California is not going to fall off into the ocean, it's just going to burn up.  I can't imagine what those folks are going thru.  I know that my mom and dad lost a house to fire before I was born, and I know that growing up with a wood burning stove, I often would lie awake at night and plan on what to take with me when the house caught fire.  And it did several times.  They call them flu fires.  And the terror never goes away.

I think about all the animals, and I just shake my head and pet my cats a few more times. 

and where is the National guard in all of this?  apparently  a lot of them are in Iraq, and a lot of their equipment is there also, or outdated, or in need of repair.  But out money is going to Iraq.  Billions of dollars.  Trillions of dollars.  And we Americans have to suffer because of it.  How many decades will Americans have to work to get out of this ever climbing debt?  How many lives lost for a fraud of a war?  We shouldn't be there.  We need to be here. 

well, well, well....  you probably know that the Republican party and George W. Bush vetoed the health insurance bill that would have provided children in middle class families insurance?  and you heard about the attack tactics of those same people?  putting addresses of children who either spoke up in support, or their families spoke up in support of the bill?  Or running an add that pretty much said the parents of a 3 year old who had had to have major surgery shouldn't have been born if her parents could not afford her?

Oh, wait!  WAIT a MINUTE!  so, people shouldn't have kids unless they can afford them?  This from the same party that calls themselves "PRO-LIFE"?  WHAT?  So, they want you to have kids only if you can afford them, but they also want you to never have an abortion?

So, I'm confused.  Are you?  The Democratic party has always said that we should be responsible for those who have less.  That there are those in society who need an extra hand.  We want to take care of others (read your Bible, it's in there).  And one of the reasons we have always questioned the Pro-Life movement, is that they tend to wash their hands of the child once it is actually born.  They want every woman/child who gets pregnant to have that baby, but they don't want to help take care of that baby. 

The thought of being our 'brothers' keeper' for the Republican party is distasteful.  But to put an 11 year old boy's address out so that his family can be harassed by complete strangers just because this 11 year old boy spoke up in support of insurance for kids?  What kind of party does that to innocent people?  innocent children? 

A party that puts party before people.  When are they gonna get it?  That putting people last, especially children, won't fly anymore?  I encourage each of you to stand up and voice your displeasure at the rogue tactics used by the Republican party!  Stand up for what is right...  no matter which party. 

This weekend Fayetteville plays hosts to one of the top 5 Bike rallys in the country.  Just a few short years ago, it was a blip on the map, but as quickly become the place to be if you own a Bike.  And if you live here, you either love it or hate it.  OK, that's not true.  I know some people who actually are oblivious to it.  But the battle is between the lovers and the haters.  There are some old timers (as in lived here most of their lives) that resent the hell out of it.  they don't like the noise or the crowds that come to our fair city.

I say, "it's one week in the year."  For one week, long weekend, anyone can deal with a little noise and a lot of people.  But, the battle continues.  The winner of course will be "money".  Because this event brings in big bucks for the city.  The people who ride these bikes are professional people who have slowly changed the image of the 'biker' and the 'biker babe'.  they have lots of money invested in their bike and they show it.  They rent homes for $1500 for the 4 nights they are in town, and so a lot of the haters go on vacation and rent their homes out.  Vacation paid for.

Anyway, it's a hoot.  If you have never been to a bike rally, then by all means, go.  Until then, you cannot imagine what 200,000 bikers with their bikes sound like.

Anyone still listening to Rush?  Just curious.  Countdown on MSNBC has been mentioning his latest foot in mouth incident.  They say he still has listeners.  I say, 'really?'  And has congress come out and decried his comments like they did MOVEON's add in the NYTimes?  Just curious.  Curious as to where Congress was when the Swift Boat Veterans were trashing someone who fought in Vietnam?  Curious as to where Congress was when vets like Max Ceveland running for office were trashed?  Is it you can trash soldiers or vets who run for office?  or you can trash soldiers or vets who disagree with W?  just curious.

speeking of congress, where are they?  So many issues they promised to fix or take care of if elected, and so many issues that they have failed us in.  I read every day on the web how the govt is misusing our tax money in one way or another; violence is increasing; the dollar is falling; and W wants to attack Iran. 

I am going to go watch the new version of Bikers, and forget about it for awhile.  obviously congress has forgotten us.