And so, the Supreme Court has issued a ruling that, in effect, will aid our enemies. As I write this, I am shaking my head in disbelief, shame, exasperation. I have seen the pundits on TV, in print. I have debated with people on this and many other sites. And I still don’t get how so many American citizens are oblivious to the fight that we are facing. We are going into war with a brutal enemy, with one hand tied behind our back and many American citizens trying to pull the free arm back there as well. I don’t know what it’s going to take for the bleeding heart human rights Left to understand what we face, until it’s too late and we’ve already lost. The problem with waiting that long is that when we lose we will all be worshipping allah under the sword. That’s not an acceptable alternative.
So my challenge is this. If you’re read this site, I want you to look in my sidebar and find Michael Savage’s website. Click the link. Scroll down to the bottom until you see the links to the videos of the terrorist beheadings. Choose one...and watch it.
Don't close your eyes. Don't turn away. Watch it. Watch the enemy stand in front of the camera, proclaiming the glory of their god from behind ski masks. Watch them grab their blindfolded, handcuffed hostage by the hair. Watch them begin to saw at the man's neck...that's right, they don't slice, they saw - obviously using a very dull knife. Listen to them grunt with exertion.
Listen to their hostage howl as the blade saws through their neck, imagine the unimaginable pain. Hear the fear in the man's voice, knowing it's just a few more seconds. Watch him kick and writhe. Watch the blood spurt out. Watch them struggle to get the blade through the spinal column....WATCH IT! You need to. You need to do this in order to gain the proper perspective. Watch them parade around with a severed human head as if it were a bowling trophy. THIS IS THE ENEMY! It's not America, the only American in the picture is the one without a head. It's not the US military. The enemy are the ones cutting people's heads off and celebrating it as if they just gave birth.
If you don't have the stomach to watch the video, to learn about those who want us all to suffer the same fate, then you surrender your right to criticize myself and others who wish to stop these lunatics. If you watch it, you'll see what we're dealing with. They are not human. They are animals. Rabid dogs. You can't negotiate with a rabid dog. You can't give him a bone and hope he leaves you alone. The only way to stop a rabid dog is to put a bullet in its head.
That's what needs to be done. And won't happen by calling our soldiers 'murderers'. It won't happen by saying America in the biggest threat to peace in the world...the peace in this world exists BECAUSE of America, not despite her, so step down from your holier-than-thou soapbox and wake up to reality. The ONLY ones between these lunatics and world domination is America, and don't think for a second that they would hesitate at removing any of your heads in the process. So watch the video, then tell me who the criminals, the evil-doers are in this whole conflict.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Fear
Like everyone else I am watching events in the Middle East unfold with concern. I do not want war to break out, or escalate, between Israel and the Palestinians. I don’t think anyone could say otherwise.
But as I watch these events unfold, a realization comes over me. Israel has something that America once had, and has lost somewhere along the way. Israel is not afraid. America is.
War is something that should be avoided, but not feared. I say this because fear can cloud your judgment. Fear can take away your resolve. Fear can impede your determination. Today, many Americans fear war. THAT is why they are handcuffing our troops, cursing our military, speaking out against Bush. Much of it is simply from fear.
Fear of what, I don’t know. Maybe they are afraid of the world hating America. Maybe they don’t want us to get a bad reputation. Maybe they don’t want to be called upon to defend their country. Who knows, but there is no doubt in my mind that the actions of the anti-war crowd are driven by fear.
Israel does not have that. They are not afraid of war. They take actions to avoid it. They offer diplomatic solutions. But they are not afraid, and the world knows it. They are not afraid to push the world to the brink.
Neither was Reagan.
Neither was Roosevelt.
Neither was Kennedy.
Avoid it. But do not fear it. Our enemies will smell our fear and thrust upon us that which we fear.
Roosevelt once said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
Perhaps today that is more true than ever before.
But as I watch these events unfold, a realization comes over me. Israel has something that America once had, and has lost somewhere along the way. Israel is not afraid. America is.
War is something that should be avoided, but not feared. I say this because fear can cloud your judgment. Fear can take away your resolve. Fear can impede your determination. Today, many Americans fear war. THAT is why they are handcuffing our troops, cursing our military, speaking out against Bush. Much of it is simply from fear.
Fear of what, I don’t know. Maybe they are afraid of the world hating America. Maybe they don’t want us to get a bad reputation. Maybe they don’t want to be called upon to defend their country. Who knows, but there is no doubt in my mind that the actions of the anti-war crowd are driven by fear.
Israel does not have that. They are not afraid of war. They take actions to avoid it. They offer diplomatic solutions. But they are not afraid, and the world knows it. They are not afraid to push the world to the brink.
Neither was Reagan.
Neither was Roosevelt.
Neither was Kennedy.
Avoid it. But do not fear it. Our enemies will smell our fear and thrust upon us that which we fear.
Roosevelt once said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
Perhaps today that is more true than ever before.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
My First Book Review
Thanks to Bookideas.com and Heather for this review, my first one. Check out their website. Judging by the comments about my book, they are straight shooters who won't lead you astray if you're looking for a good read.
3.5 stars out of 5
What would happen if Mexico’s highest drug cartel teamed up with a handful of Iranian terrorists? A plot to make a terrorist attack on American soil may come to be. What will America do about it? Have we learned anything from the hunt for terrorists in Afghanistan or the occupation of Iraq? This time, the president wants to work with the UN. Is a peaceful result possible? In John Washburn’s novel, “When Evil Prospers,” social chaos is about to unfold. This is a terrifying book when looking at the social study of it all.
The terrorist attack hits the most “Wanted-Dead or Alive” state in the nation – Texas. As a result, the governor takes steps for revenge – or as he sees it – protection for his people. Calling up the Texas National Guard to patrol the Mexico border is just the beginning. What follows is an attack on Cuba and Mexico through developing a volunteer militia – since the President of the US does not support these actions. The UN sees this all as an act of war and takes action. What ensues is an all out division of the United States.
While I am sure that John Washburn intended to draw attention to certain issues, I doubt that he meant for me to be terrified by the possibilities I took notice of – that the political “right,” religious zealots of this country could actually entice such an uprising. This book contains a good deal of one-sided political commentary – most of which I do not agree with. I wonder really, who the “evil” that “prospers” is.
The book raises many issues that American readers should be thinking about. As a work of Christian Fiction, I feel it is typical in mission. As a story, the plot is interesting and fast paced, dealing with unfortunately similar current concerns. Readers will connect with the characters on both sides of the issues and likely find that the author leads them to side with those he gives a greater voice to. In execution, the writing is well done with a tight plot, vivid detail, and protagonists that breathe life. All in all, this is a thought-provoking read.
3.5 stars out of 5
What would happen if Mexico’s highest drug cartel teamed up with a handful of Iranian terrorists? A plot to make a terrorist attack on American soil may come to be. What will America do about it? Have we learned anything from the hunt for terrorists in Afghanistan or the occupation of Iraq? This time, the president wants to work with the UN. Is a peaceful result possible? In John Washburn’s novel, “When Evil Prospers,” social chaos is about to unfold. This is a terrifying book when looking at the social study of it all.
The terrorist attack hits the most “Wanted-Dead or Alive” state in the nation – Texas. As a result, the governor takes steps for revenge – or as he sees it – protection for his people. Calling up the Texas National Guard to patrol the Mexico border is just the beginning. What follows is an attack on Cuba and Mexico through developing a volunteer militia – since the President of the US does not support these actions. The UN sees this all as an act of war and takes action. What ensues is an all out division of the United States.
While I am sure that John Washburn intended to draw attention to certain issues, I doubt that he meant for me to be terrified by the possibilities I took notice of – that the political “right,” religious zealots of this country could actually entice such an uprising. This book contains a good deal of one-sided political commentary – most of which I do not agree with. I wonder really, who the “evil” that “prospers” is.
The book raises many issues that American readers should be thinking about. As a work of Christian Fiction, I feel it is typical in mission. As a story, the plot is interesting and fast paced, dealing with unfortunately similar current concerns. Readers will connect with the characters on both sides of the issues and likely find that the author leads them to side with those he gives a greater voice to. In execution, the writing is well done with a tight plot, vivid detail, and protagonists that breathe life. All in all, this is a thought-provoking read.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Murtha...remember your history
American presence in Iraq is more dangerous to world peace than nuclear threats from North Korea or Iran
If I were shown this statement and asked to guess who made such a remark, I’d probably say someone like Kim Jong Il or Amadinejad. Perhaps Chirac, perhaps Bin Laden. But, no, this was said by a United States Congressman, in front of hundreds of people and numerous television cameras. We are currently at war, facing a dangerous, well-funded and well-motivated enemy. American soldiers are dying every day. And one of our Congressman feels the need to say something like this.
Mr. Murtha is entitled to his opinion. I respect that he is against the war, but I do not respect the manner in which he is voicing that opposition. Comments like this do nothing to help the situation. This is not healthy dissent. This is propaganda that the enemy can use to further their cause. They can use this statement to recruit. They can use this statement to motivate. They can use this statement to encourage the fight against America. THAT is not healthy dissent.
Another problem I have with this way of thinking is that it continues a trend this country has followed since Vietnam. It’s a trend in which America is not willing to keep its word, to keep its promise, to stay until the objective is complete. Every US leader since Vietnam has failed to uphold our promise…to "mean what we say, and say what we mean."
Follow along with me:
Nixon/Ford – Vacated Vietnam prematurely, allowing all of Southeast Asia to fall under Communist rule and the emergence of Pol Pot. 1 million people died under his reign.
Carter – Turned his back on the Shah of Iran, which allowed for the emergence of Ayatollah Khoumeni and the theocracy that still prospers there today
Reagan – Vacated Lebanon after a marine barracks bombing, message: We will give in when threatened.
Bush Sr. – Vacated Somalia after the Mogadishu incident, breaking our promise to protect the citizens of Somalia from the hideous warlords that ruled that country, and furthering the message sent by his predecessors
Bush/Clinton - Failed to enforce the cease fire agreement with Saddam Hussein that demanded Iraq disarm. Bush stopped short of Baghdad, failing the Iraqi people and subjecting them to another decade of Hussein's tyranny. Backed off of UN demands, allowing Hussein to stockpile weapons, and perhaps even aid Al Qaeda terrorists.
Clinton – Capitulated to demands from North Korea, allowing them a nuclear reactor under direct threat. Failed to respond forcefully to repeated attacks from Al Qaeda.
Say what you want about Bush. He has made some mistakes. But, at least he has tried to buck this trend. At least he has tried to change America’s image amongst those who desire our downfall. For thirty years, our leaders have delivered a message that America has weakened, that we don’t have the resolve to fight through to victory. If Murtha has his way, then we will continue that message. How can world peace ever be achieved in such a manner?
If I were shown this statement and asked to guess who made such a remark, I’d probably say someone like Kim Jong Il or Amadinejad. Perhaps Chirac, perhaps Bin Laden. But, no, this was said by a United States Congressman, in front of hundreds of people and numerous television cameras. We are currently at war, facing a dangerous, well-funded and well-motivated enemy. American soldiers are dying every day. And one of our Congressman feels the need to say something like this.
Mr. Murtha is entitled to his opinion. I respect that he is against the war, but I do not respect the manner in which he is voicing that opposition. Comments like this do nothing to help the situation. This is not healthy dissent. This is propaganda that the enemy can use to further their cause. They can use this statement to recruit. They can use this statement to motivate. They can use this statement to encourage the fight against America. THAT is not healthy dissent.
Another problem I have with this way of thinking is that it continues a trend this country has followed since Vietnam. It’s a trend in which America is not willing to keep its word, to keep its promise, to stay until the objective is complete. Every US leader since Vietnam has failed to uphold our promise…to "mean what we say, and say what we mean."
Follow along with me:
Nixon/Ford – Vacated Vietnam prematurely, allowing all of Southeast Asia to fall under Communist rule and the emergence of Pol Pot. 1 million people died under his reign.
Carter – Turned his back on the Shah of Iran, which allowed for the emergence of Ayatollah Khoumeni and the theocracy that still prospers there today
Reagan – Vacated Lebanon after a marine barracks bombing, message: We will give in when threatened.
Bush Sr. – Vacated Somalia after the Mogadishu incident, breaking our promise to protect the citizens of Somalia from the hideous warlords that ruled that country, and furthering the message sent by his predecessors
Bush/Clinton - Failed to enforce the cease fire agreement with Saddam Hussein that demanded Iraq disarm. Bush stopped short of Baghdad, failing the Iraqi people and subjecting them to another decade of Hussein's tyranny. Backed off of UN demands, allowing Hussein to stockpile weapons, and perhaps even aid Al Qaeda terrorists.
Clinton – Capitulated to demands from North Korea, allowing them a nuclear reactor under direct threat. Failed to respond forcefully to repeated attacks from Al Qaeda.
Say what you want about Bush. He has made some mistakes. But, at least he has tried to buck this trend. At least he has tried to change America’s image amongst those who desire our downfall. For thirty years, our leaders have delivered a message that America has weakened, that we don’t have the resolve to fight through to victory. If Murtha has his way, then we will continue that message. How can world peace ever be achieved in such a manner?
Friday, June 23, 2006
A Fitting Tribute
I'm leaving this post up all weekend, it's too important for only one day. Click this link to become part of this effort.
I have a project and I need the help of a few bloggers to make it work.2,995 bloggers.September 11, 2006 will mark the 5-year anniversary of the attacks that killed 2,996 innocent people on American soil.
A few months ago I started wondering what, if anything, I would write in my blog that day. A remembrance? A tribute? Anything I came up with seemed shallow, cliché, not enough.About a week after the attacks the president ordered all flags returned to full-staff. This seemed too soon to me.
A common practice for other deaths had been one day per victim. But when I realized that this would mean flying the flag at half-staff for over sixteen years (remember in those first days the death toll estimate was much higher) I realized that that sort of symbol wouldn’t be healthy for the country. Even with the actual death toll, one day at half-staff for each victim wouldn’t see the flag raised until November 24, 2009.
But any idea I came up with gave me the same pause: Nothing I could do could possibly do tribute to all those people. And in the last five years I’ve heard precious little about the victims, but I’ve heard the names of the guilty over and over.
So here’s my proposal:I’d like 2,995 blogging volunteers to help me with a tribute to the victims of 9/11. If you’d like to participate, you’ll be assigned the name of someone who was murdered on September 11, 2001. Then on September 11, 2006 you’ll post your own tribute to that person. It can be anything you want it to be: a photo tribute, an essay, a remembrance, a poem…it’s up to you. Then link back to a page I will create which will give the names of all 2,996 victims and links to the blogs that will remember them that day.But, and this is critical, I don’t want any of us to remember the murderers. Do not refer to the terrorists. Or their organization. Or their goals. Let them fade into nothing. Let them be forgotten. Remember those worth remembering.
What help do I need?A lot.I need 2,995 bloggers who are willing to participate for one day.I need people to pass on this message to others, because 2,995 people don’t read this blog.I need a name for this goofy thing.I need some sort of graphic or banner we can all drop in our entries.And I need suggestions as to how to make this work.Anyone game?
What a phenomenal idea! I have the link at the top, please join in!
I have a project and I need the help of a few bloggers to make it work.2,995 bloggers.September 11, 2006 will mark the 5-year anniversary of the attacks that killed 2,996 innocent people on American soil.
A few months ago I started wondering what, if anything, I would write in my blog that day. A remembrance? A tribute? Anything I came up with seemed shallow, cliché, not enough.About a week after the attacks the president ordered all flags returned to full-staff. This seemed too soon to me.
A common practice for other deaths had been one day per victim. But when I realized that this would mean flying the flag at half-staff for over sixteen years (remember in those first days the death toll estimate was much higher) I realized that that sort of symbol wouldn’t be healthy for the country. Even with the actual death toll, one day at half-staff for each victim wouldn’t see the flag raised until November 24, 2009.
But any idea I came up with gave me the same pause: Nothing I could do could possibly do tribute to all those people. And in the last five years I’ve heard precious little about the victims, but I’ve heard the names of the guilty over and over.
So here’s my proposal:I’d like 2,995 blogging volunteers to help me with a tribute to the victims of 9/11. If you’d like to participate, you’ll be assigned the name of someone who was murdered on September 11, 2001. Then on September 11, 2006 you’ll post your own tribute to that person. It can be anything you want it to be: a photo tribute, an essay, a remembrance, a poem…it’s up to you. Then link back to a page I will create which will give the names of all 2,996 victims and links to the blogs that will remember them that day.But, and this is critical, I don’t want any of us to remember the murderers. Do not refer to the terrorists. Or their organization. Or their goals. Let them fade into nothing. Let them be forgotten. Remember those worth remembering.
What help do I need?A lot.I need 2,995 bloggers who are willing to participate for one day.I need people to pass on this message to others, because 2,995 people don’t read this blog.I need a name for this goofy thing.I need some sort of graphic or banner we can all drop in our entries.And I need suggestions as to how to make this work.Anyone game?
What a phenomenal idea! I have the link at the top, please join in!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
A leader we should be proud of
I lived in the Jackson, MS area for about 8 years. Back then, it had one of the worst per capita crime rates in the nation and still does today. Even though the population is roughly 400,000, it is still a dangerous place to live.
Enter Frank Melton. He is an entrepreneur who has dabbled in journalism and dedicated much of his time and money to community matters. He cares deeply for the citizens of Jackson, MS and abhors the wrong-doers who make life miserable for those citizens. He is a take-no-BS-straight-shooter, and he is NOT a politician. He is simply a man dedicated to his community who happened to win a Mayoral election.
So, in response to the city’s out of control crime, he has reverted to drastic measures, imposing a strict curfew and even threatened to call in the Mississippi National Guard to put down the criminals. Good for him! If only more community leaders had the guts to do things like this.
Melton will come under heat for it. He’ll be cursed and criticized. Luckily, he’s a black man or he’d be called a racist. He’ll go through some tough times, especially when they start arresting people’s kids for violating the curfew, but he will drop the city’s crime rate. He will achieve his objective and I tip my hat to him.
Mayors and Governors nationwide could learn a lesson from Frank Melton. In fact, I’d love to see him seek a higher office. God knows we need people like him. But he won’t. He’s dedicated to the people of Jackson, Mississippi, and the city will be better off for it.
Enter Frank Melton. He is an entrepreneur who has dabbled in journalism and dedicated much of his time and money to community matters. He cares deeply for the citizens of Jackson, MS and abhors the wrong-doers who make life miserable for those citizens. He is a take-no-BS-straight-shooter, and he is NOT a politician. He is simply a man dedicated to his community who happened to win a Mayoral election.
So, in response to the city’s out of control crime, he has reverted to drastic measures, imposing a strict curfew and even threatened to call in the Mississippi National Guard to put down the criminals. Good for him! If only more community leaders had the guts to do things like this.
Melton will come under heat for it. He’ll be cursed and criticized. Luckily, he’s a black man or he’d be called a racist. He’ll go through some tough times, especially when they start arresting people’s kids for violating the curfew, but he will drop the city’s crime rate. He will achieve his objective and I tip my hat to him.
Mayors and Governors nationwide could learn a lesson from Frank Melton. In fact, I’d love to see him seek a higher office. God knows we need people like him. But he won’t. He’s dedicated to the people of Jackson, Mississippi, and the city will be better off for it.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Put up or shut up
I like it when my opponents prove my point for me.
My point: America's passive Left will be responsible if America falls
Yesterday, I posted on the death of two American soldiers. In response, I had 3 Lefties leave comments on my post. One valiantly came to Sean Penn's defense, one (for some reason) mentioned casualty numbers, and the other got preachy about the Geneva Convention.
NONE of them showed any sign of outrage or anger at the news of two American soldiers being captured, tortured and dismembered to the point that their bodies had to be identified by DNA. Are these 3 upset about the news? Probably, if they're human they should be. But for some reason these other remarks took precedence. Which brings me to the purpose of this post.
If you read this blog regularly, you know that I have low tolerance for people who criticize without offering any counter-solution, it wastes time and does nothing to solve the problem.
So, here's your chance. 2 questions. I'm looking for one simple answer and one proposal. This is NOT a chance to preach or debate the merits of the Iraq War. This is your chance to put up or shut up. Fail to answer the questions and you'll be exposed as whiny with no ideas of your own.
1) Do you want America to be victorious in Iraq? Yes or No. (Victorious meaning the defeat of the insurgency and instating a freely elected democratic government)
Yes or NO. Not preachy. If you answer yes, move to question #2. IF you answer no, then never mind. You've chosen your side and I group you in with the people who murdered those two troops.
2) You are now the Commander in Chief. How do YOU achieve victory in Iraq? I want your plan. We're there. We're at war. You WANT to win. How do you do it?
Take your time. Good luck.
(Conservatives should feel free to answer as well, it should be fun)
My point: America's passive Left will be responsible if America falls
Yesterday, I posted on the death of two American soldiers. In response, I had 3 Lefties leave comments on my post. One valiantly came to Sean Penn's defense, one (for some reason) mentioned casualty numbers, and the other got preachy about the Geneva Convention.
NONE of them showed any sign of outrage or anger at the news of two American soldiers being captured, tortured and dismembered to the point that their bodies had to be identified by DNA. Are these 3 upset about the news? Probably, if they're human they should be. But for some reason these other remarks took precedence. Which brings me to the purpose of this post.
If you read this blog regularly, you know that I have low tolerance for people who criticize without offering any counter-solution, it wastes time and does nothing to solve the problem.
So, here's your chance. 2 questions. I'm looking for one simple answer and one proposal. This is NOT a chance to preach or debate the merits of the Iraq War. This is your chance to put up or shut up. Fail to answer the questions and you'll be exposed as whiny with no ideas of your own.
1) Do you want America to be victorious in Iraq? Yes or No. (Victorious meaning the defeat of the insurgency and instating a freely elected democratic government)
Yes or NO. Not preachy. If you answer yes, move to question #2. IF you answer no, then never mind. You've chosen your side and I group you in with the people who murdered those two troops.
2) You are now the Commander in Chief. How do YOU achieve victory in Iraq? I want your plan. We're there. We're at war. You WANT to win. How do you do it?
Take your time. Good luck.
(Conservatives should feel free to answer as well, it should be fun)
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
It's time to get Old Testament
My prayers go out to the families of these two brave young men. I can’t imagine the pain and suffering they endured. God bless you both, and thank you for laying your lives down on the altar of freedom.
I wonder how Dick Durbin feels about this? I wonder if Howard Dean is as appalled at this as he is at Gitmo? Where is Sean Penn now? Notice how no one is jumping to criticize and condemn? At least, not as fast as they would if something like this happened at Gitmo. I’m not saying these guys don’t have a problem with it. I’m just saying that they’re not as eager to criticize our foes as they are to criticize our soldiers.
What are the odds of someone actually coming out and saying that the deaths of these men are America’s fault? It’s a bet I won’t be taking. My guess is the bodies won’t make it back to American soil before someone on the Left makes such a remark.
"Well, we expect such behavior from terrorists"
"We’re better than them"
"We should be held to a higher standard"
I’m guessing this would be their way of rationalizing their criticism of American troops, and lack of criticism of terrorists.
"Just because they behave badly doesn’t mean we should"
"Two wrongs don’t make a right"
This is crap! If you want these wackos to cool it with this behavior, then it’s time to get Old Testament on them, it’s time to get Israeli on them. Eye for an eye my friend. If they want to execute prisoners, then so be it. They can call down that thunder and we’ll play too. Execute our troops, and we execute yours. We should be marching two men out of Gitmo and in front of a firing squad right now. That’s how General Patton would have handled this, and he had some pretty good results with it.
I can hear the collective gasp from all of you Lefties right now, so save your comments. I know what you’re gonna say, much of it is already in quotes above. I don’t care if you call me barbaric…I want to win this war! And if getting brutal will end this war that much quicker, then it’s time to get our hands dirty.
I’m tired of seeing Americans get beheaded. I don’t like it. So it’s time we make these idiots think the next time they raise their sword over the neck of an American.
We’re at war, and in war sometimes you have to kill enough of the enemy to convince them that keeping up the fight is not in their best interest. Sherman, Grant, Patton, Napoleon, Bradley and MacArthur all seemed to play by this strategy, and it seemed to work for them. So let’s apply it here. What have we got to lose?
I wonder how Dick Durbin feels about this? I wonder if Howard Dean is as appalled at this as he is at Gitmo? Where is Sean Penn now? Notice how no one is jumping to criticize and condemn? At least, not as fast as they would if something like this happened at Gitmo. I’m not saying these guys don’t have a problem with it. I’m just saying that they’re not as eager to criticize our foes as they are to criticize our soldiers.
What are the odds of someone actually coming out and saying that the deaths of these men are America’s fault? It’s a bet I won’t be taking. My guess is the bodies won’t make it back to American soil before someone on the Left makes such a remark.
"Well, we expect such behavior from terrorists"
"We’re better than them"
"We should be held to a higher standard"
I’m guessing this would be their way of rationalizing their criticism of American troops, and lack of criticism of terrorists.
"Just because they behave badly doesn’t mean we should"
"Two wrongs don’t make a right"
This is crap! If you want these wackos to cool it with this behavior, then it’s time to get Old Testament on them, it’s time to get Israeli on them. Eye for an eye my friend. If they want to execute prisoners, then so be it. They can call down that thunder and we’ll play too. Execute our troops, and we execute yours. We should be marching two men out of Gitmo and in front of a firing squad right now. That’s how General Patton would have handled this, and he had some pretty good results with it.
I can hear the collective gasp from all of you Lefties right now, so save your comments. I know what you’re gonna say, much of it is already in quotes above. I don’t care if you call me barbaric…I want to win this war! And if getting brutal will end this war that much quicker, then it’s time to get our hands dirty.
I’m tired of seeing Americans get beheaded. I don’t like it. So it’s time we make these idiots think the next time they raise their sword over the neck of an American.
We’re at war, and in war sometimes you have to kill enough of the enemy to convince them that keeping up the fight is not in their best interest. Sherman, Grant, Patton, Napoleon, Bradley and MacArthur all seemed to play by this strategy, and it seemed to work for them. So let’s apply it here. What have we got to lose?
Monday, June 19, 2006
Where's the racism?
Here is an excellent column about the black caucus and their recent disappointing behavior in regards to Congressman William Jefferson.
The black caucus has resorted to claiming racism as a root cause for Congressman Jefferson's recent run-in with the law and potential indictment for bribery. Racism?
They are absolutely right. What kind of country do we live in when a black man can't commit bribery without coming under the scrutiny of the FBI. We should all be ashamed.
Now, to North Carolina Supreme Court candidate Rachel Lea Hunter, a democrat, who had this to say about Vernon Robinson, a Republican congressional candidate.
"Like a good slave, he has returned to the plantation."
I'm not one to throw out accusations of racism and bigotry loosely, but doesn't this qualify. In fairness to the Dems, they aren't too happy with Ms Hunter, but where is the black caucus? If they rally to anyone's side shouldn't it be Mr. Robinson after someone calls him a slave?
Word of advice to the black caucus, if you quit crying racism about Congressman Jefferson and start defending Mr Robinson it will do wonders for your credibility. At least, from my perspective.
The black caucus has resorted to claiming racism as a root cause for Congressman Jefferson's recent run-in with the law and potential indictment for bribery. Racism?
They are absolutely right. What kind of country do we live in when a black man can't commit bribery without coming under the scrutiny of the FBI. We should all be ashamed.
Now, to North Carolina Supreme Court candidate Rachel Lea Hunter, a democrat, who had this to say about Vernon Robinson, a Republican congressional candidate.
"Like a good slave, he has returned to the plantation."
I'm not one to throw out accusations of racism and bigotry loosely, but doesn't this qualify. In fairness to the Dems, they aren't too happy with Ms Hunter, but where is the black caucus? If they rally to anyone's side shouldn't it be Mr. Robinson after someone calls him a slave?
Word of advice to the black caucus, if you quit crying racism about Congressman Jefferson and start defending Mr Robinson it will do wonders for your credibility. At least, from my perspective.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
She says it all
The Dixie Chicks:
"A lot of pandering started going on, and you'd see soldiers and the American flag in every video. It became a sickening display of ultra-patriotism."
"The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism."
You know, she's right. Who needs patriotism? I'm way too busy climbing the corporate ladder and glutting myslef on the spoils of freedom and capitalism to get all involved in this patriotism thing. Isn't that what it's all about? Aren't we here on this world just for ourselves? What's more important than that?
We shouldn't believe in a higher cause. How inconvenient. So what if our country is attacked. So what if it's slowly become a hispanic-muslim society. I got albums to sell. I don't have time to care about all that stuff. Patriotism? Hah...who needs it?
If there's one thing about Natalie Maines that I like, it's the way she masterfully summarizes how the Left is slowly weakening our country. THIS attitude, reflected in her words, is the biggest threat to America. It's not the illegal immigrants, the islamo-wackjobs, or some psycho-midget in North Korea...it's people like Natalie Maines and their don't-give-a-damn-about-my-country attitude.
IF America ever falls, it will be because of people like this.
"A lot of pandering started going on, and you'd see soldiers and the American flag in every video. It became a sickening display of ultra-patriotism."
"The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism."
You know, she's right. Who needs patriotism? I'm way too busy climbing the corporate ladder and glutting myslef on the spoils of freedom and capitalism to get all involved in this patriotism thing. Isn't that what it's all about? Aren't we here on this world just for ourselves? What's more important than that?
We shouldn't believe in a higher cause. How inconvenient. So what if our country is attacked. So what if it's slowly become a hispanic-muslim society. I got albums to sell. I don't have time to care about all that stuff. Patriotism? Hah...who needs it?
If there's one thing about Natalie Maines that I like, it's the way she masterfully summarizes how the Left is slowly weakening our country. THIS attitude, reflected in her words, is the biggest threat to America. It's not the illegal immigrants, the islamo-wackjobs, or some psycho-midget in North Korea...it's people like Natalie Maines and their don't-give-a-damn-about-my-country attitude.
IF America ever falls, it will be because of people like this.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Louisiana abortion
I am glad to see Louisiana actually showing some initiative on the abortion issue. Granted, this law is pretty meaningless, it only takes effect under one of two circumstances: 1) the Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade, 2) the federal gov’t allows the states to decide the issue for themselves. What are the chances of either one of these things happening? Zero. Congress can’t even agree on the definition of marriage, so there’s no way they’ll agree on perhaps the most inflammatory issue of our time.
But, like I said, at least Louisiana is doing something. Most politicians avoid this issue like the plague. One thing I don't like is this whole "danger to the mother" thing. Again, I challenge anyone with a medical background to detail any situation where an abortion is absolutely necessary to save someone's life.
My guess is "danger to the mother" will be used by the other side to apply to psychiatric dangers. In other words, there may not be any actual health risks for someone to carry a baby to term, but there may be significant psychiatric risk...and that's how people will begin to justify abortions from a medical standpoint.
We'll see.
Anyway, kudos to Louisiana for the symbolic gesture. Now if they can only get rid of Ray Nagin.
But, like I said, at least Louisiana is doing something. Most politicians avoid this issue like the plague. One thing I don't like is this whole "danger to the mother" thing. Again, I challenge anyone with a medical background to detail any situation where an abortion is absolutely necessary to save someone's life.
My guess is "danger to the mother" will be used by the other side to apply to psychiatric dangers. In other words, there may not be any actual health risks for someone to carry a baby to term, but there may be significant psychiatric risk...and that's how people will begin to justify abortions from a medical standpoint.
We'll see.
Anyway, kudos to Louisiana for the symbolic gesture. Now if they can only get rid of Ray Nagin.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Today's nutjobs
Wow, the nut cases are out in full force today. I’ll have to check…is there a full moon or something?
Stephen Hawking: "It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species," Hawking said. "Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of."
Space colonies? Here’s a better idea: how about we start our own Jedi training academy. I’ll hide the secret death star plans in my VCR, you go ask the Ewoks for help.
Bill Clinton: "It is now generally recognized that while Al Gore and I were ridiculed, we were right about global warming," Clinton said at a fundraiser for the Florida Democratic Party. "It's a serious problem. It's going to lead to more hurricanes."
What? More hurricanes? Of course, you do have PROOF of that, right Mr Clinton? Surely you wouldn’t make any off-the-cuff remarks like that without scientific evidence to back you up, right? Are you sure you even know what global warming is? (Hint: it’s not what happens "down there" whenever the GoDaddy commercial comes on)
Al Gore’s army: The former vice president, a Democrat, said on Monday that by the end of the summer he would start a bipartisan education campaign to train 1,000 people to give a version of his slide show on global warming featured in the film "An Inconvenient Truth" and book of the same name.
Of course, they’re all going to travel on bicycles, right? I mean, if this were such a crisis you wouldn’t want 1,000 people flying around or driving those horrible polluting SUVs right?
Robert Redford: The Oscar-winning director was in Washington to discuss energy policy with the liberal group Campaign for America's Future and to present an award to Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers, for his work on energy independence.
I didn’t know Robert Redford was an expert on energy. I didn’t know that his opinion about energy policy was valuable. I thought he was an actor.
Stephen Hawking: "It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species," Hawking said. "Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of."
Space colonies? Here’s a better idea: how about we start our own Jedi training academy. I’ll hide the secret death star plans in my VCR, you go ask the Ewoks for help.
Bill Clinton: "It is now generally recognized that while Al Gore and I were ridiculed, we were right about global warming," Clinton said at a fundraiser for the Florida Democratic Party. "It's a serious problem. It's going to lead to more hurricanes."
What? More hurricanes? Of course, you do have PROOF of that, right Mr Clinton? Surely you wouldn’t make any off-the-cuff remarks like that without scientific evidence to back you up, right? Are you sure you even know what global warming is? (Hint: it’s not what happens "down there" whenever the GoDaddy commercial comes on)
Al Gore’s army: The former vice president, a Democrat, said on Monday that by the end of the summer he would start a bipartisan education campaign to train 1,000 people to give a version of his slide show on global warming featured in the film "An Inconvenient Truth" and book of the same name.
Of course, they’re all going to travel on bicycles, right? I mean, if this were such a crisis you wouldn’t want 1,000 people flying around or driving those horrible polluting SUVs right?
Robert Redford: The Oscar-winning director was in Washington to discuss energy policy with the liberal group Campaign for America's Future and to present an award to Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers, for his work on energy independence.
I didn’t know Robert Redford was an expert on energy. I didn’t know that his opinion about energy policy was valuable. I thought he was an actor.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Not very convenient
I love this article. Here is science’s response to crazy Gore’s movie:
Professor Bob Carter of the Marine Geophysical Laboratory at James Cook University, in Australia gives what, for many Canadians, is a surprising assessment: "Gore's circumstantial arguments are so weak that they are pathetic. It is simply incredible that they, and his film, are commanding public attention."
Appearing before the Commons Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development last year, Carleton University paleoclimatologist Professor Tim Patterson testified, "There is no meaningful correlation between CO2 levels and Earth's temperature over this [geologic] time frame. In fact, when CO2 levels were over ten times higher than they are now, about 450 million years ago, the planet was in the depths of the absolute coldest period in the last half billion years." Patterson asked the committee, "On the basis of this evidence, how could anyone still believe that the recent relatively small increase in CO2 levels would be the major cause of the past century's modest warming?"
Gore's point that 200 cities and towns in the American West set all time high temperature records is also misleading according to Dr. Roy Spencer, Principal Research Scientist at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. "It is not unusual for some locations, out of the thousands of cities and towns in the U.S., to set all-time records," he says. "The actual data shows that overall, recent temperatures in the U.S. were not unusual."
Concerning Gore's beliefs about worldwide warming, Morgan points out that, in addition to the cooling in the NW Atlantic, massive areas of cooling are found in the North and South Pacific Ocean; the whole of the Amazon Valley; the north coast of South America and the Caribbean; the eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caucasus and Red Sea; New Zealand and even the Ganges Valley in India. Morgan explains, "Had the IPCC used the standard parameter for climate change (the 30 year average) and used an equal area projection, instead of the Mercator (which doubled the area of warming in Alaska, Siberia and the Antarctic Ocean) warming and cooling would have been almost in balance."
Al Gore says: "Scientists have an independent obligation to respect and present the truth as they see it."
Well, I think they just did.
Professor Bob Carter of the Marine Geophysical Laboratory at James Cook University, in Australia gives what, for many Canadians, is a surprising assessment: "Gore's circumstantial arguments are so weak that they are pathetic. It is simply incredible that they, and his film, are commanding public attention."
Appearing before the Commons Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development last year, Carleton University paleoclimatologist Professor Tim Patterson testified, "There is no meaningful correlation between CO2 levels and Earth's temperature over this [geologic] time frame. In fact, when CO2 levels were over ten times higher than they are now, about 450 million years ago, the planet was in the depths of the absolute coldest period in the last half billion years." Patterson asked the committee, "On the basis of this evidence, how could anyone still believe that the recent relatively small increase in CO2 levels would be the major cause of the past century's modest warming?"
Gore's point that 200 cities and towns in the American West set all time high temperature records is also misleading according to Dr. Roy Spencer, Principal Research Scientist at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. "It is not unusual for some locations, out of the thousands of cities and towns in the U.S., to set all-time records," he says. "The actual data shows that overall, recent temperatures in the U.S. were not unusual."
Concerning Gore's beliefs about worldwide warming, Morgan points out that, in addition to the cooling in the NW Atlantic, massive areas of cooling are found in the North and South Pacific Ocean; the whole of the Amazon Valley; the north coast of South America and the Caribbean; the eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caucasus and Red Sea; New Zealand and even the Ganges Valley in India. Morgan explains, "Had the IPCC used the standard parameter for climate change (the 30 year average) and used an equal area projection, instead of the Mercator (which doubled the area of warming in Alaska, Siberia and the Antarctic Ocean) warming and cooling would have been almost in balance."
Al Gore says: "Scientists have an independent obligation to respect and present the truth as they see it."
Well, I think they just did.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
No English, No service
One of South Philadelphia's biggest names in cheesesteaks is in a bit of a legal pickle for a lunch-line political statement against immigrants who don't speak English. The city's Commission on Human Relations yesterday filed a discrimination complaint against Geno's Steaks over signs that read: "This is AMERICA ... WHEN ORDERING SPEAK ENGLISH."
Discrimination? How can you make that stick? Hasn’t ‘racism’ and ‘discrimination’ become the Salem witch hunt of our time? What happened to free speech? Or how about freedom in business?
If a restaurant can say "No shirt, No shoes, No service", then why can’t he say the same about speaking English. Doesn’t a business owner reserve the right to refuse service if he deems it appropriate?
The way I see it, if there is no law requiring businesses to hire bilingual or multi-lingual staff, then a business owner has a right to demand that his customers speak English. There is no discrimination.
This is the definition of discrimination from the Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia:
"To discriminate socially is to make a distinction between people on the basis of class or category without regard to individual merit. Examples include racial, religious, sexual, disability, ethnic, height-related and age-related discrimination. Distinctions between people which are based just on individual merit (such as personal achievement, skill or ability) are not discriminatory."
Key words are "individual merit", "skill", "ability".
So, Geno’s will serve anyone of any race, religion, sexual preference, age, height, color, national origin, or handicap just as long as that person has the SKILL and ABILITY to speak English.
There is no discrimination. I tip my hat to Geno’s.
Discrimination? How can you make that stick? Hasn’t ‘racism’ and ‘discrimination’ become the Salem witch hunt of our time? What happened to free speech? Or how about freedom in business?
If a restaurant can say "No shirt, No shoes, No service", then why can’t he say the same about speaking English. Doesn’t a business owner reserve the right to refuse service if he deems it appropriate?
The way I see it, if there is no law requiring businesses to hire bilingual or multi-lingual staff, then a business owner has a right to demand that his customers speak English. There is no discrimination.
This is the definition of discrimination from the Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia:
"To discriminate socially is to make a distinction between people on the basis of class or category without regard to individual merit. Examples include racial, religious, sexual, disability, ethnic, height-related and age-related discrimination. Distinctions between people which are based just on individual merit (such as personal achievement, skill or ability) are not discriminatory."
Key words are "individual merit", "skill", "ability".
So, Geno’s will serve anyone of any race, religion, sexual preference, age, height, color, national origin, or handicap just as long as that person has the SKILL and ABILITY to speak English.
There is no discrimination. I tip my hat to Geno’s.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Achievement...It's not PC
Not too long ago, my nephew graduated from pre-school. We all watched proudly, knowing that next it's kindergarten and amazed at how fast he has grown.
It's hard to measure a child's ability in pre-school, but they do test kids with acuity exams. It's a way to identify the kids that may have a special talent for academics. My nephew scored higher than anyone else in his pre-school. Great news right! A chance for the parents to be proud in front of the other parents, right! Wrong.
His accomplishment was not recognized. Aside from being allowed to sit in the first chair, there was no mention of it. Why? Apparently that sort of thing is frowned upon because it may keep the other kids from feeling good about themselves. It seems like they could have given him a different color tassle, or a patch or something...no.
I know it's only pre-school. I know they're young. But when does recognizing achievement translate into criticizing non-achievement? Is that how we encourage our kids to strive for success? When we give losing teams a trophy just for trying, what message does that send?
Is it OK to lose? Sure it is. Should it be celebrated? No. Is it OK to not finish first? Of course. But that shouldn't keep us from recognizing the one who DOES finish first.
Maybe I'm just over reacting, but it would have been nice for them to mention how well my nephew did.
It's hard to measure a child's ability in pre-school, but they do test kids with acuity exams. It's a way to identify the kids that may have a special talent for academics. My nephew scored higher than anyone else in his pre-school. Great news right! A chance for the parents to be proud in front of the other parents, right! Wrong.
His accomplishment was not recognized. Aside from being allowed to sit in the first chair, there was no mention of it. Why? Apparently that sort of thing is frowned upon because it may keep the other kids from feeling good about themselves. It seems like they could have given him a different color tassle, or a patch or something...no.
I know it's only pre-school. I know they're young. But when does recognizing achievement translate into criticizing non-achievement? Is that how we encourage our kids to strive for success? When we give losing teams a trophy just for trying, what message does that send?
Is it OK to lose? Sure it is. Should it be celebrated? No. Is it OK to not finish first? Of course. But that shouldn't keep us from recognizing the one who DOES finish first.
Maybe I'm just over reacting, but it would have been nice for them to mention how well my nephew did.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Dem strategy
Democratic strategy for the war on terror:
It's all about Bin Laden. Why aren't we going after Bin Laden? We've "taken our eye off the ball". Too many resources have been devoted away from Bin Laden. We are ignoring Bin Laden.
Democrat response to Al Zharqawi's death:
It's just one man. It doesn't really change anything.
It's all about Bin Laden. Why aren't we going after Bin Laden? We've "taken our eye off the ball". Too many resources have been devoted away from Bin Laden. We are ignoring Bin Laden.
Democrat response to Al Zharqawi's death:
It's just one man. It doesn't really change anything.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Good Deeds
So the UN feels that Middle America is kept in the dark about their "good deeds". Well, maybe they’re right. So, to honor the UN, here is a rundown of their good deeds:
800,000 people slaughtered in Rhuwanda over 100 days, the UN did nothing to stop it
The UN supports a global ban on sidearms
The UN embraces China, despite their shameful human rights record
The UN calls for global population control, similar to measures that China has in place
Oil-for-Food
The UN attempted to prosecute Britain for using bunker busting bombs
The UN calls for protecting the rights of children by preventing parent interference in their lives
Refuses to acknowledge Taiwan as an independent state
Has failed to stop OPEC in its artificial manipulation of the world oil market
Refused to enforce its disarm orders on Saddam Hussein
Has failed to prevent Iran from seeking WMDs
Failed to prevent Somali warlords from dominating that country
Did I miss anything? Feel free to add to this list of accomplishments. I’m not criticizing, I just feel Middle America should know the truth. After all, we don’t want anyone having false notions about them, right?
800,000 people slaughtered in Rhuwanda over 100 days, the UN did nothing to stop it
The UN supports a global ban on sidearms
The UN embraces China, despite their shameful human rights record
The UN calls for global population control, similar to measures that China has in place
Oil-for-Food
The UN attempted to prosecute Britain for using bunker busting bombs
The UN calls for protecting the rights of children by preventing parent interference in their lives
Refuses to acknowledge Taiwan as an independent state
Has failed to stop OPEC in its artificial manipulation of the world oil market
Refused to enforce its disarm orders on Saddam Hussein
Has failed to prevent Iran from seeking WMDs
Failed to prevent Somali warlords from dominating that country
Did I miss anything? Feel free to add to this list of accomplishments. I’m not criticizing, I just feel Middle America should know the truth. After all, we don’t want anyone having false notions about them, right?
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Ditsy Twits
Soda: $5
T-shirt: $25
Only selling 1/3 of the available tickets for your concert after your dunderhead lead singer inserts her foot in her mouth repeatedly: PRICELESS
What a day! It just keeps getting better!
T-shirt: $25
Only selling 1/3 of the available tickets for your concert after your dunderhead lead singer inserts her foot in her mouth repeatedly: PRICELESS
What a day! It just keeps getting better!
DEAD
Al Zharqawi has been confirmed dead.
The world has just become a safer...and better, place.
Here's to a job well-done by our troops.
As for Al Zharqawi, you can run but only for so long. Eventually, we will catch up to you. So long, you psycho. Say hello to Hitler and Qusay for us. Right about now I hope those 72 virgins have you bent over and...well, you get the picture.
The world has just become a safer...and better, place.
Here's to a job well-done by our troops.
As for Al Zharqawi, you can run but only for so long. Eventually, we will catch up to you. So long, you psycho. Say hello to Hitler and Qusay for us. Right about now I hope those 72 virgins have you bent over and...well, you get the picture.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Remember in November
It's time for a roll call:
Akaka (D-HI) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA)Cantwell (D-WA) Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI) Clinton (D-NY) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Dayton (D-MN) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA) Gregg (R-NH) Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI) Jeffords (I-VT) Johnson (D-SD) Kennedy (D-MA) Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (D-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) McCain (R-AZ)
Menendez (D-NJ) Mikulski (D-MD) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL)
Obama (D-IL) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV)
Salazar (D-CO) Sarbanes (D-MD) Schumer (D-NY) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (R-PA) Stabenow (D-MI) Sununu (R-NH) Wyden (D-OR)
Not Voting - 3
Dodd (D-CT)
Hagel (R-NE)
Rockefeller (D-WV
Breakdown of the states, and their respective positions on gay marriage
This website posts regular updates on the status of Defense of Marriage
41 states have laws prohibiting same sex marriage, only 9 allow it
18 states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage
So why is it that our Senators are denying the states, and therefore the people, the right to voice their opinion on this. 82% of the states have agreed to outlaw gay marriage, yet less than half of our elected Senators will agree to allow the states to decide the issue.
Somewhere there is a disconnect between the will of the people and the our US Senators. So, come November, remember this. If there is a disconnect, then it's up to the voters to correct it. So remember these names. Look for YOUR senator on the list.
Akaka (D-HI) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA)Cantwell (D-WA) Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI) Clinton (D-NY) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Dayton (D-MN) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA) Gregg (R-NH) Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI) Jeffords (I-VT) Johnson (D-SD) Kennedy (D-MA) Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (D-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) McCain (R-AZ)
Menendez (D-NJ) Mikulski (D-MD) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL)
Obama (D-IL) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV)
Salazar (D-CO) Sarbanes (D-MD) Schumer (D-NY) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (R-PA) Stabenow (D-MI) Sununu (R-NH) Wyden (D-OR)
Not Voting - 3
Dodd (D-CT)
Hagel (R-NE)
Rockefeller (D-WV
Breakdown of the states, and their respective positions on gay marriage
This website posts regular updates on the status of Defense of Marriage
41 states have laws prohibiting same sex marriage, only 9 allow it
18 states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage
So why is it that our Senators are denying the states, and therefore the people, the right to voice their opinion on this. 82% of the states have agreed to outlaw gay marriage, yet less than half of our elected Senators will agree to allow the states to decide the issue.
Somewhere there is a disconnect between the will of the people and the our US Senators. So, come November, remember this. If there is a disconnect, then it's up to the voters to correct it. So remember these names. Look for YOUR senator on the list.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Health care crisis
This is a great story from the LA Times. As a family physician, I have a strong opinion on this one.
There IS a health care crisis in this country. It’s not a developing crisis, it’s here and it’s real. It is good that this article pointed out this fact. What’s not good is some of the proposed solutions.
First, I’m okay with increasing the enrollment in medical schools nationwide, but NOT at the expense of lowering admission standards. Some may be alright with this, I think it’s a mistake. In healthcare you can have either quality or quantity, rarely both. I’d rather have quality.
Second, bringing in more foreign medical graduates is a HUGE mistake. See my reason above. Not only are FMGs held to lesser standards at overseas medical schools, but there is also difficulty developing healthy doctor-patient relationships as well as some substantial language barriers. When you’re discussing treatment plans, properly taking prescription medicines and preventive health strategies, a language barrier is a very big deal. Once again, quality or quantity?
Allow me to point out a few reasons for this health care shortage that I feel the politicians aren’t exactly going to be willing to act on:
Lawsuits – This IS the number one problem in American health care, and it must stop. Doctors are being forced out of practice all over the country because of trial lawyers. Not only that, but lawsuits are also limiting the scope of practice for many doctors. For example, as a family physician, I am licensed and trained to deliver routine OB care, but I will NOT do it because of the litigation risk. I am not alone. Couple that with the fact that OB is one of the fields that is suffering the greatest from the health care shortage and you can see my point. There must be sweeping reform here, and must be quick. The problem is that Congress is full of lawyers. They’re not going to change anything.
Medicare – The federal gov’t continues to cut payments to doctors. As a result, more physicians are eliminating medicare from their practice. In many cases, seeing these patients actually incurs an overall LOSS to the bottom line. Remember, this is how we make a living. Keep cutting medicare payments and soon this program will become obsolete because no one will be able to find a doctor who takes these patients.
Push for national health care – Socialized medicine is BAD. Listing the reasons why it’s bad is a whole other post, but I guarantee that if our lawmakers continue pushing for a national health care plan there will be a mass exodus of healthcare professionals out of the health care field. I would rather bag groceries for a living than work in a socialized medicine setting, and I am not alone in this.
Greedy insurance companies – Bottom line, the insurance companies don’t want to pay for things that we as physicians feel are necessary. So on one hand, you have the insurance companies limiting our freedom as physicians, and on the other the lawyers are suing us for NOT doing the tests that the insurance companies won’t pay for. Something has to give.
My solution: Sweeping reform of the insurance businesses and plaintiffs attorneys. Freeze or increase medicare payments to physicians – these things will stop physicians from leaving their profession and encourage more to enter it - and drop corporate taxes. Why drop corporate taxes? Because if you start providing incentives for big business to operate in the US, then they will come to the US (free trade will actually reverse direction and begin to work in our favor), which means more jobs, which means more people with health insurance. Sounds simple and easy….which is probably why our lawmakers haven’t done it yet.
There IS a health care crisis in this country. It’s not a developing crisis, it’s here and it’s real. It is good that this article pointed out this fact. What’s not good is some of the proposed solutions.
First, I’m okay with increasing the enrollment in medical schools nationwide, but NOT at the expense of lowering admission standards. Some may be alright with this, I think it’s a mistake. In healthcare you can have either quality or quantity, rarely both. I’d rather have quality.
Second, bringing in more foreign medical graduates is a HUGE mistake. See my reason above. Not only are FMGs held to lesser standards at overseas medical schools, but there is also difficulty developing healthy doctor-patient relationships as well as some substantial language barriers. When you’re discussing treatment plans, properly taking prescription medicines and preventive health strategies, a language barrier is a very big deal. Once again, quality or quantity?
Allow me to point out a few reasons for this health care shortage that I feel the politicians aren’t exactly going to be willing to act on:
Lawsuits – This IS the number one problem in American health care, and it must stop. Doctors are being forced out of practice all over the country because of trial lawyers. Not only that, but lawsuits are also limiting the scope of practice for many doctors. For example, as a family physician, I am licensed and trained to deliver routine OB care, but I will NOT do it because of the litigation risk. I am not alone. Couple that with the fact that OB is one of the fields that is suffering the greatest from the health care shortage and you can see my point. There must be sweeping reform here, and must be quick. The problem is that Congress is full of lawyers. They’re not going to change anything.
Medicare – The federal gov’t continues to cut payments to doctors. As a result, more physicians are eliminating medicare from their practice. In many cases, seeing these patients actually incurs an overall LOSS to the bottom line. Remember, this is how we make a living. Keep cutting medicare payments and soon this program will become obsolete because no one will be able to find a doctor who takes these patients.
Push for national health care – Socialized medicine is BAD. Listing the reasons why it’s bad is a whole other post, but I guarantee that if our lawmakers continue pushing for a national health care plan there will be a mass exodus of healthcare professionals out of the health care field. I would rather bag groceries for a living than work in a socialized medicine setting, and I am not alone in this.
Greedy insurance companies – Bottom line, the insurance companies don’t want to pay for things that we as physicians feel are necessary. So on one hand, you have the insurance companies limiting our freedom as physicians, and on the other the lawyers are suing us for NOT doing the tests that the insurance companies won’t pay for. Something has to give.
My solution: Sweeping reform of the insurance businesses and plaintiffs attorneys. Freeze or increase medicare payments to physicians – these things will stop physicians from leaving their profession and encourage more to enter it - and drop corporate taxes. Why drop corporate taxes? Because if you start providing incentives for big business to operate in the US, then they will come to the US (free trade will actually reverse direction and begin to work in our favor), which means more jobs, which means more people with health insurance. Sounds simple and easy….which is probably why our lawmakers haven’t done it yet.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
No more cobra bashing
A woman who fell in love with a snake has reportedly married the reptile at a traditional Hindu wedding celebrated by 2,000 guests in India's Orissa state.
Bimbala Das wore a silk saree for the ceremony Wednesday at Atala village near the Orissa state capital Bhubaneswar.
Priests chanted mantras to seal the union, but the snake failed to come out of a nearby ant hill where it lives, the Press Trust of India (PTI) said.
Sounds like the snake didn’t want to perform on his wedding night.
But, more importantly, this is a victory for cobras all over the world who have been denied their right to love whomever they choose. At last, cobras are allowed to love and marry just like everyone else. At last, they don’t have to walk down the street in shame. They can have a normal relationship, and anti-cobra bigots are shaking their heads in disbelief.
And it’s about time. For far too long we’ve been suppressing cobras. Shame on us all. Perhaps, one day, we’ll look back on our anti-cobra mentality and feel grateful at the bravery this one cobra showed in attacking our traditional views of marriage and overcoming centuries of misconceptions about his group.
Bravo, Mr. Cobra. You’ve taught us all a valuable lesson.
Bimbala Das wore a silk saree for the ceremony Wednesday at Atala village near the Orissa state capital Bhubaneswar.
Priests chanted mantras to seal the union, but the snake failed to come out of a nearby ant hill where it lives, the Press Trust of India (PTI) said.
Sounds like the snake didn’t want to perform on his wedding night.
But, more importantly, this is a victory for cobras all over the world who have been denied their right to love whomever they choose. At last, cobras are allowed to love and marry just like everyone else. At last, they don’t have to walk down the street in shame. They can have a normal relationship, and anti-cobra bigots are shaking their heads in disbelief.
And it’s about time. For far too long we’ve been suppressing cobras. Shame on us all. Perhaps, one day, we’ll look back on our anti-cobra mentality and feel grateful at the bravery this one cobra showed in attacking our traditional views of marriage and overcoming centuries of misconceptions about his group.
Bravo, Mr. Cobra. You’ve taught us all a valuable lesson.
Church...er...Mosque and State
At midday on Fridays, Muslims gather to pray in a basement room of the U.S. Capitol. Kneeling on sheets they've spread over the floor and facing east toward Mecca, they are members of the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association, about two dozen congressional aides who are part of a small but growing minority in America and in the halls of government.
At first just a prayer group, later a Muslim support group, the association is now looking outward to change what many see as woeful ignorance about Islam on Capitol Hill and beyond, said Jameel Aalim-Johnson, a black Muslim and chief of staff for Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York.
This story fascinates me. I ask you to click the link and read the full story once. Then read it again, but substitute Muslim with Christian. Now, this story is not really making news, I found it buried on the Las Vegas Sun website. But imagine if this were a group of Christian congressional aids. Imagine the national outcry.
How many times would we hear the phrase ‘separation of church and state’?
Or ‘Don’t impose your religious beliefs on others’?
Or ‘Christians shouldn’t be influencing members of Congress’?
Or ‘vast right wing conspiracy’?
But, since these are Muslims it’s okay, and won’t generate so much as a whimper from the mainstream press.
Anyone want to offer a guess as to how long before we are all bowing down to Mecca on a daily basis?
At first just a prayer group, later a Muslim support group, the association is now looking outward to change what many see as woeful ignorance about Islam on Capitol Hill and beyond, said Jameel Aalim-Johnson, a black Muslim and chief of staff for Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York.
This story fascinates me. I ask you to click the link and read the full story once. Then read it again, but substitute Muslim with Christian. Now, this story is not really making news, I found it buried on the Las Vegas Sun website. But imagine if this were a group of Christian congressional aids. Imagine the national outcry.
How many times would we hear the phrase ‘separation of church and state’?
Or ‘Don’t impose your religious beliefs on others’?
Or ‘Christians shouldn’t be influencing members of Congress’?
Or ‘vast right wing conspiracy’?
But, since these are Muslims it’s okay, and won’t generate so much as a whimper from the mainstream press.
Anyone want to offer a guess as to how long before we are all bowing down to Mecca on a daily basis?
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Purple Heart
Soldier gives CBS reporter his Purple Heart]
I wanted to share this story, since most of the news about our troops involves ‘killing innocent civilians.’
Kudos to Fox News and MSNBC for carrying the story.
It was nowhere to be found on CNN.com. Or maybe it was just hidden beneath the photo of a bloody bedroom in Haditha that they were so proudly displaying.
I wanted to share this story, since most of the news about our troops involves ‘killing innocent civilians.’
Kudos to Fox News and MSNBC for carrying the story.
It was nowhere to be found on CNN.com. Or maybe it was just hidden beneath the photo of a bloody bedroom in Haditha that they were so proudly displaying.
Friday, June 02, 2006
"Crony capitalism"
Former president Bill Clinton keynoted a Phoenix Democratic fundraiser Thursday evening, saying the Republican Party is dominated by "right-wing, white Southerners."
Clinton also hit the GOP for favoring the rich and practicing "crony capitalism".
Clinton also voiced support for raising the minimum wage above the $5.15 per hour federal baseline
I gotta say, as much as I dislike the man, Bill Clinton has got to be one of the most entertaining politicians in history. Rarely is there a story about him that doesn’t make me laugh, and this one is no different.
"Crony capitalism". What a great description. But what’s even better is that he made this statement at a $500-a-plate dinner. That’s priceless.
Raise the minimum wage? I found this story on Drudge, right next to a story that shows the unemployment rate has dropped yet again. Well, we can’t have that, can we? All these people working? No.
You know that has the libs in a panic. After all, if people are working, then they are paying taxes. And if people are paying taxes, they’re not going to like the Democratic Party. I can see them in their little private discussions.
Bill Clinton: "The unemployment rate has dropped again. How is my wife gonna get elected with all these people working?"
John Kerry: "I have a plan."
Ted Kennedy: "Hiccup…whatttifff……hiccup….we….hiccup……quagmire!"
John Kerry: "I have a plan."
Bill Clinton: "We need more layoffs. Quick, somebody order me a pizza and a stripper, I can’t think like this."
Howard Dean: "arrrrrgggghhhhh…….wahoooooo"
Robert Byrd: "How about a lynch mob?"
Al Sharpton: "That’s disgusting, disreputable, disillusioning, disrespectful, disgraceful, disenfranchising, disappearing, dismantling, disengaging, displaying, dislikable and racist."
John Kerry: "I was in Vietnam!"
Al Gore: "We can use a lockbox, or just sell them to the Chinese."
John Kerry: "Cheney’s daughter is gay!"
Bill Clinton: "She’s gay? Damn, she’s a hottie too."
Hillary: "Why not just raise the minimum wage?"
John Kerry: "I got it! Raise the minimum wage!"
I wonder if any of these minimum wage workers were invited to this $500-a-plate fund raiser in which Mr. Clinton bashed those evil crony-capitalists? Well, maybe if they keep raising the minimum wage….
As it climbs, so does the unemployment rate, which means more people jobless, which means more people dependent on the government, which means the Democrats take over, all while looking like they care about the ‘little man’. How’d they come up with such a brilliant strategy?
Clinton also hit the GOP for favoring the rich and practicing "crony capitalism".
Clinton also voiced support for raising the minimum wage above the $5.15 per hour federal baseline
I gotta say, as much as I dislike the man, Bill Clinton has got to be one of the most entertaining politicians in history. Rarely is there a story about him that doesn’t make me laugh, and this one is no different.
"Crony capitalism". What a great description. But what’s even better is that he made this statement at a $500-a-plate dinner. That’s priceless.
Raise the minimum wage? I found this story on Drudge, right next to a story that shows the unemployment rate has dropped yet again. Well, we can’t have that, can we? All these people working? No.
You know that has the libs in a panic. After all, if people are working, then they are paying taxes. And if people are paying taxes, they’re not going to like the Democratic Party. I can see them in their little private discussions.
Bill Clinton: "The unemployment rate has dropped again. How is my wife gonna get elected with all these people working?"
John Kerry: "I have a plan."
Ted Kennedy: "Hiccup…whatttifff……hiccup….we….hiccup……quagmire!"
John Kerry: "I have a plan."
Bill Clinton: "We need more layoffs. Quick, somebody order me a pizza and a stripper, I can’t think like this."
Howard Dean: "arrrrrgggghhhhh…….wahoooooo"
Robert Byrd: "How about a lynch mob?"
Al Sharpton: "That’s disgusting, disreputable, disillusioning, disrespectful, disgraceful, disenfranchising, disappearing, dismantling, disengaging, displaying, dislikable and racist."
John Kerry: "I was in Vietnam!"
Al Gore: "We can use a lockbox, or just sell them to the Chinese."
John Kerry: "Cheney’s daughter is gay!"
Bill Clinton: "She’s gay? Damn, she’s a hottie too."
Hillary: "Why not just raise the minimum wage?"
John Kerry: "I got it! Raise the minimum wage!"
I wonder if any of these minimum wage workers were invited to this $500-a-plate fund raiser in which Mr. Clinton bashed those evil crony-capitalists? Well, maybe if they keep raising the minimum wage….
As it climbs, so does the unemployment rate, which means more people jobless, which means more people dependent on the government, which means the Democrats take over, all while looking like they care about the ‘little man’. How’d they come up with such a brilliant strategy?
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Give them a break
Let me start by saying that if the killings in Haditha are truly what they appear to be on the surface, then this is an unfortunate and sad thing.
I do not condone the killing of civilians in a war effort, unless those civilians, regardless of sex or age, are in any way supporting the enemy. In my mind, that makes them the enemy. Were any of these people aiding the enemy? I don’t know, and neither does anyone else.
If not, then they should not have been gunned down the way they were, and those responsible should be punished. Period.
But the fact of the matter is, we don’t know if any of these people were truly innocent. Sure, they were not in uniform, they were not part of an army, but does anyone over there who kills American soldiers fit this description? No.
My suggestion would be to give our troops the benefit of the doubt. Investigate? Yes. Punish those found to be in the wrong? Yes. But don’t convict until we know the facts. And don’t judge these young men unless you’ve experienced what they’ve experienced. It’s easy to condemn from an easy chair, but spend one day in their shoes and you’ll see how fast your attitude changes.
As for the media, I don’t think they’re entitled to as much information as they’ve been given. We already know what they do with ANY anti-military rhetoric…it becomes fact and is used against America to hinder the war effort. Personally, I think the military leadership should issue one simple statement… "An unfortunate series of events occurred in Habitha, like many other events that occur during war. It is being investigated and anyone found guilty of wrongdoing will be punished." That’s it. That’s all we need to know.
For those of you who object to this, let me remind you of something. WE ARE AT WAR! I know it’s hard for the progressives to admit that, but it’s the truth. We are at war! Say it. Repeat it. We are at war. Keep saying it until it sinks in. We are at war. And for those who don’t know, war is not about tea parties, group hugs and therapy sessions.
War is a terrible thing in which terrible things happen. People die and many times those people are innocent. Things get destroyed. Suffering occurs. That’s what makes war so terrible and is why we avoid it whenever possible. So don’t act surprised when something terrible happens during a war. We do what we can to minimize those terrible things but we will never eliminate them.
It’s easy to forget while we drive to work in our SUV and pick the kids up at soccer practice. It’s easy to forget that we are at war. So keep repeating it. We are at war. Maybe someday you’ll realize the truth and won’t gasp so hard the next time someone dies in Iraq. It’s not our fault these extremist nut cases started causing trouble over there. We didn’t ask for this. So don’t blame America for being evil and insensitive.
And don’t blame our troops for being human, even if their enemy is not. Sure, they are professionals, but they’re also kids. They’re kids under a lot of stress, fighting and dying for our freedom, to protect us from evil and to secure the rights of a civilization who couldn’t care less about them. Give them justice, demand better from them, but also…give them a break.
For those of you who believe, I ask that you remember these soldiers in your prayers. They’re going through a lot, and as the investigation continues so will their strain.
I do not condone the killing of civilians in a war effort, unless those civilians, regardless of sex or age, are in any way supporting the enemy. In my mind, that makes them the enemy. Were any of these people aiding the enemy? I don’t know, and neither does anyone else.
If not, then they should not have been gunned down the way they were, and those responsible should be punished. Period.
But the fact of the matter is, we don’t know if any of these people were truly innocent. Sure, they were not in uniform, they were not part of an army, but does anyone over there who kills American soldiers fit this description? No.
My suggestion would be to give our troops the benefit of the doubt. Investigate? Yes. Punish those found to be in the wrong? Yes. But don’t convict until we know the facts. And don’t judge these young men unless you’ve experienced what they’ve experienced. It’s easy to condemn from an easy chair, but spend one day in their shoes and you’ll see how fast your attitude changes.
As for the media, I don’t think they’re entitled to as much information as they’ve been given. We already know what they do with ANY anti-military rhetoric…it becomes fact and is used against America to hinder the war effort. Personally, I think the military leadership should issue one simple statement… "An unfortunate series of events occurred in Habitha, like many other events that occur during war. It is being investigated and anyone found guilty of wrongdoing will be punished." That’s it. That’s all we need to know.
For those of you who object to this, let me remind you of something. WE ARE AT WAR! I know it’s hard for the progressives to admit that, but it’s the truth. We are at war! Say it. Repeat it. We are at war. Keep saying it until it sinks in. We are at war. And for those who don’t know, war is not about tea parties, group hugs and therapy sessions.
War is a terrible thing in which terrible things happen. People die and many times those people are innocent. Things get destroyed. Suffering occurs. That’s what makes war so terrible and is why we avoid it whenever possible. So don’t act surprised when something terrible happens during a war. We do what we can to minimize those terrible things but we will never eliminate them.
It’s easy to forget while we drive to work in our SUV and pick the kids up at soccer practice. It’s easy to forget that we are at war. So keep repeating it. We are at war. Maybe someday you’ll realize the truth and won’t gasp so hard the next time someone dies in Iraq. It’s not our fault these extremist nut cases started causing trouble over there. We didn’t ask for this. So don’t blame America for being evil and insensitive.
And don’t blame our troops for being human, even if their enemy is not. Sure, they are professionals, but they’re also kids. They’re kids under a lot of stress, fighting and dying for our freedom, to protect us from evil and to secure the rights of a civilization who couldn’t care less about them. Give them justice, demand better from them, but also…give them a break.
For those of you who believe, I ask that you remember these soldiers in your prayers. They’re going through a lot, and as the investigation continues so will their strain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)