July 04, 2008
"God Has Given America To Be Free"
“Almost two centuries ago a group of disturbed men met in the small Pennsylvania State House [as] they gathered to decide on a course of action. Behind the locked and guarded doors they debated for hours whether or not to sign the Declaration which had been presented for their consideration. For hours the talk was treason and its price the headsman's axe, the gallows and noose. The talk went on and decision was not forthcoming. Then, Jefferson writes, a voice was heard coming from the balcony:
They may stretch our necks on all the gibbets in the land. They may turn every tree into a gallows, every home into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die. They may pour our blood on a thousand scaffolds and yet from every drop that dyes the axe a new champion of freedom will spring into birth. The words of this declaration will live long after our bones are dust. ** To the mechanic in his workshop they will speak hope; to the slave in the mines, freedom; but to the coward rulers, these words will speak in tones of warning they cannot help but hear. Sign that parchment. Sign if the next moment the noose is around your neck. Sign if the next minute this hall rings with the clash of falling axes! Sign by all your hopes in life or death, not only for yourselves but for all ages, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom, the bible of the rights of man forever. ** Were my soul trembling on the verge of eternity, my hand freezing in death, I would still implore you to remember this truth God has given America to be free.
As he finished, the speaker sank back in his seat exhausted. Inspired by his eloquence the delegates rushed forward to sign the Declaration of Independence. When they turned to thank the speaker for his timely words he couldn't be found and to this day no one knows who he was or how he entered or left the guarded room. ** Here was the first challenge to the people of this new land, the charging of this nation with a responsibility to all mankind. And down through the years with but few lapses the people of America have fulfilled their destiny.” - “Your America To Be Free” - Ronald Reagan 1957
Read his full commencement address to the Eureka College graduating class of 1957 at The Patriot Post
Posted by Post Scripts at 12:16 AM | Comments (0)
July 03, 2008
Scenes From JFORHQ - Operation Lightning Strike 2008
by Jack
These are just a few pics from Operation Lightning Strike at the combined headquarters for California's air and army components of the National Guard. Obviously I can't show you the sensitive areas of this military facility, but I can show you a few things. For starters, this is our chow area and what you are actually seeing about 1/3 of it. The food has been great and that is a big plus when you are working 12 -14 hours per shift around the clock. We even have a midnight dinner!
This is a rare scene where nobody is in the hallway. It's taken at 3 a.m. when staffing is light. The hall is located on the 2nd floor and it's about 3 foot ball fields long and makes a right turn and goes another 300 feet. As you can imagine the halls are jammed during the day and for most of the swing shift.
We had several of the temporary Sat communications units going to handle all the new radio traffic.
This area is what we jokingly call our internet cafe. It's more like a big closet. Like most of the rooms here, there are no windows, it's a security thing. We have 4 laptops available for personnel to check in with home since we now have a number of air crew here from all over the US. Shown here is my friend Chaplain Fowler from SoCal.
The lobby at JFOR just received this memorial for soldiers lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was 100% paid for by the Warrant Officers Association and donations from the public.
Wish I could explain more about what is happening down here, but my time is very limited. I'm headed back on duty at 6 a.m. till ? So, I'll see you all again when time permits!
Posted by Post Scripts at 12:33 PM | Comments (0)
John Adams July 3, 1776
Posted by Tina
“It ought to be commemorated,” said the man who would become our second president, “as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Day’s Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.” – John Adams, July 3, 1776
Please visit The Patriot Post
Posted by Post Scripts at 06:57 AM | Comments (0)
July 02, 2008
Supreme Error
Posted by Tina
One of the Supreme Court rulings handed down last month apparently contains an error. The case in question is the death penalty child rape case:
“Supreme Court’s Embarrassing Error” – Clarice Feldman, American Thinker
A blogger, Caaflog, caught Justice Kennedy having made the biggest error in modern Supreme Court history that I can recall. In the death penalty child rape case, when he said that the death penalty for this crime was "against evolving standards" he overlooked, what a blogger found, that in 2006 Congress itself had made rape of a child a crime subject to the death penalty under the military code. ** No clerk or justice caught this error which is significant and completely undermines the justification for Kennedy's swing vote in this case.Indeed, the entire case it seems to me is of dubious precedential value having been based on a clear factual error of great significance. ** How can something be against "evolving standards" when Congress elected by the people of the land just endorsed it?
Good question. The link takes you to an updated version of the post that includes the rule that applies for consideration of a rehearing.
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)
July 01, 2008
A Few Uncomfortable Facts
By Tina Grazier
The unofficial “Mom” to this blog, Miss Libby, has spoken…and that’s that!
We had better get used to walking or riding bikes, she says, because oil is finished. Forget about using your oven, your lawn mower, your water heater, your electric tools, your air conditioner, your power boat, your motor scooter or even your golf cart…oh, and you better get used to goin’ to bed at sundown ‘cause TV will certainly be out of the question and reading requires lights. Of course you can always read by candlelight but for those of us who are visually challenged that wouldn’t do for long. Also, we had better invest in warmer bedding...and clothing for winter...but only cotton or wool! We also might need to invest in a few of those sweet little Miss Scarlet “fans” for cooling ourselves in summer...hand squeezed lemon-aid anyone? Sorry if it’s a bit warm.
Libby's in good company though…she has Al Gore, various and sundry movie stars, and a few “scientists” on her side as well as…Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid:
Continue reading "A Few Uncomfortable Facts"
Posted by Post Scripts at 11:36 PM | Comments (1)
Jack Sends Special Greetings to PS Friends
You may have guessed by now that Jack has been called into service in the effort to put out the fires in Northern California. He’s working some long hard hours as a fire crew coordinator down in the Sacramento area with the army. Our best wishes and prayers go out to Jack and all of the fine folks who are working so hard to get the job done.
Not sure when this thing will wrap up, but it looks like I won't be done for the 4th.
Just want to let you know all is well. I am pulling lots of hours, but the food is good! lol My crew has been processing in personnel and doing shuttle runs to the airbase and back to our CP. I work 12-15 hour days in a cubical with no windows so after a few days of this kind of stuff you forget if it is light or dark outside! I just found out the army installed an internet cafe down the hall from us, so I took a break to say howdy.
I'm hoping anyone reading this was spared any fire damage. We're doing the very best we can to help people, and that is a fact. We're practically living out of this place while we send fire crews out to contain priority fires. Of course when I say fire crews I mean our air and army guard units that have been trained by Cal Fire. These are mostly volunteers, very few had to actually wait to be activated, they wanted to be here to help.
Take care everyone...and have a happy 4th!
Posted by Post Scripts at 08:39 PM | Comments (0)
Precarious Truth
Posted by Post Scripts at 01:18 PM | Comments (1)
June 30, 2008
Defining Collectivism
Posted by Tina
As we head into the election season it would be smart to keep in mind the motivations behind the ideas and utterings of our progressive friends. I decided it might be of interest to consider the definition of a word. This is a word that is at the heart of progressive thought. It lays the foundation for progressive policy. Get to know this word so that when you hear the lovely promises of hope and change you will not be fooled by the pretty sounding words. The real objective is:
collectivism:
1 a : a politico-economic system characterized by collective control especially over production and distribution of goods and services in contrast to free enterprise *forces that have led to individualism have in the last fifty years been successfully opposed by the forces of collectivism— M.R.Cohen* b : extreme control of the economic, political, and social life of its subjects by an authoritarian state (as under communism or fascism) c : a doctrine or system that makes the group or the state actively responsible for the social and economic welfare of its members
2 : a social theory or doctrine that emphasizes the importance of the collective (as the society or state) in contrast to the individual and that tends to analyze society in terms of collective behavior
Pay attention as you hear the candidates speak of their plans for America...vote wisely in November.
Posted by Post Scripts at 11:06 PM | Comments (3)
NEWSFLASH
Posted by Tina
Chicago - Wheat plunged the most in 10 weeks after a government report showed U.S. growers seeded more acres with spring crops to take advantage of prices that rallied to a record this year. - AP
MORE WHEAT = LOWER PRICES
Gee, do you suppose it might work for oil?
Hmmmm…Meanwhile:
House Democrats will use a President Bush impersonator in a new radio advertising campaign that seeks to link 13 incumbent Republicans to rising gas prices as the country heads into the Fourth of July holiday. CNS News
Their claim is as phony as their ad's messenger.
Posted by Post Scripts at 04:31 PM | Comments (0)
Protesters – “Don’t Fence Me In!!”
Posted by Tina
by Tina Grazier
The Democrat Convention will be held in Denver this year. It’s entirely possible it will either become a spinning carnival act…or a riot zone. The feudin’ and fightin’ has apparently already begun:
“DNCprotests will be behind fence,” by Felisa Cardona – The Denver Post
The fence around the public demonstration zone outside the Democratic National Convention will be chicken wire or chain link, authorities revealed in U.S. District Court today. *** But the American Civil Liberties Union and several advocacy groups have filed an amended complaint to their lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service and the city and county of Denver that says protestors and demonstrators may have their First Amendment rights violated by security restrictions. *** The ACLU has said it wants to avoid the conditions that existed during the 2004 convention in Boston, where protesters were caged, infuriating First Amendment advocates.
Democrats once again demonstrate their own incredibly hypocritical attitudes. Protest is good…“it’s free speech man”…apparently not! Not when Dem elites are the target.
Posted by Post Scripts at 04:24 PM | Comments (0)
Thank Them, Our Firefighting Heroes
Thanks is never enough but they might appreciate hearing it anyway.
Sang Kim with Butte County says Las Plumas High School and The Neighborhood Church in Chico will be closed as shelters. He says the two sites will remain on standby in the event that an immediate threat evacuation advisory is issued. *** Fire officials are asking that as July 4th approaches citizens exercise extra caution to prevent new fires. Citizens should be aware of any legal fire restrictions and regulations in their area. *** As a result of poor visibility due to smoke and the increased volume of emergency vehicles on the roadways citizens are asked to use diligence and caution when traveling throughout the affected areas. *** Officials would like to thank the residents for their continued cooperation and preparedness during this natural disaster. Residents should remain aware of the situation.
Fire Update courtesy of KPAY
Posted by Post Scripts at 02:23 PM | Comments (0)
Flame-Out!!
Breaking News...this just in from Nick Freitas: The ultra-new conflict resolution method known as "Flame Out" has been suggested to ensure a peaceful end to the current crisis in California
Several liberal activist groups have opposed "fighting" the fires. Apparently fighting is not the answer and will only perpetuate more "fire fighting". *** The groups have called for more dialog with the fires in order to arrive at a peaceful solution.
“Emergency Fire Conflict Resolutionists” are being jet-setted in by Al Gore who has generously agreed to shoulder the burden of carbon credit costs with Guvna Awnuld.
Special note to Nick, I've heard this program always brings firefighters home...is that true?
Posted by Post Scripts at 02:10 PM | Comments (4)
Governor Vetoes Pay Hikes!
Posted by Tina
Keep your eye on Bobby Jindal! He’s the very successful Republican governor of Louisiana who has gained the attention of his party in recent months by governing with courage, integrity and a steady conservative hand:
BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal announced today that he has vetoed the legislative pay raise. *** Lawmakers in the most recent session voted to raise their annual base salary from $16,800 to $37,500. The raise was to go into effect Tuesday. - Times-Picayune
Posted by Post Scripts at 10:49 AM | Comments (6)
June 29, 2008
Gun Rights Decision
Posted by Tina
As promised the following are excerpts from the opinion by Justice Scalia on the right to keep and bear arms:
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ET AL., PETITIONERS v. DICK ANTHONY HELLER
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
JUSTICE SCALIA delivered the opinion of the Court.
We consider whether a District of Columbia prohibition on the possession of usable handguns in the home violates the Second Amendment to the Constitution.
The Second Amendment provides: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be
infringed.”
Continue reading "Gun Rights Decision"
Posted by Post Scripts at 12:01 AM | Comments (2)
June 28, 2008
Millionaires Amendment Struck Down
Posted by Tina
“Justices for Free Speech” Wall Street Journal
In Davis v. FEC, a 5-4 majority overturned a portion of the 2002 McCain-Feingold law that exempted the political opponents of rich candidates from the usual fund-raising limits in order to "level the playing field. ** Millionaires had to report expenditures within 24 hours, while their opponents were allowed greater coordination with political parties and could raise three times the usual $2,300 limit on individual contributions. ** Reformers justify the special rules for millionaires by crying fairness – an argument that Justice Samuel Alito dispatched in his majority opinion. ** "The argument that a candidate's speech may be restricted in order to 'level electoral opportunities' has ominous implications," he wrote, and is "antithetical to the First Amendment." ** If Congress can massage the rules to level the playing field for candidates of differing personal means, what's to stop Congress from doing it for other reasons and in other ways? Some candidates are celebrities, others have famous political names, and still others may be adored by the local newspaper. Should Congress level the field for their opponents too? No prior Court opinions, Justice Alito added, support the notion that reducing the "natural advantage" of rich candidates is a legitimate government objective.
Posted by Post Scripts at 09:24 PM | Comments (2)
Winning Political Strategy, Just Ask “The People”
Posted by Tina
Wow!!!
Polls usually don’t impress me all that much. Although the thought that they are sometimes (often!) used to drive the news can be troubling. The results of this poll, however, knocked my socks off…because...the numbers are staggering:
As the GOP in Congress appears about to be taking an "every man for himself" strategy for the fall elections, Gallup has just given the Republicans another gift (Americans Oppose Income Redistribution to Fix Economy). (Snip) The numbers in this poll are staggering. Overall, Americans are against the core principle behind Barack Obama's domestic economic policy -- income redistribution -- by an astounding 84% to 13%. Republicans oppose it 90%-9%, Independents oppose it 85% to 13%, and even Democrats oppose it 77% to 19%. ** To give you an idea of how important even Gallup thinks this poll is, the explanatory narrative that goes along with the results were written by Dennis Jacobe, Gallup's Chief Economist: PRINCETON, NJ -- When given a choice about how government should address the numerous economic difficulties facing today's consumer, Americans overwhelmingly -- by 84% to 13% -- prefer that the government focus on improving overall economic conditions and the jobs situation in the United States as opposed to taking steps to distribute wealth more evenly among Americans.
Note: Gallup has been the favorite pollster of the Dem Party for decades according to Mr. Casey.
Posted by Post Scripts at 04:28 PM | Comments (4)
Debunking Leftist Security Lies
Posted by Tina
I hope you’ll take a gander at the following story in the New York Post. I’ve posted one of the lies and rebuttals just ‘cause it’s so darned good!
“Liars Round-up on Security, Facts Matter,” by Ralph Peters
Whopper No. 6: As president, Barack Obama would bring positive change to our foreign policy - and John McCain's too old to get it. ** Hmm: Take a gander at Obama's senior foreign-policy advisers: Madeleine Albright (71), Warren Christopher (82), Anthony Lake (69), Lee Hamilton (77), Richard Clarke (57) . . .If you added up their ages and fed the number into a time-machine, you'd land in Europe in the middle of the Black Death. ** More important: These are the people whose watch saw the first attack on the World Trade Center, Mogadishu, Rwanda, the Srebrenica massacre, a pass for the Russians on Chechnya, the Khobar Towers bombing, the attacks on our embassies in Africa, the near-sinking of the USS Cole - oh, and the US bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. ** Their legacy climaxed on 9/11. You couldn't assemble a team in Washington with more strategic failures to its credit.
Posted by Post Scripts at 04:19 PM | Comments (3)
Hello From Fire Central
by Jack Lee
Today was the lull between the storms for me. There was the rush to get mobilized and prepare to fight the existing fires and then there is the anticipated fires due soon if we have more lightning strikes. Because of this brief down time my C/O just advised me I have about 20 hours leave…. effective immediately! After a quick debriefing I made a bee-line back to my home in Chico and right into more smoke!
I've been in Sacramento working on “Operation Lightning Strike”, which represents the sum of the California forest fires and it’s been, well, …intense. My duty station is in the National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters and although I’ve only been on active duty for 4+ days it sure seems longer since I’ve been working 12 on and 12 off which really is more like 15-16 hours “on”... by the time you ad in all the briefings and prep time.
Continue reading "Hello From Fire Central"
Posted by Post Scripts at 04:19 PM | Comments (2)
June 27, 2008
Phil Gramm on CEO Remuneration
Posted by Tina
"When you help a company raise capital, to put its idea to work, and you create jobs, those jobs are the best housing program, education program, nutrition program, health program ever created.
Phil Gramm was my number one choice for president way back when he was running against Bob Dole in the Republican primary race. He dropped out shortly after tsomeone (left media) made a bigoted remark about his wife. I don’t know if that had anything to do with his decision to leave the rae but I wouldn’t blame him if it did…who needs that? He’s been away from politics for awhile but now he’s got his toe back in the water as an economic advisor to John McCain. I’ve missed him on the political scene; he has an amusing way of explaining serious economic matters.
CEO pay is one of those things few of us understand and too many of us have a hissy over on a regular basis. Mr. Gramm gives justification a shot in the following excerpt from an article in The Wall Street Journal. Go ahead…slap a smile on your face and prepare to expand your mind:
Continue reading "Phil Gramm on CEO Remuneration"
Posted by Post Scripts at 09:49 PM | Comments (24)