The Democrats will nominate Senator Obama and Senator Biden as their candidates for the White House. Both of these men have no experience in managing or running a company or corporation nor does either one of these men have any military experience. Senator Biden has been a career politician since leaving a law firm and Senator Obama’s only work outside of the political arena has been as a director of a church-based community organization.

The Democratic nominees want to convince the hard working American entrepreneurs that they know what it takes to make the necessary decisions about economic policies even though they have never made a decision to start a business or expand a business or to give pay raises or to hire or fire an employee What they have to offer is to demand these businesses should increase wages for their workers rather than let a market economy determine the wages and mandate that businesses should pay higher taxes to fund social programs for the under-privileged.

What is really bothersome to me, is that neither of the Democratic candidates have any military experience. These individuals have no idea of the sacrifices of the American G.I. Senator Obama wants to be our Commander-in-Chief (CINC). How can an individual who has never managed a business or negotiate foreign policy on a rogue nation going to make a decision to use military power. Can he make a decision to commit human resources for an ultimate sacrifice or make a decision to hunker down within the continental forty-eight and ignore what is happening in the world hoping that it will go away? At what point will the CINC decide that American involvement in the war on terrorism is worth American lives if diplomacy fails? If the use military force is determined, will the CINC have the commitment or resolve to win the war or pull out when things get sticky.  This decision should not be left to individuals that have never defended this nation or have never had to make a life and death decision on someone else’s life.

Senator Biden is correct when he made the comment, “The role of the Commander in Chief is not a place to receive on-the-job training,” especially when the lives of our young men and women have to do the dirty work when executing the foreign policy of the United States.

David D. Andrews Sr., SMSgt, USAF (Retired)

Noodle, Texas

Barney Frank, House Democrat from Massachusetts, introduced House Bill (HR 5843): H.R. 5843: Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?tab=summary&bill=h110-5843

It is apparent the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives do not care about the plight of the American consumer and the high price of energy. One would think with the energy crises that we all face, Congress would be putting their heads together to come up with a way to ease the high cost of fuel. But as you can see, Franks’ has decided the American people should be more concerned with decriminalizing marijuana.

The Democrats have simply lost all sense of responsibility. The Democrats think we should be more concerned about how a minority of law-breakers should be able to fill their Zig-Zag papers with marijuana rather than have the vast majority of law-abiding citizens try and fill their vehicles with affordable fuel.

I hope that Americans’ remember on November 4^th that it is the Democrats that feel marijuana is more important than energy. It is the Democrats that believe that a marriage does not have to be between a man and women. It is the Democrats that believe same sex married people should be entitled to the same benefits as a traditional married man and wife. The Democrats have absolutely no Family Values or sense of responsibility towards the American People.

David D. Andrews Sr.

Noodle, Texas

Watching the morning news on CNN’s Headline News today, a story came on about a San Francisco Skycap that had a four bedroom - 1400 sq ft – home. In the story the individual could not keep up with his $3,500.00 per month mortgage payment so he decided to take on some boarders to help him make his monthly mortgage payment.

This is a prime example of someone that apparently is living beyond his means. I do not blame the person for wanting a part of the American dream by owning their own home. However, this person is the reason why the home foreclosures are at an all time high.

I am an accountant and my wife is a laboratory manager and we have a 2,200 sq ft home with a mortgage payment less than $1,000.00 per month. If I should loose my job or my wife should loose her job we still can afford our mortgage payment. The person in the story having a $3,500.00 mortgage on a skycap salary is unbelievable.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average salary for a skycap is $31,700. I hope this is true for this individual but if you do the math, $3,500.00 times 12 months equals $42,000.00 in mortgage payments. I am making a good faith effort to give this guy the benefit of the doubt. He may have another job or his spouse, if he has one, may have a job as well. But the fact remains that taking on total strangers to live in your house so one can make a mortgage payment is taking drastic measures to keep his home. At least he is taking responsibility for his actions even though they may outlandish.

David D. Andrews Sr.

The House of Representatives in Washington will take their summer vacation without passing any legislation to ease the pain on the American people that have to pay over $4.00 a gallon for fuel.  While some Americans are cancelling plans for a vacation due to the high price of fuel, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat leadership announced they will shut down the first of August for a month long vacation without holding a vote to drill for American Oil.  This is absolutely ridicules.  The democrats do not have common decency to try and help the American people by passing a short-term solution to the problem or even to consider legislation for a long term solution.  All they want to do is give up and let the American people suffer and have their disposable income shrink further.  In November when I go to vote I will remember who those individuals are that decided they would rather go on vacation than help solve the current energy problem.  We have had 30 plus years since the 1970's to solve this problem.  Simply ignoring the American people who placed these individuals in Washington to represent us and to work for the good of the nation is about to come to an end with me.

My vote counts.  My simple yet intelligent mind has some common sense.  The democratic controlled congress' mind has had their butter slip off the biscuit and it's time for the voters to send those that want to ignore our energy problem packing so they can live just like we do.

David D. Andrews Sr.

In May 2007, the Texas Senate tried to get HB 218 to a floor vote for
passage.  HB 218 was a bill that required a Texas voter to present a valid
ID card with a photograph when that person wanted to cast a ballot in an
election.  The bill was an attempt to combat voter fraud in Texas elections.
The bill was defeated by the Democrats in the Texas Senate where it died
when the Texas Senate adjourned.

Earlier this month the Democrats held their state convention in Austin.  It
is ironic that Democratic delegates to their own state convention had to
produce a valid photo identification card to get their credentials for the
floor and caucuses.  Was this procedure put in place to assure only elected
delegates from their county conventions attended?

It would appear the Democrats wanted their convention fraud-free from
unauthorized attendees but when it comes down to a general election by Texas
voters the same standards to assure a fraud-free election does not apply.



David D. Andrews Sr.
Merkel, Texas

Voter Fraud in Texas is alive and well. Here are some numbers as published by the Texas Conservative Coalition http://www.txccri.org .

In 2007, a former Port Lavaca city councilwoman was convicted for assisting non-citizens in registering to vote.

Since 1992, Harris County has cancelled 3,742 registered voters because they were not citizens; 683 of those non-citizenship cancellations have occurred in the past seven years.

Between 2003 and 2005, 303 people were removed from the voter rolls in Bexar County because they were not citizens. Forty-one of these non-citizens voted in local, state, and federal elections.

From September 1999 to March 21, 2007, Dallas County cancelled the voter registration of 1,889 individuals because of non-citizenship. Before being deleted from the voter rolls, 356 of those individuals had voted in Dallas County.

In El Paso County, 213 non-citizens were removed from the voter rolls between January and October 2006.

In Tarrant County, 584 non-citizens have been removed from the voter rolls since 1999.

At least 6,731 non-citizens have registered to vote in Texas, and at least 391 non-citizens have illegally voted.

In 2007, the State Auditor identified 49,049 registered voters who may be ineligible to vote, including 23,114 possible felons and 23,576 who may be deceased.

In Texas, the legal system selects its jury members from the Texas Department of Public Safety (Drivers License) and the voter rolls. When a jury notice is sent to people who have registered to vote or who have driver’s license and those people go before the judge to be excused because they are not citizens then they are identified as being illegal aliens.

Some races in local communities are won or lost by the narrowest of margins. As you can see, Voter Fraud is indeed a real issue in Texas and other states.

David D. Andrews Sr.

Merkel, Texas 

I attended a meeting in Abilene, Texas, to listen to a member of the Texas House of Representatives. I asked a question to the representative on what is up and coming in regards to illegal immigration in the next legislative year in 2009. I was disappointed in this person’s response to immigration. We as a group were told that if a member of the house introduces legislation in the Texas House of Representatives on combating illegal aliens then that person is labeled a racist. It was explained that to the group in attendance that it comes down to two camps in Austin. One camp will stand up in support of the illegal immigrants and call them “My People” and the other camp will stand against the illegal immigrants voicing the Rule of Law.

It is ironic that some Texan legislators turn a blind eye to illegal aliens. Many Texans have voiced their concerns that school taxes which pay for free education of children are being diluted by educating children of illegal immigrants. Money spent on just one illegal immigrant’s child takes away from a Texas Citizen. One child of an illegal immigrant who receives a free lunch by the Department of the Agriculture takes food from a child citizen of Texas. How can this be racist?

Laws are written to protect its citizens. These laws are supposed to be blind as to race. In the case of legal immigration, there is nothing racists about how someone from another country can become a citizen or naturalized citizen or legal immigrant to our wonderful nation. But to simply violate the law of the land and come to this country and expect all the rights and privileges that are afforded to its citizens is absolutely wrong.

Is Texas and the United States becoming a state of tribes or ethnic groups like those in Southwest Asia? Are we going to divide up Texas and have a place for one race to live and another race to reside? It seems to me that some laws simply do not pertain to one group of people and another group has there own laws they abide by. We have a set of laws that everyone American citizen lives by but if you are an illegal alien then some think you are exempt from those laws and that they can make their own laws or modify those laws to suit their status in the United States.

It is time for our elected officials to stand up for the citizens of Texas and the United States. That means propose legislation that goes against the special interest groups regardless if they call that legislation racist. It is time for someone to take the initiative and show some intestinal fortitude and stand by the majority of Americans that are tired of paying taxes for people that are not citizens of Texas of the United States.

It is amazing what you can find on the DNC web site regarding “Energy Independence.” Here is a cut and paste from the web site:

Energy independence is something that both sides talk about, but it's an issue where the old Republican Congress simply failed to lead. Now the Democratic Congress is taking up the issue, offering bold ideas to reduce our nation's dependence on oil by significantly reducing our oil consumption.

This week, the Senate begins debating legislation to "increase the fuel economy of cars and trucks and boosting the use of non-petroleum fuels like ethanol." According to ABC News, the legislation currently being considered would:

• Require that vehicles get 35 miles on the gallon by 2020. This would increase by 4 percent every year.
• Authorize the Energy Department "to make loan guarantees for fuel-efficient vehicle manufacturers and related parts suppliers."
• Increase the use of renewable fuels to 8.5 billion gallons in 2008, and to 36 billion gallons by 2022.
• Give the federal government "more authority to go after oil companies that manipulate gasoline supplies and overcharge consumers at the pump."

I am not a geologists, I am just a simple accountant with, in my opinion, a good sense of “Good Ole Common Sense.” The majority of nations in the world are Energy Dependant on Middle East Oil. So how does one become Energy Independent? Well, no pun intended, if you have oil in your nation then go after the oil. The United States has enough oil in the ground – Alaska, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic and Pacific Coasts and Texas still has a whole-lotta-oil left. Securing this oil would make us Energy Independent. But it is a finite resource. 

Let’s say we do reach the moment of Energy Independence. Then and only then can we aggressively require vehicles that get 35 miles per gallon. We can make those loans for fuel-efficient vehicle manufactures and increase renewable fuel usage.

It does not make a bit of sense to have a goal of Energy Independence from Middle East oil when we have the required amount of oil within our reach and under our feet and in the United States.

The Democrats idea of leadership is to have the American people continue to pay a high price at the pump hoping in 10 to 20 years the vehicle manufactures will make a car capable of 35 miles per gallon and everyone buys one. Also, the Democrats want you to wait until the technology to develop renewable fuels to 36 billion gallons by 2022.

OUR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE IS WAITING UNDER OUR FEET!!!!!!!!!  

American taxpayers wait patiently for the federal government to enforce the current immigration laws on illegal aliens. Also, we have been told a comprehensive immigration package is in the works to update the current laws regarding illegal immigration. States such as Oklahoma and Arizona have passed model immigration statutes which have caused uproar in the illegal immigration community. 

The legislature in the State of Texas meets every other year and 2009 is a legislative year. I am a concerned tax payer that believes my taxes used by Washington, the State of Texas, the local taxing authorities, and school districts be utilized for and by American Citizens. I do not believe my taxes should be used for people that enter the United States illegally and that do not respect the Rule of Law of our nation. Therefore, I am going to propose to my House District 85 Representative, Joe Heflin – Democrat, the following proposal to introduce in the Texas House of Representatives regarding illegal immigration. I am going to give Representative Heflin the benefit of the doubt regarding his party affiliation.

A BILLTO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to enrolling a “qualifying child” in school districts in the State of Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 25, Admission, Transfer, and Attendance, is amended by adding Section 25.0012 to read as follows:

SECTION 25.0012 DEFINITIONS


Sec. 25.0012 Definitions. In this title:

(1.) “Qualifying child” means a child that can provide a valid birth certificate issued by a governmental agency of the United States or state agency showing identification and birthplace location in the United States of America or its territories.

- If a child can not validate as to the paragraph above, then a parent or other person with legal control of a child under a court order must present either one of the following documents:

(a.) A valid birth certificate of the parent or other person with legal control of the child showing identification and birthplace location in the United States of America or its territories or,

(b.) A valid permanent residency card issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Note: Change child to “Qualifying child” throughout the statue.

Today’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States regarding the constitutionality of mandating voters to show a valid state or federal ID photo when going to the polls is a win for the American people. The number one right for all Americans is the right to vote and have a representative type government of the people and its will. Opponents against the requirement of a photo ID card did not like the court’s opinion that voter integrity is key to a free election and reduces voter fraud. Americans can be assured that when a vote is cast in the states that require a photo ID a free and fair election is being held. The argument that the poor and elderly will be left out of the voting process is misguided. Anyone can obtain an acceptable photo ID in any state at a nominal charge. People who drive an automobile already have a photo ID. Those that do not drive can get an Identification Card issued by the state.

If anyone has a beef about Identification is people who have credit cards. More fraud is associated with credit cards than with a voting election. But the credit card companies do not care about credit card fraud because they pass the loss to the credit card consumer in the form of interest rates. Businesses that accept credit cards also pay a fee for the transactions when the credit card holder makes a purchase. When credit card fraud occurs the business gets paid but the credit card holder gets their money back. The bank that underwrites the credit card is stuck with the charge but the bank just passes the loss to the credit card holders in the form of fees and interest charges. So in essence, credit card holders get burnt even if it was not your card that was used fraudulently. An easy fix to reduce credit card abuse in most transactions is to have a photo of the card holder on the credit card. The convenience store clerk can look at the picture before he processes the card and if the picture shows an attractive blonde with baby-blue eyes and the person passing the card is an over-weight non-shaven and brown eye person with an Adams apple then the store clerk may ask for a second ID…………..Hmmmm, it’s not rocket science on this one.

David D. Andrews Sr.

Yesterday afternoon while I was doing some campaign strategy for Jones County Texas, I just happen to leave the television on FOX. I was in my study when I noticed that FOX was broadcasting the NAACP convention with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright as the keynote speaker.  Well I continued to plan for our county strategy but could not help but listen to Wright’s words of hate and bigotry. In Rev Wright’s own words, he indicated that the criticism directed at him was an assault or attack on the Black church. All I could do is shake my head in disbelief. The racial hatred of the 1950’s and 60’s and 70’s would have all but disappeared if it was not for the irresponsible words of hatred that continues from leaders such as Rev. Wright, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

Today, many Americans, regardless of race, have an opportunity to make a life of prosperity and wealth as long as they strive and persevere to a goal they set for themselves. Sometimes obstacles get in our way in trying to reach those goals, but that is life. Some of those obstacles are very real and very unfair but to overcome those obstacle your have to circumnavigate the obstacles and then press forward. Unfortunately, some people that cannot or will not circumnavigate an obstacle will play the race card and then blame others because they will not try a different avenue. That’s when people like Rev. Wright, Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson get involved.

Bill Cosby, a self-made, respected actor and educator, did not play the race card but just put his nose to the grindstone and made prudent and intelligent decisions to achieve success. General Colin Powell is another respected American that never played the race card to achieve success – he earned it by going up the ranks in the military and probably faced several racial issues while as a military member but preserved and adapted and overcame. It is time all Americans to stop blaming others for their own shortcomings. If you cannot achieve the goals that you have set then do not give up and don’t throw in the race card expecting others to feel sorry for you. Ignore those that are true bigots and race hating. They cannot help you and they won’t. Leave them in the sad world they created for themselves and press on. 

David D. Andrews Sr.

Not many things really burn my fanny, except a flame knee-high, but the treasonous actions of former President Jimmy Carter meeting with a terrorist organization is just as bad as a flame knee-high. Carter’s meeting face to face with Hamas is the same as the communist-pinko-bed-wetter Jane Fonda had done during the Viet Nam war. Both of these actions are totally inexcusable. Former President Carter used American tax payer money for secret service protection and that protection was used to meet the terrorist leaders in Syria. Our money was used!!!! Carter took it upon himself to ignore the current policy of non-negotiation with terrorist organizations. In effect what Carter has done is to give Hamas recognition rather than isolation that the rest of the free world has demonstrated.

Secretary of State Rice even warned Carter that his meeting would send mixed signals throughout the world that the US has soften its stance on terrorism. As you well know, Hamas continually bombards Israel from Lebanon and from the Gaza strip. This organization wants nothing to do with a peace effort but to totally wipe out all non Islamic people that live in the region. This group is insane. They have no value for human life. What makes Jimmy Carter think he can find a solution to a hatred that has gone on for centuries? Even the Palestinian people have come to realize that terrorist actions are not the way to peace. They certainly want peace but it is the few religious zealots in the Muslim world that have continued to stir up hatred and further flame death and murder of innocent people on both sides.

President Carter should be immediately dressed-down for his inexcusable actions. His pass port should be revoked and the Democratic Party should immediately condemn his actions as irresponsible and misguided.

David D. Andrews Sr.

Rep. Barney Franks (D-Mass) has proposed a bailout for individuals who are facing foreclosure on their homes.  Some of these homeowners have purchased more home than their income can afford.  Others, through no fault of their own, have come on hard times as a result of loosing their job or through no fault of their own can no longer afford their homes.  In either case, life sometimes is not fair on one has to move on and pick up the pieces and start fresh.  Even Franks said, "It would be very nice if we didn't have to do this at all, some people who made irresponsible decisions to borrow more than they should have are going to be helped by this. The alternative is to do nothing and have greater damage to neighborhoods and the economy."

Housing prices have gone through the roof in a majority of the United States.  These inflated prices are due to speculators and "house flippers."  What's wrong with allowing homes to set on the open market after foreclosure and let the free market determine what the Fair Market Value of a home should be?  Sure the neighborhood will suffer but the free market will adjust itself and let the home sell for the appropriate price rather than at an artificial price which can not be justified.  We in America have been living on the edge of an economic disaster for the past 10 years.  We overspend to a point that credit cards are at the limit, we have taken out home equity loans to fund extravagant vacations and expensive possessions with no forethought on how to pay off those debts.

I for one have no sympathy for those that are irresponsible when it comes to managing their money.  If you bought too much house and now you cannot afford the payments then you should not be rewarded with Barney Franks' proposed legislation.  You should face reality and "suck it up" and learn from your irresponsible behavior rather than have the honest fiscal conservative tax payers bail you out.

David D. Andrews Sr.

Merkel, TX