This is going to be a relatively short post. I just want to get the idea in print. I will revisit it later and develop the idea more fully. I'll enjoy your comments , if you are so moved.
The idea I'm setting forth has several inspirations. One, my brother-in-law got me Ken Burns video series on WWII for Christmas. Disc one covers several instances of regrettable moments in the fight against the Axis powers, specifically the Japanese. Regrettable in the sense of being a pity certain actions were deemed necessary, not in the sense that in hindsight it was necessarily wrong. First was the internment of Japaneses-Americans. I did not read the book Michelle Malkin wrote about this, In Defense of Internment, but from what I've read about it she cites evidence of espionage and such, that the U.S. needed to curtail, and believed the best way was to round them up and control them. From the high regard I hold Malkin's journalism/scholarship I'm confident she makes a good argument. I also imagine she finds deeply regrettable the fact that many, probably the vast majority, of Japanese-Americans were not only innocent of all suspicions, but deeply patriotic and deeply in love with America.
The second thing from Burns documentary was the testimony of U.S. veterans from the Bataan death march. One in particular spoke of the decision not to take prisoners, which was made after experiencing the utter, inhuman cruelty of the Japanese. You can judge these men if you will, I find it a perfectly rational response.
The other inspiration for this post is the assassination of Butto, along with the Canadian Muslim father who murdered his daughter for not wearing the headcovering, along with all the many, many instances we've learned of these past few years of the evil perpetrated by Muslims upon their own fellow Muslims, let alone upon their enemies. (Don't waste your time with a comment that seeks to relativize these actions I'm calling evil. If they're not morally evil, then the category has no meaning).
These are desperate times. We in America and in the civilized non-Muslim world and in the Muslim world also, are locked in mortal combat with those who have exercised their free will to become part of a death cult. A death cult not only because it threatens lethal violence upon whoever they deem apostate or infidel, but also because it seeks to extinguish so much that makes life a good thing.
Here's my idea. America has stood from its inception for the God-given rights of the individual. This is why our constitutional form of government seeks to protect us from tyranny in all forms. That is why we have a Bill of Rights. Is there any reason why we cannot logically extend these rights in a law that makes it illegal for any group, religious or otherwise, to authorize violence upon those within its group who choose to leave it or upon those it deems its enemy?
This is not to say that a group cannot condemn such an individual, shun them, disinherit them, or pronounce whatever eternal consequence upon them they wish. But they cannot, upon penalty of law, perform any act of physical violence upon them.
Who would object to such a law, I'd like to know? Well certainly the ACLU, that's a given since this law's purpose is to strengthen America. But who else? Jews? You can be many things antithetical to Judaism and they don't care. (Become a Christian and many Jews would renounce and shun you but that wouldn't offend this law.) Christians? We'll cry if one of our kids renounce Christ but we long ago stopped beating the tar out of them. (Not that those that did were likely to have been true Christians!) Atheists? Buddhists? Hindus? Not that I can imagine.
Who then? Well, I think we all know the answer to this one. Muslims! CAIR, ISNA, and every acronym describing a group of Muslims out there. And that's just the point. This isn't Saudi Arabia. You're welcome to be a Muslim here if you are willing to recognize you have no right to issue a fatwa calling for violence against any individual within the borders of these United States.
I happen to believe many, many Muslims in America would have no problem with this and that many, many would find it quite liberating. I think its apparent that one reason we've not had anything other than very small acts of terrorism since 9-11 (I don't buy into the idea that we've had NO acts of terrorism since 9-11) is because most Muslims in America like it over here. But many do not. And if they don't, and if they aren't willing to abide by this law, they have 2 choices- leave our shores or take up residence in our prisons.
Which brings me to the last point. This law must have teeth. If a mosque wants to remain a Wahabist, terrorist abetting , Osama loving outpost of hatred- its going down. I say the gov't burns it to the ground if, in a court of law, it is found guilty of breaking this law.
Before your knee jerks with howls of fascism, let me reiterate that I'm very cool with having "moderate" Muslims as my fellow citizens. I don't know many Muslims but I'm confident many are just that. As anecdotal evidence for this, I take the testimony of an Israeli friend I have who lives on one of the Kibbutzim that endures daily shelling by Kassam rockets sent by the lovely Palestinians in Gaza. I asked him about Muslims he's known personally. He said he has only known well about 20 or so in his many years as an Israeli, and he's not met one yet that he didn't like or that he felt was a threat to him. To me, that's remarkable. But if he says so, I believe him. And then I conclude that probably most are either "moderate" or would gladly be so if the influence of the radicals were removed.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
NTSITB #1
I have a pretty high tolerance for Rudy's boasting of accomplishments while Mayor of NYC. He turned that city around, not alone of course but with the help of many community leaders and administrators, but all of it under his bold leadership, and in spite of an extremely liberal and entrenched power structure. I've indicated that my enthusiasm of Rudy for Pres has waned somewhat, though I think he has many cards yet to play and a street fighter's instinct for gutting thru to a win. If Rudy's not the guy, I hope someone will act on the key principle by which Rudy turned the crime situation in NYC around. That was the BROKEN WINDOWS PRINCIPLE. The idea is that by dealing aggressively with small crimes you get the happy result of a sharp reduction in major crimes.
In my administration, this principle will be followed in most every area I am given responsibility. The principle, as my people and I shall execute it, will be called 'Nip That S**t In The Bud' (or NTSITB, for short).
I've never understood why conservatives gave Pres Clinton and Atty Gen. Janet Reno so much crap for the Waco "standoff". I would have agreed with it had the criticism been directed at the amount of time it took until the situation was brought to its conclusion, but most of the criticism was that the gov't went after Koresh and the Davidians at all. As I understand it, the ATF had probable cause to search the compound. The moment 3 ATF agents were shot and killed was the moment all debate was over. From that moment on, I would have used whatever was necessary to bring those people out as quickly as possible, WITH NO ATTEMPT AT NEGOTIATION, with maximum regard for the safety of my agents.
One armored, tracked vehicle and one sufficiently protected driver and one bullhorn could have done the job. I would have said, "You in there! You are coming out in the next 5 minutes or the west quarter of your building is coming down. I know there are women and children in there but their safety is your problem. If you decide not to come out you'd be smart to move everybody to the east side." They either come out or they lose 25% of their building and whoever's in it. Following this procedure ends the matter in 20 minutes, max.
Worst case scenario you've got a lot of dead people THAT WERE KILLED BY A CRAZY MAN, and its over in a day. As it was, you had a lot of dead people after a lot of negotiation and 51 days of aggravating and demoralizing the American people. I guarantee you that the next wacko group with guns and Armageddon on its mind has less reason to think they can prevail against the authorities.
NTSITB!
Which brings me to my real topic- Russell Means and the Lakota Tribe declaring themselves to no longer be citizens of the United States of America.
My Indian friends, come into the 21st century, where life is good. Many, many of your brothers and sisters have and will tell you the same thing. There's plenty for everybody. Just be willing to work, obey the laws, raise your kids right, take your pleasures in moderation and leave your space better than you found it. You can worship God or the Great Spirit as you understand Him and in whatever manner you wish. I know, I know, it wasn't fair that some people came over here a long time ago and they and your ancestors couldn't get along. But, whether you accept it or not, there was plenty blame to go around on all sides. Whether you accept that or not, the clock's not turning back. Citing some United Nations declaration doesn't mean squat, its not the law of this land. Mexicans aren't getting back Texas or Southern California and you're not getting absolute independence. It just isn't going to happen! Not. Going. To. Happen.
I don't have any more than a laymen's knowledge of the Federal rights of "Native Americans" on designated reservations, but however the laws that pertain to these things are written, politically it does not serve the interests of the citizens of the USA to permit the undoing of the status quo.
So, NTSITB! If the Lakota truly want to dissolve all ties with the U.S. and back out of the treaties, however badly they're written or however badly they've been mismanaged, then fine. No more reservation, no more casinos. You got those because of the deal. You don't want the deal, you don't get the benefits. The history of the world is replete with conquest and shifting of populations. America's nothing special in that regard.
Civilization is a delicate thing. We're dealing with many threats to it from without. We don't need to have to defend it from within.
NTSITB!
In my administration, this principle will be followed in most every area I am given responsibility. The principle, as my people and I shall execute it, will be called 'Nip That S**t In The Bud' (or NTSITB, for short).
I've never understood why conservatives gave Pres Clinton and Atty Gen. Janet Reno so much crap for the Waco "standoff". I would have agreed with it had the criticism been directed at the amount of time it took until the situation was brought to its conclusion, but most of the criticism was that the gov't went after Koresh and the Davidians at all. As I understand it, the ATF had probable cause to search the compound. The moment 3 ATF agents were shot and killed was the moment all debate was over. From that moment on, I would have used whatever was necessary to bring those people out as quickly as possible, WITH NO ATTEMPT AT NEGOTIATION, with maximum regard for the safety of my agents.
One armored, tracked vehicle and one sufficiently protected driver and one bullhorn could have done the job. I would have said, "You in there! You are coming out in the next 5 minutes or the west quarter of your building is coming down. I know there are women and children in there but their safety is your problem. If you decide not to come out you'd be smart to move everybody to the east side." They either come out or they lose 25% of their building and whoever's in it. Following this procedure ends the matter in 20 minutes, max.
Worst case scenario you've got a lot of dead people THAT WERE KILLED BY A CRAZY MAN, and its over in a day. As it was, you had a lot of dead people after a lot of negotiation and 51 days of aggravating and demoralizing the American people. I guarantee you that the next wacko group with guns and Armageddon on its mind has less reason to think they can prevail against the authorities.
NTSITB!
Which brings me to my real topic- Russell Means and the Lakota Tribe declaring themselves to no longer be citizens of the United States of America.
My Indian friends, come into the 21st century, where life is good. Many, many of your brothers and sisters have and will tell you the same thing. There's plenty for everybody. Just be willing to work, obey the laws, raise your kids right, take your pleasures in moderation and leave your space better than you found it. You can worship God or the Great Spirit as you understand Him and in whatever manner you wish. I know, I know, it wasn't fair that some people came over here a long time ago and they and your ancestors couldn't get along. But, whether you accept it or not, there was plenty blame to go around on all sides. Whether you accept that or not, the clock's not turning back. Citing some United Nations declaration doesn't mean squat, its not the law of this land. Mexicans aren't getting back Texas or Southern California and you're not getting absolute independence. It just isn't going to happen! Not. Going. To. Happen.
I don't have any more than a laymen's knowledge of the Federal rights of "Native Americans" on designated reservations, but however the laws that pertain to these things are written, politically it does not serve the interests of the citizens of the USA to permit the undoing of the status quo.
So, NTSITB! If the Lakota truly want to dissolve all ties with the U.S. and back out of the treaties, however badly they're written or however badly they've been mismanaged, then fine. No more reservation, no more casinos. You got those because of the deal. You don't want the deal, you don't get the benefits. The history of the world is replete with conquest and shifting of populations. America's nothing special in that regard.
Civilization is a delicate thing. We're dealing with many threats to it from without. We don't need to have to defend it from within.
NTSITB!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Thanks Hugh, You Really Are The Godfather
From zero readers per day to nearly 3,000 today as of this moment, virtually all from Hugh's website, only an ingrate wouldn't say thanks. Call me an infidel, but don't call me an ingrate!
Hugh is either a very busy man who didn't read my not-so-kind remark about his man Mitt, or he did read it and is in fact a Compleat Gentleman. My money's on him being beyond the pettiness of mortals. If not, being the Godfather and all, I now live on borrowed time.
My son, who is not only an accomplished blogger (www.boredsoldier.blogspot.com and now www.voxveterana.com) but an attendee of the recent BlogWorld, tells me the key to successful blogging is shameless self-promotion. I honestly don't have that in me. In fact, the thing I'm looking forward to most in my campaign for President in 2020, is telling people who don't like me or what I stand for- "Well then, don't vote for me! How complicated is that!"
For those of you who not only read some of my stuff, but left a comment- thanks for your input.
If you'll check back from time to time, I hope you'll be rewarded.
Hugh is either a very busy man who didn't read my not-so-kind remark about his man Mitt, or he did read it and is in fact a Compleat Gentleman. My money's on him being beyond the pettiness of mortals. If not, being the Godfather and all, I now live on borrowed time.
My son, who is not only an accomplished blogger (www.boredsoldier.blogspot.com and now www.voxveterana.com) but an attendee of the recent BlogWorld, tells me the key to successful blogging is shameless self-promotion. I honestly don't have that in me. In fact, the thing I'm looking forward to most in my campaign for President in 2020, is telling people who don't like me or what I stand for- "Well then, don't vote for me! How complicated is that!"
For those of you who not only read some of my stuff, but left a comment- thanks for your input.
If you'll check back from time to time, I hope you'll be rewarded.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
The Muse Has Returned!
Welcome back!
Oh yeah, I was the one who was gone. But hey, what's 8 or 9 months between friends?
So, what have I been up to? (Rude way to start a conversation, focusing on me. But you can tell me what you've been up to in the comment section. Even if you're new here, tell me what you've been up to. It's only fair. I really care! I mean it.)
At the risk of this sounding like a Christmas letter, here's what happened since my last post, in a nutshell.
1) Work. Going pretty well, I guess. Made payroll every week and I played a lot of golf. If that doesn't qualify as a pretty good year then your standards are way too high.
2) Family. The missus hasn't left me and seems less likely to do so with every passing year. Next anniversary is no. 38. She gets better looking with every passing day. I feel pretty smart about that because; apparently not everybody gets a trophy wife with the first shot.
Kids are good. Both are out of the nest and have bought houses, so the risk of having them come back seems pretty small at this point. The oldest one; the musician/artist/craftsman with his mother's classic good looks, married a sweetheart and they should be producing grandkids pretty soon. The younger one; the war hero with his fathers wit and dashing good looks is amazingly unattached. His aunt keeps saying, "So what's wrong with that one?" But I applaud his high standards.
3) Health. (Important for a man who plans on you making him your president in 12 more years.) Good, thanks for asking. I got rid of a thyroid that decided to run its own show. I humored my good wife by getting checked for sleep apnea. I now sleep with scuba gear on my head, which apparently hasn't diminished my sexiness. My daily need for a nap is gone, I stay up an hour or two longer and, for the first time in my life, I'm going to the gym. I'm so damn healthy its scary.
I still follow the Eat What You Want And Die Like A Man diet. As long as Lipitor keeps doing its job, that is. There was the matter of the triglycerides being in the 400 range, which the doctor said in and of itself won't kill you. He suggested I booze it a little less as an experiment. I did him one better and teetotaled for a month, which brought in down into the 150s or so. I said, "Doc, now we know how to bring it down if it ever becomes necessary. Until then I'll drink like I want." Bearing in mind that moderate drinking is better than either being an alcoholic or a teetotaler, he said he couldn't fault my logic.
Remind me to share my list of favorite adult beverages sometime. Until then, let me recommend Campari and orange juice for breakfast. Seriously, its like a pink grapefruit, but better!
4) Recreation. I accomplished my goal for my golf game this year. First, I finally got new sticks. Son #1 got me and son #2 about 35% off on Taylormade clubs due to working in the industrial design firm that did all the design work that's made Taylormade the top selling brand.
These clubs confirmed my long held belief that its 95% swing/5% equipment. In other words, it made the game more pleasurable but it's still not too difficult to hit bad shots. Also, let me tell you, Movable Weight Technology is 99% marketing. I've got my R7 set for a full draw and I haven't yet "said goodbye to the right side of the golf course".
Getting the thyroid out though, has cured my slice.
Second goal, getting my handicap up where it belongs. Nicklaus renovated our course, the Scarlet at Ohio State University, and my old 10 is now a 14. There's about 400% more (and deeper) sand than before, plus the greens have more complexities than a bipolar schizophrenic with ADD. Next year though, its coming down.
I turn 55 in a few months which means I'm a 'senior' in the amateur golf world. Now I only have to get my butt kicked by guys older than me. It always helps to narrow the field.
OK, updates over. Now for the politics.
Rudy- I still like him though I no longer love him. I thought he addressed the abortion issue head-on in a way that satisfied this evangelical. I think he'd handle the immigration problem as well as anyone, despite the position he held as NYC mayor. I really, really, really wish he'd tackle the 2nd Amend (right to arm bears) soon, as forthrightly and intelligently as he did abortion, because he can't be as stupid on it as he was when mayor.
Positive- I'm as confident as its humanly possible to be, that he's the one we want to conduct the War On Terror (call it whatever the hell you want). I also drool with pleasure at the thought of him going after the saboteurs at State/CIA/Pentagon. You remember how quick we got the hostages back from Iran when Reagan got elected? That's how quick the leakers to the NYT/WP would find other hobbies.
Negative- I already mentioned gun control. The other thing that drove me to distraction was his synchophantic answer to the global warming question at the Iowa debate the other day. All of a sudden he and all the rest (besides Fred) are climatologists? Sheesh!
Romney- I find it hard to imagine that America will elect someone who looks like Ronald Reagan and Max Headroom's lovechild.
Look, I'll vote for him if I have to but 1) I still think unless the Democrat has a major meltdown, he's only barely electable, and 2) the more Hugh Hewitt (of whom I'm a big fan) fawns over him the more I dislike him. Hugh, buddy, back off. You're baring your ass and you can't see it.
Fred- I'm liking him more as the debates proceed, and I love all the Fred Thompson Facts on www.imao.us, but with no executive experience, he's a crap shoot.
McCain- Sorry Powerline, even if I could forget McCain-Feingold, the gang of 14, his maverick tonedeafness on immigration, etc, etc, etc, he became dead to me the moment he used "swiftboat" as a perjorative verb.
If I haven't said this before- The "Swifties" are owed a debt greater than America could ever repay, for telling the truth about the service of Vietnam veterans and about John F. Kerry. (Why that man isn't in Leavenworth for his traitorious acts is a dark stain on the soul of America.)
The "Swifties" and the former POWs who took on the common mission to dispel the myths and lies that have attached themselve to Vietnam veterans are the best examples of American manhood alive today.
For McCain to disparage these men is unforgivable to me. At least in a political sense.
Huckabee- What a phony, empty-suited idiot. He gives televangelists a bad name. That he is soaring in the polls makes me despair for what passes for the right- (nonbraindead) side of the political spectrum. If you want to see what it would be like if Pat Robertson were Pres, vote for Huckabee.
Ron Paul- I guess if he wasn't real someone would have to invent him. Kind of like the way rock and roll always needs someone to be the most avant garde, e.g. Rolling Stones, Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson. A vacuum that needs filled.
Until next time-
Thatttttttttt's all folks. I promise it'll not be so long for the next post.
Oh yeah, I was the one who was gone. But hey, what's 8 or 9 months between friends?
So, what have I been up to? (Rude way to start a conversation, focusing on me. But you can tell me what you've been up to in the comment section. Even if you're new here, tell me what you've been up to. It's only fair. I really care! I mean it.)
At the risk of this sounding like a Christmas letter, here's what happened since my last post, in a nutshell.
1) Work. Going pretty well, I guess. Made payroll every week and I played a lot of golf. If that doesn't qualify as a pretty good year then your standards are way too high.
2) Family. The missus hasn't left me and seems less likely to do so with every passing year. Next anniversary is no. 38. She gets better looking with every passing day. I feel pretty smart about that because; apparently not everybody gets a trophy wife with the first shot.
Kids are good. Both are out of the nest and have bought houses, so the risk of having them come back seems pretty small at this point. The oldest one; the musician/artist/craftsman with his mother's classic good looks, married a sweetheart and they should be producing grandkids pretty soon. The younger one; the war hero with his fathers wit and dashing good looks is amazingly unattached. His aunt keeps saying, "So what's wrong with that one?" But I applaud his high standards.
3) Health. (Important for a man who plans on you making him your president in 12 more years.) Good, thanks for asking. I got rid of a thyroid that decided to run its own show. I humored my good wife by getting checked for sleep apnea. I now sleep with scuba gear on my head, which apparently hasn't diminished my sexiness. My daily need for a nap is gone, I stay up an hour or two longer and, for the first time in my life, I'm going to the gym. I'm so damn healthy its scary.
I still follow the Eat What You Want And Die Like A Man diet. As long as Lipitor keeps doing its job, that is. There was the matter of the triglycerides being in the 400 range, which the doctor said in and of itself won't kill you. He suggested I booze it a little less as an experiment. I did him one better and teetotaled for a month, which brought in down into the 150s or so. I said, "Doc, now we know how to bring it down if it ever becomes necessary. Until then I'll drink like I want." Bearing in mind that moderate drinking is better than either being an alcoholic or a teetotaler, he said he couldn't fault my logic.
Remind me to share my list of favorite adult beverages sometime. Until then, let me recommend Campari and orange juice for breakfast. Seriously, its like a pink grapefruit, but better!
4) Recreation. I accomplished my goal for my golf game this year. First, I finally got new sticks. Son #1 got me and son #2 about 35% off on Taylormade clubs due to working in the industrial design firm that did all the design work that's made Taylormade the top selling brand.
These clubs confirmed my long held belief that its 95% swing/5% equipment. In other words, it made the game more pleasurable but it's still not too difficult to hit bad shots. Also, let me tell you, Movable Weight Technology is 99% marketing. I've got my R7 set for a full draw and I haven't yet "said goodbye to the right side of the golf course".
Getting the thyroid out though, has cured my slice.
Second goal, getting my handicap up where it belongs. Nicklaus renovated our course, the Scarlet at Ohio State University, and my old 10 is now a 14. There's about 400% more (and deeper) sand than before, plus the greens have more complexities than a bipolar schizophrenic with ADD. Next year though, its coming down.
I turn 55 in a few months which means I'm a 'senior' in the amateur golf world. Now I only have to get my butt kicked by guys older than me. It always helps to narrow the field.
OK, updates over. Now for the politics.
Rudy- I still like him though I no longer love him. I thought he addressed the abortion issue head-on in a way that satisfied this evangelical. I think he'd handle the immigration problem as well as anyone, despite the position he held as NYC mayor. I really, really, really wish he'd tackle the 2nd Amend (right to arm bears) soon, as forthrightly and intelligently as he did abortion, because he can't be as stupid on it as he was when mayor.
Positive- I'm as confident as its humanly possible to be, that he's the one we want to conduct the War On Terror (call it whatever the hell you want). I also drool with pleasure at the thought of him going after the saboteurs at State/CIA/Pentagon. You remember how quick we got the hostages back from Iran when Reagan got elected? That's how quick the leakers to the NYT/WP would find other hobbies.
Negative- I already mentioned gun control. The other thing that drove me to distraction was his synchophantic answer to the global warming question at the Iowa debate the other day. All of a sudden he and all the rest (besides Fred) are climatologists? Sheesh!
Romney- I find it hard to imagine that America will elect someone who looks like Ronald Reagan and Max Headroom's lovechild.
Look, I'll vote for him if I have to but 1) I still think unless the Democrat has a major meltdown, he's only barely electable, and 2) the more Hugh Hewitt (of whom I'm a big fan) fawns over him the more I dislike him. Hugh, buddy, back off. You're baring your ass and you can't see it.
Fred- I'm liking him more as the debates proceed, and I love all the Fred Thompson Facts on www.imao.us, but with no executive experience, he's a crap shoot.
McCain- Sorry Powerline, even if I could forget McCain-Feingold, the gang of 14, his maverick tonedeafness on immigration, etc, etc, etc, he became dead to me the moment he used "swiftboat" as a perjorative verb.
If I haven't said this before- The "Swifties" are owed a debt greater than America could ever repay, for telling the truth about the service of Vietnam veterans and about John F. Kerry. (Why that man isn't in Leavenworth for his traitorious acts is a dark stain on the soul of America.)
The "Swifties" and the former POWs who took on the common mission to dispel the myths and lies that have attached themselve to Vietnam veterans are the best examples of American manhood alive today.
For McCain to disparage these men is unforgivable to me. At least in a political sense.
Huckabee- What a phony, empty-suited idiot. He gives televangelists a bad name. That he is soaring in the polls makes me despair for what passes for the right- (nonbraindead) side of the political spectrum. If you want to see what it would be like if Pat Robertson were Pres, vote for Huckabee.
Ron Paul- I guess if he wasn't real someone would have to invent him. Kind of like the way rock and roll always needs someone to be the most avant garde, e.g. Rolling Stones, Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson. A vacuum that needs filled.
Until next time-
Thatttttttttt's all folks. I promise it'll not be so long for the next post.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Gathering of Eagles
Went to DC this past weekend to check out the house that the missus and I will quite possibly occupy in a few years. Nice yard! I think I can keep my wedge play sharp there. I wonder if the gardeners will hold their jobs at my pleasure or if they've got some sort of civil service deal that gives them the right to refuse to fix my divots. Perhaps one of you- my fellow Americans- might have a son or daughter, or a grandchild, that might like to intern for me in 2020. If they feel it would be a great honor to serve their country in this capacity, and they wouldn't think themselves above a little yard work, I'm sure we can work something out. Perhaps a Chick Evans Scholarship can also be arranged.
Someone in uniform (might've been a Park Ranger- I didn't get a good look) was passing out forms to the people waiting for a tour of the White House. I asked where the end of the line was and was curtly informed that you have to go thru your congressman to get on the list. Silly me. I'll bet most of you folks knew about that, huh? Just think what a funny, self-effacing story that will make some day if, as President, I bump into a tour group as I'm heading out to the front yard with a bucket of balls and a Heineken. (I bet the Dutch will love us when that happens!)
Being a Vietnam Era veteran (USAF '72-76) I thought I'd lend a hand, if needed, to tackle any anti-war type confused enough to think the first amendment gave them a right to deface the Wall, as I'd heard some had threatened to do. Being a Vietnam Era veteran, and unaccustomed to actual physical confrontation, I brought along a friend (Marines '69-72) and one of my sons (Army Reserves- 2 tours in Iraq). As it turns out, when some thousands of veterans actually show up, the park service puts up metal detectors and airport-level security to make our being there unnecessary. Does anyone besides me think that if only a handful of us had shown up, the security would have been more on the level of a public library? I'd like to know that the primary concern was the protection of the national war memorials from the vandals and not saving sorry asses from reaping the consequences of their foolishness. One does wonder.
A few observations:
I won't say our crowd wasn't a somewhat motley crew, but looking into the faces of the vets you saw a seriousness of purpose and a deep sense of honor that has got to be one of our greatest national resources. These guys could have and would have moved a mountain that day, if a mountain needed moving.
If I knew a poet, I'd pay him a hundred dollars to put into words just how wonderful the feelings are at seeing a black veteran wearing unit insignia and saluting the flag with fierce pride and love of country. I guess that makes me a racist.
Most encouraging sight of the day- seeing a busload of middle schoolers hit the street with signs of support for the troops and for Pres. Bush.
I don't mean to belittle the Vietnam Memorial (the Wall) but honestly, its not near as cool as the Korean Memorial. (Look up pictures and you'll see what I mean.) I also found the Lincoln Memorial quite inspirational and I look forward to seeing "Forrest Gump" again.
I was interviewed and made a statement I regret. I was asked about the anti-war crowd and said that I have no problem with 99% of them who are only exercising their 1st amendment rights. I said that because I had calculated that maybe 1% were anarchists who came hoping to pelt a cop or deface property. So I had that 99/1% thing in mind when asked the question. After the interview, and after observing the anti-war crowd, I think I can only muster respect for 10-20% of them. The rest are a sorry lot of sad people, a mixture of true believers (commies) who think they want to see the gov't overthrown by revolution in the streets; juveniles (young & old) who want a personal connection to Janis, Jimmy, Woodstock, Haight-Ashbury, and the Chicago 7; and those of my fellow Christians desperately & pathologically seeking personal moral superiority. Folks, this is not a movement to be taken seriously, except to the extent the media and the left amplify it.
Far more enjoyable than watching protesters and counter-protesters in brutal, butt-kicking cold and wind, was being in an Irish pub a few blocks from the Whitehouse, washing down clam linguini with Jamison's & Foggy Bottom Ale while convincing an anti-war type from Calif to root for the Buckeyes over Xavier.
God bless America!
Someone in uniform (might've been a Park Ranger- I didn't get a good look) was passing out forms to the people waiting for a tour of the White House. I asked where the end of the line was and was curtly informed that you have to go thru your congressman to get on the list. Silly me. I'll bet most of you folks knew about that, huh? Just think what a funny, self-effacing story that will make some day if, as President, I bump into a tour group as I'm heading out to the front yard with a bucket of balls and a Heineken. (I bet the Dutch will love us when that happens!)
Being a Vietnam Era veteran (USAF '72-76) I thought I'd lend a hand, if needed, to tackle any anti-war type confused enough to think the first amendment gave them a right to deface the Wall, as I'd heard some had threatened to do. Being a Vietnam Era veteran, and unaccustomed to actual physical confrontation, I brought along a friend (Marines '69-72) and one of my sons (Army Reserves- 2 tours in Iraq). As it turns out, when some thousands of veterans actually show up, the park service puts up metal detectors and airport-level security to make our being there unnecessary. Does anyone besides me think that if only a handful of us had shown up, the security would have been more on the level of a public library? I'd like to know that the primary concern was the protection of the national war memorials from the vandals and not saving sorry asses from reaping the consequences of their foolishness. One does wonder.
A few observations:
I won't say our crowd wasn't a somewhat motley crew, but looking into the faces of the vets you saw a seriousness of purpose and a deep sense of honor that has got to be one of our greatest national resources. These guys could have and would have moved a mountain that day, if a mountain needed moving.
If I knew a poet, I'd pay him a hundred dollars to put into words just how wonderful the feelings are at seeing a black veteran wearing unit insignia and saluting the flag with fierce pride and love of country. I guess that makes me a racist.
Most encouraging sight of the day- seeing a busload of middle schoolers hit the street with signs of support for the troops and for Pres. Bush.
I don't mean to belittle the Vietnam Memorial (the Wall) but honestly, its not near as cool as the Korean Memorial. (Look up pictures and you'll see what I mean.) I also found the Lincoln Memorial quite inspirational and I look forward to seeing "Forrest Gump" again.
I was interviewed and made a statement I regret. I was asked about the anti-war crowd and said that I have no problem with 99% of them who are only exercising their 1st amendment rights. I said that because I had calculated that maybe 1% were anarchists who came hoping to pelt a cop or deface property. So I had that 99/1% thing in mind when asked the question. After the interview, and after observing the anti-war crowd, I think I can only muster respect for 10-20% of them. The rest are a sorry lot of sad people, a mixture of true believers (commies) who think they want to see the gov't overthrown by revolution in the streets; juveniles (young & old) who want a personal connection to Janis, Jimmy, Woodstock, Haight-Ashbury, and the Chicago 7; and those of my fellow Christians desperately & pathologically seeking personal moral superiority. Folks, this is not a movement to be taken seriously, except to the extent the media and the left amplify it.
Far more enjoyable than watching protesters and counter-protesters in brutal, butt-kicking cold and wind, was being in an Irish pub a few blocks from the Whitehouse, washing down clam linguini with Jamison's & Foggy Bottom Ale while convincing an anti-war type from Calif to root for the Buckeyes over Xavier.
God bless America!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Post Time
49-48! Our Buckeyes take their second outright basketball Big Ten Championship in a row! Long live Coach Matta!
I guess this is a celebratory post (and that officially makes me a geek). I know that as your President I will have to show magnanimity (that's a word, right?) in victory. This won't be hard for me personally, since I have so very much to be humble about. But I do love my Buckeyes, and as long as we have Coaches Tressel and Matta I believe I'll have plenty of opportunities to learn this diplomatic skill. Although, the state of Michigan may very well hope to secede come 2020. I promise not to stand in their way.
To continue what I began in the last post, viz. giving you some information you'll need to fix my coordinates on the political map, here's something fundamental to my makeup.
RELIGION- I'm a Christian and believe I will one day stand before God and will have to give an account of how I lived my life. It appears to me that nowadays the majority of my brethen would be quick to tell you that I'm not a real Christian just on the basis of what I've said under FOREIGN AID. To them I say- I'M JUST GETTING STARTED. (In your mind's ear I want you to hear Al Pacino saying that as in the movie Scent Of A Woman.
If you're a Muslim, or a Hindu, or an Atheist- you should prosper under my presidency, every bit as much as Christians or Jews. As your President, I will fight for your right to worship or not worship, as you see fit. But, if your faith or lack thereof, threatens the freedom of your fellow Americans, or if your religion or lack thereof is found to compel you to aid and abet the enemies of this great nation, I will fight you tooth and nail to kick your ass out of this country, never to return.
I have been reading the Bible and taking it seriously for 30+ years, and I have yet to find where God requires Christians, whose homes are ultimately found in heaven, to attempt to influence the nations they providentially inhabit, to adopt suicidal policies. Christians are called to be salt, not arsenic. Good government and peace and security for its citizens has God's stamp of approval.
The Church ought to speak prophetically to the culture. It ought not break the 3rd Commandment (of the Ten) and take the Lord's name in vain. It does this when it speaks as the Church, and therefore on the Lord's behalf, and gets it wrong. It does this a lot when it comes to politics. The leader of my denomination is sure God wants Taco Bell to pay more for its tomatoes and thinks its wise to go around saying so. This is taking the Lord's name in vain.
The Church also ought not break the 9th Commandment. It does this when it bears false witness against its neighbors. I could give more examples of the present-day Church* doing this than I care too, but here's just one. In the parking lot of the church I belong to, during the last election, was to be found the occasional bumper sticker- KERRY/EDWARDS "Truth For A Change". (In some churches, it seemed to be required to have this sticker to park in their lot.) The evidence is such that before most juries it would be very easy to prove that Kerry is a pathological liar and that Edwards is a professional one. To hold them up as the standard bearers for truth is to bear false witness.
Of course, the real objective of that bumper sticker was to malign Pres. Bush as the "great liar". Now maybe he's told us a lie before, though I've yet to detect one. I don't always agree with him, mainly about his presuppositions rather than his conclusions, but I've not found him to lie to the American people ("I did not have sex with that woman!). To many though, whether my christian brother Pres. Bush says he got up on the left side of the bed or the right, he's lying. This is called Bush Derangement Syndrome (BDS), a seemingly untreatable disease, and much of the church has a bad case of it. If you push one of them far enough,you find that they base their belief on stuff they've read that ultimately came from the NYT or the AP. This is called 'bearing false witness on the basis of false witness borne'.
The Church has been such a serial abuser of these 2 commandments that if it wishes to restore it's lost honor and credibility, it ought to shut the hell up for the next 5-10 years when it comes to politics. Probably longer. A minister caught in adultery ought to keep quiet for 5-10 years as part of his/her 'season of renewal. To abuse truth with regard to God and man is far more serious.
There's a little more to chew on. 'Til next time, be well!
* By 'Church' I mean any individuals or any organizations that self-identify as followers of Jesus Christ and who hold the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, to be God's Word, in some non-postmodern sense. This includes the Pope, Pat Robertson, Jim Wallis, the Presbys, the Orthodox, the Old Pentecostals, the New Pentecostals and all those in between.
I guess this is a celebratory post (and that officially makes me a geek). I know that as your President I will have to show magnanimity (that's a word, right?) in victory. This won't be hard for me personally, since I have so very much to be humble about. But I do love my Buckeyes, and as long as we have Coaches Tressel and Matta I believe I'll have plenty of opportunities to learn this diplomatic skill. Although, the state of Michigan may very well hope to secede come 2020. I promise not to stand in their way.
To continue what I began in the last post, viz. giving you some information you'll need to fix my coordinates on the political map, here's something fundamental to my makeup.
RELIGION- I'm a Christian and believe I will one day stand before God and will have to give an account of how I lived my life. It appears to me that nowadays the majority of my brethen would be quick to tell you that I'm not a real Christian just on the basis of what I've said under FOREIGN AID. To them I say- I'M JUST GETTING STARTED. (In your mind's ear I want you to hear Al Pacino saying that as in the movie Scent Of A Woman.
If you're a Muslim, or a Hindu, or an Atheist- you should prosper under my presidency, every bit as much as Christians or Jews. As your President, I will fight for your right to worship or not worship, as you see fit. But, if your faith or lack thereof, threatens the freedom of your fellow Americans, or if your religion or lack thereof is found to compel you to aid and abet the enemies of this great nation, I will fight you tooth and nail to kick your ass out of this country, never to return.
I have been reading the Bible and taking it seriously for 30+ years, and I have yet to find where God requires Christians, whose homes are ultimately found in heaven, to attempt to influence the nations they providentially inhabit, to adopt suicidal policies. Christians are called to be salt, not arsenic. Good government and peace and security for its citizens has God's stamp of approval.
The Church ought to speak prophetically to the culture. It ought not break the 3rd Commandment (of the Ten) and take the Lord's name in vain. It does this when it speaks as the Church, and therefore on the Lord's behalf, and gets it wrong. It does this a lot when it comes to politics. The leader of my denomination is sure God wants Taco Bell to pay more for its tomatoes and thinks its wise to go around saying so. This is taking the Lord's name in vain.
The Church also ought not break the 9th Commandment. It does this when it bears false witness against its neighbors. I could give more examples of the present-day Church* doing this than I care too, but here's just one. In the parking lot of the church I belong to, during the last election, was to be found the occasional bumper sticker- KERRY/EDWARDS "Truth For A Change". (In some churches, it seemed to be required to have this sticker to park in their lot.) The evidence is such that before most juries it would be very easy to prove that Kerry is a pathological liar and that Edwards is a professional one. To hold them up as the standard bearers for truth is to bear false witness.
Of course, the real objective of that bumper sticker was to malign Pres. Bush as the "great liar". Now maybe he's told us a lie before, though I've yet to detect one. I don't always agree with him, mainly about his presuppositions rather than his conclusions, but I've not found him to lie to the American people ("I did not have sex with that woman!). To many though, whether my christian brother Pres. Bush says he got up on the left side of the bed or the right, he's lying. This is called Bush Derangement Syndrome (BDS), a seemingly untreatable disease, and much of the church has a bad case of it. If you push one of them far enough,you find that they base their belief on stuff they've read that ultimately came from the NYT or the AP. This is called 'bearing false witness on the basis of false witness borne'.
The Church has been such a serial abuser of these 2 commandments that if it wishes to restore it's lost honor and credibility, it ought to shut the hell up for the next 5-10 years when it comes to politics. Probably longer. A minister caught in adultery ought to keep quiet for 5-10 years as part of his/her 'season of renewal. To abuse truth with regard to God and man is far more serious.
There's a little more to chew on. 'Til next time, be well!
* By 'Church' I mean any individuals or any organizations that self-identify as followers of Jesus Christ and who hold the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, to be God's Word, in some non-postmodern sense. This includes the Pope, Pat Robertson, Jim Wallis, the Presbys, the Orthodox, the Old Pentecostals, the New Pentecostals and all those in between.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
The Birthing of a President
Well, I finally figured out what I want to do when I grow up- BE YOUR PRESIDENT!
Hence this blog. One of my sons occasionally asks me what I'm going to do with all the wisdom and experience I've been accumulating my whole life. It's a fair question, given the amount of stupidity we live amongst these days.
I can't see where stupidity is going to decline any time soon. In fact, there are no encouraging signs that the ability to reason will be in much supply in the foreseeable future. Barring Alzheimer's, I also expect that I shall continue to figure more things out in the years to come. In 2020 I shall be 67 and if I continue to practice my regimen of serious golf, I should be mentally and physically at my peak by then.
I don't pretend to be the sharpest knife in the drawer. If there's someone more capable for that presidential cycle than me, I'll be happy to defer to him or her. But, from the looks of candidates that are taken seriously today- the Hillarys; the Obamas; the McCains, etc- if this trend continues, I MIGHT VERY WELL BE THE BEST YOU GOT! It's because of this possibility that I'm declaring my candicacy right now.
Hence this blog. One of my sons occasionally asks me what I'm going to do with all the wisdom and experience I've been accumulating my whole life. It's a fair question, given the amount of stupidity we live amongst these days.
I can't see where stupidity is going to decline any time soon. In fact, there are no encouraging signs that the ability to reason will be in much supply in the foreseeable future. Barring Alzheimer's, I also expect that I shall continue to figure more things out in the years to come. In 2020 I shall be 67 and if I continue to practice my regimen of serious golf, I should be mentally and physically at my peak by then.
I don't pretend to be the sharpest knife in the drawer. If there's someone more capable for that presidential cycle than me, I'll be happy to defer to him or her. But, from the looks of candidates that are taken seriously today- the Hillarys; the Obamas; the McCains, etc- if this trend continues, I MIGHT VERY WELL BE THE BEST YOU GOT! It's because of this possibility that I'm declaring my candicacy right now.
Why should you take my candicacy seriously? After all, you don't know squat about me. There are two reasons that come mind why you shouldn't.
1) You are so old you don't think you'll be around in 2020 and you don't care what happens here after you're dead. 2) You can tell from my advocacy of Rudy Giuliani that I'm not your cup of tea already.
Fair enough. If either of these categories fit you then I'll not feel bad if you don't visit my site in the days and years to come. But if you fall outside of these categories, what's a good reason for you to be excited about the prospect of my being your President in 2020?
I don't expect anybody to get excited right away. But imagine that you follow my journey to the presidency thru this site- you learn more and more about me that you like, you read things here that you disagree with and later change your mind about and thus respect me more, you see that there's a growing mass of voters who find that I'm making one heck of a lot of sense, the year 2020 is approaching and nothing but dipshits on the political horizon as far as the eye can see. All of a sudden- what seemed like a silly idea 12 years ago now seems like a stroke of unprecedented genius.
To wet your appetite, here's an example of what you can look forward to during my presidency.
FOREIGN AID I've never understood why we give billions of dollars to countries that treat us like crap. I know that a lot of stuff like this may make sense though, once I'm on the 'inside' and am in a better position to weigh the benefits with the costs. I'm guessing most people are like me and don't like the idea of taking my money and giving it to people like, for example, the Eqyptians. If I decide that we get more back (really more, whether tangible or intangble) than it costs, then I will do it (or push congress to do it or however that sort of thing is done- details) but it won't be called foreign aid, but what it really is- BRIBES. If a country takes bribes from us and then doesn't live up to the deal or otherwise treats us like crap, then the bribes stop and future dealings are based on OUR VERY BIG STICKS. And I'm of the opinion that Americans would be astonished to find out how very big our sticks actually are.
Well, that's enough to digest for now.
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