Prager University: Semester 3

Welcome to the third semester of Prager University where, in 5 minutes you can learn the equivalence of one semester in most Ivy League Colleges. Save your money; check this out!

How's that Hope and Change Working for You?

Cartoon Czar Michael Ramirez hits another one out of the car lot!

Quote of the Day

By Forrest Gump:

Stupid is as stupid does.

Words to live by...words to judge those who are "transforming" this country...words to ponder when it comes to voting these radical leftists out of office.

There Are Two Kinds of People...

Snifter clink to the diligent news junkies at Lucianne.com. Keep up the good work over there!

Rudy says to Obama: 'Shut Up'

Rudy Giuliani has recommended that Obama just 'shut up' if he wants to maintain his credibility. I say keep talking President Obama. Continue to have your daily campaign speeches and staged town hall meetings. Talk on, Mr. President, talk on and on and on and on. The more you talk on and on and on, the more you will wake up those who don't pay much attention to what's really going on.

Yes, Mr. President, talk on. You are waking the masses up by your vacuous never ending dronings. Keep it up!

Reasons to Hate Obamacare

Canada Free Press
The Obamanation called Obamacare
Page after Page of Reasons to Hate Obamacare

By Alan Caruba Sunday, July 26, 2009

Here are just a few very good reasons to hate Obamacare:

• Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!

• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!

• Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)

• Page 42: The “Health Choices Commissioner” will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.

• Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.

• Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard.

• Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.

• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)

• Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.

• Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)

• Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens

• Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.

• Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.

• Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No “judicial review” is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.

• Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.

• Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.

• Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.

• Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll

• Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll

• Page 167: Any individual who doesnt’ have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.

• Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).

• Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.

• Page 203: “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” Yes, it really says that.

• Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors and the poor most affected.”

• Page 241: Doctors: no matter what speciality you have, you’ll all be paid the same (thanks, AMA!)

• Page 253: Government sets value of doctors’ time, their professional judgment, etc.

• Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries.

• Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.

• Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing!

• Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.

• Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.

• Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited for owning and investing in healthcare companies!

• Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.

• Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on “community” input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN.

• Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing.

• Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc.

• Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.

• Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone).

• Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?

• Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.

• Page 425: Goverment provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.

• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.

• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient’s health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.

• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.

• Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN.

• Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN.

• Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marriage.

• Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing those services.

Write, email, fax or call your Senators and your Representative and tell them to vote NO!

Econ 101: Students quickly learn Socialism doesn't work

Hat tip to Bob Howard for sending this:

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had once failed an entire class.

That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan".

All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little. The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Could not be any simpler than that.

Reason 908 Why I Love Sarah Palin

Today, as Sarah Palin stepped down as Alaska governor, she had some choice things to say about the status quo:

Free speech was a theme of her farewell speech at a crowded picnic in Fairbanks, as the outgoing governor scolded "some seemingly hell bent on tearing down our nation" and warned Americans to "be wary of accepting government largess. It doesn't come free.

Don't you just love her? Look at that cute little wave!

Class Acts

Michael Ramirez can expect a visit from ACORN soon.

How Far We Have Fallen: Obama is reluctant to use the word "victory" in the context of our war against terrorists

What does it mean when America's president hesitates to use the word 'victory' in the context of the war in Afghanistan against Islamofascists? But then, we're not supposed to call them Islamofascists anymore are we. If you haven't yet heard, Obama, on Nightline last night said 'Victory' is not necessarily the goal in Afghanistan. Ahem!

President Obama has put securing Afghanistan near the top of his foreign policy agenda, but "victory" in the war-torn country isn't necessarily the United States' goal, he said Thursday in a TV interview.

"I'm always worried about using the word 'victory,' because, you know, it invokes this notion of Emperor Hirohito coming down and signing a surrender to MacArthur," Obama told ABC News.

This president is a disgrace on so many levels it's inconceivable he could ever have been elected. We can only pray and do whatever we are able to impede his destructive agenda. The key is congress. Only they can slow him down and only we can encourage them, with the promise of voting them out of the cushiest job of their life in the next election. Use your influence as an activist. That's right activist! We need to act now and we need to act continually because the leftists never let up.

Our prayers go out to the dedicated warriors who have nothing but victory as their goal to destroy terrorists wherever they may be; in this case, Afghanistan. What kind of Commander in Chief would be uncomfortable uttering the word 'victory'? One who isn't worthy of the title! What a pitiful situation. The best military in the history of the world is now led by a man who hasn't the courage to use the word "victory" in the face of our enemies. God help us!

God have mercy and be with the men and women who dare put themselves in harms way to defend this once great nation.

That goes for the law enforcement officers who were dissed en masse by the president as well.

The antics of this president are really unbelievable (until you study his radical past and then his actions become totally believable.)

The Dems Don't Want You To See This

The dems have blocked the GOP Health Care mailing which included the above nightmarish organizational chart. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that the only way they can pass this to cover up its massiveness.

Since they don't want you to see this, send it to as many people you can. Here's the link for the chart. Copy and paste the following link and email it to all your email buds: http://www.rollcall.com/pdfs/healthchart072309.pdf

Thanks to Mark Levin for bringing this to my attention.

Can We Keep Our Republic?

Please take 10 minutes of your valuable time to watch this important video which compares the different forms of government. It's concise, compelling and prescient; VERY prescient.

Longneck clink to my son Justin for this.

Bend over for Big Govt Health Care

Michael Ramirez should be made Cartoon Czar.

Communist Party USA Loves Obama

If you're not listening to Mark Levin or reading the American Thinker you totally missed out on this extremely illuminating and telling piece.

It's important that you know what the Communist Party of the United States stands for. Here's a hint: they stand for everything that Obama stands for!

Here's what Sam Webb, chairman of the CPUSA said recently:

"Six months into the Obama presidency, I would say without hesitation that the landscape, atmosphere, conversation, and agenda have strikingly changed compared to the previous eight years.

"In this legislative session, we can envision winning a Medicare-like public option and then going further in the years ahead.

"We can visualize passing tough regulatory reforms on the financial industry, which brought the economy to ruin.

"...In the current political climate, the expansion of union rights becomes a real possibility.

"Much the same can be said about winning a second stimulus bill, and we sure need one, given the still-rising rate, and likely long term persistence, of unemployment.

"Isn't it possible in the Obama era to create millions of green jobs in manufacturing and other sectors of the economy in tandem with an attack on global warming?

"...The new conditions of struggle are possible only - and I want to emphasize only - because we elected President Obama and a Congress with pronounced progressive and center currents.

"Yes, socialism is our objective and, according to recent public opinion polls, it is increasingly attractive to the American people. But clearly it is not on the immediate political agenda.

"...As for our radicalism, we should be as radical as reality itself. And reality strongly suggests that our main task is to bring the weight of the working class and other democratic forces to bear on the reform process with the aim of deepening its anti-corporate content and direction.

"...Let's be aware that he [Obama] has to keep a coalition together for his long-term as well as immediate legislative agenda. Let's give President Obama some space to change and to respond to pressures from below.

"...The Right Wing, the American Medical Association, the pharmaceutical and insurance companies have drawn a line in the sand on health care.

"...The core of this struggle, whether we like it or not, turns on the inclusion of a public option in a health care bill.

"...Months ago it was said that the downturn could be "L-shaped" rather than "V-shaped." In other words, the crisis begins with a steep decline in economic activity followed by long period of economic stagnation.

"I suspect that this is what will happen, thus making sustained government and people's intervention an imperative. In my view this should take at least three forms:

"First, more economic stimulus: the economy is underperforming and nearly 30 million workers are unemployed or underemployed and that number hasn't peaked yet.

"Second, restructuring is imperative. The old economic model that rested on bubble economics, cheap labor, financial manipulation and speculation, deregulation, capital outsourcing, environmental degradation, and so forth, has to be replaced by a new model that expands and restructures the productive base and is "people and nature" friendly.

"Finally, the economy has to be democratized. The wizards of Wall Street and inside the Beltway failed miserably, in fact, so miserably those economic decisions that affect the welfare of millions shouldn't rest in their hands.

"...In the meantime, the struggle for immediate public sector jobs and relief should command our attention.

"...President Obama ... has expressed a readiness to engage with countries that during the Bush years were considered mortal enemies - Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, and others.

"...In Iraq, the U.S. withdrawal plan is proceeding, with the first stage being withdrawal from Iraqi cities by July. President Obama has reiterated his intention to stick with the pullout deadlines. Even with the caveats about what U.S. forces might remain, this is a major victory for the peace movement."

Please read the entire piece. Many people recoil when Obama is referred to as a Marxist. When he is embraced by communists what else can you call him?

Uncle Jay: The Most Trusted, Thrusted & Busted

Uncle Jay Explains The News. Hey, it's worth watching if only to see Neil Armstrong moonwalking!

First Car Made by Govt Motors

A Transparent Administration?

Proverb du jour:

Proverbs 28:11 A rich man may be wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.

In other words, you might not have a pot to pee in, but if your B.S. detector is working with any regularity, you're going to see right through the goings on in Washington. I'm not bragging, but my B.S. detector blares all day long!

Banned From an Independence Day Parade for WHAT?

Could anyone ever have imagined that you would be banned (for life) from a 4th of July parade for handing out paperback copies of the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution? That's exactly what happened in Rhode Island!

I didn't hear this Glenn Beck interview on his radio show, but my wife did and she incredulously conveyed the unbelievable scenario to me this evening. Please go to the Glenn Beck link and read, or listen to the interview yourself.

Hopefully Beck will follow up on this unimaginable action. May the organizers and rule makers of this parade hear from Americans in droves. It would even be better if they heard from their own fellow Rhode Islanders in droves.

Reason 898 Why I Love Sarah Palin

She understands Obama's "Cap and Tax" fiasco and she knows it will take us down the road to economic disaster:

There is no shortage of threats to our economy. America's unemployment rate recently hit its highest mark in more than 25 years and is expected to continue climbing. Worries are widespread that even when the economy finally rebounds, the recovery won't bring jobs. Our nation's debt is unsustainable, and the federal government's reach into the private sector is unprecedented.

Unfortunately, many in the national media would rather focus on the personality-driven political gossip of the day than on the gravity of these challenges. So, at risk of disappointing the chattering class, let me make clear what is foremost on my mind and where my focus will be:

I am deeply concerned about President Obama's cap-and-trade energy plan, and I believe it is an enormous threat to our economy. It would undermine our recovery over the short term and would inflict permanent damage.

American prosperity has always been driven by the steady supply of abundant, affordable energy. Particularly in Alaska, we understand the inherent link between energy and prosperity, energy and opportunity, and energy and security. Consequently, many of us in this huge, energy-rich state recognize that the president's cap-and-trade energy tax would adversely affect every aspect of the U.S. economy.

There is no denying that as the world becomes more industrialized, we need to reform our energy policy and become less dependent on foreign energy sources. But the answer doesn't lie in making energy scarcer and more expensive! Those who understand the issue know we can meet our energy needs and environmental challenges without destroying America's economy.

Job losses are so certain under this new cap-and-tax plan that it includes a provision accommodating newly unemployed workers from the resulting dried-up energy sector, to the tune of $4.2 billion over eight years. So much for creating jobs.

Please read the rest of it; it's not long, but it's important you know what she thinks because she is continually being blasted by those who fear and loathe her for the very reasons she writes about.

The leftists know their ideals aren't popular with Americans. Leftists ideals have to be foisted on us by tyrannical govt angencies and corrupted judges who believe the constitution is an ever changing document.

Sarah Palin's ideals are popular with Americans which is why they are desperately trying to destroy her.

Sen. Franken's quote of the Day

Sen. Franken spoke out today on Sotomayor. It's noteworthy. Franken told Sotomayor that she was...

"the most experienced Supreme Court nominee in 100 years."

I'll see that quote and raise you another:

Romans 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools...

If You Love Waiting at the Post Office, You'll Love Big Govt Health Care!

Kudos to Michael Ramirez.

Just What We Don't Need; Gore and Global Governance

Maybe the bloviating Al Gore will wake some people up when it comes to the whole global warming fiasco. Whereas his rantings on climate change aren't based on fact, his most recent edict that the U.S. Climate Bill Will Help Bring About 'Global Governance' is scarily true.

Here's some of what Gore had to say:

Former Vice President Al Gore declared that the Congressional climate bill will help bring about “global governance.”

“I bring you good news from the U.S., “Gore said on July 7, 2009 in Oxford at the Smith School World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment, sponsored by UK Times.

“Just two weeks ago, the House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey climate bill,” Gore said, noting it was “very much a step in the right direction.” President Obama has pushed for the passage of the bill in the Senate and attended a G8 summit this week where he agreed to attempt to keep the Earth's temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees C.

Gore touted the Congressional climate bill, claiming it “will dramatically increase the prospects for success” in combating what he sees as the “crisis” of man-made global warming.

“But it is the awareness itself that will drive the change and one of the ways it will drive the change is through global governance and global agreements.” (Editor's Note: Gore makes the “global governance” comment at the 1min. 10 sec. mark in this UK Times video.)

Gore's call for “global governance” echoes former French President Jacques Chirac's call in 2000.

On November 20, 2000, then French President Chirac said during a speech at The Hague that the UN's Kyoto Protocol represented "the first component of an authentic global governance."

“For the first time, humanity is instituting a genuine instrument of global governance,” Chirac explained. “From the very earliest age, we should make environmental awareness a major theme of education and a major theme of political debate, until respect for the environment comes to be as fundamental as safeguarding our rights and freedoms. By acting together, by building this unprecedented instrument, the first component of an authentic global governance, we are working for dialogue and peace,” Chirac added.

If congress passes the Cap and Trade Bill, it would be the largest tax increase of all time and would increase the price of everything; quite literally!

By passing such a bill we would be signing away our sovereignty by allowing international laws to determine taxation rates on industry and personal life styles. The only thing worse than taxes is a tax imposed by international organizations such as the U.N.

Forced Abortions?

Isn't it more than a bit disturbing that Obama's new science czar once called for forced abortions? It's true. Check this out:

The man President Obama has chosen to be his science czar once advocated a shocking approach to the "population crisis" feared by scientists at the time: namely, compulsory abortions in the U.S. and a "Planetary Regime" with the power to enforce human reproduction restrictions.

"There exists ample authority under which population growth could be regulated," wrote Obama appointee John Holdren, as reported by FrontPage Magazine. "It has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society."

Holdren's comments, made in 1977, mirror the astonishing admission this week of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who said she was under the impression that legalizing abortion with the 1973 Roe. v. Wade case would eliminate undesirable members of the populace, or as she put it "populations that we don't want to have too many of."

Please read the article. This administration as well as the leftists on the Supreme Court have dire plans for this country.

Gianna Jessen, Abortion Survivor in Australia

Don't miss this inspirational speech by Gianna Jessen, who miraculously survived an abortion. This is part 1 and is about 9 minutes long. Scroll down for part 2 which is about 6 minutes long.



Here's part 2:

Those Pesky Undesireable Populations

Justice Ginsburg Says She Originally Thought Roe v. Wade Was Designed to Limit 'Populations That We Don’t Want to Have Too Many Of.' Well, isn't that special! And which "populations" are those, your Honor? Could you clarify that comment? Should we be more exuberant about the outcome of Roe V. Wade with this new information from you. Should abortion be less available to "acceptable populations" than those other "unacceptable populations' of which you speak?

Just who we need as a member of the Supremes; those who determine which populations "we like" and those "we don't want too many of!"

Are YOU part of a population which meets Ruth Bader Ginsburg's approval?

It's a Shame They Have No Shame!

Michael Ramirez hits another one out of the park.

Iran or America?

Does the Left Not "Get It" or Are They Willing Participants in the Screw America Movement?

Michael Ramirez sees what the Left will never see.

P.S. The Left does get it and they are doing everything they can to screw America as fast as they can before anyone can figure out what they're doing. Obama is in a huge hurry before people figure him out. Time is of the essence!

World Govt, Here We Come

You've heard about World Govt from the long ago marginalized and silenced conspiracy theorists and maybe even read about it in the Bible. Even Bush 41 spoke of the New World Order which at the very mention brings ridiculing guffaws. (Don't even ask anyone what novus ordo seclorum means and why it appears on the dollar bill; you'll be regarded as a whacked out fool.)

The globalists in the United Nations are becoming ever more influential when it comes to the "climate change" fiasco and with the help of our leftist congress and president they are becoming even more influential. The current administration is completely on board with the leftist globalists at the U.N. which aims to redistribute our wealth to the rest of the world and diminish our sovereignty. Nice, huh?

Now the Pope is calling for a "global authority" on economy among other things. Be sure to read the whole article. Here's the short version curtesy of YouTube:



Global governance is in the works, my friends, and it has been for millennia. Can we alter the course of history? Maybe, but it's going to take some big numbers and a miracle. The miracle is whether or not this country repents and turns to God.

What are the odds?

WHY she is so viscerally hated by the Left

Victor Davis Hanson's most recent piece lists the six definitive reasons why Sarah Palin is so hated. I won't list them here; you need to read his commentary in its entirety.

Sarah Palin and her family are down to earth and genuinely good people and they are being trashed mercilessly by people who should know better. The same people who are doing the trashing go to the ends of the earth to praise really despicable people. It happens all the time.

Think of where that puts us as a society when bad people are praised, if not idolized, and good people are despised.

Here's something to ponder:

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who put darkness for light and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

God help us!

Made in the USA?

Hat tip to my buddy Mike at Let's Think About That:

John Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6 am.

While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO ) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN ) to the radio
(MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY ) filled it with gas (FROM SAUDI ARABIA) and continued his search for a good paying American job.

At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his computer (MADE IN MALAYSIA), John decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL),
poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE ) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in America.
And now he's hoping he can get help from a President (MADE IN KENYA).

Think about it.

Uncle Jay Explains: July 4th SPECIAL!

Don't miss Uncle Jay's July 4th SPECIAL even though he's a day or two late. Give him a break; big time video production takes time. But he's here now, so enjoy it!

You Don't Have to Call Him a Marxist...

David Limbaugh has a good column about the ideological "leanings" of President Obama and those with whom he has been surrounded his entire life. You don't have to call him a Marxist, but if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, chances are it's a duck. Here's a sampling of Limbaugh's piece:

All right already. I won't call Obama a Marxist in this column. Instead, I'll point to some signs that indicate that Barack and Karl might well be soul mates. At least, they have similar attitudes about capital, labor and profits, er, surplus value.

Liberals, even those of the Marxist variety, take umbrage when you point out their ideological kinship with Marxism.

I suppose this dates back to the days when being a communist was tantamount to being an enemy of the United States, in that there was a global communist movement intent on -- and coming darn close to -- world domination. Though global communism has been defeated, there remains a strong contingent among us, whose nerve center is the Democratic Party leadership under President Obama, committed to obliterating America's free market.

Be sure to read the entire piece. My only disagreement is that I think global communism is on the rise as opposed to being defeated, but that needn't detract from David Limbaugh's thoughtful piece.

Go there now and read it in its entirety.

"This whole Liberty thing..."

Michael Ramirez succinctly illustrates the sad state of affairs in which we find ourselves...when the POTUS eschews liberty and espouses domestic and foreign policy which results in soft tyranny.

"Here's to You, Mr. Jefferson"

A Nation of Cowards?

Dallas Tea Party Rocks South Fork

Thanks to Breitbart you can watch the Dallas Tea Party live, up close and personal. Check it out!

Happy Independence Day From GoDaddy.com

The enterprising folks at Godaddy.com have put together an outstanding tribute to America and Independence day...a very nice production. Watch it right here.

Hat tip to Michelle Malkin.

Quotes to Ponder on Independence Day

It's good to contemplate the wise sayings of those who helped form this nation:

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. ~Dick Cheney

My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson

But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. ~John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775

Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom. ~John Adams

And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever.~ Thomas Jefferson

All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.~James Madison

Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.~Thomas Paine

He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of this country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man....The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy this gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people.~Samuel Adams

Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure (and) which insures to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.~Charles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence

They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.~Benjamin Franklin

Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants.~Benjamin Franklin

The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.~Patrick Henry

It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.~Patrick Henry

It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.~Patrick Henry

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.~Abraham Lincoln

(The painting depicts the 4th of July celebration in Philadelphia in 1819 by John Lewis Krimmel.)

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is essential reading on Independence Day. If you don't read it the entire declaration, then at least read the first part:

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

(According to Wikipedia: "John Trumbull's famous painting is usually incorrectly identified as a depiction of the signing of the Declaration. The painting actually depicts the five-man drafting committee presenting their work to Congress. Trumbull's painting can also be found on the back of the U.S. $2 bill.")

An Independence Day Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the unfathomable blessings you have poured out on this nation since its founding. Thank you for providentially bringing together the world's best and brightest men whom you granted the wisdom and foresight to found our republic through which liberty could flourish. Thank you for the courage and sacrifice of our forefathers and for those who continue to put themselves in harms way to protect us from those who fear and loath your law of liberty.

Please forgive us for taking our freedoms for granted. We can see that freedom isn't free and the fight to be free is an ongoing battle. Please forgive us for our egregious sins of omission and commission. They are many! Forgive us for turning our backs on you and for failing to credit you for all we have in this once great country. Help us to realize that if we fail to recognize you, you will fail to recognize us.

We thank you for your great mercy and for coming to our aid so many times throughout history. We ask that you would move us to humbly seek to live according to your will. Help us to realize that we can't make it without you. We need you now, more than ever, as we see America in decline. Help us, Father.

In Jesus' loving name, Amen

My Beautiful America

Wow! Thanks to the good folks at Lucianne.com for sharing this wonderfully produced tour of My Beautiful America. Please, don't miss this!

What an unbelievably blessed country in which we are privileged to live!

"Lil KimJong:" What a kidder!

Send In the Clowns

I've always hated this song. I hate it even more now.



Hat tip to my buddy Doc Crisman.

You Are Known By Your Friends

Hat tip to Lucianne.com.