Edmund Burke knew

Thomas Sowell's column compares Edmund Burke with BarryO...so much for escapist literature, Doctor Sowell.

One of Burke's fears was that "we may place our confidence in the virtue of those who have never been tried."
...

Neither eloquence nor zeal was a substitute for experience, according to Burke. He said, "eloquence may exist without a proportionate degree of wisdom." As for zeal, Burke said: "It is no excuse for presumptuous ignorance that it is directed by insolent passion."
...

BarryO is a compelling speaker when properly scripted. So are snake oil salesmen, used car dealers, and Vince with his Sham Wow. Huh. THERE'S an ironic comparison, eh?

Look At What The NRSC's Boy Did Now

Our "esteemed" (HACK!) governor really needs to join the party where he most belongs.

From the post by Carol at Not One Red Cent:

Democrats crowed that next year's budget will be propped up with $5.3 billion in federal stimulus money made available by a Democratic Congress and president. Without it, the state's $6 billion budget hole would have been far harder to fill. The current year budget is $69.5 billion, including $4 billion in stimulus money.

Instead of doing the hard work of cutting the fat out of the state budget, Crist took a drink at the federal trough. However, I have to object to the paragraph above. The money was not made available by the Democrats in Congress and the president. The money was confiscated by every working man and woman in this country. It is one thing for the Democrats to crow, it is nothing short of galling for a Republican governor to join them in the celebration.

As a Floridian let me just say, “thanks, Gov”. November 2010 can’t come soon enough.

Hmm...kinda feels like California, doesn't it...

More on the Bill of Rights

After First Amendment, of course comes the Second Amendment.

You know, when these Rights are given up in the name of "safety," it means NO safety. It means a life of slavery, lived under Tyranny. He may be cuter than King George (and I don't understand ANYTHING about the references to BarryO as hip or handsome...ick!), but the slavery is the same...and getting closer by the day.

If you don't believe me - and why would you - go check the links and commentary at Gateway Pundit about your local government-owned car dealership.

(Tip of the cap to SwampWoman, Paco, Hillbilly White Trash)

Bill of What? Rights? No, sorry, never heard of it...

From SoCal, the Land of Nuts and Fruits, comes another assault on free assembly AND freedom of religion...
Couple: County Trying To Stop Home Bible Studies

"If the county thinks they can shut down groups of 10 or 15 Christians meeting in a home, what about people who meet regularly at home for poker night? What about people who meet for Tupperware parties? What about people who are meeting to watch baseball games on a regular basis and support the Chargers?" said Broyles.

How's YOUR Bill of Rights looking today?

ACLU rides again...

Let me first state that I have no religious affiliation. I am not Christian, nor do I identify with any of the non-Christian ideologies that are found around the world. My mother took Catholic training in order to marry my father in the Church (I'm betting it was an inheritance idea), and I WAS baptized there, as was my older brother. (My best friend says since I was baptised AND I'm pro-Life, I'm actually MORE Catholic than many supposedly "practicing" Catholics) My parents sent us to (usually Methodist) Sunday school when we were kids, till we moved to Canada and were 20 miles of dirt road from the closest church. After Big Brother and I moved out and began our own adult lives, my parents converted to Judaism, and my sister was taken to Temple and sent to Sunday school at the local synagogue where they lived. I tend to lean that direction, when pushed for "religious identity." I married a non-religious Methodist, and our daughter often went to church or Sunday school with her friends. I do, however, have a firm belief in a Power Greater Than Myself. I have no dispute with religion or religious symbols being displayed in our country.

However, I DO have a peeve about American citizens who seem to be demanding NO symbolism of Christianity (in particular) on ANY public property within ANY public view. These fanatics are becoming on a par with the Taliban, in my mind, who destroyed statues of Buddha that were centuries old...because their puritanical mix of "religion" gave them that privilege, they ran the country, and Might Makes Right in their world.

Destruction in the name of God - or not-God - is as old as mankind. It makes no more sense to say our Constitution forbids ALL display of religion on 'public' property - and must be removed if it has already been created - than it does to dynamite the centuries-old Buddhas because of a recent Koranic interpretation.

Bob Tyrrell at Jewish World Review inspired my little rant here. Thanks, Bob!

I think he said it quite well enough...

AFGANISTANSHRUGGED has a new post with a rave review of the women who keep the candle in the window, to light the way Home. Got a spiffy t-shirt, too, with $5 from each sale going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Take a look.

One of these days I'll repeat here what my "Navy Wife, Retired" certificate has to say about my role in my husband's Navy career. Hubby wrote just about everything the Skipper said that day, and I was properly impressed at what they said about me...though their viewpoints are obviously skewed some.

Leader of Team Vampire says it pretty well himself.

Ocean, Sky and Khaki

Memorial Day just passed. Now that you've honoured the dead who made the supreme sacrifice, how 'bout a little love for the ones STILL making it possible for you to live in Freedom.

I consider Kae at the Bloodnut Blog (REDHEADS RULE!) to be a friend, and Nilk and Boy on a Bike are the authors of a couple of my favorite blogs. They are thoughtful and smart (and a bit smart-ass, which I admire). They love their diggers shamelessly and eternally.

Wondering what they could do to help - REALLY HELP - support their troops stationed around the world, they've come up with Ocean, Sky and Khaki, a blog dedicated to information on what to send, how to send, and how much it might cost to send little necessaries to someone so far away from the comforts of Home.

Their efforts will be appreciated, so go see if they need any of YOUR help. And don't forget, American troops need love, too, so go see what Operation Gratitude needs from you, too.

Thank you, Kae, BOAB and Nilk. You're the best.

UPDATE, posted by BOAB: We, who are living in the land of hot water and clean sheets and peace and security, should stop every now and then and give thanks and support to those that voluntarily serve in places where these things are absent.... for they serve to bring those things that we take for granted to those that do not have them. They serve to bring peace and security to where there is strife, to bring justice to where there is injustice, to provide light and clean water to where there is darkess and disease, and to bring hope to where there is despair.

It all starts with a box..........

(THOSE ARE THE LITTLE POSTAL FORMS YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT IN AUSTRALIA...PRETTY SURE THEY'RE ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THOSE I FILLED OUT WHEN SENDING PACKAGES TO MY CHIEF)
(UPDATE! CUSTOMS FORMS, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE! HAD TO RE-READ KAE'S
POSTS, BUT I FOUND IT. I HAD A DOZEN AT A TIME.)

"...words do not change realities."

Thomas Sowell. Need I say more?

"Barack Obama's repeated claim that a Supreme Court justice should have "empathy" with various groups has raised red flags that we ignore at our peril— and at the peril of our children and grandchildren.

"Empathy" for particular groups can be reconciled with "equal justice under law"— the motto over the entrance to the Supreme Court— only with smooth words. But not in reality. President Obama used those smooth words in introducing Judge Sotomayor but words do not change realities."

Again, BarryO uses the words people think they want to hear, but with no sign the appropriate action will follow the words. The words are soothing, therefore whatever he does is ok.

I think I'm gonna be sick.

"For those who believe in the rule of law, Barack Obama used the words "rule of law" in introducing his nominee. For those who take his words as gospel, even when his own actions are directly the opposite of his words, that may be enough to let him put this dangerous woman on the Supreme Court."

Rich Lowry has more on the subject.

"No president had ever nominated a Hispanic woman. Nor had a recent president — or his nominee — expressed less genuine interest in the traditional craft of judging."

Great. Regular American ME always thought INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION, manifested in previous rulings in lower courts, with few of them overturned by said Supreme Court, was the best qualification for a seat on The Highest Court in the Land. Little did I realize that empathy for certain ethnic and racial and other special interest groups was the best qualifier.

Sheesh. What a maroon.

A VERY DANGEROUS maroon, but a maroon all the same.

Happy 2nd Anniversary!

Lovely Daughter and Handsome Son-In-Law, parents of My Beautiful Pixie, celebrate two years of marriage today. Anyone who's been married - and stayed that way for more than a few weeks - knows it's an every day, all day commitment to something that's not easy even in the best of times...but has rewards beyond measure that only come when we make it through the rough times...together.

I am proud of my kids - they bring joy to my life in ways they have only begun to imagine.

Congratulations, Kait & Chris Brown. Thank you for being my Family!

UPDATE: The Browns got off work early and came to pick up their beautiful child together. I gave them the little gift I purchased, and I think it was a hit. Every time they come to help with dinner or prep something here for cooking, they rave about my Cutco Petite Chef knife. The balance and size are PERFECT for people our size, so I got them one. They left shortly afterward, talking about being excited about cooking. Must've been a decent gift, eh?

Play Ball!

My Padres came from being down 7-1 at Arizona yesterday to beat the Diamondbacks! Amazing! That's ten wins in a row for the Padres, with a beautiful 9-0 homestand. No, they're not going to catch the Dodgers without some help (like the Dodgers falling apart), but they're still the most fun team for me to watch.

Another game that looked like a sure thing was the Rays being over the Indians. But NOTHING is sure in baseball till the last out of the last inning, as the Tribe rallied for a seven-run ninth inning.

Someone else had a big come-back win yesterday, but I'll be darned if I can find the story. I had fasting blood work done this morning and it's way past time to EAT and HAVE COFFEE, so if I find it after that, I'll add it here.

No rain this morning, a lovely damp day outside, expecting the Pixie soon. Go, MAKE it a good day, and thanks for stopping by!

To those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us...

“Let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions
that we understand what they died for.
Let our actions say to them...‘I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.’
Strengthened by their courage, heartened by their valor,
and borne by their memory,
let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.”
—Ronald Reagan

(Thanks for the picture, Paco)

BlogBirth Days!

Margo's Maid's Shadowlands' BlogBirthDay was earlier this week. Kae's Bloodnut Blog has been giving us the benefit of her red-headed wit and wisdom since a year ago today (or tomorrow, depending on which time zone you're in). Paco Enterprises is hosting a bash Memorial Day for Paco's anniversary day.

I am honored to be among them.

Dick Cheney is the MAN!

Did you hear his speech? I didn't - but I've read the transcript at The Weekly Standard. This man has my unending gratitude and support for just about any damn thing he decides to do. Including running for Sexiest Man Alive.

From the transcript:

For me, one of the defining experiences was the morning of 9/11 itself. As you might recall, I was in my office in that first hour, when radar caught sight of an airliner heading toward the White House at 500 miles an hour. That was Flight 77, the one that ended up hitting the Pentagon. With the plane still inbound, Secret Service agents came into my office and said we had to leave, now. A few moments later I found myself in a fortified White House command post somewhere down below.

There in the bunker came the reports and images that so many Americans remember from that day – word of the crash in Pennsylvania, the final phone calls from hijacked planes, the final horror for those who jumped to their death to escape burning alive. In the years since, I’ve heard occasional speculation that I’m a different man after 9/11. I wouldn’t say that. But I’ll freely admit that watching a coordinated, devastating attack on our country from an underground bunker at the White House can affect how you view your responsibilities.

To make certain our nation country never again faced such a day of horror, we developed a comprehensive strategy, beginning with far greater homeland security to make the United States a harder target. But since wars cannot be won on the defensive, we moved decisively against the terrorists in their hideouts and sanctuaries, and committed to using every asset to take down their networks. We decided, as well, to confront the regimes that sponsored terrorists, and to go after those who provide sanctuary, funding, and weapons to enemies of the United States. We turned special attention to regimes that had the capacity to build weapons of mass destruction, and might transfer such weapons to terrorists.

This is a MAN. I bet BarryO and his band of merry boys and girls leave puddles on the floor at the thought of Dick Cheney. No wishy-washy meandering, no dithering, no umm-err-ing, no doublespeak. A Real, Self-confident, Good-in-his-own-skin MAN. *sigh*

Mary Katherine Ham seems to agree:

"In rereading his speech, it's in this sentence:

Today, I’m an even freer man. Your kind invitation brings me here as a private citizen – a career in politics behind me, no elections to win or lose, and no favor to seek.

Hmmm, the very thing that brings our hero (Obama) to his knees is what makes Cheney ever more powerful by the day. Mwahahahahaha. It's almost as if he were taking this super-villain thing seriously. Be afraid, Barack. Be very afraid."

Gotta love it!

Also, a selection of Cheneykus from Jim Treacher, whom I first encountered at Tim Blair's place a few years back.

Remember, lefties
I'm not running for office
Your polls make me laugh

***

Hello, Jon Stewart
You cried on September 12
But haven't since: Why?

***

I'm bald and morose
I don't look good in swim trunks
Eight years, no attacks

***

Every time I sneer
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed faints
Try that one, Barack

***

The talent level in these blogs makes me happy to have made this my hobby! I LOVE that last one listed here, just LOVE it!

Don't Mess With Texas - even on campus, I hope

Got My Chief (ret.) home sick today, so don't know how much time I'll spend at the computer. He's sleeping MOST of the time, but the fever broke around 3:30, so we'll see if he gets hungry later. I'm taking the Pixie to the commissary to get a few things, too. And it's raining - yeah, that's a newsflash, eh?

I did find this article, though, you might want to check out. Texas seems to be fast-tracking a concealed-carry ON CAMPUS law. Way to go, TEXAS!

I just signed up for a free membership to the NRA, via a link from Merlin, my friend in Colorado. He's sent me another link I'll try to remember to post tomorrow which is fitting for Memorial Day weekend, I think. Oh, nevermind, here it is now - Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Organization. Thank you for both of those, Merlin.

Ok, off to the rest of the day, thanks for stopping by!

Marco Rubio!

More links at Paco Enterprises & The Other McCain -- He doesn't have the name recognition of our 'esteemed' Governor, but I sure like what I hear here:

Scobey, Montana

One of the places I lived when I was young was Scobey, Montana. It's in the FAR northeastern corner of Montana, near the Saskatchewan and North Dakota borders. I spent all of 6th grade there. My dad worked for the phone company, my mum taught 4th grade at the school. I was in Girl Scouts, for the only time in my life (spent a year in Brownies in Malta, Montana).

A couple summers ago, I flew to Denver, rented a car, and spent a couple weeks wandering in places I had never driven - because I was too young to drive when we lived there. I found my way to Scobey, which is still a very small town on a very big prairie where the wind blows...all the time. I stopped in to talk with the woman at Bev's Sewing Center. Beverly Lund is a friendly, talented woman. She helped refresh some of the memories I had and we have continued an online friendship, too. I recently ordered some fabric from her to do a project I've had on my list for quite some time (arrival of the Pixie set things back a bit, but we're getting there).

Anyway, the point of this post is to alert you to the new links in my blogroll. One is for flannels4baby.com, where you can buy baby-print flannels and quilting cotton and other supplies at VERY reasonable prices. Read the testimonials if you don't believe me! The other link is for Donovan Slippers, a footwear item made in Scobey, Montana that is going to be my favorite piece of footwear once I get around to ordering some. Bev has a blog, too, where she takes readers through the steps of making a quilt - is that cool, or what!

Thanks for your time and hard work, Bev, and the news you send from a place I will never forget.

UPDATE...but more of a revision, I suppose...
The year we lived in Scobey, it snowed a couple of feet - on the first of May!

I'm it - with thanks to Paco, of course!

Paco has seen fit to tag me for "eight random things about myself." I try NOT to spend a lot of time thinking about myself, so this has taken a little while, Paco - I hope you enjoy it!

1. I was born in Montana on the anniversary of the day Montana became a state. I think it's the most beautiful state in the Union, and not because of the mountains. I'm a prairie cat, y'see, and wide open spaces covered in sky are my idea of heaven.

2. I attended first grade at Bowdoin School outside Malta, Montana. It was a one-room school, with one teacher, Mrs. Beyer. She and I lived in town & she drove me to school every day. I adored her. She'd had my grandfather as a teacher when SHE was in school. She started with 8 of us at the beginning of the year, till another family moved to a farm down the road, which gave us 10 students at the end of the year. The Stiles kids sometimes rode their horse to school & would take me for rides at recess & lunch. I went to see the place a couple years ago & it made my heart ache at the horrid condition it was in. It was the best year of all my school years.

3. I spent over a week in hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada when I was 13, while they ran every test they could think of (EXCEPT a pregnancy test, I think). I was about 3 1/2 feet tall and I weighed in at 55 lbs. And had been that same size since I was 8 or 9, but now my skin looked almost mummified, the hair on my back was 2" long, and the hair on my head was the texture of straw AND it was falling out. I was also cold & tired all the time. Diagnosis was hypothyroidism and I've been taking medication for it ever since. I grew 6 inches in the first 8 months after I was released. But I still never made it to being 5 feet tall.

4. I can make gravy. GOOD gravy. The secrets, I have learned over the years, are that if you use flour you must 'cook' it so the flour taste goes away AND it takes TIME to make decent gravy.

5. I thread needles and deal cards left-handed.

6. I don't like music or movies much. Some of them speak to me at certain times, but mostly I'm kinda *meh* about the whole "art" scene. I couldn't act my way out of a wet paper bag and I have little or no musical ability. I listen to talk and sports-talk when I listen to the radio, and I watch almost no television unless it's cooking, gardening, D-I-Y or sports.

7. I tried to go to school to learn interior design, but couldn't seem to make it a priority (divorce and fear were further up on the list), so ended up dropping out. Now I do my own interior design with far fewer 'rules' than the classes would've had me learn.

8. To keep with Paco's theme, I do enjoy detective fiction a LOT, and wanted to be a private eye a long time ago. But not so much Miss Marple, more like Hercule Poirot (without the mustache) when I was feeling mellow or Mike Hammer when I wanted to fight. Lovely Daughter used to accuse me of spying or being psychic because of things I'd know about what goes on in my house when I'm not here...because I seem to pick up on little clues and notice things are added, rearranged or missing. Being Detective Mom was much tougher on my heart than being Grandma Daycare.

There you are, Paco. And of course, once I start thinking of things about me, NOW I can come up with probably another 8 or 10...but I won' t bore any of my several readers with more just yet! I will, however, tag SwampWoman, Kae, and Rodrigo!

Cool and rainy here in NEFL, think I'll make barley vegetable soup for My Chief (ret.). Thanks for stopping by!

Shadowlands is ONE!

Go visit Margo's Maid in the Shadowlands - you won't regret it. Being one of the mainstays of Blair Nation, the commentary is witty and original...even if it IS borderline slanderous! Love it, Margos, thanks for an interesting year!

And, like the slowpoke I've always been, I'm finally getting around to linking her here. Sheesh.

And in the news from Montana...

...we find this little thing from Helena...I'd be on the lookout for a silver-haired gent wearing a white linen suit...

In the biggest news from Montana since the Unabomber and Ted Turner, it seems I may already be part of War Between The States: Part II - States' Rights. It's an AP article in the SanFran Chronicle...which puzzles me in the first place, but what-the-heck. You can read the text of the bill here, after scrolling through the preachifying.

Bit of a soggy morning here in NEFL, and with hubby home for the day, I may not get back on here much, so y'all go make it a good day, and thanks for stopping by!

Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitude can use your vote here. I put a link on my Facebook page, no idea how it'll work here, but with Richard at Three Beers Later AND the CEO of Paco Enterprises aboard, you'll be in good company. It's the LEAST you can do, isn't it?

UPDATE: I don't want Andrea to talk snark about me, so I'm voting for Operation Gratitude again first thing in the morning!