Veterans Day Salute

No matter how many times I read this, I feel a swell of emotion and pride:

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"Nineteen forty-five was the worst year in human history - more people killed, more buildings destroyed, more high explosives, more fires than ever before or since. In 1945, the sight of a group of teenage Germans or Japanese or Red Army troops, in uniform and armed, brought terror to civilians in France, Belgium, Holland, Korea, the Philippines, China, Germany, Poland, and elsewhere. It brought terror because those squads of teen-age soldiers meant rape, pillage, looting, wanton murder, and senseless destruction. There was an exception: a squad of teen-age soldiers of democracy, in uniform and armed - because that squad meant candy, C-rations, cigarettes, and freedom. That was true in France, Belgium, Italy, the Philippines, China, even Germany, and, after August 1945, Japan. We had sent the best of our young men halfway around the world, in both directions, not to conquer, not to destroy, not to rule, but to liberate." (Stephen E. Ambrose, "The Lasting Legacy of World War II," One of Freedom's Finest Hours, Hillsdale College Press: Hillsdale, Michigan, 2002, p. 6)
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Have another great day in the land of liberty!

Dishonoring the Greatest Generation

If you happen to love America and if you happen to honor the role of American military men and women in securing and protecting freedom around the world, then you’ll want to sit down, relax, and take a few deep breaths before continuing. If you use it, make sure that you have taken your blood pressure medicine. Why preface my article with all this? Simple. This will raise your blood pressure and leave you boiling mad.


In July 2010, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) sponsored a workshop entitled “History and Commemoration: The Legacies of the Pacific War.” College professors from across the nation were chosen to attend the seminars held at the University of Hawaii. Expecting an opportunity to visit impressive sites commemorating the American victory over tyranny, as well as meeting with other scholars who shared her interest in this facet of World War II history, Professor Penelope Blake experienced quite a different event.

In her own words, Professor Blake states:

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In my thirty years as a professor in upper education, I have never witnessed nor participated in a more extremist, agenda-driven, revisionist conference, nearly devoid of rhetorical balance and historical context for the arguments presented.
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In a letter written to her Congressman specifically requesting that taxpayer funding be withdrawn from the NEH, Professor Blake delineated several points demonstrating the intent of the presenters at this NEH sponsored workshop to disparage and dishonor the spirit and integrity of United States military personnel in general and the “Greatest Generation” in particular:

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1. The U.S. military and its veterans constitute an imperialistic, oppressive force which has created and perpetuated its own mythology of liberation and heroism, insisting on a "pristine collective memory" of the war.

2. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor should be seen from the perspective of Japan being a victim of western oppression.

3. War memorials, such as the Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery (where many WWII dead are buried, including those executed by the Japanese on Wake Island and the beloved American journalist Ernie Pyle), are symbols of military aggression and brutality "that pacify death, sanitize war and enable future wars to be fought."

4. The U.S. military has repeatedly committed rapes and other violent crimes throughout its past through the present day.

5. Those misguided members of the WWII generation on islands like Guam and Saipan who feel gratitude to the Americans for saving them from the Japanese are blinded by propaganda supporting "the image of a compassionate America" or by their own advanced age.

6. It was "the practice" of the U.S. military in WWII to desecrate and disrespect the bodies of dead Japanese.

7. Conservatives and veterans in the U.S. have had an undue and corrupt influence on how WWII is remembered.

8. Conservatives are reactionary nationalists (no distinction was made between nationalism and patriotism), pro-military "tea baggers" who are incapable of "critical thinking."

9. Relating to the above, even members of the NEH review board are not immune to "reactionary" pro-military views.

10. Veterans' memories of their own experiences in the war are suspect and influenced by media and their own self-delusion.

11. War memorials like the Arizona Memorial should be recast as "peace memorials," sensitive to all viewers from all countries, especially the many visitors from Japan.
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Professor Blake did a magnificent job rebutting each of the points she includes in her letter.

Shortly before discovering this report about the NEH workshop, I finished reading “Citizen Soldiers” by historian Stephen E. Ambrose. Early in the book, within the first one hundred pages or so, Ambrose included accounts of some atrocities committed by American soldiers. Most of the incidents centered around the shooting of surrendering enemy and unarmed prisoners. Ambrose points out throughout his book that these types of atrocities were isolated and were not systemic to the general command structure of American forces. By the end of the book, as the Allies are making their way across Germany, Ambrose relates that some of the most valiant fighting by German soldiers occurred as they sacrificed themselves to slow the Russian juggernaut so that more of their fellow citizens and soldiers alike could have a chance to surrender to the American forces. They knew that the Americans came to liberate, not dominate.

Even though the European and Pacific Theaters of Operation presented their respective and unique challenges to young American boys thrust into a brutal global conflict, and even though cruelties by “our boys” have been documented, the final truth is that American combatants liberated island after island from Japanese cruelty and, in the end, liberated Japan itself from the totalitarian grip of brutal Imperialists.

It is a particularly despicable act on the part of these so-called academics who set about to dishonor and desecrate the sacrifice of thousands of young Americans who gave so much in order to not only preserve freedom in America, but to liberate countless others subjected to the tyranny of Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany. It is even more despicable that they are allowed to perpetuate their revisionist messages with the aid of taxpayer funding. It should certainly be clear by now to even the most casual observer that those living in the land of left-believe are ultimately bent on crippling America.

In both protest to this kind of nonsense and in honor of those who have served the cause of liberty and freedom, make a special effort to thank a Veteran and/or active servicemember this Veteran’s Day.

Liberty Over Slavery

"Today's Quote" in my local newspaper: "I prefer liberty with danger than peace with slavery" (Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Swiss-born French philosopher, 1712-1778)

I consider this a timely reminder for our day. Too many Americans are being seduced by the power-brokers who invite us to sacrifice a little liberty - and then just a little more - in order to attain security and peace. A glaring sample of this is the health care legislation that has been sold as America's "solution" for universal access to health care. In addition to mounting financial costs, there are also mounting costs to liberty as government herds us into their prescribed forms of health care choices.

I have written before that lasting liberty demands that we bear the consequences for our behavior. Those who are able to shift the consequences for personal behavior onto other individuals and groups have low, or no, motivation to change and improve. Consequently, liberty is eroded for everyone.

Everyone I know likes peace and security. I like peace and security. But peace and security without the truthful recognition of the high price of vigilance leads to enslavement. Those who have gone before us - those to whom we owe a debt we cannot pay - knew this full well:

The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them.


The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore to resolve to conquer or die. - General George Washington, order issued July 2, 1776

As 21st century Americans, we are blessed to have elections through which we can choose liberty or slavery. As with any tool, it is useful only to the extent that we actually use it. So use it.

Choose liberty over slavery.

Legislating Death

Remember when Sarah Palin’s remarks about Obamacare death panels spurred the left on to an overtime apoplectic fit? Her studied remarks were labeled “disgusting” and “outrageous.”

Leave it to a liberal, though, to actually confirm the accuracy of conservatives’ analysis of social issues. In one recent editorial, “veteran Canadian journailst” Bogdan Kipling writes,

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Had the Democrats merely listened to the wise counsel of such progressives as Reps. Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Texas maverick Jim Hightower and pressed for single-payer while they had a staggering majority they likely could have avoided all of this.

From a Canadian perspective, they might be far happier if they had. Yes, the Canadian system has some major flaws, but most of the country's 34-million inhabitants seem relatively happy with it. It provides all the necessities, but few of the expensive frills of the American system.

Then again most Canadians are hardy enough souls that they have no desire to cling to a life that is not really living. What could be more horrendous than to be kept alive for a few more months by excruciatingly painful operations that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars? What could be more undignified at the end of the life than to have a nursing-care attendant wake you up to wipe dribble from your chin? And what could be more heartrending than have your family and loved ones see you in such a pathetic condition?

When it comes to prolonging life beyond its normal range, Americans might do well to remember Shakespeare's immortal lines in Julius Caesar: "Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once."

Suck it up America! By the time the ObamaCare disaster craps out; you're going to have to.
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Yes, leave it to the left to determine that they are the best arbiters of what the “normal range” of life is. Being the elitist liberal that he is, of course Kipling perceives that Canadian citizens are “relatively happy” with their national rationed health care. That is the system that has been foisted onto them – for their own good, of course. With no choice, what else are they going to do but to “seem relatively happy” with it and “suck it up?”

But then, some Canadians take advantage of the ability to supplement their rationed “no frills” health care with American treatment by making the trip across the border to receive services in a more timely manner. Perhaps those who the Canadian system has determined are exceeding the “normal range” of life seek a second opinion.

Sure, at some point a person or family might have to decide when further care and treatment is fruitless. The dangerous arrogance lodged in Obamacare and all the other socialist style, government-run health care systems is that a government has the capability and the imperative to make that life-and-death decision in place of the patient and family.

Even though the left continually want to make Palin and other conservatives out to be backwater know-nothings, whose analysis of today’s issues always ultimately ring true?

The Party of Fat-Cats

It has been announced that the new National Security Adviser appointed by President Barack H. Obama is Tom Donilon. It comes as no surprise to me that a president would appoint his cronies to administration positions, and Mr. Donilon does have national security experience in multiple administrations. So an appointment like this comes as no surprise to me. In all honesty, I have no personal objection to it; as I indicated, Washington politics are all about favoritism.


But let’s clear up one BIG MYTH, shall we? The myth is that the Democrat party rejects the influence of Big Business – the party that stands for and with the “regular American.” As a Senator and presidential candidate, Mr. Obama railed against the lobbyist culture that controlled politics and promised to end “business as usual” in Washington politics. With this in mind, let’s take a quick look at Mr. Donilon’s involvement in the Democrat’s new Washington.

In 2006, Mr. Donilon oversaw the office from which Fannie Mae lobbyists used their ties to politicians in an effort to prevent increased federal oversight of the mortgage giant. In 2009, it was reported that Mr. Donilon “earned $3.9 million [in 2008] as a partner at the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers LLP, where his clients include Citigroup, Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., and Obama fundraiser and heiress Penny Pritzker.”

The Democrat party, with its ties to Big Business, Big Media, and Big Entertainment, bears very little resemblance to the mainstream Americans it claims to protect.

Let’s bust the myth that the Democrat party has no ties with Wall Street. The Democrat party includes plenty of Fat-Cats.

New Venture Addendum

I forgot to add that my posts on the Liberty Tree are under the name TheOldSalt.

New Venture

At the invitation of Peter Heck, I began a new venture a few weeks ago. Actually, it's an old venture in a new skin. I was one among some others he invited to participate in Liberty Tree, the "official blog of the Peter Heck Radio Show."

Peter is working to create a current events style site that attracts a variety of regular readers. Those currently writing at the site are invited to submit articles frequently on current, breaking, and out of the ordinary news items. For the time being, it is free-wheeling; we'll see if Peter "reigns" us in along the way.

So my invite to you is to give Liberty Tree a go. Go to the site regularly to see what the recent happenings are. Leave some comments if you wish, but don't feel under any obligation. The goal is to achieve frequent viewer volume through quality posts.

I do not plan to take down ChucksChants, but as you can already tell, this new venture, along with older ones, may slow down my volume here. I'll see what happens.

Thanks!

Just a Bit ironic

I caught a part of some ESPN radio while driving yesterday. They reported on further developments in the case against Roger Clemens, who is accused of lying to Congress while under oath.


Oh, the horrors of it all! Lying to Congress! You mean, we mere mortals can get into trouble for lying to Congress? Of course we can.

So, when does Congress get into trouble for lying to us? They do it every session. They all take an oath when sworn into office that they will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. They break that oath most every session. They feed the American all lines of nonsense in the hopes that it will garner them votes.

Roger Clemens in trouble if he is convicted of lying to Congress. Ironic, isn't it?

Upset

A few days ago (9/7/10), FOX News printed a report detailing United Nation concerns about Iran’s nuclear program…

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The U.N. atomic agency expressed alarm Monday about Iran's decision to bar some of its inspectors, suggesting that its efforts to monitor the country's nuclear program were suffering as a result.

The unusually blunt International Atomic Energy Agency warning was voiced in a restricted report on Iran made available to The Associated Press that otherwise contained few surprises. It followed Iran's recent decision to strip two experienced inspectors of the right to monitor its nuclear activities after the two reported what they said were undeclared nuclear experiments.

"The IAEA's reports of obstruction and Iran's failure to cooperate are troubling to all who care about non-proliferation and global security," White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said. (“U.N. Nuclear Agency Sounds Alarm Over Iran,” FOXNews, 9/7/10)

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With world peace hanging in the balance, what is top priority with Big Media? Why some heretofore obscure pastor in Florida who plans to burn some Korans on Saturday, 9/11. Oh, the horror of it all!

Left, right, centrist (if there is really such an animal)… everyone is up in arms over some pastor declaring that Korans will be burned on Saturday. Imagine… if he was inviting the world to burn the American flag or religious texts of the Judeo-Christian faith, he would be hailed a hero and receiving offers from all across the fruited plane to assist him in his endeavor to perpetuate freedom of speech. But Korans? Again, oh, the horror of it all!

Let’s see… who to focus media attention on? A belligerent, Islamic terrorist-sponsoring nation that is on record declaring that it wants to vaporize the Jewish nation and its “great Satan” ally or an obscure pastor in America who wants to burn a few Korans. Yeah, certainly a no-brainer there… a private expression of dislike toward the ideological underpinnings of a group that attacked America and carry that protest out in a free nation. Let’s get the world agitated over that. There’s the ticket!

Must Have Forgotten

A Laborious Day announcement from our Fearless Leader:


Obama lays out $50 billion infrastructure proposal (MarketWatch, 9/6/2010)

He must have forgotten about the other billions already earmarked for infrastructure repairs. Maybe his money czars will help him find that account.

Liberals Are Dangerous

"It would be good... if he could be a dictator for a few years because he could do a lot of good things quickly." -- Woody Allen on President Barack Obama. Allen expressed frustration with Republicans who have tried to block the president's agenda.


"Traveling for tourism today is a right." -- European-Union commissioner Antonio Tajani on an EU plan to subsidize vacations for people who cannot afford them.

"It may be necessary to put democracy on hold for a while." -- Prominent scientist James Lovelock, arguing that governments must fight global warming over public opposition. (The Guardian, 3/29/10)

"It may sound like a hollow defense, but in Hollywood I am not sure a 13-year-old is really a 13-year-old." -- Washington Post television critic Tom Shales on the arrest of director Roman Polanski in Switzerland for the 1977 rape of a 13-year-old girl.

When you let them speak for themselves, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why liberals are dangerous.

Economic Reality Lining Up with Predictions

I have been referring to the Weiss analysts for some time now. I know that it is best to not rely upon only one voice/opinion when it comes to market predicitions, even when the predictions are based on solid evidence. There is always the risk of personal bias when interpreting/applying the data and evidence.

However, when more sources begin making similar observations, then perhaps it is time to sit up and take notice. Other sources, notabley MarketWatch and Bloomberg, have run articles with the following headlines: Lack of Jobs, Foreclosures May Keep U.S. Housing Depressed & Why today's declines are just the beginning. For weeks and months, the nature of their articles has been to deny, or at least question, the validity of "double-dip" recession talk. They may be beginning to change their tune. The folks at Weiss Research, meanwhile, have been anticipating these types of market moves for some time. At the same time, they have not ignored the positive market direction since March 2009. They do not believe in sitting on the fence when a visible trend is in place. They just want to keep from being enamored by wishful thinking.

Anyway, to get back on track, economic reality is beginning to settle in. Euphoria based on false hope can last only so long. Running bigger and bigger deficits can last only so long. If the feds still had plenty of resources and leeway in their fiscal and monetary policy bags, I would be writing a different slant. But they don't. They may pretend they do, but they don't. The Fed's interest rates are close enough to zero to call them zero. They can't go any lower to make a difference. Meanwhile, folks who have saved and made reasonable decisions for interest income suffer from these paltry rates. The Fed has no room to keep issuing debt. They will likely keep spending too much, but there is no room to make a difference here. They will keep printing dollars, which also hurts responsible Americans who have planned reasonably for their financial future. But creditors are not going to buy American debt when they know that the interest they receive is going to be essentially worthless when inflation resumes.

I wish we were entering just an economic quagmire. At least we could work in a stalemate environment. But it is not even a quagmire. The Feds are losing the economic war, and they are losing it in a hurry.

Nevertheless, there are those who do believe that there are actions to take to preserve, and even grow, wealth in this environment. The folks at Weiss Research are some who believe that. They still believe in the resolve of the American people. They are not the only ones, but they do have some easily actionable suggestions and resources. Keep giving them a look at Money and Markets.

"Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16)

Why We Need LESS Government

It is no secret what lies at the heart of American patriotism and conservatism: limited government formed by the people to serve the people. Without limited government, there is no corner of our lives that government will not attempt to control. There is no element of life too petty for government to seek to coerce.

In Utah, the legislature passed a bill in March to legalize the personal collection of rainwater. For the first time, private citizens are allowed to "harvest" rainwater. But wait - as the infomercial ads declare - there's more! It is legal to "harvest" rainwater with a state permit and using state-approved containers.

Is this how we want to live? Do we want our almost every movement dictated by government? This is the antithesis of our American Founders' ideals. I do not suggest that they were perfect and free from a few control issues. But on the whole, they tried their hardest to institutionalize freedom, not tyranny. They sought to do this through the ideology of limited government. It still makes sense today.

Bankrupt?

My previous post about the president swimming in the Gulf coast was whimsical, satirical, and cynical.

Now, however, I turn to something in all seriousness: the continuing economic downturn. I refer to the Weiss analysis team frequently, I know. But they are far from the only folks seeing reality. And the reality of our economy - driven by the political policies of expediancy for way too long - is that it is running out of gas. Government has attempted to fuel it on taxpayer dollars - a lot of them - and there is little to nothing to keep it going. The private sector, which should be revitalizing the economy, has had the stuffing knocked out of it... and the hits keep on coming.

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Herb Stein, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under U.S. President Richard Nixon, coined an oft-repeated phrase: “Something that can’t go on, will stop.” True enough. Uncle Sam’s Ponzi scheme will stop. But it will stop too late. And it will stop in a very nasty manner. The first possibility is massive benefit cuts visited on the baby boomers in retirement. The second is astronomical tax increases that leave the young with little incentive to work and save. And the third is the government simply printing vast quantities of money to cover its bills. Most likely we will see a combination of all three responses with dramatic increases in poverty, tax, interest rates and consumer prices. This is an awful, downhill road to follow, but it’s the one we are on. And bond traders will kick us miles down our road once they wake up and realize the U.S. is in worse fiscal shape than Greece. (Laurence Kotlikoff, "U.S. Is Bankrupt and We Don't Even Know It," Bloomberg.com, 8/10/10)

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On the basis of the current economic data, we are in for tougher times. But we are not left without tools to respond. Tools like inverse ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) which are built to go up as their underlying issues go down. Tools like precious metals - gold, silver, etc. - which can offer a hedge against inflation. Tools like options which can give some leverage and portfolio hedge protection. Tools like historic dividend-paying stocks that can give an income boost to a portfolio even during downturns.

Used in resonable proportion, each of these can protect and boost a portfolio during a dowturn. At the very least, going to largely cash positions can protect hard-earned wealth.

It's going to be a scrap. Keep your eyes open and your wits about you.

God bless!

In Midst of Ecological Disaster, Gulf's Beaches Still Useable

In the wake of America's "worst environmental disaster," the president is encouraging Americans to vacation along the Gulf coast, stating that the “beaches all along the Gulf Coast are clean, safe, and open for business.” (Julianna Goldman, "Obama Swims in Gulf Waters," Bloomberg.com, 8/15/10) We are also assured that "he pledged to make sure the region’s seafood was safe to eat and he promised to expedite the claims process." While the spill was in progress, Obama apologists countered critics by asking how the president could personally stop the leak. Now, however, Americans can be certain that he will personally ensure that the seafood is safe to eat. Unless, of course, the seafood cannot be made safe to eat, in which case we will be left to understand that the president cannot personally make the seafood safe to eat.

One significant fact left out of all the credit-grabbing gobbled up and spit out with no reflection on the part of the lap-dog Big Media is that conservative commentators were accurate from the beginning: the environment itself will take care of the largest part of this disaster. In spite of this administration's best efforts to thwart the efforts of local and state agencies to contain the spill, libs are stymied that the oil is being gobbled up by natural enzymes and stuff in the Gulf. Yes, the spill has been and is serious, but the reaction among the left that this disaster legitimizes more government enlargement is bogus... just like all their claims. Indeed, Big Media - appropriately dubbed "drive-by media" by Rush Limbaugh - has already moved on to other more relevent and newsworthy crises. The only thing left to report is the harm done to oil workers by the drilling moratorium. That would reflect badly upon the source of the moratorium, which cannot be allowed.

So be sure to stop by the Gulf coast and search for the "worst environmental disaster in American history." While you're there, keep your eyes open for the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot, too.

Economy Still Heading South

Mike Larson's latest Money & Markets article tells us plainly that government options for continuing to stimlate the economy & keep it going are hitting the proverbial brick wall. There is no more room to maneuver, and the economy has still failed to get restarted by their previous efforts.

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What nobody in D.C. will tell you … but I will … is that a big economic slowdown is already baked in. There is nothing the Fed can do … nothing Congress can do … nothing the Obama administration can do … to prevent it.
The massive, reckless credit bubble that built up over the past couple of decades needs to be unwound. If you prefer the jargon term, it’s “deleveraging” — and it’s something we’re just going to have to get used to. (Mike Larson, Fed Policymakers Screw It Up Again, 8/13/2010)

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Fortunately, there are real and reasonable steps that can be taken to protect portfolio value even in the face of another severe economic and market downturn. Even though timingthe markets perfectly is highly unlikely, it looks more and more like the reality of lousy economic data is poised to take its toll.

Speculators Like This Government

Speculators like this Congress and administration. Unlike big media portrayal, successful speculators are not anything like wild gamblers. Instead, they watch for the signs that indicate which way a market is likely to trend and wait for confirmation of that trend. Major speculators like George Soros take relatively small positions ahead of the confirmation for a couple of reasons: (1) with the amount of money they trade, they cannot wait until the last minute to make their big moves and (2) they try to capture even larger profits. But they are not fools; they work hard to limit their risk.

So why do speculators like this government? Because this government is making it easy for them to reasonably predict the outcomes. History repeatedly reveals that a lot of national debt, increasingly large deficit spending, and an increasing money supply lead to higher taxes, a shrinking economy, and more inflation. Only politicians seem to believe that they can achieve different results by making the same poor decisions. Knowing this, speculators are already positioning themselves to take advantage of the results of today’s ill-advised federal economic policies. They will not cause these economic catastrophes, even though they will be blamed for them. They will merely take advantage of the setup given them.

So what about normal folks like you and me? Well, unless we take advantage of the same economic information and simple tools that are available to enable us to ride the coattails of the bigger guys, we’re going to see our hard fought gains evaporate yet again. If you work with a financial planner, I suggest that you meet with him/her to discuss action to take in the event of another major market downturn. If you do not work with a financial planner, or want to do a little personal research, I recommend taking a look at the resources provided by Martin Weiss and the Weiss Research Team. The basic information resources are provided at no charge. Read some of them, draw your own conclusions, and make your own decisions.

http://www.moneyandmarkets.com/

Main Street Economy

Weiss Research team member Mike Larson offers more great insights about the disconnect between government and main street economics. Washington has shot their load and emptied their barrels, and main street is left with an anemic recovery teetering on the brink of another downturn and continuing unemployment. Meanwhile, the Fed ponders its next move. Mike asks, "Who cares?" ("Pushing on a String... Again")

The truth is that the policies of both current and past administrations and Congresses have pushed us toward the brink of inevitable financial disaster. The willing complicity of many citizens to ignore Biblical principles for living have resulted in overindulgence, overspending, and over extension. These missteps will have to be brought back into line before things return to normal. We will have those in political power who try to grab even more power, but nothing will be fixed until Americans once again say, "Enough!"

During a recent trip, I saw a billboard sponsored by a local TEA Party chapter. It read, simply and profoundly, "America... Bless God." A good summation, indeed.

Immigration Hypocrisy

Here's the article...

"Cuban migrant found in styrofoam boat still with Coast Guard"

OK, here's the deal. Every day we have hundreds of folks spilling across the America-Mexico border. This administration is so ticked off about stopping this nonsense that they have the urge to sue Arizona for trying to protect their citizens from dangerous ILLEGAL immigrants.

But here is an immigrant (they call Cuban escapees "migrants" I guess) trying to get out of a truly oppressive regime, and the official American policy is to send him back.

Where's the Obama administration on this one? Where's the polished speech for immigration reform? We ought to get this poor guy to American shores and give him some of the best we can offer. Surely he deserves at least as much as the felons, drug lords, and armed "re-conquistadors" coming across our southern borders!

So if we don't send Cuban refugees back, Castro is going to be ticked at America? Oh, the horror of it all.

This country - no, let me correct that right now. Political leadership in this nation gets more screwed up with each passing day. I think that somewhere along the way, America has gone through the looking glass, 'cause everything's getting backwards.

(Photo: This is the boat he rode in on)

Rate the President

If you want, follow the link below to the CBS poll to "rate" the President. CBS emphasizes that this is not one of their "scientific" polls [yawn]. Nevertheless, the results are encouraging for those who would rather live in AMERICA instead of a twisted liberal version addicted to big government.

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Subject: CBS is letting you Rate the President

This is an older poll. But it's good to get opinions out there. Click the link and answer the questions!

CBS is letting you Rate the President

Here is your chance. Everyone should get a shot at this. Takes all of fifteen seconds and that is if you take a look at the results. First, I can't believe CBS is actually doing this.Second, that they're brave and honest enough to actually show the ongoing polling results.Take the poll yourself and when you submit your grading of how he is handling the top issues, a second page will come up showing you the current results of how America is voting. Remember, this ain't Fox doing this. This is mostly people who watch CBS. DO THIS! and pass it on.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01/19/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6116297.shtml?tag=

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