Vote Churchill

CHECK OUT MY NEW STORE!!!

2007-10-03T10:07:00.000-07:00

I have started my own store on Cafepress.com. There is only one design right now, but I am sure it will be a favorite for my readers. Just click on me to buy some great products with this logo.

Hillarycare 2.0 Point 2

2007-10-02T09:19:00.000-07:00

In case anyone missed the fact that socialized medicine would cost an astronomical amount of money… Then the previous statement should be taken seriously.

Abolishing the death tax would not cure the stress that this would put on our nation. She would HAVE to raise taxes just on the rich AT FIRST. To those that believe that raising taxes solely on the rich will pay for this program are a bit delusional. Let’s also not delve that far away from the fact that this is an attempt to create a classless system; therefore, creating a stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production.

If you want a leader like this… I have some suggestions of places you would like.

Hillarycare 2.0 Point 1

2007-09-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

There is one common thread between the growing costs of education and healthcare in this country. Education on one hand is becoming a fratricide of sorts to the children’s minds in our great nation despite the growing costs. Healthcare on the other is largely due to the development of new medicine that greatly improves our quality of life. Another factor with the escalation in costs of healthcare is the insurance these doctors take out on themselves to protect from liability. Finally, we have illegal immigrants ravaging the doctor’s paychecks for unpaid medical emergencies, and rarely ever is there restitution for the great healthcare they receive.

The common thread is not always this clear if you were to ask your neighbor or relative about the problem, and don’t seek answers from the media either: the cause is the growing role of government in education and healthcare.

Government is never the solution to a problem, but it is usually the root of it.

Preface to "Hillarycare 2.0"

2007-09-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community for the purposes of increasing social and economic equality and cooperation. This control may be either direct, exercised through popular collectives such as workers' councils, or indirect, exercised on behalf of the people by the state. As an economic system, socialism is often characterized by state or community ownership of the means of production.

I will explain later along with excerpts from her testimony in front of the Senate in 1993. Before anyone gets the wrong idea... I am not calling Senator Clinton a Marxist Socialist. I am just creating the foundation for explaining how socialized medicine will not work in our country.

Where do I start?

2007-09-25T18:32:00.000-07:00

A ton has happened since my last post, and to those that used to read my updates religiously I apologize for the lengthy delay.

For starters, a close friend, supporter, confidant, and Father-in-Law passed away in February due to complications in a surgery; of which, really shook the foundation of our family’s life. He was my lone ally in a pair of households of limitless estrogen. He was a great friend and mentor. He was a lot of things, but most of all missed. I felt beside myself for quite some time and still yet today.

I had never lost anyone that close to me, and it hurt more than I can describe in a posting. Some say that love is a difficult thing to describe in words, but grief is just as much so.

I have also most recently decided not to enter the race for the vacant seat of disgraced Sen. Tommy Moore in District 25. I use the term disgraced because he decided to leave his seat to become a lobbyist for Advance Payday Loans. It should be no shocker to conservatives, but more a stark realization that he had no thoughts of his constituents in mind. He saw an opportunity to take money from the poor, and take it back a second time by lobbying for the nefarious interest scheme of short term loans.

The seat will undoubtedly fail to be refilled successfully by anyone of keynote or suitable stature, and will be up for grabs yet again in November of next year.

More to follow soon… I promise.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-21T07:25:00.000-08:00

As I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas this year I wanted to share with you something about last Christmas.

As many of my readers already know, I am a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and last Christmas was spent near Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq.

It is really quite difficult to describe, but it was as if the Holiday’s came and went as if it was just another day. Life in a war zone is much different, because every second may be your last. When the days draw on as they did it was difficult for me differentiate a Holiday from a day wondering if the next time I breathe will be the last time.

I am very fortunate to be home this year with my loved ones, and I want to wish those Soldiers overseas a very Merry Christmas.

In closing I want to share a Christmas Poem from a Marine:

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN
THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP.
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT
MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.

Have a very safe and Merry Christmas.

GUILTY!!!

2006-11-05T07:25:00.000-08:00

Saddam Hussein has been found guilty by the Iraqi Tribunal today, and will be put to death by way of hanging.

The date and time of the execution is still yet to be determined, but the streets of Iraq erupt in glee nonetheless as this new chapter of a Free Iraq has been written.

This trial should also bring some legitimacy to a nation that is riddled with foreign born terrorists, and also brought new found hope for other nations in the region that their evil Dictators could be held accountable for their crimes against humanity.

If the Republican base does not go to vote on Tuesday... Don't expect any more positive accomplishments to come out of Iraq or Afghanistan.

YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT WHAT JAY HAS TO SAY ON THE TOPIC AS WELL.

Deer Senater Karray

2006-11-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

As a veteren of Oporation Iracky Freidom, I suppourt yur positions on High Skuul edumication.

Great Questions Mike

2006-10-29T04:34:00.001-08:00

Mike over at Mike’s America has an excellent post concerning the outrage by many radical Islam leaders, as the Republicans are making a comeback.

The fact is that the Terrorists want the Democrats to win in November… I am not saying they are for the terrorists, but they will stop at nothing to APPEASE them.

Mike posed these terrific questions:

But what about Muslims in the United States? Do they want the Democrats to win and thereby encourage the radical Islamic fascists who are seeking to destroy the United States and our Constitutional government? Do they agree with bin Laden who wrote in his "Letter to America" that we must discard the U.S. Constitution and adopt Sharia Law?

GET A FREE REPUBLICAN KEYCHAIN FROM ME!!!

2006-10-26T05:56:00.000-07:00

If you want a totally free Republican keychain from me all you have to do is answer the following question in an e-mail to me.

Who said the following about the need for Missile Defense?

"The subject I want to discuss with you, peace and national security, is both timely and important. Timely, because I've reached a decision which offers a new hope for our children in the twenty-first century, a decision I'll tell you about in a few minutes. And important because there's a very big decision that you must make for yourselves. This subject involves the most basic duty that any president and any people share, the duty to protect and strengthen the peace."

E-mail me the correct answer, and you get a FREE keychain.

BREAKING NEWS: Iraq Handover

2006-10-24T06:10:00.000-07:00

There is breaking news this morning coming out of Baghdad, Iraq that the US Government and the Iraqi Government are setting up a timetable to withdraw US Forces, and allow the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police to take control of their own destiny.

There have been reports all over the news this morning that the timetable may be between 12 and 24 months. President George W. Bush and the Administration have made some drastic changes over the past few days on the handling of the war, and this would be one of the boldest moves we have seen thus far.

I support the takeover by the Iraqi Government, and I look forward to a successful handover in a year or two.

If the Democrats take over the House and Senate like I presume they will do in two weeks... They will probably spark an early removal of US troops, and will result in a catastrophic civil war in Iraq.

Leaving millions dead with the blood of Iraqi's in the Democrats hands, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi will undoubtedly have no problem washing that blood away.

The Streets of Iran erupt in glee!!!

2006-10-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

An outpouring of emotions will soon erupt on the streets of Tehran, Iran as the Republicans in the United States refuse to go to the polls.

Two weeks from now Republican voters will allow scenes like this to occur around the Muslim world, and shortly thereafter a wave of tolerance will begin its evil reign.

The terrorist holding the sign in this photo has had his absentee ballot in for two months now, and hopes that the US will finally pay for their Nuclear Weapons Program promised by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Oil Prices continue to drop

2006-10-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

Even with the announcement, made by OPEC, of a production cut of 1.2 Million Barrels a day couldn't slow down the recent plummet.

Most speculators do not believe OPEC can actually adhere to the reduction in production, and have no doubt that the Oil Prices will continue to slide into November and December.

Today the Oil Barrel prices dropped by $1.67 USD.

So what happens when Democrats take office...? I suggest that you start saving your money now.

WINDFALL TAXES LOOM AS NANCY PELOSI BEGINS HER REIGN OF TOLERANCE

GOP Mailbag

2006-10-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Michael,

In 2004, you were part of a historic nationwide organization that propelled my campaign to victory. Together we delivered a clear message to the American people about the need to keep our Nation safe and secure, the need to keep our taxes low to continue creating jobs.

That message proved successful because you delivered it to your neighbors, co-workers, friends and family. This year, I am asking for your help once more. An important decision will be made this Fall - whether our agenda of hope and optimism continues, or whether the Democrats take control of the House and Senate.

The help you gave my campaign in 2004 was invaluable, and I am asking you to go to work again this Fall for your Republican congressional candidates. Time is short--Election Day is under one month away, and in many places people are about to vote early or via absentee. We must do the important work of grassroots campaigning if we are to maintain a Republican majority in 2006.

For nearly six years, I have worked with the Republicans in Congress to protect Americans by strengthening our homeland security and pursuing terrorists where they live. Together, with a Republican majority, we passed tax relief that spurred unprecedented growth and now need to make that relief permanent. And, working with Republican leaders in the Senate, we confirmed two extremely qualified Supreme Court Justices who faithfully interpret the Constitution instead of legislating from the bench.

I plan to continue this agenda for two more years, but I need a Republican majority in Congress to continue the progress we have made. Without it, you can bet that our political opponents will do all they can to roll back important tools like the PATRIOT Act, to raise your taxes, and stop me from appointing conservative judges to the Federal bench.

Thank you for what you did to return me to the White House in 2004. I hope you will put your talents to work for Republican congressional candidates in South Carolina this year. The consequences of not succeeding this fall are dire for our agenda for America.

Sincerely,

George W. Bush

VOLUNTEER TODAY!!!

John Kerry and Harry Reid should step down

2006-10-12T03:56:00.000-07:00

I am not sure if anyone heard what Senator John Kerry recently said on the Bill Maher Show that, "I could have gone to 1600 Pennsylvania and could have killed the real bird with one stone". So John Kerry wants to go to the White House, and kill the President. That is called sedition in my book, and he should be punished or at least apologize.

Also, if you haven't heard, Senator Harry Reid did not divulge to the ethics committee the sale of his residential real estate deal in Las Vegas back in 2001. However, three years later, after he had already received $400,000.00 in 2001 from the Brown Company he got an additional $1.1 MILLION DOLLARS in 2004 for that land that he no longer owned!

The deal allowed Reid to transfer ownership, legal liability and some tax consequences to Brown’s company without public knowledge, but still collect a seven-figure payoff nearly three years later.

Senate ethics rules require lawmakers to disclose on their annual ethics report all transactions involving investment properties, regardless of profit or loss, and to report any ownership stake in companies.

So do the rules only apply to Republicans: is there a Double Standard?

Gee... I wonder?

TRACKBACK

MIKES AMERICA VIEW ON REID

Kim Jong-Il is CRAZY: Part Two

2006-10-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

It should not be a discussion of whether or not North Korea has a nuclear weapon, because intelligence estimates have shown for some time now that they have at least one nuclear weapon, and enough nuclear material to create many more.

The testing on October the eighth should prove that North Korea is run by a demented and warped Dictator. So how long should America stand by and let evil continue to lurk in the shadows of fruitful democracies throughout the world?

The US must support the prospectus of freedom from tyranny in the Korean Peninsula, and the safety of China, Japan, and Russia.

President Bush should also receive praise from everyone by identifying North Korea as a member of the Axis of Evil three years ago, and ending the financial aid to them that was started by Bill Clinton and Madeline “Chamberlain” (the aid given to them by the Clinton administration by some reports are over $600 Billion).

Nonetheless, Kim Jong-Il’s interests in becoming a nuclear power essentially intimidates American allies in Japan and South Korea, which breaks down our allegiances with them, and puts unwarranted pressure on the United States.

His idiotic and dangerous behavior is a slap in the face to the United Nations as well as starting an epidemic that seeks to destroy international stability. North Korea’s lone approach to ascertain international aid is to instill fear in those who do not support their cause.

We must strike first, or Japan should break out the “checkbook” as Mike says, and dismantle their aspirations of becoming a nuclear superpower. Kim Jong-Il has shown the world he possesses the gravest threat; however, he has overestimated the leverage he has gained, and he WILL behave recklessly as a result. He has isolated himself and his countrymen by ignoring the consensus that a North Korean nuclear test is intolerable, and Policymakers must be aware of this.

Kim Jong-Il is CRAZY

2006-10-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

In case you live in a cave, and this is your only opportunity to view the news, North Korea continued their nuclear testing last night.

First and foremost I am sick and tired of Kim Jong-Il, and hopefully the United Nations Security Council will act this time: instead of continuing with harsh letters and public defamation (saying to news cameras “you are not playing nice Lil’ Kim, and I mean that!”).

Bolton spoke to the UN Security Council today behind closed doors today, following a statement from President Bush calling North Korea’s nuclear test “unacceptable” and “provocative”. Bush also warned Kim Jong-Il that the US would protect their allies in Asia by saying, "The United States will meet the full range of our deterrent and security commitments," and North Korea is, "one of the world's leading proliferators".

I know that I would not be in the position to protect National Security as a State Senator, but I am positive that if given the opportunity I would try something a bit more than “I’m rubber and you’re glue” strategy that the UN continues to do.

I am also not sure that the possibility of a trade ban on military and luxury items, the power to inspect all cargo, and freezing assets connected to North Korea’s weapons Program will be strict enough.

I believe that it is time for an air strike as well as the previous reports of sanctions.

I have had enough of Lil’ Kim's idiocy, and I hope that the world has as well.

GOP Mailbag

2006-10-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Michael,

Election Day is 33 days away. The home stretch is here, and now is the time for the final push to victory.

RNC Chairman Mehlman has organized the largest mid-term Get-Out-The-Vote campaign in history. Now we must make sure the RNC has all the resources needed - money and manpower - to get out our vote and win on Election Day.

I hope President Bush, Chairman Mehlman and our candidates can count on your continued support with a donation right now of $25, $50 or even $100. If you prefer to donate your time instead, sign-up today to be a GOP Volunteer.

Now is the time to make the final push to victory. Republicans cannot afford to be outspent this year like we were in 2004. The liberals are desperate and will do anything to reclaim control of the U.S. House and Senate. Unless we work every single day between now and Election Day to identify, contact and make sure every Republican voter sends in an absentee ballot or actually gets to the polls -- we risk not only the Democrats stonewalling President's Bush agenda but advancing policies that weaken American's efforts to fight the War on Terror and raise your taxes.

The Democrats rely on unions and wealthy liberals to fund and operate their voter turnout. The RNC's Get-Out-The-Vote relies on the voluntary contributions of grassroots supporters like you, Michael.

Please contribute to the RNC's Get-Out-The-Vote programs during these crucial final days of Campaign 2006 by making a secure online donation of $25, $50, $100 or more today.

This is an election we must win. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for our Party.

Sincerely,

Dick Cheney

20,000 Hits

2006-09-29T04:15:00.000-07:00

Thank you 20,000 times.

Republicans are doing a great job of making us safe

2006-09-28T06:53:00.000-07:00

There are many ploys that democrats use to persuade the American people that the Bush Administration has been misleading and horrible, and that the current administration has done nothing to improve international relations with the idea that everyone else hates America. Democrats do not want you to focus in or concentrate on who will do a better job at protecting our nation, because they are horrible at security issues.

News flash... America has been a safe place for the past five years following 9/11.

I know it is hard to believe to those Liberal viewers, but America is safe because of George W. Bush: despite being "HATED" by all other countries.

Who will get tough on terror? Not Democrats.

Who do you want controlling our Interrogators actions? Not Democrats.

Who do you want protecting our country? Not Democrats.

So those three questions make it an easy decision in November, but every media outlet attempts to sway the viewers opinions on those three questions, but you will never see those three questions asked or answered on any news channel (maybe Fox News).

Granted, the Bush Administration did not do a terrific job the first eight months in office on terrorism, but the Clinton Administration did horrible for EIGHT YEARS.

So why haven't we been attacked in the last five years?

1) We are doing a great job with our intelligence collection, and in the cooperation with our allies intelligence services.

2) Terrorists do not want to strike America.

So how could anyone deny credit to the Bush Administration and a Republican Majority in both chambers of Congess for doing such a terrific job? You cannot.

How else can you the viewer explain it?

Fixed

2006-09-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

I "pimped my Blog" today to make it more appealing to the viewer, and I hope everyone enjoys the changes.

The side bar has been giving some viewers dificulty, but that is ancient history now.

National Travesty

2006-09-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

I am not quite sure what to think these days concerning our national security, or the main stream media, or even the United Nations for that matter.

It seems that the Department of Homeland Security was asleep when two crazed Dictators entered our country. When they walked around in the streets of New York communicating with the people of our free nation, and refused to divulge that their people are poor, underprivileged, and living in shanty towns without food, money, or hope.

I have seen images on the main stream media outlets of our free people supporting the communistic and socialist nature of our unwanted guests in New York. The Department of Homeland Security doesn’t seem to care about crazed dictators in America, because we should respect their constitutional rights despite they have no such rights.

The United Nations has set up a soap box for cruel dictators, and allow them to perpetuate hate like they are handing out Guns-for-Tots.

All of which, is beyond my wildest nightmares…

Can you imagine a man like Hitler walking around neighborhoods handing out money to the poor in a foreign country, while his own nation is riddled with economic struggles?

Can you guess which American born neighbor supports a man like Stalin of this generation?

Can you imagine Mussolini speaking to the World about Justice?

I would have never thought that a day would come when our greatest national security threats would walk around our streets without harm or capture.

I would have never imagined that our media would support the rights for terrorists.

I would have never imagined that an organization devoted for peace would be the outlet for hate.

All of these things I could have never imagined are true today.

ATTENTION READERS

2006-09-19T05:44:00.000-07:00

BLOGBURST!!!

Head over to Stop the ACLU immediately!!!

Keep in the know with Jay about how you can beat the ACLU with their own Sickle and Hammer!

'08 Debate Opening for Business!!!

2006-09-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a little project called '08 Debate, and it is an idea I had for the upcoming Presidential election in 2008.

I have built an open floor debate concerning the election on the main page where viewers can write about their parties candidate, or promote their differences with another. All you have to do is submit the Blog Post to admin@08debate.org, and if it meets the standards: it is published.

There is a page for donations and voter registration page for the respective parties as well.

Also, as we get closer to the elections, you can view the candidates Biographies from the right to the left, and in between.

In the near future you will be able to purchase bumper stickers, T-Shirts, or even buttons at the Campaign Headquarters Store.

My goals for this website are to give the American people a voice, and a tool that they can use to learn more about the Presidential hopefuls. If I succeed: I am sure the viewers will do the same on Election Day.

GOP Mailbag

2006-09-15T03:40:00.000-07:00

Sent September 13th:
Dear Michael,

The lesson of the last two elections is clear. Republicans beat the odds and win when we get to work doing what we do best - reaching out to neighbors and energizing people to get involved.

Starting today, we're taking it to a whole new level with the September Sprint to Victory, an unprecedented series of neighborhood house parties, door-to-door walks, and phone banks that's the first step to victory on November 7. It all begins with you. As a leader in your community, will you host an event in Savannah?

The month of September will be critical to this effort... hundreds of events all across the country leading up to a huge, nationwide day of neighborhood walks on Super Saturday, September 30. And the volunteer who makes the biggest impact during the September Sprint to Victory - with the most people contacted, volunteers recruited, new voters registered and absentee ballot voters referred will receive a special surprise gift autographed by President Bush.

We want to make it as convenient as possible for you to help and we understand if you can't make it on the 30th. That's why, from today through Election Day, we're setting aside three days every week for three different house party themes; you can try out different types of parties and pick the days of the week that work for you.

Turnout Tuesdays: Host a get-together at your home, and then use your free cell phone minutes to call voters in this year's most critical House and Senate contests. We'll provide a list of names and the script through GOP.com. All you have to bring is your enthusiasm to support Republican candidates.

House Party Thursdays: Bring friends together for a GOP-themed house party - and pick your own action, whether that's calling voters, handing out absentee ballot information, recruiting volunteers or hosting a local candidate meet & greet. Create your party easily online - we'll even send the invitations and driving directions to your guests.

Super Saturdays: Join us for the biggest event of the month on September 30 or make any weekend your Super Saturday. Go door-to-door in your neighborhood or call voters using free weekend cell phone minutes - and then invite folks back home to watch the big game.

Join us on September 30 - or anytime this September. Get the inside track to earning your special gift by creating your September event (or events) today.

Sincerely,
Ken Mehlman
Chairman, Republican National Committee

Vote!!!

2006-09-12T16:08:00.000-07:00

Click Me to make your voice heard on election day.

Comparing Apples to Oranges

2006-09-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

There is a new article at the Heritage Foundations website that articulates one of the purist of all forms of liberal media bias (a disease that I will now call LMB), and that is perpetuating a nation in economic struggle.

Well, according to some people our economy is failing because of the current administration, and all the "corrupt" Republicans in office on Capital Hill.

Wrong Answer!

Our economy is doing terrific, and here is the article from the Heritage:

Posted by Andrew Grossman

Household Income Up, Down, All Around

A map in the Detroit Free Press has been making the rounds among economic naysayers. The map purports to show major drops in nearly every state's median household income between 1999 and 2005. Income is down 12 percent in Michigan, for example, and 3.6 percent in California. If these statistics were accurate, they would paint a compelling picture of a troubled economy.

But as economics journalist for the Economist Megan McArdle explains, the analysis is bogus. The problem is that the baseline numbers, from 1999, are from the Census, while the more recent ones come from a new report called the American Community Survey. But the two datasets are basically incompatible--they're measuring slightly different things. McArdle decided to use the Free Press's methodology to look at the difference in incomes between 1999 and 2000. The results are shocking, reflecting how broken the methodology is:

I went to the 2000 Census (which tracked 1999 income) and compared it to the figures from the 2000 ACS state ranking table of median income. You can see my results in this spreadsheet. Even in nominal dollars, using this methodology, most states experienced a drop in median income in 2000. If I inflate the 1999 figures by the 3.36% inflation figure derived from the BLS's inflation calculator, all but three states saw median household income fall. If you look at the CPS page, by contrast, it alleges that median income for the United States as a whole rose by about $1,300, or roughly 3.2%, which is more in line with what most of us remember from those halcyon days (sigh). Indeed, as Stuart discovered, the Census itself noted this disparity.

The bottom line:

Given that there was huge divergence between the 1999 income figures from the Census, and the 2000 figures from the ACS--a rather obvious spot check--I personally would never have dared make such a comparison in print, even with footnotes. All their graph really tells us is that the new ACS produces lower estimates of median income than the Census long form. The ACS may well be more accurate. But it doesn't matter; you can't compare apples to oranges just because the apples are prettier.

Exactly.

So why exactly is the LMB persistently attempting to sway the publics perception of our current administration, and majority in both chambers of congress concerning our economy?

Is there really any reliable mass media any more?

Border Bash 2006

2006-09-07T03:56:00.000-07:00

For those viewers not from the Central Savannah River Area (A.K.A. CSRA), the "Border Bash" is a great festival traditionally held on the banks of the Savannah River in downtown Augusta, but has been moved to Reynolds Field this year. It's to celebrate one of the greatest college football games each year despite projected finishes for each team.

The game is between last years Southeastern Conference (SEC) Champions, the University of Georgia Bulldogs, against the University of South Carolina fighting Gamecocks.

This game is particularly important in my household because my wife LOVES Georgia Football and I love Gamecock Football, and it marks a bittersweet victory for at least one of us on Saturday; however, I have never tasted that victory due to a closely contested losing streak to UGA since I have known her.

If you are in the Augusta area this Friday night: I suggest stopping by and enjoying a great part of this rivalry at the Border Bash.

If not, you can see this game unfold on ESPN at 7:30 PM (EST) on Saturday.

My prediction: UGA 17 - USC 20 (I hope Marie doesn’t see this).

UPDATE: Final Score = UGA 18 - USC 0 (maybe next year)

What does history tell us?

2006-08-31T05:25:00.000-07:00

Mark this day in history, 31 August 2006, when Iran’s Dictator Ahmadinejad maintained their “right” to nuclear technology on the deadline that the United Nations asked nicely to end its program or face sanctions.

I have no doubt in my mind that Iran and Syria fed the hunger for instilling fear in Israelis by supplying, persuading, and helping the Lebanese Terrorists Organization of Hezbollah.

They saw Hezbollah as a way to seek retribution without raising a public hand, and relied upon Kofi Annan to back Lebanon during their “Tragic Times” of appeasement (because he is still in hot water with the Oil for food scandal).

Most of the EMP’s that maim Iraqi’s and US Soldiers are undoubtedly made in Iran, and fed to Iraq through Tehran.

Iran has had a story book tenure under Ahmadinejad, (a scary story, but nonetheless a story) a Dictator that has fed the likings of terrorists around the globe, hid behind Hezbollah, and probably feed the foreign born insurgents of Iraq.

As the history books tell us in the 1940’s, a pair of Genocidal men named Hitler and Stalin were running amuck in eastern Europe, while Winston Churchill was publicly calling for President Roosevelt to act on the evil Dictators instead of staying with the status quo of Isolationism.

Then, much like now, the world must act on Iran’s aggressions… We cannot just say that we will sanction them: we must do so to a degree never seen before.

I believe that an oil embargo as well as cutting all international aides would put a dent on their nuclear aspirations for now, but that’s just me.

What do you the reader think we should do?

A terrific Interview can be found at Stop the ACLU this week

2006-08-24T04:52:00.000-07:00

I encourage everyone to hop over to Jays place, Stop the ACLU, to view a remarkable interview with William A. Donahue.

Mr. Donahue is the President of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights based in New York.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Keep Lieberman on the Ticket

2006-08-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

Howling Howie Dean has finally made it public that he does not want Senator Lieberman on the ticket in the Connecticut Senate race by saying on "Meet the Press" this morning, "I know how hard this is for Joe, and he is a good person, but the truth is I lost one of these races and I got behind my party's nominee and I think that is what you have to do if you want to help this country."

So why would the former Governor Howard Dean say such a thing?

By splitting the Democratic votes between Senator Lieberman and the newcomer Lamont the Republican candidate will have an exponentially greater chance at winning the seat.

Howie continued with this obligatory admission by stating, "the way to help this country is to limit Republican power."

My prediction (if Lieberman remains on the ticket):

Lieberman (I) = 29% - 30%
Lamont (D) = 31% - 32%
Schlesinger (R) = 38% - 39%

Haven't written in a while...

2006-08-05T11:42:00.000-07:00

To those loyal readers who often visit my site, I want to apologize for the lengthy delay between recent posts. The hardest part of running a blog is finding the time and motivation to get your message out to the readers. With the Newlywed status still in effect, I find myself in many precarious situations: Yard work (in 100 degree weather), Painting, seeking employment (more on that to follow), and general upkeep of my home.

Here is a terrific example of how bad of shape my home was when I moved in a few months ago...

Since that photo, I have removed seven box trees; pressure washed; and built onto the patio with a 6' x 3' brick extension.

Back to the job prospectus, in the Aiken area there is a shallow pool of employment opportunities that fall in line with my qualifications, and the discrimination against Iraqi War Vets is becoming extremely prevalent.

The days of Veterans preference are all but over in the United States, and it was my single fear while in Iraq... That the American people would view the Soldiers who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan in a dim light like that of our Vietnam Veterans.

I am proud of my military service regardless if it projects a bad image of me, because at its root it is a poor image of the companies turning down well qualified Vets.

In closing today, if you are a HR rep for a large or small company, remember that Vets will offer three things in virtually every case: A strict work ethic, honor, and reliability.

Wedding photos

2006-07-18T16:12:00.000-07:00

Our first dance...

We are being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Churchill...

This is Marie and I leaving the old Medical College...

Air Strike v. Sanctions on North Korea

2006-07-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

As some of the visitors may already know, I served in South Korea for approximately 15 months from 2002 to 2003.

I haven’t returned since then, nor do I intend to in the near future, but my acute observations have been and continue to be that North Korea is trying desperately to ascertain some type of monetary relief, because around the time they start pumping their fists (weapons testing) is when the money train is nearly gone.

It is a cheap and risky ploy that they love to play on the world, and they will continue to do so unless someone strikes back, and challenges their evil game of chess.

I for one am tired of the idea of pacifism and ignoring some of the other atrocities that Kim Jong-Il has done to his own nation like starvation, hunger, human rights violations, and blinding racism that is taught in their schools and at home about Americans, and those are just a handfull of the active charges shadowing the rule of Mr. Lil Kim.

I whole heartedly support immediate sanctions, and do not truly care if China and Russia agree right now, because after the G8 Summit I predict a different point of view to follow.

I can understand why both nations would be upset, because then they would feel the wrath of illegal immigrants to their nations much like we suffer from today in our country.

In the news today, Japan is looking into the legal ramifications if they commit to an Air Strike, and if they do, I do not see a reason why the United States should intervene and veto their idea (the US has no veto power by the way).

In closing, I am tired of these games played by evil dictators lurking around our globe, and I hope and pray that this administration will not ignore these acts of aggression… We need to strike either through air or though their wallets, but something MUST be done.

So what should it be?

Marie is Pretty

2006-07-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

Today, at approximately 3:20 PM (EST), I will be lawfully wedded to the beautiful Marie Hodge.

It has been a day that I have looked forward to for quite some time.

She stood by my side through thick and thin, and we weathered every storm together.

Even six months in Iraq could not sway our love for each other.

She is my best friend, my confidante, and in a couple of hours she will be my bride.

In closing… I DO!!!

South of Sadr City

2006-06-26T05:39:00.000-07:00

This is the Forward Operating Base that I spent five months on, and a place I like to call purgatory.

It was tough being away from my family and friends, but I learned how to cherish every moment of every day, because it seems as though when your life can be taken from you at any moment you start to relish every second, and your next could be the last.

Failure

2006-06-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

Senator John Kerry has added to a long list of poor political moves that includes a tragedy of a Presidential election, and now he couldn’t even unite his own party on Capital Hill.

Even with the help of Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin they were only able to gather up eleven other votes to withdraw 127,000 US Troops from Iraq by the first of July in 2007.

As everyone knows, I served in Iraq, and I have family and friends there right now whom I want to have here at home; however, the war is not over, and the Iraqi Government would crumble if the US withdrew prematurely.

Not to mention the fact that a timetable would give the terrorists ample opportunity to coordinate attacks, and eventually cause the demise of this infant democracy in Iraq.

John McCain, the Republicans most moderate Senator said that, "we have just one choice in Iraq and that is to see our mission through to victory, and it's this classic reduction of insurgency. That's how every insurgency in history has been defeated."

Can you imagine if we folded in World War II?

Let me know what you think in the comments section below.

A Cool Pic from Kuwait

2006-06-17T06:21:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly, the water is actually more clear than the Atlantic.

A Brighter Future South of the Border

2006-06-12T15:25:00.000-07:00

U.S. and Latin America relations was once a priority for the Bush Administration, and cornerstone of the 1998 Presidential Election Platform, but those relations took a big hit following 9/11, because Washington mostly lost interest in them. In doing so, the U.S. has had dwindling support in Latin America.

It was not always like this especially in the 1980’s when many believed that Latin Americas turn toward market economics and democracy would encourage a more cohesive bond. That bond was at an all time high following landmark events that included the Brady Debt relief proposal (that ended a decade long recession), the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and finally in 1995 the U.S. saved Mexico from a collapse of their economy.

The problem today is that most of the Latin American governments have not completed their socioeconomic transformation, and they need this reform or they will never spark true sustainable growth. However, in order to stay with the voice of the people, the Latin American governments have turned to anti-American rhetoric to stay in power.

Despite the fact that America still has exports to the region in excess of $150 BILLION dollars (two-thirds goes directly to Mexico), foreign investments are starting to filter in, trade has expanded, and inflation remains low. The U.S. is still ridiculed by Latin America, but those who live in a glass house shouldn’t throw stones… With low educational standards, nearly invisible investment in technology, horrible infrastructure, disgustingly minimal savings, Latin America will continue along with growth of only 5.5%.

My foreign policy solution for Latin America is to encourage educational improvements and infrastructure improvements.

Both I believe are the keys for a brighter future south of the border.

(!!!WARNING!!! I am just sharing an idea on this one, and as a State Senator I would have no influence on the implementation of this.)

A Cool Picture from Baghdad

2006-06-10T07:36:00.000-07:00

Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi is Dead

2006-06-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

(20 October 1966 - 7 June 2006)

Al-Zarqawi was a Salafi Muslim Militant with terrorism on the mind, and Osama at his side. It is believed that this terrorist/guerrilla leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq personally beheaded hundreds, was responsible for thousands of murders, and instilled fear to millions.

Today the fear that this evil terrorist created was demolished by a pair of missiles, Al-Qaeda is fleeting, and Democracy is shaping fruitfully in the Middle-East.

I believe that the death of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi will also spark a significant rise in the support of President Bush as well as that of the “War on Terror”.

Imagine if we would have just cut and run…

I pray that all who may read this remembers the party that advocated the cut and run theory when it is your turn to cast a ballot this November.

For extensive coverage on this topic be sure to check out Mike's America and the Palmetto Pundit.

Big G or little g?

2006-06-02T06:13:00.000-07:00

There are two overwhelming problems with the state of our economy that have more to do with each other than you may think.

Education and medical expenses have become quite a burden on the working class of our nation, and the problem begins and ends with Government.

Medical expenses have gone through the roof, and the quality has gone up along with the price; however, education in our country is more costly than ever, but the quality has gone down drastically (with the rare exception of Katharine Close).

In the state of South Carolina education is outright horrible, but we have the magical revenue from the lottery right?

The problem is bureaucracy, and the havoc it plays on the citizens of our fair nation.

My question to the reader is: What do you believe in... the big G or the little g?

Memorial Day

2006-05-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

What a tremendous day that Memorial Day truly is… Thankfully, I made it home from Iraq a few months ago; however, there were some heroes that I knew that did not. They paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and they shall never be forgotten.

Memorial Day is not just the beginning of summer for me anymore, because War changes some things about you regardless of who you are, and for me there is a lot more respect for each and every day that I am able to spend with the ones I love.

I hope that each and every visitor has a safe Memorial Day.

Amnesty USA

2006-05-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

At one point in time I supported Lindsey Graham (R/D-SC), but that support is rapidly deteriorating due to his vote in favor of this monumental new legislation that will soon be rewritten in the House of Representatives.

I, personally, do not support this amnesty bill passed by Senate yesterday, because it is completely irrelevant to the fact that Illegal Aliens are just that... Illegal.

If an American Citizen commits tax evasion... they go to prison.

If an Illegal Alien commits tax evasion... they are rewarded with citizenship to our country.

If an Arabian man sneaks into our country... they are deported or sent to jail awaiting deportation.

If a Mexican sneaks into our country... they are awarded with citizenship to our country.

What does this all amount too...? Racism

This country faces an old foe, and one that should be faced with resolve not amnesty for those who choose to break the law.

Platform on Security

2006-05-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

The empires of tomorrow are here today, and will be forever more so long as we can protect them.

I served in a modern military that is truly second to none with limitless strengths of bravery, courage, and pride. I served with some of the finest Soldiers that any nation has ever seen throughout the ages of man. The heralded finest of hours have been repeated over and over alongside those three key ingredients of bravery, courage, and pride we can keep alive the effects of overcoming adversity through such tumultuous attacks like that of 9/11, and deter those threats with that of our true American heritage of patriotism and valor.

In places like Kirkuk, Iraq or Tehran, Iran the ideals and mindsets are not that of our own. Some of the residents of those cities and those like them are truly evil, and of whom wish nothing more than to annihilate western culture and the freedoms we have as a republic society. Those that are must pay the ultimate sacrifice for their god. They must be destroyed to protect our liberty from now till eternity.

There has been much ado of our President allowing the National Security Agency to spy on American Citizens, but he only authorized international calls to be listened in on between intelligence targets like that of Al-Qaeda. The thought that the government has listened into some Joe Schmoes’ conversation to his Russian Mail-Order-Bride is utterly absurd. I find it most alarming that no one wants to reveal the entire story from any of the so-called legitimate news organizations.

The President has been charged with protecting the overall safety of our nation and its borders. In an ever changing world, we must have some type of quid pro quo, and the American People as a whole must come to this realization that we have not had one solitary case of someone being falsely accused or a person’s privacy unduly invaded.

If you are not doing anything wrong then why worry?

How many of the 3000 plus victims of the attacks on America do you think would be concerned if the President authorized these monumental intelligence gathering activities prior to 9/11, and possibly stopped the massacre on United States soil? My guess would be that none of them would question the President’s decision on the matter, and more so their families now torn with the loss would staunchly support the President as well.

So why should we or could we possibly question his motives?

George W. Bush is charged with the ever evolving pursuit of combating terrorism as our Commander in Chief, and ending the detrimental effects of terrorism here in America, as well as abroad.

As your State Senator, I will bring along with me a vast knowledge of Intelligence Security and Operations from my tenure as a Counterintelligence Agent with the United States Army Intelligence Corp.

As a former Federal Agent I applaud the President for his actions, and without hesitation I will make those difficult decisions in the interest of our safety at the State level, because in the face of tyranny you must show resolve to become victorious.

There have been many strides taken in the past few years within the Intelligence community towards the defense of our Nation, but there is more work that needs to be done, and even at the local Police level to greatly enhance our safety and Security.

There is no city or town in the United States that is not susceptible a terror attack, and even so with District 25 of South Carolina.

With the following I believe we can immediately impact the safety within the borders of our beautiful state of South Carolina:

• Every Sheriff must ascertain a Secret Security Clearance granted by the Federal Government, which is essential in order to remain abreast of the current threats and reporting within their area of operations.

• Advanced Interrogation Training such as the Reid Institute, and suburban warfare training similar to that of which United States Service members must go through to complete Basic Combat Training.

• Up-to-date technology v. the ancient systems still currently in use by many of the Police Departments in our State.

• More rigorous physical training requirements than that of today’s Police Force.

In conclusion, I can only place my own genuine hope that you, the people of District 25 will afford me the opportunity to protect each and every South Carolinian to the best of my ability. I will rely on only the best, corroborated, reliable, and significant intelligence information available to ensure you and your families remain safe and secure for many years to come.

I have honorably served our nation from the forefront of combating terrorism while in Baghdad, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, to the busy streets of industrious Seoul, South Korea.

With your vote, I would like to serve you again, and I will guarantee that my experience, training, and service to our State and Nation will be much deserved in the halls of our State Legislature.

Why Democrats should be happy about Iraq

2006-05-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Nation building is old news when it comes to Democrats, because in 1998 with the likes of Senators Patrick Leahy, Chris Dodd, Max Cleland, and JOHN KERRY, they all cosponsored Senate Concurrent Resolution 71 to do so in Iraq.

It seems to date back to 1994 when Democrats in the House and Senate openly advocated an attack if Saddam Hussein didn’t comply with United Nations weapons sanctions.

What did their philandering fearful leader have to say?

"His regime threatens the safety of his people, the stability of his region, and the security of all the rest of us," Clinton said in February 1998. "Some day, some way, I guarantee you, he'll use the arsenal. Let there be no doubt, we are prepared to act. I know the people we may call upon in uniform are ready. The American people have to be ready as well," he added.

So why exactly are Democrats complaining about Iraq?

Please explain...

Interrogation of Militant Islamists

2006-02-22T06:28:00.000-08:00

This is the prologue to a guide that I wrote to help the incoming personnel in Iraq back in December.

For Operational Security reasons I had to sanitize this document.

Following the chaotic aftermath of the September 11th terror attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as a united nation, Americans have become more aware of the goals and methods of the fading Islamic terrorist groups across the vast expanses of our globe; of which, some of the reasons for the murderous rage and violence that these groups yield are directed solely against the United States and its allies around the world. However, I staunchly support the practice that we the people of the United States of America ascertain a crystal clear picture of these groups’ radical ideologies and distorted significant traditional Islamic concepts to justify their detrimental and deadly extremist campaigns. This knowledge is a necessity in lieu of the expected duration and diversity of our war against terrorism that is underway and evolving as you read each line, and we must ultimately become victorious.

Few people, Muslim or not, can find agreement with Islamic militant groups’ egregiously violent methods that are specifically directed as much against innocent civilians as they are directed against symbolically vital personnel and iconic/prestigious areas of the “infidel’s” society, and questionably even the effects of Western Theology of personal freedom from oppression of thought. Though the vastly radical ideas on what is broken with their world and how to remedy these ills have proven to be not only enduring over the centuries, but have become more prevalent for the last three and a half decades throughout the Middle East and certain areas within South Asia.

With the successful adaptation of the following material we will become one step closer to a day safer for everyone across the globe. The union and cohesive actions between them and throughout the intelligence community is inherently imperative.

1854

2006-02-21T14:03:00.000-08:00

The year was 1854 when a group of former Whigs, Northern Democrats, and free soilers, gathered together in opposition to the expansion of slavery.

(The Whigs were a political party that operated from 1832 to 1856; of whom, were integral to the two party systems that were formed to oppose the policies of President Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party he founded.)

The group of men that met in 1854 held true to the Hamiltonian vision for modernizing the United States, and following the 1852 Presidential Election which led to the voter base dissipating those Whig voters then chose between two new parties that developed in the aftermath of the Scott v. Fillmore Presidential election: the nativist Know-Nothing Party, or the anti-slavery Republican Party (the Whig voters hated the Democratic Party).

All of which led to the first Republican President “Honest” Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Like the group that met six years prior: Lincoln opposed slavery expansion, and eventually led the Nation during the Civil War.

The conclusion of this little history lesson is to show one true fact… Republicans from the beginning of the party in 1854 have been the one true political party that pushed conservative and moral values through its leadership. As clear as crystal, from Slavery to the civil rights movement, Republicans have led the way in right.

Foreshadowing Terrorism

2006-02-20T12:14:00.000-08:00

Danger looms on American soil as the prospectus of hiring Taliban Terrorists dock workers weighs in on the current sale by the White House.

Michael Chertoff spoke out in support of this detrimental landmark deal, and despite his support I am hardly convinced (the lackluster portfolio of work by Mr. Chertoff like that of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when he let down both the United States and the President still echoes crisply in my memory).

"You can be assured that before a deal is approved we put safeguards in place, assurances in place, that make everybody comfortable that we are where we need to be from a national security viewpoint," Chertoff told Stephanopoulos yesterday.

Lindsey Graham, the United States Senator from my beautiful State of South Carolina also spoke out this weekend, but in a changed tone, and one that I share.

"It's unbelievably tone deaf politically at this point in our history, four years after 9/11, to entertain the idea of turning port security over to a company based in the UAE who avows to destroy Israel," Graham said.

Tone deaf it truly is, unless of course the idea is to keep your friends close and our enemies closer, and those same ports are already under control of Great Britain, but they are an ally of course.

The administration has accepted a bid to allow the United Arab Emirates to conduct the Security of some the United States Sea Ports in America and abroad, but there is already news about a possible block by Senate Republicans and Democrats alike. A true Bi-Partisan anger on Capital Hill, and I agree as well that this is a crazy deal.

The scariest event that has unfolded in all of this is that I agree with Barbara Boxer (D-CA) who said that this sale is, "A risk to our nation's infrastructure".

What has the White House done?

Could the same groups that seek to destroy our way of life soon guard our ports?

Will the USS Cole bombing be an everyday occurrence under their security?

My concerns are growing, and many more will blossom for sure in your neck of the woods.

Two In a Row

2006-02-17T19:43:00.000-08:00

The Augusta Lynx, a Semi-Pro Hockey team across the river in Georgia, won their second game in a row this evening, and Marie and I were in attendance for this great show on ice.

It was an exciting game that went into overtime, and the Lynx brought this one home with a final score of 6-5.

Part 1: Oily Residue

2006-02-17T07:23:00.000-08:00

This is part one of a three part post on Oily Residue.

High oil prices are not always inherently bad, and with the recent surge it is actually good for the world. The huge success of globalization through China and India were key contributors to the price of oil soaring past $50.00 a barrel in 2005; versus, an inherently bad rise due to geopolitical disruptions.

With the positive global reaction to the effects of globalization there is also a requiem for disaster as a conservative market is prone to a chaotic meltdown (an economic pandemic of sorts). That evidence can be found in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the Gulf Coast. That natural disaster was a critical test of the energy security network of our Nation (though I am a Conservative I too realize that some of the President’s appointees failed to respond adequately), which includes the strategic oil reserves, that was created in the 70s to counter Middle East turmoil; however, turmoil of such catastrophic events as Hurricane Katrina were never imagined. In the wake of Katrina oil leaped into the forefront of threats to the world economy. Yet the markets have settled, and prices per gallon continue to plunge (I pay $1.94 a gallon), and anxiety then evolves into a catalyst for future natural disasters or turmoil throughout the world.

In 2006 the oil markets will have two looming structural questions… Exactly what is the price that toils and tempts demand? And, will America turn away from gas guzzling Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) which inflate demand?

First, Economy 101 suggests that a slowing in demand will relieve pressures on this volatile market; however, that will only be just if there is a slowdown in globalization in China and India.

Second, if America was not able to relieve its desire to drive gas guzzling vehicles and SUVs at $2.00 a gallon… how about $3.00 a gallon?

The true spark of the thrust in demand was born and currently resides in China, and it wasn’t completely attributed to the automotive industry, but there was also an energy crisis in China as they actually suffered electricity shortages in 2005. China has sped up its energy efficiency learning-curve, and in 2006 along with the United States of America we will be seeking renewable energy resources, as well as conservation from house to house to garage to garage.

To Be Continued...

(Part 2 will be available next Friday)

The NCO Creed

2006-02-16T07:40:00.000-08:00

No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as "The Backbone of the Army". I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety.

Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind -- accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain tactically and technically proficient. I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment.

Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers, and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders!

After quite a perilous journey through my tenure in the military, I will finally be awarded my stripes on the first of March. It has been an honor serving my country, and I am proud to soon be a member of this great Corp of Noncommissioned Officers.

The Birth of Privacy

2006-02-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

Many will argue whether privacy is really in the constitution or not, but one thing is for sure… I have not seen it clearly identified like that of the leftist opinion of the Supreme Court in 1965. If you seem startled and I have intrigued your memory, 1965 is not the year of the prolific Roe v. Wade decision (which was actually in 1973), in fact the landmark decision I am speaking of served as the subsequent jurisprudence in favor of Roe.

In 1879, the Connecticut Legislature passed a controversial law which forbade any use of contraception or the assisting of anyone seeking contraception; furthermore, it essentially prohibited the use of "any drug, medicinal article or instrument for the purpose of preventing conception" (you can also find this law within many sects of Christianity, but that is another post for another day). Though this law was viewed as archaic and unenforceable, nearly a century later two officers of the Planned Parenthood League in Connecticut were convicted of providing contraceptive information to married couples, their conviction compelled the Supreme Court to intervene, and overturn the Connecticut statute.

The unfortunate event that later transpired is that Supreme Court Justice William Douglas identified his perception that the first, third, fourth, and fifth amendments to the Constitution all provided degrees of privacy, but as you can clearly see from reading them in their entirety that is far from the obvious viewpoint, and a viewpoint that I do not share. Nonetheless, he stated that the right to privacy predated the Bill of Rights, and he based this idea on a memo that Thomas Jefferson wrote decades after the creation of the Constitution.

Justice Douglas was joined by concurring opinions from Justices Arthur Goldberg, Earl Warren, and William Brennan, that all pointed that the right to marital privacy rarely invoked the interpretation of the ninth amendment (the fact that a particular right is not mentioned in the Constitution does not mean that it can be curtailed by government).

This league of left argued that the existence of the “right of privacy” was bolstered by the ninth amendment’s protection of un-enumerated rights.

Justice Goldberg wrote:

Since 1791 [the Ninth Amendment] has been a basic part of the Constitution which we are sworn to uphold. To hold that a right so basic and fundamental and so deep-rooted in our society as the right of privacy in marriage may be infringed because that right is not guaranteed in so many words by the first eight amendments to the Constitution is to ignore the Ninth Amendment and to give it no effect whatsoever.

The more centric of Justices John Marshall Harlan II, and Byron White, concurred in the judgment of invalidating the “archaic” Connecticut law, but based their ascension on the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Justice Harlan urged that the Due Process Clause protected liberties which were un-enumerated in the first ten amendments of the Bill of Rights. White's opinion went as far as that the Connecticut law served no coherent purpose.

The remaining justices, the two foremost in my admiration, Justice Potter Stewart and Justice Hugo Black dissented (the 7-2 vote showed some revere of conservative values: hence the admiration), denying the existence of any constitutional provisions protecting the "right of privacy". They also feared the consequences of a departure from the Constitution's text, and they were absolutely correct in their assertion.

Both justices noted that the "right of privacy" had generally been held to inhere in the Fourth Amendment: not the Bill of Rights in general.

Justice Stewart wrote the following in his dissent:

In the course of its opinion, the Court refers to no less than six amendments to the constitution: the first, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the ninth and the fourteenth. But the court does not say which of these Amendments, if any, it thinks are infringed by this law.

The Ninth Amendment ... [was intended] to make clear that the adoption of the Bill of Rights did not alter the plan that the Federal Government was to be a government of express and limited powers, and that all rights and powers not delegated to it were retained by the people and the individual States. Until today no member of this Court has ever suggested that the Ninth Amendment meant anything else.

Justice Black added the following:

The Court talks about a constitutional "right of privacy" as though there is some constitutional provision or provisions forbidding any law ever to be passed which might abridge the "privacy" of individuals. But there is not.

[F]or a period of a century and a half, no serious suggestion was ever made that the Ninth Amendment, enacted to protect state powers against Federal invasion, could be used as a weapon of Federal power to prevent state legislatures from passing laws they consider appropriate to govern local affairs.

These two opinions are the basis for my staunch belief that the constitutional “right of privacy” is not evident. Even the fourth amendment is too vague for me to actually outline a definite “right of privacy”. My thoughts are that instead of the longing pursuit of overturning Roe v. Wade: I believe that some scholars should turn to this case first and foremost, because this is the biggest chip that Republicans can use, in the years of a conservative Supreme Court, in the crusade against abortion.

Finally Home

2006-02-04T20:14:00.000-08:00

The tears were in abundance on the hallowed Parade field today, and they were tears of hope, love, and happiness.

I cannot express in words the love I have for this country, and especially my dearest Marie.

It was an honor serving you in this great nation of ours.

It is great to be back, and I truly look forward to rejoining the Blogosphere.

The Wait Continues

2006-01-27T03:08:00.000-08:00

I truly apologize to all of my faithful readers, but the long journey home is still ongoing.

I will be arriving on or about the first of February in the bright and beautiful United States of America.

Upon my return, there will be some changes to the management of this Blog, and there will soon be a method to the "Blog Madness".

Some much needed structure has been called for... the weekly Posts will follow a strict guideline enforced by myself for the pleasure of the reader.

Mondays will be a weekly surmon, if you will, on my views of the State of our Nation.

Tuesdays will be a key story about turning points in the History of the Republican Party.

Wednesdays will be fireside stories that I will one day share with my children about Operation Iraqi Freedom (with an added bonus of never before seen photos).

Thursdays will be a weekly dose of the State of our State.

Fridays will be a report on the week in news, where I will dissect the biggest stories on your local programming.

I hope you will enjoy the new format, and I plan to adhere to my own personal standards of professionalism in the Blogosphere.

God Bless and I will be home in a few days.

Michael Churchill is My Hero !

2005-12-26T15:11:00.000-08:00

Michael will be home with in the next three weeks. I am extremely happy! He has been in the Middle East since August. I have missed him so much. Not a day has gone by that I have not thought about him and prayed for his and his fellow soldiers safety. He is the love of my life and I don't know what I would do or be without him. He makes me so proud. He is such a brave, loyal, and wonderful soldier. I am so lucky to call him my fiance. I will be praying for his safe return in January and hope that you all will as well. Thank you so much for all your comments while he has been gone. I personally hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a very Happy New Year. By the way, SPC Churchill is MY HERO!!!

Coming Soon

2005-12-18T02:36:00.000-08:00

Within the next thirty days I will be home.

As the proverb goes… A journey of a million miles begins with one step.

My journey is near an end.

It has been an unforgettable experience, and if I can take a quote from my namesake… “History will be kind on me, because I intend to write it.”

Though there are some no longer in support of the war in Iraq… I encourage them to see what we are doing first hand; otherwise, accepting the truths that are told to them through the Liberal Media.

I heard a quote from a Marine that recently returned home from Iraq, mentioned after watching some television, “I thought we were winning the war until I saw the news.”

I know that we are making a positive difference in the lives of each and every Iraqi.

Some may call water and electricity all propaganda.

I call it the basic necessity for sustaining human life.

While I am in transit I encourage all the viewers to leave a comment or send me an e-mail expressing your chief concerns about the State of our Nation.

Your comments and messages will help me greatly in the creation of an online survey that I will be putting together upon my return for the constituents of the 25th District of South Carolina’s Senate.

Thank you for all the support and prayers since my departure in August.

Marie, I love you, and I will be home soon.

A Christmas wish from Howard Dean

2005-12-08T09:16:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday the South Carolina GOP Chairman, Katon Dawson, called upon the Democrat Governor, Mark Warner, to refute the defeatists comments made by the Democratic Party Chairman, Howard Dean.

The comments made during a radio interview in San Antonio, Texas, Dean accepted and embraced America’s defeat in the war on terror in Iraq.

“The idea that the United States is going to win the war in Iraq is just plain wrong,” Dean said in the interview.

Not in the Press Release from the South Carolina GOP, is probably one of the most embarrassing statements, “I have seen this before in my life – it cost 25,000 brave American soldiers who lost their lives in Vietnam, and I don’t want to go down that road again.”

I realize that he is not a history teacher, but I thought it was 58,000 soldiers that died in Vietnam, or is he presuming that 33,000 of them were not brave.

I am in Iraq right now serving my country, and I am proud to do so, but when I hear the head of the second largest political affiliation in my country bash the war that they voted to put us into: it is just plain poor politics.

The only way Iraq will become the next Vietnam is if the Democrats continue this war against the war on terror.

Please don't let this happen America.

Donate to the GOP.

October 15, 2005: Victory

2005-11-19T07:34:00.000-08:00

The days leading to the referendum for the Iraqi Constitution were those of immense anticipation and readiness for the worst, but the worst was not to materialize.

I was part of one of the boldest steps a young free and democratic nation can take; yet the media, because of its success, drowned it out. A story that may be seen in the history books seems destined to be forgotten by the people of our own country, who are bound to the evening news like shackles on a prisoner of ignorance.

In a display of pure power and determination of will the Iraqi populace left the relative safety of their homes in masses, and insured history would be kind on them.

Shia, Sunnis, and even the Kurds flooded the polling sites in union to show their support for a brighter future. A culmination and surprise of bravado courage was on every street corner. The calamitous valor was beaming throughout the youthful democracy, and a true inspiration to each and every soldier that day, because even the most doubtful and war weary of those soldiers realized that their hard work and struggles were paying their dues.

The boycott that was once mentioned was trumped by the pride of a purple fingertip. A 1600 percent increase in turnout in the Al-‘Anbar province alone from the January election was a slap in the face to the insurgency, and the Liberals of our Nation. The overwhelming vote of yes will not soon be lost in my eyes and the 2,000 other soldiers that have gone before will forever be the heroes of democracy in Iraq.

Democracy is a beautiful trademark for freedom, and the Iraqi people, along with the United States population owe a tremendous amount of gratitude.

I have held the ranks of those heroes, and I will never forget.

YES! To windfall taxes

2005-11-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

Here is a new post from our favorite blogger Mike:

I thought that the Liberals had ended their game of taxing in lieu of slamming the GOP at every opportunity.

It appears that they have finally gotten some great work done on the hill recently... They are going to start punishing successful businesses. YAY!!!

My only thought against this terrific idea from Liberals is that we set up a trial run with Aquafina and Dasani Water distributors. They have like three cents of overhead, but are charging consumers $1.29 USD for a 20-ounce drink of tap water.

If that works... Lets take down the Oil Kings; of whom, suffer dearly during economic struggles like that of the late 1990's. Then we can rely on the windfall tax revenue from the water distributors to pay for their unemployment checks.

(Disclaimer: The previous statement is Sarcasm)

The Plame Game

2005-10-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

Here is something Mike wanted to share with everyone that he has been working on.

History teaches us many things in life except for what’s to come.

2001- The Italian Intelligence Agency obtained documents that appear to show that some unidentified Iraqi Officials attempted to purchase yellowcake from Niger.

February 2002 – Due to concerns of Vice President Dick Cheney’s Office, the CIA sent the former diplomat Joseph Wilson to Niger, to investigate reports that Iraq tried to purchase Uranium from Africa.

March 2002 – Following an eight day excursion to Africa, Joe Wilson tells the CIA that the reports are erroneous. Then the CIA sent a memo on the ninth to the White House concerning Wilson’s findings.

October 10th & 11th 2002 - The US House of Representatives and the US Senate pass resolutions authorizing the use of force against Iraq, based on their nuclear threat, and some persuasive intelligence reports from Britain.

January 28th 2003 – During President Bush’s State of the Union Address, he said that, “the British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of Uranium from Africa.” However, he did fail to mention the fact that some US Intelligence Agencies had continued to question the reliability and validity of the British Intelligence reports.

February 5th 2003 – The former Secretary of State, Colin Powell, spoke to the United Nations about the connection between Iraq-Africa Uranium deals; however, in retrospect thought, “it wasn’t strong enough evidence to present to the world.”

July 6th 2003 – Wilson writes a timely (for himself) piece, released in the New York Times, about charges against the Administration that they “twisted” and “exaggerated” the threat posed by Iraq on America.

July 7th 2003 – In response to the Wilson story, the White House admits that they should have refrained from using the nuclear claim during the State of the Union Address.

While aboard Air Force One, then Secretary of State, Colin Powell was given a memo that addressed the Media Frenzy about Wilson’s trip to Niger, and it stated within the document that Valerie Wilson worked for the CIA.

July 8th 2003 – Karl Rove discussed with Robert Novak the Wilson trip to Niger, and the part that his wife may or may not had in the trip. During that discussion, which was initiated by Novak, Rove only spoke of Wilson’s wife by her maiden name.

July 11th 2003 – Karl Rove discussed the same topic with Time reporter Matthew Cooper.

The CIA Director, George Tenet, tells the media it was a mistake not removing the Niger claim from the State of the Union Address, because of apparent pressure coming from the National Security Council, and even their Deputy, Stephen Hadley, said that he forgot seeing the memos doubting the reports.

July 14th 2003 – The brilliant Novak intentionally outs Valerie Plame as a CIA Operative, and all with complete disregard to the sanctity of human life.

July 17th 2003 – Matthew Cooper publishes an article for Time.com that studied the attempts by the Administration to discredit Wilson’s article in the New York Times.

September 2003 – Then White House Council and now Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, was informed by the Justice Department, that they would be opening an investigation concerning the possible Security Compromise of Valerie Plame’s identity as a CIA Operative.

June 10th 2004 – While attending the G8 in Sea Island, President Bush was asked by a Journalist, “Do you stand by your pledge to fire anyone found?” (Concerning the outing of Plame), and he answered adamantly “yes”.

July 1st 2005 – Time magazine agrees to comply with the court order of forfeiting Matthew Cooper’s notes, e-mails, and other documents surrounding the Plame scandal.

July 6th 2005 – Judith Miller goes to Jail for refusing to testify before the Grand Jury.

July 13th 2005 – Matthew Cooper detailed his conversations with Karl Rove in front of the Grand Jury.

Michael’s “right” view of this story

The political genius Karl Rove, arch-nemesis of the Democratic Party, is reportedly going to give additional testimony concerning his role in the Valerie Plame scandal of 2003: Stemming from a request by Special Prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, to appear before the Grand Jury, but has yet to set a date for such.
According to the US Attorney's Manual, Prosecutors are required to notify witnesses in advance of their testimony that what they say may be used against them if there is a possibility of an indictment, and Fitzgerald has also yet garner such an indication of indictment.

The overwhelming problem that faces Fitzgerald is legal precedence, and there is none that directly correlates to this particular investigation. So he is stuck with the sticky situation of finding a crime that was committed.

The 1982 Intelligence Identities Protection Act makes it a Federal Offense to intentionally reveal a Covert Operative’s Identity, but this is a different crime.

Is it a crime of passion? Is it obstruction of Justice? Or could it even be perjury?

Probably ill conceived political agendas, but far from actually breaking any laws is my conclusion.

Plame's Identity Theft

Longtime CNN contributor Robert Novak, the man who acted under complete disregard to National Security, cited two "senior administration officials" for the disclosure of Plame’s identity as a CIA Operative, and he has refused to say publicly who his sources were, or if he will cooperate with Fitzgerald’s investigation.

As aforementioned, the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation in late September 2003, by the persistent requests of the CIA. Fitzgerald, the U.S. attorney in Chicago, was named a special prosecutor at the end of the year after then-Attorney General John Ashcroft excused himself from the probe.

Joseph Wilson's banter free column

The disclosure about Plame came a week after her husband, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Joseph Wilson, wrote an opinion column in The New York Times challenging the foundation of the administration's reasoning for the invasion of Iraq: citing that Saddam Hussein was attempting to obtain uranium from Africa to resume their nuclear weapons program.

Wilson’s testament that he was sent to Niger in February of 2002 to investigate the claim about Iraq, and found no evidence that such a transaction occurred and that it was unlikely it could have.

"I have little choice but to conclude that some of the intelligence related to Iraq's nuclear weapons program was twisted to exaggerate the Iraqi threat," Wilson wrote.

My final conclusion

The mudslinging needs to end.

Those currently in the political arena need to grow up, and start doing their real jobs of customer service. They are not supposed to be concerned with what the other party is doing, or how to take them down to the minority on the Hill. You are supposed to be in the constant pursuit of making we the people happy.

I am far from the United States right now, but the consummate battle between the political parties has waves that reach the Middle East. Even the Iraqis get CNN, and they see this insipid debauchery going on with our elected officials.

This little story is one of the sole pillars to my platform, and a reason I will soon venture into the political arena, because someone needs to take action for the people, while everyone else sits around and complains about the other party.

The truth is out there, but no one is there to deliver it, because the liberal media bias blinds all of us.

The ability to make a change for the better is out there, but if you don’t elect people to make that difference, we will not progress as a nation.

Coming Soon

2005-10-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to inform all the loyal readers of this blogspot. Mike is working on two big projects for this site. The first one is called "The Plame Game". Mike will share his view of what is really going on with this scandal. The next project is "Iraq: Far from the Garden of Eden".- the truth behind the war in Iraq. I am eagerly awaiting both projects since I know they will be very interesting.
Keep watching this site.

"These Colors Don't Run"

2005-10-03T06:18:00.000-07:00

Cindy Sheehan is nothing more than a puppet of Michael Moore and Howard Dean.

She fails to recognize that our mission here in Iraq is making a difference in a positive way, and that it is people like her that endanger my life.

In my opinion, she is this generation’s failure Jane Fonda.

-From Michael R. Churchill

An Open Letter To Cindy Sheehan -- From the Proud Father of a U.S. Marine

Ms. Sheehan,

By your actions over the past two weeks it is clear that you missed an important aspect of Civics 101: With rights come responsibilities. You certainly have the right to voice your opinion against the war in and the President's policies. You even have the right to camp outside the President's home in Crawford and demand he meet with you. Your status as a mother who has lost a child in the war also gives your words and actions a credibility and a larger audience than otherwise would be the case. Now that your supporters have given you a broad forum fr! om which to be heard, making you a national figure, its time you considered your responsibilities to all of us. I have a daughter set to deploy to Fallujah in two weeks and I have a serious concern with how your irresponsible and short sighted actions might impact on her. She is, after all, a volunteer, like your son, and she is going in harm's way because she believes it is her responsibility to protect your rights and freedoms.

Well meaning people like you always seem to forget the law of unintended consequences and in your vanity and arrogant self-righteousness never bother to think through what it is you are trying to do versus what you may actually accomplish. I am here to inform you, Ma'am, that you will not change the policy of our government by sitting outside Crawford making a spectacle of yourself in the name of your rights to free speech; what you will do is provide more propaganda for our enemies and cost the lives of even more brave and selfless American war! riors. How long do you think it will be before you become a star on Al Jazeera? For all I know, it may have already happened. One thing is certain, though, and that is that your actions and words will further embolden a ruthless and evil enemy and more American blood will be shed and some of it will be on your hands. I pray that my daughter will not be one of them. If she is, then I will hold you and those like you partly responsible. Yes, my daughter's fate will depend mostly on her own courageous decision to serve, but only the most naive among us can deny the impact our own words and actions here in America have in a world grown smaller by the revolution in communications technology.

I am sure you believe that you are serving some great cause by putting our servicemen and women in more danger and that you can, by your irresponsible exercise of free speech, help end a policy you disagree with. Your emotion may be compelling but the reality is that you will not set in! motion any process that will change or undo what has been done. The war will go on because to end it now would dishonor the sacrifice of all of our fellow countrymen who have died in the cause of fighting terrorism. Rational Americans will not allow that. Too much is at stake. Unfortunately, shallow and irrational ones, such as yourself, will continue to put the lives of our sons and daughters in danger by aiding and abetting an enemy who sees propagandizing in the mass media as its main weapon in a war it could otherwise not win standing on its own wretched and evil justification of radical Islam, or by force of arms. You, Ma'am, have joined forces with an evil you neither understand nor apparently have tried to comprehend.

You direct your anger toward our country while the enemy plots to kill and maim the innocent. You make a mockery of responsible free speech while thousands of young men and women fight desperately to preserve your safety. Instead of honoring your son's sacrifice you are inspired to comfort an evil enemy.

You clearly do not understand the challenge we face as a nation and have not tried to put it in historical perspective. It is a sad fact that it is those of your thinking that have led us to where we are today. Decades of appeasement to these haters of everything we hold dear has cost thousands of American lives from Beirut to New York and in dozens of other forgotten places. Remember Lockerbie? The Achille Lauro? The USS Cole? We as a people were dragged into this war, much like December 7th, 1941, and we must fight and win it wherever the enemy hides and again! st whomever would support him. Make no mistake about Iraq. It is both a legitimate and crucial campaign in this much larger, global war of radical Islam's making. These people hate us for who we are, not what we have done. We did not bring this on ourselves, as many would have us believe, by our policies and actions abroad. We brought this on ourselves in 1775 when the Founding Fathers embarked on a course of freedom, tolerance, and liberal democratic and social ideals.

These haters of all we hold dear strive to destroy forever a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people" that Abraham Lincoln hoped would never "Perish from the earth". They would replace it with an oppressive world theocracy unlike anything modern history has ever seen for its ruthless disregard for personal freedom and liberty. If more appeasement is your answer for an alternative policy, spare us. We have suffered enough from cowardice and inaction.

An historical analogy screams to be let out here. It is one of two men, both named Chamberlain. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a school teacher turned soldier in the American Civil War, found himself in the crosshairs of history on a warm July day in 1863 on a small hill in Pennsylvania. Commanding the 20th Maine Regiment on the extreme Union left at Gettysburg he was in a most perilous position. Should he f! ail to hold against a strong Confederate attack, the Union could be lost. You see, he was serving in an increasingly unpopular war at home against a resurgent enemy, and for a President fighting for his political life. Colonel Chamberlain, stoic but determined, refused to yield. His small regiment held against an onslaught of Confederate attacks, an action many historians believe turned the tide of the war. He was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The other half of this analogy focuses on Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Great Britain in the years preceding World War II. His story is widely known. Through his policy of appeasement and a lack of moral courage, he handed Adolf Hitler much of Europe. Which side of history have you chosen, Ma'am?

Your son died in the service of freedom and my daughter will go in harm's way to protect and preserve it. Honor their sacrifice, Ma'am, by exercising it responsibly.

I will pray with you and I will! grieve with you but I will not stand by silent while you needlessly and arrogantly endanger the life of my daughter and her comrades in arms. Please bless us with your silence and go home.
Brantley Smith
Proud father of a United States Marine
Tullahoma, TN

Happy Birthday Michael

2005-09-29T04:17:00.000-07:00

Today is Michael's birthday. I just want to take some time to wish him a wonderful birthday and let him know that we are all thinking of him and miss him. So Happy Birthday Michael!! I love you so much and can't wait for your safe return into my arms!!

Hi to all

2005-09-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

My name is Marianne. I have the honor of being the future mother in law of Michael Churchill. Mike has asked me to help Marie post a few new things on his blog. He is fine and we can't wait to see him when he returns. The following is an email I received from a friend that Mike thought you might find interesting. By the way the picture is of Mary Jo Kopechne not me.

My name is Mary Jo Kopechne.

I would have been 65 years of age this year.

Read about me and my killer below:

When Sen. Ted Kennedy was merely just another Democrat bloating on Capitol Hill on behalf of liberal causes, it was perhaps excusable to ignore his deplorable past.

But now that he's become a leading Republican attack dog, positioning himself as Washington's leading arbiter of truth and integrity, the days for such indulgence are now over.

It's time for the GOP to stand up and remind America why this chief spokesman had to abandon his own presidential bid in 1980 - time to say the words "Mary Jo Kopechne" out loud.

As is often the case, Republicans have deluded themselves into thinking that most Americans already know the story of how this "Conscience of the Democratic Party" left Miss Kopechne behind to die in the waters underneath the Edgartown Bridge in July 1969, after a night of drinking and partying with the young blonde campaign worker. But most Americans under 40 have never heard that story, or details of how Kennedy swam to safety, then tried to get his cousin Joe Garghan to say he was behind the wheel.

Those young voters don't know how Miss Kopechne, trapped inside Kennedy's Oldsmobile, gasped for air until she finally died, while the Democrats' leading Iraq war critic rushed back to his compound to formulate the best alibi he could think of.

Neither does Generation X know how Kennedy was thrown out of Harvard on his ear 15 years earlier -- for paying a fellow student to take his Spanish final. Or why the US Army denied him a commission because he cheated on tests.

As they listen to the Democrats' "Liberal Lion" accuse President Bush of "telling lie after lie after lie" to get America to go to war in Iraq, young voters don't know about that notorious 1991 Easter weekend in Palm Beach when Uncle Teddy rounded up his nephews for a night on the town, an evening that ended with one of them credibly accused of rape.

It's time for Republicans to state unabashedly that they will no longer "go along with the gag" when it comes to Uncle Ted's rants about deception and moral turpitude inside the Bush White House.

And if the Republicans don't, let's do it ourselves by passing this forgotten disgrace around the Internet to wake up memories of what a fraud and fake Teddy really is.

The Democratic Party should be ashamed to have the national disgrace from Massachusetts as their spokesman.

Please pray for our Troops fighting for us. God Bless you All.

Hurricanes

2005-09-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

A special hello from the Middle East…

In my absence I wish everyone the best, because I have heard nothing but turmoil and disaster continues to linger along the Gulf Coast.

A land now desolate and destroyed, and to make it worse, I hear that the lackluster Liberals continue to delve off into Neverland to find new ways to regain power through making two natural disasters the fault of the Republican Party.

If that is correct: the Liberals must find it amusing to humiliate the Grand Ole Party even when the Nation is at its most desperate of hours. Instead of helping the poor people stricken by back-to-back hurricanes, they continue to swarm in their offices and think up new and glorious ways to get back at the party that is attempting to restore hope through humanitarian efforts.

They may believe that they can teach children that pointing the finger is better than lending a helping hand, because after all… all they claim to do is "for the children".

That is quite the noble cause for the Liberals to take on, and I am happy that they are doing such, because it makes the Republican Party shine that much brighter.

I do have one ingenious idea for those Liberal readers whom may stumble upon this: how about putting on some pants, turn off the "Great Moments in ACLU History" that’s playing on your television, drive your Hybrid car down to the Food Bank, Red Cross, etc… and help out.

"The measure of wisdom is taking a hard look in the mirror, the measure of maturity is doing something about what you see." -Anonymous

Michael says "Hello".

2005-08-31T15:17:00.000-07:00

Michael has been able to call and email me pretty frequently. He is doing very well. He loves his job over there. Fortunately , he does get to sit at a desk and work inside. He is hoping to come home in December or January but it is up in the air right now. He says to tell you all that he appreciates everyone's comments and all of the support for him and all the troops. He can read comments so please feel free to leave him one. He misses the blogosphere and cannot wait to get home.

Michael has made it safe and sound !

2005-08-18T16:10:00.000-07:00

I received a call from Mike last night. I was so excited to finally hear from him!! He said he is doing fine but that it was really hot. He is staying in barracks with a bunch of other soldiers for now. He said the food isn't that great but he will survive. He is in high spirits and can't wait to get home so he can get back to blogging. He told me to tell everyone he said hello and to keep praying for him and his fellow soldiers.

Michael, You Will Be Missed

2005-08-15T03:51:00.000-07:00

Michael left on Sunday for a tour of duty in the Middle East. He has asked me, his fiance to keep everyone up to date on how everything is going for him. As I am sure you know, he won't be able to get in touch with anyone for about a week or so. He is such a wonderful soldier. He is one of the best, if not the best at what he does. Please keep him and all of the soldiers in the Middle East in your prayers. He will be missed.

Good Bye...

2005-08-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

As most of you are already aware by my disclaimer or previous posts, I am a member of the Armed Forces, and as so I must embark on a journey of sorts. I will be gone for a few months, and to my loyal viewers of this site I want to send along a short message to remember me by in my absence.

My final message for the next few months is one that transcends this great forum; beyond the borders of District 25 of South Carolina are the people of our great Nation, whom are in the never-ending pursuit of happiness.

I would like you, the reader, to find within yourselves, prior to falling fast asleep tonight, to remember what the words duty, honor, and country impedes upon your hearts and minds… remember what it takes to be a great nation… remember what patriotism feels like upon seeing the flag, because as a Nation we have come upon victory in the most desperate of hours many times before.

That hour is here for me today, and if I leave one thing behind for these months, it is the hope for a better day to follow for my family and friends.

My inspiration and only lasting literature that I would like to pass along once more is the poem I wrote back in August of last year:

A Patriots Poem

When I think about what I want: I am reminded of what I have.
When I can realize what I have: I am reminded of what it took to achieve it.
Nothing in life is easy, and if it was, it wasn’t worth it.
What do you feel and think about when the National Anthem is played?
I feel an overwhelming sense of pride.

When I think about what I have lost: I am reminded of what I have gained.
When I can realize what I have gained: I am reminded of what it took to achieve it.
Nothing in life should be taken for granted, and if you have, you may want to re-consider.
What do you feel and think about when you see a plane full of soldiers returning from Iraq to loved ones?
I feel an overwhelming sense of duty and honor.

When you think about it, about our country: remember those who serve to defend it.
When you think about what you have: remember what it took to achieve it.
Serving our country is not easy, and if it were, I wouldn’t do it.
So the next time you hear the National Anthem played, remember those who serve, and those who have come before.
It’s not until you realize what you have lost, that you are reminded of what you have gained…

Freedom.

God bless and good bye.

Out of Town

2005-08-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

I apologize to my faithful readers, but I will be out of town for the weekend. I am working on the new site that should be opening up soon (for a sneak preview CLICK HERE).

Since I won't be around for the Friday Funnies, I thought I would show you a cartoon that transcends time:

Enjoy, and have a great weekend.

The Highway Bill of 2005

2005-08-03T04:19:00.000-07:00

I have said it before, and I will say it again: to improve the job market we must improve our infrastructure. The bottom line is that goods and services is what propels our economy, and without timely and efficient roadways we spend more at the stores.

District 25 of South Carolina is in dire need of infrastructure improvements, because a large base of the economy derives from textiles and shipping.

When our late President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed the first national highway bill at the turning point of the twentieth century, there were two projects singled out for funding. Today there is an estimated 6,371 projects in this six-year, 286 BILLION DOLLAR highway and mass transit bill passed by Congress last week.

The cost of this bill is a bit absurd, but it will bring jobs and a better quality of life to our community and state.

However, everyone’s not so favorite Republican Senator, John McCain, is one of four Senators who oppose this bill, citing that it is "egregious and remarkable".

(Note to self: Don’t vote for him in the 2008 Primaries)

The outlook is bright for this Bill, and I am happy to say so…

What do you think?

10,000!!!

2005-08-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Another step toward running a successful Blog has come about today, and mere days following the same accomplishment by CJ at the Soldiers Perspective.

The 10,000 hit mark is truly amazing, and even more so is the support that I have received along the way.

Several fellow Bloggers have influenced, encouraged, and enlightened me as I embark on such a difficult journey to the South Carolina State Senate.

Most recently, Jay over at Stop the ACLU has uncovered more of the abuses of the ACLU swindling money from anyone and nearly everyone.

The Palmetto Pundit has returned from a camping trip, chomping at the bits to discuss the recent John Bolton interim appointment to the United Nations.

Amy Allen is always lending a helping hand over at Obiter Dictum, and chiming in from time to time with her insightful and unique conservative perspective.

Even my gun-toting friend over at Gun Toting Liberal stops by to grace the Comment area, because even though some of our views differ there is one constant and that is our love of country.

Thanks to everyone for coming by and adding a piece to the puzzle… the voice of the people.

God bless, and have a great day!

Mr. Contradiction

2005-08-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

The Verdict is in on Energy

2005-07-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

After several bicker-plagued years of deliberation (of sorts), the United States Congress finally reached a proverbial verdict on Friday, which delivered our President an Energy Bill.

This Bill covers a unique blend of fuels, jobs, coal, and nuclear reactors; however, the bill probably will not bring about marked changes in our electricity bills or prices at the pump.

The bill, in excess of 12 billion dollars, brought up minimal dissent from Democrats on the Hill, and the majority of them brought up concerns that it doesn’t do anything for reducing oil consumption in the United States.

(Note to self: Placing restrictions is TOO much government, and would become an even larger waste of money than this Bill)

So why exactly did lawmakers waste time writing a 1,724-page bill if it will have no impact on energy prices?

~It expands daylight-saving time by one month, which will go into effect in 2007.

~New consumer tax credits for the purchase of hybrid-electric cars, and tax breaks for energy conservation in their homes (i.e. Solar Panels).

~Billions upon billions in loan guarantees and other subsidies to encourage oil and gas drilling, improve natural gas and electric transmission lines, build new nuclear power reactors and expand renewable energy sources, especially construction of wind turbines.

~It will spark a boom in agriculture needed to create corn-based ethanol.

~Finally, there will be Federal reliability standards for the electricity grid.

So the price was eventually overruled (keeping with the theme) by its widespread political support, because it makes everyone happy... even me.

What do you think?

Nostradamus?

2005-07-29T06:27:00.000-07:00

(Pic via Active Mind)

I have the uncanny ability to see into the future (JK). This was an article I wrote back on the 21st of July, which holds true today:

Unfortunately, Republican Senators have failed once again to move Senate toward an “up-or-down” vote on President Bush’s Nomination for the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton.

The staggering stall placed on the GOP Agenda has become prevalent, with or without the controversial compromise a few weeks ago in Senate, and may lead President Bush to circumvent Senate, and announce Mr. Bolton as an Interim Appointee when Congress breaks for its Fourth of July holiday.

(Note to self: I guess I was partially wrong)

A State Department official said Monday that such a move, "is not under active consideration"; however, White House officials have said that President Bush is keeping his options open.

The Constitution allows a president to appoint someone during a Senate recess without the chamber's approval, and such an appointment would be valid only through the next one-year congressional term.

Regardless of Democrats charges that Bolton does not have the diplomatic skills for the job, Mr. Bolton's blunt style and skepticism is just what the doctor ordered, to promote reform within the organization.

I applaud President Bush and the White House for even mentioning this, and the prospect of advancing the GOP Agenda for at least one year, regardless of the filibuster.

Check out what the cover of CNN says!

For Our Children

2005-07-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

South Carolina continues to loom along the bottom of the barrel when it comes to children affairs. The latest report confirms that our State is at a standstill among seven states with the worst child well-being.

(Note to self: Democrats lay claim to be “For the Children”, but the claims have not been substantiated in our State)

There are six indicators contributing to the horrible ranking: low birth weight, infant mortality, teen deaths, child deaths, single-parent families, and children living in families without full-time yearly employment.

So where does our State stand in these specific areas?

• Low birth weight (48th)
• Infant mortality (47th)
• Child Deaths (42nd)
• Teen deaths (41st)
• Children in single-parent households (48th)
• Children living in families without full-time yearly employment (41st)

For those of you who live within the borders of District 25 of South Carolina we need a change… That change will be offered to you in 2006. I will not let these tragedies continue to pile up on my watch… Not today… Not tomorrow… Never!

Thank you, and God bless those families.

Platform for 2006 Preview: Taxes

2005-07-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

State expenditures continue to increase... meanwhile, incomes continue to decrease… There is a budget crisis of unnecessary government jobs in our State, which steals the people’s ability to govern themselves, and this is a serious problem in my eyes. That problem is not that we tax too little… we spend WAY too much.

There are some difficult decisions ahead that are necessary to balance a budget, and our economy will not survive in the 21st century if we don’t do more with less. The 25th District of South Carolina deserves a State Senator who is watchful and responsive to the process and to the people. Without that… It is the old cliché of taxation without equal and adequate representation.

Please tell me your thoughts...

Two Men in Spartanburg caught powdering nose

2005-07-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

(Pic from Addictions.org)

Spartanburg has popped up on the Carolina radar today, and all over a measly two million dollars worth of Cocaine (400 Grams)...

To those out there in the Carolina Community who believe that the “War on Drugs” is over just ask Sheriff Chuck Wright of Spartanburg County.

The simple fact remains that every few decades or so, there is a trend of sparked narcotic usage in the United States, and I for one DO NOT want to see that trend continue.

(Leniency given to these offenders need to stop, and stop now)

You can check out the rest of the story HERE.

What are your thoughts?

New Social Security Card

2005-07-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

I want to send a big thanks to CJ over at Soldiers Perspective for showing me this. I suppose I was wrong with the assumption that the Democrats have done nothing for Social Security Reform. I am proud to present the new Social Security Card provided by the DNC.

Jobs

2005-07-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

This is one of the portions of my platform that has garnered the most talk around my community:

Jobs

For those who are unaware, we continue to lose jobs to our neighbors to the north and to our west. To reverse this terrible trend we need to reduce regulations and red tape for small businesses, improve education through various training opportunities, and our infrastructure. The age-old adage in my opinion rings true even today that government doesn’t create jobs… people do. I will ensure that the State of South Carolina meets the President’s goals of performance and improvement, because we need an educated workforce, and one that is responsive to our States needs. I can guarantee that I will work towards and vote for any legislation to cut through red tape, and make our workforce a commodity in the 21st century.

Roberts v. Abortion

2005-07-20T07:36:00.000-07:00

(Pic from CNN.com)

President Bush’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge John Roberts, came last night as bit of a surprise, because of the recent Judge Clement rumors.

Judge Robert’s views on abortion will be the only problem that I can foresee with his confirmation by Senate in the coming months; however, Democrats in Senate will ultimately take some heat if that is their solitary concern.

During the President’s Campaign in 2004, he repeatedly stated he would fill a vacancy in the high court with someone along the line of Justices Thomas and Scalia; of whom, are the most willing to overturn the court’s precedence.

Some Liberal sources are predicting that this will lead to future changes with abortion, gay rights and affirmative action, and all could use some revamping in my opinion.

I am a staunch supporter of Pro-Life, and Judge Roberts personally argued in front of the Supreme Court in 1992 for Operation Rescue, and he was successful in the affirmation by the Court.

He also created the first Bush Administration's strategy against Roe v. Wade while he served as the Deputy to the US Solicitor General’s Office (basically the Attorney for the White House), and I applaud his efforts in the matter.

Roe v. Wade dates all the way back to 1973, and an overturn or revamping is in dyer need to say the least in my eyes.

What do you the reader have to say about all of this?

CONTACT YOUR SENATOR or SIGN THE PETITION , and you could even go as far as to print out THIS FORM and ask a few friends to sign it.

The Supreme Court

2005-07-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

(Pic from eadshome.com)

Rumors are amidst in our Nations Capitol today as reports are indicating that President Bush is closing in on his nomination to the Supreme Court. Could it be Judge Edith Clement (U.S. Court of Appeals, New Orleans) or Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, or an outsider?

There is no word yet from the White House today pertaining to when our President will disclose his selection; however, some officials (familiar with the process) said that “it appeared an announcement was imminent”.

Scott McClellan (White House Press Secretary) would only indicate that, "the president is closer today than he was yesterday on naming a nominee,"

I am just happy to hear that the President has been consoling both sides of the partisan plates in the decision process.

One name that comes to mind, as aforementioned, is Judge Edith Clement, who was confirmed by a 99-0 vote by the Senate when she was promoted to the appeals court in 2001, but the question remains if she would attain such a promising vote for a seat on the Supreme Court?

Clement is known as a conservative and a strict constructionist in most legal circles, yet she has also has eased fears among abortion-rights advocates (which is morally irreprehensible in my opinion).

There are a lot of names in the hat, but all will presumably be hammered by the Democrats in Senate, and by the MSM.

What are your thoughts?

Others presumably under consideration are: Maura Corrigan; Cecilia M. Altonaga; Mary Ann Glendon; Karen Williams; Janice Rogers Brown; and Priscilla Owen, who was just confirmed for a seat on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Fun at the Beach

2005-07-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

Back by popular demand… Yet another picture showing how much fun we all had at the beach last week.

Please do not fret about the lack of political posts, but I need some time to adapt to the current status of the “Rove Scandal”, NASA, and the looming SCOTUS nominee.

Also, over the next few weeks I will release portions of the election platform, and those that have requested complete copies will receive them on Thursday (BTW... It is not to late to request a copy).

So stay tuned…

Saltwater makes me shrink

2005-07-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

The future Mrs. Michael R. Churchill will always take advantage of a photo opportunity to display her incomparable height.

I had an excellent vacation, but I am ready to get back into the mix of the “Kingdom of Blog”.

I have missed quite a lot of news during my tour of the sandy shores on Hilton Head Island, but I am more ready than ever to discuss the current political problems we face on a daily basis (well... most of the time daily).

Vacation

2005-07-08T04:06:00.000-07:00

(Picture from Tymax.org, Copyright Dennis Fishit)

I am going on vacation for the next week or so to relax on the sandy shores of Hilton Head.

I will be out of the “blogosphere” until the 18th of July, but I will still be working in a sense… I will be preparing my platform for the election in 2006.

If you would like to receive a copy, send me an e-mail (votechurchill@yahoo.com) with your address on it, and I will be happy to send it out.

If not, it will be on the new website, which will be released on or about the first of August.

Please visit the sites on my Blog Roll, because they are truly great reads.

Thanks for stopping by, and I will be back soon.

The New Deep Throat

2005-07-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

A Federal Prosecutor has ordered Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper to testify before a Grand Jury, concerning the leak of a CIA Operative’s identity, even though the magazine has given up the e-mails, and other documents.

The Special Counsel, Patrick Fitzgerald, has also opposed Matthew Cooper and New York Times Reporter Judith Miller’s request of home detention for refusing to reveal their sources.

The Reporters could be ordered to jail today when U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan hears arguments from Fitzgerald and Lawyers for the reporters about whether they should testify.

Judge Hogan has already found them in contempt of court for refusing to divulge their sources, and he has also said that he is prepared to send them to jail if they continue along their path of injustice.

Now that you have some background info: tell me what you think…

For even more background concerning this ongoing story, the Palmetto Pundit has a great discussion on this topic as we speak...

Happy Birthday

2005-07-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

Have a great 59th Birthday Mr. President, and I hope the G8 Summit goes tremendously well, and we all wish your safe return.

"Fireworks... The Silent Killer"

2005-07-03T06:03:00.000-07:00

This years Forth of July emerges with an unwavering battle soon to ensue regarding a nomination for a new Justice to sit in Sandra Day O’Connor’s seat.

The Supreme Court Justice announced her resignation Friday, of which launched an immediate battle over her replacement.

The first woman to serve on the court (a Moderate Conservative), has been the swing vote on some of the highest of high-profile cases; of which, include abortion and the “CHAD” Scandal of the 2000 Bush v. Gore election.

In her letter of resignation to the President, she stated that, “she needed to spend more time with her husband and would leave her post after the confirmation of her successor”.

This will mark the first Supreme Court vacancy in eleven years, when President Clinton nominated Stephen Breyer.

I believe that the most appropriate replacement currently works in the Office of the Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales.

He is probably our greatest shot in the dark when it comes to Liberals in our Country, and he is a well suited appointee considering the recent “Compromise” between the 14 Moderate Senators.

(So Lindsey Graham may have saved the day after all: regardless of the Bolton nomination.)

This will be an exciting year on the Senate Floor, and it is perched on the shoulders of the seven Moderate Democrats.

In closing, I want to wish everyone a happy and safe Forth of July weekend.

WWMD: Alternate Display for the Ten Commandments

2005-07-01T04:43:00.000-07:00

The United States Supreme Court ruled Monday that exhibits of the Ten Commandments on government property must be evaluated on a case by case basis to ensure they don't violate the Constitution; of which, declared that Kentucky's McCreary and Pulaski counties went too far in promoting a religious message.

Those neighboring counties in the rolling mountainous region of eastern Kentucky, where fundamentalist Christian churches thrive in the hills and valleys, is a fair fit for the representation of the Commandments, because even the road signs urge travelers to repent.

Officials from the counties first displayed copies of the Ten Commandments in their courthouses in 1999, which was followed by the display of the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence; of which, the ACLU challenged in citing that it was forcing religion on the People.

Both counties are among many in Kentucky still in a bitter legal fight with the States Chapter of the ACLU over the displays, which depict the commandments.

David Friedman, whom argued the case for the ACLU in front of the Supreme Court, said, “Monday's ruling reaffirmed a core principle… That government and religion should not become impermissibly entangled."

(Here’s a clue for those in the ACLU, or supporters thereof, the constitution states that there will be a Separation of Church and State: NOT STATE FROM CHURCH)

Friedman also stated, “the ACLU would vigorously pursue its remaining cases”.

In 2003, a Federal Judge dismissed the ACLU's lawsuit seeking to remove the Ten Commandments from the Mercer County courthouse; of which, is still pending before a Federal Appeals Court. That same Judge denied the ACLU's request for a preliminary injunction to remove other Commandment displays in Rowan, and Garrard counties.

Meanwhile, only the frame remains in what had been a Ten Commandments… The ACLU previously won an injunction from different Judge, ordering that the commandments be taken off the courthouse wall.

So… What do you think the ACLU would do if someone put up this in the place of the Ten Commandments?

Congressional Record of 10 January 1963, concerning the ACLU’s Commandments of sorts.

Do you think the ACLU would be happy over this one, because they can't declare Congressional Record Unconstitutional?

Stop over and see what Jay has to say at Stop The ACLU... There is always great information over there about how horrible the ACLU truly is.

Once you are there, check out the BLOGBURST.

Social Security Update

2005-06-30T05:31:00.000-07:00

US House of Representatives Republican leaders say they will seek a vote this year (in July or September) on the scaled back version of President Bush's Social Security Accounts.

However, House Democrats immediately attacked the plan: versus, giving their own (its called debate?). Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, said, “Republicans were setting up a "shell game" out of a desire to undermine the Depression-era benefit program”.

House Republicans responded with, “the measure would create personal accounts for younger workers, and some of the funds would be used to replace part of their traditional benefit. At the same time, they added, the accounts could be inherited under some circumstances”.

This announcement is the first time senior Republicans in either House of Congress have pledged to put legislation to a vote.

Representative Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio, said, "The Democrats are not going to help us. We could probably get a lot farther down the road with some bipartisan help".

I cannot understand, personally, why either House won’t put their Partisan bickering and whining aside to start making some headway?

All I ever hear from a Democrat, in most cases, is “its for the children”.

If that is correct, then how about some help "for our children"?

Bittersweet Medicine

2005-06-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

In a strange turn of events, a Supreme Court Justices Home will be taken away, because of his recent rulings. Justice Souter’s home at 34 Cilley Hill Road in Weare, New Hampshire will hopefully soon be the home of a new hotel.

Due to his recent ruling in the matter, Freestar Media, has decided to build a Hotel on His land. ((Press Release))

Not many people enjoy a taste of their own medicine, but how about losing their home?

The Palmetto Pundit and Mike’s America have great articles concerning this turn of events.

I am just curious when the Supreme Court will stop doing the job of congress (making laws), and start interpreting them?

Great Speech

2005-06-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

“After September 11, 2001, I told the American people that the road ahead would be difficult and that we would prevail. Well, it has been difficult. And we are prevailing. Our enemies are brutal but they are no match for the United States of America and they are no match for the men and women of the United States military.”

Amen.

Viagra Update

2005-06-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

The House Representatives voted Friday to ban Medicare and Medicaid from paying for erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra, by a vote of 285-121. The vote came on an amendment attached to a HUGE spending bill for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS oversees the health insurance programs for the elderly, disabled and poor).

This bill also includes language that would prevent rapists and other sex offenders from getting government-paid erectile dysfunction drugs. A little to late... because there are also reports that hundreds of sex offenders in California and New York have already ascertained Viagra paid for by the Government.

This amendment was presented by a Conservative Iowa (my Birthplace) Republican, Steve King, who argues it is, “inappropriate for the government to fund lifestyle drugs”. I couldn’t agree more, but where was this amendment before the rapists and sex offenders received the medication?

When he proposed this in February, Representative King said that, "The thought of Medicare wasting vital resources on performance-enhancing drugs is unconscionable, especially at a time when the focus should be on providing life-saving medications for truly needy seniors. Seniors should never be denied life-saving drugs at the cost of providing non-essential drugs for others."

I am happy to see that the State of Iowa will now be synonymous with something other than corn and flat land, because the government spending money on Viagra for sex offenders is just plain WRONG.

What do you think?

Funny Fridays: Go Durbin

2005-06-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

WWMD: Social Security

2005-06-23T04:33:00.000-07:00

Republican members of the US House of Representatives revealed yesterday, a scaled-down revision of the Social Security Retirement Investment Accounts; essentially, revamping President Bush's initial plan.

Following the new proposal, the investment accounts will be funded with existing Social Security surplus: versus, diverting a portion of the payroll tax.

Also, benefits will not be altered in any form, and the money in the accounts would be invested only in U.S. Treasury bonds (not the stock market).

The Current surplus in Social Security is loaned out to the Treasury in a trade for special-issue bonds (a maneuver which reduces the federal deficit).

The GOP’s plan would use that surplus to fund those investment accounts for employees fifty-five and younger; however, there is Government Speculation that the surplus is expected to disappear by 2017, because of the "Baby Boom" generation (at which point, another funding source will ultimately need to be found).

Both President Bush’s plan, and the House Plan, would be voluntary; in which, both would allow workers to pass the money in their accounts to their heirs at death.

So the facts are out there for consumption, everyone is talking about it, but nothing is being done, except the continual onslaught of cynicism from House Democrats.

This newly revised plan is out there, and I think it may work, but without a valid plan by the Democrats, how can you debate an issue so strongly opposed.

It’s like saying I hate eating omelets for breakfast, so I’m not going to eat. Why not propose something like grits or oatmeal, so we can make a choice?

No Filibusters Needed

2005-06-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, Republican Senators have failed once again to move Senate toward an “up-or-down” vote on President Bush’s Nomination for the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton.

The staggering stall placed on the GOP Agenda has become prevalent, with or without the controversial compromise a few weeks ago in Senate, and may lead President Bush to circumvent Senate, and announce Mr. Bolton as an Interim Appointee when Congress breaks for its Fourth of July holiday.

A State Department official said Monday that such a move, "is not under active consideration"; however, White House officials have said that President Bush is keeping his options open.

The Constitution allows a president to appoint someone during a Senate recess without the chamber's approval, and such an appointment would be valid only through the next one-year congressional term.

Regardless of Democrats charges that Bolton does not have the diplomatic skills for the job, Mr. Bolton's blunt style and skepticism is just what the doctor ordered, to promote reform within the organization.

I applaud President Bush and the White House for even mentioning this, and the prospect of advancing the GOP Agenda for at least one year, regardless of the filibuster.

A Case of the Mondays: It is your turn to rant on the Draft

2005-06-20T04:26:00.000-07:00

Senator John McCain, a Republican from the beautiful state of Arizona, was on “Meet the Press” yesterday, and had some interesting debate with the moderator Tim Russert, concerning the scorching hot issue with most young Americans and their families: the draft.

Senator McCain is a former graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and became a Carrier Pilot for the Navy thereafter. During his tenure with the Armed Forces, Senator McCain spent an alarming five years as a Prisoner of War during Vietnam; following, being shot down in Combat.

He said, during his interview with Mr. Russert that, “the United States is in trouble if its military continues to fall far short of recruitment goals” (which has been at a steady decline since the onset of the Fiscal Year 2005, and now sits at a reported 42% downfall).

Senator McCain is however predicting that, “despite recruitment troubles the country would not reinstate mandatory military service”, and that, "the draft didn't work in the previous form".

He attributed the shortfall to the attractiveness of Military Service, and he said that, “the government missed the opportunity following the 2001 terrorist attacks, but that it was not too late to change”, and that, "the biggest mistake I think we made after September 11 was not calling on Americans to serve. We shouldn't have just told them to go shopping or take a trip".

Senator McCain went on to say that, "We should have said, 'OK, we're setting up all the organizations. We're expanding existing organizations. And we're going to give you all a chance to fight as foot soldiers in the war on terror.' I think we can still do that", and furthermore, “what the American people should have been told and should be told ... [is] it's long; it's hard; it's tough. It's very tough".

Now that is out of the way, tell me what you think?

My apologies, but under the Hatch Act, provisions of the United States Code, and many other stipulations, I can not elaborate on the topic, but you the reader can.

The KKK on Capitol Hill

2005-06-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

Here’s to you Senator Byrd… Here’s to countless charges of racism… Here’s to becoming a living and breathing oxymoron for a partisan group once known for the protection of civil liberties… Here’s to you…

Malebranche, over at Undiscovered country, has a great post concerning the well renounced KKK member, Senator Byrd (Democrat) of West Virginia.

Soldiers/Nazi's?

2005-06-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

Senate's second in command of Democrats, Richard Durbin, has made an analogy on the Senate Floor (after reading an FBI report describing detainees at GITMO), that the US Soldiers at GITMO are similar to Nazi’s.

"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no concern for human beings," Senator Durbin said.

I don’t know about you, the reader, but forcing Terrorists to eat lemon baked chicken with vegetables, and listening to Christina Aguilera music, is anywhere near the realm of torture that the innocent Prisoners at the German Internment Camps faced; however, I may be wrong.

One of Durbin’s Spokesmen said that, “the Senator did not plan to apologize for the comments”. Then He issued a statement saying, that the White House should apologize, "for abandoning the Geneva Conventions and authorizing torture techniques that put our troops at risk and make Americans less secure".

I thought that politics were meant for debate, not shamelessly persecuting those whom make our country free (Soldiers), and I am sure at least a handful of Veterans voted for him. So why do this? If there won’t be an apology for the White House, then can you send them to your Constituents who either serve now or in the past (even their families)?

I was awestruck by the statements, and I would hope that even true Liberal’s would feel the same way.

What do you think?