The Land of the Free & The Home of the Brave

This video is making it rounds around the internet.  It appears that some marines that are based out of Camp Lejeune are urinating on the dead bodies of Taliban fighters. If this is true and this really is what they did these men need to face military justice.  Standing up and saying that this behavior is unacceptable is not an indication that you are a fan of the Taliban.

Sadly, many are not only justifying this behavior but they are celebrating it.  Some comments that I have seen have gone as far as to say they should have taken a "dump" on them and used the Koran as toilet paper.  They are being celebrated as heroes.

Nothing about this is heroic.  We have the greatest military force on the face of the earth.  One of the reason that we have that is discipline.  Discipline that men follow the orders of their superiors.  Discipline that teaches them about honor and service to our nation. Discipline that gives them the courage to go into a theatre of war.  A type of discipline that so many others in our society are sorely lacking, that the rest of pay high prices in the forms of entitlement programs and crime.

What these marines did was endanger the lives of men and women serving in Afghanistan.  This video will not only be seen by people in the United States. This will be seen all over the world.  It will continue the message that the likes of al Qaeda sends that we are evil, or the Iranian version of the great satan.

America has stood up to tyranny all over the world.  We have freed millions upon millions people from the likes of Hitler and other evil men.  We went toe to toe with the likes of Stalin.  We won the cold war without firing a shot because we stood by our principles.  All life has dignity and everyone deserves the chance to experience freedom.  We scoff at the other leaders of the world who deny their citizens basic human rights.  We set up radio stations around the world to give people hope that one day they would experience the same types of human rights that we espouse. We have people fighting tooth and nail in this country to protect our freedoms that many believe are eroding before our eyes.

There is evil in the world, no one can deny that.  But do we overcome it by doing this?  I believe in American   exceptionalism.  I honor the troops for the service that they provide to our country.  I expect that they live up to that honor.

Quote of the Day -Dick Cheney Edition

"The key, I think, is to choose serious and vigilant leaders, to listen to the men and women who want us to entrust them with high office and judge whether they are saying what they think we want to hear or whether they have the larger cause of the country in mind. It's not always easy to move beyond pleasing promises, but in the case of America, the greater good is so grand. We're not a perfect country, but our founding ideals, right and true, have allowed human potential to unfold and creativity to thrive in ways never before seen on earth. We are so fortunate to be Americans. And we have a duty as clear as any I know to pass on this great nation, its possibilities undimmed, to the rising generations."

The final paragraph of Dick Cheney's memoir In My Time


I just heart Dick Cheney.

Ok, Now the Christmas Reading List Becomes Clear

Remember when it was announced that the president was reading a book about President Reagan over his Hawaiian vacation?  Well, it became clear to me why he read it; the idea of American exceptionalism.  This is a theme that conservatives revere and Americans for the most part just lap up.  While it is true that we have a small slice of our population that do nothing but bad mouth our country, but generally speaking Americans believe in the ideal of America.  President Reagan believed in his soul that America is the beacon of the world; the shining city.  That is line that whenever a retrospective of Reagan quotes comes up you will undoubtedly hear. 

President Obama is not one to talk about American exceptionalism too often.  At least from the conservative point of view.  It is probably one of the things that we detest most.  We all remember the line from First Lady Michelle Obama about being really proud of her country for the first time.  There are many that took real exception and the memory of that won't dim anytime soon.  The president himself once talked about how other countries that they were exceptional too.  While I am sure that there are plenty of people in the world that have no desire to live in the U.S. but we have people that will risk life and limb for the chance to come live here to reach their version of the "American Dream". 

 It's whether we sustain the leadership that has made America not just a place on a map, but a light to the world

 Remember - for all the hits we've taken these last few years, for all the naysayers predicting our decline, America still has the largest, most prosperous economy in the world. No workers are more productive than ours. No country has more successful companies, or grants more patents to inventors and entrepreneurs. We are home to the world's best colleges and universities, where more students come to study than any other place on Earth. What's more, we are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea - the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny. That is why centuries of pioneers and immigrants have risked everything to come here. It's why our students don't just memorize equations, but answer questions like "What do you think of that idea? What would you change about the world? What do you want to be when you grow up?" The future is ours to win.

This speech seemed almost Reaganesque.  Of course it didn't take long to go off the rails.  He then decided to go into the "investments" that we need to make.  I don't think anyone can deny that investments is just code for more spending.  He himself talked about how education starts at home and much depends on the parents paying attention to the homework and being involved.  The government cannot do that for a child.  One needs to look no further than Washington DC to see that.  The District spends close to $30,000 per student and has some of the worst performing public schools in the country.  While their has been some improvement over the past few years, not nearly enough for the kids who are stuck in that system.  His solution was yet again to throw more money at the problem, and to make it worse he wants it done with a federal program.  The system will not change until they are improved at the local level.  A part of that will have to be school choice.  The democrats constantly talk about fairness, there is nothing fair about forcing a child to stay in an under-performing school that is in some cases more expensive than giving that family a voucher for a better private or charter school.  The democrats have been yapping about fixing the public school systems for forty years, and so far all we have seen is our test scores and graduation rates decrease.  Isn't a sign of insanity to do the same thing and expect a different result? 

The problem is that we are in danger of losing the American Dream.  The spending and the debt is out of control.  We cannot stay on this path as it is unsustainable.  The American people have woken up to that fact.  Most of us have come to terms with the fact that the gravy train is over.  We want to deal with the spending and the debt.  We understand that cuts are necessary.  The vast majority of the people in this country will make the hard choices and will make the necessary sacrifices to give our children a chance to reach their goals and their chance to pursue happiness.  We cannot live in denial anymore.  We borrow 40% of everything that we are spending. 

One of the things that I find so frustrating about the democrats is that they could get the American people to go along with some of their of pet projects if they didn't push so hard.  I would venture to say that they could get a deal on a jobs program for hardworking illegals if they really secured the borders.  Many people in this country would pay higher taxes to get the debt down if the taxes actually went to pay down the debt instead of being spent on things we don't, such as grants that do research on foreign sex workers.  Stop the stupid spending and you will find that the American people will go along in order make things better for our children and grandchildren. 

I do hope that President Obama will spend more time talking about the exceptionalism of this country.  While I don't think he has an inner Reagan to channel, but he can read a few more biographies.  Maybe then he will actually make the hard choices and realize that we can solve these problems if they just stop pushing so hard to change this country into France.  We like the shining city on the hill, we believe in the shining city on the hill.  Come join us there President Obama, you may just find it isn't so bad. 

Beck Rally - A Good Time Had By All

I just got home from the Beck rally, and I am exhausted.  But, it was a great family day.  Since I live locally this is easy for me.  I scoped out the street closings beforehand, got up early and drove straight into the District and parked within a few minutes walk of the Lincoln Memorial. 


The one bad part was that many people were left off at a Metro Station in Virginia and they couldn't handle the people.  Many, like my friends Kerry and Joe, just gave up and took a taxi in.  I am sure that cost a pretty penny as that has to be 20 miles or more.  But, many did wait for the trains and missed the beginning of the program.  Which is the section that Sarah Palin was in, so I am sure many were disappointed about that.  As usual they underestimated the crowd at the beginning and stopped giving out unloading permits to buses.  The metro didn't open early as it should have, as much would have been avoided.  The metro lost a small fortune as many were given their fares for free. 


The people were lined up as far as the eye could see.  The Lincoln Memorial, for those who don't know, is away from Constitution Avenue by a few blocks, we were lined up from the reflecting pool all the way out to Constitution.  Just a little directional stuff here, the National Mall runs from the Lincoln Memorial all the way down to the Capitol Building.  Starting at the Virginia line, the Lincoln Memorial is first, then comes the reflecting pool, which then opens up to the WWII Memorial.  There is a street in between the WWII and the Washington Monument.  I heard that the crowd from the Beck rally made all the way across that street.  That is also where Al Sharpton's rally "Recapture the Dream" is what I believe it was called.  My friends who took a taxi in went by there, and told me that it was a very small crowd.  But, I didn't see it for myself so I don't know. 


I had an amazing seat.  Which since I got there at 5:30am I should have.  I didn't even need to look at the jumbotron, as I had a great view of the podium.  The one issue was that once the people who were delayed finally showed up, so many people got in front of me that I had a hard time seeing.  It sometimes really stinks being short. 


I met some amazing people, as I always do at these events.  The people behind me were from New York City of all places.  The young couple next to me was from Washington State, with I what I believe to be the youngest attendee, their one month old daughter, Mia.  A really cutie who was so well behaved.  The couple sitting next to me drove seven days from San Francisco.  The family in front of me was from Missouri.  I also met people from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Iowa, Indiana, and saw a bus that had a sign from Alaska.  Obviously, Beck drew people from all over the country. 


The one bad piece of news that I did receive today was from the young couple who was sitting to my left are from Nevada.  We got to talking about Harry Reid.  Of course they don't want to see him be re-elected, but they are not jazzed about Sharon Angle, some of her views are just to Ron Paulian for their tastes.  Not only that, none of their  friends or neighbors are either.  They told me that they are working on getting an Independent onto the ballot.  We all know what that means, Harry Reid gets re-elected. 


The photos are not very exciting, because I find the most interesting part is the inventiveness of the signs, and everyone listened.  The only signs were from the counter protesters.  One of which that said something about how evil religion is. 


I really would like a left minded individual to explain to me, what exactly is so scary about what we did today.  We prayed, we sang some hymns and The National Anthem, we listening to Amazing Grace on the Bagpipes and to some country music.  Really, what is so scary about that?  Look at those crazy radicals!!!  How dare they?  A boy scout of all things!!







Amazing Grace always gives me chills, but even more so when it is done on bagpipes. I know that I was not the only there who shed a few tears during this. 

I did do something a little naughty today.  I had to use the restroom and the porta potties were not really usable in very quick order.  I decided to walk up to the memorial itself to use that bathroom.  The media was interviewing some of the black people who were there and asking the same old boring questions about racism and The Tea Party.  I couldn't help myself; I went up and put my arm around the guy (whom I have never met) and gave him a peck on the cheek and told the reporter that I love this man's courage for standing by his convictions.  I looked at the reporter and said let the racism go, it is long since gotten old. 

Vietnam Vets

This is Military Man Joe, he has spent his entire adult life defending this country, Say Thanks Joe!!

As always, we cleaned up after ourselves. 

And of course the Tea Party's Fave Michele Bachmann held a mini townhall to give us a chance to speak to her and ask her questions after the Beck rally ended.  LOVE HER!!


I was supposed to go and meet the Hillbuzz Boys, but time ran out and I had to get home.  I am sorry that I didn't get a chance to go over and meet them in Foggy Bottom.  It would have been fun. 


Oh, here is an ariel photo of the "thousands" that attended.  Me and a  few of my nearest and dearest:  Really, it just me and my neighbors that showed up.

I don't know who took this photo, but I found it on facebook. 

A Brit's View of the Obama Presidency

Nile Gardiner, from Britian, is the Washington based foreign policy commentator for The Telegraph.  His views of the Obama presidency are pretty stunning.  The American people are seeing for themselves what exactly happens when we elect a man with no experience and a world view that is opposed to vast majority of the American people.  Most Americans do believe in American exceptionalism.  People come here from all over the world to find their own piece of the American dream.  That dream is may take a different direction from others, but the basic premise remains the same.  People come here to be free to be who they are. 

1. The Obama presidency is out of touch with the American people


In a previous post I noted how the Obama presidency increasingly resembles a modern-day Ancien Régime, extravagant, decaying and out of touch with ordinary Americans. The First Lady’s ill-conceived trip to Spain at a time of widespread economic hardship was symbolic of a White House that barely gives a second thought to public opinion on many issues, and frequently projects a distinctly elitist image. The “let them eat cake” approach didn’t play well over two centuries ago, and it won’t succeed today.

2. Most Americans don’t have confidence in the president’s leadership

This deficit of trust in Obama’s leadership is central to his decline. According to a recent Washington Post/ABC News poll, “nearly six in ten voters say they lack faith in the president to make the right decisions for the country”, and two thirds “say they are disillusioned with or angry about the way the federal government is working.” The poll showed that a staggering 58 per cent of Americans say they do not have confidence in the president’s decision-making, with just 42 per cent saying they do.

3. Obama fails to inspire

In contrast to the soaring rhetoric of his 2006 Convention speech in Chicago which succeeded in impressing millions of television viewers at the time, America is no longer inspired by Barack Obama’s flat, monotonous and often dull presidential speeches and statements delivered via teleprompter. From his extraordinarily uninspiring Afghanistan speech at West Point to his flat State of the Union address, President Obama has failed to touch the heart of America. Even Jimmy Carter was more moving.

4. The United States is drowning in debt

The Congressional Budget Office Long-Term Budget Outlook offers a frightening picture of the scale of America’s national debt. Under its alternative fiscal scenario, the CBO projects that US debt could rise to 87 percent of GDP by 2020, 109 percent by 2025, and 185 percent in 2035. While much of Europe, led by Britain and Germany, are aggressively cutting their deficits, the Obama administration is actively growing America’s debt, and has no plan in place to avert a looming Greek-style financial crisis.

5. Obama’s Big Government message is falling flat

The relentless emphasis on bailouts and stimulus spending has done little to spur economic growth or create jobs, but has greatly advanced the power of the federal government in America. This is not an approach that is proving popular with the American public, and even most European governments have long ditched this tax and spend approach to saving their own economies.

6. Obama’s support for socialised health care is a huge political mistake

In an extraordinary act of political Harakiri, President Obama leant his full support to the hugely controversial, unpopular and divisive health care reform bill, with a monstrous price tag of $940 billion, whose repeal is now supported by 55 per cent of likely US voters. As I wrote at the time of its passing, the legislation is “a great leap forward by the United States towards a European-style vision of universal health care, which will only lead to soaring costs, higher taxes, and a surge in red tape for small businesses. This reckless legislation dramatically expands the power of the state over the lives of individuals, and could not be further from the vision of America’s founding fathers.”

7. Obama’s handling of the Gulf oil spill has been weak-kneed and indecisive

While much of the spilled oil in the Gulf has now been thankfully cleared up, the political damage for the White House will be long-lasting. Instead of showing real leadership on the matter by acing decisively and drawing upon offers of international support, the Obama administration settled on a more convenient strategy of relentlessly bashing an Anglo-American company while largely sitting on its hands. Significantly, a poll of Louisiana voters gave George W. Bush higher marks for his handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with 62 percent disapproving of Obama’s performance on the Gulf oil spill.

8. US foreign policy is an embarrassing mess under the Obama administration

It is hard to think of a single foreign policy success for the Obama administration, but there have been plenty of missteps which have weakened American global power as well as the standing of the United States. The surrender to Moscow on Third Site missile defence, the failure to aggressively stand up to Iran’s nuclear programme, the decision to side with ousted Marxists in Honduras, the slap in the face for Great Britain over the Falklands, have all contributed to the image of a US administration completely out of its depth in international affairs. The Obama administration’s high risk strategy of appeasing America’s enemies while kicking traditional US allies has only succeeded in weakening the United States while strengthening her adversaries.

9. President Obama is muddled and confused on national security

From the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the War on Terror, President Obama’s leadership has often been muddled and confused. On Afghanistan he rightly sent tens of thousands of additional troops to the battlefield. At the same time however he bizarrely announced a timetable for the withdrawal of US forces beginning in July 2011, handing the initiative to the Taliban. On Iraq he has announced an end to combat operations and the withdrawal of all but 50,000 troops despite a recent upsurge in terrorist violence and political instability, and without the Iraqi military and police ready to take over. In addition he has ditched the concept of a War on Terror, replacing it with an Overseas Contingency Operation, hardly the right message to send in the midst of a long-war against Al-Qaeda.

10. Obama doesn’t believe in American greatness

Barack Obama has made it clear that he doesn’t believe in American exceptionalism, and has made apologising for his country into an art form. In a speech to the United Nations last September he stated that “no one nation can or should try to dominate another nation. No world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will succeed. No balance of power among nations will hold.” It is difficult to see how a US president who holds these views and does not even accept America’s greatness in history can actually lead the world’s only superpower with force and conviction.

There is a distinctly Titanic-like feel to the Obama presidency and it’s not hard to see why. The most left-wing president in modern American history has tried to force a highly interventionist, government-driven agenda that runs counter to the principles of free enterprise, individual freedom, and limited government that have made the United States the greatest power in the world, and the freest nation on earth.

This, combined with weak leadership both at home and abroad against the backdrop of tremendous economic uncertainty in an increasingly dangerous world, has contributed to a spectacular political collapse for a president once thought to be invincible. America at its core remains a deeply conservative nation, which cherishes its traditions and founding principles. President Obama is increasingly out of step with the American people, by advancing policies that undermine the United States as a global power, while undercutting America’s deep-seated love for freedom.

Listen to this speech about the American Dream and the important role it plays in the life of Americans, especially part 6, that is why people come from all over the world to come here: 

Some Nice Words to End the Weekend

Go West - Allen West on the NAACP

Everyday I love this man more.  The good news is that he is ahead in the polls.  It is a very slight lead, but a lead all the same.  Please give to his campaign if you can.  There is a donate button on the sidebar.

What's Great About America