgia, Mitchell Kaye (R), representing Cobb County. The worst part, you ask? He’s unfortunately a jort-wearing, 2 time graduate of Florida. Oh well, nobody’s perfect. 

Anyways, Congressman Kaye has written a brilliant response to the ever-increasing population of lazy, morons in this country that possess a ridiculous sense of self-entitlement. Bill’s email referred to it as the new Bill of Non Rights. I think it should be called…

 

The New Preamble To The Constitution Of The United States of America

“We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.”

 

• ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.
• ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone — not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
• ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
• ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.
• ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we’re just not interested in public health care.
• ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don’t be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
• ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don’t be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won’t have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
• ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.
• ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
• ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don’t care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!
• ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country’s history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!

 

I live and am registered to vote in Clarke County, so I don’t have the pleasure of punching Congressman Kaye’s name at the ballot box. Too bad he’s not running for President; I’d vote for him in a skinny minute. He’s already proven to be leagues above the two phonies currently clammoring for the job.

 

Amen and God Bless America!

Crime Pays at Clemson December 13, 2007

Color me surprised. Tommy Bowden craps out on discipline once again.

What do you expect from Tater Tot’s brother?

Apparently Cortney Vincent got a jump on post Finals partying. The starting MLB for the tigers was arrested early Sunday morning for DUI in Pickens County after leaving an off campus party. He admitted to drinking early in the night and complied with the officer’s request for a field sobriety test, which he passed. However, he refused the breathalyzer (can’t blame him), and in the state of South Carolina that is an admission of guilt. As an early Christmas present, the Pickens County PD conveniently forgot to issue a mandatory court ordered blood test for Vincent. Shocking, I know; this ain’t Athens folks - the cops in these parts ♥ Clemson football. 

Jail or no jail, you’ll still be wearing an orange jumpsuit

 

It doesn’t take a genious to figure out Cortney will likely walk with probation or, better yet, a dismissal.  

In the meantime, Coach Bowden declared that Cortney will not be suspended from the team. He will not miss a practice. He will not run gassers or write a thousand times on the chalkboard “I will not drink & drive.” And he most certainly will not lose his starting job for the Peach-fil-A Bowl against Auburn on New Year’s Eve. Unbelievable.

This coming from the same man who lauds himself as a disciplinarian, mentor, and leader to his team. The same man who’s in deep doo-doo with the ACLU over using a University bus to take his players to church. Also the same man who just used the Arkansas job like a two-dollar whore to get a fat pay raise for accomplishing his typical version of NADA and maintaining the mediocrity that is Clemson football.

Way to go Tammy!

War Eagle.

Church of Hate November 5, 2007

I know for the last few months I’ve written an awful lot on UGA football, but today I just felt like putting my feelings down about something that’s consuming my town at the moment.

In case you’re not familiar, I live in Greenville, SC and have since middle school. Four of the seven college students who died tragically in last week’s fire on Ocean Isle beach were from Greenville - three were students at USC, one was a student at Clemson. Just last month another USC student from Greenville died after falling out of his dorm window. That makes five kids under the age of twenty who’ve passed away in a month - most all of them went to the same high school as well.

I personally know two of the families who lost a child. And several families who were close to those that passed. It’s still hard for me to wrap my little brain around how profoundly this loss of precious life will affect my community for years to come. And it’s near impossible for me to fully comprehend the depth of loss for the families and loved ones of these great kids.

Memorial services and funerals started at the end of last week and are continuing today. There is just a feeling of tremendous grief and sadness in my town right now. It’s all anyone talks about. It’s just so hard to fathom. My hope and prayer initially was that the services of rememberance would allow a process of healing to begin. If nothing else, I’ve just prayed that God would bless these families with a peace that passes all understanding and comfort them in the days to come. I had no idea just how important that prayer would become until today.

Between classes this morning I decided to run a few errands. I listen to local talk radio and they were again discussing this morning the Ocean Isle beach fire. I had to pull my car over when I heard them mention that the cult from Westboro Baptist Church were here to protest the funerals. I’m still stunned and crying as I type this.

I’m sure you know who these hateful people are. They’ve been protesting the funerals of fallen soldiers for years now. They decend upon towns across America, bringing their vile signs and shouting with such venom, it absolutely astounds me that they associate themselves with the Word of God. Now they’ve come to my town. They’ve come to harrass these families in the most vulgar way and at their most desperate hour to further ther own depraved agenda.

If you’ve ever heard a recording or seen footage of these people in action from news clips, it can nearly bring you to your knees in horror or send you over the edge in anger. My emotions today have already run the gamut. When I heard the Westboro cult had invaded my community, I texted a close friend. His reply sums up my feelings quite simply…”Some people are just plain worthless.” Amen. 

First, let me make it abundantly clear that these people are not affiliated with the Baptist church in any way, shape, or form. Period. They are independant from any and all Baptist conventions and associations worldwide. I am a Baptist and find their abuse of my denomination’s name absolutely perverse. Second, the members/congregants of this so-called church are made up intirely from one family - the Phelps family of Kansas. Thank God they’ve yet to gain ground and recruit new members. Third, this group is dangerous on so many levels, but especially because they are well-versed and educated in constitutional law. Eleven children of the patriarch & founder of this hate group, Fred Phelps, are licensed and practicing attorneys. They each know very well how to maneuver and circumnavigate First Ammendment law and precedent. I think that fact alone concerns me more than any others, quite honestly.

They’ve exploited their First Ammendment rights to free speech & freedom of religion for years, but are monitored closesly by the Anti-Defamation League. And they are currently classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Yet still they’ve been allowed to torment the families of fallen soldiers, gay/lesbian individuals, Catholics, Muslims, and Jews during bereavement services.

Fortunately, the American justice system prevailed last week in limiting the First Ammendment rights of the WBC. On Friday a federal jury in Baltimore, Maryland issued an $10.9 million dollar civil judgment against the WBC, ruling their speech was too vulgar and offensive - therefore not protected by the First Ammendment. The verdict comes in the case filed by Albert Snyder after his son Matthew’s funeral was picketed by the WBC. Lance Cpl Matthew Snyder died March 3, 2006 while serving our country in Iraq.

As expected, the WBC plans to fight this judgment on appeal. The Snyder Family may never see a penny of that verdict, but this case was never about the money. It was about setting legal precedent for other grieving families.

“I hope this is enough to deter them from doing this to other families,” said Snyder. “All I kept thinking about was my son Matt and all the other parents who went through it — this will set a precedence.”  

As a matter of fact, the WBC is expected to answer charges including flag mutilation, disturbing the peace, and negligent child abuse in a Nebraska court later this week.

I’m not naive enough to think these verdicts and future charges will deter the Phelps family in the least. I do pray however that more communities will exercise this new precedent as a way to enforce & protect our rights  to peaceful assembly.

Today though, I’m praying specifically for God to silence this family and prevent them from hurting already devastated families.

 *************************************************************************************

Note: I included a link above on the Westboro cult so that you can educate yourself about their history. Notice that I chose the wikipedia page. Their own url includes the word hate and a prejudicial slur that I refuse to support. I’ve never visited their site and don’t ever intend to.

WLOCP started early… October 23, 2007

…for Knowshon Moreno and Matt Stafford. Apparently they needed a break from the playbook during the bye week and partied with some trashy lookin’ Ole Miss girls. Seriously, wouldn’t you think they would attract a better class of groupie by now? When I was at Georgia, Bobo and Quincy were never this hard-up! I’m just sayin’.  

Whatever. I can understand the guys partying; I sure as hell did. I even expect it. Hell, it’s Athens, Georgia not Provo, Utah. UGA earned its #5 party school reputation honestly -we’re not training future Missionaries here.

What I can’t understand though, is why the hell they willingly pose for pictures at the scene of the crime?? AGAIN! Remember ‘dega Matt?

  

Destroy the evidence dumbass!

Seriously? THIS is the best you can get?

At least the bottle of Beam isn’t in Knowshon’s hands

  

Thank God facebook & myspace didn’t exist when I was at UGA! 

What’s hysterical to me though is the irony of timing. If you read today’s Dogbytes from the ABH, you saw the story on Knowshon……being a role model. I kid you not. This is my favorite quote from Knowshon:

“Now that people are watching you and you’re a role model, you just have to watch things you do.”

There’s nothing worse than having your own words come back to bite you in the ass. I know from years of personal experience.