Happy New Year!

And a look back at 2008...Click on the "play" arrow to start the slideshow...

From the Arnold-Imperial Leader (OK, not quite the New York Times)

Happy 5-0 Ron! Sorry for the distorted image; they put you on the fold! (As if you don't have enough of your own). One question: why didn't they put what John wrote on your card in this ad?

Happy Hour at the VFW Hall

They were singing..

Happy Hour at the VFW Hall

Happy Hour at the VFW Hall

Important Happy Hour Update!

The happy hour has been changed this month to the Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28th. We had originally discussed Thursday, December 4th. The place will be…the VFW Hall in Arnold, site of Ron Hogue’s 50th birthday party. This will be at the bar however, not the hall itself. This is at the suggestion of John and Mike. Also, I can’t make it on the 4th, so what’s the point really? The address is 2301 Church Rd. Here is a map. It may be an early start, since a lot of people will be off that day.


View Larger Map

We Got Silly

More Party Photos

Ron's 50th Birthday Party

Ron's 50th Birthday Party

Party Photos

Tailgate Party

Casual observers of this blog may think all we do is go to bars and drink. Not true! Sometimes we go to parking lots and drink, as evidenced by these pictures from the Rams Nov. 2 game vs. the Arizona Cardinals. Pics are courtesy of Marilyn Beck's "Picture This" blog. (And, it wouldn't be a Marilyn post without a celebrity photo, would it?)

October's Happy Hour-Buffalo Wild Wings in South County

Time to get caught up on pics...(Still waiting on the ones from Norma...)

President-Elect Obama

Congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama and his supporters on a truly historic election victory. While I may disagree with his political philosophy, I appreciate the significance of this event, and I wish him well. There will be plenty of time down the road for fighting the battle of ideas that are part of living in a democracy, but for now, we can take a deep breath and thank God we live in a country where we are free to choose our leaders, and transitions in power are peaceful.

Official Endorsement of the Blog-John McCain for President

I’ll admit John McCain doesn’t exactly quicken the pulse of conservatives. You could go quite a few names down my list of preferences for the Republican nomination before you got to Senator McCain. For those who say that a McCain presidency would be essentially a 3rd Bush term, I say it would probably more resemble a 1st Hillary term. And in any battle of charisma, McCain loses badly to Barack Obama. To me however, this election comes down to one’s philosophy of government’s role in our lives. The Obama philosophy is clearly one of bigger government, with more control over our lives, and higher taxes. It’s a philosophy of "sharing the wealth", as Sen. Obama puts it. This is socialism light, and it has never worked when practiced.

Obama promises only to raise taxes on the "wealthy", but how exactly does taking money out of someone else’s pocket help you? He neglects to point out that the top 1% of wage earners in this country already pay 39% of federal income taxes, a number that has actually gone up during the Bush administration, and the top 25% pay 86% of the taxes (also an increase under Bush). Forty percent of lower income Americans pay no federal income tax at all. So, you can make the case that the tax code is unfair, but unfair to whom? Also, when Obama talks of raising taxes on "greedy" corporations, does he think this will occur in a vacuum? Hmmm, I wonder what these companies will do when their costs go up...gee, I don’t know, maybe raise prices??? So, ultimately, you and I will pay these higher taxes.

The truth is, tax cuts work. Every time taxes have been lowered, revenues to the government go up. Why? Because when people have more money in their pockets they spend it, invest it, and capital flows into the private sector where it belongs. Why can't Democrats understand this? During the Reagan administration, when taxes were cut drastically, revenues to the government actually doubled in 8 years. The media (and Democrats) blamed higher deficits on these tax cuts, ignoring the fact that spending tripled during this time. And for those of you bemoaning the state of the economy today, remember the late 70’s, the last time a Democrat (Jimmy Carter) was in the White House and Democrats controlled both house of Congress? Interest rates, inflation and unemployment were higher, much higher, than they are even in today's economy.

In these troubled economic times, it is tempting to turn everything over to the government, but it is the equivalent of giving candy to a baby. They will love you for it, they will gladly take it, and as much of it as you will give, but ultimately, you are ruining their health.

On foreign policy, Sen. Obama seems more concerned that other countries "like" us, rather than respect us. And, of course, history is replete with appeasers that were more concerned with keeping the peace rather than confronting threats. In the end, they usually end up with the very thing they are trying to avoid. Liberals who disagree with the Bush foreign policy ignore one important fact: we have not been struck again since September 11, 2001. No amount of "dialogue" or "understanding why they hate us" will stop zealots bent on destroying our way of life. Osama bin Laden himself admitted he was emboldened to strike America after we turned tail in Mogidishu because the Clinton Administration didn't want us to appear as bullies to the rest of world. Bin laden was convinced if he struck as at home, we would leave the Middle East, and under some leaders, we might have.

I understand why people like Barack Obama. He seems like a decent man, and I believe he does want what he thinks is best for this country. I fully expect him to be our next President. If he wins, I wish him all the success in the world. But as I stated above, this is about philosphical differences in government's role. Government cannot, and should not, provide our jobs, our housing, our income. Liberals want to furnish you with just enough to get by, but never enough to succeed, and if you put your trust in them, you will only be as successful as they want you to be.

There are some disturbing similarities between the America of the early 1930's and now. Major economic turmoil had us questioning capitalism's viability. Socialism was gaining acceptance with respected leaders. Tyrants, facists and communists were gaining stature around the world, and were being praised by people in this country. And of course, this uneasiness led to the election of Franklin Roosevelt, and the huge growth of government entitlements. Contrary to popular belief, however, the economy actually got worse under the New Deal. Only World War II pulled us out of the Great Depression. The difference is that now, we have the failures of socialism, the New Deal, the Great Society, and every other misguided attempt at social engineering in the rear view mirror. The amazing thing is, leaders, and the people who will vote for them, want to try it again.

We Finally Meet Ed's Girlfriends

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to one of my (older) brothers, -oh wait, they're all older than me-Bob. Easy to remember because it's on Halloween.

Buffalo Wild Wings-Tonight

Mike has suggested Buffalo Wild Wings for tonight. Not a bad suggestion, but we need to decide, like NOW...

OK, so this is final. Buffalo Wild Wings...TONIGHT!!!

This Month's Happy Hour

There seems to be some consensus for happy hour at Tucker's Place in south county. The good thing about this location is that if we don't like it, there are lots of other places close by. Comments??? Time is running out!

Here is a map.

Very Cool Photo

For those of you who haven't visited Marilyn's blog, I encourage you to. There is a link in the sidebar to the left (appropriately enough). While we may be on separate sides of the political aisle, Marilyn has some interesting stuff on her blog, and she was the first to link to me on her blog, so she will always have top spot on my links list. She has also scored some great photos, including this one featuring husband Doug with the husband of the junior senator from New York. Imagine the former President's disappointment when Doug wasn't familiar with the location of all the strip clubs in the St. Louis area. Honestly, do you think Clinton really wants people to vote for Obama? (What's next? A picture of Mike with Miss Alaska...?)

Thanks Once Again to Tina Ostresh! Official Photographer of the Blog

Top: Keith Giesler & wife Angie
Above: John Moore, Ed, Mike, Norma, Linda.

More pics...

Tina & Shiela
Norma, Tina & Linda
Mike (obviously deep in meditation), Norma & John

Class of '77 Happy Hour @ Helen Fitzgerald's

clockwise from top left: Ed, Tom (and Tom's fingers), Norma, Mike, Tina & John
Linda & Tina at Tina's birthday party, um, I mean the Roosevelt Happy Hour
Tom & Norma

Oct. 30th Happy Hour-Posted by John Lerch (as if you couldn't tell)

The Lerch household finally has high speed internet. If W hadn't stole the 2000 election (& I mean stole no doubt) we would have had high speed long ago. Everybody knows Al Gore invented the invented the internet. I wonder if McCain's advisers are working on a plan (flim flam) so JM and his trophy VP can take control in January. It may be tougher this time because hanging chads has already been used(abused). I have no allegiance to either pack of wolves but both sides need to be represented on this blog. I challenge the dictator to post this unedited. Signed, Joe Six Pack (alias Joe The Plumber) How about a happy hour around the 55 & 270 area (not Hot Shots) Editor's note: The editor reserves the right to edit and alter all posts, especially those that don't agree with the official opinion of this blog. But I'll let this one slide.

Do I Have to do Everything?!?!?

I know I wasn't at the last happy hour, so maybe I'm out of the loop, but are we meeting next Thursday (10/30)? If so, where??? I haven't read any discussion about it. Also, remember some of us (John, maybe Sue, Mike, possibly Vernon and myself) will be at Helen Fitzgerald's this Friday for the Roosevelt Class of '77 annual Happy Hour. Obviously this isn't limited to class members, so everyone is welcome. If you do show up and talk to our classmates, those of you who didn't know us back then will be shocked to learn that some considered us geeks. Boy, things sure do change don't they? Leave comments so we know who all is coming.

The Latest Contestants on "Dancing with the Stars"