I've mentioned before that the Democrat-led North Carolina Legislature is very irresponsible in spending money. I don't think anyone could see this one coming.

First, a little history. For the past 12-14 years, the North Carolina General Assembly has been breaking the law -- they have been taking tax money collected for the purpose of making roads and has not built roads with them -- they've transferred the money to the general fund for any spending they want.

Now they're billions behind in road spending with no way to make it up. Even after raising taxes over $100 million this year, they still can't find the money. What to do? BORROW MORE MONEY!

This is the absolute height of irresponsibility! This is worse than borrowing from Peter to pay Paul -- this is stealing from Tim, then when you spend all that money, steal more from Phil, never mind paying back anyone. And even worse, they are planning on paying the money back...with FEDERAL FUNDS! So you the taxpayer, anywhere in America, is going to pay for this debacle.

And it gets even worse. Governor Easley actually believes it is cheaper. Yes, he honestly thinks that borrowing money and paying it back with interest rather than using the money as you said you were going to is better and cheaper.

These Democrats really have got to go in the North Carolina General Assembly.

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I just found out about a boy who has diabetes, and he's trying to raise funds to help combat diabetes. He's even got a web page set up for donations, since he's going to walk on Sept 11 in Denver to help raise money. Oh, and the boy walking? He's six! Head on over and donate if you can afford just a little.

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For any who tried to visit earlier today, I apologize. The site was down yesterday afternoon, some of the night, and most of the day today. It seems there was some catastrophic disk failures, but all appears to be ok now. Normal blogging will resume soon, and I still plan on hosting the Tarheel Tavern this weekend, so be sure and send your submissions along!

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1 I blame Bush

Posted by: William Teach at August 24, 2005 06:38 PM (Pzlrt)

2 I'm pretty sure I saw a news report that did blame Bush.

Posted by: Ogre at August 24, 2005 08:34 PM (L0IGK)

3 I thought it was Karl Rove.

Posted by: tomslick at August 25, 2005 07:55 AM (xNjHI)

4 You mean they're different people now? Did you see this past week's American Dad TV show? I happened upon it and it had Karl Rove as death incarnate (robes, sickle, etc.).

Posted by: Ogre at August 25, 2005 08:59 AM (/k+l4)

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The budget has finally passed -- the North Carolina Democrats passed it a month and a half late, as my regular readers know. There were dozens upon dozens of new taxes on everything from candy to cell phones to services, and corresponding massive increases in spending EVERYWHERE. But that's not enough:

But while thereÂ’s a net increase in education funding, many school systems, including a number in Western North Carolina, are feeling squeezed and micromanaged by Raleigh.

Will these people on the left and on the government teat (including the education system engineers) ever understand that more money does not have ANYTHING to do with better education? Or do they just honestly not care at all about education and only want more of MY hard-earned money?

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I've been pretty slack these last couple weeks at submitting my entires to different blog carnivals -- but that doesn't mean you can't go read them (even if they are lessened by my lack of presence).

This week's Carnival of Kids is up. Head on over for some laughs and some kids that you will wonder how they will ever live long enough to become adults.

My own (second) most favorite carnival is also up: Henry the VIIth...errr... I mean Carnival of Liberty, the 8th. If you like freedom, you absolutely have to read the articles in this carnival. It's growing every week, but it always highlights the latest in freedom or the lack thereof. I think about half my posts qualify for that carnival.

Go! Read!

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Yes, the wonderful North Carolina blog carnival, The Tarheel Tavern is now up at Pirate's Cove. Be sure to head on over and read all about blogs posting in North Carolina -- all sorts of varied topics always show up, it's lots of fun.

Next week the Tavern will be...HERE! Hooray! I love hosting the Tavern because I make time to read so many of the different blogs and different people across the Tarheel state. There used to be a rule that there was no political blogging in the Tavern carnival, and it still stays mostly away from vehement politics.

Now there's just the one rule for playing in the carnival -- you must blog in or about North Carolina.

So, if you're blogging in North Carolina, be sure to submit your entries to me at my email way up there in the upper right corner of this blog. I think the official entry deadline is Friday midnight, but I usually put my post together Saturday afternoon or evening, so submit by Saturday and I'll be sure and include you.

Some hosts, in the past, have concocted a theme for the tavern. As usual, anything goes, but if you need some help for a theme, I'll call it "Memory Lane." That would include posts about North Carolina history, your personal history, or just thoughts and ideas of the past, especially in North Carolina.

Be sure to submit your posts and come back and read this weekend!

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The New Blog Carnival Showcase is here! The New Blog Carnival Showcase is here! Well, not actually HERE, but over at Cadmusings. Head on over and read about the newest blogs in the blogosphere.

The New Blog Carnival Showcase is a Traveling carnival. It's a blog post that highlights the newest blogs. To be included in the showcase, you need to have a blog that's less than 3 months old. If you do, just fill out the form at Conservative Cat. If you, while surfing, find a young blog, suggest they submit, or just submit them yourself!

Each week the carnival travels to new locations. YOU, too, can host the New Blog Showcase Carnival. It's simple, easy, and gets you links. Even new blogs can host it -- there's really no requirements. To host, you just compile the list of the new blogs and make a post about them.

You can make the list long and detailed, or you can just provide the links -- remember, links are cash in the blogosphere, so people really like them! If you're interested in helping keep this tradition going (it's been going like this for 25 weeks now), just drop me a line (email is in the upper right corner under the emailbox picture). Check the main page for open dates (as of this writing, they're ALL open).

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Oh dear, another week, another lack of a topic from the folks over at the Homespun Bloggers. Well, this week, instead of just making up a question and answer, I'll volunteer to come up with a question for the rest of the Homespun Bloggers.

Ok, well, I guess it's unlikely that all the other Homespun Bloggers will come to this humble page and find a question, but I'll give it a shot anyway. And heck, if you want to participate this week, or you have writer's block or anything else, feel free to jump in and answer this question here in the comments, or on your own blog. Trackback for links!

The State Constitution in Kansas states that the people of Kansas have

inalienable natural rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

Regardless of your position on abortion (and I know it will be tough to keep that opinion out our your answers), what do you think about this option? Should it be legal for the state, using taxpayer funds, to pay for optional abortions?

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Any people actually believe Fox News is slanted right apparently never read their web site. I usually check it every day or two to find out what the headlines are, then I head elsewhere to find out the details about the news. It seems that more and more lately they are "featuring" leftists anti-war idiots.

Today there's an opinion piece by far-lefty Martin Frost. He is a former chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, so that tells you how far left he is, by definition.

In his article he complains vociferously about the idea that people in Washington aren't sending their own children to war. Apparently Mr. Frost has completely forgotten that today's military is 100% voluntary and that the people fighting there actually WANT to fight and serve their country. I know, Mr. Frost, that concept is completely foreign to you.

However, this is a standard tactic of the left -- you cannot make rules about anything unless you've experienced it. Well, Mr. Frost, I guess you're not allowed to have sewer service at your house because you didn't dig the ditches for the pipe. And you're not entitled to have electricity because YOU didn't personally build the power plant that generates it.

Mr. Frost, one of the things to understand about this country is that we all work together, no matter that you don't want us to. People find things that they are good at, and they do it, helping others in the process. In this case, there are good men and women who volunteer to risk their lives to protect YOUR freedoms, Mr. Frost, including that of free speech. If you're so opposed to people voluntarily serving in the military, perhaps you'd be happier trying to write your moronic opinions from Cuba.

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Yesterday I mentioned Jim Gilchrist's run for Congress as quite possibly the only candidate to be running who actually opposes ILLEGAL immigration. As a side note, my current representative, who is much-liked and will easily win re-election, admits there is a problem, but complains that they can't agree upon a solution, so they're effectively ignoring the problem.

However, in the posting, I incorrectly listed his party affiliation. No, he's not running on the Republican ticket (didn't I already tell you he's OPPOSED to illegal immigration?) -- he's running on the American Independent Party ticket.

He's running in California's 48th District, so if you're there, you really should support this fellow. You can read more about him at his site. Please do.

Thanks to Eaglet for pointing out my error in Mr. Gilchrist's party affiliation.

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Once again, North Carolina Democrats show their abilities to spend as much taxpayer money as possible while claiming they have no money left for minor, apparently unimportant things like enforcing the law. In the massive $17 billion bloated state budget recently passed, some $600,000.00 has been allocated for hatching oysters.

Yes, apparently oysters, which, according to the state-sponsored religion of naturalism, have been around for 30 million years. However, the Democrats in the Legislature of the State of North Carolina seem to think the poor little mollusks cannot continue to exist without help.

If you live in North Carolina, please be sure to thank your Democrat Legislator for ensuring that the slimy oyster has had it's 30-million year lifespan expanded by one year.

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For those who do not follow football, or the top national news, you may not recognize the name "Thomas Herrion." The late Mr. Herrion was a professional football player for the San Francisco 49ers football team. He died Saturday night after an exhibition football game.

Mr. Herrion was 6'3" tall and 334 pounds. That's not a typo, that really is three hundred and thirty four pounds - that's 1.9 meters and 151.5 kilograms for any non-American standard readers out there. That's a BMI of 41.9. According to the all-knowing government, that qualifies as "Extremely Obese." As a note, 334 pounds is way off the chart for even calculating BMI.

So now, all the reports on the Late Mr. Herrion are all focused on "why." What happened? Why did he die? What's wrong?

I understand close friends wanting to know why. However, I'm afraid this is going to turn into another Steve Belcher circus -- where someone wants to blame someone else so they can get some quick cash.

Folks, the person was three hundred and thirty four damn pounds! That's not normal! Then he played a professional football game! I'm surprised more fat people aren't dying under those conditions. How come no one ever dies of natural causes any more? I think it's because no one will take responsibility for anything and instead they just want to BLAME someone.

Posted by: Ogre at 04:03 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Take a moment and think what your answer is to this question:

On the whole, do you think it should or should not be the government's responsibility to provide a decent standard of living for the elderly?

Decide in your mind a simple "yes" or "no" answer to that question.

Apparently over 80% of people answer that question "yes." To me, that's incredibly disturbing. Social Security is over 70 years old now, and still most people apparently think it should not only be continued but expanded.

If you answered "yes" to that question, I have another question or two for you:

By what damn right do you claim a portion of MY earnings that I work for, so that YOU may sit on your lazy ass? Where do you think the almighty government gets their damn money? It's not free, you know! And don't try any of that crap about "it's your money that you put into the system." No one seriously believes that any more, and it's simply not true.

Also, don't try the line about "uncaring" or "unfeeling." There is NO virtue in charity with other people's money. Government money is not received voluntarily, only by force. I will donate all the money *I* want to help others, and I can do it a whole lot more efficiently than the government.

I really do wish people would grow some gonads and take some damn responsibility for themselves. If YOU want to retire, YOU save your own damn money and stop trying to take mine.

Posted by: Ogre at 11:44 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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In case you've never heard the name "Jim Gilchrist," he is the founder and leader of the Minuteman Project that very successfully used individual private citizens to protect our southern border. He has just announced that's he's running for Congress. I think this would be a first -- an elected representative in Congress that actually opposes ILLEGAL immigration.

This could be a very interesting election, as Mr. Gilchrist is not running as a Republican -- he's running as a member of the American Independence Party. While illegals keep killing people in North Carolina, this man is trying to stand up and stop the criminals. You ought to go support him. I know I will.

(Hat tip to Lorie Byrd via Michelle Malkin.)

Posted by: Ogre at 08:40 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I'm not quite sure how North Carolina has managed to survive all these years without one of our critical needs, finally met with the 2005 North Carolina Budget. However, through hard work of the North Carolina Democrats, meeting only the absolute needs of the state, after assuring us they have "cut the budget to the bone," we finally have our $10 million Teapot museum funded.

I'm not kidding.

Representative Jim Harrell (D-Surry), managed to slip in a provision in the budget to help build the museum. It seems a very rich couple from California had a $5 million teapot collection and they "wanted a home for it." So a North Carolina millionaire did what most do today -- they kept their own money and demanded you, the taxpayer pay for this museum.

Oh, and in case you're not in North Carolina and think this won't affect you, think again. Two of the North Carolina representatives in Congress are trying to get another million in taxpayer cash -- after all, it will create jobs, so it's good, right?

Am I the only person left in this country who sees this stuff as so far away from the purpose of government as to be insane?

Posted by: Ogre at 06:08 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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There can be no denying the fact that the GOP's abandonment of a large measure of the small-government agenda is alienating much of its base. At the same time, it is difficult to see what small-government activists can do about it.

The Democrats are just too darn liberal, the National Republican Party agrees with the Democrats in competing to see who can make government grow bigger and faster, and those two coordinate things to ensure no other party can join them.

Posted by: Ogre at 06:19 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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It's time again! This is the time each week that I search through the Evangelical Blogroll and introduce someone from the blogroll to you, my good reader. This week's new neighbor is

Cerulean Sanctum

It begins...

The blog gets entries every day, for the most part, and they're long, detailed entries as well. His most recent entry talks about the horrible trend in society today where everyone complains about everything that's not their fault and the idea that almost no know takes responsibility for anything:

I'm convinced that the next time I actually hear a person say, "I messed up," I'm going to hand him $20 and say, "Thank you for taking responsibility for the problem."

Honestly, it's that bad.

The site's very clean and easy to read, with good content and a clean layout. So head on over and meet a new neighbor this Sunday afternoon.

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Provided by VW Bug:

"WE WOULD RATHER DO BUSINESS WITH 1000 AL QAEDA TERRORISTS THAN WITH ONE SINGLE AMERICAN"

This sign was prominently displayed in the window of a business in Philadelphia. You are probably outraged at the thought of such an inflammatory statement. One would think that anti-hate groups from all across the country would be marching on this business . . . and that the National Guard might have to be called to keep the angry crowds back.

But, perhaps in these stressful times one might be tempted to let the proprietors simply make their statement . . . . We are a society which holds Freedom of Speech as perhaps our greatest liberty. And after all, it is just a sign.

You may ask what kind of business would dare post such a sign? more...

Posted by: Ogre at 07:15 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Here's a long letter (in the extended entry) that is absolutely excellent. It shows exactly what's wrong with the left today.

An Open Letter to Cindy Sheehan From the Proud Father of a U.S. Marine
By Brantley Smith
Posted On August 17, 2005
more...

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The folks over at Stop the ACLU want to run a full-page ad in the Washington Times. However, that's quite expensive -- at least $2,500. They're asking for help.

If you can donate a little, even just $5, head on over and drop a few coins in the collection jar. They are trying to fight the anti-American, communist-based ACLU, and I fully support them and this effort.

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