Important Announcement!!

Readers, both frequent and new, I've wanted to make this announcement after Labor Day, but recent events in Connecticut have accelerated my timetable.

As we now know, the Democratic Party's 2006 agenda is clear: purge their own party of independent and defense-minded thinkers, destroy both our internal and external defenses, and capitulate to the will of the United Nations, rather than our own President and Constitution!

It is because of this monstrous threat that I announce the Red November Initiative!

What is it?
A chance for all right-minded bloggers to spread the word and get any and all Republican candidates elected in their local jurisdictions. If losers like Markos and his Daily Kos-monauts can defeat an independent thinker from their own party, we can pay the DNC back in kind!

What can you do?
Blog, blog and blog some more about your local, state, and federal legislators or Republican opponents.

How can you help the Red November Initiative?
Leave me your blog name and e-mail and I'll send you the blogroll HTML.

Help me to help America stay on the "right" path!

God Bless America and God Bless You All!

In Case People Missed This,...

We actually have a winning sports team in town!

BARRAGE WIN 23-12; Crowned MLL Champions

August 27, 2006 - Carson, CA (August 27, 2006) � In front of 5,374 fans at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA, the Philadelphia Barrage crushed the Denver Outlaws 23-12 in the MLL Championship Game. Roy Colsey was named Bud Light game MVP for his 10-point (6G, 2 2ptG, 2A) performance in the game. The Barrage was crowned the 2006 MLL Champions.
Philadelphia started off the scoring at 12:29 with a goal from rookie midfielder Matt Zash, followed by another goal by Bobby Horsey. Denver answered back going on a three-goal run giving them a one-goal lead. Mike Law scored two of those three goals, along with a goal from Brian Langtry. The Barrage regained the lead with goals scored by B.J. Prager, Justin Smith, Roy Colsey and a two-point goal from Matt Striebel, his first of the season. Denver rookie midfielder Casey Cittadino scored with 0:08 seconds left on the clock to end the quarter. Striebel scored two more goals for Philadelphia to start the second quarter; Langtry scored his second for Denver, leaving his team trailing by four. Each team went goal for goal to finish out the first half. Colsey scored all three of Philadelphia�s goals, two of them counting for two points. Brenden Mundorf and Jeff Zywicki scored for the Outlaws trying to keep them in the game. The score at the end of the half was Philadelphia 14, Denver 7.
Philadelphia came out strong for the second half scoring six goals in a row. Prager, Striebel, Prossner scored for the Barrage, along with two goals from Colsey. Paul Cantabene scored his first game of the afternoon off a face off win during the six-goal run. Brian Dougherty held the Outlaws scoreless for 13 minutes. Mundorf finally broke through and scored two goals in 52 seconds. Jeff Snyder scored off the face off X, leaving his team still trailing by 10 at the end of the third quarter. Mundorf scored his third goal of the afternoon to start the fourth and final quarter. Prager scored on a behind the back shot, his second goal of the afternoon for Philadelphia, ending the four-goal run from Denver. Attackman Matt Brown scored his first goal of the afternoon for the Outlaws at 12:24, trying to start a comeback for his team who are still trailing by nine. Philadelphia ended the fourth quarter with a goal from Smith and Michael Springer. Philadelphia defeated the Outlaws 23-12 to win the MLL title for the second time in team history. Colsey was named the Bud Light Post Season MVP for his 10 point game (6G, 2 2ptG, 2 A).
In 2004, Philadelphia made their first appearance in the playoff in team history and went all the way to win the title. Being crowned the MLL champions, Barrage now have a post-season record of 2-0. The championship game wraps up the 2006 season for the Barrage and the MLL.

Is it Just Me?

Ok,..so people are up in arms about the next season of Survivor. (I'm not one of them,..I have a brain with more than two functioning cells!)

The featured battle will have tribes drawn up alone racial lines!

So,.......?

If you want to see white people battle black people and Hispanics battle Asians,..here's a novel idea:

Watch the Little League World Series for God's sake!!!

Move Along MoveOn.Org!

This is a Red November Initiative Post!

Virginia Representative Faces Energized Democrats in Blush State
Sunday, August 27, 2006
By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos

WASHINGTON — Democrats are hoping that even in red state Virginia, with a district that has the largest concentration of military personnel and retirees in the state, they can take advantage of the national mood over the war in Iraq to win a congressional seat from Republicans in November.

The national party, as well as outside political fundraisers like MoveOn.org, have targeted Rep. Thelma Drake, a one-term representative for the 2nd Congressional District. They are hoping Democratic state revenue commissioner Phil Kellam has what it takes to beat her in the fall.

Though Republicans in this conservative district, which went for President Bush over Democratic Sen. John Kerry 58 percent to 42 percent in 2004, say Drake is solid here, political analysts are suggesting this is Virginia's only real competitive race this year.

"Conditions are ripe this year because of the national issues," said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, who has recently upgraded this race from "leans Republican" to a "toss up" in his Crystal Ball list of competitive House races this year.

The TrekMedic seethes:

MoveOn.Org got Howard Dean puppet Ned Lamont elected over someone with a backbone in Connecticut. They can't be allowed to do it again - ANYWHERE - in this elelction!

FDNY LODDs

Sad news, as always, when these things occur:

FATAL BLAZE TRAPS BRAVEST
1 KILLED, 1 CRUSHED IN BRONX COLLAPSE

By STEVE DUNLEAVY, LARRY CELONA and BRIGITTE WILLIAMS

August 28, 2006 -- A rookie firefighter battling an inferno in a Bronx store was killed and his lieutenant nearly crushed to death yesterday when the floor collapsed beneath them - plunging them into the basement and burying them in flaming chunks of the building.

It was the FDNY's darkest day since Black Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005, when two firefighters died and four were critically hurt in two separate blazes.

Michael Reilly, 25, yesterday became the first city firefighter to die in the line of duty since then.

In addition to Reilly and his lieutenant, three other firefighters crashed into the basement. All five remained trapped for a terrifying hour and a half - as the air in their tanks began running out - covered in rubble that had been the floor and shelves of the 99-cent store.

While not reported in this story, FF Lt. Howard Carpluk as died from the extent of his injuries, Also, Michael Reilly was a Sgt. in the NY USMC Reserve! (Semper Fi, bro!)

Endorsing Raj Bhakta (US PA-13)

This is a Red November Initiative post:

Whereas, U.S. Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, PA-13, carpetbagged her way from her former seat as Pennsylvania State Senator for the 4th District, an area largely encompassing the northwest of Philadelphia (a far cry from her riding of the US 13th District, which encompasses Northeast Philadelphia and a large section of eastern Montgomery County), thus keeping the seat in Democratic hands in succession from former Congressman Joe Hoeffel, and

Whereas, Mrs. Schwartz' campaign site seems to lack any issues or news items, other than parroting anti-Bhakta parasite, Tom Ferrick's screed against Raj (which was challenged by Raj Bhakta) and,

Whereas, Congresswomen Schwartz appears to have no stand on our National Security, nor a way to address the astronomical and appalling murder rate in Philadelphia, and

Whereas, the Democratic National Convention has made a stand in Connecticut that is will not tolerate internal dissent against its weak, anti-war, anti-homeland security, anti-life platform at the expense of senior leadership and veteran legislative experience and,

Whereas, Congresswomen Schwartz, feeling to need to sling the first handful of mud, used "anonymous sources" to lay a false claim against Raj Bhakta regarding an ALLEGED name-calling incident, and

Whereas, Raj Bhakta outlines "10 Reasons to Vote for Raj", chief among them being:

• Protecting the Homeland - September 11, 2001 changed our lives forever. Protecting America and preventing another terrorist attack should be our highest national priority. I will always vote to make sure that our police, firefighters, and other first responders have all the tools they need to keep America safe.

• National Security - We as Americans owe our gratitude to those who serve in our military. Many say that they "support the troops." We must back up those words with action. I will ALWAYS vote to make sure our servicemen and women have the tools they need to keep themselves safe when they are in harm's way. I will NEVER vote to cut off funding for our armed forces when they are serving in battle.
  

Whereas, Raj Bhakta is working to improve to quality of life in Northeast Philadelphia, amidst the worst murder rate in Philadelphia's history, and,

Whereas, Raj Bhakta supports groups such as the Boy Scouts, who are being singled out and evicted by Philadelphia's Democratic Mayor, John Street, in a time when this city needs moral guidance, and,

Whereas, Raj Bhakta believes "At the most basic level, the government must be able to make us safe," and Bhakta explained that at the federal level he could do to things to fight crime in the Northeast-provide funding for a larger police force and for new prisons to be built.

"We need police on the streets," Bhakta said. "We need to make sure criminals stay in jail. It's not rocket science."

Then be it known to all that the TrekMedic, as part of the Red November Initiative to keep American safe and in the hands of Republican leadership, hereby endorses Raj Peter Bhakta for the United States Congress for the 13th Pennsylvania District!

What SuperHero are You?

This meme comes courtesy of ALa at Blonde Sagacity:

You Are The Hulk

Super strong and super scary, you were never meant to be a superhero. You're not really into saving the world. And the world better get out of your way.

What Superhero Are You?

This is beyond scary! That was my nickname in high school! I didn't pick any fights, but God help you if you started with me!

They Said it First,....

HT to Flopping Aces for this reminder that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it:

I always like to bring out the Democratic quotes at times like these, and this time is no exception:

• * “Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face.” - Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998

• * “[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the US Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq’s refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs.” - Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sense. Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others Oct. 9, 1998

• * “Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.” - Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998

• * “Hussein has chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies.” - Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999

• * “We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.” - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

• * “Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.” - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

• * “We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.” - Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

• * “I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force– if necessary– to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.” - Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002

The TrekMedic notes:

Just a reminder to those who are considering switching sides to the anti-war, anti-security Democratic Party:

Apparently, even Slick Willie Clinton knew about Saddam's WMDs, but he was too busy getting hummers from interns to have the balls to do something about it:


That noted warmonger Bill Clinton gave a speech at the Pentagon in 1998 that could have as easily been given by Bush in 2002, and I think it’s worth reading some of that at length, especially given the sanctimoniousness of critics who claimed that 2003 was a “rush” to war:President Clinton:

“It is obvious that there is an attempt here, based on the whole history of this operation since 1991, to protect whatever remains of [Saddam’s] capacity to produce weapons of mass destruction, the missiles to deliver them, and the feed stocks necessary to produce them. The UNSCOM inspectors believe that Iraq still has stockpiles of chemical and biological munitions, a small force of Scud-type missiles, and the capacity to restart quickly its production program and build many, many more weapons.”

Clinton then added:

“Now, let’s imagine the future. What if [Saddam] fails to comply, and we fail to act, or we take some ambiguous third route which gives him yet more opportunities to develop this program of weapons of mass destruction and continue to press for the release of the sanctions and continue to ignore the solemn commitments that he made? Well, he will conclude that the international community has lost its will. He will then conclude that he can go right on and do more to rebuild an arsenal of devastating destruction. And some day, some way, I guarantee you, he’ll use the arsenal. And I think every one of you who’s really worked on this for any length of time believes that, too. [emphasis added] If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow by the knowledge that they can act with impunity, even in the face of a clear message from the United Nations Security Council and clear evidence of a weapons of mass destruction program.”


'Nuff Said!

We Need This Like a Hole in the Head

From FreedomEden:

Help Keep America Clean


This graphic appears on the website of the National Socialist Movement.

Offensive? I think so. I find it extremely offensive. Wouldn't it be perfect for the Iranian exhibit of anti-Jewish art?

People of this mindset will be gathering at Wisconsin's Capitol on Saturday.

Madison will be hosting an event by the National Socialist Movement. I think the NSM has chosen the perfect location for its Nazi rally.

In addition to Madison being home to a large concentration of Socialists, it prides itself on being tolerant and open to even the most hateful theories and philosophies.
("tolerant and open" are famous catchwords in the DNC, BTW)

The TrekMedic adds:

In a time when Israel is once again under attack by a multitude of Islamofascists and being brow beaten by the UN, this is the LAST thing we need to show the world at large!

I'm Ba-a-a-ack!

Not one to let a little case of pneumonia and a crashed computer (Ned Lamont watching?) keep me down,..I'm back with a vengeance! More posts later.

Who Da Thunk it? (Leftywood Version)

HT to Three Sources for this strange twist of fate:

Kidman condemns Hamas, Hezbollah
From correspondents in Los Angeles
August 17, 2006 08:51am

NICOLE Kidman has made a public stand against terrorism.

The actress, joined by 84 other high-profile Hollywood stars, directors, studio bosses and media moguls, has taken out a powerfully-worded full page advertisement in today's Los Angeles Times newspaper.

It specifically targets "terrorist organisations" such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine.

"We the undersigned are pained and devastated by the civilian casualties in Israel and Lebanon caused by terrorist actions initiated by terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas," the ad reads.

"If we do not succeed in stopping terrorism around the world, chaos will rule and innocent people will continue to die.

"We need to support democratic societies and stop terrorism at all costs."

A who's who of Hollywood heavyweights joined Kidman on the ad.

The actors listed included: Michael Douglas, Dennis Hopper, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Danny De Vito, Don Johnson, James Woods, Kelly Preston, Patricia Heaton and William Hurt.

Directors Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Michael Mann, Dick Donner and Sam Raimi also signed their names.

Other Hollywood powerplayers supporting the ad included Sumner Redstone, the chairman and majority owner of Paramount Pictures, and billionaire mogul, Haim Saban.

Profiling = Peace!

Local Radio Talk Show Host and Daily Fishwrapper columnist Michael Smerconish has it right:

Posted on Thu, Aug. 17, 2006

Michael Smerconish | Skip the grannies: The case for airport profiling

FIVE YEARSremoved from 9/11, it's time to admit that profiling is not a dirty word.

Profiling is street smarts by any other name. It's the common-sensical recognition that while America is not threatened by an entire community, she is under siege by a certain element of an identifiable group, and law enforcement needs to target its resources accordingly.

The failure to profile is a dereliction of duty on the part of an administration that has otherwise been willing to incur the wrath of civil libertarians as it aggressively fights the war on terror.


Only last week, in the aftermath of the thwarted attack emanating from the U.K., did the president appear to take a step in the direction of profiling when at last, he acknowledged with specificity those who threaten our survival:

"This nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom."

Hopefully now there will be a long overdue confrontation of the Emperor Has No Clothes charade whereby law enforcement is mandated to ignore the naked barbarism of radical Islam. The arrest of two dozen in connection with the latest, failed plan should change that. After all, they are the same-old, same-old. I refer to Messrs. Ali, Ali, Ali, Hussain, Hussain, Hussain, Islam, Kayani, Khan, Khan, Kha-tib, Patel, Rauf, Saddique, Sarwar, Savant, Tariq, Uddin and Zaman. To a person they are Muslim men.

Where some would highlight the slight differences among them - class, upbringing and whether they were raised Muslim or converted to Islam - I see the commonalities. Equally significant is who they are not.

(snip)

Some are still standing in the way. Take Paul Stephenson, the Scotland Yard deputy commissioner, who, on the day the plot was made known, said:

"What I would want to say, and you would expect me to say about this, is this is not about communities. This is about criminals. This is about murderers, people who want to commit mass murder. This is not about anything to do with any particular community."

Wrong, Deputy Stephenson, I would not expect you to say that. And while this is not about a particular community, it most certainly is about people within a particular community.

(snip)

My thesis remains unchanged. We are threatened by individuals who largely have race, gender, religion, ethnicity and appearance in common. To the extent we do not take that information into account as we seek to prevent a repeat of 9/11, we are still flying blind.

The president has finally acknowledged that some in a particular community seek to kill us. Hopefully his comments will set the tone for what is to come because his administration needs a mind-set change.

I say it's nice to philosophize about American peace, love and understanding, but right now we have a more important agenda. Like winning the war against radical Islam so that we are still around to engage in such dialogue when the dust settles.

Hey, Lamont,....it IS about the War, Stupid!

HT to Blogs for Condi and Althouse for this reminder of what we need to do to win in November:

75% of Connecticut Republicans back Lieberman.
And even Lamont has more Republican supporters than the Republican nominee, Schlesinger. Anyway, overall, Lieberman is polling at 53%, with Lamont at 41%. Wonder what they're saying over at DailyKos? Nothing since yesterday, when McJoan wrote Lieberman should be stripped of his seniority if he wins -- which she seems to be saying because his seniority is one argument for reelecting him.

Even now, as the MSM tries to create a wedge between GWB and the Pentagon, the war on terror needs to be continued, over here,..over there,..and everywhere!

Monty Roddenberry's Trek-a-lot?

No Surprises Here!

You scored as Republican. <'Imunimaginative's Deviantart Page'> Republican 100% Anarchism 50% Socialist 33% Green 33% Fascism 33% Nazi 17% Communism 17% Democrat 8% What Political Party Do Your Beliefs Put You In? created with QuizFarm.com

Allyson Schwartz "Didn't Care"

A RED NOVEMBER INITIATIVE POST

Courtesy of Raj Bhakta's Blog (He's the next US Congressman from PA-13!)


Philadelphia Reporter depicts Joseph and Cathie Nasife’s harrowing ordeal.


Joseph and Cathie Nasife and their family were stuck in a nightmare for two weeks.

They didn’t know if they were going to get out alive‚ especially when so many around them were dying.

It started out simple and safe enough.

The Nasifes were to go to Lebanon for their son’s wedding‚ and return home in a matter of days.

They arrived on July 5 and the wedding was four days later.

Then‚ on July 11‚ as they were sitting in their resort‚ The LaTourneaunt‚ in the northern part of the country‚ they heard the beginning of their problems.

“At 4 p.m.‚ we heard what we thought were loud blasts‚” Cathie said. “My husband speaks Arabic‚ and he heard them say in Arabic‚ ‘there are bombs.’ Right then and there we said we’re leaving.”

The Nasifes even contacted those that represent them: U.S. Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz‚ D-13‚ and U.S. Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick‚ R-8.
(Second Link HERE)

“We called Schwartz‚ and someone in her office said we would get back to you. They never did‚” Cathie said. “Schwartz did absolutely nothing – and she’s our representative.”

Ri-i-i-inngg!! Hello? alQaeda Calling!

In a time where the NYTreason and other leftists rags continue to give GWB grief over wiretaps and phonetaps, isn't it amazing to read a story like this one?

Brothers Emerge as Key Suspects in U.K. Terror Plot

LONDON — The investigation into a plot to blow up jetliners over the Atlantic zeroed in Saturday on brothers arrested in Pakistan and Britain, one named as a key Al Qaeda suspect who left the family's home in England years ago and the other described as gentle and polite.

(snip)

A senior Pakistani security official told The Associated Press that Rauf's arrest prompted an accomplice in the southern city of Karachi to make a panicked phone call to a suspect in Britain, giving the green light for the airliner plot to move forward urgently.

"This telephone call intercept in Karachi and the arrest of Rashid Rauf helped a lot to foil the terror plan," the official said.

A second intelligence official, who described the accomplice as "inexperienced," also said the caller "alerted his associates about the arrest of Rashid Rauf, and asked them to go ahead."

Babes Who Hate Terrorists!

HT to the Muslim Question for this gem:

Bobby Abre-WHO??

Rowand the hero in 14th

By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
Aaron Rowand drove in the winning run with a walk-off single to right-center in the bottom of the 14th inning. The Phillies used some late-inning magic to tie the game and send it to extras. Jimmy Rollins hit his 15th homer of the season in the eighth.

(snip)

So giddy was the crowd that a section danced along with Loverboy's "Working for the Weekend" -- the song that plays after Philadelphia wins. The Phillies got their weekend started by mobbing Rowand at first base.

So this is how the National League Wild Card race is going to be, huh?

A Phillebrity Passes,...

Former TV Talk Show Host Mike Douglas Dies at 81
Friday, August 11, 2006

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Mike Douglas, whose affable personality and singing talent earned him 21 years as a television talk show host, died Friday on his 81st birthday.

(snip)

Douglas did about 6,000 shows, most 90 minutes long, and estimated that at its peak the syndicated show was seen in about 230 cities.

Tom Kelly, who co-authored Douglas' memoir, said he had about 30,000 guests appear on his show over the years.

(snip)

Douglas was genial most of the time, but confided in his memoir that his composure was sorely tested one week in 1972 when former Beatle John Lennon and wife, Yoko Ono, were his unlikely guest hosts. One of the guest celebrities they selected was well-known anti-war activist Jerry Rubin.

"He just got on my nerves. It sounded like this guy hated the president, the Congress, everyone in business, the military, all police and just about everything America stands for," Douglas said.

He recalled becoming confrontational with Rubin. But Lennon "picked up the mantle of Kind and Gentle Host, and he did it quite well, reinterpreting Jerry's comments to take some of the sting out and adding a little humor to keep things cool," Douglas said.

(snip)

He briefly hosted "Hi, Ladies!", a daytime television program on WGN in Chicago. In 1961, Woody Fraser, a Westinghouse Group W program director who had known Douglas in Chicago, recruited him to a Group W station in Cleveland (then KYW) to host a talk and entertainment program.

The show syndicated starting in 1963 but had a limited budget, and Cleveland was not a frequent destination for well-known potential guests. The show moved to Philadelphia in 1965 and to Los Angeles in 1978.

The TrekMedic corrects:

KYW, then a Group W station affiliated with NBC, is STILL in Philadelphia, and was never in Cleveland. It is now CBS3/KYW in Philly!

The True Platform of the Democratic Party!

OK,..sorry I'm behind the data flow here, but other obligations kept me away from the computer yesterday.

As we already know, Connecticut Sen. Joe Liberman (D-cent guy) got f**ked by his own party for (gasp) thinking for himself. Ned Lamont is nothing more than a puppet, parroting the mantra of George Soros, Howard Dean, and MoveOn.Org!

You'd have to be blind not to see the 2006 Democratic platform now:destroy our defenses, open our homeland vulnerablities, and "talk" our way into another 9/11 attack! Think it won't happen? Read here!

And many others are seeing this "victory" for what it is:

So now that the wackadoo wing of the party has a bloody scalp, what are they going to do with it? Wave it at Islamic terrorists in Iraq and Lebanon and Afghanistan and Indonesia and Great Britain and Spain and Israel and New York and declare peace? That will work for sure. They better also wear armor and duck.

Lieberman is the first casualty of the war against the war on terror. If last night's results are a window on the party's tilt, then a huge slice of the Democratic party is ready to sit out the war to protect America. God help us if the Republicans also get the wobblies. Let's hope the Connecticut Condition isn't contagious. And let's hope last night's decision is overturned.
Michael Goodwin, NY Daily News


It's still a shame to see a statesman like Mr. Lieberman brought low like this. The most admirable thing about the man is his willingness to buck his party to stand up for what he believes is right.

Though a solid liberal on most social and economic issues, he was one of the few Senate Democrats to support the 1991 Gulf War, and he earned the scorn of many Hollywood liberals for attacking their role in degrading the public square.

(snip)

What makes Mr. Lieberman so valuable in the Senate is his ability to think for himself, as well as his thoroughgoing civility. We wish there were more Joe Liebermans in the Senate, from both parties.

It's good to know that despite the insult delivered by Democratic primary voters, there's at least some chance that the Senate won't be losing the Lieberman it's got.

Dallas Morning News

Vox Populi! (Again!)

Dixie Chicks Cancel Shows Due to Slow Sales
Tuesday, August 08, 2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Several concerts on the Dixie Chicks' "Accidents & Accusations" tour have been canceled after slow ticket sales, but the group says it has replaced them with other dates.

Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, Memphis and Knoxville are among 14 cities no longer on the original schedule released in May, according to a revised itinerary posted Thursday on the Dixie Chick's Web site.

Other shows, including Nashville, Los Angeles, Denver and Phoenix, have been pushed back to later dates.

The North American leg of the tour kicked off July 21 in Detroit. Billboard magazine and other trade publications have reported lackluster sales in some markets, particularly in the South and Midwest.

Group spokeswoman Kathy Allmand said Monday that the total number of North American dates remains the same, with several Canadian cities added in place of the U.S. shows.

The trio released a statement last week attributing the changes to attempts to "accommodate demand" and said more dates might be added next year.

The TrekMedic muses:

Wow,..I'm shocked, aren't you??

Could their lack of popularity be caused by stupid-ass tricks like this:

Lisa Live: More Peeps Outta the Dixie Chicks
Friday, August 04, 2006
By Lisa Bernhard, FOX News Entertainment Correspondent

With the Dixie Chicks feeling the heat since their anti-President Bush remarks, sweltering three-digit temps seemed appropriate for Tuesday’s show at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

And how’s this for adding fuel to the fire: the Chicks took the stage to the tune “Hail to the Chief.”

As for lead singer Natalie Maines, well, the girl can’t help it. Before launching into the song “White Trash Wedding,” Maines gave a “shout out” to Mel Gibson and joked, “If only I’d said I was drunk and checked myself into rehab, all of our troubles would have been over.”

Not hardly, Miss Ditzy Chick,...not hardly!

Misdirect, Obfuscate, but Don't EVER Look for the Source of the Carnage!

An interesting spin on the never-ending murder spree plaguing Philly was found in today's FishWrapper:

Inside the Culture of Grief
By SIMONE WEICHSELBAUM
simone@phillynews.com

More than 20 Philadelphia families have lost children to murder this year. Each death rips apart a family and a community.

In response, the victims� families and friends usually follow a set of urban rituals to mourn them � rituals that offer a chilling glimpse into the culture of grief that pervades Philly�s neighborhoods during this violent summer.

After one boy�s death, the Daily News spent a week with his family and friends as they struggled with his death, struggled with each other, and undertook these rituals, one by one � with hearts broken, but rarely with tears.

The TrekMedic opines: I'll save you the time clicking the link and reading this. Apparently, in Philly, when a young person is murdered, the survivors:

1. Boys gather up blank white t-shirts "the outfit of urban Philadelphia" and sign their names to them. The shirts are then hung up at the crime scene.
2. Girls buy teddy bears and place them at the crime scene.
3. Everyone gets expensive air brushed T-shirts to wear to the funerals.
4. Many get tattoos in honor of the slain victim.
5. Mothers and grandmothers, obviously and understandably, wail in grief.
6. Fathers,.....................................oh, yeah,..that part's missing from the story.

That's right,......NO FATHERS are mentioned in this story. NO TWO-PARENT, STABLE households. (The end-result of 40+ years of social engineering and Socialist policies gone bad, BTW) And look at the priorities: spending money on teddy bears and T-shirts??? WTF?? How about creating a new ritual: snitch on the shooters! Quit the glamourization of thuggery! Stand up against the violence! Stop perpetuating the mistakes of your parent!

Israeli PM to Europe: "Shut the F**k Up!"

Olmert tells Europe to stop preaching to Israel
Aug 6, 6:56 AM (ET)

BERLIN (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told European leaders to stop preaching to him about civilian war casualties in an interview published on Sunday in German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

Olmert also said it would not be possible to completely destroy Hizbollah and insisted he did not underestimate them, saying they had fired just 3,000 of their arsenal of 15,000 rockets so far.

"Where do they get the right to preach to Israel?" Olmert said when asked about criticism from European capitals of Israeli military operations that have led to a heavy civilian toll.

"European countries attacked Kosovo and killed ten thousand civilians. Ten thousand! And none of these countries had to suffer before that from a single rocket.

"I'm not saying it was wrong to intervene in Kosovo. But please: Don't preach to us about the treatment of civilians."

Kosovo became a U.N. protectorate in June 1999 after a 78-day NATO bombing campaign forced out Serb security forces accused of atrocities against Albanian civilians during a rebel insurgency by separatist Albanian guerrillas.

The TrekMedic adds:

Unlike Israel, Europe doesn't have enemies surrounding them on every border, seeking their annihilation!

No Media Bias, Huh??

The TrekMedic puts on his shocked face to report this one:

Reuters Withdraws Pictures Doctored By Photographer
Monday, August 07, 2006

The news organization Reuters reported Monday that it withdrew from its archives all 920 photographs taken by a Lebanese freelance photographer after a review found he had altered two of the images.

Both of the pictures were taken during the current conflict between Israel and the terrorist group Hezbollah.

Reuters said that Global Picture Editor Tom Szlukovenyi called the measure precautionary, but acknowledged that the fact that two of the images by photographer Adnan Hajj had been manipulated undermined trust in his entire body of work.

"There is no graver breach of Reuters standards for our photographers than the deliberate manipulation of an image," Szlukovenyi said in a statement.

"Reuters has zero tolerance for any doctoring of pictures and constantly reminds its photographers, both staff and freelance, of this strict and unalterable policy."

The news and information agency announced the decision in an advisory note to its photo service subscribers. The note also said Reuters had tightened editing procedures for photographs from the conflict and apologized for the case.

Removing the images from the Reuters database excludes them from future sale.

(snip)

Reuters said that the news organization had established that a photograph of an Israeli F-16 fighter over Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon and dated August 2, had also been doctored to increase the number of flares dropped by the plane from one to three.

"Manipulating photographs in this way is entirely unacceptable and contrary to all the principles consistently held by Reuters throughout its long and distinguished history. It undermines not only our reputation but also the good name of all our photographers," Szlukovenyi said.

Notable Quotables

Buck O'Neil, 94 year old former Negro League star baseball player:
"I never learned to hate anybody. I hate cancer. It killed my mother and it killed my wife 10 years ago...I hate AIDS because it killed so many people. But I can't hate any human being because my God never made anyone ugly."
If we have to tolerate the UNtied Nations, I nominate this gentleman as President!

Sarah Polley, actress:
“I think you have to keep your distance from mainstream Hollywood in order to be a normal human being. I mean, I work there, and I like being there, but I love having an anonymous life. I think there’s definitely such a thing as being too famous.”

Ted Pollard, President, Radnor Historical Society and former Township commisioner:
"We're moving, really, toward a police state in this country," Pollard said, citing as examples the Patriot Act and the NSA's tapping of phone calls. "It's very sad, very scary," he said, adding that "9/11 was the catalyst."
Mr. Pollard is moving to Mexico,....good move, dumbass!

The Phuture of the Phillies

As the TrekMedic gazes into his crystal (meth) ball, he offers some sage (or basil, as TheFed calls it) advice:

(Note: I reserve the right to amend this list ONCE after the season ends)

Now that Pat Gillick has disposed of Bobby "Totem Pole" Abreu, David "Prozac Poster-Boy" Bell, and Corey "Backstabber" Lidle, here's what I see for the 2007 season:

Catcher - Carlos Ruiz, Chris Coste
1B - Ryan Howard, 'nuff said
2B - Chase Utley (See 1B comment)
SS - Jimmy Rollins (*)
3B - A free agent or trade - Notice the outfielders (*)

(*) - Note that Gillick is picking up A- and AA-level prospects for SS and 3B. Rollins isn't a kid any more and sooner or later, he'll slow down.

RF - David Dellucci
CF - Aaron Rowand
LF - Shane Victorino
Extras - Chris Roberson and/or Michael Bourn

With all of the money saved dropping Abreu and Bell, and the given that Leiberthal isn't coming back, the Phils have a LOT of money to offer Dellucci a new contract. Now that he's a regular player in RF, we're seeing what Gillick saw in him when he picked him up. (he's hitting .325!)
Fart Smucker, Gillick is?
Roberson and Bourn are minor leaguers who will eventually play with the big team. Roberson has a better arm, but can't hit. Bourn is "OK" defensively, but he's like Rollins - hits for percentage, has speed, and steals like a fiend. Gillick has to chose to sacrifice something between them.

Pitching - Locks for '07
Brett Myers, unless we ship him out for beating his wife.
Ryan Madson
Cole Hamels - getting his act together after a rough welcome (As I post this, he's averaged 12 Ks per game over the last 6 games!)

After that,…?
Maybe Gavin Floyd, if he gets his head out of his ass and pitches like a major leaguer, not a AAA burn out
Scott Mathieson - needs a year at AAA
Gio Gonzalez - More talent than a Hispanic man deserves! Beat Phil Hughes the other night in Trenton. 1 year at AAA,..probably make the big team in '08.
Randy Wolf? Needs to prove to Gillick he deserves a new contract. Two starts of less than 5 innings and no decisions doesn't inspire my confidence that Gillick wants him.
Leiber? Gone,..trade bait.

Play ball!

More Scientology Bulls**t!

Normally, I don't pay much attention to the Leftywood crowd, but this story about the embodiment of the anti-Christ - Tom Cruise - and his supposed child, Suri, is starting to get my attention:

Newsmakers | Suri sighting: Penelope Cruz says she's 'really beautiful'
By Tirdad Derakhshani
Inquirer Staff Writer

"I met Suri."

That extraordinary admission comes from Penelope Cruz, the third person who has seen the invisible girl, allegedly birthed by Katie Holmes, and returned to tell about it.

"She is really beautiful, she is really special. One of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen," said Cruz, in so hyperbolic a tone, one wonders what awful truth is being hidden. "They are really happy and doing great."

Suri was born April 18. Her existence exemplifies one of the oldest philosophical questions: "If a movie star's baby falls in the forest and there's no one there to see it, does it exist?"

Cruz played Tom Cruise's arm candy from '01 to '04, at which time her career became as invisible as Suri.

The TrekMedic muses:

Hmmm,..the only two celebrities to have declared to have seen the demon spawn, Penelope Cruz and Leah Remini, are both,....Scientologists themselves! And the conspiracy grows here!

A Few Passing Thoughts This Week

First, MTV turned 25 this week,....

(cricket),......

(cricket),......

(cricket),.....

Yawn,....., oh, yeah,..wasn't there a time when the "M" stood for "Music," not "mundane" and "moronic?"

Second, Rolling Rock beer passed hands to Anheuser-Busch. While AB says they'll still follow the same RR recipe at their Newark, NJ plant (NEWARK???), we can all safely agree that the "33" will now stand for the number of chemicals, waste products, and other methyl-ethyl-bad-s**t the EPA says you shouldn't ingest in large quantities!

(That's why Yuengling lager is the beer of choice for the TrekMedic!)

Punished for His Beliefs?

Lamont Leads Lieberman Ahead of Connecticut Democratic Primary
Thursday, August 03, 2006

HARTFORD, CONN. — Millionaire businessman Ned Lamont opened a double-digit lead over veteran Sen. Joe Lieberman less than a week before Connecticut's Democratic primary, according to a poll released Thursday.

Lamont, a political novice, had support from 54 percent of likely Democratic voters in the Quinnipiac University poll, while Lieberman, now in his third term, had support from 41 percent of voters. The sampling error margin was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

A similar survey July 20 showed Lamont with a slight advantage for the first time in the campaign.

"Senator Lieberman's campaign bus seems to be stuck in reverse," poll director Douglas Schwartz said. "Despite visits from former President Bill Clinton and other big-name Democrats, Lieberman has not been able to stem the tide to Lamont."

Lieberman, 64, one of the Senate's most well-known Democrats and his party's nominee for vice president in 2000, has been harshly criticized in Connecticut for his support of the Iraq war and his perceived closeness with President Bush.

Lamont, 52, who owns a successful cable television firm, has been able to tap into rank-and-file Democratic voters' frustration with Lieberman as well as his personal wealth, contributing $3 million to his campaign.

The TrekMedic Adds:

Tonight, on Fox News, Sen. McCain weighed in on the issue, stating Lieberman was being punished by the leftist, anti-war end of the Democratic Party (that must be the DEEP end).

Anti-ACLU News (All Good)

Cross-posted from Jay at Stop the ACLU:

Senate Hearings on Public Expression of Religion Act Set For Wednessday

by Jay on 08-01-06 @ 6:34 pm Filed under ACLU, Church And State, War On Terror, 1st Amendment, Boyscouts, History, News

When the ACLU wins a case against the Boy Scouts, the public display of the Ten Commandments, veterans memorials, and other symbols of American history and heritage guess who pays them? You do! However, there is current legislation going before the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, as well as a companion bill going before the House that is designed to put a stop to this.

Former ACLU attorney, Rees Lloyd, whom I had the pleasure of interviewing, is stepping up to the plate.Record Gazette:

Rees Lloyd, Banning-based attorney and Commander of American Legion District 21 (Riverside County), has been selected to testify on behalf of The American Legion before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution in support of passage of Senate Bill 3696, Veterans Memorials, Boy Scouts, Public Seals and Other Public Expressions of Religion Act of 2006 (“PERA).

S 3696 (PERA), sponsored by Sen. Brownback (R-Kan), a companion bill to H.R. 2679 (PERA), sponsored by Rep. Hostetter (R-Ind.), would amend all relevant federal laws to eliminate the authority of judges to award taxpayer-paid attorney fees to the ACLU, or anyone else, in lawsuits under the Establishment of Religion Clause of the First Amendment against veterans memorials, the Boy Scouts, or the public display of the Ten Commandments of other symbols of America’s history with a religious aspect.

The following is from an email sent out by Mr. Rees Lloyd:

While most Americans remain unaware of it, the ACLU has been reaping millions of dollars in taxpayer-paid profits in lawsuits against veterans memorials, the Boy Scouts, or against the public display of the Ten Commandments or other symbol of our American heritage with a religious aspect.

For but three examples, the ACLU received some $950,000 in attorney fees in a settlement with the City of San Diego in the ACLU’s lawsuit to drive the Boy Scouts out of Balboa Park. In the famous Judge Roy Moore Ten Commandments Case, the ACLU, and cohort so-called “public interest” law firms, received $500,000. In the recent “Intelligent Design” case against the Dover school board, the ACLU received $2,000,000 in attorneys by order of a judge — although the law firm which represented the ACLU informed the court and public that it had acted pro bono and waived any attorney fees. Thus, it was pure profit to the ACLU.

Further, the ACLU has used the threat of imposition of taxpayer-paid attorney fees to extort local elected bodies, city or county councils, school boards, into surrender to the ACLU’s demands to secularly cleanse the public sphere of any evidence of our American religious heritage.

Moreover, the threat of imposition of orders to pay ACLU’s attorney fees in such cases has caused third parties, like The American Legion and other non-profit organizations, to suffer a chilling effect on their First Amendment rights to participate in such lawsuits to protect veterans’ memorials.

S. 3696 (PERA), and H.R. 2679 (PERA), would put an end to that abuse of benevolently intended laws by the ACLU, or anyone else following the ACLU’s precedents, for instance, Islamist terrorists or their sympathizers in our midst.

This reform of the law should be supported by all Americans across all party, ideological, philosophical, or religious lines.

Simply put, the ACLU’s profiteering at taxpayer-expense by exploitation of benevolently intended civil rights laws intended to benefit poor people is a disgrace.

The ACLU have turned the intention of this Act, just like they do the Constitution, on its head. A huge portion of Establishment Clause cases are settled outside of court because of threatening and intimidation from the ACLU. Most of these small schools and towns can not afford to defend themselves from the well funded ACLU and give in to their demands and threatening letters. They know they can not afford to lose. If they do they will be paying for the ACLU’s attorney fees which in many cases reach the millions. Despite all of this some people are trying to claim, like the ACLU, that this law would prevent people who were actually injured by an arm of the state forcing religious views on people such as a school forcing children to pray from being able to afford to defend themselves.

Rees Lloyd dismisses this claim in a selected excerpt from a preview I recieved of his speech this Wednesday:

PERA is narrowly drawn to impact only on Establishment Clause cases, and no other civil rights claims. Arguments have been raised that this, somehow, creates an Equal Protection violation. It is respectfully suggested that this is an argument without merit; the law makes distinctions in myriad instances, including as to what kind of civil wrongs can result in attorney fee transfers by court orders.

Further, Establishment Clause cases are the only claims of which I am aware that are allowed to proceed without any showing that the plaintiff has suffered any economic, physical, or mental damage, or been deprived of the exercise of any right, but is merely offended at the sight of a symbol which has a religious aspect. In all other categories of claims of which I am aware, mere “taking offense” is not even cognizable for a claim or cause or action. Thus, the distinction made in PERA is a rational one, and preserves attorney fee transfers in cases in which an actual economic, physical, or mental injury, or deprivation of right, other than mere offense, is suffered.

Concisely stated: The American Legion believes that passage of the S. 3696, PERA, is essential for the protection of civil rights for all Americans and not limited to special interests, and for the preservation of the purpose and integrity of the attorney fee provisions of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S. Code Section 1988, the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA), and all other Federal statutes which were benevolently intended to benefit the poor and advance civil rights, but are now resulting in the opposite; are resulting in unintended financial enrichment; and are trammeling and throttling the exercise of First Amendment rights to freedom of speech, to petition for redress of grievances to the judicial and legislative branches.

PERA is aimed at cases involving the “offended observer” with “eggshell sensitivities” not cases where actual injury has occured. This should probably be made more clear if the legislation is to pass.

Not only does the ACLU use this provision to fund their agenda of secular cleansing and threaten small schools and towns, they also use it as a tool of punishment for those that resist their agenda. They have accumulated literally millions of taxpayer funded attorney fees when in fact they have no actual attorney fees.

Rees will also reveal this truth in Wednesday’s speech:

As a former ACLU attorney, I know to a certainty that the ACLU’s litigation is carried out by staff attorneys, or by pro bono attorneys who are in fact precluded from receiving fees under the ACLU’s own policies. Notwithstanding, the ACLU regularly seeks, and receives, attorney fees in Establishment Clause cases at market rate, usually $350 an hour in California. Although the courts know that ACLU clients in fact incur no attorney fee obligation, and that ACLU incurs no fee obligation to volunteer cooperating attorneys, as far as is known, no judge has simply said “no” to ACLU attorney fee requests, even though there is no evidence that any attorney fees were incurred. Thus, benevolently intended fee provisions are being used as a bludgeon against public entities to surrender to ACLU’s demands, and being used to obtain profits in the millions.

Take a look at this long list where the ACLU were payed by you for the secularization of our nation. Are you happy to be paying for this? The passing of this legislation can put a stop to it. If someone moves into town and decides he doesn’t like the memorial cross on the hill, he can sue, but his lawyers won’t get rich if they win. This is what the ACLU has done — they work “pro bono,” but not really. Their clients are not normally indigent, have not suffered any injury and don’t pay any attorneys fees anyway in these cases! It’s all pure gravy for the ACLU and does nothing to advance liberty. Besides, if the ACLU is doing this for some higher principle, attorneys’ fees should be nothing but a peripheral afterthought. They use the threat of huge legal fees to intimidate defenseless towns, not to vindicate rights.

Stop The ACLU stands with the American Legion in supporting the passage of the “Public Expression of Religion Act”. Lets put things back on a fair playing field and stop paying for the ACLU’s agenda. Do your part!

The ACLU supports many radical causes, and while they may have every right to do so, it should not be at the expense of taxpayers that do not support such causes. Please contact your Congress critter, and representative, and tell them to support PERA. Find your Representative here. Find your Senator here.

Sign Our Petition To Stop Taxpayer Funding of the ACLU

And Now We Wait for the Other Shoe to Drop

Posted on Tue, Aug. 01, 2006

Publisher of Inquirer, Daily News resigns
By Joseph N. DiStefano
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Joe Natoli, publisher of The Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com, has resigned to take a job as chief financial officer for the University of Miami.

Miami began recruiting Natoli, a Florida native, last spring, before the paper's sale to Philadelphia Media Holdings, said Dean Colson, chairman of the university board.

"We approached him. I considered him a friend," as did other board members, based on Natoli's long prior career as a Florida newspaper executive, Colson said. But Natoli refused to consider leaving Philadelphia until the sale was completed, Colson said.

In a note to the company's 2,500 employees, Natoli, who came to Philadelphia in 2004, called the move a homecoming. Natoli attended college in South Florida, where his father worked for the Miami Herald, and his parents and in-laws still live there. He expects to start the Miami job in September.

Natoli's duties will be split between Brian P. Tierney, chief executive officer of the papers' and Web site's new owner, Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC, and Gordon Medenica, a former New York Times Co. executive.

The TrekMedic wishes:

God willing, Trudy Rubin will be the next to pack her bags and take her leftist BS somewhere else!

Strange and Unequal Reactions

Did I miss something, or is there something horribly askew about some major news stories this week?

First, a Muslim forces his way into a Jewish community center and opens fire, killing 1 and wounding several more. Hardly a blip on the MSM radar. The King County Sheriff's Office and DA are downplaying the shooter's religious background. Was the death toll not high enough to warrant more coverage??

Then, actor and director Mel Gibson, in an alcohol-fueled rage, unleashes a horrific and inexcusable anti-Semetic rant while being arrested for DUI. Now THIS story has legs! Everyone from Jewish talent agents to the ADL has weighed in on the topic. Rumors, innuendo and what-ifs abound on every news outlet.

Am I the only one who sees an serious imbalance here??

The Difference Between Democrats and Republicans?

Earlier this week, I posted this story about Galen Wilson, USMC.

Now, I find this useless pile of drivel called Democratic Underground, denouncing the story!

Be advised, the moderator of this board follows the "progressive" thinking of people like DanielUA over at Young Philly Progressives,..that is, he will delete any postings or comments contrary to his POV. (Yeah,..we need THAT in DC, right?)

Then comes this story with a defintive leftist backstory:

When are tough coaches too tough?
By Jan Hefler
Inquirer Staff Writer

Carl Heil believes in winning. So much that he took the varsity boys' soccer team at Kingsway Regional High School to the South Jersey playoff semifinals in three of the four years he coached the team.

But now he's out of a job and angry. The Kingsway Board of Education in Gloucester County fired him two weeks ago after receiving a litany of complaints from parents. Members said he had berated players for mistakes, benched players for being too short, reneged on a promise to let a cut player be a substitute, and forcefully yanked a player from the field while the player was celebrating a goal.

Heil dismissed the allegations as lies or exaggerations.

"Do they want a winning program, or do they just want a happy team?" Heil asked. "My goal has always been to put on a successful program first, and the kids are second, a close second."

His remark rekindles the debate over how far a school coach should go to win. And should parents, especially those on school boards, have the power to fire a coach if some kids are unhappy?

Heil has joined a long line of coaches whose tough and competitive ways have evoked ire - but also inspired supporters to rally to their cause when jobs are threatened.

There was Joe Falana, the boys' soccer coach at Haddonfield Memorial High School, who recorded his 500th victory at the school last season. He faced removal in 2004 after some parents wrote letters to the board, complaining that he swore and yelled at players. Other soccer parents countered with letters saying he was stern but fair, and the board renewed his contract.

And there was the middle school basketball coach in Pleasantville, Atlantic County, who made headlines two years ago when he handed a "Crybaby Award" to a 13-year-old player at a sports banquet. The coach was removed from his basketball position.


I've posted this story because I think it highlights a definitive mindset that is becoming more prevalent in suburbia, and by extension, our society in whole.


Gone are the days when you actually played sports during your formative years TO WIN!. Nowadays, an 8-team league will finish each season with a round-robin "playoff" and reward each team's players "just for showing up." I'm not talking about 7, 8, and 9-years old who play T-ball and learn the fundementals of real sports (soccer is just 20 kids standing around killing the grass, BTW), I'm talking about teens who are now learning the life lessons that they will carry into adulthood.


That's the same mindset their liberal parents want to foist upon their impressionable adolescents - its OK just to show up. Forget about winning: that's barbaric and war-like and it gets you nowhere in this world.


That is,...until someone flies a jet airplane into a building!

**That's My Opinion and You're Entitled to It!**

This is Simply Great!

I'm reposting this letter in its entirety, in part because none of it should be edited out and because the Inkwaster will eventually archive it and many of you aren't signed up for it.

Before deployment to Iraq, a salute to father's guidance
By Matthew Jon Romano

Dear Dad:

Originally, the contents of this letter were intended only for you. But I slowly realized how important it was to get my thoughts out so that everyone in the area knows what a great man you are.

The things you are about to read have not been made apparent enough to you over the 23 years of my life. But now, as I prepare to deploy to Iraq, I realize that all the things you have done for the family, all your sacrifices, are what shaped me into the man I am today.

You have been a perfect role model for Mike, Josh and me, and you are a standard for fathers everywhere to aim for.

Maybe you look at me and see a son who leads a life completely different from yours when you were my age, but I could not see more similarities if I tried.

What you have done throughout my childhood has molded me into a man I am proud of, a man just like you.

I remember we were never a rich family. As a matter of fact, we were a family that was happy to get by. You would work three jobs at a time to make sure the family was taken care of. I have adopted this virtue of selfless service from you.

I work whatever hours are necessary for my family, which is the Army, to ensure it succeeds and is taken care of. I will do whatever is needed to make sure my soldiers are taken care of as well as you took care of the whole family. For this I thank you.

Mom was always more outspoken. She always made the point to tell us what the right thing was and made sure we followed through with it. We all learned a lot from her.

The difference is I realized what I was learning from her as I learned it.

But sometimes what you do outweighs anything you say. With a quiet demeanor, you helped instill morals and standards in us. You kept religion important and made education a priority.

The sons you have brought up are now stand-up men, and I do not feel overconfident in saying so.

Mike has one more year until he is ordained a priest, I am an officer in the Army, and Josh will assuredly be a success in whatever realm he chooses. Your daughter, Kerri, also is preparing for a profession of selfless service, nursing.

All of this undoubtedly has to do with you. We were all lucky to have you as a role model, and Mom is lucky to have you as a husband.

There are not enough men like you in the world, Dad. Other fathers should strive to be like you. Some go out and make a great deal of money to make themselves feel satisfied. You went out and constantly gave of yourself to make a great family.

The "family man" is truly one of the most underappreciated things in America.

As I prepare to leave on my journey for the next year, I want to make clear my true thanks for everything you have done - without even knowing it - to prepare me for it.

I am not fearful, not worried and not regretful in any way for my decision to do what I am doing. What I have learned from you has prepared me for this journey to Iraq. I will not forget it when I am away. I hope my soldiers learn from my actions, the way I did from yours.

Love,

Matt

P.S. Someone had better be e-mailing me Eagles updates every week.

Matthew Jon Romano, a second lieutenant in the Army's 25th Infantry Division, is stationed in Hawaii. He is formerly of Blackwood, where his parents, Debbie and Michael Romano, still live.