Veterans Day

No words can or will ever be enough for what you Veterans have given us, the American People.  Quite simply,

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS

Pops

DAY 69/Tragedy in "the Heartland"

Unless you have been hiding with UBL in a cave somewhere in Afghanistan you know of the horrific tragedy at Fort Hood yesterday. I am reminded of a quote from Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu before the United States Senate in April of 2002.

"I have come here to voice what I believe is an urgently needed reminder: That the war on terror can be won with clarity and courage or lost with confusion and vacillation."

What does this have to do with the tragedy at Fort Hood. Think about it. "an urgently needed reminder" Never before has a United States President made a spectacle of our fallen warriors coming home with TV cameras and news reporters. Remember, just a short week or so ago. Remember, a picture of candidate Obama standing with his hands folded has the Star Spangle Banner is being played. Remember, the one phone call to his hand picked Commanding General who was developing a war strategy for Afghanistan. I am reminding you this guy doesn't give a squat about the military! He doesn't give a hoot or holler about how many of our brave warriors die. IMHO, He cares only about the power of the office of the Presidency of the United States of America. This is your reminder.

"...won with clarity and courage or lost with confusion and vacillation."

There is no clarity nor courage in this administration's support of the war on terrorism. There is no courage in this administration. One that bows to Muslim Kings and does a world wide tour apologizing for the greatest country on the face of this earth. There is only confusion and vacillation. With a leader that shows this demeanor is it any wonder there is confusion in the lives of our brave warriors? I certainly would not want him running Wal Mart.

This is clarity and courage not confusion and vacillation. Read these two excerpts from the Washington Post about our warriors that were there.

When the gunfire stopped, soldiers schooled in battlefield medicine ripped their clothes to make tourniquets and bandages.*

Seven of the wounded were taken to nearby Metroplex Adventist Hospital, while 10 went to Scott and White Hospital about 30 miles away in Temple. Both received a huge turnout for blood donors, so many volunteers that they eventually had to close their doors and turn away hundreds.*

So many volunteers they had to close their doors and turn donors away! When have you ever heard of that happening! That! Mr. President is "courage and clarity"! That! Mr. President is what made this country the greatest nation on earth. That! Mr. President is what will allow you to go so far and then "we the people" will tear the power from your hands and give it back to the people! AMEN, I'm done preaching now.

Lead, follow, or get the Hell out of my way, Mr. President!

It is obvious to me this American soldier, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, projected outward signs that he was unhappy about the role of the United States in the war against terrorism. It is being reported by major news outlets he was also unhappy about his upcoming deployment. It is also know know, he was a practicing Muslim. OK, jump on board. Conservative Outrage is racist. WRONG! My point is what part may political correctness have played in this tragedy? Because he was Muslim is there a chance his words and feelings may have been over looked for the fear of a superior being branded "anti-Muslim or a racist"

I really don't know. Hind sight they saw, is 20/20. I do know this. One of my closest friends is black. He is also my age. He also works with me. If we get the opportunity to go to lunch or dinner together as we have and will continue to do we pick a table away from everyone else. Why? We at times are not politically correct. We call it as we see it! We both were raised to NOT see the color of a man's skin. We talk like brothers not like a black man and a white man. We RESPECT each other for what we do, our moral upbringing, faith to our families etc. It would not matter to either one of us if the other were blue, green, or purple. It is the values that bring the respect. We both agree there are people who would not like to hear our conversations as they may become offended. Phooey!

Where in Heaven's sakes has our respect and common sense gone to? The chance that being politically correct may have been a part of this horrible tragedy is unthinkable! We, as a country, must get back to the basics, Respect and Responsibility.

G-d bless the soldiers and families of those involved in this horrible tragedy.

Pops

*Washington Post

DAY 67

Good Evening my fellow Americans. I come to you tonight from the Midwest of this wonderful country where G-d fearing, gun toten, small government lovin' Americans made that first small step to re-claiming this county. Thank you Virginia and New Jersey!!! And a hat tip to the voters in the 23rd in New York. I have the wood pellet stove warming the homestead, the attack cat DC on patrol and the most important luxury any person, bar none can have. FREEDOM Now on with the news!

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of my way, Mr. President!

I was off yesterday as I was performing one of the two most important jobs any American can do. I was working the polls, yes as a paid volunteer. Up at 0400 hours, opened the polls at 0630 hours, maned my position until closing at 1930 hours and after doing the paperwork, machine breakdown and truck loading home at 2137 hours. It was a wonderful and fulfilling day! Of course the other most important job is Jury Duty. Being the brat of a Cop and serving as one myself I am seldom called and even more seldomer used. (I love using non-words, it drives the educated NUTS) as a juror.

I'm not going to complain about the lack of a decision by President Obama. We all know where I and most of my followers stand. I am going to write this evening about a truly moving experience I had yesterday. Not about the day but of one incident I had the honor and privilege to observe and assist with.

Late in the afternoon a couple came in that I was told would need some assistance in voting. We have a machine that is set up for persons with hearing and sight disabilities. I made sure it was available and went to assist the couple. I was greeted by a couple who by everyone there agreed was late 80's or early 90's. Let me reset this a little bit. In Ohio we have absentee voting. You can simply request a ballot be mailed to you and return it by election day and your vote will be counted. He are two people who rejected that idea and made the effort to "go to the polls".

As I approached the table where the couple were supplying the proper identification to proceed to the voting machine I heard the gentleman say, "Honey, you know, you need to sign right here." He then gingerly began to help her find the block where she needed to sign to vote. He had to tell her several times to sign her name. She turned and looked at me and said "Brrr, it's cold out here". We were in doors. She would stare and he would try to get her to write her name and finally she made some scrawling that resembled the signature in the box next to it. She didn't have a walker so I and the gentleman named, William, escorted her to the appropriate machine. We were able to get her to sit down without to much trouble. She looked at William and asked who I was. He just replied he is here to help you vote, Nellie. "Vote? Vote, for what?"

It was quite obvious by this time she was suffering from dementia. As the time passed I watched William and Nellie from a safe distance. He would talk with her and help her press the button's on the voting machine to cast her votes for the various issues and people. Over and over again he would patiently explain and re-explain they were voting and what she had to do.

William helped Nellie vote which took about 30 minutes. A process that most people completed in 5 to 7 minutes to complete. He quietly kneeled beside her and voted himself. This took him and extended period of time also, but not nearly as long as Nellie. When I saw he was done I approached and offered my assistance as Nellie was very unsteady getting out of the chair and William was a little unsteady also. I escorted them to the parking lot where we carefully got Nellie in the car. Here's the hard part.

I notice the license plate on the car. It said POW. In Ohio we have specialty plates. With proper documentation you can have Veteran, Retired ARMY, etc on your license plate. William's read simply read POW. I asked him if that was his plate and he replied yes. I was a POW for 18 months in Germany. My father was in WWII and I felt a little close to William at this time. I extended my hand and simply said "Thank you so very much for your service, sir." He replied he was not an Officer but thanked me and shook my hand. He then told me Nellie was in the Air Force also and had retired along with him years ago. I remembered the little blue baseball hat she was wearing when she entered the building. it said Air Force. William again thanked me for my help and said it was nice to meet a young man (I'm 61)who was polite to him and his Nellie. I again thanked him and told him to thank Nellie for here service from me. He assured me he would.

Together he and his bride of 64 years left and I walked back into the building. I could feel the emotion building in my chest and tears welling in my eyes. Two huge emotions had taken me over in those few short minutes. This could have been my father, also a WWII Veteran. Thank G-d he was not a POW. He was in the Philippines. Then a flash of my Gretchen came over me. I wonder if I would have been strong enough and have the patience that William had should she had be in that situation. As I type this I again question myself. Would I, could I be William? Of course we will never know. This couple was one. Complete and true dedication to on another. Truly a love that knew no bounds.

To regain my composure I simply slowed down my walk and returned back to the building. I had a job to do, not nearly to the extent William had but one as important. Yesterday, thousand of Poll Workers got up early, worked all day and got home late for on thing. FREEDOM, Years ago a young man name William most likely got up early, worked all day, and found himself as Prisoner of War, for one thing FREEDOM. One morning a petite young Air Force woman got up, probably worked all day to hear her young husband did not return after his flight. She continued her work November 3, 2009 as she voted for one thing, FREEDOM.

"Freedom isn't Free" is not just a motto. For some it's a way of life.

Am I up to the standards of William and Nellie? I don't know. I hope I am. Are you?

Pops

DAY 65/TOTAL INEPTNESS

Lead, follow, or get the Hell out of my way Mr. President!

You can say what you will about President Bush, 1 & 2. You can say what you will about President William Jefferson Clinton. What you can't say is the level of total and complete ineptness that is in the current Whitehouse was ever remotely reached by either of these Administrations.

I once heard somewhere by someone, a politicians next campaign begins the day after he the night he wins! Surely this is what this Administration was/is trying to do. This Presidents Administration's bungles and bleeps began early. Not first but, one of the firsts was something as small (or large depending on your opinion) was the giving of an iPod* to the Queen Mother. Next we have the bowing incident to the Muslim world. You call it what you will. Which ever side your on it should have never been allowed to happen by the President's handlers. It is now being reported there will be a shortage or Swine Flu vaccine. Didn't the new health Secretary promise plenty of vaccine for ALL Americans. Major news organizations are reporting Chatty Kathy says we will have enough, as soon as supply catches up with demand.* Well yeah! DUH!

President Barack Obama on Friday expressed frustration about the slow pace of production of the vaccine, which has resulted in just 26.6 million doses as of Friday, far below earlier estimates of 40 million by the end of October.

Sebelius said those initial estimates were based on "overly optimistic" predictions by the five contracted vaccine makers for the U.S. market — MedImmune, a unit of AstraZeneca, Sanofi-Aventis, Australia's CSL, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis.

Now let me get this straight, 5, that's 5 major drug companies, that have been in private business for years, totally and completely underestimated their production rate. That would leave Chatty Kathy very,very smart. But, if Chatty Kathy is very, very smart why didn't she tell the 5 drug manufactures their numbers were wrong and that they should increase their production? Hmmm. Does this sound like a "blame game"?

Should the vaccine go to the most at risk groups first. The vaccine has been given away to those less likely to get the Swine Flu than the most likely. The Kansas City Star reports the H1N1 shots are being give to Gitmo Detainees before pregnant women in Kansas City. Is it being rationed? Is that some kind of "Public Option"? Who in goodness sakes is running this administration?

How about hand picking a General to develop a war plan for you and then saying you would have to more Generals review the plan when you began catching heat from your radical left supporters. Oh that's ok, I really didn't trust that General...ah...what's his name. Yeah, I spoke to him....ah....a couple of times. What was the number? Once in 100* days? I'm gonna make a decision after the re-election in Afghanistan. OPPS, nobody thought to ask the contender if he was "down" with the plan. Guess not he just dropped out. Guess who the new President of Afghanistan is? Can you spell Karizi? I can't! Really I can check the net. It's Correctly spelt Karzai. I know spelt isn't a word, spelled, there, OK. Lighten UP!!! What is your excuse now Mr. President? No re-election! TIMES UP! Make a decision, if you can? If you can't RESIGN!


Now the much ballyhooed "Whitehouse Visitors List" has been released. At least part of it and the #1 visitor is the CEO OF SEIU! Didn't President Obama say he wasn't not following the recent ACORN fiasco? SEIU, ACORN, same, same? To top this little gem off it is only a partial list of six months, that according to the Whitehouse! Didn't President Obama take office in January? Let me see, hmmm. February=1 month, March=2 months, April=3 months. Aw shucks, you do the math! Where is the rest of the invisible (transparency) list?

I'm done. I'm tired of the total and complete embarrassment this administration is causing this country! Now, I'm done.

Pops

*http://www.genengnews.com/blog/item.aspx?id=542
*http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009
*http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/01/obama-gives-queen-elizabe_n_181862.html
*http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/world/asia/30policy.html

Day 62

Lead, follow, or get the Hell out of my way, Mr. President!

Several things have happened today that need reporting on. The 1900 pages House of Representives abomination that even covers VENDING MACHINES. OMG! I don't really care at this point if it's a REP, DEM, IND, or JERK! The people in Washington have lost their minds! That's number one.

As I was sitting at the ol' computer listening to tunes and thinking of things that better go unsaid, not bad things, just personal things. One of my favorite CD's got popped in the player. Charlie Daniels. The Mrs and I saw him perform at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, NC. He was born and raised right across the Cape Fear River, in Leland County if I remember right. He had his 80+ year old mother on the stage at the concert. He seems to be very country and down to earth. Well, as I am so prone to say, it started me thinking. Not good! Here's what I cam up with.

Some excerpts from a couple of his sons "struck a cord with me" . Get that struck a cord, Charlie Daniels, that's a joke. How 'bout a chuckle. Here are some of the words I found worth repeating and thinking about.

Some people ain’t afraid to take a stand

What this world needs is a little more respect,

For the Lord and the lawSome good people up front to take the lead

I’m full of American pride

I keep a Bible on my table and a flag out on my

I don’t mind paying taxes, but it makes my temper itchWhen my hard earned money goes to make some politician rich

Now you intellectuals may not like it,But there’s a whole lot more of us common folks,Than there ever will be of you

I ain't nothing but a simple man,Call me a redneck,

there's things goin' on that make me mad down to the core

There's crooked politicians

crime in the street

I ain't gonna take it no more

We tell our kids to just say no,And then some panty waist judge lets a drug dealer

you know what's wrong with the world today?

People done gone and put their Bibles away

I'm the kind of man that wouldn't harm a mouse,But if I catch somebody breakin' in my house...I've got a twelve gauge shotgun

there ain't no excuse For the raping and the killing and the child abuse

I've got a way to put and end to all that mess

You just take those rascals out in the swamp

Put them on their knees and tie 'em to a stumpAnd let the rattlers and the bugs and the alligators do the rest

If you have made it his far you must be a real fan of Conservative Outrage or Charlie Daniels. Admittedly some of it is a bit extreme however, after a fair trial do we really need 25 appeals for a child abuser or murder? I'll type you decide.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Boo!

Day 60

Lead, follow, or get the Hell out of my way, Mr. President!

Yes, friends, it has been 60 days since our President has received the report HE requested, by HIS hand picked General. The one that HE is supposed to use to direct HIS war (Afghanistan) HIS way! Not that I am any kind of analyst when it comes to military matters however, it does seem to me, perhaps only to me, the Taliban senses a weakness in our President's lack of resolve to make a life and death decision. It is easy to say what you will do once you are elected. It is totally another to follow through. It appears to me, perhaps only to me, President Obama cannot make the difficult decision. Now that is my ever so humble opinion regarding that.

Breaking news on most media channels The Wicked Witch of the West, Nancy Pelosi, will release her health care package tomorrow morning. I am sure someone all ready has copies. In the mean time for your reading pleasure here is a nice little blurb about said health bill and more of the DC elite MIS-SPENDING our money! Clik here, clik now.

Pops

Day 59

Lead, follow or get the Hell out of my way Mr. President!

I love retirement, well semi retirement, mustn't forget my 2 or 3 days a week for the world's largest retailer! Retirement does give me ample time to scan the latest news outlets and the ever informing Internet. Talk about a wealth of information(?) or perhaps disinformation.

Keeping with the Conservative theme of this blog I feel compelled to post this latest article. As a Conservative I can't believe it. However, as a person who lives in a what some people are trying make in to a "politically correct" (what ever that is) society it is believable. I'll give you a snippet and you can clik to read the rest if you wish.

Every year Penn State University plays a game called football. Every year since the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Joe Paterno has coached the game. (Just kidding, only the last 50 or 60 years). Penn State has made the "white out' into a new get behind the team symbol. All Penn State fans wear white. You should the pictures of the stadium on game day. Wow!

Apparently, I believe, a Penn State student has come up with a new T-shirt using the Penn State helmet line and Penn State design. To some moron or morons, whichever, it looks like a, dare I say, a "CROSS" Oh my G__! A "CROSS" on a college campus! What is this world coming to!! You get the gist of this. I can't think of a word ridiculous enough to describe this..., situation. Here is the complete article: clik here