“After months of hysterically warning viewers that cheerful, well-dressed tea partiers carrying ‘I Can See November From My House’ signs could suddenly erupt into wanton violence, MSNBC finally had proof: Timothy McVeigh. … On her April 14 show, [Rachel] Maddow gave a ‘War of the Worlds’ report on gun rights activists whom she claimed were planning tributes to Timothy McVeigh’s bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City. ‘On the anniversary of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City by Timothy McVeigh,’ she said, ‘there will be two marches on Washington.’ After reminding viewers that McVeigh was ‘an anti-government extremist with ties to the militia movement’ (his only ‘ties’ being that he tried to join the Michigan Militia, but was rejected) Maddow said one of the groups, the Second Amendment March, had ‘been holding armed rallies at state capitols from Kentucky to Montana to Virginia — anti-government marches and rallies at which participants are encouraged to wear and display their guns.’ So if I have this straight, the pro-Second Amendment marchers were both armed … AND displaying guns! Having received an ‘A plus’ from the Department of Redundancy Department, a deadly earnest Maddow continued: ‘Also on the occasion of the Oklahoma City bombing anniversary,’ there would be an Open Carry rally. Participants, she said, ‘are being encouraged to bring guns’ (you know, just like the guns Timothy McVeigh used to shoot up the federal building in Oklahoma City). True, April 19 is the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. It’s also the anniversary of Lexington and Concord. Once upon a time, the skirmish that sparked the Revolutionary War was a date that every schoolchild knew. When British soldiers moved to seize the gunpowder and arms of voluntary militias, armed citizens defended themselves, firing upon the British in ‘the shot heard ’round the world’ — as Ralph Waldo Emerson put it in his ‘Concord Hymn.’ Hmmm, I wonder if the gun rights activists chose April 19 for their rallies because it was the anniversary of Lexington and Concord — or because it was the anniversary of Oklahoma City?” –columnist Ann Coulter
Archive for April 28th, 2010
Rachael Maddow: Hopeless Hoplophobe
April 28, 2010Gangsta Government: Epic Fail obama
April 28, 2010“The Obama Democrats portray the Dodd [financial ‘reform’] bill as a brave attempt to clamp tougher regulation on Wall Street. They know that polls show voters strongly reject just about all their programs to expand the size and scope of government, with the conspicuous exception of financial regulation. Republicans have been accurately attacking the Dodd bill for authorizing bailouts of big Wall Street firms and giving them unfair advantages over small competitors. They might want to add that it authorizes Gangster Government — the channeling of vast sums from the politically unprotected to the politically connected. That can boomerang even against the latter. Goldman Sachs employees gave nearly $1 million to the Obama campaign and $4.5 million to Democrats in 2008. That didn’t prevent Goldman from being shoved under the SEC bus. Gangster Government may look good to those currently in favor, but as some of Al Capone’s confederates found out, that status is not permanent, and there is always more room under the bus.” –political analyst Michael Barone
“If President Obama’s financial regulations are adopted, there will be fewer loans, credit will be more costly, and individuals will face more risk. Obama argues today that his reforms are necessary to prevent ‘a second Great Depression’ from occurring, but he does nothing to fix what the government did. Nothing is done to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, despite their problems with fraud and costing taxpayers $400 billion in bailouts. Nothing is done to change government regulations that force banks to make risky mortgages. The powers that would be given to the president and the Federal Reserve are unprecedented. The bill gives the government the power to regulate the capital, liquidity and permissible activities for a long list of firms, including securities firms, insurance companies, bank holding companies, hedge funds, finance companies as well as others. The government will be also able to limit the size of these companies. … In another of his proposals … Obama says that he wants to stop government bailouts of companies. And that should be the goal. Otherwise, firms have an incentive to take too many risks when they keep their profits but taxpayers pick up their losses. Who wouldn’t head straight to Las Vegas if you got to keep your winnings and the taxpayers picked up your losses? But Obama’s solution … is to still allow bailouts, but try to prevent them from becoming necessary by stopping financial institutions from taking what he considers to be risky behavior. … The government caused the current financial crisis by forcing banks to make bad mortgages. And the solution is less, not more, government control.” –economist John R. Lott Jr.
“Ironically, the United States is moving in the direction of the kind of economy that China has been forced to move away from. China once had complete government control of medical care, but eventually gave it up as the disaster that it was. The current leadership in Washington operates as if they can just set arbitrary goals, whether ‘affordable housing’ or ‘universal health care’ or anything else — and not concern themselves with the repercussions — since they have the power to simply force individuals, businesses, doctors or anyone else to knuckle under and follow their dictates. Friedrich Hayek called this mindset ‘the road to serfdom.’ But, even under serfdom and slavery, experience forced those with power to recognize the limits of their power. What this administration — and especially the President — does not have is experience. Barack Obama had no experience running even the most modest business, and personally paying the consequences of his mistakes, before becoming President of the United States. He can believe that his heady new power is the answer to all things.” –economist Thomas Sowell
Living with Wildlife: It’s that time of year again folks!
April 28, 2010BEARS COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION; TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID CONFLICTS
DURANGO, Colo. — Bears are emerging from their long winter naps throughout Colorado, and the Division of Wildlife is reminding residents and visitors to always be bear aware.
At this time of year, bears will be looking for new plant growth and fresh grass to eat to help them restart their digestive systems. But bears, once they are up and running, are opportunistic feeders and will exploit any available food supply, including: garbage, pet food, bird seed, and home and restaurant table scraps. Bears that become habituated to human food sources can be dangerous and often must be euthanized.
Because they are large omnivores, bears are nearly always on a search for food. Wild foods are essential for bears — berries, insects, acorns forbs, plants and carrion. But when people fail to store garbage, pet food or bird feeders properly, bears will find those sources and cause conflicts in residential and business areas.
Many communities in bear country have ordinances regarding trash storage that apply to wildlife, so abide by those rules.
If you live in bear country, these simple precautions can reduce or eliminate your chances of creating conflicts with bears:
– Keep garbage in a secure building or a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
– If you don’t have a place to store garbage, ask the trash company for a bear-resistant container or order one. Many suppliers advertise containers on the Internet.
– Place smelly food scraps in the freezer until garbage day.
– Rinse out all cans, bottles and jars so that they are free of food and odors before putting them out for recycling or pick-up.
– Put out garbage cans only on the morning of pick-up. Do not put out garbage the night before.
– Wash garbage cans regularly with ammonia to eliminate food odors.
– Don’t leave pet food or pet dishes outside.
– Bird feeders are a major cause of wildlife conflicts. Besides bears, feeders may also attract small mammals, deer and mountain lions. Birds do not need to be fed during the summer. As an alternative to feeders, attract birds naturally by hanging flower baskets, putting out a bird bath or planting a variety of flowers. Use bird feeders only from November until the end of March when bears are hibernating.
– If bears get into bird feeders, take the feeders down immediately and don’t put them back up.
– Pick ripe fruit from trees and off the ground.
– Clean outdoor grills after each use; the smell of grease can attract bears.
– Never intentionally feed bears.
– Close and lock lower floor windows and doors of your house.
– Clean up thoroughly after outdoor parties.
– Don’t leave food in your car, lock car doors. Bears are smart and many have learned to open car doors.
– When camping, store food and garbage inside a locked vehicle. Keep the campsite clean. Don’t eat in the tent. In the backcountry, hang your food at least 10 feet high and 10 feet away from anything a bear can climb.
– Bears are not naturally aggressive toward people and prefer to avoid contact. If you see a bear in your neighborhood make it feel unwelcome: yell at it, throw sticks and rocks at it. But never approach a bear.
Remember this: “a fed bear is a dead bear.” Making food available to bears teaches them to associate humans with food — and that’s the start of conflict.
To report bear problems, contact your local Colorado Division of Wildlife office, or local law enforcement.
To learn more about living with bears, go to the DOW’s web site: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/.
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.
Medal of Honor: Sergeant First Class Smith
April 28, 2010Sergeant First Class Smith received a total of twenty-two military decorations and badges over the course of his career. His last medal he earned by manning a .50 cal machine gun in an open position so wounded US troops would be protected. SFC Smith took 13 enemy rounds to the body before a 14th round killed him. He now rests in Arlington National Cemetery. Please take a moment to read the citation of a hero.
Rank: Sergeant First Class
Organization: U.S. Army
Departed: Yes 04/04/2003
Entered Service At: October 1989
Date of Issue: 04/05/2005
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith’s extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Third Infantry Division ‘Rock of the Marne’, and the United States Army.
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