Rough Diamond

ChopperGunner died Saturday ............................

2012-01-31T13:59:00.002-06:00

Patrick Hayes was one of the kindest, most honorable men it's been my pleasure to call "friend". He welcomed me with open arms when I joined a Marine message board 13 years ago.

When we finally met face-to-face {back in 2000}, it was merely a continuation of the friendship we had developed on the 'Net. He showed me his home there in Massachusetts, taking me around an area I had not visited before. We got into some mischief, but laughed about it for years ................................. he told me things, about combat in VietNam, that as a WM, I couldn't fully comprehend, but non-REMFs would surely understand.

He received excellent care via the VA there in Massachusetts; unlike other VAs, the one in Bedford, Massachusetts seems to really care about their Veterans.

He joins my Dad, my uncle, BullDog, Nomad, AWACS, DittyChaser, Darby and others, guarding Heaven's streets, answering to Chesty Puller ........................................

Semper Fi', my noble Costello!

And when I get to Heaven,
St. Peter I will tell,
"Another Marine reporting, Sir -
"I've served my time in Hell!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

.

For Gecko, KG & all others who love Oz

2012-01-26T10:13:00.001-06:00

I'm Fair Dinkum :
Chorus
I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am
I've loved the smell of gum leaves, since I was in a pram
Some places may be greener, but I don't give a damn
'Cause I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am.
Now I was in the doctor's just the other day
He told me take an aspirin, the pain would go away
So I pulled out my chequebook, 'cause sickness doesn't pay
I said, "Are you fair dinkum?" - what did the doctor say?

He said, "Ah so . . ." (Repeat Chorus with Chinese accent)
I said, "Well can you recommend a nice little Chinese restaurant?"

Then I whistled down a taxi cab and headed for the east
A bad case of the munchies, I was ready for a feast
The driver said "Indian?" - I said, "Oh well, I'd rather not"
He said, "Why don't you come around to my place,
My curry's rather hot".

I said, "Are you fair dinkum?"
He said, "Oh . . ." (Repeat Chorus with Indian accent)

Well, I tipped the nice cabbie so he wouldn't make a fuss
I shot out like a bullet and I grabbed a Bondi bus
I said, "Take me to the waves mate, I'm dyin' for a dip"
He said "Now you be very careful and watch you don't slip.

"Oh, are you fair dinkum?"
He said, "Ah by gum . . ." (Repeat Chorus with Pommy accent)

Well everybody's claiming Australia as their own
I'm no aborigine, so I won't point the bone
It shows good taste mate, so I shouldn't moan
If you got a problem, get Al Grassby on the phone.

Bridge
Yeah, we're Fair Dinkum, bloody oath we are
We all love Koalas and singin' round the bar
And con somebody's missus to drive the flamin' car
Yeah, we're Fair Dinkum, bloody oath we are.

Now give me a home where life is what you make
Where I can walk about, just for walking's sake
Where I can tell our leaders to go jump in the lake
But I'll never knock Australia, you make no mistake.

(Repeat Chorus to tune of bridge)
(Repeat Chorus)

.

The day I took the Oath

2012-01-18T10:46:00.002-06:00

Funny thing about that Oath - as a friend notes, it does NOT come with an 'expiration date'; it also has this little bit about 'supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States'.

SOPA/PIPA are bills intended to whittle away at our Constitutionally-guaranteed RIGHTS as American citizens - so, in solidarity with others out here in the blogosphere, nothing further will be posted today.

Oath of office: I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

The Constitution in full.

A couple of take-aways:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article [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.

Article [IV]
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. {Emphases added - DM}

Not just for men .......................... ;-)

2012-01-08T22:27:00.002-06:00

Today started off badly ...............................

2012-01-06T20:51:00.000-06:00

some neighbors moved out before Christmas, left their dog {~ 2 year old, Yorkie/Silky mix} behind, tied up; I'd seen him wandering the neighborhood, so someone set him free, so he could hopefully find something to eat/drink {cat food I put out for the strays} - this morning, he's laying in a patch of sunshine, at his "home", gets up when I approach - right hind leg is dangling {skin intact, but bones turned to mush, probably hit by a car} - I enticed him close enough to lay hands on with the FodGuy's's last hamburger - brought him in & the FodGuy palpated the leg - the dog NEVER EVEN GROWLED, much less bit - WE are just in no position financially to go the distance for his orthopod work {minimum of possibly setting the leg, & the resulting care/rehab, up to & including amputation}, so I gritted my teeth & took him to the shelter - when I told Animal Control his story, they immediately took us over to the surgery, where he was put in a kennel to await a local rescue organization, which will foot the bill for his surgery {-ies} & then find him a forever home. I was in tears on the way to the shelter, 'cause I was certain I was taking him to be euthanized; I was petting him as I was driving, and he'd just look at me with these soft brown eyes, very patient with everything I did with/to him. I've been involved in humane work for 41 years, and this kind of ignorance/apathy/indifference NEVER gets easier to accept.

Now, his "owners" {may they rot in hell!!} got him as a puppy, for an animated toy for their 3 little monsters - several times, when he was no bigger than a kitten, I had to rescue him, because they had him tied on their front porch, and he'd fall off the steps & hang there by his neck. They ultimately moved him from near the front door, and basically ignored his existence. The rescue is going to have to socialize him, because all he expects from humans is apathy or cruelty - his gentleness and patience with me were absolutely amazing, considering what he's known from humans. The veterinary nurse was amazed that he had never snapped/bit at me, after I told her the history. St. Francis of Assisi was truly smiling on my efforts today .........................................

I let it be known, to anyone who may still be in contact with the "owners" that I had better NEVER see them again ........................

.

Those of you I've corresponded with, via eMail ......................

2011-12-21T12:28:00.000-06:00

know that one of my quotes @ the bottom is "Sammenhold - Danish for Solidarity"; which I started using, thanks to a retired Captain of Marines' bride, who was born & raised in Denmark, who provided the translation during the Cartoon Rage in Denmark. Like the quote "I am John Galt", or better yet, "I am Spartacus", I find myself more & more respectful of Denmark and her people, and wouldn't mind AT ALL were I to be compared to them and their sense of integrity and national pride ..............................................

.

From a retired USMC MSgt .............................

2011-12-09T15:14:00.001-06:00

And, from a retired LtCol of Marines...........................

I've certainly known a few for whom this would be an improvement ....................... ;-)

2011-12-06T22:12:00.001-06:00

From Theo Spark ..............................

2011-12-03T10:52:00.001-06:00

A Marine's Christmas Song

Marine Master Sgt. Robert Allen sings a song he wrote for his wife for Christmas. Allen joins the thousands of men and women deployed this holiday season in support of counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan. He said he hopes his Christmas song "will help people understand that though we're willing to do it, it's still heartbreaking." Master Sgt. Robert Allen, Hometown: Pawnee, Okla. Produced by Cpl. Brian Adam Jones, Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. Provided by 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward).

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Happy Thanksgiving!!

2011-11-24T12:22:00.001-06:00

Since I'm working now, didn't do a lot of prep for today; {been working a LOT of hours! ;-) } we're having a pork roast {the FodGuy doesn't "do" fowl willingly} - below is a picture snitched from Old NFO that kinda sums up my attitude toward the stinky OWS crowd .......................

Enjoy yourselves today - tomorrow's gonna be a bear for me {security in a retail environment} - but I'm earning and contributing!! ;-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR BELOVED MARINE CORPS!!

2011-11-10T11:44:00.001-06:00

<br>

UPDATED, 2319 10 November 2011: Good night, Chesty, where ever you are!! ;-)

2011-09-11T09:45:00.000-06:00

Don't know if Blogger will permit all the videos, but let's try - this link is very graphic - DON'T click it unless your anger outweighs your 'sensitivities'.

We were living in Monterrey, NL, Mexico, when 9/11 occurred;

I'd had trouble sleeping the night before, so Dawn answered the door to another American expat, Danny from Chicago. He barged on in, to get to our TV, since we had American satellite. Dawn came & woke me up with "Mom, they've attacked New York City."

    I headed down to our TV room, where Danny already had CNN on - it was unbelievable, watching the footage over & over again. The three of us were in shock, trying to comprehend it all. Dawn had 3 friends she went to school with, lost that day. Mike came home & he & Danny polished off almost a full bottle of Scotch. Danny was panicking, because he couldn't get through to his family back in Chicago. The grounding of ALL U.S. flights, the barren radar displays, the sight of military aircraft patrolling the skies - was almost incomprehensible. My primary reaction was pure rage - wanting to kill all responsible & let God sort them out.

    We were all glued to the TV for the rest of the day; couldn't get through to family back in Pennsylvania, couldn't get over the border {it was closed until Friday, 14 September} - we were impotent.

    I didn't cry until the next day, when I saw the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, and the Coldstream Guards played our National Anthem; it still makes me cry.

    The rage is still there; I doubt it will go away as long as I draw breath.

This was the first time I cried over 9/11, at the changing of the Guard on 12 September 2001

Whenever I see firefighters, especially New York firefighters, I think of my friend O'B, retired Philadelphia firefighter - the courage of any firefighter is awe-inspiring:

This just added to my rage:

And these are various tributes and one-time commercials, aired in support of those lost and injured on 9/11, many only "one-time" commercials, because the businesses weren't interested in profits, but in acknowledging our loss.

Good to know SOME folks remember .......................

2011-09-08T11:25:00.000-06:00

Via Theo Spark {who, if I'm not mistaken, is in AUSTRALIA - too bad more Americans just want to forget - Old NFO is NOT one of those Americans}:

Only Time lyrics
Who can say
where the road goes
where the day flows
only time
And who can say
if your love grows
as your heart chose
only time

Who can say
why your heart sighs
as your love flies
only time
And who can say
why your heart cries
when your love lies
only time

Who can say
when the roads meet
that love might be
in your heart
And who can say
when the day sleeps
if the night keeps
all your heart

Night keeps all your heart

Who can say
if your love grows
as your heart chose
only time
And who can say
where the road goes
where the day flows
only time

Who knows - only time
Who knows - only time

I MISS my country .............................. 2012, PLEASE get here soon!!

2011-07-03T16:46:00.001-06:00

Declaration of Independence

Here is the complete text of the Declaration of Independence.
The original spelling and capitalization have been retained.

(Adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776)
The Unanimous Declaration
of the Thirteen United States of America

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Source: The Pennsylvania Packet, July 8, 1776

Of course, 36 years later ..............................

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From a friend - hey, like chicken soup, it couldn't hurt! ;-)

2011-06-17T05:50:00.000-06:00

THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WE WILL SEE AND LIVE THIS EVENT
Calendar for July 2011

Money bags

This year, July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This happens
Once every 823 years. This is called money bags. So, forward this to
Your friends and money will arrive within 4 days. Based on Chinese
Feng Shui. The one who does not forward.....will be without money.

Kinda interesting - read on!!!

This year we're going to experience four unusual dates.

1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11 and that's not all...

Take the last two digits of the year in which you were born - now add
The age you will be this year,

The results will be 111 for everyone in whole world. This is the year of
The Money!!!

The proverb goes that if you send this to eight good friends money will
Appear in next four days as it is explained in Chinese FENGSHUI.

Those who don't continue the chain won't receive.......

Its a mystery, but its worth a try. Good luck.

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May we all remember what Memorial Day is all about ..............................

2011-05-27T20:52:00.000-06:00

Via HillBuzz:

And one of my favorites from Ol' Blue Eyes:

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Could any of my Israeli or Jewish readers ...................................

2011-05-18T21:44:00.000-06:00

translate into Hebrew for me, the phrase I will not submit, with Hebrew letters of this font (?)

I prefer this font, if that's the proper term, because it is similar to that used on the TV program here, Mysteries of the Bible, and, to me, is the Hebraic version of a beautiful script; too many Americans, when they utilize Hebrew writing, use a 'stick figure' version that just isn't as pretty to me.

Thank you for any assistance!

.

So, the monster in human form is dead ......................................

2011-05-02T13:18:00.000-06:00

DAMN good job, U.S. Navy SEALs!!

As I noted to MK's comment below, I don't like myself too much, finding joy in the death of another, but that's between me & my conscience - I am glad that this particular individual will no longer be fouling the air of planet Earth. Now, if 'we' can only do away with whoever fills the void, ASAP, and whoever comes after him, and whoever comes after HIM, and whoever ...................... 'til there are no more willing to lead, THAT will be an accomplishment!

And, just for the record, I know Øbama is receiving all the plaudits & credit - but dammit, George W. Bush put the troops in place, to BE there, to take care of ridding the world of ObL - credit where credit is due, hmmmmmmmmm?

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From the "Get your chuckles where you can" files ....................................

2011-04-24T09:52:00.000-06:00

like most everyone who utilizes this marvel of technology {ie, the 'Net} I receive unsolicited eMails regarding 'mystery shopping' @ Western Union/someone's dying & wants me to receive their money/etc.

The latest was a mystery shop at a Western Union outlet; a "check" in the amount of USD $2,680.00 was FedEx'd to me from Gaffney, SC; took it to a local branch of the bank it was presumptively drawn on, & told'em, if it's legit, I want to cash it, if not, I was turning it over to their fraud/security/investigation department. The branch manager, an absolutely lovely lady, did some research - the "check" had the account holder as a lady in south Texas, who is a REAL PERSON, who has a REAL ACCOUNT with this bank, which numbers were being used. {I was to "keep" $250.00 as my pay, the rest, less WU charges, was to be wired to South Africa.}

Soooo, to string the criminals along, I checked with our nearest Western Union facility {local grocery store}, and asked what the characters/sequence of a WU transfer are; I then made up, out of whole cloth, an MTC number, eMailed it to my "contact". Of course, being bogus, his 'cohort' in South Africa was twiddling his thumbs waiting for the transfer. So, my contact started the phone campaign, with a number showing a landline from Stockton, CA. Last Saturday, the Progeny answered my phone, told him I wasn't available - he tried to go all pseudo-ninja on her, because my phone wasn't on me - she told HIM to cool his jets. ;-)

He eMailed me instructions on the use of cellphones; I responded that I DID NOT require lessons on the use of MY cellphone - my child required it's use, and I was making NO APOLOGIES. He responded grovelingly, & chilled for a bit, other than eMails telling me to scan the receipt from WU.

Thursday, I get FOUR calls; checking the numbers, the calls are originating in South Africa. I answered the 3rd & 4th times - silence the 3rd time, the 4th, he speaks - I identified myself as a federal law type, told him that Diamond Mair was under arrest for attempting to negotiate HIS fraudulent check, and that "we" were tracking him as he & I spoke. He hung up before I could mention to keep looking over his shoulder, that the buzzing sound he heard would be a UAV following him. {Hopefully, he's still defecating large pieces of building materials.} ;-)

I got a little concerned afterward, because I'm NOT any kind of law enforcement type, so I called a local field office, to find out how much trouble I might be in {I mean, I was lying to a criminal on the telephone} - all they said was don't do that, call another federal law agency & let them know about this scam, go forth & sin no more. I called the other agency, told them the whole deal, they said I handled it correctly, except for the part about claiming to be an LEO.

My reasoning for doing this is to take up the time of these products of lower intestinal tracts, since I KNOW they are scamming, so they don't have time to target others. Also, it infuriates that they were stealing from someone who had NO IDEA her bank account had been compromised - I just couldn't let them DO that.

As I told a neighbor, nowadays, one HAS to find one's jollies wherever one can ............................. ;-)

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FINALLY seeing the light at the end of the tunnel ....................................

2011-04-11T13:40:00.000-06:00

I had gone to the doctor on 25 March; just regular visit. I mentioned the FodGuy's reticence, due to 'come in for visit with doc, come BACK for NPO bloodwork, come BACK AGAIN for results' - doc had streamlined procedures, so it was ONE visit NPO, then results phoned to patient. So, I made FG an appointment for the following Tuesday {29 March}. Fortunately, I needed NPO bloodwork too, so I accompanied him.

While I'm waiting, and Waiting, and WAITING for him, the nurse finally calls me back to his exam room, telling me my options were to take him to the ER IMMEDIATELY, or they were going to call an ambulance - his heart rate was hovering ~ 185 beats/minute {we've known of his intermittent atrial fibrillation for years}; blood pressure was great throughout this whole evolution. So, we hie ourselves off to the ER, where he's kept for ~ 8 hours, trying to medicinally stabilize his heart rate. Finally, they moved him to a high level CCU bed. He was there for a couple of days, then transferred to a step-down unit, where he remained for several days. THEN he was moved to a lower telemetry unit. The cardiac surgeon {arrogant A$$} scheduled him for a cardiac cath with possible stent placement for last Monday {4 April}, at 0700; OK, I spent Sunday night there, we head on down to the cath lab, doc calls, he's "stuck in traffic", resched for 1200 - OK, we troop back up to his room, at 1130, nurse comes in, cardio has "clinical time", resched for 1600 - the FodGuy says NO {he's been NPO since the night before}, do it tomorrow, so I get him some chicken & waffles from IHOP {they grilled the chicken for me ;-) }.

Tuesday comes, doc is there, cath is done, no stent needed. SIGH!! So he's discharged the following day, with lifestyle changes the order of the day. He's been REALLY good about going with non-alcoholic beer, is using his electronic cigarette, is still making faces when I mention chicken, but is eating better, is on decaf coffee, and caffeine-free diet Coke.

So, how has everyone else been doing? ;-)

Got up @ 0400 this morning ..........................................

2011-03-17T21:15:00.003-06:00

agita was brutal, I couldn't stay still, so, rather than toss/turn & keep the FodGuy from getting rest, I got up .................... spent a few hours on the computer, then turned on the boobtube; wouldn't you know, I missed the first hour or so of Finian's Rainbow - missed Sharon's cursing of the Senator & turning him black {one of the funniest scenes in movies EVER} - but I turned to it anyway - I originally saw it when it first hit theaters, back in '68 {I've always loved the opening, where they're wandering all over this beautiful country too many tend to take for granted}.

It's now over 10 years since my Dad died; like Finian McLonergan, the Major was something of a dreamer and a romantic - also like Finian, he had his moments of ...................... not thinking things through sensibly. But, I always KNEW he loved me - he might not have shown it in a way I appreciated at the time, but he was there for me. At the end of the movie today, I was crying like a baby - because, you see, like Finian, it seemed my Dad waited until I was married, to someone he'd met years earlier, when I was active duty, to let go - we were married 27 November 1999 - my Dad died 9 December 1999. Watching Finian take his leave of his Sharon, after her wedding, and wandering over the hills, I just missed my Dad so much today ............................

On the day I was born,
Said my father, said he.
I've an an elegant legacy
Waitin' for ye,
'Tis a rhyme for your lips
And a song for your heart,
To sing it whenever
The world falls apart.

Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow it over the hill
And the stream.
Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.

'Twas a sumptuous gift
To bequeath to a child.
Oh the lore of that song
Kept her feet runnin' wild.
For you never grow old
And you never stand still,
With whippoorwills singin'
Beyond the next hill.

Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow it over the hill
And the stream.
Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.

So I bundled my heart
And I roamed the world free
To the east with the lark
To the west with the sea
And I searched all the earth
And I scanned all the skies
And I found it at last
In my own true love's eyes.

Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow it over the hill
And the stream.
Look, look
Look to the rainbow.
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow,
Follow the fellow
Who follows a dream.

.

Back in October, 2001 ......................................

2011-03-17T08:03:00.001-06:00

Peggy Noonan wrote one of the most roll-up-your-sleeves-&-get-it-done columns, regarding the men who handled the aftermath of 9/11, in Welcome Back, Duke - it's one of my favorite news columns of all times; via Bayou Renaissance Man {even though he's no longer ON the bayou ;-) }, he points us to North's blog, and the post The Passionate Carnivore. I'm thinking North is providing the men's perspective, in many fewer words than Ms. Noonan, but they're both proving the same point - thank GOD for manly men! ;-)

.

Got a new article up ...........................................

2011-02-01T12:47:00.000-06:00

regarding how reminiscent the current "situation" in Egypt is to what happened 33+ years ago, in Iran ......................... article is here.

.

Scorpions, Chiggers & Sand Fleas

2011-01-19T12:46:00.000-06:00

Subject: Scorpions, Chiggers & Sand Fleas
This kid is a Marine and a member of the Knights of Columbus and has a way with words.

From the Sand Pit:

It's freezing here. I'm sitting on hard, cold dirt between rocks and shrubs
at the base of the Hindu Kush Mountains, along the Dar 'yoi Pomir River,
watching a hole that leads to a tunnel that leads to a cave. Stake out,
my friend, and no pizza delivery for thousands of miles.

I also glance at the area around my ass every ten to fifteen seconds to
avoid another scorpion sting. I've actually given up battling the
chiggers and sand fleas, but the scorpions give a jolt like a cattle prod..

Hurts like a bastard. The antidote tastes like transmission fluid, but God
bless the Marine Corps for the five vials of it in my pack.

The one truth the Taliban cannot escape is that, believe it or not, they
are human beings, which means they have to eat food and drink water.
That requires couriers and that's where an old bounty hunter like me
comes in handy. I track the couriers, locate the tunnel entrances and
storage facilities, type the info into the handheld, shoot the coordinates
up to the satellite link that tells the air commanders where to drop the
hardware.

We bash some heads for a while, then I track and record the new
movement. It's all about intelligence. We haven't even brought in the
snipers yet. These scurrying rats have no idea what they're in for. We are
but days away from cutting off supply lines and allowing the eradication
to begin. I dream of bin Laden waking up to find me standing over him
with my boot on his throat as I spit into his face and plunge my nickel-plated
Bowie knife through his frontal lobe. But you know me, I'm a romantic.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: This country blows, man. It's not
even a country. There are no roads, there's no infrastructure, there's no
government. This is an inhospitable, rock pit shit hole ruled by eleventh
century warring tribes. There are no jobs here like we know jobs.

Afghanistan offers two ways for a man to support his family: join the
opium trade or join the army. That's it. Those are your options.

Oh, I forgot, you can also live in a refugee camp and eat plum-sweetened,
crushed beetle paste and squirt mud like a goose with stomach flu, if
that's your idea of a party. But the smell alone of those 'tent cities of the
walking dead' is enough to hurl you into the poppy fields to cheerfully
scrape bulbs for eighteen hours a day.

I've been living with these Tajiks and Uzbeks, and Turkmen and
even a couple of Pushtuns, for over a month-and-a-half now, and this
much I can say for sure: These guys, all of 'em, are Huns... actual,
living Huns..They LIVE to fight. It's what they do. It's ALL they do. They
have no respect for anything, not for their families, nor for each other,
nor for themselves. They claw at one another as a way of life. They
play polo with dead calves and force their five-year-old sons into human
cockfights to defend the family honor. Huns, roaming packs of savage,
heartless beasts who feed on each other's barbarism. Cavemen with
AK-47's.

Then again, maybe I'm just cranky.

I'm freezing my ass off on this stupid hill because my lap warmer
is running out of juice, and I can't recharge it until the sun comes up
in a few hours.

Oh yeah! You like to write letters, right? Do me a favor, Write a letter
to CNN and tell Wolf and Anderson and that awful, sneering, pompous
Aaron Brown to stop calling the Taliban 'smart..'

They are not smart. I suggest CNN invest in a dictionary because
the word they are looking for is 'cunning.' The Taliban are cunning, like
jackals and hyenas and wolverines. They are sneaky and ruthless, and
when confronted, cowardly. They are hateful, malevolent parasites who
create nothing and destroy everything else. Smart. Pfft. Yeah, they're
real smart.

They've spent their entire lives reading only one book (and not a very
good one, as books go) and consider hygiene and indoor plumbing
to be products of the devil. They're still figuring out how to work a Bic
lighter.

Talking to a Taliban warrior about improving his quality of life is like
trying to teach an ape how to hold a pen; eventually he just gets
frustrated and sticks you in the eye with it.

OK, enough. Snuffle will be up soon, so I have to get back to my hole.

Covering my tracks in the snow takes a lot of practice, but I'm good at it.

Please, I tell you and my fellow Americans to turn off the TV sets and
move on with your lives. The story line you are getting from CNN and
other news agencies is utter bullshit and designed not to deliver truth
but rather to keep you glued to the screen through the commercials.
We've got this one under control The worst thing you guys can do right
now is sit around analyzing what we're doing over here, because you
have no idea what we're doing, and really, you don't want to know.
We are your military, and we are doing what you sent us here to do.

Saucy Jack

Recon 4th Marine in Afghanistan

Semper Fi!

"Freedom is not free...but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your
share".

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a
blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for
an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there
are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

From 4th Recon Marine Division in Afghanistan

Semper Fi', Saucy Jack, Semper Fi'

.

From a retired Marine Mustang aviator-type, 1 each ................................ ;-)

2011-01-15T08:34:00.001-06:00

'Specially for Old NFO .............................. ;-)

Subject: The History of "Aviator"

This explains it all. Aviators come from a long line of a secret society, formed around one thousand years ago. They are warriors, and here is the proof! Ground pounders can read it and weep!

A little known fact is the origin of the word, "Aviator." In the immortal words of Johnny Carson: "I did not know that."

Phu Khen (pronounced Foo Ken) 1169-? is considered by some to be the most under-recognized military officer in history. Many have never heard of his contributions to modern military warfare. The mission of this secret society is to bring honor to the name of Phu Khen.

A 'Khen' was a subordinate to a 'Khan' (pronounced 'konn') in the military structure of the Mongol hordes. Khan is Turkish for leader. Most know of the great Genghis Khan, but little has been written of his chain of command.

Khen is also of Turkish origin. Although there is not a word in English that adequately conveys the meaning. Roughly translated, it means, "One who will do the impossible, while appearing unprepared and complaining constantly."

Phu Khen was one of ten Khens that headed the divisions, or groups of hordes, as they were known, of the Mongol Army serving under Genghis Khan. His abilities came to light during the Mongols' raids on the Turkistan city of Bohicaroo. Bohicans were fierce warriors and the city was well fortified. The entire city was protected by huge walls and the hordes were at a standoff with the Bohicans. Bohicaroo was well-stocked and it would be difficult to wait them out. Genghis Khan assembled his Khens and ordered each of them to develop a plan for penetrating the defenses of Bohicaroo.

Operation Achieve Victory (AV) was born. All 10 divisions of Khens submitted their plan. After reviewing AV plans 1 thru 7 and finding them all unworkable or ridiculous, Genghis Khan was understandably upset.

It was with much perspiration that Phu Khen submitted his idea, which came to be known as AV 8. Upon seeing AV 8, Genghis was convinced this was the perfect plan and gave his immediate approval. The plan was beautifully simple. Phu Khen would arm his hordes to the teeth, load them into catapults, and hurl them over the wall. The losses were expected to be high, but hey, hordes were cheap! Those that survived the flight would engage the enemy in combat. Those that did not? Well, surely their flailing bodies would cause some damage.

The plan worked and the Bohicans were defeated. From that day on, whenever the Mongol Army encountered an insurmountable enemy, Genghis Khan would give the order, "Send some of the Phu Khen AV 8-ers."

This is believed, though not by anyone outside our secret society, to be the true origin of the word Aviator (AV 8-er).

Phu Khen's AV 8-ers were understandably an unruly mob, not likely to be socially acceptable. Many were heavy drinkers and insomniacs. But when nothing else would do, you could always count on an AV 8-er. A Phu Khen Aviator. Denied, perhaps rightfully so, his place in history, Phu Khen has been, nonetheless, immortalized in prose.

Consider it an honor to be a Phu Khen Aviator. Wear the mantle proudly, but speak of it cautiously. It is not always popular to be one of us.

You hear mystical references, often hushed whispers, to 'those Phu Khen Aviators.' Do not let these things bother you. As with any secret society, we go largely misunderstood, prohibited by our apathy from explaining ourselves.

You are expected to always live down to the reputation of the Phu Khen Aviator... a reputation cultivated for centuries, undaunted by scorn or ridicule, unhindered by progress. So drink up, be crude, sleep late, urinate in public, and get the job done.

When others are offended, you can revel in the knowledge that YOU are a PHU KHEN AVIATOR!

.

For about the past month .......................................

2011-01-03T22:30:00.000-06:00

I've been assisting the Spousal Unit with our 2 gas hog vehicles; the engine was replaced "professionally" {ie, we paid over $900.00 for the engine, damn near $1,000.00 for the installation}, only to have it bucking at highway speeds. Turns out, the crank positioning sensor was put back with only ONE bolt {it requires 2}. On a '98 Ram 1500, the cps is located at the REAR of the engine - LOTS of fun removing/replacing/removing/replacing that {yes, I intended that repetition}. We also replaced the distributor, and the plug wires, and over the weekend, replaced the rear brakes.

The Rainier decided to 'deflate' the rear air suspension, so THAT made travel ............................ interesting. Turns out, it appears the electrical connections got wet, and once they dried out, the compressor worked for the suspension {it never STOPPED working on the tire inflator in the rear compartment of the vehicle}.

So, anyhoo, I'm up IN the engine compartment to access areas, when a neighbor showed up & just HAD to take a picture. Fine, but I refused to turn & face the camera. Her 'husband' {whom I do NOT speak to, and normally refer to pejoratively with an 8-letter word, or as "Mr. Charm" sarcastically} came over to ask the FodGuy some automotive question, while I was about 30 feet away - the FodGuy referred to me as his "Chief Mechanic's Assistant", to which "Mr. Charm" laughed derisively - but, here's the thing - HIS wife was driving over the summer, in an older minivan, with NO engine coolant {he had taken a hike on her for 3 months} - she'd stop when it would get 'too hot' and spray water over the engine block - *I'm* the one who told her she was risking cracking the engine block, and pretty much forced her into getting coolant. She's a nice lady, heart of gold, but dumber than a box of rocks - "hubby" isn't too much better, since he installed a 'floating floor' with nails, for someone who was paying him; he puts things {his porch} together with nails rather than screws, THAT gives you an idea of his terminal stupidity. He's been rude to me once too often; I refuse to have anything to do with him. The FodGuy thought I was mad at HIM {the FodGuy} for talking with "Mr. Charm" - I said, no, SOMEONE has to talk to him, it just will never be ME ............................ ;-)

.

Got 'nother article up ..................................................

2010-12-06T11:31:00.000-06:00

regarding the NYT's hypocrisy - it's here

.

I've another article up, .............................................

2010-12-02T22:27:00.001-06:00

this one concerning the issue of women in combat; seems the British MoD {Ministry of Defence} doesn't believe women "belong" in combat operations - I ask Women Can't Fight? - this has been a source of disagreement with some very good friends, but my Marines seemed to agree with me - of course, my "suggestion" for taking care of ObL {Osama bin Laden, for those who've forgotten} MAY have a little something to do with that - these Marines don't want to get on my bad side ....................... ;-)

.

The day I took the Oath, administered by my Dad ...................................

2010-11-27T01:47:00.003-06:00

My brother, my Mother, me, and my Dad

.

Anybody who knows me, knew this was coming ........................................

2010-11-25T20:51:00.000-06:00

I DO believe that we ALL need a little Christmas, especially this year - may you not know hunger, or rejection; may you be warm & dry; may you know love .................

,

If I may be permitted some bragging ........................................

2010-11-24T22:55:00.000-06:00

my very first article has been posted on NewsRealBlog, which is part of David Horowitz' FrontPage Magazine ........................... aw, garsh, I'm blushing .................................

Happy Birthday to our

2010-11-10T13:50:00.000-06:00

beloved Marine Corps!!

.

"Ben"

2010-11-03T17:14:00.003-06:00

see more dog and puppy pictures

Back in the mid-70's, we had gone on a visit to my maternal grandmother, in North Philadelphia. She lived in a ROUGH part of the city, where on an earlier visit I had seen neighbors sluicing down the 'payment' {how native pronounce 'pavement'} from an earlier stabbing. THIS trip was November? December? timeframe, pretty chilly, with cold rain, sleet, etc.

We came to a stop light at on a one-way street crossing a major thoroughfare; there was a large dog, walking in the gutter, ignored by all who passed him. He looked forsaken & miserable, a sad, scruffy, unwanted dog. I jumped out of the back seat, & went up to him. Of course, the light changed at that moment, so my Dad had to MOVE the car - he circled the block & picked up the dog & me. Of course, my Dad was NOT pleased with me, for jumping out of the car, in an area I was unfamiliar with, where I stood out like a sore thumb.

We got the dog home - our German Shepherd, Mary II "adopted" him, teaching him where the food & water were, showing him around the property. I named him 'Ben'; even though I was never a big Michael Jackson fan, that was always one of my favorite songs of his - my sweet Ben decided that HE was solely responsible for alerting us to anyone on the property - he adored all of us, & my Dad even came to like him. We weren't able to keep him when we moved, so we took him to the shelter where hopefully, someone realized what a wonderful dog he was.

The picture above reminded me of the day we found Ben.

Ben
Songwriters: Scharf, Walter; Black, Don;

Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With my friend to call my own I'll never be alone
And you my friend will see, you've got a friend in me

Ben, you're always running here and there
You feel you're not wanted anywhere
If you ever look behind and don't like what you find
There's something you should know, you've got a place to go

I used to say, "I", And "Me"
Now it's "Us", Now it's "We"

Ben, most people would turn you away
I don't listen to a word they say
They don't see you as I do I wish they would try to
I'm sure they'd think again if they had a friend like Ben
Like Ben, like Ben

'Specially for KG & Gecko .................................... ;-)

2010-10-24T10:44:00.002-06:00

Via Doug Powers' column @ Michelle Malkin ........................................

2010-10-18T05:34:00.001-06:00

.
You voted for Obama to prove you’re not a racist. Now, who are you going to vote for to prove you’re not an idiot?

Just about says it all, doesn't it?

UPDATE: Not to be an "Eeyore" {H/t HillBuzz}, but the following pretty well sums up my concerns with the lame duck session after 2 November .....................

The Scorpion and the Frog
One day, a scorpion looked around at the mountain where he lived and decided that he wanted a change. So he set out on a journey through the forests and hills. He climbed over rocks and under vines and kept going until he reached a river.

The river was wide and swift, and the scorpion stopped to reconsider the situation. He couldn't see any way across. So he ran upriver and then checked downriver, all the while thinking that he might have to turn back.

Suddenly, he saw a frog sitting in the rushes by the bank of the stream on the other side of the river. He decided to ask the frog for help getting across the stream.

"Hellooo Mr. Frog!" called the scorpion across the water, "Would you be so kind as to give me a ride on your back across the river?"

"Well now, Mr. Scorpion! How do I know that if I try to help you, you wont try to kill me?" asked the frog hesitantly.

"Because," the scorpion replied, "If I try to kill you, then I would die too, for you see I cannot swim!"

Now this seemed to make sense to the frog. But he asked. "What about when I get close to the bank? You could still try to kill me and get back to the shore!"

"This is true," agreed the scorpion, "But then I wouldn't be able to get to the other side of the river!"

"Alright then...how do I know you wont just wait till we get to the other side and THEN kill me?" said the frog.

"Ahh...," crooned the scorpion, "Because you see, once you've taken me to the other side of this river, I will be so grateful for your help, that it would hardly be fair to reward you with death, now would it?!"

So the frog agreed to take the scorpion across the river. He swam over to the bank and settled himself near the mud to pick up his passenger. The scorpion crawled onto the frog's back, his sharp claws prickling into the frog's soft hide, and the frog slid into the river. The muddy water swirled around them, but the frog stayed near the surface so the scorpion would not drown. He kicked strongly through the first half of the stream, his flippers paddling wildly against the current.

Halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp sting in his back and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the scorpion remove his stinger from the frog's back. A deadening numbness began to creep into his limbs.

"You fool!" croaked the frog, "Now we shall both die! Why on earth did you do that?"

The scorpion shrugged, and did a little jig on the drownings frog's back.

"I could not help myself. It is my nature."

Then they both sank into the muddy waters of the swiftly flowing river.

Self destruction - "Its my Nature", said the Scorpion...

Dunno 'bout the rest of y'all, but I CAN SEE Dems playing 6 kinds of hell, before they collectively pick up their marbles & go home - the PROBLEM is, until the new folks could get themselves organized, WE'D be stuck with whatever the old-timers choose to do .............................

,

From my Colonel .............................. ;-)

2010-10-03T18:25:00.002-06:00

SEASON'S GREETINGS
T'was the night before elections
And all through the town
Tempers were flaring
Emotions all up and down
I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap
Had cut off the TV
Tired of political clap-trap
When all of a sudden
There arose such a noise
I peered out my window
Saw Obama and his boys
They had come for my wallet
They wanted my pay
To give to the others
Who had not worked a day!
He snatched up my money
And quick as a wink
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink
He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!
'On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, On Pelosi'
He screamed at the pairs!
They took off for his cause
And as they flew out of sight
I heard him laugh at the nation
Who wouldn't stand up and fight!
So I leave you to think
On this one final note—
IF YOU DON'T WANT SOCIALISM
GET OUT AND VOTE !!!!
GOD BLESS AMERICA, OUR ONLY HOPE!

.

Blame it on the time of year, but every year, I'm lookin' for a Greyhound ..................................

2010-10-03T17:56:00.000-06:00

Thirty years ago, I was {I thought} one day away from giving birth in Philadelphia; 4 October {feast of St. Francis of Assisi} would've been GREAT - I'd been involved in humane work since I was 14, so my child being born on his feast day would've been icing on the cake ......................... she's STILL the icing on the cake, even though the stinker was born on 6 October, feast of St. Bruno, patron saint of the possessed ............................. she's having "issues" with the 'big 3-0' {it's a hereditary thing - I thought my life was OVER @ 30}- if you're so inclined to tell her it isn't ALL bad, please leave comments here - I will ensure she receives them, on her birthday - a neighbor does wonderful things with cakes/fondant, so the neighbor, a friend & I are going to surprise her at work with it - the cake will be chocolate cake with raspberry ganache, and rum-flavored cake with pina colada-flavored ganache ........................ done up with skulls, of course!! ;-)

I MISS the Northeastern part of the country, this time of year .................................

.

Figuring it's only a matter of time ...................................... UPDATED below

2010-10-01T14:56:00.002-06:00

once ØbamaCare kicks in, here's some warning for all out there -

First of all, I will be 54 in December - I have served my country in the USMC, USNR, and federal civil service, for a total of 21 years. I'm not stupid; I HAVE the sense that God gave a goose, thank you very much, when it comes to my own healthcare decisions.

I have been diagnosed with ulcers since I was 11 years old {that's FORTY THREE YEARS for the mathematically-challenged}; I have gone the gamut from milk, Mylanta/Tums, Librax, Pepcid, Prevacid, AciPhex, Dexilant. The most recent change was to Dexilant {originally Kapidex}, about a year ago.

The FodGuy's company's health insurance changed twice in 6 months - from UniCare to BC/BS to Cigna - we've been with Cigna since June - NOW they are demanding a step back in treatment, ie., I have to go on a 'trial' of Prevacid's generic, because THEY don't have all my history, and are looking to cut costs. When I called, THEIR demand is I go BACK to the doctor {for $20.00} and discuss it with him - if HE affirms that Prevacid is NOT an option, THEN they will "approve" Dexilant.

This was ALL DONE WITHOUT *MY* BEING CONSULTED, which has me so angry, to quote my father, I could smoke a pickle. The absolute ARROGANCE that I don't have the right to have input on MY healthcare is outrageous - and I do NOT see ØbamaCare making this better - if anything, it will make things like this WORSE.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
UPDATE:
Called Cigna again, requested a supervisor - the young lady who answered was able to fix things so that I only need to call my doctor's office, and have THEM call Cigna & document that Dexilant is THE choice for me ..................... I was primed for bear, and I'm STILL angry that I was left out of this 'loop' - I WILL make the point with both our doctor's office and our pharmacy that, when it comes to decisions such as this, where MY body is involved, I will expect to be consulted ..........................

.

Good night, Chesty, wherever you are .........................................

2010-09-30T19:05:00.000-06:00

Lyrics available http://www.thewarriorsong.com/video.html

From my Colonel ..............................

2010-09-25T17:07:00.002-06:00

We just had a double rainbow here - couldn't resist ............................ ;-)

2010-09-21T17:42:00.002-06:00

From Eternity Road, via Crusader Rabbit ......................................

2010-09-16T19:09:00.000-06:00

An Open Letter!
By ΛΕΟΝΙΔΑΣ

In keeping with the theme generated by the esteemed Curmudgeon Emeritus here, this humble blogster will add his own contribution to the refrain entitled “why didn’t I write that?”.

The following is an open letter to general David Petraeus published by Chuck Prime here.

To one and all: Please steal this and repost it!

OPEN LETTER TO GEN. PETRAEUS (Please re-post to anti-jihad sites)

“Were the actual burning to take place, the safety of our soldiers and civilians would be put in jeopardy and accomplishment of the mission would be made more difficult.”
– Gen. David Petraeus

General, I ask you this: what in hell is your “mission” if We The People jeopardize it by exercising our First Amendment rights in our own homeland? Is your “mission” to defend our rights against foreign enemies, or to defend foreign enemies against our rights?

You made your choice, and you justified by claiming that you and those under your command have been taken hostage by our 7th Century terrorist enemy, and that the ransom demand you deliver to us is that we submit to your captor’s restrictions on our natural and constitutional rights – or they’ll kill you.

I remind you and your captors that we do not negotiate with terrorists.

And I remind you that you are the most revered general in the present day, commanding in the most powerful military in all of history, during the most justifiable war in the last seventy years. So please either remember your priorities and slaughter your captors, or resign in disgrace so that we may replace you with a warrior. And if you resign, you should do so right along with President Obama, Gen. Caldwell, Pentagon Spokesman Lapan, Sec. of State Clinton, Atty. Gen. Holder, NATO Sec. Rasmussen and all others in all branches of government and in all alliances who echoed your request, whether they did so mindlessly or with surrender aforethought.

To have our own military leaders beg us to refrain from exercising our Constitutional rights on our own soil is completely un-American. And to have you make that request of us in the name of cowardice is a shocking and unthinkable perversion I still don’t have the words for.

But I do have the plan for it. We The People will force the issue right here and now. We don’t want harm to come to our military, but if peacefully exercising our rightful freedom on our own property here in our own homeland endangers you, then we will endanger you!

We will burn the Koran for freedom and post the videos for all the world to see. We can be overt or covert, named or anonymous, sparse or numerous – but ultimately we will be unstoppable, and eventually we will be effective.

We will do this because you have no f***ing right to sell our freedom down the river for the sake of our enemy’s sensitivity. We will do it because you more than have the power to defend yourselves against that enemy if only you would use it. We will do it because facing danger to defend our rightful freedom is why we pay you, train you, equip you, promote you, appoint you, deploy you, and – formerly! – revere you.

You work for us, General, not for our enemy. Therefore we will regain control over you and over this war from the command center of our own backyards. We will force you to end any of your appeasement and nation-building which would restrict our Constitutional rights. We will force you to defend yourselves and us, and to do the job you were appointed to do: destroy the enemy in defense of our freedom.

Our military has the power. We hired you to use it. Now we’ll make sure you do.
When Americans can burn our own copies of the Koran on our own soil without credible threats from jihadists or appeasement of those threats from our President and our Generals, then we will gladly stop burning them.

We are a free people, and although we clearly live in occupied territory psychologically, we do not yet live in occupied territory legally or physically. We will do as we please, and we will continue to expect all branches of our government to secure our right to do it.

I remind you that securing our rights is the only legitimate reason that governments are instituted among men in the first place, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
And not everybody among the governed consents to surrendering our rights to terrorists.

Freedom for all,

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!!

.

From a friend still serving this nation ............................................

2010-09-10T21:01:00.000-06:00

Requiescat in Pacem and Semper Fidelis to all who were murdered or injured by Islamofascism on 9/11/2001

.

From Crusader Rabbit........................................

2010-09-04T07:13:00.000-06:00

If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!!! Crusader Rabbit link

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS AT WAR WITH AMERICANS:
Posted on September 4, 2010 by KG

Is it time yet??

‘FEDS CONVICT TEXAN FOR SELLING A GUN TO ILLEGAL ALIEN WITH TEXAS DRIVER’S LICENSE

In Federal District Court on July 20, 2010, the ATF won a conviction from an Austin jury that defies logic and reason. In a trial before Federal Judge Sam Sparks, government lawyers conceded Texas resident Paul Copeland did not know his buyer was an illegal alien, but the jury they should convict him anyway because he “had reasonable cause to believe” he was selling to an illegal alien because the two men and a boy who were present at his table at the time of the sale: 1) were Hispanic, 2) spoke Spanish, and 3) wore cowboy clothing. And the jury did as asked. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Freel acted as lead prosecutor in the case.

The firearm transaction at issue occurred on January 16, 2010, at a gunshow at the North Austin Events Center, at 10601 N. Lamar Blvd., in Austin, Texas. Undercover ATF agents followed Mr. Huerta, his son, and another Hispanic male, Hipolito Aviles, around the “Texas Gunshow” that day, and claimed to observe Huerta’s transaction. Austin P.D. used Copeland’s case as the reason to close down the gunshow, leading to a protest by Austin residents in front of APD headquarters on January 25.

Mr. Copeland is a 56 year old Cedar Creek resident and Vietnam veteran who liked to buy, sell, and trade firearms as a hobby. On January 16, however, he had the misfortune to sell a handgun to Leonel Huerta Sr., who spoke both English and Spanish. Huerta Sr. negotiated his purchase from Copeland in English, showing Copeland his Texas Driver’s License. At Copeland’s trial Huerta admitted on the witness stand, that he is in the country illegally, (Huerta Sr. had previously admitted this fact to Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent Leo Buentello). ATF Agent Shawn Kang claimed he saw Huerta later hand off the gun to Aviles. Despite these admissions, Huerta Sr. was never arrested, charged, or deported. Instead, his presence at the gunshow was used to entrap an American citizen into an unwitting violation of a federal gun control law. Huerta Sr., who is a resident of the City of Austin, appeared as a witness at the trial, admitted he was in the country illegally before federal prosecutors and a federal judge, yet he was allowed to leave the courtroom under his own power. To date Huerta Sr. has not been prosecuted for his purchase, possession, or disposition of the handgun he bought from Copeland, while Copeland is now a convicted felon.

“Instead of busting the illegal alien for buying, they bust the citizen for selling,” commented Paul Velte, attorney and founder of Peaceable Texans for Firearms Rights, a gun-owners rights advocacy group from Austin. Velte asked, “who was in a better position to know the buyer’s immigration status, the buyer or the seller?” He also said, “What happened to Paul Copeland should enrage all Americans. The Federal Government is using illegal aliens to entrap citizens lawfully exercising their right to sell firearms. The illegal alien walks free, but the citizen gets convicted. The same government charged with controlling immigration is the one using illegal immigrants to attack its own citizens. Does this make any sense? It makes no sense unless the purpose is to discourage attendance at gunshows and frighten citizens from selling their firearms to other citizens.”

Velte pointed out that “There is no way for a citizen to know who is here legally or not. In fact, under Austin’s ‘sanctuary city’ policy, not even the police officer at the door of the gunshow was allowed to ask a person’s immigration status, yet the average Texan inside the show is expected to assume that a person standing before them with a Texas driver’s license is in the country illegally just because they look Mexican and speak Spanish.” Velte noted that the federal government’s lawsuit against Arizona was based on that very type of conduct: Concluding someone could be here illegally based on their looks or their language. Velte said gun owners in his group are outraged, and they want to know:

1.. Why is the illegal alien who purchased the gun, Leonel Huerta Sr., still living in Austin?
2.. Why does he still have a Texas Driver’s license?
3.. Why is ATF using illegal aliens to set up and convict American citizens?
4.. What has he been promised for his cooperation?
5.. Why has he not been prosecuted? He committed three distinct crimes: he purchased a firearm knowing he was an illegal alien, he possessed the firearm, and he transferred the handgun to another illegal alien (Hippolito Aviles, who was convicted and given time served on June 30, 2010).
6.. Why has Huerta Sr. not been deported?

Judge Sparks sentenced Copeland on August 27 to six months confinement and 24 months of probation, and called Copeland “a liar” for not admitting guilt. ATF confiscated Copeland’s entire gun collection and initiated forfeiture proceedings. Copeland was also fired from his job due to the indictment, and he would have lost his home to foreclosure, if not for his family stepping in to pay his mortgage while he serves his sentence.’

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From Tasty Infidelicacies .............................................

2010-08-19T17:40:00.000-06:00

{located here} As Jewel says, Make. It. Viral.

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I had the opportunity to meet Congressman Ted Poe today ................................

2010-08-14T18:35:00.000-06:00

his district is south & east of us, but I'm on his eMailing list - he held a Town Hall at a high school down the road a piece - it seems he & Kevin Brady {OUR Congressman} are two of the few who actually KNOW the Constitution - a black gentleman came up & told him that the polls notwithstanding, a LOT of blacks are questioning just how good Øbama is for the country ...................... I told him "Semper Fi'" from a former Marine ........................ ;-)

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From KG of Crusader Rabbit .................................. Guess Who I Am?

2010-08-14T07:59:00.000-06:00

If the shoe fits ...GUESS WHO I AM

I was born in one country, raised in another. My father was born in another country. I was not his only child. He fathered several children with numerous women.

I became very close to my mother, as my father showed no interest in me. My mother died at an early age from cancer. I became close with my grandmother.

Later in life, questions arose over my real name.

My birth records were sketchy and no one was able to produce a legitimate, reliable birth certificate.

I grew up practicing one faith but converted to Christianity, as it was widely accepted in my country, but I practiced non-traditional beliefs & didn't follow Christianity, except in the public eye under scrutiny.

I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult, disguising myself as someone who really cared about them..

That was before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and I embarked on a new career.

I wrote a book about my struggles growing up. It was clear to those who read my memoirs that I had difficulties accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.

I became active in local politics in my 30's then with help behind the scenes, I literally burst onto the scene as a candidate for national office in my 40s. They said I had a golden tongue and could talk anyone into anything. That reinforced my conceit.

I had a virtually non-existent resume, little work history, and no experience in leading a single organization. Yet I was a powerful speaker and citizens were drawn to me as though I was a magnet and they were small roofing tacks.

I drew incredibly large crowds during my public appearances. This bolstered my ego.

At first, my political campaign focused on my country's foreign policy. I was very critical of my country in the last war and seized every opportunity to bash my country.

But what launched my rise to national prominence were my views on the country's economy. I pretended to have a really good plan on how we could do better and every poor person would be fed & housed for free.

I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess. It was the free market, banks & corporations. I decided to start making citizens hate them and if they were envious of others who did well, the plan was clinched tight.

I called mine "A People's Campaign" and that sounded good to all people.

I was the surprise candidate because I emerged from outside the traditional path of politics & was able to gain widespread popular support.

I knew that, if I merely offered the people 'hope', together we could change our country and the world. So, I started to make my speeches sound like they were on behalf of the downtrodden, poor, ignorant to include "persecuted minorities" like the Jews. My true views were not widely known & I needed to keep them unknown, until after I became my nation's leader.

I had to carefully guard reality, as anybody could have easily found out what I really believed, if they had simply read my writings and examined those people I associated with.

I'm glad they didn't. Then, I became the most powerful man in the world. And the world learned the truth.

Who am I?

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I am ADOLF HITLER.

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Not quite who you expected, hmmmmmm?

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From ...................................

2010-08-07T20:25:00.000-06:00

Barking MoonBats Early Warning System:

If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a TelePrompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?

If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan’s holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?

If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the nonexistent “Austrian language,” would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?

If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had stated that there were 57 states in the United States, would you have said that he is clueless.

If George W. Bush would have flown all the way to Denmark to make a five minute speech about how the Olympics would benefit him walking out his front door in Texas, would you have thought he was a self-important, conceited, egotistical jerk.

If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to “Cinco de Cuatro” in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?

If George W. Bush had misspelled the word “advice” would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potatoes as proof of what a dunce he is?

If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he’s a hypocrite?

If George W. Bush’s administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?

If George W. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans, would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?

If George W. Bush had created the position of 32 Czars who report directly to him, bypassing the House and Senate on much of what is happening in America, would you have approved.

If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had proposed to double the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?

So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can’t think of anything? Don’t worry. He’s done all this in 15 months—so you’ll have two years and nine months to come up with an answer.

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'Specially for KG & Gecko ....................................

2010-08-02T13:17:00.002-06:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

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Who REALLY wears the trousers? ;-) ;-)

2010-07-13T17:31:00.000-06:00

ATTENTION ON DECK!!

2010-07-09T18:21:00.001-06:00

From Francis Porretto of Eternity Road, a MUST read ...................................

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On paper, Arizona's controversial new immigration law

2010-07-07T18:18:00.000-06:00

is not that different from the federal version.

But the key difference is this: Arizona wants every illegal immigrant caught and deported. The federal government says treating all 11 million of the nation's illegal immigrants as criminals would overwhelm the system. Full article.

Wouldn't it be ironic, if a majority of states enact laws based on Arizona's SB 1070, and illegals "self-deport" {either to their home nations, or states that are de facto 'sanctuaries'}, thereby nullifying the LLMD "Justice" Department's claims of being 'overwhelmed'? Of course, should they self-deport within the U.S., the Lamenters would have to deal with'em, wouldn't they?

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This is a re-post of one of my earliers ................................

2010-07-01T21:31:00.002-06:00

since today is the 11th anniversary of my sending out all those postcards ............................. ;-)

My spousal unit & I first met back in 1977, in Memphis - he was just coming off the San Diego drill field as a DI, I was a newly-minted Pvt. from Parris Island .................. he fulfilled my need for a friend who I could ask "guy questions" of - {"why do guys .................?"} - he became known as my big brother - we had a semi-platonic relationship {we kissed & cuddled, but no sex} - when I was done with school there in Memphis, I was transferred to Cherry Point - he was heading back to New River, so he gave me a ride - we get to Cherry Point, and it's overwhelming - it's a HUGE base - he recommends I put in for New River {I think he was concerned about the trouble I could get myself in, on my own at the Pit} - I go on down there - get assigned to my squadron {HMH-362, the Ugly Angels, for those who are interested} - one fine day, I'm hanging out in my shop {Avionics} and HE walks in to check on me - he stands there, typical DI position, hands on hips - I immediately notice - HE HAS ROCKERS! He had just made Staff Sergeant {this is a BIG deal, for those unfamiliar} - I jump up & throw my arms around his neck, congratulating him ........................... we chitchatted for a bit, then he went back to his squadron .......................... my co-workers {I was the ONLY woman in the squadron at the time} were quizzing me as to who he was ....................... nonchalantly told them, he's my big brother ..................... could never figure out why I wasn't asked out on dates after that .......................... ;-) Ya gotta understand - he's 6'2" - at the time, he was about 215# - ALL muscle - had the broadest shoulders, tiniest waist & hips I'd EVER seen ..........................
ANYhoo, we lost touch for about 21 years ...................... on 1 July 1999, I sent out 19 postcards, to every Mike L******** who's snailmail I could find on the 'Net - reason I sent postcards, if he was married/involved, I didn't want to cause problems for him - on 6 July {coincidentally, my parents' 45th wedding anniversary}, got a call - soon as I heard his voice, I KNEW it was him - came down to Houston for a 4 day visit at the end of July - the night I returned to PA, he told me he loved me - 10 days later, he proposed {he still gets a chuckle from my speechlessness then} - I moved down in September, we were married the end of November {the Friday after Thanksgiving - to him, THAT's our anniversary! ;-)} moved to Mexico the following May ............................. that's where "Before we got back in touch" comes in ....................... ;-)

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Also, just for S & G's, let's see if I can successfully "embiggen" a couple of photos .......................

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Our Progeny & me 6 July 2002, Monterrey
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Our Progeny, my Spousal Unit, me & our Progeny's boyfriend, 8 December 2001, Monterrey
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To give visitors an idea ............................

2010-06-30T16:25:00.000-06:00

of what/where TS/Hurricane Alex is presumably headed ....................... of course, we're on the "dirty side" of the storm - but we DO need the rain - right now, there's a burn ban in effect, which would put a damper on the festivities this weekend - so far, we've had sprinkles, but that's about it ...................... BTW, on the second map, Monterrey is noted - looks as though they're gonna get a LOT of rain .......................... ;-)

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Jan to LLMD ..................................

2010-06-26T17:26:00.000-06:00

{Doing my part to make this VIRAL - I've not heard it yet, my speakers decided to quit on me ...................... :-( }

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The current occupant of the White House is at it again ...................................

2010-06-25T04:46:00.000-06:00

LLMD {Long-Legged Mac Daddy, h/t Dr. James David Manning, The Oblation Hour} is promoting someone ELSE above his level of incompetence - Hurtt couldn't even pass the Texas law enforcement exams for the better part of a year AFTER he took over HPD - he's a drooling proponent of "sanctuary cities", and a subtle {as opposed to Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton/etc.} race-baiter - GOOD GOING, LLMD - put yet someone else in a $180,000.00/year job to NOT ENFORCE THE LAWS

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From my Colonel .............................. ;-)

2010-06-19T09:57:00.002-06:00

A short spelling lesson:

The last four letters in "American" = I Can

The last four letters in "Republican" = I Can

The last four letters in "Democrats" = Rats

End of Lesson.

Test to follow in November.

November will be set aside as rodent extermination month.

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Couple of videos for y'all ...........................................

2010-06-13T21:39:00.000-06:00

From Catholic Vote:

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THIS is just TOO funny!

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From StormBringer ................................................

2010-06-13T08:44:00.000-06:00

Full disclosure: On the maternal side, my ancestors came from the former Czechoslovakia, Germany & Hungary {THROUGH Ellis Island, LEGALLY}}; on the paternal side, I'm of Irish, English & Scottish heritage {who ALSO came here LEGALLY}

Sean has a great post on the differences in immigration, then & now .......................

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Via American Thinker, I found this "poem" by the current POTUS ......................

2010-06-11T13:06:00.000-06:00

Written when he was 19, and allegedly about his maternal grandfather, Robin of Berkeley believes it is about his relationship with Frank Marshall Davis .................... very dark and disturbing ........................

"Pop"

Sitting in his seat, a seat broad and broken
In, sprinkled with ashes,
Pop switches channels, takes another
Shot of Seagrams, neat, and asks
What to do with me, a green young man
Who fails to consider the
Flim and flam of the world, since
Things have been easy for me;
I stare hard at his face, a stare
That deflects off his brow;
I’m sure he’s unaware of his
Dark, watery eyes, that
Glance in different directions,
And his slow, unwelcome twitches,
Fail to pass.
I listen, nod,
Listen, open, till I cling to his pale,
Beige T-shirt, yelling,
Yelling in his ears, that hang
With heavy lobes, but he’s still telling
His joke, so I ask why
He’s so unhappy, to which he replies...
But I don’t care anymore, cause
He took too damn long, and from
Under my seat, I pull out the
Mirror I’ve been saving; I’m laughing,
Laughing loud, the blood rushing from his face
To mine, as he grows small,
A spot in my brain, something
That may be squeezed out, like a
Watermelon seed between
Two fingers.
Pop takes another shot, neat,
Points out the same amber
Stain on his shorts that I’ve got on mine, and
Makes me smell his smell, coming
From me; he switches channels, recites an old poem
He wrote before his mother died,
Stands, shouts, and asks
For a hug, as I shink, my
Arms barely reaching around
His thick, oily neck, and his broad back; ‘cause
I see my face, framed within
Pop’s black-framed glasses
And know he’s laughing too.

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Via Theo Spark .....................................

2010-06-09T18:09:00.000-06:00

From a retired Marine MSgt ................................. The Alien in the White House

2010-06-09T16:59:00.000-06:00

The Alien in the White House

The distance between the president and the people is beginning to be revealed.

By DOROTHY RABINOWITZ

The deepening notes of disenchantment with Barack Obama now issuing from commentators across the political spectrum were predictable. So, too, were the charges from some of the president's earliest enthusiasts about his failure to reflect a powerful sense of urgency about the oil spill.

There should have been nothing puzzling about his response to anyone who has paid even modest critical attention to Mr. Obama's pronouncements. For it was clear from the first that this president—single-minded, ever-visible, confident in his program for a reformed America saved from darkness by his arrival—was wanting in certain qualities citizens have until now taken for granted in their presidents. Namely, a tone and presence that said: This is the Americans' leader, a man of them, for them, the nation's voice and champion. Mr. Obama wasn't lacking in concern about the oil spill. What he lacked was that voice—and for good reason.

Those qualities to be expected in a president were never about rhetoric; Mr. Obama had proved himself a dab hand at that on the campaign trail. They were a matter of identification with the nation and to all that binds its people together in pride and allegiance. These are feelings held deep in American hearts, unvoiced mostly, but unmistakably there and not only on the Fourth of July.

A great part of America now understands that this president's sense of identification lies elsewhere, and is in profound ways unlike theirs. He is hard put to sound convincingly like the leader of the nation, because he is, at heart and by instinct, the voice mainly of his ideological class. He is the alien in the White House, a matter having nothing to do with delusions about his birthplace cherished by the demented fringe.

One of his first reforms was to rid the White House of the bust of Winston Churchill—a gift from Tony Blair—by packing it back off to 10 Downing Street. A cloudlet of mystery has surrounded the subject ever since, but the central fact stands clear. The new administration had apparently found no place in our national house of many rooms for the British leader who lives on so vividly in the American mind. Churchill, face of our shared wartime struggle, dauntless rallier of his nation who continues, so remarkably, to speak to ours. For a president to whom such associations are alien, ridding the White House of Churchill would, of course, have raised no second thoughts.

Far greater strangeness has since flowed steadily from Washington. The president's appointees, transmitters of policy, go forth with singular passion week after week, delivering the latest inversion of reality. Their work is not easy, focused as it is on a current prime preoccupation of this White House—that is, finding ways to avoid any public mention of the indisputable Islamist identity of the enemy at war with us. No small trick that, but their efforts go forward in public spectacles matchless in their absurdity—unnerving in what they confirm about our current guardians of law and national security.

Consider the hapless Eric Holder, America's attorney general, confronting the question put to him by Rep. Lamar Smith (R., Texas) of the House Judicary Committee on May 13.

Did Mr. Holder think that in the last three terrorist attempts on this soil, one of them successful (Maj. Nidal Hasan's murder of 13 soldiers at Fort Hood, preceded by his shout of "Allahu Akbar!"), that radical Islam might have played any role at all? Mr. Holder seemed puzzled by the question. "People have different reasons" he finally answered—a response he repeated three times. He didn't want "to say anything negative about any religion."

And who can forget the exhortations on jihad by John Brennan, Mr. Obama's chief adviser on counterterrorism? Mr. Brennan has in the past charged that Americans lack sensitivity to the Muslim world, and that we have particularly failed to credit its peace-loving disposition. In a May 26 speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Mr. Brennan held forth fervently, if not quite comprehensibly, on who our enemy was not: "Our enemy is not terrorism because terrorism is just a tactic. Our enemy is not terror because terror is a state of mind, and as Americans we refuse to live in fear."

He went on to announce, sternly, that we do not refer to our enemies as Islamists or jihadists because jihad is a holy struggle, a legitimate tenet of Islam. How then might we be permitted to describe our enemies? One hint comes from another of Mr. Brennan's pronouncements in that speech: That "violent extremists are victims of political, economic and social forces."

Yes, that would work. Consider the news bulletins we could have read: "Police have arrested Faisal Shahzad, victim of political, economic and social forces living in Connecticut, for efforts to set off a car bomb explosion in Times Square." Plotters in Afghanistan and Yemen, preparing for their next attempt at mass murder in America, could only have listened in wonderment. They must have marvelled in particular on learning that this was the chief counterterrorism adviser to the president of the United States.

Long after Mr. Obama leaves office, it will be this parade of explicators, laboring mightily to sell each new piece of official reality revisionism—Janet Napolitano and her immortal "man-caused disasters'' among them—that will stand most memorably as the face of this administration.

It is a White House that has focused consistently on the sensitivities of the world community—as it is euphemistically known—a body of which the president of the United States frequently appears to view himself as a representative at large.

It is what has caused this president and his counterterrorist brain trust to deem it acceptable to insult Americans with nonsensical evasions concerning the enemy we face. It is this focus that caused Mr. Holder to insist on holding the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in lower Manhattan, despite the rage this decision induced in New Yorkers, and later to insist if not there, then elsewhere in New York. This was all to be a dazzling exhibition for that world community—proof of Mr. Obama's moral reclamation program and that America had been delivered from the darkness of the Bush years.

It was why this administration tapped officials like Michael Posner, assistant secretary of state for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Among his better known contributions to political discourse was a 2005 address in which he compared the treatment of Muslim-Americans in the United States after 9/11 with the plight of the Japanese-Americans interned in camps after Pearl Harbor. During a human-rights conference held in China this May, Mr. Posner cited the new Arizona immigration law by way of assuring the Chinese, those exemplary guardians of freedom, that the United States too had its problems with discrimination.

So there we were: America and China, in the same boat on human rights, two buddies struggling for reform. For this view of reality, which brought withering criticism in Congress and calls for his resignation, Mr. Posner has been roundly embraced in the State Department as a superbly effective representative.

It is no surprise that Mr. Posner—like numerous of his kind—has found a natural home in this administration. His is a sensibility and political disposition with which Mr. Obama is at home. The beliefs and attitudes that this president has internalized are to be found everywhere—in the salons of the left the world over—and, above all, in the academic establishment, stuffed with tenured radicals and their political progeny. The places where it is held as revealed truth that the United States is now, and has been throughout its history, the chief engine of injustice and oppression in the world.

They are attitudes to be found everywhere, but never before in a president of the United States. Mr. Obama may not hold all, or the more extreme, of these views. But there can be no doubt by now of the influences that have shaped him. They account for his grand apology tour through the capitals of Europe and to the Muslim world, during which he decried America's moral failures—her arrogance, insensitivity. They were the words of a man to whom reasons for American guilt came naturally. Americans were shocked by this behavior in their newly elected president. But he was telling them something from those lecterns in foreign lands—something about his distant relation to the country he was about to lead.

The truth about that distance is now sinking in, which is all to the good. A country governed by leaders too principled to speak the name of its mortal enemy needs every infusion of reality it can get.

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The loony left is out in force ...........................................

2010-06-02T11:25:00.003-06:00

the 'justifiers' of the "aid" flotilla are really getting into their anti-Israeli/anti-Jewish rant mode here - it's amazing to me, in this day & age, that otherwise presumptively intelligent people lay the vast majority of the world's woes on Israel - I must've missed those news reports where the IDF was cutting heads off, flying aircraft into buildings, performing 'honor killings' & FGM, etc., etc.

On a lighter note, from Old NFO, we get the new state flag of Arizona, intended for the uber-liberals in California and elsewhere:

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And from my friend in KCMO, one question - go ahead on & vote, then look at the results ...............................

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AND - this just in - Dubya is now on FaceBook - any members of FaceBook out there who want to let him know WE MISS HIM, click the link. I don't have a FaceBook account, but wanted to get the word out .............................

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Prime Minister Netanyahu:

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I've posted this before, but per a friend ............................................

2010-06-02T09:16:00.000-06:00

it's getting yanked - not on MY watch ........................

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I dunno about the rest of the world ..................................

2010-05-31T20:06:00.002-06:00

but as an American who well-remembers the first WTC bombing, Khobar Towers, Beirut, the USS Cole, 9/11, 3/11, 7/7, Bali, Mumbai, and various & sundry other atrocities committed by the 'Religion of Peace", I REALLY have to take issue with those who flaunt well-recognized maritime laws, then claim "Israel started it", and expect the rest of the world to pat their hands and "there-there" them. {Of course, naming a vessel after someone who was too STUPID to get out of the way of a bulldozer leaves some cause for wonder if the collective IQ of the group is above room temperature.}

Compare & contrast the "reports" from Yahoo News here and here, with these two reports from Muqata and Theo Spark; also, check out Double Tapper's reports. In order to protect the "innocent civilians", the IDF was using PAINT BALL GUNS!

I'm hopeful that Prime Minister Netanyahu will, in the future, take the gloves off when dealing with those who would support Fatah, Hamas, Hezbollah, al Qaeda and any other Islamofascist organization {many of which, also, support/condone/force FGM on their female children}. If one is too obtuse to recognize the illegitimacy of groups that advocate wholesale genocide, they can then do the world a favor and 'Darwin' themselves.

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Meanwhile, in Pakistan .......................

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From a friend {former Marine} .............................. watch til the end ..............................

2010-05-29T19:59:00.001-06:00

and people wonder why Marines love their Navy Corpsmen?

Lest we forget what Memorial Day is all about ......................

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For all those silent on the subject of FGM ..............................

2010-05-29T09:57:00.000-06:00

go HERE and scroll down to "Types of Female Genital Mutilation" - don't worry, nothing graphic, just line drawings of what is done, very sterile appearing, then think about this: If you're a woman, would YOU undergo ANY of the variations listed? How about as the parent of a girl, would YOU permit this to be done to YOUR child?

As I noted, the drawings are very sterile appearing - the REALITY is that these "procedures" are often done with rusty knives, broken glass, and 'sterility' is a completely foreign concept {unless it's the emotional and physical sterility and pain foisted upon the girls}. It's most often performed on girls between the ages of 4 and 10, with mothers/mother figures performing it, demanded by the fathers/father figures.

So, to all the so-called "feminists" who wank/whine/whinge about Western men's behaviors, STFU unless/until you're willing to call out the practitioners of THIS barbarism and fight for the rights of these girls/women .............................

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Had a VERY interesting talk with a census worker yesterday ................................

2010-05-29T09:17:00.000-06:00

I came home {late afternoon} as she was knocking on our door - I tend to become a LITTLE bit irritated at such - with the FodGuy working 3rd shift, he's SLEEPING then - she was asking about the address next to us {an empty lot} - told her it's been vacant as long as we've been here. HERE'S the thing - she's the THIRD census worker I've seen wandering around here - rather than figure out WHAT information is need from WHO at each location, this charlie-foxtrot of a census is sending multiple individuals out multiple times to the SAME locations - the lady I spoke with is #1 supervisor, following up #2 supervisor's complaints that #2's people 'aren't getting the information' {WAHHHHHH!}.

Number 1 lives locally, is in charge of an area ~ 10 miles x 5 miles - HER subordinates are having to run back & forth to the office, to obtain Spanish language forms, because of the numbers of illegals in this area, living 10+ to a household.

She recently tried to buy a lot adjacent to her property, but the owner turned her down {same thing happened with her neighbor across the street} - the property owner is putting not-worthy-for-doghouses trailers on the lots - NO septic systems being installed - when #1 called the county office that handles such, she was told it wasn't necessary, as OUTHOUSES were being provided ............................. ummmmmmmm, NO - 'we' may be living in "the country" but that doesn't mean we're all stupid .............................. the owner of the lots with the crappy trailers is moving illegals into them, up to 16 people in 3 bedroom trailers ............................................ I'm thinking the county government {since it's outside the 'city limits'} is gonna get a little SICK of complaints before "we're" done ................................................

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Ye-eah, the economy is doing SO WELL ....................................

2010-05-28T12:17:00.002-06:00

for the first time since we moved here {2002}, free meals are being offered over the summer, June 8-July 20, for children aged 18 & under, @ the local high school .............................

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Due to a request from HillBuzz ...................................

2010-05-27T16:06:00.000-06:00

I finally took the plunge to 'play' with Photobucket - this is in response to Random House's commission to Joe McGinniss to try to make the Palin family's life miserable over the summer ....................

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The faces of REAL feminism ......................................

2010-05-27T08:30:00.002-06:00

see more Political Pictures

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GOOD to know the Utopias are moderating their

2010-05-27T06:55:00.000-06:00

excesses ............................

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For those who've never read it {or want to read it again}

2010-05-26T19:24:00.000-06:00

may I direct you to LawDog's tale of Pinky - CLASS ONE BEVERAGE ALERT!!!

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Warning from a friend in KCMO .........................................

2010-05-26T18:46:00.000-06:00

this is from Snopes

The e-mail said:

This warning is incredible and also verified. I'm sending it to everyone in my address book so as to head off possible future injury.

Warning: Be Careful Picking Up Plastic Soda Pop/Water Bottles

Don't pick up any plastic bottles that may be lying in your yard.

Read this and click the Snopes link for more info and a video: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/bottlebomb.asp.

Be careful, watch the video and warn others.

· a plastic bottle with a cap.

· a little Drano.

· a little water.

· a small piece of foil.

· Disturb it by moving it and BOOM!!

· No fingers left and other serious damage to your face, eyes, etc.

People are finding these bombs in mailboxes and in their yards, just waiting for someone to pick one up intending to put it in the trash.

It takes about 30 seconds to blow after you move the thing. This happened not too long ago ... April 27, as a matter of fact ... and was reported by a Michigan deputy sheriff who safely exploded two of them.

~~~~~~~~
As an aside, if law enforcement/fire personnel are not available, I would think covering the bottle with a bucket of some type until appropriate personnel can take care of it would be prudent ........................

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Received a 'can you help us out?' from the "new" GOP ..............................

2010-05-25T11:22:00.002-06:00

My response:

Unless/until the GOP takes a firm stance AGAINST illegal immigration, and protecting/maintaining what little national sovereignty/integrity "we, the people" still possess, DO NOT LOOK to US to help in ANY manner.

Semper Fi'
Mary L*******

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From Theo Spark, on this Monday before Memorial Day .......................................

2010-05-24T09:38:00.002-06:00

SO GLAD Dr. Utopia isn't shown!!!

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From VDare.com .......................................

2010-05-20T20:37:00.001-06:00

“Attagirl!” Postcards For Arizona’s Governor Brewer

Posted By Paul Nachman On 20 May 2010 @ 8:49 In General | Comments Disabled

On a prior occasion, I urged VDARE blog readers to send postcards of gratitude and support to Maricopa County (AZ) Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I’m just guessing that such tangible support — picture postcards from all over the country — will be both morale boosters and useful props for the sheriff to demonstrate that his immigration enforcement has widespread support from ordinary citizens.

Now it’s time to do the same for Arizona’s stand-up governor Jan Brewer. She’s come on strong in the last couple of months, not only by signing SB1070, for state enforcement of federal laws against illegal immigration, but also by signing two other bills that relate to what Peter Brimelow calls “the National Question,” i.e. whether a polity has the right to sustain its own culture.

One of those other bills makes it explicit that Arizona businesses have no obligation to provide translators for potential customers or clients who don’t speak English. The third bill aims to prevent the ethnic-studies curricula in Arizona public schools from being training classes for another generation of race-focused grievance merchants. These other two bills have been discussed by Brenda Walker (here) and Rob Sanchez (here), respectively.

Further, Brewer hasn’t backed down under the coast-to-coast vituperation resulting from her signature on SB1070. Instead, she’s found her voice, as noted by Larry Auster here and here.

Thus Brewer is that rarity among contemporary American politicians: She has a spine! Still, the execration from all directions must be at least somewhat daunting. So let’s barrage her with postcards expressing our gratitude and support.

Postcards are good because they’re tangible (unlike emails), colorful (if you send a picture postcard that features your locale), and easy to deal with: There’s nothing to open, and your message has to be short. Further, if you sign it and just give your city and state (i.e. no street address), it’s clear that no response is expected.

Here’s what I managed to — legibly — squeeze onto a card whose front is a spectacular photo of the rushing Gallatin River amid the Spanish Peaks:

Dear Gov. Brewer,
I wish you were here, signing good laws in Montana, too! I’m thinking of SB1070, the one against forcing businesses to supply translators, and the one against ethnic studies classes that teach sedition and hatred of whites. I’m sure citizens across the country envy Arizonans for having a governor with the courage to stand up for citizens’ interests.
To your good health!
Paul Nachman
Bozeman, MT

Her snail-mail address is

Governor Jan Brewer
1700 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Currently, postage for an “ordinary-sized” postcard (mine is 4″ X 5.75″) is $0.28.

Let’s swamp her with approval coming from all 50 states!

Article printed from VDARE.com: Blog Articles: http://blog.vdare.com

URL to article: http://blog.vdare.com/archives/2010/05/20/attagirl-postcards-for-arizonas-governor-brewer/

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Since it's "Draw Mohammed Day" .....................................

2010-05-20T06:13:00.000-06:00

I'll just borrow from Gustave Dore:

Mohammed, in whatever circle of hell, per Dante, split with entrails falling out .............................

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Here ya go ....................................... and people wonder why ............................

2010-05-19T10:30:00.000-06:00

I love the Corps?

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Here we go ...................................... ;-) ;-)

2010-05-18T20:08:00.001-06:00

Here's the link, since it's only showing intermittently ................................

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Yeah, 'we' Americans are just stupid ....................................

2010-05-17T07:36:00.000-06:00

here's a couple of good ol' boys who have one of THE most sensible ideas I've seen for the already-spilled oil .......................... but will those presumably "in charge" even LISTEN to them? Or, will the Southern accents immediately cause complete deafness?

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Reading a bit about Elena Kagan as SCOTUS

2010-05-13T20:06:00.000-06:00

nominee - it seems a LOT of folks are focusing on her sexuality, whatever it may be .......................... HERE'S my take on that, FWIW - as long as she doesn't force her attentions on someone not interested/a child/an animal, WHAT BLOODY DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE who she sleeps with? I presume she's of sufficient maturity {as a former Dean of Harvard Law} to make her own decisions about WHO she loves.

MY issues with her are regarding her denying military recruiters access to students; of course, what would you expect from me, as a former Woman Marine?

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Sorry, but this one kicks over my giggle box ................................

2010-05-13T17:06:00.001-06:00

to quote our Beloved LawDog ....................
Impressive, innit, how the 'human rights activist' claims hanging from the yardarm would've been "more humane"?

Captured Somali pirates 'dead' - Russia

Captured Somali pirates 'dead' - Russia

* From: AFP

* May 12, 2010 12:48AM

A GROUP of Somali pirates captured by the Russian navy in the Gulf of Aden and then set free in a boat are most probably dead after failing to reach the shore, a Russian defence source said.

The 10 pirates were captured last week after seizing a Russian oil tanker but were then unexpectedly released, with Russian officials saying there was insufficient legal basis to keep them in detention.

"According to the latest information, the pirates who seized the Moscow University oil tanker failed to reach the shore. Evidently, they have all died," the high-ranking source was quoted as saying by all Russia's official news agencies.

The source said that radio signals from the boat stopped just one hour after it had been set free by the Russian navy.

No details were given over the manner in which they could have lost their lives.

Reports have said that after their release the Russian navy put the pirates in a boat 550km offshore, removing all weaponry and navigational equipment from the vessel.

"It would have been more humane to have hung them up from the yardarm," a rights activist, whose name was not given, told the Kommersant daily at the weekend.

Marines from the Russian destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov freed the tanker from the pirate's grasp in a dawn operation last week hailed as exemplary by Russian defence experts and officials.

President Dmitry Medvedev said the raid was "sharp, professional and quick" and ordered medals for all those involved in the rescue.

The fate of the pirates had been a mystery.

Media had at the weekend published a picture taken by state media showing 10 pirates lying face down, hands tied behind their back on the red deck of the Russian ship.

A top naval official also told Kommersant that the Russian navy had originally planned to accompany the pirates to within 20km of the shore but the offer of escort was turned down.

But Somalia's ambassador to Moscow Mohammed Handule denied that the Russian navy had acted improperly in the affair.

"Not one Somali or the government of our country sees Russia as being guilty in this. The Russian military showed they can act effectively so that not one crew member of the captured tanker was hurt."

"This is the most important thing," he said according to the ITAR-TASS news agency.

Russian shipping expert Mikhail Voitenko said reports about the pirates being set free in a boat could just be covering the possibility they had all been killed in the raid to free the Moscow University.

"I think this is linked to the fact nobody released the pirates and they were killed in the operation," Voitenko, editor of the Maritime Bulletin, told Moscow Echo radio.

"Then someone had the not very intelligent idea 'Let's pretend that they were released in the middle of the ocean hundreds of miles from the shore without any navigational aids'."

After the tanker was recaptured, officials had also sent conflicting signals about the future of the pirates.

Russia's investigative committee of prosecutors had said steps were being taken to bring the pirates to Moscow to face charges but later backtracked, saying that this was not being discussed.

The episode is the latest high-seas intrigue involving Russia, after the disappearance last year of the Maltese-flagged Arctic Sea ship which some reports said was carrying an illicit Russian arms cargo for Iran.

Russia denied the charges and arrested eight "pirates" who it said had hijacked the vessel.

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I was ready to go 'Golden Flounce' today ................................

2010-05-10T17:46:00.001-06:00

Walgreen's down here has clinics IN the stores - presumably, to offer care/vaccinations that one's doc doesn't carry all the time - MY doc gave me a scrip for the Zostavax vaccine {for shingles} - WALGREEN'S "policy" is to offer it ONLY to people over 60 - the FDA recommends people 60 & over get it - but it's APPROVED for people age 18 & over - soooooo, back to the doctors' office, to have THEM order it {it's frozen, so that places restrictions on storage} & administer it to me ..................... I've ABOUT had enough of this 'nanny-state' crap - I'm an adult full-grown, MY DOCTOR decided this was a good choice for me, and the idea of spending the next SEVEN YEARS waiting to be 'old enough' to receive a vaccine that will a) help preclude the agony of the post-herpetic neuralgia, and b) preclude my having to overuse medications such as Valtrex {and causing the same problems with anti-virals that we're experiencing with antibiotics, ie, causing the 'bugs' to develop immunity TO the meds} is enough to pi$$ off the Pope ..................... not only did my doc PRESCRIBE it, our insurance COVERS it - so, my question becomes, who the HELL does Walgreen's think they are, to deny this service?

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Friday night before payday @ ANY USMC 'slop-chute' ...........................

2010-05-09T09:05:00.000-06:00

From Theo Spark ................... 'Slop-Chute' is the term for the clubs on base that serve adult beverages .................. I've SEEN Marines like this! {MAY have been one on occasion} ;-) ;-)

Video: Jungle Alcohol

This is a real video from a French documentary about Africa .
There are trees that grow in Africa which, once a year,
produce very juicy fruits that contain a large percentage of alcohol. Because there is a shortage of water, as soon as the fruits are ripe, animals come there to help protect themselves from the heat. What happens next, you can watch for yourselves.

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Hmmmm, any doubts this is real?

2010-05-05T13:19:00.002-06:00

In case you can't read the sign {sorry, don't know how to "embiggen" as HillBuzz says}, the sign reads:
Give us FREE
health care
jobs - no taxes
house
food
you OWE us America!
We will shoot
more police in
Arizona until
we get free!
Ye-eah, I'm not so sure but that this is a 'shoot oneself in the foot' moment .................................

~~~~~~

You have two families: "Joe Legal" and "Jose Illegal".

Both families have two parents, two children, and live in California.

Joe Legal works in construction, has a Social Security Number and makes $25.00 per hour with taxes deducted.

Jose Illegal also works in construction, has NO Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash "under the table".

Ready? Now pay attention....

Joe Legal: $25.00 per hour x 40 hours = $1000.00 per week, or $52,000.00 per year. Now take 30% away for state and federal tax; Joe Legal now has $31,231.00.

Jose Illegal: $15.00 per hour x 40 hours = $600.00 per week, or $31,200.00 per year. Jose Illegal pays no taxes. Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays medical and dental insurance with limited coverage for his family at $600.00 per month, or $7,200.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $24,031.00.

Jose Illegal has full medical and dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a cost of $0.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal makes too much money and is not eligible for food stamps or Welfare. Joe Legal pays $500.00 per month for food, or $6,000.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $18,031.00.

Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for food stamps and welfare. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays rent of $1,200.00 per month, or $14,400.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $9,631.00.

Jose Illegal receives a $500.00 per month federal rent subsidy. Jose Illegal pays out that $500.00 per month, or $6,000.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $ 31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays $200.00 per month, or $2,400.00 for insurance. Joe Legal now has $7,231.00.

Jose Illegal says, "We don't need no stinkin' insurance!" and still has $31,200..00.

Joe Legal has to make his $7,231.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, Etc.

Jose Illegal has to make his $31,200.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, and what he sends out of the country every month.

Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work.

Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family.

Joe Legal's and Jose Illegal's children both attend the same school. Joe Legal pays for his children's lunches while Jose Illegal's children get a government sponsored lunch. Jose Illegal's children have an after School ESL program. Joe Legal's children go home.

Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same police and fire services, but Joe paid for them and Jose did not pay.

Jose with his free tax payer entitlements makes $65,000.00 a year!

Do you get it, now?

If you vote for or support any politician that supports illegal Aliens... You are part of the problem!

It's way PAST time to take a stand for America and Americans!

What are you waiting for?

..

Ohhh, "Anonymous"?

2010-04-22T19:51:00.000-06:00

You can kiss my original EGA tattoo - you'd probably be more comfortable among the 'Obots' @ HuffPo or other "progressive" outlets - obviously, you believe in "The Won's" message of 'hopenchange' - keep drinking that KoolAid ....................................

Note to others - "Anonymous", in addition to hiding behind his/her keyboard, admonished me that I should be 'ashamed' for posting a great article by Jenn Q. Public - and, just for the record, my original EGA is on my left hip, in back ..............................

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WOOHOO!!! Aldo's here!!

2010-04-15T17:29:00.000-06:00

One of our best friends in Monterrey is now in the Houston area, teaching & playing in a band - we're gonna go see him perform 23 April, if not sooner {depending on his schedule} - Aldo is an intelligent, infinitely talented young man, who is an asset wherever he is ......................... I'm doin' a HAPPY DANCE!!

And, yes, there MAY be pictures from the show ..................................

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Now, I've no great admiration for Ted Turner ...............................

2010-04-04T12:02:00.002-06:00

I believe grown men playing at 'radical chic' is rather pathetic; THAT said, I have to give the devil his due, in that Turner's TCM channel is THE ONLY ONE I can find that recognizes some folks might prefer movies that celebrate their faith on Easter Sunday - as a child of the 60's & 70's, I find it sad that not ONE purveyor of 'entertainment' is willing to show Jesus Christ Superstar, for example, much less The Passion of the Christ - guess the whole idea of Christianity is just too damn inflammatory ................................... and yes, I realize that Turner probably doesn't make a lot of day-to-day decisions re: programming, but I'd be my bottom dollar that he's well-aware of his staff's choices ................................

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

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GREAT article by Jenn Q. Public ...................................

2010-04-01T07:50:00.000-06:00

http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/04/01/the-rape-of-lady-liberty/

On the Rape of Lady Liberty ................................................

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For those who can't make the trip to Washington DC April 15 .......................

2010-03-29T09:26:00.000-06:00

you can join the Online Tax Revolt - if you believe we are MORE than Taxed Enough Already, jump onboard the 'virtual' bandwagon ...................

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Via BMEWS .................. LtCol. Allen West for President

2010-03-28T07:31:00.000-06:00

From a retired Mustang Captain ............................. ;-)

2010-03-22T20:44:00.000-06:00

Let me get this straight......we're trying to pass a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president that also hasn't read it and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke.

What could possibly go wrong????

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From Theo Spark .................................................

2010-03-22T11:36:00.000-06:00

And to quote the Gentlemen of HillBuzz - WE are the Resistance!

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Via Eternity Road, via Crusader Rabbit ...................................

2010-03-18T10:54:00.000-06:00

if anyone else views the census this time around as a complete boondoggle & invasion of privacy, here's a link to a recommended, LEGAL response ........................

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From my Colonel .............................. ;-)

2010-03-18T10:43:00.001-06:00

LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOSTS' COMMENTS ON OBAMA...

Liberals are asking us to give Obama time. We agree and think 25 to life would be appropriate. America needs Obama-care like Nancy Pelosi needs a Halloween mask. -Leno

Q: Have you heard about McDonald's' new Obama Value Meal?
A: Order anything you like and the guy behind you has to pay for it. -O'Brien

Q: What does Barack Obama call lunch with a convicted felon?
A: A fund raiser. -Leno

Q: What's the difference between Obama's cabinet and a penitentiary?
A: One is filled with tax evaders, blackmailers and threats to society. The other is for housing prisoners. -Letterman

Q: If Nancy Pelosi and Obama were on a boat in the middle of the ocean and it started to sink, who would be saved?
A: America ! -Fallon

Q: What's the difference between Obama and his dog, Bo?
A: Bo has papers. -Kimmel

Q: What was the most positive result of the "Cash for clunkers" program?
A: It took 95% of the Obama bumper stickers off the road. -Letterman

~~~~~~~~

The Dinner Roll ..

Once upon a time I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President.

I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics.

There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a FREE country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was EARNED honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor.

I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room.

We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner.

The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen..

"Sorry 'bout that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry."

"I don't appreciate..." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. "Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass.

Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. "And his brother, Eric, is very thirsty," said the President.

I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I withheld my comments and decided to play along. I don't want to seem unkind..

My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite.

"Eric's children are also quite hungry."

With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me.

I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room.

And their grandmother can't stand for long."

I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken.

I turned back to the President.

"Their grandfather doesn't like the cold."

I wanted to shout, "that was my coat!" But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport.
I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled.

Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table.

I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home.

Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him.

"Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a subprime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do."

My hands were shaking. I felt faint I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor.

The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak, and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops.

"By the way," he added, "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories.

I'm firing you as head of your business. I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind.

There's a whole bunch of Erics and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars...we need to spread YOUR wealth around..."

I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his crème Brule.

He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair.

He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if it were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss.

I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle.

Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us.

What had I done wrong?

As if answering the unspoken thought, President Obama suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands.

"You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said.

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!

.

From the Gentlemen of HillBuzz ..................................

2010-03-17T19:54:00.002-06:00

A Very Personal Plea - if you're a praying person, please do so ....................

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From my LtCol .......................................

2010-03-14T11:05:00.000-06:00

Some folks seem to have forgotten just HOW this nation was founded ........................................

2010-03-13T17:35:00.000-06:00

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

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From my beloved Radar Rick ................................... ;-)

2010-03-13T11:23:00.003-06:00

A cowboy from Texas attends a social function where Barack Obama
is trying to gather support for his Health Plan. Once he discovers the cowboy is from President Bush's home area, he starts to belittle him by talking in a southern drawl and single syllable words.

As he was doing that, he kept swatting at some flies that were buzzing around his head. The cowboy says, "Y'all havin' some problem with them circle flies?"

Obama stopped talking and said, "Well, yes, if that's what they're called, but I've never heard of circle flies."

"Well, sir," the cowboy replies, "Circle flies hang around ranches. They're called circle flies because they're almost always found circling around the back end of a horse."

"Oh," Obama replies as he goes back to rambling. But, a moment later he stops and bluntly asks, "Are you calling me a horse's ass?"

"No, sir," the cowboy replies, "I have too much respect for the citizens of this country to call their president a horse's ass."

"That's a good thing," Obama responds and begins rambling on once more.

After a long pause, the cowboy, in his best Texas drawl says, "Hard to fool them flies, though."

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