More Senatorial BS

About two months ago Senator Chambliss sent me a letter explaining how he was voting for a bill that regulated the manner of tracking devices placed by manufacturers in new automobiles. You returning readers can access my comments then in the blog.
Now we have another letter from Georgia's other Senator, same old crap.

Dear Mr. Who Cares What Your Name Is:Thank you for contacting me regarding the Driver Privacy Act. I appreciate hearing from you and I am grateful for the opportunity to respond.I am currently a cosponsor of the Driver Privacy Act, S.1925. This bill was introduced by Senator John  Hoeven (R-ND) on January 14, 2014, and it was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.  Among other provisions, this legislation declares that any data in an event data recorder required to be installed in a passenger motor vehicle is the property of the owner or lessee of the vehicle in which the recorder is installed, regardless of when the vehicle was manufactured.   I will keep your thoughts and concerns in mind should this bill come before me on the Senate floor.Thank you again for contacting me. Please visit my webpage at  http://isakson.senate.gov/ for more information on the issues important to you and to sign up for my  e-newsletter .  Sincerely,Johnny IsaksonUnited States Senator

The Driver Privacy Act is a contrivance created by politicians designed to make Senators look like they are fighting for citizens rights while they are in fact infringing on the very rights they propose to protest.  It is dishonest in its labeling, deceptive in its design, and shameful in it retention.
Chambliss is resigning.
I will vote for anybody by Johnny Isakson in the future, and not just for this bullshit.
The devices should be against the law, not allowed to be installed.

Wildman's

Two weekends ago I had some free time for a motorcycle ride and took the opportunity to travel up to Kennesaw Georgia to visit the Civil War Surplus store. I was able to meet the famous Mr. Dent in full regalia, two holstered pistols. The nice young lady behind the cash register was similarly armed, though I did notice until after another patron asked a question about her firearm.
I found Mr. Dent to be reasonable enough, perhaps somewhat over the top, but nice.
Couldn't find anything I wanted to purchase.

Check out his website.  I especially like the the Lay-A-Wake plan.
Check it out, things like this do last forever.

I Don't Think So

Found this in the spam box, simple clean and he wants to help.

Have got a brother working there, have wanted to visit, maybe I can drop in on Hammad.

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Hammad Mohammad <adaun@uiowa.edu>
To: Recipients <adaun@uiowa.edu>
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2014 7:12 AM
Subject: RE:

Hi,

I am Hammad Mohammad, a UAE investor, trader & oil merchant resident in Dubai, UAE. I'm in search of a credible  individual or company that needs an investment in their business or company portfolio or require funds to invest in a  reliable and lucrative business.

I therefore contact you because I have funds available for Investment and need help investing these funds in profitable  ventures. Kindly contact me if I can be of help to you.

Kind regards,
Hammad Mohammad.
211549940@qq.com

1940 Ford De Luxe

After finishing lunch yesterday, this car was parked in the barbecue joint's parking lot. A much older car than the Barracuda but more interesting. The condition wasn't as good, the back paint job was amateurish.

The De Luxe was made for four years, 1937 through 1940.  As best I can tell this is from the last year of production.  Found pictures on the web of all models and the '40 appears to match.  There was V8 chrome tag on the rear truck lid and this matches the engine description as being 221 CID 1-bbl. 85 hp V8.

There are subtle differences between the model years and assuming the above example it correctly described the red car is a match.

1964 Plymouth Barracuda

In 1978 I dated a girl that had a 1965 model, the car was was just a teenager itself at the time. The first of the pony cars; the Barracuda was a offspring of the Valiant.  Had a few good times in that car.  My father had a light green Valiant, distinctive looking by it rear trunk hood that had a tire stamped into it, that car was the biggest hunk of junk ever made and when it died my father had to pay someone to tow it off, it had that little value. This car was clean, well cared for with no adornments.  Not sure if the color is original but it looked so.

The lady who bought the car new came talked to me while I waited for lunch to be served, she and her husband apparently never sell cars, only buy; she still has the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air that she bought new when she was 17 years old.

The picture of the Bel Air is copied from Wikipedia. My favorite car ever.

1947 Chevrolet Pickup

This well loved truck was parked at my motorcycle service shop. From the rates they charged for an annual service, being able to afford such nice customization should not be too difficult.

The inside of the cab was clean.

Putin Bad, Congress Good

The comments of a stark raving mad Republican ex-patriot will be in a cobalt blue italic font.....

Congress.org (congress.org) presents: MEGAVOTE, March 17, 2014, for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Military Sexual Assault Prosecutions  Passage
• Senate: Child Care Block Grant Reauthorization  Enzi Amendment
• Senate: Flood Insurance Rates  Passage
• House: Ukraine Resolution  Passage
• House: Federal Water Rights  Passage
• House: Medicare Doc Fix  Passage

The House and Senate will be on recess until March 24.

Recent Senate Votes:
Military Sexual Assault Prosecutions  Passage, Vote Passed (97-0, 3 Not Voting)
Senators finished work on reforming the military's practices for reporting and prosecuting sexual assaults within its ranks on Monday, passing a bill written by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-MO. The bill would amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 to require special victims' counsels in sexual assault cases and forbid using the defendants military record in defense arguments.  The bill would also require the evaluation of whether commanding officers have established a climate in which allegations of sexual assault are properly managed and fairly evaluated and a victim can report criminal activity without fear of retaliation or ostracism.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted YES
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
The Senate passes a form of Congressional political oversight for the military.  A law borne of a real problem that will solve issues and create others.  All in defense of women who elected to enter a system created for men. I am not saying that it is wrong but military cannot be whole with dynamic external influence.  Tough problem, and all I am saying is be careful of the cure.

Child Care Block Grant Reauthorization  Enzi Amendment, Vote Agreed to (98-0, 2 Not Voting)
On Wednesday, the Senate agreed to an amendment (S.AMDT.2812) offered by Senator Michael Enzi, R-Wy., to the reauthorization of child care block grant programs. The amendment requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Secretary of Education, to conduct a review of Federal early learning and care programs and make recommendations for streamlining the various programs. The block grant program was reauthorized through Fiscal Year 2019 on Thursday.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted YES
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Block grants are generally favored by the Republicans. Anything so unanimously supported by Democrats must mean that there is some shifting of debt to the states.

Flood Insurance Rates  Passage, Vote Passed (72-22, 6 Not Voting)
Senators approved a bill to slow National Flood Insurance Program premium increases that are needed to achieve the program's full actuarial rates. The measure would also require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to certify its flood mapping approach before raising insurance rates in the future.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted YES
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Anything that advances financial favoritism to scenically self-centered is not right. 

Recent House Votes:
Ukraine Resolution  Passage, Vote Passed (402-7, 1 Present, 20 Not Voting)
The House overwhelmingly passed a resolution Tuesday condemning the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity by military forces of the Russian Federation for their actions in Crimea.
Rep. David Scott voted YES
Big fucking deal. Impotent bull shit it is. You are bad, you shouldn't do that. See how terrible Putin is, and contrast that to how thoughtful Congress is. 

Federal Water Rights  Passage, Vote Passed (238-174, 19 Not Voting)
On Thursday, House members passed a bill that would prohibit Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from making any transfer, relinquishment, or other impairment of any water right a condition of the issuance of any permit, lease, or other use agreement concerning federal lands. The law would apply to lands covered by interstate water rights compacts as well.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
This is something I agree with, take the progressive bureaucrats down a notch.

Medicare Doc Fix  Passage, Vote Passed (238-181, 12 Not Voting)
On Friday, the House agreed to repeal the sustainable growth rate model of physicians' compensation rates under Medicare. The bill would establish a single conversion rate of cost increases for physicians' services at .5 percent through 2018 and would completely freeze updates thereafter through 2023. The bill would also require certain federal agencies to perform studies of access to health care and cost controls for some procedures under Medicare.
Rep. David Scott voted NO
Crap on top of crap, these politicians are making bugetary plans 4-7 years out like it means something.

MegaVote is powered by the CQ-Roll Call Group
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Copyright (c) 2014.

Michelle Slam Dunks

On the website, one of the background videos shows the first lady slam dunking a basketball on a child's set. Everybody smiles with that superior manner of cool people that understand what we do not. 
I do not know about you, but this email from the White House strikes me as desperate.....

Hey, everyone --

President Obama loves basketball -- he loves to play the game, and he loves to watch it at all levels.

And every March, just like millions of college hoops fans, he sits down to fill out his bracket. It's something of a ritual around here -- and in the years when Georgetown's been knocked out before the Sweet 16, the President couldn't wait to give me a hard time for picking them to advance.

But basketball isn't the only important thing happening this month: Open enrollment ends in just 14 days, and we need your help getting folks covered.

So as you're filling out your basketball bracket, we put together another bracket -- featuring the 16 "sweetest" reasons to get covered. And yes, for good measure those reasons come with animated GIFs of cute animals, because the Internet loves GIFs of cute animals (and why not?).

By helping to decide the winner, you'll also be spreading the word to millions of Americans about the importance of getting covered. Vote on your favorite reason -- and we'll tally up your votes all week.

March 31 is the last day to sign up for health insurance in 2014, and there are plenty of reasons to get covered:

Thanks to the health care law, women can't be charged more than men for the same care. And no one can deny you health care coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

Those are just a few reasons that more than 5 million Americans have already signed up for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Vote for your favorite reason:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/ACABracket

Thanks,

Dan Pfeiffer

Senior Advisor

The White House

Here is the link to a video clip offered by the North Carolina men's basketball coach Roy Williams and the Connecticut women's basketball coach Gino Auriemma.
The sixteen suggested reasons are

1. Women can't be charged more than men. 
2. Birth control is free
3. Insurance companies are accountable to you
4. It will give your mom peace of mind
5. You only live once
6. You might qualify for free or low-cost coverage
7. You never know when you'll take a hard foul
8. Nobody's invincible

Who out there finds it ironic that the header calls you to vote for one of the sixteen "sweetest" reasons and there are only eight choices given. 
As to the eight offers of sweetness, I have this to say about those.

1. Women have greater annual medical expenses than man, and they live longer. So the ACA discriminates against single men. That is what government does.
2. Why should this be free? Because it is in the governments best interest? Because is is cheaper than government subsidized abortion?
3. Not really so much, though the point is well taken.  Insurance companies are accountable to the party who pays, for many that would mean the employer.  Under the ACA the payer becomes the government. Who do you trust more? I trust my employer more than the government. Employees have a quid pro quo type relationship with their employers, inefficient sure, but a relationship that reflects payment for work promised or completed.
4. That is what insurance does, but the government does better because they don't give a shit about the patient or the balance sheet.
5. True, but what does that have to do with the ACA.
6. The reason it was sold as a benefit but argued in the Supreme Court as a tax. It's a tax to provide a benefit that encourages dependence.
7. Basketball reference is one part of ACA I agree with,where is serves as gap insurance between employment positions.
8. See number 5, a true statement. A statement pointed at the same young adults that the government need to be enrolled, that way there income is increased to cover what the taxes cannot.  These twenty somethings have not been enrolling at the pace expected, perhaps they are smarter with their money than they are with their votes.

Feeble product we've got to pay for.

What Is The Plan

Stan...

"The most obvious Ukraine point has to do with American foreign policy in the sixth year of the Obama era. Not being George W. Bush is not a foreign policy. Not invading countries is not a foreign policy. Wishing to demonstrate your sophistication by announcing you are unencumbered by the false historical narratives of the past is not a foreign policy. Assuming the world will be nice if we're not militarist is not a foreign policy. What is our foreign policy? Disliking global warming?"

Peggy Noonan

I thought the meandering foreign policy of the Clinton regime was embarrassing enough for the country, the current president makes Bill Clinton look like disciple of Paul Wolfowitz and the neoconservatives.  Like Clinton these guys just float from issue to issue like children without a care in the world. 
For ages I thought the Libertarians while spot on domestically, were soft headed on foreign policy. Now with the Republicans trying their best to be the alternative Democrats, Libertarians are looking pretty for the next voting cycle. I've pretty much settled on Rand Paul, the rest are progressive sheep.

Georgia House Bill 60

As copied from my NRA email....

On Tuesday, March 11, House Bill 875 was amended into House Bill 60 on the House floor.  This critical legislation seeks to make many changes to benefit law-abiding gun owners, shooters and sportsmen alike.  If enacted, HB 60 would make the following key improvements and changes:

• Removal of fingerprinting for renewal of Weapons Carry Licenses (WCL).
• Prohibiting the state from creating and maintaining a database of WCL holders.
• Creation of an absolute defense for the legal use of deadly force in the face of a violent attack.
• Removal of the sweeping restrictions on legally carrying a firearm with a WCL in churches and bars, leaving this decision to private property owners.
• Lowering the age to obtain a concealed WCL for self-defense from 21 to 18 for active duty military, with specific training.
• Repealing the unnecessary and duplicative state-required license for a firearms dealer, instead requiring only a Federal Firearms License (FFL).
• Prohibiting a ban on firearms in public housing, ensuring that the right to self-defense should not be infringed based on where one calls home.
• Codifying the ability to legally carry, with a WCL, in sterile/non-secure areas of airports.
•  Including a provision that would have the state report those persons who have been involuntarily hospitalized or have been adjudicated mentally deficient to the NICS system while also providing an ability for relief through an application process to the court system for the purpose of restoration of rights.
• Stating that under a declared state of emergency, all law-abiding gun owners will not have their Second Amendment rights restricted or infringed by executive authority through Emergency Powers protection.
• Strengthening current firearms preemption statutes through further clarification of the regulatory authority of local governments, excluding firearm discharge ordinances.

HB 875, as originally passed in the House, was heard on Wednesday and Thursday, and passed in the Senate Judiciary Non-Civil Committee on Thursday.  Unfortunately, a substitute was adopted in committee that significantly undermines the intent of HB 875 as passed in the House.  Accordingly, your NRA is now tirelessly working to support the amended version of HB 60 and will continue to push this legislation in the Senate.

With the 2014 legislative session ending on Thursday, March 20, it is critical that you contact your state Senator and urge him or her to support HB 60 with the amended language from HB 875.  Contact information for your state Senator can be found here.

I inserted the link to the Senate Members List which breaks down by district and city. Stay on on them because as a rule the Senate barks like a dog, but if you look closely the tail is between the legs.  They'll be trying to eviscerate this thing again while saying how much they stand with the NRA.