TheOutlaw's blog

Uh, Hey Y'all. Been a while. Got busy, got distracted. Life, Yadda yadda. Hope everyone has been really swell.

So, I came here for some insights or clues since I ain't that smart and I am 95% computer illiterate and 83% financially illiterate.

I had this conservative telling me the other day that the reason all these mortgage lenders are falling is because of the governments demand that more minorities be able to own houses. They are basically saying that the lenders were FORCED to make these loans even tho everyone knew they were poor loan decisions to people who probably couldn't pay.

So I did some research and came up with this:

The government mandated that lenders help minorities own homes. The lenders then came up with this idea for "sub-prime" mortgages to help more minorities buy homes. The economy slowed, gas prices soared, natural gas prices soared, and many folks defaulted on these "sub-prime" loans cause the fine print actually screwed them when it came time to refinance or whatever. Meanwhile, the mortgage companies had package these loans for other folks to invest in which they did and then when all them loans went bad . . . and well they were all up shits creek with a turd for a paddle.

Am I way off base? Help a brother out to understand that which eludes him. That way I can go back to drinking whiskey and playing guitar and slowly kill myself with cigarettes.

wooo hooooo.

Go Cubs!!

I have no idea what that title means. Lately, however, I feel as though Hillary is taking this to the end on principal alone. I guess I can't fault. Her campaign is similar to Shirly Chisolm from the 1972 campaign. Alhtough, I must admit, I truly wish we had more folks out there like Shirley. Unbought and Unbossed. She was an original and an independent.

Anyhow, Shirley campaign all the way until the end. And finally, at the Democratic Convention relinquished her delegates. Part of why she did it I believe was pride and part of it was simply to show folks she could go all the way.

Is this why Hillary continues to run? To show how tough she is? Isn't that a bit of an Ego trip? Doesn't this election go far beyond her? Is she in danger of becoming the next Ralph Nader?

That being said. Why should she quit? Maybe she can pull it off? I dunno. Anything is possible. I suppose.

p.s. Sorry I've been missing lately, work and music has gotten in the way. i'm sure you've all missed me. I do miss ranting and raving every once in a while. Which is why I had to stop by and torture you all!!! HA HA AH AY AHAHAH!

Hillary Clinton plays Pinochle in Scranton, PA while under heavy sniper fire. Her bidding was obviously affected by the rounds richocheting all around her. Luckily, at 3a.m. in the morning, she was dealt one hundred aces just in time to win the bid. Thanks heavens.

I bet Hillary is good at bluffing.

howdy! How ya'll doin? Feel like I haven't been here in ages. Work actually has me really busy these days. But i've reached a pause in the action and decided it was time to waste some time while at work.

So, here is my story.

The other day, i was at Easter with the Family. (happy easter to everyone by the way, happy spring, and la la la)

And for some reason the discussion turned politcal. My Aunt & Uncle are both EXTREMELY Conservative Republicans. So is my Eldest Brother. It scares the BeJeezus out of me. So, I try to stay away from talking to them. Recently, my eldest brother has claimed that what George Bush has done in Iraq was Brilliant. (my jaw hit the floor, and what ensued was an hour long conversation of stupidity, how can someone be so brainwashed?)

Well, at Easter my Aunt says, "If Obama is elected there will be racial riots all over place." ANd I'm just like what?? Okay. And my mom is disagreeing with her and saying that's a bit extreme. (oddly enough, my mother the catholic, is very much a democrat and I am so much more like her politcally than my father). My Aunt goes on to say something about how with the Democratic infighting and the big government and everything else, she doesn't want them to be in charge of our health care.

Luckily, I just kept my mouth shut.

I just told them that I was Obama All The Way and That we was finally going to Turn Washington in Chocolate City as George Clinton had Prophesized so long ago.

But really, what the hell is she thinking?

They are a very well off family who live in Lincolnshire. They just seem to disregard the whole world around them.

And i say, Well, How can they do any worse than the current administration? (who they love)

We have a Trillion Dollar War & occupation that has no end in sight. Meanwhile, we continue to deficit spend and waste money paying off the intrest on the national debt. I don't know where these tax cuts are going cause I get maybe $100 a year more back. I'm sorry, but that is fucking peanuts. Oh, and now, I might get a second $300 check, 7 years later. Once again. Peanuts. and truthfully, I am saving both my refund checks in a savings account to hopefully buy a house.

Golly, is anybody still reading?

Back to my venting. They pass an education bill, and then underfund it. They destroy all of the environmental protection we had in place. They pass a medicare bill that benefits the pharmaceuticals. They push a Social Security plan that NOBODY wanted.

And, my aunt is worried about the Democrats being charge of the Country? WOW.

I was thinking the other day though, about the two parties and how they fight so much. Small Gvmnt vs. Big Gvmnt.

aNd i suppose we need them somewhat. Other wise maybe the Gov would just get so big and so wasteful that we would eat ourselves.

end pointless rant here.

If Obama wins I think Michael Bloomberg would make a great Vice President. Hillary would be wise to consider him as well. At least it seems that he could play an important role.

I read an article this morning about Poor Old Ralph Nader. It is sad to me that he isn't really relevant anymore. Oh well, out with the old, In with the new.
I also watched a great show about Pete Seeger on PBS last nite. Oh the good ol days.

Is Super Better?

This article really upset me. It seems to say that the people should relinquish their power to those who know better. For the better of the Party?? Give me a break. Stupid self righteous Democrats.

oh well. whatever happens happens I suppose.

My U.S. Congressman is Republican Mark Kirk. I consider myself an independent with democratic tendencies. I would like to believe I could vote for a republican if I felt they were the best person for the job. I would like to believe that I look at the whole picture and try not to focus on single issues.

I have seen first hand what Mark Kirk has done for the surrounding communities whether it is securing federal funds for cleaning up Waukegan's Harbor, renovating Veteran's Hospitals, or assisting with a primary care facility in Highland Park that we designed and built. He has also greatly assisted a friend of mine who is a social worker.

I can look at all of those things, and say, Yeah, here is a guy who is really working for his people. His accomplishments have affected me directly. I have even written him and told him so.

But when it comes down to it, I simply cannot make myself vote for Mark Kirk for basically one reason. His support for the Iraq War. He really has pissed me off about the subject. Before we even invaded Iraq, he was blaming the Anti-War movement for Soldiers deaths. Paraphrasing now . . . "Every day that those against the War delay our invasion means more soldier deaths as we have to fight in the heat of the summer time." I was appalled by this comment. Here he was blaming those in favor of preventing a War for soldiers dying. 5 years later, look where we are at. Would a few days back then really have mattered?

If it were up to me, we never would have gone into Iraq, 4,000 soldiers would still be alive, 70,000 soldeirs would not be wounded, 500,000,000,000 dollars (that's a lot of zeroes) would not have been spent to rebuild a foreign country, I don't know how many innocent civilian lives would not have been lost (i've heard estimates in the hundreds of thousands), millions of Iraqis would not be displaced and we would not have sparked more terrorism and anti-americanism throughout the world.

So. yeah. that is my main reason. But I guess it goes deeper. Domestic Policy. I think the Tax Cuts are a joke. I have not heard much good about No Child Left Behind. I disagree with most republican views on immigration. I am FOR universal healthcare. I do not want to privatize social security.

Anyhow. It sucks because he has done some good work. And I wish I could vote for him but I can't.

But what if I did? Would i be wrong? I hate it that the same people who work in our communities get to make decisions about Americas role in the world and establishing foreign policy.

Bah. I'm just venting. Been doing that a lot lately.

I watched this movie last nite about Ralph Nader. I gotta say, I love Ralph so much. What an amazing human being. I don't care what people say, he did not lose the elections for Gore or for Kerry. They lost themselves. Both were horrible campaigners. Makes it very easy to just blame Ralph.

Anyhow, what an amazing service he has done for the American consumer. He is everywhere in our every day lives and we hardly even realize it. I hope he runs again in 2008. I'd still vote for him. Seriously, I agree with him on practically every issue. He is honest and he actually TALKS about real issues. Unlike all these other fools. And he's been around Washington long enough fighting the power he knows how things work.

He is kind and gentle and very decent human being. Anyhow, at the end of the film. It's about how he was kept out of all the debates by the campaign commission which is basically manipulated by large corporations. So, yeah, like they are going to let Ralph Nader, the bane of existance to large corporations, participate in a debate and bring up real issues.

Anyhow, the debate is in Boston, and some kid ends up giving Ralph a ticket to sit at the debate and at least be present and see the debate. Well, he is banned from even entering or they will arrested him. Same with his running mate. Same with Pat Buchannan who was also running on an indepent ticket. If they entered the building, they were going to be arrested!?!?!? That's why I fully support Ralph. Forget the damn Democrats. They have proven themselves to be extremely worthless. They are not far enough left for me. And the waffle to the Republicans so often it makes me sick. I wonder if there is an independent thinker among them.

Anyhow. I just wanted to rant about how much I love Ralph Nader.

What do YOU think about Ralphy?

Poor People are not equal in this country

America is not equal. All humans are not created equal.

Haves get everything and the have nots get nothing.

Read this article if you like Gas.

Making sure I remembered how to write a link. Thanks Rob for teaching a computer moron out to um . . . what?

I think my brain is malfunctioning today.

Anyways, does a Gas tax make sense? I've got some gas they could tax.

Here is an interesting article from the NY Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/13/books/13kaku.html?th&emc=th

It speaks of how the country has become so divided along party lines. Us against them. You are with us or you are against us.

I have long thought that at the minimum a third party is needed in this country. We are far too large and diverse to only have two parties to represent our many colorful people. A third party would disrupt the delicate balance and bickering between the fucked up republicans and the fucking whipped democrats.

The problem is I can't honestly say, the other independent parties (Greens, Libertarians) represent me either. So I will be starting my own Political Party. We will be called The Outlaws. We will thrive on honesty and telling the truth. We will not be condescending. We will be a bunch of sexy bitches with fly clothes who like to party and dance to real funky music. Damn, it's gonna be a hell of party if you know what I mean.

"To live outside the law, you must be honest." - Code of the Outlaw

Loosely based on the Code of Hammurabi.

We all must live to this code.

And don't forget this "Ladies Love Outlaws".

aw yeah. Dedicate one to the ladies.

So, here it is. My first blog. I have problem with randomness so please bear with me. I just saw the headline over there in the Sun Times, Man Defecates in McDonald's. What the hell? Is that news? Somebody should just clean it up and shut the hell up. My goodness.

Now onto my point. I'm wondering about world relations and how translations can lead to permutations of stated substantiations and lead to wars with various nations.

I am speaking of particular quote by the Iranian President. Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. "I believe Israel should be wiped off the Map". What did he mean by this statement? At first I was shocked and appallled calling him a crazy man. But then, whilst I was trying to write a song in German, I realized how tough it is to get a good translation from English to other languages and still say what you mean.

Then I thought, let's say that quote was taken out of context. Of course, here's where I could take some flak because I don't know the context of the quote. But. Let's say, Hypothetically, they were talking about a Palestinian STate. ANd how they need to rework Borders to allow for it. Maybe he was trying to say that Israel, as it stands needs to be wiped from the map, so that Borders can be redrawn and we can have a successful two states. ???? Is that possible? Or am I way off? I mean, so often do we misunderstand each other on blog pages such as these. And here, we are ALL speaking English. And let's face it, English is a bitch. It is the whackest of all Languages out there. And then I just wondered how many stupid wars and bullshit could have been avoided if people just spent more time trying to understand each other.

Keep On Keepin On.