They all say that the greatest drivers of jobs and economic growth are the small businesses. Coming from a family who was supported by a Father and Son contractor business I agree. Why then is there a concerted effort to destroy them? I remember after working for my Dad and wanting to go out on my own I thought Gee how great will this be. My father just listened and said nothing and wished me well.

Now remember this is in the early 80′s when things were good and Congress was just starting to really clamp down on the little guy. I had a brief profitable run. Work was there and I was getting my price. I thought if things kept up like this I would be a millionaire by 40. Suddenly I needed to have these insurance certificate for 6 figure amounts of money with premiums that were just as shocking. Then was the warm and wonderful notice from the IRS. Boy talk about a shakedown. Then I get a call from one of my guys” Hey Andy you better get down here some guy from OSHA is here and handing out citations to everyone”. OSHA…who the Hell are they? Sounds like a marine biology group I wonder what interest he has in this bar I’m building? Maybe they are going to add a fish tank of a really exotic nature as a great conversation piece. Well before I k new it the little money I had built up in the company bank account now had about 15 dollars in it and payday was in 2 days. YIKES!

Somehow by the grace of God and some real wheelin dealin I managed to stave off disaster temporarily. Unfortunately though this was the march to crush people with dreams of owning their own business and claiming their chunk of the American Dream. I thought after having several different types of contracting companies that maybe I should change fields and perhaps things aren’t as locked down as they are in construction. So my next endeavor was the Bar business. A cash business! How can I lose? A little shot and a beer joint with enough charm to go around…yeah this would be perfect. Boy was I an idiot. The insurance , safety regs and even the taxes were so burdensome I could barely turn a profit…and that was after taking a run down joint fixing it up and bringing a huge following to the location- getting it to the point where I needed another register and 2nd bartender on the weekend nights.

The funny thing is people around me thought I was making a small fortune. Well I sorta was until the city state and federal parasites came for their cut. I hate to admit it but if not for my gambling game the ” Joker Poker” I would be better off working for someone else. Those video games saved many a business back when there was the neighborhood gin mill.

Today I see how far taxes, regulation and insurance has advanced and it has decimated the Mom and Pop shops totally into extinction. So much for economic growth. Look around the cities in your area and I’ll bet you find the same thing-Gigantic Big Box stores and franchises and next to them empty stores bearing signs : Store for Rent. We are witnessing the butchering of the Goose that laid the Golden eggs. The powers that be want to keep us all in our own class with no advancement. We must all either work for the state or some massive corporation whose store is so big you cant even see the other end due to the curvature of the Earth. Yup everything from a Hip replacement to a Hot Fudge Sundae all in the same store. Is this the American Dream. Is this what my father came over from Ireland for?

Keep the Dream Alive!

Well just when you think you heard the last of them….There Back!Even though Time magazine gave the cover to the “Protester” and made no mention of the Tea Party they are back and they mean business. It seems like every other protester was covered except the Main Stream Media’s favorite Whipping Boy : The Tea Party.

It’s time for the Tea Party to make its’ presence known again. It is time to remove President Obama from the office he rarely occupies- The Oval Office. In almost 6 months he has not met with one Republican leader yet managed to do 34 fundraisers. In over 900 hundred days he still has not passed a budget and as his billion dollar propaganda attack dog mounts his monstrous slander mission against anything Republican he is ignoring some very important pieces of legislation.

 It’s because of his dereliction of duties and his lack of concern for the economy that he must not have another term to cause more harm. With no future of another term can you even imagine the radical policies he will try to enact? That is why the Tea Party is Back and with a vengeance.

As members honored their leader Paul who was a great inspiration to the group Basil , Laurence and Eric all had a great new proactive approach as far as recruiting members and candidates for office. This is not the Tea Party of old. Get ready liberals the All Stars of Protesters are back and ready to engage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxzkgp8YnI8

2012 Here we come.

Buddy Valastro came to Bay Ridge Brooklyn to sell and sign his latest book. What a charming fellow, a real paisan and boy was my Cookie thrilled to death. You see her glowing as I capture it on film. When we were outside the turnout was amazing. Hundreds of fans all looking forward to meet the “Star” of the TLC series “Cake Boss”. First to buy his latest book get it signed and a photo with the “Boss”.

What a great boost The Book Mark Shoppe got from Buddy this night. Not a moment too soon especially during this balmy winter night. What a great variety of both young and old were standing on this very long line all giddy with anticipation upon meeting its’ famous guest.  Ordinarily the owners of the book store develop this nasty sort of attitude toward all the people who come out and give them this great hit of business when a celebrity is in their midst. Well none of those conditions existed here. Christine and all of her employees were absolutely warm and attentive and should be commended on having a great Mom and Pop store open and making money in a gigantic field of Amazon and Barnes and Noble coupled with I Books and Kindells. This is a great sign and brings hope to my vision of an  America where the little guy can still play on the same field with the Majors.

I recommend you all visit this wonderful shop and keep your dollars in the hands of the people who are going the extra mile to compete with the giants.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NKqhqeFPnQ&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cAlvUYSAr8&list=UUZmuj3fCkljuQb0x5ygFHpQ&index=1&feature=plcp

Please enjoy the videos.

On a chilly night in December Blue Collar Corner went to Carroll Gardens Brooklyn to meet with members of the Brooklyn Brownstone Republicans and as always they did not disappoint. Always passionate and filled with opinions and facts it proved to be worth the journey into that icy evening air.

The bar at which the meeting was held was charming. An Irish themed vibe with a young current touch. It pulled at this Irishmans heartstrings as did the folks we talked to. Romney, Newt, Bachmann and even a Huntsman supporter as well. We surely were not short on diversity and never when I sit down with this crowd is it boring.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sWk_7ujh4w&list=UUZmuj3fCkljuQb0x5ygFHpQ&feature=plcp

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIyf_cNKXkc&list=UUZmuj3fCkljuQb0x5ygFHpQ&feature=plcp

We hear all the arguments for and against and flip flops 10,000 dollar bets infidelity God and faith abortion and the family dog on the roof of the car and Obama Obama Obama. Did I say Obama? Yup would love to hear all your points as well either for or against. So come join BCC and meet the gang Gene Joe and Sandra because regardless of who you are for or against we are ALL Americans and should thank our creator for living in the greatest nation in the world.

This is something you will definitely not see on ABC, NBC CNN, CBS or the fair and balanced FOX News. This was the welcome our President got when he went back to his hometown of Chicago. The land of Political Thugs Strong Arm Deals and Deep Dish Pizza. How did they manage to screw up pizza? Well pizza- economy looks like were all in deep “You know what” and it ain’t no dish. Thing is the American Public is Fast and Furious at this administration and this MF Global economic meltdown. It certainly seems like bowing, begging and borrowing to every world leader on the globe made this nation look like a spineless pathetic nation in decline. While our President manages to pull himself off of Air Force 1 to play 85 rounds of golf and from the arduous very important work of fundraising for his next term of alienating allies appeasing our enemies, sending billions of dollars to Pakistan so we can fund the Taliban and AlQaeda and they can attack us in a more efficient and deadly way.

The real message here is simple: Obama and his miserable band of sycophants are in complete and utter panic. The so-called Independents are running away from this Administration in the hundreds of thousands and the entire Media is on gag order about it. They are terrified at the thought of going up against Gingrich in a debate form if he takes the GOP nomination. But isn’t it deliciously ironic how they were counting on Romney as there candidate. Someone who is awful when it comes to Conservative values. Why else is he tanking as Newt rises? The country wants to get back to its Founding Fathers Principles. All I can say is Thank God .

I have met a wonderful co-worker who is just as much of a political Junkie as I am. He stays plugged in to the now and is extremely sharp yet warm and kind. He is definitely proud to be an American and is living the American Dream and like myself wants it to be there for his kids as well. Oh one thing I forgot to tell you… he’s a liberal.

I know I know but I can’t help it I love the big lug. Anyway he thinks Newt is toast and we are crazy for thinking he can beat Obama. He figures once his liberal gestapo gets ramped up ol’ Newt is going the way of the Saber-tooth Tiger. He actually believes that the right wing has more of an influence on what we see and hear. No he doesn’t do drugs! Just hugs. LOL This was my response hope you enjoy and agree.

 OK you have a lot there. First off you obviously do not watch FOX except for the clips they show on MSNBC. Chris Bret Bair is the best newsman since Cronkite. Shepard Smith is not as good but completely plays it straight and nobody ever accused Greta of commentary news at all and O’Reilly treats Obama with such kid gloves he takes a lot of heat for it. This leaves the one guy who I cannot stand Hannity. Without question Obama could cure cancer and AIDS and this fool would find fault with it. I think he’s a disgrace Chris you know I am no basher. That said you have a bevy of Hannity’s Chris ( I just soiled myself cause Obama is reading his teleprompter and I’m getting this feeling up my leg) Mathews- Ed Show/ Rachel Maddow/ now Rev Al. Add that to Brian Williams, Dick Gregory, Chuck Reid, Paul Bagala, Joe Klein, Paul Krugman and David Brooks ( Who’s a so called Conservative) Daily News and the NYTimes. That is just off the tip of my burnt out brain Chris.

You are very close to the pattern but I will fill in the gaps for you. First if they think Romney is the better candidate why bother with Newt? Why dont they use all of their ample press firepower and annihilate Mitt? If they want Newt to be the GOP pick lay off and destroy Romney. Doesn’t that make more sense?

Answer: Everything the left says they mean the total polar opposite.

Question: Who completely scared the Hell out of the left to the point of obsession? Sarah Palin

Why? She tapped into the core of the American people and how they live , feel and what frustrated them about government which was the absolute embodiment of what Obama is ” Big intrusional Government” Palin is not dumb at all I do not care what stories that are out there. This was an incredibly talented woman of strength ,conviction and principle. Plus there was a time when her Twitter account was more powerful then the entire Obama Administration ( Remember how her Death Panels comment smashed the Health Care bill in its tracks?- and she was a hot looking red blooded Conservative and never did I see the entire arsenal of the liberal army frothing at the mouth to wreck this woman’s career, family and image. I still find it disgusting how woman’s groups actually attacked her with more venom then any other arm of the liberal assassins. Remember how they joked how they would love to have her as a candidate against Obama? They were scared beyond words. Why else did they post adds to help go through her e mails to see if they were any dirt by which to slander her even further.

Result : The left and their relentless attacks worked. They made it impossible for her to execute her duties as Governor to the point where she had to resign. Granted she made mistakes and of course they were magnified by the press. Even Letterman commented about her young teenage daughter and how A Rod was going to “Do Her” during the 7th inning stretch. How charming. If that was my daughter I would be rotting in a cell.

Do you see the same template emerging for Newt?

One problem…and this is huge…Newt is brilliant. They are going to smoke a pound of crack if they have to face this walking talking computer brain American History major who can recite the Declaration of Independence backwards and forwards AND unlike Obama has a record in government and has major achievements ad with over 40 years of public service can honestly say ” You know what after decades of looking at certain issues and seeing how the levers of Government works I have changed positions on several issues. Can any human being that ever lived claim they have never changed their position on something? If not for Newt Clinton would never have been this 2 termer with great achievements. They were the Ali-Fraiser of politics. They brought out great things in one another even though they were pounding each others flesh. Obama has no such record. And unlike boxing in politics you get smarter and better. The left is freaking out they need the wet noodle Mitt cause he is weak and irritable when pressed. Sorry I know it’s long but you know I don’t talk talking points.

I practice being liberal it’s fun. You depend on other people for stuff. It’s like being a spoiled little kid who wants what the other kid has but will not behave and do his chores to get it. Hope you find it interesting if you don’t agree but again you really bring it outta me big fella.

Reaganite on Steroids/:)

Presidential GOP front-runner Newt Gingrich came out to the Staten Island Tea Party to ask the members to ” not to be for him ” but ” to be ” with him”. His reasoning is if you are for him you will expect him to go to Washington and solve all of these problems. He contends that the problems are too big for one man to fix and he needs all of his supporters to work with him to do it.

I was very impressed with the Speaker and his concept. When we were down in Iowa for the Straw Poll Gingrich was a underdog now he is in the position of Front Runner and this is usually when he self-destructs. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to stay ahead of Romney who I believe did a disasterous job with his Bret Bair interview. Gingrich said if he gets the nomination he will challenge Barack Obama to 7  three hour debates and said he would allow him to use his teleprompters. Of course the teleprompter comment was a shot at the President and his weakness of talking “off the cuff”. Even now he brought them into a classroom full of 6th graders and Heaven forbid if it would have been a Republican who did this the media would have Palinized them. I must admit it is quite exciting to have a man like Gingrich with his stratospheric intellect completely decimate Obama with his lies, theories and claim to fundamentally change the United States. The Speaker’s weakness will be his long standing record of policy changes and stances on issues or silly commercials with a certain former Speaker( Pelosi). Gingrich has already taken the best way to combat such charges and that is just to admit it is stupid or wrong and looking back he is now more solid and secure in his policies. Unlike Romney who just denies the actual facts which looks awful.

http://www.youtube.com/user/andybluecollar?feature=mhee#p/a/u/2/JXH6uYGYOfM

http://www.youtube.com/user/andybluecollar?feature=mhee#p/a/u/1/eVTfZmdtPTg

http://www.youtube.com/user/andybluecollar?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/Fgper2u4VPc

Enjoy the videos of Newt, a small OWS crowd and our interview with Michael Ferrara!