The War is HERE...and its Not a Revolution

In November of 2008 when my son’s brothers came home from Iraq I wrote this

“As we drove on Veteran’s Day I thought about how lucky the people in this country are to have the men and women of our military. Between it being Veterans day and where we were heading I had no choice but to see things from a perspective most Americans fail to look at. We drove without fear of IEDs. There were no check points. We could stop along the way and not fear snipers or suicide bombers. When we were hungry we had a multitude of options. And I knew without a doubt that these freedoms and this security are due fully to the fact we have such an outstanding group of people who made the choice to wear the uniform and defend these things.” http://knottiesniche.com/2008/11/16/theyre-home/

This past Saturday there was an attempted car bombing in New York. If they had succeeded the results would have been devastating. This is not the first attempt to set off a bomb in the US. There was the Underwear bomber last December. There was an attempt in Dallas last fall. There have been 2 shootings I know of that have cost lives carried out on US soil in the name of jihad in the past year. The Little Rock recruiting station shooting cost Pvt. Long his life. And 13 members of our military fell victim at Ft Hood last fall.

“Federal authorities arrested a U.S. citizen of Pakistani descent Monday night on New York's Long Island in connection with the attempted Times Square car bombing, Fox News has learned.

The man was identified as Shahzad Faisal of Connecticut.” He was a naturalized citizen..not home grown as some may say. He was what some call a sleeper cell.
Tomorrow the DHS will say the system worked because he was arrested. The TSA stopped him trying to leave the country. But that is a lie. If the system had worked he would have been stopped returning from his recent trip to Pakistan and the bomb he failed to detonate properly would never have been parked in Times Square. The system failed once again… inept terrorists are not a success of our National Security system. How long before one of these "unsophisticated" terrorist get lucky and manage to detonate their bomb?

I can no longer have the mind set I have in November of 2008. I can no longer feel secure that the war is not on our shores because our military has kept it contained. I don’t blame the military for this. I understand that their ability to do their job has been very limited in the past year. I also understand that in the name of diplomacy that our government has emboldened our enemy. I know also that the American public at large is so oblivious to the reality of the threat against our nation they do not demand that actions be taken to better protect us and stop our enemy.

It’s a sad day when we in the US have to start worrying about car bombs, suicide bombers, IEDs, and EFPs . It’s a sad thing that so many other countries already do but I never thought I would see the day that the US became so weak that we would allow an enemy this much free reign in on our own soil.

At what point do we as a nation realize this is no longer a war being fought “over there”?

Wake up.. AND Pay Attention!

One good thing has come out of the past year of politics, more and more people are getting involved and educated. But when I read something like “I was unaware that Obama appointed a Commander in Chief.” (Made in all seriousness) I understand why this country is in the mess it is in. People have absolutely no clue how this nation’s political system works. They don’t understand that as far as making laws the President has NO POWER other than to either sign or not sign laws the Congress passes and puts on his desk.

I hear about Executive Orders a lot lately. Again these are not laws. Executive Orders do have the force of law but have much more limited jurisdiction than Congressional statutes. Executive Orders can only govern executive branch activities. For example, mandating federal agencies use cleaner fuels for their vehicles or regulating the status of gays in the military. The president could not raise or cut taxes through executive orders or directly regulate the activities of the American public at large the way Congress can.

The judicial branch is the check and balance for the other two branches and is there to decide whether a law passed by Congress and signed by the President is Constitutional. They are not suppose to make laws with their rules although some judgments have done that.

Ok All that said we as a nation need to focus more on who our Congressman is and how they will vote on the laws presented in Congress. That is where and how we are going to make the real changes in this nation.

For far too long the American public has skipped merrily along the path believing everything it was told or waiting for someone else to take care of what every issues arise. We can’t do that anymore. We have to stop allowing ourselves to be fooled and we have to stop being complacent. If we don't know how our government then we don't know when we are being lied too, conned or abused by it. If you don't know the rules and someone tells you "That's how it suppose to be." how can you debate it? How do you know for sure they are wrong? But if you know the rules and how it is suppose to work you are less like to be lied too or conned.

Lots of people are yelling “wake up” but they are also milling around in circles waiting to be told what to do. And then merrily doing it without even questioning who is telling them or why they are telling them to do it because they are not paying attention and learning for themselves how the government is suppose to work and within what guidelines.

There are lots of groups in the political realm today. Some of them on the surface have a great message but when you peek behind the curtain of them they are not what they represent themselves to be. We have to stop taking everything and everyone at face value. Don’t just research your Congressional candidates but investigate thoroughly the group you are listening to and involving yourself with.

Waking up in not enough.. you have to pay attention also.

Crash the Tea Parties!? Oh Yeah, Their Scared

I know it’s April Fools day but this is no joke. And well I saw this coming for awhile now and in fact have seen it happen. Some of those showing up at tea parties are blatant about their dislike of the message and counter protest. I actually respect those people. The hold up their counter message protest signs and are using their freedom of speech in the same manner as the tea partiers. Others come and start fights so they can point fingers at the tea party goers. And then there are still others who have become active members of the tea party in order to under mind the movement from within. And then there are the ones who jumped on the band wagon to make money off the movement.

On April 15^th a large group of Americans are planning on going to DC to use their right of free speech and protest the ever increasing taxes and re-distribution of wealth going on in this country. Hopefully it will remain a peaceful protest for those attending opinions. I somehow doubt that though after reading this “Crash the tea Parties” at infoshop. It’s a detailed plan on how to disrupt and even incite violence at the April 15^th tea party.

Not sure what most amuses me, the list of tea party links.. “So you can spy on them” as if the movement is so covert. Or that this group at Infoshop call themselves anarchist. Maybe my dictionary is broken because I always thought anarchist wanted no government influence but these idiots are supporting a administration that has created more government influence in the private sector and private lives than any before.

There is a positive to this reaction of the left. It means they are scared that so many Americans are becoming informed and involved in how their government is abusing its power. Keep that in mind if you attend the Tea Party on April 15^th and don’t allow others to lower you to their standards. Stay peaceful and stay on the message of limiting government influence. Keep your video cameras handy so we can show these thugs for what they are.

Don’t allow others to paint you with their brush. The tea parties are not about hate or violence but about a righteous anger over the growing control of government of our lives.

Marine’s Dad Ordered to Pay Funeral Protesters’ Court Fees

As an American I have always been sickened by the disrespect and cruelty of the behavior of Westboro Baptist Church. I will uphold their right to their opinion no matter how evil and sick I think it is but I cannot allow the picketing of Funerals.. Anyone's funeral not just our military. Funerals are not for the dead but for the living and a very private personal time that should never been intruded upon.

Well a while back a Father of a Fallen Marine sued those who intruded upon his son's funeral. And he won. But in an appeal the decision was overturned and now the group that protested his son's funeral are to be paid legal fees by him adding insult to injury. (Story Below)

I am sending a donation in to help this Man. He has given enough to this nation... the very least we owe him is a few dollars to help with this. I have not confirmed this link to make donation at but it has come to me through reliable sources American Legion Burn Pit

Associated Press
Stars and Stripes online edition, Tuesday, March 30, 2010

BALTIMORE — The father of a Marine killed in Iraq and whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters was ordered to pay the protesters’ appeal costs, his lawyers said Monday.

On Friday, Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered Snyder to pay $16,510 to Fred Phelps. Phelps is the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, which conducted protests at Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder’s funeral in 2006.

The two-page decision supplied by attorneys for Albert Snyder of York, Pa., offered no details on how the court came to its decision.

Attorneys also said Snyder is struggling to come up with fees associated with filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court.

The decision adds “insult to injury,” said Sean Summers, one of Snyder’s lawyers.

The high court agreed to consider whether the protesters’ message is protected by the First Amendment or limited by the competing privacy and religious rights of the mourners.

Anti-war Protests…Next Time Just Slap me

Cross posted from http://knottiesniche.com/2010/03/25/anti-war-protests-next-time-just-slap-me/

It’s one thing to hear about or even see pictures and video of something, it’s something completely different to actually experience it. I have read about anti war protest.. I’ve seen the videos and pictures. .. and yes they were upsetting. I have listened to others talk about their experiences at antiwar protest and thought I understood how bad they were… but it was not until this past Saturday that I truly understood how devastating they are to the families of the Fallen.

Saturday was our 6^th day of vacation in California. ( great vacation by the way) and we decided to go to Santa Monica Pier. We started with the promenade and did a little shopping. We enjoyed the street performers and was having a really nice time.. till we hit the pier. Not sure why but I knew something was up. I felt it. I looked down on to the beach when we hit the pier and there it was.. the anti war protest.. hundreds of crosses.. the flag draped coffins. I knew somewhere down there in the mist of it my son’s name was on one of the crosses. I felt as if someone had slapped me and punched me in the gut. My first instinct was to go down onto the beach and confront those putting this display on. I thought better of it. I knew if I did in the emotional state I was in I would end up in jail and those asshats were not worth it.

I wanted to go and ask those holding this event if they could name just one name on the crosses they displayed.. I wanted to know if they cared so much for the Fallen they claimed to care about if they ever considered the affect on the families of those who they claimed to care so much about their display had. I wanted to ask if a single penny they raised went to take care of my son’s brothers or their families.

I knew my son better than anyone and I know he would have been mortified to have his name used in such an manner. I was physically affected seeing this anti war protest. It is an experience I never want to go through again but I know I will. And I know that in the future I need to be prepared to deal with it in a less emotional manner.

Fact is these anti war protesters who say they care so much about the troops don’t give a shit about them. If they did they would take in consideration the people those who serve loved and who love them. All I can say to them is next time you want to hurt the families of the fallen just slap us.. it hurts less.

Democrats, Republicans and Moderates… Oh MY!

At what point will the political parties wake up and get it? Most Americans are Moderate, one click left or right of center. At times flowing back and forth depending on the issue. The republican party was long ago taken over by the religious right and the extremely conservative and the democrats were long ago taken over by the liberal left and it’s socialist thinking. Both parties are extreme in their ideology and completely out of touch with most of Americans. Neither party is upholding the Constitution but instead push for control by installing their agenda.

I am told moderates are people who won’t get off the fence and stand for nothing. This makes me so very angry. There are those who don’t care and don’t stand for anything.. those are the ones who are not involved in politics at all. Moderates are those who are listening to both sides and trying to find some compromise or find a way of explaining things to those who are simply doing what they’re told without any thoughts or questions of their own. You know the type… the ones who simply regurgitate what they hear others saying. Both sides of the political spectrum has those types.

I hear quite often that we cannot compromise.. it’s UN American. I can’t help but think back to 1878 and the Great Compromise made by our fore fathers when building this nation. This nation s built of listening to both sides and coming to some sort of compromise. We’ve become so determined in pushing our personal agendas we have forgotten to listen to other ideas and perspectives. I know we as a nation are mad as hell but that is no excuse to begin attacking each other and stop listening to each other. And I know there are certain issues you can’t compromise on. That said… yes I know there are issues you must stand your ground on. .. like following the Constitution.

Why am I ranting on in this topic? Today at CPAC ( Conservative Political Action Conference) a young man by the name of Ryan Sorba made some hateful statements regarding the fact that GOproud.org A gay conservatives organization had been invited to attend CPAC. (Yes Gay people can be conservative.) I was pleased to see the bigot boo’d off stage. Maybe, just maybe, there is a chance for this Nation to survive the extreme political agendas that have done so much damage.
(Video here)

I think our first step in getting more Americans on board in un-doing the damage the extremes have done is defining Conservative.(or we need to take over the Moderate label). To me, conservative means less government. Conservative means less government in ALL our lives. Not just for a certain few. It means Freedom .. true freedom, which is what we are suppose to have in this country according to the Constitution, is allowing others to do things you do not approve of. Liberal Left or Religious Right, asking government to favor your ideology, is not upholding freedom of the individual, it's demanding control.

At this time the term Conservative holds visions of the neo conservatives who want to impose religious rules on this Nation, very similar to the Taliban. I’m all for religious freedom by the way. FREEDOM being the key word.
We have a lot of issues to deal with in this nation. Before anything is going to change we have to do a few things though.

• Stop allowing the extremes on both sides be the voices.
• Listen to those who are moderate and be willing to make compromises.
• Stop following the talking heads blindly and start questioning and educating ourselves.
• And above all else we must realize we cannot take freedom from others and expect to keep ours.

Fixing This Nation

One of the arguments I often hear in political discussion is why don't you come up with answers instead of just complaining. Ok here is how I think we can fix this nation.

We understand that freedom is allowing others to live lives we do not approve of.. but we cannot expect anyone else to pay for the choices we make in how we live our lives. Fact is The Religious right scares me as much as the liberal left. We need to get back to Iconic Freedom as defined by the Constitution. That means if you have 6 kids you pay for them or give them up for adoption. If you want to do drugs you pay for your own rehab. And don’t expect someone to hire you because your life style is dangerous and may cost others their freedom of safety and well being. If you buy a house you pay the mortgage. If you want an abortion you pay for it because I have a moral issue with it, but won’t impose my moral yardstick on you. WE need to wean this nation off entitlement programs that serve to do nothing more than make people weak, helpless and irresponsible. We need to stop blaming others for our own bad choices and standing around waiting for someone to come save us from ourselves.

We put our foot down on government spending and tell them enough of taking the money WE EARN and spending it on nonsense. Such as: Congressional parties and travel of their families. Saving outdated arts that can’t maintain their own value. Researching the sexual habits of the common housefly. CONSTITUTIONALLY the government is responsible for DEFENSE spending and nothing more. And yes that means schools become privately funded (and competitive) or state funded. But I won’t get started on State Rights and Responsibilities.

Basically it comes down to ….. if you want to fix this nation stop waiting to be taken care of and get off your backside and take care of yourself. We can take a lesson from the Amish. A few years ago tornadoes went through Southern Indiana. The roads were closed because trees were down across them but here came a band of Amish men and women with food and tools in hand. They didn’t need electricity or cars to do what had to be done. Trees were cut up and moved off the road way. Made into fire wood. As they came across a barn or home that needed work they stopped and went to work. And not only the Amish worked. As one home was repaired those people joined the others and moved on to the next house. By the end of the week or so not only were all the Amish farms repaired but all of their neighbors who were not Amish. No one waited for FEMA or the Government… they just did what had to be done.

We as a Nation have to stop looking for the answers and waiting to be told what to think and do and just do it. Start with yourself.. take responsibility for your choices. Expect others to take responsibility for theirs. Funny thing … people will live up to the standards we set if they want to be a part of our lives be it on a personal or societal level. If enough of us set a higher standard others will meet them and this nation will begin to heal and be fixed.