HONOR

Honor a Fallen Soldier...amazing video
Killed in action the week before, the body of Sergeant First Class John C. Beale was returned to Falcon Field in Peachtree City , Georgia , just south of Atlanta , on June 11, 2009 . The Henry County Police Department escorted the procession to the funeral home in McDonough , Georgia . A simple notice in local papers indicated the road route to be taken and the approximate time. Nowadays one can be led to believe that America no longer respects honor and no longer honors sacrifice outside the military. Be it known that there are many places in this land where people still recognize the courage and impact of total self-sacrifice. The link below is a short travelogue of that day’s remarkable and painful journey. But only watch this if you wish to have some of your faith in people restored.
H/T Winter Soldier & Theo Spark

Watching this, seeing the thousands of people in the small towns of GA, the flags, the police, fire departments, the uniformed men and women, it made me feel good that I'm not alone in knowing of the sacrifice our bravest give. The video is hand-held and jerky, but seeing the people and listening to the music, it makes for moving few minutes. I'm sure the vast majority of these folks never met Sergeant Beale, but they honored him because he fought for them, and he died for them.

May his family be blessed with peace and may Sergeant Beale be in the loving arms of the Father.

We are all Hondurans Now!

Surrounded by an "Iron Curtain", JFK let the USSR know that the free world would not let the strangulation of West Berlin stand. He said that we, the free world, were all Berliners and we stood with the free people of West Berlin, and West Germany, in defiance of the dictatorship of Khrushchev and the Eastern Block. It was powerful, it was inspiring, and it was history.

Now, with a little country surrounded by thugs and dictators, Chavez, Castro and Ortega, and the UN wanting to "meddle" in their business, Honduras, a western hemisphere democracy, is getting no support from our government, in fact, they are getting hammered form all sides from the Obama administration.

Props to Gateway Pundit and his relentless hounding on this story. This is the a great illustration of the difference in today's democratic party and the democratic party of our fathers generation. Obama states that he doesn't want to be seen as meddling in the affairs of our enemies like Iran, even when they are shooting protesters in the streets that are seeking to be heard by the world in their quest for democracy. He has turned a deaf ear to them, and to the vast majority of Honduran citizens that supported the ousting of their president that was trashing their constitution. And there is the reason for the Obama's unwillingness to speak out on behalf of the freedom wanting people of Honduras, they are upholding their own constitution.

The president of Honduras, Chavez-lackey Manuel Zelaya, was ginning up a group of thugs to push through a referendum that would have subverted their constitution and allowed for a vote to let him stay in office, basically to become another Chavez style dictator. This type of referendum is only allowed to be put to the people by the Honduran congress and he, with help from Chavez, was going to do it himself, which their supreme court and attorney general, all constitutionally authorized folks, said was illegal. He started the process, asking the head of the Honduran army to help and the general said NO. Zelaya fired him, the supreme court reinstated him, and Zelaya fired him again. The AG, acting under the authority of the Honduran supreme court and the constitution had Zelaya arrested by the army, the only true law enforcement in the country, and had him exiled to Costa Rica.

Now the news, even FOX news, (listen to Shep Smith go on with "Listen to this!" showing his true colors) showed pictures and stories of some protesters wanting Zelaya back, but what they didn't show was the tens of thousands marching in the streets in support of the former VP, now president, Micheletti, who said that if Zelaya tries to come back to his country, he will be arrested for his crimes, plus for drug trafficking crimes that have been documented and our own DEA knows about. For this strong stand against the forces of Statism and fascism, what does this little, poor country get........ a slap in the face from the US, from their democratic brothers in the Organization of American States and of course the UN; they have all come down on the side of Chavez, Castro and Ortega. This is a shame and a disgrace on the US and any freedom loving people in the world. We must do as Pres. Kennedy said, "...support any friend and oppose any foe...." to keep democracy and freedom alive in this world we now live.

Is it just me or do we now seem to live in a world that is just forgetting what we did 233 year ago this coming July 4th. We created a land of freedom loving people and invited those of the world to come and join us. We pledged to support those that sought freedom and liberty in their own lands. We sacrificed our blood and treasure for the sake of liberty and in fighting those that would take it from us or deny it to others. And yet, today, we see this little country, standing on its own, with no support from our government or the rest of the world, defying all to protect what is most valuable to them, their laws that provide them the freedom and liberty to live as they choose.

We once had that fire in our bellies, do we still? Do we have the will to protect what is the last, best hope for man kind, the United States of America,the idea that we still hold on to by the threads of a stepped on, burned up, spat upon Old Glory. I say we do and the people that I know still do. They I'm sure will understand when I say, We are all Honduran today! Viva Liberty! Viva Freedom! Viva Honduras!

Pray for them and for us, for this struggle may be to big for us alone, but we are never alone in a righteous fight.

MORE, NOT LESS Dependence on Foreign Oil with Cap-n-Tax

This is what Cap and Trade will get us. More oil coming from places like this, Saudi Arabian dirty oil fields and not from the technology of the US and our much cleaner oil industry. Why you ask, because with the Waxman-Markey energy bill, US oil companies will be forced, because of competition, to import even more oil, but not crude oil, but finished, refined products like gasoline, and diesel, jet fuel and the like.

With the higher costs that come with Cap and Trade, the domestic oil refineries will pay more to produce these products, and if so, will import the refined products because, here's the good part, imported refined products won't have the disadvantage of being produced here, in the US, under the Waxman-Markey Cap and TAX bill. You've heard this here before but it bares repeating, if you want less of something, TAX IT!

In this Bloomberg article, Big Oil’s Answer to Carbon Law May Be Fuel Imports , Jim Mulva of Conoco Phillips, states that the C-n-T will impose and imbalance in the costs for domestic refiners, that is will force them to import more refined product and slow or close plants here in the US to avoid the extra costs. “It will lead to the opportunity for foreign sources to bring in transportation fuels at a lower cost, which will have an adverse impact to our industry, potential shutdown of refineries and investment and, ultimately, employment,”

Contrary to President Barack Obama’s goal of reducing dependence on overseas energy suppliers, the bill would incent U.S. refiners to import more fuel, said Clayton Mahaffey, an analyst at RedChip Cos. in Maitland, Florida.
“They’ll be searching the globe for refined products that don’t carry the same level of carbon costs,” said Mahaffey, a former Exxon Corp. refinery manager.

The Bloomberg artical continues; Drivers, airlines and trucking companies would pay an additional $178 billion annually, or about $560 for each man, woman and child in the U.S., according to the API, whose 400 members include Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil and the U.S. unit of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe’s largest oil company.

“That kind of price impact would significantly hurt the competitiveness of U.S. refiners versus importers,” said Glenn McGinnis, chief executive officer at Arizona Clean Fuels Yuma, a Phoenix-based company that’s attempting to build the nation’s first new refinery in three decades.

And what this bill is purported to do is decrease dependence on foreign sources of fuel, and keep the carbon foot print of the US from growing. Well, I'll think you know where I'd to put my foot print, but I'll have to make that known at the ballot box in 2010, because not one of our Florida Democrat Congressman, that includes our own Allan Greyson, voted to stop this 1300 page plus roll of TP from getting passed, they all voted for it. And they didn't even read the thing, yet they sign their names to it, that should tell you everything you need to know.

I emailed Rep. Greyson and got a response, here's part of it;

"Currently there are a number of bills being debated in the House of Representatives regarding energy policy. One of the most prominent bills, H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, recently passed the House Energy & Commerce Committee by a 33-25 vote. The bill has also been referred to 8 other House Committees who maintain jurisdiction. H.R. 2454 provides a comprehensive strategy to help reduce America's dependency on foreign oil, significantly cut carbon emissions by 2050, bolster the development and implementation of renewable energy sources, and increase overall energy efficiency standards. Because H.R. 2454 has not come before either of my committees, I have not able to participate in the initial discussions regarding the bill. However, please know that I will keep the best interests of my constituents in mind should an energy bill come before the House for a vote. "

The highlighted section shows one of the goals, "to help reduce America's dependency on foreign oil". He also goes on about how he hasn't been in on the discussions about the bill because it hasn't come up in any of his committees. And this response was dated June 26th, 2009, and low and behold, the bill passed June 26th, 2009. What a piece of work this guy is, not reading the bill and voting to pass it, and he has the sack to tell me, "However, please know that I will keep the best interests of my constituents in mind "........ what a joke.

This bill will not protect the environment because we will import from countries that don't give a rip about it. It will not reduce our dependence as I've stated above, but it will lower our standard of living by imposing artificial caps on our use of energy. This bill, based on the junk science global warming, will only speed the downfall of this great nation, and dim the shining light on the hill.

Obama Drops Case of Voter Intimidation....Look Out in 2010

Charges brought against these thugs, Black Panthers standing in front of a poling place in Phillie, were dropped by the Obama Justice Department. These two dirt bags stood in front of a poling place and verbally assaulted voters, white and black alike, saying to one white voter, "you are about to be ruled by the black man, cracker." They stood there, one holding a night stick or baton of some kind, slapping it in his hand in a threatening manor, as voters walked passed.

Out of all the reports back in 2000 and 2004 of voters with African heritage being turned away or intimidated by police or others to their poling places, which was never found to be true by any investigation, this disgusting display of intimidation from the other side, goes unpunished. Oh, my bad, they got a restraining order to say the can't do it again, what a bunch of dog squeeze. These guys should be put in jail for violating the rights of voters, for assault, which is verbal threats, and for being two of the dumbest A-holes on the planet.

I wrote about this on election day last year, here's my entry. Is this what we should expect in the Obamanation? It looks like it, just ask the Chrysler dealers that gave to the GOP, they're getting the boot, as dealers that gave to Dear Leader stay open or even expand. H/T to Gateway Pundit.

Empathise This....

"I would hope that a wise white male with the richness of his experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a Latina woman who hasn't lived that life."

Wow, who said that, what a bigoted, racist comment. There's no way someone who believes such a thing would ever get 100 miles from the U.S. Supreme Court, let alone be nominated to it.

Again, I'm am guilty of sarcasm, and I changed that comment above, pointing out the incredible double standard in the liberal mind these days. Just switch the "white male" with the "latina woman" and you have exactly what Obama's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Sotomayor, said in 2001. What would have happened if a white male had said such a thing; he'd be out so fast his robes would be flapping in the wind like Superman's cape when he was screaming around the earth, saving Lois Lane by reversing the earth's rotation.

What does she have that will make it impossible for her to not get apporved? She has an education, 2nd in class at Princeton, not bad. Yale Law School, Okay. So education, check. Time on the bench. She was nominated in 1991 by Bush 41 to the Federal bench, who also nominated Judge Souter, the jurist she will be replacing. So 18 years on the bench, check. She is considered a "centrist" by the ABA Journal, big whip! But she has made some rulings that should make her seem not so far left.

She sided with the Bush 43 administration in regards to US funding of abortions in Mexico City. And she sited the US constitution in doing so. Sounds good. But that's about it for the positives.

What makes me feel strongly that she will be a disaster on the court is the fact that Obama is nominating her because he wanted someone that will use their "empathy" when making rulings on the bench. What The .......

Being a judge is dealing with weighty questions that can affect us all. A judge can feel empathy for one of the parties in front of them, they can feel compassion and even identify with them. BUT, and again there's always a BUT, applying the law requires that judges put those personal feeling of empathy aside and refer to the law, and in her case, the U.S. Constitution, in providing the reasoning and backing to her rulings. This, the rule of law, is the only thing that can be used in performance of her duties. In the oath taken by Federal Judges it states: “I, __________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as (name of position) under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God.”

I've highlighted the parts that will make it very hard for her to rule with empathy. She has made the following statement: “[W]e who judge must not deny the differences resulting from experience or heritage but attempt . . . continuously to judge when those opinions, sympathies, and prejudices are appropriate.” They're never approprate Judge Sotomayor, never!

And one of the other reasons for us to be afraid, be very afraid is this:



32 seconds into this clip she states; "the court of appeals is where policy is made...". Really, that's scary. She goes on, trying to dismiss her statement, but that is very telling of her mindset.

So, it looks like we'll be getting another liberal replacing a liberal, pretty much a wash. I say use this confirmation hearings to show just what kind of justice she will be and make sure the public is aware of what they've bought with Obama as President. And as he said in his speech this morning...."you ain't' seen noth'n yet......" Oh My!

Don't Underestimate U.S.

If this doesn't get your blood pumping, you need to put a miror under you nose to see if you're still breathing. Great stuff, an ad for a Tea Party in Alabama.

H/T to Theo Spark

Memorial Day, 2009 - One I Will Always Remember

My Memorial Day started off like most others, not much planned, but for a conversation with my mother telling me of a service at the Glen Haven Memorial cemetery at 11:00am that day. I knew that most cemeteries had services, but I'd rarely attended. But today I thought I'd make the effort. It made it easier that I'd be on that side of town that day anyway. So I went.

As I approached the seats, listening to the band playing patriotic music, I started walking in the grass to get under the tent set up for guests. My mom said she'd be there, and I was going to look for her, but I noticed something. Over the past week or two, we have had some of the wettest weather we've ever had here in Central Florida, some places receiving over 27 inches in one week. So as I approached I started hearing the squish, squish of standing water. The chairs were set up in the lowest area in the cemetery, but folks still sat there. I guess a sunburn would hurt more than trench foot. But I stayed dry and bared the sun.

I'm glad I did, for if I would have stayed cool under the tent I wouldn't have stood next to a retired solder, a Vietnam vet, I never got his name. We didn't say too much, but I started up our acquaintance by pointing out a man's flag next to us, a little one on a stick, was on the ground. After trying to make him aware of the discomfort I felt seeing it there, I picked it up and said, "especially on a day like today, this shouldn't be on the ground" and handed it to him. He walked off, I don't know if he truly heard me, but the vet next to me said " he's from a different generation", and I agreed.

But trying to think positive, I nudged the vet and pointed to the JROTC students standing ready to take part in the ceremonies and said " but there's hope for the next generation", and he smiled. We started slowly talking, I could see his discomfort, and as we went on, he told me that this was the first M-Day service that he'd ever been to since his war days. He said he'd been in two tours of duty, in '68 & '69, serving in the army. I listened as he told me about being in an attack helicopter unit, with gun ships and skips and then, with a chocked voice, he pulled out a framed picture, 3x5, of his best friend in country. His friend never made it back and I realized this must have been one, if not the first time he had shown this picture to a stranger. I truly felt honored to be holding it, this precious memory of his. I was humbled to say the least, and I stood there, blinking back tears, I could tell he had a lot of healing still to do.

As the ceremony progressed, the JROTC students performed a fallen solder tribute that struck home for both of us. The picture at the top of the entry shows the end result, but as the boys and girls performed it, you could tell, not a dry eye was to be had; even through my new friend’s sunglasses, I could tell by the frown and bowed head that he was moved to tears. The students brought out the rifle, boots, helmet, dog tags and placed them in the traditional way, in honor of the fallen. And as they did, other students, dressed in uniforms of the battles our best have fought and died in, came and stood behind the tribute, looking down at it with reverence. I was truly inspired and hopeful for our country's future seeing these young people showing heart felt patriotism. I know it exists, but to see it in person, in action, was uplifting to say the least.

As the ending of the ceremony was nearing, I knew I had to leave before it was over. I took the opportunity, as the solders, past and current, were asked to stand and be recognized for their service. Since my new friend was already standing, I patted him on the back, and offered my had to shake, and said "thank you for your service to our country", and I could tell he was appreciative as he looked me in the eye and said "you're welcome". I then left feeling honored to have made this first M-day service of his a little easier to get through, I thought it was the least I could do for him. I felt it was my duty after he confessed to me his apprehension of the day.

I had one other reason to be there that day, a even more personal reason. My father, who passed away April 18th, 1996, was resting there. So as I walked to my car, I made a point to stop by his grave and stood at the foot. I thought that today it would be appropriate that I give him a salute; he was in the USAF and served 3 years active and 25 year in the reserves reaching Lt. Col.. He was an honorable man, and he loved his country. He was buried with military honors, performed by the Orange County Sheriff's department. He was a Circuit Court Judge for 14 years before he passed, and a flag draped his coffin. So, I thought it was appropriate that, on Memorial Day, I give him a salute, the way he had taught me as a young man.

And as I did, the sound of a 21 gun salute cracked the silence....one round, then the next, then the final one. Then, just as it had happened on that day in April, 1996, TAPS rang out from the distance, and the scene of my father's grave side service was vividly back in my mind. I was motionless for a few moments, standing there and thinking that dad, my father was there with me and had pulled me to leave at that time, so that I might feel that feeling again, the pride, the pain, the honor of that day.

It started out as an average Memorial day, but I will always know that this Memorial Day, May 25th, 2009, will be one I remember and cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you my new Vietnam vet friend, thank you to all that have served and that have died for this country, thanks to the JROTC students that gave me hope and thanks dad for making this day so dear to me. I will always remember you and your hand guiding me through the day.