Caspar (Cap) Weinberger, Ronald Reagan's Secretary of Defense in the 80's, died today.
I served under Secretary Weinberger in my tenure in the U.S. Air Force and I have the utmost respect for him. He was a helluva leader and an inspiration to me.
I salute him today for his life and his service to our country. Rest in Peace.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Pass it Harder
Congress is embroiled this week in passing legislation to deal with the substantial problem of illegal immigration, include penalties for those who have broken the law to violate the borders of the U.S. In response, 500,000 protesters filled the streets of Los Angeles last Saturday to advocate against the law and in favor of rights for these law-breakers.
This bold in-your-face demonstration by such a large crowd, many of whom were probably the illegals in question and who had no fear of protesting in public - with Mexican flags raised high - illustrate clearly the magnitude of the problem and dictate the direction of the solution.
Pass whatever legislation is required to get control of our borders. Pass it now.
Pass it harder.
And then enforce it, with every ounce of political will necessary.
Can we please cut through the horsecrap on this issue?
- A country must have control of it's borders if it is to maintain it's safety, values, and way of life.
- A country also benefits from a sane immigration policy that allows new people in, from all races and ethnicities and geographies, at a controlled pace that allows for assimilation into our country. You remember: e pluribus unum. (out of many, one). The "melting pot". That's what assimilation is. Allow people in, but control the pace and require assimilation. Diversity of culture yes, but allegiance to the country and assimilation as well.
- We accomplish the two goals of controlled immigration through two means - border security and lawful immigration policy.
- The border security has been entirely degraded, with at least 500,000 "illegals" skipping across the border each year. There are people trying to do it legally and waiting in line. And then there are criminals who break-in. This is not adequate security.
It's not only terrorists who can come in with that flood of illegals. There are hardened criminals in the bunch as well, who circumvent the background check required of the people who do this by the book.
- Our laws, which define how many people can be lawfully emigrated and assimilated in a given time period, have been rendered meaningless by lack of enforcement. The rule of law degraded.
- The words "illegal immigrant" mean something. If you've entered the country illegally, you have violated the law.
It's time for our elected officials to be accountable on this.
Pass whatever new laws are needed.
Secure the border.
Enforce the laws.
Period.
This bold in-your-face demonstration by such a large crowd, many of whom were probably the illegals in question and who had no fear of protesting in public - with Mexican flags raised high - illustrate clearly the magnitude of the problem and dictate the direction of the solution.
Pass whatever legislation is required to get control of our borders. Pass it now.
Pass it harder.
And then enforce it, with every ounce of political will necessary.
Can we please cut through the horsecrap on this issue?
- A country must have control of it's borders if it is to maintain it's safety, values, and way of life.
- A country also benefits from a sane immigration policy that allows new people in, from all races and ethnicities and geographies, at a controlled pace that allows for assimilation into our country. You remember: e pluribus unum. (out of many, one). The "melting pot". That's what assimilation is. Allow people in, but control the pace and require assimilation. Diversity of culture yes, but allegiance to the country and assimilation as well.
- We accomplish the two goals of controlled immigration through two means - border security and lawful immigration policy.
- The border security has been entirely degraded, with at least 500,000 "illegals" skipping across the border each year. There are people trying to do it legally and waiting in line. And then there are criminals who break-in. This is not adequate security.
It's not only terrorists who can come in with that flood of illegals. There are hardened criminals in the bunch as well, who circumvent the background check required of the people who do this by the book.
- Our laws, which define how many people can be lawfully emigrated and assimilated in a given time period, have been rendered meaningless by lack of enforcement. The rule of law degraded.
- The words "illegal immigrant" mean something. If you've entered the country illegally, you have violated the law.
It's time for our elected officials to be accountable on this.
Pass whatever new laws are needed.
Secure the border.
Enforce the laws.
Period.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Election Day
It's primary election day here in Illinois. We're picking a new Governor and some lessor officials, as well as warding off (hopefully) tax increases.
We currently have a Democrat in office. A particularly haughty Chicagoan who insulted us downstaters by refusing to live in the Governor's mansion in the capital of Springfield. Time for him to go.
There are several candidates in the Republican primary and the outcome is, unfortunately predictable. There is one establishment candidate (Judy Baar-Topinka) and four outsiders.
I can't vote for Ms. Topinka because I count her in the Republican leadership for two decades that have taken our party into total electoral calamity. She bears some responsibility for that.
That leaves her four challengers, all white guys, who will predictably split the anti-Judy vote thereby ensuring her win.
I voted. I voted for one of the anti-Judy challengers. Tonight I'll watch her win without a majority because of the split anti-Judy vote.
Then I'll reluctantly vote for her in the general election because I prefer a Republican administration to a Democrat administration every time.
We currently have a Democrat in office. A particularly haughty Chicagoan who insulted us downstaters by refusing to live in the Governor's mansion in the capital of Springfield. Time for him to go.
There are several candidates in the Republican primary and the outcome is, unfortunately predictable. There is one establishment candidate (Judy Baar-Topinka) and four outsiders.
I can't vote for Ms. Topinka because I count her in the Republican leadership for two decades that have taken our party into total electoral calamity. She bears some responsibility for that.
That leaves her four challengers, all white guys, who will predictably split the anti-Judy vote thereby ensuring her win.
I voted. I voted for one of the anti-Judy challengers. Tonight I'll watch her win without a majority because of the split anti-Judy vote.
Then I'll reluctantly vote for her in the general election because I prefer a Republican administration to a Democrat administration every time.
Monday, March 20, 2006
"Tell Your Dad Not to Admit It"
I had an interesting encounter with a friendly gentleman on the North Shore of Chicago this weekend.
I had taken my family for an impromptu getaway to the windy city. We bunkered into a posh hotel on Lake Michigan in the South Loop and laid seige to several musuems on Saturday and Sunday. Sharks and dinosaurs, oh my. A very fun weekend.
On Sunday morning I took my oldest son on a quick photo tour of downtown Chicago. Big buildings - snap! Millenium Park - snap! Beaches on the North Shore - snap!
On that last stop we met a kindly older gentleman walking his dog.
He: "Would you like me to take a picture of you and your son?"
Me: "That would be great!" Snap. Snap.
Me: "We're just visiting for the weekend."
He: "That's great! Welcome to our city."
Me: "We saw the Shedd Aquarium yesterday, and are headed to the Field Musuem today."
He: "That's great! Did you get a chance to go to the anti-war rally?"
Ummmmmmmmmmm. Clearing my throat.......
Me (with a big smile): "Actually, I'm a veteran and I support President Bush and the war."
He (turning purple): "NO! Nobody supports Bush anymore!"
He (looking at my son): "Tell your Dad not to admit that to anyone else here."
Me (with a friendly wave): "Thanks for helping us out!"
And we parted with friendly grins.
I happened to be near Soldier Field later that day where the rally was apparently being held. The usual suspects assembling, as is their right. They had a nice day for a rally. I went in with my family and saw the dinosaurs and mummies.
However, I'll admit it to anyone. I support President Bush. Taking the War on Terror was the right thing to do, even with the cost. I base that on staying informed on all of the issues. If you paid close attention to the news lately you would see:
- we're meeting the milestones on establishing a Democracy in that critical region
- March's casualties were down
- Sadaam's trial is proceeding
- Iraqi towns once held by terrorists are now safer
- an Iraqi Air Force general has admitted that his men flew the WMD's into Syria before the war started
Bush, despite doing a poor job explaining it, is on the right track - my new friend in Chicago's opinion notwithstanding.
Postscript: I just finished reading Richard Miniter's book "Disinformation", which methodically knocks down 22 media myths about the war like:
- there were no WMD's in Iraq
- there were no connections between al Qaida and Iraq
- 100,000 civilians have been killed in Iraq by the U.S.
- the war was really fought for oil and Haliburton
It's a great read. Chock full of facts. I highly recommend it. You should read it, and then some of you should consider apologizing to the President.
I had taken my family for an impromptu getaway to the windy city. We bunkered into a posh hotel on Lake Michigan in the South Loop and laid seige to several musuems on Saturday and Sunday. Sharks and dinosaurs, oh my. A very fun weekend.
On Sunday morning I took my oldest son on a quick photo tour of downtown Chicago. Big buildings - snap! Millenium Park - snap! Beaches on the North Shore - snap!
On that last stop we met a kindly older gentleman walking his dog.
He: "Would you like me to take a picture of you and your son?"
Me: "That would be great!" Snap. Snap.
Me: "We're just visiting for the weekend."
He: "That's great! Welcome to our city."
Me: "We saw the Shedd Aquarium yesterday, and are headed to the Field Musuem today."
He: "That's great! Did you get a chance to go to the anti-war rally?"
Ummmmmmmmmmm. Clearing my throat.......
Me (with a big smile): "Actually, I'm a veteran and I support President Bush and the war."
He (turning purple): "NO! Nobody supports Bush anymore!"
He (looking at my son): "Tell your Dad not to admit that to anyone else here."
Me (with a friendly wave): "Thanks for helping us out!"
And we parted with friendly grins.
I happened to be near Soldier Field later that day where the rally was apparently being held. The usual suspects assembling, as is their right. They had a nice day for a rally. I went in with my family and saw the dinosaurs and mummies.
However, I'll admit it to anyone. I support President Bush. Taking the War on Terror was the right thing to do, even with the cost. I base that on staying informed on all of the issues. If you paid close attention to the news lately you would see:
- we're meeting the milestones on establishing a Democracy in that critical region
- March's casualties were down
- Sadaam's trial is proceeding
- Iraqi towns once held by terrorists are now safer
- an Iraqi Air Force general has admitted that his men flew the WMD's into Syria before the war started
Bush, despite doing a poor job explaining it, is on the right track - my new friend in Chicago's opinion notwithstanding.
Postscript: I just finished reading Richard Miniter's book "Disinformation", which methodically knocks down 22 media myths about the war like:
- there were no WMD's in Iraq
- there were no connections between al Qaida and Iraq
- 100,000 civilians have been killed in Iraq by the U.S.
- the war was really fought for oil and Haliburton
It's a great read. Chock full of facts. I highly recommend it. You should read it, and then some of you should consider apologizing to the President.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Bastards!
Another American hostage was found tortured and killed in Iraq by radical Islamic murderers.
Story here.
Bastards.
Story here.
Bastards.
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