panem et circenses. ...

After painfully enduring the coverage of the Democrat National Convention this past week, I hoped greatly for some peace of mind this morning after it was all over.

No such luck.

As I watched the slavish, sycophantic Main Stream Media propagandize as to the greatness of their nominee Senator Barack Obama, I could not help but be struck by the overwhelming urge to weep. Not tears of adoration, or relief as many of the delegates shed unashamedly on national broadcast television. Nay, mine were tears of sorrow and grief for my countrymen and fellow citizens. As many of you know, I am not one to let loose with such emotion, but last night I could not help myself as I watched the Senator from Illinois give his acceptance speech. For all that I could keep thinking was….. Bread and circuses, and the thought has been Plaguing me since.

... Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man,
the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time
handed out military command, high civil office, legions — everything, now
restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things:
bread and circuses

... iam pridem, ex quo suffragia nulli
uendimus, effudit curas; nam qui dabat olim
imperium, fasces, legiones, omnia, nunc se
continet atque duas tantum res anxius optat,
panem et circenses. ...
(Juvenal, Satire 10.77–81)

Have we come to this my fellow citizens?

Listening to the promises of free health care dribble from the mouths of our Senators, and the sweeping Tax reform plan that will lower taxes for 95% of working families, i.e. Plebeians. I think to myself “this is but Bread to appease the desires of the people.” No matter from whence this bread shall come, nor from what valley the grain to produce it?

“Give Us Bread” and we’ll hand over the sacred rights bestowed upon us by our forefathers much like the Romans who went before us and the Greeks before them.
Dazzle us with spectacles and entertainment, and we shall sell to you our vote, we shall give to you the keys of the city Caesar so long as you appease our lust. We care not that the show is false, give our bored eyes something to remember.

The key to this is that both those empires fell through such folly.

I wept as I saw Dr. Martin Luther King’s great “I have a Dream Speech” being used as a segway to further Barack Obama’s popularity. I shivered as ABC, NBC, and CBS bombarded the American people with images of the Great Dr. King, and Obama in turn, while commentating that the Nominee is truly the culmination of that dream.

However, the burden and sorrow I endure today, derives mostly from that which we sacrifice. Those persons, who so plan to cast their ballots upon the idea that the catchword “Change”, backed up by a promise of entitlements, are cheating not only themselves but all of society. Voting is not only a right but a grave and serious responsibility, one that which must not be prostituted for some fireworks and a snapshot. For by doing so, disgrace you bring upon the millions who shed blood, marched, and protested for not only the right, but the responsibility that goes along with it.

We are charged with electing a person to become not only the President of the United States, but the most powerful figure in the free world. Do you not think that deserves a bit more scrutiny on everyone’s part as concerns those running for said office?

Or are we to continue selling our souls along with our votes to those who put on the best entertainment and promise us the most bread? Mayhap we should all step back a little and heed the words that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke 40 years ago.

“ I have a dream, that my children and grandchildren will be judged by the content of their character, and not the color of their skin”

Let’s start there then.

Slainte’
Blighter

How Nice...Pagans at the DNC

My, my, my, whatever have they gone and done now?

There is to be a Pagan Circle at the Democrat Convention Today at 2:00pm Central time, to channel energy to stop pollution. It seems that the Pagan movement has been making something of a comeback while we were not looking and is now considered one of the sixth most popular non Christian denominations in the US.

Source As Maine Goes Topic

Ahhh, I so love this Country, where else in the world would such a gathering of Moon bats be allowed to exist? The fundamental freedom of worship and religion is alive and strong. I may disagree with the loonies and their prancing and dancing, but I whole heartedly support their right to do so, and encourage them to continue to exercise that right to the fullest.

There is a wee bit of problem with this Pagan Circle though, and of course I must address it for not to do so would go against my Character and core beliefs. To establish my point I will need to give evidence of another recent incident that made the news which proved to be quite controversial. That being the Saddleback Civil Forum moderated by Pastor Rick Warren.

Pastor Warren held a forum for both Senators John McCain and Barack Obama on August 16th in which he asked each one, individually, a series of questions. This was not a debate as both the Senators requested that Pastor Warren and only Pastor Warren was to pose the questions to each candidate in turn. The questions surrounded family, foreign policy, the economy, the courts, and of course abortion. The outcome of this event was enlightening as we as a populace got to see each candidate express his views on subjects that most of us feel are of great importance, issues that most believe are important for a President to understand and have views of his own on. No need to go too far into detail on the answers and the outlooks of the candidates, as I only need to establish that the event took place.

The reaction to that Forum however, was immediate and vicious.

In many a heated discussion, in which I held not my composure, people were expressing that the forum in question was improper in that it violated the First Amendment of the US Constitution. This of course is ridiculous in the extreme, but no matter, the people I fought with could not see the falsity of their assertion. It was not just locally either, there were people from all parts of the country calling into radio talk show programs screaming about the Separation of Church and State. It seems that those who were doing the screaming were not doing the reading and they do not grasp the phrase:

“Congress shall make no LAW respecting an Establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ……”

And who pray were these vociferous combatants?

You guessed it, Democrats to the last.

So now we have the sixth largest non Christian denomination in the country holding a service before the doors of the Democrat Convention. Does this not seem somewhat contradictory? For if the Civil Forum was a violation of the First Amendment then so too should not this be as well? Perhaps the Democrats came to realize that their rhetoric concerning the former was incorrect and that the same standards need not apply to the latter. I doubt it though.

Let us ask ourselves; if it was the Catholic Church holding a thanksgiving mass in the same place would it be allowed?

Of course not, for the moon bats and their party feel that the Christian church is evil but the old pagan religions, (which had such nice rituals as human and animal sacrifice) do not embody that evil. No need to cry “Foul”, no need to look at the contradiction in their stances and policies.

Our little Birkenstock friends will have their moment in the sun today. Dressed in hemp, tie dye, and smelling of Hummus they will pray before their various gods to clean our air and to fix our woes. With much good fortune perhaps one of their gods will bless them with a sign or appearance. It is a great showing of faith to believe that a circle of such people will be able to implement any “Change”. For there is no evidence that "Change" can be brought about simply by voicing it and praying for it.

I cannot be too harsh though, for those delegates inside the Pepsi Center are pretty much doing the same.

Slainte’
Blighter

The photo is Ed Lachowicz, Vice Chair of the Kennebec County Democratic Committee, and a Maine Democratic State Committeeman. Leader and promoter of the pagan circle.

Speaker Pelosi where are you?

This morning, Republicans will return to the dimmed floor of the House of Representatives to continue to fight on behalf of American families hurting from high gas prices. It has now been ten days since House Democrats turned off the lights and breezed out of Washington for a paid vacation without any meaningful action to bring down energy costs.

For months, the American people have demanded more energy production, yet this Democrat majority found the pleas of their constituents just a petty annoyance. But as Speaker Pelosi - off on her self-promoting book tour - has found, when House Republicans rose to speak in a darkened chamber, the American people stood with us.

Source

Normally, I do not just point to another's work, but as this piece reinforces the ideas and opinions I put forth on the subject last week I feel it is appropriate. So please read Congress man Tom Price's piece. I guess I'm not such a mad man after all.

Slainte'

Blighter

Nancy Pelosi...America's sweetheart

I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not in partisanship, and I look forward to working with you Mr. Boehner and the Republicans in the Congress on the behalf of the American people.
Nacy Pelosi - 1/4/2007 Speaker of the house acceptance speech

What a wonderful sentiment the put forth by the Democrat from California upon becoming the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Reading her opening statement one cannot but think;

" Here at last we have someone that will transcend the Partisan politics of Washington and who cares for the American people."

If that was all we had to go by, I'd say Speaker Nancy would be well on her way to becoming the first woman President in 2012. Unfortunately for her, and for the rest of us, actions speak louder than words, and her actions of late tell of a different philosophy than the one quoted above.

I wonder if Mrs Pelosi could hear herself saying : In this House, we may belong to different parties, but we serve one country while she asked for a vote for early recess last Friday 8/1/2008, in order to crush a call for a vote on off shore drilling.

Did she recall this phrase from her most eloquent speech while the order was given to dim the lights and cut the cameras?

~ Openness requires respect for every voice in the Congress. As Thomas Jefferson said, 'Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle'. My collegues elected me to be Speaker of the House--the entire House. Respectful of the vision of our Founders, the expectations of our people, and the great challenges we face, we have an obligation to reach beyond partisanship to work for all Americans.

Her actions are in stark Contrast to her pretty, pretty words. Nancy Pelosi refused to allow the vote on the Republican bill to lift the drilling ban and literally left the other members of the house in the dark. She said to you my fellow citizens, that above all she reigns supreme, and that no dissenting voice or opinion shall foul her righteous ears. And if some may so chose to attempt it they will be silenced!!!!

She turned out the lights and not unlike the famous "Soup Nazi" of Jerry Seinfeld fame she said; "No Oil for you!!!!!".

So that leaves me with a question or two, or three, about the Speaker of the House and the Party she is affiliated with.

Obviously, Nancy Pelosi cannot be held to her pledge to represent all Americans as 70% of the populace wants to open up off shore drilling. By refusing to allow the most fundamental Parliamentary proceedures of the House, i.e. debate and vote, she says to the members of the House in her famous non partisanship way, that those Founders, whose vision we must respect really do not need all that much respect. And that those other members of Congress should not look to the tried and true institutions laid forth in our Constitution to pass Legislation. No, if the Speaker agrees not then I suppose that's the end of it, or so Sayeth she who rules supreme.

Now, as we speak members of Congress wander the darkened halls of the House, refusing to leave as a protest to the undemocratic actions of the speaker and her Minions. The Congressmen and women have been addressing the fundamental issues concerning the current energy crisis, and have been speaking with tourists and sightseers. Left with no other recourse but to cut such a tragic pose, the proponents of lifting the ban, are forced into something of subdued silence, whispering in the cold halls of the capitol when their voices should be booming in Debate.

So here we must ask, why would the Speaker and the Democrats, including our most distinguished representatives, Mike Michaud and Tom Allen, vote to recess and not fulfill their duty to the American people?

The answer is simple. Partisan politics.

Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats do not want to vote on an energy bill that contains Off Shore Drilling or any Drilling for that matter, for two reasons that are both faulty.

1.) It does not meet with their agenda of a Clean/Green world, that has no room for what they Call Big Oil. The Speaker went so far as to say; " I'm trying to save the Planet." That is indeed a lofty goal but I am sure her arrogance is not without it's merit. She is quite obviously a force to be reckoned with when she can hold up the people of America, disrupt their commerce and way of life, and refuse to acknowledge any alternatives to her viewpoint, and GET AWAY WITH IT, without too much negative news coverage. No wonder she envisions herself the savior of the planet. This agenda however, is not realistic at this time, and those self same " Warmongering Handmaidens of Big oil" dancing on the floor of the house ( as she described the Republicans) know this to be true.

2.) A vote on any programme that proposed Off Shore Drilling would most certainly draw a Nay from many a Representative on the Democrat side, as it meets not with their agenda. If a vote was held on 8/1 then the negative votes by Nancy's Minions would most certainly be used against them in the upcoming November elections. Seats might be lost and the Republicans might take the majority. So being shrewd, as well as Omnipotent, Nancy squashed the vote, so that Democrats running for re-election this fall did not sway and vote Yeah in the hopes of currying favor with their slack jawed constituents. A nice tactic to be sure but it seems to be backfiring. For though, we lowly constituents may or may not understand the inner workings of the great intellect that is Nancy Pelosi we do know a farce when we see one.

The Democrats are playing Partisan Politics with your pocketbook, and as long as we allow these self proclaimed saviors of the planet to further their little agendas of self aggrandisement, we as a nation will suffer. There is no single answer or policy that will solve the Energy crisis. We will need to Drill, we will need to develop Solar, wind and Hydroelectric power. We will need to continue conserving energy and yes even build Nuclear power plants. All of these things and more must we do to become energy independent.

In Nancy's inaugural address she said:

Now it is our responsibility to carry forth that vision of a new America into the 21st Century. A new America that seizes the future and forges 21st Century solutions through discovery, creativity, and innovation, sustaining our economic leadership and ensuring our national security.

Nice job there Mrs Speaker, it looks like you have fallen short on that account as well as your pledge of non partisan leadership of the House. What a sweetheart.

Slainte'

Blighter

Apology of Great importance?

(AP) The House on Tuesday issued an unprecedented apology to black Americans for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow segregation laws.

"Today represents a milestone in our nation's efforts to remedy the ills of our past," said Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Mich., chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Source

I realize that the issue of Slavery is of great importance to many citizens of this Nation, and that this gesture somehow placates their feelings of Guilt, or even possibly self loathing as concerns our past. Those who are actual descendants of slaves must now feel better about their plight such as it is......

I personally, know not of a single person with whom I have dealt with the worldwide that condones or finds slavery pleasing or acceptable. It is one of the greatest of wrongs, to place another human being into bondage, against their will, or even with their assent. This is self evident and needs no further elaboration.

But, what I believe is just as distasteful, if not as hideous as slavery itself, is the fact that many today, 140 years later actually claim to feel the effects and pains of that most troubling of times in American History.

According to the CBS article above the resolution says; that Africans forced into slavery "were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized and subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names and heritage" and that black Americans today continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery and Jim Crow laws that fostered discrimination and segregation.

How so? By what stretch of imagining does a person living in the 21st Century claim to suffer from the effects of the Slave trade? I daresay that any who claim such are either delusional or attempting to establish themselves as Victims. Victim hood has it's benefits as we can see evidenced by " Political Correctness" and its empowerment of those who claim victim status through censorship.

Read my Article Thomas Paine Speaks Still for a more thorough explanation on Political correctness.

So to what end does this latest of House Resolutions serve? The dismissal of some misguided guilt perhaps? The implication in the Apology is that I must somehow feel remorse for the actions of my forebears generations long past. So to whom should I focus such apologies and regretful remonstrances on? May hap there is a list somewhere that can show me those persons who are the actual descendants of the Slave one " Negro Bob" that my family once owned in the 1790's. Perhaps, I should apologize to the people of Virginia, and Georgia for my Great Great Great Grandfather's role in the Civil war that brought ruin and deprivation to those states, through his service in the Union armies. Maybe the Government should apologize to my father's side of the family for the mistreatment received on these shores by Irish Immigrants fleeing the famine in the 1840's. The list can go on and on.

My point is that none of us can be held accountable for the actions of others hundreds of years in the past, nor can we claim some sort of special status, i.e. " Victim hood" either. We can learn and evolve socially, through time, and through the reading and understanding of history. This I believe has been done, and continues to happen each and every day.

Ask your self this question: Is this Apology going to make one bit of difference in our society?

For those of you lacking wit I'll answer for you, NO.

What this latest PC resolution did accomplish, was that it took up valuable time in the Legislature that could have been used to address, what I feel, a more pressing issue, ohhhh...

like Off shore Drilling perhaps? The economy?

I'd like an apology now too.

Slainte'

Blighter

The photo is of Tennesee Democrat Steve Cohen who sponsored the Apology