Hello Everyone,
Today is Veterans Day.
Some time ago, in my earliest days of joining the Army, folks would come up and say "Happy Veterans Day". I would thank them and move on...often thinking.."What is so 'Happy' about it".
Perhaps I confused Memorial Day with Veterans Day.
I have, and have had more reasons to have a Happy Veterans Day than to not be happy on this day. I have deployed four times, and made it home four times. When I have had the chance, I volunteer my time for parades or setting up flags in remembrance. I meet my brothers in arms, of which , now includes women and we talk and pat each other on the back for a job well done.
Many retailers and restaurants offer 'specials' for Veterans on this day, and I would be remiss if I didn't take a few of them up on their offers.
So, in closing, I am heading out and we will meet a friend for some Bar-B-Que and talk about anything and everything. Have a great day and Thank a Veteran today.
Trevor Dodge
Hello everyone,
I almost thought I should post yesterday...with it being Election Day and all, then thought better of it. Mostly due to the fact I was at work when I heard that Incumbent President Obama had eclipsed the 270 Electoral votes needed to secure the office. Later, it went up to 303 with 29 Electoral Voters undecided.
In other news, I sent an email last week to the VFW Headquarters asking if they could endorse me for President in 2016. After all, I am a Lifetime Member ( in good standing ) of the VFW and a four time Deployed Veteran. What more could they want in a candidate?
One minor problem. The Congressional Charter ( that basically established the VFW ) prohibits them from supporting any candidate. I can see the logic in that....now. With the millions of current Veterans, and many million past Veterans, I would be a shoe in for the Presidency in 2016....maybe. Still have the College of Electorates to deal with...ugh.
I do have a question for my readers out of State ( meaning Washington State ); where we still have to mail in ballots. 'X' marks the spot and no "hanging chads" and such. We still have the option to "write in a candidate". Do those of you with the new finagled digital voting machines have that option available? I imagine they would have to since most 3rd, 4th and 5th ( and so on ) party members are rarely mentioned in the news, unless they are being arrested trying to "gate crash " a debate.
With that being said.....
And all through the House, arose such a clamor
As Seats became vacant because Voting does Matter.
Have a great week all!
Trevor Dodge, Presidential Hopeful 2016
Hello all,
So I am watching this movie 'Lethal Weapon 2'. In the movie, in which the diplomats from South Africa ( Dutch Apartheid Supporters ) are laundering the gold Krugerrand and killing people. That's a bit of a stretch for any diplomat to do, much less get away with when confronted by police. At issue, as I read it, is the hundreds of thousands dollars and in some states more in unpaid parking tickets.
Here is the wiki-link defining and explaining "Diplomatic Immunity".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_immunity
Diplomats in Washington D.C. owe quite a bit.
http://www.wtop.com/41/2555713/Diplomats-in-DC-owe-hundreds-of-thousands-in-parking-tickets
Diplomats in New York City owe a lot more.
http://www.ibtimes.com/diplomatic-immunity-cost-new-york-city-172-million-unpaid-parking-tickets-317186
The actual verbiage of the Vienna document does not specifically mention 'parking tickets'.
Additionally, while foreign diplomats cannot be held or charged, they can be expelled.
I propose that our Government and individual States, send bills to the countries whose diplomats have insane amounts of unpaid tickets, and guarantee to expel those countries' "diplomats" until said fees are paid. We do not need foreign diplomats here breaking the law because they feel they can...and get away with it.
Have a great weekend!
Trevor Dodge
Hello again everyone,
Has it been a week or week and a half since my last posts? I suppose I could check, but why? Everything is happening now.
After appeals from Red Cross to donate cash, so that the cash could be speedily sent to where it was needed most. With that being said, a big thanks to Mitt Romney for donating canned goods ( did anyone check the expiration dates ) in Ohio. I checked a few sites, and it seems that I did not see Ohio listed as severely damaged. I can tell you that Zanesville Ohio is still my favorite town outside of home....and that it still stands.
Okay, enough of Mitt for now. It was kind to donate food, but it will cost the emergency services even more to get it where it needs to be....New Jersey and the Eastern Sea Board States.
The multitude. Voters. We need more folks who are eligible to vote. Our friends have, most of my relatives have and many more votes are needed. Do we want change determined by a fraction of eligible voters or do want sincere change that each voter can feel they had a hand towards? I pick the latter. November 6th is the cut off for this election season. Do your part. Thanks.
Those farging fliers in the mail. Auto spell doesn't recognize the word "farging", so I will use the word "damned". Every political cycle, consumers and voters receive an abundance of what I like to call " fire starter ". The evil political ads, not usually from the candidates themselves, but groups "supporting" the opponents.
I pledge to you now! You will never receive a flier from me and if I see any fliers being mailed out there from folks who support me ( in the upcoming 2016 election ) or my re-election campaign in 2020...I will pay people to haul them away. I am hoping, now and in the next few years that this blog and word of mouth will help move mountains. You don't have to agree with 100% of what I say, just admit that the idea that a "regular guy" becoming President is slightly interesting and something to keep track of...for future reference of course. Have a great week, and weekend.
I will include a link to the American Red Cross if you are able to make a donation towards relief and recovery for the areas hardest hit.
http://www.redcross.org/hurricane-sandy?scode=RSG00000E017&subcode=grantdonations&gclid=CJe66Ozbr7MCFY6DQgodWgIAqg
Lastly, a photo you would not see of me, during one of the Nation's worst Natural Disasters...in Ohio no less.
Trevor M Dodge
