I'm Back - Sort Of...

Man, do I miss converting the contents of my overactive grey matter into digital form. Two and a half months ago I said that I was almost finished working on the new store that I'm opening and I would be back soon. Well, here we are in a new decade and I'm still not finished...My progress has been impeded by multiple factors. The first and foremost is the old rule of thumb when starting a new business: It's gonna cost twice as much and take three times as long as one expects. The next stumbling block is life in general - Shit Happens (another wise old adage). The third is probably the reason I'm writing this post today - petty tyrants. The non-elected bureaucrats that can hold such an impossible sway over one's fate. I don't wanna get into details unless they piss me off too much - then I'll name names & everything - but suffice it to say that between the local and state officials, the insurance and banking stuffed shirts and the buffoons on the federal level, several days after my 51st birthday, I'm still in a "defy-authority" mode. Ya'd think I would have grown out of it by now. But the bastards keep grinding at me.

So I guess that I would have to say that I have learned some things throughout this process. The main addition to my cerebral stockpile would be that: government needs to be changed starting at the LOCAL level. I had always been of the opinion that we needed to start from the top and work our way down, but my recent experiences have shown me that the biggest impediments to small businesses and economic prosperity are far greater at the city & state levels. Our cities cry for businesses to re-locate there and then wallop the prospective entrepreneur with fees & licensing requirements and regulations & restrictions that boggle the mind. Sometimes I think they're just paying us small business people lip-service in order to be able to suckle from the federal teat. I have been self-employed my entire working life and every time I've ever sought assistance from one of the so-called administrations that aid small businesses, they've boggled me down with paperwork and run-arounds. Always and without fail, I've ended up becoming disenchanted with them and had to find a work-around. Usually us employers are left out swinging in the breeze, but when it's time for the powers that be to collect - watch out!!! They all of a sudden remember your name...

More importantly, for once in my voting life, my vote in Massachusetts finally counts. It's not foregone that the vote will go to the democrat candidate. A vote on January 19th for Scott Brown is truly a vote for change. In addition a vote for Brown is a vote to end the one-party rule in the Senate. We can actually make a difference on a national stage. My viewpoints are summed up perfectly in my 01/17/10 Facebook post:

In 1775 the citizens of MA stood up against tyranny & forced rule. On Jan. 19th, we are again presented with that opportunity. If you think DC is headed in the right direction, vote Coakley. If 1-party rule isn't your idea of democracy, Scott Brown should be your choice. Vote with your conscience!!!

Enuff...

In The Meantime...

While I've not had time to compose any erudite observations on the current human condition lately, I have had time to work on "It's High Time We Talk" at www.crookedhook.com. There's some amusing stuff there. Bookmark it, 'cuz we still have at least 2 more '09 shows. Check it out & I'll be back in action as soon as my life normalizes....

Outta Commission for a little while

Sorry If I'm outta commission for a bit, but I'm building a new chicken store in Springfield, MA and am actually doing some of the grunt work myself so my mind is a shot as my body after these 10 - 12 hour days. I'll be back in my old form very shortly as we are close to completion. I certainly welcome anyone who's in my area to stop by when we open at:

Impoco's Poultry Market

468 Walnut St.

Springfield, MA 01105

(413) 734-6359

Thanx,

Tony

Who Would Figure???

Right when we're in the federal government's greatest grab for power in it's history, the BHO administration very ignorantly relinquished U.S. control over the internet. By not renewing the US government's contract with ICANN they have allowed foreign entities to have a decision-making voice in the way We The People surf the deep dark portals of the net. Unbelievable in a sense, but if you look closely what's happening is simply another bash at national sovereignty. It's bad enough we are (supposedly) led by an apologist, but also by one who is openly flaunting his ineffectiveness on the world stage. Look at how he's been treated by Putin, Ahmedinajihad, Chavez, Sarkozy, the IOC, North Korea, Quadaffi, the list goes on...

Back to the ICANN issue, this is just one more step towards globalization, towards a one world economy, a one world governance, a one world police force, a one world police state...I know that I, for one certainly wouldn't like the same decision making body in China to decide the hows and whats of my internet usage. A good place to start for background on this story is here: http://guardian.co.uk/?id=102202&story=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/sep/30/icann-agreement-us

I routinely have to point out that many of the "Great Changes" that BHO & the uber-liberal congress are implementing are ones with far reaching consequences. They are policies that won't be able to be reversed at the ballot box or simply by change of leadership. Including getting an actual REAL president. Regarding the Olympic debacle - The Chicago Sun-Times is blaming the city's loss on George W. Bush. No wonder they're losing readership, they've certainly lost credibility with THAT one...

I don't know what to do. I suppose the right thing would be to try what the valiant citizens of the Honduras are doing. Then maybe Chavez, Putin, Ahmeweenijahd and the others would give BHO the respect on the world stage that he is so desperately seeking. Try that and we'll be overrun with UN troops in a chicago second...

Ya know I've been kinda mean to BHO this time around. It's not really all his fault. He's just implementing a far deeper reaching policy that was pre-ordained far before he ever thought of entering the political universe. Perhaps he should do what he does best. Go back to serving beers and resolving conflicts between the police and grieved citizens. Oh that's right that's what a community organizer does! Right?...

The Smokescreen of the Behemoth

Our trusted news providers - both print and broadcast seem to have gotten lost in the jungle of the 21st century, attempting to follow their own trail of deceits, half-truths, and obfuscations back to the clearing of truth.

So do we really think we have the best media on the planet? How about this. ACORN boldly waves voter registration fraud in the nation's face with clear implications that even more thuggery lies beneath the surface. Major network and cable news organizations as well as the ranking and established print media flounder while internet journalists are bogged down. Enter James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles - an independent film maker and a young journalism student who boldly go where no lumbering new organization dared venture and, with the help of Andrew Breitbart's BigHollywood.com and eventually FOX News, VIOLA - the nefarious ACORN is tumbled like the oak that it fell from. How is it that these two young folks with virtually no budget (as compared to the news giants) could be so effective whilst the high powered names once again succeed in only blowing smoke up our collective asses while continually tantalizing us with what may be yet to come???

We are currently in a curious phase where the media is enjoying the consumption of itself. Fox bashes MSNBC who bashes Rush Limbaugh who bashes Anderson Cooper (so do I) who bashes Sean Hannity who bashes everyone. Time bashes Glenn Beck...Glenn Beck bashes everyone...

While I quite often disagree with punditry who use histrionics and fear mongering to convey important information, I do usually agree with those same talking heads. I feel that the unnecessary antics cheapen the message and alienate a much needed, level headed segment of society. A good case in point is Time magazine's (Time/Warner Inc. IS one of the THEYS in "THEY did THIS to US") cover last week. The periodical displayed a photo of Glenn Beck with the caption "Mad Man" while totally ignoring the tremendous march on Washington D.C. (in which I proudly participated). I agree with Beck that the cover should have acknowledged the tens of thousands of us who expressed our concerns about the actions of our government and the future of our great nation, but I also feel that it is Beck's on-air behavior that opened the door to the criticism (he's cried on air more times since he signed onto FOX, than I have in my entire adult life), thus cheapening his message.

I do realize that all this sensationalism is deemed necessary by network executives for the almighty ratings grab, and it does seem that the huge payouts provided to these media celebs are directly related to the controversy created, BUT do they really think we're that stupid to swallow all this crap? I suppose the key is to assimilate the news and digest that while ignoring the entertainment aspects of these broadcasts. I sometimes think that we elevate these volatile individuals to such a status in the hopes of an on-air breakdown. Americans love to watch our society implode while railing against it - and I'm no exception to that one. If Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity or Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow has a breakdown during their show, you can be sure I'll tune in...(Nah, maybe not Olbermann or Maddow but who cares about them!)

While I'm discussing media and truth, I would like to point out that the only place in print, broadcast or online where you'll hear the REAL truth is at the crookedhook.com talk show "It's High Time We Talk". O.K. I'm being sarcastic here, but a good example is during the Washington DC 9/12 call in episode. During the course of the reportage of the news coverage of the event, my co-hosts report that CNN is actually providing favorable coverage (to my surprise). At a later point in the conversation I report via cell phone from DC that my fellow protesters were telling the CNN team to "Go Home" and were calling them "Douchebags". Granted CNN's past reporting practices have warranted this sort of preemptive attitude, but certainly the post reporting would have been more favorable if this emotional outburst of ideology had not occurred. This story has been reported no where except by the Crooked Hook team...

On different but related note; I've followed numerous discussions in print, online and yes even broadcast media concerning at least three of the THEYS. Jeffery Immelt (CEO of GE, Bilderberger and advisor to BHO), George Soros (Partisan billionaire who scored big during the current US economic crisis, Bilderberger and moveon.org bigwig, also BHO confidant), and David Rockefeller (multi-nationalsist, Bilderberg bigwig and financial giant, heir of a dynasty). Keep up the pressure on them. THEY are behind the Obama admin's move towards globablism. If you've ever wondered why some individuals achieve the positions that they occupy regardless of qualifications, remember who's REALLY pulling the strings. after all, THEY did THIS to US...

Washington DC 912

Yeah, I'm one of the Tea Baggers...Isn't that what Anderson Cooper called us. I really can't say here all the things I've called him since, but if you check out episodes 5 & 6 - 2009 of "It's High Time We Talk" on crookedhook.com, you'll get some clue.

Anyhow, I spent the entire day yesterday 09/12/09, in Washington DC. Man, what a turnout - had to be at least 60,000 solid, American citizens there voicing their displeasure with the way things are going in DC. I sure felt proud to be an American yesterday. Look for pictures on the Crooked Hook site in the next few days.

I just wanted to put up this short post to say THANK YOU!!! to everyone who was there and to the organizers. When the next one rolls around, I'm there...

Constitutional Crisis?!?!?!?

I dunno! Are we or aren't we in a constitutional crisis? I think we are, but many of my confidants feel otherwise. I suppose this belief is split almost along a right/left dichotomy. Personally, I don't think it's a right/left issue as much as an AMERICAN issue. I mean once the 1st Amendment is swallowed up by bill H.R. 1341, the Fairness Doctrine, and the president's attempt at usurping control of the private sector portions of the internet when he deems it a "National Emergency", both ideologies will suffer. Once our 2nd Amendment rights succumb to the numerous legislations, the CIFTA treaty, the US Customs Service's proposal to ban any pocket knife that can be opened with one hand, and the other socialist attempts to disable the population's ability to protect itself, then will the liberals suffer any less than the conservatives? When the proposed security force - dubbed "Obama's Army" because of his call for a domestic force "equal in strength to the US military" marches down the streets of our cities and towns will they ask our who we voted for? (They probably will!) I mean, why does the administration feel the need for such a security force. Don't they trust the military? Are they planning something in which they feel the military will oppose them ? Is it because they are alienating the military and intelligence communities by persecuting and prosecuting those who are prepared to give the ultimate sacrifice in order to preserve the very freedoms that the politicians are striving to curtail?

Perhaps I feel as I do because I am concerned about living under a one party system. Now I've heard it argued - most recently on "It's High Time We Talk" at www.crookedhook.com - that we've had situations in the past where Presidents have enjoyed a same party filibuster proof majority in Congress before. But prior to the current scenario, we had more politicians who were not idealogues, who would actually represent their constituents and not their party. There is currently no system of checks & balances. It is this feeling of a "runaway train" that has given rise to the Tea Party movement, comprised predominately of average citizens - many of whom had not previously held any great political convictions. These are not extremist nut-cases, radicals or militants (as is much of the current administration). These are average, every day, hard working, mostly middle class citizens who feel disenfranchised. These are Citizens who feel that too much is happening too fast. Recent polls have shown that many voters have switched their voter registration status to either "independent" or "unenrolled", while other polls have shown that as much as 57% of the country are now considering themselves "conservative". This is the segment of society that feels they were not adequately represented by either candidate in November of 2008. This is the segment of the population that feels the need to do something. But what? What recourse is available to the average citizen who has found that their voices are no longer counted. What redress is there to We The People, who are not fortunate enough to belong to a group that can wield a high powered, well placed lobbyist to ensure our positions are properly paid for and legislated upon?

I've said this before and it seems I've got to say it again: "AS LONG AS THEY KEEP US AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS, WE CAN'T GO FOR THEIRS!!! "

I would suggest that a Special Election needs to be held for both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each sitting member would be challenged by 2 - that's right two - opponents, one of which would be from the incumbent's same party. In the interest of national security, the elections for each body should be held separately. They should not be immediate, but expedient, forgoing the intensive media hype that is part and parcel of the current election process. The less personal smearing and campaign blustering the better. While there is not much time until the next regular election cycle, there is certainly enough of a period to enact legislation that is capable of tearing asunder the societal fabric of America.

While I'm in rant mode I have a couple more things about which to opine. The first is my new favorite question: "What do you think has caused more damage to the American way of life? Drugs or Television? " Think about it and, as always, feel free to comment. Now, how about one of my more hairbrained ideas...What if we did away with the President's Press Secretary? Make him speak to the press and the people directly. It's always easier to lie through a lackey. And what about this? Last May, the BHO admin has sold off the entire wheat reserves, held in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust with no commitment to replenish. Now, I'm no genius, but I know you don't sell off your last morsel of food...