Coffee Party Meeting

Today, Nancy and I went down to a meeting of a group called The Coffee Party, here in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Coffee Party typically meets at coffee houses, and is not all that formal of an organization, it does insist that all of its members and participants to take "The Civility Pledge" which states:

"As a member and supporter of the Coffee Party, I pledge to conduct myself in a way that is civil, honest and respectful to people with whom I disagree. I value people from different cultures, I value people with different ideas, and I value and cherish the democratic process."

I took the pledge and indeed, I do value these principles and will strive to incorporate them in my daily life and discussions with others. I do believe that we can disagree, without being disagreeable. The meeting today was most interesting, let me tell you a little about the people I met and what I learned.

The Coffee Party meeting was crowded as more than 3 times the number of people turned out that were expected. The people who attended had varying backgrounds, a Veteran's Administration worker, school teachers, sales people, public relations and you name it. This group worked to develop an agreed position on what they wanted and were very specific in stating that our elected representatives in Washington need to:

1. Be civil and respectful with people even when they disagree

2. Be cooperative and collaborative with all of their colleagues,

3. Be honest and straight forward with the American people about the facts that influenced their beliefs.

Let's take a minute and say specifically what that means in the context of today.

• Civil and Respectful discussion: precludes yelling out "You Lie" at the President of the United States. It also precludes yelling out "Baby Killer" at a U.S. Senator. These types of emotional outbursts, send out a very negative message to all of the American people.

• Cooperative and Collaborative; means working together with varying factions to devise solutions to issues that are in the best interest of the American People as a whole, rather than party line voting.

• Finally, being honest and straight forward requires the highest level of ethics in our political discourse; refraining from repeating falsehoods, innuendo, or circulating untrue rumors for political advantage. Further, this means that information circulated via, television, radio, newsprint, or internet should be fully validated before it is passed on. Honest and straight forward also precludes the use of scare tactics.

What will happen next? I have no idea, but think this is a pleasant alternative to the "tea party'.

All the best,

Afternoon with Jesse Ventura

We had a great afternoon today going out to see Jesse "the body" Ventura speak and sign books at the Mall of Americas here in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There was a huge crowd. For those of you that don't know Jesse Ventura, is the former Governor of Minnesota, a former wrestling star, and an expert in Under Water Demolition from the Vietnam War. I learned that Jesse, was also a very successful football coach here in Minnesota.


Jesse has just released a new book called "American Conspiracies" it really looks like it will make a great read. I'll give you a little book report in a day or two. Anyhow, there was a big crowd there to get books signed. The Governor also spoke about his views on waterboarding, having been waterboarded in the military. You can see his exact thinking on waterboarding and Dick Cheney on the video attached to this post. He also went on to call Bush the worst president in his life time. I have to agree. Jesse felt bad that Obama was left in the worst position of any American President, with a collapsed economy and two wars going on at the same time.

Jesse was also upset about the damage the U.S. is doing to Mexico with our "alleged war on drugs". He views that the upcoming vote to legalize pot in California, is a start; and then all drugs should be legalized. Hopefully, between Jesse and Cheech and Chong - maybe we will get something done on this subject this year. While I don't use any illegal drugs, I think our policies in this area are absolutely wrong. At least we won't be causing so much death in Mexico because of the quest for drugs in our country.

Jesse is a very interesting character, and honestly....I think he may be a truly Great American. BTW, I don't think Jesse is a genius, but just like Diogenes, I am delighted to find one semi-honest man!

God Bless America...and God Bless Jesse Ventura!!!

Interview with my old buddy R. W. Nutt

It has been difficult year for my right-wing friends. They lost the Senate, House, and Oval Office to the Progressives. Make no mistake about it the Democrat party isn't all that great, but with combined ignorance and incompetence of Bush/Cheney it would have been hard for the Democrats to lose. Since President Obama has taken office my right-wing nut buddies have begun lashing out at anything that moves. Here the results of some recent interviews with my old buddy R.W. Nutt. That's old RW in the picture to the right It was tough, as Mr. Nutt would mutter strange words and obscenities then begin to drool after every sentence.......kind of like some kind of right wing Turret's syndrome...I highlighted the incessant muttering in this article like this:

anyway here's how it went:



Me: How are you today Mr. Nutt?



R.W. Nutt: Fine. You kool-Aid drinkin faggots.



Me: Welcome to the prestigous LetGoJournal. We want to get your ideas on the President's Performance and the State of the Country. How would you rate the President's Performance?


R.W. Nutt: He's not my President. He's not even a US Citizen. He was born somewhere in Africa. Fair and Balanced, Kool-Aid Drinkin, Kill the Mexicans!


Me: Well, OK. But a few people disagree with you.


R.W. Nutt: Whoever disagrees with me must not read the Internet or listen to the News. Fair and balanced, illegal aliens, !@#$% communist fags !@#$%, Ditto Rush


Me: Well 52,000,000 American Voters voted for him, plus the State of Hawaii claims he was born there. Are you still sure your right.


R.W.Nutt: BHO is from Africa and he's a Muslim. Hell his middle name is Hussein? Probably, related to Saddam. Fox News. The State of Hawaii is a coverup. Kool Aid Drinkers. Kill the Mexicans! Kool Aid drinkin bastards! Lying SOBS, God Bless Ronald Reagan


Me: OK. Well then you don't believe that a majority of Americans elected the President?


R.W. Nutt: I thought I told you he's not my President and He's not really the President. Long live Ronald Regan! Kill the Mexicans! Fair and Balanced! Excellence in Broadcasting, Commie bastards


Me: Well what about the Stimulus Package?


R.W. Nutt: Stimulus my Ass! He's bailing out his buddies at the banks. MF'n, commies, dirty rotten !@#$%^, fair and balanced, you betcha Sara


Me: Excuse me, but you are aware that the so called bank bailout was passed and signed into law by President Bush? It was called the Emergency Economic Stabilization Program of 2008. It came in response to the mortgage crisis - which occurred during the Bush Administration.



R.W. Nutt: Check your facts Scooter! The whole thing is B.H. Obama screwing the tax payer. Tax and Spend Democrats. Fair and Balanced. Kool Aid Drinking. Trinkle Down! Bleeding Heart. Limbaugh. Kill the Mexicans!


Me: You are aware that the vast majority of economists believe that the stimulus package may have saved us from a global financial meltdown?


R.W. Nutt: Economists are all a bunch of gay pinko kool aid drinkin faggots. Who cares what those faggots think? Limbaugh, Socialist, Bastards, Kill the illegal mexicans.


Me: So do you think the stimulus package may have averted a major depression?



R.W. Nutt: Hell No, in fact I wish we had Jimmy Carter back....the lying bastards. Pinko Communist Socialist. Kool Aid Drinkin' Faggots. Kill the Mexicans!!!



Me: Where do you stand on gay marriage?


R.W. Nutt: I'll tell ya where I'd like to stand. I'd like to stand on the necks of those faggots and kill em all. They ruining the sanctity of marriage in our country. Cock Suckin' , Kool Aid Drinkin Faggots! God Bless the Virgin Palin! Kill the !@#$% Mexicans!!!


Me: Excuse me. Did you say "the Virgin Palin"?



R.W. Nutt: You !@#$ Right I did! That sweet little Bristol has "swore off" sex till she get's married. And Damn that Bitch, Oprah for picking on that little angel. Damn illegal aliens. Pinkos! Commies! SOB's. , Kill the Pinko Mexican Bastards, Oprah is a big fat bitch, Ditto Rush


Me: But Bristol already has a baby?


R.W. Nutt: So? You really don't get it do you? You are a Kool-Aid Drinker Aren't you? Haven't you ever heard of Abstinence! Oberman. Fair and Balanced! Fox! Ditto Rush Ditto! Kill the Mexicans! Abstinence!!! Yeah for Abstinence! Yeah for Virgins! Yeah for teen pregnancy! Yeah for single parents.


Me: I guess not. Seems to me like Bristol is kind of closing the barn door after the horse has already gone.


Me: What do you think about healthcare reform?


R.W. NUT: Socialized Medicine. Kill Grandma. Death Panels. Government Funding Abortion. Tax and Spend Liberal Democrat. Screw the Mexicans! Evil Empire!!! Ditto Rush!!!! Ditto Reagan!


Me: You realize that the US spends 16% of in GNP on healthcare...and yet ranks 41st in longevity.


R.W. Nut: There you go with statistics again, can't we just stay with my opinions? Our longevity is down because of all them minorities croaking each other. Croak you pepper bellies. Croak you jungle bunnies! Hey Pepper Bellies Croak some Spooks!!! Spooks croak some Pepper Bellies! Croak the Jews too! Kool-Aid Drinkin Faggot illegal alien bastards. God Bless Saint Rush!


Me: Well I guess we pretty well covered that topic. How about the President's record on human rights"?


R.W. Nutt: I TOLD YOU HE AIN'T MY PRESIDENT!!! Reagan, help me!


He wants to let those enemy combatants out to kill us all. He wants to give them rights!!! Limbaugh save us!!! Damn illegal Meskins! Kool-Aid drinkin, tax and spend liberal democrats!!! Their trying to cut Medicare. keep ur government hands off my medicare. you fags.


Me: What would you like to say to the previous Bush / Cheney Administration.


R.W. Nutt: I'd like to thank them for building our economy up, and for increasing housing prices so I could get a second loan on my house. I'd also like to thank them for waterboarding those stinking Arab bastards at Guantanemo Bay! Cheney, Rush, Kill the Mexican Kool Aid Drinkin, Faggot bastards. God Bless Fox News!!!! Kill the Pepperbelly illegals!


Me: Why do you constantly want to kill the Mexican imigrants?

R.W. Nutt: They come over here take American jobs. On top of that they crap in the fields on our crops and cause American people to get sick from tainted lettuce and spinach. Saint Sarah Palin, Ditto Rush, Oberlen, Fair and Balanced, You Betcha, Dirty Mexican Bastards !@#$%

Me: That's interesting how many white guys you know that are lettuce pickers who have lost their jobs? Secondly, I have never heard that the Mexican's crapped on our lettuce. Where did that come from?

R.W. Nutt: Well, I made the stuff up about crapping in the fields, but there are 50,000 white lettuce pickers out of work right now? Damn illegal Mexican immigrants, dirty, Godless Bastards, abortion rights supporting, Kool Aid drinking SOB's.

Me: 50,000 white lettuce pickers? I don't believe it. Where did you get that statistic?

R.W. Nutt: I made it up, I'll bet it will go great on the internet!!! Derrick Hedlund and Billy Timber will send it to 1000 ignorant friends of theirs and those idiots will send it out to 1000 of their friends. That's 1,000,000 idiots from just Derek and old Billy.

Me: Well I guess we pretty well covered these subjects, how bout just one more question?


R.W. Nutt: Sounds Good! Thank You Jesus for sending Ronald Reagan in your place. Kill the fn mexicans
Me: What are you so angry about?

R.W. Nutt: !@#$R%^U@!#$R , Your Mother, Kool-Aid Drinking Pinko Faggot, Ditto Rush, Ditto Reagan, Fair and Balanced Kool AID, Kiss My @#$%^&, you commie bastard, kill the fn mexicans, kill the jungle bunnies, croak all the commie bastards, kill the faggots, and God Bless America!!!


Me: That's a wrap!!!

Cowbows vs Vikings; Pregame Interview .....your chance to particpate

This writing finds me in the great state of Wisconsin, and more specifically in "Title Town". That's right, you got it, your erstwhile travelling reporter is writing from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Since I've been in town almost a week, I have made a couple of trips to Lambeau Field - which really got me in the NFL Spirit. So I am going to provide you, the lucky reader - an opportunity to participate in what will have to be the best pre-game interview done on Vikings - Cowboys NFC Playoff Game !

Stay tuned kiddos for instructions on how you can participate in this very special opportunity.

This frozen tundra called Lambeau Field is where my team, The Dallas Cowboys, once fought an epic battle of a game back in 1967 called "The Ice Bowl". Let me set it up for you. The Green Bay Packers had a great quarterback named Bart Starr, but he was up against Northeast Texas's own Dandy Don Meridith. Both teams had great coaches, a true Texas Gentleman named Tom Landry coached the Cowboys, while football legend Vince Lombardi coached the Green Bay Packers. The Ice Bowl is considered by many Professional Football Experts to be one of the greatest games of all time. Here's a brief recap of some of the highlights for those of you who don't remember or didn't see the game.......

• At the kick-off the temperature was -13 degrees (that's not wind chill that's the temperature).
  
  



• Referees did not use whistles - when the ref blew the whistle to start the game - it froze to his lips; after that they used voice and hand signals to manage the game.
  
  



• The system for heating the turf at the Green Bay stadium had failed - which meant that the ground was frozen solid. It was slick and as hard as a block of concrete.
  
  



• Green Bay took an early lead, scoring two touchdowns. Dallas recovered a fumble; returned it for a TD and then got a field goal to end the 1st half Green Bay 14 - Dallas 10.
  




• Neither team scored in the third quarter. By the start of the 4th quarter, the temperature had dropped to -20 degrees.
  
  
  
• However, Dallas scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Making the score Dallas 17 - Green Bay 14
  
  



• With only seconds left on the clock, Green Bay had the ball on the Dallas 1 yard line. With 4th down and goal, Green Bay called time out.
  
  



• Green Bay could have kicked a field goal which would have sent the game into overtime. Bart Starr suggested a quarterback sneak to Lombardi to win the game; according to Starr, Lombardi said "Run it and let's get the Hell out of here"
  
  
  



• Starr ran the play; Green Bay scored, and that was the end of the 1967 NFL Championship.

Lombardi, essentially decided let's either win this; or lose it; but it is too cold to stay out here any longer! Luckily, for Green Bay, Starr's footing held and they scored but only by so little.

In preparation for this week's NFL Play Off Game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys, I'll be channelling the spirit of Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry to give their outlook on the upcoming game and other issues which you may find interesting. If you have any questions, you'd like to ask Tom or Vince, please write them down below so that I can be prepared for my interview with both of them on Friday!!!! You can right them below in the blogs site comments or send them directly to me @ mikeroberts1213@gmail.com I hope we can have lots of good questions for Coach Lombardi and for Coach Landry. I'm looking forward to hearing the views of two of the greatest coaches of all time.

All the best,

Mike

Does anyone really care about you?

Did I mention that I have the flu??? Yep - but I am getting better daily - and hope to be 100% by New Years!!!


Paul McCartney asked "Will you still need me? Will you still feed me? When I'm 64? Interesting question, but how do you know if anyone really cares about you? This is can be a daunting question for some, but not for me. I'm also sure that Sir Paul's definition is falls far short of the mark. I've got nailed down tight. Ready? Huh? Here ya go, here's how you can tell if someone really cares about you.



First, lets talk Vicks Vapor Rub. Most of the folks my age have heard of or used Vick's VapoRub. VapoRub is a petroleum jelly based substance - kind of like Vaseline but it has something in it stuff stinks to high heaven (found out it is called camphor). I am wearing some now; and it smells like someone is operating a large asphalt roofing factory on my chest. Man does this stuff stink. It stinks up this entire Hilton Hotel Room we are staying in. On the otherhand, somehow, it seems to help clear up nasal congestion and make it easier to breath. What does Vicks VapoRub have to do with caring about someone? Simple -

1. Anyone who will help apply this foul substance called Vicks to another person's chest; obviously cares deeply for that person. It gets on your hands and it will not come off easily.
   



2. Anyone who will sleep in the same room with a person wearing Vicks VapoRub, obviously cares deeply for that person. Honestly, I'd rather sleep next to a great big pile of flaming cow chips than have this stuff on my chest......but somehow it does seem to help with cough and congestion...oooooh but it is nasty!!!!!

Tonight, Nancy rubbed this crap all over my chest. She didn't complain or anything. She knew it would help me breath and sleep better and that was all she cared about. This is how I know that Nancy truly cares about me.....Vicks Vaporub...the real test of a relationship!!! Put that in your romance magazine!

Man does this stuff stink!

All the best,

mike

Planning for Health Care Needs in Wisconsin

I have the flu!!! It's been over 10 years since I have had the flu, I get a flu shot every year. Maybe it is the cold Greenbay air that got me or maybe it is just bad luck; but I have the flu. Several people, including my sister have asked me if I think it might be the SWINE flu. I'm pretty sure it is not the swine flu, because although I have been grunting like a pig; I have not had any strong urges for slop. To the right is a genuine 3-D model of an influenza virus. ------->



I have a job to do up here in Wisconsin, and I need to be well to do it; so I went to the doctor to see if they could do anything to help me out. I went to this place called Waukesha Family Practice. http://www.waukeshafamilypractice.com/ It sounded like a nice place to me, you know "family practice" and it wasn't too far from the office.


Probably, most of you don't know it but Waukesha, Wisconsin was the birthplace and childhood home of Les Paul. He went by a number of names Red Hot Red, Red Hot Rhubarb, The Wizard of Waukesha. Les Paul, is one of the inventors of the electric guitar as well as a number of other recording and sound technologies. He was very famous in the 1950's, had his own TV show with his wife Mary Ford. Gibson Guitar still produces the "Gibson Les Paul Model" which is said to account for over half of Gibson's sales. It is a beautiful guitar, and has been used by some of the greatest guitarists of all time including Eric Clapton and Peter Townsend. I always wondered how Les Paul "invented" the electric guitar. The story, at least the way I got it was this. Les disassembled his mother's phonograph and used the stylus and cartridge as his first "pick up" (amplifier). I always wondered how young Lester managed to avoid a good old "azz whoopin" for tearing up his mother's phonograph. In researching this, I found out the Lester's mother was directly related to the Blatz Brewing Family and to the Stutz Family (Stutz Bearcat Automobiles), so money was not a problem for young Lester. I could go on about Les, and I will in another edition but right now I have to deal with the flu.


So, I tramp through the snow up to the Waukesha Family Practice Building, and take the elevator up. There are only two patients waiting - so I think I may be in luck. I walk over to the window to sign-in. I say to the receptionist, "I'd like to see a doctor because I have the flu". The receptionist, says do you have an appointment? I said, "no, I was hoping someone could see me." She spins around and starts to type on the computer. "What's your name", she says. I said, "I haven't been here before". "Do you have insurance?" she says. "Yes I have insurance." "What kind?" she asks. Blue Cross - Blue Shield. She then tells me that it could take 2 hours to set me up in the system, and that I should probably come back tomorrow. This woman is manually folding invoice to be sent to patients and stuffing them in envelopes. Behind her are a solid wall of "paper medical records" the technology of the 1800's I would guess. So maybe she is right...maybe it would take her two hours to "set me up in the system".


I said really? She said, "yes you have got to give us a "heads up" before you come here." By now, I am sure this is going nowhere - my parting words


"OK, Lady, the next time I am on a business trip, 500 miles away from home, and I think I might get the flu - I'll give you a heads up." I can't believe I didn't end this conversation with....

BITCH!

Of course, that would have been "bad karma" - but JEEZ - when your whole body is aching, and your hair even hurts.....have mercccceeeeey.


All the best,



mike

Merry Christmas and Siemper Fi!

Today, I ventured out to the grocery store to get some things for the soup that Nancy wanted me to make - this is a killer soup btw...it is called White Chili Soup - I 'll share the recipe after the post. But that is not what this post is about.

As I was checking out, I saw a 70+ year old gent coming into the store. He wore a green jacket and a fur covered hat. Not too unusual up here in Michigan - you need a hat - but what was unusual was the emblem on the front of this gentleman's hat. It was the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor - the emblem of the United States Marine Corps. I recognized the emblem easily, it was the same one my father proudly wore - being a veteran of both the Korean conflict and of Vietnam. (a picture of the mighty Eagle, Globe, and Anchor is on the left) The gentleman's name was John, and he and I exchanged stories..mine are only based on what I was told my Dad; John's version are based on the actual experiences of a US Marine and Veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Korea was a very tough place to be. As the U.S. engaged in this war - the Chinese engaged on the other side. When this happened - the Marines were over-run by the Chinese. My Dad and his buddy Wayne, were part of the Marines who were overrun. As this fight / battle continued into the night, Dad and Wayne ran out of ammunition for their 50 caliber browning machine gun (BAR). My Dad told me that all they had left, was his 45 caliber Colt Pistol. Dad told me that he wasn't sure if he could hit the side of the fox hole with the 45. So there they stayed all night, quietly waiting to see what their situation would be in the morning. Dad told me that when they saw daylight, there were Chinese Regulars, laying dead, knee deep all around their hill top fox-hole. Dad told me about seeing the "frozen Chosen", a reservoir on the Chosen River. As he and Wayne tried to find their way back to their battalion, he was hit in the back by enemy mortar fire. This injury haunted Dad the rest of his life; but his buddy Wayne carried him out - Dad was later sent to Japan to recover from his injuries. My middle name is "Wayne"; because of this hero who personally carried my Dad out - I understand that his last name is / was "Cook", but I have never met him. (But I would love very much to.)

John, my newly met friend at the grocery store, arrived in Korea shortly after my Dad's unit had been overrun. John was a Howitzer operator, they were ordered to "fire at will" at the rapidly advancing Chinese. John's unit dumped over 2 shiploads of munitions on the Chinese over the next few days. They knocked over 50 feet of the mountain top off - and stopped the advance of the Chinese. These guys probably provided the cover that enabled Wayne to bring my Dad, back to the MASH.

John told me more about his exploits as part of the USMC in Korea. It was a very lively discussion until he then looked me in the eyes and asked if my Dad was still alive? I choked and said, "no Sir, I lost him years back". My eyes filled with tears and so did John's.

As we tried to part, with tears in both of our eyes, John said, "thanks for talking to me", and I tried to say "Happy Holidays, Sir" it wasn't easy for either of us.

God Bless Our Veterans! They gave more than we will ever know; or will ever be able to repay!

All the best.

michael WAYNE roberts
USMC WANNAB