Middle America's Worldview

At at time of high cost gas and now a food shortage in America, The Hill took a look at earmark (Home state projects or Pet Projects) request for this year on projects.

It is reported Clinton requested a massive 2.3 billion (yes a B) dollars for this years earmarks.

Most seem to be going toward security, but the report states much of the request is broad.

This surpasses last years earmark "$837 million" where Sen. Thad Cochran, a Republican, "of Mississippi" secured.

Barack Obama has spurned earmarks, seeking no funds for pet projects in the upcoming fiscal year.

John Mccain has always looked down on earmarks, calling them a Washington waste and has also not seeked any pet projects for the new fiscal year.

Each are in the limelight for Presidential wantabee, one must ask why she is doing this? Some speculate, in case she loses the Presidential nominee, she can fall back on New York as Senator.

Last year, Obama took in $91 million, Clinton secured $342 million, while McCain earned nothing because he did not request any projects, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense.

In a 2006 press release, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed that Democrats had a common sense plan to bring down skyrocketing fuel prices. The average price for a gallon of gas when Democrats took control of congress that November was $2.25 - a price that Pelosi and other liberals claimed amounted to "price gouging". The average price of a gallon of gas today is now up to a record $3.61, and in Speaker Pelosi's home Congressional district in the California bay area, the price tops $4 a gallon.

Despite the price going up $1.36 per gallon (that's 60%!) since Democrats took control of Congress 15 months ago, an out-of-touch Speaker Pelosi and Congressional leadership have still not released this so-called common sense plan to bring prices under control. Just last week in an interview with Larry King, Speaker Pelosi cited the national average as being only $2.56.

Rising fuel prices don't only raise the cost to fill our gas tanks, but they affect the prices we pay for almost every other product - including necessities like food, and Congress is doing nothing to alleviate the strain on Americans' wallets. Click here to see just how out of touch Speaker Pelosi and Congressional leaders are. Then call Speaker Pelosi's office at 202-225-0100 and remind her that America does need a common sense plan to bring gas prices under control.

Sincerely,

Joe Eule
Chief of Staff
Freedom's Watch

Check out this video to "Help Autism" !


Autism Speaks!

Thought I better share this.

Aztlan Civil Liberties Union

As I was getting a haircut 2-3 months ago, I was asked my thoughts on the election then as well. At that time, I stated "Obama will eventually win the Democratic primary, then Mccain will run away with it on election". Now 2-3 months later and after Hillary won Pennsylvania, I still think this will happen.

Last night while catching up on the news, I seen in the bottom tickler, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry supporting Obama. Irregardless, the state voted for Hillary in the primaries, Brad is tipping his hat to Obama.

The question most would ask, Why?

It appears when your in the room with Obama, he is very charismatic. Add that to his seemingly youth, and continuing mention of "change", and most wish to be on his side.

I heard one talk radio host comment, "It's a pecking order. Hillary thinks she 'earned' the right to be the Dem nominee. Yet she is seeing the Democratic party has lost favor on her and has picked up Obama." This comment was regarding within the Senate.

Let's face it, both parties have moved to the left.

I see the candidates this way in regards to their actions.

Obama - Socialist
Hillary - Radical Liberal
Mccain - Democrat

I had to filter through 1000 emails yesterday at work. No really, I did. Most were old news (by now) and updates, but still. It was a bit time consuming.

Back to my projects again, sigh.

We also had a IS department meeting yesterday, and the hammer was smashed by our new CIO. Seems all local IS personel will now be made to work within the Corporate offices. What I hear is those within a 75 mile radius. What has occured in the last 5 years or so, many (if not all) could work from home one or two days at a time, rather than the drive every day. This will be a huge adjustment for the IS department. The new "remote" policy will be given to us within 2 weeks. Not much telling what new criteria will be on that one.

I also was called twice last night regarding school board stuff. One was an inquiry, and the other an update. Didn't take long before that piece of my life resurfaced, either.

Everything from the trip have been removed from the suitcases. All the laundry has been caught up. We are already working on the new 'dirty' clothes. Amazing how fast to reality, it is.

Back home as I entered last night. Here is the actual vacation itenerary we had. As I said before it was awesome. I will cover them in more detail later as time allows.


Wed 9th
Holiday Inn
Albany GA 31707


Thursday 10th
Nickelodean Hotel
Orlando Florida 32821


Friday 11th
Nicelodean Hotel

Saturday 12th
Cape Canaveral
We were on the Disney Magic, Room 7008

Sunday 13th
Out at Sea

Monday 14th
Out at Sea

Tuesday 15th
St. Maarten Island

Wednesday 16th
St. Thomas Island

Thursday 17th
Out at Sea

Friday 18th
Castaway Cay Island

Saturday 19th
We landed back in U.S.
We checked out the Space Kennedy Center
Stayed at a Best Western

Sunday 20th
Drove to Birmingham AL
Stayed at the Sheraton

Monday 21st
Drove on into Little Rock AR stopped at a Mardel's.
Then arrived home around 5:30 p.m.

Whew, it's nice to be in your own bed.

Home again. It was an awesome vacation. I am off tomorrow as well. I will be running errands tomorrow to catch up my being away.

In the Nick hotel. We drove about 16 hours Wednesday to get to Albany GA. We made a pit stop in Atlanta to pick up a Sony multi-cable for our camera. After driving in Atlanta and nearly getting hit, I was in bad need of a good drink. However, I had to get to Albany.

We hit a Holiday Express in Albany. I was able to use my points to get a free night.

We drove on into Orlando yesterday and hit the Nick hotel. It's also owned by Holiday inn.

I had fun with the kids in the pool and water slides. We made it in time to get the slime as well.

Now this morning, my back is sore and I am in need of a mocha. LOL

Today and tomorrow. That is what I was thinking this morning, as my head was getting together.

I jumped into work early (real early) so I can get some things done. Considering I have technically 16 hours of work left before my vacation. I say technically, but as any salary worker can say, your always on the clock with the companies eyes.

I have my books picked out for the trip and my lovely wife already has us packed. We look at the 6 suitcases each night before bed.

On another side note, I have been investigating cell phones. Eventually, I will be required to upgrade to a pda/data phone. I was leaning toward a blackjackII till I learned you cannot modify documents with it. Over the weekend, on a revisit to a different Cingular store, I was shown the Motorola Q. After playing with it, and hearing its options, I am now leaning toward it.

For my wife, I have been looking at the I-phone. I would love to provide one for her. However, I hear by June, they should have the 3g I-phone out. 3g means the connection to the internet will be as fast as if your on cable or dsl. (rather than modem speed).

Ahh, it's nice to window shop.

5 days, 16 hours, 45 minutes. The seconds and milliseconds are running. That's what my Magical Disney Countdown shows me this morning. Sigh, amazing the now 2 year wait has come down to less than a week. Time truly waits for no man.


It may drive me to drink, but I am ready for the trip. With stress from my work, having an OCD wife (which I love and actually is beneficial on these occasions), to the kids being ready, seems we are all looking forward to it.

I am creating additional documentation out the wazoo for work, trying to cover everything before I leave. I know if I don't, it will remain on my mind. Quite frankly, work is the last thing I want to be thinking about on this trip. This will be the first true planned vacation my family has had. This is a big one. We are going on a Disney cruise for 7 days. Not only that, but we took off before and prior to it. So we will be traveling and vacationing for 2 weeks. This is the longest duration I have ever taken off in one time. I can't help but worry a bit of how work will be when I return. Yet, it will be so nice to just r-e-l-a-x.

It is nice to hear some of my peers at work say ' I deserve it '.

My poor wife has more on her plate than anytime in the past (feast of famine). So she is up a 2 a.m. and crashing around 11 p.m. trying to get everything under wraps, before we leave. Sigh. She makes me tired watching her.

5 days, 16 hours, and 36 minutes to go.