Mike’s mom, my sister, has brain cancer. We don’t know what her prognosis will be except it is inoperable! We are all shocked over this and very much afraid. My sister has always been such a very strong, smart, lively person, it is very hard to see her struggle with this horrible disease. She can’t walk on her own. She can’t get out of her bed alone. She forgets things. She doesn’t remember things. She often has a blank stare on her face. Then as suddenly as it appeared, the look goes away. The only blessing is she apparently feels little or no pain because of the location of the brain tumors.

Each passing day as I and my family await the next meeting with her doctor to hear how effective her radiation treatments were. I am also afraid it will arrive. I don’t want to hear that it hasn’t helped. I don’t want to hear that chemo isn’t a consideration or the next step because radiation didn’t help. I want to hear that she is OK. I want to hear that there has been some terrible, sick mistake. I want my sister back  just the way she was before this terrible disease started ravaging her brain in such a callous and cruel manner!

I want to hear my sister’s voice as I enter the door to my Mom’s house as she and my Mom fuss over the fan; Mom’s too cold, my sister’s too hot! I want to hear her talk about the latest escapades of Mike’s kids. I want to hear her and my Mom answer the Jeopardy questions like they both have for so many years before now! I want to hear what new dish she found on the internet and cooked for supper.

In 1971, we lost the oldest of my younger brothers to cancer. He was 21! His suffering was unbearable. But, we survived. We had to. He would have wanted or accepted nothing less from us all! And, there was Mike, my sister’s beautiful, three month old baby boy. Now, Mike is gone. He died in Kuwait, March 5, 2004! It seems such cruel irony, that now his mom may be taken from us too! I believe in God. But, at times like these, all I want to do is rant at Him.

I have found myself bargaining with God. Take me first. It is my turn. I’m the oldest. Why are you so unfair? But, all my rants and questions fall on deaf ears. It is as if God has gone on vacation. He didn’t leave anyone in charge. Or, maybe he did and whoever is in charge has let all that power over life and death go to his or her head! Just wait until God returns! He will fix this mess. Hey, you, in-charge person, God’s gonna be angry at you when He returns. You better fix this mess now! Don’t you realize how much pain and suffering you are causing? Please, you gotta fix this mistake! I won’t tell. God will never know from me. PLEASE????

I found a couple new blogs today. At least they are new to me. The first one is, Serendipity Hopeful, by Novice101 out of Malasyia. His post Now is as good a time as any for gratefulness is really good. The title is self explanatory.
The second blog is by a deployed milblogger, BT. It is called TheWarOnBigTobacco. BT has a great post called, Band of Geldings. The post is honest and down to earth. You want to know how some of our troops feel, read his post! When you visit these blogs, be sure to check out their other posts.

While you’re at it, MADTOM has a great blog. He is a milblogger too. His blog is a compilation of all sides of the war effort and whatever issues he writes about. In his own words:

“The thing that I want to do different with this blog, is that I want to post stories from the point of view of all the different characters that make up this war. I want to post stories from G.I.Joe, and from his enemy Haji, or from the point of view of their families. The idea is for anyone, be they friend or foe that has something to say, a story to tell, about this, or any war, can send it to me and I will post it here, anonymously.”

It is a great blog called, This Fucking War. Want to know what is going on, read his blog for the whole circle of information on all sides of issues. I enjoy reading his posts.

Momma! Momma! Can I have  German Shepherd? I want a German Shepherd just like “Rin Tin Tin!” As we watched ““Rin Tin Tin,” my young daughter went through all the reasons why it would be a good idea for us to get a German Shepherd. From being a good watch dog to being a great pet, she covered every other good reason in between in her effort to persuade me to get her a German Shepherd.

As I listened to my daughter’s reasoning and her pleas, I felt a tug at my heart. How I remembered what it felt like to want s special dog as badly as she wanted a German Shepherd!! But, I was reluctant as I was a single parent. I was afraid a dog would be too much with the other responsibilities I had. So, coyly, an idea took form in my mind. OK, I said, if you make “Honor Roll” for the year, I’ll get you a German Shepherd. It will look as much like “Rin Tin Tin” as possible. To myself, I smiled inwardly, at my plan. I knew my daughter was smart. I just wasn’t sure if she would be able to set such a goal at such a young age and accomplish that goal.

Right!!??? She got straight “A’s” for the next year! I was defeated by my own plan. I also had forgotten just how much a special pet could mean to a young child!

I spent the next six months or so looking for a German Shepherd that looked as much like “Rin Tin Tin” as I could find. An even bigger problem was money. I had no idea they cost so much money! She wanted a puppy. The best I could do was a German Shepherd this man had for sale for $300.00. He included a very large pin [I didn't have a fence] and a very nicely made dog house. I went to see the dog. She was eight months old. That was older than I wanted; but, she was a beautiful, friendly, if not very high strung, dog. I bought her.

Though my daughter preferred a younger puppy, she quickly fell in love with “Lady.” A few months later, a friend of my son and daughter brought another do, half Chow, half Lab, to our home to watch until he convinced his Mom to let him keep the dog, also a girl. I knew I was being duped; but, I agreed. To make a long story short, Sheba became my son’s dog. Her choice, not ours. It was also quite clear that Lady was my daughter’s dog! The two dogs were immediately “pals.” Of course, Lady immediately let Sheba know she was “boss.” From that time on, the two were inseparable! Until today, that is! Lady passed away today. She was about “13 0r 14″ years old. My daughter wasn’t home. Her and my son went to their Dad’s for Thanksgiving dinner.

I just couldn’t tell my daughter on the phone that Lady was gone when I checked to see what time she and her brother would be back in town from their trip to their Dad’s. She asked me a couple times what was wrong; but, I told her everything was fine! I think I did the right thing!

Lady has been a great companion and a good and faithful watchdog. Sadly, because I lost our house shortly after I retired on disability, she never had a yard to run around in. But, we, especially the kids, spent a lot of time with both Lady and Sheba. We kept their shots up and we walked them frequently. The kids frequently took them on “bike” rides and with them to play. They took both to the school playground after hours because it was completely fenced. There, both could run at will as long as no one else was there. Both of them loved the school yard. They got to run to their heart’s content!

Of, course, once the kids went to work and started college, it was hard for them to give Lady and Sheba all the time they wanted. But, they both spent as much time as possible with them both. But, their primary care became my job. At 60, it was harder for me to do as much as I wanted with them too. But, seemed to know that and we cherished our time together. Lady was fine yesterday when I walked them. But, during their walk, I noticed Lady was a little tired when we got back. She usually wants to walk some more when we are done. But, yesterday, she was eager to go inside her pin.

Lady developed arthritis so I carefully watched how she was doing and based her exercise around her health. I also had to take into account the weather when I exercised her and Sheba by walking them. Some days she was sore and stiff. She needed enough exercise to keep her condition from worsening without over doing it!  She and Sheba loved this special time a walk provided. They loved it afterwards when we just sat around or I brushed them as we sat around.

I got me a small dog, Rascal, last year that was small enough to be inside my small apartment. Lady and Sheba both hated to be inside. It was a good thing. Once I moved into my dumpy apartment, there wasn’t room anyway. But, on the plus side our apartment building was a four unit building and was as close to a house as possible. I always made sure I used tarps year round arranged around their pin in a way that provided the best protection from the weather according to the season. Every time I put fresh cedar down, both Lady and Sheba couldn’t wait to”christen” it in their “own special way!” But, I knew that their time with us was coming to an end soon. I just didn’t expect Lady would go today. But, bearing all this in mind, I decided to go ahead and get Rascal.

Lady was an affectionate and friendly dog for a German Shepherd. But, if someone made a threatening gesture toward any of us, especially my daughter, she made it clear she would do her duty and protect us. Her very fierce looking snarl was a warning never to be ignored. She was very high strung and full of energy right up to the very end. When I walked her and Sheba, I used to tease her by saying, “OK ‘Bug,’ you and ‘Shebooboo ‘are not young pups any more and I am no ’spring chicken’!” She always looked at me as if she understood. She always appeared to be laughing “with me” over my comments.

She and Sheba were like two old sisters. Whenever we walked, both seemed to make a conscientious effort of watching out for the other, slowing down their gate when necessary, slowing down and throwing a quick look over their shoulder to make sure each other was OK. As we took our walks I was always amazed at how close they both were, how attentive to each other. No matter how much time I spent with them, when the kids were around they both went nuts, especially Lady when she saw my daughter and Sheba when she saw my son! They were a part of our family. Sheba still is. We all loved Lady. We love Sheba as a part of our family. They loved each other.

We have lost a faithful, beloved member of our family. Her loss will be felt for a long time. I am so sad to see her go; but, I am also deeply grateful she died “peacefully!”

Rest in peace Lady. You are in Heaven now. You have earned your place in that special place in Heaven reserved for the faithful and beloved pets and protectors so much a part of our lives. Never was so much love so freely given with so little asked for in return. A gentle pat on the head, a kind word, a walk, a gentle stroke of the brush, such little things, they all seemed to give you so much pleasure. Though I was never able to give you that big back yard to run around in as you deserved, you will now be able to run freely in the company of all those other beloved pets who await you on your new journey, who gave so much while asking for so little in return! Your life was an example for all who loved you of “unconditional” love and “trust!”

“Good-bye, My Lady!” You will be missed!

There is much to be thankful for today. I have a beautiful daughter, grown, graduated from college Cum Laud, who is now a recruit at the local Police Academy. I have a wonderful son, who works every day at a Department store as a low level manager and is in college. Both are healthy. Both are each others best friend. Both have their own friends separately and common friends. My Mom is doing really good as her doctor just told her at her recent check-up after her second by-pass surgery. My brothers and sisters and their kids are all healthy and doing well. All grandchildren are healthy and OK too! We all have everything we need and a great deal of what we want!

Of course, we all still miss Michael, my nephew, very much. Even though he died in Kuwait, March 5, 2004, he is still very much on all our minds. It is especially hard on his kids, at least, those who can still remember him. The youngest two were too young when he died to remember him! The second oldest was at a point in age where she may remember some things; but, most things have faded  away with time. Of course, the oldest remembers Mike very well. It is hardest for her in her own way.

As I look at all we have to be grateful for, and think about the loss of Mike, I feel for all the other families who have also lost loved ones in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or while serving in support of those wars. How many of those gone were the only child of those parents back home as was the case with my sister? How many of those lost left behind children, some of whom will never remember how great their Mom or Dad really was? How many never met their hero parent? How many remember their lost parent and are troubled by fear and guilt because they cannot remember their Mom or Dad’s face? can’t hear the sound of their voice in their mind? can’t cry any more at their loss?

I feel for the Moms, the Dads, the husbands, the wives, the grandparents. But, most of all, I feel for the children left behind. Children are often thought of as being resilient. We tell ourselves they will adjust. As time passes, we see more and more of what we call, their “old selves” present. That convinces us that they are OK! We accept that they are OK. Mostly, I think we accept these signs of their “OKness” because we want so bad for them to be happy! because we don’t know how to help them! because we love them!

We do everything we can to help these kids because we do love them. We try to reassure them. We try to let them know that it is OK if it is sometimes hard to remember the face of their lost Mom or Dad. can’t hear their voice in their head. can’t cry any more. Then we show them a picture, tell them stories, give them souvenirs, anything we think will reassure them. Sometimes we even provide them grief therapy or therapy. We do all we know how to do. But, bottom line, we cannot take away their loss, their pain, their grief.

We can only be there for them.  We can only love them. We can only reassure them. But, nothing or no one can replace the hole in their hearts, can fill the void left behind, can take way their pain. The only thing we know for certain is that time will help them heal and adjust to their loss as much as possible, at least for most. There will be some who never seem to move forward with their lives.

So, though I know this post will be a downer to many, I feel I must write it so and as a dedication to those we have lost, to their families, our injured, and most of all to their children. Remember the children. Say a special prayer for them. Take time to offer a few moments of your time. Let them know by your display of love and attention that we cherish them. That we love them. That we understand  as best we can. Most importantly just let them know we care and are there for them!

Happy Thanksgiving to all, especially our troops and their families. We have not forgotten you either. We will never be able to repay our debt to you [our troops and their families]or those departed and their families. The best way I can thinkl of to honor you all is to vote. Be vigilent and care for our Democracy here on the home front. Be the very best citizen we know how to be. Don’t throw away by complacency all you have sacrificed so much to protect. Thank you all1 God Bless you all!

In St. Johns, Arizona, an eight year old boy shot and killed his father and a boarder with a .22 caliber rifle. This is what the local police determined after interviewing the child without an adult family member present or an attorney. Nor was the boy advised of his legal rights. Under Arizona law the boy can be charged as an adult since he is eight years old. The prosecutor is asking to have the boy tried as an adult!

In our colonial days, both America and England frequently treated children as adults at the age of 14, on occasion, the option existed to charge an 8 year old child as an adult. If you remember your history classes, you will recall that children and adults could be imprisoned for stealing bread to stave off hunger. Such crimes and punishments were frequent among the poor of that era.

In America, we began to develop a more socially conscientious view on crime and punishment for children and adolescents in the early 1900’s. The juvenile justice system was developed to deal with crimes committed by children below 18. There was an acceptance of sorts that it might be better to try to rehabilitate youthful offenders. It was hoped that this process would redirect child “criminals” from a life of crime.

However, over the years, as we all aware, violent crimes committed by children has increased. Most of the most violent crimes are related, non exclusively, to drugs. I did a great deal of research on child crimes and punishments. I read a great deal about the failures of the Family Courts and Juvenile Courts Systems. I also read a great deal about the trend, referred to as “panic based,” toward the attitude of “adult time for adult crime!” While everything I read agreed that many of the current trends to adjudicate child “criminals” to the adult court and penal system was based on public “panic”  and backlash, the lawmakers continued to rewrite legislation that followed the principle,  “adult time for adult crime” long after public outcry lost its frenzy!

…The upshot of this reform movement is that the mantra “adult time for adult crime” has become a reality for many young offenders. Through a variety of initiatives, the boundary of childhood has shifted dramatically in a relatively short time, so that youths who are legal minors for every other purpose are adults when it comes to their criminal conduct.

Many psychologists, social workers, and doctors feel that testing, evaluations, and studies on the specific backgrounds of these children ought to have more weight on whether or not a child should be adjudicated to the adult court system. But, that brings up another issue of contention, should children convicted of violent crimes be placed in adult facilities?

But I am awed that in all my research, nowhere did I find any reference to what I see as a primary reason for the rise violent crimes committed by children in the area with the most significant increase, drug related crimes. In my hometown in Virginia, we have a major drug problem like many other major cities. But, we also have another problem which seldom is addressed. Why? Don’t misunderstand me, there are plenty willing to come forward in local and state governments to place blame on family home life, social environment, as in racial due to the “projects,” and the rise in the number if illegal aliens we now have here.

But what no one will address is the startling amount of drug use and “trafficking” done in our school system or the “good or up-scale” neighborhoods.  I once had a teacher tell me he could be fired for telling me the local government and school board did not allow teachers to admit publicly there was a problem with drugs in our county or school system because people would not want to move into “our area” and that would affect the tax base! Any person can walk through our local schools, especially at lunch time, and see as I have personally seen, drug dealing in the halls of our schools out in the open without recrimination!

Several years ago, I found out that a young boy had LSD he was selling to kids in and out of school. I went to the schools involved and the local police and gave them this information. I was reassured that proper action would be taken to handle the situation. A year later the boy killed himself. He and two other kids skipped school to “do drugs” and hang out. The boy was killed while on LSD playing “Russian Roulette!” I went back to the schools involved and told them that both they and I could have prevented that death had I followed up on the schools’ promises to do something and had the schools and police followed through on the information I gave them. I regret to this day I did not hound both the schools and the police!

I know why the school wasn’t more responsive. As stated above, the image of our school system had to be maintained at all costs.  A cost I consider too high! But, what about the police? This is another issue, yet, the underlying root cause is still the same, politics and economics! Police arrest juveniles and the court system slaps their hands and lets them go. After a while the police play a waiting game, when the “perp” is eighteen we can then “put him/her” away!

This brings me to probably one of the most important reasons for the rise in child criminal violence, especially in drug related cases. Most states, like mine, enacted tough drug laws for adult offenders. Whether the adult drug dealers be gang related or non-gang related [in most cases], the new stiff penalties for adult offenders forced adult, drug related criminals, to look for another means of selling their drugs. They needed a new “market” too! They found one due to the current juvenile justice and court systems, children under the age of eighteen.

In an ever increasing number, drug dealers have targeted our children, both in poorer neighborhoods and more affluent ones, and used them to sell drugs. They have encouraged our kids to sell to their peers at school and in their local neighborhoods.  In alarming rates, kids, high school age, and now even in our elementary schools are selling and/or using drugs. These kids were “used” until they turned eighteen because they wouldn’t be sent to jail. They would get “counseling,” or some other lesser sentence and be right back on the streets dealing and using! As the adjudication of children to the adult court system occurs at lower and lower ages occurs, these adult criminals move on to the next generation of child dealers and users, just below the current adjudication age!

Granted, we have “DARE,” in schools to teach kids about the dangers legally and physically in drug use. We also have “drug free” school zones where drug related offenses have stiffer sentences. But, peer pressure and the open use and sale of drugs in our schools gives these kids a double message, drugs are bad, but “we,” the school system, refuse to openly acknowledge its rampant use at school! My son, an excellent athlete in several sports, refused to participate on school sports due to the high incident of drugs by players in the school athletic sports! Both my kids from middle school through high school continuously talked about the sale and/or use of drugs at their school.

Like most parents, I didn’t believe my kids when they told me how bad the drug problem at school really was because I thought kids are so intense and often things they talk about will sound more ominous than reality. But, I also knew my kids, so I went to school at lunch time and saw for myself everything they said was true.

I don’t know why this young boy in Arizona killed his father and that boarder. None of us will know for certain for some time. There are previous reports of domestic violence calls to the residence which are being investigated. Certainly domestic violence causes traumatic emotional and psychological damage to children. The prevalence of drugs in our schools, dysfunctional homes, environmental issues, all affect our kids. They grow-up with no coping skills, no conception of consequences for actions or behavior, no moral foundation, no religious foundation, no sense of community, national pride, or many of the values once taught to kids.

Is it any wonder kids become violent or commit violent crimes at lower and lower ages? At times it seems to me kids are being brought up as “feral” in a “household!” They only have the instinct of survival at all costs as their driving force because they have been given and taught nothing else!! If there is drug abuse and alcohol in the home or other types of extreme abuse, more and more kids are going to become violent. For many kids, the attention of the local drug dealer, the subsequent role they begin to play in that dealers business, provides these kids with the only sense of self empowerment they have ever felt!

The negligence of the local governments, school systems, and court systems to properly deal with these issues leave these kids “unprotected” and “ready for victimization” by predators of every ilk with no way to turn for help! I  am a firm believer of teaching kids every action, decision, or deed has a consequence. If all kids could get this message and have it re-enforced, I think crimes committed by children would drop dramatically.    I also accept that there are rare instances where some kids and people are truly evil and nothing would have prevented this reality.

But, certainly we can do a better job in our court system and mental health system to help those kids at risk while holding them accountable with consequences for their actions based on their ability to understand and reason! What does it say of our society when we treat kids as children in every aspect except in the court system or criminal justice system where they can be treated as adults because we adults have abdicated our responsibilities to these kids?

Source: “The Future of Children,” page 3, [Princeton, Brookings]

A comment left on one of my posts led me to a beautiful tribute to our troops for Veteran’s Day. Sarah referred me to “A Day to Remember.” Go read this well written tribute to our troops and all soldiers in memory of all they have done for world peace!

Since the early days when the first settlers came to America and founded our great nation, brave men and women have defended our nation from enemies, both foreign and domestic. When enemies attacked the early settlers men and women stood toe to toe, side by side, fighting off the attackers. Later, militias were formed. Though there were no women in the militias as far as I can determine, the women still looked after the home front while their men defended them in battle. They established undergrounds and performed many great deeds of courage.

From the very inception of our nation, we Americans, a hodge podge nation of European poor, indentured, wealthy, educated, and uneducated, all walks of social and economic life, came to America; and, did what Europe and no single nation previously could, united as a single body of people under one flag, one constitution, and one common ideal, democracy, and became the great nation we are today.

Throughout our history as we struggled with overcoming those issues that divided us, we began to grow as one nation, respectful of our individual heritages and protective of the new one we were building together! We survived a Civil War that might have left us all continually at odds with one another with issues ranging from slavery to the economic differences of one region with regard to another, culminating in the great social era of the 60’s and 70’s. But, through it all, we grew, ever forward to become what we are today.

Our military has developed, too, into the greatest military power in the world. It has grown from that ragtag militia that defended and fought King George [under the leadership of Washington] for our independence, fought in the War of 1812, at the Alamo against Santa Anna, at San Juan Hill, on Granada, in both WWI and WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, into the great power now fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to help free them, protect our own nation and safe guard freedom and democracy throughout the world!!

Unlike many nations and militaries, we helped rebuild Japan and Europe after WWII. We didn’t annex or take over any of the nations we helped rebuild. Our military played a major role in Japan under MacArthur in helping to rebuild Japan. In Iraq and Afghanistan, as we continue to work to help those two countries become free democracies, we are also helping to rebuild infrastructure. That work is being done primarily by our military.

Our military is not just an instrument of war. It is also an instrument of humanitarian aid and support at home and abroad. During natural disasters they provide help by delivering necessary food, water, and medical supplies when needed. During hurricanes, tsunamis, wildfires, earthquakes, whatever the natural disaster, our troops provide help and aide at home and abroad when needed.

When they aren’t fighting wars or providing aide to the needy in disasters, some of our military explores off world as Astronauts. I vividly remember John Kennedy’s promise to put a man on the moon. Had an assassin not killed him, Kennedy would have been proud of those first space explorers. He would have celebrated with them and our nation their successes and mourned as we all did, their tragedies!

Our  military men and women get no over time regardless of how long their day. While they do get free medical care, housing or housing assistance for off base living, they still survive well below the middle income bracket in America. They depend entirely on the political mood at a given time for their services and needs. At times the members of our military are drafted; but, presently we have an all volunteer military.

Today, on the average, their educational level is higher than that of the civilian population.  I suppose you could call that a myth buster. When I was in the Corp from ‘67-’71, there were many volunteers; but, there was also a draft in effect. There were also a number of soldiers given the choice of incarceration or military service by judges for certain, less severe crimes. There was a tendency to label all military as people who lacked what it took to “make it on the outside!” I always had to laugh at that particular comment!

Since our pioneer days, one thing hasn’t changed with regard to our military, whether  militia, National Guard, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Reserve units, men and women have been dying in the service of their country at home and abroad. They serve as reservists, career soldiers, or for one or two enlistments. Many of our soldiers’ family endure financial hardships, loneliness due to deployments, overwhelming stress, and constant fear of the unknown, especially during times of conflict. Why would anyone deliberately put themselves voluntarily through such a difficult life?

It may seem foolish to some, it may even seem seem trite to others; but, as a veteran myself, I can honestly say that when we  take the oath of service, we mean every single word:

In the Armed Forces EXCEPT the National Guard (Army or Air)

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

In the National Guard (Army or Air)

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of (STATE NAME) against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of (STATE NAME) and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to law and regulations. So help me God.

Our nation’s citizens may become complacent. Our politicians may forget who they are supposed to be representing. They may be selling out their integrity and the ideals they spoke of in their oath of office to lobbyist, special interest groups, their own personal agendas! Our elected officials, judges, and other public officials may even attempt to move our nation in a direction that does not adhere to those great principles and guiding forces that led to the formation of our great nation. Unfortunately, even some Presidents forget to follow the ideals of their oath of office.

But, I feel confident saying that rarely does a single soldier forget his or her oath of service so freely spoken. Rarely does a soldier put him or herself before his or her nation. So, if you lover your freedom, thank a Veteran or Soldier. If you love your country, thank a Veteran or Soldier! If you love the peace and prosperity we enjoy, even during the tough times compared to most people in the world, thank a Veteran or a Soldier!

I thank God every day for our soldiers, men and women, for all that we enjoy as Americans. I give thanks for their families for all they too sacrifice on our behalf. I say a prayer of thanks for those who made the ultimate sacrifice and their families! Then I say another prayer that our elected officials and citizens will take a close look at these American Soldiers and really think about what all their sacrifices can teach us about love of country and fellow man!!

[I apologize for this late posting. I must have written a dozen posts before I finally decided to write this post from the heart!]

Eric Cantor from Virgina wants to compromise with those Democrats controlling our nation. I say “hell no!” There should be no compromise with the Socialists who are trying to destroy all we stand for and believe in in America. Compromise ought to be used when it is in the best interest of American rights, ideals and betterment only!

Had Republicans kept this thought in mind as they watched the Socialists take over the Democratic Party and told the public the truth to forestall the media collusion with these socialists, things might not be going to “hell in a hand basket” in America. But, what did the Republicans do, “tuck their tails” and “look out for their own self interests. “

Where is the personal integrity, what happened to the public trust, the promise to adhere to our American ideals, our Constitution on the part of our elected officials in Congress? Has self interest become the sole motivation, the quest for power at any cost the sole goal of our elected officials?

What a sad state of affairs! What a shameful display of poor leadership! What we are seeing in Washington is the “rape” of our Democracy, the attempt to destroy our American dreams, the treasonous efforts of elected officials who have sold out their ethics and personal accountability for power and personal gain!!

Are America’s troops the only people who serve our nation and adhere to the sacred trust, to “serve, honor, and defend” our nation and its Constitution from “all enemies,” both foreign “and” domestic?

More and more discussion is occurring on FOX News about the censorship that occurred during the last Presidential Campaign. News networks, Newspaper Companies, and other media are starting to admit to the biased, open support for Obama. They are not trying to hide the fact that throughout the industry they are practicing “censorship” of news and information that is fed to the American public.

Bearing this censorship in mind, how can FOX News or any other media outlet ask if the nation is slanting left, right, or center? Left. right, and center of what? I believe in calling a “spade a spade!” When the media we all rely on is owned by conglomerates and that ownership is socialist, is directing what and who will receive what coverage, the media is in effect controlling public thought and opinion. It is lying by omission to the public. There is no longer any such thing among medias as “journalistic ethics, accountability, or responsibility in reporting!”

When corporations in other industry get so big they monopolize that industry and thereby remove competition, they are forced to split up to allow other companies in that industry to compete. The reason for this is the benefit of the public welfare or good!

Shouldn’t the media conglomerates be forced to “break up” their monopolies because they use censorship to prevent Americans from making informed decisions in every day aspects of our nations business from the smallest issues to the Presidential leadership of our nation? I feel that if medias want to tell people what that feel specifically about issues that the editorial pages and editorial time slots of their on are time offer them that option while reporting “all the news, uncensored” to the public?

The Union Rep for GM “just wants a fair playing field” and a “bailout” for GM. He says if you love America, then buy American! But, if a bailout doesn’t happen, the company will go broke! Sounds great on the surface. Now what is he not saying?

For one thing he failed to mention that when the union contracts come up, the Union consistently asks for “everything” it can get unreasonable or otherwise! Unions across America have been doing this for years. I worked for a company that was the largest employer in the world at one time. We all knew we needed to have enough food stored in our homes to feed ourselves for at least a month every three years because there was a strike nearly every three years. On one occasion, the strike lasted a month and information to members was “blacked out!” It was blacked out because the only area of contention was forcing non-members to “pay dues” in a “right to work” state! In over 23 years, I never saw one penny of assistance from the strike fund, even when I had two small babies I was raising on my own. Neither did any of my co-workers! Guess what? Those Union officials were paid a salary for the duration of the strike!

Let’s talk about work. I came back to my hometown to live after living in D.C. for about 15 years. D.C. is not right to work. The first day I reported to work was the first day of a contract strike. I didn’t know what was going on. I was escorted into a back door for safety – mine! For the remainder of the time I worked in D.C., union members did everything they could to get me fired. The harassment stopped when my boss started secretly monitoring our workload. I did more work than the rest of my co-workers. He finally put a stop to the harassment. But, local people we worked with in the local company that was involved in our work continued harassment until one by one I found some common interest, usually non-work related, to side track them when they acted like jerks!

You were not allowed to do anything not specifically approved by the Union! You left your job, finished or not, at exactly 4:30. You didn’t dare work during your break. But, you did work your but off otherwise. Back home that aspect changed. Co-workers, especially union workers, constantly asked me to do less work; do my work slower; else all the workers would be expected to do as I did. In companies with Unions, right to work or not, I will concede that at times Unions have helped tremendously with fair wages and working conditions. But, in many areas, union are now doing more harm than good. Every aspect of your job is scrutinized by the union. It constantly files frivolous grievances that far out number legitimate ones in the constant “them against us” prevailing attitude ever present in the work place!

When one of our companies stayed out of work on strike for 8-9 months, even longer, neither worker nor company recouped losses. The union never lost a dime. Their officials continued to be paid. The union was never willing to see that there were many ways besides exorbitant pay increases to help improve working conditions. After I came home I joined the union. I became a steward. I was canned from that job after I refused to campaign and influence workers during a union election!

My suggestion to GM and the Union – sell ownership in the company to the workers. Make it a company owned by the workers and the company, with 51% ownership remaining in the hands of the owners. Of course that might make the union obsolete! It will however help keep the company going and it will improve the quality of vehicles produced thus cutting down on purchases of foreign made cars and increase purchase of better made American cars!!

We do not need more socialized bailouts. The government does not exist to bailout poorly managed companies! It was a given that as soon as the banks were bailed out, the automobile industry would be the next industry standing in the “bailout line” with their hand out!

I welcome discussion and dissent!

While our troops were deployed to fight for our freedom and democracy and that of others did “Jody” steal our own freedom? Jody is the term troops apply to those men who home in on the spouses of deployed soldiers.

So, I ask again, “while our troops are deployed defending American Democracy and freedom and that of others, did “Jody steal” ours? I think, yes!

WikiAnswers says,  “Around 1,203,640 as of January 2007″ American soldiers have died defending America in all wars including the current conflicts. Of course it points out that that number may not be totally accurate. I imagine a completely accurate answer is not possible!

From the Lee, R. “The History Guy: Casualties From America’s Wars”,  I found the following statistics as of 1-21- 2007:

Below is a listing of America’s MAJOR wars and conflicts and the known casualty figures for each. Casualties are for United States and Confederate military dead and wounded only. Civilian casualties will be added later.

“From another source,  Matthew White, I found the following statistics:

As I read these tables with their numbers, I am saddened and shocked. These tables represent those who have given their lives in defense of our nation, our Democracy, and our freedom!! In a single election, we, as a nation, have allowed a Socialists takeover over twenty years in the making, seize control of America without a single shot fired in defense of our nation. If the new controls over control the media, already controlled predominately by the socialists leftists and the new regulations about gun ownership are passed, then it will be very hard to take back America if we lose our ability to do so through the election process!! Think about it people, what we are silently allowing to happen in America at home, as our troops defend our nation and Democracy abroad???

I think it also behooves us as a nation to take a closer look at how the latest economic crisis at home and abroad has occurred. I do not agree with current explanations. I feel there is a lot of money at play here as part of the latest worldwide effort for a globalist economy under one government and one world court at play here, controlled by big money businesses and banks !!

I have deliberately written little about Sarah Palin. I was undecided about what to write about such a newcomer on the political scene. So I basically chose to write little or nothing! I opted, instead, to listen to her speeches and read as much as I could find to give me an idea who Palin really was.

I found that she was a person of strong conviction which at times I did not agree with, but respected. But, mostly I found Palin to be a competent, highly motivated, family oriented public servant. You see, I always felt that if the McCain-Palin ticket won the Presidential race, we were in effect electing ‘two” presidents!” With McCain’s age and health issues, I felt that there was a likely-hood Palin would become President before the first term ended.

I had already experienced a personal disappointment over Hillary Clinton. For years I supported Hillary. Then a chance find on an Internet search led me to change my views drastically as far as supporting Hillary Clinton. I was shocked and disappointed at the extent of Hillary’s leftist views and activities, especially with regard to George Soros and the formation of the “Shadow Party!” As a woman, I have long awaited to advent of a strong woman capable of leading our nation. I have long waited for the “good old boy” attitude to disappear in America. I have long waited for the day when, just like race was not an issue in the Presidential race, neither was sex of a candidate!

I did find in Palin a tendency for more Conservative views at times than my own; but, mostly, she appeared to be just what we needed in America and on the Republican ticket. So why are Republicans trashing Governor Sarah Palin now that Obama has won the Presidential race?

Personally, I feel that the Republican Party as a whole fell down on the job. They failed to go out like the Obama supporters on the left and encourage potential voters to register. The Party failed to have its elected Congressional members openly support and encourage voters to vote for McCain and Palin. Mostly the Party ran few adds, did little out reach, and offered little real support to their candidates. Many Republicans “jumped ship” and supported the leftist Democratic candidates.

As a whole, the Party failed to capitalize on many opportunities to expose the Democratic candidates as the leftists they were and are. They failed to uphold the oath they took when they were sworn into their respective office. They refused to take positions on anything out of fear of protecting their own political goals and positions. The Republicans continued to allow these leftist and anti-American elements to take control of Congress as the Democrats did with the Democratic Party. They allowed Nancy Pelosi to extend her leftist power base in Congress and they allowed a leftist to take over the White House. As I have said before, they have allowed a “revolution in our American Government” without a “single shot heard around the world!”

They allowed the media [except for FOX News] to slant the entire election towards the left and Obama. They failed to serve and protect those who elected them to Congress. While over 5,000 of our troops died while helping Iraq and Afghanistan lift themselves up from the yokes of extremism, terrorism, and tyranny to Democratic nations, our Congress allowed our nation’s leadership to fall into the hands of leftists extremism that does not respect our Democracy or our Constitution! As our troops defended Democracy and our nation abroad, our Congress and the Republican Party silently allowed a threat to Democracy be elected to the White House without a single voice speaking out, except for one, Sarah Palin!

Is it any wonder the Republican Party and some of its members are trashing Palin? She alone defended our Democracy and Constitution! She alone spoke out! She alone promised to serve and protect all those values and ideals we hold dear in America as the media hid from the public what was happening and the Republican Party and the Democratic Party remained quiet, one out of shame, the other out of cowardice!!

If you doubt what I say, just look at those already appointed by Obama, the extreme leftist, who are already setting the stage for curtailing free speech and the right to bear arms! What is next? When will the Republican Party start to act as a unit and fight this “attack” on our rights and freedom? When will the Democratic party admit what” it” has done or allowed to be done to the party and its members start to fight back? When will both parties insist that the media stop censoring the news?

When will they start to prevent the attack on our rights and freedoms? When will they both put the nation first over their own inept political careers?

So, speak out Sarah. Tell them all like it really is and was! You may just be the only politician in either party left who still believes in serving and protecting our Nation, Constitution, and Democratic way of life?? You may be the only politician who has the “family jewels” to fight for our American way of life!!

If you are watching the news regularly as I am, then you know the jobless rate in America is up and has become a “critical factor” along with our other woes! I have a suggestion which is also a suggestion.

“Deport all the illegal aliens in America who are working here illegally!” These aliens are willing to work for substandard pay and with no benefits. Their impact isn’t just felt in the job market. If I go to the grocery store, the laundry mat, the local gas “marts,” or department stores,  I have to compete with massive numbers of illegals. Most speak little or no English. If the service provider hasn’t done as most now do and hired bi-lingual employees, you are going to often have long waits at the service counter. A two hour laundry trip now lasts up to an hour or longer. Then there is no guarantee the newly freed machine will work. Trash is all over the place, kids are running around in the way, groups of men stand around drinking or doping, there is no place to park!

In my neighborhood, which is not a high income area, small businessmen and women can barely stay afloat due to being constantly under bid by businesses run by Hispanics, especially construction. The men can’t find work because illegals are being hired in their stead because they work for lower wages and no benefits.

Richmond, like so many cities, has become a “Mecca” for illegals from Mexico and Central America. Crime is a problem. There have been a number of deaths due to drunken illegal drivers. Apartments and rental properties are hard to find because illegals are renting the properties. It is often the norm that ten to twenty people  live in property designed to inhabit a single family of four or less. Even garages are being converted to quasi homes for upwards to ten or more people. These have no running water or power.

Many will read this and say I am prejudice. Sorry, my kids dad is a naturalized man from El Salvador. He feels the same way I did. During a recent war protest, he made the comment to one of my kids that “these people ought to be sent home because they drag the American flag on the ground and fly flags flown by America’s enemies!” He felt they did not want to contribute to the betterment of America or embrace it as their new home. It was a source of money to be sent back home!

While I realize this is not true of all illegals, the numbers who do hate America is staggering. You can thank ANSWER, UFPJ, and IAC to name a few groups, for these people. So, let’s finally “really” address the illegal alien problem. Let’s free up jobs for those in America who are citizens who want a job but can’t find one!

I SUPPORT JOHN MCCAIN FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!

I don’t even see a contest between McCain and Obama. If for no other reason than Obama would pull the troops out of Iraq and facilitate a repeat of the Vietnam Experience – pulling out the troops when the battle is being won and declaring defeat! As a Vietnam Era veteran of the USMC, I know how the troops felt when victory was stolen from their grasp and they were handed a humiliating defeat by Ted Kennedy and his socialist cronies in the 60’s. I also remember how many Vietnamese and Cambodians died after we left and then Teddy and Congress cut off all aide to them!

Obama still can’t acknowledge that the surge worked in Iraq and both American Troops and the Iraqi people, their troops and police force are winning against the terrorists and foreign sponsored insurgents. Were mistakes made. Of course! This is a war. Mistakes are made. Innocents are sadly often killed by either side. But, the difference is the insurgents and terrorists weren’t killing accidentally killing their own people. They purposefully killed innocents and used them as shields.

In every aspect, Iraq is turning the corner and beginning to take on more and more of the defense of their nation. What really impresses me is the rebuilding of local Iraqi industry and infrastructure by Iraqis.

John McCain knows what is at stake. He will make the right choices with regard to our continued roll in Iraq. He will bring our troops home. But, he will bring them home as victors.

But, as I listen to John McCain’s speeches, I realize he knows what is at stake if Obama and the extreme left gain control of the White House. I do not always agree with all of John’s views or decisions. Nor do I expect to. I haven’t always agreed with President Bush. But both have America’s welfare as their primary goal. They both understand about protecting our nation from enemies at home and abroad! I believe history will be kinder to President Bush than the leftist, Congress controlled by the Democrats, some white flag Republicans, and many Americans have been.

But the torch is now ready to be passed on to other leadership! The key word here is leadership. John McCain is that man. He is right that raising taxes will have terrible consequences. But, if Obama is elected, the economy will be the least of our worries! Attacks on us by our enemies which we will be too weakened defensively to repel are a given under Obama’s leadership. The systematic destruction of our Democracy and the elimination of our Constitutional rights will bring about the fall of our nation if Obama gets elected. If I wanted to live in a totalitarian, socialist, Marxist, or communist nation, I would move to Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela or some other like place!!

These are my views and opinions. Why are you for McCain?

Below is a post from one of my previous posts I just wrote where Denny expressed his views about why he is voting for McCain. What about you? Why are you for McCain?

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Barack Hussen Obama, the charlatan candidate of the Ayers, Dorhn, Wright, Farrakhan, Pfleger, Khalidi, Rezco et al radical left in America.

Keep going strong for McCain in these last days! Internal GOP polls shows McCain coming on strong in Blue States!

BTW, I have already voted here in Northern California for John McCain. Me and my children stand and wave U.S. flags, YES ON ballot 8 for traditional marriage, and McCain-Palin signs for a few minutes almost every day. Many people here in Northern California (I think it may have been 87% in my county that voted for Mr. Bush Jr.) are honking their horns, waving and giving us the thumb up sign. It is very encouraging.

It’s like GOP House Minority Leader John Boehner said, don’t EVER give up!

If YOU and I show enthusiam, people will take notice and respond.

Many people fail to understand that when a person takes some kind of stand, people are forced to react to that stand, whether one way or another. But if no stand at all is percieved, then momentum is maintained for the particular prevailing flow, whatever it is.

Take as an example me and my kid’s enthusiam shown through our willingness to publically and happily encourage others about our belief about the presidential election and the prop issue. Since many hundreds of people have seen us, many may become encouraged enough to talk to one or more people about it, with some possibly getting pro-McCain signs or putting a McCain bumper sticker on their vehicle. These reactions can cause still other reactions, which cause still other reactions, and so forth and so on.

Some people who might not otherwise vote could decide to not only vote, but get someone else to vote with them. Some people who were going to vote for Obama now may either vote for Mr. McCain, someone other than Obama for President, or not vote for President. Some people who were going to put an Obama sticker on their vehicle or other item may change their minds, while other Obama supporters who were enthusiastic, may tone down their support for Obama, causing more reactions.

This is how Movements are born, things get changed, and how Mr. McCain can become President of the United States.

All hands on deck and man the stations for battle! Sound the alarm and STAND UP FOR JOHN McCAIN!
John McCain spent 22 years – five and one half as a POW – in service to his beloved country in the military. He stood up for America and is an American HERO!

Stand UP! for a great American hero and a corruption-fighting Governor of reform!

Stand UP! and be counted with those that stand up for truth, America and a reformed Washington DC!

Let their be no mistake as to whose side you are on, and wear your McCain button on your clothing to show your support for what is good for our country.

McCain-Palin<——-don’t hang around foreign OR domestic terrorists, racists, antisemites or crinimal slum lords, or want to shove a $1,000,000,000,000 dollar risky, socialist, welfare redistrubution plan on an economy in recession, causing it to fall into a deep DEPRESSION!

Denny said this on November 1, 2008 at 7:17

The home stretch is here. We really need to pass the word and motivate McCain supporters nationwide to do all they can on their blogs to help get McCain elected. Show your support on your blog. Go to McCain’s website, John McCain.com and there is a link to donate money to help McCain get the money he needs to carry his campaign through to election day! Also there is a link to send emails to friends to encourage them to vote for McCain and have them likewise send out emails themselves to drum up more voters for McCain.

Here’s one of John McCain’s speeches from today:

“Remarks by John McCain in Columbus, OH “

October 31, 2008

ARLINGTON, VA — U.S. Senator John McCain today will deliver the following remarks as prepared for delivery at the McCain-Palin 2008 rally in Columbus, OH, at 5:45 p.m. ET:

Thank you Arnold! Thank you Ohio! We need to win Ohio on November 4th, and with your help — we’re going to win here, and bring real change to Washington. We need a new direction, and we have to fight for it.

I’ve been fighting for this country since I was seventeen years old, and I have the scars to prove it. My country has never had to prove anything to me. I have always had faith in it. If I’m elected President, I will fight to shake up Washington and take America in a new direction from my first day in office until my last. I’m not afraid of the fight, I’m ready for it.

I have a plan to hold the line on taxes and cut them to make America more competitive and create jobs here at home. We’re going to double the child deduction for working families. We will cut the capital gains tax. And we will cut business taxes to help create jobs, and keep American businesses in America. Raising taxes makes a bad economy much worse. Keeping taxes low creates jobs, keeps money in your hands and strengthens our economy.

If I’m elected President, I won’t spend nearly a trillion dollars more of your money. Senator Obama will. And he can’t do that without raising your taxes or digging us further into debt. I’m going to make government live on a budget just like you do.

I will freeze government spending on all but the most important programs like defense, veterans care, Social Security and health care until we scrub every single government program and get rid of the ones that aren’t working for the American people. And I will veto every single pork barrel bill Congresses passes.

I’m not going to spend 750 billion dollars of your money just bailing out the Wall Street bankers and brokers who got us into this mess. Senator Obama will. I’m going to make sure we take care of the working people who were devastated by the excesses of Wall Street and Washington.

I have a plan to fix our housing market, so that your home value doesn’t go down when your neighbor defaults, and so that people in danger of defaulting have a way to stay in their home. That’s the American dream and I’m going to protect it.

If I’m elected President, we’re going to stop spending 700 billion dollars to buy oil from countries that don’t like us very much. Senator Obama is eloquent, but listen carefully to his words: he says he will consider drilling offshore. When I am president, we will drill offshore, and we will drill now. We will invest in all energy alternatives — wind, solar, tide and safe nuclear power. We will encourage the manufacture of hybrid, flex fuel and electric automobiles. We will invest in clean coal technology. We will lower the cost of energy within months, and we will create millions of new jobs.

We’ve learned more about Senator Obama’s real goals for our country over the last two weeks than we learned over the past two years, and that is only because Joe the plumber asked him a question right here in Ohio. That’s when Senator Obama revealed he wants to quote “spread the wealth around.”

Now, Joe didn’t ask for Senator Obama to come to his house, and he didn’t ask to be famous. He certainly didn’t ask for the political attacks on him from the Obama campaign. Joe’s dream is to own a small business that will create jobs, and the attacks on him are an attack on small businesses all over the country. Small businesses employ 84 percent of Americans, and we need to support these small businesses. Taxing small businesses will kill jobs. We can’t let that happen.

Senator Obama is running to be Redistributionist in Chief. I’m running to be Commander in Chief. Senator Obama is running to spread the wealth. I’m running to create more wealth. Senator Obama is running to punish the successful. I’m running to make everyone successful.

Senator Obama has made a lot of promises. First he said people making less than 250,000 dollars would benefit from his plan, then this weekend he announced in an ad that if you’re a family making less than 200,000 dollars you’ll benefit — but this week, Senator Biden said tax relief should only go to “middle class people — people making under 150,000 dollars a year.” Just today, Bill Richardson said it applied to families making 120,000 dollars a year. It’s interesting how their definition of rich has a way of creeping down. Senator Obama voted 94 times for tax increases or against tax cuts. At this rate, it won’t be long before Senator Obama is right back to his vote that Americans making just 42,000 dollars a year should get a tax increase. I’m not going to let that happen.

Now he’s saying that if you don’t want to pay higher taxes you’re quote “selfish.” You see, he views higher taxes not in economic terms, but in moral terms. It doesn’t matter to him that higher taxes will hurt our economy and kill jobs; he believes the government has a moral claim on your hard earned dollars. I’m not going to let him kill jobs and send our economy into a tailspin with higher taxes. I’m going to cut taxes and create jobs.

Thanks to Speaker Pelosi, Harry Reid and Barney Frank we know this Democratic Congress is planning all sorts of new taxes. This week, we are hearing they want to tax your 401k contributions. This is a time when we need to encourage more investing, not tax it. We need to protect people’s retirement, not endanger it. Every four years, the Democrats try to scare seniors over Social Security and Medicare. I’m going to protect Social Security. I’m going to protect Medicare. I’m not going to let this Congress tax away your retirement savings.

My opponent’s massive new tax increase is exactly the wrong approach in an economic slowdown. The answer to a slowing economy is not higher taxes, but that is exactly what is going to happen when the Democrats have total control of Washington. We can’t let that happen. We need pro-growth and pro-jobs economic policies, not pro-government spending programs paid for with higher taxes.

This is the fundamental difference between Senator Obama and me. We both disagree with President Bush on economic policy. The difference is that he thinks taxes have been too low, and I think that spending has been too high.

If we are going to change Washington, we need a President who has actually fought for change and made it happen. The next President won’t have time to get used to the office. We face many challenges here at home, and many enemies abroad in this dangerous world.

Senator Biden warned that Senator Obama would be tested with an international crisis. I have been tested. Senator Obama hasn’t. Senator Biden referred to how Jack Kennedy was tested in the Cuban Missile Crisis and I have a little personal experience in that. I was on board the U.S.S. Enterprise, and I sat in a cockpit on the flight deck waiting to take off. We had a target. I know how close we came to a nuclear war and I will not be a president who needs to be tested.

We know Senator Obama won’t have the right response to that test, because we’ve seen the wrong response from him over and over during this campaign. He opposed the surge strategy that is bringing us victory in Iraq and will bring us victory in Afghanistan. He said he would sit down unconditionally with the world’s worst dictators. When Russia invaded Georgia, Sen. Obama said the invaded country should show restraint. He’s been wrong on all of these. When I am president, we are going to win in Iraq and win in Afghanistan, and our troops will come home with honor. Our troops are succeeding, and when I am President, they will come home in victory, not in defeat.

Let me give you some straight talk about the state of the race today. There’s just 4 days left. The pundits have written us off, just like they’ve done before. My opponent is working out the details with Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid of their plans to raise your taxes, increase spending, and concede defeat in Iraq. He’s measuring the drapes, and he gave his first address to the nation before the election, and this week he’s settled on a chief of staff. We’ve been a few points down, but we’re coming back!

The other night, Senator Obama said that if he lost, he would return to the Senate and try again in four years with a second act. That sounds like a great idea to me. Let’s help him make that happen.

I know you’re worried. America is a great country, but we are at a moment of national crisis that will determine our future.

Will we continue to lead the world’s economies or will we be overtaken? Will the world become safer or more dangerous? Will our military remain the strongest in the world? Will our children and grandchildren’s future be brighter than ours?

My answer to you is yes. Yes, we will lead. Yes, we will prosper. Yes, we will be safer. Yes, we will pass on to our children a stronger, better country. But we must be prepared to act swiftly, boldly, with courage and wisdom.

I’m an American. And I choose to fight. Don’t give up hope. Be strong. Have courage. And fight. Fight for a new direction for our country. Fight for what’s right for America.

Fight to clean up the mess of corruption, infighting and selfishness in Washington.

Fight to get our economy out of the ditch and back in the lead.

Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.

Fight for our children’s future.

Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.

Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. America is worth fighting for. Nothing is inevitable here. We never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history. Now, let’s go win this election and get this country moving again.

What an awesome speech. It is amazing McCain has the energy to make such an impassioned speech! Go for it John McCain! You have my vote.