BEEN FRANKLIN 1776

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Tue, 10 May 2022 17:42:00 +0000

Yeah, it's been a while, but after all the shit that's been going on, I figured that it was time. Since no one seems to have the balls to say it, I figure that I will. Comment if you want. If I don't like what you said, I'll ignore you just like everyone has been ignoring me.

A Deplorable Speaks

William (Bill) English

By every definition of the "Woke." I am now commonly classed as a Deplorable, which essentially means that I am white, an old man who is a racist (I'm not really a racist) that comes from a long line of slave traders, and a Nazi-Fascist. I supposedly hate LGBQTS+ (or whatever the letters they are using these days). I eat meat, fart, believe in secure borders, don't believe in AOC's New Green Deal, want to have sex with AOC (not really. My wife would kill me, and despite being a Deplorable, I have specific standards. One of which, I do not have cross species relations.) I believe in the Constitution of the United States, God, and mankind's inherent ability to be profoundly stupid yet at the same time profoundly generous. However, being a Deplorable, I can't be canceled anymore than I already am. This works in my favor since I am at that stage in my life where I just don't care and don't want to be bothered by idiots.

Here you might ask; What's this have to do with anything? Actually, it has everything to do with it.

Growing up, my heroes were such people as John Wayne, Randolf Scot, Flash Gordon, the Phantom, and the Shadow. Now my heroes are such things as Ben Gay, Absorbine Jr., Icey Hot, and whatever pain medication the doctor is willing to prescribe to me to get through the day with a modicum of normality.

I mention these facts because it has a great deal to do with the person I truly am. I grew up during the "Freedom Marches," Martin Luther King, Vietnam, draft-card buring, student protests against anything and everything, (real) Social Injustice, and most notably in the Southwestern part of the United States. Even today, the Southwest is actually a culturally diverse region. Before it was fashionable, the Spaniards had already come up from South America and explored Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. They also established colonies in California and Missions along the Santa Fe Trail. While Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico were considered slave states during the Civil War, there was and is a rich culture of free Black Landowners, Hispanics, American Indians (I won't say Native Americans because I believe that if you were born in America, you're a native) and, believe it or not, Chinese (they came with the building of the railroads.) Was it, or is it perfect?

Hell No! But you flatland tourists came from back east and really screwed things up. Now it's the "Woke" trying to ferment hatred and making the rest of us apologize for stuff we had absolutely nothing to do with, and apologize for being a color none of us had any control over. Shit! We're getting screwed at both ends! The only good thing I see coming out of any of this is that the American Indians Aren't being attacked anymore. They have finally figured out a way to get back at the Europeans and "White Eyes who shafted them in the first place. Casinos and tax-free tobacco. Take their money and watch them slowly and painfully kill themselves. From an Indian's perspective, it doesn't get any better than that.

Politically speaking, most of us sit back and watch everyone, both Republicans and Democrats, defy the Constitution of the United States and basically try to force us to pay for their crap. I would point out here that those poor bastards who thought they were going to Washington, D.C. to peacefully protest are still sitting in jail cells in the most abhorrent conditions without even being charged with a crime. If my memory serves me correctly, isn't that one of the specific complaints outlined in the Declaration of Independence? Just for the record, not all of us so-called Deplorables are Shit kickers that sit on the couch drinking beer and watching NASCAR. Some of us actually read books and are even educated. Well, sort of educated since the liberal geeks hadn't taken over the schools and colleges when we were in school.

For the most part, the most significant majority of us, the so-called Deplorables, are mainly concerned for the safety and well-being of our families and loved ones. Oddly enough, this includes such ridiculous things as being able to feed them, buying gas to get to work, or to doctor appointments. We care about the economy, inflation, and a government that intends to let radical factions turn America into a third-world country. Many of us feel as if we are caught between a rock and a hard place. We have a President who shows us daily that his brain is literally turning to mush and runs the real possibility of dying in his sleep before the end of his term. In which case, we will end up with a Vice-President that is so incompetent she couldn't pour urine out of a boot with the instructions written on its heel. So, to put it in a nutshell, we're screwed no matter what happens. Considering what we've got, Who the hell is running the government anyway?

We know that a significant faction within the House and the Senate absolutely hates America. How did that happen? The most prominent faction, headed by AOC, consists of all women who, by the very definition of the law and common sense, are of, at the very least, questionable character. Representative Omar comes to mind here. Yes! We do keep track of these things. My thought here is that it would be nice to be able to elect an individual to Office who actually had the good of the people in mind without trying to justify every stupid move they make and who has a brain slightly larger than a cumquat. None of these morons (sorry morons) understand that once they have been elected to Office by their state or district, they represent those who voted them into an office and the entire nation. This is only because America has grown over the past two hundred years. They fail to understand what effect a law for one segment of the population has on the rest.

As for the Green New Deal. Do I support it? Emphatically NO! Only because it will destroy America. Do I support conservationism? Yes, but I take a practical approach to it. This country MUST utilize both oil and nuclear power to supplement and strengthen our national reserves and take the lead in providing sustainable energy to the rest of the world. This doesn't mean that there is no place for Wind or Solar energy. Still, at this point, either has not reached a point where we can just switch over to them and expect to maintain our quality of life and help boost our economy. Either one reminds me of what we used to build as kids with an "Erector Set." Looks nice. A lot of fun building it. No practical purpose. Using oil and nuclear, prices come down, the economy is strengthened, and we have more time to perfect other energy sources. Also, quite frankly, herding millions of people into specific living facilities smacks of population control, communism, and socialism. All of which are red flags for almost all Deplorables.

Okay, now back to the main topic, "Woke." First of all, what is Woke? From my perspective, it is nothing more than an attempt by the ultra-liberals to create hatred, change our language, and change the way we think about those poor, abused individuals who choose to be different. Let's take the LGBTQ+ community, for example. I personally have no problem with these people. Why? Well, I have a half-sister who is trans and a half-brother who is gay. I also have another half-sister who I think the world of because she has accomplished many things. She doesn't talk to me but hey! I wear the title of Family Black Sheep with pride. I also have a full sister who happens to be a California Lawyer and a born-again Christian. Sheesh! What a combination. In short, my family puts the fun in dysfunctional. I don't hate these people, but I cannot understand why they choose to put themselves through this kind of hell. Particularly the Transgendered. What chaps my posterior about all of this is that they keep trying to jam it down people's throats and are doing it so that it's really pissing people off. Christ! Where is it right to try and convince a kindergartener they are the opposite sex? And where is it right to give these children gender blockers without the parents even knowing? If that's not abuse, I don't know what is.

I could go on and on about such things as Defunding the Police, DA's that won't enforce the law, and turning criminals back out onto the streets to commit more crimes and death because they know there will be no consequences. California is imploding upon itself, government control, COVID restrictions, and what's happened there?

This country is a mess, and we'd better start doing something to fix it fast.

The Deplorable are starting to get aggravated. Whether they want to believe it or not, the Democrats are on their way out the door. For that matter, if they screw the pooch, so are the Republicans. At this rate, a bunch of Blue Faced Baboons (sorry, Baboons) could do a better job than any of them have been doing, and Mellon head in the White House isn't making anything better. Shit! Never in the Office of the Presidency has a President had to be surrounded by a squadron of caretakers to hide as best they can that he's a blithering idiot. What does he do in the Oval Office? Sit around playing Tittaly Winks and eat ice cream, occasionally signing a bill or something put in front of him by some nut job? Let us not forget the constant coaching he must get before he's trotted out to read the teleprompter. For us Deplorables, we see what is happening to our country, and frankly, you screwballs are fucking us over, and we're tired of it!

Let's talk about systemic racism and white privilege.

First of all, I could care less about a man's or woman's color. What I care about is how they treat me. Treat me with respect, and I'll treat you with respect. Try and destroy what little I've spent a lifetime building for my family, or try and hurt or kill me, and I'm gonna have your balls. Martin Luther King spent a lifetime trying to keep the radicals from taking over the Freedom movement. Now that he's gone, look at what's happening. That man is spinning in his grave so fast that we could use him as a power source. And as it turns out, the founders of Black Lives Matter are no better than crooks, taking the donations they have been given to further their cause and buying fancy homes, real estate, fancy cars, and whatever else they want. They don't care about black people or people of color. That is evident when they burn down black-owned businesses and then don't use the money they've stolen to help rebuild those businesses. Yet all they seem concerned with is defunding the police and destroying things so that they can steal more and kill more people, all the while blaming it on systemic racism. Racism on whose part? Thiers or us? I noticed that racism didn't really start to be an issue until Obama became President. Man! What a lesson in self-abuse that turned out to be.

White Privilege? Well, yes, I look white. As far as privilege is concerned, I'm seventy years old, have one leg, no testicles (I picked up a rather nasty infection while traveling overseas), live in a trailer in the middle of the desert, have a wife who suffers from extreme mental illness, and between the two of us make less than $13,000.00 per year. That doesn't account for the one-quarter "White Mountain Apache and Cherokee that I have in me from my mother's father. The difference between Wampum Warren and me is that I've never tried to lie about it or use the fact for my personal gain. It is what it is. So show me where it's a privilege to be white or any other color.

I will say this much. As both Americans and Human-beings, we must follow specific rules to survive as a civilization. Originally Jews and Christians called them the Ten Commandments, and they went something like this;

1. I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

3. Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day.

4. Honor your father and your mother.

5. You shall not kill.

6. You shall not commit adultery.

7. You shall not steal.

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

Yeah, okay, too much religion, but even if you remove the first three of the listed commandments, the rest make reasonably good sense. Then, if you think about it, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States take it even further by clarifying freedom and what needs to be done to achieve it. This method has worked relatively well for the past Two hundred forty-six years.

Okay, now you're giving me the old statistic that no Republic has traditionally lasted over two hundred years. Just between us, those guys are nuts anyway. Take Rome, for example.

One thing that everyone needs to understand and accept. America was not and never will be whatever your idea of perfect is. Since our nation's establishment, we have been a product of the times. Yes, we had slavery. At that time, all of the nations of the earth had slavery in one form or another, including England. Although they are called by a different names. Even today, some countries practice human trafficking or slavery, if you will. And there is social injustice everywhere. The difference between America and them is that we have actively tried to resolve the issues as they arrive or are recognized. No! America is not perfect. We suffer from all of the problems in humankind, and we recognize that fact. We cannot undo history, but we can learn from it and make changes for the better. What we don't need is a bunch of little assholes running around trying to destroy what hard-working people, black, white, Latino, Arabic, etc . . . have tried to build for themselves and their families, or made to hate who and what they are.

Strangely, aside from the domestic terrorist that are out in the streets destroying everything, it seems that all of the "Woke," who are trying to cancel everyone, are the ones who can actually afford to play this little game. You're paying for private security, WTF! When you have the money and can pay for private security, you can scream about defunding the police and fairness to criminals without worrying about the rest of us and call us all the names you want.

For the love of whatever entity you worship, get some common sense and real life!

Why I am

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 22:15:00 +0000

Many of you who have read my blog, “Been Franklin,” over the past few years have certainly formed various opinions about me and my character. Some have called me a racist, others just a monumental asshole. And other epilets to numerous to mention. Based on what I have written in the past, you could be right. I am not, however, writing this to defend my whiteness. I am white, or as white as my skin tone makes me unless I get into the sun for any length of time. I have to admit that it does a pretty good job of hiding my Native American Heritage. Which by the way is real, but has never been used to advance myself or my family, and is based upon a family history only two generations removed.

Also, I am not anti- LGBT, or whatever the anacronym being used these days. It changes so often it’s hard to keep up. I have a Half- brother who is Gay and a Half-sister who is Trans. I don’t know my brother all that well, but I understand he’s a fine fellow and quite happy with his lifestyle. My sister, on the other hand, is a pain in the ass. Not because she’s Trans, but because she just a pain in the ass. I also have two other sisters. One is a half-sister, and the other is my natural sister. My half-sister is a mother, and also quite an accomplished woman. My natural sister is a California Lawyer (need I say more?). I haven’t talked to her since the death of our father and mother. I wish her the best and have developed a genuine understanding of the Jewish Rabbi’s blessing, “May God bless her and keep her . . . far away from me. Needless to say, my family is not typical of the American Family, but hey, it’s mine.

I’m sure that some of you reading this are already asking; If you’re not defending your whiteness, what are you doing?

A reasonable question, I suppose, with a slightly complicated answer. Now that I am on the downward slide toward seventy, with piss poor health. I and running the daily risk of dropping with either a brain aneurism, a stroke, COPD, and a host of other possible ailments, I’ve been forced to reflect upon myself and the things that I have said and done over the years. Am I sorry for saying them? Not one damned bit. Am I selling out to the zanies that are suddenly cropping up all over the country to destroy homes and businesses that people have spent years building? Many of them being people of color. The very people they say they are protesting for. No, I’m not. I am, however, astounded that those government bodies that were elected by the ordinary people are copping out and giving in to these morons whose only purpose seems to be nothing more than to create utter chaos. And this scares me.

You see, I grew up in a time when on Saturdays you could go to the local theater and get in for a dime, and then spend a quarter for a drink and the biggest Dill Pickle you ever saw. If you were careful, the drink and pickle would last you through three coming attractions, two cartoons, a serial (usually a western or Flash Gordon), and a feature film. When mom’s and dad’s allowed you to skin your knees or get banged up because you were doing something stupid. When our heroes were John Wayne, Hopalong Cassidy, Sky King, or Flash Gordon. We were allowed to run around the neighborhood until the street lights came on. Which was usually around 8:30 or 9 during the summer. We, and our parents, weren’t afraid of child molesters, predators, and every kind of evil there is. I suppose it was there, but as a nation, we generally were unaware of it. It was a time when you could walk away from your home and not have to worry about someone breaking in and stealing everything. Every parent in the neighborhood knew which kid belonged to who and where they were at. Then the world changed.

The Vietnam War came, and those of us who were kids were suddenly thrust into carnage and the realization that America was no longer the Shining Beacon of Peace and Freedom on the hill. For those of us who returned, we returned to a country that spat on us, called us murderers and baby killers to the point where we were unwilling to admit that we had served our nation. Then years later, when the public’s attitude and thoughts changed when their children served at a time when America was attacked, they began thanking us for our service. So much so, that after a while, the thanks became meaningless, and we wondered why they bothered at all. During all of this, we attempted to make lives for ourselves. Move forward, have our own families and kids, only to find out that everything we did to raise our own children was all wrong. Most of us adapted, many didn’t, many came back broken suffering from PTSD or some other kind of mental disorder. Some committed suicide, many ended up homeless. But the one thing we all knew was that no one truly understood.

As time passed, we, the kids, started to take another, more serious look at America. What we realized was this, despite its failings, and the many pimples that pockmarked its history. There was the Civil War, which brought an end to the institution of slavery, Martin Luther King’s Civil Rights movement, which changed the Jim Crow laws and brought about a peaceful integration of Blacks and Whites. Desegregation, equal education, and the ability for people of color to change their lives for the better, instead of being forced to sit at the back of the bus or drink from different water fountains, and eat at black only establishments, interracial marriage. All of it was change, painful and frightening, but change, never the less.

As for me, I’m old enough now to appreciate how my grandfather and father felt as they grew older in a world that had become unfamiliar to them. I have watched as those Freedoms and Rights that were guaranteed us in the Constitution are very quickly evaporating like a puddle in the hot desert sun. I watch as people are ridiculed for speaking their minds or are forcibly attacked for even attempting to. Tech companies banning comments that they don’t agree with to include a President, who, in my opinion, shouldn’t even be using them to govern a nation.

I am afraid that when I do finally cash in my chips, my children and grandchildren will be forced to live in a nation that stupid people have taken control of, forcing them to live in fear. I am afraid that they will be forced to live in a country where murder and perversity are the order of the day, and law enforcement no longer exists to protect them. Yes, there are corrupt cops, and things need to change, but the good cops outnumber the bad ones, and they’d be the first to tell you that things need to change. But a nation with no law is a nation no longer, and someone needs to stand up and put a stop to all of this.

My biggest fear of all is knowing that when I do die, I will never know the future of this great nation or if it survives.

An Old Citizens Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 17:02:00 +0000

Over the past eighteen or nineteen months, I have watched closely as the media has waged an unprecedented war against President Trump. I have watched as the liberal left in the form of Robert Mueller has attempted what I would call a silent coup, to removed President Trump from office and replace him with Hillary Clinton.

As a citizen of the United States and a bit of a historian, I cannot help but see similarities between modern American and Ancient Rome. The liberal left seems to be doing everything they can to destroy America and the Constitution, while the Conservative right stands by and lets them. I believe in America, and I believe in the Constitution of the United States, yet I have come to realize that it is the liberal left that is using it to destroy America.

There was a time in America when the people knew their place in this country. They knew that it was their responsibility to see to it that our government met the wishes of the people and that America’s greatness came from the people and not the government. Over the years the government and its minions have slowly but surely gained in strength and power by allowing government officials to impose unneeded regulations that are treated and enforced as law, almost to the point of communistic socialism. Interestingly, if you look at it objectively, you see that as Communism has failed in Russia, it has grown in the United States.

While I do not necessarily agree with everything that President Trump has done during his administration, I am capable of seeing his successes, and realize that what he is doing is slowly but surely re-establishing the greatness of America. At the same time, I see the battles and failure of a Congress and Senate that lacks the intestinal fortitude to stand up and do the job the people elected them to do while figuring out ways of increasing their fortunes as quickly as they can while in office. To be fair not all of our elected officials act in this manner, yet if you compare Ancient Rome to America, these are the ones who will eventually end up laying in the figurative streets with their throats cut.

As a citizen of this great nation, I believe that it is time for the American people to stand up and fight for what is right. It is time for all of us to work together and stop the nonsense that seems to be prevalent these days. It is not necessary to label everyone a racist or talk of white privilege. Not only do black lives matter, but all life matters and it time we as a people realize it.

It is time for media to return to its original ethics and report the news dispassionately and objectively and not take sides politically. It is also time for the American people to stand and realize that only by observing the First Amendment through proper discourse without violence and an exchange of ideas that you may not necessarily agree with, but you can at least learn from.

I am an old man now, and the years have gone by quickly for me. I have traveled most of the world in my youth and seen things that not many have been fortunate enough to see. Throughout it all, I have been sure of one thing. America is the freest nation in the world. When my time finally does come, I would like to go with the knowledge that it still is.

An Open Letter to Congress

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 15:49:00 +0000

During the past forty-eight hours the horror that is now our country has reared its ugly head once again with the attempted assassination of members of the Republican Party at a baseball practice, and the wounding of several members, most notably Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise. What is interesting is the sudden unity that is being shown between the Democratic Party (with a few certain exceptions) and the Republican Party. The only problem with that is that within the next several hours that unity will cease and evaporate, and we will once again see a congress that is at each other’s throats with a vengeance. Already the Democrats are saying that it is the fault of the Republicans that this happened. Nancy Pelosi has already stated that it is the Republicans fault this happened. As an American Citizen I can only say that both Nancy and Maxine together have the brain power of a cumquat.

As an ersatz representative of the American people, I feel it is necessary to state the following with the hope that one of you morons listens. I say morons simply because that is the way you are acting.

If I were to have the opportunity to stand before Congress, this is what I would say to all of you.

First of all, whether you like it or not Donald J. Trump was elected the President of the United States. We the people elected him. It wasn’t the Republican Party nor was it the Democratic Party; it actually was members of both parties. The reason is because the Democratic Candidate ran a shit campaign, and to be perfectly honest the American People aren’t so stupid that they couldn’t see what was going on. Trump may be inexperienced, but the fact is, he was telling the American People what we wanted and needed to hear, and as hard as he seems to be trying, all of you people seem to be intent on keeping him from doing what needs to be done. STOP IT!

The majority of us are fed up with your childish baloney. The Democrats need to start telling those who would resort to violence and the violations of the Constitution by rioting and protesting the First Amendment to stop. Discourse is an exchange of ideas that you can either agree with, or disagree with but generally you can learn from one another or not as it pleases you. You don’t even have to go and listen. But it is not an excuse to hurt people, burn and destroy businesses that in many cases took years to build up, or generally act like animals. This applies to you Republicans also.

Despite the terrible wounding of Congressman Scalise, this could be the pivotal moment when both parties can look critically at the situation that has over taken our country, put aside party politics and work together to solve the problems that are plaguing our nation and its economy. Ignore who has the majority in the House or Senate and start working together. If a Democrat has a good idea then he should find a Republican with a similar idea and work with him or her to flesh it out and make it a bill that has enough merit that both would either vote for or against it.

As an American Citizen, I can tell you that we are getting pretty pissed off with all of the time wasting you people are doing with trying to prove the President is a smuck and continually coming up with nothing. What is it? If you tell a lie long enough and hard enough it suddenly becomes the Truth? You people have work to do, quit wasting time and our money. If this continues you are in danger of this nation’s government collapsing all together, leaving us open to attack from our enemies.

The one thing that all of you have forgotten is the fact that it does not matter who voted you into office, it does not matter what state you are from, and it does not matter what party you belong too. Once you take the oath to serve and take your seat in either the senate or house, you not only represent the people who elected you, but you also represent every American Citizen in this Great Nation. Stop playing games and get to work. We demand it!

Climate Accord??

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 23:42:00 +0000

Over the past few days President Trump has been catching a great deal of heat from the leftist Liberals for pulling America out of the Paris Climate Accords. Problem is that these dorks have absolutely no idea as to what really happened, or why it happened. Instead they decided that they would attack Trump harder than ever in an effort to force him to either retract his decision or at the very least make his administration ineffectual.

As such I went and found out for myself what the Paris Accord really was, and I can say without doubt that Trump not only saved our economy, but our asses. If you don’t believe me then I invite you to read what the Paris Climate Accord truly is. I also point out that as you read this you’ll be struck by the fact that it seems like all of a sudden, the United Nations is speaking as the authority for those countries that signed the agreement. It wouldn’t be the first time that Obama has tried to sign away American Sovereignty, and it’s beginning to look like those who are remaining a part of the agreement are doing the same. Trump’s not stupid, and whether you believe it or not he may have just saved America.

The aim of the convention is described in Article 2, "enhancing the implementation" of the UNFCCC through:[8]

"(a) Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change;

(b) Increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production;

(c) Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development."

Countries furthermore aim to reach "global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible". The agreement has been described as an incentive for and driver of fossil fuel divestment.[9][10]

The Paris deal is the world's first comprehensive climate agreement.[11]

Nationally determined contributions and their limits

Global carbon dioxide emissions by country (US EPA)

The contributions that each individual country should make in order to achieve the worldwide goal are determined by all countries individually and called "nationally determined contributions" (NDCs).[5] Article 3 requires them to be "ambitious", "represent a progression over time" and set "with the view to achieving the purpose of this Agreement". The contributions should be reported every five years and are to be registered by the UNFCCC Secretariat.[12] Each further ambition should be more ambitious than the previous one, known as the principle of 'progression'.[13] Countries can cooperate and pool their nationally determined contributions. The Intended Nationally Determined Contributions pledged during the 2015 Climate Change Conference serve—unless provided otherwise—as the initial Nationally determined contribution.

The level of NDCs set by each country[7] will set that country's targets. However the 'contributions' themselves are not binding as a matter of international law, as they lack the specificity, normative character, or obligatory language necessary to create binding norms.[14] Furthermore, there will be no mechanism to force[6] a country to set a target in their NDC by a specific date and no enforcement if a set target in an NDC is not met.[7][15] There will be only a "name and shame" system[16] or as János Pásztor, the U.N. assistant secretary-general on climate change, told CBS News (US), a "name and encourage" plan.[17] As the agreement provides no consequences if countries do not meet their commitments, consensus of this kind is fragile. A trickle of nations exiting the agreement may trigger the withdrawal of more governments, bringing about a total collapse of the agreement.[18]

The negotiators of the Agreement however stated that the NDCs and the 2 °C reduction target were insufficient, instead, a 1.5 °C target is required, noting "with concern that the estimated aggregate greenhouse gas emission levels in 2025 and 2030 resulting from the intended nationally determined contributions do not fall within least-cost 2 °C scenarios but rather lead to a projected level of 55 gigatonnes in 2030", and recognizing furthermore "that much greater emission reduction efforts will be required in order to hold the increase in the global average temperature to below 2 °C by reducing emissions to 40 gigatonnes or to 1.5 °C".[19]

Although not the sustained temperatures over the long term to which the Agreement addresses, in the first half of 2016 average temperatures were about 1.3 °C (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit) above the average in 1880, when global record-keeping began.[20]

When the agreement achieved enough signatures to cross the threshold on 5 October 2016, US President Barack Obama claimed that "Even if we meet every target ... we will only get to part of where we need to go." He also said that "this agreement will help delay or avoid some of the worst consequences of climate change. It will help other nations ratchet down their emissions over time, and set bolder targets as technology advances, all under a strong system of transparency that allows each nation to evaluate the progress of all other nations."[21][22]

Global stocktake

The global stocktake will kick off with a "facilitative dialogue" in 2018. At this convening, parties will evaluate how their NDCs stack up to the nearer-term goal of peaking global emissions and the long-term goal of achieving net zero emissions by the second half of this century.[23]

The implementation of the agreement by all member countries together will be evaluated every 5 years, with the first evaluation in 2023. The outcome is to be used as input for new nationally determined contributions of member states.[24] The stocktake will not be of contributions/achievements of individual countries but a collective analysis of what has been achieved and what more needs to be done.

The stocktake works as part of the Paris Agreement's effort to create a "ratcheting up" of ambition in emissions cuts. Because analysts have agreed that the current NDCs will not limit rising temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius, the global stocktake reconvenes parties to assess how their new NDCs must evolve so that they continually reflect a country's "highest possible ambition".[23]

While ratcheting up the ambition of NDCs is a major aim of the global stocktake, it assesses efforts beyond mitigation. The 5 year reviews will also evaluate adaptation, climate finance provisions, and technology development and transfer.[23]

Structure

The Paris Agreement has a 'bottom up' structure in contrast to most international environmental law treaties which are 'top down', characterised by standards and targets set internationally, for states to implement.[25] Unlike its predecessor, the Kyoto Protocol, which sets commitment targets that have legal force, the Paris Agreement, with its emphasis on consensus-building, allows for voluntary and nationally determined targets.[26] The specific climate goals are thus politically encouraged, rather than legally bound. Only the processes governing the reporting and review of these goals are mandated under international law. This structure is especially notable for the United States—because there are no legal mitigation or finance targets, the agreement is considered an "executive agreement rather than a treaty". Because the UNFCCC treaty of 1992 received the consent of the Senate, this new agreement does not require further legislation from Congress for it to take effect.[26]

Another key difference between the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol is their scopes. While the Kyoto Protocol differentiated between Annex-1 and non-Annex-1 countries, this bifurcation is blurred in the Paris Agreement, as all parties will be required to submit emissions reductions plans.[27] While the Paris Agreement still emphasizes the principle of "Common but Differentiated Responsibility and Respective Capabilities"—the acknowledgement that different nations have different capacities and duties to climate action—it does not provide a specific division between developed and developing nations.[27]

Mitigation provisions and carbon markets

Article 6 has been flagged as containing some of the key provisions of the Paris Agreement.[28] Broadly, it outlines the cooperative approaches that parties can take in achieving their nationally determined carbon emissions reductions. In doing so, it helps establish the Paris Agreement as a framework for a global carbon market.[29]

Linkages and ITMOs

Paragraphs 6.2 and 6.3 establish a framework to govern the international transfer of mitigation outcomes (ITMOs). The Agreement recognizes the rights of Parties to use emissions reductions outside of their own jurisdiction toward their NDC, in a system of carbon accounting and trading.[29]

This provision requires the "linkage" of various carbon emissions trading systems—because measured emissions reductions must avoid "double counting", transferred mitigation outcomes must be recorded as a gain of emission units for one party and a reduction of emission units for the other.[28] Because the NDCs, and domestic carbon trading schemes, are heterogeneous, the ITMOs will provide a format for global linkage under the auspices of the UNFCCC.[30] The provision thus also creates a pressure for countries to adopt emissions management systems—if a country wants to use more cost-effective cooperative approaches to achieve their NDCs, they will need to monitor carbon units for their economies.[31]

Sustainable Development Mechanism

Paragraphs 6.4-6.7 establish a mechanism "to contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gases and support sustainable development".[32] Though there is no specific name for the mechanism as yet, many Parties and observers have informally coalesced around the name "Sustainable Development Mechanism" or "SDM".[33][34] The SDM is considered to be the successor to the Clean Development Mechanism, a flexible mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol, by which parties could collaboratively pursue emissions reductions for their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions. The Sustainable Development Mechanism lays the framework for the future of the Clean Development Mechanism post-Kyoto (in 2020).

In its basic aim, the SDM will largely resemble the Clean Development Mechanism, with the dual mission to 1. contribute to global GHG emissions reductions and 2. support sustainable development.[35] Though the structure and processes governing the SDM are not yet determined, certain similarities and differences from the Clean Development Mechanism can already be seen. Notably, the SDM, unlike the Clean Development Mechanism, will be available to all parties as opposed to only Annex-1 parties, making it much wider in scope.[36]

Since the Kyoto Protocol went into force, the Clean Development Mechanism has been criticized for failing to produce either meaningful emissions reductions or sustainable development benefits in most instances.[37] It has also suffered from the low price of Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs), creating less demand for projects. These criticisms have motivated the recommendations of various stakeholders, who have provided through working groups and reports, new elements they hope to see in SDM that will bolster its success.[30] The specifics of the governance structure, project proposal modalities, and overall design are expected to come during the next[when?] Conference of the Parties in Marrakesh.

Adaptation provisions

Adaptation issues garnered more focus in the formation of the Paris Agreement. Collective, long-term adaptation goals are included in the Agreement, and countries must report on their adaptation actions, making adaptation a parallel component of the agreement with mitigation.[38] The adaptation goals focus on enhancing adaptive capacity, increasing resilience, and limiting vulnerability.[39]

Ensuring finance

In the Paris Agreement, the developed countries reaffirmed the commitment to mobilize $100 billion a year in climate finance by 2020, and agreed to continue mobilizing finance at the level of $100 billion a year until 2025.[40] The commitment refers to the pre-existing plan to provide US$100 billion a year in aid to developing countries for actions on climate change adaptation and mitigation.[41]

Though both mitigation and adaptation require increased climate financing, adaptation has typically received lower levels of support and has mobilised less action from the private sector.[38] A 2014 report by the OECD found that just 16 percent of global finance was directed toward climate adaptation in 2014.[42] The Paris Agreement called for a balance of climate finance between adaptation and mitigation, and specifically underscoring the need to increase adaptation support for parties most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. The agreement also reminds parties of the importance of public grants, because adaptation measures receive less investment from the public sector.[38] John Kerry, as Secretary of State, announced that grant-based adaptation finance would double by 2020.[26]

Some specific outcomes of the elevated attention to adaptation financing in Paris include the G7 countries' announcement to provide US $420 million for Climate Risk Insurance, and the launching of a Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative.[43] In early March 2016, the Obama administration gave a $500 million grant to the "Green Climate Fund" as "the first chunk of a $3 billion commitment made at the Paris climate talks."[44][45][46] So far, the Green Climate Fund has now received over $10 billion in pledges. Notably, the pledges come from developed nations like France, the US, and Japan, but also from developing countries such as Mexico, Indonesia, and Vietnam.[26]

Loss and damage

A new issue that emerged as a focal point in the Paris negotiations rose from the fact that many of the worst effects of climate change will be too severe or come too quickly to be avoided by adaptation measures. The Paris Agreement specifically acknowledges the need to address loss and damage of this kind, and aims to find appropriate responses.[47] It specifies that loss and damage can take various forms—both as immediate impacts from extreme weather events, and slow onset impacts, such as the loss of land to sea-level rise for low-lying islands.[26]

The push to address loss and damage as a distinct issue in the Paris Agreement came from the Alliance of Small Island States and the Least Developed Countries, whose economies and livelihoods are most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change.[26] Developed countries, however, worried that classifying the issue as one separate and beyond adaptation measures would create yet another climate finance provision, or might imply legal liability for catastrophic climate events.

In the end, all parties acknowledged the need for "averting, minimizing, and addressing loss and damage" but notably excludes any mention of compensation or liability.[8] The agreement also adopts the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage, an institution that will attempt to address questions about how to classify, address, and share responsibility for loss and damage.[47]

Enhanced transparency framework

While each Party's NDC is not legally binding, the Parties are legally bound to have their progress tracked by technical expert review to assess achievement toward the NDC, and to determine ways to strengthen ambition.[48] Article 13 of the Paris Agreement articulates an "enhanced transparency framework for action and support" that establishes harmonized monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) requirements. Thus, both developed and developing nations must report every two years on their mitigation efforts, and all parties will be subject to both technical and peer review.[48]

Flexibility mechanisms

While the enhanced transparency framework is universal, along with the global stocktaking to occur every 5 years, the framework is meant to provide "built-in flexibility" to distinguish between developed and developing countries' capacities. In conjunction with this, the Paris Agreement has provisions for an enhanced framework for capacity building.[49] The agreement recognizes the varying circumstances of some countries, and specifically notes that the technical expert review for each country consider that country's specific capacity for reporting.[49] The agreement also develops a Capacity-Building Initiative for Transparency to assist developing countries in building the necessary institutions and processes for complying with the transparency framework.[49]

There are several ways in which flexibility mechanisms can be incorporated into the enhanced transparency framework. The scope, level of detail, or frequency of reporting may all be adjusted and tiered based on a country's capacity. The requirement for in-country technical reviews could be lifted for some less developed or small island developing countries. Ways to assess capacity include financial and human resources in a country necessary for NDC review.[49]

Adoption

The Paris Agreement was opened for signature on 22 April 2016 (Earth Day) at a ceremony in New York.[50] After several European Union states ratified the agreement in October 2016, there were enough countries that had ratified the agreement that produce enough of the world's greenhouse gases for the agreement to enter into force.[51] The agreement went into effect on 4 November 2016.[2]

Negotiations

Within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, legal instruments may be adopted to reach the goals of the convention. For the period from 2008 to 2012, greenhouse gas reduction measures were agreed in the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The scope of the protocol was extended until 2020 with the Doha Amendment to that protocol in 2012.[52]

During the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference, the Durban Platform (and the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action) was established with the aim to negotiate a legal instrument governing climate change mitigation measures from 2020. The resulting agreement was to be adopted in 2015.[53]

Adoption

Heads of delegations at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.

Main article: 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference

At the conclusion of COP 21 (the 21st meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which guides the Conference), on 12 December 2015, the final wording of the Paris Agreement was adopted by consensus by all of the 195 UNFCCC participating member states and the European Union[3] to reduce emissions as part of the method for reducing greenhouse gas. In the 12 page Agreement,[46] the members promised to reduce their carbon output "as soon as possible" and to do their best to keep global warming "to well below 2 degrees C" [3.6 degrees F].[54]

Signature and entry into force

Signing by John Kerry in United Nations General Assembly Hall for the United States

The Paris Agreement was open for signature by States and regional economic integration organizations that are Parties to the UNFCCC (the Convention) from 22 April 2016 to 21 April 2017 at the UN Headquarters in New York.[55]

The agreement stated that it would enter into force (and thus become fully effective) only if 55 countries that produce at least 55% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions (according to a list produced in 2015)[56] ratify, accept, approve or accede to the agreement.[57][58] On 1 April 2016, the United States and China, which together represent almost 40% of global emissions, issued a joint statement confirming that both countries would sign the Paris Climate Agreement.[59][60] 175 Parties (174 states and the European Union) signed the agreement on the first date it was open for signature.[50][61] On the same day, more than 20 countries issued a statement of their intent to join as soon as possible with a view to joining in 2016. With ratification by the European Union, the Agreement obtained enough parties to enter into effect as of 4 November 2016.

European Union and its member states

Both the EU and its member states are individually responsible for ratifying the Paris Agreement. A strong preference was reported that the EU and its 28 member states deposit their instruments of ratification at the same time to ensure that neither the EU nor its member states engage themselves to fulfilling obligations that strictly belong to the other,[62] and there were fears that disagreement over each individual member state's share of the EU-wide reduction target, as well as Britain's vote to leave the EU might delay the Paris pact.[63] However, the European Parliament approved ratification of the Paris Agreement on 4 October 2016,[51] and the EU deposited its instruments of ratification on 5 October 2016, along with several individual EU member states.[63]

The head of the Paris Conference, France's foreign minister Laurent Fabius, said this "ambitious and balanced" plan is a "historic turning point" in the goal of reducing global warming.[64] One year on, the ratification of the Paris Agreement was celebrated by the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo by illuminating the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, Paris' most iconic monuments, in green.[65]

Parties and signatories

As of December 2016, 191 states and the European Union have signed the Agreement. 148 of those parties have ratified or acceded to the Agreement, most notably China and India, the countries with three of the four largest greenhouse gas emissions of the signatories' total (about 42% together).[1][66][67]

Party or signatory[1]

Percentage of greenhouse

gases for ratification[56]

Date of signature

Date of deposit of instruments

of ratification or accession

Date when agreement

enters

MANCHESTER

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Tue, 23 May 2017 18:36:00 +0000

As I sit at my desk and watch the desert doves through the window as they build their nests and coo at one another, I am having a difficult time digesting the barbarity that has taken place in Manchester, England.

So many children, young people and their parents murdered because of a sick and twisted ideology that purports to be the word of God, but in fact is nothing more than a lie. How could it be anything else but a lie? The God I know, the one true God, or Allah if you wish, would not sanctify murder and carnage such as this. It is the dogma of man that supports this kind of thing. As far as I know there are two versions of the Koran’, the one for the Sunni and the one for the Shite. One speaks of peace and love for his fellow man, and the other speaks of conversion to Islam or death. I find it difficult to believe that God, or Allah would encourage the murder of children.

Over the past few months, President Trump has created a great deal of controversy with his Executive orders banning immigration from certain Muslim countries. Is it unfair? Of course, it is, but in light of what we are seeing, perhaps it is prudent.

I lived in England for several years. I have visited Manchester, and many other parts of that wonderful Island, and I can tell you that as a people they were kind, curious, and friendly toward me. They did not deserve this. And most especially the children, young people and parents did not deserve what has taken place. Is England perfect? No, it’s not. But as the years have passed things have changed and so have people. The British most of all I think.

I think that it is time for us to consider what must be done to stop this tragic blood shed by a people who honestly believe that when they die they will go to paradise. It is time to show them the error of their way and that God, Allah, or whatever you conceive the deity you worship will send you to rot in hell for taking the lives of the innocent who know nothing of politics, or the darker side of mankind.

In the past I have spoken about the eradication of these animals, but now I have to wonder how we can stop and convince them that this is not the answer. My heart goes out to the survivors, and to the victims. It goes out to those who have spent the past many hours trying to help them, and to those who have opened their home to those in need of help. To the Doctors and nurse who are trying desperately to save lives and often times failing. To all of them, you have my prayers for what they are worth, and the hope that God hears me and will finally bring peace to all of us.

First One Hundred plus Days of the Trumpster

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Wed, 17 May 2017 16:30:00 +0000

Well, out of fairness I gave him his first one hundred days just to see what would happen. Not, of course out of fairness, but because I wanted to see if he could actually pull it off or come out of it looking like the obvious idiot that he is. He had a few moments when he did relatively good, such as with the Syrian debacle, which in my estimation may be a little questionable. So far he’s been pulled into court twice with his immigration policy, The Obamacare repeal and replace has turned into a cluster f-ck, and his big mouth is giving away classified information to our adversaries. Jesus! What a Yob.

On many different occasions, I have stated that he could at least act a little more Presidential, and so far, he seems to be getting closer to the deep in of the pool. He also seems to be running the White House like he ran his reality TV Show “The Apprentice”, firing people left and right. Not to mention that somewhere in the White House someone is leaking everything he says and does on a regular basis. Which of course is designed to do everything it can to discredit his administration. And of course, the media and press is eating it up like a wolf goes after a piece of raw meat, making sure that the public knows everything that’s going on whether it’s true or not. I trust the press about as much as I can throw their collective asses, and frankly there are times when I trust myself even less. But hey! This is my blog and these are my opinions so it doesn’t really matter, I guess. I do try to get it right, but occasionally I screw the pooch.

Throughout it all, I can’t help but wonder what would happen if those damned Democrats and those moronic Republicans would finally get their shit together and stop the silliness that is going on in both the House and Senate. It’s obvious that these asswipes on both sides of the isle have absolutely no interest in serving the people who elected them. They certainly aren’t doing us any good, and all they seem to be doing is towing the party line. Which, as it turns out is nothing more than an anchor around our necks where we ultimately pay the price, either financially or even our lives. I’ve written this blog for years in the hope that someone would listen, but in reality its turned into a monumental session in self stimulation, if you know what I mean.

Despite all of this I would still be willing to give Trump a chance if the media and those turkeys in the Congress would back off and start doing the job they were actually hired to do. However, with North Korea, ISIS, and Russia after our butts, he had better get his own stuff together, stay the hell off of Twitter, and gain a true understanding of what it means to be a President. You don’t run a country on social media, and you certainly don’t make arbitrary decisions without thinking about what you are doing. If you continue to do so, you, yourself might hear those words you have made so famous. “Your Fired!”

When did News quit being News and start to be Propaganda?

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 19:57:00 +0000

Having been in Journalism for nearly thirty years in one form or another, I write this blog to vent my spleen and from time to time make people think a little bit.

Back when I first started for a local paper in Brookneal, Virginia, I was taught, often the hard way, that when you reported the news you were required to get facts. If the facts weren't there you didn't make up facts. You reported the news straight. You didn't add personal opinions, you just reported the event whatever it was and that was it.

As the years went by I discovered that there actually was a collection of volumes of what was known as Journalism Law, which very clearly stated what was or was not acceptable when reporting the news. These were compiled from court cases and other incidents that had taken place over the years. The crux of the matter was that while the First Amendment did indeed apply, if the content was not true and damaging to an individual or organization the reporter or news organization responsible would pay a price.

In short, the news was reported impartially and as humanly accurately as possible. There was no slant to it, there was no double meaning, and there was no personal bias. Now it seems that most of the major news organization are doing everything that they can to destroy President Trump, or at the very least make his policies or attempts to solve this nations problems problematic. It's clear that when the man calls these news organizations out for printing or broadcasting "Fake News", they go into meltdown mode and go on the attack. Frankly there is only one News organization I trust, and to be honest there are times when I question their impartiality. But they seem to do the best job of broadcasting the news, while the others start pitching fits like two years old.

What pisses me off more than anything is that fact that these morons deliberately broadcast news that is twisted and inaccurate driving the American people into a frenzy over bullshit, and the American people are stupid enough to believe it. But then it seems there is now a certain segment of the American people who are looking for any excuse to riot and destroy anything they can. It doesn't matter that in many cases it took other people years to build up a business that is destroyed in just moments. And if you look at it carefully you can trace it all right back to the feet of the news organizations printing and broadcasting lies or as El Presidente calls it, "Fake News".

As a journalist, this type of news reporting is disgusting and makes me sick to my stomach. How dare they take a profession that is supposed to keep the people informed, tell the truth, and above all be impartial and pervert it like this. Edward R. Morrow must be spinning in his grave.

Seriously??

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 18:40:00 +0000

So Far Trump's first one hundred days have been at the very least interesting and in reality a monumental cluster-fuck.

Interestingly, not because Trump or the majority of his staff are incompetent boobs, but more because the media and the Democratic Party are doing everything they can do bring Trump's administration crashing down around his head. I sat back and looked at the history of the presidents and discovered that Democratic Presidents have pulled even bigger boners that Trump or his team and no one mentioned it or even brought the subject up. Obama being a case in point. During his first campaign he railed about the economy and the national debt and then when he got into office he immediately raised the debt ceiling, gave trillions of dollars to cronies and bailed out companies "To big to fail". What the fuck! If a company is failing let it fail. There was something fundamentally wrong with it to begin with. Even after all of this nothing was said by either the Democrats or even the Republicans.

What pisses me of more than anything was that damned Obamacare. I, and others screamed and yelled about what would happen with this piece of shit (and it did) yet when a member of Congress found his balls and stood up and told Obama that he was lying. So what does the Congress do? They censure him before congress. It didn't matter that the guy was right and when Obama care passed it was proven.

Look, Trump seems to be a screwball, but the fact of the matter is that he is attempting to keep all of his campaign promises. What President in the history of this country ever did that? The Democrats have stated that they will do everything they possibly can to sabotage anything that Trump attempts to do and have done everything they could to agitate the people. Turns out that this bullshit the actors and others spouted about leaving the country if Trump got elected was exactly that. Bullshit. I haven't seen anyone leave yet.

With regard to the illegal immigrants trying to sneak into Canada, well Canada will take anyone and proved it during the Vietnam War. As for the illegal roundups by ICE. That one was a bit of a surprise, and frankly I think that Trump might have over stepped himself there. But don't you find it interesting that all of a sudden what is law has become a weapon in the Democratic arsenal of civil unrest? Now the dweebs are pulling exactly what the Republicans did and are comparing Trump with Hitler and comparing him to the burning of the Rieshstach, and that he will do what Hitler did. Take total and absolute control. It doesn't matter to them that if that bitch Clinton had made it into office we would have gone farther down the crapper that we already have.

I'm so fucking tired of this crap. Come on people, instead of rioting and destroying businesses that it took some poor smuck years to billed up take up a hobby or something productive. All you're doing is making asses out of yourselves and making America into a farce.

Alright, I was pissed and I was more than a little irratated.

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 23:37:00 +0000

What? You don't get ticked off from time to time?? I entered melt down mode when I was informed that I now had to pay $140.00 a month out of an SSI check that I am barely making it on to begin with. Problem is that the government talks about minimum wage at $15.00 an hour when in reality they pay the retired and walking wounded less than .63 cents an hour and expects them to smile sweetly and bend over without the benefit of a reach around. Then they expect you to pay for your own medicines to boot! Which by the way cost higher than a giraffes asshole to start with, so you then have to make the decision of whether or not you're going to eat for that week or survive by dumpster diving. Been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt. Don't like it and certainly don't recommend it. Yet the government expects you to do your part to help the country.

Over the last two hundred or so years we have gone from a nation that could actually take care of itself, to a nation that is so regulated and govenmentize we can't even take a shit without being taxed for it. It has even gotten to the point where the government was actually considering taxing us for the rain that fell on the roofs of the buildings we used or lived in. No Kidding! Anything for the all holy dollar.

My point is this. As a nation our government is failing. We sit by while the political parties use every dirty trick they can think of to discredit Presidential nominees, without even giving a thought as to the damage it does to the individual or his or her family. They don't care, and for the most part it seems that the American people don't care either. What happened guys? Some where along the line you loose your sense of honor? Our government is failing and you sit back as though you don't give a rat's ass. Oh, I get it! As long as it doesn't interfere with your football games, television, or beer, then it's ok. Jesus! What a bunch of losers. I guess it's true. All of the real Americans are serving in the military so you can sit on your asses. Guess that makes them look like a bunch of horses asses, doesn't it? I mean, after all they're willing to put their lives on the line just so a bunch of lazy couch potatoes can just sit there and do nothing.

What pisses me off more than anything else is the fact that ever since Obama, the rest of the world had come to look upon America as a joke and in all probability easy pickings. Lets see, Iran, gets sanctions added on for violating that joke of a treaty and then in response launches five more the day after the sanctions, like its daring us to do something. I don't know about Trump, but my response would be to call a special session of the middle east nations and make arrangements to bomb the shit out of them and destroy their nuclear capabilities. What bunker busters 24/7 for three months? I'd say that would pretty much get the message across. It would also show the rest of the world that pissing us off is not a good idea. Especially the Chinese and Russians. But hey! That's just me. I don't have a clue what Trump is thinking about, and from the looks of it neither does he.

Kiss the Darkest Part of my Lilly White Ass!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 21:07:00 +0000

Today was the day! I have finally reached the point where I have absolutely no respect for my government or the self centered, self aggrandizing, self serving, politicians that comprise the government of the United States. They are nothing but a bunch of greedy ass wipes who have no other purpose in life than to serve their own personal needs and the needs of their political cronies, and this includes that horses ass Trump!

I am sitting here watching a congress and Senate play piss ant games with each other concerning nominations of Trump's cabinet, and I am watching Trump back away from promises that he made during his campaign. I personally don't give a flying fuck about his immigration orders, and I care even less about Dodd Frank. What I care about is the fact that because of Obama and his fucking Obamacare, I suddenly find that I don't make enough money in a month to live like a human-being. All thanks to Medicare and the money that those pricks are now suddenly taking out of my SSI. Hell I was barely making it with what I was getting. Now I have to apply for food stamps, and find a way to generate some sort of income that doesn't violate the income rules for SSI. Which in this part of the country is next to impossible. Oh by the way....I live in Alamogordo, NM. If god were to give the planet an enema, this is where he would stick the tube in. Where am I, a one legged sixty-five year old man is going to find a job or extra income in a town where the first actual grocery store in this town was established thee years ago?

What pisses me off more than anything else is the fact that despite what Trump and our Representatives try and tell us, they actually don't give a fly fuck about us. All they care about is what they can gain financially and personally. Screw Them! They are nothing more than a bunch of crooks who think that we are so stupid that we can't figure out what the hell they are doing.

As for Trump. yeah ok, he's keeping his promises that he made during the campaign, but who the fuck cares. When are the Congress, Senate, and the President goin to start looking and solving the problems the every day people are dealing with. I'm starving to death and you talk about a poverty line that I would happen to be at because I could live like a human-being. I make less than $6,000 a year, and I am supposed to survive on this?

For all of you out there reading this and going "boohoo poor bill" , fuck you! You try living on nothing. I eat once meal a day and the rest of my money goes to rent, internet, and medicine co-pay's. I understand that Alpo dog food taste pretty good if prepared right. I guess that I am going to find out. The only problem is that based on the diet I'll have to eat and the fact that I can only afford to each once a day, I'll be dead before I'm seventy. Which is probably what the government wants anyway.

Wake up government. The American people are about to wake up and stuff your own dicks straight up your asses.

GODDAMNIT!!

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 17:35:00 +0000

Its getting harder and harder to support an individual that has constantly proven to be an idiot. I am of course speaking of our dear President.

Almost on a daily basis he has continually showed America and the rest of the world what a moron he is proving to be, and it's beginning to look like his staff and advisors have totally lost control of his actions. Up until this point I didn't even know that there actually was a POTUS account on Twitter. Perhaps it would be a good idea for Twitter to revoke his account. Jesus Christ! I have never in my life seen anyone alienate so many countries so quickly as this clown has. USE YOUR HEAD DUMMY!! It is possible to accomplish the things you want to accomplish without pissing everyone off. At the rate you're going we'll be at war, either a civil war, or a war with some other country within the next six months.

His most recent escapade with the immigration order is probably the stupidest thing he's done to date. While I agree that something has to be done, there are better ways of doing it. So far you've managed to piss off most of America and the world because you didn't use your head. So what happens next?

I never liked Obama, but at least he made an effort to maintain the dignity of the office of the Presidency, and even though he resorted to tactics that I found distasteful, he didn't pick fights with the rest of the world on Twitter, and tried to maintain relations with our allies. The issue of Mexico could have been dealt with differently and in a manner that may have pissed them off, but not to the point where they wanted to cross the border in force and kick our asses.

Now we have the problem of California wanting to leave the Union and become a nation in its own right. Having lived in California for several years that might not be such a bad thing, but if they do, it opens the door for the dissolution of the entire country and quite possibly civil war. History will repeat itself since it was the succession of several Southern States in the 1860's that started that one, and frankly having California as a country sitting on our western border kind of frightens me. California may be the land of fruits and nuts, but the idea of pissing them off is not a bright one.

I am begging you sir, shut your cake hole, listen to your advisors, think things through carefully and when you take action be reasonable and don't take action by kicking everyone in the nuts. Take a step back and start again, this time be presidential and for the love of God, stop using Twitter!!

Eating a little crow, maybe....

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 16:50:00 +0000

Ok, so I make mistakes, and on occasion I get sucked in on certain stories. That last one being a case in point. In preparation for doing my level best to burn the Trump I started doing some serious research and made some discoveries that sat me back on my butt.

Some of the things that I discovered I personally didn't like, some I did like, and some I have to admit that I never thought that I would ever see. One of the things that I at least raised an eyebrow over was the ever popular pipeline from Canada to the Southern Coast of America. Obama had put the cabash on that one, yet within a matter of days Trump signed an order removing the restrictions Obama had put in place allowing the construction of the Pipeline to move forward. More jobs, and a move toward making America energy independent. I personally am not sure of what the environmental impact is going to be, and frankly at this stage of the game I don't particularly care. Not because I am anti-environmentalist, far from it, but because this is one of those political bullshit scenarios that has been driving the country crazy and it needs to end. I also point out that the oil company still has to apply for the permits, which in all probability they won't get for environmental reasons. (catch 22).

The next thing is the fact that Trump stopped a shitload of money from going to the Palestinians which Obama ordered sent to them at the last moment before leaving office. COME ON!! You know what that money is going to be used for. While I was in the Army I had the occasion to be sent to Israel from Germany as an advisor during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Let me tell you, the Arabs hate the Jews with a passion that can only be compared to that of Nazi Germany, and given the chance they will do anything in their power to destroy them.

Trump it seems has been very busy keeping as many of his campaign promises as he can, given the circumstances. He himself, has admitted that some of the things he promised are going to take time because of the slowness of Congress, which it is well known takes it time to do even the simplest things. One thing he did was order that the "Wall" begin construction immediately. What people don't seem to realize is that several years ago Congress ordered that a Wall be built. Part of it was built but then for some reason they lost interest in it. All Trump did was tell them to get off their asses. The problem that I see here is that Trump has stated the Mexican Government is going to pay for it, and the Mexicans promptly gave him a single digit salute. Trump replied that he would impose a tariff on anything coming into the country from Mexico and that's how they would pay for it. You know, for a business man, I have to admit that his concept of economics is a little screwed. If he adds a 20% tariff to all of the shit that comes from Mexico we are the ones going to pay for it in the form of higher prices and Mexico is going to be laughing its ass off because they in reality won't have to spend a cent. What Trump should have done is just say we'll pay for the damned thing and tell the Mexicans to bite the big fuzzy one.

I will say, that unlike many of his predecessors, he has actually met with the majority of the Union Leaders and had talks with them concerning jobs and job security. Which is a point in his favor. Unions Leaders aren't known to give an inch on anything. Whatever he said or told them must have been a humdinger.

One thing that I will say for Trump is that his belief in America is great. Which may be why he wants to make America Great Again. (Yeah yeah I know) There are a great many other things that he has to deal with, Obamacare being one of them, but at the end of his first one hundred days we'll have a better look at what's happening.

Well, now we know..

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 17:30:00 +0000

Well, with a thundering clap we have suddenly determined exactly what kind of President the Trump is going to make, and frankly I have to admit that despite his foibles maybe the Obamanator might not have been quite as bad as we thought.

What does this monumental prick do??? Well, first of all no sooner is he sworn into office, he signs several orders concerning the appointment of his cabinet, but at the same time he also signs an order raising taxes. The we find out that the deal he worked with Boeing to replace Air Forces one is to take a step backwards and go from the 747 aircraft, which is basically an armored flying war room to the Boeing A25 which is essentially the flying piece of shit he's using as his personal jet. No emergency electronics, no armor, no in flight anti-missile chaff, and certainly no way of running our nation in the event of war. In actuality it's nothing more than a way to run and hide if he has to. How chickenshit can you get? The Art of the Deal my Ass!

I could be wrong, but its beginning to look as if the American People screwed themselves again. What's next? Sure they can get rid of Obamacare, but what are they going to put in its place? Oh yeah, I forgot, they are going to make it possible for the American people to purchase health insurance across state lines, and give the states more control over Medicaid and Medicare, which is a little like trying to put a forest fire out by pissing on it.

You mark my words, by the time this asshole is finished we are either going to be in the middle of a monumental Civil War, or we will have entered into a dark period that will make the dark ages of Europe look like a picnic.

Start stocking up America, its the only way you and yours are going to survive.

Today is the day....Donald J. Trump is now our President

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 18:19:00 +0000

Well, today Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as our new President and it is time for us to sit back and watch carefully his actions that he has promised to see if he keeps those promises.

I was surprised at his speech since it deviated very little from his campaign promises, and I think that it shocked the hell out of the pundits in attendance. One hundred days starting today is what he has to make visible and real progress toward making America great again. My question is how is he going to do it, and what is he going to do? It is my hope that he extends a friendly hand toward the Democrats in an effort to find equality toward solving the problems of America and standing tall within the international community.

For now he has luncheons, dinners, and balls to attend. Tomorrow he officially starts work.

Tomorrows the big day.....

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 17:07:00 +0000

Well, tomorrow is the day of days for the country. Donald J. Trump will officially become our next President and all hell is going to break loose. The question is; Why? For over two hundred years the United States has shown the world that it is possible for a government to have a smooth transition and continue on to solve the problems as they come up. A lot of problems to be sure, and frankly problems that the government for the most part creates itself, but never the less a smooth transition.

Already we have seen a great many people announce that they are going to protest Trump's inauguration, and there is a very real possibility that there may be violence. If that happens then Obama has truly turned us into a third world nation. Trump's call to "Make America Great Again" takes on a whole new meaning.

We as a nation, for over two hundred years have stood before the world and shown it that as Republic and a Democracy freedom can and does work. I'm not saying that as a nation we are perfect, we're not. What I am saying is that as a nation we have represented freedom of the likes no other country has ever experienced. We can say what we please without fear of being arrested, we have the ability to own guns and protect ourselves, our families, our property, and our lives. We can even own property. No other country in the world allows a single individual to actually own property. They can lease it from the government, but in actuality they do not own it. I don't give a shit about what the conspiracy nuts say about the government putting our lands up for collateral to china or shit like that. What I know is that I can get up in the morning and have my coffee without fear of some one breaking down my door and hauling me off into the pit and blowing my brains out.

Now we have nuts and screwballs standing up and protesting, threatening to disrupt the inaugural parade by blocking the streets and the possibility of violence taking place during Trump's inauguration. Come on you cry babies. Trump won, I get that you don't like him. When Obama won I didn't like it, but you didn't see me or others causing riots in the street or pulling the kind of crap that your pulling. Get over it and move on. If the Donald screws the pooch then impeach him. Other wise get your collective shit together and start to act like Americans. The Electoral College says the American people elected him to become the President of this nation, get use to it. Get on with your lives and stop acting like a bunch of babies. This country is a great place to live. Quit trying to degrade it and make it like a nation dependent upon the United Nations for food, clothing, and shelter.

We are not a nation of crazies. We are nation of free peoples who have the right and ability to live our lives freely and the way we wish. It's time we come together and make our government better. It's also time to stand as one and show the world that we are great and perhaps the greatest nation in the history of man, far exceeding that of the Roman Empire, who's only goal was that of conquest.

Quit being children, and quit throwing fits, its not becoming of you. You as Americans are better than that.

Give it a rest you morons!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 00:40:00 +0000

I'm getting pretty damned sick with listening to you bleeding heart liberal duck fuckers bitch and complain about the Donald. I think that the icing on the cake was that fat pig Rosie O'Donnell demanding that martial law be declared until all questions with Trump can be cleared. Shit! That bitch's kids hate her guts to begin with and she thinks her opinion matters. Then again what makes me think my opinion matters. Besides she has the personality of a rabid Cossack on an acid trip. But that would be giving Cossacks a bad rap.

So far this week we've seen the Republicans give Trump's nominees to his cabinet nothing but shit, and the Democrats ask questions about so called compromising documents and videos as published by "Buzz feed". Who its beginning to appear are Buzzed to begin with. Hmmmm...maybe I can get them to share a little of that.

Come on people! Get your heads screwed on right and get over your selves. No matter what you say, no matter how you put it, the Trump is the next President. So far everyone is talking about his ethics, moral character, and whether or not he a snatch grabber. He may be but that's another story. If he screws the pooch, impeach his ass, but for the love of god get over the baloney and lets see what happens.

As for the media, listen guys there used to be a time when you did indeed shape the history of the world. That was back in the days when you actually reported the news and talked about issues that actually meant something. Like back in the days when Edward R. Morrow finally made the American people wake up and tell that little drunkard Congressman who was so forgettable I can't even remember the little bastard's name, that not everyone was a Communist and knock the shit off. Now days all you do is create crisis and try to influence people with you bullshit and lies. One hundred and fifty years ago, when the news came from the local news paper, and the editor was directly answerable to the people, was when news was news and even though the editor or reporter expressed and opinion it was a given that it was his opinion. Sometimes people agreed with them and did something about it. Now days the police are loosing their lives because the media is giving traction to weirdo groups who want nothing more than to see the law fail, giving them the opportunity to break it and do what ever they please.

You watch. Some one is going to read this and then play the race card. Fuck you! Its already been done, and if you want to get technical, my people were sitting on the beach when you clowns arrived.

The Future...

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 19:12:00 +0000

Since I am not Nostradamus or any of those other fortune tellers that seem to be able to prognosticate the future of the world, I thought that I would give it a try from the point of view of what is happening now. In other words take the available information and express an opinion. Such as it is.

The problem that we have is that there is so much information and it comes almost at the speed of light.

On News Years Eve an ISIS (Islamic State, ISIL, IS) gunman attacked a night club in Turkey, killing an estimated 39 people and wounding countless others. An act of terror to validate their existence to the world, but an indicator of what's to come here in the United States. To be sure we have had a few incidents that have been called terrorist attacks, but nothing of the magnitude of this, and nothing of the magnitude of 9/11. BUT! It doesn't mean it won't happen in the United States, and if it does it will be even bigger than the destruction of the Twin Towers. You might ask; how does he know this?? Ok, First of all use your melon (head), our Northern and Southern borders are as porous as a sieve and anyone serious enough to want to come into the United States secretly can and will. Particularly at the Southern Border. The Border Patrol (god bless them) just do not have the man power or equipment to catch everyone, and the drug cartels have proven this countless of times, along with the coyotes bringing illegal immigrants across. Interestingly, I have talked with several Border Patrol Agents over the past several months and have been told that on more than one occasion they have found pamphlets written in Arabic giving instructions on how to get across the border and how to avoid the Border Patrol. One thing that you have to remember is that these individuals are military trained which of course puts the Border Patrol at a disadvantage. Once they are in the States there is no telling what will happen. Frankly I am surprised that nothing happened at the New Years celebration in New York. But then the New York police has to be given credit for the steps and measures they took to ensure the safety of the celebrants. It doesn't take a genius to understand that we aren't as safe as we would like to think we are. That fact will become abundantly clear sooner or later.

Russia and Putin seem to be in the news lately. Numb Nuts, I mean President Obamanator, has charged the Russians and Putin with cyber attacks which are supposed to have affected the election, giving Trump the winning advantage. This is horse shit of course since it has already been proven that Trump did indeed win the election, simply because the American people are fed up with the Democratic exclusionism despite what kind of lies they try to tell the American people. As I have said before, there is no guarantee that Trump will do better or solve all of our problems, but the liberal babies out there are making all sorts of threats. Some have stated that he'll never be inaugurated, and some have said he'll be impeached. Come on you morons, he will be inaugurated, that's a given. Whether or not he's impeached is another story. I will say that the damned Republicans had better get their shit together and start to talk with the Democrats instead of ignoring them. I'm not going to make any prognostications on Trump yet, simply because it's to soon.

It's pretty apparent that 2017 is going to be at least interesting. Hopefully it will be a good year for both all of you, and for the country.

HAPPY NEW YEAR "2017"

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 18:58:00 +0000

As always I try to wish everyone who comes here a Happy New Year. 2017 promises to be interesting at the very least. A New Year, and finally a new president. Let us hope that both prove to be profitable and enjoyable for all of us. So...

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2017

Keep your fingers crossed....

What's Coming???

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 18:55:00 +0000

Well, Trump's inauguration is in about 25 days at which point we will find out just what kind of President he'll make. Interestingly all of the big name entertainers are shying away since they feel that if they show it means professional suicide. Maybe that's not such a bad thing considering the quality of some of the big name entertainers. I've noticed that "Cher", who said that she would leave the country if Trump became President hasn't left yet. There are several others who made the same promise, and they haven't left yet. sigh....

During Trump's campaign he made a number of promises to his supporters, lets hope that he's a man of his word. The problem is that if he solves the problems created by Obama he inevitably will become the most hated man in the country. Not because he's a bad man, but because the majority of the liberals are going to go ballistic over the fact that he has taken a different approach to government than most of the politicians since Reagan. His biggest problem is going to be Obama care. The Democrats are going to fight that one simply because some stupid bastard is going to try and preserve that idiot's legacy. In the mean time, despite the fact that he is President until Trump takes over, is doing everything he can to make sure that Trump has to deal with a bucket of worms. Most notable the Israel and United Nations situation. Charles Krauthammer surprised the hell out of me when he suggested that Trump find a way to put his name on the United Nations building and turn it into condominiums. My respect for Krauthammer climbs daily. But then I've been suggesting that we kick the UN the hell out of New York and turn it into low income housing. No one listens to me anyway.

For what its worth, I hope that Trump extends a hand of open cooperation toward the Democrats, that way when they spit at him he can solve the problems and take full credit for it. But still, if they are willing to work with the man perhaps something good can happen for this country. Doubtful, but still it would be a wonder if it did happen.

I have to admit that I am more than a little curious as to what happens at the inauguration. Obama flaunted tradition in the worst way when he and porky refused to make an appearance at several functions where the newly inaugurated President at least makes a showing. If nothing else, if Trump follows tradition that will be points in his favor.

In the mean time, we can hope that despite the fact Trump is going to have his hands full when he takes office, we can hope that he does so gracefully, and works his ass off.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Sun, 25 Dec 2016 18:44:00 +0000

As is my tradition since starting this blog all those years ago, I want to wish all of you who stop in regularly just to see what kind of devilment I'm up too and those who just stop in a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

I also would like to offer up a prayer for my nation and all of my friends that God protects them and helps them through the difficulties of the coming year.

MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU

even if you don't want it!! So there!!

Scientology…Fraud Extraordinaire

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 19:32:00 +0000

Every once in a while I like to pick a subject and stir the pot a little just to see how badly I can piss someone off. Since Leah Rimini has started broadcasting her program “Scientology and the aftermath” I have to see if I can help her out. Not of course that she needs it, since she seems to be doing a pretty good job of it by herself. I will say that once, many years ago, I was fortunate enough to avoid that trap during a time in my life when things were fairly ambiguous for me.

I love science-fiction and I have to admit that on several occasions I have read sci-fi books written by L. Ron Hubbard. Not great reading, but not bad either. The story goes that Hubbard and a friend were having lunch together one afternoon and somehow they got onto the subject of religion. I personally don’t know if the story is true, but somehow it has the ring of truth to it, but Hubbard is supposed to have announced to his friend that he could create a worldwide religion and bet one hundred dollars on it. Thus the birth of Scientology.

I don’t particularly give a rat’s ass about what is turning out to be the biggest con job in the history of the world. What I care about is the fact that in order to keep the Con going these low-life scum bags are destroying families who don’t know any better, and forcing them to believe that they are criminals because the Church says they are. Actually, I think the biggest criminal of the bunch is that low life piece of shit David Miscavige. By the by David, I have one leg, but if you were ever to come at me with the intent of striking me, they would definitely be pulling a very expensive carbon fiber prosthetic out of your posterior. I might add that there is a real possibility that you’d have to undergo facial reconstructive surgery. But hey! That’s just me.

Hubbard was a writer and story teller, and like most writers he wanted to see his books sell, and the Church of Scientology was the perfect way to do it. Now! You can sue me, but since I haven’t got anything it would be a waste of time. You can accuse me of being a convicted felon, but everybody who knows me already knows that. You can’t threaten me with “Disconnection” since the majority of my children don’t talk to me anyway, and those who do talk to me think I’m an asshole anyway. I suppose you could hire a Private Investigator, but that would end up with him and me having coffee in the morning and me giving him my itinerary for the day. Which, if you think about it isn’t very interesting since I have no money and don’t go very far from home except to my church (Which is a REAL Church) to borrow a few bucks from the pastor when I need it. You could of course accuse me of being a wife beater, child molester, or any number of other things, which would result in me suing you and Scientology out of existence. This one actually appeals to me since I love a good fight.

As time goes by less and people are afraid of you, and I least of all. The public is not as stupid as you seem to think it is. The question I have is this; when this thing called Scientology falls to pieces what is going to happen to all of your victims? Where will they go? How will they gain some sort of education to prepare them for life outside of SeaOrg. Christ! This is worse than some polygamist groups out there.

So David Miscavige, in short, you can kiss the darkest part of my lily white ass. Well, maybe not, you might try to bite it.

Trump Won, so what! Live with it!!

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 19:15:00 +0000

Ok, I waited for the election baloney to end before writing this simply because neither candidate thrilled me and frankly it was entertaining to watch Trump and Clinton go at each other. Jesus! What a couple of yobs.

So now that it’s over I find that the libtards, Hollywood actors, nuts, and freaks are even more entertaining. One problem. Trump won. The Electoral College voted him in and then cast their ballots as required by the states. It was then certified by Congress. Trump won. Get over it for Christ sake and quit making fools of yourselves by standing up in meetings and on the streets screaming “This is my country!”

NEWS FLASH…. It’s my country also, as well as the next guy or gal. Get on with life and let’s see what happens. If he screws the pooch there is always impeachment. Who knows he might actually do a fairly good job. If you think about it he couldn’t do any worse than the Obamanator.

Everyone’s problem with Trump is that he’s an asshole and he knows it, and he really doesn’t care. Another problem is the fact that all of the illegal aliens who snuck into this country are afraid that he’s going to see to it that they are caught and shipped back to whatever country they came from. Admittedly this issue is a bit more complicated than you think, but in point of fact there are issues that are going to take some creative thinking to solve. Trump’s issue seems to be that it’s necessary to deport the criminal element of the illegal aliens and then work on the other issues that seem to go hand in hand with it all.

What tickles the hell out of me is the fact that somehow or other the Russians is now being blamed for Trump’s victory. What happened? Did they send secret subliminal messages to everyone on the Internet telling them to vote for Trump? You watch that one will come up eventually. Hillary is just sitting back and watching and laughing her ass off instead of going public and telling the nut jobs to settle down and act like responsible adults instead of children pitching fits.

The fact of the matter is that America has a shitload of problems, and those problems need to be solved. So far the Democrats have tried to solve them by dumping trillions of dollars into it all and ultimately having the money end up with Democratic cronies and even bigger problems. You can bet that whatever Trump attempts to solve the problems the Dems are going to fight him tooth and nail, simply because they are stupid and Trump is a Republican. I have to give Trump credit for one thing; he doesn’t trust the Republicans any more than he does the Democrats. But then the feeling seems to be mutual. The problem with the Republicans is that they lost also. None of the candidates they were willing to support even made it to the finish line, bailing out long before the Republican Convention, and that just plain pissed them off since Trump wasn’t one of them. Can you say Ross Perot??

Trump’s selection for his cabinet is and has caused a great deal of turmoil giving the media more cannon fodder than a WWI trench war. That process is going to be interesting.

Fourth of July, Independence Day, Happy Birthday America

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 16:00:00 +0000

Today, July 4th, 2016, marks the 240th birthday of the United States of America, but I ask the question ; What does it mean and represent now, from what it represented then?

To most Americans it means fireworks, tailgate parties, bar-b-q's, drinking, and just generally having fun. What has in fact happened is that we as a nation and a people have forgotten the true meaning of this day. We have forgotten the sacrifices of those individuals who signed the Declaration of Independence, the blood that was shed by those first Americans who fought for our freedoms which we take for granted. We have forgotten that Freedom comes at a price and that it take blood to nourish the soil of liberty. We have forgotten those who have fought and died so that we and this nation can remain free. Most importantly we have forgotten that it is "we the people" who are responsible for the governing of this nation and that it is not the government of those who are corrupt and power hungry.

Read the Declaration of Independence below, and then compare it with what is happening today. Look closely at what is happening in the nation you live in and then look closely at this document and tell me that everything is alright, that we are still a free nation. All of the reasons for declaring Independence are listed here, and all of those reasons are as valid now as they were when it was first written. Then ask yourself what you are going to do about the situation.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:
Column 1
Georgia:
   Button Gwinnett
   Lyman Hall
   George Walton
Column 2
North Carolina:
   William Hooper
   Joseph Hewes
   John Penn
South Carolina:
   Edward Rutledge
   Thomas Heyward, Jr.
   Thomas Lynch, Jr.
   Arthur Middleton
Column 3
Massachusetts:
John Hancock
Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton
Column 4
Pennsylvania:
   Robert Morris
   Benjamin Rush
   Benjamin Franklin
   John Morton
   George Clymer
   James Smith
   George Taylor
   James Wilson
   George Ross
Delaware:
   Caesar Rodney
   George Read
   Thomas McKean
Column 5
New York:
   William Floyd
   Philip Livingston
   Francis Lewis
   Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
   Richard Stockton
   John Witherspoon
   Francis Hopkinson
   John Hart
   Abraham Clark
Column 6
New Hampshire:
   Josiah Bartlett
   William Whipple
Massachusetts:
   Samuel Adams
   John Adams
   Robert Treat Paine
   Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
   Stephen Hopkins
   William Ellery
Connecticut:
   Roger Sherman
   Samuel Huntington
   William Williams
   Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire:
   Matthew Thornton

Orlando

noreply@blogger.com (Been Franklin) — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 20:58:00 +0000

As a Christian Conservative the idea of Homosexuality is something that I find difficult to understand or accept on a personal level. Yet at the same time I understand that it is as much a part of the human condition as breathing. We read in the Bible that it is wrong and for the most part accept it as such. Yet as a Christian I also remember what Jesus said about "Judge not lest yea be judged."

For the moment let's forget that the victims of the "Pulse" Nightclub were gay. Let's forget that they chose to live a different kind of lifestyle than the majority of us do. Let us however, remember that first and foremost they were Americans. Let us also remember that they were human-beings, with many of the same desires that you and I have. To be loved and cared about. To be remembered by friends and family, and most importantly, to have mattered. Let us also remember that ALL lives matter, despite what some would have you believe.

The 49 people who were cold bloodedly murdered by what is now known to be an Islamic Terrorist should be a reminder that ISIS hates America and everything it stands for, and will do whatever it takes to destroy us. We have a President who for what ever reason refuses to acknowledge this fact, and dances through his days thinking that the Alice in Wonderland world he has created for himself will be a legacy of greatness of his Presidency, when in reality it will do nothing more than show the world that there really was a moron that somehow or other made it to the White House due in part to the complacency of the American People.

It does not matter that the victims of this heinous act were gay. It does matter that they were Americans and that it's time for us, as Americans, to stand up and acknowledge the fact that acts of terrorism have finally become the reality of our society.

Right now, at this very moment America finds itself in the most precarious position of its entire existence, politically, morally, and financially. Unless we as a people standup and tell the government that this must and will stop, it will continue until the rule of law and the Constitution of the United States fail completely and we become nothing more than a society of victims waiting for invasion and the loss of everything our forefathers have spend the past two hundred years fighting for.

There are solutions to the problems, but no one in the government seems to be will to even consider them for fear of loosing what wealth and power they have gained personally. America was once a great country, and it can be again, but it will not happen with either Trump or Clinton. Trump is basically an idiot, and Clinton is basically a greedy twat who has lied to the American people continually, and found herself the presumptive Democratic Candidate long before the primaries. There is proof that the Democrats had known she would be chosen as the Democratic Candidate and that they payoffs were in. Trump through some weird joke of fate became the Republican Candidate in much the same way Ross Perot would have, but this time around the Republican Party didn't have balls enough to tell Trump that he either dropped out of the race or face the fact that the Party would not support him. Now all they are concerned about is offending the helmet headed SOB instead of convincing Paul Ryan that he has an obligation and Duty to America and that he had better get off his ass and do the job he supposed to do.

As for the victims of this most recent act of Terrorism and their families, I send to you my heart felt condolences, and prayers and the hope that once America get's it head out it ass, it figures out that this was not just an attack against gays and the LGBT community, but an attack against all Americans.