Conservative Musings

Bracelet Debate

There is some debate currently about whether the family behind Barack Obama's bracelet wanted him to mention it during his "me, too" moment in Friday's debate.  (See newsbusters and Jake Tapper).

At any rate, I agree with the commenter on Jake Tapper's blog:

In the debate Obama reminded me of a impatient teen trying to interrupt McCain by facial expression and waving his hand to get attention to himself. You could tell that McCain was irritated at this Childs play and interruption by a immature President contender.

Not quite from the beginning, but early on, Barack took on this childish "me, too" or "pick me, pick me!" hand raising look each time John McCain spoke.  The bracelet comment added insult to this one-upmanship.  If the family did request silence, it should be honored.

(HT: Ed Morrissey).

-Colonel Steve

What Is Patriotic Duty?

I've heard and seen lots of definitions of what patriotic duty means:

• Volunteering for local organizations (Red Cross, Boy & Girl Scouts, American Cancer Society).
• Running for a local, state, or national political office.
• Giving to charitable organizations to help others in one's community.
• Becoming a volunteer or paid firefighter.
• Becoming a policeman.
• Joining the Peace Corp.
• Joining the military.

In all of this, I never heard that paying MORE taxes was patriotic.  Cheating on taxes was always seen as marking someone as a bad citizen.  But paying MORE taxes?

Joe Biden is pushing paying more taxes to be more patriotic.  Specifically, he narrows it to the rich who should be more patriotic...I mean pay more taxes.  What's to stop this logic from working it's way to the lower tax brackets?  Why not allow them to be more patriotic, too?

Take a look at one of his quotes during the Good Morning America interview: "We want to take money and put it back in the pocket of middle-class people".  Steal from the rich and give to the not so rich?  Sounds to me like what should be charitable giving rather than mandatory taking.  What is patriotic about mandatory taxes?  Take a look again at my list above.  ALL of it is based on choice.  Choices that people make to serve their friends, their community and their nation.  Our founding fathers did their very same patriotic duty voluntarily, at the risk of losing everything they had.

It's a given that a liberal like Joe would prefer forced giving over voluntary giving. This comes from a guy who has given so little to charitable organizations.  Not something a conservative would wish for.  Or a true community organizer, who would wish to keep the giving local where it's needed.

-Colonel Steve

Have We Lost Our Mind??!!!

I'm not sure what is going on in this country.  Perhaps we are just a little too sure that a 911 can never happen again. 

According to a recent article, Guantanamo jury gives bin Laden driver 5 1/2 years , a jury at Guantanamo gave Osama bin Laden's driver, Salim Hamdan, a mere 5 1/2 years, counting the time he has already spent.  This means he will be released in just 5 months.  Perhaps coming to a neighborhood near you. 

On the deck of cards that was distributed as the most wanted of Al Queda, Hamdan was the 2 of clubs.  However, the jury did not see him as a big player. 

Hamdan admitted he drove bin Laden around Afghanistan at the time of the 2001 attacks, but said he took the job without knowing the al-Qaida leader was a terrorist. It came as "a big shock," he said, when he learned bin Laden was responsible for the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen, where Hamdan is from.

PLLLEEAAASSSEEE!  I am trying to keep from rolling my eyes here!  He was captured while in a vehicle with two shoulder-launched missles.  Oh yeah, he borrowed that car, and the rockets weren't his.  The jury found him innocent of carrying the missles to kill US soldiers.

Based on this, I think its plain that Al Queda must be a friendly group that we just have misunderstood.  Let's just turn them all loose and give them their weapons back. 

-Lady Colonel

Obama Slammed for Skipping Out on Troops

John McCain's campaign is slamming Barack Obama's decision not to visit the troops in Landstuhl, Germany when he couldn't take his campaign staff.

James Joyner at Outside the Beltway takes issue with this being a weak attack on Obama.  I disagree.  I think McCain should keep these issues in the forefront while they are happening.  I think there are those watching TV who are hearing these issues for the first time as they are likely not blog readers.

Also, I heard a good point on a talk show this week.  Obama's campaign claimed that his Berlin visit was not political.  Yet, his campaign is using it to raise campaign cash.  Visiting injured troops should be even more non-political than the Berlin visit.  So why not visit without cameras? 

I'd say he lost his chance to make ANY inroads with troop votes with his dissing of the visit.  I'd say John McCain was right to remind everyone just what happened.  I think there are more of the undecided voter camp that just might swing McCain's way, if they happen to hear of the switch of Obama's.

-Colonel Steve

Marines in Berkeley

I gotta give this Daily Show guy credit for making it thru this interview. 

Nice job, letting code pink make themselves look foolish.  Just letting them talk is enough.

-Colonel Steve

Wesley Clark

As John Fund has noted, good ol Wesley has been rather quiet lately.  I agree with John's implications....I'd say General Clark was sent packing like a MASH unit.

-Colonel Steve

Fourth of July Weekends

Fourth of July Weekends usually means family time for most Americans.  For us, this weekend means a family reunion.  Later today, like 50-60 folks from the Lady Colonel side of the family will all converge on the Colonel house. 

Wow!

Right now, I have a powerpoint presentation running with many pics of the family running across our big screen TV.  Looking at it, I realize the history of military service the family has.  So appropriate, then, to have the reunion this weekend, when we celebrate our nation's beginnings.

I better get busy.  Burgers to cook and all........

-Colonel Steve

What Are You Doing On Independence Day?

While we all are celebrating our Independence Day, these folks re-committed themselves to serving us:

While most Americans probably slept, 1,215 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines raised their right hands and committed to a combined 5,500 years of additional service during the largest reenlistment ceremony in the history of the American military. Beneath a large American flag which dwarfed even the enormous chandelier that Saddam Hussein had built for the Al Faw Palace, members of all services, representing all 50 states took the oath administered by Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of Multi-National Forces Iraq.

I am in awe of your sacrifice.  Thank you.

-Colonel Steve

General Hammond / Don S. Davis

It's sad to hear that on June 29th, Don S. Davis, who portrayed General George Hammond, passed away.  His Air Force General portrayal always impressed me.  A strict, in command leader who always made sure his folks were brought home.

(HT: Blackfive)

-Colonel Steve

Wesley Clark

General Wesley Clark sure is keeping at it.  His latest quotes include: "John McCain is running his campaign on his experience and how his experience would benefit him and our nation as President. That experience shows courage and commitment to our country - but it doesn't include executive experience wrestling with national policy or go-to-war decisions."

Oh really?  We need someone with this experience?  Barack Obama got this experience how?  As a state senator for almost 10 years and a U.S. Senator for 3 years?  If we go with just that to compare with, John McCain has spent 21 years as a U.S. Senator, 4 years as a U.S. Representative, and 23 years in the U.S. Navy as an officer.

No experience, eh?  If McCain has no experience, I'd say Obama has less than no experience.

-Colonel Steve