The dam has burst.....

Okay, I have been silent on this whole presidential election for as long as I can.  Its not that I really think anyone is probably going to read this post, let alone consider it important but, I must release all this built up frustration or face the white coats.  I have had quite a time this election choosing a candidate.  Because for me both parties candidates have some positions that I think are very important and yet they seem totally mutually exclusive.

On the one hand, I support many of the social issues that Obama does and yet I cannot support his determination to spend billions of dollars on more entitlement programs for which we really do not have the money to spend.  What we really need is smaller less intrusive government and lower taxes.  Not lower taxes with more government or higher taxes with more government!  We are at the point now where the government is dictating to us what we must do because we have let it get so large that it is the large elephant in the corner that no one wants to deal with. So, we just keep going about our business while it poops in the corner and stinks up the place.  Our government is supposed to serve at our request not the other way around.  Do we really need a Department of Energy? What do they do for us, the public? Provide us with that wonderful average price per gallon of gas across the country each week?  Whoa! What would I do with out that!

I guess my point is, if we are going to keep bitching about what the government should do for us then we should be willing to belly up to the bar and pay for it.  We must either quit printing money to pay for programs we do not have the money for or pay higher taxes and have the social programs we think that we want.  Unfortunately, history has shown that these types of programs are abused, mismanaged and promote unmotivated masses that actually ends up dividing the country even further by pitting those who pay taxes and those whom do not.

My perfect candidate would believe the following:

• Women should have the right to do with their bodies as they see fit.  
• Gays should have the right to get into a legal union in the eyes of the law as much as any heterosexual couple.   
• Health Care - Obamacare is not the answer.  I feel the real problem is abusive litigation and insurance company interference. Limit malpractice suits and restrict the power that insurance companies have over us and our doctors.
• Taxes must be lowered and government must be smaller.
• Congress should have term limits because it is stagnate and full of self serving individuals.
• The government must not spend more than it pulls in taxes unless the country is at war.
• War should only be undertaken if our country is attacked or immediately threatened.  Not because we want oil or for political reasons.
• The draft should be reinstated so that the military will not be used as a foreign policy/political pawn. Young men and women are being used simply because they are "volunteers" by our government.
• Church and State are supposed to be divided. We should keep it that way.

There, I said it.  What a relief.  We may not agree but that is what this country is all about.  Stating our values and ideas and then compromising to come up with a solution that is acceptable to both sides.

We seem to have forgotten how to do that.

My Review of 601 RED LABEL ROBUSTO HABANO

Originally submitted at Thompson Cigar

The 601 Red Label, a full bodied concoction of bold Nicaraguan long fillers finished with a spicy Habano wrapper, delivers the full Nicaraguan experience with strong notes of spice and pepper accented with rich hints of earth. Of the spicy rich Habano-wrapped Red Label, Cigar Aficionado wrote, "Goo...

601 RED LABEL ROBUSTO HABANO

Great Buy!

By tbechtx from Dallas, TX on 6/29/2012

5out of 5

Pros: Good Draw, Well Constructed, Undamaged Wrapper, Great Flavor, Easy To Light
Best Uses: Everyday, Special Occasions, Gifts
Describe Yourself: Aspiring Aficionado

I knew nothing about this cigar other than it was rated a 90 when I bought them but, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! This was a beautiful cigar out of the wrapper. Wonderful rich brown wrapper with no blemishes, very few veins and it smelled of pepper and spice. The unlit draw was a little sweet and very easy. I lit this up with much anticipation and i was not disappointed. The smoke was plentiful and full with a great pepper/spicy flavor and it burned evenly and easily all through the smoke. This is a KEEPER! I will have to purchase a box of these babies before my other four are gone. This is a great everyday smoke and even good for gifts and special occasions. I would highly recommend this cigar and would not be shy about giving as a gift. What a great smoke!

(legalese)

My Review of NESTOR MIRANDA 1989 TORPEDO ROSADO

Originally submitted at Thompson Cigar

The Nestor Miranda 1989 is a premium cigar that celebrates the year Nestor Miranda founded Miami Cigars, producers of Don Lino, La Aurora and Tatiana. The medium to full-bodied smoke is handmade by My Father's Cigars in Esteli, and is comprised of a rich, aromatic and flavorful blend of Nicaraguan ...

NESTOR MIRANDA 1989 TORPEDO ROSADO

A Great Smoke

By tbechtx from Dallas, TX on 6/15/2012

 

4out of 5

Pros: Great Flavor, Undamaged Wrapper, Easy To Light, Well Constructed, Good Draw

Best Uses: Everyday

I bought this cigar in an auction so I wasn't too sure about it. But, after the first smoke I was hooked and bought a box. These are an easy smoke! They light and draw very easily, typically they burn very evenly mainly due to their great construction. The taste is medium to almost strong but the smoke is full and smooth and they are a very handsome cigar. I love just sitting back and puffing away on these beauties. A great everyday smoke!

(legalese)

OH YEAH!

The Whole Deep Sea Drilling Dilemma

I've been thinking a lot about this massive "environmental disaster" that BP/Transocean/Halliburton have created (amongst others) and I think the most disturbing issue about the whole mess is that they really don't and didn't have any idea how to fix a problem this deep in the ocean. I mean its sort of like reaching into a hole in the wall 'cause you think there is treasure in there and not worrying about any consequences to your appendage as you are sticking it in the unknown blackness of a hole.  Did they just rationalize the possible problems they might run into and say "well we will cross that bridge if it raises its head"? Now I'm not trying to be an ass but, they keep saying, "well these methods have never been tried at these depths" over and over and I say well maybe you should have experimented a little before shoving your arm into that black hole. I know its expensive, very expensive to do preliminary testing but most other industries do because the worst case scenario is unthinkable and even more expensive than the testing. I think this is just an example of big oil getting lax regulation, as they seem to everywhere, so we can have more oil.  If these government agencies are not going to do their job, then close them down and save our tax money. As it is right now, we pay all these oil regulatory agencies salaries and still get the worst oil spill in history.

The other issue I am furious about is that these dispersants, which are basically oil detergents, are almost as poisonous to the fish and wildlife as the oil. BP refuses to stop using them because it makes the oil sink below the surface and is not as visible to the public. Videos of these giant underwater plumes of oil is just horrific! It is very disturbing to me that they would do these heinous deeds just so the public doesn't see the oil on their beaches and on top of the sea. At least if it is floating on the surface you can see where it is and have a chance to collect it.  And I have to say that BP is probably no worse than any other large oil company. Put on the concerned face for the public but then do ANYTHING to the sea to keep the oil off the beaches and out of sight. Despicable.

A related stories:
Enormous, “Shocking” Oil Plumes Underwater in the Gulf
22-mile oil plume found under Gulf surface

Where have all the patriots gone?

Okay... I have to say up front, I have never been a fan of the "universal" health care concept.  I mean, its not that I don't care about people who have no coverage.  It must be horrible to be sick and have to choose whether you eat next week or go to the doctor. To me the issue of who has insurance is not the root of the problem. The root has festered for decades and it has to do with liability and tort laws and too many lawyers wanting to make "quick" money. I mean I have insurance through my employer (and pay through the nose for it) and I even wince at the notion of going to the doctor because it is just SOOOOOO EXPENSIVE!  But those are whole other issues that are not what I wanted to talk about.

Given all those variables I mentioned above, health care in this country is probably the best anywhere and it costs like it.  What bothered me this week is that our Congress is controlled by those who seem determined to pass ANY health care bill  they can no matter what the consequences are.  I mean if these people truly were patriotic and cared deeply about our country then why would they want to put the next 10 generations of U.S. children in debt up to their eyeballs.  I mean the numbers they have been throwing around are almost impossible for anyone to really grasp.  Our national debt right now is somewhere between 11 and 12 TRILLION dollars.  Its hard to even imagine how much money that is let alone the 900 TRILLION dollars that they are estimating a "universal" health care bill will cost the U.S. in just the next TEN years.  That is only 10 years of cost.  I don't know about you but, we cannot afford something like that whether it is a noble and good cause or not.  Where are we going to get that kind of money?!  This type of thinking is completely ludicrous!  The people trying to push this type of legislation through could not be true patriots. No true patriot would bankrupt their own country!!  The only reason someone would want to push something like this through is that they have a private agenda or they just don't care about our future.  We need to elect new leadership and a new Congress that will address the issues and not which party is promoting an issue!  We need people who care about our future and the future of our country not their own selfish wants or personal agendas.

 If you think the debt problem in Greece looks really bad, which has been living on borrowed money for all of their entitlement and subsidized programs for years, then this issue should really scare you. We will make that problem look microscopic.  A debt load of this magnitude for the United States will eventually bankrupt us and pull the rest of the world economies down too...... and they may never recover.

Where have all the patriots gone?

When its time to vote, Lets get some new blood in Congress

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked
About his bill and the barber replies, "I cannot accept money from you.
I'm doing community service this week." The florist was pleased and
Left the shop.

When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a
'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the
Barber again replies, "I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing
Community service this week." The cop is happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a 'thank you' card
And a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when he tries
To pay his bill, the barber again replies, "I cannot accept money from you.
I'm doing community service this week." The professor is very happy
And leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a 'thank you'
Card and a dozen different books, such as "How to Improve Your Business"
And "Becoming More Successful."

Then, a Congressman comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill
The barber again replies, "I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing
Community service this week." The Congressman is very happy and leaves
The shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen
Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the
Citizens of our country and the members of our Congress.