American Dissident

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev wanted to meet with American dissidents during his visit to the United States for the UN General Assembly.

Mission Accomplished.

The Gateway to Liberty

There was a brilliant exchange between David Horowitz and Glenn Beck that had to have been the most spot-on assessment of the new Democrat party, the liberal/secular progressive agenda, and their oppression of those individuals whom they claim to represent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjOLS7YLS5c Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIZg3HAiRTY Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DQ6QSuBQsI Part 3

His advice for the millions of now awakening citizenry is to work at undoing the false premises espoused by the socialist progressives. Their social engineering plans have formed a tyrannical relationship between themselves and those who are in most need of the liberating principles found in our Constitution. Recall the poem engraved within the Statue of Liberty, "The New Colossus". The great principles upon which we thrive as a nation are designed for the same people who arrive as huddled masses yearning to breathe free. --JD

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" —Emma Lazarus, 1883

Charles Krauthammer: Obama the Mortal

I would have to say this is my favortie summation piece to date.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/03/AR2009090302859_pf.html

Obama, the Mortal

By Charles Krauthammer
Friday, September 4, 2009

What happened to President Obama? His wax wings having melted, he is the man who fell to earth. What happened to bring his popularity down further than that of any new president in polling history save Gerald Ford (post-Nixon pardon)?

The conventional wisdom is that Obama made a tactical mistake by farming out his agenda to Congress and allowing himself to be pulled left by the doctrinaire liberals of the Democratic congressional leadership. But the idea of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi pulling Obama left is quite ridiculous. Where do you think he came from, this friend of Chávista ex-terrorist William Ayers, of PLO apologist Rashid Khalidi, of racialist inciter Jeremiah Wright?

But forget the character witnesses. Just look at Obama's behavior as president, beginning with his first address to Congress. Unbidden, unforced and unpushed by the congressional leadership, Obama gave his most deeply felt vision of America, delivering the boldest social democratic manifesto ever issued by a U.S. president. In American politics, you can't get more left than that speech and still be on the playing field.

In a center-right country, that was problem enough. Obama then compounded it by vastly misreading his mandate. He assumed it was personal. This, after winning by a mere seven points in a year of true economic catastrophe, of an extraordinarily unpopular Republican incumbent, and of a politically weak and unsteady opponent. Nonetheless, Obama imagined that, as Fouad Ajami so brilliantly observed, he had won the kind of banana-republic plebiscite that grants caudillo-like authority to remake everything in one's own image.

Accordingly, Obama unveiled his plans for a grand makeover of the American system, animating that vision by enacting measure after measure that greatly enlarged state power, government spending and national debt. Not surprisingly, these measures engendered powerful popular skepticism that burst into tea-party town-hall resistance.

Obama's reaction to that resistance made things worse. Obama fancies himself tribune of the people, spokesman for the grass roots, harbinger of a new kind of politics from below that would upset the established lobbyist special-interest order of Washington. Yet faced with protests from a real grass-roots movement, his party and his supporters called it a mob -- misinformed, misled, irrational, angry, unhinged, bordering on racist. All this while the administration was cutting backroom deals with every manner of special interest -- from drug companies to auto unions to doctors -- in which favors worth billions were quietly and opaquely exchanged.

"Get out of the way" and "don't do a lot of talking," the great bipartisan scolded opponents whom he blamed for creating the "mess" from which he is merely trying to save us. If only they could see. So with boundless confidence in his own persuasiveness, Obama undertook a summer campaign to enlighten the masses by addressing substantive objections to his reforms.

Things got worse still. With answers so slippery and implausible and, well, fishy, he began jeopardizing the most fundamental asset of any new president -- trust. You can't say that the system is totally broken and in need of radical reconstruction, but nothing will change for you; that Medicare is bankrupting the country, but $500 billion in cuts will have no effect on care; that you will expand coverage while reducing deficits -- and not inspire incredulity and mistrust. When ordinary citizens understand they are being played for fools, they bristle.

After a disastrous summer -- mistaking his mandate, believing his press, centralizing power, governing left, disdaining citizens for (of all things) organizing -- Obama is in trouble.

Let's be clear: This is a fall, not a collapse. He's not been repudiated or even defeated. He will likely regroup and pass some version of health insurance reform that will restore some of his clout and popularity.

But what has occurred -- irreversibly -- is this: He's become ordinary. The spell is broken. The charismatic conjurer of 2008 has shed his magic. He's regressed to the mean, tellingly expressed in poll numbers hovering at 50 percent.

For a man who only recently bred a cult, ordinariness is a great burden, and for his acolytes, a crushing disappointment. Obama has become a politician like others. And like other flailing presidents, he will try to salvage a cherished reform -- and his own standing -- with yet another prime-time speech.

But for the first time since election night in Grant Park, he will appear in the most unfamiliar of guises -- mere mortal, a treacherous transformation to which a man of Obama's supreme self-regard may never adapt.

letters@charleskrauthammer.com

My Pledge

This is my pledge:

I plege allegiance to the flag of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands,

ONE nation,

UNDER GOD,

INDIVISIBLE,

with LIBERTY and JUSTICE for all.

PROPAGANDA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0eV44rEtBo

Keys to effective propaganda:
1. You should see an idolatrous image of the supreme leader.
2. You should be able to easily agree with most of the message and be comforted to see familiar faces of pop-icons and celebrities.
3. You may then realize that some suggestive messages are sandwiched between comedy or other feel-good ideas. (my wife pointed this out to me)

4. Then you should see that obedience to the supreme leader is the way to go as you swear allegiance to him saying "I pledge to be a SERVANT to our President."

5. Then in unison many voices should join together to repeat "Together we can, together we ARE, and together we will be the CHANGEe that 'WE' Seek!"

Lastly, You should go buy a gun, because this S@#! is for real!

"This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector." -- Plato

The Rasmussen Reaction

Politics aren’t always the most exciting aspect of people’s lives. A great portion of the general public chooses to stay aloof of the goings-on in Washington for various reasons. Many are increasingly upset at their actions. Some are frustrated at their unwillingness to see the error of their ways. Many are feeling pushed away and completely disenfranchised for the first time in their lives. However, an ever increasing majority of decent citizens have watched as their heritage in the land of liberty became endangered.

Corrupt organizations have committed voter fraud and taken away the power of a free citizen’s vote. Petitions have gone unheeded. Phone calls to Capitol Hill go unanswered. The rally cries from across the country during the tea party revolts were laughed to scorn.

So, how do people regain their voice? They awaken to an awful sense of their situation and get off the sidelines. They vote. And they vote in such numbers as to squash all the efforts of those who seek to undermine the system. There are various ways to get a sense of these changing trends in the public’s awareness and the public opinion poll is but one of many ways to gauge it. Public opinion obviously changes over time in response to current events. But, has public opinion ever moved so rapidly than in our present day?
Perhaps the very entities that served to help elect an unknown, unproven, and untested individual into office are now turning against him. The freest society on earth has access to information from all across the globe in an unbroken stream, anytime of day, and in nearly every place in our country. Try as they may, there is no hiding failure.

American public opinion is beginning to show the next great awakening. Our freedoms have been threatened. Our way of life has been condemned by our “leaders”. The progressive desire for greater government power is now transparent. So what may be on our horizon? The answer is the largest awakening the free world has ever known for the protection of the American way of life.

It took the social progressives six months in power to show America their intentions. What is the response? If elections were held today: Romney 45% Obama 45% after only 150 days in office. Go Mitt! Very soon, it will take a single day of voting for Americans to show their final opinion.

New Bumperstickers

Press coverage

This comic just about covers it.



And just a few days prior...

Blast! I require some assistance..

My blog skills are coming up short, kind of like the first gubernatorial term of Sarah Palin. Oh... cheapshot! But can anyone give me a little nudge on how to get the Romney Spring Widget into the left hand column of my blog page? Thanks --JD

Palin’s Resignation: Remain Above the Blog Smog

Sarah Palin’s resignation today from her post as Governor of Alaska has brought about a wave of speculation. Some of it seems baseless and pointless to entertain. Some I quite enjoy such as the blog post at Competent Conservatism which proposes that she intends “to pass the baton of victory” to Mitt. I enjoyed the analysis and am also curious as to the meaning behind her "passing the ball for victory" line. I hope it holds true that she sees Romney as worthy of her full support as well as the most accomplished and natural leader for the future of the party. If so, this is the kind of speculation I can get behind. But, more importantly, I believe most Romney supporters should remain positive in their assessments of her despite the intended goal of her withdrawal from office.

As dedicated conservatives, we stand united against the infuriating path that American Progressivism has taken our country. We must stand above the “blog smog” that naturally erupts in the absence of all the facts. More specifically, we should align ourselves in defense of Palin’s standing as a positive role model to young mothers, a loving wife, and as a plain spoken American with many of the ideals and values we all share. Meanwhile, we will continue showing unyielding support for Gov. Romney and others who are dedicated to stopping the unconstitutional and tyrannical growth of government. As a united voice, we can remain optimistic that the future efforts of Sarah Palin will yield a victory for conservatives whether she remains a private citizen or pursues other interests. Of course, foremost in my mind is the hope that she will support Mitt in his future endeavors.

So what lessons have we learned from the media’s desire to accelerate the feud amongst the GOP presidential contenders in 2008? It stands to reason that every step along the way they will attempt the same for 2012. Their biased approach was apparent then and will likely include the desire to present a quarreling group of presidential hopefuls juxtaposed against a “cool-headed” incumbent amidst his yes-men. Can you imagine the impact it would have if the GOP continued to focus on providing a united front against Obama, Reid, and Pelosi in 2010 and 2012?

The obsessive behavior and cult of personality that launched Obama into his current office surrounded the infatuation people had with ascribing all their hope for success to a single individual. Supporters have even inappropriately held him up to the level of deity. These disturbing trends point to unwelcome signs of idolatry in our public, a key factor in the downfall and eventual destruction of civilizations. In order to bring about a victory for our Republic in the coming years we are going to need a return of constitutional defenders to D.C. In his book Turnaround, Gov. Romney showcased how he exercised his leadership and ability to decide on complex issues by weighing incredibly exhaustive input from several sources. Much of the success we can expect from him will not come from his assumption of the Oval Office alone, but also by the expertise and qualifications of those whom he will place in his administration. It will not consist of a group of yes-men and like-minded social progressives who lavish praise upon him as Obama’s followers do currently.

We must set a better standard by not joining the fray of those seeking to defame and discredit Palin and instead include her voice to the many who seek the return of our founding principles. When the primaries conclude, we will depend on a broad base of conservatives, libertarians, patriots, and free men and women everywhere to stand against the perversion of our government and vote for the return of our status as the greatest nation on Earth. May God bless our efforts and the United States of America.
Happy 4th of July!

JD

I want a FREE and Strong America

As I imagine many of you have done, I have watched the last few months bring about unthinkable changes. Under the guise of reforms and legislation, the greatest gift granted to our nation is being sacrificed upon the altar of an unquenchable and unattainable ideology. That ideology is nothing less than the darkest desire of the human heart - to exercise complete control.

The test given to many of the “representative” politicians is being failed on a scale rather difficult to comprehend. Each new law, or unwelcomed imposition, ripples across the country while stirring up a massive wave of unintended consequences. These exponential and nearly incalculable negative effects start to reverberate with greater frequency and intensity much like the labor pains amidst the travail of childbirth. Everywhere are temptations for them to assume a greater position than the elected office afforded them as a representative of the people. We now know that the misguided intent to “help” is little more than enforcing the communistic notion of “fairness” upon the masses. Each day brings about another crisis which needs immediate “action”. So what is to be done? The false premise arises each day that “something” must be done and to do nothing is the ultimate failure of their career in elected office. If only we could be so lucky to have a congress unwilling to change America each and every day. Their blindness is staggering. But, their temporary sojourn in the world of political control will soon end.

It is the inherent desire of every human soul to swim above the suffocating swamp of coercion in order to breathe free. Now, for the first time, many are becoming appreciative of the greater amounts of freedom we once had. May our freedom never slowly drift towards the forgotten shadows of our historical past only be recalled in stories or a history book.

What other words could we use to describe such feelings that well up within us? It is the same no matter where you find it on this earth. It’s found on the distant horizons of expansive continents, the rugged and sun-beaten deserts, the distant isles of the sea, and where it is most precious to us, in our own homes. When our spirits are lifted up to a remembrance of our purpose on this earth, when we become aware of the beauty around us, when the love of our family and of the human family is realized- we are free.

Our rights are bestowed upon us by our divine Creator and not devised by the weak hand of man. Our government officials frequently need reminding about the principles upon which we, as a free society, were founded. So let us be free; free to make our own choices, free to fail, and free to succeed.

JD

Tax day Tea Party in Hawaii

Preliminary report: The Tea Party was a success with a great turnout, more to report soon. I had the opportunity to converse with the key speaker of the event and mentioned our man Mitt, of course!

JD

YAAARRRGGGHHH!!! Mitty!

As heard on Rush Limbaugh's radio show.

***For those people with iPhones or Blackberries, check out the free application : iHeartRadio and you can listen to Rush, Hannity, etc. wherever you are. (Especially useful in Hawaii with the time zone difference)

Yarg MITTY!

JD

A Simple Reminder

Pictured above are myself, my father, and my older brother.

Between the three of us we have seen plenty of time in the Middle East, from the mountainous terrains of Afghanistan to the streets of Iraq. Needless to say, we have all grown a greater appreciation for life in the U.S.A.

My father, pictured above in the center, is one of fourteen children to the man featured in the previous blog entitled “Putting a Struggle Into Perspective.” This article focuses on the military career of my father and his role in the defense of liberty and this country.

Perhaps you can tell by the photo, but that is one proud and beaming Papa. Who could he have possibly thought that after serving an entire career in the United States Army that he would one day stand shoulder to shoulder with his two sons who would likewise serve in the United States Army and eventually deploy to the same battleground. After 11 years of retirement, the opportunity arose for himself to once again to lace on a pair of military boots and join the fight overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Both my brother and I, and not to mention the rest of the family, were caught by surprise to learn that our father had once again gone on active duty. And not only that, but he was to join the fight overseas that both my brother and I had been engaged in. We had all come to the knowledge on our own of how exquisitely painful it was to live in the mountainous regions of Afghanistan as well as the other brutal climates the Army has in store for us. In addition to that, we all knew of the sacrifices required of us to support and defend our country.

Pictured behind us is our backyard fence. Immediately after the events of September 11, 2001 I had begun discussing with my family the opportunity to serve in the United States military. At that time my father had been retired from active duty for several years and was more than supportive of my decision to complete my current schooling and enlist in the Army. In the time between enlisting and finishing my school I had decided to take upon myself another project. Our backyard fence became that project. Standing at a height of 8 feet, our backyard fence would soon be painted with the American flag. And to the immediate right of that flag there was painted three vertical blue stars, symbolizing three family members serving overseas. Several years after painting this flag on the fence, I had decided to make a few touch ups to restore the damage done over time. While doing so, a vehicle pulled up beside me and came to a stop. After the window was rolled down, I found myself speaking to one of my parents neighbors whom I had never met. She shared with me that day that each time she drove home from work and passed our fence she was filled with a renewed sense of patriotism, hope, and love of our country. By the tenor in her voice I could detect her sincerity and was supremely grateful for her sharing that with me.

Sometimes we only need a simple reminder to bring us back. The unity that was felt throughout our country after the events of September 11th should never be forgotten. Amidst the frequent hymns of “God Bless America” and "The Star-Spangled Banner" we were sure of our national identity and purpose.

Let us never forget our purpose and always be prepared to stand In Defense of Liberty.

Putting a Struggle Into Perspective

In the midst of personal struggles whether political, economic, religious, or physical we are well served to maintain perspective. Despite the perceived magnitude of the burden laid upon our shoulders, there are oftentimes stories that make our problems pale in comparison. If we choose to commiserate with those who have shared similar pains and anguish, something quite remarkable happens. We may feel our burdens to be a little more tolerable and their weight a bit lighter on our shoulders.

Among military members there is a unique bond formed out of mutual misery that manifests itself in an incredible fashion. The most terrifying struggles will hastily turn strangers into brothers. And as time goes on our stories of tragedy may bring about a solemn mood. But, other stories of personal struggle can bring about quite a different response, uncontrollable laughter. I can recall several instances of nearly losing all bowel and bladder control when reminiscing about the past with fellow soldiers as well as with family members who served in the military.

One family member’s stories, however, put all of my struggles into a new perspective. His were the stories that were seldom heard but never forgotten. My Grandfather served in WWII in the Navy. He served as a gunnery-mate on board LCS 84 (Landing Craft Support vessel) in the battle of Okinawa.

A detailed account is found here: http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/05/050084.htm

Per the account, theirs was a small, cramped naval vessel armed to the teeth. The Landing Craft Support was designed to assist with amphibious assaults and this would place them immediately off an unfriendly coastline. The group of vessels would later be known as “the Mighty Midgets” of the Okinawa campaign.

After several days of storm-tossed seas and sea-sick sailors the crew arrived in Pearl Harbor. After 10 days they shipped off and traveled further west and further from home than they had ever been. They joined up with the largest modern naval fleet ever assembled to seek out and defeat the remaining Japanese forces. After a brief stop in Saipan, they were given their mission and in the invasion of Okinawa. They were to stage a diversionary amphibious assault on the opposite side of the island where the main invasion force of 150,000 men were to land.

Just before dawn on Easter morning, anti-aircraft fire lit up the sky in response to the first waves of Japanese aircraft. One suicide bomber impacted a nearby vessel setting it aflame. The skies then grew calm while the main invasion was taking place elsewhere. Shortly after, the Battleships Maryland and Texas roared with their heavy weapons and pummeled the nearby coast for several hours. Then, from overhead came friendly aircraft that would lay a blanket of smoke to obscure the movements of the LCS vessels towards the shore. When they cleared the smoke screen, the gunboats expended the entirety of their forward-facing munitions and then turned back to form a protective ring around the island. Then commenced what was referred to as “the most bloody and hectic experiences in a man’s life.”

Four days into the invasion, low flying clouds settled into the area and provided the perfect screen to the low flying Kamikaze bombers. When other members of the fleet cam under attack several ships moved to their aid only to be attacked themselves. This was the case for LCS 84.

Upon arrival alongside a badly damaged destroyer, the crew assisted in taking onboard 226 survivors to include 7 men on stretchers. All available space aboard the already cramped ship was now occupied. In the darkness amidst rough seas the crew tried to transfer to another vessel but had to give up after a nearly disastrous attempt. Two of the injured men would later die when the vessel had to cross 20 miles of ocean during the battle to offload the men on an island west of Okinawa.

When they returned they commenced patrolling for suicide boats when they came under another air attack. The smoke screen designed to obscure the anchored vessels now fell upon the gunboat as an impenetrable fog. Meanwhile, several of the suicide boats were spotted in the area which caused the LCS vessel to set their engines at full speed to maneuver away from an attack that could arise from any direction among the limited visibility. Relying on radar reports, LCS 84 came upon one of the suicide boats unawares and quickly laid a hail of fire upon the ship and sinking it before it could return fire.

A second suicide boat spotted the LCS vessel first and closed the distance between the two and initially avoided being targeted by the American 40mm guns. With a quick maneuver by the Captain, the ship listed to one side where the guns were able to fix the target, riddle the enemy with fire, and destroy the craft just 20 feet away. As the battle continued, the LCS craft went on to the rescue of several survivors of other nearby sunken ships. While in the middle of rescuing members of a nearby crew an underwater explosion violently rocked the small ship.

On Friday, May 11 shortly after morning chow the crew was brought to General Quarters to initiate one of Okinawa's outstanding sea-air battles. One particular aircraft was caught in a crossfire and attempted a suicide attack upon their ship. The mighty gunship tried feverishly to take down enemy aircraft but before long it had sharply banked down upon them and came screaming towards them in a ball of flame.
In the words of Richard De Causemaker, "This was it! Coming straight down on us from our stern he suddenly barrel-rolled about 100 yards off, and by the grace of God just missed us, plunging into the water off our bow with a deafening explosion, spraying fire and debris over the ship.”

In a first-hand account of the event, my grandfather added further details of this explosion. He recalled that during the firefight several members of the crew to include himself and several survivors laying about the deck were suddenly inundated by a wave of fuel that had caught fire. A paralyzing horror overcame them as they became engulfed in flames. A secondary explosion of the aircraft’s armament then blasted another wave of water over top of them and immediately extinguished the flames. The coarse hairs that were once on my grandfather's unshaven face were now singed off entirely.

The ferocious battle raged on for several more days with more suicide aircraft streaking through the sky, being shot down, and some striking their targets. The LCS craft often found itself fighting fires on adjacent ships and endangering the crew's lives in the attempts to rescue their fellow sailors.

Causemaker, a gunner’s mate onboard the ship concluded "For each and every man in our crew and all the others out there that day, there will always remain the nightmare of that bloody battle. The ghastly sight of picking up wounded men, burned and marred for life, picking up cold, clammy, torn bodies of the dead and having to bury them at sea is an unimaginable torture on the human mind. It is sights as these that make or break the bravest of men."

Shortly thereafter, the sea and air battles calmed down and members of the fleet were sent to the Philippines in preparation for the occupation of Japan. While there, the devastation of the atomic bomb brought about Japan's surrender and the end of the second World War. The efforts of this mighty vessel and its valiant crew did not go unnoticed. For the outstanding bravery demonstrated on May 11, 1945 the members of LCS 84 were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

*

Trials and suffering can help to mold our character and redirect our sights to the items of greatest importance, i.e. family, faith, and our freedom. Suffering is an inescapable truth of life that should be viewed as a blessing. It hardens our resolve, it teaches us what we are capable of doing in times of great struggle, and it refines and purifies our very being.

May we never forget those of generations past who have taken these struggles upon themselves that we may live free.

In Memory of my Grandfather (1924 – 2008)

To the TEA PARTIES!!

Alright all you fellow Mittheads, let's all try to attend a local "tea party" in our respective areas this 15th of April and share our positive conservative message with other patriotic Americans!

Join the Patriotic Resistance and pave the way for a brighter future of lower taxes, less government, and a return to our Constitutional principles of life, liberty, and the PURSUIT of happiness.

JD

Mitt for President in 337,705

How many campaigns would it take to equal the latest spending bill?

The press had a field day with this number: 42.3 million. That is the amount of personal savings that Gov. Romney used to launch his campaign into national prominence in ’08. He also raised over 62 million dollars from fundraising. It is hard to imagine that campaigns have become so expensive. Hillary Clinton relied on 138 million and Obama won using 140 million. It’s hard to fathom the size of these numbers. The media chose to highlight the 42 million that Romney infused into his campaign as an incomprehensible number to most Americans in an attempt to reduce his support. Obviously, that amount was no small sum. But, compared to 3,550,000,000,000 trillion dollars (Socialistus Maximus Governmentus Controlus Spend-a-thonus) how can we put in into perspective?
42.3 million vs. 3.55 trillion

That would equal:
83,924 more Mitt Romney Campaigns.

And since campaigns are only ever 4 years… He would have to keep going until…

Mitt for President 337,705 A.D. !!

Bending like a reed

Between breaking the rules outright and living strictly by the letter of law, I’m choosing to bend as a reed. With the ever-increasing expansion of government and it’s imposition upon our lives, the analogy of a reed that bends or a rigid stick that breaks seems very applicable to my life as both a concerned citizen and a soldier. Concerning the latter, I have sworn an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. When opposition arises against the founding principles of our government, I feel that is incumbent upon the men who have chosen to defend our country to do likewise in regards to their freedom granted by way of our Constitution. To stand against the onslaught of radical ideologies that view the work of our founding fathers and their concepts of God-given rights as fundamentally flawed violates no part of the aforementioned oath.

Although service members are directed against openly speaking out against individuals in elected office, we may continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with other freedom loving citizens and oppose those doctrines which seek to silence alternate viewpoints, cripple our prosperity, and limit our freedom. We still have a voice. And as George Washington once stated: “When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen.”

The now silent voices need a constitutional defender like Mitt in the White House.

JD

Free to Fight, Not to Write

Ouch. I feel like I've been kicked right in my [blogspot]!

As I began work on introducing a military theme to my obviously political and pro-conservative website I had the lingering memory of someone once telling me about being an active duty military member and our ability to express our political views.

On May 26, 2008 Thom Shanker of the New York Times wrote:
"The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has written an unusual open letter to all those in uniform, warning them to stay out of politics..." Something tells me this NYT reporter may have been grinning ear to ear as he wrote this article.

The JCS Admiral Mullen wrote:
“As the nation prepares to elect a new president, we would all do well to remember the promises we made: to obey civilian authority, to support and defend the Constitution and to do our duty at all times.”“Keeping our politics private is a good first step,” he added. “The only things we should be wearing on our sleeves are our military insignia.”

“I am not suggesting that military professionals abandon all personal opinions about modern social or political issues,” Admiral Mullen wrote. “What I am suggesting — indeed, what the nation expects — is that military personnel will, in the execution of the mission assigned to them, put aside their partisan leanings. Political opinions have no place in cockpit or camp or conference room.”

Other than a few sentences, much of this statement holds up well with our charge as service members. As members of the United States military we are obliged to obey our leaders both elected officials and our superior officers. We have been known to place mission first as we sacrifice our comfort, our time with family, and even our lives. But to be told that our political opinions must remain silent or confined solely to our homes strikes a far different note.

The military is in no way isolated from the outside world or from other citizens who routinely express their opinion. Yes, we accept any lawfully given order by those in our command regardless of our philosophical or moral objections. But, does that mean we are not to offer a differing opinion or perhaps another course of action? Isn’t that akin to saying a company commander can’t break from a policy of driving the speed limit on an Iraqi road when he detects an increased threat? Are we expressly forbidden from defending what we see as our American way of life? What law are we violating when we stand up to those who accuse of us being war criminals or baby-killers? And what recourse do we have when our own elected officials are making those statements?

Apparently I am not allowed to show disapproval for Rep. Jack Murtha’s statements when he accused the Marines at Haditha of "cold-blooded murder and war crimes''. He has protections allowing him to participate in defamation of character by way of the Speech or Debate clause. I have no such protection.
I can not address my opposition to Sen. Harry Reid’s claims that the war was lost while his words emboldened and encouraged our adversaries in a time of war. I am only authorized to sit and smile.

And apparently I stand on the precipice of a court martial (not kidding) if I defend our military by opposing the comments of then Senator Obama about Afghanistan. I must not voice my disagreement with the idea that the job we were doing was so inferior and strategically flawed that we were “just air-raiding villages and killing civilians, which is causing enormous problems there.”

But in the Joint Chief’s defense, he was more than likely attempting to address the issue of a growing undercurrent in military opinion concerning the anti-Iraq war sentiment that continuously assaulted their senses from an agenda-driven media. But, if his intent was to enforce a strict “no-politics” policy, then I have no other recourse than to shut my mouth and drive on in my military career to never again stand up for what I believe in public discourse.

Perhaps now is the time to me to cling to my guns, my religion, and my antipathy towards others in the privacy of my own home.

Regardless, I still need to speak in defense of my country, please see my next posting, "Bending Like a Reed."

*Ehem*

…But, despite any possible future censorship, my wife pointed out that it doesn’t stop her from voicing her opinion or from posting some ideas I share with her…

God Bless America and my patriotic wife!

JD

December 6, 2007

First of all, thanks to Jenn at http://www.nyformitt.blogspot.com/ for all of her hard work in maintaining such an up to date collection of all things Romney over the last few years and for her gracious welcoming as "a new teammate to the fabulous ring of pro-Romney bloggers..."

I'm happy to add my voice to the many others who have worked so hard to support the cause for electing the most experienced and well prepared conservative republican into our nation's highest office.

The photos seen above were taken on December 6, 2007. The overwhelming outpouring of support and gratitude was especially poignant on this particular day. Those of us in attendance to this fundraising conference had just witnessed Governor Romney give a most inspiring and insightful speech on our nation’s foundation, it’s greatest principles and it’s protection of religious liberty. The "Faith in America" speech rang as a familiar tune in American ears throughout the country. It was likened unto great speeches by former Presidents and founding fathers by leading conservative commentators, various news reporters, and the crowd that Governor Romney was soon to encounter.

The explosion of applause was deafening. Everyone there dressed in their sharpest attire erupted into the most raucous cheers amidst a most authentic and heartfelt appreciation. Our very own conservative GOP rock-star had arrived and we had greeted him as such.

As he began to speak to the crowd (a task in itself given that we were rather reluctant to take our seats or stop clapping) we were treated with yet another rousing speech. We listened with an increased admiration for his personal struggle to preserve our nation’s most sacred principle of religious liberty. While addressing matters of national security and the defense of our country he glanced over to the table where my wife and I sat and said “…and I see we have a man in uniform with us here today. Please stand and be recognized. Thank you for your service to our country.” I so greatly appreciate to this day the unrestrained patriotism and support that poured out from the crowd at that very moment.

But as was expected from our man Mitt, he chose to go the extra mile. Through a swarming crowd of enthusiastic well-wishers he and his staff gathered us together to take pictures with myself and my wife.

After which she did not hesitate to tell me how handsome he was up close and in person. And I believe she made mention of it the day after, and the next day, and the next day, and the next…

JD
Mitt Romney for President

Holding onto Hope

For two days and two nights Nick Schuyler clung onto the engine of an overturned boat in the Gulf of Mexico. He had witnessed two friends and fellow football players drift away into the open ocean to never be seen again. He had also struggled to pull William Bleakly onto the boat with him as the relentless ocean waves crashed upon them. Bleakly, who had been Schuyler's best friend since sixth grade had given Schuyler one of three life vests that he had rescued from underneath the capsized boat, the other two he gave to the two others. The only item he clung to was a cushion. In the midst of Nick lapsing in and out of consciousness, Will too eventually succumbed to the water and disappeared.

Drifting alone on a savage ocean 35 miles away from the shore, Nick's thoughts turned to his Mother as he defiantly exclaimed, "I will not let you go to my funeral!" He clung not only onto that ship's engine in that moment but he also held strongly onto hope.

One of the underlying reasons why many conservatives don't hang their heads and bemoan the fate of the recent election is that we too are holding strongly onto our hope for a brighter future. That hope has always been a part of who we are as a nation, as a people, and as brothers and sisters fighting for a common cause. Our core beliefs are not a simplified mantra of hope and change born of the desire for great upheaval and revolution. Ours is the bedrock of our very being.

Much like the man clinging onto his boat's engine, we too may be encompassed by tragedy and turmoil but we do not despair. Our will for survival only grows stronger.

History bears witness to the failures of government when they reach for greater control. When the empowered elite suppose they know best how to govern the very lives of their citizens they so often see the work of their hands fall apart in short order. Men and women will always yearn to be free and to cast off anything and anyone standing in their way. With our current situation in this country our will is growing stronger; stronger to cast aside those who impose their will upon us, stronger to meet the challenges of the day of our own accord and stronger to hold tightly onto the hope we have for ourselves, our children, and our nation.

In this country there are many excited voices to uplift and encourage you to see that our best days are ahead of us. It is because we have the hope of economic prosperity, the re-strengthening of our families and military, and a return to the principles that guided our country in the days of Ronald Reagan. Ours is a bright future.

JD
Mitt Romney for President

Our Foundation

The current nature of our government which has embraced the mantra of "change" is nothing less than an adherence to a self-serving ideology espoused by those who are antagonist to our nation's founding principles.

Our nation was built upon a strong foundation. The inspired men who risked their lives in opposition to the governing philosophies of fear, control, and dependence were given the greatest opportunity afforded to man in our recent history. They set forth to establish a land where liberty would reign. And this land of freedom would be open to all who would abide by its precepts. The guiding principles were firmly rooted in the understanding that our independence was reliant upon our continued desire for righteousness, our pursuit of a higher purpose beyond ourselves, and the willingness to defend our God-given freedom with our words and with our very own blood.

As a nation we have been charged with maintaining our own prosperity, the fate of which has always been of our own choosing. If we are to sacrifice our liberty on the altar of "change" then we will have abandoned the foundation of our land and our house will be as that which was built upon sand.

As a new era of government control begins to spread as a blinding veil over the eyes of an unwary nation, the vision of our founders seems all the more prescient. Now, we who have cried out in choruses for our fleeting independence seek to be heard as our fore-fathers once were.

To whom should the sacred trust be given to guide a nation in such a time of trial? Has a wave of buyer's remorse washed over many of whom have placed their faith and hope in the promises made by a man of "change"? Do more men now look to those leaders who evoke the spirit of our very foundation? One such man was trampled under foot during the defense of his faith, a glaring rebuke of our predecessors long fought battle against such tyranny.

As desperate hordes eagerly clamored to crown a new king, many new witnesses to our nation's ongoing struggle were born. We have seen the change in recent days that herald the arrival of economic and social decay and increased government control, and the need for strong new leadership may never have seemed so clear.

And it is my hope that the greater majority of Americans will one day cast off the false assertions of "change" and choose a leader who aspires only to return us to our great foundation given to us by way of our founding fathers through the divine guidance of our Creator.

JD

Mitt Romney for President