|
Post by Mike on Apr 5, 2005 10:04:52 GMT -5
Ha! Where's my cigar? ;D
|
|
|
Post by chadgumbo on Apr 6, 2005 19:02:45 GMT -5
I had to make a business trip to the Minneapolis airport this morning and was listening to the morning programming of KSTP AM 1500 talk radio. Callers were being encouraged to chime in about a new interpretation of a law in Texas that is relevant to searches. Apparently it's okay for police officers to bring dogs trained in the art of smelling illegal substances right up to your house even if they have no justifiable cause for doing so. Apparently your property line is not where they need to stop. They can come right up to the structure of your home. And yet, in the same state, a heat sensing device which can detect heat signatures consistent with the burining of illegal substances cannot be employed without cause, even if the police cruiser is using it from the street (where, as the hosts were explaining, it is quite effective from that distance). Apparently the heat sensing device was deemed an invasion of privacy because it detects a heat image or signature from within the house, while the dogs were considered okay because they are detecting odors that have escaped the home. The hosts both felt that either the dogs or the heat sensing device should constitute an illegal search if they are being used without just cause. I tend to agree. It seems the police are only required to obtain a warrant to search the house if the dog "alerts" the officer to illegal substances inside the home. But, as one caller pointed out, aren't we in effect taking the word of the police officer when he or she says the dog "alerted"? In other words, if the police officer says the dog alerted, then the dog "alerted". Hmmm. It seems a simple thing to jump to the conclusion that an officer might be tempted to just go ahead and say the dog "alerted" regardless of the animal's behavior if the police officer wants to get inside the house badly enough. It seems like an abuse of authority to me. Mike, you live in Texas - have you heard anything about this? Any thoughts? - chadgumbo
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Apr 6, 2005 22:28:47 GMT -5
Mike, you live in Texas - have you heard anything about this? Any thoughts? - chadgumbo Yeah...unless Kinky wins the Governors race I'm moving to Minnesota. ;D Just kidding; too cold. Yes we've been watching the new "interpretation" of the law. With the many checkpoints anywhere near the Mexican border (well within the USA, like along I-10) it is an automatic dog search, which is easily understandable. You just have to use your head, and know where you are. However, the sanctity of a persons home is another story altogether. I've gotten the impression that this new twist was being driven by meth labs more than anything, but I also thought at one time that Homeland Security was to catch terrorist. Who knew? ;D We have a Dubya wannabe for Governor of this state right now, and he thinks he has to over-achieve with screwing the masses to get his name on the "A" list in DC. Many of our statistics (like child healthcare and public school funding) campared nationally over the last 5 or 6 years have become downright embarrassing. Instead of being concerned with the crisis of school funding and childrens healthcare programs they focused on redistricting the state to gain 7 extra republican seats, and secure the electoral votes. All of our Democrat reps went AWOL and hid in Oklahoma for a while to "hang up" the voting. Tom Delay used the Homeland Security Act to force the FAA, the FBI, and the Texas Rangers to search for them, and wanted to have them arrested. Hopefully, you will be hearing more about that soon, unless he can find another tragic family situation to throw in front of the media bus while he ducks outta site. Remember the Alamo was fought by mostly heros from the East and Northern states. Come on down fellas! We've got a fight on our hands. ;D Just follow Kinky and Willie's lead.
|
|
|
Post by jashley on Apr 7, 2005 18:47:05 GMT -5
If it's good enough for Willie and Kinky it's good enough for me. Mike, My step brother lived in Austin for a long time and I have always wanted to visit. Maybe next winter when the cold wind blows here in Ohio I can come on out. If I do I'll e-mail and tap into your insider Texas info before I come. It seems like Texas is becoming the most government intrusive state in the Union but the others are not far behind. What happened to the Republicans being the party that wanted to keep the government out of our private lives. That is why I switched after growing up in the party of Lincoln (who is spinning like a fan in his grave). Mike, I have been hearing a lot about the "Minutemen" coming down to Texas to help stop illegal immagration. What are your views on this? It seems to me if rich people didn't want to hire illegals as $2/hr maids we could probably deal with this problem in a resonable way. BillL just how dirty and contrary to their stated principles do the Republicans have to get for you to come over . To be a little more serious the debate in congress about the extension of many provisions of the "Patriot Act" has begun. Please please please take a minute and e-mail or write you reps and senators to let them know how you feel about this, in my opinion, unamerican legislation. Your opinion matters and if they get enough mail you can scare the beejesus out of them. Do not be afraid to tell them that you will not VOTE for them again and make it clear that you will join anyone working for their ouster from the government if they do not listen to their constituents. I feel that this legislation is bad enough that it is not a "party line" issue, every American should be against this nonsense. If we do not repeal this act then the terrorists have already won. Just found a new site. It is located at www.one.org . Bono and Brd Pitt have started working together to try to combat world poverty and aids in underdeveloped countries. Seems like a worthwhile effort to me. Maybe when the rest of the world isn't starving to death they won't be trying to kill us all the time. A little compassion will go a lot farther in this effort than all the bombs we can drop in my humble opinion. So I'm not being a bleeding heart liberal, I'm being pragmatic. It's cheaper to be play nice than to have to kill folks all the time8-). Peace j
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Apr 7, 2005 19:30:59 GMT -5
Mike, My step brother lived in Austin for a long time and I have always wanted to visit. Maybe next winter when the cold wind blows here in Ohio I can come on out. Peace j www.priceline.com That'd be great! Bring Chadgumbo with ya, and kidnap Bill L. ;D We'll straighten that boy out yet. ;D I'm working for Kinkys campaign. I'll let them know that help is on the way!!!
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Apr 7, 2005 20:30:11 GMT -5
Mike, I have been hearing a lot about the "Minutemen" coming down to Texas to help stop illegal immagration. What are your views on this? It seems to me if rich people didn't want to hire illegals as $2/hr maids we could probably deal with this problem in a resonable way. Peace j Most of that is actually out around Nogales, Arizona. I'm pretty mixed on this issue, but as usual, have no doubt that Bush has escalated this problem. And that was even before he decided he wants to give em drivers license's. I grew up in West Texas around the big ranches with many illegals working with the ranchhands. It was always the perfect balance. Everyone was happy and the illegals never dreamed that someday a dumbass American President would give them a drivers license. Truth is (IMO) that we are far from taking care of what's going inside our borders and we need badly to "stiffen" the access across them. A good time to have started that policy would have been 9/12/01 but so far...Bush is batting a thousand as far as how I tought he would handle our security, and him going completely south on every, EVERY issue. As far as the "Minutemen"...I think if this gov't keeps it up these are just the early recruits. Unfortunately, along the border of Tx there have been several shootings of illegals by Ranchers over the last few years. Bush can't seem to give us much hope, but yet he gives the illegals false hope that can only lead to trouble. What's really bad is when a whole semi-truck load of folks "bake" to death in the Texas heat. I do realize that has a harsh redneck tone to it but, the USA CANNOT handle the influx of Mexicans that is beginning to stream in. Call me a "left wing nut case" but I urgently think we should figure out how to take care of Americans before we adopt another country. Not to mention the fact that if Mexico ever turned around and coughed on us, we'd all be dead! So I guess that if Dubya were to ask for my advice I'd have to tell him...slow down...Numbnuts.
|
|
|
Post by chadgumbo on Apr 8, 2005 17:31:40 GMT -5
I got another one of these "Did you know?" e-mails. This time the guy/gal is touting Christianity and how it should be more accepted in our government institutions. Let me see if I can get the text of it here... Ah, it worked. Anyway, here was my e-mail in response to the sender... There you go. Other opinions, thoughts, are certainly welcomed by me - chadgumbo
|
|
|
Post by chadgumbo on Apr 8, 2005 22:00:52 GMT -5
Chad- I know many liberals that have no problem with the 10 Commandments, lawn of the Texas Capital or not. Yep, I'm one of 'em I'm just tired of this person's viewpoint that if you don't agree with him/her then you're either un-American, you're un-Christian (who knows, perhaps you're even the anti-Christ), and since you're one or the other you must not have anything worth saying and you shouldn't be allowed to express your worthless opinions either. I suppose I shouldn't let this person push my buttons like that, but I've had my say about the matter so consider those buttons pushed... ... and reset - chadgumbo
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Apr 8, 2005 23:36:29 GMT -5
Chad, This is an interesting subject because with the "shock value" wearing off of the name "liberal", the neo-cons need to find more energy (see The Celestine Prophecy), so slowly but surely they are evolving thier manipulation into "if you're a liberal, then you must be a baby killing, Christian hating atheist". I know it sounds crazy, until you listen to Tom Delay and ole Bibles-for-votes-Bush lately. They have really tapped into the "Moral Majority" thing. Hope Karl Rove and his boyfriend (the planted reporter) are happy now. Rove discovered the voting strength of the ole MM, and made a very useful tool of it.
As a Christian I would definately like to see less evil and more righteousness, but if it's not done correctly, then the so-called righteousness is in fact...evil. (see the Bush Administration)
Has anyone picked up on the "hints" that I'm not a fan of Dubya? ;D
|
|
|
Post by chadgumbo on Apr 9, 2005 8:31:04 GMT -5
so slowly but surely they are evolving thier manipulation into "if you're a liberal, then you must be a baby killing, Christian hating atheist"... ...As a Christian I would definately like to see less evil and more righteousness, but if it's not done correctly, then the so-called righteousness is in fact...evil... ...Has anyone picked up on the "hints" that I'm not a fan of Dubya? ;D Exactly. When the only logic that is needed becomes "Well I'm a Christian therefore what I advocate must be right." It then becomes easy to rationalize "I really don't have time, or I really just don't want to, think about the implications of the decisions that my nation's leaders are making. But since I'm a Christian and I know that they (the leaders) are Christian, whatever they're doing must be the right thing." That's a dangerous mindset in my opinion, and a slippery slope to boot. It's that same mindset that makes those kinds of people think it's okay to just shout down their opposition because their point of view doesn't matter anyway. I'm a Christian myself, but I'm not going to just blindly follow anybody who happens to be in a leadership role and touts himself/herself to be a Christian. We still have a responsibility to think for ourselves. Anybody remember Jim Jones and a place called Guyana? That's what can happen when we become too willing to surrender our own point of view to someone else. -chadgumbo and yeah Mike, the whole you're not a fan of Dubya thing - we get that ;D
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Apr 9, 2005 10:29:52 GMT -5
We still have a responsibility to think for ourselves. yeah Mike, the whole you're not a fan of Dubya thing - we get that ;D Dang it! I've tried so hard to hide my true feelings. Guess it ain't working?! ;D
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Apr 10, 2005 20:48:13 GMT -5
Got this in an email. Of the 535 members of the United States Congress: 29 have been accused of spousal abuse. 7 have been arrested for fraud. 19 have been accused of writing bad checks. (guess they need another pay raise) 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses. (and that doesn't even count the Prez & VP who have each bankrupted at least 2 businesses) 3 have done time for assualt. 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit. (guess they need another pay raise) 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges. 8 have been arrested for shoplifting. (guess they need another pay raise) 21 are currently defendants in a lawsuits. (so that's why they keep making "anti-lawsuit" laws ;D, not really, they do that to appease the lobbyist ) 84 have been arrested for drunk driving IN THE LAST YEAR. This is the same group that make hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line. If we worked for a company that employed 535 people with these stats, we would be looking for work before long because the company would be headed down the toilet. Something to think about.
|
|
|
Post by jashley on Apr 13, 2005 13:15:06 GMT -5
Mike, Are you trying to tell me that I still have a chance of being elected to public office. I thought I had too much "baggage" but with that rouges gallery that you posted I might still have a chance, maybe I need more charges though. If Kinky gets elected governor of Texas I'm buyin' me a big ol' hat and moving there. You know it's not completely out of the realm of possibility, when Hunter Thompson ran for sheriff of Aspen; even with a platform of legalizing dope, outlawing cars, prosecuting profiteering, and changing the name of Aspen to "Fat City", he only lost by something like 2 votes. Now Chad and Mike, we have come to one of those places where even though I like you both we have to disagree. When two fine genltlemen like yourself don't understand why it is so important to keep the church and state separate we have a problem Houston . You need to remember that the reason for a complete separation of the two is not only to protect the government from the church, but to protect the church from the government. If you don't believe me read european history of the 16th century, the mixing of religion and government had everyone killing everyone. Some goggles for you; the Massacre of Paris, Council of Rheims, Mary Queen of Scots, James II, Elizabeth I, Spanish Armada, Puritans (roundheads, the first religious right), Sir Francis Walsingham, need I continue. Contrary to neauvoue constitutional legend the mixing of the two is strictly prohibited by our constitution. I'm paraphrasing but the constitution says that you can make no law that favors one religion over another and that includes all religions, even athiesm or druidism or anything else. So whenerver you make any law promoting one religion you are inherently discriminating against any other belief system. The reason most of our forefathers came to this country is that in the "old country" people were getting killed and persecuted depending on which religion was in control of the government that month and they saw first hand how destructive the mingling of chuch and state could be. This is one of the cornerstones of our system of government and must be protected. In the making of our laws the "Ten Commadments" plays NO let me repeat that NO part. Immoral and illegal are two completely separate issues. If you use a previous document to frame your laws you have to use the whole thing. Only three of the comandments are also laws and that is only if you include false witness if you are under oath. That is not a basis of law it is an overlap of morality and law. If we were basing our laws on the ten commandments adultry would be against the law, is that what you want. Yes some things that are illegal, such as murder, are also immoral but one doesn't and shouldn't follow the other. Some thing that are illegal are not immoral, monopoly for example, this is also as it should be. As far as the tradition of, "under god" in the pledge, and "in God we trust" on our money that didn't happen untill 1954, during the first wave of religious rightism in our country. Christian's belief systems are so second nature to christians that it is difficult for them to see when they are infringing on people with different beliefs than theirs. But it is happening and it is happening more and more and we need to be more vigilant than ever to perserve this FOUNDATION of our system of government. I don't want a judge basing his ruling on his morality, I want him basing his decisions on the law of this country. So, this is one lefty who believes that the "Ten Christian Commandments" have no business in our courts or in our government. One last word and I'll shut my big mouth, I feel anyone can be a good American no matter what his religion or lack of religion and that should be reflected in our pledges, statements, and practices of government. Speaking of the labeling issue, have you noticed that no one is just a liberal or conservative anymore. No there are traditional liberals who are really conservatives and neo conservatives who are really something else and compassionate conservatives, gee I would be embarassed to have to qualify my political ideas with compassionate (shouldn't that be a given ). I don't think these labels mean anything anymore. Conservative sure doesn't seem to mean responsible, small government (that was for you BillL . Peace j
|
|
|
Post by chadgumbo on Apr 14, 2005 18:01:10 GMT -5
Jashely wrote: Note to self, check with local minister and local judge to see if we can get this thing pared down to "The Nine Commandments" Who came up with these crazy rules anyway? Doh! - sorry didn't realize I was on-the-air Just time for some very brief thoughts. Jashley, I would completely agree with you if I felt the judges and juries were basing their courtroom findings on the "Ten Commandments" that are engraved on the wall in the hall or perhaps on the outer wall of the building, but I believe that they are, in fact, interpreting law as it is written. If I felt those same judges and juries were overstepping their bounds and basing their decisions on what they read on those walls, then I would be 100% with you on this. The only analogy I can come up with is this. When I go to a baseball game at one of America's major league baseball stadiums, at some point during my visit it's quite likely that my eyes will gaze upon the American flag that is prominently displayed somewhere in the ballpark. Let's say it's a Minnesota Twins game. Let's not even get into the fact that I am expected to stand and respectfully sing along as we listen to the national anthem. But the flag in no way affects the outcome of the game (not even when the Al-Chaida harboring Canadians known as the Toronto Blue Jays come to town to play). Nor do I consider the flag as prejudicial against anyone (not even the Blue Jays). Despite the flag's presence, and the recitation of the National Anthem, I am able to discern that the Metrodome is a baseball park and not a government building. The Commandments, in my mind, serve as nothing more than a reminder that, even though these ten statements are not based on American law, had the defendants who happen to be traversing the halls of this building taken the time to observe at least one of these statements, he/she wouldn't be traversing these halls on this particular day. At those ballparks, the flag serves as a reminder that we are Americans. Please act like one and behave yourself while you are here. The commandments remind us that, whether you believe in a higher being or not, there is a guideline for life that if adhered to will keep you out of this courtroom. In this way I still view the church and the courthouse as separate entities whether the commandments appear on the wall or not. -chadgumbo Zoinks! I sound like a Republican Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with the thee...
|
|
|
Post by Mike on Apr 14, 2005 22:18:22 GMT -5
If Kinky gets elected governor of Texas I'm buyin' me a big ol' hat and moving there. Now Chad and Mike, we have come to one of those places where even though I like you both we have to disagree. When two fine genltlemen like yourself don't understand why it is so important to keep the church and state separate we have a problem Houston . Peace j Like I've said before, come on down. But unless you're going through Montana or Wyoming, I would re-think that big ole hat thing. ;D Houston-we do not have a problem because I would NEVER be in favor of combining church and state, and end up with Ayatollah Bush. Are you kidding me?! I think that those guys that penned our Constitutional Rights were probably the smartest and least greedy of any leaders this country has ever had, and I'm willing to abide by what they say. My whole point was to try and point out the hypocrisy of these evil mofo's masquerading as "our rightous saving grace" when what they are actually doing is.....well, I think we've covered that. Later
|
|