There are two remarkable editorials I wanted to share with you. I honestly couldn't decide which one was more important, so I'm going with both. I hope you read each of them in their entirety because they express in words much of what I feel as well.

President of the World
Byron York

I’m having lunch with an Obama supporter at La Coupole, the venerable brasserie in Paris’s Montparnasse neighborhood. The woman who asked me that question, along with her fiance, has come to discuss something else, but the talk inevitably comes round to the U.S. presidential race. And the question here, as all across Europe, is:

What reason could there possibly be for Barack Obama not to be the next president of the United States?

Put another way, why would anyone vote for John McCain?

There are any number of reasons I could mention, but since we had just gotten word in the last few hours of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Boumediene case, in which the narrowest possible majority, 5-4, voted that prisoners in Guantanamo Bay can go to federal court to challenge the U.S. government’s right to detain them, I bring up the issue of judges.

A decision like Boumediene is bad enough from the current Court, I say. If Obama were elected, it would certainly get worse.

My lunch companion doesn’t agree. In the European mind, Guantanamo is one of the centers of evil in the world, a dungeon where George W. Bush commits unspeakable acts on innocent Muslims who just happened to be on a battlefield in Afghanistan or Pakistan when U.S. troops captured them.

She says the prisoners in Gitmo have been denied their constitutional rights.

I say they are enemy combatants; they have rights under international treaties, but not American constitutional rights.

But they have “global rights,” she insists.

What are “global rights”? I ask....(read the rest here)

It’s America, Obama
Victor Davis Hanson

What disturbed me about Barack Obama's Berlin speech were some reoccurring utopian assumptions about cause and effect — namely, that bad things happen almost as if by accident, and are to be addressed by faceless, universal forces of good will.

Unlike Obama, I would not speak to anyone as “a fellow citizen of the world,” but only as an ordinary American who wishes to do his best for the world, but with a much-appreciated American identity, and rather less with a commonality indistinguishable from those poor souls trapped in the Sudan, North Korea, Cuba, or Iran. Take away all particular national identity and we are empty shells mouthing mere platitudes, who believe in little and commit to even less. In this regard, postmodern, post-national Europe is not quite the ideal, but a warning of how good intentions can run amuck. Ask the dead of Srebrenica, or the ostracized Danish cartoonists, or the archbishop of Canterbury with his supposed concern for transcendent universal human rights.

With all due respect, I also don't believe the world did anything to save Berlin, just as it did nothing to save the Rwandans or the Iraqis under Saddam — or will do anything for those of Darfur; it was only the U.S. Air Force that risked war to feed the helpless of Berlin as it saved the Muslims of the Balkans. And I don't think we have much to do in America with creating a world in which “famine spreads and terrible storms devastate our lands.” Bad, often evil, autocratic governments abroad cause hunger, often despite rich natural landscapes; and nature, in tragic fashion, not “the carbon we send into atmosphere,” causes “terrible storms,” just as it has and will for millennia.

Perhaps conflict-resolution theory posits there are no villains, only misunderstandings; but I think military history suggests that culpability exists — and is not merely hopelessly relative or just in the eye of the beholder. So despite Obama’s soaring moral rhetoric, I am troubled by his historical revisionism that, “The two superpowers that faced each other across the wall of this city came too close too often to destroying all we have built and all that we love.”

I would beg to differ again, and suggest instead that a mass-murdering Soviet tyranny came close to destroying the European continent (as it had, in fact, wiped out millions of its own people) and much beyond as well — and was checked only by an often lone and caricatured US superpower and its nuclear deterrence. When the Soviet Union collapsed, there was no danger to the world from American nuclear weapons “destroying all we have built” — while the inverse would not have been true, had nuclear and totalitarian communism prevailed. We sleep too lightly tonight not because democratic Israel has obtained nuclear weapons, but because a frightening Iran just might.

When Obama shouts,

Will we reject torture and stand for the rule of law? Will we welcome immigrants from different lands, and shun discrimination against those who don't look like us or worship like we do, and keep the promise of equality and opportunity for all of our people?

it is the world, not the U.S., that needs to listen most. In this regard I would have preferred Sen. Obama of mixed ancestry to have begun with “In the recent tradition of African-American Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice,” rather than the less factual, “I don't look like the Americans who've previously spoken in this great city.” (read the rest here)

I'm beginning to think Obama really is an idiot, and a dangerous one at that. If you get past the amazing number of gaffes he makes while away from the teleprompter - including yesterdays, "Israel has always been a friend of Israel" - and you excuse the fact that not only does he still believe the surge was a wrong-headed approach, regardless of it's brilliant success, then you still have to be wondering about this ignorant mistake:

From Little Green Footballs...

From John at Power Line notices another in a seemingly endless series of gaffes from the Naive Messiah: The Fine Line Between Pandering and Lying.

Obama continued:

Now, in terms of knowing my commitments, you don’t have to just look at my words, you can look at my deeds. Just this past week, we passed out of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, which is my committee, a bill to call for divestment from Iran, as a way of ratcheting up the pressure to ensure that they don’t obtain a nuclear weapon.

But Obama is not a member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Obama just made that up so he could count the committee’s action as one of “my deeds.”

UPDATE at 7/23/08 2:32:05 pm:

And here’s the video clip:

I'm not sure whether the mainstream media is in the tank for this guy because of any other reason than they feel THEY can make a difference. I sense that because THEY were able to bring down a president and stop the Vietnam war, they have always (at least for the past 40 years) believed that they are the sole purveyor of truth, justice and the American way.

Here comes along this nobody, this empty suit, who looks great, speaks well and is racially perfect for a post-racial world. In addition, he is the politically polar opposite of the conservative Bush administration. This is now THEIR chance to make history again, just like the '60s!

My belief is that most Americans, regardless of the fact (or maybe in lieu of the fact) that most British, French and German solidly back Obama, will not be swayed when pulling that lever on November 4th. In fact, I was quite surprised to read on an ABC News story's comments section the amount of resentment the majority of those who commented had towards the "anointed one."

Furthermore, I was stunned at the interviews that Katie Couric gave on CBS last night as well. Although she still gave twice as much time to Obama than to Senator McCain, she clearly pointed out the stark contrast between a 30-year senate leader and a 141-day senate newbie. I mean seriously, Senator Obama has been a candidate for President longer than he has spent serving the people of Illinois.

I'm telling you, folk. This is NOT the kind of change this country needs. Electing Barack Obama would simply be a knee-jerk reaction that would greatly damage our country and the free world as we know it. Hate George Bush all you want. But an Obama presidency will set us back much, much further than anything Bush has done. Yeah, yeah, I know some friends in France see it different. That's their opinion. I'm sticking to mine.

Great blogging post from Doug Ross...

History Lesson: How Democrats doubled down on defeat

A brief tour:

• Democrat Joe Biden, Jan. 2007: "If he surges another 20, 30 [thousand], or whatever number he's going to, into Baghdad, it'll be a tragic mistake."

• Democrat Barack Obama, Jan. 2007: "I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraqis going to solve the sectarian violence there. In fact, I think it will do the reverse."

• Democrat Hillary Clinton, Jan. 2007: "I cannot support [the] proposed escalation of the war in Iraq."

• Democrat Barack Obama, Jan 2007: "I don't think the president's [surge] strategy is going to work."

• Democrat John Kerry, Feb. 2007: "The simple fact is that sending in over 20,000 additional troops isn't the answer--in fact, it's a tragic mistake. It won't end the violence; it won't provide security; ...it won't turn back the clock and avoid the civil war that is already underway; it won't deter terrorists, who have a completely different agenda; it won't rein in the militias."

• Democrat Dennis Kucinich, Feb. 2007: "It has been proven time and time again that troop surges don't work."

• Democrat Harry Reid, Apr. 2007: "The war is lost... This surge is not accomplishing anything."

• Democrat Christopher Dodd, Apr. 2007: "We don't need a surge of troops in Iraq... there is no military solution in Iraq. To insist upon a surge is wrong."

• Democrat Barack Obama, Jul. 2007: "My assessment is that the surge has not worked."

• Democrat Dick Durbin, Aug. 2007: "By carefully manipulating the statistics, the Bush-Petraeus report will try to persuade us that violence in Iraq is decreasing and thus the surge is working. Even if the figures were right, the conclusion is wrong."

• Democrat Jan Schakowsky, Aug. 2007: "I believe overall the surge is a failure. ...It’s clear to me we cannot win..."

• Democrat Joe Biden, Sep. 2007: "We should stop the surge and start bringing our troops home... [When asked whether Iraq closer to political reconciliation than before the surge began, and would continuing the operation stop the killing between Sunnis, Shi'ites and Kurds?] ...The answer to both those questions is no."

• Democrat John Kerry, Sep. 2007: "The president's escalation ... has failed to achieve its goal of bringing about a resolution of the fundamental conflict between Sunni and Shi'ite."

• Democrat Chris Dodd, Sep. 2007: "It pains me to say that ... the surge tactic is a failure — and that failure is reconfirmed everyday by unfolding events in Iraq."

• Democrat Barack Obama, Oct. 2007: "[The surge is a] complete failure... Iraq’s leaders are not reconciling. They are not achieving political benchmarks."

• Democrat Harry Reid, Nov. 2007: "It is indisputable that the goals of the surge have failed."

• Democrat Joe Biden, Nov. 2007: "This whole notion that the surge is working is fantasy."

• Democrat Nancy Pelosi, Feb. 2008: "There haven't been gains [in Iraq]... The gains have not produced the desired effect, which is the reconciliation of Iraq. This is a failure. This is a failure."

• Democrat Carl Levin, Apr. 2008: "...the purpose of the surge as announced by President Bush last year... has not been achieved"

• Democrat Joe Biden, Apr. 2008: "The purpose of the surge was to bring violence in Iraq down so that its leaders could come together politically. Violence has come down, but the Iraqis have not come together... We Democrats understand that this war must end..."

• Democrat Bill Richardson, Jun. 2008: "[when asked if he was ready to concede that John McCain had been right in proposing the surge, said] "Absolutely not."

Peter Wehner concludes:

Democrats, then, have compounded their initial bad judgment about the surge with reckless obstinacy. As ethno-sectarian violence in Iraq rapidly declined, as al Qaeda absorbed tremendous military blows, and as political accommodation and legislative achievements have emerged, Democrats, rather than welcoming the progress, grew agitated. They embraced with religious zeal the belief that the Iraq war was lost; they therefore viewed the success of the surge as a terribly inconvenient development, one they sought to deny to the point that they looked silly and out of touch. Worse, Democrats acted as if they had a vested interest in an American defeat.

Rarely has a political party been so uniformly wrong, in such an obvious way, on such an important matter. And when Americans cast their vote on November 4, they should carefully consider how Barack Obama and the entire Democratic party fought ferociously and relentlessly to undermine a policy that has worked extraordinarily well...

Democrats called General Petraeus a liar. They said the war was lost. They claimed our troops were barbaric, killing innocent civilians with impunity.

They were wrong. They were unbelievably partisan, putting their interests before those of the United States and the safety of its military.

No party has been more wrong, more often, on serious issues of national import than the Democratic party since 1864.

As for Iraq? Well, let's just say that the Democrats' track record as the Party of Weakness and Defeat remains unblemished.

Update: Even preventing a holocaust wasn't a good enough reason for Obama to keep troops in Iraq:

Barack Obama said Thursday the United States cannot use its military to solve humanitarian problems and that preventing a potential genocide in Iraq isn't a good enough reason to keep U.S. forces there...

I just love the Muppets!



Courtesy of Neil Boortz

Random Musings

Why is "because he's bound to be better than George Bush" a sound reason to elect Obama as President? Last time I checked, Bush wasn't running for re-election.

Does it really matter that Obama has "rock-star"status in Europe? Didn't John Kerry wow them in Paris also?

The New Yorker shouldn't be ashamed of it's recent magazine cover mocking the opinions of the right. They should be ashamed of apologizing for it. I don't recall anyone screaming for an apology for all the times McCain, or any other conservative was mocked in a cartoon.

Aside from absolute hatred of all things George Bush, why would any American want to vote for Barack Obama?

Answer this honestly, what does "change" mean?

The media has been stating recently that Obama is "moving to the center" in order to appeal to the masses. Does that mean that by expressing his true beliefs, his appeal is unappealing to middle America?

At least when John McCain changes his mind, he doesn't change his core beliefs. Is THAT the kind of change we're supposed to believe in?

What is wrong with questioning what Michelle Obama says while campaigning for her husband? Should we give her a free pass because she might become the First Lady? Did anyone give Nancy Reagan a pass? I seem to remember a tremendous amount of vitrol aimed at Mrs. Reagan and all she said was "Just Say No." It seemed to work for Josh Hamilton.

If anyone asks me what the definition of agony is, I will show them this picture of Karnit Goldwasser, the widow of murdered IDF soldier Ehud Goldwasser, taken at the time of the exchange between Israel and Hezbollah.

If anyone asks me what the definition of evil is, I will show them this picture of child-killer Samir Kuntar, the monster who they traded the two dead soldiers for. Never has a contrast in pictures been so blatantly telling.

Did anyone else notice just how hypocritical Al Gore is? Did you see the limousines that were idling while he was telling the world to stop with the excess?

Did anyone else notice how much money Al Gore stands to make in his investments should the United States decide to follow his reckless advice?

It may well be that Al Gore is absolutely correct in all of his preachings (although 50,000 scientists now say he's not). But sometimes the right message is disregarded because of the wrong messenger.

How ironic is it that Nancy Pelosi can say that President Bush is the worst and most unpopular president in the history of our history? Hey Nancy, have you seen YOUR approval rating? Bush may be hovering around 30% (still higher than Nixon, although that is of little comfort). But Pelosi and company are at 9%. Even Ted Kaczynski was more popular than 9%.

Here is a brilliant video of a politician being owned by his rival (make sure to watch to the end):

I'm ashamed to be connected with Israel today. There, I said it.

Growing up in an observant home, I was embedded with a deep love and admiration for the Jewish state. I learned about the Holocaust and how many, many members of my extended family were brutally murdered by the Nazis. I met survivors, witnesses to that horror and saw the tattoos emblazoned on their skin. I had the nightmares that every Jewish child had about being a Holocaust victim themselves. Often waking to thank G-d it was just a nightmare, but still unable to sleep because of the images of my people, my family, being torn apart by anti-Semitic animals.

For years, I felt tremendous pride as I marched along my brethren in Israel day parades. I wore "prisoner-of-conscience" bracelets in honor of Soviet Jews still trapped behind the Iron Curtain. I still remember the terror I felt on that Yom Kippur day, back in 1973, when the news was being passed along at services that war broke out. I remember the thousands and thousands of dollars pledged that day at the appeal my father gave on the pulpit.

I recall the unbridled joy and amazement I felt on July 4, 1976. Yes, for the bicentennial - but even more for the heroic rescue of the Israeli hostages who were freed at Entebbe.

I could go on and on. But today, all I feel is shame. Shame at supposed leaders who care so little for the blood and sweat of her children. Shame that not only for the government heads, but of the opposition parties who are just as responsible.

When Israel traded two dead soldiers for a cold-blooded murderer of a Israeli family, they traded their dignity and respect. Never again no longer means never again. Al Yisroel chai no longer means life. I mourn the future fathers and mothers and children who will certainly be the next victims of Islamic terror. Terror that used to be dealt with forcibly and without prejudice. The Israel I remember and believed in would never allow defeat.

Someone needs to stop this madness. The Israel of my dreams and aspirations would never have given up. They would never have given in. Today I am ashamed of my connection to Israel because Israel has destroyed my connection.

My G-d have mercy on us all.

It's been almost 6 years now since I had my heart transplant. Today, while I was putting together my daily regiment of assorted medications (anti-rejections, blood pressure...) I tried very hard to remember what it was like before I had to take all of these.

I couldn't do it.

They have become such a natural part of my life that going without them seems almost foreign to me. Yet, every day that passes, I find myself further and further from that fateful episode. To look at me, you would have no idea that I had a transplant, much less a heart attack or stroke. The only long-term damage that I deal with is that I no longer have the short-term memory I once had. But many men at 45 (and I women, I suppose) have the same trouble. Even though I still have some numbness in my left side, I no longer have a significant limp and my scars are the only true reminders I have left (along with my memories).

Does this mean I'm passed it? For a long time after my transplant, my illness characterized who I was. "Oh, he's the guy who has the new heart," or more often I would see the shock or amazement in their faces from either pity, surprise or a look of "thank G-d it's not me." But it defined who I am in a way that my career, my family and everything else in life couldn't.

As I begin a new chapter in my life - going from a married man to now just a short time away from my divorce being final - I'm starting to wonder again who I am. I don't feel broken and I don't feel like I'm the "guy with the new heart." The question is, how do other people define me? I would like to be thought of as just a sweet guy who overcame adversity and got better. But deep down, I wonder if I try too hard to show I've overcome it.

Don't get me wrong. I'm happier today than probably any time in my life. I no longer question why I went through what I did. I simply accept that it happened to me. Although I'm very lonely (aside from spending time with my children), I don't want to become desperate and I hope that I don't come across that way.

But I also "feel" more than most people and I wear my heart on my sleeve (no pun intended). So I generally take things to heart and am more sensitive to rejection than most people I know. It really isn't easy being me and there are many times I wish I could completely change.

But what I truly believe is that I didn't survive all that I went through just so I could live the rest of my life lonely and sad. That really was the way I lived for many years before my illness. But when I looked at my medications all lined up today, it was hard to see the optimism. I guess that's the reason I still write my blog - to help me not to define who I am, but to overcome who I was.

Does that make sense?

Being a Democrat means never having to say your lying...

June 4, 2008 - Barack Obama, in a major policy speech at AIPAC, the largest American-Israel lobby organization:

"Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided." (read the entire speech here)

July 13, 2008 - on the CNN network show "Fareed Zakaria -- GPS":

"You know, the truth is that this was an example where we had some poor phrasing in the speech."

In the days following his AIPAC speech, a number of influential Jewish American leaders began to sing Obama's praises. Those who heard the speech first hand were quote as saying they believed Obama was a "mench (a an honest, decent person) and a friend of Israel. I read his remarks and I also came to the idea that perhaps I might have misjudged this man. After all the press that had been given to his relationships with his Pastor, his other influences and his rumored Muslim upbringing (which I admit I never believed), I still questioned his sincerity. But I began to think it was possible that he truly believed in the side of truth and justice in the Middle East.

But like with everything else he is "throwing under his bus", I guess his commitment to the Stae of Israel was also just words.

I think it's time we start taking notice of how many times Obama's comments have to be "explained." As was the case with John Kerry back in 2004, he often called his rhetoric "nuanced." Obama isn't nuanced. He's a liar and a politician who will say whatever it is he needs to get elected.

Of course, this isn't the first time Obama has lied. Not even close. But each and every time he's caught in one, the mainstream media either buries the story (maybe it ran up Chris Matthews still tingling leg), or it's so twisted in the press that it makes the candidate look good.

There have been so many changes in policy from Obama lately that I can't keep up. Remarkably, he figured out that although running far to the left in the primaries gave him the nomination, he knows that he needs to move to the center to win in November. In other words, for Obama to be elected, he has to abandon his party's beliefs, because if he doesn't he won't stand a chance.

So why would anyone believe he's changed? Or a better question is, is this the kind of change we can believe in?

Is the hour of Iran's reckoning come nigh?

Let me ask you this, if you were Israel, would you be afraid of Iran? What if you were someone else. Say, the United States, and China were saber-rattling and threatening to wipe you off the face of the earth. Let's say the Chinese had the weapons, or were soon to have weapons capable of blowing away 75% of the country AND spoke of the desire to do so openly?

Would you be afraid? Even though the United States has the strongest military in the world, a country like China, with over a million soldiers and a huge nuclear arsenal could do unbelievable, debilitating damage to America.

The caveat is, even though China does have the capability, they don't have the desire. China has learned that strength comes from wealth and living is better than dying.

But Iran? On a daily basis, the "leadership" of the Islamic nation threatens the annihilation of Israel, and by proxy, the United States. The country's president has called for it. The mad Mullahs have stoked the anger and the brainwashed masses pray for it.

The world sits idly by not willing to stop it until it's too late.

And why?

The UN is so filled with corrupt leaders that they couldn't even agree on sanctions against the tyranny of Robert Mugabe. Their representatives worldwide have stolen billions of dollars, raped and abused women and continue to stand on the side of evil in each and every decision.

What would YOU do? The United States Supreme Court ruled that the second amendment is constitutional and that Americans have the right to defend their property and their loved ones with the use of force. This law should be easy to understand. If someone is coming after you to kill you, you have every right to kill them before hand.

This isn't rocket science, people. It's not like the Iranians have been good, decent, law abiding neighbors. Israel is faced with a very challenging choice. Kill, or be killed. They have been threatened non-stop since the day they were born. Even Iran agreed to the original resolution creating the State of Israel in 1948. Yet, that doesn't matter anymore. Not a day goes by where Israel is not being threatened by Iran, or one of her proxies. Not a day goes by that Iran - a nation sitting on more oil than any other country and has no need whatsoever for nuclear power - doesn't scream that they want to kill each and every Jew on the planet.

What would YOU do.

I say blow them to Hell before they have the chance.

I burned my hand, I cut my face
Heaven knows how long its been
Since I've felt so out of place
I'm wonderin' if I'll fit in.

Debbie and Charley said they'd be here by nine
And Deb said she might bring a friend
Just my luck, they're right on time
So here I go again.

I'm gonna smile my best smile
And I'm gonna laugh like its going out of style
Look into her eyes and pray that she don't see
That learning to live again is killing me.

Little cafe, table for four
But there's just conversation for three
I like the way she let me get the door
I wonder what she thinks of me.

Debbie just whispered, you're doin' fine
And I wish that I felt the same
She's asked me to dance, now her hands in mine
Oh, my G-d, I've forgotten her name.

But I'm gonna smile my best smile
And I'm gonna laugh like its going out of style
Look into her eyes and pray that she don't see
That learning to live again is killing me.

Now here we are beneath her porch light
And I say what a great time its been
A kiss on the cheek, a whisper goodnight
And I say, can I see you again.

And she just smiles her best smile
And she laughs like its going out of style
Looks into my eyes and says, well see
Oh, this learning to live again is killing me
G-d, this learning to live again is killing me

for MSSH

***UPDATE*** See below

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. As I ponder where our nation stands on this 232nd birthday of our country, I'm filled with many mixed emotions. But the biggest is fear. Fear for my children. Fear for their children. And even a little fear for myself.

On the surface, it would seem that I would be a supporter of Obama and the Democrats. I'm living on the government dime - being on disability and Medicare. I live inside a major city and my children all have health coverage offered by the State of Illinois. I do not own my own business or any property.

So why aren't I a Democrat? Because I have a fundamental belief in freedom and liberty. I believe that "global warming" is a code word for anti-capitalism. I believe that people should be judged on the character of their person, and not by the color of their skin. I believe that restricting law-abiding citizens the right to own a gun will only produce more violence. I believe that Americans should be energy independent and that we should use our own natural resources to produce energy as oppose to buying it from other nations. I believe that America is a beacon of light in an otherwise dark world. I believe that capitalism and democracy endures over socialism, communism and theocracy.

I believe that immigrants who come to this country should adapt to our culture while abiding our laws and rules. I believe the right to freedom of religion is equal - and not inferior - to the right of freedom from religion. I believe in that a free press means that the news is reported by newscasters, not news makers. I believe that the open market should determine fairness of the airwaves.

I believe it's right to put child molesters, cop killers and other violent criminals to death, but I also believe that a mother's right to choose should not be awarded over the right of a child to live. I believe in fair taxation to serve the public need. But I believe congressional pork projects must be reigned in. I believe that should someone own a home in a flood plain, a hurricane area or any other area known for frequent disasters should have private insurance and not expect taxpayers to constantly bail them out and rebuild their homes.

I believe that the majority of Americans who are not covered by insurance are either illegal aliens, or short-sighted. Health coverage is available for everyone and where it's not financially feasible, Medicare/Medicaid is. I believe that you only need to spend time in the DMV to understand that the problem is more government, not less.

I believe that the war in Iraq is just and that only complete victory is acceptable. I believe American soldiers are heroes who should be lauded. The same for police officers, firemen and paramedics. I believe that "change" for the sake of change is a complete waste of time. I believe you can tell the character of a person by the friends he keeps. I believe that false messiahs should be exposed as frauds.

I believe our public school system has been destroyed by liberal teacher's unions. I believe it takes a parent, not a village. I believe Ronald Reagan was the greatest President of my generation. I believe Jimmy Carter continues to be the worst. I believe the State of Israel has every right to exist and I believe that Jews and Arabs have every right to live wherever they damn well want. I believe Hezbollah, Fatah and Hamas are all terrorist organizations and would not hesitate to join with Iran and Al-Qaeda to kill each and every Jew and American.

I believe there are moderate Muslims living in America who wish to live free. I believe there are Jihadi Muslims in America who wish to defeat us. I believe Rudi Giuliani is a hero and I believe Wesley Clark is not.

Most of all, despite its many individual problems, I believe the United States of America is the greatest country to ever grace this world and I believe G-d has blessed this nation for it.

As a conservative, I see the good in America and I focus on what would make this country even greater. As a conservative, I believe in the best of this country and rejoice in our freedoms and our people. As a conservative, I do not want alternative versions of our national anthem and I do not want to see our flag denigrated. As an American, I am proud to live in America, thankful to be a part of this nation and very fortunate to bask in the knowledge that this is the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Happy Independence Day.

Here's something for your viewing pleasure (courtesy of Michelle Malkin):

This was just too good not to share...

June 27, 2008

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

United States Senate

476 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mrs. Clinton,

I recently read where you have incurred substantial debt with your unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Your plight concerns me and I would like to help as much as I can. I would certainly hate for you to feel pressured, due to the size of your debt, to support a candidate that you do not truly believe is ready to be "Commander in Chief on Day One."

I have always believed that our form of government, while less than perfect, is the best the world has to offer. I’ve also always believed that Congress with 535 elected members has more power to do good for this country than only one person or even nine people. Congress has the power and ability to guide and direct this country like no other group.

I vividly remember in 2006 how the Democrats gained control of both houses of Congress trumpeting “Change” and a better America. Let’s review how that has worked out for us.

* Mortgage companies have declared bankruptcy costing thousands of people their jobs
* Home values have nose-dived
* Millions of Americans have lost their homes
* World oil prices have risen astronomically
* The Democrats continue to block drilling in oil rich reserves to continue and even increase our dependence on foreign oil
* Gasoline prices have increased to over $4 a gallon and there appears to be no end in sight even though Americans have reduced their driving over one billion miles a month.
* The stock market, where most Americans’ retirement hopes are invested, has dropped by more than 15%.
* Food prices are increasing at an alarming rate fueled mostly by rising energy costs

All in all I’d have to say that the Democrats fulfilled their promise and have brought change to our country. It isn’t good change, but it is change. Unfortunately, because of all this change, change is all I have to give you to help you retire your debt.

I am enclosing one penny for you to add to your campaign “war chest.” I think that’s a fair trade. Everything you’ve done for me is worth about a penny and because of the success of the Democrats, that’s all I have. Just so you know that you really aren’t alone in this, I had to borrow the penny from a friend.

I do have one simple request in return. I would really appreciate it if you could teach me how I can get the American people to pay off my debts that I knowingly and willingly incurred. Isn’t this a great country?

Good luck in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,
Steve Russell

American citizen, patriot, veteran, taxpayer and voter

Courtesy of IMAO