~ Keeping this on top for a bit - new posts below. ~

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Those of you who read my blog on a regular basis (thank you! I love the company!) know that Greg of Greg Notes Is my webmaster and good friend. I started reading his blog when he was in Iraq and followed him through his time there, his coming home and his (thankfully) recovery from cancer. When I found out he did all that html stuff (that confounded this computer challenged blogger), I contacted him as I wanted to get off the free wordpress and get a webpage of my own. Working with him on this has led to a wonderful friendship ~ and a neat blog. (He has been able to undo so many of my Uh Ohs that could have shut me down real good. Even though he swore a bit and made me promise not to never, ever go into certain areas on my theme editor.)

Well, Greg is in the middle of some real hard times and needs your support. He has a post up at his blog that you all need to read, please:

We are home, we receive Disabilty, Where is our help now?

Written by Greg Anton
Thursday, 23 October 2008 16:04

I usually do not do this on the front page of Greg’s Notes but these are circumstances that have to be addressed here and now.

Bare with me as I write this for I am in a state of Chaos and my mind jumps from one thing to another. I will try to explain but cannot get into great detail. I want to start by saying this, “I am going through a great deal. I am in a legal battle and I am fighting for my Son.”

They say: Welcome home. You are a Disabled Vet. We are here to help you through your recovery and to help you get you Disability Payments started that are due to you for your service.

Read the rest of this entry »

From Larry Bailey at Gathering of Eagles:

Source: Mike Connelly
Published: 01/06/2009 Posted On: January 6, 2009 at 3:58 PM By: Larry Bailey

Dear Friends and Pro Troop Supporters,

Have you ever visited YouTube and noticed there is no specific category for “Military?”

Have you also noticed that while there are tens of thousands of military videos, you have to wade through group and video titles such as “Gays in the Military,” “Military Fairy,” “Gangs in the Military,” or “Military Air Drop Bloopers?”

Finally, have you noticed that some excellent military videos seem to disappear because they offended someone’s politically correct sensibilities?

Well now there is a new place for patriotic Americans, who support our troops, to post and categorize all of their videos to share with their pro troop friends. It is now available for loading your favorite military videos

Pro Troops Tube

www.protroopstube.com

Where Military is Always the Top Category!

or (the un-youtube)

The Pro Troops Tube video sharing site operates similarly to YouTube, but is better because:

• It’s all about the troops.
• It has dozens of military categories, and we will add more when and as requested.
• If you have the videos on your PC, the uploading process is as simple as YouTube.
• If you don’t have the videos, you can add your favorites from YouTube, Google, and other video sharing sites by simply copying and pasting their embed code when you select the “Add a video from an external website” method on the add videos page.

Best of all it is free for all to post. All it requires is a simple registration and your valid email address.

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It’s neat, it’s easy and has some good folks there already. Go on over and sign up!

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From ACT For America:

Our courageous friend Tom Trento ventured to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida last Tuesday to videotape a pro-Hamas demonstration. When you click on the link below to this must-see video, keep in mind, this didn’t happen in the Gaza Strip – it took place right here in America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3Xl68kP4wo

When you watch the video you’ll see and hear things that are offensive, deeply disturbing, and, frankly, frightening.

You’ll see signs that say “Nuke Israel.” You’ll hear a woman yell at pro-Israel demonstrators, “Go back to the ovens!!” You’ll hear vulgar profanities.

In the midst of all of this you will see a Muslim leader at the demonstration being interviewed exclaiming that once people really understand Islam they will have “no choice” but to accept it.

And remember that this latest round of violence began with Hamas breaking the cease-fire and launching hundreds of rockets into residential areas of Israel. That’s not very clear from many of the news reports of the past week. Israel has responded to defend itself, as it has every right to do.

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The coverage from our media is pathetic in it’s anti-Israel bias.  Nevermind the anti-Israel propaganda reports from middle eastern newspapers.  Go here to read The Jawa’s take)

The NY Times’s One-Sided Reporting on the Gaza ‘Assault’

Who Broke the Ceasefire? CNN’s “Fact Check” Falls Short

At LA Times, Obscured Targets

Palestinian Spokesmen Rely on Time-Tested Tactic

Washington Post-Watch: Once More Through the Palestinian Filter

Check this out:

Hamas’ al Fateh children’s website

Sesame Street, it’s not…

(h/t to The Jawa Report)

G-d bless the IDF.

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The 111th Congress convenes today - hoo boy!

Those of you who again voted in the same congress critters that did such a terrrrific job (snort) in the 109th and 110th Congress ~ what were you thinking? Please stop doing that! Seriously, read up on these folks and find out what they have been up to with your money. They are not your friends.

Anyway, at noon today, the Congress will start it’s shenanigans all over again.

The U.S. House of Representatives returns for the opening session of the 111th Congress. On the first day, all members are sworn in, the Speaker is elected, and a package of procedural rules is discussed. CSPAN

And they have been busy little worker bees with the Queen bee being busiest of all. Here’s what we have to look forward to:

First of all, CONGRESS GETS A PAY RAISE. DO THEY DESERVE IT? (Congress.org)
Under existing law, as part of a deal to give up outside income from speeches and other sources, Congress receives an automatic pay raise unless it votes otherwise. In January, Congress will receive a raise of $4,700. This will increase the average Member’s pay to about $174,000, or a 2.8 percent increase.

Key bills in Congress:

S. 3335 - Extending Alternative Energy Tax Credits and Other Issues 2 (2 D)
S. 2991 - Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008 25 (1 I, 24 D)
S. 2717 - The Effective Immigration Enforcement Partnerships Act of 2008 11 (11 R)
S. 2699 - The Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2008 3 (3 D)
S. 2668 - MOBILE Cell Phone Act of 2008 55 (29 R, 26 D)
H.R. 6899 - Offshore Oil Drilling 4 (4 D)
H.R. 6331 - Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 2 (2 D)
H.R. 6109 - Pre-Disaster Mitigation Act of 2008 4 (2 R, 2 D)
H.R. 6049 - Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 18 (18 D)
H.R. 6001 - Main Street U.S.A. Energy Security Act 18 (18 R)
H.R. 5501 - Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 6 (1 R, 5 D)
H.R. 4088 - Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement Act of 2007 or SAVE Act of 2007 134 (88 R, 46 D)
H.R. 3665 - Stop the Sale of Murderabilia to Protect the Dignity of Crime Victims Act of 2007 7 (4 R, 3 D)
H.R. 3221 - Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 17 (17 D)
H.R. 1338 - Paycheck Fairness Act for Women 218 (218 D)

Okay, so that’s the what’s on the docket, so to speak. But wait!! There’s more!!

House Rules Package Could Curb Minority’s Power, End Term Limits for Chairmen

By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff

An early partisan skirmish is likely in the House next week, when Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to move a rules package that would curb the GOP’s ability to derail legislation through a parliamentary maneuver it has used over the past two years.

Democrats may also end the current three-term limit for committee chairmen - a limit adopted by Republicans when they took over the House in 1995 and retained in the House rules adopted by Democrats when they regained the majority in the 110th Congress.

Read more…

House Rules Package PDF (lots of use of the words “integrity”, “ethics”, “PAYGO”, “commonsense”, “transparency” and “Fiscal Responsibilty”. Heh…

More power grabs for the Majority.

But! the Republican leaders wrote a *gasp* letter to Speaker Queen Bee:

“This is not the kind of openness and transparency that President-elect Obama promised,” the GOP leaders wrote Monday in a letter to Pelosi. The Hill

Well, I’m sure that will do the trick. I’m sure Madam Pelosi, with knees knocking, is quickly rethinking her position on this one!!

Of course, these are the same people that are actually seriously considering Obama’s Stimulus package:

McConnell says GOP could back stimulus

By J. Taylor Rushing
Posted: 01/04/09 12:56 PM [ET]

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Sunday said an economic stimulus plan could receive “significant support” from Republicans if Democratic leaders include the GOP and don’t rush the bill.

The Senate GOP leader suggested on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” that Republicans will decide their legislative strategy based on how Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) runs the process. If Reid and his aides allow Republican input, McConnell indicated that a stimulus plan could receive as many as 80 votes in the chamber.

Read more…

(Banging head on wall…)

But this new Congress is not without DRAMA!!

Will Burris be seated? Will Franken get through the doors?? My, oh my! I feel as if I’m back in Jr. High with a popular students clique-war going on.

Majority Leader Reid on “Meet the Press”

Reid speaks and people are still confused.

Senate Seats Up in 2010 (pdf)

Really, I strongly suggest all of you who do vote look at your Senators and Representatives’ records and actually see if they are doing right by you. If you don’t do this, please don’t vote! WE are in trouble here and need new leadership. No more Harry Reids, Nancy Pelosis, Mitch McConnells, or John McCains.

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‘Security not as bad as portrayed’

KABUL (APP): The deputy head of the NATO-led force that has more than 50,000 soldiers in Afghanistan helping to fight extremist insurgents has said security did not deteriorate last year as much as portrayed. A few “spectacular attacks” by the insurgents in 2008 had fed perceptions that security was worsening, British Lieutenant General Jim Dutton said, answering questions from the media in a video posted on the Internet this week.

Continue reading here.

This is the same British General who said,

“You will increase the level of incidents and violence when you first put troops into an area, that’s to be expected and indeed in some ways welcomed because that’s the purpose of going there in the first place,” said Dutton.

Which is a concept that so upsets those who believe if we just lay down our arms, the enemy will too.  They’ll be howling about the fallen victims of the evil military machine.  Because they just will never understand the warrior or the world’s need for such men and women.

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Army Expands Military Funeral Honors for Soldiers

By Sara Moore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2008 - Starting early next year, the Army will allow full military funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia for all soldiers killed in action.

Full military honors include a caisson, band, colors team and an escort platoon in addition to the standard honors of a firing party, bugler and chaplain. In the past, the caisson was available only for officers killed in action because of limited availability, Paul Boyce, an Army spokesman, said.

The cemetery has two caissons, or horse-drawn vehicles, which now will be available for officers and enlisted soldiers killed in action on a first-come, first-served basis, Boyce said. The limited availability may delay the funerals, he said, so families of deceased soldiers may decide to go forward with the funeral earlier without a caisson.

In response to requests from families of deceased servicemembers, soldiers and veterans, Army officials have been looking at changing the policy for military honors at Arlington since April, Boyce said. Having the change in place now means the policy will take effect early next year.

“This brings a much more common standard to anyone who is killed in action or the family of anyone killed in action who want to use Arlington National Cemetery,” he said.

The policy change affects only funerals at Arlington, Boyce said, because Arlington is the only military cemetery controlled by the Department of the Army and has unique assets. It also only applies to soldiers killed as a result of:

– Any action against an enemy of the United States;

– Any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which U.S. armed forces are or have been engaged;

– Serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party;

– An act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces;

– An act of any hostile foreign force;

– An international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the secre tary of the Army;

– An act of any hostile foreign force during military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force; or

– Action by friendly fire, defined as weapon fire while directly engaged in armed conflict, other than as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States, unless the soldier’s death was the result of the soldier’s willful misconduct.

“Arlington National Cemetery is an expression of our nation’s reverence for those who served her in uniform, many making the ultimate sacrifice,” Army Secretary Pete Geren said in an Army news release. “Arlington and those honored there are part of our national heritage. This new policy provides a common standard for honoring all soldiers killed in action.”

More than 300,000 people, including veterans from all the nation’s wars, are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The cemetery conducts about 6,400 burials each year.

The new policy applies only to soldiers, though officials are awaiting word from the other services on whether they wish to adopt a similar policy.

Related Sites:
Arlington National Cemetery
Army News Release

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Another year that I have been blessed with has come to a close. My Dad was right ~ after you reach 50, it sure seems like someone has taken 15 minutes out of each hour of the day. I have nothing of any consequence to complain about in my life. My stomach is not constantly tied up in knots anymore and I laugh more now than I ever have in all my years. It’s not because I don’t have “problems” or that sad things don’t happen anymore. I’m still breathing, therefore there will be problems and sadness. I just decided several years ago to focus on the good stuff more than the bad stuff. Lord knows, it wasn’t easy - being a recovering addict single Mom in CA with no money and no family nearby was challenging to say the least. Took awhile for me to even discover what the good things were, as the alligators nipping at my heels seemed to be endless and insurmountable! But when I started to consciously look for them (with the help of a damn good therapist and a lot of ranting at that “God” being), it became easier and easier to recognize them among all those alligators.

So, being a blogger of Military and Political Issues, and a cynic, if truth be told, (my therapist could never get me over that), I have daily watched (going on years now), the world do crazy, beautiful, despicable, awe-inspiring, barbaric, unbelievably kind and terrifying things. And as the internet grows, we who spend hours at our computers are inundated more and more with all that makes up the Human Condition on this planet.

It has been interesting to view my reactions to all that goes on in this world and also, maybe more so, to watch other people’s reactions.

I see the brutality towards innocent people just wanting to raise their kids in peace and my first reaction to those who are doing these awful things, is kill them. Kill them all! I always did have a hard time not playing god. And a vengeful one at that. I liked that “zotting” part in the Bible. I didn’t get that “turn the other cheek” part for the longest time. Of course, as I “matured”, I learned that life, especially the part that includes human beings, was not all black and white, but had numerous shades of gray (called unknown facts). I also discovered that there are a lot of people out there that just don’t know shite and cannot or will not think for themselves, adding more shades of gray to the mix.

But I also realized that there is right and there is wrong. For example: Torture or kill a child - wrong. Protect a child - right. I cannot imagine hurting a child and not protecting him or her.

Seems as if too many of us have become confused about what’s right and what’s wrong.

The latest war between Israel and the palestinians and all the anti-Israel protests around the world are a prime example of this confusion (or imo, madness) and our alleged “leaders” seem to be just as confused as those holding up signs saying such things as “Israel is the real terrorist”. What saddens me is the reports that very few are out there defending Israel. Those who do show up are far outnumbered by the by the Joo-Haters. The Muslim KKK? (Atlas Shrugs has a good roundup of this insanity and videos of these “gatherings” and “peace (my a$$) vigils”.)

And Condoleeza Rice is calling for a cease fire. Hey, Sec. Rice - it’s been tried before. Didn’t work out so well…again and again and again.

The Terrorism Awareness Project has a must see video to counteract all the terrorist sympathizing media reports: (h/t to What Bubba Knows)

What Really Happened in The Middle East

I just don’t get it. It’s so easy to find out what’s really going on in the world if one just digs a bit deeper than the cable news.

And of course, Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR is upset with PEBO, aka The One, for not coming out and condemning the “Israeli massacre in Gaza”.

Anti-Israel Protests Rage Globally

Useful idiots below ~

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Well, here we are ~ a new year ahead of us.

I wish for you all to have a year filled with lots of love, lots of hugs and a gazillion reasons to giggle.

I also wish for us to stay strong as we keep our focus on all that is good around us and take steps to correct what is not so good.

Keep posting and enjoy the circus!

Many thanks to all who have stopped by my little space in the blogoshere.  I’ve so enjoyed your company!

Many Blessings to you all!

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Marine Pilot Missing In Action From WWII Is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420.

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

On the Web: http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/

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~ Welcome Home, Marine ~

Rest easy and fly safe now

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This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi

2nd Lt. Christopher E. Loudon
22 years old from Brockport, Pennsylvania
1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
October 17, 2006

2nd Lt. Christopher Loudon graduated from Slippery Rock University with a Baccalaureate Degree in Environmental Health in 2005. Upon graduation, he entered the United States Army on September 9, 2005. He received his commission as an Infantry officer and was assigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas. He deployed to Iraq in July 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

2nd Lt. Loudon’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

He was KIA in Baghdad, Iraq when an IED detonated near his vehicle. Also killed with him were; Corporal David M. Unger, 21, of Leavenworth, Kansas ;Corporal Russell G. Culbertson III, 22, of Amity, Pennsylvania and Specialist Joseph C. Dumas Jr., 25, of New Orleans, Louisiana.

He leaves behind his parents, Randy and Susan Loudon ; his wife, Jacey Loudon ; a daughter, Isabel Loudon ; two brothers, First Lieutenant Nicholas Loudon ,and Jonathan Loudon ; his paternal grandmother, Florence Loudon and his maternal grandfather, Everett William Campbell.

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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