I ask you John Boehner, where are the jobs?

It wasn't that long ago that Speaker of the House, John Boehner, was asking the question, "where are the jobs"?  Now, just a couple of months after taking control of the House of Representatives, Mr. Boehner and his Republican colleagues have constructed a budget, based on promises they had made during campaign season, that would cut the budget by $100 billion.  With this budget, they say that all programs are "on the table".  According to Boehner, if that means the loss of government jobs, then "so be it".  So, if I am to understand this correctly, the Republicans aren't doing anything to create jobs, which is all they talked about when on the campaign trail.  Instead, they are actually looking to cut jobs, and they are just fine with that. 

Ok, so I ask you this, what happened?  The Republicans railed on Obama and the Democrats for not creating more jobs in the two years from 2008 to 2010.  All they talked about was how with them in power of the House, they would get Americans back to work.  What have they done so far?  Well, let's see.  They refused to do anything until the Bush Era Tax Cuts were continued (costing us more money, not helping the middle class, and making the rich richer), have worked to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act (with no new plan in place, they just want to get rid of it), argued about the definition of rape (this is just sick) and spent time at CPAC doing their collective best to be stand up comedians (not sure which they are worse at, being funny, or politicians).  I don't see where they are doing anything to create jobs and stimulate our economy, do you? 

Now, before you starting lecturing me on how "our spending is out of control", and that our government is "bloated and full of unnecessary bureaucrats", I don't disagree with you.  BUT, I think we need to look at the big picture here.  Do we have wasted spending in Washington?  Absolutely.  Are we doing things that aren't cost effective?  Damn right.  Do we have our priorities in order?  Hell no!  Sure, some of the proposed cuts will be a good confidence boost for some business owners, and that can mean more jobs at some point, but only after many more teachers, firefighters, police officers and other state and federal jobs are lost.  However, will cuts to social programs have a negative impact on people like Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, or even Michael Jordan for that matter?  No, not even a little.  Will it put a hurting on your neighbor, your grandmother, or your brother?  Yes, it will.  Middle and lower class Americans are drowning right now, and all the Republicans are worried about is keeping money in the pockets of the top 2% of all wage earners.  What about the defense budget?  Is that going to drop?  Nope.  We can't touch that.  It's really important we are fighting two unfunded wars, so that doesn't count.  Come on, everything needs to be on the table here people!

Look, I'm not a politician, but I know we have major financial issues in this country, and we have to be able to sit down at a table, look each other in the eye, and have an honest debate about what to do to fix things.  In my personal life, whenever I have had money troubles, I look at where I can cut, but also how I can bring more money in.  Perhaps I need to pick up a second job (or 5th in my case).  Sure, it's not easy to decide which things to cut, and by how much, but I have to take everything into consideration.  Hopefully our elected officials can figure this out in a civil and speedy fashion.  Who am I kidding, that is just wishful thinking.  I'm just saying...

Your daily reminder that you have it better than others...

If I'm ever feeling down in the dumps, I like to go to Wal-Mart.  No, not because I can "Save Money, Live Better", but because you are guaranteed to see at least half a dozen (conservative number, it's more like two dozen) people that will make you feel so much better about yourself.  Don't believe me?  Try it.  Some Friday night or Saturday morning, when you have nothing else to do, take a ride to your local Wal-Mart.  Walk around the store for 20 minutes, and you will leave feeling better about yourself than you have in a long time.  If, for some reason, that doesn't help, check this site out...

Now, if that doesn't work, another thing I try is reading the local news.  Well, the following story would certainly help me feel a little better.  A Portland man was arrested over the weekend for allegedly attacking his roommate (and drinking buddy) with a hammer.  The older roommate, 60, decided to beat his younger roommate with a hammer because they got into a fight over "who was crazier".  I'm not making this up!  I wonder if they ever determined who the winner was before one went for a ride in the cop car and the other in an ambulance?  I don't know about you, but the suspense is killing me!

If neither of the above mentioned methods work, I go for a walk.  Chances are pretty good, especially in a more populated area, that someone will do something that helps you put things in perspective a little bit.  For example, there is the guy in this picture.  This is an actual picture, submitted by faithful reader Dawn in Alexandria, VA, taken in the middle of the afternoon.  Dude is passed out drunk, and it is way too early in the day to be in this bad of shape.    Don't get me wrong, I've been drunk in public before.  Heck, I've been drunk in the same neighboorhood this guy is in.  Fortunately for me, I  have never provided anyone with a great picture like this.  Thanks, big guy, I feel better already!

As you can see, there is no reason to feel sorry for yourself.  There are always ways to make yourself feel much better.  As the saying goes, it could always be worse.  Unless, of course, you find yourself wearing a mesh shirt and thong to Wal-Mart, beat your roommate with a hammer, or make an ass of yourself in public.  If that's the case, I've got nothing for you.  I'm just saying...

What do you think of when I say the word "chain"?

Chain.  Not the type of fence.  Not that letter you used to get when you were a kid.  Not that thing you use to tie someone to the bed so that you can, oh, wait, sorry about that.  I'm talking about chain restaurants.  You know what I mean.  McDonald's is a chain.  Subway is a chain.  Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks are chains.  Many of these chains can be found in Portland's historic Old Port District.  We frequent them often to get our caffeine fix or for a quick sandwich at lunch time.  Well, it sounds like we are adding a new chain to the mix, and one that will do quite well, I think.  Five Guys Burgers and Fries will be taking over the location that has seen such hot spots as Diggers and, more recently, Prost.  What is Five Guys you ask?  Well, it's a burger and fry joint that will put a hurting to Bill's Pizza as the crowd from the Old Port looks for some food to soak up all that booze.  Cool, right?  I mean, heck yeah.  It's about 30 feet from where I park my car every day for work, so I'm sure I'll check it out from time to time.  However, I also have a slight problem with this.  Let me explain...

Do you remember, about 4 years ago, when Hooters wanted to move to Portland, and move into the location that is now Binga's Stadium?  Everyone knows about Hooters, right?  It's the restaurant made famous for its chicken wings and female servers in tightly clad shorts and t-shirts.  If I'm not mistaken, Maine is only 1 of 4 states in the entire country that doesn't have a Hooters.  Well, the fine city of Portland decided to keep it that way, by voting 6–3 to impose a moratorium on formula restaurants in that part of the city for a couple of months.  The moratorium only applies to chains that have at least 30 restaurants in the United States.  In other words, the mere idea of a Hooters scared the city so bad they made up a horse shit excuse to keep it out.  Let's ignore the fact that there are 2 Starbucks, 3 Dunkin Donuts, a Subway, and I'm sure other chains in this same area.  Now, just a few years later, it's totally cool to bring in a new chain. 

Can someone explain to me the rationale here?  I know that it is because the city was scared about the idea of a Hooters.  I'm curious if any of the 9 members of the City Council that voted have ever been to one before.  It's not like you are walking into a strip club and hookers are carrying buckets of wings around in their cleavage.  It's not even close to that.  I've been to many places that allow their wait staff to wear whatever they want, and it's been much more revealing than the Hooter's uniform.  I'm not advocating for a Hooters, that's not at all my point.  I'm just annoyed by the fact that we have a down town that is full of chains, and is welcoming new ones still, but denied bringing a business that would have brought with it 50 or more jobs, all because they didn't want chains in the Old Port.  It's cool, we don't need the jobs, don't worry.  I'm just saying...

Another day, another handful of questions...

Sort of following up from yesterday, I am sitting here, with many more questions than answers still.  According to responders, anti-gun people need to agree that responsible people should be allowed to own guns (which is already the case) and that high capacity ammunition guns are not necessary, but banning them would just piss people off, so we need to hope things just get better on there own.  It turns out that people agree that Sarah Palin is in need of spending some time at home, far, far away from the cameras, Twitter and Facebook.  As for Paul LePage, people think we just need to ignore him and hope that he doesn't completely destroy the state of Maine.  I have to be honest, I'm not real excited by any of these responses.  Anyway, I have some new questions today.  Here we go...

The House of Representatives just passed the repeal of the new health care bill.  Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but this doesn't stand a chance of passing the Senate, and there isn't a snowballs chance in hell that President Obama will sign off on a repeal, so why are they wasting their time with this?  Wouldn't it behoove them, especially since a growing number of the American people don't want to repeal it, to spend time trying to create jobs, which is the number one priority of the American people?  Shouldn't our politicians, those that our supposed to be representing us, stop wasting time going down a dead end road and do something more constructive?  How about taking pieces of the Affordable Health Care Act and making them better?  Repealing it does no good if you have no backup plan in place.  Do Republicans really want to deny people with pre-existing conditions?  Do they really want to deny coverage on family plans to children up to the age of 26?  And why do they not believe the figures the CBO is tossing out on this issue, but they do on other issues? 

Do women find it sexy when men bathe in cologne?  I understand wanting to smell good, it makes sense.  However, smelling like a whore house isn't attractive, is it?  We've all had a co-worker that didn't know when to stop applying the "sure shag", so what are your thoughts?  Is there such a thing as too much cologne, or perfume for that matter? 

Maine has officially joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the federal health reform act. Maine Attorney General William Schneider says U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson approved Maine's request to join the suit, led by the state of Florida.  Correct me if I am wrong, and believe me, I hope I am, but, wouldn't it be wise to stay out of this?  Governor LePage claims to be fiscally responsible, someone that will cut costs to help Maine get out of the red.  So, with Maine joining this lawsuit, won't we spend a fair chunk of change?  Will us joining the suit increase the chances of winning this lawsuit?  Wouldn't Maine be further ahead to stay out of it, and hope the result works out the way LePage and his team want it to, thus costing Maine nothing?  I don't want any part of this for a couple of reasons.  I don't want to challenge the health care reform act, and I don't want to spend money for no reason, when our inclusion in this lawsuit won't guarantee anything.  Someone let me know if I missed something, please...

I'm sure tomorrow will bring more questions along with it.  Thanks to everyone who plays along.  Oh, and don't forget, call me Mr. Vice President.  I'm just saying...

A running list of questions I have today...

I've been quiet for a while.  Now, there are a few reasons for this.  Weather and work have kept me very busy.  Also, I've been trying to digest some of the recent news, both locally and nationally, before I gave my position on things.  Well, I'm ready to react, but, to be honest, I have more questions than anything else.  Here we go...

I'm not a gun person, but I understand that the right to bear arms is a constituted right.  Without giving me talking points, which I can get on Fox News, what is the need for all of these massive guns with giant magazines holding many rounds of ammunition?  Is it necessary for me to be able to purchase an Uzi, which can shoot off 600 rounds per minute?  What sort of crazy animal are people trying to hunt?  I feel like there is really no reasonable need to have these, or others like them, available in the marketplace.  Can somebody please explain this to me?  While we are on the subject of guns, why do you need to carry them in public?  I know you have the right, but why do you NEED to do it?  I have the right to troll the high school parking lot for 18 year old girls to bring home with me, but it doesn't mean I'm going to!

Why do Governor LePage supporters not only give him a free pass with each lie, but also applaud his inability to think before he talks?  Have we lowered our standards so much that any way we get Maine into the national spotlight is a good thing?  His latest comment, "kiss my butt", which was made in reference to the NAACP, just a day before Martin Luther King Day, made national headlines.  I'm sorry, but that is not cool.  Please make headlines for doing positive things for Mainers, not for being a foul mouthed knucklehead.  Please Mr. LePage, try being honest and thoughtful, even if it is just for the next four years. 

Why does Sarah Palin always think she is the victim?  Nobody is blaming her for the shooting in Arizona.  Yes, it has been brought up that using crosshairs on a map that targeted Giffords' district was in bad taste, but it wasn't the reason the congresswoman, and others, were shot.  Instead of putting forward an 8 minute video that tried to make us feel bad for Palin, why couldn't she have admitted that, while others have done similar things in the past, she realizes the crosshairs map was in bad taste and she wishes Giffords a speedy recovery?  Why couldn't she use her platform to ask others to speak and act more civily when discussing points of disagreement?  Oh, and can we stop calling her Governor Palin!?  She quit that post.  I was my high school class Vice President, so if we are going to call her Governor Palin, I expect you all to call me Mr. Vice President from now on, thanks.

Again, if someone can give me some answers on this, I would be very grateful.  I've talked to a few people, but I just get talking points.  I have lots of other questions, but I'll keep it at that today.  I look forward to some reasonable thoughts and ideas.  Let me have it people!  I'm just saying...

Positive thoughts = good outcomes

As many of you faithful readers know, my father was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer.  We got the word the Tuesday before Christmas, and I really struggled with how to deal with it.  I don't know much about cancer, but I know that any time you can associate that word with someone, it's not something I want to mess with.  I also know that seeing my father in anything but a position of power is hard for me to deal with.  I remember back when I was younger, and my father had his gallbladder removed.  I cried so hard seeing him slowly walk around the hospital in his johnny.  My dad is, and always will be, a big, strong man.  Seeing him in pain is really hard for me to handle. 

Well, yesterday was the day he was going in to have his prostate removed.  I was anxious, and nervous for this day.  We would know more once the surgeon opened dad up and looked around.  Up to this point, we knew very little.  We knew that they found cancerous cells on his prostate, but we didn't know if his lymph nodes were affected, or if the cancer had spread.  We got to spend some time with dad before they knocked him out and wheeled him off, and then spent the rest of the day in the waiting room.  Four hours felt more like twenty four hours, but, finally, the surgeon came into the waiting room.  His face had me bracing for the worst possible news, but his words were the very opposite.  I was originally filled with mixed emotions, until I was able to process what he actually said to us.  Everything came back fine, his prostate was removed, his lymph nodes were fine, and he was in good shape!  We collectively jumped out of our seats with humongous smiles on our faces.  What a relief!

I know that many of you have gone through similar situations with family members, but I have one, very important thing to say to you all.  We have the greatest family and friends in the world!  We didn't say a whole lot publicly, having very little time between finding out and the surgery itself, but you all had us overwhelmed by your kind words and prayers.  I got messages from all sorts of people, from parent's of high school friends, to co-workers from former employers.  I am eternally grateful for how amazing all of you are.  I truly believe that between the strength of my amazing father, and the wonderful words and positive vibes you sent his way, he was able to kick cancer's ass!  Thank you all for being the greatest friends and family a guy could ever ask for!  I'm just saying...

Newsworthy or not, you decide...

One could argue that the media makes something out of nothing on a regular basis.  I mean, they want viewership, they need to have something interesting to put out there.  Granted, they report on actual news from time to time, but it's usually garbage that they sell to us as stories.  Well, in scouring the web, I've come across some stories, some may be newsworthy, others are not, but they caught my attention for one reason or another.  Here you go...

U.S. Olympian Johnny Weir discloses his sexual orientation in his new book, and guess what, he's gay!  Who would have thought that this over the top, completely flamboyant, male figure skater would turn out to be gay.  I, for one, am completely shocked!  Seriously though, he came out, officially, in hopes that his story would inspire others.  I am hopeful that this news will inspire Ryan Seacrest to finally come out of the closet as well...

Hundreds of birds fell to the ground, dead, in Arkansas.  150 tons of red tilapia are found in Vietnam.  40,000 crabs washed up, dead, on shore in the UK.  Two million fish found dead on Maryland coast.  Holy crap, the Mayans were wrong, the world is ending in 2011, not 2012!  Everybody prepare yourself!  Oh, wait, what's that, this sort of thing is actually normal, it just goes undetected.  Oh, and fFederal records show they happen on average every other day somewhere in North America. Usually, we don't notice them and don't try to link them to each other.  Damnit, I guess I'll have to calm down, for now anyways...

Deena, the newest member of the Jersey Shore house gets in a fight, almost as soon as she walks in the door.  Let me be the first to say, I don't watch this garbage, and I really dont' give a rat's ass.  If you do, I'm sorry.  No, actually, I'm not.  I enjoy my fair share of mindless television, but this show may actually contribute to the lowering of your intelligence and cause you to act like a douche.  Of course, that is not proven, but I'm confident that it will one day be true.  I'm hoping to one day be elected to Congress so I can introduce a bill that will fund the study.  Hey, we all have to have a dream to make a dream come true.

House Speaker, John Boehner, on smoking: "I am who I am".  That's right Johnny circus peanut, you tell 'em!  Look, just because he thinks that President Obama should quit smoking, doesn't mean he should have to.  Do I need to remind you again that Republicans are exempt from all the things they criticize Democrats for?  Come on people, you should know better by now.  Plus, I think we need to leave John boy alone, he may end up crying again, and his poor tear ducts can't handle that much activity!

Like I said earlier, some things are newsworthy, others are deemed newsworthy by the media, and we are forced into hearing about it 24/7.  Here's hoping you all sit at home all weekend and soak all this amazing "news" in!  I'm just saying...