Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by many state constitutions and state and federal laws. Criticism of the government and advocacy of unpopular ideas that people may find distasteful or against public policy, such as racism, are generally permitted. There are exceptions to the general protection of speech, however, including the Miller test for obscenity, child pornography laws, and regulation of commercial speech such as advertising. Other limitations on free speech often balance rights to free speech and other rights, such as property rights for authors and inventors (copyright), interests in "fair" political campaigns (Campaign finance laws), protection from imminent or potential violence against particular persons (restrictions on Hate speech or fighting words), or the use of untruths to harm others (slander). Distinctions are often made between speech and other acts which may have symbolic significance. Efforts have been made to ban flag desecration, for example, though currently that act remains protected speech.

In No way am I using any hateful or torrid messages pointed at anyone. I took an oath to defend the constitution of the USA. I adhere to it still. If you dont like what I have to say then don't read it.

Race in the Age of Obama

"Is Barack Obama African-American? Is he mixed race? Will having Obama in office change America's perspective on race?

I think I have heard him state he is mixed race and African American. So I am confused as to where his identities lie. I do think it shows that race is no longer the barrier it used to be.
I do think that if you utilize your talents and abilities you will be rewarded. His work in Chicago shows it.
In business, if you act like you are supposed to be a token you will be treated as a token, if you perform in this day and age you will advance. The days of the boys club are dying with big 3.
I am Caucasian and I agree there are a few places I have seen in my 11 years of auditing hundreds of North American Corporations that a pedigree may get your foot in the door but if the guy underneath you shines a heck of a lot brighter than you do, no matter what their color or creed, a GOOD firm will promote that person. The bad firm will lose that person and will eventually slump to mediocrity.

AUTO INDUSTRY RESCUE - WHAT IS YOUR REACTION???

In these past few months we have focused upon the Big 3's policies and practices. I am afraid they will be back for more in almost a year. I would be surprised if they were not back for more in the near future.

Ive worked in the auto industry for many years and for the sake of the many non UAW supplier plants and their employees it will help them more in the short term. It is not a popular decision but it is one of compassion that needs to be made for the sake of the supplier base.

The employees of the supplier base to the big three are a mix of Union contract and non Union Contract workers. These are people that are hard working, the ones that are your next door neighbors. They don't have pensions or Jobs Banks or even 100% benefit coverage.
For many years the supplier base has been bearing part of the burden of the big 3's overhead having to sell parts to the Big 3 for little or no margin so the big 3 can cover their overhead. Many call it the "Lopez Doctrine" after a former President from GM who introduced supplier purchasing strategies that are some what harsh.
95% of the supplier base now do not have the wages and benefits of the Big 3 hourly employees. Yet these suppliers are indirectly at the mercy every three years during contract negotiations as it has impacts on them as well. When I think of the loan the government is giving out I hope that this is going to keep the suppliers in work

I think this is wrong, the guy is right BG doe not have a great fan base

BOWLING GREEN FIRES GREGG BRANDON
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 29, 2008, 9:47 p.m. EST
Bowling Green has fired Gregg Brandon after six years as head coach, the school announced today.
Brandon, who got the Bowling Green job when Urban Meyer left to become the head coach at Utah, finishes his tenure at Bowling Green with a 44-30 record, including 6-6 this season.
“This was a difficult decision, but ultimately I believe it’s time for BGSU football to make a coaching change,” said athletic director Greg Christopher. “Gregg’s time at Bowling Green has been marked by a number of accomplishments. I want to thank him for his dedication and commitment to Falcon football. … Finding the right person to lead the young men of our football team is our top priority.”
The firing comes just 10 months after Brandon signed a contract extension through the 2011 season. But it was a rough off-season at Bowling Green, where members of the team got into legal trouble and failed out of school. Brandon also didn’t make any friends when he criticized Bowling Green fans for low attendance. He won’t have to worry about how many fans turn out at Bowling Green anymore.

I just dont see the rationale in this. He has to be one of the better underpaid coached in Division I. I guess BG just cant commit to a sucessful program.

How Corrupt is my state??

HOW CORRUPT IS YOUR STATE? From CNN's Veronica DeLa Cruz:

Here are the 35 most populous states ranked by their corruption rate:

Louisiana (1)(7.67), Mississippi (2)(6.66), Kentucky (3)(5.18), Alabama (4)(4.76), Ohio (5)(4.69), Illinois (6)(4.68), Pennsylvania (7)(4.55), Florida (8)(4.47), New Jersey (9)(4.32), New York (10)(3.95).

Tennessee (11)(3.68), Virginia (12)(3.64), Oklahoma (13)(2.96), Connecticut (14)(2.80), Missouri (15)(2.79), Arkansas (16)(2.74), Massachusetts (17)(2.66), Texas (18)(2.44), Maryland (19)(2.31), Michigan (20)(2.14).

Georgia (21)(2.13), Wisconsin (22)(2.09), California (23)(2.07), North Carolina (24)(1.96), Arizona (25)(1.88), Indiana (26)(1.85), South Carolina (27)(1.74), Nevada (28) (1.72), Colorado (29)(1.56), Washington (30)(1.52).

Utah (31)(1.4117), Kansas (32)(1.4109), Minnesota (33)(1.24), Iowa (34)(0.91), Oregon (35)(0.68).

My Response:

Wow, Ohio is only fifth! I am only surprised that we were only fifth! I live in the state that elected Jim Traficant for over 8 terms! We had people STILL voting for him as a write AFTER he went to jail! At least Blagojevich has his own hair!
We have had one of the worst Governor’s in the NATIONS (not just Ohio) History, Taft! We are still discovering all of his schemes! How very quick we were to forget about the miscues of ACORN in the last election? It worries me how many votes in Ohio ACORN may have falsified in the last election.
Marathon Oil has owned several Congressmen from the Fourth district; Tennyson Guyer whose widow picked Smiling Mike Oxley, who hand Picked four time Ohio High School State Wrestling Champion (but has never held a real job!) Jim Jordan! Way to go Ohio!
The Blagojevich scandal is the tip of the iceberg. Who in the American Public really thinks that our Government is not for sale? Maybe we should investigate them all! It is supposed to be a public service isn’t it?
Why do I think that way? Because if I did what a lot of these people have done in the past, I would be in checking into jail with OJ. It has been this way all through history “ET TU Brute!”
The best is yet to come fellow Buckeyes!; Jim Traficant gets his hairpiece back in March when he gets out of the Pokey!

This one makes me smile as well

Click on the Title to go to the link about the two legged dog.

Citi-Group Bail-Out

Citi-Group Bail-Out: The Government is about to fork over hundreds of billions of tax payer dollars to once financial giant Citi-Group, while GM may never see its share of the $25 billion the Big Three have been seeking. What are your thoughts on the Citi-Group bail-out? Should the Government take care of one and not the other? Both?

I realize that we have already given Citigroup 25 Billion before. Unlike the Big 3, Citigroup will provide a service the Big 3 cannot; a product we can use. A Bank that provides credit, loans and banking service world wide vs. a promise of an electric / hybrid car that will probably never become a reality.

Citibank has a history of providing the customer with service, the Big 3 have a legacy of bad untimely products, arrogance towards their suppliers and schemes to divest themselves of underachieving subsidiaries that have ended up already costing the taxpayers millions.
Those recent examples include Delphi, Visteon, Mopar, the infamous but little known Peregrine Stamping that GM used to get rid of ten underachieving Fisher Guide Plants one of which became one of the state of Michigan’s worst environmental cleanups.
Why should we as tax payers continue to pay for the Big 3’s blunders as we have done so many times with many local tax payer bases already saddled with the legacy of closed GM, Ford, Chrysler, Delphi, Visteon and Mopar facilities with little hope of anything in return.

Prop 8 & Obama's Blog

Two topics being discussed in the CNN Newsroom today: Prop 8 protests have started to swell, not just on the West Coast, but across the country, plus this....Obama may have to give up his Blackberry because of security concerns??!

We all need to accept the fact that Prop 8 was passed 52.46 vs 47.54% (see LA Times Nov 5th PROPOSITION 8 AND PROPOSITION 22
Gay marriage ban: A tale of two votes ) The opposition to Proposition 8 missed their chance this election.
I empathize with the homosexuals right to Same Sex Marriage, its just that I am in the minority right now. Even with this increased voter turnout with younger people with sympathetic views it did not pass. I am afraid overturning proposition 8 will not occur until another presidential election.

Mr President elect, you need to give up the Blackberry, it gave me carpal tunnel. Now how embarrassing would that be to have a president with Carpal Tunnel?

Faith the dog, I love this story

Thanks Daryn

Did I experience any trouble voting?

No problems, I travel a great deal and I vote absentee. I only have missed one election since I was 18.
Voting absentee used to mean that when I did vote, I was given the honor of Jury duty on a regular basis but now it means that I vote with dead people registered by ACORN.