This America Shall Not Fall

We are told, always, that there is no black and white. That there are only shades of gray. This is a picture that is held up to us. But it is only a picture and it is false. Each day, each of us makes countless choices, and each of these choices is black and white. If we choose, over and over again, as we have for so long, to choose the black choices because they are easier, to choose ‘me’ over ‘us’, to choose division and strife over assimilation and trust, then we slowly slip into that black night.

I do not so choose. I am your Centurion. This American Shall Not Fall!

(From The Last Centurion by John Ringo)

A view from the front lines

There has been a tremendous amount of analysis over the past few days on what the election of Scott Brown as Massachusetts Senator signifies. Most of that analysis has come from a national view point looking into MA. From my point of view in MA, here is my take:

1.It was clearly a vote against the nationalization of healthcare. Scott Brown made his opposition to healthcare his number one campaign focus, so it certainly should be read as anti-obamacare. Because Ted Kennedy was associated with healthcare ‘reform’, there was no Kennedy favorable vote that could flow thru.

2. I would not underestimate the fumbling of the Christmas bombing attempt as a major factor, from conversations I have had with voters. Security was let down to allow the bomber on the plane, the President was very slow to recognize the attack as a coordinated terrorist attack from Al-Qaida. The response from the TSA was fairly ridiculous. And not treating the bomber as an enemy combatant was a foul-up of the highest order. All on the Democrat’s watch. And then we have Scott Brown, an officer in the MA National Guard. Quite a contrast.

3. Martha Coakley did run a poor campaign. But her poor performance appeared to confirm voters perception of Democrat incompetence at all levels. Martha supported most Obama policies, so was forced into some errors that could not be avoided. “No terrorists in Afganistan”, or “Miranda rights for terrorists” sounded like she was a fool, but she HAD to take those positions to remain in lock-step with (and continue to receive the support of) President Obama. Going negative at the end of the campaign just turned a LOT of voters off, but she could not run positive on her agenda, because voters were against that agenda. Of course, not helping the reporter up from the sidewalk when one of her staff pushed him down was just dumb.

4.Given that national backdrop, I do not believe any Democrat could have defeated Scott Brown. However, if the Republican candidate had been someone else, not as tuned-in to the voter angst, not as hard working, not a Mr. Everyman, a Democrat could have won in a landslide. ANY Democrat. The election was not won because Coakley was weak, it was won because Brown was strong.

“It’s not Ted Kennedy’s seat, it’s not the Democrats seat, it’s the people’s seat!”.

Just brilliant.

Author: Mark

A Culture of Entitlement

The following is an interesting note on the perspective of “change” the that Obama administration has brought from Chicago to Washington. A culture of entitlement seems to permeate. The following analysis is from the Canadian Free Press, of all places:
______________________________________________________
Total Personal Staff members for first ladies paid by taxpayers:

Mamie Eisenhower: One -- paid for personally out of President's salary.
Jackie Kennedy: One
Roseline Carter: One
Barbara Bush: One
Hillary Clinton: Three
Laura Bush: One
Michele Obama: Twenty-two

How things have changed! If you're one of the tens of millions of
Americans facing certain destitution, earning less than subsistence wages stocking the shelves at Wal-Mart or serving up McDonald cheeseburgers, prepare to scream and then come to realize that the benefit package for these servants of Ms. Michelle are the same as members of the national security and defense departments and the bill for these assorted lackeys is paid by YOU, John Q.Public.

Michele Obama's personal staff:

One.. $172,200 - Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)

Two.. $140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)

Three.. $113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary for Mrs. Obama)

Four.. $102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady)

Five.. $100,000 - Winter, Melissa (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)

Six.. $90,000 - Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)

Seven.. $84,000 - Lilyveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)

Eight.. $75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)

Nine.. $70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Project for the First Lady)

Ten.. $65,000 - Burnough, Erinn (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)

Eleven.. $64,000 - Reinstein, Joseph B.(Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)

Twelve.. $62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator For The First Lady)

Thirteen.. $60,000 Fitz, Alan O.(Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)

Fourteen.. $57,500 - Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)

Fifteen... $52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary To The First Lady)


Sixteen.. $50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide To The First Lady)

Seventeen.. $45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)

Eighteen.. $43,000 - Tubman, Samanth a (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)

Nineteen.. $40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)

Twenty.. $36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)

Twenty-One.. $35,000 - Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)

Twenty-Two.. $35,000 - Jackson, Deilia A. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)

Total.. $1,591,200 in annual salaries


There has NEVER been anyone in the White House at any time who has created such an army of staffers whose sole duties are the facilitation of the First Lady's social life.

One wonders why she needs so much help, at taxpayer expense.

Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and "First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31,both of whom traveled aboard Air Force One to Europe .
.

Copyright 2009 Canada Free Press.Com
canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/12652

Crazy Time in MA

OK, things have been so crazy in the political world lately I haven’t had much of a chance to write here. The Brown Senate run is of course front and central, and every Republican I know here in Natick and MA has been pulling out all the stops to get Scott over the goal line. And with just 3 days to go, I would say the mood is cautiously optimistic.

I was holding a sign in the center of Natick today with a large group of Brown supports. The enthusiasm coming from cars passing by, from people walking by, was astounding – I’ve done a lot of stand-outs, and the intensity of support for Scott was far beyond anything I have ever encountered.

Obama is parachuting in to the state tomorrow (Sunday), and I believe that could be more of an advantage for Scott than for Coakley. He will be at Northeastern University from 1PM to 3PM. By a happy coincidence, there will be a Tea Party rally from 12:30PM to 3:30PM also at Northeastern University.

I’ve said it more than a few times, but I will say it again: get out and vote, this one is for all the marbles.

Author: Mark

PS: Here’s a video that is fantastic.

Liberals versus Conservatives

A friend sent me this, and I thought it was spot on - the difference between Liberals and Conservatives:

If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn`t buy one.
If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn`t eat meat.
If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced for everyone.

If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about
shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.

If a conservative received this in an email, he'll forward it to his friends.
A liberal will delete it because he is "offended".