RIP GOP

Senator John McCain, former POW and one of the most liberal Senators sporting the ignominious “R” behind his name, cruised to an easy victory in the Florida Primaries, prompting many to presume he will be the party’s nominee in November.

Michael Graham of National Review declares It’s All Over stating, “Even if there were a realistic pathway to stop him, the media have seized control of the process now and are declaring him inevitable. He is, after all, the favorite son of the New York Times.”

This was set up long ago by the lamestream media to give Hillary and easier slide back into the White House. Strong conservatives were ignored, suffering a near total blackout on coverage and relegated to the far ends of debates, being given few questions to state their positions.

Many of us tried to get conservatives to check out the long shots who were being ignored but who stood on solid conservatism. Too many agreed they were good, but "not breaking out," therefore they couldn't support them. No support, no contributions, all had to withdraw.

The last few weeks before their withdrawals, even conservative columnists and radio hosts joined in with the blackout on coverage of the few actual conservative candidates. Michelle Malkin published a glowing eulogy of Duncan Hunter when it was felt he was dropping out, then ignored him until he did. Then, another glowing eulogy of his candidacy, but no support when he or the others were running, even though she penned I NEED A REAL MAN FOR PREZ days earlier.

Limbaugh also didn't cover them, but constantly complained about all the rest. Hannity, Levin, Coulter, none would speak much of them to let conservative voters know there were some decent candidates to consider.

So, they've all dropped out now and I'm afraid the Republican party is in it's death throes as we send one of the most liberal members of the party to represent us, almost guaranteeing very low conservative turn-out, I fear. As Michael Graham says, “In November, we'll be sending out our most liberal, least trustworthy candidate vs. to take on Hillary Clinton, perhaps not more liberal than Barack Obama, but certainly far less trustworthy.”

Although McCain says he supports the Iraqi theater of the War on Terror, he advocates closing Guantánamo and bringing those Jihadists held there into the U.S., holding them at Fort Leavenworth, which would grant them full constitutional rights, including legal representation, at taxpayers expense. It doesn’t take much imagination to envision how fast lawyers from the ACLU would line up to defend the terrorists and free them to roam our streets and cities.

Florida’s Republican Party is a conservative dominated party. Romney and Huckabee split 7 in 10 conservative votes in Florida, leaving McCain 3 in 10, which combined with his slightly better than four in 10 moderates and liberals lining up behind him, gave him the win.

Memories of McCain’s involvement in the Keating 5 Scandal and McCain's possible involvement in a Telecom Lobbying Scandal will matter little as the New York Times and other staunchly liberal media outlets sing his praises as who they want to oppose Hillary, giving her an easy win to the presidency.

As I see it, conservatives main prayer now will be to retake Congress in 2010, provided we still have the freedoms we find dear today.

In all my 59 years I've never witnessed such brazen manipulation of the public by the media in such an important election. Hunker down, America, there is quite a bit of turbulence ahead.

Thousands Flee Gaza After Israeli Blockade

January 23, 2008

In an effort to end the rocket attacks upon Israeli citizens all border crossings were sealed leading into Gaza last week, cutting off the flow of vital supplies needed by those living in the besieged territory.

In spite of renewed Peace Talks, rockets have rained down on Israeli Border Towns, leading the Israeli government to temporarily seal off all of the border crossings with Gaza and eliciting warnings from the United Nations that the closure would lead to increased hardship for the “impoverished Palestinian Arabs” living in the territory.

Exacerbating the tensions, Israeli PM Olmert called the attacks emanating from Gaza “war,” leading Palestinian PM Abbas to threaten to quit the newly restarted peace talks and possibly even to resign his post.

It was said that more than 100 rockets a day have been raining down from Gaza as various armed Palestinian groups terrorize Israel's population in a widening region along the border, some as far away as Ashkelon and Ashdod. In response, Israel sealed off the border crossings, which cut off the needed supplies to citizens in Gaza.

Hamas threatened more suicide attacks if the “sanctions” continued according to Hamad al-Rukeb, Hamas Spokesman. "If the bloodshed in Gaza and the West Bank does not stop, there will be similar bloodshed in ... Tel Aviv," he released in a statement.

Bowing to International outrage and condemnation, Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak ordered the temporary renewal of deliveries of medicine and small amounts of fuel for an electric power station in Gaza on January 22. A U.N. welfare agency said that if the Israeli blockade did not end, food deliveries to Gaza's needy would cease.

Israel reported that since the border crossings were sealed late last week, there has been a marked reduction in the number of Kassam rockets launched from Gaza into Israel. Mr. Barak added that, “unless Israeli southern towns enjoy ‘quiet,’ Gaza will suffer from more ‘noise.’”

America's Ambassador to the U.N., Zalmay Khalilzad, stressed Israel's right of self-defense while another diplomat said that anyone who thinks Israel should be blamed for the escalation surrounding Gaza is living in a "parallel universe."

Reeling from the scarcity of goods caused by the Israeli blockades, masked Palestinian gunmen using land mines blasted down a seven-mile barrier today, allowing Tens of Thousands To Flee Gaza for Egypt.

On foot and pushing donkey carts, they poured into Egypt “carrying goats, chickens, and crates of Coca-Cola,” stocking up on goods made scarce by last weeks border closings.

One Palestinian, Abu Taha said, "We want to buy food. We want to buy rice and sugar, milk and wheat and some cheese."

Saying how border guards originally had forced the Gazans back, Egyptian President Mubarak said, “a great number of them came back because the Palestinians in Gaza are starving due to the Israeli siege.”

Mubarak added, “I told them to let them come in and eat and buy food and then return them later as long as they were not carrying weapons.”

Although no starvation has actually been reported in Gaza, it is claimed that many of the 1.5 million residents have faced critical shortages of electricity, fuel, and other supplies over months since Hamas seized control of the territory.

After Israeli officials expressed concern over weapons being brought back into Gaza from Egypt, an off-duty Hamas policeman identified only as Abdel Rahman saying how it wasn’t necessary to bring weapons back from Egypt said, “You can buy weapons in Gaza, guns and RPGs, they are easier to find than Coca-Cola.”

In a show of their desperation and need to care for their families in Gaza, by blowing up a 7 mile stretch of the border fence and so many “fleeing into Egypt” for such essentials of life, it was reported that some brought back televisions, car tires, and cigarettes, one even bringing back a motorcycle.

If, as President Mubarak says, this act was because they are starving, why did they carry food stocks, the goats and chickens, over to Egypt to trade?

Sometimes, articles meant to tug at our heartstrings and demonize Israeli efforts to defend themselves reveal a small element of truth.

Lew

UPDATE: Hamas challenges Egypt’s bid to close Gaza border

Martin Luther King “HAD” A Dream

January 21, 2008

As happens every year at this time, on Martin Luther King Day, luminaries flock to Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia to embrace the legacy of possibly the single most important person in America’s struggle for Equal Rights.

It was at the pulpit of this Church that Reverend Martin Luther King gave his first sermon, in the fall of 1947, shortly before being ordained and serving as co-Pastor with his father. Although his involvement as a Civil Rights leader would be launched from another Church, the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, people flock to this Church every Martin Luther King day to pay homage.

Today would be no different as thousands descended upon the Church today for speeches and services honoring Reverend King.

Attending the event, former President Bill Clinton said,

"He freed us all to fight the civil rights battle, to fight the poverty battle, to fight all these battles and do it together. He made a place at the table for all of us."

Georgia’s Lt. Gov., Casey Cagle said,

"He understood that life is not about self. Life is about service … and service to others."

Atlanta’s Mayor, Shirley Franklin said,

"Martin aimed high, acted with faith, dreamed miracles that inspired a nation. Can we act on King's legacy without dreaming? I think not. King's legacy gives light to our hopes, permission to our aspirations and relevance to our dreams."

Undoubtedly she is referencing what many see as one of the most eloquent speeches ever given by an American, Martin Luther King's “I Have A Dream” speech, given from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in August 1963.

In the speech, King spoke of a Dream of,

“one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’"

He dreamed of

“one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.”

Most importantly he dreamed

“that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,”

and

“one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.”

That was Reverend King’s dream up until he was murdered in 1968. That was the dream he fought for, marched for and yes, died for, to bring Whites and Blacks together and stop looking at our differences. To stop the injustices to Blacks and even to Whites that befriended them.

A lofty and admirable dream, but one that seems today to be unnattainable, even though it shouldn’t be. Even at School Lunch Periods, we see students separating themselves by race. In spite of over 4 decades of Affirmative Action, we still hear that Blacks Still Lag Behind Whites in many ways.

What happened? Where did the dream go as others picked up the gauntlet laid down by Reverend King?

Bob Parks, Black Columnist says in an article today,

“liberals have distorted thus his (Martin Luther King) message, in order to justify their ownership of his legacy.”

In this particular column, Parks mentions how Reverend King’s Dream has now come to include Gay Marriage, something King never spoke of. He quotes King’s daughter, Elder Bernice King,

"I know in my sanctified soul that he did not take a bullet for same-sex marriage."

He goes on to say that the last time Reverend King registered under any party umbrella, it was a “Republican,” as did his parents. He then speculates,

“if Dr. King were alive today, he'd be vilified as an Uncle Tom for not supporting, among other things, Affirmative Action.”

This echoes the words of Comedian Bill Cosby spoken before the NAACP in May 2004.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council tells us today concerning Martin Luther King’s birthday,

“There is irony in that Dr. King's observed birthday today comes the day before the 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, which forcibly legalized abortion in the United States. The legalization of abortion was the culmination of a dream of Planned Parenthood founder and icon Margaret Sanger. In 1939 Ms. Sanger started the "Negro Project." The aim of the program was to restrict, many believe exterminate, the African-American population, under the pretense of "better health" and "family planning."

Blacks advancing themselves, becoming highly educated and gaining prominent positions within our government, if conservative, are castigated as “Toms,” “House Negroes” and such, as was done to Condaleeza Rice and Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas. Janice Rogers Brown, daughter of an Alabama Sharecropper, met with the same opposition when President Bush nominated her for a position on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in 2003.

Alan Keyes, Walter Williams, Ward Connerly, J.C. Watts and several others not mentioned, all gained an education and moved up the societal ladder, yet faced much opposition from other Blacks and White Liberals. Shouldn’t they be applauded for grasping Martin Luther King’s Dream and not only advancing in a predominant White Society, but for adopting the vision of Reverend King and not sitting around waiting?

In another column written today, by a similar title as this one (unintentional on my part), Bob Parks tells us,

“liberals have been allowed to segregate Blacks into the housing project mindset. We as a people are expected to bow down and kiss the feet of a liberal government massah who feeds us with degradating notions like food stamps and provides our “expected” illegitimate children with a substandard education that would never be tolerated in white communities.”

In 1963, Martin Luther King dreamt of an America the way it was intended. In 2008, that Dream appears to have become more of a nightmare for the very ones he dreamt it for. The Dream isn’t dead, just corrupted by some of the same ones who fought that Dream back then.

We must come together and reclaim that Dream if we are to survive as a nation and stop the Socialist Liberals who would enslave us all.

Lew

Another Hypocrite From The Republicans

January 20, 2008

After touting Duncan Hunter’s demise earlier in January and having to correct herself, Michelle Malkin, Cutesy little Republican pundit has once again announced Hunter’s dropping out of the race.

In “thanking Congressman Hunter,” Malkin has the audacity to pen; “He brought substance, experience, integrity, and a commitment to the nation’s sovereignty and strong defense to the table.”

Nice words, Ms. Malkin, but where were they when he was struggling to reach America with his "substance, experience, integrity, and commitment to the nation’s sovereignty and strong defense?"

You, just like the other entertainers masquerading as conservatives, joined in with the media blockade of his candidacy and America didn’t hear him.

Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, Levin, O'Reilly all of you followed the lamestream media and allowed the only true conservative running to whither away.

I suspect that you will have plenty to say when addressing either President Obama or Hillary, but that is what you all do. You live to complain about others without ever offering a solution, and rake in millions of dollars.

There must be more income for them in complaining about liberals than helping solve the problems and saving the nation.

As the Troops, Iraqis and Afghani’s are sold out, solidifying our legacy of abandoning struggling friends, don’t bitch, you helped it happen!

Media Blackout Succeeds

January 19, 2008

From the beginning of this campaign, the lamestream media chose their favorites and promoted them, writing off strong conservative candidates that don't fit their agendas. Ignored in debates, given little coverage, the way was paved for moderates to win.

One by one, they dropped out, seeing they could not succeed. Tom Tancredo, Sam Brownback and now, Duncan Hunter, undeniably the strongest conservative to enter the race.

In 2000 and 2004, Democrats cried for a Veteran to run and gave us a photographer and a charlatan anti-war opportunist whose time in country combined did not add up to a full normal tour.

Hunter, on the other hand, served two tours in Viet Nam with the 173rd Airborne and the 75th Army Rangers earning the Bronze Star and did not make his service central to his campaign. After Law School, he entered the House in 1980, serving the last 27 years fighting for America and Chairing the House Armed Services Committee, fighting for the Common Foot Soldier, not the Pentagon Brass.

In spite of a strong record for America, the media chose to blackout news about him, his record and his campaign. Voters, who apparently enjoy getting their ears tickled and tend to follow the polls offered by the same media they distrust to report news of the War on Terror accurately, fell in line behind who the lamestream media offered up at any given moment.

Donations, therefore, were sparse, so ads could not be made. Radio spots did not come as they did for more popular candidates with abysmal records. As much as he reached out to America, he remained ignored, even by allegedly strong conservative pundits like Sean Hannity, Mark Levin and Rush Limbaugh. Hunter stood up for America, but America wouldn't stand up for him.

So, whom are we left with to select in 2008?

John McCain, former POW who labeled fellow Viet Nam Veterans, including two recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor as “dishonest and dishonorable” and who supported amnesty for Illegal Immigrants? McCain, maverick Senator who undermined the current administration and the GOP often over the last 6 years?

Mitt Romney, who signed gay marriage into law for Massachusetts and kept his word about not raising taxes, but increased fees instead? The same Romney who can’t seem to make up his mind on Illegal Immigration?

Mike Huckabee, called the Jimmy Carter of the GOP who is also soft on Illegal Immigration and who Jonah Goldberg once described as represents compassionate conservatism on steroids in an L.A. Times editorial?

Ron Paul, Libertarian running as a Republican who blames Americafor terrorism and masks his Isolationism as “non-intervention?”

Rudy Giuliani, who speaks strong today on Illegal Immigration but has a long record of often defending illegal immigrants, once ordering city workers not to deny them benefits and advocating measures to ease their path to citizenship? Who also distances himself today from a pro-gay past? Who has a pro-choice history on abortion, at odds with the traditional GOP position and who is doing so poorly he may be the next to drop-out?

Or, Fred Thompson, 2-term Senator and actor who supported denying American Freedom of Speech in the ill-fated McCain/Feingold campaign finance reform bill and who even though seems to have changed positions over the last few years, just may be the closest thing to a true conservative, after Congressman Hunter, but who also doesn’t display much “fire in the belly” for gaining the nomination.

Thompson can expect to follow Giuliani in the media’s next effort at getting Democrats an easy run to the White House.

Pundits on today’s news programs seem to feel it will come down to a race between McCain and Romney, both who can be easily defeated by either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. On the slim chance one of the GOP moderates named win November, if you think George W. Bush has been disappointing, just wait and see as either of these two would coddle the Socialist Democrats in Congress and sell America further down the drain as we now rush towards becoming the Union of Socialist States of America.

The media played and manipulated citizens like a cheap guitar and you all fell right in line. I’d say ‘God help us,’ but you all willingly allowed even Him to be cast out of our society long ago.

What has happened to us? How did we become so lackadaisical that a handful of disreputable journalists could so easily manipulate the public? How did we ever get to where the good of the nation takes a backseat to “what can I get for me?”

The media blackout on Hunter and others succeeded and America is the worse for it. To all of the pundits, talk radio hosts and bloggers who were so quick to announce Hunter’s demise on January 7, congratulations. You helped the media sell out America.

To all of you 'alleged' conservatives who spoke of how well you thought of Hunter and liked his message, but refused to support him, think often over the next 4 years of how you sold out conservatism.

When will you sheeple ever wake up?

Lew

UPDATE: Hunter is not jumping on anyone's bandwagon at this point. As he says, "I want to see who’s going to be strongest on maintaining a strong national defense, a secure border including a border fence, and meeting the challenges of an emerging China." CNN Politcal Ticker

"Bill Clinton goes after TV reporter"

Clinton becomes visibly and vocally agitated when a KGO-TV reporter asks whether his wife’s campaign should take a stronger stand against a union lawsuit to prevent casino workers from caucusing at special precincts in Nevada.

Anti-War Attorney Pleads Guilty In Vandalizing Marines Car

January 18, 2008

Jay Grodner, the Chicago attorney caught ‘keying’ the car of a U.S. Marine facing deployment, pled guilty in a plea deal worked out by States Attorneys and himself today in the courtroom of Circuit Court Judge William O’Malley, a former marine himself.

On December 1, 2007 Marine Sgt Mike McNulty was visiting a friend in Chicago, prior to his deployment for a second tour in Iraq. Saying goodbye to his friend about 11 AM, Sgt McNulty noticed a man leaning against the side of his car. McNulty reportedly said, “Hey, what are you doing to my car? Open up your hand!”

Tom Sullivan, the friend he was visiting reported that Grodner replied, “F**k you! Just because you're in the military you don't run the roost!” Sullivan also said that Grodner hurled other epithets and cuss words, applied to the Marine Corps, to the U.S. armed forces and to Sgt. McNulty himself. Grodner then reportedly said, “Quite frankly, you don't even look like a soldier. You're a small little f**ker.”

Due to seeing McNulty’s Marine License plates on his BMW and the fact that McNulty had backed down a one-way street to reach his friends apartment, Grodner stated, “you think you can do whatever you want with Department of Defense license plates and tags.”

Seeing the damage done to his cars paint, McNulty called the Police and Grodner was cited for misdemeanor criminal damage to private property.

In spite of States Attorney’s trying to coerce McNulty into accepting the $100 payment from Grodner, to cover the $300 deductible from his insurance for $2400 damage, McNulty pushed for felony prosecution due to the dollar amount of damage. States Attorney’s claimed, “It would be difficult to recover the damages from Grodner because he is a lawyer.”

States Attorneys talked McNulty into accepting probation for Grodner, which Grodner declined, saying within earshot of McNulty, “I’m not going to make it easy on this kid.”

Another States Attorney taking the case more serious, decided to prosecute it fully.

At a December 31, 2007 hearing, Grodner initially failed to appear, prompting the judge to issue a warrant for his arrest immediately. Before it could be executed, Grodner showed up citing busy traffic and making a wrong turn for his tardiness. He was chastised by the judge for being tardy and making lame excuses.

In the meantime, McNulty was deployed, as planned. On his behalf, States Attorney’s were present in today’s court presided over by Circuit Court Judge William O’Malley, a former Marine lance corporal from the early 1960s.

Having failed in his effort yesterday to gain a continuance in the case, Grodner was again late for court, calling in after court convened saying he would be about a half an hour late as he was waiting for the media to leave. Prior to the call, Judge O’Malley increased his bond to $20,000.00, and put out a warrant for his arrest saying, “if he does show up he will be taken into custody, and if he doesn't he is fair game for any law enforcement agency that wants to pick him up,” according to eyewitnesses in the Court Room who posted their accounts of today’s trial on Blackfive, a popular Veterans blog, who first broke this story nationally.

Arriving to court later, Grodner was taken into custody, Judge O’Malley telling him to “try and work out a deal with the State.” Later, Grodner, asking through States Attorneys for permission to put his belt and such back on, drew the reply of Judge O’Malley, “Treat him like all the other prisoners.”

Brought back out into the Court Room to read the plea deal worked out into the record, Judge O’Malley asked Grodner if he had committed the acts he as accused of. Instead of answering, Grodner first hemmed and hawed forcing Judge O’Malley to raise his voice to elicit a yes or no from him. Grodner finally admitted his acts of vandalism to the Judge and it was entered into the record.

According to the plea deal, Grodner must serve 1 year Social Service Supervision, pay restitution of 600 dollars to Social Services, which would go to the Injured Marine Semper Fi fund, to be paid by February 25th, 2008, and $50/month in supervision fees.

Reportedly in an angry voice, Judge O’Malley then scolded Grodner saying that the Marine license plates Sgt McNulty had were not vanity plates or about ego, but that the proceeds go toward the Marine and Navy scholarship fund for the children of fallen soldiers, sailors and marines. These Marines protect his very existence "so people like you can enjoy their freedom." He further said that the reason there were so many in the courtroom and so much public interest is that the Marines have a tradition since 1775 that "No Marine gets left behind." Several Hoorahs were voiced from the crowd of uniformed and civilian supporters of Sgt McNulty present in the courtroom.

Chicago Attorney, Jay R. Grodner, once implicated in Attorney Fraud by the Illinois State Supreme Court, is more fortunate than he may realize in accepting this mild deal today. Had he committed such an act against some of the Marines I knew when I was in the Military, he would have entered the Court Room with the assistance of crutches and missing some front teeth.


Lew

Trang Mau Duncan Hunter

Click on image for full size


Duncan Hunter is a real Viet Nam Veteran that served his time honorably and faithfully. His Dad served and his son now serves. He comes from a Military family. He has a lot more going for him than just being a Viet Nam Vet (a real one, not a short termer like was offered in the last two elections).

It just isn't that we sit back and allow him to not even be heard. Can we
tolerate a real veteran being snubbed again? Even if he doesn’t win, he has
the right to speak his message to America, except for the media blackout on his candidacy.

No other candidate came to Gathering of Eagles in March 2007 except him. He made time for the Vets, can’t we make an effort for him to be at least heard?

We need to flood the media and radio hosts with demands of disappointed Veterans and Vietnamese-Americans he be heard and stop the sytematic snubbing of an Honorable and Decorated Viet Nam Veteran.

A New Fragrance

Dumond case revisited, A reminder of Huckabee's role in his freedom

An excellent in depth look at the behind the scenes efforts of then governor Huckabee in releasing a heinous murderer back on an unsuspecting public.

Arkansas Times

When you all are fed up with the moderates and RINO's, and finally decide to vote for someone who is tough on crime and the criminal and wants to see America thrive, look to Duncan Hunter, the only real conservative running.

New York Times Casts Aspersions On The Troops

January 13, 2008

Echoing the 1971 sentiments of Democrat anti-war Senator and failed 2004 presidential candidate, John Kerry, the New York Times is now running their own “War Veterans are monsters” series, surely to raise public fears of our Heroes.


In the now infamous ”Testimony” Kerry gave before the Fulbright Commission back in 1971, we were told of returning Viet Nam Veterans,

“The country doesn't know it yet, but it has created a monster, a monster in the form of millions of men who have been taught to deal and to trade in violence… men who have returned With a sense of anger and a sense of betrayal…”

as well as,

“…there will be some recrimination but far, far less than the 200,000 a year who are murdered by the United States of America…..”

Now, under the title, “War Torn,” the New York Times, long known for its opposition to the current war, explains the series as, “A series of articles and multimedia about veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who have committed killings, or been charged with them, after coming home.”


Part one, titled Across America, Deadly Echoes of Foreign Battles informs us “121 Veterans are linked to killings since their return.” The Times article also tells us,

“these are stories of local crimes, gut-wrenching postscripts to the war for the military men, their victims and their communities. Taken together, they paint the patchwork picture of a quiet phenomenon, tracing a cross-country trail of death and heartbreak.”

The authors of the article inform us,

“To compile and analyze its list, The Times conducted a search of local news reports, examined police, court and military records and interviewed the defendants, their lawyers and families, the victims’ families and military and law enforcement officials,”

meaning they actively sought out only reports of Veterans involved in crimes.


Mirroring the claims made in 1971 by Kerry, the article speaks of one Veteran who

“spent the majority of 2003 to 2005 in Iraq solving very dangerous problems by using violence and the threat of violence as his main tools. He was congratulated and given awards for these actions. This builds in a person the propensity to deal with life’s problems through violence and the threat of violence.”

They go on to say,

“veterans are more likely to have committed violent crimes than non-veterans,” adding, “In the mid-1980s … veterans made up a fifth of the nation’s inmate population.”

In a speech given at the Washington, DC Hilton Hotel on July 5th, 1986, General William C. Westmoreland stated “only 1/2 of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes.”


In that particular claim, there is no distinction made of what Veterans were allegedly jailed for nor if they were actual Combat Veterans, not even if they had served outside the U.S. during peacetime or war or had obtained less than Honorable Discharges or not.


Chapter 10 of the book, “Stolen valor,” by B.G. Burkett, chronicles several claiming either Veteran or Combat Veteran status and seeking forgiveness of their crime by claiming PTSD. Requests made by Burkett under the Freedom of Information Act, revealed several either had not served in the Military at all, or did not endure the Combat maladies claimed.


Analyzing the claims of the 121 claimed crimes, Media Lies, doing some quick calculations, comes up with,

“From the October 1, 2001 start of the Afghanistan war, that's about 26,000 troops/month. To date (Jan 2008) that would give about 1.99 million. That means that the NY Times 121 murders represent about a 7.08/100,000 rate.”

Allowing for an even larger rate and rounding up, they said,

“…let's call the rate 10/100,000, about 40% higher than the calculated one.”

Comparing that to U.S. National Crime rates, they state,

“We see that the US offender rate for homicide in the 18 - 24 year old range is 26.5/100,000. For 25 - 34, it's 13.5/100,000.”

Interpreted that means that homicides are more than twice as likely to be committed by non-Veterans of that young age than by returning Veterans, the article is raising concern over.


Attempting to mask their slur against our Troops as caring for them, the article quotes a criminal defense lawyer in Minneapolis, Brockton D. Hunter,

“To deny the frequent connection between combat trauma [PTSD] and subsequent criminal behavior is to deny one of the direct societal costs of war and to discard another generation of troubled heroes.”

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), once known as “Shell Shock,” is real for some of our returning Heroes, as it always has been in past wars. Yet, in August of 2006, it was the same New York Times than ran an article debunking the high incidence of PTSD related to Viet Nam Veterans.


Surely the rate of PTSD today can’t be higher than for the returning Viet Nam Veteran, who also faced not only an elusive enemy, but also faced the despising and anger of a nation opposed not only the war, but the Troops themselves?


While we do need to reach out and help those few returning Veterans who need it, publishing articles focusing only on a narrow group as Veterans, while ignoring far greater incidences of heinous crimes is a grave disservice, not only to our returning Troops but to society as a whole.


So too would be the diversion of much needed funds, benefits and treatments to phonies and liars seeking easy money instead of to these few that are really in need of it.


In an email response to Reuters concerning this issue, Paul Boyce, spokesman for the U.S. Army said,

“Army statistics show little or no increases in positive drug use, driving under the influence crimes or domestic abuse in the past years among the more than 300,000 soldiers who have deployed in this war."

He continued with,

“the statistics appear to be based on a basic review of American newspaper crime stories from 2004 to 2006, rather than statistics provided by the U.S. Army or the Department of Defense, or even any interviews with military medical or judicial professionals,"

ending with,

“Such methodology would make it nearly impossible for reporters to determine the extent of highly personal mental-health assistance provided to individual members of the Armed Forces."

One need not think too long and hard to imagine the indignation and outrage editors of the New York Times would be publishing had a more conservative media source commissioned and published such a study in regards to similar statistics related to crimes of illegal immigrants, Black or Hispanic Gang or Drug related crimes.

Lew

UPDATE 1: The UK Telegraph has picked up this story and tied it to the recent killing of 20-year old pregnant Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach and her unborn child, Murder is latest killing by US war vets. Reminiscent of the "Trained Killers Released Upon Society" cries we heard three decades ago.

UPDATE 2: Others within the media community are seeing the New York Times Article efforts to disparage the Troops, SMEARING SOLDIERS, the New York Post and from the Wall Street Journal, The 'Wacko Vet Myth'

Fox News, South Carolina GOP Brush Off Duncan Hunter

January 10, 2008

Are you comfortable with the notion of the News Media deciding what candidates may run for public office? If not, you need to play close attention to what is going on in regards to the “debates” now ongoing as candidates vie for the party’s nomination.

Congressman Duncan Hunter, long shot candidate for the presidency in 2008, is being slighted, first by ABC and twice now by Fox News, the so-called, much vaunted “Fair and Balanced” network.

Congressman Hunter was not allowed into the January 4, 2007 New Hampshire Republican Debate, being blocked in the nation’s first primary and drawing the ire of the New Hampshire GOP. The New Hampshire GOP rightfully withdrew their support for the debate, citing party Chairman Fergus Cullen, “Limiting the number of candidates who are invited to participate in debates is not consistent with the tradition of the first-in-the-nation primary. The level playing field requires that all candidates be given an equal opportunity to participate - not just a select few determined by the media prior to any votes being cast.”

That debate was focusing on the subject of Illegal Immigration, a subject that none of the candidates knows or understands better than Congressman Hunter. At the time of the debate, only three men in America had Republican delegates for President, Hunter being one of them. Candidates who had yet to gain any delegates were included in the debates, expanding their exposure in this all-important election.

ABC spokesman said, “the candidates left out of the debates failed to meet benchmarks for their support that were outlined to each campaign prior to the Iowa caucus.” Having already obtained delegates isn’t showing any support, I guess. Having none is, if you have placed a certain level in the media’s own polls.

Again tonight, Fox sponsored a “debate” in South Carolina for Republicans, except for Congressman Hunter. Unlike New Hampshire, The South Carolina GOP did not protest the exclusion. Hunter has paid the required $25,000 fee to register as a candidate in South Carolina, but is blocked by Fox and the S.C. GOP?

This is nothing more than the media deciding for us, regardless of party. They excluded Democrats Kucinich and Gavel in earlier Debates as well as Ron Paul, who was included in tonight’s debate in spite of having gained not one single delegate.

Are we Americans not permitted to see what each candidate stands for before voting? Are we to simply rely on what is broadcast or printed by the same media we don’t trust to accurately report the War on Terror?

Hunter has campaigned to secure our borders and is committed to fighting illegal immigration. His record on this is second to none. In fact, he is heads above all the rest in fighting illegal immigration. He has campaigned against the unfair trade practices of China, taking into consideration all the jobs lost by Americans to overseas concerns. He pledges to negotiate fair trade deals, returning many jobs to America.

He has been in the House of Representatives for 27 years now, fighting steadily for conservative measures and is the former Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He consistently came down on the side of the “Foot Soldier,” not the Pentagon Brass.

He has a strong message America NEEDS to hear, if we are to remain a free nation and leader of the Free World.

From the earliest “Debates,” Congressman Hunter has been effectively ignored by the media sources sponsoring the debates. Even then, if he was lucky enough to be asked a question, we didn’t hear pat answers, rehearsed by him. We received straight from the heart and off the cuff replies to whatever subject he was asked. His answers were consistently honest, straightforward and strong.

In spite of that, the same media virtually ignored him in reports about the debates, denying readers and viewers a clear picture of who all was running and what they stood for. Now, apparently, they have decided his campaign is over and moved on, even though there are some 48 more primaries to go.

Have we gotten so complacent that we allow knucklehead executives in the media to decide who we even get to vote for? Can voters make informed decisions without knowing what each candidate actually stands for?

Fox News has been the most disappointing of all. I am coming to believe that all the Liberals that referred them as “Faux News,” were more right than I previously admitted.

Early on the morning of January 7, 2007, Congressman Hunter sent out a message saying he was to make a Major Announcement concerning his campaign. Eulogies and praise for finally getting out of the way of the media favored, cherry picked candidates commenced almost immediately. Much to their chagrin and causing many to dine on crow that evening, he blasted the media treatment he has been receiving and vowed to stay in the running.

Many have said since the beginning of this campaign that no one from the House could be elected because they never have been before. Seems to me we once thought a Draft Dodger could never be elected either.

Seeing the wrong of the media’s acts of excluding candidates, GodVoter.org is calling on David Westin, President of ABC News and Roger Ailes, Chairman of Fox News and former media consultant for Rudy Giuliani, to apologize to the nation’s voters for their networks’ influencing the 2008 presidential race. If they fail to apologize, GodVoter.org calls on Disney and News Corp to replace them.

What does it say about the other candidates that they willfully submit to this and do not reject media cherry picking? What does it say about voters that we continue to let this go without objection?

If we allow the media to continue cherry picking candidates for us, instead of us choosing who we desire, why bother with voting at all? Why not just let the media choose for us, since they are cherry picking the candidates we get to choose from and we the sheeple just fall in behind their lead. We don't trust their reporting of the news from the War on Terror, but fully trust whom they allow us to vote for? Wake up America, we are being played like a cheap guitar.

Lew

UPDATE: They have succeeded. From Duncan Hunter's campaign,

MEDIA ALERT

Congressman Duncan Hunter returns to San Diego tonight,

Saturday January 19, 2008

Media Opportunity at 8:00 PM (PST)

Broadway Pier at the end of Broadway St, San Diego

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2008

CONTACT: Gary Becks (619) 334-1655, garybecks@yahoo.com
San Diego, Calif.

We started this campaign a year ago right here, in San Diego Harbor, against the backdrop of American Naval power. We launched a campaign emphasizing a strong national defense, enforceable borders and restoring the industrial base of America.

Today we end this campaign. The Nevada caucuses reflecting only 2% of the vote for me. I ran the campaign exactly the way I wanted to, and at this point not being able to gain traction in conservative states of Nevada and South Carolina, it's time to allow our volunteers and supporters to focus on the campaigns that remain viable.

It's time for me to gear up for 2008's defense bill that will be put together over the coming weeks. There is work to be done in the areas of troop protection and new capabilities to be deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. And over the horizon, the emergence of Communist China as a military super power will require a new emphasis on U.S. capabilities in undersea warfare, space, and long range air-power.
The best way to maintain a new era of peace is for the U.S. to remain strong. Over the coming year I will endeavor to help craft a defense bill that meets the new security challenges.

Since our campaign began over 200,000 additional manufacturing jobs have been lost. 1.8 million jobs have left the U.S. for China. This fracturing of the U.S. industrial base is a long term threat to America. I hope that the remaining candidates will recognize it and address it. As the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, I will seek to address it.

Only hours ago a border patrolman was killed in the California Desert. This tragedy emphasizes more than ever the compelling case for the completion of the border fence. Since I wrote the bill that mandates 854 miles of double border fence only a few miles have been constructed. Over the next year in Congress I will do everything in my power to get that fence built.

Finally, for Lynn and me, the campaign over the last year has shown us this: America is a wonderful country. Our people have great character and goodness, and the meeting of new friends has enriched our lives.

The failure of our campaign to gain traction is mine and mine alone. But we have driven the issues of national security, the border fence, the emergence of China and the need to reverse bad trade policy. Because of that, this campaign has been very worthwhile, and for the Hunter family, a lot of fun.

To our friends and supporters and volunteers: many thanks. And now it's time for me to focus on developing a 2008 defense bill that serves our troops and our nation.
Thanks, and God Bless America.

Duncan Hunter

Rush Limbaugh Failing America

January 10, 2008

Yes, El Rushbo, “the man who runs America,” “the Voice of America,” is falling down in the job. He is the one who is supposed to keep conservative informed of what the “drive-by media” doesn’t tell us. Instead, in regards the 2008 elections, he seems to be falling into lock step with them.

Rush maintains that he doesn’t endorse candidates prior to the party nomination. Good enough, Rush, no one is asking you to endorse anybody. But, we do need to hear of who the candidates, all of the candidates, are. We hear of Giuliani, Huckabee, Thompson, Romney, McCain and even Paul on your show, mostly the negative about them.

With the possible exception of Thompson, none of the others are even conservative, until recently, as they try to convince America they are now conservatives. Their records say different.

On December 3, 2007, Rush did a monologue saying, How the Drive-By Media Attempts to Influence Both Party Primaries. He was right, as usual. He saw what has been happening as the media cheery picks who the voters get to choose from. In this monologue, he mentioned every GOP candidate, except two. He saw how they ignore candidates and build up the ones they feel the Democrats will easily defeat.

On January 3, 2008 he told us, “Conservatism Works. Try It!” this time, he speaks of the one true conservative in the race, “Duncan Hunter is a great guy, and he truly is authentic. It's a mystery why some people don't get out of the bottom tier or the lower tiers in campaigns.” He shouldn’t see it as a mystery since he just told us back on December 3, 2007, what was going on and how the media is cherry picking candidates for us.

January 4, 2008 saw callers asking, “Tell Us Who You Like, Rush?” He answered one caller, “I do not consider myself some pied piper that's out there leading a bunch of mind-numbed robots. I sit here, maybe I'm pie-in-the-sky on this, but I want people to come to the correct and right conclusions on their own without me having to tell 'em.”

I do not want Rush to be a “pied piper,” but he does say he is the balance. He acknowledges slanted coverage of the candidates, especially Republican. He has no problem telling us the candidates that don’t measure up, but who covers the one that does measure up? Does Rush give us news on Duncan Hunter, off setting the near media blackout of him and his campaign?

On January 7, 2008, he asks, “Will Conservatives Sit Out '08?” Discussing mostly Huckabee.

Rush says of Hunter that he is a great guy. Rush has no bad to say about Hunter. Rush acknowledges the drive-by media is manipulating again. Rush set himself as the counter to the drive-bys. Rush has the number one talk radio show on the air.

Rush thinks Hunter has a future ahead of him, if he fails this time. What future is there with the drive-by’s manipulating voters and deliberately not covering Hunter, clearly the best conservative running?

Rush, no one, least of all me, wants you to make our decision for us. But, if the media ignores a strong conservative and you pretty much do to, what future does he have?

Rush doesn’t need to endorse Hunter, although that would be nice. But, if the other conservative hosts that like Hunter rarely speak of him too, what future is there for a conservative long shot ignored?

We don’t have many choices this year. Thompson, who doesn’t seem to have the fire in his belly, Moderates, RINO’s, a fruitcake and Hunter, who has the record, the message and the will.

Giving the American voter the straight scoop isn’t endorsing Rush. We need your voice to let America know there is a strong conservative in the race.

Lew

UPDATE: For someone who claims to be the "Voice of America," Limbaugh is turning out to be just another blowhard. His coverage of Hunter has been dismal, in spite of early claims of how good he is. Today,January 11, 2007, Rush's monolgue was, Drive-Bys Push McCain, Huckabee; Aim to Disqualify Fred, Mitt, Rudy

Hunter isn't mentioned once, telling me that Rush has joined in with the "Drive-by's" already disqualifying Hunter, with 47 states to go!!!!

The good of America seems to be taking a back seat to ratings and sponsors with 'El Rushbo.'

Duncan Hunter Blasts “Knucklehead Executives”

January 7, 2008

Campaigning in New Hampshire today, Duncan Hunter, long shot candidates for President in 2008, announced earlier today that he was to make a major announcement, setting in place speculation that he was ending his bid for the White House.

Hunter, Congressman from California’s 52nd District the past 26 years, has been making a bid to be the nominee of the Republican Party and struggling to be noticed, often being ignored by major media sources that seem to prefer other more “polished” candidates.

In spite of growing support at the grassroots level and finishing third in the second primary in Wyoming, picking up one delegate and an alternate, ABC and Fox News both decided he was to be denied a place at their latest debates, furthering their near blackout on his candidacy.

Speaking with Republicans likely to vote, often heard is, “Who is he?” “If there was ever anything I’d like to be proven wrong on, it’s my opinion that Hunter’s going nowhere. He’s a good man.” “I am all for Duncan Hunter, BUT - he doesn't have the recognition that he needs, or deserves.” “I like Hunter, I just don’t see him going anywhere.” “The only thing I have against Hunter at this point is that he can’t win.” “Supporting Hunter is a noble cause, but it's also a rapidly dying one.” “He is my favorite candidate. I anxiously await for him to make a move.”

Hunter made such a move today, announcing, “Presidential Candidate and California Congressman Duncan Hunter will be making a major announcement today at 2:00 p.m. (EST), regarding the future of his Presidential bid.”

Before a small group of people expecting to hear his announced end to his candidacy, Hunter shocked them all with a short speech that included,

“[He was] not allowed to attend the debates, because some knucklehead, arrogant executive in the corporate media world of ABC and Fox News in some third or fourth story glass office decided that I was, my campaign was over, and the lights were going to be shut out on my campaign. So against that backdrop, ABC and Fox have been asking us when I’m going to quit. So here’s my answer: I’m not going to quit. I’m going to continue.”

Pointing out the fact that he obtained the delegate from Wyoming, Hunter reasoned,

“And, you know, in the interim, between making that initial decision and the debates, something took place. It was called the Wyoming caucuses. And in the Wyoming caucus I won a delegate. In fact, I now have an officially declared delegate. And as I understand the rules, that means that guys like John McCain, who have zero delegates, and Rudy Giuliani, who have zero delegates, were allowed to attend these two debates, but a guy who actually had some points on the scoreboard, that was myself, was not allowed to attend the debates.”

He continued in regards his campaign,

"I'm not going to let some arrogant corporate media executive, by blacking me out, by taking me off the presidential debates just a few hours before the polls are opened, to decide whether or not this campaign is over."

Video

Hunter has the endorsement of General Chuck Yeager, legendary test pilot whose exploits were chronicled in the book "The Right Stuff,” the Missouri Republican Assembly, GodVoter.org, Joseph Farah, founder, editor and CEO of World Net Daily, former New Hampshire Senator Bob Smith, Los Angeles Radio Host Terry Anderson and just recently picked up the endorsement of the Nevada Republican Assembly, amongst other endorsements.

Hunter is a two tour Viet Nam Veteran and his oldest son recently completed his third tour in the War on Terror.

On The Issues, Hunter has a 26 year record hard to beat

The campaigns, as elongated as they are, are barely underway. No candidate should be shut out from the American voter as of yet. Voters need to see all the candidates, from each party, to make informed decisions. Voters don’t need their choices in this all important election, restricted to the cherry picked choices handed us by “knuckleheaded executives” running media conglomerates.

As former Senator Bob Smith said,

"There will never be another Ronald Reagan but fellow Californian Duncan Hunter can pick up the Reagan torch and light the way for America to come back from the dangers we now face."

Reviewing Hunter’s lengthy record in service to America, I feel there is a very good chance he could be even better than Reagan was for America.

Hunter on Glenn Beck

Does the First Amendment Protect the “Right To Lie?”

January 5, 2008

In a unique defense, a relatively minor politician, charged with lying about his Military service and award of the Congressional Medal of Honor, is claiming his lies are “protected speech” under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Recently elected to represent Pomona, California in the Three Valleys Municipal Water District, 49 year-old Xavier Alvarez has been charged under the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 with falsely claiming to have served in the United States Armed Services and with being awarded the nations highest award for valor in combat, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Alvarez, at a July meeting of the Walnut Valley Water District board, was recorded saying,

“I'm a retired Marine of 25 years, I just retired in 2001. Back in 1987 I was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. I got wounded many times, at the same time.”

Nicknamed “Rambo,” after the Sylvester Stallone movie series for exploits he has claimed around Pomona social and political circles, Alvarez has been bragging about false exploits to friends and acquaintances for some time, before being tripped up by the usual conflicting claims false veterans and phony war heroes make.

Initially denying he ever made the false claims, Alvarez eventually admitted to his lies, was censured by the Water Board, refuses to resign and has been charged under the Stolen Valor Act, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of up to one year in jail.

Ordinarily this would be a closed matter, Alvarez joining other phonies prosecuted for making false claims of Military Valor and being awarded honors they are not entitled to. It would not even be newsworthy nationally, as Alvarez is a very minor public official. However, his attorney has filed a Motion to Dismiss that could carry staggering consequences to the nation, if upheld I feel.

Brianna J. Fuller, Alvarez’s attorney, filed the motion late in December. The motion states,

“Falsehoods are not outside the realm of First Amendment protection, and therefore restrictions on false statements must be supported by a strong government interest and must be directly related to that interest. The Court's scrutiny of the law should be especially demanding here, where the statement was made by an elected official, during a public meeting, on an issue of public concern: his qualifications for office. The Government's stated interest in this law, protecting the reputation of military decorations, is insufficient to survive this exacting scrutiny.”

Although I am not an attorney, I am deeply troubled by the opening words of the motion, “Falsehoods are not outside the realm of First Amendment protection.”

If the motion were to be upheld, I foresee opening a Pandora’s Box of politicians, at all levels of government and from all party’s, making even more brazen false claims than many do already.

I also fear it could overturn the Stolen Valor Act, allowing phonies to delude people of heroics they never committed, all for personal and political gain once again.

If any court rules “Falsehoods are not outside the realm of First Amendment protection,” could perjury charges eventually fall by the wayside and oath’s in court become obsolete? Yes, that might be a stretch, but look at what else society now condones that was once considered wrong.

Federal Prosecutors have filed in opposition,

“Deliberate falsehoods are not protected by the First Amendment. It is only in the realm of ideas, unlike the case here which involves a readily verifiable misstatement of fact, that falsehoods garner any free speech protection.”

Scheduled to be heard on Jan. 14 in Los Angeles federal court by U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie, prosecutors have said,

“If the case against Alvarez is thrown out on constitutional grounds, the government would take a ‘long hard look’ at filing an appeal.”

Of importance to me, how have we devolved into a nation where our courts would ever consider that blatant lies, lies told for personal and political gain, at the expense of others, would be “protected speech under the First Amendment?”

God help us if this is what we have become.

Lew

Local Hero Charged In Moms Beating Death

January 5, 2008

Recipient of a Silver Medal of Honor from the Portland, Oregon Fire Department for the heroic rescue of two children from a burning building in 1992, retired Firefighter David F. Gaul was charged yesterday with the beating death of his own Mother.

In 1992, Fiefighter David Francis Gaul was awarded the Portland, Oregon Fire Bureau’s second highest medal for his help in rescuing two children from the basement of a burning building, escaping with them shortly before the building exploded.

In 2000 he was promoted to lieutenant.

In 2002 he went on an unnamed work related disability leave.

In 2007 he was automatically retired.

In 2008 he is charged with Clark County Washington’s first murder of the year for the beating of his 90 year-old Mother while so drunk he was barely able to stand, according to Clark County sheriff's Sgt. Timothy L. Bieber.

Gaul, in what may be described as a downward spiral since the dramatic rescue of the children, was recently released from Multnomah County Oregon jail on December 27, 2007, where he had been imprisoned the last six months.

According to those who knew him, Gaul had been struggling with an injury, alcohol abuse, a stress-related disability, suicidal thoughts and driving violations. His Mother, Junette Gaul, was seeking a restraining order against her son on Wednesday, January 3, but missed the filing deadline and was to return to the Court on Thursday. She never made it, being beaten to death Wednesday afternoon.

Junette Gaul was in fear of her son, sleeping away from her home at the homes of her daughters in Longview and Ridgefield, Washington, just north of Vancouver.

Lee Liston, Junette's son-in-law said Gaul had become increasingly erratic since his release from jail on Dec. 27, threatening to harm himself and family members. Family members had called 911 in response to Gaul's threats and Police talked to Gaul in the days before the killing, but did not arrest him.

Liston added that he was taken to the hospital. "They picked him up and took him to Legacy Salmon Creek and they just let him go.” A Legacy spokeswoman, citing medical privacy laws would not confirm the report.

Here in Washington State, Patients can be confined against their will only under one of three conditions: if they are a threat to themselves or to others, or in cases of grave disability, cannot find food, clothing or shelter by themselves. A county designated mental health professional can make that decision, and the patient can be held involuntarily for three business days.

In 2005 David Gaul was interviewed by the Oregonian, Portland’s newspaper for an investigation into the Portland public safety disability fund. Then he said he was “seeing a psychiatrist, going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and trying to stay sober." He said he had filed disability in 2003 for a hip injury and 2004 for post traumatic stress disorder. His doctors agreed, “Gaul's problem-drinking was a symptom of his trying to repress bad on-the-job situations.”

In the interview Gaul said that the fund was aware of his drinking problem, but did little to help him. "I spent 29 years fighting fires," Gaul said during the interview. "Now, I need help, and they turn their back on me." Fund members said Gaul “did not make his doctor appointments.”

Called to the home of Junette Gaul by David Gaul’s ex-girlfriend, who went to check on Junette and discovered the grisly scene, Clark County sheriff's deputies found David lying next to his Mothers body with an arm around her head. The county medical examiner's office said “the death was a homicide, and the cause of death to be blunt-force injures of the head and neck with strangulation.”

According to the Probable Cause Statement filed by Police, Gaul has said that family members were stealing money from him while imprisoned, his Mother “slow to come around,” but “confessing” to taking $40,000.

Gaul denies killing his Mother, saying he “did not know whose blood was on his face or hands." Arrested and taken to a hospital detox ward, Gaul appeared in court Friday where he was charged with First Degree Murder and still seemed “disoriented.” Bail was set at $750,000.

As son-in-law Lee Liston said, "The system just broke down." And now, a 90 year-old woman described by family and neighbors as a gentle, beloved individual is dead, brutally beaten to death, presumably by her son.

Romney Photo Ops at Hunters Border Fence

Candidate Mitt Romney has sent out a campign flier to Republicans in Nevada, claiming his strength on border enforcement. For the photo op, I'm sure he briefly stepped out of his air conditioned motor home to have his picture taken in front of the border fence built by Duncan Hunter.



The fence in the background was built though the efforts of Representative Duncan Hunter. He is the real conservative in this campaign.



If you want a return to conservative values and put a real conservative in the White House, vote for Duncan Hunter in 2008.

Hunter is not only strong on curbing illegal immigration, he is a real Viet Nam Veteran, 2 tours, and his oldest son recently finished his third tour in the War on Terror. He has not only talked the talk, he walks the walk.

Hunter has a 26 year record in the House of Representaives standing tall for America.

America needs Duncan Hunter. Hunter needs your support.

2007: Looking Back At America and Iraq

January 1, 2008

The fireworks are done, the parties are over and as usual, we begin to look back at how the year measured up for the world and us. Politicians made promises and we are still at war, in spite of a major power shift in Washington D.C.

2007 began with the swearing in of the newly elected Democrat majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. America saw its first female Speaker of the House installed as Nancy Pelosi, wealthy San Francisco Congresswoman took the reigns. We now hear that she Faced A Tough Year in 2007 due to her inability to “stop the war in Iraq.”

Winning the war never seemed to be on her or the Democrat Party’s minds, just “ending it.”

After winning the election in November 2006, Democrats wasted little time vowing an array of investigations and once installed in January 2007, implemented several hearings and investigations, all designed to undermine the current administration and weaken his power as president. One report says that 300 Investigations In 100 Days were launched.

President Bush remains in office while Congressional Approval Ratings Hit An All-Time Low. In their review of the year, Fox News tells us,

“President Bush and loyal Republicans did their best to ruin [the Democrats] victory every chance they got.”

2007 also saw a major shift in the ongoing War on Terror in Iraq as a new Commander, Gen. David Petraeus was installed as the 3rd U.S. commander in Iraq. He was to lead a major change in policy towards the war as President Bush announced and implemented a reinforcement of Troops fighting in Iraq, more popularly known as “the Troop Surge,” and with much Bipartisan Opposition.

In spite of the dire warnings of the “surge” being “too late” and “not having a chance to work,” reports from September showed remarkable success, bringing out the angst of opposers to the policy, who shifted their call to needing improvements in “political reconciliation” over Military Security. Seeing the heavy bi-partisanship of our own politicians, they must have missed that even America hasn’t attained reconciliation in our own 230-year existence.

Taking shots at Petraeus’s credibility and attacking him through the media backfired on opposers as the partisan line was crossed, seeing the Senate vote to condemn the denigrating ad.

In Iraq, we saw a large improvement as local Iraqis shifted their stance to supporting American Troops fighting the insurgents. As the violence ebbed, we saw a significant number of Iraqis Returning to Baghdad and surrounding areas, bringing about warnings and threats from the still elusive leadership of the terrorist movement.

Even with the lessening of violence and other improvements noted, we still hear that 2007 was the deadliest year for the U.S. in Iraq, as 899 of our brave troops paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Not that we need reminded, but we are also told it was a Deadly year in Afghanistan as well.

Ensuring Americans hear as much bad news as possible, we were told Iraq's displaced struggle to restart their lives as well as Iraqi refugees turn to sex trade in Syria, making me question the region’s treatment of young women even more.

We were even told once, As violence falls in Iraq, cemetery workers feel the pinch.

On the home front, we are deeply embroiled in another campaign season with Democrat and Republican candidates treating us to their ever verbose words of how much better they are than the other candidates. From the Democrat camp, I have received emails begging donations with words like,

“the Republicans will spend to spin their untruths and distortions,” “Only by expanding our Majority in Congress and putting a Democrat in the White House can we repair our tarnished reputation and reclaim America's rightful position as a source of hope and inspiration around the world,” “the only way to ensure lasting change is that when President Bush leaves office, the Republicans in Congress who made his disastrous policies possible are right behind him” and “let's resolve to run a certain b-rate cowboy and all of his rubber stamp friends in Congress right out of Washington and introduce them to the joys of retirement.”

From the Republicans, I receive,

“no one should let party lines be a barrier to choosing the person we believe is best qualified to lead our nation forward,” “We need strong leaders who recognize that cutting and running is not the answer,” “There are many reasons to elect a person president, but none more important than their ability to be commander in chief on the day they are sworn in to office,” “Your continuing commitment to the RNC is critical to keeping the White House in Republican hands and regaining our majorities” and “It is critical Republicans lay the foundation for victory in 2008 now.”

And to think, we have nearly a year of this left to endure.

Former Vice-President, Al Gore, received the Nobel Peace Prize for his alarmism on Global Warming.

Anti-war protesters are meeting opposition at their protests, finding out that they aren’t the only ones with a view.

The new congressional majority has failed to keep many promises, blaming Republicans for their failure to keep promises made.

In all, it was another year with our Troops fighting our enemies while politicians vie for more power in Washington D.C. I can only think it fitting that the year closed with the announcement by the FBI of rekindling interest in the unsolved, 36 year-old D.B. Cooper Highjacking.

It is my hope that American support of our Troops grows and the ongoing silliness of politicians attacking each other instead of standing on their record encourages voters to get behind those who do stand on their record.

I pray that in 2008, the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan keeps showing signs of improving and that we can not only bring most of our Troops home victorious, but that we will see our efforts have gained us two allies in the fight against terror.

Happy New Year everyone, Let’s make it one together.

Lew