My Errant Mind

There is a peculiar creature that lives in America, that falls in the same group with other nuisance varmints. There might be one living in your neighborhood. They breed so fast it is probable that you have encountered many.

What creature am I talking about? Why, the Voting Coward.

These creatures vote for candidates they think are ‘electable‘ rather than those who share their views. They vote for those with ‘the best chance of winning‘ rather than the candidate with the most admirable views and voting record to back their position.

These critters have been known to vote for someone they don’t like or agree with at all…just because they belong to a particular political party. Some vote for politicians that say they want to secure our country while proposing amnesty for illegal aliens. Some vote for politicians that say they have experience, and yet have only completed one term as a Senator—or have cast votes in conflict with what they say they believe.

Ralph Nader’s entry into the Presidential race brought many of them scurrying out of the woodwork. Checking out some of the comments on his website, I couldn’t help but notice the large number of the Democratic party members who have attacked Mr. Nader and his campaign, decrying his candidacy for no better reason than they fear it will steal votes from their ho-hum candidates for short-changing the American people.

Many of the comments were quite sad. Some said they would like to vote for Mr. Nader, but can’t ‘risk‘ their vote.

Meaning that instead of voting based on beliefs and principles, they vote tactically. This sad game we play in our country will never end and we will never have a true candidate of change (Obama is still down with the idea of bombing Iran, remember that Democrats) elected because of the exploding population of Voting Cowards.

How far have we sunk as a nation when citizens think they are taking a risk by casting a vote? The risk is taken by those defending our nation and preserving your right to vote, silly varmint.

Protect your community and let everyone know when you encounter one of the critters, but be careful—these lemming-like creatures have a herd mentality. They are easy to live-trap, however, being attracted to convenience.

If you should feel the urge to see what one of these Voting Cowards looks like, don’t look anywhere around the Ralph Nader and Ron Paul campaigns—you won’t find any there.

Prince Andrew—fourth in line to the British throne and a former naval aviator—chose to be critical of the USA ahead of a planned visit. That makes about as much sense as what he had to say.

He thinks American and British relations are in a “trough” and suggested that the US government should have listened to the British more on issues regarding Iraq. They have a wealth of experience in counterinsurgency, colonialism and so forth, after all.

Is the Prince is being facetious, or did he wake up forgetful?

Maybe if the British had not subjugated so many nations (thus racking up said experience in colonial rule and counterinsurgency) and drawn the idiotic lines that mapped out the modern Middle East with a total disregard for the history of various peoples and common sense, we wouldn’t have to be there now. Certainly, we would be having an easier time of it.

Perhaps if the British had more than a paltry handful of troops in Iraq, things would be going smoother as well?

Maybe what we Americans need is a British Royal in Iraq to tell us how to win the war?

I suppose we’ll just have to do our best without, since the British are afraid to send any…

Why We Probably Did Not Ask For Advice

British sport…

American sport…

British SUV…

American SUV…

Enough said?

The bias of post-Civil War history against the former Confederate States of America continues as ever. People still find it hard to look at history objectively, especially their own.

One example is seen in the upcoming 200th birthday of two different American Presidents.

Lincoln on the one hand is getting lots of respect, never mind that he refused to recognize the right of others to be independent as the nation’s founders had. So he gets credited with saving the Union and bringing us to the wonderful point we are at today where our current President and political leaders are giving away our nation to unarmed invaders.

On the other hand, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, who fought for states rights—and especially for the right of secession—is seldom mentioned in history books. That is, of course, because because history is largely written by the victors and they rarely bother to write about their own shortcomings, nor are they likely to point out the accomplishments of the vanquished.

It is not surprising how many Americans believe the Civil War was nothing more than a war against slavery and that any emblem of the Confederacy is representative of racism. Ignorance has never been in short supply in America, that’s for sure.

As the article that inspired this post mentions, Davis was an unrepentant Confederate. But he also, in his own words, said the war wasn’t about slavery, but about the right of self-governance (the south was full of Scots-Irish/Ulster Scots after all, and politics are genetic) and a willingness to give everything up to have it…just as those fighting the Revolutionary War had:

“You may emancipate every Negro in the Confederacy, but we will be free. We will govern ourselves … if we have to see every Southern plantation sacked, and every Southern city in flames.”

— Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America

Most Northerners are probably just embarrassed that there was slavery in the North and that Northerners practiced it through the entire Civil War. But, they have done their best in the fine tradition of hypocrites to paint the Civil War as a war about slavery…just not their slavery.

I wonder, given that we have a government that is becoming increasingly invasive of privacy, chipping away at our liberties and personal freedoms, full of corrupt political leaders in bed with those nations that are a threat to us, and doing nothing to secure our borders…if Davis’ upcoming 200th celebration won’t have many Americans from the South looking back on their heritage and thinking it might be time to revisit the old dream of self-governance?

Honestly, how could it be any worse than the government we suffer today? And, since there’s no slavery, what argument would others use this time to suggest secessionist states were in the wrong? The US government just recognized Kosovo’s independence—and ironically, for the same reasons they denied independence to the states that made up the Confederacy…

Greed, resources, political gain and hypocrisy.

Lincoln himself said, after all, that if he could defeat the Confederacy without freeing the slaves he would pursue that route. As the war became desperate Lincoln discarded that option and reluctantly freed the slaves within the Confederacy by Presidential proclamation, hoping to sow discord in the South and create rebellion.

Most Americans like to forget that Lincoln only freed the slaves in the Confederacy during the war and that the North still practiced slavery through the entirety of the war, up until the Thirteenth Amendment was passed in 1865. Slavery existed and was practiced in all 13 of the original states, and throughout the North.

Many people who come from those states that formed the North or Union states believe a made-up revisionist history that says they never even owned slaves. Such self-delusion seems to reverberate in modern times with people similarly ignoring the damage illegal immigration is doing to our nation and decrying those states whose legislatures take action when the federal government has failed in its responsibilities.

Don’t take my word for it. Perhaps a northern historian might convince those who cling to the lie that the North had no slaves of the fallacy of their belief.

I’m anxiously looking forward to tonight’s fight. IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBO champion Sultan Ibragimov get it on for the first heavyweight unification bout since 1999. It’s been a long time coming and I’m going to enjoy it.

Both boxers have been anxious to create a unified champion that the world would recognize as the undisputed champion. Both have brought a touch of class to the sport (and especially the heavyweight division), bringing back an emphasis on pugilism at its best and doing away with the trash talking that has been so common.

They are both warriors with class.

While both are also great fighters, I’m pulling for Klitcshko. He’s the best heavyweight out there and I think tonight he proves it. I’ve been a fan of him and his brother Vitali for quite some time. What a pair the Klitschko’s are.

I have often wondered what their parents and friends of the family think. I mean, two brothers who get into boxing and not only succeed, but end up in the top ten in the world? That would be an amazing feat by any standards. Yet, both became world champions—Vitali was WBC champion, and Wladimir is the current IBF champion (and is the former WBO and IBO champion as well).

And both have doctorate degrees to go with their 6′ 6″ (Wladimir) and 6′ 7″ (Vitali) frames and championships. [note: Vitali was also a world super-heavyweight kickboxing champion, by the way, before becoming a professional boxer.]

His degree and punishing right hand earned Wladimir the moniker Dr. Steelhammer. That is probably just what it feels like when he punches you…getting hit with a steel hammer.

Which is one reason why I’m glad I’m going to be sitting with a cold one in hand watching the fight. This is going to be one hell of a fight. Ibragimov is a great fighter and will put up a hard fight—of that there is no question. He’s good. In fact, Wladimir and trainer Emanuel Steward aren’t expecting an easy fight by any means.

Sultan Ibragimov is in the best shape of his career and is a champion looking to unify the titles as well. He has a lot of heart crammed into his 6′ 2″, 220 lb frame, having taken the fight to guys much larger than himself in a convincing and punishing manner more than once.

However it turns out, it will be the best thing for boxing since Joe Calzaghe’s win over Mikkel Kessler. (Incidentally, I’m looking forward to Joe’s April 19 bout with the racist trash-talker Bernard Hopkins)

Finally, after tonight we will be able to call someone ‘Champ’ and not ‘the __insert alphabet boxing organization here__ titleholder’ as we have had to do for so long. You already know who I think the Champ is going to be.

Which is why, for me, February 23, 2008 is Dr. Steelhammer Day.

Who has a better plan than President Bush (or any candidates running for President) on how to deal with illegal immigration and Mexico? Why, The Dumb Blond does.

Since Mexico is probably a bigger threat to the US national security and economy than any other nation, why not take it over? She makes a good point or three…or ten. 1/5th of Mexico’s population lives in the USA, and Mexico wouldn’t survive without our foreign aid and the money sent back to Mexico by those in the USA working.

See for yourself what she has to say in her two part series on How To End Iraq War & Stop Illegals.

The Dumb Blond: Part 1 How To End Iraq War & Stop Illegals

The Dumb Blond: Part 2 How To End Iraq War & Stop Illegals

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, it makes more sense to have law abiding citizens armed and prepared to stop criminals than it does for people to cede responsibility for their safety to law enforcement, which is a reactionary institution by nature.

In Utah, college students with a concealed carry permit can carry their weapon on campus and many are doing it.

More, the Utah state legislature is considering a law to enable those with a carry permit to carry them not only concealed, but openly.

What an unexpected and pleasant surprise—common sense!

Some of the students who don’t like it believe that only trained officials should be carrying them. Those sorts apparently don’t realize that you go through mandatory training to get a permit. And, as we have seen from the actions of law enforcement in many notorious cases around the nation (and the globe for that matter), law enforcement personnel can be just as irresponsible as anyone else—sometimes even being the perpetrators of crimes.

An armed citizenry is the best cure for both criminals and tyranny.

Now, maybe instead of hearing how some idiot killed a dozen or more unarmed kids we will hear how some idiot tried to terrorize students who quickly put an end to that notion with a hail of bullets.

Let all the whining anti-gunners put their lives in the hands of the government. The American spirit has always been embodied in self-reliance…not fear and cowering or blind faith in government.

Here is yet another example of why we don’t need more gun control laws in America: a young woman is killed after being told by police to stop calling to report the boyfriend who eventually murdered her. They threatened to arrest her if she kept calling, just two days before her murder.

This avoidable travesty happened in DeLand, Florida—whose police department has yet to respond to the allegations a month after the indcident.

We already have enough legislation that regulates guns. What we don’t have are law enforcement agencies enforcing existing laws—such as those already in force regarding firearms…and illegal immigration. If this young woman had a gun of her own, she could have saved her own life which the police apparently did not feel was worth protecting.

Instead, many people want us to believe that we should cede responsibility for our own welfare to that of a government that is turning into an unresponsive bureaucracy. How absurd is it to be threatened with arrest for reporting that someone is a threat to your life?

This sort of disgusting behavior by law enforcement is growing at an alarming rate. These days, you’re more likely to find them refusing help or saying their hands are tied than you are to find them helping. They are more eager to go about using tasers and running around with assault rifles so they can look like the guys in the military fighting our wars than they are to help protect and serve.

I have heard even veteran officers complain about how the younger generation are afraid to get into a tussle and that they are too taser and trigger happy. And of course, in the majority of instances where police shoot someone innocent (usually several officers and a hail of bullets are involved) they get away with it and at worst suffer a temporary suspension.

If you haven’t read about the shameful murder of Marine Sgt. Derek Hale in Delaware by police and their lies (to other law enforcement agencies even!) to cover it up, you should read about what exactly is becoming more common place in your country on a daily basis.

More and more law enforcement is about filling prisons so someone can make a buck and monitoring the nation’s citizens.

How sad that this young 17 year old woman repeatedly asked for help and was instead threatened by the very institution designed to protect her. If this sort of thing doesn’t highlight the need for people to be able to depend on themselves and not the government, I don’t know what could possibly make it any more apparent.

I find myself more and more disappointed in the direction of our nation every day.

The Army denies that some of the Dragon Skin armor it was sent for testing (and that it claimed failed) ended up on eBay for sale. Of course, in typical military fashion, ridiculous shit happens. Especially in the arena of procurement.

Someone’s about to find their ass in a sling.

Murray Neal, CEO of Pinnacle Armor, is rightfully pointing out that something smells fishy at the Pentagon. I watched video demonstrations of their body armor and was quite impressed. I would rather be wearing Dragon Skin than probably any alternative—including the current Army issue.

It can withstand some intense blasts and retain its integrity for crying out loud. For those readers unsure of what that means, it means that if you are going to dive on a grenade and take one for the bros, Dragon Skin is what you hope to be wearing in that unfortunate scenario.

No data for test results and vests ending up on eBay? Reminds me of the incredibly expensive advertising textbook I bought in the campus bookstore for a class once—upon closer examination, a free instructor’s sample.

The Army wouldn’t by any chance be scratching backs or pinching pennies at the expense of soldier’s lives, would it?

But stuff like that doesn’t happen, does it?

See what makes Dragon Skin so amazing…

And news of the Army’s rejection…

It isn’t guns and cars that kill people. Idiots kill other people for no good reason.

There is always someone holding the gun or behind the wheel—or standing on the sideline participating in an illegal race.

It’s too bad we don’t allow all Americans over 18 to carry firearms everywhere. Those who would have been culled from the gene pool by their unsocial behavior, wolves and bears in centuries past would be quickly eliminated the moment they tried to get their 15 minutes of fame.

People fail to understand that even without cars and guns and knives, bad things will happen. That’s life. The notion that we are ever going to have a sterile world that never offends or shocks us is ridiculous. Humans are animals and will fight and kill just like animals. All the laws in the world won’t change it.

The problem isn’t the gun or the vehicle. It is the person in control of those things, their mindset, their needs and actions that lead to these tragedies.

If you make it harder for someone bent on killing to get a gun, they’ll use something else. Removing a gun from the equation only makes it harder to kill more people easily—and that is what people fear. It is not that someone might die—just so long as it isn’t half a dozen or several dozen.

So what happens when people start killing with tire irons or screwdrivers? Do we scream to make them illegal as well?

You don’t solve problems by avoiding the root issues and blaming inanimate objects which can do nothing by themselves. Yet, the world wants to delude itself into thinking that is just what needs to be done.

How come no one is clamoring to make cars illegal?

I’ll tell you why. People are willing to sacrifice those things they do not personally feel they need or use regularly. Thus, non-gun owners are more than willing to suggest everyone else should give up their guns.

Yet, cars are involved in the deaths of more people than guns in America and they don’t want to give them up. Why? Americans are more than willing to sacrifice freedoms and liberties and rights if it is convenient, but they aren’t about to if it means having to give up the means to haul their lazy out of shape ass back and forth to their cubicles and the fast-food drive-through window.

I originally was going to use “cars kill more people than guns in America…” to be sarcastic, but then some moonbat will accuse me of being a hypocrite with my views or something. Better to just nip it in the bud.