The 912 Project

From comments at The Rott:

"Ask yourself these questions:

Do you watch the direction that America is being taken in and feel powerless to stop it?
Do you believe that your voice isn’t loud enough to be heard above the noise anymore?
Do you read the headlines everyday and feel an empty pit in your stomach…as if you’re completely alone?

If you’ve answered YES, then you’ve fallen for the Wizard of Oz lie. While the voices you hear in the distance may sound intimidating, as if they surround us from all sides—the reality is very different. Once you pull back the curtain, you realize that there are only a few people pressing the buttons, and their voices are weak. The truth is that they don’t surround us at all.

We surround them.

At the origin of America, our Founding Fathers built this country on 28 powerful principles. These principles were culled from all over the world and from centuries of great thinkers. We have distilled the original 28 down to the 9 basic principles.

So, how do we show America what’s really behind the curtain? Read the nine simple principles.

If you believe in at least seven of them, then we have something in common."

I'm also installing a new widget. We will see how that goes.

UPDATE: The new widget was a loser. It was an "Intense Debate" comment host that I've decided I didn't like because it didn't give me enough control to my comments section. Sorry to have lost your comment, Hammer, but thanks for trying it out for me.

More New Hotness

On the links sidebar:

Velociworld (slightly NSFW for language, you have been warned)

Word Around the Net

Take a peek!

Simon Jester

Check it out.

HT: The Smallest Minority

Score!

Ha!

HT: Ace O' Spades

The Gauntlet Is Thrown

There has been the stories circulating about the flight attendant who asked a plane full of people if anyone knew even one of the five Medal of Honor awardees from the Long War.

One man knew one name.

By way of the Major comes this challenge. See what you can do with it.

And for the record, these are the five MoH awardees:

SFC Paul R. Smith, US Army
Lt Micheal Murphy, US Navy SEAL
MA2 Micheal Monsoor, US Navy SEAL
CPL Jason Dunham, USMC
PFC Ross McGinnis, US Army

Remember them.

And while we're at it, let's not forget our allies in this fight. These gents have been awarded the Victorian Cross by their respective governments. The VC is their equivalent to our MoH.

Pte Johnson Gideon Beharry, British Army
Trooper Mark Donaldson, Australian Army

Hand salute to Crunchie at the Rott.

Clash Of Titans

In this match-up, Darth Vader would totally kick Oba-teh-ONE!'s ass.

Afterwards he would extinguish the flaming corpse with a stream of his own urine (or not) while stating "I find your lack of faith disturbing."

Last Night

Last night I had a day off because I had traded days with a co-worker. That means I was home, and awake, for the four-hour presentation of "The Color of Magic" on the Ion Channel.

This was a TV adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Diskworld books "The Color of Magic" and "The Light Fantastic". It is the second of his works to be made into a TV film, the first one being "Hogfather", which was also shown in the US on the Ion Channel.

I thought that "Hogfather" was magnificent, and I thought that "The Color of Magic" was indeed magical. I can't wait for "Going Postal" to come out later on this year, it is supposed to be the third Diskworld film and I absolutely loved the book. If they do as well on it as they have done on the other two, it will be well worth the wait.

All in all, not a bad way to waste four hours on a Sunday night.

Musings Of A Cajun

Mostly Cajun has a piece up that I really must pass on, not really because of the subject matter (although that's a good reason to read the whole piece) but how he explains it in the opening. To wit:

"I used to be a bit sensitive about the use of “offensive” language on this blog. After all, my kids read it. but my kids are now 18 & 15, and I’m pretty sure they’ve heard just about any word that might pop up here, although they might not realize that their dad, nine years in the army and 32 years in heavy industry, just might not only know those same words himself, but had, in the course of life, strung said words together in colorful expressions befitting widely differing situations and emotions."

Having served with Marines on and off over a 20 year career, I have to say that I have at times been in a position to observe "colorful expressions befitting widely differing situations and emotions." There have been, as well, CPO's and First Class Petty Officers who were likewise masters of the craft, as well as more than a few junior enlisted that showed a fair degree of promise. I have, at all times and with varying degrees of success, tried to prevent such expressionism from coming home with me off-shift so as not to have to answer interesting questions from the kid's teachers regarding vocabulary.

So far the all time master has to be a certain Marine Staff Sergeant who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent. This man was such an experienced practitioner of invective that he demonstrated, on more than one occasion, a capability to speak for at least five minutes if not longer, never using the same phrase twice (although he may have used the same words in differing order), and never leaving any doubt as to the subject on which he spake, including but not limited to the person or personages involved, their dubious parentage, their dubious genus, their dubious genius, the inappropriateness of their actions and the unfortunate possible natures of their demises should he be witness to the inappropriate actions a second time.

I was shocked, shocked I tell ya, that the fine upstanding young men of our armed forces should ever use such language.

Hah. Now about that bridge...

What?!?!?!?!

"But in a way, it's heartening to hear our politicians stumble over words, mangle syntax and make inappropriate jokes. It shows politicians are human, too. Sometimes."

Yeah. Thank our lucky stars above we dodged that dumb-as-a-box-of-hammers Sarah Palin.

HT: Ace O' Spades, once more.

Well Done, Asshats

I am officially ashamed of my Navy.

HT to Ace O' Spades.

Avast Me Hearties!

I just got done reading this over at Hoosier Army Mom's place.

I wonder if she has room for a slightly used Airdale squid that used to be a Hawkeye.

O Happy Day

Hammer has returned.

Much Ado, Update III

The new Rush billboard is up.

Take a look.

And Since It's 3.14

It's also now National Pi Day.

Glad to see there isn't anything more important to do.

Back In The Beginning

I didn't really start this blog to be political, but it sure does have a lot of political stuff on it.

So now for something completely non-political.

Happy Steak and BJ Day!

The More Things Change

The more they stay the same.

What's funny about this is the rancor from the Left when President Bush said the Federal Gubmint would no longer pony up the money for stem cell research on new lines, that only existing lines would be financed.

From the howling you would have thought Bush had said the Government was outlawing all stem cell research, period. But, what he actually said is that there would be no new money for any research involving new lines, which requires human embryos to be created specifically for destruction. Research using existing lines was still funded at the previous levels. Of course this little factoid was overlooked, and Bush got no credit for it at all.

Now along comes media darling President Barack Obama, who signs an executive order that lifts the Bush executive order banning the creation of new lines. The heavens open, the light shines down upon all of us, Micheal J. Fox is miraculously cured (not really, but to listen to him talk when Bush signed the original executive order you would have thought he was sentenced to death upon the morrow) and The Anointed One takes his place at the right hand of God, having restored Science to it's previously exalted place within the firmaments.

On Wednesday the ban is back without fanfare. Just another one of the Bush policies that Obama has kept in place after making noise like he was going to change it, just another one of the formerly Bush policies that were horrible in the eyes of Fifth Column...pardon me, Fifth Estate...that now, since they are Obama policies, aren't so bad any more.

For some reason I am reminded of all the times I told myself "I'm never going to do that to my kids!" whenever my parents did something that I didn't like, and catching myself doing the exact same things to my own kids. They made a whole lot more sense later on when I understood them than they did way back then.

Hat tip to Ace O' Spades, and through them to Small Dead Animals.

Holidaze

There are quite a few holidaze coming up.

First, Friday the 13th is National Iowahawk Day.

Saturday the 14th is Steak and BJ Day.

And finally, Sunday the 15th is Eat a Tasty Animal for PETA Day.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Large Sigh

So Teddy Kennedy has been awarded an honorary knighthood.

One more thing that used to mean something, but now no longer does, to add to the junk pile, along with Nobel peace prizes, Pulitzer prizes, and Oscar awards.

Also, one more sign that the former Great Britain, no longer is.

Mary Jo Kopechne is still unavailable for comment.

Much Ado

Apparently there is some sort of hubbub regarding a statement that Rush Limbaugh made.

That in itself isn't so surprising. Rush Limbaugh often makes statements that raise a ruckus. It's what he does, it's what he has been doing for the better part of a quarter century.

Being on vacation, I was on a self-imposed blackout because I wanted to enjoy my time off, so I missed the whole beginning of the spat. I did catch the original statement, but the follow-up completely escaped my attention.

The upshot is that the Democratic Party is all butt-hurt about Limbaugh saying "I hope he (Obama) fails" and wants to steer the conversation in that direction. What they conveniently leave out, however, is what Limbaugh wants Obama to fail at.

Here, from the transcript, is what Rush hopes Obama fails at: "Look, what he's talking about is the absorption of as much of the private sector by the US government as possible, from the banking business, to the mortgage industry, the automobile business, to health care. I do not want the government in charge of all of these things. I don't want this to work. So I'm thinking of replying to the guy, "Okay, I'll send you a response, but I don't need 400 words, I need four: I hope he fails." (interruption) What are you laughing at? See, here's the point. Everybody thinks it's outrageous to say. Look, even my staff, "Oh, you can't do that." Why not? Why is it any different, what's new, what is unfair about my saying I hope liberalism fails? Liberalism is our problem. Liberalism is what's gotten us dangerously close to the precipice here. Why do I want more of it? I don't care what the Drive-By story is. I would be honored if the Drive-By Media headlined me all day long: "Limbaugh: I Hope Obama Fails." "

And now, conservative and neo-conservative pundits are busting Rush's chops for how he said what he said. They are falling for the Democrat's plans hook line and sinker, they are ignoring what was said because of how it was said. And any time you engage the enemy on ground of his choosing, you are at a disadvantage.

What Conservatives should do is say "You were upset over how he said what he said. Poor baby. Now let's talk about what he said instead of how he said it." And then we should force the conversation to stay on that topic, WHAT was said, not HOW it was said. So far all I see is EPIC FAIL.

I want Obama to fail also. I want Obama to fail at implementing his socialist policies. I want him to fail at socializing medicine. I want him to fail at nationalizing the banks and auto industry. I want him to fail at destroying the coal industry. I want him to fail at absorbing my 401K into the Socialist Security system. I want him to fail at any socialist policy that he brings up, because history has shown that socialism is a dismal failure everywhere it's been tried. Anyone who is truly a Conservative, or a Libertarian Conservative, should want the same thing.

Yes, I hear you talking about the socialism lite that pervades much of Europe. Let me ask you a simple question, if Europe had to provide for their own defense instead of relying on the US, how successful would their socialism lite be? If the US were to withdraw all military and foreign aid, how long would they last? Their socialism exists and works only because we, the USA, has enabled it. What happens when we become one of the takers instead of the giver? What happens when Atlas shrugs?

Limbaugh, Colter, Boortz and Hannity are entertainers. They do what they do for the specific purpose of selling more books and attracting a larger listening and (in Hannity's case) viewing audience to garner higher ratings. It's how they make their living, and they are good at it. That does not make them "spokespeople" for the Republican party, but the Republican party should keep in mind that they are not talking to themselves. They are not selling books to themselves. They are not appearing at functions all by themselves to speak to empty rooms. What they are doing is providing the voice of conservative America, and if you are campaigning to conservative America you should listen to what they are saying. But they are not the leaders of the Republican party.

The people that should concern you are the elected ones that wish to be our masters. They, not Rush, are the ones who pass the laws. They, not Colter, are the ones that (selectively) enforce those laws. They, not Hannity, are the ones who levy, collect, and spend taxes. They, not Boortz, are the ones that make the decisions that affect each and every one of us on a daily basis.

Let's get back on target.

UPDATE: I could have said it like this guy, but this is a G rated blog. Mostly.

UPDATE II: Patterico and some others are missing the point entirely. Apparently they are engrossed in the either/or option, the two options being either 1) Rush hopes Obama fails to get the policies enacted, but hopes the policies succeed if they are enacted or 2) Rush hopes Obama fails to get the policies enacted, and hopes the policies fail if they are enacted.

Here's option 3 cupcakes. Rush (and me, and Gonz, and, going by the comments, Annie and BoBo, and - well, just about everyone that doesn't have his or her head up their own ass or who isn't furtively contemplating their own navels) hopes that Obama fails to get his policies enacted. Period. Full stop.

We hope he fails.

There is no "but if the policies are enacted he hopes that..." because if they do get passed it won't make a flying fornication at a rolling pastry what who hopes afterwards.

If the policies are enacted, they are GOING to fail, and fail BIG TIME, because that's what socialist policies do EVERY TIME there isn't someone with deep pockets to pay the bill. And America has no one left behind them to pay the bills.

Ergo, Options 1 and 2 are bullshit and not worth squabbling about.

Like I said before.

Back.

On.

Target.

UPDATE III: I just had to put up the picture of the Dem's new billboard. I like it! Hat tip to the Rott.

Scientific Breakthroughs

I guess navel gazing does pay off after all.

HT: Ace O' Spades, who works very hard to find the most important news stories of the day, every day, all day.

Next Stop

The Moonlite Bunny Ranch!

In an exchange between Megyn Kelly and AZ Rep Trent Franks during an interview on Fox News, Kelly revealed that a high-speed rail project included in the porkulus bill would run from Anaheim CA to the Moonlight Bunny Ranch in Nevada.

This allegation proves to be false, but I thought it was funny.

There have been stories regarding a high-speed rail project between Anaheim CA and Las Vegas NV, but this project had not been tied to the brothel, located 6 miles from Carson City, until now.

The actual project alluded to is the restoration of a bridge on the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad, now a tourist line that runs from Carson City to Gold Hill, NV.

In Ms. Kelly's defense, she does say that there is no specific line-item for the proposed high-speed rail project between Anaheim CA and Las Vegas NV, and does not mention the V&T rail project at all. She does, however, make the mistake of tying the two projects together.

Rep Franks, on the other hand, talks about the issue as if it were actually a single project.

I don't expect this to stop the mockery. Kelly is a professional talking head and Franks is a Representative, so both of them should know better than to discuss something that they should have each independently investigated. To not have done so makes them appear as foolish as their individual detractors wish to portray them.

Obanomics

I remember seeing a cartoon of this type when Ronald Reagan was President. It showed him in Lil Orphan Annie costume dancing in the rain and singing "The sun will come out tomorrow..."

There were no mysterious figures standing behind him in that cartoon, though. He was all alone.

Reaganomics pulled us out of the miserable conditions brought on by the disastrous policies of the Carter administration. Indeed, the sun did come out, and it shone most brightly, with only a few storm clouds, right up until last year.

Unfortunately there are not enough people who remember...or maybe too many who choose not to remember...the long gas lines, the double-digit inflation, the double-digit unemployment, and the general feeling of malaise from 1976 to 1980. It was during this time that the term "misery index" became more than just an economic indicator, morphing into a painful reality.

What's funny is that Jimmy Carter campaigned on the idea that anyone (Pres Ford) who had caused the misery index to climb to such levels had no right to even ask to be President. By the time his mis-administration was over four years later, the misery index had almost doubled. (He had, of course, asked to be President again.)

Reagan pulled us out of the economic shambles not just by acting optimistic, but by doing the things that made the market react optimistically. Pres Obama seems to think that the rhetoric is enough.

The markets, however, aren't as optimistic.

Snow Day

Glowbull warmening. All over my house. About four inches of it.

For the fourth time this year (the third time was just a light dusting right after Christmas that I didn't post about).

We have been at the Refuge for 4 years come this April. It has snowed more this winter than it has in the three previous ones.

And of course, since I'm hardheaded, I didn't buy any salt or even a snow shovel because I figured the last snow would be it for this season.

The wife is pointing out that she "told me to get a shovel and some salt! When are you going to start listening to me?"

I'll go and get a shovel and we won't have snow again for 5 years. That's the way my life is.

But, the good news is I'm on vacation, so I won't have to drive to work in it.

Of course, the bad news is that no one else is, so I'll have to drive everyone else around in it.