2012: The Doomsday Year!

Doomsday! An event that has been predicted since the earliest forms of civilizations sprung up. Although the Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012, text surrounding the calendar, deciphered by archaeologists and scholars, seem to indicate some form of catastrophic event to take place on the dated winter solstice. The Incas' also made similar predictions as did a few Native American Indians. It is also mentioned in the Book of Revelations in the New Testament Bible as well as the Old Testament. Nostradamus, the Romans, even our own American sooth sayer Edgar Casey predicted the end of the world. Even Carl Sagan estimated a possible physical end of the world based on a number of factors relative to the sun burning out into a giant red dwarf before collapsing into a pulsar. However, Dr. Sagans' prediction would occur sometime in the 38th century.

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So, how will the world end? Who knows what cause or event will destroy our only world? There are a number of possible causes and disasters that seem plausible: super volcanoes, major tectonic plate shift (giant earthquake), tsunami, extinction level asteroid strike, neutron burst from a nearby star, black hole, nuclear/biological war, extraterrestrial invasion, or even (according religion) divine intervention. The only people who seem eager for the world to end are evangelical and "born again" Christians because they believe they will be "raptured" off the Earth, an idea invented by a British pastor in the early 18th century. It is very interesting that people continue to believe the end is near. A belief that has continued for many centuries. All they can think and preach about is the mortality of man. How morbid! Still, we can look at our clocks and calendars and take notes as each day in 2012 winds down.

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We can only guess when the world will end or how people will find a way to end it. Just remember that when politicians play up to some of those christian branch religions, pious groups and sects by promising more wars and less freedoms to those who are not one of them (rich), you can bet that others will suffer based on biased Republican ideology.

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Just remember that doomsday may just be a Republican vote away.

The Party of Hate

Among all of the Republican politicians, running for office or not, seen or heard, there is no message of unity for the entire country except for those who favor them despite the fact that each Republican office holder has no real interest in representing them.

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Among the candidates running for president, there is no message of peace, no message of unity, no message of equality, no message of compromise, and no message of progression. The messages have been nothing more than sound-bites and the constant bashing of President Barack.

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The only messages given in speeches by the Republican candidates have solely been about dismantling President Obama's many accomplishments to the point of going back to war with a new target: Iran.

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If Republicans once again regain power in the House, Senate, and the White House, what is left of the Middle-Class may very well become the new poor, thus making American the new Brazil: rich and poor only. Corporations will be able to make new laws to rape the country once again as they did under Bush/Cheney & Co.

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Rand Paul would stand a better chance to dismantle the Civil Rights Act with daddy Ron Paul in the White House to make sure it remains a "White" House. Gingrich would make sure all Americans would have no health care at all while dismantling child labor laws to put middle-class and poor kids to work. Romney (as well as the other Republican candidates) would make sure unions are abolished so that companies would be able to fire anyone (especially hourly workers) at will and reduce wages to increase their bottom line. New Republican Supreme Court justices would be put in place to insure women's rights are stripped and allow Republican Governors to redraw congressional district lines to favor their party, suppress voters' rights, and allow state-sanctioned racial profiling to proliferate without interference from federal authority, thus allowing the continuation of whole-sale state sanctioned murder of immigrants crossing the southern border at the hands of gun-toting "Minute Man Patriots". In the mean time, supporters are waiting (or hoping) for pizza guy Herman Cain to return after he straightens out his harem of concubines.

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Although each Republican presidential candidates' speech and/or message is relatively the same, their plan of obstruction will continue to make sure President Obama becomes a one-term president. Tea Party Republicans especially, want to impeach President Obama at any cost despite the Presidents' successes in foreign policy, the economy, civil liberties, and equality for all Americans.

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The Republican Party itself began their campaign season early since President Obama won the 2008 Presidential election. To the surprise of the Republican Party itself, they have done nothing but promote President Obama through their own actions (as negative as they may be). As long as the Republican Party continues their onslaught against the middle-class, women and minorities, immigrants (legal or not), concerned rich and poor, civil rights and liberties, gay or straight, and now children, those who are not rich and vote Republican must now view themselves as victims rather than as their constituents.

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It is fitting that the Republicans have chosen the elephant as the symbol of their party, because they continue to trample on the rights and privileges of other Americans to only represent 1% of all Americans, whether they want it or not. Their very actions may also mean the demise of the Republican Party itself.

Payroll Tax Cuts Extended!

With tax cuts for everyone in the million dollar club and up since the the Bush Tax Cuts was put into law by a House and Senate full of Republicans, today, 160 million working poor and middle-class Americans were granted an extension of the payroll tax cut. Of all things that most Republicans and all Tea Party Republicans did not want, it was giving a tax cut to the rest of the working class.

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Boehner should be crying by now.-----^

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Although Boehner could care less what Democrats and have asked for in fairness in sharing tax cuts, but he had to capitulate to increasing criticism from the "right" as well. The Tea Party coalition did not want the Payroll Tax Cut to pass and told Boehner to vote against it, even after the deal was approved by most of the Senate Republicans and Mitch McConnell in an actual bipartisan effort with Democrats. Millions of working class Americans waited in anticipation of the Payroll Tax Cut to pass easily especially since it was, in essence, a tax cut that all Republicans vowed, promised, and signed an oath to keep. Obviously this was one tax cut all Republicans failed to exclude in their anti-tax pledge to Grover Norquist.

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Boehner folded like a broken accordion and had to shovel out a list of excuses to why he changed his position to pass the Payroll Tax Cut. Republicans, especially Tea Party Republicans (those who lean towards and those who admit to being Tea Party Republicans) view this as a defeat and an embarrassment to the GOP. Although the Payroll Tax Cut is only a two-month extension, it does give some relief to working Americans to afford the little things in life with the pittance afforded from the Republicans.

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It is clear that Republicans only support the rich and corporations, it is very hard for other middle-class Americans who vote Republican to affirm that said Republicans actually represent them. Instead, Republicans tend to only represent district with large businesses in them. The neighborhoods that are within such districts are just excess baggage under the delusion of having such representation. Rhetorically speaking, it leaves the question of "what would happen if corporations, large estates, and exclusive neighborhoods were allowed to become a district of their own? Would other Republican leaning districts with no large businesses or wealth still have that representation?". Obviously the answer is "NO!". This is the clarity of Republican representation.

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People who tend to take a centrist position on the subject want to blame both sides for the impasse in Congress are now silent in knowing that only the Republicans are to blame, especially when John Boehner and Mitch McConnell have vowed to make President Obama a one-term president at any cost, even if it means further sabotaging the country in the process. The actions of office holding Republicans will now face upcoming elections in 2012 and find their own pink slip or layoff notice in hand. This would also be the harbinger of death for the Bush Tax Cuts as it would expire on January 1, 2013. Let us be prepared for the new fight of the year when corporations would begin pouring more money into the Republican coffers to extend further or make permanent the Bush Tax Cuts that are now known to have not worked and further eroded the fragile U.S. economy.

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For now, Cry Boehner Cry and watch the Tea Party boil over!

Newts' New Labor Law

Newt Gingrich, a man who was once (and only once) Speaker of the House during the Clinton presidency, was fired from his position by his own party, wants to put public school kids (minority and poor) to work as janitors to learn how to work to develop a work ethic. REALLY!!?

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This is coming from a man who used his Speakership position for personal and political gain, and forced a government shutdown. This is coming from a man who handed divorce papers to his first wife in the hospital, recovering from cancer, while having an affair with another woman. This is coming from a man who divorced his second wife who came down with sclerosis while cheating on her with Calista (now his third wife). This is coming from a man who led a personal and Republican vendetta to impeach President Clinton for having an affair while he was in the middle of his own affair, and yet he believes he can teach kids to be ethical.

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Let us pray the ousted Speaker does not become president. If so, school children 9 and up will be made to work while Gingrich dismantles current child labor laws. Donald Trump already has given his blessings and is now licking his chops and wringing his hands in hopes of starting up a new child sweat shop of janitorial "apprenti".

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If Gingrich does become president, you can bet kids will work in other industries other than the janitorial services. Gingrich will revive his Contract with America that involves eliminating the public school system and usher in "education camps" where poor and minority kids will learn to serve their rich employers. Cleaning toilets is just the beginning, but with Gingrichs' plan to introduce new child workers to the workforce, kids will replace adult workers (thus also eliminating unions) in other areas of employment and work for pennies on the dollar with no health plan.

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However, another Republican (the governor of Maine) already has a plan to address the issue of child labor laws that would allow the kids to work right next to mommy and daddy in any remaining factories. Maybe this will bring back the 50,000 companies that moved out of the country during the economically deregulated Bush years.

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With a little help from "employers" like Trump, the idea is to get the children of the less financially successful citizens trained and gainfully employed by the age of 14. Affluent families and industries will be happy to know that their hard earned investment in the Republican party will yield well trained servants to tend to their every needs in and out of the office, and at home.

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Is this what is in store for America if highly unethical Republicans like Gingrich are elected into office, and with House Speaker Boehner to write such laws?

In Republicanland...

In Republicanland...

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"Non factual" statements are considered the gospel.

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Fox News is "fair and balanced".

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The new slogan is: "The economy always roars when we're at war!"

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Mormons need not apply, but are good to have around only when it suits or supports established Republicans doctrine.

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You must pledge allegience to Grover Norquist when elected into office.

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Corporations are the lawmakers.

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Jesus is replaced with Reagan.

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Stimulus is a bad thing, even if it is successful.

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Anyone brown with a Spanish surname is automatically considered an illegal alien.

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Committing abortion is punished with the death penalty.

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A Republican litmus test is given before any candidate can run for office.

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Sending jobs overseas is a good thing because it spurs job growth at home.

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Hypocracy is an art form.

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Washing machines are considered very Republican because of the spin cycle.

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Anyone with a different point of view from the established Republican doctrine is labeled a liberal America-hating communist.

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Child labor laws are repealed only for minorities and poor people.

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There is no public education system because it is considered a hand out.

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Being gay or non christian is against moral law and subject to arrest.

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There is no freedom of speech unless you can afford it.

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The draft is renistated to create "job growth" among the poor only.

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There is no middle-class.

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Health care is a matter how much money you have: how healthy can you afford to be?

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Freeways are now tollways.

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There are more prisons than neighborhoods.

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Any person or entity (e.i; corporation, business, or conglomerate) that generates a million dollars or more, pay no taxes.

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Guns can be purchased from vending machines.

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English (American only, not the Queens english) is the only language allowed to be spoken and read.

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Country drawl or Southern twang are the only acceptable accents allowed to be spoken or heard publicly.

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The Republican Party and Tea Party are the only state-sanctioned political parties allowed.

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Country music is the state-sanctioned music allowed with the exception of some forms of pop music for business purposes only. All other forms or genres are illegal and is considered a jailable offense.

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Social security, medicare and medicaid are voucher programs poor people are to buy into.

Occupy All

To the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators and others across the U.S. who would protest the economic disparity everyone faces, this blogger would give a hearty salute and words of encouragement to the occupiers to continue demonstrating and expose the reality of the disproportionate wealth gap we, as a nation, see as a result of Bush era tax policies and deregulation still in place.

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As many of the occupy demonstrators continue to point out, it is about wealth displacement, not "redistributing the wealth" as Republicans want you to believe. Most news outlets, except Fox News (a.k.a. Fixed Noise), continue to show how the wealthy in America have fared with a 400% increase in their wealth while the middle-class and poor wage earners pay has barely risen by 15% in the course of 30 years. In noting the growing gap between the rich and poor, more middle-class workers are slowly becoming poor. Obviously, the Bush tax cuts only benefits the very wealthy.

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As Republicans continue to defend deregulation and tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, also referred to as "job creators", many Americans, concerned rich and poor alike, continue to point out from actual experience that only 1% of Americans truly benefitted from such tax cuts just as more millionaires contend the need to pay more in taxes to equally balance out the tax burden evenly as true patriotic and supportive Americans.

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What a uniquely positive worded euphemism:"job creators". A term that Republicans use to defend those people and organizations that were allowed to leave the shores of the United States and "create jobs" on foreign soil under the deregulation policies of the Bush administration. According to the Congressional Budgeting Office (CBO) and the Department of Labor, from 2000 to 2010, over 50,000 companies moved jobs and operations overseas. Only now are the Republicans concerned about jobs. How ironic! Based on their actions and how they voted (Republicans), they are not job creators, only job destroyers out to completely dismantle the middle-class and usher in a rich and poor only society.

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It seems that the Republicans under Grover Norquist and the Tea Party are nothing more than hypocrites and liars, and proud of it. Based on their own philosophy, if Reagan was alive, he would be labeled a turn coat liberal for raising taxes 7 times and raising the debt ceiling numerous times despite the circumstances during his administration.

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For Tea Party supporters and members, it is a hard pill to swallow in knowing that the Occupy Wall Street movement and the Tea Party movement have a lot in common, which includes both being true grassroots movements.

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The Tea Party began as a grassroots movement to stop wasteful spending, smaller government, and excess pork in state projects (like the bridge to nowhere) until it was taken over by ultra ultra right wing-nuts who added more Republican ideology to it. In 2010, ultra conservatives on Capitol Hill cheered them on in support. Among them were Eric Cantor, Michelle Bachmann, and other members that were originally responsible for the very thing the Tea Party was against.

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The Occupy Wall Street movement, also a grassroots movement, are simply protesting the wealth gap between the middle-class and poor, and the rich, as well as protesting Wall Street bankers and CEO's who are responsible for the financial crisis we are now in. This protest also includes how such criminals in high seats of power have been rewarded for their crimes instead of being punished and how bought and paid for politicians continue to make new laws to protect them. They are not asking for a hand out or wanting to "spread the wealth" as Republican politicians and presidential hopefuls claim, yet they do not venture out to assert their claims.

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The Occupy movement itself has manifested throughout the country and abroad. It is now bigger and alot more meaningful than the Tea Party ever was. The Occupy movement now consists of true Americans from all walks of life from concerned rich, poor, and middle-class, employed, under and unemployed, public and private sector workers, veterans, and anyone else who feels that the current tax code is unfairly balanced to favor the rich and corporations. There are no leaders within the movement, nor are they supported or sponsored by any politician, PACs (Political Action Committees), or billionaire brothers. Simply put: they are all of us regardless of our political beliefs.

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As a veteran, this blogger is thankful and grateful for the support and encouragement given by the American people during my deployment to Iraq. Now I am supportive and grateful to the Occupiers who are now defending America from corporate greed and corruption.

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Support the Occupy movement! Support the Occupy Dallas and Fort Worth!

A Veterans' Weekend

As we observe Armistice Day, we must remember the veterans of WWI and the sacrifices they made for that period in time noting it to be the war to end all wars. From that time to the present, we realize that there will always be wars. There will always be an aggressor to arise out of the ashes to wreak havoc in an effort to enslave the world, not just for conquest, but for ideology as well.

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We must remember all veterans, from our ancestors, to the new ones today. We must also remember our allied veterans, whom we are also grateful to have in our collective need to defeat those who would take away our freedom not just at home, but from afar. We should always be grateful for the freedoms we now have and sometimes take for granted and let no one take it away by force or by vote.

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To know a veteran is to know he or she is humble and also grateful to have served, having volunteered and acknowledging the sacrifices made to themselves and to their families. We should also thank the families of veterans for the sacrifices they made in allowing their spouses, sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers to go into harms' way to secure a free world. Sometimes, the ultimate sacrifice is made.

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As the most common question is asked, "if you had to go again, would you?", there would be those who would answer "no" or "I don't know", but deep down we know it would be a resounding "hell yes!" almost as quickly as the question is uttered.

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Whether we are in uniform or not, we all do our part to support and defend the Constitution and to defend freedom and democracy around the world against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

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Let us remember.