Why Has This Become Such A Racial Issue

Ok folks...I'm officially pissed off tonight and I've got quite a bit to say so bear with me.  This could get a bit rough.

Today the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued a resolution condemning the Tea Party for being a racist organization.  See the link below for the story...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gvv8Q6_kpUQJt9oTUcPL2mWZO7xAD9GUFRIG0

Excuse me?  No pun intended but this is quite frankly the pot calling the kettle black.  Where was the NAACP last week when the Department of Justice let the New Black Panther Party off of the hook for intimidating voters.  Where was the NAACP when the New Black Panther Party was saying that they were going to have to kill some crackers and there babies?  Oh, that's right...They were no where to be found.  If there is any racism going on it is certainly not coming from the Tea Party movement. 

So with that being said I am officially issuing my own condemnation of the NAACP and the New Black Panther Party for being a racist organizations.  These groups are the ones who have turned everything into a race issue.  Not the Tea Party. 

For the record I am not an official Tea Party member but I would say that my views allign very much with theirs.  I am for the 2nd Amendment, the Constitution, smaller government, and more fiscal responsibility.  If that makes me a racist then so be it.  Call me a racist, a bigot, a hater, whatever you want to call me.  I call myself an American.  And I'm an American that is fed up with the direction things are headed in this country.  This is NOT a black and white issue.  This is NOT a left and right issue.  This is NOT a Democrat or Republican issue.  What this is is a right and wrong issue.  Quit making this issue about race...If the NAACP continues to breed this hatred and racism then they will most certainly reap what they sow by having it thrown back in their face.  A resurrection of the KKK would not suprise me one bit if current trends continue.  Who could blame people for reacting this way when they are being condemned by the NAACP and the New Black Panther Party is threatening to kill them. 

I have serious doubts that this is the dream that Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of on the mall in Washington D.C.  If the NAACP and the New Black Panther Party want to continue in this rhetoric then they are trampling on the grave of Mr. King and everything that he stood for.  Mr. King spoke of Civil and Equal Rights for all mankind...Not just those of black colored people.  Here's a thought folks...white is a color as well and white's civil rights are no more or less important than anyone else's.  How about we put this race issue aside and realize that we are all Americans and that Civil Rights are for all AMERICAN CITIZENS no matter what color you may be.

This fight and potential "race war" is exactly what the powers in charge would like to see.  It gives the elite more of a chance to take and control all of our lives.  We need to realize who the real enemy is.  The NAACP, The New Black Panther Party, and the KKK should all be on the same side fighting for EQUAL RIGHTS for all AMERICANS.  They should be fighting the elite that are trying to enslave us all.  Instead though the liberals, the NAACP, and the New Black Panthers would rather slam everyone for being racist.  This is playing into the elite and the globalists plans.  The New World Order would love nothing more than to divide and conquer.  Once we are all fighting amongst ourselves it makes the NWO takeover that much easier.  Maybe, just maybe, the NAACP and other like organizations have been planted to counteract the Patriot movement in this country.  Maybe these organizations are a part of and being funded by the elite.  Hmmm...Interesting thought to say the least.

All parties involved need to wake up before it is too late.  I am not a racist and I'm not a bigot...I'm just a concerned American who is seeing our country being destroyed from within.  With that being said if a battle is brought to me by any people from these groups then they need to rest assured that they will be met with fierce resistance.  The time has come to stand up and fight but before the battle begins make sure you know who the enemy is.  Ask yourself this question...Who is really behind the dissention in this country and who stands to gain?

Stay Educated, Stay Informed, Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

Back With A Vengeance

Ladies and gentlemen I'm back after an extended time away.  I have taken some time off recently due to some health and family issues.  Probably dealing with the nonsense each day has taken a toll on me.  But tonight I am back with a vengeance and I want to talk about some garbage that has been going on during the past week that has me quite ANGRY!

The New Black Panther Party has shot to the spotlight recently in light of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) decision to drop charges against them in a voter intimidation case in Philadelphia.  Let's roll the tape...



So this jackbag stands out in front of a polling place with a nightstick attempting to intimidate voters during the 2008 Presedential election.  What do you suppose would have happened if it would have been KKK members standing outside of the polls?  You're right, they would have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  Instead though the New Black Panther Party is given a free pass by the DOJ and Attorney General Eric Holder.  Hey Holder...Here's a thought...instead of filing a baseless lawsuit against Arizona why don't you try and go after some real thugs...Need more proof...Here is the same guy that was holding the nightstick during a National Geographic special on the Black Panther Party...



Here is a bit more...Check out this DB...



Now have a look at the same guy in March of 2002 in the following link...

http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/checker.aspx?v=XdZu6UIruz

If that doesn't make you want to go buy more ammo then nothing will.  I'm going to clean my weapons.  Have a good night...

Stay Informed, Stay Educated, Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

Independence...The Battle Wages On!

Happy Independence Day to all of my readers.  I know it has been a few days since I have reached out to you but I thank you for your patience.  Things have been incredibly hectic lately but with that being said I wanted to take the time tonight to reach out to you and speak about what today should mean to all Americans. 

If you have never read the entire text of the Declaration of Independence I would encourage you to do so right now...Stop reading this article and go read the ENTIRE Declaration before you continue...

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/freedom/doi/text.html

Adopted in Congress on July 4, 1776.  To this date the Declaration of Independence remains the single most important document ever in American history.  It was the time when a group of free people stood up against a tyranical government and said that they would not be subjected to their unfair rule over an Independent America.

Great Britain at this point in history was one of the strongest military forces in the world.  The red coats thought that they would have no trouble squashing the rebel insurgency in America.  I mean why would they have trouble since the American army was made up of farmers, blacksmiths, and merchants.  My friends, the red coats were dead WRONG.  As we all know the British Army was defeated and sent packing back to Great Britain.  And they were not only defeated by an army but by an idea.  And that idea was FREEDOM.  The fact that not just Americans but the fact that all men and women should have the right to freedom.  This is what the patriots wrote about, dreamed about, and fought for. 

Fast forward 234 years to tonight...Where are we at as a nation?  The people fought of a tyrranist government 234 years ago and tonight we celebrate that Independence while facing corruption and a possible tyrranist government in Washington.  Each day we lose more and more of our freedom.  If we continue down the path we are headed then the blood that our forefathers shed fighting against Great Britain will have been in vain.  Not only their blood but the blood of all the patriots since then.  We fought tyrrany on the shores of Omaha Beach in Normandy, France in World War II.  It was fought against once more in Korea and Vietnam and now in Afghanistan.  But currently the biggest battle against tyranny may be being fought on our own shores against a government in Washington that won't support its states, won't do its job, and is on its own agenda.  Most politicians don't care about your issues or the issues of your state or community.  All they care about is getting re-elected, getting more power, and getting richer. 

My friends it's time to send a message to all politicians whether they be local, state, or federal...Let them know that they work for us.  We don't work for the politicians but they work for us.  And if they don't do the will of the people then they are going to get FIRED!  Plain and simple.

My friends this is tough times we are living in and sometimes it seems that each time when you read my articles they are all about doom and gloom and that you should be getting ready for the danger ahead.  Unfortunately that is the reality of the situation.  I feel that there is danger ahead and that we do need to prepare.  But I've got something else to share with you tonight and that is this...The battle has just begun.  And just like our forefathers were victorious against Great Britain we will be victorious in this fight.  The diplomatic channels are open and I encourage each and everyone of you to get involved and know what is going on at your local, state, and federal levels.  Question your elected officials and find out where they stand.  You must be EDUCATED before you step in the voting booth on November 2nd.  We have a chance to change the direction that the nation is headed and put it back on the proper footing.  We must exhaust all efforts in order to stave off disaster.  If the disaster comes you will need to be ready but in the meantime keep working to right the ship and avoid the catastrophe.  No matter what happens I know this with all of my heart and soul...WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS!  We will stand up with one voice again and say that we will not go quietly into 1000 years of darkness but we will continue to be a shining city on a hill. 

In closing I want to share with you a video of President Ronald Reagan's farewell address to the nation in 1988.  A friend of mine sent this to me the other day and suggested that I incorporate it into one of my articles and I felt that tonight would be as good a place as any...Please listen carefully to the words that this great man says and understand that he was a proud American that realized the dangers that this country could face in the future...Freedom is but just one generation away from extinction.  If America does not WAKE UP future generations will look back on this generations legacy and say that we were the ones that were sold into slavery.  We cannot allow that to be our legacy...Be mindful of the words of Ronald Reagan and listen to what he has to say...



Stay Informed, Stay Educated, Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

Economic Recovery...WHERE?

Where Is The Recovery???

So where is our economic recovery?  Many politicians in Washington would have you believe that the market has hit bottom and that the recovery is well under way.  If that is the case then I wish they would explain why the stock market continues to wildly fluctuate day after day.  As I write this to you the market is down considerably.  So why is it that we should believe the politicians in Washington who continue to say that the economy is on its way to recovery?  Just today President Obama stated that "the economy is strengthening, we are into recovery."  Excuse me, EXCUSE ME Mr. President.  I don't know which world he is living in but the one that I'm in is faced with more people losing their jobs and homes, cost of goods continuing to go up, and a national deficit that is skyrocketing.  When asked about the current state of the market today Obama attributed it to people being nervous due to the European debt crisis.  Um, here's a thought for you Mr. President...WE HAVE A GLOBAL DEBT CRISIS TO WORRY ABOUT!  This isn't just a European or an American issue...This is GLOBAL.  And the crisis is exactly what the globalist want.  Rembember what Rahm Emanuel said...You never want to let a good crisis go to waste.

The fact that this is a global problem is frightening.  Anytime you have a situation such as this on a global scale there is the potential that the world will slip into mass chaos.  Personally I feel we are seeing the beginnings of World War III.  A massive, global war will be the only way that these governments will be able to get out of the debt crisis that they are in.  Or is there more to it than that?  Maybe a time for the global elite to usher in a "New World Order" and at the same time work to rid the planet of the "little people".  Depopulation of lower life forms.

You must ask yourself...Who stands to gain from conflict?  Who finances the wars that are fought?  Who will benefit from the spoils of war?  After the war is over how will the land be divided up?  Will the land be divided? 

We are seeing the early stages of a one world government.  A world without borders that will be brought about in the name of peace and prosperity.  It will sound good to the masses but it will be the end of us all.  Civil rights will go away as the few will control the many.  The elite will control the servents just as it was back in Ancient Egypt.  In 4000 years we have not made any progress to get away from this maddening process. 

Who is behind all of this?  Is it Obama?  Not hardly.  Obama is just a puppet for the elite just like most of the other figurehead world leaders...He is a means to an end.  Obama is no different than most other leaders in modern history.  He has been bought and paid for and has sold out our country to the real people in power.  You want to know who the real people in power are in America and the world?  Follow the money.  Ask yourself who controls the purse strings.  He that controls the flow of money rules the world.  Or another way to put it is that they follow the golden rule...He who has the gold makes the rules.  And they don't have your best interest in mind!  Please check out the video below and get a grasp of what is at stake...It's not a Republican or Democrat issue...This is an American issue and America is at stake.  Political leaders on both sides of the aisle have sold us out...



Stay Educated, Stay Informed, Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

Living On The Edge

Living On The Edge...

I wrote earlier today and asked the question of whether or not we are on the brink as a nation and as a world.  As I stated earlier my feeling on this subject is yes.  I laid out a hypothetical scenario where the nation and the world could fall into economic collapse and war by the end of 2012.  While it was a fictional story at this point in time the question to ask is whether or not it will remain fictional.  I firmly believe that it is plausible that fiction will become reality at some point in time.  One of the major points that I brought to bear was the fact that illegal immigration continues to go on unchecked.  I would like to take a closer look at that situation right now...

It is clear that America does not want to do anything about securing the borders.  Common sense would tell you that is insane.  Well my friends I'm here to tell you that insanity is rooted in Washington.  Most of you who read me on a regular basis know that I like to go after the Obama Administration on a regular basis.  Well to be fair I'm going to turn back the clock to the GWB days.  That's right, I'm talking about the Bush Administration.  George Bush and his administration did absolutely NOTHING to stop illegal immigration and secure the border.  They were as lackluster as the current administration has been.  Now with the Obama Administration in charge we continue to get the same lackluster border security.  Meanwhile the situation on the border continues to deteriorate. 

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has been BEGGING for assistance with the border security issue.  Brewer's state has been plagued by ongoing violence from Mexican drug cartels on a regular basis.  Now another state appears poised to be a target of the ongoing violence that is going on in Mexico.  In Texas the violence that is taking place is spilling over the border.  Texas for the first time in modern history has gone on alert to deal with the potential problems...Check out the video below...



The old saying goes...Don't mess with Texas.  I suspect that whether or not the federal government is going to step up and do their job isn't going to matter to most Texans.  There are a lot of good old boys with firearms in Texas that are ready to defend the border.  Can you say Remember the Alamo?  The question that should be asked is why doesn't the federal government secure the border?  The answer is flat out stunning...

They don't want to secure it because Mexico is now part of us.  Back in 2005 George Bush signed a treaty with Mexico that in essence elminated our borders with Mexico.  It is called the North American Union.  Check out the video from Lou Dobbs...



Can you say ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT?  Just like the European Union joins the countries in Europe the North American Union joins America, Canada, and Mexico.  When the time is right all of the "Unions" across the globe will form to join the ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT...

The elimination of the United States of America as we know it.  If that doesn't scare you then I don't know what will.  Get this through your head people.  There are people that are Republicans as well as Democrats that do not have our country's best interest in mind.  The reason for this is because they are merely puppets on a string that are being pulled by the real people in power...The people with the money that control the globe.  The bankers and old royalty.  A couple of names that you may recognize would be the Rothchilds and the Rockefellers.

I encourage you to do some research on these families and their histories.  In addition look up the New World Order and One World Government.  The world is spiraling out of control and is headed in this direction.

Some Good News...

Now for some positive news...The Supreme Court upheld the 2nd Amendment right for EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US GOOD GUYS the right to keep and bear arms in any state in America.  Remember that having a right to defend ones self is a God given right.  That right is not just limited to protecting your home from burglars and murderers but also goes for protecting your country from tyrannical governments.  That is what the 2nd amendment was established for.  Hopefully we will never have to use it in that capacity but it is there for that purpose in a last resort situation. 

Cold War Part II...

Today American officials arrested 10 people and charged them with being spies for Russia.  I thought the Cold War was over a long time ago and we could trust the Russians now?  Hmmm, maybe Obama will want to think twice before taking the Russian President out for burgers again.

Until Tomorrow...

Stay Educated, Stay Informed, Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

Are We On The Brink?

How many of you reading this think that we are on the brink?  Are we as a nation and as a world living on the edge?  I've been asking myself this question a lot lately and the answer that I keep coming to is yes.  We are facing a global economic meltdown, unsecured borders at home, a growing crisis in the Gulf of Mexico, and rogue nations on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons.  My friends we are indeed on the brink...

There is much to fear in the coming days, weeks, months, and years.  The current chaos that is enveloping the world shows no sign of abating.  As the world continues to spiral down into an economic abyss and thousands upon thousands of illegal immigrants continue to flow through our porous border the question that you must ask yourself is this...Are you ready?

It is IMPERATIVE that you imagine the unimaginable.  What's the worst thing that you can think of happening?  Prior to 9/11 nobody thought of planes flying into buildings but people think of them now.  Prior to World War II nobody would have thought that 6,000,000 Jewish people would have been exterminated.  The fact that the Holocaust did happen is a reminder to everyone to never underestimate the evil that lurks in this world.  So what could we be possibly facing in the years to come that we need to be ready for?  Let me throw a fictional (currently) scenario out there for you to think about...

It is October 2012.  The economy across the globe has been decimated.  Civil unrest has broken out in Europe due to the ever growing economic crisis.  Many people have lost everything and are just fighting to stay alive.  Many people are starving to death in the streets.  The chaos that has enveloped Europe has begun to spill into the United States.  In many major cities the local government is no longer capable of handling public services and has already lost control of the population.  The nationwide unemployment rate is at a staggering 30%.  Cutbacks across the board from defense spending to entitlement programs have happened.  The welfare and food stamp crowd are no longer receiving their government benefits and they have begun rioting in the streets.  The few people that do have a job, a place to live, and food to put on the table are fighting to keep it.  Border security is non existent and while the situation in the U.S. is bad it is much worse in Mexico.  Immigrants flood across the border in search of any food, jobs, or supplies that can be found.  Violence is on the rise as the people that were not prepared for the collapse begin killing and taking from the people that were prepared or from the ones who still have a job.  Anarchy is everywhere. 

In a desperate measure to get control of the situation President Obama orders martial law declared throughout the United States.  Civil rights are suspended across the board.  Along with Martial Law he also issues an executive order to suspend the upcoming election due to the chaos that is ongoing across the land.  President Obama decrees that he will remain the defacto ruler of the United States for the time being.  

The people who have prepared for the crisis have no choice but to fight back with all they have.  They have long feared that this day would come but hoped that somehow it could be avoided.  As entitlement groups and illegal immigrants attempt to wrestle away control from the hard working American people.  The hard workers of the country unite and fight back.  A second Civil War has begun.

The U.S. Military that is policing the streets is caught in the crossfire and has a choice to make.  Whose side will they stand on?  Under direct orders from the President the military attempts to gain control of the situation and engages in the battle between the "workers" and "users".  Some of the military falls on the "workers" side and some fall on the "users" side.  A division in the military ranks takes place and the war escalates and rages on.

Meanwhile President Obama and other world leaders continue to meet to attempt to solve the crisis that has in essence turned into World War III.  Islamic terror factions have taken advantage of the current crisis to launch fresh terror attacks all over the world.  The world is on fire.  

In an effort to quell the violence and stop the war the leaders agree that there is but one solution.  To eliminate all borders and currency and create a one world government.  America is gone as is all other nations around the world.  Anyone who disagrees with the new global governance is silenced immediately by the powers in control.  The fear of violence and continued war leads to the silencing of any critics.  Everyone must obey the new global government.  The few have power over the many...

My friends this is a SCARY scenario...But it doesn't have to end this way.  The time to act is now.  Pay attention to what is going on in your local, state, and federal politics.  Get involved.  Quit living in the moment and look into the future.  Try to imagine where you want this country to be in 25 years.  Try to imagine where you want to be in 25 years.  We have got to take the blinders off to see what is really happening.  For far too long we have been asleep at the wheel.  The car is going over the cliff...We better wake up and straighten out the steering wheel.  I pray that we will...but in the event that it doesn't straighten out you should be prepared for the coming storm.  Act now...Get prepared!

Stay Educated, Stay Informed, Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington 

Afghanistan...What's The Plan

In the movie Crimson Tide actor Gene Hackman said the following line: "War is a continuation of politics by other means."  While the movie was a fictional account of a potential nuclear threat to the free world I believe that statement to be true.  War is a continuation of politics.  And the way the war is fought is a reflection of the politicians in charge.  Just this past week General Stanley McChrystal tendered his resignation among a flury of controversy regarding his interview with Rolling Stone magazine.  While his remarks about the administration may have been inappropriate in the public domain I feel that his remarks are very telling about how the military feels about how this administration is handling the conflict in Afghanistan. 

Now we have General David Petreaus in charge in Afghanistan and it appears that the Rules of Engagement will be somewhat changing.  Unfortunately I feel that General Petreaus is going to deal with the same political red tape that plagued McChrystal.  Our men and women in uniform are currently fighting a losing battle.

A war cannot be won by fighting with one hand tied behind your back.  The only way that our troops are going to win this conflict is by allowing them to take the gloves off and take the fight to the enemy.  This administration either needs to do that or pull all of our troops out of Afghanistan and bring them home.  Letting our troops fight the battle the way it is currently being fought is costing billions in American tax dollars and much more importantly it is costing American lives. 

Both the Bush and the Obama administration has been hesistant to take the gloves off and fight the war it needs to be fought.  Both administrations are concerned about world opinion and civillian casualties.  Quite frankly I don't give a flip about world opinion, especially from the uber left.  Civillian casualties on the other hand are always regrettable but in a state of war they are a certainty.  They are for sure a certainty when you are fighting a cowardly enemy that chooses to hide behind women and children.  If anyone should be blamed for civillian casualties it should be the Taliban and Al Qauda.  They are the ones that are using civillians as shields.  The blood of the civillians rest solely on their hands.

President Harry Truman made the decision in World War II to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  By doing that President Truman put an end to World War II and saved hundreds of thousands of American lives in the process. 

The Taliban have a mean dog.  It is time to unleash the bigger and meaner dog of the full U.S. Military might.  Take the gloves off and bring in the B-52's.  Carpet bomb the entire country of Afghanistan.  If needed turn the entire country into one large sheet of glass.  If you're not going to do that then quit sacrificing American blood and get our men and women out of there right now.  Bring them home and get ready to fight the war here on our shores.  Quit appeasing the rest of the world and do what is right for AMERICA!

Stay Educated, Stay Informed, Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

6/25/2010...

When it became known that General McChrystal and his staff had spoken poorly about President Obama earlier this week many people came out and slammed McChrystal for his actions.  At the time I my position was that even though I don't respect Obama I do respect the office of the Presidency.  With that being said I believe that Obama did not make the correct choice in removing McChrystal.  I think the troops in the field would have been much better served if McChrystal had been sent back to complete the job he was tasked with.  Either way that issue is water under the bridge at this point.  McChrystal is out and Petreaus is in.  What isn't water under the bridge though is the fact that it is clear that this administration has got some serious problems right now.  Currently Obama is trying to manage five major issues at once and quite frankly he is doing a very poor job.  Those issues in no particular order are as follows:

• Gulf of Mexico Oil Leak Crisis
• War in Afghanistan
• Border Security and Immigration
• Israeli Relations
• Failing Economy

Tonight I want to take a look at two of the three domestic issues that Obama and our nation are currently facing.  The oil leak and border security.  Instead of criticism of the administration I will lay out my plan for solving each of these problems.  Maybe I should run for President.  Can anyone say The Bandit in 2012.  First up, the oil leak...

Oil Leak...What I Would Have Done

Quite frankly I've lost track of how many days this crisis has been continuing.  I know we are on day sixty something.  At this point it doesn't really matter.  Mass media and I have covered the failures of this administrations response to the oil spill extensively.  So how would I have handled the situation?  Here goes...

• Shortly after the explosion I would have contacted the Coast Guard leadership and Secretary of the Interior and ordered an extensive investigation to determine what happened.  
• I would have mobilized any deep diving resources of the armed forces to independently investigate the sight of the leak to determine the extent of the damage and the leak.  During the early days of the crisis we were all relying on BP's spill estimates which were grossly underestimated.   
• I would have accepted any and all foreign assistance that was offered.  Any skimmers, dispersant planes, dredge equipment, loaders, personnel, etc. would have been accepted and on the ground or moving in the Gulf within the first two weeks. 
• I would make it clear that BP should be held responsible for the damage and cleanup but that the end result would be left up to the courts due to the fact that legally BP can only be held responsible for 75 million in damages. 
• I would have ordered an immediate thorough inspection of all of the drilling platforms in the Gulf and as soon as those platforms passed inspection they would be brought back online. 
• I would order a thorough review of the MMS to determine why any wrongdoing BP wasn't caught by inspection procedures. 
• Anything that the Governors and local officials on the ground in the Gulf region wanted, they would get. 
• I would have been on scene in the Gulf within the first week examining the situation first hand.  Furthermore I wouldn't have been seen having concerts and playing golf over 7 times since the accident.
• I would have setup a website where American inventors across the country could meet online and share ideas on how to cap the well and efficiently clean up the mess. 

I know for a fact that there is many American's out across our great country that have many great ideas on how to solve this problem.  They are screaming for attention and only a small portion of them are being heard.  There could be someone out there right now that has the answer to this whole situation.

Arizona and Border Security...What I Would Do

This situation is so simple and clear that Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder could see what to do here.  Arizona is being OVERRUN by a FOREIGN INVADER.  Governor Jan Brewer has been BEGGING the federal government for help.  Illegal immigrants keep spilling over the border and now a drug war is starting to as well.  Cops are being threatened and a defacto state of war has been declared on the State of Arizona.  Instead of helping that state Obama and this administration has chosen to basically ignore their requests...If I was President this is what I would do about the Border Security and the illegal immigrants in this country.

• First and foremost I would send a large contingent of troops to the border.  And when I say border I'm not just talking about Arizona.  I would send them from Brownsville, Texas all the way to San Diego, California.  These boys would be locked, cocked, and ready to rock.  I'm talking about tanks, automatic weapons, air support via drones and manned combat air patrols, and armored personnel carriers.  If needed I would send a carrier group to the Gulf of Mexico to boost air patrols on the border.  In addition to this I would institute an aggressive state of the art technology campaign on the border including cameras with face recognition software that would include a database of thousands of the worlds terrorist. 
• I would continue building the border fence across the entire border and it would be manned at regular checkpoints with a high level of armed security.
• If drug smugglers are caught coming across the border the orders would be shoot to kill.  All illegal contraband coming across the border would be fair game for live fire from troops, tanks, and aircraft. 
• Civillian illegal immigrants attempting to sneak across the border would be captured, detained, and promptly deported back to Mexico.  If you get caught a second time then you would be subject to be incarcerated in an American detention facility for up to 5 years. 
• Companies in America caught hiring illegal immigrants would be subject to a $25,000 fine for the first offense.  The second offense would be subject to a $100,000 fine and/or prison time.  Aiding the illegal actions of others will not be tolerated.
• All prisons in America would immediately begin to perform background checks on all inmates.  If the inmate is found to be in the country illegally they would be deported immediately back to their home country.  If an inmate that was deported is caught trying to come back in to our borders the crime would be a capital crime that is punishable by firing squad or hanging. 
• I would institute a fast track service for expediting the process to citizenship for people who want to legally come to this country and contribute to our society.  In order to come into the country you would be subject to a thorough background check and medical history.  It would be understood that not everyone is going to qualify to become a citizen.  A guest worker program would be instituted.  For a fee you would be able to come across the border for a short period of time to work as a guest.  In addition to the fee an added tax would come out of your pay.

There you have it...Ilegal immigration control in a nutshell. 

So, can I count on you for your vote in 2012? 

Until later...

Stay Educated, Stay Informed, Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

What Does Obama Have In Common With Hugo Chavez? EVERYTHING!

I have spoken to all of you in the past about the federal governments ongoing power grab to control the American people.  The BP crisis in the Gulf has given Obama an opportunity to move to nationalization of the gas and oil industry.  Is it going to happen overnight?  No.  Are they going to try and move it forward?  Yes.  It will happen slowly but they will try to make it happen.  Remember Maxine Waters???



If you want to see how well that would work out just have a look at Venezuala and Hugo Chavez.  You'll like it...If you like train wrecks.  Venezuala's economy is in shambles and Chavez keeps taking and taking from the people.  Chavez's hero is Fidel Castro for crying out loud...Have a look at the link below and see if you think what is happening in Venezuala is also happening here in the good old U.S.A.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100624/ts_nm/us_venezuela_nationalizations

Scary huh?  All I can say is election day is 131 days away...November 2nd, 2010.  Take back Congress!

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

If You Are An Undocumented Worker Should You Get Equal Pay? Are You Kidding Me???

Has anyone seen the recent video from Hilda Solis?  If you don't know who that is she is Obama's appointed Secretary of Labor.  If you have not seen the video you need to check it out below...This will blow your mind and tick you off if you are a hard working American citizen.  Have a look...



Somebody please tell me what the heck is up with that?  Last I checked I didn't know that criminals had any rights.  Illegal immigrants are...ILLEGAL.  This isn't a gray issue.  This is black and white.  Furthermore, if the illegals are paid "fairly" but they are not documented then someone please tell me how they are going to have Federal taxes withdrawn from their checks. 

SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHERE COMMON SENSE HAS GONE!!!

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

McChrystal, Oil Gushing, Economy

6/23/2010

Could things get worse in the coming weeks for the status of our country?  Unfortunately my friends yes it can.  Between the continuing gushing of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, a war in Afghanistan that just lost its top general, and an economy that is failing to rebound it is clear that our backs are against the wall.  Unfortunately this administration is not helping matters, in particular with the oil spill and the economy.

McChrystal Out The Door...

Today General Stanley McChrystal tendered his resignation to President Barack Obama due to McChrystal's recent comments in Rolling Stone magazine about the Presidents administration.  This is a situation that is sad for all involved.  Who is the biggest loser here?  The American people are.  Why?  Because McChrystal was absolutely the right man for the job in Afghanistan.  The word is that McChrystal resigned.  Let's cut to the chase...McChrystal was FIRED.  Did Obama make the right choice?  Maybe, maybe not?  We can all say what we want about Obama but one thing is for certain and that is the fact that the OFFICE of the President must be respected.  Lord knows that I have no respect for Obama and his policies but I do respect the institution of the Presidency.  Let's look at the more important issue here.  The fact that McChrystal has been having these feelings about the Presidential leadership is very telling of the perception of this Presidency.  Obama has been slipping in the polls steadily with the American people and apparently he is slipping with our American troops as well.  Who can blame our troops for being frustrated with the current leadership in Washington.  They are being asked to fight a war with there hands tied.  This is turning into Vietnam all over again for the simple fact that you cannot fight a war with gloves on.  The only way to win in Afghanistan will be if the leadership in Washington grows a set of stones and takes the restraints off our men and women in uniform.  Unfortunately that is not going to happen.  If you think things will get better with General Petraus taking over for McChrystal you are wrong.  I have utmost respect for General Petraus but unfortunately he will be faced with the same challenge that McChrystal was faced with.  An administration that is totally out of touch with every crisis it is facing.  Personally I feel that Obama would have better served the American people by reprimanding McChrystal and sending him back to finish the job with the resources he needs to get it done.  Unfortunately Obama's ego got in his way and there may be a political agenda behind this once again.  I have a theory that Obama doesn't do anything without an ulterior motive. 

Robots Crashing...Oil Gushing

Lost on the McChrystal scandal today was the fact that the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is once again flowing unabated in the sea waters.  What happened to containment you ask?  Well apparently one of the undersea robots crashed into the containment cap and knocked it loose which created problems with the cap.  Therefore the containment efforts had to be halted and the cap removed.  There still seems to be no end in sight other than the relief wells that are being drilled right now and there is no guarantee that they will work.  If the relief wells don't work then the next step is imploding the well with explosives...which is inherently risky.  On top of all of that we are continuing to move further and further into the Atlantic Hurricane Season.  Currently there is a system in the Caribbean that bears watching and some forecast models are showing a moderate hurricane in the mid Gulf of Mexico in five days.  This is not good obviously.  Furthermore, today large sums of oil have begun washing up in Pensacola.  If you haven't started praying about the situation in the Gulf right now might be a good time to start.

Recovering Economy?  Not So Fast...

Finally tonight I'll touch on our rapidly recovering economy...Ok I thought that would make you laugh.  Jobs continue to be lost across the country and today it was reported that new home construction was down 33%.  That is a big number folks especially when new home construction was down already.  I have nothing more to add to this other than what I have been saying all along...Get ready, the storm is coming!

The Bandit Speaks...Website?

The Bandit Speaks is currently looking into acquiring its own website.  Stay tuned for details...In the meantime check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sonny.darlington

Until tomorrow night...

Stay Educated, Stay Informed, Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

6/22/2010

For those of you looking forward to the continuation of the America in Crisis...America's Youth series I have some bad news for you.  The remainder of the series is on hold for now until I can get the new website up and running.  I am currently looking for a hosting service that will suit my needs.  If you have any suggestions please feel free to contact me.  Don't forget to check me out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sonny.darlington

You can also send me email at thebanditspeaks@yahoo.com

I will be posting random items any time of day on here at blogspot until the new site is up and running but there will not be any lengthy articles.  Thank you for your patience and understanding during this transition period. 

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

Major Changes Coming...

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.  I am coming to you this afternoon because I have some exciting news to share with you.  No, Obama didn't get impeached!  The news I have to share with you is concerning The Bandit Speaks blog itself. 

Effective immediately there will be no set time for posting of the blog each night.  The articles that are written will be random and could appear at anytime throughout the day.  There may be days when there won't be an article.  There may be days when more than one article will be written.  Check in on the blog frequently for the most current analysis of today's news and issues.  When a new article is written I will post a link to the blog on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sonny.darlington

Furthermore please be aware that The Bandit Speaks will be moving to a new web address soon.  I am currently searching for a good host and will be moving away from blogspot in the days and weeks to come.  I will be sure to post an update with the new address as soon as it becomes available. 

Tonight I will continue the series on America in Crisis...America's Youth, Part II

Hope everyone has a good afternoon and I'll talk to you soon.

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

America in Crisis...America's Youth Part I

6/21/2010

Good evening folks and welcome to a new week of The Bandit Speaks.  I'm going to breifly cover some of today's pressing issues and then I'm going to begin my series on America's youth.  In reality I'm going to be targeting everyone because the problem that we are facing today is everyones problem.  I do want to focus on the youth though because they will have to rebuild this country after all of the fires have been put out.

First, lets focus on todays top stories...


Oil Continues To Flow

It is day 63 on the Gulf of Mexico coast and the oil continues to spew from the Deepwater Horizon leaking oil rig 5000 feet below the surface of the Gulf.  New estimates are now saying that up to 100,000 barrels a day may be leaking into the Gulf.  Meanwhile the BP CEO was photographed over the weekend attending a yatch race in England.  He caught a lot of flack for that.  Strangley enough our President went to a ball game over the weekend and played a round of golf but not much was made of that by the mainstream media.  I wonder why that is?  I thought the annointed one was going to work day and night until this situation was resolved.  Meanwhile when questioned about the outings today Deputy Press Secretary defended Obama's round of golf by saying that the President needs leisure time to "clear his head".  Isn't that special???

In more oil leak news it should be noted that there is a strong tropical wave in the Caribbean that the National Hurricane Center is watching very closely.  Currently they are giving it a 50% chance of development and some forecast models take it into the Gulf of Mexico and make it a sizeable hurricane.  Talk about a worse case scenario.


Border Security...Who's Telling The Truth?

Today the Junior Senator from Arizona, Jon Kyl, stated that during a one on one meeting with President Obama that the President stated to him that the reason the border isn't being secured is because comprehensive immigration reform has not occurred yet.  Obama stated that if the border was secured then the GOP would have no reason to go along with his immigration reform plan.  This basically holds our border security hostage in order to further Obama's agenda.  Check out the video below...



Folks, if what Senator Kyl is saying is indeed true than this President needs to be impeached and tried for high treason for failing to perform his duty.  If Senator Kyl is telling the truth than this President has traded national security for a political agenda.  This is outrageous and it makes me sick.  Let's remember folks that it isn't just innocent Mexican workers coming across this border.  We've got hardened criminals, drug wars, and terrorists spilling across the border.  How long will it be before a WMD gets brought across the border and set off in an American city.  This President swore an oath to defend America from ALL enemies foreign and domestic.  If what Senator Kyl has said is true then this President is derelict in his duty and should be relieved of command. 


America in Crisis...America's Youth Part I

Where did we go wrong?  What happened to American pride and doing what is right?  Where are the morals and values that once governed our lives?  I have been racking my brain asking myself these questions over the past weeks, months, and years.  I still don't have a good answer for it.  I'm going to attempt to try to address this over the next few nights.

There used to be a time when people walked tall in America and were proud to be an American.  There used to be a time when people were proud to perform a good days work.  There used to be a time when people had a conscience and did what was right.  All of these things have gone the way of the dinosaur.  But why?  I would be more than happy to listen to suggestions from my readers as to why this has happened.  I believe that it is important that we find out how and why this has happened in order for us to fix the problem and avoid it in the future.  I don't know the exact answer for when, where, why, or how it happened but I do have a theory.

Laziness, greed, no responsibilities, and a lack of pride and respect is becoming the downfall of this country.  More and more people feel that they are entitled to something that they didn't work for.  More and more people want a free handout from the government and it only continues to get worse.  There is no longer a necessity to work anymore.  Why work?  I'll sit at home and become fat and lazy while someone else picks up the tab.  On top of this the greed comes in to play.  I have to have the latest and greatest toys and to get them I will go out and sell my kids future to have them.  Furthermore when I can't pay for them someone else will pick up the tab.  THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.  The problem that we face is that the people who were brought up with this mentality are now passing it on to their kids and grandkids.  Progressives such as Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted many of the policies that have led us down this path of destruction that we are faced with today. 

Furthermore no one has a sense of responsibility today.  Parents used to be responsible for their children.  In todays society children take a backseat to whatever agenda the parents have.  Kids are being brought up in todays world with either the government raising them or the television.  A large portion of parents no longer take any interest in their children anymore.  A child left to his own devices is trouble. 

I grew up having to say yes sir and no sir.  Yes maam and no maam.  Holding the door open for other people and respecting my elders.  Today I go to the mall or a movie theater and I have to deal with disrespectful teenagers acting like thugs.  That's what you get when Jay Z raises your kids and you don't.  I don't know about you but I'm tired of seeing thugs walking through the mall with their pants hanging half off of them and watching these thugs bully other people. 

So with that in mind here's lesson #1 for the youth of America...Take a little pride in yourself.  Respect yourself and then others will respect you.  Don't feel like you have to be like every pop star in Hollywood.  If that is your goal in life then you are destined to be a follower.  Be a leader and get involved in the future of this great country. 

Tomorrow I will continue this series and I will also address the big topics of the day.  Stay tuned...

Until tomorrow night,

Stay Informed, Stay Educated, Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

Hayward On The Hill, Arizona Immigration, and Afghans Run Amuck...IN THE CONUS

6/17/2010

Welcome to Thursday night ladies and gentlemen.  It is 138 days until election day and we are now in day 59 of the Gulf of Mexico oil leak crisis.  Quite frankly I'm getting a bit tired of talking about it but it is still out there and it needs our attention.  It's amazing that since I began this blog that there have been two main stories that have garnered the majority of my time.  The oil leak and the Arizona immigration battle.  Tonight I have news on both of them as well as some astonishing news from an Air Force Base in Texas.  First let's jump into the oil spill...

Hayward on the Hill

BP CEO Tony Hayward was on Capitol Hill today under oath taking a grilling from lawmakers.  While his testimony in front of the committee was important and drew many headlines it was the sideshows during the grilling that garnered much of the attention.  Shortly after the questioning began a protester stood up and was covered in a substance that was supposed to be oil.  The protester shouted at Hayward and said that he should be charged criminally and placed in jail.  Later during the meeting Representative Joseph Barton of Texas apologized to Hayward for the way he was treated at the White House yesterday and equated what was done to BP as a "shakedown" by the Obama administration.  This is the question that I want to look at tonight.  Did some arm twisting or a "shakedown" occur at the White House yesterday?  Is this on the lunatic fringe?  Representative Barton recieved harsh criticism from both parties after his comments and later issued an apology for his remarks.  Barton who is Republican had GOP leaders performing damage control this afternoon while the White House took advantage of his remarks to criticize the GOP leadership and the Tea Party.  Let's look at his allegations and analyze this a little bit closer.

BP executives went into the White House yesterday afternoon and met with the Obama administration for the first time.  After the meeting the announcement was made that BP will set aside 20 billion dollars in a fund that will be managed by a third party.  While I agree that BP should be responsible for any and all restitution that is to be made the fact remains that federal law only requires them to pay out a maximum 75 million dollars.  So how did the Obama administration convince BP to agree to this 20 billion dollar figure.  As much as I'd like to believe that BP agreed to it out of the goodness of their heart I highly doubt that was the case.  So here is my theory.  Either the administration strongarmed BP into agreeing to this figure or the administration agreed to give BP something in return.  Either way something sounds fishy here.  Major corporations don't just hand over money for free.  BP's attorneys would know that they are only legally liable for the 75 million dollars as mandated by federal law.  My feeling is that Obama either offered BP exclusive rights to drill in the Gulf.  The flip side of the coin is that BP was told that they must do this or they will not drill in America ever again.  If either one of those theories is right then it means that Representative Barton was right and this either amounted to a "shakedown" or a bribe.  Of course this is all speculation at this time and quite frankly at the moment it does not matter.  The priority right now is to stop the leak and clean up the oil.  The rest of this mess will end up in litigation for decades to come.  Once again I want to restate my position that BP SHOULD be responsible for the entire amount of restitution and cleanup for this mess.  It's their baby.  The question is can they LEGALLY be held responsible for it?  If anything improper was done during the negotiations I'm sure it will come out in the wash at some point in time. 

Arizona Under The Gun

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced tonight that the Department of Justice will be filing a lawsuit against the State of Arizona for their new immigration enforcement law SB 1070.  Obviously this is very unfortunate because the main reason that Arizona passed SB 1070 is because the federal government has not and continues not to do their job and that is to protect our borders.  During her statement today Secretary Clinton even said that the reason that Arizona's bill is being contested was because it wasn't Arizona's job to enforce immigration but instead it was the federal governments.  Since Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's meeting with President Obama two weeks ago there has been no contact between the feds and the state.  Governor Brewer is not happy about the situation.  This situation is going to get much more uglier before it gets better.  Here's some advice for the feds...Get some troops down to the border, do your job and protect our national security, withdraw the lawsuit and then maybe Arizona will look into eliminating SB 1070.  Just a thought...Stay tuned because this will get interesting over the next few days and weeks.

Afghans Run Amuck...Here In The US

A group of 17 Afghanistan soldiers that were at a Texas Air Force Base for training have gone AWOL and apparently no one knows where they are.  These soldiers were given security clearance to multiple facilities and currently there is a nationwide be on the lookout (BOLO) for these guys.  When I first heard this story the first question that came to my mind was...Why are these guys here in America training?  Don't we have tons of our soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan?  Couldn't these soldiers have been trained in their home country?  Let's hope that these guys just wanted to have a nice evening out on the town and that they haven't decided to switch sides.  Stay tuned...I will update this as I have more information...

RNC Takes A Shot At Obama

The Republican National Convention has put out an ad about President Obama's lack of action on the oil spill.  It's going to hurt the Dems and the left but as it's always said...The truth sometimes hurts.  Check out the video below.



In other news from the oil spill...OUTRAGE on the front lines.

The Coast Guard stopped sixteen barges that were working along the Louisiana coast today against the wishes of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.  Why were they stopped?  Because the Coast Guard couldn't verify whether there was enough life jackets and fire extinguishers onboard!  WHERE HAS COMMON SENSE GONE.  An entire operation that was being effective in removing oil was stopped due to a couple of minor safety issues.  GEEZ, have someone run down to Wal Mart and buy some life jackets and keep this stuff going.  No wonder people think the feds are incompetent.

Until tomorrow,

Stay Educated, Stay Informed, Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

Obama's Oil Speech Review...Part II

6/16/2010

Welcome to the Wednesday night edition of The Bandit Speaks.  If you didn't read the first part of my review of BO's speech last night then click on the link in the archives and check it out.  Now without further delay...Part II of my review.

Please note quotations from Obama will be in italics...

One of the lessons we’ve learned from this spill is that we need better regulations better safety standards, and better enforcement when it comes to offshore drilling. But a larger lesson is that no matter how much we improve our regulation of the industry, drilling for oil these days entails greater risk. After all, oil is a finite resource. We consume more than 20% of the world’s oil, but have less than 2% of the world’s oil reserves. And that’s part of the reason oil companies are drilling a mile beneath the surface of the ocean – because we’re running out of places to drill on land and in shallow water.



Um...NO Mr. President that is not the reason that we are having to drill a mile beneath the surface of the ocean.  That was a flat out lie to the American people.  The reason that we have to drill a mile beneath the surface of the ocean is because the environmental groups forced them out there.  Another blatent lie was the fact that we are running out of oil.  Geologist have said that there are plenty of places that are shallower to drill in as well as plenty of places to drill on land.  Why lie to the American people when the facts are readily available?

For decades, we have known the days of cheap and easily accessible oil were numbered. For decades, we have talked and talked about the need to end America’s century-long addiction to fossil fuels. And for decades, we have failed to act with the sense of urgency that this challenge requires. Time and again, the path forward has been blocked – not only by oil industry lobbyists, but also by a lack of political courage and candor.


So now here comes the Cap and Trade agenda.  Obama is EXPLOITING this crisis and quite frankly the people of the Gulf Coast to further his agenda.  One of Obama's goals when he came to office was to push this energy bill.  They are not letting this crisis go to waste and they are getting the most mileage out of it as possible. 

The consequences of our inaction are now in plain sight. Countries like China are investing in clean energy jobs and industries that should be here in America. Each day, we send nearly $1 billion of our wealth to foreign countries for their oil. And today, as we look to the Gulf, we see an entire way of life being threatened by a menacing cloud of black crude.


We could reduce the amount of money that we send to foreign countries for oil if we would drill more here at home.  While I agree that we need to work on alternative sources of fuel there is no way we are going to get off of fossil fuels overnight.  This is going to take many years.  If we stop drilling here at home how much do you think we will send to our enemies for their oil then.  A change to an alternative fuel could take up to 50 years.  In the meantime we need to continue to use fossil fuels.  Our economy runs on fossil fuels.  The moratorium on drilling in the Gulf right now has the potential to kill our economy even more.  The rigs in the Gulf are going to head elsewhere if they cannot drill and they won't come back anytime soon.

We cannot consign our children to this future. The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now. Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash American innovation and seize control of our own destiny.


Never let a good crisis go to waste...I agree that we need to use American ingenuity to develop alternative sources of energy.  But until we are able to switch over completely to a new form of energy then we are going to have to depend on DOMESTIC production of fossil fuels. 

This is not some distant vision for America. The transition away from fossil fuels will take some time, but over the last year and a half, we have already taken unprecedented action to jumpstart the clean energy industry. As we speak, old factories are reopening to produce wind turbines, people are going back to work installing energy-efficient windows, and small businesses are making solar panels. Consumers are buying more efficient cars and trucks, and families are making their homes more energy-efficient. Scientists and researchers are discovering clean energy technologies that will someday lead to entire new industries.


I disagree...This is a distant vision.  Is it possible?  Yes.  Will it happen in the next twenty years?  Probably not.  Last I checked I haven't seen anyone converting their cars to use a Mr. Fusion or a Flux Capacitor.  Maybe BO can make Doc Brown from Back to the Future his invention czar.

Each of us has a part to play in a new future that will benefit all of us. As we recover from this recession, the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of good, middle-class jobs – but only if we accelerate that transition. Only if we seize the moment. And only if we rally together and act as one nation – workers and entrepreneurs; scientists and citizens; the public and private sectors.


Ok, so now it is my patriotic duty to play a part in a new future.  I have no problem with that.  But what I do have a problem with is the carbon tax that this administration wants to put on energy producers and companies while our country is dealing with the worst economy since the Great Depression.  The economy is on life support right now.  You put this tax on American businesses and you might as well pull the plug on the economy.  People won't be able to afford anything and more people will be depending on the government handouts that those of us that are working hard will continue to pay for.  Sounds like Socialism if you ask me.  Hmmm...Sounds like it was all planned out doesn't it.

When I was a candidate for this office, I laid out a set of principles that would move our country towards energy independence. Last year, the House of Representatives acted on these principles by passing a strong and comprehensive energy and climate bill – a bill that finally makes clean energy the profitable kind of energy for America’s businesses.


This bill will kill our economy plain and simple.  I can't put it any clearer than that.  I've already laid out the reasons above. 

Now there are costs associated with this transition. And some believe we can’t afford those costs right now. I say we can’t afford not to change how we produce and use energy – because the long-term costs to our economy, our national security, and our environment are far greater.


Oh gee...there are costs associated with the transistion.  Well no crap Sherlock.  Thank you once again captain obvious.  Who are going to pay for those costs right now during a time when we may be looking at a double dip recession?  That's right...It will be we the TAXPAYER.  I want alternative energy as much as anyone but you cannot spend money you don't have.  PERIOD.

So I am happy to look at other ideas and approaches from either party – as long they seriously tackle our addiction to fossil fuels. Some have suggested raising efficiency standards in our buildings like we did in our cars and trucks. Some believe we should set standards to ensure that more of our electricity comes from wind and solar power. Others wonder why the energy industry only spends a fraction of what the high-tech industry does on research and development – and want to rapidly boost our investments in such research and development.


Ok, so let me get this straight...You'll look at anything as long as it's part of your agenda.  Also, you want to have the government encroach even more into peoples lives by regulating how we build our homes, what kind of cars we drive, etc.  Next thing the government is going to want to tell me when I can and can't use the toilet.  This is ridiculous.

All of these approaches have merit, and deserve a fear hearing in the months ahead. But the one approach I will not accept is inaction. The one answer I will not settle for is the idea that this challenge is too big and too difficult to meet. You see, the same thing was said about our ability to produce enough planes and tanks in World War II. The same thing was said about our ability to harness the science and technology to land a man safely on the surface of the moon. And yet, time and again, we have refused to settle for the paltry limits of conventional wisdom. Instead, what has defined us as a nation since our founding is our capacity to shape our destiny – our determination to fight for the America we want for our children. Even if we’re unsure exactly what that looks like. Even if we don’t yet know precisely how to get there. We know we’ll get there.


I agree, the task is not too big and not too difficult.  You forgot something though.  Right now it is TOO COSTLY.  Let's go after a cleaner, more efficient future but while we are doing it we will need to continue to produce energy from fossil fuels.  You cannot stop doing that at this time.  Our economy and our national security DEPENDS on it. 

It is a faith in the future that sustains us as a people. It is that same faith that sustains our neighbors in the Gulf right now.


I've got news for you Mr. Obama...My faith is not grounded in the future.  My faith lies elsewhere.

Each year, at the beginning of shrimping season, the region’s fishermen take part in a tradition that was brought to America long ago by fishing immigrants from Europe. It’s called “The Blessing of the Fleet,” and today it’s a celebration where clergy from different religions gather to say a prayer for the safety and success of the men and women who will soon head out to sea – some for weeks at a time.


The ceremony goes on in good times and in bad. It took place after Katrina, and it took place a few weeks ago – at the beginning of the most difficult season these fishermen have ever faced.

And still, they came and they prayed. For as a priest and former fisherman once said of the tradition, “The blessing is not that God has promised to remove all obstacles and dangers. The blessing is that He is with us always,” a blessing that’s granted “…even in the midst of the storm.”


This is a heart warming story but is just a blatent attempt to appeal to the Gulf voters. 

The oil spill is not the last crisis America will face. This nation has known hard times before and we will surely know them again. What sees us through – what has always seen us through – is our strength, our resilience, and our unyielding faith that something better awaits us if we summon the courage to reach for it. Tonight, we pray for that courage. We pray for the people of the Gulf. And we pray that a hand may guide us through the storm towards a brighter day. Thank you, God Bless You, and may God Bless the United States of America.

Bottom line...Maybe this speech would have worked if he would have given it when we were one or two weeks into the crisis.  IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS and you are just now addressing the American people.  Where has your leadership been?  Your leadership has been completely absent.  Your leadership was too busy having concerts, playing golf, catering to foreign leaders who like to bash our country, and entertaining sports teams. 
 
That is the major issue here...that is why you are tanking in the polls Mr. Obama.  Don't kill the economy anymore with your energy legislation.  Now is not the time for that.
 
Until tomorrow night,
 
Stay Educated, Stay Informed, Stay Alert, Stay Safe
 
Sonny "Bandit" Darlington

Obama's Oil Speech...WHAT is the PLAN?

Welcome to a special Wednesday morning edition of The Bandit Speaks.  How many of you watched the Presidents address from the Oval Office last night?  I did and unfortunately it left me with an ill feeling which is why I didn't get too in depth on writing about it last night.  I wanted to allow a good nights sleep to settle me down before I came to you with my review of the speech.  I thought that might be able to calm me down enough to be able to write to you today without showing much anger...I was wrong.  I don't want to delay this anymore though so here goes...

I'm going to attempt to go through the speech from the beginning and take it apart piece by piece.  Bear with me...This is going to be difficult to swallow.

In his opening comments I found one of his first statements contradict his ultimate agenda...

"At home, our top priority is to recover and rebuild from a recession that has touched the lives of nearly every American."

If this is indeed his top priority then the wrong way to go about doing it is to implement new energy legislation that will surely increase energy cost to each and every American.  After his opening comments he got right into the situation in the Gulf...

"On April 20th, an explosion ripped through BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, about forty miles off the coast of Louisiana. Eleven workers lost their lives. Seventeen others were injured. And soon, nearly a mile beneath the surface of the ocean, oil began spewing into the water.


Because there has never been a leak of this size at this depth, stopping it has tested the limits of human technology. That is why just after the rig sank, I assembled a team of our nation's best scientists and engineers to tackle this challenge - a team led by Dr. Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and our nation's Secretary of Energy. Scientists at our national labs and experts from academia and other oil companies have also provided ideas and advice."

Now I don't know about you but quite frankly I'm tired of hearing about how he has assembled a team of "experts" right after the rig sank.  If I have to hear that Dr. Chu is a Nobel Prize winning physicist one more time I think I'm going to throw up.  Obama won a Nobel Prize as well but obviously that doesn't mean much for his ingenuity.  Give me a break.  Let's continue...

"As a result of these efforts, we have directed BP to mobilize additional equipment and technology. In the coming days and weeks, these efforts should capture up to 90% of the oil leaking out of the well. This is until the company finishes drilling a relief well later in the summer that is expected to stop the leak completely."

Ok, so they have directed BP to mobilize additional equipment and technology.  What about the additional equipment and technology that has been offered to us by other foreign nations?  Additional skimmers, booms, and ships.  I thought that we were reaching out to have better relations with other foreign countries.  Whenever they are hurting we always come to their aide but now when we have need and they have generously offered to help this President turns down there offer.  Also notice that he says that the efforts should capture 90% of the oil in the coming days and weeks.  I don't see the words shall or will in there.  Should leaves a lot of wiggle room.  In addition he states that the relief well is expected to stop the leak completely.  What is the back up plan here if it does not?  Let's continue...

"Already, this oil spill is the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced. And unlike an earthquake or a hurricane, it is not a single event that does its damage in a matter of minutes or days. The millions of gallons of oil that have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico are more like an epidemic, one that we will be fighting for months and even years."

Notice here that he is laying the groundwork for his energy reform legislation.  Thank you captain obvious for stating that the cleanup is going to take months and years.

"But make no mistake: we will fight this spill with everything we've got for as long it takes. We will make BP pay for the damage their company has caused. And we will do whatever's necessary to help the Gulf Coast and its people recover from this tragedy."

So we are going to fight the spill with everything we've got huh?  I ask again...Why didn't you accept the assistance from the other nations when it was offered to us?  Guess we aren't exactly fighting the spill with everything we've got after all are we?  Notice here how he is going to make BP pay for the damage that has been caused.  While I agree that BP is at fault here and should be held liable for damages I would like to know how this President intends on making BP pay.  Is he going to hold a gun to Tony Heywards head and tell him to cough up the money?  I don't think that he has the power to back up that statement.

"Tonight I'd like to lay out for you what our battle plan is going forward: what we're doing to clean up the oil, what we're doing to help our neighbors in the Gulf, and what we're doing to make sure that a catastrophe like this never happens again.


First, the cleanup. From the very beginning of this crisis, the federal government has been in charge of the largest environmental cleanup effort in our nation's history - an effort led by Admiral Thad Allen, who has almost forty years of experience responding to disasters. We now have nearly 30,000 personnel who are working across four states to contain and cleanup the oil. Thousands of ships and other vessels are responding in the Gulf. And I have authorized the deployment of over 17,000 National Guard members along the coast. These servicemen and women are ready to help stop the oil from coming ashore, clean beaches, train response workers, or even help with processing claims - and I urge the governors in the affected states to activate these troops as soon as possible."


So he states here that from the very beginning of the crisis that the fed has been in charge.  Well I guess we now know why things have go so smoothly...NOT.  Here again he touts the experience of the people under him by stating that Admiral Thad Allen has almost forty years of experience dealing with disasters.  While I appreciate Admiral Allen's service to our country quite frankly right now I don't care how much experience he has.  So there are 30,000 personnel on the ground in four states.  How about you break that down by how many people that is to cover how many square miles of ocean, beaches, and marshlands.  Thousands of ships and vessels in the Gulf?  It's too little, too late.  You could have had thousands out there in the first week if you would have taken the assistance that was offered to you.  Thousands now doesn't mean much does it?  So he has authorized the activation of 17,000 National Guardsmen.  I don't care about the jobs he stated they will be doing...I'm more concerned about the jobs they may do that he didn't talk about (i.e. dealing with civil unrest, evacuations, incarcerations of civillians, etc.).  Next paragraph...

"Because of our efforts, millions of gallons of oil have already been removed from the water through burning, skimming, and other collection methods. Over five and a half million feet of boom has been laid across the water to block and absorb the approaching oil. We have approved the construction of new barrier islands in Louisiana to try and stop the oil before it reaches the shore, and we are working with Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida to implement creative approaches to their unique coastlines." 

Millions of gallons of oil have been removed huh?  Well that doesn't mean to much if you've only removed 25 million gallons and there is 125 million out there does it?  So 1,041 miles of boom has been laid across the water.  By the images I'm seeing on TV it either isn't enough or you need to find better boom because it isn't working.  Oh, and you've finally approved the new barrier islands in Louisiana to stop the oil.  That approval is only about 4 weeks late.  You should have approved it when Governor Jindal asked for it.  I can't believe he had the nerve to bring up that topic and try to use it for his benefit.

"As the clean up continues, we will offer whatever additional resources and assistance our coastal states may need. Now, a mobilization of this speed and magnitude will never be perfect, and new challenges will always arise. I saw and heard evidence of that during this trip. So if something isn't working, we want to hear about it. If there are problems in the operation, we will fix them.



But we have to recognize that despite our best efforts, oil has already caused damage to our coastline and its wildlife. And sadly, no matter how effective our response becomes, there will be more oil and more damage before this siege is done. That's why the second thing we're focused on is the recovery and restoration of the Gulf Coast."

This may be the only two paragraphs where he was straightforward and honest during the speech...

"You know, for generations, men and women who call this region home have made their living from the water. That living is now in jeopardy. I've talked to shrimpers and fishermen who don't know how they're going to support their families this year. I've seen empty docks and restaurants with fewer customers - even in areas where the beaches are not yet affected. I've talked to owners of shops and hotels who wonder when the tourists will start to come back. The sadness and anger they feel is not just about the money they've lost. It's about a wrenching anxiety that their way of life may be lost.


I refuse to let that happen. Tomorrow, I will meet with the chairman of BP and inform him that he is to set aside whatever resources are required to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed as a result of his company's recklessness. And this fund will not be controlled by BP. In order to ensure that all legitimate claims are paid out in a fair and timely manner, the account must and will be administered by an independent, third party."

So Mr. Obama is going to FINALLY meet with the chairman of BP.  Oh what I would give to be a fly on the wall in the Oval Office during that meeting.  Do you get the impression that Obama is going to get the whip out and give the BP chairman a spanking?  So Obama is going to inform the BP chairman the he must set aside "resources" (that's a code word for money) to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed.  Once again, while I agree that this is BP's responsibility I am not sure the President has it in his Constitutional power to enforce these threats.  Another important question is who the third party will be that is going to administer the fund.  Something don't jive here people and all I've got to say is follow the money.

"Beyond compensating the people of the Gulf in the short-term, it's also clear we need a long-term plan to restore the unique beauty and bounty of this region. The oil spill represents just the latest blow to a place that has already suffered multiple economic disasters and decades of environmental degradation that has led to disappearing wetlands and habitats. And the region still hasn't recovered from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. That's why we must make a commitment to the Gulf Coast that goes beyond responding to the crisis of the moment.


I make that commitment tonight. Earlier, I asked Ray Mabus, the Secretary of the Navy, a former governor of Mississippi, and a son of the Gulf, to develop a long-term Gulf Coast Restoration Plan as soon as possible. The plan will be designed by states, local communities, tribes, fishermen, businesses, conservation"

So the Secretary of the Navy is now in charge of restoring the Gulf.  Last I checked the Navy was not into the restoration business.  Aren't they in the business of making war?  All of this sounds well and good but will only lead to one thing.  More spending and more committee meetings and nothing for real getting done.

"The third part of our response plan is the steps we're taking to ensure that a disaster like this does not happen again. A few months ago, I approved a proposal to consider new, limited offshore drilling under the assurance that it would be absolutely safe - that the proper technology would be in place and the necessary precautions would be taken.


That was obviously not the case on the Deepwater Horizon rig, and I want to know why. The American people deserve to know why. The families I met with last week who lost their loved ones in the explosion - these families deserve to know why. And so I have established a National Commission to understand the causes of this disaster and offer recommendations on what additional safety and environmental standards we need to put in place. Already, I have issued a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling. I know this creates difficulty for the people who work on these rigs, but for the sake of their safety, and for the sake of the entire region, we need to know the facts before we allow deepwater drilling to continue. And while I urge the Commission to complete its work as quickly as possible, I expect them to do that work thoroughly and impartially."

Kind of ironic that shortly after Mr. Obama approved new offshore drilling that this disaster happened don't you think?  Hmmm?  While I agree that drilling must be done safely it must be understood that accidents can and will happen.  That is why they are called accidents.  I also agree that an investigation needs to take place in regards to this accident and if there was wrongdoing then someone needs to be responsible for that and pay the price.  I also understand the need to reinspect all of the offshore rigs and ensure that they are in compliance.  What I don't understand is why a six month moratorium needs to be placed on drilling.  This basically tells me that the government isn't efficient enough to get out there and inspect these rigs in a timely manner.  Therefore since the MMS can't do their job right the oil companies are forced to suffer.  You've got to be kidding me.  Expedite this process, inspect the rigs, ensure the safety, and lets get back to drilling and put these people back to work.  Our economy runs on fossil fuels.  Whether you like it or not that's the way it is.  While this commission is sitting around twiddling their thumbs having meetings the workers that depend on these rigs for their paychecks are going broke.  Furthermore, if these rigs don't begin working soon they will pull up their anchor and leave for greener pastures.  In other words we will be importing more oil from overseas and we will have put our national security in jeopardy even more. 

"One place we have already begun to take action is at the agency in charge of regulating drilling and issuing permits, known as the Minerals Management Service. Over the last decade, this agency has become emblematic of a failed philosophy that views all regulation with hostility - a philosophy that says corporations should be allowed to play by their own rules and police themselves. At this agency, industry insiders were put in charge of industry oversight. Oil companies showered regulators with gifts and favors, and were essentially allowed to conduct their own safety inspections and write their own regulations.


When Ken Salazar became my Secretary of the Interior, one of his very first acts was to clean up the worst of the corruption at this agency. But it's now clear that the problems there ran much deeper, and the pace of reform was just too slow. And so Secretary Salazar and I are bringing in new leadership at the agency - Michael Bromwich, who was a tough federal prosecutor and Inspector General. His charge over the next few months is to build an organization that acts as the oil industry's watchdog - not its partner."

Over the last decade the agency was emblematic of a failed philosophy?  Folks this is another coded message here that when translated means another blame George Bush for this mess excuse.  While me and Mr. Bush didn't always see eye to eye I want to go on the record that I'm sick and tired of hearing that man blamed for every problem that Obama faces.  So Ken Salazar's first acts were to clean up the agency.  Guess he didn't do a good job or he was continuing the philosophy that you are now bashing Bush for since you got caught.  So now you bring in a new guy, Michael Bromwich, to watch over the MMS.  Let's see how that works out.  I hope he minds his p's and q's because he is going to be watched like a hawk.


That's enough for now...Check out the rest of the blog tonight when I will finish up my review of the the President's speech and I will get into the REAL agenda that he is USING this crisis for.  Stay tuned...

Until tonight...

Stay Educated, Stay Informed, Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Sonny "Bandit" Darlington