Sad News to wake up to this morning. I admit it, I did the jaw drop thing myself this morning. When I read former press secretary Tony Snow had passed.
You can say many things about the Bush Administration, you can bad mouth many of the players. But you cannot bad mouth Tony. He was just a nice guy. Who was tossed into one of worst jobs in the White House, and the really funny thing is, he loved doing it.
Tony was 53 and had three children. My thoughts and Prayers are with Jill, Robbie, Kendall, Kristi
There are many nice things being said about Tony. If you follow the link above, you’ll see the good things. Unfortunately, some of the left are using this as a time to insult a dead man. God be their judges. I won’t directly link to any of that screed.
Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend, Tony Snow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jill, and their children, Kendall, Robbie, and Kristi. The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character.
Tony was one of our Nation’s finest writers and commentators. He earned a loyal following with incisive radio and television broadcasts. He was a gifted speechwriter who served in my father’s Administration. And I was thrilled when he agreed to return to the White House to serve as my Press Secretary. It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day. He brought wit, grace, and a great love of country to his work. His colleagues will cherish memories of his energetic personality and relentless good humor.
All of us here at the White House will miss Tony, as will the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer. One of the things that sustained Tony Snow was his faith – and Laura and I join people across our country in praying that this good man has now found comfort in the arms of his Creator.
Rest in Peace, Tony. You’ve earned it. Save me a place at the table and around that throne of Grace. See you there!
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
[….}
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
It was on this day, 232 years ago. That men decided that freedom was the only way. This post is for them.
A few videos:
A video that tells the story of our National Anthem and how it came to be:
A singing of our National Anthem, that I think is the closest thing to Heavenly Angels singing that we’ll ever get here on Earth:
Another American Classic:
Another one, done, only the way, this man could do it:
Even John Wayne knows:
I posted this, not for some stupid political ploy, not to be clever, but to remind everyone, no matter what your political stripe or conviction or feeling, You are, We are, all Americans. This is our land, and we should, at least once a year, stop and reflect on our freedoms. The freedom to write, the freedom to Pray to whatever God we wish or the freedom to not pray, at all. The freedom to agree, the freedom of dissent or to disagree, the freedom to assemble or simply the freedom to do nothing at all.
As Always, We remember our soldiers, especially those who have fallen:
One of my favorite songs:
Update: I could not remember the name of this song last night, I remembered the name this morning:
I cannot listen to this without tearing up… it’s tough, even for a guy:
God Bless the United States of America and God Bless and Keep our Soldiers.
Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday after a sudden heart attack at the bureau, NBC News said Friday. He was 58.
Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” program when he collapsed, the network said. No details were immediately available.
Russert, the recipient of 48 honorary doctorates, took over the helm of “Meet the Press” in December 1991. Now in its 60th year, “Meet the Press” is the longest-running program in the history of television.
In 2008, Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Timothy John Russert Jr. was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 7, 1950. He was a graduate of Canisius High School, John Carroll University and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was a member of the bar in New York and the District of Columbia.
[…]
Russert is survived by his wife, Maureen Orth, a writer for Vanity Fair magazine, and a son, Luke.
There are no words. I am absolutely stunned.
I loved his punditry.
Prayers for his Son and Wife, this evening…
May he rest in peace.
Update: Here is Tom Brokaw breaking the News: (H/T HotAir)
“We all I think have heard the news about Tim Russert. I’ve known Tim Russert since I first spoke at the convention in 2004. He’s somebody who overtime I came to consider not only a journalist but a friend.
There wasn’t a better interviewer in TV, not a more thoughtful analyst of our politics and he was also one of the finest men I knew. Somebody who cared about America, cared about the issues, cared about family. I am grief-stricken with the loss and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. And I hope that even though Tim is irreplaceable that the standard that he set in his professional life and his family life are standards that we all carry with us in our own lives.”
McCain’s Statement:
“I would like to just make a brief statement concerning the shocking news about the untimely death of a great journalist and a great American, Tim Russert.
Tim Russert was at the top of his profession. He was a man of honesty and integrity. He was hard but he was always fair. We miss him. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and we know that Tim Russert leaves a legacy of integrity of the highest level of journalism and we will miss him and we will miss him a lot.
Again, he was hard, he was fair, he was at the top of his profession. He loved his country, he loved the Buffalo Bills and most of all he loved his family.”
Former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton’s Statement:
"We were stunned and deeply saddened to hear of the passing today of Tim Russert. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Maureen, his son Luke, his father who we all have come to know as Big Russ, his extended family and all of his many friends and colleagues at NBC who have suffered a tremendous loss. Always true to his proud Buffalo roots, Tim had a love of public service and a dedication to journalism that rightfully earned him the respect and admiration of not only his colleagues but also those of us who had the privilege to go toe to toe with him. In seeking answers to tough questions, he helped inform the American people and make our democracy stronger. We join his friends, fans and loved ones in mourning his loss and celebrating his remarkable contribution to our nation. "
I think it’s great to see how that the Political world is coming together, even for a brief moment to remember someone who was one of the best.
The Political Blogging world is stunned. It just tears my heart out to watch Keith Olbermann trying to hold his emotions in and stay objective.
Russert was, without question, the single most influential political journalist working in Washington. His show — known to insiders as simply "MTP" — was not only the most watched of the Sunday news programs but also the one that every politician and journalist aspired to appear on.
An example of Russert’s influence: When he proclaimed that Barack Obama had effectively clinched the Democratic presidential nomination on the night of the May 6 primaries in Indiana and North Carolina, it was seen as a significant sign that Hillary Rodham Clinton’s time in the race was running short. As my colleagues Anne Kornblut and Dan Balz wrote: "When NBC’s Tim Russert flatly declared the Democratic race over around midnight, one adviser recalled, "the air came out of the room."
While I have been a very vocal critic of the Bush Administration’s Handling of the war in Iraq. I will always stand in honor for our United States Military.
Here is a video that I think everyone, Liberal, Conservative and everything in between, needs to watch: (H/T to Army Wife Toddler Mom and Tammi)
Now, I am sure there will be those who will accuse me of being a Liberal for posting this.
Quite honestly, I could give a flying flip what those close-minded, ignorant, fools think really.
Every time I read some idiotic tripe, which is usually written by some racist bigot, saying that Martin Luther King Jr. was a Communist, I just want to rip that persons head off. Sad part is, most Republicansbelieve that nonsense.
Funny thing is, the same Republicans that derided Martin Luther King Jr. Deride Al Sharpton. Honestly? I’m not a fan of the guy either. Not because of his skin color, because he’s hi-jacked the civil rights movement. As has Jesse Jackson. But I strong suspect the motives of the Conservatives who love to run those twoin the ground.
I present these videos, not in support of any particular political party. I present them for their historical value, the man changed the south, no Republican or Conservative can deny that, not at all. In fact, I will go on record as saying, any Conservative that says anything cross against this man, exposes him or herself as the racist bigot that they truly are.
Update: I am including this video, because I want people to see the emotional impact of what happened on April 4, 1968. They didn’t just kill a man, they hurt and impacted a race of people….check this quite heart rending video out:
And now….The Videos:
His Most Famous Speech:
His Last Speech:
Part 1:
Part 2:
On War:
May the man Rest in God’s Holy Peace…. and may his message never die.
