The President's Job

"The President’s Job" I’ve been reading about all the controversy over whether or not the President can wage war without the Congress declaring war, and it sounds like to me that there is not any real controversy at all.  The job of the President is to conduct our international affairs in the best interest of the country.  The Preamble to the US Constitution states that the purpose is to “insure domestic tranquility and provide for the common defense.”  The Congress makes war possible by making it an official state of war and providing for the financing of the war, but it is the President, who as “Commander and Chief”, is in charge of waging war. Now is there any doubt in anybody’s mind that we are at war with these groups of crazies who have sworn to kill us?  How long are we going to let millions of people threaten to exterminate us, and continue to quibble over what to do? The only problem is that the professional politicians, both in Congress and in the White House, are more worried about being blamed for failure and taking credit for victory, than they are standing up for their country.  The Good Book says “to smite thine enemies”, and I for one am ready to do some smiting! Bascomb Biggers is an old fashioned man who believes in the old fashioned notion that it is the duty of the citizens and especially their leaders to stand up for the country and take a chance on doing the right thing, regardless to the personal consequences.  Some used to call it Patriotism, while others referred to it as Statesmanship.  Regardless of the definition or terminology, it means doing the right thing because it is right. It is about time that someone stood up for America, and picked up the gauntlet which has been thrown at our feet, and that is why Bascom Biggers is running for President of the Good Old USA.  Besides, things are slow down in Nankipooh, and I need a job. "Now, that's the way I see it, and you can tell'um I said so!" Bascomb Biggers BASCOMB BIGGERS FOR PRESIDENT

Scoop's Quips #sb-04-14

Scoop's Quips #sb-04-14

"The Old Gambler said that you had to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em.  Well I sure would like to play a couple of hands of poker with our President, cause he don't know the difference between a winning hand and a losing hand, and he can't bluff worth a damn.  On top of that he likes to throw a lot of money into the pot”

Scoop Biggers

Bullies

Dateline: August 24, 2014

"Bullies"

I was watching an old Happy Days episode the other day and Fonzie was trying to teach Richie how to deal with bullies.

The Fonz told Richie to just walk up to the meanest guy and brace up to him and act tough, and the bully would probably back down when he saw Ritchie threatening him.  After the guy gave Ritchie a black eye, Ritchie asked Fonzie what happened, and the Fonz said, "Oh I forgot to tell you that before you threaten someone, you actually would have had to hit someone at some time in the past.

So, let me get this straight.  Hamas throws a bunch of rockets into Israel, and then Israel attacks them and destroys all of their tunnels, does about a billion dollars worth of damage to Palestine, and kills a bunch of people.  The result is that Hamas decides to sit down and talk peace.

On the other hand the President of the US in confrontations with Syria, Russia, Iran and North Korea, draws a bunch of lines in the sand and then backs up when they ignore them, and things get worse.

Is there something that I am just no seeing here?

Scoop Biggers

Inside out, Outside in

Dateline: July 23, 2014 "Inside out, Outside in"

Well the people of Georgia have spoken once again, and in the Republican Primary, they have chosen to put the "Insider" out, and the "Outsider" in.  The bottom line is a professional politician of more than 21 years has gotten the boot in favor of someone who has never held political office.  Of course one thing remains true to current American politics, and that is that the people with the most money control most of the power, and the little guys get played off against each other.

If you had a million dollars, it would not be enough money to get you elected to even a minor political job, but if you had fifty million dollars, you could probably buy yourself into a major state or even national office.  Of course if you have fifty million dollars and were a member of a well known political family, the odds are better than even that you could get elected.  If there are no jobs available in your state , then you can move to another state and set up shop there.  Just get an office, and advertise, "well known professional politician available for hire, don't need money"  (Clinton or Romney etc.)

The question is, why does anyone with fifty million dollars want a job that pays less than a million dollars per year?  I sure don't, like most folks, if I had fifty million dollars, I'd be in a hammock somewhere sipping lemonade, or out on the lake somewhere catching catfish.  Most folks only need a few million to be happy for the rest of their lives.

We had a rich man here in Georgia a few years back who ran for Governor and Senator and lost both times at an estimated cost of his own money, of more than fifty million dollars.  Why?  Because money buys power and powers brings in more money.  His problem was that he was not a member of a well known political family.  (Ross Perot)

In the upcoming election, the Georgia voters will have a choice for U.S. Senator between the daughter of a former senator and the cousin of a former governor.  For Governor the choice will be between a long time professional politician and the grandson of a former governor and president.  They all have a lot of money and are backed by people who have even more money.

I think I would rather be outside in the hammock with my lemonade because whether it be inside out or outside in, things are pretty much the same in Georgia politics. 

"Just my Opinion"

Scoop Biggers

Happy 4th of July

The Nankipooh Enquirer "Covers the South like Sorghum Syrup"

"Happy 4th of July"

First, let me say Happy 4th of July to all of America, and especially to the friends and supporters of Bascomb Biggers and the Nankipooh Enquirer.  The 4th is a great day in American history, and a great day to announce that once again Bascomb Biggers will be running for President of this beautiful country.  He will be running on the same ideals and principles which he stood for in the previous election, when the country took a really bad turn on the course for the nation.  The Platform will be the same, as outlined below, but the new campaign slogan is:

"Make Real Value the National Objective!"

Bascomb and the nation needs your support and your vote to put the good ship "America" back on course.

BASCOMB

PLATFORM PLANK #9-Make Fried Catfish the National Dinner

 MAKE "REAL VALUE" THE NATIONAL OBJECTIVE!

Water for the Tomatoes

"Water for the Tomatoes"

Here in Georgia we have a pretty severe drought about every five to seven years, at least that is the way it seems to me.  Well of course every time we have a drought, the government decides to ration water, and then sooner or later the rates go up as well.  The last big drought lasted from about 2006 through 2008, and a lot of the area lakes were starting to dry up.

There was water rationing and fines imposed for using more than your allotment, as well as restrictions such as prohibiting outside watering of lawns and gardens.  A lot of people's yards began to dry up, and it certainly made it hard to grow flowers and vegetables. Funny though that when the drought was over, the water rates did not come back down, and it got me to thinking that we are due for another drought in the next few years.

Of course the problem in Georgia is like most other states, in that most people these days live in cities and drink water that comes from rivers.  This is true in Atlanta where the majority of the water comes from the Chattahoochee River.  The funny thing is though, that while Atlanta is twice as big as it was twenty five years ago, the river is the same size.

Somewhere back in around 2007 there was a big national debate going on about immigration, and my cousin happened to have a chance to talk to one of our United States Senators about the subject.  What my cousin said was that while most Americans have always been willing to share the wealth, the water rationing was stopping him from growing tomatoes, which he has always done.  Because of this he was not feeling very charitable about sharing Georgia's water with the more than one hundred thousand illegal immigrants living in the state at that time.

I have been thinking that we had better get a strong national conversation going regarding shrinking resources and over- population, before the next crisis arrives.  The truth is that the country has more than twice as many people living here than it did about fifty years ago.  Meanwhile, the amount of available drinking water is about the same as it has always been.  The same is true for clean air and good land.  Natural resources are not the only shrinking commodity either.  The government is running out of money to assist people with, our schools are over crowded, and our healthcare system is straining with the load of an ever increasing population

The bottom line is, whether you are speaking of legal or illegal immigrants, we are starting to approach the saturation level in population.  For me, this means that I am not putting out the welcome mat for any new residents, regardless of where they come from.  Regrettably that includes my favorite English Auntie, who wants to move here from England to be closer to her American nieces and nephews.  Sorry Auntie, there is just not room for any more folks in Georgia.

"Just my Opinion"

Scoop Biggers

"Bascomb's Will"

"Bascomb’s Will" I was thinking the other day that maybe it was time for old Bascomb to make out a will, being that I probably don't have as many days ahead of me as I do behind me.  Well even a good old southern boy knows that you need a lawyer when it comes to messing with this dad-gummed legal system, we got going in this country today. So I contacted the best firm in Nankipooh: Now I have known these fellers for nigh onto forty years, so I figured I could trust them to do right by me.  Well first off, I had to take one of them out to lunch just to set up a time to start making out the will.  Then the appointment time kept changing for the next couple of months, until finally three months later I had a chance to sit down in the office and discuss the will, which I had ended up having to write myself. Well they called in a bunch of folks to testify that it was in fact my will, and I of course had to pay for their lunch as well.  Then they told me that when they had finished everything, they would send me a copy of the will to keep at home.  When I did get the copy, I found out that a bunch of pages had all been scrambled up, and some of the heirs were different than what I had said to begin with.  The only part that was right was the one about the lawyers being in charge of my estate, and them getting some of the money. They promised that they would fix everything, and send a good copy of the will to me in a few days.  Well it’s been several months now and I ain't heard nothing else from them about it.  I got to thinking about the way the government and all these lawyers are running things these days and I decided that I just ain't gonna die, cause it’s just too dad-gummed complicated. "Now, that's the way I see it, and you can tell'um I said so!"  Bascomb Biggers