"Politicians are like diapers. They should both be changed frequently and for the same reason." -- Anonymous

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759
US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.

–Winston Churchill

 Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and  car keys to teenage boys.

–P.J. O’Rourke

If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it’s free.

–P.J. O’Rourke

Talk is cheap … except when Congress does it.

–Unknown

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.

–Pericles (430 B.C.)

"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office." Aesop

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.

–Winston Churchill

It is the besetting vice of democracies to substitute public opinion for law. This is the usual form in which the masses of men exhibit their tyranny.
-- James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851)

What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.

–Edward Langle

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem" -- Ronald Reagan

To my brothers and sisters in the Corps - Semper Fi!

And now for my terrorist rant:

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was "desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for chopping off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed "special" food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.

And last, but certainly not least, my War on Drugs rant:

Take a look at these folks and tell me it is worth it! 

http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2003/08/17/drugWarVictims.html

We are killing people here folks - people just like you and I.  They sold this to us as the "War on Drugs" back in the '80's - So, when did it become a War on Americans???  It's just not right...

"For 40 years, we have been waging a "war on drugs." Just what does our $40 billion-a-year drug war get us? Our prisons are exploding with nonviolent drug offenders; families are kicked out of housing when many have done nothing wrong; thousands die from street violence generated by prohibition's lucrative black market; and drugs remain as plentiful and easy to obtain as ever."

Tony Newman on the HuffingtonPost.com 

Below you'll find a few of the many casualties of the WOD, I guess collateral damage is only ok when it's in the U.S.! 

Donald P. Scott

61 years old
Malibu, California
October, 1992 Government agencies were interested in the property of this reclusive millionaire. A warrant was issued based on concocted "evidence" of supposed marijuana plantings, and a major raid was conducted with a 32-man assault team. Scott was shot to death in front of his wife. No drugs were found.

A later official report found: "It is the District Attorney's opinion that the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department was motivated, at least in part, by a desire to seize and forfeit the ranch for the government. Based in part upon the possibility of forfeiture, Spencer obtained a search warrant that was not supported by probable cause. This search warrant became Donald Scott's death warrant."

Alberto Sepulveda

Ashley Villareal

14 years old
San Antonio, Texas
February, 2003

Ashley went outside at night with a family friend to move their freshly washed car under shelter. DEA agents, interested in her father, were staking out the house, and believing that her father was driving, shot and killed Ashley. The agents did not have a warrant for her father. Read The Murder of Ashley.

There's a war going on. It destroys lives and families, spawns violence, suspends civil liberties, tramples on the infirm, locks up millions of peaceful citizens, costs billions, and subjugates reason with fear. This blog looks at the front lines of the drug war, with news, analysis, and the occasional rant.  www.DrugWarRant.com

favorite music: rock, blues, country, jazz, christian

favorite movies: the lord of the rings, braveheart, cold mountain

favorite hobbies: swimming, fitness, motorcycling, family time and road trips!

favorite tv shows: jericho, seinfield, 24, animal police, 7th heaven, trading spaces/makeover shows, twilight zone

favorite restaurants: bali hai, cheesecake factory, main garden, remington grill

favorite web sites: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/06/29/IN290713.DTL http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2003/08/17/drugWarVictims.html

favorite vacation spots: florida, nc coast & mountains, maine/new england