Golem

2010-04-06T17:34:00.000-07:00

Iowahawk on the Massachusetts Senatorial election

2010-01-20T14:55:00.000-08:00

He's amazing!

Do No Blame Me

Special Post-Election Analysis
by Rosa Ortiz
Former Chief of Housekeeping Staff, Coakley For Senate Campaign

I have been in this country for now many years and I have learn many things. Like to put the 20% away for the rainy day. Do no to mix the permanent press with the cottons. And as Dio is my witness, do no never take the job for the Kennedys.

Please for to let me explain. I am being to not blog for many months here because I am very busy.

Read the rest.

2010

2010-01-01T18:25:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

Iowahawk: I Am Proud to Lead You Men to the Nearest Off-Ramp

2009-12-06T10:15:00.000-08:00

Time for more brilliance from the master.

Brigadier General Barack H. Obama
Supreme Allied Commander-in-Chief, Operation Minivan Pool
At ease, men.
As your battalion commanders and General Axelrod have already briefed you, you embark today on an important mission to the Af-Pak Theater. The success of this mission will not only insure the future of democracy and human civilization, but also my Gallup net favorable index. I have every confidence that you will succeed in this great educational field trip, because you represent the finest right-sized, nonviolent time killing force ever assembled.

Read the whole thing.

Iowahawk: Obama Like Me? Roman, Please

2009-10-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

Great stuff.

Iowahawk Special Guest Commentary
Gaius Julius Caesar

Yo mortal, how you livin'? It's your old pal JC, a/k/a Juicy Julius, a/k/a Flavius Flav. What's it been -- two, three millenniums? Yeah, longtimes. After that Forum dagger driveby by that punkass bitch Brutus and his crew, The Juice has been keepin' his shit on the downlow. Much respect to my homeboy Octavius for the deification.

Read the whole thing.

Irving Kristol has died

2009-09-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

Rest is peace, Mr. Kristol. You have done good work.

Irving Kristol, Architect of Neoconservatism, Dies at 89

Irving Kristol, 89, a forceful essayist, editor and university professor who became the leading architect of neoconservatism, which he called a political and intellectual movement for disaffected ex-liberals like himself who had been "mugged by reality," died Friday at the Capital Hospice in Arlington.

He spent much of his career in New York but had for the last two decades lived at the Watergate apartments in the District. He died of complications from lung cancer, said his son, William Kristol, the founder and editor of the conservative Weekly Standard magazine.

Read the rest at The Washington Post.

Bill Cosby plays the race card

2009-09-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

Bill Cosby has been a wonderful spokesman for personal responsibility. However, the other day on his Facebook page, he played the race card. What a shame.

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SPEECH

I agree with President Carter that racism is playing a role in recent outbursts against President Obama. During President Obama’s speech on the status of health care reform, some members of congress engaged in a public display of disrespect. While one Representative hurled the now infamous “you lie” insult at the President, others made their lack of interest known by exhibiting rude behavior such as deliberately yawning and sending text messages.

Health care reform is the most important domestic issue facing America today. Disease does not discriminate. African American, White, Asian, Latino, Republican, Democrat, no one in America is immune. So it seems obvious that a debate on health care reform should not include views born solely of partisanship or bigotry.

Various polls prior to the election indicated that between five and ten percent of Americans would never vote for an African American president. That number, of course, only includes those who actually admitted to their prejudice. How many others harbored such feelings but did not respond honestly when asked the question? And how many people oppose Obama’s plan because the President is African American?

In "Birth of a Nation," D.W. Griffith used white actors in black face to portray black legislators as having low intelligence and acting like fools. Today, we have a band of real life congressional fools seemingly bent on blocking any meaningful reform of the health care system. But if we allow even one American to die simply because he or she cannot afford treatment, we are creating a shameful scenario that could aptly be called “Death of a Nation.”

Iowahawk celebrates the life of Norman Borlaug

2009-09-18T15:27:00.000-07:00

In a serious turn, Iowahawk pays tribute to great fighter of world famine, Norman Borlaug.

Farm Boy

State Highway 9 is a two lane strip of asphalt that cuts across the northernmost tier of counties in Iowa, from Larchwood to Lansing. If you drive its 320 miles, as I have done many times, you will not be dissuaded from the stereotype of Iowa as a flat boring expanse of cornfields. The few points of interest include Lake Okoboji and the headquarters of Winnebago in Forest City. It takes you near Mason City, the model for "River City" in Meredith Willson's The Music Man, and the site of the plane crash that claimed Buddy Holly after a February 1959 concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. About an hour of cornfields east of there, when you reach the outskirts of Cresco, you will see a sign welcoming you to the hometown of Norman Borlaug.

More

And from Reason Magazine:

Norman Borlaug: The Man Who Saved More Human Lives Than Any Other Has Died

Dennis Prager on taxes

2009-09-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

The Left Is Right -- Taxes Are a Moral Issue

One principle that all those on the left hold is that taxes constitute more than an economic issue; they are, first and foremost, a moral one. Economists on the left may argue for higher taxes on economic grounds but they and we know that at bottom, higher taxes, especially "taxing the rich," is what they believe morality demands.

Read the rest of this fine article.

Neal Boortz on the race card

2009-09-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

Neal Boortz sounded of on the race card today with an excellent rant:

So ... now we all know this is just about Obama's race

And just who didn't see all of this coming? Come on, folks! Having you been paying attention for the past 30 years? In virtually every state and community in this nation liberals have been blaming racism for any failure, miscalculation, controversy or outright act of corruption by black elected officials. There has been a standard operating methodology in place for all of the 40 years I've been doing talk radio:

Read the rest.

8 Years

2009-09-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

Iowahawk takes on the Ted Kennedy myth

2009-08-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

"Lion of Leinenkugel" Norm Snitker, 62, Laid to Rest

La Crosse WI -- Slowly filing past a green-and-gold casket festooned with cheese curds, lottery tickets, and bouquets of 6-pack rings, the city of La Crosse bid a tearful farewell this morning to Norman V. "Norm" Snitker, 62. Long heralded as the "Lion of Leinenkugel" for his relentless fight for free beer and shots at local taverns and supper clubs...

Enjoy the rest.

Still alive

2009-08-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

I'm still alive. Just watching our country slide toward socialism.

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T15:49:00.000-07:00

John McCrae: In Flanders Fields

General Douglas MacArthur: Duty, Honor, Country

Pat Conroy: My Heart's Content

Patrick Camunes: From the Other Side

Reveille: A short film starring David Huddleston and James McEachin

Another masterful column from Iowahawk

2009-04-18T15:26:00.000-07:00

I don't know how he keeps it up.

Red Scare

RIP: Maurice Jarre (1924-2009)

2009-03-29T18:42:00.001-07:00

I thought he was an absolutely wonderful composer. He is most famous for his Oscar winning scores of the David Lean films, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, and A Passage to India.

Just as John Williams is the favorite composer of Steven Spielberg, and Bernard Hermann was the favorite composer of Alfred Hitchcock (until Hitchcock dumped him for debatable reasons), so was Maurice Jarre the favorite composer of David Lean.

However, Jarre wrote scores for other notable films too.

Film composer Maurice Jarre dies

French composer Maurice Jarre, best known for his music for Hollywood films, has died in Los Angeles at 84, after suffering from cancer.

Jarre, father of the composer Jean-Michel Jarre, rose to prominence relatively late in life.

More at BBC

Wikipedia

IMDb

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

Don Finn's Irish Coffee

Ingredients:
One and a half cups of strong brewed coffee
Two ounces of Irish Whiskey (three for the more irish at heart)
One and a half teaspoons white granular sugar
One half cup whipped whip cream

Directions:
Put sugar into Irish coffee mug
One ounce warmed Irish Whiskey
Swirl mug until all sides are well coated
Tilt mug and light whiskey with match or lighter
Swirl flaming whiskey for 20-30 seconds, carmelizing the sugar
Add the remaining whiskey
Fill mug with hot coffee leaving space for whipped cream at top
Serve

May be served with a cherry on top, a cinnamon stick, creme de mint, shaved chocolate, but no true Irishman would do any of these queer things.

Drink several, but not exceeding three.
Talk a lot of blarney.
Then crawl to bed.
Sleep well.

Obama Paper Doll

2009-03-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

From the YCMTSU files.

The Barack & Michelle Obama Paper Doll & Cut-Out Book

The historic journey of Barack and Michelle Obama to the White House is memorialized in this fun yet fashionable paper doll book featuring the Obama family. For the millions who can't get enough of this remarkable first family, here's a book containing perforated press-out dolls of each family member and over 30 mix-and-match coordinated outfits and accessories featuring the Obamas:

--on vacation in Hawaii

--golfing at Camp David

--on election night

--at the extraordinary inauguration and Inaugural Ball

--traveling the world on foreign affairs trip

--rolling up their sleeves for a day of service

--relaxing on a Fourth of July picnic

plus much more!

Highlighting Barack’s uniquely professional, yet down-to-earth wardrobe that reflects his popular persona and Michelle's outstanding taste in fashion, as well as some of the adorable outfits worn by Malia and Sasha, this book is a must for anyone wanting that special "yes we can" kind of day, every day.

Yes. It's real. I'm going to throw up.

Iowahawk takes off on conservative elitists - again

2009-03-04T14:36:00.000-08:00

Once again, Iowahawk gives a deserved blasting to the elitists in the conservative movement:

I Daresay It Is Time We Deal With the Mutineers Aboard the S.S. Conservatism

[ed. note: a number of you have written requesting I invite T. Coddington Van Voorhees VII back for another analysis of the sad state of the conservative movement. After some cajoling and a bottle of VSOP, he agreed.]

T. Coddington Van Voorhees VII
Editor, the National Topsider
Membership Chairman, The Newport Club

Much has been written about the fate of the conservative movement in the months since last I corresponded with you. I won't belabor the barrels of ink expended in the printing of its obituary, nor will I bore you with further reading of its entrails. Suffice it to say the grand old ship is in the doldrums, adrift in the electoral currents, with nary a harbor on the horizon. But it is time we leave such map room mopery aside and navigate a bold new course for the conservative armada. One needn't have a 400-year old heirloom scrimshaw sextant for this task; but, fortunately, I do.

Idiot celebs pledge service to Obama

2009-01-20T15:55:00.000-08:00

A bunch of celebrity twits have made a video that has to be seen to be believed.

Here it is:

MySpace Celebrity and Katalyst present The Presidential Pledge

The urbane Kathy at Cake Eater Chronicles has nailed them perfectly.

And Iowahawk has supplied his own unique send-up.

Yes We Can Monday: On the eve of the inaguration, CBS engages in blatant Obama worship

2009-01-19T15:53:00.000-08:00

It's not a photoshop. It's real.

(click image to enlarge)

The Kansas Citian has been on top of this for days.

And take a look at this video:

Photoshop these ducks and dirt biker

2009-01-18T15:40:00.000-08:00

A hilarious photoshop contest from Fark.com.

These are the submitted photoshops thus far.

And this is the original picture:

(click image to enlarge)

The Neal Boortz Commencement Speech

2009-01-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

Neal Boortz has this to say about his famous 1997 commencement speech:

No, this speech has never been delivered at a college or a university. It was written to protest the fact that such an invitation has never been offered! It has only been delivered on my radio show, printed in my book "The Terrible Truth About Liberals" and produced on a limited edition CD. The irony is that this commencement speech has been more widely distributed, and has been the subject of more comment than any commencement speech that actually has been delivered at any college or university in the past 50 years. ©Copyright 2001, 2002, 2003 by Neal Boortz.
http://www.boortz.com

It's well worth reading and you can read it here at Neal's site.

More about the speech at Snopes and TruthOrFiction.

Iowahawk celebrates the fifth anniversary of his blog

2008-12-15T14:26:00.000-08:00

David Burge started his Iowahawk blog five years ago. To celebrate the event, this masterful satirist has linked his 25 most popular articles from over the years:

Iowahawk: Five Year Plan Fails

Quo vadis, Larry Elder?

2008-12-14T14:55:00.000-08:00

Larry Elder has left his radio talk show host position at KABC-AM 790 in Los Angeles. His final broadcast was Friday, December 12, 2008. He had been at his post for nearly 15 years.

Larry is a popular and influential conservative libertarian commentator who also happens to be black. He has his own style, combining unique insight with a natural sense of humor. His impromptu send-up of Johnny Cochran's O. J. Simpson trial defense summation is particularly memorable.

Much of Larry's values come from a strong upbringing. His parents were loving but firm. Larry did not fall far from the tree. He had wonderful parents who instilled him with good values.

His mother, Viola, was a long time fixture on his Friday show until her death in 2006. It was not unusual for women who had lost their own mothers to call in and seek advice from this good sensible lady. In fact, one caller dubbed her, "America's Mom."

His father, Randy - still alive at 93 - is a similar inspiration to Larry. You can see it in this column by Larry from this past November. You can also see it in this letter Larry's dad wrote to Larry's older brother Kirk right after Kirk was born:

Larry's Dad's Letter to His Son Kirk
May 4, 1951

Kirk my son, you are now starting out in life—a life that mother and I cannot live for you.

So as you journey through life, remember it’s yours, so make it a good one. Always try to cheer up the other fellow.

Learn to think straight, analyze things, be sure you have all the facts before concluding, and always spend less than you earn.

Make friends, work hard, and play hard, most important of all remember this (the best of friends wear out if you use them).

This may sound silly Son, but no matter where you are on the 29th [of] September, see that mother gets a little gift, if possible, along with a big kiss and a broad smile.

When you are out on your own, listen and take advice, but do your own thinking and concluding, set up a reasonable goal then be determined to reach it. You can and will, it’s up to you.

Your Father, Randolph Elder

I like Larry a lot. He has influenced me more than any other political commentator. And I don't always agree with him. In fact, I've turned him off in anger several times.

I know he's not well liked by the all-or-nothing conservatives. For them I have this quotation. It's been attributed to former New York City mayor, Ed Koch:

If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, you should vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, you should see a psychiatrist.

Larry makes people think. That may not sit well with the some folks, but it's fine for the rest of us. Thank you, Ed (or whoever really said that). And thank you, Larry.

So why did Larry leave KABC? I've heard much speculation.

It may have started with this:

From 2002 to 2007, Elder's show was nationally syndicated by ABC Radio Networks and its news-talk network, ABC News & Talk. After Citadel Broadcasting took over most of ABC's radio operations in 2007, syndication of Elder's show was discontinued in favor of Mark Levin, and the show reverted to a local show in August of that year.

However, I believe that the death knell was the acquisition of the Los Angeles Dodgers broadcasts by KABC-AM just before the Dodgers' 2008 season. Larry had the 4:00 to 7:00 PM slot. This meant that for seven months of the year, many of Larry's shows were partially or completely preempted.

Larry recently feuded with a couple of his KABC colleagues.

So where will Larry go now? He could certainly get another radio gig. He would also be good on television if given a format that properly showcases his talents. He has been a standout in appearances as a guest and guest host on several shows.

Larry has said that he will keep his fans apprised of his status through his website, LarryElder.com.

References:

Larry Elder Departs From 790 KABC

Official website

Biography at LarryElder.com

Wikipedia article

IMDb profile

The Larry Elder Fan Club on Facebook

Larry Elder's articles at Townhall.com, WorldNetDaily, Jewish World Review, and FrontPage Magazine

Larry Elder versus the Marx Brothers - Doug McIntyre and Al Rantel

2008-11-11T10:47:00.000-08:00

Larry Elder hosts a daily radio talk show on KABC in Los Angeles.

Last Wednesday, I was listening to his post election analysis. He was relating the previous Tuesday night's election coverage show which he co-hosted with KABC colleagues Doug McIntyre and Al Rantel.

During this show, Larry was astonished to learn that both McIntyre and Rantel had voted for Obama. Both McIntyre and Rantel, like Larry, are supposedly free market, small government types. He found their explanations for voting for Obama to be absurd and goofy. They were so nonsensical that Larry felt like he was surrounded by the Marx Brothers. Larry has now given them that nickname. I think Larry might have actually been referring to this Marx, though.

Doug McIntyre was listening to Larry's Wednesday show and wanted to correct Larry on one point. Larry put Doug on the show. As you can hear from this audio clip*, Larry pretty much ripped Doug a new one. Blogger graemebird covered this quite well last Friday.

Larry continues to refer to Rantel and McIntyre as the Marx Brothers.

*Audio now added to YouTube: Part 1. Part 2.

Iowahawk rips C. Buckley, Noonan, and others

2008-10-31T15:48:00.000-07:00

When my late father T. Coddington Van Voorhees VI founded the iconoclastic conservative journal National Topsider in 1948, he famously declared that "Now is the time for all good conservative helmsmen to hoist the mizzen, pour the cocktails, and steer this damned schooner hard starboard." In the 60 years since he first uttered it after one-too-many Cosmopolitans at one of Pamela Harriman's notorious foreign policy black tie balls, father's pithy bon mot has served as a rallying cry for conservatives from Greenwich to Chevy Chase. Today, I say it's time for we conservatives to once again grab the rigging and set sail with the flotilla of the true conservative in this race: Barack Obama.

Read it all.

Rush read part of this today on his show.

These people really exist

2008-10-31T15:39:00.000-07:00

An appropriately scary item for Halloween.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=381gFG4Crr8

"It was the most memorable time of my life. It was a touching moment. Because, I, I never thought this day would ever happen. I won't have to worry about putting gas in my car, I won't have to worry about paying my mortgage, you know, if I help him, he's gonna help me."

People like this really exist. And they're allowed to vote. Lord help us.

H/T LindaSOG

Iowahawk: Biden: Obama Ready for Armageddon Showdown He Will Provoke

2008-10-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

Iowahawk continues to amaze!

SEATTLE -- Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden promised a group of supporters Sunday that running mate Barack Obama "will absolutely 100% trigger a nuclear Armageddon kinda thing" within the first 20 minutes of his presidency, but added that "Barack Obama is looking forward to this apocalyptic opportunity to test his mettle, because he totally aced his LSATs."

Read the whole thing.

Iowahawk: I AM JOE

2008-10-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

Iowahawk nails it:

First, a pre-emptive apology for the intentional non-humor to follow. I promise that all future non-humor will be strictly unintentional.

We've all witnessed a lot of insanity in American politics over the last few years. Up until the last few days, none of it has seriously bothered me; hey, just more grist for the satire mill. But after witnessing the media's blitzkreig on Joe 'the Plumber' Wurzelbacher, I can only muster anger, and no small amount of fear.

Read the whole thing.

Also, G.M., an Iowahawk reader, created a graphic available in several sizes. Go to the above link for info.

Hockey Moms Against Sarah Palin

2008-09-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URIypadX3n0

In case you're wondering:

Hockey Moms release a swiftboat ad to air truth on Palin.

Featuring Lauren Adams, Emily Axford, Jill Donnelly and Jessica Marasco. Written by Jen Statsky.

Category: Comedy

Has it really been seven years?

2008-09-11T15:51:00.000-07:00

The Election and September 11

On this, the seventh time the United States has observed the events of September 11, 2001, one may say with confidence: Forget national unity.

That John McCain and Barack Obama had to set aside their differences over the war on terror to stand together this morning at the grim hole that was the Twin Towers testifies to the political divide that emerged after September 11.

While the government has broken up several terrorist plots in Buffalo, Los Angeles, New Jersey and Miami, these real-world events have been overwhelmed by the political battles over the Bush antiterror policies -- the Patriot Act, Guantanamo, warrantless wiretaps, military commissions, CIA interrogations of terror suspects.

So begins a fine article by Daniel Henninger in The Wall Street Journal today.

Read the whole thing.

Iowahawk "interviews" American voters

2008-09-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

More amazing satire.

Iowahawk: America Speaks Out: "Juno" in Juneau?

Controversy continues to engulf the McCain campaign in the wake of revelations that VP candidate Sarah Palin's 17-year old unwed daughter is pregnant. Will Bristol's bastard bun-in-the-oven sink McCain's moose-murdering MILF -- and his campaign along with it? To find out, we asked a random cross section of American voters.

Read the whole thing.

Voice-over king Don LaFontaine dies

2008-09-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

The sonorous voice of Don LaFontaine has been silenced.

LOS ANGELES - Don LaFontaine, the man who popularized the catch phrase "In a world where..." and lent his voice to thousands of movie trailers, has died. He was 68.

More

Fortunately, much of his work has been preserved.

H/T to the National Post for the following YouTube clips:

Tribute

Official site

IMDb

Wikipedia

And here's another good clip:

Iowahawk does Homer

2008-08-30T14:44:00.000-07:00

Iowahawk: The Idiossey

Who is this man, so bronzed in countenance,
So skilled of TelePropter, clean and articulate
whose ears like a stately urn's protrude?

God help me. He's done it again.

Read the whole thing.

McCain picks Palin

2008-08-29T16:51:00.000-07:00

John McCain has selected Alaska governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate.

This surprised a lot of people, including me. However, the more I hear about her, the more I like her.

Three months ago, Nat Hentoff gave a strong argument for McCain to pick Palin.

McCain congratulates Obama in a classy political ad

2008-08-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

Classy, and politically smart.

From AP

John McCain is airing a one-evening-only ad with a simple message for Barack Obama: "Job well done." The ad coincides with Obama's nomination acceptance speech.

McCain congratulates Obama for his nomination. McCain recognizes the symbolism of a black man accepting the nomination on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. The ad will run Thursday on national cable television before and after Obama's address.

McCain says: "Senator Obama, this is truly a good day for America. Too often the achievements of our opponents go unnoticed. So I wanted to stop and say, congratulations. How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day. Tomorrow, we'll be back at it. But tonight Senator, job well done."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4KIvRTg6KQ

O' Hail the Messiah Lord Obama

2008-08-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

OK. I know this might seem way over the top. I think it's funnier than hell.

This Obama parody is from Glenn Beck. The music is the National Anthem of the former Soviet Union, Gimn Sovetskogo Soyuza, as well the current Russian Federation, Gosudarstvenny Gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii. The lyrics are, um, different.

Lyrics:

O' hail the Messiah
Obama, Obama
The path to the new socialist motherland
Our savior, our savior
Obama, Obama
The leader more famous than Lindsay Lohan
Bow down and praise the One
Give Him your money and your guns
Give us a country
That makes your wife proud
Lord Barry heal the bitter ones
White and clinging to faith and to guns
Hope for the change of the hope of the change!

This clip from Glenn's show includes his comments.

Iowahawk on Omama campaigners

2008-08-23T17:04:00.000-07:00

I don't know how Iowahawk keeps it up. In his latest piece of utterly insane humor, he satirizes condescending Obama campaigners:

Obama Pix Hipster Prix to Reclick with Stix Hix

I'm dying here. :)

Obama picks Biden

2008-08-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama has selected Joe Biden as his running mate.

David Brooks thinks this will help Obama. He wrote this piece before the announcement had been made. Hugh Hewitt disagrees with Brooks.

Meanwhile, the McCain campaign releases an ad where Biden criticizes Obama and praises McCain.

Barack Obama, Mr. Nuance

2008-08-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

Obama is nuanced in his speech. This is a buzzword that the MSM and the leftist blogosphere have been parroting for a while. See the searches here, here, and here if you don't believe me.

Dolores Aguilar: a remarkable obituary

2008-08-17T17:09:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing obituary that was posted at the Vallejo Times-Herald site on August 16, 2008. It's been removed. It's apparently real, but the folks who host the obits for the paper pulled it because they don't like people to speak ill of the dead.

Dolores Aguilar
1929 - Aug. 7, 2008

Dolores Aguilar, born in 1929 in New Mexico, left us on August 7, 2008. She will be met in the afterlife by her husband, Raymond, her son, Paul Jr., and daughter, Ruby.

She is survived by her daughters Marietta, Mitzi, Stella, Beatrice, Virginia and Ramona, and son Billy; grandchildren, Donnelle, Joe, Mitzie, Maria, Mario, Marty, Tynette, Tania, Leta, Alexandria, Tommy, Billy, Mathew, Raymond, Kenny, Javier, Lisa, Ashlie and Michael; great-grandchildren, Brendan, Joseph, Karissa, Jacob, Delaney, Shawn, Cienna, Bailey, Christian, Andre Jr., Andrea, Keith, Saeed, Nujaymah, Salma, Merissa, Emily, Jayci, Isabella, Samantha and Emily. I apologize if I missed anyone.

Dolores had no hobbies, made no contribution to society and rarely shared a kind word or deed in her life. I speak for the majority of her family when I say her presence will not be missed by many, very few tears will be shed and there will be no lamenting over her passing.

Her family will remember Dolores and amongst ourselves we will remember her in our own way, which were mostly sad and troubling times throughout the years. We may have some fond memories of her and perhaps we will think of those times too. But I truly believe at the end of the day ALL of us will really only miss what we never had, a good and kind mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. I hope she is finally at peace with herself. As for the rest of us left behind, I hope this is the beginning of a time of healing and learning to be a family again.

There will be no service, no prayers and no closure for the family she spent a lifetime tearing apart. We cannot come together in the end to see to it that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren can say their goodbyes. So I say here for all of us, GOOD BYE, MOM.

Howard the Duck can kiss my white ass

2008-08-15T14:16:00.000-07:00

"If you look at folks of color, even women, they're more successful in the Democratic party than they are in the white, uh, excuse me, in the [laughs] Republican party."

Link for above quote

Seriously, blacks are quite welcome in my party, Mr. Dean. See below. We Republicans think of blacks as people - not as cute little dolls who have to be coddled and patronized.

DNC Chair Howard Dean Calls GOP the ‘White’ Party

Dean white party
by dollarsandsense123

There are many successful black Republicans, Howie, and here are a few:

ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson tries to explain business 101 to people who don't want to hear it

2008-08-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

To paraphrase Mark Twain, the difference between profit and profit margin is like the difference between lightning and lightning bug.

Rex Tillerson was probably banging his head against the wall the other day in his attempt to explain Business 101 to Charles Gibson, but I salute him.

ExxonMobil CEO and chairman Rex Tillerson defended his company's staggering $11.7 billion in profits for the second quarter, saying that the company's earnings reflected the magnitude of its business operation.

"I saw someone characterize our profits the other day in terms of $1,400 in profit per second. Well, they also need to understand we paid $4,000 a second in taxes, and we spent $15,000 a second in cost," Tillerson told ABC News' Charles Gibson. "We spend $1 billion a day just running our business. So this is a business where large numbers are just characteristic of it."

Read the whole article and watch a short video.

Read the transcript of the full interview.

John Bolton comments on the Russian invasion of Georgia

2008-08-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

Today, in a hard hitting article in The Daily Telegraph, John Bolton comments on the invasion by Russia of Georgia (the Eurasian country, silly, not the state). He takes to task the Bush Administration, the European Union, the UN, and Barack Obama, while praising John McCain.

After Russia's invasion of Georgia, what now for the West?

At least for now, the smoke seems to be clearing from the Georgian battlefield. But the extent of the wreckage reaches far beyond that small country.

By John R Bolton
Last Updated: 2:32PM BST 15 Aug 2008

Russia’s invasion across an internationally recognised border, its thrashing of the Georgian military, and its smug satisfaction in humbling one of its former fiefdoms represents only the visible damage.

As bad as the bloodying of Georgia is, the broader consequences are worse. The United States fiddled while Georgia burned, not even reaching the right rhetorical level in its public statements until three days after the Russian invasion began, and not, at least to date, matching its rhetoric with anything even approximating decisive action. This pattern is the very definition of a paper tiger. Sending Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice to Tbilisi is touching, but hardly reassuring; dispatching humanitarian assistance is nothing more than we would have done if Georgia had been hit by a natural rather than a man-made disaster.

Read the whole thing.

Good for you, Mr. President

2008-08-13T14:58:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 13, 2008

President Bush Discusses Situation in Georgia, Urges Russia to Cease Military Operations

11:10 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I've just met with my national security team to discuss the crisis in Georgia. I've spoken with President Saakashvili of Georgia, and President Sarkozy of France this morning. The United States strongly supports France's efforts, as President of the European Union, to broker an agreement that will end this conflict.

Flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, President George W. Bush delivers a statement in the Rose Garden Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008, regarding efforts by the United States to resolve the crisis in Georgia. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian The United States of America stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia. We insist that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected.

Russia has stated that changing the government of Georgia is not its goal. The United States and the world expect Russia to honor that commitment. Russia has also stated that it has halted military operations and agreed to a provisional cease-fire. Unfortunately, we're receiving reports of Russian actions that are inconsistent with these statements. We're concerned about reports that Russian units have taken up positions on the east side of the city of Gori, which allows them to block the East-West Highway, divide the country, and threaten the capital of Tbilisi.

We're concerned about reports that Russian forces have entered and taken positions in the port city of Poti, that Russian armored vehicles are blocking access to that port, and that Russia is blowing up Georgian vessels. We're concerned about reports that Georgian citizens of all ethnic origins are not being protected. All forces, including Russian forces, have an obligation to protect innocent civilians from attack.

With these concerns in mind, I have directed a series of steps to demonstrate our solidarity with the Georgian people and bring about a peaceful resolution to this conflict. I'm sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to France, where she will confer with President Sarkozy. She will then travel to Tbilisi, where she will personally convey America's unwavering support for Georgia's democratic government. On this trip she will continue our efforts to rally the free world in the defense of a free Georgia.

I've also directed Secretary of Defense Bob Gates to begin a humanitarian mission to the people of Georgia, headed by the United States military. This mission will be vigorous and ongoing. A U.S. C-17 aircraft with humanitarian supplies is on its way. And in the days ahead we will use U.S. aircraft, as well as naval forces, to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies.

We expect Russia to honor its commitment to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance. We expect Russia to ensure that all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, airports, roads, and airspace, remain open for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for civilian transit. We expect Russia to meet its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia. And we expect all Russian forces that entered Georgia in recent days to withdraw from that country.

As I have made clear, Russia's ongoing action raise serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region. In recent years, Russia has sought to integrate into the diplomatic, political, economic, and security structures of the 21st century. The United States has supported those efforts. Now Russia is putting its aspirations at risk by taking actions in Georgia that are inconsistent with the principles of those institutions. To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe, and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis.

Thank you.

Video at site:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/08/20080813.html

What is Bernard Parks smoking?

2008-08-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

I don't smoke and I can't stand the smell of cigarette smoke, but this is nuts.

"Wherever people congregate, or there is an expectation of people being present, smoking should be prohibited."

WTF???

The person who made that lunatic nanny state comment is Bernard Parks, current Los Angeles city councilman, former LA police chief - until he was fired - and candidate for the LA County Board of Supervisors.

Yes, he really said that. Watch the video at the abc7.com link below.

What makes this bad is that there are probably plenty of people who agree with him.

abc7.com

Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Business Journal

Sign of Progress?

2008-08-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

What were they thinking of?

One Nation, Under a New Obama Salute

George Bush had his three-fingered W salute that supporters flashed when greeting him at presidential campaign events in 2000. And now, if a Los Angeles creative agency gets its way, Sen. Barack Obama will see fans meet him with his own salute like the one above. "Our goal is to see a crowd of 75,000 people at Obama's nomination speech holding their hands above their heads, fingers laced together in support of a new direction for this country, a renewed hope, and acceptance of responsibility for our future,"...

More from Paul Bedard at Washington Whispers.

Of course, this is being ridiculed around the Internet. People are saying asshole, zero, BOHICA, goatse, etc. What were these folks thinking? Where were their heads? Never mind. We know where. :)

This "campaign" is headed straight to the dumpster.

Now, take a look at what the folks at Blue Star Chronicles are saying about this. More parodies here.

"Where do we get such men?"

2008-08-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

Where, indeed. Another great man passes - another great man who helped make the West free.

Great Escape tunneller Eric Dowling dies aged 92

Eric “Digger” Dowling, who forged passports, made maps and helped to dig the one tunnel that the Germans did not discover before the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III, has died, aged 92.

On March 24, 1944, 250 prisoners lined up to await their turn to crawl through the tunnel to freedom. Many of them were equipped with documents that had been forged by Mr Dowling, who learnt to speak five languages fluently during his three years in the prison.

Read the rest at The Times of London.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn has died

2008-08-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

He helped bring down the old Soviet Union. He was a hero.

MOSCOW - Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Nobel Prize-winning author whose books chronicled the horrors of the Soviet gulag system, has died of heart failure, his son said Monday. He was 89.

Read the rest.

Wikipedia article

George Will on overblown rhetoric

2008-08-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

George Will has an excellent column about overblown rhetoric, especially Obama's.

You can read it at either Investor's Business Daily or The Washington Post.

Faces of Meth

2008-08-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

Here are before and after pictures of meth addicts. Try clicking on each of the 12 thumbnail photos at the left of the page. All are disturbing but some are truly horrifying. They did this to themselves by choice.

H/T Wyatt Junker

John McCain's ads

2008-08-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

John McCain's ads are to the point and hard hitting without being nasty and untruthful.

Here is the latest:

H/T Dafydd ab Hugh

Here's another ad:

A blacklist for Jon Voight?

2008-07-31T09:49:00.000-07:00

You might want to take a look at this post at Power Line by Scott Johnson. You might want to read the linked articles too.

Midnight Conservative

ARRRRR!

2008-07-31T08:46:00.000-07:00

Earthquake in Southern California

2008-07-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

This happened a couple hours ago. It was the biggest quake I've felt in years - a short but hard jolt.

Story

Krauthammer quip on Obama in Berlin draws ire of some on the left

2008-07-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Krauthammer Links Obama's Berlin Speech To Hitler's Nazi Rallies

Last night on Fox News’ Special Report, host Brit Hume asked the “All-Star Panel” for “help” in determining whether or not Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) got “a bounce” in the polls as a result of his recent trip to the Middle East and Europe.

Referring to Obama’s Berlin speech that was reportedly in front of more than 200,000 people, neo-conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer said he did not get a bounce because apparently, Americans don’t like it when politicians emulate Adolf Hitler at a Nazi rally:

HUME: Panel, help. Did [Obama] get a bounce from the trip or not? […]

KRAUTHAMMER: I’m not sure — I don’t think he got a bounce. I’m not sure it was his intention. You don’t get a bounce out of standing in front of 200,000 Germans at a rally who are chanting your name. Bad vibes sometimes, historically.

More

Here's the video:

Subway Says Get Off Your Phone Or Go To The Back Of The Line

2008-07-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

I hope this becomes a national trend.

More

Hope: It Could Happen To You

2008-07-28T16:27:00.001-07:00

Obama ad from MoveOn.org

You'll need a barf bag.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BncNpB6IZ9I

H/T Hot Air

4 female bombers strike in Iraq, killing 57

2008-07-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

The Religion of Peace

BAGHDAD - Four suicide bombers believed to be women struck a Shiite pilgrimage in Baghdad and a Kurdish protest rally in northern Iraq on Monday, killing at least 57 people and wounding nearly 300 in one of this year's deadliest attacks, police said.

Sam the Cooking guy tells Kathie Lee and Hoda be quiet

2008-07-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

He also may have cooked his goose as far as future Today Show appearances go.

I'm on his side. Those women are rude and annoying, especially Gifford.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov9k_yABNHU

H/T Fark

You can buy it but you can't grow it?

2008-07-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

Unwitting gardener man tends marijuana plants

Growing marijuana is illegal in the Netherlands, but sales of it and other cannabis-related soft drugs in coffee shops have been tolerated for decades.

Huh???

Angry man shoots lawn mower for not starting

2008-07-25T20:49:00.000-07:00

WTF???

A Milwaukee man was accused of shooting his lawn mower because it wouldn't start. Keith Walendowski, 56, was charged with felony possession of a short-barreled shotgun or rifle and misdemeanor disorderly conduct while armed.

Is the law a bit overreaching?

Read the whole thing.

Piglet with monkey's face

2008-07-25T20:20:00.000-07:00

From Ananova

Villagers were shocked after a monkey-like piglet was born in China.

More, with pic

Obama Watch: Week of July 21-27

2008-07-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

This will be edited to add articles to the top of the post throughout the week.

Obama the Lightworker is still with us.

Fortunately, we still have people who have his number with us too.

Over at Right Wing Nut House, Rick Moran weighs in with the Top Ten Things that Creep Me Out About Obama.

Jeff Jacoby over at the Boston Globe adds his say on the speech.

Victor Davis Hanson offers his criticism of Obama's speech at National Review Online.

IBD lists some of the Senator's gaffes that the MSM won't report.

Larry Elder at Townhall (and elsewhere) suggests questions that the network anchors should put to Obamagod.

John F. Cullinan at National Review Online offers up an analysis of Obama's Berlin speech.

David Brooks at The New York Times also attempts to put the speech into perspective.

He ventured forth to bring light to the world is a delightful bit of satire from Gerard Baker at The Times of London. Video version Great stuff!

Obama gave a speech Thursday in Berlin. I heard clips of it on various talk shows. A little later, I came across several sites that published the transcript.

One of the sites that carried the transcript was a liberal blog. I decided to scroll down and read the comments thread. This proved to be a mistake for me. I found the Obama worshipping to be alarming and nauseating. However, judge for yourself.

By the way, here is the transcript of the speech, courtesy of ABC News.

Obama gives good speeches, but I'm still voting for McCain. Yes, as the old cliche goes, I believe in substance over style.

Bush and Batman

2008-07-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

Here is a fine article by Edgar Award winning mystery writer Andrew Klavan at The Wall Street Journal:

What Bush and Batman Have in Common

Krauthammer on Obama: Who Does He Think He Is?

2008-07-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

Krauthammer rips the New Messiah - again.

Barack Obama wants to speak at the Brandenburg Gate. He figures it would be a nice backdrop. The supporting cast -- a cheering audience and a few fainting frauleins -- would be a picturesque way to bolster his foreign policy credentials.

What Obama does not seem to understand is that the Brandenburg Gate is something you earn.

Read the whole thing at Townhall.com

Update:

No Brandenburg Gate venue for Obama's Berlin address

The parallels between Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy apparently are getting off-track in Germany.

German reports say that Obama will speak Thursday at Berlin’s Victory Column rather than at the city’s historic Brandenburg Gate a mile-and-a-half away. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, among others, objected to the Democratic presidential candidate using the site for what is essentially a campaign event.

Read the rest at the LAT blog.

Network anchors to follow Obama on his trip.

2008-07-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

Good grief!

From TheRightRant (thanks, Ed):

The main-stream media have abandoned all pretense of objectivity and journalistic self-respect when it comes to the Obamessiah candidacy. We've all known for decads that they've chosen political sides but, generally they try to hide it a little.....not any more. Around Obama, they're like giddy school girls backstage at a David Cassidy concert....

Katie Couric, Brian Williams and Charlie Gibson to accompany OBAMA to Europe/MiddleEast!!

Read the rest.

And from The New York Times:

Senator John McCain’s trip to Iraq last March was a low-key affair: With a small retinue of reporters chasing him abroad, the NBC News anchor Brian Williams reported on Mr. McCain’s visit there from New York, including it in the “in other political news” portion of his newscast.

But when Senator Barack Obama heads for Iraq and other places overseas this summer, Mr. Williams is planning to catch up with him in person, as are the other two network evening news anchors, Charles Gibson of ABC and Katie Couric of CBS, who, like Mr. Williams, are far along in discussions to interview Mr. Obama on successive nights.

Read the whole thing.

Obama and LBJ

2008-07-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

HALF SIGMA: Why Barack Obama is Like LBJ.

UPDATE: Well, LBJ probably wouldn't have said this.

H/T Glenn Reynolds (direct quote)

Jew hatred trumps participation in the Olympics

2008-07-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

YCMTSU

Iran Pulls Swimmer From Olympic Trials After He Draws Same Heat As Israeli Athlete

Dr. Michael DeBakey, RIP

2008-07-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

He saved and extended many lives. A great man.

Dr. Michael Ellis DeBakey, internationally acclaimed as the father of modern cardiovascular surgery — and considered by many to be the greatest surgeon ever — died Friday night at The Methodist Hospital in Houston. He was 99.

Read the rest at the Houston Chronicle.

Wikipedia article

Tony Snow, RIP

2008-07-12T09:43:00.000-07:00

This is terribly sad. I was hoping that he would get better.

Tony Snow, the former White House press secretary and conservative pundit who bedeviled the press corps and charmed millions as a FOX News television and radio host, died Saturday after a long bout with cancer. He was 53.

Read the rest at Fox News.

Wikipedia article

Ouch!

2008-07-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

http://view.break.com/534959 - Watch more free videos

They survived, thank God.

Truck/Travel Trailer Crashes Texas State Bank- July 2, 2008

At approximately 3 PM, Tuesday, July 2, a 2008 Dodge Ram 2500, pulling a new travel trailer, hit the corner of the Texas State Bank Drive-In on Tenaha Street, causing the complete awning to come to the ground. Luckily, the driver of the Dodge, Mickey Miller, of Garrison and his 10 year old son were able to exit their vehicle uninjured.

Dennis Prager comments on the Black National Anthem incident

2008-07-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

Last week on his radio show, Dennis Prager commented on the black jazz singer who was supposed to sing the National Anthem at a public event but instead substituted the words of the Negro National Anthem.

I was hoping that Dennis would make that the subject of this week's column. And he did.

The column begins:

Last week in Denver, almost all the values of the post-1960s left were exhibited in one act.

This is the best commentary I've read so far on this incident. Read the whole thing at Townhall.

Let's hear it for multiculturalism

2008-07-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

Clayton Co. Man Jailed in Daughter's Death

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. (MyFOX Atlanta) – A Clayton County man was behind bars Sunday, accused of killing his own daughter. Police said the father was angry because he felt his daughter was disgracing the family.

Investigators said 54-year-old Chaudhry Rashad was so outraged at his daughter, Sandela Kanwal, and her plans for divorce that he killed her after a heated argument at the family's home. Investigators said Rashad confessed to strangling the 25-year-old woman.

Read the rest at the above link.

The Declaration of Independence

2008-07-04T15:31:00.000-07:00

In Congress, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

The first sentence of the Declaration asserts as a matter of Natural Law the ability of a people to assume political independence, and acknowledges that the grounds for such independence must be reasonable, and therefore explicable, and ought to be explained.

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.

The next section, the famous preamble, is an assertion of what is known as the "right of revolution": that is, people have certain rights, and when a government violates these rights, the people have the right to "alter or abolish" that government

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.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

The next section is a list of charges against King George which aim to demonstrate that he has violated the colonists' rights and is therefore unfit to be their ruler:

Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Many Americans still felt a kinship with the people of England, and had appealed in vain to the prominent among them, as well as to Parliament, to convince the King to relax his more objectionable policies toward the colonies. The next section represents disappointment that these attempts were unsuccessful.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

In the final section, the signers assert that there exist conditions under which people must change their government, that the British have produced such conditions, and by necessity the colonies must throw off political ties with the British Crown and become independent states. The conclusion incorporates language from the resolution of independence that had been passed on July 2.

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.

Source

Don S. Davis RIP

2008-07-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Don S. Davis, 1942-2008

Sad news. Actor Don S. Davis died this past Sunday, June 29, 2008.

He was best known for his role of Major General, later Lieutenant General George S. Hammond in Stargate SG-1 where he played a strong and fatherly figure. In addition, his credits include roles in Twin Peaks, The X-Files (where he played Scully's father), MacGyver (both as an actor and as a stunt double for Dana Elcar), and many other TV shows and movies.

He was also a noted artist.

Obituary at GateWorld

Wikipedia article

IMDb profile

Official website

Art website

NNDB profile

Welcome to my blog

2008-07-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

I don't know how often I'll be posting here, but welcome to my blog anyway.