A Message From LiveLeak about the Fitna Video

For those of you that may not have come across this, recently a 17-minute documentary on the Quran and Islam, which used images of Islam's Quran mixed with images and film of terror attacks and bombings by Muslim extremists, was taken down from LiveLeak.com. LiveLeak is a British video-sharing website. The organization took down the video after reporting that there were "serious" threats to its staff members.

The documentary was posted against the wishes of the Netherlands government by Geert Wilders, a Dutch MP and leader of the Freedom Party. The name of the video, Fitna, is an Arabic word meaning "strife."

It appeared on the political party's website first, but soon disappeared because of "technical difficulties," reported the London Times. Then it appeared on LiveLeak.com, only to be replaced with an advisory that read: "Following threats to our staff of a very serious nature, and some ill informed reports from certain corners of the British media that could directly affect the safety of some staff members, LiveLeak has been left with no other choice but to remove Fitna from our servers."

Another message on the site read: "This is a sad day for freedom of speech on the net but we have to place the safety and well being of our staff above all else. We would like to thank the thousands of people, from all backgrounds and religions, who gave us their support. They realized LiveLeak.com is a vehicle for many opinions and not just for the support of one."

Immediately, the blogosphere responded. And surprisingly, so did LiveLeak. The video is back, with this message attached: On the 28th of March LiveLeak.com was left with no other choice but to remove the film "fitna" from our servers following serious threats to our staff and their families. Since that time we have worked constantly on upgrading all security measures thus offering better protection for our staff and families. With these measures in place we have decided to once more make this video live on our site. We will not be pressured into censoring material which is legal and within our rules. We apologise for the removal and the delay in getting it back, but when you run a website you don't consider that some people would be insecure enough to threaten our lives simply because they do not like the content of a video we neither produced nor endorsed but merely hosted.

View "Fitna" HERE on LiveLeak.

Should LiveLeak again lose their nerve, the video is also availabled HERE.

During the Quinceañera

Yesterday I attended my niece's Quinceañera. A Quinceañera is sort of like a Sweet Sixteen Party, but celebrates the fifteenth birthday of a girl in the Mexican Culture. It is essentially a celebration of a girl reaching womanhood, and the party would remind one of a Wedding Reception more than of a Birthday Party. It is a festive event, and the one I attended yesterday was not much unlike any other Quinceañera I have attended. It was loaded with good food, loud Music, hearty conversation, and a lot of the Spanish Language.

I don't speak Spanish, and to be honest, I was the only White person at the event. It was pretty cool though that they asked me to make the salsa (my salsa is legendary). More often than not, when I begin to feel left out of conversation, I gather some of the cousins and we go outside to throw around a football, or kick around a soccer ball.

My wife is Mexican. She was born in Mexico, but grew up here after her parents immigrated to America when she was a young child. She grew up around the La Raza rhetoric, and rejected becoming an American Citizen because those around her had convinced her that if she were to naturalize she would "Lose her Heritage." Of course that is hardly the truth, and finally a few years ago (2005) she decided to begin the process of naturalization and took the oath of citizenship in 2006.

With her new citizenship came a new appreciation for the United States. This new-found "Americanism" is special to her, and she proudly calls herself an American (not a Mexican-American). She recognizes the importance of being an American first, but at the same time still (as she should) embraces her Mexican culture as well. Calling herself and American-first does not sit well with many members of her family, and sometimes I am blamed for this "Americanization" of her. It seems silly to me, but I try not to get into that part of the argument.
More often than not, since everyone knows that I am big on politics, political discussions crop up at these gatherings - or at least in the past they did. This time, however, something strange happened. Rather than arguing politics with me at the Quinceañera, the opposite happened.

One of my wife's sisters says, "For the first time I think I am going to vote Republican."

Really?

This is the same woman that argued with me a few months ago about the problems of Republican Politics, and how they (The Republicans) are against "her people" (meaning the illegals).

Another of her sisters echoed the thought about voting Republican because she was tired of the entitlement programs being pushed by the Democrats. This other sister is the one that at one time was actually a registered member of the Communist Party USA.

After a lengthy discussion, what I discovered was that rather than just voting "party" like most Democrats do, these young women have decided to look at the candidates, and after looking at Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, they decided the "Old White Guy" was the better person for the job.

Muy Bien. I like the way they think. Don't get me wrong, I am not a big fan of John McCain, but he is definitely better than the alternative.

And of course during these unexpected conversations I munched on chips and salsa as I listened, with an unused football sitting between my feet.

Barack Obama and Reverend Wright - Obama, Where is your Outrage?

Exhibit B for the Liberal Liars Club:

From the Creators of Facing the Giants comes FIREPROOF

A UNION OF MARRIAGE ADVOCATES
I Now Pronounce the "Fireproof" Movie a Movement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALBANY, Ga., March 27, 2008 - "Fireproof," www.FireprooftheMovie.com, the new action/relationship film from the creators of "Facing the Giants" and "Flywheel," releases this September from Sherwood Pictures and Provident Films. Already the movie is uniting marriage advocates from across the U.S.

National groups such as Focus on the Family, Outreach, FamilyLife, The Marriage CoMission, America's Family Coaches, AMFM, Marriage Alive Communications, and MarriageToday endorse the movie and are urging their constituencies to see it. Influencers such as marriage expert Gary Smalley and Bubba Cathy of Chick-fil-A are also working to spread the word.

It's no secret that U.S. marriages are in crisis. The U.S. Census Bureau and marriage organizations vary on the stats but agree that nearly half of all weddings lead to divorce—with rates highest in the Bible belt. Some 25 percent of U.S. adults divorce at least once; and given the abundance of poor marriages, many couples skip it outright.

"Fireproof" mirrors the problems of many marriages, in this case through a firefighter whose high-stress job spills into his home life. Hitting on pain points common to married life—from indifference to insults to emotional affairs and internet porn—the story opens with a couple's disintegration.

"Most movies are about relationships that lead to marriage," Michael Catt, of Sherwood Pictures said. "'Fireproof' picks up seven years into a marriage headed for divorce. And the question is: Can a cold marriage revive? Why stay together?"

Given that firefighters have one of the nation's highest divorce rates, "Fireproof" also has the support of many firefighters and related organizations. John White, former head of the Los Angeles Fire Department's Search & Rescue Team, is urging firefighters across the country to see it.

For more information about "Fireproof," how individuals and organizations can get involved, and in what theaters the movie will open, stay current with www.FireprooftheMovie.com

The Liberal Liars Club

Last December, while being accused by Barack Obama that Hillary Clinton's eight years as first lady was a glorified tea party, not a part of her so-called mass of experience that she claims to be so full of, her Royal Pantsuit fired back with a harrowing tale of a trip to Bosnia. She said that she risked her life on various White House missions, one of which was a vexing flight into Bosnia that ended in a "corkscrew" landing and a high speed, head ducking sprint off the tarmac to dodge snipers. She commented after telling the tale, "I don't remember anyone offering me tea." Problem is, the whole thing was a great big lie. Of course the left-wing media says that she simply "misspoke." Hillary Clinton is a liar.

That was hardly a case of simply misspeaking. Sorry.

Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, an official member of Obama's campaign, and a member of Obama's African American Religious Leadership Committee, is a racist. He has made a number of racist comments in the past during his sermons at the church of which Barack Obama has been attending for twenty years. The Obama Campaign has realized that Rev. Wright, and his comments, may pose as a problem for the Obama Campaign. So how did Obama deal with it? Obama says he's never witnessed or heard these statement before. Obama knew what his pastor was saying. That makes Barack Obama a liar. In fact, like Hillary, Obama lies quite a bit. Of course, let us not forget this is the man that says, "My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join me as we try to change it."

Al Gore, the leader of the Worldwide Church of Global Warming, told us that global sea levels would be rising by more than 20 feet with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and Antarctica, devastating coastal areas worldwide. He told us that heat waves will be more frequent and more intense. He claimed that droughts and wildfires would occur more often. He declared the Arctic Ocean could be ice free in summer by 2050. He proclaimed more than a million species worldwide could be driven to extinction by 2050. And he said it was our fault because of all of that carbon (you know, less than one percent of the total that winds up in the atmosphere) we spew into the sky. All along I have been saying that any warming tendency of this planet is a natural phenomenon caused by solar activity, specifically in relation to sunspots. I have had a couple of experts, Holly Fretwell, a natural resources policy expert, adjunct professor of economics at Montana State University and research fellow at PERC--The Property and Environment Research Center, and Analyst John Berlau of the Competitive Enterprise Institute on my radio show to discuss this, the second of which indicated that not only is there not a consensus of scientists claiming man-made global warming is true, but that recently 19,000 analysts and scientists proclaimed that all of this global warming hysteria is false. So what's the truth? Well, it turns out that Al Gore, with his tampered models and thirst for whatever he is getting out of this, is a big fat liar. In fact, pretty soon I am expecting him to jump on the man-made global cooling hysteria trend. Maybe they will begin encouraging us to put more carbon into the air to combat this sudden cooling trend! Fact is, temperature monitors are reporting widescale global cooling. And why is the warming trend over? What could have possibly caused this turn around? Wait for it. . . wait for it. . . because according to the article linked in this sentence, sunspots have all but vanished, and activity is suspiciously quiet. Notice the harrowing tone of the article. Al, give back the awards (that would be Nobel Peace Prize, Oscar, and I am sure there are more of your ill-gotten awards on your mantle), sit down, and shut up. You are a liar.

Shall we move on to Pelosi? Teddy Kennedy and his lies about his murderous ways? Or what about Kennedy's Soviet connections in order to undermine Ronald Reagan? Well, in the People's Socialist Party (Democrats), there are many lies, and these lies are by elitists whose hubris is so extreme that they believe they are above all of us, the law, and the truth. But to be honest, in my humble opinion, the Democratic Party needs to change its name to The Liberal Liars Club.

Pursuit of Happiness, Free Exercise of my Faith

While playing a game of cards with my wife last night I got to thinking about my competitive nature. Humans are naturally competitive. We desire to win. And when there are winners, naturally, there are losers as well. In that sense, one can say that the natural by-product of winning is losing.

In a competitive world, success is naturally defined in the terms of money, power, and influence. These are fine things, and each individual has every right to attain such, but more important is one's relationship with God, and in the development of a mature and constructive personality.

The American pursuit of happiness, then, naturally includes the pursuit of wealth. In the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness, Will Smith's character seeks wealth so that he can take better care of his son, and not have to remain in a position of poverty. Reaching financial success, for him, was happiness, not because of the money, but because of the security for his family.

As a Christian, I understand that wealth is not, and cannot be, my ultimate goal in life. After all, the greatest commandments are found in Matthew 22:34-36 which states in a nutshell that we should first love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and then second that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves. This is where some on the liberal left decide to mischaracterize me as a Christian and misunderstand my meanings.

My duty, as a Christian, is first to share the Word of God. Notice, there is nothing there about forcing anyone to become Christians. This is why I find it fascinating that the liberal left tries to compare Christianity to Islam, and then immediately uses examples of the Crusades or Spanish Inquisitions to prove their point. I agree, those were horrid periods of history filled with atrocities by people claiming to be doing so in the name of the Christian God. But, understand that none of the atrocities were biblical. Those periods of Christian history were being dominated by radicals, and anytime anything is radicalized to the point that even the actions of those involved fail to recognize that they are outside the teachings of scripture, it is a bad thing. However, the Islamic Jihad is following closely the teachings of the Quran.

It is a Christian's duty to share the Gospel, and love they neighbor, but it was never commanded that the Christian force people to accept Christianity by way of force or physical threats, nor is it Biblical to force anyone to perform Scriptural work.

For example, Church organizations and charities are wonderful ways to assist the poor and show our Christian love for our neighbors, but it is not Biblical for people to be forced to provide for the poor through taxation, nor to provide so many government sponsored entitlements that the poor ceases to work towards earning their way out of poverty, instead becoming dependent upon governmental assistance.

As for the idea of eliminating poverty, it is not possible. Like the win/loss of games, in life naturally there are winners and losers as well. The poor will always be with is, for in Matthew 26:11, it says, "For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always."

A liberal recently attacked my defense of the wealthy in America. I do not believe it is the government's position to punish someone for reaching wealth by over-taxing such people. After all, isn't attaining financial freedom part of the pursuit of happiness? Besides, the wealthy tend to be the business owners, so why would one wish to punish financially those that provide the jobs?

When the liberal left attacks, they usually try to attack conservatives from a personal vantage point. In a recent attack against me, bible verses were used. Specifically, In Matthew 6:24 Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Hebrews 13:5 – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.”
1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
Proverbs 11:28 – “Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”

Based on this liberal's thinking, all Christians must remain in deep poverty, or else they are hypocrites.

However, all this does is prove that people like this individual does not understand Christianity at all. All of those verses above are about keeping the right perspective. God comes first. God, to the Christian, must be more important than any wealth, possession, or whatever. If someone places the importance of wealth, power, et cetera above God, or at the same level as God, the person is attempting to serve both God and money, and that is a recipe for disaster, and is against God.

Galatians 6:14-16 Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

But, the reason the Bible spends a lot of time speaking of the rich, saying "Woe unto you that are rich. . ." is because riches and power is a difficult thing to properly manage while keeping God in the position of highest importance. We, as flawed humans, are unable to keep that balance on our own, which is why we must keep our eyes on the Lord, especially if we are in a position of wealth.

Of course, people like the liberal I am referring to would just assume that we all remain in poverty, not defend ourselves, and allow the elitists that are the liberal left to take control of us and take away our freedom of religion (not freedom from religion as they love to argue). Constitutionally, when it comes to my Christianity, they cannot "prohibit the free exercise thereof." Ooops, did the liberals miss that part in the first amendment?

Is the U.S. Funding Terrorism?

Dr. James Hutchens, a former U.S. Military Chaplain and President/Chairman of the Board of The JerUSAlem Connection, joins us tonight to discuss how the U.S. is funding the Palestinians with weapons, money, and training - we are funding groups that are actually glorifying terrorists!

Join us tonight on Political Pistachio Radio!

Freedom Never Cries

A War on a Global Scale

The Fifth Anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq has passed, and the news media has proclaimed that 4,000 have been killed since the beginning of the war. Too often those looking back fail to see that Saddam Hussein is no longer a threat, and people on the Left seem to ignore the fact that the battlefield in Iraq is but small part of a much wider global war against Islamic Jihadism.

Iraq is but a small battlefield in the global war against Islamic Radicals that includes both Sunni and Shia. The Invasion of Iraq was simply one battle in a long war. The Surge last year was another battle. Our campaign to keep the Taliban from regaining control in Afghanistan is yet another front in this global war.

All of the fronts are connected and all dependent upon the others for overall success. One thing remains clear, there has been no attack on America's soil since 9/11, and many contribute this to the effort overseas against the resilient Islamic Jihadist enemy. The contribution and sacrifice of our troops in Iraq is definitely a large part of keeping us safe from further attacks, and it is those troops that deserve our respect and appreciation.

God Bless our troops, and God Bless America.

The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine

Mark Wilensky is a fifth grade teacher with a love for history. When he came across Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" he was surprised that he had never heard of the document before. After studying it, he realized that it was among the most important founding documents, and he decided to write a book about it.

The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine by Mark Wilensky is an interactive guide through this influential pamphlet that conceptualized the idea of unity and freedom months before Thomas Jefferson put pen to parchment. Thomas Paine, in his Common Sense Pamphlet urged the colonies to engage in the American Revolution, and to take to arms quickly before the opportunity to separate the colonies from the iron fist of the King passed. Paine's publication energized a vast number of colonists to embark on a long and bloody war that imperiled their livelihoods and dismantled their cultural identity-all in the hope of creating a new nation constructed upon the concepts of liberty and independence.

The first steps of liberty began in a Colonial America dominated by divided alliances, and revolutionary writings like Thomas Paine's Common Sense. Paine, through his writings, persuaded these conflicting characteristics into the most exceptional nation ever to be founded in history. The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine is absolutely wonderful, and fun read, and an important tool for reacquainting us with the important writings of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America.

To listen to my interview of Mr. Wilensky, CLICK HERE.

Happy Easter 2008

Not Ready To End This Fight

A message from David Thibodaux,

A fellow Marine and I wrote, and I recorded a song titled "Not Ready To End The Fight." This song was inspired by the fact that I, like many Americans, don't particularly appreciate the underlying message behind the Dixie Chicks' song "Not Ready To Make Nice." While I did like the underlying music from song, the lyrics' just didn't sit well with me, many of my colleagues and other Americans. After being urged on by friends, family, and colleagues I decided to record "Not Ready To End The Fight" to make a point, criticize, comment and answer the Dixie Chicks song and all the other Hollywood stars that constantly overestimate my interest in their personal politics and their level of competence in foreign policy and about how our Country should be run and how they imply they know what is better for this Country than our elected officials.

I know there are very complicated issues that must be considered when undertaking a war. I certainly don't pretend to have the solutions to any foreign policy issues. I also know that smart people can look at the same set of facts and events and often reach different conclusions. That is probably a good thing! So anyone who characterizes these very complicated terrorism and war issues as very easy-and-simple need to try to at least try to see the other side of the issue... no matter what side you are on.

I am just an ordinary "country boy" who feels like I need to speak up about my personal opinions, experiences, and exercise my freedom of speech! I am 23, a husband, a father, a full time Marine and part time musician. I am not a celebrity or politician, nor do I know any. My wife and I are hardworking, religious, family oriented, patriotic Americans. We each were born and reared in small-town Louisiana. I grew up in Eunice, Louisiana. I also have family in Texas. My wife, newborn son, and I live in the Washington, D.C. area where I am presently stationed. We are blessed with large supportive families.

To make a contribution to the Country and the war effort, I joined the Marine Corps upon my graduation from high school. I have served in combat in both Afghanistan and Iraq with extraordinarily unselfish and brave Americans.

Thanks to everyone who strongly supports the military and our mission! Your prayers and appreciation make our job gratifying!

Semper Fi! - David Thibodeaux

Good Friday

As Easter approaches, Good Friday signifies the event that defines Christianity. Around the globe Christians are observing a remembrance of the last supper, Christ's prayer in the Garden, His crucifixion, and Jesus Christ's resurrection. On Good Friday Christians recognize the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, a death on a Roman Cross that concludes in the complete joy of Christ's Easter morning resurrection.

This is a time to recall and reflect upon the enormity of Jesus' passion and death, and to celebrate the believer's redemption from sin and victory over death.

The empty tomb, then and now, has been a constant scandal, as well as a lightning rod of controversy. Many have attempted to disprove it, for the implications of that empty tomb are massive.

Feel free to learn more about the gift Jesus Christ has given us through his death by joining the celebration at a local church this weekend. Worship Services will be held around the nation to celebrate Christ's triumph over death, and to celebrate His enormous gift to humanity.

"He is Risen, He is Risen."

This was just too funny not to post . . .

When the Race is about Race

On Thursday, Sen. Barack Obama described his grandmother's racial attitudes as those of a "typical white person."

During a morning interview with Philadephia's WIP and its host Angelo Cataldi, Obama was asked about his reference to his white grandmother in his recent speech on Reverend Wright.

Obama responded:

"The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person who, uh, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know there's a reaction that's been been bred into our experiences that don't go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way and that's just the nature of race in our society. We have to break through it."

In the meantime, Obama is trying to distance himself from Reverend Wright because of his racist remarks about whites, separatist philosophy, and because of Wright's disdain for America.

Who cares if Obama is black, or if his pastor is a racist. Dr. Jerome Corsi said on my radio show last Wednesday that if Obama wants to claim he's a Christian, despite having a Muslim father, that is fine. His faith is between him and God. But why is this suddenly about race? And why was Obama in Kenya speaking on behalf of Kenyan political opposition leader Raila Odinga who has made it loud and clear that he desires sharia to be the law of the land in Kenya?

Spring Training in Tempe, Arizona

We planned to get on the road by 6:00 AM, but I didn't pull out of bed until 5:45 AM, and after my shower, and awakening Mrs. Pistachio, while I was checking my e-mail she went back to sleep. We finally got on the road at 7:20 AM.

Where were we going?

Mrs. Pistachio had the fantastic idea of making the five hour drive to Tempe, near Phoenix, to attend Arizona/Cactus League Spring Training Baseball, and of course the tickets she procured were for my beloved Angels of Anaheim, a team I have followed since I was old enough to understand baseball in the mid-1970's.

So we drove five hours through the empty desert.

We arrived in Tempe at 12:20 PM, just in time for our 1:05 PM gametime. Unfortunately, the line to get into Diablo Stadium's parking lot was horrendous, and we missed half of the top of the first inning.

No problem.

So after purchasing a foot-long hot dog, a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich that, though very tasty, was nothing like the real thing in Philadelphia, and a couple of sodas, we located our seats in the fifth row from the field, just a little bit beyond first base.

I was disappointed that we didn't get there as early as I hoped we would, because I missed out on prime opportunities for player autographs. It's not like I don't have many sports autographs, but it is always nice when you can gain some from players that you enjoy watching season in and season out.

As I stated, I already have a number of autographs. In the late nineties I got Napoleon McCallum's Autograph (NFL Raiders-pictured left), and a few years ago Darin Estad's of baseball's Angels of Anaheim on a baseball while he was on rehab with a local Single-A club. I have a few others on baseball cards as well, like Dave LaRoche (of whom my mom went to high school with), Mike Darr (of whom my brother went to high school with), and a couple other players that I happened to come across like Prince Fielder, Todd Greene (when he was a minor leaguer), and Lendell White/USC Football.

The game was fun, the Angels won, and I got to see the new Angel Torii Hunter knock a homer, as well as one from Casey Kotchman and two home runs from Vladimir Guerrero.

After the final pitch Mrs. Pistachio sat back and watched me with baseball and pen in hand, hoping for an autograph from somebody. . . anybody. Problem is, the stars of the team departed after the sixth inning and the bench players and invites played the last three innings. However, I waited patiently, hoping to gain a memory in the form of an autograph - - - and it came from an unexpected source. Mike Scioscia, Manager of the Angels, signed my baseball. I was grinning from ear to ear, and the wife says the trip was worth it just by watching my reaction.

After the game we got together with a fellow blogger (and his wife and daughter) who lives in the area, Cary Cartter. Dinner was great, the conversation was lively, and the Cartter family got a kick out of my wife and I and our now famous conversational routine that some listeners of Political Pistachio Radio compare to "Ricky and Lucy."

We departed at 7:20 PM, and returned home at twenty minutes after midnight.

What an adventure.

How to Help William Russell Defeat John Murtha!

Many times I have stated that the Congressional races are very important, and they are not just local efforts in the districts or states, but national efforts. We all need to be involved to ensure Conservatives are elected into office - it is time for a new Contract With America.

William Russell is one such candidate that needs our help. He is running for office in the 12th district in Pennsylvania, and he is one of the Iraq War Veterans running for Congress.

William Russell is running for Congress in John Murtha's district, and has already been attacked by Murtha. John Murtha has no Democrat challengers, and William Russell is Murtha's only Republican challenger. In a low move even for Murtha, Russell's signatures were challenged in court and it resulted in Murtha's only GOP challenger being thrown off the ballot. Now, Murtha has no challengers, with the Primary in Pennsylvania coming up fast on April 22, 2008. But all hope is not lost. If a minimum of 1,000 people write William Russell in on the ballot on April 22nd, he will be back on the November ballot to challenge John Murtha. But William needs your help. Spread the word, and write the local papers in Pennsylvania demanding that they publish our letters, or at least do an article over Bill Russell's dilemma. Word needs to be spread. A Conservative going against the Number One Porker in Congress needs to be placed back on the ballot.

Be involved, stop the liberal left from destroying our country, and heading us into the direction of bondage through government dependency.

Here are links to some of those newspapers in William Russell's area.

The Herald.

Post Gazette.

The Leader-Herald.

The Tribune Democrat.

And as an added note, on Monday night, March 17, 2008 William Russell was my guest on Political Pistachio Radio. Give the show a listen, and learn why he is the man we need in Congress over Murtha. Listen Here.

After all, this nation needs a Red November in 2008! And join the Red November Initiative, spread the word, be involved!

National Heroes Tour

Many of America’s most decorated war heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan have packed their bags and are hitting the road on a national bus tour to take their non-partisan message of progress and freedom from coast-to-coast.

The Vets for Freedom National Heroes Tour is about supporting our troops, honoring their commitment, and rallying the country to complete the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

At this critical juncture in our country, we need Americans, lawmakers and the media, to fully recognize—and appreciate—the sacrifice of our brave military and the dramatic success they have achieved, especially in Iraq with the new counterinsurgency strategy.

Visit their site for information on all of their stops.

What Secular Humanism/Liberalism/Socialism has Wrought

Liberalism is socialism is communism. This is a popular belief among the inhabitants of the right side of the political spectrum. Those that reside on the left side of the political spectrum immediately argue that calling liberalism a form of socialism is arrogant of the right, and an irresponsible tactic. From a hair-splitting perspective, of course liberalism is not socialism, and socialism is not communism. There are a few differences. But, as a general overview, each of these political philosophies share a great number of similarities, and each of these political ideas require that the subject (oops, I mean citizen) place government at the top of their list of importance (hence, the need to eliminate any vestige of God, because an all-powerful body of government must be like a god to the people, and will not tolerate any allegiance to any other god).

The theory behind socialism is simple. Socialism is a system of collective ownership by all the people of the factories, mills, mines, railroads, land and all other instruments of production. Socialism means production to satisfy minimum human needs as opposed to "for sale and profit" like under the system of capitalism. Socialism places direct control and management of the industries and social services with the workers through a democratic process based on their nationwide economic organization. Under a socialistic ideal all authority originates from the workers, integrally united in Socialist Industrial Unions. In each work environment the labor elects whatever committees or representatives are needed to facilitate production. Within each smaller unit, be it a shop or office division of a plant, the people who perform the labor participate directly in formulating and implementing all plans necessary for efficient operations.

Sounds great, doesn't it? Everyone works together in harmony to ensure the products are produced in the most efficient manner possible, placing those that know the most, and can lead the best, into positions of power (oops, I mean supervision).

After all, if looked at on the surface, socialism is truly a democratic way of running things. The workers elect their shop officers, elect representatives to a local and national council of their industry or service and to a central congress representing all the industries and services, and the all-industrial congress plans and coordinates production in all areas of the economy. All persons elected to any post in the socialist government, from the lowest to the highest level, will be directly accountable to the rank and file. They will be subject to removal at any time that a majority of those who elected them decide it is necessary.

Those that support such a system, and teach such a wonderful utopia in our American Universities, state that "Such a system would make possible the fullest democracy and freedom. It would be a society based on the most primary freedom: economic freedom."

For some individuals, on paper, socialism seems like it would mean an end to economic insecurity and exploitation. Laborers would cease to be commodities bought and sold on the labor market. It would mean a chance to develop all individual capacities and potentials within a free community of free individuals.

Such a wonderful dream. Sounds like the perfect system. Now, all you have to do to implement such a system is make everyone work together in harmony, make people give up the dream of becoming wealthy, make people be willing to be controlled by a centralized democratic government, make people accept that if they don't get elected to a supervisory position they will never have the opportunity to rise up unless a supervisor either dies or is unseated (and since people tend to form alliances of power in such a system, being voted out seems unlikely), and make people place the importance of such a system above all other things including their desire to improve themselves, above any desire to become more successful (often characterized by wealth and possessions), and above their faith in anything other than the system )such as an all-powerful God). Wow, that's an aweful lot of things that they have to make people do.

Liberalism is a political philosophy that advocates greater public support, and greater regulation over the private sector. Liberals would like to enable a centralized democratic government to manage everything so that the average citizen can worry about their labor as a worker rather than petty little things like healthcare, housing, etc. In a liberal society as envisioned by the current leaders of the Democratic Party, people have evolved to the point that they understand that the wealthy must be taxed heavily so that those monies can be redistributed to the poor, hopefully eventually eliminating the classes, eventually allowing the "village" to work as a whole, and enabling the community to provide for its citizens everything they need be it housing (like government housing paid for by taxation), health care (government paid health care taken from taxation), food (like food stamps paid for by taxation), and eventually it would mean an end to economic insecurity and exploitation. Laborers would cease to be commodities bought and sold on the labor market. It would mean a chance to develop all individual capacities and potentials within a free community of free individuals. Hmmm, for some reason those last parts sound familiar.

Marxism is the philosophies and teachings of 19th century economist Karl Marx. Marx is credited with the idea of socialism and communism, and the vast majority of his writings were critiques of capitalism. However, he viewed the struggle of workers as a continuation of historical forces that would one day lead to communism. He believed that this "evolution" of humanity would occur in three stages. The first stage was capitalism, in which the workers are exploited by business owners (those capitalist pigs!). The second stage would be socialism, or a "dictatorship of the proletariat (workers)." Power to the people! Marx believed that the second stage would be brief. The third and final stage, communism, would produce a society that would become so classless and collectivist that the formal state would wither away, and society could spontaneously operate as a collective whole without government. A social and economic system would result in where all (or nearly all) property would be public, not private. That is, resources are shared by everyone. In the Marxist ideology, a true utopia would be achieved in the third and final stage of the worker's struggles. Such a Utopian society would mean an end to economic insecurity and exploitation. Laborers would cease to be commodities bought and sold on the labor market. It would mean a chance to develop all individual capacities and potentials within a free community of free individuals.

Conservatism is in stark contrast to those three philosophies that, though not exactly the same, have many similarities, and the same goal in the end. Conservatism is much simpler. Conservatives desire to preserve the tradition of liberty and freedom that has worked so well thus far (we did not become the greatest nation on earth on accident), resist the change to a centralized system that masquerades as freedom for the workers and will end in bondage for all that are not a part of the elite in government, and Conservatism is a political philosophy that calls for reduced government and greater individual freedom in the private sector.

Conservatives do not believe that government is the ultimate solution. Conservatives do not believe that the worker should be dependent upon a centralized system, and that success should be punished and taken away "for the greater good." Conservatives do not believe it takes a village. Conservatism has faith in the individual, and believes the individual should have the right to have faith in God, rather than a government that sets itself up in a manner to replace God and control the worker through lies and deceit. Conservatism does not support government or state ownership. Conservatism stands for freedom of the individual from an imposing and oppressive government system that taxes to pay for its entitlement programs, and "makes" the citizen follow mandates that curtails freedom, and stifles an individual's growth as such individual pursues the American Dream of liberty, happiness, freedom, and wealth.

Obama and Clinton are both advancing economic ideas that are essentially Marxist in their nature. They both have proposed radical new levels of taxation for Americans whom they believe possess "too much" wealth, and unprecedented new levels of governmental intervention and regulation with American enterprise so as to "fix" our nation’s problems with healthcare, energy, and the environment.

It is human nature to desire success, wealth and power. A system envisioned by the "progressives" of the liberal Democratic Party in which the classes are eliminated, and wealth is re-distributed, makes about as much sense as my daughter giving up her A's in school so that her points may be re-distributed to the kids getting F's. This does not place them all on the same playing field again. It penalizes success, and rewards failure. But the liberal left is so busy reaching for a utopia that cannot be reached, and feeling apologetic to those that have not reached prosperity, that they are willing to mandate Marxism in America.

Strife in Tibet as Chinese Forces Move In

Chinese security forces swarm Tibet - - - Soldiers on foot and in armored carriers swarmed Tibet's capital Saturday, enforcing a strict curfew a day after protesters burned shops and cars to vent their anger against Chinese rule. In another western city, police clashed with hundreds of Buddhist monks leading a sympathy demonstration. The violence erupted just two weeks before China's Summer Olympic celebrations kick off with the start of the torch relay, which passes through Tibet. China is gambling that its crackdown will not draw an international outcry over human rights violations that could lead to boycotts of the Olympics.

Can a T-Shirt Shoot a Bullet?

Did you hear about the kid being suspended because the image to the right was on his shirt? Apparently, the 14-year-old Pennsylvania schoolboy is fighting back after being sent to detention for wearing a T-shirt bearing the image of a gun in honor of his uncle fighting in Iraq. The school said they were concerned for the safety of the students. I understand the dangers of gang-bangers in school with weapons, and I understand their attempt to have a zero-tolerance, but please, this is over the top. What's next? Are they going to ban marriage? (yep, in the works!) Are they going to start teaching our kids to be gay? (ooops, they are trying that too!)

Yesterday, I took my grandson in for his immunizations, and the staff at the doctor's office gave me a questionnaire to fill out while waiting. The questions asked basic questions, and on most of them I put the words, "None of your business." The doctor, concerned by this, asked me why it was none of his business if any of the baby's immediate or not-so-immediate family members smoked or owned guns. Apparently, if I smoke the child will be dead before me, and if I own a gun, and the child comes over my house, they feel it is there duty to counsel me on the dangers of guns because as a gun owner I couldn't possibly be responsible enough to be safe with my weapons. After all, he said, the dangers of guns have become more apparent with these horrible school shootings of late.

I own twelve guns, and I have never been robbed. Many of my neighbors have been robbed, often while they were sleeping at night. My kids grew up around my guns, understand the weapons, know what they are capable of, and respect them because I taught them to respect weapons. I have never found the need to fire my weapon at an intruder, and even if an intruder did break into my property, his value for his own life would result in him fleeing, more likely, once he caught site of my loaded weapon aimed at him.

As for my opinion that we need students and teachers to be armed to stop such atrocities like the recent school shootings, did you know at that seminary massacre in Israel the terrorist gunmen were stopped by an armed student?

Gun Free Zones are dangerous for the victims because they have no way to defend themselves. All Gun Free Zones accomplish is enabling shooters more time to re-load. Law abiding citizens have the right to be armed. The criminal element, regardless of laws, will always find a way to arm themselves. Why should government take away the weapons of the citizens? Does the government, like the criminal element, like their prey unarmed as well? An armed person is a citizen. An unarmed person is a subject.

The Second Amendment is there for a reason.

Is McCain Appealing Yet? (The Liberal Alternative is Unthinkable)

William Russell for Congress

John Murtha's Opponent

Upcoming Pro-Troop Rallies in Washington D.C.

Winter Soldier II is a replay of a Vietnam War event in which a minority of soldiers speak about the atrocities of war. Eagles Winter Soldier II Testimony Challenge is a group of Patriotic Citizens Standing Up For Our Troops on March 14, 2008 demanind truth in any atrocity testimony (times, dates, places, witnesses, leadership, all under oath). The event will be at the National Labor College, 10000 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903. Be there, if you are able, to support our nation's troops, and challenge the liars that have only anti-Americanism in their speech. Winter Soldier False Testimony of 1971 betrayed Vietnam Warriors - - - it cannot happen to our current generation of warriors - - - SF-180 will be required for witness testimony validation.

Then, on March 14, 2008, Stand Up For America, Our Troops, and Our Fallen at the Eagles Patriot Muster and March. Muster at 10:00 AM South of Constitution Avenue (Washington Monument Vicinity). March begins 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Be there to lift up America, our troops, the fallen, their families, and to honor those that have gone before us. The March Route is from Constitution Avenue near the Washington Monument proceeding East, Finishing West of the U.S. Capitol. All Patriots are welcome to participate; Boots on the ground, Wheel Chairs, Carts, or however else you can. Anti-America elements like those that participate in Anti-American Rallies in Washington D.C., Berkeley California, and the like only tear down our nation. The Eagles Patriot Muster and March is designed to honor America, support our troops, and respect our fallen, Missing In Action (MIA), families, and sacred ground.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew strength; they shall mount up with the wings of eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

And for more information, listen to the archive of Political Pistachio Radio on March 11, 2008 where I interview one of the organizers, COL Harry Riley, USA, Ret of Eagles Up.

Eliot Spitzer, Governor of New York, a Prostitution Ring, and Narcissism

Hubris: excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance.

Moral Values: President George Washington, in his Farewell Address in 1796, said that popular government cannot exist without morality—and morality based upon biblical principles. In effect, he defined traditional values in these words:

Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports….And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. – Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure—reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

Moral Relativism: A position which proposes that there is no absolute truth, or justification of moral judgements. Moral Relativism rejects morality as defined by religion, and determines that morality is an individual determination.

The Holy Bible: Paul warned in the New Testament that the last days would bring a marked increase in false teaching. “In later times, some will abandon the faith, and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). The last days are described as “perilous times” because of the increasingly evil character of man and people who actively “oppose the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-9; also see 2 Thessalonians 2:3). According to Biblical Text the people in the last days will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power, (2 Timothy 3:1-2) which seems to fit our modern age exactly.

Perhaps these are the last days as predicted in Scripture, perhaps not. But whether you are a believer in the Christian Faith, or not, it is easy to recognize that the 21st-century world we live in has embraced moral relativism. Moral relativism is tainting even the church. For example, many denominations are actually having a difficult time defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, and many religious leaders today are openly supporting homosexuality. Scripture has become subordinate to the modern church’s quest for a more appealing “truth.” These are indeed “perilous times” spiritually, and the ways of "The World" are definately launching an all out attack on our morals.

Governor Spitzer is a great example of what our society has become. Recently, his role in a prostitution ring has surfaced. The scandal grew out of a public corruption inquiry triggered by his movement of cash to bank accounts operated by the prostitution ring. He was caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet a prostitute. Spitzer allegedly paid for the call girl to take a train from New York to Washington D.C., which makes the case even more perilous for him since she crossed state lines, thus making it a federal case.

He said, after all of this came to light, "I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my - or any - sense of right or wrong."

Well, apparently he isn't too sorry, because he has ignored all questions regarding whether he would resign.

His wife, during the press conference, looked as if she'd been crying all night (I don't know if that is completely true, but it sure looked that way in my observation), and his three teenage daughters must be devastated.

What has me scratching my head is that there are actually morons out there defending the Governor's actions. They say things like, "Who cares if he wants to get laid by a hooker. If he has the money, let him do it."

It is obvious that the man thought he was somehow unable to get caught, above suspicion, and above the law. It appears that when he asked himself if he should be doing such things while he was engaged in these activities, his answer to himself was along the lines of, "What do I care? I won't get caught."

But realize, this is not entirely about the sex.

It's also about the stupidity.

It's also about his arrogance.

It's also about his recklessness.

It's also about him ruining his relationship with his wife, and destroying his daughters emotionally.

And it's also about him betraying the trust of everyone who voted for him.

"Hubris" describes Spitzer perfectly. His desires were more important to him than his family, his office of Governor, and his moral values. His arrogance convinced him that he would never be caught.

But I do not only blame Governor Spitzer. I blame the onslaught of Moral Relativism in this nation as well.

My daughter is not allowed to wear her necklace outside of her shirt in school because her crucifix may offend someone, but it is entirely okay, according to the Public School System to require only positive portrayals of homosexual, bisexual, transgender and other alternative lifestyle choices, or promote homosexual behavior through a homosexual indoctrination method being called "A Day Of Silence."

Now that is what I call Offensive.

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Join the Christians Against Leftist Heresy blogroll sponsored by Faultline USA

The Indoctrination of our Children in Public Schools

As seen on Political Pistachio News:

Parents urged to boycott homosexual indoctrination - - - 'Day of Silence' in schools 'about coercing students to repudiate traditional morality.' What if homosexuals staged a huge promotion of that sexual lifestyle choice, and no one came to see it? That's exactly what a coalition of organizations is proposing for April 25, this year's "Day of Silence," which is sponsored in public schools across the nation to promote homosexuality. "It's outrageous that our neighborhood schools would allow homosexual activism to intrude into the classroom," said Buddy Smith of the American Family Association, one of a long list of organizations asking parents to keep their students home from school on that day.

Next on school agenda: Teaching communism - - - A new plan by a California lawmaker would allow schools to be used to promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, and let teachers in public district classrooms "inculcate in the mind of any pupil a preference for communism," according to a traditional values advocacy organization.

California Schools require only positive portrayals of homosexual, bisexual, transgender and other alternative lifestyle choices - - - Only months after a new state law effectively banned "mom" and "dad" from California schools, 600,000 students soon could be following them out the door because of what has been described as the "repudiation" of 2,000 years of Christian morality, according to leaders of a new campaign assembling education alternatives. The campaign is called California Exodus and is being headed by Ron Gleason, pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Yorba Linda, who said while the country excels in social, economic, scientific and political accomplishments, it "gets low grades on the education of its children."

California Court Rules Parents Must Have Teaching Credentials to Home School Kids - - - "Parents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children," Justice H. Walter Croskey wrote in a Feb. 28 opinion for the 2nd District Court of Appeal. Noncompliance could lead to criminal complaints against the parents, Croskey said. The immediate impact of the ruling was not clear. Opponents said they will appeal. An estimated 166,000 students in California are home schooled, but it was unclear how many of them are taught solely by an uncredentialed parent. To earn a five-year preliminary teaching credential in California, a person must obtain a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and complete multiple examinations. Until now, California allowed home schooling if parents filed paperwork to establish themselves as small, private schools; hired a credentialed tutor; or enrolled their child in an independent study program run by an established school while teaching the child at home.

Monday night on Political Pistachio Radio my guest is Mike Donnelly, a spokesman with Home School Legal Defense Association, the largest homeschooling organization in the United States to discuss the above topics, and more! Join us at 10:00 PM Eastern Time on Blog Talk Radio.

Middle East Imperative

by: James Cash, Brig. Gen., USAF, (Retired)

I wrote recently about the war in Iraq and the larger war against radical Islam, eliciting a number of responses. Let me try and put this conflict in proper perspective.

Understand; the current battle we are engaged in is much bigger than just Iraq. What happens in the next year will affect this country and how our kids and grand kids live throughout their lifetime, and beyond. Radical Islam has been attacking the West since the seventh century. They have been defeated in the past and decimated to the point of taking hundreds of years to recover. But they can never be totally defeated. Their birth rates are so far beyond civilized world rates, that in time they recover and attempt to dominate again.

There are eight terror-sponsoring countries that make up the grand threat to the West. Two, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan just need firm pressure from the West to make major reforms. They need to decide who they are really going to support and commit to that support.

That answer is simple. They both will support who they think will hang in there until the end, and win.

We are not sending very good signals in that direction right now, thanks to the Democrats.

The other six, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, North Korea and Libya will require regime change or a major policy shift. Now, let's look more closely.

Afghanistan and Iraq have both had regime changes, but are being fueled by outsiders from Syria and Iran . We have scared Gaddafi's pants off, and he has given up his quest for nuclear weapons, so I don't think Libya is now a threat.

North Korea (the non-Islamic threat) can be handled diplomatically by buying them off. They are starving. That leaves Syria and Iran. Syria is like a frightened puppy. Without the support of Iran they will join the stronger side. So where does that leave us? Sooner, or later, we are going to be forced to confront Iran, and it better be before they gain nuclear capability.

In 1989 I served as a Command Director inside the Cheyenne Mountain complex located in Colorado Springs, Colorado for almost three years. My job there was to observe (through classified means) every missile shot anywhere in the world and assess if it was a threat to the US or Canada. If any shot was threatening to either nation I had only minutes to advise the President, as he had only minutes to respond.

I watched Iran and Iraq shoot missiles at each other every day, and all day long, for months. They killed hundreds of thousands of their people. Know why? They were fighting for control of the Middle East and that enormous oil supply.

At that time, they were preoccupied with their internal problems and could care less about toppling the west. Oil prices were fairly stable and we could not see an immediate threat.

Well, the worst part of what we have done as a nation in Iraq is to do away with the military capability of one of those nations. Now, Iran has a clear field to dominate the Middle East, since Iraq is no longer a threat to them.

They have turned their attention to the only other threat to their dominance, they are convinced they will win, because the US is so divided, and the Democrats (who now control Congress and may control the Presidency in 2008) have openly said we are pulling out.

Do you have any idea what will happen if the entire Middle East turns their support to Iran, which they will obviously do if we pull out? It is not the price of oil we will have to worry about. Oil WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE to this country at any price. I personally would vote for any presidential candidate who did what JFK did with the space program---declare a goal to bring this country to total energy independence in a decade.

Yes, it is about oil. The economy in this country will totally die if that Middle East supply is cut off right now. It will not be a recession. It will be a depression that will make 1929 look like the "good-old-days". The bottom line here is simple. If Iran is forced to fall in line, the fighting in Iraq will end over night, and the nightmare will be over.

One way or another, Iran must be forced to join modern times and the global community. It may mean a real war---if so, now is the time, before we face a nuclear Iran with the capacity to destroy Israel and begin a new ice age.

I urge you to read the book "END GAME" by two of our best Middle East experts, true American patriots and retired military generals, Paul Vallely and Tom McInerney . They are our finest, and totally honest in their assessment of why victory in the Middle East is so important, and how it can be won. Proceeds for the book go directly to memorial fund for our fallen soldiers who served the country during the war on terror. You can find that book by going to the Internet through Stand-up America athttp://www.ospreyradio.us/, http://www.ospreyradio.us/ or http:// www.rightalk.com/,http://www.rightalk.com/.

On the other hand, we have several very angry retired generals today, who evidently have not achieved their lofty goals, and insist on ranting and raving about the war. They are wrong, and doing the country great harm by giving a certain political party reason to use them as experts to back their anti-war claims.

You may be one of those who believe nothing could ever be terrible enough to support our going to war. If that is the case I should stop here, as that level of thinking approaches mental disability in this day and age. It is right up there with alien abductions and high altitude seeding through government aircraft contrails. I helped produced those contrails for almost 30 years, and I can assure you we were not seeding the atmosphere. The human race is a war-like population, and if a country is not willing to protect itself, it deserves the consequences.

'Enough - said!'

Now, my last comments will get to the nerve. They will be on politics.

I am not a Republican. And, George Bush has made enough mistakes as President to insure my feelings about that for the rest of my life. However, the Democratic Party has moved so far left, they have made me support those farther to the right.

I am a conservative who totally supports the Constitution of this country. The only difference between the United States and the South American, third world, dictator infested and ever-changing South American governments, is our US Constitution.

This Republic (note I did not say Democracy) is the longest standing the world has ever known, but it is vulnerable. It would take so little to change it through economic upheaval. There was a time when politicians could disagree, but still work together. We are past that time, and that is the initial step toward the downfall of our form of government.

I think that many view Bush-hating as payback time. The Republicans hated the Clinton's and now the Democrats hate Bush.

So, both parties are putting their hate toward willingness to do anything for political dominance to include lying and always taking the opposite stand just for the sake of being opposed. JUST HOW GOOD IS THAT FOR OUR COUNTRY?

In my lifetime, after serving in uniform for President's Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan , and Bush I have a pretty good feel for which party supported our military, and what military life was like under each of their terms. And, let me assure you that times were best under the Republicans.

Service under Jimmy Carter was devastating for all branches of the military. And, Ronald Reagan was truly a salvation.

You can choose to listen to enriched newscasters, and foolish people like John Murtha (he is no war hero), Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Michael Moore, Jane Fonda, Harry Reid, Russ Feingold, Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, and on-and-on to include the true fools in Hollywood if you like. If you do, your conclusions will be totally wrong.

The reason that I write, appear on radio talk shows, and do everything I can to denounce those people is simple. THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR THIRST FOR POLITICAL POWER AND QUEST FOR VICTORY IN
2008 ABOVE WHAT IS BEST FOR THIS COUNTRY. I cannot abide that.

Pelosi clearly defied the Logan Act by going to Syria , which should have lead to imprisonment of three years and a heavy fine.

Jane Fonda did more to prolong the Vietnam War longer than any other human being (as acknowledged by Ho Chi Minh in his writing before he died). She truly should have been indicted for treason, along with her radical husband, Tom Hayden, and forced to pay the consequences.

This country has started to soften by not enforcing its laws, which is another indication of a Republic about to fall.

All Democrats, along with the Hollywood elite, are sending us headlong into a total defeat in the Middle East, which will finally give Iran total dominance in the region. A lack of oil in the near future will be the final straw that dooms this Republic.

However, if we refuse to let this happen and really get serious about an energy self-sufficiency program, this can be avoided. I am afraid, however, that we are going in the opposite direction.

If we elect Hillary Clinton and a Democrat controlled congress, and they carry through with allowing Iran to take control of the Middle East, continue to refuse development of nuclear energy, refuse to allow drilling for new oil, and continue to do nothing but oppose everything Bush, it will be over in terms of what we view as the good life in the USA.

Now, do I think that all who do not support the war are un-American--- of course not. They just do not understand the importance of total victory in that region.

Another failure of George Bush is his inability to explain to the American people why we are there, and why we MUST win.

By the way, it is not a war. The war was won four years ago. It is martial law that is under attack by Iranian and Syrian outside influences, and there is a difference.

So, what do I believe? What is the bottom line? I will simply say that the Democratic Party has fielded the foulest, power hungry, anti-country, self absorbed group of individuals that I have observed in my lifetime. Our educational system is partially to blame for allowing the mass of America to be taken in by this group. George Bush has done the best he can with the disabilities that he possesses.

A President must communicate with the people. And, I would tell you that Desert Storm spoiled the people. Bush Senior's 100-hour war convinced the people that technology has progressed to the point that wars could be fought with no casualties and won in very short periods of time.

I remember feeling at the time, that this was a tragedy for the US military. To win wars, you must put boots on the ground. When you put boots on the ground, soldiers are going to die. A President must make the war decision wisely, and insure that the cause is right before using his last political option.

HOWEVER, CONTROLLING IRAN AND DEMOCRATIZING THE MIDDLE EAST IS THE ONLY CHOICE IF WE ARE HELL-BENT ON DEPENDING ON THEM FOR OUR FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS.

Jimmy L. Cash, Brig. Gen., USAF, Ret. Lakeside, Montana 59922

An Ode To America

this has been circulating around the e-mail, and regardless of the authenticity (Snopes says it is, though), the message is powerful.

We rarely get a chance to see another country's editorial about the USA . Read this excerpt from a Romanian News paper. The article was written by Mr. Cornel Nistorescu and published under the title 'C'ntarea Americii, meaning 'Ode To America ') in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentulzilei 'The Daily Event' or 'News of the Day'

~An Ode to America ~

Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religious beliefs.

Still, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the Army, or the Secret Service that they are only a bunch of losers. Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts. Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape about. Instead the Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand.

After the first moments of panic, they raised their flag over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a government official or the president was passing. On every occasion, they started singing:’ God Bless America !'

I watched the live broadcast and rerun after rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people.

How on earth were they able to respond united as one human being? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put into a collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no money can buy.

What on earth can unite the Americans in such a way? Their land? Their history? Their economic Power? Money? I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases with the risk of sounding commonplace, I thought things over, I reached but only one conclusion... Only freedom can work such miracles.

by Cornel Nistorescu (This deserve s to be passed around the Internet forever.) It took a person on the outside - looking in - to see what we take for granted !

GOD BLESS AMERICA ! !

Ezra Levant's opening statement at the human rights commission

This video is disturbing. This Human Rights Commission in Canada will clearly do anything to suppress free speech and thought. Please take a moment to watch not only this video, but the rest of this series which will be linked below after this one. Absolutely disturbing.



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For those of you that missed tonight's broadcast of Political Pistachio Radio, our guest was Competitive Enterprise Institute analyst John Berlau (author of Eco-Freaks), to discuss the Man-made Global Warming issue, it's scientific inaccuracies, and how Al Gore's Global Warming agenda is anti-growth, anti-capitalist, and anti-American. Listen Here.

My Right To Free Speech

By Terry Funderburk, The Lone Protester


“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

For those of you that are not familiar with this phrase, it is the First Amendment to the US Constitution. I brushed up on it the day that I got out of jail. The day that the cops took me to jail to shut me up because I was revealing the truth about something that our politicians like to pretend isn’t happening. And I have major problems understanding that because it seems like to me that it is the politicians that have forgotten what the Constitution and Bill of Rights stand for and not me. Since I got arrested it seems to me that our leaders thought it applied to people that are not even American citizens. And it seemed to me that our leaders thought that we American citizens had forfeited our rights as guaranteed under it.

I have come to the conclusion that our local leaders will apply our laws as they want to. They will apply them to shut me up but at the same time they will use the same laws to give illegal aliens the right to march in our streets and demonstrate even though they do not have that right under our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Can someone out there explain that to me? I am having problems understanding it, because from my viewpoint our politicians are not allowed to decide who our laws apply to and to whom they don’t. Supposedly, under our system of laws nobody is supposed to get a free pass while other people go to jail for crimes such as spitting on the sidewalk or protesting. Justice is supposed to be blind and everybody is supposed to be equal under her eyes. Is it that way today?

They will use our laws to try to shut me up but at the same time they will use those same laws to give criminals a voice. They will take away my rights under those laws but they will give those same rights to criminals. Who gave our leaders that power? I was taken to jail, photographed and fingerprinted for expressing my First Amendments rights. If I was jailed for that crime, then why weren’t those 5,000 illegal aliens that marched in our streets in 2006 jailed for their crimes? Why did those same cops that so readily arrested me for expressing my rights, help block traffic for those 5,000 illegal aliens so they could express rights that they did not have under our Constitution and Bill of Rights? I am having problems understanding this, could any of you reading this help me out? Why hasn’t Jo Dell Pickens, who admitted to employing 22 illegal aliens on June 27th 2007, in the State newspaper, been arrested for her crimes like I was?

My senator, Lindsey Graham, whom I have written three different times asking for his assistance, responded only once. His response was that I am a bigot and a racist, and that I should just shut up. He said that he is for comprehensive immigration reform. Even though comprehensive immigration reform will run me out of a business that I have been in for twenty years, I should just shut my mouth because that is what is best for me and the American people. Does that make any sense to you? I thought that was what was best for the American people was decided by the American people and not criminals that broke into our country. Or the traitors in this country that support them. You know, the ones that are here to supercede the Constitution of the United Sates and the Bill of Rights.

I am writing this as a citizen of the United States and South Carolina , my leaders, my politicians, have preempted that right, as guaranteed under the Constitution of the US and our own state constitution. Who gave then that right? Who gave Lindsey Graham the right to say that I am a bigot and racist? Who gave the right to Bob Coble, the Mayor of Columbia, SC, the right to have me arrested for protesting my rights, and at the same time, to allow allow thousands of illegal aliens to protest in our streets who did not have any rights? Who gave that man the right to decide that he will enforce our laws against me protesting, but he will enforce some law that isn’t in our Constitution?

I am writing this for one reason, if I can be arrested for expressing my rights, as guaranteed under our Constitution, then each and every one of you American citizens, every one of you can be arrested for the same reason. Our leaders have perverted our Constitution for their own benefit. Our leaders have perverted our Bill of Rights for their own reasons. When our leaders and politicians pervert our laws for their own personal benefit, then we are not a nation of laws any longer, we are simply in a dictatorship. When I can be arrested for protesting being run out of business by illegal aliens and their employers, then we are not a nation of laws any longer, we are a dictatorship. When I am told to shut up, because I am a racist and bigot, by my senator, then we are a dictatorship.

And that is why I continue writing about what happened to me, a citizen of South Carolina and the United Sates. If I can be arrested and shut up, then so can each one of you, even though you are guaranteed to speak your mind under our Constitution. Even though you can be put in jail for speaking your mind, criminals that broke into our country, and their employers here, have more rights than you.

This country has been perverted, our Constitution has been turned upside down. But one fact remains as a shining example for each and every one of you American citizens. And that fact is, that this country belongs to us, each and every one of you. It does not belong to people like Lindsey Graham and Bob Coble. It does not belong to the politicians currently running for president. It does not belong to people who declared themselves criminals the moment they decided to break into out our country. It does not belong to the criminals currently employing them. It belongs to us. It belongs to people like me, arrested for protesting.

And that is why I continue writing about what happened to me. Because what happened to me can happen to every American citizen out there. Because, if every American citizen does not look out for their rights, then you will have no more rights. Are there any questions?

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton Battle as McCain Clinches and Huckabee steps down, and the connections of Obama

Today is being referred to as "Super Tuesday II," but it is hardly super when it comes to the number of states participating. The impact of today, however, more than confirms its "super" status. In fact, rather than Super Tuesday II, a better name may be "The Day of Reckoning."

John McCain, at the time of writing this piece, has been projected to be the winner in Rhode Island, Vermont, Ohio and Texas. As a result, he has clinched the Republican Nomination, and Mike Huckabee has stepped down.

In today's primaries Barack Obama sought a knockout punch against Hillary Clinton. The Clinton camp understands that Hillary desperately needs victories in Texas and Ohio particularly in order to salvage her once overwhelmingly strong candidacy for the Democrat Presidential nomination.

As I write this, Barack Hussein Obama has been projected to win Vermont, and Hillary Rodham Clinton looks to have won Rhode Island. And in the larger states, Ohio is projected to go to Hillary, and Texas remains too close to call.

Of the Democrats I have spoken to of late here in Southern California, most of them say that Hillary Clinton is too polarizing, and that they hope Barack Obama wins the nomination. Of those that did not say they are hoping for an Obama win, there was a strong feeling among them that if Obama wins the nomination, they would be willing to vote for McCain because Obama is too far to the left even for them.

Enter, stage left, Ralph Nader to further split the Democrat vote.

And through it all, John McCain continues to criticize the Democrats for their intention to withdraw the U.S. troops from Iraq, saying, "They say they want to set a date for withdrawal. I tell you, if they did that, my friends, we would be back."

As for myself, I place a lot of importance on a candidates legislative record, and connections. Though John McCain has a history of being a "maverick," I have to admit his voting record as an Arizona Senator is much more appealing than that of Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama. In fact, Barack is being christened as the most liberal Senator. Perhaps that is true. From my research I have noticed that since 2004 as the U.S. Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama more often than not simply voted "present." When he did vote, he voted against the confirmation of John Roberts for the Supreme Court, against Samuel Alito (even voting in favor of a filibuster to stall his confirmation), opposed a bill in 2006 that would have denied citizenship or other legal status to illegal immigrants, voted in 2007 against a measure that would have allowed police to question people about their immigration status under certain circumstances, voted in favor of the McCain/Kennedy amnesty plan (of which McCain angered conservatives), voted for an act last October that would have allowed illegal aliens who became legal residents through amnesty to qualify for lower in-state tuition rates at state universities, voted against a 2006 bill that would prohibit the transportation of a minor girl across state lines to get an abortion if this would circumvent parental consent, voted against a bill extending the cuts in capital gains and dividends tax rates that Congress enacted in 2003, voted against the repeal of the tax on inherited wealth (double taxation), and then contradicted his votes when in June of 2006 he voted against a bill that would have required President Bush to withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq by July 1, 2007, and then last September he joined 27 other Democrats in voting for a bill ordering Bush to begin withdrawing most American forces within 90 days. Obama now is proposing a bill called the Global Poverty Act that essentially taxes the United States for being prosperous, and would cost us 0.7% of our gross national product.

So what about his connections?

There has been a number of articles claiming that Barack Hussein Obama was born of a Muslim father, and there is even a rumor that, like Ellison, he will place his hand on a Quran to take his oath of office. Though these rumors are disconcerting, there is no solid proof (yet) that his Muslim intentions are true. So, I must settle on what has been proven to be true.

First, I must go with what I have seen with my own eyes. Recently, during the singing of the National Anthem, Barack Obama not only refused to place his hand on his heart, but if you look carefully in the video, he is facing farther to the right and looking downward, meaning he even refused to look at Old Glory.

In February of 2007 Barack Hussein Obama said the Muslim call to prayer is "one of the prettiest sounds on Earth," in an interview with the New York Times. Then Obama recited with a "first class Arabic accent" the opening lines of a Muslim prayer. Now, Obama professes to be a Christian (and technically, that shouldn't matter because though I disagree with the idea of the Separation of Church and State as the Liberal Left professes it to be, it do believe that from a Constitutional standpoint there can be no religious litmus tests for office), specifically he claims to be a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. This church, however, espouses its non-negotiable committment to Africa that is essentially a theological version of the Black Power movement, and essentially places their allegiance to Africa before the United States of America. And one of the church's heroes is Minister Louis Farrakhan of The Nation of Islam, whose slurs against Jews are well known.

Obama eventually did denounce Farrakhan, but what about his pastor who thinks Farrakhan is an American Hero?

Obama is now calling his vote to help save the life of Terrie Schiavo his "biggest mistake," has now been considered a target of the Rezko investigation, has a wife that has never been proud to be an American until now, is endorsed by American Muslims as well as Marxist revolutionary Daniel Ortega, backs a Taliban Supporter in Kenya, has cited as his friend and mentor Frank Marshall Davis who is a member of the old Moscow-controlled Communist Party USA, has ties to a former leader of the violent left-wing activist group the Weather Underground, has essentially been caught cheating with all of his plagiarism, Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farakhan calls Obama the "hope of the entire world," Obama knowingly worked with a confessed domestic terrorist as a paid director, desires to further handcuff the intelligence community in their programs to protect us from terrorism, and has suggested numerous tax hikes.

Facts are clear. Obama is not the best man for the job of Commander in Chief, nor is Hillary Clinton. As much difficulty as I have in admitting it, due to my past disagreements with many of McCain's positions and legislative bungles, John McCain is the best man for the job.

In the words of Atlas Shrugs when she was on my radio show, "John McCain, because the alternative is unthinkable."