He's baaaaaaaack!

Nader announces new bid for White House.

Ralph Nader said Sunday he will run for president as a third-party candidate, criticizing the top White House contenders as too close to big business and pledging to repeat a bid that will "shift the power from the few to the many."

Nader, 73, said most people are disenchanted with the Democratic and Republican parties due to a prolonged Iraq war and a shaky economy. The consumer advocate also blamed tax and other corporate-friendly policies under the Bush administration that he said have left many lower- and middle-class people in debt.

"You take that framework of people feeling locked out, shut out, marginalized and disrespected," he said. "You go from Iraq, to Palestine to Israel, from Enron to Wall Street, from Katrina to the bumbling of the Bush administration, to the complicity of the Democrats in not stopping him on the war, stopping him on the tax cuts."

"In that context, I have decided to run for president," Nader told NBC's "Meet the Press."

You know, there are still some folks out there who blame Ralph for Algore losing in 2000, claiming he siphoned off votes, and they may be looking at this with more than slightly jaundiced eyes.

Clinton called Nader's announcement a "passing fancy" and said she hoped his candidacy wouldn't hurt the Democratic nominee.

"Obviously, it's not helpful to whomever our Democratic nominee is. But it's a free country," she told reporters as she flew to Rhode Island for campaign events.

If Ralph can get himself on enough state ballots this November (and that might be a big "if"), things could turn out to be just a bit more interesting.

Pelosi calls Iraq a 'failure'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said twice Sunday that Iraq "is a failure," adding that President Bush's troop surge has "not produced the desired effect."

I'd like to know what alternate reality universe Ms. Pelosi is inhabiting, because she sure isn't anywhere near inhabiting the same universe I'm in!

H/T specialrpt posting in Quicknews

Fake bomb defendant cites 1st Amendment

As reported here, [a] computer science student who unwittingly created an airport bomb scare by wearing a blinking circuit board attached to her shirt had a First Amendment right to express herself in that manner, her lawyer argued Friday.

Attorney Thomas Dwyer Jr. asked a judge to throw out the charge against Star Simpson, 19, who is accused of possessing a hoax device. East Boston District Court Judge Paul Mahoney took the motion to dismiss under advisement and said he would issue a ruling March 21.

Simpson, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology student from Lahaina, Hawaii, had gone to Logan International Airport last September to pick up her boyfriend.

She was held at gunpoint and arrested by state troopers after an alarm was raised over the battery-powered device on her shirt, which had flashing lights and the words "Socket to me" and "Course VI" (a major at MIT) written on the back.

Dwyer said his client, who is studying electrical engineering and computer science, didn't think her shirt would scare anyone. He said she had worn it on campus without alarming anyone.

"People make these objects part of their identity. It's a part of their personal expression," he said. "They are legitimate forms of First Amendment expression."

First of all, wearing an electronic device that resembled a bomb - even if it was only benign - to Boston's Logan Airport, where 9/11 planes flew from, shows a total lack of elementary thought processes of what others might perceive the device to be, as Simpson found out. This from an MIT student, no less!

Secondly, this act to me, is tantamount to yelling "FIRE!" in a crowded theater. You don't have the right to do that in that location, even if you do have the right to stand out in your yard and yell "FIRE!". As a matter of fact, if you do yell "FIRE!" in a crowded theater, and it is discovered that there wasn't a fire, you'll be arrested. If you stand in your yard and yell "FIRE!", the worst that would probably happen is that your neighbors will look at you and think you're a nutcase.

Simpson should have known better.

McDermott pays damages to Boehner in 1996 phone-tape case

As reported here, Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott has paid more than $64,000 in damages to House Republican leader John Boehner -- the first payment in a decadelong dispute over an illegally taped telephone call involving Boehner and other GOP leaders.

Well, well. It's about time Jim started paying up! The delicious irony of this? McDermott is paying into Boehner's campaign fund!

Kevin Smith, a spokesman for Boehner, called it ironic that the payment from McDermott will go to Boehner's campaign account.

"Mr. McDermott is the biggest contributor" to the account, Smith said Thursday.

The money "will be used to defeat fellow Democrats of Mr. McDermott," he said.

Just a thought

Last night, after President Bush gave his final State of the Union Address, NBC's Brian Williams and Tim Russert made the comment that George sounded a little, well, peeved (not their word) as he spoke, and they seemed slightly mystified as to why that was.

Well, Brian and Tim, here's my thinking on that. If you had been blocked, seemingly at every turn, from doing what you thought was in the best interests of the nation; if those you had felt were well qualified to do specific jobs, had their nominations to those jobs filibustered; if you had been mocked, jeered, derided, and called a thief and a liar from day one, etc. ... don't you think you'd be a little frustrated and peeved about how things turned out?

Just a thought.

I'm disappointed

Fred Thompson has decided to withdraw from the race for the Republican nomination.

I'm very disappointed by this news. I will have to think long and hard about who I will back.

Illegal immigrants packing up and leaving Arizona

As reported here, [I]llegal immigrants in Arizona, frustrated with a flagging economy and tough new legislation cracking down on their employers, are returning to their home countries or trying their luck in other states.

For months, [illegal] immigrants have taken a wait-and-see attitude toward the state's new employer-sanctions law, which takes effect January 1. The voter-approved legislation is an attempt to lessen the economic incentive for illegal immigrants in Arizona, the busiest crossing point along the U.S.-Mexico border.

And by all appearances, it's starting to work.

This is extremely good news for the legal citizens of Arizona, as their tax burden to support the illegal's living in their midst will be lessened. Lower costs to cover fewer emergency room visits due to fewer illegal's using the emergency rooms for their medical needs. Lower costs for education due to fewer children of illegal's taking up classroom space. Lower costs for traffic enforcement due to fewer people on the roads, which in turn lessens congestion, which in turn means goods and people are able to travel more efficiently, cutting down on fuel consumption and pollution.

Note to the author of this AP story - when writing a story about illegal's, don't forget to include that word, as you did above. I fixed that for you. By dropping the word illegal, you have implied that ALL immigrants are being affected, which is patently false. Just wanted to point that out, just in case anyone got confused.

"People are calling me telling me about their friend, their cousin, their neighbors -- they're moving back to Mexico," said Magdalena Schwartz, an immigrant-rights activist and pastor at a Mesa church. "They don't want to live in fear, in terror."

In terror?! In terror of what, exactly? That if they get arrested for being here illegally, they'll be treated with dignity and respect by law enforcement officials and the courts? That when incarcerated they'll be housed in a fairly clean and warm environment and fed three times a day, and won't be harassed or beaten, or possibly killed, unlike in their home countries, where people being in their country illegally is taken a little more seriously? If they hadn't come here illegally, they wouldn't have to worry about all that, now would they?

Martin Herrera, a 40-year-old illegal immigrant and masonry worker who lives in Camp Verde, 70 miles north of Phoenix, said he is planning to return to Mexico as soon as he ties up loose ends after living here for four years.

"I don't want to live here because of the new law and the oppressive environment," he said. "I'll be better in my country."

Good! See ya! Have a nice life - in your own country! Oh, and if you want to return, try doing it the right way, and ask permission first, ok?

He called the employer-sanctions law "absurd."

Actually, what is absurd is the fact that you've been here illegally for the past four years, and nothing has been done up to this point to get you to leave!

"Everybody here, legally or illegally, we are part of a motor that makes this country run," Herrera said. "Once we leave, the motor is going to start to slow down."

That's a false assertion, saying that the "motor is going to slow down". As stated above, without the illegal's tapping the cash cow provided by the law abiding citizens of Arizona, the state legislature will be able to cut taxes (if they're smart), which will translate into more money in people's pockets, which will lead to them being able to spend more, which will lead to a growth in the local state economy - not a slow down.

There's no way to know how many illegal immigrants are leaving Arizona, especially now with many returning home for normal holiday visits. But economists, immigration lawyers and people who work in the immigrant community agree it's happening.

State Rep. Russell Pearce of Mesa, the author of the employer sanctions law, said his intent was to drive illegal immigrants out of Arizona.

"I'm hoping they will self-deport," Pearce said. "They broke the law. They're criminals."

Rep. Pearce is correct in stating that they broke the law. Hopefully, most if not all of those returning home for the holidays will decide to stay home.

Under the employer sanctions law, businesses found to have knowingly hired illegal workers will be subject to sanctions from probation to a 10-day suspension of their business licenses. A second violation would bring permanent revocation of the license.

Nancy-Jo Merritt, an immigration lawyer who primarily represents employers, said her clients already have started to fire workers who can't prove they are in the country legally.
"Workers are being fired, of course," she said. "Nobody wants to find out later on that they've got somebody working for them who's not here legally."

Good! Outstanding! More jobs for legal citizens!

When immigrants don't have jobs, they don't stick around, said Dawn McLaren, a research economist at Arizona State University who specializes in illegal immigration.

She said the flagging economy, particularly in the construction industry, also is contributing to an immigrant exodus.

"As the jobs dwindle and the environment becomes more unpleasant in more ways than one, you then decide what to do, and perhaps leaving looks like a good idea," she said. "And certainly that creates a problem, because as people leave, they take the jobs they created with them."

When I read the last part of the above paragraph, it made me have a "Geico Caveman" moment, as in, what?! Since when do workers create jobs? Employers create jobs, workers fill jobs. Oh, and when workers leave, they don't take the jobs they filled. They create job openings which others, who are here legally, can fill. What an asinine statement, especially coming from someone who works at a university!

Pearce disagreed that the Arizona economy will suffer after illegal immigrants leave, saying there will be less crime, lower taxes, less congestion, smaller classroom sizes and shorter lines in emergency rooms.

"We have a free market. It'll adjust," he said. "Americans will be much better off."
He said he's not surprised illegal immigrants are leaving the state and predicts that more will go once the employer-sanctions law takes effect next month.

"It's attrition by enforcement," he said. "As you make this an unfriendly state for lawbreakers, I'm hoping they will pick up and leave."

I want everyone to know that I am not against immigrants. This country was established and built by immigrants. This country is populated by recent immigrants, and the children and grandchildren of immigrants who came here in years past. Heck, even the so-called "Native Americans" are the children of immigrants! I'm the grandchild of immigrants, who came here legally. If you want to immigrate to this country, by all means do so, but do it legally.

What I am against, is those who come here illegally, without proper permission. Illegal immigrant's are not a "boon" to our economy by filling "jobs Americans don't want". Rather, they are a drain on our economy. By working "under the table", they allow employers to pay them below living wages, which in turn forces them to use public resources in disproportionate numbers. By coming here illegally they have committed a crime, and oftentimes (but not always, I will grant) commit further crimes, and when they are incarcerated for those other crimes, use up more public resources.

It is hoped here that with the example Arizona is showing with this law and the resultant self-deportation that is occurring, that the other border states will also enact similar laws, which will go a long, long way to, if not solving, then at least mitigating the problems with people being here illegally.

H/T Pistos.

Christmas is coming...

Once again we are rapidly approaching a holiday that holds many types of memories for us. I find that my memories have become more muddled as I have accumulated more memories, sigh, aging is a crummy thing to have happen to you. For the most part, my early memories were of visiting both sets of grandparents and trying to be excited about the practical gifts I received, pants and shirts and sweaters or a jacket. These were usually good things for me since living in the central part of the country as a kid, we needed as many layers of clothes as we could put on to keep us warm in the winter. (No, I am NOT going to talk about how cold it was or how much snow was on the ground in the winter, just to let you know that some fun was had walking out onto the crusty snow and breaking through it or watching it fall from the roofs when the temperatures would warm somewhat.) As I have gotten older and my kids have moved away and gotten married and had kids I find that the memories that I have the most joy about concern the younger ones and not my own stuff. My wife heard about a question, "What was your favorite present that you received last Christmas?" and finding out how many people didn't even remember what it was... I don't remember, but I do remember how my family came over and how we had good food and conversation, a little TV and a little reflection on life and how much those things make me anticipate Christmas every year. When we think about the most important parts of Christmas or Hanachah's past, we can put it all into perspective by what we share with the important people in our lives. How sad it is for those whose remembrances are not of happy times and so therefore cringe at the coming of Christmas. One of the best parts of Christmas is trying to find ways to do for others and that can change someones viewpoint when Christmas is coming.

Subtle ways for increasing tax revenues...

A time ago, I don't know how long, Seattle started putting out the "pay at the parking kiosk" for time to park on the city streets in many areas. This was to replace the parking meters, ostensibly to reduce costs to the city. I think that it was a subtle way (maybe not too subtle) to increase the revenue the city collects. "How?", you might ask, or you might not care but, I'm going to tell you my idea anyway. When the parking meter was fed, one might use all the time on the meter or leave a little early or late (and get a ticket), those that left early didn't get a refund on their time but the next person to park in that spot didn't have to pay as much for their time. I liked it both ways, leaving early and giving someone else some free time and getting a little free time from someone else. (What? You say that that was unfair to those who never found those few minutes... Life is unfair.) Now, if you use the kiosk, you not only do not get a refund for paying for more time than you used, the next person to use that spot doesn't get any benefit from someone else's early leaving. Hummmmmmmm..... If you purchase two hours worth of time and use 90 minutes you have just increased the city's coffers by 30 minutes rental of the parking space that you didn't use and no one else could use it either. The next person to use the spot had to pay for their estimate of how long they would stay and if they were incorrect in their estimate and stayed less time... ka-ching!!!!! I wonder how often this happens at the controlled parking spots around the city... A double whammy for the city, lower costs for collections of parking fees and higher income from inaccurate estimations of duration. Don't you just love it?

McDermott loses appeal, and must pay lawmaker

As reported here, [t]he U.S. Supreme Court Monday ended Rep. Jim McDermott's long-running legal battle with a leading House Republican, when it let stand a lower court ruling that could cost McDermott more than $600,000 in damages and attorneys' fees.

The high court declined to review a federal appeals court ruling from May that McDermott, D-Wash., was liable for civil damages for leaking to reporters a tape recording of a cell-phone call between Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, and other Republican leaders discussing a House Ethics Committee investigation of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

How ironic that one of the Democrats most cherished so-called "Constitutional rights" - the "right to privacy", which is not written anywhere in the Constitution - comes back to bite one of their own!

Hey, Jim! Pay the man, and be thankful you aren't going to prison for breaking the law.

Belated wishes

Due to circumstances beyond my control (otherwise called "Life"), I was not able to make a couple of posts this weekend that I wanted to.

First of all, November 10th was the birthday of the United States Marine Corps, and I want to wish all Marines a (belated) Happy Birthday! I'm a Navy vet, and although I've indulged in the usual teasing of the Navy's sister service - and got back as good as I gave (and sometimes better, I'll admit) - I have the deepest respect for the men and women of our Corps. Many times they are the first to go into harm's way, and they do so unhesitatingly, to protect the freedoms we hold so dear, as well as to put themselves between innocents of other nations and those who wish to do them harm. If you ask them why they do that, more often than not you'll get the response back of, "It's what we do!". For that, I will always be deeply grateful.

To the men and women of the United States Marine Corps - Semper Fi! May we who you protect be as faithful to you, as you are to us.

Secondly, November 11th was Veteran's Day. Originally known as Armistice Day, to commemorate the ending - on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month - of the "War to end all wars", now known to us as WWI. We all know that it wasn't "the war to end all wars", and because of that, the name was changed to Veteran's Day, in order to honor those who served in the military.

As I stated above, I'm a Navy vet, and my brother (Dither) is an Army vet. Neither of us run around yelling out that fact, demanding that people kowtow to us because of our "status". We aren't like that. We go about our daily lives trying to do the right thing while keeping a "low profile", lending a hand when we see a need without asking for, or expecting, "public adulation". Nope, not gonna happen.

Most other vets (there are always the attention hogs in every group) I know of are the same way. Quiet, humble, normal people, who just happened to have put on our nation's uniform for a spell, and then went back to civilian life, trying to be good citizens. If you happen to know any veteran's, surprise them by saying thanks, and watch their reaction. Some will get all flustered by the attention. Some will quietly say, "You're welcome.", while others will get contemplative, thinking back on the time they spent in the service and what that truly means.

And just what does that mean? It means sacrifice (something that a vast majority just don't get anymore, unfortunately).

The sacrifice of time away from family and friends, often in another country.
The sacrifice of being able to earn more money working in a civilian job.
The sacrifice of comfort, spending time in "the field", away from warm beds, hot showers, and hot meals. No Starbucks latte's, no Nintendo or Xbox360, no internet, no McDonalds, etc.
The sacrifice of not being in a place where you aren't scared that you're going to get hurt - badly - or worse.
Which brings us to the Ultimate Sacrifice - the giving of your life to protect an ideal, a cause, or simply just your buddies.

That's what sacrifice means, and those men and women who willingly put on the various uniforms of our nations Armed Forces know what they are sacrificing, and that they may be called upon to make the Ultimate Sacrifice, so that we may live in freedom and enjoy all those things they give up.

To all the men and women who have ever worn the uniforms of our nations Armed Forces, I say a very humble THANK YOU! Your sacrifices mean more to me than you will ever know.

Liberty outraged over grave desecration

As reported here, [t]o Jeremy Burris the word "liberty" was more than the name of his hometown. It was something worth fighting for.

An all-American kid from a little all-American town, the 22-year-old Marine lance corporal died heroically in Iraq. More than a thousand people turned out Wednesday as a white hearse carried his body to burial in the historic 1800s Cooke Memorial Cemetery.

Within hours, the grave was desecrated. About 30 sprays of flowers were ripped apart, petals strewn over the loose earth. Flags decorating the gravesite were also torn down and sentimental notes and posters shredded.

Fortunately, Allison Funeral Service employees already restored it.

I'm angered by this. I mean, Jeremy Burris fought for this country, died for this country, defending the rights we have as citizens of this nation (including the right to protest something you don't like), and this is how he is repaid for his sacrifice? This is total disrespect.

To the persons responsible for this outrage. If you don't like the military, don't like the fact that our troops are over in Iraq fighting those who would like nothing better than to kill you, that's fine. That's your right. A right that Jeremy stood up to protect., whether you like that or not. The fact that you probably don't like the military or the war in Iraq, DOES NOT give you the right to do what you did.

I hope you get stupid and brag about what you did, and that someone who you brag to rats you out. You deserve to spend a long time in jail.

To the family of LCpl Burris - my heart goes out to you both for the loss of your son, and for what happened to his grave. As a veteran of the US Navy, I also want to thank you for the sacrifice that Jeremy made.

Semper Fi!

H/T dogmaticus

Never Forget

Today, September 11, 2007 marks the sixth anniversary of the attack, not only on our nation, but on our very way of life by “people” bound and determined to enslave not only us, but the entire world.

These “people” want to return us to the time where they controlled vast swaths of the world, imposing their will, and their so-called “Religion of Peace”, through the sword. This is something that we cannot, must not, allow to happen. If a modern, free society, is to survive, we must fight these “people” at every turn, and never surrender. For if we surrender, we shall die.

Yet, there are those in our society who think that these “people” can be appeased, and that, if appeased, they will stop the violence that they inflict upon the world. This is a fallacy, born of a “head in the sand” wishful thinking.

Neville Chamberlain found that out in 1939, when he attempted to appease one of the vilest monsters that has ever walked this earth, Adolph Hitler, when he proclaimed upon his return to London, “Peace in our time!”. Because of Chamberlain’s ill-fated attempt at appeasing Hitler, countless millions were soon subjugated under the jack boots of the Nazi regime, resulting in the deaths of countless millions more, as the world convulsed in total war.

Just as Adolph Hitler wanted the power to dominate the world, imposing his will, so these “people” want to dominate the world, so they may impose their will upon everyone. Whether you realize it or not, the truth of the matter is that we are once again embroiled in a world war, one that we must win, whatever the cost, if our society, our very way of life is to survive.

On this sixth anniversary, take a moment to reflect on what is at stake, for much is at stake. Do not take the freedoms that we enjoy for granted, for if we lose this war, we will lose those freedoms, which is the ultimate goal of those “people”.

I would rather stand and fight as a free man, and risk the possibility of death, rather than surrender and guarantee my death as a slave.

Never forget.

Thompson to announce candidacy on Thursday

As reported here, Republican Fred Thompson will officially launch his presidential bid Sept. 6 in a Webcast on his campaign site [www.imwithfred.com], followed by a five-day tour of early primary states.

"I believe that there are millions of Americans who know that our security and prosperity are at risk if we don't address the challenges of our time: the global threat of terrorism, taxes and spending that will bankrupt future generations, and a government that can't seem to get the most basic responsibilities right for its citizens," the former Tennessee senator and "Law & Order" actor said in a news release Thursday that laid out themes of his campaign.

This is welcome news! Why? Because I believe that Fred Thompson gives us the best chance of retaining the White House for another four years. There are too many issues with the remaining candidates on the Republican side to bring cohesion back to the Republican Party, to enable us to retain the White House.

So, I'm going on the record here to publicly endorse Fred D. Thompson for the Republican nomination, and for President of the United States in the 2008 election - regardless of what the FEC may say or do as a result of my endorsement, through the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act, which in my opinion, regarding the part about weblogs, is unconstitutional. Here is the text of the First Amendment :

"Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." [Emphasis mine]

Note that it does not say, "except political speech". The part that says "... abridging the freedom of speech ..." is pretty much all encompassing, and that is what gives me (and everyone else) the right to endorse whomever I want, for whatever political office, I choose to, Senators McCain and Feingold notwithstanding, and I will fight for my rights all the way to the US Supreme Court if necessary.

Bridge collapses in Minneapolis

My heart goes out to all those involved in the bridge collapse tragedy in Minneapolis. I'm really stunned by this ... I'm almost at a loss for words.

This tragedy hits kind of close to home in a couple of ways. First of all, I've driven across that bridge, although it has been 27 years now that I did so, and when I heard the news, I got that cold, hard knot feeling in my stomach as the memory of crossing that bridge those many long years ago came rushing back to me.

The other way is that we have a couple of bridges here in Seattle that are in danger of catastrophic failure if the conditions are right, which I have posted about in the past - the Evergreen Point floating bridge, which is a major connection between the communities on the east side of Lake Washington and Seattle, and the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which is a major north - south arterial located on the Seattle waterfront.

Both bridges carry vast numbers of cars on a daily basis, even though it is a known fact that either (or both) could collapse in another major earthquake or huge wind storm, yet our local government officials are dithering about what to do about both, and how to pay for it, wasting both time and money on "study" after "study", and accomplishing virtually nothing in the process.

In light of this tragedy that happened in Minneapolis, I think it is time for our local politicians, from the governor and state legislature down to the various city councils and mayors to come together and find common ground to a solution for these two bridges in our area before we have a similar tragedy befall us.

Again, my heart goes out to all those who have been affected by this tragedy.

Tunneling Near Iranian Nuclear Site Stirs Worry

As reported here, [t]he sudden flurry of digging seen in recent satellite photos of a mountainside in central Iran might have passed for ordinary road tunneling. But the site is the back yard of Iran's most ambitious and controversial nuclear facility, leading U.S. officials and independent experts to reach another conclusion: It appears to be the start of a major tunnel complex inside the mountain.

The question is, why? Worries have been stoked by the presence nearby of fortified buildings where uranium is being processed. Those structures in turn are now being connected by roads to Iran's nuclear site at Natanz, where the country recently started production of enriched uranium in defiance of international protests.

The answer to that question is fairly simple and straightforward, and I've posted about this many times before - Iran's leaders want Iran to become a nuclear power, possessing nuclear weapons, so they can pursue their dream of recreating the Caliphate with them at it's head, on a world-wide basis. They want to Islamicise the entire world - whether anyone else wants them to or not - and to do this they feel that they need to have nuclear weapons, regardless of how many times they deny that they desire a source of nuclear energy, "for peaceful purposes", and not nuclear weapons.

If they do manage to produce nuclear weapons (through their own means and the ineptitude of the rest of the world), they will first bully their neighbors in the region to bow to their will under threat of nuclear holocaust, and then once they have consolidated their hold over the Middle East, they will then turn their eyes north to Europe and Russia, and east to China. Once they have Europe, Russia, and China under their influence, they will then look to the US, using resources they will be able to obtain from Europe, Russia and China (i.e. ICBM's), to try to make us bend to their will as well.

Will the world sit back and simply allow Iran's leaders see their plans come to fruition? I don't see much happening that will stop Iran's leaders at the present time. Hopefully, those in power now and those who will be in power in the near future will wake up, before it's too late.

H/T specialrpt reporting in quicknews

Happy Independence Day

On this day in 1776 brave men on these shores issued a declaration of independence from the most powerful nation on earth at the time, England, over abuses perpetrated by George III, that they felt had no other means of remedy.

They did so knowing that they were putting their liberty, and their very lives, at great risk, while at the same time not knowing if their venture would bear the fruits of success, since the Colonies had no friends, and few resources to match up against the formidable power and wealth of England.

But one thing they did know. They had to throw off the chains of servitude, in order to live the life of free men, governing themselves in a just and equitable manner.

Military defeat after military defeat ensued, but the resolve of those involved in the fight for freedom never wavered in the main, and eventually things began to turn around for the beleaguered colonists, until at long last, England was convinced that there was no possibility that they were going to be able to hold on to their former colonies, and the United States of America became a reality.

Without the perseverance and resolve of the Founding Fathers, without their belief in the rightness of their cause, where would we be today? The answer to that is unknowable, although this writer suspects that we would not be in the position of prominence that we enjoy today. I also suspect that we would enjoy the freedoms that we have today, in the form that we have them, and at least to me, that is unthinkable.

As we celebrate our nations birthday today, I ask that you take a moment to think on what it took to create this nation 231 years ago today, and be thankful.

Be safe, folks, and enjoy today! ;)

We Are All in It Together, Clinton Says

As reported here, Presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton outlined a broad economic vision Tuesday, saying it's time to replace an "on your own" society with one based on shared responsibility and prosperity.

The Democratic senator said what the Bush administration touts as an ownership society really is an "on your own" society that has widened the gap between rich and poor.

"I prefer a 'we're all in it together' society," she said. "I believe our government can once again work for all Americans. It can promote the great American tradition of opportunity for all and special privileges for none."

Can you say Socialism, anybody? Redistribution of your wealth is Clinton's number one goal in life. She wants to turn America into one huge "collective", where no one is "better off" than anyone else, which actually means that we'll all be worse off!

America stands for freedom of the individual, no matter how repugnant that may be to Clinton and those who think like her. I, for one, prefer the fact that if I take it upon myself, get off my lazy duff and work hard, I will be able to enjoy the rewards inherent in that hard work.

I just have to wonder, if she succeeds in her "Socialist Utopia", how much of her wealth will get redistributed my way?

Vandals burn flags at two cemeteries

This past weekend, our country observed Memorial Day, honoring those who had given the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation and the freedoms we hold so dear. Well, most of us did, anyway. There were apparently some who thought that observing Memorial Day properly, by honoring America's fallen veterans by placing American flags on their grave stones and maybe taking a moment to silently reflect on their sacrifice was, well, not the thing to do. They decided that, instead, the thing to do was to steal the flags and burn them, and replace them with hand drawn Nazi swastika's.

In two separate incidents, one in Orcas Island, WA and one in Natick, MA, vandals stole commemorative American flags, burned them, and in the incident in Orcas Island, replaced American flags with the Nazi swastika's. In both cases, no known motive for these outrageous acts of vandalism exists, and some are speculating that it may have been teenagers out on a lark.

Well, let me tell whoever it was that perpetrated these acts something. I'm a veteran of the US Navy (and one of the folks who are getting a H/T for the above links is a veteran of the US Air Force), and these despicable acts of vandalism, which you probably got all giggly about when you were doing them, has me extremely angry.

Those veterans who were being honored by those little flags, sacrificed much more than their life so that you could live in a country that is the most free country on this planet. They sacrificed their time, in many cases a happy home life with their family, and ultimately their lives, so that the rest of us could go to school, get a job, buy a house, read whatever books and magazines we want, listen to whatever type of music we want, watch whatever TV show or movies we want, shop for and wear whatever clothes we want, go to Starbucks whenever the mood strikes us, engage in speech freely, worship as we please (or not, if that pleases us). The list goes on and on and on. And yet, you felt it was the right thing to do to, to "diss" those veterans, and burn those flags and replace them with swastika's.

If this was merely a prank, it was the wrong thing to do, and I hope someone rats you out. If this was some type of political statement to show your "displeasure" with our current President and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it was still the wrong thing to do, and again, I hope that someone rats you out.

All of you who did these despicable acts of vandalism deserve to go to jail, and my sincere wish is that when you are caught, that the presiding judges will throw the book at you.

You clueless morons disgust me!

H/T hollie-is-right and agtiger

Memorial Day

Today is the day where we observe Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor those who have fallen in the service of our nation, protecting and advancing those ideals of liberty and freedom we hold so dear. We need to keep in mind that of those who have served, all gave some, and some gave all, which is the ultimate purpose for this day.

Today, I would like to honor all those who have fallen, to say thank you for your sacrifice, by honoring one specific individual. I never had the opportunity to meet the young man who is the subject of this piece, yet I think he exemplifies the attitudes, and the willingness to sacrifice, of those who serve.

The young man I would like to honor today is a recipient of the US Navy Medal of Honor, for actions on the battlefield in Iraq, which was presented posthumously to his parents. The young mans' name is Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, of Scio, NY. Cpl. Dunham was born on November 10th, 1981, and succumbed to the wounds he received in battle on April 22nd, 2004. Cpl. Dunham served with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, based in Twentynine Palms, Calif.

The citation of the Medal of Honor, which was presented by President George W. Bush to his parents on January 11th, 2007 can be found here.

To Cpl. Jason L. Dunham I say a heartfelt thank you for your dedication to, and sacrifice for, your country, your Corps, and those you served with.

Semper Fi.