"It Was the Bravest Thing We Ever Saw."

Task and Purpose:

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Garlin M. Conner and his wife Pauline,
sitting on the porch of Pauline’s parents’ home in 1946.

Fox News:  "“You know, in World War II and Korea, they didn't recognize PTSD like they did in Vietnam,” Pauline said at the Pentagon. “But I've always said if anybody ever had PTSD, he did. Because many of the times, he'd wake up in the night, you know, with nightmares. And after I would wake him up, and he would go outside, sit on the porch, smoke cigarettes for hours at a time.”

However, her husband still never spoke about what happened to him overseas.

On Jan. 24, 1945, Conner’s soldiers – 7th Infantry, 3rd Battalion – were facing a counterattack from 600 German troops armed with tank destroyers. Instead of retreating, he chose to run forward into enemy fire with a telephone in order to direct artillery fire in hopes of ending end the attack. He stayed in an irrigation ditch for three hours until the battle was won as swarms of German soldiers moved toward his battalion.

“He’d just come back from being wounded. He wasn't even supposed to be there,” said Erik Villard, digital military historian from the Army Center of Military. “But he came back to his unit and ran forward and volunteered the mission, and did what he did.”

“Today we pay tribute to this Kentucky farm boy who stared
down evil,” Trump said. "He was indeed a giant, larger than life, he will never ever be forgotten."".......

When we played "war" as little kids, it wasn't just mindless violence we were parroting. We hoped that someday, we would be as heroic as Lt. Conner. Few of us ever do--but that's why they're called 'heroes'.

I grew up in the shadow of these giants.

And so did you.

Honor

We Don't Really Have a Supreme Court

We Have the Bi-Constitutional Menace Tony Kennedy

and the legacy of the two men who put him on the Court:

Ron "Dutch the Lifeguard" Reagan

                                                                               and

Edward "Ted the Swimmer" Kennedy

Today, in the Travel Ban ruling, Tony chose Dutch over Ted.

And because he did, President Trump is once again restoring American Democracy, Sovereignty, the Constitution and the Rule of Law.

Not to mention common sense.

BTW, if Sotomayor was philosophically honest, she would have voted against forcing the Little Sisters of the Poor to buy abortion coverage after Candidate Obama called Christians "bitter clingers".

But she didn't.

And she isn't.

A Bad Day for Ted is a Good Day for America!

small 'd'

One of These is Not Like the Others:

"I am a democrat because I believe in the Fall of Man. I think most people are democrats for the opposite reason. A great deal of democratic enthusiasm descends from the ideas of people like Rousseau, who believed in democracy because they thought mankind so wise and good that everyone deserved a share in the government. The danger of defending democracy on these grounds is that they are not true....Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows. Aristotle said that some people were only fit to be slaves. I do not contradict him. But I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters."--C.S. Lewis

"When Abraham Lincoln spoke in his famous Gettysburg speech of 1863 of "government of the people, by the people, and for the people", he gave the world a neat definition of democracy which has since been widely and enthusiastically adopted. But what he enunciated as a form of government was not in itself especially Christian, for nowhere in the Bible is the word democracy mentioned. Ideally, when Christians meet, as Christians, to take counsel together their purpose is not (or should not be) to ascertain what is the mind of the majority but what is the mind of the Holy Spirit—something which may be quite different. Nevertheless I am an enthusiast for democracy. And I take that position, not because I believe majority opinion is inevitably right or true—indeed no majority can take away God-given human rights—but because I believe it most effectively safeguards the value of the individual, and, more than any other system, restrains the abuse of power by the few. And that is a Christian concept."--Margaret Thatcher

"This idea that government is beholden to the people, that it has no other source of power except the sovereign people, is still the newest and the most unique idea in all the long history of man's relation to man. This is the issue of this election: whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves."--Ronald Reagan

"The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE. The streams of national power ought to flow from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority."--Alexander Hamilton

"Obviously strongly prefer normal democratic and constitutional politics. But if it comes to it, prefer the deep state to the Trump state."--Cap'n Bill "Biff" Kristol, D.-Weakly Standard

Flag Day

Midway: In the midst of the battle, they raised her up.

The Good News

Psalm 1: 1-3 New International Version (NIV)

1 Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

Father, we thank You for Your Word of wisdom, blessing, favor, life and victory. We receive it now and we praise You for all Your lovingkindness to us, in Jesus' mighty Name we pray, Amen and Amen!

Recession? You First, Bill

Maher's Law: "Poverty for Peasants!"

"...I really don’t care what liberals think enough to try to change their minds. When I deal with them on Twitter and other social media, I just want to defeat them as I demonstrate to fellow conservatives that it’s okay to fight back. But some of you do argue with liberals, though I don’t get why. See, liberals don’t argue either, mostly because they know no one else will buy the ideological garbage they are peddling. Instead of a reasoned position, they will inevitably offer a cheesy simulacrum of an argument that consists of the kind of hack ploys that would embarrass a shyster in a polyester leisure suit doing shaky rear-ender cases out of his 1992 Corolla parked down by the dump because he can’t afford a van down by the river."--Kurt Schlichter

PJM:

"Quote: "One way you get rid of @realDonaldTrump is a crashing economy, so please bring on the recession. Sorry if that hurts people, but it’s either root for a recession or lose your democracy."

He is, at least, sorry it would hurt lots of people. Oh, probably not anyone he knows, of course: Bill's got a $10 million salary and an estimated net worth of $100 million, so if the economy crashes he's mainly going to be troubled by headlines and tut-tutting among his equally-wealthy friends. So "please bring on the recession." It's just little people in places like Indiana, West Virginia, Michigan, or Wisconsin — who probably voted for Trump anyway — so they deserve it.".......

Madame Bill Marie-Maher Antoinette: "Let them eat cake from Michelle's School Lunches! King Louis and I will be having the Truffled Brillat-Savarin at Marcel's!"

Shouldn't Maher try wrecking his own finances before wishing it on millions of working Americans?

Rush Limbaugh was savaged for hoping Obama would fail in his efforts to "fundamentally transform" America--but Bill Maher is hoping that President Trump fails--and millions and millions of Americans, too!

This is what has become of Harry Truman's Party of working people. What a disgrace.

And Maher is dead wrong about the loss of democracy, too. 

At every turn, President Trump is returning power, wealth and sovereignty back to the American people and their elected representatives. That is the very definition of representative democracy in a republic. 

No more One-Man treaties, laws and land-grabs--or crooked CIA and FBI Directors rigging elections to coronate an Empress.

Just today, in fact, the president stood up for American businesses and workers against unaccountable foreign bureaucracies. That hasn't been done in decades. And never on this scale.

Not even the French want a recession, Bill. But you can always claim refugee status in Europe, Mme. Marie-Maher. 

Au revoir!

"An Air of Panic": Deep State Daze of Whine and Rosensteins

Tick Tock to the Big Ugly

"The Swine are gearing down for a serious workout this time around."--Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Fear with Loathing

Roger Simon: 

"They are busy trying to do to the report what they had previously done to almost all emails, texts and documents requested by congressional committees and other interested parties in their investigations -- turn them into black holes of unintelligible redaction.  In other words, blot out the truth.

For all of that, there is an air of panic.  Andrew McCabe, through his lawyer, is asking for "use immunity" before he testifies before Congress. This is a man whose innocence was asserted by Democrats for months. Now, if he doesn't get the immunity, he may end up pleading the Fifth.  The media will to try to spin this somehow, but it's going to be tricky. If McCabe does get the immunity, it could be even worse.

What we do know -- and this is my intention here -- is that we must do our best not to allow the IG report to be sanitized out of existence. An immediate and public outcry is necessary, as obvious as "We want the report! We want the report now!" with fists banging on the table. At least that will set up an atmosphere of warning.  We know what you're up to. You're being watched. It may not be enough -- it' worked only intermittently so far -- but it's something.  As the zen master says, "You can't get there by trying.  But you won't get there if you don't try."

What we are embroiled in here with this IG report and the ones to follow about the FISA court are the principle battles of the War against the Deep State.  Will we be able to keep, tenuous as it is, a government of, by and for the people? Or will we drift off into a world of high-tech bureaucratic socialist autocracy under the control of an elitist cabal, a nomenklatura?

My use of the Soviet term nomenklatura was not accidental because there is nothing the Deep State resembles so much as that construct.  When the word came into currency in the USSR of the thirties and forties, they called Stalin "Comrade Filing Cabinet" for his constant desire to keep detailed tabs on everybody. Our nomenklatura/Deep State, though thankfully less violent, is far more capable and detailed in that department than the murderous General Secretary of the Communist Party.  They've got all our numbers -- until now.  They're so successful they don't even know they're doing it.  I'm sure Robert Mueller thinks he's a good man.".......

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn prosecutorial."

Tick tock...

500 Days: Since They Won't Tell You, We Will

President Donald J. Trump’s 500 Days of American Greatness

Issued on: June 4, 2018

"Our families will thrive. Our people will prosper. And our nation will forever be safe and strong and proud and mighty and free."--President Donald J. Trump

500 DAYS: In his first 500 days in office, President Donald J. Trump has achieved results domestically and internationally for the American people. 

• Since taking office, President Trump has strengthened American leadership, security, prosperity, and accountability.
• After 500 days, the results are clear: the American economy is stronger, American workers are experiencing more opportunities, confidence is soaring, and business is booming.
• President Trump has re-asserted American leadership on the world stage, secured vital investments in our military, and stood up against threats to our national security.
• President Trump has put the American people first and made government more accountable.

AMERICA’S ECONOMY IS STRONGER: The American economy is stronger today and American workers are better off thanks to President Trump’s pro-growth agenda.

• Nearly 3 million jobs have been created since President Trump took office.
  • 304,000 manufacturing jobs have been created since President Trump took office, and manufacturing employment stands at its highest level since December 2008.
  • 337,000 construction jobs have been created since President Trump took office, and construction employment stands at its highest level since June 2008.
• Under President Trump, the unemployment rate has dropped to 3.8, the lowest rate since April 2000, and job openings have reached 6.6 million, the highest level recorded.
  • 67 percent of Americans believe now is a good time to find a quality job, according to Gallup.
  • Only under President Trump have more than 50 percent of Americans believed it is a good time to find a quality job since Gallup began asking the question 17 years ago.
• President Trump prioritized job training and workforce development to empower workers to seize more opportunities, signing an Executive Order to expand apprenticeship opportunities.
• President Trump has restored confidence in the American economy, with confidence among both consumers and businesses reaching historic highs.
  • Consumer confidence in current conditions has reached a 17-year high, according to the Conference Board.
  • Optimism among manufacturers has hit record highs under President Trump, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.
  • Small business optimism has sustained record-high levels under President Trump according to the National Federation of Independent Business.
• President Trump signed the historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law, cutting taxes for American families and making American business more competitive.
  • American families received $3.2 trillion in gross tax cuts and saw the child tax credit double.
  • The top corporate tax rate was lowered from 35 percent to 21 percent so American businesses could be more competitive.
• President Trump has rolled back unnecessary job-killing regulations beyond expectations.
  • In 2017, President Trump far exceeded his promise to eliminate regulations at a two-to-one ratio, issuing 22 deregulatory actions for every new regulatory action.
  • The Administration rolled back rules and regulations harming farmers and energy producers, such as the Waters of the United States Rule and the Clean Power Plan.
  • Regional and community banks and credit unions got relief after President Trump signed legislation reducing harmful requirements imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act.
• Since taking office, President Trump has advanced free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals that protect American workers, ending decades of destructive trade policies.
  • Days after taking office, the President withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and agreement.
  • President Trump’s Administration is working to defend American intellectual property from China’s unfair practices through a range of actions.
  • The President improved the KORUS trade agreement with the Republic of Korea, which will allow more U.S. automobile exports to South Korea with lower tariffs and increase U.S. pharmaceutical access to South Korea.
  • American agriculture has gained access to new markets under President Trump.

AMERICA IS WINNING ON THE WORLD STAGE: President Trump has re-asserted American leadership on the world stage and is achieving results for the American people.

• President Trump followed through on his promise to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
• President Trump ordered an end to United States participation in the horrible Iran deal and immediately began the process of re-imposing sanctions that had been lifted or waived.
  • The President has taken action to confront aggression by Iran and its proxies.
  • The Department of the Treasury has issued a range of sanctions targeting Iranian activities and entities, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force.
• Under President Trump, the United States has led an unprecedented global campaign to achieve the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
• President Trump’s leadership has contributed to the return of 17 Americans held overseas.
  • In May 2018 alone, Venezuela released one American and North Korea released three Americans who came home to the United States.
• The President has secured historic increases in defense funding in order to rebuild our Nation’s military with the resources they need, after years of harmful sequester. 
  
  • President Trump signed legislation to provide $700 billion in defense spending for fiscal year (FY) 2018 and $716 billion for FY 2019.
• The United States has worked with international allies to decimate ISIS.
• President Trump ordered strikes against Syria in response to the regime’s use of chemical weapons in April 2017 and April 2018.
• The Trump Administration has imposed a range of sanctions on the Maduro dictatorship in Venezuela, including sanctions targeting Maduro and other senior government officials.

AMERICA’S COMMUNITIES ARE SAFER AND MORE SECURE: President Trump has worked to secure our borders, enforce our immigration laws, and protect the safety and security of American communities. 

• Despite limited resources and obstruction from Congress, President Trump has worked to take control of our border and enforce our immigration laws.
  • President Trump has called on Congress to provide the resources needed to secure our borders and close loopholes that prevent immigration laws from being fully enforced.
• President Trump authorized the deployment of the National Guard to help secure our borders.
• President Trump’s Administration has carried out immigration enforcement efforts based on the rule of law.
  • From the start of President Trump’s Administration to the end of FY 2017, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) made 110,568 arrests of illegal aliens.
  • Arrests made in this timeframe represented a 42 percent increase from the same timeframe in FY 2016.
  • Of the 110,568 arrests made, 92 percent had a criminal conviction, pending criminal charge, were an ICE fugitive, or had a reinstated final order of removal.
• President Trump has made clear that his Administration will continue to combat the threat of MS-13 in order to protect communities from the horrendous violence the gang has spread.
  • In 2017, the Department of Justice worked with partners in Central America to file criminal charges against more than 4,000 members of MS-13.
• The Trump Administration has cracked down on the import and distribution of illegal drugs in order to stop them from reaching our communities and causing even more devastation.
  • As of April 2018, U.S. Border Patrol has seized 284 pounds of fentanyl in FY 2018, already surpassing the total of 181 pounds seized in FY 2017.
• The President has launched a nationwide effort to fight the opioid crisis, which has devastated communities across America.
  • The President’s Opioid Initiative seeks to reduce drug demand, cut off the flow of illicit drugs, and save lives by expanding treatment opportunities.
• President Trump signed an omnibus spending bill which provides nearly $4 billion to address the opioid epidemic.
  • The bill included $1 billion for grants focused on the hardest hit States and Tribes and provided funding for a public-private research partnership on pain and addiction.

AMERICA’S GOVERNMENT IS MORE ACCOUNTABLE: Since taking office, President Trump has worked to ensure government is more accountable to the American people. 

• President Trump has confirmed the most circuit court judges of any President in their first year, and secured Justice Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation to the United States Supreme Court.
• President Trump has signed legislation to bring more accountability to the Department of Veterans Affairs and provide our veterans with more choice in the care they receive.
  • President Trump signed the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017, improving processes for addressing misconduct.
  • President Trump signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act into law, authorizing $2.1 billion in additional funds for the Veterans Choice Program.
• President Trump successfully eliminated the penalty for Obamacare’s burdensome individual mandate.
• The President’s Administration is seeking to provide more affordable health coverage and broader access to affordable alternatives to Obamacare plans.
• President Trump has released a blueprint to lower drug prices for Americans.
• President Trump has ensured that the religious liberties and conscience of Americans are protected and respected by the Federal government.
  • President Trump signed an Executive Order to protect the free speech and religious liberties of groups such as the Little Sisters of the Poor.
  • The Department of Justice issued guidance to all executive agencies on protecting religious liberty in federal programs.

 2017, improving processes for addressing misconduct.