We're Still at War with Terrorists

I made the decision to not blog anything yesterday, on 9/11. It wasn't because I don't think the date was important but it was out of a sense of reverence. To simply say, “we won't forget,” is obvious to the extreme and was posted on 1,000,000 other blogs already. I also didn't want to risk saying anything that might sound like, “Happy 9/11.” In the end, I thought it best to leave the day to everyone's own, private reflection.

Last night, The History Channel played video footage reconstructing the time line of the events on that dreadful morning. It was stirring. I went to sleep recalling many of the same feelings I felt 11 years ago. Then I woke up this morning to the terrible news that two US embassies were attacked in the Middle East and the US Ambassador to Libya was murdered along with three of his staffers!

Maybe I should have said something yesterday because I think people are indeed forgetting that there are still terrorists out there who hate us. Many people actually seem to have a pre-9/11 mentality where they believe radical Muslims can be reasoned with. As a mob rioted outside of the US Embassy in Cairo, protesting a YouTube movie critical of Muhammad, the Embassy officials actually sympathized with the protesters. They issued this statement:

The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.

Perhaps I shouldn't be too hasty to judge because it's possible that Embassy officials were afraid for their lives and released this statement in hopes is would quell the mob's anger. It seems to me to be counterproductive, though, since this statement might embolden the rioters by admitting the the movie's creators were out of line. Even after the the mob stormed the Embassy's grounds, took down and burned the American flag, and raised a pro-Muslim standard in its place, the Embassy officials tweeted that their previous statement still stands.

However, after a rocket attack on the US Embassy in Libya killed 4, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, got tough – well, sort of. In still another press release, she seemed to apologized yet again:

Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet. The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind.

Yeah, Hillary, that's very clear. You deplore attacks on religious beliefs (except at the DNC where they booed God) but that's not an excuse for violence. OK, where in that statement do you actually condemn the attack on our Embassy?

President Obama finally got around to putting out the “official,” White House statement. He disavowed the Embassy's statement saying it does not reflect the views of the United States. Really, Mr. President? Our US Embassies don't represent the United States? I guess your Secretary of State doesn't represent your administration either? Anyway, the President said:

I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Right now, the American people have the families of those we lost in our thoughts and prayers. They exemplified America's commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and people around the globe, and stand in stark contrast to those who callously took their lives.

I have directed my Administration to provide all necessary resources to support the security of our personnel in Libya, and to increase security at our diplomatic posts around the globe. While the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants.

At least in this statement the President condemned the attack before taking a swipe at the makers of the video. Oh, and by the way, it doesn't escape my notice that Republican, Presidential candidate, Mitt Romney condemned the attack before the President.

I'm not the President, of course, and it's hard for me to say how best we should respond going forward. However, after having seen the “blame America first” attitude on grand display so far, I'm not optimistic. The President has said the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are over. He calls acts of terrorism “man made disasters” or, in the case of the Ft. Hood shooting, “work place violence.” The entire Administration refuses to use the words “Islamic extremists” or “radical Muslims.” Democrats will call conservative groups like the Tea Party, “domestic terrorists” but they refuse to use the label for true terrorists!

The anti-American attitudes that has brewed in the Middle East for decades still simmers. Democrats can apologize until they're blue in the face but that won't quell the anger. Liberals can turn a blind eye and call each act of violence an “isolated incident” but that won't stop the violence. And let's be honest, it's not a coincidence that these riots happened on 9/11. We are still at war with terrorists.

The Crack Pots are Liberals

Just recently, I had a light-hearted discussion about the statistical fact that believers in UFO's and Big Foot are usually evolutionists. It was a half-joke in response to the common claim that creationists are crack pots who subscribe to junk science.

So, Brian Ross, a “reporter” for the alternative news outlet, ABC, is on the air talking about the CO shooting when he carelessly makes a tenuous connection between Jim Holmes and the Tea Party. You can see the irresponsible statements in this video.

There's something familiar about comments like this. It reminds me of how evolutionists call creationists, “crack pots.” I've noticed that whenever fringe nuts commit crimes, there is a usual response among left-wing “reporters” to quickly blame conservative groups and radio talk show hosts for inciting the incident with their “hateful rhetoric.” Do you remember the calls to tone down the rhetoric after the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Gifford? I recall they blamed Sarah Palin for having bulls-eyes over certain congressional districts on her website. The funny thing is that these early, careless reports always turn out to be wrong. The Jim Holmes who is a member of the Tea Party is not the same Jim Holmes who murdered a dozen people in the CO movie theater. The man who shot Rep. Gifford was not political and likely never even visited Sarah Palin's website.

But let's pause for a moment and think about this. What if Holmes really had been a member of the Tea Party? What does that mean? Does that suddenly make the Tea Party a terrorist group? Holmes was also once a PhD student at the University of Colorado. Does that mean the University of Colorado is a terrorist group? Any attempt to link Holmes to any conservative group is nothing more than a pitiful, guilt-by-association argument.

Liberals should think twice before trying to make a connection between Holmes' crime and his religious or political associations. I've seen the pictures and videos of Holmes. I'm not a professional, criminal profiler or anything but let me tell you what I think about Holmes. He doesn't strike me as the church-going type. I would guess he's more likely an atheist or at least he's non-religious. He probably doesn't vote but, if he does, I would wager that he's registered as a Democrat. He has not attended any Tea Party rallies but I suspect he's sympathetic to the Occupy Movement (Occupy seems especially popular among young, college students).  I'll bet he has expressed concerns over global warming and believes we should raise taxes on the rich.  He's not a member of the NRA. He doesn't hunt or fish. He's not a Ditto Head.  I am also 100% sure he is not a young earth creationist but is, instead, an evolutionist. Does anyone think I'm wrong on any of these points?

I think that liberals' attempts to label extremists as “right wing” are red herrings to move the subject away from the truth – that the nuts are usually liberals. Oh, by the way, I did a search of Obama donors and found that there was a James Holmes who gave to Obama's campaign in 2008. Now, I'm not sure if this is the same Jim Holmes who committed the shootings but....

Why Do They Occupy in Tents?

Just a quick post today.

I heard on the news today that the Occupy protesters were evicted from Zuccotti Park in New York where they basically have lived since mid-September. After a short legal battle, the protesters were allowed to return – but without the tents. Several of the protesters I heard were very vocal about their dissatisfaction with the ruling. You would think the courts had taken Linus' blanket away from him.

Many pundits are saying that, without being allowed to have tents, the protest movement will begin to wane. That was inevitable. It's mid-November and soon there will be snow on the ground. When you're living in a tent, I'm sure it's easier to be principled on a crisp, fall evening rather than on a freezing night under a foot of snow.

What exactly is it about the tents? I ask in earnest because I really don't see why they can't protest like everyone else. Many people have tried to compare the Occupy protests with the Tea Party protests. There's nothing to compare. The Tea Party was all about less government spending and regulation and Occupy wants more government regulation and spending. And the Tea Party was able to make their statement without pitching tents.

I think the difference might lie in the demographic of who was protesting. The Tea Party protestors were primarily hard working, middle class, TAX PAYERS! They couldn't sleep in the parks because they had jobs to be at in the morning. On the other hand, the Occupy protestors, while claiming to represent the “99%,” seem to be largely made up of college students and other “non-working” folks. How else would anyone be able to sleep in a park for two months? Obviously, the Occupy protestors can't represent the 99%. Most working folks have responsibilities which require bathing, shaving, and having laundered clothes.

It's April 15th and the Feds want to know where your taxes are!

It's a beautiful day here in Louisville: spring is in full bloom, it's unseasonably warm (thank you global warming), and there's not a cloud in sight. Nevertheless, a shadow hangs over this day every year; it is the tax filing deadline. After midnight, any of you hardworking Americans who have not filed your taxes will suddenly become criminals.

Most people know what today is and Tea Parties have been scheduled all over the country to protest the out of control spending. However, a few people aren't aware what happened just a few days ago: April 9th was “Tax Freedom” day this year. Every penny Americans earned between January 1st and April 9th is what is needed to pay our federal, state, and local tax liability. It's kind of mind boggling when you think about it: if you had to pay your taxes first, only now would you get to start enjoying your paycheck.

Not so fast!

There's also this part of the federal budget called the deficit. You see, even though the government has theoretically collected all it's taxes, it's continuing to spend money. If you factor in the cost of the deficit, you would have to work until May 17th – another 38 days – to pay for Congress's runaway spending. According to the Tax Foundation, if you factor in the deficit, May 17th is the second latest Tax Freedom day since WWII. “When was the longest,” you might ask? That would be 2009, the first year of the Obama Presidency!

It's gone far enough. For the last two years, government spending has ballooned and it cannot continue. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children.” I guess that also means it would be an evil man who would leave his grandchildren a crippling national debt.

I would ask when we're going to wake up; hopefully, some people already have. Now go out, file your taxes, then call your congressman to protest!

Fair Weather Friends

The Tea Party Movement that's swept the country in the last year has really ruffled some feathers. At first, the liberal media tried to simply ignore them but their silence became so painfully conspicuous that they could no longer ignore the protests and still maintain the label of a news medium. Their next tactic was to attack the movement by trotting out the tired terms like “racists” and the much more vulgar term, “teabaggers.” Liberal politicians said this wasn't a “real” movement but referred to it as “astro-turf.” The concerned citizens who protested at the Town Hall meetings were called a “mob” and “un-American.” In other words, the Tea Party did not have any friends among the liberal elite.

It was a completely different story among conservatives. FOX News (a truly balanced news channel but seen as conservative) was the only news network to cover the Tea Parties. Rush, Sean, Glenn, and all the usual suspects discussed the protesters in glowing terms saying that the movement represented the true heart of America. The people were sick of out of control government and had finally had enough. These were citizens standing up to unfair taxes just like the early revolutionaries of their namesake had done.

Since tax-and-spend is the only play Democrats use to solve anything, much of the Tea Party protest was directed at them. Therefore, Republicans were overjoyed, seeing this as a possible windfall for the Republican Party in the 2010 elections. It seems the friendship was fated to be short-lived. After the recent Tea Party convention, I'm starting to hear a different tune from Republicans.

I think the Republican Party is starting to realize that the Tea Party movement isn't exactly a group of Republican cheerleaders but a movement against government waste – whether the “waster” is a Democrat or Republican. Moderate Republicans (like John McCain) aren't likely to receive a ringing endorsement from the Tea Party.

The fear of the Republicans is that the Tea Party will beginning running 3rd party candidates. In an election, a Tea Party candidate could very well split the conservative vote allowing the Democrat candidate to win. Suddenly, the Republicans aren't so keen on the Tea Party movement. They are starting to warn the protesters that running their own candidates would be against their own best interest.

If the Tea Party decided to run its own candidates, I have to agree that it it's not likely they would win and it very well cost also ruin the election opportunity for the Republican on the ticket. But the solution isn't for the Tea Party to water down their message. Conservatives shouldn't have to hold their collective noses and vote for the Republican (or RINO as the case may be) simply because of the “R” after his name. The solution is for the Republican Party to run more conservative candidates.

I still remember the Republican revolution of 1994. We've come a long way since then (the wrong way). We've not only lost our majorities in both the House and Senate, we've lost them in a big way – giving up until recently, a super-majority in the Senate. I saw it coming when I heard Colin Powell speak at the Republican National Convention, 1996. There had been talk leading up to the convention about how Republicans need to become a “big tent.” At one point, Powell mentioned he was pro-choice (i.e. pro-abortion) and got a standing ovation. I had to check my TV guide to make sure this was the Republican convention. Had they already forgotten the conservative message that swept them into office only 2 years earlier? What were they thinking?

The Tea Party needs to put as much pressure on Republicans as is necessary to insure they run conservative candidates. If it costs us a couple of elections, then so what? In the last election, Republicans pitted a very moderate McCain against the very liberal Obama and look at what happened?

Why I Hate MSNBC **WARNING – This Video Contains Hate Filled Speech**

Hate is a strong word and I don’t like to ever say I hate something. As Christians, we’re forbidden to hate another person but sometimes I believe we’re justified to hate things – including actions. Well, one thing (or rather things) that I’ve come to hate is liberal news shows. It’s not that I just don’t care for them – I HATE them. I cannot stomach to watch them. When I watch them, I find myself getting worked into a frenzy at the stupidity being broadcast. So rather than frustrate myself, I simply exercise my remote button and turn the channel to something that doesn’t destroy brain cells as I watch it.

But yesterday, as I was channel surfing, I came across Keith Olbermann’s show on MSNBC. He was talking about the Tea Parties so I decided to watch it for a moment. Bad idea!! His guest on the show was an actress named Janeane Garofalo. I had never heard of her before and even after looking up her bio online I don’t think I recall ever seeing her in anything. I have no idea what makes her qualified to give political commentary but Olbermann seemed to value her opinion.

In the few minutes I listened to her speak, I believe I heard every lame, strawman argument ever used by liberals beginning with the “racists” canard. It was truly incredible; never would I have believed so many insults and lies could be spoken in so short a time and with such hubris. This girl was a truly gifted in spouting liberal spin. Perhaps that’s why Olbermann invited her.

Rather than attempt to describe her litany of pejoratives, I suggest you watch it for yourself. Be warned that it’s pretty intense.



One thing that struck me as I watched it is that Ms. Garofalo didn’t limit her remarks to just the protesters. She specifically aimed her remarks at all people who are conservative or Republican. Another thing I noticed is that as she ranted, Mr. Olbermann would chime in every now and then with a “yes” to signify his approval with what she was saying. They are truly kindred spirits.

I looked up the ratings of different news shows from the day of the Tea Party (4/15/2009). In Olbermann’s time slot, Bill O’Riley garnered more viewers than all other cable news shows combined. You would think that the producers of these shows would get the message but I guess their elitism blinds them to truth.

So, I once again have sworn myself off liberal news shows. These folks are extreme elitists who have no idea what the real world is like. But before I go I’ve resolved to do one thing. I’m going to force myself to watch an hour of Olbermann’s show and take not of who is advertising during his show. Then I’m going to email this video to every company and ask them if this is the kind of programming they support.

They Just Don't Get It!

CNN reporter, Susan Roesgen, really showed her stripes at a recent Tea Party held in Illinois. She questioned one protester who was there with his 2-year-old and asked him, “Why are you here today?” He began replying about how Lincoln stood for liberty but before he could complete his point, she interrupted saying, “Sir, what does this have to do with taxes?... Do you realize that you’re eligible for a $400 credit?” The man asked to finish his point but was again interrupted saying, “Did you know that the state of Lincoln gets 50 billion dollars out of the stimulus?”

Do liberals think people are just stupid? I guess so because that’s how liberalism survives. Too many people can’t see past their own pocket book. The old saying is that if you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can count on the support of Paul. Liberals believe if they pay off enough people, they’ll win support for their reckless budget. Hopefully, the Tea Parties will help bring the danger to light.

Let me tell you what taxes have to do with liberty:

According to the National Debt Clock, as I write this, the national debt is over $11.2 trillion. That means each and every citizen is already on the hook for $36,000 that the government has already spent. Since 9/2007, the debt has been growing an average of nearly $4 billion per day! But according to the Congressional Budget Office, the deficit for this year alone will be a record $1.7 trillion!

That’s not the half of it. Are you sitting down because here’s an eye opener for you; according to Richard W. Fisher (president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), “Add together the unfunded liabilities from Medicare and Social Security, and [the national debt] comes to $99.2 trillion over the infinite horizon.”

So what effect does this crushing debt have on our liberty? The short answer is that the cost of this staggering amount is going to enslave our children – literally! Again from Mr. Fisher - “Let’s say… every U.S. citizen who is alive today decided to fully address this unfunded liability through lump-sum payments from our own pocketbooks, so that all of us and all future generations could be secure in the knowledge that we and they would receive promised benefits in perpetuity. How much would we have to pay if we split the tab? Again, the math is painful. With a total population of 304 million, from infants to the elderly, the per-person payment to the federal treasury would come to $330,000. This comes to $1.3 million per family of four—over 25 times the average household’s income.”

Our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are being burdened with a debt they can never repay. Their entire income will not be sufficient to pay even the interest on the debt – never mind any government programs like defense!

Of course, Ms. Roesgen just doesn’t get it. Her take-aways from the Tea Party was that it was an anti-government, anti-CNN event contrived by Fox News and talk radio. What’s especially sad about her “anti-CNN” comment is that the estimated number of protesters attending the various Tea Parties is probably greater than the entire viewing audience of CNN. It is truly a sorry testimony if your network has more protesters than viewers!

So Ms. Roesgen, you can keep your $400 tax credit, your $50 billion in stimulus for IL, your bailouts, and your entire stinking packing for all their worth. The government is supposed to “secure the blessing of our liberty to ourselves and our posterity” – just read the Preamble. Obama and his cohorts wish to leave our posterity drowning in a sea of red ink!