Just an FYI for my less-than-a-handful of loyal readers, I will most likely be moving this blog to Google or Blogger in the future. Not 100% sure if or when, but I remain hopeful.

From a friend … I was deeply touched:                            

Subject: A Moment of Silence

                             Henry Mark Holzer   

                             Legal and Political Commentary

                             A Moment Of Silence

                             This was sent to me by a reliable source, who received it from the author. Because it is “signed,” I believe it to be real. But even if it is not, no matter. The point is made!

                             *******************

                             Everyone,

                             I wanted to share something that just happened tonight.

                             I was sitting at the gate in the Washington-Baltimore airport waiting on my flight to Charlotte .

                             The plane was at the gate.

                             While we were waiting for the attendant to announce the boarding for our flight, I saw about a dozen Transportation Security Agency uniformed personnel head to the departure ramp. I was concerned there was a problem, meaning a delay. Just what I needed!

                             Several of us moved to the observation window to see if we could see anything going on outside.

                             That is when I saw a lone uniformed Marine standing at the bottom of the ramp leading from the cargo hold of the aircraft to the ground. I thought to myself how this small delay for me was nothing compared to the sacrifice a Marine and his family made for our nation.

                             There were more and more people gathering to see what we were looking at down on the tarmac. The people were quiet, but not silent. I looked down the concourse and saw other small groups gathered close to the other observation windows looking down at the conveyor and the small detail of Marines that had appeared. They were part of the funeral detail or an Honor Guard. In the distance there was a hearse, another vehicle, and a police car. As they drove to the bottom of the ramp, I knew the remains of a Marine, in a flag draped casket, were about to be moved from the aircraft and into the hearse. It is customary for uniformed members of the armed services to salute any American flag as it passes…especially when it is covering the remains of one of our fallen warriors.

                             The people standing around me were mostly civilians, but I could tell they wanted to be respectful, they just did not know how. I had no idea if that Marine’s family was down below in one of the vehicles. I couldn’t have the family, or those Marines, look up and see a bunch of people standing from above…staring.

                             When I saw the pall bearers (Marines) move to the bottom of the ramp, I had to do something.

                             It has been four years since I retired from the Army, but duty called.

                             I turned and faced everyone in the terminal, and in my loudest command voice, I told everyone the remains of a Marine were about to be unloaded from the aircraft, and it is customary for everyone to stand and be silent as the body is moved. Believe it or not, everybody, as far as I could see, stood up and the entire terminal became quiet. I then said as loudly as I could, that all current and former service members, in or out of uniform, were authorized to render the hand salute, and all civilians were to place their hand over their hearts. As soon as the tip of the flag draped coffin appeared, I bellowed out “Pre-sent…ARMS” and you could hear a pin drop except for the multitude of arms going over their hearts. The entire terminal was silent…no talking, no announcements over the PA, silence…only silence.

                             The casket traveled down the ramp. All the US Air employees servicing the aircraft and unloading baggage stopped and stood silently with their hands over their hearts. The police officer was saluting. The Marines picked upthe casket and placed it gently into the hearse, then closed the rear door. Inside the terminal, I gave the command to “Or-Der Arms”. When I turned around, there were literally hundreds and hundreds of people standing silently…all over the terminal…at all the gates on our side of the concourse, as well as all the gates on the opposite side. I noticed every woman, of child bearing age either had tears in her eyes, or running down their cheeks…and a lot of fathers did too.

                             I was taken back. People still care.

                             During the next 10 minutes, a lot of former service members, fathers of soldiers, and a few moms came and thanked me for letting them know what to do. I didn’t do anything compared to that Marine.

                             People want to be led to do what is right… America still cares. America still has gratitude. The American spirit is not dead. We don’t need to apologize to anyone for who we are. I don’t know who that Marine was, where he served, or how he died. All I know is that he raised his right arm, took the oath, put on that uniform, and did his duty. That’s good enough for me. I don’t know how he died, or where he was going. All I know is that his dreams for a better life are over. Somewhere tonight there is a grieving wife, or mother, or father…and their pain has just begun. I began this evening concerned that I might be inconvenienced. Tonight I am safe, my family is safe, the worst thing that might happen to me is a little inconvenience. I am safe because of the sacrifices that Marine made. I am safe due to the sacrifices that all our brothers in arms have made since 1776.

                             His duty is over. Our duty is not. It is not our duty to simply stand and pay respect as a fallen soldier passes. Our duty is to remain steadfast that our Armed Forces not be committed to harm’s way recklessly, that theybe properly housed, trained, and led. We need to do our duty to provide our young men and women with the best equipment, not simply with weapons and armor that is “good enough”. I wish I knew the family of that Marine to say thanks. I wish I could let them know that for a few minutes, in an airport terminal of one of the busiest airports in the United States of America , a group of Americans rendered an honor to their son. I doubt it could take the edge off their loss, but I think it wouldn’t hurt. It made me think. It made us all reflect for a few minutes.

                             Gratitude.

                             Thank you brave Marine for one last gift…

                             Hooah…

                             Semper Fi.

                             Ken Robertson, LTC, USAR, Retired Reserve

“Bill Pay” is a wonderful thing. I was so sure i was paying most of my bills, I didn’t even open the envelopes when those bills came. Until the water bill came in a red-printed envelope.

My water averages $40 to a high of under $60 a month. I was auto-paying $60 a month, figuring any overpay, at worst, would eventually result in a free month. But unknown to me, my usage had gone up 50% over even a high normal estimate … imagine, a $96 water bill!

I checked the meter with everything turned off, and it’s running pretty quick. I shut-off the main, and the meter stopped running. The leak is in the house! We’re talking about 7400+ gallons a month. It can’t be in the walls, the walls wouldn’t hold that kind of weight. Under the slab? What the hell am I supposed to do?

Tired of unbelievable media spin about the 2008/9 election? This is recommended reading!

Off to go Saturday geocaching!

What’s geocaching? Look at http://www.geocaching.com/ !

I heartily recommend Levin’s book! BUY IT NOW!

I have a new professional site (not a blog) at http://www.linkedin.com/in/bertsummer

Lets see … approaching 100 days ….
The deficit is about to be in the trillions of dollars, robbing generations to come and possible bankrupting us.
And now, they’re about to start the process of destroying the one of the best health care systems in the world, replacing it with government rationing.

Oh, and a little known executive order signed in his first few days (allegedly, not verified yet):
Any government contract over $250k or so (if I remember correctly) can now only be awarded to a unionized company, or one willing to unionize. I have some friends this may impact (not to mention my wife), so I hope that’s not true. There is some other provision in law that might make that unenforceable, or perhaps the Supremes will shoot it down, but is scary none the less.

For those of you who pray, I think it’s time we start praying that our country is still recognizable after the next 4 years

Good morning, America … no … now, that we support Obama, Kaleed, islamists
that were rooting for Obama, Aires, Farakahn, black panthers with night sticks,
etc. … maybe it’s Amerika. Pardon me if I don’t take the time to figure out
how these names are spelled, but I don’t feel they deserve enough respect to
look them up.

This man is dangerous. I guarantee that EVERYONE’s taxes will go up. In some
cases a punishing amount. Creativity and excellence will be universally punished
… unless you’re a friend of his (perhaps). The economy will shrink even
further than it already did.

Anyone care to bet on weather his aunt in Boston gets to stay in the country?

When was the last time a poor person gave you a job? When was the last time a
poor person helped the market grow? When was the last time a poor person helped
you to provide for your family? The answer to this and every question that
begins the same way is NEVER. These ignorant voters who think bottom-up
economics will work are morons. It has never worked anywhere it has been tried,
and it leads to socialism and communism.

Even free speech will be under attack with the, so called, Fairness Doctrine.
Schumer called talk radio pornography … I guess if you don’t agree with him
your thoughts are depraved and pornographic.

The second amendment will come under attack too. Depending on how hard that
happens, it may cost me, and many others their lives. If they come to take my
guns, that will be the day I die … along with whoever it is that comes for
them. Think it can’t happen? Obama wants a civil police force (for lack of a
better term) that is “as well funded and as strong as our military.” Anyone
familiar with the term ‘Brown Shirts?’

Forget about the supreme Court too. Think Bader-Ginsberg (or whatever her name
is) is bad? We ain’t seen nothing yet!

I hope in my heart that this is only a 4-year mistake, and that the shredder
Obama wants to take to the constitution is broken. When Carter’s misery index
returns, perhaps some liberal eyes will open, but with the depth and thickness
of their ignorance, I know it won’t be all of them.

For those who think Obama will be assassinated, the patriot in me hopes he won’t
be … he will be, after all, our sitting president. Also, the thought of Biden
(the stupidest man in the senate) as president is even more disturbing.

I have to wonder … who will be behind the curtain, running Obama’s policies?
He has no executive experience whatsoever, and is a walking/talking
Ayres-trained drone. He gives a great speech, but is an empty suit. I hope the
few grown-ups in DC are able to reign him in.

If you voted for McCain, even while holding your nose … lord knows he’s no
conservative either, thank you. If you voted for Obama, I hope one of two things
happen to you:
    1) The next 4 years permanently break you of the cult of personality and you
become a rock-ribbed conservative. We need you now, more than ever; or
    2) You die a horrible painful death (when the time comes) as an America hater.

Finally, those who voted for Obama, you deserve what you are going to get!

A large part of what I am is a rock-ribbed consertative. To me, the most important thing in life, the biggest blessing we have as being born American is personal freedom. Without that, nothing else is achievable, and we are no different than communist Russia, North Korea or Vietnam.

But we are better than that.

California, most specifically the Bay Area at first, but it has spread far beyond that, is at the forefront of the liberal movement. They call themselves liberal and progressive because they don’t DARE call themselves what they are, Communists, socialists, or Marxists. They are all about power, limiting or destroying personal freedoms, and raising the state (government generally, not Cali specifically) above the individual. They are out to destroy this country and remold it into something resembling Castro’s Cuba … or worse.

They have fooled some 30-40% of this country into believing they are about the “liitle guy,” about the “people,” but one look at the results every time they are allowed social experimentation puts the lie to that. They are about power, for themselves, pure and simple. Once upon a time, they did have true good intentions, but those days are long gone.

The left in this country is anti-free speech, anti-military, anti-individual freedom, anti-free enterprise, anti-business, anti-gun, anti, anti, anti …. on and on … ANTI-AMERICAN. They are the biggest threat to freedom and America in history because they are the enemy within.

I could go on and on about this, citing objective proof after objective proof.

When I say I hate California, I hate it as the cradle of all that is wrong in this country today. There are other pockets of leftist communism in this country as well, but none as bad and as in the lead as California. Telling me they are not alone is pointless, they are in the lead of hate in this country all day long.

This is how I feel about the left in this country. I can not be silent about it because I love my country for what it has been, what it is, and what it can continue to be in the future … a beacon of light and freedom that can transform this world into something better, a global freedom and prosperity undreamed of in all human history. If only those that put animal prosperity above human prosperity (for example) would just get the fuck out of the way! This is why I cry when I hear the story of a medal of honor winner. These people are trying to make love of country and sacrifices like that meaningless.

There is a growing cancer in this country, and California is where it all started … it’s not about smoking in an hotel room, that is but a minor symptom. It’s just that it reminds me so much of the larger problem … it is liberalism/communism in proud display!

And I’d bet 90% of the 30-40% mentioned above are just too young, gullible, and/or outright stupid to see it. As a result, we’re letting the, what, 5%, of the population, the TRUE liberal, decide our future? This is the outrage!

You’re damn right I’m mad, and I will NOT shut up.

A couple headlines from Drudge today:

Prayer Vigils at Gas Stations Across the Country...

WATERWORLD: Floating cities could one day house climate change refugees...

All I can say? A large portion of the people on planet earth are MORONS!

And one more thing: I hope you all had a wonderful July 4th!