Ayn Rand - Liberty vs Socialism

Also ~ read Walter E. Williams column:

Is Health Care a Right?

Most politicians, and probably most Americans, see health care as a right. Thus, whether a person has the means to pay for medical services or not, he is nonetheless entitled to them. Let’s ask ourselves a few questions about this vision…

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“There’s no government takeover here!”

And it’s all the Republicans’ fault!

McCotter gets it.

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Oh yes, our elected wunderkinds speak well and give good speeches about our Veterans ~ all the time.  (Well, except when they are bashing them for political points, that is.)

Doesn’t he sound so sincere?

But wait! There’s more ~

Sounds damn good, doesn’t it?

All that money flowing to our Veterans.  Why, all our Vets must be getting on just fine.

That 6 -12 month delay in getting their case even looked at means nothing.  Having their paperwork lost 3, 4, 5 or more times - ignore that.  The countless Vets that haven’t received their GI Bill check and had to pay tuition out of pocket, even though they did all the paperwork and go it in on time - pay them no mind.  Oh, and waiting 3-6 months for that Dr’s appointment?  Just a blip on the radar.  And nevermind having your disability denied and going through another year waiting on your appeal.

But they sure give good speeches!

Here’s one speech that gets to the heart of the matter:

Capitol Hill, Paralyzed Veterans of America National President Gene A. Crayton

Read the full story here.

“Resources used wisely.”  “Accountability and oversight”.  What concepts!

But then, the Congress is sure good at throwing our money at something but not so good at following up on where the money sticks.

Here’s to the Troops ~

(Side note:  Government-run Healthcare Reform, anyone?)

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Cpl. Jason L. Dunham
22 years old from Scio, New York
Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced)
April 22, 2004

For The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Corporal Jason L. Dunham, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April 2004. Corporal Dunham’s squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support to their Battalion Commander’s convoy, which had been ambushed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced, they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an ultimate and selfless act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

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From a Vet (and a good friend of mine) who is more than fed up with the boondoggle known as the Veterans Administration.  He and other Vets are determined to have those sitting up there on Capitol Hill hear them about the challenge it is to get the benefits and ratings they deserve.  As they are just getting started, they can use some support in getting the word out.

As is stated on the website:

There is only one purpose for this website: “VETERANS & THEIR FAMILIES”

Like you, we are tired of getting the run-around trying to file for benefits & cutting through the red tape. So we will lay it out for you here.

• We are tired of NOT getting the HELP we need.
• We are tired of being told our illnesses ARE NOT a direct result of the WAR.
• We are tired of the VA trying to DISPROVE us.

This site is Designed, Hosted, and Maintained by Veterans for Veterans.

What are we going to do about it?

• We are going to Capitol Hill with our concerns on BENEFITS for our FAMILIES and OURSELVES.
• We will let them know, We all had a CLEAN bill of health before leaving but are SICK when we return.
• We are GOING and we WILL be HEARD.

It’s a long hard road to Capitol Hill, but We the Veterans will make there. I promise we will.

It doesn’t matter which war you fought in - or if you served during peacetime.  He would like to hear your story and thoughts, as well as those of the families of Vets.

He’s been there.  He’s still there.

We the Veterans

Please share this site with all veterans you know.

Go on over and sign the Guestbook too ~ let our Vets know they are not forgotten after they come home.

You can contact them here.

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Read it all:

Meet the DOJ Lawyers Who Defended Terrorist Detainees

As the controversy heats up over the DOJ lawyers who once represented, or advocated on behalf of, al Qaeda and Taliban members, it is worth taking a quick look at their body of work.

Gee, think these people might have another agenda?  Or are they just that stoopid?

I mean, how seriously can you take them when this is allowed?

Good news: Pop stars now posing in Obama’s chair in the WH Situation Room

I guess some pop stars are just more special than others…

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Members of Organizing For America are blessed with another pep talk and lecture of lies from their Messiah.

Notice the purple (SEIU) tie.  Who’s really calling the shots here…?

Work those phones!!  Walk those streets!!  Annoy people!  Threaten people!!  Insult those too stupid to see how awesome I am!!  Don’t let facts get in your way of bamboozling all those “other Americans” who aren’t with the program of complete government take-over of every aspect of your lives!

At least he didn’t mention being buried in an Obama t-shirt again.  He really doesn’t like to be laughed at.

Like this:

(Where did they get all those happy people?  I haven’t come across too many happy Progressives ~ hell, they always seem so surly and angry.  Maybe it’s the laughing at them part…?)

And ~ Check out this PSA from OAF ~ “You shouldn’t have to pay for everything”.  WTH?!  Why not?

I guess money really does grow on trees…at least in their world.

All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.
Ellen Glasgow

Christmas is the time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell government what they want and their kids pay for it.
Richard Lamm

For in reason, all government without the consent of the governed

is the very definition of slavery.
Jonathan Swift

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Obama advisers set to recommend military tribunals for alleged 9/11 plotters

Continue…

Uh-oh…

If Obama accepts the likely recommendation of his advisers, the White House may be able to secure from Congress the funding and legal authority it needs to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and replace it with a facility within the United States.

Ah, more deals…

Marine Col. Jeffrey Colwell, acting chief defense counsel at the Defense Department’s Office of Military Commissions:

“…sad day for the rule of law” if Obama decides not to proceed with a federal trial. “I thought the decision where to put people on trial — whether federal court or military commissions — was based on what was right, not what is politically advantageous,”

Read to the end ~ ACLU’s Anthony Romero is very disappointed and a bit wee wee’d up.

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Ever wonder what Boot Camp is like for our Marines?

Watch these two videos:

Video: Marine recruit training through the eyes of the DI -Part 1

Video: Marine recruit training through the eyes of the DI - Part 2

Now there are too many people who think Boot Camp or Basic Training is harsh and shouldn’t be allowed.

I so disagree.  I have seen quite a few young people teetering on the fine line toward jail or being lost become some fine examples of young men and women to whom I would trust my very life.

In fact, with how I’ve seen “parenting” go down the tubes the past couple of decades, maybe parents-to-be should go through DI training.  We’d have many more polite and productive citizens and less self-centered blights on society.

Though I have to say, listening to the DIs in the videos giving orders, I can’t say I understood one word.  Lordy, I’d be getting smoked every hour of the day and night.

And there’s nothing like Graduation Day, seeing your baby (Oh, how that hate Moms saying that!) standing so straight and tall and confident.

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Update:  So much for a one cup of coffee morning posting ~ I kept spelling Marcus’s dog’s name as Daisy, like the flower, instead of Dasy as it was meant.  I mean, I knew that it was the initials of four SEALS, nevermind that her name is even spelled out in the letter.  And I even reread the post as usual before publishing.

I so apologize to Dasy and Marcus for the mistake and have corrected her name in the post below. And I thank the commenter who pointed this out to me.

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Back In April 2009, Marcus Luttrell’s companion dog, Dasy was murdered by some punks who thought that shooting dogs for no good reason was fun.  Marcus is a Navy SEAL to the bone and author of “Lone Survivor”.

Go here to hear Marcus tell about it when he was on Glenn Beck’s show.

Well, near a year later Marcus has written a letter to the District Attorney involved in the case against these four (insert bad, bad descriptive word) individuals.

March 2nd, 2010

The Honorable David Weeks
District Attorney
Walker County
1036 University Avenue
Huntsville, TX 77340

Dear Sir,
This letter serves to ensure you’re aware of how strongly I believe that all four individuals who were involved in killing my lab, DASY, should be prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law and held accountable for their egregious actions.

DASY was given to me as a rehab therapy dog and she provided countless hours of companionship in three years I spent with her. Her name represents something of significant meaning to me. DASY was the living embodiment of my team mates who I fought with and who died on 28 June 2005. As you know, I was the only man of 20 to make it home from Operation Redwing alive. To refresh your memory, this is who DASY was named after:

D - “Danny”. SO2 Danny Dietz is survived by his wife Maria Paz Leveque, his mother Cindy, his father Danny Senior, his sister Tiffany, and his brother Eric. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross Recipient. He was a phenomenal athlete and an amazing artist. He was a great loss to our community and our world. He leaves behind a legacy that inspires us today and serves as a shining example of heroism and courage for future generations.

A - “Axe”. SO2 Matthew Axelson is survived by his wife Cindy, his father Cordell, his mother Donna, and his brother Jeff. He is a posthumous Navy Cross Recipient. Axe was my twin brother’s best friend. A very calm guy, Matt kept true to the SEAL motto, “a quiet professional”. All the guys looked up to him and sought his insight on most everything. Matt was the last guy recovered on July 10th. Up to that point, his platoon expressed that they were fully expecting a call from him, saying, “hey guys, bring me some more ammunition, I’ve found a cave and I’m having fun out here”.

S - “Southern Boy”. That’s me – SO1(R) Marcus Luttrell
Y - “Yankee”. LT Michael Murphy is survived by his mother Maureen Murphy; his father Dan Murphy; and his brother John Murphy. Murph was a fiery Irishman from New York, my best friend, and a Posthumous Medal of Honor recipient. He was the most selfless guy I’ve ever met, and he kept himself on a busy agenda to help as many people as he could. He had an incredibly strong sense of character, sound moral and ethical standards, toughness in the face of adversity, and a good sense of humor. He was a family-man, great friend, concerned citizen, warrior, and was admired by those who knew him, and inspiring to those who were close to him.

It is also appalling that not a single one of those individuals or their families have apologized for the pain and suffering they’ve caused me and my family. I’m an honorable Texan, a Navy SEAL, and a man of my word. Something as simple as “I’m sorry” would have meant something to me.

I emphatically encourage you to bring forth the maximum punishment possible under law to all four individuals. They bring great dishonor and discredit to Huntsville, Walker County, the State of Texas, and the greatest nation in the world - The United States of America.

I have faith and confidence in our nation’s justice system - it is part of what makes our country so great. I trust that you’ll put forth full effort in doing the right thing and ensuring that this horrific death doesn’t go unpunished.

God Bless Texas.
Very Respectfully,

Marcus Luttrell
U.S. Navy SEAL, Retired
NEVER QUIT!

it is a testament to Marcus’s integrity and training that these four (insert bad, bad descriptive word) individuals are still present to be prosecuted.

They need to get the maximum sentence.

Note:  Marcus has a new companion dog now, Rigby, whom he received in January through the Paws For Patriots program.  Rigby can’t ever replace Dasy but they sure look good together.

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