Popcorn Sutton …

 

The Last of the Appalachian Moonshiners.

Popcorn Sutton died on March 16, 2009 of unnatural causes; he committed suicide.

He was facing 18 months in the slammer after having been found guilty of manufacturing White Lightning.  He made it from a secret family recipe handed down over the generations.

Popcorn plied his trade in the Hills of Tennessee and when he died, he was the last of the genuine American Bootleggers.

I encourage you to look up Popcorn on Google for no other purpose than to view his image.  He was – by his appearance alone – the quintessential real mccoy.  That he was able to out fox the ‘Revenuers’ for so long in this modern age is a testimony to his cunning and perseverance. 

That he took his own life after living free for all of his life is, I believe, understandable.

Had I been Governor of Tennessee, at the time of Popcorn Sutton’s conviction, I would like to think I would have granted him a Pardon and made him the State’s Ambassador of the Hill Country.  What a tourist attraction he would have made.  Perhaps though it would not have been doing Popcorn a favour given his years of living a more or less solitary existence.

But I suspect, that had the Governor done just that, the fair State of Tennessee would have made up the lost revenue and more it conceded to Popcorn’s manufacturing over the years.

America is a poorer place without Popcorn Sutton.  We have all suffered a loss whether we were personally aware of it or not.

As I see it …

‘K. D. Galagher’ 

 

ROMNEY’S THE MAN …

 

FOR HALF THE FOLKS.

The Republican Convention concluded last evening and from my perspective it came off very well.  I enjoy good speeches and they were in abundance.

So were the personalities … the Republican Party is blessed with some great leaders.

Romney and others said they were saddened that Barack Obama’s Presidency did not turn out more favourably.  The statement can be seen as biased given that the Republican Party now hopes to replace the Democrats at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue but I can tell you, I truthfully feel that way.  Had I been an American in 2008, I would not have voted for Obama but I was secretly hoping he would win given that as America’s first Black President his victory would encourage so many poor and disadvantaged. It was also a major milestone toward putting segregation to rest.

The last 4 years have totally turned me off Democratic politics – so much so, I do not plan to turn on their Convention next week.  Just the thought of watching Obama, Biden, Polosi and Reid share the stage causes me angst. They have proven themselves to be petty little people who care only for themselves and blame others for their own shortcomings.

But they still command the support of nearly half the electorate, as does Romney the support of the remaining half.  I have not seen it written, but it never failed to amaze me when the cameras scanned the Republican Convention it consisted of a sea of White Faces.  Where were the Blacks and the Hispanics?  Had I been a Senior Republican Organizer I would have made sure that the minorities were adequately represented at their shindig.

This divide can be nothing but disconcerting for the folks who really care about America’s future.

The other thing I would have done is to invite Sarah Palin to be one of the Conventions Main Speakers.  The fact that their VP last time and the key spokesperson for the Tea Partyers was shunned is simply inexcusable.  This is the same Sarah Palin who was instrumental in seeing so many Republican victories in 2010 and which to a large extent propelled the Republicans into this year’s Presidential Race.   Besides, as our esteemed for PM Brain Mulroney would say; ‘you dance with the one who brung ya’.

The Presidential Election is about to begin – i.e. the day after Labour Day.  It will be one nasty contest and when the dust settles, the Americans will have a new occupant in the White House.

As I see it …

‘K. D. Galagher’

 

We’re All Wild About Harry …

 

Harry Windsor that is !!

Young Harry has been in the news of late due to his sexual antics and the public’s reaction to them has been rather tame; indeed almost supportive.

I have on many occasions noted that ‘things’ seem to have gone off the rails in the mid 1960s and I can tell you, had Harry’s licentious actions taken place back then, he would have been publicly vilified.

But not today.

Indeed, the public’s reaction relates more to his getting caught than what he actually did.  Too often the refrain ‘boys will be boys’ is heard – even from the most elderly.  Despite the fact that this ‘boy’ is now almost 30 and is a Captain in Her Majesty’ Royal Army.

So there is very little criticism of his naked romping's with a bevy of young women; rather, ‘how could he or his handlers be so stupid as to allow cell phone cameras’ in on the orgy.

Boy things have changed.

I just wonder -as a father of two girls and a granddaughter - how a father would view his daughter, in her ‘all together’ on the Nation’s front pages, being groped and fondled by the young prince?  Or a mother seeing her son, in his ‘all together’ taking part in the festivities.  Hopefully it would at least make them both blush. 

Muslims are being criticized, in many quarters, but their belief that the West has slipped into decadence may not be that far off the mark.

So What To Do About Harry?

I guess not much, since he and his antics seem to reflect Society at Large.  Thankfully though, it is his Brother William who stands ahead of him in line for King. 

As I see it …

‘K. D. Galagher’

I Am Furious With …

 

CBC.

Last Evening’s news cast with Peter Mansbridge included a segment on Michael Bryant and his recently released book entitled The 28 Seconds That Changed My Life.

Bryant, for those of you who may not be following the story, is a former Attourney General of Ontario.  In 2009 his path crossed with one drug induced, out of control maniac by the name of Darcy Allan Sheppard. Their encounter really did change Attourney General Bryant’s life forever and not for the better.

It also left Sheppard dead.

Here are the facts:

• Bryant and his then wife, were out for an early evening, celebrating their wedding anniversary.  After which, at around 9:30 pm, the non-drinking Bryant was driving home with his wife.
• He soon encountered an out of control bicyclist by the name of Darcy Allan Sheppard, who was harassing motorists and blocking traffic.  Bryant was able to pass the melee but Sheppard followed him and due to traffic and lights, he was able to catch up and began to terrorize both the Bryants; running into their car and attempting to gain control of the car’s steering wheel.
• Sheppard, a big guy, literally scared the wits out of the Bryants who immediately then called for the police.
• At some point in the struggle over the steering wheel, Sheppard fell off the car, struck his head and died.
• Earlier that evening Sheppard had been fighting with his girlfriend and assaulting a homeless man.  The cops were called and for some unknown reason let the creep go.

So dear reader, what happens next?

Bryant naturally is arrested, cuffed, charged with murder and jailed.  Months later, the Crown drops the charges for want of evidence but this was after Bryant spent $300k on legal fees.

In addition, his marriage ended.

So yes, his life changed and in a recent interview you can see that he has been ‘broken’ by the experience.

So what did CBC do last night?

Apologize on behalf of Ontarians for the indignity suffered by this poor guy?

No, rather it interviewed only two people – a representative of the Toronto Police Union who said the cops performed admirably in Bryant’s case.

The second interviewee was the late Sheppard’s father who complained that Bryant had not had the decency to contact him to express his condolences.  “Express His Condolences” !!!  Why the father should have been the one to express his condolences to the Bryants for all the trouble his out of control son had caused them.

This reminds me of the recent case where the Asian store owner was arrested and charged with detaining a shoplifter and where the self same shoplifter was given immunity to testify against the merchant.  But Bryants case is even worse, since no one came to his rescue and since his life was truly changed for the worse.

It is Alice in Wonderland all over again and it just makes me sick.

As I see it…

‘K. D. Galagher’

Nasty is as Nasty does …

 

Apologies to Forest Gump.

The pundits have said that November’s Presidential Election will be one of the dirtiest in living memory…and so far, they are bang on.

I am on record as saying Mitt Romney will win the Election in spite of my philosophy of never overestimating the intelligence of the electorate.  But even I cannot imagine a majority of Americans casting their votes for the current occupant of the White House.

Obama has been such a disaster by foisting Trillions of Dollars of Debt on an already grossly indebted nation.  The only comparison I can think of is having Dalton McGuinty in the White House rather than Barack.  Like McGuinty in Ontario, another four years of Obama in Washington will likely put the USA over the economic brink.  Unlike Ontario though, the American decline will negatively affect the world – Canada included.

Anyway the nastiness.

Two recent Democratic Ads speak volumes:

The first consists of an interview with a widowed husband who blames Romney for the death of his wife from cancer.  The widower explains his wife was laid off from one of Romney’s businesses and with the lay off, she lost her health care.  She then contracted cancer and soon died. The truth soon came out that although she did lose her job, like millions under Obama, her health care remained unaffected and in place and her death did not occur until years later.  I cannot imagine a campaign ad getting lower than that, unless of course it is the following one.

In the second ad, a chap purporting to be Paul Ryan – Romney’s VP choice – is seen pushing a wheelchair with a struggling old lady in it.  He pushes her to the edge or a cliff and promptly jettisons her into the abyss.  If the whole thing did not look so unbelievably funny, it would rank in infamy with number one.

The ads remind me of the Tory Ad put out during Kim Campbell’s unsuccessful run for PM back in 1993 where a picture of Chretien’s distorted face was shown to voters as part of their negative campaign.  Even it did not reach the lows of Obama’s.

Yesterday, a Republican Senate Candidate used inappropriate words when trying to say that foetuses resulting from a rape should not be aborted. He is a strong proponent of prolife and whether you agree or not with his position – it is one he honestly and deeply holds.

Sadly, Democrats and Republicans both are demanding that he resign his candidacy for his poor choice of words, when advocating his stance.  This despite the fact that he profusely and most sincerely apologized.  Fortunately, as of the time of writing this Blog, he has refused to give in to their demands.

Another instance of gottcha politics and another reason why good people – be they Republican / Democrat or Conservative / Liberal are disinclined to run for office. 

As I see it …

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

 

A MAJORITY IS AT STAKE …

 

In the upcoming ByElections.

As you know, Premier McGuinty has called two (2) ByElections for Sept. 6/12;  one in Kitchener Waterloo and the second in Vaughan.

If he wins them both, he has secured for himself a Majority Government.  If he loses both, it is the status quo that is to say, the minority position he now encounters will continue. 

McGuinty is focusing his efforts (our money) on the Kitchener gig since this is a long time Tory Riding.  He had to bribe the incumbent to free it up and is currently spending money like a drunken sailor to bring it to the Liberal side of the House. What’s money when you have as much as Ontario does.  Not.

Strangely, I am rooting for the guy!!

Over the last 9 years, McGuinty has brought our once ‘Engine of Canada’, to its financial knees.  It just seems so unfair to me that he would be spared from having to help clean up the mess that he and he alone has made. So win both elections dear sir and deal with the consequences.

Indeed, the reality of the situation seems to have finally dawned on our Supreme Leader – wage and bonus cuts, pay freezes, doctor fee roll backs and the like, are becoming the norm and I find it fun to watch McGuinty forced at last by financial reality to do impose restraint on his fiscal frivolity.

A short while ago, I received a telephone call from a Fundraiser asking for money to help hold the Kitchener Waterloo Riding for the Tories.  I told the chap no – and my reason why – i.e. I would like to see McGuinty win – for all of the reasons mentioned above.  To my surprise, the chap fully agreed with me.

So what’s going to happen.

Tories will win Kitchener Waterloo and the Grits will hold Vaughan and it will be life as per usual at Queen’s Park.  The bribing of both Witmer and the Voters of KW will be for nought.

Ontario will be financially poorer for it … but that is par for the course with this McGuinty Gang.

 As I see it …

‘K.D. Galagher’

 

Either A Very Brilliant Move …

 

Or a Most Stupid One.

I am speaking about Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan as his Vice Presidential Mate.

There is no in between here, since this particular choice will either Guarantee him a Win this coming November or a Loss and seldom does the picking of a Running Mate amount to this – I can only think of JFK’s choice of LBJ in 1960 as a comparable.

For me, I would have gone with Florida Senator Marco Rubio for two important reasons:  first, Florida is one of a very few “Swing” States, that are needed to win the Presidential Election.  You will recall that this State and this State alone put George W. Bush over the top in the protracted Election of 2000.

The second reason I would go with Rubio is due to his Spanish Heritage.  He is one of few up and coming Latinos in America and with him on the Ticket, he would attract the growing Latino Vote to help off-set the one-sided Black Vote that will automatically go to Obama – i.e. 90% plus.

So let’s consider the Non-Reasons put forward by Romney’s Camp for having chosen the way they did:

• “Ryan believes in God, is opposed to Abortion and wants to Balance the Nation’s Budget.  As such, he will appeal to the Tea Partyers”.  Whether or not Ryan appeals to the T.P.s has little to do with the outcome of November’s Election – the T.P. has no where else to go, other than to Romney.  So Rule that one out.
• “Ryan is from Wisconsin and we need that State to win”. No they don’t.  It is not a critical swing state and in fact, even with Ryan on the ticket, the odds are against Wisconsin going Republican in November.
• Finally, “Ryan will appeal to the undecideds since they are as concerned about economic issues as is he”.  No they are not, as I will explain below.

So, if not for those reasons, why did Romney choose Ryan?

Because the 2012 Election needs to be about the Economy and if it is not, Obama wins – simple as that.

And this is where the ‘Brilliant’ comes in – Ryan is steeped in the economy and has drafted two Budget Bills which passed the House of Representatives but were defeated in the Democratic Senate.

His nomination as VP would help to put the Election Focus back on the Economy – where it needs to be – not only for Romney / Ryan – but for the country’s  as a whole.

I mentioned the undecideds – these are the key voters, come November, since the American Electorate is split 45/45 between Republican and Democrat.  Whoever garners the majority of the remaining 10% will become President.  But when the Republicans say the uncommitted are concerned only about economic issues – they are mistaken.  Rather they are but a microcosm of the Electorate at Large – many things concern them.

What the undecideds do bring to the table is that they collectively have an open mind and as such, are potentially receptive to Republican Policy, and by the same token, are potentially receptive to Democratic Policy.

What the Republicans need do then, is make sure that the uncommitteds’ overriding concern becomes the economy before Election Day. Ryan’s appointment will considerably help get the economic message out; it will not though guarantee a majority vote.

Obama has been most successful to date in keeping the Republicans on the defensive and keeping the issue of economy off the front pages.  With Ryan’s appointment, the President and his cronies will have lots of new ammunition to continue the fight. 

We can only hope that the middle 10% will be astute enough to realize the brilliance of Romney’s Strategy.

As I see it …

‘K. D. Galagher’