"My America, Happy Birthday!"

Monday is July Fourth! I really like Independence Day, I like to put on some RED, WHITE and BLUE, and puff out my American chest. I like to take time to think how great it is to be an American; we are the most blessed nation on this "big blue planet". Our Statue of Liberty says "Bring Me Your Tired, Weak and Huddled Masses.."; what a wonderful invitation. America doesn't care about your station in life; she just wants you to have opportunity. We believe in individual rights, our Constitution is constructed to protect those rights; other documents in this world don't do such a good job at that. Those guys that sat around the table over two-hundred years ago were pretty smart, they never said anything about "rich people" or "kings" or a "ruling class"; they said "We the People...."; everybody!

George Washington said "Avoid entangling alliances..."; in other words, "mind you own business"; he was a pretty smart guy, we were certainly fortunate to have him as our first President; a little common sense goes a long way! We are now "stuck in the U.N."; so much for common sense; thanks FDR! Teddy Roosevelt said "Walk softly, and carry a BIG STICK!": brilliant, don't look for a fight; but don't back away. There is quite a bit to say about having a strong military; people think twice about a fight, if they think they will get hit back! Jack Kennedy stood "nose to nose" with the Soviets over the Cuban Missile Crisis, with tenacity, and they backed off; strength works! These are the things that make me proud to be an American!

This week-end some of us will take out our old uniforms, and sigh at the 34" waist, and put them back in our closets, wishing time hadn't been so cruel to our pants size, but that large waist-line is courtesy of living in the "land of plenty", the United States of America! Most of us will see parades, and go to cook-outs and festivals. We will shake hands with friends and listen to music from a local band; we will sit united in community parks, celebrating America's Birthday.

All of these things will probably culminate with a fire-works display; "bombs bursting in air.."; and it will be accompanied by a chorus of "OOOHS and AAAHS!" by everybody in the crowd. On the ride home some of us will have sleeping children in our back seats, exhausted from a day of food, fun and fire-works. We may look at our spouse and speak softly about what a good time we had, not too loud, we can't wake up the kids.

This is how I feel about my America; a place where we are free to live in a peaceful town or city, where our children will continue to have a heritage of individual rights under the Constitution. There are those who don't like my America; to them I say "Don't come here; find a better place, if you can." To all of the rest of us, I say "God Bless this wonderful country. There is no other like her!" Have a great "Happy Birthday America Celebration" this week-end; there is no place I'd rather be!

(This is my last blog until Tuesday; I'll be busy loving my country and my family for a few days. God Bless you, all enjoy the Fourth!)

"Proud American?!"

Several months ago, I wrote about my great-uncle Salvatore. I talked about how proud he was to go and vote for the President. To men and women like my uncle, America was very special. He, and many like him, came to America on over-crowded steamships, surrounded by people who spoke languages he didn't understand, yet, all with the same intention; to find freedom and opportunity in a place where everybody had a chance. I never heard him refer to Italy as his country; it was always "the old country"; he was an American before anything else. Of course, we experienced Italian culture in our home, but none of us ever considered ourselves anything but Americans with a much better menu than anybody else! I remember the name Audie Murphy spoken about; our greatest hero from WWII. I watched countless "John Wayne" movies with relish. We liked being Americans; we were proud to be Americans, and when we saw the American Flag in a parade, it made us feel good about the place we called home! As I matured during the 60s, patriotism was an issue for some people. I heard some folks endorsing the communists in Viet Nam, while others were saying "America, Love It, or Leave It!" It seemed it was no longer "in vogue" to be a proud American.

Recently, two men have been charged with planning an attack on a military recruiting station in Seattle, Washington. One of the men is named Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, and he has a criminal record. Strangely, the people who know him are surprised by the alleged charges against him. His wife said "he was a proud American." I guess the definition of a proud American has changed and I missed it! We had our share of UN-American, unwashed bomb throwing cowards in the 60s; some of whom are now teaching our children and are friends of our President. This man is a different breed of "cowardly protester". He is covering himself with the cloak of doing his evil works as a duty from his god. Evidently, as we have heard in the past, we are the ones to blame for the murders on 9-11. He has spouted this nonsense and how we are murdering his compatriots in Afghanistan. He is a big advocate of "Jihad". Oh, by the way, he is an American citizen!

Since 9-11, I've thought more about Islam and it's doctrines, and I've found it to be a violent belief system, with no tolerance for any other's beliefs; plus, their remedy for unbelief is conversion or death! I don't see how this fits into being a "proud American"!

I believe any person who advocates "Jihad" in this country is a direct threat to this nation's security. Am I being intolerant; maybe, yet my country is in danger from people who advocate the VIOLENT OVERTHROW OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Those convicted of these violent acts, or the constructing of plans for these violent acts, should be tried for treason if they are citizens, and espionage if they are from a foreign country. We don't need any more "proud Americans" like Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif!

"Old News!"

"Victory in Europe!", "Babe Ruth hits 60 Home Runs!", "Cubs Win World Series!"(ha), "Lindbergh Crosses Atlantic!" and "Reagan Crushes Carter!"; what do all of these things have in common? Easy; this is all OLD NEWS! Some is very old news (sorry Cub fans)! These are some of the old headlines we may remember, which have passed on to become historical landmarks, while others have just faded into obscurity. We are bombarded with information at a pace unmatched in all of history. Cable news, radio, newspapers, blogger and other Internet sources have given us access to thousands of outlets of information and opinion. There is so much information available, that there is a tendency to forget stories almost as soon as we read them. Is there such a thing as information overload? What are we forgetting about, that we should remember?

About one year ago, we had a scandal about Russian espionage taking place in America. How many of you remember this? We had Russian undercover agents working in America, trying to find out our national secrets: there were ten in all. This was also during the time the Obama administration was selling us out with the START treaty to the Russians! The Obama administration spokesmen said this was of little concern while it was going on; and the administration went on happy to yield to the Russians on every concession.

Last week, the Russians found one of those agents, Alexander Poteyev, guilty of treason of betraying his fellow spies. This was in his absence of course; he is suspected of being in the United States. When these agents were returned to the Russians in a prisoner exchange, they were met by an old friend, Vladimir Putin, as returning heroes! The KGB is alive and well in "Mother Russia". All of the returning sleeper agents were given "top honors" by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, heroes of the Russian Republic!

I found this information on a BBC News article; nowhere, not even FOX NEWS, was this story to be found. Vladimir Putin will soon replace Medvedev as Russia's president; this should be a "red" flag to all Americans. We treated this breach of security as nothing more than international "gamesmanship"; when, in reality, it is a direct threat to our sovereignty and safety. The White House has already forgotten this "old news". What else will our current administration overlook or just "forget about"? We must remember with whom we are dealing when engaging in diplomacy with the Russians; especially where Vladimir Putin is involved!

"The Sunday Funnies!"

Since I was a very young boy, I always enjoyed the Sunday Comics in the newspaper. "Dick Tracy", "Little Orphan Annie", "Peanuts", "The Phantom" and "Steve Canyon" were just a few of my Sunday morning favorites. The Sunday paper was like a treasure; it was always four times bigger than the daily issue; filled with special features and magazines; and a sports section you could spend a week with; but on Sunday, the "funnies" were very special because they were expanded and they were in color! Way back when Fiorello La Guardia was the Mayor of New York, he would read the "funny papers" over the radio when we had paper rationing during WWII. Today I still read the comic section of the paper every day; right after the obits and sports. I'm sure during WWII the "funnies" had their share of jibes against Hitler and Hirohito; we were a nation united against tyranny back then. I don't remember much about Viet Nam in the funnies back in the sixties. Although there was much division over the war, the comic artists stayed away from Viet Nam's controversy.

Times have changed quite a bit since I was a young boy. The "Funny Papers" that were once a hideaway from reality, have become a political showplace, and unfortunately, it has been infected by the leftist philosophy of our current administration. I've seen former President Bush castigated in "colorful panels and bubbles of thought" on several occasions. The President's programs about "global warming" and "service" were prominent in many "strips" as soon as the White House announced them.

Every Sunday, I read a strip called "Candorville". The author of this strip is a young man named Darrin Bell. Mr. Bell was born on January 27, 1975. Mr. Bell has an interesting heritage; he is Black and Jewish. My wife was born in a Jewish home and the food is great and the love for family is abundant. Mr. Bell has a bachelor's degree from BERKELEY; in POLITICAL SCIENCE!

The above information should tell you give you some idea of Mr. Bell's political persuasion. Over the course of reading "Candorville", I've seen numerous endorsements of our current Chief Executive; which I thoroughly expected to see.
Now comes the interesting part: two weeks ago as I was reading my "Sunday Funnies", I came to "Candorville" and I was surprised to see Mr. Obama criticized by Mr. Bell over the President's new fondness for the patriot act. The really funny part was Mr. Bell's use of Obama's quotes from 2005 in opposition to his current position in 2011. In the panel, he said to his interviewer that "in 2005 he was naive, and now he was a power mad tyrant"; I laughed out loud! For Mr. Obama, this shouldn't be quite so funny; his base is finding out about his biggest fault; he will say anything to gain public confidence, yet he has no real substance! Mr. President, when a left-leaning comic strip is seeing your politically expedient speech, you are in real trouble. What do you think those who read the rest of the paper are thinking? If people continue to see how many times you have contradicted yourself, then your end may soon follow. I don't think the "Funnies" are quite as funny as they used to be at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!

"The New GOOD OLD DAYS!"

Since I was little, I've heard the term "the good old days"; when I was a small boy, I wasn't sure what that meant. As I have reached a "certain age", I now have a greater understanding of this phrase. As I grew up in the early 50s, I don't remember much talk about what was wrong with America; not saying there were no problems at that time, just that it seemed more things were right than wrong back then. Before you say civil rights, I'll admit that issue wasn't being addressed by virtually anyone in authority. The 60s were the era of civil rights awareness, thank God! The 1950s was a time when America was the "Big Brother" and "Protector" of the world; and we fully embraced that role. My Dad, along with thousands of other returning veterans, went into a job market that brought us into a time of prosperity and affluence. We had "Ike", the great general of WWII as our leader. "Ike" was a conservative Republican; he let the economy work with little interference, and government "lived within its means". We had two recessions, which worked themselves out in the market place; capitalism works when you allow it too. We took no insult from any other nation, and we were appreciated for our integrity. Families lived on a budget, and they saved up for what they wanted to buy; a really good idea.

Let's fast forward to 2011 and see where America is today. Criticism for America is rampant; oddly, it comes mostly from many Americans. It seems we are war mongers, racists, greed filled and intolerant people according to the American left. I don't remember anybody, prior to 9-11, saying let's go conquer somebody and cost America young lives; maybe I missed that. I don't really believe we can be a racist nation; after all, didn't America elect Barack Obama the President; if we were racists he would never have occupied the Oval Office. Our Constitution forbids us from being intolerant; we are a nation of "legal" immigrants, and are very proud of this. Greedy, well greed is not what I see; I see those who pursue goals have been given the ability to achieve those goals. If you are lazy, you won't succeed, I guarantee that!

Currently we have unemployment at a high stagnant state, and we have a budget that is exploding at the seams. We have a bloated federal octopus that is reaching into the private sector and stifling economic growth. We have government entitlements that are unsustainable in their present form; and a Chief Executive who refuses to budge on his personal agenda. Our current President is distancing himself from budget talks, allowing the Vice-President to do his talking. I guess Mr. Obama is too busy thinking about his re-election possibilities in 2012 to engage members of Congress about our budget woes. Can anybody reading this think that these will ever be known as "the good old days" by anyone?

Personally, I am looking forward to 2012. I am waiting for America to take a look back; back at "Ike" and "Dutch", and common sense in government; looking back at self-control and responsibility in their own lives. I am looking for a return to our Constitution, as it is written; not as it may be interpreted by an activist judge. Perhaps, 40 years from 2012, people will look back and say, "those were the GOOD OLD DAYS"!

"Credit and Blame"

When someone takes all the credit for something, then they must also take all the blame when things don't go as planned. In boxing, the fighter takes all the credit for a knockout; he's all alone in that ring, taking all those punches and he deserves the cheers. A tennis player who wins six straight sets is by himself on the court, and he should get that trophy with only his name on it!

In baseball and football there are awards for MVP (most valuable player), yet both of these sports require a team effort to achieve victory. Teams win championships together, and the trophies have team names on them. Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player that has yet played the game, yet he couldn't win a championship until he was surrounded with the proper players. A single "Super Star" can seldom win a team championship on his own. When a pitcher throws a "perfect game" he always gives credit to the great defensive play of his teammates, even though none of the opposition reached first base. No quarterback, pitcher or power forward is greater than the team he is surrounded by.

The biggest news story today is Barrack Obama's announcement of the troop withdrawals from Afghanistan. In his speech, he mentions his own name about twenty-five times, with no plaudits for anyone else. It was all about his triumphant troop surge (that took over three months to get). He said nothing about General Petraeus and his input and expertise in this decision. Mr. Obama is very proud of himself today. I think he may not be aware of the opinions held about him by line troopers and their officers. Obama's reticence about troop support and the announcement to the enemy about the weakening of troop strength doesn't sit well with soldiers. A commander should never give the enemy information that could possibly aid in their strategy. Telling the enemy that there will be fewer troops in a combat zone is pretty valuable information to an enemy; it's like telling a burglar when you are going on vacation!

I guess the terrorists don't need their own intelligence to gain information about our military operations; they have Barrack Obama! There are fewer things more disheartening than sitting on a perimeter and finding out you will have fewer troops around you because of a decision made by someone who is 8,000 miles away.

I hope this works; but I have definite reservations about Mr. Obama's military "smarts"; he has disregarded his military experts in the past, and they are the ones who have the experience. The closest Mr. Obama has come to wearing a uniform is a basketball jersey; perhaps he should pay more attention to those who have worn our nation's uniforms. Remember, Mr. President, if you take all the credit, you must also take all of the blame!

"Ashes and Aliens!"

I remember "Smokey the Bear". Smokey was in numerous public service announcements about the prevention of forest fires; the phrase "Only You can prevent Forest Fires" was iconic to all of the kids I knew. Every year we watch California catch fire, as wildfires destroy property on an annual basis. It must be terrible to have a season named for fires. Fires are even more devastating than floods. With a flood, there is always a chance of retrieving something; from a fire, there are only ashes.

In America, we are truly blessed. We have palm trees, giant redwood trees, sage brush, oaks, elms and vegetation of all types. America is a beautiful place; like the song says "purple mountains majesty, upon the fruited plains .." This year we have seen quite a lot of natural disaster. On top of the fires, we have seen deadly storms that have wiped out large portions of American towns and cities.

Currently, our National Forest Service is fighting wildfires in the southwest, and some statements have been made referencing illegal aliens as the possible cause of these fires. John McCain opened up this conversation and has been castigated for it. The "usual suspects" are complaining about the Senator's remarks saying they are hateful and meant to spread racial intolerance. In reality, since as early as 2006, the problem of wildfires and illegal aliens was being addressed before Congress. This was considered to be "well known" by our government and the citizens of the affected areas. Randy Parraz, a "civil rights activist" and failed senatorial candidate, has called McCain's remarks "careless and reckless" and also said "It's easier to fan the flames of intolerance, especially in Arizona". Not many of the citizens of the United States know the devastation of the illegal alien invasion better than those of Arizona, and their criticism of illegals is well based! In Arizona, 515,000 acres have been destroyed by the present conflagration, and illegals are definitely suspect in this disaster. An official of the Forest Service, Thomas Berglund, said illegals are "subjects of interest" in this current wildfire situation.

The reality of this is that our borders are not secured, our people and our resources are in jeopardy and our current President and his administration have done NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE to change the current devastation and invasion! The "Blind Eye" of Barrack Obama is to blame for all of our current woes at our borders. "The border is now more secure, than it has ever been" is a bad joke, as our lands burn and our citizens are murdered by criminal illegal aliens! Oh, sorry Mr. Obama, perhaps I should have said prospective voters!

"Back-Doored, by the U.N.!"

My house has a front door and a back door. We use both doors every day. Visitors come in the front door; large deliveries come in the back door. When I'm dirty from doing yard work, I come in the back door; when I return home from church, I come in the front door. The dogs go out the back door when playing on the deck, and they go out the front door when we go for walks around the neighborhood to see our friends around the block. I have a locked gate on my deck to keep it secure after dark; and I have a dead bolt on the front door for the same reason. There is a political term called "back-dooring"; it refers to sneaking something in while the people are watching the "front door". It is a surreptitious way of getting something done; like hiding spending in a bill that has nothing to do with the bill's intent. We have all seen this practice; and it is not limited to any party. As Americans, we don't much care for "back door politics" or secret deals. When we truly examine our Constitution, we see it was designed for the people to be able to know what their Representatives are up too! I like this idea very much; that's why I like our Constitution.

I don't know all of the stipulations in the United Nations Charter; I had no input in that agreement; I don't endorse that document; I'm not a citizen of the United Nations, I'm a citizen of the United States; and I want to keep it that way!

In the last two-plus years, I've written volumes about Iran and its' lunatic leader. I've written several articles dealing with the U.N. sanctions over nuclear development. The "clicking of tongues" and the "pointing of fingers" by the U.N. toward Iran have gone on to the point of nausea. Iran treats United Nations sanctions as a huge joke; they just don't care!

I could almost forgive the usual United Nations ineptitude if it was singular in its practice of pointless criticism, except for this body's latest hypocrisy. The United Nations has approved of a "disaster center" for Iran, which will, in all probability, boost the rogue state's nuclear capability! The United States has been blocking this proposal since 2006; it seems it will now come to fruition; on the watch of Barrack Obama. The administration said "we did not , and do not support this..." in regards to the proposal; a little verbiage and nothing else. That's showing some muscle, Barrack!

This proposed center will give Iran license to fabricate threats from Israel against them. Sorry, but I believe Iran is being controlled by "lunacy and liars", who are willing to make up an excuse to start a war with Israel. Now, it looks like the United Nations has given Iran another tool to achieve their evil intentions. Iran and the U.N. have "back-doored" Israel and the rest of the free world.

Twenty-two per cent of the United Nations funding comes from the United States of America! When will we stop wasting our money on this organization that has done more damage than good for America? It's time to stop getting "back-doored"! In the front door, we see one thing going in or coming out; while some "bad stuff is happening out back!"

"Steel Derby On the Way!!"

Most of those that read my stuff know I like James Bond. Bond books and movies have become a staple of reading and movies for countless folks who like the spy genre. I'm a purist and I compare all the new Bonds to Sean Connery. I like the "new guy"; I think he has recaptured the "Connery attitude". One of the best things of the Bond books and movies were the villains. Last year, I wrote about Ernst Stavro Bloefeld; the mastermind behind S.P.E.C.T.R.E.; I believe I had more fun with that piece than many of my other writings. Ian Flemming always had a great criminal brain to combat Bond's quick thinking and intelligence. Flemming also always had a great physical villain to test Bond in bravery and aggressiveness. I remember "Jaws" with the steel teeth with glee; what a great "bad guy". The best of those physical guys was "Odd-Job" from "Goldfinger". Odd-Job was menacing without using words; he would grin and nod his head, then he would "throw his steel-ringed derby" and cut his target in half. The big confrontation with Odd-Job came in the vault of Fort Knox, after Bond freed himself from a nuclear bomb which was meant to contaminate the United States Gold supply for 200 years. Bond's efforts against Odd-Job weren't going well, as he threw heavy gold bars against the villain with zero effect. Odd-Job finally removed his "Hat" and threw it, but missed Bond. Reacting like the hero he was, Bond took an exposed power cord and electrocuted Odd-Job; once again "saving the day". That was a pretty scary hat! Tossing that hat could have ended the hero's career for good.

About a week or so ago, we saw the first Republican presidential hopefuls engage in debate. This debate was not held on FOX NEWS. I believe this was a good thing, because the left would have cried that only "softball" questions would have been delivered by FOX; personally, I don't believe this, but perception could become reality in the mainstream media had FOX been the mediator. Leading questions meant to start a dog fight by the mediator were addressed without the political rancor that was hoped for; there was little political blood spilled among the prospective candidates. The real target for all of them was Barrack Obama, and they were relentless. It was not a good evening for the President.

Today, we are hearing sounds from Texas; Rick Perry, the governor, seems to be exhibiting interest in the Oval Office. Perry is a fiscal conservative, a pro-life advocate, a pro second amendment supporter and anti illegal alien. He is also an Evangelical Christian. He is the nightmare of the left! He can be the favorite son of American conservatives if he pursues the White House. I feel Governor Perry is seriously considering "tossing in his hat", and I couldn't be happier. Unlike Odd-Job, I think Governor Perry's hat won't miss the target, and it will be cut in half! To all of my readers who are fed up with Obama's arrogance and ineptitude, I highly recommend looking into Rick Perry's credentials. I believe you will all be pleased with what you find. LOOK OUT BARRACK, HERE COMES THAT HAT!

"A Big Joke?"

Today is Stan Laurel's birthday. For my younger readers, Stan Laurel is half of the legendary comedy team of "Laurel and Hardy" of both silent and talking pictures. Stan was often the brunt of Oliver Hardy's wrath over Stan's mistakes. Ollie was usually the one who suffered as a result of Stanley's foibles. As a boy, I watched Laurel and Hardy comedies with relish, laughing to the point of breathlessness. They were the ultimate in the comedy of their day. Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis and most other comedy teams took their cues from "Stan and Ollie". Both members of this team elicited love from their fans. I remember watching an episode of "This is Your Life" honoring Stan Laurel; he was very old and his end was close; the people were visibly moved at the sight of him with a mixture of love and sorrow. Stan and Ollie were performers who reflected our daily battle with life through humor; they made our lives better. Sometimes a good joke can ease our daily pain.

Last week our President, Barrack Obama, was at a political gathering discussing our economy and his "shovel ready" programs that were supposed to stimulate our sagging fiscal state. He stood at the podium and leaned over the microphone saying with a smirk, "I guess our shovels weren't quite ready yet". He made his version of a joke about America's economic woes; I don't find it funny. Boyish charm will not get Mr. Obama "off the hook" on this issue. None of this President's economic policies or programs has proven effective against rising unemployment and failing economic prospects. He, once again blamed his troubles on George Bush! Barrack Obama never takes responsibility for anything. His lack of personal responsibility is very disturbing, it is reflective of his character; a self serving egotist! THIS IS NO JOKE, MR. PRESIDENT, WE ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE! He also stated that he wasn't worried about a "double-dip" recession, even though the economic indicators are pointing in that direction. His people in the Senate are resisting substantial budget cuts, even though Moody is threatening to lower America's bond rating. There are so many "red flags" on the U.S. economy, they are covering up the "Red, White and Blue" of America's promises.

Mr. Obama, your "comedy tour" is coming to a close in 2012! Your jokes aren't generating any laughs; only "cat-calls" from a worn out audience. It's time to GET OFF THE STAGE! YOU STINK!

(This is my last post this week due to computer issues. See you Monday!)

"Slap On A Molding!"

Have you ever purchased a used car? During my life, I've purchased numerous used cars. In our early married life, Adrienne and I went to a dealer (who will be unnamed) to buy a used car. We were as close to broke as we could get, but our car was really worn out and not worth repairing. We only had $1,000 to spend, so we had to be very careful or we would end up with a vehicle worse than the one of which we were disposing. The salesman was typical; sport coat, quick smile and had "great deals" ready for us. I've worked on cars since I was sixteen, and learned from my Dad, who was in the auto industry for over fifty years. Adrienne was concerned we would not be able to get a car; and I urged her not to worry, we would find something acceptable. I told the salesman how much I was willing to spend, and "not a penny more"; and I meant it! He took us out to the back of the lot, and then proceeded to show us a Dodge Dart; this car was "tired", and I knew it. The salesman went into his pitch about how great this car was for the money. The statement I remember the most was "Just slap a molding on the side and it's ready to go!" I was adamant; there was no way I was going to buy that car. He then showed me a car they had just taken in, a Pontiac Ventura. I asked to hear it run; he got the keys and started it up, I looked under the hood for oil leaks and general engine cleanliness. He said I can give you this for $1,000. I stuck out my hand and said fine; he made the mistake of shaking it. He went to the office to get the paperwork started. After a few minutes, he came back with a story that his manager didn't want to sell it for the $1,000 agreed price. Adrienne was really worried. When he left, I told her we were getting this car for our price and not to worry. The salesman came back and did everything but handstands trying to "jack up the price". My answer was, "You accepted this deal in the lot and my wife saw you do it." I had him cold; after some verbal tap-dancing we drove out in our Pontiac Ventura, on our terms. We would not be bullied or coerced into doing something we didn't want to do!

It seems last week the White House was trying to coerce Israel into accepting President Obama's dictates about resuming talks about Israel drawing back to the 1967 borders. It was said that he gave Israel one month to reconsider its position that the resumption of the old borders was unacceptable. Sources say Prime Minister Netanyahu is not cooperating in Obama's efforts to force Israel into concessions of the Israeli borders: it was also said that Mr. Obama's dissatisfaction with Mr. Netanyahu would be conveyed to American Jewish leaders, supposedly giving Mr. Netanyahu "bad publicity" in the United States.

I guess Prime Minister Netanyahu isn't buying Mr. Obama's "used car" at Mr. Obama's price. I stand in Israel's corner on this issue; Mr. Obama has no business issuing conditions on any other nations' borders; especially when that nation is "under the gun" as much as Israel is. I guess Mr. Obama will have to do more than "Just slap on a molding and it's ready to go" to work with the Israeli people. ISRAEL: STAND YOUR GROUND, AND WAIT FOR YOUR TERMS!

"Baseball, Hot Dogs, and the Flag!"

While I was gone last week, I got to do one of my favorite things; I went to see the Chicago White Sox! Few things make me as happy as a Sox game. The best part of this was the company; I was with my beautiful and amazing daughter, who I had infected with the Sox addiction early in her childhood.

She picked me up at the train station, I was already dressed in my favorite "Louis Aparacio" number 11 jersey and Sox hat; we drove directly to the ball park (I still call it Comiskey). We got great parking, right across the street from the park. Before we went in, we walked a few blocks to a local hot dog "joint"; a walk-up place with genuine "Chicago Hot Dogs"; yummy! We walked around the outside of the park where there is a monument to former White Sox greats. I had memories of my youth as I read some of the records of these heroes of my "salad days". Finally, we went into the ballpark. The seats were about the best I've ever had, lower box near the batters box; I was in "White Sox Heaven". We were surrounded by a sea of Sox hats, jerseys and shirts, everyone was in a jovial mood, and an instant comradeship was made with the crowd. The evening was perfect, about 72 degrees, with a slight breeze.

White Sox fans are what one might call a "blue collar" crowd who are very verbose about their team, and that other team on the north side. Jokes and jabs about the CUBS are quite prominent, and everybody laughs.

Then something happens to silence the entire park, not a sound is made, or a joke is whispered. A single figure walks out to home plate and stands looking at the crowd; and he begins to sing the "National Anthem". Thirty-thousand people stand, sing and salute the Flag of the United States of America. In that one moment, more than Sox fans, more than Chicagoans; we were all Americans, united in tribute and pride in our wonderful country and its Flag.

Today is "Flag Day". One day a year we designate to pride in the American Flag; there is no other like it anywhere in the world. It is the symbol of freedom throughout the world. It has flown over countless battlefields, picnics, parades and public buildings. It should always fly higher than any other flag; it has been a blessing to all of the rest of the world. We should never forget this! America and her flag need never apologize to any other nation or group. This flag marched through Paris to cheering crowds. This flag was proudly raised by Marines on Iwo Jima. This flag flew over the Marine base at the siege of Khe Sahn, and it was carried up Pork Chop Hill.

This flag has been the symbol of aid in food and medicine to people in dire need everywhere in the known world. Spend some time today thinking about our flag, and those who don't appreciate what it stands for: it's not a "Hammer and Sickle", or a "Swastika"; it's the "STARS AND STRIPES". BE PROUD, AMERICA, THIS FLAG WAVES FOR FREEDOM!

"CAUTION"

Every day when we get into our vehicles, we encounter "road signs"; STOP, NO LEFT TURN, YIELD, SLOW CHILDREN and ROAD WORK AHEAD are only a few of the warnings we must heed in order to maintain safety for us and others. One of those signs says CAUTION; this sign covers a multitude of situations on the roadway; it causes us to take notice of things out of the ordinary; perhaps a bump or hole in the road; some type of hazard. Have any of you ever hit a hole in the road that wasn't marked? This can be quite a wake-up as you are calmly driving along; teeth jar, spine whips and eyes widen, it's a real surprise! If a hole or bump is big enough, it can be more than an unpleasant moment; it can mean vehicle damage, and in some cases an accident that can cause injury or loss of life. We need to be ever vigilant as we travel along the streets and highways on our daily treks. If we were to disregard these signs and signals, to what end would we come?

I have written several articles in the past about Iran and its lunatic leader Ahmadinejad. Iran has given the United Nations and the United States the "International Finger" whenever confronted with criticism or sanctions. Iran is one of the Middle-East's most verbal Israel haters. Suspected uranium enrichment for nuclear weapons has been spoken about for several years now, yet, very little had actually been done to stop this. Iran is on very friendly terms with Russia and Syria; neither of these nations has been particularly sympathetic to Israel, and love doing "business" with Iran. Missile delivery systems and technology are valuable commodities, and Russia is not above making a deal with Iran; regardless of what is said in public.

Yesterday, June 7, 2011, Iran ordered submarines to the Red Sea in order to "collect information". The type of submarines that were dispatched were unspecified; the type of armament aboard these vessels wasn't addressed. After entering the Red Sea, they left to "continue their mission" into the Gulf of Aden; only a short trip to the Suez Canal; a "rock throw" from Israel. Israel says this move was meant to provoke action. I tend to agree with Israel's assumptions in this matter. In February, Iran sent some warships through the Suez in a show of strength and provocation. Could this have been a "sign"? Ahmadinejad has said "Try to imagine a world without Israel"; could this have been a "sign"?

The Middle-East is more volatile now than it has ever been in the past. The New Egypt is in flux, and an anti-Israel sentiment is becoming pervasive. Each day, Israel becomes a larger target for radical Islamist haters. The United States has adopted an attitude of "wait and see" in regards to Israel. Israel is "watching the road signs" with justifiable trepidation.

How many more "road signs" do we need before we do something substantial for our greatest friend in the Middle-East? Will our President continue to ignore the "CAUTION" sign? Will Mr. Obama wait until we reach a "DEAD END" in the Israeli threats from Iran? Pay attention, Mr. President, you are approaching a huge "hole in the road" and the whole world may end up "in the ditch" if you don't help a friend!

(This is my last blog until next Tuesday, as I take a short vacation. Watch the world while I'm gone.)

"Over-Exposed!"

Is there such a thing as degrees of morality? Is there an acceptable level of perversion or bad behavior? What should we use as a standard for our moral fiber in America? Finally, where do we want America to go in social values?

I know "people are people", and they will have their faults; yet, when do we say "enough"? I've heard all the stories about Jack Kennedy, and I am sad that he had those types of behavior in his life. I also know that way back then, had they been made public, it would have been political suicide, and "Camelot" would not have existed. It has been said that FDR had a "special" lady friend, yet very little was said about that, because America would not have tolerated that behavior from its president. Is has been rumored that Thomas Jefferson had an illicit relationship; I guarantee that would have been a disaster in 1776, had it been common knowledge.

We have taken prayer out of our schools; we have made carrying a bible to work practically a criminal offense. We are more concerned about the rights of prisoners than the rights of our citizens. We have made criminal illegal aliens into victims, instead of invaders to our land. We have allowed the A.C.L.U. to allow one or two people dictate what we are allowed to do in public places, and what language we are allowed to speak. We continue to drift away from what has made America, America.

I am now going to offend some folks. America was founded on Judeo-Christian ethics! ETHICS; a word we all use but few follow, and it seems those who use it the least, are those who serve as our senators and congressional representatives. I know there are some governors and mayors who also have shown "poor judgment" too. We have thrown American values and ethics "under the bus"; in favor of tolerance and political correctness.

A couple of days ago, I wrote about Congressman Anthony Wiener; I'll admit I had some fun at his expense, yet, it seems those allegations are now proving true. Mr. Weiner is just the latest, and not really the worst of our leadership's bad behavior. It is no wonder that those radical Islamists call America the "Great Satan". I'm not saying they are any better than we are; but we are surely giving them fuel with this type of perverse activities from our elected officials.

Mr. Weiner says he will not resign; but he's sorry! Yes, he's sorry; he's sorry he got caught! I didn't vote for Mr. Weiner, yet his life choices reflect on me and every other American. He was chosen to represent us to the rest of the world in our Congress. It now rests with Congress and Mr. Weiner as to what actions will be taken. Because of Charlie Rangel, I doubt any credible action will be taken; they will take care of their own; it is up to us. America must send a message at the voting booth and cast out this type of abhorrent behavior. If someone exposes himself in public, he will be arrested. Mr. Weiner has exposed himself to the entire population of America! What will America do now?

"Fixed Income, Early Retirement!"

At my house, in the last two-plus years, our income has been reduced by about 30%! I don't know about anybody else, but a 30% financial hit is pretty tough to take. Now, we're not starving, but we definitely have made some decisions that are different than we would have made with 30% more money. Our faith in God has most certainly helped us in all these decisions; and a grasp of common sense is also a factor when things take a financial down-slide. We have changed our shopping habits, combining trips out of the house to lessen unnecessary travel and save fuel cost. We have changed our choices as to what groceries we purchase; our dollars don't go as far as they used to go. I have many friends and acquaintances that are on "fixed incomes" and they are ALL experiencing these same things. None of us have expanded our spending habits. When your old spending habits continue, you have too much month left at the end of the money! When you don't recognize this axiom, you must be a fool! When the things you do don't work, don't repeat them; your results will be continued failure. ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES; it will help you from continuing to screw things up! Rationalizing bad decisions won't hold water when held up to the light of common sense.

Last week, the White House admitted that the citizens of the United States of America will lose 14 BILLION DOLLARS ON OBAMA'S AUTO BAILOUT! How does this make you feel, as a taxpayer? I'm kind of upset!! Obama spoke last week, and once again, he echoed back to George Bush. This President will never admit to his own mistakes. Like a child, he constantly looks for someone else to take the blame for his poor judgment. What is worse than this, is his continued pursuit of further spending in the face of consistent failed policies.

His minions still feel they are correct in their spurious spending habits, and refuse to take a look at any serious spending cuts in our "over blown" budget. Nancy Pelosi believes she will soon be back in the Speaker's Seat; returning like "Freddy Kruger" for another "nightmare"!

At what point does this become Barack Obama's mess? Unemployment is still at disastrous levels; the housing market is moving at the speed of an "oil painting" and Moody is considering lowering our national bond rating. Oddly, this is still George Bush's fault!

Mr. Obama, I feel like this entire article should be written in "RED INK"! George Bush is in Crawford, Texas; he has not been the President for some time now. It is your bad decisions that have driven America into this economic firestorm. America cannot sustain much more of this stupidity from the White House. Barack, live within your means! Perhaps our current president needs to be on a fixed income; let's retire him in 2012!!

"Catterpillar Jar!"

Have you ever made a decision that you regretted? When I was boy, about six years old, I walked around our neighborhood picking fuzzy caterpillars off of the buildings, and putting them in a jar. I put holes in the jar so the insects could breathe. As I examined the jar in the course of my travels, I noticed it had become coated with the fuzz from the caterpillars. Remember, I was six years old; my first instinct was to take the top off of the jar and blow out the fuzz. I was with my friend Tony that morning; we were buddies. After a few minutes from the "blowing incident" I noticed that my face felt funny, and I asked Tony what it looked like. Tony said it looked kind of swelled. We were close to Tony's house, so we stopped in to see his Mom. Tony's Mom took one look at me and said "Joey, go home and show your mother right now!" Well, I went home and when my Mom saw me, she was quite upset. She tossed me in the bath tub, scrubbing me vigorously, then, covering me with calamine lotion. When I finally got a look at my face, I was a little scared; it looked like a balloon of red welts. Mom proceeded to call Dr. Kaufman, our pediatrician; he said the caterpillars defend themselves with that fuzz, and I got a massive dose of their poison. Six year old boys aren't always very smart! Bad decisions can cause pain and embarrassment. Sometimes one bad decision leads to another.

In the last few days, we have seen the story of Congressman Anthony Weiner in the news. It is alleged that the Congressman sent a picture of his male private parts to a young girl. This, if true, is very disturbing, yet in our current atmosphere of tolerance, isn't too surprising. Sex scandals are rampant in politics and entertainment. John Edwards, "Arnold", Bill Clinton and scores of others in politics have been "caught with their pants down". What I find so disturbing about this, is the Congressman's own statement, "He can't say with certitude whether the penis in the picture is his or not." What this says to me is that the Congressman does have pictures of his penis, or has had pictures of his penis taken! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I can honestly say I don't know a single person who has ever had any pictures of his penis taken. I'm hoping never to know anyone who has pictures of his penis in his photo album at home! At what point in one's life does one consider taking pictures of their genitalia a good idea? Could this be considered a good conversation starter, or ice breaker at a party?

Mr. Weiner (no pun intended) has been a vocal member of Congress for some time now; yet, I somehow feel his words won't carry as much weight as they may have carried in the past. It looks to me like Congressman Weiner "BLEW IN THE JAR OF CATERPILLARS!"

"Alternate Universe"

I remember an old episode of "Twilight Zone" which dealt with an astronaut who lands back on earth, but it is in an alternate universe where things look the same; but not exactly the same. As the astronaut sits in his hospital room, the people he knew and the world he knew were somehow twisted and distorted; as if they were strangers in a strange land. As the plot moved along, the astronaut convinced those in charge to launch him into the stratosphere; where he went through some weird lights and landed on his own earth. It seems our hero had exchanged places with his mirror image in another dimension. You've got to love Rod Serling!

Now you must be asking yourselves, where I'm going with this "alternate universe" stuff? Not long ago, our president made statements about our borders being safer now than they have ever been. He also made statements about stepped up protection and enforcement of prosecution of illegal aliens. Far be it from me to question the President's veracity; but, WHAT?? I spend much of my time reading different news sources around the country; the southwest and western states are always interesting, as they are experiencing such devastation from the influx of illegal aliens. Anyone who doesn't believe this, please do some research on your own; don't rely on me or anyone else. If you know anyone who lives in the area, contact them for firsthand knowledge of this awful situation.

A few days ago, a Houston Police Officer, Kevin Will, was struck and killed by an illegal alien, who was driving drunk. This, in itself, doesn't sound unfamiliar in today's atmosphere of illegal alien behavior; but the story gets much worse. Johoan Rodriguez, 26, was at a blood alcohol level that was three times the legal limit, he was claiming to be an American citizen; he was twice deported and had several encounters with the Houston Police Department. He had a falsified driver's license to support his spurious claim of citizenship. Twice he was thrown out of America; and twice he came back. This time, while speeding in a drunken stupor, he hit Officer Will, killing him instantly and dragging his body down the highway. This is a tragedy that didn't have to happen. Had the Mexican government taken care of its own economic problems; had our President addressed this problem with some real action, then Officer Will would be having dinner with his family tonight, instead of being another victim of criminal illegal alien intrusion into America! This is not an isolated instance! Our borders are porous, and are being violated every day of the week. Our President says it is safer now than ever; I don't believe him!

It's time for you to come back from that "alternate universe" Mr. President; things aren't safer, the border is a battle zone, and you pretend everything is alright! How many more police officers, and honest LEGAL citizens must suffer before you act? Perhaps Barack Obama is from that America in an "ALTERNATE UNIVERSE", he obviously doesn't know what is happening here!

"We Need a New Squad Leader!"

There is a country song titled "Beer for my horses, and whiskey for my men!" about an old Civil War cavalry unit. It is bawdy and fun to listen to, it also speaks to the bond soldiers have to one another, and how leaders in combat love their men.

Sleeping, eating and bathing with people on a daily basis can be very bonding. Lying in the dirt, with explosions and gunfire can even be more bonding. Nobody depends on others more than a member of the military in a combat situation. Each member of every squad; each squad in every platoon; each platoon in every company and each company in every battalion depend on everybody doing their parts to insure a successful mission, with the least amount of death and injury: this all hinges on trust and loyalty; all forged under the heat of firefights. Squad leaders depend on their men to protect each other; even before they protect themselves; it's all about survival and love of compatriots.

Our soldiers, marines, air force and navy are the finest men and women in the world; and deserve the very best support America can supply. Men and women in service know what they need more than any politician. Even we old "vets" can't say what is necessary in today's battlefields; all conflicts are unique. One thing we can all agree on is the bond between warriors. We know the value of trust and loyalty.

A recent Gallup Poll has shown that the majority of the military view Barack Obama as "less than favorable" in his presidential leadership capabilities toward the needs of our fighting forces. Non-military folks give Mr. Obama a 48% approval rating, while only 37% of the active military polled give him a favorable review; about a quarter of a million military people were surveyed. What does this say about our current Chief Executive? When I served there were always jokes about Richard Nixon and Ho Chi Min; but Nixon was still Commander-in-Chief, and we all held him in a measure of respect. Nixon did serve in the Navy during WWII, and had some grasp of what those serving go through on a daily basis; and knew the importance of rapid supply of men and equipment in times of combat. Soldiers know if they are "running out of bullets", and "fresh troops"; lack of both can get men killed quickly.

Perhaps Mr. Obama's low approval rating goes back to him sitting on his hands about adding troops last year for nearly six months. One hour of waiting in a combat situation seems eternal; it only takes seconds for a comrade to die.

Oddly, no group surveyed was over the 50% approval mark in support of this President. What does this say about how America views the leadership ability of Barack Obama? Along with our troops, is America being left in a "foxhole" with no relief in sight? It's time for a new "squad leader", one who cares about his "troops"!