Godspeed, Cdr Scott Carpenter, USN (Ret) 1925-2013

Cdr. Scott Carpenter, USN (Ret.) 1925-2013

Cdr. Scott Carpenter, USN (Ret.), Mercury Astronaut and Commander of Aurora 7, died today. He was 88 years old. Cdr. Carpenter was the fourth American to fly in space and the second American to orbit the Earth. He was awarded the Navys Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

 "High Flight"

 Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.

Where never lark, or even eagle flew —

And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

-Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

--John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Godspeed, Cdr Scott Carpenter, USN (Ret) 1925-2013

Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Shut Down

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will close on Thursday, October 10, 2013 due to the Government shutdown.  The NRC had been operating on "carry-over" funds but will run out of those funds on Thursday.

The "resident" inspectors at the 100 US Nuclear Plants will remain on the job however. 

And here we were told that life/safety operations would not be affected.  Yes, inspectors will remain on-site and the inspector general of the NRC will remain working, but aren't there other vital functions performed by the NRC? Perhaps it is time for the President to stop worrying about pushing vets out of memorials (the "make it hurt" campaign) and start negotiating with the GOP. 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Shut Down

Arizona Game & Fish Meeting to Deal with Federal Shutdown Issues

The last attack by the Administration of Our Great Leader, Barack Hussein Obama (Peace Be Upon Him) and the Democrats in their "make it hurt" campaign is against Anglers and Hunters.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is meeting for the second time this week in emergency session to discuss impacts of the Federal Shutdown. Monday, the Commission voted unanimously to provide personnel, funding and other needs to the Federal Government so that Lees Ferry boat ramp on the Colorado River could be opened.  The Federal Government has also closed the "banks" of the Colorado River at Lees Ferry.

Today's emergency meeting will discuss closures at Roosevelt, Apache, Saguaro, Bartlett and other lakes in central Arizona. These lakes are part of the Salt River Project. The meeting will be available live by telephone or web. Information on attending is in the Agenda. 

Of greater concern is the commision will take comments from Hunters about apparent  closures in National Forrest areas.  It is not clear what areas have been closed specifically to hunters. 

Again the administration is attempting to "make it hurt" by closing areas that normally are never closed and were not closed in the 1995-1996 shutdown.  The administration is SPENDING money to close areas that are Private or State funded by barricading access roads to these private or state lands and parks that cross federal land.  

At the same time that the administration is thinking of new things to close and ways to "make it hurt," they are turning around and blaming Ted Cruz and the House Republicans for the closures.  

Enough is Enough.  The House should keep passing funding bills, and forcing the Democrats to say no.  At the same time, citizens should demonstrate and disobey if needed to access lands, lakes and parks that the Federal Government has no reason to close to begin with.  

The Government derives its JUST POWERS FROM CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED. Its JUST POWERS.  The Government is using its powers in UNJUST ways. Maybe it is time for the people to withdraw their consent. 

(Mobile post)

Arizona Game & Fish Meeting to Deal with Federal Shutdown Issues

Breaking: Navy-Air Force Game Will Be Played -Despite the Government Shutdown

The Service Academy Football teams WILL be allowed to play this weekend!  Future games are still up in the air.   Navy will beat play Air Force at Annapolis and Army will be playing Boston College.

Navy-Air Force is traditionally played on the First Saturday of October and will be aired on CBS.

These games are allowed to be played because they are paid for by "non-appropriated" funds.

GO NAVY!

Prior Posts on Navy Football and the Army-Navy Game- Click Here

Breaking: Navy-Air Force Game Will Be Played -Despite the Government Shutdown

Tom Clancy 1947-2013

Rest in Peace

Tom Clancy 1947-2013

From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of ...Washington DC.

As the Federal Government shutdown at midnight, someone in the Administration decided to spend money to deploy barriers to close the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. However, a group of Veterans of World War II, stormed the barricades and showed the Park Police that they can still take and hold ground.

For those who have never been to the World War II Memorial, it is an open-air "plaza." There is no gate, no admission, no "entrance." There is no "cost to operate" the Memorial; no one stands guard or takes admission. The Memorial is open 24x7x365- or it had been until today - when the Administration decided to SPEND money to deploy Park Police and move in barricades to block sidewalks that lead into the plaza area .

The barricades were set up in advance of the pre-planned, scheduled and announced arrival of a group of World War II Veterans from Mississippi. While the Park Police were distracted by Rep. Steve King, the men and women of the Greatest Generation stormed the barricade; and with bagpipes playing these Veterans who once stormed Normandy and Iwo Jima, took the Memorial and stood their ground as they once did in the forests of the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge...

I would be willing to bet that when the Park Police told them to stand down, at least one of them replied, "NUTS!"

North Africa, Italy, Normandy, Guam, Iwo Jima... Did anyone ever think we would one day add to the list Washington, DC?

Everyone of us should thank the Almighty for these Veterans- these Heroes- but in addition, we all should work and pray, that this Country and  this Government that this Greatest of Generations fought and died to protect and defend is NEVER able to try to shut these HEROES out again!

From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of ...Washington DC.

Romney's Good Ideas and Free Stuff for Votes

If the worst thing about the presidential election process is the un-ending and ceaseless barrage of campaign commercials, the second worst thing has got to be the weeks of Monday morning quarterbacking that go on after the election ends.

With today seeing the first White House press conference since summer, of course there was talk of the election, and how Our Great Leader, HRH Barack Hussein Obama, (Peace Be Upon Him) feels about Gov. Mitt Romney.  And then for some reason (probably to show they were covering both sides) our liberal media decided to share the contents of a conference call that Gov. Romney had with his top supporters.

HRH Obama, in his press conference today, said, "my hope is before the end of the year, though, that we have a chance to sit down and talk.  There are certain aspects of Gov. Romney's record and his ideas that I think would be very helpful."  This an absolutely amazing turnaround. During the campaign, Gov. Romney had no good ideas according to the Obama campaign.  In fact, it was Gov. Romney, who said he agreed with the President on some issues, particularly in the realm of foreign relations, and was blasted for it in the press.

Of course, with the President being so "bipartisan" and "magnanimous" the mainstream media could not resist participating in their favorite sport; spinning comments so Republicans look bad.

Gov. Romney commented during a "post-election conference call" with major donors, that some of the policies enacted by the administration appeared like "gifts" to help win young minority and low income voters.  From the New York Times:

“In each case they were very generous in what they gave to those groups,” Mr. Romney said.

“With regards to the young people, for instance, a forgiveness of college loan interest, was a big gift,” he said. “Free contraceptives were very big with young college-aged women. And then, finally, Obamacare also made a difference for them, because as you know, anybody now 26 years of age and younger was now going to be part of their parents’ plan, and that was a big gift to young people. They turned out in large numbers, a larger share in this election even than in 2008.”

Even the voters saw these policies and "gifts" as a reason to keep Obama in office.  A prime example of this was the YouTube video of the woman saying, vote for Obama because he gave us Obama phones and Romney will take them away.

At the GOP convention people like Sen. Rubio, Sen. Martinez, and Sen. Rice were showcased.  They all shared the same story.  They came from very humble and sometimes poor beginnings, but they worked hard, overcame adversity and made themselves into successes.

But prosperity that involves hard work is frowned upon by the left.  The left says, we will take care of you.  The government will fix your problems.  Besides, it's not your fault.  It's the rich guys fault.  We need to get at him and hit him in the wallet.  Vote for us so you can keep getting government handouts--like free healthcare, free cell phones, free Internet. Vote for us to "get revenge."

All this really shows is that Alexis de Tocqueville was right:

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.” 

If you offer someone YOUR cash for their vote, it is called "bribery".  If you offer someone OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY (TAX DOLLARS) for their vote, it is called "public policy."

Romney's Good Ideas and Free Stuff for Votes

Going Viral- The Secession Petitions and the White House

I seriously doubt that when someone in the current administration thought of creating a place on the White House website for people to create a short petition, gather signatures and have the Administration respond, they ever dreamed that there would be petitions from the citizens of 42 of the 50 states, asking to leave the Union.  As of 7:00 pm (MST) there was a petition visible on the "We The People" page of the White House website for every State in the Union except Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Washington.

As a bit of background,  the "We The People" page allows people age 13 and over with a valid email address to create a petition (with at title no longer than 120 characters and text no longer than 800 characters) and post that petition for anyone with an account at the "We The People" site.

The "rules" of the site are fairly simple. After you create your petition, the site will assign a web address to the petition and provide it to you.   You can then send the link to your petition to anyone you like.  People may then go to your petition, click on the "sign this petition" button, and then they are presented with a link and additional buttons to share the petition by Twitter or Facebook.  After the petition gets 150 "signatures" the petition can be found by searching the "We The People" site.  Until the 150 signature threshold, the only way anyone will know about the petition is to be sent the direct link.   The petition has 30 days to receive 25,000 signatures.   If the petition receives 25,000 signatures within 30 days, the petition will be presented to a member of the White House Staff, and an Official Response will be posted by the White House (unless by doing so, there is a violation of law).

The Louisiana Petition was the first to be posted on November 7.  The petition is as follows:

WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO: Peacefully grant the State of Louisiana to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.

As the founding fathers of the United States of America made clear in the Declaration of Independence in 1776:
"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation." 

"...Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and institute new Government..."

For the most part, the petitions for other States basically say the same thing, with the name of the State replaced.   And no, none of these petitions are binding, and the ONLY outcome that MIGHT result from the petitions, is that some person in the administration of  Our Great Leader, HRH Barack Hussein Obama (Peace Be Upon Him), might provide a polite response.

There are those that will say these petitions are just a waist of time--  except, they are a "message" to the White House of how unhappy people are.

And no, none of these petitions will result in a State being able to secede. To secede, Arizona, for example, would require acts of both Houses, the Governor, and likely a popular vote of the people to amend the Arizona Constitution-  and beyond that, there are the implications of Amendment 14, Section 3 of the Constitution.   Robert E. Lee was stripped of his rights under the 14th Amendment-  His rights were restored by a 2/3 vote of the Congress-- in 1976 (yes nineteen seventy six).

I do not believe that ANYONE takes these "petitions" seriously- as far as anything "happening" or a state actually being able to secede because of the petitions.  What those that are signing this petitions are really wanting is an HONEST, FRANK AND OPEN RESPONSE from the White House (not just something written by an intern who just got clearance to work in the White House yesterday).

I also think that people have found a way to vent their anger at the "government in general"-- the White House and the Congress.   People want to feel like they are heard, and these "petitions" are a good- maybe even healthy- way to express an opinion and "believe" that a White House staff member may actually look at the "petition."

Too many times, people feel that there is no way to communicate to their government on an individual level-- hence the popularity of the Town Halls.  People feel that unless you are a Lobbyist with a truck load of cash- or a person who can donate the "Federal maximum" to a campaign-- a member of the "Party Elite" (name the party-it is on both sides)-- or a member of the media- their voice, their opinions, their ideas do not matter- that no one will see or hear what they have to say.   This "viral movement" has given people a chance to feel like they can 'get the attention' of someone in power- and they are getting on Facebook and Twitter and telling their friends, and encouraging them to sign up and "click" to express their opinion.

However, deep down inside, I don't believe that more than a handful of people think that clicking on a button on a web site will have effect on the governing or laws of this nation.  IF people actually DO believe these petitions ARE going to result in secession, I believe that would actually be convinced it is time "education reform"-  starting with the curriculum for US History and US Government...

SECESSION PETITIONS  AND SIGNATURES AS OF 19:00 MST 11/13/2012

150 Signatures Required to View/25,000 in 30 Days for White House Response

(Some states have more than one petition. State names are to the petition with the highest number of signatures as of the time of this report.  No petition listed is more than 6 days old)

Texas	87,761		Nevada	7,553
Louisiana	31,376		Wyoming	6,066
Florida	26,588		Delaware	5,819
Georgia	25,310		Utah	5,755
Alabama	24,448		Kansas	5,264
Tennessee	23,757		Alaska	5,208
North Carolina	23,384		West Virginia	4,483
South Carolina	18,157		Nebraska	4,354
Arkansas	17,432		Virginia	4,195
Colorado	16,728		South Dakota	3,906
Arizona	15,691		Wisconsin	3,057
Indiana	15,671		Idaho	2,202
Michigan	15,063		New Hampshire	2,143
Missouri	14,834		Illinois	2,133
Kentucky	14,450		Rhode Island	2,067
Mississippi	14,272		Minnesota	1,408
Oklahoma	13,889		New Mexico	981
New York	12,310		Connecticut	0
Oregon	11,720		Hawaii	0
New Jersey	11,204		Iowa	0
Montana	10,775		Maine	0
Pennsylvania	9,596		Maryland	0
North Dakota	9,563		Massachusetts	0
California	8,591		Vermont	0
Ohio	7,811		Washington	0

Going Viral- The Secession Petitions and the White House

Eastwood on Obama

Eastwood on Obama

The No History Channel

This is another one of those times that I have finally gotten frustrated enough to write on a particular topic.

Why is it that there is rarely if ever actual history on "The No History Channel?"

"Ice Road Truckers," "Mountain Men," "Mud Cats" and "Swamp People" do NOT qualify as history in my book and neither do "Ancient Aliens!"

There was a time, not that long ago, when one could count on being able to turn on the TV on a Friday night, tune into "The No History Channel,"  and watch a documentary on the Revolution, or perhaps the Presidents of the United States, or even about "How the States Got Their Shapes."  To be fair, in the not to distant past, I did know some people who referred to  "The No History Channel"  as "The World War II Channel" because of the number of WWII documentaries, but at least that was History!  And also to be fair, "Pawn Stars" does discuss the History of the items that people are coming in to pawn or sell, but that seems to be the only current History show.  One would think that with a channel named,  "The No History Channel,"  one could turn to that channel at any point in time, and see something about, well, History!

I am not the only person who has noticed.  Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), after "tweeting" about the lack of history on  "The No History Channel," responded to an inquiry by the Washington Examiner on the subject:

“I love history,” Grassley wrote. “A better understanding is going to strengthen our country. It’s going to strengthen patriotism.” Plus this non-history programming represents an unfulfilled promise by the network. “When I signed up for the History Channel on my satellite service, I expected to get history,” he said. “Instead, all I see are people chopping wood or driving trucks on an icy road.”

Worse still for "The No History Channel"- Matt Parker and Trey Stone noticed.  When the change is significant enough that "South Park" makes fun of you, you have really accomplished something!

The No History Channel

So, They Say I may be a Terrorist?

Apparently, according to a new report on terrorism, my Government thinks that I may be a terrorist.

Hot Spots of Terrorism and Other Crimes in the United States, 1970-2008 from the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism classifies those of us that are "suspicious of centralized government authority" and "reverent of individual liberty" as "extreme right wing" terrorists.

Suspicious of centralized government authority?  I seem to remember Thomas Jefferson as being not just suspicious but down right FRIGHTENED of a strong centralized Government.  Ben Franklin, John Adams, and George Washington were all rather reverent of individual liberty.

The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism was started with a grant from the US Government (specifically, Department of Homeland Security).  However, they seem to have forgotten about the Founders of that Government.

Or are Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin and the other Founding Fathers all terrorist too?

So, They Say I may be a Terrorist?

Happy Independence Day- Not Happy 4th

"We hold these truths to be self evident..."

Several times this morning, I have heard something that bothers me.   It is not "spin" on particular legislation.  It is not the latest theory of why a Justice voted the way he did.  It is not an interpretation of some obscure policy or Executive Order.

 

It was being told "Happy 4th of July"

"...that All men are created equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights..."

Over the years, it seems to me that almost every one of our Holidays has lost meaning.   Merry Christmas has been replaced by Happy Holidays in an effort to become more "sensitive" and "politically correct."   Thanksgiving has become less about a day of thanks and time with family and more about looking at the store ads, who is opening when for Black Friday, and what is the plan to make the most of the biggest shopping day of the year.  Memorial Day has ceased to be a day where we remember the fallen, or visit the graves of the departed, and has become "the Official Launch of Summer." 

Unfortunately, as have gone these aforementioned days, so is going Independence Day.

"...that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness..."

    

Of all Holiday's on the American Calendar, Independence Day is unique.   With Independence Day, no American can complain of "religious" overtones as they do with Christmas and for a few Thanksgiving.   It is not about whether one supports the Troops or necessarily remembering those who gave "the last full measure of devotion."   It is not a day where we celebrate our right to freely assemble and associate ourselves with others like us to demand concessions in the workplace (Labor Day- for those who have forgotten the original intent of that day as well).  Nor is it a day set aside for the celebration of the foundations of Christianity.   

Rather it is the day we set aside to Celebrate the foundation of those Rights that secure our Freedoms to Celebrate or Protest all other Holidays.

"...That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the Consent of the Governed..."

Independence Day is just that…the day where we celebrate our Independence.   Recently, a radio show I listen to was talking about the US Citizenship test that immigrants are required to pass before they become citizens and how many natural born Citizens would fail that test.   That conversation caused me to question how many know what it is we celebrate on Independence Day. 

 

We are not celebrating the beginning of the Revolution- that began in 1775.   We are not celebrating the birth of our Republic as the Republic was not truly formed until the Constitution was ratified in 1789.   We are not even celebrating the founding of our Government, for it can well be argued that our first Government, under the Articles of Confederation, was a dismal failure.  Most shocking of all, we are not even celebrating the day when the Continental Congress voted to Declare Independence from the Crown (John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail after the vote to declare independence,  “The second of July 1776, will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival”).  New York did not approve the Declaration until July 19, 1776, and the actual signing (for most of the signers) was on August 2, 1776.

We celebrate Independence Day on July 4^th because on that day the final wording was approved, and the document was sent to be printed and distributed to We the People.

“…That these united Colonies, are and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States…

Independence Day is about Freedom.  It is about those freedoms which are established in our Constitution and excercised each and every day by each and every one of us, no matter our Political, Religious, or other affiliations.  It is about the hundreds of thousands who shed their blood and gave their lives, to fight for the very freedoms we exercise when we disagree with each other and our Government.  It is about Celebrating the right to express our selves and our differences.  And yes, it is about Celebrating the Freedom to say, “Happy 4^th of July” instead of “Happy Independence Day.”

Gone are the days where Independence Day was celebrated by the whole town, gathering in the square, listening to a reading of the Declaration of Independence and firing the brass cannon in front of the court house.   But the reason for our celebrations remain, the right to be Free and Independent. 

So the next time someone wishes a “Happy 4^th,” reply, “Happy Independence Day”

“…for support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Devine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes , and our sacred Honor.”

Happy Independence Day- Not Happy 4th