60 Plus year old piano duet, inspiring

We learned a great deal from out time in space. We gained so many modern conveniences from the lessons learned as we taught ourselves how to reach, navigate, and survive in the cold black of the vacuum. Now, we have abandoned one of the grandest adventures Man has ever undertaken to other countries. They are now learning new lessons. They are now bringing their people tremendous new innovations. They now control the high ground (from a military perspective). But most startling of all is they are now expanding the horizons of mankind as our representatives to the cosmos.

We have abdicated first place. It wasn’t taken from us someone decided to voluntarily give it up. When did the American spirit become one of surrender? When did the American way become one of giving up? When did America decide it’s okay to be second to any one in anything? But most of all, who is going to reclaim our legacy of hope, excellence, and leadership; and when will that person take the mantle of Leader?

cross posted on The Cavalier’s Sword at firstchevalier.com

The Republican Presidential Primary

I am currently, on the eve of the South Carolina debate, firmly in the Not-Romney camp. I think Gingrich had a fantastic showing in the last debate and that Santorum did well also. I also have NO intention of voting for Obama. That said, I am more concerned about the media narrative that it’s already over and decided because Romney has more money than anyone else.

Be warned that we allowed the media to select our candidate last go around in 2008 and we ended up being defeated by a first term congressman from Illinois with no record and only charisma on his side (oh and his willing accomplices in that same media who REFUSED to vet him properly sweeping all his peccadilloes under the rug).

The debate going on right now is just fine. I did like Gingrich’s high road approach early on, to which he has returned now. But I was troubled by his drift to the language of the liberal left when he attacked Romney on Bain Capital as well as the egregious errors used by his Superpac. He himself, as well as the other candidates, when referring to Romney’s own Superpac has said candidates do exert influence and control over what they present, so Gingrich et al do have culpability in the content of their ads. That said, while Newt has some issues that need to be addressed (like sitting on the couch with her highness Pelosi and supporting the idea of global warming to name a few). I do like how many good ideas he has, what he has accomplished in the past (to some degree) i.e. Contract With America, and how he isn’t afraid to take it to Obama.

Santorum, well I like much of what he says but I don’t know enough about his record and past. I do know he was defeated for reelection, but I don’t know the circumstances behind it or why. I REALLY like what he said at the last debate when he was asked about voting for No Child Left Behind. He admitted in an widely viewed public forum that it was wrong of him to vote for that legislation and he wished he hadn’t. This kind of candor and chutzpah is what is needed by our next president. This kind of willingness to say ‘I was wrong’ has been needed in Washington for a LONG time. On this one thing alone I am currently inclined to pull the lever for Santorum, but the primary isn’t to Georgia yet. We shall see.

What is Wrong with the Legislative Branch of the American Federal Government

They currently have no regard for our founding documents, the founders intent of those documents, or the freedoms those documents guarantee to the people of this country. Establishment politicians need to be reigned in. Power to these individuals needs to be curtailed, not granted. As examples I give you the blatant disregard for procedure in the recent recess appointments made by our current president. I’d also through out the clear disregard for the private property i.e. the money we earn embodied in the confiscatory nature of the individual mandate in the health care legislation.

How about the NDAA that strips American citizens of their rights on accusations alone without due process? How about the double speak of the current president concerning US Government debt? It was convenient to accuse President Bush of being ‘…unpatriotic…’ for running up his debt with China, but when President Obama wants to spend TWICE what Bush spent in less than half the time, it’s okay (that’s not unconstitutional, just offensive on the face of it). How about the abridgment of free speech embodied in the SOPA and PIPA acts? How about saying jobs are his number one priority on the campaign trail (at taxpayer expense by the way) and then killing the Keystone Pipeline, which his own advisory board is pleading with him to enact? How about sending secret letters to our enemies to talk while they threaten to sink our carriers and kill our sailors?

What’s wrong with the legislative branch of the federal government? If you’re sitting at home and don’t think anything is wrong with the legislative branch of the federal government, just wait. They’ll be at your door soon enough to explain it to you in words you will understand, and when you begin screaming about how your freedoms are being infringed upon, the rest of us will only have the sad comfort of knowing at least we were right in decrying it when it started back in the campaign of 2008.
That’s my opinion. You are still free to express yours….for now.

Cross posted on my site firstchevalier.com

I have been saying ‘I will NOT vote for Mitt Romney no matter what’. I am now squarely faced with the very real possibility of having to vote for a third party candidate, and I DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT. I realize a third party vote is all but assuring us of four more with Hoppey McChange the socialist clown. I do not want that, but I will NOT compromise my principals anymore and ‘hold my nose’ because either the media intelligentsia or the Establishment Republicans say ‘He’s the only one who can beat Obama’.

No he is not.

So, here is an open call to Mitt Romney (not his operatives or supporters) to explain why what he’s done in the past that wasn’t conservative won’t happen again?

Before you Mitt supporters post something like, ‘well that’s what he had to do to get elected in Massachusetts’ understand that is an answer that will drive me away. That is an answer from someone who has no convictions, principals, or moral standing who is going to stick a finger in the wind and run in the direction of the mob. My fear about Mitt Romney is he will tout all the right conservative catch-phrases during the primary and once he has secured the nomination he will break the sound barrier as he runs to the middle, which is where he will govern from.

To escape and repair the damage done these past three years (four by the time the next president is elected) we will need someone who believes, TRULY BELIEVES government isn’t the answer. We don’t need someone who thinks like Establishment Republicans that if only ‘We’ could do it ‘Our Way’ everything would be right. No, not at all.

We do not need more laws and regulations. To create jobs businesses need less. We do not need more handouts and entitlements. People need to be required to stand on their own or they won’t learn how to walk. We don’t need more Federal spending to get the economy going again. We need less debt looming over our heads to give us hope again. Ultimately it is that hope things will get better that will move people to action, taking risks again. We need the risk takers. We need them to look to the rewards worth risking for or they won’t. If you remove the prospect of failure, which is the downside of risk, you also remove the possibility of reward which is why the risk was taken in the first place.

So, my question is simple: Mr. Romney et al how do you propose to return the prospect of success and the hope of things worth being risked for to the American people?

Cross posted at my website, firstchevalier.com

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

The idea the Republicans are the ones ‘assaulting’ anything here is laughable.  The idea the Republicans are the cause of the problem here is ludicrous.  The idea the Republicans are ‘getting in the way’ of the solution is dishonest on the face of it.

The Democrats are the ones who’ve built the mountain of debt we have (with the help of Bush and his followers).  The Democrats proposed and shoved TARP down our throats offering it as a solution.  The Democrats are the ones who have no proposed bills and are saying NO to those bills put forward.

Remember the following things from the debt ceiling exchange…

Remember who voted for TARP and you will know who will vote for raising the ceiling, and indenturing future generations to the Federal government via taxes.

Remember the rhetoric of, ‘but we’ve gotta do something’, ‘doing something is better than nothing’, ‘if we don’t do this RIGHT NOW the world will end’, and ‘too big to fail’. then you’ll know how this will turn out.

But most of all, remember who said they were conservative when they ran for office but votes to raise the ceiling.  Then you will know who to vote for, and against, come the next election cycle.

That’s my opinion, I welcome yours…

However, I am not speaking to those who forgot how forcefully Americans shouted last November.  I am speaking to the 50.

Great job.  Well done.  Stand firm. THANK YOU.

Please, you brave happy few, you band of brothers, have an influence on those mollycoddles around you.  Use your powers of persuasion to pull them into your band.  For that matter, if you’d like to demonstrate to them how much backing there is for your position post something here soliciting our input.  Then, after you have it, show it to your friends.

Now I am speaking to all the other elected officials in Congress.

I won’t say you have fully missed the point of November, but you’ve missed it enough to be ousted from office at the next opportunity in favor of someone who says or has demonstrated they do get it.  You had better craft and pass something that does what we the American people voted for in November.  Thanks.

Given the current Republican leadership decisions that are appearing to once again head down the path of failure, I thought it both poignant and germane to our situation today. We put’em there folks, and if we don’t let them know they’re failing (which RS readers/posters do regularly) then we shoulder the blame for them being able to govern poorly.

Cross-posted on www.firstchevalier.com

Campaign conservative govern moderate, your out.

Tell me the reason you ‘reached across the isle’ is too complicated for my simple hoi polloi brain to handle, your gone.

Make closed door, smoke-filled room, or under the table deals because ‘it was the only way to get it done’, your done.

Take things out of important legislation designed to support the Constitution and my freedoms in the name of ‘we had to do something’, your through.

Compromise is a four letter word now, Exit.

For those of you who haven’t had your coffee yet, that was an imperative, which is a verb that issues a command. The command is to you who compromise. The command is exit, i.e. Get Out. I no longer have any use for you, and I will vote accordingly.

In a town hall meeting (being reported on by the Richmond Times-Dispatch here) held just last night in Richmond Virginia Saxby Chambliss and the Gang of Six, a bi-partisan group of Republican and Democrat senators, are taking the recommendations for the presidents fiscal commission to figure out which of those recommendations to put forward. In that town hall meeting Chambliss put forward, among other things, that small businesses giving up tax breaks would be something they would support.

Their plan will leave nothing off the table, the lawmakers told business community members at a Virginia Chamber of Commerce event. Spending would be slashed, defense spending cut and the tax breaks eliminated. Entitlement programs would also be cut, and gradually, the retirement age would be raised

The ‘Gang of Six’ consist of the following as listed on Politico Mark Warner (D VA), Saxby Chambliss (R GA), Tom Coburn (R OK), Kent Conrad (D ND), Mike Crapo (R ID), & Dick Durbin (D IL).

Unfortunately for Georgians just like with TARP, it looks like we’re going to be left holding the ‘Tax Bag’ again. What we need is true conservative leadership to step up and propose tax breaks just as Ronald Reagan did when he took office in 1981 following the disastrous Jimmy Carter years.

Have we learned nothing of how Democrats operate? When they have power they put forth the worst of freedom destroying legislation, and when they’re out they scream of ‘bipartisanship’. They wanted nothing to do with ‘reaching across the isle’ when Obama-care was being ‘discussed’. They wanted nothing to do with Republican ideas for two solid years, yet now as soon as we have the inkling of control to right our collective ship some in the Republican party cannot wait to run across the isle and embrace those who have put us in this horrible fiscal position in the first place.

The elections of November should indicate conservative values, both fiscal and social, are popular enough to win the electorial day. My assumption as one of the ‘unwashed hoi polloi’ is you are standing on your principals each and every vote. America is watching your principals on parade. Conservatives have a memory. We will remember come 2016 Senator Chambliss, and for those who don’t I can easily repost things here and elsewhere.

I fervently request that each and every one of us investigate a candidate outside of the simple and easy to find sources of information i.e. the ones the MSM seems to guide the most. While this is usually the case for RS readers, please ask a simple question of those who would ask for you to endorse their Chosen One: “Where did you hear that?” If they’re answer is something you would consider the MSM, then kindly ask them to find an alternate source that is not the MSM.

In the 2012 election cycle I thought I was going to be backing a single individual, but thanks to the Presidential pole conducted on this very site I have become exposed to a much larger field of candidates I find appealing. As for me, my vote is in play and will be decided by the debates, issues raised, and statements made by the candidates. I would be suspicious and concerned about any hearsay aimed at stripping anyone candidate of his/her supporters. Heck, if you want to explore an interesting corollary to the idea that whoever the MSM likes is destined to fail, lets take a closer look at who they hate and vilify. Perhaps they do that because they’re concerned that person could actually defeat Hopey McChange? Now there’s a thought I like.

North Point Church Iband (music played exclusively on iphones and ipads)

Continental Congress Thanksgiving Proclamation
(1782)

IT being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer up their supplications to ALMIGHTY GOD, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of his providence in their behalf: Therefore the United States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of divine goodness to these States, in the course of the important conflict in which they have been so long engaged; the present happy and promising state of public affairs; and the events of the war, in the course of the year now drawing to a close; particularly the harmony of the public Councils, which is so necessary to the success of the public cause; the perfect union and good understanding which has hitherto subsisted between them and their Allies, notwithstanding the artful and unwearied attempts of the common enemy to divide them; the success of the arms of the United States, and those of their Allies, and the acknowledgment of their independence by another European power, whose friendship and commerce must be of great and lasting advantage to these States:—– Do hereby recommend to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and request the several States to interpose their authority in appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.

Done in Congress, at Philadelphia, the eleventh day of October, AD 1782.

JOHN HANSON, President

Charles Thomson, Secretary

]]> I just wanted to post this to remind us why we give thanks and that once our congressman knew from whence all power flows. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. The page I copied this from can be found here.

Continental Congress Thanksgiving Proclamation
(1782)

IT being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer up their supplications to ALMIGHTY GOD, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of his providence in their behalf: Therefore the United States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of divine goodness to these States, in the course of the important conflict in which they have been so long engaged; the present happy and promising state of public affairs; and the events of the war, in the course of the year now drawing to a close; particularly the harmony of the public Councils, which is so necessary to the success of the public cause; the perfect union and good understanding which has hitherto subsisted between them and their Allies, notwithstanding the artful and unwearied attempts of the common enemy to divide them; the success of the arms of the United States, and those of their Allies, and the acknowledgment of their independence by another European power, whose friendship and commerce must be of great and lasting advantage to these States:—– Do hereby recommend to the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and request the several States to interpose their authority in appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness.

Done in Congress, at Philadelphia, the eleventh day of October, AD 1782.

JOHN HANSON, President

Charles Thomson, Secretary

]]> http://www.redstate.com/firstchevalier/2010/11/24/congressional-proclamation-of-1782/feed/ 1 http://www.redstate.com/firstchevalier/2010/11/06/please-dont-make-me-regret-my-vote/ http://www.redstate.com/firstchevalier/2010/11/06/please-dont-make-me-regret-my-vote/#comments Sat, 06 Nov 2010 15:55:26 +0000 Mark Malcolm (Diary) http://www.redstate.com/firstchevalier/?p=40 You have 24 months to demonstrate ‘you get it’ but I bet we will know if you do much, much sooner.  In case you are not sure what ‘it’ is, let me bullet point it from my perspective…

• Do NOT reach across the isle or they will blame you and so will I
• Do NOT compromise on conservative principles (read Goldwater’s book if you are unclear of what those principles should be)
• Do NOT believe this type of media
• Do NOT become drunk with congressional power and begin writing checks like a, well a drunken congressman
• DO govern according to the Constitution of the United States of America
• DO limit the powers of the Czars
• DO continually send out bills to  to repeal the President’s agenda regardless of if they’ll pass or not
• DO NOT be afraid to have character, stand on your principles, and speak your mind

If you need more than bullets I offer the below additional explanations…

Do NOT reach across the isle

Simply put, they flat out told Republicans “We won” when President Obama was elected and promptly turned their backs on us.  Exude class and simply move forward with what you wish to accomplish.

Do NOT compromise your conservative principles

Dance with the one what brung you.  The Liberals in a collective hypocritical continual moment have screamed for bipartisanship while ignoring everything the Republicans have suggested.  They did this because the liberal democrats knew they couldn’t get the Blue Dogs to go along with them so they needed willing accomplices in the RINO’s.  Many of them are gone now, though a few yet remain.  Learn from this lesson because you will be gone too if you cannot internalize this point.

Do NOT believe this type of media

If you don’t know it by now, the general main-stream media is not your friend.  In fact, they are not interested in you at all other than that they can use you to further their desired goals and objectives.  In this modern era of the internet, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, et al WE will discover the truth of your actions rest assured.  This is a promise of both fortuitous and dire import to you.  If you are a RINO, scumbag, or other undesirable trying to feed off this great nation, we will learn of it and vote you out.  If you are doing a good job, sticking to your guns, and annoying the Liberals, we will learn of it and vote to keep you.

Do NOT become drunk with congressional power

Ignore the establishment way of doing things.  If it’s ‘always been done that way’ be very suspicious.  If the person telling you ‘that’s how to do it’ is themselves a well established Washingtonian, then it’s confirmed; run away from that method as fast and far as you can.  Publicize the fact to us that someone tried to assimilate you into their same-ole-same-ole collective and we’ll both defend you and vote the other guy out.

DO govern according to the Constitution of the United States of America

If it’s not in this document you can’t do it.  Plain and simple.  Don’t give me that crap about judges or rulings, they’re not on your side for the most part.  I can read for myself.  I have several copies of the Constitution in my possession.  Every legislative thing you do should be grounded in this document.  If it’s not in this document that you can do it, by definition it is unconstitutional and shouldn’t be done, or should be repealed.  When in doubt err on the side of more freedom, not less.

DO limit the power of the Czars

That I even have to say this makes me feel bad.  These people are not elected and should not hold the power they do.  Limit them.  Reign them in.  Do not fear them.  You were elected and can be unelected in two years.  Please behave as a public servant and remember your task is to serve those who put you there, not limit their freedoms.

DO continually send out bills to  to repeal the President’s agenda regardless of if they’ll pass or not

This is a total win/win situation for conservatives and the Republican party.  Send up the bill to repeal Obama-care in it’s entirety.  If it passes we win because Obama-care is repealed.  If it is voted down, we have everyone on record who supports it and can use that in two years.  If it gets sent to the president and he veto’s it, we can also hold that against him in 2012.  This tactic is so full of WIN if you avoid it the only thing I can assume is you are with the other side, against the constitution, and only interested in growing government.

DO NOT be afraid to have character, stand on your principles, and speak your mind

If you were genuine during the campaign and got elected via Tea Party backing, you will do fine as long as you remain unchanged in Washington.  If you had a mask on and got elected the mask WILL be removed, you WILL be exposed, and you WILL be voted out.  The people who elected you did so because they believe you will do better than the person whom you replaced.  Stand up for what you believe in, for that matter, BELIEVE IN SOMETHING.  Do not go along to get along.  Be something more than a two dimensional figure casting ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ votes.  You’re not going to please everyone no matter what you do, so make sure you are true to who you are and that should be enough because we can only assume what we see from you is who you are; and you’ll be judged by that (remember we do not rely on the main-stream media for our information).

In summation, do not be who was there before you.  If you have no idea what to do, research who held the same seat you now hold and avoid doing the things they did.  If you already have a plan, publicize it, stick to it, and live or die by what you truly believe is right.  In the end what you do and why you do it will be held to your account my Almighty God.  So, while you might fool some of the people, you won’t fool Him.  We are watching you.  Please do not make us regret our vote…

I’m through compromising my values just ‘to win’ because we don’t win.  We get RINO’s who are as bad as their opponents a la the current Georgia Gubernatorial race.  The only real way to tell who to vote for any more is to evaluate the candidate’s character.  Yes, character matters.  Honest, truthful people working to better their state and country are what are needed rather than stogy and stale political animals looking for a career.

Truth.  There’s an idea.  As my local pastor stated in his blog (which you can read all of here)…

“A good servant leader has integrity and the desire to be truthful and open in dealings with others. The people of God must hold leaders and others accountable for the truth of what is said and done. From family members to your church leaders to those who aspire to other leadership positions in our land, set the standard of truth before us, and hold us accountable for our words and deeds. Get real, people! When we tolerate what God will not, our witness is disingenuous, and that may be the ultimate failure.”

That portion is at the end of a very good piece which is entitled ‘Seeking Truth’ but which I contend is full-on about the character of the people we hold in leadership all around us.

The ground looks fertile for a changing of the guard.  Things are ripe for those who seek to change the course of our country back to freedom and away from the precipice of socialism.  The question before us now is will those who mark this change deliver on the promise or be more of the same old establishment politicians rather than citizen-statesmen and women?

Instead, tell me how you’ve gotten government OUT of your home district and OUT of the the lives of your constituents.

Conservatives will FLOCK to your banner like ants to a piece of bubblegum on the sidewalk.

Please note there is no ambiguity there, no wiggle room, no ‘except [insertyourpetprojecthere]‘.

Do NOT reach across the isle. Do NOT compromise. Do NOT spend any more of my tax dollars on things not specifically, SPECIFICALLY in your constitutional job description.

The very idea some politicians feel they have to explain the things they’re doing either means they’re not doing what, constitutionally, they’re supposed to do.  OR, the vaunted public school system failed to educate their audience enough concerning that self-same constitution so as to understand what their elected representative is saying.  In either case the system has broken down and needs to be repaired.

I still remember those of you who voted for TARP and the stimulus debacle.  You will be held accountable by me when the time comes.  You will now stand up and be counted again.  Which tally sheet shall I put your name on?  The Electable Conservative list, or the Campaign Against RINO list?  You decide and reap what you sow.

That’s my opinion. We welcome yours…