Truths and Lies

With the good comes the bad and we are reminded of the words General William Tecumseh Sherman said in an interview during the American Civil War, "War is Hell".

As a US Marine faces charges for committing real war crimes against civilians in the village of Haditha, Iraq a former Army recruit faces charges for falsifying a video he made for Iraq Veterans Against the War where he stated he participated in a massacre of civilians in an Islamic mosque. The soldier, in question, of course, never made it out of basic training and has never been to Iraq but that didn't stop the IVAW from initially trumping up the video in an attempt to smear both the US military and President Bush.

Here is the truth: Marines who committed war crimes in Haditha have been arrested and are going to face justice. That is the end of the story. Ironically, Jesse Macbeth, a liar, is also about to face justice too.

There have been real crimes committed. Such is the nature of war and the purpetrators who committed such acts should be, and are going to be, held accountable, however, the vast majority of military personnel act honorably and with a deep respect for the safety of civilians. To support a liar like Jesse MacBeth just to make political points is just as dishonorable as the Marines being charged for war crimes.

It's the pot calling the kettle black.

Not a Hero

Yesterday, former Marine Cpl. Lance Korkesh lost his appeal and was discharged from the Corps for wearing his uniform to an anti-war protest and for using disrespectful language to a superior officer. To the political Korkesh is looked upon as a hero.

If Kokesh is a hero, then the left's definition of that term is completely befuddled if not ridiculous.
Kokesh broke several long standing codes of honor in the service. Just because he took off his unit patch did not exempt him from the regulation stating that servicemembers will not wear a uniform to any official protest. He also used profanity towards a superior officer which is a breach of discipline. Kokesh also had contempt for one of the board members, a Chief Warrant Officer, who sat on his appeal. Kokesh stated that the Warrant should not have sat on his board because he is not a commissioned officer.

The last time I looked at the Navy/Marine Corps rank system, we called Chief Warrant Officers as 'sir' symbolizing that they are indeed officers. Chief Warrant Officers are normally senior enlisted personnel who have been granted a commission as officers due to their sustained superior performance.

I guess Kokesh and I serve in two different militaries?

Not only is Kokesh in need of a lesson in discipline but he also needs a course in officer recognition.

Kokesh is no hero and to call him one is dishonorable.

Duty is a 24 hour Job

In a recent Washington Post article, a US Marine reservist and Iraq War veteran has been charged with misconduct after appearing at an anti-war protest while wearing a uniform. In addition, he insulted a superior and used offensive language when told that he was violating regulations by wearing the uniform. The Marine, CPL Lance Kokesh, stated in his defense that "This is clearly a case of selective prosecution and intimidation of veterans who speak out against the war," Cpl. Kokesh said. "To suggest that while as a veteran, you don't have freedom of speech is absurd." In regards to his participation in the protest, Cpl. Kokesh argues that he was not representing the military at the protest in Washington, and he made that clear by removing his name tag and other military insignia from his uniform. Mr. Lebowitz said Cpl. Kokesh technically is a civilian unless recalled to active duty and had the right to be disrespectful in his response to the officer. He called the proceedings against Cpl. Kokesh highly unusual and said the military usually seeks to change a veteran's discharge status only if a crime has been committed.

Sadly, CPL Kokesh is mistaken for serving in the military is a 24 hour a day/7 day a week job. We are accountable for our behavior both on and off duty whether or not we wear a uniform or not. CPL Kokesh can be, and will be, held accountable for his remarks towards his superior and for dishonoring a uniform whose honor, he knows full well he is to uphold.

There is freedom of speech and those in the military are allowed to participate in protests but there are also rules and wearing a uniform at an official protest is one one of them. Why? Because by wearing a uniform he is endorsing a Marine Corps position. CPL Kokesh's position, however, is not the Marine Corps position. Therefore, he should not have worn his uniform and should have worn his street clothing to represent his own opinion.

CPL Kokesh is also a member of the group known as Iraq Veterans Against the War which has been known for pulling publicity stunts and for distributing false information such as the so-called veteran who published a video on You Tube where he talked about US attrocities in Iraq which were later proven to be false. The soldier in question was also discharged while in basic training and never served in Iraq at all.

Rudy Giuliani says he can represent Blue states

Former NYC Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, who has come under fire from many on the conservative Republican side for his pro-abortion stance, states that he can represent both the Red and the Blue states; making it clear that he is a compromise candidate.

"My view of this race for president is that the Republican Party should not go into this election, as we have in the past, having to write off New York, Connecticut, New Jersey," he said. "We've got to make this a 50-state election." Recent polls from the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute showed Giuliani leading the pack of Republicans and Democrats in both Connecticut and New Jersey. He trailed Clinton, 50 percent to 42 percent, in New York - the strongest showing of any Republican there. Part of Giuliani's plan, according to Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf, "is to tweak Hillary at home - to say to the Republican base, which is decidedly anti-Clinton, anti-Hillary Clinton, that he can give her a run at home."

Click here to read more on this article.

Iraq Veteran no Veteran at All.

This is how far the left is willing to go to make our President and our country look bad.

A man who claimed in an anti-war video to have "slaughtered" hundreds of civilians while serving with the Army Rangers in Iraq faces federal charges of falsifying his record.
Jesse MacBeth, 23, alleged in a 20-minute production by a 1970s antiwar activist he personally killed 200 civilians, many of them at close range, while on patrols with the Army Rangers during 16 months in Iraq before being discharged due to wounds.

click here to read more on this story.

John Edwards Poor Choice of Days

For quite a while, I've had a begrudging respect for Senator John Edwards even though he is a Democrat. I relate to his growing up in the lower middle class. I admired the fact that he got where he was through his own efforts. Even during the 2004 Vice-Presidential debates, the soft-spoken South Carolinian seemed to have a grasp of what it is like to be a common man in America.

My respect for Senator Edwards has fallen, however, by his plan to stage anti-war protests across the country this Memorial Day.

I am not criticizing Senator Edwards right to protest, in fact, I encourage it. It's his right to do so under the First Amendment of the Constitution. What I do find fault with is the Senator's poor choice of days.

Memorial Day is a day when we are to remember those who have fallen in battle while defending our great nation. Although I believe Senator Edward's respect for veterans is true, it is with my deepest regret and sorrow that he chooses a day to remember veterans to make a political statement about the war in Iraq.

As much as Senator Edwards states that we should 'support the troops, not the war' I know, deep in my heart, that not everyone feels this way and that the rally will only end up as an ugly display and as a golden opportunity for those of the radical left to mock those who wear a uniform.

As a whole, I believe that the vast majority of Americans look favorably upon the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. Still, there is that very loud minority who do not like soldiers and who take every opportunity afforded them to stir up dissent and to spout hatred towards servicemen.

I now believe that the slogan, "support the troops, not the war" is a false statement for you cannot do both. It is like cheering for your home team at the Superbowl all the while secretly rooting for the visiting team to win. It is therefore impossible to support the troops without supporting the war.

The radical left is going to take over and use this rally to shout out their ridiculous and unwarranted hatred of the military. Because of this, I wish that Senator Edwards would choose a different day to make his statement. Already there has been one burning of a US soldier in effigy in Oregon. How long will it be before returning soldiers are spit on again just like their Viet Nam predecessors? Or are attacked in airports? There are too many leftist radical who yearn for a return to those days of Viet Nam protests.

As a letter written by a young woman named Serai1 to the editor of Salon.com states: " are you seriously suggesting that people shouldn't protest on Memorial Day because it isn't polite?? In case you haven't noticed, this entire WAR isn't polite. War is filthy, nasty and obscene - what makes you think being polite about protesting is going to do a damn thing to make it stop?
And Memorial Day being "sacred"? Oh, give me a break. Armistice Day was sacred. Memorial Day (weekend - nobody celebrates the holiday anymore) is, for the vast majority of people, the first three-day weekend of the summer, and the weekend when the first big summer blockbusters hit the theaters. Most people have no idea what it is that's being memorialized, even."

This is the sentiment expressed by many on the side of the radical left; the side made up of crazy new agers, ultra-liberals, socialists, anarchists and just plain troublemakers.

I know that Senator Edwards only wants to honor veterans, or, at least, thinks he does, but this isn't the way to do it and his choice of day to hold his rally is an extreme poor one that has cost him my respect.

Chuck Hagel & Fred Thompson

Senator Chuck Hagel (R) Nebraska on the Iraq War Funding Bill

Fred Thompson: What I Believe

On Abortion On the Issues

Mitt Romney for President

Mitt Romney on 60 Minutes Protecting America Securing the Border Strong Conservative Leadership Benchmarks for America I Won't Project Failure in Iraq On Mormonism 5 Brothers

Great Leaders Part One

An awesome discussion of the leadership abilities of George Washington.

Newsweek

Fred Thompson on Hannity & Colmes

Part One



Part Two

Where is the Party of Lincoln?

Where is the Party of Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln is my favorite American hero. Not only did he preserve the Union but he also ended the scourge of African slavery; beginning the long fight carried on by such people as Frederick Douglass, Marcus Garvey and Dr. Martin Luther King jr to prove the words, 'all men are created equal'.
Lincoln held sway over a political party which championed not only the rights of the individual but also became, for awhile, the self proclaimed protector of the Constitution. Lincoln had a vision as to what he intended to see the post-Civil War America become. Sadly, his plans were cut short by an assassin's bullet at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC.
Lincoln's dream became lost as his political descendants became embroiled with corruption and came under the influence of businessmen and corporations.
If Lincoln were alive today, I often wonder if he would recognize those who claim to be the political heirs of his legacy. Would he agree with the 'compassionate conservatism' of George W. Bush or the right wing talk of Newt Gingrich? Would he approve of Mitt Romney's Mormonism or Rudy Giuliani's stance on abortion and gay rights? Or, would he argue with Ron Paul on his absurd government conspiracy theories or agree with them?
Or would Lincoln, perhaps, find something more in common with more erstwhile Republicans such as Chuck Hagel, John McCain or Fred Thompson?
I think that over the years, the Republican party I call my own has somehow lost Lincoln's message in transmission. I am not even sure if it is even the same party Ronald Reagan called his during his administration in the 1980s. It's conservatism seems to be befuddled of late and the party acts as if it knows not which direction to steer.
I'm not sure where we are but I am sure of this: it sure would be nice to return to that long ago, Party of Lincoln again.

Does the Republican Party have to change?

Is the Republican Party in trouble? I think so.

Recently, several moderates journeyed to the White House to discuss their concerns with George Bush's intent to veto the Iraq War Bill signaling dissent and dissatisfaction within the Party of Bush over his management of the war. With the loss of the Senate and poor showings in the mid-term elections, many Republicans are concerned over the future.

In addition, Presidential candidate Rudy Guiliani has openly shown his support of pro-choice and gay rights activism which goes against the grain of the long time, Repubican platform of pro-life and family values.

Lastly, Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a lifelong Republican, former Viet Nam vet and yet another potential Republican Presidential candidate, has openly claimed that the Republican Party has been hijacked and that it is no longer the party of Reagan or Lincoln. Hagel believes it is time to form a new, third party.

Should the Republicans abandon their stance on abortion and gay rights? My thinking; no they should not. However, they do need to deflect the assault being driven upon them by the liberal (if not completely out-there) Democrats. There are other fronts that need to be fought such as greatly improving our decaying educational system and taking the lead on a national health care reform (it's time to take the air out of the insurance companies balloon). Both of these issues are, by far, of more interest to the common people than are the supposed rights of a minority.

In this age of media darlings such as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama it will be important for the Republicans must do one of two things; they either must change the way they do business or to find themselves another Ronald Reagan. As their was only one Gipper, change is most likely the path they must follow; for better or for worse.

Ronald Reagan, "It's Morning Again" 1984 TV ad