Remembering Old Buddies on Memorial Day

Another Memorial Day is upon us as we still have Troops in Harm’s Way. Sadly, that means there will be more paying the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedoms, just as a few from previous generations have done.

Memorial Day has always been a special day to me, far from just an extra day off or a day to frolic with a barbecue to kick-off summer. It seems to that it become more emotional as I age and the further the time between me and my time spent in Vietnam.

In all, my unit saw 13 men pay the ultimate price while I was assigned to it, but two always seem to draw the most of my memories, Sgt. Scott Stanton and SFC Robert Pilk,

Upon first meeting ‘Scotty,’ seeing his infectious smile and easy going manner, you would have a difficult time believing he was a battle hardened warrior. But he was.

He was teamed with Warrant Officer Bruce Carlson, pilot of a ‘Loach’ (named for the Army designation LOH, Light Observation Helicopter) and Scotty being his Observer. Under Scotty’s tutelage, they became one of the most effective scout teams in country.

Scotty made nearly everyone feel at home and he looked out for us “newbies” when we arrived.

September 4, 1969, flying back seat, Scotty took a round through his thigh, severing an artery. No one could reach him, alone in the back seat, but he managed to pinch off the spurting artery as Mr. Carlson, ignoring the helicopters rated VNE (Velocity Not To Be Exceeded) flew him directly to the Army Hospital in Qui Nhon, where Doctors stopped the bleeding and gave him an excellent chance of survival.

As well like as he was by all, the entire unit was elated that he would survive.

On September 8, 1969, while on a flight to a better equipped hospital in Japan, Scotty was asleep laying down. They had him in a body cast and somehow, the artery began bleeding again with no one aware, not even Scotty.

He never woke up, passing away in his sleep some time during the flight.

The news greatly demoralized the entire unit for a few days.

Sgt. Pilk was another that we all looked up to. Like Scotty, he looked out for his men, well liked by all.

In May 1970, after our excursion into Cambodia, he performed an amazing act of heroics, ignoring his own safety in rescuing the pilot of another downed LOH, carrying the injured pilot some 150 yards with North Vietnamese soldiers chasing him, just yards behind and trying to cut them off. The Observer was already dead, but Sgt Pilk got the wounded and dazed pilot into the other LOH that managed to get off the ground, even though overloaded.

Just weeks later, Sgt Pilk was once again flying back seat when the helicopter received ground fire, causing it to crash, Sgt Pilk already hit, dying instantly. The pilot and front seat Observer survived with injuries.

At the time he died, he had an 8 month old daughter he never got to hold.

These are just two of the stories that never made any news stories back in America, the media preferring to seek out only the bad they could muster, even if they had to fabricate it.

I survived 18 months in country with barely a scratch. Over 58,000 didn’t make it home, at least not alive.

Throughout our history we have been involved in wars and conflicts. Hundreds of thousands of People like Sgt Stanton and Sgt Pilk have paid the price for the rest of us to enjoy our freedoms and liberties.

I’ll be at the Memorial Day Service later today, remember both of these two American heroes and the other 11 men I knew who paid the ultimate sacrifice, WO1 Jeffery Borr, 09 Sep 69, WO1 Terry Denney, 09 Sep 69, WO1 Fred Exner, 20 Nov 69, SP4 Henry Taylor, 14 Jan 70, SP4 Alonzo Garrett, 11 Apr 70, SP4 Richard Moden, 05 May 70, WO1 Danny Dewey, 05 Jun 70, WO1 Michael Dickus, 18 Jul 70, SP4 Otis Plants, 04 Sep 70, CW2 John Grisard, 19 Nov 70 and WO1 Stanley Struble, 19 Nov 70.

George Orwell said to us, “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. “

Please take time today and remember those brave men who didn’t come home, but gave their all for our freedom.

John Kerry: Still Working to Undermine American Sovereignty

If ever there was a scourge on American leadership, it is Massachusetts senior Senator, Democrat John ‘F’in Kerry, who served in Vietnam (briefly). The anti-American activities this poseur has engaged in over the decades is well known, outside of Massachusetts.

A “self-proclaimed” war hero serving barely 4 months in Vietnam, trumping up a chest full of medals under very questionable actions who stabbed Vietnam Veterans in the back with his lies before Congress in 1971, anti-war activities to propel a political career as well as traveling to Paris to meet with Communist North Vietnamese agents only to return and advocate their position over America’s.

If not for the brave and courageous stand taking by a group of highly decorated Vietnam Veterans and former POWs, the country might have been fooled into electing this liar as president in 2004. His activities contrary to America’s best interests have been well-documented, leaving many to ponder just how it is he remains a United States Senator and not a prisoner in Leavenworth.

Kerry, ever the consummate political opportunist to further his own interests above that of our countrymen is at it again.

With several people deeply concerned over the push for ratification and joining the controversial Law of the Sea Treaty undermining American Sovereignty and further damaging our fragile economy, Kerry has expressed support of it.

But that support is not the subject of Kerry’s latest effort to bring harm to America.

No, as misguided as support of the treaty might be, Kerry has gone even further in an effort to help ratification of the treaty and undermine our sovereignty.

With this being an election year, having several congressional seats and the presidency in the play, Kerry, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has stated the ratification will not be brought up for a vote until AFTER the November election.

According to the Hill, Kerry says some Senators have expressed to him they would “be more comfortable if they could avoid having to cast the controversial vote during the campaign season.”

Of course, this move facilitates some incumbents hiding their view and potential vote from constituents until after they hope to be reelected. It also sets us up for another lame duck passage should they be voted out anyway.

Kerry is all too willing to play along with those who do not wish constituents to know their stand on such a controversial treaty in hopes of their being kept in the Senate.

Given the split between Democrats & Republicans supporting this treating, you can bank on those not wanting their positions known before the election are primarily Democrats, its right up their alley.

Kerry justifies his action as wanting “to avoid ensnaring the treaty in the presidential election campaign.”

“I do not want this treaty to become victim to that race or the politics of the moment. We will wait until the passions of the election have subsided before we vote,” Kerry says.

In simpler terms, he does not want the treaty to be discussed during the campaign, rightfully fearing it will damage the reelection efforts of both incumbent Democrats and Barack Obama.

Politics first, country and citizens somewhere well after that.

Leave it to Kerry to work to hide something from public view until after the election that he knows will be damaging as well as contrary to the interests of American citizens.

There is absolutely no other rational reason to hold off on this until after the election than the desire for politicians to hide their position and vote until after they are reelected.

Apparently, Kerry realizes their position is contrary to what the public wishes. The desire to wait until after the coming election indicates to me that Internationalists from the U.N. take precedence over American Citizens and our sovereignty.

I urge you all to contact your Senators and demand this treaty be voted on now or they publicly express their support or opposition. If any are unwilling to take a stand publicly now, they, along with this ill conceived treaty need to be shown the door.

A Veteran Is A Terrible Thing to Waste

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” 

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, 20 August 1940.

Although spoken in regards to British Airmen who faced what seemed like insurmountable odds against the approaching Germans in what we now refer to as “the Battle of Britain,” and then defeated them, protecting their homeland, that simple phrase also shows how historically, in times of conflict, a small minority of the citizens don the uniform to fight for and defend our way of life.

In World War Two it was approximately one in ten served in the ranks. Today, it is less than 1% who has been sent off to face those who would like nothing more than to see our culture destroyed and replaced by their misguided and oppressive views.

Since we no longer have compulsory service, drafting able bodied and qualified young men to serve, leaving them little or no choice in serving, we depend on advertisements and military recruiters to fill the ranks by appealing to people’s patriotism, desire to better their education or those who would just like to travel, learn a trade, learn to fly or operate technical equipment. For whatever reason a young person might have, there is a very good chance that the various branches of the military has a need for people to serve in that capacity and are willing to train them.

But when the shooting stops at wars end or that person fulfills their enlistment contract and returns to civilian life, what then? What happens with that training, education and experience gained, often at great expense?

An article in the June 2012 edition of Readers Digest addressing returning Veterans quotes one former infantry platoon leader as saying, “Jumping out of airplanes and raiding houses doesn’t come in handy when you’re doing business development at a design firm.”

Such words could lead one to believe that military training has no functional purpose of benefit to society or potential employers. And those people would be wrong. Oh, it’s true that we don’t need people to go around kicking in doors, but even infantry soldiers have far greater talents and training than just “kicking in doors.”

They have discipline. They have courage to face a task, no matter how large it may seem. They have teamwork, the ability to follow orders or give orders and then cooperate and work alongside others to accomplish the task. They know how to pick up the ball or bolster the person next to them who may be faltering or tiring out.

Above all, they’re dependable. They have learned to work under pressure, quickly assess a situation to make quick decisions, often in matters of life and death and carry it through.

They do far more than just “kick in doors.”

But what of others not in the infantry? What of their training? The Military is a team effort. From cooks in the mess hall to the guy loading a howitzer. From the company clerk to the commanding officer. From the mechanics and technicians who stay up all night repairing a helicopter in the field to the crew that climb in the next morning to fly their mission and return safely, it is a team effort, top to bottom.

There too, the training and experience gained is a result of long hours of study, cooperation and learning from those who you serve with. Quick assessment and diagnosis of malfunctioning equipment and repairing it can mean the difference between a pinned down squad being rescued or left to be slaughtered by our enemies.

These are skills learned quickly under such conditions that they remain with you for a lifetime. They carry forward after leaving the service and guide a chosen career, should the returning Vet be hired.

Although present after every one of our wars, the fear of hiring a Veteran never should have been. Stories of “walking time bombs” and “trained killers” used by those opposed to our defending our shores against enemies are more hype than anything.

Our all too willing media prides themselves on “Support the Troops,” but in the instance of one messing up, the headlines would leave the public to believe it is common place.

Don’t you ever find it odd that the media doesn’t feel the need to delve into the background of others who commit heinous acts as deeply as they feel the need to when it might be a Veteran who does wrong?

Are employers fearful over claims of PTSD? What of civilian employees who might have seen a severe auto accident or been in one? Or once been married to an abusive spouse? Or grew up with abusive parents? Any number of reasons can contribute to PTSD, several not even related to Military Service.

But who worries about those who didn’t serve and might be affected by PTSD? Does the employer even ask or consider them as potentially suffering from it?

And what about training and experience? As our involvement in the current conflict seems to be winding down, we see thousands of highly trained, highly skilled and motivated people returning and not seeking glory, just a chance to get on with their lives.

These are people trained in delicate electronics repair, exacting repair and maintenance on aircraft, computer use and repair and so much more. Even those trained in maintenance of their individual weapon has learned to do it in exacting detail.

When I left the Army in 1977 after 8 years around aviation and repairs on helicopters, achieving the status of Tech Inspector, the one who makes the final determination if a repair is satisfactory or not to clear the aircraft for flight, I was stunned to see that all of my training mattered little to potential employers. Many weren’t even interested in what all I was trained and experienced in.

It is unbelievable to see that over three decades later, it hasn’t changed, many employers either are afraid or are just unwilling to take a chance on all of that training and experience the Veteran applying for a job has received.

Even in these tough economic times, seeing that Veterans unemployment rate is so much higher than the general population escapes logic and reason. Are our Troops no longer worthy of that support we boasted of once they return and reenter civilian life?

Parades, ribbons on trees or even applause as they walk through an airport after returning is great and appreciated.

Taking a chance and giving them a job, taking advantage of those skills they have learned is even better.

Years ago an ad for a college fund claimed, “a mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

It is even more wasteful to allow all of the skills acquired and experiences learned by our Veterans to waste away as well.

You’re willing to take a chance on unknown politicians every couple years, why not take a chance on skilled Veterans now?

Skilled, experienced, motivated and disciplined. What's not to want? The country takes chances on politicians, how much better to take a chance and hire a Veteran?

Veterans Court to Benefit from Performance by Classical Guitarist/Former POW

War is Hell!

Those three words barely begin to describe the unimaginable, horrific actions our Troops might endure. No amount of training can duplicate the harsh realities they may be faced with, sometimes just months after attending their Senior Prom.

With our ability to jet back and forth over the oceans today, you might be involved in a fire fight one day and the same time the next day be sitting at your Mom’s dinner table, beginning the transition back to a more normal life with the war still directing your thoughts and instincts.

Most of us transition with little or no problems, but the memories of war are always there. A few though, aren’t as lucky. They may have a more difficult time moving past letting those memories control them. They may turn to drugs or alcohol to numb their senses temporarily. After all, Veterans are just people like everybody else, but people who sacrificed heavily for the freedom and liberty of others.

Those few, perhaps due to others around them not fully understanding, may run afoul of the laws of society. All too often they have been just thrown into prisons, depending on the severity of their actions and just locked away with no consideration of their history.

Not making excuses, but not every one of them deserves lengthy imprisonment with hardened criminals. Some may be deserving of leniency along with mentoring from other Veterans or reduced fines that courts have been unable to administer in the past.

To help those individuals, we have in Clark County now a Veterans Therapeutic Court presided over by Judge Darvin Zimmerman that “provides a means to successfully rehabilitate veterans by diverting them from the traditional criminal justice system and providing them with the tools they need to lead a productive and law-abiding life through treatment, rehabilitative programming, reinforcement and judicial monitoring.”

Like others around the country, our own Clark County Veterans Therapeutic Court is funded through a generous grant and donations from the community.

Few people understand war and prison more than Cuban Born Classical Guitarist Hector Garcia who participated in the ill-fated Bay of Pigs Invasion in April 1961 that failed to oust Cuba’s Communist Dictator, Fidel Castro. Captured and imprisoned by Castro’s forces, Hector Garcia would spend two years in Castro’s prison. Already an accomplished guitarist at the time, he succeeded in obtaining a guitar while in prison, “practicing all day and most of the night, he provided hope and inspiration to the other prisoners, but angered the guards, who locked him up in solitary confinement many times.”

Still, he persevered and continued composing and playing throughout his two-year imprisonment. Shortly after his release he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show where he performed musical compositions about freedom and war.

Hector Garcia will bring his talents to our community to headline a benefit on behalf of our own Veterans Therapeutic Court.

As stated in an article at Couv.com, “Veterans in Clark County will get a boost from world class entertainers on Monday, May 21. On behalf of the Clark County Veterans Therapeutic Court, Living Hope Campus, located at 2711 NE Andresen Rd. (the former location of the Kmart store), will host a musical fundraiser to benefit veterans.”

He is to be accompanied by internationally acclaimed classical guitarist Ernesto Quilban, a former pupil of his.

Also performing will be Ricky Lee Jackson, Tamara Knight, and Don Mitchel and Judy Koch Smith of Three Together, along with National Fiddler Champion Cynthia Hamm.

Lori Volkman of Witty Little Secret will be introducing a movie clip from the documentary “Where Soldiers Come From” a future event to be held on behalf of the Clark County Veterans Court.

The doors open at Living Hope Concert Hall at 5:30 and the event is slated to go from 6 PM to 8:30 PM.

Tickets may be pre-paid online for $20 or purchased at the door for $30.

President George W. Bush said, “The willingness of America's veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.”

I hope will be able to show your gratitude and enjoy an evening of music in support of our Veterans.

Oregon Board of Education Stuck on Stupid!

Stupid is as stupid does!

A well know line from Forest Gump and very adequately describes the latest idiocy to come out of our neighbors to the south, Oregon’s Board of Education.

Oregon is well known for trying to out-liberal even the most liberal areas of the country, but the Board of Education really showed some ignorance and in my mind, stupidity today.

At issue is Oregon bans Native American mascots in schools!

“The Oregon Board of Education has voted to require Oregon schools to retire their Native American mascots within five years or risk losing state funding.”
“The vote Thursday gives Oregon some of the nation's toughest restrictions on American Indian nicknames, mascots and logos.”

Another report from KTVZ states,

“Oregon’s ban prohibits using a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to an American Indian Tribe, individual, custom, or tradition that is used by a public school as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name.”
“Prohibited names include, “Redskins,” “Savages,” “Indians,” “Indianettes,” “Chiefs,” “Chieftains,” and “Braves.” Schools may continue to use the name “Warriors” as long as it is not combined with a symbol or image that depicts or refers to an American Indian Tribe, individual, custom, or tradition.”

Maybe I could agree with “Savages,” but who ever thought choosing a mascot name, done to honor by the way, who be deemed offensive?

If they are so politically correct now to demand Indian names be removed from schools, what will they do about Clackamas County, named after the Clackamas Indians?

Will they rename the Klamath River, named after the Klamath Indian Tribe?

Look around Portland and I imagine you will find streets named after Indians as well. Were those named such to be disrespectful? No, they chose those names to honor, not demean.

Multnomah County is named after the Multnomah Indian Tribe as well. No one seems to feel that is disrespectful.

Not mentioned in the articles I’ve seen is the 8 Oregon Schools that will be required to change their name away from that associated with Indians within 5 years or lose state funding.

Maybe if they stayed the same and refused the state funding and just became schools again, kids could get a better education without the constant haranguing of leftist do-gooders with nothing better to do with their time but find ways to be offended.

Beam me up, Scotty, before the Washington State Board of Education decides to follow suit.

Honesty, Not Media Bias Will Promote Wisdom

In 1819, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to Nathaniel Monticello, “I read no newspaper now but Ritchie’s, and in that chiefly the advertisements, for they contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper.”

America’s love/hate relationship with the media is well established and not new. Allegations of bias are frequently heard and usually based in hard fact or evidence, as we saw the Watergate scandal grow under a relentless media until we saw the first ever resignation of a sitting President, Richard Nixon in 1974.

Efforts to demean another president, George W. Bush weren’t successful in ousting him from office, but the effort convinced a lot of people he was a very poorer leader when he in fact was much better than he received credit for.

On the other end of the scale we see the media not very interested in what the current occupier of the Oval Office did or does, willfully covering up scandals such as the administrations involvement in the Fast & Furious scandal, a faltering economy, high unemployment and more.

There seems to be little interest in Obama’s college days using drugs, involvement with agitators, domestic terrorists or even claims of scholarly writing, unlike the media’s interest in Mitt Romney’s High School Days or Sarah Palin’s position on her High School Basketball Team.

Locally we see our own newspaper of record operating in much the same way. We even see what might be considered ‘Freudian Slips’ in Editor Lou Brancaccio’s latest column, Of legacies and why we do stories.

The column, largely centered around the claimed legacy of giving back to the community and providing non-profits with free advertising often, also sets out to explain why those non-profits are not deserving of news stories very often.

As Brancaccio wrote, “the main reason we do a story is because we believe there is a large interest among our readers.”

Another way to put it would be, “we determine what is news and what you will read.”

Numerous times now we have seen just that. From their relentless pursuit of Richard Curtis in 2007 to granting Jim Jacks pretty much of a pass over his abrupt walking out on the constituents who had just elected him, weeks later writing an article only saying he had admitted to be an alcoholic who sought treatment and not even mentioning the strong rumors of sexual improprieties with staff members.

We see it how they give glowing coverage to 17th legislative district Representative Tim Probst for his so called fiscally conservative stand, while ignoring nearly every bill he has ever proposed would require massive spending increases to cover.

In the meantime, 17th legislative district Senator Don Benton, who Probst hopes to defeat later this year and who really is a fiscal conservative proposing tax reductions, spending cuts and holding the state government in check, cannot receive a kind word in the Columbian.

Of late we saw it once again as a true fiscal conservative, County Commissioner Tom Mielke also cannot receive a kind or supportive word, seeing 4 separate mentions, including a front page article because he is 3 days late in paying his property taxes. His opponent, Joe Tanner, a Democrat, was questioned by this blog and Clark County Politics blog over questionable claims of “numerous combat medals,” prompting Tanner to correct the misleading claim, and the Columbian’s Stephanie Rice says that “is not newsworthy,” but only merited mention on the Columbian’s All Politics is Local blog. And then, their focus was more towards how dare they question his claim.

Tom Mielke’s real “combat medal” for his service with the 82nd Airborne in Vietnam merits no mention by the Columbian, though.

A recent “Our Community Salutes” event to honor over 200 graduating High School Seniors from the region who have enlisted into the various branches of the US Military, the largest event of its kind on the west coast also did not make mention in the local newspaper.

Probably no more egregious example exists than the Columbian’s continued support and appearance of covering up for the scam we know as the Columbia River Crossing project. $150 Million spent to date and the proposed bridge cannot even meet the height requirements of the US Coast Guard for river traffic, stay under height requirements for the FAA, and cannot even receive funding to begin construction.

In spite of the Oregon Supreme Court ruling that included the glaring admission by Portland’s Metro that their prime reason in agreeing to the new bridge was the force light rail from Portland into Vancouver, something opponents have long claimed but now is verified, the Columbian chooses to ignore such a claim.

That still struggling taxpayers, in our fourth year in a row of double digit unemployment will be stuck for generations paying for a project turned down by those same taxpaying voters receives little or no mention, only supportive articles.

An independent financial audit by a forensic auditor citing numerous questionable practices and dealings drew not support from the “inquisitive” reporters who waste no effort in maligning elected officials like Don Benton and Tom Mielke, but her findings were questioned because of who hired her to perform an independent financial audit.

The examples could go on forever and just the few I can recall off of the top of my head was enough to make me laugh reading the words, “The main goal of a newsroom is to inform readers” in Brancaccio’s column today.

The column ends with Lou Brancaccio claiming, “The Columbian believes strongly it should leave a legacy of giving to this community. And the Columbian’s newsroom believes its legacy will be providing news and information that will help bring our community together.”

In Thomas Jefferson’s letter to Nathaniel Monticello are also the words, “honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”

Nowhere is that honesty more in need today than for the public to be given objective facts and honest reporting, something that has been sorely lacking in America for many years.

Just imagine what could be uncovered if the national media pursued Barack Obama as they did Sarah Palin and Richard Nixon.

Just imagine what we might learn if the Columbian pursued the CRC in the same fashion as did The Washington Post’s Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they did with Nixon.

In an Oct. 13, 1785 letter to G. K. van Hogendorp, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The most effectual engines for pacifying a nation are the public papers... A despotic government always keeps a kind of standing army of news writers who, without any regard to truth or to what should be like truth, invent and put into the papers whatever might serve the ministers. This suffices with the mass of the people who have no means of distinguishing the false from the true paragraphs of a newspaper.”

How prophetic that we see that very thing so blatant today.

Proof Reading, It's Not Just For Spelling

We all love media bloopers and the media is not slacking when it comes to providing them. We thank the Seattle Times for the following.

It didn’t take long for the headline to be updated, but not before several grabbed screen shots of the faux pas to spread the joy of their error.

Then again, maybe without realizing, it was admission of why the strong push of late for homosexual marriage while ignoring a struggling economy.

Time to Titillate

Time magazine, long suffering from decreased sales, seems to be following the lead of magazines like Cosmopolitan, Playboy and Penthouse, but stopping short of Hustler.

As you can see, the cover of the May 21, 2012 magazine features quite a provocative photo to promote the latest fad of continuing breast feeding children will into adolescence.

I have no problem with Mothers breast feeding, even in public. I believe if she can, breast feeding babies if preferable and beneficial for the baby. I also think Mothers can breast feed in public and be discreet, not just flopping the boob out, but gracefully cover themselves with a baby blanket as they have done for so long before.

Of course, different people have different views on just when a baby should stop breast feeding and move towards more solid food.

A controversial bill & debate came up in Tennessee about government setting an arbitrary age limit on public breast feeding, an obvious over reach in my estimation. Such decisions should be left with Mothers, not politicians.

But this cover Time chooses to promote the issue is, in my estimation, tasteless. Not because a child is breast feeding, but because they choose a young attractive Mother, with her 3 or 4 year old standing on a chair sucking on her boob.

There is no discernment, no discretion, no legitimate reason to feature such a photo, other than to titillate to sell magazines.

I personally feel the child shown is a little too old to still be sucking on Mommies boob, but if a Mother wishes to breast feed until adulthood, that’s her business, if done at home.

I’m sure 12 year old boys all over will be flocking to magazine stands to stare endlessly at the very attractive Mom letting her son suck on her boob, being too young to buy Playboys that are hidden from public view in most areas.

I’m also pretty sure older boys will go home with the vision in their heads and wonder why they were cut off as youngsters.

The Atlantic Wire’s Adam Clark Estes labels the cover trolling.

I label it soft porn to sell magazines, not to promote better caring for a child.

Marines Surprise Homecoming

A returning U.S. Marine sees his 6-year old son walk for the very first time.

Read more here

North Carolina Bans Homosexual Marriage While California Seeks to Ban Homosexual Therapy

Considering that as of yet, not one single state that has approved homosexual marriage has done so by a public vote, the State of North Carolina joined in with 30 other states across the land in approving, by a vote of citizens a constitutional amendment to their state constitution banning homosexual marriage.

Even though much better funded, opponents to North Carolina’s ‘Amendment 1’ lost their bid to defeat the ban on homosexual marriage by a large margin, 61% to 39%. North Carolinians turned out in droves in support of banning homosexual marriage in their state with a constitutional amendment that would stop any activist judges from declaring the legislated ban “unconstitutional” should any homosexual group challenge the previous ban in courts.

Sure to anger Progressives who are intent on undoing the long held traditions of the United States, much credit for the defeat is being given to the Churches in North Carolina who supported the constitutional amendment banning homosexual marriage.

Voters ignored opposition from former President Bill Clinton and his former chief of staff Erskine Bowles as the launched record telephone messages urging voters to oppose the amendment. Even a statement from Obama opposing the amendment failed to dissuade voters from approving what they know is right, marriage is and was intended to be between one man and one woman.

Opponents ran “television ads that focused on weakened domestic violence protections for unmarried couples, and loss of health insurance for children of same-sex couples,” in the normal hyperbole often seen by supporters intent on undoing our long held traditions and in some areas, legal definition of marriage.

Claiming an “unprecedented coalition,” and “appearing on television as much as they wanted,” their hype failed to convince North Carolinians of any need to redefine marriage to include homosexuals marrying each other.

After acknowledging the strong support of Churches, the Rev. Mark Harris, president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina said, “The string of national amendment victories supports arguments for amending the U.S. Constitution to allow only heterosexual marriages.”

Over half of the states now have similar bans now denying homosexuals marrying someone of the same sex.

Meanwhile, California, who previously saw their activist court legalization of homosexual marriage overturned by a vote of 52% to 48% in Proposition 8 that added a constitutional amendment stating that that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California,” only to see some of those same activist judges now ruling that their constitutional amendment is itself unconstitutional, are seeing their legislature seeking to ban gay teen ‘conversion’ therapy.

Supporters of the religiously based psychotherapy claim such a ban “would interfere with parents’ rights to seek appropriate psychological care for their children,” and such a ban “would prevent people from recovering from trauma of sexual abuse.”

“Any counselor worth his salt knows that homosexual feelings commonly occur in boys as a result of abuses,” said Marriage and Family Therapist David Pickup. “I should know because I was one of those boys.”

Democrat Sen. Ted Lieu, author of the bill to ban the therapy called the therapy “dangerous” adding “treatments can cause extreme depression and guilt that sometimes leads to suicide.”

“The bill would prohibit so-called reparative therapy for minors and obligate adults seeking the treatment to sign a release form that states that the counseling is ineffectual and possibly dangerous.”

I also see it as a move that would deny those who may question whether they truly are homosexual or not from receiving the completely voluntary therapy.

In spite of claims by homosexuals that the therapy is “ineffective,” interest has grown in recent years as referral networks have grown to over 260, up from only 100 a decade ago, claims Exodus International the world’s largest referral group who’s stated mission is, “Mobilizing the body of Christ to minister grace and truth to a world impacted by homosexuality.”

The American Psychological Association, who once offered similar therapy to homosexuals, now discourages therapists from referring homosexuals to seek “conversion therapy,” citing “research suggesting that efforts to produce the change could lead to depression and suicidal tendencies, and that no solid evidence exists that such change is possible.”

That numerous individuals claim to have come out of the homosexual lifestyle seems not to be considered evidence, even to the point that in some areas efforts to block & censor their message is seen.

From where I sit, I have to wonder why, if the therapy is “ineffective” would there be a need to legislatively ban it?

The APA, as is usual when no solid evidence is available only makes the claim that in their opinion it “could” lead to depression and suicidal tendencies, not that it does.

Other counselors making claims of homosexuality “could” lead to similar psychological problems are scoffed at.

But to me, as ineffective as they claim the therapy is, it obviously is much more effective than admitted and the real danger lies in if the public sees that homosexuality can be converted with such therapy, it blows the claim of “born that way” clean out of the water.

The therapy is not mandated or required, it is strictly voluntary as it should remain.

Banning it, though, denies people who may be troubled with their homosexuality treatment to make any change they desire to.

On the other hand, no one seeks to deny troubled teens who question their sexuality from being treated to confirm and make them comfortable in realizing they are indeed homosexual.

Obama Succeeds in Court Ruling AGAINST Veterans

I’m sure all of you reading this can recall the cries of Democrats during the 2004 presidential campaign, encapsulated by failed presidential candidate & self proclaimed war hero John F’in Kerry as he stated in a February 14, 2004 debate, “He’s cut the VA (Veterans Administration) budget and not kept faith with veterans across this country. And one of the first definitions of patriotism is keeping faith with those who wore the uniform of our country.”

Constantly during his two terms, President George W. Bush was accused of ignoring our returning Veterans, not providing them with the adequate care they needed through the Veterans Administration, even accused of only giving “grossly substandard and unsanitary medical care” to our Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Hospital in 2007.

That none of it was true mattered little, the Democrats were in constant full campaign mode, seeking to seize full control over the country, using our Veterans and returning Heroes as props. They succeeded in seizing full control in the 2008 election that installed Barack Obama, hailed as the best thing since sliced bread and the messiah to many.

Our Troops and Veterans did not fare any better and the willing accomplices in the media ceased their exposes’ of dismal treatment of Veterans as they claimed was all that Bush and Republicans were doing.

The Troops were used as props and photo-ops to get control of the country, as is often the case when Democrats are in power. Nothing is sacred to them and no lie is too small or too big to tell to keep that power.

But the truth has a habit of leaking out and bypassing the lamestream national media as they continue in their efforts to suppress it.

Such is the case as we read from the San Francisco Chronicle, Court dismisses vets' suit on mental health care.

Some Veterans Groups, tired of long waits to receive mental healthcare through the VA Hospitals for PTSD and more filed a lawsuit in Federal Court against the VA, winning a 2 to 1 ruling against the VA, that cited, “Department of Veterans Affairs documents showed that the system took an average of 4.4 years to review veterans' health care claims, that more than 1,400 veterans who had been denied coverage died in one six-month period while their appeals were pending, and that 18 veterans per day were committing suicide, much higher than the rate among the general population”

Ruling that that vets groups could ask a federal judge to order changes in the system, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared, “the VA’s unchecked incompetence has gone on long enough.”

Not content with the ruling, the Obama Administration interceded, asking that ruling to be vacated and heard before the full appeals court who has now ruled, “As much as we may wish for expeditious improvement in the way the VA handles mental health care and service-related disability compensation, such responsibilities are left to Congress and the executive,” as stated by Judge Jay Bybee in the 10-1 decision.

In her lone dissent, Judge Mary Schroeder said, “the court’s refusal to consider claims of system-wide delays leaves millions of veterans - past, present and future - without any available redress.”

How much, if any pressure was placed on the panel by the Obama Administration is unknown, but it is apparent that a ruling to benefit Veterans receiving care did not set well with him.

Where is the cry of “keeping faith with those who wore the uniform of our country” that we heard back when Kerry was campaigning for the highest office in the land?

Where is the outrage from other Democrats who lambasted President Bush so frequently?

Where are the calls from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and many others who demanded congressional investigations in 2007 of the “deplorable” conditions at Walter Reed Hospital? Why are they all so silent today?

Where is Washington State Senator Patty Murray, who was boasting in 2005 of blocking the VA’s efforts to review PTSD claims that sought to weed out phony claims to the undeserving and that would have freed up resources to the deserving?

Ms. Murray stated then, “Veterans with PTSD deserve the VA’s compassion and support…,” and “Veterans should not be punished for mistakes the VA has made…,” and “It’s already hard enough for veterans to seek care for mental health problems. I can’t stand by and let the VA throw down another barrier in front of veterans with PTSD.”

But her silence in allowing the Obama Administration to “throw down another barrier” in front of Veterans is deafening.

In 2009, after her party seized total control of the government, Murray was quoted, “Before, and for a long time, I’ve been fighting many times over for VA not to discourage people from saying they have PTSD. We’ve have many cases where veterans were told it’s all in your head” in response to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki claim, “We will change the culture. I will assure you of that” in regards to the long backlogs for healthcare.

As we now can see, the “assurance” from the Obama Administration is to fight Veterans in court, kicking the can down the road and back to those who have long given Veterans little more than lip service.

In the meantime, our Heroes will continue suffering and dying, waiting for a little help from the country that praised their service, then forgot about them.

In an email to me concerning this, my friend Rees Lloyd said,

“Gordon P. Erspamer of Morrison & Foerster, LLP, attorneys for plaintiff veterans organizations, said review would be sought in the Supreme Court,” and “While that litigative effort is made, I respectively suggest that if any veteran or other patriot needed evidence that more veterans are needed in Congress and the Executive Branch -- or that the Combat Veterans For Congress and its endorsed veterans for Congress deserve strong support -- this decision should be it: Congress and the White House must act. (www.CombatVeteransForCongress.org).--Rees Lloyd (Facebook/Rees Lloyd Law)”

Then too, maybe if the Obama’s curtailed some of their extravagant vacations, those Millions of Dollars of funds could be directed towards our veterans so they receive the much needed and long overdue care they need and deserve.

It’s up to us this election year and we can make a difference by electing real change and install people who will act on the sacred pact we have with our defenders.

They protected us then, we need to care for them now.

West Coast States Rank Poorly on Best/Worst States for Business 2012 List

The eighth annual Chief Executive’s survey of CEO opinion of Best and Worst States in which to do business was recently released and to no surprise, Texas still ranked the number one state for businesses.
California, once the most attractive state for business retains the dubious distinction of being the worst state for business. As stated at ChiefExecutive.net,

“The economy, which used to outperform the rest of the country, now substantially underperforms. And its status as the most ruinously contentious place to operate remains undisturbed in eight years. Its unemployment rate, at 10.9 percent, is higher than every other state except Nevada and Rhode Island. With 12 percent of America’s population, California has one-third of the nation’s welfare recipients. Each year, the evidence that businesses are leaving California or avoid locating there because of the high cost of doing business due to excessive state taxes and stringent regulations, grows. According to Spectrum Locations Consultants, 254 California companies moved some or all of their work and jobs out of state in 2011, an increase of 26 percent over the previous year and five times as many as in 2009.”

With California ranking the worst, it boggles the mind that either Oregon or Washington would follow their example for dealing with businesses, but that is exactly what both of the Democrat majority held states have done, Washington seeing a drop of 3 ranking positions to number 37 and Oregon gaining their own dubious distinction of the largest one year drop in this year’s ratings, falling from number 33 to number 42, placing them solidly in the 10 Worst States for Business.

Over the 5 year period starting from 2008, Oregon has dropped a whopping 15 positions and continues their slide. As one CEO said,

“Oregon has wasted its competitive advantage with its beauty and natural resources and great work force….It’s been replaced with a State Government that loves to penalize achievement and success…”

Washington hasn’t quite made the 10 Worst list yet, but it seems we’re working on it, sliding down from the 34th Best State to the 37th Best State for Business. As Chief Executive.net states,

“Lack of income tax strains to hide other financial and regulatory snares for business.”

Taxes and Regulations rank high on the list of the Worst States as each is also a “forced union” state. Each of the 10 Best States are “Right to Work” states.

Wisconsin’s embattled governor Scott Walker has his state headed in the right direction as Wisconsin has shown a 4 point improvement, moving up to number 20 from the previous position of number 24.

Indicating the hard opposition especially from public sector unions, Chief Executive states about Wisconsin,

“Governor Scott Walker’s battle with the unions in Wisconsin…, demonstrates that the struggle for a pro-growth agenda can be contentious. As one Badger State business leader remarked, ‘Finally, Wisconsin is headed in the right direction’.”

I would say that will depend a lot on the outcome of the heavily union backed effort at recalling Governor Walker. Should he be replaced by a strong union supporting governor again, overturning the many reforms he has gotten passed in the legislature, surely Wisconsin will join Oregon and Washington in sliding backwards.

As Kimberly Morin writes at US Daily Review,

“This survey cannot come as a surprise to those who have been watching the absolute thuggery that unions across the country have been using against states where Governors have decided to give workers a choice. Right-to-Work doesn’t end unions but gives workers the choice of whether or not to be a part of a union without being forced to pay fees if they decide to opt out. If workers want to unionize in Right-to-Work states they have that option and right. On the flip side, in Forced Union states, workers who do not wish to belong to the union are still forced to pay union fees if they want to keep the job.”

We see examples of this in Washington State as even though a little over half of our state budget goes to education, it is never enough for the teachers unions who continually demand and demonstrate for more, even though our children over all aren’t receiving the education they should.

We see it as unions strive to force more and more small companies into their unions with the state collecting dues for them.

We see it in the efforts of the unions and Democrat Representatives like 49th district’s Jim Moeller filing a lawsuit against the people of the state to overturn the clearly stated “voice of the people” in requiring a two thirds majority vote to impose or raise taxes.

We even saw it in this last legislative session as our $1.5 Billion budget gap took a back seat to wasting half of the session on passing homosexual marriage rights instead of working out reforms to get our state back on track.

Even after finally getting a balanced budget written on paper in special sessions, we still face the prospect that Next Year’s Budget Could be $1.7 Billion out of Whack!

We don’t have to continue this backwards slide in our state, we can stop it this year. We have a chance to change the face of Olympia with this year’s elections.

We saw how 3 moderate Democrats joined forces with Republicans to stop the Democrat majority from shoving another unsustainable budget off on us to keep funding their pro-union, tax & spend policies.
But that one act did not get us out of the woods, we have more we must do.

And that begins with electing a Republican majority for the first time in over a decade.
But, just being Republican isn’t good enough. We need people who will take a strong stand against public unions, demand reforms in education so that our tax dollars go to educating children, not just giving administrators more benefits and wages.

We need to elect people who will finally take a stand against illegal immigration.

It’s up to us to stop this backwards slide that I costing us jobs and leaving taxpayers paying for boondoggle projects that give little if any benefit to our citizens.

It is up to us to educate ourselves as to who or what we are voting for this year.

We should all be entitled to [insert favorite want here]

Just about any parent can tell you tales of how their children, when small were unable to comprehend that just wanting something did not entitle them to just take whatever it was. That is part of a parents job in raising a child, teaching them that nothing is free and we are not allowed to just take as we wish.

Many that did were disciplined in one way or another, hand slapped, spanked, stood in the corner or being made to return the item to rightful owner, most often something snuck off of the shelf of a store when the parent turned away to get something to purchase.

But we learned not to just take and that if we want something, we had to work for it. Having worked for whatever it was, we then actually appreciated it and took care of it, having spent sometimes several hours laboring away to earn the money to buy the item as it rightfully became ours.

It is an attitude as old as time itself indicated in the Bible and other religious writing from long ago. It’s time tested and helped form functioning and orderly societies. That is, until recent years.

It seems somewhere along the way, some “brilliant” minds decided that simply wanting something established a right to ownership. The concept of our rights being limited to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” was replaced by “I want, I should have.”

We’ve seen this attitude slowly growing in our country as even so called leaders make campaign speeches telling people they are “entitled” to whatever it is the group they speak before seems to feel entitled to.

We saw it during the 2008 campaign by a woman so mesmerized by Barack Obama, she freely spoke of not having to pay her mortgage, pay for her gas and by helping him by voting for him, he would help her by paying her way.
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We’ve seen how well that has worked out for everybody.

We saw people buying homes well above their means and when the bubble burst and they were head over heels in debt, what did they do but demand government take money from someone else to pay off their own greed.

We now see it in student loans. Gone, I guess are the days of students whose parents can’t afford to pay for a college education actually worked part time to pay their tuition. No, they go out and borrow money and now that those expectations of high paying jobs are dried up, what do they do but cry over having to pay back what they borrowed from someone else?

They don’t want to pay it back, but expect, once again, government to step in and take money from someone else to pay off the debt that they ran up.

Probably this attitude of “gimmee” is seen nowhere better than when it comes to our healthcare. This was displayed recently when the 3rd Congressional District Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler hosted one of her limited “coffee’s” and was asked by a Jacqueline Kuran, who claims to be a small business owner, “Why are people dependent upon their job in order to have it? It’s just ludicrous. We should all be entitled to health care. …”

She further stated in comments, “I think this country is entitled to fairness.”

Just what is “fairness?” That depends on who is asked as we see her claims of being a business owner, yet unwilling to share her profits beyond that she deems is “fair.” Others that have little may see fair as her giving up some of her wealth to give to them, but Ms. Kuran doesn’t see it that way.

Further displaying her entitlement attitude she said, “Healthcare should not be profit driven by insurance companies, period.” Again based upon her thoughts. But, she should be entitled to earn a profit in her business while others may not?

Insurance companies are for profit ventures, just as her small business is. If there is no profit, there is no reason to be in business.

Pressed further on why she declares they should turn a profit, she replied, “Healthcare insurance should not be profit driven because of the obvious…”

Would that “obvious” be “profits for me but not for thee?”

What those like Ms. Kuran fail to grasp is that the more they strive to impose their idea of “fair,” the less opportunity there is for “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” due to government regulations, high taxes, exorbitant fees on business and individuals reaching out to better their lot in life.

Life itself is not “fair.” As was once explained to be a friend who worked as a Therapist, “if life were fair, we could poop on pigeons.”

Healthcare I not cheap, especially as so many run to a doctor or hospital emergency room for every little ailment that often could be treated at home or will soon pass. Paying for illegal aliens who flock to emergency rooms and do not pay their bills has cost many hospitals to raise rates, driving some out of business and limiting where we may seek healthcare.

We also see this entitlement attitude in the medical field as many now want the rest of us to pay for their contraceptives or abortions if they become pregnant and don’t want to burden of raising a child.

And this is where some of the biggest problems facing the country today lie. People expecting whatever it is they want to just be handed to them and politicians promising a “chicken in every pot” campaign speeches, hoping to bribe enough votes to propel them into cushioned seats of authority where they earn the big money off of us little people still struggling to make ends meet.

As long as people feel they are “entitled” to anything, they expect it provided for them with little to no effort on their part. They then do not appreciate what they have enough to care for it, still expecting someone else to take care of them and pay their way through life.

Sadly, it is shown most as people today don’t care enough to protect our country and way of life to keep those God given freedoms our founders put in place for us and are willing to elect whoever promises the most freebies, even though they sign away their freedoms in order to get their “entitlements.”




“A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.” President Gerald R. Ford in an address to a joint session of Congress on August 12, 1974.

Obama Readied To Blame Military if OBL Mission Failed

By way of Gateway Pundit, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey speaks to Sean Hannity about the "heavily lawyered" memo the Obama Administration had prepared in case the mission to kill Osama bin Laden failed, absolving Obama of any blame.

See also the Wall Street Journal.

A real leader accepts responsibility, he doesn't shove it off on others.

Illegal Aliens Defrauding the American Taxpayers?

For all of the bleeding hearts who keep insisting how much we need illegal aliens in America and they do the work that American won't do, a special news report from Indiana's WTHR 13 News might not sit well with you.

The video report below is of a whistle blower & tax preparer who is revealing just how many Billions of our dollars are being sent to illegal aliens for nieces and nephews they are claiming as dependents in order to receive thousands of tax dollars refunded under the Child Tax Credit.

One small hitch, those nieces and nephews are not even in our country, but sitting down in Mexico.

WTHR 13 News Special Report, Loophole Costs Billions

Although this report is from the state of Indiana, we can only imagine how much of this is going on in Washington State, what with the previous Seattle Times report informing us that we have seen a "35% increase" in the illegal alien population in our state.

But our media, left wing as it is, doesn't seek to curtail the fraud or criminal activity of their being here in violation of our laws. No, they worry about how much state budget cuts will affect them as we have less tax money to give away to illegal aliens.

With there being such loopholes in our laws and those perpetrating these tax frauds, who in turn wire Billions of our dollars out of the country to their home countries instead of circulating in our economy, who are the real victims?

Should we feel sorry for so many who come to our country, drain our coffers and cry they are the underprivileged, when we see lawsuits flying on their behalf over efforts to rein in spending that is breaking the backs of the American taxpayer?

We keep hearing how it is too expensive to track them down and deport them. But as we see in the video report above, how expensive is it to continue ignoring the problem and work to entice even more of them to enter illegally?

Will congress act to close this loophole?

Wake up America. Immigration laws were written for a reason and by every country.

Why are only ours not to be enforced?

Heroes Don't Spike The Football

Vote wisely in November. Can we really afford 4 more years under this poseur?

Test of Fire

Secretary of Defense Warns: Bad War Press Hurts Obama’s Reelection Effort

Sometimes, a headline is published that just makes the reader go “DUH!” Something so blatantly obvious you just have to wonder how long the rocket scientist who wrote took to figure out a simple and obvious truth.

Such is the case in a recent Stars & Stripes headline, Panetta to Warn That Bad Press Hurts War Effort.

Those of us who served in Vietnam, recalling how our service and effort over there was distorted, misreported, blown out of proportion and sometimes outright fabricated can look at such a headline and say, “ya think?”

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the launch of the War on Terror in both Afghanistan and Iraq, we have repeatedly witnessed the lamestream media once again picking and choosing how they report our Troops efforts and service.

After the 9/11 Terrorist attacks, we invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 to deny Al Qaeda a safe haven and seek capture of Osama bin Laden. October 30, 2001 saw the New York Times run A Military Quagmire Remembered: Afghanistan as Vietnam, already distorting our Troops actions.

Quagmire became a familiar description applied both to Iraq and Afghanistan while Democrats in the House and Senate joined in labeling the war “lost,”, a “quagmire,” “mismanaged” and even to the point of identifying our Troops as “cold blooded murderers,” as did now deceased Pennsylvania Democrat Representative Jack Murtha in 2006.

2003 and 2004 saw an even more concerted effort since it was a presidential election year and Democrats unleashed self proclaimed “war hero” John ‘f’in Kerry (who is rumored to have served in Vietnam) running on an anti-war ticket reminiscent of his early 1970’s anti-war effort.

A brave group of aging Vietnam Veterans, Swift Vets and POWs for Truth stood up to expose Kerry’s nefarious claims, only to be faced with distortions, lies and misrepresentations from both the lamestream media and Democrat Party who thought Kerry was their “ace in the hole” to regain power.

Kerry’s “the wrong war, in the wrong place at the wrong time” repeat of the words once spoken by General Omar Bradley and former President John F. Kennedy failed to unseat President George W. Bush.

That did not deter either the Democrats or the lamestream media who continued their denigration of President Bush, Vice-President Cheney, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and the Troops, even to the New York Times full page ad labeling General Petraeus as “General BetrayUs.”

We saw Illinois Democrat Senator Dick Durbin stand up and make a floor statement on our Troops in Guantanamo,

“If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners.”

Bad war press seemed to be the norm as long as George W. Bush was in office and even after he left we still see bad press concerning his leadership, crediting Barrack Obama with successes set in place by Bush.

For example, the claim of Obama got the Troops out of Iraq. No mention that they left under a Status of Forces Agreement negotiated and signed by Bush before Obama was in office.

And now we see Obama trying to score political points with the killing of Osama bin Laden, taking all credit for himself when he did little more than watch it on television as the intelligence set place by Bush led US Navy Seals to bin Laden, prompting some to condemn Obama’s grab of all credit to himself.

The lamestream media can’t be bothered to report that, though.

Going back to Secretary of Defense Panetta’s warning we see that he isn’t so much concerned about how the media has continually misreported out Troops efforts as much as he is about how the Troops themselves act. We read,

“When Defense Secretary Leon Panetta travels Friday to visit soldiers at Fort Benning, Ga., he’ll personally remind them of the harm that lapses in judgment and unwisely publicized photos and videos can inflict on the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. ‘We live in a world where these kinds of isolated incidents can become a headline in 15 seconds,’ Panetta said in an interview Monday. ‘And that can do tremendous damage’.”

No, he isn’t so much concerned over what the lamestream media reports as he is over what individuals do that might make the press.

Of course, when Bush was in office, we heard cries of “the Troops have free speech too” and how important it was that their words be heeded. As Marine Sgt. Gary Stein discovered, that same sentiment does not apply now that the Obama regime holds power.

We saw how ‘bad war press’ affected the outcome of the Vietnam War. We see how such ‘bad war press’ elongates the current War on Terror, costing more lives on both sides. We have seen how such “bad war press’ was an integral part of the lamestream media’s first amendment right to Freedom of the Press.

But now, it doesn’t seem to be as much of an integral part.

The difference?

Obama seeks reelection, Democrats wish to hold power in the Senate and Democrats have hopes of retaking power in the House of Representatives.

Make no mistake, Panetta’s “warning” has more to do with winning an election than with actual concern over our war effort.

The only war that matters to Democrats is the war to radically change America into what we never were.