The former Maryland lieutenant governor is considering a run for the chairmanship of the Republican Party, a source close to the situation told FOX News.
By Bill Sammon
FOXNews.com
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Michael Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, has decided to run for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee and is in talks with Newt Gingrich to win the former House speaker's endorsement, FOX News learned Tuesday.
Steele declined to comment, but a source close to the situation said Steele would announce his candidacy as early as Thursday.
The source also contradicted a report in Tuesday's Washington Times that Steele and Gingrich were competing for the RNC post.
"There is no fight," the source said. "This tension between Michael Steele and Newt Gingrich is totally fabricated and, in fact, Gingrich and Steele are working together to create a new strategy for the direction of the GOP."
In a statement issued by the former House speaker, Gingrich said he was not interested in seeking the post of Republican Party chairman.
"A number of people have asked me to consider running for Republican National Committee chair. They have been very flattering, and I am very honored by their support," he said.
"However, my job as an American first is to develop a tri-partisan approach to developing solutions for the challenges we face. I use the word tri-partisan to designate the concept of attracting Democrats, Republicans, and independents to solutions that unify most Americans."
Meanwhile, Steele is said to be hoping that his entry into the race will scare off other hopefuls, including current RNC chairman Mike Duncan.
Others vying for the post include Chip Saltsman, who chaired Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The United Socialst States of America?
I wish I did not have any unresolved issues about last night's election. I wanted to get up this morning and just accept the judgment of the people and look forward to the next four years. Last night when I realized he was going to win, I wanted to throw my support behind President Elect Obama regardless of how much I wanted to see him keep his job as Senator. But the problem is that no matter how many times I clicked my heels together and wished for home and no matter how hard I tried to be positive, the first few images I saw on the TV this morning were some of the more disturbing things I have seen in a long time.
Have we lost all sense of respect and history? We have forces deployed engaged in combat and are going through some tough economic times meanwhile there were a number of obvious Obama supporters celebrating in front of the White House as the election results were coming in. Once it was obvious that Sen Obama would now be more properly referred to as President Elect Obama, many of these revelers were caught on camera celebrating (somewhere off camera must have been a very large keg).
The problem is that one "gentleman" (I use the term lightly) pulls out a Soviet Flag…yes that red one with the yellow hammer and sickle. So here we are, years after the western world with Reagan, Thatcher and Mulroney at the helm pulled down that same flag freeing millions that had been oppressed under that flag. But even worse I hear that this was not an isolated incident. There were multiple reports of similar displays (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2125944/posts) in other parts of the country.
I don't want to make light of the prolife vs pro-choice issue but I just don't understand in a country where abortion is legal, class four hurricanes break open weak levies, random house fires break out everyday, cars run red lights, how some people are able to survive and make it to the point where they decide to go party to celebrate the victory of a psydo-socialist and wave Lenin's flag around. And for those that are about to claim that those were probably conservative infiltrators that were trying to bring discredit upon the Obama-philes…well I have a response to that…. No self respecting conservative would brave mingling with the unwashed masses and unemployed ex-union members protest…uh I mean celebrating in George W's back yard to wave around a piece of cloth representing a political system and a history that they despise and fought so hard to end – come on people think about it.
Other images and sound bites I have been bombarded with all day is random shots and clips from ordinary folks all the way to the President (the current one) claiming that this election is historical. I appreciate this face and that due to Obama's ethnicity there is something special about his ascension to the presidency. And more importantly I hope that the racists will finally shut the hell up and equally hope we can finally put an end to the hyphen-ization of our country.
First of all Obama's election is not historical in the sense that there have been previous black political leaders – some good (Mandela) and some bad (Idi Amin). There have been black social leaders (Martin Luther King), and religious leaders (Bishop Tutu). Just because someone is American and accomplishes something does not make it more of an achievement. In other words, the fact that Obama will be our 44th president is history in the very fact because he will be our 44th president and will represent a peaceful change of government during a time of conflict and crisis, not because of what color his skin is or what his last name is. In other words we can finally be equal to the rest of the world where anyone can become the leader of their nation, where women have been the leaders of Pakistan, Great Britain, and Israel and where an Asian led an Indian-Hispanic country (Fujimori in Peru).
Another good result of this election might be that maybe we can finally come to terms with the fact that even our so called poor-class has luxuries that those living in most other parts of the world could only dream of calling their own. I am not denying there is prejudice out there in our country but at least in the U.S. we do not generally get shot or blown up solely due to our religion or what tribe we belong to (we just get mugged or stabbed when we wear the wrong color shirt to the mall or have the audacity to have a nice watch and be walking in the wrong neighborhood.
Now that Obama has achieved the right to fill the most esteemed job in the land, the head of the strongest most successful nation on Earth maybe it is time that we stop trying to divide each other into race and religions and get on with being Americans. I appreciate the fact some people will get emotional and that they are proud to see that race is no longer a factor. But if so then consider that all day on the radio and TV I have heard various black leaders and people on the street talk about how it is time that the white man is no longer in charge, and how they are surprised that non-black people (I assume they mean white and Hispanic) voted for Obama and that now that a black man is in office that the unrepresented will finally be spoken for and taken care of. These are the things I have issues with this is no better than David Duke spouting off his beliefs.
When a man or woman is a Republican and is also black, Hispanic, or a woman they don't count. Only when a liberal succeeds is it "about time" and a historic moment. I am less happy for Obama's achievement today than I am sad about the missed opport unities of Lynn Swann in PA, Michael Steele in MD, Sarah Palin for VP, Clarence Thomas, or Condelizza Rice. All of these people were called the most awful things by people of all races and creeds because they were conservatives, without regard to their success. Maybe now we can finally play fair and stop qualifying each achievement by someone's race or religion…well at least until we have a one-armed Jamaican-Jewish transsexual running for president THEN we can all celebrate – but please friends, leave the hammer and sickle at home.
Have we lost all sense of respect and history? We have forces deployed engaged in combat and are going through some tough economic times meanwhile there were a number of obvious Obama supporters celebrating in front of the White House as the election results were coming in. Once it was obvious that Sen Obama would now be more properly referred to as President Elect Obama, many of these revelers were caught on camera celebrating (somewhere off camera must have been a very large keg).
The problem is that one "gentleman" (I use the term lightly) pulls out a Soviet Flag…yes that red one with the yellow hammer and sickle. So here we are, years after the western world with Reagan, Thatcher and Mulroney at the helm pulled down that same flag freeing millions that had been oppressed under that flag. But even worse I hear that this was not an isolated incident. There were multiple reports of similar displays (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2125944/posts) in other parts of the country.
I don't want to make light of the prolife vs pro-choice issue but I just don't understand in a country where abortion is legal, class four hurricanes break open weak levies, random house fires break out everyday, cars run red lights, how some people are able to survive and make it to the point where they decide to go party to celebrate the victory of a psydo-socialist and wave Lenin's flag around. And for those that are about to claim that those were probably conservative infiltrators that were trying to bring discredit upon the Obama-philes…well I have a response to that…. No self respecting conservative would brave mingling with the unwashed masses and unemployed ex-union members protest…uh I mean celebrating in George W's back yard to wave around a piece of cloth representing a political system and a history that they despise and fought so hard to end – come on people think about it.
Other images and sound bites I have been bombarded with all day is random shots and clips from ordinary folks all the way to the President (the current one) claiming that this election is historical. I appreciate this face and that due to Obama's ethnicity there is something special about his ascension to the presidency. And more importantly I hope that the racists will finally shut the hell up and equally hope we can finally put an end to the hyphen-ization of our country.
First of all Obama's election is not historical in the sense that there have been previous black political leaders – some good (Mandela) and some bad (Idi Amin). There have been black social leaders (Martin Luther King), and religious leaders (Bishop Tutu). Just because someone is American and accomplishes something does not make it more of an achievement. In other words, the fact that Obama will be our 44th president is history in the very fact because he will be our 44th president and will represent a peaceful change of government during a time of conflict and crisis, not because of what color his skin is or what his last name is. In other words we can finally be equal to the rest of the world where anyone can become the leader of their nation, where women have been the leaders of Pakistan, Great Britain, and Israel and where an Asian led an Indian-Hispanic country (Fujimori in Peru).
Another good result of this election might be that maybe we can finally come to terms with the fact that even our so called poor-class has luxuries that those living in most other parts of the world could only dream of calling their own. I am not denying there is prejudice out there in our country but at least in the U.S. we do not generally get shot or blown up solely due to our religion or what tribe we belong to (we just get mugged or stabbed when we wear the wrong color shirt to the mall or have the audacity to have a nice watch and be walking in the wrong neighborhood.
Now that Obama has achieved the right to fill the most esteemed job in the land, the head of the strongest most successful nation on Earth maybe it is time that we stop trying to divide each other into race and religions and get on with being Americans. I appreciate the fact some people will get emotional and that they are proud to see that race is no longer a factor. But if so then consider that all day on the radio and TV I have heard various black leaders and people on the street talk about how it is time that the white man is no longer in charge, and how they are surprised that non-black people (I assume they mean white and Hispanic) voted for Obama and that now that a black man is in office that the unrepresented will finally be spoken for and taken care of. These are the things I have issues with this is no better than David Duke spouting off his beliefs.
When a man or woman is a Republican and is also black, Hispanic, or a woman they don't count. Only when a liberal succeeds is it "about time" and a historic moment. I am less happy for Obama's achievement today than I am sad about the missed opport unities of Lynn Swann in PA, Michael Steele in MD, Sarah Palin for VP, Clarence Thomas, or Condelizza Rice. All of these people were called the most awful things by people of all races and creeds because they were conservatives, without regard to their success. Maybe now we can finally play fair and stop qualifying each achievement by someone's race or religion…well at least until we have a one-armed Jamaican-Jewish transsexual running for president THEN we can all celebrate – but please friends, leave the hammer and sickle at home.
For those of you who have not changed your citizenship or have not started looking for a home and job in Canada or even better in Mexico, or for those of you who have not already voted you have the chance to be part of change. Real change and not the kind you find in your pocket three days before payday.
You have the choice between the lesser of two evils, and a load of minor characters. Let's assume for a minute that you don't live in a hut, recycle toilet paper and talk to trees so will not be voting for Ralph Nader and assuming that you don't hate your parents, yourself and your country you won't be voting for that security guard slapping hate monger Cynthia McKinney funning under the Green party banner. If all that is true then you really have only two choices. Two liberal candidates. One with a butt-ton of experience and another who has a nice suit. One who has a plan to deal with the trials and tribulations ahead (both dealing with national defense and the economy) the other who has voted "present" instead of committing to yes or no on 2/3 of the votes he bothered to show up for.
The major issues:
National Defense. Is there any discussion here? I mean really? Obama wants to create a "civilian" national defense corps. Don't we already have that in the form of National Guard, local, state, and federal law enforcement, and various civil defense organizations (fire fighters, port authorities, ect...). Sen Obama wanted to bring the Russians to the UN Security Council when they invaded Georgia. Failing to realize and understand that Russia has a veto vote and could have blocked any move in the UN. What good would that have done while innocent people were being rapped and killed by the Russians? And while I think Obama has the best intentions, he constantly telegraphs his intentions (timetable in Iraq, no preconditions to talk to Iran and Cuba, and invasion of Pakistan) and no matter what he says today, his actions and words in the past have been of no honor to those in uniform.
Taxes and the Economy. Look simply put - you over-tax the rich, the same people that create jobs and invest to expand business the government will take in less money and more people will loose their jobs (or less jobs will be created). This is simple fact. Look up "economy" and "Ireland" on Google, then make your decision on who is right. I could go on but it is as easy as...less government more opportunities for workers, investors, and businesses.
One party rule- this is a bad thing. If Sen Obama wins, then we will have the closest thing to a Soviet Union style government we have ever had. Obama has the most liberal voting record and Biden the third overall. This is surprising considering some of the company they have in the Senate. But with Obama at the helm he would have Nancy Pelosi as overlord of the House, a super-rich bitch that has the heuvos to claim working class roots (her dad was a politician in Maryland) while using Ben Franklins to wipe her rump after finishing a Mongolian buffet. And over at the Senate would be Harry Reid who is the definition of a curmudgeon leading the charge over the proverbial cliff. So every bad idea that the democrats have will be pushed through at lightning speed. The one that takes away all your guns, the one that makes it law for you to have to take in one person of lesser means and give them everything that you worked for will be the next house and senate bills in the hopper. It will get worse from there.
So when you go and punch your chad, pull that lever, or dip your finger into the purple well, think long and hard what kind of change you really want over the next four years.
http://www.nmatv.com/video/190/A-Random-Rant
You have the choice between the lesser of two evils, and a load of minor characters. Let's assume for a minute that you don't live in a hut, recycle toilet paper and talk to trees so will not be voting for Ralph Nader and assuming that you don't hate your parents, yourself and your country you won't be voting for that security guard slapping hate monger Cynthia McKinney funning under the Green party banner. If all that is true then you really have only two choices. Two liberal candidates. One with a butt-ton of experience and another who has a nice suit. One who has a plan to deal with the trials and tribulations ahead (both dealing with national defense and the economy) the other who has voted "present" instead of committing to yes or no on 2/3 of the votes he bothered to show up for.
The major issues:
National Defense. Is there any discussion here? I mean really? Obama wants to create a "civilian" national defense corps. Don't we already have that in the form of National Guard, local, state, and federal law enforcement, and various civil defense organizations (fire fighters, port authorities, ect...). Sen Obama wanted to bring the Russians to the UN Security Council when they invaded Georgia. Failing to realize and understand that Russia has a veto vote and could have blocked any move in the UN. What good would that have done while innocent people were being rapped and killed by the Russians? And while I think Obama has the best intentions, he constantly telegraphs his intentions (timetable in Iraq, no preconditions to talk to Iran and Cuba, and invasion of Pakistan) and no matter what he says today, his actions and words in the past have been of no honor to those in uniform.
Taxes and the Economy. Look simply put - you over-tax the rich, the same people that create jobs and invest to expand business the government will take in less money and more people will loose their jobs (or less jobs will be created). This is simple fact. Look up "economy" and "Ireland" on Google, then make your decision on who is right. I could go on but it is as easy as...less government more opportunities for workers, investors, and businesses.
One party rule- this is a bad thing. If Sen Obama wins, then we will have the closest thing to a Soviet Union style government we have ever had. Obama has the most liberal voting record and Biden the third overall. This is surprising considering some of the company they have in the Senate. But with Obama at the helm he would have Nancy Pelosi as overlord of the House, a super-rich bitch that has the heuvos to claim working class roots (her dad was a politician in Maryland) while using Ben Franklins to wipe her rump after finishing a Mongolian buffet. And over at the Senate would be Harry Reid who is the definition of a curmudgeon leading the charge over the proverbial cliff. So every bad idea that the democrats have will be pushed through at lightning speed. The one that takes away all your guns, the one that makes it law for you to have to take in one person of lesser means and give them everything that you worked for will be the next house and senate bills in the hopper. It will get worse from there.
So when you go and punch your chad, pull that lever, or dip your finger into the purple well, think long and hard what kind of change you really want over the next four years.
http://www.nmatv.com/video/190/A-Random-Rant
Second place is first loser
If only we were really evaluated on what we did ALL the time, not just when someone was looking or when someone has a score sheet available. A place where doing the right thing even when no one is looking actually mattered and where not everything we do has to be quantified in some "bullet" or sound bite, so that we can get credit for it.
I am thrilled (and to be honest, just a little scared) to be working with a group that a simple run through a state park is judged, or how much effort you put into the smallest thing, makes a difference and is noticed (but not always rewarded)...
I am not a competitive guy in the sense that I have to win all the time, but I can appreciate the concept, that in every moment and every task, you are being graded, and if two people are doing something it is a competition (or a race) – and it pays to be a winner. I do not mean that we should all be falling over to beat the other guy, but I am saying - it is refreshing to be around people that believe "success is the ultimate measurement" and that sweating the small stuff is only a distraction from getting the job done. It is amazing to be around folks who are not about to cater to the lowest common denominator. There is no room for weakness (whether it be mental or physical) nor are there quotas or honorable mentions for those who tried but just were not good enough – because trying is expected and meeting the minimum is not going to get you anything but a rejection notice. Where the better person wins - My only question is "how did I get the nod of approval". And why for this but not the other thing I wanted more?
Real life is like that. You can do all the right things and put all the effort into something (or someone) and come out ahead or fall short. There is no second place. I guess I have been living in the soft world too long and was hoping for a consolation prize – thought I had done the right things so that is all that mattered. I have invested too much emotion, effort and time into dead end endeavors.
Finally I have someplace to focus all that previously wasted energy in an effort that will matter. Where the objective is clear and the reward is simply success where there are no games, confusing rules, and misunderstood signals. I just wish it wasn't for work and for once I could win in my social life. Maybe I did get a consolation prize after all.
I am thrilled (and to be honest, just a little scared) to be working with a group that a simple run through a state park is judged, or how much effort you put into the smallest thing, makes a difference and is noticed (but not always rewarded)...
I am not a competitive guy in the sense that I have to win all the time, but I can appreciate the concept, that in every moment and every task, you are being graded, and if two people are doing something it is a competition (or a race) – and it pays to be a winner. I do not mean that we should all be falling over to beat the other guy, but I am saying - it is refreshing to be around people that believe "success is the ultimate measurement" and that sweating the small stuff is only a distraction from getting the job done. It is amazing to be around folks who are not about to cater to the lowest common denominator. There is no room for weakness (whether it be mental or physical) nor are there quotas or honorable mentions for those who tried but just were not good enough – because trying is expected and meeting the minimum is not going to get you anything but a rejection notice. Where the better person wins - My only question is "how did I get the nod of approval". And why for this but not the other thing I wanted more?
Real life is like that. You can do all the right things and put all the effort into something (or someone) and come out ahead or fall short. There is no second place. I guess I have been living in the soft world too long and was hoping for a consolation prize – thought I had done the right things so that is all that mattered. I have invested too much emotion, effort and time into dead end endeavors.
Finally I have someplace to focus all that previously wasted energy in an effort that will matter. Where the objective is clear and the reward is simply success where there are no games, confusing rules, and misunderstood signals. I just wish it wasn't for work and for once I could win in my social life. Maybe I did get a consolation prize after all.
Do your own research
It is no secret that I am following this political season very closely. It is also pretty obvious that I have no love for either candidate but with McCain I can respect and follow, Obama - and a possible super majority of Dems in Congress just scares the crap out of me. Consider the following: (see chart at the bottom)
For those of you who want to "help the poor" and would willingly accept to pay more to help those less fortunate take another look at that chart below. The top 24% of our country where most upper middle class and above fit, pay over 85% of the taxes, and if you add in all the sales taxes, property taxes, and luxury taxes then that amount grows dramatically. Most of the people I know fit between the 50% and 24% bracket. We pay most of the rest of the 15%. The lower 50% do not have a burden when it comes to taxes, and considering many of these same people do not own expensive cars and houses they do not pay much (if any) of the hidden tax burden. It is amazing how our country can continue to run when we basically allow the waiter to place the check for dinner in front of the "richest few" after we just got done dinning on lobster and the best caviar while getting a foot massage and being serenaded by an Italian tenor. People bitch everyday about jobs moving overseas. I suggest that those same folks ask what will happen when we punish those who own, fund, and run these companies. Even more, consider this; how much longer do you think they will stick around. I will be honest with you. There are places overseas that are just as good as back here in the good ol' USA, and where there is not a lynch mob wearing red starson thier lapels, a copy of Mao's little red book in thier hip pocket, carrying torches and a noose, led by Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Watters, Harry Reed, Bernie Sanders, Barby Frank, and Ted Kennedy all wafting for the moment that Barry O raises his hand in January and begins "I swear to support and defend the constitution..." at that moment our country will die just a little and we may never get it back.
.
Percentiles Ranked by AGI
AGI Threshold on Percentiles
Percentage of Federal Personal Income Tax Paid
Top 1% $388,806 39.89
Top 5% $153,542 60.14
Top 10% $108,904 70.79
Top 25% $64,702 86.27
Top 50% $31,987 97.01
Bottom 50% <$31,987 2.99
Note: AGI is Adjusted Gross IncomeSource: Internal Revenue Service
It is no secret that I am following this political season very closely. It is also pretty obvious that I have no love for either candidate but with McCain I can respect and follow, Obama - and a possible super majority of Dems in Congress just scares the crap out of me. Consider the following: (see chart at the bottom)
For those of you who want to "help the poor" and would willingly accept to pay more to help those less fortunate take another look at that chart below. The top 24% of our country where most upper middle class and above fit, pay over 85% of the taxes, and if you add in all the sales taxes, property taxes, and luxury taxes then that amount grows dramatically. Most of the people I know fit between the 50% and 24% bracket. We pay most of the rest of the 15%. The lower 50% do not have a burden when it comes to taxes, and considering many of these same people do not own expensive cars and houses they do not pay much (if any) of the hidden tax burden. It is amazing how our country can continue to run when we basically allow the waiter to place the check for dinner in front of the "richest few" after we just got done dinning on lobster and the best caviar while getting a foot massage and being serenaded by an Italian tenor. People bitch everyday about jobs moving overseas. I suggest that those same folks ask what will happen when we punish those who own, fund, and run these companies. Even more, consider this; how much longer do you think they will stick around. I will be honest with you. There are places overseas that are just as good as back here in the good ol' USA, and where there is not a lynch mob wearing red starson thier lapels, a copy of Mao's little red book in thier hip pocket, carrying torches and a noose, led by Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Watters, Harry Reed, Bernie Sanders, Barby Frank, and Ted Kennedy all wafting for the moment that Barry O raises his hand in January and begins "I swear to support and defend the constitution..." at that moment our country will die just a little and we may never get it back.
.
Percentiles Ranked by AGI
AGI Threshold on Percentiles
Percentage of Federal Personal Income Tax Paid
Top 1% $388,806 39.89
Top 5% $153,542 60.14
Top 10% $108,904 70.79
Top 25% $64,702 86.27
Top 50% $31,987 97.01
Bottom 50% <$31,987 2.99
Note: AGI is Adjusted Gross IncomeSource: Internal Revenue Service
Debates Round I
Here I sit waiting for the second Presidential Debate between the Honorable Senator McCain and that other guy. I just moved so was unable to really sit and process my thoughts about the first one but I did have some observations:- Barry O (the anointed one, he who will save us all from ourselves no matter how hard it hurts) said at least half a dozen times "I agree with John" or "Senator McCain and I agree on this". -On the other hand The Honorable Senator John McCain (THSJM) hit Barry O hard. He didn't hit hard enough in my humble opinion but did come for a fight.
-B Hussein stutters and stammers to the point of making me want to slit my wrist when asked a question that he has no rehearsed response for. Without a teleprompter (or a far left leaning puppet master with is hand up Barry's pooper) he cannot intelligently speak a simple sentence. He is NOT the silky smooth orator that his fan club makes him out to be. When asked almost any question that he has prepared for he (like most politicians) takes a simple answer and gives it a special twist that takes him 10 minutes to answer, but in the end it will be like soft porn or near beer (leave you feeling very dissatisfied and wondering where the last few minutes went - knowing you will never get them back but feeling guilty all the same).
Don't get me wrong I still wish Michael Steele had run for the nomination, or that Fred Thomson's best speech wasn't the one that was given the night the RNC officially nominated McCain, or that Elizabeth Dole had given it another go. But with the selection of Sarah Palin I can barley contain my excitement. I was so thrilled with her debate performance I had nothing to say. I felt like I just got kissed for the first time, or that I was under the Christmas Tree and opened my Millennium Falcon for the first time (again).
No matter how much the media goes after her – oh and they do. You can never take the moment back where she looked into the camera and said that she "may not answer the questions in a way that the moderator wants her to, but she will speak directly to the American People without the filter that the media has been putting up to obstruct her message". Considering she was outnumbered 2-to-1 (the moderator Gwen Ifill is writing a book that does not focus directly on Sen Obama but does highlight him a great deal and is scheduled for release on inauguration day.
And of course even though he didn't seem to have much to say, Sen Biden was there as well on the stage along with Gov Palin. He did a lot of head shaking and some smiling but that was about it. No matter what Chis (I got a shiver up my leg every time Obama speaks) Matthews, and Katie (I am a bitter bitter woman and I hate Gov Palin because she proved that women could be successful unlike me who has been a failure as a news anchor and should have never left the couch of the Today Show) Couric, says the truth is that the Governor owned Senator Biden. So here I sit all giddy waiting for the second round of the Pres Debate. Either way I have a feeling that no matter who wins Gov Palin will be back for Pres in 2012 and I can't wait.
-B Hussein stutters and stammers to the point of making me want to slit my wrist when asked a question that he has no rehearsed response for. Without a teleprompter (or a far left leaning puppet master with is hand up Barry's pooper) he cannot intelligently speak a simple sentence. He is NOT the silky smooth orator that his fan club makes him out to be. When asked almost any question that he has prepared for he (like most politicians) takes a simple answer and gives it a special twist that takes him 10 minutes to answer, but in the end it will be like soft porn or near beer (leave you feeling very dissatisfied and wondering where the last few minutes went - knowing you will never get them back but feeling guilty all the same).
Don't get me wrong I still wish Michael Steele had run for the nomination, or that Fred Thomson's best speech wasn't the one that was given the night the RNC officially nominated McCain, or that Elizabeth Dole had given it another go. But with the selection of Sarah Palin I can barley contain my excitement. I was so thrilled with her debate performance I had nothing to say. I felt like I just got kissed for the first time, or that I was under the Christmas Tree and opened my Millennium Falcon for the first time (again).
No matter how much the media goes after her – oh and they do. You can never take the moment back where she looked into the camera and said that she "may not answer the questions in a way that the moderator wants her to, but she will speak directly to the American People without the filter that the media has been putting up to obstruct her message". Considering she was outnumbered 2-to-1 (the moderator Gwen Ifill is writing a book that does not focus directly on Sen Obama but does highlight him a great deal and is scheduled for release on inauguration day.
And of course even though he didn't seem to have much to say, Sen Biden was there as well on the stage along with Gov Palin. He did a lot of head shaking and some smiling but that was about it. No matter what Chis (I got a shiver up my leg every time Obama speaks) Matthews, and Katie (I am a bitter bitter woman and I hate Gov Palin because she proved that women could be successful unlike me who has been a failure as a news anchor and should have never left the couch of the Today Show) Couric, says the truth is that the Governor owned Senator Biden. So here I sit all giddy waiting for the second round of the Pres Debate. Either way I have a feeling that no matter who wins Gov Palin will be back for Pres in 2012 and I can't wait.
The Sunday news shows
Originally posted 7 October 2008
As I flipped through the Sunday news programs this last weekend almost every one of them were trying to criticize The Honorable Senator John McCain (THSJM) and Governor Sarah Palin (GSP). Just some facts – as I see it (in other words some – Gallologic).
- THSJM stopped his campaign to re-join the Senate to work on the bailout package. And even though I am unsure if I agree with his vote to approve, he demonstrated that he at least was willing to do the job that he was elected to do. He is still in the roles as a US Senator after all. While Barrack H Obama decided to wait for someone to call him and he was standing by to be "helpful". I guess this was based on his 193 whole days of experience as a US Senator. You have got to be freaking kidding me!
Then he (BHO) spun it to say that a president should be able to work on many things at once so that by continuing to campaign was demonstrating his "presidential abilities". The thing is that as he was being helpful, McCain was jumping into the fray. I just don't get how anyone could see what THSJM did as a bad thing.
- It was the Dems (Nancy Pelosi - the supreme leader) who during a speech prior to the house vote on the bailout who made the whole event political. She blasted Republicans for voting against the first bill. But as I see it these honorable congressmen )liek Marsha Blackburn of TN who voted against it both times) were voting as dictated by their constituents (1,000s of emails and calls will kind of make you take note). Isn't that why we have a democracy? Isn't that why we have proportional representation in the house? Because Pelosi is elected by a commune and by committee in the socialist city of San Francisco she does not understand how the rest of the country feels we have the right to bring our concerns to our ELECTED officials.
- Why does the media had GSP? I mean who gives a doody what specific newspapers she reads? She stumbled through that question by Katie Couric, but what not everyone realizes it was a trick question. Just days previous BOH was criticized for texting to his fan base to make sure they watched the debates on CNN. For all the possible things the media can pick up and really dig deep on, they chose this- the fact he "endorsed" a specific network. Of course it was really just jealousy, kind of like a family of kids fighting for their parents attention and getting mad when the parents focuses on one even if for a moment. So in short Gov Palin was just trying to be politically correct and avoid the same treatment. I guess that was the first time I was disappointed with her. Screw being PC, just tell then that you read the Washington Post and the NY Times like you would any enemy propaganda – that it is good to know the enemies of your country.
As I flipped through the Sunday news programs this last weekend almost every one of them were trying to criticize The Honorable Senator John McCain (THSJM) and Governor Sarah Palin (GSP). Just some facts – as I see it (in other words some – Gallologic).
- THSJM stopped his campaign to re-join the Senate to work on the bailout package. And even though I am unsure if I agree with his vote to approve, he demonstrated that he at least was willing to do the job that he was elected to do. He is still in the roles as a US Senator after all. While Barrack H Obama decided to wait for someone to call him and he was standing by to be "helpful". I guess this was based on his 193 whole days of experience as a US Senator. You have got to be freaking kidding me!
Then he (BHO) spun it to say that a president should be able to work on many things at once so that by continuing to campaign was demonstrating his "presidential abilities". The thing is that as he was being helpful, McCain was jumping into the fray. I just don't get how anyone could see what THSJM did as a bad thing.
- It was the Dems (Nancy Pelosi - the supreme leader) who during a speech prior to the house vote on the bailout who made the whole event political. She blasted Republicans for voting against the first bill. But as I see it these honorable congressmen )liek Marsha Blackburn of TN who voted against it both times) were voting as dictated by their constituents (1,000s of emails and calls will kind of make you take note). Isn't that why we have a democracy? Isn't that why we have proportional representation in the house? Because Pelosi is elected by a commune and by committee in the socialist city of San Francisco she does not understand how the rest of the country feels we have the right to bring our concerns to our ELECTED officials.
- Why does the media had GSP? I mean who gives a doody what specific newspapers she reads? She stumbled through that question by Katie Couric, but what not everyone realizes it was a trick question. Just days previous BOH was criticized for texting to his fan base to make sure they watched the debates on CNN. For all the possible things the media can pick up and really dig deep on, they chose this- the fact he "endorsed" a specific network. Of course it was really just jealousy, kind of like a family of kids fighting for their parents attention and getting mad when the parents focuses on one even if for a moment. So in short Gov Palin was just trying to be politically correct and avoid the same treatment. I guess that was the first time I was disappointed with her. Screw being PC, just tell then that you read the Washington Post and the NY Times like you would any enemy propaganda – that it is good to know the enemies of your country.
Brit is Back!
Just to show I did not have my head entirely engreossed in politics. I posted this 26 September
Birtney is back!
Well I know I said I kicked her to the curb, and I had been disappointed in her with some of her choices. But I always had hope...She has once again risen to the top. Britney Spears has just released her newest single "Womanizer"
http://thebosh.com/archives/2008/09/britney_spears_womanizer_mp3_listen_download.php
and the album (do we still call them that?) is due out on her birthday...wait you don't know when that is??? That used to be one of my check-ride questions back in the day, you couldn't pass without knowing that vital info. Well since I am not wearing a flight suit and we are not riding a mighty P-3...that will be December 2nd.
I listened to the single now playing on radios and it Britney at her best, much in the same style as "Stronger" or even the more recent "Pieces of Me".
In other words..."Good Stuff".
Not that anyone needs my opinion.
Birtney is back!
Well I know I said I kicked her to the curb, and I had been disappointed in her with some of her choices. But I always had hope...She has once again risen to the top. Britney Spears has just released her newest single "Womanizer"
http://thebosh.com/archives/2008/09/britney_spears_womanizer_mp3_listen_download.php
and the album (do we still call them that?) is due out on her birthday...wait you don't know when that is??? That used to be one of my check-ride questions back in the day, you couldn't pass without knowing that vital info. Well since I am not wearing a flight suit and we are not riding a mighty P-3...that will be December 2nd.
I listened to the single now playing on radios and it Britney at her best, much in the same style as "Stronger" or even the more recent "Pieces of Me".
In other words..."Good Stuff".
Not that anyone needs my opinion.
I just had to watch - 27 Aug 08
Ok I am not a fan of Bill Clinton, but I have a guilty confession to make. In the past I did like to listen to his speeches usually the state of the union and other major ones that I could catch. So at 9 p.m. Eastern I just had to stop the cheesy movie I was watching and stop all engines, pull over, lay anchor and tune into CSPAN to hear if the slick one was going to pull out all the stops. Was he going to do what Hillary didn't do the night before and set his party straight? Early on, it started to seem like he was only going to talk about Hillary. So I got excited and wanted to set the mood…
Well I messed up.
In honor of the testosteroned one, I put on some Internet Porn for background thinking that was the best way to honor our ex-chief of impeachment, well I must have gotten distracted. So I missed anything important he might have said in the middle of his 20 minute speech but my ears perked up as he said something about us re-living the great depression that it is as bad now as back then (I think I remember my older relatives telling me how so hard it was to get a reasonable cell phone plan and how expensive it was to download I-tunes back then- we really do have it as bad as they did back then).
He continued on how we are so much worse off then back when he was president (when everyone was on welfare and we were bombing the innocent independent nation of Serbia). As he was finishing it seemed that many of the delegates in Denver must have fallen asleep or maybe he farted on stage and everyone was just a little uncomfortable; because there was defiantly a lot more hooplah at the beginning of his speech then there was at the end.
Well he threw out a few sound bites about military this and military that a few times. I think they were actually using the former Chief of State to warm up the audience for the next speaker more than as a headliner... because I really wasn't inspired.
The speaker after el ex-Presidente was some chick (cute but she was married so I kept my thoughts clean)...but I digress. So there was some military spouse (- or she claimed to be the wife of a Marine but got the Devil Dog grunt all wrong). She looked like she was 19 or 20 and that they found her in a trailer park just this morning. Well she went on how Barry O was gonna be there for Military families and how he and Mrs AK-47 uh I mean Mrs. Obama know what the military families are going through yada yada yada...But wait... I have a question. Doesn't the fact that Sen. McCain was a Navy Brat, and has two sons in the Military, and was himself in uniform for a few years kind of trump any good intentions of the new Democratic Messiah?
I know that John McCain really had some Gucci duty assignments, that one in Hanoi probably had some good perdiem... but come on, that is one argument they really can't think they have a chance of winning.Ok just in case the Dems really turned up the heat with the next speaker, they dug deep and brought out a real heavy hitter to give a rip-roaring speech, a true war hero, someone who was able to lead the Democrats to win two states, a few counties in the socialist state of Vermont, and I think Guam in the last presidential election...John Kerry.Yeah he is the one you want to give this next slate of candidates some advice.
I am starting to feel better about November.
Well I messed up.
In honor of the testosteroned one, I put on some Internet Porn for background thinking that was the best way to honor our ex-chief of impeachment, well I must have gotten distracted. So I missed anything important he might have said in the middle of his 20 minute speech but my ears perked up as he said something about us re-living the great depression that it is as bad now as back then (I think I remember my older relatives telling me how so hard it was to get a reasonable cell phone plan and how expensive it was to download I-tunes back then- we really do have it as bad as they did back then).
He continued on how we are so much worse off then back when he was president (when everyone was on welfare and we were bombing the innocent independent nation of Serbia). As he was finishing it seemed that many of the delegates in Denver must have fallen asleep or maybe he farted on stage and everyone was just a little uncomfortable; because there was defiantly a lot more hooplah at the beginning of his speech then there was at the end.
Well he threw out a few sound bites about military this and military that a few times. I think they were actually using the former Chief of State to warm up the audience for the next speaker more than as a headliner... because I really wasn't inspired.
The speaker after el ex-Presidente was some chick (cute but she was married so I kept my thoughts clean)...but I digress. So there was some military spouse (- or she claimed to be the wife of a Marine but got the Devil Dog grunt all wrong). She looked like she was 19 or 20 and that they found her in a trailer park just this morning. Well she went on how Barry O was gonna be there for Military families and how he and Mrs AK-47 uh I mean Mrs. Obama know what the military families are going through yada yada yada...But wait... I have a question. Doesn't the fact that Sen. McCain was a Navy Brat, and has two sons in the Military, and was himself in uniform for a few years kind of trump any good intentions of the new Democratic Messiah?
I know that John McCain really had some Gucci duty assignments, that one in Hanoi probably had some good perdiem... but come on, that is one argument they really can't think they have a chance of winning.Ok just in case the Dems really turned up the heat with the next speaker, they dug deep and brought out a real heavy hitter to give a rip-roaring speech, a true war hero, someone who was able to lead the Democrats to win two states, a few counties in the socialist state of Vermont, and I think Guam in the last presidential election...John Kerry.Yeah he is the one you want to give this next slate of candidates some advice.
I am starting to feel better about November.
I don't love her but I wish she was the one, Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
I don't love her but I wish she was the one.
Ok here I sit thinking thoughts I never would have thought, wishing something that could have been and feeling very disappointed. I know that no matter what I still will have this sick feeling deep down that is building more vile everyday.
No I am not talking about matters of the heart, but I am not much better in that arena either, just can't seem to capture the attention of the one I want but more on that another day... this rant is about…(drum roll please) Hillary.
Yep, Bill's wife. She is speaking – just starting as the headliner speaker at the DNC as I write this and I am beginning to realize that she is not going to engineer a hostile takeover of the Dem party and "the anointed one" is going to walk away with the nomination. Yep she just said it – "unite as a single party with a single purpose" and that she was there to support…ughhh can I dare say his name, …. Obama.
I am not and never will say that I would have ever, even in my most drunken stupor vote for her, but God knows that come election day I would not feel afraid if the choice was between Pepsi or Coke.. What am I talking about? Well Pepsi and Coke are really the same thing, much like McCain and any Democrat (yes he is that liberal). I just happen to like Pepsi a little better (but I like Cherry Coke better than Cherry Pepsi…go figure). But with Obama I feel like the choice is between three day old vomit and well flat Pepsi left over from the same party that the vomit was a result of, but maybe a Pepsi with a few cigarette butts or some backwash. Yeah gross right? Well so is our choice this year. But Zues, Buda, Allah, God, Ron Reagan, or Mr. Hooper (whomever) please give me strength, since Hillary did not have the huevos to take over and make real history, now we have a choice or dare I say a real fight, to ensure that the secret Marxist, the so called anointed one, the one who has yet to make a real contribution, but somehow believes that he already should be picking out drapes for the White House because according to quotas (affirmative action) it is his due to become President, Obama does not attain that dream…uh I mean nightmare.
Do not get me wrong, Barry O, is not Black, or a man with a "funny name" (not my words, he said that I swear), or even just a weak politician to me, he is something much much worse. I don't care what color or religion you are. I do care that I do not have the choice to run to Canada on inauguration day much like many of his current day supporters did back in the 60s if he is elected. I will have to support him and will have to fight back the urge to puke or just stab myself in the groin every day upon waking up when I realize that I have to live in a country that elected a psydo-commie.
Please, please help me make sure I do not have to live through that. Vote for Bob Barr or that ex-congresswoman running under the Green Party, or Ralph what's his name, Nader (if he is running, I think he is, I think that his running mate is a blender or something)…but back to my point, please vote for a write in candidate. I think your Aunt would be a good candidate, or the guy that came by your house to spray for roaches, at least those folks are hard working and can make a decision. But for the love or all that is holy or all that is unholy if that first choice is offensive to you…do not send our country into four years of slavery by allowing a man to become president who will raise our taxes, ruin our military, sell our collective soul to the UN, and bend over and take it while Chavez, Putin, Ahmadinejad, run a train on him.
Ok her speech is over, and I am sure we will see her again but for now she has abandoned us. Pray if you do so, if not then ask someone who does, to pray that we will be saved. My only hope now is that Sen McCain picks a great VP. I have a few ideas but he doesn't have to run it by me, just make us proud John.
Oh and Chelsy introduced her mom and man is she HOT!
Oh and check this out - http://urbangrounds.com/2008/08/26/i-am-the-surge/
and this. Don't let the price be in vain. http://blip.tv/file/1083843
I don't love her but I wish she was the one.
Ok here I sit thinking thoughts I never would have thought, wishing something that could have been and feeling very disappointed. I know that no matter what I still will have this sick feeling deep down that is building more vile everyday.
No I am not talking about matters of the heart, but I am not much better in that arena either, just can't seem to capture the attention of the one I want but more on that another day... this rant is about…(drum roll please) Hillary.
Yep, Bill's wife. She is speaking – just starting as the headliner speaker at the DNC as I write this and I am beginning to realize that she is not going to engineer a hostile takeover of the Dem party and "the anointed one" is going to walk away with the nomination. Yep she just said it – "unite as a single party with a single purpose" and that she was there to support…ughhh can I dare say his name, …. Obama.
I am not and never will say that I would have ever, even in my most drunken stupor vote for her, but God knows that come election day I would not feel afraid if the choice was between Pepsi or Coke.. What am I talking about? Well Pepsi and Coke are really the same thing, much like McCain and any Democrat (yes he is that liberal). I just happen to like Pepsi a little better (but I like Cherry Coke better than Cherry Pepsi…go figure). But with Obama I feel like the choice is between three day old vomit and well flat Pepsi left over from the same party that the vomit was a result of, but maybe a Pepsi with a few cigarette butts or some backwash. Yeah gross right? Well so is our choice this year. But Zues, Buda, Allah, God, Ron Reagan, or Mr. Hooper (whomever) please give me strength, since Hillary did not have the huevos to take over and make real history, now we have a choice or dare I say a real fight, to ensure that the secret Marxist, the so called anointed one, the one who has yet to make a real contribution, but somehow believes that he already should be picking out drapes for the White House because according to quotas (affirmative action) it is his due to become President, Obama does not attain that dream…uh I mean nightmare.
Do not get me wrong, Barry O, is not Black, or a man with a "funny name" (not my words, he said that I swear), or even just a weak politician to me, he is something much much worse. I don't care what color or religion you are. I do care that I do not have the choice to run to Canada on inauguration day much like many of his current day supporters did back in the 60s if he is elected. I will have to support him and will have to fight back the urge to puke or just stab myself in the groin every day upon waking up when I realize that I have to live in a country that elected a psydo-commie.
Please, please help me make sure I do not have to live through that. Vote for Bob Barr or that ex-congresswoman running under the Green Party, or Ralph what's his name, Nader (if he is running, I think he is, I think that his running mate is a blender or something)…but back to my point, please vote for a write in candidate. I think your Aunt would be a good candidate, or the guy that came by your house to spray for roaches, at least those folks are hard working and can make a decision. But for the love or all that is holy or all that is unholy if that first choice is offensive to you…do not send our country into four years of slavery by allowing a man to become president who will raise our taxes, ruin our military, sell our collective soul to the UN, and bend over and take it while Chavez, Putin, Ahmadinejad, run a train on him.
Ok her speech is over, and I am sure we will see her again but for now she has abandoned us. Pray if you do so, if not then ask someone who does, to pray that we will be saved. My only hope now is that Sen McCain picks a great VP. I have a few ideas but he doesn't have to run it by me, just make us proud John.
Oh and Chelsy introduced her mom and man is she HOT!
Oh and check this out - http://urbangrounds.com/2008/08/26/i-am-the-surge/
and this. Don't let the price be in vain. http://blip.tv/file/1083843
Why do you love him? Originally posted 25 July on another site
Why do you love him?
I have a question for the masses. Why do you love him so much? Has he really sacrificed as much as you think? Does he carry a message down from the mountain that is any different or more ground-breaking than the rest? Does he really care and has he really always made the best choices? Is he really that perfect? Do you really want to risk following him, he who has yet to answer a straight question, who talks in parables and associates with questionable people. I know we all have been told by "them" that he has walked on water, and healed the sick and he fights for the poor and downtrodden but really??? I hear that certain journalists feel a shiver down their back when he speaks. But in today's world, with proof readily available on the internet and on 100s of television channels, how can you love him?
First I want to clarify, I am NOT speaking about Jesus, or Buda, or even Mohammad although to some my words would seem less blasphemous if I was. He speaks and is treated as if he is the secular messiah but has yet to perform even the most miniscule miracle in his chosen profession. Our nation has been involved in a Global War on Terrorism longer (three years longer) than this Golden Child has been a puppet of the far left working to undermine our nation for his and his masters own interests on the national stage. I refer of course to Senator Obama. I will give him the respect due to him as an United States Senator although not one elected from any constituency I am part of, Gracias a Dios. (See I can speak another language Senator, how about you? Or did you forget your nifty phrase book as you campaigned for all those French and German votes that will carry you during the election)
It seems to me that all one needs is a good speech writer that can scribe words that tell the masses what they want to hear, a good suit, the love of the press, and you will be ordained the second coming (for the first time). Please do not get me wrong, I do not see him as a black man, nor as a liberal. I wait for the day I can vote for a Michael Steele, or an Alan Keyes just as much as I hope to vote for an Elizabeth Dole, or a Mitt Romney. And I profess to sit in the conservative camp, I have not always voted for Republicans and not always against Democrats. Back when we suffered through eight years of President Clinton, I did not agree with everything he did or believed, I did not appreciate having our nation sold out to China, nor our illegal campaign of aggression against poor Serbia, but at least he had a message. At least we knew where he stood (well on many issues if not all…). This one is different. I still make an effort to listen to the ramble… uh I mean speeches for some kind of message. This one never makes a point. What does he stand for? What does he stand on, if not the backs of those who brought him to where he finds himself now? He may very well be the devil in a nice suit. Again I ask why do you love him so? Give me five things he has accomplished in office. Ok give me three things?... how about one? Sure he voted against Iraq, well for one he lost that vote, so that is not an accomplishment. And I for one agree with our actions there. And is it a special character trait to not be able to admit he was and is wrong. How stubborn do we want our leaders to be? Why will he not admit he was wrong about the surge? And if he absolutely cannot admit he was wrong (is it a political decision or one of misguided morality?) then why does he not just shut up so he does not continue to put himself in the position of still being wrong about the General Petraus'. Speaking of Iraq, why is it ok for a whole nation to suffer while we live free? Sen Obama's work against the war is to me treason against the citizenry of the word that he claims to be part of.
I too have a dream but my dream is more of a nightmare. I do fear that the "presumptive nominee for the Democratic party" may be our next president. I fear that we will then find that we have elected an empty suit and a large catalog of superbly crafted speeches and nothing else. I fear that the day President Bush drives off the White House property with U-Haul in tow we will find the truth will be like a punch in the mouth. We will destroy ourselves by electing someone solely because he is black, or because he promised to "change" (change what I still do not know), or he sent a shiver up some old white man's leg when he spoke, or for any number of promises he made to any number of special interest groups.
On election day I will vote, and I will vote for McCain, he would not have been my first choice, but he is now my champion. My vote may not be the deciding ballot, but at least it will cancel out a vote from an Iraq-war hating swooning lover of everything that is French, journalist that is an active member of Green Peace and believes that the polar icecaps are melting faster than a the headliner at your local strip club can take her top off.
Please vote for Nader or Barr if you want to vote for change.
I have a question for the masses. Why do you love him so much? Has he really sacrificed as much as you think? Does he carry a message down from the mountain that is any different or more ground-breaking than the rest? Does he really care and has he really always made the best choices? Is he really that perfect? Do you really want to risk following him, he who has yet to answer a straight question, who talks in parables and associates with questionable people. I know we all have been told by "them" that he has walked on water, and healed the sick and he fights for the poor and downtrodden but really??? I hear that certain journalists feel a shiver down their back when he speaks. But in today's world, with proof readily available on the internet and on 100s of television channels, how can you love him?
First I want to clarify, I am NOT speaking about Jesus, or Buda, or even Mohammad although to some my words would seem less blasphemous if I was. He speaks and is treated as if he is the secular messiah but has yet to perform even the most miniscule miracle in his chosen profession. Our nation has been involved in a Global War on Terrorism longer (three years longer) than this Golden Child has been a puppet of the far left working to undermine our nation for his and his masters own interests on the national stage. I refer of course to Senator Obama. I will give him the respect due to him as an United States Senator although not one elected from any constituency I am part of, Gracias a Dios. (See I can speak another language Senator, how about you? Or did you forget your nifty phrase book as you campaigned for all those French and German votes that will carry you during the election)
It seems to me that all one needs is a good speech writer that can scribe words that tell the masses what they want to hear, a good suit, the love of the press, and you will be ordained the second coming (for the first time). Please do not get me wrong, I do not see him as a black man, nor as a liberal. I wait for the day I can vote for a Michael Steele, or an Alan Keyes just as much as I hope to vote for an Elizabeth Dole, or a Mitt Romney. And I profess to sit in the conservative camp, I have not always voted for Republicans and not always against Democrats. Back when we suffered through eight years of President Clinton, I did not agree with everything he did or believed, I did not appreciate having our nation sold out to China, nor our illegal campaign of aggression against poor Serbia, but at least he had a message. At least we knew where he stood (well on many issues if not all…). This one is different. I still make an effort to listen to the ramble… uh I mean speeches for some kind of message. This one never makes a point. What does he stand for? What does he stand on, if not the backs of those who brought him to where he finds himself now? He may very well be the devil in a nice suit. Again I ask why do you love him so? Give me five things he has accomplished in office. Ok give me three things?... how about one? Sure he voted against Iraq, well for one he lost that vote, so that is not an accomplishment. And I for one agree with our actions there. And is it a special character trait to not be able to admit he was and is wrong. How stubborn do we want our leaders to be? Why will he not admit he was wrong about the surge? And if he absolutely cannot admit he was wrong (is it a political decision or one of misguided morality?) then why does he not just shut up so he does not continue to put himself in the position of still being wrong about the General Petraus'. Speaking of Iraq, why is it ok for a whole nation to suffer while we live free? Sen Obama's work against the war is to me treason against the citizenry of the word that he claims to be part of.
I too have a dream but my dream is more of a nightmare. I do fear that the "presumptive nominee for the Democratic party" may be our next president. I fear that we will then find that we have elected an empty suit and a large catalog of superbly crafted speeches and nothing else. I fear that the day President Bush drives off the White House property with U-Haul in tow we will find the truth will be like a punch in the mouth. We will destroy ourselves by electing someone solely because he is black, or because he promised to "change" (change what I still do not know), or he sent a shiver up some old white man's leg when he spoke, or for any number of promises he made to any number of special interest groups.
On election day I will vote, and I will vote for McCain, he would not have been my first choice, but he is now my champion. My vote may not be the deciding ballot, but at least it will cancel out a vote from an Iraq-war hating swooning lover of everything that is French, journalist that is an active member of Green Peace and believes that the polar icecaps are melting faster than a the headliner at your local strip club can take her top off.
Please vote for Nader or Barr if you want to vote for change.
Missing Soldiers found
This article was one in which provided closure but the news was not welcome. I had the privlidge to meet the Fathers of Sgt Jimenez and Pvt Fouty. I can only sit quietly and think of what those two Soldiers must have went through. When the original group went missing in March 2007, I had thier pictures hanging near my work station in Iraq along with David's 1st Cav patch. If for no other reason, this is why we cannot leave Iraq in a hurry. We may never catch those who did this, but we need to eliminate any organization that would participate in this type of activity. I have no doubt there is a special place in hell that the murders of Fouty and Jimenez will spend eternity, but while they are still living we need to make thier stay here miserable and short.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Bodies of missing U.S. soldiers identified in Iraq
Bodies of missing U.S. soldiers identified in Iraq
Fri Jul 11, 11:46 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military has identified the remains of two soldiers who were kidnapped in Iraq in May 2007 after their patrol came under attack south of Baghdad, the Pentagon said on Friday.
The bodies of Sgt. Alex Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and Pvt. Byron Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Michigan, were flown from Iraq to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Thursday, the Defense Department said.
The families of the soldiers, who had been listed as "missing-captured" for about 14 months, were notified after the identities of the remains were confirmed at a military mortuary in Dover.
There was no official word on where the bodies were discovered. But the Boston Globe newspaper quoted Jimenez' father, Ramon "Andy" Jimenez, as saying his son's remains were found by Iraqi authorities two days ago and identified through dental records.
Jimenez and Fouty, both of the 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum, New York, were part of a patrol that was ambushed by insurgents on May 12, 2007, in Yusufiya, Iraq.
The two men were abducted with a third soldier whose body was found earlier.
The Sunni Islamist group al Qaeda in Iraq later said in a video that it had killed them.
The U.S. military launched a massive hunt to find the missing soldiers and discovered their ID cards in a raid on a house in Samarra, north of Baghdad, about a month after the attack.
In October, the military said it found an automatic weapon belonging to Jimenez in an arms cache seven miles from where the abduction took place.
(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Bodies of missing U.S. soldiers identified in Iraq
Bodies of missing U.S. soldiers identified in Iraq
Fri Jul 11, 11:46 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military has identified the remains of two soldiers who were kidnapped in Iraq in May 2007 after their patrol came under attack south of Baghdad, the Pentagon said on Friday.
The bodies of Sgt. Alex Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and Pvt. Byron Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Michigan, were flown from Iraq to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Thursday, the Defense Department said.
The families of the soldiers, who had been listed as "missing-captured" for about 14 months, were notified after the identities of the remains were confirmed at a military mortuary in Dover.
There was no official word on where the bodies were discovered. But the Boston Globe newspaper quoted Jimenez' father, Ramon "Andy" Jimenez, as saying his son's remains were found by Iraqi authorities two days ago and identified through dental records.
Jimenez and Fouty, both of the 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum, New York, were part of a patrol that was ambushed by insurgents on May 12, 2007, in Yusufiya, Iraq.
The two men were abducted with a third soldier whose body was found earlier.
The Sunni Islamist group al Qaeda in Iraq later said in a video that it had killed them.
The U.S. military launched a massive hunt to find the missing soldiers and discovered their ID cards in a raid on a house in Samarra, north of Baghdad, about a month after the attack.
In October, the military said it found an automatic weapon belonging to Jimenez in an arms cache seven miles from where the abduction took place.
(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
Re-Post of Escorting the Fallen
Some of you know this is a subject close to my heart. I had this article up on MySpace and thought it a fitting follow-up second post on this site. This was an original article by George Will, a fair mild-mannered conservative journalist, not like the evil diarrea mouthed Overbite (Olbermann) or the leg quivering Chris Mathhews. You can catch Mr. Will here (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/03/24/LI2005032402294.html) and on Sunday Morning news talk shows on TV.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Escorting the Fallen
July 06, 2008
Escorting the FallenBy George Will
"The curtains pull away. They come to the door. And they know. They always know." -- Maj. Steve Beck, U.S. Marine CorpsWASHINGTON -- Sometimes Beck would linger in his vehicle in front of an American home, like that of the parents of Lance Cpl. Kyle Burns in Laramie, Wyo. Beck knew that, as Jim Sheeler writes, every second he waited "was one more tick of his wristwatch that, for the family inside the house, everything remained the same."
Beck -- now Lt. Col. Beck -- was a CACO, a casualty assistance calls officer whose duty was to inform a spouse or parents that their Marine had been killed. He is the scarlet thread -- like the stripes on Marines' dress-blue trousers, symbolizing shed blood -- that connects the heart-rending stories in Sheeler's "Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives." The book, which proves that the phrase "literary journalism" is not an oxymoron, expands the meticulous and marvelously modulated reporting he did for the Rocky Mountain News, and for which he received a Pulitzer Prize. His subject is how America honors fallen warriors.
More precisely, it is about how the military honors them. The nation, as Marine Sgt. Damon Cecil says, "has changed the channel."
Still, Sheeler sees civilians getting glimpses of those who have sacrificed everything. The glimpses come as the fallen are escorted home. When an airline passenger, noting an escort's uniform, asked if the sergeant was going to or coming from the war, he repeated words the military had told him to say: "I'm escorting a fallen Marine home to his family from the situation in Iraq."
The situation. Sheeler:
"When the plane landed in Nevada, the sergeant was allowed to disembark alone. Outside, a procession walked toward the cargo hold. The airline passengers pressed their faces against the windows.
"From their seats in the plane they saw a hearse and a Marine extending a white-gloved hand into a limousine. In the plane's cargo hold, Marines readied the flag-draped casket and placed it on the luggage conveyor belt.
"Inside the plane, the passengers couldn't hear the screams."
The knock on the survivors' door is, Beck says, "not a period at the end of their lives. It's a semicolon." Deployed military personnel often leave behind, or write in the war zone, "just in case" letters. Army Pfc. Jesse Givens of Fountain, Colo.: "My angel, my wife, my love, my friend. If you're reading this, I won't be coming home. ... Please find it in your heart to forgive me for leaving you alone." To his son Dakota: "I will always be there in our park when you dream so we can still play together. ... I'll be in the sun, shadows, dreams, and joys of your life." To his unborn son: "You were conceived of love and I came to this terrible place for love."
The manual for CACOs says, "It is helpful if the NOK (next of kin) is seated prior to delivering the news. ... Speak naturally and at a normal pace." Sometimes, however, things do not go by the book.
Doyla Lundstrom, a Lakota Sioux, was away from her house when she learned that men in uniform had been to her door. She called the father of her two sons -- each serving in Iraq; one as a Marine, one as a soldier -- and screamed into her cell phone, "Which one was it?" It was the Marine.
Sheeler says that troops in war zones often have e-mail and satellite telephones, so when someone is killed, communication from the area is stopped lest rumors reach loved ones before notification officers do. "As soon as we receive the call," Beck says, "we are racing the electron."
When the Army CACOs came to the Arlington, Va., door of Sarah Walton, my assistant, she was not there. She rarely forgot the rule that a spouse of a soldier in a combat zone is supposed to inform the Army when he or she will be away from home. This time Sarah forgot, so it took the Army awhile to locate her at her in parents' home in Richmond.
Her husband, Lt. Col Jim Walton, West Point class of 1989, was killed in Afghanistan on June 21. This week he will be back in Arlington, among the remains of the more than 300,000 men and women who rest in the more than 600 acres where it is always Memorial Day. This is written in homage to him, and to Sarah, full sharer of his sacrifices.
georgewill@washpost.com
Copyright 2008, Washington Post Writers Group
George Will Author Archive
Latest From this Author
Escorting the Fallen
The First Declaration of Independence
McCain's Day Of Repudiation
Building a Wall Against Talent
Crime Debate Reduced to Incarceration Debate
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Escorting the Fallen
July 06, 2008
Escorting the FallenBy George Will
"The curtains pull away. They come to the door. And they know. They always know." -- Maj. Steve Beck, U.S. Marine CorpsWASHINGTON -- Sometimes Beck would linger in his vehicle in front of an American home, like that of the parents of Lance Cpl. Kyle Burns in Laramie, Wyo. Beck knew that, as Jim Sheeler writes, every second he waited "was one more tick of his wristwatch that, for the family inside the house, everything remained the same."
Beck -- now Lt. Col. Beck -- was a CACO, a casualty assistance calls officer whose duty was to inform a spouse or parents that their Marine had been killed. He is the scarlet thread -- like the stripes on Marines' dress-blue trousers, symbolizing shed blood -- that connects the heart-rending stories in Sheeler's "Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives." The book, which proves that the phrase "literary journalism" is not an oxymoron, expands the meticulous and marvelously modulated reporting he did for the Rocky Mountain News, and for which he received a Pulitzer Prize. His subject is how America honors fallen warriors.
More precisely, it is about how the military honors them. The nation, as Marine Sgt. Damon Cecil says, "has changed the channel."
Still, Sheeler sees civilians getting glimpses of those who have sacrificed everything. The glimpses come as the fallen are escorted home. When an airline passenger, noting an escort's uniform, asked if the sergeant was going to or coming from the war, he repeated words the military had told him to say: "I'm escorting a fallen Marine home to his family from the situation in Iraq."
The situation. Sheeler:
"When the plane landed in Nevada, the sergeant was allowed to disembark alone. Outside, a procession walked toward the cargo hold. The airline passengers pressed their faces against the windows.
"From their seats in the plane they saw a hearse and a Marine extending a white-gloved hand into a limousine. In the plane's cargo hold, Marines readied the flag-draped casket and placed it on the luggage conveyor belt.
"Inside the plane, the passengers couldn't hear the screams."
The knock on the survivors' door is, Beck says, "not a period at the end of their lives. It's a semicolon." Deployed military personnel often leave behind, or write in the war zone, "just in case" letters. Army Pfc. Jesse Givens of Fountain, Colo.: "My angel, my wife, my love, my friend. If you're reading this, I won't be coming home. ... Please find it in your heart to forgive me for leaving you alone." To his son Dakota: "I will always be there in our park when you dream so we can still play together. ... I'll be in the sun, shadows, dreams, and joys of your life." To his unborn son: "You were conceived of love and I came to this terrible place for love."
The manual for CACOs says, "It is helpful if the NOK (next of kin) is seated prior to delivering the news. ... Speak naturally and at a normal pace." Sometimes, however, things do not go by the book.
Doyla Lundstrom, a Lakota Sioux, was away from her house when she learned that men in uniform had been to her door. She called the father of her two sons -- each serving in Iraq; one as a Marine, one as a soldier -- and screamed into her cell phone, "Which one was it?" It was the Marine.
Sheeler says that troops in war zones often have e-mail and satellite telephones, so when someone is killed, communication from the area is stopped lest rumors reach loved ones before notification officers do. "As soon as we receive the call," Beck says, "we are racing the electron."
When the Army CACOs came to the Arlington, Va., door of Sarah Walton, my assistant, she was not there. She rarely forgot the rule that a spouse of a soldier in a combat zone is supposed to inform the Army when he or she will be away from home. This time Sarah forgot, so it took the Army awhile to locate her at her in parents' home in Richmond.
Her husband, Lt. Col Jim Walton, West Point class of 1989, was killed in Afghanistan on June 21. This week he will be back in Arlington, among the remains of the more than 300,000 men and women who rest in the more than 600 acres where it is always Memorial Day. This is written in homage to him, and to Sarah, full sharer of his sacrifices.
georgewill@washpost.com
Copyright 2008, Washington Post Writers Group
George Will Author Archive
Latest From this Author
Escorting the Fallen
The First Declaration of Independence
McCain's Day Of Repudiation
Building a Wall Against Talent
Crime Debate Reduced to Incarceration Debate
Memorial Day Impressions
Thanks to my good friend VFC (http://vfcshouse.blogspot.com/) - scroll down on his site to read his review on Savo Heleta's book.
- but back to what I was saying... I was convinced on opening up a blog, a small piece of interent real estate if you will. Since my dance card is farily empty and I have many free Friday nights ahead of me, it did not take much to sell me on this idea. To start off this endeavor the right way, VFC convinced me to post something I originally had up on MySpace. Thanks for visiting and please come back. While your at it, click on a few of the adds (you don't have to buy anything) but your activity helps attract others to this blog. And if you see something you like or hate please tell others, and once again visit my friends page if you have time.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day 2008 Current mood: contemplative
I met a man of conviction today. Prior to today I knew enough to reject what the main stream media "report" and approximately 70 percent of the country think. Thankfully I have the so called "right wing conservative media" to turn to for, as Paul Harvey would say it, "the rest of the story." Until today I could only repeat what I have heard from others, until today I could only support this man and his cause because of an oath I took (three times over). Until today… I stood and in the oval office and heard without filter and without outside interference a message of conviction, hope, optimism and a dream of a future that some of us will not see in our lifetime but each of us are working toward in our own way.
That path that took me to this Memorial day meeting was one that began 16 December 2006. A journey paid with overwhelming sadness for members of my own family and a great loss for the Soldiers of 1/7 Cav. That price was the loss of SSG David Staats, my brother in law, Soldier, father, and friend to many. The current occupant of the oval office did not know David personally but came to know him as well as a few other Soldiers today through their families and friends.
Truth is that I was only there as a extended member of David's family as well as his final escort home. President George W. Bush stood at the doorway to his office and welcomed each one of us into his home and place of work. It is well known he is not the best speaker of those that have held the mantle of our chief executive. But today he spoke to those of us without microphones or cameras on hand. He spoke from the heart and without the aid of a teleprompter nor crutch of any kind. He offered no excuses and never tried to cop out by shifting the blame to others. One of the first things he said was, that HE made the decision, and that HE feels and and HE believes that Freedom breeds democracy and that each sacrifice was painful but necessary.
To have to say those words in front of four grieving families would be hard for anyone especially one who could use even the smallest boost in his approval ratings. But today was not a day for polls or ratings. Today was about those who have fallen and those who have yet to return. Today was Memorial Day and in that spirit he spoke to those gathered.
I cannot say or even begin to comprehend what was in the thoughts and hearts of the two widows and two grieving mothers nor what was in the thoougts of the extended families gathered in a semi circle around the President, but as he firmly shook my hand (no less than three times during the short 20 minute visit) he looked into my eyes as he did with whomever he was speaking with at that particular moment. Since I was in uniform he asked a few questions about where I worked and what I did, I wish I could have had time to tell him that it was not what I do for my day job that was most important. But what I had to do in December 2006 when I escorted David home was the most important duty, and as I did it most importantly for David, my sister, and niece but I also did it as his representative.
The President is truly a man of faith, a man that cares and one who history will not be kind to for many years. I hope that I will see that day that we will look back along with a free Afghanistan, a free Iraq, and join with those of many other nations that will benefit by the actions he set in motion; ones we are not aware are in progress and where we will celebrate those actions much like we do those of Lincoln (W's favorite), Reagan, and Roosevelt.
Like our current president each of those had their faults, but they all had the luxury of time. George Bush (43) has to compete with blogs, internet news, 24 hour cable channels, and well funded opposition groups. Even the great President Reagan had approval ratings as low as 38% and he defeated the worst evil empire in history freeing millions. Truman had the lowest even lower than Bush and he began the programs that rebuilt Japan and Europe after WWII. George Bush will leave office, he has nothing to prove, and his legacy will not be evident for many years if at all, it will be the burden of others to continue. Will they have the strength? Memorial day is almost over, and as many spent the day drinking beer, eating burgers, and watching baseball (as they should since it is their right and today even more than most is a testament to that right) a few of your fellow Americans were allowed just a brief personal glimpse into the vision of the world's most powerful leader.
After the greetings and a short speech on taking responsibility for his decisions, decisions he feels were the right ones, after offering some heartfelt personal words in honor to the fallen, and after the obligatory picture taking out time was up. This moment was about the four fallen Soldiers and the two families that were waiting their turn with the President (the families of SPC Jimenez and PVT Fouty missing since 27 March 2007) As he thanked me for my service just as I was about to walk out of his office into the rose garden, I could only think of one thing to say in response. "Thank YOU sir for YOUR service."
- but back to what I was saying... I was convinced on opening up a blog, a small piece of interent real estate if you will. Since my dance card is farily empty and I have many free Friday nights ahead of me, it did not take much to sell me on this idea. To start off this endeavor the right way, VFC convinced me to post something I originally had up on MySpace. Thanks for visiting and please come back. While your at it, click on a few of the adds (you don't have to buy anything) but your activity helps attract others to this blog. And if you see something you like or hate please tell others, and once again visit my friends page if you have time.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day 2008 Current mood: contemplative
I met a man of conviction today. Prior to today I knew enough to reject what the main stream media "report" and approximately 70 percent of the country think. Thankfully I have the so called "right wing conservative media" to turn to for, as Paul Harvey would say it, "the rest of the story." Until today I could only repeat what I have heard from others, until today I could only support this man and his cause because of an oath I took (three times over). Until today… I stood and in the oval office and heard without filter and without outside interference a message of conviction, hope, optimism and a dream of a future that some of us will not see in our lifetime but each of us are working toward in our own way.
That path that took me to this Memorial day meeting was one that began 16 December 2006. A journey paid with overwhelming sadness for members of my own family and a great loss for the Soldiers of 1/7 Cav. That price was the loss of SSG David Staats, my brother in law, Soldier, father, and friend to many. The current occupant of the oval office did not know David personally but came to know him as well as a few other Soldiers today through their families and friends.
Truth is that I was only there as a extended member of David's family as well as his final escort home. President George W. Bush stood at the doorway to his office and welcomed each one of us into his home and place of work. It is well known he is not the best speaker of those that have held the mantle of our chief executive. But today he spoke to those of us without microphones or cameras on hand. He spoke from the heart and without the aid of a teleprompter nor crutch of any kind. He offered no excuses and never tried to cop out by shifting the blame to others. One of the first things he said was, that HE made the decision, and that HE feels and and HE believes that Freedom breeds democracy and that each sacrifice was painful but necessary.
To have to say those words in front of four grieving families would be hard for anyone especially one who could use even the smallest boost in his approval ratings. But today was not a day for polls or ratings. Today was about those who have fallen and those who have yet to return. Today was Memorial Day and in that spirit he spoke to those gathered.
I cannot say or even begin to comprehend what was in the thoughts and hearts of the two widows and two grieving mothers nor what was in the thoougts of the extended families gathered in a semi circle around the President, but as he firmly shook my hand (no less than three times during the short 20 minute visit) he looked into my eyes as he did with whomever he was speaking with at that particular moment. Since I was in uniform he asked a few questions about where I worked and what I did, I wish I could have had time to tell him that it was not what I do for my day job that was most important. But what I had to do in December 2006 when I escorted David home was the most important duty, and as I did it most importantly for David, my sister, and niece but I also did it as his representative.
The President is truly a man of faith, a man that cares and one who history will not be kind to for many years. I hope that I will see that day that we will look back along with a free Afghanistan, a free Iraq, and join with those of many other nations that will benefit by the actions he set in motion; ones we are not aware are in progress and where we will celebrate those actions much like we do those of Lincoln (W's favorite), Reagan, and Roosevelt.
Like our current president each of those had their faults, but they all had the luxury of time. George Bush (43) has to compete with blogs, internet news, 24 hour cable channels, and well funded opposition groups. Even the great President Reagan had approval ratings as low as 38% and he defeated the worst evil empire in history freeing millions. Truman had the lowest even lower than Bush and he began the programs that rebuilt Japan and Europe after WWII. George Bush will leave office, he has nothing to prove, and his legacy will not be evident for many years if at all, it will be the burden of others to continue. Will they have the strength? Memorial day is almost over, and as many spent the day drinking beer, eating burgers, and watching baseball (as they should since it is their right and today even more than most is a testament to that right) a few of your fellow Americans were allowed just a brief personal glimpse into the vision of the world's most powerful leader.
After the greetings and a short speech on taking responsibility for his decisions, decisions he feels were the right ones, after offering some heartfelt personal words in honor to the fallen, and after the obligatory picture taking out time was up. This moment was about the four fallen Soldiers and the two families that were waiting their turn with the President (the families of SPC Jimenez and PVT Fouty missing since 27 March 2007) As he thanked me for my service just as I was about to walk out of his office into the rose garden, I could only think of one thing to say in response. "Thank YOU sir for YOUR service."
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