Happy Fourth of July

Its not just burgers, hot dogs, barbecues and fireworks.  245 years ago, brave men sat down, aired their final grievances with a tyrannical king and set in motion an idea never before heard and, even today, is the blueprint for freedom and democratic rule!

Always remember, NEVER forget!

What Price Freedom?

On the 6th hour of the 6th day of the 6th month, 1944, members of the Allied Forces made a bold attack on a heavily-fortified French beach.  Nearly 1500 Americans lost their lives in the offensive, but a year later, the mighty Nazi regime collapsed and peace in Europe was finally achieved.

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!
I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!
Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Yup,..bin Laden's STILL Dead!

Thanks

'Nuff Said!!

A No-Good, Absolute, God-Forsaken Disgrace!

Superman Renounces His U.S. Citizenship in 900th Issue of Action Comics

Superman is no longer an American.

In Action Comics’ new record-breaking 900th issue, the iconic super hero renounces his U.S citizenship following a clash with the federal government.

The Man of Steel, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938, has always been recognized as a devoted American warrior who constantly fought evil, but as of Thursday, he is no longer the country's own to claim.

"I intend to speak before the United Nations tomorrow and inform them that I am renouncing my U.S. citizenship," he says in a cell in the issue. "I'm tired of having my actions construed as instruments of U.S. policy."

Superman even questions his longtime motto: "Truth, justice and the American way."

"Truth, justice, and the American way -- it's not enough anymore," he states.

Superman's creators defended the decision.

"Superman is a visitor from a distant planet who has long embraced American values. As a character and an icon, he embodies the best of the American Way," DC's co-publishers, Jim Lee and Dan DiDio said in a statement to FOX411.com. "In a short story in ACTION COMICS 900, Superman announces his intention to put a global focus on his never ending battle, but he remains, as always, committed to his adopted home and his roots as a Kansas farm boy from Smallville."

The landmark issue is certainly sparking controversy.

"Besides being riddled with a blatant lack of patriotism, and respect for our country, Superman's current creators are belittling the United States as a whole. By denouncing his citizenship, Superman becomes an eerie metaphor for the current economic and power status the country holds worldwide," Hollywood publicist and GOP activist Angie Meyer told FOX411's Pop Tarts column.

What next?  Captain America becomes "Captain Euro-man?"  Or "Captain Untied Nations???"  WTF, people??

Its Why We're Called REPUBLICans,...

Theodore Roosevelt called it:


"The Roman Republic fell, not because of the ambition of Caesar or Augustus, but because it had already long ceased to be in any real sense a republic at all. When the sturdy Roman plebeian, who lived by his own labor, who voted without reward according to his own convictions, and who with his fellows formed in war the terrible Roman legion, had been changed into an idle creature who craved nothing in life save the gratification of a thirst for vapid excitement, who was fed by the state, and who directly or indirectly sold his vote to the highest bidder, then the end of the republic was at hand, and nothing could save it. The laws were the same as they had been, but the people behind the laws had changed, and so the laws counted for nothing."

Guts,..by Definition!

One-Legged ASU Wrestler Claims NCAA Championship

Mar 21, 2011 – 4:42 PM .

The college sports story of the weekend had nothing to do with the NCAA basketball tournament and everything to do with Anthony Robles, the Arizona State University wrestler who defeated reigning champ Matt McDonough from Iowa State on Saturday to become national champion in the 125-pound weight class.

A national championship is an impressive achievement for any athlete, but it's an awe-inspiring achievement by Robles, who was born with one leg.

Clearly one of the keys to Robles' athletic success is his attitude and determination. "I grew up like a normal kid," Robles told NCAA.com. "Yeah I was missing my leg, but that wasn't going to stop me from doing anything I wanted to do."

Time For Us All to Stand Together With Our Friends

Gentle readers,
The events of the past few weeks should be a reminder that, occasionally, the forces of nature (spelled G-O-D) act to remind us of our place in this universe.

As Christchurch and Tokyo struggle to contain the damage and rebuild, we shouldn't be spending time whining over how much Japan dislikes America (the Brits, French, Germans, etc all "say" the same thing - get over it) or salivate over how the rebuild will spur the global economy through trade and sales of goods.

Instead, we Americans should do what we do best: offer up prayers to whatever belief system we hold to ourselves for the souls of the departed and for the strength of the survivors to pick up and move forward and, as Americans, once again pull on our workboots, pick up a shovel, and go about putting things right with the world!

**THAT'S MY OPINION AND YOU'RE ENTITLED TO IT!!**

One of Our Greatest is Silenced,.....

'Band of Brothers' Inspiration Dies at Age 92

PHILADELPHIA -- Richard "Dick" Winters, the Easy Company commander whose World War II exploits were made famous by the book and television miniseries "Band of Brothers," died last week in central Pennsylvania. He was 92.

Winters died following a several-year battle with Parkinson's disease, longtime family friend William Jackson said Monday.

An intensely private and humble man, Winters had asked that news of his death be withheld until after his funeral, Jackson said. Winters lived in Hershey, Pa., but died in suburban Palmyra.

The men Winters led expressed their admiration for their company commander after learning of his death.

William Guarnere, 88, said what he remembers about Winters was "great leadership."

When he said 'Let's go,' he was right in the front," Guarnere, who was called "Wild Bill" by his comrades, said Sunday night from his South Philadelphia home. "He was never in the back. A leader personified."

Another member of the unit living in Philadelphia, Edward Heffron, 87, said thinking about Winters brought a tear to his eye.

"He was one hell of a guy, one of the greatest soldiers I was ever under," said Heffron, who had the nickname "Babe" in the company. "He was a wonderful officer, a wonderful leader. He had what you needed, guts and brains. He took care of his men, that's very important."

Winters was born Jan. 21, 1918 and studied economics at Franklin & Marshall College before enlisting, according to a biography on the Penn State website.

Winters became the leader of Company E, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne Division on D-Day, after the death of the company commander during the invasion of Normandy.

During that invasion, Winters led 13 of his men in destroying an enemy battery and obtained a detailed map of German defenses along Utah Beach. In September 1944, he led 20 men in a successful attack on a German force of 200 soldiers

This Day in History

As we approach what SHOULD be an all-out slaughter of the Democratic Party, a test of the power of the Tea Party and the toppling of Empress Pelosi, take both strength and caution from this:

On 23 September, 1779, a Franco-American squadron under Jones was off Flamborough Head, England, looking for British merchant ships to capture, when the British frigates Countess of Scarborough and Serapis bore down on it. The American frigate, "Bonhomme Richard" engaged the "Serapis". In a particularly bloody, destructive fight, the English captain called out to inquire if the "Bonhomme Richard" had struck its colors. Jones cried out, "I have not yet begun to fight!" Upon raking the "Serapis", the crew of the Bonhomme Richard led by Jones boarded the English ship and captured her. Likewise, the French frigate Pallas captured her prize the Countess of Scarborough. The action stuck out as an embarrassing defeat for the Royal Navy, who suffered the capture of two of her vessels in her own home waters, but goes down in history as the single most memorable ship-on-ship gun battle in history.

Oh, and BTW Charlie Christ and Lisa Murkowski:

1780 - John Andre, a British spy, was captured with papers revealing that Benedict Arnold was going to surrender West Point, NY, to the British.

NEVER FORGET!

'Nuff said,.....

And It's Just NOT Right!

The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan warned Tuesday a Florida church's threat to burn copies of the Muslim holy book could endanger U.S. troops in the country and Americans worldwide.


"Images of the burning of a Koran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan -- and around the world -- to inflame public opinion and incite violence ," Gen. David Petraeus said. "Were the actual burning to take place, the safety of our soldiers and civilians would be put in jeopardy and accomplishment of the mission would be made more difficult."


His comments followed a protest Monday by hundreds of Afghans over the plans by Gainesville, Florida-based Dove World Outreach Center -- a small, evangelical Christian church that espouses anti-Islam philosophy -- to burn copies of the Koran on church grounds to mark the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.


First and foremost, we are a country founded on religious tolerance and a separation of the secular from the sacred. Too often in recent years, we've failed to lead by example and allowing ths Dove World Outreach Center to get away with this makes us no better than the Islamofascists who paint the West with a broad brush!

Second, regardless of your view of Islam, the Koran is a book of holy verse and I will defend its destruction with just as much force as I would a Baltimore Catechism, a King James Bible and a Torah! 

** THAT'S MY OPINION AND YOU'RE ENTITLED TO IT!**

On this 4th of July, 2010,.....

It was a typically-hot and humid early July in Philadelphia, 1776. For many, especially the representatives from cooler Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, it was down right uncomfortable.

But the discomfort from the oppressive summer heat was taking a back seat to another, more insidious oppression: King George III of England had rebuffed entreaty after entreaty from his colonial subjects to reduce taxes, allow more trade and freedom to control their destinies in the New World.

The colonists had suffered enough! After weeks of tested wills, dueling views of a future united colonial system and opposing agendas, the fiery Protestants of New England, the pacifist Quakers of Pennsylvania, the forgiving Catholics of Maryland and the duplicitous Georgians and Carolinians finally came together and made the following joint statement:

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —

And that is what these men from 13 disparate colonies did: they dissolved, once and forever, the political bands of control from England. No one had done it before, nor had they ever thought to do such a thing!

Then they took and even bolder step: they signed their names to this document, knowing and agonizing that they would now be the enemy of King George's forces, subject to death for thinking such seditious thoughts!

Those men did survive and now, 246 years later, that noble moment and the altruistic intent stands as an unbroken blueprint for peace and stability in the world.

So, gentle readers, enjoy a grilled hot dog and hamburger, raise a glass of cold beer, watch parades and fireworks and listen to two centuries' worth of patriotic music.

But don't forget to do this as well: pass along to your children and grandchildren the importance of the great sacrifice these men made so that we may continue to celebrate this day another 246 years from now!

These Colors STILL Don't Run!

Wisconsin Army Veteran Allowed to Keep Flag on Display

A Wisconsin Army veteran -- who faced eviction this week for flying the American flag -- will now be allowed to keep the flag up for as long as he wants.

Under mounting nationwide protest, Charlie Price, 28, of Oshkosh, Wis., and officials at Midwest Realty Management struck a "mutual agreement" that allows the veteran to continue displaying the patriotic symbol, according to a statement posted on the company's website on Thursday.

Price and his wife, Dawn, 27, were previously told they had to remove the flag -- which hangs in a window inside the couple's apartment -- by Saturday or face eviction due to a company policy that bans the display of flags, banners and political or religious materials.

"It means the world to me," Price told FoxNews.com. "The way it happened wasn't the right way because the staff members were getting threatened and we didn't want any violence out of this, but I'm glad we did come to a compromise."

Randy Rich, the apartment complex's property manager, told FoxNews.com that Midwest Realty Management received nearly 4,000 e-mails and thousands of phone calls in connection to the controversy.

From His Cold, Dead Hands!

Wisconsin Veteran Must Remove Flag After Memorial Day, Wife Says
By Joshua Rhett Miller

Published May 26, 2010
FOXNews.com

An Army veteran in Wisconsin will be allowed to display an American flag until Memorial Day, but the symbol honoring his service in Iraq and Kosovo must come down next Tuesday, his wife told FoxNews.com.

Dawn Price, 27, of Oshkosh, Wis., said she received a call from officials at Midwest Realty Management early Wednesday indicating that she and her husband, Charlie, would be allowed to continue flying the American flag they've had in their window for months through the holiday weekend. The couple had previously been told they had to remove the flag by Saturday or face eviction due to a company policy that bans the display of flags, banners and political or religious materials.

"It's basically an extension so we can fly the flag on Memorial Day," Price told FoxNews.com. "It does need to come down after that."

Charlie Price, 28, served tours of duty as a combat engineer in Iraq and Kosovo, his wife said. To honor his eight years of service, she began decorating their apartment during Veterans Day in November. An American flag topped off the display, she said.

A Reminder of Why Americans Will NEVER Embrace Soccer

Italian Soccer: A Matter Of Life And Death?
May 24, 2010 - 6:40 AM by: Greg Burke

Italians are essentially crazy about three things: food, fashion and football. Football, of course, being what Americans call soccer.

People don’t normally kill each other over food and fashion, but in Europe, at least, they do over football, and it happened this weekend in Italy.

The Champions League final was played in Madrid between the Milan-based Internazionale and Bayern Munich. Internazionale won the game 2-0 with two beautiful goals by the Argentine striker Diego Milito.

A lot of people in Italy hate Internazionale, also known as Inter, especially fans of cross-town rival A.C. Milan and the one-time powerhouse Juventus, based in Turin.

For two grown men watching the game at a bar in Turin, the tension was just too much. One was an Inter fan; the other a passionate follower of Juventus, which just finished a horrendous season, not winning a thing.

Inter had just sewn up its third title of the year with the Champions League victory, so when the Juve supporter said that Inter wasn’t really an Italian team, since its coach and almost all of its starting line-up were foreigners, that was just too much for the Interista.

After some pushing and shoving, the Interista took out a knife and stabbed the other man. A 63-year-old was dead, and a 60-year-old hauled off to jail.

It brought back to mind a quote attributed to former Liverpool coach Bill Shankly: “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

More American Know-How at Work!

Ford Posts $2.1 Billion Profit in First Quarter
Associated Press

Ford Motor Co. says it earned $2.1 billion in the first quarter, another sign the economy is improving as people spend more on big-ticket items like cars.

Ford's U.S. sales rose 37 percent for the quarter and its market share climbed nearly three percentage points. The automaker is benefiting from a rebound in auto sales, higher quality rankings and a boost to its reputation for avoiding government aid.

Blame Canada!

Canadians accused of U.S. flag desecration

Two Canadian men may face charges of flag desecration and vandalism in California over a controversial display of Olympic pride.

Police in La Quinta say the men are accused of taking down the American banner and replacing it with a Canadian flag after Canada beat the U.S. in the men's gold-medal hockey match at the Vancouver Olympics.

The U.S. flag had been on display on a mountain and was maintained by a private citizen in honour of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The flag was found damaged.

A complaint has been sent to the district attorney's office, police said. The men could face up to a year in jail if convicted.

Police identified the Canadians as Ryan Smith, 25, and Matt Siefert, 26. Both are said to be residents of the state.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/04/20/olympic-flag-hockey-us-desecration.html?ref=rss#ixzz0lertVeq9

Another Passing Icon Hits the Road,...

Donald Frey, designer of the original Ford Mustang, dead at age 86

On the day we've reviewed two descendants of his original creation, we find out that the man who designed the Mustang, Donald Frey, passed away at 86. As with the car's decades of success, the inspiration for it was unlikely: the Chevrolet Corvair.

Frey, who was assistant general manager and and chief engineer of a Ford Motor Company still suffering dry heaves over the Edsel, said he watched GM put bucket seats in the Corvair and rename it Monza, and it began to pick up with customers. There was also the dinner table motivation of his kids telling him his cars stunk.

Frey's first take on the Mustang was a mid-engined convertible in 1962 which, while working with Ford General Manager Lee Iacocca, he would develop into the car introduced to the World's Fair in 1964. When the coupe predicted to sell 80,000 units a year actually sold a million-plus units in its first two years – and then sold and sold and sold – Frey became an American legend. The rest is not just history, it's the present and the future, with the Mustang certain to be a staple in the Ford portfolio for years to come.

From Autoblog and Mustang fans around the world, our condolences and best wishes go to the Frey family.

Another Piece of Our Television Iconography Gone,...

'Daniel Boone' star Fess Parker dies
By Alan Duke, CNN
March 18, 2010 4:07 p.m. EDT

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Fess Parker, best known for playing Daniel Boone in a 1960s television series, died Thursday at his home near Santa Barbara, California, his publicist said. He was 85.

Parker followed his acting career with successful hotel and winery ventures around Santa Barbara.

A statement issued by his family did not reveal the cause of death.

Parker is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcella, their son and daughter, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild who "spent a great deal of time with Fess in his final months and weeks," the statement said.

A native of Texas, Parker served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before graduating from the University of Texas-Austin in 1950.

The Change We Hoped For?

Nauseating,....

Congressman Derided for Laughing at Suggestion to Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
By Joshua Rhett Miller
- FOXNews.com

If the Pledge of Allegiance is a laughing matter, then the joke may be on a California congressman.

A Republican candidate for Congress in California is calling on U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra to "clarify his reaction" after the Democrat was caught on a YouTube video laughing at a suggestion that the Pledge of Allegiance be recited prior to a union meeting in Los Angeles.

The 46-second video was captured by an unidentified staffer who accompanied candidate Ari David to a Service Employees International Union meeting on Saturday. By early Tuesday, the video had been viewed roughly 10,000 times.