Working people frequently ask retired people what they do to make their days interesting. Well, for example, the other day I went downtown and went into a shop. I was only there for about 5 minutes and when I came out there was a cop writing out a parking ticket.

I went up to him and said, "Come on, man, how about giving a retired person a break"? He ignored me and continued writing the ticket. So I called him a "Nazi".
He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn tires. So I called him a "Doughnut eating Gestapo". He finished the second ticket and put in on the windshield with the first.

Then he started writing a third ticket. This went on for about 20 minutes. The more I abused him, the more tickets he wrote.

Personally, I didn’t care. I came downtown on the bus and the car that he was putting the tickets on had a bumper sticker that said "Hillary in ‘08."
I try to have a little fun each day now that I’m retired. It’s important to my health…..

Hillary to Return SOME Tainted Campaign Money

It all depends on what the meaning of the word "return" is!

In the wake of the latest Clinton funny money scandal, Hillary Clinton’s campaign has said it will give to charity the $23,000 that fugitive Norman Hsu gave to the campaign. It’s unclear whether Hillary would eithe return or donate to charity the money given in bundles of campaign cash put together by Hsu including the palooza pile of Paw bucks Hsu collected from the family of a California mail carrier. It was the sudden, huge contributions from this middle class family which sparked the initial inquiries.

More questions continue to be raised regarding the timing of the release of Senator Craig’s June 11 arrest on disorderly conduct and possible Clinton connections to Chinese communist agents.

President Bush Celebrates Katrina Rebuilding

For the second anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina disaster President Bush returned to New Orleans and Mississippi to get a first hand look at the progress.

President George W. Bush helps hang a flag outside the new home of Gen White, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007, at a new housing development in New Orleans, during President Bush’s visit to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson is seen at left. White House photo by Shealah Craighead

Federal Contributions to Katrina Victims Larger than Marshall Plan for Reconstruction of Postwar Europe

Katrina collects a bundle
By Audrey Hudson and Sean Lengell
Washington Times
August 30, 2007

The flow of federal dollars to the Gulf Coast two years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the region already exceeds what the U.S. spent on the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after World War II.

President Bush and Congress have committed more than $127 billion in resources and tax relief for the region — significantly more than inflation-adjusted $107.6 billion directed to 16 countries in Europe between 1947 and 1951.

"We dumped billions into Europe, but it was prepared to deal with it and used it to create a viable new economy," said Fred L. Smith Jr., president of the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

"At the moment, Louisiana’s economy is very regulated and politicized; it’s like pushing stones uphill while molasses flows downhill," Mr. Smith said. "The challenge is to make sure aid to Louisiana is matched or surpassed by their own self-help efforts, the need to incentivize and liberalize its economy and political rules."

Meanwhile, fraud continues to be a major obstacle to greater progress!

Illegal Alien with Tuberculosis to be Deported

Another strong reason for sound immigration control is to protect the public health. History buffs will recall that one of the primary purposes of Ellis Island was to prevent spread of communicable diseases from immigrants. That system no longer exists and now we’re paying the price.

Teen Jailed Over TB to Face Deportation
Associated Press
Aug 30, 2007

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Officials started taking steps to deport a Mexican teenager who was jailed after refusing treatment for tuberculosis.

Francisco Santos, 17, has acknowledged to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that he is in the country illegally, Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway said Wednesday.

County health officials jailed Santos last week after he refused treatment for an active, contagious case of tuberculosis and threatened to travel to Mexico, a move that could expose more people to the potentially fatal disease. Santos, who lives in Duluth, has since started taking medicine, but he will remain jailed at least until a Sept. 5 hearing.

Conway said Santos’ condition and age could further complicate a deportation process that can take months. Because he is a minor, officials would have to make sure he has family in Mexico or that the Mexican government would take a role.

Four people who had been living with Santos have also tested positive for tuberculosis, health officials said Wednesday.

The problem is compounded by the fact that many of these illegals share overcrowded dwellings where disease is more easily passed along.

More Good News from Iraq

Thanks Imam Wordsmith for graphic finds!

Shi’ite leader declares cease-fire
By David R. Sands
Washington Times
August 30, 2007

Anti-American Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr yesterday ordered a six-month "freeze" of activities by his Mahdi Army militia, a force accused of attacking U.S.-led coalition forces and operating "death squads" targeting the country’s Sunni Arab minority.

U.S. officials greeted the announcement with caution, but the move could provide a significant boost for the security "surge" now under way in Baghdad and other parts of the country. Aides to Sheik al-Sadr confirmed the young cleric’s order included a ban on all attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in the country.

So Mokie Al Sadr, who fled to Iran when the surge began is now trying to take the heat off? Hmm… wonder if it has anything to do with President Bush targeting Iranian agents in Iraq?

Bush to American Legion: U.S. Military Authorized to Confront Iran’s "Murderous Activities" in Iraq

It’s another in a series of speeches on this important topic that deserves to be read in full

President Bush Addresses the 89th Annual National Convention of the American Legion
Reno, Nevada
White House transcript
August 28, 2007

…Shia extremists, backed by Iran, are training Iraqis to carry out attacks on our forces and the Iraqi people. Members of the Qods Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are supplying extremist groups with funding and weapons, including sophisticated IEDs. And with the assistance of Hezbollah, they’ve provided training for these violent forces inside of Iraq. Recently, coalition forces seized 240-millimeter rockets that had been manufactured in Iran this year and that had been provided to Iraqi extremist groups by Iranian agents. The attacks on our bases and our troops by Iranian-supplied munitions have increased in the last few months — despite pledges by Iran to help stabilize the security situation in Iraq.

Some say Iran’s leaders are not aware of what members of their own regime are doing. Others say Iran’s leaders are actively seeking to provoke the West. Either way, they cannot escape responsibility for aiding attacks against coalition forces and the murder of innocent Iraqis. The Iranian regime must halt these actions. And until it does, I will take actions necessary to protect our troops. I have authorized our military commanders in Iraq to confront Tehran’s murderous activities.
…
We’ve conducted operations against Iranian agents supplying lethal munitions to extremist groups. We’ve targeted Shia death squads and their supply networks.

President Bush hugs veteran at American Legion in Reno. If only the lefties could feel the love!

Latest GOP Presdidential Straw Poll

Has Fred Thompson waited too long to get in?