Let's Make A Deal!

Via Last of the Few

Hold them Accountable for Their Votes

The next time you hear someone complain about the high price of gas, ask them who they voted for. Did that person vote to close off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and parts of the Gulf Of Mexico and Alaska? Hold people responsible for their votes, and hold the politicians responsible for theirs.

President Bush Tells It Like It Is

Did you happen to see or hear President Bush go off on a reporter yesterday? Gateway Pundit has the full transcript.

Question: Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to switch to Afghanistan. There was another attempt on President Karzai's life. There are operations going on there right now. Is the strategy succeeding? Are we winning in Afghanistan?

THE PRESIDENT: I think we're making progress in Afghanistan, but there's a very resilient enemy that obviously wants to kill people that stand in the way of their reimposition of a state that is -- which vision is incredibly dark. I mean, it's very important for the American people to remember what life was like in Afghanistan prior to the liberation of the country. We had a government in place that abused people's human rights, they didn't believe in women's rights, they didn't let little girls go to school, and they provided safe haven to al Qaeda. In the liberation of this country, we've achieved some very important strategic objectives: denying al Qaeda safe haven from which to plot and plan attacks, and replacing this repressive group with a young democracy.

And it's difficult in Afghanistan. If you know the history of the country, you understand it's hard to go from the kind of society in which they had been living to one in which people are now responsible for their own behavior. But I am pleased with a lot of things. One, I'm pleased with the number of roads that have been built. I'm pleased with the number of schools that have opened up. I'm pleased a lot of girls, young girls are going to school. I'm pleased health clinics are now being distributed around the country. I'm pleased with the Afghan army, that when they're in the fight they're good.

I wish we had completely eliminated the radicals who kill innocent people to achieve objectives, but that hasn't happened yet. And so I think it's very much in our interests to continue helping the young democracy. And we will.

Yes. Obviously you've got a follow-up.

Question: But do you think we're winning? Do you think we're winning?

THE PRESIDENT: I do, I think we're making good progress. I do, yes.

Question: Can I just add to that, a couple weeks ago --

THE PRESIDENT: No, you can't. This is the second follow-up. You usually get one follow-up, and I was nice enough to give you one. I didn't give anybody on this side a follow-up, and now you are trying to take a second follow-up.

Question: They didn't try.

THE PRESIDENT: I know you try.

Yes.

Question: Can I just say --

THE PRESIDENT: They just cut off your mic. You can't, no.

Question: A couple weeks ago you said --

THE PRESIDENT: Now she's going to go without the mic. This is awesome. (Laughter.)

Question: A couple weeks ago you said that in Iraq, in 2006, you said we were winning and the strategy was working to keep up troop morale.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Question: How can we believe that you're not doing the same thing here?
(You're lying.)

THE PRESIDENT: You tried to ask me that question before. It's a repeat. Look, I said --

Question: No, I'm talking --

THE PRESIDENT: Can I finish, please? The question you asked me before at the exclusive I gave you on the ranch was: You said that we were winning in the past. I also said that there was tough fighting. Make sure you put the comments in place.

So what I'm going to tell you now is, we're making progress in Afghanistan, but there's tough fighting. I'm under no illusions that this isn't tough. I know full well we're dealing with a determined enemy. I believe it's in our interest that we defeat that enemy. And so, yes, we're making progress. But it's also a tough battle. We're facing people who are willing to strap bombs on themselves and walk into places where the innocent dwell, or the innocent shop, and kill them.

Is it in our interest to confront these people now, whether it be in Afghanistan, or Iraq, or Europe, or anywhere else? And the answer is, absolutely, it's in our interest. And the notion that somehow we can let these people just kind of have their way or, you know, let's don't stir them up, is naive or disingenuous, and it's not in our nation's interests. We are in a global struggle against thugs and killers. And the United States of America has got to continue to take the lead.

And so in Afghanistan, yes, we're making progress. Does that mean that it's over? No, it doesn't mean it's over. We're in a long struggle, as I've told you many a time, against these jihadists. You defeat them ultimately by the advance of democracy. See, this is an ideological struggle. These aren't isolated, law-enforcement moments. We're dealing with a group of ideologues who use asymmetrical warfare -- that means killing innocent people -- to try to achieve their objectives. And one objective is to drive us out of Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, or anywhere else where we try to confront them.

And so, yes, I mean, look -- is it tough? Yes, it's tough. Is it difficult? Absolutely. Is it worth the fight? In my judgment, yes, it is.

"He was not my spiritual mentor. He was ...my pastor!"

At the One Cosmos blog yesterday Bob wrote about "The Soul of Obama and His Spiritual Housing Crisis," expounding on a theme involving Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright. In reference to the "Reverend" Wright, Gagdad Bob sumarizes:

More generally, I detest religious people who make religion look foolish or evil. There are few greater sins. Maybe none, for it is the one sin that negates all the others.

A commenter named mushroom agreed with Bob's comparison of BJ Clinton and Jeremiah Wright.

I agree with the parallel between Wright and BJ Clinton. These men are vampires that derive their false life from the adulation of gullible. The Bible calls them “false shepherds” leading the sheep astray for their own personal aggrandizement. Neither can endure the absence of attention or the thought that they are not “relevant”.

Another commenter there named James, who has lived in the Middle East, said

There is money to be made in dividing people and setting them against each other, or creating victim groups. The problem is other more important issues don't get addressed. Then Rome falls.

Another commenter named hoarhey proved prescient when he said

Since Obama wants the Presidency so badly, and since this issue won't go away and is like a millstone around his neck dragging him down, I'm looking for a facade of detachment from Wright without truly detaching. A sort of "wink wink" parting of the ways which will be initiated by a "disappointed" Wright. Look for the Wright bombast to hit a crescendo followed a mild repudiation from Obama.

Bob made the point that

There is so much truth and beauty in the black church, e.g., gospel music

You don't believe it? Listen to a person who had one of the most beautiful voices God ever graced onto a human being.

Rev. Wright's Speech to the NAACP

I sought to find Rev. Wright's speech to the NAACP. These are the videos I found, but I realize that none of them are complete, and there is some overlap. I found him to be brilliant and funny, a real spellbinding entertainer. What do you think?

Regular, Mid-Grade, or Premium?

Via One Cosmos At Sea

An Ominous Number

Did you know that on May 10 there will be 6,666,666,666 people living on this earth?
Via Invincible Armor

McCain-Feingold: A Huge Threat To Our Liberty

George Will's column in Townhall caught my eye today, because he is writing about a community just to the north and west of where I live. Two residents wanted to annex their subdivision to the town of Parker, Colorado. Six others were opposed to annexation. Here's Will:

One proponent of annexation sued them. This tactic -- wielding campaign finance regulations to suppress opponents' speech -- is common in the America of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. The complaint did not just threaten the Parker Six for any "illegal activities." It also said that anyone who had contacted them or received a lawn sign might be subjected to "investigation, scrutinization and sanctions for campaign finance violations."

The suit is in federal court. This legacy of John McCain is serious stuff, threatening our liberty. Speaking of federal court, if I were elected president, do you know who I would appoint to the Supreme Court? George Will!

Desperate Hypocrisy

It is not surprising to me that lefties are still trying to make an issue about a supposed connection between jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Congressman Bob Schaffer. After all, Schaffer is the Republican candidate for the 2008 U.S. Senate race in Colorado.

Democrats have milked the Abramoff stories 'till the cows come home. They paint him as a beast, corrupt and vile as can be.

However, since they have so far not been able to make any of their shots at Schaffer stick, they now are trying a different tack. Jason Salzman, in his lefty On The Media column in today's Rocky Mountain News, wants reporters to try to talk directly to Abramoff. Yes, that's right, now the left is taking the desperate last ditch tactic of trying to get Abramoff to say that he had some ties with Schaffer! The vile, corrupt, jailed lobbyist is now going to be the left's last best hope to revive the story! They have painted him as completely corrupt, but now hope he will say that he did have ties to Schaffer! That's called trying to have it both ways, or having your cake and eating it too. The hypocrisy never ends.

A Message From Your Pilot

How would you react to this message from the pilot? I would be greatly put at ease.

Via The Cook Shack

"crisscrossing the nation in chariots hitched to teams of flying unicorns"

Oil. It has become a very dirty word in this year's election campaigns. All three of the presidential candidates are demonizing anybody connected with producing this evil commodity. David Harsanyi observes here

We've all heard the relentless demagoguery from every major presidential candidate regarding oil and so-called "energy independence."

Not only are presidential candidates promoting dangerous fallacies about energy but, last I checked, they weren't crisscrossing the nation in chariots hitched to teams of flying unicorns.

Nevertheless, the left continues to villainize anyone connected with the oil industry. Five national political action groups are targeting the 2008 Colorado senatorial race, favoring Democrat Mark Udall over Republican Bob Schaffer. Attack ads are already airing, portraying former congressman Bob Schaffer as "Big Oil Bob."

Geckofeeder recently reprinted this Dennis Prager piece from Townhall.com. Prager explains that for those on the political left, there is a primacy placed on

environmental concerns over moral concerns. For example, the left seemed never to care about the millions of Africans who continued to die from malaria largely because of the environmentalists' worldwide ban on the use of DDT as pesticide. The same holds true for another leftwing environmentalist fantasy. Changing corn into biofuels is causing a surge in food prices throughout the world. The European Union continues this policy despite warnings even from some environmentalists that food shortages, starvation and food riots are imminent. But human suffering is not as significant as environmental degradation.

The left has opted out of the war against Islamic terrorists. As Prager says,

Today, conservatives fight evil and liberals fight carbon emissions.

Surprise Snow

We looked out the window this morning and saw the daffodils bowing their heads to the snow gods.

The Army Sings Battle Hymn of the Republic

Via Geckofeeder

Tonight's Sunset

The first pair of twins are doing well with their mama, Crackle. The second pair are struggling, and their mama, Snap, is just sitting in a corner. Colleen is feeding Snap's babies every four hours.

House Pets? Nah.

Colleen is tube-feeding the babies every four hours.

Snap is chocked full of antibiotics, because the vet found a tumor, not a baby. She deserves a ride back down to the barn.

The babies actually appear to like walking around on carpet.

Triplets?

Our Boar goat Snap has had two babies tonight, and, as you can see by the sunken hips, is still having contractions. Guess who delivered the first baby? Yep, the woman sitting here on the ground, that woman I love. She pulled him out by his hooves. He still was not breathing, so she swung him from side to side until he yelled, baaa! I was not home, but all the rest of the family got to see the wondrous event.


Update: She does not have another baby; she has a tumor. Colleen bought a feeding tube for the babies, but we may lose Snap.

Attracting and Keeping Good Foster Parents

There is a whole lot wrong with America's child protection system. Abusive and neglectful parents often continue to abuse or neglect their children long after their first contacts with the system. While that is going on, the children learn behaviors that help them survive in their dysfunctional families, but poorly equip them to do well in school or in more normal families. Foster parents get lots of training on politically correct rules and regulations, but get very little help from workers, who are almost always single women who have never had children of their own, and certainly have had no experience dealing with the kinds of behaviors we experience with foster children.

Now, because of highly publicized incidents of children being abused in foster homes, the system has gone over the edge into pure insanity. Yesterday a worker from our "therapeutic" foster care agency came to our house, as she does at least twice monthly. She gave me the usual handful of forms to fill out. One of the forms was an "incident report" form. She told me to fill one of these report forms every time a child suffers any kind of injury, even the most minute scratch. Then she explained that recently one of our very best foster homes failed to file an incident report. When the child visited his birthparents, they noticed a small bruise on the child's forehead and another small bruise behind his ear. Birthparents very often look for things to criticize in the way in which foster parents are caring for their child, so the birthparents can deflect attention away from their own shortcomings as parents.

In this situation, the foster parent had no idea how the child got these bruises, even though she is an extremely vigilant and competent individual. By the way, I currently have two cuts on my right hand and a bruise on my left hand, and have not a clue how they got there. It is called living!

The woman was caring for three foster children from three different counties. The county of her residence investigated, and finally decided, at nine p.m., that all three children be removed from the home. By the time the other two counties and the foster care agency were notified, it was 2 AM. At 2 AM workers removed the three children and took them to new foster homes. Can you imagine how devastating and traumatic this Nazi-like action was to these children and to this wonderful woman? As news spreads of incidents like this, it will be almost impossible for the system to attract and keep good foster parents.

I Love That Woman

While I was in Denver today, bringing David for a visit with his birthparents, Colleen had all the rest of the kids in her van, as she drove to pick up the three who attend a local charter school about a half hour from our farm. Two men in a Ford pickup were heading west, and Colleen was headed south. The pickup came right at her, as the men turned south on the same road on which Colleen was driving.

Colleen was forced to swerve off the road into a ditch. No one was hurt, and she got the van out okay. She pulled out her cell phone and first called 411, then 911. She followed the drunks for twenty minutes into town. They pulled up at the liquor store. The men got out of the truck and started walking toward her. They told her they were good Christians. She told them to stop right where they were, and said, "Like Hell you are good Christians. You're Assholes, and I am calling the cops." She placed another call to 911 and the dispatcher promised to send the sheriff deputies right away.

Tonight's Sunset

Beautiful Surprises

As my regular readers (thank you) know, we moved to this farm last summer. Imagine my surprise, then, when I have been discovering dozens and dozens of tulips and daffodils coming up all over this four acre property. I asked God tonight if He knew I was going to be moving here. Few people would enjoy these surprises more than I. When I see them I usually bring in the flowers. These are amongst some crown of thorns plants I have been rooting in the kitchen window. Many of you live in southern parts of the U.S., so tulips and daffodils may not seem like such a big deal. However, when you live in a place like this, where winters last at least through the middle of April, the joys of spring and summer are more appreciated every year.

Twins!

One of our Boar goats, Crackle, gave birth to twins a few minutes ago. Her sisters, Snap, and Pop, are also due to deliver kids any day now. Crackle doesn't seem to know what to do, now that her babies are born. If she needs an assist, I guess we are pretty experienced, at least with David, who now weighs seven pounds twelve ounces.

Weirdness All Around

Do you know what is hands down the most interesting event of the week? A Colorado Springs woman who is an Obama delegate to the Colorado state Democratic convention next month is suspected to be the "sixteen-year-old-girl" whose phone call to Texas authorities was the basis for the removal of 416 children from their mothers at the polygamous sect near San Angelo! The woman is a serial fraudulant caller to authorities.

Rozita Swinton is not sixteen. She is in her mid-twenties. She works for an insurance company. According to this piece today in the Denver Post,"Swinton repeatedly made calls to authorities in multiple jurisdictions, setting off large emergency responses that sometimes involved dozens of police officers."

Colorado Springs police, accompanied by Texas Rangers, arrested Swinton in a local case, and Texas officials searched the home.

The Texas Rangers found items of interest during the search and the investigation is continuing.

In June 2005, Castle Rock police arrested Swinton after she posed as the teen mother of a newborn and told an adoption agency and police she was considering suicide and leaving the baby at a fire station, Castle Rock police Sgt. Scott Claton said.

Authorities charged her with filing a false police report. She is currently serving a one-year deferred sentence in that case.

In February, dozens of Colorado Springs police searched for a girl claiming to be locked in a basement. Again, it turned out to be Swinton.

Here is how the story ends:

Shari Pulliam, a spokeswoman for Texas Child Protective Services, said that what led authorities to the ranch wasn't important. What matters is that they found signs of abuse there, she said.

"We removed the children based on . . . evidence we found of sexual abuse of young teen girls and a pattern of grooming these girls," she said. Denver Post wire services

No, Thanks

Via View From The Porch

Watch Out Lefties, Here We Come!

Today was an invigorating experience, as about one hundred liberty-loving bloggers from the center and right side of the political spectrum gathered at a downtown Denver hotel to organize ourselves into a more cohesive force. The speakers were inspiring, the fellowship was terrific, the sharing of ideas was wonderful, and all went away ready to do battle. Senatorial candidate Bob Schaffer dropped by, and I am sure he, too, gained some inspiration from the love shown him by the bloggers in attendance.

We acknowledge that the lefty side of the blogosphere got a head start on us nationally and in Colorado, but now they seem to be self-destructing, leaving a place for those on the center and right to zoom past them in the the marketplace of ideas.

The first speaker was Ross Kaminsky, who lives in the mountains above Boulder. He regularly writes for Human Events, and his blog is Rossputin.com. Ross pointed out that fully half of bloggers on the right do not self-identify as Republicans, whereas most lefty bloggers do self-identify as Democrats. Bloggers on the right mainly want the government to leave them alone. Lefty bloggers have been out there so long that most of the most widely read political blogs are lefties. Democrat politicians are afraid of being targeted by the swarms of lefty bloggers. Republican politicians have no such fear. Ross gave us some ideas of how to rectify that situation. Ross has been blogging lately about ICE agent Cory Voorhis' work to put away behind bars some of the worst gangsters in Mexico.

Ross was followed by Jeff Goldstein of the Protein Wisdom blog. Jeff was a joy to meet. He is soft-spoken, self-effacing, humble, funny, and brilliant. I am looking forward to the possibility that he might cover the Democrat convention in Denver in August. He differed with Ross on the subject of whether bloggers have had an effect on Republican politicians. He cited the effort to stop the nomination of Harriet Meyers, and the effort to stop McCain-Kennedy. Jeff has a very loyal readership, because he requires his readers to invest themselves in the discussion of ideas.

Denise Mund has started four charter schools in Colorado. Denise's style is to ask a lot of questions, quote people accurately, and keep the focus on the basic ideals and philosophy of the charter school movement.

Here is a photo of Ross, Jeff and Denise. I apologize for Jeff's head being blocked out. I think he did that on purpose, so the lefties won't recognize him!

Another speaker was Trent Seibert, an investigative journalist who used to work for the Denver Post. He now lives in Tennessee, and was the journalist who exposed the mammoth energy consumption of Al Gore. Trent showed us how to dig for facts from public records. He really believes that bloggers are the next watchdog reporters, since newspapers are laying off staffs in large numbers. Bloggers are the last best hope for keeping an eye on elected officials and bureaucrats.

Jon Caldera is the President of the Independence Institute in Golden, and a very effective communicator on news radio KOA. Jon encouraged bloggers to narrow their focus in order to be more effective. He also emphasized the importance of bloggers focusing on local issues, becoming the most knowledgeable person on one issue.

Brad Jones runs a blog entitled Face The State. He is known for scooping the local mainstream media time and again by doing original, investigative reporting. It was clear to me that Brad is greatly admired and respected in the blogging community.

One of my favorites writers is David Harsanyi, columnist for the Denver Post. His brilliant, witty, insightful analysis of the American scene is matched by few. He joked that reporters are not lazy, they just haven't figured out how to use Google yet! He noticed that the lefty bloggers always seem to be on the same topic at the same time, while bloggers on the right are writing about many subjects, according to their own independent, individual interests. He pointed out that The Denver Post staff has dwindled by more than 200 people in the four years he has been a columnist there. Nevertheless, over 300,000 people subscribe to the Post, and Harsanyi encouraged bloggers to work with Post reporters to flush out all aspects of stories.

In the photo below, Harsanyi is on the left as you view the photo. Brad Jones is seated next to Harsanyi. I am sorry, I did not learn the name of the next person. Caldera is the handsome, but balding fellow who is next, followed by Trent Seibert. I also did not get the name of the gentleman who is standing.

Tonight's Full Moon

From Talk Radio Today

I caught a couple of interesting ideas today on talk radio. Apparently some legislators are considering revoking Jimmy Carter's passport as he travels the world on behalf of terrorists. Rush Limbaugh agreed it would be a good idea, but suggested that it be done while Carter is out of the country, so he could not get back in.

Michael Savage, the first national voice to call attention to the damage being done to America by illegal immigrants, is now criticizing the "man-hating, mean-faced lesbian feminists who run America's child protection system," for removing over four hundred children from their mothers in the Texas polygamy case. I sometimes think that Michael is the John the Baptist of our age, warning us about events long before most of the rest of us realize what is happening in our country.

Tancredo Picks A Fight With The Pope

Personally, I get a kick out of Congressman Tom Tancredo. Tom is not afraid to debate anyone, when it comes to the issue of illegal immigration. The liberal mainsteam media attacks him unceasingly, but he is never deterred. He directed his latest salvo at the Pope! Tancredo points out that the Catholic Church has been losing members in the U.S., perhaps as much as one-third of its native-born members, and needs the Mexican illegals to bolster its numbers in the U.S.

The Pope made reference to violence against immigrants in the U.S. Tancredo challenged that assertion, and said,

“I would like to know what part of our lax immigration policy is considered violent,” Tancredo said. “I fail to see how accepting more refugees than any other nation –and providing free health care, education, housing and social service benefits to millions of illegal aliens is in any way ‘violent’ or ‘degrading.’”

But, Tancredo could not resist going a step further and saying,

“I suspect the Pope’s immigration comments may have less to do with spreading the gospel than they do about recruiting new members of the church," said Tancredo. "This isn’t preaching it is ‘faith-based’ marketing.”

That statement deeply offended some Catholics, notably Dan Caplis, who might be running against Tancredo in the Republican primary for the 2010 U.S. Senate race. I have deep respect for Caplis, and would support him over Tancredo, but you just have to like a gadfly like Tancredo.

More Information on Schaffer and the Mariana Islands Garment Industry Labor Practices

Ben DeGrew posts here today on the left's insinuations of impropriety concerning Congressman's Schaffer's "investigation" of garment industry practices in the Mariana Islands.

Dick Cheney's Revenge

At the recent Washington Corresponants Dinner Dick Cheney gets off some wonderful lines. Watch and thoroughly enjoy, as I did.

Via Conservatism With Heart

Be Careful What You Wish For

A Colorado blogger, Face the State, has scooped both Denver papers once again. The Denver Post has published several articles attempting to imply that there was a connection between jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former Congressman Bob Schaffer, who is now running for the U.S. Senate against Congressman Mark Udall. Schaffer says he has never met Abramoff. Nevertheless, lefty bloggers have been gleefully hoping that the Post stories would mean the death of Schaffer's campaign.

Schaffer and his wife took an all expense trip to the Mariana Islands. The Mariana Islands are apparently famous for having lots of textile factories, where mostly women from Bangladesh, the Phillipines and China produce "Made In The USA" clothing. Abramoff lobbyed on behalf of the textile factories.

So far, no evidence has surfaced that ties Schaffer to Abramoff financially. However, Face the State has produced evidence that Udall has twice received money from Abramoff's lobbying firms. Now that those monies have been exposed, Udall says he plans to donate the money to "a Saipan-based nonprofit organization that helps victims of human trafficking." The trouble is, Udall received the money from the Abramoff firms in 2000 and 2002. Now that a blogger has exposed this fact about Udall's financial ties to the jailed lobbyist, Udall suddenly wants to donate the money? This story appears now to be backfiring a bit on Udall and his lefty supporters.

Waaaaaah!

Not being used to their candidates having to answer tough questions from the media, lefties are crying today, after last night's debate. From TPM: "Today on the campaign trail Obama criticized ABC's handling of the debate, characterizing it as "the roll out of the Republican campaign against me in November."

Count me as one who has nothing but the highest praise for the way the ABC professional journalists questioned the Democrat candidates last night. Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos did their jobs admirably.

Are You Choosing To Be One of the Wolves, Sheepdogs, or Sheep?

I found this magnificent letter over at the Cook Shack. I do disagree with one part of it. I do believe these particular sheepdogs are morally superior to the sheep. Here it is.

This letter was written by Charles Grennel and his comrades who are
veterans of the Global War on Terror. Grennel is an Army Reservist who
spent two years in Iraq and was a principal in putting together the
first Iraq elections, January of 2005.

It was written to Jill Edwards, a student at the University of
Washington who did not want to honor Medal of Honor winner Colonel
Greg Boyington with a plaque. Greg Boyington was a graduate of UW,
and a USMC pilot during WW-II. Miss Edwards objection was because he
had killed people. Ms. Edwards and other students (and faculty) do
not think those who serve in the U.S. armed services are good role
models. _________

To: Edwards, Jill (student, UW) Subject: Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs

Miss Edwards, I read of your student activity regarding the proposed
memorial to Col. Greg Boyington, USMC and a Medal of Honor winner. I
suspect you will receive a bellyful of angry e-mails from other
military men like me.

You may be too young to appreciate fully the sacrifices of
generations of servicemen and servicewomen on whose shoulders you and
your fellow students stand. I forgive you for the untutored ways of
youth and your naivete. It may be that you are, simply, a sheep.
There's no dishonor in being a sheep as long as you know and accept
what you are.

William J. Bennett, in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy
November 24, 1997 said: Most of the people in our society are sheep.
They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one
another by accident. We may well be in the most violent times in
history, but violence is still remarkably rare. They are sheep.

Then there are the wolves and the wolves feed on the sheep without
mercy. Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the
flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this
world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that
or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in
denial.

Then there are sheepdogs. I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock
and confront the wolf. If you have no capacity for violence then you
are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for
violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have
defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But what if you have a
capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What
do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the
uncharted path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into
the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed.

We know that the sheep live in denial; that is what makes them sheep.
They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can
accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire
extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout
their kids schools. But many of them are outraged at the idea of
putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children
are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured
by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the
possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill
or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of
denial.

The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the
wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference,
though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm
the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little
lamb will be punished and removed. The world can not work any other
way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as
ours. Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant
reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he
didn't tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand
at the ready in our airports, in camouflage fatigues, holding an
M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his
fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, Baa. Until the wolf shows
up; then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely
sheepdog.

The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough
high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not
have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad
kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was
under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and
hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing
kids off of them.

This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf
is at the door. Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when
the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than
ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers
and military personnel? Understand that there is nothing morally
superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be.
Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always
sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at
things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous
battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle.
The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the
sound of the guns when needed, right along with the young ones.

Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep
pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day.

After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is,
most citizens in America said, Thank God I wasn't on one of those
planes. The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, Dear God, I wish I could
have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a
difference. You want to be able to make a difference. There is
nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does
have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to
survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the
population.

There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals
convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious,
predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law
enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically
targeted victims by body language: slumped walk, passive behavior and
lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in
Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is least able to
protect itself. Some people may be destined to be sheep and others
might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe
that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I'm proud
to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.

Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was
honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall,
was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell
phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking.
When they learned of the other three passenger planes that had been
used as weapons, Todd and the other passengers confronted the
terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the
passengers, athletes, business people and parents from sheep to
sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an
unknown number of lives on the ground.

There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible
evil of evil men. Edmund Burke.

Only the dead have seen the end of war. Plato

Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of
police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the
sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way,
and so are wolves. They didn't have a choice.

But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you
want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision. If you want to be a
sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must
understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved
ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect
you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are
going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or
love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path,
then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to
dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic,
corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.

This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no
dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a
matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject,
head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior.
Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live
somewhere in between.

Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum,
away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and
appreciating their warriors and the warriors started taking their job
more seriously. It's ok to be a sheep, but do not kick the sheep dog.

Indeed, the sheep dog may just run a little harder, strive to protect
a little better and be fully prepared to pay an ultimate price in
battle and spirit with the sheep moving from baa to thanks.

We do not call for gifts or freedoms beyond our lot. We just need a
small pat on the head, a smile and a thank you to fill the emotional
tank which is drained protecting the sheep. And when our number is
called by The Almighty, and day retreats into night, a small prayer
before the heavens just may be in order to say thanks for letting you
continue to be a sheep. And be grateful for the thousands, millions of
American sheepdogs who permit you the freedom to express even bad
ideas.

This One's For You, Barack

Via RED STICK RANT

Protect Your Toodles!

Via RED STICK RANT

Maybe I can get this "kid" off my back if I duck inside that hole!

Tonight's Sunset Begins

The Inside Scoop on Bittergate

One of the interesting aspects of the revealing Obama statements to the fund raising gathering in San Francisco is that the person who posted his comments was a blogger who is an Obama supporter. I wonder if it will be even more difficult to get in to private events closed to the press, where candidates tend to be more candid. Bill Bradley has much more here. I believe the Democrat Convention in Denver will be very leary of blogger access, especially to "private" events.

Oh, and one more thing: I wonder who the bitter one is now?

Tax Day: Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Via Hot Air

Does Jimmy Carter Understand the Difference Between the Desire to Murder and the Desire to Avoid Being Murdered?

Jimmy Carter hugs an Hamas leader and places a wreath on the grave of dead terrorist Yassir Arafat. Carter says he is just trying to understand "different opinons." John at Powerline has this to say:

"Hamas proclaims that it wants to destroy the state of Israel and kill the Jews who live there. Israelis want to preserve their country and don't want to be murdered. These are not "different opinions." The desire to murder and the desire to avoid being murdered are not on an equal footing, and cannot be reconciled through talk or through understanding."

Jimmy does understand one thing: how to keep Arab money flowing in to his pet projects.

Is This Obama's Macacca Moment?

Senator George Allen was considered by many a promising possible candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. His 2006 opposition for the U.S. Senate race in Virginia, James Webb, employed a person of Asian descent to follow Allen around with a video camera. Allen got pertubed and used a slur in reference to the Asian cameraman, referring to him as Macaca. Allen then was branded as a racist, and lost his reelection bid. That one state provided the margin by which the U.S. Senate turned from a Republican to a Democrat majority.

Now, Barack Obama, in a closed door fund-raising speech to a group of wealthy liberals in San Francisco, referred to rural Pennsylvanians in these words:

"You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Is this going to be Barack's Macacca moment?

Have you given thanks today for the blessings we enjoy in America?

Feeling claustrophobic? Need help in appreciating our American lifestyle? Go here. Somehow I doubt Americans would tolerate with such politeness what these people are quietly tolerating.

Daddio at the My Three Sons blog commented on my last post, saying that we should consider offering a petting zoo with hay rides. I found these photos, which I neglected to post last month. Daddio also suggested a pumpkin patch, but that will have to wait until fall.

Meet the Newest Member of Our Family

Spirit is a three-year-old lab. We are going to have to get a new supply of balls. She is indefatigable. She will be a great pet for all the kids. She has been well trained by a woman who trains and breeds dogs and horses.

Good Advice

Beware of Imposters!

Via Last of the Few

Asking the Denver Post for More Details About Their Interviews With Bob Schaffer

I have written to Denver Post writer Michael Riley, asking him some questions I have after reading the stories about Republican Senatorial candidate Bob Schaffer's trip to the Mariana Islands (wherever they are). Here is my letter to Mr. Riley.

"I have read three Post articles now about Schaffer's trip to the islands. I have these questions. Did Schaffer tell the Post what were the problems he saw in one factory? What actions did Schaffer take to remedy these problems? The Post quoted from the lawsuit. How did the lawsuit end? The lawsuit said that there were seven people sleeping in a room. How big was the room? Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions that arose in my mind after reading the three stories."

I also read on two of the liberal blogs today another question I would also like to know the answer to. That is, the entity that paid for Congressman Schaffer's trip was the Coalition for Traditional Values. What interest does that group have in the Mariana Islands or the textile industry?

The libs are way out in front on this issue. Schaffer better do more than just say he is disgusted that the Post wrote the story.

Maybe It's Not a Really Good Idea To Throw Your Baby At the Child Protection Worker

This story reminded me of some of our experiences with Sara's birthmother. When we started bringing her in for visits with her birthmother, the birthmother would follow me around the building, saying "That's my baby!" I learned from a social worker that she had thrown one of her previous children at a caseaid during a supervised visit. That's when I knew that the chances of Sara being made legally free for adoption were pretty good.

One of the Best Writers in America is Right Here In Colorado

David Harsanyi, columnist for The Denver Post, has written three recent articles that I think are superb. First, he wrote here about the increasing popularity of homeschooling in America. He pointed out that a judge in California has ruled homeschooling to be illegal, if the parents do not have teaching credentials. The judge wants the children to be "loyal to the state." Homeschoolers, of course, are often far more patriotic than children attending schools run by the state and teachers unions. They also are often doing better academically than children attending state schools.

Harsanyi then wrote this piece about "Having Tea With Thugs." That was a reference to Barack Obama's stated desire to sit down with a creep like Iran's Ahmadinejad. "Either Obama believes his awe-inspiring personality can win over theocratic bigots or, worse, that theocratic bigots are reasonable men. Hubris or clueless, it spells trouble."

The third recent piece by Harsanyi was about the possibility of Condi Rice running as John McCain's V.P. Harsanyi points out that it is pretty hard to know where Rice stands on issues. She describes herself as "mildly pro-choice" on abortion, for example. In the end, Harsanyi had a hard time figuring out how Rice, despite her inspiring personal story and impressive professional credentials, would be of much help to McCain.

Yesterday's Photos

The snow clouds were beginning to lift last night on the high plains.

Mau loves to play.

David is doing better each day. He might even grow into these size 0 to 3 months clothes!

Maybe We Should Plant Some Blueberries

From Newsmax Health
"If you are getting forgetful as you get older, then a research team from the University of Reading and the Peninsula Medical School in the South West of England may have good news for you.

They have found that phytochemical-rich foods, such as blueberries, are effective at reversing age-related deficits in memory, according to a study soon to be published in the science journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine. The researchers working at the Schools of Food Biosciences and Psychology in Reading and the Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences at the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter supplemented a regular diet with blueberries over a 12-week period, and found that improvements in spatial working memory tasks emerged within three weeks and continued throughout the period of the study.

Blueberries are a major source of flavonoids, in particular anthocyanins and flavanols. Although the precise mechanisms by which these plant-derived molecules affect the brain are unknown, they have been shown to cross the blood brain barrier after dietary intake. It is believed that they exert their effects on learning and memory by enhancing existing neuronal (brain cell) connections, improving cellular communications and stimulating neuronal regeneration.

The enhancement of both short-term and long-term memory is controlled at the molecular level in neurons. The research team was able to show that the ability of flavonoids to induce memory improvements are mediated by the activation of signalling proteins via a specific pathway in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls learning and memory.

This innovative research was conducted by a multidisciplinary research team led by Dr. Jeremy Spencer, a lecturer in Molecular Nutrition at the University of Reading and included Dr. Claire Williams, a Psychologist also from Reading and Dr. Matt Whiteman, a Principal Investigator at the Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Peninsula Medical School. Dr Spencer commented: “Impaired or failing memory as we get older is one of life’s major inconveniences. Scientists have known of the potential health benefits of diets rich in fresh fruits for a long time. Our previous work had suggested that flavonoid compounds had some kind of effect on memory, but until now we had not known the potential mechanisms to account for this”.

Dr. Whiteman added "This study not only adds science to the claim that eating blueberries are good for you, it also provides support to a diet-based approach that could potentially be used to increase memory capacity and performance in the future. Indeed, Dr. Spencer’s research team plan on extending these findings further by investigating the effects of diets rich in flavonoids on individuals suffering from cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.”

Betting Its Soul On Defeat

Austin Bay writes an excellent piece in the Washington Times about the testimony of General Petraeus. He points out that a complex chart prepared by Petraeus was ignored by the senators. Bay writes:

"But we all know why the complex chart gets ignored and successes are glasses half-empty: A presidential election campaign is on, and the Democratic Party has bet its soul on defeat.

"Hear no progress in Iraq, see no progress in Iraq, but most of all speak of no progress in Iraq." Thus Sen. Joe Lieberman, a member of the Armed Services Committee, deftly summed the last two years of Democratic Party posturing as well as the Democrats' talking points in the latest hearings.

Mr. Lieberman's maverick pal, Sen. and Republican presidential nominee John McCain, spoke more bluntly, "Congress should not choose to lose in Iraq, but we should choose to succeed."

On The Table

Pat Buchanan says that General Petraeus' testimony clearly pointed out that Iran is training terrorists and sending them into Iraq to foment terror. Has Petraeus asked the President for permission to attack these terrorist training areas in Iran? If so, what was the response of the President? If not, why has the general not asked permission to attack these people who are killing our soldiers?

Schaffer Needs to Respond to the Denver Post Article

Democrats are gleefully celebrating *this article in the Denver Post today. The article, featuring a photo of Mr. and Mrs. Schaffer preparing to try their hand at parasailing, points out that 2008 U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer and his wife accepted an all expense paid trip to the Marianna Islands in 1999, which was partially arranged by the law firm which employed now-jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff. On the trip, then Congressman Schaffer was supposed to investigate alleged labor abuses in the island's massive textile industry, where "Made in America" clothing is produced by immigrants from China, the Phillipines, and Bangladesh. Schaffer told the Post that he visited twenty factories, but only found problems in one.

The article talks about a class action lawsuit filed the year Schaffer visited the factories. The lawsuit alleged that people were sleeping seven to a room, women recruited to work in the factories were instead diverted into the sex trade industry, and that pregnant women were forced to have abortions. The Post article does not tell us the results of the lawsuit.

I want to hear Schaffer's response to these allegations. What did he do about these problems, if he found any evidence that the allegations were true? Personally, I do not think Congresspeople should take trips on lobbyists' dimes. If he did do anything to expose abuses, why did the Post not report what he did? Or, did he not explain to the Post what he did? We need to hear from Bob Schaffer.

Effective Communicators

Conservative talk radio is often quite brilliant. In addition to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Glenn Beck, Michael Savage, Hugh Hewitt, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, Billy Cunningham, Bill O'Reilly and others that have national programs, here in Colorado there are some excellent local programs, as I am sure there are where you live. I admire the ability these people have to articulate issues and fight the good fight. Of course, there are also so many brilliant conservative writers, whom I often link to on this blog.

Wouldn't it be fantastic if any two of them decided to run for the presidency and vice presidency on the same ticket? I know they would all be taking huge pay cuts, but it would be nice to have candidates who could explain and articulate principles in a way that would persuade many voters to vote for liberty, justice, free market capitalism, and protection of the people from enemies within and without.

"A method which fails repeatedly may possibly be wrong."

Thomas Sowell writes a very important piece here, explaining why Republicans consistently fail to persuade black Americans to vote for Republican candidates. Recently, John McCain was booed by a predominantly black audience, trying to appeal to black voters at a Martin Luther King memorial service.

Instead of appealing to institutions of the black establishment that are aleady locked up with Democrats, and extremely hostile to Republicans, Sowell suggests simply telling the truth! Take out ads in media that blacks are reading or watching. Tell black Americans the truth about how policies favored by the Democrats have hurt, not helped blacks in America. Give example after example. Secondly, do not offer blacks the same things Democrats offer, welfare state benefits and politically correct programs which cause more problems than they solve.

Sowell correctly points out that there are many black Americans who live their lives based on values that are conservative. If the Republicans could just get 20% of the black vote, the Democrats would have no hope of winning the election.

"A Brilliant Fraud"

Charles Krauthammer writes here about Barack Obama's speech to try to answer critics of his virulently anti-America, racist pastor, Jeremiah Wright. Krauthammer sees right through Obama's "brilliant fraud." If you have not already read the whole thing, I hope you will. Here is his last paragraph.

"But Obama was supposed to be new. He flatters himself as a man of the future transcending the anger of the past as represented by his beloved pastor. Obama then waxes rhapsodic about the hope brought by the new consciousness of the young people in his campaign. Then answer this, Senator: If Wright is a man of the past, why would you expose your children to his vitriolic divisiveness? This is a man who curses America and who proclaimed moral satisfaction in the deaths of 3,000 innocents at a time when their bodies were still being sought at Ground Zero. It is not just the older congregants who stand and cheer and roar in wild approval of Wright's rants, but young people as well. Why did you give $22,500 just two years ago to a church run by a man of the past who infects the younger generation with precisely the racial attitudes and animus you say you have come unto us to transcend?"

A Satellite View of the Koreas at Night

Anyone have a guess as to what is the lone light in North Korea?


Via Baldilocks

Finger Lickin Good

Our latest project 57 baby chicks. We plan to eat fifty of them, unless any of you are in the market for free range chickens. The red ones are laying hens (Rhode Island Reds), and the black and grey one is a mystery (Wyandotte)? We have built a moveable coop that we will put them in when they are big enough. We will move it every day, so they can get new bugs to eat, and so the lawn can get thoroughly fertilized.

Oh, Oh! Hillary is Mispeaking Again.

Go here to read all about it.

Over the last five weeks, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York has featured in her campaign stump speeches the story of a health care horror: an uninsured pregnant woman who lost her baby and died herself after being denied care by an Ohio hospital because she could not come up with a $100 fee.

The woman, Trina Bachtel, did die last August, two weeks after her baby boy was stillborn at O’Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens, Ohio. But hospital administrators said Friday that Ms. Bachtel was under the care of an obstetrics practice affiliated with the hospital, that she was never refused treatment and that she was, in fact, insured.

Via Instapundit

"Asking forgiveness is a better choice than asking permission."

Context here.

Something To Remember

"Ideological purity doesn’t survive warfare any better than it does electoral politics. This is as true of the religious as of the secular kind. 1 Maccabees 2:32-41." Read the whole thing here.

Charlton Heston R.I.P.

Via Grim's Hall

Amazing Grace

A Gorgeous New Morning

The kitty and two of the dogs watch while the lawnmower named Puppy eats the fresh grass.

Praise God

This is just about the sweetest thing I have seen in a long time.


Via My Three Sons

Tonight's Sunset

Rocky Mountain Spring Water

Today I attended an all-day workshop explaining Colorado's rules and regulations for foster parents. During a break I managed to walk down to Clear Creek, which starts up at the Continental Divide, and flows all the way through Denver. This was taken in the suburbs west of Denver. Clear Creek flows right through the Coors Brewery, which is west of where this photo was taken.

Right after I snapped this photo, I stepped in some duck poop and slid into the creek up to my knees. I hope you appreciate the photo!

"Progressives" Actually Do Have Priorities

Gabriel Malor has posted at Ace of Spades what he thinks the priorities are for "The Progressive Order:"


Unions > Blacks > Women > Lawyers > Elderly > Gays > Illegals

A Party

The sun is setting. It's time for a birthday party.

A Special Day

Behind this balloon hides a very special birthday boy.

Happy Birthday number eight, Jon! Party time tonight!