New Year's Resolutions

They are pretty much the same this year as every year, which is an indication of how successful I’ve been with resolutions.

Lose weight: only the amount changes year to year and never in the right direction. Loosing weight is an odd New Year’s resolution. If in Jun I notice that I’ve gained five pounds, wouldn’t it be better to lose the weight right then instead of waiting until New Year’s? Now I’m 25 pounds overweight and short of cutting off a limb or two have little hope of losing it.

Stop swearing: or get it down to a respectable level. Say, every other word. It’s odd that something that is so unattractive flourishes. And not just in fits of anger or frustration but rather as a part of normal conversation. Especially among the young for whom neither granny’s funeral nor a baby’s baptism is an obvious occasion to curb one’s tongue.

Listen more attentively to Lex jr.: which would be easier if he were not talking all of the time while hopping on one foot, eating cookies, spilling milk and usually about nothing more important than what Spongebob said to Patrick. It does have a bit of comic value come to think of it. OK, I’ll pay more attention.

Listen more attentively to the Mrs.: but we both know how the conversation will end. I always get the last word in which is…Yesdear.

In all likelihood I’ll fail…again… at these so I’ve decided to add in a couple of sure things this year:

Watch more NASCAR.

Be more compulsive in my buying habits.

Try to be a little less helpful around the house. (This will require a real effort on my part.)

Get to church…if I can.

Now the Griffin has the right idea about all of the resolution stuff:
“I resolve to not change one bit. It took years to get me just the way I like me, and I therefore resolve to stay as I am.

“Libs must lay the 50 ways they will change their lives each year. Sounds like a lot of work to me. One thing I know is that if someone has sooo many things to change they must be one miserable sob. So Happy New Year to me and all those miserable sob's out there.” The Griffin sends.

President Reid

In the two posts below Lex has discussed the ideas of unreasonable search and the expectation of privacy. We know how Bush works. Now let’s see what might happen with a President Harry Reid and Vice President Nance Polosi.

Our hero Jack Bauer has tracked the nefarious terrorist Abdul Kareem Hadhizassshotoff, who has destroyed three American cities in the last three weeks, to a warehouse, where Jack’s Geiger counter is going crazy. Jack calls back to CTU to get a contact team dispatched forthwith. “No can do Jacko.” The Director informs Jack. “We need the FISA court to OK a warrant. You know, Hadhizassshotoff has an expectation of privacy in his warehouse. It might be unreasonable to go barging in on him. That’ll take about two days.” Jack is incredulous. “LA could be a smoldering heap in two days!!” “Well, better that than violating a terrorist’s civil liberties. Besides we don’t want the ACLU coming down on us.” Jack responds, “Idiot! Get me a line to President Reid.”

Secretary of State Al Franken answers, “Look Jack, we just cannot interrupt President Reid right now. He’s in very delicate negotiations with Revs Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton on reparations. Now that President Reid has decided to pay, Jackson and Sharpton want $6 million for every African-American man, woman and child. Reid thinks that’s ridiculous and has countered with $5.95 mil. It’s very delicate right now.”

The vein in Jack’s neck is about to pop, “Look you loser get me the President now.” “Loser? Look, nobody but Rush Limbaugh could have made that Air America thing work. Anyone who says different is a lying liar that lies about the lies he’s been lying about.’’ Jack screams, “Get me the Vice President then!” Al informs Jack that “The Nance Monster” is in San Diego welcoming illegals into the country at one of the Border Patrol’s safe passage check points where illegals are registered as Democrats, given fake IDs and $2,000 in cash to get started.

“Get me Secretary of Defense Michael Moore then.” Jack demands. “Mike’s making a movie about how America deserves to have its cities destroyed because we have been a force for evil in the world and we elected a Bush president three times.”

Jack’s had enough. He storms the warehouse single handedly killing 30 terrorists including Hadhizassshotoff and disarms a nuclear device. President Reid orders Attorney General Ramsey Clark, fresh from winning an acquittal for Saddam Hussein, to conduct a full investigation. Clark finds Jack violated several of the terrorist’s civil liberties. In order to avoid a messy trial, President Reid orders that Jack be exiled to Iraq where Reid has just restored Hussein to power and agreed to pay Hussein $180 Billion in reparations. To put the whole mess behind him, Reid orders SecDef Moore to erect a monument to Hadhizassshotoff in Arlington cemetery where he was buried with full military honors. After breaking off negotiations with Mexico for the return of Texas, Reid meets with Hadhizassshotoff's family and agrees to pay $10 billion in reparations in an out of court settlement for wrongful death. SecDef Moore begins to produce a documentary film on Hadhizassshotoff and his band entitled “The Minutemen of Our Time”.

Great Expectations

Does anyone expect not to be photographed when they enter a bank, a courthouse, run a red light, speed in Europe, park their car at Wal-mart? Security cameras are everywhere these days. If and when I ever invest in private property for the family to live on, I’ll probably put in motion detectors hooked to flood lights and a camera. Why not, it’s cheep. Those devices, along with the National Rifle Association bumper stickers firmly affixed to the back of my autos and one of those catchy “This house protected by Smith & Wesson” signs in the front yard, ought to be enough to deter most of the criminal element.

Does anyone who uses a cell or wireless phone expect not to be overheard by anyone within a ¼ mile using a common frequency scanner? I don’t have a cell phone, but if I did I wouldn’t go about discussing private things over that type of line. I sure wouldn’t be discussing criminal activities over one. Technology has made it such that I have no expectation that what I say over what essentially is a radio transmitter will not be overheard by some unintended recipient. It’s sort of like the old days when people shared party lines or the local operator connected calls. One never knew if someone was listening in so one didn’t discuss sensitive things on the phone.

Does anyone expect privacy on the Internet? Isn’t it odd that after checking out the Lego site for Christmas, I get 50 e-mails from Lego telling me about sales on particular items that I had visited? Isn’t it odd that after visiting a real estate site I get 50 e-mails from mortgage providers? I know that companies track who visits their sites and they share that information. I conduct my Internet business accordingly.

There is no right to privacy expressed in the Constitution. In public or in our homes aside from the 4th Amendment the founding fathers were bright enough to not allow terrorists to plot unfettered in their homes. I can be secure from unreasonable search and seizure if I bother to follow the law. But I have no right to turn my basement into a biolab for cooking meth or constructing a dirty bomb. If the feds notice the high traffic of the usual dopes associated with a meth operation, I can expect them to crashing in on me. If an FBI van drives by with a Geiger counter that goes off like baby sister’s rattle, I can expect a knock at my door. Only an idiot would have an expectation of privacy to run a meth lab or construct a dirty bomb.

Is monitoring terrorists unreasonable?

The Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution States: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Unreasonable might be the Feds knocking down your door in the middle of the night and arresting you after finding out that your kids had removed one of those federal warning tags from a mattress. Unreasonable might be having the full force of the federal government used to raid your house in the middle of the night to snatch a scared six year old from a relative’s arms so that the child could be returned to a communist dictator (Elian Gonzales). Unreasonable might be having your home surrounded and your family and dog shot to death by FBI agents (Ruby Ridge). Unreasonable might be having scores of people, including many children, burnt to death by miscalculations of a bunch of federal bureaucrats (Wako).

Whatever “unreasonable” is, 99.9% of us wouldn’t put eavesdropping on a terrorists on an international line or running a Geiger counter past their home or the Mosque where they worship aka plot in the “unreasonable” category.

So, in privacy for terrorists and unreasonable search of terrorists, the Dems think that they have finally found the pike upon which to hoist the head of George W. Watch the preening class during the January hearings on eavesdropping and warrantless monitoring of certain Muslims and Mosques. Watch the feigned outrage. Watch the mock horror that this president might actually be taking his constitutional duties as Commander in Chief seriously. Watch Mr. & Mrs. America yawn deeply at the whole spectacle and demand that the president keep doing what he’s been doing.

I bring you good tidings of great joy.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.
And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into the city of Juda; and entered into the house of Zachariah and saluted Elisabeth.
And it came to pass that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And blessed is he that believed: for there shall be performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty has done to me great things; and holy is His name.
And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.
He has showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away ... And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David: To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone 'round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
-- Luke 1:26-53, 2:1-21.

Merry Christmas to all

Well the big day is almost here, Christmas that is or for the secular crowd the non denominational winter holiday. Lex jr. is wound up tighter than a two dollar watch. He has an Advent calendar that he works everyday. No matter how he arranges the pieces there are always a few holes left. I asked one day why he was rearranging the pieces. “So it won’t look like there are so many days to go” he told me. I said, well just put all of the pieces on and it’ll be Christmas. He shook his head and said seriously, “It doesn’t work like that dad.”

We’re off to the Christmas Markt in Strasbourg today. Except for venturing into France, it ought to be fun. I thought all of our shopping was done. We emptied the Lego department at the local toy store – curse you Lego for not having enough of the Star Wars chess sets – next delivery date is April! I purchased and neatly wrapped the shotgun, power drill, and bottle of single malt scotch the Mrs. has had her eyes on. I had “Lex” engraved on the shotgun just in case she doesn’t like it. I’ve sent new pictures of myself to all of our friends and laid on an extra case of beer for the game. Can’t imagine what else we might need that’s all the way over in Strasbourg. Oh well, you know me anything for the family.

After all of the excitement and Lego construction on Christmas day, we’ll take a moment to reflect on the reason for the season and those who are off doing the country’s business. Merry Christmas all.

Crushing the RATS in '06

There are three huge issues that any conservative can beat any DemoRAT/RepubliRAT on in the mid-terms.

National security.
When Iraq comes up, support it 100%. Tell voters we are killing the enemy in Iraq, a situation far more preferable than them killing us here.

When the torture issue comes up, lambaste anyone who suggests that American troops torture enemy prisoners. Tell voters that American troops are not criminals and any senator or representative who suggests that they are by offering legislation that de facto accuses them of criminal activities is not fit to serve (John, I am the Exalted One, McCain).

When the candidate is accused of attacking DemoRAT patriotism, tell voters that to be a patriot should require more than continually running down one’s own country and president.

When asked about NSA eavesdropping, tell voters only pointed headed liberals out to get the president do not think that it’s a good idea. The Libs would rather have us all die in our sleep at the hands of the terrorists than listen in on a phone conversation or deprive one of them of their 3 squares a day at G’itmo.

In short, DemoRATS are too weak to be trusted with the Nation’s security.

Immigration.
Tie immigration to the security issue
Advocate:
- building a fence, the higher the better, electrified randomly.
- fining employers of illegals $500,000 for second offences.
- eliminating any and all welfare benefits for illegals.
- returning every illegal after 90 days of collecting trash on the Nation’s highways for nothing more than a cot and 3 portions of very thin gruel.
- a guest worker program that requires a photo ID card with thumb print and online re-registration every 90 days.

Energy.
Simple. We have the energy here and we are going to go get it. We will not continue to pay billions of dollars to Arab regimes that are at best playing both sides in the terror war against the middle. Nor will we deal with a South American dictator, nor Mexico until it polices its side of our border. We have the capacity to be more energy independent. We will commit to that independence. We can do it cleanly and safely. Only DemoRATS doubt America’s ability to sustain itself.

The Immaculate Conception

For many people, the Immaculate Conception is a bridge too far. Because childbirth is such a common occurrence, it seems for many, rising from the dead is far easier to believe than the Immaculate Conception. It isn’t for me. My first experience with the concept of the Immaculate Conception was my own Aunt Anna who wasn’t able to conceive until after visiting Rome and seeing the Pope. When I heard the family story as child and young adult my reaction was, “Yea, right”.

My next experience was a friend and his wife who were told by “competent medical authority” that it was impossible for him and his wife to conceive a child. They adopted two children before having two naturally themselves. Then there was the friend and his wife who were assured by their doctor that they were beyond the child bearing years - then had twins. That particular set of circumstances has happened to two different couples. Then there was the near disastrous pregnancy of a friend’s wife after he had had a vasectomy. Low and behold, tests proved the child was his own. Finally, there was the whole Franko Harris thing. Sorry, that was the immaculate REception not CONception

So, for me, a miracle is a miracle. If I can accept that Christ rose from the dead, the Immaculate Conception is easy. Besides the biggest provable miracle, based on DNA statistics, is that any one of us exists at all. When you calculate those odds, anything else seems almost likely – except maybe the Indians winning the World Series.

21st century man is too cool, too in control, too sure of himself to believe in anything that requires a spiritual faith. Ironically, 21st century man has faith in the Big Bang theory. Yet, he doesn’t know where the big bang came from. He just has faith that it occurred. He believes in evolution. But he cannot cause anything to “evolve” in a manner of his own design. Wouldn’t it be nice if all men were 6’ 2” 190 lbs? 21st century man still can’t explain how a bumble bee flies, but he’s absolutely sure God had no hand in it. And there are only about 10,000,000,000 things to the tenth power that 21st century man can’t explain about life, but he remains arrogant enough to believe he’s in control. To me, it just makes more sense to believe God’s in control.

George W. punks Demorats MSM

The man was on fire. The president that is. George W. was punking the media and DemoRATS so much yesterday that it looked like a two hour Ashton Kutcher special. The media lemmings for their part stuck with the “domestic spying on Americans” theme. Hmmm, I could of sworn that at least one end of the subject calls were international. And who knows that any of the subjects were Americans? I suspect that some were, but who really knows? So why is the media hyping the “domestic” spying on “Americans” angle? Why not a headline that says, “Bush targets international terrorists”?

The reason, Mr. & Mrs. America is that, while DemoRATS and MSM weasels claim to be patriots, the only way to measure their patriotism is by the amount and vitriol of their opposition to America and President Bush. That’s it. Patriotism for this creepy class consists solely of one’s willingness to bash his own country and president.

The crime in this story is not that George W. authorized wire taps on terrorist scumbags. The real crime here is that someone in our own CIA exposed the program. The crime is not that US troops are committing torture – they aren’t. The real crime is our exalted elected officials passing a law against torture because they think that our troops are engaged in that practice. The crime isn’t that “our Army is broken and worn out” – it isn’t. The real crime is a well placed government official giving aid and comfort to the enemy by stating that it is. The crime is not that we can’t or aren’t winning in Iraq – we can and are. The real crime is the DNC chair giving aid and comfort to the enemy by saying we can’t win. The crime isn’t that we are not making progress in Iraq – we are. The real crime is that the progress goes unreported. The crime is not that there are no heroes in Iraq – there are scores upon scores of heroes. The real crime is that their heroism goes unreported. The crime is not the federal government’s misuse of the Patriot Act – there’s been none reported. The crime is craven politicians playing politics with America’s safety by letting the act lapse.

No, for some odd reason, you cannot call these treasonous enemy sympathizing bastards what they are - treasonous enemy sympathizing bastards - but you can ask, “What would they be doing differently if they were treasonous enemy sympathizing bastards”? Sadly, the answer to that question is, “Not much.”

Congress authorized eavesdropping

So, lemme get this straight. There are terrorists in the US talking with terrorists outside the US. After 9/11, the president authorized the NSA to eavesdrop on the international part of that conversation, not unlike hopefully 1,000s of cases the CIA conducts everyday. But because one terminus of the NSA targeted conversation happens to be a terrorist located within US territory, the press and DemoRATS are placing the backs of their hands against their peaked foreheads, going weak in the knees and fainting while looking for a couch and the salts. If you needed another one, this reason number 100,856 why it is not yet safe to vote DemoRAT.

I don’t know what all of the fuss about. I trusted that our government was doing exactly this kind of thing. Now, I find out that they are doing it, but the DemoRATS and MSM are upset about it. An incredulous Tim Russert kept asking Sec State Condi Rice “by who’s authority were such actions were being taken.” Rice said, “Well Tim, I’m not a lawyer blah, blah, blah.”

Well Tim, Lex ain’t no damn lawyer either, but let me give ‘er a shot, Tim. Tim, did you know that on Sep 18, 2001 the congress of these here United States authorized the president to use “all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines (Looky there, Tim, it says "he", meaning the president. But it don’t say nothing ‘bout no damn Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.) planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.” Hot damn, that there Google thing is great Tim. You ought to try it sometime seeins how you’re in the business ‘n all.

Oh yeah, Tim, then there’s that pesky war resolution on Iraq that your BOY John, I was in Vietnam blowing myself up with my own hand grenades and collecting Purple Hearts for it, Kerry voted for, “Whereas the President has authority under the Constitution to take action in order to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism against the United States, as Congress recognized in the joint resolution on Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40)” Tim, that there Public Law 107-40 just takes us back to the first quote. Oh, and Tim, there’s that little known part of the Constitution, Executive Department, Article II or something. You know the one. It has that whole Commander in Chief thing in it.

Why are media bums and DemoRATS so believable when they act ignorant about things? Prediction: This is so easily understood, Joe Sixpack will immediately be asking, “What the hell they fussin’ ‘bout? It’s just a bunch a damned terrist.”

Non denominational winter holiday quiz

OK class it’s time for your Friday quiz. So get out a piece of paper and a #2 pencil. Keep your eyes on your own paper and remember this is a public school so there are no wrong answers.

The picture above is:
a. A Christmas tree.
b. A holiday tree.
c. A good use of a renewable resource.
d. The wonton and senseless destruction of squirrel and bird habitat.

A Holiday tree is:
a. A tree dating to 1776 that one puts up on the 4th of July Holiday
b. A dead tree normally set up for the Memorial Day Holiday.
c. Any tree cut by a union member for the Labor Day Holiday.
d. A Cherry tree cut down to honor Washington on his birthday now oddly celebrated as the any President’s Day Holiday.

Christmas is:
a. A word used in conjunction with the word Merry by 98% of Americans to express good cheer to other Americans.
b. A word used by .000001% of Americans to sue 98% of Americans for wishing them good cheer.
c. A federal holiday passed by congress and signed into law by US Grant.
d. The celebration of the birth of the Christ child.

When a smug PC agnostic wishes you a “Happy Holiday” you should:
a. Laugh hysterically at a PC dope wishing you a happy-holy-day.
b. Shout back, “And Merry Christmas to you!”
c. Ask, “What holiday is it?”
d. Tell them you are Christian and offended by the use of the word “holiday”.

A Nativity scene is:
a. Expressly forbidden on public ground by the First Amendment of our constitution.
b. A divisive display designed to destroy our multi-culturism.
c. A law suit waiting to happen.
d. A depiction of the birth of the Christ child.

Santa Clause is:
a. The leader of far right Christian extremists during the month of December.
b. Some fat guy in a red suit that breaks into your house, eats your cookies, drinks your milk and leaves soot stains on the couch.
c. A shameless marketing tool used by stores to hawk toys to kids.
d. A modern depiction of Nicholas who made toys for poor children.

Joseph & Mary were:
a. Homeless and forced to live in a stable by money grubbing capitalists.
b. Required by a repressive government to leave their home and travel to Joseph’s birth place for a census so that the government could levy more onerous taxes.
c. Upon arriving in Joseph’s town of Bethlehem, they found no room at the inn and stayed in a stable were Mary gave birth to Christ.
d. A small college in the east –oops sorry that’s William & Mary.

Mary is:
a. An unwed mother knocked up on a one night stand after drinking too much wine.
b. The virgin who bore the Christ child after the Immaculate Conception.
c. The name of the girl I took to the prom.
d. One of the big theological differences between Catholics and Protestants and by extension why they find it necessary to hate and kill one another – very odd.

The star of the East was:
a. An angle sent by God to guide the three kings so that they may bow to the King of kings.
b. Halley’s Comet making its usual rounds.
c. The spaceship of the aliens who created us and the pyramids just driving by to see how things were going.
d. The space station.

Grade your own papers. Give yourself a 100%. Pass them to left and forward.

Election day in Iraq

Iraq votes. The world watches. Bashar Assad is beginning to wet himself…again. Iranian madman Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is being found out by the rest of the world – even the French & Germans - for the reckless idiot that he is - a reckless idiot soon to have nuclear weapons. Jack(ass), the Good and Honorable, Murtha and his merry band of cut and run surrender at all cost cowards will have no other choice but to start their daily press self-aggrandizement with, “this is a good thing for Iraq, the Middle East and the world” before adding inevitable BUT, “America cannot win while our government is populated with the craven quivering yellow bellied treasonous sacks of excrement that currently speak for the DemoRAT party like me and Howie, talk about a draft dodger, Dean.”

Iraqis will be dancing in the streets – in fact they have been for a week already. But our fearless Lame Stream Media bums, reporting from nowhere but the safety of the Green Zone, will concentrate on the on bomb that went off, the soldier who was killed protecting voters, or the disaffected Sunni who decided not to vote. They will miss the big story, not because they are too stupid to see it. They will miss it because they want to miss it. "We can’t be giving the US military and GWB credit for anything, now can we? That will only encourage them to do something about Iran before it goes nuclear or something about the pencil neck geek in Syria. Better to wait for ’08 so the Shrill one can handle those disasters in waiting." The dolts in the MSM will go on and on about the impending civil war they’ve been predicting for three years now and the partition of Iraq – not a bad solution by the way - the partition not the civil war.

For his part the frat-boy president will continue to be the only adult in Washington. He’ll probably thank the DemoRATS and congress and give them credit for all that is right in the world while taking full responsibility for anything that has gone wrong. There is something Lincolnesque about this president. Like Lincoln, he is engaged in a war that holds the future of the nation in the balance. Like Lincoln, he has the nation’s opposition party advocating capitulation. Like Lincoln, he steadfastly refuses to yield to the opposition and/or whims of a fickle public. Like Lincoln, he is vilified by the opposition and in the press. Like Lincoln, he has freed millions. We know how history regards Lincoln. Only our great grandchildren may know how history will regard GW Bush.

I'v never been tortured but...

There’s an old story about a man that walks into a bar and asks an attractive young woman if she would have sex with him once for ten million dollars. The woman, without thinking, says, “Ten million dollars for a one night stand? Sure.” The man then says how about for ten dollars? The woman replies, “What do you think I am some kind of whore?” The man answers, “We’ve already established that you’re a whore. We’re just negotiating the price.”

The US Senate is holding a similar discussion with the house and executive branch with regard to torture. John, I love to hear myself talk, McCain (RepubliRAT, AZ) has agreed that torture can and should be used in extreme circumstances – say on Chris Matthews if the Hardball guy goes more than three shows without having McCain on as co-host. McCain has been given exalted status on torture because he was a POW in Vietnam for so many years. And of course, unless you’ve been a prisoner you are totally unqualified to speak on the subject or torture. Sort of like the time I called the city to report a traffic light that wasn’t working. The city bureaucrat said, “Look bud, you ever built a traffic light? Installed one? Changed the light in one? Then who the hell are you to tell us when it’s not working?” Ahh, yes but I know it’s not working because none of the lights are on. “No you don’t. You don’t know nothing about no traffic light. We build ‘em, install ‘em and fix ‘em. You can’t tell us nothing about no traffic light.”

We all agree that torture is justified from time to time, but it will be the exalted one, John McCain as former POW telling the rest of us when that torture is allowed. So if there is a terrorist with information about an IED in Iraq? The Exalted One will tell us, no that doesn’t rise to the level for the use of torture. Well it sure does if it’s you or your son driving by that IED. Now if there is plot to pull the plug on Tim Russert Sunday morning while the Exalted One is waxing on, well then I’m sure McCain would personally shove the bamboo under one of the conspirator’s fingernails to get to the bottom of the nefarious plot.

I’d be for leaving our torture policy as ambiguous as possible in the hope of deterring a scumbag or two. I might go so far as finding poor souls that have lost eyes and limbs or who have been badly burned in automobile or industrial accidents and pay them to beg on the streets of certain cities (Damascus, Tehran, Riyadh ) claiming that it was the US who brutalized them.

Christmas

It is the best time of the year. I was walking young Lex to bed the other night (Get this, he likes to walk to bed backward while standing on top of dad’s shoes, holding hands. I don’t get it.) and he asked what I liked best about Christmas. The music, I said. How about you? He thought hard, trying to think of something other than presents and settled on cookies. But I remember the anticipation and wonder at what kind of goodies mom and dad (mostly mom) might have found and wrapped up under the tree. For kids, it’s the presents stupid.

I don’t recall when all that changed. But one of most memorable Christmases was when I volunteered to take the Officer of the Day Duty at Las Pulgas, Camp Pendleton, CA. I was single and new to the battalion. So I volunteered for duty Christmas day and got good-guy points for jumping on a hand grenade that the battalion adjutant was probably going to throw me on anyway.

I ate breakfast in a near empty chow hall. Anyone who complains about chow in the service hasn’t been to a Marine Corps chow hall for breakfast. It’s great, and in the day, cost about $.70 half that if you’re on duty and are required to eat there. The chow hall was decorated and Christmas music was playing. I noticed more officers and senior staff NCOs than usual milling around wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Later, the battalion commander himself arrived at the duty hut with plate of cookies “from the wife” and hearty Merry Christmas for all of “his” duty personnel.

At lunch the chow hall was more deserted than during breakfast. I asked the mess chief were everyone went. “Happens every year. The staff NCOs show up at breakfast scour the chow hall and the barracks to find out who’s left behind. They round ‘em up and take ‘em home. They’ll all spend the day watching TV, having a few beers, eat dinner about four in the afternoon and be back here before we close to eat dinner again.”

I was making the mandatory tour of the camp that must be conducted between 12 pm. and 2 am. I saw a lone figure smoking a cigarette on the third story catwalk of the barracks. He must be contemplating suicide I thought. I asked him if everything was OK. “Oh, hell yes sir. I get to go on leave today. The family’s holding Christmas for me. I’ll be home for dinner.” It is the best time of the year.

DemoRATS faced with their own words cry foul

Found out to be the treasonous bastards that they are, DemoRATS are crying foul because the RNC is using the DemoRAT’s own words to demonstrate their defeatism. Chief chicken Howie, boy are we ever getting our asses kicked, Dean; Babs, who cares what happens to America as long as Bush’s embarrassed, Boxer; and John, the US military is nothing but a bunch of terrorists, Kerry are all crying foul. Why? Well it’s because the RNC is using the exact words they spoke in the linked ad. Outrageous! Why, how will any DemoRAT pol survive if they forced to maintain a single position on issues?

In another curious note, John, the Good and Honorable, Murtha declared that 2 + 2 = 5. “It’s added up to 4 for too long. Four is a failed strategy.” the Good and Honorable said. “Why if we can’t make it 5, we should redeploy America to the fifth dimension immediately. From there we can return if anyone threatens our national security”. Jean Schmidt took to floor of the house and said, “Murtha’s an idiot. 2 + 2 = 4. Always has. Always will. Even six of ten Marines can add 2 + 2 and get 4 most of the time.” DemoRATS were outraged. “Why John, the Good and Honorable is a decorated Vietnam War vet. If he says 2 + 2 = 5, who are these chickenhawk Republicans to dispute it? While John the Good and Honorable was sweating in the fields of Vietnam, many of these same Republicans were getting deferments to study math in college. So, who are you going to believe when someone tells you 2 + 2 = 5? Draft dodging Republicans who insist on the failed 2 + 2 = 4 strategy or a decorated Vietnam War vet?”

The RNC put up an ad showing Elmo with two apples and Grover with two apples. The Count comes and counts the apples and gets four. Howie, aka the Grouch, Dean called the ad a cheap political stunt and said that he and the Good and Honorable were taken out of context.

DemoRAT foreign policy: SURRENDER AT ALL COST

DemoRATS are angry that the RNC is using the words of Howie, America can't win, Dean, Jack(ass) Murtha and a host of other DemoRAT cut and run artists in an ad against them. Demorats will be running in '06 on a platform that calls for modernizing the American flag. DemoRATS will advocate removing the red stripes and blue field in the corner. Howie, trust me I'm a doctor, Dean said, "It's just easier and it pretty much signifies what DemoRATS are all about." 

Iran pleased with DemoRATS response

The man DemoRATS trust more than their own president, Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, released a statement yesterday: "We are very pleased with White Flag Howie, Jack(ass) Murtha and the rest of the cut and run DemoRATS. We are only half pleased with John, I voted for it before I voted against it, Kerry. We promise we will cut off their heads last. It is the least we can do for the people that are helping us to come to power. After all, it is George Bush that is the real ememy here, right. He's the one that would have the world living in freedom. And we can all agree that Islamo-terror-fascists cannot tolerate that - or much of anything else as a matter of fact. We will be very pleased the day DemoRATS pass a bill removing red and blue from the American flag."

DemoRATS puff too long on antiwar exploding cigar

One thing we can always count on, if DemoRATS think they have an advantage they will overplay the advantage until it blows up in their faces. That is beginning to happen with John “The Good and Honorable (coward)” Murtha’s cut and run strategy in Iraq; true draft-dodger Howie “America is a loser” Dean; John “American troops are STILL terrorists” Kerry. Arrogant, ignorant DemoRAT doofuses know nothing about Joe Sixpack.

Joe hates to lose. Even a game of checkers – even if it’s on purpose to his 8 year old son. Joe hates when his favorite driver finishes second on Sunday. Joe is near suicidal when his teams lose on Saturday or Sunday. Joe ain’t gonna stand for losen no war because of a couple of chikensh%* politicians.

Joe is a man of honor. Joe gives up his seat on public transportation for old people, women and children. Joe cuts the neighbor’s grass when they are away on vacation. Joe runs to the all night store during his favorite TV show in the rain for tape to finish jr’s school project. If Joe says he’ll help you move, he shows up on time and stays until the job is done. So Joe ain’t gonna put up with leavin’ no job half done.

Joe is patriot. He doesn’t understand geo-politics but he knows surrender when he sees it. He may never have served in the military but he respects those who do and have. Joe may come to blows with anyone who calls our troops criminals or terrorists. Joe thinks America is a country that is basically good and descent. Not without fault, but willing to own up to its mistakes and correct them. Joe dont think America is a bad thing.

DemoRATS failure to understand the average American put them on the verge of total collapse. Let’s give ‘em a push in ’06.

What to do with Iran

What to do with Iran? Iran is on the verge of going nuclear. Can we allow Iran to simply go down the road, almost unnoticed, and acquire nukes? I don’t think so. When/if they do, it will have a greatly destabilizing affect on the Middle East. Relations between Iran and Iraq are tense as Iran is making its best effort to destabilize Iraq’s fledgling democracy. Iran has called for the destruction of Israel. Such statements, not surprising, do not sit well with Israel’s current government. President Bush has listed Iran with countries comprising an “axis of evil” not a good list to be on. Ask Saddam.

So what to do? Attack and occupation of a country the size of Iran with its forbidding terrain is problematic, to say the least. Even an attack on and occupation of a certain number of strategic nodes in Iran would make the Iraq war appear to be an effortless operation for Boy Scouts by comparison. The amount of troops and logistical support to carry out such an operation would tax planners to the limit.

Well we could take the DemoRATS approach and try to talk them to death or rather have the French talk them to death. Hey…maybe they are on to something. At least if they don’t get rid of the nukes, the Iranians will be punished by being in the same room as a Frenchman. But then who could stand it for more than a few minutes…the smell alone I mean? So those talks are doomed from the start. We could take another DemoRAT approach support the war when it is politically popular and then advocate a cut and run strategy - sort of voting for it before you vote against it. Or the final DemoRAT option, blame Iran’s nuclear ambitions on America. If America weren’t such a bully, peace loving Iran would have no use for nukes. So it’s all our fault and we should unilaterally destroy our own nuclear weapons. Because we have treated him so poorly, and he did such a good job getting rid of his own weapons, we could have Saddam verify the destruction.

Well here’s an idea, for a start have the Israelis turn out the lights in Tehran. We learned during our Bosnia experience that from 30,000 feet we can turn out the lights of a major city using chaff bombs. Once the lights go out the people will have an opportunity rise up and push the Mullahas out. But we know the Israelis don’t know how to execute such half measures. They will simply go in and reduce whatever facilities necessary to rubble. Well that’s another solution. Anyone who thinks that this president and the Israelis are going to sit by watching while Iran goes nuclear hasn’t been paying attention.

The middle road

We are on the middle path in Iraq. DemoRATS like Howie, I want the country to be a loser like me, Dean; John, it’s my party and I’ll lie if want to, Kerry; John, the Good & Honorable coward, Murtha all want to quit – cut and run in Iraq. They want to quit not because it would be good for the country but rather because it would be good for them. DemoRATS cannot tolerate a Bush/American victory in Iraq.

But what will happen if the DemoRATS get their way? America and its allies achieved absolute victory in WWII over Germany, Italy and Japan. After losing that war are those countries better or worse off today than they were when America entered the war? Only John, the weasel, Kerry would try to say “well it depends on what you mean by better off”.

Now let’s look at what happen when America quits. Korea? Would we better or worse off if we’d “stayed the course” in Korea? Where would we be today if Truman had backed up his threat to use nuclear force against China if they didn’t get out of Korea. China would be neutered. Korea would be united and prosperous and Democratic. Instead North Korea is dealing nukes to Iran. China is developing a space and missile program to threaten the entire US which has every potential to plunge us into another cold war.

How about Vietnam? What if we won there? 2,000,000 Cambodians and 100,000s of other people would be alive, prosperous and free. What if the DemoRATS hadn’t run us out of Lebanon? Wouldn’t that area of the world be better off? How about Somalia? If we’d stayed the course there rooted out the War Lords there and avenged the 18 dead soldiers, bin Laden would not have called America a “paper tiger”. He might have thought better of blowing our African embassies, the USS Cole and the World Trade Centers.

We are on the middle course. If the far left DemoRATS have their way, it will, as demonstrated above, lead to an even larger disaster. When that greater disaster is visited upon America, America will swing violently to the far right and a military solution will be found for nearly every problem abroad. Freedom in the US will be under assault by a new Patriot Act on steroids. In the end, if the DemoRATS have their way, the only thing they will accomplish is visiting further misery upon Iraq, the US and the rest of the world. But that probably causes them no concern as long as Bush suffers politically. The only thing that will cause DemoRATS concern is that when the inevitable disaster strikes, they will be out of power forever as America finally begins to take its war terror seriously.

The Classic Game

Whatever else you do this weekend, tune in for at least a quarter of the annual Army v. Navy football classic. If you don’t watch sports anymore because of chest thumping, self serving, scumbags like Terrell Owens, or doped up cheaters like Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire, or the criminal element that populates most collegiate and professional sport – less NASCAR, this is the game for you. Sit down and watch how real men, with real obligations, play the game. If you have youngsters playing sports, any sport, this should be a mandatory lesson in sportsmanship, team play and life for them. No one knows where our war on terror will lead us. Some of the men on the field and in the stands tomorrow may well make their last stand before next year’s kick off. They know it. That knowledge will not lessen their enthusiasm, curb their commitment or prevent them from stepping up to take their turn on the line. Other football teams and their alumni fight for BCS bowl births. The men in tomorrow’s game and their alumni have fought and are fighting for something much more important. These men of honor and their classic game should serve to put all of sport into the proper perspective.

GO NAVY!

Murtha the Good and Honorable

A letter to Murtha the Good and Honorable written in a fit of passion. I'll probably regret sending it later.

Dear John,
If you were a treasonous, enemy sympathizing, bastard, what would you be doing differently than what you’ve been doing? If the US Army is broken and worn out, do you think it is a good idea to announce that fact to our enemies? Besides advocating cutting and running, chickening out, surrendering, quitting, giving up, capitulating in Iraq and flapping your considerable jowls, what are you proposing to fix the Army? Pick from this menu:
An across the board %15 pay hike?
Increase the Army by 2 Divisions?
Increase SGLI %50?
Closing every unwanted and unnecessary military facility around the world?
Shutting down every unnecessary wasteful government program and pouring that money into a Manhattan type project to combat the IED problem?
Advocating affirmative action for veterans especially wounded veterans?
How many wounded vets do you have on your staff?
Guaranteeing college education for the children of those slain in the line of duty?
Or do you propose nothing?

You’ve done nothing but run your suck and for that, yes congressman you are a coward. I don’t much care if you and your ilk hide under the bed sheets while terrorists slash your families to death before finally pulling back the bed covers to find quivering, blubbering, slobs sitting in their own urine and after a good laugh severe your empty heads from your worthless bodies. A fine death for cowards. I do care when your only solution for a war in which our very way of life hangs in the balance is to quit - a policy that puts not only the cowards advocating it in danger but the rest of us as well.

We are at war congressman. How about reaching down, finding your manly orbs, if you ever had any, and acting like it. Advocate a policy for victory not surrender. How about a JFK, “bear any burden” moment from someone, anyone in your party?

Doug Schumick
Stuttgart, Germany
Since it seems to matter but shouldn’t - Former Marine combat veteran w/CAR and Bronze Star w/combat V and bunch of other stuff that was so worthless to the Democrat Presidential Nominee he tossed his over a fence. Ooops, he was a coward too. He tossed someone else’s stuff over the fence but has his own neatly framed in his office. Is it any wonder the nation does not trust Democrats with national security?

Kerry whiffs

Is John, I spent four months in Vietnam filming myself, Kerry (RAT, MA) the most pompous windbag in the history of the world? Why, yes I believe he is. Having learned nothing from a 4 MILLION vote thrashing from “that idiot” Bush in the last election, Kerry continues to speak as if most Americans don’t understand English. While George Bush was hitting a grand slam home run in his speech at the Naval Academy yesterday, Kerry the lame was whiffing on three straight pitches.

The president inspired the Middies with this line, “To all who wear the uniform, I make you this pledge: America will not run in the face of car bombers and assassins so long as I am your Commander-in-Chief.” The crowd went nuts. Having seen the response John, I threw my medals away, no wait those were someone else’s medals, mine are neatly framed in my office, Kerry offered this lame brain line of bovine excrement, “We’re not asking for a timeline for withdrawal. We’re asking for a timeline for victory.” What? Yeah right, I’m not asking for a refund. I’m asking for my money back. I don’t want my car washed. I want it cleaned. I never asked for a date. I asked if she’d like to have dinner and see a movie. The teacher doesn’t give spelling tests on Friday. She evaluates if the kids can spell certain words by announcing them, using them in a sentence and having the kids write them on a piece of paper. It's not the Superbowl. It's a gridiron classic. Oh my goodness he missed that one by a mile. STeeeerike one!

John, I may go to Cambodia for Christmas again this year, Kerry also made this idiotic remark, “Well, so long as Jack Reed is United States senator and John Kerry is a senator and the rest of us are senators, none of us, no one has ever suggested or believes that we should run in the face of car bombers or assassins.” Hey, dopey one, you might want to check with your like minded fools in the house. Kerry hadn’t uttered the last syllable in the word assassins when Nance Lala Poloser (RAT, CA) announced, “"I'm endorsing what Mr. Murtha (RAT, PA) is saying” which is a six month timetable for US troop withdrawal. Kerry could be heard screaming in his office, “Damn her. I’m trying to run for president!” Holy Cow! He swung before the pitcher let go of the ball on that one. STEEEErike two!

DeomoRATS seeking a timetable for victory? John Murtha: "I'm absolutely convinced that we're making no progress at all. We've become the enemy. Eighty percent of the people in Iraq want us out of there." Barbara Boxer: "What's happening in Iraq is not working. It's a disaster." I don’t believe it. He actually swung twice at that pitch before checking his swing. Now he’s arguing the call with the umpire. Dolt, buffoon, idiot don’t even begin to scratch the surface of just how dumb this guy is. STEEEERIKE THREE AND FOUR YOU'RE OUTTA THERE!!

This stuff has got to drive common sense Democrats like Joe Liebermann insane. Sort of like John, I’m the light of my life, McCain (RepulicRAT, AZ) and Arly, the Scot, Specter (RepbulicRAT, PA) irritate conservatives.

President to decide NASCAR race schedule

Can anyone put their finger on the phrase or clause in the US Constitution that would make Philadelphia Eagles receiver, narcissist, and all round dope Terrell Owens’ four game suspension and subsequent paid deactivation a federal case? Well Arlen Specter (RepublicRAT, PA) has used the Senate’s secret Constitutional divining rod to find a way to inject himself into this high-profile case. Yes, yes this is the same Arlen Specter that introduced the Scottish law principle of “not proven” into the Senate trial of disgraced president Slick Willie. The same Arlen Specter that postponed Judge Alito’s Judiciary Committee hearing because he was just too busy to get it done before the first of the year. To get Alito a hearing would have required Senators to up their work load from three hours a day, two days a week; to four hours a day, three days a week. Oh the humanity! Well somehow the “too busy” Arly has found time to get involved the Owens case claiming that an NFL team disciplining a loud mouth, corrosive figure somehow violates antitrust laws. Arly “The Just” also called Eagles handling of the Owens mess "vindictive and inappropriate".

First off, I think Owens is creep and any team that picks this doofus up ought to be made to keep him and play him in every game for five years, no matter how disruptive to the team he becomes. Since he and “go to hell” Art Model are made of the same moral fiber, I think Arly should order Owens to the Baltimore Ravens thereby ensuring the further decline of that franchise well into the next decade.

All that said, who the hell is Arly Spectator to tell anyone how to run their business. GM just laid off 30,000 workers, 29,999 of which are better people than Terrell Owens. If the Senate were to ride to anybody’s rescue, you’d think it’d be GM workers who actually work and produce something useful at the end of each day. The fact is, Arly ought to keep quite. He’s has no more business in this matter than the Supreme Court had in injecting itself into the Casey Martin case in golf. Martin you might recall was the disabled golfer that wanted to ride a cart on the PGA circuit though the rules didn’t allow for one. The Supreme Court of these United States went about telling the PGA how to make rules for golf. Huh? So we’ve got the Senate arbitrating spoiled NFL players’ contracts and the Supreme Court deciding the rules for golf. What’s next the president deciding what tracks get which races in NASCAR’s Race for the Cup.

While the Senate and Supreme Court concern themselves with such weighty issues, our borders remain unsecured, the national Ponzy scheme called Social Security is about to collapse, government spending is running out of control, we have no national energy strategy, RATs are lying about the president lying about Iraq, Syria and Iran are openly trying to destabilize a fledgling Democracy in the Middle East, North Korea and Iran are in nuclear arms talks, China is dumping nationally subsidized goods manufactured by prison labor all over the world and using the profits to further its space and missile programs, OOoooOOoooo better stop, this is too depressing. Anyway Arly and the rest of the Washington know nothings ought to stick with what the people send them there to do. In my case, since they seem to screw up everything they touch, that is as little as possible.

Maybe DemoRATS know the plan

Here’s something interesting. All the way back in 1998, the early years of W’s presidency, the State Department published this little tid bit:

U.S. Government White Paper (State Department), Feb. 13, 1998: On the basis of the last seven years' experience, the world's experts conclude that enough production components and data remain hidden and enough expertise has been retained or developed to enable Iraq to resume development and production of WMD. They believe Iraq maintains a small force of Scud-type missiles, a small stockpile of chemical and biological munitions, and the capability to quickly resurrect biological and chemical weapons production. This conclusion is borne out by gaps and inconsistencies in Iraq's WMD declarations, Iraq's continued obstruction of UNSCOM inspections and monitoring activities, Saddam's efforts to increase the number of "sensitive" locations exempt from inspection, and Saddam's efforts to end inspections entirely. Collectively, the evidence strongly suggests that Baghdad has hidden remnants of its WMD programs and is making every effort to preserve them. (The Washington Times republished this today on its editorial page.)

So from this White Paper we can conclude that George Bush was lying about Iraq’s WMD program all the way back in 1998. What? The hell you say! Bush wasn’t even president? How can that be? DemoRATS and the MSM have led me to believe this Iraq war and the WMD were all a figment of W’s imagination. Now you tell me that Maddie Halfbright and William the Slick were of the same mind as the Evil George Bush on Iraq. How can that be? Well, if true, this would be enough to convince a thinking man that the DemoRATS and the MSM are smearing the president. Oops, I used thinking, DemoRATS and MSM in the same sentence. That has to violate some rule of grammar, but I didn’t get one those Gates grams. You know the green line that appears indicating that something is wrong with the structure of the sentence. Hmm. It must be an oversight by the programmer.

Rush Limbaugh offers this alternative theory on the DemoRATS call for withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. What if the RATS figured out that the troops are coming home in the spring of ’06? What if they know that the war has gone reasonably well and with the elections in December and the accelerated build up of Iraqi forces, plans have been laid all along to start a draw down of US troops in the spring? What to do? Such a draw down may give credit to the president who has steadfastly and correctly refused to buy into any timetable talk. You know the troops are coming home in the spring anyway. You know the president won’t announce any withdrawal schedules. So you, being ever the political opportunist, start demanding a pull out in the fall of ‘05 and take credit for the withdrawal when it occurs naturally in the spring. The Rats continual harping on the war is a two-for in that it is also distracting from a robust economy that is all but ignored by the MSM. That’s too low, even for DemoRATS? I wish that it were it true, but I don’t think so.

Notes from a broad, no make that Notes from abroad

For nearly two-and-a-half years Lex and the family have had the good fortune and pleasure of traveling about in Europe. A few notes:

People in Europe do not hate Americans. We have not once experienced anything that could even be described as rude behavior let alone hate. I have had political discussions with Scots, Germans, Turks, Italians etc. not once was there a hint of hate. Even those that disagree with the Iraq war are happy to see America changing the political landscape in the mid-east. Most are just envious of America’s strength, wealth, and good nature.

If money talks, it’s a dollar and it speaks English. This has just got to burn the French up. The French and Germans have used the EU to consistently violate the EU’s economic guidelines. They use the EU to run high government budgets to support their unsupportable social programs and in the process suck every available Euro cent out of already flat economies and wind up creating higher deficits than allowed by the EU. And who gets stuck when the Euro suffers? The smaller countries, that’s who. Once outside the Euro zone, the dollar is king. Russians prefer the dollar to rubles. Turks love to see the greenbacks come out. I spoke with an elderly Brit in a hotel lounge in Budapest. He was in some secretive business. I asked twice what it was he did. The more he explained the more confused I became. He spoke of how a weak dollar hurt the world. The world runs on dollars he explained. One reason is that the dollar is backed by the world’s oldest democracy. Another is that oil prices are linked to the dollar. He noted that when Saddam Hussein was caught he had a couple of thousand Euros and a couple of million dollars.

Language. In 1492 the Bishop of Avila presented Queen Isabella with a book on the grammar of the Castilian language. The queen asked the bishop what the book was for. The bishop replied, “What is it for? Your Majesty, language is the perfect instrument of empire.” And what language do most of the people in the southwest US, Central and South America speak to this day? While America is hung up on multilingual, diversity, bull excrement, the rest of the world is yearning to learn to speak English. Anybody trying to make money in Europe speaks English. The only place where we have experienced that English is not spoken to some recognizable degree is among older East Germans. Americans, in spite of what some DemoRATS would have you believe, do not seek an empire. But the power of the dollar and the English language have created the perfect storm where American influence spreads despite any of it own desires. The world will be an entirely different place in the next generation. Ironically, America may be the only place where, in some places, you will not be able to communicate in English.

Population demographics. Lex has warned about this before. The only populations growing in Europe are the Muslim populations. All of Europe is whistling by the graveyard watching Paris burn. They know that they could be next. Lex has noted that European governments will need to change tax policy to encourage population growth. The French have taken the first step. Not surprisingly it’s a timid one. The French have offered a one time tax credit to couples that have children. Russians have degrees of motherhood. Six kids get mom Goldstar 3rd degree status and host of benefits. 8 kids earn mom 2nd degree honors and more benefits. 10 kids and mom is 1st degree and pretty much has a free ride, car, apartment, government stipend etc. How about something everyone can understand, a permanent $5,000 dollar tax credit until age 18 of the kid leaves home? Declining birth rates and insane immigration policies have led Europe to the brink on this issue. Is anyone in America paying attention? No.

The EU is not now nor is it ever likely to be an effective counterweight to US.

Economic. There appears to be as many people who oppose the EU as support it. It’s only saving grace is its economic advantage. As the nation which arguably benefits the most from the EU, the French rejection of the EU constitution is telling. It notes the symptom that papers and other MSM ignore. Politicians like the EU, the people do not. Tony Blair claims he is going to lead England to scrap the pound in favor of the Euro. The people have rejected that idea at least twice and there is no indication that the folks of the island nation are any closer to changing their minds about this central feature to national sovereignty. The Italians continue to toy with the idea of scrapping the Euro. As a traveler, the Euro is great. No money changing and conversion is necessary. But a lot Europeans seem uncomfortable the idea of French and German markets affecting the whole of the European market.

Militarily. What the Europeans (less Great Britain) have for forces, they are unable to deploy in sufficient numbers. European forces are largely conscripted for two years of service. Some of our more skilled US personnel spend that much in training. The idea that EU nations that can’t agree on who makes the best cheese are going to agree on matters of war is preposterous. The EU couldn’t or wouldn’t even inject itself into Bosnia without US political and military (such as it was) leadership. Whatever else the EU becomes, militarily it will never seriously challenge the First Marine Division let alone the entire US.

Politically. The EU is, at this very moment, as effective a political counterweight as it will ever be against the US. Any growth of the EU to include eastern European countries or Turkey will only erode the EU’s ability to double deal the US in the UN. Also, French and Russian duplicity in the UN Security Council is now apparent to anyone who wants to read the Volker report on Oil for (money for French and Russians) food. Where would we be right now in Iraq if the French and Russians had agreed to hand down a second unanimous UN declaration against Saddam? It is truly comical that the MSM gasbags drone on about how the EU is upset with America’s rendition program of sending certain terrorists to Europe. Who is the EU and who are they to say anything to a member country, say Spain, that has entered into an agreement with another nation on rendition? What's Jack Shrack going to do? Send in the French army? They haven't even surrendered to rioters in Paris yet.

Thanksgiving pot luck

GM HMO
The nation’s largest HMO, General Motors, has decided to cut its auto making subsidiary by closing 12 manufacturing sites and cutting 30,000 jobs. A GM spokesman said, “We need to concentrate on our main duty to the American people, providing health care. This car making stuff is just getting in the way. We will continue to maintain a sizable work force in our car manufacturing division, but only so that we can do what we do best, provide health care for them.” Something went terribly wrong with the US auto manufactures years ago. Pension and health care Ponzy schemes are now coming home to roost. The UAW has finally gotten its wish and brought management to its knees. Ahhh, but it turns out that management and the union were actually in a suicide pack. Will government learn from GM? No.

Cut and run will lead to more OBLs
It turns out that the “good and descent” John Murtha is a cut and runner from way back. Good and descent John advocated a cut and run policy from Somalia after only 18 dead Americans. The good and descent John got his way back then and what were the results? A little know figure among average Americans came to the conclusion that America was a paper tiger. America could not and would not sustain casualties, even in a just cause. So that figure began striking America. Feckless response by America to the first World Trade Center attacks, African embassy attacks and the attack on USS Cole all encouraged this figure to go for the big enchilada, 9/11. That figure is now known to every American as Osama bin Laden. OBL was encouraged to become what he has become by the good and descent John Murtha and like minded useful idiots. Good and descent John ask yourself, if American cut and run tactics in Somalia gave rise to bin Laden, what will American cut and run tactics in Iraq give rise to?

Too many dopey Republicans to energize the base
John McCain and Lindsey Graham are worried about the Republican majority in the senate. Well that’s odd. They have done as much as anyone to insure a shrinking Republican majority. The gang of 14 stunt alone cost the Republican Senatorial Reelection Committee millions – and should have. Then, knowing that the only way to get face time on a Sunday talk show is by blasting the president, senate Republicans line up and blast away at the head of the party. We’ve got idiots running through the ranks, Specter, Snowe, Collins, DeWine(er), Voinovich, Hagle, Chaffey. Why would any conservative give money to get dopes like that elected or reelected? McCain and Graham complaining about Republican chances next Nov. is like the arsonist who complains about all the noise and commotion the fire trucks are causing. If McCain wants to help, he can start by shutting the hell up.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Lex and family are on the road for the Thanksgiving holiday. Hope you have a great holiday. Give thanks for the great guys and gals doing the job in Iraq in spite of the not so great guys and gals in Washington DC. See ya Monday.

DemoRATs ignore consequences of cut and run policy

What’s missing from the DemoRATs call to cut and run? There is absolutely no regard for the consequences of such an irresponsible act. Republicans are falling over themselves to refer to Murtha as good and descent man. Well how can that be? Do good and descent men leave 10s of thousands to die in an inevitable civil war? Do good and decent men advocate setting a great nation down a path that will lead that nation’s ruin? Do good and decent men abandon the cause for which nearly 2,100 of their countrymen, volunteers all, nobly sacrificed their lives? Do good and descent men call for the “immediate redeployment” of US troops and then haggle over semantics when a vote is taken for the “immediate withdrawal troops”? Does a good and descent man question the patriotism of the Vice President of the United States for not serving in the military? Does a good and descent man allow the MSM to portray him over and over as a war hawk when he never was?

Were John Murtha a good and descent man he’d have framed the debate in these terms. Iraq is a lost cause. We should pull out and let the inevitable civil war occur. The MSM has been warning of the civil war since our troop first arrived in Baghdad. We should now allow Iraq to descend into that civil war. If terrorists take over the country, well that’s just too bad. If America looses every ally and potential ally in this global war on terror because of its precipitous and cowardly withdrawal, that’s just too bad as well. The money we’re spending on this war would be better spent on Korans and prayer rugs for our people in anticipation of the Islamo-terror-fascist victory – we can’t win. We’ll also need to buy all the women burkas before our nanny state government is dissolved in favor of a mullahocracy. Oh yeah, we need to blow up all of the churches and synagogues as well.

Murtha is something. Old, tired, misinformed political opportunist comes to mind. The only wars we lose are the ones we quit. For DemoRATs, snatching enemy defeat from the jaws of American victory is a way of life. As “good and descent” as they are…gag…DemoRATs would rather have the nation humiliated and defeated than allow George Bush a victory in Iraq. There is nothing good or descent about their rhetoric, their vision for Iraq or the larger global war on terror.

DemoRATS announce their plan for Iraq

Go check the August archive, 22-24 to be exact. There you will find Lex’s theory of halves. Half the people in America do not believe we are in a real war. Half of those who do think we are in a real war do not understand what is required to win that war. Finally, only half of the people that get the first two points understand what is at stake in the war. Those numbers have not increased since August. If anything they have declined.

With an election year on the horizon, DemoRATS are beginning to moisten their fingers and hoist their damp digits above their heads to see what direction public opinion is turning. Yes, we can always count on the DemoRATS for poll driven leadership. John Murtha, portrayed by the MSM as a DemoRAT hawk, as if there is such a thing, has detected a political advantage for calling for an immediate withdrawal, oops, “redeployment” of US troops. Ever the politician, Murtha takes offense when someone confuses “immediate redeployment” with “immediate withdrawal” two terms that will have the exact same consequence if not the exact same sound.

Splitting the hair even more finely, Murtha calls for Marines to be “redeployed” over the horizon so that they can fight their way back into Baghdad when things go south, as they inevitably will. Hmm, good plan Jack. Withdraw, sorry, redeploy our troops so that they can recapture the same ground at a later date. Jack calls it the - cut and run so we can return and cut and run again plan. One Republican representative relayed a message to Murtha from a Marine constituent that cowards cut and run, Marines never do. DemoRATS, as RATS are wont to do, wept uncontrollably at the mere mention of the truism. MSM dopes played the quote over and over, always careful to mention that Murtha like John Kerry, who executed a personal cut and run policy which brought personal shame upon himself before it tarred the entire nation, was a decorated Vietnam war veteran. Now, no matter what he says or does, Murtha is supposedly unassailable because he wore the nation uniform at one time.

Gee, I wore the uniform too, so guess I get the same pass as Murtha, right? Well no Lex, you don’t. See Murtha is a RAT opposed to Bush so he can call the vice President of the United States a chicken hawk with no consequence. But when someone notes that a cowardly policy Murtha supports is…well cowardly (the policy NOT Murtha himself), then all hell breaks loose. Cowardly? Do you really believe that Murtha is a coward? No. Murtha would never ascribe to an action that would have America question his personal courage. However, he does seem willing to take the nation down a path that will have the entire world questioning America’s courage.

The war has two axis’. One is on the assent, Iraqi ability for self-governance and security. One is on the descent, public and political willingness to win the war. The President needs to begin a campaign to convince more Americans that we are at war. He needs to explain more clearly what is required to win that war and what is at stake if we lose the war. The pentagon needs to accelerate the ascending axis by getting the Iraqis ready to fend for themselves. Victory is near. But like a football team driving for the winning score as time is running out, they must to get the ball into end zone. If the clock runs out and the team has advanced the ball all the way down to opponent’s one yard line, they still lose if the ball doesn’t cross the goal line. In Iraq, America is inside the terrorist’s ten, first and goal with a minute left before America’s public opinion clock runs out or DemoRATS simply forfeit the game with time still on the clock. Odd as it sounds, Bush has got to go to the American people, the fans if you will, and make the strongest case possible for the fans to allow him to win the game.

What's bugging lex today?

Yes, yes, yes, RC Trubin (RAT-IL) our troops are just like Nazis, Pol Pot, and Soviets running the Gulag. How dare they help this little girl. How many times a day is activity like this occuring? There needs to be a senate investigation.

Who’s gouging?
Oil companies make about $.10 a gallon profit. The government, Fed, state and local makes about $.45 a gallon. So who is doing the gouging?

Oil companies gouge and are vilified. Wal-Mart doesn’t gouge but is none the less vilified for running gouging mom and pop stores out of business. Make any sense?

Torture
Suppose the person you hold most dear, for John McCain that person would be John McCain for PETA and environmental wackos it would be an endangered salamander, has been taken and held hostage. Police have captured one of the gang. They try plying information out him using the “ice cream social” method where everyone stands around licking a soft cone with sprinkles. In between bites of his chocolate cone dipped in chocolate, a cop casually asks, “So, do you know anything about this kidnapping?” The perp responds, “Screw you copper! That person will be dead by the time I go to sleep tomorrow.” Now, how many of you would condone shoving the perp’s face into a bowl of ice cream until he nearly suffocates to get the information on your loved one/thing?

So, we’ve established that every one of us are for torture. So, why all of the Amens for John McCain’s torture bill? We all pretty much agree that torture might be useful at some point to save a single life. What if terrorist have a dirty bomb in one American city, which one we don’t know? Wouldn’t it be useful to be able to twist some arms to find out? The next time something goes wrong, preening senators can be expected to step up to the microphone and condemn the intelligence community for not knowing what’s going on.

Where’s the media story
During the start of war we heard about America’s great technological advantage. Some even complained that Iraq was an unjust war because of our comparative military might. Now we’ve been engaging in a house to house battle with die hard terrorists for two years. It’s pretty much mano y mano. So where are the media stories about the incredible bravery, skill and daring of our boys? The same place as every bit of good news from Iraq, blotting up a coffee spill on the editor’s desk that’s where.

UN Internet
Kofi Annan tried to get his greedy little third world fingers on OUR Internet. He failed. But third world dictators won’t stop trying. They fear a free flow of information as an end to their power. They want to tax our Internet out of existence and spend the money on buying off the French, Germans and Russians. The Internet is ours. Al Gore invented it and by God we’re going to keep it. This won’t go away – remember the Panama Canal. We’re one Jimmy Carter away from turning the whole thing over to an idiot like Annan.

Return Saddam to power
DemoRATS have their shorts in a knot about Bush lying to get us into war. Bush ought to give a speech from the oval office, “OK DemoRATS, you win. I need 10 billion to reverse the progress we’ve made in Iraq, turn Saddam loose and restore him to his rightful place as the president of Iraq. We’ll be passing an “I’m so sorry card” through the senate tomorrow. If you voted for the war please sign it and leave a nice note for Saddam.” DemoRATS have no other plan for Iraq than to lie, “Bush lied to get us into war.”

Treasonous Jay Rockhead (RAT-WV)
From last week's Fox News Sunday:

WALLACE: Now, the President never said that Saddam Hussein was an imminent threat. As you saw, you did say that. If anyone hyped the intelligence, isn't it Jay Rockefeller?

SEN. ROCKEFELLER: No. The — I mean, this question is asked a thousand times and I'll be happy to answer it a thousand times. I took a trip by myself in January of 2002 to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria, and I told each of the heads of state that it was my view that George Bush had already made up his mind to go to war against Iraq — that that was a predetermined set course which had taken shape shortly after 9/11.

Sharing strategic war plans with Bashar Assad? You in a heap of trouble boy. Now Senator Rockhead is back peddling faster than a rookie corner covering Randy Moss man to man on third and long. The senator’s new story, “Well, no the trip wasn’t by myself at all. I was lying a bit there. State and CIA were with me every step of the way. Why, no I didn’t tell my good friend and friend of DemoRATS everywhere Bashar about our intentions with regard to Iraq. That was just a little fib. We politicians do that all of the time. And that bit about “imminent”, a word the administration never used, why I was just trying show that DemoRATS were just as tough as George Bush. That’s all. But now, we’re all anti-war cause there’s an election coming up you know. We have a moonbat base and we need to get way left before we come way right in Nov 08.”

Rockefeller is an idiot who needs to be jailed in G’itmo for a weekend.

GBBM

A tale of two leaders

Wildman Dick Cheney unloaded both barrels on DemoRATs with bad memories (aka liars) last night. I recall when a friend asked what I thought about Bush naming Cheney to the 2000 ticket. Too bad he’s not at the top, I responded. Cheney speaks with a wonderful clarity, like when he told a blubbering Senator Pat Leahy (RAT-VT) to go…hmm, what, ahh…make love to himself. Well with no vulgarity, Mr. Cheney laid this beauty on the DemoRATs last night, “The President and I cannot prevent certain politicians from losing their memory, or their backbone – but we’re not going to sit by and let them rewrite history.” In the Marine Corps that would translate to something like, “We’re going to shut the spineless liars up.”

Too bad we don’t have more Rep senators willing to reach down find their manly orbs and start acting like they are in the majority. Bill Frist is probably a nice guy and a good doctor but I don’t think he’s a strong leader and definitely not presidential material. When scrawny Harry did the equivalent of pushing him down on the playground (invoking rule 21), instead of chasing Harry down and pummeling him (requiring another vote of support for the war), Frist cried to the teacher (held a press conference and whined). When DemoRATS introduced an amendment to cut and run in Iraq, instead of defeating the amendment, Frist plagiarized the DemoRAT amendment, changed happy to glad and offered up his own cut and run amendment.

With the mid-terms rapidly approaching, conservative who act like Cheney will do fine. Conservatives who clearly state conservative positions will be in the hunt. Triangulating, Repubocrats like Frist will get hammered.

The new axis of evil

GOP head Ken Melman has taken Lex’s “Who said it quiz” several posts below, added some additional Dem hypocrisy and put the whole thing to music here http://www.gop.com/?s=video. If you don’t do anything else today, click on the link, listen, then e-mail the link to dopy leftwing moonbats and wobbly Reps. The RNC needs to get this information down to a 60 second spot and end by asking the obvious question: The world KNOWS that Saddam developed, possessed and used WMD, where have they gone? Class? Bassar. Beuler? Syria. Anyone? Assad.

Syria’s Ba’athist little dweeb “head of state” sponsored terrorism needs to be put on notice, soon and in no uncertain terms, that he’s next. John Bolton ought to have a heart to heart with Syria’s ambassador to the UN. Maybe Bolton could even do that hands on the hips thing that terrified so many Libs. Or would that make big George Voinavich cry? Bush should use the occasion of his next State of the Union address to mention that, while Iraq has been removed, Syria has been added to the “axis of evil”.

Were Dems not so absorbed with defining the US President as evil, they might notice some of the real evil that exists in the world. Were Dems not so concerned about rallying their moonbat base around removing our own president from office, they might be able to rally a nation around removing Bassar. Were Dems and their willing accomplices in the MSM not so wrapped around the axel about distorting our efforts on the ground in Iraq, they could make a strong case for moving onto Syria – which will have to be dealt with sooner or later.

Once Assad has cleaned up his act or assumed room temperature, we can focus our undivided attention to the internal overthrow of the Iranian Mullahocracy. The thinking class believes that any further American intervention into the Middle East will only destabilize the situation. This is an odd argument. It’s sort of like saying, more adult supervision at Chuck E. Cheese’s on a rainy Saturday afternoon will only add to the confusion. Hey it’s already destabilized and it’s Bassar and the Iranians doing 80% of the destabilizing. Bush swings for the fences. Maybe he’ll git-r-done.

Make DemoRATS vote again on the war

The Senate is expected to vote today on a referendum for President Bush to explain to Congress the strategy for the successful completion of the mission in Iraq. Bush’s answer should be a one liner: We will leave Iraq after victory is secured. This will send scrawny Harry and other DemoRATS scurrying for a dictionary to discover the meaning of the word victory when referring to something other than cheap political advantage.

Republican leaders, insisting to Democrats that they aren’t really that bad, edited a copy of the Democrats' amendment. The Rep amendment still requires the administration to give a schedule for meeting specific conditions on the road to Iraqi sovereignty, but drops the requirement that the schedule be tied to troop withdrawals. A real majority leader would have shoved a very sharp stick deep into one of scrawny Harry’s beady little eyes. You want a referendum on the war? I’ll give you one. Up or down vote on continuing the war in Iraq. We vote up or down tonight at 6 pm. Go gather your like-minded weasels. No posturing, no speeches, no media campaigns, no amendments that you vote for before voting against, up or down, no secret closed sessions, just a simple straight forward roll call vote yea or nay: Do you favor cutting and running in Iraq and leaving it to the terrorists?

Lex has noted over and over the Ann Coulter theory that you cannot call Dems treasonous even if what they are doing would be no different if they were. Dems squeal like stuck pigs when their judgment on national security is questioned. “Why, how dare you question patriotism” they intone whenever they are questioned or criticized about anything. Bob Scheiffer asked John McCain if it was appropriate for President Bush to question the patriotism of Democrats opposed to the war. And just how did the president question their patriotism? Well, of all things, Bush has begun using the Dems’ own words in support of the war they now supposedly oppose to expose their hypocrisy. The Dem’s mantra, “Bush lied our kids died” is finally being uncovered as the total crap that it is. If Bush lied, so did every Dem now seriously being considered for an ‘08 run.

DemoRATS seek to undermine the war the effort with an idiotic amendment and spineless triangulating Reps act as if they are riding to the rescue by proposing something that is only 9/10ths as bad. This, the ANWR vote, the Gang of 14 etc. is why I have little but disdain for politicians.

Bush on the assault

Well, well, well, it appears as if the president has challenged the MSM and Democrats to take the Lib “Who said it?” quiz two posts below. What took so long? A sure sign the president’s on the up swing, there were even and some vertebrate Republicans (Like egg laying mammals, rare breeds indeed.) standing up for the president on the Sunday talk shows. In a 15 minute interview, RNC Chairman Ken Melman had Tim Russert fidgeting in his seat like 8 year old Lex jr. after three hours of Swan Lake. Afraid of being exposed as the dumbest guy in the room…again…Howie the Dean of Dopes refused to appear with Melman.

The president is right. Complaining about the poor intelligence is one thing. Saying the president lied or misled America into war is pure politics - and bad politics at that. Sooner or later, some bright guy at the White House is going to figure out the next good question for these Bozos – no wait – dolts, Bozo was only acting like a clown, being a clown is the natural state for the MSM and Dems. But the next question is, “Hey, if the whole world, even brain dead Dems thought Iraq had WMD, maybe we should be asking ourselves where the hell it went.”

I include politics among the many things I don’t know much about. During 20 years with the Marines, I learned a little about military tactics. As lieutenants, one of the first things we learned was that being on defense was indecisive. If you want to win, you must take to the offense. After months of being kicked around relentlessly by Dems and their willing accomplices in the MSM, President Bush has finally taken to the offense. He should continue the assault. Push for Social Security reform. Let Dems and spineless Reps oppose him. Push hard for immigration reform, export illegals and build a wall. Let wimp Reps like DeWine and Dems oppose him. Push for Oil exploration in the US and let weakling Reps and Dems stand in the way. Continue an unrelenting war on Islamo-terror-fascist by going after that inbred pencil necked weasle Bassar Assad. Listen to the howls of weak Reps and Dems. Cut taxes and Government spending. Watch Reps, Dems and the MSM throw themselves off the cliff in despair.

Greatness is three years away, but Bush won’t get there playing nice with Dems and Lib Reps. Persistent pressure on a wide range of issues will have Harry Reid, Nance Pelosi, Babs Boxer and the rest of the girls looking for the Midol. Don’t count on party loyalty. You’ll get none. Just lead the way, if you win, great. If you don’t, we will have at least smoked out the weaklings among us. Greatness requires great deeds and great ideas. A campaign of, “No really, I’m not that bad” won’t cut it.

Marines Celebrate 230 years of history

Note: Lex and family are off to tuor Moscow and St. Petersburg. Enjoy the archive. See ya next Mon.

My dad used to say Texans, Notre Dame Graduates and Marines all have one thing in common; you cannot talk to any of them for more than ten seconds without them mentioning that they are from Texas, graduated from Notre Dame or was/is a Marine. Thursday marks the 230th birthday of the United states Marine Corps. As the saying goes, “Once a Marine, always a Marine!” If you know anyone who one served as a Marine, regardless of how long ago, give them a call and wish them a Happy Birthday! If you see one of today’s Marines, wish him/her a Happy Birthday! Read on and learn about the history, mission and esprit of the U.S. Marine Corps.

On November 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, PA adopted a secret resolution that formally established a military organization whose fame and tradition was destined to achieve prominence in the annals of American warfare. The resolution reads:Resolved--That two battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one colonel, two lieutenant colonels, two majors and officers as usual in other regiments; That they consist of an equal number of privates with other battalions; that particular care be taken that no persons be appointed to office or enlisted into said battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with Maritime affairs as to be able to serve to advantage by sea, when required. That they be enlisted and commissioned for and during the present war between Great Britain and the colonies, unless dismissed by order of Congress: That they be distinguished by the names of the 1st and 2d Battalions of American Marines, and that they be considered as part of the number, which the continental Army before Boston is ordered to consist of.

Mission
The Marine Corps, within the Department of the Navy, shall be so organized as to include not less than three combat divisions and three air wings, and such other land combat, aviation and other services as may be organic therein.

The Marines Corps shall be organized, trained, and equipped to provide fleet Marine forces of combined arms, together with supporting air components, for service with the fleet in the seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and for the conduct of such land operations as may be essential to the prosecution of a naval campaign.

In addition, the Marine Corps shall provide detachments and organizations for service on armed vessels of the Navy, shall provide security detachments for the protection of naval property at naval stations and bases, and shall perform such other duties as the President may direct. However, these additional duties may not detract from or interfere with the operations for which the Marine Corps is primarily organized.

The Marine Corps shall develop, in coordination with the Army and the Air Force, those phases of amphibious operations that pertain to the tactics, techniques, and equipment used by landing forces.

The Marine Corps is responsible, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of peacetime components of the Marine Corps to meet the needs of war.


Top of Form
LEJEUNE'S MESSAGE

10 November 1921: This date marked the first formal commemoration of the birthday of the Marine Corps as 10 November. On 21 October 1921, Maj Edwin McClellan, OIC of the Historical Section, HQMC, sent a memo to MajGen Commandant John A. Lejeune, suggesting that the original birthday of 10 November 1775 be declared a Marine Corps holiday to be celebrated throughout the Corps. Accordingly, on 1 Nov 1921, Gen Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47 summarizing the history, mission, and tradition of the Corps, and directed that it be read to every command each 10 November. In keeping with the wishes of the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps Order #47 is republished today.

”On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of the Continental Congress. Since that date, many thousand men have borne the name Marine. In memory of them, it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the Birthday of our Corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.

The record of our Corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in the world's history. During 90 of the 146 years of its existence the Marine Corps has been in action against the nations foes. From the battle of Trenton to the Argonne, Marines have won foremost honors in war, and in the long eras of tranquility at home. Generation after generation of Marines have grown gray in war in both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.

In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our Corps Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term Marine has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.

This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the Corps. With it we also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our Corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will e found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as "Soldiers of the Sea" since the founding of the Corps.”

The inspiring message of the 13th Commandant has left its mark in the hearts and minds of all Marines. By deed and act from Trenton to the shores of Tripoli to the Argonne Forest, to Iwo Jima, in interventions from Lebanon, Grenada, and Panama, and from the opening battles in Vietnam, the Gulf War and today in America’s new war on terrorism in Afghanistan, Iraq and across the globe, Marines have continued to epitomize those qualities which are their legacy. The success which they have achieved in combat and the faith they have borne in peace will continue - Happy birthday to Marines, former Marines and friends of Marines.

A message from today’s Commandant:

On November 10th, 1775, the Second Continental Congress resolved to raise two battalions of Continental Marines marking the birth of our United States Marine Corps. As Major General Lejeune’s message reminds us, the ensuing generations of Marines would come to signify all that is highest in warfighting excellence and military virtue. Each November as Marines the world over celebrate the birth of our Corps, we pay tribute to that long line of “Soldiers of the Sea” and the illustrious legacy they have handed down to us.

This past year has been one of continuous combat operations overseas and distinguished service here at home—a year of challenges that have brought out the very best in our Corps. In Iraq and Afghanistan, Marine courage and mastery of complex and chaotic environments have truly made a difference in the lives of millions. Marine compassion and flexibility provided humanitarian assistance to thousands in the wake of the South East Asian tsunami, and here at home, Marines with AAVs, helicopters, and sometimes with their bare hands saved hundreds of our own fellow Americans in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Across the full spectrum of operations, you have showcased that Marines create stability in an unstable world, and have reinforced our Corps’ reputation for setting the standard of excellence.

The sense of honor, courage, and patriotism that epitomized those who answered that first call to arms two hundred and thirty years ago is still indelibly imprinted on our ranks today. In commemorating our anniversary, let us strengthen our ties to the past by paying homage to those who have gone before us. As we honor the sacrifices of our wounded and fallen comrades, our commitment to one another remains unshakable. We take special pride in the actions of the Marines now serving in harm’s way, and rededicate ourselves to the service of our Nation and our Corps.

Happy Birthday, Marines. Semper Fidelis, and Keep Attacking!

M. W. HageeGeneral, U.S. Marine Corps