Notable Quote: What Mr. Obama really thinks of us…

Senator Obama (GG file photo) If there was ever any doubt as to the "two Americas" as viewed by Barack Obama and his friends like Pastor Wright and the rest of us typical Americans, this quote puts it to rest. As reported in Ben Smith’s Blog at the Politico comes this gem from a speech given at a … Read more

Most awesome quote of the day

I was reading the story in the Union Leader about the wanted man arrested after his picture appeared on the front page of Tuesday’s paper, which I found rather comical in its own right: CONCORD – Vern Potter’s whereabouts had been unknown since Concord police issued an arrest warrant for him in January. Then a police … Read more

Not a dime’s worth of difference? I don’t think so. It’s the socialism, stupid!

Heil Hillary
Towards national socialism?
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feel good slogans
Intoxicating cliches?
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Having listened to many of the presidential wannabees of both political parties as they crisscrossed the Granite State in the leadup to the primary, I can assure readers that the difference between ALL the candidates is vast. To a man (and woman), the Democrats advocate a rapid expansion of the nanny state while the top Republicans definitely bring free market principles to the fore. Of course when you strip the specifics away, what it comes down to is the American free market system versus one of socialism.
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While policy wonks and wags of all stripes can debate the relative strengths and weaknesses of the various candidates as to whether they’re not conservative enough, upon listening to them, there is no doubt where the Republicans stand and where the Democrats weigh in. 
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"But Doug, SOCIALISM– please! That sounds so, you know, harsh. Aren’t we all Americans? Can’t we all just get along? Why must you use such labels? It’s almost downright insulting!" Of course, I disagree with that sentiment. I believe in open, forthright debate, and I like labels. 
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When it comes to the discussion about socialism and its basic tenets, you’ll no doubt agree that one of the main buzzwords bandied about by many Democrats at all levels of politics is the lovely sounding term "social justice." One of the best definitions I’ve come across is found in my signed copy of Balint Vazsonyi’s book, America’s Thirty Years War: Who is Winning? In the chapter entitled "Social Justice" he writes
The quotation marks in the title are used most advisedly. The words themselves are among the most successful deceptions ever conceived. Ask a variety of people to define what "social justice" means, specifically, and you will get as many answers as people queried. Ask the same person at different times and you will get different responses. All "definitions" of social justice boil down to any of the following:

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Days of Infamy. What a difference sixty six years makes…

Carrier Shokaku
Planes of second wave ready for takeoff on carrier Shokaku
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“On the morning of December 7, 1941, that Fleet’s planes bombed all the US military air bases on the island (the biggest was the US Army air base at Hickam Field), and the ships anchored at Pearl, including ‘Battleship Row’. Nearly every plane on the ground was destroyed; only a few fighters got airborne and opposed the attacking planes. Twelve battleships and other ships either were sunk or damaged, 188 aircraft were destroyed, and 2,403 Americans lost their lives. The battleship USS Arizona exploded and sank with a loss of over 1,100 men, nearly half of the American dead.”
The next day, President Roosevelt addressed Congress. [These quotes come directly from the noted speeches as found in Volume Two of the series "This is America My Country", 1952.]
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941- a date which will live in infamy- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”
He went on to describe the job at hand:
“As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.”
Roosevelt then rightly predicted,
“Always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.”
In his December 9th radio address to the Nation President Roosevelt said,
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History recommends “prudent rulers” and “pre-emptive” war. Or else…

machiavelliIran hostages
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Bush the conqueror
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MaldivesCulture writes in this post from 2003
Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian who died 1527 at the age of 58. He was a famous political theorist who advocated the principle of realpolitic – politics in its real sense, and how a ruler should rule a country.
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Realpolitic might be described as the dirty side of politics. Machiavelli believed that human beings are by nature more likely to do evil things than good. Human beings are ungrateful, selfish, violent, and anti-social and have an instinct of wickedness that is always dominant in their behaviour.
I was re-reading some portions of The Prince by Machiavelli, which I like to do from time to time, and came across this passage that really sums up our present situation. By not taking care of the Islamic problem when it manifested itself in the 1979 hostage crisis, we instead find ourselves in a much worse situation today, with Iran on the verge of obtaining nuclear weapons. Discussing the relationship between Rome, Greece, and the surrounding territories, Machiavelli writes:
[T]he Romans did what all wise rulers must: cope not only with present troubles but also with ones likely to rise in future, and assiduously forestall them. When trouble is sensed well in advance it can easily be remedied; if you wait for it to show itself any medicine will be too late because the disease will have become incurable.
Keep in mind that at the time, Rome was the dominating power throughout the civilized world, much as, whether we want to admit it or not, America is today. If you believe that this is OK because ours is the best civilization, as I do, then you know that the same maxims of self defense apply to us as they did to the Romans and should be employed. In a world of would-be destroyers, sometimes action is necessary. Machiavelli continues:
As the doctors say of a wasting disease, to start with it is easy to cure but difficult to diagnose; after a time, unless it has been diagnosed and treated at the outset, it becomes easy to diagnose but difficult to cure. So it is in politics. Political disorders can be quickly healed if they are seen well in advance (and only a prudent ruler has such foresight); when, for lack of a diagnosis, they are allowed to grow in such a way that everyone can recognize them, remedies are too late.
The question we face is whether at present, we are treating the "disease" that is Islamicism at the outset, or near the end. Should we have stamped out the problem in 1979? With over a billion Muslims and growing, all susceptible to the radicalized strain of the Islamo-fascists, are we too late? Maybe not. Again, from The Prince:

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Hillarous Hillaryisms!

Hillary Clinton

Hillary in Manchester, NH (GG file photo)

Perhaps you’re a morning person like me so you miss the late-night comedians.

Why are these so funny? Yeah, it’s because they’re based on so much truth! Start your day with some belly laughs!

"Hillary Clinton said that her childhood dream was to be an Olympic athlete. But she was not athletic enough. She said she  wanted to be an astronaut, but at  the time they didn’t take  women.  She said she wanted to go into medicine, but hospitals made her woozy.   Should she be telling people this story? I mean she’s basically saying she wants to be president because she can’t do anything else."

         –Jay Leno

"Well, the big story — Hillary Clinton will be running for president in 2008.  You know why I think she’s running?  I think  she finally wants to see what it’s like to sleep in the president’s bed."

       –Jay Leno

 "Top Democrats have mixed feelings about Sen. Hillary Clinton  running for president.  Apparently, some Democrats don’t like the idea, while others hate it."

        –Conan O’Brien

 "In a fiery speech this weekend, Hillary Clinton wondered why  President Bush can’t find the tallest man in Afghanistan.  Probably for the same reason she couldn’t find the fattest  intern under the desk."

       –Jay Leno

"Former President Bill Clinton said that if his wife, Hillary, is elected president, he will do whatever she wants.   You know Bill Clinton — when he makes a vow to Hillary, you can  take that to the bank."

       –Jay Leno

A student from the University of Washington has sold his soul on eBay for $400. 

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Notable Quote: Keeping Sufficiently Awake

I totally agree with this sentiment. It is the antidote to apathy… "The manna of liberty must be gathered each day, or it is rotten. Only by unintermitted agitation can a people be kept sufficiently awake to principle not to let liberty be smothered in material prosperity. Republics exist only on the tenure of being agitated." … Read more

I couldn’t have said it better… Notable Quotes

I proudly count myself as an "ordinary person"– you know, the working-stiff, blue collar sort that is mostly what makes up America. I consider the people that I meet in daily life to be just as (if not more) smart and discerning as any of the more famous members of the chattering classes. Here are … Read more

Notable Quote: Jefferson.

On March 4th, 1801, Thomas Jefferson delivered his first inaugural address in the still unfinished Washington Capitol. This quote caught my eye. As one of the key Founding Fathers, his thoughts on government carry much weight in the ongoing debate over the true role of government. Still one thing more, fellow citizens: a wise and … Read more

Notable Quote. Let’s put him in charge.

For some as yet inexplicable reason, this quote, from one of my 5 all-time favorite movies, Conan the Barbarian, popped into my head today… Mongol General: "What is best in life?" Conan: "To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women." I dunno. I’ve always thought … Read more

Notable Quote: Gibbon

Edward Gibbon wrote in his classic "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" of the eventual dominance of the barbarians over that epoch’s "superpower": Cold, poverty, and a life of danger and fatigue fortify the strength and courage of barbarians. In every age they have oppressed the polite and peaceful nations of China, India, and … Read more

MY Senator John Sununu: Who does he represent?

The September 13th New Hampshire Union Leader ran a story on page A9 by Boston University Intern Kendra Gilbert covering Senator Sununu’s Tuesday remarks at an Arab American Institute luncheon. She reports he told the group Arab-Americans can bring a "personal perspective" to congressional debate. Sununu, a Lebanese-American, is the only senator of Arab descent. Huh? … Read more

Notable Quotes: George P. Shultz on preemptive action

Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz wrote the following back in 1986 in an essay included in the book, Terrorism- How the West Can Win. Twenty years ago… Can we as a country, can the community of free nations, stand in a purely defensive posture and absorb the blows dealt by terrorists? . I … Read more

Notable Quote: Winston Churchill

As I was sifting though some old MS Word files I had saved for future reference, I came across this fantastic and inciteful observation our pal Winston Churchill had regarding Islam: “How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia … Read more

Notable Quotes: Abraham Lincoln

More thoughts on the One Voice (a local singing group here in the Lakes Region) concert I went to over the Fourth of July holiday (yeah, I know, my memory / day dreams act a bit funny from time to time – I blame it on my kids).  As they went through the concert, one … Read more

Notable Quotes: Abraham Lincoln

From our friends at Refdesk.com comes this Thought of the Day: "The true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject any thing, is not whether it have any evil in it; but whether it have more of evil, than of good. There are few things wholly evil, or wholly good. Almost every thing, especially of … Read more

Notable Quotes: Jonah Goldberg

No, Jonah is not of the same "famous" caliber as perhaps our other quoted folks…but I really the quote: "If religion is the opiate of the masses, then the United Nations is the opiate of the elites."  If you want to see what this quote is all about and wrap a contect around it, read … Read more

Notable Quotes: Benjamin Franklin

In this day and age, we often see the quote as: "Those who give up liberties for safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." when the real quote is:  "Those who give up essential liberties for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." – Benjamin Franklin My question is: what are these essential liberties as far … Read more

Democrat Vision: “A New Era of Braveness Internationally”

Consider the nightmare vision, as presented by House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi as she addressed the 97th annual NAACP convention July 18th: Democrats are proposing a New Direction to take our country forward for all Americans, not just the privileged few. And when we do take back the Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus will lead … Read more

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