The Captain and the Kid

Constitution Sunday (on Tuesday) - Balanced Budget Amendment

2011-08-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

The Constitution does not limit the amount of debt that the United States may incur. Congress borrows money by issuing bonds and Treasury certificates. At different points in our nation's history (for instance, now), shy high deficit spending has resulted in public support for a constitutional amendment that require a balanced budget. These two articles (one by Rich Lowry and one by Daniel Indiviglio) take countering points of view. Lowry is a very smart and conservative guy, but too often takes the overly pragmatic path. The Constitution, with its enumerated powers, consent of the governed principle and checks and balances was intended by the Founding Fathers to be a restraint on the potential power of the Federal government. The Founding Fathers considered and were concerned about the possibility that an uninformed electorate could cede some of that power back to the governing class. That is exactly the situation we are in now and in order to back away from the abyss, I think it may be time for some more Constitutional restraints. The Balanced Budget Amendment is one whose time has come. Indiviglio presents a good case.

Good Guy of the Week - Feminists For Life

2011-08-01T16:26:00.000-07:00

Good Guy of the Week can obviously include women. Feminists For Life is a pro-life nonprofit organization. Their motto? "Women deserve better than abortion. Refuse to choose." Actresses Patricia Heaton and Margaret Colin are honorary chairs of this organization. Pat Goltz and Cathy Callaghan founded FFL in 1972. This feminist organization is very unlike most others of its kind. This organization actually supports life and not the women's right to "choose."

Quote of the Week - Samuel Adams

2011-07-30T17:25:00.000-07:00

"No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders."

-Samuel Adams

Important Current Event - Debt Ceiling Debate

2011-07-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

For the second week in a row, this is the news story that most "adults" are watching closest. The country's real conservatives are all over the map on this one. Speaker of the House, John Boehner, has presented at least a couple of different plans to address this issue and he got enough votes to get one of them through the House - only to be voted down unceremoniously by Harry Reid and his ilk in the Senate. The Republicans who are voting against the Boehner plan want deeper budget cuts and they want them now, now, now. They also want a Balanced Budget Amendment - and their obstinacy and principles forced Boehner to accede to their wishes for a vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment in the latest roll-out of his Bill (the one that passed on Friday). The Dems who are voting against Boehner's bill aren't sure what they want, but it isn't fiscal discipline. Some of them (most) want higher taxes on the "wealthy" who are already paying the large percentage of the bills. All of them are playing politics with the debt ceiling, trying to figure out a way to make the Republicans look bad. Whose fault is it that we have a bunch of petulant children representing us in our Representative Government? Ours, of course. Or at least those of us who believe that we should exercise our right to vote, but don't believe that we should take time away from reality TV to get informed about the important issues facing our country. I am being way too gracious here. I am using the collective us and we when I don't really intend to include myself in the ill-informed, misinformed group of voters who are responsible for the mess we are in. If we want to be represented by adults, we have to act like adults when we go to the polls. Get informed. Start with the Constitution. Now, back to the ongoing debate. Here are some good articles to help get you informed. Thomas Sowell supports the Boehner plan. Andy McCarthy doesn't. Both are way smarter than me. I'll go with the wisdom of Thomas Sowell on this one, but I'll also say keep chargin' Tea Party!

This Week in History- President Eisenhower signs "In God We Trust" into Law

2011-07-28T18:50:00.001-07:00

On July 30, 1956 President Eisenhower signed a law officially declaring "In God We Trust" to be our nation's motto. The phrase would also be printed on paper money. The phrase was printed on coins long before, during the Civil War era. In 1954 at a Flag Day speech, Eisenhower stated that, "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

Historical Site - Mount Rushmore

2011-07-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

Located near Keystone, South Dakota, this historical site was sculpted by Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln. The entire memorial covers 1,278.45 acres and is 5,725 feet above sea level. Doane Robinson (a South Dakota historian) first came up with the idea to carve the likenesses of famous people into the Needles to attract tourists. Borglum rejected the Needles and decided to carve Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt (Teddy), and Lincoln into Mt. Rushmore. Construction began in 1927 and the faces were completed between '34 and '39. The original concept was to depict each president from head to waist, but lack of funding caused construction to end in October of '41. The U.S. National Park Service now manages the memorial that attracts approximately 2 million people annually.

Bad Guy of the Week - La Raza (The Race)

2011-07-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Left-wing of the United States would have you believe that the organization known as the National Council of La Raza is a just a friendly ethnic based lobbying organization concerned about the well-being of "latinos." We would also be called racists for pointing out evidence that raises doubt about their agenda. So be it. The irreplaceable Michelle Malkin lays out the case against La Raza in this article. Here is a sampling, but read the whole article:

- "The Race" supports driver's licenses for illegal aliens.

- "The Race" demands (yes, demands) in-state tuition discounts for illegal alien students that are not available to law-abiding citizens and law-abiding legal immigrants.

- "The Race" opposes a secure fence on the border - of course.

- "The Race" has consistently opposed post-9/11 security measures at every turn.

- "The Race" bitterly protested common-sense voter ID provisions as an "absolute disgrace."

- "The Race" thrives on ethnic supremacy - and the people's unwillingness to call it what it is. Victor Davis Hanson has no problem "calling a spade a spade" - "The organization's very nomenclature is hate speech to the core." La Raza, of course, means The Race. Can anyone even imagine the outcry if a group of white people called themselves "The Race." How long would it take the Main stream media to denounce them as Neo-Nazis?

La Raza........Bad Guys!

Good Guy of the Week - WalMart

2011-07-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

WalMart has received its share of unfair criticism - mostly from the Left, of course. The reason for this criticism is partly that WalMart has wisely avoided unionization of its employees, and partly that WalMart shoppers are typically low-income people. The fact that most criticism on both counts comes from "progressives" should tell you something about which party is really concerned about the "common folk." Here are some facts in praise of WalMart that come from an unlikely source - the website of MSNBC:

- It is the world's largest retailer, with more than 4,000 stores in the United States and another 2,300 abroad.

- It is the largest private employer in the United States and the second largest employer overall, behind (sadly) the behemoth known as the Federal Government.

- WalMart pays its employees, on average, considerably higher than U.S. and state minimum-wage rates. It also offers affordable health care plans to its employees.

- Here's one that should make everyone a fan of WalMart's "everyday low prices." An international research firm conducted a study in 2005 that found that WalMart's growth from 1985 to 2004 resulted in food-at-home prices that were 9.1% lower and overall prices that were 3.1% lower than they otherwise would have been. It's pretty astounding that one retail company could have such a considerable impact on consumer prices. What's not to like about that - unless of course you're looking for a reason to completely revamp a country's economic system?

- John Tierney, a NY Times columnist (as you know, the NY Times is not noted for its love of capitalism or the free markets), commended WalMart for its creation of jobs in developing nations. In fact, he said that WalMart was deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize.

I have to admit that I am not a WalMart shopper, but I am a fan. WalMart......Good Guy!

Constitution Sunday - Regulators

2011-07-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

Check out this great article by Jim Lacey on NRO. The main point in this debate is that the Constitution gives only Congress the power to legislate. Congress is not given the power to delegate this responsibility to an unelected bureaucracy that is essentially part of the Executive Branch. This is a power grab. Congress has to stand up and reassume the power to make laws. The regulations that are not specifically approved by Congress are unconstitutional and should be challenged in the courts. Who in Congress will stand up and do their Constitutional duty?

Quote of the Week - Alexis De Tocqueville

2011-07-23T18:59:00.000-07:00

Alexis de Tocqueville was a Frenchman who came to America in 1831 to study its prisons and penitentiaries. He was a very astute judge of the American character and wrote his classic Democracy in America following his two year stay. The below quote is from this book. Apparently, he was very prescient. We had better start treating his writings as if they were precautionary in nature - because they probably were. I hope that it is not already too late.

"The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money."

Important Current Event - Debt ceiling debate

2011-07-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

Pictured above are Representative (and Presidential candidate) Michelle Bachmann, Senator Jim DeMint and Representative Jim Jordan. They are the "adults in the room" in the ongoing debt ceiling debate. They understand that we cannot keep kicking the can down the road on our national debt - which is the result of "entitlements" out of control and continued outrageous deficit spending. The President's water carriers in the so-called main stream media would have you believe that he, who proposed a 2012 budget that actually increased spending and was voted down in the Senate by a 97-0 vote (yes, that's correct), is the adult in the room because he mentioned $4 trillion in cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. He hasn't actually put any real cuts on the table, mind you. And he never will. On the other hand, our three heroes for the day (above) are demonized as the extremists in the house because they see the country headed for a fiscal cliff and are trying to do something about it. "Cut, cap and balance" is the name of a proposal that just passed vote in the House, but was shot down by the Senate on a party line vote. A recent CNN poll shows that over 60 percent of adults in the country supports this proposal - probably even higher if you just count likely voters. So, which party is playing politics with this crisis? This article by Robert Costa and Andrew Stiles lays it all out pretty well. Take a moment away from Food Network and check it out!

This Week in History - Jessica Lynch Gets Hero's Welcome

2011-07-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

On July 22, 2003, U.S. Army Private Jessica Lynch returned home after being rescued from an Iraqi hospital. On March 23, 2003, Jessica was riding in a supply convoy when her unit took a wrong turn and was ambushed by Iraqi forces. Eleven American soldiers died and Lynch and four others were captured. Lynch was taken to an Iraqi hospital, due to some injuries she sustained during the ambush. On April 1st, she was rescued by U.S. Special Forces. Upon her return, the media framed her as a hero and war icon and added many false and heroic details to her story. Lynch later testified that she did not try to fight back- she had been knocked unconscious and could not remember what had happened. She stated that she was treated fine in the Iraqi hospital. Lynch also stated that "I am still confused as to why they chose to lie and tried to make me a legend when the real heroics of my fellow soldiers that day were, in fact, legendary. The truth of war is not always easy to hear but is always more heroic than the hype." Nice that she came clean, but she probably didn't make any friends on the Left who wanted to use her fabricated hero story to further their agenda of putting women in harm's way because it is their "right." National Defense is not an area in which the general public should be willing to accept social science experiments. Unfortunately, it is an area that the Left loves to use for just this purpose. Once they force an agenda down the throats of the military, it's easy to portray it as acceptable for the rest of society. Women in combat is not something we should accept.

Bad Guy of the Week - Gaza Flotilla "Peace Activists"

2011-07-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

How could those peace-loving do-gooders of the Gaza flotilla be considered a “bad guy?” All they’re trying to do is bring much-needed relief to the poor, oppressed citizens of Gaza, right? Wrong! Read this article by Mario Loyola of National Review Online to learn the cold, hard truth about these law-breaking useful idiots of the enemy. Here are just a few tidbits from the article for those who don’t have time to read the whole thing (hopefully not because they are too busy watching reality television).

- -The people of Gaza get plenty of international charity. Any and all humanitarian aid can get to Gaza by simply going through an Israeli checkpoint to ensure there are no dangerous items.

- -The Israeli blockade is legal under International law and has been endorsed by Egypt, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the European Union and the United Nations Security Council.

- -Hamas, a terrorist organization, is the government of the Palestinian Authority. These so-called peace activists (especially the Americans among the group) may be committing felonies by providing “material support or resources” to a foreign terrorist organization.

- -Hamas has officially endorsed the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a key foundational document of 20^th century racism and totalitarianism linked to Hitler and his evil regime. This is the evil organization to whom these young “peace-activists” and humanitarians are providing aid and comfort.

- As President Bush said in the aftermath of the attacks of 9/11, “You’re either with us or against us.” The Gaza flotilla crowd falls into the second category. Bad Guys!

Historical Site- Gettysburg, PA

2011-07-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

As the name suggests, the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863) was fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Probably the most famous battle in the Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg ranks highest in number of casualties. Despite this, Gettysburg was a site of victory for the Union and a turning point in the war. The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum now stands by that once bloody field. The first battlefield monument- a marble urn in the National Cemetery dedicated to the 1st Minnesota Infantry- was erected in 1867. By 2008, the Gettysburg National Military Park had 1,320 monuments, 410 cannons, 148 historic buildings, 2 1/2 Cope Truss towers, and 41 miles of avenues, roads, and lanes.

Good Guy of the Week - The Tea Party

2011-07-19T18:15:00.000-07:00

While demonized as racists and extremists, Tea Party-ers are normal people who are fed up with what big government is doing to our country and are willing to stand up against it. They are, quite literally, supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States of America. Someone needs to do it!

Here are the 10 core beliefs of the Tea Party:

1. Eliminate excessive taxes.

2. Eliminate the national debt.

3. Eliminate deficit spending.

4. Protect free markets.

5. Abide by the Constitution of the United States.

6. Promote civic responsibility.

7. Reduce the overall size of government.

8. Believe in the people.

9. Avoid the pitfalls of politics.

10. Maintain local independence.

Sounds sort of like the ideas that the Founding Fathers had... Imagine that.

Constitution Sunday (on Monday) - Amending the Constitution

2011-07-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

In the ongoing debate concerning the issue of the debt ceiling and whether or not to increase it, Republicans are now proposing a new plan known as “Cut, cap and balance.” The “balance” portion of the plan refers to a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Simply, Congress would raise the debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion but that increase would only go into effect if both houses of Congress pass – with two-thirds majorities – a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and send it to the states for ratification.

Article Five of the United States Constitution describes the process whereby the Constitution may be altered. Here is what it says:

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Here is what it means: There are two ways to propose an amendment to the Constitution. First, and this is the only method that has actually been used, Congress can pass a proposed amendment by a two-thirds vote of the members present in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The President’s approval is not required. Under the second method, two-thirds of the states must petition Congress to call a constitutional convention. After the amendment has been proposed, there are two methods prescribed for ratification of amendments. Both ratification methods rely on the states. A proposed amendment becomes part of the Constitution when approved by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states or when approved by ratifying conventions of three-fourths of the states. So, in a nutshell, the Federal government and State governments each play an important role in modifying the law of the land as laid down by our very wise Founding Fathers.

Quote of the Week - Commencement Speech Ave Maria University 2011

2011-07-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

Father Robert McTeigue was the Commencement speaker for Ave Maria University’s graduating class of 2011. This quote came directly from his speech. To the indoctrinated, unthinking automatons of modern society it may seem that he is advocating mean-spiritedness and hatred – because that is what they have been taught. We all must just go along to get along, and who are we to judge others, right? Wrong, wrong, wrong! There are such things as “slippery slopes” and we’re sliding down a steep one as a society right now. Look around you and what do you see our kids doing? Dressing like prostitutes, sexting, hooking up, having friends with benefits, choosing “alternative lifestyles.” Where does it all end? If we always try to “choose our fights wisely” we end up never drawing a line anywhere and we end up losing everything. It’s time now to stop tolerating bad manners, disrespect for traditions and customs, sinful behavior…the list goes on and on. We need more teachers in our schools like Father McTeigue. Here is the quote and this takes you to a video of the entire speech and this will take you to an article by Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review:

“Socrates was intolerant of the Sophists. Moses was intolerant of Pharaoh. Jesus was intolerant of the Pharisees. Frederick Douglass was intolerant of slavery. Blessed Rupert Mayer was intolerant of the Nazis. Blessed Mother Teresa was intolerant of abortion. Blessed Pope John Paul was intolerant of the culture of death. Intolerance can be a beautiful thing — you just need to know how to do it properly.”

Important Current Event - Opening of the Final Harry Potter Movie

2011-07-17T05:11:00.000-07:00

On Friday, the final of eight movies of the Harry Potter series was released. This series, centered around a classic tale of good versus evil, will forever be remembered by many, even those who did not read the books or see the movies, who were around when "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was released. Since then, thousands around the country have lined up in bookstores for the midnight releases of the novels. The same is done for the releases of new movies. Many "teen fiction" these days involve silly nonsense (i.e. The Twilight Series). The Harry Potter series is not only very well- written; it relays good morals and important lessons on friendship, love, life, death, and selflessness.

My Dad and I read the whole series together and now he is reading it a second time with Matthew, my younger brother. This is the best endorsement I could think of for a series of books - my Dad is all about important lessons.

Read a great review about Harry Potter here.

This Week in History - The Malaise speech

2011-07-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

On 15 July 1979, Jimmy Carter delivered his infamous “malaise speech” in which he actually never used the word “malaise.” It was more properly dubbed the “Crisis of Confidence speech.” He addressed the nation that day via television and in the address discussed the ongoing energy crisis and recession. Carter expressed his thought that the underlying cause of the economic crisis was a lack of “moral and spiritual confidence.” To his credit (and believe me I cringe when I write that because I don’t think he deserves credit for much of anything) he admitted that part of the problem (a small part in his mind) was his failure to provide strong leadership on several issues, including mainly energy and fuel policies. He then went on, however, to attack the American way of life by claiming that Americans’ obsession with consumerism and materialism had overridden spiritualism and community values. He implored the nation to have faith in the future of America and to strive to reclaim their unity of purpose so that we could “seize control again of our common destiny.” He then moved on to propose some serious government interference in the oil free market including mandatory conservation efforts for individuals and businesses, import quotas and a "massive commitment of funds and resources" to develop alternative fuel sources including coal, plant products and solar power. Does any of this sound familiar? Seems like once again we are “mired in a crisis of confidence.” Why is it that so-called progressives always place the blame elsewhere and then prescribe more government interference to cure economic problems. Ronald Reagan defeated Carter the following year in part because he reminded all of us that the government was not the solution to the problem, it was the problem. We sure could use another man (or woman) like Reagan right about now.

Historical Site - The Golden Gate Bridge

2011-07-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the Golden Gate, which is the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the ocean. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was completed and has become one of the most internationally recognized landmarks in the world. Eight other bridges have since surpassed its span length, but it is still the second longest in the United States behind the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge in New York City (made famous by the Mafia for their use of it as a gangplank of sorts). The American Society of Civil Engineers declared it one of the modern Wonders of the World. Construction began in January, 1933 and was a $35 million dollar project. It was finished in April 1937 and was $1.3 million under budget. Innovative movable safety netting saved many men during the course of the construction. Of the eleven men who fell to their death, ten were killed in one incident when the net failed under the weight of a scaffold that had fallen.

Interestingly, the famous International Orange color was originally used as a sealant for the bridge. Local residents persuaded the designer to paint the bridge in the bright orange color instead of the standard darker colors. It has remained orange ever since. The US Navy wanted it to be painted with black and yellow stripes to ensure visibility by passing ships. The Navy has never had much fashion sense.

Bad Guy of the Week - Michael Moore

2011-07-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

What can you really say about this guy? He's made hundreds of millions of dollars off of so-called documentaries that attack his country (bad case of oikophobia if you ask me) including one ironically attacking capitalism, and one that essentially buys into Fidel Castro's propaganda about Cuban "Health Care."

He's not a thug like the last couple of bad guys we highlighted on this blog, but he is a dirt bag and he does hate America. Please don't spend a buck on his propaganda and don't let your kids do so either.

Good Guy of the Week - Big Oil

2011-07-11T18:35:00.000-07:00

Wait, surely I can't be saying that the Big Oil companies, those earners of "obscene profits" are good guys. Yes, I am. They are easily and too often demonized by the same politicians who receive very handsome perks from "Big Oil" in the way of campaign contributions. Did you know, for instance, that President Barack Obama received $884,000 from the oil and gas industry in the 2008 campaign year. That was more than any other lawmaker with one exception - yep, John McCain. In 2009-2010, Senator Blanche Lincoln (D) from Arkansas led the way. Ever hear the phrase "biting the hand that feeds you?"

Here are some words/stats in defense of the big oil companies:

- The US oil and natural gas industry supports millions of jobs throughout the economy and directly employs over 2 million people. In total it is estimated that this industry supports over 9 million jobs and adds more than $1 trillion to our economy.

- Several industries make more profit than the "obscene profits" earned by "Big Oil." Those include the beverage industry, the shoe industry, the chemical industry, the computer industry and the apparel and leather industry. And just so you know that I have no problem with profits, check out this next stat:

- Here's who owns "Big Oil": 14% in IRAs, 29.5% in Mutual Funds, 23% Individual Investors, 27% in Pension Funds, 5% Other institutional investors and (here's the bad guys, right) 1.5% Corporate Insiders. In other words, you and I own "Big Oil" if we have any kind of investment or retirement portfolio at all. We should all be rooting for the oil industry big time!

- But how about that gouging at the gas pumps? We should at least be mad at them about that, right? Well, we should be mad at someone, that's for sure. How about "Big Government." Here's the breakdown percentage wise at the pump: 58% of the earnings go to buy crude oil, 17% pays for refining, 10% goes to retail costs and 15% goes to taxes. Less than 10 percent could actually be considered profit..... and remember who that goes to? If you take corporate taxation and regulatory fees into consideration, the government gets an even larger slice of the pie. So who should we be mad at? Call the Tea Party!

Last, but not least, the Oil and Natural Gas Industry is a strategic industry that is absolutely vital to our economy, national security and our very way of life. They're not perfect, of course, and there is some corruption, but there are other places where we should be focusing our attention first to clean up corruption.

Constitution Sundays- Separation of Powers

2011-07-10T15:53:00.000-07:00

Separation of powers: the system established in the Constitution to give each branch a different responsibility for law in the United States and thus keep any one branch from becoming too powerful

Click here to read the fourteenth amendment.

So, now the same party who said that the Constitution doesn't matter (with regard to the Health Care debate, among other issues) is trying to misuse the Constitution to achieve their desires with regard to the Debt limit debate. Remember when they were accusing our last President of shredding the Constitution and trying to grow the Executive powers. In misreading the 14th amendment that is exactly what they are trying to do now. Bottom line on this debate can be found in one of the bedrock principles of our Founding document: Separation of Powers. See the diagram. It appears that the Founding Fathers were pretty clear on which branch controls the purse and makes laws. Hint: It wasn't the Executive.

Click here if you would like to know more about the debate.

Quote of the Week - Whittaker Chambers on Freedom

2011-07-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

This quote comes from Whittaker Chambers' great autobiography, Witness. I think the Founding Fathers would have agreed.

"Freedom is a need of the soul, and nothing else. It is in striving toward God that the soul strives continually after a condition of freedom. God alone is the inciter and guarantor of freedom. He is the only guarantor. External freedom is only an aspect of interior freedom. Political freedom, as the Western world has known it, is only a political reading of the Bible. Religion and freedom are indivisible. Without freedom the soul dies. Without the soul there is no justification for freedom."

In God we trust!

Important Current Event - Final Shuttle Launch

2011-07-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at Cape Canaveral at a little after 11:29 am, the Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off for the last time - the Shuttle program's 135th and final launch. Reaching speeds of 17,500 miles per hour, it headed for orbit and a rendezvous with the International Space Station. 355 astronauts from 16 different nations have flown on Space Shuttle missions over the last 30 years.

Our great Nation's Space program has been a cornerstone of America's greatness during the past half century. President John F. Kennedy recognized the role the Space program played in American exceptionalism in a 1962 speech at Rice University: “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.” This competitive urge seems to be missing these days. Our Nation seems resigned to the idea (not a fact, mind you) that we our a Nation in graceful decline. The end of the Space program is representative of that malaise (there's that word again). We must resist that feeling and that complacency and continue to strive to do great things. Some say that private enterprise will take over space exploration and do it even better than NASA has. We hope that is true and that government regulation doesn't stymie that effort.

This Day in History- Construction of the Hoover Dam Begins

2011-07-07T18:21:00.000-07:00

On this day in 1930, workers began to build the Hoover Dam. Five years and 21,000 workers later this project would be completed. It would become the biggest dam of its time. Arthur Powell Davis, an engineer, had the idea for the Hoover Dam 28 years before construction began.

The Hoover Dam is currently the 2nd highest dam in the country and ranks 18th highest in the world. The energy it generates in a year serves over 1 million people. A great example of American exceptionalism when it was built, America must regain the spirit that resulted in great projects such as this one.

Historical Site - Hermitage

2011-07-06T18:29:00.000-07:00

Located in Davidson County, Tennessee, Andrew Jackson's plantation is now a historical site and museum.

Facts about the Hermitage:

- The area of Davidson County surrounding the plantation is named Hermitage.

- The Hermitage was one of the sites of filming for the movie Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.

- The home was remodeled in 1831, while Jackson presided in the White House.

- The tomb of Andrew and his wife, Rachel, is located in the Hermitage garden.

- On May 5, 1863 Union troops neared the grounds of Hermitage. Go here to read an excerpt of one soldier's account (actual spelling and grammar as it was).

Bad Guy of the Week - Bashar Al-Assad

2011-07-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

In the midst of protests against the government of Syria, Hillary Clinton claimed that Assad was a different type of leader than his father and, in a mealy-mouthed way, talked about the perception that he was a "reformer." She backed off those statements very quickly after a firestorm of criticism rained down from both sides of the political aisle. Just to set the record straight, Bashar Assad is NOT a reformer. In fact, like last week's Bad Guy (Che Guevara) he is a murderer and a thug. Here are some facts to support that claim:

- Long-time ally and puppet of the terror masters in Iran.
- Permitted access to Syria to terrorist groups that were funding and arming jihadists crossing into Iraq to kill our soldiers.
- Supporter and collaborator with Hezbollah in their war against Israel.
- Very likely directed assassination against popular Lebanese and ant-Syrian politician, Rafik Hariri.
- Collaborator with North Korea on a covert Nuclear weapons facility that the Israelis, thankfully, destroyed in 2007.
- Nearly 1,500 government protectors have been murders by his henchmen (with help from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard) in the last few months.

John Bolton, former US Ambassador to the UN and good guy, gave a speech entitled "Beyond the Axis of Evil" in 2002 which added Syria, Libya and Cuba to President Bush's Axis of Evil.

Make no mistake about it, Assad is a very bad guy and one of our enemies. The world would be a better place without him.

Good Guy of the Day - Calvin Coolidge

2011-07-04T15:31:00.000-07:00

It is appropriate that today, Independence Day, is also the birthday of President Ronald Reagan's favorite President, Calvin Coolidge. "Silent Cal" is also the only president born on the Fourth of July. The Heritage Foundation calls Coolidge "one of the most eloquent defenders of America’s principles" and if you take some time to read about him you will certainly agree. Here is what Coolidge said about the Declaration of Independence: “"It is often asserted that the world has made a great deal of progress since 1776, that we have had new thoughts and new experiences which have given us a great advance over the people of that day, and that we may therefore very well discard their conclusions for something more modern. But that reasoning can not be applied to this great charter. If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction can not lay claim to progress. They are reactionary. Their ideas are not more modern, but more ancient, than those of the Revolutionary fathers."

A President who mouthed those words had to be pretty good - especially if he believed them, which Cal apparently did. That's how he governed. He believed very firmly that if it ain't broke, you don't have to fix it - and during his term in office, everything was going pretty well. He probably also believed that if it does appear to be broke (free market-wise) it will probably fix itself. Maybe if he had stayed around for another term, we would not have had to deal with the Great Depression.

Constitution Sunday - The Constitution Matters

2011-07-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

Linked below is a (typically) powerful Thomas Sowell article. He makes some very important points in a short article in terms that everyone can understand. The main takeaways from this article about the Constitution are these:

The American Revolution was more than just our own Revolution against the King of England. It was a Revolution against a form of government in which a small ruling cadre decided how much freedom would be permitted the people.

- Our fundamental document, the Constitution (of course), begins with the three words “We the People.” Other nations have Constitutions, but none begin with the fundamental and underlying premise that the government draws its power from the people – not the other way around. Progressives and liberals don’t feel particularly fond about the Constitution because it restrains them from planning the lives of the unwashed masses (we, the people).

- Since the early 20^th century, so-called progressives have been trying to discredit the Constitution and water down its power. Their arguments have not changed since those days and they are still as feeble. They say, always, that the Constitution did not foresee all the technological advancements of the modern age and that because of that it is obsolete. Thomas Sowell (and I) say “nonsense!” And here I will quote Mr. Sowell directly: “A constitution exists to create a framework for government — and the Constitution of the United States tries to keep the government inside that framework.” He goes on to refute Time Magazine’s claim that the Constitution does not limit government by stating the 10^th amendment, which makes clear the founders’ intent that the federal government would be limited to those powers given to it by the people (we, the people – remember?). These are the enumerated powers.

- More than anything else, the Constitution has ensured our freedom and our exceptionalism. Read it today – and read it to your kids!

Read the whole article here.

Quote of the Day- President Lincoln on the Declaration of Independence

2011-07-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

"They (the Founding Fathers) meant to set up a standard maxim for free society, which should be familiar to all, and revered by all; constantly looked to, constantly labored for, and even though never perfectly attained, constantly approximated, and thereby constantly spreading and deepening its influence, and augmenting the happiness and value of life to all people of all colors everywhere.” - President Abraham Lincoln

Important Current Event - Dutch populist Geert Wilders acquitted of hate speech

2011-07-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

Pictured is the controversial and courageous Dutch populist politician Geert Wilders. He was recently acquitted of inciting hatred of Muslims in a court ruling in the Netherlands. He is the most outspoken critic of Islam and immigration in the Netherlands and, quite possibly, the political world. The presiding judge called Wilders's remarks "hurtful," "shocking" and "offensive," but said that they were made in the context of a public debate about Muslim integration and multi-culturalism, and therefore not a criminal act. Unbelievable that this case ever made it to Court. Since when in a free world were we not permitted to make statements that are "hurtful," "shocking" and "offensive?" Wilders was not slandering an individual. He was voicing opinions about Islam - which has become a sacred cow of sorts. It's fine to make derogatory comments about Catholicism and Judaism in this Brave New World, but criticize Islam and you could go to jail for it. This was a clear cut victory for free speech and for freedom, in general, but we must be on our guard against further attacks in the courts and otherwise. Wilders, for his part, has probably gained some political power from this decision, but he is still under guard 24 hours a day because of death threats that originate from one of the world's "peaceful" religions.

Read this for more information.

This Week in History- Civil Rights Act is Signed into Law

2011-06-30T18:47:00.000-07:00

On July 2nd, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the historic Civil Rights Act. The Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination in employment and education and outlawed segregation in public places such as schools, buses, parks and swimming pools. Johnson relied heavily on the Party of Lincoln, the Republican Party, to get this important legislation passed. The fact that most of the support for this bill came from the Republicans has somehow been forgotten in the recent narrative. Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen and future President, Richard Nixon, both Republicans, were two of the bill's most ardent supporters. The chief opponents were Democrat Senators Sam Ervin, Al Gore Sr. and Robert Byrd. Byrd, a former Klansman, who was often called the "conscience of the Senate," filibustered against the legislation for 14 straight hours before the final vote. The House of Representatives passed the bill by 289 to 126, a vote in which 79% of Republicans and 63% of Democrats voted yes. The Senate vote was 73 to 27, with 21 Democrats and only 6 Republicans voting no.

Historical Site- Monticello

2011-06-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

Located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, this historical landmark was the estate of Thomas Jefferson. It is also this Founding Father's burial place. The estate lies on the summit of an 850-foot-high peak in the Southwest Mountains south of the Rivanna Gap. The name "Monticello" comes from the Italian word for "little mountain." Jefferson designed Monticello, as well as the University of Virginia. With the exception of one two year period, Monticello has appeared on the back-side of nickels since 1938.

Some more quick facts...

- The main house is divided into 43 rooms.

- Jefferson's library would become the core of the Library of Congress.

- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both passed away on Independence Day in 1826.

Bad Guy of the Week- Che Guevara

2011-06-28T13:30:00.001-07:00

For this, the first entry under bad guy of the week, I thought it would be a good idea to shine some light on a darling of the left. Go to any college campus and probably any Hollywood set and you'll find this guy's likeness on tee shirts and posters. Those who would sport the likeness of Che Guevara are either ill-informed, misinformed or lovers of Marxist thugs and murderers. Che Guevara was not someone to be admired or worshipped. He was, plain and simple, a thug and a murderer. You would be very hard pressed to find a Cuban resident of the United States who thought otherwise. People in this country would never think that it was okay to wear the likeness of Hitler on their shirt. The only difference between the two was the measure of their depravity. Please let your kids know about this guy - and don't let them think that he is properly portrayed by Hollywood (Benicio Del Toro played the monster - in a favorable light - in a recent movie).

Below is a link to a more accurate portrayal.

Click here.

Good Guy of the Week - Israel

2011-06-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

Our most important strategic partner in the global war against Islamofascism and a country that shares our values - individual rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, real human rights. It is imperative for the United States to stand shoulder to shoulder with the State of Israel - for our own national interest, for the survival of Israel and for freedom throughout the world.

Israel is forever demonized by the forces of anti-semitism throughout the world. It is important to remember that this small nation (just slightly larger than the State of New Jersey) is surrounded almost entirely by enemies sworn to their extinction. Israel's supposed partner in the "peace process," the Palestinian Authority, has elected a government, Hamas, which is a terrorist organization and has in it's charter sworn to destroy Israel. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. Luckily for the people of Israel, there are and have been uncompromising leaders - men and women - like Benjamin Netanyahu, Golda Mier and David Ben Gurion leading the way. Since the creation of the State of Israel in the wake of the holocaust and WWII, the Israelis have been attacked by coalitions of Arab nations - their neighbors - no less than three times, in 1948, 1967 and 1973. Each time, the Israelis prevailed. Each time, they were blamed and criticized. Against all odds, they have succeeded and built a beacon of freedom in a part of the world that knows little. It is incumbent on us, the greatest country the world has ever known to continue to support them. They are the good guys of the Middle East. Make no mistake about it. Watch the attached video by Michelle Bachmann, United States Representative from Minnesota. She is a courageous and patriotic woman. We could do a whole lot worse than to have her or someone like her as our President.

Post Update

2011-06-27T19:39:00.001-07:00

We're on Sanibel time, so stay tuned for two posts tomorrow.

Constitution Sundays

2011-06-26T13:41:00.000-07:00

My blog partner and daughter, Molly (the kid), has questioned my commitment to this summer's effort. Beginning today, I'm all in. Each Sunday's post will be on the document that lays out the first principles on which our great nation was founded- the Constitution. Coincidentally, these first principles are the sole reason for our nation's exceptionalism. The United States is the greatest nation the world has ever known and the Constitution is, inarguably, the main reason. Not so coincidentally, our current problems stem from our collective ignorance (sometimes willful as in the case of Nancy Pelosi) of the principles delineated in the Constitution. Over the course of the next ten weeks or so, we will attempt to educate those of you who are eager or even just willing to increase your knowledge. Click here to read an article by Charles Kesler that appeared about a year ago in National Review. It is a primer of sorts and a great way to kick off Constitution Sundays.

John Paul Jones Quote

2011-06-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

"Without a respectable Navy, alas America!" - John Paul Jones.

John Paul Jones, the Father of the American Navy, is most renowned for his valiancy during the Revolutionary War. His most famous line, "I have not yet begun to fight!" was spoken during the battle between his ship, the Bonhomme Richard, and the HMS Serapis.

Happy birthday!

2011-06-23T14:52:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday to our blog mentor/ father/ Pop/ new surf bum! We love you!

Captain Ingraham's Stand - 21 June 1853

2011-06-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

On June 21st, 1853, a man of Hungarian descent named Martin Koszta was seized in Smyrna, Greece, by a party of armed Greeks who were employed by the Austrian Consul-General. He was then imprisoned onboard an Austrian warship in the port. This man Koszta had been a leader in an attempt to free Hungary from Austrian rule. The attempt obviously failed and the young man fled to escape execution. In 1850 as now, people who yearned for freedom came to our shores. Koszta became an importer by trade and took out his first citizenship papers. On the day that he was seized, his business had taken him to this Mediterranean port. As his good fortune would have it, a small American war sloop was berthed in that same port – the USS St Louis, commanded by CAPT Duncan Ingraham. When CAPT Ingraham heard of the imprisonment of Koszta, he sought intervention by the American Consul. The Consul, who apparently had much in common with his modern day brethren, washed his hands of the incident because Koszta had only taken out his first citizenship papers. Perhaps he was concerned about offending the aggressors. Ingraham, on the other hand, being a courageous and audacious man who fully understood his obligations and responsibilities as a US Navy Officer, believed that under his oath of office he owed this man the protection of our flag. He boarded the much larger Austrian ship and demanded to see the prisoner, and our citizen. He was in chains and badly beaten. He asked Koszta one question: Do you ask the protection of the American Flag? Koszta nodded and the Captain said: “You shall have it” and left the ship. Later that day, three more Austrian ships sailed into Smyrna and it became apparent that the four were preparing to sail. Ingraham sent a junior officer to the Austrian flagship to tell the Admiral that any attempt to leave the harbor with our citizen aboard would be resisted with the appropriate level of force. He then ordered the decks of St Louis cleared for action and all was made ready for an attack on Hussar, which was much superior in size and armament. Suddenly, the ship’s lookout called out that the Hussar was lowering a boat which then rowed Koszta over to the American ship. CAPT Ingraham then went below and wrote out his letter of resignation from the United States Navy saying: “I did what I thought my oath of office required, but if I have embarrassed my country in any way, I resign.” The Senate refused his resignation with these words: “This battle that was never fought may turn out to be the most important battle in our Nation’s history.”

There have been four US Navy ships named after this brave Navy Captain. The latest is USS Ingraham (FFG-61).

American Historical sites - The Pentagon

2011-06-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

The Pentagon, home to the Department of Defense, is the largest office building in the world, totaling 6,500,000 square feet. Standing 77 feet high, it is a true symbol of American exceptionalism. One may guess that it took several years to construct the Pentagon. However, it took merely 16 months! Construction commenced exactly 60 years before the terrorist attack on September 11th and was completed on January 15, 1943. Pressure to complete the building was added after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The American architect George Bergstrom designed the Pentagon. Possible sites for the building included Arlington Farm, adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, and the Washington Hoover Airport site. President Roosevelt eventually selected the Hoover Airport site, so as to not obstruct the view of D.C. from the Arlington Cemetery. The original chosen site was the Arlington Farms, which was the reason for the pentagonal design. On September 11, 2001, a day that will forever be remembered by Americans, five al-Qaeda members crashed an American Airlines plane into the Western side of the Pentagon, killing 184 Americans. The reconstruction, known as the Phoenix Project, was completed by August 2002. An indoor memorial covers the area of impact.

On this blog...

2011-06-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

Monday posts will be about a good guy/ally.

Tuesday posts will focus on a bad guy.

Wednesday posts will discuss a historical site.

Thursday posts will be about a historical event.

Friday posts will cover a current event.

Saturday posts will simply be a relevant quote.

And Sundays will be all about the Constitution.

Bob Gets Buckets!

2011-06-16T15:05:00.000-07:00