Are We Under Martial Law?

He thinks so…

Update: Apparently there is such a thing, but it is an inside Washington DC procedural thing. Who knew? 😉

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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The Man, The Soldier, The Life, The Letter. RIP

Over at Blackfive, Maj. Pain has a post that should be read. Crescent City (California) Triplicate, specifically Adam Madison, received from Afghanistan a very moving letter written by Capt. Bruno de Solenni. Here is a portion of it.

First off, when I first joined the National Guard, back in 1996, I had no idea that I would be here today. I do remember making the decision on Christmas Day when I was about 20 years old and felt like I was going nowhere with my life and needed to take a new direction. As my father and mother had stated earlier, I was always fascinated with history and the military, and was amazed at some of the hardships my grandfather endured in both WWI and WWII.
…
Eventually, a few years after joining, I did decided to go back to college at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Ore., where there was a GOLD (Guard Officer Leadership Development) program that allowed me to earn a federal commission as an Army officer while I continued to work toward my degree (which the National Guard also paid for).

In a sense, I was doing exactly what the National Guard said I could do if I joined … Finally, on May 11, 2001, I received my commission as a young, immature, 2nd lieutenant full of piss and vinegar still not knowing exactly what I was getting into.

When Sept. 11 happened, it was then that I realized that things were going to be very different for me and the rest of this country. One month later our battalion received the alert order that we would mobilize the following year to fill in on the current MFO (Multi National Force and Observers) mission in Sinai, Egypt. After returning from Egypt, I was home for eight months before volunteering again to go to Iraq for OIF II. It was there I truly (became) an infantry officer and learned a lot about myself and people in general.
…
Something that still upsets me is the fact that they exploited some of the crimes soldiers committed over there as a reflective view to the rest of the world of what our armies stood for. I am not saying that we didn’t make mistakes, we did make them and we have painfully corrected them.
…
Our true problems here are definitely reflective of the Pakistani border and the lack of troops covering it, which has been an issue for years and is being exploited by the Taliban as they train freely in Pakistan, unopposed by anyone.

In my opinion, Afghanistan does need a troop surge of American soldiers as well, otherwise we will only be able to sustain combat operations with minimal effect of containing Taliban insurgents. As I speak about this, these are only my views and opinions based on my experiences.
…
The good days over here are when we are truly sticking it to the Taliban in a firefight that is in our favor and you just drop ped 130 105mm rounds on their position. Or when a … hot F-15 pilot flies over your head strafing the Taliban with his Vulcan cannons.

The (bad) days are whe n you are covering up your your sergeant major from being exposed to the dust-out of a Chinook helicopter that is landing to medivac him out. At the same time he cries because he doesn’t want to leave his team as he lies there half paralyzed with shrapnel in him, while fluids are coming out of his eyes and ears signifying severe brain trauma, (meaning we can’t give him morphine).
…
The bad days are when you put your buddy in a body bag and you don’t even recognize him because his limbs are missing and there holes in him everywhere. The miracles are when his last words are, “tell my wife and kids I love them,” before he dies in his best friend’s arms after struggling for several agonizing minutes to get the words out because there is a fist-size hole in his head.

And last20but not least, the best days are when an Afghan comes up to you thanking you for everything that you have done to help them and for making their (home) a better place now that the Taliban are gone.

If anything, this is probably the biggest reason why I proudly enjoy being over here. I can’t explain it to anyone and there is no description of what it feels like, but it was the same feeling I got when I was in Iraq as well. And I am sure it’s the same feeling that generations of American soldiers before me have gotten as they fought and sacrificed their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy today.

Perhaps the biggest thing that has made being over here much more bearable, is the amount of public support that we have received from people. Getting a care package or a letter of support when you are out in the middle of nowhere from a complete stranger, thanking you, does make the day seem a little better.

I would especially like to thank my Aunt J an Martin, and The local Troop Support organization who have provided care packages to soldiers serving overseas and have volunteered endless hours of their time and energy making our lives easier. The British soldiers (who don’t get anything) are extremely grateful as well.
…
Once again, I cannot thank everyone enough for their support and all that they have done …

Sincerely,

Capt. Bruno de Solenni [Read the whole article, please.]

Trust me, I left enough of the letter out so you should go read it, but I did try to give you a sense of who Capt. Bruno de Solenni is and was.

Capt. Bruno was expected home for Christmas, but he will not be able to make it this year, nor any other year. September 20, 2008, Capt. Bruno de Solenni was killed in action by an IED in a far away place named Afghanistan fighting for our freedom and theirs.

What better sacrifice is there than lay down one’s life for another? God bless the de Solenni family and all those who loved Bruno. May you find Peace and Strength through these difficult day, months, years. May God bless you, too, Capt. Bruno de Solenni. Thank you for your sacrifice. May your all of your troubles be gone and all your joys be complete in Heaven.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ The Talon and Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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Founders’ Daily Quote: 30 Sept 08

“[W]hereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it.”

–Federal Farmer (Antifederalist Letter, No.18, 25 January 1778); Reference: The Complete Anti-Federalist, Storing, ed., vol. 2 (342) The Founders Constitution.

Could someone please explain to me what ‘promiscuously’ meant back in the day? Also, is this an argument against the Pentagon (so-called military complex)? Thanks.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s News and Ideas.

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About That ‘Emergency Economic Bill’

There are many things I can say about this gargantuan bill to bail out everyone except those of us who pay taxes, buy and sell stocks, use banks, and use other products, but I may save that for another time and place.

As it stands right now, the emergency economic bill has been defeated 228-205, and the Republicans are being called ‘Unpatriotic’ by Congresswoman Nancy Palosi. Ma’am, if you had not poisined the waters before the vote with your partisan rhetoric while demanding bi-partisan support, maybe you would have received a better outcome (to my dismay).

There is an article in the New York Times describing some of what has transpired, but you have to go to the fifth paragraph from the end of the article to discover why this proposal tanked.

The administration accepted limits on executive pay and tougher oversight; Democrats sacrificed a push to allow bankruptcy judges to rewrite mortgages. But Republicans fell short in their effort to require that the federal government insure, rather than buy, the bad debt. [Read the whole thing, if you want. lol.]

The insurance is the main issue here. We would NOT be taking these bad loans with tax dollars. Instead, these failed banks, failed financial institutions, and others would have to insure whatever help they received. They would be responsible for restoring to the government this loan with interest. This way, they would NOT be given free cash to continue the practices which brought this about in the first place.

And just how did this come to be? Congress. Congress is responsible for where we are due to the Community Reinvestment Act. Just what is this? Congress decided back in 1979 that banks were not giving loans to certain areas or locations. It just so happens that these areas are where blacks and poor people lived.

It was a good idea back then, because there was discrimination. No doubt about it. Then Clinton came to town and decided he wanted to do more. So Congress, in 1993, mandated that these banks and loaning institutions had to offer more loans to more poor people than they were already doing. This led to the no down payment, no background check, no check on whether or not people were able to afford to pay back the loans they were given, and on and on.

When we had the housing bubble, people who could not afford a house did not save the correct amount of money (like I am doing), so they walked away from their rented homes. After all, wouldn’t you consider it a rental when you had no investment in the house in which you lived? Especially if you were an illegal alien?

President Bush and Sen. John McCain have been warning that this would happen if there was no reform, but Chairman Barney Frank and Chris Dodd said that was racist and unnecessary. Unnecessary? THEY KNEW! They were the overseers.

When they get rid of the CRA, which was NOT in the bill (they wanted to EXPAND it!), then maybe the American people would be more understanding. Until you change your ways, Democrats, Republics, Independents, Socialists alike, we stand firmly behind those members that said, “NO DEAL!”

That is my opinion, and I know I do not stand alone. Both sides of the House said no. You cannot blame this on one party or the other. Those who voted yes, I’ll be taking down names…when you come around asking me for my money!

PS. I would also like you to know that there are NO criminal provisions in this bill. Everyone who stole (cooked the books to get more money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, quasi private/government owned) gets to walk away scott free. There were many Clinton administration employees who made millions for themselves. Could this be why they are not worried about corruption?

Johnson and Raines are now working on the Obama campaign, although he may deny this FACT. Raines had a hand in the destruction of Fannie Mae. So did Johnson. I’m just not sure which financial institution he was responsible for. What if these men becomes Treasury Secretary and Economic Advisor?

Again, if you hear anything close to Republicans holding this up or it being their fault, the Democrats are in the majority. They could pass anything they wish, which they usually do. You may not know this, however, because the bills they passed were not bills of any import. Go figure.

Hat tip: Blackfive.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ The Talon and Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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Founders’ Daily Quote: 29 Sept 08

“Our own Country’s Honor, all call upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world. Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the Cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands Victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble Actions – The Eyes of all our Countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings, and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from the Tyranny mediated against them. Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and shew the whole world, that a Freeman contending for Liberty on his own ground is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.”

–George Washington (General Orders, 2 July 1776); Reference: Washington, General Orders, July 2, 1776.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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How Did Obama Get My Email Address?

Before I go into my rant about my privacy being invaded by the Obama team hacking into my e-mail, I’d like to share with you an e-mail Let me see if I can decipher this in a proper way so these (people?) may see the error of their ways.

“This was a clear victory for Barack Obama on John McCain’s home turf.

John McCain’s home turf? Do they not know Mississippi is on the other side of the Mississippi River to where John McCain’s “HOME TURF” is located? Hmm. Interesting. They could, however, be referring to the electoral college home turf, where she would correct. It’s a possibility.

Senator McCain offered nothing but more of the same failed Bush policies, and Barack Obama made a forceful case for change in our economy and our foreign policy.

I really wish she had not said this. I was not going to write anything about the debate, because I thought it was boring, but now I have to. Thanks a lot.

First of all. The same old failed Bush (that’s PRESIDENT to you!) policies? Let me introduce you to the Community Reinvestment Act. In 2003, the New York Times reports that PRESIDENT Bush tried to reform this to deal with the massive housing industry that CONGRESS was supposed to be overseeing, but oh no! Couldn’t do that, could we. That was considered racist. I always considered money to be green. Who knew?

President Bush’ economic policies moved us all out of a recession he inherited from Clinton, then we had a terrorist attack on our own land, and then we had Enron and the Accounting Firms fall prey to collapse. BTW, don’t cry fire unless something is burning. This is NOT an economic crises. It is an illegal alien crises.

That’s right. No money down? No stake in the houses they bought with money they didn’t have. It was just like renting. So when they leave, maybe to go back to wherever they came from, we have to pay for their decision while saving money the correct way so we can buy a house? NOT OUT OF MY MONEY!

While Senator McCain wants to keep giving huge tax cuts to corporations and said nothing about the challenges Americans are facing in their daily lives, Barack Obama will be a fierce advocate for tax cuts for the middle class, affordable health care, and a new energy economy that creates millions of jobs.

This is the one that got me in the gut. How dare you! Obama has voted YES on every TAX HIKE that was introduced. Tell me, how does that cut taxes? The debate was about foreign policies. That concerns everyone, including the middle class. Tell me, when is the last time you were hired by a poor person who had no business?

Also, might I remind you what President JFK said? He said, “Ask NOT what your country can do for YOU, but what can you do for your country.” Does that sound like he was a big government dude? No, it does not. I guess he wouldn’t recognize his party if he were to come back today, and I know he would not get elected by the Democrats. Isn’t it a shame how far Left you guys have moved the party?

While foreign policy was supposed to be John McCain’s top issue, Barack Obama commanded that part of the debate with a clear call to responsibly end a misguided war in Iraq so that we can finish the fight against al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

You really need an education. bin Laden himself stated that the center place of the war IS Iraq. If you will not believe us, will you believe him?

About your fantasy that Obama came off looking as if he had command of the foreign policies issues, I don’t know what you were watching. Were you just waiting for him to say that we’d get out of Iraq? Did you read a script? Because it did NOT happen!

John McCain needed a game-changer tonight, and by any measure he didn’t get it,” said Obama-Biden campaign manager David Plouffe.

A ‘game’ changer? You actually believe this is a game? That is sick. I believe you may have used a word you did not mean. I’m willing to believe that. After all, you guys ARE just ‘playing’ politics while Sen. McCain is deadly serious about protecting this country…for everyone. Not just for black people, not just for Hispanic people, not just for white people, not just for women, but for all American. Period.

Now for my rant. How the heck did you hack my e-mail? Who gave you permission to use it? As long as you keep sending me your information as to where you are going to be next, I will publish it. Not the one about Denver, I threw it out. I’m just letting you know in advance, because I do not appreciate first-speech offenders having access to ANYTHING of mine. LOSE IT.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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Let Them Eat…Nothing

While this so-called economic ‘crises’ carries on and on and on, people are waking up to the facts of not only how this happened, but why, who, when, etc. It does not look good for the lot of them politicians.

McCain and Bush are two of the few who saw this coming, and they tried to stop it. It was the Democrats who took hundreds of thousands of dollars from these groups such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and Countrywide that stood in the way and said, “NO! You cannot investigate, you cannot reform, you cannot do anything to stop this economic disaster! We want more money than we’re worth!”

(CENSORSHIP! This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Warner Music Group. To see this atrocious message, try to watch this at YouTube.)

UPDATE: Jack Everest has found a way to link it over at his site. Please rush over before the NObama squad finds it!

Here is another link to it on a different video player! This link is for the DailyMotion.

Hat tip: American Thinker, James and Veteran-American Voices – Rurik.

I say to you, Dodd and Frank, “You may eat…NOTHING” Give back your paychecks!

Oh, btw, Barry Obama is the second highest paid from these groups, yet he has only been in the Senate for less than two years (2006?). So why would they give him so much money? Could it be that he is so entangled with ACORN? A group that these companies gives $1,000,000 per year. Why?

This is a Leftist group used for ‘Get Out The Vote’. What does that have to do with housing, and why is the Congress trying to make sure that ACORN receives 20% of all profits from the sale of these bad debts, when this same group has been indicted in 15 states for voter fraud and found guilty in some of them?

Boy, talk about corruption!

Hat tip: Blog @ MoreWhat.com.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s News and Ideas.

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Sen. McClintock 7, Charlie Brown 0

Senator Tom McClintock (Ca-R) is running for Congress against a man by the name of Charlie Brown. Yes, that’s right. His mother must not have known about the ‘funnies’ at the time of naming this Leftist ‘person’, but he has lived to his name. On the other hand, Sen. McClintock is the Conservative we have been searching for to send to Congress to not only stop the bleeding, but he will bring the cure.

I’ve ‘known’ Sen. McClintock for over 10 years, and he is a straight shooter, intelligent, a fiscally conservative, normal guy who really cares about US, we the people. He ran against Arnold during the recall, and all the radio talk shows talked people out of voting for him by saying no Conservative could possibly win in this state. Oh? Well, you’re right. If they don’t run, they can’t win!

Now we have a worse economy than ever before. This was all done against the warnings by Sen. McClintock. You should hear what he has to say about energy, the mess in Congress about this bailout, and other issues. Oh, wait a minute! You can. I tried to download it, but blogger is trying to work out the wrinkles right now. I can, however, provide the link for this off-the-cuff debate. Tom was on the radio when Charlie called in. How sweet can it get? 😉

Sen. McClintock vs Charlie Brown (mp3). I report, you decide. If you think Tom won this debate, won’t you please help us with a donation of any size? I would surely appreciate it! Thank you, and have a blessed weekend.

PS. For those who do not play/watch football, McClintock’s 7 represents a touchdown score with the kick after the touchdown!

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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Sen. McCain Suspended Campaign, We Did Not

There is a PAC that I belong to, and I want to bring to you this newest video we have put on the net. It is entitle, “Sarah Palin Better Than Barack Obama”. It describes the difference in experience between the Republican Vice Presidential candidate and the Democrat Presidential candidate. It is by Our Country Deserves Better. We certainly do.

Here is yesterday’s press release:

(SACRAMENTO – September 25, 2008) – The Our Country Deserves Better Committee (website: www.OurCountryDeservesBetter.com) – a federal PAC organized to defeat the Obama/Biden ticket – applauds Senator John McCain’s decision to make his priority the economic needs of this country and focus on the crisis that has hit the financial industry. As a U.S. Senator, he has decided to put the job he was elected to do ahead of his political aspirations.

However, since we are not elected officials, the Our Country Deserves Better committee will continue to campaign for the McCain/Palin ticket, and against the Obama/Biden ticket, and to that end we are releasing today this new web-ad: “Sarah Palin Better Than Barack Obama.” The ad contrasts Palin’s executive experience with Obama’s lack thereof, and notes that Obama’s perceived strength – his gift for gab – isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

Watch this web-ad here.

I have the video here for your convenience.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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Founders’ Daily Quote: 26 Sept 08

“I am principled against this kind of traffic in the human species…and to disperse the families I have an aversion.”

–George Washington (letter to Robert Lewis, 18 August 1799); Reference: Washington’s Maxims, 159.

Source: Patriot Post.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts.

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