Students have rejected a monument for one of the greatest Marine pilots ever, stating he didn’t measure up to their high standard. Others say no monument for another "Rich White Guy". I don’t know what in the coffee out on the Left coast, but this is beyond reason.
'Pappy' was a regular guy and a HERO of the first order.
U of W votes NO! to Black Sheep
Maybe UW isn’t good enough for American students and we should seriously look at revoking all of their acredidation!
Saturday, February 18, 2006
American Party
A party without color. A party based on ideals. A party based on a written document. A written document which a country was founded upon. A party who holds no allegiance to people, countries or organizations outside our borders. A party who cares about Americans. A party that doesn't care where you are from, or where you came from. A party that doesn't care who your parents were or where they came from. A party that cares about who you are and what you are. An American. Because within our borders we have differences. Differences of geography. Differences of economy. Differences of opinion. Differences of race. Differences of religion. Differences of values.
But THEY don't care about our differences.
Outside of our borders were are but one people. American people. THEY would burn a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant manager from North Carolina and smile with glee. THEY would burn an unemployed black single mother of two from California and smile with glee. THEY would burn a Native tribal leader from a South Dakota reservation and smile with glee. They would burn a Hispanic Catholic priest from Texas and smile with glee. THEY would burn a Jewish teacher from New York and smile with glee.
Only we see the differences.
THEY see one people and those people are one enemy. American people. The American enemy. It is time we see ourselves as THEY see us. As one people. American people. It is time to protect who we are from THEM. It is time to embrace our heritage.
Our American Heritage.
We can be one people. If we want it.
But THEY don't care about our differences.
Outside of our borders were are but one people. American people. THEY would burn a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant manager from North Carolina and smile with glee. THEY would burn an unemployed black single mother of two from California and smile with glee. THEY would burn a Native tribal leader from a South Dakota reservation and smile with glee. They would burn a Hispanic Catholic priest from Texas and smile with glee. THEY would burn a Jewish teacher from New York and smile with glee.
Only we see the differences.
THEY see one people and those people are one enemy. American people. The American enemy. It is time we see ourselves as THEY see us. As one people. American people. It is time to protect who we are from THEM. It is time to embrace our heritage.
Our American Heritage.
We can be one people. If we want it.
An (old) New Name in News
An (old) New Name in NewsSo, if I'm watching TV at 6 p.m on a weeknight it will typically be either "Special Report with Brit Hume" on the Fox News Channel or "30-Minutes Meals with Rachel Ray" on the Food Network. Last week I came to learn I was missing a hard hitting American news program due to my habitual bouncing between channel 64 and channel 68.
"Where did you find this program? "
"CNN."
"CNN?"
Yes hidden amongst the Internationalist politically correct programming of the channel I so fondly liked to call the "Clinton/Communist News Network" is a program discussing real issues facing our country. And they are not being discussed in a "fair and balanced" way either. Illegal immigration, the control of our nations ports, and the suspicious and down right threatening behavior of Iran and China are the stories that Lou Dobbs, on his program "Lou Dobbs Tonight," will not let go. He is hard hitting and telling the truth about how these issues are endangering the country he loves and just as importantly about how our "government" is failing to address them.
The thing I love about his program is that he is not pulling punches and this throwing those punches where they need to hit: at all parts of our government. You get no extra sympathy from him based on the "letter behind your name." On his show the Bush Administration gets no love from Lou for it's cozy relationship with Vicente Fox and the Mexican Government. And he points out the Congress as well for it's priorities. Which in my estimation include: 1) petty party bickering, 2) calling members of the other party names, and 3) finger pointing.
This is the commentary our country needs. Lou Dobbs' concern is for our country and protecting it. He is not about pushing a party's agenda behind the a thin "non-partisan" veil such as people like Jon Stewart, Rush Limbaugh, Bill Mahr, and Sean Hannity. You don't have to look hard or far to find their allegiances. So, if you are in front of your TV at 6 p.m on a weeknight give the show a watch, you might find it different from the other news fair. I did and now I skip channels, 66 and 68 to keep the dial on 8.
The returning, Ickybod Kraine
Friday, February 17, 2006
Press shoots itself in the foot:
Its not the cartoon thats so funny, but rather how funny the Press looked on Wednesday morning after so many looked to the New York Post's Tuesday cover for their print leads. The New York Post is known for this kind of slap stick journalism, but the Times, Post, and others lashed out at the White House over this non-story.
I can hear the circulation dwindle.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
James City County: Drug Tests for all School Students
Daily Press Editors Opinion on Drug Testing:
http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-71091sy0feb16,0,1350851.story?coll=dp-opinion-editorials
The above article flies in the face of the Public School problems actually being felt across America and presumes rights that children do not have. With proper discipline the drug tests are probably not needed but the quality of discipline in our public schools has dropped to lowest of our time, and tests are necessary to get things back in hand. The Daily Press lives in a fantasyland where those involved in drugs are casual users who are non-violent and not involved in organized or gang driven crime.
The idea that alcohol is the chief problem is literally a smoke screen. Crystal-Meth usage and distribution in public schools has become an epidemic and the liberal-media wants an ostrich approach. This is just another group of hack journalists trying to prevent public schools from being able to discipline its criminally delinquent students. If you have checked out on drugs, why should the public be obligated to keep you in a class where you will disturb everyone trying to learn?
Oh and don't get me started about people's reputations. If students, their parents, and their extended families had a good fear of ruined reputations they might not start using the drugs in the first place. The idea that this Paper is trying to forward is that the rest of us don't have the right to criticize, impune, or restrict a habitual drug user in any way. Did I mention that using illegal drugs is a crime!
If the Commonwealth concurs with the Daily Mess, then its in the best interest of James City County to tell them to go-fly-a-kite. The state and federal government's educational quality is too low, and its focused on various liberal social experiments. Time to quit letting them use our kids as guinea pigs. The county's public schools could be 100% locally funded and change their status to Private. The people of the county could then demand and get exactly what they want in the way of an education system and keep the constant state, federal, and NEA meddling out of the whole process. Demanding that control of the school belong to the administrators of it and not the local press is a good start.
http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-71091sy0feb16,0,1350851.story?coll=dp-opinion-editorials
The above article flies in the face of the Public School problems actually being felt across America and presumes rights that children do not have. With proper discipline the drug tests are probably not needed but the quality of discipline in our public schools has dropped to lowest of our time, and tests are necessary to get things back in hand. The Daily Press lives in a fantasyland where those involved in drugs are casual users who are non-violent and not involved in organized or gang driven crime.
The idea that alcohol is the chief problem is literally a smoke screen. Crystal-Meth usage and distribution in public schools has become an epidemic and the liberal-media wants an ostrich approach. This is just another group of hack journalists trying to prevent public schools from being able to discipline its criminally delinquent students. If you have checked out on drugs, why should the public be obligated to keep you in a class where you will disturb everyone trying to learn?
Oh and don't get me started about people's reputations. If students, their parents, and their extended families had a good fear of ruined reputations they might not start using the drugs in the first place. The idea that this Paper is trying to forward is that the rest of us don't have the right to criticize, impune, or restrict a habitual drug user in any way. Did I mention that using illegal drugs is a crime!
If the Commonwealth concurs with the Daily Mess, then its in the best interest of James City County to tell them to go-fly-a-kite. The state and federal government's educational quality is too low, and its focused on various liberal social experiments. Time to quit letting them use our kids as guinea pigs. The county's public schools could be 100% locally funded and change their status to Private. The people of the county could then demand and get exactly what they want in the way of an education system and keep the constant state, federal, and NEA meddling out of the whole process. Demanding that control of the school belong to the administrators of it and not the local press is a good start.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Feminists fail women when it counts; or follow up to Brom Bones
The Feminists are irrelevant and have been for some time. I don't take them seriously (either for Mike Adams fans), and neither should you. The following shows the how and the why.
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=9370
How does the Media go on ignoring this one? Maybe they should be ignoring the Feminists instead, and helping the endangered and enslaved in this country.
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=9370
How does the Media go on ignoring this one? Maybe they should be ignoring the Feminists instead, and helping the endangered and enslaved in this country.
Monday, January 30, 2006
People Are Electricity
I really don't know what the world is coming to these days. It seems as if people are losing faith in their fellow man. So much so, that it is all about looking out for number #1. While we should keep our selves, we should also not do it at the cost of others. It seems people are becoming like electricity and looking for the path of least resistance.
Guess what?! The world is not a simple place to live in. We all have to contribute and make our own way, without stepping on each other. But by the looks of it, stepping on others has become the accepted norm.
It is really a shame.
Everyone is up in arms over the Hot Coffiee code in GTA:SA and L.A. is looking to jump that train. Complete crap! They see it as a simply way to gain public favor and possiblty a little profit as well. Complete crap!
Read this link.
Guess what?! The world is not a simple place to live in. We all have to contribute and make our own way, without stepping on each other. But by the looks of it, stepping on others has become the accepted norm.
It is really a shame.
Everyone is up in arms over the Hot Coffiee code in GTA:SA and L.A. is looking to jump that train. Complete crap! They see it as a simply way to gain public favor and possiblty a little profit as well. Complete crap!
Read this link.
Words to live by...
I think this quote says a lot!
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
- Bill Cosby
Friday, January 13, 2006
Virginia gets the right man...
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/48157
Here’s a story being buried by the main stream media across America; DNA tests have proven the guilt of a criminal executed in the state of Virginia in 1992. Governor Mark Warner, ordered the tests, to set the record straight, although he and others were likely seeking very different results.
Democrats, Socialists, and anti-death penalty crews had geared up to blast Virginia for putting innocents to death, and make a new challenge that all death row inmates in America are guilty of nothing more than being victim of an unfair and bigoted system. Once proven convincingly, the challenge would have gone on state to state of every conviction conceivable in a full on effort to remove capital punishment from the United States. This might have been a key plank in a Warner presidential run, “the death penalty is unfair, and we cannot live with one single innocent person being wrongly put to death,” or some such nonsense. As the first Governor to check DNA posthumously, this would play big with the Democratic base. I can hear those tens and twenties rolling in. Those in California were positively salivating.
Hold that thought. Virginia’s Criminal Justice system was right, this guy was a devil, and he was so evil he denied his crimes and continued to mislead a nation with total crap published in Time magazine right up till his death. The system has been vindicated and the death penalty proven to be the right way to go. So, of course this was all over the evening news last night, and the Virginia Attorney General was interview on NBCs Today this morning, right? Er no. The silence on this Topic has been deafening. The media is most biased in what it chooses to ignore. Most people don’t even know what they’ve missed.
Here’s a story being buried by the main stream media across America; DNA tests have proven the guilt of a criminal executed in the state of Virginia in 1992. Governor Mark Warner, ordered the tests, to set the record straight, although he and others were likely seeking very different results.
Democrats, Socialists, and anti-death penalty crews had geared up to blast Virginia for putting innocents to death, and make a new challenge that all death row inmates in America are guilty of nothing more than being victim of an unfair and bigoted system. Once proven convincingly, the challenge would have gone on state to state of every conviction conceivable in a full on effort to remove capital punishment from the United States. This might have been a key plank in a Warner presidential run, “the death penalty is unfair, and we cannot live with one single innocent person being wrongly put to death,” or some such nonsense. As the first Governor to check DNA posthumously, this would play big with the Democratic base. I can hear those tens and twenties rolling in. Those in California were positively salivating.
Hold that thought. Virginia’s Criminal Justice system was right, this guy was a devil, and he was so evil he denied his crimes and continued to mislead a nation with total crap published in Time magazine right up till his death. The system has been vindicated and the death penalty proven to be the right way to go. So, of course this was all over the evening news last night, and the Virginia Attorney General was interview on NBCs Today this morning, right? Er no. The silence on this Topic has been deafening. The media is most biased in what it chooses to ignore. Most people don’t even know what they’ve missed.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
GM comes to Jesus...
The 5 step plan may work, but will the unions buy in or take this oppertunity to put the screws to GM management. Expect this to get bloody and sooner not later.
Upfront casualties are SAAB and HUMMER, both are targeted for sell off. Makes will also have to be reduced. Look for Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick as Brands that could possibly be elimnated before the end of the year.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060111/BUSINESS03/601110463/1014/BUSINESS01
Upfront casualties are SAAB and HUMMER, both are targeted for sell off. Makes will also have to be reduced. Look for Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick as Brands that could possibly be elimnated before the end of the year.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060111/BUSINESS03/601110463/1014/BUSINESS01
Monday, January 09, 2006
Don't Flame Me k3wl dOodZ
First read this article.
Now, I just want to say that no one had better send me spam e-mail or flame me without giving me their full and complete name. Otherwise, I will be forced to talk with my lawyers and bring the pain! Jack Ass. I mean that in the most unannoying way possible. :)
Now, I just want to say that no one had better send me spam e-mail or flame me without giving me their full and complete name. Otherwise, I will be forced to talk with my lawyers and bring the pain! Jack Ass. I mean that in the most unannoying way possible. :)
New JEEP Wrangler to be unveilled...
Ford on the Ropes!
New Chrysler Imperial!
Dont ya just love Car Show Season!
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060109/BUSINESS01/601090398/1014
and of course...
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Patents vs. Making a Quality Product
Being in the software development industry professionally, I find the current state of patents in the U.S. simply awful. In software development it seems that everyone is out to make a quick buck by strong arming other businesses with laws that were not designed to be a commodity. While this is America and we are all about the mighty dollar, I think that this is simply an out of date system that needs to be revamped based on today's material and intellectual state.
Creating a company that simply takes patents out on everything under the sun, only to stick it to companies that actually try to product progressive and innovative technology, is criminal. I understand the need for patents for some things but there is a line.
Companies would argue that the only way to stay competitive is to prevent their competitors from being able to build the same products as them. To the consumer this causes us to not look at the quality of products but rather the features of products. This was not the intent of patents. I would suggest that companies start making quality products rather than elbowing out specific features from competitors.
There is an article at businesses Online that covers this issue that is a good read. Their quote of TJ puts the whole article in perspective.
A man "has a right to use his knife to cut his meat, a fork to hold it; may a patentee take from him the right to combine their use on the same subject?" -- Thomas Jefferson
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_02/b3966086.htm
Creating a company that simply takes patents out on everything under the sun, only to stick it to companies that actually try to product progressive and innovative technology, is criminal. I understand the need for patents for some things but there is a line.
Companies would argue that the only way to stay competitive is to prevent their competitors from being able to build the same products as them. To the consumer this causes us to not look at the quality of products but rather the features of products. This was not the intent of patents. I would suggest that companies start making quality products rather than elbowing out specific features from competitors.
There is an article at businesses Online that covers this issue that is a good read. Their quote of TJ puts the whole article in perspective.
A man "has a right to use his knife to cut his meat, a fork to hold it; may a patentee take from him the right to combine their use on the same subject?" -- Thomas Jefferson
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_02/b3966086.htm
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Watch Out Mustang, Part II
Dodge Challenger Concept. As the gear up for the winter car shows starts more and more info on the Challenger slips out. The latest, price! Rumors are flying the get in price will be 28 large.
If so, this car is no Mustang slayer, unfortunately its too high at that price. Entry must be 20-22, or buy the Ford. An 05' entry V6 convertable Mustang is right around 25 sticker. Sorry MoPar, the Charger is too much now, and it looks like a crate, I'm really looking forward to a reasonably priced and well styled Pony car. Lets hope the Rumors are false.
But will it sell anyway? I think it could be a major hit, even with a tougher entry price. The styling for the Challenger is dead on, and every MoPar fan in my generation already wants one. When I was at the POMOC dealers recently the sales guy told me he already had customers trying to place orders. “If the Ride is Fly you must buy”, I have to agree with Snoop on this one. And folks in his econmic bracket like buisness owners, the independantly wealthy, and even lower level celebs will be able to get in one. The reputation is that Chrysler is a better car than a Ford and can command the bucks.
Those 300's are selling at an increadible rate even at their price! Sales for cars on the platform that the Challener is to have for the first 11 months of 2005 are:
131,866 300s
49,586 Magnums
37,667 Chargers
50 thou of that hideous Magnum is pretty increadible!
Blogs Say:
Leftlane News - http://www.leftlanenews.com
http://www.leftlanenews.com/2005/12/21/new-images-of-the-2006-dodge-challenger-concept/#more-1037
Forbes- http://www.forbes.com/2005/12/20/dodge-challenger-musclecar-cx_dl_1221vow_ls.html?partner=alerts
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
More Disney History, cira 1972
It appears that Spielberg has joined the Hollywood mainstream, and is now using his film to try to portray some future utopian ideal of Humanity while trashing the Historic events as they actually occurred. This ongoing Disneyfying of History doesn't have a measured effect, yet, but likely will have. In Past generations it was the printed word that over time became fact, by mere virtue of having been published, today that medium is film. And once pressed into DVD format will likely be with us forever, and overtime, that former drama will become reality. I am concerned about this, because more and more, there are inaccurate or flat out wrong interpretations of actual events being pawned off as fact and reality in major films. A filmmaker like Spielberg owes it to History to make an effort to be as accurate as possible when representing real events. Otherwise, he should stick to fantasy and make a movie about that ideal society he would like to see.
Here's what the Spectator has to say: http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=9178
Monday, December 19, 2005
ET TU, Redskins?
Yes, Even the Redskins Fight song has been cleaned up to be more Politically Correct. Cleaned up to wash away Southern ties and heritage to be more palatable to the metropolitan denizens. Read about it here: http://espn.go.com/page2/wash/s/closer/020315.htmlThe original words were:
Hail to the Redskins!
Hail Victory!
Braves on the Warpath!
Fight for old Dixie!
Run or pass and score -- we want a lot more!
Scalp 'em, swamp 'em -- We will take 'em big score
Read 'em, weep 'em, touchdown - we want heap more
Fight on, Fight on -- 'Till you have won
Sons of Wash-ing-ton. Rah!, Rah!, Rah!
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, Go Redskins! Beat The Giants!
Whoo Hooooooo!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Misleading America? and to what end?
Representative John Murtha's poor assessment of our Army as made on the House floor is debunked here:
In Search of Murtha's Army
by Jed Babbin
http://americanprowler.com/dsp_article.asp?art_id=9137
The idea has gotten lots of TV time in the last two weeks. Murtha and his group seem to have employed negative reinforcement to get the American public to abandon their resolve to stay in Iraq, and further confuse the American military presence there.
If anyone has evidence of an inadequately prepared force with "boots-on-the-ground" in Iraq right now, then they must bring case and point forward to the Army for correction. Broad accusations aired out on the House floor and on TV, only damages our Country's credibility in Iraq and abroad. Elected officials who seek to undermine the credibility of the U.S. military do so at their own peril as well.
In Search of Murtha's Army
by Jed Babbin
http://americanprowler.com/dsp_article.asp?art_id=9137
The idea has gotten lots of TV time in the last two weeks. Murtha and his group seem to have employed negative reinforcement to get the American public to abandon their resolve to stay in Iraq, and further confuse the American military presence there.
If anyone has evidence of an inadequately prepared force with "boots-on-the-ground" in Iraq right now, then they must bring case and point forward to the Army for correction. Broad accusations aired out on the House floor and on TV, only damages our Country's credibility in Iraq and abroad. Elected officials who seek to undermine the credibility of the U.S. military do so at their own peril as well.
Monday, December 12, 2005
NASCAR; No Commercials
As NASCAR returns to ESPN for coverage next season, it’s a good time to revisit advertising and discuss improvements. I recommend that all coverage be commercial free from Pole to Checker like in F1 racing and European Soccer. F1 and Soccer Hooligans won’t have interruption in their sport. And good on them! Racing under Green flag, doesn’t lend itself to all the commercials that get rammed into the coverage, it really diminishes the viewing of a Race. Television shouldn’t treat all sports like Football with all of its glorious built-in breaks. Place your Ads for Budweiser and Doritos into the turf like F1, and let’s view the NASCAR Racing uninterrupted!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Leadership and Credibility
Its easy to point at the folks who are undermining the Military Action taking place overseas, they are everywhere. Certainly America’s reputation in the civilized and emerging world has been damaged by the homefront’s failure to support to the "War on Terror" and especially the “War in Iraq”. The "War on Terror" as a name is an inappropriate moniker and reminds me of George H. W. Bush and his "War on Drugs". But I digress, the "War in Iraq” was never declared by Congress, showing the rest of World right off the bat that our elected officials didn’t have the stomach for this commitment and were already looking for a way out. Our collective reputation was damaged coming out of the gate and not just now as the “War” drags on. The loss of credibility occurred long before the Democrat’s seeking a quick power grab thought to disparage the "War" and smear those who would support it. Lets be honest this is typical behavior for the Democrats and we all saw it coming. Every “War” will forever be Vietnam to them, the rest of us must move on. The smear machine that’s been cranked up is still hurting all Americans and must stop. But be aware there is some blame to be shared by the so-called conservative representatives who were quick to pass-the-buck to a sitting President ready to take action. But what continues to really hurt the most is a failure of Leadership to set any kind of goal and accomplish it. We have boots-on-the-ground and these men are more than capable of success if give proper clear objectives, keeping the undermining to a minimum, and letting military leadership determine means and methods.
This does not require the Congress or the current Administration to write up a document and forward to the New York Times detailing where and when specific activities will take place for friend and enemy alike. We are in Iraq now, with our forces in place, our elected officials must define in general terms for our military and for us at home what we are doing and do it right now. This will be the first step to credibility in the world and restoring confidence in our resolve. Set an objective and meet it. The world sees and hears “the U.S. will do X”, and the “X” is done. We mean what we say. This point, above all else, needs to be communicated to the world. To do this we must answer the following for ourselves; Are we fighting a War? Are we Nation Building? Are we involved in an Imperial Adventure? Are we going to cut off Al Qaeda's head?
If we are fighting a War: Who is the Enemy Nation? What capital do we topple? What army do we crush? Who’s people do we beat into submission and bend to our collective will? Lets crank out the ordinance and fire up the bombers to eliminate our enemies. That’s a "War" I’m describing; this is not what we are doing in Iraq or anywhere else for that matter. I think we should quit misrepresenting these activities as a “War” immediately. Or we should identify our enemies and let Congress declare “War” on them, and then wage total “War” in a way never seen before on this earth. So unless our Congress is completely replaced with “Pods” by the war hawks (are there really any out there?), the idea of "War" is off the table.
If we are Nation Building: What Nations are we building and what do we hope to accomplish? What will we construct? What type of Government are we creating? What about Infrastructure? Items like Power, Water, Sewers, Roads, and Bridges could be built (how many, where, and when will it be complete). Is a National Army and Police infrastructure needed? Or is a fair Justice system required? How big an army, how many lawyers, how loyal to their own nation do they need to be? How long will it take for a previously subjugated and divided people to have their own national unified identity? Are we going to spend the American people’s money to create a new Nation built on the principles of a Religion that essentially has not reformed and wants us all dead? Some tough questions and let’s say we ignore the last one, this process is best guess, a 30 year plus proposition. We are not currently prepared for this responsibility; no one has told the American people that’s the objective. The media amplifies the idea that we are failing our commitments now and the discussion of "pulling out" is rampant. This is unacceptable and must change if we are in fact Nation Building. We seem to be doing a half-way version of this right now in Iraq and Afghanistan. If we are going to build new Nations in the ashes of the old then we must send in more troops and advisors now and start planning for the long haul. A stronger commitment from all our Armed Forces will be needed immediately to protect those who will do the building. The border between Syria and Iraq as well as Iran and Iraq where enemies of a new Nation freely cross the borders must be addressed for stability. That little matter of the National religion must be addressed. We can no longer fund people now with U.S. tax dollars who will attack us in thirty years claiming Religious Jihad. However, Nation building can still be a possible task.
If this is an Imperial Adventure: What is the booty for defeating Iraq: Where’s all the treasure? How did we benefit from our Invasion? Are we going to keep the land? Are we sporting to Invade Syria and Iran in another land grab? When will the price of Gas drop from all the Oil we're raking in? Sorry folks that’s "Imperialism", this is not what we are doing in Iraq or anywhere for that matter. It’s also out of character for the U.S. now and forever. We will never be that nation. So unless we reconvene the Continental congress and re-write our Constitution an "Imperial Adventure" is right out.
If we are going to cut off Al Qaeda 's head: Find and kill USAMA BIN LADEN in a very public and spectacular fashion, on camera LIVE if at all possible. Find and kill Al Zarkari in a… you get the idea. I hope this why we still have personnel in the Middle East and in-harms-way if not someone owes the American public one hell of an explanation. It seems logical that is what keeps us going. Tell everyone in the world, we aren’t done until, and then name everyone in Al Qaeda leadership, are dead. Next get the additional resources to do it. More troops, more help, more everything. Show the world why we are fighting, those Towers falling down should be on TV everyday till we are done, I don’t care how we get that accomplished. If the government is paying for TV with tax dollars then take it over and use it for the government’s message. The American people must remember why we are fighting. Enlist the help of everyone in the U.S., ads in every paper in the U.S. with pics and descriptions of the perpetrators, their last whereabouts, and a bounty if killed anywhere in the world, again more pics of what they did. These killers should lead-off every episode of Americas Most Wanted until they are all dead. Find a General with the will to do what’s necessary and put him in charge of the task, then give him what he needs, and don’t ask any questions about the how. This is what I expect we should be doing, this is our goal, if this is the only real task, lets get it done.
Identify these general objectives for the entire world. If we plan to Nation build alot of resources and planning are required in addition to any already undertaken. Make a descision on this and stick to it. We will finish Al Qaeda. Show our resolve down to the personal level. Restore our credibility in the world with action, success, and accomplishment of tasks. That is the American way. Stand up to the heat of those who don’t like the way we are trying to accomplish tasks, they have no alternatives to offer and are totally unimportant. No matter how loud the critique. We mean what we say. Al Qaeda is done, the world is off limits to you, we will destroy you wherever you are, do you hear me Saudi Arabia?
This does not require the Congress or the current Administration to write up a document and forward to the New York Times detailing where and when specific activities will take place for friend and enemy alike. We are in Iraq now, with our forces in place, our elected officials must define in general terms for our military and for us at home what we are doing and do it right now. This will be the first step to credibility in the world and restoring confidence in our resolve. Set an objective and meet it. The world sees and hears “the U.S. will do X”, and the “X” is done. We mean what we say. This point, above all else, needs to be communicated to the world. To do this we must answer the following for ourselves; Are we fighting a War? Are we Nation Building? Are we involved in an Imperial Adventure? Are we going to cut off Al Qaeda's head?
If we are fighting a War: Who is the Enemy Nation? What capital do we topple? What army do we crush? Who’s people do we beat into submission and bend to our collective will? Lets crank out the ordinance and fire up the bombers to eliminate our enemies. That’s a "War" I’m describing; this is not what we are doing in Iraq or anywhere else for that matter. I think we should quit misrepresenting these activities as a “War” immediately. Or we should identify our enemies and let Congress declare “War” on them, and then wage total “War” in a way never seen before on this earth. So unless our Congress is completely replaced with “Pods” by the war hawks (are there really any out there?), the idea of "War" is off the table.
If we are Nation Building: What Nations are we building and what do we hope to accomplish? What will we construct? What type of Government are we creating? What about Infrastructure? Items like Power, Water, Sewers, Roads, and Bridges could be built (how many, where, and when will it be complete). Is a National Army and Police infrastructure needed? Or is a fair Justice system required? How big an army, how many lawyers, how loyal to their own nation do they need to be? How long will it take for a previously subjugated and divided people to have their own national unified identity? Are we going to spend the American people’s money to create a new Nation built on the principles of a Religion that essentially has not reformed and wants us all dead? Some tough questions and let’s say we ignore the last one, this process is best guess, a 30 year plus proposition. We are not currently prepared for this responsibility; no one has told the American people that’s the objective. The media amplifies the idea that we are failing our commitments now and the discussion of "pulling out" is rampant. This is unacceptable and must change if we are in fact Nation Building. We seem to be doing a half-way version of this right now in Iraq and Afghanistan. If we are going to build new Nations in the ashes of the old then we must send in more troops and advisors now and start planning for the long haul. A stronger commitment from all our Armed Forces will be needed immediately to protect those who will do the building. The border between Syria and Iraq as well as Iran and Iraq where enemies of a new Nation freely cross the borders must be addressed for stability. That little matter of the National religion must be addressed. We can no longer fund people now with U.S. tax dollars who will attack us in thirty years claiming Religious Jihad. However, Nation building can still be a possible task.
If this is an Imperial Adventure: What is the booty for defeating Iraq: Where’s all the treasure? How did we benefit from our Invasion? Are we going to keep the land? Are we sporting to Invade Syria and Iran in another land grab? When will the price of Gas drop from all the Oil we're raking in? Sorry folks that’s "Imperialism", this is not what we are doing in Iraq or anywhere for that matter. It’s also out of character for the U.S. now and forever. We will never be that nation. So unless we reconvene the Continental congress and re-write our Constitution an "Imperial Adventure" is right out.
If we are going to cut off Al Qaeda 's head: Find and kill USAMA BIN LADEN in a very public and spectacular fashion, on camera LIVE if at all possible. Find and kill Al Zarkari in a… you get the idea. I hope this why we still have personnel in the Middle East and in-harms-way if not someone owes the American public one hell of an explanation. It seems logical that is what keeps us going. Tell everyone in the world, we aren’t done until, and then name everyone in Al Qaeda leadership, are dead. Next get the additional resources to do it. More troops, more help, more everything. Show the world why we are fighting, those Towers falling down should be on TV everyday till we are done, I don’t care how we get that accomplished. If the government is paying for TV with tax dollars then take it over and use it for the government’s message. The American people must remember why we are fighting. Enlist the help of everyone in the U.S., ads in every paper in the U.S. with pics and descriptions of the perpetrators, their last whereabouts, and a bounty if killed anywhere in the world, again more pics of what they did. These killers should lead-off every episode of Americas Most Wanted until they are all dead. Find a General with the will to do what’s necessary and put him in charge of the task, then give him what he needs, and don’t ask any questions about the how. This is what I expect we should be doing, this is our goal, if this is the only real task, lets get it done.
Identify these general objectives for the entire world. If we plan to Nation build alot of resources and planning are required in addition to any already undertaken. Make a descision on this and stick to it. We will finish Al Qaeda. Show our resolve down to the personal level. Restore our credibility in the world with action, success, and accomplishment of tasks. That is the American way. Stand up to the heat of those who don’t like the way we are trying to accomplish tasks, they have no alternatives to offer and are totally unimportant. No matter how loud the critique. We mean what we say. Al Qaeda is done, the world is off limits to you, we will destroy you wherever you are, do you hear me Saudi Arabia?
Friday, December 02, 2005
The OTHER Monument to a First President
The Jefferson Davis Monument, Fairview, Ky.
This design looks awfully familiar, I know that I’ve seen it somewhere before…
This design looks awfully familiar, I know that I’ve seen it somewhere before…
DETAILS
- The 351-foot concrete monument at the Jefferson Davis State Historic Site in Fairview, Ky., juts above the cornfields and tobacco barns and can be seen for miles around.
- The Jefferson Davis Monument is the tallest concrete obelisk in the world and was constructed as an unreinforced concrete structure. The Davis obelisk is two-thirds the size of the Washington Monument. The walls are 7 feet 8 Inches thick at the base, 2 feet thick at the top.
- 4th tallest monument to honor an American.
- The monument walls were constructed with a base mix placed in 2-foot lifts with a form-board finish, covered with a 1-inch thick white cement face mix.
- The birthplace monument was conceived in 1907 at a reunion of the Orphan's Brigade of the Confederate Army in Glasgow, Ky.
- In April 1909, the group paid $7,025 for the seven parcels of land that now include the structure and the park. About $150,000 toward the monument construction was raised in the next eight years.
- Construction began in 1917 but stopped for a time during World War I after being deemed unnecessary work during the wartime by a U.S. inspector.
- The dedication was held June 7, 1924, with total cost about $200,000, before installation of the elevator.
- The United Daughters of the Confederacy raised an additional $20,000 and the Kentucky General Assembly then kicked in $15,000 for the elevator construction in the mid-1920s.
- The elevator was dedicated in 1929.
- More recent renovations and restorations have improved the facility and its user-friendliness. A new interpretive museum and visitors center opened in 2001.
- The repair project of the Jefferson Davis monument, has been awarded a 2004 Award of Excellence in the historic category by the International Concrete Repair Institute. Concrete repair materials were placed using form and pour techniques, and were anchored to the original base mix concrete by embedded dowels.
- In addition to the monument, the grounds have picnic facilities, a playground area and two covered pavilions.
HOW TO GET THERE
The Jefferson Davis Monument State Historic Site is at the intersection of Kentucky Highway 115 and old Highway 68, also called Jefferson Davis Highway.
To get there from Nashville, go west on Interstate 24 to the Oak Grove/Pembroke exit, which is Highway 115, the first exit in Kentucky. Go right for about a dozen miles. You'll pass through Pembroke, and by the time you reach the outskirts of that town, you'll see the monument several miles away.
Park grounds are open year-round. Elevator tours to the top of the monument are scheduled from April 1 to Oct. 31. The visitors center and museum also is open during those months. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tours can be arranged in the off months by contacting park superintendent Mark Doss at 1-270-886-1765.
Inside the visitors center, there is a museum and a video presentation focusing on Davis' life, which included stints as a U.S. senator and secretary of war before the West Point graduate's years as president of the Confederacy.
Tours of the monument and the museum are $4 a person. If a person chooses not to ride the elevator to the top of the monument, the museum cost is just $2. For those under 12, the cost is $2.50 for the whole tour, $1 for just the museum.
Until a recent story in the Daily Press, I had never heard of this Monument before. Kind of an oddity, and a weird parallel to the Washington Monument. Interestingly enough they both completed repairs and face lifts in the last few of years. As road side attractions go, I bet alot of folks go a couple miles out of the way to stop by.
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