What's Happening

"Death is better, a milder fate than tyranny." ~ Aeschylus

Ok. So here's what's been happening:

Those of my readers who have been reading this blog long enough may remember I have written about my Father-in-law a couple of times. If you haven't, you may read the first piece I wrote about him here.

Well, on Monday, December 21, CPO Robert (Doc) Johnson took his final voyage, and is now resting in the loving arms of his Heavenly Father.

My wife had just returned home from a doctor's visit, and found him on the floor of his bedroom. Apparently, he had fallen either getting into bed or getting out. Her friend and her got him back up on his bed whereupon he complained of having difficulty breathing. he then stopped breathing. My wife's friend administered CPR, and was able to bring him back temporarily, but he passed out again. The paramedics arrived, continued to administer CPR, placed him into the ambulance, but he was dead upon arrival at the hospital. He had suffered a cardiac arrest and went quickly, apparently with little or no suffering.

We celebrated Christmas but it was understandably subdued. His absence diminished the usual joy of the celebration, but we soldiered on. We felt he would have wanted it that way.

My wife asked me to write his obituary, which I did, and it was a very nice one, although I feel I didn't do him justice. The funeral home informed us that the local newspaper charged a fee for every line printed in the paper, so I had to edit the obit even further to meet budget.

That seems a little bit unfair to me. I wrote the obituary. Seems to me, if there is a fee for printing it, they should pay me for writing an article for them. They have staff people they pay specifically to write obits. I know they don't demand payment from their staff for writing obituaries. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. It just seems wrong to me.

Anyway, the final draft seems a rather inglorious tribute to one who deserved so much better.

This is the original obit I wrote:

Robert Pierce (Doc) Johnson

On Monday, December 21, Robert Pierce (Doc) Johnson went home and is now resting peacefully in the loving arms of his Heavenly Father. He was 87.

Doc was born November 3, 1922 in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the ninth of twelve children, to Philip Edward Johnson and Lillian Sullivan Johnson. He grew up in Chatham Heights, and was a lifetime resident of Fredericksburg.

He joined the Navy on his 17th birthday and served gallantly in World War II, surviving the sinking of his ship, the USS Colhoun, off the coast of Guadalcanal. He served 20 years in the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer, and upon retirement, worked another 22 years at Dahlgren Naval Surface Warfare Center as a supervisor in the ordnance department and eventually retired at the Shell house. He then worked at the Fredericksburg Auto Auction for an additional 18 years, retiring finally at the age of 80.

Doc was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Virginia Howard Johnson, and by his brothers, Sidney, Larry, Melvin, Woodrow, Eugene, Samuel, Leonard, Edward,, and his sister, Elizabeth J. Weisner.

He is survived by his precious daughter, Patricia Anne Johnson ******, her husband Mark of Fredericksburg, and two brothers, James Johnson of Monterey, Virginia and William Johnson of Fredericksburg. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Virgie Howard, brother-in-law Carlton Howard, numerous nieces and nephews, and his 5 constant companions, dogs Holley, Suzie, Katie, Cody, and cat, Muffy.

Doc is also survived by his “special” daughter Stacy Lynch Muehlhauser, who cared for him with love and compassion.

Mr. Johnson’s life was defined by his unshakable faith in God, unconditional love for his family, and undying devotion to his country. He once said of his service in the Navy, “We weren’t special. We were just doing our job”, an attitude that in itself, made him a very special man indeed.

He will be missed by all who knew him, but we are comforted by the knowledge that he will celebrate Christmas forever with his wife, siblings and parents.

Then there were the usual announcements of time and place for the viewing and the funeral.

On Tuesday this week we had the wake. But before the wake, my wife and I had to begin packing and moving from our senior citizen's community apartment into her father's house. We will be living there from now until we decide what we will do with it later.

Just 3 hours before the scheduled viewing time, while walking out of the house to grab another item off the truck, I apparently stepped onto the edge of the step, felt my ankle roll, and tumbled to the ground. I suffered a severe sprain to my right ankle.

Too late to go to the emergency room and still be on time for the wake, my wife wrapped my ankle with an Ace bandage, and I attended the wake, and subsequently, the next day's funeral, on crutches.

I am still in severe pain. There has been no time to see a doctor. I am hoping the ankle will heal well enough that I will be able to return to work after my bereavement leave is up. Fortunately, I was already scheduled for the next two days off immediately after the bereavement leave, so that will give me a couple of more days to mend. At this point, I feel like I may never get better. It's frustrating.

In the meantime, we have to be vacated from our apartment by the 31st, and I cannot walk. I can't do anything to help in the moving process, so hopefully, the two friends we have who have volunteered to help us move will be able to complete the task for me.

I really hate to have to let others do the job I'm supposed to do, but I am incapacitated at this point.

So, as one can see, I've been a little busy lately, and haven't had much time to blog.

Not that I would have written anything anyway. There is only so many ways and times that I can express my outrage at the direction Obama is leading this country. I feel that anything else I have to say would be redundant. Everyday is the same. Obama appears on TV everyday, and announces in the most innocuous terms that he is going to make yet another power grab or yet another conciliatory gesture to our enemies.

It has become expected. The death of democracy in America has become mundane. There's nothing I alone can do. It will take a concerted effort, or even a revolution to stop this spiral into fascism.

All I can do is watch.

Rush Limbaugh was admitted to the hospital with severe chest pains, and the Liberals are peeing their pants with glee.

If I hear another Liberal tell me how compassionate and caring Liberals are, he'd better be able to outrun me.

Christmas 2009

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." ~ Luke 2:10-11



With all the forces of darkness hard at work all around us, sometimes it's difficult to remember Who's really in control.

At Christmas time, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, the rightful King of this world.

Often we need to be reminded of the lesson contained within the words of this song, particularly when our country's leaders seem so bound and determined to destroy this great country.

And in despair I bowed my head.
"There is no peace on Earth", I said,
"For hate is strong
And mocks the song of
Peace on Earth goodwill to men".

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
The wrong shall fail,
The right prevail,
With Peace on Earth, goodwill to men."

There is still hope as long as we remember God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.

To all my fellow bloggers and friends, I say unto you, this day,

Merry Christmas!

A New Favorite

A long lost high school classmate posted this on Facebook this morning. I had never heard of this guy, but he is exceptional. I just had to post it here.

Gore A Fraud. Who Knew?

"Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!" ~ Sir Walter Scott

From the article linked to in my previous post entitled "Irony":

"Al Gore’s office admitted yesterday that a percentage he quoted on polar ice melting in a speech was not actually supported by science."

What should we do with (or, more to the point, to) AlGore?

Other con-men (such as Bernie Madoff) have been convicted to life imprisonment for perpetrating fraud on a much smaller scale than Gore's.

Can the punishment even begin to fit the crime in this case?

Irony

"That's funnier than a deaf mute playin' Bingo, Gettin' bingo, and tryin' to holler out Bingo." ~ Larry the Cable Guy

The news just keep getting funnier and funnier as Obama and his legion of empty-headed lemming-like Liberal followers continue pushing the envelope over the edge to complete absurdity.

This is what you won't hear from the so-called mainstream media regarding the big "Climate Change" (Global Warming) conference currently taking place despite sub-zero temperatures in Copenhagen, Denmark:


"The problem: despite some two years of planning, the United Nations organizers failed to come up with a way to fit the 45,000 people they registered for the conference into the 15,000 person capacity Bella Center. Oops.

This entire circus would be funnier if not for what is at stake: trillions of dollars in regulatory actions and billions of dollars in aid to developing nations. And, if there were to be some miracle and nations in attendance did sign an agreement, who would be in charge of monitoring all these agreed to carbon reductions and oversight of all that development aid? The same entity that can’t even figure out that 45,000 people won’t fit into a 15,000 person building; the United Nations."

You can read the rest here.

Somehow, it seems the irony of discussing solutions to Global Warming in freezing temperatures and monumentally poor planning by those geniuses who want us to believe they know what's best for us escapes the fawning media.

But wait! There's more!

All the news, be it from the radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and even Uncle Jay, have been repeating the line, "Obama accepts peace prize shortly after sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan".

The media seems to think this is ironic.

It isn't, for many reasons.

For one, he only sent a fraction of the troops General McCrystal asked for. This was not done to bring a victorious end to the hostilities. This was done so Obama can look as if he really has America's interests at heart. He wants those few ignorant bastards who still think he's their savior to continue to believe he is a leader.

It's all about Obama.

It always has been.

In other words, the increase in troops was all show to enhance Obama's supposed status as a world leader.

As is his attendance at the Climate Change (Global warming) conference.

For another, the Media continues to delude themselves (and, presumably, the American public) with the wrong-headed theory that war cannot bring about peace despite thousands of years of incontrovertible evidence to the contrary. Therefore, increasing the troops could conceivably bring about peace, although, as I already pointed out, in this case it is too little, too late, so it won't).

But, if it works, it truly would be an accomplishment actually worthy of a peace prize.

I have always suspected Obama is a closet Muslim on a mission to destroy America as we know it, and install some kind of Sharia law type nation, and nothing he has done or said so far has proven me wrong, so, if by some chance, the increase in troop strength does manage to bring about peace in the Middle East...

Well.... that would really be ironic.

I'm Not The President....

(although I could do a much better job than the current resident of the White house) ...but the sentiment is nevertheless appreciated.



"Getting old ain't for sissies" ~ Bette Davis

Affirmative Action Works!....Right?

"Bachelor's degrees make pretty good placemats if you get 'em laminated." ~ Jeph Jacques

I found this photo over at Trader Rick's blog.



Well, I've always said there is often a vast difference between education and intelligence. Ms. Brown proves my point.

What's really scary is the fact that this woman creates laws!

I read a bio on Rep. Corrine Brown.

She has a Master's degree from Florida University.

Really.

In education, no less!

(Rick, no offense, but are you sure you really want your name associated with a university that turns out such erudite graduates?)

If this is an example of the success of affirmative action programs, I have to believe I am right to oppose them.

Affirmative Action: Handing out degrees to complete idiots for decades.

The Death Of America's Work Ethic

"God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest." ~ J. G. Holland

The above quote seems to be what many people just don't understand. God provides and God answers prayer, but He doesn't make the things you need just suddenly appear out of thin air. God depends on His people, not His people's government, to do His work.

And, you have to work for everything you get.


This is why taking from the "haves" to provide for the "have nots" is not God's plan. Every man is responsible for both his own blessings and his own curses.

Many Liberals insist they are following the teachings of Jesus when they support wealth distribution, but this is not what Jesus had in mind when He told us to give to the poor.

Giving to the poor, as with everything else, is a personal choice, not a government mandate.

At least it should be a personal choice.

But our Government has usurped the right of the individual to make his own personal choice to give money, goods, services, or whatnot to help those less fortunate than themselves.

It is no longer a matter of personal choice.

It is no wonder, then, that many people are rising up in protest over the increasing governmental control of our personal lives and finances. People love their freedom, in this land, and in every other land.

Those who don't have never experienced freedom.

Health care is only the most current egregious example of Government over-stepping it's bounds.

To demand that those who have the money to afford their own health care or their own health insurance to pay the tab for those who don't, is patently un-American.

And, to back those demands with threats of jail time and/or imposing heavy fines is explicitly treasonous.

It violates the very principles upon which this great country was founded.

In 1776, our founders signed a document that enumerated the rights we enjoy as free men and women. Those rights are the right to life, the right to liberty, and the right to personal property.

All of these rights are contingent upon taking personal responsibility for one's thoughts and actions.

The current administration and the current United States legislature is attempting to take those rights away from us.

We cannot allow them to succeed.

We must demand that our representatives return to the founding principles that made this country the most powerful and respected country on earth. We must remind them of the Biblical admonition, which was understood and repeated by the freedom loving men who first settled in this new world:

The men who settled at Plymouth Rock in 1620 made that admonition the law of the new colony: "Those who do not work, shall not eat."

This simple admonition was the impetus which created what once was the American work ethic.

This nation cannot survive with out it.

We had it once. My father instilled it in me. His father instilled it in him.

When did we lose it, and how?

UPDATE:
I have had to re-enable word verification to my comment form due to spam comments directing readers to porn sites, escort services, viagra/cialis websites, etc. I am sorry for the inconvenience this causes, but it seems some unethical people just never learn.

What's In My Head

What I've Been Thinking About

"I feel like it's raining all over the world." ~ Tony Joe White

It's been raining continuously for what seems like 40 days and 40 nights here, but I have yet to see any arks floating by.

Anyway, today dawned bright and sunny and more like September than mid November.

The recent weather has brought this song to my mind lately.



I just thought I'd share.

I Am Now A Pro!

"im living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart" ~ e e cummings

I am now officially a professional blogger. At the top of my sidebar is a small, unobtrusive advertisement. I do not endorse this service, but neither do I reject it, either.

It is simply an ad that I was paid to place here, on my sidebar.

I know nothing about the company except that they are willing to pay me for advertising them, and they have kept all their promises to me.

I don't know for a fact if company is legitimate or not, but their representative offered to pay me for the ad, and he followed through as promised. The funds were deposited into my Paypal account expeditiously.

I would assume, based solely on that knowledge, that the company is indeed legitimate.

So, if either of my readers should want to avail themselves of the advertised service, all I will say to you is "caveat emptor".

And now, I am placing a video of a song below that has been swimming around in my head for the last few days:

Thank You, Veterans

"In peace there's nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility." ~ William Shakespeare



My Father-in Law, "Doc", turned 87 last week. Still very healthy except for severe arthritis in the knees and his hearing is almost completely gone.

He served in the Navy in World War II, and his ship, the USS Colhoun, was sunk at Guadacanal. The USS Colhoun

When the ship went down, there were 149 crewmen aboard. Fifty one were lost, and eighteen wounded, including my father-in-Law.

"Doc" doesn't talk about the war too much.

I talk about Doc Johnson and his service to our country not because anything he did was particularly special.

The singular thing that strikes me about Doc is his humility regarding his role.

He says, "I don't see anything special about what we did in the war, we were just doing our jobs".

That fact alone is perhaps what makes Doc Johnson and thousands of other veterans special indeed, and why we honor them on this day. Without the unquestioning willingness to do their duty, and the understanding of their responsibility, in spite of danger and overwhelming odds, The United States of America might not exist as the most powerful nation on earth.

And the fact that this country is the most powerful nation of Earth is a testament to the courage and the diligence of the humble American servicemen and women who we honor on this day, Veterans day.

I don't think we can say thank you nearly enough to all of them, but once again, Thank you, Veterans.

The Gauntlet Has Been Cast

"Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway." ~ John Wayne

I found this information at Lone Ranger's blog. I rarely copy and paste someone elses article, but this is so unbelievably fascist in nature, I am linking to, and quoting from it directly.

I can't make this stuff up.

In a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), released by Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI), the JCT states,

"H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax"

(BTW, how much is "acceptable"?)

"If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…”

And...

“Criminal penalties

Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:

• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.”

The cost of Obama's health care insurance, which we will be compelled to purchase whether we want to or not, is $15,000.00. I assume this is a yearly fee. I don't know if they will want it all up front or if they will allow us to pay for it incrementally.

I wouldn't put it past these Liberal elitists to expect payment in full and in advance.

I am not poor, but I am not wealthy, either. I cannot afford to pay for Obama's health insurance.

Nor can I afford the fine levied for not purchasing Obama's health insurance.

How is this plan supposed to make health care affordable for those who cannot afford health care now?

I get notices in the mail and over the phone all the time offering to sell me health insurance plans for much less than Obama is planning on selling it, and I can't afford them, either.

Frankly, this scares me. I am a law abiding citizen.

I am not a criminal.

If this information is correct, Obama, Pelosi, Reid, and company intend to criminalize my inability to afford health care insurance.

I will not pay them.

They have thrown down the gauntlet. They have challenged the strength of my resolve.

I don't fight back, but I don't back down, either. I stand firm.

At this point, I wouldn't accept the Government's health care plan even if it was free, and wasn't paid for with taxes, and I was dying of a curable disease. It has become the principle of the thing, now.

I do not intend to go to jail. I do not intend to pay any fines.

I dare them to try to force me to buy their Government health care.

I am not a particularly courageous guy, but when I get angry, I know no fear, and this makes me extremely angry.

They are in for a helluva fight.

Ruminations

"To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe." ~ Marilyn vos Savant

Just a couple of thoughts I've been ruminating about today:

Number 1: Since our Congressmen don't read the bills they vote on, I think some true Conservative Congressman should slip a provision into the health care reform bill that forces Liberal Democrat leaders such as Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Barack Hussein Obama to resign from office, effective immediately upon passage.

I could support that kind of health care reform bill.

2. Prayers go out to the families of the armed forces members who were killed or wounded in the evil Islamic terrorist attacks at Fort Hood, Texas.

First reports were that the cowardly Muslim gunman was killed, but now we know he survived his wounds and is currently on a respirator at the base hospital.

If he survives, he should be given the death sentence, but since this is the home of the brave and land of the free, we must give him the benefit he didn't give his victims.

A fair trial.

This presents problems, because we know his lawyer(s) will argue he is not responsible for his actions, extenuating circumstances, temporary insanity, justifiable homicide, or any one of dozens of "legal defenses". And, he could win.

Personally, I hope they keep him alive but in a coma until he dies of old age. The man deserves death, but that would be too good for him. He deserves to live out the rest of his life as a vegetable, and in tremendous pain before he goes to meet his 42 virgins.

That would insure that he has no chance to be exonerated due to some heretofore unknown technicality.

No trial, no exoneration, and just punishment all at the same time. Perfect!

3. I don't care what Barack Hussein Obama says publicly about this local terrorist attack.

He's a liar.

I'll bet he's jumping for joy, celebrating one of his own, exterminating American soldiers. It's what he wants. It is a major part of his agenda, and I don't care if the Libtards disagree. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Obama is despicable.

4. One way to prevent further such attacks: Immediate in-depth investigations and subsequent dishonorable discharges (if determined subversive) of every member of the armed forces with the word "Muslim" entered on the "Religious Preferences" line in their records.

Racial profiling?

Absolutely.

So what?

Sending A Message

"The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Probably, by now, both of my readers have learned of the Republican victories in yesterday's Gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey.

Here in Virginia, the Republican party made a clean sweep, winning the Governors race, as well as Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General.

This makes me very happy. I believe it's the first time since I've been voting that all the candidates I voted for have won.

In New Jersey, the mostly Liberal Democrat and "moderate" voters have joined with Republicans to oust corruption plagued Governor Corzine, and install a Republican Governor.

I was at work when my wife called me and told me of the Republican victory in Virginia. My boss was standing nearby when I received the call, and he looked at me with a quizzical expression when I disconnected. When I told him the news, he responded, "It's not surprising. Obama has screwed up this country so much, it's no wonder people are voting Republican. They will vote for Republicans in the next Presidential elections, too."

I've read a couple of articles so far that also suggest these victories are significant losses for Barack Hussein Obama.

The general consensus seems to be that these outcomes will send the message to the White house that American voters are not happy with the way Obama is presiding over our country.

I disagree.

Barack Hussein Obama is much too arrogant and narcissistic to consider the results of these elections a personal loss for him or his administration. Although Obama personally campaigned on behalf of the losing candidates in these races, he will not even consider that he had any effect whatsoever on their outcomes. He will probably blame the losses on incompetent or inadequate campaigning by the Democratic candidate's campaign personnel, or on Fox News.

If it was sent to Obama, I don't think he will get the message.

I do, however, think these Republican victories will send a message to the United States Senate and House of Representatives.

They have been ignoring the will of the majority for too long now.

They have been thumbing their collective noses at we the people.

They have been running things their way, and now it's coming back to haunt them in a big way.

I believe last night's elections are just the beginning of a long needed house cleaning. More will come. There will be a changing of the guard.

Perhaps now the Legislature will sit up and take notice. Perhaps now they will listen to the voice of the people.

If they value their jobs. If they wish to be re-elected.

The message has been delivered.

The question now is: Will they listen?

Definitions

“When government accepts responsibility for people, then people no longer take responsibility for themselves.” ~ George Pataki

I think if there must be one or two words that define what is meant by the word, "Conservatism", it would be the words, "personal responsibility".

Conservatism, to me, means taking responsibility for oneself. And, by "responsibility", I mean taking blame for your own words and actions as well as taking credit.

I have much more respect for the man who admits to doing wrong while apologizing for whatever he did, than the man who makes excuses and blames others for his mistakes even if his apology is sincere.

And, I think that extends to taking punishment, also. A couple of years ago, a man named Stanley "Tookie" Williams was executed in California for four very senseless and brutal murders.

To my knowledge, he went to his Maker protesting his innocence, and without taking responsibility for his crimes.

Can anyone think of another man who makes excuses and blames others for his problems?

(hint)

Barack Hussein Obama is a Liberal. Personal Responsibility are not words that describe him. Nearly a year into his administration and he still blames his predecessor on America's problems.

One could argue that Obama takes personal responsibility sometimes, and that would be true.

Now, he often takes credit for what he perceives as positives, however, he never takes the blame for anything negative.

Remember when he claimed the reason a Chicago White Sox pitcher pitched a perfect game was because Obama wore a White Sox jersey at the all-star game? It was a statement made with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, I realize, but still the statement speaks volumes about the man's character, in my opinion.

If his health care bill passes, he will take the credit. When it fails, as it inevitably will, he will not take the blame.

Mark my words.

And, that brings up another term I want to define, because as sure as I'm writing this, some Liberal who read this will undoubtedly suggest that my disdain for Obama is rooted in racism. Even if they don't comment, there will likely be one or two Liberals who will mutter to themselves, "He doesn't like Obama just because Obama is black".

I would submit that anyone who believes Conservatives reject Obama or his policies because of his color is a racist himself.

If someone voted either for him or against him simply because he is black, that someone is the definition of a racist.

Some people no doubt voted against him because he's black. That's a sad reality.

Multitudes voted for him for the same reason.

This isn't only my opinion. It's a fact.

This is how I define racism:

The act of judging a person on the color of his skin, rather than on the content of his character.

I sincerely believe most Conservatives oppose Obama and his policies, not because he is a black man, but because he represents positions that Conservatives deem harmful to the continued existence of the Constitutional Republic that is the United States of America.

Barack Hussein Obama is not disliked because he is black. He is disliked for his refusal to take personal responsibility, and for failure to demand others take personal responsibility for themselves.

This failure will ultimately create more problems in the future for all Americans.

More Evidence Journalism Is Dead

"A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~ Mark Twain

This story is the stupidest attack on a Conservative I've heard yet.

I don't believe the anonymous author of this article actually listened to the comments Rush made about this story.

Because he got it all wrong.

Listen for yourselves:



Not once did Rush say he believed the story. He did, however, mention the story has no sourcing data.

He did say, "[W]e have to hold out the possibility that this is not accurate".

He also said, "I have had this happen to me recently. I've had quotes attributed to me that were made up. And when it was pointed out to the media that these quotes were made up, they said, 'It doesn't matter. We know Limbaugh thinks it anyway.'"

(Obviously referring to the recent lies spread all over the internet and the broadcast media about certain made up statements falsely attributed to him)

And then, he mocked Dan Rather, by paraphrasing, almost word for word, the statement Dan Rather made when it was revealed he had reported a story based on forged documents, ie, "I don't care that these quotes are made up. I know Obama thinks it".

I don't know what the author of this blatantly leftist attack on Limbaugh was smoking, but I would have paid almost anything for a hit of it back in the 70's.

And, I don't blame the author for not supplying a byline. I'd be embarrassed, too.

One would have to do some amazing mental gymnastics to reach the conclusion Rush bought the story. In fact, it would seem the only person who actually bought it was Michael Leeden, the "obscure blogger" who first reported it, apparently thinking it was true.

In fact, Leeden admitted, according to the article, he thought it was true. "I failed to notice that one of the tags was 'satire,'" he wrote.

Well, I'm sure Mr. Leeden recognizes satire once he becomes aware of it, but the anonymous AP reporter apparently doesn't.

What's In My Head

What's In My Head

The song.

Not the film.

I Still Don't Understand

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea...Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven... Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." Matthew 18:6, 10, and 14

In my previous post, I stated I don't understand how Christians can support politicians who support abortion. I made my case.

Not only did I post it here on my blog, I also posted it as a Facebook note on my Facebook page. It was there that I received a response from the Liberal Christian point of view.

I said it was a response. It was not a convincing explanation of why some Christians embrace the "right to choose" ideology.

My Doctor Professor nephew Kevin (Liberal) attempted to enlighten me, but in my opinion, fell woefully short, which is somewhat surprising, since he is a college professor with a doctorate and everything. I would think he could have been much more convincing. Perhaps he doesn't believe his explanation himself. In the interest of brevity, I will spare both of my readers the entire exhaustive response he wrote.

I would like, however, to paste an excerpt or two from his diatribe so that my two readers will better understand my response to him which I have inserted in their entirety below.

My Doctor nephew Kevin said this first:

When I saw the title "What I Don't Understand," I knew that this would have to be a long Facebook note!

Bwah ha ha ha ha!

Just kidding. I know, this is a serious issue, but I just had to throw in a little (probably inappropriate) levity.

OK, that was funny, I admit. But then he went all Liberal on me, writing, among other things,

I do find myself wishing that anti-abortion conservatives would put as much energy into fighting other violations of the sanctity of life as they do into fighting for the criminalization of abortion... all they seem interested in is making sure that all these aborted fetuses get born, but when it comes to supporting them with things like healthcare, childcare, early childhood education, safe and affordable housing, job training and creation for the child's parents, public education, after-school programs, financial aid for poor teens seeking college education, etc., these conservative voices suddenly sing a very anti-life tune. I won't even get into how fiercely these so-called "pro-life" advocates support things like war, the death penalty, and all manner of practices that destroy the environment and threaten all of God's Creation.

That's just a teeny snippet of the response I received. I can't paste the entire conversation here. This post is already much too long. But, another relative of mine, my niece Lori, daughter of a different sibling, wrote, among other things, the following:

"First of all I'd like to say, Sorry Mom, but here is how I feel". (She is my sister's daughter, which makes me proud to know, at least my sister is against abortion)

Anyway, she also defended abortion but without presenting a convincing or logical argument. However, she can be excused for her inability to articulate her thoughts coherently. My nephew can't. He is a genius. Really.

She went on to write, "I do want to ask you to stop indicating that I am not a Christian just because I don't agree with you or because I voted for Obama."

Both Niece and Nephew mentioned an opposition to the death penalty, saying, in so many words, they believe execution to be inhumane.

Although my first response to Kevin's comments are (if I may say so myself) quite logical and well thought out, and should have been convincing, I will not post it here. This is my second response to their first responses:

(First statement responding to Niece Lori's assertion that I accused her of not being a Christian)"It is not my place to say whether anyone is a Christian or not, and I didn't. I said I don't understand how one can call himself a Christian and support the mass murder of innocent babies. I then said I know there are Christians that do. And, I am absolutely convinced that they are indeed Christians. As I said, I don't understand it, and I am still waiting for someone to explain it to me logically.

While I admire and respect Kevin for his intellect and education, I don't believe he is being intellectually honest in responding to my note. Common sense tells us that in order for a child to have a chance at a better education, a more fulfilling childhood, better childcare, better health care, job training etc, he must first have a chance at life. What chance does a dead baby have at any of those things?

Don't misunderstand me. I believe a woman has the right to choose. She has the right to choose to keep her pants on. She has the right to choose not to have pre-marital sex, or at least act wisely before she's ready to have a child. She has the right to choose abstinence. She also has the right to make lifestyle choices all the way from her own birth to her death. All decisions have consequences. Some have more consequences than others. Some have good consequences. Some have unfortunate consequences, but all decisions result in some form of consequences.

When one makes a decision, one must be prepared for the consequences involved in making that decision. If one is not capable of dealing with unfortunate consequences, than one should not make that decision. If a woman makes the unfortunate decision to do something that causes her to end up pregnant when she doesn't want to be pregnant, she doesn't get to take a mulligan. She must live with the consequences of her decision. That's called taking personal responsibility.

Now, before I am challenged with the inevitable question about cases of rape and incest, my answer remains the same. There is never an intellectually honest reason to abort a living human child. If a woman is raped, why punish the baby with execution? That doesn't make sense. If a woman becomes pregnant due to an incestuous relationship either with her consent or without, again I say, why punish the baby with execution? In neither case is the pregnancy the baby's fault.

Again, it's all about personal responsibility. Put it this way...If a two year old child suffers some calamity and is left permanently disabled as a result, would it be right for the child's parents to put the child to death to avoid taking responsibility for the care and nurturing of that child? Of course it wouldn't.

With abortion we have the exact same scenario with the only exception being that of the child's physical age. It is punishing the innocent so that the responsible party can spare himself a modicum of inconvenience. That is NOT taking personal responsibility.

I also find it dichotomous for one to object to executing a murderer on grounds that it is inhumane but doesn't have a problem killing unborn children who have done nothing to deserve death save being an inconvenience to his mother.

A murderer committed a crime. He deserves whatever punishment he gets for his transgressions. As I say, if he didn't want to face a just punishment, he shouldn't have committed the crime. After all, he most likely knows what would likely happen to him if he gets caught. And still he decides to commit the crime. How many people would he have to kill before his defenders would say he deserves what he gets?

If it is inhumane to take his life, how much more inhumane is it to take the life of a perfectly innocent baby?

And what about war? Is it inhumane to defend one's country against murderous savages who have every intention of wiping our country off the face of the earth? Again, which killing is more moral? The killing of a mortal enemy who will kill you or your family if not killed first, or killing an innocent baby in the womb before he has the chance to choose whether he wants to be a murderer or a terrorist or a brain surgeon or a teacher, etc?

It seems to me one does not have much faith in God or your fellow man if you think an unborn child doesn't stand any chance just because he may happen to be unwanted. the world is full of people who beat the odds to become successful in a veritable plethora of endeavors. They are written about in songs and in legends.

Why not give the innocent unborn child the opportunity to become someone.

Why not give him or her a chance?

I still don't get the logic".

What I Don't Understand

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." ~ Matthew 19:14

Do you know what I don't understand? I don't understand Christians who support political candidates who support abortion. More than that, really. I don't understand Christians who are Liberals.

Perhaps the most important issue that has come to distinguish a Liberal from a Conservative is abortion.

In my view, Christianity and a pro-choice ideology are incompatible with each other.

Christians are supposed to believe in the sanctity of life. How do Christian Liberal/Democrats justify their party's stance on abortion? Considering the Democrat's stance on this issue, I don't understand how Christians can justify being Democrats.

Is it possible to support a candidate without supporting a major plank in his platform?

Especially a candidate who may have a considerable impact on legislation that would directly strengthen or weaken Roe v Wade in the future?

I don't think it matters much what a candidate for state Treasurer, for instance, believes about abortion.

But a President, Governor, or United States legislator?

How can a Christian reconcile his belief in the sanctity of life with the taking of innocent human life within the womb? It just makes no sense to me.

Why would a Christian vote for a candidate who openly advocates a position which favors abortion?

Barack Hussein Obama not only favors abortion on demand, in any trimester, without reservations or conditions, but when he was a State Senator in Illinois, he voted against legislation that would save live babies born in spite of failed abortion attempts.

Get that?

Obama voted against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act.

He thinks babies who survive abortion attempts should be neglected, and deprived of care, until they die.

How can Barack Obama call himself a Christian?

And, seriously, how could a Christian have voted for that man?

Christians who vote for such an obvious enemy to Christian values must be ignoring the abortion issue in favor of some other issue they consider more important. I believe they have a much too cavalier attitude regarding abortion.

Millions of innocent babies have been slaughtered since the Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade.

That is a fact that, in my opinion, cannot be ignored. How can any Christian consider that a trivial matter, not important enough to consider when choosing to vote for one candidate or another? If that is indeed their reasoning?

Here in Virginia, the race for Governor depends a great deal on the how the two candidates differ in their opinion of abortion. The Democratic candidate, Creigh Deeds, is actually using abortion as a wedge issue, advertising that his opponent, Bob McDonnell, has both introduced and supported legislation that would limit a "woman's right to choose". It is a major plank in his campaign platform. He would like you to vote against his opponent, based a great deal on this issue. That, and a thesis McDonnell wrote 20 years ago in graduate school, which really didn't contain anything objectionable to anyone who sincerely advocates Christian values.

In my opinion, Creigh Deeds is only hurting himself. Virginia has traditionally been a Conservative state. Yes, we have a Democrat Governor now, and Obama won Virginia in the last election, but I believe most Virginians are still vehemently opposed to abortion.

Deeds is at least 10 percentage points behind McDonnell in every poll. One would think he'd realize he's playing with fire.

And, make no mistake.

Abortion is a seminal issue with both Liberals and Conservatives.

One of the first questions Liberal media types ask Republican candidates for any office is, "Where do you stand in regard to abortion rights?" If a Republican says he is against abortion, the Liberal media uses this for ammunition to begin their onslaught of attacks against the Republican.

Democrats who are against abortion often keep a low profile on their view. If they campaigned on the right to life, they would lose their own party's support, but they often get Republicans votes.

Don't tell me that isn't significant.

Here's the wrap: If it's such an important issue (and I agree that it is), how can a Christian, in good conscience, support any candidate who favors abortion?

And frankly, although I am loathe to ask, how can one call himself a Christian who supports the wholesale slaughter of millions of innocent pre-born babies?

And yet, I know without a doubt, there are Christians who do.

I just don't understand.

I'm Nominating Myself For Next Year's Nobel Peace Prize

"I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it." ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

Barack Hussein Obama has another feather in his cap. Now, he can add a Nobel peace prize to his resume. I predict he will soon be adding the words, "I won the Nobel Peace prize" to his incessant reminders that he is the President.

When I first heard Barack Hussein Obama had won the Nobel peace prize, I was aghast. Had the Nobel prize committee lost their minds?

But then, I decided to objectively consider what Obama's qualifications might be to earn him such an accolade.

What are the qualifications? Who should win a peace prize? What traits should one possess that would qualify him to win a peace prize?

Obviously, it should be someone who accomplishes something extraordinary to establish peace. Someone who ends strife between two warring factions somewhere in the world, shouldn't it?

If I were awarding a peace prize, I believe I'd look for someone who did something substantial to peacefully settle a dispute or two.

What has Obama done that establishes peace?

I don't think it's so much an establishment of peace as a reluctance to make war that made the Nobel committee award the peace prize to Obama.

When Obama took office, the United States were engaged in two wars. One in Iraq, and one in Afghanistan.

Did Obama somehow manage to convince either of our enemies in these two theaters of war to settle their differences with us peacefully?

Well, no, he didn't. We are still at war with terrorists factions in both countries.

But on the other hand, he didn't escalate the wars either. Perhaps that's why he won the peace prize.

Or maybe because he talks a good game. Talking about bringing peace to the world is really the only thing he's done to establish a peace. He hasn't done a thing to make it happen. And if anyone had the power to accomplish such a task, it seems it should surely be Obama.

But, that couldn't be it, could it? Anyone can talk about peace. It seems to me that there are thousands, perhaps millions of people in this world who are at least as deserving of being awarded the Nobel peace prize as Barack Hussein Obama. Thousands can talk about peace as eloquently as Obama. Why weren't any of those thousands considered?

Mark Levin nominated Rush Limbaugh for the Nobel Peace Prize, but Rush didn't win. I wonder why.

Rush Limbaugh is as deserving as Obama.

I myself, am just as deserving of the prize as Obama.

Witness this:

I want world peace.

There. Now, I am qualified to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

I've done nothing to earn the award.

And neither has Obama.

Guitar Lessons

"He says it's going to kill me, but he don't say when" ~ Luke Jordan

One of my favorite David Bromberg Songs, and how he plays it. I used to fiddle a bit with a guitar before I decided I had reached my level of incompetence. In fact, I once took a University guitar course taught by the famous Jerry Hahn, one of the best Jazz guitarists in the country.

Instead of fiddling, I should have learned to play it, because if I had, I might be able to play this tune.



The original version of this song was recorded by Luke Jordan, a black blues singer, I think sometime in the 20's. I have both versions on CD, and believe me, the version by Luke Jordan was hard to find.

Anyway, a couple of my occasional readers play guitar, and I thought they might want to try this.

Sorry, the phenomena I call Obamanation is starting to bore me. He's on TV EVERY BLESSED DAY!

When he does something extraordinarily bone headed, I will blog about it, but for now, really, whatever he does is just more of the same.

By the way, while I'm at it, here's a video of my guitar teacher, Jerry Hahn:



He doesn't sing. Believe me, he doesn't sing. The other students and I used to ask him how the lyrics went with the songs he was teaching us just to hear him try to sing. It was like nails on a blackboard to hear him sing.

What Was In My Head When I Awoke.

A couple of days ago, I saw just the beginning of a digital remake of "The Wizard of Oz" on Blu-Ray. While the twister was tearing up Dorothy's farm, this tune was playing. Without words, of course. I have known this song since the Animaniacs were on TV, but it wasn't until recently I realized this was the tune from the twister scene in "Wizard of OZ".



Now I can't get the song out of my head.

If We Think We've Got Problems...

"Of all the pulpits from which human voice is ever sent forth, there is none from which it reaches so far as from the grave." ~ John Ruskin

It's been a rough week at my house this past week. Wednesday night, about two and a half hours before October first, our cable went out. The cable company had cut our service off.

This would not have been a problem, ordinarily. We understand if we don't pay the bill we should be deprived of service (that's called acknowledging personal responsibility), but arrangements had already been made to pay the entire bill on Thursday, as soon as my wife got her Social Security check. Due to the failing economy coupled with big Government intrusion into my business, I have pretty much lost my income, and have had to take another job that pays poorly. But, it pays more than nothing. I got my first two week paycheck on Thursday.

But I digress.

The cable company had promised to wait for the payment, and they broke their promise.

Calls to the office were fruitless because, once we waded through the obligatory automated phone system prompts to state the purpose of our call, the department we wanted, our phone number, address, account number, verification of our account number, etc, we were eventually routed to the collection department, which was the wrong department, because we were only a month late and the collections department only has information on accounts over 2 months late.

Whew!

Early Thursday morning we awoke and found we had no hot water. The company who supplies our fuel oil to heat our house and our water had come out the day before to clean and do routine maintenance to our boiler. Apparently, the serviceman made some error, because the boiler stopped working after he left.

Again, calls to the company's service number were fruitless. When we called the number for service which was located on a sticker on the side of our boiler, we were informed, by recording, that the company's office was closed all day for inventory, and no one would be able to help us until tomorrow, October 2nd.

So, after we drove over to the Cable company's office and personally took care of the first problem, we had to drive over to the Boiler service company to personally talk to someone there who could come over and service the boiler, which, as I explained, had been in perfect working order before it was serviced.

I spent the remainder of the day waiting for a serviceman to come over to fix the problem. I was promised the boiler would be working in time for me to take a shower before I left for work. It wasn't, and I had wasted all that time waiting. So, I had to go to work unwashed.

By Thursday afternoon all electronic and fuel powered essential appliances had been restored to working order and all was right with our world.

Thursday evening, I bought my wife a new computer and myself a flat panel 20 inch monitor for mine.

So, as I said, it was a rough week. But that wasn't the worst.

Then came Friday.

As I was seated at my computer enjoying the finer clarity of my new monitor, and while my wife slept, I received a call from my second son in Wichita, Kansas, who was calling to inform me of shocking news.

Erik and Stephanie (taken last summer)

He told me my oldest son's wife had passed away unexpectedly earlier Friday morning. She had surgery on the previous Friday to remove a growth on her spine. The doctors said the surgery was a success, and there was nothing more to be concerned about.

But, at approximately 4:00 Friday morning, after hospital personnel struggled for an hour to save her, she slipped away into eternity. She was 32.

She leaves behind her husband(my son Erik), and three children, ages 8, 6, and 14 months.

Because I had spent more money than I would have normally buying the computer and monitor, we cannot afford to go to the funeral, so we will have to send flowers. Had I known, I wouldn't have bought them, but hindsight is 20/20, and foresight is blind.

Erik has multiple medical problems of his own, including severe Epilepsy, Chronic Depression, and Paranoid Schizophrenia. I believe he also suffers from a bi-polar disorder, but I may be mistaken on that.

It would appear there is no positives to his condition, but my other son has assured me Erik has made substantial improvement since I saw him last Summer. Erik himself, the last time I talked with him over the phone, told me he still hears voices in his head, but at least he knows they aren't real, so he ignores them. That is a significant improvement over where he was medically and psychologically in previous years. Anthony, my other son, told me a few months ago that he predicts Erik will achieve normalcy within the next year.

But now, with the sudden passing of his wife, no one knows how he will deal. She was his rock.

Erik has already endured many more hardships and trials than probably about 98% of the world's population. It was his child that died a day after birth a few years ago. he and his wife, Stephanie were devastated. Their marriage almost ended as a result. Erik had a previous girlfriend before Stephanie that passed away suddenly, also.

He plans on raising his children himself, but will, of course, require help from his mother-in-law. No doubt my brother and sister who live in the Wichita area will lend a hand as well.

Most importantly, though, he will require prayer. A lot of earnest, sincere prayer. For him. For his children. For his support system.

I've seen prayer work. I know it does. He will get through this. Through the Grace and power of God.

Please pray for my son and his family.

Hypocrisy, Thy Name Is Liberal

"Breathes there the man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne’er within him burned,
As home his footsteps he hath turned
From wandering on a foreign strand!
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonored , and unsung." ~ Sir Walter Scott

The preceding poem describes a man who has forsaken his country, who has demonstrated his hatred for freedom and liberty, a man who has embraced our enemies, and rejected our allies.

A man named Barack Hussein Obama.

In a comment on my last post some anonymous commenter who is too cowardly and/or too stupid to even create a name, posted this comment in response to American patriot and veteran Trader Rick's comment:

"oBAMA HAS COMMITTED tREASON, TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN. caN WE NOT TRY HIM AND HANG HIM OR SHOOT HIM?"

I've just forwarded this to the Secret Service. Good luck!"

Granted, Rick's comment was a little over the top, but it was a comment born of frustration and a general feeling of hopelessness created by the Marxist policies of Barack Hussein Obama. He sees, as I do, the systematic destruction of the very principles which made the United States of America the greatest, strongest, and freest country on Earth.

A destruction fomented by Barack Hussein Obama.

This is my response to "anonymous":

Sir or Madam, before you attack Conservatives over a few sporadic overzealous comments and placards that Liberally biased media type people claim is prevalent at various rallies across the United States, perhaps you should watch the following video:


h/t Joe-Joe Politico


I'm thinking if the Secret Service did nothing about the Liberal's vitreous attacks labeling George W. Bush as Hitler and their outright unconcealed death threats directed at him, I don't think Rick has anything to fear from your classless and cowardly threats against him.

You, on the other hand, should seriously consider professional counseling.

The New Leader Of The Free World

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" ~ Edmund Burke

Friday, Barack Hussein Obama stood before the United Nations assembly and, as he is wont to do, apologized for America, and then proceeded to announce he intends to make the United States virtually defenseless against attacks from hostile nations by promising the world he is going to get rid of our nuclear arsenal.

He did not get the same assurances from the other nations.

Well, he may have, but there is no evidence they would tell him the truth. There is a strong possibility, however, that Obama would naively believe them if they did.

After all, we have heard these promises before, haven't we? Think North Korea, The Soviet Union, Iraq, Iran, etc.

Libya's Moamar Quaddafi also spoke at the United Nations, at first praising Obama and then, attacking the United Nations.

What's wrong with this picture?

The same thing that's wrong with Obama bowing to a Saudi king, embracing Hugo Chavez, and supporting an ousted Honduran Marxist dictator, of course.

Obama praises any and all Marxist dictators around the world, and, at the same time, accuses Israel of maintaining "illegitimate settlements" in the Gaza strip.

This, coming from a man who claims he is a Christian.

As any Christian with even a rudimentary knowledge of the history of Israel knows, the Israelis are God's chosen people, and the Gaza strip is included in the land God gave Israel.

There can be no more legitimate claim to any land than this.

No one may usurp God's authority, nor can anyone take from anyone else what God has given them.

Obama, if indeed he is a Christian and a God fearing man, as he says, should know this.

Why then, does he reject Israel?

Additionally, the Islamo-Nazi Presidential figurehead of Iran, Mahmoud Achmadinajhad, addressed the assembly and continued his oft repeated claims that the holocaust never happened and reminded the world that his mission is to wipe Israel off the map.

Obama, by his conspicuous silence, gave his assent to this madman.

Then, the leader of the free world stepped to the podium to speak, and he pulled no punches:

"To those who gave this Holocaust denier a hearing, I say on behalf of my people. ... Have you no shame? Have you no decency?"

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, said.

He also scolded the United Nations for giving the Iranian president "legitimacy" just six decades after the Holocaust.

"What a disgrace," Netanyahu said. "What a mockery of the charter of the United Nations."

Recently, the United Nations so-called "Human Rights Council", which includes among it's membership most of the worlds most notorious human rights abusing nations, issued a report that condemned Israel for its defense of their God-given legitimate settlements in the Gaza Strip last January.

"What a travesty," Netanyahu said. "Israel justly defended itself against terror."

He said the latest report presents a test to the international community: "Will you stand with Israel or will you stand with the terrorists?"

Benjamin Netanyahu stood up to the world. He did not back down. He stood brave and defiant in the face of an overwhelming disapproving body.

He spoke the truth.

This is a trait exhibited only by true leaders. A leader who does not cower before Fascist dictators and corrupt nations.

A man with courage and integrity.

In short, Netanyahu is the polar opposite of Barack Hussein Obama.

While Netanytahu stands for liberty and freedom, Obama panders to the Marxist, oppressive dictators and Islamo-Nazis, and insults America's strongest allies.

Liberals, Marxists, Socialists, Communists (but I repeat myself) like to call Barack Hussein Obama the leader of the free world. And, indeed, there is no doubt Obama wants to be the leader of the entire world.

But he is neither the leader of the free world or the entire world. He is an embarrassment to the United States.

A narcissistic, incompetent, naive buffoon.

Mark Levin says Netanyahu is the leader of the free world.

I agree.