There is so much that stupefies me in this clip: California, near Berkley, while shopping at Whole Foods, driving a VW van. Granted, the firearm wasn't hers (there are fairly strict gun control laws in California. So, the victim didn't have a firearm but the criminal did- which I'm sure that he obtained legally. I'm still just a bit confused on how gun control laws protect citizens). So, she had to borrow the criminal's firearm.
Notice that the police don't recommend fighting back. That advice is absolutely situational. If you are being taken by the carjackers, you definitely need to fight back. Never, ever be taken in a car. EVER! It appears that she was in the back of the van and the carjacker was in control in the driver's seat. It is not apparent if the side doors were open or closed, if the van was already in motion and therefore she was fighting to get free or to get out or to force the carjacker out. So, I would take the reporter's comments about the police saying don't fight as conditional.
That being said, good on her.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Post script: Heroic deeds presented as commonplace
My WWII vet friend Mark's funeral was today. I was privileged by his son to be allowed to read what I had written previously. And I heard a new story about Mark.
Seems Sgt. Holmes was in Paris in June 1945. A Colonel he knew asked him "Sergeant, do you have a jeep?" "Yes, sir, I do." "I want to visit my family that I haven't seen since I fled Italy and the fascists. So, I need to have you drive me to the Swiss border." "Yes, sir." And off they went on their 600 mile round trip odyssey. Mark dropped off the Colonel at his direction and was told to be back at that spot next day at 1500 hours. "Yes, sir." Mark called his C.O. (a two star if I remember correctly) and was asked where he was going and what he was doing. Mark said he'd report back to him when he returned. Next day, 1500 hours, Mark picked the Colonel up after visiting his family and returned to Paris. Mark immediately reported to his C.O. and was asked where he had gone. "Well, sir, I took Colonel Fermi to Switzerland to reunite with his family that he hasn't seen since he fled the fascists and came to the United States." Colonel Fermi was Colonel Enrico Fermi, Noble Prize winning top nuclear physicist in the world Enrico Fermi, the man who launched the first fission reaction Enrico Fermi and was deeply involved in the top secret Manhattan Project Enrico Fermi. That's the Colonel Fermi who Mark was spiriting all around France, Switzerland and Italy. With no escort or security detail. The General replied: "I didn't hear a single word you just said Sergeant! Dismissed." "Yes, sir."My friend Mark:
It wasn't until yesterday when I was taking a picture of Mark's medals that I saw he had his jump wings, a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star .
Heroic deeds as commonplace.
146 years of government consistency
Please click on the below image and look over the map, drawing your attention to the area dated 1851. Look at the incredible area outlined. Just eyeballing it, it appears to be about 1/2 of the entire current area of the state of Minnesota.
When I was in sixth grade, we studied Minnesota state history, including the Treaty of Travers de Sioux which was signed just north of what is now St. Peter. Five years ago I was coming back from a gun show in St. Peter and decided to stop by the Treaty Center. As I walked in, I saw a similar map on the wall next to a copy of the treaty signed in 1851. The price for the ceded area was $1,650,000. Works out to be about 7¢ an acre. The government then went ahead and sold it at $1.25 an acre to the white settlers. This infuriated the signers of the treaty and ruined their reputations in the tribes (more on that in a bit). Oh, and the Sioux never received the full amount(further reputation destruction if not outright hostility to whites. By destroying the reputation of these men, the government had eroded if not destroyed its ability to reason with and within the various tribes). I remember thinking, as I read that last statement "Yup. They did it to you and they doing it to us also.The only thing that's changed is time and they've gotten better at their craft."
One of the provisions in the treaty was that the Sioux reservations and be able to have access to their traditional hunting grounds. The Senate, however, changed the treaty more on all treaties here). The Senate eliminated the reservations set aside. It then insisted that they tribes accept the new provisions or there would be no monies paid. The tribes were desperate for food, goods and the money having abandoned the land. Millard Fillmore agreed that the tribes could occupy what had been the original reservation land until " it was needed for white settlement." In 1858 the Sioux who lived along the Minnesota River were pressured to cede their land also. They did and were granted reservations called the Upper and Lower Sioux Agencies. Without access to their traditional hunting grounds, they were forced to depend on the government for their very sustenance (anyone see a warning flare here?). The Upper and Lower Sioux Agencies contained incredibly rich farm land and one the agents said that the land was being settled with "great rapidity". Surprisingly enough, the landowners and Indians were very fond of each other for the most part. It was the agents who ran the warehouses that were the problem. Payments to the Sioux were usually late. Goods and services were denied or were sold by the agents to those outside the agencies. However, after a failed crop in 1861, by 1862, the Sioux were desperate. They were starving. One agent, who when the Sioux came to him pleading their case, was quoted as saying "Let them eat grass and dung!" The Sioux had reached a breaking point and rebelled in what is called "The Great Sioux Uprising". The aforementioned agent was found dead. His mouth had been stuffed with grass.
The white settlers ran for towns, starting with New Ulm. Many made it. Many did not. Years ago I was in a very small town in SW Minnesota called Currie. In preparation for a pig roast, my friends from Curry and I went out of town to pick sweet corn (I was admonished, as a city boy, that I had wandered into and was picking the field corn). Paul asked me if I knew where I was. "Outside Currie, trying desperately to distinguish between sweet and field corn?" He said,"This area is called Slaughter Slough. This where a number of white settlers who were trying to get to New Ulm were caught and killed in the Great Sioux Uprising". I was standing on blood soaked ground. Fifteen settlers had been killed where I stood.
After cessation of hostilities, there was a trial for over 300 of the tribal members. Well, not really a trial. It was a military tribunal, many times having no witnesses, no legal representation or explanation of the charges. Many were summarily convicted and sentenced to death within five minutes. President Lincoln reviewed the sentences and commuted all but 38 of the convicted. They were executed enmass on this day in Mankato in what is still the largest mass execution in the United States. I remember travelling down highway 169 as a child with my Mom and Dad on the way to visit my grandparents in SW Minnesota. One time we went through downtown Mankato, across the river to the east side near the railroad underpass. As we stopped, I looked out the window. There was a plaque that read on this spot 38 Indians were hanged as a result of the Great Sioux Uprising. That plaque has been removed.
Those hangings took place on this day, 26 December 1862, 146 years ago.
And so I reflect on this day about men who were starving, desperate, watching their children suffer, who had been lied to, cheated on, deceived by that very same government they depended on, when men who were left with no alternatives took action.
One thing more: when the Senate changed the treaty it reminded me of two Supreme Court decisions: There does not, repeat , does not exist a contract between the government and citizens concerning Social Security. Two Supreme Court decisions.
So, when you hear politicians say how "we need to honor the contract we have with the American public" remember: no, they don't. No, they haven't.
And , if needed, they can and are perfectly willing do to you as they did to the Sioux and Dakota fifteen decades ago.
So, hang in there...so to speak.
When I was in sixth grade, we studied Minnesota state history, including the Treaty of Travers de Sioux which was signed just north of what is now St. Peter. Five years ago I was coming back from a gun show in St. Peter and decided to stop by the Treaty Center. As I walked in, I saw a similar map on the wall next to a copy of the treaty signed in 1851. The price for the ceded area was $1,650,000. Works out to be about 7¢ an acre. The government then went ahead and sold it at $1.25 an acre to the white settlers. This infuriated the signers of the treaty and ruined their reputations in the tribes (more on that in a bit). Oh, and the Sioux never received the full amount(further reputation destruction if not outright hostility to whites. By destroying the reputation of these men, the government had eroded if not destroyed its ability to reason with and within the various tribes). I remember thinking, as I read that last statement "Yup. They did it to you and they doing it to us also.The only thing that's changed is time and they've gotten better at their craft."One of the provisions in the treaty was that the Sioux reservations and be able to have access to their traditional hunting grounds. The Senate, however, changed the treaty more on all treaties here). The Senate eliminated the reservations set aside. It then insisted that they tribes accept the new provisions or there would be no monies paid. The tribes were desperate for food, goods and the money having abandoned the land. Millard Fillmore agreed that the tribes could occupy what had been the original reservation land until " it was needed for white settlement." In 1858 the Sioux who lived along the Minnesota River were pressured to cede their land also. They did and were granted reservations called the Upper and Lower Sioux Agencies. Without access to their traditional hunting grounds, they were forced to depend on the government for their very sustenance (anyone see a warning flare here?). The Upper and Lower Sioux Agencies contained incredibly rich farm land and one the agents said that the land was being settled with "great rapidity". Surprisingly enough, the landowners and Indians were very fond of each other for the most part. It was the agents who ran the warehouses that were the problem. Payments to the Sioux were usually late. Goods and services were denied or were sold by the agents to those outside the agencies. However, after a failed crop in 1861, by 1862, the Sioux were desperate. They were starving. One agent, who when the Sioux came to him pleading their case, was quoted as saying "Let them eat grass and dung!" The Sioux had reached a breaking point and rebelled in what is called "The Great Sioux Uprising". The aforementioned agent was found dead. His mouth had been stuffed with grass.
The white settlers ran for towns, starting with New Ulm. Many made it. Many did not. Years ago I was in a very small town in SW Minnesota called Currie. In preparation for a pig roast, my friends from Curry and I went out of town to pick sweet corn (I was admonished, as a city boy, that I had wandered into and was picking the field corn). Paul asked me if I knew where I was. "Outside Currie, trying desperately to distinguish between sweet and field corn?" He said,"This area is called Slaughter Slough. This where a number of white settlers who were trying to get to New Ulm were caught and killed in the Great Sioux Uprising". I was standing on blood soaked ground. Fifteen settlers had been killed where I stood.
After cessation of hostilities, there was a trial for over 300 of the tribal members. Well, not really a trial. It was a military tribunal, many times having no witnesses, no legal representation or explanation of the charges. Many were summarily convicted and sentenced to death within five minutes. President Lincoln reviewed the sentences and commuted all but 38 of the convicted. They were executed enmass on this day in Mankato in what is still the largest mass execution in the United States. I remember travelling down highway 169 as a child with my Mom and Dad on the way to visit my grandparents in SW Minnesota. One time we went through downtown Mankato, across the river to the east side near the railroad underpass. As we stopped, I looked out the window. There was a plaque that read on this spot 38 Indians were hanged as a result of the Great Sioux Uprising. That plaque has been removed.
Those hangings took place on this day, 26 December 1862, 146 years ago.
And so I reflect on this day about men who were starving, desperate, watching their children suffer, who had been lied to, cheated on, deceived by that very same government they depended on, when men who were left with no alternatives took action.
One thing more: when the Senate changed the treaty it reminded me of two Supreme Court decisions: There does not, repeat , does not exist a contract between the government and citizens concerning Social Security. Two Supreme Court decisions.
So, when you hear politicians say how "we need to honor the contract we have with the American public" remember: no, they don't. No, they haven't.
And , if needed, they can and are perfectly willing do to you as they did to the Sioux and Dakota fifteen decades ago.
So, hang in there...so to speak.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Side by side
I've written about Coleman's recount team before. That being, I came across what again proves to me that lefties always have two sets of rules and laws: one for them and one for the unwashed servants (us) that should serve them.
John Lott (from a link from Mitch Berg) has done a comparison of ballots for Coleman and ballots for Franken.
I did some screen shots, edited and used my stitching software so cobble together a side by side comparison of the ballots (I apologize for the less than professional level of the image. You can provide contributions to send me to graphics school if the image quality stresses you that much). All the ballots on the left, save the last one, were not counted for Coleman. All the ballots on the right were counted for Franken. In this side by side, if this sampling were to carry through all ballots, I'd believe the +46 for Franken would disappear faster than ACORN volunteers in front of an FBI sweep.
Seems to me there is supposed to be a consistency in the law. Coleman may have a case with Bush v Gore as the case precedent.
John Lott (from a link from Mitch Berg) has done a comparison of ballots for Coleman and ballots for Franken.
I did some screen shots, edited and used my stitching software so cobble together a side by side comparison of the ballots (I apologize for the less than professional level of the image. You can provide contributions to send me to graphics school if the image quality stresses you that much). All the ballots on the left, save the last one, were not counted for Coleman. All the ballots on the right were counted for Franken. In this side by side, if this sampling were to carry through all ballots, I'd believe the +46 for Franken would disappear faster than ACORN volunteers in front of an FBI sweep.
Seems to me there is supposed to be a consistency in the law. Coleman may have a case with Bush v Gore as the case precedent.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Heroic deeds presented as commonplace
I've written before about my friends in the 8th Air Force Historical Society. These are the guys who flew and maintained the B-17, B-24's, B-25's, C-47, Corsairs and so many more planes in WWII (both Europe and the Pacific). We also have ground troops and aviators from other wars and we also have hanger ons like me.
The WWII vets are all in their 80's. Some have walkers, others have oxygen tanks, many have hearing aids. I watch as I see my future in these men. They go from being old to being frail to being infirm. They go from attending the lunches to missing some lunches to getting to some lunches to not being able to go to lunches anymore. And then it's the call or the notice...So it is with another one my friends, Mark Holmes.
I met Mark about a year after I joined the 8thAFHS in 2001. I ran into Mark at an Arby's in Edina, but didn't remember his name. Well, that changed over the next few months. From his name tag at the lunches, I knew Mark was in Air Force Intelligence, but not much more than that. Again, that was to change.
My friend Larry Bachman (B-24 pilot, 35 completed combat missions) celebrated his and his wife's 60th wedding anniversary with an open house at his church. Mark was there and we talked for a bit. He was telling me that he no longer drove and wasn't sure about making the lunches. I said I could come and pick him up from time to time. "Well, if it's not out of your way." Serving WWII vets is never out of my way. So, one bright early spring morning I went to Hopkins to pick Mark up. As we were going to lunch, I asked Mark what he did in Air Force Intelligence. "I was a courier." What did he do as courier? "Oh, I picked up documents and brought them back to headquarters." Ah, I see. Well, trying to keep the conversation going I asked where in England did he pick those documents up? "Oh, I picked them up in France, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Germany." Behind enemy lines? "Oh, sure." Oh, sure? Well,how many times? "21 I think." TWENTY ONE! Parachuted? "Only once. Airplane all the other times." Ever caught? "No. Real, real close lots of times though!" Oh....real, real close... lots of time. Here I was, giving a ride to one of the most self effacing men I had ever met. Just a matter of fact tale of going behind enemy lines on numerous occasions and coming close to certain execution if caught-a number of times.
This morning, about an hour ago, my friend Glenn called. My friend Mark has passed from living history to history past.
As I said before they go from being old to being frail. The notice was relayed to us a couple of months ago from Mark's son that his Dad was probably not going to be able to make it to the lunches anymore. I knew time was being counted for Mark.
And of course I reflect on the time being counted for all the rest of my WWII friends. There will come that time when the last WWII veteran I know will transcend living history. There will be that moment when all experience will become memory.
I've written before that I told my brother that the deeper we get into the 8thAFHS and the more we know these guys, the more acute and deeper the pain will be when they pass away. My brother then made a comment that echoes what Mark did in WWII:"We knew the mission was dangerous when we accepted it."
And I intend to enjoy whatever time left the Lord allows me to hang out with these guys.
Rest and fare well Mark.
The WWII vets are all in their 80's. Some have walkers, others have oxygen tanks, many have hearing aids. I watch as I see my future in these men. They go from being old to being frail to being infirm. They go from attending the lunches to missing some lunches to getting to some lunches to not being able to go to lunches anymore. And then it's the call or the notice...So it is with another one my friends, Mark Holmes.
I met Mark about a year after I joined the 8thAFHS in 2001. I ran into Mark at an Arby's in Edina, but didn't remember his name. Well, that changed over the next few months. From his name tag at the lunches, I knew Mark was in Air Force Intelligence, but not much more than that. Again, that was to change.
My friend Larry Bachman (B-24 pilot, 35 completed combat missions) celebrated his and his wife's 60th wedding anniversary with an open house at his church. Mark was there and we talked for a bit. He was telling me that he no longer drove and wasn't sure about making the lunches. I said I could come and pick him up from time to time. "Well, if it's not out of your way." Serving WWII vets is never out of my way. So, one bright early spring morning I went to Hopkins to pick Mark up. As we were going to lunch, I asked Mark what he did in Air Force Intelligence. "I was a courier." What did he do as courier? "Oh, I picked up documents and brought them back to headquarters." Ah, I see. Well, trying to keep the conversation going I asked where in England did he pick those documents up? "Oh, I picked them up in France, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Germany." Behind enemy lines? "Oh, sure." Oh, sure? Well,how many times? "21 I think." TWENTY ONE! Parachuted? "Only once. Airplane all the other times." Ever caught? "No. Real, real close lots of times though!" Oh....real, real close... lots of time. Here I was, giving a ride to one of the most self effacing men I had ever met. Just a matter of fact tale of going behind enemy lines on numerous occasions and coming close to certain execution if caught-a number of times.
This morning, about an hour ago, my friend Glenn called. My friend Mark has passed from living history to history past.
As I said before they go from being old to being frail. The notice was relayed to us a couple of months ago from Mark's son that his Dad was probably not going to be able to make it to the lunches anymore. I knew time was being counted for Mark.
And of course I reflect on the time being counted for all the rest of my WWII friends. There will come that time when the last WWII veteran I know will transcend living history. There will be that moment when all experience will become memory.
I've written before that I told my brother that the deeper we get into the 8thAFHS and the more we know these guys, the more acute and deeper the pain will be when they pass away. My brother then made a comment that echoes what Mark did in WWII:"We knew the mission was dangerous when we accepted it."
And I intend to enjoy whatever time left the Lord allows me to hang out with these guys.
Rest and fare well Mark.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The Coleman recount
I've posted on the organizational problems at Team Recount Coleman. It has not gotten better.
I'm a member of the Republican Party of Minnesota State Central Committee. Members are elected from their Senate District conventions in odd numbered years. Our terms are for two years. The officers of the Republican Party are elected by the State Central Committee and they serve for two years.We meet as called. And we were called to meet on 6 December at the Sheraton in Bloomington. After the business of the day, there was a meeting to update us on the senate race recount. Very interesting stuff that you'll never hear in the MSM. One point: those 133 "missing ballots"? Not necessarily...Seems that the precinct with the "missing ballots" is at the University if Minnesota. Also seemsm that this is the second 'serious" problem at that precinct. But, here's what happened with the "missing 133": There were 133 ballots short on the reconciliation tape from the optical scanners versus how many people signed the voter register. So, there was discrepnacy. Now, the lines at this precinct were up to 2 hours long. These are University students who have classes and jobs to get to. It is perfectly reasonable to assume that they got of line to go to class, their job, they got impatient. Sue Jeffers over at KTLK has a daughter who was in a line to vote where she goes to college. She lefrt the line and came back later. But, our intrepid George Soros backed Sec of State said "AH HA! These ballots are missing!!!" Of course they were. Nothing suspicious about his proclamation about missing ballots in a heavily Franken leaning enclave. Anyhow, back to Team Recount Coleman.
So, at this meeting is guy taking names to help with the recount. I approached him and told him of my previous failure to be contacted by Team Coleman. I told him of my background: a former election judge, a former SD Executive Chair, State Central Committee member, I'm 6'2', 250# and have played rugby and can be intimidating, and so on and so forth. He had his laptop open. He took and entered my name and cell number. He told me I'd be contacted "today". He gave me his card. I told him I'd email him as soon as I got home. I emailed him directly at 5:54 p.m., Saturday, 6 December, with, as promised, my name and county in the subject line.
As of this writing, I've yet to hear from Team Coleman or this gentleman.
And now, look, look I say, look upon our new Senator brought to you by inept Republicans:
I'm a member of the Republican Party of Minnesota State Central Committee. Members are elected from their Senate District conventions in odd numbered years. Our terms are for two years. The officers of the Republican Party are elected by the State Central Committee and they serve for two years.We meet as called. And we were called to meet on 6 December at the Sheraton in Bloomington. After the business of the day, there was a meeting to update us on the senate race recount. Very interesting stuff that you'll never hear in the MSM. One point: those 133 "missing ballots"? Not necessarily...Seems that the precinct with the "missing ballots" is at the University if Minnesota. Also seemsm that this is the second 'serious" problem at that precinct. But, here's what happened with the "missing 133": There were 133 ballots short on the reconciliation tape from the optical scanners versus how many people signed the voter register. So, there was discrepnacy. Now, the lines at this precinct were up to 2 hours long. These are University students who have classes and jobs to get to. It is perfectly reasonable to assume that they got of line to go to class, their job, they got impatient. Sue Jeffers over at KTLK has a daughter who was in a line to vote where she goes to college. She lefrt the line and came back later. But, our intrepid George Soros backed Sec of State said "AH HA! These ballots are missing!!!" Of course they were. Nothing suspicious about his proclamation about missing ballots in a heavily Franken leaning enclave. Anyhow, back to Team Recount Coleman.
So, at this meeting is guy taking names to help with the recount. I approached him and told him of my previous failure to be contacted by Team Coleman. I told him of my background: a former election judge, a former SD Executive Chair, State Central Committee member, I'm 6'2', 250# and have played rugby and can be intimidating, and so on and so forth. He had his laptop open. He took and entered my name and cell number. He told me I'd be contacted "today". He gave me his card. I told him I'd email him as soon as I got home. I emailed him directly at 5:54 p.m., Saturday, 6 December, with, as promised, my name and county in the subject line.
As of this writing, I've yet to hear from Team Coleman or this gentleman.
And now, look, look I say, look upon our new Senator brought to you by inept Republicans:
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Amendment X is on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AmendmentX .
Any guesses as to what this is a picture of (it's the picture I've associated with my #AmendmentX):
Any guesses as to what this is a picture of (it's the picture I've associated with my #AmendmentX):
Seeing the future in a teacup, twice.
Last night I was wasting an hour of my life watching "Parking Wars" on A&E. It's a real reality show based on the adventures and the never ending war between parkers and the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA). There are four scenarios: those that walk the streets issuing tickets, those that boot scofflaws, the impound lot and occasionally the tow truck drivers. What caught my attention in my mildly "EUREKA" moment was a scene from the Impound Lot where towed vehicles go to be redeemed by their owners.
Teacup One
A man and his wife had literally just moved to Philly and had their trucked towed within 12 hours of their arrival (in small print on a sign "No Parking 7:30-9:00 a.m.) and away she went!
I didn't hear how the figured out or were told that their vehicle was at "The Impound".
So, off they went, information and a Discover card in hand for the ticket and the tow. A simple process: pay the ticket and the tow, car released, drive away and Welcome to Philly. Enjoy your stay. Yah, right!
So this guy shows up having lived in Philly for less than 16 hours and is about to run into "The Bureaucracy". He's told of the ticket and the towing charges ($125 I believe). OK. "We need your registration and proof of insurance before we can release your car." They're in the car. OK, here's a red permission card that will allow you to go to your car to get your registration and proof of insurance. Just present it to the officer (not attendant, "officer") at the blue booth. he does as he's instructed. And tells the "officer" (instant respect with that title, right?) that he also needs to get his wallet and cash. SCREECH!!!! Oh, no, she (the booth "officer") says. She then tells him why he needs a new card, completely filled out, to get his wallet, HIS wallet out of HIS car. But, he protests, I just want to get my wallet also. Nope. And she makes it clear, VERY clear that he needs a new form, again telling him to have it completely filled out to be able to retrieve anything BUT his registration and proof of insurance. he begins to express his frustration and is told, in NO uncertain terms "Don't you go off on me like that!!!" OK, he'll just get those documents and shut up.
He retrieves registration, proof of insurance and gets back in line. He then notices that the PPA takes Visa and Mastercard. No Discover card. He gets to the window. New "officer" behind the bullet proof window. The man tells the "officer" what's transpired and that he needs to retrieve his wallet where he has a Visa card. No problem, says the officer. Take this card to the "officer" at the blue booth and the "officer" will escort you to your car. The card the "officer" gives the man is a red card. The man dutifully again does as he's instructed. Upon his arrival at the blue booth, Mizzzzz "Officer" CompassionandTolerance sees his red card and hears what he needs to retrieve and immediately berates him as she was abundantly clear on his last visit that he was ONLY allowed to retrieve registration and proof of insurance. The man (as tempted as I am to refer to him as the "victim") repeats the same story he told the bullet proof officer. Officer CompassionandTolerance repeats again, in a sharply voiced reprimand, that she was quite clear in what the red card allowed. The man repeats again that he was clear what he wanted in his description. Seems Officer Bullet Proof was hasty and gave the man the wrong card. No fault of the man's part. No fault at all. No matter. Rules is rules are rules. We have a process says Officer CompassionandTolerance. So, back to Officer Bullet Proof for the proper form, completely and correctly filled out. This time, finally, everything works out and the man has all the proper forms, cards, credit cards, and approval of "The Bureaucracy" to be able to pay his fine, tow charges and get the other proper form at another window showing he has fully paid all, then gets a release form that he then presents to, who class, who...? CORRECT-Officer CompassionandTolerance, who still is berating the man for Officer Bullet Proof's mistake. And the man and his wife retrieve the car and begin their life in Philly.
Teacup Two
After a night of clubbing, a woman and her brother (celebrating his 21st birthday) had parked in a "No Stopping" space. She mentioned that the sign was posted with a number of others and all were fairly confusing. Well, a new Officer Bullet Proof agreed with her (there was then a video shot of three signs with an arrow on each pointing three different directions complete with three different times, all confusing. Real confusing. But, ya gotta put the sign where the bureaucrat says "put this sign there").So, again "proof of registration and insurance, please." You know where they are. Red card, blue booth. Thankfully Officer CompassionandTolerance is off duty. The woman who owns the car is also handicapped from a motorcycle accident and walking long distances are painful for her. But, off she trudges and retrieves the necessary documents. Back to new Officer bullet Proof. Oh, oh...Insurance has expired. Date on the insurance card reads "12-21". This is late May. What to do at 2:00 a.m.? Walk back and look again. Nothing. So,call the 24 hour line at USAA and have USAA fax the current insurance info to the PPA at the fax number in new Officer Bullet Proof's office. 24 hour line called. A recording is heard: "The system is temporarily down. Please call back later." The PPA Impound Lot office closes at 3:00 a.m. Brother and sister call again and again. Tick, tock on the clock, closer to 3:00 a.m. and pumpkin time for our hapless clubbing brother and sister (whose leg is now bothering her). Finally, success! The USAA system is up and the request is taken and the current insurance information is on its electronic way to new Officer Bullet Proof. Fax arrives. Oh, oh...Now, as it's 2:57 a.m and locks are being put on PPA Impound Lot entrance/exit, new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor , Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere takes over. We have a problem he intones with much, much bureaucratic seriousness. The information faxed from USAA is exactly the same as what our now frustrated painful leg car owner has retrieved form her car. The date is still "12-21". However, there is another glaring "oopsy" from our gallant PPA. The submitted insurance card and the new fax from USAA clearly states that the insurance "expires six months" from "12-21". Well, our intrepid new Officer Bullet Proof was told that, but insisted that "12-21" was the expiration date (after all, could he be faulted that nearly all other insurance companies mark their cards with an expiration date rather than an "expires six months from" date? I hear a federal regulation on expiration dates in the offing...). Well, now that new Officer Bullet Proof and new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor , Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere finally see their mistake, we also learn that new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor , Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere is also a math genius. "12-21" (December 21st) plus six months = "5-21"(May 21st). And therefore, the insurance is expired. No, brother and sister attempt to instruct new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor , Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere. "12-21" plus six months="6-21". Repeat new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor , Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere's addition of six months onto "12-21" to get 5-21 proving that he's waiting to hear from Lawrenece Livermore to accept the post as Head of Theoretical Physics. Sister and brother repeat. And lo and behold new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor , Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere sees that he forgot to carry pi to the e in the regressive application calculation.
And so, at 3:00 a.m., after having wasted a full hour of their time while the highly trained PPA staff once again earns their pay, off sister and brother drive.
So, what was the future I saw in these two scenes? Here is my eureka moment: what I was seeing, on a micro scale at the PPA Impound Lot was how national health care was going to be run, administered, practiced and enjoyed.
National health care is not going to be run by you. It will not be run by your doctor (assuming that you'll be able to have a doctor, "your" doctor that will have a comprehensive view of your health history). It will not be run by your family. It will not be run by mothers and fathers for their children and family. It will not be run by sons and daughters for their aging parents. It will not be run by health care specialists or hospital staff. It will not be run by a Health Care Czar.
It will be run by faceless, nameless bureaucrats that you may or may not ever see. It will be run by functionaries that have rules and procedures that must be adhered to. It will be run by the health care equivalents of Officer CompassionandTolerance and new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere.
These people may, or may not, give a rip about you, your health, your cancer, your child's suffering at 2:57 a.m. because there are rules, hours, procedures and closing times. And those rules, hours and procedures must, repeat MUST be adhered to!
The two most important things I saw? Above all, they have the power over you! They may be little, faceless people at a crappy government steel desk,sitting in a crappy government desk chair, in a government paint job office someplace, putting in their exactly 8 hours a day (with 45 minutes for lunch) but, by checking one box or another, they have power! POWER!
The second thing I saw: if they make a mistake, you suffer. They don't. Period! Again, they have the power. And again,you don't. An appeal to the upper levels, or at least a higher level, to correct an obvious mistake will yield whatever that level decides. Good luck!
Oh, and one more thing: you can't fire them. You can't go anywhere else as that would be black market health care and there will be severe penalties for freedom of choice being exercised in America.
That's what I saw watching videos of the PPA in action with the citizens of Philadelphia, PA.
Teacup One
A man and his wife had literally just moved to Philly and had their trucked towed within 12 hours of their arrival (in small print on a sign "No Parking 7:30-9:00 a.m.) and away she went!
I didn't hear how the figured out or were told that their vehicle was at "The Impound".
So, off they went, information and a Discover card in hand for the ticket and the tow. A simple process: pay the ticket and the tow, car released, drive away and Welcome to Philly. Enjoy your stay. Yah, right!
So this guy shows up having lived in Philly for less than 16 hours and is about to run into "The Bureaucracy". He's told of the ticket and the towing charges ($125 I believe). OK. "We need your registration and proof of insurance before we can release your car." They're in the car. OK, here's a red permission card that will allow you to go to your car to get your registration and proof of insurance. Just present it to the officer (not attendant, "officer") at the blue booth. he does as he's instructed. And tells the "officer" (instant respect with that title, right?) that he also needs to get his wallet and cash. SCREECH!!!! Oh, no, she (the booth "officer") says. She then tells him why he needs a new card, completely filled out, to get his wallet, HIS wallet out of HIS car. But, he protests, I just want to get my wallet also. Nope. And she makes it clear, VERY clear that he needs a new form, again telling him to have it completely filled out to be able to retrieve anything BUT his registration and proof of insurance. he begins to express his frustration and is told, in NO uncertain terms "Don't you go off on me like that!!!" OK, he'll just get those documents and shut up.
He retrieves registration, proof of insurance and gets back in line. He then notices that the PPA takes Visa and Mastercard. No Discover card. He gets to the window. New "officer" behind the bullet proof window. The man tells the "officer" what's transpired and that he needs to retrieve his wallet where he has a Visa card. No problem, says the officer. Take this card to the "officer" at the blue booth and the "officer" will escort you to your car. The card the "officer" gives the man is a red card. The man dutifully again does as he's instructed. Upon his arrival at the blue booth, Mizzzzz "Officer" CompassionandTolerance sees his red card and hears what he needs to retrieve and immediately berates him as she was abundantly clear on his last visit that he was ONLY allowed to retrieve registration and proof of insurance. The man (as tempted as I am to refer to him as the "victim") repeats the same story he told the bullet proof officer. Officer CompassionandTolerance repeats again, in a sharply voiced reprimand, that she was quite clear in what the red card allowed. The man repeats again that he was clear what he wanted in his description. Seems Officer Bullet Proof was hasty and gave the man the wrong card. No fault of the man's part. No fault at all. No matter. Rules is rules are rules. We have a process says Officer CompassionandTolerance. So, back to Officer Bullet Proof for the proper form, completely and correctly filled out. This time, finally, everything works out and the man has all the proper forms, cards, credit cards, and approval of "The Bureaucracy" to be able to pay his fine, tow charges and get the other proper form at another window showing he has fully paid all, then gets a release form that he then presents to, who class, who...? CORRECT-Officer CompassionandTolerance, who still is berating the man for Officer Bullet Proof's mistake. And the man and his wife retrieve the car and begin their life in Philly.
Teacup Two
After a night of clubbing, a woman and her brother (celebrating his 21st birthday) had parked in a "No Stopping" space. She mentioned that the sign was posted with a number of others and all were fairly confusing. Well, a new Officer Bullet Proof agreed with her (there was then a video shot of three signs with an arrow on each pointing three different directions complete with three different times, all confusing. Real confusing. But, ya gotta put the sign where the bureaucrat says "put this sign there").So, again "proof of registration and insurance, please." You know where they are. Red card, blue booth. Thankfully Officer CompassionandTolerance is off duty. The woman who owns the car is also handicapped from a motorcycle accident and walking long distances are painful for her. But, off she trudges and retrieves the necessary documents. Back to new Officer bullet Proof. Oh, oh...Insurance has expired. Date on the insurance card reads "12-21". This is late May. What to do at 2:00 a.m.? Walk back and look again. Nothing. So,call the 24 hour line at USAA and have USAA fax the current insurance info to the PPA at the fax number in new Officer Bullet Proof's office. 24 hour line called. A recording is heard: "The system is temporarily down. Please call back later." The PPA Impound Lot office closes at 3:00 a.m. Brother and sister call again and again. Tick, tock on the clock, closer to 3:00 a.m. and pumpkin time for our hapless clubbing brother and sister (whose leg is now bothering her). Finally, success! The USAA system is up and the request is taken and the current insurance information is on its electronic way to new Officer Bullet Proof. Fax arrives. Oh, oh...Now, as it's 2:57 a.m and locks are being put on PPA Impound Lot entrance/exit, new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor , Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere takes over. We have a problem he intones with much, much bureaucratic seriousness. The information faxed from USAA is exactly the same as what our now frustrated painful leg car owner has retrieved form her car. The date is still "12-21". However, there is another glaring "oopsy" from our gallant PPA. The submitted insurance card and the new fax from USAA clearly states that the insurance "expires six months" from "12-21". Well, our intrepid new Officer Bullet Proof was told that, but insisted that "12-21" was the expiration date (after all, could he be faulted that nearly all other insurance companies mark their cards with an expiration date rather than an "expires six months from" date? I hear a federal regulation on expiration dates in the offing...). Well, now that new Officer Bullet Proof and new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor , Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere finally see their mistake, we also learn that new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor , Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere is also a math genius. "12-21" (December 21st) plus six months = "5-21"(May 21st). And therefore, the insurance is expired. No, brother and sister attempt to instruct new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor , Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere. "12-21" plus six months="6-21". Repeat new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor , Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere's addition of six months onto "12-21" to get 5-21 proving that he's waiting to hear from Lawrenece Livermore to accept the post as Head of Theoretical Physics. Sister and brother repeat. And lo and behold new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor , Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere sees that he forgot to carry pi to the e in the regressive application calculation.
And so, at 3:00 a.m., after having wasted a full hour of their time while the highly trained PPA staff once again earns their pay, off sister and brother drive.
So, what was the future I saw in these two scenes? Here is my eureka moment: what I was seeing, on a micro scale at the PPA Impound Lot was how national health care was going to be run, administered, practiced and enjoyed.
National health care is not going to be run by you. It will not be run by your doctor (assuming that you'll be able to have a doctor, "your" doctor that will have a comprehensive view of your health history). It will not be run by your family. It will not be run by mothers and fathers for their children and family. It will not be run by sons and daughters for their aging parents. It will not be run by health care specialists or hospital staff. It will not be run by a Health Care Czar.
It will be run by faceless, nameless bureaucrats that you may or may not ever see. It will be run by functionaries that have rules and procedures that must be adhered to. It will be run by the health care equivalents of Officer CompassionandTolerance and new Officer Bullet Proof's supervisor Sergeant IHaveAWhiteShirtandBadgetoShowIAMinChargeHere.
These people may, or may not, give a rip about you, your health, your cancer, your child's suffering at 2:57 a.m. because there are rules, hours, procedures and closing times. And those rules, hours and procedures must, repeat MUST be adhered to!
The two most important things I saw? Above all, they have the power over you! They may be little, faceless people at a crappy government steel desk,sitting in a crappy government desk chair, in a government paint job office someplace, putting in their exactly 8 hours a day (with 45 minutes for lunch) but, by checking one box or another, they have power! POWER!
The second thing I saw: if they make a mistake, you suffer. They don't. Period! Again, they have the power. And again,you don't. An appeal to the upper levels, or at least a higher level, to correct an obvious mistake will yield whatever that level decides. Good luck!
Oh, and one more thing: you can't fire them. You can't go anywhere else as that would be black market health care and there will be severe penalties for freedom of choice being exercised in America.
That's what I saw watching videos of the PPA in action with the citizens of Philadelphia, PA.
Einstein was right...again...twice
As I'm waiting to make a phone call to a supplier out west, I came across a great video that explains complicated and failed Keynesian economic theory in a short lesson. John Maynard Keynes was the new whiz kid in the 20's and 30's that Herbert Hoover and FDR looked to in taking the country from a recession to a depression to the Great Depression. And yet, the left, after eight decades of evidence, still repeats and applies failed theory. Despite all the disaster and disasters Keynesians have wrought, the children and grandchildren (and now the great-grand children) of economic failures still tout failure as success.
Here is a simple, easy to understand, put the cookies down where the kids can get them video. Watch and learn (from Right Wing News. The instructor is Dan Mitchell of Cato) :
BTW, Einstein being right twice? "The definition of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting different results." "We can not solve the significant problems of our lives at the same level of thought we were at when we created them." (I've paraphrased. So sue me).
Here is a simple, easy to understand, put the cookies down where the kids can get them video. Watch and learn (from Right Wing News. The instructor is Dan Mitchell of Cato) :
BTW, Einstein being right twice? "The definition of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting different results." "We can not solve the significant problems of our lives at the same level of thought we were at when we created them." (I've paraphrased. So sue me).
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Kill the messenger
I read the article on the Bernard Madoff disaster in Prairie Pravda. I decided to try an experiment. I wrote in comments nothing but the truth to see how many peole would agree with my comments.
Here is what I wrote:
Comments aplenty
I entered comments before about Social Security and Medicare not being mere billions, but an order of magnitude 1,000 times greater. Yah, it appears that Madoff and Petters committed fraud. However, with any kind of background check it would have been apparent that these guys were too good to be true. There was a potential Petters investor that asked a private firm to investigate. They found Petters to have a rather spotty background and the investor passed. The situation here is that all these people voluntarily gave money to Petters and Madoff. You and I also have a choice when it comes to Social Security and Medicare: we can choose to participate/contribute or go to jail as SS and Medicare have the force of law. With Petters and Madoff if we didn't contribute we didn't go to jail. The current unfunded liability of Social Security and Medicare is calculated to be $99,000,000,000,000 by none other than the head of the Federal Reserve in Dallas (http://www.dallasfed.org/news/speeches/fisher/2008/fs080528.cfm ). So Petters and Madoff are small potatoes compared to what Congress has been doing for decades.
Nothing in my comments was an opinion. All is the truth and facts. And yet only 9 of 17 people agreed with my comments as of this writing.
Kids, we are in real deep trouble. Those 8 people who didn't agree with my comments would disagree with them on what basis? My facts are wrong? Where? Why? What was there to disagree with?
Again, we are in deep trouble and it won't get better for a long, long time.
Here is what I wrote:
Comments aplenty
I entered comments before about Social Security and Medicare not being mere billions, but an order of magnitude 1,000 times greater. Yah, it appears that Madoff and Petters committed fraud. However, with any kind of background check it would have been apparent that these guys were too good to be true. There was a potential Petters investor that asked a private firm to investigate. They found Petters to have a rather spotty background and the investor passed. The situation here is that all these people voluntarily gave money to Petters and Madoff. You and I also have a choice when it comes to Social Security and Medicare: we can choose to participate/contribute or go to jail as SS and Medicare have the force of law. With Petters and Madoff if we didn't contribute we didn't go to jail. The current unfunded liability of Social Security and Medicare is calculated to be $99,000,000,000,000 by none other than the head of the Federal Reserve in Dallas (http://www.dallasfed.org/news/speeches/fisher/2008/fs080528.cfm ). So Petters and Madoff are small potatoes compared to what Congress has been doing for decades.
Nothing in my comments was an opinion. All is the truth and facts. And yet only 9 of 17 people agreed with my comments as of this writing.
Kids, we are in real deep trouble. Those 8 people who didn't agree with my comments would disagree with them on what basis? My facts are wrong? Where? Why? What was there to disagree with?
Again, we are in deep trouble and it won't get better for a long, long time.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Using what we have
Does anyone know that we have a government created economic problem on our hands (I won't say crisis as that may be the natural progression from here as the authors of this disaster promise us they can fix it)? As everyone seems to line up for your money, there is a delayed fuse ordnace ready to blow us into that crisis: energy prices. The economy runs on credit, production and cheap energy. As Congress refuses to allow Americans to use the plentiful oil, gas and coal resources we already have untapped, this news article caught my attention: OPEC's Oil Supply Cuts Could Be Its Deepest. As crude oil prices have fallen to less than one third of their highs this past year, OPEC and Russia are going broke and don't like it. So, if the Saudis decide to cut production (already cut by 8%), prices go up at just the wrong time for any hope of recovery. This again is the consequences of the flaming idiots in Congress who will not look beyond the next election, who gave us high food prices with ethanol, the sub-prime crisis that echoed around the world and so on and so forth...
We have allowed Congressional Democrats (abetted by chicken Republicans) and their anti-American enviro allies to imperil our security on many levels. What Congress has done is to say to hungry Americans: "Nope, we will not allow farmers to plant and grow on land that is now fallow. Instead, we'll import food and subsidize hydroponic gardening. And be sure to vote for us!!!"
We are incredibly vulnerable to so many aspects of Congressional lunacy in energy policy.
My idea for Congress: get out of the way. Drill wherever there is oil. Cut taxes on profits for oil. Increase the oil depletion allowance. 100% depreciation for equipment. Very simple. Not easy if, of course, you are a radical anti-American as so many in Congress are.
We have allowed Congressional Democrats (abetted by chicken Republicans) and their anti-American enviro allies to imperil our security on many levels. What Congress has done is to say to hungry Americans: "Nope, we will not allow farmers to plant and grow on land that is now fallow. Instead, we'll import food and subsidize hydroponic gardening. And be sure to vote for us!!!"
We are incredibly vulnerable to so many aspects of Congressional lunacy in energy policy.
My idea for Congress: get out of the way. Drill wherever there is oil. Cut taxes on profits for oil. Increase the oil depletion allowance. 100% depreciation for equipment. Very simple. Not easy if, of course, you are a radical anti-American as so many in Congress are.
What's not said Part 1
I was talking to my Mom last night. She asked what I thought of "this guy" who threw his shoe at the President the other day. My response was "What on earth is he angry about?" I went on to say that six years ago he would have executed for even saying he wanted to throw a shoe at a guest of the then current Iraqi leader. The irony is that the reporter was angry at the man who was responsible for his ability to throw a shoe and live. But there is another angle to my talk with Mom. I asked what she thought of Sarah Palin's church being burned? What? Though she gets Prairie Pravda every day and listens to WCCO, she hadn't heard that Gov. Palin's church had been set ablaze. Not a word from her usual news sources. But she knew in detail about a the "shoe" incident. There's more about the arson in Wasilla:
The fires were set at the entrances. And an accelerant was used. That the fires were set at the entrances would indicate to me that the arsonist wanted to seal the exits (an entrance to is also an exit from). Therefore the people inside would reach the exit and stop because they see flames. The hope of the arsonist is that the delay will cause confusion and further delay while the fire spreads. In other words, he or she plotted to burn the occupants alive.
And where do we see this reported? Not in the MSM. And the alternative press asks the rhetorical question: what would the MSM report of the Obamamessiah's (may his name be blessed)church (sorry) FORMER church been burned or set ablaze?
We know exactly how that story would be handled.
The fires were set at the entrances. And an accelerant was used. That the fires were set at the entrances would indicate to me that the arsonist wanted to seal the exits (an entrance to is also an exit from). Therefore the people inside would reach the exit and stop because they see flames. The hope of the arsonist is that the delay will cause confusion and further delay while the fire spreads. In other words, he or she plotted to burn the occupants alive.
And where do we see this reported? Not in the MSM. And the alternative press asks the rhetorical question: what would the MSM report of the Obamamessiah's (may his name be blessed)
We know exactly how that story would be handled.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
There's something...
I'm a WWII history buff. I have been since I was five.
When I saw this picture,though, there was something about it that reminded me of, well...
When I saw this picture,though, there was something about it that reminded me of, well...
Saturday, December 13, 2008
"Killer Chic"
Have you ever followed a link down or out a few levels? And been rewarded for your efforts? Happened here this morning.
I've always talked to the lefties about their incredible lack of honesty, intellectual honesty, transparency, well, you know. They abhor Hitler yet venerate so many other tyrants, Che Guevara in particular. There is a movie coming out "Che" starring Benecio del Torro. I saw an entry at Hot Air and followed the links to Babalu Blog to Reason TV. Seems that those who lived through the terror of Che do not quite hold him at the same level of esteem and regard as those portray him. I watched the below video and emailed Reason TV as to how to embed it and heard back from none other than the producer Nick Gillespie!
So, view and learn:
I've always talked to the lefties about their incredible lack of honesty, intellectual honesty, transparency, well, you know. They abhor Hitler yet venerate so many other tyrants, Che Guevara in particular. There is a movie coming out "Che" starring Benecio del Torro. I saw an entry at Hot Air and followed the links to Babalu Blog to Reason TV. Seems that those who lived through the terror of Che do not quite hold him at the same level of esteem and regard as those portray him. I watched the below video and emailed Reason TV as to how to embed it and heard back from none other than the producer Nick Gillespie!
So, view and learn:
Friday, December 12, 2008
The biggest fraud ever in US history? Nah...
There is this story from linked from Drudge:" Investor to Super Rich Charged in $50B Fraud"
The "investor" told employees that the fund was "One big lie...basically a giant ponzi scheme." The stories circulating are calling this the biggest fraud ever in US history. I noted that the Madoff scandal isn't even close. Not by a 1,000 orders of magnitude. That historical fact belongs to the largest ponzi scheme in the history of the world: Social Security/Medicare .
Oh, and any guesses as to whom/what campaigns Mr. Madoff mostly contributes? Look here.
That or there are two Bernard L. Madoffs in NYC who run financial companies.
The "investor" told employees that the fund was "One big lie...basically a giant ponzi scheme." The stories circulating are calling this the biggest fraud ever in US history. I noted that the Madoff scandal isn't even close. Not by a 1,000 orders of magnitude. That historical fact belongs to the largest ponzi scheme in the history of the world: Social Security/Medicare .
Oh, and any guesses as to whom/what campaigns Mr. Madoff mostly contributes? Look here.
That or there are two Bernard L. Madoffs in NYC who run financial companies.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Bhutan or Kimber?
I could just as easily have entitled this entry "The left ALWAYS wants you dead!"
There is this posting over at Hot Air where my friend Ed Morrissey posts. The basic plot is that the School Board wants kids to throw books/backpacks/themselves at active shooters in a school attack. Yah. Hhhmmm...8 year old kids being taught to throw their revisionist history books at someone who is shooting them. I kind of already know how that will probably work... OK kids, quiz time. Let's see how well you've been paying attention to Prof. Amendment X. What do all these have in common:
(Anyone notice that the above was sponsored by the NEA? Just as effective now as then when it comes to protection).
Does Mizzzzzz Jones ever consider maybe arming the staff?
Go read again the linked article in the Pearl, MS High Scholl article about Joel Myrick. By obeying the law, kids died.
Again, the governments kill.
So, if Mizzzzz Jones wants people to throw books at a shooter, as a parent or concerned citizen, which of these would you want to have used to confront a shooter when children's lives are on the line:
This or this?
There is this posting over at Hot Air where my friend Ed Morrissey posts. The basic plot is that the School Board wants kids to throw books/backpacks/themselves at active shooters in a school attack. Yah. Hhhmmm...8 year old kids being taught to throw their revisionist history books at someone who is shooting them. I kind of already know how that will probably work... OK kids, quiz time. Let's see how well you've been paying attention to Prof. Amendment X. What do all these have in common:
- Mark Lepine and the University of Montreal
- Virginia Tech and Seung Hui- Cho
- Columbine High School and Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
- Pearl Mississippi and Joel Myrick
(Anyone notice that the above was sponsored by the NEA? Just as effective now as then when it comes to protection).
Does Mizzzzzz Jones ever consider maybe arming the staff?
Go read again the linked article in the Pearl, MS High Scholl article about Joel Myrick. By obeying the law, kids died.
Again, the governments kill.
So, if Mizzzzz Jones wants people to throw books at a shooter, as a parent or concerned citizen, which of these would you want to have used to confront a shooter when children's lives are on the line:
This or this?
When philosophy and reality meet
I love it when the ironicalness (yes, I know) of the left is lost on them. To wit: the recent crime wave on the "greenway" that was the old railroad right-of-way that paralleled Lake Street for decades (and also parallels the Hiawatha Choo choo). Bike paths, light rail, etc. are loved and revered by the left . And when those pathways take them through neighborhoods of diversity that breed crime like drunk rabbits, well, what can I say? Now, I'll acknowledge there's not much you can do with abandoned railroad right-of-way. But, what did you expect putting a "greenway" through some of the highest crime areas in the city?
Not everyone embraces "diversity" and "tolerance" in those areas as much as the lefties do.
Wait a minute...seems that Minneapolis votes overwhelmingly for the libertards and therefore, the people in those neighborhoods vote for this, usually in numbers greater than the general populace.
Oh.
How's reality working for you now?
makes no difference; they'll vote left again and again.
Seems there's a quote from Einstein that would apply here...
Not everyone embraces "diversity" and "tolerance" in those areas as much as the lefties do.
Wait a minute...seems that Minneapolis votes overwhelmingly for the libertards and therefore, the people in those neighborhoods vote for this, usually in numbers greater than the general populace.
Oh.
How's reality working for you now?
makes no difference; they'll vote left again and again.
Seems there's a quote from Einstein that would apply here...
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Congressional Representatives Votes
How Minnesota House Representatives voted in the Big 3 down payment on bankruptcy (a Y is a yes vote for the bailout)
Democrats — Ellison, X; McCollum, Y; Oberstar, Y; Peterson, N; Walz, N.
Republicans — Bachmann, N; Kline, N; Ramstad, Y.
Once again, I'm glad Jim Ramstad is going to get job in the private sector (I'd bet a lobbying job for the mental health industry. Maybe he'll be the new Car Czar?).
Democrats — Ellison, X; McCollum, Y; Oberstar, Y; Peterson, N; Walz, N.
Republicans — Bachmann, N; Kline, N; Ramstad, Y.
Once again, I'm glad Jim Ramstad is going to get job in the private sector (I'd bet a lobbying job for the mental health industry. Maybe he'll be the new Car Czar?).
Friday, December 05, 2008
Colonel Brilliant reporting for duty
Ya know, I ain't the brightest knife in the chandelier or the sharpest bulb in the drawer, but what in the name of the Constitution is wrong here?
The same people that brought you Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that has pulled the entire world economy into peril (and blamed Bush, naturally); that brought you increasing food prices and $4.00 a gallon and non-effective ethanol subsidies because they refused to let us use our own resources thereby enriching people who don't like us and jeopardizing our security and livelihoods.These very same people who opened a new Congressional visitors center that was 100% over budget and three years late in opening-these are the people that think THEY can recognize an appropriate business plan from the Big Three automakers? And run the companies? The same people who have never run a business or had to make a payroll?
They'll kill us all yet!
And how, may you ask did these people get elected? Very simply: a lethal and fatal combination of ignorance, lack of critical thinking and ideology.
"It was his oratory that was the decisive factor. ' He had the ability which was needed to make people stop thinking critically and just emote (emphasis mine). That ability derived from his readiness to throw himself totally open, to appear, as it was, bare and naked before his audience. To tear his heart open and display it.' " (A description of Adolph Hitler's style in the pivotal run off 1932 Presidential election against Paul von Hindenburg. As a result of the closeness of the run off, Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor in 1933).
The same people that brought you Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that has pulled the entire world economy into peril (and blamed Bush, naturally); that brought you increasing food prices and $4.00 a gallon and non-effective ethanol subsidies because they refused to let us use our own resources thereby enriching people who don't like us and jeopardizing our security and livelihoods.These very same people who opened a new Congressional visitors center that was 100% over budget and three years late in opening-these are the people that think THEY can recognize an appropriate business plan from the Big Three automakers? And run the companies? The same people who have never run a business or had to make a payroll?
They'll kill us all yet!
And how, may you ask did these people get elected? Very simply: a lethal and fatal combination of ignorance, lack of critical thinking and ideology.
"It was his oratory that was the decisive factor. ' He had the ability which was needed to make people stop thinking critically and just emote (emphasis mine). That ability derived from his readiness to throw himself totally open, to appear, as it was, bare and naked before his audience. To tear his heart open and display it.' " (A description of Adolph Hitler's style in the pivotal run off 1932 Presidential election against Paul von Hindenburg. As a result of the closeness of the run off, Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor in 1933).
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
So do Metal Detectors at Schools make you feel safe?
Article in Wall Street Journal on Monday about the Terroist attack in India.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122809281744967855.html
Here is one key paragraph:
At about 9:45 p.m., two gunmen, slender and in their mid-20s, ran up the circular driveway at the entrance to the Trident. They shot the security guard and two bellhops.
The hotel had metal detectors, but none of its security personnel carried weapons because of the difficulties in obtaining gun permits from the Indian government, according to the hotel company's chairman, P.R.S. Oberoi. The gunmen raced through the marble-floored lobby, past the grand piano into the adjoining Verandah restaurant, firing at the guests and shattering the windows
From Red Lake to India to ...
First thing the bad guys do is shoot the one or two people they think may have a gun, then they know they have a free fire victim zone.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122809281744967855.html
Here is one key paragraph:
At about 9:45 p.m., two gunmen, slender and in their mid-20s, ran up the circular driveway at the entrance to the Trident. They shot the security guard and two bellhops.
The hotel had metal detectors, but none of its security personnel carried weapons because of the difficulties in obtaining gun permits from the Indian government, according to the hotel company's chairman, P.R.S. Oberoi. The gunmen raced through the marble-floored lobby, past the grand piano into the adjoining Verandah restaurant, firing at the guests and shattering the windows
From Red Lake to India to ...
First thing the bad guys do is shoot the one or two people they think may have a gun, then they know they have a free fire victim zone.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Man dead for 15% off
I'm sure that you've already heard of the tragedy at a Wal Mart where a worker was literally trampled to death.
Here is a picture of the rush:
Hundreds of shoppers smashed through windows at a Long Island Wal-Mart early Friday morning, killing one store employee in the stampede. News' reader Nakea Augustine caught the chaotic scene on her cell phone, check out the photos.(Caption from the site. Go here to see other pictures from this tragedy).
Look at the pictures and draw your own conclusions.
I have.
Here is a picture of the rush:
Hundreds of shoppers smashed through windows at a Long Island Wal-Mart early Friday morning, killing one store employee in the stampede. News' reader Nakea Augustine caught the chaotic scene on her cell phone, check out the photos.(Caption from the site. Go here to see other pictures from this tragedy).
Look at the pictures and draw your own conclusions.
I have.
Michael Steele-and we're deeper into it
I was listening to the Bill Bennett Show this morning. Michael Steele was guest host. Near the end of the show he was commenting on the future of the Republican Party responding to a callers question. My heart fell at what I heard.
He talked about "How do we reach out to the moderates? How do we build a bridge to them? How do we include the Christie Todd Whitman's in the party?"
Two word answer-"We don't!" We let them build a bridge to us. We let them reach out to us.
We tried this bridge building/reaching out crap. We got John McCain.
Say Michael, how'd that work out for us? How did that bridge building go in the 2006 election cycle? I can tell you how well it worked here in Minnesota in 2004 and 2006. Let's say it fell just a bit short of expectations.
My advice? Not saying "We're reaching out." Saying "Follow us."
I have absolutely no desire to waste my/our time building another bridge to nowhere.
Wake up people!
He talked about "How do we reach out to the moderates? How do we build a bridge to them? How do we include the Christie Todd Whitman's in the party?"
Two word answer-"We don't!" We let them build a bridge to us. We let them reach out to us.
We tried this bridge building/reaching out crap. We got John McCain.
Say Michael, how'd that work out for us? How did that bridge building go in the 2006 election cycle? I can tell you how well it worked here in Minnesota in 2004 and 2006. Let's say it fell just a bit short of expectations.
My advice? Not saying "We're reaching out." Saying "Follow us."
I have absolutely no desire to waste my/our time building another bridge to nowhere.
Wake up people!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
OK Professor!
So, government educated brain trust reader, what DO you really know about America? Huh?
Read this blog and think my knowledge gets picked up by osmosis (really pressure diffusion deficit) do ya? WELL, DO YA?
OK, genius, here's your chance! Show me your stuff.
Go to the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and take their civics test (link here).
There are 33 questions ranging from government structure, Constitutional, history and economic questions.
Take the test, then email me your results to AmendmentX "at" savagerepublican
"dot" com and I'll reply with my results. It took me about 3 minutes to take the test.
Let's see how you do...
Read this blog and think my knowledge gets picked up by osmosis (really pressure diffusion deficit) do ya? WELL, DO YA?
OK, genius, here's your chance! Show me your stuff.
Go to the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and take their civics test (link here).
There are 33 questions ranging from government structure, Constitutional, history and economic questions.
Take the test, then email me your results to AmendmentX "at" savagerepublican
"dot" com and I'll reply with my results. It took me about 3 minutes to take the test.
Let's see how you do...
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
From the Office of the President Elect
Go here and watch the short video.
Then go and read the comments.
It is just about everything you need to know from the Office of the President Elect.
Then go and read the comments.
It is just about everything you need to know from the Office of the President Elect.
Just wondering...
I saw the first photo and something jumped out at me.
Anyone else see a connection between the pictures?
Or is it just me?
Anyone else see a connection between the pictures?
Or is it just me?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Why you need a firearm
Many people, despite my nom de plume, assume that I'm a 2nd Amendment guy. Probably because of my involvement with 2nd Amendment issues.
I stress preparedness. I stress the concept "Are you prepared to be wrong?" Most people assume, quite wrongly, that police will and have a duty to protect them. Nothing could be further from the truth:
"A Cape Girardeau woman shot and fatally wounded Ronnie W. Preyer, 47, a registered sex offender who had broken into her home early this morning with the intention of raping her a second time, Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said today...
Cape Girardeau police had been keeping a close eye on the woman's home, in the southwest part of Cape Girardeau, since she reported the rape nearly a week ago" (emphasis mine).
Again, even with an increased police presence, the victim was attacked and was able to defend herself. Notice that she escaped and police were able to respond in 45 seconds from a 911 call from another residence.
So, decide for yourself.
Me? I prefer to be prepared to be wrong.
I stress preparedness. I stress the concept "Are you prepared to be wrong?" Most people assume, quite wrongly, that police will and have a duty to protect them. Nothing could be further from the truth:
- Police are a reactionary force. They arrive after the crime.
- 911 is not what people think it is. In research I did to find out typical response time from a 911 cal, I discovered this brutal fact: In less, repeat,LESS than 5% of the time police arrive to stop the crime and/or arrest the perpetrator. Less than 5% of the time.
- The police are not legally required to provide specific protection to you. (Silver v City of Minneapolis and the most egregious case is Warren v District of Columbia. Others are here).
- Police can and have retreated (aka "pulled out") of hostile situations: The Rodney King riots and a few years ago in North Minneapolis. Translation: you are really on your own. Good luck!
"A Cape Girardeau woman shot and fatally wounded Ronnie W. Preyer, 47, a registered sex offender who had broken into her home early this morning with the intention of raping her a second time, Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said today...
Cape Girardeau police had been keeping a close eye on the woman's home, in the southwest part of Cape Girardeau, since she reported the rape nearly a week ago" (emphasis mine).
Again, even with an increased police presence, the victim was attacked and was able to defend herself. Notice that she escaped and police were able to respond in 45 seconds from a 911 call from another residence.
So, decide for yourself.
Me? I prefer to be prepared to be wrong.
Ever wonder where bitter apples come from?
With bailout mania sweeping the nation, there is a small warning in an article in, of all places, the New York Times. The problem is that this is a warning that has been repeated and ignored many more times than it's been stated. There is a concept in insurance and societal behavior called "Insuring the moral hazard". The concept is that if someone or any entity is shielded from the full consequences of their behavior that that behavior becomes more likely to occur the further the behavior is separated from it's consequences. This is explained in the greed/fear scenario. If there is a payoff to some behavior, that payoff is moderated by the fear of consequences arising out of that behavior. If fear of the consequences is reduced, the probability of that behavior occurring rises. A prime example of this is in the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac disaster: As FM/FM "encouraged" lenders to make riskier and riskier loans, the banks and mortgage originators saw that as long as FM/FM was buying those risky mortgages. That and the implied belief that FM/FM were government entities and the Feds would back up any problem loans, the loan originators were "insured" against loss. Enter in Wall Street. They saw a way to create security backed assets with these mortgages. And again, as FM/FM were government created entities, Wall Street saw that these were fairly risk free assets (or at the minimum reduced risk) guaranteed by the federal gov't (aka you and me). Well, AIG looked to insure those assets. When the bottom fell out of the mortgage bubble, it was a house of cards/line of dominoes that fell. Again, all thanks to government intervention, coercion, threat, duplicity and outright fraud.
So, here, in the New York Times we have this bit of wisdom:" But longer term, the new bailout could haunt regulators and taxpayers. The move ultimately may encourage banks to take more risks in the belief that the government will step in if they run into trouble. " Geez! Do ya think?? What the crap do these people think started this whole bailout disaster to begin with? When the loan originators saw reduced risk as did all subsequent financial entities, well, disaster was in the offing.
So, we have more bitter fruit with the promise of another crop from the same tree firmly rooted in bad government policy.
Eat hearty fellow citizens!
BTW, ever hear of the green apple quick step?
We'll yearn for the days when things were only that bad.
So, here, in the New York Times we have this bit of wisdom:" But longer term, the new bailout could haunt regulators and taxpayers. The move ultimately may encourage banks to take more risks in the belief that the government will step in if they run into trouble. " Geez! Do ya think?? What the crap do these people think started this whole bailout disaster to begin with? When the loan originators saw reduced risk as did all subsequent financial entities, well, disaster was in the offing.
So, we have more bitter fruit with the promise of another crop from the same tree firmly rooted in bad government policy.
Eat hearty fellow citizens!
BTW, ever hear of the green apple quick step?
We'll yearn for the days when things were only that bad.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Coleman will lose the recount II
Yesterday I called a friend of mine to get him range qualified to get his firearm carry permit. As I am an AACFI certified firearms instructor ,he had taken the classroom instruction and we needed to schedule the range portion. So, I called and we talked politics. I related the story behind my previous post. And lo and behold, he told me that nearly the exact same thing had happened to him.
He signed up to be a recount volunteer for Coleman. he gave his bona fides: he was not just an election judge, he was a head election judge! He gave all pertinent contact information except his home phone number. Before volunteering the Coleman team had contacted him to make a sizable contribution to help pay for the legal team (my friend is a significant financial contributor to the party and campaigns). My friend said no, that a huge legal team wasn't necessary if you have an adequate recount team. Well, after signing up the Coleman team called him at his home. His wife gave the caller my friend's work and cell number. As of yesterday, my friend had not been contacted.
Here is a ballot that Team Franken challenged as not showing clear intent to vote for Coleman (thanks to Freedom Dogs ):
Yup. Again, Republicans either can't or won't fight.
He signed up to be a recount volunteer for Coleman. he gave his bona fides: he was not just an election judge, he was a head election judge! He gave all pertinent contact information except his home phone number. Before volunteering the Coleman team had contacted him to make a sizable contribution to help pay for the legal team (my friend is a significant financial contributor to the party and campaigns). My friend said no, that a huge legal team wasn't necessary if you have an adequate recount team. Well, after signing up the Coleman team called him at his home. His wife gave the caller my friend's work and cell number. As of yesterday, my friend had not been contacted.
Here is a ballot that Team Franken challenged as not showing clear intent to vote for Coleman (thanks to Freedom Dogs ):
Yup. Again, Republicans either can't or won't fight.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Coleman will lose the recount
I hope that my prediction is as far off as the prediction for Comet Khoutek.
Here is what I entered in comments at Hot Air:
I predict Coleman will lose. Franken won't win, Coleman will lose.
My evidence: Last Wednesday I put up a notice on our blog about the recount and where to sign-up as a volunteer for Coleman. Ed even linked to it in an update. I signed up at the Coleman site to become a recount volunteer. I signed up for text message alerts and email notifications. I entered in additional information that I had been an election judge for 6 years, have been involved in Republican organizations for 10 years where I live. 2 days later I got a confirming email:"By receipt of this e-mail, you have indicated willingness to volunteer in the recount effort and will be contacted by a local field staff member to confirm availability. Individuals should expect to be contacted by a member of the recount team by Friday, November 14."
I contacted the head of our Congressional District. She forwarded my email to the head of Coleman's campaign in our CD with a note that this person does contact people. I also included a note that Franken had an overflow crowd of volunteers that came to be trained to be recount observers. That was Saturday.
The recount starts tomorrow.
I've yet to hear from Team Coleman.
I have better things to do with my time than wasting it working for a organization that doesn't know how to fight.
I'm out.
Once again, as I scream into the wind: this is what Horowitz says in his book "The Art of Political War"- Republicans can't and won't fight. Coleman did a McCain (a political stunt that was ill advised) by pulling "negative" ads. How'd that work Norm?
I'm tired of charging the mountain while so many Republicans are either running down the mountain or are REMFs (NSFW BTW). Or are unconverted Captain Renault's.
Here is what I entered in comments at Hot Air:
I predict Coleman will lose. Franken won't win, Coleman will lose.
My evidence: Last Wednesday I put up a notice on our blog about the recount and where to sign-up as a volunteer for Coleman. Ed even linked to it in an update. I signed up at the Coleman site to become a recount volunteer. I signed up for text message alerts and email notifications. I entered in additional information that I had been an election judge for 6 years, have been involved in Republican organizations for 10 years where I live. 2 days later I got a confirming email:"By receipt of this e-mail, you have indicated willingness to volunteer in the recount effort and will be contacted by a local field staff member to confirm availability. Individuals should expect to be contacted by a member of the recount team by Friday, November 14."
I contacted the head of our Congressional District. She forwarded my email to the head of Coleman's campaign in our CD with a note that this person does contact people. I also included a note that Franken had an overflow crowd of volunteers that came to be trained to be recount observers. That was Saturday.
The recount starts tomorrow.
I've yet to hear from Team Coleman.
I have better things to do with my time than wasting it working for a organization that doesn't know how to fight.
I'm out.
Once again, as I scream into the wind: this is what Horowitz says in his book "The Art of Political War"- Republicans can't and won't fight. Coleman did a McCain (a political stunt that was ill advised) by pulling "negative" ads. How'd that work Norm?
I'm tired of charging the mountain while so many Republicans are either running down the mountain or are REMFs (NSFW BTW). Or are unconverted Captain Renault's.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Breaking News
From the Office of the President Elect:Key economic advisors to President Elect Barack Obama (may his name be blessed) and the Democratic Congressional Caucus ring the final bell at the New York Stock Exchange.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Maintain law and order: Stop Franken's theft
I just got off the phone with Ron Carey, Executive Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party on what I can do to stop the left wing's theft of Norm Coleman's Senate seat.
THIS IS IMPORTANT!
Money is needed to defray the cost of the attorneys that will need to be and are involved.
Volunteers are needed to monitor those who are counting the ballots in all the Minnesota precincts.
Ron said to go to the Coleman website (http://www.colemanforsenate.com/splash ).
Click on either "Contribute" or "Volunteer". As a matter of fact: Click on both.
Assume that you will be vetted. I added extra information that could be verified that I am a conservative and a Republican.
I volunteered and also signed up for text alerts.
THIS IS IMPORTANT!
Money is needed to defray the cost of the attorneys that will need to be and are involved.
Volunteers are needed to monitor those who are counting the ballots in all the Minnesota precincts.
Ron said to go to the Coleman website (http://www.colemanforsenate.com/splash ).
Click on either "Contribute" or "Volunteer". As a matter of fact: Click on both.
Assume that you will be vetted. I added extra information that could be verified that I am a conservative and a Republican.
I volunteered and also signed up for text alerts.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Give us one last score George
The NYT has outdone itself finally. With their credit rating at junk bond status, they expose, once again, national security secrets that benefit nothing but the terrorists. Then, to pile on, they are the recipient of one side of a private conversation between President Bush and the holder of the Office of the President Elect. And all of this within 24 hours. Well Done Yellow Dogs!
George, we watched as the NYT exposed, twice before in addition to this, top secret operations that compromised the WOT (here and here). With this addition of their expose extravaganza I have a suggestion:
Mr. President, finally, indict the New York Times. Indict their editorial staff for treason, sedition. They've compromised national security how many times? They have become bottom feeders. You and Department of Justice have enough evidence to have a couple of hundred indictments on them by lunch tomorrow. We've supported you for eight years. Throw us a bone here. Plus, when his Obamaness takes the office, he'll drop the case anyhow, pardon the evil doers and then give us ammunition to save the nation from him.
After all, do you think for a moment that he and his new AG won't do this against people like me?
George, we watched as the NYT exposed, twice before in addition to this, top secret operations that compromised the WOT (here and here). With this addition of their expose extravaganza I have a suggestion:
Mr. President, finally, indict the New York Times. Indict their editorial staff for treason, sedition. They've compromised national security how many times? They have become bottom feeders. You and Department of Justice have enough evidence to have a couple of hundred indictments on them by lunch tomorrow. We've supported you for eight years. Throw us a bone here. Plus, when his Obamaness takes the office, he'll drop the case anyhow, pardon the evil doers and then give us ammunition to save the nation from him.
After all, do you think for a moment that he and his new AG won't do this against people like me?
Veterans Day
If you've read my blog for nearly any time, you know how I feel about the military and especially veterans.
On the shelf behind me are six pictures of combat veterans-a B-24 pilot with 35 completed combat missions who once had an easy ticket home but said he couldn't leave his crew and remained in harms way, a B-17 pilot with 35 completed combat missions that ferried gasoline to Titio's rebels, one of the Band of Brothers who was severely wounded in Bastogne and still limps six decades later, a Marine Corsair pilot that flew close air ground support for the invasion of Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, a Korean War vet who was a demolitions expert and never really came home, and a Vietnam War vet who is known worldwide. I know all these men and they know me by my first name. One picture I don't have, to my deep regret, is one of my Uncle Harold,a gentle man who was a combat infantry Captain in the Battle of the Bulge and went on to Vietnam twenty years later barely escaping a bombing of his Saigon office. I sit here, listening to Norah Jones sing "American Anthem", typing these words, sipping my hot hazelnut coffee in relative peace because of them and those who serve today.
Let me share with you what I try to tell my WWII vet friends. The first vet I told this to (with a borrowed phrase I had heard) was Col. Harry Potter, who Jimmy Doolittle's navigator on the Tokyo Raid in April 1942:
"I am your American son. Before I was born, you and you brothers in arms risked and many times gave up all your tomorrows so I could have today in the greatest country in the world. I owe you a debt that I can never repay. You let me have lunch with you. You let me join your group. You insist I call you by your first name. You mercilessly give me the needle and the barb. You tell me things that I believe you haven't told your family. And at times you call me friend. And all of this is a high compliment for a man like."
I recently wrote that the only acceptable currency for the purchase of liberty is blood. As a born again Christian my liberty from God's rage and hell was the blood of Christ. The price for my living in freedom in America was the blood of all those who served and died before. That is one of the reasons that I am a radical with regards to liberty: to honor that beautiful surrender and express humble gratitutde. To be anything else or less is to spit on the shed blood of those who served and sacrificed.
Make it a point to find at least one veteran today and thank him or her.
On the shelf behind me are six pictures of combat veterans-a B-24 pilot with 35 completed combat missions who once had an easy ticket home but said he couldn't leave his crew and remained in harms way, a B-17 pilot with 35 completed combat missions that ferried gasoline to Titio's rebels, one of the Band of Brothers who was severely wounded in Bastogne and still limps six decades later, a Marine Corsair pilot that flew close air ground support for the invasion of Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, a Korean War vet who was a demolitions expert and never really came home, and a Vietnam War vet who is known worldwide. I know all these men and they know me by my first name. One picture I don't have, to my deep regret, is one of my Uncle Harold,a gentle man who was a combat infantry Captain in the Battle of the Bulge and went on to Vietnam twenty years later barely escaping a bombing of his Saigon office. I sit here, listening to Norah Jones sing "American Anthem", typing these words, sipping my hot hazelnut coffee in relative peace because of them and those who serve today.
Let me share with you what I try to tell my WWII vet friends. The first vet I told this to (with a borrowed phrase I had heard) was Col. Harry Potter, who Jimmy Doolittle's navigator on the Tokyo Raid in April 1942:
"I am your American son. Before I was born, you and you brothers in arms risked and many times gave up all your tomorrows so I could have today in the greatest country in the world. I owe you a debt that I can never repay. You let me have lunch with you. You let me join your group. You insist I call you by your first name. You mercilessly give me the needle and the barb. You tell me things that I believe you haven't told your family. And at times you call me friend. And all of this is a high compliment for a man like."
I recently wrote that the only acceptable currency for the purchase of liberty is blood. As a born again Christian my liberty from God's rage and hell was the blood of Christ. The price for my living in freedom in America was the blood of all those who served and died before. That is one of the reasons that I am a radical with regards to liberty: to honor that beautiful surrender and express humble gratitutde. To be anything else or less is to spit on the shed blood of those who served and sacrificed.
Make it a point to find at least one veteran today and thank him or her.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Earth shaking advice!!!
I'm friends with Ed Morrissey over at Hot Air. I met Ed nearly three years ago. He's a great guy and has a great gig at Hot Air. A much respected blogger who has access to sources I can only dream about. But, we have had a few differences over the years.
And now, I really need to take him to task.
In his blog entry "Notes From the Collapse" he makes this comment near the end regarding why the voter turnout was low for McCain and how McCain lost votes:
"John McCain and the GOP didn’t get their turnout in this race. They lost almost seven million voters from 2004, a rather stunning number. We’ll be chewing on this for a while, but that’s more than 10% of the Bush vote that got lost in this election..."
Ed then goes on to say:
"The GOP demoralized their base by acting like Democrats for too many years, and the winds of “change” proved too dispiriting this time around...The Republican Party lost its soul when it launched its K Street Project, and the spendfest of 2001-6 only made that more clear." And I'd like to add "DO YA THINK???"
He ends this way:
"If the GOP wants to win 60 million votes in future national elections, it has to stand for something other than being Democrat Lite. The Republican Party needs clarity, purpose, and most importantly, an end to the hypocrisy of talking smaller government while porking up their districts. When given only a choice between real Democrats and fake Democrats, Americans will choose the former, which we found out in 2006."
Here what I put into comments:
"Great advice...that I was giving over 6 years ago starting with Norm Coleman (no drilling in ANWR) and No Child Left Behind. I warned people that GWB was making a huge mistake by cuddling up to people that would never vote for him (lefties).
But, I was beat down time and time again by the BS mantra "We HAVE to elect Republicans!!!"
Well, how did THAT work for ya.
And I hear some of those same buttheads/bullheads now trying to convince me that they're "on board" to clean the party up.
Don't pee on my back and then tell me it's raining.
You are the people I've been screaming at for over 6 years.
From the apropos quote from Samuel Adams:"...go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!” "
I've worked with these people down here in the south metro area of Minneapolis/St. Paul. I've heard the "Elect Republicans" when I/we were trying to get conservatives elected. These people have sometimes actively and aggressively fought us who were trying to bring the party back to it's roots. They have tried and sometimes succeeded in silencing conservative voices and then "high fived" themselves over their success.
As Rush said today the rage we feel is at "those" Republicans.
If you are one of "those" Republicans, we're coming for you.
And now, I really need to take him to task.
In his blog entry "Notes From the Collapse" he makes this comment near the end regarding why the voter turnout was low for McCain and how McCain lost votes:
"John McCain and the GOP didn’t get their turnout in this race. They lost almost seven million voters from 2004, a rather stunning number. We’ll be chewing on this for a while, but that’s more than 10% of the Bush vote that got lost in this election..."
Ed then goes on to say:
"The GOP demoralized their base by acting like Democrats for too many years, and the winds of “change” proved too dispiriting this time around...The Republican Party lost its soul when it launched its K Street Project, and the spendfest of 2001-6 only made that more clear." And I'd like to add "DO YA THINK???"
He ends this way:
"If the GOP wants to win 60 million votes in future national elections, it has to stand for something other than being Democrat Lite. The Republican Party needs clarity, purpose, and most importantly, an end to the hypocrisy of talking smaller government while porking up their districts. When given only a choice between real Democrats and fake Democrats, Americans will choose the former, which we found out in 2006."
Here what I put into comments:
"Great advice...that I was giving over 6 years ago starting with Norm Coleman (no drilling in ANWR) and No Child Left Behind. I warned people that GWB was making a huge mistake by cuddling up to people that would never vote for him (lefties).
But, I was beat down time and time again by the BS mantra "We HAVE to elect Republicans!!!"
Well, how did THAT work for ya.
And I hear some of those same buttheads/bullheads now trying to convince me that they're "on board" to clean the party up.
Don't pee on my back and then tell me it's raining.
You are the people I've been screaming at for over 6 years.
From the apropos quote from Samuel Adams:"...go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!” "
I've worked with these people down here in the south metro area of Minneapolis/St. Paul. I've heard the "Elect Republicans" when I/we were trying to get conservatives elected. These people have sometimes actively and aggressively fought us who were trying to bring the party back to it's roots. They have tried and sometimes succeeded in silencing conservative voices and then "high fived" themselves over their success.
As Rush said today the rage we feel is at "those" Republicans.
If you are one of "those" Republicans, we're coming for you.
My pledge for bi-partisanship
I was reading some of the comments posted at Prairie Pravda's story on the Coleman/Franken race:
Republicans
go cry in your beer LOSERS!
posted by Monkeypaws on Nov 7, 08 at 8:55 am
waive his right to a recount??
So sleazy Norman is trying to convince people that he would waive his right to a recount if he were in Franken's shoes. Anyone that, doesn't know that history of Chameleon Norm Coleman.
posted by dylandon on Nov. 6, 08 at 11:39 AM
Red Star bias
Why is it "Franken's Deficit"? Why not "Coleman's lead"?
posted by jagebe on Nov 7, 08 at 8:55 am
And so, to "heal our souls" and to "unite us" in the spirit of bi-partisanship as demonstrated by the tolerant, inclusive left, as Harry Reid has shown to Joe Lieberman and Rahm Emmanuel has shown to all, I make this solemn pledge: I will show the same amount of respect, deference and temperament to President Obama as the left has shown to President Bush over his eight years in office.
I truly promise.
Republicans
go cry in your beer LOSERS!
posted by Monkeypaws on Nov 7, 08 at 8:55 am
waive his right to a recount??
So sleazy Norman is trying to convince people that he would waive his right to a recount if he were in Franken's shoes. Anyone that, doesn't know that history of Chameleon Norm Coleman.
posted by dylandon on Nov. 6, 08 at 11:39 AM
Red Star bias
Why is it "Franken's Deficit"? Why not "Coleman's lead"?
posted by jagebe on Nov 7, 08 at 8:55 am
And so, to "heal our souls" and to "unite us" in the spirit of bi-partisanship as demonstrated by the tolerant, inclusive left, as Harry Reid has shown to Joe Lieberman and Rahm Emmanuel has shown to all, I make this solemn pledge: I will show the same amount of respect, deference and temperament to President Obama as the left has shown to President Bush over his eight years in office.
I truly promise.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Bashing Sarah
Came across this article about "unnamed" or "anonymous" sources making snarky comments about Sarah Palin. Great van Susteren and Karl Rove are spot on. Palin was the breath of fresh air that the McCain camp needed and needed badly. Palin was mishandled and mishandled badly (see my previous entries). As Susteren and Rove point out that these comments are worthy of a NYT hit piece on Palin or Cindy McCain. Why do the work of the left on your own? Reagans 11th Commandment:"Thou shall not speak ill of any fellow Republican." Now, I can stand accused of breaking that commandment in my previous posts.
With the results of Tuesday, and 2006 still fresh in memory, Repubs such as this need to be spoken of and to.
With the results of Tuesday, and 2006 still fresh in memory, Repubs such as this need to be spoken of and to.
Go away or go away bitter, but just go away
Allahpundit at Hot Air has an article about the McCain staff and Sarah Palin. He's included a You Tube video from Shep Smith and Carl Cameron. About mid-point they start to talk about when McCain's numbers, after passing BHO with the Palin pick, start going down. Cameron says that downturn happened when McCain said, after the demise of Lehman Bros. that the fundamentals of the economy are strong. Mac, with his comments on the fundamentals was right. All he had to do was explain that the connection to the economic disaster from the Dems having gotten in the way and screwed with the market. It would have been a step, not a leap. Instead, Mac fell flat!
Notice toward the end the discussion about the Katie Couric interview. It was at that point that McCain's numbers went down according to Smith. The comments from McCain staffers indicate that Palin refused coaching about the interview, that many of the questions were anticipated, etc. Smith, Cameron and especially the McCain staffers miss the glaringly obvious cogent point: What idiot decided that a Couric interview was going to be a good thing? What was she doing going to talk to Charlie Gibson? What on earth was McCain doing on "The View"? His staffers then put Palin in front of subtly hostile interviewers whose audience was going to vote for BHO anyway. Mac and Palin should have been on Glenn Beck, Fox News, Fox and Friends, every single conservative talk show in the country. He needed to convince and rev up people like me. And Palin was the way."The View"? Where the audience thinks that Whoopi Goldberg should win an Academy award for every voice over she does? And Joyce Behar is the font of wisdom? Are you nuts? As much as I respect Bill Bennett, I couldn't disagree with him more when he said McCain ran a good campaign.
Let the McCain staffers and RINOs and neocons go away. Go away bitter and with their trite comments if they wish, but go away. (BTW, a great letter by Congressman Jeff Flake [R-AZ] about how the Repubs can come back. I especially like his comment that we as conservative Repubs , with a fully left wing controlled Congress and White House are not beholden in any way to the promises of John McCain or George Bush. We are now able to throw off all vestiges of neocons, "bi-partisianship" that only allows us to compromise and any other tripe. Now is clean break time.)
Notice toward the end the discussion about the Katie Couric interview. It was at that point that McCain's numbers went down according to Smith. The comments from McCain staffers indicate that Palin refused coaching about the interview, that many of the questions were anticipated, etc. Smith, Cameron and especially the McCain staffers miss the glaringly obvious cogent point: What idiot decided that a Couric interview was going to be a good thing? What was she doing going to talk to Charlie Gibson? What on earth was McCain doing on "The View"? His staffers then put Palin in front of subtly hostile interviewers whose audience was going to vote for BHO anyway. Mac and Palin should have been on Glenn Beck, Fox News, Fox and Friends, every single conservative talk show in the country. He needed to convince and rev up people like me. And Palin was the way."The View"? Where the audience thinks that Whoopi Goldberg should win an Academy award for every voice over she does? And Joyce Behar is the font of wisdom? Are you nuts? As much as I respect Bill Bennett, I couldn't disagree with him more when he said McCain ran a good campaign.
Let the McCain staffers and RINOs and neocons go away. Go away bitter and with their trite comments if they wish, but go away. (BTW, a great letter by Congressman Jeff Flake [R-AZ] about how the Repubs can come back. I especially like his comment that we as conservative Repubs , with a fully left wing controlled Congress and White House are not beholden in any way to the promises of John McCain or George Bush. We are now able to throw off all vestiges of neocons, "bi-partisianship" that only allows us to compromise and any other tripe. Now is clean break time.)
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