Saturday, September 22, 2007

Governor Romney’s Open Letter to Republicans

Governor Romney has written and open letter to republicans. I think it is worth reading and I applaud his words.

To my friends and fellow Republicans,

Throughout our country’s long and remarkable journey, there have been “inflection points,” critical moments when political, economic, military and other forces converged to alter the course of our history.

We are at one of those inflection points today.


Forces of globalization, the rise of major new economic powerhouses such as China and India, and the emergence of radical Jihad have created a “perfect storm” that will change the course of our nation. We face unprecedented challenges in securing our borders, protecting the American family, and ending America’s dependence on foreign oil.

Our actions today will determine which course America will take. Will America remain the world’s economic and military superpower, able to preserve peace, progress, and prosperity? Will our children and grandchildren grow up with the same opportunities that have been our birthright for over two centuries? Will our uniquely America culture – a culture of family, patriotism, faith, and freedom – remain our foundation and lead a stronger America into the future?

I believe the American people can rise to these and every other challenge ahead of us. Yet, at this extraordinary moment in our nation’s history, our government is failing us. Washington is busy pointing fingers, assigning blame, and spending too much money. There is too much talk and too little action.

The blame, we must admit, does not belong to just one party. If we’re going to change Washington, Republicans have to put our own house in order.

We can’t be like Democrats – a party of big spending. We can’t pretend our borders are secure from illegal immigration. We can’t have ethical standards that are a punch-line for Jay Leno.

When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses.

It’s time for Republicans to start acting like Republicans. We have to remember who we are: We are not Big Government Republicans. We are not Washington Republicans. We are Change Washington Republicans. Democrats are not the change Washington needs. We are the change Washington needs and it’s time for Republicans like us to stand for that change again.

There is not a single challenge America faces that we can’t overcome with the innovation and passion that has always been at the heart of the American people. If we change Washington, I believe America can achieve anything.

It’s time for change in Washington and that change must begin with us.

Sincerely,
Mitt Romney

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

My 9/11 Tribute: LCDR David Williams, USN


Lieutenant Commander David Williams served as the department head for the Operations Department aboard US Nashville (LPD 13) from 1999-2001. In his roll he led over 80 men who he was charged with taking care of, training and inspiring. He did all of that and more.

LCDR Williams was known for his department “all-hands” meetings. Although they were held to discuss important issues and business with his men, they would normally decay into a stand-up routine where he would take good natured shots at us, regardless of rank, and it was always funny. His spot-on impressions of his Sailors, his mocking of the stories we never knew he heard about and his laughter in reaction to others doing impressions of him always created a sense of team, brotherhood and trust. He knew his Sailors.

However, Dave Williams was no pushover. Those who did not perform up to what he perceived to be their best ability were called to task and no one ever wondered where they stood with the ‘Operations Boss’. His trust in his officers and Chiefs was felt throughout the ranks and no one ever questioned his dedication to the Navy and his men. Everybody wanted to be like LCDR Williams and no one wanted to let him down.

At home his dedicated wife and two children understood that he loved the open sea and loved his job. After graduating from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) he went directly to sea and served aboard 3 ships before finally being convinced by his family to take a job that was not on a ship, but was in fact in the worlds largest office building; the Pentagon.

LCDR Dave Williams worked for the Chief of Naval Operations (The highest ranking officer in the Navy) and although land locked, he did enjoy his job. The daily grind of the ‘Zoo’ was no measure for Williams’ work ethic and unwavering sense of humor: a must for working in the Pentagon. Adding to his joy was the news that his he and his wife, Sara, were now expecting their third child. A boy, he hoped, to help balance out the two girls that would help their mother gang up on him. In the end, it didn’t matter to him because the only thing he cared more about than the Navy was his family.

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001 all hell broke loose. The nation was under attack and a concerned Sara called her husband at the Pentagon to ask him what was going on. Dave Williams knew he only had a moment to talk to his wife because the entire building was racing to react to the attack. That conversation was cut short.

Lieutenant Commander David Williams spent his final moments serving his nation at the headquarters of the Department of Defense and the Navy he loved. David Williams was killed as highjack American Airlines flight 77 slammed into the side of the Pentagon

News of his death spread quickly and within days, those of us e who were still serving aboard USS Nashville had received the news that one of our own had been killed in the attacks. Those who served with him were shocked, saddened, angry and heart-broken.

Thousands of families lost love ones that day but we lost “Ops Boss” and that was all we needed to know to make this horrific day even worse.

Every year I think of LCDR Williams and how he served not only his nation, but a team of Sailors who are better people for having served with him. Before he left USS Nashville, Williams wrote me a letter of recommendation for the Navy’s officer program. In 2002 I submitted that letter with my application. In 2003 I became a commissioned Naval Officer and I know in my heart that LCDR Williams, given the chance, would have been proud of me… but would have not missed the opportunity to give me a little hell, do his impression of me and remind me of where I came from. Every year about this time I think if that and I think of David Williams and I am sad but grateful for having served with him.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Boehner Statement Calling on Democratic Leaders to Denounce Moveon.org Ad

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) issued the following statement calling on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and all Democrats to denounce the full-page advertisement from Moveon.org defaming General Petraeus that appeared this morning in the New York Times:

“Democratic leaders must make a choice today: either embrace the character assassination tactics Moveon.org has leveled against the four-star general leading our troops in the fight against al Qaeda, or denounce it as disgraceful. General Petraeus and the other commanders in the U.S. Armed Services have dedicated their lives to defending the very freedom that enables Moveon.org the right to free speech. I support that right, but I find the way they have chosen to exercise it today to be disrespectful and downright reprehensible.

“There is room for honest disagreement over how to proceed in our fight against al Qaeda and to bring stability and security to Iraq, but this cheap and shameful attack has no place in this debate. I urge everyone – Republicans and Democrats alike – to condemn this advertisement and those who funded and placed it. And I call on my colleagues to listen to what General Petraeus has to say. He’s earned it.”


My take: They won't say diddly squat. They are too spineless to argue with the nut-jobs at MoveOn.org that got them elected. They validated MoveOn.org and hnow have lost control of them.

When you see MoveOn.org, just think Democrats, becuase that is who they are.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Brenda Nesselroad-Slaby Killed Her Child, Period

By now everyone has heard the story of the monster who forgot her 2-year-old was in the car and let the child bake to death for over 8 hours. By now everyone has heard that she is an assistant principal and hopefully everyone has heard that leaving her child in a car apparently was a habit of this horrible person.

Also, I am hoping many are outraged that no charges are filed. Prosecutors and friends have done nothing but make excuses like she was stressed, that she did not mean to kill her child, that this was an accident… And yet a little two-year-old is dead. She died slowly and painfully as the heat slowly and painfully killed her.

Calling this an accident implies that the death could not be prevented, that the circumstances were out of anyone’s control; that this just happened. That is wrong. This could have been prevented if this monster had thought of her kid as she collected the rest of her crap out of her car.

Some have said she is suffering enough. Is she? So that is how it works now? If you feel bad enough then you do not have to be responsible for your actions? Hmmm. Interesting. So if I commit a crime and then feel bad about it, I do not have to answer to it? Can I have that in writing please? We truly do live in a touchy-feel-goodsim liberal world, don’t we?

But alas, here we are with a dead child and a mother who feels bad about it. Are we supposed to accept some of the excuses we hear to justify her deadly mistake? No, because no matter the excuse, the result remains the same.

She was in a rush… Her child is dead
She did not mean to do it… Her Child is dead.
"I know Brenda was stressed because of all the prep work for the first day of school," said their baby sitter… Her child is dead

See, no matter what angle you look at this, the child is dead. Also notice the amount of items she takes from her car. The fact is everything else she had was more important to her than her child. The donuts she bought made it out of the car, her child did not. She killed her child as she ate donuts.

Sad and she deserves to suffer well beyond the crying and guilt she feels. That sort of guilt is enough of a lesson if you step on your child’s toe, but she killed her daughter. She killed her daughter. She killed her daughter. Period.

And the sickest part is, she still has her job as an assistant principal. If she is so careless as to kill her own child, how can a school; trust her with a building full of children?

Charge her, arrest her and imprison her. She killed her daughter. She killed her daughter. She killed her daughter.

One Bob’s Opinion has a good piece on this. Please read this.

Saturday, September 08, 2007

A Viral Recap

So what has this internet brought us? A lot of crap, but some classic moments. I saw this on Break.com and thought it was great. A brief history of all things viral.

Internet People - Watch more free videos