Prince Harry…A Royal Pain In the Ass

Prince Harry was in Las Vegas recently and he dressed down for the occasion. Unfortunately, he wasn’t alone or out of eye shot of cameras, because naked photos of him are now all over the internet. He blames an alcohol filled party. No doubt something was to blame for his poor judgment. Now, he is going to have to pay for his mistakes for a long time to come.

One punishment, for the third in line for the throne, is NO MORE Facebook. He has had to delete his account. Of course the account wasn’t under his real name, it was under the name Spike Wells, but it’s very hard to keep that a secret when you are a prince. Harry is only 27 and Judge Judy would probably say he is not “fully cooked,” as men take longer to mature than women. The other consequence is that his long term girlfriend dumped him. I’m sure Prince Charles and the Queen Mother had plenty to say to him too. I guess you might say they were “royally pissed.”

Harry’s security team is also at fault. It appears that when Harry and his friends were about to entertain a group of women, the women were not told to surrender their phones. That enabled them to take several pictures throughout the festivities. One has to wonder if the security team was also drunk?

Now there is a threat that even more embarrassing photos of Harry are due to come out, even worse than the previous set. There is word of a bigger breaking scandal in the works. Maybe, whoever has the story, is waiting to be paid off by the Royal family? Otherwise, why would they be holding on to it? The talk is that two casinos allegedly waived Harry’s $80,000 bill, which they deny. How all this ties together remains to be seen. Maybe Harry’s partying days are now over?

What does this all prove? Well what happens in Vegas, doesn’t necessarily stay in Vegas! Stay Tuned!

My Rabbit, Yoyo...

When I was a kid, many, many years ago, I was desperate for a pet of any kind. I always blogged about how I got my toy fox terrier, Caesar, thanks to my cousin Paul and his smart-ass remark. Well, thanks to Paul, I also got my pet rabbit. One year, my aunt Mary got her kids a bunny for Easter. That opened the door for me to ask for one. My mother broke down and took us to buy one. He was a golden tan color. I guess she was okay with it because he would be kept in the yard. My father built him a nice big cage and used the mesh from old screens for the sides. We named the bunny Yoyo, because he like to jump up and down.

Yoyo loved to eat. My mother bought rabbit food all the time and gave him left over vegetables or extras she had home. He got big and fat pretty fast. But, in spite of all the food we gave him, Yoyo wasn’t quite content. He learned how to make a hole in the screen of the cage and get out. My father tried to repair the hole, but Yoyo was always one escape ahead of him. When Yoyo got out, which was usually at 5 am in the mornings, he would never eat all the vegetables growing in my father’s garden. No. Instead, he went over to the neighbor’s garden and helped himself to their grand smorgasbord. This would them prompt the neighbor to call my house at 5 am and complain about the rabbit in their yard. Either me or my brother would have to get out of bed and go get Yoyo. The yard next door had a three or four foot drop on the other side of the fence, so we couldn’t figure out how Yoyo always managed to land there, especially when there was a beautiful vegetable garden a few feet away from his cage. I’m not sure how many times this happened, but there came a time when it was once too many.

WARNING: The rest of the story may be too harsh for animal lovers!

I always spent all or part of the summers at my cousin’s house. One day the phone rings and it’s my brother. He has some bad news to tell me. Mind you I just got off the phone speaking to my mother and she never mentioned a word of what she did. My brother proceeds to tell me that my mother put Yoyo in the shopping cart and took him to the butcher. She sold Yoyo to him for $5.00. The butcher asked her if she had any more like him. My mother said no. And she came home with an empty shopping cart. I was horrified to say the least. It was all after the fact and there was nothing I could do. Poor Yoyo, his life cut tragically short because he liked to roam and eat and because my mother detested getting up at 5am in the morning. I felt betrayed because she decided to do this without saying anything or looking for a more humane solution to the problem. On top of that, she seized the moment I was away, to plan Yoyo’s demise and she had no remorse. All she had to say was the $5.00 didn’t begin to cover all the money she had spent to feed him. 

I never understood how she could do such a thing. 

Todd Akin and “Legitimate Rape”

I was trying very hard to avoid any discussion of politics or politicians for a while. I find the whole topic very draining. However, this story was brought to my attention and I found it impossible to ignore. The Republican Senate nominee in Missouri is stirring up a bit of controversy that no one can put a good spin on. Representative Akin is against all abortions, even in cases of rape and incest. Why? It is his belief that in cases of “legitimate rape” a woman’s body automatically blocks unwanted pregnancy from occurring. And Akin has done his research. He has asked doctors who have confirm that pregnancy rarely occurs from rape. It seems we have gone back to prehistoric times once again. What happened to the old warning given to teenagers by Ann Landers…it only takes having intercourse one time to conceive? I thought everyone knew that. However, this 65 year old, six term member of Congress must have missed the news flash.

Let me just post his exact words here so there is no room for misinterpretation: “It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare,” Mr. Akin said of pregnancies from rape. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

I’m sure that he has pretty much ended his career with his comments. I can’t imagine any person adhering to these beliefs. If I hadn’t read about the incident myself, I might not have believed it. But, here it is in black and white. And then, realizing what he had done, Mr. Akin tried to do damage control and explain away his statement, He misspoke. He has compassion for rape victims. All the while sticking to his position that all life must be protected regardless of how is was conceived. Romney and Ryan were quick to disassociate themselves from Akin, while he was going down in flames. In fact no one has come to his defense. The comments are political suicide.

I really find this appalling and yet there is more. Here is what else he believes: “He also looks to be the first legislator to make the argument that rape prevents pregnancy,  arguing in the late 1980s that the odds of a pregnancy resulting from rape were “one in millions and millions and millions.” His explanation? The trauma of rape causes women to “secrete a certain secretion which has the tendency to kill sperm.”

It is scary that is this day and age, with so much information available, that people who are running for office are this ignorant of the facts. You would think that someone close to him would have educated him as to the reproductive process so he would know his argument doesn’t hold water. The sad thing is, he isn’t the only one to hold these views in spite of scientific evidence to the contrary.

Paul Ryan’s Anti-Women Platform…

Romney sticks it to the working class; Ryan sticks it to women!

What a joke!

As if Mitt Romney hasn’t done enough to prove he represents just the wealthy, at the expense of the lower-income and middle class population, he picks Paul Ryan as his running mate. Paul Ryan is a man who, if he had his way, would set women back to the Stone Age. I have tried not to read any of the things he stands for, but there is always someone or something bringing politics to my attention. Now I have to say something.

I came across the list below of Paul Ryan’s stand on women rights. I feel like I took a ride in a time machine, back to the Dark Ages. Susan B. Anthony must be on a perpetual roll in her grave. I can’t even wrap my mind around this kind of thinking. The list speaks for itself, I really don’t need to add more, but I will.

Paul Ryan doesn’t believe that women should get equal pay for equal work.Really? I’d like to meet the woman who agrees with that. Are there actually conservative women who are okay with this position? Is this okay for your daughters and granddaughters to make less money than a man? It’s not okay with me. I have two daughters. One day they may have daughters. I would like them to be treated fairly and equally in the workforce. I don’t like it that their salary might be based on gender and not the job or job performance. Of course Paul Ryan has two sons so maybe it’s fine with him, they won’t be affected.

Paul Ryan is against abortion, even in cases of rape and incest. I am against abortion too. I think it’s being used way too often, in pregnancies that could be avoided in the first place. It was not meant to be a form of birth control. I don’t want to debate the whole abortion issue, however I am upset at how radial his stand is on this issue. In cases of rape and incest, I have always felt that abortion should be an option. The reasons are obvious and don’t need to be stated. No woman should have to have a baby that was created in an act of brutality. Imagine Paul Ryan telling you that your daughter would not be able to terminate a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest? How can anyone agree with that? Of course, Paul Ryan has two sons, so he is not concerned with our daughters.

If Paul Ryan has his way, he would eliminate Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood has been around almost 100 years and provides health care services for women such as: preventing unwanted pregnancy, pap tests, breast exams, treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and yes 3% of their services involve abortions. Without their vital services many women, men and teens would have no where to turn. Is this really necessary and has he thought out the consequences of such a policy?

Paul Ryan does want insurance companies to pay for birth control and wants to make some forms of it illegal. Again, we have the argument that birth control is used to treat other women’s health issues, not just prevent pregnancy. And why wouldn’t you want to prevent pregnancy? Isn’t preventing a pregnancy a better option than an abortion? Do we really want to bring children into this world who are unwanted or cannot be provided for? I just don’t get it. The fact is that when a woman or teen gets pregnant, many times the father takes off and leaves the raising of the child to the mother. She is lucky if she can get child support. And then, often times, she may need public assistance. How many more of these situations will we have without birth control as an option? It would cause many women to drop out of school, or be unable to work. Wouldn’t this be more of a drain on society? But, Paul Ryan has sons, so maybe he isn’t concerned about unwanted pregnancies.

And finally, Paul Ryan would outlaw in vitro fertilization. Here we have a man who is pro-life and against birth control and abortion, seeking to prevent wanted pregnancy too. He is heartless enough to want to deny women and couples with fertility problems, the right to have a baby through in vitro fertilization. Paul Ryan was never a woman who longed to have a baby. He doesn’t know how that feels. He has two children of his own, so what does he care of the next couple can’t have children? I wonder if his wife hadn’t been able to have children, if he would be taking this position? As a mother of daughters, I am glad that science has progressed to the point that if they have problems conceiving, there are alternative options available. How dare he take away a woman’s chance of having her own baby?

Is this what conservatives mean when they say they want government out of their business? They want less government interference in our lives, unless it‘s for telling women what they can and cannot do? What’s next? Will Paul Ryan suggest we revoke a women’s right to vote?

As or Mitt Romney, this is his first major decision as "would be President." As far as I am concerned he failed.  He didn’t choose someone who I have trust and confidence in. Paul Ryan is clearly against women’s rights and equality. If these are the things Paul Ryan freely admits to standing behind, what more does he have in mind that we aren’t aware of? I shutter to think about it. If you have daughters, you should too.

Mitt Romney’s 13% Tax Rate…

42.5 MILLION = 13% TAX RATE

Mitt Romney’s 13% Tax Rate…

I wish I could avoid hearing anything on the news, because everything I hear is aggravating. This morning, for example, I heard that Mitt Romney, who earned 42.5 million dollars is paying 13% in taxes. He also won’t release previous tax returns, beyond the last two years, because some speculate he paid no taxes at all. It wouldn’t surprise me that someone whose net worth is about 250 million dollars and who made 42.5 million isn’t paying their fair share of taxes, while others, who make a pittance of that amount, pay far more.

Let’s take my older daughter for example. She graduated college three years ago. Fortunately for her, she earned a full scholarship and has no loans to pay back, so all the money she earns is hers to keep…except for taxes. After working three years, she still cannot afford to move out on her own. Why? On her meager salary she pays 25% in taxes. Yes, a single person earning $35,350 or more must pay 25% in taxes. Imagine if she had loans to pay? She would be working for taxes and loans forever. Unless, of course I had $20,000 sitting around to lend her for a business. What sense does this make? How can people ever get out of debt when the rich people don’t pay their fair share?

Check out your bracket, are you paying more than Romney?

Yesterday I read that Romney wants to cut out Pell Grants for Students in order to DECREASE taxes for the rich. In Nebraska, 75 students would lose their grants to pay for one millionaire’s tax cut of $265,000. Pell grants are a maximum of $5,000 per low-income student. It’s based on financial need. It’s to help students and parents who can’t afford tuition costs, so they can get an education and be contributing members of society. So what is the logic in taking away from so many who can ill afford it, to make the rich richer? Now I understand why President Obama called it Romneyhood!

On top of that, the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. There is a bill proposed to raise it to $10 an hour. Guess what? Romney sees no need to raise the minimum wage at this time. If not now, when? Romney and his people suggest that they want students to work their way through college and, at the same time, they fight an increase in the minimum wage that would help them do so? And then take away the grants they receive too. How are students supposed to get a college education and be productive citizens when everything is working against them? Even if they manage to graduate, they have loans to pay which may last as long as 30 year mortgages because they are being taxed at a rate of 25%.

Meanwhile, Romney doesn’t want to show us his previous tax returns. Where is all the hoopla demanding he present them like there was for Obama’s birth certificate?  Is he waiting for after the election to show us how little he paid? It might hurt his chances if people were to learn he paid even less than 13% for other years, don’t you think? 

I think this is all appalling. With high unemployment, loans, high tax rates, and low minimum wage, parents will have to take care of and support their adult children for a long time. But don’t worry, at this “rate,” the Romney children will be doing just fine.

Juan Reyes, the Irish-Italian American Republican…

Juan Reyes, the Irish-Italian American Republican…

…with the Spanish last name. Who is Juan Reyes? He came to my house and spoke to my husband. He is running for New York State Senate on the Republican ticket and is trying to get voter support. He is also a lawyer. He is part Italian, he is part Irish and he says, he has a Spanish name. I will post his site at the end so you can see for yourself. I'm not kidding.

When my husband was telling me about Juan, I raised my eyebrows and my voice. What do you mean the Irish-Italian guy with the Spanish name? What happened to the part of the family where he got his first and last names? Is he saying he is not Hispanic/Spanish? Is he saying that his Irish-Italian family gave him a Spanish name for the fun of it? Is he denying his part of his heritage? It sure sounds like that to me. My daughter jokingly said, does he really think he is pulling the wool over our eyes? 

In his flyer, Juan has some old pictures of his Irish and Italian ancestors. Juan is proud to say all his ancestors were "legal immigrants." He makes it clear that his wife, Meaghan O’Reilly-Reyes is also Irish. That's just great! I am still stunned. I have never seen a candidate make such an issue about part of his heritage while appearing to deny a huge chunk of it at the same time. His name would indicate that, at the very least, some Spanish/Hispanic DNA is in his gene pool. 

I’m not sure I would vote for a candidate who is lying by omission about his own Hispanic nationality. Or seems to be sweeping it under the rug. Or acts like it’s not important enough to mention. How will we know who he really is and what he stands for when he is blatantly is in denial over a very basic fact, he is also part Hispanic. 

You know what? Juan seems to be very likable. He has some impressive credentials and experience. He appears to be a highly educated, family man, who lives and works in our community. Why didn’t he try to focus on those things? Instead he made it all about his name and DNA.

I’m not sure this was the best political strategy for him to use. He didn’t win me over with it. He seems like a nice enough guy, but he sure is starting off on the wrong "el pie" (foot). Don’t you think? 

Link http://reyes2012.com/about-juan/

Mitt Romney’s Advice to College Grads in Ohio…

Just borrow from your parents!

Can’t find a job? Take risks! Start a business. Borrow $20,000 from your parents, like his friend Jimmy John. This is the “American experience.” He is way out of touch with the majority of Americans today if he thinks most parents have thousands of dollars sitting around to hand over to their kids after helping them get through college. Even if they haven’t helped with college, many parents are up to their eyeballs in their own debt: mortgages, credit cards, home improvement loans, car loans…

Of course Mitt Romney is rich and his parents are rich. That’s why he can afford to make jokes about unemployment and he isn’t worried about the poor. That’s why he thinks nothing of suggesting that students run to their parents for thousands of dollars to start a business, when they are probably already shouldering thousands of dollars in college loan debt. Romney is rich and has no clue how the middle class lives. A four year college education at a private school can easily cost $150,000, which is just pocket change to Romney, whose net worth is estimated to be about $250 million dollars. To hard working people and their children, it’s a burdening debt that is almost impossible to pay back, especially in these times with high unemployment. 

Is it that hard to get a fix on how most people in this country are living today? Romney doesn’t even have to do the research himself. He has a staff who can do polls, look online, check unemployment statistics, look up college tuition costs, the amount of money people are taking on various loans, etc…the information is out there and the money is not. 

How is Romney supposed to represent the majority when he relates only to the rich minority? 

Hey, anybody out there got a few thousand dollars to lend to your children to start a business since they can’t get jobs after paying $150,000 for their education? Somehow I don’t think there are many parents who can.

And, college grads, if take Romney's advice and go to your parents to ask for money, tell them Mitt Romney sent you.