Young America's Foundation

Sunny - Hi 69 Lo 51 for Baghdad, Iraq
Sunny - Hi 72 Lo 38 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Rain - Hi 44 Lo 34 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: So Much to Say, Dave Matthews Band

Ramble:

Just a quick note on a couple of things... Michael and I are strong supporters of Young America's Foundation. It is one thing to preach to the choir--our generation, but the reality is that the future of our country is in the hands of young people and that is where the focus should be. Children are indoctrinated into left leaning views at an early age in the most innocent ways. I love cartoons, but can not stomach most of them, the subtle yet constant drumbeat message is there for the taking. How things are taught in school , the constant drumbeat of television, radio, movies and the internet, the shift in philosophy of team sports, the arts, etc... and once a child has entered college, they are pummeled by left thinking professors and organizations.

Ronald Reagan described their mission, "Young America's Foundation programs offer invaluable assistance to young men and women searching for the encouragement and understanding necessary to reinforce the values of a free society and individual responsibility. As young conservatives, you have a very special task before you — that of developing the political awareness of your fellow students."

I urge you to do a couple of things:
1. Visit Young America's Foundation website.
2. Go to Townhall.com and go to the podcast links, there you will find recorded speeches by today's top conservatives. Go HERE now or if you are not sure or don't have time to go through the list, then listen to THIS ONE. It is story I had not heard and a recollection from someone who dearly loves this country. Listen to what he says.

You can either listen to these podcasts on your computer or you can download them to your iPod/MP3 player.

In the meantime, I have been working on a couple of posts however, the terrorist attacks in India are pretty disturbing and have distracted me. I hope and pray the new team coming into office is paying attention and realizes the world is not a safe place and people still want us dead simply because we are Americans or simply because we are Jewish...

Ah, I will let you in on a little secret, I am going to be moving my blog in the new year. You can take a sneak peak here... It is still under construction, but I think it is coming along nicely. Anyone know what is up with Blogrolling??

Now, a little video I took last week for my Scootertrash Hubby... His totem... the blue heron (and yes that is snow).



Have a great week everyone!

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Our Flag Was Still There

Sunny - Hi 115 Lo 87 for Baghdad, Iraq
Thunderstorms - Hi 90 Lo 75 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Partly Cloudy - Hi 84 Lo 58 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Ragged Old Flag, Johnny Cash

Ramble: You may want to go get a cup of coffee as this may turn into a long ramble....

As we approach Independence Day, I can't help but reflect on how much my love for this country has grown. Like some folks, the events of September 11, 2001 were a catalyst for me to take a stand and be counted among those willing to fight for our nation- to keep her free and to make sure she stands with her torch as a beacon for all to see.

We the people are so fortunate to have been born here, still others have come here seeking freedom and liberty and a better way of life. Lady Liberty has opened her arms to them.

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
- Emma Lazarus

This country is clearly a melting pot- it always has been. It should always be so.
Our ancestors came to this country for various reasons - but the one common denominator has always been to seek out a better life. We the people spoke this past week and said that the Amnesty Bill was not what we wanted-- It was blogged about everywhere...It was talked about everywhere. I'm proud to say that I include myself in the numbers that flooded the phone lines and email of our Congress. They got the message - albeit they believe us to be foolish and uninformed.

Those that believe in this great nation, look to our immigrants as a blessing. Those that believe in this great nation believe it should be sought out honestly and legally. Nothing worthwhile is easy. I believe that is why some of our greatest Americans speak with a thick accent- My mother comes to mind, one of the greatest Americans I know.

We owe it to our forefathers and those that have fought and served and even died for this great nation for 231 years to stand strong. We must continue to live free or be willing to die for it. However, how do we make sure that our children, our children's children know what this great nation is about? What she stands for?

Bill Bennett wrote a compelling piece for National Review online. As the Secretary of Education under one of our greatest President's he writes with knowledge and integrity.

Tens of millions of Americans are about to celebrate our nation’s Founding. The worrisome question is, will future generations take to this celebration the way we have for the past 231 years if they do not know the first, second, or third thing about their country?

Two years ago, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough told the U.S. Senate that American History was our nation’s worst subject in school. The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (a.k.a., “our Nation’s Report Card”), released last month, bears that out again. Our children do worse in American history than they do in reading or math. McCullough testified we were facing the prospect of national amnesia, saying, “Amnesia of society is just as detrimental as amnesia for the individual. We are running a terrible risk. Our very freedom depends on education, and we are failing our children in not providing that education.”

Double Tragedy
McCullough is right, and it is a double tragedy: a) our children no longer know their country’s history and b) the story they do not know is the greatest political story ever told.

It is not our children’s fault. Our country’s adults are expected to instill a love of country in its children, but the greatness and purpose of that country are mocked by the chattering classes: Newspaper columns and television reports drip with a constant cynicism about America while doubts about her motives on the world stage are the coin of the realm. Too many commentators are too ready to believe the worst about our leaders and our country, and our children’s history books — and even some of the teachers — close off any remaining possibility of helping children learn about their country.

Read the rest here.

We live in a country where we can ignore everything that does not concern us. If we so choose we can fill our heads with air and watch the Paris Hiltons and the Britney Spears of celebrislutty fame. We have become greedy and self serving. We covet what our neighbors have and are willing to file bankruptcy to have the big SUV and the 3000 square foot house and all the fixin's that go along with it. We are willing to rationalize away our greed and trying to get something for free or for a cheaper price because "everyone does it." In doing this we bankrupt our children of the things that matter. Our children are our responsibility and the promise that this country will continue as the beacon of light for the rest of the world.

Dennis Prager, another man I admire a great deal will often ask his callers to his radio program, "If you could only teach your child one lesson which is more important to teach your child- To not smoke or To not cheat on a test?" Time after time it is more important to teach the child to not smoke... Health and safety are more important than raising a child to be an adult of honor, respect, and integrity.

Of late, I've been spending a lot of time with my grandparents, part of the Greatest Generation, and they often say, "It was easier when we had nothing." It's funny, these same people worked hard so that their children would not have to endure what they endured. That cycle continues. We all really want something better for the next generation, but I believe there is something to be said about having to work for it. It is appreciated times ten. There is greater satisfaction in feeling the sense that you have earned it.

On a greater scale, we are willing to work with a nation that has no time for the human condition. We import from China and we KNOW that they handle their people with an iron fist. We know that if you speak against the Chinese government or try to worship in a manner that does not serve the government, you simply disappear.

We can see this same example in third world countries. There are countless charities wanting to feed the starving children of the world. And yes it is awful and horrific. However, they are starving by design. Get rid of the oppressive communist and socialist governments that are keeping their people in ignorance and poverty and you will see an end to starvation.

We the people are a dichotomy. We are in a struggle with ourselves. We are facing an enemy within our own borders that must be neutralized otherwise we can look to the European countries as to what our fate will be. Dependency on the government and socialized anything will eventually destroy this nation and we must rectify this.

At the same time we must fight an enemy that hates us simply because we exist. There is no question in my mind this war must be won despite ourselves. The liberals have said this is a lost cause and now Republicans are getting wobbly. The events in the United Kingdom this past weekend are yet another wake up call to us. WAKE UP!! I want our government to pay attention to the 2nd Amendment. I will maintain my right as an American citizen to keep and bear arms, but I also expect my government to maintain our militia. Give our soldiers what they need to win this war against terror!!

I anticipate as do many others there will be an attempt to stifle our voices. The Fairness Doctrine will be our penance for shutting down the Amnesty Bill. Our soldiers need us to support them, not just by proclaiming, "We support you" but we need to rise up again and make sure that our government does as we ask. Secure our borders and fund our troops so we can win this war. Let them fight this war.

Mine is but a small voice but I will use it to my fullest ability.

So, on Wednesday, take a moment and look at our American flag...

She is indeed a grand old flag... She symbolizes everything that is good in this nation of ours and please....

Remember...

Tell your child about her... about how our flag IS still there...



Happy Independence Day.

The Star-Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
- Francis Scott Key

Have a great week everyone!

OH MY GAWD!! It's Coming!!

Sunny - Hi 64 Lo 46 for Baghdad, Iraq
Cloudy - Hi 32 Lo 28 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Born to Hum, Erin McKeown

I actually heard Erin McKeown for the first time on Hugh Hewitt's show a while back and ever since I was hooked. She has a quirky voice and music that can't really be nicely categorized. The link takes you to her website and there you will be introduced to more of her music. Enjoy.

Ramble:

So, I've started back on my research of terrorist organizations and should start posting in the next couple of weeks. And I bet you thought I forgot....
**
I don't have much this week... Snow in this part of the world really throws a wrench in the works. One of the things that happens here (Cincinnati - AKA the tri-state area--- Northern Kentucky, Southeastern Indiana, and Southwestern Ohio) is that topic becomes the single focus of all thought, activity, and conversation.

A few things you should know if you are traveling to this area during a snowfall... Mind you, we had about 6 inches of snow this past Tuesday.

First of all, the local television and radio stations will lament over the pending doom for at least 48 hours prior to the "disastrous" weather. And not wanting to be undermined by the other stations, there is a bit of oneupmanship that occurs (which reminds me of a Monty Python skit from Flying Circus- "We used to live in a shoebox in the middle of the road." -"Well we used to get up half an hour before we went to bed" -too obscure, huh?). The weathermen will interrupt normally scheduled programs to bring you the latest from Doppler 75,000 where it shows the cloud mass slowly making it's way to us.... This in turn will instantly send the masses into a frenzy of which you must run to the store and buy the following: bread, milk, toilet paper. I still have to wonder what folks are making with these ingredients... Whatever it is, I hope they don't invite me over for dinner... Please note: no one is going to the gas station to fill their cars... this is because we want to be able to discuss fuel line freeze ups and running out of gas on the highway during the snowfall at a later date.

OK... Then you have a full 24 hours where you will need to listen to us discuss the impending doom... Women at work, men at work will talk about the forecast and like the kids at home (yes, at home because the forecast of inevitable snow has caused the schools to cancel for the day-- the sun is shining...nothing on the ground but... FOR GAWD'S SAKE!! SNOW IS COMING!!!) we will wonder out loud whether or not our employers will let us leave early from work... Then the big day... the day that it is going to snow... all schools have canceled with a couple of rogue exceptions... at work there is lots of gnashing of teeth and panic. At about lunch time the snow begins to fall... it's falling about 1 inch per hour... (to be perfectly frank, that is quite a bit)... the folks at work aren't working... we are panicking!! Some souls go out at lunch and come back and report that the roads are already BAAAADDD. OH - MY - GAWD!
"It took me 20 minutes to get to the bottom of the hill!"
"Traffic is already backed up."
"I didn't see one snowplow." It's gonna be bad at rush hour, they better let us leave early!"
BLAH BLAH BLAH.

So, the City Manager of Cincinnati expressed concern and asked that all employers in Cincinnati let their employees leave early... Nice... how much money was lost? So, at about 3 o'clock my boss expressed that we too needed to hit the dusty snow covered trail... We had to evacuate the building by 4 o'clock. To hell with the customers across the nation... to hell with it all... SAFETY FIRST. I was just happy-- I got to leave work early!! WOOHOO!!

So, Tuesday what normally takes me about 25 minutes took me 1 1/2 hours to get home. Not bad considering the roads were snow covered and the cars were bumper to bumper and travelling a maximum of 15 miles per hour... For some it took 3++ hours... others pulled off and stayed at a hotel... fair enough... some roads are impassable under these conditions-- there are lots of rolling hills in this part of the country.

Snow stops completely by 9 o'clock.... snow plows and salt trucks do their thing over night.

Wednesday... back to work.... the entire day was spent swapping stories... more oneupmanship on the stories... and eyewitness reports of crazies on the road.... I saw my fair share... This is the part that drives me nuts...

"talk talk blah blah and then we ran out of gas..." (remember, we do not fill our gas tanks...)

So, yesterday we were at a car dealership and there is already a forecast on the horizon for more snow...... kill me now...............

We are a bunch of pansies.... wusses.... Have we become so weak that we can't handle a little snow? "But our taxes pay for them to clean the roads!!" OK, fine.... guess what... sometimes... hey... perhaps all the time... the government, be it local or federal... can't do for us... imagine... Sometimes mother nature has a different plan for us... ya know?

Besides, how embarrassing.... I like to think that Michael and I can fend for ourselves for a bit of time without help from mother government. I really don't like the thought of them wiping my nose or arse... What would happen if something really bad happened? Say another 9/11 or Katrina or worse? You don't think that the bad guys aren't taking notice? A little conspiracy thinking on my part? Perhaps...

So the next time you hear one of us whining in the Midwest about the weather... tell us to put a sock in it...... really.... I mean it....

photos courtesy of WCPO

Blogs and Links to Check Out This Week:

I have wanted to incorporate a post from Rich at Isn't It Rich for quite some time, but haven't found the opportunity. He wrote a great piece about a month ago that shouldn't be forgotten.

"There are those who would have you think that President Bush and the United States of America are the embodiment of evil and I would remit that those who do are the very ones who deny that evil even exists."

Read the rest here.

Housekeeping: I have updated and added some pics of my favorite blogs... check the bottom of my sidebar...

Have a great week everyone!

Born to Hum by Erin McKeown

Once in the spring of my twenty-fourth year
I had nothing to say
With a dangling promise and a terrible past
I threw all the words away
We were born to hum

You were the last in my twenty-fourth year
To make a demand of my voice
I tickled your ear and I laughed in your face
I gave you my choice
We were born to hum
We were born to hum
Hum
Hum

So as a gradual running
A kinda relief
Settles on my face
Once in a while I complain to myself
Nothing gets done
Nothing's in place

I, I would rather hum
I, I would rather hum

Hum
Hum
Hum

UPDATE 12 o'clock: The forecast of doom and gloom -- I'm sorry, I mean A WEATHER EVENT is about to take place....

WINTER STORM WATCH - Monday Afternoon Through Late Tuesday Night

Live Forecast
TODAY: Mostly cloudy, then partly cloudy. A few flurries this morning. High 31.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy, then mostly cloudy. Low 23.
MONDAY: Cloudy. Chance of rain, snow & sleet. High 38.
MONDAY NIGHT & TUESDAY : Periods of snow, heavy at times. Snow may mix with sleet & freezing rain, especially south of the Ohio River. Significant snow & ice accumulation expected by Tuesday. Temperatures in the mid-20's.

Michael and I have to go pick up his brand new truck just as this weather event is to take place... so I may be eating my words.............. to be continued...

Brainwashed by Radio...

Sunny Hi 100 Lo 73 for Baghdad, Iraq
Sunny Hi 84 Lo 63 for Northern Kentucky, USA

Before I get started- Happy Birthday Mom! (my granny)---Friday, 10/7

Song of the week: Riot Radio, The Dead 60's

I loooovvve talk radio!! I listen all day. My favorites are (in no particular order):

Dennis Prager -- by far the most well rounded of all. I learn so much about religion, relationships, and yes politics. A definite father figure.
Glenn Beck -- for a good laugh and Moron Trivia.
Laura Ingraham --a female voice of reason... politics and pop culture...
Rush Limbaugh --the Godfather of talk radio
Sean Hannity -- for red meat and toeing the Republican line.
Michael Medved -- for pop culture.
Bill Bennett -- for calm thoughtful discussion of what matters most and another father figure.
Michael Savage -- for insane red meat
Hugh Hewitt -- for reflection on the ridiculousness of today's events
Mike McConnell -- a local guy, going national on the weekends...
G. Gordon Liddy -- The G Man!!
Neal Boortz -- a Libertarian
Mark Levin -- fighting evil in the courts on the bench
Michael Reagan -- the other Reagan...you know, not Ronnie not Patti...
Michael Gallagher -- hot button topics

Now, there aren't enough hours in a day for me to catch all these folks.

Michael Savage... I can only listen to him maybe once every 2 months... He exhausts me....Sean... well, I adore him of course, but (monkey) he can get on my nerves especially when he gets on the Newt and Ollie love fest or the missing girl (insert name here) tirade. Don't get me wrong, I love Oliver North too... Glenn Beck and Laura Ingraham are the two I go to for a laugh... no one does it better---I hate that they are on at the same time... Dennis is on at the same time Rush is on... so I always have to make that decision... Of all these folks, the only one I listen to consistently is Bill Bennett's Morning in America.

I began listening to Morning in America the first day it aired and have been inspired ever since. His staff, Seth and Jeff are also active participants in the show. Topics include everything... from Iraq to education to judicial nominees to philosophy to government spending to hiking in the mountains of Colorado to history to religion to the beaches in North Carolina to Bill's life experience. You will hear callers try to "stump Bill" with rock-n-roll music trivia. You will hear Bill calmly discuss all subject matters and is respectful of all callers regardless of their stance on a topic. Bill even treats seminar callers with respect. By far, his program attracts the most intelligent callers (do a side by side comparision to callers of Michael Gallagher...) from all backgrounds... truck drivers to doctors to stay at home moms. Unlike other nationally syndicated shows, Bill Bennett has a number of "regular" callers that along with Bill and the gang have become old friends. Bill is an intellectual... His resume is impressive to say the least- law degree from Harvard, under President Reagan he was chairman of National Endowment for the Humanities and Secretary of Education. He served under President Bush (41) as drug czar. He is a fellow at the Claremont Institute. He has written countless books and is Chairman of K12. His wife, Elayne, founded Best Friends, an organization "helping girls develop self-respect through self control."

So, I was listening to his show last Wednesday... you know the one that has been all over the blogosphere, talk radio, and MSM... I'm not going to argue it hear... There are others that do a much better job and I have links to them as well... I will say this. The left has been waiting to jump on this man... and they found their opportunity. Pay no attention to the fact that the comments were taken completely out of context... Pay no attention that Bill was dissecting an argument and proving it ludicrous. Based on his body of work and what I have heard him say for 18 months, Bill Bennett is not a racist.

"[...] A thought experiment about public policy, on national radio, should not have received the condemnations it has. Anyone paying attention to this debate should be offended by those who have selectively quoted me, distorted my meaning, and taken out of context the dialogue I engaged in this week. Such distortions from 'leaders' of organizations and parties is a disgrace not only to the organizations and institutions they serve, but to the First Amendment. [...]"

-excerpt from statement 9/30/05

I wish I had seen this for myself...

"[...]I'll not take instruction from Teddy Kennedy. A young woman likely drowned because of his negligence. I'll take no moral instruction with him. That's much worse than legal gambling what Teddy Kennedy did. He should make no judgments at all about people. He shouldn't be in the Senate. As far as racist and all this other stuff, I'll put my record up with Howard Dean, with Harry Reid."

-excerpt from interview on Hannity and Colmes 9/29/05

I hope you give him a listen, Monday should be interesting...


Read:
Andrew McCarthy

Captain's Quarters

Exile from Hillary's Village

Then you have this sort of brilliance...Check out her "related" articles... good grief...

One last thought, why doesn't President Bush stand by those that stand by him? Why did the White House feel it necessary to distance themselves?

Update 10/4/05: Go visit my husband for his take on the matter...

This was taken in a park in Historic Louisville, KY (Louisville is pronounced Lewlvull)

Have a great week everyone.