I know this may seem like a simple question with an obvious answer...but is it?  

I personally take responsibility for defending myself and my family.  I would also defend my friends and neighbors if the opportunity arise.  In my sphere of interaction I know who is defending me.  It is me.  

But beyond my sphere...I can’t honestly answer the question.  Why?  The reason: There is no national unity toward American defense.  When I look around at all the open issues, I personally get very nervious...the list is extensive and complex:

Our borders are perforated...why does the government move so slow on fixing an obvious national weakness?

South America is moving toward war.  Our only real ally is Colombia.  Why are the other countries not our friends...where is the national initiative to stabilize our neighbor continent?  Why do we allow Chavez to run around buying political support with the oil money he gets from us? Where is the leadership to stop purchasing oil from those countries bent on our destruction.

Why does our government insist on dealing with China?  Don’t they see what China has done and it is doing to it citizens, to its enemies, to the cats and dogs, to the environment, to freedom...do they just don’t care?...are they blinded my money and power? Are they stupid?  We have been buying “the rope to hang us” really cheap for the last 10 years.  Meanwhile China has been in their largest military expansion.  Umm...see the connection?

I do, but who am I?  I am not a senator or a congressman or a national business leader or the President.  I am just a concerned American citizen.   I have not been elected to defend the Constitution and the American people (although I would regardless).  These officials have the responsibility to focus on making sure our country is safe...are they doing it? No.  If there are, it is one of the best kept secrets in Washington.  

Why do our officials care not that American manufacturing jobs are fleeing America like Californians fleeing California?  One of the best examples (there are many) of this, is the migration of the power tool manufacturing from America to overseas.  About 10 years ago...if you went and bought a circular saw...it was made in America.  If you go today, not one brand is now made in America except some high level specially tool. Brands such as DeWalt, Black and Decker, Bosch, Rigid, Skil, Milwaukee, Hilti and Ryobi are made over seas or in Mexico.  A lot of them are made in China.  Where is the leadership at the national business level to unify and keep the jobs in America.  These are very smart people, why don’t they see that it is better long term to keep manufacturing in your own country.  It is better for every American.  Of course, we know why they leave...because our government leaders do nothing to ensure our businesses have a competitive edge.  Instead, they allow extensive regulation, environmentalism and taxation to constrict our competitive edge to the point that businesses trying to survive look to other countries for support.  It, really, is amazing. 

The list continues:

Middle east chaos is strong and steady.  No surprise.  Israel appears to have lost their backbone, more than likely they have been corrupted by the same European socialist thinking that is confusing our leaders.

Hollywood is still pumping out garbage...no change there.  They must think that all is fine.  You know...most living creatures don’t poop where they sleep unless they are a Hollywood producer.

Russia is moving toward a Soviet revival.  Nothing there for us to worry about.

China is getting massively stronger...again, why worry.  If our leaders are worrying, it is very hard to tell by the lack of concrete action.

Our energy needs enslave us to other countries.  We have plenty of oil, coal, water and American ingenuity and know-how to provide completely for our own energy needs.  Why does our leadership enslave and in debt us to other countries for oil?  Why do we let the Democrat and environmentalist wackos dictate our energy policies?  

Where are the adult leaders?

One of the biggest reasons we have become weaker is that we have not been allowed to build refineries, nuclear power plants, drill for oil, etc.  Instead we spend our money and American lives for wars to maintain stability in regions that we depend on for oil.  We will, more than likely, be moving our troops to South America to try and stabilize our access to oil in that region.  This is, of course, if we have enough troops.  

Please explain to me why the last three Presidents have consistently reduced our military strength?  I just don’t understand why this has happened.  I know the stated reasons, efficiency, save money, etc.  I agree with these ideas...as long as our military stays very big and very powerful.  This has not happened.  Our carrier groups have been reduced, our submarines have been reduced, our troop number reduced, our bases reduced, etc, etc.  On top of that, we no longer do extensive testing of our nuclear arsenal, who knows if they even work.  

I am very proud of President Bush for helping freedom to take hold in Iraq and Afghanistan. But, I would rather the effort was made with a very strong America as the base and the reason being simply expanding freedom and hope.  I would rather our expansion of freedom have nothing to do with energy stablity, but, because it is right to fight evil.  

If we had our energy needs handled within our country we would be more physically empowered to save the world from tyranny.  If our home base was secure and safe...our economy growing beyond the pathetic 3 to 4%.  We would be able to stabilize the entire planet.  Our enemies know this.  This is why we are constantly being destabilized internally and externally.  The world tyrants fear a unified America.  (I wonder if the bad guys realize that without America, they would have to fight each other... )

America is becoming on a larger scale like Israel, increasingly alone and surrounded by enemies.  If American was attacked who would we depend on...Canada? Mexico?....France?....give me a break.  Who? No one.

Who is defending us?  Who is making sure America is around in the next 20 years?  Who in our elected leadership actually cares about these issues...I see some talk...but seldom any real action.  

The action we often see is the action of in-action...like we saw two weeks ago when the House decided to go on break and not vote to reinstate the wiretap program the Senate just voted for.  So, for about the last two weeks we have not been listening in on phone calls of suspected terrorists.  The House is clearly not defending us.  When the Democrats voted to take a break...the House Republicans should have made a very big deal...did they...no.  The House republicans aren’t defending us either.  

Where was the press conference by President Bush to protest the inaction by the Democrats.  Where was the presidential candidates to protest this inaction.

Where was the media? 

Israel, Colombia and other allies are under attack...where is our leadership?

You would think that all these people in leadership roles (including the media) did not live in this country and have a personal stake in America surviving and flourishing.  They all seem to view, in the third person, the very challenging and scary issues threatening America.  Like they are reading a novel.  Unfortunately, this is not a story...it is happening real time and our leaders are MIA.

When Reagan and Thatcher where leading the world...even though there where many threats and challenges, they projected a feeling of continuity, rational thought and moral strength.  Today, it feels like chaos.  Our leaders project uncertainty, confusion and contradictory actions.  

I feel like we are in a slow motion crash, hoping that all will be fine.  As we are skidding and sliding across the road we are hoping that there will not be an impact.  We are hoping that China is not really attempting to take over the world, that Islamic terrorism will not succeed in setting the world back 300 years, that the family will stay intact and is not really being undermined by the counter culture.  We are hoping, as we are skidding, that the great traditions of our country will be there for our kids and they will experience the same American freedom we grew up with.  While we are thinking this, we also see European Socialism and political correctness moving toward us like a fog bank...slowly encompassing all in its path.  Today, we are in a period of contradiction and uncertainty because our leaders are weak.  

When clear action and moral strength is replaced with uncertainty and moral confusion it is hard for the future to look bright, but as Americans it is our responsibility to stay bright.  Without America...the world is a very dark place.  This may be God’s challenge to us, maintain the light through the chaos of evil actions and corrupt thought.  The ultimate test of moral strength and conviction.

The question I ask myself...is what can I do?  At times, I feel very powerless. 

I can do what I can to stay informed and inform others.  

Get involved.  Write a blog.  Contact our elected officials.

Vote for candidates that have the moral strength to defend America.  

Maintain my faith in our Creator.  Expand the faith.  Expand the philosophy.

Stay strong and optimistic...as hard as it is...once you give up...once you allow the darkness to enter your soul...all is lost.  The only hope is to work hard, work happy, stay focused and fight for what is right.  

After all, we are responsible for defending America. 

- I am RIGHT -

First, a general fact about people: people usually project, outward in public, reserved opinions and actions...in other words: they are saying less than what they are thinking while maintaining control over their actions.  

For example, if you are in a supermarket and see a mother, with calm and stern determination, telling her child to behave, you can assume the worst punishment the child will receive is a time-out or maybe a controlled spanking.  If, on the other hand, you see a mother who is yelling at or hitting her child in public, you can assume that, when they are no longer in public, the punishment will be far worse.  Public expression is often just the tip of the iceberg of the true character and attitude of a person.

This is the situation with the Obamas.  Their publicly expressed opinions are just the tip of the iceberg of what they really believe.

Without belaboring and analyzing all the stupid and uninformed quotes of the Obama’s...I want to focus on the following quote from Michelle Obama. 

“Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed.”

If this quote doesn't scare you...you are not paying attention.  Especially this part: “Barack will never allow you...”.

It is simply amazing that she said this.  This is a profound window into Michelle Obama’s world view and attitude toward freedom.  It is clear that she doesn’t believe in American freedom and individual responsibility...or at the most...it is low on her list.

This publicly expressed attitude is very revealing and extreme. I wonder what she may be saying in private?  It is clear from this quote that she believes that she and her husband are superior and that they know better how you should live.  

“Barack will never allow you...”

“Barack will never allow you...”

“Barack will never allow you...”

Really?  She has got to be kidding or delusional.  She may have forgot that this is America...land of the free and opportunity. (Opportunity, by the way, that has greatly enhanced her life.)  

Opportunity...to work hard, succeed or sleep your day away.  

Your choice.

The strength and the basis of our success is that American is fundamentally about individual responsibility and the pursuit of happiness as determined by that person.

What she is saying is 180 degrees contrary to this philosophy.  It is a communist - socialist - liberal fascist philosophy. An all knowing and elitist attitude dictating how you will live.  

They are about controlling peoples' lives for the greater good according to their definition of good.  

Also, by the way, it doesn't give me any comfort that Barack himself didn’t say this quote.  They are a team and like most lasting husband and wife relationships...they share a common philosophy.  It is fool hardy at best to underestimate a wife's influence upon her husband. 

Never forget these words...it is the tip of the iceberg revealing their real opinion.  

Here is the big question: If the tip reveals  “Barack will never allow you...” 

What will the base of the iceberg reveal?

- I am RIGHT -

I believe the fainting is the result of the “liberal” mind.  

Liberals are more non-empirical and emotive in their thought process.  They don’t need, or yearn for, cold hard facts...”feel good” warm generalities will suffice.  

Whereas conservatives...want the facts first and look with humor upon any overly emotional display.  Like watching a child overwhelmed with excitement of a new toy.

One reason talk radio is so successful with conservatives is that it represents flowing information, opinion and dialogue, all day long...with no feel good pictures...no facial expressions...just info.  

Conservatives are thinkers first...liberals are feelers first.  

Classic example:  Liberals believe that guns kill.  Conservatives believe that people kill and guns are just a tool.  

The fact that a liberal person is willing to belive that an inanimate object is capable of pulling its own trigger is at the heart of why people are fainting at an Obama rally.  

They emotionally believe the gun is evil and will pull its own trigger...they fear the power that it can project to the point of giving the gun a living identity.  Instead of thinking through irrational fears, they, instead, look to outlaw the lump of steel or they look for a savior to relieve them of the fear the lump of steel is causing.  This is why they often look to the government, instead of themselves, for help.  They are lookng for a savior, like a child looking toward a parent for support.

The last four years, the liberal media machine has, in a sense, been animating an inanimate objects by emotionally ramping up the left with the war, economy, perceived social, economic and racial injustices to the point that many are in a low level frenzy mode. 

All this angst and built up stress gets relieved when Obama speaks and says what they want to hear.  As the result, they give him “savior” status in the same way they give “living” status to an inanimate object.  It doesn’t make objective sense...but it feels good, secure and warm.  It satisfies the need for “parental support”...a person who will say “Do not fear...I am here, I love you and everything will be fine”.

Liberals need an icon and an image to support. 

Conservatives need an idea to support.

They are fainting because they are experiencing huge emotional relief.  It is very scary, because it represents the same fervor and mob insanity that dictators have used to rally supporters against their enemies.  It is also the same emotional relief and excitement seen at Beatle concerts.  

It is the human experience with the frontal cortex turned off.

It represents a detachment from critical thought and bad things happen when humans stop thinking and go into “feel” mode.

- I am RIGHT -

The new ideal American president:  looks good - speaks well - says little - feels alot...and is basically...stupid.  

This is the new standard.  

Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Reagan and all the other past presidents that had brains and OK looks...step aside...get out of the way...your standard of leadership is so passe.  We Americans have evolved...”progressed” from the need to think.  We don’t need brilliant leadership or accomplished and qualified people leading our country.

Brilliance and accomplishment are so over rated and unnecessary to run a country such as America.  As long as American idol and our favorite re-runs are available...why do we need to bother with the real world issues?  

When it gets intense in the world all we have to do is turn the channel...and the pressure of reality goes away.  

It is a beautiful thing.

Or...our charismatic and good looking president can with a wonderful smile and wistful look toward the future say...”the weather looks good, don’t fear...I am for change”.  With a collective sigh of relief after our national hug from our president, we can relax and go back to channel surfing.

Why do we need to worry about the critical thought needed to protect our country...why? There is no need for brains that work when we all feel good and our leaders look good.  When our leaders have a brain, think critically and have an accomplished life....it just makes us feel like we have done nothing worthwhile in our own lives.  

Why have the stress?...there are only so many channels available and, at times, it gets a little tiring finding something good to watch.

The best solution to ensure that our presidents “look good - speak well - say little” is to simplify the primary and general election process by creating a new TV show called “American idol - presidential race 2008”.  

The candidates can sing...tell jokes and speak wonderful words of encouragement.  The panel would include all the good looking and well spoken European leaders to help the Americans decide who the best good looking and most entertaining candidate should lead America.  This process will save money and, in the end, make our enemies happier.  

If are enemies are happier we are happier...right?

It will also ensure that our president will “look good - speak well - say little” and won’t pressure us with the stress of reality and the need to think.

The new American dream...comfort from reality.  

The new American reality...no thought required.

- I am RIGHT - 

My McCain rationalization

Now that the better candidate has suspended his campaign I am now confronted with a choice...no more tongue in cheek...”I would vote for a three legged dog before I would vote for him...” comments.  It is time for some serious rationalizations.  The type of rationalizations that only a professional can engage in.  A person such as myself who has been let down for many years by the Republican party and the many wobbly leaders that have somehow become dominant.   

I first voted in 1984.  I voted for Reagan because he inspired me.  Because what he said was real, connected to universal truth and his actions where consistent with his ideals.  Since then...I have yet to be inspired to the same degree.  The bar has been set high and no one has been able to reach it.  I consider myself lucky that I had the opportunity to vote for Reagan.  A real leader and a rarity.

So out of necessity and self preservation, I have become good at rationalizing the current political environment.  Like when I had to vote for Dole.  That took rationalizing into overdrive....I mean it is hard to build a case that is based on reason and support a Dole campaign at the same time.  The two concepts don’t connect...evident in his profoundly poor campaign.

Now I have to rationalize my support for McCain.  Yes...the guy who has stabbed conservatives in the back with a frequency of a slasher movie.  This is the guy that has let me down so many times that I have lost count and optimism.  Yet, I am now confronted with having to support him...why?...it is obvious...even on his most liberal day (and there seem to many in the last 5 years) McCain is more conservative than Obama and Hillary...this isn’t saying much, but it is saying something.  When you are in rationalization mode a person will hang on any branch they can find.

The good news about McCain:  He is pro-life, he is pro-gun and he is very mean.  He is very mean to his enemies...I am hoping that the liberals become his enemies so they can experience Mc-Nasty.  The other good news about McCain is that he wants to reduce earmarks and entitlement programs.  He also, contrary to his recent opposition, wants to make the Bush tax cuts permanent.  He also believes in free enterprise (please don’t distract me with the free enterprise contradictions of his global warming “cap and trade” idea...I am in rationalizing mode...).

He also believes in a strong defense and I hope he will have an unwavering strength against terrorism.  He also believes in free speech...excuse me...I have now become delusional, I forgot he believes in McCain speech (hence McCain-Fiengold).

Bottom line:  I am in hope mode.  I hope he surprises me with conservative clarity and consistency.  I hope he wins against the liberal machine...I have a feeling it may take one to beat one. 

I am hopeful that he really believes at least half of what he said at CPAC.

- I am RIGHT -