Taxed Enough Already (TEA) Party Day

Today Americans all over the country will be attending tea parties as a peaceful show of protest at all of the socialist spending taking place in Washington DC. Hopefully this signals the resurgence of the conservative movement to take back America from the radicals.

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!

Lead Story on Drudge Report

WAKE UP CALL: TEXAS GOV. BACKS RESOLUTION AFFIRMING SOVEREIGNTY
Tue Apr 14 2009 08:44:54 ET

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry joined state Rep. Brandon Creighton and sponsors of House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 50 in support of states’ rights under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state,” Gov. Perry said. “That is why I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states’ rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I believe that returning to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution and its essential 10th Amendment will free our state from undue regulations, and ultimately strengthen our Union.”

Perry continued: "Millions of Texans are tired of Washington, DC trying to come down here to tell us how to run Texas."

A number of recent federal proposals are not within the scope of the federal government’s constitutionally designated powers and impede the states’ right to govern themselves. HCR 50 affirms that Texas claims sovereignty under the 10th Amendment over all powers not otherwise granted to the federal government.

It also designates that all compulsory federal legislation that requires states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties, or that requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding, be prohibited or repealed.

Developing...

A Look Back at the Past Week

Highlights and lowlights:
- Great news! Daddy's surgery on Tuesday was successful - they were able to remove the rest of the tumor.
- My sister Lori was hospitalized on Tuesday with an infection in her leg. She was released from the hospital on Friday but will need to remain on antibiotics for awhile longer.
- Mother hasn't had any headaches in the past week. She had banged her head pretty bad about three weeks ago. The doctor did a brain scan and all looked fine. The doctor had told mother the headaches would probably last about two weeks. Thankfully it looks like they have gone away.
- I had a follow up doctor's appointment on Wednesday. Doctor says the tendinitis in my right arm is much better. I was given the OK to resume light upper body workouts! I worked my triceps tonight for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks. Although I used light weight I did a lot more reps. I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow!
- AT&T and CWA still haven't reached agreement on a new labor contract but the union is continuing to work under the old contract.
- Tommy had the day off on Good Friday. I was supposed to have a full day of vacation but had a lot of work that I had to get done so I ended up working Friday morning and taking 1/2 day vacation. It was another very busy week for me at work.
- We spent the weekend in Goldthwaite. Left Dallas at 1pm on Friday and got back home at about 1:30 this afternoon. Last night we went to Jessica's (Tom's niece) birthday party at Kay and Mark's house. We had a nice visit to G'waite - it was great spending time with Tom's family.
- The Kansas City Royals are 3-3 after the first week of the season. We lost our season opener on Tuesday in Chicago but came back and beat the White Sox on Wednesday and Thursday to take the series. We then hosted the Yankees for a weekend series. New York won the first two games but the Royals avoided the sweep by winning today. Not a bad first week. I'm predicting that the Royals will win 85 games this season. The Royals have some great young arms so I'm confident we can do it!

Start of Baseball Season

The beginning of baseball season is one of my favorite times of year. Maybe it's the feeling that spring really is here. Or maybe its the anticipation of what the new season will bring for my favorite team - the Kansas City Royals. I don't know but I always get jazzed.

The Royals were supposed to open their season in Chicago tomorrow against the White Sox; however I just found out that the opener was postponed until Tuesday due to weather. Bummer.

As I say every year - THIS could be the season the Royals win it all. You never know. That is what is so exciting about it.

AT&T Bargaining Update

Below is a public statement released today by AT&T. Going into the new week, I'm just going to focus on doing my job and try not to let the ongoing negotiations be a distraction.

Negotiations continue, AT&T announces highlights of proposals to CWA
April 5 – Today AT&T Inc. and Communications Workers of America (CWA) continued to meet and negotiate toward new agreements for 80,500 Core wireline employees. The current agreements expired at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.

In the Southeast, where the contract does not expire until August 8, both parties have agreed to stop negotiations and reconvene this summer – as they would have under normal circumstances. These 32,000 union-represented employees are no longer part of the current negotiations.

AT&T’s wireline business is declining (20 percent of consumer access lines lost in the past 3 years), yet it is the part of the business where union employees have the richest health care benefits. Union-represented Core wireline employees pay similar amounts for their health care as union workers at the Big 3 automakers pay – and it’s clear what those sorts of unsustainable costs have done to America’s auto industry. These employees also pay significantly lower than what other AT&T employees pay, including those covered by other CWA contracts.

In a time when other employers are totally abandoning health care benefits – as well as pensions and wage increases – AT&T takes pride in being able to continue to provide good jobs with good wages and benefits that among the best in the nation to all of its employees. To that end, here is a general summary of the present proposals made by AT&T:

• Health care plans that keep Core wireline bargained-for employees with lower health care costs than AT&T management, other recently negotiated CWA agreements, competitors and well below the national average – remaining one the of most robust health care plans in the nation. Some elements of the plans include:
o Employee heath care costs pegged to wages, so that those who earn less, pay less for deductibles
o Full company-funded coverage of all preventative care, including annual physicals, mammograms, well-baby care, and immunizations
• Wage increases for all years of the agreement, through a combination of wage progression, raises and lump sum payments – at a time when many U.S. employers are either asking for wage concessions or freezing wages
• Upgrades for premises technicians – including additional wage increases beyond those outlined above and, where needed, conversion of employees from temporary to regular status
• Increase in pension contributions every year of the agreement and continuation of the 401k plan with generous company match, even as employers are decreasing or eliminating this benefit

It is important to note that the highlights above are what the company has proposed and is not an all-inclusive list. All items are still on the table and pending negotiation by the Company and the union.

The Company stands ready to negotiate with the CWA at any time in a continuing effort to reach an agreement.

Yesterday was another busy day.

Tom and I had breakfast at Kel's and then ran errands. Among our many stops: Target, Tiffany's at the Galleria (to pick up my necklace that was being repaired), car wash, SuperCuts & the dry cleaners. By the time we got home, Casey (our housekeeper) was there getting things back to normal.

UPDATE: Rob finished painting on Friday, except for the inside front door and some minor touch-up. The new paint job looks fantastic! I must say that Tom did a great job picking out the colors! He truly is VERY good at that kind of thing, although he doesn't think so.

We then took an afternoon drive to locate the call center that I would have to work in should there be a work stoppage at my company. Since I'm not very good at directions (even with my navigator) I wanted to make a test run.

It was a beautiful 80 degree day in Dallas so when we got home from our drive I sat by the pool (in a tee-shirt and a pair of shorts) to read, relax and soak up some rays! I needed some downtime after the extremely busy week I had at work.

After a late afternoon nap, it was time to go to a spring party at Ranil & Craig's house. Ranil and Craig are good friends that we met through LCR. They had Uncle Julio's cater the food (fajitas) which was a nice treat since that is one of our favorite places to eat! We had fun and saw a lot of friends, but left the party early (around 9:30pm).

With a potential work stoppage looming I didn't want to stay out too late - this worked out fine since Tom really doesn't likes to stay out past 9:30pm anyway! As each time zone reached the 11:59pm expiration of the company/union contract I received text updates. Good news on that front: although a settlement has not been reached, talks are continuing WITHOUT a work stoppage - see below AP article for the latest.

AT&T and union talks continue past deadline
By JOSHUA FREED

AT&T and unions for its landline workers were working past a strike deadline Sunday to try to reach agreement on a new contract.

Core wireline contracts across the country expired at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, but union-represented employees covered by those contracts continued to work under the old agreements, according to a statement issued by AT&T.

Issues such as employment security and health care have yet to be resolved, but union members will report to work, "although that can change at any time," the Communications Workers of America said on its Web site Sunday.

The union said several of its districts have filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing AT&T of refusing to provide information necessary to resolve outstanding issues.

"The CWA bargaining teams are very frustrated by AT&T's slow pace in negotiations," union spokeswoman Candice Johnson said late Saturday.

AT&T spokesman Walt Sharp said the NLRB charges are "very common" during negotiations and that AT&T stands ready to negotiate at any time to reach an agreement.

AT&T is the most heavily unionized company in the U.S., with either 112,500 CWA workers (according to the company) or 125,000 (according to the union).

The company has said a strike won't disrupt phone service because managers and contractors can keep the operation running. When this batch of contracts expired five years ago, workers struck for four days before reaching an agreement.

One key issue is the Dallas-based company's attempt to have workers and retirees pay more of the costs of their health care. The company has said it spends $5.5 billion per year to subsidize health care for 1.2 million people, including workers, retirees, and dependents.

The company said other remaining issues include wages, pensions, and work rules.

Contracts for workers in five units were each expiring at 11:59 p.m. local time in their region. Each region was bargaining separately. That means some could make a deal while others strike, Johnson said.

The units include a national group as well as workers in the Northeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West. The talks were taking place in New Haven, Conn.; Oakton, Va.; the Chicago area; Austin, Texas; and San Francisco.

An update posted Saturday by the unit that covers Midwestern workers said the company was offering "modest wage increases that would likely have our standard of living move backward over the life of the contract." AT&T also wants to reduce the value of lump-sum pension payments and eliminate the pension for new workers, the union said.

AT&T "told us that the benefits/pension proposal was a 'final offer.' They are either not serious about the word 'final' or not serious about getting a contract," the union wrote.

Workers in the Southeast, who were bargaining in Atlanta, agreed to stop negotiations and reconvene this summer. Their contract doesn't expire until August so they can't strike at midnight, the company said.

The employees covered by the expiring contracts work for the part of the company that is shrinking. AT&T's traditional wired phone business fell 3.3 percent to $17.1 billion last year, while wireless revenue grew 13 percent to $12.9 billion as customers continued to defect to cable phone services or dropped their landlines in favor of mobile phones.

AT&T earned a $12.9 billion profit for the year, up from $12 billion in 2007. Its fourth-quarter profit fell 24 percent from the prior year, though, paradoxically because of its success in selling more of Apple's iPhones than expected. AT&T subsidizes the upfront expense of the iPhone, aiming to make the money back over the two-year service contract.

Iowa and gay marriage

The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday paved the way for gay marriage in that state. I have very mixed feelings about this decision. On the one hand I'm glad that gays have scored a victory in our fight for equality. With Iowa being a neighbor to my home state (Missouri) this really hits close to home. I never thought that this day would come in the heartland of America. Perhaps Tom and I will plan a trip to IA???

On the other hand I truly wish this victory would have come at the ballot box instead of the courts. Fundamentally I have genuine concerns about judges making law whether I agree with their decision or not. The biggest part of me just thinks that it is not their proper constitutional role.

Unanimous ruling: Iowa marriage no longer limited to one man, one woman
By JEFF ECKHOFF and GRANT SCHULTE • gschulte@dmreg.com • April 3, 2009

Basic fairness and constitutional equal protection were the linchpins of Friday’s historic Iowa Supreme Court ruling that overturned a 10-year-old ban on same-sex marriage and puts Iowa squarely in the center of the nation’s debate over gay rights.

The unanimous, 69-page decision maintains a church’s right to decide who can be married under its roof, but it runs counter to the expressed opinion of a majority of Iowans who believe marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman.

The landmark ruling is guaranteed to send shock waves through politics in Iowa and beyond. With no appeal as an option, opponents say their only hope to overturn Friday’s decision is an almost-certain bid to amend the state constitution. But that path, which would eventually require a public vote, would not yield results until 2012 at the earliest.


Enactment of an amendment requires approval by consecutive General Assemblies of the Legislature — a General Assembly lasts two years — and a vote of the people.

In the meantime, Iowa remains one of three states in the nation, and the only state in the Midwest, where gays and lesbians can legally marry. The ruling takes effect April 24. Iowa has no residency requirement for marriage licenses, which virtually assures a rush of applications from out-of-state visitors. The ruling opens the marital door to an estimated 5,800 gay couples in Iowa.

The Rev. Mark Stringer said he cried when he learned of Friday’s decision. Stringer performed the only legal same-sex marriage in Iowa when he officiated a 2007 ceremony in the brief window between a Polk County judge’s ruling and the subsequent court-ordered delay so the Supreme Court could weigh in.

“It’s really an astounding moment under our history,” Stringer said. “What really excites me is that Iowa is the first in our area of the country. We are being a leader in civil rights, which will be part of our state’s history.”

Friday’s decision stemmed from a 2005 lawsuit filed by six gay and lesbian couples who were denied marriage licenses by the Polk County recorder’s office. The seven justices affirmed Polk County Judge Robert Hanson’s ruling that Iowa’s ban on same-sex marriages treated gay and lesbian couples unequally under the law.

“We are firmly convinced that the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective,” the court said in an opinion written by Justice Mark Cady. “The legislature has excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification.”

The ruling appeared to dismiss the option of civil unions as a marriage alternative, finding that “a new distinction based on sexual orientation would be equally suspect and difficult to square with the fundamental principles of equal protection embodied in our constitution.”

Friday’s decision also addressed what it called the “religious undercurrent propelling the same-sex marriage debate” and said judges must remain outside the fray.

“Our constitution does not permit any branch of government to resolve these types of religious debates and entrusts to courts the task of ensuring that government avoids them,” Cady wrote.

“This approach does not disrespect or denigrate the religious views of many Iowans who may strongly believe in marriage as a dual-gender union, but considers, as we must, only the constitutional rights of all people, as expressed by the promise of equal protection for all.”

The Polk County lawsuit, Varnum vs. Brien, was financed by Lambda Legal, a gay-rights group that has fought similar battles across the country.

“We won! It is unanimous!” Lambda attorney Camilla Taylor exclaimed when the decision was announced. “Today the dream becomes reality … and the Iowa Constitution’s promise of equality is fulfilled. Iowans have never waited for others to do the right thing. ”

Lambda chose Iowa because of the fair-mindedness of residents and the courts, leaders of the group have said.

But Iowa also offered several strategic advantages, according to Drake University law professor Mark Kende, who described the ruling as “very well reasoned” and predicted it will have national, possibly international, influence.

“There’s a perception of Iowa as a fair, reasonable and decent place,” Kende said. “We’re not perceived as being overly Republican or overly Democrat.”

The decision could create new, interstate legal battles, he said, when couples who flock to Iowa to marry might not have their vows recognized in other states that prohibit same-sex marriage.

Opponents, some of whom showed up outside the judicial building early Friday to await the ruling, hung their hopes on a constitutional challenge that legislative leaders said earlier this week was a long shot.

Lawyers said Lambda’s decision to sue based solely on state constitutional claims means the case was guaranteed to end in Iowa, away from a more conservative U.S. Supreme Court.

Polk County authorities acknowledged Friday that they have no plans to ask for a review by the state high court. An appeal to federal court is not an option, since the Iowa Supreme Court is the final word on matters of Iowa law.

Public opinion is a different matter. A February 2008 Iowa Poll conducted by The Des Moines Register showed that most Iowans believed marriage involves one man and one woman. However, the poll also showed that a majority of Iowa adults supported civil unions that would grant benefits to gay couples similar to those offered to married heterosexuals.

For several Iowa couples, Friday’s victory sparked movement on long-held plans. Kate and Trish Varnum, two of the lawsuit plaintiffs, announced their engagement at a news conference.

“Good morning,” Kate Varnum said. “I’d like to introduce you to my fiancee. Today, I am proud to be a lifelong Iowan.”

Several blocks away, Diane Thacker’s eyes filled with tears when the ruling was read to a crowd that had gathered outside the Iowa Judicial Building.

“Sadness,” she whispered. “But I’m prayerful and hope that God’s word will stand.”
Thacker said she joined a group of gay-marriage opponents “because I believe in the marriage vow. I can’t see it any other way.”

Friday’s decision is expected to take formal effect when the Supreme Court issues a legal order to carry out the ruling in three weeks.

National interest in the decision is believed to be at least partly responsible for the 1.5 million people who deluged the Iowa Supreme Court’s Web site before 11 a.m. Richard Socarides, a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton on gay civil rights, said that the ruling could mean as much to gay couples outside Iowa as in.

“I think it’s significant, because Iowa is considered a Midwest state in the mainstream of American thought,” Socarides said . “Unlike states on the coasts, there’s nothing more American than Iowa. As they say during the presidential caucuses, 'As Iowa goes, so goes the nation.’”

Others saw it differently.

• Doug Napier, a lawyer for the Alliance Defense Fund in Arizona, said the Iowa Supreme Court “stepped out of its proper role in interpreting the law.”
The 1998 Defense of Marriage Act “was simple, it was settled, and overwhelmingly supported by Iowans,” Napier said. “There was simply no legitimate reason for the court to redefine marriage.”

• Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage, a New Jersey group, said, “Once again, the most undemocratic branch of government is being used to advance an agenda the majority of Americans reject.”

• Bishop Richard Pates of the Des Moines Diocese urged “the voice of the Iowa people to rise in support of a constitutional amendment which clearly upholds the definition of marriage. We will then join the deafening chorus of citizens in every state, 30 to date, who have voted to preserve civil marriage as it has been recognized and defined since the beginning of recorded history for the benefit of marriage, families, children and the common good.”

Obama at Notre Dame

When I first heard that Notre Dame had invited BHO to be its commencement speaker and that they planned to confer on him an honorary law degree I thought it was a cruel joke. Certainly the premier Catholic university in America would do no such thing. BHO has been nothing less than hostile to the Catholic faith (really to believers of all faiths). I soon learned that sadly this was no joke - ND really did do the unthinkable!

I sent an email to "Reverend" Jenkins, the President of Notre Dame, expressing my strong disapproval and signed the petition at http://notredamescandal.com/ which has over 240,000 signatures and counting! I also joined the "Notre Dame Scandal" FaceBook group.

We have got to stop this mockery of the Catholic faith! Ken Connor's article today helps explain: http://townhall.com/columnists/KenConnor/2009/04/05/obamamania_infects_notre_dame

Not much to write about tonight. I caught the 8:08am train which got me into the office at 8:45am.

There were very strong winds downtown this afternoon - over 50mph. My friend Greg and I took a break and walked down the street to 7-11. On our way we got caught in a wind tunnel and just about got blown over! It was difficult to stay standing!

As usual we left the office just after 4:30pm to catch the train. I got home at around 5:20pm and worked until 9pm (except for a 1/2 hour dinner break when Tom and I went to Taco Cabana). I'm now thoroughly exhausted and ready to just veg until bedtime.

Good news on the home paint job! It looks great and Rob plans to be mostly done tomorrow except for a bit of trim - which he'll finish up on Monday.

Another 12 hour work day. I was supposed to have an LCR board meeting tonight but unfortunately I had to miss it because I was working late - again! I'm finally relaxing in front of the TV watching the American Idol results show.

The front of the home looks like a tornado blew threw - everything is stacked up in the center of the living room. It looks like Rob is doing a very nice job painting but man, I sure will be glad when he is finished so we can get our home back to normal.

That's it for tonight. I'm going to do a bit of exercise and then ice my arm. Oh yea, I have bad tendinitis in both arms (especially the right one). I went to the doctor a week ago today. Doctor's orders: no upper-body workouts for at least the next two weeks. Pills. Ice arm for 20 minutes every evening.

On a final note: today was April Fools Day. As I was working in the study this evening Tom came running in from outside hollering that there was a dead dog floating in our pool. Fool that I am, I jumped up and followed him outside - only to be told "April's Fools". I admit, Tom did get me!

A Bird Without Wings - Celtic Thunder

My favorite song - this kid is incredible!

Another busy day! I worked from home again today so that I could get an extra two hours of work in (my commute downtown is one hour each way). Work done, I've now settled in to watch American Idol.

For the next two weeks we'll be having some inside painting done (mainly in the color Golden Biscuit). The painters, a gay couple we know, started this morning. Tim and Rob will be painting the living room, kitchen and den.

Needless to say the front of the house is more or less off-limits right now as everything is in boxes. Fortunately Casey, our housekeeper, came over on Sunday evening and packed everything up for us! Thank goodness for Casey - neither Tom nor I wanted to mess with it! I tried to stay in the study (out of the way) as much as possible today but I did go outside with Rusty a few times to get some fresh air.

Tom has a list of home projects that he has been wanting to get done but I've been resistant until recently. I had a change of heart and have let Tom know that I'm OK with one home project per quarter. The painting will count as a 1Q project (barely). Now we just have to decide what is next on the list for 2Q. Decisions,decisions!

Update on Daddy. He had a consultation with the doctor today in Temple. The doctor gave Daddy two options: a) begin chemotherapy immediately or b) schedule surgery to try to remove remainder of tumor. Daddy opted for the surgery, which will be 4/7. Due to the tumor's proximity to the brain and spinal cord, it's very serious. We're praying for you Daddy.

Today was a very long day. I worked VO (from home) and began around 8am. It is now 9pm and I just wrapped up work for the day. We are facing a potential work stoppage on Sunday evening (4/4/09) when the company/union contract expires. This is the main reason I had to work late. I've received a barrage of work requests recently as everyone is trying to get as much done as possible this week - just in case. I expect to continue to be extremely busy all week.

BTW, as a management employee I would be expected to report to work in one of our call centers - in the event of a work stoppage.

Tom and I slept in until after 7 this morning. I think we both needed the extra sleep. Yesterday we drove to Goldthwaite (G'waite) to see Tom's family. We had a nice visit but I think it wore us out. We refer to some of our trips to G'waite as the 3-3-3 (3 hours down, 3 hours there, 3 hours back). This was a 3-3-3 trip.

I wish we would have been able to spend more time in G'waite yesterday, especially after the news we got on Thursday evening. Daddy, Tom's dad, was supposed to have "routine" surgery on Thursday to remove a tumor on the back of his neck, near the top of the spine. The tumor however turned out to be much larger than the doctor anticipated. Not only that but it was cancerous and the doctor was only able to remove part of it. Daddy will have to go to the hospital in Temple this week to have the rest of it removed.

At first Tom and I took the news hard on Thursday evening but then we both decided to remain upbeat and try not to worry too much unnecessarily - especially since there is still much we don't know. We called and spoke to Daddy Thursday evening and he seemed in good spirits, which was comforting.

A bit about "Daddy" (as he is affectionately known by everyone in the family): Daddy is truly one of the kindest and most caring men I have ever known.

I'll never forgot how nervous I was 11 years when I was on my way to G'waite for the first time. Golthwaite is a small town of about 2,000 people located three hours SW of Dallas. Although Tom and I had shared quite a bit about our families, and he had described his hometown, I still had no idea what to expect. All my nervousness though was gone in the first minute upon meeting his family. They all, especially his dad, made me feel so welcome! Daddy is so down to earth and has such a pleasant disposition that one can't help but feel relaxed around him.

Fast forward nine years to the death of my father. In the days and weeks after my father's death, Daddy, being the compassionate man he is, called me frequently to see how I was doing. That is just the way he is. I'll always be grateful for the care he showed me in what was the most difficult time of my life.

While we are optimistic that his surgery will go well, Daddy is top of mind in our thoughts and prayers right now.

NOW I'll turn the lights out

It is 9:38pm CT and the lights at our home are just now going out.

In response to the silly "Earth Hour" nonsense, I made my own statement tonight. During the 8:30-9:30pm time frame, we had most every light in the house on, as well as the washer and dryer, pool light, TVs, computers, cell phone charger, etc.

Take that you America hating socialists with your diabolical "climate change" plan to take down America!