This economy is a Croc

If there is to be a silver lining in the disaster that is our--the world's--economic crisis, it is the coming demise of Crocs. Those hideous, neon colored foam shoes that everyone from nurses, to musicians, to gardeners, to former Presidents wore.

Finally. Perhaps some respectability will return to the casual cloths wearing American.

Illegal immigrants and the Dream Act: Where's the fairness in that?

Despite the overwhelmingly liberal swing of my blogging, there is one topic I have avoided discussing, both here and in conversations with friends and coworkers.

However, when it comes to the matter of immigration and illegal aliens in the United States, I can be counted as a conservative.

I ask you however, what is so conservative about wanting to know who is entering your borders? Or wanting the strict laws and procedures that we citizens have to follow, applied equally to those who have no right to be here?

Laws and procedures such as paying taxes, driving with proper and up-to-date licenses and insurance, etc.

What is so conservative about wanting the rewards from following those laws to go to citizens and not to those who have put nothing into the system?

And yet, the same people who break these laws, want us--citizens of this great nation--to feel obligated (and dare I say guilty) to bend over backward to make life easier for their undocumented illegal alien lives.

Well screw you I say. When an illegal immigrant has the gall to tell me that the Dream Act should be passed so he or she can go to college and dare to live a better life in a country that is not theirs, I want to laugh.

Why should they have that right when millions of American Citizens don't have that chance?

Where is the Dream Act for poor, at risk American children?

Where is the Dream Act for American college and masters graduates who did nothing more than follow their dreams, but now find themselves saddled with overwhelming debt to private loan corporations?

Why, I ask you, do illegal, undocumented aliens deserve a better chance in this country than this countries own citizens?

My answer: They don't. Call me a conservative, but I believe in tougher immigration bills and stiff punishments for those who think they can buck the system to do what they want, and then expect someone else to pay for them.

Islamic Law: Marital rape gets the green light in Afghanistan UPDATE

Back in April of this year, I reported on the passing of draconian marital laws in Afghanistan, by President Hamid Karzai.

I am happy to say the leaders of Afghanistan listened to the national hue and cry over the passing of such laws, and have since reformed the marriage laws.

Is it perfect? By no means. Is it better than it was? Yes. Does Afghanistan, and for that matter nearly all Islamic nations, have a long ways to go before achieving equality and respect between men and women? Good God yes.

But remember, every change must begin with a single first step.

Iranian election monitors: No shit there was election fraud

As one of thousands of Americans who were disenfranchised and impossibly angered by the 2004 election results that wrongfully concluded that George W. Bush had one a second term, my prayers and support go out to everyone in Tehran, Iran.

May the senior panel of election monitor's admittance to election discrepancies and fraud lead to a peaceful and fair resolution that will lead to Mir Hussien Moussavi's being declared the presidential winner.

Of course, I'm still a cynic and don't know if I believe if that will happen at all, or at least, not without more bloodshed.

Hispanic boy dragged by noose in parking lot, perp gets off with jail time sleepover

I haven't written in a long time. But it's hard to write about things that piss you off when it seems as though everything in the news does.

But this just took the cake. Could someone please explain to me how,

"[An Ohio 18 year old] accused of putting a noose around a Hispanic boy's neck and dragging him in a parking lot..."

is sentenced to ONLY 10 (read TEN) days in jail?! I mean what the hell?

This incident is far too similar to the dragging deaths in Texas (Brandon McClelland and James Byrd). Of course, I could make connections to the "possible" racial motivations behind this sentencing, but that would preposterous given that America is in a "post race" era since we now have a Black president.

Gruesome crimes like those in Texas happened in barbarian times -- you know, like a year ago.

Guns in national parks

Only two types of people who go to national parks with guns: The park ranger and those going to kill someone and bury them in the park.

Seriously, why would anyone need a gun in a national park?! Is Bambi really that much of a threat? Or maybe that mountain lion some 3 year old brat or annoying yappy dog was harassing...

Then again, I would side with the mountain lion if it chose to eat either one.

I just don't understand how President Obama, Democrats, or any right-thinking human being could agree with this, much less sign it into reality.

Gay rights & hospital policy

I don't care what your stance on the gay rights issue is. We each have our own opinions that are formed from our different experiences and beliefs. But there is no way that anyone could agree with the actions of the doctors and hospital staff towards Janice Langbehn.

"When a loved one is in the hospital, you naturally want to be at the bedside. But what if the staff won’t allow it?

That’s what Janice Langbehn...experienced when her partner of 18 years, Lisa Pond, collapsed with an aneurysm....She died there, at age 39, as Ms. Langbehn tried in vain to persuade hospital officials to let her visit, along with the couple’s adopted children."

At what point does policy overrule or outweigh personal decision making? Mrs. Langbehn's partner had clearly chosen to spend her life with her; they had children together, spent 18 years together, where taking a vacation together, and had filled out health care proxy paperwork.

Should not the hospital and staff, no matter their personal beliefs or hospital policy, honored the LEGAL right that Janice Langhehn had to visit, care for, and make medical decisions for her partner?