FRIDAY BEEFS: MJ AND GANGSTER GOVERNMENT

1. MICHAEL JACKSON: This whole media frenzy makes me ill. Our military men and women are at war across the globe and warrant only a few minutes of coverage each day on most networks. Several of them have been rewarded for their gallantry in combat within the last week. A number of veterans who were similarly recognized during their careers have passed away within that same time, with absolutely no coverage. Several notable celebrities other than MJ passed away with little regard from the usually sycophantic media. Ed McMahon, a combat marine, passed with very few noticing. Farrah Fawcett, in my humble opinion one of the most beautiful women in all of human history, died after a heartbreaking battle with cancer. Her death was buried by MJ coverage. The entire spectacle illustrates the complete superficiality of the media and their lack of wisdom in deciding who and what to cover. Instead of providing real news coverage, they choose instead to worship at the altar of celebrity, and in this case, one who was generally recognized as a pedophile and cretin. Sure, he was acquitted of the molestation charges, just as O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder. This only demonstrates the biggest fault of our justice system: one gets the justice one can afford. MJ admitted that he spent his time sleeping with little boys. Do you know any other men in their forties who have made a similar admission and are not incarcerated? His famous “Neverland” ranch was simply a lure for young children. The simple fact is that the media has completely overlooked MJ’s creepy side and held him up as some sort of supernatural being without sin. Nothing could be further from the truth. Instead of making him responsible for his own actions, especially his drug addictions, he is being portrayed as a victim of his upbringing and wealth. Boo-hoo, poor Michael had a rough childhood and made a boatload of cash, and somehow that excuses the sexual assault of young boys. It’s sickening. His music, while entertaining to some, was not profound, deep, or philosophical. It was bubble gum pop and nothing more. His dancing and constant crotch-grabbing served only to further sexualize youth, something he no doubt knew and enjoyed. As for me, they can’t get him in the ground fast enough. Farewell and good riddance.

2. GOVERNMENTAL BLACKMAIL: Here in Columbus, Ohio, we are the capital of government by force. Governor Strickland is battling with Republicans over the state budget. Teddy is trying to force the state legislature to incorporate electronic gambling machines at horse tracks into the budget to help deal with a $3.2 billion deficit. This might not be so offensive were the Governor not ignoring the fact that gambling in several different forms has been repeatedly rejected at the ballot box by the citizens of this state. That makes this current attempt very close to communism. Strickland is choosing to ignore the will of the people and force something on them that has been roundly defeated more than once. He is using the budget deficit as a wedge to force the citizenry to accept casinos and casino-style gambling. Shame on you, Teddy: does the will of the people have no meaning to you at all? The Ohio Constitution was amended by voters in 1972 to allow a state-run lottery, but prohibits “schemes of chance” including slot machines. Strickland is trying to skirt the law by having the state lottery run the machines. Nice try, Teddy, but what you are doing is sheer despotism. All he needs to do is take the issue to the voters, but he knows it will be rejected like all the other efforts before it. Gambling proponents always cry about Ohio losing revenue to surrounding states that allow all sorts of gambling. What they fail to mention is that we are also missing out on the organized crime, prostitution, and drug trade that invariably accompanies the business of gambling. Ohio voters have decided time after time that they are unwilling to allow organized gambling other than the state lottery, which was originally proposed as a means of financing schools but has turned into a cash cow for free-spending liberals. Strickland has already expanded the lottery by executive fiat to include keno and now he thinks he can use the budget process to force the issue further.

Then there’s the city of Columbus. A special election on August 4 will allow voters to decide if the city’s income tax should be raised by 25 percent, from 2 percent to 2.5 percent. The current city budget is $630.5million, and the proposed hike would generate an estimated $90 - $100 million dollars. As usual, Mayor Michael Coleman, a committed liberal big spender, is threatening major cuts to police and fire services should the initiative fail. He expects us to believe that the city has already cut everything available and that those services are the only things left. That is pure poppycock. No salary cuts for city officials have been proposed, no wasteful programs have been examined, and he continues to push for federal money to partially fund a ridiculous and unnecessary light rail system that would serve only a few. Coleman seems to be able to find all the cash he needs for his numerous asinine pet projects, but if he doesn’t get more cash, policeman and fireman will take the brunt of the threatened cuts. The mayor is resorting to the typical blackmail tactics used by Democrats for years: we need more money, but if we don’t get it, essential services will be the first to go. Columbus Public Schools continually rank among the worst and pay their administrators exorbitant salaries, but those are held sacrosanct. Most people who work in the city itself do not live there. They have, over the past three decades or so, moved to the surrounding suburbs for better homes and schools. The proposed tax would hit them the hardest, and their use of city services is minimal. If you think that’s bad, take a look at what one suburban school district is trying.

Southwestern City Schools (SWCS) encompasses the Columbus suburb of Grove City and parts of western Franklin County. The district is far superior to Columbus Public, thanks to a large property tax base of decent homes, something Columbus lacks. The last SWCS levy failed last March. The new proposed levy would add $254 in property tax each year per $100,000 of home value and would generate an estimated $21 million in revenue. Here we have another school district with a bloated administration paid equally bloated salaries. The district is attempting to blackmail voters by threatening to cut, of all things, every sports program and the band. Never mind that many students get athletic or musical scholarships to further their education. Never mind that many of the schools are lit up like Christmas trees even during the summer. Never mind that the district has repeatedly demonstrated financial ineptness at managing funds in the past, including several administrator retreats held at resort hotels complete with sizable alcohol tabs. The district is trying to hit parents where it hurts most to force passage of the levy. It is nothing less than intimidation and extortion. Hopefully the voters have enough courage to reject the levy and force the district to make more sensible cuts.

I told you we were the capital of government blackmail. Local governments are using gangster tactics to force the citizenry to approve tax hikes in a time of economic crisis instead of cutting waste and abuse. What was that Thomas Jefferson said about the tree of liberty?

UPDATE: COMMUNIST TEDDY STRICKLAND HAS FORCED THE COWARDLY OHIO LEGISLATURE TO ALLOW SLOT MACHINES AT OHIO'S SEVEN RACETRACKS. ONCE AGAIN HE RULES THE STATE THROUGH TERROR LIKE KIM JONG-IL. WHY DO DEMOCRATS ALWAYS RULE THROUGH EXECUTIVE FIAT ON ISSUES THAT THEY KNOW THE VOTERS OPPOSE? CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WEAK AND USELESS OHIO LEGISLATURE: YOU SHOULD SUSPEND YOUR ACTIVITIES AND RESIGN IN SHAME. I WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PUBLICIZE THE NAMES OF THE LEGISLATORS WHO PERMITTED THIS, ESPECIALLY THE REPUBLICANS. THIS IS A CRIME AGAINST THE VOTERS OF OHIO. STICKLAND IS A TYRANT WHO SHOULD BE DEPOSED.

TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER

THE FOLLOWING IS A TRIBUTE I WROTE TO MY DAD FOR HIS FUNERAL LAST AUGUST. HE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PANCREATIC CANCER IN EARLY MAY, AND CHEMOTHERAPY COULD NOT STOP THE RAPID PROGRESSION. THIS IS MY FIRST FATHER'S DAY WITHOUT HIM, AND HE IS SORELY MISSED.
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THE BEST MAN I HAVE EVER KNOWN

We have each known men who set the example for us all, men of fine character whose actions are beyond question. These good men display a higher moral standard through their deeds and in the manner they live their lives. They reflect the most basic of American values in all they do: honesty, hard work, commitment to family, and a willingness to sacrifice for others. Unfortunately, many times these men are far removed from those who look up to them. Athletes, film stars, or other celebrities partially fill the role for those without someone closer to emulate. I was blessed with a father who was always the only hero I ever needed, and I wanted to share a few thoughts and stories about Dad that demonstrate that.

I cannot imagine anyone more honest than Dad. He let you know the facts of any situation right up front, unvarnished and without any sugary coating. I always knew right away if he disapproved of my actions or thought I was misbehaving. He rarely raised his voice in anger, but no one had any doubts about where he stood. Dad never pulled a punch, even if it was about his own health. I vividly remember his bluntness in telling me his reaction to the onset of the macular degeneration that would eventually steal most of his sight. He said, “Rob, I sat down and cried about it, but then after that, what can you do? I have to go on.” He never was one to bemoan his situation, blame others, or whine about his problems.

My father’s devotion to his family was total. Any man willing to adopt a son and daughter and love them as his own is indeed extraordinary. He worked long hours at an extremely physical job just to provide for us. Dad always made sure I had whatever I needed to be like the other kids. I learned as an adult that he had been teased as a child at school in rural Virginia for his hand me down clothing and lack of shoes, and he didn’t want that for his own children. I think that’s why he would put on his shoes immediately in the morning and keep them on all day even if he didn’t plan to leave the house. Dad sacrificed countless times to buy me that new expensive pair of tennis shoes or winter jacket I simply had to have to be cool like the other kids. All the while he was going without the tools that might have made his work easier and eating bologna or spam sandwiches for lunch at work for weeks on end. I will always remember the roughness of his hands, and my amazement at how the calluses on his palm matched the grip of a hammer. When we were little he would often bring us candy when he returned from a long day of work. I can remember Mom being upset with him for sneaking us Mallowcups before dinner. Dad never owned fine cars or fancy clothes for himself, and I don’t think he ever desired them. He was happy just to make sure we had whatever we needed or wanted, no matter how silly or frivolous.

He spent the last years of his life caring for Louise as Alzheimer’s slowly took her away from him. He first tended to her every need at home while he was mostly blind, and then never missed a daily visit to feed and care for her once her condition worsened. His grandchildren were very special to Dad, and I’ll never forget the look of joy on his face the first time I handed Andy over to him to hold. Andy learned early on that “Papa” was the man to see if he needed something for school or money for a new toy or video game.

Dad raised me with a sense of obligation to country. His oldest brother Oscar was killed in the Battle of the Bulge, and his own duty to our nation had been honorably fulfilled in the combat of the Korean War. His advice to me prior to leaving for basic training was the best I ever received. He simply said, “Keep your mouth closed, listen to your sergeants, and always follow orders.” His reaction to first seeing me in Army uniform was simple and priceless. He put his arm around my shoulder and with a tear in his eye said, “You’re a soldier now. You’re a man.” He was letting me know I had fulfilled his expectation of national service. Dad didn’t care much for politicians, but he loved America and firmly believed in young men serving in our military.

Even the way Dad used the phone told you something about him. No matter how big or distant the national chain he might be calling, Dad would always start with, “This is Gene Mullins out in Grove City,” as if they should recognize him instantly. It was simply his way of letting them know that he was a man of honor, proud of who and what he was, and that he was ready to deal with others in a straight forward manner.

Dad’s counsel is what I’ll miss most. He had a wealth of knowledge on all subjects relevant to everyday living. So many times in my life I went to Dad and got just the right answer to a problem that had seemed unsolvable to me. His most famous advice was about keeping the oil changed in cars. Dad would launch into a five minute speech about the importance of oil changes every time he got the chance. Sometimes I would mention the subject around others just to get him going. Invariably the phrase “oil is the lifeblood of an engine” would be used repeatedly. Dad knew a little maintenance now could save a big problem later. He will be sorely missed whenever I need to rely on some real world experience.

Dad and I shared a love of professional football from early in my childhood. Sundays were for watching the NFL together. We teased each other relentlessly during the season. Dad was a die-hard Bengals fan, and like everything else he did, he stayed loyal to them until the end. I became a Steelers fan, probably disappointing him a little. Even though that rivalry gave us many jokes to crack on each other over the years, it was never mean spirited or nasty. We both enjoyed following the league like a soap opera for men, and football was always a main subject for our discussions. It was our way of connecting to the past and to each other. Dad passed on his vast knowledge and deep appreciation of the game to me, and I will carry it with me forever.

Simply put, Dad was the best man I have ever known. He is the standard by which I measure myself and others. Phrases like “salt of the earth” were invented to describe men like him. He was always ready to help others, even if they were strangers. He never shirked his responsibilities or made excuses. His family was his highest priority, and he never let us down, not even once.

I have lost my father, my best friend, and the only hero that ever really mattered to me. There can surely be no doubt we have all lost a good man.

We will all go on with our lives like he would want us to do, but it won’t be easy without him. Goodbye, Dad.
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FATHER'S DAY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN, DAD, AND I MISS YOU EVERY DAY.