However, I think they have it wrong. I have long considered the Star Wars epic to be Republicanism in space while Star Trek was the liberalism in space. Star Trek seemed to be pro government while Star Wars operates off of the premise that government with too much power is an evil empire.

Mr. Lucas may have tried to insinuate that only evil (Siths) sees in absolutes, a stigma that liberals have long attached to Republicans, but he seemed to forget the infamous line of absolute chirped by Yoda, "Do, or do not, there is no try." Everybody sees something in black and white, there is definite wrong and right. The left wing organization PETA sees things in absolutes. In the opening paragragh of their mission statement "PETA operates under the simple principle that animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment." To them, their is absolutely no reason to kill an animal.

Lucas may have tried to take a jab at Bush with those two lines, but the proof is in the pudding. Although Senator Palpatine looks like a conservative Senator (Joe Lieberman), the two recent senators that won their parties nomination were both Democrats. Like Palpatine, one of those Senators could not step down from power gracefully. When the votes were in, Al Gore would not stop fighting for the presidency, counting only some votes (Democrat counties), excluding others (Military votes), all while saying every vote should count.

Even the Democratic star of 2004 took life lightly during a time of war. As an officer Kerry led attacks on innocent victims much like the newly named Darth Vader led attacks against the Jedi temple, killing the children inside. (Source of Video) For many Democrats an absolute was necessary. Republicans are war criminals never Democrats never are. In the video, Kerry admits to being angry at the time, a trait, according to Lucas, that leads to the dark side.

But it was the Jedi Knights that clearly saw good v. evil, that Jedi's were good and Siths were Evil. It was the Sith (Palpatine that tried to muddy the waters between good and evil. That Anakin should try to understand the dark side, that the dark side could be used for good. That Jedi's and Siths were one in the same and to see a difference was closed minded.

Palpatine and Darth believed government brought peace, and peace was their ultimate goal, while Jedi's understood that war is at times, necessary.

Fear, anger, hatred are traits that led to the darkside. Since 9-11, most of what we have heard from liberals are expressions of the same. Fear of war, of dying, of making terrorist mad. Anger - Florida 2000, and even flat out admittance of hating Bush. Traits that Jedi's should never use, a Sith always.

Even the colors chosen to represent the Dark Side have represented some dictatorial governments. Sure "red staters" are Republicans, but take another look, the red lightsabers and Darth's black outfit happen to be the same colors as both the Nazis and Sandanistas among others (Socialist governments).

"The fear of losing the things you love, will lead one to the dark side."-- Yoda

Fear of losing healthcare, government programs, social security, affirmative action. Things that Democrats have long rallied their forces for. Save these programs from Republican cuts.

There is more, but I am out of time for now. In closing, I just want to thank George Lucas for making a great Republican series!

We here in Louisiana have the opportunity to pay our teachers more than any other state. If you care about our teachers, our children, our education, then please start smoking. If you already smoke, then smoke two cigarettes at a time. It's only the moral thing to do.

Graduation is just around the corner, if you are proud of a certain graduate, thank his teachers by buying him or her a carton of cigarettes! Get your graduate to start smoking as soon as possible so we'll have the best paid teachers in the country.

Teachers, think about this, if you invest today into a few carton of cigarettes that you could give to your students as an afternoon snack a cigarette. Soon enough, they'll be buying their own and you could live well for the rest of your career! Infact start smoking today, after all, you will get that money back and you'll lead by example. When your students see you smoking, just smile and tell them that "I'm getting something nutritious and delicious!"

Support your teachers, call RJ Renolds and encourage them to create a new Joe Camel cartoon. They could play the cartoon in all the schools. Just think of the cartoon. Joe Camel wearing a t-shirt that simply states "Education is #1 in Louisiana!". A self righteous ass named Jack (a donkey) walks up to Joe Camel and starts coughing and asks Joe Camel to stop smoking. Joe Camel can turn and explain why smoking is important. After Joe Camel gets done with his lecture, the Jackass realizes how important it is to start smoking and orders 5 cartons from Joe. Anyway, that's a work in progress, but you get the point.

In fact, if you support your teachers, if you love the children of Louisiana, call your state senator and representative and tell them that you support raising the cigarette tax. Tell them not to stop there, but encourage them to start smoking! Send the governor a pack of cigarettes and encourage her to start smoking, it is after all, for the children.

Remember all those bumper stickers that read "If you can read this, then thank a teacher." We could use similiar bumper stickers such as, "Thank a teacher, buy a carton."

Even the local paper agrees with me. This is just too important to pass up.

So smoke up Louisiana, it's for the teachers, it's for the children. We can let the nation know that education is #1 with us!

The issue that I am referring to is this story in Florida. The Florida lawmakers decided to punish those convicted of child molestation for life.

I know people's first reaction is "How on earth can a take the side of child molestation?" and the answer to your second question is "No, I am not a Catholic Priest."

You see, my problem with this legislation is that it forces people to either spend prison in life or be monitered by the government with a GPS under their skin. That's the problem. The idea that government can force a chip into the bodies of people.

Yes, it is child molesters we are talking about and who on earth wants to defend them? It is not my intention to defend the act of child molestation, rather, to keep a sharp eye on the happenings of government. Tyranny starts with the unwanted. We allow things to happen to those we don't like but then wonder why our freedom is evaporating in America.

Today it's the child molesters, next it will be criminals, then the children, then the rest of us. Maybe it is far-fetched, but what if there is another terrorist attack? Wouldn't it just make sense to require all foriegners to have one before they come into this country? And what about missing people? Shouldn't we just go ahead and give everybody one? For their safety? For their security? For the electric eye in Washington?

I know I sound like a kooky alarmist and I probably do need to become better informed on this subject. Perhaps somebody out there can educate me on this law, put my mind at ease that this isn't a sign of things to come. My main question I have is about this GPS system that they are going to use. Is it something that will be worn on the outside of the body or will it be implemented underneath the skin? I'm willing to bet that this will be placed under the skin.

Take for example of the murderer in Minnesota. Even he had a blog. It's sad really, with so many bloggers out there, what are we supposed to write about? I suppose in a few months, we'll here stories of Al Qaeida blogs.

I haven't taken my crack at Terry Schiavo, well Schindler. Why even refer to her with her husbands last name? He's not a man, give her her maiden name back. Hell, why take every last bit of dignity away from her. Haven't we done enough to this woman?

I agree that this is not the place for the federal government to intervene, there are limits to government control, at least I like to think so.

And the Florida law gives spouse the control over the decision. It is a family matter.

That being said, how the hell can we sit by and watch a woman starve to death on national television? For crying out loud man, what is so compassionate about that? I understand some of you would want to die instead of being in her shoes, some of you think that it is not a bad way to die. Please, be my guest, write a living will that states that you wish to starve to death like she is doing.

Especially if you believe the Nazi doctors. Yeah, believe it. What makes you better than the Germans who believed that science proved the Jews were inferior to Aryans? Or the German doctors that claimed it was compassionate to kill cripples?

"The authority of certain physicians to be designated by name in such manner that persons who, according to human judgment, are incurable can, upon a most careful diagnosis of their condition of sickness, be accorded a mercy death." -- Adolf Hitler, 1939

However, I admit, I haven't been watching. Mr. and Mrs. Schindler, I'm sorry.

No, I haven't been watching, it's too grotesque for me. I can't believe the poll numbers, I don't know many people that support the murder of Terri Schindler, where do they get these numbers?

I can't believe that Murderous Michael can be so damned anxious to let his wife starve to death. Pulling the plug, I can understand. Take a gun and shoot her, fill her viens with poison but for God's sake, let her starve to death? There is no compassion in letting a woman starve to death.

At least they will do an autopsy on her, and if Murderous Micheal is found guilty of putting her in that condition, then let the SOB starve to death too.

I stopped and thought about Terri and realized, I don't think I can help her. I'm certain of it. I also realized the reason I don't want to talk about Terri is because it scares me. My God, this frightens me. Compassionate to starve people? In my country? This can't be real, I can not look.

I thought about this some more and I believe this is why people don't want to believe their politicians are crooks. Not the guy they voted for, he won't take my freedom. My freedom is not evaporating, my world isn't going bad.

What's happening to our country, whether Democrat or Republican in office, our surrendering our freedom, our creation of the death culture, the values that government is God, is too scary for people to look at. So they don't care about politics, they don't pay attention, they defend their guy, they don't vote. Whatever it is. Whatever it takes. Just don't think about the world we are creating. Believe it's safe, it's not nearly as scary as thinking it won't be.

It's much easier to just look the other way.

"The only thing for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"-- Edmund Burke

The local newspaper printed a story in its Thursday edition about a GOP supporter that felt screwed by Riecke. In the article, Lane Grigsby gave Sean Riecke $11,850. That much we know.

Where things get muddy is why. Grigsby claims that he gave to the Republican Party Executive Committee while Riecke alleges that it was to help hand-picked candidates take over the Republican PEC.

According to Grigsby, he is upset because Sean broke the law by not reporting it.

According to Riecke, Grigsby is upset because Sean and the PEC would not go against then Republican Mayor Bobby Simpson, or as I like to call him, Booby.

Niether story adds up. But for arguments sake, we'll assume both are true.

Assuming that Grigsby is telling the truth, then the Republican party is the future home of the crook, Edwin Edwards. If Grigsby gave the money to Sean Riecke under the assumption that it was supposed to be given to the Republican party campaign fund, then Riecke indeed broke the law. Assuming this is true. Riecke could get his wish, regardless of the election, and live well off of taxpayer dollars, only he'd do it behind bars.

If Sean Riecke is telling the truth, then I would also imagine that Sean Riecke would also take the money to give Lane Grigsby what he wanted. According to Sean, Grigsby thought he was buying an enemy of Mayor-President Booby Simpson.

Ahh but this is where the quicksand begins for Riecke. It is his story that concerns me more so than Lane Grigsby's. If Grigsby thought he was buying opposition to Booby Simpson, why would Sean campaign for Booby? Did Sean intentionally undermine the Simpson campaign? Did Riecke lie to Grigsby only to get the money?

Riecke supporters have chalked it up as a "Naive" Sean Riecke that took the money. Yet the entire Riecke campaign has focused on Hunter Greene's contribution suggesting that Yigal Bander has bought Hunter Greene with a $250 check. If the Riecke campaign thinks that a campaign will be bought for $250, why wouldn't $11,000 be with strings attached. In this scenario, Sean Riecke can not be trusted because he lied to Grigsby for $11,000 If he'll lie for a large amount of money, why wouldn't he lie to the voters of district 66 for personal and political gain?

After coming to this conclusion, I realized why Sean left the words 'integrity' and 'honesty' off of his website. Why wouldn't he? He wouldn't want to chase off all the big donors would he? According to those in Riecke's camp, they know how to play with the big boys, they are the big boys.

But if they were in New York and did what they did to somebody like Lane Grigsby, Sean would be wearing a pair of concrete shoes at the bottom of the ocean by Ellis Islands. In Chicago, he'd be taking an old fashioned dirt nap somewhere. That's the kind of thing that happens when chumps play with the big boys and try to cheat.

Still, Riecke paints this awful picture about the on of Baton Rouge's most respected men, Lane Grigsby.

What I really believe is that niether one is being completely honest with the press. I believe that Riecke promised Lane Grigsby that he would not run for office. Well, eight months later, Riecke is breaking his promise and Lane doesn't like it.

No matter what the true story is, one Republican chair has made a lot of difference in the way party politics works. For example, would an intelligent Republican donor be likely to help the Republican party in the future? The Republican chairman has brought a lot of shame on to the Republican party and I wonder how many other people were involved in the deal.

Integrity, Honesty, two words missing from Sean Rieckes website.

And how can anybody forget the debacle that was a governors election. Louisiana had a Republican governor named Buddy Roemer, but instead of re-electing him, Louisiana voters chose to have former KKK member David Duke run against long time crook Edwin Edwards. They even had bumper stickers that said Vote for the Crook, it's important Of course the crook won and ended up going to jail in a scheme to that involved the owner of the San Francisco 49ers paying the governor money for gambling rights.

Needless to say, Louisiana has earned it's reputation for corruption. A reputation that continues to this day.

Recently Louisiana elected Robert Wooley as insurance commissionar. In fact, I voted for Wooley. He was the first Democrat I voted for since voting for my godmother Stella Sedillo about 10 years ago. He may be the last Democrat I voted for. In Louisiana politics fashion Wooley is moving quick in his new ride. The state on Thursday bought a Harley-Davidson designer edition luxury truck that sports red flames, heated seats and a 6-disc CD player for Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley.

Wooley had the state buy him a Eddie Bauer design edition about a year ago and well, we'll probably buy him another one in a year. I guess that's why they don't mind the roads being in the condition their in. It's not their money going down the tubes because of bad roads. I won't vote for Wooley next time. We got snookered with him.

We also have our beloved governor who went to Cuba to make a landmark deal. During her episode of Casteaux Fever, she dropped what she was doing and rushed over to meet her cigar smoking idol. When pressed about it, she stated that if you made a deal with the country and the president asked you to come to dinner "what would you do?"

Well to paraphrase our governor, if you were head of your state, and the President of the United States came to town, wouldn't you go meet with him? Not our governor Kathleen Blanco, she left for something "more important". I guess she preferes murderous dictators over freedom fighters.

But the Louisiana political circus may have found a new ring leader of the future in Sean Riecke. Riecke, who is the chairman of the Baton Rouge GOP, is a candidate to be a state representative. His opponent is an attorney who is "conservative". Well, to me he is a moderate, but I am so far to the right, I think everybody in my party is moderate.

A disgruntled Riecke, upset with the party, formed an organization called 'Redstick Republicans' and took over the Party Executive Committee. Some people donated to Riecke's cause and sometime afterwards had a falling out with his donors. Maybe he demanded more money? Who knows, what the scoop is, but there are stories out there, one in which Sean promised not to run for anything but when district 66 opened up, told his donors to "F*ck off". Whether it's true or not I don't know.

However, Mr. Riecke is learning the way the circus is ran here in Louisiana. Taking over the Parrish (County) party after voting a mere 5 times in his entire life, Riecke promptly looked for a new office to fill his ambitions. When Representative Mike Futrell took a job with newly elected Senator Vitter, Riecke found the void to feed his hunger. Taking first in the primaries, things have fallen drastically downhill for the ambitious ringleader.

Ryan Booth, a buddy of Sean, formed an organization called Citizens Against Trial Lawyers and sent fliers out to the voters in district 66 accusing Hunter Greene of being a liberal, supported by nothing but liberals. Trouble was twofold. First, in a brilliant move, Hunter Greene upstaged this last minute flier by sending out one of his own warning of a last minute attack against him. The second problem was the flier hit many mailboxes after people voted. I wonder who they learned that trick from? Unfortunately for Sean, he hasn't recieved an endorsement from Citizens Against Trial Lawyers yet.

Sean was really apoplectic when LABI decided to co-endorse both candidates, an endorsement that Riecke expected to walk away with. Then came the newspaper article that Riecke didn't vote for President Bush in 2000, against the Stelly tax plan in 2002, and only voted 5 times in his life before he took over the party. His support of President Bush and his oppostion to the Stelly Tax Plan have become corner stones of his campaign.

So in desperation, Riecke turned to the only place that he can. He cried to members of the Baton Rouge Republican party that he needed an endorsemnet. Out of pity, the Executive committee agreed to it. A meeting was called to endorse the candidates. Hunter Greene attended in which members of the PEC choose to bash Greene, instead of taking their role seriously. When Riecke went to speak, softball after softball was tossed his way.

Riecke, being the self respecting man that he is, recused himself from voting for himself. Of course, he knew he had the votes being that he was PEC chairman so it wasn't that nice of him to do that.

What does Riecke do then? He boasts about it on his website but makes it seem as if the state party and not the local party has endorsed him.

Yes, Sean Riecke seems like a fantastic prospect for future ring leader of the circus that is known as Louisiana Politics.

For example, when the President came to town she knew protocol. She left town and met with somebody less important. This genius understands that the President can't do anything for Louisiana.

The President she chooses to meet with is the cruel dictator named Fidel Castro. Perhaps she thought he was cajun and spelled his name Castreaux. Who knows what the geniuses in downtown Baton Rouge were thinking.

Here are some facts about Cuba

In Cuba, each individual recieves on a monthly basis

6 pounds rice
20 oz beans
200 ml cooking oil
3 pounds plaintains (vegetable that looks like a banana)
2 pounds brown sugar

Children under the age of 7 recieve 1.76 pints of milk per day
Children between the age of 7 and 14 recieve 1.76 pints of yogurt per day

Living in Cuba you can expect to receive 4-9 pounds of meat a month. Thanks to Governor Blanco, those rations will probably be cut and reduced to catfish instead.

I've also been hearing about how wonderful the Cuban economy is. I wonder how they came up with that figure from a country that the average monthly income is $11.

Cuba ranks 89th in GDP but ranks 153 in GDP per capita.

source: http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

I found this article that I think all you commie lovers out there ought to love, sounds like your kind of place, why don't you move there?]

http://nene.essortment.com/lifeincuba_rmuy.htm

For my national readers, this probably would not interest you as it is a local house race between two Republicans. There has been an issue as to whether one of the candidates has been a "leader" who fails to vote.

Here is the truth to that. For some it will taste like crow, for others it may be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Since I consider myself an active voter I will also post my voter history since moving to Louisiana. Understand that the first couple of years that I moved to Louisiana, I did not believe that I was going to live in Louisiana long. Because I moved to Louisiana only until my wife was here, I did not believe that it was my right to tell Louisianans how to live their life. Since then, I have come to regret not voting sooner. Total votes 11

Candidate Hunter Greene has the longest East Baton Rouge Parish Voter history as his history goes back to at least 1995. Total votes (at least) 20

Candidate Sean Riecke does not have the voter history in East Baton Rouge parish that one may desire, but the truth of the matter is, these are votes ONLY IN EAST BATON ROUGE. This does not include votes in another parish. It is quite possible that the Sean Riecke did vote in Livingston Parish and I will not pursue the matter. It does not prove Sean Riecke did vote in 2000, 2002, and during the Edwards/Duke debacle. Howeve, it does shift the burden of proof back onto his accusers.

Last 10 votes in EBRP

J. Blanco     H. Greene      Shawn Riecke*
03/05/2005    03/05/2005    03/05/2005
11/02/2004    11/02/2004    11/02/2004
09/18/2004    09/18/2004    09/18/2004
04/17/2004    11/15/2003    03/09/2004
03/09/2004    10/04/2003    11/15/2003
11/15/2003    12/07/2003    10/04/2003
10/04/2003    11/05/2002    11/03/1998
05/03/2003    10/05/2002    04/04/1998
12/07/2002    08/18/2001    11/05/1996
11/07/2000    07/21/2001
*Name is spelled "Shawn Riecke"

Secondly, I have been swamped with work. So swamped infact, the other night I dreamed I was working the entire night. When I woke up, I thought Damn, it's already time to go back to work?

And last but not least, I have a project in the works.. In the near future, I will tell you guys about what I do and some of the things I have seen. Just not at this time...

8 Questions for Jeff Blanco

Question 1: What is your position on gun control and why do you take that position?

JB: I am for the Right to Bear Arms. I believe the Right to bear arms is one of the checks and balances placed on our government. History has shown that the weaker a group of people are, the more susceptible they are to be attacked or taken advantaged of. The stronger a group of people is, the less likely an attack. This is true among governments as it is true for people by their governments.

Question 2: How will you address the crime issue in this state?

JB: I believe we ought to get back to personal responsibility. We have made excuses for people to commit crimes by saying poverty causes crimes, or some other justifications by suggesting the culprit is the victim of society. Whether it's true or not, he still ought to pay for his crimes.

I also believe that we have unnecessarily made people into criminals by over legislating. I believe that we ought to take another look at the laws on the books and begin to repeal many of those laws. How many people are criminals for doing nothing more than smoking pot in the privacy of their homes? How many good people are ticketed for not wearing a seat belt? Reducing the laws on the books will give the police more time to chase real criminals instead of chasing people who do nothing major wrong.

Question 3: Exactly how will you help bring in businesses to the state of Louisiana. How will you help keep existing businesses here?

JB: First of all, I would not support tax breaks for businesses coming into the state. If our taxes are too high for a business to come here, then what are those very taxes doing to existing businesses? I would push for legislation that would reduce taxes across the board, why should new business be the beneficiaries of tax breaks while the businesses that have been providing jobs for many years be the subject of punishment?

I would also push for legislation that simplifies the tax codes. The more complicated the system the more likely people who can afford to pay taxes can find their way out of paying any taxes.

Thirdly, I would seek ways to reduce regulation of businesses. This is a country that believes in freedom and in order to continue that belief in freedom, we must hold dear that freedom for all, even when the person owns a business.

Question 4: What role should Louisiana government play in our lives?

JB: The state government ought to be concerned with what affects Louisiana, and only Louisiana. Thomas Jefferson laid out the the role of each governmental body when he said "The way to have safe government is not to trust it all to the one, but to divide it among the many, distributing to everyone exactly the functions in which he is competent....To let the National Government be entrusted with the defense of the nation, and it's foreign and federal relations..... The State Governments with the Civil Rights, Laws, Police and administration of what concerns the State generally. The Counties with the local concerns, and each ward direct the interests within itself. It is by dividing and subdividing these Republics from the great national one down through all it's subordinations until it ends in the administration of everyman's farm by himself, by placing under everyone what his own eye may superintend, that all will be done for the best."

It's not the responsibility of the state government to give the Baton Rouge police department a raise, it's the city's responsibility. It is the responsibility of state government to see that state roads are being maintained and should address the issues of roads around the state, among other things. Louisiana government should not impact you as much as local government. It's on the local level that people have the most say in how government affects their lives.

Question 5: What is the most important thing to you?

JB: God, but many things run a close second like my wife, freedom, Rights, and doing the right thing. Probably in that order.

Question 6: What is the worst job you ever held?

JB: Cutting onions all day in an onion factory for just above minimum wage. You'd walk in and your eyes would start burning immediately. You'd go home and your friends wouldn't want to come over or ride in your car because of the onion smell. However, that job was a true character builder and I am glad that I had it.

Question 7: What is the most important issue you think you will address during your first term?

JB: Right now, I think the most important issue Louisiana faces is how big of a role the federal government ought to play in the lives of Louisiana. It's for the states to decide how they are to be ran and the federal government continuously expands into our daily lives. At some point Louisiana has to put Louisiana interests ahead of federal interests.

Question 8: Why should the people of district 66 hire you to represent us?

JB: Because district 66 will be able to find out where I stand on issues and know that you can trust me to stand by those issues. I may not be the most qualified but I am the guy who will stand for district 66, human rights, Louisiana rights, and business rights.

Anyway, if I was running, that's how I would have answered the questions.