Ed Freeman

Received in an email forward that is going around now:

You're a 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley.
November 11, 1965.
LZ X-ray , Vietnam
Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the Medi-Vac helicopters to stop coming in.
You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out. Your family is 1/2 way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again.
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.
Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter.
You look up to see an unarmed Huey. But ... it doesn't seem real because no Medi-Vac markings are on it.

Ed Freeman is coming for you.

He's not Medi-Vac so it's not his job, but he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway. Even after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come, he's coming anyway.

And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 2 or 3 of you on board. Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses.

And, he kept coming back! He made 13 more trips!!

He took about 30 of you and your buddies out who would never have gotten out.

Medal of Honor Recipient, Ed Freeman, died last Wednesday at the age of 80, in Boise, Idaho.

This email will claim that some celeb event covered up Ed Freeman's death in the media coverage. While this might have been true, we should get the date correct. Ed Freeman passed away in August 2008.

He died in August 2008, not around the same time as Chris Brown beating up Rhianna, nor around the same time that Michael Jackson died. He died at the ripe old age of 80. So, just to be clear, while I am sure in 2008, the media did not give this hero his due, there is no conspiracy or pop-icon overshadowing this event.

That being said, we need to address something about Ed Freeman.

Why did this man have to wait until 2001, to be awarded his Medal of Honor? Why am I only now, in a misleading email, learning about this man?

The tragedy is not that the media mismanaged their coverage of Freeman's death to cover some event in pop culture, the tragedy is that this man was a living Medal of Honor winner, and so few people knew about him.

In the midst of a tragic war fought half-heartedly by a hemming and hawing, indecisive President (sound familiar?), here was a man, ignoring danger and near-certain death to do what was right. Unlike so many of us here at home, he refused to abandon and leave behind our soldiers fighting and dying in Vietnam.

So many Americans, many of whom are sitting in Congress and even the White House now, abandoned, in spirit, word, or deed, our troops while in the midst of battle, both then and now. On November 14, 1965, Ed Freeman refused to leave our men behind, and he took action.

From 1965 until 2001, Freeman's 14 separate flights into the heavy firefight went virtually unnoticed and unheralded. He did not mind. Like so many of our soldiers not named John Kerry, he took great pride in his work in the military, and saw his heroism as nothing more than simply doing the right thing. Heroism on the battlefield to him was not something to brag about, to celebrate, or to be rewarded for; it was his duty.

Ed Freeman is a hero. The tragedy is that today, November 16, 2009, is the first time I have learned of his story. Ed Freeman is one of countless stories of heroism that go unnoticed and unappreciated by so many people in this country. It his very sacrifice, and the sacrifice of countless others, that provide the very freedoms that allow those to sit ungrateful and full of apathy.

So, today, when you bow your head to pray for your needs, wants, and desires, take a moment to thank God for men like Ed Freeman. Thank God for men and women who put their lives on the line to do what is right; to risk their lives for the lives of others. Thank God that you are a free person and able to pray without government persecution.

Ed Freeman is a hero. Please remember him and the thousands of other heroes that have protected us from foreign enemies.

Things That Are Annoying Me

While I usually aim for a targeted rant, the following will be a list of random, various issues that are particularly annoying or upsetting to me. Read, enjoy, and feel free to comment.

1) Everytime I watch one of those anti-cruelty ads on TV, whether it is Sarah McGlaughlin or anyone else, my heart hurts. Any human that does to animals what they show in those ads is a sick, sad, evil person. Yes, even Michael Vick, whose return to the NFL I supported only because he paid a hefty price and deserves a second chance at life. The fact still remains that he either is, or used to be, very sick and heartless. Anyone who is cruel to animals and causes the scars and injuries that these commercials show is someone that deserves prison time. It literally makes me fighting mad.

2) I think that we are far too understanding or forgiving to people that hurt children. Child molesters and child rapists are sick, twisted scum. Anyone that hurts a child is the lowest life form on Earth. As a Christian, I struggle with these types of people because I want to rid the world of their presence. Anyone that rapes or molests a child has no useful purpose on this planet. Their life is worthless. Yet there are those that are so worried about the molester's rights and treatment and forgiveness. There are just some things that are not forgivable. Hurting a child through rape or molestation is one of those unforgivable sins. Carl Lee Hailey is a hero.

3) I am so tired of minorities crying race everytime things do not get their way. I can't criticize President Obama without someone thinking I am a bigot and do not like him because he is black. I cannot speak out against illegal immigrants without being thought of as prejudice against Latinos. I am tired of every business having to kiss minority butt to avoid being called racist. Yes, I know racism exists. I know that some people hate people for no other reason that the color of their skin or their last name. However, asking the government to interveve on your behalf every time things do not go your way only further handicaps you and your people. If you work hard in school, work hard at your job, and become someone with valuable talents and experiences, you will get to wherever you want to go. But, if you are lazy and want everything handed to you because of things that happened 100 years ago, get the heck out of the way and stop your crying. Martin Luther King, Jr., wanted blacks to EARN the right to get what white people have, and not be given everything simply because life ain't fair. Dr. King would be disgusted with the plight of blacks today because blacks defeat themselves more than any racist boss could.

4) I am tired of the thought that the rich should pay for EVERYTHING. Tax the rich...buy health care. Tax the rich...build roads. Tax the rich...build a water fountain in an unused park and name it after a Congressman or Congresswoman. There are just some things that people need to work for and buy themselves. The more you tax the rich, the less they buy and the less they hire. I have never gotten a job from a poor person. Poor people cannot put other people to work.

Let's say you have a mouse problem. You get a cat. Can you teach a cat to hunt mice if you trap and bring the dead mice to the cat? No. The cat will stop worrying about hunting because you take away the drive. Same applies to giving everything away to the poor. If you GIVE them everything they want and need, the desire to go get it is dissolved. The rich should not pay for everything. The poor sometimes needs to get off their laurels and go EARN it.

5) President Obama selects a general to head the war in Afghanistan. In the middle of the summer, Obama's appointed general tells Obama what he needs to win the war in Afghanistan. You know, the war that Obama supported winning throughout the campaign? So, here was are, four months later, Obama is bowing in Communist China and taking softball questions from hand-picked Communist Chinese students, and bowing to the Premier of Japan, and still no decision on whether Obama wants to win the war or not. Sometimes, when there is a life or death decision to be made, not making a decision is a decision. So, by not deciding, Obama is deciding to lose the war in Afghanistan. Thus, we have dropping troop morale in that war. So, Obama, thank you for your undying support of our military.

6) I am so tired of these bleeding heart morons who cry about free health care. Well, let me say this. You will get what you pay for. If you look at Medicare and Medicaid, as well as the VA medical system, they are all riddled with failures in service, fraud, unpaid doctors, and the government making decisions on life and death procedures and care. There are options for emergency care. If you break your leg, you will get treated. If you have cancer, there are organizations out there to help you. If the only place you can get insurance is a job you aren't happy at, well tough. Why do I have to suffer because you want me to buy your health care instead of you sucking it up and being a responsible adult? The government cannot handle ANYTHING efficiently. So, why am I going to have to deal with beauracratic nightmares so that you can have government insurance?

NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD CAN MATCH OUR QUALITY OF CARE. WHY DO YOU WANT TO DESTROY THAT????

7) The Ft. Hood massacre was the work of one man...and he is something no one outside of Fox News Channel will say. Everyone is so afraid of saying the truth, it is sickening, sad, and dangerous. Malik Nadal Hasan is a MUSLIM EXTREMIST TERRORIST. He is all three. 1) MUSLIM. 2) EXTREMIST. 3) TERRORIST. He is not Christian, we know that because if a Christian killed someone, that is the first word of every paragraph of every report. Someone "thought" the man who killed an abortion doctor was a Christian right-wing extremist, and that is how he was labled. A Chrisitan right-wing extremist. Yet, they refuse to name the guy that kills 13 American soldier and wounds 31 more. They softly read his name, hoping that by not annunciating it, even coughing as they say it, they can avoid identifying him as a MUSLIM EXTREMIST. "*COUGH*Malik Nadal Hasan *COUGH* is the alleged shooter in the Ft. Hood massacre. He might have ties to some groups against America's war on Islam."

Malik Nadal Hasan is an EXTREMIST. A MUSLIM EXTREMIST.

Just like Abdulhakim Muhammad, who shot and killed a US Army soldier at a recruiting station in Arkansas in June 2009, is a MUSLIM EXTREMIST.

I am so tired of the silence of the peace-loving Muslim community, much like I am so tired of the media covering up the religion and extremism of remorseless killers like Hasan and Muhammad. The fact that there isn't a more vocal anti-terrorism and anti-murderous faction of the Muslim community starts to make one wonder...maybe this whole religion of peace thing is just false advertising...

8) Trying the 9-11 terrorists in US Courts is a political sham. It is heartless. It is stupid. It will make a mockery of the CIA, Homeland Security, the US Military, and the Bush Administration. All reasons why the Obama Administration is so in support of the idea. Any time that they can take a shot at the CIA, the military, or Bush, you better believe that shot will be taken. It scares me to think what a liberal judge is going to do with this case. Are the confessions going to be thrown out because of a lack of Miranda Rights? Are these murderous terrorists going to be allowed media time to spew their hatred and filth? Are these murderous scum going to have access to all of the rights of the US Constitution, the very document they were trying to destroy with their attacks on the US?

This whole show is a sham and political ploy to unearth classified documents and information for public view. Part of that public includes international courts, who could, and likely would, use that information to indict the Bush administration. Something Obama knows would be politically dangerous to do on his own. However, if he uses the US Civilian Courts to open up the classified documents, the international courts have all the ammo they need to twist and attack Bush.

9) I am so tired of every liberal fool blaming Bush for everything that is wrong. Obama has NO ACCOUNTABILITY with these people. Bush supporters give Bush credit for the rights AND the wrongs his administration were responsible for. Obama does nothing wrong. If something doesn't work, it is because Bush screwed things up worse than we thought.

So, passing a stimulus on the promise of a peaking unemployment rate in early summer fails. It is because Bush messed up the economy worse than Obama thought. Hmmm...okay. Let's give you that. So, that means Obama is responsible for rushing to throw good money after bad in haste when he took office? No. Obama does not get blamed for acting without proper planning. He doesn't get blame for not properly assessing the situation before passing nearly $2,000,000,000,000 in spending in less than a month. Obama gets no blame from his side.

I am tired of the sheeple that walk behind Obama no matter what, no questions asked. These sheeple will walk straight off a cliff...and take a large portion of the country and world with them.

Ok, I feel better. My 10 rants are out. I will go to bed now.

Lions for Lambs, Defiance, and a look back/forward at Red Dawn

Today, I spent most of my day off work watching some movies.

I watched my Netflix delivery of "Lions for Lambs," starring Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, and a really good cast. I also viewed "Defiance," starring the current "James Bond," Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber, who you might know as "Sabretooth," in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Watchin both movies, with my current events/political radar going as it always is, I came to some interesting ideas and conclusions.

First, in "Lions for Lambs," I do want to congratulate and thank director Robert Redford for doing America a favor, and for doing the right thing. For once, finally, the American soldiers were NOT the bad guys. Much to the dismay of people like Senators John Kerry, Dick Durbin, John Murtha, and Ted [hic] Kennedy, our soldiers were portrayed as honorable, intelligent, brave, decent men. They were not shown as ruthless killers and pillagers, much as the descriptions our 'distinguished' senators have described. So, in all earnest, thank you, Mr. Redford, for not making a mockery of our soldiers like so many other Hollywood movies tend to do.

The movie tended to drag on with a lot of conversation. There were brief stints of military action and a few explosions and f-bombs to wake up the dozing, but overall the movie was a bust. I give Redford credit for seemingly trying to represent all the arguments involving the current War on Terror, including the legendary media personality who really cannot say that they want America to win the war, and is too timid to vocalize the fact they might actually support an American defeat. I really do not recommend the film, however, as it is more of a lecture that accomplishes nothing but offering the sad ending of two of America's bravest dying together on a frozen Afghan mountaintop.

Now, the movie I did enjoy today.

"Defiance," another in the recent trend over the past decade of Holocaust-related movies. The story is very good and very heart wrenching at times. It is based on actual events in Nazi-controlled Poland. The four Bielski brothers lead a group of Jewish refugees to avoid the Nazis and those working for SS. Despite the constant stream of WWII era films, this new story shows how a band of refugees refused to live like the animals the Nazis treated them as, and they tried to live as a free people. The title of the movie, as well as the book from which the film is based, was taken from the group's philosophy of living in defiance of Hitler.

Recently, I heard there is a new film in the works that will be a re-make of the 1980's classic, "Red Dawn." I am interested to see if the movie will be updated to where the American "Wolverines," who fought off the Cubans and Russians when they invaded the United States, fight a similar foe. Depending on the director's backbone, I would like to speculate that the remake will possibly be based in a post-9/11 world with post-9/11 combatants, but Hollywood shudders to acknowledge that the people who hate us and want to kill us just happen to be Arab Muslims. So that remains to be seen. Release date is set for September of 2010, so it will be very interesting if the movie contains Bin Laden associates or not, given the proximity of the date to a very painful date.

However, getting back to point. What is it?, you might ask. "Lions for Lambs" has no bearing on the rest of this blog, I just felt it necessary to point out and appreciate the rare movie that does not put our troops in extremely poor light. The point I am working toward is this. How would the American press, who, by and large, excitedly report any bad news involving the war on terror and the casualties our troops suffer, report the members of the Bielski group, or the Wolverines, today?

Picture Chris Matthews, who readily admitted on national television that Barack Obama gives him tingly feelings up and down his legs, or Keith Olbermann, or Katie Couric, or any of a million other television personalities, I mean TV 'journalists', reporting on the activites of the Bielskis or the Wolverines.

Picture it. Would it be fair? Would it be supportive? I know the answer. The Bielskis and the Wolverines would be portrayed as the problems, the instigators. The Nazis or the Cubans would be put on a pedestal and martyred in the media. The Bielskis and the Wolverines would be openly called terrorists. Media outlets would openly attack any credibility and publicly air all dirty laundry that any person associated with the groups would have. Bloggers for prominent publications would make inferences and outright accusations of indecency and immoral behavior amongst the two gender-mixed groups. They would be talked about as though they were the filth of the Earth. Stories of respect and memoriam would run to honor the fallen Nazi or Cuban/Russian soldiers killed by the groups, meanwhile the casualties suffered by the Bielskis or Wolverines would be talked with an air of "serves 'em right."

Democratic Senators would go on every 'news' show and talk to every print 'journalist' to decry the "antagonistic antics" of the Bielskis or the Wolverines. Those same senators, along with many in the left wing media, would plead with these people to surrender so that peace talks could begin.

Tell me I am wrong. Go ahead. But, before you do, remember this: I am talking about the same senators and media that scowl at Israel for trying to defend itself from Iranian or Palestinian annihilation. These are the same people that find every chance they can to degrade and insult our men and women in the Armed Forces. You think they would do anything less to a group of innocent people defending themselves in the same situations the Bielskis or the Wolverines faced?

With the constant "Let's talk because I am sorry," foreign policy of Barack Obama, Red Dawn could very well become a story based on actual events. How will we treat those fighting when America's ever growing weakness is exploited and the fight is brought home? Will we duck our heads in the sand and ignore it? Will we cower and kowtow to the guns and threats? Or would we fight, and actually put ourselves on the line for others?

Can YOU say it? Moreover...can you MEAN it?

I love America.

I love my country and am proud to be a citizen of this land.

I am proud to be an American.

Now, you say it.

Can you say it? Do you mean it?

Since the 1770's, we have been in a constant struggle to maintain freedom and our Independence. Countless men, women, and children have fought, suffered, and died in the name of freedom.

From the warriors that dug in their heels to push back Cornwallis into the awaiting cannons of the French, to the men and women who gave so much to get our country going in the two World Wars, to the men and women who were attacked and literally spit upon by fellow citizens during the Vietnam conflict, to the men, women and children who died on the battlefields as terrorists took a war ignored for 8 years to an unreal escalation, to the men and women fighting and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq, far too many to name have made sure we can speak freely and not fear a tyrannical government punishing us for our thoughts and beliefs.

American heroes that preserve our freedom are constantly overlooked or, even worse and far more tragic, insulted, berated, spit upon, and called terrorists themselves, sometimes by the same lawmakers that sent them to the conflict for which they are being attacked for going. Then there are these non-Christian groups portraying themselves and God-like Christians, but show no indicative signs of being God-like, who picket, protest, and spew hate and insults towards the men and women lying in flag-draped caskets, as well as their families, saying such 'Christ-like' platitudes like "God hates you!" and "God killed you for a reason!" and "God despises America." (To anyone that knows God, this completely discredits their movement because God, according to what we read and believe in the Bible, does not hate His children, EVER.)

During this extended weekend, in between the fun and the beer and the ribs and burgers; between the cursing the long wait in traffic as you travel this weekend; in between the dodging of certain people you are trying to avoid at your parties; in between the regular rigmarole, take one minute...take just 30 seconds...and say, "I love America. I am proud to be an American."

Try to mean it. Yeah, America is not perfect. Anything created, run and operated by humans will never be perfect. However, America is a truly great nation. Be thankful that you are able to enjoy the freedoms so many have died to ensure for you.

Thank a soldier. Thank a cop. Thank a fire fighter. And, most importantly, thank God.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA

I Met a Hero Today.

At the outlet mall today, I met a true hero.

I met a man with the honor, strength, and courage that even the most legendary heroes of lore would pale in comparison.

I met a man with the humility and humbleness of the greatest underdog characters in your favorite stories.

This man stood tall and proud...yet he is currently confined to a wheelchair.

His ailment came courtesy of an enemy attack. The hero rides, son in lap, in a wheelchair decorated in stickers of favorite rock bands and other statements of normalcy. Oh, and let us also notice the patch embroidered the back of his chair. The patch states that this strong, courageous, heroic, yet humble and proud hero has been awarded the Purple Heart.

I met a Purple Heart recipient.

I met and talked with a man who risked his life for me. He, like thousands others, is a parent, sibling, child, cousin, friend, and relative to many people in his life. They all put so much on the line for you and me.

This man, whose name I do not know, put his life on the line for me, a name he does not know.

So many Americans forget these people. They walk past them in a hurried rush as they have to get to the next store or meeting or where ever they are heading. They make a tight passing move round the slow-moving wheelchair, sometimes even with an audible sigh of frustration, making sure the driver of the chair on wheels knows that they have somehow inconvenienced you by simply being.

This man, with his young wife and son, were out at the outlet mall, doing what normal people take for granted. Enjoying a day in decent weather under the blanket of freedom his sacrifice helped knit. Hundreds of faces he may never see again passing by, ignorant of his sacrifice. The nameless masses taking for granted the freedoms his, and so many others', sacrifices have provided since the 1700s.

As I spoke briefly, not wanting to impose on a family day out, but long enough to make sure I let him know I was sincere, he spoke with humility and pride, decency and not a hint of pessimism. He told me he had gotten blown up and that is how his leg came to be in a full-length brace, confining him to his chair. I offered condolences and apologies, which were shrugged off, as if I were offering condolences for a bug-bite. I wished a full-recovery on his leg, to which he responded that he will probably lose the leg from mid-calf. He said it without a twinge of self-pity, fear, or negativity. It was as if he were telling me he was going to have to shave. No big deal. It happens.

Here is a young man, even younger than me, with a family, who risked life and limb, literally, for America. And he will have to pay the price of losing a large portion of his right leg. And he talks about it dismissively, showing that amazing and inspiring combination of courage and humility that can only be found in the American Soldier.

I left feeling uplifted and proud to be an American. I met the REAL soldier. Not the pranksters the media still plasters all over from Abu Garhib. Not the bold-faced lies of people like John Kerry, John Murtha and others, who have called out soldiers "terrorists" and "rapists" and "pillagers" and "murderers."

I met a real hero today. And I thanked him. I hope you will thank one of our heroes when you have the chance.

Mumbai Terrorist Attacks

The country of India suffered through and extraordinary ordeal with the attacks on several tourist attractions. The financial district of Mumbai was the central location of the attacks, as it appeared as though the terrorists were targeting American and British tourists and the attractions and hotels frequented by them.

Americans, Brits, and many other people lost their lives in the terrible attacks. My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones, and also to the people who narrowly escaped with their lives, as their lives will never be the same.

Sadly, I think this might be the beginning of a long sequence of attacks by Al Queada led or inspired groups. For seven years, America has stood strong against Al Queada and terrorism. We have snuffed it out at every opportunity. However, the 2008 election cycle broadcast to the world, there might be some wavering in our stances, regardless of who won. Whether it was John McCain breaking his back to work with the Democrats, or the weak, inexperienced Obama (whom even his running mate Biden said was inexperienced and would be tested within 6 months).

Sadly, I truly believe that Mumbai is the tip of the iceberg. The pending closing of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a promise of the Obama campaign, is going to release 200+ terrorists back in to the fold, all of whom will be able to lead and spread anti-American propaganda to reinvigorate our enemies. This rejuvenation of released terrorists, along with constant anti-American comments from Democratic leaders of the past 6 years, has prepared the terrorists of the world to get us while we are at our weakest.

Obama wants to meet, without preconditions, with the leaders of these terrorist organizations. He will most likely bring them here, thus giving diplomatic immunity. Who knows what can happen with an anti-American terrorist with immunity?

I wish the best to the people who have been affected by the Mumbai tragedy. I sincerely hope the people responsible will me swift and appropriate justice...which means they have to have justice served before 12:00 noon on January 20th, 2009.

Remembering What Today Is...

Each of the past six years, on the anniversary of September 11, 2001, I have posted a blog, either on MySpace, Xanga, or have written a newspaper column. In those columns, I have posted my support of the troops, President George W. Bush, the families and friends of victims of the attacks, and I have taken to pointing out the shortcomings of those that opposed President Bush in fighting the War of Terror.

I sit here, 7 years and 12 hours after the attacks commenced, and wonder. I wonder how different the world would be had the attacks never occurred. Where would we be? Would we be better off? Would we be worse?

We will never know, and there is no way to answer those sorts of questions. All we can do is play the hand we are dealt and hope to be able to guess what the other players are holding, and hope for what is yet to be dealt.

The hand we were dealt included a brutal attack on America and Americans, as well as many others representing nearly 100 other nations. That hand included a few, brief shining months of unity and respect for our own country, only to be followed by more division and vitriol than this country has ever had, including during the time of the civil war.

So, tonight, I only wish that the memories of the fallen might not be tarnished by continued hatred and anger and despisement of each other. I wish we would stop letting the TV tell us how to think. I wish we would continue to work for a better America by doing what is right, and not what sounds good in a 5 second soundbite.

WE cannot do that, though, because we have, overall, forgotten what happened in New York, PEnnsylvania, and Washington, D.C., that day. We have such ADD and a short term memory in this country. We have already blocked out and or forgotten everything this day means.

I ask...no, I plead with you, do not forget this day. Do not let the memories of the fallen go to waste. Remember the day. Remember the freedoms that those creatures tried to take away. Remember the fear they inflicted, and then do what you need to do IN SPITE of the fear and in spite of them.

America is such a wonderful, great country. We should not hurt our nation by forgetting the depth of the attacks on our country on 9-11-01.

In closing, I want to say thank you to the George W. Bush administration for not forgetting what 9-11-01 tried to take away from us, and making sure it did not happen again. I want to thank the men and women of the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement who have worked tirelessly, and sacrificing everything, to keep our country safe from attacks. I want to thank the families and friends who lost so much on 9-11-01 for being strong, and for carrying on their lives, showing that America can be knocked down to one knee, but, by God, we will rise again.

God bless America.

RNC v. DNC...Winners and Losers...

The 2008 Presidential Race is officially on and heading into the final laps.

We now know the players involved. Cue the announcer...

"To my left, in the Blue corner, with zero executive experience combined, Senators Barack Hussein Obama and Joe "Less Than 1% in the Primaries" Biden...

Their opponents, to my right, in the Red corner, with leadership, courage, and a country-first philisophy, Senator John McCain and Sarah "The Baracuda" Palin!"

Let us examine what we have learned from the two conventions.

From the Democratic National Convention we learned...

uh...

We learned about Barack Obama's incredible life story. The details of his time at Harvard. The amazing things he did as Community Organizer. There unbelievable accomplishments Obama reached as an Illinois State Senator. We learned of how Obama single-handedly enacted incredible change as a Senator representing Illinois in Washington.

Not so much.

All we learned is that the Democrats are still on message...the same message of 2004.

The message of the Democrats is George Bush is terrible, the Republicans are terrible the policies of the Republicans are terrible, the country is in terrible shape, and we will do different. They also claim to be the carriers of change and hope. Change. Change. Hope Hope. Change and hope. Bush sucks. Change and hope. Healthcare. Healthcare. Bush and the Republicans did not do enough. John McCain is not the answer. Change and Hope.

In 4 days of the national convention, with all of the voting public watchin, we learnd absolutely NOTHING new about Barack Obama or Joe Biden. They continued their hatred and vitriol against the Republicans, but that was it.

At no time did the Democrats explain how they are going to bring about change. They simply repeated the mantra over and over.

And still, they did not tell Obama's story. We know nothing about his Community Organizer experience. We know nothing of any accomplishments at Harvard, in the state Senate or in the US Senate. They had 4 days to tell the story of Barack Obama and show his qualifications, and they did nothing.

We saw Obama standing on a grandiose stage with huge Greek pillars as if he were on Mt. Olympus, speaking amongst the gods to the peasants. During his speech, he did not present the case for his qualifications to be Commander-in-Cheif.

This week, on the other hand, we learned the details of John McCain's life. For years, we heard brief mentions of his time in a POW camp in Hanoi. We heard generalized statements and empty comments about his time as a POW. We heard small snippets for years that barely scratched the surface of who John McCain is. Then, finally, for the benefit of America, the Republicans did John McCain, as well as the rest of the men and women involved in the Vietnam War due justice.

For four nights, we learned of the incredible pain, sacrifice, indignity, and torture that John McCain and his fellow POWs endured. He is a human being that went through superhuman trials and tribulation. He admitted, on Thursday night during his acceptance speech, that during one of his painful torture sessions, the evil captors that held McCain and his bretheren had broken McCain. Through morse code, tapping on the walls between cells, McCain and fellow soldiers reassured each other.

McCain, Fred Thompson, and the RNC all made sure to point out that the fact of his time as a POW does not in of itself make McCain qualified to be President. However, the character, strength, and love and pride of country he developed in those horrible 5 years do.

We learned the McCain story. We learned of how much hell...pure, unadulterated hell on earth...that this man suffered. Amazingly, 4 of the 5 years that he endured wound up occurring because of his honor and his choice to stay. He was offered a chance to go because of who his father was. However, he honored the pact that American soldiers kept with each other...First in, First out. He suffered brutality that would kill most men in an instant for four more years because he had the character and honor to keep a simple pact with his brothers.

We learned that his character and strong resolve have made him a warrior in the US Congress, as he has fought for nearly 3 decades to slow the growth of government, slow the spending of government, lower taxes, and make America a better place.

We also learned of Sarah Palin's efforts to fight corruption and her other remarkable successes as a Governor. Sarah Palin introduced her family to America, and anyone with a decent heart and soul could see the love, adoration, and pride the Palin famiy shares. Sarah Palin is not an elite, rich, media-driven, poll-driven, politician. She is a real woman, from a real small town, with real small-town values and morals, with a real family who has overcome real life. Basically, Sarah Palin is REAL. She is smart, funny, hard working, and dedicated to America and serving her country.

The differences in the Democratic convention and the Republican convention should be undeniable and unmistakeable.

We learned nothing and there was no attempt to convince us of the qualifications of the Democratic ticket. We know nothing of Obama and Biden as men and as politicians. We should just take their empty words as the gospel and trust in their promises of change. We cannot question them for a definition of the change. We just have to know that they will bring change and take their word for it, asking nothing more.

In the Republican convention, we learned the life stories of the two people on the ticket. We learned of their experience. We learned of their morals and character. We learned not only why we should not vote for Obama, but also why we SHOULD vote for McCain-Palin.

Not only that, but also the mood and atmosphere of the conventions were so different, it was amazing.

At the DNC, there was a hatred, a level of vitriol that could be cut with a knife by folks watching at home. There was anger and disdain. The cheers were done in spite against Republicans. There was not a celebration, it was almost as if it were an angry mob with no real ideals, goals, or objectives, other than destroying the enemy.

At the RNC, there was an unbelievable level of pride, not only in party, but, more importantly, in Country. Pride in being a part of the nomination and election process. Then, as President George W. Bush, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, Rudy Guiliani, Joe Liberman, and Sarah Palin came out to tell McCain's life story, there were amazing levels of reverance and respect and pride combined into a huge celebration. There was such a higher, lighter, happier mood and atmosphere at the RNC. You could enjoy and celebrate the RNC.

I hope more people, especially those open-minded independents, who saw the RNC and came away with the same level of respect and adoration for McCain. I never knew how much he went through for this country. The RNC educated me. I will happily cast my vote for the Maverick Ticket on November 4.

I hope you will join me.

Obama-nation

Barack Hussein Obama decided to pre-emptively trump future claims of his inexperience in foreign affairs with at trip to the middle east.

His trip was nothing more than a glorified photo op. That didn't matter. Katie Couric, Brian Williams, and the other A-List media personnell that came along for the ride didn't care about substance on the trip. Heck, they have not asked for substance since he came on the scene. All he had to do is walk tall, look presidential, and NOT SCREW UP! You can see his aides clinging to his calves like a 2-year-old to mommy, except they were trying to weigh down his legs so his foot could not make it to his mouth during this trip.

Their efforts were in vain.

Obama's first gaff came when he left the bases in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. He mentioned that a majority of the TV's were set to Fox News Channel. He made no reservations about implying that it was a Presidential Mandate from George W. Bush himself. He tried to make it an issue that the troops were forced to watch FNC, right up until someone kicked him and said, "Sir, they have a choice!"

That's not too big a deal. Just shows how much of a wuss this guy is as he cries foul to the media everytime there is something he doesn't like. Big woop.

Then, while in Germany, he skips out on visiting the injured soldiers. He claims that he didn't want it to be a politicized issue. He didn't want to appear to be making political gains while in the hospital. Of course, after the Pentagon approved the visit but said that it was not to be in anyway a campaign stop, but a visit, Obama decided not to go.

I am SURE it had nothing to do with the fact that no cameras or media were allowed. It had absolutely nothing to do with the impossibility of a media photo op. I am certain of that! (Sarcasm coming through alright??)

Obama showed why he is the liberal elite's choice. He will not do anything unless it can benefit him. He is not about the troops. They are beneath him. They are dumb, gun-toting hicks employed by a Texas oil man who starts wars for no reason. That is what Obama thinks. They are bitter rednecks clinging to gus and religion, right?

It is a shame that Obama could not go and say "Thank you" to these wounded soldiers. It is sad. It shows what kind of 'man' this jerk is.

When in the Course of human events...

How many of you knew, before making the connection with today's date and the nature of my blogging, that these words began the Declaration of Independence?

How many of you know what the Declaration of Independence REALLY means?

On July 4, 1776, a group of men called the Second Continental Congress adopted this document. This document was a dissolving of the political and governmental ties to the state of Great Britain. While it was adopted on July 4, 1776, and essentially gave birth to the United States of America, only John Hancock, the elected President of Congress, signed the declaration on this day. (Thank you to Wikipedia for the information. View the entire Declaration of Independence as well as the history of the document at Wikipedia here .)

July 4, is celebrated as America's birthday. It is the symbolic date in which the world forever changed. It is the date upon which the last semblance of the British Empire was erased due to the unfair taxes and practices of the King of England. Some of the information I read at the above Wikipedia link was old hat, old news that I had heard during my liberally-biased education in elementary and high school history and civics classes.

However, those old facts and the new facts I had not learned all came together, along with something I had heard on the radio the other day. Sean Hannity, as well as several other conservative radio hosts I listen to, play clips of President Ronald Reagan's speeches from time to time, courtesy of the Heritage Foundation.

In this particular instance, the late, great President Reagan is talking about how America's traditions and power are eroding because of a lack of understanding by current generations. America, the America that Reagan still envisioned and loved, the America that the parents of the baby boomers fought and suffered and died for without regret or reservation, is falling further and further into the past. It eroding and fading away.

I have come to a conclusion based on my Wikipedia reading, and the inspirational words of President Reagan. Today, the day we celebrate America's birth, freedom, and independence, we need to sit down during the weekend and revisit our history.

The generations that are running the world today have lost touch with the realities of what made America great. We have lost our identity and pride. American pride is washing away into the oceans of guilt, regret and self-loathing, as brought on by the bleeding hearts on TV.

Why are there liberals who project a feeling of guilt when it comes to our freedoms, prosperity, and success? Why do we have Americans who hold disdain for their own country due to the very freedoms that allow them the right to publicly hold and display that disdain?

We need to revisit the sacrifices of the men, women, and children of the wars in which America has fought. From the French and Indian War to the Revolutionary War to the War of 1812 to the Civil War to the two World Wars to the Cold War to Korea to Vietnam to the two Persian Gulf Wars, Americans take for granted the sacrifices and pride taken in those sacrifices.

Do we really, truly know what it means to be an American? Do you know what John Hancock and the Second Continental Congress was trying to accomplish with the Declaration of Independence? Do you know what the Bill of Rights really means?

More importantly, are you proud to be an American? Are you thankful to God to be living here? If not, perhaps President Reagan was right. Perhaps you desperately need to relearn and comprehend your country's rich history, and redevelop your pride and appreciation for this great land.

As I conclude this July 4th blog, let me add a deep, heartfelt thank you to the following people for their sacrifices, sometimes unintentional and unwilling, that made America the greatest country in the history of man kind. I say that this is the greatest without reservation, shame, embarrassment, or any negativity of any kind. I say it because it is fact. America is the greatest country, EVER.

Thank you for making the blog and country possible:
-Current and past members of the Armed Forces.
-The wives, widows, and orphans of Armed Forces personnel, past and present.
-The victims and the families of those lost in the attacks on 9-11-01
-The victims and families of the attacks on the American Embassies in the 1980's and 1990's
-The men and women in uniform for the nation's police, fire, and rescue units.
-Men and women like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Laura Ingram, and the countless others who love their country and make no mistake about their American Pride.
-The men and women and children who constantly pray for the safety and return home of our soldiers in harm's way.
-The leaders in the Second Continental Congress who took the bold initiative to Declare our independence from the tyrant British leadership in 1776.
-The tireless and endless support of our allies in Britain, Poland, Australia, Israel, and the many other countries who have been by America's side since 9/11.

Thank you to the groups I mentioned above, and millions of other people who have given me the opportunity to live in the freedom and greatness of America.

Happy Birthday, America! God bless us all!