In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
Memorial Day is set aside each year so we can honor those who gave their all in service to our nation. Below are two such servicemen.
On this Memorial Day, I'd like to point out, and thank, a group of people for the work they do in honoring our nation's deceased military members.
In 2006 I wrote about Nichelle Cushing. One day while watching a military funeral on television, Nichelle saw something that bothered her, so she took it upon herself to help correct the problem. Nichelle was just 11-years-old. Here's her story:
On the day they buried Beecher Pierce, Nichelle Cushing stood at parade rest in a cold, pounding rain, some hundred yards from the coffin. High-top, lace-up boots slightly apart. A black beret cocked with formal precision on her hair. A small American flag pinned near the neck of her long black dress. One hand behind her back, the other gripping a 105-year-old bugle.
As Pierce's Masonic brothers concluded the rites, a gun squad of airmen in dress blue uniforms raised their rifles. Three volleys echoed across Fort Richardson National Cemetery.
Nichelle brought her boots together, shut her eyes, drew her full 5 feet and 1 inch to attention, raised the bugle to her lips and sounded the nation's final tribute to a fallen hero -- taps.--continue reading.
This week many things kept me away from blogging, but now that it's Saturday I have a moment to comment on a few of the topics that have been on my mind.
THE OBAMA PRESS CONFERENCE
10 months between pressers is ridiculous. And this one was no better than any of the others. As with any Obama presser, we always get to hear from his teleprompter before any questions are fielded by The One. With all that has taken place over the previous 10 months, I found it incredible how few questions he took and the limited topics they covered. After all, the US Govt has taken over a massive percentage of our economy, so I sorta figured there might be a reporter in the room who would like to ask about that one. But I was wrong.
About that teleprompter. I'm finding the extensive use of this device a bit creepy. You?
When Obama clearly pointed out he was in charge of BP's gulf operations but didn't have a clue when it came to the resignation/firing of one of his key officials involved in it, well, that's when I started making the popcorn. Because no matter what Obama said from that point forward, this presser was going in the books as a disaster. Since Obama has mastered the fine art of lying, I will probably consider all future pressers as disasters too. I know he's my president but that does not change the fact that he's a liar. After all, Marxists aren't known for their open, honest exchanges with the public; the voting public, in his eyes, is simply a gaggle of suckers, especially those who voted for him. Suckers.
The non-answer about Sestak took balls, but with the lapdogs sitting before him, it was not surprising. No way was he going to delve into the facts on that one. Had he mentioned Bill Clinton's name in connection to Sestak, even the lapdogs would've began wagging their tails and drooling, with a few even peeing on the carpet. Lapdogs do that. But The One was saving that Clinton tidbit for after the long weekend began, hoping beyond hope that we'll forget about the issue by Tuesday. More on Sestak later.
Not so surprising was Obama's usual presser format: calling on reporters from a roster. Yes, others have done it too, but it isn't right and it leads some to wonder if this "so-called" exchange isn't pre-arranged. I like the old days when it was a free-for-all. The other tactic Obama uses is lengthy answers. I've sat through shorter lecture forums in college. In sports, this is called burning, or killing, the clock, and Obama's good at it. Burning the clock means having to take fewer questions, and we know Obama isn't a fan of having to give answers when he isn't in total control of this Hollywood production.
Obama referring to his daughter's "plugging the hole" comment. Two words: Jimmy Carter. And the "Drill, baby, drill" comment tells us Obama/DNC/RNC remain scared to death of Palin's power with WE THE PEOPLE. You know, the suckers.
Finally, I find the BP disaster another coincidence and "lucky break" for Obama, since his agenda for Greening the Economy--Cap and Trade--are yet to be realized. Obama had a similar "lucky break" with Goldman Sachs' legal problems happening just as his Wall St. Reform Act was stuck in the Senate. He is lucky, no?
So this BP oil disaster helps Obama sell the public on the evils of fossil fuels and big oil corporations and, of course, the immediate need for alternative fuels like solar and wind. Never mind that these technologies don't actually exist in a form that could replace fossil fuels. Those are little details Obama will work out at a later date. For now, he'll settle for your tax dollars. Do we even know the cause of the BP disaster? Interesting question, I think.
JOE SESTAK'S WHITE HOUSE JOB OFFER
Now that we know Bill Clinton is involved, you can rest assured that something illegal has taken place. Like Obama, Bill Clinton is a liar. I have but one question: Why did Sestak open his mouth in the first place and then continue doing so? I'll tell you my theory later on.
You have to keep in mind a couple things about Sestak: He's a two-term congressman and a retired Vice-Admiral (3 star). Although he has taken many orders during his career, he's mostly accustomed to giving them. He's certainly not accustomed to having his hand forced, especially when it comes to his personal ambitions in life.
I think the phone call from Bill Clinton, at Rahm's behest (White House), went something like this: the White House/DNC would like for you to get out of the race against Specter, and in return we're prepared to offer you a high-level position elsewhere, (probably at a later date.) I don't think Clinton called Sestak and yucked it up with him like a couple old college chums, either. I think Clinton pressured Sestak but with an offer of a position that was meaningful and of value, albeit not as meaningful or valuable as being a US Senator. There might have been an implied threat as well--lack of DNC support? Remember, Sestak isn't in the Navy anymore, and he isn't required to take orders from anyone in the White House.
Because of the possible legal ramifications involved here, Sestak was enough of a politician to allow the White House time to fabricate a story on how the conversation went. After the story line was set, Sestak would play along.
Here's why I think the official White House/Clinton/Rahm/Sestak explanation is total fantasy: You don't offer a two-term congressman and retired Vice-Admiral, who is most likely going to defeat Specter for the senate nomination, a non-paid advisory position on some BS committee, and expect that he would accept. No, you offer him something of great value, maybe not as valuable as a senate seat, but something close. If you believe one word of the "official" White House story line, then you need to cut back on your alcohol consumption.
Rahm connected with Clinton, who later made the call to Sestak, for one reason: That way if this thing ever went south, Rahm could always say Clinton must have misunderstood what he (Rahm) meant, and Clinton, of course, would agree. And the most important aspect would be Obama--he was obviously busy "plugging the hole" and didn't know a thing about it.
Back to why Sestak opened his mouth in the first place and continued to do so. I don't think Sestak liked having "the arm" put on him by the White House--the Chicago way. By admitting the job offer in the media, Sestak might have been sending Obama and his Chicago thugs a message--that he (Sestak) will not be pushed around. But being the smart politician, Sestak did give the White House ample time to fabricate a story to be marketed to the public--an escape hatch. After all, Sestak is no dummy. His many admissions of the job offer didn't just fall out of his mouth by accident. Know this to be true.
If something illegal did take place--remember Bill Clinton is involved--Sestak should have reported it immediately to congress and the AG. But in Washington DC self-interest always comes before doing the right thing. That being said, this whole situation has the potential of backfiring on Sestak come November. Legally, where does this story go from here? Nowhere. Obama owns and controls all four branches of government. As a result, there are no longer any checks and balances in Washington DC. Transformation, baby! *For more on the Sestak story, Newsy.com has a great video round up.
CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMIC FREEFALL
In an earlier post, I said California was going off the financial cliff. I misspoke there. California has gone off the economic cliff, and we're in freefall, fast approaching economic terminal velocity. It's just a matter of time until we "buy the farm." Here's a few examples of why this state is doomed:
California is in debt to the tune of tens of billions. They report the figure at around $44 billion but that's a lie and everyone knows it. It's much, much larger. The job situation? In the toilet and on its way to the sewage treatment plant. California--doomed
In the city of Sacramento, their budget is hemorrhaging red at $43 million. And what's city hall doing with their time and our dollars? Enacting an Arizona boycott. Yes, you read that correctly. Sacramento--doomed.
Overall, how do things look in other cities? Well, in the SF Bay Area, the city of Antioch is now considering bankruptcy. If they do, they'll be the second California city to do so in two years. Antioch--doomed.
A school district here in the Sacramento area is getting down to business and cutting the fat out of their school district budget, a budget that's $17 million in the red. Natomas Unified is closing eight school libraries. And how many libraries do they have? Eight. I've always said those damn school books would one day be our economic ruin. I was right.
Let's see, art classes gone; music and band gone; chorus gone, and shop class was history years ago. I wonder if it ever dawned on anyone that maybe--just maybe--they should get rid of the economic, progressive morons running this district? Natomas School District--doomed.
California--DOOMED! If you don't think so, just read the 4th and 5th paragraphs of this article. Then you'll understand. Does your state operate this way? You'd better hope not.
RICHARD BLUMENTHAL AND NEIL CAVUTO
Last week I posted about Neil Cavuto's defense of Richard Blumenthal. I couldn't believe that Neil pieced together such a convoluted excuse for Blumenthal's actions, and then took aim at those of us who were making an issue of Blumenthal's Stolen Valor.Neil said our criticisms were "silly," "nonsense," and "didn't matter." I attempted to enlighten Neil as I didn't think he understood the issue since he never served in the military. (I assume he hasn't served.)
As the week wore on, I expected Blumenthal to finally buckle under the pressure and apologize. Well, he made an attempt but I don't think it was a real apology, nor do I think he really cares. Because if he did, he would've pulled out of the senate race, and he certainly wouldn't have EMAILED his so-called apology to a Hartford newspaper, either. Anyone guilty of Stolen Valor does not deserve to be seated in the US Senate, the US House, White House or any other public office.
I also expected Neil to revisit his own remarks on Blumenthal, possibly clarifying them or even apologizing for being so wrong on such an important issue both inside and outside the military community. If Neil did this, I missed it. I looked for his comments until Wednesday, found none and decided to discontinue looking for them. Neil, for me, used to be appointment tv. I will continue to watch but will no longer plan my day around his telecast. If I see his show, fine. If not, oh well. Stolen Valor is a deal breaker for me. Might not be for you, but it is for me.
This whole Blumenthal Stolen Valor issue has made me wonder why Neil was so quick to defend him. Are they friends, neighbors, live in the same state, wives hang out together, or did Blumenthal once bring Neil a dozen donut holes? Anyone have an idea?
Defending someone who's guilty of Stolen Valor is risky business, I would think. At the very least, it shows one's true character. I don't think Neil's a bad guy, never did. And that's why I'm so confused by his defense of Blumenthal's Stolen Valor. There is no defense for such an act, especially from someone in Blumenthal's high profile position within the state of Connecticut.
Again, I will attempt to help Neil with this issue. Most importantly, Blumenthal is a lawyer and a politician. But let's just stick with the lawyer part for now.
All good lawyers must be able to communicate. Words are their tools, both written and spoken. Lawyers use words with the same precision a doctor uses a scalpel. Exacting. Blumenthal is not just your everyday, run-of-the-mill lawyer, either. He has a resume that arrives before he does. A legal pedigree most lawyers would kill for.
From Blumenthal's bio: He's serving his fifth term as Connecticut's AG. Unprecedented. Early in his career, he was an aide to Sens Moynihan and Ribicoff. And he clerked for Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun. He served as a United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, later becoming the Chief Federal Prosecutor for Connecticut. Blumenthal also was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives. And he has argued before the United States Supreme Court. The list goes on and on.
Blumenthal's schooling: Graduate of Harvard (Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude.) Graduate of Yale Law School, and Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Law Journal. Impressive.
I think we can all agree that a man with this background gets his message or point across in a very effective way. Words are tools, either written or spoken; they have precise meaning. Whether Blumenthal is communicating to you, a jury or the Supreme Court of the United States, he makes his point clearly. A man like this knows exactly what he means to say when he says it.
Men with this background, training and experience, do not make a habit of talking off-the-cuff in a reckless manner, especially about service in Vietnam. Blumenthal, I would say, doesn't even speak off-the-cuff when ordering his breakfast at Denny's! And he certainly wouldn't mistake "during Vietnam" with "in Vietnam." Ever. The subject of Vietnam is much too important and sensitive a topic for a man of his abilities to all of a sudden become sloppy when communicating about it.
Neil, your boy Blumenthal is worse than a liar--he's guilty of Stolen Valor. He's admitted as much, albeit rather weakly:
"At times when I have sought to honor veterans, I have not been as clear or precise as I should have been about my service in the Marine Corps Reserves,''
Clear or precise? Give me a break. Stolen Valor is Stolen Valor. Neil, I look forward to your follow up on this issue. If you're man enough, you will. If not, well...
As you've probably heard, economically the world is on fire, or about to be. I like to stay in touch with the latest market news by reading TMH's Financial Links page. (She's still in bed, but later on just scroll down until you see it--She's up now.) In the meantime, here's a great world financial markets page. No matter what the time, there's some market activity taking place somewhere on the globe, a story, event--you name it. Or, there's always Gerald Celente. REAL-TIME WORLD FINANCIAL MARKETS **** Sestak admits the White House offered him a job--bribe--to get out of the race against Specter, but never went into detail about it. I thought that odd. Blackfive (Uber Pig) drops the hammer on the good Admiral via Instapundit.And, did the ballerina offer Sestak the job?
If you're in need of cheering up, here's the story that'll do it. One of the geniuses in the MSM gave a commencement speech recently... but it was to the WRONG college. Talk about not doing your homework! When she saw the name Rev. Billy Graham in her research, a light should've turned on. Dim bulb Ann Curry's worst day ever. You've been warned many times by many people--prepare for the worst, just in case. Rod Serling shows you what it could be like if you're not prepared: THE SHELTER. Part one of three. You'll find your way to the other parts. Speaking of taking shelter, California is going off the financial cliff. It's official, and there's no stopping it or hiding the facts. Here's the latest breakdown of unemployment in the Golden State from '08 to the present. The graphics used in this presentation look great. The numbers, though, are ugly. Just for fun, push the "play" button and watch California go down the toilet. THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE CALIFORNIA JOB MARKET
It is becoming more and more evident that people are stressed about the Marxist takeover of America--"fundamental transformation." People are feeling powerless, overwhelmed and generally just scared to death, and not just for themselves but for their children. I've had many conversations about this over the past year, and read many posts. But over the past few weeks it's been a daily occurrence. (The Radio Patriot has posted about it too.) Many are wondering how we'll get out of this mess, or if it's even possible. They are looking for something, anything, to help them deal with these feelings. A few months ago I was one of these people too.
You see, people are looking for an answer--a solution--that will give them the ability to manage these feelings in order to continue moving forward against this takeover. It's not enough to say "we will win." It's not enough to say "God will give us the ability." It's not enough to say "the will of the American people is boundless" And it's not enough to say "have faith." It's a bit more complicated than that.
I've put much thought into this psychological malady and stumbled upon an answer that worked for me. And a week ago I discovered there was a name for it: The Stockdale Paradox.
Last week a friend gave me a book. It was a business book. Now I've read many books on business management, and I've been through many management training programs as well. However, this book was not written by one of those fad authors--guru authors--on how to be a success in business. It was about a five-year study on why good companies become great companies: Good to Great, by Jim Collins. In the book, his exhaustive study deals only with raw data gathered by his research team. This data answers many questions about each of the companies being analyzed. Sounds boring, but for a business book it's a page turner.
Well, it was a page turner until I got to pages 83-87 in chapter four: Facing the Brutal Facts. In this chapter, Collins wanted to know how financially troubled companies were able to deal with a catastrophic situation, remain focused, and survive. It's a tough question. The answer came to him when a student of his did a paper on Vice Admiral Jim Stockdale. If ever you needed to know about survival, Stockdale would be the one to ask. So, Collins did. THE STOCKDALE PARADOX, from chapter four, pages 83-85:
The name refers to Admiral Jim Stockdale, who was the highest ranking United States military officer in the “Hanoi Hilton” prisoner-of-war camp during the height of the Vietnam War. Tortured over 20 times during his eight-year imprisonment from 1965 to 1973, Stockdale lived out the war without any prisoner’s rights, no set release date, and no certainty as to whether he would even survive to see his family again. He shouldered the burden of command, doing everything he could to create conditions that would increase the number of prisoners who would survive unbroken, while fighting an internal war against his captors and their attempts to use the prisoners for propaganda. At one point, he beat himself with a stool and cut himself with a razor, deliberately disfiguring himself, so that he could not be put on videotape as an example of a “well-treated prisoner.” He exchanged secret intelligence information with his wife through their letters, knowing that discovery would mean more torture and perhaps death. He instituted rules that would help people to deal with torture (no one can resist torture indefinitely, so he created a step-wise system—after x minutes, you can say certain things—that gave the men milestones to survive toward). He instituted an elaborate internal communications system to reduce the sense of isolation that their captors tried to create, which used a five-by-five matrix of tap codes for alpha characters. (Tap-tap equals the letter a, tap-pause-tap-tap equals the letter b, tap-tap-pause-tap equals the letter f, and so forth, for 25 letters, c doubling for k.) At one point, during an imposed silence, the prisoners mopped and swept the central yard using the code, swish-swashing out “We love you” to Stockdale, on the third anniversary of his being shot down. After his release, Stockdale became the first three-star officer in the history of the navy to wear both aviator wings and the Congressional Medal of Honor.
You can understand, then, my anticipation at the prospect of spending part of an afternoon with Stockdale. One of my students had written his paper on Stockdale, who happened to be a senior research fellow studying the Stoic philosophers at the Hoover Institution right across the street from my office, and Stockdale invited the two of us for lunch. In preparation, I read In Love and War, the book Stockdale and his wife had written in alternating chapters, chronicling their experiences during those eight years.
As I moved through the book, I found myself getting depressed. It just seemed so bleak—the uncertainty of his fate, the brutality of his captors, and so forth. And then, it dawned on me: “Here I am sitting in my warm and comfortable office, looking out over the beautiful Stanford campus on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I’m getting depressed reading this, and I know the end of the story! I know that he gets out, reunites with his family, becomes a national hero, and gets to spend the later years of his life studying philosophy on this same beautiful campus. If it feels depressing for me, how on earth did he deal with it when he was actually there and did not know the end of the story?”
“I never lost faith in the end of the story,” he said, when I asked him. “I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade.”
* * *
I didn’t say anything for many minutes, and we continued the slow walk toward the faculty club, Stockdale limping and arc-swinging his stiff leg that had never fully recovered from repeated torture. Finally, after about a hundred meters of silence, I asked, “Who didn’t make it out?”
“Oh, that’s easy,” he said. “The optimists.”
“The optimists? I don’t understand,” I said, now completely confused, given what he’d said a hundred meters earlier.
“The optimists. Oh, they were the ones who said, ‘We’re going to be out by Christmas.’ And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then they’d say, ‘We’re going to be out by Easter.’ And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart.”
Another long pause, and more walking. Then he turned to me and said, “This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”
To this day, I carry a mental image of Stockdale admonishing the optimists: “We’re not getting out by Christmas; deal with it!”
***********
Understand this as well: We will not be winning back America in November 2010; deal with it!
Taking back America will be a long process, and it won't be pretty, either. November's election is a good start, a beginning point. But we won't win that election unless we're engaged this second, this minute, this hour, this day.
Deal with it!
THE STOCKDALE PARADOX
*Retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties.
AND at the same time
*Confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.
STAR OF "ROCKFORD PEACHES," DOTTIE KAMENSHEK DIES AT 84
When WWII broke out and the men overseas, professional baseball was put on hold. That is, until The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was formed. It's said that fans first showed up to see the skirts, but when the girls proved they could really play, the fans came in droves to see a good game. Dorothy "Dottie" Kamenshek was a star player with the Rockford Peaches, setting many records during her years of play: "Spurred by the personal philosophy that 'anything less than my best is failure,' she was known to jump three or four feet in the air and to even do the splits to snag the ball at first base as a player for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. "The left-handed first baseman and lead-off hitter for the Rockford (Ill.) Peaches was one of the brightest stars of the league, which was founded in 1943 during World War II. "'She was the greatest ballplayer in our league,' said Pepper Paire Davis, a catcher and 10-year veteran in the league who remained friends with Kamenshek. 'She was one of the few ballplayers in our league who hit .300, which is like hitting .400 in the majors.' "Davis, who served as a technical advisor on "A League of Their Own," the 1992 movie about the league, said the character played by Geena Davis 'was symbolically named Dottie as the best ballplayer in the league, and that was after Dottie Kamenshek.'"
While our men were overseas fighting for our freedoms, gals like Dottie were taking Americans' minds off the pressures of life here at home by entertaining them with a good baseball game, if only for a few hours each afternoon. Go Peaches!! Dorothy "Dottie" Kamenshek--RIP
ANOTHER GOLD RUSH; JOHN SUTTER UNAVAILABLE FOR COMMENT
After reading over these charts provided by my Financial News Center--Noisyroom.net, you might be inclined to look into this thing called GOLD. Never been worth zero! However, our nation is about to be worth just that--ZERO.
On Tuesday, Neil, you completely caught me off guard with your closing segment "Common Sense." It was anything but common sense; it was disappointing and somewhat shocking, because I couldn't believe what you just said. (correction: Neil's comments were made on Wednesday)
I speak of the Blumenthal segment where you insisted on cutting him a break for saying he served in Viet Nam when he didn't. Your argument for this was a stretch, weak at best. Then you closed with this parting shot at those of us who were upset with Blumenthal:
"Get him on issues that matter, for God's sake; not nonsense like this that does not." --Read the whole piece.
Nonsense? The issue doesn't matter? Neil, you couldn't be more wrong if you tried. In fact, we expect this rhetoric from the likes of Code Pink, Jane Fonda or John Kerry, but not you.
Blumenthal just happens to be a politician, and I'm sure there are those who want to use this issue to bring him down. That's politics. When non-politicians who've never served in VN say they did--and there are many--they are exposed just the same and always will be. Whether he lied or simply misspoke on several occasions, an apology is the honorable thing. The only thing. By not apologizing, he placed his true character on display. And to be honest, Neil, at this point it's too late for Blumenthal to rescue his character. Trust me.
As for you, Neil, I'm "cutting" you a break on this one, because I don't think you were ever in the military. So, you wouldn't be able to fully understand the bonds that are created and sustained over a lifetime within the family of vets, especially combat vets. It's a bond stronger than any steel known to man. It's a sacred thing.
Joe Galloway has experienced the Hell and horrors that comes with combat. In his experience, though, they didn't refer to it as Hell; they just called it The Valley of Death.
Watch the video below where he explains the relationship between combat vets. Pay particular attention to phrases like "What a blood brotherhood this is--unending, unending, it just goes on." And, "Soldiers have a different heart, a very special heart... a willingness to give of yourself even unto death." Or, "They had to do it. Not by orders, but by the orders of their own heart." In the video, Major Bruce Crandell (MOH) and Major Ed Freeman(MOH) will teach you even more:
After seeing that video you should have a better understanding of why the Blumenthal issue is not "nonsense." But if you don't, try reading Joe Galloway's Memorial Tribute to Ed "Too Tall" Freeman from a couple years ago:
For the better part of 60 years, two old Army pilots who loved each other argued over many a meal and drink as to which of them was the second best pilot in the world.
The two shared the cockpits of old Beaver prop planes and Huey helicopters; they shared rooms in military hooches all over the world; they shared a love of practical and impractical jokes and they shared an undying love of flying and soldiers and the Army.
They also shared membership in a very small and revered fraternity of fewer than 105 men who are entitled to wear around their necks the light blue ribbon and gold pointed star that is the Medal of Honor, America’s highest decoration for heroism above and beyond the call of duty.--Continue reading.
To Ed's Family and Friends...I'm one of those that he and Bruce (Snake)carried out of LZ Xray on 15 Nov. 65. I was listed in the book, "We Were Soldiers Once and Young" as triaged, unlikely to survive. I went on to become a fixed wing and helicopter pilot, like Ed. I've lived to see my children grown and grandchildren as well. Many Thanks, Too Tall for 40+ additional years of life. You'll be missed.
Garry Owen, Sir!
Wild Bill FranklinHotwire 3/63rd Platoon Leader, Co. C 1/7thLZ Xray 1965 ~ William W. Franklin, Melbourne, Florida
Because of men like Crandell, Freeman and an outstanding medic, Mr. Franklin was able to see his children and grandchildren grow up. Think about that for a moment. Let it sink in. There are no words to describe the bond, the brotherhood that was forged on that day, for all days.
"The treaty was subsequently ratified by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 38 to 14 on 10 March 1848 and by Mexico through a legislative vote of 51 to 34 and a Senate vote of 33 to 4, on 19 May 1848. News that New Mexico's legislative assembly had just passed an act for organization of a U.S. territorial government helped ease Mexican concern about abandoning the people of New Mexico.[19] On the other hand, the discovery of gold in California a week before the treaty was signed did not become known in Mexico until August 1848."
Ebert uses Twitter to project his political opinions. Nothing new. His opinions are leftist leaning, of course, but I have no problem with him. And I have no problem with the author of this piece about Ebert, but I find it somewhat disturbing. Cocktails, anyone? No men left in Washington? Doesn't look like it, Hillbuzz talks Palin... Liberal policies in Detroit have finally come home to roost... Chuck DeVore continues his polling advances, Mel Morgan lays it out... Gov Chris Chistie lights up a reporter like a Woolworth Christmas tree... Space Shuttle Atlantis' final launch today; Andrea Shea King was on the beach at Canaveral for a photo op... TMH points out a two-eleven in progress.
Lots happening around the nation: In Chicago Sarah Palin spoke at the Rosemont, discussing Arizona's new law, Highland High School's canceled student trip, and some oil talk... Obama's words on SCOTUS noms are coming back to bite him, but what did you expect?... In California Mel Morgan explains why Chuck DeVore's polls and donations are on the rise... Hawaii gov signs new law allowing state agencies to ignore your request to see Obama's long-form birth records--makes one think there's something to this, after all... Noisyroom presents a decades old JBS speech; wants to know what's wrong with it--I couldn't find a thing... Florida's Andrea Shea King not only recognizes Liberty, she knows Liberty--she'll introduce you to her along with two other women vets of WWII.
With all the flap about Old Glory and Cinco de Mayo, it seems that some don't understand what the American flag represents, nor do they grasp its importance to all freedom-loving people. So one of our great American patriots, Free Republic's Kristinn Taylor, came up with a great idea for May 12, 2010. And this morning I proudly followed Kristinn's lead.
*** Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 3:21:46 PM by kristinn
I am posting this announcement with Jim Thompson's blessing and support.
Patriotic Americans all across the nation are being called on to 'flaunt the American flag' on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 by wearing patriotic-themed clothing such as American flag style shirts, blouses, ties or jackets; American flag lapel pins or brooches; and by displaying the American flag at home, on your car or at your desk at work. You can even carry an American flag with you as you make your rounds on Wednesday and really flaunt that flag!
This is being done as a show of support for the American families in Morgan Hill, California whose students attending Live Oak High School were ordered to remove their American flag style shirts so as to not offend Mexican students on Cinco de Mayo last week.
Offended Mexican students walked out of class the next day and staged a protest march demanding "respect" for "our holiday" by demanding Americans not display the American flag on American soil.
One protester, Luis Jimenez, was videotaped by KNTV-TV saying, "Yesterday, it was our holiday, Cinco de Mayo. All of, like, the Americans thought they could wear their flags and just flaunt them in front of us."
Another Mexican protester was videotaped by KRON-TV ripping an American flag out of the hands of an American that same day.
In response, please send this message: We Americans will flaunt our flag on our soil anytime we please. If some folks don't like that, we have an old saying for them, "America, love it or leave it!"
Please e-mail and post this call to action on blogs, Facebook, Twitter and send it to you local and national Tea Party groups and talk radio hosts.
(Note to all the race-baiting liberals and weak-kneed David Brooks types, this is not about race, or even about Mexico. This is about Americans standing up for America on American soil. If you can't handle displays of patriotism, the same message above applies to you too.)
If anyone asks who started this and why May 12, just say it was started by a TEA-ed off American and May 12 just seems like a good day to wear the red, white and blue. ***
NEW AD CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO FIGHT OBAMA'S GRAB FOR CONTROL OF INTERNET
**If we don't act on this NOW, then God help us all** THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION now wants to takeover, or "regulate," the internet. And it looks like they're well on their way to doing just that. As we all know, there is nothing wrong with the internet. The internet seems to be developing and growing just fine, thank you, very much. But Obama sees it much differently.
Americans for Prosperity has launched an ad campaign to alert those Americans who are not yet aware of another government intrusion into the private sector--the internet. AFP has a petition for you to sign as well. I suggest you sign it and pass it down the line to your readership.
The ad below just showed up here in California (FNC). Detailed information about Obama's grab for the internet can be found in the lead story of Andrea Shea King's Surfin' Safari column at WND.
"THAT'S A TEA PARTY"--Yes, just a bible-thumpin', gun-totin', radical, fringe element of no consequence whatsoever. That's what you were told time and time again by the dispensers of truth in the left media.
The real truth: The Tea Party Movement isn't just a rally or a bus tour anymore; it's a fact of political life. Deal with it.
Incumbent politicians across the nation are going through a painful and sometimes humiliating political credit check before they are "loaned" the power and privilege to do our nation's business.
After an extensive review of Sen. Bennett's political credit history, the people of Utah found that he has a record of not making all his payments. As a result, Bennett was deemed a political credit risk and his application was rejected.
Mao once said: "The Marathon Pundit must move amongst the people as a fish swims in the sea." Well it was something like that.
John Ruberry at Marathon Pundit received an invitation from Obama's Organizing for America. It's summer camp for communists. Long story short, Ruberry attended. Yes, he went behind enemy lines into the belly of the beast. And he took notes. Read all about it.
**** CONGRATS--Blogger John Ruberry at Marathon Pundit is referenced in the book. I've said it a million times, Ruberry is the go-to guy on all things Obama. It's how he rolls. ****
Feeling down about America? With the media operating the way it does--including Fox News--we all get that way from time-to-time. PJTV's Bill Whittle brings us to a better place with this offering. (hat tip:Instapundit)
Arizona congressional candidate Jesse Kelly will be joined by Melanie Morgan, co-founder of Warriors for Congress. Kelly has his eye on Arizona's eighth district, and with the endorsement of Warriors for Congress, will make a fine addition to Arizona's congressional delegation. Kelly possesses something few have in Washington DC these days: leadership.
This evening Andrea will be asking Kelly about his qualifications, positions on the important issues of the day. Morgan, who has extensive experience in politics and managing large organizations, will be outlining the goals of Warriors for Congress. One thing's for sure, we need people with leadership capabilities in Washington DC, and WFC was established to do just that.
In his Washington Examiner column, Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit writes about the future of the Tea Party movement. Reynolds explains where the real work is being accomplished. Reynolds attended the April 15 Cincinnati TP rally:
"But although that rally -- and the hundreds like it around the country that day -- was a scene of great excitement, that kind of excitement isn't the future of the Tea Party movement. The future, instead, is something much less glamorous, but much more important, than mass rallies and marches." --continue reading.
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Big government spending is one of the issues fueling the Tea Party movement. Here's a congressional scorecard listing who voted for some of the biggest spending programs in the history of mankind--from TARP to Health Care Reform. For information on how this scorecard came about, click here.
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Instapundit documents his many travels through photography, and uses a variety of equipment. He has a good eye for composition too. My favorite is of Instawife surfing the 'net in the middle of the night. As if standing her post, she seems to know that the enemy never sleeps...
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