aznorthstar's Blog

It two men were standing on the street corner, and one did nothing but put his finger in the chest of the other, how many times is too many times?  At what point does the other man get fed up and stop the pushing?

Does it matter that the second guy was not born in the city they are currently in?  Does size matter?  Does it matter that the guy getting pushed in the chest has a brother who is bigger than both of the men?  Does anything else matter, other than one man is pushing another man's chest?

No one knows the amount of pushes before the second man has enough.  And no one knows what his reaction is going to be.

Let's say the second man slaps the first man.  Should people run to the defense of the first man, because the man being pushed has a big brother?  Let's say the second man kicks the crap out of the man pushing.  Should people run to the rescue of the man who has started this mess?

Israel has stood by and watched as missiles have landed in their villages.  People have been killed, lives have been dissrupted and buildings have been ripped apart.  Palestine and Hamas have continued to poke Israel in the chest, and Israel has stood by patiently waiting for the world community to speak up against this.

NOTHING HAS BEEN SAID!

Israel, who has been poked too many times, finally made a move.  They are tired of the man poking them in the chest.  So they have taken steps to stop the poking!  And instead of people understanding that Israel has been extremely patient, they demand Israel stop pouncing on the man!  I say, the man poking over and over gets anything Israel can muster up!

Israel has an incredible ability to get information.  Prior to destroying a building being occupied by Hamas, Israel makes a phone call!  A PHONE CALL!  How does that call sound?  Hello?  This is Israel.  We understand that you hate us, but in our kindness, we wanted to give you and your family an opportunity to leave before we demolish your building.  We would like for you to leave so you can live.  Happy Hannukah!  Good Bye.

How does anyone believe Israel is attacking Hamas?  They are tired of being the punching bag for Palestine and Hamas.  Stop sending bombs over to Israel, Israel has no problems.  Stop sending bombs to Israel, you no longer have a pissed off neighbor!

This is common sense people!  Don't get upset with Israel.  Yell at the idiot on the street who continues to poke the guy in the chest!  Stop him, you stop the whole issue!

As far as Israel is concerned, I cheer them on!  Destroy Hamas and Palestine while you are at it!  Finish this terrorist group since the United States is busy with Al Queda in Afghanistan and Iraq!

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The secret was out long before Obama announced his pick for Homeland Security Director.  And honestly, Arizona Governor Janet Napolotano stuck her neck out early for a candidate who seemed to be dreaming rather than running a winning campaign.

Do you remember the Arizona Governor Napolotano inherited?  Arizona before 2002?  Budget cuts were being made.  Things were not great, but things were not bad.

Then came the housing boom!  Not only did private companies spend more money, not only did families spend more, the government also spent more!  General fund expenditures grew faster than revenue and faster than any formula based on population and inflation would justify.  Now we face a 1 BILLION dollar shortfall!  1 in 4 houses are in foreclosure.   Charities are unable to handle the requests for help.  More businesses in Arizona are closing and the financial crunch is being felt by everyone.

Well...everyone except for one "lady" amongst us.  With the cards crumbling down all around us, Janet Napolotano has not had second thoughts about leaving Arizona for Washington DC to make the big bucks!

From my perspective, Janet Napolotano has spent a few years with us while we had money to spend, and now that things are rough, she is leaving us without a thought!

And when I say thought, she has done little to address immigration in our state, except to remove funding from Arpaio!  Although she has held leadership positions in government, the effects we feel are not positive but of her spending habits.

But don't worry Janet.  Arizona's capital is Phoenix, the bird that rises out of the ashes.  We will rise to the top again, hopefully learning our lessons from your style of governing!

Incoming Pinal County Sheriff, Paul Babeu believed during the election that the speed enforcement vans used in Pinal County were used as a cash cow, simply to make money.  So as one of his election promises, he said he would dismantle the program.

After winning the election, it looks as though Sheriff Babeu is making good on his promise!

As a resident of Pinal County, I applaud the Sheriff's honesty, especially in a climate where speed cameras are popping up like popcorn in a Harkin's Movie Theater!

I remember back wen Scottsdale first installed their speed cameras along the 101.  If memory serves me right, the State of Arizona was 100% against the idea.  The freeway is suppose to be patrolled by DPS, and the cameras were taking away the job of DPS.  Any effects Scottsdale's speed cameras would have on the slowing of traffic would take away money from the State.

Interesting how Scottsdale proved the cameras on the freeway were profitable, and now Arizona has cameras on every mile of freeway across the state!  (I realize it isn't that bad).

But in Pinal County, Sheriff Babeu understands the purpose of the photo radar.  While it does slow traffic down and indirectly lower accidents, the main reason the photo radar vans are (were) being used is to make money.

I wish the State of Arizona and other municipalities could find the honesty Sheriff Babeu has found.  It is refreshing!

I can't believe that a group of Muslims, standing on an aircraft talking about the safest place to sit were removed a questioned by the FBI, after a passenger complained!

What will come next, bank robbers standing in line asking which is the safest lane to rob?

Shoplifters talking to undercover lost prevention employees which door is the quickest for them to exit?

Sex Offenders asking probation officers which is the best daycare for cute kids?

When will the madness stop?

If you are going to discuss where the safest place to sit on a plane with your head covered muslim wife, have that conversation AT HOME!

Now the airlines is offering them all kinds of apologies, free flights and everything else.  Now the family feels as if their rights were trampled and they may sue!

SUE!?  Because you are an idiot and don't know the appropriate place to hold a conversation?

ATTENTION ALL MUSLIMS:  Please be aware that people like you blew up several aircraft, flew them into buildings and caused our country to undergo many changes!  American citizens have forgone our rights, we have given up enough for you to have a conversation about the safest place to sit on an aircraft for nothing to be said!  Say something stupid on an airplane and expect to deal with the FBI and other law enforcement officials!

Today, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich did what he said he would not do, appoint a replacement for President-elect Barrack Obama.

Is this move brilliant or a blunder?  Why would Blagojevich move forward and apppoint someone? 

In my opinion, I believe the appointment of former Democratic state Attorney General Roland Burris is brilliant.  Burris has a solid history of service to the state and coming in as the former AG, he is on the right side of the law.

Also, by appointing a person such as Burris, Blagojevich can say he never sold the appointment to anyone, but in fact appointed the seat to a former AG!  Instead of saying Blagojevich was going to sell a seat, Blagojevich can show he appointed a person who didn't pay anything!  It removes all of the speculation!  Brilliant!

I'm sure Blagojevich is on a slippery slope and his time as Governor are numbered.  Right now he is focused on damage control, which makes sense why he would make the appointment.

As for anyone saying they will not put the paperwork through, they are idiots.  Blogojevich is still Governor and still has the authority to make the appointment.  Illinois needs and deserves someone to represent them, no matter what the Governor has done.  And Burris is a good pick.  So by refusing to put the paperwork through only hurts the state.

Blagojevich is a moron for getting into this situation.  But by making the appointment today, I feel was a good move towards his own defense!

In the background of news, I see the court case creep closer to the Supreme Court that will hopefull lay to rest where Obama was born.

What I find interesting is Barry Goldwater had a lawsuit against him because he was born in Arizona while Arizona was still a territory!  Several other lawsuits against people based on where they were born.  Interesting!

But the Obama story is a little more important because he was elected!  What happens if it is found that Obama is not a naturalized born citizen?  Can you imagine the confusion!

Who would then be President?  Do we go the order of Vice President and work our way down, or do we consider Biden VP on an ticket that never should have been?  Does Bush stay in until a new President is elected?  Does McCain/Palin take the White House because they came in second in the election?

On Snopes.com, they have Obama's, or something that appears to be Obama's birth certificate on their website!  If they can get it, I don't see what the big deal is! 

 

I guess I'll follow it and see how it ends up!

Ok, we did it.  We got sucked into the hype of the light rail.  I knew Saturday was going to be full of huge crowds so we decided to hit it a day later.  Decision well made!

We had a little wait in line, but found our seat on the train that took us to Tempe.  We hopped off, walked Mill, ate lunch and then made our way back to Mesa.  Probably one of the few times I will ever ride the light rail.

As I sat on the train, I looked out our window at a city bus.  It was going the same direction we were and had to stop at the same lights we had to stop at.  I begin to think to myself, "What is so different about the light rail compared to a city bus"? 

I question why we had to spend billions of dollars, put the lifeline of some businesses on the line, or for some, put them out of business, all for a train that does what busses do!

I guess the train doesn' t have the emissions a bus does, but would our public transportation system be better served by adding more buses and have them running longer? 

 

 

I thought I understood how our political system worked.  We vote on issues and the majority of the people win. 

Unless, as I'm finding out, the issue is a hot one.  Such as immigration or gay marriage or whatever.

Why should it matter if the issues we are voting on are "hot"?  In our Democracy, we place it up for a vote.  The winner wins and the loser goes home.  But this hasn't been the case in recent elections.

The Supreme Court has gotten involved in what the majority has voted on and has made decisions against the majority.  It appears our voting system is no longer the majority wins, it is more, the loudest protestors win!

I am proud to say I voted for the marriage ban in Arizona.  I was shocked that it passed in California.  But those who are supporting the gay marriage cannot handle the defeat.  They disrespect our justice system and the way our laws are put in place by ignoring the election results!

The ban on gay marriage should not be reversed.  The MAJORITY spoke.  The losers just need to go back home!

Chicago has always had a colorful political landscape.  When I think of Chicago, I always go back to a good friend I once had from Chicago.  Many times in conversation he would joke how everyone of his friends fathers were a "contractor" and in contruction.  Yet they never had any tools or evidence of being in construction.  He said the mob was heavy in his area.

Anytime I hear of corruption in Chicago, I go back to some of his stories he would tell.  It is no wonder that Illinois is once again rattled with a news story about their corrupt politics and the politicians who are involved.

Unfortunate for President-elect Obama is this story coming from his home state!  In all honesty, are we expected to believe that Obama has had ZERO contact with the governor, a democrat himself?  If the Illinois governor is so power hungry, why wouldn't he make EVERY effort to buddy up with Obama?  And with hopes of landing in Obamas cabinet, I would have to ASSUME they had to have some type of conversation.

So, how close is Obama to the governor?  We know how close he was to our governor here in Arizona, enough to offer her a cabinet position.  Shouldn't he be even closer to the governnor from his home state?

Obama has done a decent job of removing himself from trouble.  He did a great job from removing himself from a church he spend a lifetime attending!  (Remember that story, those of you white folk who voted for Obama?  His Pastor doesn't take kindly to the lighter colored people (YOU) and preached about his feelings from the pulpit)  Now maybe he can do the same as he places the great divide between him and the governor of Illinois.

Personally, and out of pure speculation, I believe Obama knew what was going on.  The governor is a democrat.  The governor wanted a seat at Obama's table and they are from the same state.  I have more reasons to suspect knowledge on Obama's side than reasons not to suspect Obama at all!

His hands are dirty.  Let's see if he can get caught this time!

Phoenix has had a great basketball team for the last few years.  D'Antoni brought a run and gun style to a team and it was interesting to watch.  I made sure that as I wanted to bump my Directv down to a lower package that I'd have the channels the Suns played on.

With the addition of Shaq last year, Steve Kerr threw a wrench in the system.  Being stubborn, Steve watched as our coach simply walked away from the Suns and took a new job with New York.

And now today, we lose Raja Bell and Boris Diaw! 

I understand the business of the NBA.  Players come and players go.  I don't understand however why we would bring in Shaq and ultimately lose Bell and Diaw!

I don't see us having a great season (as in the years past) and I don't see the new addition being anything better than the two players we have lost!  Once again, the team we have traded with has gotten a better deal.  (Referencing the trade with Miami last year for Shaq)

As I have an opportunity to watch the Suns waffle on the court against Kobe and the Lakers, I have chosen to avoid watching the pain and watch the UFC dish out their own version of pain.

I am not a fan of Steve Kerr and his decision making skills.  Our head coach is learning how to coach while our Director of Operations is learning how to direct, at the expense of our hometown team!

PATHETIC!

This past week I traveled to Superstition Springs Mall with two of my wife's cousins and my family in tow.  As we walked the mall, we entered the Thomas Kinkade Gallery.  What a talent this man has!  And what a price his paintings demand!

As we took our time looking at the beautiful paintings, the two sales associates started in with their tag team sales pitch.  Honestly, we were looking to purchase a particular painting my wife had seen.  Also, we didn't think that the Kinkade paintings required a sales pitch.  Not the over zealous pitches we received!

"I have a couple coming in tomorrow morning to look at that same painting"

"I can't believe we even have that painting in our gallery, it is hard to find"

"That is a limited numbered painting and will be hard to find once it is sold out"

I could go on with the pitches.  Instead of walking down the path to a sale, both associates created a comical experience as we left without any painting.

As I finished walking through the mall, I was approached by another sales woman.  If you have been to the mall, you must have been approached by one of these sales ladies.  They sell either the seacret product, or the product you heat in the microwave and place on your shoulders or back.  Both products we have purchased and recommend!  Their sales ability is incredible!  A few weeks ago I sat on the second floor and watched as they interacted with the public.  All the girls are from Israel, and they will work in the valley for about two months and then return until next year.

I then started to think about the sales pitch we the American public receive from our government.  We are in unchartered territory with the financial crisis.  There is not one politician that has steered our nation through a time like this.  And as they make decisions, those decisions need to be explained to you and  me.

When the choices made are legitimate, the sales pitch is straightforward.  But when you are having to sale an idea that is full of deceit and lies, your sales pitch has to be more complex.  Like the Gallery example.

As I see it, those in government have dumbed us down to the point they don't understand that we are not as ignorant as they believe we are.  When they come out and give us a gallery sales pitch on why they had to bail out their buddies in the financial market, we shake our heads in disbelief, but do not have the opportunity to speak our frustrations, at least until the next election.  We need our own sales pitch.

What would be your thoughts on creating a website solely for the purpose of uniting our voices, outside of election time?  It would be available to reach out and touch our representatives by email or letter.  We could use pre printed letters or emails or write your own.

This could be a start to reclaiming our government.  Abraham Lincoln said it the best in the Gettysburg Address.  Our current leaders need to be reminded of his famous words!

Check back as I try to make this happen.  The biggest thing against me is time.  And I am always open to your thoughts and suggestions!

How does a company have hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars in risky assets, and think for one second they can make it in the long term????

Oh wait.  I forgot.  We will rescue (BAIL) them out.

 

Please forgive me as I say it again.  I AM NOT FOR ANY RESCUE PLANS, ANY BAILOUTS, ANY ATTEMPT TO SAVE COMPANIES WHO HAVE NOT SHOWN THEY ARE WILLING TO REDO THEIR BUDGET, AND LIVE LIFE A LOT DIFFERENTLY!

I own two businesses.  One is suffering, and will probably go under.  I do not have the government offering to bail me out!  Nor should I expect them to bail me out!  My other business is doing great, so financially, I believe we will make it.  But my one business, once I shut the doors, take the website down and call it done, it will affect the community.  Lives will be effected.  Vendors will loose a customer.

But the name of my company is not Citigroup or AIG.  I am not one of the "good ole' boys" who can get my back scratched!

I am not complaining, as I said, I'm doing good.  I am tired of the "system" that has been in place where the government feels it can do anything it desires, "for the good of the country".

How about this...if they are so concerned about the good of the country, why doesn't every career politician step down!

Here it comes!  Obama's team is being put in place one person at a time.  All for a purpose, several purposes!

Eric Holder is another Clinton cronie.  Mr. Holder played a key role in the investigation of New Jersey's police department late in the 90's.  His claim, too many black people were being pulled over for minor traffic stops, as the police were focusing on illegal drugs.

Does this sound familiar?

How about this.  Instead of New Jersey, it is Maricopa County.  And instead of drugs, it is illegal aliens!  Coupled with a Homeland Security leader who has been extremely lax on the illegal immigration issue, I see Arpaio getting some heat from the feds!

In politics, politicians look to see what we can do for them.  And what can the illegals do for politicians?  How about vote, whether legally or otherwise, giving that politician another term in office!

I think this next administration is going to take the government farther away of by the people, for the people!  I know this, my concerns are not Obama's concerns, and they are not the Republicans concerns.  It is hard for my concerns to be recognized when DC has the focus solely on themselves!

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In the Arizona Republic today (Sunday, November 23rd), there was a front page article about DPS and the license plate readers some officers have on their cars.  One officer said he can read 8,000 license plates a day!  When a license plate comes back as stolen or from a stolen car, he then can chase the vehicle and recover the plate or the car.

It is incredible technology.  The technology even coincides with GPS, so the police know where you were and at what time.  The question is this.  What is done with this information?  Who keeps it and for how long?

I felt comfortable with the technology until I read this quote from Officer David Callister.  "This database is just a big pile of plates and GPS locations," he said, adding THAT THE POTENTIAL TO SOLVE CRIMES OUTWEIGHS PRIVACY CONCERNS".

What?  Has this officer lost his marbles?  What other piles of information will the DPS get their hands on in the future, and think that the public privacy concerns are without merit?

Frankly, we have our pictures taken more then we know it right now!  I realize I have nothing to worry about if I am obeying the law.  But this officer needs to understand that the public does have a voice, and our concerns are his concerns!  Without the help of the public, crimes are not solved, no matter how much technology he has in his car!

As each day passes, our rights as Americans are slowly being stripped away.  And if they are not stripped away, officers like David Callister has a skewed view of the rights we have left!