Palin’s message to the amnesty RINOs

Sarah Palin doesn’t think much of the Senate RINOs* ~
 

 
Neither do I.
 
Non-RINO Sen Mike Lee (R-UT) enumerated the problems with Gang of Eight bill prior to the vote last week, including the way the legislation was jammed through with little or no debate or discussion ~
 

 
What a travesty!
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here’s a list of the GOP sell-outs (via askmarion) ~

Lamar Alexander of Tennessee
Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire
Jeff Chiesa of New Jersey
Susan Collins of Maine
Bob Corker of Tennessee
Jeff Flake of Arizona
Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
Orrin Hatch of Utah
Dean Heller of Nevada
John Hoeven of North Dakota
Mark Kirk of Illinois
John McCain of Arizona
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska

 

Source: Senate Conservatives Fund

 

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If the Founders were right, how have we gone so wrong?

Just in time for Independence Day, a recent Fox News poll reveals that most Americans think the Founding Fathers would be disappointed in the present day federal government.
 
When asked “Do you think the Founding Fathers would approve or disapprove of how things are going in Washington these days?” a whopping 82% believe that they’d disapprove.
 

 
And answering a follow-up question, “Do you believe the United States would be a better country if we followed the ideas of the Founding Fathers and the Constitution more closely?” 77% of respondents said yes.
 
Yet despite these answers – and even though in the same survey 62% said they generally didn’t trust the federal government – some 43% approved of the job President Obama is doing.
 
I’m pretty sure this proves the Limbaugh Theorem correct; while most Americans don’t approve of what’s going on in the country, strangely enough, they don’t really blame the guy in charge. The White House spin machine and their willing accomplices in the main steam media have masterfully managed to isolate the man from the disastrous results of his actions.
 
So while the average American still seems to believe that the Founders got it right, they’re unable to see that Obama is doing his best to destroy the very foundation they established.
 

 

Posted in Fruits of Their Labors, Unvarnished | Leave a comment

Saturday Shorts – 6-29-13

Random links of interest, concern or curiosity from the past week or so, that deserve at least a SHORT mention:

 
Babies with three parents could be born by 2015 after controversial genetic treatment gets green light ~ Brave new world has arrived. As if contemporary society doesn’t have enough emotional/psychological fall-out from the breakdown of the nuclear family.
 
EPA Covers Up The Safety Of Fracking ~ Why?
“Why confuse an analysis based on ideology with the facts?”
It’s the only way they can move forward with their agenda; regulate the oil and gas industries out of business and drive the cost of energy through the roof.
 
Islamic Extremists Slit Christian Pastor’s Throat for Refusing to Renounce His Faith, Gun Down Teens as Horror Rages in Nigeria ~ The Religion of Peace marches on.
Rather than take the opportunity to condemn such acts of violence during his African sojourn, Obama chose to urge progress on gay rights in Senegal. POTUS message: gays have rights; Christians don’t.
 
Then there’s this further “shocking” development from the African continent ~ Libyan Intelligence: Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi Involved in U.S. Consulate Attack ~ And yet oddly enough, the O’ministration has rolled out the red carpet for dozens of Muslim Brotherhood officers, flacks and sympathizers over the last several years. And in March of 2012 there was this ~
Obama Bypasses Congress, Gives $1.5 Billion to Muslim Brotherhood.
What’s that? Sounds sort of treasonous? Nah. Remember? The war on terror is over.
 
Farm Bill a Victory For Smaller Government ~ There was a bit of good news this month ~

The bill was a ten-figure monstrosity—a holdover from Congress’ earmarking days that contained more pork than a Texas fire pit. Most of it has a tenuous connection, or none at all, with actual farming: including tax breaks for “farm-related activities” like reality TV, wine tastings and animal spa products…
…John Boehner’s betrayal of fiscal conservatism.

Luckily for our ballooning national debt, the bill;

failed passage in the House due to a coalition of conservative votes who thought there was too much spending, and ironically big-spending Democrats who felt there was too little.

 
This week New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez joined a distinguished sub-set of professional athletes ~ A list of major NFL player arrests. In case you’re wondering where the “National Felon League” nickname came from, check out the NFL Arrests Database which chronicles arrests and citations involving NFL players since 2000 that were more serious than speeding tickets.
 
Christianity, Homosexuality, and “Gay Therapy” ~ Excellent analysis of Exodus International’s closure and its leader’s apology by Brian Myers at Caffeinated Thoughts ~
Homosexuality is not a mental illness. It is not a disease or disorder. It is sin. It is wrong in the sight of God. That’s it. Period.
 
Ten thousand re-enactors take part in 150th anniversary of Gettysburg ~
 
National Park Events
 

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These people vote?!

Yes. Yes they do. For Obama 🙁

Caleb Bonham (@CalebBonham) took to the streets in the first ever Obama Supporter Beauty Pageant. Caleb asked Obama supporters the same question from the infamous viral beauty pageant videos. Were Obama supporters able to give more coherent responses? Watch the first ever Obama Supporter Beauty Pageant to find out!

 

Video from Caleb Bonham via The Blaze

 
This is what our pathetic contemporary culture and crumbling public education system is producing: low knowledge levels; high self-esteem.
In other words, they’re ignorant – but they feel really good about that.
 
Disheartening – but certainly not surprising.
 

Posted in Cultural Erosion, Unvarnished | Leave a comment

Founding Wisdom [Flouted by the Foolish]

“Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a positive passion for the public good, the public interest, honour, power and glory, established in the minds of the people, or there can be no republican government, nor any real liberty: and this public passion must be superiour to all private passions.”
 
~ John Adams ~

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Although he has a B.A. in history from Harvard University State Rep. Ryan Winkler (D-MN) must have skipped the courses on early American history (actually between the trans-gender studies, critical race theories and pornography-through-the-ages it’s a fairly sure bet that Harvard doesn’t even offer traditional courses in American history). He either has no understanding of “virtue” – public or private – or he simply rejects the concept entirely ~

On Tuesday, Winkler took to Twitter to rant about the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down an onerous section of the Voting Rights Act. The 5-4 ruling overturned an unconstitutional requirement that states win federal preclearance approval of any changes to their election laws and procedures. Winkler fumed: “#SCOTUS VRA majority is four accomplices to race discrimination and one Uncle Thomas.”
 
This Ivy League-trained public official and attorney relied on smug bigotry to make his case against a Supreme Court justice who happens to be black. “Uncle Thomas” wasn’t a typo. Denigration was the goal, not an accident. It was a knowing, deliberate smear.

Source: Michelle Malkin

 
What a class act.
 

Posted in Cultural Erosion, Timeless Principles | Leave a comment

SSM Activists’ End Game: Eliminate the Institution Altogether

As we watch the gay marriage proponents gleefully celebrating today’s Supreme Court decisions we should remember to keep their real goal in mind. Today’s rulings just put them one step closer to what they’re ultimately aiming for: no “marriage” at all.
 
Masha Gessen, lesbian journalist and SSM activist doesn’t mind being candid about their intentions ~

“It’s a no-brainer that (homosexual activists) should have the right to marry, but I also think equally that it’s a no-brainer that the institution of marriage should not exist. …(F)ighting for gay marriage generally involves lying about what we are going to do with marriage when we get there — because we lie that the institution of marriage is not going to change, and that is a lie.
 
The institution of marriage is going to change, and it should change. And again, I don’t think it should exist. And I don’t like taking part in creating fictions about my life. That’s sort of not what I had in mind when I came out thirty years ago.

From a radio interview this past Spring, as reported by the Illinois Family Institute.

 

She sure get points for honesty.But totally selfish and self-absorbed, Gessen has no concern at all for what might be best for her children ~

I have three kids who have five parents, more or less, and I don’t see why they shouldn’t have five parents legally… I met my new partner, and she had just had a baby, and that baby’s biological father is my brother, and my daughter’s biological father is a man who lives in Russia, and my adopted son also considers him his father. So the five parents break down into two groups of three… And really, I would like to live in a legal system that is capable of reflecting that reality, and I don’t think that’s compatible with the institution of marriage.”

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This is just an aside, but I’d really like to check on the emotional/psychological health of your three children in a decade or two. I’ll bet they’ll be wishing they’d had a mother who actually lived in reality. (I mean think about it. Given a choice in parents would you have picked one who seems to think humans have gotten the whole family-thing wrong since the dawn of civilization?)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
“Marrying the one I love” sounds all sugary sweet. We’re supposed to fall for it.
Or, if that doesn’t convince we neanderthals of the need to “evolve” they’ll bully the crap out of us with name-calling, finger-pointing and demonization.
 
Don’t fall for it. Remember, same-sex marriage isn’t the end game.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
Related:
Deconstructing Marriage – Part I and Part II
 

The Revolt of Intelligence Against “Marriage Equality” ~ Excellent article by J. Richard Pearcey at the Pearcey Report ~

Every human being has a God-given unalienable right to pursue marriage as a species of happiness. But no one has the creative power (much less the authority) to refashion this gift from the Creator. Changing the nature of marriage is not just above a president’s pay-grade, it’s beyond the ontic capacity of any human being.
 
Marriage is a rock for humanity, and a safe haven for children, precisely because it hinges upon the Creator, not upon ideological passions, nor upon decisions of state.

 
Cardinal Dolan: A Tragic Day for Marriage and Our Nation ~

The federal government ought to respect the truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, even where states fail to do so. The preservation of liberty and justice requires that all laws, federal and state, respect the truth, including the truth about marriage…
 
Marriage is the only institution that brings together a man and a woman for life, providing any child who comes from their union with the secure foundation of a mother and a father…
 
The common good of all, especially our children, depends upon a society that strives to uphold the truth of marriage. Now is the time to redouble our efforts in witness to this truth.

 

Posted in Arrested Development, Cultural Erosion, Mendacity | Leave a comment

Lessons from Sandy: When disaster strikes, big government is rarely the answer

It’s been almost eight months since Superstorm Sandy blew Benghazi off the national front pages and Obama rushed to the rescue with buckets of federal aid. Not that FEMA and millions of dollars accomplished much of anything. But it sure made for great optics.
 
 
Of course, once the storm had served its purpose; photo-ops with an adoring Republican governor to help boost the president’s reelection chances, the network news gang moved on to the next drive-by story – nothing more to see in New Jersey.
 
Thanks to the msm agenda-driven news coverage, the majority of Americans continue to believe that any recovery-to-date has only been possible due to the benevolence of our big nanny government.
 
Yet if you ask those who lived through the storm, you’d learn differently; Friends, neighbors were more helpful than government after Sandy, poll finds. From NJ.com ~

A poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that after the storm in New York and New Jersey, friends, relatives and neighbors were cited the most often as the people who helped them make it through.
 
People overwhelmingly said the Oct. 29 storm brought out the best in their neighbors, who shared generators, food, water and other supplies. Far fewer said they found help from federal or state governments.

Not surprisingly ~

The data showed that neighborhoods lacking in social cohesion and trust generally had a more difficult time recovering. People in slowly recovering neighborhoods reported greater levels of hoarding of food and water, looting, stealing, and vandalism, compared with neighborhoods that recovered more quickly.

 

As I wrote back in November ~

“Government efficiency” is an oxymoron. The federal government is simply too bloated, and bogged down in endless rules and regulations, to respond quickly and effectively when a natural disaster strikes. They churn through millions – billions – of dollars, yet more often than not just make things worse.
 

 
Maybe they should get out of the emergency relief business altogether and let local governments, competent charitable organizations – and motorcycle gangs – handle things.
 
After all, it’s still that uniquely American spirit that spurs individuals to lend a hand to a neighbor in need.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Related:
Our inefficient, overly-generous-with-taxpayer’s-money, too-large government managed to turn Sandy into another opportunity to waste billions ~ Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill: Wasteful Spending Not Helpful ~

Not only does this act add ($50 billion!) to the deficit, but it is also reflects another symptom of government growth: over-federalization of natural disasters. In less than two years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a stunning 353 disaster declarations—despite the absence of major hurricanes or earthquakes (except Hurricanes Irene and Sandy). This high operational tempo keeps FEMA in a perpetual response mode, leaving little time and few resources to prepare to handle a real catastrophic disaster, such as Hurricane Sandy.

 

Posted in Fruits of Their Labors, Unvarnished | Leave a comment

Truth, Justice – and Christian Values?

These days Hollywood rarely churns out anything worth a trip to the local cineplex, but from a couple reviews I’ve read, it sounds like the new Superman flick might be an exception.
 

 

Tom Thurlow, posting at Caffeinated Thoughts, reports that Man of Steel is chock full of Christian dog whistles. Translation: certain of the movie’s actions and scenes, plots and sub-plots are (often glaringly) illustrative of the Christian worldview, although they may only be recognizable as such by, well, Christians.
 
Thurlow points out numerous examples of a Christian theme in this rendition of the Superman story ~

…starting with the fact that Superman was a likable, humble servant, respectful of his parents, even having been born with the last name of “El,” the Hebrew name for God. The bad guys from his old planet, led by General Zod, fit the part of fallen angels, pursuing and trying to kill the Christ-like Superman here on Earth…
 
Clark Kent is 33 years old when he is fully engaged with his powers and risks his life to save the world, the same age as Jesus when he went to Calvary.
 
Superman’s Earthly father, played by Kevin Costner, filled the part of a blue-collar Joseph figure, having had a strong moral impact on his adopted son but having died several years before the epic battle.

 
Sydney Alan at Young Patriots also caught the clear parallels between Superman’s story and the Gospel ~

I’m always struck by the Biblical metaphors in so many of the movies we cherish. Superman is no exception. Jor-El sacrifices his only son for the sake of humanity. There is no greater love. Superman honors his father’s sacrifice by saving the world. I can’t help but sigh. We can’t shut Jesus out of Hollywood. He pops up in every story of redemption.

 
And there’s something about themes like sacrifice, salvation and redemption that rings true to most Americans, whether Christian or not.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sounds like this is one Hollywood production that’s actually worthwhile – might even be safe to bring the kids 🙂
 

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Getting to the Bottom of Bastion

On September 14th, 2012 Camp Bastion, a British-run NATO compound in Afghanistan, was attacked by the Taliban, resulting in the deaths of two Marines and the worst lost of aircraft since Vietnam. Michelle Malkin deserves huge kudos for staying on top of the story as details have emerged over the last several months ~

… the Taliban waged an intricately coordinated, brutal attack on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan last fall — three days after the deadly siege on our consulate in Libya and after months of prior security incidents and warnings. Fifteen jihadists disguised in stolen American combat fatigues penetrated the complex. They used rocket-propelled grenades, assault rifles and other weapons to wipe out nearly an entire squadron of Marine Harrier jets worth an estimated $200 million.
 
Along with the most devastating loss of U.S. airpower since Vietnam, two heroic U.S. Marines — Lt. Col. Christopher Raible and Sgt. Bradley Atwell — were killed in the battle, and nearly a dozen others were injured.

 

Military officials refused to release details of the fateful budget and strategy decisions that led to the attack. But Deborah Hatheway, aunt of Sgt. Atwell and the family’s spokesperson, and other Camp Bastion families learned on their own that their loved ones were left vulnerable to attack by military leaders who outsourced watchtower security on the base to soldiers from Tonga.

 
Get that? In hostile territory we outsource security to the locals!

(Correction: “Tonga” isn’t “local.” See 9-30-13 update)

“The attack only occurred because of an egregious failure in basic infantry practices. … It is painfully obvious that this attack would not have been successful, or likely even attempted, if not for multiple security failures at Leatherneck/Bastion.”

~ Nick Francona, former Marine Corps Ground Intelligence Officer ~

 
Apparently U.S. Central Command is investigating, especially the action or inaction of Maj. Gen. Charles “Mark” Gurganus who was ultimately responsible for base security at the time of the attack. And, as Malkin reports ~

…there is now movement on Capitol Hill to help Camp Bastion families whose information requests have been stymied. Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind., has written Marine/CENTCOM leadership on behalf of the victims’ families. (Sgt. Atwell and his family are from Indiana.) Rokita told me in a statement this week: “This is about transparency and accountability. I want to make sure that Sgt. Atwell’s family, Lt. Col. Raible’s family and the American people get the full truth about the Camp Bastion attack.”

 
At the time it occurred, news of this story was lost in the Benghazi smoke & mirrors show. Just one more tragic sideshow in the Obama Cirque du Destruction. But the families – and Americans who still give a damn – want answers.
 

Posted in Good vs.Evil, MSM Malpractice, Unvarnished | 2 Comments

An Irish take on the Immigration Issue

The Senate is still peddling the Gang of Eight’s immigration reform debacle (latest addition: Hoeven-Corker border security amendment). And the longer this goes on, the more the whole process is looking like a repeat of the Affordable Care Act jam-through; impractical, unaffordable, unfair, unpopular – and purely political.

 
Here’s Jonathon Dunne of Young Patriots with his take on the woefully misguided legislation. Dunne, who’s Irish, is on our legal immigration waiting list. He understands more than 90% of native born Americans about the Constitution – and how our Republic is supposed to work.
 

[Note – While video production may be a bit lackluster, the message is anything but 🙂 ]

 
Dunne explains some of the specific problems with this bloated bill ~
 
• little or no mention of deportation – even for criminals (HSA is given sweeping latitude);

• no time frames/dates to prevent a continuous flow of new illegals in the future;

• enforcement provisions (which should be the primary focus of this entire debate) are conveniently ignored;

• “Sounds-good” provisions; payment of back-taxes and learning to speak English, are cost-prohibitive and virtually impossible to enforce (Also, if the law is enacted, lefties will claim these requirements are discriminatory – or some such foolishness – and just ignore them)
 

Enforcement is really the key to this whole issue. And since the feds refuse to enforce current law, enacting more legislation is really just a joke.
Scratch that. Passing the Gang of Eight’s bill is highly offensive to immigrants like Dunne who are trying to come here legally. And it’s a flagrant betrayal of law-abiding American citizens – we the people – who follow the rules.
 
Related:
Repackaged Amnesty Bill Allows Napolitano to Nix Border Fence ~ Why even keep up the pretense of a border anymore?!
 

Posted in Fruits of Their Labors, Mendacity, Unvarnished | Leave a comment

Saturday Shorts – 6-22-13

Random links of interest, concern or curiosity from the past week or so, that deserve at least a SHORT mention:

 
White House Announces Strong Opposition to Religious Freedom in Military ~ (C)hilling suppression of religious freedom is driving faith underground in our military and will eventually drive it out.
The O’Ministration is opposed to an amendment that would protect the religious freedoms of our military men and women. We ask the troops to defend our rights – with their lives if necessary – but don’t grant them those same rights?!
 
Infamous ‘Mesh Mask’ Bandit – Connected to 19 Bank Robberies – Is Top Immigrant Rights Activist ~ Laws? We don’t need no stinking laws! ~

Luis Delagarza, 59, of Farmers Branch, Texas was one of the top immigrants rights activists in northern Texas. This week he was arrested in connection with 19 bank robberies in the Dallas area.

 
Living Rich and Famous, Obama Style ~ The First Family’s “let-them-eat-cake” lifestyle ($100 MILLION Family Vacation) ~

“We have heard of the impious doctrine in the Old World, that the people were made for kings, not kings for the people. Is the same doctrine to be revived in the New, in another shape…?
~ James Madison (1788) ~

 
Speaking of the privileged elite, here’s a little egalitarian push-back from the enterprising bourgeois ~
Secret beaches of Malibu (and the woman who will show you how to reach them): War erupts over app that directs users past obstructive wealthy home owners and onto pristine sands. 🙂

 
WikiLeaks says Michael Hastings contacted it just before his death. Are they implying he was murdered? ~ If we actually had a government that was slightly trustworthy would legitimate news sources even need to speculate about occurrences like this?
 
New York Democrats Want to Ban Police From Describing Suspects By Race, Sex, or Age ~
In NYC, the inmates are officially running the asylum now.
The City Council is considering a bill that would let cops use little more than the color of a suspect’s clothing in descriptions — or risk being sued for profiling.
 
Leftus Ignoramus ~ Left-leaning politicians are increasingly historically and geographically challenged, and that’s just fine with their similarly challenged constituents.
Leftists need — indeed, leftism cannot survive without — true believers who know nothing but believe that their ideology is true and trumps all facts.

 
Chuckle for the day: Chelsea Clinton Laments: My Great Grandmother Did Not Have Access to Planned Parenthood ~ OK, I’ll avoid stating the obvious here 😀
 

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Summer’s Here!

 

ENJOY!

Posted in Comfort & Joy | Leave a comment