Car in the ditch?

The president has been on a campaign roll lately, using the analogy of the car (country/economy) driven (by the republicans) off in the ditch, and we can't give the keys back to the driver.

Well Obama, the driver (republicans) wasn't going in the best direction, no doubt. But, there was a drunk (democratic congress) in the car, who wanted to change direction in a drastic way. That drunk grabbed the wheel away and caused the driver to lose complete control!!!! And man, is it off in the ditch weeds now!

Look, in my view, BOTH parties have lost sight of what "the people" were wanting. BOTH parties, are GUILTY on thinking that once they were elected, that meant they had approval to do what ever THEY wanted. NO politician should thing that once elected, they didn't need to LISTEN to "the people" again. The whole point of elected representatives, is for them to be OUR voice. If they don't listen, then how can they be OUR voice?

But what we have experienced this past 2 years, is what would happen when ANY one party has complete control over house, senate, and white house. There is NO balance of power. None. That must change. And next week, Nov. 2nd, we MUST change that.

Even if you don't like some republicans, or like some 3rd party person (sorry, but can not win), vote Republican. Restore a balance to Washington.

Then, with EVERY election, "We, THE people", need to start rejecting ANY politician who ignores the voices of the people. EVERY election needs to be a reality check for anyone note doing the job FOR America.

For now...Vote Republican, and clean out the drunks!

Open Letter to My Wife

Open letter to my wife, Diann.


I bring this up today, because when I saw the Facebook post of Diann and young Trevor in the tagged photo, it reminded me of the distance we've come.

Over the years, I have seen, first hand, the love and level of commitment to your son. I've seen the highs and the lows. I've seen the heartache, and the pride. I've seen the "real" sacrifices you've made to help see your son through the stages of his life.
While much can be debated about the issues surrounding his bio-dad and you (and that's another story), NO ONE, not even close, has made the sacrifices you has, to stay close, to take part, to be involved, and to lovingly support Trevor. Today, Trevor is in college, majoring in his calling of music, and is enjoying his new experience. A bright future is on store for him, as he stays focused. While "someone" may want to take credit, the real credit goes to one person, Trevor's mom, YOU.
Sometimes, this needs to be said on more than just Mother's Day. For mothers everywhere, Mother's day, is every day. Diann, you have my love and respect for all you do.

Declaration of War?

Can we declare war? War, a REAL war, on the drug cartels? I don't mean a drug war, but a REAL, blow to hell WAR, on the very vermin who attacked the husband of Tiffany Hartley on Falcon Lake. And WAR upon those who killed Mexico's Commandant, Rolando Flores Villegas, who was investigating the murder. And WAR upon all those, who have carried out executions upon the other political, police, and innocent people of Mexico and the US?

These ARE terrorists. NO less so, than those killing our soldiers and innocents in Afghanistan. And we need to take the WAR to them, And if Mexico doesn't invite us in to join them in this effort, then they too are our enemy. So far, its gotten worse, and has bled over into our country.

And HEAR THIS - If anyone reading this, or anyone who is friends where this applies reads this - Cocaine users (and drug illegal drug users in general) ..... YOU are contributing to the financing of such violence. It is YOUR money they are killing over. YOU money ... Not mine, but YOUR drug money. YOU are the demand, and they are killing for YOUR business.

"Legalize" and it'll stop? B.S. - Just say no, and not commit the crime, and it will stop! But to suggest that we change the law, FOR YOUR STINKING HABIT, is BULL SHIT! If you so lack the self control to not start, tough crap! And if you stared and can't quit, get help, or go to jail!

Otherwise, pick a side. "cuz we need to take the WAR to them!

Remembering Pfc Cody Board

The following is a letter I wrote to the Editor of a local newspaper. I am posting here as well -

The flow of traffic hasn't changed this past week. Businesses have been open, just like the week before. Shoppers still shopped, and kids still went to school, just like each week since school started back up. Each day and week, we enjoy the freedoms to do most anything we want. For most of us, nothing much has changed this past week, from that of the week and weeks before.

But that isn't the case with everyone. This past week, for one of our McKinney families and their friends, their whole world changed. 

I didn't know Pfc. Cody Board, and don't know his family. But I've known many such Cody Boards. Men and women from all walks of life, have answered the call of duty, and committed themselves to the armed defense of our nation, and our nation's causes. They have done it, and still do it, for all of us. 

While the family and friends of Pfc. Board grieve their loss, let us all remember that every day, the families and friends of our men and women in the military pray that their loved ones comes home safe. But, as it has always been in armed conflict, many don't come home that way. And a little bit of all of us is missing each time.

Yes, the world goes on, as it must. And we will go about of daily work and activities, as we should. But let's stop from time to time, and just say a quiet prayer for those who serve, and their families. It's the least we can do. 

To the family and friends of Cody Board, my most sincere condolences. I am humbled by his service, and most thankful for it. Free people everywhere owe a great debt to those like Cody. Rest in peace Cody Board. God Bless and keep his family and friends.

And God Bless and Keep all those who serve us, and their families.

Respectfully,

Dan

PS. I recall very vividly, my coming home. It angered me that the world WAS going on, seemingly without notice that young men were fighting and dying in Vietnam. I thought then, "Don't they get it? Our guys are dying over there and don't they care?" I felt that way, because for most Americans, nothing changed for them. To those who fought, and their families, it would be changed forever.

To this day, this very day, I remember. Part of me still feels so guilty for NOT going back and re-joining my buddies. I don't expect that to ever leave me.

Sad for America

(This is a re-edit of an earlier post.)
It saddens me to see her so sick. She is down, and from the looks of her, she could be terminally ill. She's been through so much in her life. Many have attacked her, wounded her, trampled on her, tried so hard to make her disappear from the planet. Today, she is under such extreme attacks, and this time, from within her own family. If she goes, I just don't know what I'll do, and I am sad at the prospect.

America. Oh, how I love her name. America. Oh, how I love my country. America. Oh, how sad I am of what far too many are trying to do to her, make her become, make her into what she was never meant to be.

Why do I say all this? Because, today, it looks to me like the "government of the people, by the people, and for the people", has been plowed under by the swarm of hungry...power hungry... politicians and bureaucrats. The "government", has become the BIG manager in most all aspects of our lives and businesses. Now, with trillions of dollars of taxpayer money, BIG government has now decided what to do with OUR money...and our future money...and with our very lives.

And of late, we have seen a President, of Mexico, be permitting... encouraged and applauded...to address our congress and criticise one of our own states. Now add to that, our government may consider letting 11 other countries join in a law suit against Arizona. THIS government, has turned on one of our own. If they succeed, with the help of foreign countries, then who will be safe in challenging the "government" on the next issue?

I am absolutely convinced that our forefathers would be up-in-arms over what they see today. In fact, they WERE up-in-arms some 230+ years ago. And WHY were they up-in-arms? They were fed up with the strong arms tactics and imposition of unfair taxes upon the colonies and the citizens of the New World. Great Britain, at that time, WAS the government. And THAT government wanted to impose its will, and taxes, in every way it saw fit to do. Sound familiar?

Well, TRILLIONS of dollars promised by THIS government, on top of the .7 Trillion before Bush left office, WHO will pay for all that? WHO will be taxed to pay for the sins and mistakes by our own government and big business? And when it comes down to it - just how many, what percent, of our citizens really wanted this, or want to pay for it? The top ten polls were clear - a majority of Americans were against THIS bill. But it didn't matter to those who hold the power.

And now, with the majority of Americans supporting what Arizona is trying to do, THIS "government", supported by 11 foreign countries, is ignoring the will of the people.

THIS is NOT America. This is something else, but it is NOT America. Businesses grow. Businesses go under. The natural evolution of capitalism has been circumvented by the rich and powerful. Now, our government will decide who makes it, and who won't. The ever increasing government hand, has now grown to control the direction of business, and us...we, the people. That BIG government hand, is around the freedom neck of America.

I am sick at what we have become. And in November, we (I say we, because WE are all in this together.) voted in the biggest bunch of power hungry people in the history of our country. And with that, we are being sold out. I weep for my America. I weep for the country that spread freedom, helped other people and countries in times of natural disaster and pain. I weep for those who came before us, and died in an effort to keep America free, and keep America as a land of "for the people, by the people". The people we have in Washington today, are NOT "the people", but they are there...BECAUSE we let them be there. The personal agendas and greed for power, is limitless. And Americans put them there. Shame on us.

So, I sit by the death bed of the America I love and have believed in. I watch helplessly as she succumbs to the trampling on the long held belief's of a nation of free people and non-intrusive government. Before long, her colors could remain, but the stripes will be removed, the stars gone, and some new "Obama-like" symbol will replace her. Letters and emails have failed, and I know of no cure to help. Good men sit by, and other men want to turn off her life support machine. Freedom of her people is old fashioned, in the eyes of our new power mongers.

Pardon my ramblings, and perhaps lack of delivery in this addition, but my sadness almost over-takes me and the grief I am feeling for what I fear is coming, has a grip on me. I pray for HONEST change in November, or even more in 2012.

Am I alone? Are there any other voices that share in this feeling?

God Bless America, for as long as we still have her. - Dan

PS. While not exclusive to Veterans, the sound of her name, America, and the songs about her, America, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, The Star Spangled Banner, etc., bring goose bumps to us, as does the raising or passing of our Flag. What is happening to America, is hard to swallow for THIS Veteran.