Archive for the 'General Commentary' Category

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner

two-turkeysOnce upon a time there was a young gobbler named Thomas who, more than anything else, wanted to be invited to a Thanksgiving dinner.  He had heard stories about great mounds of delicious food — a fantastic feast with family and friends gathered around a massive table.  Thomas even imagined himself dressing for the occasion!  He pushed out his chest and strutted proudly around the barnyard hoping to get noticed.

Thanksgiving was, after all, an important holiday.  If there were no Thanksgiving, how would we know that Christmas and New Years were coming — not to mention Hanukah, Kwanza and a host of other traditional holidays? Some folks called it ‘Turkey Day‘, although Thomas had never been told exactly why.  He knew the words must have some kind of very special meaning, because no one ever talked about Thanksgiving without talking about turkeys.  He closed his eyes and pictured himself as guest of honor at such a glorious celebration.  M-m-m-m — pass the cranberries!

At school, he learned revisionist history about people called Pilgrims who were so dopey that when their boat first came to America it landed on a rock and they didn’t even know how to feed or clothe themselves.  The Indians (They didn’t become Native-Americans for another 300 years), who were already here, had to show them how to do everything — and to say thanks, the Pilgrims slaughtered every last one of them!  Then they had a big feast to celebrate the butchery and called it Thanksgiving.

Somehow, that didn’t sound right to Thomas.  I mean, why would the Pilgrims kill all the people who were helping them?  Besides, the Pilgrims were religious people and knew that God wouldn’t like that.  There must be another explanation for Thanksgiving and he was determined to find it — and to find out about the important role that turkeys play in the festivities.  Another story that sounded more plausible was told to him by the wise old Grandpa Turkey who sat by the big brown tree stump at the head of the barnyard.

It seems that the Pilgrims who landed on the rock had an arrangement where all the people would put everything they made or grew into a big storehouse. Then when somebody needed something, they would just take it.  From each according to his ability to each according to his need sounded pretty good, at first.  But some people were lazy and let others do the work — yet they took as much as anyone else from the big storehouse.  The people who did all the work said, “The heck with this noise!” and stopped working. With no one producing anything, they all nearly starved.

The head Pilgrim said, “Okay, from now on each individual keeps whatever he creates and can use it, sell it, or trade it for other things he needs.  The free market system worked and so did all the people!  They even traded with the Indians and invited them to the first celebration of their new found prosperity — a celebration of Capitalism which today we know as Thanksgiving!

Even though the wise old turkey’s story made more sense, it still didn’t explain why some people called the day, ‘Turkey Day’.  When Thomas told of his dream to be invited to the glorious celebration, the horrified Grandpa Turkey exclaimed, “Holy giblets!  Have you lost your head?”

Once the special role of the turkey was fully explained, Thomas began to tremble.  It was only then that he noticed the shiny metal thing with a long wooden handle on top of the brown wooden stump, and heard the squeak of the gate as farmer Fred entered the pen. Thomas quickly sucked in his chest and tried to look smaller.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I think about Thomas a great deal and look forward to a festive holiday with family and friends — as well as with our guest of honor.  Remember just like elections, wishes have consequences.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

R.S.F

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One Small Step

Ghostly black and white images danced across the television screen as a roomful of friends and I bore witness to one of the greatest accomplishments of humankind. It was history in the making and we were living it! Men were walking on the moon! Those grainy pictures were the fulfillment of a dream for every ten year old kid who ever peered out of a window cut in a big cardboard box or watched Flash Gordon conquer the Clay People at the Saturday movie matinee. They were the fulfillment of a challenge by a young president whose life was snuffed out before he could see that his words had successfully inspired a nation to such incredible deeds.

Today is the 40th anniversary of that first moon landing, when men soared into space using precarious technology born of Snoopy’s leather flying cap and carrying less computing power than is found in today’s average $25 calculator. Buzz Aldren, Michael Collins and Neil Armstrong were explorers — true heroes, men of vision driven by fierce pride. Back then, America was driven by fierce pride. Where has it gone?

Somewhere in the 40 years since Apollo 11 we have lost our way, mired in the quicksand of failing social programs in the name of bettering life on Earth, all the while robbing men of their dignity and building a false government dependency. Such political misdirections are gradually transforming dreams and pride into guilt and stagnation. America is now being painted as a problem in the world instead of a solution. Even an activist president colors with a broad brush that masks our greatness.

Sufficient time has now passed so as to relegate moonwalks and other significant victories to mere paragraphs in history books, read by new generations that have never experienced greatness — some of which even doubt and debate the very existence of these accomplishments. The final irony is the use by non-believers of the many spinoffs from the space program, like laptop computers and cell phones, as they question the merit or even the reality of our moon journey. Believe me kids, we were there and we were there first! The proof will clutter the craters of that heavenly body for centuries.

Winning the space race not only inspired America but played a part in defeating the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Now that we’ve discovered it’s not made of green cheese, there is a renewed interest in going back to the moon — generated by other countries, places such as China and India. The other night, I heard one of our congressmen express the hope that we would “go all out” to participate and not just graciously accept a second place finish. I thought, “Whoa! We were ALREADY first, a long time ago. It’s the next country that’s gonna’ be in second place!” [This is the same mentality that overlooks the fact that America was attacked on 9/11 and goes straight to criticizing our assault on the Taliban, wherever they may be].

When it comes to the moon, we’ve already ‘been there, done that’. I see no particular reason to go back and would rather we set our sights on Mars. Let the other guys fall over each other for runner-up positioning on Earth’s natural satellite. I’d like to feel the pride and exhilaration of great national accomplishment once again. Moreover, our country needs to feel it. Forty years ago it inspired and united our nation, in fact [for a moment] the world. Those kids with all the answers could use a reality check, too.

Today we celebrate America’s first moon walk. No, it wasn’t the late Michael Jackson, he came later. It was imagination come to life. It was three incredibly brave pioneers who crossed, not the western prairie in covered wagons, but the sea of space in a tiny capsule — to walk on that silvery disc in the nighttime sky that casts long shadows on new fallen snow, lights the way for starry-eyed lovers and kindles sparks of inspiration in the hearts and minds of men.

R.S.F.

Betrayed

The Teleprompter Made Me Do ItHumorist Arnold Glasgow once wrote, “A friend is someone who laughs at your jokes when they’re not so good and listens to your troubles when they’re not so bad.” But what happens when a friend starts giving you bad advice? The acting president has been running into that for some time now with his close, warm, personal friend [CWPF] “Totus”. “Totus” is a ‘Bamaprompter.

She carried him through the campaign with hardly a hitch but since he started traveling with as many as twelve such devices, it almost seems as though his ever-present sidekick has become jealous. Yesterday she even took a suicidal plunge to the floor in mid-speech. Could he be feeling the wrath of a vindictive prompter [in sort of a real life Fatal Attraction scenario]?

“Totus” has told him to insult our friends, become friendly with our enemies and run America down instead of extolling our countless virtues. She even has poor Barry apologizing for our prosperity to petty dictators who would be more than happy to lead the way as we toddle down the road toward third world banana republicism. The prompter has put words into his mouth that echo weakness as he struts his stuff in front of murdering thugs who understand only strength.

bamaprompter-amokLet me make something perfectly clear to those who might otherwise get the wrong impression — he speaks neither for me nor for the vast majority of American people. We owe apologies to no one. The ugly chip on his shoulder speaks for ‘Bama alone. He and “Totus” have become dangerous embarrassments — two of the Three Stooges. Since he has difficulty forming coherent sentences without help, we must conclude that the formerly faithful ‘Bamaprompter has run amok and is feeding him bad information. Maybe his contemporaries can ‘roll’ him like a hooker with a jon in a cheap hotel but not so the people of this nation. Americans love freedom and have always stood strong against tyranny, whatever its origins.

As if giving him horrible advice on foreign relations and national security weren’t enough, the device has been prompting ‘Bama to bankrupt our country and destroy the free market system, which has always been the backbone of our economic prowess. So far he is right, the stimulus bill is working — but not for the American people. I see unemployment headed for 12%-15% by year end, the potential for a 5,000 stock market and double digit inflation just over the horizon. If we are to survive as a free nation, the acting president needs to stop taking advice from his prompter, start adhering to the Constitution, reign in the radicals in Congress and toss away his Saul Alinsky guide book.

B. Hussein Obama has learned his lessons well but, up until now, his frames of reference have been only about tearing down. He has, in fact, become one of the “not so funny” jokes at which his friends have laughed and now the world is laughing [but not with us]. If he is someday to be remembered as anything more than a plague infecting the greatest country ever to grace the Earth, he needs new friends. He needs to stop taking bad advice and start thinking for himself. He needs to learn about building up — and he needs to learn it fast!

R.S.F.

Freedom’s Seed

If you have a strong stomach go to this link, listen to the video track, and witness the unimaginable. Be advised, it’s very graphic.  God bless the brave.

Today in Tehran - Baharestan Square

The slaughter now taking place in Iran may surpass the brutality of Tiananmen Square. As you recoil in horror, and our imaginary leader in Washington tees up for another round of golf, ask yourself two questions:

First — what would you possibly say in negotiation to the kind of sub-human tyrant who, not only condones, but has ordered this kind of barbaric murder of his own people [or of any people]?

Second — given the uncontrolled growth of government in our own country, replete with ‘Bama’s proposed ‘National Security Force‘ and the diminishing role of our Constitution, might these be scenes from a distant future in America?

By the way, the acting president is taking a harder line with the Iranian delegation. They have been un-invited from the White House Fourth of July weenie roast. I give him a lot of credit for not voting present, yet again. He didn’t need to go out on a limb. By simply announcing they’re serving “Hebrew National” hot dogs, nobody would have shown up!

R.S.F.

“Ists” and “Isms”

iranian-revolution-montage

I received a letter the other day which addressed me as a “Conservative Activist”. That night I saw a television show that made me realize some might consider me a “Survivalist”. Here, all the while, I thought I was a “Capitalist” speaking out against “Marxism” in America and supporting our troops fighting “Terrorism” abroad, so the rest of us can live to enjoy “Freedom” at home. Freedom. How’d that word get in there?

Lately, freedom seems to have gotten lost among the labels and, as it turns out, some of us don’t really understand what it is. Take, for example, a Liberal friend of mine [about whom I've spoken before] who agrees with the acting president that we have no right to “impose our way of life” on people in other countries. They both call it “meddling”, as does Mahmoud Ahmedinejad — who probably didn’t even know the word existed until our own B. Hussein Obama used it and gave him the opportunity to toss it back at us as propaganda. My friend has finally quantified the reason we can’t agree on any of the issues: we disagree on the fundamental principles.

What none of the three aforementioned understand is that freedom is the natural condition of human kind. Our founding fathers realized that reality and wrote about it often. Freedom comes from God, not from man. Since it can only be suppressed by man [governments and tyrants], helping to restore the natural order is neither imposing nor meddling. Millions of Iranians risking their lives in the streets of Tehran know that too and are waiting for words of encouragement from America — but our shining beacon at freedom’s door is dark. My friend says it’s none of our business because no one has asked for our help. I don’t know why anyone thinks so many signs in the crowd are printed in English but I’m guessing they’re the same people who think the revolt we are witnessing is still about the election.

Obama is an embarrassment. He has abdicated his responsibility as any kind of free world leader. Even France and Germany have spoken out but, for all the meaningless drivel he and his teleprompter have generated, his deafening silence is broken only by a few vague remarks about the government violence. This ideologue is coldly recasting the very essence of what America is about and will have the blood of thousands on his hands if Ahmedinejad once again slams freedom’s door on the fingers of the Iranian people.

Let me be as plain as the ears on ‘Bama’s head. When he apologizes for the brilliance of America, he does not speak for me. When he parades weakness in front of the world, he does not speak for me. When he insults our friends and friendlies up to our enemies, he does not speak for me. When he says America is broken and should be fixed with massive government programs, he does not speak for me. When he demonizes success and tramples our Constitution, he does not speak for me. When he disrespects the military or degrades their mission he does not speak for me. When oppressed people cry out against tyranny and are willing to die for freedom, he doesn’t speak at all.

So all other “ists” and “isms” notwithstanding, I say to my Liberal friend that I mostly consider myself a “real-ist”. Occasionally my government loses its way and as long as there is a First Amendment, I will speak for myself and try to influence a course correction. I have always been and shall always be proud of my country. If supporting those in other countries who are trying to restore freedom’s natural order is “meddling”, then I’m a “medd-ler”. There, we now have a “ler” label.

Above all else, I am an American and to the people of Iran, if our acting president won’t say it, I will — Press on! We hear your voices and you are not alone. God and the American people are with you!

R.S.F.

AMERICA - We Remember

As the great imposter nears the end of his second world apology tour, pandering this time to our adversaries, let us remember a great president honoring the selfless heroes of D-Day — who sacrificed so much to preserve American freedom and who defended liberty for an entire world threatened by the forces of tyranny.



If only Barack Hussein Obama could speak with inspiration, instead of disparaging his own country and parading weakness in front of madmen who only understand strength.

On this day,we remember and salute the men and women of the Greatest Generation.

R.S.F.

Atten-shun!

Commander In Chief’s Military DisdainBeyond busting budgets, Obama clearly demonstrates a complete lack of respect for America, her offices and her traditions. He is purposefully steering a course that is heading our nation full throttle onto the rocks.

His foreign policy is simple: Insult your friends and embrace your enemies. If you think our global image has suffered in the past, wait until this joker is finished. The only question is, will we still be able to laugh? Domestically he seems to be keeping close to his agenda of Marxist takeover from within, according to the precise methods described in Saul Alinsky’s “Rules For Radicals“. Want to know what’s coming? Read the book!

‘Bama’s attitude toward our military is as perverse as his attitude toward our allies: he hates them. The latest slap in the face is the Messiah’s desire to turn personnel injured in battle over to the private insurance market instead of providing traditional government-funded care. He is more concerned with his agenda of breaking the back of private health care than he is with seeing to the welfare of dedicated men and women he sends into battle.

I watched a news video the other day showing this impostor disembarking from Marine One and was so shocked that I played it back [TIVO] twice to make sure I actually saw what I thought I saw. A young Marine stood at respectful attention and held a proper salute, as the Commander In Chief followed what looked like a group of street urchins from the helicopter.

For the first family to be so inappropriately dressed in front of the nation would have been disgraceful enough — but the acting president scowled at the honor being paid him, never glanced at the Marine and returned a half-hearted salute that was as disdainful as his mood. He could learn a lesson or two from that brave young man, as well as from so many other military who serve us all with such great pride, not great contempt.

R.S.F.

Tea Party Near you!

Winners And Losers

Chosen OneThroughout my misspent youth, I was taught not to be a sore loser — in fact, I was taught how to be a graceful winner. So, how come the Democrats are such sore winners? They’ve invented a whole new category!

Ever since Al Gore stuck out his lower lip and pouted like a five year old when he couldn’t steal the presidential election of 2000, the lemmings on the Left have been whining about one thing or another, even during the most robust economy in our nation’s history.

This time they got what they’ve wanted — ‘Bama has managed to combine the skulduggery of groups like Acorn, and suspicious contributions from other unsavory sources, with a seemingly mass hypnosis to secure an election victory. Now there’s the giant porkulus bill on the table, and “H” is going to get his way with that, too. Even so, he’s stamping his foot in frustration and reminding people that, “I won so you have to do it my way!” Three weeks in office and he’s already becoming impatient with the speed of passage for his trillion dollar Socialist obscenity.

Personally, I’d like to treat him like any other playground brat, pick up my marbles and go home. The problem is, he’s setting in motion the process to steal all our marbles with the greatest transfer of wealth in history, from the private sector to what is becoming our new Marxist government at the speed of light.

He is throwing a tantrum because he never encountered resistance before. Since he has never really worked or accomplished anything of significance, he is not practiced at either winning or losing. “H”’s entry level position into the work force is the presidency of the most powerful country on earth!

Now ‘Bama is discovering that if you try to walk on water, you can get you feet wet. There are the usual procedural questions which have been raised about legislation since the days of George Washington, but it’s all new to the neophyte. Shock is beginning to set in that there is more to the game than just winning it — there’s actual governing. A leader must learn to lead not just talk about it. In all this time, I don’t believe he ever thought about what happens after the campaign.

He had better grasp that concept pretty quickly, because right now Madam Pelosi and Little Harry Reid are playing him like a couple of hookers rolling a drunk in a cheap motel room. If congress can have its way with him so easily, and “H” can’t even stand up to his own party, what is going to happen when he faces off with world leaders and terrorists; when all his rhetoric, with or without tele-prompters, now begins to fall upon deaf ears because our enemies don’t recognize that he’s “The Messiah”? What’s going to happen when whining becomes weakness and winning or losing have permanent consequences?

R.S.F.