Wednesday, January 28, 2009

One Stop Shopping (Almost)

This is a marketing genius. All that's needed is guitars. Only in Texas. From Traction Control, via A Keyboard And A .45.





The House Does, Too

According to Michelle, the stimulus bill passed 244-188 with not one Republican vote. This means the Democrats own this one, which is as it should be. Good for the House Republicans. Update: fixed the link.

They Got One Right

Well, according to Redstate, John Cornyn (R_TX) at least voted against the confirmation of Eric Holder as Attorney General in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Tom Coburn (R-OK) joined him. They were the only two votes against confirmation. He will almost certainly be confirmed by the whole Senate, but it would still be helpful to urge your Senator to vote against confirmation.

The Other Side

Did you ever wonder what is on the other side of Mt. Rushmore?

Monday, January 26, 2009

Buyer's Remorse?

John Cornyn's vote to confirm Tim Geithner today is beginning to make me wonder why I voted for him. I've been hearing some negative things about his responsiveness, or lack thereof, to difficult or uncomfortable questions, too. I don't have any thing I can quote, but I trust what I've been hearing. Updated for punctuation.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Stimulus Plan

Got this from an online veteran's group I belong to.

YOUR ECONOMIC STIMULUS PLAN

This year, taxpayers will again receive an Economic Stimulus Payment. Here is an attempt to explain this plan using the Q & A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A. It is money the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a high-definition TV or a new computer, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China?
A. Shut up.

Just One, Please

According to Ed Morrissey at Hot Air, we don't have to worry about Caroline Kennedy being a senator for a while. Thank God for that at least. One Senator Kennedy is quite enough.

Update: Oops! Maybe not.

Udate 2: According to AP she's withdrawing.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Why I Am A Conservative

Brigid's post, which I linked in my post Saturday night and this post by Josh Painter at Redstate got me to thinking about why I am a conservative.

When I was in my teens, I was a conservative. In the 1964 election I was 18 and would have voted for Goldwater had I been 21.

I was in Vietnam in 1968 and felt I was too busy trying to stay alive to bother with absentee voting from overseas. It was a lot of trouble and I really didn't fully understand the importance of voting at the time.

When I got out of the Air Force and went back to college, I majored in Political Science and Sociology. I had misguided dreams of teaching at the time. I was naturally exposed to a lot of liberal social and political theory. I remained a fiscal and national defense conservative, but bought into the social liberal school of thought because "It felt good" to do something for the greater good. I must confess to or plead to being young and foolish. Now I'm just old and foolish, but I digress.

I wound up working for the Vetrans' Administration for 20 years and was able to do some good for some people. During this time, I voted democratic on a regular basis, but I never felt entirely comfortable.

I voted for Bill Clinton in 1992 but almost immediately regretted it.

By 1996 I was ready to vote Republican. I realized Dole wasn't the best we could do, but as the saying goes, it was the only game in town.

Shortly after that, due to a life changing event that 's for another post, another time, I was able to do a great deal of self-examination and re-evaluation of some old ideas and assumptions and decide that, among other things, I am a conservative all around, fiscally, on national defense, and socially. I am also in favor of as small a government as possible in a nation of this size.

I was supportive of George Bush. I voted for him twice. I held my nose and voted for McCain. He isn't a conservative, at least not to my way of thinking, but I don't have any answers right now about what conservatives can do to make ourselves heard. I just hope we can survive the next few years.

The virtues cited by Brigid and Josh in their posts are ones I share, as I share the fears they both express. I do not claim to possess the virtues they discuss, but I do try to emulate them

But one other thing came to mind that has been on my mind frequently in the last few months. On October 30, 1966, at approximately 9:30 am, I took the following oath:


I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.


Emphasis mine. I have never renounced it and to my knowledge have never been released from it.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Funky Music

Here's an interesting take on a J. J. Cale song, Anyway The Wind Blows, by Brother Phelps.

Update: Corrected typo.

Well Said, Ma'am

Brigid nails it, via Bill H. at Free In Idaho, on Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness. Well said, Ma'am.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Outrage

Based on what I've been able to see from Xavier and Blackfive, Marine Cpl. Melroy H. Cort really got a bad deal. The cop who arrested him, the D. A. who prosecuted him, and the judge who allowed the case to go to trial all showed terrible judgement.

Cpl. Cort, who was on his way to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for treatment, probably had some sort of military I. D. and orders or some sort of authorization to go to Walter Reed. He also had been told by his commanding officer to store the gun and ammunition at Walter Reed. In addition he also had a Concealed Carry License from Ohio. This should have been sufficient for the arresting officer to give him a warning.

The only thing that is not clear is that, according to The Washington Post, Cpl. Cort said there were twelve rounds of ammunition in his trunk which the police said were in the magazine of the gun. At least that's what I think the Post meant, they called it a "clip". Knowing the history of the D. C. police, I believe Cpl. Cort

Thankfully a jury showed some common sense and acquitted him of the felony charges. On the misdemeanor charge of possession od ammunition, he was sentenced to time served. He plans to appeal that.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

The New Deal

Redstate has a round-up on the carbon footprint of the inauguration. Someone call Al Gore immediately. Michelle has a post on the most expensive inauguration in histroy. What a deal.

Monday, January 12, 2009

NRA Goes Wobbly

A few days ago, I received a letter soliciting my membership in the Nation Rifle Association. I was just about to send them a check when I read that the National Rifle Association has decided not to actively oppose the nomination of Eric Holder as Attorney General. Holder is well known as being hostile to the Second Amendment. They will send a letter of complaint, but there will be no active opposition to him.

They apparently want to save their "political capital"on "more important" battles down the road. I think preventing the nomination of an Attorney General who is hostile to the Second Amendment is pretty important, but that's just my opinion. It looks like some of the leadership of the NRA has been spending too much time inside the beltway and has suffered the loss of good sense that too often happens to those who do so.

Tonight I went to the NRA website to send an e-mail in protest, but they apparently don't have e-mail capability, or if they do, I couldn't find an address. Their NRA Grassroots Hotline is 1-800-392-8683, but I'm told it's only open from 8:30am-5:00pm. So I'll call them in the morning.

Also, I wouldn't hurt to contact your congress critters and let them know about your opposition to Holder's nomination.

Thanks to Redstate for the info. Also, according to them Gun Owners of America and will actively oppose Holder.

Thursday, January 08, 2009

More Info

For other options on what to do about the problem mentioned in the previous post , Casto Creations has some information on what to do. Thanks and hat tip to Tam

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

But It's For The Children

This nonsense, from Redstate is enough to make your blood boil. This is something worth contacting you congresscritter about. Remember though, be polite, but be firm and let them know actions have consequences.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

What Else Is Coming?

The withdrawal of Bill Richards from his nomination to Secretary of Commerce, in addition to the growing scandal in Illinois does not indicate an auspicious beginning for the Obama Administration. I think I'll stock up on popcorn. This is going to be fun to watch, if for no other reason than to see what happens next.