Just watching Bush's visit to Mexico...

at 03/14/07 10:28AM
You know, with all the money we're spending on the border fence, part of me thinks maybe we should just redirect the funds to a purchase agreement with the Mexican government. Yes, I'm radically throwing out the idea of just annexing Mexico. Make them the 51st state. Their southern border is much smaller to deal with...apparently most of the people want to be Americans anyway.

At least that's a simple military man's view. I realize the statement it not well nor clearly thought out.
  • oldlighthouse
    That was my thought? Why not just invite them to become part of our US govenmet? I am sure there is something wrong with that I deal though. How would we feel if someone like China asked us to "merge" with them?
    by oldlighthouse at 03/14/07 1:50PM
  • laughing_eyes
    Observation 230: We don't even make states out of all of our territories.
    by laughing_eyes at 03/14/07 5:37PM
  • larry
    Why don't we just honor our Constitution and.... grrr. hehe.
    by larry at 03/14/07 6:01PM
  • sparky
    And then maybe the salaries for them will go up and it would not be cost effect to move manufacturing factilities to Mexico.
    by sparky at 03/14/07 7:38PM
  • loveofjebs
    I don't know about Northern Mexico but where we are for the most part the people have one opinion. They think the US is spoiled, immoral, wasteful. They want no part of it. Are they right?
    by loveofjebs at 03/14/07 9:40PM
  • upintheair
    I would say that is a somewhat accurate picture after traveling abroad. But I also know that if you live on the border of El Paso, I understand why people flock over when they see what they could have all the time.
    by upintheair at 03/14/07 10:58PM
  • kreg
    Yeah, they could have EL PASO! YEEHAW!
    by kreg at 03/15/07 9:46AM
  • lumpy
    but then you couldn't escape accross the border as easily when you rob a bank. Or at least it'd be a longer drive to the border
    by lumpy at 03/17/07 11:10AM
  • upintheair
    shouldn't you be studying or something
    by upintheair at 03/17/07 2:50PM
  • nik
    mexicos economy is beyond repair. taking them on would crash our economy and devalue the dollar. plus think of the crime!
    by nik at 03/19/07 10:54AM
  • nik
    (plus it would totally ruin the cheap shopping you can do across the border!
    by nik at 03/19/07 10:54AM
  • keebs
    I like Mexican food.
    by keebs at 03/20/07 10:03AM
  • texaslady
    and I mean the United States flag would have to squeeze another star on it.
    by texaslady at 03/20/07 10:19PM
  • dbsmelser
    I'm not sayin I can't vote for a guy that's had more than one wife . . . but when your guy Newt is already with his second wife (after divorcing the first), and then starts cheatin with a girl who's an aide in the House of Representatives, and then divorces and marries the aide . . . that starts to be a voting obstacle to me.
    by dbsmelser at 03/21/07 5:05PM
  • truman
    no problem
    by truman at 03/23/07 2:46AM
  • buddabignbald
    Good to meet you. Let me know if I can help in any way as you get rolling.
    by buddabignbald at 03/23/07 12:03PM
  • meagan
    They couldn't be a state, but they could be owned by us, like the Virgin Islands. I can't remember what that term is. U.S. territory? Mexico could be that. But... yuck. I'd rather dig a giant ditch between Texas and Mexico so it won't even touch.
    by meagan at 03/24/07 1:08AM
  • cellophane
    good idea. I mean, most of them have cooties, anyway.
    by cellophane at 03/24/07 3:01AM
  • fishing827
    heyman, remember me? i think we met at aaron lumpkin's house in OKC 8 years ago or so. (still have your bike??!)
    by fishing827 at 03/27/07 11:59AM
  • oldlighthouse
    Where are you at???? and what are you doing???
    by oldlighthouse at 03/28/07 6:17AM

Excitement galore...

at 02/26/07 8:15PM
Well...I must tell everyone that life is going really great right now. I still haven't heard about my training for my charter job, but it will be coming up sometime next month.

I had a meeting this morning with a lawyer and accountant to set up my business stuff that I plan on embarking soon. I will be forming 3 LLCs. One to shelter my money from the charter business since it will be contract work. Another for rental properties that I will be buying soon. And then a third to handle property operations and flipping some properties that I will be embarking upon with a friend. (I never knew how to do anything small). I'm very excited about the things that I'm about to embark upon in my life and the blessings which have recently come upon me. The greatest of which I must say is her.
  • upintheair
    And yes, I over used the word embark...it's the word of the day for today...get over it.
    by upintheair at 02/26/07 8:16PM
  • mapgray
    Just wanted to say Hello!
    by mapgray at 02/26/07 9:17PM
  • ryang
    wow, you sure do get whooped fast. ;) when are you 'embarking' to georgia?
    by ryang at 02/26/07 9:54PM
  • upintheair
    thanks, peanut gallery
    by upintheair at 02/26/07 11:31PM
  • lumpy
    I think I'm going to go throw up now
    by lumpy at 02/27/07 12:22AM
  • ryang
    only kidding, of course. glad to know things are going well for you ...
    by ryang at 02/27/07 3:05AM
  • browngirl22
    Ahhh! Like my sister said in a former post about him, ignor him.
    by browngirl22 at 02/27/07 6:59AM
  • keebs
    That is very awesome.
    by keebs at 02/27/07 9:23AM
  • the_kim
    are we gonna do lunch anytime... seriously!
    by the_kim at 02/27/07 6:41PM
  • laughing_eyes
    I'm very happy for you.
    by laughing_eyes at 02/27/07 10:38PM
  • jeking
    I'm happy things are working out for you.
    by jeking at 02/28/07 7:36AM
  • wedgeworth
    where do you get all the perfect opposite and weak vs. strong info at. is it in your book or online somewhere. i use to find it online, but i can't remember where now.
    by wedgeworth at 03/03/07 12:22PM
  • laughing_eyes
    back in town? when?
    by laughing_eyes at 03/08/07 8:02AM
  • lastoflakewood
    Wow, sounds like you have a plan!
    by lastoflakewood at 03/09/07 12:34PM
  • ryang
    Hey man. Sorry we didn't get to see you this weekend. Hope you're feeling better.
    by ryang at 03/12/07 1:56AM
  • blueturtle
    how are you feeling hon? must have been at least nice to have a nurse.;)
    by blueturtle at 03/12/07 11:21AM
  • browngirl22
    Stink that you were sick the whole time you were in GA. Hope you made it home okay.
    by browngirl22 at 03/12/07 3:16PM
  • 71lespaulcustom
    Hello! Thanks for being in the USAF. My dad is a retired Chief Master Sergeant, so I have a great appreciation for the boys in blue.
    by 71lespaulcustom at 03/13/07 9:07PM

By the way...

at 02/24/07 2:51PM
Everyone please go say hello to Noemie

My next political boycott...

at 02/22/07 4:19PM
Anyone that is as incensed as I am or would like to know more about the Bank of America offering cards to illegal aliens, read my link to the side entitled: My newest boycott. Interesting information on other banks supporting the same legal loophole.

As far as my current feelings about the war in Iraq and what's going on now. This explains a lot:

  • sue3135
    absurd!
    by sue3135 at 02/22/07 4:57PM
  • sparker
    well that stinks my bank is Bank of America and I'm pretty sure I'm stuck there until I'm out of college
    by sparker at 02/22/07 5:50PM
  • dbsmelser
    yeah i'm kinda steamed with BOA also. I'm more steamed at our pathetic legislators and President Bush, all of whom seem perfectly content to sell out America's borders just to avoid offending a part of the electorate that sympahtizes with those who flaunt our border law.
    by dbsmelser at 02/22/07 11:12PM
  • cellophane
    I totally, completely, 100%, fully, um...whole-heartedly agree with that picture. What the crap kind of bill did congress try to pass last week about "not supporting the war, but supporting our troops?" Can you DO that!?? I mean, REALLY!? When you're the body responsible for determining how much money goes where, how can you say you "support" the troops when you don't "support" the war, when you're only means of "support" is financial!?? Who are they kidding!?? The only reason they wanted to pass that bill was to enable them to say, "Nah, nah nah nah nah, Mr. President! See?? We told you so!" if for some reason, we should not be successful in the Middle East. Loosers. (Congress, not our troops!)
    by cellophane at 02/23/07 12:16AM
  • cellophane
    correct me if I'm wrong about that bill thing, I'm only speaking my opinion based on talk-radio snippets I've heard while driving to/from work. I think Phil Valentine is my new favorite radio personality. He's based here in Nashvegas, but I think he's nationally syndicated.

    In other news, how about the fact that TN is pushing though a bill in the state Senate that requires all TN DL written exams to be in english? I love it. If they're illegal, they're going to at least have to speak english! That's 1/2 the battle right there, I think!

    Sorry for the rants, I could go on for days about these topics. Alas...I digres...
    by cellophane at 02/23/07 12:24AM
  • stevemartin
    I love that photo and I hate that photo! I love it because it is so true, but I hate it because it is so true!
    by stevemartin at 02/23/07 8:50AM
  • oldlighthouse
    HAVEN'T YOU ALL HEARD...THEY NEED THE ILLEGAL GUYS TO WORK HERE AND PAY FOR SENIOR'S SS CHECKS SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY OF US AND SO FEW OF OUR CHILDREN TO COVER THEM. CHEW ON THAT AWHILE!
    by oldlighthouse at 02/23/07 10:13AM
  • oldlighthouse
    So no one has a heart attack...I was being sarcastic but I did hear someone on a political talk show say that.
    by oldlighthouse at 02/23/07 10:47AM
  • blueturtle
    and now you can add another knife labled ENGLAND.
    by blueturtle at 02/23/07 4:33PM
  • wedgeworth
    ah yes, i was telling my wife last night about tony's latest...
    by wedgeworth at 02/23/07 4:36PM
  • wedgeworth
    oh yeah, welcome.

    are you still trying to catch up on heroes?
    by wedgeworth at 02/23/07 4:38PM
  • upintheair
    ok, about England. I may have missed something recent, but if you're referring to the troop withdrawals, they are exactly what is suppose to be happening. Their troops are withdrawing in Southern Iraq where the Iraqis are much more quickly able to police themselves. This is what the whole plan has all been about and while the thought may be to redirect their troops to Baghdad, the logistics of it all don't make it that simple.

    Monica, please enligthen me if there is something else upon which I am unaware.
    by upintheair at 02/24/07 12:03AM
  • laughing_eyes
    my cousin Teresa has a Harley.
    by laughing_eyes at 02/24/07 3:40PM
  • laughing_eyes
    I think one in the fam is plenty.
    by laughing_eyes at 02/24/07 3:41PM
  • meagan
    So funny you mentioned BOA! Dad said, "Bank of America has said they aren't requiring people of Hispanic descent to submit an SSN. I'm opening an account TOMORROW!" You're not Hispanic Dad... Spanish is different.
    by meagan at 02/26/07 12:26AM
  • upintheair
    You're dad would have to have a Matricular Consular (Mexican ID card) in lieu of his SSN. So, I'm thinking he's out of luck.
    by upintheair at 02/26/07 1:18AM

Boycott Citgo...

at 02/12/07 9:45AM
Many of you know that I like to stay abreast of current events. It's quite a hobby of mine and I'm frequently caught watching the news. So, please bear with my political speech background to explain my subject title.

I have recently been exposed to situations in South America that concern me. There is a somewhat silent movement in South America (and the UN for that matter) to spread Marxist Socialism. An idealogy that is in opposition to the hopes and dreams that we accept in America of democracy and a free Republic (yet, there is a political party in our country that seems to embrace much of that ideology). We fought a long hard Cold War against Communism that still prevades much of the world. That fight is not completely over. There are many Communist nations in the world (China, Cuba, and Russia: which seems to be once again embracing old ways). There is another country that is starting to embrace this philosophy: Venezuela.

Many of you may have heard of Hugo Chavez, the current president of Venezuela. He was democractically elected as the president in Venezuela, yet he holds many things in common with past Communist leaders. He has checked the box of taking over a country through a military coup. He has now moved to socialize Venezuela. He recently has won the populist position in the country by catering to the poor by providing them government subsidy. I will save another blog for a discussion of the merits and problems with governmental welfare. But, this popularity has allowed him to seize powers in his country that move it from democratization to dictatorship. He is taking over the telecommunications industry by the state (thus controlling influence on popular opinion). He has nationalized their oil industry so that it is under his control (amazing enough, Sen. Clinton has pledged to slowly socialize our oil industry by taking their profits to fund her ideology of alternative fuels...not a bad thought in and of itself, but it slowly erodes at our basic philosophy of free capatilism and freedom in general).

Venezuela concerns me, because of the influence they have over other South American governments. This influence reminds me of the historical doctrine of "the Domino Effect". This doctrine states that countries surrounded by Communistic thought would be influenced and thus fall to this ideology. I forsee a not too distant future where our interests of freedom will be challenged by this opposing ideology right in our own backyard. Anyone that wishes to discuss this further with me, is more than welcome to write. I have much more to discuss, but I want to just whet your appetites to empower yourself by your own research into the issue.

Many of you may have heard the negative things that Hugo Chavez has stated at the UN about our current president, George W. Bush. He labeled him as "the devil" and while not directly attacking our way of life, his interests are contrary to our beliefs in freedom. If you are not aware, let me inform you about Venezuelan and Chavez influence within our own country. Houston-based Citgo is owned by PDV America Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., the national oil company of Venezuela. As I stated before, this oil company is now nationalized and under control of the newly crowned dictator Hugo Chavez.

I am asking those that care about our ideals of freedom and that research and come to the same conclusions that I have about Venezuela, to boycott Citgo. Do not be fooled by Chavez' pleas that we need to stop funding Middle East oil and invest in Venezuelan oil. The funding of Venezuela in this manner would be deterimental to our national interests. I would prefer that we continue to purchase our oil from the Middle East until we can develop home-based alternatives, such as future Ethanol alternatives that would put money into the hands of American farmers. I also would love to see us take advantage of our own oil reserves to once again preserve our wealth into American intersts. But funding Venezuela only fuels the young bear that some day will be knocking on our doorstep with the ferocity of a grizzly.
  • lumpy
    still yawning...
    by lumpy at 02/12/07 10:58PM
  • oldlighthouse
    Citgo..not on my list of Service Stations either...opps dated myself. There are no more service stations...are there? They are just places to gas up and buy coffee!
    by oldlighthouse at 02/13/07 11:39AM
  • oldlighthouse
    I am so glad to see young folks really thinking about their demoracy. Please don't ever stop discussing the pros and cons...it is valuable to keeping us all honest!!
    by oldlighthouse at 02/13/07 11:41AM
  • oldlighthouse
    Lumpy !! Wake up!!!
    by oldlighthouse at 02/13/07 11:42AM
  • airman
    hey.... i visited yalls church a few times, i think i remember you from camp a couple years back....but yeah im leaving for Basic Training July 3rd
    by airman at 02/13/07 12:25PM
  • upintheair
    Some say ignorance is bliss :-P
    by upintheair at 02/13/07 4:37PM
  • runningblind17
    well as far as i read in the spanish newspaper the other day, Chavez is... what is this? WHAT? GOOD FRIENDS WITH FIDEL CASTRO? that makes me feel just SO much better about this whole communism thing...
    by runningblind17 at 02/13/07 8:46PM
  • laughing_eyes
    Yes ... i try to go to the finals every 4 years (for the professional competition).
    by laughing_eyes at 02/13/07 8:52PM
  • deputydog
    I got a TREO 700wx last week and today I got my medical exam and my student pilot certificate and I hope to sign up in March for flight training in the 172.
    by deputydog at 02/13/07 9:40PM
  • deputydog
    Maybe we'll be training at the same time LOL.
    by deputydog at 02/13/07 9:42PM
  • blueturtle
    ignore aaron, keep taking- this is interesting. by the way i have a copy of Atlas Shrugged if you would like to borrow it.
    by blueturtle at 02/14/07 1:01AM
  • upintheair
    "A day after the September 11 terrorist attacks, President Chavez declared that "The United States brought the attacks upon itself, for their arrogant imperialist foreign policy." Chavez also described the U.S. military response to bin Laden as "terrorism," claiming that he saw no difference between the invasion of Afghanistan and the September 11 terrorist attacks.

    While the United States considers Saddam Hussein a threat to world peace, Chavez has hailed Saddam as his "brother" and business "partner." In the past two years Chavez has continued to cultivate relationships with the governments listed in the State Department's roll of state sponsors of terrorism--he has been particularly vocal in his support for the Iranian regime.

    Last December a high-level Venezuelan military defector gave sworn testimony that terrorist links exist between al Qaeda and the Chavez government. The defector, President Chavez's personal pilot, alleges that one operation involved the transfer of close to $1 million in cash to Osama bin Laden. "
    ~ Taken from a 2003 editorial by Thor Halvorssen
    by upintheair at 02/14/07 5:52PM
  • chica
    You made me think! I have a friend at work who fled Venezuela because of Chavez, its always itneresting to hear her point of view, too. And, for Kennon saying he's not sure our current American way of life is worth saving...it'still the best place on earth and there's no other country where I'd rather place my earthly citizenship.
    by chica at 02/15/07 4:40PM
  • igotothemall
    Hey-I know I should say more than Hi-but this is all I got right now. Hope you are well.
    by igotothemall at 02/16/07 12:54AM
  • beejay
    Okay, no more Citgo gas here...
    by beejay at 02/17/07 11:21PM
  • marla
    I'm still wondering if South America has EVER been pro-USA. It seems more like we've had a calm period over the past few decades, so we've gotten complacent.

    For instance, people only think of Cuba when they consider Che Guevara. But he was from Argentina, and he fought in revolutions in both Bolivia (where was assassinated/executed) and the Congo. no one can say Che, among others, was ever pro-US.
    by marla at 02/19/07 9:44PM
  • dbsmelser
    The view of one of my geog professors was that South and Central American culture lends itself to a strongman mentality, i.e., that those cultures are drawn to respect and follow a man not based on ideology as much as on strongman type leadership. While George Washington is 'our' history, some South American countries still have a holiday in his honor, because he led men to fight against the government in power (England), was victorious, and then took the reins of power in the new government, as President. While a fuller picture of Washington shows he was in many ways much the opposite of a strongman leader, that simpler view of him draws respect from the same cultures which likewise elect and follow true strongman type leaders. With that tendency, you can expect leadership in South and Central America to be in opposition to our general way of thinking, and I would add, in opposition to what is good. Now, while I think there may well be some truth to this view those cultures, it must also be recognized that this is a generalization and a pretty simplistic look at those cultures.
    by dbsmelser at 02/22/07 1:58AM
  • browngirl22
    Thanks for the help with her.
    by browngirl22 at 02/22/07 7:20AM
  • nomes
    I need a lesson in pleonast 101.
    by nomes at 02/22/07 8:04AM
  • upintheair
    Yes, Arabs have a similiar culture of "strongman" glorification. And that is why Hugo Chavez is dangerous. The people adore him now, and his interests are extremely contrary to ours. It would be nice if Communists and Capatilists could get along, but unfortunately, the nature of Communisms and the "Labor party" protections for workers view Capatilists as a threat.
    by upintheair at 02/22/07 10:19AM