Updated USA Travel Maps

Visited States:

Visited States by Motorcycle:

Republicans- This time, don't be stupid

Clearly, you will be riding high into Washington with today's sweeping mid-term election. Don't mistake the results for an endorsement of Republican establishment principles. You had better listen to the tea party types, sack up, and take bold action on returning this country to a free-market Constitutional Republic, or you will be out in 2012.

The Republican establishment thinking that exposed you as conservative frauds from 2000-2006 (total control of Government) will not work anymore. The pundits are wrong about how you 'mis-handled' your mandate in the 1994 elections- it's not that you went too far- you didn't even get close to far enough. This time, grow a pair and get us back to the country that we know works well. You don't have much time to undo the mess Obama has foisted upon us, not to mention demonstrate enough wherewithal to take on entitlements. Don't get me started. We'll be watching.

Tommy Sowers is a Veteran running for Congress

A fact which he has made abundantly clear in all of his advertisements... While his military experience surely equipped him with some excellent leadership tools to rely upon, his skills as a Green Beret will not come into play on the floor of the House of Representatives. Drop the veteran thing, Tommy- you're starting to sound like John Kerry in 2004!

'Want freedom? Kill some crackers!'

'Want freedom? Kill some crackers!'

I'm inspired. I shall now change my name to "Reverend King Dennis Shabazz Jackson Sharpton X." You may refer to me as Reverend X. Where were those cracker babies?


Wait a minute- I thought we were in post-racial America! Yeah, that's it! Maybe I won't change my name.

Updated North American Travel Maps

It's time for an updated North American travel map.
Visited States:


Visited States by Motorcycle:

Visited Mexican States:

Visited Canadian Provinces:

Discount E85, Anyone?

R&P 'discount' fuel (Hayti, MO) seems to be the only place around here where E85 is available. I'm not a huge E85 fan, but R&P management is well aware that they are the only local supplier:

R&P price as of yesterday: $2.49
Average Missouri price, according to http://www.e85prices.com/: $2.15

Price gouging? You decide. I won't go crying to the State of Missouri like every other jerk around here, but I will get my E85 elsewhere...

Crackpot BP Oil Rig Theory

Since the lefty crackpots proffered their theory that the 9/11 disaster was a Bush Administration 'inside job,' I offer an equally stupid crackpot theory: The Obama Administration, working in conjunction with the enviro-wackos, intentionally sabotaged the BP/Transocean oil rig to turn public opinion more towards their cap and trade legislation!

Gotta admit, the timing is impeccable.

Dude, where's my Country?

The "health care" bill passed in Congress Sunday... I've given myself a few days to mull it over, and I can't imagine that anyone with as much as a high school education could believe that it's Constitutional. Pelosi was right- it was a 'victory'... a victory over the American people! The notion that Congress can compel you to buy any good or service is just appalling. Yes, I know that Missouri state law demands that I buy auto insurance to drive. However, it's my choice to drive. Apples and oranges. To me, this is just one more example of Congress' proclivity to piss on the Constitution at every opportunity!

I very much agree with Neal Boortz and Glenn Beck on this one. Their mood on this event is really very sour. I believe that this "health care" law, unless repealed, is certainly one of several nails in the coffin of this once amazing nation. It is the single largest threat to our long-term economic health since, well, the 2009 "stimulus" bill - which as you remember, added more debt to the nation's books in one year than all the previous administrations combined. Glenn Beck took a bit of an upbeat attitude about its passage, saying on his radio show Monday that this would be a watershed political event, and that Conservatives would sweep the Congressional elections this fall. That's great if he's correct, but recent history doesn't give me much hope of a return to Constitutional Principles.

Here's where Glenn Beck miscalculates: he's assuming that once the Congress and the Presidency is taken back by conservatives, then they will actually have the guts to reverse this insanity! My bet is that they won't. In my mind, Republicans exposed themselves as frauds back in the Bush Administration- with both houses of Congress and the Presidency, there is no excuse for making timid moves. Obama and his ilk are certainly wielding their power with ruthless efficiency. Chicago politics has found its way to Washington. The difference is that the Socialists of this country are hell bent on the complete destruction of their political opponents. Most Conservatives do not possess that killer political instinct, and never will. Unless Conservatives grow a pair, man up, and take bold action, their opponents will always have the upper hand.

I really hope that Beck is correct, and that a return to Constitutional principles is within reach in our lifetimes. I won't hold my breath. It breaks my heart that the USA is rotting from within and may be radically different in 20 years. I place the blame squarely at the feet of Congress, and not just the current one. It goes all the way back to FDR and the Great Society... Once those ideas took hold, our death warrant was signed- it's just amazing to me that we've managed to go this long without bankrupting the Country! There is something to be said for the American spirit, and frankly our luck as a nation. Beck has touched on one thing that may be quite correct- it may literally take a 're-founding' of our nation to ensure that freedom and individual rights can be upheld for the long term.

It will take much more than a balanced budget and tax reductions to fix our economic problems. We will have to have a better trade balance in the future, but big talk about keeping manufacturing jobs here is just that- talk. Let's see. Made in the USA: Pros- educated workforce, good infrastructure, good intellectual property law. Cons- OSHA, wage laws, unions, EPA, litigious populace, high wages, expensive state-run health care, high taxes and fees on both Federal and State levels, politicians constantly meddling in business affairs, contract law that means nothing, Presidential power to fire CEOs... Made most other places: Pros- low taxes, reasonable wages, relatively less government interference. Cons- possibly less-educated workforce, possibly less-reliable infrastructure, language might be difficult. Pretty easy decision from a businessman's perspective. Not to mention finance- USA: Fannie, Freddie, Community Reinvestment Act, position limits on 'certain' commodities, Sarbox, FDIC, meddling Congress. Elsewhere: glad to get the financial business...

Even though my political mood is waning, my personal life seems to be going just fine at the moment. I've made some adjustments in my finances, assuming more difficult times are in store for our Country for the foreseeable future. As soon as my means allow it, the possibility of a second home elsewhere in the world is becoming more certain. When the Government's tentacles seem to reach into my life more than ever, and the very freedoms I've taken for granted throughout my life seem to be crumbling, I will do what I must to ensure that the prospects for my family remain good.

Libertarian Infighting Dooms It As A Political Movement at Zeal For Truth

Libertarian Infighting Dooms It As A Political Movement at Zeal For Truth

Check out Zeal for Truth. Interesting stuff.

What a Year

2009 was a far more important year than most people think. We elected our first black President, which officially put us into post-racial America. Finally. Or maybe not. There are still plenty of white racists out there, and of course there are still plenty of black racists as well. Jackson, Sharpton, and the NAACP are still going strong.

Even though our Dear Leader delivered us into post-racial America, the Administration and Congress have taken thuggery and disrespect for the Constitution to new heights. We now have czars for every problem we're facing (and some we're not), and even the most casual observer can tell you that unconstitutional is the first word that comes to mind. We learned this year that the President, NOT directors, may fire executives of large publicly-traded industrial corporations. I don't recall reading about that power in the Constitution. With the tacit approval of the Supreme Court, the Administration also completely trashed contract law in this country (GM and Chrysler bankruptcies). Contract law (specifically pertaining to bonds) is now a farce, and like the Constitution and our almighty dollar, isn't worth the paper it's written on.

Congress passed a 'stimulus' bill that spends more money than our government has spent in any Presidency thus far. In fact, more than all of them combined. Rest assured that the Federal Reserve Bank is on the case, 'monetizing the debt' (read: printing money) and saving us from further economic malaise. Isn't it strange how the dollars in your wallet are starting to look more and more like Monopoly money every day? I can't wait to see what 2010 has in store! I'll be keeping my head down, going to work, taking care of my family, and doing my best to enjoy life. Cheers!