...while I put on my Angry Not-Quite-Young-Anymore Man hat.
Is anyone else out there mad that the liberals in Congress and their friends in the mainstream media can get away with throwing our troops under the bus? And, can anyone out there see that these people are mainly against the war in Iraq not because of any opposition to war, but because they hate President Bush?
You didn't see conservatives organizing anti-war rallies while Bill Clinton was bombing the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade and the aspirin factory in Sudan. Likewise, the left was nowhere to be seen in opposition to American military involvement in the former Yugoslavia. No, they supported their president to the ultimate degree.
If Bill Clinton or any other Democrat had been President, and led us into war in Iraq under the exact same circumstances and with the same knowledge, the Democrats in Washington would be with him all the way. So, too, would Republicans. The GOP is not opposed to war in defense of the security and values of the United States, even when a Democrat is running the country. The Democrats are opposed to this war because it is Bush's war, plain and simple.
There have been obvious missteps in the war in Iraq. That happens when you are fighting with one arm tied behind your back. That happens when you have the press and Democrats in Congress trying to micro-manage the military. We are trying to fight a more "sensitive" war in order to attempt to manage public opinion in blue states and in the rest of the world.
The modern Democratic party does not believe in fighting foreign enemies of the United States. They only believe in fighting Republicans and those who believe in absolute values, especially absolute values that differ from their own. This is not Harry Truman's, or even John F. Kennedy's Democratic party. Heck, it's not even the party of LBJ anymore. The Democratic party is now run by people that view the United States as the root of all evil in the world.
May God protect America from its enemies, both foreign and domestic.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Generally Speaking
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, stepped into contoversy this week in an interview with editors of the Chicago Tribune. In the interview, he called homosexual acts "immoral".
As predicted, the media and their liberal allies have been on the warpath to castigate Gen. Pace. "Advocacy" groups have come out as credible spokesmen to the media to provide a welcomed opposing viewpoint. The drive-by media have their sights on Gen. Pace, and would really like for him to step down.
Gen. Pace released a statement today, declaring his support for the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals in the military. He did not apologize for his comments, as homosexual groups were begging him to do. He merely stated that he wished he hadn't declared his personal view on the subject publicly.
Gen. Pace is more than entitled to his opinion. He is also entitled to express his opinion. In an earlier day and time, it would not even be a news story.
Liberals and their friends in the media view the military as a social engineering factory. They have driven our government into fighting more "sensitive" wars, and are attempting to lead our military to defeat in Iraq, just as they did in Vietnam almost 40 years ago. They believe the United States is the root of all evil in the world. One of the reasons for this is that they believe people like Gen. Pace are what's wrong with our country. They sneer upon people with traditional values. In the liberal world, the only absolute value is tolerance. To be intolerant is to be evil. Gen. Pace is right regarding homosexual and adulterous behavior. We need more leaders like him to be vigilant for traditional morality, in the face of opposition from the dominant media culture.
As predicted, the media and their liberal allies have been on the warpath to castigate Gen. Pace. "Advocacy" groups have come out as credible spokesmen to the media to provide a welcomed opposing viewpoint. The drive-by media have their sights on Gen. Pace, and would really like for him to step down.
Gen. Pace released a statement today, declaring his support for the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals in the military. He did not apologize for his comments, as homosexual groups were begging him to do. He merely stated that he wished he hadn't declared his personal view on the subject publicly.
Gen. Pace is more than entitled to his opinion. He is also entitled to express his opinion. In an earlier day and time, it would not even be a news story.
Liberals and their friends in the media view the military as a social engineering factory. They have driven our government into fighting more "sensitive" wars, and are attempting to lead our military to defeat in Iraq, just as they did in Vietnam almost 40 years ago. They believe the United States is the root of all evil in the world. One of the reasons for this is that they believe people like Gen. Pace are what's wrong with our country. They sneer upon people with traditional values. In the liberal world, the only absolute value is tolerance. To be intolerant is to be evil. Gen. Pace is right regarding homosexual and adulterous behavior. We need more leaders like him to be vigilant for traditional morality, in the face of opposition from the dominant media culture.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Pander, Pander
Conservatives, and especially Christian conservatives, are torn among prospective Republican presidential candidates in the 2008 election. None of the major candidates have been able to move sufficiently right enough to excite a good chunk of the party base. Each of the major announced candidates have some negatives that turn off the base, but have some positives that can attract independent voters.
Lurking in the background for some time has been former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Newt engineered the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives, and has been a champion for conservative principles. Mr. Newt (as Rush Limbaugh used to call him) has also had some personal moral failures in his past, which helped to destroy his political career.
This week, Newt attempted to shore up the Republican base, by addressing questions of his moral character. He appeared on Dr. James Dobson's radio show, and admitted to an adulterous affair, at the same time that the House was pursuing the impeachment of President Clinton. Gingrich expressed an admission of guilt in this environment, and revealed himself as a sinner in need of grace.
Apparently, Newt did ok with Dr. Dobson, as Jerry Falwell invited him to give the commencement address at Liberty University in May. Falwell last year invited John McCain (no friend of conservatives) to speak at Liberty's graduation. Dr. Falwell still fashions himself as some sort of Republican power broker.
I am so torn on this. I strongly believe in the grace of God, and that God will forgive the sins of anyone who asks with a repentant heart. I believe God can be at work in the hearts of men, including Newt Gingrich. I hope this is the case. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt.
However, the cynic in me sees this as pandering. Newt sees a large group of uncommitted Republican voters up for grabs, primarily conservative Christians who comprise up to 40 percent of GOP primary voters. He also knows that Dr. Dobson and Dr. Falwell are respected figures among social conservatives. Gingrich has always pushed social conservative values as part of his agenda, and his credentials there are not questioned. However, the timing of the Dobson interview and the Falwell invitation smack of pandering and some coordination. I don't think Christians are all a bunch of Southern redneck rubes. Christians are not just merely a monolithic voting bloc. Our votes have to be earned.
One of my concerns is that we have someone with admitted moral failures positioning himself as the social conservative candidate. Once again, I believe that God can and will forgive him of his sin. However, will the electorate be so forgiving? And, will the liberal mainstream media be so forgiving? I don't think so.
Americans vote for likable people, based on the information they have. The press has so demonized Newt that I don't think he has a chance of being elected president. I think he would make a great Vice President under a President Giuliani (this is not an endorsement of Rudy-I don't see myself going down that road).
Newt has some appeal. However, don't look for church parking lots full of "Gingrich for President" bumper stickers next year.
Lurking in the background for some time has been former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Newt engineered the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives, and has been a champion for conservative principles. Mr. Newt (as Rush Limbaugh used to call him) has also had some personal moral failures in his past, which helped to destroy his political career.
This week, Newt attempted to shore up the Republican base, by addressing questions of his moral character. He appeared on Dr. James Dobson's radio show, and admitted to an adulterous affair, at the same time that the House was pursuing the impeachment of President Clinton. Gingrich expressed an admission of guilt in this environment, and revealed himself as a sinner in need of grace.
Apparently, Newt did ok with Dr. Dobson, as Jerry Falwell invited him to give the commencement address at Liberty University in May. Falwell last year invited John McCain (no friend of conservatives) to speak at Liberty's graduation. Dr. Falwell still fashions himself as some sort of Republican power broker.
I am so torn on this. I strongly believe in the grace of God, and that God will forgive the sins of anyone who asks with a repentant heart. I believe God can be at work in the hearts of men, including Newt Gingrich. I hope this is the case. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt.
However, the cynic in me sees this as pandering. Newt sees a large group of uncommitted Republican voters up for grabs, primarily conservative Christians who comprise up to 40 percent of GOP primary voters. He also knows that Dr. Dobson and Dr. Falwell are respected figures among social conservatives. Gingrich has always pushed social conservative values as part of his agenda, and his credentials there are not questioned. However, the timing of the Dobson interview and the Falwell invitation smack of pandering and some coordination. I don't think Christians are all a bunch of Southern redneck rubes. Christians are not just merely a monolithic voting bloc. Our votes have to be earned.
One of my concerns is that we have someone with admitted moral failures positioning himself as the social conservative candidate. Once again, I believe that God can and will forgive him of his sin. However, will the electorate be so forgiving? And, will the liberal mainstream media be so forgiving? I don't think so.
Americans vote for likable people, based on the information they have. The press has so demonized Newt that I don't think he has a chance of being elected president. I think he would make a great Vice President under a President Giuliani (this is not an endorsement of Rudy-I don't see myself going down that road).
Newt has some appeal. However, don't look for church parking lots full of "Gingrich for President" bumper stickers next year.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
The Obama Shakedown
Video of Barack Obama in the 'hood in Cleveland.
No, Barack, not everyone has $5 for a political campaign.
I bet he doesn't check the box on his tax returns to donate $3 to the Presidential Campaign Fund.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
The Ultimate Duke Lacrosse Player
Mary Katherine Ham at Townhall.com writes this great article about the bravery of a former Duke lacrosse player:
There's another Duke lacrosse story, one you won't hear as much about as the one that involves a party, a stripper, and a rape that never happened.
There's another Duke lacrosse player, one you won't hear as much about as those accused of brutally assaulting an exotic dancer in early 2006 at a Durham house party.
There's another Duke lacrosse legacy, one you won't hear as much about as the tainted and race-scarred one a corrupt D.A. left in his wake.
On February 9, 2006, Army Ranger Jimmy Regan died in northern Iraq when the vehicle he was riding in hit a roadside bomb. He was 26 years old.
Four years earlier, before four tours in the war on terror-- two in Afghanistan and two in Iraq-- Regan had scored four goals in the 2002 ACC Championship lacrosse game to lead Duke to the crown.
With a highly regarded Duke undergrad degree in economics, a scholarship offer to Southern Methodist University law school, and a job offer on the table with USB financial firm upon graduation, Regan decided to join the Army out of college. He even bypassed Officer Candidates School, for which he was eligible, because it would "slow down my ability to become a Ranger," he told a friend.
Former teammate and current Duke lacrosse assistant coach Kevin Cassese remembered Jimmy as, "the ultimate Duke lacrosse man-- a man of tremendous loyalty, character, and fortitude," whose decision to join the Army seemed natural to anyone who had seen him lead on the field. "Jimmy was a leader in every sense of the word, and the pride and honor of fighting for our country was something that meant a lot to him," Cassese said in an e-mail interview.
Regan's fiance Mary McHugh remembers what drove him to be a Ranger in the first place:
"He said, 'If I don't do it, then who will do it?'" said McHugh, a medical student at Emory University in Atlanta. "He recognized it as an option and he couldn't not do it."
McHugh and Regan were set to wed in 2008 when his stint in the Army was up. They wanted to move to Chicago, where her family lived, and Regan planned to be a social studies teacher and coach lacrosse.
Instead, Regan's three sisters--ages 25, 20, and 16--parents, fiance, and friends mourned him in Manhasset, N.Y. this week before laying him to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
In mourning, Regan's father-- also James-- thought not only of his son, but of the mission he died fighting:
"What is written in the papers and what is being politicized out there by our candidates is undermining our service," said James Regan, a senior vice president at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a Manhattan financial services investment bank.
"These gentlemen that are out there are mission-focused," he said of the troops. "They're trying to do the best job they possibly can. There have been mistakes made, why even list them? ... You cannot put men in the field of battle and then change your mind and go out as a whip-dog. Let the men do their job."
Regan's Army service was not the first place he distinguished himself. Born in Rockville Centre, N.Y., Regan had become a stand-out student and student-athlete by the time he hit high school, earning an All-American designation for lacrosse and all-state scholar athlete honors in football at Chaminade High School in Mineola, N.Y. Duke offered him a scholarship for lacrosse, where he distinguished himself as an all-ACC tournament team mid-fielder and all-ACC academic team member.
"He was an impressive midfielder, which shouldn't surprise you because the midfielders do all the dirty work," Cassese said, referring to the back-and-forth nature of lacrosse's workhorse position. "The type of player he was doesn't even begin to measure up to the type of person he was, and he was a terrific player."
In Infantry Basic Combat Training, the Army said Regan graduated first in a class of 400, and was named "soldier of the cycle" in May 2004 before moving on to the Basic Airborne Course and the Ranger Indoctrination Program.
On Feb. 1, Regan was promoted to the rank of sergeant.
There is already one Duke lacrosse story you know all about. I've just told you another one-- one worth telling and retelling to as many people as will listen. It's a different story, a different player, and a different legacy-- one of heroism, not hooliganism; bravery, not brutality; honor, not assault.
Remember Jimmy Regan. He deserves it so much more than Mike Nifong's sordid soap opera, which has since stained the town, the field, and the team where this young hero once played.
The Regan family has established a scholarship fund in Jimmy's name. Donations can be sent to the Jim Regan Scholarship, c/o Chaminade Development Office, 340 Jackson Ave., Mineola, N.Y. 11501.
Mary Katharine Ham is the managing editor for Townhall.com.
Words cannot express my gratitude to those that go to Iraq and Afghanistan, in order to protect our freedom.
There's another Duke lacrosse story, one you won't hear as much about as the one that involves a party, a stripper, and a rape that never happened.
There's another Duke lacrosse player, one you won't hear as much about as those accused of brutally assaulting an exotic dancer in early 2006 at a Durham house party.
There's another Duke lacrosse legacy, one you won't hear as much about as the tainted and race-scarred one a corrupt D.A. left in his wake.
On February 9, 2006, Army Ranger Jimmy Regan died in northern Iraq when the vehicle he was riding in hit a roadside bomb. He was 26 years old.
Four years earlier, before four tours in the war on terror-- two in Afghanistan and two in Iraq-- Regan had scored four goals in the 2002 ACC Championship lacrosse game to lead Duke to the crown.
With a highly regarded Duke undergrad degree in economics, a scholarship offer to Southern Methodist University law school, and a job offer on the table with USB financial firm upon graduation, Regan decided to join the Army out of college. He even bypassed Officer Candidates School, for which he was eligible, because it would "slow down my ability to become a Ranger," he told a friend.
Former teammate and current Duke lacrosse assistant coach Kevin Cassese remembered Jimmy as, "the ultimate Duke lacrosse man-- a man of tremendous loyalty, character, and fortitude," whose decision to join the Army seemed natural to anyone who had seen him lead on the field. "Jimmy was a leader in every sense of the word, and the pride and honor of fighting for our country was something that meant a lot to him," Cassese said in an e-mail interview.
Regan's fiance Mary McHugh remembers what drove him to be a Ranger in the first place:
"He said, 'If I don't do it, then who will do it?'" said McHugh, a medical student at Emory University in Atlanta. "He recognized it as an option and he couldn't not do it."
McHugh and Regan were set to wed in 2008 when his stint in the Army was up. They wanted to move to Chicago, where her family lived, and Regan planned to be a social studies teacher and coach lacrosse.
Instead, Regan's three sisters--ages 25, 20, and 16--parents, fiance, and friends mourned him in Manhasset, N.Y. this week before laying him to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
In mourning, Regan's father-- also James-- thought not only of his son, but of the mission he died fighting:
"What is written in the papers and what is being politicized out there by our candidates is undermining our service," said James Regan, a senior vice president at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a Manhattan financial services investment bank.
"These gentlemen that are out there are mission-focused," he said of the troops. "They're trying to do the best job they possibly can. There have been mistakes made, why even list them? ... You cannot put men in the field of battle and then change your mind and go out as a whip-dog. Let the men do their job."
Regan's Army service was not the first place he distinguished himself. Born in Rockville Centre, N.Y., Regan had become a stand-out student and student-athlete by the time he hit high school, earning an All-American designation for lacrosse and all-state scholar athlete honors in football at Chaminade High School in Mineola, N.Y. Duke offered him a scholarship for lacrosse, where he distinguished himself as an all-ACC tournament team mid-fielder and all-ACC academic team member.
"He was an impressive midfielder, which shouldn't surprise you because the midfielders do all the dirty work," Cassese said, referring to the back-and-forth nature of lacrosse's workhorse position. "The type of player he was doesn't even begin to measure up to the type of person he was, and he was a terrific player."
In Infantry Basic Combat Training, the Army said Regan graduated first in a class of 400, and was named "soldier of the cycle" in May 2004 before moving on to the Basic Airborne Course and the Ranger Indoctrination Program.
On Feb. 1, Regan was promoted to the rank of sergeant.
There is already one Duke lacrosse story you know all about. I've just told you another one-- one worth telling and retelling to as many people as will listen. It's a different story, a different player, and a different legacy-- one of heroism, not hooliganism; bravery, not brutality; honor, not assault.
Remember Jimmy Regan. He deserves it so much more than Mike Nifong's sordid soap opera, which has since stained the town, the field, and the team where this young hero once played.
The Regan family has established a scholarship fund in Jimmy's name. Donations can be sent to the Jim Regan Scholarship, c/o Chaminade Development Office, 340 Jackson Ave., Mineola, N.Y. 11501.
Mary Katharine Ham is the managing editor for Townhall.com.
Words cannot express my gratitude to those that go to Iraq and Afghanistan, in order to protect our freedom.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Discouraged, But Hopeful
As one can imagine, I have been pretty discouraged about politics, after the November 2006 elections. The Republican party took a bath, and the Democrats assumed control of both houses of Congress. I am very concerned about the implications, and about the 2008 presidential election.
In my opinion, the Republican party deserved to lose control of Congress. Members of our party were exposed as corrupt, and a lot of Republican congressmen and senators forgot why they were sent to D.C. in the first place. In the space of twelve years, our party went from one of serious reform to one that was fat and happy.
One cannot discount the war in Iraq as a factor, as well. Our men and women in Iraq are doing a great job, and have accomplished a lot, in spite of opposition both there and at home. The American people have not heard enough of the positive stories from the war, and have been subjected to a consistent drumbeat of misery and failure from Iraq over the last 4 1/2 years. People vote according to what they know, and they know mostly cluelessness and failure in Iraq, because that has been reported to them in the mainstream media.
We now find ourselves with a looming free-for-all on both sides of the presidential ballot in 2008. For the first time since 1972, there will not be anyone named Bush or Dole on the Republican ticket. In my opinion, that is a good thing.
The Republican party is losing its way because it has forgotten what has won elections for it. An agenda of smaller government, lower taxes, and a strong national defense can still win elections. Our party has been better at some of those things than others. Our party must prove itself as responsible stewards of government, when given the chance.
To come: My thoughts on social issues and the Republican party, and my thoughts on GOP presidential candidates.
In my opinion, the Republican party deserved to lose control of Congress. Members of our party were exposed as corrupt, and a lot of Republican congressmen and senators forgot why they were sent to D.C. in the first place. In the space of twelve years, our party went from one of serious reform to one that was fat and happy.
One cannot discount the war in Iraq as a factor, as well. Our men and women in Iraq are doing a great job, and have accomplished a lot, in spite of opposition both there and at home. The American people have not heard enough of the positive stories from the war, and have been subjected to a consistent drumbeat of misery and failure from Iraq over the last 4 1/2 years. People vote according to what they know, and they know mostly cluelessness and failure in Iraq, because that has been reported to them in the mainstream media.
We now find ourselves with a looming free-for-all on both sides of the presidential ballot in 2008. For the first time since 1972, there will not be anyone named Bush or Dole on the Republican ticket. In my opinion, that is a good thing.
The Republican party is losing its way because it has forgotten what has won elections for it. An agenda of smaller government, lower taxes, and a strong national defense can still win elections. Our party has been better at some of those things than others. Our party must prove itself as responsible stewards of government, when given the chance.
To come: My thoughts on social issues and the Republican party, and my thoughts on GOP presidential candidates.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Ramblings And Concerns, Part 1
In the days ahead, I will go into detail on my thoughts about various issues of the day. There are a lot of things that concern me. I will elaborate on those in future installments of this blog.
What drives my thoughts? I am a Christian. I consider myself conservative. Usually, that means I consider myself a Republican. That may not always be the case, from this point forward. Don't worry, though, Republicans/conservatives, as I agree with the Democrat party on nothing.
I am concerned about several things affecting our country. I am concerned about our country's stomach for a war against terrorism and Islamofascism. I am concerned about our leadership in Washington, D.C. I am concerned about the future of the Republican Party as a vehicle for conservatism. I am also concerned about the relationship between the church and the Republican Party, how it affects our ability to reach people for Christ, and how it affects the ability of the Republican Party to gain votes.
More to follow in the weeks and days to come...
What drives my thoughts? I am a Christian. I consider myself conservative. Usually, that means I consider myself a Republican. That may not always be the case, from this point forward. Don't worry, though, Republicans/conservatives, as I agree with the Democrat party on nothing.
I am concerned about several things affecting our country. I am concerned about our country's stomach for a war against terrorism and Islamofascism. I am concerned about our leadership in Washington, D.C. I am concerned about the future of the Republican Party as a vehicle for conservatism. I am also concerned about the relationship between the church and the Republican Party, how it affects our ability to reach people for Christ, and how it affects the ability of the Republican Party to gain votes.
More to follow in the weeks and days to come...
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