Old Sgt's Out "Post"

What comes next?

2009-09-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

Ya know, I haven't posted on here in a long time. And I have really tried to give President Obama some time to get settled in to see what he is going to do. But, I have really had enough. Here you have a guy that ran on balancing the budget, better health care, safer streets and America, and he is adding TRILLIONS of dollars to the debt, trying to take away health care rights, demoralizing our troops and giving amnesty to millions of illegal aliens. Is this how we fix America? By giving it away!!!

There hasn't been a day go by since he took office that he hasn't put put America down in one form or another. He has declared that we are no longer a Christian Nation, he has or is trying to give government the control over our health care rights, be has "bought" the automobile industry and they now control it, and they have wasted millions of our tax dollars to bail out Banks that have opened their vaults to fraud, bad mishandling of our money there, and loaned out millions of dollars to dead beat immigrants that are here illegally any way. Our military will be feeling the bite soon as the Democrats start their downsizing and disregard for our troops.

Why is the economy so bad...it ain't Bush! It is the new Dems in control of America. Watch out America, piece by piece we are going down the tubes and that is just what our enemies want to hear and see. It is easier that way.

CHARLEY 747

2009-08-30T20:28:00.001-07:00

In Memory of Patriot Guard Rider of Oklahoma, Veteran, Husband, Father and Brother

Charles "Charley747" Reno

Ride On Angels Wings
.....
Gone now but not forgotten
Forever in our dreams
Everyday the Sun shines for you
Everyday the roads are dry
The straights go on forever
The bends are as you dream
There are no more pains
There are no more worries
You will be there at every party
You will take part in every race
You will stand there on the podium
You will race with the stars
you will ride upon Gods pillion
And if Angels ride on Harleys
Then you will surely travel far
On Earth You were My Brother
And now you are a Star
so glide on heavens highway
And lead the train up front
One day you will be waiting
And together we will ride
Once more again as Brothers
The white line side by side

~JON~

A MUST READ

2009-05-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

An email sent to me contained this:

As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open.

The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.

I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something.

The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade and then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying, 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.

I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her and appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight and as I got near him I said, 'Looks like you're having a problem.'

He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around I saw a gas station up the road and told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went inside and saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them and related the problem the old man had with his car and offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.

The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us, he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine) I spoke with the old gentleman.

When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a
Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?'

He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal . He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card.

He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket.. We all shook hands all around again and I said my goodbye's to his wife. I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station I told them that they had interrupted their own jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me..

One of them pulled out a card from his pocket looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then, that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.

For some reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name...... 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'

I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together, because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his presence. Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America . Thanks to those who served...& those who supported them. So, when you see an old man salute him as he probably fought for our freedom and if it were not for him and others like him we would be speaking German today!

America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!

Remember, Freedom isn't "Free" -- thousands have paid the price so you can enjoy what you have today.

SAD, BUT TRUE

2008-08-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

This is TOO good!
In 2007,
5 million of our older Americans had
not signed up in the given time,
for their Medicare, Part D, drug plan
they are old and confused.
YET they were NOT
granted an extension.

However, the 12 million illegal aliens in our
country were allowed to stay, protest, procreate, receive support monies, attend schools,
avoid paying income taxes,
have our teachers take
300 hours of Spanish as a Second Language
and training at our expense, etc.

THE GOVERNMENT MUST REALLY DISLIKE
OUR OLDER AMERICAN CITIZENS.

OR THEY MUST REALLY LOVE TACOS!!!

Let us see how the government will
handle the program for the 2008
year for our senior citizens.

If it ticks you off, pass it on!!

OH! Don't forget to pay your taxes.
12 million illegal aliens
are depending on you! !!

Thank You

2008-06-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you Stillwater

I can not put into words my amazement at the kindness and generosity that the Hagerty and Drake families have experienced following the death of my husband, Major Scott Hagerty. The 100s of people who came to honor him by attending his funeral or lining the streets during the procession.

The food, cards, flowers, quilts and donations made in his name or to our children have been overwhelming, in a goodway. I have received phone calls and cards from across the entire nation. I have been especially blessed by the communities of Stillwater and Perkins and I have never been more proud to be an Oklahoman. To all the friends and family who ran errands, cared for my young children, and fielded phone calls when Scott’s family and I were overcome with grief, I can never thank you enough.

I know Scott is honored and amazed to know how his life and death affected people and brought out the best in them. My faith in humankind has been completely restored because I know that the worst in humanity that the media focuses on, is not how the large majority of people behave.

I have never been closer to my Lord and Savior — his strength, blessings and mercies have been bountiful and unending.

My special thanks to: All of the servicemen (and women) who continue to protect and defend the United States of America, Casualty Affairs Office (Ft. Sill), First Church of the Nazarene, First United Methodist Church (Stillwater), Honor Guard (Ft. Sill), BancFirst, Patriot Guard Riders, Stillwater Police Department, Stillwater Fire Department, Strode’s Funeral Home, Sunset Memorial Gardens, Ron King, Lou and Wes Watkins, Kenny and Vickie Howerton, Anthony and Holly Hart and Patty Armbruster.

Thank you all

www.sponsorthetroops. org.

Daphne, Jonathan, and Samuel Hagerty
Don and Shirley Hagerty
Mark and Kathy Hagerty
Bruce and Lynne (Hagerty) Farmer
Garry and Nina Drake

A True Honoring of A Hero-Major Scott Hagerty

2008-06-20T03:23:00.001-07:00

It has been just one week ago today that Major Scott Hagerty was finally laid to rest. The flowers are all but gone from the funeral, the ground where he is resting has started to return to its normal shape. The Honor Guard is gone, each returning to their respective posts. The Generals and Colonels and others have returned to their duty stations to continue what they do best. The flags have all been taken down and put away, awaiting the next event for which they may be used. The rains finally came and the sun has shown once or twice since that day. There have been many accounts of the proceedings that day, from onlookers, newspapers, and even a few TV stations. But I feel urged to tell the story from a personal perspective. It has taken me this long to gather my thoughts and emotions and try to make sense of what has taken place.

The day that Daphne found out that Scott had been killed in Afghanistan brought the world to a complete stop for her. The plans and dreams that they had made just months before, were now forever on hold. Daphne was at our house that evening when she received the call from the National Guard requesting that they be able to come by and talk to her. The tears ran down her face before the phone call was even compete. I tried to console her, I told her that maybe he was just hurt bad and they needed to tell her, knowing all along that this probably was not the case. You see having grown up in a military family and having been in the military myself, I knew that when that call comes it means only one thing, someone has died. Thirty minutes later, the two officers arrived at our house. A Major and a Captain, their names we can't remember. As my daughter was not in the room at the time, I asked if it was what I thought it was. A deafening silence engulfed the room and the only thing they could do was look down. No more of an answer was necessary.

When Daphne returned to the living room, she sat down on the couch, the Major started slow and very low..."Mrs. Hagerty, it is my duty to inform you ..." This was all any of us could hear. All of us broke down. The Major continued to deliver his message, but none of us really heard anything beyond that. The Captain, a Chaplin came and knelt down on the floor next to Daphne and tried to console her, but the most important words he could tell her were to please go ahead and cry, let it out. After about thirty minutes, the Major advised us that they still had to tell Scott's parents, and asked that if possible, could we lead them to their house. I responded by telling them that I would drive Daphne there and they could follow us.

The drive to Stillwater usually is a very short drive, maybe 20 minutes or so, but that night it seemed to last forever. When we finally reached the house of Scott's parents, the car with the officers pulled up behind us and we got out. I told Daphne that I would wait outside for now, this was a time for her and Scott's parents. As they went inside and the door closed behind them my heart fell to my feet and I began to cry almost uncontrollably. It seemed like forever, but about ten minutes later the officers emerged from the house and I met them to thank them for their help, and told them that I did not envy either one of them the job that the had to do. After they left, Daphne took me inside to wait for their preacher. I will not go into the details of what happened in the house or what was said. Instead I will jump to the next day. From here on out things are really in a blur. The Army sent the CAO (Casualty Assistance Officer) from Ft Sill to meet with Daphne and Scott's parents to help them through the days to come with the paperwork and return of Scott's body.

Most of this time was spent at Scott's parents and I am not at liberty to discuss any details that took place. All I can say is that Major Wuensche deserves a medal for bravery and compassion for the things that he did for my daughter and Scott's parents. We now fast forward to Scott's body returning to Oklahoma for one last time. The day after we found out Scott was killed, I contacted, via email, the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) of Oklahoma. I didn't expect any trouble from outside groups protesting what Scott stood for, but I knew that this organization was there more to pay their respect and provide Scott with the dignity in burial that he deserved. The plane landed from Dover, Delaware around 10:05 am on the Wednesday morning, June 11. The sun was bright and a strong south wind was blowing. The PGR took their positions on the tarmac presenting a flag line for the plane, Scott, the Honor Guard and family. As the plane landed and came to a halt, we were escorted out to where they were preparing to unload Scott. After the casket was lowered and placed on a stand, Daphne and the two boys approached it. The silence was deafening. It seemed like every noise in the world stopped at that moment except for the flags rustling in the wind, and you could have heard a pin drop from downtown Stillwater. As Daphne and the boys moved aside, Scott's parents and siblings drew close to the casket to greet him home one more time. From here the casket was moved by the Honor Guard to the hearse, and from there it would take a journey to the funeral home south of the airport.

As we all loaded back up into the vehicles provided by the funeral home, I looked to our front and one of the most spectacular sites fell before my eyes. There, taking the lead in the procession to the funeral home were some 40 bikers with flags on their bikes as they split with some taking up the rear of the procession. This was the Patriot Guard Riders that I had heard about. As we headed south toward the funeral home, cars would pull over to the side of the road as usual for a funeral procession. However, something I had not seen or ever expected took place. People were getting out of their cars and placing their hands over their hearts as the hearse went by. The only way that they could have possibly known this was for a military person was by the flags on the motorcycles. It was indeed an eye watering experience. Over the next two days hundreds and hundreds of phone calls, emails and cards came wishing to offer their prayers for the families and provide whatever comfort they possibly could. Then the day of the funeral had arrived. A day that many felt would cause the pain of the first night to return for Daphne and Scott's parents.

The services were held at the Methodist Church in Stillwater, the family was brought in with transportation provided for by the funeral home. As we neared the church, another flag line had been presented by the PGR, as well as some of the people of the community. After turning around the block to position the cars for after the funeral services, we exited the vehicles and entered the church. It was one of the most breath taking moments I personally had ever seen. On the right side of the church, it was a sea of green. This section of the church had been reserved for the military, and it was completely packed. The left side was reserved for the family and it to filled up completely. I was told that there were about 1000 people that attended the services, and more that waited outside because they ran out of room. The services lasted for about an hour or so with a final tribute to Scott prepared by one of his close friends. Daphne was presented with Scott's Bronze Star and Purple Heart, along with ones for Scott's parents. Shortly thereafter, Scott started the journey to his final resting place.

As we exited the church, my eyes were fixed on Daphne and Scott's casket. It was not until I looked up did I see something that just completely knocked me to my knees. As I looked to the east, the direction by which the procession would travel, I saw an ocean of flags on the back of these beautiful bikes. Then we heard the roar of the engines from around 100 or so Patriot Guard Riders. Once everyone was placed into their respective vehicles, the procession started to move. As we headed east on 7th St, I noticed a group of construction workers standing along side the road, and a group of four or so were standing on top of a trailer holding a large flag. As the heasre went by they removed their hard hats and placed them above their hearts. Many saluted as the hearse and family car went by. The street became more and more congested along the sidewalks with more people holding flags and homemade signs. As we made the turn onto Main St heading south, a sight fell upon me that I thought would cause an accident. For as far as the eyes could see was nothing but an ocean of flags and people. Hundreds of them, and more flags than you could possibly count. They were lined up on both sides of the street, shoulder to shoulder, and four deep in some spots. Some held up flags, others waved there hand made signs, and those in any kind of uniform, and some not in uniform, presented one of the biggest and longest hand salutes I had ever seen.

The trip to the cemetery was a little over five miles, but there were people everywhere along he route. There were Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, businesses, cars that had been stopped by the funeral, and the people got out to salute the passing of the hearse and family. People were standing beside the road with tears falling down their faces, hands placed over the heart, flags being held sometimes by one, sometimes by two people at a time. As we entered the cemetery, a flag line had been formed by one of the local churches around the drive of the cemetery, as you could see the hearts in hand from each that held the flag tight in their hands. Soon we came to a stop, and exited the car to make our way to the graveside. It was a simple but fitting service. By now the Patriot Guard Riders had formed a semi-circle around the tent area, and the throngs of people made their way to the tent trying to get as close as possible.

After a military Chaplin spoke, the sound of "ATTENSHUN" rang forward from outside the tent. Ready...Fire! the double click of rifles reloading, then another... Ready, Fire...another double click of the rifles reloading, ... Ready, Fire. Order Arms. As two members of the honor guard approached the casket, they positioned themselves at each end. Slowly and delicately they lifted the flag from it and side stepped until they were clear of the casket. At this point the rest of the flag detail approached the others to assume their position. With deliberateness and honor, the flag was folded in half once, then again, and one more time. As the folding of the triangle began, each fold was creased and smoothed all the way to the end of the blue field covered with stars. As the final fold was made, the soldier holding the flag executed an about face to present the flag to the senior NCO of the detail for inspection. Each corner, every fold had to be exact before it could be presented to the next person. Finally, the flag was presented to the two star general who had been patiently standing by. With sharp and distinct movements the General made his way to Daphne and presented her the flag stating the following words, "On behalf of the president of the United States..." Daphne looked straight ahead. A second flag was also presented to Scott's mother and father.

After the graveside service was over, Daphne was approached by an individual in a vest. He looked like one of those bikers you would see on TV. Rough, stout, and weathered. The he presented her with a plaque. After the flag exchange to Daphne and Scott's parents, I immediately approached two individuals dressed in vests, bikers vests to be exact. I knew one of them was one of the individuals that I had contacted from the PGR, who went by the name of Polecat 11, alias "Roy Wells" , the other I found out was Capt'n Crunch alias "Jerry Lakey", the State Captain of the PGR. We exchanged pleasantries and talked for a few minutes. From their mouths echoed the words "it was our honor", "he gave so much", respect and dignity. This was all for Scott and Daphne. These ladies and gentlemen came from all over the state and some from outside Oklahoma to pay tribute to Scott. I was speechless. As I excused myself and returned to the tent area, I thanked them one more time for what they were doing.

As I made my way back over to where Daphne was I noticed the throngs of men in their dress greens waiting in line to offer their condolences to Scott's parents and to Daphne. It took about thirty minutes or so before the line started to dwindle down. Toward the very end of the line stood a young female soldier. What made this soldier stand out from the others is that she was in the desert camouflage BDU's used in Iraq and Afghanistan. My daughter had left her position under the tent and decided to go down the diminishing line to greet those still there. When she came to the young lady in the camo's, she found out that she had been with Scott as part of his team in Afghanistan. She had returned to the states earlier and found out about Scott while at home. She immediately caught the next plane to Oklahoma so she could attend the funeral of her former team leader. Daphne, immediately hugged the young lady and they remained this way for quite some time, crying on each others shoulders.

The next people that Daphne greeted where a man and a woman. Both dressed in bikers vests. They exchanged their pleasantries and presented Daphne with a small pin. It was from the riders of the PGR, it was a "Mission Complete" pin. Daphne stood there speechless for a second then told them, as she glanced to the heavens, that Scott would have been so proud to be honored by them and that she was deeply grateful for their appearance at his funeral, it really meant a lot to her and Scott. It wasn't long after that that the line broke up completely and we all loaded back into our vehicles and left the cemetery.

After having a wonderful lunch prepared by the people of the church that Scott and Daphne attended, my wife and I left to return to Perkins. On our way back home, we decided to stop by the cemetery one more time. As we were pulling in, we noticed a vehicle pulling out. It was Major Wuensche. We did not stop, but he waved to us as we passed. I know if we had, he would have said that he just came back by to make sure everything was in order at the cemetery. Personally, I like to think that he wanted to pay his last respects to Scott, alone and in a personal soldier to soldier fashion. As I said at the beginning, a few days have past since Scott was laid to rest. But the cards and well wishes continue to flood in. On behalf of my daughter and respectfully for Scott's parents, I want to thank everyone for their support during this last three weeks. From the scouts to Mr. Wes Watkins. From Strode Funeral Home to the brave soldiers that carried Scott to his final resting place. But in particular, I want to thank the PGR for what they do to honor our fallen hero's, and the hundreds of people that lined the streets of Stillwater. No greater show of love, respect and honor could be possible in my minds eye.

Major Scott Hagerty Funeral Video

2008-06-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of News9 Oklahoma City, the only one that covered the ceremony with video.

Final Inspection

2008-06-10T21:24:00.000-07:00

Final Inspection

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining.
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now,soldier.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep....
Though I worked a lot of overtime.
When the bills just got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord.
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t, I’ll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now,soldier
you’ve borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets;
you’ve done your time in Hell."

- Author Unknown -

Personal Tribute to All the Troops

2008-06-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

It is with great pleasure and an honor to Proudly Display Major Scott Hagerty's Medals and Service Ribbons

Scott had a proud and honorable military career as can be seen by his vast list of ribbons and medals:

Scott’s awards and decorations are listed left to right for each row starting at the top left corner, with the definition of what each medal is and how it is achieved.

STAND TALL AMERICA, AN OFFICER AND A HERO IS PASSING IN REVIEW!!

1. Bronze Star Medal. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

2. Purple Heart. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force who, while serving with the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded. The original Purple Heart, designated as the Badge of Military Merit, was established by General George Washington by order from his headquarters at Newburgh, New York, August 7, 1782.

3. Meritorious Service Medal. Awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to 16 January 1969. Normally, the acts or services rendered must be comparable to that required for the Legion of Merit but in a duty of lesser though considerable responsibility.

4. Joint Service Commendation Medal. Authorized by the Secretary of Defense, June 25, 1963. The JSCM is awarded only to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after January 1, 1963, distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or service.

5. Army Commendation Medal. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States other than General Officers who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself/herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. Award may be made to a member of the Armed Forces of a friendly foreign nation who, after 1 June 1962, distinguishes himself/herself by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or meritorious service which has been of mutual benefit to a friendly nation and the United States.

6. Army Achievement Medal. The Army Achievement Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or to any member of the Armed Forces of a friendly foreign nation, who while serving in any capacity with the Army in a non-combat area on or after 1 August 1981, distinguished himself/ herself by meritorious service or achievement of a lesser degree than required for award of the Army Commendation Medal.

7. Army Good Conduct Medal. The Good Conduct Medal is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal Military service. It is awarded on a selective basis to each soldier who distinguishes himself/herself from among his/her fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service. Qualifying periods of service include each three years completed after 27 August 1940 or, for first award only, upon completion of at least one year upon termination of service if separated prior to three years. Also for the first award only, for those individuals who died before completing one year of active Federal military service if the death occurred in the line of duty. The immediate commander must approve the award and the award must be announced in permanent orders.

8. Reserve Components Achievement Medal. The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity while serving as a member of an Army National Guard or Army Reserve Troop Program Unit or as an individual mobilization augmentee for each four year period since 3 March 1972. Effective 28 March 1995, the period of qualifying service for the award was reduced from four years to three years; however, this change was not retroactive. Service must have been consecutive and service performed in the Reserve Component of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard may not be credited for award of this medal. The member must have exhibited honest and faithful service in accordance with the standards of conduct, courage and duty required by law and customs of the service of a member of the same grade as the individual to whom the standard is being applied. A member must be recommended for the award by his/her unit commander.

9. National Defense Service Medal. The National Defense Service Medal was awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954; between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974; between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995 and between 11 September 2001 and a closing date to be determined.

10. Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Authorized to be awarded to soldiers who deploy to Afghanistan in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined or the cessation of OEF.

11. Iraq Campaign Medal. Authorized to be awarded to soldiers who deploy to Iraq in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) on or after 19 March 2003 to a date to be determined or the cessation of OIF. The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the country of Iraq and the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land area of Iraq and above the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles.

12. Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Authorized to be awarded to soldiers who deploy abroad for service in the Global War on Terrorism Operations on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. The complete listing of areas of eligibility (AOE) are: Algeria, Bahrain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria (Bourgas), Chad, Columbia, Crete, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo (only specified GWOT operations not associated with operations qualifying for the Kosovo Campaign Medal), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Romania (Constanta), Saudia Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, that portion of the Arabian Sea north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees longitude, Bab El Mandeb, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Suez, that portion of the Mediterranean Sea east of 28 degrees east longitude (“boarding and searching” vessel operations), Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz and Suez Canal.

13. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Authorized to be awarded to soldiers who have participated in or served in support of Global War on Terrorism Operations outside the designated areas of eligibility (AOE) for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, on or after 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined. Initial award of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM) will be limited to airport security operations (from 27 September 2001 through 31 May 2002) and soldiers who supported Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

14. Korean Defense Service Medal. The Korea Defense Service Medal (KDSM) is authorized to members of the Armed Forces who have served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea from 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined. The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous water out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land and water areas.

15. Armed Forces Reserve Medal. Awarded for honorable and satisfactory service as a member of one or more of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States for a period of 10 years within a 12-year period. Upon completion of the fourth 10-year period, a gold hourglass followed by a bronze hourglass shall be awarded. Also awarded for mobilization on or after 1 August 1990, to members called to active duty and served under Title 10, United States Code (USC) (Defense Department) or Title 14 USC (Coast Guard) or the member volunteered and served on active duty in support of US Military operations or contingencies designated by the Secretary of Defense. The “M” device is worn to indicate mobilization. Subsequent mobilizations are denoted by the wear of a number to indicate the number of times mobilized.

16. Army Service Ribbon. The Army Service Ribbon is awarded to members of the Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard for successful completion of initial-entry training.

17. Overseas Service Ribbon. The Overseas Service Ribbon (OSR) is awarded to members of the U.S. Army for successful completion of overseas tours.

18. NATO Medal. Authorized by the Secretary General of NATO for specific NATO operations. In accordance with Executive Order 11446, the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, may approve acceptance for operations and authorize the wear by US Service members who meet the criteria specified by the Secretary General of NATO. The acceptance of the NATO Medal has been approved for US Military personnel who serve under NATO Command or operational control in direct support of NATO operations in the former Republic of Yugoslavia, or as designated by Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR), from 1 July 1992 through a future date to be determined.

2008-06-10T07:51:00.000-07:00

Major Scott Hagerty

September 1, 1966 - June 3, 2008

As I'm sure you know, Stillwater native son Army Major Scott Hagerty was killed in action in Afghanistan last Tuesday, June 3,

when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle, killing Scott and 20-year-old Pfc Derek Holland of Wind Gap, PA.

Scott's parents Don and Shirley Hagerty are longtime Stillwater residents.

Also living in Stillwater are Scott's wife Daphne and sons Jonathan (age 10) and Samuel (20 months), Samuel is named after a civilian contractor Scott worked with in Iraq who was later killed by an IED.

Scott graduated from Stillwater High School in 1984 and earned a bachelor's degree in 1993

in political science, pre-law, and international relations from Oklahoma State University.

Scott's funeral will be Friday, June 13, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church (corner of 7th and South Duck streets, Stillwater)

with Strode Funeral Home in charge of local arrangements. Burial will immediately follow the funeral at Sunset Memorial Garden,

6500 South Perkins Road, Stillwater. Since Scott was killed in action, he will be accorded full military honors at his funeral and burial.

Hopefully, many individuals and groups in the Stillwater community and surrounding area

might like to be present on Friday morning to honor Scott and to offer thanks for his ultimate sacrifice for us.

Here are some ways you and others can be a part of a support group to honor Scott:

1. Attend his funeral. The church sanctuary is large but if it is full when you arrive, there will be ushers and additional seating

in the fellowship hall just south of the church, and the service will be transmitted live there on big screen TV.

2. Many officials and military personnel will attend the funeral. If you have an opportunity, let's honor Scott's service by thanking them

for their service to our country.

3. Help us line the route from the church to the cemetery with individuals and groups of caring supporters.

Let Scott's family know that you appreciate the sacrifice Scott made for all of us. Several sites are provided such as the "condolences" link

at www.Strodefh.com, - or search for Scott Hagerty on the Legacy.com link at www.stwnewspress.com

If you can help line the route to the cemetery, the procession will travel east on 7th street to Main Street, and then south on Main Street to Sunset Memorial Garden. Just as folks do for the OSU Homecoming parade, it is OK to park and stand at any safe location. It will be hot, so bring your water bottle. Also, each person might bring an American flag of any size and/or a homemade sign of remembrance or thanks for Scott. If you know of folks who might like to participate as a group, let me know if possible so we can share this information with the Hagerty family. Let's show this grieving family that Stillwater appreciates the freedom we have because of Scott and others who willingly serve with the knowledge they may lose their own lives.

Let me know if you have questions or suggestions.

Please forward this to others who might like to have the information.

Remembering Scott - - - thanking Scott !

More Pics Of Scott Doing his Job

2008-06-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

The above pictures are from Scott while he was on last misson in Afghanistan before the incident. AS you can see he was very deep in his work and enjoyed every minute of it. The Picture on the lower right is one that was taken at one of the schools Scott attended. If anyone has information on it please feel free to contact me.

GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN

2008-06-05T06:41:00.001-07:00

Major Scott Hagerty
September 1, 1966 - June 3, 2008
Beloved father, husband and soldier
We will miss you always...

I know that I haven't been on here to post much in the last few years. No real excuse I guess. But this post is one that I had never hope or desired to make. On June 3, 2008, my daughter was informed by the Department of the ARMY that my son-in-law had been killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb (IED). Maj Scott Hagerty, (my son-in-law) was on a mission of goodwill in the Paktia Province in the northern part of Afghanistan with his team. His missions centered around assisting the surrounding villages, and helping to improve their living conditions. They would go from village to village and meet with the local leaders and discuss the needs of that area, such as wells for drinking water, roads conditions when necessary, and life in general.

This was Scott's third tour in the region. He served his first tour in Iraq shortly after taking Saddam out of commission. He was there when Saddam was captured and his intelligence team played a major part in his capture. From there he served in the Horn of Africa, this time in the role of a civil officer. Here his team went around helping the villages in the area improve their living conditions, as well as making a local orphanage one of their major assistance projects.

Scott dedicated his life to the military. Although he was in the Army Reserves, he spent the better part of the last five years on active duty. Scott earned his rank the hard way. He started his service in the lower ranks and worked his way up to Sgt. From here he went to OTC and received the rank of lieutenant. From that point on he strove to be the best officer he could possibly be. He was well respected in every aspect. By those that served under him, those he worked directly with in the upper ranks and most of all by his family and friends. Scott was promoted to the rank of Captain shortly before he went to Iraq for his first tour and was promoted to his present rank of Major shortly before his deployment to Afghanistan. Scott never waited to be called up to active duty. He felt it was his duty as a soldier to volunteer, and that is what he did three different times.

Scott's main goal was to make life better for everyone he came into contact with. Both as a civilian and as an officer in the Army. Scott always placed the good of his men before himself and was always there to give support to those in need. Scott leaves behind a loving wife Daphne of twelve and a half years and two wonderful boys, Jonathan 10 years old, and Samuel 20 months old. The void in our lives will never be filled. His smile, laugh, and mere presence seemed to light up the room whenever he came in. There aren't enough words to describe the loss that we feel and the anguish that my daughter is going through. Although she is showing resentment toward the person that changed his orders at the last minute sending him to Afghanistan, she knows that this is what Scott wanted to do, and nothing could have kept him from it. The scares will probably never heal completely, his absence always felt, but his memory will last forever and the joy that he brought into so many lives will never fade. Please pray for our family and Scott's parents as we go through this very traumatic time.

Our family would also like to ask that you remember Pfc Derek Holland's family in this time of mourning. Derek was one of the soldiers under Scott's command at the time of the IED explosion, and who also gave his all. Please remember him and his family in your prayers.

Spoiled Brats

2007-04-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

Made in the USA: Spoiled brats

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bulletproof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the US, yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the he president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another . Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O. J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way...... Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

WE ARE THE MOST BLESSED PEOPLE ON EARTH. WE SHOULD THANK GOD SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY.....
"There are two ways to live your life. One as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein

Imus steps in it, and the rappers get paid for it

2007-04-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

As everyone knows by now, Imus is in deep kimchee for his infamous three words "nappy headed Ho's", and well he should be. However, this is what he has been doing for years. So in reality, this should not have come as a shock to anyone. He has made degrading remarks for over thirty years, from attacking Jews, politicians, and a wide variety of others. So why now all of the sudden is he catching all this flack? More than likely because he addressed them at a group of women that had just made a great accomplishment in the terms of the NCAA, and had not done anything wrong.

Basically, the people are speaking out as well as the sponsors of such programs like that of Imus. However, what about the flip side of this. Most of us know what the words "nappy headed" means. It is a derogatory way of describing members of the black or African American community from their hair. It has been around for years, though to me, I find it very offensive. What about the word N***** (fill in the blanks), another word that the African American community finds distasteful and derogatory, yet is used on a daily basis in the African Community. A term defined in American Heritage Dictionary as:

nig·ger (nĭg'ər) n. Offensive Slang.
Used as a disparaging term for a Black person: “You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a nigger” (James Baldwin).
Used as a disparaging term for a member of any dark-skinned people.
Used as a disparaging term for a member of any socially, economically, or politically deprived group of people: “Gun owners are the new niggers . . . of society” (John Aquilino).

Offensive? Yes indeed. But if it is so offensive to blacks in general, why do they use it on a regular basis, in general conversation and more so when agitated at another "brother"? Yet, let a non-black say it or use it and all hell breaks out. As for the words "nappy headed Ho's" these too are used regularly by the black community. To me they are just as offensive and more so due to the fact that they pertain only to the black woman. Yet here again, the word "HO" is directed in a derogatory manner toward women, and not just black women. I would dare anyone to pick up a rap or hip-hop CD and find any song on the CD that did not use those words or even worse in their general description of the women in their songs or rantings.

America is being held at a double standard. Is it alright for rappers like Snop Dog and others to defame women by using these words and more? Why? Because they are black? Or is it because if you made them remove the derogatory words from their songs, it would sound more like a church hymn? This is where the double standards come into play. Imus is being raked over the fire and the rap and hip-hop community is being given a green light. Personally, I am fed up with the trash that some are calling songs. We have let things go to such a point that there is no gray area anymore. It is either black or white, right or wrong, or politically correct. But WHO determines what is "politically correct"? The politicians, the rappers, the religious left or right? Or is that simply left up to you and I?

There is the argument that for hip-hop and rap you have to buy into it by purchasing their music. Therefore you know what you are in for. Isn't it the same with radio talk shows? I mean if you don't like what that radio host is saying you can always turn the channel. If you continue to listen to something that is offensive, and then rant about it being done, is like the pot calling the kettle black. It just doesn't float. I can understand the outrage of certain members of the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team. But to claim that it has "scared them for life" is a big stretch. Yes, it took away from the glory that they achieved, but how did what Imus say scar them for life. I would venture to say that most of the black players on the Rutgers Team have heard those words most of their life from their peers. Don't you think that they would have been scared far worse from having these words thrown out there all their life?

If blacks don't want everyone to use these defaming words, they need to cut them out of their vocabulary altogether. For as long as the African American community continues to use these phrases, others will feel that they can say them as well. It shouldn't matter whether or not you are black or white, green, purple or brown. Stop saying them and praising them in your songs black America and maybe, just maybe the rest of the world will get the hint. Sure there will always be those idiots out there (like the White Power movement, or the KKK) that will continue to use these phrases and worse. But for the African American Community to allow Sharpton and Jackson be their spokes persons is really scratching the bottom of the barrel. For both of them have made worse comments about other groups. If you are going to clean up terms used by entertainers (all of them) go all the way and have everyone do it, including the African American community. It is no more proper for you to use derogatory words about other races then it is for Imus or others to use these words about you.

I have many black friends and have had for a very long time (forty plus years), so I don't consider myself a racist, not even in the broadest of terms. I chose and pick my words very carefully. Not because I am afraid of what might happen, but because I try to treat each person with the dignity they deserve until proven otherwise. Even then I don't call them racially slurred names. Does Imus deserve to be fired? That is something that the sponsors and management will have to decide. Should he be forgiven? That is up to the Rutgers Team, not the likes of Sharpton or Jackson or any other self proclaimed protector of the black race to decide. After all he didn't make the comment to you, he made it at them. Stop trying to have it both ways. Let's clean it all up and get on with life, by working together.

A Road to Success in Iraq?

2007-03-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

Well the die is cast. Today the Senate voted to pass the Ill-fated Appropriations Bill passed earlier by the House is now on its way to the President. The Bill providing $123 Billion in military funding and domestic programs aid, passed the Senate by a vote of 51 – 47 with two Republicans, Hagel (the senates new version of John Murtha) and Smith, jumping ship to vote with the Democrats. The Bill, which the President has stated repeatedly he would veto will more than likely return to the houses for the possible overturn vote. A vote that both houses know will not be able to sustain a two thirds majority in either house let alone together.

But does this relinquish the President of any responsibility? Not hardly. After four years of going it alone, with some of his supporters in the Congress, the war has been terribly mismanaged. Both on the ground and in the administration. Several generals that have served in Iraq since the action started and some of the retired generals have tried to explain it to the president that the troops can not win the battle alone, diplomacy must be a open avenue to pursue as well. With more and more scandals or so called scandals coming to light, things do not look well for the Bush Administration. However, be it understood that the Democrats are doing everything in their power to strip the President of any resemblance of power or authority with many wasteful committee hearings costing the Public millions. From the GSA scandals to the Justice Department scandals, much of what the democrat led committees are hunting are purely ghosts.

Now the question becomes what of the troops? What will their fate be if this funding does not reach them before the end of April? Sources say that they will no longer be able to provide maintenance on their vehicles and equipment, and funding for various ongoing projects. Will the newly arriving troops be provided the equipment and materials that they need? But even more than this, what message has the newly formed Department of Defense (the Congress) sent to the troops. Are they telling them that they no longer have confidence in them? Without hesitation, YES. Are they telling Gen Petraeous, whom was just recently given a unanimous vote by the Congress to take over the Iraqi battle, that they no longer have confidence in him to conduct the mission? Again, the answer is YES.

The leaders of both Houses, Pelosi and Reid, are pretty much floating the boat at this point. Both think that now the President must “negotiate” with them to get things done. To a certain extent that is true, but not necessarily a must. The Democrat led Congress are the ones that should have, at the beginning of all this, stepped forward and conducted meetings with the president as to what possible avenues were available, before they forced the Presidents hand. The President does not carry the power to provide funds for the troops, this falls to the Congress. Even though the funding was provided in the bill, there were unconstitutional strings tied to it. The founding fathers provided that the President to be the Commander and Chief of the military, not the Congress. The Congress has the power of the purse to either fund or not fund the war, but not dictate it. So the Bill, though providing funds, should have collapsed on itself. However, since the newly elected DOD has stepped up to the plate challenging the power of the President, they are to be held responsible.

My greatest concern is how many troops are going to suffer or die because the new DOD wants to play with their lives and jeopardize the outcome of the mission. There is plenty of blame to go around, both republicans and democrats should be ashamed of their conduct and inability to look at the long term effect of this war, for both winning and failing.

I am Moving...Find out where.

2007-03-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

It has taken a while for me to wake up, but I think the time has come to make a break from certain ways that I have conducted myself and my ideology. Instead of looking at just the slants on the Democratic Party, I will look at both sides and speak my mind. First I will start with the Democratic Party, the now reigning majority.

It would seem that the Democratic Party, that recently won both houses of Congress and who ran on a more transparent legislature and bringing the war in Iraq to an “immediate” end, are already bucking their own promise to the people. They promised to bring the Congress back to a pay-as-you-go status to avoid furthering the deficit and placing payment on our children and grandchildren in the years down the road. Yet according to almost all of the bills that have been passed by this Congress they have gone in the opposite direction.

S.10, a bill to “Reinstate the pay-as-you-go requirement and reduce budget deficits by strengthening budget enforcement and fiscal responsibility”, has been read twice and placed into Committee on the Budget, but has yet to be brought to the floor for a vote. Is it the intent of the Democrats in Congress to wait until they have PORKED up every Bill that comes forward before they decide to vote on it? So it would appear.

Over the last few weeks alone the Democrats have placed more pork into bills than ever before. This pork, placed in emergency appropriations bills, totals out to more than $40 Billion dollars so far and there is probably more to come before it is all over with. This pork or amendments is not taken out of the operating expenses or general budget planned for this year, it will be taken on credit. Credit that our children and grandchildren will be paying for, for years to come. Is this the type of pay-as-you-go policy that they promised? I hope not.

To beef up their chances of passing bills in the house and in the senate, the Majority has placed every choke hold on their members thinkable to make sure that these bills pass. The so called “Blue Dog” Democrats, those that want to have a controlled spending government and the OUT OF IRAQ caucus members were bribed or threatened into placing yea votes on the recent appropriations bill so it would pass. Less than a dozen true “Blue Dog and Out of Iraq” members voted as they said they would, against the bill. Why not let them vote as their constituents voted for them. For this going against the grain, you can rest assured that there will be reprisals from the majority leaders later on down the road.

Yes, they voted on a more transparent legislature (S.1, passed January 22, 2007) but have yet to successfully conduct themselves as such, with behind closed doors amendments being placed into resolutions and not allowing debate or further amendments to be placed into the resolutions is a definite transparency of legislature. Don’t get me wrong, the Republicans were just as bad, but they didn’t run on that platform. The present Majority did, and they are failing miserably at it.

The agenda of the Democratic Party is becoming more and more relevant. Theirs is not to bring the country back together; but it is to place a much larger divide onto it. Power is a dangerous thing, and the Democrats have yet to learn how to use it wisely. It is true that they are in control, for now. But that control may be short lived if they continue to go against their own promises. If you were elected on ending the war, stop the funding and bring the troops home NOW. If not, don’t stand in their way of declaring victory at the days end. You don’t know what victory is, leave that up to the troops and their commanders.

The Republicans found out the hard way when they lost the last election because they thought they were too powerful to be replaced. They thought wrong, and are now paying the price for it. It is a dramatic shift when the majority of Americans find that the Democrats could be more “security minded” than republicans. A shift that everyone, but the Republicans, seemed to identify. They too have bogged down the democratic process that our nation was founded upon.

If this seems that I am “ragging” on both parties, you are right. I have been a life long Republican, voting straight party line ticket in major elections. That will now come to an end. Don’t clap to quickly Democrats; I am not joining your ranks either. I will, from this point on, consider myself a “no party” party. I will do what everyone should do, vote with my own mind and make my own decisions. It might be Republican on one issue or seat, and Democrat on another, and Independent on another. I will weigh each measure as it comes up and I will diligently research each candidate and issue, without playing off of the talking heads points from both parties. I think that it is time for all Americans to take back their rights and vote as you see fit. Neither party in office at this time is worth their weight in cow patties. I am not jumping ship because the Republicans lost the election, but for the simple fact that they have gone too far off center for me to support anymore. Neither party at this point in time has the balls to stand up to follow through with their promises, or their principals.

VOTE YOUR HEART AMERICA.

If they aren’t keeping their promises, vote them out. To hell with the power struggle, to hell with the back stabbers and to hell with the aisle jumpers. If you are elected on a platform, have the guts to stand on that platform and see it through. Another thing that I think should be voted on and passed into law is, TERM LIMITATIONS. Senators and should serve no more than two terms. If they can’t get it done in twelve years, screw them. Representatives should serve no more than three terms since they are elected every two years. Maybe this would help clean out the trash in Washington that seems to accumulate because so many members have been there so long.

Covering what you want to know?

2007-03-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

The Media coverage of the ongoing “scandal” in the Justice Department with AG Gonzalez has been almost non-stop over the last few weeks, with members from both sides of the aisle calling for his resignation. According to a PEW RESEARCH POLL taken during the week of March 12th and released on March 21, only 8% of the public displayed any interest in the stories. However, the media gave this particular “scandal” more coverage than Iraq, Walter Reed, and the Stock Market combined. The media presented 16% of their news coverage to the Justice Investigation, and only 11% to Iraq, 4% to Walter Reed, and 9% to the 2008 Election Campaign.

However, while the media was focused on the US attorneys the public was more interested in Iraq (23%), Walter Reed (17%), and the 2008 Campaign (9%). Basically what this poll says is that the news media is trying to create the news by playing certain parts of it more often than other news. As the old saying goes, “If you say it long enough and loud enough people will take note”, falls well short in this recent poll. Americans are not that interested in the goings on of the US Attorneys.

Pew also points out that the attorney “scandal” only places 7th in scandals past and present in Washington D.C. It placed behind such notable scandals as Congressional Check Bouncing -36% (Apr 92), Scooter Libby-24% (Nov 05), Ethnic Charges against Newt Gingrich- 23% (91), Whitewater-22% (94), etc. So, where was the news media in their presentation of what most Americans consider pertinent news? They definitely were not in contact with what America wanted? This is just another indicator as to the agenda of the MSM and their push to bring more to the story than is there, at least in the eyes of the public.

Terrorists Claim Major VICTORY in CONGRESS

2007-03-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

This will probably be one of the shortest posts I have made since starting this Blog. Partially because of the anger that I feel, and more because there is little that can be done about it now. Today, the House of Representatives passed, narrowly, a bill that will require our troops to lay down their arms and tuck their tails between their legs and withdraw from Iraq.

True this bill has not become a law yet, it still has an up hill battle in the Senate and then it must be signed into law by the President. However, whether this bill makes it to the Presidents desk or not has sounded a troubling alarm. This gives the terrorists and their group a great victory, for they have once again broken the back of our military by defeating the Congress. Or should I say, they have persuaded their allies in the House to do their dirty work for them (as the cartoon above notes).

As a vet, I want to thank the Congress for their tireless effort in bringing defeat to our courageous troops. For without their help, victory just might have been around the corner. Now it is lost forever. Regardless as to whether this becomes law and timelines take place, our strength and power in the world has been smashed once again, as it was with Vietnam.
THANK YOU CONGRESS FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS EFFORT IN DEFEATING OUR TROOPS

The POT calling the KETTLE BLACK

2007-03-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

Seems that it is OK for the DEMOCRAPS to block out news organizations when it comes to debates. But when the shoe is on the other foot...LISTEN TO THEM SCREAM.

CNN BARS CANDIDATE FROM DEBATE, CENSORSHIP CHARGED

Wed Mar 14 2007 16:41:53 E

THe spoke at the DNC winter meeting standing next to Howard Dean and was at the Nevada candidate's forum with Hillary Clinton, Edwards and the others and he's been invited to ABC's debates, but CNN has barred former U.S. Senator Mike Gravel from their New Hampshire debate, without giving a reason.

Gravel is to put out this press release tomorrow: CNN AND LOCAL NEW HAMPSHIRE MEDIA IMPOSE CENSORSHIP AND TRASH FAIRNESS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.

March 15, 2007 - Washington, D.C. – CNN, the Manchester Union Leader and the Hearst-owned WMUR-TV have formally decided to exclude Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Mike Gravel from the debates they will be sponsoring in New Hampshire.

This decision calls into question media censorship and goes against a fundamental American belief in “Fairness,” which is especially critical in the political process.

The Senator said, “By denying me the same opportunity afforded to other presidential candidates to discuss in public debate the major issues that confront our nation, the sponsoring media outlets––CNN, The Manchester Union Leader and the Hearst-owned WMUR-TV––are exercising censorship, unbecoming in a free society. They are dictating whose political voice they will permit New Hampshire and American citizens to hear.”

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Eight vs Ninety Three

2007-03-14T14:51:00.000-07:00

An article published in today's WSJ Opinion Journal, might help shed some light on what transpires in regards to the "replacing of US Attorneys". A fact that according to The Hubbell Standard Hillary Clinton seems to know all about. The article brings to light some of the under the table dealings of the Clinton's when they were in office. Mr Schumer, and other teary eyed Democrats need to do a little background study before they start screaming for the head of Gonzales or anyone else.

Hillary Clinton knows all about sacking U.S. Attorneys.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:01 a.m. EDT

Congressional Democrats are in full cry over the news this week that the Administration's decision to fire eight U.S. Attorneys originated from--gasp--the White House. Senator Hillary Clinton joined the fun yesterday, blaming President Bush for "the politicization of our prosecutorial system." Oh, my.

As it happens, Mrs. Clinton is just the Senator to walk point on this issue of dismissing U.S. attorneys because she has direct personal experience. In any Congressional probe of the matter, we'd suggest she call herself as the first witness--and bring along Webster Hubbell as her chief counsel.

As everyone once knew but has tried to forget, Mr. Hubbell was a former partner of Mrs. Clinton at the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock who later went to jail for mail fraud and tax evasion. He was also Bill and Hillary Clinton's choice as Associate Attorney General in the Justice Department when Janet Reno, his nominal superior, simultaneously fired all 93 U.S. Attorneys in March 1993. Ms. Reno--or Mr. Hubbell--gave them 10 days to move out of their offices.
At the time, President Clinton presented the move as something perfectly ordinary: "All those people are routinely replaced," he told reporters, "and I have not done anything differently." In fact, the dismissals were unprecedented: Previous Presidents, including Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, had both retained holdovers from the previous Administration and only replaced them gradually as their tenures expired. This allowed continuity of leadership within the U.S. Attorney offices during the transition.

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FOR EVERY FINGER POINTED, THREE ARE POINTED BACK AT YOU...

2007-03-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

I for one, am sick and tired of listening to all these wonderful congressional idiots trying to point their insidious fingers to everyone but themselves regarding the problems in the military hospitals. Almost every person in Congress has stood up and told the world either on TV or in the newspapers, as to how they have gone to "visit" our nations wounded and maimed. How they have "commended" them for their bravery and sacrifice to their country. They have, supposedly, made numerous trips to Walter Reed and other medical facilities to check on their (the soldiers) care and how they are recovering.

Now they want to stand up in front of the world and their constituents and proclaim how outraged they are about how our brave soldiers returning for care are being taken care of. One must think that we are blind to this issue. To think that these "elected" officials are totally without fault and that it all can be blamed on the administration is ludacris. Yes the administration has a part to play in this fiasco, but so do these self-righteous bimbonic money suckers who are up there in D.C.

If they have paid so much attention to the soldiers returning for care at Walter Reed and other facilities they SHOULD have been taking notice of their conditions. Yet, by saying nothing until it comes out in the newspaper shows me that they were more than willing to accept these hospital conditions. If they are just now waking up to the fact that some of these hospitals are below standards, where the hell have they been for the last 15 years?

It is easy to stand on the sidelines, as many elected officials do, and criticize how things are done or not done. But I guess the one thing they don't understand is that THEY are the ones responsible for these conditions. With all of their PORK that is attached to these bills so they can have a road paved with their name on it is now coming back to bite them in their butts. Is it possible that the American people are so stupid to think that all of the billions of dollars that are mark for the military actually goes to the military? Billions of dollars have been re-routed out of these bills for funding to make them look good back in their home states. Repairs for hospitals and equipment has been squandered by our elected officials. Billions of dollars have been redirected, or bills have died on the floor because they couldn't agree on which amendment would best serve their purpose. Now they want to place all the blame on others.

Of all the Senate oversight committees, and House sub-committees, they want us to believe that they simply had no knowledge of these conditions. I say they weren't doing their jobs. They have been so hell bent on trashing the administration and each other for so long that these things have gone unnoticed under the radar. This does not take blame away from the hospital administrators either. It is their job to make sure that these soldiers have the best recovery conditions possible, after all they have sacrificed much for everyone else. But we all know WHO CONTROLS THE MONEY, that is the CONGRESS of The United States of America. So stand up you cowardly SOB's and take the tongue lashing that you deserve.

Both parties need to be cleaned out of office and get someone in there that is willing to do the job that they were hired to do. It amazes me that we, as a country, have lasted as long as we have with all the throat cutting that goes on in politics. You are hired by the people to do a job, I would suggest that you start doing it or get the H*&% out of office. As a veteran, I am appalled by your ignorance. I have no more than a high school education, but a world of life experience; and even I can see how blind and greedy you, as our elected officials, are.

So, if you want to point fingers and place blame, I would suggest that you go look in the mirror. Remember this though, for every finger you point at someone else, there are three pointing back at you. I am sorry for some of the language utilized in this post. It is not a norm as to how I address things. But the ignorance of these officials has me stirred in twelve different directions of anger, and again I apologise.

Fitzgerald's Folly

2007-03-09T01:31:00.000-08:00

Charles Krauthammer has hit the nail on the head in his article today concerning the Libby case. Ain't it amazing how you can get away with things if your last name starts with ..."C".

A Textbook Case for a Speedy Pardon
By Charles Krauthammer

Friday, March 9, 2007; Page A21

There are lies and there are memory lapses. Bill Clinton denied under oath having sex with Monica Lewinsky. Unless you're Wilt Chamberlain, sex is not the kind of thing you forget easily. Sandy Berger denied stuffing classified documents in his pants, an act not quite as elaborate as sex, but still involving a lot of muscle memory and unlikely to have been honestly forgotten.

Scooter Libby has just been convicted of four felonies that could theoretically give him 25 years in jail for . . . what? Misstating when he first heard a certain piece of information, namely the identity of Joe Wilson's wife.

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The Democratic Party's Iraq Dilemma - Why is There One?

2007-03-06T13:42:00.000-08:00

Why is there such a dilemma in the Democratic Party over what to do about the war in Iraq? Let us start off by looking at say the past 30 years and what the Democratic Party has proclaimed in virtually every foreign policy challenge, “Another Vietnam. “ Since our first involvement with Iraq back in 1991, the democrats have insisted that Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam. They have claimed that Afghanistan was Pushtun for Vietnam, Kosovo was Serbo-Croatian for Vietnam, and Nicaragua, EL Salvador, Grenada, were each feared to be Spanish for Vietnam.

What the democrats don’t understand or haven’t up to this point, is that the Vietnam War wasn’t their finest hour. In the last election the Democrats ran as an antiwar party and promised to bring the war to a close. However, now that they’ve gained a majority in both houses, they’re at a loss as to what to do now. The Democrats have insisted that they want to make sure that this is still President Bush’s war, and not theirs. Therefore they have pretty much had a hands off policy of the war, but the only way to end the war is to take possession of it. A point in which most of the democratic base thinks that would be fine, however someone in the Democratic leadership understands that this might be a problem.

The Democratic Party is incapable of escaping the myths of the Vietnam War that they have nurtured for decades. All that seems to matter is proving that the Iraq War not only has been lost, but that must be lost; or their Vietnam worldview would be invalidated. The Democratic Party wants us out of Iraq, yet the same time they have failed to acknowledge what kind of an impact our withdrawal would have on the country and in that region. Senator Edward Kennedy ridiculed the notion that a withdrawal from Iraq would have great humanitarian costs.

“I heard the same kind of suggestions at the time of the end of the Vietnam war,” Kennedy told NBC’s Tim Russert, mocking the notion that we’d have a “great blood bath” with more than 100,000 dead. “And for those of us that were strongly opposed to that war, we heard those same kinds of arguments.” The problem is those arguments were right, over half a million Vietnamese died trying to flee the grand peace Kennedy and his colleagues had orchestrated. More than 1.2 million Cambodians died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, thanks to the power vacuum created by our humanitarian withdrawal.

Senator Chris Dodd, a presidential candidate, insists that our withdrawal from Iraq would not make anything worse than it is right now. However, in 1975 he took the same stance by stating “The greatest gift our country can give to the Cambodian people is peace, not guns. And the best way to accomplish that goal is by ending military aid now.”

The cost of defeat in Vietnam was more than just humanitarian. America’s loss to a comparatively weaker nation arguably prolonged the cold war; and has long served as an emboldening example to our enemies to believe Uncle Sam has a glass jaw. Our enemies have cried out: “American people, your government is leading you to a new losing war; your government was defeated in Vietnam and fled scared from Lebanon, and Somalia.” Their line of thought is that if they stay the course long enough, we will tuck our tails and leave.

If President Bush’s surge is successful, chances are Americans will think that it was all worthwhile. On the other hand if the Democrats are successful at ending the war in defeat, it’s not at all clear that Americans will see the triumph Kennedy remembers in Vietnam. Nor is it clear that they will congratulate the Democratic Party for securing sure defeat rather than chancing victory.

Is there a way out of Iraq? What is that way? Can victory really be declared in Iraq? That really depends upon what this Congress will do in the coming months. Will they choke our military by cutting off funds? Will they set a deadline to have all of our troops withdrawn from Iraq? If they do, how will our Allies be able to trust us in future conflicts, as we have established ourselves as not wanting to finish what we start? Yes, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered or thought about before the Democrats decide to do whatever they are going to do. One thing is certain though, to save face and have a shot at retaining both houses of the Coongress and maybe the Presidency, they will need to claim the war as their own (in part or as a whole). For it took their votes in 2002 to make it happen.

Queen Hillary Adapts Southern Drawl For Meeting In Selma

2007-03-05T10:50:00.000-08:00

I love it when a politician can adapt, and overcome, or in some cases just plain make fun of the constituents they are standing in front of. What makes it even more interesting is the fact that the constituents applauded loudly when it was done. Now, I can see it if Jeff Foxworthy or Larry the Cable Guy tried to adapt an accent to hide their southern drawl, if they were trying to adjust their comedy toward a northern crowd. But the truth is they don't do that. That is who they are and are proud of it, and for the better part, so are their crowds.

Yet, the Hilldabeast has tried to go southern on ya. Jus (sic) listen to this clip and tell me if ya think that this here sounds like her. I know where she is from and what her accent should sound like. However, after a person has relocated and moved away from the everyday contact with people of the same background, one tends to loose a big part of that accent. Being from a southern state, one that is well known for their southern accent, I find this to be somewhat offensive for the Hilldabeast to belittle my natural accent and to an extent over work the accent that she was trying to impress people with.

Just listen to the depth of her accent as she goes along.

They just haven’t got it yet, have they?

2007-03-02T12:54:00.000-08:00

An interesting post on the Huffingtonpost.com appeared today. And amazingly it or they (Democratic Base) continue to slam each other like they were at the main event of the WWE. The article/post pertains to the vicious attacks on Al Gore and his mystery myth called “An Inconvenient Truth” about global warming, which won a couple of moon-bat awards this last weekend. Their main cry of foul was for the a small unknown organization with a $100,000 budget that issued a press release containing a “smear” on Poor Al Gore, and then have it echoed around the world within hours.

Who was this insignificant organization that has the whole democratic base in an uproar? Surprise, it was The Tennessee Center for Policy Research, from Mr Gore's own home state. Not long after Gore won his lavished moon-bat awards, the TCPR came out with a few minor flaws in the way that “Mr. Environment” actually lives. It was this group that pointed out to America that the lefts star player on the environment was actually an energy hog. The TCRP pointed out that Gore was consuming up to twenty times the normal amount of electricity for his Nashville home than the average American home. Yet they have tried to explain it away with, “he has evened it out with carbon credits”.

The post points out how unprepared the left is to fight back when such “facts” are divulged on the public. These facts have yet to be reputed by the left. The post goes on to explain how many of their “leaders” have been destroyed by the “other side” listing such notables as Max Cleland, Howard Dean, Jimmy Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton (Bill & Hillary), Obama, Edwards and Kerry.

It would seem that the writers, Dave Johnson and James Boyce, are more upset at the Democratic Base than they are with the people that released the information. Maybe it is because, as with most of their leaders, they are grasping at straws and hoping they can build a strong structure to surround them. Could it be that they would like to wrap themselves in falsehoods and make believe? The left wishes to impose their junk on everyone else with their own “facts” (most of which has been debunked), but can not handle facts about Al “I am greener than you” Gore.

Dave and James, you can complain about many things, but you can not dispute the facts when they are laid on in front of you. Your party just has a problem with over riding facts about some of your “leaders”. They must “walk the walk, if they are going to talk the talk”.

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HOA works with USAID to improve lives in Uganda

2007-03-01T09:22:00.000-08:00

As I have mentioned on various occasions, my son-in-law is in Africa. He has served in Desert Storm, OIF and now in Africa working with USAID. Anytime that I can get direct info on him or his mission I will post it. Although he is not in Iraq, that does not lessen his mission. Considering the fact that he is in Sudan on a daily basis, an area that is still a hot bed, he still faces some hostility. His name is Capt. Scott Hagerty, in the article from CJTF they have misspelled his name. May not be top of the line news, but it is family.

Story by U.S. Army Maj. Greg Tzucanow Bravo Company, 413th Civil Affairs
Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa

LIRE DISTRICT, Uganda - Sporadic but heavy rain threatened to make an already challenging day more challenging when U.S. military personnel assisted U.S. Agency for International Development in the Lira district of Uganda in early December.

The soldiers traveled along the muddy roads that intersect farms, jungle and forest to designated small towns to conduct inspections on current and future water well projects. These projects support a population returning after being displaced by years of war between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Ugandan People’s Defense Force.

Internally displaced persons will soon return to towns designated by the Ugandan government. This is a planned return to normal life for more than two million people affected by the 20-year conflict. That plan includes accessing and preparing chosen sites for the residents’ return.
“For the towns to survive, they have to have clean and sufficient sources of water” explains U.S. Army Sgt. Somchai Knorr. “We assist USAID by reporting the conditions of existing well sites, inspecting proposed sites, talking with the villagers and then providing accurate assessments on the attitudes of the population”.

Participating in the projects and providing the assessments hasn’t been easy for the teams.
“Usually we are on the road early at about 7 a.m. and stay out until 6 pm. We encounter the usual amount of snakes and wild life around the borehole sites, poor road conditions, inclement weather and very curious onlookers,” said U.S. Army Capt. Scott Hagerty. “In the past week we have had to dig our vehicles out of numerous mud holes and deal with broken down vehicles, but that is nothing compared to what the men, women and children go through in the IDP camps.”

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We're at War. It's Time To Choose Sides

2007-02-28T11:37:00.000-08:00

With all the doom and gloom coming from the MSM in regards to the War in Iraq, one has to spend a lot of time on the internet to find anything positive in regards to the war. That is unless you go to the Defense Department Sites or millitary sites. However, Lance Thompson at The New Media Journal.us has come out with a very vigerous and to the point column pertaining to our troops and their mission.

His emphasis in this article is straight forward and one of the most inspiring that I have heard coming out of a "news" agency, be it large or small, outside of the government sites. Please take a moment and read what freelance writer Lance Thompson has to say.

Journalists and politicians against the war are always eager to report the latest dismal news from Iraq and just as reluctant to publicize progress. This is not objectivity--it is a bias that alters the perception of the war effort. A situation in which our own press and politicians purposely emphasize the enemy’s triumphs and our failures is one that gives our adversaries tremendous advantage. In the past few months, they have purposely downplayed a series of events that shows we are making progress in Iraq.

In the first week of January, an American AC-130 attacked al Qaeda operatives in Somalia. Targeted individuals included Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, bomber of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. With strong cooperation from the Ethiopian military, and Kenya sealing its Somalian border, our forces are systematically cornering and killing al Qaeda terrorists in Somalia.

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The Hodgepodge of the News

2007-02-27T15:04:00.000-08:00

Wow, talk about things happening in a hurry. How about the DOW closing 416 pts below where it opened (12,632), and all in a matter of minutes not hours. Now I am sure that the west coast favorites, the Democratic party, will jump on this like a run away horse. I am sure that they will try to pin this on Bush as well, coming up with some off the wall accusations. But before they do maybe they need to look at the world economy and stock markets. China's stock exchange took a major nose dive, one that reflected early on the US Stock Exchange. Why is this so though? Maybe because we, to a certain extent, are allowing China and other countries to lead us by the nose economically. The fact of the matter is that the Stock Exchange was due for a drop, according to many economists, but it is not a major recession as most will claim.

But the sky is not falling. Greenspan made what I consider a very irresponsible comment early on and this also seemed to escalate the plunge. However, on the up side, all economic tables are still in place to enable our economy to continue growing. Don't jump ship just yet. Mark my words the stock market will rebound, it may not be to the same level as before the plunge; but all is still well in the good ol' US of A.

Then there was the dysfunctional attempt to assassinate VP Cheney in Afghanistan yesterday.

In the mean time though, it seems that the Democrats are still struggling to find themselves. Things went very smooth for the Democrats in Congress during their first 100 hours. However, that is because they didn't allow the Republican party to make any noise. They shut them out. Then they turned around and said that they are going to run a more open and transparent congress. Maybe they need to get the paint remover out. For it is still the same as it was during the 100 hours of milking the Democrats did. No amendments on whether or not to agree with the presidents "surge", their excuse was," it might cloud the discussion". When this did not pass in the Senate, Pelosi and Murtha teamed up with an attempt to choke the president and "his" war by putting so many exceptions or restrictions onto the funds needed, that it would basically make our troops inoperative in combat situations. This to has gone by the wayside due to the lack of unification in the Democratic Party, and their inability to get any Republicans to cross over. Now they are is serious Perl of loosing the majority in the Senate if Lieberman (I) decides to cross the aisle and start siding with the Republicans. This would be a serious blow to the nose in the air Democrats. Then there is the attempt to rewrite the U.S. mission in Iraq by repealing the earlier stamp of approval by the Congress for the war. The truth of the matter is, the Democrats do not want to have any claim on the war in Iraq, win or loose. They want this to be a purely Republican issue, even though it took a lot of Democrats to authorize this war.

Then there is the dysfunction between the Democratic Presidential candidates. Obama and Hillary, Edwards and the rest of the world, Dodd on follow the leader. Especially with Hillary coming out early and stating that "Bill is off limits". Sorry your majesty, but Bill is fair game as your cronies proved when they started, or tried to hog tie Cheney in the last election by bringing in his daughter into the debates. Then you have Geffen making remarks about the Clinton's, and then Queen Hillary demanding that Obama distance himself from Geffen for his remarks. Yet, this same person (Geffen) made the Clintons millions in donations during his races and her last run at the Senate, they didn't mind him making comments then.

Things don't look much better on the Republican side either. McCain's run is on a down hill slide and making certain remarks about Roe v. Wade, the environment, and remarks about former Sec. of Defense Rumsfield, just to name a few. Then there is Romney trying to decide which side he is actually on concerning many issues. With just about a year to go before front runners for both parties will be identified, it could be a wild ride. Giuliani, at this point in time seems to be the lead runner for the Republicans. Could it come down to a Hillary v Rudy contest in 2008? Jumpin politics Batman...could it get any better?

Murtha Stumbles on Iraq Funding Curbs

2007-02-25T17:43:00.000-08:00

Well, it would appear for the moment, that Murtha has stepped on it again. On trying to go it alone, he has turned both the wrath of the republicans and some of his own party against him, and outraged many from the democratic base. Click on main title to go to story.

This is just another demonstration of the divides that continue to grow amoungst the Democrats in Congress. Their failure to coordinate between themselves makes it so easy for the Republicans to snipe them and their plans. Many of their base continue to undercut those in the Democratric party. Evidence of this is greatly observed by checking out some of the liberal bolg and web sites.

Democrats Were Ill-Prepared for Unplanned Disclosure, Republican Attack

The plan was bold: By tying President Bush's $100 billion war request to strict standards of troop safety and readiness, Democrats believed they could grab hold of Iraq war policy while forcing Republicans to defend sending troops into battle without the necessary training or equipment.

But a botched launch by the plan's author, Rep. John P. Murtha (Pa.), has united Republicans and divided Democrats, sending the latter back to the drawing board just a week before scheduled legislative action, a score of House Democratic lawmakers said last week.

"If this is going to be legislation that's crafted in such a way that holds back resources from our troops, that is a non-starter, an absolute non-starter," declared Rep. Jim Matheson (Utah), a leader of the conservative Blue Dog Democrats.

Murtha's credentials as a Marine combat veteran, a critic of the war and close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) were supposed to make him an unassailable spokesman for Democratic war policy. Instead, he has become a lightning rod for criticism from Republicans and members of his own party.

Ready for the CASH (Immigration) FLOW?

2007-02-23T13:04:00.000-08:00

Toes to the fire, and customers dropping accounts. Bank of America (BOA) is holding true to their promotional campaign for allowing Illegal Aliens to obtain credit cards through their LA branches. Kenneth D. Lewis Chairman, CEO and President, stated that they will go ahead with their program on a promotional basis, despite emails and letters from angry BOA account holders.(Although I know that there are illegals from places other than Mexico, BOA's move to place this basically in the LA area it is meant to draw from the Hispanic illegal aliens, thus the flag on the logo.)

Many account holders have started to go through the withdrawal procedures to close their accounts with BOA and have them moved to other banks, banks that do not cater to illegal immigrants. BOA however seems to think that this will be a good move for them.

My opinion is this, it might draw them in more customers from the illegal side of the border(s) since it is not requiring them to have a SSN# (which is standard practice toward Americans), green card or any other means of identification. But the problem arises in the aftermath. Let's say that BOA's campaign is successful. Let's say that it draws in around 2 million new illegal customers, probably a little high, in the next six months or so. Now these individuals start running up their accounts into the millions of dollars, what happens next? Well, how about since they are illegal, and do not want to give legal addresses, they don't make any payments on their accounts. Who do you think is going to pick up the tab for these delinquent accounts? Why us hard working Americans of course, and those "Legal immigrants" that are working through the system that are lucky enough to get an account.

Now, I am not a mathematician or schooled in accounting, but I don't think that you have to have a degree to figure out that this move is doing two things. One, it is going to call for more illegal aliens to make their way into the U.S., simply due to the fact that they will now have something that millions of Americans bust their butts for every day, "CREDIT". And since they want to make it hard for the US Government to track them, most of their information will be phony; since it can not be checked through a SSN# - WHO WILL KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? Secondly, there will be a definite impact on the economy from this. Oh there might be an upward spike for a short period of time, but in the overall picture it will draw it down; and those that stay the course with BOA will feel the pinch.

BOA is making a mockery of our financial institutions by going forward with this program. Personally, I feel that if illegal aliens are able to get credit without proper identification, why shouldn't I? If they can get hundreds maybe thousands of dollars of credit, why can't I? If I don't pay it back, I can guarantee they will be coming after my arse. Yet, how do they plan of compensating their loss that they will suffer from this? Have they told their customers how? Probably not since so many are closing their accounts.

One thing is clear though, BOA will have to change their name. As the picture at the beginning of this post shows, they will or should change it to the Bank of Illegals. And their motto should be "Helping America grow through Illegal Immigration". Thank God for small town banks that are not associated with BOA/BOI.

Is John Murtha For The Troops?

2007-02-22T11:19:00.000-08:00

Just how bad does Rep. John Murtha want the US to fail in Iraq? According to numerous statements made by Murtha, he very much wants our troops to fail. Murtha, who is now in charge of the House Defense Appropriations Sub-Committee has recently made it clear how he will use this power. Murtha stated that by placing conditions on the $93.4 billion in new combat funds, he would be able to effectively stop the troops in their tracks. "They won't be able to continue. They won't be able to do the deployment. They won't have the equipment, they don't have the training and they won't be able to do the work. There's no question in my mind," Mr. Murtha said. "We will set benchmarks for readiness," a top Democratic leadership aide told the nonpartisan Politico.com Web site, which summarized the Democrats' strategy this way: "If enacted, these provisions would have the effect of limiting the number of troops available for the Bush surge plan, while blunting the GOP charge that Democrats are cutting funding for the troops in Iraq." By doing this Mutha is basically leaving the troops on the ground with a no win solution. Something that I know that military has no intentions of doing, but will have little choice if he gets his way.

Rep. Murtha has been against this war in Iraq since 2004, and has made every effort to cut the legs out from under our troops and the administrations war plans. His comments and remarks regarding the troops have fallen just short of treason and in the eyes of many troops in the field has become a discredit to the Marine Uniform, which he once wore. Many call Murtha a “hero”, a word that was used on a frequent basis during the John Kerry run for the White House in 2004. A phrase that was later proven to be a pure fiction, and an alteration of the real facts.

Murtha himself has come under fire on more than one occasion. His part in the Abscam, which was somewhat cleared, his convicting troops in Iraq before an investigation was completed, simply by taking what was printed in a magazine as truth; his own admission to another political friend regarding his own medals from Vietnam have been questioned. Yet Murtha has refused to produce any documentation to verify how he received them.

His cut and run tactics over the last three years have cost many troops their lives and has emboldened the enemy. Mr. Murtha has stated on several occassions that the troops went in unprepared, untrained and poorly equipped. Yet he has served on the Appropriations committee from the beginning of this conflict, and in fact voted in favor of going to Iraq. If he had been doing his job corretly, especially as a former military officer, he would have or should have been able to procure the proper training and equipment. But he, and the Democratic party have continously tried to cut the military legs out from under them.

Now Murtha, along with Pelosie and fellow cut and run democrats, will try to use his committee power to ensure that our troops fail. Murtha has asserted that "the US Army is broken, worn out and living hand to mouth". Yet, Military officers have a different outlook on our troops than Murtha. Shortly after Murtha muttered these words, Col. Joseph Curtin stated, “ The Army is not broken, every day, our soldiers are making tremendous contributions in Iraq, in Afghanistan and more than 120 countries around the world. Retention rates are at an incredibly all-time high, particularly in the active component."

Murtha has elaborated that, “80% of the Iraqis want us out of there (bogus poll numbers), and 47% say it is OK to kill Americans…” Truth of the matter is there is only about 29% that want the US to leave NOW, 80% do want the US to leave but not until they are able to stand on their own, and only 8% think that the foreign forces are the reason for the country going in the wrong direction. More of Murtha’s comments that I consider to embolden the enemy are, “We can’t win this.” “We are causing the problem.” (Congressional Record, June 15, 2006, p. H4028) “American presence in Iraq is more dangerous to the world peace than nuclear threats from N. Korea or Iran.” (June 24, 2006, South Florida Sun-Sentinel) However, Murtha stated in his own book, From Vietnam to 9/11, where Murtha advocates that the U.S. should not pull out of Iraq prematurely or create a timetable. “An untimely exit (from Iraq) could rapidly dissolve into a civil war, which would leave America’s foreign policy in disarray as countries question not only America’s judgment but its perseverance.”

I know not what Murtha thought of the quick withdraw from Vietnam, or how it affected the military and the US as a whole. But for a former military officer, especially a Marine Colonel, to stand up and presume to speak for the troops in the field is ludicrous. Many of the troops on the ground totally disagree with Murtha. In fact they feel that Murtha, regardless of his military record, should simply go away. His continual ranting does nothing short of telling our enemies we can not succeed and you might as well come on in and take over the country,

As far as Murtha being a spokesperson for the military, here a just a few comment made by some of those same soldiers he said “… could not speak for themselves…”. Iraq War Veteran Craig Minnick stated "I have called time and time again to Congressman Murtha's office and they have refused to listen to me, even though I am one of Rep. Murtha's constituents,…” SGT Mark Russak tagged in with the following comments, “I have written two letters about John Murtha (both published in several newspapers) and sent to his office in Johnstown, Pa. I even visited his office while on R&R Leave in January 06 to ask him to stop the lies about our mission but his Aid said he wasn't in. I never heard one word from him and to my knowledge neither did any one in our Task Force”. I think that this pretty much sums up his authority as a spokesperson.

If Murtha is allowed to go his way, our troops will never be able to hold their heads up. It will forever be in their minds that they could have finished the job, but were not given the chance by our politicians (a terrible ring back to the Congress during the Vietnam War). Congress was never established to manage wars. That privilege was granted to the DOD and the President.

Dateline 1972...or is it 2007?

2007-02-19T12:02:00.000-08:00

Well, it seems as though the democrats are wasting no time for a countermeasure against the resolution to protest against President Bush’s escalation of troops in Iraq. It would seem that before the vote was even taken on Saturday, many democrats were already discussing the possibility of limiting President Bush’s power over the war in Iraq. According to most major news sources Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced that a bipartisan senate proposal is in the works to “modify” the “wide open” 2002 congressional resolution authorizing President Bush to use military force against Iraq. Levin added, that such a modification could stop the president from continuing on a failing course.

Senator Levin stated, “We will be looking at a modification of the authorization in order to limit the mission of American troops to a support mission instead of combat mission, and it is very different from cutting off funds.“ This is pretty much follows in step with what senator Murtha was stating earlier in the week, only Murtha was in favor of reducing funding for the war and a reduction of forces, this resolution calls for limiting the addition of more troops, without Congressional approval.

This move could very well be the first time in congressional history where Congress has determined that they can micromanage the war better than the president, or those within his administration.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said that he “could guarantee that in future debates on Iraq, senate republicans are going to want to vote on funding the troops . “ A move to cut off funds by the democrats for the war and for the troops in Iraq is less favored in the polls by the public. Recent polls show that 63% of adults opposed to sending more troops to Iraq, and 68% also opposed efforts by Congress to cut off all war funding. A move to restrict the president’s war powers, is seen as more politically expedient ground for republicans.

Senator Chuck Hagel, was amongst the republicans who voted in favor of debating the Iraq resolution Saturday. “What this debate is about right now is the continuation of an escalation of American military involvement in Iraq, putting young men and women in the middle of a sectarian and intra-sectarian Civil war, “ Hagel told “Meet the Press. “

According to Fox News, Hillary Clinton plans on introducing the resolution on the floor of the senate this next week to end the war or bring home the troops within 90 days. Although Clinton knows that she probably will not have the votes to carry this motion, it is believed that she is making this motion to strengthen her base showing that she against the war in Iraq. Most of the democratic base knows that Clinton has not apologized for her vote in favor of the war and probably will not, and is hoping that this will appease the democratic base showing that she has a strong stand against the war. Earlier this year at a democratic meeting Hillary made the statement that if she were president she would end the war now; and has also made the statement that if she was the president and 2002 she would not have went to war with Iraq, knowing what she knows now. Yet Hillary voted in favor of every measure placed on the floor during that time.

For those of those that were around during the sixties and early seventies during the Vietnam War, we know how that war ended. Then, as it is now, the battles are being won by the troops and lost on the home front because of Congress, the radical antiwar movement, and the far left mainstream media. I for one know that this is not what the troops in the field were hoping for, because it shows a great lack of support by our Congress, whose main purpose it is, or should be, during war is to support the troops. It would seem that the number two man in Al-Qaida was right. Americans do not have the guts to hold the course when American blood is being shed. “Make them bleed and they will leave.”

Please do not get me wrong, I support our troops in harm’s way and I support their mission (which obviously Congress does not). I weep for each and every soldier that has fallen on the field of battle and for those thousands of that had been maimed in one way or another from injuries suffered during battle. It is just that I believe they deserve so much more from the Congress the United States of America than they are receiving.

Senator Robert Byrd - Champion of the Muslims?

2007-02-17T15:18:00.000-08:00

Well, it would seem that all the great minds, both politically and militarily just need to close their doors hang up a “for rent” sign on them and go home. There intellect and professional thoughts are no longer needed as guidelines for the course America should take. At least that is what one writer to Senator Robert Byrd thinks.

Senator Byrd received open letter from Mohamed Khodr a muslim, freelance writer for Media Monitoring, which by itself wouldn't seem too strange. What does strike me as curious is the fact that Senator Byrd has been associated with the KKK and therefore as a member of such an organization, is against all “non-white” groups. He has made this very clear from years past. Yet, Mr Khodr, a muslim, seems to think that Sen. "KKK" Byrd is his savior and champion. However, back to the letter.

Mr. Khodr throws mountains of flowers to Sen. Byrd in his letters. Acknowledging on several occasions how Byrd is a stand up senator for the minority population around the world. Khodr goes on in his letter to educate everyone that the whole reason behind going to war in Iraq and the threats of war in Iran are solely based on the State of Israel and our support for it. An area, in which Senator Byrd has been very outspoken, against Israel.

Khodr continued by stating that “Israel threatens the MidEast with a nuclear holocaust; not Iraq, Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, or Hamas.” Khodr goes on to explain how Israel is the primary force behind Bush’s push for war with Iran. After all he states, “It will be America’s youth who’ll die, not Israeli’s, Cheney’s, Bush’s, Rice’s, Bolton’s, Foxman’s, or our media elite.”

Now not to be just a criticizer, Khodr joyfully offers up some “solutions”, sort of. Again he goes back to Israel as the primary force behind MidEast strife, by stating that the one’s who are preventing Bush from carrying on diplomatic courses with these nations is the Israel. Khodr goes on to illuminate Sen. Byrd even more by remarking, “Only you, Sir, Who’s ever had the courage to speak about our incredible aid to Israel, one of the nations richest nations, being secure in your position and history, can courageously address this on the Senate Floor. America loves you and will wholeheartedly support you…”

In light of the defeat suffered by the Democratic Senate on Saturday, and some of Senator Byrd's remarks on the floor, it would seem that Mr Khodr's remarks just might fall on deaf ears, as the Democratic Party struggles to gather in its constituants and try to move onto the next step in shutting down the Iraq War. In accordane to Senator Murtha's remarks during this last week, threatening to start cutting off funding for the troops and the war.

Iwo Jima - The Flag That Didn't Make The Front Page

2007-02-16T21:27:00.000-08:00

The battle for Iwo Jima holds a special place for me in history. Not because I was there, I wasn't. But because my father was. He was serving on the USS Hamlin, AV - 15, a Seaplane Tender anchored off shore from Iwo. Though he did not physically set foot on the volcanic island in the pacific, he was there for the flag raising. Though most of America pictures the taking of Iwo Jima with the now famous Rosenthal picture of the flag raising, some know not of the original flag that went up just hours before, nor the men that put it up. That is the short focus of this post for a battle that cost America more lives in one battle than any other in the Pacific. This is not to take away from the second flag that went up on Suribachi, or those that raised it and rallied the U.S. on to victory in the Pacific. This is just one small salute to the "Greatest Generation".

Between Feb. 16 - 19, U.S. Naval Forces conducted pre-landing bombardment on the island of Iwo Jima. At 08:59 on Feb. 19, 1945, 30,000 marines landed on the shores of Iwo Jima. After four days (Feb. 23) of yard by yard fighting, the Marines had pretty much cut off Mt. Suribachi from the rest of the island. Popular legend (embroidered by the press in the aftermath of the release of the now-famous photo "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima") has it that the Marines fought tooth and nail all the way up to the summit. But although the riflemen were tensed for an ambush, none materialized. They made it to the summit and scrambled down again, reporting the lack of enemy contact to Colonel Chandler Johnson.

Johnson then called for a platoon of Marines to climb Suribachi. With them, he sent a small American flag to fly if they reached the summit. Again, Marines began the ascent, expecting to be ambushed at any moment. And again, the Marines reached the top of Suribachi without incident. Using a length of pipe they found among the wreckage atop the mountain, the Marines hoisted the U.S. flag over Mount Suribachi, the first foreign flag to fly on Japanese soil in centuries.

As the flag went up, Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal had just landed on the beach at the foot of Mt. Suribachi. He decided that he wanted the flag as a souvenir. Popular legend has it that Colonel Johnson wanted the flag for himself; in fact, he believed that the flag belonged to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, who had captured that section of the island. He scrounged up a second flag, and sent that one up the volcano to replace the first. As the first flag came down, the second went up, and it was then that Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal took the famous photograph "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" of the replacement flag being planted on the mountain's summit.

In 36 days of fighting there were 25,851 US casualties. Of these, 6,825 Americans were killed. Virtually all 21,000 Japanese perished with only 214 surrendering.

Source: Wikipedia

Pictures courtesy of: FIRST FLAG ON SURIBACHI - THE IWO JIMA FLAG RAISING

Another interesting article on the web regarding the first flag is found at http://carol_fus.tripod.com/marines_hero_ray_jacobs.html . This article gives a very descriptive account of the flag raising.

Enough Already!!!

2007-02-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

I will try to keep his post short, but I for one am getting sick and tired of all the publicity that is being given to Anna Nicole Smith. Let me explain. My heart goes out her family, her husband(s) and friends that she left behind, I am sure that there’s much grieving taking place at this time.

It amazes me that the press, both written and on TV, are devoting so much time to this issue. It amazes me even more knowing that not much time is devoted to what our troops are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now I am not talking about the conflicts, loss of life or equipment being blown up; I’m talking about the good things that they are doing for the countries that they’re in. Little to no coverage given regarding the rebuilding of the school’s, hospitals and yes the towns and cities themselves. The only time we see anything about the troops is if there is a loss of life involved, scandal, rape, torture and some stupid officer thinking that he did not have to go to Iraq.

Getting back to Anna Nicole Smith, it is time to move on. Enough is enough. I’m sorry that the lady is dead, I know that she has suffered quite a bit over the last few months, but to devote this much time and coverage on one person of such a low stature simply baffles me. The way she is covered in the press one would come to the conclusion that she was some sort of a high dignitary figure such as a president or a leading figure from another country.

If the press really wants to cover individuals on an individual basis, let’s start covering the individual soldier that puts his life on the line every day so that we may sit back and are cozy little chairs and complained to the world how bad we are. Why not pick out soldiers at random and get their story, where they’re from, who their family is and whether or not they think they are doing the right thing in Iraq or Afghanistan. Or maybe even run special coverage on the families of the soldiers that are defending our nation. Anna Nicole Smith has had her ten years in the press; which is nine years, eleven months, 29 days, 23 hours and 45 minutes more than the average person. Let’s get back to the reporting the new, not some gossip magazine coverage. OK, I’m through with my ranting now, let’s get back to the more important things going on. I just had to vent it.

Firm Offers New Way Of Staying In Touch for Troops and Families

2007-02-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

As posted by fellow blogger and friend ,Griz, at God Bless America, many of our troops are able to communicate with their families and loved ones through a new program that allows fathers and mothers of the loved ones left behind, the ability to read books to them via a recording. This program, from my understanding, is in place at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

Now a New York firm is providing 24 HR web based live video and conferencing services free to American troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and anywhere else in the world, to help them keep in touch with their families back home.

The program known as Video Furlough, was introduced just before Christmas by Instant -stream Multimedia Communications. Basically what this program does is it allows soldier to be involved with his family via video conferencing. The cost is only a couple of cents per minute and is paid for by the company offering the video conferencing.

Michael J. Daly, chief executive officer at Instantstream offers up this technology to our troops and will even setup a $500.00 account for the users, as long as they are military personnel using this procedure to communicate with their families at home. For more on this new technology, please read following article and pass it along to all the military families and soldiers that you have contact with through your blogs or personal contact.

Being a vet and having a son-in-law in harms way, I know it is very important for both the soldier and the family back home to know that everything is fine and well on both sides of the globe.

Spending reforms empower agencies to ignore earmarks

2007-02-13T06:53:00.000-08:00

Members of Congress quietly have been calling federal agencies demanding their pet projects still be funded weeks after they swore off pork-barrel spending, the Bush administration says.

In response, administration officials have signaled they ignore many of those requests -- a move that thrills fiscal conservatives who have called on the president to take that step. But it's likely to irk congressional spending committees because it may threaten 95 percent of pork-spending projects, or "earmarks."

"Some of your offices have begun to receive requests from some congressional offices asking that the department continue to fund programs or activities that received earmarked funds in prior years," the Department of Energy's chief of staff, Jeffrey Kupfer, wrote in a Feb. 2 internal memo. A check by The Washington Times of other agencies turned up similar reports of phone calls -- from congressional offices of both parties.

But now, Mr. Kupfer wrote, they will no longer feel bound by earmarks and will follow through only on those "with meritorious proposals or programs that effectively support and advance the department's missions and objectives."

Want More - click here

We Are Going To Run A Fair House - nah just kidding

2007-02-12T20:24:00.000-08:00

Why is it the Democrats don’t want to debate or allow a debate with the Republicans in the House of Representatives? Are they just trying to get back at the Republicans for the last twelve years? Or could it be that the Democrats are afraid that if a debate took place, certain Democrats would jump ship and join the opposition? Many will tend to go with the later. Why?

It is not a secret that the Democrats are trying to embarrass Bush at every turn, however, if the Republicans were allowed to present a alternative resolution many Democrats in the House just might support it. The fear is that a Republican resolution might expose the messy divide within the Democratic Party over whether to cut off or to restrict funding for troops on the ground. The Democratic Whips are reigning in their constituents and not giving them the chance to flip on the issue.

The fact of the matter is this, many rank and file members are wary of ending the funding for the mission. A good example of how the Ranking members are trying to hold things together was displayed by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Sunday’s Meet The Press. Hoyer had earlier said that the Republicans would have a chance to offer their own measures but recanted his statement over the weekend by stating that was “not necessarily” the case.

Another Democratic Rep., Ed Perlmutter, first timer said that he plans to back his party’s measure to reject the troop increase, but added he would be in favor to support a resolution committing to funding of the troops. Perlmutter added, “I don’t want to cut off funding. Our troops are performing magnificently.” Perlmutter added that the Republicans are trying to “trip us up” by proposing such a measure now, considering the fact that there is “no consensus on funding” among the Democrats.

If you wanted further proof as to how divided the Democrats are, here is what Democrat Rep. Michael Arcuri had to say, “We feel that we want to do what is best for the troops, but we have some differences in terms of how you do that.” The Republicans know that a resolution expressing a commitment to funding the troops would put the Democrats in a bind.

The Democrats ran on a platform against the war in Iraq. They also said that the need for transparency in Congress would be a primary issue when they took control. However, when asked about this their reply was this, “We’re going to run a fair House, but we are not going to be naïve about it. We’re just trying to give the American people a clear debate and a clear answer” on Iraq. Then answer me this if you would please, how can you have a clear debate and answer without having that debate? Is this more double talk coming from the Democrats? The fact is simply this, and put well by Will Marshall of the DLC, “there is broad unity on the fact that we have to start winding the occupation down, not doubling down on it, but after that, I think it’s harder to find a consensus.” In other words they have no solution to the War in Iraq, but are hell bent on trashing Bush for it, and wanting him to resolve it before 2008.

La Drang Hero Finally Gets Medal of Honor

2007-02-12T15:46:00.000-08:00

Major Bruce P. Crandall

My congradulations to Major Crandall, it has been a long time coming (42 years) and if the movie "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young" did him any justice, he deserves much more than this.

A Company, 1, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)

MAJ Bruce P. Crandall will receive the Medal of Honor during a White House ceremony February 26, 2007 for his heroic actions in the Battle of Ia Drang.
Spouse: Arlene Crandall of Kent, Washington

Children: R. Donovan; Steven; Michael

Hometown: Olympia, WAEducation: BA University of Nebraska, 1969; MPA Golden GateUniversity, 1977

Drafted: U.S. Army, 1953Commissioned: Engineer Officer Candidate School, Ft. Belvoir, VA, 1954Deployments: Dominican Republic Expeditionary Force; two tours of Vietnam

Aircraft: U-1 Otter fixed wing; L-20 Beaver fixed wing; L-19 Birddog fixed wing; H-23 Raven "couldn't get off the ground on a hot day"; H-13; H-19; UH-1 Huey "best helicopter ever built"

Biography: LTC (Ret.) Crandall is a veteran Master Army Aviator in both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. He led over 900 combat missions during two tours in Vietnam.

Born in 1933, Crandall grew up in Olympia, Wash., where he played baseball and became a high school All American. He was drafted into the Army in 1953.

After commissioning and graduation from fixed-wing and helicopter training conducted by the Air Force and Army, he was assigned to a mapping group based out of the Presidio of San Francisco "that at the time was the largest flying military aviation unit in the world. " From there he went to fly L-19 Birddogs and L-20 Beavers in Alaska, again for topographic studies.

Crandall's first overseas flying assignment was to Wheelus AFB in Tripoli, Libya, mapping the desert for two years flying YU-1 Otter, L-20 Beaver, L-19 Birddog and H-23 Raven aircraft as an instructor pilot and unit test pilot.

His next overseas tours were flying over thousands of square miles of previously unmapped mountains and jungles in Central and South America. For this mission, he was based out of Howard AFB, Panama, and Costa Rica. While assigned to the 11th Air Assault Division, Crandall helped develop air-assault tactics as a platoon commander. In early 1965, he joined the Dominican Republic Expeditionary Force as a liaison to the 18th Airborne Corps.

Later that year, he would command the 1st Cavalry Division's Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion at An Khe, Vietnam. Using the call sign "Ancient Serpent 6," he led a flying unit supporting eight battalions on the ground.

On Nov. 14, 1965, Crandall led the first major division operation of airmobile troops into Landing Zone X-Ray in Vietnam's Ia Drang Valley and is credited with evacuating some 70 wounded comrades with his wing man and fellow Medal of Honor recipient MAJ Ed Freeman. The two also flew in the ammunition needed for the 1/7th CAV (Custer's old battalion) to survive. The craft he was flying was unarmed.

Read the rest of the story at : http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/crandall/profile/index.html

WHAT A WEEKEND

2007-02-12T06:13:00.000-08:00

Well this is certainly been a long and painful weekend for me. Last Wednesday, February 7, I had to have an operation on my shoulder for a torn rotator cuff. I actually injured the shoulder last June and have been seeing a doctor since then. At first the doctor told me I had a bad case of bursitis and was giving me cortisone shots to help the pain. But the cortisone shots only helped for about 24 to 48 hours and then the pain was back.

After about a dozen trips to the doctor for these cortisone shots and gulping down at least three or four bottles of ibuprofen, the doctor finally decided that there might be something else wrong and it might not just be bursitis. So he set me up an appointment or an MRI on my shoulder. This is when they finally discovered that I had a torn rotator cuff.

I had to go in early Wednesday around 7:00 to prep for the surgery, which took place around 10:30. I had a partial tear and a complete tear along with some fluid that had built up in the rotator cuff area. I ended up staying at the hospital for almost two hours after the operation was complete trying to get my wits about me. I was told by my daughter and my wife, that it took quite awhile for me to come round. They also told me that it was quite funny watching me try to wake up. Personally, I really don’t remember much of anything.

My wife went on to work and my daughter brought me home. My daughter stated that it was quite a task getting me from the car into the house, claiming that I was bumping into just about everything in my way. I remember finally working my way to bed and pretty much collapsing and waking up about six hours later. My arm was in a sling held snug against my body so that I couldn’t move it, and the pain medication that the doctor prescribed for me pretty much get me out of things up through about Saturday. So needless to say, it was pretty hard to focus on much of anything for the better part of the weekend until the drugs and the pain finally wore off.

The doctor says that I will probably be off or out of work for about two to three months before I can go back to resuming my normal daily life. So, during this time I’ll be going to see the doctor, therapy, and pretty much sitting round watching the world go by. I guess that’s all right though, it’s not football season anyway. So I guess there’s a chance that I will be on here a little bit more often than I have in the past. Since I can’t use my left arm to type with, I purchased me one of those voice recognition programs for my computer. That’s what I am using right now. I sure hope it gets better, because right now it’s taking a long time just to get this out. I guess the more you use it, the faster it will recognize what you’re saying. Oh well, I guess I’ll have plenty of time to work the kinks out of it.

Super Bowl Commercials have Underlying War Tones

2007-02-04T22:07:00.000-08:00

According to Stuart Elliot, of the NY Times, the tone of this years commercials for the superbowl are "perhaps reflecting the toll of War". According to his article, Elliot cited a few of the commercials that ran during the superbowl as coming "across as cruel or callous." Some of the ads that Elliot refers to were ads for CareerBuilder, Bud Light, FedEx, Sprint, GoDaddy to name a few.

Why is it that some people think that the war has to be drawn into everything that is going on. This was a major sporting event, with no underlying war tones. It was Professional Football at it best (or worst depending on who you were cheering for). Although I will agree that some of the commercials came off flat to me, I had no idea that they were transmitting underlying thoughts of the war and those thoughts never entered my mind. Maybe Elliot should take a look at what is transpiring over the internet on sites like MySpace, or YouTube. Or maybe even taking a look at some of the shows on cable like Jack Ass, or other shows on MTV. Channels that for whatever reason, seem to appeal to the younger generation. These shows have more violence or cruelty and callouosness than any commercial I have ever seen.

Could it be because of the decay in morality in our society that some of these "underlying" tones are so easily spotted by the likes of Elliot? Could it be that this nation has drifted away from its original roots, that the MSM has or is trying to dominate our every thought and action? Personally, I opt for the second one as trying to control my thoughts and daily life. I can't answer for everyone in the US, but the way I see it is like this; the government has put its nose into almost every facit of my daily life, telling me that this is bad for my health, or that this will make me live a longer life, don't drink this, don't smoke that, don't eat this, and so forth. And the MSM is the one that is in the forefront trying to shove all this down my throat by reporting on a daily basis all the "terrible" things that are going on out there.

I mean honestly, how often on CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, CBS, NBC, and ABC do you see reports of kindness, generosity or just plain old being a good neighbor. Not very often. So naturally you would think that the world is going to hell in a hand basket. When all you hear is doom and gloom, pretty soon that is the kind of mind set that you will have. I am sorry, I thought the football game was a good game, even though my team didn't play; and the commercials were not intended to "reflect" on the war. Life is a dog-eat-dog world, no matter how you cut it. And to me, that is what the ads were implying. You want to get ahead - try this product, you want to be noticed - buy this car, you want a better job - use this service. It is no different than the MSM is doing. One putting the other down so you will watch their channel more than the other, or coming up with some off the wall story to make the other look bad.

So, in closing, I just want to say...nice job Colts...sorry about that Bears...but there is always next year. That is unless the MSM implants it into your mind that the world will end before then.

How Do the Candidates Stack Up on Spending

2007-02-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered how this years Presidential candidates stack up against each other when it comes to federal spending? Well, the National Taxpayers Union has figured up how much each candidate has recommended during 2005, and has graded each from 1995 thru 2005 (or their duration in congress). Surprise, surprise. Remember how the Democrats have tried to exploit the Republicans as big spenders and not for the little guy? Well here are a few interesting facts that might turn the heads of a few Democrats, and cause the jaws of others to really drop.

The dollar amounts indicated are in billions of dollars:

Democrats:

Joe Biden -----------------$90

Hillary Clinton--------------$378.2

Tom Dashle (2004)---------$222.3

Chris Dodd----------------$224

John Edwards (2003)-------$103.5

Barack Obama (2005)--------$11.7

Dennis Kuninich ----------------$1.87

Total = $1,031.57 Billion

Republicans:

Sam Brownback --------------$19

Newt Ganrich (1998)-------------$4.5

Chuck Hagel --------------------$85.7
Duncan Hunter------------------$15.8
John McCain--------------------$36.9

Tom Tancredo-------------------$13.8

Ron Paul-----------------------$34

Total= $209.7 Billion

Now the math may be off a little, but even by these figures the Democrat(ic) candidates have wanted to spend around $800 Billion more dollars than the Republican candidates. Are these not the same individuals that were screaming about the Republicans going to push the country more in debt with their careless spending than their party would? Go to National Taxpayers Union by clicking on the title of this post to find out more interesting facts about the democrat(ic) party and the republican party spending tactics and how they want to effect your taxes in the overall picture.

Also check out their blog and one item in particular. Ten Myths About the Bush Tax Cuts

Global Warming - Man Made or Natural

2007-01-30T09:46:00.000-08:00

On certain subjects, I try not to go with the flow. I try to find out things on my own through conducting my own research. I try to look at both sides of the story and then draw my own conclusions. This article, I hope, is just the first of many in trying to define what Global Warming is and who, if anyone, is at fault. Understand that I am a simple person and will therefore try to explain it in a simple manner.

There is great a great alarm going on in the present that maybe has little or no basis for truth. That alarm is GLOBAL WARMING! Global Warming is defined as:"The progressive gradual rise of the earth's surface temperature thought to be caused by the greenhouse effect and responsible for changes in global climate patterns. An increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases."weather.ncbuy.com/glossary.html As you can see it has been going on for quite some time. It has occurred during specific periods between Ice Ages and even during some of those Ice Ages. Some say it is primarily caused by the distance of the earth from the sun, some say that it is a natural occurrences caused by trees ans plant life on the earth.

However, recently it has been determined that the earth is actually cooler today than 100 years ago. So I guess the question should be, When will the next Ice Age happen? Some scientist say that the cycles between Glacial Periods range anywhere from 10 thousand years to 80 thousand years. If this is the "norm", are we not in a Ice Age period now? According to some we are. But more toward the end. Thus the reason for the receding glaciers. It is true to a certain extent that part of the "warming" is being caused by pollution. But that part is minutely small.

Most scientist agree that the biggest part of the "greenhouse effect" is caused by the plant population and trees. As well as the location of the earth from the sun. Distance from the sun has been proven as one reason for Ice Ages, reduction in the earth's temperatures over an extended period of time have allowed existing glaciers to grow is size. If the temperatures are reduced over a long enough time frame the glaciers continuing growing in size till they cover large portions of the earth. Thus the same can be stated for the warm temperature fluctuations. The longer the warm up period, the warmer the temperature will be. So is the "Greenhouse Effect" and Global Warming caused more by man or the nature of natural occurrences?

I hope to disperse more information with links backing both sides of the argument in the near future as I do more research on this very interesting subject.

Hanoi Jane Comes Out of Hiding

2007-01-29T19:25:00.000-08:00

Well, it seems that "Hanoi Jane" Fonda has finally resurfaced after a thirty plus year hiatus. Yes, Traitor Jane is back and in good voice I hear. During her speech at the anti-war rally in D.C. this last weekend, she made a big splash announcing that she was coming (back) out of the closet. As she stood shoulder to shoulder with the great Sean "Turncoat" Penn, and others on the platform, one could only travel back through time and have visions of the late sixties and early seventies.

What I do not understand, and haven't for some time, is why Hanoi Jane was never prosecuted for aiding and abetting the enemy during her earlier protest years. She was allowed to slide away like a snake in the night. Don't get me wrong. Protesting the war was one thing, but actually going to North Vietnam and parading around with the V.C., posing for pictures, and then after the release of the POW's she called them liars when they spoke out about their treatment by the North. Then somehow at the end of the war, she slithered back under her rock, never to be heard from (somewhat) for thirty years.

Now they anti-war groupies have two favorite daughters they can tag along with, Cindy and Jane. What effect will Hanoi Jane have, who knows. But you can pretty much rest assured that it will be negative.

We Have Returned...or How to Kiss Up to the World in Two Easy Steps

2007-01-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

Well, the SOTUA is over. The Democrats are all rushing to get their two cents in on what the President said. However, I have yet to hear the Dems come up with a solution for Iraq, or anything else. True they, got their punches in during their fist 100 hours. But what have they really done except bypass the process for which laws are created. They have pushed their wage hikes through, except now it is being greeted with some reluctancy due to the fact that they want to exempt some employers. If it is a raise hike across the board, it must be all the way across the board, not just for some. They really can't bash Bush on the eeconomy, unemployment, interest rates, the stock market or much of anything else.

They have created their little Committee on Global Warming, or otherwise know as "the sky if falling". They have shut out the republicans on debates on the floor pertaining to some things that they are trying to pass. Then they come up with the resolution on cutting funds for the war, and then try to say that this will not send a negative message to the troops on the ground or those that are preparing to go. As a vet, speaking for myself, I find this attitude to be a defeatist attitude. If you tell someone that is out there putting their life on the line that you are going to cut spending on a effort that they are participating in, what kind of attitude do you think the troops will take. Let alone what the terrorists and insurgents are saying. Like Al Queada number two man said back in November when the Dems won back both houses, that "we" have beaten Bush. Now the Dems are trying to fullfill their intententions, by hinting heavily about going after Bush.

Even during the State of the Union speech the Dems showed how they are going to try and embarrass Bush. The, excuse the expression, "shit eating smerk" that Hillary had throughout the speech and the lack of respect for the president was definitely present. Yet the Democrats in their rebuttal have still not placed anything concrete on the table as to how things should be fixed, other than trying to express to the world that they are defeatists and do not want the war in Iraq to be won by the U.S. Wait and see, there will be a push by the Democrats in Congress to place it all under the UN's control. Your taxes will go up, the price of gas will go back up after dropping back below $1.90 (in Oklahoma). Yes the Democrats will control the Congress for another two years, God help us!

January 29 - update: In the last paragraph of this post I commented on the gas prices going back up. Guess what? They have. In Parts of Oklahoma they have jumped back up to $2.00 a gallon, a ten cent jump almost over night.

You might be a redneck IF...

2007-01-23T06:44:00.000-08:00

OK, time to take a break from the doom and gloom of politics and stuff and just add some laughter to our lives. Received these in an email, enjoy.

Notice individual on right, nice earplugs

REDNECK BUMPER-DUMPER

How To (re)Shape Baghdad

2007-01-21T16:06:00.000-08:00

With the sectarian violence growing in Iraq and especially Baghdad, what will Bush need to do to secure a victory? There have been many answers from many different sectors of the political world. From both Democrat and Republicans. It seems that the main thrust of the insurgency has moved from the rural areas of Iraq to Baghdad itself. But the primary question lies as to why they have moved back into the capital and why they are going almost untouched. The answer just might lie from within Iraq not from outside.

An article published on the 17th of January, in the Azzaman, an Iraqi paper, tells it from the Iraqi side what must be done to retake Baghdad and secure it. While I agree with how the violence can be stopped, I disagree with who should do it. In the article, it describes the US as being the main thrust into securing Baghdad. However, I think that the Iraqi Army should be the tip of the spear so to speak on leading the retake of the city. It describes US troops being the ones as needing to not just crush the violence but also take charge in capturing and detaining the leaders of the militias.

This is a step that the Iraqi government and army take the forefront in. The US would act in a supportive roll providing air and tactical support. But the actual door to door securing of the city should be done by the Iraqi forces and the civilian population. Yes, the civilian population needs to come behind their closed doors and start working with those that are truly concerned in securing a democratic country. For as long as the civilian population continues to hide and shelter these thugs and militia members no safety is in sight. The country has spoken, they want a democracy. Now they must take part in securing these freedoms that they want to enjoy. Will deaths occur? Yes, plain and simple. But as I have stated so often in many other posts, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!

As long as leaders such as MUQTADA Al-SADR continue to run free and have little to nothing to fear from its own government, violence will continue to hold the main title in headlines. It is true that thousands of Iraqi's have died since the fall of Saddam, what even more relevant is that they are being murdered by other Iraqi's. Yes there are insurgents mixed in, but the basic thrust of the violence is being conducted by Iraq's militias upon Iraqi's. The US has laid the foundation by taking care of their one time dictator, now they (Iraqi's) must stand up and be a major part in making this change work.

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE

2007-01-14T16:47:00.000-08:00

I received this poem in an e-mail from my brother-in-law in Kansas City and knew I just had to pass it on. I know not the author...but whoever he is, deserves a big salute.

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease..
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington
No, freedom isn't free.

Enjoy Your Freedom & God Bless Our Troops

How Long Do You Give Them?

2007-01-12T19:53:00.000-08:00

Well, the Dems now have control of Congress, their tour of duty is offical. They have started their first 100 hours and are doing everything in their power to "sock it to the Republicans". But I guess after being the back seat passengers for the last 12 years, they need to try to flex their muscles a little. No where does it say that they have to be polite, congenial, or even honest. I said back in November that they would not have the backbone to hold true to the course and that they would try to undermine the military at the first chance they got. And low and behold they are. Cut the funding and run the troops out of Iraq as fast as they can. Pressure Bush to succumb to their wishes by threatening to override any vetos.

Yep, they are even threatening ( they call it negotiating) drug companies to lower their drug costs to seniors. Oh, wait a minute hasn't that already happened with Walmart working out a deal on certain drugs and other companies joining some type of alliance to help out those that can't afford certain drugs. I would say that Congress is a little late on this game. As for cutting the funding and dragging our troops out of Iraq, well I just hope that they can explain that to the vets and troops that have been over there and seen their buddies die, and to the families that the loss of their loved one was for nothing. Becasue if they drag them out now, that is exactly what it will mean. Oh, and let's not forget to thank the democrats for getting ready to reinstate the draft. Something that hasn't been done since Nam. But wait, why have a draft if they are going to bring our troops home? What will be the need to bring back the draft? Could it be so that when the UN snaps its fingers, the US will willingly and happily slide our boys under the UN flag to go do their bidding? After all, can you name one case where the UN has been involved in a foreign country and had it work out.

But, Nancy and the boys will get everything straightened out. Raise the taxes, vote same sex marriages into law, reduce the military (again), and make us more of an isolationist style country as it was before WWI. How about those Dems, raising the minimum wage to over $7. There's a move that will definitely help the economy, or is it the unemployment lines that they will help. Forcing the small businessman to tighten up his belt, cut back on employees, and charge them more for insurance coverage.

Yep, it even looks like they will get the White House in '08. I mean really, who do the Republicans have that can match up to Obama, Hillary, Kerry, and Edwards? So come on America, stand up and cheer for the Dems. After all, what has been accomplished over the last few years...lower taxes, more income, some of the lowest unemployment percentages in history, more small businesses opening up, more students attending college, and the list goes on. So step up to the plate Congress and let's see how far down you bring "your fellow americans."

Just under 24 hours To decide...

2006-11-06T04:52:00.000-08:00

Well here we are just one day before the elections. Will the Dems gain enough seats to take over the House? Will the Republicans hold on by the skin of their teeth? Will Saddam's verdict effect the election and how? If the Dems do win the House or maybe even the Senate, will they stay the course in the war on terror, or will they cut and run like we did in Vietnam? Will the Dems finally step up to the plate and show some backbone? If they win, what will be their first order of the day?

Will they go after Bad Boy Bush, or will they just coveyhole everything he sends their way? Can the Republican party ever regain faith in their commander and chief? Will Hillary finally make the decision as to whether or not she is going to run in '08? SOOOO MANY QUESTIONS?

There is only one way to determine the outcome of this election...GET OUT AND VOTE!!! But do everyone a favor, forget about party lines. Forget about who the talking heads are supporting, vote your gut feeling. Do we want a safer country, or one offered up to the illegal aliens and Fanatic Muslims? What's even worse is do we want a country like France or Germany, where the Extremists pretty much pull the strings? Hey you decide. But whatever you do GO VOTE.

Mr. Kerry...we are fine and well in Iraq

2006-11-02T17:15:00.000-08:00

Recently Mr. John "I was for before I was against" Kerry made a comment regarding the need for a better education and or continuing educational goals. Don't get me wrong, I think everyone should further their education, including Mr. Kerry. However, I think the troops in Iraq answered Mr. Kerry's comment the best as provided in this picture. Plus considering the fact that todays troops are much more educated than when I was in the service, I mean look at the equipment that they have to use on a daily basis. Does Mr. Kerry think that he can operate this equipment without an education? Their response just goes to show you Mr. Kerry how much they think of you, being a Vietnam HERO and all.

This is not to say that they all have college degrees, but there are a majority who are taking advantage of the military's educational programs and those that are continuing their education through various colleges while in the service. Not to mention those that go on to continue their education after serving their country. Bad joke, yes; poor taste, to say the least. And this was the best that the Democrats had to offer in '04, I am just glad he didn't win; and so are the troops. HOOAH!!!

Is Too Much Time Taken...NOT A CHANCE!!!

2006-10-18T04:07:00.000-07:00

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the newest addition to the Drake Clan. His name is Samuel Hagerty, born August 15, 2006. He is the son of Capt. Scott Hagerty (USAR) and Daphne Hagerty (my daughter).

This is one of the reasons for which I have not been blogging much lately. He is a wonderful joy and occupies much of my off time. His father Scott was on assignment in East Africa at the time, but was given leave to be present for his birth in August. Scott is now back in Africa, but should be able to be home for the holidays. This is Scott's second year of being away on military orders. His first stint was in Iraq for 12 months, during the transition period. He was a liason between the US and the interim PM, and worked in intelligence information gathering, which by the way helped lead to the capture of Saddam and other hinchmen in his circle.

Samuel is my second grandson and both spend a lot of time at our humble abode. At the time this photo was taken, Samuel just turned 2 months old. So if I am not online, you will now know why. Got to enjoy them while they are young, and while there is still time to do so.

Been Awhile, BUT I AM BACK!

2006-09-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow bloggers, it's been a while. Sorry I've been away for so long but there were some things that came up that kept me away from being able to blog with you and post my opinions. I really can't go into a lot of detail regarding the reasons but please understand that I have definitely missed your company. There was a stretch there where the hours working made it hard to spend much time on the computer.

I know my last blog was sometime back and I haven't really been able to watch that much TV and gather much information of what's going on in the news. Physically I'm fine, thank you for your concerns and questions as to my whereabouts that some of you have posted in the past few months. Hopefully, I'll be able to be on here a little bit more often now and give my two cents on what's going on in the world.

As you notice My recent post is in regards to a college football game balance played this last Saturday. How outrageous some of the calls were by the officiating crew. As you can tell I am a Sooners sports fan and have followed the Sooners quite avidly for the best part of the last 32 years. HA HA!

With the November elections coming up and all the to do about the war and Iraq and the war on terrorism it would seem that the democrats are still up to their old antics, trying to scare the people into believing that we're no safer now than we were before. We've covered this topic indepth in a number of other posts. So I'm not going to go into much detail at this time, however I will say that unless the republican party starts coming together as a whole they will lose in the November elections. There is way too much division within the party for them to secure a true victory in this election. Although I don't always agree with everything that Bush does or says, he is the leader of that party. In the past, 98 percent of the republicans in Congress have agreed with and voted for the things that Bush has presented to them for approval, now it seems that there are jumping ship to save their own butts their reelection year. The democrats to my knowledge still have not presented a true and honest guideline as to what they will do if they win the election, other than impeach Bush.

I look forward to hearing from all of you and as usual welcome your comments on this posting site. I am glad to be back in the fold so to speak.

Were they wearing blinders or just BLIND

2006-09-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't know how many of you watched the Oregon/OU game saturday, but it the last minute of the game was an embarassement to the officiating club in the NCAA. Be you a anti-Sooner fan or an advid Sooner fan you have to agree that there were some major problems in how the final seconds of the game were called. Don't get me wrong, OU played very poorly during the first half of the game and made one of their wild comebacks in the second half. Their defense isn't what it should be and the secondary is definitely one of the weak spots for the Sooners. However, be that as it may, the Sooners did take charge of the game in the third and most of the fourth quarter.

Almost every sports organization out there has agreed though on one thing, OU was raped of its victory in the last minute or so of the game. Two very game determining calls gave the game away to the Ducks. The on-side kick, that was supposedly recovered by the Ducks, and the pass interference call. The on-side kick, which in fact was recovered by the Sooners, gave the ducks possession of the ball inside OU territory. Yet on TV and on the screen at the stadium it was very obvious that the Ducks 1) touched the ball before it had went ten yards and 2) the Sooners recovered the ball after it had squirted out of the pile. OK, missed call number one. Then on the same drive, OU was called for pass interference, when on the replay there was evidence that the ball had been tipped by an OU player at the line, therefore negating any chance for any pass interference. These two very controversial calls ended up giving the game to the Oregon Ducks giving them their first victory over the Sooners in six trys.

What should be done? Good question. First the game will not be overturned by the NCAA. But it should not count as a victory or a loss for either team. The officiating crew should be suspended pending review of their actions on the field and in the review booth. Both clubs should be given a draw (or tie) since neither team had any direct connection with the calls from the officials. This should leave both teams were they stand in the rankings or move both up considering the losses over the weekend by ND, LSU, etc.

Well that is my take on the issue, what's yours?

Hey, My Rights Have Been Violated...Haven't they?

2006-05-12T07:24:00.000-07:00

There must be a lot of people out there that have someting to hide. At least that is the way that it seems to appear anyway, with all the whinning going on over the NSA wiretapping. Papers have been hitting the headlines with one of the democrats favorite electionary scar tactics in hopes to secure the election in November. But what they aren't telling you is that they have been fine with the program for quite some time. Oh sure, they are running around like chicken little screaming that the sky is falling and our privacy is being invaded. Yet, when Hoover did it under Kennedy it was OK. When Clinton did it, it was OK. Now that Bush is using it as a defensive move toward terrorism, it is suddenly one of the most outrageous invasion of privacy on the books. Excuse me, but would you like a little cheese to go with that whine?

Osama Bin Laden doesn't need to strike the USA again to destroy it. That is being done from within. Within our own democratic system. Police have used this tactic for information gathering for decades. They have done stake outs and written down vehicle information to identify suspicious persons. They have tapped phones in a means to gather information as to the ties a suspect might have with other "bad people", yet that was OK, right? Now here we are fighting a war on terrorism with some of the highest technology in the world and we are worried about someone keeping a "database" on our phone calls. Like I said, there must be a lot of criminally intent people out there.

This tactic that the NSA is using is not "monitoring" your phone calls. It is simplying gathering information regarding phone numbers, not conversations. If you are calling al Queda, watch out. If you are calling grandma, whats your worry? The phone companies have been keeping phone data on Americans for years, were you worried then? For the life of me I can not understand all the whinning going on, unless you have something to hide. When I was in the military, I had a secret clearance. Therefore I was checked on a regular basis for any inproprities, or if there was something that might "pop" up on my record. As a police officer, we used spying tactics as well. We would follow suspects to gather information on their behavior, contacts, and locations where suspected illegal activities might have taken place. Now if memory serves me correct, I didn't need to get public permission to do it. As long as I was doing it in the "line of duty" and for the "protection" of the citizens to which I took an oath to protect. Isn't this the same thing that the president is doing?

Even the Justice Department has determined that the wiretaps are legal. There have been no violations of privacy. If there have been violations and there are victims out there, why haven't they come forward to present their claims? Where are the court cases? Who has been the "victims"? Who's rights have been violated? I will tell you who. The terrorists. If there were to be another attack on America like 9/11, I could assure you that there would be an outcry from the public as to why we hadn't done anything to keep it from happening. But since we haven't had another attack, we can only see it as a violation of our rights. Again, who has been violated? Please step forward and present you claim to fame. It simply amazes me that there are so many whiners out there over protecting the United States. Are these the same people that are yelling "make the [illegal] immigrants legal, by giving them citizenship ahead of those that have been using the process to become legal citizens? Oh wait a minute, that is the politicians in Washington D.C.

Think about it for a minute folks. Which would you rather have: a safe and secure country, free from terrorist strikes or a country living in fear because we didn't do anything to stop it from happening all over again? For me, if the government likes keeping a database on how many times I call my mother, or my relatives, great. Maybe I could get a copy of it so that my folks could see that I do call them, and often. So stop your whinning, get on with the things at hand to make this country better.

What the ____ are they Thinking?

2006-05-09T14:54:00.000-07:00

Just how serious are we on limiting the immigration of illegals into our country? I could hardly believe my ears and eyes when I read this article and heard about it on the TV. To say the least I am appalled. It would now seem that the US is in aid with the notorious Mexican government in assisting illegals in coming into this country. Isn't it bad enough that the the government has turned a blind eye to the immigration population explosion, illgal marches and protestings? Now they are actually assisting them in getting into this country without being stopped.

It is an obvious thing to me that the government (both sides of the aisle) is doing little to stop this. As the article states, this move enables the illegals to skirt the location in which the Minutemen are operating as well as Friends of the Border Patrol. Privately organized civilian groups of concerned citizens, being dismantled (so to speak) by the very government that has made the statement that something needs to be done about the massive immigration taking place in the US. Believe me I do not endorse any violent action taken by any civilian group against another (unless deserved of course). At the same time to assist those coming into the country illegally goes far beyond "protecting the rights of those detained". Another thing that is obvious, is that the Border Patrol can not do their job effectively, or the flow of illegals would have been slowed or stopped by now. So here is a group of concerned American citizens taking time out of their lives to assist their government in helping curb this influx, and their efforts are being thwarted by the very government they are assisting.

In a statement by Darryl Griffen, San Diego Border Patrol sector chief, "...the Border Patrol will not permit any violence or any actions contrary to the law by the groups, and he is continuously aware of (the volunteer organizations') operations," according to the document. "Mr. Griffen reiterated to the undersecretary his promise to notify the General Consul right away when the vigilantes detain or participate in the detention of any undocumented Mexicans."

There have also been protests (verbal) from the Border Patrolmen themselves as to the actions taken by their superiors in the providing of information to the Mexican Consulate after a internal memo was passed down last year. The memo also gave out the locations of field operations of the Friends of the Border Patrol, and the exact location of the group founded by Andy Ramirez.

So where will these illegals be stopped? Not at the borders, and especially not by American citizens. American it is time to stand up and sound off. Who runs our country, the citizens (of the people, by the people, and for the people) or a foreign country (MEXICO)? Who controls who can come into our country? According to this enlightenment, there is very little being done to control this mass exodus from Mexico into the US. And yes, even though there are other immigrants coming into this country, the onslaught from Mexico is the worst. I want to personally thank the agencies that are in place to protect our borders for cutting the throat of their officers and the American population. It makes one wonder what other information is being given out about how one can successfully enter into the US illegally by members of our government agencies.

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A Salute To A Fellow Blogger

2006-05-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

Today, I am going to stray away from my normal ranting and commentary on news events to prop up a fellow Blogger. Griz, at God Bless America. One does not necessarily need to serve in the armed forces of the United States to be a patriot. Griz is standing proof of this. Although Griz and I have never personally met, I visit him quite often. As I started blogging back in February, God Bless America was one of the first places that I visited.

Griz's blog is one that is informative with some of todays headliners, but at the same time he takes us away to a more simple time and place, through his pictures. From some of his various contacts with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, he has shared some of their e-mails with those of us in the world of blogging. One story, that really made me think of "is it all words or is there a real desire to do your part", took place back in March (I believe). Griz had been communicating with a particular troop and had invited him to give him a call if he was ever in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Well, one day Griz received a phone call from this contact and stated that he was at the airport on a layover between flights and would be leaving shortly. Griz, having received this message, jumped in his car, drove to the airport and hunted down his contact and shook his hand before he took off.

I haven't heard of many people saying that they support the troops doing this. There may be others out there that have done this as well, but Griz is the only one that has communicated this to others (that I know of). Griz has, on a consistant basis, always expressed a true support for the troops by his posting, poems from troop contacts, and his always wonderous and beauty filled pictures from north Texas.

For those of you that haven't visited Griz's site, I encourage you to do so and often. I think you will find that Griz always tries to put things in a perspective that only he can do. At the time of this posting Griz doesn't know that I am doing this "special post" in his honor. Hopefully, he will not find it offensive, or as trying to glorify him. It is just a true expression of thanks from a vet that thinks he deserves a big pat on the back, and a thank you for his true belief in our troops and their cause; and a willingness to go that "extra mile" to let them know that he is there for them. Thanks Griz. God Bless.

Right or Wrong?

2006-05-01T04:59:00.000-07:00

Well folks here we are, May 1st. Millions of our kind Hispanic friends are planning on marching in force today. Plus they are planning on boycotting purchasing any products today. Not showing up for work, ditching school, blocking traffic in major cities and byways. Yes, this is there way of making there way into our hearts and gaining citizenship in the US of A. And you know what, they will probably get what they are wishing for. Yet then again they might get something that they are not wanting. Fired, suspended, zero's in classes that they ditch. Yep, some companies and schools are finally getting some backbone. If you don't show don't bother coming back, amigo. At least to some employers that is the stance they will take. Yet again there are more companies out there that are going to close the business today so that their illegal base can go out and march.

Heck, some places are calling this a "Mexican Holiday". I have an idea. Instead of taking today off to march, why not just take the rest of the year off and GO HOME TO MEXICO. Please don't give me that BS about how they deserve to be here, or how they contribute so much to our economy. I know all that crap. What puts a burr under my saddle is the fact that they are using these organized tactics, when they have no rights under the US Constitution to even be here. Yet, we have companies and cities, and yes, even a state backing their "ILLEGAL" actions. I say that we boycott all those companies and cities and so forth that are supporting their illegal antics. I can pretty much bet, and feel comfortable about it, that there will be more MEXICAN flags being waved than American. There will be more "this is my land not yours" signs, than "together we can make America better."

Recently, I broke the law. I was stopped by an officer, issued a ticket and told when the court would meet. Just as the law specifies. I was also informed by the officer, and not harshly, that failure to appear could result in a bench warrant being issued for me and my license being suspended until the matter was taken care of. All of this is rightly so, in accordance to the law. Yet, I am being discriminated against by the same people that write and enforce these laws. How? I hold a legal state license, pay state and federal taxes on everything that I buy. Have taxes and other supportive monies withheld from my paychecks, including health insurance, FICA, etc. Yet, if I fail to show for the court or pay the fine, I will be arrested. Here we have millions upon millions of "ILLEGAL ALIENS" that have broken the law, put a tax on our health system, and they are being given a green light to continue breaking the law.

I know better than most, that arresting all of them and shipping their butts back to Mexico or where ever they came from, is not a very plausible or feasible idea. However, if we can sit back and watch these ILLEGALS continue to commit crimes in our country, how can we then turn around and enforce other laws that are on the books? Are they above the law? Are they going to be compensated for their illegal actions? Probably. And our government is allowing it with open arms. OK, I am through with the ranting. Have a Great Day America.

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What Gives You The Right...

2006-04-29T15:43:00.000-07:00

"The Star-spangled Banner, the American national anthem, beginning, “O say can you see by the dawn's early light.” The words were written by Francis Scott Key, a young Washington attorney who, during the War of 1812, sailed to the British fleet to obtain the release of a captured American. Key was detained by the British and witnessed from ship the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the night of Sept. 13–14, 1814. Defended under the command of Major George Armistead, the fort withstood the attack, and the sight of the American flag flying at dawn inspired Key's verses, which were written on the way ashore in the morning. After circulating as a handbill, the lyrics were published in a Baltimore newspaper on Sept. 20, 1814. The tune was taken from the English popular song “To Anacreon in Heaven.” Although the army and the navy had for some years regarded “The Star-spangled Banner” as the national anthem, its designation as such first became official by executive order of President Wilson in 1916. This order was confirmed by act of Congress in 1931. The large flag that inspired the anthem, with 15 stars and stripes and originally 30-by-42-ft (9.1-by-12.8-m), has been in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution since 1912." (source: infoplease.com)

No where in above article does it say that the "Star Spangled Banner" was written or sung in any other language than English. It was written by an American, and put to an English tune. Although there have been other adaptations as to the playing or singing of our national anthem, it has always been in English whenever sung. Now we have the Latino Population wanting to put it out in Spanish. To me this is degrading the song and the flag that Americans have cherished since its origin in 1814. I am sure that the Latino's are wanting to pay tribute to our national anthem, but this is not the way to do it. It further enhances the divide that has been growing over the illegal immigration issue. If you want to sing it, sing it as it was written in ENGLISH, and sing it with the pride in which it was written. The song, and the flag for which it was written has endured much over the last 200 plus years. If you want to become an American learn to follow OUR traditions and means of respecting things that we hold close. This is to include learning the English language if you want to live here.

Doe this sound racist to you? If it does, that is your problem. It is not intended to be. What does sound racist to me is the fact that everything must be "politically correct" now days. We (Americans of all color and background) have to be careful as to how we address someone. We have to "understand" the harsh background that a murderer had as a child. We have to sympathize with those that aren't willing to get off their butt and work, just so they can live off the government (off of our taxes). That does not apply to those that have worked all their lives to enjoy the benefits of retirement or the drawing of Social Security after paying in for years.

If we were to go to Mexico, or any other country, we are expected to abide by their ways and culture. Why is it that we must now bow ourselves to those (illegal aliens) that want to force their ways and beliefs on us. To those that have stood the test and went through the procedures for becoming naturalized citizens I salute you and welcome you as an American. For once you take the oath for naturalization you promise your dedication to this country and no other. That oath should also apply to all that we as Americans hold dear and close to our hearts, the FLAG and our NATIONAL ANTHEM. Learn it, sing it, but it must be kept in English or this will be just another loss of another freedom that we are seeing at a very alarming rate. It is here that we must draw the line in the sand. The question is how far will our elected officials, Democrat and Republican, in Washington D.C. allow this to go.

Below are the words to OUR National Anthem, in ENGLISH. Read it, sing it, if you want, but remember that it is in English; and no other language can clearly say it like our own - with the pride and honor that it deserves.

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER

by Francis Scott Key

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when free-men shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

The American's Creed
William Tyler Page

“I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.“I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”

A "Letter To The Editor"

2006-04-26T05:39:00.000-07:00

The following is an actual letter to an editor in one of our local papers. The person, whom I know, seems to be stuck in the "what can you do for me" syndrome. Or it is better known as the Democratic Party's belief that the government knows best as to what is best for you. I won't go into to much detail about this person, but to say that she has done anything except depend on the government for her living I think would be suffice. Therefore you can better understand this persons state of mind, and her rantings about Bush and how the government is not doing what she thinks they should do.

"Letter to the Editor:

Failed by Government

Most of us have been taught to respect laws, rules and the rights of other people. We have respected elected officials we have placed into office to run our country and do what's needed for the people. We all have the right to be informed of what might affect our lives.

This greatly depends on what is meant by "informed". Is this person implying that they need to know everything that the government is doing? I hope not. Otherwise, there would be no need for the CIA, FBI, and local law enforcement. Our enemies would only need to turn on the TV and listen to what the government is going to do and how.

Now I must ask: are we ignorant that an important elected official has lied? President Bush, it seems, has lied to us but yet he goes unpunished. What has happened to integrity? Bush is losing out somewhere.

Here again we have an uninformed, fully biased, misguided and "ignorant" opinion. There has yet to be, in any form, proof that Bush lied about anything. Perhaps, if this person was more informed (read the papers, watch someting besides MSM, ask questions) they would have a better idea of what is going on. Therefore, as to the second part of the statement "he goes unpunished" answers itself. You can't be punished for something that has not been proven.

It seems Bush lied to himself as well as the American People when he gave reasons for "his war" to keep us safe. Are we being deceived by delusions? We are seeing a dysfunctional elected official and the sad fact our Congress and those who say they have our best interests are permitting this CEO to continue to run this country. Most companies who hire a CEO expect him to do what is best for the good of the company and when he doesn't do what is expected he is fired. It seems Bush has been in charge of several companies in the past that have a history of going under, leaving people in the lurch.

OK, we have already answered the "lied" portion of this statement. As for the "his war" statement, seems that they have forgotten that the UN voted on a resolution that approved (to an extent) force to be used against Saddam. Also the fact that the world as a whole provided the same information as to Saddam's intentions. His violating resolution after resolution put forth by the UN, had to come to a halt. And since the UN (Useless Nations) were afraid to take action, Bush did. Were mistakes made, yes. But anyone with an ounce of intelligence would also know that war is not perfect. Reflections of how we got into WWII is solid proof of this. But if you were to ask the "ground pounders" fighting this war, their answer would be lightyears different from yours.

Bush as a "CEO", is really grabbing for straws. CEO's are appointed or hired by a company, they are not voted into office by the people of a nation. When was the last time that the employees of a company voted in a new CEO? When was the last time that stock holders were asked for their opinion about a new CEO? Therefore, yes they (CEO's) can be fired or asked to resign. I guess this persons comment should also include the Clinton administration, for in his second term unemployment rose and companies went under (ENRON, WORLD.COM, to name a few). Since then unemployment has leveled out at 4.7% (one of the lowest in years), personal income is up, the economy is stronger, and the list goes on.

"Speeches and double-talk" have not helped our people or fixed problems we face on our homefront. Our government needs to realize our people are hurting and they are struggling for their daily needs. We have been spread thin for too long and it has weakened our country. Mother Nature has wounded us with her wrath but we endure and are slowly putting things in orer. Our government has wounded us with false hope and promises it has not kept. We seem to be an opressed people who hade been let down and short-changed. Only a country run as a dictatorship does this to its people. We all can bet our government officials are having their needs met using our taxes.

The government is not responsible for the personal needs of citizens of this country. That for one thing is what is wrong with the country now. Too many people depend on the government for everything. I am not saying that the government does not have a place in our lives, but depending on them for "their daily needs" goes far beyond its purpose. How is our country weakened? When was the last time that we were attacked? Does this person mean weakened by how the world looks at us? The same world that on too many occassions has looked to the US for support, or to help them out of a situation. If the US was to ask for repayment of the loans and grants given out to these nations or countries our debt would be resolved in one third of the time it will take now. As for "a country run as a dictatorship" comment, go and live under a dictator and find out what it is really like before trying to make comparisons to the US and the freedoms that you have now. For one thing you wouldn't be able to write these things about your government or the leader of that country. On the last sentence, I can agree, to a certain extent. I have always been against our politicians receiving too much for the job, or lack thereof, they are doing.

Our government needs to work for its people - fixing problems before taking responsibilities of another country so we can once again be strong. It's time for changes to be made and to voice our concerns by voting in people who are truely looking out for our best interests.

That was done in 2004. America spoke up and elected the officials they wanted. The upcoming election has yet to take place. Therefore, we won't know anything until it happens. What I do know is, that I for one, do not want politicians that are only out to appease our enemies. And as much as I hate to say it, "finding" people who are "truely looking out for our best interests" and having them do it are three different things. They really only look out for themselves, their soft chair and their retirement. Unfortunately, there are politicians such as this on both sides of the aisle.

The America we have now is not the America we need and should have. "United we stand, divided we fall." We are being failed by a government that is making us fall apart.

Yes, "United we stand, divided we fall", but that division is not coming from the President. It is coming from our elected officials in Congress. The same Congress that gave Bush permission to go ahead with the war in Iraq, Afghanistan and on Terrorists and now wants to be more like France, Spain, Russia and Germany. Who's appeasing ways have left them totally unprepared to face any onslaught by terrorists. And who will they call on for assistance or to pull their backsides out of the fire, again? That's right, the good ol US of A. The government has not failed us, we have failed the government. To quote a phrase from JFK, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." So, R.E.B-F., what have you done for your country lately?

R.E.B-F."

Hillary Burbs Up another Flip Flop

2006-04-24T04:42:00.000-07:00

A while back Queen Hillary spoke out against the House Bill on Immigration saying that it would "criminalize even Jesus himself." Now it would appear that she has flipped her stance on this issue as well. Hillary stated in response to polls lately, "that she backs a border wall plan that would include both physical barriers and a "smart fence." Hillary also backs citizenship as opposed to amnesty for the 11 million illegals that are here now. Yet, are they not the same. You are promoting rewards for breaking the law, and in some cases moving these "illegals" closer to the front of the line by doing so and by-passing those that are doing it the legal way.

How much has Hillary flip flopped on Immigration? Maybe some of this information will help.

Cosponsoring bill to increase foreign-worker importation in 2005-2006

Voted against amendment to strip foreign-worker increase in 2005

Voted in favor of amendment to increase foreign-worker importation in 2005

Cosponsoring bill to reward illegal aliens with in-state tuition and amnesty in 2005-2006

Voted against amendment to provide funding for additional Border Patrol agents in 2005

Voted in favor of amnesty for agricultural workers in 2005

Cosponsoring bill to create an amnesty for illegal agricultural workers in 2005-2006

Cosponsored S. 2381, a major amnesty for illegal aliens in 2004

Cosponsored bill to repeal the federal ban against granting illegal aliens in-state tuition and reward illegal aliens amnesty in 2003-2004

Cosponsored bill to reward illegal aliens with in-state tuition and amnesty in 2003-2004

Cosponsored legislation in 2002 that would assist illegal immigration by compromising immigration laws

Cosponsored bill to create an amnesty for illegal agricultural workers in 2003-2004

Co-sponsored legislation in 2001 to extendSection 245(i) for one-year.

Go to NumbersUSA to get more Congressional immigration voting information.

Yes, it would seem that Hillary really wants to change the immigration process. She has done her best in the past to literally break down the requirements for coming into this country legally and has been on the side of the Illegal workers over the American workers since coming into the Senate. Now, in an election year, she is repeating herself to be in favor of more illegal immigrants and expects you the voter to believe that she has your best interests at heart.

In 2003 Hillary spoke out against illegal immigrants, now where does she stand? She welcomes tougher laws against employers that hire illegals, yet opposes any restriction on immigration itself. Queen Hillary wants it both ways and that is not what the people want. When a majority speak, are we not supppose to listen and follow the will of the people (legal American citizens, not the ones that floated over and snuck under the fence in the dark of night like snakes in the grass).

Unfortunately, both parties have their heads up their backsides on this issue. The Republicans are too afraid to take the stance that most have in the past, while the Democrats only want to use this issue to increase their voter base. By having illegals register for the November election this year. A major push was on during the recent "uprisings" by the Democratic Party to get these illegals registered to vote. The Republicans are wallowing in the mire waiting for God only knows what.

But I digress, Hillary in 2008? What about 2006? Would the real Hillary Clinton please sit down. You are confusing those that think you are for, or is that against, immigration standards. Yes, you want them to become U.S. citizens without going through the process. Who does that benefit. You want harsher penalties for employers while rewarding the 12 million "illegals". You're not infavor of closing the border off, but you agree with the fence or wall idea. You are "adamantly against illegal immigrants,"...but want to make them citizens of the United States. You vote to give large numbers of them amnesty, but are against amnesty. (I am getting dizzy just writing this part). Do you not hear the crys coming from the marchers, they want their land back, it is their land and the "Americans" stole it from them. They want to reclaim California and much of the southwest. To me, this does not sound like they want to be US citizens. Make up your mind Queen Hillary, the masses have the tar and feathers at the ready.

A Flashback That Still Has Meaning Today

2006-04-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

The following was recorded in Canada about the time that we were exiting Vietnam. With the world gloating over our stalemate (at home only, not of the battlefield) one Canadian, Gordan Sinclair, said enough and transmitted this broadcast on June 5, 1973. In the midst of our current situation I thought it would be nice to hear these words again, from someone who is not an American; but would still carry the same message and thoughts as millions of Americans have today.

Click on the link below to read the broadcast excerpt.

http://oldsgtsoldglory.blogspot.com/2006/04/flashback-that-still-has-meaning-today.html

or click here to listen to the broadcast (Real Player is required to hear the broadcast)

http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/ccf_resources/ccf_resources-bios/ccf_bio_audio/53.rm

TODAY IN HISTORY - OKLAHOMA LAND RUSH

2006-04-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

Source : The History Channel

April 22

1889 The Oklahoma land rush begins

At precisely high noon, thousands of would-be settlers make a mad dash into the newly opened Oklahoma Territory to claim cheap land.

The nearly two million acres of land opened up to white settlement was located in Indian Territory, a large area that once encompassed much of modern-day Oklahoma. Initially considered unsuitable for white colonization, Indian Territory was thought to be an ideal place to relocate Native Americans who were removed from their traditional lands to make way for white settlement. The relocations began in 1817, and by the 1880s, Indian Territory was a new home to a variety of tribes, including the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee, Creek, Cheyenne, Commanche, and Apache.

By the 1890s, improved agricultural and ranching techniques led some white Americans to realize that the Indian Territory land could be valuable, and they pressured the U.S. government to allow white settlement in the region. In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison agreed, making the first of a long series of authorizations that eventually removed most of Indian Territory from Indian control.

To begin the process of white settlement, Harrison chose to open a 1.9 million-acre section of Indian Territory that the government had never assigned to any specific tribe. However, subsequent openings of sections that were designated to specific tribes were achieved primarily through the Dawes Severalty Act (1887), which allowed whites to settle large swaths of land that had previously been designated to specific Indian tribes.

On March 3, 1889, Harrison announced the government would open the 1.9 million-acre tract of Indian Territory for settlement precisely at noon on April 22. Anyone could join the race for the land, but no one was supposed to jump the gun. With only seven weeks to prepare, land-hungry Americans quickly began to gather around the borders of the irregular rectangle of territory. Referred to as "Boomers," by the appointed day more than 50,000 hopefuls were living in tent cities on all four sides of the territory.

The events that day at Fort Reno on the western border were typical. At 11:50 a.m., soldiers called for everyone to form a line. When the hands of the clock reached noon, the cannon of the fort boomed, and the soldiers signaled the settlers to start. With the crack of hundreds of whips, thousands of Boomers streamed into the territory in wagons, on horseback, and on foot. All told, from 50,000 to 60,000 settlers entered the territory that day. By nightfall, they had staked thousands of claims either on town lots or quarter section farm plots. Towns like Norman, Oklahoma City, Kingfisher, and Guthrie sprang into being almost overnight.

An extraordinary display of both the pioneer spirit and the American lust for land, the first Oklahoma land rush was also plagued by greed and fraud. Cases involving "Sooners"--people who had entered the territory before the legal date and time--overloaded courts for years to come. The government attempted to operate subsequent runs with more controls, eventually adopting a lottery system to designate claims. By 1905, white Americans owned most of the land in Indian Territory. Two years later, the area once known as Indian Territory entered the Union as a part of the new state of Oklahoma.

Couldn't think of an appropriate Heading for this one...does it speak for itself?

2006-04-21T06:26:00.000-07:00

OK, you tell me if this is what you feel like lately in regards to our politicians. I think that it pretty well sums it up.

INS Makes Move on Employers

2006-04-21T05:31:00.000-07:00

Feds Warn Companies Using Illegal Workers

Two Houston men arrested for hiring illegal workers

US crackdown on companies that employ illegals

Does it seem to you that the Government is finally starting to listen to the people? According to the Headlines listed above it would appear that they are getting a start anyway. What is new to this is a twist, more and more employers are being arrested and fined as an attempt to curb the hiring of illegals. Something, I might add, that has been screamed by the public for some time now, but especially during the last month or so.

With all the illegals and some legals marching lately, in an attempt to change the process as to how to become legals, and the cry to their family members across the border to make their way north before the new immigration bill goes into effect (if it ever gets a vote), something MUST be done and done now. If memory serves me correctly, I believe it was stated that by 2030 the immigration of illegals into the US would surpass 30 million if an amesty program is established. Where are the higher numbers coming from? If we allow the current 12 million illegals to become citicizens, they in turn will bring their family members into the states and the chain goes on.

Meanwhile, in some of the border states, the Minutemen in Arizona are urging Bush to get on with the fence along the border or they will build it themselves. Although it is true that no fence or wall will stop the immigration move, it couldn't hurt. Then, if the INS really gets its motor running and continues this crunch on employers hiring illegals, it could really take a bite out of wanting to come to America and as well allow more Americans to be hired or that company could face steeper fines and possible closing of the business. I think that it is high time that these steps are taking place. In fact I think that it should have been done years ago. Although it is not likely that all 12 million illegals will be caught, I do think that if you hit the employers where it hurts (their pocket books) they will also have a change of heart and start abiding by the laws that are on the books now. Will this push to punish employers and illegals continue? God only knows. But if we want to maintain the American dream, for legals and Americans, something must be done and soon.

"RISEN" to the occassion...but MUM is the Word

2006-04-20T05:41:00.000-07:00

Bill Clinton Decimated the CIA

H/T to NEWSMAX.com

Author James Risen who recently torched the NSA's taping program and pretty much turned over the U.S. Intelligence Agencies most powerful info gathering tool,won the Pulitzer recently for his book "State Of War". However, what has not been to publicized is the fact that Clinton, early in his administration was finding ways to scrap the CIA's information gathering capabilities. The book also hit on the late 90's plan to capture Bin Laden in Afghanistan. But due to the possibility that OBL could be killed in the operation and Clinton had not authorized that, it was scrapped. However, the division in the CIA was deep and it's information gathering base was deeply limited due to the fact that they feared it would have political flaps. Since they were less willing to take risks, the CIA was not able to recruit spies in high risk areas. Could these measures possibly have stopped 9/11?

The MSM seems to have missed this part of the book and only focused on the Bush Administration. Funny how Risen himself failed to mention anything about this in any of his TV interviews with the MSM.

Want More - click here

Wednesday Morning Chuckles

2006-04-19T05:16:00.000-07:00

THIS KIND OF STUFF HAS GOT TO STOP IN OUR COUNTRY!

We Must Stop This Immediately!

Have you noticed that Stairs are getting steeper. Groceries are heavier. And, everything is farther away.. Yesterday I walked to the corner and I was dumbfounded to discover how long our street had become!

And, you know, people are less considerate now, especially the young ones. They speak in whispers all the time! If you ask them to speak up they just keep repeating themselves, endlessly mouthing the same silent message until they're red in the face! What do they think I am, a lip reader?

I also think they are much younger than I was at the same age. On the otherhand, people my own age are so much older than I am. I ran into an old friend the other day and she has aged so much that she didn't even recognize me.

I got to thinking about the poor dear while I was combing my hair thismorning, and in doing so, I glanced at my own refection.........Well, REALLY NOW-even mirrors are not made the way they used to be!

Another thing, everyone drives so fast these days! You're risking life and limb if you happen to pull onto the freeway in front of them.. All I can say is, their brakes must wear out awfully fast, the way I see them screech and swerve in my rear view mirror.

Clothing manufacturers are less civilized these days. Why else would they suddenly start labeling a size 10 or 12 dress as 18 or 20? Do they think noone notices that these things no longer fit around the waist, hips, thighs, and bosom?

The people who make bathroom scales are pulling the same prank, but inreverse. Do they think I actually "believe" the number I see on that dial? HA! Iwould never let myself weigh that much! Just who do these people think they're fooling?

I'd like to call up someone in authority to report what's going on -- but the telephone company is in on the conspiracy too: they've printed the phone books in such small type that no one could ever find a number in here!

All I can do is pass along this warning: We are under attack! Unless something drastic happens, pretty soon everyone will have to suffer these awful indignities.

PLEASE, PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GET THIS CONSPIRACY STOPPED!

PS: I am sending this to you in a larger font size, because something has caused my computer's fonts to be smaller than they once were.

SHEEP OR SHEEPDOGS

2006-04-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

To all my soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen- THANK YOU for being my sheepdogs.

By LTC(RET) Dave Grossman, RANGER, Ph.D., author of "On Killing."

Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always, even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for? - William J. Bennett - in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy November 24, 1997.

One Vietnam veteran, an old retired colonel, once saidthis to me: "Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident." This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another.

Some estimates say that two million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year, a tragic, staggering number, perhaps an all-time record rate ofviolent crime. But there are almost 300 million Americans, which means that the odds of being a victim of violent crime is considerably less than one in a hundred on any given year. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million.

Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other,except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.

I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me,it is like the pretty, blue robin's egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without its hard blue shell.

Police officers, soldiers, and other warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful. For now, though, they need warriors to protect them from the predators.

"Then there are the wolves," the old war veteran said,"and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy." Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.

"Then there are sheepdogs," he went on, "and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf."

If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf.

But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed.

Let me expand on this old soldier's excellent model ofthe sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids' schools.

But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial.

The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of denial. The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world can not work any other way, at least not in are presentative democracy or a republic such as ours.

Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports, in camouflage fatigues, holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go,"Baa." Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.

The students, the victims, at Columbine High Schoolwere big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door. Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door.

Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Remember how many times you heard the word hero? Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on theperimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things thatgo bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed, right along with the young ones.

Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes." The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one ofthose planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.

"When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population.

There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: Slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa,when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself.

Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I'm proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.

Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, "Let's roll,"which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers -athletes, business people and parents. -- from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.

There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. - Edmund Burke

Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn't have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision.

If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But ifyou want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.

For example, many officers carry their weapons in church. They are well concealed in ankle holsters, shoulder holsters or inside-the-belt holsters tucked into the small of their backs. Anytime you go to some form of religious service, there is a very good chance that a police officer in your congregation is carrying. You will never know if there is such an individual in your place of worship, until the wolf appears to massacre you and your loved ones.

I was training a group of police officers in Texas, and during the break, one officer asked his friend if he carried his weapon in church. The other cop replied, "I will never be caught without my gun in church." I asked why he felt so strongly about this, and he told me about a cop he knew who was at a church massacre in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1999. In that incident, a mentally deranged individual came into the church and opened fire, gunning down fourteen people.He said that officer believed he could have saved every life that day if he had been carrying his gun. His own son was shot, and all he could do was throw himself on the boy's body and wait to die. That cop looked me in the eye and said, "Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself after that?"

Some individuals would be horrified if they knew this police officer was carrying a weapon in church. They might call him paranoid and would probably scorn him. Yet these same individuals would be enraged and would call for "heads to roll" if they found out that the airbags in their cars were defective, or that the fire extinguisher and fire sprinklers in their kids' school did not work. They can accept the fact that fires and traffic accidents can happen and that there must be safeguards against them.

Their only response to the wolf, though, is denial, and all too often their response to the sheepdog is scorn and disdain. But the sheepdog quietly asks himself, "Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself if your loved ones were attacked and killed, and you had to stand there helplessly because you were unprepared for that day?"

It is denial that turns people into sheep. Sheep are psychologically destroyed by combat because their only defense is denial, which is counter productive and destructive, resulting in fear, helplessness and horror when the wolf shows up.

Denial kills you twice. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: you didn't bring your gun, you didn't train. Your only defense was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by your fear, helplessness and horror at your moment of truth.

Gavin de Becker puts it like this in Fear Less, his superb post-9/11 book, which should be required reading for anyone trying to come to terms with our current world situation: "...denial can be seductive, but it has an insidious side effect. For all the peace of mind deniers think they get by saying it isn't so, the fall they take when faced with new violence is all the more unsettling."

Denial is a save-now-pay-later scheme, a contract written entirely in small print, for in the long run, the denying person knows the truth on some level. And so the warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of his life, and prepare himself for the day when evil comes.

If you are warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be "on" 24/7, for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself..."Baa."

This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other.

Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheephood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.

Dave Grossman , LTC(ret)

Wishing All A Very Happy Easter Sunday

2006-04-16T02:20:00.000-07:00

During these times of unrest, marches, wars and protests, let us take time to remember what the day was set aside for. May you have kind words to say to those you meet today, and may your smile lighten the burden of those around you. Worship it as you will, but always remember it started with one person, on a cross, on a hill, for the world.

Let us not forget the troops that can not be here for this Easter Sunday. As you say your prayers, please be sure to include them.

Warm Weather Coming on - So are Spiders

2006-04-15T05:07:00.000-07:00

The Brown Recluse Spider is one of the most dangerous spiders we have in the US. The following pictures may be upsetting to some, so look at your own risk. If nothing else please look at the last picture, the one of the spider itself. These spiders like dark, cool places as the weather starts warming up.

This person was bitten by a Brown Recluse

The following illustrates the progression of a brown recluse spider bite. The affected skin actually dies on his body.
Day 3

Day 5

DAY 6

THE BROWN RECLUSE SPIDER

The Dangerous Brown Recluse Spider

Please be careful. Spider bites are dangerous and can have permanent and highly negative consequences.They like the darkness and tend to live in storage sheds or attics or other areas that might not be frequented by people or light.

If you have a need to be in your attic, go up there and turn on a light and leave it on for about 30 minutes before you go in to do your work.

Obituaries

2006-04-15T04:48:00.000-07:00

Recieved this in a e-mail this morning and thought I would pass it on.

As millions gather together this weekend to celebrate Easter, let us remember the reason for most Christians to be celebrating. Yes, there is the Easter Bunny, and egg hunts and the such. But the real meaning can be found in the picture below. Click on it to read it.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY EASTER

Another Celebrity passes on

2006-04-15T04:10:00.000-07:00

SAD NEWS

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers.

He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, two children, John Dough
and Jane Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by
his elderly father, Pop Tart. The funeral was held at 350 for about 20 minutes.

Legal or Illegal - you decide

2006-04-14T04:43:00.000-07:00

Voter Registration Drives at Illegal Immigration Rallies

Could this have been the reason for the DEMOCRATS undermining of the Immigration Bill?

Thank You "Slick Willie"

2006-04-14T04:20:00.000-07:00

The fun just never ends does it? It would appear that good ol Billy Clinton really put the screws to the goose and approved the giving away of some nuclear secrets that ended up in the hands of the, guess who, Iranians. Now think back to the latest news out of Iran, they claim they have become nuclear or join the ranks of the nuclear club. Faster than anyone including the IAEA and the CIA had anticipated. Whether it is real or not (Iran being nuclear), is shall we say yet to be determined. Another way of looking at it is the fact that Iran is really starting to flex its muscles as of late. Could this be another reason that Russia wanted to step in and "control" the situation?

According to the article by NY Times reporter, James Risen, the "secret" was given to a former Russian nuclear scientist to give to the Ambassador of Iran or sell it, which ever was easiest. Problem was that the Russian saw the flaws in the document and voluntered to assist the Iranians is fixing the problems. SMART MOVE DORKHEADS. How much of an advantage did this give Tehran in coming up with the "bomb"? It would seem a great deal.

My next question would be to Mr. Risen, why haven't we heard you reporting on this before, when the situation was being bounced around by the IAEA and now the UN (Usless Nations). Why, because he was too busy worrying about the Legal (not mispelled)NSA wiretapping and trying to put a cap in Bush with his reporting.

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2006-04-13T06:46:00.000-07:00

Until further notice all posts on this site will have the MEXICAN flag above each post. But please notice that the MEXICAN flag is UPSIDE DOWN. RESPECT MINE AND I MIGHT RESPECT YOURS.

Zogby: Most Americans Oppose Amnesty

2006-04-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Proof to back up earlier post : Guest-worker hopes spark rush to border

A majority of Americans said they oppose amnesty for illegal aliens, so-called "undocumented workers" from other nations who are already residing in the United States, according to a recent Zogby International survey.

While 52 percent said there should be no amnesty, 32 percent said they would favor amnesty for illegal aliens who currently reside in the United States.

The U.S. Congress has estimated that there are 11 million illegal immigrants now living in America. Amnesty was offered to people in this category during the Reagan administration, but it did little to stem the tide of illegal immigration into the country, primarily via the U.S.-Mexico border.

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Guest-worker hopes spark rush to border

2006-04-13T05:04:00.000-07:00

Well it would seem that Queen Hillary and her court of jesters will have their way. At least in the midsts of the delay in passing any kind of immigration bill. It would seem that a migrant rush is now on with thousands of illegals trying to get into the US before the (or a) bill can be passed by the Congress. Illegals now in this country are contacting their families on the south side of the border, and advising them to beat feet up here so that they can be part of the "Illegal Invasion of the Immigrants" inot America.

What does this mean? How about thousands upon thousands of illegal votes being cast in the upcoming elections. You got it, and their are "pliticians" out there that are pushing to get these illegals registered. What ever happened to having to be an American citizen to have the right to vote. Hell, let's just open it up all the way and let France, Russia, Spain and all the other countries out there take a stab in our elections. After all, by allowing these "wet backs" (a terminology that goes way back) the right to vote in our federal elections would be the same difference.

How can it be that a majority of American citizens and those that have been naturalized (through the proper channels) are completely against any more illegal immigrants being given speedy citizenship. What the hell are our "good ol' boys" doing up on the HILL? What the hell are they thinking? What's it all about? VOTES, VOTES, VOTES...NOT WHAT IS RIGHT FOR AMERICA. Not what the people want. They are only concerned because it means more votes for them if they can find a way to help out these law breakers. In fact, by assisting these illegals, they themselves are breaking the law. It is time to stand up America and take hold of what we have, or you will not have it long.

Think about it, with eminent domain, city officials can take your land away from you as it is now. If these boneheads get their way they can start taking your land away so that inferior housing and can built to help house these "peons" settle in your backyard. Where else are they going to live? I mean think about it for a minute. What would happen to your homes property value if five illegal families moved into the house next to you. Not five different houses, just one. Now, let's say that those five families contact another five, and those five contact another five, who in turn contact another five. It goes on and on and on. I can not remember the name of the individual on Bill O'Reilly the other day, but a statement he made has stuck in my mind ever since. That comment was something along these lines, Illegals will be taking over and their is nothing that you can do to stop it. Whites will soon be the minority and illegals will dictate what you can or can not do. As it was in Texas before Santa Anna got his butt thumped by Houston and the young Texicans. It is bad enough now that in certain states Spanish is a required second language so that you can communicate with the illegals.

I don't know about you, but, I want my country back (to steal a line from Rick Roberts) and I want the illegals moved to Canada or back to Mexico. Think about it, Canada, they have all that open territory up there where no one wants to live. Hey, they could make it a second Mexico. Wake up America, take a stand and stand up for your country. Give your cowards for politicians a swift kick and have them get off their arses and do the job WE hired them to do.

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City man arrested after Mexican-flag burning

2006-04-12T15:23:00.000-07:00

What is wrong with this picture?

Is this more proof that Old Glory has taken a back seat to other countries flags? It seems that it is alright to burn or desecrate the American flag while people get arrested for burning foreign flags. Although there would appear to be some attached reasons for the arrest of Roy Warden, the actual arrest has stimmed from the burning of the Mexican Flag at a rally held in Tucson on Tuesday. Warden is a member of the group Border Guardians that showed up in counter-protest to the Immigration marchers on Tuesday. The incident took place at around 2:15 pm but an arrest of Warden did not take place until 4:30 pm, marcher organizers were wanting to know why the arrest took so long, as is Warden. However, my question would be WHY it took place at all. The Mexican flag is not protected under any American Laws, that I am aware of, so therefore there should not have been any attention given to the action. Does this show that there are more concerns over protecting anything that is not American?

Wolverine Packing Co. Takes Bite Out of Protestors

2006-04-11T05:24:00.000-07:00

A standing round of ovation is requested for Detroit's Wolverine Packing Co. It would seem that a few (15) meat cutters were fired, terminated, deleted from the rolls for participating in the Immigration Protests held in Detroit on Monday. The fifteen women, mostly Mexican and some illegal immigrants, were tossed out on their ear for failing to comply with the companys request to not participate in the Protests. Having been given ample warning not to attend, the women choose to do so anyway.

Jay Bonahoom advised that the women had been given verbal and written notice regarding any attendance to the protests. Now the only problem I see with this is that there may have been a communication problem. Not knowing for sure, but could they possibly not have been able to understand English or were not able to read and understand written English? I am sure that is what the dimwits fighting for the women to get their jobs back will be saying.

Elena Herrada, an activist trying to get the women's jobs back, said they were fired "for standing up for their rights,". Huh, pardon me, but they (as illegals) have no rights under our laws. Laws which are being ignored on a daily basis. Those that were there legally had a choice to make. Abide by the company's request or go support illegal actions by illegal aliens.

Wouldn't it be nice to see more employers taking the same stance that the Wolverinie Packing Co. has? Wouldn't be nice to see that same type of action being taken by some of our schools for students tht walk out to go on these protest marches. Maybe this will let them know that "no" means "NO".

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2006-04-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

The open-border "scamnesty" crowd and Hollywood liberals are going beserk!

Immigration rallies sweep through US cities

2006-04-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

Well, the illegals are at it again. Protests throughout many major cities took place today, with millions belly-aching about immigration. What a majority of these illegals do not understand is that America, unlike Mexico, is built upon laws and law enforcement. Therefore requiring all who come to the United States to abide by those laws and rules. A big part of that law is doing it legally, abiding by the process established, and submitting through proper channels to become legal.

To show how ignorant some of them are about becoming legal through the process one protestor stated, "Last time I read the Bible, there was no requirement to be checking passports," complained Carol Vega, who came from Puerto Rico, joining thousands of others marching through Washington to gather near the Congress building. Well, DUH!!! As the ACLU and other left wing organizations have so plainly put it, we do not go by the Bible to establish our laws. We , some of us, use the Bible as a spiritual guidance. We use a legal process to allow you to become a thriving and active member in our society. Just because you come to the U.S. does not automatically make you a citizen.

Another protestor stated, "We come over here and break our backs and still they discriminate against us and label us as nobodies," said Diana Delcid, whose parents came from El Salvador. Then you need to talk to the low life employers that you work for, plus you need to do it legally. Again simply coming to America does not make you a ligitmate citizen. Under the Constitution of the United States of America you do not have a legal right to "demand" anything. that right is reserved for the "citizens" of the United States. Look up the word citizen, it says, "cit·i·zen (st-zn)
n.
1. A person owing loyalty to and entitled by birth or naturalization to the protection of a state or nation.
2. A resident of a city or town, especially one entitled to vote and enjoy other privileges there.
3. A civilian.
4. A native, inhabitant, or denizen of a particular place: "We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human community" Franklin D. Roosevelt."

Please show me where it says that you are a citizen just by showing up on our shores.

Susan Wysoki, spokeswoman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform sums it up nicely by saying, "They are demanding that they be given rights U.S. citizens have when their first act was to break the law by coming into this country illegally," . The protests were greeted with dismay by critics who said the U.S. government should not encourage "a culture where America's laws are optional." And indeed they should not. Can the everyday "legal" American break the law and expect amnesty. Not likely, you break it, you deserve the punishment. You want to be here, go through the channels and make it legal.

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A Soldiers View of the Democratic Security Plan

2006-04-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

John M. Kanaley is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army, serving in Baghdad, Iraq. The views expressed are his own, not those of the Army or the Department of Defense.

H/T to The American Thinker

April 8th, 2006

During the course of war, the minority party has two choices. It can acquiesce to the majority party on war strategy for the sake of national unity, and provide opposition on domestic programs. Or, it can obstruct successful war operations for the purposes of reacquiring power. Since there is an election on the horizon, it appears as though the minority party has chosen the latter course of obstruction over unity. With that in mind, the party has developed a campaign statement disguised as a guideline for national security which they call “Real Security”. The following is an analysis of their main points: The plan opens with, “The first responsibility of our government is the security of every American.” After years of promoting excessive taxation and redistribution of income, they have finally recognized the primary maxim of government’s relationship with its citizens, that of security, not income equality. It is a good start. “Promote alternative fuels and reduce dependence on foreign oil.” Good idea, stick with your strength. They are good at promoting this argument. So far, their plan is moving in the right direction. After criticizing President Bush and pre-war intelligence, the plan goes onto talk about contracts going to “…companies such as Halliburton, KBR…” If their dissertation on national security has to include criticism of legitimate companies, it is definitely off track. The contractors are doing an admirable job for American forces. The quality of food, materiel, and equipment in a combat zone is unequaled in the history of warfare. The contractors are making the sacrifice of being away from family and country for the troops much more tolerable. The opposition’s security plan is losing focus. “And despite record high fuel prices, our country remains heavily dependent on foreign oil because of an energy policy that benefits the big oil interests.” Aside from being another knock on free enterprise, that statement is disjointed and obviously not well thought out. If fuel prices were lower, would we be any less dependent upon foreign oil? The prices are subject to the current supply. If they want to change our dependence upon that supply, they should focus their energy on one of the previous paragraphs outlining their strength—the debate on the search for alternative fuels. “Rebuild a state-of-the-art military by making the needed investments in equipment and manpower so that we can project power to protect America…” Anybody who uses the over-utilized term “state-of-the-art” has run out of purposeful adjectives and has again failed to think the problem through. What does that term mean in this context? Will they make the military more aesthetic? More lethal? Better organized? Since the left despises free enterprise (read Halliburton and big oil), it is very odd they would use the term “investments” when speaking of the military. They only use the “investment” word when it comes to increased government spending. The problem is that they do not want to project power out of fear of alienating world opinion. Instead, they prefer to talk ceaselessly at the UN while terrorists attack our interests, as happened in the 1990s. The plan goes on to say, “Eliminate Osama Bin Laden…finish the job in Afghanistan.” If any statement within their manifesto demonstrates their inability to understand strategy, this is it. Looking back at World War II, if only Roosevelt, Churchill, Eisenhower, and Montgomery planned and executed the capture of Adolph Hitler, think of all the lives, time, and money that would have been saved. Basing your plan on eliminating Bin Laden is not responsible policy. It is an added benefit as we continue to destroy his network, but never should it be the primary emphasis of tactical operations. Concentrating on the pursuit of Bin Laden would distract from the primary mission. It reminds one of Senator John Kerry’s campaign comment that he would not do one thing differently than that of President Bush; he would do everything differently. Aside from pleading with the French to support us, what would those changes be? That is a good 30-second campaign commercial, but once again, it is empty in terms of war strategy.

“…finish the job in Afghanistan.” The terrorist government was overthrown within a matter of months and democratic institutions have been established. Terrorists are being sought out each day. What could the left possibly do differently? “Double the size of our Special Forces.” This is another demonstration of a profound lack of understanding the American military. Doubling the size of any force does not necessarily correlate to an increase of effectiveness in the same proportion. Forces in special operations do great work. But as the name implies, the work within those organizations is specialized; they assist the overall mission, they are never the main effort to successful completion. Relying too heavily upon Special Forces distracts from the conventional purposes of regular forces. “Combating the economic, social, and political conditions that allow extremism to thrive.” The left cannot escape the mentality that criminals or terrorists must have an inner rage formed by a supposed lack of economic opportunity. It sounds similar to their application of the failed analysis and attempted rehabilitation of the criminal caste in America. This is nothing short of saying that their violence is a result of our lack of understanding and a shortage of funding for social programs. The left lacks a basic understanding of the cultural and religious dogma driving the terrorists, or, more likely, they refuse to acknowledge it and hope it will just go away. “Renew longstanding alliances.” Could they be referring to NATO, the organization that we dedicated a half century of funding and military personnel only to be ignored during our hour of need? Or could it be the UN, the organization that turned a blind eye while Saddam Hussein manipulated the corrupt Oil for Food program and turned it into a palace funding vehicle? These organizations are anachronistic and need to be reformed prior to relying upon them and before we continue to dedicate resources to their continuity. “Secure by 2010 loose nuclear materials…” The left is enamored by using “the process” and setting arbitrary target dates. We need to aggressively pursue the terrorists to ensure they never acquire the material, whether it is tomorrow, next year, or 2010. This is why we did not leave Afghanistan or Iraq as soon as their terrorist governments were overthrown. Yet, the left wants us to leave immediately. Who knows what would happen to those materials if we left the region prematurely. “Provide firefighters…police officers with training, equipment, etc.” Sounds like nationalizing departments for which states and municipalities are responsible. This could lead to more bureaucracy, which of course, corresponds to more taxes. “Protect America from biological terrorism…by investing in the public health infrastructure…” There goes that “investment” word in the public sector again. If they used that word in its proper sense in the private sector, they would contribute to a stronger economy. It also appears to be another attempt to nationalize the health industry at the expense of national security. “Responsible redeployment of U.S. forces.” If they have to qualify redeployment with “responsible”, it means a complete, irresponsible, and premature withdrawal before mission completion. This is not effective policy; it is failing to carry through an operation they are now walking away from. “Insist that Iraqis make the political compromises necessary to unite their country…” Insist? Apparently, nobody within the diplomatic or defense organizations realized it was that easy. This is the same logic that produces policy to eliminate Osama Bin Laden. The Iraqis need to figure this out on their own; this is how they will grow into the democratic mind-set. “Hold the Bush Administration accountable for its manipulated pre-war intelligence…” If this is a matter of semantics to avoid the ‘impeachment’ word, they are being irresponsible in a time of war. This is the same intelligence that the French, Germans, and Russians agreed upon. Even the former president insisted upon regime change when he reviewed the identical intelligence prior to September 11th. “Free America from dependence on foreign oil…” This is the only logical statement in their strategy. Again, this is an area that they are legitimately qualified to handle. Perhaps they should concentrate on this and let President Bush and his administration continue to execute this war to its successful completion. This security strategy presented by the Democratic Party is strong on rhetoric and falls short of logic. They have to decide if they sincerely want to win this war for America, regardless of who occupies the White House and controls Congress, or if they are more concerned with acquiring power and following an isolationist policy. Unfortunately, it appears to be the latter.

Good News Has No Meaning to Democrats

2006-04-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

For years now the Democratic Party has been harping and ranting over the economy. Doom and Gloom have been the forecast coming out of the Democratic talking points. The Rich get Richer and the poor get poorer, has been the crys from Democratic Senators such as Kennedy, Pelosi, Reid and others. Yet according to all reports the US economy is probably in better shape than it was during the Clinton years with the exception of the price of oil.

The following are stats from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics:

CPI: +.01% for Feb 06

Unemployment: 4.7 in March 06

Payroll Employment: +211,000(p) in Mar 2006

PPI: -1.4%(p) in Feb 2006

ECI: +0.8% in 4th Qtr of 2005

Productivity: -0.5% in 4th Qtr of 2005

U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes: -0.5% in Feb 2006

Yes, the Democrats have tried to paint a bleak picture of the US Economy. Yet every indicator has us going in the opposite direction. There is very little that the Democratic Party can throw out there to cause it to go the other way. However, it would also seem that the American people are starting to suck up to the idea that we are in a doom and gloom economy. For a majority, for reasons unknown to me, seem to think that we are in some sort of economic "depression". I guess that part of this can be blamed on the fact that we are at war and the oil prices are on the rise (more up and down), therefore striking the pocket book a little harder. However, the US can not control the cost of oil around the world. That is done on the basis of demand and consumption. So for the Democrats to post a sour scenario on the economy just shows that they are really getting desperate in this election year.

And yesterday the Democrats blew their big chance to get the immigration situation under control by voting down the resolution on the floor. A resolution that both party leaders said should pass. Thus putting the immigration problem on hold yet again for another two weeks while the Congress goes on another two week vacation. You know, if I took as many "vacations" as the Congress, I wouldn't have to work at all, for I wouldn't have a job. I recommend a salary cut for the slackers in Washington D.C., earn your pay.

Calling All BLOGGERS, Time To Rally Around The Flag

2006-04-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

Wave Her Proudly and Everyday

In which direction are we going? A country that is always ready to stand up and fight for the rights of others is now in a great state of crawling in on itself. I am not talking about the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, or the displeasure of the world with certain things that America does. I am talking about something that has been around since the early childhood of this country. A symbol of its unity. I am talking about the American Flag. The Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, the symbol that has waved proudly over schools, courthouses, and embassies around the world and even more so right here at our own homes.

A flag that has been in every major battle around the world for over two hundred years. A flag that has earned the respect of every nation, for a lot of them were set free from terrine by those that carried that flag into battle. A flag that has drapped millions of fallen heros who have fought to keep her a symbol of freedom. A flag that has opend up its arms to welcome millions into this great country of ours and offers up to them the rights and freesdoms that we American have taken so lightly.

Yes, there is a deadly movement taking place today that threatens the very fibers of our nation. As most of you know, or will know soon enough, there are states starting to fall in line one behind the other and remove our flag from its school, buildings and other public places. It started in Colorado and has fiercely been gaining momentum. Why? To suck up to the ACLU and those that want all symbols of our country and what it was built upon removed just to please the illegals in this country. Illegals, not "illegal aliens", are being appeased by the spinless authorities that are incharge of teaching our youth. Hundreds of youth have protested on their own about not haveing our national flag flying over their schools. Millions of illegals have taken to the streets waving every flag except the American Flag. Illegals that want to stay in the greatest country in the world and basque in its freedoms. The freedom to speech, religion, of the press and the freedom to choose.

Most who have visited my Blog know my feelings about the symbol of our nation. I hold it high in honor and respect. I have worn its uniform to protect it from foreign aggressors and attended funerals where its warmth has drapped the cold bodies of those that have fallen protecting her. As a child I pledge allegiance, as a soldier I have saluted her in respect and took an oath to defend the nation that she waves over. Now I am being asked to sit by idlely and watch her be trampled in the streets an removed from public viewing, just to appease a few illegals beause it might piss them off a little and they don't want to acknowledge it as being their flag. Fine if you don't like it get the hell out. For most of you (all, if you are here illegally) were not asked to come to this country. You slithered in like a snake in the night, so that you could make a living and provide for your families. yet you refuse to acknowledge her as the land that has accepted you. You want to dominate her and overwhelm her with your masses.

I am therefore putting out a request to all BLOGGERS, friends of Bloggers and those that use their right of freedom of speech to help speak out and bring this intrusion of ours rights and freedoms to its knees. All you have to is raise the flag as we did so proudly and unified after 9/11. For we are now facing a different kind of 9/11. Show your suppport by blogging. Write your local newspapers and let them know that you are mad and where you stand. Show the Stars and Stripes daily from our homes and on the web and speak out publically against its removal from public and local governmental buildings, and especially our schools. Fly the flag on your car antennas, or decals on their windows or bumbers. Buy flag lapel pins to where on you collars and hats. Help show that we are "one nation under God, indivisible and with liberty and justice for all." And part of that liberty is flying our nations flag anywhere in America that we choose to fly it.

Below is a great link that was provided to me by The Bos'un Locker. It is a radio talk show host in San Diego California named Rick Roberts of 760 KFMB AM radio. Many of you might already know of Rick Roberts and his stands on how things are going in America, as well as others out there that are doing the same things over our airwaves. Show your suppoprt for their good work and call them, write them, e-mail them. Let them know that you are behind them. Forget about their political agenda, be they Democrat or Republican. We are all Americans at heart, whether we support one party or the other. We must all get behind this or forever cower to the will of a few.

For those of you that visit this Blog on a frequent basis, please pass it along or at least the word that it is carrying. Link to it, copy it, repost it. Thank you for helping bring this to the forefront. For at the rate that states are falling in line behind the removal of our flag it won't take long to become a national epidemic. For all those that are here in this country illegally, you have made a choice to come here to enjoy our freedoms, our health care facillities, our money and good life. If you want to stay get you head out of your a## and show some respect for the country your in. If not, then get the hell out, and go back to the country whose flag you so proudly wave in the Stars and Stripes place. As Merle Haggard stated in a song many years ago, "If you don't love it, leave it. Let this song that I am singing be a warning. When you're running down this country, hoss, you're walking on the fighting side of me." (lyrics from "Okie From Muskogee")

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A Tribute to the Soldiers...till we meet again

2006-04-04T06:35:00.000-07:00

While browsing through some of the story items on American Thinker they referred to the following site under the title of "Till We Meet Again". A must see video : http://www.iwo.com/heroes.htm

McKinney Admits "Error" With Taxpayer Money

2006-04-04T05:47:00.000-07:00

It would seem that Cynthia has done more than just slap around Capital Secruity. It would appear that Cynthia has cheated taxpayers by violating a very strict Congressional Rule. However, nothing has been said about this either other than on a local Atlanta Channel. Amazing isn't it. The same woman that likes to skirt security procedures, hit security personal, throw out the "I'm black" card and have everyone from Danny Glubber to Henry Belefonte do her crying for her. The woman has no shame. Now she uses taxpayers money to fly in Issac Hayes to Atlanta to open a new office. Did she mention that in her little TV press meetings or on TV?

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McKinney Case Goes to Federal Prosecutor

2006-04-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

Cynthia McKinney's incident with the Capital Hill Police is moving forward. The case presented to the U.S. Attorney's office came about from a recent scuffle McKinney had while trying to enter the Capital without her identifying badge. Her, McKinney's, defense is that she was touched inappropriately, and stopped simply because she was a "black congress woman". McKinney also tries to fly the childhood reasoning that if others have done it and not been stopped, why can't I.

Can you see the flip side of this as well? Let's say that Cynthia, was allowed to pass unchecked, and something happened to cause the Congress to evacuate the building. I can assure you that Cynthia would be one of the first to step up and call the security at the capital lax and make it a major issue for the security of the Congress. I feel what Cynthia is doing is simply displaying her total disregard for authority. Considering that this is not her first run in with security would tend to lend to the story that she thinks that she is a "privileged" "BLACK CONGRESS WOMAN", and therefore is not subject to procedures and policies established for the safety of the congress and visitors that go there.

Playing the "black card" is about as childish as one can get in the Congress. What it does present is that Cynthia simply can not admit that she was wrong. I guess one could go as far as to say that if I, as a white person, breaks the law or violates certain policies, and I am confronted by a black officer, I could claim racism on the part of the officer. It doesn't matter that I broke the law or violated policies. It is the fact that a black officer stopped me and detained me because I was white. Sound ridiculous? I would hope so. I know that the NAACP would be the first to step out and call it a sham. As a former law enforcement officer and having held a security supervisor's position for over nine years, I know the importance of ID Badges and enforcing policies and the law. Regardless of what a persons status is, be they a politician or be they a regular "Joe" on the street, they must be held accountable to the law. After all isn't this the main 2006 political push by the Democrats, "ACCOUNTABILITY" for the law? Crazy Politico, "America, The Divided", also has a reference to this incident on his site, and verbalizes it much better than I. Face it Cynthia, you can't have it both ways, and throwing this damn "I am Black" crap out there isn't going to cut it. Grow your arse (not the original word I was going to use, but more readable I think) up and take responsibility for your stupidity.

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This is the Flag You Should Hold UP

2006-04-01T19:50:00.000-08:00

John Wayne where are you...

2006-04-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

Picture if you will John Wayne standing in front of a large wall draped with an American Flag, speaking in his familiar drawl the following words:

Why Are You Marching Son?

THAT's a pretty potent question and can be answered on both sides of the fence. So when you ask it of a young rebel, he may come back with answers that run the gamut from political corruption to social unrest.

I think that a certain amount of questioning of our nation's direction and purpose is healthful, and I for one respect young people for wanting to effect change. If they don't mind however, I'd kind of like to ask them where they intend to go. If you march wildly because you want social reform and have no plan to better the social conditions that already exist, it might be better to stay home. It seems to me that a whole lot of our marches of the sixties have sure discovered that the political process of America, encompassing in its purpose the search for the best common good for all of us, may be slow and a bit tedious, but most effective in the long run.

Now if you take up arms and march for your country when she calls on you, that's a whole new ballgame. To me it means that you've already accepted the belief that your nation is on the right track for you and that you want to keep it there.

Maybe we've had "right" wars and "wrong" wars in our two-hundred-year history, and even now it's only conjectural to say how they will be evaluated a thousand years from now. But I can't help feel for example that our country wouldn't be worth much today if we would have sat back on December 7, 1941, and said, "Ah shucks, maybe we should see it from their viewpoint."

And so we marched again, just as we'd done at Valley Forge and at Belleau Wood. The millions of Americans who were transformed from fuzzy cheeked youths into formidable fighting men, marched to preserve their country and preserve it they did.

I just wish that our dissenters would recognize a darned interesting point. America didn't keep up that huge army of civilian soldiers, but in remarkably quick time returned them to civilian life. We marched when we had to and then quit marching.

Again, I'd like to ask those dissenters to think about a thing called honor. You can't put it in a sandwich and you can't hold it in your hand. You either have it or you don't and you, alone, are the one who knows. If you think it's honorable to question a commitment made by your Government to a foreign power, that's certainly your buisness. All I ask of you is don't consider that young boy who is fighting for you in some faraway land either a fool or a patsy. In my book, no matter how you may look at it, I feel that he's making it possible for the rest of us to enjoy the luxury of deciding to which tune we will march.

Don't know about you, but that kinda sends goose bumps up and down my spine. Hearing those words, spoken by this man, relights that patriotic flame in me everytime. Whether you liked him or hated him, you can't deny his direct effect of millions of Americans when it came to setting a "Hollywood" figure who spoke for America.

For more of the words John Wayne spoke please click on the link below. I promise you won't regret it.

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NewsBusters presents...

2006-04-01T14:48:00.000-08:00

You just have to check these out. They are great and definitely show some of the slant by the MSM.

April 1, 2006 - April Fools Edition (Vol. Nineteen; No. 7)
A bi-weekly compilation of the latest outrageous,
sometimes humorous, quotes in the liberal media.

Hillary, Savior of Our Savior
“Last month, Senator Hillary Clinton said Republicans
couldn’t rid the country of undocumented immigrants
without creating a police state. Then last week, Senator
Clinton said conservatives would have kicked Jesus out of
the Holy Land for not having the proper paperwork. Yesterday,
the aspiring first female President brilliantly put
those themes together like cookies and milk, saying Christian
conservatives want to create a theocratic police state
so rigid and intolerant it wouldn’t have room for Jesus.
Bingo! It’s our political Play of the Week.”

— CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider on The Situation
Room, April 1.

More Jobs = Worst Possible News
Anchor Elizabeth Vargas: “In Washington, the Labor Department
reported that the U.S. economy added 470,000
new jobs last month. The Bush administration was quick to
claim this was good news, but is it really? We turn now to
ABC’s Betsy Stark for some perspective.”

Reporter Betsy Stark: “Elizabeth, this may sound like good
news, but investors are terribly nervous. More jobs mean
fewer people in the unemployment line, and that means
unemployment offices will lay off workers. More people
with money in their pockets could drive up inflation, and
oil prices could soar. And more new homebuyers could
mean a further expansion of this huge housing bubble,
indicating a possible crash ahead. That could leave a lot of
families out on the street, Elizabeth.”

— ABC’s World News Tonight, April 1.

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Blacks, Hispanics, Poor Favor Immigration Crackdown

2006-04-01T14:15:00.000-08:00

Is it possible that all those marching in the streets aren't really the minority? Is it possible that the real minorities want real control over immigrants coming in to America Illegally? Well according to an article at NewsMax.com back in 2004 a majority of the minorities wanted a stiffer crack down on illegal aliens coming in to the US.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, minorities and the poor overwhelmingly favor a get tough approach on illegal immigration - as they proved just two years ago by supporting Arizona's Proposition 200 in a landslide.

As the 2004 election approached, the immigration crackdown, which proposed denying state services to anyone who couldn't prove they were in the country legally, was decried by critics as "draconian" and "xenophobic."

The proposal was trashed by Arizona's business community. All the state's big newspapers came out against it. Governor Janet Napolitano, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Jon Kyl echoed their opposition. The Chamber of Commerce and the labor unions opposed Prop 200 as well.

___________________________________________________________________

Could it be that the "will of the people" has again been squashed by those who have the most to gain. McCain and Napolitano, what did you gain from disolving the will of the people. People that are here legally and have registered to vote.

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Hillary---HOW STANDS YOUR HUSBAND?

2006-04-01T00:25:00.000-08:00

Clinton bounces same ball as Bush on Immigrants and Illegal aliens. In an interview with Larry King, Clinton agrees with the direction Bush is taking.

Partial Transcript of Clinton interview by Larry King:

In 1996, you signed a border crackdown bill. Now there are meetings in Cancun. What's your read on this whole immigration debate?

CLINTON: That first of all it's an exceedingly complicated question, particularly as it relates to our border along the Rio Grande River. Keep in mind that Mexico and the U.S. have a very long border. Only the Canadian border is a longer unguarded border of any countries anywhere in the world.So, we have to guard our border there because we have narcotics problems as well as illegal immigration problems. On the other hand, our country has been immensely enriched by immigrants coming up from Mexico.And, the real trick now it seems to me is how do you recognize some harsh realities? Number one, as long as America has a higher standard of living than our near neighbors the ones from poor countries who are enterprising and hardworking will try to find a way to get in.Number two, the overwhelming majority of these people are good, decent, law abiding people who would never become terrorist threats. Number three, the same border does give people an opportunity to disguise themselves if they're terrorists and also to run drugs across, which does happen.

KING: Yes.

CLINTON: So the real dilemma is here how can we avoid being foolishly xenophobic trying to be cruel to hardworking people who are paying taxes and doing jobs other people wouldn't do in America, giving them a reasonable path to citizenship without punishing people who wait in line and obey the law and still trying to make sure that through technology and other means we do a better job to protect our borders from potential terrorists, from narcotics and other things that are real trouble.I mean it's a -- in other words, it's complicated but I know that the bill that's making its way through the Senate seems to me to be closer to what I think should be done. I have no problem in the world having more border patrol guards and stiffer border enforcement for security reasons.But I don't think it is practical or wise for us to try to denigrate or demonize a lot of the undocumented immigrants who came here and are working hard paying taxes and making a contribution and sending the money back home to their folks.

KING: So, are you saying you generally support President Bush?

CLINTON: I think the president has a good idea in terms of wanting to give people a path to citizenship and have increased border enforcement. That's also the idea behind the bill sponsored by Senator McCain and Senator Kennedy in the Senate. I think the House provisions have by and large been too punitive. Now, the one thing I would say and the Senators have emphasized I don't think this guest worker program that the president supports should be totally unlimited, either in -- in other words, I think if there's just no limit on it then it's going to be very difficult for us to enforce the existing labor laws.

That's the other thing I would say.For people who are worried about whether this affects their jobs and their incomes, I think the president and perhaps the Congress ought to offer as a provision of this a more vigorous enforcement of the existing labor laws of America on minimum wage, minimum hours, working conditions and things like that because that would tend to minimize the number of people who would be brought in to abuse the existing system. But I don't feel that immigration is a threat to America's future. I think it's key to America's future. I do think that when people wait in line then they ought to be able to become citizens more quickly than people who come here even if they've been undocumented for a long time and worked hard. So, I think the Senate bill and where the president is, I think they're trying to get to the right place.

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Capitol Hill police plan to issue an arrest warrant today for Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.).

2006-03-31T10:02:00.000-08:00

Did you see this one in the Headlines of the Post or the Times? To be honest it didn't even make a back page story on any of the AP releases. In fact you would probably not know anything about it if it hadn't shown up on a local Atlanta TV station, and it probably was not a leading story. However, Rep. Cynthia McKinney is in trouble with the law.

Probably not much to this story since it concerns a Democrat representative. But just think what would be hitting the airwaves and press if it had been a Republlican. Then you have Pelosi, the "town crier" for the Democrats on the HILL, saying "I would not make a big deal of this,". However, this is an assault on a police officer which could be a felony if pressed. How many people do you know that if they struck a police officer in the line of duty, would get a slap on the wrist and let go. Speaking for myself, as a former law enforcement officer in Oklahoma, I would press for the felony charges. Not because she is a Democrat, but because it was unprevoked. She was detained because the officer did not recognize her as a member of Congress. A simple mistake, and I am sure an honest one.

During my tenure as a police officer(five and one half years), I once stopped a state representative in the town in which I worked. He was stopped for a simple traffic violation, he rolled through a stop sign. But did he become violent? No, in fact he was very apologetic and thanked me for being unbiased in my upholding of the law. He was given a verbal warning and let go without further incident. I later received a letter from this representatives office, again thanking me for upholding the laws of the state and local ordinances. Yet here we have a federal elected official striking a law enforcement officer, and Pelosi is saying not to make too much of it.

If this had been a republican congress member, the left would be out there in total voice screaming that this is what the Republican Party represents. A violent and uncontrollable party always on the brink of hostilaties, and screaming for his/her resignation. The Democratic Party's been well known for trying to blow things out of proportion when it envolves any Republican concerning just about any type of law related violation.

Post Update: 1650 hr, 3/31/06

Just watched the "press meeting" regarding McKinney. She "can't comment on the incident at the advise of her lawyers" however, she did slam the race card on the table right up front with this statement "...a black woman...inappropriate touching of me...and insitgated by the officer". Excuse me Cynthia, but how else can an officer detain someone that they thought might be trying to get by security measures established at the Capital? They say stop, or hold on there, or whatever else their policy requires, and they usually grab you by your elbow area or a light grab on the shoulder. So I guess, inappropriate touching means,"Keep your %$# hands off me. As I said earlier in the post, if it had been me that she slapped, she would have found herself in cuffs and on the way to the pokey for assaulting a police officer. Then she could explain it to the judge, which she will anyway (hopefully). Totally unexcusable behavior on her part. And they call themselves the "compasionate party".

Perhaps Ms. McKinney is right. Perhaps she should not be touched to stop her from violating the security policies, perhaps the next time they should just shot and not ask questions. When a law enforcement officers says stop or halt, regardless who you are or your "COLOR", YOU STOP. Continuing to disregard the instructions of a law enforcement officer demands harsher methods. Don't throw that Race Card up just because you are too stupid to follow the rules and you think just because you are black gives you a reason to do it your way. BLACK DON'T MATTER, WHITE DON'T MATTER...BREAK THE LAW, PAY THE PRICE. Unfortunately, poor Cynthia will probably get off scott free, which will open up another can of worms that the Democrats will have to face up to. When someone slides by security and puts a bomb or anthrax letter under their butts, they can thank Cynthia.

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IS IT WORTH STAYING IN THE UNITED NATIONS?

2006-03-30T19:21:00.000-08:00

Received an interesting e-mail this evening that has what I call pointed reasons as to why we should give the boot to the UN or at least get the ____ out of the most corrupt international organization in the world.

THIS OUGHT TO UPSET EVERYBODY:

How they vote in the United Nations:

Below are the actual voting records of various Arabic/Islamic States which are recorded in both the US State Department and United Nations records:

Kuwait votes against the United States 67% of the time

Qatar votes against the United States 67% of the time

Morocco votes against the United States 70% of the time

United Arab Emirates votes against the U. S. 70% of the time.

Jordan votes against the United States 71% of the time.

Tunisia votes against the United States 71% of the time.

Saudi Arabia votes against the United States 73% of the time.

Yemen votes against the United States 74% of the time.

Algeria votes against the United States 74% of the time.

Oman votes against the United States 74% of the time.

Sudan votes against the United States 75% of the time.

Pakistan votes against the United States 75% of the time.

Libya votes against the United States 76% of the time.

Egypt votes against the United States 79% of the time.

Lebanon votes against the United States 80% of the time.

India votes against the United States 81% of the time.

Syria votes against the United States 84% of the time.

Mauritania votes against the United States 87% of the time.

U S Foreign Aid to those that hate us:

Egypt, for example, after voting 79% of the time against theUnited States, still receives $2 billion annually in US Foreign Aid.

Jordan votes 71% against the United States, receives $192,814,000 annually in US Foreign Aid.

Pakistan votes 75% against the United States, receives $6,721,000 annually in US Foreign Aid.

India votes 81% against the United States, receives $143,699,000 annually.

Perhaps it is time to get out of the UN and give the tax savings back to the American workers who are having to skimp and sacrifice to pay the taxes (and gasoline). Pass this along to every taxpaying citizen you know. And send to your congressman, who should be disgraced but couldn't care less.

Disgusting, isn't it?

2006-03-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

Latinos Plan Nationwide Worker Strike

Remember the 60's in California, the Watts Riots, the Civil Rights movement? How did they start? By marches, and protests. It all started out innocently, but quickly escalated into full blown rioting. Thousands were hurt, killed and jailed. Millions of dollars of damage was done when the protesters (marchers) clashed with the police and National Guard forces. Could this be the prelude to the 60's all over again?

According to Nativo Lopez, President of the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA), he is calling for a mass no work day on May 1st. He is asking that workers across the nation not go to work that day and is calling for students to stay out of school in an attempt to get his message across to Washington. To show unity if you would. In effect, trying to bring us to our knees and show how dependent we, as Americans, are on them. Is it true? To a certain extent, yes. But is this saying that America will be brought to its knees because of it? Only if we let it.

My personal counter to these actions are as follows. Now keep in mind I am from the old school, and my thoughts are not always in sync with the mainstream or the left. I propose that for every worker that fails to show up to support this activity, they be fired on the spot. After all, with all the other illegals out there, there will always be someone that wants to fill the slot. For the students that stay home from school in protest, suspend them for the rest of the school year. Make them repeat this year in school. Otherwise they don't graduate. If they are legal immigrants and hold true to their oath at citizenship they won't protest. After all they went through the process of making it in America.

This Saturday, protests are scheduled in Costa Mesa, Ca.. Costa Mesa has been a focus of anti-illegal immigrants for several months. The mayor of Costa Mesa has pushed a proposal through the city council to arrest and deport illegals who commit crimes. Lopez, stated: "We are going there to make a tough statement right in the bedrock of the anti-immigrant movement.” Now what does this sound like? How about a stepping stone for nation wide riots and trouble. Yet, I agree with the mayor. We have over the last two or three decades, turned a blind eye to illegal immigration. We have allowed these "peons" to come to America and take up roots. Employers are the worst among the supporters. They hire these individuals knowing that they are here against the law. Why, because they can pay them a third of what they would have to pay Americans, therefore making a bigger profit for themselves.

I am not against free enterprise and letting the little guy get ahead, but not at the expense of other fellow Americans. If an employer breaks the law, arrest him or her and have them pay a hefty fine. Maybe a little jail time and closing down their business for a couple of days would wake them up. Drastic measures, maybe, but it might wake them up. We are a nation built on laws. If we keep letting them (illegals and employers) violate the laws and let them go unpunished we might as well strike the laws from the books, throw out the border patrol, tear down the fences, and find somewhere else to live. Maybe Canada, ya think.

When is the main thrust or strike to take place? According to Lopez, MAY 1st. May 1 also know as "MAY DAY", which coincidently just happens to be the International Worker's Day, which is infamously celebrated in Moscow's Red Square, and by communists and socialists around the world. Making the connection yet?

POST UPDATE: If you want to see how outrageous this MAPA Organization really is go to their website at www.mapa.org for all the latest BS from those that don't want America to have control over immigration. Especially read their editorial on the Costa Mesa planned rally.

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Freedom Isn't Free

2006-03-29T09:33:00.000-08:00

I received this poem in an e-mail today from my brother-in-law in Kansas City and knew I just had to pass it on. I know not the author...but whoever he is, deserves a big salute.

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease..

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"

When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington
No, freedom isn't free.

Enjoy Your Freedom & God Bless Our Troops

Democrats Vow to 'Eliminate' Osama bin Laden

2006-03-29T07:32:00.000-08:00

Ok, where have we heard this before? Hmmmm...seems that ol Slick Willie tried this for what... eight years. Wait, didn't he catch Osama, no wait that was Sudan wanting to give him to Clinton. Now the Dems are saying that they can catch him? The Democrats have never had a concise and definite plan on terrorism. This was obvious on 9/11 when the hopeful Democratic leader John "Unfit for Duty" Kerry cowerd in his office in Washington D.C. while the nation was under attack. In his words "I just couldn't believe this was happening..." This has always been one point where they are total idiots. Yet here they are asserting that they have what it takes to get the job done. Makes for an entertaining read though if you want a laugh.

Congressional Democrats promise to "eliminate" Osama bin Laden and ensure a "responsible redeployment of U.S. forces" from Iraq in 2006 in an election-year national security policy statement.

In the position paper to be announced Wednesday, Democrats say they will double the number of special forces and add more spies, which they suggest will increase the chances of finding al-Qaida's elusive leader. They do not set a deadline for when all of the 132,000 American troops now in Iraq should be withdrawn.

"We're uniting behind a national security agenda that is tough and smart and will provide the real security George Bush has promised but failed to deliver," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in remarks prepared for delivery Wednesday.

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Just the Facts Please

2006-03-28T07:16:00.000-08:00

COMMENTARY
Fast Facts Not the Story

General George Casey gives a good run down of the "facts" about what is happening in Iraq in this reading on Defend America. It puts a lot of things in its proper prespective. It does show that this "sectarian" violence is not that wide spread.

BAGHDAD, March 27, 2006 — It is easy to rush to judgment, and to failure, about Iraq if you focuson isolated facts and fail to see the whole picture.

Fact: there are car bombs killing scores of civilians in Baghdad.

Fact: terrorists are murdering Iraqis at rates not previously seen. We continue to see the targeting of Iraq's innocent men, women and children, causing a 75 percent increase in the number of civiliancasualties.

These are disturbing facts. Taken in isolation they can paint a distorted picture of what is actually going on in Iraq.

Any loss of life is tragic. However, these incidents need to be placed in perspective to understand what is happening here.

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Brief take on the Immigration Issue

2006-03-27T21:25:00.000-08:00

Just a short take on the immigration situation as of late.

Did you notice all the protest rallies or marches over the weekend and today? If you didn't you must be living in a hole in the ground. All of these "school" kids running around with the "Mexican Flag" waving proudly in the breeze. Now I may be old fashioned but, to me, it seems that if you want to become an American and want to gain support for your cause, that you should at least carry the American Flag not the Mexican flag? I mean it just seems that more Americans would or might jump on board if they saw you carrying something that represents America, the place you want to stay in.

God only knows where this issue is going or how it will end. I say that we send all the Cindy Sheehans and Alex Baldwin's to Mexico in a kind of exchange program. What ya think Hollywood? Ready for some "Foriegn Policy"? Jump on board, join the amigo train.