We’re Still Number One

This is a Patriots Journey post.

This post will be brief because I was out of town most of the day.

The United States of America is still the bastion of freedom for the world. Nothing has happened in the last 100 years to change that. Examining the world map mounted on my office wall shows that there are no other countries in the world that come even close to our level of freedom. The only freedom available to Europeans is the right to die at the hands of Muslim’s who have taken offense at some triviality. Europeans are unable to defend themselves or demand protection from their governments because they long ago returned themselves to the status of serf to ensure social medicine and pensions. South America along with Mexico is run by drug cartels, and the only country to try to remove itself from the grasp of drug money, Columbia, seems to have offended the DNC somehow and will not be allowed further aid from us unless they allow Hugo Chavez to take over the country. Africa is just a mess. There is no country there that is safe for democracy. Asia appears to be stuck in the collectivism of the last century with no end in site. America at this point is the free world. Despite the gradual decline in our rights, we still have more freedoms than most people have ever dreamed of.

 

Lucky Me

Posting will be non-existent until late this evening. The in-laws are taking us to Cabela’s.

Common Ground

This is a Patriots Journey post.

I enjoy good live music. The wife and I don’t get to as many concerts and festivals as we used to, but we still make a few. One of the things that has always amazed me is how folks of all backgrounds and beliefs can get together and enjoy good music. It isn’t always as obvious at small bars or single band concerts, but attend a big outdoor concert and you will see what I mean. It always makes me proud to see people who would normally not even speak to each other, able to come together as Americans. This is one of the few things that gives me hope for the future of our country, the fact that we can still find some common ground. At a concert we have something that we can discuss as Americans without the divisiveness of politics or religion. Once the show is over we go our separate ways, but for that brief period we are just people enjoying music. 

Artist Of The Week

I almost forgot, well the week is almost gone, so I guess I did forget. Being off on Monday kind of throws me off schedule, but I would rather be off schedule than work on Mondays.

Jason Boland and the Stragglers 

These guys have an old country sound combined with a little rock and roll. They are a really good band despite being from Oklahoma. (just kidding)

Sucking It Up

I have been debating about posting that I will be supporting Ron Paul in November due to McCain’s left leaning voting, especially including campaign finance reform and his new found love of going green.  I have been conflicted about this for three reasons. The first is that I really wanted to be voting for Fred Thompson, but he just took my money and left me feeling violated. The second is that I am not that crazy about Dr No either, but he at least seems fiscally responsible and not open to becoming a puppet for the Goreacle. Finally, I don’t want to vote for someone that doesn’t make me sick only to find that I have helped elect someone who will let the entire world use us like a prison bitch. I found a great post over at Rachel Lucas that pretty much clinched a vote for McCain from me and mine. She sums it up when she says that we just have to suck it up and vote McCain to keep some one far worse from the oval orifice. Yes, it sucks, but that is pretty much what we have been doing for the last 16 years anyway. There is no point in getting pissy now and risking the country really getting reamed. As bad as McCain is, we could do a lot worse. B. Hussein Obama is the HK of politicians, we suck and he hates us. So as much as I don’t want to, I will be following MadOgre’s lead and voting for McCain, even though I don’t like it one damn bit.

Man, I Suck

Finally made it to the range yesterday evening. In addition to the sights being off a little to the left on my primary carry gun, I need more practice. I shot at about 20 yards and decently enough to qualify for most le agencies, but did not have any good groups. Apparently Thursday has just become range day.

That is going to make Thursday evenings just really awful. I go feed the dogs at the local animal shelter and then launch lead downrange. I might have to throw in a cold beer and John Wayne movie after that just to make it the perfect evening. Makes me feel better just thinking about it.  

Friday Experiment

Don’t forget to check out View From the Porch, Better and Better, Lawdog, Ambulance Driver, Munchkin Wrangler, and the Atomic Nerds.

They are trying their Friday blog experiment. It should be a good read as usual.

The Zombie Apocolypse Begins

The Japanese are about to make beer out of some barley whose seeds spent time in the Russian lab of the international space station. What better way for the Ruskies to get even for the Russo-Japanese war than to use beer to turn them into zombies? Time to load up on ammo and mre’s.

Family

This begins my Patriots Journey.

I was always proud of the fact that both of my grandfathers, two of my uncles, and my own father served in the military. I also had several cousins and great uncles who served, but did not really know them well enough to have an impact on me.

My paternal grandfather retired from the Air Force as a Colonel. He had his medals and rank placed in a frame that I was mesmerized by every time I would visit their home. He was a member of the Hump Association. The Hump Association is a group of pilots who flew The Hump in the Himalayas from India through Burma to China during WWII. The cargo that that was carried over the Hump helped to carry on the war in the Pacific.

 My maternal grandfather also served in the Air Force in the Pacific theater during WWII. I always enjoyed his stories of being stationed on different islands that were difficult for a child to find on a map. He was stationed in Japan shortly after their surrender in 1945.

My father served in the Army Infantry. He was stationed at Fort Dix and did not serve in a foreign theater.

My fathers brother served in Vietnam. He was a Warrant Officer and flew gunships and medivac helicopters with the Cav. I remember him telling the story of having an rpg round pass through the cargo area of one of his helicopters.

My other uncle was by marriage to my fathers sister. He served in the Navy during Vietnam. He served on a ship that conducted operations off of the coast of Vietnam. What I remember most about his stories are not the stories of battle, but in typical Navy fashion, his tales of shore leave in Hong Kong.

 I am not trying to brag about the service of my family members. I am sure that there are many with higher ranking and larger numbers of family service. I am simply expressing my appreciation of the impact they had on my life as a citizen and soldier. It makes me proud to know that I followed in their footsteps.

Get Your Hand Out Of My Pocket

Here I go again.

One of the problems that seems to be really getting out of hand in this country lately is the sense of entitlement. The thinking that someone, or everyone, owes you something just for being alive. I am sick of hearing how people can’t pay their bills because they only get a small check from the government, but they can’t get a job or their check will be decreased. It is supposed to work that way because you are supposed to get a job. I can’t count the number of times that I have been told by a probationer that they will make their payment as soon as they get their child support check. That money is for your children, not so you can sit at home instead of working. There is no such thing as free health care. Someone somewhere is paying for it.

The only thing that you as a person are entitled to is the right to better yourself without interference from others. The government is not supposed to provide you with low cost housing. You are supposed to live in the house that you can afford through wages you earn from work you do. Exxon Mobil shouldn’t have to pay the gas tax this summer because they did what businesses are supposed to do and made money. Corporations do not need to have their profits confiscated. That is communism. It doesn’t work. I am sorry, but your mama was wrong. You are not special. You need to get your butt up and go to work everyday like everyone else. How would you like it if I decided I was special and stayed home to. Then we could both starve.

Patriots Journey, Several Days Late Several Dollars Short

I found this link to Drumwaster at The Line Is Here. He has an annual blogging event called Patriots Journey that runs from Memorial Day to Independence day. The journey consists of at least one blog each day of something positive about the good ole US of A. I think that this is an excellent way to remind us all that no matter how bad things seem, we still live in the greatest nation in the history of the world.

Join The Resistance

I officially joined the resistance against the green Nazis. I set up an account with one of those online stock buying sites to purchase interest in Exxon Mobil each month. It’s not much, but hey, we all have to do our share. I am actually in favor of folks doing what they can to conserve energy and keep nature as pristine as reasonably possible (must be the Boy Scout in me). I am however, utterly opposed to having it crammed down my throat by a bunch of hypocrites, liars, and lunatics fanatics. The only problem I have with wind or solar power are that they are not very economically viable. That brings me to another point. Wind energy is mostly free so don’t tell me to keep my thermostat above 72 and then say that you don’t want a wind farm in your neighborhood because they are ugly. What could be more beautiful than a field full of screw OPEC turbines.

You know why all of the hybrid and electric cars are so noticeably shaped, it is so the jerks that them drive can point out how awful the rest of us are.

I might have been to kind about with the Nazi label, even the Nazis didn’t tell you how to have sex, just who not to have it with. I found this disturbing post at The Line Is Here. Now the green goblins are telling us how to have sex, and that we have to manufacture our own toys and lingerie.  I have been married for several years now and have enough problems without these collectivists telling me what to do and use during fornication. Screw Jessica Hupp with an oil soaked gas powered pvc pipe vibrator studded with disposable batteries and wrapped in Polar Bear skin.

Shooting The Messenger has a post about Carbon Belch Day. 

I would say that it is time for use to stand up and demand reason and sound economics in the quest for alternative fuels and reducing pollution, but reason seems to be lost on fanatics and idiots. As evidenced by the Inquisition, the Holocaust, and Hezbollah.

Fort Worth Rocks

Congress should take a lesson from the owners of Sundance Square in Fort Worth. Sundance Square is about 40 acres of downtown Ft. Worth with a large number of businesses including restaurants and a large area for public events. They have decided to drill for natural gas right under downtown. That is how you make use of available resources.

I Hate It When That Happens

Some poor innocent guy in Florida hired a woman to come and clean his house in her birthday suit while his wife was out of town. Unfortunately, she gave a bad name to naked maids everywhere by stealing $40k worth of jewelry. I wonder where you hide that much jewelry while naked?

Perspective

It’s always nice to find that a good three day weekend and a few cold beers can change your perspective on the world. It is to bad that it is so hard to get caught back up on what happened while you were gone. Here is a little of what I missed.

Shooting the Messenger has a link to Jimmy Carters campaign for the asshat hall of fame.

Irons In the Fire reminds us that it is time to replace the entire House of Representatives with real Americans. So much for Free Speech.

Larry Correia has a post and link that make me want to go out and get an XBox 360.

Say Uncle has a good point about JHP’s and the military. He also reminds us to be careful about standing in front of windows.

 Of Arms and The Law has a little ray of sunshine. Unverified.

Better and Better has me looking forward to Friday, as if I need another reason.

Lawdog reminds us how screwed up some people are.

And last, but certainly not least, View From the Porch has a post on another big UN win.