Keep The Change

A very Catholic relative of mine was singing the praises of B. Hussein Obama prior to the election.

"How does his views on abortion sit with you?" I asked.

"Oh, as president, he really wouldn't have the power to affect that," he said.

Really. Aside from the obvious ability to nominate Federal judges to lifetime appointments, it didn't take Obama long to assert an unconstitutional abuse of power in the name of abortion. 

Ah yes, the "Executive Order." One of Obama's first acts as president was to repeal a ban that prohibited federal funding for international groups that promote or perform abortions. My tax dollars are now going to perform abortions in far-off lands. My money! Wait a minute. What if that's not my "CHOICE." Freedom of choice? I don't think so.

Unlike the grandstanding and comically meaningless Executive Order to close Gitmo, Obama signed the Executive Order ending the ban on federal spending for foreign abortions at 4 p.m. on a Friday with no TV cameras present.

Wonder why? Could it be that most Americans believe we should have a representational say as to where and how our tax dollars are spent?

Congress (overwhelmingly) passed a law in 1973 prohibiting public funding for foreign abortions. Overseas agencies created a loophole by claiming their U.S. money did not fund abortions, instead freeing up other funds for abortions. President Reagan closed the loophole with an order freezing funds to any organization that promotes or performs abortions.

Take abortion out of the argument. It is unconstitutional for the United States to give tax dollars to international groups. There is no clause in the U.S. Constitution that permits the government to take money from me and give it to foreign organizations. Especially organizations engaged in activities which I may find morally and ethically objectionable.

Liberals like Obama do not respect the rule of law. They prefer to initiate policy through unelected activist judges and Executive Orders.

Change we can believe in? Keep it.

The Four-Hour Erection

I often fantasize what it would be like to own a time machine.

Of course I could speed into the future to see who wins the next 10 Super Bowls and make millions betting on sporting events. But as Biff proved in "Back To The Future II" all that money would probably just make me miserable.

The past would be much more interesting than the future. At the extreme risk of interrupting the space-time-continuum, I think it would be interesting to zoom back in time, grab some influential historic figure, and ferry them forth to the present day. Imagine the marvels that would await Abe Lincoln in 2009 -- computers, space travel, a black president, not to mention seeing his portrait on a five dollar bill.

The danger would be exposing these historic legends to mankind's greatest embarrassment -- erectile dysfunction advertising campaigns. Viagra commercials are a sign that God is just about ready to turn the planet over to another species. Maybe dinosaurs will get a second chance.

Sadly, ED drugs have become a billion dollar industry, and I have to give the credit to the guys and gals on Madison Avenue. No, it's not the man and woman holding hands from separate bathtubs as the sun slowly sets. No, it's not the idiots sitting around singing "Viva Viagra." What has made these drugs so popular is the ingenious disclaimer read at the end of every slickly-produced spot: "...in the event of an erection lasting more than four hours, seek immediate medical help..."

That's all guys need to hear... A four-hour erection. Imagine the fun. The only problem is, the four-hour erection is a fraud.

I would like to do a survey of emergency rooms across the country to see how many guys have showed up with four-hour erections. And why four hours? I would start getting concerned at three... even two.

What's the antidote for a four-hour erection? A picture of Janet Reno naked?

Marketing executives had to know that the four-hour erection disclaimer was key to getting a younger market. When Viagra first went public, Bob Dole was the spokesman, and everyone figured, "Well, the old guy was injured during World War II. I guess he deserves a few good nights in the sack." Bob (and his wife) would probably be happy with a four-minute erection. The idea of a four-hour erection appeals to the 20-somethings who think they still might have a shot at a porn star career.

Now I'm sure there actually is a guy out there somewhere that suffered some permanent penile damage because of "an erection lasting more than four hours." But from my unofficial Google research, I have determined that it is a very, very, very rare side effect. The fact that the four-hour erection plays such a prominent part in the disclaimer is much more about marketing than it is tort protection.

Just when I thought I was getting numb to the ED commercials, creeping ever more conspicuous into the airways and webways are more and more ads for penis enlargement drugs.  Can we stoop any lower?

But as long as stupidity reigns supreme, I have an idea for the big drug companies. By now the four-hour erection alarm is getting a little stale. I gotta figure by now most guys that have tried the ED drugs have learned that their four-hour erection hopes are sagging.

So it's time for a new disclaimer: "...in the event of a permanent penis extension of two or more inches, seek medical help immediately..."

I have this disclaimer copy written, so if there are any pharmaceutical companies interested, please contact my agent.

Sleeping With the Fishes

Near the land of dead voters comes related news. Its seems as though a dead goldfish in a northern Chicago suburb was mailed a voter registration card.

I wondering why the extra outrage over the fact that "Princess" the goldfish has passed on. Would Princess cast a more informed ballot had she still been circling her tank?

Today's "let's-make-sure-everyone-is-happy" sentiment includes the notion that we must seek out all those who don't seem to care on their own, and make sure they are registered to vote. In the process we've registered the Mickey Mouse, the Dallas Cowboys, dead goldfish and the same person 600 times.

Publicly-funded voter registration drives have been proven to be highly partisan, loaded with fraud, and based entirely on the quantity of registrations, not the quality of the actual registration.

Voting is our only voice in a government that has become too big to listen. Now you can register and vote the same day (without verification of your address); you can vote online; and you can vote absentee under one of many assumed names and registrations. How loud is your voice now?

Casting a huge net into the homeless shelters and drug rehab centers, fishing for registered voters does not empower us. It weakens us.

Voting used to viewed as a serious privilege, that came with some individual responsibilities and safe guards. Now Princess the (dead) goldfish will be canceling out my vote. Are we better off?

Alex de Tocqueville once said, "In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve." A lesson we will soon learn. The only trouble is, I'm not so sure we all deserve it.

Random Electrons

A blog by any other name is still a blog.

An exercise in futility by those desperately seeking self-worth?

A meaningful reflection into one's inner soul?

Perhaps somewhere in between.

If we were more inclined toward the former, what must this say about the blog author -- me? Tapping away, forming words (and incomplete sentences) that are destined to be read by no one. Utilizing time that could be better spent curing cancer or feeding the starving children of the planet.

Or maybe we lean toward the latter. Inspired brilliance recorded on the world wide web, destined to motivate the global mortals to productive existences.

Nah. As a former co-worker once said, "it's just a bunch of random electrons."