Archive for March, 2008

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John, Are You Listening?

March 31, 2008

Star Parker wrote a great article and Open Letter to John McCain. Check it out and see if it doesn’t reflect some of your feelings.

An Open Letter To John McCain
By Star Parker March 31, 2008

Dear John McCain,
Every relationship requires effort. I want to do my part. But there needs to be common ground to start with and you’re making it harder and harder for me to find where it is.
I’m an optimist and a woman of faith. I believe we are strong because our nation is meant to be, as President Reagan often reminded us, a “shining city upon a hill.”
You spoke in Los Angeles the other day about our country and its place in the world. You talked about political, economic and military strength, and international citizenship.
I strained to hear you mention our moral uniqueness — our being that “city on a hill.” But I heard not a hint.
President Nixon once observed that Americans often make the mistake of thinking that conflict in the world is the result of misunderstanding rather than difference of belief.
Because you seem not to appreciate that our beliefs make us different, you suggest more talk. You propose more international compacts and organizations, as if we don’t have enough.
What exactly are the values we would share with others in your concept for a League of Democracies? The European Union countries can’t even agree on a common constitution.
A 2000 survey of the United States and 14 Western European democracies checked the percentage of residents who never attend church. France was highest, with 60 percent, followed by Great Britain (55 percent), Belgium (46 percent) and West Germany (30 percent). The European mean was 36, more than twice as high as in the United States, which had 16 percent.

Read The Rest Here

source: http://ablursspot.blogspot.com/

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, Education, Local Politics Colorado, Politics, Uncategorized, Wordpress Political Blogs | Comments Off on John, Are You Listening?

Navy SEAL killed in Iraq to get Medal of Honor

March 31, 2008

I’ve posted elsewhere on this blog about this action involving this group of American Warriors. This was an unusual situation, and these are, and were unusual men. I can remember Seals coming into Ross – Sands Delicatessen in Point Loma. They were boisterous, and serious all at the same time. Man, could those guys eat!

Fair winds and following seas…

 ‘He never took his eye off the grenade,’ attack survivor says of his heroism

SAN DIEGO – An elite Navy SEAL who threw himself on top of a grenade in Iraq to save his comrades will be posthumously awarded the nation’s highest military tribute, a White House spokeswoman said Monday.

The Medal of Honor will be awarded to Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor. His family will receive the medal during a White House ceremony April 8.

Monsoor is the fifth person to receive the honor since the beginning of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

“Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism on Sept. 29, 2006,” press secretary Dana Perino told reporters during a briefing aboard Air Force One as President Bush headed to Europe for a NATO summit.

Monsoor was part of a sniper security team in Ramadi with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi soldiers, according to a Navy account. An insurgent fighter threw the grenade, which struck Monsoor in the chest before falling in front of him.

Monsoor then threw himself on the grenade, according to a SEAL who spoke to The Associated Press in 2006 on condition of anonymity because his work requires his identity to remain secret.

‘We owe him’
“He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it,” said a 28-year-old lieutenant, who suffered shrapnel wounds to both legs that day. “He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs’ lives, and we owe him.”

Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured; another who was 10 feet to 15 feet from the blast was unhurt. Monsoor, from Garden Grove, Calif., was 25 at the time.

Monsoor, a platoon machine gunner, had received the Silver Star, the third-highest award for combat valor, for his actions pulling a wounded SEAL to safety during a May 9, 2006, firefight in Ramadi.

He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for his sacrifice in Ramadi.

Sixteen SEALs have been killed in Afghanistan. Eleven of them died in June 2005 when a helicopter was shot down near the Pakistan border while ferrying reinforcements for troops pursuing al-Qaida militants.

There are about 2,300 of the elite fighters, based in Coronado and Little Creek, Va.

The Navy is trying to boost the number by 500 — a challenge considering more than 75 percent of candidates drop out of training, notorious for “Hell Week,” five days of continual drills by the ocean broken by only four hours sleep total.

Monsoor made it through training on his second attempt.

source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23886008

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, Education, Local Politics Colorado, Military Science, News, Uncategorized, Valhalla, War, Warfare | 4 Comments »

Milton Friedman and William F. Buckley, Jr.

March 31, 2008

I have been struggling to come up with what both of these men meant to me, and what their passing means for America. The following is by Mike Rosen, follow the link for the full story;

ROSEN: Two irreplaceable minds

By Mike Rosen, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Friday, March 28, 2008

It may be true that no one is indispensable. That is, people come and go, and the world goes on. Perhaps irreplaceable, then, is a better word. Individuals whose unique persona, contributions and impact on events make them one of a kind.

In the past several months, we’ve seen the passing of two such people, both of whom were my intellectual heroes and mentors. In November, Nobel laureate economist Milton Friedman died, and earlier this month we lost William F. Buckley, Jr. Friedman described himself as a libertarian; Buckley was a conservative. Friedman was Jewish; Buckley, Catholic. They had different specialties, different agendas and different styles but had much in common and often overlapped on matters of policy and politics.

I read and was greatly influenced by their writings and ideas, and I had the distinct privilege of knowing them personally. They were kind enough to appear on my radio show on several occasions. Those interviews were always a treat. Friedman restored respectability and stature to free-market economics and had a rare gift for explaining economics in common-sense terms that laymen could understand. (My copy of Free to Choose has the unique distinction of being autographed by Milton and his wife and co-author, Rose).

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/28/two-irreplaceable-minds/

From the comments about that article:

All thinking persons will miss the late Milton Friedman and William Buckley, Jr.

Great minds come by too infrequently and too many average minds pass as great minds because they offer utopian pipe dreams. Neither Friedman nor Buckley can be said to have offered uptopian pipe dreams.

“Back in the thirties we were told we must collectivize the nation because the people were so poor. Now we are told we must collectivize the nation because the people are so rich.”

“I won’t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.”

“I’d rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University.”

“Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.”

“Life can’t be all bad when for ten dollars you can buy all the Beethoven sonatas and listen to them for ten years.”

“Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.”

Posted in Contemporary Quotes, Economics, Editorial, Opinion, Education, Local Politics Colorado, News, Politics, Uncategorized, Wordpress Political Blogs | Comments Off on Milton Friedman and William F. Buckley, Jr.

Just Why is the Economy Tanking?

March 30, 2008

This is a copy and paste from the RLCC forum, originaly attributed to snopes.com

What Costs More than the War in Iraq?  Just One Example of our three presidential candidates efforts at helping with the coming economic collapse.

A list of the idiots in Washington.     

Subject:WHAT COSTS MORE PER YEAR THAN THE IRAQ WAR???  
Be sure to read the 14 reasons at the bottom.
Social Security Change For 2008
The United States Senate voted to extend Social Security Benefits to Illegal Aliens beginning in 2008. The following are the senators who voted to give illegal aliens Social Security benefits. They are grouped by home state. If a state is not listed,
there was no voting representative.
Alaska : Stevens (R)
Arizona : McCain (R)
Arkansas : Lincoln (D) Pryor (D)
California : Boxer (D) Feinstein (D)
Colorado : Salazar (D)
Connecticut : Dodd (D) Lieberman (D)
Delaware : Biden (D) Carper (D)
Florida : Martinez (R)
Hawaii : Akaka (D) Inouye (D)
Illinois : Durbin (D) Obama (D)
Indiana : Bayh (D) Lugar (R)
Iowa : Harkin (D)
Kansas : Brownback (R)
Louisiana : Landrieu (D)
Maryland : Mikulski (D) Sarbanes (D)
Massachusetts : Kennedy (D) Kerry (D)
Montana : Baucus (D)
Nebraska : Hagel (R)
Nevada : Reid (D)
New Jersey : Lautenberg (D) Menendez (D)
New Mexico : Bingaman (D)
New York : Clinton (D) Schumer (D)
North Dakota : Dorgan (D)
Ohio : DeWine (R) Voinovich(R)
Oregon : Wyden (D)
Pennsylvania : Specter (R)
Rhode Island : Chafee (R) Reed (D)
South Carolina : Graham (R)
South Dakota : Johnson (D)
Vermont : Jeffords (I) Leahy (D)
Washington : Cantwell (D) Murray (D)
West Virginia : Rockefeller (D), by Not Voting
Wisconsin : Feingold (D) Kohl (D)
I hope the following 14 reasons are forwarded over and over again until they are read so many times that the reader gets sick of reading them. I have included the URL’s for verification of the following facts:  
1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year. http://tinyurl.com/zob77
2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens. http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html
3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.   http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html
4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English! http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.0.html
5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare and Social Services by the American taxpayers. http://premium.cnn.com/TRANSCIPTS/0610/29/ldt.01.html
9. $200 Billion Dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt01.html
10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that’s two-and-a-half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the US . http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/12/ldt.01.html
11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, meth, heroin and marijuana, crossed into the U. S from the Southern border. Homeland Security Report. http://tinyurl.com/t9sht
12. The National Policy Institute, “estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period.” http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/pdf/deportation.pdf
13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin. http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm
14. “The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants In The United States “. http://www.drdsk.com/articleshtml
Total cost is a whooping… $338.3 BILLION A YEAR!!!
If this doesn’t bother you then just delete the message, but on the other hand, if it does raise the hair on the back of your neck, then forward it
Snopes is provided for doubters:

SEND THIS TO ALL YOU KNOW. THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION, UNLESS THEY DON’T MIND SHARING THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY WITH FOREIGN WORKERS who didn’t pay in a dime.

LET US SHOW OUR LEADERS IN WASHINGTON “PEOPLE POWER” AND THE POWER OF THE INTERNET. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU ARE REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT OR INDEPENDENT! KEEP IT GOING!!!

Posted in Economics, Editorial, Opinion, Education, Immigration, Law, Local Politics Colorado, News, Politics, Uncategorized, Wordpress Political Blogs | 1 Comment »

There is a difference between society and government « Democracy Sucks

March 29, 2008

There is a difference between society and government « Democracy Sucks

Great points! Doing things for others because you want to do them is one thing. Being ordered to do them by some high and mighty person, especialy in the form of government is immoral.

Ari Armstrong wrote a great piece on this subject some time ago. I’m sure that it in the archives at the Colorado Freedom Report if any are interested.

The author would do well to read up on Ayn Rand, and Objectivist theory, and I believe he would be able to explain his views much better than he is so far. I hope he keeps up the good work! 🙂

Posted in Economics, Editorial, Opinion, Education, Law, Local Politics Colorado, Politics, Uncategorized, Wordpress Political Blogs | 2 Comments »

Official Pronouncement

March 28, 2008

The goverment today announced that it is changing its emblem from an Eagle to a condom,because it more accurately reflects the goverments political stance.A condom allows for inflation,halts production,destroys the next generation,protects a bunch of pricks,and gives you a sense of security while your actually being screwed.Damn, it just doesnt get more accurate than that.

Got this from Texas Freds… LMAO!

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, Humor, Local Politics Colorado, News, Politics, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Official Pronouncement

Command releases report

March 28, 2008

United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM)  has released online an unclassified redacted version of the Joint Center for Operational Analysis (JCOA)-sponsored study entitled “The Iraqi Perspectives Project — Saddam and Terrorism:  Emerging Insights from Captured Iraqi Documents.”

By USJFCOM Public Affairs

(NORFOLK, Va. – March 20, 2008) — United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) has released online an unclassified redacted version of the Joint Center for Operational Analysis (JCOA)-sponsored study entitled “The Iraqi Perspectives Project — Saddam and Terrorism:  Emerging Insights from Captured Iraqi Documents.”

In order to accommodate continuing public interest and to provide an accurate, definitive report, this online version is made available to improve efficient delivery of this material.

The five volumes of the document, linked below, documents the history of the Saddam regime.   

The Institute for Defense Analyses produced the report under contract for the command as part of the broader Iraqi Perspectives Project. 

The Iraqi Perspectives Project examines operational and strategic insights and lessons from the perspective of former senior Iraqi decision-makers through the analysis of primary source material such as interviews and captured regime documents. 

The study’s authors completed the report after screening more than 600,000 captured documents including several hundred hours of audio and video files archived by U.S. Department of Defense. 

As part of USJFCOM, JCOA studies strategic and operational lessons from recent and ongoing military operations in order to improve the joint force.

Volume 1 contains the executive summary of the report. Volumes 2-5 provide supporting documentations.

Click on the links below to download each volume individually.

• Volume 1
• Volume 2
• Volume 3
• Volume 4
• Volume 5

http://www.jfcom.mil/newslink/storyarchive/2008/pa032008.html

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, Education, Local Politics Colorado, Men's Issues, Military Science, News, Politics, Uncategorized, War, Warfare, Wordpress Political Blogs | Comments Off on Command releases report

Lunatics running the asylum

March 28, 2008

In Weston, Virginia, a long-vacant mental institution most recently known as Weston Hospital has been purchased by private interests and subsequently renamed The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Needless to say, the name change has sparked crazed bickering. Nonetheless, the new owners have begun offering tours of the sprawling 370-acre 19th-century complex along with plans for mud-truck races, “Psycho Path” dirt-bike races, a reunion of former employees, a “Hospital of Horrors” tour in October, and a “Nightmare Before Christmas” tour in December. “It’s like turning back the clock to a time we don’t want to go back to,” complained the director of a mental-health advocacy group. But what about the mud racing? Somehow, we doubt they had as much fun back then.

Source: Patriot Post

Posted in Humor, News, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Lunatics running the asylum

Honoring soldiers is ‘too political’

March 28, 2008

A national tour that features several decorated Afghanistan and Iraq veterans planned a stop at Forest Lake Area High School in Minneapolis Thursday, but the event was canceled at the last minute by the principal. Why? “The event was structured to be an academic classroom discussion around military service. We thought we’d provide an opportunity for kids to learn about service in the context of our history classes,” the school principal said. “As the day progressed, it became clear that this was becoming a political event… which would be inappropriate in a public setting. We decided to cancel.” The only reason it became political was because of harassing phone calls from anti-war Leftists who threatened to protest.

Vets for Freedom is sponsoring the cross-country tour from 14 March through 9 April. Pete Hegseth, who heads the organization, graduated from Forest Lake and served with the 101st Airborne in Iraq, said, “It’s Iraq and Afghan veterans talking about what they saw and what they did there, and about what it means to put on the uniform of your country.” Among the heroes on the tour is Marcus Luttrell, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and Petty Officer First Class who was awarded the Navy Cross and a Purple Heart for his actions in Afghanistan. We have previously told his incredible story. Finally, Hegseth asked, “Are we saying that patriotism and duty and honor have no place in our public schools?”

source: Patriot Post

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, Education, Local Politics Colorado, Men's Issues, News, Politics, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Honoring soldiers is ‘too political’

DOW OFFICERS TO ENFORCE MOTORIZED VEHICLE REGULATIONS ON FEDERAL LAND

March 24, 2008

Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) officers will now be enforcing motorized vehicle regulations on federal public lands as specified in Colorado House Bill 1069.

This bill, introduced in January of this year, was signed by Gov. Bill Ritter on March 20.

The measure specifies that DOW officers along with other state law enforcement officers will now be able to enforce motorized vehicle restrictions on public lands. Officers can now issue tickets in the field to those who violate motorized vehicle laws.   

“Our officers will certainly use substantial discretion during the early stages in carrying out this enforcement. It’s going to take some time to get signs in place and for people to have access to updated maps and information,” said Rob Firth, Chief of Law Enforcement for the Colorado DOW. “We recognize that motorized vehicles have a substantial role in enhancing outdoor recreation in many areas of the state. This legislation gives us the ability to act when it comes to the most blatant violators such as when sensitive habitat is harmed or when hunters or outdoor enthusiasts have their activities interfered with by those who knowingly violate the regulations in place.”

Enforcement will be incidental, as the DOW will not be adding any new officers or resources to specifically enforce this regulation. DOW officers will issue citations in conjunction with carrying out their current duties.

Penalties established for those who violate these regulations include a misdemeanor charge and a fine of $100.  If the violation occurs while a person is hunting, fishing or trapping, 10 suspension points would also be assessed against their hunting/fishing privileges.

A person who commits a violation in a federal wilderness area would be charged with a misdemeanor and face a stiffer penalty, including a $200 fine and 15 license suspension points.

Anyone caught removing, destroying or defacing any sign related to motorized vehicle regulations will be charged with a misdemeanor and face a $100 fine.  A penalty of 5 suspension points would be assessed to their hunting or fishing license.   

All fines can be sent through the mail, and no court appearance is necessary unless otherwise requested by the defendant.

Ranchers, law enforcement officers and others with the authorization to operate a motor vehicle on federal public land are exempt from these regulations.       

“This bill is the result of many people coming together in an effort to preserve public lands in Colorado. It addresses the growing problem of unauthorized motor vehicle use in prohibited areas and we look forward to assisting federal agencies in enforcement on public lands,” said Tom Remington, Director of the Division of Wildlife.

Supporters of this bill include: State Representative Kathleen Curry (D-Gunnison) who sponsored the bill in the house, State Senator Lois Tochtrop (D-Thornton) who sponsored the bill in the senate, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the Colorado Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, the Colorado Mountain Club, Colorado Counties Inc., the Colorado Bow Hunters Association, and other local and national organizations.

Additional Information: For photos of Gov. Ritter signing this bill, please contact Tyler Baskfield.
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, Education, Hunting Fishing and the Great Outdoors, Law, Local Politics Colorado, Uncategorized | Comments Off on DOW OFFICERS TO ENFORCE MOTORIZED VEHICLE REGULATIONS ON FEDERAL LAND

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