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.
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)
William Buckley has passed. Go here to read the various Blog postings about it.
I wrote a special editorial about it. I wish it could have been more in depth, But I really didn’t have a intimate knowledge of the guy. I worked with that which I had to draw from.
I will say this. I have read some of the Blog reactions about the passing of the man. Most were decent, but some, quite frankly, were downright nasty. These people are bastards, all of them.
Why do I say this? I unwittingly insulted the dead wife of a man. To this day, I still feel horrible about it. How these soulless bastards can do this sort of a thing, intentionally, and sleep at night, is quite beyond me. It’s uncalled for, it cheapens the discourse and quite frankly, it ruins the creditability of the Blogging World.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Buckley. You have earned your eternal reward.
