Saturday's talk show

I plan on having as a guest on my talk show on Saturday, Brian Bonner "The Uncooperative Blogger" and our topic will be illegal immigration. Brian is a blogger, an internet talk show host himself, and a part of the Coalition Against Illegal Immigration.

Saturday night at 6 PM on my show homepage! Get ready with your questions and comments.

Hopefully, some 9/11 conspiracy theories can be laid to rest

A scientific recreation of the crash. Watch some videos.

Key points:

"The aircraft moved through the building as if it were a hot and fast lava flow," Sozen says. "Consequently, much of the fireproofing insulation was ripped off the structure. Even if all of the columns and girders had survived the impact - an unlikely event - the structure would fail as the result of a buckling of the columns. The heat from an ordinary office fire would suffice to soften and weaken the unprotected steel. Evaluation of the effects of the fire on the core column structure, with the insulation removed by the impact, showed that collapse would follow whatever the number of columns cut at the time of the impact."

I have been saying this for several years.

More fire department commentary by Brad Crone

This link was forwarded to me by a blog reader. Thanks, Chris.

Obviously, if you have read my blog or my column in The Selma News, you know that I disagree with the following commentary by Brad Crone (whoever that is). He attempts to dissect the situation, but not with great clarity, unfortunately. He probably only knows what he has read and may not be aware of the politics behind the situation. It is not a matter of "boneheaded politics" on the part of the town manager (put the blame where it belongs, if you are going to place it, by the way). It is boneheaded politics on the part of some small town volunteer firefighters who have run their own show for far too long.

This has devolved into a power struggle in its simplest form. The town must have accountability to the tax payers. The firefighters want to be autonomous and decide their leadership. Sorry, but that is poor business and public administration. Soldiers do not elect generals. Police officers in Selma do not elect their chief. Nor should a fire department elect its chief from amongst their numbers. It is about being responsible to the town and serving the TOWN'S interests, not those of the membership of the department.

As for the comment "The Town of Selma should offer the current fire chief a respectable salary that is competitive and will enable him to transition from his current position with the town" my first point is
1. Who says he wants to be a full time fire chief instead of his current job?
2. Who says we want him to take that job, anyway?
3. The pay being offered IS respectable for the town's size.
4. It is entirely possible that the current chief and his predecessors are responsible for the problems the department is experiencing, so why perpetuate that?

As pertaining to the comment "It’s just boneheaded politics that result in a break down of communications and dialogue because people get too wrapped up in their own power base", it is NOT a matter of breaking down of dialogue AND if it was, DIalogue requires TWO parties...that cuts BOTH ways. Quitting, dumping off turn out gear in a mayor's driveway and communicating threats is NOT dialogue. Yes, I said communicating threats. Stan Farmer and myself have both gotten threatening emails. The mayor was threatened by a firefighter just last night. That is not dialogue, that is a tantrum.

The comment "The town manager’s idea to move towards a full time fire chief is valid – his inability to establish a successful dialogue has been disastrous. Good managers and good politicians understand the art of compromise" my comment is simply WHO SAYS THAT THIS SITUATION IS ONE THAT REQUIRES COMPROMISE? I say it is NOT particularly so. It is a situation that requires someone having the balls to stand up and do what should have been done 20 years ago...wrest power away from those who should not be wielding it.

Below is the column by Brad Crone.

Town Manager Picks A Silly Fight

The level of stupidity displayed by politicians and bureaucrats never ceases to amaze me. Take for example, the growing unease between the Selma Volunteer Firemen and the Selma Town Council and Town Manager.

The debate is silly on multiple fronts.

Let’s dissect it.

It’s silly that the town manager and town council do not understand the tremendous political dynamics of the volunteer fire department. The fire department in any community is a pillar of politics on multiple fronts. Across the country, the fire departments are often an element of society’s glue that is an impenetrable component.

It’s just stupid for the town manager and town council to pick a fight that expends political capital with an organization that has always had the concrete support of the public at large.

When your house is burning are you going to call the town council or the fire department? The answer is obvious.

It’s just as stupid for the fire department not to realize the times are changing and the need for a professionalized department is a legitimate service expected by the general public.

So you see two pieces of concrete facing off against the other. I bet the town manager and town council blink first. They have to because the art of politics demands compromise and they have the authority to lift themselves out of the dirt and grime of this fight that they picked.

The Town of Selma should offer the current fire chief a respectable salary that is competitive and will enable him to transition from his current position with the town. Provide him the elements of a position that modernizes the fire department’s procedures and protocols and allows him an opportunity to extend and expand the scope of service and professionalism his department and volunteers offer the public.

The volunteer firemen must also compromise in the sense that Johnston County is changing – and doing so rapidly. That demands change in how government services are extended to its citizens.

For the volunteer firemen, they can continue to provide a vital service of giving back to the community. But they must also realize that there is a need to expand training and to offer first responder emergency services to the citizens.

The town is moving in the right direction. It’s just boneheaded politics that result in a break down of communications and dialogue because people get too wrapped up in their own power base – not in trying to improve service or making service more responsible, accountable and efficient.

The town manager’s idea to move towards a full time fire chief is valid – his inability to establish a successful dialogue has been disastrous. Good managers and good politicians understand the art of compromise, the art of dialogue and the need to bring people together even when they have opposing views in order to accomplish and implement a policy for the public good.

Selma Town Council meeting last night

As usual, I went to the Selma Town Council meeting last night. I figured it would be a hot button issue night, with the recent developments about wanting to hire a new chief. I figured that there would be more people showing up than were there to argue on behalf of the fire department. Joe Moore, Al Gaskill, and Michael Piper got up to speak on behalf of the firefighters. What amused me is that Joe Moore is retired from the department yet kept talking about "we" and "us" both in the meeting and to the media. He also conveniently left out any mention of his former status as mayor and chief when talking to the media. I had the opportunity to speak with a reporter and she was amazed at how much more information there was than what she was given.

I felt like speaking, but allowed the time for others. After all, it will be in the paper. I am already getting hate mail from my blogging and comment left on The Selma News web site. There is a lot of whining going on there and even a conspiracy theory. There is a lot of accusation of people not understanding the situation or what the fire department does. Sorry, but I do understand. Been there, lived that. I guarantee that I had more training and qualifications than most on that department.

One thing I stayed up late for was to see TV news reports on the situation. Reporters from The Selma News, The News and Observer, The Smithfield Herald, a photographer, WTVD, and News 14 were there. I watched the reports on both News 14 and WTVD. Darn if they didn't get the story wrong in BOTH reports. If the reporters had spent any time doing background on the story and read anything about the details, they would not have gotten the story wrong. Both got different details wrong in their stories. The one story I have read that is pretty accurate is by sweet little Peggy Lim at The News and Observer. Click on that link for the story.

Either way, the budget was passed last night, which included the money for a new chief. I marvel at those who whine that the town can not afford a new position when the town just announced at last night's meeting that we are some $1.2 million ahead i the budget year that ends June 30.

One person even wrote on The Selma News web site comment section, "Selma police have gone without being fully staffed and without the proper equipment for doing their jobs". First of all, they are just about fully staffed. We obviously could operate fine with the staff level which we just had, but open slots are being filled. Just last night, three new officers were introduced to the council. A fourth was qualifying at the gun range last night. The police chief even said that they are just about full staff. Secondly, where does this person get the idea that they have not had proper equipment? We went through ONE year of cut backs. ONE. I have not heard a single mention of not having the equipment necessary to do the job. Not ONE.

There has been a lot of emotional rhetoric. I wish that there was more reasoned logic, instead.

The Smithfield Heresy has published their article online today. Here is the link.

An "entrepreneurial, not-for-profit corporation" can be self sustaining. If not, then shut it down.

Every organization and program wants money. Our tax dollars are being sought by every good idea that comes down the pike. Not every project, however, should always be funded with our tax dollars.

Sorry, but a hundred grand for a horse riding center? Funding for an "industry" that has the ability to make money? Special Olympics getting tax dollars? An interpreter? We are already paying for the medical expenses of illegal aliens who refuse to assimilate in this country. Now we have to pay extra for an interpreter because they won't learn English before or while living in our country? Personally, I tire of seeing money being poured into either failed, duplicate, unethical, or unnecessary ideas. I certainly don't think we need a "therapeutic" horse riding center. How about a "therapeutic" giant aquarium or cat farm? Petting cats and watching fish have shown to be beneficially therapeutic to patients. Why not those facilities? I am all for the Special Olympics, but I don't want my tax dollars supporting them. I am all for private donations and fund raisers, which we see regularly. Why do people feel the need for government to forcibly take money from citizens and give it to some "good idea"?

From the WMPM news page:

Commissioners Hear Funding Requests During Budget Workshop - Johnston County Commissioners heard requests for funding from several organizations Monday night during a budget workshop. Reins from Above, a therapeutic horse riding center, requested $100,000. Johnston County Industries, which will receive $100,000 in the proposed 2007-08 fiscal year budget, requested $25,000 in additional funding. Johnston County Special Olympics officials appeared to ask commissioners for $40,000. Earl Merritt, Social Services Director, asked the Board for three additional positions, while the Health Department asked for an additional paid position to hire an interpreter. The Council on Aging also requested more funding. County Manager Rick Hester said commissioners would hold their next budget workshop on June 20. By law, the budget must be adopted by July 1.

From the Johnston County Industries web site: "JCI generates almost 50% of its revenue through sub-contract work and prime manufacturing."

OK, since you have the capacity to earn revenue to fund your job training, teach people marketing and sales skills and boost present work until you can afford all 100%. JCI has been in operation for years. There is no reason why they can't be self sustaining. If they can't, then we should shut down the program.

I know it sounds harsh, but it is time to trim the size of government at all levels. We can not sustain this burden upon tax payers forever.

The First Annual Open Borders Oscars

Hot Air's gorgeous and intelligent Michelle Malkin takes the stage to hand out the Open Borders Oscars awards.

Today's Smithfield Heresy has an article on the Selma Fire Department tantrum

From The Herald's web site:

Firefighters' protest scrutinized
By Jordan Cooke, Staff Reporter
Selma — Ten of the town's volunteer firefighters will be in the hot seat Wednesday for their part in a protest last week over the future of their department.

Town Manager Stan Farmer said the demonstration occurred at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday at the home of Mayor Charles Hester, who lives on Griswold Street. Farmer said the 10 firefighters, along with former mayor and veteran fireman Joe Moore, dumped their gear in the mayor's driveway to protest the decision to add the position of fire chief to the town's payroll.

"We're none too happy with this immature and unprofessional behavior," said Farmer, who plans to meet Wednesday with fire officials and council members to decide the firefighters' fates.

Farmer said he suspects the firefighters are "still sensitive" about his predecessors' decision in 2004 to enforce an ordinance stating that the fire department is a town entity, not a private enterprise.

"Our town code says specifically that firefighters are considered town employees," Farmer said. "And it also says in black and white that the town manager shall appoint the fire chief."

The proposed budget for fiscal 2007-08 includes money for a full-time fire chief, a position Farmer said the

Town Council had hoped to add last July. Budget constraints prevented the addition for fiscal 2006-07, he said.

"But we can afford it this year, because the way the budget is worked, out we'll still be spending less overall with the new position than we did the previous year without it," he noted.

On Monday, Chief Joe Price declined to comment on last week's incident.

Thursday's protest at Hester's home marks the second time in two years that firefighters have made such a public display of their frustration. Alvin Heath, who took part in last week's demonstration, was charged in 2005 with damaging property at the home of former mayor Harry Blackley.

Police reported at the time that Heath kicked in a storm door at the ex-mayor's home, causing about $50 in damage. Court records show the case was dismissed in February 2006.

Heath kept his job as a fire fighter. It's unclear whether he and the others will do so this time around.

Councilwoman Debbie Johnson said all 10 firefighters had been suspended pending the outcome of Wednesday's meeting. "It is really frustrating to me that it seems like we have an ongoing disagreement with the way things need to be handled in that department," she said. "I don't agree with the way they handled things, but at the same time, we're willing to listen to them."

"I think the lines of communication have been opened," Johnson added. "So we'll see what they have to say, and hopefully we can resolve this whole dispute in one way or another."

For something interesting on the Selma Fire Department and the town council about two years ago, see the minutes of a council meeting. Things are not much different with bad attitudes being exhibited by some members of that department, apparently. This needs to stop and stop right now.

It will be interesting to see if there are any public comments on the situation at the open forum portion of the town council meeting.

Happy 13th anniversary.....

of the day I met my wife, Teresa.

Also, of the day that O.J. Simpson whacked Nicole Brown Simpson.

Why the NRA sucks

From the Gun Owners of America

Gun Owners of America
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102
Springfield, VA 22151
(703)321-8585

"The Gun Owners of America [has] already launched a public campaign to block the legislation that the NRA supports, warning that the proposal could 'block millions of additional, honest gun owners from buying firearms.'" -- Newsweek, April 24, 2007


ACTION:

1. It is imperative that you contact your Representative immediately and urge him to oppose the McCarthy/Dingell bill. A "compromise" [read: gun control] deal is in the works and all legislators -- especially those who are pro-gun -- need to hear from gun owners right away.

GOA members have received a mailing from us within the past week, asking them to send postcards to their U.S. Senators. It is IMPERATIVE that you mail those postcards in. We want to increase the heat on these legislators by deluging them with thousands of postcards. Now, once you've sent in those postcards, we would ask you to e-mail the specially-tailored message that is included below along with contact information.

2. Please circulate this alert to all your pro-gun friends and family, and encourage them to take action as well.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Anti-gun Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) continues his assault on American gun owners.

Dingell has been tapped by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to broker a compromise with Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) on H.R. 297, a gun control bill being pushed in the wake of the Virginia Tech shooting.

The bill provides about $1 billion to the states to "provide the National Instant Criminal Background Check System [NICS] with all records concerning persons who are prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm... regardless of the elapsed time since the disqualifying event."

As GOA has pointed out in previous alerts, this could lead to millions more Americans being included in the FBI's database of prohibited persons.

Dingell, being a former NRA board member, is in a unique position in the Congress on Second Amendment issues. Despite the fact that he betrayed gun owners by supporting the Clinton semi-auto ban, he is still viewed on the Hill as one of the few pro-gun Democrats.

So his support gives the bill the appearance of having the support of gun owners, when actually it is the most massive expansion of gun control in over a decade.

McCarthy, of course, is the most notorious anti-gunner in the Congress. Her sitting down with Dingell to decide the fate of our gun rights is like two foxes deciding how to best guard the henhouse.

To make matters worse, Dingell is in negotiations with the NRA to come up with a 'compromise' as quickly as possible.

The NRA itself told Newsweek in an exclusive interview on April 24 that the group "backs [the] proposed new legislation" in the House.

Newsweek reported, "The NRA's position puts the group at odds with the Gun Owners of America, which has already launched a public campaign to block the legislation that the NRA supports, warning that the proposal could 'block millions of additional, honest gun owners from buying firearms.'"

Politicians always seek to pass laws in the aftermath of a tragedy, as if one more law will stop evil people from doing evil deeds. Instead of passing more and more laws that ultimately will snuff out our liberty, we should consider repealing gun control laws that prevent citizens from defending themselves when a madman strikes.

CONTACT INFORMATION: You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center to send your Representative the pre-written e-mail message below. And, you can call your Representative at 202-225-3121 or toll-free at 1-877-762-8762.
----- Pre-written letter -----

Dear Representative:

Gun Owners of America informs me that H.R. 297, a colossal gun control bill, is on the fast track. I strongly urge you to oppose this bill.

The Virginia Tech tragedy, which Rep. Carolyn McCarthy is using to try to push this bill, highlights the failure, not success, of gun control.

Instead of passing yet more laws that restrict my Second Amendment rights, Congress should consider repealing the failed gun control laws already on the books -- laws that increasingly result in law-abiding adults being disarmed just when they need their guns the most.

Please oppose the McCarthy bill, H.R. 297, and let me know what you intend to do.

Sincerely,

To what "right" do they refer?

I don't see anywhere it is listed in the Constitution, either state or federal. I don't see any Biblical right or responsibility. I don't see any ordinance for it, either. So what makes it a right? To what do I refer, might you ask? The "right to contraception".

Basically, women who are irresponsible and immature want a right to have access to birth control and they want it at the expense of the rest of the public. They want a law that gives our hard earned tax dollars to organizations that will dispense birth control. I have a better idea. If a woman can not afford birth control, she should keep her legs closed. If a man can not afford birth control measures, he should keep it in his pants. If a married couple does not want to have children, then they need to come up with the money to have prevention measures. I surely should not be paying for their birth control for them. Neither should you, as a tax payer.

...liberal women's rights groups Thursday announced a new legislative push, charging that women were "still fighting for the right to contraceptives"...the feminist groups voiced their support for the Prevention First Act, a new piece of legislation before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The bill's provisions include authorization for appropriations for family planning services grants; prohibitions on health insurance providers from excluding or restricting contraception from covered drugs and services; promotion of information on emergency contraception; expansion of Medicaid's coverage of family planning services; and a requirement that hospitals receiving federal funding must offer and provide, on request, emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault.

So my health care coverage along with everybody else's should go up for something completely voluntary? We should require RU-486 be dispensed by hospitals? We should have more tax dollars go into Medicaid to provide for a completely voluntary medication? No frickin' way!

Why is this considered a right by some? Why should taxpayers and consumers pay for the voluntary medications of others? This is just plain immoral. Follow the link for the whole article.

It gets worse. There is now a bill introduced in Congress that would force pharmacists to provide RU-486 (so called "emergency contraception") even if the pharmacist has a moral objection to doing so.

Congressional Democrats and other advocates of emergency contraception on Wednesday introduced a bill that would require pharmacies to offer emergency birth control, even if the pharmacists object to doing so on moral grounds...The two-pill package prevents a fertilized egg from implanting in a woman's uterus, and pro-life advocates consider that a form of abortion.

Some pro-life pharmacists have come under fire for refusing to offer the pills because of their personal moral objections. The Access to Birth Control Act, introduced in the House by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and in the Senate by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), would require pharmacies that carry contraceptives to offer Plan B.

Pharmacists have "an obligation to serve women, provide them with access to medication," Maloney said at a news conference in Washington, D.C. "It is about health care. It's about the basic right to birth control."

The proposal would require pharmacies to "ensure that the contraceptive is provided to the customer without delay."

So is there no such thing as a privately owned business any more? If I own a pharmacy, since when is it the responsibility of Congress to determine what drugs I would carry or choose to dispense? It is none of their business. There are already heavy regulations by the FDA that make some drugs way too expensive and hard to obtain. We already have laws that make me show identification to get some Sudafed and I have to sign a log book as if I am some felon.

Not all pharmacies carry all drugs. It is a matter of choice on their behalf to carry a product or not. It is also a business owner's right to choose whether or not to sell something.

It is not a matter of life and death for an irresponsible woman who could not keep her legs closed and gave her body to a man when she had no business doing so. It IS, HOWEVER, a matter of life and death to the zygote looking for a fertile womb. Actions have consequences.

This bill strips away the freedom of business ownership, it is immoral on those grounds if nothing else, and it is immoral to require under penalty of fines, pharmacists to violate their own consciences.

It is surprising how many have listened to a one hour rant about little old Selma

Last night, I was going to do my regular show on a typical Saturday night. My guest did not reply to recent emails and I figured that he would "no show", which he did. So I had a back up plan, which was basically to talk about four different topics, each a quarter hour. I actually got all topics in the hour I had. I discussed:

- the Selma Fire Department problem
- the Selma Town Council interim appointment
- the article about the defeat of the immigration reform...no, amnesty bill in the N&O
- the Ed and Elaine vs. the IRS/federal government situation in New Hampshire that is about to turn into another Ruby Ridge or Waco incident.

I am surprised how many listeners I have had in about 24 hours to an impromptu show about a small town in North Carolina. If anyone wants a CD audio or mp3 version of the audio, just contact me.

There is a player on the right margin of this blog to be able to hear the show (it always plays the last show in the archives) or click on the button below to hear the show. Look for other archived shows in the archive section.

A touching video that will make you cry, pray, or both.

Pray for baby Kaleb.

Add to My Profile | More Videos

News coverage of Selma fire department walk out

From WRAL.com

Selma Mayor Wants Suspended Firefighters Gone for Good
Nearly half of Selma's volunteer fire department was suspended after walking off the job Thursday.

Posted: Jun. 8 11:43 p.m.
Updated: Today at 7:31 a.m.

Selma — Nearly half of Selma's volunteer fire department was suspended after walking off the job Thursday.

But a suspension is not enough, Mayor Charles Hester said Friday. He wants them gone.

Hester walked outside his house Thursday evening to find 10 firefighters' gear, including boots and hats, lined up on his sidewalk.

The display was in protest of the town manager's decision to replace their volunteer fire chief -- who has been with the department for more than 30 years -- with a new paid, full-time chief.

Mike Kendall was one of those firefighters who walked off the job. He said this is just the latest in a battle that's been brewing for years between Selma's volunteer firefighters and town leaders.

"Let him go out with his dignity. Don't throw him out, and that's what they're determined to do," Kendall said. "If the town's going to be ugly, we're going to be ugly."

The firefighters say hiring a full-time engineer would cost less, much less than $55,000, and help them more with maintenance. But Town Manager Stan Farmer has the last say. He thinks the department needs better leadership.

"It's not up to the employees to tell the town manager who to hire as a department head," Farmer said.

Kendall disagrees.

"The city manager isn't going into a house that’s burning, so I don't think he needs to do the hiring," he said.

Hester said he plans to dismiss the 10 firefighters from their positions. At least one fireman says go ahead.

"There's really not much they can say that would make me want to be a fireman here anymore," Kendall said.

Here is the WRAL video story.

From News14.com

Ten Selma firefighters walk off the job
06/08/2007 09:09 PM
By: Ann Forte

Selma, N.C. -- Ten of the Selma Fire Department's 25 firefighters turned in their gear to Selma's mayor earlier this week. The dispute is over the possibility of town leaders hiring a full-time fire chief at an annual salary of $55 thousand; some firefighters think the money would be better spent on an engineer for the department rather than a full-time chief.

Currently, the department is all volunteers, but the volunteers do receive a small paycheck from the town each month. The firefighters who walked off the job are now suspended without pay.

Next week the current fire chief will meet with town officials to try to reach an agreement. In the meantime, town officials say if a fire breaks out, surrounding departments will help out. Town leaders also say insurance rates should not be affected by the dispute.

I have done a monologue on this subject on my latest "Straight Shooting" internet radio show. I covered a few other topics, as well. My opinion on this subject was covered on this blog and will be in The Selma News on Thursday.

I can hardly believe the headline

This is an actual headline from the News and Observer today:

Immigration defeat threatens N.C. crops

The story goes on to say

Summer vegetables are ripening in fields across North Carolina, but farmers fear the bounty could go unharvested if a growing labor shortage continues.

Now with the collapse this week of the immigration bill in the U.S. Senate, some farmers say they are angry and weary of waiting for help from Washington.

I don't believe that we have a labor shortage. We have plenty of people with the ability to work, just not enough who are willing to work. First, we have plenty of illegal aliens here already. Not a single one should be allowed to be on welfare or any form of government assistance, period. Since that won't happen in this liberal climate, why not verify that they have tried to work for these same farmers complaining that they can't get enough laborers? How about any able bodies man or woman applying for unemployment or welfare that are here legally? Apparently the jobs are there if people are willing to work them.

So the amnesty bill falls in the Senate and we are supposed to feel bad about not giving complete amnesty to millions of illegal aliens just so that Mount Olive Pickles can get cucumbers from local farmers when there is already a labor force here to do the picking?

If people actually had a work ethic instead of a nanny state mentality, we would have all the labor necessary and then some. Get people off welfare and all other forms of government assistance and working for a living, even if it is harvesting sweet potatoes and tobacco.

What a politically slanted headline that is, though. Disgusting.

What if CNN was around during WW2 or the invasion of Normandy happened in 2007?

Excuse the bad acting and unpleasant looking newscaster.

Sorry, but that was NO gaffe

President Bush is taking criticism for not using the term "your holiness" but instead saying "sir" when talking to the Pope? What a bunch of crap. Pope Benedict is a man, nothing more. As such, it should be entirely proper to refer to him as sir, which is a term of respect. I doubt highly that the Apostles Paul or Peter expected to be referred to as "your holiness". Hence, one of many problems I have with Roman Catholicism.

Bush in holy gaffe
Vatican City - US President George W Bush drew gasps at the Vatican on Saturday by referring to Pope Benedict XVI as "sir" instead of the expected "His Holiness", pool reporters said.

They could clearly hear the US leader say "Yes, sir" when the pope asked him if he was going to meet with officials of the lay Catholic Sant'Egidio community at the US embassy later during his visit.

A handful of pool reporters were on hand as Benedict greeted Bush at the door of his private library ahead of a private audience of about half an hour.

On his way to see the 80-year-old pontiff, the US leader apparently recognised someone he knew, and could be heard greeting the person with a casual "How ya doin'?"

The pool reporters also noted Bush's relaxed posture, crossing his legs "Texan style" while facing the pope across his desk in the private study of the apostolic palace.

Great quote

All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.

Walter Scott (1771-1832)

A note on the law of sin and death

After my cat died a week and a half ago, I wrote that I hate the law of sin and death. Today I got something in my email from "Answers in Genesis" that puts things very succinctly on that topic. I thought that I would share it with y'all.

Q: Does the Bible tell us in Romans chapter 8 that the whole of creation groans because of sin?

A: Romans 8:18–23 teaches that the whole of creation “groans”—speaking of bondage and corruption, and looking forward to redemption. What else could this be referring to but the curse that God placed on it after Adam sinned?

The reason we bring this up is because Christians who believe in millions of years can’t allow such an interpretation. If death, disease, suffering, and violence—as represented in the fossil record—has been going on millions of years before mankind was created and sinned, then sin has nothing to do with the death and suffering we see all around us.

These people, then, can’t allow the interpretation of Romans 8 that the whole creation is groaning because of sin. The plain reading of the Romans 8 passage about a “groaning creation” is that it refers to the effects of sin (and every commentary our researchers have read agrees with this understanding). So those who believe in an earth that’s millions of years old have to say that sin really didn’t do anything to the creation!

Death becomes a natural part of the way that God brought about the world, rather than the punishment for sin. Accepting millions of years blames God for death and suffering. But no—we are to blame, because we sinned in Adam!

A British take on Islam

This video link was forwarded on to me. A British gentleman discusses the "Religion of Perpetual Outrage".

An offer to the Selma firefighters, town council, citizens, and town management

If anyone would like to discuss the issues regarding the actions by the town firefighters last night on my talk show, "Straight Shooting", I would be glad to sit down and either do a show live or record a session and play it on my show. My contact info is along the side of this blog. Here is an entire hour that will be publicized on the internet and can be downloaded and shared with others. A whole hour is at your disposal to give your perspective and argument. Contact me.

New Hampshirites under siege

I have been following the case of Ed and Elaine Brown for months. They are a couple from New Hampshire in their 60's. He is a retired exterminator, she is a dentist. They have been protesting the federal income tax system for a decade. I fully understand their protest, since I have read extensively on the subject and feel as they do. The federal income tax is an illegal, unjust tax. The 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was questionably ratified in 1913. There is also a disputable requirement to file tax returns. The tax code also is not clear as to the requirement for individuals to pay such taxes.

The first person I knew about that stood as the Browns do is Irwin Schiff. He has been screwed over by the government quite a bit over income tax disputes. Now the Browns are literally under siege in a Ruby Ridge type scenario.

There are recent reports in the Union Leader and the Concord Monitor. I have also been watching the story on the Brown's myspace page. Check out their blog activities on the myspace page for their side of things. Also, they have a blog. Here is their web site.

Here is an interesting video made last night by a friend of theirs who was shot at by either SWAT teams or soldiers surrounding the Brown's property. If it is all true, then the siege has already turned violent with shots being fired, tazering a citizen, abduction of a citizen, and attempting to turn him against the Brown family. Sorry, but I consider this to be tyranny.

Another problem I have is that the Browns are non-violent offenders. They are tax protesters, for crying out loud! They are not murderers, rapists, drug dealers, arms dealers, or any such thing. The government is spending more money to lay siege to this couple's home and business than they would be getting in revenue if they just paid the alleged tax debt. This is asinine.

Here is a video by the US Marshall's service.


Here is an interview with Ed Brown.


I tried to embed the video of the dog walker who was snatched by the US Marshall Service, but Google video is hassling me about it. I gave the link earlier.

I don't agree with everything that Ed Brown stands for. I realize that the government has said that he and his wife are convicted felons. I realize that he is a tremendous zealot in his views. I sympathize with him quite a bit. I have a serious problem with the income tax system. I believe that the government is corrupt in many respects. They don't respect personal liberties.

The government is spending much more money to apprehend these people than they would probably be getting in tax revenue.

Another issue that bothers me is that we are told that states can and should do nothing about illegal aliens because it is a federal issue. Here we have federal tax dodgers being swarmed by state law enforcement agencies...but it is supposed to be a federal issue, right? What a double standard.

I find the firing of shots at a Brown family friend and supporter and hitting him with a stun gun inexcusable.

I will be watching this story closely.

Our so called firefighters disgust me

I got a phone call from a Selma citizen this morning telling me about the latest news regarding our town's fire department. I had heard rumors that this was going to happen. Ten volunteer "firefighters" have quit the Selma fire department and dumped their turn out gear at the mayor's house last night. When I checked The Selma News just to see if they heard about it, the story was on their front page. Thank you, Kelly.

I want to preface what I am about to write with some qualifications to be able to say something. I started in the fire service at age 14 when I got involved with a very active Explorer Post in Franklin, New Hampshire. I was in that organization for the rest of my teen years into college. I became the youngest certified firefighter in the State of New Hampshire. Before I could legally drive a car, I was a certified firefighter. I got first aid training sufficient to allow me to ride along with the ambulance. I was a certified dispatcher taking 911 calls (we didn't have 911 service yet, but you get the idea) and was even paid by that city to do so at age 16. I put in more hours of training than every firefighter who was in the call ranks.

I earned a degree in Fire Protection from New Hampshire Vocational Technical College in Laconia, New Hampshire. With that degree, I was hired by North Carolina State University to work as a life safety inspector. My duties included fire and rescue, fire inspections, code enforcement, public fire education, incident command, and a host of other duties.

The bottom line behind saying any of this is that I know what it takes to be a firefighter and what sort of attitude it takes. I know the dedication required to serve your community in saving lives and property. I was around a bunch of guys who lived, breathed, and slept the fire service. They were dedicated to saving lives and property.

The Town of Selma has had a problem with its fire department for a long time. They were run as an autonomous group for years. Then we were told that they were a town department but not run like one. They also handled most of their own finances in several bank accounts over which the town had no oversight. The town was dumping money into the fire department but there was no accountability to the town. One thing that is for certain is that the fire department was and still is a political organization, a social club for "good ol' boys", and a very closed system.

Several years ago, there was some turmoil and strife between department members and former mayor Harry Blackley. This may or may not have contributed to Mr. Blackley's loss of the last mayoral election. There is a long, drawn out story of the politics there, but I am not going to get into that. I probably have some details wrong, anyway.

The fire chief, Joe Price, is also the head of the town's water department. I don't have a problem with the concept that the town's water department manager is also the volunteer fire chief. I do, however, have a problem with the idea that the fire chief is 1. elected from amongst the ranks of the department by its members, and 2. lives 10 miles outside the town's fire district. Since I have not been a member of the fire department personally, I can not attest to Mr. Price's abilities as a chief one way or the other.

What I will say is that the head of a life safety organization such as the local fire department should never be selected by the membership of the department. The fire department is a town department, and is to be run by the town. That means that the fire service should report to the town manager and should be beholden to the town council's oversight. It is, after all, town business and tax money.

The fire department, besides having the responsibility for offering protection for the town's citizens, also has a part to play in the insurance ratings that all property owners pay. We pay taxes for this service, as well. People outside the town limits yet within the fire district all pay fire taxes to benefit the department.

It takes a special type of person to be a public servant that is willing to drop everything in order to rush to an emergency with the added possibility of risking live and limb for the benefit of others. It takes an even more special breed of person to do this as a volunteer. I know that type of person, have been around that sort of people, and have been that sort of person myself.

I want to make this point loud and clear. If ten men are willing to quit the fire department because they don't like the idea of the town attempting to make the fire department into a better organization, serve the populace of Selma better, and offer a higher degree of service, then they are not that sort of people I just mentioned. To quit over a political issue rather than look for the best interest of the town, then there is no dedication to protecting life and property; but rather the interest is in the "good ol' boy system" that they feed off from.

Personally, I say good riddance to the firefighters who are willing to be so petty and walk out over such a petty thing as actually looking at a progressive approach to enhancing town services. I don't personally know them. What I do know is that their actions do not reflect those of dedicated public servants that care about saving lives and property in their community. Actually, their actions disgust me.

Here is the Selma News article online:

Nearly half of the 25-member Selma Fire Department walked out Thursday night following a meeting at the fire station.

Ten active members delivered their turnout gear to Mayor Charles Hester's home and left them lining the driveway without a note of resignation or call to anyone, according to Town Manager Stan Farmer.

Names on the gear included three members who are also full-time employees in other town departments. They are Billy Baker, Gary Gainey, and Greg Hooks.

Others included Winston "Buddy" Whitley, Alvin (TJ) Health, Ronnie Lee Jr., Ronald Stanley, Mark Green, Thomas Harper, and Mike Kendall.

One retired member of the department Joe Moore, also left his turnout gear at the Mayor's home, leaving town officals asking why a retired fireman would have such equipment in his possession.

Talk of such a walk-out has been rumored since The Selma News broke the news that $55,000 had been included in the 2007-2008 town budget for the hire of a new full-time fire chief.

Members of the department say the town has done longtime fire chief Joe Price, who has been a member of the department for more than 40 years, wrong.

They say the department has been pushing for the hire of a full-time person, an engineer, that will handle the day-to-day maintenance of fire trucks and equipment.

One said the town can't expect a paid fire chief to handle the "grunt" work that an engineer would do, nor can it depend solely on volunteers with full-time jobs outside the department to handle such things.

Mayor Hester said Friday morning that he has the turnout gear locked up on his property.

Farmer said he prepared separation papers for each of the 10 active firemen Friday morning on the basis of conduct unbecoming and disregard for town property (leaving the turnout gear unattended in public.)

Those papers are on hold for the time being. Farmer said that Price knew nothing about the walk out Thursday night and asked the town manager for one more meeting between ire department officers and town officials to come to an agreement before the separation papers are made official.

Farmer said Town Councilman Eric Sellers will mediate a meeting between the town manager and fire department officers. That meeting is tentatively set for Wednesday.

By the way, I don't believe for a moment that Joe Price had no idea about the walk out. I also noticed that the men in question didn't have the balls to formally resign.

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Here is what one Selma News reader commented on that news story:

timmy strfickland • school_chevy@yahoo.com
JUN 08 • I THINK WHAT CHARLES HESTER, AND STAN FARMER AND THE SELMA TOWN COUNCIL ARE DOING TO JOE PRICE(SELMA FIRE CHEIF) IS WRONG. JOE PRICE HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB AS OUR FIRE CHEIF. IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF SOMEONE GET RID OF YOURSELFS. YOU ALL BROUGHT SHAME TO THIS TOWN. YOU AALL ARE JUST CROOKS.

Obviously, I strongly disagree.

A few other quotes from other readers on The Selma News web site are below. I can not honestly believe that people actually believe that dumping off your turnout gear at night in someone's driveway and ignoring the town's population in preference over political manuveuring is actually courage. It is just the opposite. And NO, I doubt that Charles Hester is feeling low and embarrassed right now over this.

I DO agree with the comment below about the 8% pay hike, though. Not a good idea when town employees that have been here for years only get 2.5% and the town manager is the highest paid employee in town as it is.

I am TIRED of reading that a fire engineer would be best for the town. That is a purely political and a "workings behind the scenes" sort of mindset. If the chief of a small town department who is the only man on the payroll can not drive a truck and operate a pump, he doesn't need to be on the payroll and is not a good chief. A full time employee also does not need to be reporting to a part time chief. Sorry, but that is just ludricrous. A good chief can serve both functions whereas an engineer can not. A dedicated fire crew will back up a good chief REGARDLESS of whether they agree with the politics behind his tenure. Ignorant wives of disgruntled volunteers will merely parrot what they hear, as evidenced below.

Tracy • softballmon06@aol.com
JUN 08 • I am proud of those who could stand up for what they believe in as a department and not be cowards. A paid Fire engineer would be in the best interest of the Town of Selma. This is the reason we moved from Selma...the selfish acts of the Mayor, Town Manager (8% increase in his own pay) and Town Council. The ones who risk their lives for us everyday are nearly seen as nobody's.

judy price • ncemt7@yahoo.com
JUN 08 • Wow!! Mr. Hester must be feeling pretty low and embarassed right about now....

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Here is WMPM's take on the story.

Half Of Selma Firefighters Quit During Dispute With Town - Half of the 25-member Selma Fire Department walked off the job Thursday night, upset over their treatment by Selma Mayor Charles Hester and Town Manager Stan Farmer. About a dozen members left their firefighting gear in the driveway of Mayor Hester. But before doing so, they notified surrounding fire departments Selma didn’t have enough personnel to respond to fire calls, and other departments would need to handle their calls. Farmer said due to their “immature and unprofessional act” they were terminated Friday morning. One of the key issues is whether Selma firemen are town employees or volunteers. Assistant Chief Mike Kendall said the department’s bylaws say they are volunteers who donate their time to the department, and elect their own chief and officers. Town officials contend they are part-time employees since they receive $70 to $90 a month for reimbursement for fuel and clothes laundering. And since they are paid, city officials contend they are a city department. Firemen say they are not a part of town government. Assistant Chief Kendall said Fire Chief Joe Price was asked not to attend Thursday night’s meeting. Price is a full-time wastewater supervisor for Selma and is their volunteer chief. Selma firemen are also upset the town is seeking to hire a full time fire chief, thus forcing Chief Price out. One firefighter said the dispute began when Mayor Hester ordered the fire department to paint the fire hydrants in town. They initially refused saying they were volunteers, but later used prison laborers to do the work. Friday, the dozen fired firefighters were asked to return to duty until a meeting with city officials could be arranged on Wednesday. The members agreed to return to duty, but no one knows what will happen after next Wednesday. Selma fire officials say they no longer trust the mayor or city manager and are not part of town government. Selma Manager Stan Farmer says they are, and will receive $234,000 in the upcoming budget.

This is actually funny

Why do we give federal funding to groups that try to tear down our nation?

The ACLU ends up with taxpayer money. We give grants to Planned Parenthood and other organizations of their ilk. We give money to public television that can not sustain itself as a viable form of competitive media, yet they air multi-million dollar enterprises such as Sesame Street and Barney. No, I don't believe that Barney or Big Bird are trying to tear down our nation, but they do have some liberal slants in other programming.

One group that certainly wants to tear down America is the National Council of La Raza, an organization that advocates for "civil rights" for Hispanics, regardless of whether or not they are here legally. They also push for secession of the southwest and western part of the country from the United States as a Hispanic homeland.

Why in the world would we even consider just giving millions of taxpayer dollars to a group like that? It is happening right now. The nation's liberals are pandering to these people for future votes and power. Republicans are not far behind. It is just plain disgusting that we as taxpayers will be funding these efforts...all because we have no leaders with spinal columns sufficient to resist this invasion.

There is no Constitution any more.

Mike Gravel hammers fellow Democrats at debate last night

These Dems don't get it

I am sitting here doing something I didn't figure I would do. I saw that my ad automation systems stopped running ads on CNN on cable TV. The candidates are at St. Anselm's College in Manchester, NH, in the very auditorium I have been in and spoke on the same stage.

These guys are so clueless on some issues, it is amazing. Some blame George Bush for the very things that some of them voted for as Representatives and Senators. One example is that it was just asked if English should be the official language of the U.S. Only ONE candidate raised his hand. Obama then jumped in and chided Wolf Blitzer for the question saying that it is a divisive question. Hillary just whined that if English becomes our official language, we have too many legal consequences and that people would suffer as a result of only allowing one language in governmental usage.

John Edwards is speaking about universal health care costs when it is lawyers like him that have driven up the cost of health care. He made his millions of dollars as an ambulance chasing, blood sucking lawyer. He is proposing to pay for his health care plan by taking away tax cuts. Obama says that he will lower costs of health care by restricting and coming down on insurance companies to cut their profits and charges. It was the same answer for gas prices. The solution proposed by one candidate was to have the government step in, regulate prices and oil companies, and to force big oil companies to give rebates on gas purchases.

I have seen several candidates shirk the actual answering of questions. Several have literally dodged the question, talking around it, and not actually giving a straight answer or answer a question that was never asked. The GOP candidates were a bit better about these things. Not much, but still better. The ONLY Democrat on that stage that I believe is honest about his stances and is actually straight forward is Mike Gravel.

What every one of these candidates has proposed so far is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!!! Where the hell do you even find this in the Constitution? I see NOWHERE in that document that the government can regulate this industry, nor that the government should be in the business of providing health care nationally. WHY do we let these people get away with this?

Libs wigging out over Surgeon General nominee

I have read several web sites that are accusing the new Bush nominee to be Surgeon General, James Holsinger, of being a hate monger and on the wrong side of science in his stance on homosexuality. They are basing this on his previous religious service in which he stood his ground based upon his convictions. He [rightly so] supported a pastor who would not permit an openly homosexual man to join the church. His church offered a recovery ministry to former homos. He says that homosexuality [rightly so] is a matter of choice, not genetics.

All of that makes me support him. If it cheeses off the liberals, he has convictions, and is willing to stand for REAL medicine rather than the pseudo science that the morally challenged promote, then I am all for him.

Here is a news article on the subject. Many liberal sites are slamming his nomination. Read just some of the liberal hate comments here. The homo community obviously "has something up their butts" over this, so to speak.

Just a thought...why do we even NEED a Surgeon General? Why not just eliminate the position? It is thoroughly unnecessary.

Of course GOP donations are down by 40%. I wish it was more. Maybe they will get the hint.

I am not a Republican. I stopped my membership with them a couple of years ago. I am certainly not a Democrat. I think that I would rather be stabbed to death with a plastic fork than be a Democrat. Apparently, there are a bunch of people in this country who are just as pissed at the GOP as I am. Many may not be speaking with their voting or affiliation registration, but they are speaking with their wallets.

It was news recently that donations are down by 40% and that the GOP has laid off about 65 telemarketers. I have heard reasons on the radio stating that it was not because of the donation dip that the lay offs happened. I don't buy it.

Look, the Republican Party has greatly disappointed me and millions of other conservatives. We were promised that the Department of Education would be abolished. Instead, it was doubled. The Dubai ports deal, the Harried Myers fiasco, No Child Left Behind, the Medicare drug coverage boondoggle, lack of Social Security reform, McCain-Feingold, Sarbanes-Oxley, and rampant spending have all just plain pissed off the voter base. Thus, the "grass roots" donors are slacking off with their donations. The GOP has done it to themselves.

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