Thank You, Mr. Bracken

To Matthew Bracken, former Navy Seal.

Thanks for this very timely essay.  I'll be shopping for your books.

To my friends and relatives, and those who are neither, this essay is one of the most important things you will ever read.  And it comes to you at probably the most important time in the history of your country.

Seriously, imagine your own life as if you were going about your business in 1775, when King George was hatching his own schemes to keep you in your place, would you have been able to re-stick your head in the sand? Would you know which side was which when the bullets started flying?

Dear Mr. Security Agent, 

Federal, state, or local. You, the man or woman with the badge, the sworn LEO or FLEA and those who inhabit the many law enforcement niches in between and on all sides. This essay is directed to you, because in the end, how this turmoil about gun control turns out will depend largely upon your decisions and actions over the coming months and years.

[...]

Why is this essay titled Dear Mr. Security Agent, when it dwells mainly upon the media and coastal-dwelling urban liberals and their utopian belief in the benefits of new gun control laws in the United States? Mr. Security Agent will protest that he is no liberal, he is ex-military, he’s a cop, he’s a fed—he’s one of the good guys! He took the same oath to defend the Constitution that you did, Buster! He doesn’t need any lectures on defending the Constitution! So why single him out in this essay?  

Friends, this essay will take you a good thirty minutes to read.  And it will be thirty minutes well-spent.  Please don't dismiss it as just more hyperbole in the gun-rights versus gun-control dialog.  Set aside the time to do it.

Please.

(Tip o' the cap to Cold Fury.)

Fiscal Secession

First, let me state that this argument needs a more eloquent and forceful voice than I can give it.

The time is right for North Carolina to defund and deligitimize the federal government.  I might propose that our newly elected state legislators seize their mandate to lead the country toward fiscal responsibility, and away from rampant irresponsibility.  Affirm to the rest of the country that North Carolina is a safe-haven for business and personal tax-relief, eliminate income and revenue taxation in favor of a flat sales tax.  Pledge to submit a "fund" payment to the federal government to cover defense obligations.  Shelter NC citizens from federal law/regulation/fiat.  And fiscally sever all other ties.  Tell Washington, DC that our citizens are not their subjects.

Reassert our state sovereignty, as it were (and as it once WAS!)

We North Carolinians don't want to depart America, we want to take America with us.  We're America Classic (with apologies to Coca Cola), and they're New Coke.  We want our country to be as it was founded and intended, not that which it is being perverted into by the Progressive/Socialist/Modern Liberal/Left.  We can tolerate taxation, but have absolutely reached our boiling point with the thievery and misuse of our monies.  Not to mention the cancerous intrusions into our personal space, and trampling on our Liberty and liberties.

Most of the rest of America is straining against their leashes to follow the lead that we'll set.  Truly, within minutes, South Carolina will jump in with both feet (and claim it was their idea).  Same thing for Texas.  Then, like dominos...the rest of the South, the Dakotas, the Southern border states (for obvious other reasons), the Midwest...

New York and California can simultaneously lead a charge for the New Coke crowd.

And just like North Dakota, our economy will explode.  Freedom and legislative predictability (if not certainty) will draw that hoarded wealth like a magnet.

Personally, I'd go so far as to have a swearing-in of Mitt Romney as Actual President, but that is perhaps a different argument.  Seriously, and even if it's only symbolic, we are owed a President that respects our Sovereignty.  One who wouldn't lie to us about Benghazi.  Who wouldn't deceive us about Fast & Furious.  Who wouldn't steal from us like Obamacare does.  Who wouldn't subvert the Constitution with Executive Orders.  Who wouldn't keep printing and borrowing money.  Invite Mr. Romney to Charlotte and sell tickets for the ceremony.  Do we have a big-enough venue?  Oh, I know, have it at the NC Moter Speedway!  The D's couldn't fill it, but WE can.

Okay, I'm getting too excited, and there is work to do.

Please tell me you like the idea.  Or, tell me why you don't.  Get some of our politicians into the discussion.  Our country was built on the notion that the individual States could peacefully walk away from the Union if they so chose.  We tried it once before and couldn't carry enough of the moral high ground.  We were right then, but right about a thing which was wrong.  The time has never been more right, and North Carolina should step out front to lead.

Secede!

Reading "Kindergarden" 0108-13

I'm reading Evan Sayet's The Kindergarden Of Eden.  Here's an excerpt:

About five years ago, I presented my thesis on "How the Modern Liberal Thinks" in a lecture to the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.  I began the talk by saying, "I've got to imagine that just about every one of us in this room recognizes that the Democrats are wrong on just about every issue.  Well, I'm here to propose to you that it's not just 'just about' every issue; it's quite literally every issue.  And it's not just wrong; it's as wrong as wrong can be."
 
Half a decade later, I am even more convinced that the Modern Liberal is, in fact, as wrong as wrong can be on quite literally every issue.  That is, I have no doubt that he will at every turn side with the lesser over the better, the wrong over the right, the ugly over the beautiful, the vulgar over the refined, the behaviors that lead to failure over those that lead to success and, first and foremost, with the evil over the good.

There'll surely be more such excerpts in the coming days.

If They Aren't Going To Obey Any Laws...

...then why should you?

G.O.

On Friday October 26, I was trout fishing and got a call with an offer of two tickets at face value for the UNC/NCSU game the next day in Chapel Hill.  I'll forever recount my good fortune that I didn't hesitate to claim them.  I couldn't find anyone on short notice to come with me, and didn't even make an effort to sell one outside Kenan, but when I got there I just spread my countenance over both seats and cheered hard enough for two people.

Those seats were uncomfortably close to the visitors' section, and there were two red-clad knuckleheads sitting right behind me, one of which couldn't bear to keep his trap shut for 60 seconds at a time.  Like any of the regular inhabitants over at Pack Pride (you may have to work around or -even worse- FOR folks like these) they constantly spew little half-compliments laced with that tinge of venom dripping off their pointy teeth.

With the score tied in the waning moments, and during the timeout that preceded the punt return, the Tar Heel fan seated next to me said something about hoping for the presumed returner (Smith) to fair-catch or get out of bounds, which would leave "X" amount on the clock for a game-winning drive.  I looked through my binoculars and confirmed (instead) that Gio Bernard was in the defensive huddle, then said to him: "I don't think Smith is going to fair catch anything...that's Gio coming on the field."

And I turned my camera on to record...

G.O. from liv erm'ush on Vimeo.

As you'll notice in the video, I didn't check on the guy behind me after the punt return.  But I did look around, right after turning off the camera, and he had excused himself from the remaining festivities.

I hated Tom O'Brien, State's coach, for whipping my team FIVE years in a row, and have to say am tickled for that reason to see him go.  But, I give him a hearty tip o' the cap for having the huevos to kick it to Gio in that situation.

Yeah, That One Hurt

I haven't felt much like blogging since that Day of Blackness, November 6.  But, in spite of the broken heart I have for America, her Founding Fathers, and the Constitution, there wasn't any slitting of wrists in Livermush Land.

And I don't quite feel like weighing in on the "why we lost" debate, yet.

While I'd certainly prefer to be basking in the hard-fought glory of a win, losing round #9 on a technicality (imposed by the Russian judge) does not mean that we're not coming out of the corner for round #10.

So, how best to win round #10?  Maybe some rope-a-dope, maybe some counter-punches, but most certainly we should plan on landing a few haymakers.  I like what Mark Davis wrote, No Time To Give Up in the Fiscal Fight:

We should not sign on to any plan that involves making job creators pay higher tax rates. If we are to entertain any closing of loopholes or striking of deductions (which are also tax increases), it should be upon receipt of iron-clad commitments from Democrats for real entitlement reform and other meaningful spending cuts.

That would seem highly unlikely. Still high on the adrenaline buzz of an election that seemed to smile on their big-government aspirations, Democrats are not in the mood to make deals.

Fine. Then let them be judged by that.

I know the media will paint any dark result as the fault of Republicans. Let them. It is time to stop worrying what the media say or how young and non-white voters might recoil at first.

We must do the right thing and let the chips fall where they may. Only then can we go to those voters we so deeply want to attract and say that we did it for them. They may not have appreciated it, but when we refused to let spending get even more obscene, we said no, and we did it for all Americans.

Again, I did not send my Congresswoman to Washington to cooperate or compromise.

Fight.

And every 2014 Senate candidate should start practicing the phrase, "...the flat tax will eliminate all other (illegal) taxation: income tax, estate tax, payroll tax, obaminationcare tax, capital gains tax, gasoline tax, soda tax, fat-quotient tax, internet tax, and so on..."

Tomorrow...

...Represents our last best chance to reclaim Liberty in a peaceful manner.

And if you came by here one last time, with lingering questions as to how to use your vote (whether to vote, or which way), allow me to submit these two videos.

God bless America.






And yes, I was once a Democrat, too.

Reaping What They've Sown

I'm heartbroken for the loss of life & property those in NY & NJ have incurred.  I really am.

But, part of me hopes that they're feeling the negative repercussions of their very bad choices.  And that they begin opening their eyes to the very real nature of the thuggery they casually embrace as "standard operating procedure."

Do you want to know the true nature of Unions?  Witness the fact that while you (and your gas station) goes without electricity, your Union "bretheren" are shunning outside volunteer assistance because, get this, the crews from Decatur (AL) Utilities haven't signed Union affiliation contracts, and IBEW is chasing them away.  The International Brotherhod of Electrical Workers is part of the AFL-CIO.

The company that sent those crews tells about their presence being, at first being on condition of union allegiance, then rejected:

"We made a decision late last night, to go ahead and bring our crews home."

Such is the way with a parasite: You may be in peril and you may die, but they'll just keep sucking your blood.

Dear New Yorkers and Jerseyans, may God help you.

I also have some vandalism to my truck, that I believe is attributable to some Union intolerance toward the "NOBAMA" sticker on it.  No big whup...If there weren't any cowards in the world, there'd be little need for heroes.  If a dent in the bed of the truck is the price I pay for getting shed of the UnionThug-In-Chief, so be it.

Want to see more of those Union-folks at their best?  How about these folks that are happy to steal from you and suppress your 1st Amendment rights?

Throwing Lead Downrange

There probably aren't many bigger "hawks" than me.  If there exist enemies to my country, I say, "let's go shoot 'em."  Or even, "Let me go shoot 'em."

But given the deplorable rules of engagement currently in place, I see no value to having fine warriors such as Ty Woods and Glen Doherty (and the thousands more like them, actually wearing the uniform) in harm's way.  If we can't let them be more than mere targets, let's get them out.  Bring them home, and bring the concept of actual diplomacy home too.  Because, if we can't keep Ambassadors safe, there's little point of them being there.

And to everyone who would dare cite "the fog of war" as justification for abandoning those men and the Consulate, or for even the brief hesitation to act (much less the ensuing coverup for political dithering), I say damn you to hell.

Please consider reading this, from Mad Medic, contributed to Ranger Up, entitled A Tale Of Four Heroes...excerpted:

On October 3^rd, 1993, in a forgotten corner of east Africa, an RPG caught a UH-60 in just the right spot, causing the second crash of a Blackhawk that day. (There would actually be two others that suffered enough damage that they barely made it back to base). The Blackhawk, call sign Super 64, spun into Mogadishu and landed hard after a nearly 70 foot free fall. When the dust settled, the crew was either dead or dying and only the pilot, CWO Mike Durant, was able to respond when a mob started to surround his crash site.

At this moment, two Delta snipers—SFC Randy Shughart and MSG Gary Gordon—requested three times to be inserted to hold off the mob until ground forces arrived to secure the crash site. Finally, they were given the go ahead, after being informed that Bravo company 3^rd Battalion 75^th Rangers was in heavy contact, and 2^nd Battalion 14^th Infantry was just then mobilizing. It was made absolutely clear that there was no certainty when help might arrive. They went anyway.

H/T to Blackfive.

Got Your Six

I thought the video of Hollywood celebrities, with their backs turned to the camera, saying to Veterans, "I got your Six", was highly offensive.  The pretense that they even care is repulsive to me.

Tom Hanks, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alec Baldwin, et al remind me of the Bob Dylan line:

You got a lot of nerve, to say your are my friend.

When I was down, you just stood there grinning.

You got a lotta nerve to say you got a helping hand to lend.

You just want to be on the side that's winning.

 

Where were these same people when those troops were first sent to the sandbox?  They were doing their level best to undermine victory.  And, they deserve nothing less than eternal shame for their hypocrisy.

 

Re-viewing the ad online (I won't link to it, 'cause it turns my stomach), I was encouraged to read this one comment posted below it...

 

To all you political celebrity hacks, no thanks! We neither trust you nor did we give you our SIX. Our six is earned in the crucible of service to The Constitution of the United States of America and forged with sweat, tears, blood and life which you have zero understanding of. Keep your hollow face saving bs campaign in hollywood. You don't deserve any part of six unless it's to kiss our American loving ass.

Perfect.

 

You wanna know who really has their six, and always has?

 

BLACKFIVE.  "Earned in the crucible of service."  Those guys are great.



Voting "Present" Didn't Cut It

A little less than four years ago, I cranked out my very first blogpost here.  The thrust of that initial piece was a committment to BE that to which I aspired herein.  That is, to be a blogger, speaking my mind, rather than just occupy a space in the innerwebs.

I'm not too disappointed in the effort or the results.

Conversely, I'm completely disappointed with the occupier of the White House, as I was back in January 2009 with the wave of Big Collectivism that washed these numbnuts into power.

My personal economy was in the toilet because of them, and I'd eventually lose my home.  I could endure the tough times, but I couldn't keep quiet about it.  I don't much mind it if folks don't like what I have to say, but I couldn't stomach the perception that silence might be equated with consent, or worse, assent.

So, I wrote my little blogposts.

A couple days ago, I was having my truck mechanic'd on, and was waiting with about half a dozen other folks in the teevee room.  I was busy with a textbook, while they struck up a conversation that dwelled largely on local politics.  I refrained from jumping in and steering it toward a national discussion.  And later, I about half-regretted not jumping in.  I didn't need to, though.

Everyone that knows me has a very fine sense of where I stand politically.  And many, if not most, of those have been alienated forever.  That, I do not regret.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." -Brainyquote attributes that to Kurt Cobain, though I thought it predated him.

Right now, I'm feeling a lot like Bill Whittle.  I think we've done right by history, we Tea Party folks and Right-minded bloggers, each in our own way.  I think that a few weeks from now, all of our oppositional pieces will have born fruit, some of those monsters will be swept back out with the tide, and we can set about the long task of restoring our Consitutional Republic.



And even winning this election won't be the end of our work, but just the first toehold on (hopefully) a permanent upswing.  We still have ultra-liberal universities poisoning minds with collectivist drivel, the (socialist) advocacy media, Hollywood's moonbattery, and a Supreme Court that thumbs its nose at the very Constitution it is supposed to preserve.

The good news, and what inspires us, is that we'll have a man who wants to DO the job of a President instead of just playing the role of President.

Blinky Loses

No question who won Debate #3.

If you DVR'd the debate like I did, go back and count (or try to) the number of times Obama blinks, or looks down, or looks away.  It's staggering.

Compare that to Gov. Romney.  Just on believability alone, which of the two are capable of looking the other, or for that matter the moderator, or for that matter the camera, or for that matter the people of this country, directly in the eye?

Also, am I the only one who heard Obama say, "weapons of mass-disruption"?

One of those two guys needs a teleprompter, and the other does not.

I really like Zo's idea for our unilateral arms reduction...Send Iran some of our nukes!



Please don't forget that it's almost as important to purge the Senate and retain the House, as it is to rid ourselves of the Corruptocrat-In-Chief.

And remember these folks on your ballot:

Virginia Foxx
Pat McCrory
Dan Forest

"If You've Got A Church, You Didn't Build That"

I'm rethinking my assessment of the recent debate.  If it's just my scorecard that counts, yes, the fight was a draw.  But, it appears that the voting public came away liking Gov. Romney more...and/or liking Obama less.  If he's winning over those folks, especially the fence-sitters, it matters none at all what I think of the performance.

Plus, if Obama's & Biden's antics, coupled with the very unpresidential-ness of having to rely on an immoderate moderator to bail him out of his own scandal, even those leaning toward Obama may be reconsidering their allegiance.

Want to see the most-likable candidate of the two?  I know there are a few people who haven't already seen this speech.  One of my favorite lines was, "In the spirit of Sesame Street, his (Obama's) speech tonight is brought to you by the letter 'O' and the number 16 Trillion."

Smack.

Debatable

Briefly, my unsolicited opinion on last night's debate:

I'd call it a draw.  Either side could justify calling it a win for their campaign.  As far as the campaign goes, Obama actually helped himself more.  But, his case was so much more in need of help.  So any progress for him looks golden.

The thing Romney supporters dread is Romney stubbing his toe.  Considering the fact that his views stem from his genuine goodness, such a hiccup could only originate in a semantical faux pas (says one thing, but means the opposite) and lets it go uncorrected, or gets pounced upon.  None of that, of course, happened.

What Romney did do, that I disliked right away, was ask Obama questions.  That gave scoundrel Obama an opportunity to claim more time and attention, regardless of his answers.  Hint to Romney camp: If you know the other guy is imminently capable of lying, and particularly good at it, give him as few opportunities as possible to do so.

What I hope to hear some criticism of today is Candy Crowley's questions that she picked for questioners to read.  Seriously?  What do you plan to do about gender inequity in the workplace?  Can it be true that that question beat out, say, Is Iran a legitimate threat to Israel?  Or perhaps, Who's policies would enhance America's standing & image in the rest of the world, yours or your opponent's?

Wasn't this debate supposed to center on foreign policy?

Asheville Loved Mitt

It's an hour-and-a-half drive to Asheville, and we left the Land of Livermush as quickly as we could.  But, we got there a little later than we'd hoped (4:30pm), although well before the advertised start time (5:30).  Parking nearby was nonexistent, as was anything resembling organized direction/information.  We found a parking garage and walked about a 1/4 mile to the Civic Center.

There were still folks coming in behind us...

But many, many more in front of us...

The Obamabots know their messiah has such a deplorable, indefensible record, of course they endorse "NoBoDy" as a viable 3rd candidate...

All in all, the opposition was small and meaningless...which is exactly representative of who they are.  Mostly, they were a minor irritation, but I wished I'd have thought to show some appreciation for this guy (at far right, with the RR Money sign).  Dude!  You're on the wrong side.  Money is a good thing.  It represents value, as in "You have this skill, or trade, or product, or service, and I have these folding American dollars...let's trade!...it'll be good for both of us...and Governor Romney is YOUR GUY!"...

On the citizens' side of the barricade, everyone was just lovely.  We're smarter, more well-read, smell better, are much much nicer, and there's so many more of us.

Romney in Asheville 12-1011 from liv erm'ush on Vimeo.

The exit from the parking garage, after the event, was the worst challenge to our patience.  We sat in a line on level three for over an hour without moving.  There was only one exit lane, and a guy in a tee shirt with "SHERIFF" on it, took each driver's ticket and stuck it in the machine (which each driver could have done his/herself), and advised against incorrect change ("you'll get back dollar coins...oh, the horror!").  I asked numbnuts sheriff whyfor the delay, and he blamed Gov. Romney (I am NOT making this up) for not telling him sooner about the event.

No, you dipshit, the solution could have easily been: lock the guard-arm in the "up" position, and have a pocketful of change.  He could've just as rationally blamed George Bush.

There were 3 bumper stickers I saw & loved...sorry I didn't get pix of them to share:

"My dog created more shovel-ready jobs than Obama"

and

"What one thing has Obama done that we want four more years of?"

and my favorite, actually returning to the LoL:

"10 out of 10 idiots prefer Obama"

Ain't it the truth?

The Livermush Audience

In an English Compostion class in kollege, one of the first things I learned was to have and keep an idea of who my audience was.  That is, who did I expect, or want, to be reading what I would write.

I confess that the more I write, the fuzzier and undefined my imagined audience seems to become.

So, for this blog post, I'm at least going to say who I hope to reach...

To those who sit on the fence regarding elections, afraid of making a mistake.  To those family & friends who harbored some sense of "white guilt" for past sins, real or imagined, against black folks and wanted back in '08 to say you've atoned for those sins by pulling the lever for a black man.

To those who've ostracized me for my outspokenness, those who've engaged in character assasination rather than debate, and those who prefer coalition building over community.

To those friends and relatives who believe that celebrity and polish are even nearly as important as honesty and accountability.

I don't care if you like me or agree with me, my country is at the direst of crossroads.  Along one path, there's a chance for America.  It isn't guaranteed, but it's a chance.  Along the other path, everthing good is at risk.  It is just that simple.



Thanks Victory Girls for the above video.

Any of you out there who know me...

If you'll go to Dinesh D'Souza's movie 2016, and bring me your ticket stub, I'll refund you the money.  Whether you like it or not, and whether it affects your opinion or not, I'll reimburse you.  Or, if there isn't a theatre nearby, I'll arrange to have the DVD sent to your home!

Additionally, anyone who wants to join me for Atlas Shrugged Part II tomorrow night, I'll pay your way.

Another video for you, thanks to Sister Toldjah.  James O'Keefe is busting corruptocrats again.  This time it's actual coordinated voter fraud by Obama's supporters.  Don't think your vote matters?  Consider the fact that America's internal enemies are voting twice (or more).



And finally, to Mr. Eberle (hope I recall the spelling correctly), from UCLA (University of Cullowhee Left of Asheville): Thanks for teaching me something.

2 Quotes

Here are two quotes for your Thursday morning, both coming from essays at Townhall.com:

From Thomas Sowell, "The role of a confidence man is not to convince skeptics, but to help the gullible believe what they want to believe."

And from Ann Coulter, "You will never see anything so brave as a liberal fighting nonexistent enemies."

Subscribing to Townhall is free.  They'll deliver fantastic writing from over a dozen of your favorite essayists to your email inbox every day, just like they do for me.

Arm yourself.

2016 Movie by Dinesh D'Souza

Princess Nagsalot & I went out for a rare movie night yesterday evening, to see Obama's America: 2016.  We thought it hit the Corruptocrat-In-Chief square between the eyes.

I don't remember ever going to a documentary in the theatres before, but this was worth it...even the $9 a pop cover charge.  We went to a 10-plex theatre, and I believe the empty parking lot (relatively so, maybe 20 cars total) was as much testament to the damage Obama's economic policies have done to how Americans spend their disposable income, as anything in the film.

The theatre showing the film was empty when we went in, five minutes before showtime, and only one other couple sat for this Saturday night at 9:10 showing.  It was nice to have a semi-private showing, but I was sad (and told the other couple so, afterward) that the place wasn't packed.

I think everyone should see this film before going into the voting both this November.  Because, as the filmmakers say, "...like him or not, do you really know him?"

There isn't any ranting between opposing parties (ala FoxNews, et al), but just methodical historical & cultural analysis by a scholar whose background is remarkably similar to Obama's.

At the end of the film, the producers paint a rather bleak picture of a "post-Obama" America, should he win a 2nd term.  I defy anyone to find holes in his logic.

Consider this point: After Ahmadinijad's Iranian election, Iranian citizens revolted, thinking they had a sympathetic figure in the White House.  They were wrong.  America did not come back them up, as they'd hoped.  By contrast, witness all the violent protests currently occurring in the Middle East and North Africa.  The difference for those folks?

They DO have a sympathetic ear in Washington.  And Dinesh D'Souza tells you why.

Gather your friends and family, and go see this film.

Flight 93 Memorial In Shanksville Memorializes The Terrorists

I recently said in a comment on another blog that, "Until there are no Islamic terrorists, ALL of them are terrorists."  I'd extrapolate this to include: Until there is no such thing as Sharia Law or apologists to Islam, ALL of Islam is an abomination & an afront to civilization.

The "Crescent of Embrace" is being built in Shanksville.  A majority of it has been completed.  It is STILL a memorial to the terrorists.  I refused to help build this thing, and remain steadfastly opposed to it.  Good American men died bringing that plane down.  And Paul Murdoch's design serves to dishonor them with repeated and consistant Muslim imagery.

Read Alec Rawls blogburst here...

9/11: New Park Service images prove the Crescent of Embrace memorial to Flight 93 is unchanged
The original Crescent of Embrace design for the Flight 93 memorial (left) was laid out in the configuration of an Islamic crescent and star flag (right). The crash site sits between the tips of the giant crescent, in the position of the star on an Islamic flag.

When this apparent symbol of Islamic triumph caused a national uproar seven years ago the Memorial Project (a public-private entity overseen by the Park Service) promised to change the design, but as demonstrated by the images below, they never did make any significant changes:


Above: original Crescent of Embrace design. Below: a frame from the Park Service's new virtual fly-by of the Circle of Embrace "re-design" as it is being built. (Comparison image thanks to MaxK.)

The most significant change is the few extra trees that are being planted outside the mouth of the original crescent (starting at the crescent tip on the right, where the flight path symbolically "breaks the circle," and continuing down behind the Sacred Ground Plaza that marks the crash site). These few trees supposedly turn the crescent into a circle, but as you can see, they do no such thing, but only apply the most minor window dressing to what is still a bare naked Islamic-shaped crescent.

I Think We're Gonna Win, Too, Bill

If you're like me (and who doesn't at least want to be, right?) you love the freedom to boldly lean your shoulder into a task that you know with your heart of hearts is the right thing to do.  Everyone's feelings be damned.

That's the way I feel about Gov. Romney's pick of Paul Ryan.  To me, it's Romney saying to the voting public, "You folks justifiably had your reservations regarding my committment to lead from the Right.  I've had to be a politician as Governor of Massachusetts, in the past.  But as President, this country will need an actual leader who's unafraid of getting his nose bloodied.  And the scrapper I'll have backing me up is this guy..."

Watch this video.  Is there anyone out there that makes you punch the air and say "YES!" anymore than Bill Whittle?  I loves me some Afterburner...



On a related note, think about the upcoming election from the businessman's perspective.  Small businessman, that is...like me...

The American spirit is out there poised like a spring.  We're ready to go.  We're ready to spend money and sweat.  We did build that, with our own money and our hard work.  The only shackles we know of (can you hear me Joe Biden?) are those that government devises.

And it is time, right now, to begin owning the recovery.  Any good economic news you hear reported out there, henceforward, is directly attributable to the positive outlook business has for our near future beyond this November.

Again, if you hear a report of Company X is hiring 45 new employees, it's because of their enthusiasm that those corruptocrats are about to be shown the door.