Celebrity Hypocrites

Again we watch as liberals and progressives launch yet another assault on our constitutional second amendment rights. Some of the loudest have been the so called celebrities out of Hollywood, California. The below videos brilliantly display Hollywood's hypocrisy as they demand an end to gun violence, after collecting millions of dollars glorifying gun violence in their movies and hiring armed security guards for themselves.

Isn't it time that Hollywood stopped being such hypocrites?

Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf RIP

Just seen on Twitter: "AP source: Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf has died in Tampa, Fla." at the age of 78.

May he rest in peace. Til we meet in Fiddler's Green, General

More from Politico

Former President George H.W. Bush released the following statement from his hospital bed,

"Barbara and I mourn the loss of a true American patriot and one of the great military leaders of his generation. A distinguished member of that Long Gray Line hailing from West Point, General Norm Schwarzkopf, to me, epitomized the 'duty, service, country' creed that has defended our freedom and seen this great Nation through our most trying international crises. More than that, he was a good and decent man — and a dear friend.  Barbara and I send our condolences to his wife Brenda and his wonderful family."

Schwarzkopf's sister says he passed away from complications with pneumonia.

Vets, whispers, and a little horse sense

BY REES LLOYD (Reposted by author's request)

A great gift to give to veterans with stress this Christmas or for the new year is information about or sponsorship in the unique “Join-Up”® equine therapy program of Monty Roberts, the internationally famous horseman, horse trainer, and humanitarian known as the “Horse Whisperer.”

Roberts’ “Horse Sense & Soldiers” workshops, through his International Join-Up® Organization, are being credited with transforming the lives of veterans wounded by service-related post traumatic stress injury by teaching them to use his unique method of working with, and ultimately “joining up” with, untrained horses without the use of any violence whatsoever.

There are more than 3,000 veterans in the San Gorgonio Pass, many of whom suffer from post traumatic stress and could benefit from Roberts’ “Join-Up”® workshops, which he offers free to veterans.

On Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7, 2012, Roberts, put on his first “Horse Sense & Soldiers” workshop to be carried out in conjunction with the Patriot Outreach organization, and the American Legion Department of California Patriot Outreach Pilot Project. The three day program was held Dec. 7 through 9, 2012, at Roberts’ “Flag Is Up Ranch” in Solvang, CA. A second is planned for Jan. 11 to 13.

The Pearl Harbor Day workshop began with the lowering of the Flag and silence as Taps was played by Banning Bugler Robert Morgan, in remembrance of the veterans who were killed or wounded in the Japanese Empire attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec.7, 1941. Morgan, now 20, is a former Banning Eagle Scout and VFW’s “Scout of the Year 2009-10 (from among 60,000 nominees). He has bugled for three Memorial Honor Detail teams at Riverside National Cemetery since he was 12, in almost 1,000 military services. Now a college student headed for a military career, Morgan went through the “Join-Up” process at the invitation of Monty Roberts to learn just how it works.

Roberts is now internationally renowned as “The Horse Whisperer,” the name Hollywood gave to the movie based on his remarkable life. He has been celebrated by monarchs and presidents ranging from Queen Elizabeth II to President Ronald Reagan, and applauded by literally millions throughout the world who have seen his performances demonstrating that untrained, and even wild horses, can be trained by his “Join-Up” method of understanding and using the horses’ body movements as a discernible, predictable, and effective language he calls “Equus,” without “breaking” them by brutality and violence.

His autobiography, “The Man Who Listens To Horses,” has sold over 6.5-million copies. Over 10-million of his various books have been sold all together. In addition to the movie “The Horse Whisperer,” his life has been the subject of documentaries, television features and programs. He is in demand to teach his Join-Up method across the globe, from England to Germany to Brazil.

But he expends his time, money, and resources to also put on his “Horse Sense & Soldiers” workshops for veterans, whom he regards as “special people, who answered the call of the country to serve in order that the rest of us might remain free.”

When he teaches in a workshop to veterans of how debilitating post traumatic stress can be overcome by “joining up” with the horses in a non-violent partnership by using the silent body language of the horses, Equus, Roberts talks “down” to no one, and embraces everyone, with humility and gratitude for what he has learned from the some 70,000 horses he has worked with in a lifetime. “It’s not me who is teaching,” he says. “It’s the horses. Everything I know the horses have taught me. Everything I am, I owe to the horses. My only aim is to leave the world a better place for people, and the horses.”

Although he was rejected for military service because he is totally color blind, Roberts is a man who can speak of post traumatic stress because he knows it up close and personal: Among other things, his ultra-brutal father broke 72 of his bones in beatings when Roberts was a boy. He knows what it is to be in the depths of despair, even though he is now world renown. Learning the language and the lessons of the horses, he overcame his own post traumatic stress, and is engaged in great humanitarian work for veterans, abused children, battered women, autistic kids. There was a great quote about him at the veterans’ workshop from his wife, Pat Roberts, a noted sculptor, artist, and humanitarian herself: “I married a cowboy and got a missionary.”

Roberts is, indeed, a man on a mission—a mission to help vets overcome stress, and he is achieving results, as attested by those who attended the Pearl Harbor Day workshop.

Col. Antonio Monaco (USA, ret.) is a 38-year Army combat veteran who founded Patriot Outreach to try to reach, by various “Coping Strategies,” the 97 percent of veterans that the Veterans Administration estimates need help with stress but decline to seek it for various reasons, including the “warrior ethic” or fear that a medical record for post traumatic stress could negatively affect employment opportunities. He said:

“Monty Roberts’ ‘Horse Sense & Soldiers’ workshop was a great success. Seeing is believing and what we saw are veterans being transformed, getting their lives back, through Monty Roberts’ ‘Join Up’® program with horses… Miracles do happen.”

Terry Tracy, retired Marine who served as the American Legion Department of California Service Officer for some nineteen years, and is one of the most knowledgeable people in California if not the nation on Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, said:

“I was skeptical when I went to participate in Monty Roberts’ ‘Horse Sense & Soldiers’ workshop based on veterans learning to work non-violently with horses, and ultimately to ‘join up’ with them, in order to help those veterans overcome what Roberts insists is PTSI—Post Traumatic Stress Injury, which can be cured, not PTSD, a ‘Disorder’ veterans are born with which can only be managed.”

“After witnessing veterans following Monty Roberts instructions learning to control and actually ‘join up’ with 1200 pound horses without even touching them, I was greatly encouraged. Then, after hearing those veterans critique their experiences and tell how profoundly it affected them, I left convinced that Monty Robert’s ‘join-up’ method really does work and is an effective way to help veterans overcome debilitating stress, including PTSI.”

James G. Banakus, Chairman of the California American Legion Riders Commission, and a personal friend of Monty Roberts, said:

“Having been involved since the beginning of the idea of using Monty Roberts non-violent Join-Up process with horses to help veterans suffering from PTSI, I have seen remarkable progress in the lives of those who have attended several sessions. Even after their first three day clinic, you can see them starting to come out of the shell they arrived with on Friday morning, to learning to trust in themselves again by Sunday afternoon.”

Stephen Harrison is a former Marine forward observer who served from 1988-1993 and is now an Assistant Chaplain in the California Army National Guard. He is awaiting orders to deploy to Afghanistan, his third assignment to the Middle East. He says he was “transformed” when he experienced “Join-Up”® and has since been working as a volunteer assisting Roberts aid other vets. He said of the Pearl Harbor Day workshop:

“I suffer from and also work with those who suffer from the hurts of this current conflict and have seen most of what military medical has to offer in helping adapt. No pill or group session has come close to working as much as going through “Join Up”® and having Mr. Roberts and his staff introduce me to a new and special type of healing.”

Maj. Gen. George R. Harris (USA, ret.), who is associated with Patriot Outreach’s planned construction of Assisted Living facilities for veterans, including nine scheduled for California, said:

“Monty Roberts’ lifetime of work with horses has unlocked some eye-opening techniques to address post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) suffered by so many of our military. His concepts dig deep and prompt rediscovery of the individual’s capacity for trust - in their environment, in their relationships and in themselves.”

Fred Spain, CEO of “Ranson Green,” the huge, innovative effort of Patriot Outreach to establish a state-of-the-art, hydrogen-powered “green city” providing medical treatment, housing, and jobs for veterans, said:

“Some fifteen of us Patriot Outreach executives witnessed firsthand the effectiveness of Monty Roberts’ techniques as stress-affected veterans engaged with horses in Roberts’ ‘Join-Up’® program. As a result, we are enthusiastic about these efforts and have decided to advance into the teaming effort with Join-Up International to bring active military and Veterans to the ‘Flag Is Up Farm’ for engagement with Monty Roberts’ programs.”

In summary, Roberts’ “Horse Sense & Soldiers” workshop and “Join-Up” program is an experience of a lifetime. It was for mine, for which I will forever be thankful to Monty Roberts and his family, to Col. Monaco and Patriot Outreach, and to the American Legion, for creating the opportunity. I hope veterans dealing with stress, from minor to life destroying major, will seize that opportunity for themselves, and their families, who also suffer.

For more information or to register to participate for the Jan. 11-13, 2013 Monty Robert’s “Horse Sense & Veterans” workshop, go to www.Join-Up.org/veterans; or call 805-688-3483.

REES LLOYD is an American Legion Life Member and Judge Advocate Riverside Post 79, Past Commander District 21 (Cal.), Co-founder and Director, Defense of Veterans Memorials Project of The American Legion, District 21, Dept. of California and a longtime California civil rights attorney and veterans activist now residing in Portland, Oregon.

Copyright © 2012 - Record Gazette

Vietnam, Through The Eyes Of The Entertainers

Most of us that served in Vietnam were occasionally treated to some entertainment in the form of Go-Go Dancers, singers and musicians who would come to Vietnam and entertain us.

The best known was the Bob Hope Shows, but few of us were ever actually able to attend one of his Christmas Specials. Most of us who saw such shows were treated to Filipino bands or occasionally Australian or American entertainers.

Not until today did I know that many of those entertainers were not under the USO, but were booked privately to play at various Military Clubs and remote bases, being largely left to their own accord for security and protection, except of course when at a Base camp performing.

Some lost their lives while there to entertain us.

A 53 minute documentary has been produced from their perspective by one of those performers, Mara Wallis who spent two years in country, traveling and entertaining the Troops.

Her documentary features much footage from the era taken by her friends and interviews with some from later today. Previously only available on DVD, it is now available for full length viewing online.

“Entertaining Vietnam”

A must see trip down memory lane, seeing it from the perspective of those who came over to entertain us, giving us a momentary escape from the rigors of war.

15 Reasons Another Assault Weapons Ban is a Wasted Effort

America has seen another tragic incident where a madman has stolen legal weapons, forced his way into an elementary school and murdered 28 people, 20 of them small children. That he took his own life is of little consolation, having saved the state the effort.

As expected, the gun used now receives all blame as all across America, gun-hating politicians once again push for another "Assault Weapons Ban" as the previous such ban expired in 2004. That such a ban did nothing to prevent such murderous events is completely ignored.

Politicians imposed an "Assault Weapons Ban" in September 1994 with a 10 year sunshine clause, allowing it to expire in September 2004. During the time of that ban, we saw the following happen,

1) 11/15/95 - Lynnville, Tn School shooting. 2 Dead, 1 injured, .22-calibre Remington Viper semi-automatic rifle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richland_High_School_shooting

2) 2/2/96 - Moses Lake, Wa School shooting. 3 dead, 1 injured, .30-30 caliber rifle, .357 caliber pistol, .25 caliber pistol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontier_Middle_School_shooting

3) 2/19/97 - Bethel, Ak School shooting. 2 dead, 2 injured, Mossberg 500 12-gauge shotgun

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_Ramsey

4) 10/1/97 - Pearl, Ms School shooting. 2 dead, 7 injured. Marlin Model 336 .30-30-caliber rifle, knife

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_High_School_shooting

5) 12/1/97 - West Paducah, Ky School shooting. 3 dead, 5 injured. .22 caliber long rifle, 12 gauge pump-action shotgun, Ruger MK II .22-caliber pistol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heath_High_School_shooting

6)4/24/98 - Edinboro, Pa School shooting. 1 dead, 3 injured. .25 caliber pistol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_Middle_School_dance_shooting

7) 5/21/98 - Springfield, Or School shooting. 4 killed, 24 injured. 9 mm Glock 19 pistol, sawed-off .22LR Ruger 10/22 rifle, .22LR Ruger MK II pistol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kip_Kinkel

8) 4/20/99 - Columbine, Co School shooting. 15 dead, 21 injured. Intratec TEC-DC9, Hi-Point 995 Carbine, Savage 67H pump-action shotgun, Stevens 311D double barreled sawed-off shotgun, 99 explosives, 4 knives

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre

9) 5/20/99 - Conyers, Ga School shooting. 0 dead, 6 injured. .22 caliber long rifle and a .357-caliber revolver

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_High_School_shooting

10) 11/2/99 - Honolulu, Hi Office Shooting. 7 dead, 0 injured. Glock 17

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_murders

11) 12/26/00 - Wakefield, Ma Office Shooting. 7 dead, 0 injured. AK-47 variant, 12-gauge Winchester 1300 shotgun, .32 caliber Retolaza pistol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakefield_massacre

12) 3/5/01 - Santee, Ca School Shooting. 2 dead, 13 injured. Arminius .22 caliber long-barreled revolver

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Andrew_Williams

13) 3/22/01 El Cajon, Ca School Shooting. 0 dead, 5 injured. Weapon unknown

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granite_Hills_High_School_%28El_Cajon,_California%29#Shooting

14) 1/16/02 Grundy, Va College Shooting. 3 dead, 3 injured. .380 ACP semi-automatic handgun

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_School_of_Law_shooting

15) 4/14/03 New Orleans, La School Shooting. 1 dead, 3 injured AK-47, semi-automatic pistol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McDonogh_High_School_shooting

15 mass shootings while so-called "Assault Weapons" were banned, 13 of them in our schools and this does not include thousands of other murders committed by other means.

Here in Washington State, we see a new push to ban "Semi-Automatic" Weapons by 3 gun-hating Democrats, spewing such rhetoric as "If they're used in the army, used in the war — that's what this ban is about," by Ralph Fascitelli, the board president of Washington Ceasefire.

Fascitelli seems to be echoing a similar uninformed sentence uttered by Barack Obama in the second presidential debate this past October where in the midst of one of his extensive answers he stated, "weapons that were designed for soldiers in war theaters don't belong on our streets."

Apparently, neither realizes that unless obtained illegally, stolen or procured on the black market, such weapons ARE NOT ON OUR STREETS! Why? Because they are ALREADY BANNED! Citizens cannot legally obtain the same weapons used by our Military, those are fully automatic, meaning as long as the trigger is held down, they continue to fire until you empty the magazine.

What citizens are able to have is a semi-automatic that LOOKS similar, but will only fire once for each pull on the trigger. They function no different than any hunting rifle.

Referring back to the 15 incidents during the previous Assault Weapons Ban, you'll notice that in the majority, the weapon used would not fall under such a ban.

What we see is the usual knee-jerk reaction of people with an unfounded fear or hatred of guns, always seeking to disarm innocent people and not realizing that since criminals already ignore all laws, there is no reason to expect they will heed a new one. They will just see more easy targets.

In the examples given above, in at least 2 the shooters were stopped and held for Police by others who also were armed. Pearl, Mississippi saw the vice-principal retrieve a gun from his truck and hold the shooter as he was heading off to another school to do more harm. The Appalachian Law School shooter was apprehended by 3 students, at two that were armed.

But gun-haters oppose training and arming qualified personnel in schools. They falsely believe do so places school children in more harm instead of protecting them.

To that I can only answer, if training and arming qualified school staff will not protect school children, then how does arming secret service agents protect Barack Obama's children, who have armed body guards wherever they go? And they are not necessarily armed with single shot weapons, but fully automatic weapons in some cases.

Are his children somehow more important than yours?

We would do far better addressing the mental health of people than disarming innocent citizens and leaving them easy prey to whatever criminal element roams our towns.

It is time we turned our focus to where the problem really lies, mental health and not the NRA who teaches and advocates gun safety.

See also Reality Clark County Tools for Teachers

Surviving an Active Shooter Event: Run. Hide. Fight.

The following video was produced by the city of Houston, Texas and the Department of Homeland Security as a training aid to inform citizens of how to react and what to do to survive an active shooting incident like we have seen lately. While there is some excellent advice, depending on the exact situation a person my find themselves in and of course, the location, they do not mention getting the proper training on the use of a firearm, arming yourself and being prepared to use it if need be.

It is unlikely that any of us would ever be faced with such a situation, but not as unlikely as it once was. It could happen in a location where you cannot run, cannot hide or do not have anything to improvise as a weapon to defend yourself. Buying a gun alone is not good enough. You must be trained, maintain proficiency and be prepared to take a life. If not, you should not arm yourself.

Read more as well a version in Spanish here

It’s Time to Get Realistic About Gun Control

Once again, pure evil visited a community in America and the media wasted no airtime informing the world of it. At least 28 people, 20 of them small children lie dead because of the callous act of a lone mentally disturbed gunman who felt he should end so many lives at an Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Barack Obama said, “As a country, we have been through this too many times. Whether it’s an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago -- these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children. And we’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.”

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a long time gun control advocate says, “With all the carnage from gun violence in our country, it’s still almost impossible to believe that a mass shooting in a kindergarten class could happen. It has come to that. Not even kindergarteners learning their A,B,Cs are safe. We heard after Columbine that it was too soon to talk about gun laws. We heard it after Virginia Tech. After Tucson and Aurora and Oak Creek. And now we are hearing it again.”

Boston, Massachusetts Mayor Thomas Menino adds his voice with, “Now is the time for a national policy on guns that takes the loopholes out of the laws, the automatic weapons out of our neighborhoods and the tragedies like today out of our future.”

Actress Mia Farrow left on twitter, “I don’t want to hear one idiotic word out of the NRA. Gun control is no longer debatable- it’s not a ‘conversation’- It’s a moral mandate.”

Bombastic filmmaker Michael Moore brayed, “The way to honor these dead children is to demand strict gun control, free mental health care, and an end to violence as public policy.”

Within hours of the news breaking of the carnage, as level-heads were saying “now is not the time” for more discussion on guns, MomsRising.org, a spin-off the far left Moveon.org sent out an email blast stating, “We are beyond heartbroken as we think of the kindergarteners and others that died today in Connecticut. Today is the 3rd day this week when there’s been a mass shooting in our nation. We are parents. Many NRA members are parents. And none of us want to live in a nation where children are gunned down. #Todayistheday for the NRA and for Congress to step up and start proposing laws that protect children and all people.”

Throughout the day and continuing today we read of more calls for new laws concerning guns in America. From the style of gun to the capacity of the magazine, even to the false claims of “automatic weapon,” the cry goes out to “do something.”

I agree, we must do something and we must do it soon to protect our children and our families.

December 1, 1997 saw three students killed and five wounded at Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky.

May 21, 1998 we saw two students killed and 22 others wounded in the cafeteria at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon.

April 20, 1999 in Littleton, Colorado 15 students, including the 2 shooters and one teacher were killed, 27 others wounded at Columbine High School.

April 16, 2007 saw Seung-Hui Cho at Virginia Tech University killing 32 students and faculty, and wounding another 17 people.

And now, December 14, 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, 20 children and 7 adults are dead, including the mother of the shooter.

And it isn’t only schools were it happens. We recently saw the shooting at the Clackamas Town Center Mall that left 3 dead, including the shooter.

Back on October 16, 1991 saw 23 people slaughtered as they peacefully dined at a Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas by a madman.

November 5, 2009 saw Maj. Nidal Hasan murder 13 soldiers and injure 32 others at Ft. Hood, Texas.

July 20, 2012 saw another madman kill 12 people and wound scores more in an Aurora, Colorado movie theater.

We have seen far too many of these incidents, but those demanding more gun laws, more gun bans and neutering of the NRA all miss the common denominator in every one of these shootings.

Each and every one of them happened in a place that already had a strict, no guns allowed policy.

That’s right, in each case, the gunman was already openly ignoring and in violation of existing gun laws as well as ignoring the policies of “no guns allowed” when they entered and began their carnage, knowing there was little to no chance of anyone stepping up to oppose them.

In simpler words, our increasingly strict laws against guns and their use has never stopped one single bullet exiting the barrel of any criminal or madman. They pay no attention to written law and often the gun used was stolen or obtained illegally.

Even those who obtained their gun legally and “snapped” pay no heed to laws and if bent on killing masses of people, seek out those “gun free” places to carry out their mayhem.

This argument on disarming American citizens is not new. An April 30, 1866 editorial in the New York Times argued against students carrying pistols, citing “A boy of 12 has his pantaloons made with a pistol pocket; and this at a boarding-school filled with boys, who, we suppose, do or wish to do the same thing. We would advise parents to look into it, and learn whether shooting is to be a part of the scholastic course which may be practiced on their boys; or else we advise them to see that their own boys are properly armed with the most approved and deadly-pistol, and that there may be an equal chance at least of their shooting as of being shot.”

For a very long time we have seen efforts to establish what opponents to guns label as “common-sense” gun regulations. And for a very long time we have seen those very regulations ignored and violated by criminals and madmen, seeking out those very well known “gun-free” areas to carry out their dastardly deeds.

What those who condemn the gun ignore is cases where an armed citizen out a stop to any carnage by drawing their own legally concealed firearm, just as thousands of homeowners have done, defending and saving their own lives and the lives of others.

News reports may mention citizens stepping in to stop the mayhem, but often do not mention that those who stepped up did so with their own gun, many times not needed to even fire it, shooters stopping realizing they were about to be shot.

Suzanna Gratia-Hupp gave an emotional account of seeing her parents gunned down in the 1991 Luby’s cafeteria shootings before Congress and how her compliance with the then Texas Law prevented her from saving her parents and others, leaving her own firearm locked in her car. The gunman paid no attention to the law that was expected to keep people safe.

A 1997 school shooting was stopped in Pearl, Mississippi when Vice-Principal Joel Myrick retrieved his Colt .45 from his truck and held the shooter for Police as he was about to leave Pearl High School, headed to the nearby Junior High to continue his carnage.

Had Mr. Myrick been allowed to have his gun on his person he might have been able to prevent at least some of the dead or wounded, but he definitely prevented more deaths planned at the other school.

In 2002 we saw a lone gunman who decided to terrorize the Appalachian Law School being tackled by three students, two of whom were armed, putting a stop to the gunman’s plans before the body count reached that we saw in the Virginia Tech shooting years later where no one was permitted to be armed.

Again, the gunman ignored the laws and regulations, seeing easy targets in another “Gun-Free” school campus.

We saw another gunman who decided to slaughter worshippers at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado brought down by an armed citizen in attendance that day before he killed more.

April 2012 saw a knife wielding man stopped dead in his tracks in Salt Lake City, Utah as an armed citizen put an end to his rampage stabbing and slashing others.

Time and again, qualified, licensed citizens have sprung into action stopping criminals and madmen before their rampage caused a much higher body count than planned.

We are just now learning that the shooter at the Clackamas Town Center was confronted by a man with a concealed carry license.

Since it is now known the gunman had several loaded magazines, did he take his own life thinking he was about to be shot or arrested, ending his body count at 2 instead of dozens that he might have hoped for?

Time and again we see where properly trained, legally licensed citizens with a firearm prevented high body counts when these criminals and madmen go on a rampage. No law passed, no matter how bold you may print “we really mean it this time” has stopped these gunmen.

Guns are here and criminals have no intent of surrendering their gun, no matter what law is passed. If they want to create mayhem, they can obtain a gun easier by illegal methods than legal.

If they don’t have access to a gun, many just use a knife, a hammer, a screwdriver or mix regular household items into an explosive device to carry out their intent.

They just ignore the laws.

Guns were banned in England and strict controls put on them. Yet they saw an increase in gun crime.

They also saw such an increase in knife crimes, where the victim was unable to defend themselves due to those strict gun regulations, doctors began advocating a kitchen knife ban.

What else will they propose be banned or heavily regulated before they wake up and realize the problem is not in the tool used by criminals and madmen, but the criminal and madmen themselves?

We do need gun regulations, no one argues that. Certain people should not be able to purchase or possess a gun. Few people argue that.

But guns are here to stay.

We do not need to disarm innocent people and leave them an easy prey to madmen and criminals. As we saw in examples above, a properly trained and licensed teacher, vice-Principal or Administrator in a school could put a stop to the mayhem before it grows.

When seconds count, Police are but minutes away.

How many more must die while waiting on them to arrive?

Isn’t A Job Also a “Basic Human Right?”

It seems everywhere we turn today, some Progressive twit is declaring what they want to be a “basic human right.” Abortion, birth control, medicine, healthcare, a home, public transportation, recreational drugs, food and any number of other wants are declared basic human rights that should just be given to them, free of charge with someone else footing the bill.

But it seems that when it comes to a job, that is not a basic human right and judging by the actions unfolding as the Michigan legislature passes Right to Work legislation, you should not be able to have a job or work for a paycheck unless you are held hostage to a union.

Right to work very simply says that someone may not be required to join a union and be forced to pay dues to a third party (the union) in order to be hired and work at a company or place of business, drawing a paycheck.

It does not kill the union, but makes joining the union voluntary.

Unions, who use the collected dues often to donate and support Democrats, who in turn write legislation favorable to corrupt unions, hate right to work for obvious reasons, people do not like being forced to pay a third party in order to be able to work and feed their families.

All too often, unions see their membership drop and dues decline as workers opt out of union membership after right to work legislation is passed. The worker does better with more money in their pocket, spending it on their family instead of ensuring union bosses have luxurious lifestyles and freely give money to Democrats, but the union abhors people being able to succeed on their own, beholding to no one, held hostage only to their talents and abilities.

Unions are known for their violent rallies and protests, even murder to force their way into people’s lives an Michigan is seeing that very thing happen today as they passed the latest right to work law.

The video below one such violent outburst by union zombies against an Americans for Prosperity tent set


The tent was occupied by people freely using their first amendment rights to support or oppose legislation, just as any of the rest us have and do. Some union thugs were armed with knives as their tore down and ripped up the tent, all because they oppose other people not being forced to join their union against their will.

We saw this last year in Longview, Washington as the Longshoremen’s union turned violent in protesting a company using another union, taking hostages, destroying private property and terrorizing the citizens.

Unions also promote lies about their worth and history, falsely they are who brought about the 40 hour work week. That was Henry Ford who brought about the 5 day, 40 hour work week and Henry Ford was very much anti-union, fighting to keep them out of his early corporation.

The effectiveness of unions can be seen in the economic decline of Detroit, Michigan, once a thriving center of American Automobile production. The city is nearing bankruptcy, neighborhoods that once were filled with productive workers now see empty dilapidated houses and deteriorating sidewalks and streets.

We recently saw city council members calling for a federal government bailout as one member expressed to Barack Obama, “we elected you now bail us out,” explaining his job was to “bring home the bacon.”

We even see Barack Obama, who champions himself a protector of basic human rights inserting himself into the Michigan right to work matter, telling union stooges, “What we shouldn’t be doing is try to take away your rights to bargain for better wages or working conditions.”

Newsflash for Obama, Right to Work does not remove anybodies rights to collective bargaining or improved working conditions, it only makes membership in a union voluntary, removing the unions’ ability to force membership and dues collection.

What it does it lets workers decide on their own if they will join a union or act as free agents when it comes to employment, not be held hostage by a third party.

Obviously, voluntary union membership strokes a note of fear in the union bosses hearts.

To be clear, when I say a job is a basic human right I do not mean that everyone is owed a job. No, but we should be free to pursue any job we want and work wherever we can impress the owner that they need our talents, not being held hostage to third party unions who only take from workers and produce nothing but more violence.

We cannot be the “Land of the Free” if we are forced into owing our souls to thuggish union bosses in order to just have a job and care for our families.

Union appreciation for our first amendment freedoms


Do you want to be held hostage to these thugs?

Stoners Stumble Across the ‘Law of Unintended Consequences’

The enlightened people in the states of Washington and Colorado pushed through their measures to legalize marijuana smoking in the last election, many euphoric over the electoral win and believing their choice of drug, once legalized, will be broadly accepted and they will no longer face consequences for smoking a joint when they so choose.

Since marijuana use is sill illegal under federal law, the question left unanswered for the time being is what will the feds do in the two states, now that they have decided to not follow federal law?

As of this posting, there is only speculation on what the feds may or may not do.

The states have one year to work our regulations concerning the use of marijuana, such detection standards if caught driving under the influence as well as standards to be used should such a case draw a user a citation and they appear in court.

While that was pretty much expected, one area it seems no one considered was the workplace, s seen in the AP article appearing in the Saturday Columbian, Employers vs. legal pot.

We read of a man who lost his job when a routine drug screening detected his use of marijuana, even though he uses for “medicinal” reasons and his addressing being terminated under the companies “drug free” policy in court.

In this day of “zero tolerance” wherever we look, we shouldn’t be surprised that someone loses their job is pot use is detected, even though “medicinal.” Workplaces have long strived to cut costs of health insurance, increase productivity and maintain a safe working environment for all and any level of impairment is no longer tolerated.

For me personally, I do realize that marijuana use by some afflicted with certain diseases or conditions does help the person. But by and large, we also know that most claims of “medicinal” use of pot are a real stretch, using that as a smokescreen to justify their use of the drug.

Many felt that the initiatives of the people to legalize the recreational use of drug would free them up and the realization that they are not immediately free to walk around or show up at work with it in their system is not being well accepted.

What they forgot in their haste is that marijuana does contain many of the same concentrates of toxins found in tobacco. Some varieties have even larger concentrations of the carcinogens used over the years to demonize tobacco and have it banned nearly everywhere in some communities.

In Washington State, initiative 901 was passed back in 2005, placing very strict prohibitions on smoking tobacco, banning it within 25 feet of opening windows and doors of businesses and homes and even banning it inside of private homes should the homeowner operate a child or adult daycare facility in that home.

The so-called “Clean Indoor Air Act” was passed overwhelmingly by a 63.25% to 36.75% margin.

Legalizing marijuana passed by a smaller 55.7% to 44.3% margin in Washington State.

Clearly, people show they are very concerned about second hand smoke and the claims of carcinogens on those nearby.

Subsequently, additional measures and bans have been imposed by localities on smoking tobacco and taxation to, as Vancouver city council member Jeanne Harris put it, to “change cultural behavior.”

Simply put, people do not want to be exposed to smoke.

Today’s AP article makes mention of the former employee not being shown to be “impaired” at work. But forgotten again is that it is not about being impaired, but about ingesting smoke and potential health hazards that drive up the cost of health insurance an employer must pay.

Comments supporting the legal use of marijuana are saying, “This is not about the right of old hippies and lazy stoners to light up. It's about the rights of responsible people to exercise basic human rights in their own homes,” “So now employers can tell us whether or not we can engage in a legal social activity while off duty?,” “Cannabis use and a safe work place have very little to do with each other” and “The blatant collusion between the insurance lobby and the federal government should have covered MANUFACTURED WHITE POWDERS, not a plant that grows in the ground.”

As to the last quoted comment, do they miss that tobacco also “grows in the ground?”

But where was all of this angst and opposition when employers announced that even off the job smoking of tobacco would be ground for termination? Where was their outcry when court challenges failed, courts siding with employers banning employees from smoking at any time?

Too many stoners raised their blinders in their quest to have their herb legalized without ever considering that their choice of smoke will inevitably fall under the same restrictions of smoke as tobacco.

Many pot smokers even sided with the bans on tobacco and now reality comes smacking them in the face.

They are now facing the uncertainty of although the two states have legalized marijuana use, where will they be allowed to use it without repercussion of some sort?

And just wait to see their reaction when they find out that ‘nickel bag’ ends up costing them maybe as high as $25 after legislators decide to reap revenues off of it.

It’s likely they too will become the subject of efforts to “change cultural behavior” by prohibitive taxation.

Remembering Pearl Harbor

As we all know, Sunday, December 7, 1941 saw a sudden and deliberate attack on the U.S. Navy at anchor in Pearl Harbor Hawaii. The attack drew America into World War Two and was labeled by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as “A day that will live in infamy.”

But few of us know much of what those men in the ships saw and endured on that fateful morning.

I was fortunate to have attended the 70th Commemoration of that attack last year and recorded the words of the few remaining survivors in our area.

May we never forget or let our guard drop like that again.

Mark Levin Schools Speaker John Boehner

The Heritage Foundation says of Boehner's "counter-offer" to Barack Obama, "At first blush, it appears little more than categorical, pre-emptive capitulation."

In this bloggers not so humble opinion, Boehner is a disgrace and either should resign of be removed from the position of Speaker of the House.

It's high time we rid ourselves of the Vichy Republicans selling out conservatives under their false banner.

Barack Obama Commemorates Rosa Parks With a Photo of Himself

I ever there was any doubt that Barack Obama is indeed a narcissist, putting out a photo of himself sitting inside a bus similar to the one Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on back in 1955 should settle that question. That was 6 years before Obama was even born.

That Obama injects himself into an event long before he was born and one that sparked the struggles of Black People in the South to gain the rights that always should have been theirs is just unbelievable, considering he never endured the jaunts of Democrats opposed to Civil Rights, had stones thrown at him by angry Democrats lining the route of marches or never experienced the Democrat Ku Klux Klan burning a cross in his front yard or dragging him out of his home in the dead of night to beat and whip him.

No, he came along later to reap the rewards of what others struggled for and when it is time to honor one known as “the first lady of civil rights” and “the mother of the freedom movement,” he instead of honors himself.

Far different was former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush who after Rosa Parks passed away and her coffin was placed in the Capitol Rotunda, placed a wreath next to her coffin then blended back with the crowd, not taking the attention or significance to him, letting it rest with Rosa Parks where it belonged.

The following year he “ordered a statue of [Rosa] Parks to be placed in the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C. and when signing this resolution, stated, ‘By placing her statue in the heart of the nation's Capitol, we commemorate her work for a more perfect union, and we commit ourselves to continue to struggle for justice for every American’.”

Again, the attention was focused on her legacy and not himself.

But, Obama has his photo put out, calling honors to himself and not to Ms. Parks or her legacy. And let’s face it, there is no shortage of photos of Ms. Parks courageous stand

Without a doubt he is the most narcissistic person to ever occupy the Oval Office, at least in my lifetime.

We cannot allow the importance of what Rosa Parks did in the fight for Civil Rights to be lost and assigned to a ‘Johnny Come Lately’ who has not done anything to promote Civil Rights, leaving most of today’s Black People much worse off than when he came to power.

Rosa Parks took a courageous stand for justice and civil rights when she refused to give up her seat to a White man back in December 1955.

Decades later, Barack Obama relishes in the attention he draws to himself instead of honoring the legacy and the sacrifices made by others that allowed him to one day even be in the Oval Office.

The memory of Rosa Parks deserves better.

The Sound of Christmas

The latest release from Michael and Angela Souders and of course, those wonderful kids at Tussing Elementary School, Colonial Heights, Virginia

See more information at Restored Faith

Our Greatest Heroes Looking For Unsung Heroes

It takes ordinary people doing extraordinary things in order to be a recipient of the nation’s highest honor for bravery, the Medal of Honor. Millions of men and women have served in our wars and performed heroically, but out of those millions, only 3,471 have received the nation’s highest honor.

Of that number, less than 100 are alive today. Ordinary people who, when it really counted, ignored the dangers and placed their own lives in jeopardy, heroically saving others.

We look upon these Military men with awe, many of us wondering if we would act as they did in the same situation. Most of them look upon themselves as the lucky ones, the ones that survived the battles, many thinking others are more deserving of the honor.

But heroes are not restricted to the Military in battle nor are all heroes only men. We pass heroes every day in our cities, most often not seeing a hero, but a Fire Fighter, a Police Officer or just a friendly neighbor who responded to calls for help, ran into a neighbor’s home on fire to get people out before First responders arrive.

Often we see them stop at the scene of an auto accident, rescuing and comforting victims, rendering aid or jumping into a swollen river to rescue a child who may have fallen in.

Men and women from all walks of life, selflessly putting themselves in danger with only one thought, help someone in immediate need of help.

The Medal of Honor Society is looking for these people and is asking for your help in nominating those who have acted selflessly in your community so three may be selected for presentation of “Citizen Service Before Self Honors” near the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery in conjunction with National Medal of Honor Day.

A Press Release received today says,

“Citizens are urged to nominate heroes they know of as soon as possible. A nationwide campaign began in September and has reached lawmakers, public officials and first responders to elicit nominations. So far, more than 70 nominations from 25 different states have been made, but the Foundation is looking for more before the deadline next month.”

By clicking here you can “Nominate A Hero Who Has Gone Above And Beyond For Others!” There is also links provided for Facebook and Twitter to follow the process as well as a link to past Honorees.

Nominations are due not later than Friday, December 28, 2012, so if you have someone in mind who acted selflessly on behalf of others, be sure to submit their name in the form at the link above.

Our greatest Heroes seeking America’s Unsung Heroes so to honor them. That’s as American as it gets.


Submit your hero’s nomination here

The War on Coal is a War on Jobs & the Economy

“When I was asked earlier about the issue of coal…under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket…” Barack Obama, January 2008

Getty Images

A simple statement made to the San Francisco Chronicle when first campaigning for president, Barack Obama openly announced his “War on Coal” and with the help of environmentalists, leftists, a willing media and the usual slate of ‘joiners,’ a statement that has been seen all too true as electricity rates have gone up over the last 4 years.

But far from just raising the cost of lighting and heating our homes, Obama’s War on Coal deprives America of good paying jobs while we remain in an elongated period of high unemployment and decreasing revenues collected by our treasury.

Coal fired power plants are being forced to close all over America, putting workers out of work and often onto the public dole as so called alternative “Green” energy sources take precedence. That a Spanish Study concluded that 2 jobs were lost elsewhere for every job created in these inefficient, unreliable and overly expensive alternative sources has been ignored in the push for eliminating coal fired plants.

Even though we in America enjoy an abundance of coal reserves that have long provided us with inexpensive and reliable energy, there is little market for it in America due to this “Green” move.

But Asian countries, who have long suffered from large areas deprived of electricity, are seeing the benefit of building power generating plants fueled by inexpensive coal. It has been reported that there are plans to build over 1,000 coal fired plants in Asia, primarily China and India and they want to import coal, America’s coal unable to keep up with their own demands by mining their own.

As you can imagine, such a desire sends shockwaves through the “Green” community, who although claiming they oppose ‘Nation Building,’ feel they have the right to dictate to countries like China and India as to how they generate electricity in remote regions of their countries, fearing pollution will drift back over America. With visions of the hyperbole and hype of “Acid Rain” and the “Ozone Hole” seen back in the 1970’s & 1980’s dancing through their imaginations, the cry has gone out to block construction of terminals to be used to increase the shipping of coal to Asia and to prevent coal from being transported by rail, even though trains have been shipping coal for decades.

With the announcement of the construction of six new terminals to collect and increase shipments of coal to Asia, opponents have flocked to City Council meetings with dire predictions of doom and gloom should cities allow trains hauling coal from mines in Montana and Wyoming to pass through their cities. Tall tales of 60 trains possibly two miles long passing through cities every day and “clouds of coal dust” falling on sandwiches of picnickers next to rail tracks came complete with photos for “proof.”

Not stated was just when or where those photos were taken as coal trains now treat coal cars with a surfactant to prevent coal dust from escaping, as I saw in 2010 when driving back from Texas and passing a train hauling coal. The photos below are of that train I passed that was traveling in the opposite direction at a good rate of speed.

As you can see, no coal dust escaping and these photos were taken on a fairly windy day, as is often seen in Texas.

Addressing some of the “overblown concerns,” BNSF Railway Chairman and CEO Matthew Rose spoke locally in late August, explaining that not all 6 terminal will actually be built nor will “60 to 100 trains a day” pass through our community. Realistically, 12 to 16 would be more likely, Rose said adding that trains carrying loads of coal already pass through the area and have for several years.

Waylaying environmental concerns, the Alliance For Northwest Jobs & Exports brings out

“The Northwest Clean Air Agency, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and Spokane Clean Air Agency have not had a single record of any coal dust complaints as of last year, despite coal trains traveling through the region for years.”

We also see word of a recent study conducted in the Missoula, Montana rail yard that found coal dust from uncovered rail cars “not significant,” but opponents still insist more specifics are needed.

Likewise, a recent study on Australian coal trains found,

“there is no appreciable difference between coal trains and freight trains with some slight variations with passenger trains.”

While all of us wish to protect the environment, we also know that we must balance that with our economy and with the region still being under such an elongated period of unemployment, to put it simply, we need jobs. We need jobs so that our citizens can get back to work and care for their families.

We also need the revenues an increase in jobs will bring as those returning to work will purchase homes and essentials an even wants, paying the state taxes on each purchase. Claims by opponents of no jobs will be created by the passage through our community fall short. Since one terminal likely to be built is in Longview, citizens of Clark County very well may end up working there along with increased rail maintenance locally will likely see more hires.

Stepping outside of the Pacific Northwest, we see Fritz Vahrenholt, one of Germany’s earliest green energy investors recognizing the imbalance between our economy and environment concluding,

“The choice is no longer between global warming catastrophe and economic growth but between economic catastrophe and climate sense.”

A recent poll released by multiple unions indicates Pacific Northwesterners support the exporting of coal by a wide margin. A letter released by labor leaders said,

“Given all the noise being made by export opponents, we thought it was very important for people with a direct stake in this debate – workers, businesses and elected officials – to understand that by a 2:1 ratio, voters in both states support coal exports. Voters know what we know – new bulk shipping terminals and coal exports will put people back to work, will generate badly needed revenue for government services, and can be developed in an way that is environmentally responsible.”

While not taking a firm stand on either side, outgoing Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire told an audience at the Bellingham City Club last summer,

“Let there be no mistake, Wyoming and Montana are going to extract their coal and they’re going to export it. The question is, does it go through Canada or does it go through Washington?”

That is the question all of us must ask ourselves now. As our state faces increasing unemployment again and another steep budget gap, do we want jobs here in Washington and Oregon? Or do we want the benefits to go to our neighbor to the north, Canada?

Opponents have launched a very well organized, very vocal and in my opinion, misguided effort to stop the export of our coal to Asia. We must also arm ourselves with the truth and necessity of exporting our coal to improve our own economy and lifestyle.

To that end, there is a ‘scoping meeting’ scheduled to take place in Vancouver on December 12th at Clark College in the Gaiser Student Center from 4 to 7 p.m. Meetings scheduled in other localities can be seen here.

It is imperative that as many of us who can attend this meeting and begin arming ourselves to push back against the hyperbole and overblown concerns being used by opponents.

Only by being informed with facts and using them can we restore balance and end this “War on Coal” and our Economy.

The Prophecy of Paul Harvey

Radio broadcaster Paul Harvey, known for his short "The Rest of the Story" segments often spoke in common sense terms, deriding anti-American sentiments or giving unknown background on stories in the news.

He left us in 2009 at the age of 90. He may be gone, but his conservative folksy voice remains in recordings. Among them is this broadcast, first spoken in 1965 and a few times since.

Amazing that nearly everything he stated so long ago has come to pass.

Wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to All

I hope each and everyone of you enjoy a peaceful and safe Thanksgiving with family and loved ones.

For a Thanksgiving message, I can think of none better than that expressed by one of America's greatest Comedians and a true Patriot back in 1952, Red Skelton.

President Eisenhower Warned Us, Why Didn’t We Listen?

On January 17, 1961 outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower was televised giving one of his most famous and well known speeches. The 15 minute Farewell to the Nation is largely regarded today as the “Military Industrial Complex” speech due to one lone sentence warning us of an out of control industrial complex fueling our Military while the rest of the speech has been mostly discarded.

But within that speech President Eisenhower warned us of a far greater danger that we as a nation have ignored, having fallen prey to the claims of what he then labeled a “Scientific Technological Elite” and how public policy could easily become captive to that.

Within a few years of that speech we began hearing news of our environment being in danger, of ecological disasters awaiting us in the near future, how our freedom of travel in private cars was pumping more and more pollutants into the atmosphere, how our industrial & manufacturing plants were creating “acid rain” killing livestock, poisoning the environment and life as we knew it was sure to end if not mankind itself.

In December 1970 President Richard Nixon signed into law the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency “to consolidate in one agency a variety of federal research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities to ensure environmental protection.”

Through successive administrations, the powers of the EPA have grown while our freedom of movement, building our homes, growing our businesses and powering our companies and homes has become increasingly encroached upon by EPA regulations.

Our once large powerful steel automobiles are now smaller, plastic and computerized. In some ways that has helped make them better, but in others ways they are much more expensive, more complicated to maintain and if you bought into the hype on Electric Vehicles to cut out pollution, travel far less distances and require much longer times to travel.

Our abundant resources within our nation’s boundaries lies underground as we purchase ever increasing fuels from foreign countries and push union miners out of jobs mining coal to be used or shipped to other nations for their inexpensive use.

While we here in the Pacific Northwest receive much of our power generation through hydro-electric dams on our many rivers, other parts of the nation must depend on so called “alternative sources” for energy, usually much more costly, less efficient and unreliable if the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.

Indeed, over the years many of the very public officials clamoring for increased reliance on these methods of power generation balk when someone announces construction of them in their backyards.

For Cape Cod Wind Farm, New Hurdle Is Spiritual

Senator Feinstein Seeks to Block Solar Panels In Mojave Desert

An Ill Wind Off Cape Cod

Ted Kennedy Blocks Cape Cod Wind Farm

Environmentalists Fight Calico solar farm

Animals Rights Activists Blocking Wind Farms

Decision Promised Soon on Cape Cod Wind Farm

While telling us the “science is settled,” many of them oppose the very inefficient and overly expensive methods they demand for us.

Add in to this the loss of jobs in the worst economy since the Great Depression. Not only for coal miners drillers, but for hundreds of thousands of others in supportive roles fueling those industries. Food servers, uniform manufacturers, tool makers, railroads that ship coal and maintain both the tracks and trains, ships that transport, union pipe fitters that build and maintain pipelines, refineries and much more. All employ people who feed their families, but goods and of course, pay revenue to the government in the form of taxes.

Instead we hear hollow promises of “Green Energy” jobs to come from companies that cannot remain in operation without very generous tax dollars given them to remain open, several now that have declared bankruptcy after ingesting Billions of our dwindling tax dollars.

We are seeing growing junkyards of discarded wind mills scattered over the country while we still see the EPA pushing for more and more regulation of our lives and the government refusing to reap our own natural resources for our use and increased employment of our citizens.

Citizens flood city council meetings falsely thinking they are doing good and only furthering the restricting of their very own lives and denying their neighbors family wage employment by fighting coal mines shipping t heir product by rail to be loaded onto ships and transported and sold to Asian Nations, who are using it to fuel their growing economies and manufacturing items that were once manufactured in America, but now imported back to us for purchase, further draining our economy of monies we used to circulate within the country.

How prophetic it was that 51 years ago, before computers and enlightenment became so popular, an outgoing President, born in the 1800’s and went through two World Wars and endured the Great Depression warned us of the very thing we would voluntarily embrace to give up liberty & freedom.

And we didn’t listen.

Reaching Out To Liberals

We always hear how we should reach out to our liberal ‘friends’ and seek common ground, how we need to stop the vitriol and mean-spirited attacks, even though they are slashing our throats, bankrupting us and wanting to control our lives when they cannot even manage their own.

So in that spirit of coming together and finding commonality with liberals, I present the following post election poem that I was sent.

The election is over, the talk is done

My party lost, your party won

So let us be friends

Let arguments pass

I’ll hug my elephant

You kiss your ass

(author unknown)

Who Are the Democrats?

David Castillo, who I still think would have been the better 3rd Congressional District Representative, tells us who the Democrats really are.

This is just a small portion of the talk he gave November 15, 2012 at the Clark County Republican Women’s Club dinner held at Club Green Meadows.

It’s time we took the gloves off boys and girls

Obama Considers John Kerry for Secretary of Defense?

How could he even consider such a person as Kerry for Secretary of Defense?

Not just no, but HELL NO!

The Petraeus Distraction, Don’t Fall For It

It never ceases to amaze me how easily the American public is distracted, especially when it comes to government scandal and cover-ups. Just throw out some juicy sexual innuendo or accusation against some high level person and extremely important failings of an administration just start fading away.

We saw it well back during the Clinton Administration as investigators drew closer and closer to several scandals potentially involving the president, all attention was diverted to his sexual liaison with a much younger staffer, Monica Lewinsky. Clinton lied about it, Republicans jumped on it and passed Articles of Impeachment, the Senate refused to convene a trial and Clinton finished his term, becoming the darling of the Democrats and an honored former President in a very wealthy retirement.

Republicans stood there with egg on their face as all mentions of Whitewatergate, Filegate, Travelgate, Nannygate, Vince Fosters Suicide and much more quickly faded from the public discussion, even though several prosecutions of lower level involvement were won.

We now see a repeat just one week after the reelection of Barack Obama amid growing allegations of massive voter fraud in some battleground states.

I say a repeat because of a national media that couldn’t be bothered to address growing concerns and questions of citizens over the brutal murder of four Americans during a 7 hour terrorist attack on our consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the same media that all but ignored the murders of hundreds of Mexican Citizens and American Border Agents due to a botched gun running scheme and refuses to hold Obama to the same standard they did President Bush over actions after a hurricane leaves hundreds of thousands of American citizens destitute, hungry and homeless now spares no ink to report any small morsel they can find on the resignation of retired General David Petraeus from his post as head of the CIA.

Within two days of Gen. Petraeus announcing his resignation, we saw more information released on his extramarital sexual affair than we have seen in two years of Fast & Furious, the gun running scandal or two months of Benghazigate.

Let there be no mistake, I do not condone or excuse adultery. But that is a matter between Gen. Petraeus and his wife n must not be allowed to over shadow the involvement of the Obama Administration in scandal or malfeasance in protecting the country.

And once again, that is exactly what the lamestream media is doing as we see headlines of Gen. Petraeus personally investigating the slaughter in Benghazi, Gen. John R. Allen, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan being drawn into the email exchanges, an FBI Agent sending ‘shirtless’ photos or that Obama was completely surprised by it all, considering it is now known that Attorney General Eric Holder knew about the affair months ago.

White House Propaganda Minister Jay Carney wants us to believe this was all unknown until after the elections, but that clam appears to be just a tad bit less than completely honest.

Particularly troubling in this resignation is that Petraeus was scheduled to testify before Congress this week on what happened in Benghazi. According to the White House, he will not testify now that he has resigned, but Congress is considering subpoenaing him to testify anyway. It is unknown what his response will be or how well his memory will be should he testify.

Add to this that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also declined an invitation to appear before Congress on Benghazi due to a scheduling conflict, visiting with friends in Australia.

But the narrative is growing and the lamestream media is willfully running with story after story pertaining to Petraeus’ affair, ignoring the previous growing questions of hiding from the public Barack Obama’s knowledge of the attack, ignoring warnings of a coming attack, not answering the call for reinforcements and not immediately acknowledging to the public that it was indeed a terrorist attack and not some spontaneous protest over a short video, as Obama claimed for some two weeks.

It remains unknown if the sudden resignation is an effort to silence Petraeus on what he knows of the attack or an earnest effort to shift all blame to him.

What is known is the very same media that has repeatedly ignored highly questionable actions by this administration, refused to report or even investigate many appearances of scandalous conduct and helped cover-up any involvement of Barack Obama in any one of the botched operations is now more than eager to report every instance of David Petraeus and those he was involved with.

Likewise, whereas just one month ago Republicans were accused of being irresponsible and un-American for demanding answers on the slaughter in Benghazi, we now see Democrat Dianne Feinstein first claiming no link between Petraeus’ resignation and Benghazi demanding answers from the CIA on Petraeus’ pre-election trip to Benghazi.

In the meantime, what little was being said about the Obama Administration regarding the growing concerns of Americans is quickly and quietly fading away from public view.

Hold Gen. Petraeus accountable for any actions pertaining to Benghazi, but let’s not lose sight of an inept administration more concerned with the next round of golf than with protecting the country.

Washington State Joins the Growing List

Residents in over 20 states have now started petitions of secession from the United States of America, sending Washington D.C. the message they are very displeased with this "New Direction" we have been set on.

Washington State has joined the list at WhiteHouse.gov

From ignoring our voices over the CRC and suing us to invalidate our votes on the 2/3 requirement to increase taxes, to our constitutional rights of religious liberty, Obamacare being forced upon us against our will, support of the International Treaty that would place our right to arm ourselves be subjected to foreign interests, our government no longer represents our right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Oh America, What Have You Done?

Do you ever find yourself sitting down, conflicted on sacrifices made in the past and wondering why any such sacrifices were made after seeing those sacrifices in essence thrown right back in your face? That is where I sit now, on the eve of Veterans Day 2012 and seeing how our recent elections turned out.

I think of all of the hardships we endured over the years defending this nation from Communist aggressors, standing up against them in foreign lands and more than once, engaging them on the battlefields of Korea and Vietnam. I recall the aid poured into other countries to assist them in their struggle against such oppressive foreign interference and how we stood our ground during the Cold War in Europe, President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural words ringing in my ears, “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

JFK must be turning in his grave as we now see the country being handed over to leaders who have shown that the very oppressive government we fought and stood up to for so long is what a majority of our citizens now desire, believing that offers of “free stuff” is better than actually working for yourself.

The record of Barack Obama and the modern Democrat Party has to be one of the, if not the worst in our history. Yet, voters seem entranced by the golden tongue and lies of how much better off they are, even though unemployment remains nearly double of that the last administration, the country is now over $16 Trillion in debt with word coming immediately after the election from Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid (D NV) that once reached, they will just raise the debt limit ceiling again to $18.794 Trillion just weeks from now.

Of course, that is such an astronomical number that most cannot wrap their heads around just how much it is or that there are no plans to decrease what we owe. Leaves me wondering why they even have a “Debt Ceiling Limit” if congress just raises it every year or so.

Obama campaigned on how well the country is doing and that he has “created 5.4 Million jobs.” Yet, we see that foodstamps surged the most in one year to new all time record in just this last year. We can only imagine why reports of this were delayed in being released, but it doesn’t take much imagination.

We all recall how the last administration was lambasted over the 2005 Hurricane Katrina that did so much damage around New Orleans when the levy’s there collapsed and flooded much of the city. Even though the Democrat governor and mayor failed to adequately prepare of do for those affected, all blame feel on George W. Bush for ineffectiveness and not acting soon enough, even though doing so would have had him in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act.

Do you remember hearing some vague mention of a Hurricane Sandy devastating the Eastern Seaboard in New York and New Jersey? Seems they were hit with a huge storm about a week before the election and here it is nearly two weeks later, people are starving, no electricity, no gas, no place to stay and the very same media blasting President Bush for weeks on end remain silent on Barack Obama’s lack of interest on helping those people.

Even though word leaked that Obama was requesting layoff notices be held off on until after the election, Democrats by the score scoffed at such an idea, crying Republicans were lying or engaging in scare tactics and that no such call could possibly be true.

Here we are just days after the election and what do we see but over 30,000 layoff notices being handed out, driving unemployment numbers back up.

http://thepeoplecomefirst.com/

Obama has used his golden tongue and teleprompter to say he would end our energy dependence by opening up more of our own land for exploration and drilling to recover more of our own resources. Yet, within days after being reelected, we read of his administration closing 1.6 million acres of federal land in the West originally slated for oil shale development.

We heard Obama boasting of signing the Lilly Ledbetter Act, concerning equal pay for women to that of their male counterparts. Yet, ignored by American media and hidden from voters is that Women paid significantly less in Obama’s White House.

Obama has repeatedly maintained he supports our right to arm ourselves under the Second Amendment. Yet, Wednesday, the day after the election, his administration announced support for the U.N. gun-ban treaty that stands to place our right to arm ourselves under International Treaty and subjecting them to the whims of foreign countries.

We have been repeatedly told by Obama that Iran is no threat. Yet one of our drones was fired upon in international airspace a week before the election and was kept quiet until after the election, claims of “classified” sounding too hollow.

There is also the matter of 4 Americans, including our Ambassador being murdered in a terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya and the clamp down on information concerning that. Obama’s claims of labeling it a terrorist attack right away shown to be untrue as his administration scurries to cover his ineptness that allowed those 4 to die a brutal death.

And now we see CIA Director, retired General David Petraeus suddenly resigning over an extra martial affair just a week before being scheduled to testify before congress, with White House claims of he will not be testifying. Add to that, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also being called to testify, but declining due to a “scheduling conflict.”

We read of the Communist Party USA elation at Obama’s reelection while far leftists at DailyKOS look forward to a ‘benevolent’ Obama dictatorship.

Given such an abysmal record shown above and much more not mentioned, Obama’s victory left many people stunned. The usual cries of voter fraud are racing across the land met with the usual denials. Some sound conspiratorial, but some others, like Republican Poll Waters forcibly removed for hours in some wards in Philadelphia that overwhelmingly voted for Obama sound plausible.

A district in Florida receiving more ballots than voters raises concerns as well.

Others call the victory as due to a superior organization and outreach to voters by the campaign as well s the Republican Party being out of touch by not running candidates more liberal than Mitt Romney was, a thought I resoundingly reject as Romney at best was a moderate, not conservative.

Given some rumblings heard since the election, cries of “conservatism is dead” are definitely premature as we see that although the stock market plunged the day after the election and remains down, stocks in gun companies are on the rise as we once again see a surge in private guns being purchased.

Not meaning to sound conspiratorial myself, I remain troubled at Obama’s over use of claims of this being his “last election and last campaign.” Although many will see it as an admission of this being his second and last term, I recall hearing mention during B.J. Clinton’s second term from Democrats of repealing the 22 Amendment to allow him to serve longer.

We now hear a similar call coming from B.J. Clinton to allow presidents to serve longer.

Venezuela’s Dictator Hugo Chavez comes to mind when he repealed his countries term limit on Presidents and set himself up as dictator.

I wouldn’t be surprised that similar thoughts are on tap for Obama, given Newsweek’s past description of Obama as God of all Things and now as a Napoleonic figure.

Obama now promises more “redistribution of wealth” amounting to “free stuff” and leading voters to believe they won’t be paying for anything and only the “rich” will see tax increases. Ignored is that every time the Democrats have decided to steal more from the wealthy among us, it is us in the middle class that pay the most with increased unemployment, higher consumer prices and sooner or later, payment of those increased taxes falls on the backs of the middle class as well.

You’ve made your choice, America. You bought the snake oil and dug your own graves. It’s now only a matter of time as to when you will wake up and realize you gave up the freedom so many of us fought for you to have. Fidel Castro accomplished enslaving Cuba by the bullet. Obama accomplished it by the ballot and empty promises.

It didn’t take long for the Cubans to realize what they did to themselves by supporting Castro as they began fleeing his Communist Utopia and heading across the shark infested Florida Straits in rickety makeshift boats in hopes of reaching the Southern Shores of Florida and freedom.

Once you wake up and realize, “my God, what have we done,” there is no place left for you to escape to.

No Foodstamps?

From a July 2012 incident in Georgia, but I can't help but wonder if they all voted for Obama's reelection and how come none seem to have one of those 5.4 Million jobs Obama says he created?

Surely they weren't all created in August and September, were they?

Four More Years

Is this where we begin saying, Told you so?

After Obama win, U.S. backs new U.N. arms treaty talks

After Obama victory, Iran says US shouldn't expect talks

Boeing Announces Big Layoffs in Defense Division

Where America is headed, 21st Century Cuba