I wonder how hard the Democrats will fight to keep the military vote out this time.
I personally know of no one in the military voting for Kerry although I do know of someone planning on voting for Nader. No I don't get it either. That's not to say there aren't any. But......
Ok, I’ve not said much about politics lately. I really didn’t think I needed to since there are so many great bloggers out there talking about this years election. First off I’ll say upfront I support Bush. My vote for him has not wavered a bit since this election process began. While I don’t agree with all of the policies of this administration I believe in the team. No one can predict the future and at best a good team will for see potential problems and work to negate those problems. The current cabinet if not the best is very competent and I’ve seen little within the Democratic Party to suggest they have anyone equal let alone better than the group we now have.
I don’t believe in John Kerry. His ideas, the ones he’s actually voted on and voiced in protest are ideas that are not part of an America I want to belong. His disgraceful actions upon returning from Vietnam will never be justified in my book. His extreme liberal voting record (when he finds time to vote) will not fly. Those that ally themselves with him and the Democratic Party scare the hell out of me.
Issues:
Bush misleads the country into war – Pure BS. There were many valid reasons for the War in Iraq. The Democrats can only use one for now and that’s WMD. Yet we have found WMD in Iraq. Perhaps not in the quantities they would have liked Saddam to have.
EU – Look we have allies. Would I like it if we got alone better with the EU? Sure, it’s a great bunch of places to visit. But really it’s just a power play from France and Germany. Spain? Who cares? Unfortunately for them they played their social card and will now pay for it. They will also find that the protection afforded them the last 50+ years was expensive. We know. We paid it.
Military – I’ve seen better training, better equipment and a more sound tactical policy in the last four years then I have in the last ten. While much of that comes from lower levels leaders it begins at the top with an atmosphere that encourages common since thinking. Rumsfeld has cracked the Pentagon wall. Not as much as it needs but he’s working on it.
Pre-emptive strikes – Hell yes I support this. I was always taught in a fight you don’t wait to be hit to make your move. While our intelligence must surely become better we cannot wait for known enemies to decide when and where they will fight us. That is a sure losing strategy. Can we really afford to wait for another attack on the US? How many will die then? We should have had a pre-emptive strike policy against terrorist many years ago.
Taxes – less is better. It makes the economy stronger in the end.
Government Spending – This is where I’m not as happy with President Bush. But this is a time of War and I hope he hears the message that we cannot continue to spend at the current rate.
Education – it’s very important to give families the ability to choose the education for their children. While would like basic public education to handle this it is failing. We need competition to make it better. Frankly we treat children as if they can’t learn. Are current K-12 curriculum is very weak.
Guns – Well this is an easy one. Restricting my right to carry the tools to protect myself is just wrong. Of course there are limits (machine guns) but in general relax the laws on Conceal Carry and make the criminals fear the streets. BTW I’m not an NRA member, not that that would be bad though.
Environmental issues – Bad science has produced a lot of garbage out there in the name of the environment. I believe in conservation using common since. Example - Don’t thin the forest and there will me much more destruction from fires. I like to fish and hike so I want public land public.
I don’t like the way the left portrays anyone not catering to minority groups a racist or other such nonsense. I’m for equal rights across the board. Not one right more than another. But that also means competition. Yeah competition sucks if you’re a dumbass.
Gay marriage – Call it something else and I won’t have trouble with it.
So in the end this is what I base my vote on. That and if I trust the person running to carry out that basic agenda. I am not a one issue voter as some seem to be. That is a very narrow minded approach. So John Kerry can create his own action movies all he wants it’s much like a Michael Moore movie, full of sh*t. I don’t trust him with my safety or my money.
Last night I picked up and old book I keep on my office shelf. It’s a book of poems. Yeah I know that’s hard to believe but I do keep one there. It’s pretty worn too. The cover is ragged at the edges and the front is worn very thin in spots. It has a copy write date of 1921 with no printing edition listed. I don’t know how long it’s been in the family but I received it from my Mother and Father as both of them read it often. I believe I was supposed to give it back. It’s titled “It Can Be Done” “poems of inspiration”.
As I pulled it from the shelf I noticed a number of pages were sticking out. I opened the book to see the pages had come loose from the binding. This was a painful site. I love books and books that are truly apart of a family have much more meaning. I know I should have taken better care of it but I also believe books are made for reading and you can’t do that if it’s wrapped up.
It has truly been a book of inspiration for us. In times of tragedy or depression I think all of my family has turn to the many poems inside for strength.
It includes poems from Grantland Rice, H. W. Longfellow, Frank Stanton as well as Shakespeare. I don’t know if there is a bad poem in the whole book.
I will probably store the book away now and try to preserve what I can. In the mean time I’ll have to look for at least three newer copies to send to my Father and Sister. Sorry I let it go so bad.
Here is an example of what’s inside:
One fight more
Now think you, Life, I am defeated quite! More than a single battle shall be mine Before I yield the sword and give the sign And turn a crownless outcast, to the night. Wounded, and yet unconquered in the fight, I wait in silence till the day may shine Once more upon my strength, and all my might.
Mine be that warrior’s blood who, stricken sore. Lies in his quiet chamber till he hears Afar the clash and clang of arms, and knows The cause he lived for calls for him once more; And straightway rises, whole and void of fears, And armed, turns him singing to his foes.
Theodosia Garrison
Grief
Upon this trouble shall I whet my life As ‘twere a dulling knife; Bade I my Friend be brave? I shale still braver be. No man shall say of me, “Others he saved, himself he cannot save.” But swift and fair As the Primeval word that smote the night— “let there be light!” Courage shall leap from me, a gallant sword To rout the enemy and all his horde. Cleaving a kingly pathway through despair.
Well most of you well read blog readers out there are aware of Michelle Malkin. She is blogging now and at a pace that would hurt mere mortals. I’ve read Michelle’s articles for a few years now and seen her on TV a few times. She is a straight shooter that I’d hate to debate on anything. Unlike many blogs that I also admire most of her content is all her. She’s not a linker but a writer. I’ve added here to my links list. I don’t know why it took me so long. I had her JWR site listed on my other site for a long time now (don’t use that site anymore). I sure wish I knew how people like here can express themselves so well. (Probably lots of practice)
She will however not go above Jennifer on my list (A collection of thoughts) but rate a top spot.
Looks like Lance Armstrong will win another Tour De France. This has got to piss of the French something fierce. Well at least I hope it does. It will only add to the continual feeling of inadequacy the French have.
Is this the view they see? =http://home.earthlink.net/~jebrookinssprint08/lance 2.jpg
The C-17 jump went off with no problems. I unfortunately didn't jump and was a safety. Now that's not as bad as it may sound. I spent some quality time hanging out the non-jump door at 2000ft. The view from there is pretty nice.
Our range also went well. We did about 6 hours of tactical and transitioin drills. It was a bit hot out though. But anytime you can shoot that many rounds it's a good day. I realized I really want to trade in my Blackhawk holster for a Safariland.
This week I'll be out of town at a conference in Breckenridge, yeah it's hell, but if there is internet access I'll try to post a little.
So in the mean time if you don't already view [url=http://www.jenmartinez.com/mt...][b]"A Collection of thoughts"[/b][/url] Daily check it out while I'm away. Jennifer always has good info and comments.
It’s been real busy here lately so I haven’t been posting much. This weekend we have a C-17 jump and some range time. Hopefully the weather will hold long enough for the jump to go off. But you never know. It’s been really hot here lately and today the rain finally started again. We had some afternoon thunderstorms. This is good as it cools things off a little but we need good weather on Saturday.
So if I don’t write for a couple more days well, I’m working. But I’ll be back next week. So I’ll leave you with some pics.
[i]Just hours before attending an all-star celebrity fundraising concert in New York, Dem presidential candidate John Kerry revealed how he has been too busy for a real-time national security briefing.
"I just haven't had time," Kerry explained in an interview.
Kerry made the startling comments on CNN's LARRY KING LIVE Thursday night.
KING: News of the day, Tom Ridge warned today about al Qaeda plans of a large-scale attack on the United States. Didn't increase the -- you see any politics in this? What's your reaction?
KERRY: Well, I haven't been briefed yet, Larry. They have offered to brief me. I just haven't had time.
[i]KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan police have arrested three Americans in Kabul (search), including one who was reportedly posing as a U.S. government or military employee.
The U.S. Embassy identified one of the men as Jonathan Idema. But the military distanced itself from him in a statement that said Idema "does not represent the American government and we do not employ him."
[/i]
The main character here seems to be Jack / Jonathan (Keith) Idema. According to some in SF he was never SF Qualified but was a Rigger in 11th group ( A national guard SF unit that was deactivated in the early 90s). He was also involved in some shady things that got him thrown in jail. His claim to fame is finding videos by Al_Qeada. So, what do I make of this. No idea, just thought I heard the name before.
Al-Sadr has apparently reversed himself and now again calls for a rejection of the interim Iraqi government. He claims he will fight to the last drop of blood. What should we and the new Iraqi government do? Well my vote goes to hunting him down and killing him. Pretty simple really.
Marlon Brando has died. It seems that people either thought he was a great actor or a terrible actor. I fall somewhere in between. “A streetcar named desire” did nothing for me. But then I doubt any other actor would have gotten me excited about that film either. The Godfather was another movie I didn’t find that great. Oh it was good but if I would have never seen it, no big deal. What I do think is Marlon Brando had a quality that was hard to pen down. He was a bit strange and definitely had some strong opinions. He seemed to almost hate the career that made him. Well I’m not sure why but I liked him.
