No, I am not going to the RNC Convention

I was not even going to blog about it, but I figured I would let all of you know. I really am not going to the Republican Party’s Convention in Tampa, Florida and I will list the reasons why:

My financial situation – I have not worked in over eight years, I blame the “disconnected from reality” politics of both parties for this; and that is on ALL levels, Federal, State and yes, local. Elections have consequences and because of this, myself and many other people that I know are paying for those stupid votes. So, the funds to go to a convention just are not there at all. End of discussion.
I just do not get into establishment politics at all. – I mean, the idea of someone beating Barack Obama in this election is great and all, but to be honest with you; I have never really fit into the stereotypical “Republican” mold. I am from a working class, middle class, mostly Democratic Party voting family and neighborhood. I loathe that party with every fiber of my being, but I am not exactly smitten with the Republican Party either. Remember, just as recent as 2006, I was still running a “Historic Populist” blog. 7 years ago; Wow…. It really does not seem that long ago — that I was swearing about Bush and his politics; which were really not that Conservative or really even Constitutional.
They all really, truly, hate me with a passion. — It is no secret, that I am truly the black sheep of the so-called “Conservative” blogosphere. This is mainly because of my past of being a former “Left of center” blogger and person. …and you know what? I am fine with that. I never started writing about the things that pissed me off about politics to get any sort of vain glory or popularity. I just did it to talk back to the forces that I thought were hurting this Country. So far, I have made some waves and a few enemies. Again, I am fine with that. Even if I had like a zillion bucks in the bank and could charter a flight to Tampa and had the money to stay in the nicest Hotel — I just would not bother. Hell, I cannot even afford to replace this stupid laptop that decided to wink the dashboard. Not only that, but my Mom has not gotten in a hurry to let me have back the laptop that I royally screwed up, and she managed to fix herself. So, I am still on the old monitor, which sucks to the high heavens, but, what can I do? I don’t have the money to buy a laptop. Which again, sucks. 🙁

However, I can recommend some places to read, with people that WILL be in Tampa.

The Other McCain, who’s owner is not really someone I like, but he’s a decent writer and will tell the truth; for the most part anyhow.
HotAir.com is the best, hands down, Conservative Blog around. It is in my sidebar and I read the site daily. Someone from HotAir will be there for the show. Which from what I read is going to be shortened a day.

Also too, I am sure Fox News will be there as well. I will be watching that as well. I will also give my feeling about what I see and here on the TV, like everyone else.

So, there you go, what is happening with me and the RNC Convention. If you are going to Tampa, be safe. There is a hurricane churning out at sea. If the Feds tell you to hit the road; by all means, please listen! But from what I have read, it is not expected to be that bad. The RNC is just being cautious and believe it or not, I think that is a very good thing.

Iraq and Afghanistan: wars fought wrong

This is what happens when you piece-meal a war, this is what happens; when you leave a war to fester, while you invade another Country, based on bad information. More importantly, this is what happens when you elect warmongering Neoconservatives into power. This is what happens, when you fight “armchair general’s” wars.

You end up with dead people, who should not have to die to protect an empire; and you get religious strife within a Country.

In Afghanistan:

Via Detroit News:

Kabul, Afghanistan — A man in an Afghan police uniform shot and killed an international service member on Sunday, NATO said, raising the death toll to 10 in such attacks in the space of just two weeks.
The surge in violence by Afghan allies against their international partners has raised doubts about the ability of the two forces to work together at a key transition time. Afghan forces are expected to take over security for the country by the end of 2014, when the majority of international combat forces are scheduled to leave.
On the other side, a coalition airstrike killed dozens of Taliban militants, including one of their leaders, officials said.
Few details were immediately available about Sunday’s killing of a coalition member in southern Afghanistan. NATO said only that they and Afghan authorities were investigating. Afghan officials could not be reached for comment.
The Taliban have been actively recruiting members of the Afghan security forces, saying in a statement last week that they considered these turncoat attacks a major part of their strategy against international forces.

In Iraq:

Via The Detroit News:

Baghdad — A bomb struck the convoy of a senior Sunni cleric in western Baghdad on Sunday, killing four and critically wounding the anti-extremist Muslim leader, police said.
The attack highlights the threats faced by relatively moderate Sunni clerics whom the Shiite-led government needs to help rebuild the country and establish security. It follows a series of assaults in what is becoming an increasingly bloody month.
The blast in the capital’s Yarmouk neighborhood left Sheik Mahdi al-Sumaidaie badly hurt, a Sunni religious official said. The cleric had just finished leading prayers at a nearby mosque to mark the beginning of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which follows the holy month of Ramadan.
Al-Sumaidaie has sided with the government against Sunni extremists. Earlier this year, he called for a unified religious authority to bridge the gap between Iraq’s Sunnis and Shiites. Insurgents often target Sunni clerics seen as working closely with the Shiite-led government.
Two police officers and a hospital official confirmed the attack. They said four of the cleric’s bodyguards were killed and three others were wounded.
All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki condemned the attack. In a statement posted on his website, the Shiite leader said the attack was aimed at “spreading sedition and silencing any patriotic moderate voice.”
“Even as we condemn this ugly crime, we are confident that our people are aware of the evil goals of such schemes,” he said.

The invasion of the Sovereign Nation of Iraq was supposedly to bring peace and stability to that region. So much for that eh? The only thing that the invasion of Iraq did was destabilize and inspire more Muslims to become radicalized, and try to attack America and our allies. As for Afghanistan, that war could have been fought quickly and efficiently; however, because the American people were looking for a scalp, after the events on 9/11 and Osama was well protected within Afghanistan and Pakistani ranks — President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq.

This left the Afghanistan War to fester and turn into what it is today —- a huge cluster fark. This was a huge error on our part and one that will be stain on the United States of America for a very long time. This War was about as bad as Vietnam, if not worse. What made this worse than Vietnam, is the fact that Vietnam was requested by the United Nations at the time. The Military action in Iraq was requested by no one at all, and was based upon false premises and horrifically bad information by a dissident who defected to Germany.

Least anyone think that I have become anti-military or something silly like that; none of the above was the fault of the United States Military. The United States Military did their jobs most excellent, some of them giving their lives in service to their Country. For that they should be commended. However, the leadership, at the time; was the problem. That leadership started in the White House, and for that we, the American people — will be paying, for a very long time —- fiscally, spiritually, and the eyes of the World. The United States of America, in the span of about eight years —went from being the World’s leader to the World’s bully in the eyes of the rest of the World. The Neoconservative reaction to this, is “Who cares?” But anyone who truly loves this Country, ought be very worried about that little problem.

The best thing we, as Americans can do, is hope and pray that none of the radical Muslims can get enough money and support to try and attack this Country again. It is, truly — all we can do.

I will say this, the American people are about to make the same mistake again. Putting Mitt Romney, as the Republican for President of the United States; is about the stupidest thing that the Republican Party could have ever done. In light of the Bush era, that is. We are about to make the same mistakes again —- In Iran. You watch and see.

Chuck Baldwin minces no words about Paul Ryan

I have to like Chuck Baldwin, he does not mince words:

It has happened again. We go through this every four years, and every four years the vast majority of “conservatives” fall for it. This is such a broken record. What did Forrest Gump say: “Stupid is as stupid does”? And wasn’t it P.T. Barnum who said, “There’s a sucker born every minute”? Well, here we go again.
Neocon RINO George H.W. Bush picks “conservative” Dan Quayle. “Conservative” G.W. Bush picks neocon RINO Dick Cheney. Neocon RINO John McCain picks “conservative” Sarah Palin. Now, neocon RINO Mitt Romney picks “conservative” Paul Ryan. As long as there is one “conservative” on the ticket, mushy-headed “conservatives” across the country will go into a gaga, starry-eyed, hypnotic trance in support of the Republican ticket. I’m convinced that if Lucifer, himself, was the GOP Presidential candidate, he would get the support of the Religious Right and Republican “conservatives” as long as he selected a reputed “conservative” to join his ticket. And, by the way, the notable “conservative” wouldn’t think twice about joining such a ticket, either, I’m convinced.
Let’s just get this on the record: since 1960, there have only been two Presidential nominees (from the two major parties) who were not controlled by the globalist elitists. One was a Democrat, John F. Kennedy; the other was a Republican, Ronald Reagan. Kennedy was shot and killed; Reagan was shot. Every other President, Democrat or Republican, has been totally controlled, which is why none of them have done diddly-squat to make a difference in the direction of the country. On the issues that really matter, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are just more of the same!
via Chuck Baldwin — Paul Ryan: More Of The Same.

He goes on to say that Ron Paul is the only one; and I disagree with that. However, I will say this; he is right about Romney and Ryan. Which is I am voting for:

Goode/Clymer in 2012

He will not win the election

But voting for anything else is simply Anti-American

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UPDATED: My feelings about Mitt Romney’s VP pick Paul Ryan

Is pretty much summed up here:

If there isn’t much to Ryan’s foreign policy, what we do know of his views isn’t encouraging. His Alexander Hamilton Society speech was standard neoconservatism complete with heavy reliance on Krauthammer’s “decline is a choice” argument, and he remains opposed to any reductions in military spending. He is a product of the Bush era, and in foreign policy views he seems to have learned nothing from Bush era mistakes.
via The Triumph of Ryanmania | The American Conservative.

That pretty much sums it up for me. Many on the left, including the President, are having a bit of a freak out over the choice. Not to worry Democrats, Mitt Romney will not carry out any parts of Ryan’s budget plan that would hurt his chances of getting reelected. Mitt Romney is not a fool, he is a moderate; by Conservative standards and will not do anything to hurt his political career.

Seeing that Ryan is Roman Catholic, that will cause the evangelical base to support Romney. Although there will be holdouts, like me. 😀 Some see this as a brilliant move and some see it as an idiotic move. I see this as strictly a political move and nothing else.

The real question is, does Romney stand a chance to win? Personally, I think he does; because Romney has money, lots of it and Romney also has a good deal of wealthy people who are supporting him too. Which means that Romney is outspending Obama by a good margin. Which means that Romney can outbox Obama with the ads. All Romney has to do is highlight Obama’s failed record on jobs and the economy. Romney needs to greatly highlight that fact that we are 15 trillion in debt and that Obama continues to spend money that we simply do not have, and highlight that fact that Obama has been utterly contemptible in his attitude towards small to medium businesses, not to mention big businesses!

All in all, I believe it was a much smarter move, than the one John McCain made in 2008. I just hope that Romney can battle against the identity politics aspect of this campaign, which will undoubtedly start at some point — better than John McCain and Hillary Clinton did in 2008. If they cannot, we will be in for 8 more years of the Marxist idiocy of Obama Administration. Hopefully, Romney has his a-game on, when comes to this; because we just cannot afford another term of Obama — not without some serious problems in our future. UPDATE: It begins, Ryan is already being called a racist.

Blogger round up here.

Video: Living proof that Bill O’Rielly is a big government statist

Check out Bill O’Rielly’s impassioned defense of big Government statism.

(H/T HotAir.com)

UPDATED: Another mass shooting, this time in Wisconsin

First Colorado, now this.

A mass shooting at a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin. Go Here, Here, Here, Here and Here to read all about it. (Via Memeornadum)

Via NBCNews.com, a detail that I am hoping like hell is wrong:

A temple committee member, Ven Boba Ri, told the Journal-Sentinel that people inside the temple described the shooter as a white male in his 30s.
“We have no idea,” he said of the motive. “It’s pretty much a hate crime. It’s not an insider.”
Ri told the Journal-Sentinel the gunman walked up to a priest who was standing outside the temple and shot him. Then he went inside and started shooting.

If this is even remotely true; we are so.very.much.screwed, when it comes to gun rights. It is over and we will have to wait to see if Mitt Romney wins or not and if the Republican take both houses. Because you know good and well; that the Democrats will enact strict Gun laws. It is that whole, “never let a crisis go to waste” thing.

Right now, prayers. Prayers for the victims, Prayers for the families —- and Prayer for our Nation. We’re about to lose it, if we are not real careful here. 🙁

Update: Via CNN: Video of witness describing what he saw:

Update #2: Round of blogs, right and left — covering this story: Washington Monthly, Guardian, The Lede, Outside the Beltway, The Moderate Voice, Los Angeles Times, The Raw Story, JOSHUAPUNDIT, ABCNEWS, The Hinterland Gazette, New York Magazine, Washington Examiner, Shakesville, BBC, The Other McCain, Wizbang, Scared Monkeys, Mashable!, American Power, Gawker, The Mahablog, Newsy, Taylor Marsh, The PJ Tatler, Blazing Cat Fur, First Draft and Booman Tribune, Newsy, The Talking Dog, Runnin’ Scared, The Hinterland Gazette and American Power, The Gateway Pundit, Guardian, Mediaite, Angry Black Lady Chronicles, The Raw Story, Joe. My. God. and ABCNEWS, Hot Air and Los Angeles Times, ABCNEWS and Crooks and Liars

Another good reason why I do not have, nor do I want children of my own

Go read Here, Here and Here.

A small snippet:

Dear Free-Range Kids: Recently my youngest daughter and I had an experience that really shook me up (both of us, actually), and I wanted to share it with you. We were walking to the library together, and she was holding my hand and trying to pull me into telephone poles and whatnot as we walked, which is a silly game that she enjoys. Suddenly a police car pulled up beside us, lights on and everything. The cop gets out of his car, says “Sir, please step away from the child,” then proceeds to crouch down and ask her if “everything is okay.”
After re-asking a few times, getting a more and more nervous “yes” each time, he stands up and informs me that someone had called 911 reporting what looked like a young girl being abducted. My daughter and I both explained what was really happening, and not only did he not even apologize, he chastised ME for not being, and I quote verbatim here, “More thankful someone was watching out for my daughter.” — Read the rest here

Big Government Statism at its finest there.

Another good reason keep it in your pants and not have kids. Our Government, at all branches, is simply out of control.

(H/T Instapundit)

Clifton Truman Daniel is disgrace to his grandfather’s memory!

What an utter disgrace to the memory of President Harry Truman! 😡

TOKYO – A grandson of ex-U.S. President Harry Truman, who ordered the atomic bombings of Japan during World War II, is in Hiroshima to attend a memorial service for the victims.
Clifton Truman Daniel visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on Saturday and laid a wreath for the 140,000 people killed by the Aug. 6, 1945, bombing authorized by his grandfather. Another atomic blast in Nagasaki three days later killed 70,000 more.
“I think this cenotaph says it all — to honor the dead to not forget and to make sure that we never let this happen again,” Daniel said after offering a silent prayer.
via Truman grandson visits Hiroshima A-bomb memorial | Fox News.

Here’s the part that really sent me into a rage:

Daniel, a former journalist, met Sadako’s 71-year-old brother, Masahiro Sasaki, who survived the bombing, at a peace event in New York in 2010. They agreed to work together to deepen understanding between the two countries, which are still divided over the question of the legitimacy of the atomic attacks.
“There are other opinions, there are other points of view, and I don’t think we ever finish talking about that,” Daniel said after visiting a museum at the memorial. “The important thing is to keep talking, to talk about all of it.”
Daniel said in a statement that he decided to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki because he needed to know the consequences of his grandfather’s decision as part of his own efforts to help achieve a nuclear-free world. He said he hoped to hear stories from survivors about how they overcame their adversity.
Daniel also is to meet with the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and participate in discussions with students.
Susumu Miura, a 78-year-old Hiroshima native, wrote in the newspaper Tokyo Shimbun that he was enraged when he learned that many Americans still support the decision to drop the atomic bombs.
“But when I heard on the news that former President Truman’s grandson is visiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I felt as if I lost some weight from my chest,” Miura wrote in an op-ed article.

Here is a clue for Mr. Truman and to Mr. Miura —- The imperial Military of Japan attacked us first, on what was known then, as the Republic of Hawaii. Not only were there military officers killed in that attack, there were innocent civilians on that Island killed too. Not only that, but the Japanese Military would not surrender, they kept fighting and would do so to the death. Because of this, President Truman decided to drop the bombs on Japan.

Now before some idiot tries to lecture me —-I know —- there were actions taken by the United States Government covertly to stop Japan from spreading aggression to the other eastern Countries. However, the fact remains that the empire of Japan attacked the United States Military base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 without warning, without consideration of civilian life or any other life for that matter. It was an act of cowardice and was answered by the righteous might of the United States Military.

For this liberal buffoon, Clifton Truman Daniel, to go to the land of our aggressor and basically tell them that we were wrong for dropping the atomic bomb on Japan is akin to urinating on the graves of our World War II dead. It is Anti-American, it is morally wrong and Clifton Truman Daniel should be forcefully deported out this Country for such an act! If we lived in a sane world and not one dominated by liberalism, but one of sane patriotism —- this liberal buffoon would be tried for treason!

As someone who has had multiple family members; including one who fought in Germany during World War II and earned a Silver Star and a Purple Heart for his service and bravery during the war, serve in the Military —— I find this action by this leftist jackass to be offensive and utterly insulting to the memory of ALL of those, who served in the United States Military. Furthermore, this is nothing more than a stab in the back and spitting in the face, to the fine people answered the call of the President of United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, to fight for their Country against the evil axis of power that was threatening our Country at that time.

Clifton Truman Daniel owes the United States Military, its officers —- both current and former and their families an apology this most grievous insult.

Adam Smith’s chickens have come home to roost.

Serves Adam Smith right for being an ass.

Adam Smith’s life has been turned upside-down in the 36 hours that followed his posting the video of his protest at Chick-fil-A, which involved letting a young, female employee at the drive-thru know what he thinks about the company. (You can watch the video here.)
We had an exclusive conversation with Smith where he shared his side of the story. Here’s a taste of what he said:
He has lost his job as Chief Financial Officer at Vante. (Smith claims that he was not given a chance to really explain himself before being terminated)
His family has been threatened with violence and death. (At one point, his email account was getting 3 messages a minute, mostly vulgar and threatening)
Because his home address was made public, he cannot live in his house. (And Mr. Smith is a married father of four – two of his children are adopted, special needs kids.)
Smith said that his original intent was to follow guidelines laid out in an online video, which included quoting a scripture.
via Interview With Adam Smith: Fired CFO Says He‘s Received Threats and Wasn’t Give Chance to Explain Himself | TheBlaze.com.

Maybe next time Adam Smith will think a little more before he acts like a douche bag. Serves him right. 😡

Video: Obama’s Racism

A new PAC has been formed, FightBigotry.com. I will give my thoughts at the end.

The Video: (Via Think Progress)

Who is running it:

FightBigotry.com’s founder and treasurer is Stephen Marks, a well-known Republican opposition researcher whose 2008 book Confessions of a Political Hitman detailed his work in what he called “the dark side of politics.” In 2000, he launched an attack ad under the misleading name “Americans Against Hate,” attempting to tie Al Gore to controversial comments by Rev. Al Sharpton. Another Marks spot in 2004 attempted to link John Kerry to convicted murderer Willie Horton. He was forced to retract a claim in the book about then-Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ), acknowledging that “the information was not accurate.”

About the Video:

Beyond the obvious race-baiting, the ad is riddled with factual errors. Holder’s March 2011 statement was criticizing a Congressman for equating an a 2008 New Black Panther Party incident with the much more violent assaults against voting rights advocates in the 1960s – not about “pursuing the New Black Panthers.”
And what this group terms a “racist altercation with police” involved a Harvard University professor being stopped by police for trying to enter his own home. Even conservative Fox News legal analyst and former New Jersey state Judge Andrew Napolitano called it an “improper arrest.”

Okay now for my thoughts:

To Steven Marks, you have the right to do this — but… What does it honestly do for the Conservative movement and the Republican Party? I mean, the stuff is class A, USDA choice, weapons grade, dog-whistle material. I mean, what is the motivation? Is it to inform people, or is it to stir up hostility among white people against Obama?

Simply put, this is nothing more than a losing gambit; for all concerned — White People, The Conservative movement, The Republican Party, Mitt Romney and his supporters. The truth is folks, we can run on Obama’s record; as it is said that he is going to lose big anyhow, we do not need to bring race into this election at all. It is unneeded baggage and it will only hurt us in the long run.

While I am empathetic and sympathetic to the things said in this video, as I am a white person myself; I simply do not believe that this is really needed at all. It does nothing for the Conservative cause and it does well play into the talking-point that Republicans are racist. This is simply something that we just do not need at all.

Round up of liberals covering this, and yes, they’re right about this one: Washington Monthly, Wonkette, Little Green Footballs, Shakesville (Via Memeorandum)