It's Hemmer Time

For anyone who may have missed it, over this past weekend Barack Obama and John McCain sat down to answer questions from the Reverend Rick Warren (author of the best-seller "The Purpose Driven Life").  This forum took place at the Saddleback Church in California and was set up so that each presidential candidate sat one-on-one with Warren for the period of an hour and answered questions that the Reverend had prepared. 

The general consensus after this forum ended was that McCain fared much better than his rival, Obama.  An example:  one of the key questions that came up was "at what point does a baby achieve human rights"?  McCain answered with no hesitation:  "at conception".  Obama NEVER answered. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mem_xEcZHVY&feature=related  With a lot of "ums", Obama proceeded to say the question was "above his pay grade", then he went off on different tangents on abortion and what the Democratic party line is on this practice.   As a president, and even as a senator, Obama should never have said the answer was "above his pay grade".  If he cannot handle truthfully answering the question, and couldn't face the consequences of what his answer may bring, he should not be running for president.

Obama's less than stellar performance brought out the claim from the Obama camp that McCain cheated.  (Yes, you read that correctly.)  McCain, it appears, was in his motorcade at the time the program with Warren began.  He arrived late at the Saddleback Church and was promptly escorted to an empty room to await his turn to appear.  NBC's Andrea Mitchell was the first to spread the rumor generated by Obama, saying  that McCain was able to hear the questions Warren asked Obama while McCain was driving in.   McCain's camp issued a firm denial that McCain heard any questions ahead of time.

So, now it seems that Obama is a poor loser.  "The One" didn't come in number one, and doesn't like being number two.  That isn't supposed to happen!  Wonder how Obama and Co. will handle the upcoming debates with McCain if Obama doesn't do well.  Yet another "vast right-wing conspiracy" soon to be reported on, no doubt! 

All of America seems to be watching the tight presidential race between John McCain and Barack Obama.  We are being bombarded daily with campaign ads, stories from pundits, news media, radio talk shows, and others all promoting the candidate of their choice.  The coverage of this election will undoubtedly continue to increase as the November election draws near.  It is interesting to note, however, that very little attention is being paid to other key elections that will also occur in November.

The U.S. House of Representatives has 435 seats up for grabs.  435!  Led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Democrats currently have 233 seats, while the Republicans, led by John Boehner, have 202 seats.  Given the lowest approval rating ever for a Congress -  9% this month - it may be a safe bet to say that the Democrats could lose a few seats because the American people are very disappointed with the poor performance of Nancy Pelosi & Co.  This would enable Republicans to gain back some of the seats they lost in the 2006 elections.  Or, if American voters give the Democrats a pass, Republicans could lose seats based on concerns about the economy or the war in Iraq. 

The U.S. Senate has 35 seats up for election.  Currently the Republicans and the Democrats each have 49 seats.  The Democrats also have two Independents that caucus with them.  Out of the seats up for election, 23 are Republican while 12 are Democratic. 

In many states, races for the House of Representatives and the Senate are too close to call.  In the days and months to come prior to November, every voter needs to do the following:

1)  Learn all you can about the candidates in your state. 

2)  Call your state representatives to continue to lobby for Voter ID.  Without the means to ensure honest elections, many voters could see their votes cancelled out by fraud.  Just read some of the past articles in Wisconsin's own Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel if you don't believe voter fraud is a reality.

3)  Don't rely on the mainstream media to give you all the facts regarding the candidates.  The mainstream media has unabashedly endorsed Barack Obama for President.  Don't think for a moment that their pandering to a specific candidate will stop with Obama.  Other Democrats in the Senate and the House of Representatives will be the benefactors of positive journalism.  Today's journalists just cannot help themselves.  The internet and other news sources like Fox will give a more honest perspective on the candidates.  Believe it or not, there are some positive attributes to Republican candidates.  The mainstream media just doesn't want to tell you what they are.

4)  As for the presidential race - every voter must ask themselves if they really know anything about Barack Obama.  Aside from the facts the he has voted for every tax increase that every came his way as a senator, has questionable associations with criminals, radicals, racists and anti-Americans,  and actually voted to kill babies that survived abortion attempts while an Illinois senator, not to mention his lack of experience - is he really "the One"?  Just look at how poorly Obama recently handled the situation in Georgia.  Initially, Obama called for restraint.  McCain immediately challenged Russia and said what they were doing was wrong.  He confronted them head on.  In later days, Obama started to say the same thing as McCain.  So, when the phone rings at 3 a.m., will Obama be hiding under the covers?  Or hiding out in Hawaii as he is now, refusing to answer any tough questions regarding the situation in Georgia - because he clearly doesn't know what to do.  Voters do know John McCain.  He has been straightforward and outspoken on what he believes and how he will lead the country. 

McCain or Obama will become the next President of the United States.  Who controls Congress and the U.S. Senate is at stake, too.  The voters should realize how important this upcoming election is.  Should Obama win, and the Republicans control the House and Senate, Obama may find it difficult to do much of anything as President.  This, in my opinion, would be a good thing.  Should McCain become President, a Republican Congress and Senate could keep him in check and hold him accountable for his campaign promises.  Should the opposite occur, and Obama be elected with Democrats in charge of the House and Senate, we are doomed for a period of higher taxes, a weaker military as well as a loss in Iraq, liberal judges, and a turn towards socialism.  If McCain wins with a liberal Senate and House, he may be able to accomplish a few things, given he has some Democratic tendencies, although McCain would assure the American people of a strong military and desire to continue the fight against terrorism.

In summary, although the presidential race is extremely important in 2008, we must not forget how important the Senate races are, nor the House of Representatives.  Sure, Democrats cleaned up in 2006.  But look at what they have accomplished in two years - nothing.  Let's all "hope" America voters "change" their ways and vote with a sound knowledge on the candidates and the issues facing our country.  Glitz, arrogance, false promises and questionable patriotism do not make a president - keep that in mind if you think Obama is fit to lead our country.  Experience, wisdom, and a profound love of America and support for it's military reflect the values of John McCain.  Sounds like a pretty good choice to me.

America is under attack.  Not only from terrorists abroad, who wish to destroy our country and kill us because we may not agree with their religious beliefs.  No, the other enemy we face is more insidious.  They do not destroy with bombs, guns, suicide bombers, or beheadings.  Their weapon of choice is words.  The enemy of which I speak are liberals.  They are Americans.

Liberals wish to create a nation in which the people will be totally dependent upon the government.  We've all heard of the "nanny state".  Sounds funny, but it isn't.  The nanny state is a liberal view of total utopia - although it is very similar to communism.  The nanny state discounts the individual and allows the state to have a say in every aspect of our lives.  Mandatory seat belt laws, helmet laws, what types of light bulbs we can buy, where we can and cannot smoke (even in private businesses),  what type of gas we must use - these  are just a few examples.  And they keep growing - all for our own good, of course.  Just look at the recent debate in a Milwaukee neighborhood that is trying to keep a "Church's Chicken" restaurant from being built.  Those against it are saying that people will get fatter if the establishment is allowed to build in the neighborhood.  (Shouldn't the individual be able to decide what they want to eat? And where?)  This follows on a ruling in Los Angeles that places a one year moratorium on fast food restaurants in its poorest neighborhoods.

Conservatives and Republicans support the military, country, family, a love of God and high moral standards.  The left operates to undermine God, country, family and the military.  They disregard morals if it helps keep them in power (so what if Bill Clinton had sex with an intern, lied under oath and was impeached.... so what???)   

 They use courts to ignore the will of the people.  What they cannot gain at the ballot box, they try to gain through the gavel with liberal activist judges who re-write the laws to fit a liberal agenda.  Today, some courts are to be feared as much as the terrorists.  These unelected, unaccountable radical judges twist our laws to advance their own extremist agenda.  They compromise what America stands for.  They make laws, rather than interpret the laws.  

One example:  California's Proposition 209, which would have ended affirmative action. 54% of Californians voted for this proposition.  The ACLU filed a lawsuit and Federal Magistrate Chief U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson (appointed by Jimmy Carter) overruled the wishes of more than 5 million Californians by blocking Proposition 209 and ruling in favor of the ACLU.  Judge Henderson was a former board member of the ACLU. 

Another shocking case of a judge making the laws occurred in the 1987 trial of Doug Lu Chen, a Chinese immigrant who beat his wife to death with a hammer.  The judge in the case sentenced Chen to a mere 5 years probation, citing that the United States needed to understand the "Chinese culture".  

Of course there have been numerous onslaughts over the past years against the "Pledge of Allegiance".   In 2003 an Appeals Court in San Francisco ruled that saying the Pledge of Allegiance was "unconstitutional"  Fortunately, the Supreme Court used it senses to eventually overrule this decision. 

Closer to home, who remembers how murderer Ted Oswald, while on a bank robbing spree with his father,  killed a policeman and kidnapped a Pewaukee resident years ago. He was found guilty, but then had his conviction overturned by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman.  Adelman cited juror bias for his decision. Oswald could have actually gone free!  The taxpayers had to go through the motions of another trial.  Most people involved in the case, and the general public, were aghast at the time."All I can remember is Ted Oswald saying into the camera and into my face, 'I did execute Jim Lutz,' " Paul Bucher (the District Attorney at the time) said. "To take that and now say this defendant deserves a new trial is absolutely ludicrous and preposterous."It (Adelman's ruling)  takes the justice system and . . . makes it unjust."   Adelman was appointed by Bill Clinton. Oswald was found guilty again....without question.

 The extreme left has attempted to redefine family and patriotism among other clearly evident concepts - to redefine marriage to conform to their own perverse world view, and to redefine patriotism to mean stabbing our troops in the back while they are under fire.  Remember "rules of engagement"?  In other words, lets tie our soldiers hands so they cannot fight to win, so we feel good back home....  Also under attack are any attempts to protect our country from illegal aliens (we cannot even call them that - in politically-correct terms they are "undocumented workers").  Even presidential candidate Barack Obama, rather than focus on protecting America from an influx of aliens has said we "need to learn Spanish".   And we'd better not drill for our own oil from our own lands!  After all, the oil won't solve the energy crisis for long.  How stupid is that, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid?  If we were starving, yet had a supply of food buried somewhere that would sustain us for a few months, wouldn't we dig it up?    

When did liberalism really take hold in American culture?  Maybe it was the 60's, where anti-capitalism, neo-socialism, free love, free sex, anti-family, anti-marriage, anti-God, and a "party till you puke" celebration of decadence was considered cool.  In looking back, weren't hippies and flower children ridiculous?  Who remembers "flower power"?  The "establishment" and America were the "bad guys".  What a joke - yet we seem to have come full circle. 

Today, we have a potential presidential candidate, as well as many U.S. citizens, that believe the solutions for societies problems can only be found in the government.  They want the federal government to guarantee economic security.  (They also want an "anything goes" lifestyle, as long as it applies to what liberals like and want to promote.  Conservative ideals are to be derided, laughed at and are made to sound "mean-spirited".)   Democrats and liberals don't seem to consider the consequences of increasing government control, which inevitably involves restrictions on our freedoms.  Liberal policies are damaging to our children, our families and our economy with inferior educational standards, environmental extremism, dependence on foreign oil, and the overburden of taxation.

In years past, Democrats and Republicans were actually able to have reasonable debates on the issues.  That time has long gone.  Nowadays, we find all chance of honest debate lost.  The politics of fear rears its ugly head on which agenda needs to be promoted the most - with little regard for sound argument and logical discussion or opposition.  One prime example is how the war on terror gave way to placing raw politics above principles.  The Democrats - who originally exhibited a display of support for Bush as well as patriotism for the U.S. after 9/11,  have now  worked tirelessly to undermine the war effort and lose in Iraq.   For years Nancy Pelosi and Co. have been trying to find Bush and his Administration guilty - just guilty of anything - (there's got to be something)!!!  Yet, what has come of their numerous investigations?  Nothing - except a big waste of taxpayer dollars and time.

  Day in and day out all we hear from the left are the shortcomings of America.  What nation can survive when it's own members continually degrade and criticize the land and leaders where they live?  And the mainstream media continues to play a huge role in all of this - siding with liberals, promoting liberal issues, while smearing conservatives and Republicans.  Can anyone find a flattering picture of President Bush in any mainstream newspaper?  Or John McCain?  Yet, look at the glowing articles about Barack Obama and nice pictures.  The press use to be more discreet about their biases, but with this presidential race it seems that the mask has come off.   They want Obama to win and they don't care who knows it.  Want proof? - read about Obama's tour to the Middle East and Europe.  One couldn't ask for better publicity and unbridled love coming from the mainstream media while they followed Obama around like puppies.   Another example is the recent story about John Edwards.  Edwards has an actual affair, and that warrants less press coverage than a phony story about McCain being involved with a woman on the campaign trail.  Besides that, the press makes Edwards out to look like a hero for coming forward with the truth.  A Republican doing the exact same thing would have been hung out to dry and we'd be hearing about it till November. 

As conservatives, Republicans, and others who truly have the best interests of America at heart, we need to fight back.  We can do something to preserve this great nation.   Here is what I believe we need to do to save our country (aside from electing John McCain president): 

-  We need to continue to emphasize how great our country is.  Our leaders are not monsters, tyrants, dictators, or Nazis.  Yet some people seem to believe they are.  Why?  There is no sound argument for saying Bush is Hitler.  None.  No facts, no comparisons, no actions or words can compare the two.  Yet liberals are so quick to flippantly say such nonsense as if everyone agrees with them.  Well, most of us don't. 

-  Stop continually focusing and obsessing on the weaknesses, the evils of businesses, the cowardliness of a very small percentage in our military (Abu Ghraib ring a bell?), the corruption of  a few political leaders as if that is the rule rather than the exception, and mistakes of our country.

-  Don't forget our history.

-  Don't forget our legacy.

-  Don't forget what has made our country strong.

-  Don't invest your hope for prosperity and happiness in the government.  Believe in yourself.  America is the land of opportunity. 

-  Help our children develop a deep and healthy respect for the sanctity of marriage and the power of strong and healthy families.

-  Help our children develop a love for their country, God, and the ideals of freedom and democracy.

-  Teach our children right from wrong.    

We are making headway.  Even though the left's commitment to big government is more powerful than ever, and liberals will continue to try to nurture the attitude of dependency on select groups of people, we must not give up.  We must continue to preach racial color blindness and egalitarianism.   (Barack Obama clearly wishes to continue to promote big government and the "tax and spend programs" that characterize the Democratic party.  Add to that a disdain for our troops, a desire to lose in Iraq, questions about Obama's own patriotism,  and a stubbornness to do anything about the oil issue and we are headed for more Jimmy Carter years should Obama actually be elected President.) 

We have made some strides.  In just a few short years, President Bush brought our military back stronger than ever after 8 years of military budget slashing by the Clinton administration.  In 2001, Bush signed into law a 10 year trillion dollar tax cut plan.  Bush withdrew the United States from the Kyoto Protocols - which contained unrealistic and severe industrial emission standards that would have had a devastating impact on our economy.  The Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of the right to bear arms in Washington, D.C.   However, for every step forward, we may be forced by the left to take a step or two back. 

There are many Americans who have lived in freedom for years but act as though they are not.  There are far too many people in this country who refuse to develop themselves and live up to their full potential.  Rather, they are more content to sit back and let the government take care of them.  When they are not happy - do they blame themselves?  No.  The U.S. government is to blame.  Some Americans grow up believing that America is racist, sexist, bigoted, homophobic, and intentionally plots to keep minorities down.  They talk as though America is a miserable, repressive country.  They talk as though they have been cheated.  Why?  Where does this attitude come from?  In the teachings of liberalism.

America is the land of dreams - not nightmares.  Freedom doesn't guarantee success.  It guarantees the right to make your own choices.  Some people live for instant gratification.  Some people bite off more than they can chew - witness the recent foreclosures on homes across the nation.   Some people chose to have children when they themselves are children.  Some people chose to drop out of school at an early age.  Some people choose to abuse drugs or alcohol.  Some people chose a life of crime.  Some people cannot manage their money.  Yet, is that America's fault?  No.  Stop blaming America and look in the mirror.

As Americans, we've inherited our traditions from men and women who made sacrifices to acquire and preserve freedom.  Let's not whine and complain.  It takes hard work to maximize our potential.  We should be grateful that America provides us the opportunity to do so.  We must continue to champion what is great about America to all who will listen. 

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, yet another friend of  Barack Obama, was recently charged with assaulting two investigators that were trying to serve the Mayor with a subpoena.  This comes after Kilpatrick had already been charged with perjury, misconduct and obstruction of justice.  Kilpatrick's  Chief of Staff,  Christine Beatty,  also faces similar charges.  Beatty and Kilpatrick are also accused of having had an affair - which they denied, but was contradicted by text message evidence.   The City Council of Detroit wants Kilpatrick out, while the Governor (Jennifer Granholm) has scheduled a hearing that could lead to Kilpatrick's removal for misconduct while in office.

Just recently, Barack Obama spoke of Kwame Kilpatrick in glowing terms: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZNvC_-RW2Q

Obama is really going to have to think long and hard about whether or not to distance himself from Kwame Kilpatrick.  After all, Michigan is a key battleground state for the presidential election.  Detroit, with the support of it's mayor, would have been firmly behind Obama.  What happens now? With the election too close to call (and John McCain actually gaining in key areas on Obama)  can Obama afford to toss him under the bus, along with Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, Reverend Michael Pfleger, etc.?  Of course many people are still backing Kilpatrick, since Democrats are usually very supportive of their politicians who behave badly or illegally.  We'll have to wait and see what standard Obama will apply to Kilpatrick. Should be interesting.  (It is also amusing to note is how the mainstream media isn't reporting the past praises Obama recently heaped upon Kwame....)

And the wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round....

Many of my liberal critics deride my claim that liberalism is damaging America.  In my last post, several readers suggested I was Nazi-like, a fascist, racist, "off my rocker and that I need help",  etc.  - you know, the usual name- calling techniques that lefties use when they cannot argue a reasonable point with facts or logic.  Anyhow, I decided to publish this article as a response to some of my readers who  have asked what we can do about the "liberal problem".  The following is a post I found on-line by a Mr. Burt Prelutsky.  In it, there are clear-cut steps to follow to help cure oneself of liberalism.  Who knows - maybe after reading this, I'll hear that some of the usual liberal commentors to my blog have morphed into conservatives....stranger things have happened!

 A 12 Step Program for Recovering Liberals

Most 12-step programs start out by requiring that people have to understand that they’re powerless over their addiction and that only by turning their lives over to a Power greater than themselves can they be restored to sanity. Far be it from me to suggest that I am that Power, but clearly someone has to step in and try to rescue these poor liberal souls. Even the most harebrained among them deserves that much.

First, though, they have to acknowledge that Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, John Murtha, *** Durbin, Charles Rangel, Harry Reid and Charles Schumer, are not moderates, but, rather, leftists with a Socialist agenda. Furthermore, they must recognize that the New York Times, the Washington Post, the L.A. Times, CNN, the three major networks, the news magazines and the New Yorker, are not objective in their reporting of political events, and neither are Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann and Bill Maher, in their commentary. If these entities and individuals are not on the payroll of the DNC, they certainly should be. They certainly put in longer hours than Howard Dean.

Step #1: It is high time that every American be guaranteed the right to speak freely. It is not reserved solely for left-wing college students who wish to take advantage of the first amendment to shout down conservatives. At the same time, they must not construe the conservative’s right to dismiss them as arrogant idiots as censorship.

Step #2: Affirmative action argues that African Americans and Latinos are intellectually inferior and are unable to compete academically unless other students are handicapped because of their race. Interestingly enough, when blacks and Hispanic students are given these unfair advantages, it’s rarely at any cost to white students, whose rate of college admissions remains constant; instead, it’s nearly always another minority group, Asians, who pay the price. This is what left-wingers refer to as leveling the playing field.

Step #3: Liberals always claim to be in favor of higher taxes, agreeing with Bill Clinton that the government invariably spends money more wisely than those who actually earn it. However, such prominent proponents of higher taxes as George Soros, Ted Kennedy and Mr. and Mrs. John Kerry, protect their own otherwise taxable income through trusts and offshore accounts. Obviously, any American who believes higher taxes are a good thing can do the honorable thing by spurning all deductions and paying Uncle Sam everything up to 100% of his income.

Step #4: Even the most secular of liberals seems to believe that Jimmy Carter is a saint. The evidence for this seems to be that he has on occasion posed with a hammer in his hand at Habitant for Humanity building sites and is constantly walking around with a expression on his face that suggests he has just forgiven Pontius Pilate for betraying him. This is the same fellow, let us never forget, who called Yasser Arafat his good friend and who has accepted untold millions of dollars from Arab cut-throats, who ask nothing in return except that he go on insisting that there would be peace in the Middle East if only those darn Israelis would disappear from the face of the earth.

Step #5: Stop insisting that all wars are bad. It only makes you sound daft. Carrying signs that equate a U.S. president, any U.S. president, with Adolph Hitler is not only rude, but suggests you’re certifiably nuts. Every president has left office right on schedule. Aside from FDR, who just happened to get elected four times, not one of them has remained in office beyond eight years. On the other hand, Hitler ran Germany for 12 years and only death and the allied forces brought that to an end; Stalin ran the Soviet show for 31 years; while that hero of the left, Fidel Castro, held the reins, not to mention the whip, for about 50 years.

Step #6: Repeat after me, “Separation of church and state” exists nowhere in the Constitution. The first amendment does not require the removal of Christmas trees from the village green, the 10 Commandments from court house walls or “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance. All it does is forbid Congress from establishing a state religion, such as the Church of England, and anybody who tells you otherwise is a liar and, most likely, a card-carrying member of the ACLU.

Step #7: Stop using the word “big” as a pejorative. There is nothing intrinsically bad about big oil, big agriculture or big pharmaceuticals. Overall, they do a very good job of keeping our cars on the road, food on our tables and most of us over 50 alive and functioning. On the other hand, big government, which so many liberals simply adore, represents a usurpation of the allegedly inalienable rights of individuals. A quick perusal of the Constitution should convince you that beyond declaring war, forging treaties, overseeing patents, printing money, running the post office, collecting taxes and protecting our borders -- and a few other things that Washington doesn’t do at all well these days -- the federal government has very limited responsibilities.

Step #8: Acknowledge that the United Nations is, in the main, an aggregation of venal diplomats who live high off the hog in New York City while representing the most corrupt and vicious regimes in the history of the world. Only a fool or a diplomat would continue to suggest that this gang of well-dressed thugs possesses anything resembling moral authority.

Step #9: Do not keep insisting that at a time when nearly all the large scale evil in the world is being perpetrated by Muslims that racial profiling is anything but a sensible approach to airport security. During WWII, Swedish Americans were not suspected of performing espionage for the Axis powers and for a very good reason; namely, because they weren’t performing espionage for the Axis powers. These days, their Swedish American children and grandchildren are not suspected of trying to blow up airlines, but the smarmy bureaucrats insist on pretending that they’re every bit as likely to be up to mischief as a bunch of 25-year-old Osama bin Laden look-alikes from Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Step #10: Stop trying to pretend that illegal aliens are the same as legal immigrants just so you can claim the moral high ground and accuse those of us who are opposed to open borders of being racists.

Step #11: Once and for all, stop forgiving murderers. Whether or not you’re in favor of capital punishment, only the victim of a crime has the right to grant forgiveness. And inasmuch as the killer has deprived his victim of that ability, don’t take it upon yourself. It doesn’t prove how compassionate you are, only that you’re as sanctimonious and as self-aggrandizing as, say, Jimmy Carter.

Step #12: Stop bashing the U.S. military and the Boy Scouts. The only reason you have the ability to shoot your mouth off is because men and women braver and better than you sacrificed life and limb for your right to do so. As for the Boy Scouts, they are absolutely right to keep homosexuals from taking youngsters on camping trips. While it’s true that many gays are perfectly fine people and that very few homosexuals are pedophiles, there’s no reason on earth to take unnecessary risks just so we can all prove how broadminded we are. For what it’s worth, as decent as most Catholic priests are, I wouldn’t let them take youngsters into the woods, either. It’s fine to be compassionate and understanding, but let the gays among us be understanding for a change and acknowledge that, every so often, common sense should trump political correctness.

And, finally, making this a baker’s dozen, Step #13: Let us all agree that while being a woman, a black, a Jew, a Catholic, a Mormon or even a gay, for that matter, should in no way preclude anyone from being elected president of the United States, none of those things constitutes a very good reason to vote for someone.

Not much attention has been given to a very damaging gaffe made by Barack Obama a few days ago.  The press has been so busy slobbering all over Obama and reporting how wonderful his overseas tour went - that they have chosen to ignore or barely mention a big Barack mistake.    While on his recent Presidential tour, conquering the hearts of people everywhere he went (or so we have been told by the mainstream media), Barack Obama made the decision not to visit the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.  The German magazine "Der Spiegel" published an article on Thursday, July 24th, saying Obama's planned trip had been canceled.  The stop was to include meetings with wounded U.S. soldiers from Iraq.

Here's where it gets interesting.  Initially, Obama's senior advisor Robert Gibbs said that Obama decided to cancel the trip out of concern that that campaign-funded tour might be seen as "inappropriate".  (Wasn't the point of Obama's trip - to campaign???).  When the reaction to that explanation wasn't very favorable, another Obama advisor later told ABC News that the decision was made because the Pentagon advised the Obama camp that the trip would be viewed as a campaign stop.

McCain, to his credit, quickly took Obama to task.  McCain's spokesman Brian Rogers said "Barack Obama is wrong.  It is never "inappropriate" to visit our men and women in the military."  McCain also issued a release from retired Lt. Col. Joe Repya, a veteran of three wars, that scolded Obama for stiffing the troops while "flitting from one European capital to the next."

Still upset over criticism for the canceled visit, the Obama camp said again that the Pentagon advised them not to visit the troops.

The Pentagon, to their credit like John McCain, also took Obama to task.  Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman denied that the Pentagon had discouraged Obama from visiting the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.  He stated "Obama was absolutely told he could visit the troops."   Whitman further elaborated that Obama was "certainly welcome to visit a military medical facility any time he wants to - as long as that visit is consistent with that of a sitting senator."  Note the key words "sitting senator".  Here is where the story becomes clear...  As a sitting senator, Obama would have had to follow certain rules in order to visit.  The guidelines included:

   - Senate staffers could have accompanied Obama, but not campaign staffers

   - no photography would have been allowed due to privacy issues

In essence, Obama would have been left to his own devices when meeting with wounded soldiers and other military personnel.  It was mentioned that there may have been U.S. soldiers who wished to express their difference of opinions with Mr. Obama over the Iraq War.  Obama may have been asked to explain why he was not in favor of the war, didn't support the surge (and still doesn't) and wants an early troop withdrawal (meaning the United States is defeated).  Obama would have been in a situation beyond his control - and it could have gone badly.  And if there had been pro-Obama moments coming out of the visit - there was no opportunity for a photo op!  So, the Obama camp seems to have concluded - why bother?

Obama was later interviewed by FOX News anchor Bill Hemmer regarding his decision to cancel his visit with the U.S. troops and wounded soldiers.  Hemmer asked Obama about whether or not nixing the troop visit was a mistake.  Obama replied:  "Well, no, not at all.  It was scheduled, we intended to go, and we got wind that there was some concern that this might be perceived as political because we were using campaign resources.  And at that point, the last thing I wanted to do in any way distract the terrific work that's being done in terms of treating our troops, by getting it fouled up by a bunch of politics... I didn't want it to be a distraction." 

DISTRACTION?  Where have we all heard that word before?  Wasn't the Reverend Jeremiah Wright a  "distraction"?   Wasn't Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers a "distraction"?  Wasn't Michelle Obama  saying she hadn't been proud of her country a "distraction"?  How about the Obama's beneficial land deal with friend (and convicted felon) Tony Rezko - a "distraction"?  Even Obama's extremely liberal voting record - will that be a "distraction"?   Everything about Obama's past seems to be a "distraction".   

In Obama's world, a "distraction" appears to be anything truthful that may interfere with his chances to become the next President of the United States.  And one big difference between Obama and McCain - McCain would have visited with our troops no matter what.  As a recent McCain ad says:  "John McCain is always there for our troops."

The more people learn about Obama, the less his chances of being elected President.  As noted liberal columnist Richard Cohen (The Washington Post) wrote a few days ago, "I know that Barack Obama is a near-perfect political package.  But I'm not sure what's inside."  When the public actually catches glimpses of the real Obama - the socialist views, the damaging associations with the anti-American crowd, as well as questions regarding his patriotism, and now his recent snubbing of U.S. troops and wounded soldiers,   Obamamania will fade away.   Then Obama will no longer be a "distraction" to the good of the country. 

John McCain isn't dead yet - far from it.  The supposed "bounce" Barack Obama was to receive in the polls has not materialized.  Why?  Many had predicted with just a few months to go till the November Presidential election that Obama would have a huge lead over McCain among potential voters.  Yet - nothing.  The race is still a dead heat, and in some cases shows McCain gaining ground on Obama.  Maybe the American people are starting to wake up and realize that, even though the mainstream media is shoving Obama down our throats, he is not qualified to be our President.  The following is an excerpt from the Republican National Committee that lends some insight into the polling numbers and shows that John McCain is holding his own. 

Despite the most challenging environment for Republicans in years and an overwhelming advantage in attention paid by the media, Barack Obama remains unable to open the lead against John McCain that many pundits predicted. 

With nearly 100 days remaining until Election Day, very little separates the two candidates.

• The Rasmussen daily tracking polling has shown the race within a margin of 1%-4% for the last seven days (since 7/25/08).  When voters leaning toward a candidate are included, this margin has existed for over two weeks.  July 24th Gallup tracking shows the race within two points.

• While the national press seems to view Obama more favorably, covering him well over twice as often on network newscasts, voters nationally give higher marks to John McCain.  As of July 22nd, more voters (57%) viewed McCain favorably than Obama (55%), while 44% viewed Obama unfavorably as compared to 40% for McCain. 

• In addition to having secured his base, the most recent polls show Senator McCain even or leading among critical independent voters. 

• In this week’s Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, voters overwhelmingly said that John McCain is more knowledgeable and better experienced to handle the presidency – by a 34% margin (53%-19%).  Voters express this in other ways as well; with 50% saying that Barack Obama must choose a running-mate to bolster his experience in military and foreign affairs, and 42% saying he needs to select an expert on the economy to bolster his experience there.

• In the same WSJ/NBC poll, McCain also scores higher on showing strong leadership (+11), sharing the values of voters (+11), standing up for his beliefs (+8), being honest and straightforward (+4), and being a good Commander-in-Chief (+28).

• Since becoming the presumptive nominee, Obama has yet to gain the confidence of the American people in his readiness to be President, and is viewed as a “risky choice” by a majority (55%) of the electorate.

In critical battleground states, leads that opened for Barack Obama after he became the presumptive nominee are evaporating, including several states that were “blue” in 2004. 

• The most recent survey in Michigan from The Detroit News shows the race in a statistical dead heat at 43%-41% with 12% yet undecided.

• Quinnipiac polling released on July 24th shows that Barack Obama’s lead has shrunk to 2 points in Minnesota and that John McCain is again leading in Colorado.

• In the all-important battleground of Ohio, the latest Rasmussen survey in Ohio shows John McCain opening a 10-point lead.

And while Barack Obama has taken a last-minute trip abroad to compensate for his relative inexperience in foreign affairs, voters are seeing John McCain dealing with the difficult issues confronting Americans at home.  The bump Obama may receive from increased exposure due to his trip abroad will be temporary as it becomes clear he still has no real solutions to solve America’s pressing energy and economic challenges.

Barack Obama’s pandering and reversals on issues will continue to remind voters why they trust John McCain more to be our next leader.  Voters will not take a risk on an unproven and untested candidate like Obama.  Given all of the challenges our country faces in the next four years, Americans will turn to Senator McCain, a proven leader who is ready to be Commander in Chief from day one.   

Following is one of the best YouTube clips I have seen in quite some time.  It is inspirational and serves to remind us of what America is all about.  What a great country America truly is - and why.  It is also reassuring to those of us who have a conservative outlook on life.    

One of the most poignant lines spoken in this video is:  "Most Americans don't wake up every morning hopeful for another government program.  They take care of their families, care for their neighbors and put in an honest day's work."  The message being that government should not run people's lives, as many wish to see happen.  Government should only serve to aid the people as to what we cannot do as individuals.    

Click on the link below and watch.  After a continuous barrage of  Barack Obama adoration stories regarding Obama's current "Magical Mystery Tour", this video provides a boost for those of us who are proud of our country and thankful to live here.  The point of  this video is clear:   It is important come November that the American people elect a candidate who shares our love for our country and will put the United States first - before himself.  Without a doubt - John McCain is that man. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-5n8g0T1Lk

Hamas.

Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

Jolie Evans (Code Pink - founder and supporter of Islamic terrorists group).

FARC:  (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia).

Hugo Chavez.

Malik Zulu Shabazz (New Black Panthers).

Hatem El-Hady (Kindhearts - a front for terrorist organizations).

Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn - former Weathermen and radical political activists.

Tom Hayden.

Jane Fonda.

Just a small sampling of the anti-American and radical crowd, with a few terrorists thrown in there for good measure that support Barack Obama for President.  Here's a new one:

Dale Leo Bishop.

Now, the name might not be as well-know as other Obama associates, friends and supporters. 

Here's a brief background:  Dale Leo Bishop was an inmate on Death Row in Mississippi who was put to death by lethal injection on Wednesday, July 23rd at 6:14 p.m.  Mr. Bishop helped a friend beat a man named  Marcus Gentry to death with a claw hammer in December of 1998.  The two men deposited Marcus Gentry's body along a logging road near Saltillo, Mississippi.  Although Mr. Bishop himself did not deliver the fatal blows, he held Marcus Gentry down, while a man named Jesse Johnson pounded Mr. Gentry to death with a claw hammer.

At the time of his sentencing a few years ago, Dale Leo Bishop had this to say:  "I just wanted to say.. I'm sorry for what happened to Mark.  Mark was my friend.  You know, I - I thought Mark needed his ass kicked.  I did.  I didn't know Jessie was going to go all out like that.  Mark was a good man.  Mark's in heaven right now...I ain't going to heaven; I won't allow it.  For what I did, I deserve to die.  I ain't going to ask the court to spare my life".  He continued, speaking to the judge:  "So I'm asking you to do what they can't  do, kill me for what I done.  I deserve it.  I know it, I want you to sentence me to death".

Well, a few years later Mr. Bishop had a change of heart and expressed a desire to live.  After several failed appeals, the execution took place. 

Before he died Wednesday evening, some of his last words were to urge people to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.   I quote, "For those who oppose the death penalty and want to see it end, our best bet is to vote for Barack Obama because his supporters have been working behind the scenes to end this practice."

There are many abhorrent crimes and criminals who deserve no less than the death penalty.  Yet many liberals, a future candidate for President included, show more concern for the rights and comforts of genuine evil (terrorists included!)  than they do for the victims of such terrible crimes  Victims whose lives have been taken by such malicious people.  While a vast majority of liberals tend to sympathize with the evil-doers, conservatives do not.  Murderers, rapists, child molesters, etc.  should be punished, not coddled.  Justice for victims should take precedent.

Add one more person - Dale Leo Bishop -  of "very questionable character" to Obama's list of supporters....

Click on :  http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008807240387 for the full story.

Where does Barack Obama stand on Iraq?  His flip-flopping even has him befuddled.  He is learning it is hard to continue to lie and do it well....

 Why are none of Obama's  past statements and beliefs on Iraq being reported in the news or on TV during his  "Barack does the Middle East" tour?  You know, the one currently being covered by hundreds of his liberal mainstream groupies with Katie Couric, Brian Williams and Charles Gibson leading the cheering section?   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHEIi4XKRmM

The worst thing the United States faces besides a terrorist attack on U.S. soil right now is the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States.

So Barack Obama finally decided to accept John McCains challenge to travel to Iraq and view first-hand the progress American troops have made in the fight against terrorism.  However, the premise of the story before Barack Obama even set foot in Iraq was determined beforehand by our mainstream media.  No less than 3 major news anchors chose to accompany Obama on his visit to Iraq - Katie Couric, Brian Williams and Charles Gibson.  This is almost unheard of in journalistic circles.  Journalists traveling in packs are bad journalists.   The group mentality of the three major news networks is not to report "outside the box", rather, it is to report how Barack Obama, a foreign policy neophyte, will suddenly come back to the United States with a new understanding of foreign affairs - Barack will be Presidential!!!   Which network will be able to gush these beliefs the most?  The remarkable ability of the liberal media to think the same way about everything is obvious.  It is becoming more and more apparent that just about every member of the mainstream media is a liberal - and they want Obama to be President.  The goal of all the major news networks and the likes of Couric, Williams and Gibson is to make Obama look as good as possible.  They have already decided before the story even began how they will cover it and what the story will be.  It is a sad period for journalism.

Little will be said about Obama's words "the surge is not working", nor his stance against every aspect of the war against terrorism.  His pledge to withdraw troops as soon as he is elected will be forgotten.  News stories will ignore these statements as if they were never uttered by the Democratic candidate for President.

Is the media playing fair in campaign coverage with John McCain?  NO.  One example could be Newsweek.  Newsweek has had 6 covers of Barack Obama.  2 covers were given to John McCain - and one was very unflattering. 

 The Project for Excellence in Journalism that evaluates more than 300 political stories per week in magazines, newspapers and on TV also noted that Obama was given 77% coverage in political articles versus 48% coverage to McCain during the week of July 7 through the 13.  Project for Excellence in Journalism has also noted that on a week-by-week basis, Obama's coverage has always been exceeding McCains. 

The New York Times recently ran an Op-Ed piece concerning Barack Obama's approach to the war in Iraq.  The Times also asked John McCain to write an article about the same topic (balanced journalism, right?).  Well, John McCain obliged, but the Times didn't like what he had to say, so they refused to publish it.  Click on  McCains article  to see what the New York Times rejected. 

No bias in the media.  Baloney.

 Here are the much-anticipated answers to my earlier blog, questioning who said it - liberal or terrorist?  Sadly, although it is hard to tell,  not many quotes are from terrorists....

 1)  The idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong.  (Howard Dean, 12/2005)

2)  Would defeat in Iraq be so bad?  (Leslie Gebl - President on the Council of Foreign Relations, former New York Times correspondent)

3)  George Bush and company are lying about the war and profiting from it.   This is indeed a league of bastards - these men are human scum. (John Cusack - actor - 11/11/05)

4)  They are not the enemy.  Their numbers will grow - and they will win.  Get it, Mr. Bush?  (Michael Moore -  movie director, author, liberal political activist)

5)  A truly Christian leader would have "turned the other cheek" after the September 11th attack.  (Peter Singer -Princeton University Professor of Bioethics)

6)  The biggest terrorist in the world is George W. Bush.  How many more people are we going to let him kill before we stop him?  (Cindy Sheehan - liberal political activist and anti-war protester)

7)  To even the score with America, Muslim terrorists would at a minimum, have to blow up about 300,000 more buildings and kill something on the order of 7.5 million people.  (Ward Churchill -  former Professor of Ethnic studies at the University of Colorado, writer, political activist)

8)  Don't fear the terrorists. They're mothers and fathers.  (Rosie O'Donnell  11/7/06 - actress, liberal activist)

9)  The real terrorists are George W. Bush and his band of brown-shirted thugs. (Sandra Bernhard - comedian, singer, actress)

10)  The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not "insurgents" or "terrorists" or "the enemy".  They are the revolution, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow - and they will win.  (Michael Moore, 4/15/04)

11) Americans deserve to get bombed.  I hope the Muslims win.  (Chrissie Hynde - "Pretenders" lead singer)

12)  The true heroes are those who find ways that help defeat the U.S. military.  I personally would like to see a million Mogadishus.  (Nicholas DeGenova -   Columbia University asst. professor - March 2003) 

13)  Hey, hey, ho, ho, Western Civilization's got to go! (Reverend Jesse Jackson)

14)  The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism.  Why do you have to be a patriot?  About what?  This land is our land?  Why?  You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country...I don't see why people care about patriotism.  (Natalie Maines - singer, "Dixie Chicks")

15)  The American flag stands for jingoism and vengeance and war.  (Katha Pollitt -  American feminist poet - 9/11/01)

16)  Unfortunately, after September 11, there was an outburst in America of intense suffering and patriotism... (Jimmy Carter - former President of the United States,  August, 2006)

17)  Every American man is an enemy to us. (Osama bin Laden!!!  Yes, finally a terrorist quote!)

18)  U.S. Patriotism is inseparable from imperial warfare and white supremacy.  U.S. flags are the emblem of the invading war machine in Iraq today.  They are the emblem of the occupying power.  The only true heroes are those who find ways that help defeat the U.S. military.  (Nicholas DeGenova, 2003)

19)  The dumb and mean love patriotism. (Janeane Garafalo - actress, comedian, liberal political activist, former co-host of "Air America") 

20)  My skin crawls when I think of the first week after September 11.  I was looking out the window and there were people marching down the street carrying flags.  It reminded me of  spontaneous, angry Nazis and I thought "Oh man, we are in a lot of trouble."  (Ricki Lee Jones - singer)

21)  Anyone who can blow up the Pentagon would get my vote.  (Richard Berthold, 9/11/2001 -  History Professor at the University of New Mexico)

22)  America is a mistake, a giant mistake.  (Sigmund Freud - founder of the psychoanalytic school of psychology) 

23)  The Muslim American people are praying to the almighty God to grant victory to Iraq.  (Louis Farrakhan, 7/7/02,  acting head of the Nation of Islam)

24)  Real freedom will come when soldiers in Iraq turn their guns on their superiors. (John Daly -  musician)

25)  You have the nerve to ask my grandchildren to recite the Declaration of Independence?  How dare you?  You are now on notice that this is offensive to my community.  (Wayne Bryant -  American Democrat party politician)

26)  The world needs to be liberated from American values and culture, spreading across the planet as if by divine providence.  (Kalle Lasn - 1999 -  founder of "Adbusters" and author of "Culture Jam" and "Design Anarchy")

27)  This country is not worth dying for.  (Cindy Sheehan)

28)  American has been killing people on this continent since it was started and the killing has gone on unabated for over 200 years. (Cindy Sheehan)

29)  I think America has to bleed.  I think the corpses have to pile up.  I think American boys have to die again.  Let the mothers weep and mourn.  (Oliver Stone - 1987, film director and screen writer)

30)  We should have read the books and understood that America is no damn good.  (Sister Souljah -   American hip-hop generation singer, artist, activist)

31)  God will destroy America by the hands of Muslims... (Louis Farrakhan - 2/25/96)

32)  The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.  (George Soros -  financial speculator, stock investor, philanthropist, political activist)

33)  Patriotism threatens free speech with death...  It despises people of foreign birth...In other words, the American flag stands for intimidation, censorship, violence, bigotry, sexism, homophobia and shoving the Constitution through a paper shredder?  Who are we calling terrorists here?  (Barbara Kingsolver, 9/25/01 - author)

34)  What the American flag is, is a symbol of terrorism and death and fear and destruction and oppression.  (Jennie Traschen, 9/10/01 - Professor - University of Amherst, Mass.)

35)  I am confident that Muslims will be able to end the legend of the so-called superpower that is America. (One more from Osama bin Laden!!!)

36)  One persons terrorist is someone else's freedom fighter. (John Kerry -  Democratic United States Senator, former candidate for President of the United States)

37)  America is the greatest sin against God. (Reverend Michael Pfleger - associate of Barack Obama)

38)  Hostility towards America is a religious duty.  (Osama bin Laden)

39)  It is far better to kill a single American soldier than to squander his efforts on other activities.  (Two in a row - yep, it's Osama again!)

40)  George Bush is a war criminal.  (Rosie O'Donell)

41)  We support our troops when they shoot their officers. ("Mike" - who refused to give his last name, when protesting against the war in Iraq.....  He came up with the catchy phrase - his quote, which was shown on a sign during the protest...)

42)  The war is lost.  (Harry Reid -  Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leader)

43)  It would be a sin for Muslims not to try to posses the weapons that would prevent the infidels from inflicting harm on Muslims. (Osama bin Laden)

44)  The surge is not working.  (Barack Obama - Democratic candidate for President of the United States)

45)  Our country has been overtaken by murderous thugs...gangsters who lust after fortunes and power.  (Cindy Sheehan)

46)  We have a responsibility, not an enviable one, how to act, inside the heart of the monster (USA).  (Bernadine Dohrn - former "Weatherman", wife of Bill Ayers and associate of Barack Obama)

47)  U.S. foreign policy has wrecked the planet. (Harry Belafonte - singer)

48)  The pundits say you cannot win in a year with (my name)...There was a bit of confusion at first, but it did get me free time on Al Jazeera.  (Barack Obama)

49)  I support any Muslims, whether here or abroad.  (Osama bin Laden)

50)  We love death.  The U.S. loves life.  That is the difference between the two. (Osama bin Laden)

In summary, I'd like to leave you with the following four quotes which speak directly to the topic of this blog:

"Liberals become indignant when you question their patriotism, but simultaneously work overtime to give terrorists a cushion for the next attack and laugh at dumb Americans who love their country and hate the enemy."

"Usually the nonsense liberals spout is kind of cute, but in wartime their instinctive idiocy is life-threatening."

"While the form of treachery varies slightly from case to case, liberals always manage to take the position that most undermines American security."

"Americans cannot comprehend how their fellow countrymen could not love their country.  But the left's anti-Americanism is intrinsic to their entire worldview.  Liberals promote the rights of Islamic fanatics for the same reasons they promote the rights of adulterers, pornographers, abortionists, criminals, and Communists.  They instinctively root for anarchy against civilization.  The inevitable logic of the liberal position is to be for treason."

Can anyone guess who said these words?  Love her or hate her -  Ann Coulter!  Read her words carefully, then  re-read the quotes in my blog.   Yet, always remember - NEVER question a liberals' patriotism because......well....... because.....because you just can't!!!!! 

 The debate continues to rage between liberals and conservatives in regards to many issues.  One of the key topics discussed in great lengths is "patriotism".  Views on what patriotism is,  and who is or isn't a patriot have been vehemently disputed on this blog site as well as others.   Conservatives like myself love our country, respect our President and support our troops fighting the war on terror.  Some liberals, on the other hand, have shown what I believe to be more support for terrorists than the United States.  Whether it is because they hate our country, our President or our troops is unclear.  However, when liberals are challenged on their "patriotism&qu