As with all Caucus Meetings in Texas we were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers that took part. From 10-15 attendees we went to nearly 300 during the after hours meeting. We lacked the necessary paperwork to sign up everyone. I served as Temporary Chair for two Precincts. We got a permanent chair and secretary for the one Precinct, then I became the permanent chair and we elected a permanent secretary for my precinct. We barely had the room to separate into precincts let alone separate into Clinton and Obama Groups. But we got it done as best we could and it will be easier during the County Convention. The Republicans had six people present at their caucus. They could easily have made their unused space available to us but chose instead to complain about the noise we generated.
NEWS::
The Feds have used the Homeland Security Act to bypass the will of Texans on Road Blocks. Last week the US Coast Guard set up a Roadblock at the Lynchburg Ferry identifying and searching everyone attempting to board the ferry. This is a small ferry that is easily circumvented and has no chance whatsoever to become a terrorist target. This entire waste of taxpayer money and citizens time resulted in 28 arrests. All 28 arrests were for very minor traffic violations and minute amounts of marijuana possession. Is this the best use we have for the United States Coast Guard? How about having them patrol the Rio Grande with their little boats where there is definitely a problem.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices has finally recognized the problems motorcyclists face on the streets and highways of the country. They address metal plates on bridges, grooved pavement, highway construction and other problems that should be specially marked as dangerous for motorcycle traffic. The manual is pretty straight forward about highway safety and how to improve it with proper signage and safe construction especially where motorcycles are concerned. FINALLY we are recognized as legal users of the road.
Washington Road Riders Association has really been making some headway in the political arena since their inception. The assoc. was founded based in part on our organization. One of the Founders and current Legislative Officer is none other than TMRA 2 Warrior "Texas" Larry Walker. Larry’s job sent him to Washington but he stays in touch, pays his membership dues and flies a Texas Flag in his yard. It is great to be kept in the loop by a man who would be a District Advisor for us if he could have stayed here. They are currently working on a signal light Bill.
Tom went to Daytona after the Rally and Terri went to Florida to spend a week with her mother. I am staying in the office trying to keep track of what happens in the Political arena and catch up on all the Emails that have gone unanswered for a while. For anyone that doesn't know what our secretary does with her time, I can tell you I will be damned glad when she gets back Saturday. I am working 16-20 hours each day keeping up with my job and hers also. I'm too old for this.
The most important thing going on right now is the Democrat Party’s willingness to change the rules in the middle of the game to allow the two states that broke the rules to vote now. They knew the rules, they knew the penalty and still they broke the rules. If the Democrats can’t even abide by their own rules how can they be expected to govern by the constitution. Of course neither Party has paid attention to the constitution for many years but the Democrats are supposed to be offering change that they would have us believe means honest government. I fear this time we don’t even have a lesser of the two evils to choose from. Hopefully we can take the shell of our once great country and make real change at the end of these four years. We had probably better pay attention to saving our state this election and hope for the best.
I will be going to the IJMS Conference in California on the 17th. I will chair one Panel and be a responder on two others. While reading one of the Papers I will be responding to I was astounded at how riders in other countries see the Patriot Act. This particular Presenter is from Australia and this is just one comparison, from his point of view of the two countries.
He Says: Unlike the United States, Australia never was successfully able to revolt against Britain, thus cementing in stone the United States people's fundamental belief in challenging authority unjustly administered. Our legal structure compared to yours, reflects significant differences. We have no Bill of Rights, we have very few of the privileges you enjoyed prior to fear consuming middle America and the subsequent passing of the Patriot Act. Imagine that. He has the same thoughts on the Patriot Act as I do.
We sent Tony a check for the last three Warriors of 2007. He has been very patient with us and it was a real relief to send him that $2000 check. We paid the back taxes for 2006 and the last Quarter of 2007 today. We will pay off the Credit Card when the Bill comes in Thanks to everyone who has remained true and helped pull us through. Thanks to LP Cycles and everyone who helped pull off these Rallies and those who attended and our Sponsors. The added income has just about enabled us to break even for the first time in several years.
The Feds have given a $ 200 Billion loan to the banks because of all the home mortgage forclosures. WOW! Finally the Feds take notice of the problem and come up with a way to help those taxpayers who got caught up in a home lending scam perpetrated by the money hungry, greedy lenders. Sound good? It’s intended to but the exact opposite is true. The Feds are giving a $200 Billion gift to lenders in exchange for some of the bad loans they made in their haste to suck out every penny they could in the housing market. This money will be used to make new loans to corporations that suffered a loss because of their own greed and high CEO wages. This will not, nor was it intended to save anyone’s home. Another waste of Taxpayer money by a government run by Wall Street.
Sputnik
