Shamelessly stolen from Annika.
Reportedly, Uday's last words spoken to the director of Iraqi television were:
"This time I think the Americans are serious. Bush is not like Clinton. I think this is the end."
Heh heh heh.
So the Republicans in Congress want to make a Constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.
Hmmmm.
For once I think I'm telling the conservatives to MIND THEIR OWN FUCKING BUISNESS!!!
Get off your fucking pedestal, assclowns! The whole founding of this country was to allow others to do as they please so long as it doesn't disturb others. Is the concept of two men being married to each other on the other side of your town really that threatening? Jesus Christ!
You think marriage is sacred, and to that I agree. But I don't believe that you or I have the right to tell anyone what they should and should not hold sacred and who they can and can't marry.
I'm serious here, folks. I'm very disappointed.
So I wrote my last post on Monday about the Defense Department?s plan to run a terrorist betting program.
The idea came off to be as complete hogwash and I wrote the post in that sense. If you haven't heard, politicians in Washington (on both sides of the aisle) went berserk over it and the program got axed. Now, some have said that despite the prevailing immorality of the program, it had a good overall plan behind it.
Please.
The program was both immoral and destined to come in last at the Special Olympics for being so incredibly retarded. Here's why:
The program was to function as an intel gathering system whereby the department would monitor the amount being wagered and how many bets were coming in that were related to a specific topic. For example, suppose within the span of a week the program gets literally hundreds of bets from the Middle East that Ariel Sharon is going to get assassinated. Obviously this shows that something is afoot and people in the region know about it.
Hmmmmm.
Essentially by working this way the betting program would tip the Defense Department off as to possible plots in the Middle East and around the world. Suppose one day a couple dozen Saudis place bets that Times Square is going to turn into a wasteland. Do you think something is up?
If this were the entire dynamics of the system than it would be great for getting intel on developing plots. But, there's a catch 22 to this.
The people who place the bets know the system is being run by the United States Defense Department. Should something like the above happen they're immediately going to be going after those who placed the bets to find out what they knew, when they knew it, and who they heard it from. The Dept could even start looking people up before the event even happens to find out why they placed that bet. The people who would be betting know all this and would thus refrain from betting to avoid US interrogations or even a trip to Gitmo.
So the system would fail because it wouldn't work as the intel gathering device it was designed to be.
Like I said, immoral and retarded.
Ladies and Gentleman, I give you the Defense Department and your tax dollars hard at work!
A news story has come across the wire that describes a Defense Department program that allows people to bet on the threat and prediction of terrorist attacks on the United States.
A new Department of Defense program allows traders to bet on the likelihood of future terrorist attacks. The department's "Defense Advanced Research Project Agency" designed what it calls the "The Policy Analysis Market." The program works much like the financial markets where traders buy and sell "futures" based on the possibility of a specific event in the Middle East, 11 News reported. Some of the examples listed on the agency's Web site include the assassination of Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat and a missile attack by North Korea. Bidders would profit if the events for which they hold futures occur.
Sickened yet? I know I sure as hell am. Is this what the Defense Department has been working on since 9/11? Give me a fucking break! I'm as big a fan of capitalism as anyone and I'm all for making a buck, but this is just damned ludicrous. Life isn't a fucking video game and I think it's sad as hell that the Defense Department can't realize this!
Defense officials said the market-based system is highly accurate when assessing such things as political and civil stability, economic health and military disposition of Middle East countries. Participants would only have to pick a username and password to participate and the agency said it won't have access to their identities or funds. But critics said this allows terrorists who are planning an attack to profit on the assault or even make false bets to mislead authorities.
Holy fucking shit! I'm sure that's not all critics have to say about it! What kind of sick bastard are you to buy up shares in this game and then get up every morning hoping something in your country blows up and kills all kinds of innocent people so you can get some money in your pocket?
Members of Congress said the market idea is not only wasteful, but repugnant. "I think this is unbelievably stupid. That is a gentle thing to say about a program that is so devoid of value," Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-North Dakota, said. "It combines the worst of all our values in my judgment. It's a tragic waste of taxpayer money. It will be totally offensive to almost everyone." "[The] idea of a federal betting parlor on atrocities and terrorism is ridicules and grotesque," Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, said. "The bizarre plan we are describing today is a waste of taxpayer money and it needs to stop immediately. The program's intent is clear: the federal government is encouraging people to bet on and make money from atrocities and terrorist attacks."
At least the Dems have their head on straight for once. Who's fucking idea was this?
Registration for the site begins Friday and will be limited to the first 1,000 traders. Actual trading will begin Sept. 1 and the Department of Defense plans to open the site to 10,000 traders by Jan. 1, 2004.
Can I place a bet on the likelihood that the office that runs this game gets firebombed as soon as I can get in my car and drive there? If so, I'll be filthy fucking rich!
Write to your Senators and Representatives NOW! Our tax money is being spent on this bullshit while soldier?s families are dealing with a massive shortage of income while they're off to war.
I haven't seen idiocy of this magnitude in ages.
Annika has a great take on Disney's plan to make a motion picture about the capture of John Wilkes Booth.
I wrote this just after I picked myself up off the floor from laughing.
Put your drink down before reading.
So Drudge ran this story earlier about Bush signing a small United States flag a person had been waving and then handed over for Dubya?s Hereby Hancock. At the time I?m writing this I haven?t heard any raving from the left, but I?m sure there will be some since the story was only posted a few hours ago. One of things that drove me absolutely insane about September 11 was how quickly the left felt the need to shrug off their patriotism.
Now, before I begin getting e-mails telling me that Ann Coulter was wrong and that the left isn?t unpatriotic, let me set something straight: Patriotism means ?love and devotion to one?s country.? To the right, and people like me, this is literal. When I say I?m patriotic, I mean just what the definition is. To the left, patriotism just means that they don?t hate their country. Two completely different things. Most lefty politicians are into politics because they love politics or because they love power. Most conservatives are into politics because they have a strong desire to preserve what they love. Granted there are exceptions to this because I?m sure there are Dems who love their country and are just entirely misled just the same as there are cons who pursue power. These exceptions are few and far between, but they exist because that?s human nature.
It?s funny how libs will get really nasty when you question their patriotism, and yet they scorn the flag and flag wavers like me. Neil Cavuto wrote a piece the other day about a person who watched him daily on Fox News and e-mailed him because he was sickened by Neil wearing a flag pin everyday. But I bet that if you asked that guy why he was so unpatriotic, he would fly of the handle. Remember, by asking him why he was so unpatriotic I wouldn?t be accusing him of hating his country, just questioning his love and devotion to it.
To me the flag of the United States of America is one of the most beautiful thing I see everyday. It?s bold red and blue fields with the bleached white stripes and fifty stars that represent the Republic as a whole. Even dirty and torn flags I hold with great reverence and awe like the one that flew at the WTC site and the ones in museums that snapped in the wind on the fields of battle against the Lobster Backs. My point is that my love of the flag is so strong because of what it represents. And yet some people in this country, the greatest country on earth, hate it with a passion.
This comes back to the Bush flag signing incident. One September 12, 2001, everyone in this country held a flag up high. Despite the horror that had befallen our fellow countrymen and women, it made us feel good to stand united as one solid unshakable force. Then it ended. People on the left began to put the flag down and call flag wavers "the last refuge of scoundrels". And, it would seem, the flag haters are gaining steam. Of course the whole country, by and large, has turned fairly conservative over the last few years so the flag hating crowd isn?t growing much, it?s just getting louder. First they laid down the flag, then they began joking to each other about how flag bearers were naive idiots. Then publicly scorning it. And now we get to sit back and watch the backlash happen when the Commander and Chief signs a small flag for an American citizen.
Despite all this, my flag still waves in my front yard and dare any man to try and come take it down.
Is there anyone who comes by here who is good with the Movable Type stuff? I have a few problems and need help!
We have a new addition to the VRWC Action Commission. His name is Matt Margolis and he's all about kicking left-wing ass and sorting 'em out later.
Today Matt has a great piece on how ill-focused the Democratic Party is. Their focus is purely on defeating Bush. Which doesn't scare me at all because, as Matt rightly notes, if their entire focus is on their hatred for Bush and not advancing their agenda, than they're dead in the water.
Now we just need to level the guns and fire the fatal volley.
While we celebrate the fall of Saddam and the deaths of his two sons, let us not forget that all of this came at a price.
I'd imagine that the people who come by my site supported the war. Some, I'm sure, supported it with great fervor. I know I was behind it with every fiber of my soul and still am to this day. But all of our sharp words and hot arguments produced families with a missing father, a lost son, an empty chair where ones brother used to sit.
While I mourn for those gone and I am saddened by their sacrifice, we must all make it our duty to remember those gone and work hard to secure the victory they gave the last full measure of devotion for. They gave their lives for our future, and may we never, never, forget them and what they did for us.
Godspeed.
A full list of every US soldier that died in the war to free Iraq is below
Specialist Brett T. Christian, 27, North Royalton, Ohio
Captain James F. Adamouski, 29, Springfield, Virginia
Navy Lieutenant Thomas Mullen Adams, 27, of La Mesa, California
Specialist Jamaal R. Addison, 22, of Roswell, Georgia
Captain Tristan N. Aitken, 31, State College, Pennsylvania
Lance Corporal Brian E. Anderson, 26, Durham, North Carolina
Sergeant Edward J. Anguiano, 24, of Brownsville, Texas
Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Todd Arnold, 30, Spring, Texas
Major Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, of Waterville, Maine
Lance Corporal Andrew Julian Aviles, 18, of Palm Beach, Florida
Private First Class Chad E. Bales, 20, Coahoma, Texas
Lieutenant Colonel Dominic R. Baragona, 42, of Niles, Ohio
Captain Ryan Anthony Beaupre, 30, of Bloomington, Illinois
Private First Class Wilfred D. Bellard, 20, Lake Charles, Louisiana
Specialist Joel L. Bertoldie, 20, of Independence, Missouri
Corporal Mark A. Bibby, 25, of Watha, North Carolina
Sergeant Michael E. Bitz, 31, of Ventura, California
Lance Corporal Thomas A. Blair, 24, of Wagoner, Oklahoma
Gunnery Sergeant Jeffrey E. Bohr Jr., 39, Ossian, Iowa
Sergeant First Class Craig A. Boling, 38, of Elkhart, Indiana
Petty Officer Third Class Doyle W. Bollinger Jr., 21, of Poteau, Oklahoma
Staff Sergeant Stevon A. Booker, 34, of Apollo, Pennsylvania
Specialist Mathew G. Boule, 22, Dracut, Massachusetts
Corporal Travis J. Bradachnall, 21, of Multnomah County, Oregon
Staff Sergeant Kenneth R. Bradley, 39, of Utica, Mississippi
Sergeant Thomas F. Broomhead, 34, of Canon City, Colorado
Corporal Henry L. Brown, 22, Natchez, Mississippi
Private First Class John E. Brown, 21, Troy, Alabama
Specialist Larry K. Brown, 22, Jackson, Mississippi
Lance Corporal Cedric E. Bruns, 22, Vancouver, Washington
Specialist Roy Russell Buckley, 24, Portage, Indiana
Lance Corporal Brian Rory Buesing, 20, Cedar Key, Florida
Sergeant George Edward Buggs, 31, Barnwell, South Carolina
Private First Class Tamario D. Burkett, 21, Erie, New York
Sergeant Travis L. Burkhardt, 26, of Edina, Missouri
Sergeant Jacob L. Butler, 24, Wellsville, Kansas
Specialist Nathaniel A. Caldwell, 27, of Omaha, Nebraska
Corporal Richard P. Carl, 26, King Hill, Idaho
Captain Paul J. Cassidy, 36, of Laingsburg, Michigan
Staff Sergeant James W. Cawley, 41, Roy, Utah
Corporal Kemaphoom A. Chanawongse, 22, Waterford, Connecticut
Chief Warrant Officer Robert William Channell Jr., 36, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Second Lieutenant Therrel S. Childers, 30, Harrison, Mississippi
Specialist Andrew F. Chris, 25, of California
Lance Corporal Donald J. Cline Jr., 21, Washoe, Nevada
Sergeant Christoper D. Coffin, 51, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Sergeant Timothy Conneway, 22, of Enterprise, Louisiana
Captain Aaron J. Contreras, 31, Sherwood, Oregon
Private First Class Ryan R. Cox, 19, of Derby, Kansas
Sergeant Michael T. Crockett, 27, of Soperton, Georgia
Specialist Daniel Francis J. Cunningham, 33, Lewiston, Maine
Specialist Michael Edward Curtin, 23, South Plains, New Jersey
Captain Eric B. Das, 30, Amarillo, Texas
Staff Sergeant Wilbert Davis, 40, of Alaska
Private Jason L. Deibler, 20, Coeburn, Virginia
Private First Class Michael R. Deuel, 21, of Nemo, South Dakota
Sergeant Michael E. Dooley, 23, of Pulaski, Virginia
Master Sergeant Robert J. Dowdy, 38, of Cleveland, Ohio
Chief Warrant Officer Brian K. Dusen, 39, Columbus, Ohio
Private Ruben Estrella-Soto, 18, of El Paso, Texas
Private David Evans Jr., 18, of Buffalo, New York
Corporal Mark A. Evnin, 21, Burlington, Vermont
Master Sergeant George A. Fernandez, 36, of El Paso, Texas
Specialist Jon P. Fettig, 30, of Dickinson, North Dakota
Specialist Thomas A. Foley III, 23, Dresden, Tennessee
Captain Travis A. Ford, 30, Ogallala, Nebraska
Private Robert L. Frantz, 19, of San Antonio, Texas
Lance Corporal David K. Fribley, 26, Lee, Florida
Sergeant First Class Dan H. Gabrielson, 39, of Spooner, Wisconsin
Corporal Jose A. Garibay, 21, Orange, California
Sergeant Justin W. Garvey, 23, of Townsend, Massachusetts
1st Sergeant Joe J. Garza, 43, Robstown, Texas
Lance Corporal Cory Ryan Geurin, 18, of Santee, California
Pfc. Jesse A. Givens, 34, of Springfield, Missouri
Private First Class Juan Guadalupe Garza Jr., 20, of Temperance, Michigan
Private Jonathan L. Gifford, 20, Macon, Illinois
Specialist Michael T. Gleason, 25, of Warren, Pennsylvania
Corporal Armando Ariel Gonzalez, 25, Hialeah, Florida
Corporal Jesus A. Gonzalez, 22, Indio, California
Corporal Jorge A. Gonzalez, 20, Los Angeles
Corporal Bernard G. Gooden, 22, Mount Vernon, New York
Specialist Richard A. Goward, 32, Midland, Michigan
Specialist Kyle A. Griffin, 20, of Emerson, New Jersey
Staff Sergeant Patrick Lee Griffin Jr., 31, Elgin, South Carolina
Chief Warrant Officer Hans N. Gukeisen, 31, Lead, South Dakota
Private First Class Christian D. Gurtner, 19, Ohio City, Ohio
Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez, 22, Los Angeles, California
Private Jesse M. Halling, 19, of Indianapolis, Indiana
Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen, 40, Bennington, Vermont
Sergeant Atanacio Haromarin, 27, of Baldwin Park, California
Staff Sergeant Terry W. Hemingway, 39, Willingboro, New Jersey
Private First Class Edward J. Herrgott, 20, of Shakopee, Minnesota
Sergeant Nicolas M. Hodson, 22, of Smithville, Missouri
Staff Sergeant Lincoln D. Hollinsaid, 27, of Malden, Illinois
Specialist Corey A. Hubbell, 20, or Urbana, Illinois
Private Nolen R. Hutchings, 19, Boiling Springs, South Carolina
Private First Class Gregory P. Huxley Jr., 19, of Forestport, New York
Chief Warrant Officer Scott Jamar, 32, Granbury, Texas
Reserve Corporal Evan James, 20, La Harpe, Illinois
Specialist William A. Jeffries, 39, Illinois National Guard
Sergeant Troy David Jenkins, 25, Ridgecrest, California
Private First Class Howard Johnson II, 21, of Mobile, Alabama
Hospital Corpsman Third Class Michael Vann Johnson Jr., 25, of Little Rock, Arkansas
Private Devon D. Jones, 19, San Diego
Staff Sergeant Phillip A. Jordan, 42, Brazoria, Texas
Second Lieutenant Jeffrey J. Kaylor, 24, of Clifton, Virginia
Sergeant Jason D. Jordan, 24, of Elba, Alabama
Corporal Brian Matthew Kennedy, 25, of Houston
Specialist James M. Kiehl, 22, of Des Moines, Iowa
Specialist Chad L. Keith, 21, of Batesville, Indiana
Lance Corporal Brian Kleiboeker, 19, Irvington, Illinois
Specialist John K. Klinesmith Jr., 25, of Stockbridge, Georgia
Captain Edward J. Korn, 31, of Savannah, Georgia
Sergeant Bradley S. Korthaus, 28, of Scott, Iowa
Lance Corporal Jakub Henryk Kowalik, 21, Schaumberg, Illinois
Sergeant Michael V. Lalush, 23, Troutville, Virginia
Lance Corporal Alan Dinh Lam, 19, Snow Camp, North Carolina
Sergeant Jonathan W. Lambert, 28, of Newsite, Mississippi
Captain Andrew David Lamont, 31, of Eureka, California
Staff Sergeant William T. Latham, 29, of Kingman, Arizona
Specialist Cedric L. Lennon, 32, of West Blocton, Alabama
Staff Sergeant Nino D. Livaudais, 23 of Utah
Specialist Ryan P. Long, 21, of Seaford, Delaware
Specialist Zachariah W. Long, 20, of Milton, Pennsylvania
Lance Corporal Gregory E. MacDonald, 29, of the District of Columbia
Lance Corporal Joseph B. Maglione, 22, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania
Corporal Douglas Jose Marencoreyes, 28, of Chino, California
Sergeant First Class John W. Marshall, 50, Los Angeles
Private First Class Francisco A. MartinezFlores, 21, Los Angeles, California
Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, 35, of El Paso, Texas
Staff Sergeant Donald C. May Jr., 31, Richmond, Virginia
Private First Class Joseph P. Mayek, 20, Rock Springs, Wyoming
Sergeant Brian McGinnis, 31, St. Georges, Delaware
Private Robert L. McKinley, 23, of Kokomo, Indiana
First Lieutenant Brian M. McPhillips, 25, Pembroke, Massachusetts
Corporal Jesus Martin Antonio Medellin, 21, of Fort Worth, Texas
Gunnery Sergeant Joseph Menusa, 33, San Jose, California
Specialist Gil Mercado, 25, of Paterson, New Jersey
Private First Class Jason M. Meyer, 23, Swartz Creek, Michigan
Corporal Jason David Mileo, 20, of Centreville, Maryland
Private First Class Anthony S. Miller, 19, of San Antonio
Specialist George Mitchell, 35, Rawlings, Maryland
Sergeant Keman L. Mitchell, 24, of Hilliard, Florida
Lance Corporal Jason William Moore, 21, of San Marcos, California
Petty Officer 3rd Class David J. Moreno, 26, of Gering, Nebraska
Specialist Paul T. Nakamura, 21, of Santa Fe Springs, California
Private Kenneth A. Nalley, 19, of Hamburg, Iowa
Major Kevin G. Nave, 36, Union Lake, Michigan
Private First Class Gavin L. Neighbor, 20, of Somerset, Ohio
Specialist Joshua M. Neusche, 20, of Montreal, Missouri
Lance Corporal Patrick R. Nixon, 21, Gallatin, Tennessee
Specialist David T. Nutt, 22, Blackshear, Georgia
Specialist Donald S. Oaks Jr., 20, Erie, Pennsylvania
Private First Class Branden F. Oberleitner, 20, of Worthington, Ohio
Lance Corporal Patrick T. O'Day, 20, Sonoma, California
Specialist Richard P. Orengo, 32, of Puerto Rico
Marine Lance Corporal Eric J. Orlowski, 26, of Buffalo, New York
First Lieutenant Osbaldo Orozco, 26, Delano, California
Private First Class Kevin C. Ott, 27, of Columbus, Ohio
Lance Corporal David Edward Owens Jr., 20, Winchester, Virginia
Sergeant Fernando Padilla-Ramirez, 26, Yuma, Arizona
Private Shawn D. Pahnke, 25, of Shelbyville, Indiana
Sergeant David B. Parson, 30, of Kannapolis, North Carolina
Master Sergeant Williams L. Payne, 46, of Michigan
Sergeant Michael P. Pedersen, Flint, Michigan
Specialist Jose A. Perez III, 22, of San Diego, California
Staff Sergeant Brett J. Petriken, 30, of Flint, Michigan
Sergeant First Class Gladimir Philippe, 37, of Linden, New Jersey
Private First Class Lori Ann Piestewa, 23, of Tuba City, Arizona
Second Lieutenant Frederick Pokorney, 31, Nye, Nevada
Staff Sergeant Andrew R. Pokorny, 30, of Naperville, Illinois
Private Kelley S. Prewitt, 24, of Alabama
Sergeant Jaror C. Puello-Coronado, 36, Pocono Summit, Pennsylvania
Staff Sergeant Michael B. Quinn, 37, of Tampa, Florida.
Sergeant First Class Randall S. Rehn, 36, Longmont, Colorado
Sergeant Brendon Reiss, 23, Casper, Wyoming
Sgt. Sean C. Reynolds, 25, East Lansing, Michigan
Private First Class Fernando Rincon, 19, Conyers, Georgia
Sergeant Duane R. Rios, 25, Hammond, Indiana
Captain Russell B. Rippetoe, 27, of Colorado
Corporal John T. Rivero, 23, of Gainesville, Florida
Sergeant Todd J. Robbins, 33, of Pentwater, Michigan.
Private First Class Marlin T. Rockhold, 23, Hamilton, Ohio
Private First Class Jose Franci Gonzalez Rodriguez, 19, Norwalk California
Corporal Robert M. Rodriquez, 21, Queens, New York
Corporal Randal Kent Rosacker, 21, San Diego, California
Specialist Brandon J. Rowe, 20, Roscoe, Illinois
Sergeant Roger D. Rowe, 54, of Bon Aqua, Tennessee
Second Lieutenant Jonathan D. Rozier, 25, of Katy, Texas
First Lieutenant Timothy Louis Ryan, 30, of Aurora, Illinois
Specialist Rasheed Sahib, 22, Brooklyn, New York
Captain Benjamin W. Sammis, 29, Rehoboth, Massachusetts
Army Specialist Gregory P. Sanders, 19, of Indiana
Staff Sergeant Barry Sanford Sr., 46, of Aurora, Colorado
Staff Sergeant Scott D. Sather, 29, Clio, Michigan
Major Mathew E. Schram, 36, of Brookfield, Wisconsin
Specialist Christian C. Schulz, 20, of Colleyville, Texas
Captain Christopher Scott Seifert, 27, of Easton, Pennsylvania
Corporal Erik H. Silva, 22, Chula Vista, California
Private Brandon Ulysses Sloan, 19, of Bedford, Ohio
Lance Corporal Thomas J. Slocum, Adams, Colorado
Private First Class Corey L. Small, 20, or East Berlin, Pennsylvania
First Sergeant Edward Smith, 38, of Chicago
Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith, 41 of California
Private First Class Jeremiah D. Smith, 25, of Odessa, Missouri
Lance Corporal Matthew R. Smith, 20, Anderson, Indiana
Specialist Orenthial J. Smith, 21, of Allendale, South Carolina
Sergeant 1st Class Paul R. Smith, 33, of Tampa, Florida
Sergeant Roderic A. Solomon, 32, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Corporal Tomas Sotelo Jr., 20, of Houston, Texas
Sergeant Robert A. Stever, 36, of Pendleton, Oregon
Air National Guard Major Gregory Stone, 40, Boise, Idaho
Sergeant Kirk Allen Straseskie, 23, of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Lance Corporal Jesus A. Suarez Del Solar, 20, Escondido, California
Specialist Joseph D. Suell, 24, of Lufkin, Texas
Specialist Narson B. Sullivan, 21, North Brunswick, New Jersey
Staff Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda, 26, New York City
Lance Corporal Jason Andrew Tetrault, 20, of Moreno Valley, California
Army Reserve Specialist Brandon S. Tobler, 19, Portland, Oregon
Sergeant Michael L. Tosto, 24, of Apex, North Carolina
Sergeant Melissa Valles, 26, of Eagle Pass, Texas
Sergeant Donald Ralph Walters, 33, Salem, Oregon
Staff Sergeant Kendall Damon Watersbey, 29, of Baltimore
Major William R. Watkins III, 37, of Danville, Virginia
Private First Class Russell Creighton Weldon, 20, Conyers, Georgia
Specialist Jeffrey M. Wershow, 22, of Gainesville, Florida
Sergeant Mason Douglas Whetstone, 30, of Utah
Staff Sergeant Aaron Dean White, 27, of Shawnee, Oklahoma
Lieutenant Nathan D. White, 30, Mesa, Arizona
Lance Corporal William W. White, 24, Brooklyn, New York
Sergeant Eugene Williams, 24, Highland, New York
Lance Corporal Michael J. Williams, 31, of Yuma, Arizona
Sergeant First Class Christopher R. Willoughby, 29, of Phenix City, Alabama
I've been getting really ticked off with the fact the we haven't found Osama yet. His world has been rocked and his little towel club is in shambles, but it would still be great to have pictures of his bloody sack laying in kitty litter rather than Saddam's sons E-bay and Kaza. We can't seem to find him even though he's easily one of the most recognizable faces in the world today.
So to try and get some answers I decided to give him a call.
*phone rings*
Osama: Hello? Terrorist, Inc.
James: Osama? This is James of the VRWC, Inc.
Osama: Hi James. How is your infidel, Zionist, baby-eating life going?
James: Great. I'm full actually. I wanted to know how come we can't find you?
Osama: I'm hiding.
James: Yeah, I know that, knuckle fuck. Where are you at?
Osama: I don't know. All these caves look the same. It doesn't matter anyway. We will be victorious soon and all your friends will burn in a lake of fire!
James: Right. Changed your sheets lately?
Osama: What?
James: Pissy-pants!
Osama: Screw you anglo-yankee-pig-dog!
James: Yeah.
Osama: Your hour of reckoning has come! Allah shall give me the strength and power to devour my enemies whole!
James: How do you know this?
Osama: I watch MSNBC.
James: Oh, I see. Flip over to Fox News.
Osama: Fox News, you say?
James: Yeah, channel 360.
*long pause*
Osama: Man, I'm fucked, huh?
James: Pretty much.
Osama: Who are these men and women who tell lies on MSNBC!
James: Liberals.
Osama: Did you hear that?
James: What?
Osama: Sounds like a helicopter.
James: Oh, yeah. I traced your call and sent your GPS coordinates to Kabul. A platoon of Army Rangers should be moving in by now.
Osama: You swine! All you Americans shall die by my hands! I'll ta-
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
Ranger: Grenade!
Osama: ohhhhhhh...nooooooo.
BOOM!
*heard on the TV in the background:*
"...want a more satisfying crunch?"
Here is my favorite excerpt from John Hawkins interview with Hugh Hewitt:
John Hawkins: It would certainly be great if W. could take California. Changing course again here, unquestionably, there is a lot of hostility towards religion coming from the left today. Ann Coulter has an interesting theory about that and I'd like to get your opinion on it. She says that, 'Liberals hate religion because politics is a religion substitute for (them)". Do you see any truth in that?Hugh Hewitt: I don't think I would analyze it that way. My analysis is that most faith based systems depend upon an absolute moral order. The declaration of things as absolutely evil or absolutely good, as sin or virtue, puts liberalism into a horrible position because it's founded on no judgement on anything. As a result, any faith that is seriously practiced or understood is a challenge to the politics that depend on constituencies that would rather not be told that their choices are bad and their lives are not virtuous.
I'm not much of a Christian, but that made perfect sense.
So by now everybody knows about the black pool of blood the 101st and Delta Squad left the sons of Saddam in. We've even heard the great spin that was put on the subject by the loony left that insists that this was pure murder.
Well, aside from all the liberal hoopla, here is a great way to report the account, via Loyal Citizen Victor.
There has been a debate raging between John Hawkins and Venomous Kate in regards to the most influential figures from American history that was produced after a survery of 49 bloggers.
The list that was produced came as follows:
19) Harry Truman (9)
19) Dwight D. Eisenhower (9)
19) Frederick Douglass (9)
17) Thomas Paine (10)
17) Ulysses S. Grant (10)
14) Orville & Wilbur Wright (11)
14) Mark Twain (11)
14) George S. Patton (11)
13) Alexander Hamilton (13)
12) Henry Ford (14)
10) Franklin Delano Roosevelt (15)
10) Martin Luther King Jr (15)
8) Teddy Roosevelt (17)
8) John Adams (17)
7) James Madison (18)
6) Thomas Edison (21)
5) Ben Franklin (28)
4) Abe Lincoln (31)
3) George Washington (35)
1) Ronald Reagan (36)
1) Thomas Jefferson (36)
Now, obviously, everyone is going to have different opinions, I know my list would be very different. But the rub has come from a few people, namely Kate, noticing that no women made the list. John responded by saying that's because no women deserved to make the list, to which Kate proceeded to tear his balls off.
Truth be told, I agree with both sides and understand where they're coming from. But a few lines from Kate jumped out and me:
Susan B. Anthony cleared a path for an entire gender to be recognized, and Gloria Steinham turned that path into mainstream.The accomplishments of Ronald Reagan - phenomenal as they were - cannot begin to compare to the impact of either of those women, nor could those of Ulysses S. Grant.
...
Mark Twain gave us many good laughs and some damned fine writing. But did he change society as we know it? Did his accomplishments touch the lives of each and every American since?
Kate mentioned Grant, and thereby opened a whole can of worms for me. Since the Civil War is my little niche in the Blogosphere, I must educate.
*puts on professor Finch hat*
Now, pay attention!
*slaps chalkboard with pointer*
Number one!
From 1861 to 1865, the United States of America was at war with itself. Stop! Think about that for a moment. We, this great nation, were at war against ourselves. Armies from one state or another slaughtering one another wholesale in our wheat fields and riverbanks. The Republic swung in the balance with thousands of different factors in motion that could decide whether the United States would remain one strong country, or become divided by state lines.
Number two!
*slaps chalkboard with pointer*
Even though the South was bound together during the war, most of the states hated each other with a passion and there is no doubt that had the Confederacy won their independence, it would only be a matter of time before it broke apart into several separate nations. There were also the North West states of Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa that were heavily debating leaving the Union themselves and starting their own nation in the middle of the war because some felt it the South was Washington and Lincoln's problem. Add to that the continuous threats by the state of New York to secede during the war had things continued to go south for the Union and now we're looking at the United States dissolving into dozens of separate countries.
Imagine what this land would be like today with everything east of the Mississippi being comprised of fifteen or so nations. And who knows what kind of territorial or expansionist wars this would have created from then 'ill now. Not to mention the lasting effect this would have had on slavery and absent women's rights. These things could very well have survived into the twentieth century in most areas of the country.
Basically, during the Civil War the United States was like a 70 yard Hail Mary pass into the end zone; if the receiver dropped the ball, America would become a mish-mash of relatively small third world countries, if the receiver caught the ball, we would remain united forever and evolve into the greatest nation ever.
Number three!
*slaps chalkboard with pointer*
The Union won the Civil War. While there are numerous factors that were involved in that victory, the man most directly responsible was Ulysses S. Grant. Why? Because the first two years of the war had proven that despite the major advantage in men and material' that the North had it could be easily offset by poor commanders. To win the war, the North needed a military commander who knew the game and knew how to play and win in the most desperate hour our nation has yet seen.
Grant knew how to use what he had and shied away from grand military campaigns by simply showing up and ramming it down Lee's throat until he the Reb couldn't take it anymore and chocked out a "I surrender."
We are almost done, so stay awake, maggot!
*slaps the chalkboard with pointer*
Grant won, and in turn has touched the lives of every single American living today without the average person even taking a moment in their entire fucking lives to realize that!
In order for the Emancipation Proclamation to take affect, U.S. authority had to be restored to the South. In order for the entire land to progress forward we had to remain one on that land. Grant was responsible for creating that victory and securing our future.
*collapses pointer*
So you see, Grant has touched the lives of every American. And I would easily place him over the contributions of Susan B. Anthony and Gloria Steinham. While those people may have broadened the scope of women's rights in America, there had to be an America to speak of first.
The Eiffel Tower Ablaze.
Heh heh.
HELL YEAH!
Goodbye fucknuggets!
Fox News: Saddam's Sons Confirmed Dead
Note: For those of you who were readers of mine back when I was at the Yankee Herald, then this is rehashed hash. But, I've had a few more thoughts on it so I'll go ahead and reinvent the post.
There's something kinda odd going on in the world right now. The left stands upon its pedestal and declares that all conservatives are crusty old Bible-thumping, naziesque (bing* my made up word for the day), crusty old men who want women in the kitchen and for the world to play by their rules and only their rules.
Then they defend radical Islam.
I now (stop laughing).
I'd imagine by now you've just figured out the point of this post.
The odd thing is that people of the radical Islam religion are really conservatives who have just been hatched from a frozen time capsule that was buried around, oh, say, 700 AD. Now don't for a second think I'm saying that these scumbags are just like us, only more radical, because that's not it. What's odd is that it certainly appears as though American conservatives are at war with Middle-Eastern conservatives with the liberals of both sides placating the enemy. Some my find a few faults with that statement overall, but the basic theory is true.
Conservatives, built red, white, and blue from the ground up, aggressively acknowledge the threat of radical Islam as a threat to our home and way of life while liberals, composed mostly of various tie-dyed patterns and splattered with a little hemp, tell us it's not so bad and we need to reach out for understanding. Radical Islamic conservatives see the West as a threat to all things Allah and vow to wrestle each and every one of us into a lake of fire, while Islamic libs scream, "Help!"
Middle-Eastern libs are of the good sort because they want democracy and freedom. American libs want a monument to Karl Marx. Islamic cons want to place clerics atop the political ladder and openly preach about dictatorships.
The remarkable thing about pinko-leftists is that they'll drone on and on about how cons are close-minded and suck with their old ways, and then turn around and breath fire down the throat of someone denouncing radical Islam.
Who woulda thought?
In relation to Annika's post here from over the weekend, we have an opinion on Gitmo from the front lines in Iraq. The name of the soldier is not given, but it is believed to be a SpecOps trooper doing his best to send a few radicals to their 72 virgins as quickly as possible.
Our search and destroy missions are largely at night, free of reporters and generally terrifying to those brave warriors of Allah.The only thing that frightens them more is hearing the word "Gitmo". The word is out that a trip to Guantanimo Bay is not a Caribbean vacation and they usually start squealing like the little mice they are, when an interrogator mentions "Gitmo".
No wonder the International Red Cross, the National Council of Churches and the French keep protesting about the place. They know it has proven to be very effective in keeping several hundred real fanatical psychopaths in check and very frankly would rather see them cut loose to go kill some more GIs or innocent Americans, just to make W. look bad.
We have about 200 really bad guys in custody now and probably will park them in the desert behind a triple roll of razor wire, backed up by a couple of Bradleys pointed their way, if they decide to riot. Maybe a few will get to Gitmo but most are human garbage that wouldn't take on your five-year old grandson face-to-face. The more we go after them and not vice-versa I think we will see the sniper attacks go down. Yeah, they'll get lucky now and then, but it's showtime, fellows.
'Nuff said.
Letter orginally posted here and cross-linked through here.
First off, the fishing trip was great. We even managed to bag a few for later. I'm still recovering so bare with me.
Mega-VRWC, Inc.-Thanks to Annika for filling in the shoes so well!
I haven't had much of a chance to cruise through the news sites yet so I don't know if I'll post anything else today. But tomorrow's for sure!
The horrible sob story that the media is feeding us about Gitmo is a load of horse shit. i have a tough time mustering up any sympathy for those bastards that were held in our military jail down there. And i really don't care whether they were innocent or not. Anyone who thinks that makes me a bad person, i got two words to say to them. So - Fuckin - What.
Afghans released after nearly two years in a U.S. military jail in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Saturday described conditions as cramped and recounted months of repeated U.S. interrogations and physical discomfort.Okay, i have a question. Why is beating not an option? Can't somebody call an audible and make it an option?The men, mostly between 20 and 30 years old, all looked outwardly healthy, but some prisoners said they were beaten ? an allegation the U.S. military disputed.
"Physical coercion is simply not an option. We don't do it. There's no beating," said Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a U.S. military spokesman at Guantanamo Bay.
i still remember the morning of September 11th. My first emotion was horror. The second one was an intense desire to beat the crap out of somebody. Anybody.
So if one of our boys got a little cranky down there one day and maybe let off a little steam by whacking one of them terrorists upside the head, hey, i can look the other way. Maybe those interrogation questions weren't getting answered quickly enough and the poor piss-ant needed some extra encouragement. i can live with that.
The military says nobody got beat. And not all of the prisoners are making that claim, anyway. i, for one, believe the military. It's just not our style. Maybe it should be, but it's not.
What i'm saying is that if an informal beat-down or two happened, well, i wouldn't worry too much about it. Nothing to get all queasy over. Big deal.
It reminds me of Jack Nicholson's speech from A Few Good Men. He played a U.S. Marine commanding officer at Guantanamo Bay, named Colonel Jessep. You remember the speech. If you didn't see it, go rent it right away. The movie is a classic.
Anyway, Nicholson is being grilled by Tom Cruise during the trial of two marines accused of administering a "code red" on a fellow marine, resulting in his death. In the movie, a "code red" is basically an informal beat-down, which is meant to teach someone a lesson. Nicholson's speaks these words as the villian of the movie. But now, post 911, the speech contains a lot more wisdom than it did the first time i heard it.
You can't handle the truth!So if some of those bastards down there in Gitmo say that our boys got a little rambunctious, you won't see me cryin' about it. Nope, not one bit.Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know -- that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives; and my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall -- you need me on that wall.
We use words like "honor," "code," "loyalty." We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather that you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!
This is my last post until Monday as I'm off to do a lot of drinking, BBQing, and perhaps a little bit of fishing if I get time (it is a "fishing trip" after all). Colonel Annika has agreed to step in and keep the wheels of the war against Moonbats™ everywhere rolling.
See yas in a fews!
THE MINIE' BALL
The bullet that killed chivalry
As early as the 1500’s Germans were using rifled muskets. It was a new design that held incredible potential but was flawed in many ways. The idea was to bore groves within the barrel that moved outward in a spiral fashion. This would give the musket ball a spin to it when it left the muzzle. Much like throwing a football, when it is thrown with a spin it flies farther with greater speed and is far more accurate than just chucking it. The problem with rifled muskets was trying to get the lead ball to engage the rifling.
Shot for rifled muskets were made at the same caliber of the barrel, requiring the user to forcefully ram the shot down the barrel with a ramrod, thereby deforming the shot as it engaged with the rifling. As a result the shot was fairly inaccurate and timely to load. Militaries shied away from it and stuck with the successful smoothbores that were only accurate up to a hundred yards.
In the year 1849 Captain Claude Minie’, of the French Army, made an astounding breakthrough by making a few modifications to the rifled system and turned the military world upside down, although many failed to realize this for far too long. Rather than toying with the musket, he changed the bullet. He made the bullet of a slightly smaller caliber than the barrel, composed it of a lighter lead, and carved out a cavity in the rear of the bullet. With the smaller caliber, the ball easily slid down the musket barrel. The cavity in the rear became filled with gunpowder when the ball was rammed down tight. When fired, the softer lead expanded from the explosion of gasses within its rear to engage the rifling of the barrel.
This is an authentic Minie’ Ball of mine from the Civil War that was dug up from the Vicksburg area
What became known as the Minie’ Ball blew the smoothbore musket away. Muskets were now deadly accurate up to 350 yards (with a total range of about 1500 yards) and traveled with an incredible velocity producing greater penetration. The ball could also be easily loaded into the musket as the soldier was able to drop the ball in and only use the ramrod to pack the ball in tight over the powder.
The United States military began producing Minie’ Balls shortly thereafter and the entrepreneurial spirit of the capitalist country produced even greater modifications to the Minie’. The small US Army began carrying 1853 Enfield muskets loaded with Minie’ Balls into fights against the Indians on the frontier and Mexican raiders along the Rio Grande.
This is the same Minie’ turned to show the cavity in the rear.
New military technology had come about, but the old Napoleon style of military tactics being taught at West Point was not changed to account for this new advance in weaponry. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, two great armies clashed with one another using old tactics, but armed with 1853 Enfield and 1861 Springfield muskets. Men were massed into tight blocks of men and ordered to charge across open fields toward the enemy’s lines. In Washington’s, or even Napoleon’s, day this would have been the most successful course of action since you wouldn’t be in range of the enemy until the last hundred yards. But when the enemy was armed with rifled muskets they could begin picking off soldiers at more than three times that range.
One of the other aspects of the Minie’ Ball was the damage it did upon impact. With its high velocity and soft lead the ball would become deformed upon impact and tear through the recipient, shattering bone, artery, cartilage and anything else that came within its path. This is why people hear stories of the Civil War hospitals where the most common course of treatment was amputation. This had less to do with a lack of medical technology than it did with the destructive nature of the Minie’ Ball.
The Civil War began with men in massed columns charging over open fields and ended with trench warfare as both sides dug entrenchments to repulse attacks and to get in closer before attacking themselves.
The days of the glorious bayonet charge were over and the romanticism and chivalry of war was killed off forever.
This comes from The Washington Times:
French Government Bans Term 'E-Mail'
So the French government had grown so spiteful and loathed to America that the government actually takes time out of their cheese-eating day to write such legislation. Of course the law only applies to government publications, journals, webpages, ect.
What's striking is that France is so terrified of its "culture" being disrupted that they actually have a Culture Ministry. Can you imagine how that shit would fly here?
Sheesh. If these people weren't prone to pissing their pants every time an invading mouse sneezed I'd actually be frightened.
From Town Hall
After Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt rounded up more than 100,000 Japanese residents and citizens and threw them in internment camps. Indeed, both liberal deities of the 20th century, FDR and Earl Warren, supported the internment of Japanese-Americans. In the '20s, responding to the bombing of eight government officials' homes, a Democrat-appointed attorney general arrested about 6,000 people. The raids were conducted by A. Mitchell Palmer, appointed by still-revered Democrat segregationist Woodrow Wilson, who won the 1916 election based on lies about intelligence and war plans.
In response to the worst terrorist attack in the history of the world right here on U.S. soil, Attorney General John Ashcroft has detained fewer than a thousand Middle Eastern immigrants. Ashcroft faces a far more difficult task than FDR did: Pearl Harbor was launched by the imperial government of Japan, not by Japanese-Americans living in California. The 9-11 Muslim terrorists, by contrast, were not only in the United States but, until the attack, had broken hardly any laws at all (aside from a few immigration laws, which liberals don't care about anyway). And yet, Ashcroft's modest, carefully tailored policies have prevented another attack for almost two years since Sept. 11, 2001. No internment camps, no mass arrests. And no more massive terrorist attacks.
Naturally, therefore, the Democrats have focused like a laser beam on the perfidy of John Ashcroft. Rep. Dick Gephardt recently said, "In my first five seconds as president, I would fire John Ashcroft as attorney general." (In his first four seconds, he would establish the AFL-CIO wing of the White House.)
Sen. John Kerry has vowed: "When I am president of the United States, there will be no John Ashcroft trampling on the Bill of Rights." (Experts are still trying to figure out why Kerry didn't mention his service in Vietnam during that last statement.) Let me be the first to predict that when John Kerry is president, pigs will fly.
Sen. John Edwards said that "we must not allow people like John Ashcroft to take away our rights and our freedoms." Apparently, we must, however, allow Janet Reno to run over our rights and our freedoms with a tank.
As usual, the Democrats have come up with a lot of bloody adjectives, but are a little short in the way of particulars as to how Ashcroft is trampling on anyone's rights. Their case-in-chief seems to be Tarek Albasti. Albasti's story has now run in more than 70 overwrought news stories. His tale of torment led a New York Times report on terrorism suspects whose lives have been uprooted and was the featured story on a PBS special this week about the civil-liberties crisis sweeping America.
Tarek Albasti is an Egyptian immigrant who married an American woman, brought seven of his Egyptian friends to America and was enrolled in flight school when America was hit on 9-11. Based on a tip from the ex-wife of one of the men that they were plotting a suicide mission, the eight Egyptian immigrants were held for one week in October 2001 ? one week. The men were questioned and released. Since then, the government has issued copious apologies to the men and has expunged their records.
What are liberals claiming law enforcement was supposed to do with information like that? We're sorry for any Arabs whose dearest dream was to go into crop dusting, but this really isn't a good time. (Perhaps we could have a five-day waiting period for Muslims who apply to U.S. flight schools for a background check.)
Albasti told PBS ? that's right, PBS, the television network owned, operated and funded by the very same federal government Albasti now claims is oppressing him ? that during his one-week confinement he was worried he would be hanged without anyone ever knowing what happened to him. For that remark alone, he should be deported. Is that what he thinks of America? But at least detained Arabs ? and more to the point, their lawyers ? have a monetary incentive to make absurd claims of persecution. What is the Democrats' excuse?
Based on the wails from our stellar crop of Democratic presidential candidates, you would think every Muslim in the country is cowering in fear of a pogrom-oriented attorney general. Meanwhile, the left's principal evidence of a civil-rights crisis in America consists of a one-week detention of eight Egyptian immigrants ? one in flight school, no less ? after the ex-wife of one of the men tipped off the FBI to a possible terrorist plot in the making.
Apparently, a lot of the false tips to law enforcement are coming from ex-wives. (Maybe Muslim men should have thought of that before introducing the burka.) Esshassah Fouad, a Moroccan student, was detained in Texas after his former wife accused him of being a terrorist. She is now serving a one-year prison sentence for making a false charge.
But some day, small children will be reading somber historical accounts about the dark night of fascism under John Ashcroft. (Thanks to Ashcroft, at least they'll be reading them in English, rather than Arabic.) If liberals applied half as much energy to some business endeavor as they do to creating the Big Lie, they would all be multimillionaires.
What are we to make of people who promote the idea that America is in the grip of a civil-liberties emergency based on 100 hazy stories of scowls and bumps and one-week detentions? Manifestly, there is no civil-liberties crisis in this country. Consequently, people who claim there is must have a different goal in mind. What else can you say of such people but that they are traitors?
Ya know, I?m usually never sentimental here. In fact, I?m not a very sentimental guy. I leave all that crying game bullshit to others. I?ve been called heartless before as every conservative should be expected to be called numerous times throughout their days. But I?m not heartless and without feeling, I just don?t choose to turn myself into a dramatic Lifetime movie by spilling my deep ?personal troubles? to anyone and everyone. To be quite frank, I don?t think most people have anything to be bitch about when you put things in perspective, they just like the attention.
But for now, I?m forgetting all that to talk about something very dear to me; my dog.
The term ?man?s best friend? has become such a clich? that few people take the time and ponder how true this is. Dogs, for some reason unknown, have become the eternal blood brother of man, doing anything within its power to keep their masters safe. One of the touching stories I heard from 9/11 was of the search and rescue dogs who clawed through the smoldering rubble. Despite their masters call to quite, they insisted on working around the clock, digging and sniffing through the debris, even as the pads on their feet became severely burned and disfigured. The dogs began to have serious physiological problems as they had very little success in finding anyone alive and contracted terrible bouts of depression because they felt as though they were failing in their task to rescue.
If this isn?t a prime example of the canine?s undying devotion to humans, than there isn?t one.
Six months ago I was at work when a loan and rail-thin Beagle wandered into the parking lot. It was a bone chilling night with freezing rain coming down in heavy sheets. She was shivering and starving almost to death. When I knelt down to her she began to whine and lick my face. I pulled her inside and dried her off while calling my wife to come pick her up. We brought her home and began the slow process of getting her up to a healthy weight.
After posting fliers and what not in the general vicinity of my workplace we waited and never heard word from anybody and so, much to my delight, the young Beagle became a loyal member of the Finch household. We (I) gave her the name Sherman, after one of my favorite military officers, William Tecumseh Sherman.
Three months ago my wife gave birth to our first child, Alexander James Finch. My in-laws took Sherman out to their farm to stay while we adjusted to life with a newborn. She enjoyed life running through the fields on the farm, even though I stopped out to see her regularly. Just as we were ready to bring her home, my wife and I found a farm house of our own out in the country where we will be moving in a couple weeks. It was decided that Sherman would stay with my in-laws until we moved and we could bring her out to enjoy the fields and stream of our new home.
Anyone who has a dog knows how protective they can be. There are stories abound of dogs who have jumped between their masters and grizzly bears knowing they were sacrificing their own lives for the love of their owners.
Well, such was the same sort of scenario tonight.
While my wife and I were out grocery shopping, a very nasty and large stray dog wandered onto my in-laws farm. Sherman confronted her before the stray made it even close to the house and a fight ensued. By the time my father in-law heard the commotion and came outside with his rifle, Sherman had chased the other dog away, but not before having huge chucks of flesh ripped from her chest and shoulder. Sherman?s chipped teeth and the blood that dripped from them showed it was a viscous fight. But Sherman had done her duty and the mutt was gone.
My in-laws rushed Sherman to an emergency animal clinic where several stitches and sutures were needed under emergency surgery. By the time my wife and I got home and found out about it, Sherman was just going under the knife.
The good news is that she?ll be fine?in the long run. For now she has a lot healing to do. As I type this on my laptop, Sherman is asleep on the thick layers of blankets that are spread out on the floor for her. Her head is on my shoe and I feel every breath she takes. Tubes jut out from her chest and shoulder where fluid is slowly oozing. In four days we?ll go back and have those removed and in two weeks they?ll pull the stitches out. I can only imagine her pain, although she is now on heavy pain killers. What?s remarkable is that even though she has been through much and is heavily sedated, whenever a car goes by our home she awakes and raises her head to attention. As I sit here and comfort her, she is still watching out for me and my family.
This is the nature of dogs. For those who understand then you know how I feel, otherwise nothing I say will be enough to explain to you the feeling of having such a loyal friend.
There are probably some who?ll come by this site and read what I just wrote and be completely disinterested. That?s fine, this isn?t the usual material you come for. But I had to write this nonetheless.
I?ll probably be up most of the night watching her and I?ve set my alarm for four in the morning because I have a date out in my in-law?s field with my rifle and some mutt who?ll see her last. Sound harsh and hypocritical? Well, anyone who knows dogs is aware that dogs are great, but sometimes one goes bad, usually through no fault of their own. Regardless of the reason, once they go bad, there?s no turning back and I have a responsibility to put this bitch down before she comes across another dog protecting a home or even worse, children playing in a yard.
Sorry to rant like this on a topic some won?t care about, but I had to get it out. Now I need to go get my hunting garb together and make sure the 30./6 is well oiled.
I applaud black conservatives. I think they are the true civil rights leaders. There was a time when compensation to blacks was the just thing to do. Those days are long gone.
Today the compensation has turned into overcompensation. Conservative blacks are aware of this and are honest and noble enough to stand up and say something about it, despite what the "black community" may say about them.
What I find funny about the "African" left is how much they preach equality. Yet, their definition of equality and Webster's are two totally different things. As the Whittle of the Ages™ recently asked, "So do you want equality of opportunity ? as I do ? where people can make of themselves what they will? Or do you want equality of results, where society steps in to make sure that everyone comes out the same?"
Society becomes fully free and fair when everyone is allowed equal opportunity under the law and the government works to uphold that. Anything that gives extra special treatment or "equaler" opportunity to one section of society over another is just moving in the opposite direction again. The "African" left constantly pushes for more privileges, like more affirmative action and hiring quotas, when such matters have no place here today.
During the election of 2000, the Dems ran a campaign ad describing the beating, raping, and murder of a little black girl in Texas by a couple hicks. The purpose of the ad was to show how terrible this crime was and then mention that Governor Bush opposed hate crime laws in Texas (the ad never mentioned that Dubya probably fried the bastards). The ad played the race card, coming just short of calling Bush an all out racist, although it was certainly implied.
The left can play the race card because the right just completely ignores it. Is Bush a racist for not supporting hate crime laws after a hideous crime like that? No, he isn't because in the ideal color blind society, which we are striving for, such laws shouldn't exist.
And as for affirmative action, we can debate all day long what it is designed to do, but no one can deny that it results in racial discrimination towards white boys trying to get into college. If that's the end result of a policy, than you can't argue its viability. End of story.
I bring all this up because certain "black leaders" seem to turn a blind eye to it by practicing neo-McCarthyism, i.e. playing the race card. In fact, I would very easily venture to say that people such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are far worse than Joe McCarthy ever was. Joe was weeding out real communists within the government during the height of the Cold War. Granted he was a bit of a prick about it, but he was responding to a real threat. Jacksonism, or Sharptonism, on other hand, attack people for being racist, even when there's a very good chance the person is not, for pure political gain. Someone in Jackson?s way? Call him a racist and he'll be gone in no time.
Black conservatives, however, not only realize this is going on, but also denounce it and above it. That is why I refer to them as the real civil rights leaders because they strive for equal civil rights, not equaler rights for their own team (which shouldn't even exist if nothing is to be based on the color of one's skin).
UPDATE: Armstrong Williams, a strong black conservative, has a great article today on Bush at Town Hall.
Here is a picture of Iraq's Transitional Governing Council, the people responsible for working with coalition officials to establish authority and proper rule in Iraq.
Today the Council made plans to erect a tribunal council to try Saddam Hussein and others of his ousted regime for crimes against the Iraqi people.
I believe that could be one hell of an important moment when the Iraqi people try and convict the murderous thug. What will that say to the world as to whether our actions were just or not towards the Iraqi people when they parade Saddam into a courtroom and put him on the stand?
Heh heh. I hope ESPN carries it.
While chatting (arguing) on a left-wing posting board, someone actually said this to me:
The Cold War was a fucking joke. America's hard-on against communism has always had more to do with political convenience than any tangible threat to its people.
I can't even respond right now. Please, give me your comments while I go have a smoke and cool down. This guy's a fucking moron.
It's Monday, folks, so it's time to fly across the Blogosphere and drop a few links.
Serenity takes on the ideology of puss-sucking windbags and asks for a No. 2.
Annika tells us why she doesn't want anything to do with the film Pirates of the Caribbean, although Kim duToit thought that it was pretty good.
Venomous Kate relates to us all the dialogue between Dubya and Kofi Annan over Liberia.
Bill at Bloviating Inanities is having the ultimate blog roll contest to counter Frank J's.
Drudge is reporting on the upcoming movie called Buffalo Soldiers being released later this month by Disney/Miramax. The film is a satire, showing the rampant drug use, violence, sex, and many other illegal activities that take place at US Army bases.
The film begins with soldiers stepping on a painted American flag that covers the floor of the base as they march by. The symbolism I find downright bastardly. I've written before on the reverence and awe Americans should have for all soldiers, past and present. Thousands of noble men and women have died face down in the mud over the many years so we can have the privilege to live in the freest nation the planet has ever seen.
The film's star, J. Phoenix, said, "I don't know why anyone would be offended. It wasn't a movie that was intended to offend. And if we don't show things as they really happen, then what's that about? Censorship!"
Let's think about what he said.
He's saying that no one should be offended essentially because it's supposed to be a comedy. But then he says the they need to show things as they really happen, basically saying that what takes place in the movie happens in real life.
So, thousands of people a hell of a lot more deserving of the country's praise than Phoenix are out there dying daily and he's staring in a movie trying to show how immoral soldiers are and he can't understand why anyone would be offended.
The Kool-Aid pitcher is bottomless.
And as for his "Censorship" line? Let me explain this again real slow so the Moonbats™ understand.
Ahem. It is not censorship unless the government shuts you up. If people don't like what you have to say and tell you to shut up that's tough shit. Deal with it you over bloated Hollywood dim-witted Dolphin fucker!
White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer has been one to watch for a good political laugh, especially through the entire build up to Iraq. But as of Monday he is saying ba-bye to the White House and heading out on his own.
You've been great, Ari. Hope you enjoyed your hosing!
No, not the Billboard top forty, the VRWC Inc. hit list, meaning slow and painful death.
Who am I speaking of? Former Destiny Child singer Beyonce Knowles. I guess she did a little dance number partly dressed with a few other mostly naked woman on Grant's tomb for the 4th. Why I'm just finding out about this now, I don't know. But I AM royally pissed off!
Now, I did my little Grant bio thingy yesterday as a joke. I do hold great reverence and awe of Ulysses and hold him dear as one of the greatest military leaders of American history, despite what many "history" books try to do to him.
But why the fuck would the Park Service allow this half naked media whore to get her jiggy on on his fucking grave? Where it some 4th of July tribute with fireworks and the singing of the National Anthem, that would be cool. But this is way beyond inappropriate.
Give me your comments at will.
Meanwhile, I need to find some NBC exec. and throw him screaming from a helicopter.
Of you're at work and want to get fired for annoying the piss out your fellow slaves...er...I mean fellow employees, then give this link a click and let it ride.
Imperial Torturer BC has a great post over at the Rott. Our good old buddy Tom Dasshole (D-USSR) recently made some comments about reaching out to the "Hispanic Community," but went down in flames when asked about the Miguel Estrada thingy.
BC's fisking is superb and it's all around good Donk-kicking fun!
I don't know where John got his info when he wrote his analysis of Ulysses S Grant's leadership qualities, for Susie, but it's totally off base. Being an avid Civil War scholar, I feel the need to set the record straight.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Grant was running a fight club in Galena, Illinois. For five bucks a pop he would beat the shit out of anybody and then go home with all the chicks and drink Bourbon. He was pimpin' it hardcore, man. Having quit the army years before because there was no one to kill, he now tried to get back in.
He was stuck handling a little regiment of pussies but he whipped them into a killing machine and spent days drilling the boys in Chicago taking down idiotic Democrats who liked to defend the South, or whoever the enemy of the country was that week.
Before too long he was in higher commands and took Fort Donelson and Fort Henry. When the Confederate General at Donelson sent a letter to Grant asking him what terms of surrender he would except, Grant sent a letter back saying, "Surrender everything or die twitching in a pool of your men's blood. My shit is unstoppable. Bitch."
As the incident reached headlines across America, people now knew what the U.S. at the beginning of Grant's name meant: "Unstoppable Shit" Grant.
Eventually Grant cornered a shit load of Rebs at Vicksburg, and since he felt like raving he just set up his guns to shell the fuck out of the town rather than charge in. It worked and Grant won the praise of the nation and that badass GOP Prez, A. Lincoln.
Lincoln decided to bring Grant to the east and square him off against Robert E Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Secretary of War William H. Stanton advised against it, but Lincoln put on his hat and said, "Four score and seven years ago I should have told you to FUCK OFF!"
Grant came east.
The first thing Grant did was load up on crates of Bourbon, Bud Light and cartons of Camel Reds (Being such a badass, the dude at the 7/11 didn't charge him taxes 'cause he was scared shitless, so Grant got more bang for his buck). He then loaded up the Army of the Potomac on armored transports and moved South into Virginia.
Grant was the first military leader to combine armored infantry with heavy air support and giving free 40's to anyone who popped ten or more Rebs a day.
Lee was defenseless.
Before long Grant and Lee sat in a room at Appomattox Court House to discuss the terms of surrender. After signing the official surrender treaty (this had to be copied from a French surrender treaty since no Americans had ever surrendered before) Grant stood up and slapped Lee, saying, "Now what the fuck where you thinking?! You don't just leave the Union with a couple states and not get your ass kicked! Take your fucking flag and ram it up your ass! You lost, deal with it!"
Later Grant was elected president after he strangled John Wilkes Booth to death with the actor's own entrails. He was an effective President and got a lot of shit done since he walked around all the time with a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a shotgun in the other while wearing a "Nuke The Moon" t-shirt. Nobody fucked with him.
Interestingly enough, Grant's bloodline has descended down to Donald Rumsfeld.
Note: To all the Southerners I just pissed off: Chill, it's a joke.
This has got to be the most annoying webpage ever!
If you clicked on it, it's your own damn fault!
What rating is your journal?
brought to you by Quizilla
Graciously borrowed (heh, I mean stolen) from Annika.
I never had to have brain surgery before (some may argue otherwise), but if I did, I wouldn't want it done with Bob Vila's tool set.
Just found this article through Drudge.
A North Korean defector came to Washington recently and told Bush & Co.™ to strike N. Korea now, before it's too late.
NK is getting closer everyday to being able to arm long range missles with small nuclear warheads and Kim Jong Il is playing the "give me lots of cool things or else" game.
The defector said the enslaved people of NK will rally around the Americans and the army will not fight once Kim Jong Il is gone.
Hmmm. Should we wait and play diplomacy, gambling with nuclear fire, or strike now and let the moonbats of the world call us names?
Something to think about.
Because I was gone on Frank J's Blog-anniversary! It was one year ago on July 9, when Frank entered the realm of Almighty Donk Wackers™. Give 'em hell!
Jonah has a pretty good article out on what Dusty Baker said the other day in relation to blacks being able to take the heat of the summer better. Being a die-hard Cubs fan, I have mixed feelings about the whole incident.
Ann Coulter also has a piece on what it's like teaching in the college circles and *gasp* proving some people were communists.
And, of course, I have to link to Ollie North's new bit.
While conversing at a liberal posting board, someone pointed this article out to me (comparing the similarities between Bush and Hitler) and said he liked to “rub it in some Republicans faces.” My response of gut-wrenching laughter was to prove that, being a Republican, he wouldn’t get the end result he desired. I must also say that the comparison is terrible and completely uncouth. I hate Billy-Bob far worse than any of them hate Bush, but I would never compare him to Hitler.
Here is what I wrote in response:
As I respond to this, I must first shine light on the fact that the article was written “for the Progressive Community,” and so the author no doubt isn’t particularly partial to the president. The history is true; although bended to make it more fitting to the overall feeling the author is trying to create.
In the beginning of the article, the author tells the story of how the Reichstag was fire bombed. How this compares to September 11 I don’t know since the Reichstag fire burned only part of a building and no one was killed whereas on 9/11 four planes full of innocent civilians were hijacked and flown into buildings slaughtering over 3,000 people in a span of an hour or two. Do you remember that?
Hitler immediately accused the Communists of having set the fire (not Muslims). President von Hindenburg proclaimed a state of emergency and issued decrees suspending freedom of speech and assembly. On Mar. 23 the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act, which gave the government, i.e., Hitler, dictatorial powers.
So when part of a government building is set afire, Germany declared a state of emergency and gave supreme and total power to Hitler. Fanatical zealots destroy 3,000 lives and do incredible damage and the notion of giving anyone supreme power in the US wasn’t even thought of. We have this incredible little thing called “balance of powers” that works beautifully.
I’m going to jump down a little bit here and come back to some of the stuff I skipped over in a minute.
As to Hitler’s “Homeland” speech, there’s a difference in intention between what Hitler meant and what Bush meant. Hitler meant it meaning that Germany was the true chosen land of God and that all those who lived in Germany, as long as they weren’t Jews, Catholics, Blacks, etcetera, were a race superior to all. As for Bush, referring to America as the “homeland’ makes perfect sense because, hey, I’m an American and America is my home, it’s where I live and where I keep all my stuff. There’s nothing really zealous about it, it’s just the facts. And what Bush was saying was that we need to protect ourselves from future 9/11s. As to the human rights violations, wasn’t that one of the secondary reasons we went into Iraq?
As to the League of Nations, it was irrelevant, the same as the UN is quickly becoming. The League flew into the dustbin of history because it was ineffective in achieving its whole purpose of being. They and British PM Chamberlain could have stopped Hitler dead in his tracks by not giving him what he wanted in exchange for a false promise that he would stop. Comparing that to the recent bout the US had with the UN is false in every way. We were asking the UN to follow through and show the strength of its own convictions by using the same arguments it had been using for the last thirteen years where as Hitler was going against the UN and defying it at every turn (much like Saddam).
In discussing Hitler’s annexation of Austria I should point out that the US isn’t going to annex Iraq. We didn’t conquer Iraq to colonize it or to make it East Rhode Island, the fifty-first state. Hitler invaded parts of Europe and conquered those lands to create an empire and expand Germany while impressing his religion and racial norms on the conquered people. We went into Iraq, disposed of a ruthless dictator and now we are helping construct a new government before we leave all while paying the bill. That’s hardly being imperialistic. And when Hitler said, “Not as tyrants have we come, but as liberators,” the difference is that Bush meant it, Hitler didn’t.
Now it’s time to take a real analytical look at the possibility of their being a coming dictatorship in America.
As my friend Connie duToit has pointed out, there are three things almost all dictators have done to come into power: censorship, disarmament, and scapegoating.
Let’s start with finding a scapegoat.
Hitler blamed the Jews, Stalin blamed Westerners, and Osama Bin Laden and Saddam blamed Zionists. The list goes on and on. This is something that has not happened here. Granted, the government, with my support, has pointed the finger at Islamic Radical terrorists, which is fine since the last time I checked 100% of the terrorists on 9/11 were Islamic Radical terrorists, 100% of the membership of the Taliban, al-Qa'ida, and all the other “kill all American yankee pig-dogs” groups are Islamic Radical terrorists. In effect, those blamed today are blamed because they did it and conspire to create much more bloodshed in the US. This is the difference because the others blamed a general race or just a train of thought that was different to theirs, where we blame people who want to and are trying to kill us.
Next is disarmament.
Trying to impose an absolute police state is kinda hard when the public is armed. This was a major step that Hitler made when he disarmed the German public and the populace of the countries he conquered. Tell me where you have ever seen a gun control law coming from a Republican, especially from Bush.
Now the biggie: censorship.
Much to your disbelief, nobody’s Constitutional right to free speech was ever infringed upon in the recent media war. The United States Constitution states clearly “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Nowhere did the government ever arrest someone for peaceably assembling or for even speaking out against Bush. If censorship were truly a problem, half the things written about Bush here and everywhere else would be suspect to the government and would be either investigated and/or shut down. As for the plethora of Hollywood libs coming out of the woodwork to protest, I can’t stand it when people complain that their freedom of speech was violated because it’s simply not true. Unless the government came by and ordered them to stop or threw them into the gallows then they have nothing to complain about.
Now, some people have pointed out that the press sometimes ignored these people and yadda, yadda, yadda. So what? Part of the First Amendment says, “abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” That means that no one can tell a media outlet what they can present and what they can’t, nor can anyone tell them what they should cover. Nobody has to give anyone a stage to rant on except the government, which is required to do so by simply not interfering.
So these are three warning signs a dictatorship is on the rise. None of them are happening here and we still have three branches of government to keep all the power equally distributed and balanced.
Besides, I hardly see Bush being a dictator since he does have to run again in ’04 and then after that he’s done, no matter what. Not many dictators submit themselves in elections; they just wipe everything out and rebuild it. And no matter how much you dislike Bush, you can’t accuse him of that.
This is my Gratuitous Gun Pic!
From Monty's Mini-Gun Reality Page
I got this from Frank J. at IMAO.
Head over to Google, type in "french military victories" and then hit "I'm feeling lucky. The results will keep you rolling, just make sure you're not drinking anything!
This is a pretty badass pic. I tried to think of a way to incorporate it into my site, but it's just too damn big.
Anyway, enjoy!
F-C18
Dear Fellow American,
We're writing to you about a heartfelt concern that is very
important to us all - the welfare of our soldiers, sailors,
airmen and Marines - and their families.
As we finish commemorating the Birth of this great nation,
let us not forget the ultimate sacrifice given by hundreds
of brave men and women who gave their lives defending us
from terrorists. So we're asking patriotic Americans like
you to come to the aid of their families. You may have
already heard me talk about this effort on my nationally
syndicated radio show.
Let me tell you how your urgent help is needed.
Freedom Alliance, a non-profit organization founded by Ollie
North, long ago established a Scholarship Fund to provide
college scholarships to the dependent children of military
personnel who have been killed or permanently disabled in
the line of duty.
Ollie started this program because he knows what it is like
to hold a dying man in his arms - something he did all too
often during his service in Vietnam.
More recently, Ollie was an "embedded" correspondent for Fox
News covering the war in Iraq. He was with a Marine medivac
unit and once again watched brave Americans die for the
cause of liberty.
Hearing the painful stories and the tremendous sacrifice
made by so many brave Americans, I offered my help.
That is why today, Ollie and I are asking you to help us
help the families, especially the children, of those brave
Americans who have been killed or permanently disabled
defending the interests of our great nation.
Ollie and I know we can count on you to make a
tax-deductible contribution of $25, $35, $50, $100 or even
as much as $250, $500 or $1000 to the Freedom Alliance
Scholarship Fund at http://www.freedomalliance.org.
Whatever you can give will be a Godsend to the children of
our brave servicemen and women who were killed or
permanently disabled.
We want to provide scholarships to as many students as
possible that qualify for this assistance.
Ollie and I have also organized a special tribute to our
armed forces - a "Hannity Freedom Concert",(www.hannity.com),
to welcome home the troops.
This Freedom Concert will take place on July 11, 2003 at Six
Flags Great Adventure, in New Jersey. My talk show will be
broadcast live from the event from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Six Flags is generously donating a portion of the proceeds
to benefit this effort.
Won't you help too?
Please send $25, $50, $100, $500, $1000 or whatever amount
you can afford to www.freedomalliance.org today.
When you click on the highlighted link, you will be taken to
a secure Web Site where you can make your contribution and
not have to worry about unauthorized use of your credit card
information.
Whether you give $25, $50, $100, $1000 or any other amount,
your contribution (www.freedomalliance.org) will benefit the
dependent children of military personnel who have been
killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.
We thank you for taking the time to read this letter and
Ollie and I thank you in advance for your contribution.
Remember, "We never stand so tall as when we stoop to help a
child."
Sincerely,
Sean Hannity and Oliver North
P.S. You can further multiply the effect of this email by
forwarding it to 10 friends. Thank you.
And no, I doubt mean kill Muslims, or anyone of a particular religion and/or race. Unless, of course, that religion is Radical Islam. I would derive great personal satisfaction from burning each and every one of these motherfuckers alive.
If you want everlasting peace, you want these people gone.
Why?
Because thanks to Serenity, we can see the Flash animation that is so popular amongst these murderous, religious thugs. "Religion of peace," my ass. Your average everyday Muslim may have a peaceful practice. But these wackos need to have their knee caps split before being thrown from a moving train.
:::VRWC, INC TRANSMISSION:::
July 7, 2003
General Order #1: I, the CO of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Incorporated, do hereby direct all American patriots and democracy lovers world wide to shoot, on site, any and all Radical Islamic-Nazis who plan to destroy anything in the way of the freedom to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You are either with us, or against us.
Respectively Yours,
Lieutenant General James Finch, Commanding (VRWC, Inc.)
UPDATE: I had to add this! I asked Misha if he'd seen it and this was his reply:
"Yep, I've seen it, James.
Apart from the fact that it makes me want to rip the heads off of
every last one of those goat-fucking towelheaded fuckers and shit in
their shoulders, I find some solace in the fact that the entire text
is a plea to Allah to do their dirty job for them because they realize
full well that they couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag
themselves.
They're beaten, and they're beginning to realize it.
Now let's blow them to dust."
This story may seem unimportant to many of you out there. But I live in northern Illinois and my home has been without power since 3 am yesterday morning.
Good thing I can blog from somwhere else, since it looks like more bad weather is on the way.
President George W. Bush turns 57 today. We haven't agreed on everything but he is still, by far, an incredible president who has shown tremendous leadership and courage since he came into office.
Happy B-Day, Dubya!
We're bringing the landing craft right into the International Herald Tribune (IHT Online) and deploying all firepower in this assault on Frank Rich (NYT), idiotarian-at-large.
His dissent-equals-patriotism-rant, called "Scare and Stripes Divide a Nation", has been targeted and we're moving in for the kill. Move it! Move it! Move it!
The week before Independence Day, the Dixie Chicks played the Washington MCI Center, a mere dozen blocks or so from the White House. "Well, what do you know, Washington, D.C.," said the singer Natalie Maines, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd. "If I'm not mistaken, the president of the United States lives here." Then, as The Washington Post reported, the cheers grew even louder.
Yeah, amazing what happens when the chicks leave Texas and head to where the protests are actually taking place. I could head into an insane asylum and yell, "Monkeys for dinner!" and I would be praised a hero. I dare her to talk that shit next time she is in Texas, or is there a shoot-on-site policy with them down there?
No matter. The Dixie Chicks have been able to exercise free speech happily all the way to the bank. They've posed nude for the cover of Entertainment Weekly with "Saddam's Angels" emblazoned on their flesh. Their album "Home" rebounded from its brief dip, returning to No. 1 on the country chart for weeks.
Damn, how dare their voices be silenced! If my page could get that kind of coverage for saying Clinton is a pig-fucker, I wouldn't bitch at all.
And most Americans, the Dixie Chicks no doubt included, not only have that faith in their country but love it as well. Yet you'd never know it from the more embittered cultural battles that have raged since 9/11.
Maybe I'd never know it by looking at the latest Gallup poll that showed only 56% of liberals were extremely proud of their country. That's not speculation, kids (thanks, Jaws).
"Read 'Treason' this Fourth of July, and let the fireworks begin," commands the full-page ad hawking the latest book by Ann Coulter. In it the author claims that every liberal in the United States - or at least every liberal Democrat - "hates America" and is guilty of her titular crime, which, last time I looked, is punishable by death.
Yeah, it's a hell of a book! And I agree with her, only the treason she mainly focuses on was during the Cold War, which if you think about what the world would be like had we lost, a death sentence ain't so bad.
At least she doesn't slap the flag on the front of her book to wrap herself in it. The same cannot be said of Dick Morris and Sean Hannity, who use the Stars and Stripes as a merchandising tool for their own self-aggrandizingly patriotic screeds cashing in on their TV celebrity. In this, they follow the lead of their employer, the Fox News Channel, which, like its less successful cable rivals, has exploited the flag as a logo to sell itself as more patriotic than thou.
*Shakes head and laughs* You dirty bastard. To you the flag is a sign of what then? To me it stands for the spirit of the United States of America. An indomitable spirit that has overcome every evil it has ever encountered. If you're ashamed of that, then move to France. Otherwise, I don't think it's so bad for a news station and a few political pundits to be proud of their flag. Maybe Fox News is so popular because it deosn't hate it's own country like the New York Times? Just a thought.
As patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels, so the coercive patriotism of this historical moment is the last refuge of cynics.
No comment; your head that is a bastion of assholery has said more about your character than I could. Now, wait, I will comment! You're telling me that every single United States soldier who has and is serving this country, who no doubt consider themsleves patriots, are scoundrels? I tripple-dog dare you to head on over to Iraq and read this article out loud to the troops during grub time. That should be fun.
In "The Story of American Freedom," the historian Eric Foner observes that a similar phenomenon occurred a little over a century ago, uncoincidentally enough, in tandem with "America's triumphant entry onto the world stage as an imperial power" during the Spanish-American War. It was in the 1890's that "rituals like the Pledge of Allegiance and the practice of standing for the playing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' came into existence," as well as Flag Day.
The Pledge of Allegiance? Actually standing during the 'The Star Spangled Banner'? Flag Day? What terrible, terrible things. I must just fucking kill you to know that kids across America still stand for those "cynical" songs before their basketball and football games. It just fucking eats you up inside at night, huh?
Rich: "Damn it, if only Uncle Joe were still around!"
American leaders were then professing to spread democracy to Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines with the same blithe self-assurance that current leaders promise to bring the American way to Iraq and its neighbors. The rituals that accompany our 21st-century imperial interlude include fights over the Pledge of Allegiance and a costumed president's re-enactment of Hollywood's "Top Gun." Most bizarre is the Defense Department's Operation Tribute to Freedom, initiated on Memorial Day weekend, which offers talking points to citizens too challenged to figure out how "to demonstrate public appreciation for American men and women in uniform."
Our endeavors in Cuba and elsewhere would have worked had not future Donk admins fucked up the gig by endorsing dictators. Besides, we gained the state of Hawaii in that "imperialist' venture. You want to tell them they're a part of a terrible venture in American history? And excuse me for saying this, no wait, don't, but if you have a problem with showing men and women who serve this country and put their God given lives on the line to protect your right to write such absolute puppy-fucked nonsense than you just need to spend a week in a breadline in one of those socialist utopias you probably praise.
Most Americans, whatever their age, don't need politicians or government boondoggles like Operation Tribute to Freedom or enforced flag-waving or fictionalized TV dramatizations of Jessica Lynch's rescue to tell them what it means to be an American.
What, you think I'm some brain dead zombie who does whatever the politicians and cable news tells me? Fuck off, dick! I'm an American, an American who's proud of his great country and will always fight to protect every last inch of ground from sea to shining sea. I'm an American who will stand up and salute the flag as it passes by in honor of those who died to give me and my family the best damn country ever. And I'm also an American who'll sign 'Halleluiah!' as that flag waving news station reports that another Islamofacist slug has been whacked into slop by the Freedom Club™
Believe it or not, there are Americans out there who love their country and are not prone to degrading it because they're bitter and pathetic souls. We stand united today, the same as July 4, 1776, the same as we did on June 6, 1944, and the same as we did on September 11, 2001.
The eagle is soaring, sir, the red, white, and blue are waving, and the song of freedom is resonating across the globe scaring the living shit out of despots and terrorists alike. We will not rest until every last fucking door is kicked down and those who mean us harm and hate freedom are dragged out into the street and taken away for trial.
We will prevail. You may continue your endless loathing for me and me brethren across this land.
But, we will be victorious.
Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War
Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen have created a novel of unspeakable volume. Taking the battle of Gettysburg from the Civil War, they have transformed history to tell a tale of what might have been.
On July 3, 1863, after three days of fighting, the Federal Army under the direction of General George Meade repulsed Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia on the fields south of a sleepy little Pennsylvania town called Gettysburg. The end of the battle marked the turn in the war as the Confederate war machine would never reach the prowess and strength it did before and the Federal Army would grow more and more dominating until finally winning the conflict two years later.
In this novel, Gingrich and Forstchen tweaked history a little and proceed to tell the story of what might have happened had Robert E Lee been victorious at Gettysburg. It is one of the true "what if"s in American history. Using exhaustive research and an incredible story telling style, they breathe life into a captivating tale.
Boy. I'm kinda starting to recover here. That was one hell of a fourth.
I went through the typical ritual most Americans went through yesterday, which consisted of putting slabs of red meat on burning charcoal, drinking intoxicating beverages, all while blowing shit up in different colors.
Heh heh. It was a blast.
Interesting bit from the Washington Times:
Senators See Proof of Arms Program
You wanna know why? Because every fucking time I think I've got my brains together and consider myslef somewhat intelligent this asshole pumps out a new essay and I go back to my little hole and cry like a little girl because I feel so insignificant. It's true!
I'm starting a Bill Whittle Protest Organization! I am, really!
Everybody get together and talk about how to bring down the magnificant Whittle of the Ages™ and I'll be there as soon as I get done reading his new essay, again.
Bastard.
I. Hate. You.
Heh heh.
For some reason it has become common to call today "July 4th," instead of Independence Day. Why that is, I don't know. But I DO know that it troubles me some.
Far too often people fail to realize the significance of what happened two hundred and twenty-seven years ago today. After much debate and filling of grievances with the British Crown, the men who stood in the hot and hazy room in Philadelphia made a decision that rocked the very foundation of the meaning of the word freedom.
They were not rich men out to make more money. They were not hot-blooded radicals pounding the table for war. They were men. Men who knew something needed to be done and were willing to stake their very lives on the small chance that they could be the mothers of invention.
A document headed "Declaration of Independence" was brought before the legislature known as the Continental Congress.
Signing the document was the same as signing your own death warrant if things failed. They banded together, although all indications predicted that they would end up swinging separately at the end of a rope.
For six years men left their farms and campaigned under the worst conditions. The government that would not have it's own bank until 1781 and the men had to do what they could to get by. Food, clothing, proper equipment, and good medical care were all scarce and many died in the camps of disease having never been able to fire at a Lobster Back. Those who did survive the camps and the harsh winters went on to stand toe-to-toe against the greatest military in the world. At first many of the battles were one-sided, but slowly that began to change.
During the war, the British Crown sent out brutal raiding parties in search of the men whose names were signed so boldly on documents that were blatantly treasonous. Some of the men's properties and even family members were captured and imprisoned. They could get all of it back if they went before King George and recanted.
None of them did.
Meanwhile the men of the Continental Army fought bravely under the leadership of the unimaginably wise George Washington. On October 19, 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis, after being bottled up at the tip of the York Peninsula by Washington's Army by land and a French Naval Fleet by sea, surrendered to the Americans while the English band played the tune "The World Gone Upside Down."
America was free and she would continue to widen the scope of liberty to more and more people on her own land and across the world throughout the years.
Today is the anniversary of what got the ball rolling. Today is the day is to cherish the memory of those who put everything on the line as well as those who lost it all for the freedom we carry in our back pocket.
Time now to go across the blogsphere with essential links.
Emporer Misha is raving mad, and after reading this post by the Dissident Froan, I can only say that I am more so.
Frank J. over at IMAO informs us all on the nature of a loathed enemy: Hurricanes.
Cold Fury gives us the contrast and compare on sex symbols of the past and today.
Cox and Forkum are so on the money sometimes it's almost frightening.
John Hawkins of Right Wing News gives us the "Ten Most Influential Bloggers."
All for now folks!
Fox News is reporting that some experts think it's possible we could see Condi Rice vs. Hillary Clinton in the 2008 election.
This could be priceless. I have no doubt that Condi would be a great prez; none whatsoever. But, imagine the long-term implications of this election:
Hillary's "poor-me-I'm-a-strong-woman-vote-for-me" will be gone.
The 99% of blacks who vote democrat will be gone.
Hillary will be gone.
Hillary's biggest jive point has been her ability to appeal to all these people in America by putting on this image of the strong career woman that people eat up. She can't pull that bullshit against Condi who's a black strong career woman and who isn't surrounded by controversy.
Like I said, I hope this happens. Imagine the first black president and the first female president being a republican. Heh heh. Sit on it and spin, Donks.
This showed up in my e-mail box today from Loyal VRWC Agent M.Packard. Pretty interesting info.
Bill Clinton registers for the draft on September 08, 1964, accepting all contractual conditions of registering for the draft. Given Selective Service Number 3 26 46 228.Bill Clinton classified 2-S on November 17, 1964.
Bill Clinton reclassified 1-A on March 20, 1968.
Bill Clinton ordered to report for induction on July 28, 1969.
Bill Clinton dishonors order to report and is not inducted into the
military.Bill Clinton reclassified 1-D after enlisting in the United States
Army Reserves on August 07,1969 under authority of Col.E.Holmes.
Clinton signs enlistment papers and takes oath of enlistment.
Bill Clinton fails to report to his duty station at the University of Arkansas ROTC, September 1969.Bill Clinton reclassified 1-A on October 30, 1969, as enlistment with Army Reserves is revoked by Colonel E. Holmes and Clinton now AWOL and subject to arrest under Public Law 90-40 (2)(a) "registrant who has failed to report shall remain liable for induction".
Bill Clinton's birth date lottery number is 311, drawn December 1,1969, but anyone who has already been ordered to report for induction is INELIGIBLE!
Bill Clinton runs for Congress (1974), while a fugitive from justice under Public Law 90-40.
Bill Clinton runs for Arkansas Attorney General (1976), while a fugitive from justice.
Bill Clinton receives pardon on January 21, 1977, from Carter.
Bill Clinton (FIRST PARDONED FEDERAL FELON) ever to serve as President.All these facts come from Freedom of Information requests, public laws, and various books that have been published, and have not been refuted by Clinton.
After the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, which killed six and injured 1,000; President Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed five U.S. military personnel; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military personnel; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa, which killed 224 and injured 5,000; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
After the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 and injured 39 U.S. sailors; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.
Maybe if Clinton had kept those promises, an estimated 3,000 people in New York and Washington, D.C. that are now dead would be alive today.
AN INTERESTING QUESTION:
This question was raised on a Philly radio call-in show. Without casting stones, it is a legitimate question ...
There are two men, both extremely wealthy. One develops relatively cheap software and gives billions of dollars to charity. The other sponsors terrorism.
That being the case, why was it that the Clinton Administration spent more money chasing down Bill Gates over the eight years in office, than Osama bin Laden?THINK ABOUT IT!
It is a strange turn of events. Hillary gets $8 Million for her forthcoming memoir. Bill gets about $12 Million for his memoir yet to be written. This from two people who spent 8 years being unable to recall anything about past events while under oath!
Sincerely,
Cdr. Hamilton McWhorter USN (ret)