Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender veterans memorial?

Yes, you read that correctly.  The final design for such a memorial has been finalized.  I respect the contribution these folks made to our war effort.  Many of them served with honor and some lost their lives in the effort.  And, they were treated just like all the rest of those who served with honor and who lost their lives in the effort.
Now we are seeing great expenditure of time and money to make their contribution, somehow, more valuable than all the other millions who fought and died.  Why do they want to be treated just like every one else (so they say) while at the same time declaring that they are deserving of more attention and praise for what they have done?  And they represent less than 2% of the population although they would like you believe a much higher figure.
I will admit that I am of the old school.  My war was the Korean "Police Action" and forces were mostly made up of draftees.  Did I know anyone who was gay?  I was a Corpsman so did I know any lesbian nurses?  Did any of my barracks mates go on Liberty in heels?  Was there a woman inside any of the swab-jockeys I ran with?  The answer to all these questions was......how would I know?  It was not an issue.  But today the goal of this crowd seems to be one of advertisement.  Make sure that the media is full of news of Gay celebrations, parades and open display of the naked body that would land most of us in jail, etc.
Now back to the issue at hand.  Why another memorial?  Are they not happy to be included in the Nam Memorial, the Korean greater than life Squad Memorial, Iwo Jima, WWII, Nurses, and on and on?
Those who are in charge have lost their collective minds!
Medicineman

WHOSE SECRET SERVICE?

Recently an item in a published paper mentioned Secret Service agents following Bill Clinton around and trying to conceal some of his "social" events.  I paused for a moment and pondered that item for a time??????? 
Slick Willy has not been our president, let's see, for almost 15 years and the tax payer is still paying for his protection?  I wonder why?
Then, I thought, if that is the case, are we also paying for that SS protection for both Bush's and Carter too?  What a waste of manpower and money.  My mother was a devoted Democrat all her life and in 1984, at the age of 81, voted for Ronald Reagan.  Her reason?  "We cannot afford another ex-president".  A wise and frugal woman my mother.
In spite of what she said, who can believe the Clintons left the White House broke.  Both had book advances to tide them over until they could get on the speaking circuit.  So if they need protection I believe that they should buy it for themselves and stop sucking on the public tit!
Having said that for the Clintons I will be non-partisan and apply the same rule to all former presidents.  For my way of thinking they can, if they feel threatened, buy security themselves.  After all the people pay them a very substantial pension from which they can find the funds for a body guard.  And, though I don't see why, each of them commands a very good fee for saying a few words in a public setting about almost any subject. 
My final thought on the subject; each might think about a trip to Gun-Site and come away with the expertise and ability to protect themselves!

PUBLIC SERVANTS....REEEEEALLY?

As I reflect on my years it strikes me that until I was 16 years old I could remember only one president, being too young to have known Hoover it was Franklin D. Roosevelt.  Harry S. Truman was sworn in as president after the death of FDR in April, 1945.  Harry won his own race in 1948 and served until 1953.

The reason I bring this up is to point out how differently we treated ex-presidents then.  Herbert Hoover left office in 1932 and carried his own bags to the train, went home and went to work.  Harry left office and he and Bess returned to there home in Springfield, MO to the home they had lived in sense marriage.  The only home they had.  Then they packed the Chevy and toured the country.  No Secret Service, no special aides.  Just he and Bess having a good relaxing time.  Harry refused all offers of a seat on the Board of Directors with the retort, "You don't want me.  You want the Oval Office and it is not for sale."  Or similar words.  It was only a few years later that Congress voted  him a small pension.

But now the game has changed, and changed dramatically.  The tax payer and voter, you and I,  pensions
everyone who is sent to Washington often enough.  And we fix it so the retiring Exec. is well fixed and never has to lower himself to actually WORK.  Those who stay in the halls of congress year after year, whether they do anything or not, work their way up the ladder to better offices, important committee assignments and if they arrive at the pinnacle, a limo and driver.  The icing on the cake, of course, is the lucrative pension. 

You say: I am envious and jealous. Not true.  But I will admit to anger.  Here is why.  When those great men put this system of government together they wanted it to be, "By the people and for the people."  Servants of the people, those elected to office, were expected to serve then go home to their regular duties.  The pay was such that it  paid expenses and little more.  It was never intended to be a full time job compensated by whatever they ,the servants, decided they were worth.

After all these years of observing our decision making process and the results thereof, I have become, perhaps, the complete cynic.  I do not like to be there.  It is not my comfort spot knowing that I do not trust those who are  looking out for me!   I hope for change, not for me and my wife but for our Great Grands now growing up.  Time is short and change will not be easy.  START NOW! 

Is Impeachment a Good Idea?

Andrew McCarthy lays out the case for each of the following articles of impeachment in his book Faithless Execution.

Article 1:  The President's willful refusal to execute the laws faithfully and usurpation of the legislative authority of Congress.

Article 2:  Usurping the Constitutional authority and prerogatives of Congress.

Article 3:  Dereliction of duty as President and Commander-in-Chief of the United States armed forces.

Article 4:  Fraud on the American people.

Article 5:  Failure to execute the immigration laws faithfully.

Article 6:  Failure to execute the laws faithfully: the Department of Justice.

Article 7:  Willfully undermining the Constitutional rights of the American people that he has sworn to preserve, protect, and defend.

Congress certainly has the right and the obligation to control a runaway Executive Office because that was one thing the founding fathers was concerned and even afraid might happen in our new form of Government.  The reason the House members must face the voters every two years is to keep them close to the people and responsive to their concerns.  Even the Senate members had their fingers on the pulse of the home folks because they were selected by the State Legislatures for the first 130 years or so.
In todays world, however, we now have many in Washington infected with "Potomac Fever", a terrible affliction that rearranges thoughts of home and responsibilities to home folks.  The only know cure is removal from office.
There are those who say that impeachment will not work because, though indicted by the House, the Senate will not convict.   Such was true with Clinton.  However, that does not prevent the Congress from doing their duty and they should do that straight away!

The Death of Common Sense

This Obituary printed in the London Times is frighteningly true and gives one pause;

Today we learn of the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for so many years.  No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain;-Why the early bird gets the worm;- Life isn't always.
fair;-And maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.  Reports of a 6 year old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.  It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student ; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses: and criminals received better treatment than their victims.  Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.  Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming up of coffee was hot.  She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust,-by his wife, Discretion,-by his daughter, Responsibility,-and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his stepbrother;-I Know My Rights.

State Department Testosterone

The United States of America maintains a presence in most countries in the form of Embassies or Consulates.  They are a little piece of the USA where ever they happen to be.  If you, in your travels, happen to be detained by foreign law officers the place to call is the US Consulate or the Ambassador's representatives.  That is a comforting thought for anyone caught in such a situation.
So, here is the question I have;  Why is a United States Marine, recently returned from combat duty, in a Mexican jail?  Why is the wife of an American citizen still chained to a wall in a Moroccan prison?  This while John Kerry makes speeches about Carbon Dioxide emissions and Global Warming, flies around the world trying to get people to like other people and get along, or negotiates another worthless treaty.  The #1 item of the "things to do today" list at the White House should be a couple of hard nosed phone calls and chartered planes sitting of runways with the clock ticking. 

In the words of Abraham Lincoln.......

Abraham Lincoln said this in a speech in1838:
"All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Bonaparte for commander, could not by force take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
     At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected?  I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up among us.  It cannot come from abroad.  If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher.  As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide."
175 years later we would do well to remember these words and change the course of this great country!