CatHouse Chat

By the rivers of Babylon

I think many Republicans, conservative, and (possibly) even libertarians are only now coming out of the shock and disappointment of Tuesday's reelection of Obama. 

I know many who are looking to reevaluate and reprioritize, who are planning to do what they can to weather what is likely to be at least a decade (and possibly two or three) of aftershocks from the policies this administration will push through, either by Presidential fiat (no, I'm not going to use "executive order") or regulation, and I'm definitely one of them.

I've seen a lot of articles about "what the Republican Party needs to do now," but they are really just a rehash of four years ago when McCain/Palin lost - and they were as ineffective then as I suspect they will be now. I think the Right is just as deeply divided as America herself is (check out this article by Michael Barone in the New York Post), and the problem is not with the politics or the presentation of policies, but rather with the foundations the politics and policies rest on.

For all that 80% or so of Americans claim Christianity, for all that many of us assert a fondness and respect for Judeo-Christian principles, America is no longer a nation interested in living according to those foundations. We are no longer interested in rewarding personal responsibility, civic duty, mutual respect, true tolerance, diligence, hard work, or earned success. An entitlement attitude has trumped the work ethic, and crisis deferral has become the preferred method of dealing with problems.

Personally, I'm not planning to draw back into my shell like a hermit crab, but I'm also not going to put my heart into politics any more. I'll be involved and aware, certainly, and I'll continue to vote for the best available candidates, but I think that what this election did for me was to hammer in the fact that I'm not living in Zion any longer.

I'm living in Babylon.

This election has made me realize that I've gone down to Egypt for help, and that I've been trusting in horses and chariots, instead of God. I suspect the American church (I should say, rather, "the Church which happens to reside in America") is suffering from the same disease. And so we need to remember that we are but pilgrims in this world, and that it is not our home, it is not our Father's Kingdom.

Well. The Jews were exiled to Persia and Babylon, and eventually dispersed throughout the world - and they've remained the Jews. 

Christians lived in ancient Rome, in Corinth, and are in all the world. They, too, have lived as an unusual people, set apart to glorify God while living in a strange land.

So I need to work on revising my whole identity and begin to realize - and act out - that I'm not an American. First and foremost, I am an undeserving sinner saved by the great grace and mercy of the Sovereign Creator of the Universe, and that my allegiance is to Him above all other people, nations, causes, or desires. 

I am a child of the King - and it's time that I learned what that means.

By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down, yea, we wept
When we remembered Zion.
We hung our harps
Upon the willows in the midst of it.
For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song,
And those who plundered us requested mirth,
Saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

How shall we sing the Lord’s song
In a foreign land?

(Psalm 137:1-4, NKJV)

Time to learn how to live in exile, and yet still proclaim the Name and Glory of God my Savior.

 

God bless Kyle Busch and M&Ms - NASCAR #18 car!!!

Tomorrow night, September 10th, the Richmond International Raceway is hosting the NASCAR Wonderful Pistachios 400 (??? OK, crazy name...), and my Beloved and a friend of his are up there enjoying a guys' weekend out. Well, earlier today, they tweeted this photo to me:

Kyle Busch, who drives #18 (sponsored by M&Ms), is apparently the favorite to win, and I pray he does! Because not only is he racing in the Red White and Blue, M&Ms and Busch have stripped ALL corporate sponsorship logos from the car so that she can race in honor of the fallen of 9/11.

God bless you, sir. Thank you, M&Ms (I am so glad that they are my favorite candy already!)

My Beloved tells me that the tailgate reads,

 

"Never forget!"

Obama just scorned the Republic our Founders gave us

Well, let me distinguish between professional politicians and the public at large. The public is not paying close attention to the ins and outs of how a Treasury option goes. They shouldn’t. They're worrying about their family; they're worrying about their jobs; they're worrying about their neighborhood. They've got a lot of other things on their plate. We're paid to worry about it.

via althouse.blogspot.com

You know, our Founders were all about keeping the power in the hands of the people, the ordinary citizen.

Now Obama comes along and says, "Aw, folks, don't worry your poor li'l heads about all that nasty debt stuff. It's far too complicated for y'all, so just let me and the 'professionals' take care of it. Bless your hearts.*"

...

I am a Christian, and Christian longsuffering and self-control forbid me from saying what I REALLY think.

Bless his little ol' heart.

* - You'll only get it if, by God's grace, you live or have lived in the South.

(crossposted to Virginia Virtucon)

Guest Post: Al Ramirez Considering Running for CA 36th District

This is a guest post from my dear friend and blog-brother, Kender [link to original post]. It's always a pleasure to open the CatHouse to help out my buddies!

Al Ramirez, who we last saw running in the primary against Cary Fiorina to unseat Barbara Boxer is considering a run for California's 36th District.  Many times in the last election I heard Fiorina was the best candidate possible as she had the most appeal to independents and could self fund, which turned out to be poppycock.  Fiorina was beaten soundly by Boxer and in fact, statewide elections walloped the GOP here in California. 

Why? Several reasons.  California has a large Hispanic population, and frankly the GOP cannot win without their support.  Al Ramirez brings the support of the Hispanic community.  The GOP, as has been pointed out ad nauseum, must also appeal to voters under 50.  Al Ramirez is under 50 and will appeal to the demographic.  Even though he is under 50 Al Ramirez is just the kind of American Success story the California Republican Party (CRP) should be backing in this race. But more about Al Ramirez and his success story later. The final thing the GOP need to do well here in California is to win in Los Angeles County. 

That's a hard thing to do, for several reasons. The county is largely Hispanic for one thing, and Hispanics tend, for some reason, to vote democrat when the vote is for a person and conservative when the vote is for an issue.  Witness the last election.  Even though democrats stormed Sacramento handily, the propositions on the ballot went heavily in favor of the conservative wishes.  The Hispanic vote had a lot to do with that, just like it had a lot to do with Prop. 8 a couple of years back.

As I said earlier, Al Ramirez is the American Success Story.  Frank DeMartini over at RedState has worked with Mr. Ramirez and has a great article on this as well here and you can read more about the accomplishments of Al Ramirez here.

Al Ramirez brings is the right person at the right time in the right place.  I for one would like to see the CRP throw their weight behind him so we can take back the 36th District and turn this state around.

Follow Al Ramirez on twitter and facebook.

Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors: Constitutional Illiterates?

My dear friend Shaun Kenney, who is a member of the Fluvanna BOS, was the sole dissenting vote - 

The owner of The Fluco Blog, a Fluvanna County-based news site, has filed a lawsuit over an ordinance limiting the use of the official Fluvanna County seal.

Bryan Rothamel is accusing the county of violating the First and 14th Amendments by adopting the ordinance, which allows use of the seal only with permission from the Board of Supervisors. Under the county code, a violation of the ordinance is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500. [link]

It seems that Mr. Rothamel irritated the BOS with one of his blog posts criticizing their actions (I'm not sure which post yet, but here's a link to the Board of Supervisors category), and they have retaliated in a truly petty and childlike manner - 

The motion for the ordinance was adopted 4-1 after a Sept. 15 public hearing during which Rothamel asked about fair use of the seal during news reporting, according to the meeting minutes. Shaun V. Kenney, the vice chairman of the board, voted against the ordinance. He said that he thinks the ordinance was a “remedial action” against the blogger for writing something that a supervisor didn’t agree with.

“This seems like a simple First Amendment, slam dunk, common sense situation,” Kenney said. “I’m still appalled, with all of the other issues facing us in Fluvanna County, that somehow we chose to focus on this.”

Hey, Fluvanna BOS members? I'm going to join up in support of Fluco Blog's First Amendment rights and imitate my blog-brother JR Hoeft at Bearing Drift:

First Amendment rights: NOT just for governmental toadies!

Here's a good idea...

Beyond that, we need to remember that Congress works for us. We’re their employers. So really, we should set their salaries. Why is it that they get to vote themselves raises? I did the math, and even at a 40% pay cut, they would still clear $100,000 a year, not including benefits so good they’d make you cry.

Dan Proft, candidate for governor of IL in the primaries, once suggested that representatives’ pay should be tied to the median income of their state. When the median income goes up, so does their pay. If it goes down, so does their pay. Talk about incentive to help the people!

I did a little research on median incomes across the nation. Only in California in some very ritzy areas did I find a median income at $103,000. Everywhere else in the states I sampled (NY, CO, IL, AK, AL, OR) the median income was between 50k-70k. If our new congress wants to make a big impression and a move in the right direction, they’ll cut $100,000 out of every representatives’ salaries. Multiplied by 535 that equals $53,500,000. It may be a drop in the bucket in the face of the trillions in debt we are facing, but it would go a long way in keeping faith with the voters by getting into the trenches with us.

via intolerantfox.wordpress.com

I must admit, this would be a really, really, REALLY good move on the part of the Republicans to show their voters just how seriously they're taking the second chance they've been given.

But more than that, I think it would be an excellent idea if congressional salaries were tied in to the average or mean income BY LAW. (Gee, I think I've mentioned this before...)

You don't tug on [Alan West's] cape..

Earlier this week, I noted that two of the incoming Republican Congressmen are both black -- and therefore technically qualified to be members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Allen West (R-FL) and Tim Scott (R-SC) are black and, come January, members of Congress, so they meet the membership standards. Practically speaking, though, membership is limited to black Democrats (especially those scandal-ridden), so I didn't see either of them getting engraved invitations. I also said that West was too no-nonsense to waste his time with the whole worthless mess, but I didn't know enough (hell, anything) about Scott, so he might try it.

I couldn't have been more wrong. I didn't take into account West's willingness to fight, to get in his opponents' faces. This is the guy who, when dissed by Obama, offered to debate both his electoral rival AND Obama at the same time. He's a highly-decorated veteran of Iraq; he isn't scared of anything Washington might throw at him. So he's notified the CBC that he would like to be considered for membership -- and woe betide anyone who tries to tell him no.

via wizbangblog.com

Oh, between Alan West and Tim Scott (plus Marco Rubio, Nikki Haley, Susana Martinez, and...), the DemonRATS are going to learn that Republicans - conservatives - are not bigoted, racist hicks.

No, we just like/love/admire/adore self-sufficient, independent, Constitution-loving, law-respecting go-getters who like to challenge the accepted stereotype and get in the face of the smug, intellectually lazy, "intellectual" "elite."

I can respect ANYONE who can do what Alan West has done, and who can hold to the integrity of character he does.

... of course, they are all too few...

Alan West = hero!

Related articles

• Haley, Scott among minorities in GOP to emerge victorious (washingtontimes.com)

"Rush Limbaugh will be on the air."

Obama, as Rush Limbaugh predicted, has in fact now failed. Nancy Pelosi is out of a job. And thanks to Rush Limbaugh, a new generation of Americans is learning that conservatism is not simply cool -- more importantly they are learning collectivism isn't smart. 

But lest there be any doubt, this fight will continue. Not all races were won last night -- not all races will ever be won. Harry Reid is still there. No one in all of American history has won a unanimous election -- with the solitary exception of George Washington. 2012 lies ahead. Fortunately for conservatives, for the Republican Party -- and America -- there is one certainty as this battle continues:

Rush Limbaugh will be on the air.

via spectator.org

Yep. And the Tea Partiers and the Dittoheads and the Beckheads will be on the team.

What team is that, you say? Oh, it's not Rush's team - and he'd probably be the first to say that. No, it's not Rush's team; it's America's team.

Rush may have been a focal point, and he has certainly been a leader for the past 20-odd years. But the real team is American citizens keeping a critical and skeptical eye on Washington - and finally this year deciding to move like the giant we are to shrug off the chains of oppressive government.

In United States law, the first document is not, actually, the Constitution.

It's the Declaration of Independence.

It is that same Declaration which states:

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Don't mess with the American people. Because if you abuse us and our trust enough, we get angry.

You liberals, politicos, and intellectual "elites" won't like us when we get angry...

And Rush Limbaugh will still be on the air!

(crossposted to Virginia Virtucon)

"Now THAT'S bipartisanship!"

Barack Obama helped elect 255 Democrats to the House in 2008. This year, he helped elect 240 Republicans to the House.

via blogs.dailymail.com

Oh, yeah! I could definitely deal with this sort of *ahem, cough, cough* compromise!

For another article on good compromise, go over and read Mark Tapscott's article at the Examiner:

But there are genuine compromises and then there is obstruction masquerading as compromise. To achieve the former, congressional GOPers must have the backbone to negotiate from a position of strength so that the end result always moves the ball a significant distance in the direction dictated by the popular will.

Saying you will accept "tweeks" of Obamacare when the majority of Americans want that monstrosity repealed and replaced is not real compromise, it's obstruction. It was clear in Obama's post-election news conference that he doesn't understand such a distinction.

 

Grace vs. petulance in victory

OK, folks, here's how a real man - a person of honor and integrity - shoulders the load of victory:

Now, to see how a spineless, whiney "winner" passes the buck and shovels out blame, go on over to Hot Air, 'cause I'm not going to host that... creature's image here at CatHouse Chat....

Obama - do you hear us NOW? (UPDATED)

(UPDATE: Oh, and I forgot that Michelle Malkin has a lovely round-up of the President's hubris in her article yesterday, "Take Your Olive Branch and Shove It, Democrats." So. "Compromise"? *ak, pffft!* Fuhgeddaboutit!)

I'm wondering, Mr. President, if you remember saying this:

President Obama listened to Republican gripes about his stimulus package during a meeting with congressional leaders Friday morning - but he also left no doubt about who's in charge of these negotiations. "I won," Obama noted matter-of-factly, according to sources familiar with the conversation.

The exchange arose as top House and Senate Republicans expressed concern to the president about the amount of spending in the package. They also raised red flags about a refundable tax credit that returns money to those who don’t pay income taxes, the sources said.

The Republicans stressed that they want to include more middle class tax cuts in the package, citing their proposal to cut the two lowest tax rates — 15 percent and 10 percent — to ten percent and five percent, rather than issue the refundable credit Obama wants.

At another point in the meeting, sources said Obama told the group: “This is a grave situation facing the country.” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama would hold another economic meeting in the White House Saturday for a "broader group."

After Friday's meeting, Democratic and Republican leaders publicly wrangled over the developing stimulus plan.

 But perhaps taking a cue from Obama’s “I won” line when Democrats were asked if they were concerned about Republicans blocking the package, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had a swift one-word answer: “No.”

Mmmm? Remember that?

Well. Rush Limbaugh speaks for me - and, God willing, the new Congress - when he says this:

Every Democrat in the House, I don't care, every Democrat in the House, Blue Dogs that went out and openly campaigned, supporting Obama and health care lost.  We are two Americas.  We have flyover America and we have the coasts.  Take a look at the map.  It's 90% red.  The blue is on the coasts, a little bit in Texas, a little bit here in south Florida.  We do have two Americas and Obama is gonna do his best to continue to divide this country.  I have to laugh.  I laughed when I listened to these guys, Democrats, Obama and his aides talking about, "Well, now it's time to compromise."  No.  Compromise is off the table.  They didn't want to compromise with us and we have no business compromising with them.  They lost.  Losers compromise.  We don't.  We've got nothing to compromise. [emph. mine - Kat] Where do we compromise with this agenda?  There's not one aspect of this agenda that's worth compromising.  This agenda must be stopped.  That's what this election meant.

No. Just... NO.

American citizens are tired of "bipartisanship" meaning that people on the political right give in while people on the political left get what they want.

No.

Time for the country to come to the center right - not careen off into the far left.

 

Newly-elected Republicans, TAKE HEED!

You know you weren't elected because we love the Republican Party, right?

You were elected because either a) you said you supported the Constitution, were dedicated to fiscal reform and restraint, and would work for a smaller government that got out of the lives and business of citizens, or b) you pretended to support those values.

For those in the first category: Keep the faith. Hold fast. Stay strong. America may be a generally center-right country, but you are on trial - and you must show yourselves to be persons of integrity and honor who follow through on your stated principles. I, personally, don't care for you to "get a lot done" in D.C.; we don't need MORE rules, regulations and laws. What I want you to do is the best you can to defund Obamacare, restrict spending, lower the deficit, balance the budget, and get rid of as many un-Constitutional laws as you can.

I don't want you to DO as much as I want you to UN-do!

For those in the second category: We're watching you. As a matter of fact, we'll be watching you very closely. And, if y'all will forgive me for the poor language, we will primary your ass and kick you OUT if you step out of line. Therefore, you'd better straighten up and fly right - or your tenure in Washington will be extremely brief.

We're very skeptical; the Republican Party has betrayed its base before, and we will not tolerate it again.

Here are a few articles from this morning you should read carefully (all emphasis mine) - 

From Douglas Holtz-Eakin at the Corner:

Today represents the beginning of answering the most interesting question: Will Barack Obama, for the first time, put action behind his words regarding bipartisanship and willingness to reach across the aisle, and work with Republicans? Or will this continue to be rhetoric only, with actions guided by his liberal instincts?

For Americans, this will matter greatly. But for Republicans, it should matter little. Their gains reflect the fact that voters want government based on first principles — a small, contained, efficient government — and Republicans campaigned on this. Voters also want accountability, so Republicans should cast every vote from a small government, efficiency perspective regardless of the agenda the White House presents. 

From Paul Hseih at Pajamas Media:

The 2010 vote was a powerful message from Americans rejecting the socialist policies of President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid — including the bailouts, the out-of-control federal spending, the higher taxes, and the nationalized health care scheme.

Voters elected Republicans to halt and reverse these policies — not compromise to pass watered-down versions of those same bad ideas.

Some Republicans like Congressman Mike Pence appear to understand this:

[T]here will be no compromise on stopping runaway spending, deficits and debt. There will be no compromise on repealing ObamaCare. There will be no compromise on stopping Democrats from growing government and raising taxes.

In contrast, others like Congressman Darrell Issa appear willing to compromise:

It’s pretty clear the American people expect us to use the existing gridlock to create compromise and advance their agenda. … They want us to come together [with the administration] after we agree to disagree.

Whichever philosophy takes hold amongst the Republicans will determine whether they succeed — or fail.

Americans don’t expect the impossible from the GOP. We understand that Obama still wields the presidential veto. But we do expect the Republicans to fight as hard as they can for principles of free markets, fiscal responsibility, and limited government.

From Erick Erickson at Redstate:

Many members of Congress will begin whispering sweet nothings in your ear wooing you to vote for them and their rules for the House and Senate. Remember that these same men are the exact same people that the voters rejected in 2006 and again in 2008.

Remember that every poll showing a Republican landslide on Tuesday also shows that the public hates these men.

And finally, from Jim DeMint, in an op-ed at the Wall Street Journal:

Many of the people who will be welcoming the new class of Senate conservatives to Washington never wanted you here in the first place. The establishment is much more likely to try to buy off your votes than to buy into your limited-government philosophy. Consider what former GOP senator-turned-lobbyist Trent Lott told the Washington Post earlier this year: "As soon as they get here, we need to co-opt them."

Don't let them. Co-option is coercion. Washington operates on a favor-based economy and for every earmark, committee assignment or fancy title that's given, payback is expected in return. The chits come due when the roll call votes begin. This is how big-spending bills that everyone always decries in public always manage to pass with just enough votes.

But someone can't be bribed if they aren't for sale. 

Don't be for sale.

You have two questions, and two questions only, that you must consider for any vote you make:

1. Is this Constitutional?
2. Can we actually afford this?

Stand firm. Fight the good fight. Live and think and vote so that at the end of each and every day, you can honestly say:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

And having done all, you stood firm.

BE THAT PERSON!

 

 

 

 

Tweet of the day?! Tweet of the CENTURY!

Found here, thanks to Ed Driscoll, posting at Instapundit.

Herman Cain

Video introduction playing now... His website is here.

... later....

WOW! Very inspiring speaker; I'll have to check out his radio show. I was able to get his speech on video (yay for charged batteries!) in two parts, and I'll see if I can get it up from the Convention.

We're rolling!

Jim Hoeft (Bearing Drift) is here (hey, dude - bumps shoulders), as is Jim Bowden. Rick Sincere rolled in last night, and Tom and Lynn are already here, of course. I also met Just a Conservative Girl, who also got fedora'd yesterday..

I've got to remember to try and get a group photo.... ;-)

Ready for Day Two of the Virginia Tea Party Convention

Yesterday, I had the opportunity of attending a seminar with Del. Bob Marshall and Jim McKelvey (former candidate for the Republican nomination for the House in VA-5),moderated by Pat McSweeny, and I didn't post anything about it... It was quite interesting, and I wish I had video, but my battery wasn't properly charged (*facepalm* - and that little issue is fixed now).

However, both of these gentlemen made some excellent points which really stuck in my mind. They're not terribly complex at all, but they are very much part of the foundation of the Tea Party movement. Mr. McKelvey pointed out that there are two simple questions which should direct elected officials in every decision they make:

1. Is this according to the Constitution?
2. Can we afford it?

Yes, folks, it really IS that simple!

Del. Marshall said, "As an elected official, we are supposed to serve you with the power you give us." I wish that more of our men and women - heck, ALL of them! - would have this attitude! After all, they are our employees, and we are not their subjects. Unfortunately, far too many people in government service think they're in office to rule over their fellow citizens - which should be a very dangerous assumption.

Finally, both these men stressed that it is each individual's responsibility to stand up and vote "NO!" when their representatives do not live up to their constitutional responsibilities.

I am enjoying myself immensely - lots of good information, friendly people, blog family, and a great deal of interesting things to see and learn!

(crossposted to Virginia Virtucon)

The blessings of blog family

I just got back to the hotel from a small gathering of my blog family at Angelina's restaurant in the north side of the Richmond area... 

My lovely driver, Kristin Forrester (accompanied by her charming and adorable munchkin), Jason Kenney, Tim Watson, and Ashton Gilmore and I spent a gloriously delicious evening consuming sinfully delectable food whilst discussing, debating, and deliberating political people and policies.

I am so blessed and honored that God has graced me with friends of good character and courtesy. These men and women listen to me, educate me, discuss with me, and help to make me a wiser, more thoughtful person.

Thanks, people - I am humbled and graced by our friendships!

Tea Party Convention update

Well, folks, I'm having a wonderful time here - I've met up with Tom White of Virginia Right! as well as Norm Leahy of Tertium Quids. Tom is wonderful fun, and Norm, of course, is his charming self ;-) (Hi, guys! *waves*) 

Lynn Mitchell - SWAC Girl - is manning the table at Bloggers' Row (so to speak), but I came back up to the Media ready room because I feel much better leaving my laptop alone here while I wander. Lynn seems to know everyone

The opening was wonderful - Bishop Jackson gave the opening prayer, and then also gave the initial keynote welcome. I've never heard him speak before, and WOW! His church is truly blessed to have a man of such eloquence, passion and faith in the pulpit. He began by asking us all whether the Tea Party is racist or hateful (an obvious and resounding NO!"),but ended by inviting anyone who loves our country, who loves our Constitution, who loves our Declaration, and who loves the Judeo-Christian foundations of our nation to join up with the Tea Party movement and get involved.

It is not about color, it is not about race. It is about cherishing and honoring and protecting our Founders' vision for a free country of citizens who will self-govern and do not want the government bureaucracy interfering with the liberty given to us by our Creator.

I hope that I will have the opportunity to get at least some of these speeches on DVD; someone is filming in the central exhibition hall... ;-)

(crossposted to Virginia Virtucon)

Ready to PARTY!

OK, I'm all checked in at the Convention, set up in the Media Room (E21b), and have done my initial pass through the outer hallway. Quite a few organizations set up with a LOT of items which will be quite dangerous to may wallet.

I've also met Jim Bacon, founder of Bacon's Rebellion and author of Boomergeddon (a very worthwhile read - please go BUY IT!)

Our first breakout sessions starts at 11a.m. and although I'm probably going to be at "First Principles and the Founders' Constitution: How to Think About America and Spread the Message" by Matt Spalding, I'm also tempted by Robert Rector's "A Nation at Risk - Illegal Immigration," and John Taylor's "Private Property and Eminent Domain Reform."

The second session at noon and the third at 3pm also present some excellent choices, so I'm obviously going to be dithering for a bit before I make my choices. ;-)

So, I'm ready and waiting for my blog buddies to come on in so we can get to work and cover this Convention and spread the word!

Time to (Tea) Party!!!!

After dropping my beloved daughter off at school, I packed up my bag and began the trek up to Richmond for this weekend's Virginia Tea Party Convention.

I stopped at two wonderful quilt stores along the way, JoJo's and Quilting Adventures, and then swung by the Penzey's Spices store on West Cary Street. Penzey's was a real treat, because I've never been in one of their stores, even though I've been ordering from their wonderful catalog for years. My only disappointment - even though it was probably a good thing for my sinuses - was that the rich scent of the spices and herbs didn't waft deliciously through the store...

Of course, that didn't stop me from spending a bit *ahem* more than I'd originally planned!

So, here I am at the Hilton (lovely property, and definitely living up to the high standards of Hilton hospitality!) and about ready to go over to the Convention Center and get registered. God willing, I'll have some great photos, video and commentary to post!

Related articles by Zemanta

• The Largest Tea Party Convention to Assemble in Richmond (theroot.com)
• Tea Parties Forge Alliances to Push Agendas (foxnews.com)
• Tea Party Getting Its Act Together (newser.com)

Remember November!

via www.youtube.com and THANK YOU! to Gateway Pundit for the video tip!

You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on Earth, or we will sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness." -- Ronald Reagan

So. Are we going to choose liberty and freedom and a small, controlled government?

Or shall we descend into slavery and bow to political masters?

I have another quote for you:

The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

... Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

-- Patrick Henry

 

 

SUCK IT UP, and quit with the sour grapes, Republicans! (UPDATED)

UPDATE: Make sure you scroll to the end for the link to Kevin McCullough's piece at FoxNews!

You know, I'm already getting very tired of the sour grapes of establishment Republicans (yeah, I mean you!) on last night's Delaware primary results. Folks, the NRSC and NRCC et al. have been ignoring their base for YEARS - and now they're going to take their ball and sulk home like they did with Scozzafava? Seems to me to be an indication they don't want to listen to their base - and will continue to descend into penury and irrelevance.

Perhaps if these committees LISTENED to their base and LISTENED to the Tea Party people demanding fiscal restraint, transparency, and less government interference and then SOUGHT OUT good candidates, we wouldn't be in this predicament.

Will O'Donnell win in November? I don't know - but if the Republican Party organizations don't grow up and grit their teeth and SUPPORT her (you know, kinda like a lot of the BASE did for McCain because he selected PALIN as his running mate), the odds go even further down. It seems to me that too many Republicans would rather be defeated by the Democrats' candidate than TRY to get the Republican candidate elected.

This sort of attitude simply reeks with the elitist snobbery I despise in my own party (except, of course, I don't really consider myself a Republican anymore...). You know what I'm "hearing" in this? "Well, we believe in the people and we want to have limited government and get out of the way of the people and the country belongs to the people - except when the people are morons and don't like the candidate we have chosen for those ignorant, unwashed ignoramuses."

Like I said - "sour grapes."

Suck it up, Republicans. Get behind the candidate chosen by the people and TRY TO **blinking** WIN for once!

(And thanks to Jerry Fuhrman for his post which encouraged me to state MY thoughts on the matter - 'cause I'm very fed up with certain people-who-would-know-who-they-are-but-don't-read-me-anyway-but-that's-life*shrug*)

UPDATES: More good stuff at

• the Washington Examiner
• Don Surber
• Instapundit
• Conservatives4Palin (and won't that link make a few heads explode?)
• Michelle Malkin (I know she's in the Zemanta links blow - read the post!)
• Captain Ed at Hot Air ("Grow up, shut up, and get to work." AMEN!)

Ed quotes Kevin McCullough at FoxNews, and I simply MUST quote him also:

For far too many years conservatives within the Republican party have been lectured to time and again by party officials, talk show hosts, syndicated columnists, et al that conservatives had to perform their wifely duties as it related to voting for the choices left for them in general elections. For conservatives these have been bitter pills to swallow for the liberal republicans have far too often been far too similar to the liberal democrats they opposed to generate any real excitement about the distinction of their candidacy.

In election cycle after election cycle conservatives in northeastern states and along the Atlantic coast have had fingers wagged in our faces and been told to accept the fact that reelecting and putting up with candidates like Mike Castle in Delaware was somehow better than electing a Democrat. But after we'd sent them back to Washington we would watch as those same Republicans, the Susan Collins, the Olympia Snowes, the Arlen Specters of the world would proceed to vote for programs and spending that a Democrat would have voted for anyway.

[...]

... if "establishment" candidates are willing to give anything more than lip service to the party they wished to represent, then they should be willing to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work of campaigning for someone they disagree with on issues. And they should do so remembering they are in it for the greater good.

The problem, at least on the GOP side of the equation, is that so many "establishment candidates" did not/do not wish to hold to the platform of their party. There is a platform adopted by the party for specific reasons. It gets re-drafted every presidential election cycle. And in the GOP it has been candidates who did not hold to the ideas of lower taxes, pro-life, pro-marriage, gun ownership rights, and strong national security that have been causing the problems for Republicans nationally. And for the same length of time, conscientious conservatives have been told to grin and bear it.

We were told that in the end having a majority with an (R) after their name was the best thing of all.
Well I see no reason why that statement can't hold true when a genuine Republican conservative wins a primary.

Amen, amen, and AMEN!

 

Related articles by Zemanta

• Report: National Republican Senatorial Committee Won't Fund Christine O'Donnell (mediaite.com)
• Tea Party Candidate Wins, and the GOP Loses (cbsnews.com)
• Insurgent US 'Tea Party' scores another upset (alternet.org)
• Big night for tea party: O'Donnell wins Delaware (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• O'Donnell win stuns Delaware (politico.com)
• Rove bashes O'Donnell; O'Donnell supporter at victory party strikes back; NRSC cuts and runs (michellemalkin.com)

"Illegal alien/immigrant" DOES NOT EQUAL "illegal person"

(UPDATE: My latest comment on this issue, and I would urge you to read the whole thread. Although there are some supporters, most of the comments lean heavily in favor of enforcing the law.)

How. Many. Times. Does. That. Have. To. Be. Said?!

I'm very tired of seeing this argument, but even more so from someone whose opinion I respect. Usually.

We neglect for a moment that 20 million people are within our borders because they want a better life for themselves and their family.  20 million people willing to work hard, build businesses, make money, and be a part of the community.  You know, the things America used to stand for?

That's wonderful! GREAT! America also stands for - or it used to - the rule of law. You want to come here? Do it legally!

Oh, but, Kat, those poor people are in such dire economic straits, they only want to better themselves, and it is great for the free market! Where's your Christian compassion?!

That's the logical fallacy of the appeal to pity. It's exactly the same fallacy as, "Baby, if you love me..." that some unscrupulous people use to get something to which they have no legitimate claim.

Folks, I have compassion for them, but compounding the wrong THEY do by flouting the law when entering this country with simply giving up on enforcing that law is insanity. Two wrongs do not - and can never - make a right!

Allow me to entertain a different idea.  Conservatives ideally believe in the power of the free market.  Instead of rounding up and deporting every non-English speaking Hispanic, why don’t we encourage work visas?  Extend business opportunities to Central America?  Take those 20 million “illegal” persons (as if such a concept existed) and recognize that 20 million potential Americans who believe in hard work and free enterprise are ready to enlist in the American Experiment?

As I said over in the comments, I have never heard of any conservative put forth the idea that people who have entered this country are "illegal persons" (i.e. - just so I'm absolutely clear - persons whose very existence is illegal). To phrase the argument that way is disingenuous and commits the logical fallacy of equivocation.

When conservatives refer to "illegal aliens/immigrants," we mean that these people have arrived in this country by illegal means - they have broken our law. That is, by definition, illegal. Period. Shall we try to keep that in mind?

Now.

Are our immigration laws broken? Yup.

Is enforcement of those laws a joke? Yup.

Are there opportunities for people from other countries to come here and work for a better life? Yup.

Would I - or any conservative - welcome people who show respect for our national sovereignty and culture by coming here legally? You bet yer shiny-white-hiney!

The answer is NOT to have open borders: there are people who want to come here so that they can - effectively - rape, pillage, burn, murder and destroy. They hate us. It would not be a good thing to let them in; on the contrary, it would be wise to make all efforts to keep them out.

Are all illegal aliens "out to get us"? No, of course not - but by the same token, not all passengers flying planes are terrorists. Does that mean we can have "open boarding" for everyone who has a ticket? Yeah, I know, TSA screening is a joke, too - does that mean we just throw our hands up in disgust and give up?! Good Lord, no!

Geeze, people, show a little common sense! (Oh, yeah, "oxymoron" - right [headdesk])

I have no idea who this commenter is, but when - in response to my comment, which is the first on that post - he says

Kat seems to again stumble into the legal positivism, rejecting natural law. Kat says “But I do not want, as a citizen, to welcome people who deliberately and intentionally break our laws”. Is one’s desire to come to America and live a better life now equated to a desire to deliberately break the law? Or is the breaking of the law the unintentional side effect of seeking self betterment in this case? One must assume from Kat’s comment that the position being taken is that the driving goal of illegal immigrants is NOT to live in land of opportunity, but to break laws. Seriously? That’s fundamentally ridiculous. Respect for the law is key. Love for your fellow man is far superior.

he sets aside the fact that

1. allowing your love for your fellow man to negate your respect for a law that does not contradict God's law (and shall we use the Ten Commandments, just to make this simple?) is allowing every man to do what is right in his own eyes - and leads to anarchy and total disrespect for your fellow man
2. I never said that the driving goal of immigrants was to break laws, but rather that they do so knowingly and intentionally to achieve their driving goal of entering this country
3. seeking self betterment is wonderful and breaking the law (again, I refer to laws which do not directly contradict God's law) may be a side effect, but the fact is that they DO break the law intentionall - and the ends do NOT justify the means
4. natural law requires that we have open boarders? Really? To which "natural law" does he refer? What "natural law" am I rejecting? Even when our Founders said out unalienable rights were "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," they did not set aside the LAW so that everyone could do as they darn well pleased!

Good Lord, I've seen clearer thinking from rabid liberals!

... OK, maybe not, but it's a pretty close call.

People. There are a lot of proposed solutions out there, and I would love to see this broken system fixed, but rolling over and giving up is not reasonable, rational, wise, frugal, profitable OR compassionate. No market is completely free, no borders are completely secure. But one of the mandates of our Federal government is to protect the lives and rights of American citizens first.

Our laws can be changed by legal means. If you feel that passionate about the plight of the poor, beleaguered people who come here by illegal means, then use the existing system to change the laws and fix the bloody problem!!!!

But do not set aside existing law just to soothe your hurted widdle feeewings and make yourself feel better and morally superior because you waved your hand and helped those law-breakers in their lawlessness.

And, yeah, this is a pretty harsh post with strong language. I can do that you know - just because I prefer not to smack people upside the head doesn't mean I won't.

And, Shaun, I still love you.

There are more verses to the "Star Spangled Banner"....

Got this via Da Mihi Animas... AWESOME!!!

For those who don't know, here is the full text of the "Star Spangled Banner" -

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

"Well... I'm back."

Certainly not quite the journey that Sam and Frodo had, but extremely worthwhile, and we got to do things that very few people who visit D.C. have the opportunity to do. I just got back home, however, and have about 200 photos to process through, as well as video to edit, combine and upload.... AFTER I relax with a glass of wine and maybe the latest episode of Bones!

The four and a half hour drive from D.C. went fairly quickly (especially after I stopped for some Starbucks in Rte 3 in Fredericksburg!), and I'm home early enough that I have the whole afternoon and evening to unpack, wash all our souvenir t-shirts, and see if my Beloved likes the tie tack (an American Eagle cut from a Kennedy coin, and then plated in gold), t-shirt, and beer glasses ("Beer is proof that God loves us." - Benjamin Franklin) that I picked up for him. ;-)

So, I hope that I can get a round up post published by tomorrow afternoon... One thing about this trip, though: D.C. is a LOT closer to me than I think, and I really ought to make a practice of getting up there for a week once or twice a year, if only to be reminded of the abundant blessings of this country and her Providential history.

Bill Whittle does it again

His newest video for PJTV is an absolute MUST SEE. Bill, through his essays and videos - and through his gracious and humble attitude towards this little "no one" - has become a true hero to me, and I think after you watch this video you'll understand why.

What a serious jab to my own self-satisfied complacency! Our country is such a treasure that has been gifted to us by God through out Founders - and we have the responsibility and joyful duty of engraving the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution upon our very hearts, second only to the love for God and His supreme Law.

Go watch - and create yet another living copy of the Declaration!

REPENT!!!! Oh, by God's mercy and grace... Repent!

Folks, we Christians in the United States (and I do include myself) are selfish, complacent and unfeeling.

We live in the richest nation on earth - resources, opportunities, finances, families - and yet, although America is the most generous nation on earth, the Christian Church has not stepped up to the plate and given to God's work proportionately to the blessings He has HEAPED upon us.

I am convicted and shamed by my own selfishness and concern for the future. I need to be slapped in the face with God's promises to provide for the needs of His children and His promise to pour out blessing to faithful givers. He does not promise financial blessings, but rather to bless the influence and grace of our inheritance in Heaven.What a treasure could be waiting for us, if we only open wide our hands and give back to God that which is already His!

Yes, for some, He will add blessing upon blessing financially - because He has found faithful servants (or is testing the servants whom He has blessed with financial assets) who will still put His Kingdom before their own needs. God is searching for men and women to bless richly so they can bless others according to His provision in their lives.

Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church spent 30+ hours in Haiti after the earthquake. I ask you to please watch the whole video... And then do what God lays on your heart.

We in America have been given riches beyond measure. The poverty line in Haiti is roughly $1300.00 a year, and 80% of the population can't even make that...

As Christians, we have no percentage guideline for giving to the Church in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Folks, for us, Jerusalem is our home, Judea is our community/state, Samaria is our nation... And the "end of the earth" is all our brothers and sisters in Christ who need our help to spread the wonderful Gospel of Salvation.

Do you earn $10,000? Can you offer $10 - at least???? Do you earn $60k? Can you give $500? Do you earn whatever, and realizing the blessings God has given you - just by being born to this prosperous and blessed country!! - you realize you need to give back to His Kingdom by loving, supporting and encouraging your brothers and sisters in a far country?

Please watch the whole video... and then give all that you possibly can to rebuild, uplift and encourage the Church in Haiti and all her people.

Update on VA-5 candidates

Well, I'm quite disappointed with Robert Hurt: his website is still only very basic, and has nothing up on the issues of taxation, immigration, health care, the War on Terror, government bureaucracy, jobs, etc. Not good, especially since I'd like to completely support my "hometown guy." Sen. Hurt, you are experienced at campaigning (albeit at the state level), and you should know that you have GOT to get this information out and on the record. Also, I am still concerned for your vote in favor of increased taxes when you were in the House of Delegates.

Ken Boyd also has an extremely simplistic website, and whoever is coding it is not doing a very good job. Just as an FYI, your front page (at the minimum!) should not show up as "Main" on the browser tab; it should at least display the candidate's name! Mr. Boyd is also not showing where he stands on the important issues that interest Virginians. His home page has only a very cursory mention of a few issues, but no specific statements on where he stands and how he intends to implement his positions. Also not good.

Feda Morton now has a real web presence (she used to only have a FaceBook page), and it seems to be nicely straightforward and clear. Her issues page is also very simple and blunt, which I rather like, and her positions match up very well with my own. I have very little patience for flowery rhetoric when gathering information, and the no-nonsense approach is quite attractive, however I would like to see more detail about how she plans to carry out these policies.

Ron Ferrin is a new name to me, and he's GOT to disable the autoplay for the first video on his site (a personal peeve). I very much like his style and stances on the issues he mentions on his front page (his support for the Second Amendment is particularly notable *grinz*), but it quite possibly comes across as a bit too "cowboy" for many. I would like to see a lot more written detail about who he is and what he's done so far because there is no bio. Plus, it might be nice if he started Twittering or FBooking. His videos are quite informative, however, so it's a "fault" I can forgive.  He's not terribly polished - which is not a ping - but he is well-spoken. I'll have to keep an eye on him.

Lawrence Verga's site is well-organized, and he has clear and detailed descriptions of where he stands on the issues. I might quibble that he needs a new favicon, but then... that's a quibble! He is a self-described constitutionalist and has vowed to self-limit to serving only three terms as our Representative. He is a businessman, not a lawyer, according to his bio, and is very involved with charity development. He does have  a health issue (polycystic kidney disease), which I assume requires careful management, but does not appear, at first glance, to be a large barrier. He's definitely an interesting candidate, and I like his positions on the issues.

Finally, there's Mike McPadden. He's a retired Navy pilot (hey! He flew the same airframe my Beloved did!), which is certainly a plus in my mind *grinz*. Mr. McPadden, like Verga, is NOT a lawyer (thank God - I do confess to being very tired of lawyers going to D.C.). He likes the Fair Tax - it seems most of these candidates do - and also has excellent statements on energy and conservation. I like his military experience, which might put him up a bit in a field of candidates who do not seem to have a lot of practical familiarity with national security issues. 

All of the last four candidates are pro-life, all support lower taxes and less government interference in some way. All of them support our Second Amendment rights (again, make sure you watch Ron Ferrin's video!), a strong national defense, and fiscal and governmental conservatism.

Sen. Hurt - although I was inclined to support him after his initial announcement - has not kept current on the issues on his website, and still has much explaining to do on his previous votes in the House of Delegates. Mr. Boyd joins with him in being the most "non-present" pair in the web arena. At this point, I'm kinda leaning for 1) McPadden, 2) a Verga/Morton tie, 3) Ferrin, 4) Hurt and 5) Boyd for my order of preference to go against Perriello.

(UPDATE: Rees? Rees who? C'mon, get serious!)

Bill Whittle gives a lesson in American Exceptionalism to Bill Mahar and President Obama

via www.pjtv.com

I really wish I could embed the video... But, Bill Whittle is *THE* reason I finally decided to go ahead and sign up as a paying viewer with PJTV.com. I love Zo and Steven Crowder, but Bill is the reigning KING for me.

At any rate, in just under 15 minutes (well worth the time, believe me!), Mr. Whittle delivers a well-deserved smack-down to Maher and President "Oh, America's not so great" Obama.

Please go watch it, and consider signing up with PJTV (only $5 a month!) to support such *ahem* exceptional journalism!

Am I surprised at racism in Hawaii?

Celia Padron went on a Hawaiian vacation last year, lured by the prospect of beautiful beaches and friendly people. She, her husband and two teenage daughters enjoyed the black sand beach at Makena State Park on Maui. But a Hawaiian girl accosted her two teenage daughters, saying, "Go back to the mainland" and "Take your white ass off our beaches," says Padron, a pediatric gastroenterologist in New Jersey.

When her husband, 68 at the time, stepped between the girls, three young Hawaiian men slammed him against a vehicle, cutting his ear, and choked and punched him, Padron says. Police officers persuaded the Padrons not to press charges, saying it would be expensive for them to return for court appearances and a Hawaiian judge would side with the Hawaiian assailants, the doctor contends.

"There is no doubt in my mind [the attack] was racially motivated," she adds.

via www.splcenter.org

Surprised? No, not terribly so.

My husband and I were very blessed that when we lived on Oahu from 1990-95, we had no incidents like this directed at us, but even then, Mililani Trask was spouting her agenda. Even then, there were places a haole (white) were wise to avoid. Plus, it was pretty much an accepted fact that if you didn't have ohana (family), your large business or stellar career would have more *ahem* hindrances than if you did.

Please don't get me wrong - I love Hawaii, it's beauty and warm Aloha spirit. This incident, in my experience, is by far the exception rather than the rule.

But it doesn't surprise me at all.

I wouldn't mind a Constitutional amendment

... holding ALL federal government (i.e., the President, Congress critters,advisers, aides, assistants, IRS auditors, etc., not the military) salaries to no more than 10% (see? I'm being generous) above the national mean for private business' salaries.

Because, while the lunatics running the asylum (all those DemonRATS and RINOs) - including the head lunatic - are running up our national deficit (oh, and you do remember that the White House just recently revised their estimates UP by two trillion - that's with a "t" - but what's a trillion or two between friends, huh?), look at their salaries:

 

(graph courtesy of the CATO Institute - check out some of their excellent research - kittipurrs for the tip to Jerry)

Government service is supposed to be just that: a service to your country. It's not a place at the slop trough. 

And while we're working on it, anyone in this category caught screwing up on their taxes ought to pay 200% of the penalty that regular folks do, the IRS should assume they're guilty until proven innocent, AND if they mess up on a tax item in a bill they voted FOR, the penalty ought to go to 400%.

Just to kind of level the playing field and remind people leeching around in D.C. that they're citizens of this country, too, and not above the law...

Steven Crowder goes undercover: Who funds the real astroturfers?

(UPDATE: Yikes! Serious typo in the title, now corrected. Note to self: don't post before the caffeine has had a chance to hit your brain, mmm'k?)

I just loooooove Steven!

Really, the hypocrisy and deception that runs rampant on the left is truly foul. I wish more people would do what Steven did to expose these groups that are trying to destroy our country; I really do!

Have you flagged yourself?

I looks like it might be working in a way - the Drudge Report links to an AP article that states:

Technical support issued a warning to congressional staff that the site - - may be slow or unresponsive because of the large volume of e-mail being sent to members.http://www.house.gov

Jeff Ventura, a spokesman for the House's chief administrative officer, which maintains the Web site, said traffic data was not available and could not be released without the lawmakers' consent.

But anecdotally, he said, the spike in e-mail volume was widely believed to be a result of the health care debate.

"It is clearly health care reform," Ventura said. "There's no doubt about it."

Certainly I can't authoritatively claim that the bottleneck is due to people flagging themselves... But I'm sure they've helped contribute to the problem, even thought it's the house.gov site vs. the whitehouse.gov site...

Or perhaps I ought to say "WE'VE helped to contribute to the problem," because I flagged myself, too. It is inexcusable for our President and his administration to encourage Americans to become informants on their fellow citizens, and we should do all we can to push back and beat this infringement on our right to free speech into smithereens.

Health care reform is an important issue, certainly. However, whenever the government pries into our private lives and exceeds its Constitutional boundaries, we-the-citizens are the ones who suffer - not the fat cats in Washington!

So exercise your right to free speech and e-mail flag@whitehouse.gov to flag yourself. E-mail your House Representative and your two Senators to state your disgust with the health care bill. Strike a blow against the government's intrusion and help slow down the governments servers even more ;-)

(kittpurrs to The Write Side of My Brain and All American Blogger)

Congressman Perriello: Answer the question "Yes" or "No"

via www.youtube.com

But he can't answer the question directly. All he can do is hem and haw and toss in red herrings. This is NOT what I want in my elected officials! When you are asked a simple, direct question, you need to give a simple direct answer and NOT babble on about the party line!

Congressman Perriello: If the Health Care Bill is passed, will you pledge to enroll yourself and your family in it? Yes or no?

Because if YOU are not willing to submit yourself to the same restraints and conditions you're willing to impose on your constituents, then you cannot, in good conscience, vote in favor of this bill!!!!

Man up, Perriello. Do the right thing and vote against the bill.

We despise most in others what we hate in ourselves

This post follows up on a previous post in which I questioned the credentials of a woman at a Texas town hall meeting who claimed to be a doctor, but turned out to be anything but. She is a graduate student in social work -- oh, and an Obama delegate. Read on for more.

via patterico.com

You should read the whole post, and also read the article Patterico links in the Lone Star Times.

For all the blustering the DemonRATS do about packing town hall meetings, and that those who oppose Obamacare are paid by mysterious far-right extremist sugar daddies or are "mobs" or sport Nazi swastikas... How interesting is it that, when examined closely, it's the left that actually does all these despicable things?

While I am not at all happy with the RINOs running rampant in the GOP, the DemonRATS always seem to go far further down that path of hypocrisy and dishonesty.

UPDATE: Instapundit has a post from yesterday which really highlights the deceit and deception of the left's outrage at the protests. Several good links are included.

Got your CHANGE right here...

[from KnoxNews.com via the Puppy Blender...]

Yep. You wanted it, you've GOT it... You idiots.

John Wayne tells the story of America

Thanks to my dear blog brother, Michael, I am reminded of this wonderful presentation: "America - Why I Love Her" -

But John Wayne has several other paeans to the simple greatness that is America:

Ah, we miss you, Duke!

For your Fourth of July meditaion, the National Hymn "God of Our Fathers"

"God of Our Fathers" was written by Daniel C. Roberts in 1876 (one would assume for our Centennial) and set to music already composed by George William Warren. The CompleteLee Blog has a little Bible study, and goes a little deeper into the history of the song. More information can be found here, here and here.

God of our fathers, whose almighty hand,
Lead forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor thro' the skies,
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.

And how ungrateful we have become, to turn away from the One True God who brought this country into being. How sad that the songs lifted up in faith and praise to Divine Providence have faded into a background murmur! How foolish we have become, to deny His presence and power, which are proclaimed throughout Creation!

Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast;
Be thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay,
Thy word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

Father, we have turned astray from the faith and love that built this nation under Your guidance. We reject Your good law and immerse ourselves in sin and unrighteousness, we kill our own children for convenience's sake and praise vain and selfish people rather than simple, honest and good citizens. Father, lay Your hand upon this nation once again to turn us back to You in faith, trust and obedience!

From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever strong defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Only God can bring peace, and where the Spirit of God is, there is true liberty. It is the freedom to act with dignity and self-control, simply and humbly living for others according to God's will. It is the peace which passes all understanding, with which we can face the greatest bounty and the sorrows of war with hope and confidence, keeping our eye on the God who holds all history in His hand.

Refresh thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.

Return, O Lord! Return to us and turn our hearts to You! Renew within us a right spirit, renew our minds with the washing of Your grace and Your word! Take away our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh that love Your commands and long to obey them! Make us into a people of praise, living Your precepts, worshiping You in spirit and in truth. Let Your work in this nation and in our hearts and lives be proclaimed to the glory of Your name throughout the world!

And though I despise the heresy of their church, you can't deny the beauty of the voices of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir:

(Repost) The Fourth of July (2007 2009 edition)

--- I posted this three years ago, and it was well received. And so I post it again in hope that it lifts up someone's spirit and reminds them of the foundation of this great country on its birthday. Here is the wonderful mix that Alton made for me. He'd asked me to record this post, and then he added music. Listen or read - but enjoy either way! .---

Two hundred thirty three years ago, a group of men - men of influence, wisdom, and courage - gathered together to sign a Document and birth a Nation:

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

And so began the war for our Independence, a war where we threw off the stifling apron-strings of our Mother, Britain, and began our journey of discovery. The War was long, and fraught with set-backs, disasters, tremendous hardship, and discouragement. But through it all, one man held true to the ideal and fought with dogged determination to keep his army and his new country from giving in.

General George Washington. He was not necessarily a brilliant man, but he was honorable and resolute. He had been given the duty of defeating the British and winning the War, and he pursued his orders with unflinching persistence.

And in October of 1781, the British General, Cornwallis, surrendered at Yorktown, VA.

The United States of America was free.

But freedom doesn't come easily. The States had adopted the Articles of Confederation in early 1781. The Articles gave the States many sovereign powers, and any changes to the Articles had to be approved by nine of the thirteen States. Federal power was practically non-existent: it couldn't raise taxes, it couldn't regulate trade, it couldn't stop States from printing their own money.

With authority to act scattered throughout the States, and an anemic central government, America threatened to dissolve into a group of bickering little provinces. The States had their own armies, their own international ambassadors, they argued over interstate trade, the justice system left quite a bit to be desired. In other words, it was a bit of a mess!

In 1786, after much unrest and disputes among the States, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton petitioned that the Constitutional Convention convene to write a new Constitution which would strengthen and unify our young Nation. The man the Convention elected to preside over this process was none other than George Washington, the man all Americans look on as our First Father. General Washington was reluctant - he had recently lost his brother, and he preferred to remain at Mount Vernon, managing his lands. Finally, however, he accepted the duty, and made his way to Pennsylvania.

Under his calm influence, eventually each of the States made compromises and came to agreements, negotiated the power of the Federal Government and State Governments, outlined the authorities of the branches of the Federal Government, and placed the ultimate power of Government firmly in the hands of the People. The first draft was accepted in August of 1787 after months of wrangling and debating. Five weeks later, on September 17th, the convention dismissed, and the Constitution went to the States for ratification. It wasn't until July of 1788 that the Convention received word that the ninth State, South Carolina had ratified the Constitution.

Finally, enough States had accepted the Constitution to begin to implement its laws. Of course, there was further debate about the Bill of Rights, which were passed by a total of three quarters of the States by late 1791, but now America had her "supreme Law of the Land," which began:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Thus we began to work out this fine balance between the Power and Authority of the People, and that of the Government. Men and women have stepped up to serve our country in war and in peace throughout our 230-year history. Elected officials, military, police, firemen, medical personnel, charity organizations, human rights groups, and so many more have furthered the cause of Freedom and Liberty in our country.

But for me, no group deserves our honor and our respect more than the men and women who serve her in our Armed Forces. Each man and woman who enters the military takes this oath:

...I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same...

Our men and women do not swear to a particular leader. They are not members of a cult of personality. They swear to uphold the Law, and the Supreme Law of the United States of America is the Constitution.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what the Fourth of July means to me. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," "We the People," and "I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same."

Happy 233rd birthday, America! I love you dearly, and pray that God will continue to bless and guide you. I pray that you will always be that "shining city on the hill," a light and example to the rest of the world of Freedom and Liberty.

Happy birthday!

Have a blessed Fourth of July!

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Happy Fourth of July wishes

... from ReasonTV via the Puppy Blender...

Wow! Can we do that every year until the morons in D.C. actually learn fiscal responsibility?!

Twenty-two years ago: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

Oh, President Reagan, how I miss men of your strength and character! How I miss statesmen with clear moral vision and spines of steel!

It has been too long since giants walked the earth, and we are all diminished by it.

Sarah Palin's class and grace emphasize the petty depravity of Letterman

I am so glad that I never watched Letterman! If I had years of this bitter, unfunny drivel cluttering up my brain, I'm sure that I would be a brain-dead liberal, too.

Here is Gov. Palin's gracious and self-effacing response to Letterman's arrogant slander:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Classy, classy lady! It would be an honor to shake her hand. Letterman, of course, would get the disdainful cold shoulder, which is more than a cad like him deserves.

Clarence Thomas: an example of quiet dignity and gracious character

See, this is how true conservatives act. They don't need an entourage, they don't need to parade themselves, and they are not so puffed up with themselves that they walk around with a "Do you know who I am?" attitude.

From FoxNation, an article at NBC Washington:

High school seniors Terrence Stephens and Jason Ankrah, star football players at Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Md., were sitting on a plane returning from a recruitment session at the University of Nebraska when they struck up a conversation with the man sitting next to them.

Their seat-mate just happened to be a major Cornhuskers fan.

When they started chatting, Stephens and Ankrah didn't have a clue they were holding court with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

"I was amazed this guy knew so much about us as football players and as people," said Stephens. "That was shocking. I felt honored to be known by someone of his caliber. He was just a regular old guy, sitting in coach, which really shocked me."

And they were so impressed by Justice Thomas that they asked him to be the keynote speaker at their graduation - and he accepted.

"Just a regular old guy, sitting in coach."

Compare that to the whiny drama of Pelosi. Or the arrogant narcissism of President Obama.

A man of great power and influence chatting amiably with two unknown young men. A man of immense intellect and wide experience in humble conversation, focusing on others rather than himself.

Clarence Thomas. A man of dignity, grace, and character. A man!

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

-- Kipling, "If"

Kindred Hospital in Mansfield, TX, is anti-free speech and unpatriotic

I got this link from my friend Scott on his Facebook page:

Is it okay to show your patriotism at the office?

For one Arlington woman, the answer was "no" after she hung an American flag in her office just before the Memorial Day weekend.

Debbie McLucas is one of four hospital supervisors at Kindred Hospital in Mansfield. Last week, she hung a three-by-five foot American flag in the office she shares with the other supervisors.

When McLucas came to work Friday, her boss told her another supervisor had found her flag offensive. "I was just totally speechless. I was like, 'You're kidding me,'" McLucas said.

Some ignorant and intolerant... person... was offended by the display of a flag for Memorial Day weekend?!

McLucas said the supervisor who complained has been in the United States for 14 years and is formerly from Africa. McLucas said the supervisor took down Debbie's flag herself.

This ... person...  has been in America for 14 years, enjoying the hospitality, liberty and prosperity of America, and is OFFENDED at the display of the flag?

I have one thing to say: GET OUT.

As for the craven cowardice displayed by the admin department of the hospital, I would suggest that you call (817) 473-6101, ask for Administration, and offer them your thoughts. Firmly, politely - but very decisively.

(UPDATE: Scott has posted full contact details on his blog...)

UPDATE 2.0 - A David Inman, supposedly from Kindred has posted a comment at Scott's -

Kindred Hospital Mansfield has a great deal of appreciation for the service that many of our employees and their families have given to their country. We honor our veterans and active military through a variety of benefits and service programs. This was an isolated incident between two employees that we are working to resolve amicably. Both employees have family members who have served in the military. The disagreement was over the size of the flag and not what it symbolized. We have invited the employee to put the flag back up. We share their love of country and we appreciate the service of their family members as well as all members of the armed forces.

And NBC Dallas confirmed the facts stated in that comment.

Nevertheless, even if this is an office kerfuffle, the management should not have caved so readily. AND the supervisor who took it down behaved childishly. I still would like to know whether that person is a citizen or not...

Perfect timing for Memorial Day

We are, of course, going to be having a family gathering tomorrow at CatHouse Central to enjoy friends and family and the long weekend.

But this weekend is in memory and celebration of the men and women in our armed forces who gave the last, full measure of devotion to this country, so it's appropriate to remember and honor them.

Back in February, HBO aired an incredible movie - "Taking Chance." I was upset that I couldn't watch it, but heard so many enthusiastic endorsements of it - including from my Beloved Husband, who saw it while traveling - that I had to order it. I recieved notice near the beginning of May that it had shipped, but was down in Orlando helping my Mom when it arrived.

Today, while cleaning out the cooler in preparation for this weekend's festivities, lo and behold, there was the package from Amazon...

So now I have the perfect movie to remember and honor our citizan soldiers who have laid down their lives so that this country remains free.

When the Obamabots come calling...

... you'll know what to do.

Go read. NOW!

Will Virginia reassert its Tenth Amendment rights?

Last month, I referred to a post over at And Rightly So which discussed several states which had taken measures to take back their 10th Amendment rights from the Federal Government.  I wondered why Virginia, which is the Mother of Presidents, hadn't gotten on the bandwagon, and several of my Virginia blog-brothers reminded me of the Virginia Resolution of 1798 (actual text here).

So, Virginia has had this on the books, as it were, for a long time.

I didn't blog it then, but last week, the Old Virginia Blog pointed to some information that Del. Christopher Peace is the chief sponsor of HR 61, State Sovereignty. Virginia *IS* pushing back against the Federal Government's infringement of states' rights!

Full text of the bill is here, and I give my whole hearted support to it - and I pray that, once it passes (God willing), the government of this Commonwealth follows through and tells the Feds where to stick it when Uncle Sam (NannyState version) tries to meddle!

As with the Republican Party of Virginia, so with the National Committee?

With the Republican Party of Virginia making serious moves to oust its currant chairman, Jeff Frederick, will the National Committee be following suit?

*sigh*

Looks like the Republican Party continues to implode. Which is just as well - the RINOs need to be purged (yes, I know it's a strong word), and the Party needs to return to and promote its foundational values: small government, low taxes, economic power, strong national defense, combined with personal integrity and honor at every level.

Evan Sayet at Heritage on 03Mar09: "Hating What's Right: How the Modern Liberal Winds Up on the Wrong Side of Every Issue"

Totally LOVE Evan... He's awesome! His last speech at Heritage was two years ago, and was superb. Now he's back with a speech from last week, again at Heritage: