The Eagle's Nest Blog

Obama Throws Ex-Pastor from The Train

Yesterday as I channel surfed the television in the afternoon (you can do that when you're retired), I noticed that the American Movie Classic station was running the 1987, Billy Crystal and Danny De Vito movie, Throw Momma from the Train. Today I see that it's Reverend Jeremiah Wright's turn to be thrown from the train during a news conference in Winston-Salem, North Carolina by his old friend and parishioner Barack Obama.

The break, which seems like a political expedient move, came after Rev. Wright's embarrassing performance yesterday at the National Press Club. After numerous weeks of solid support for his ex-pastor, including stating during his speech on race on March 18, 2008, in Philadelphia, PA that: "I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community", it is obvious that Rev. Wright has become a considerable political liability. Just last Sunday, Obama, was defending Wright on FOX News, referring to Wright's racial and anti-government remarks as "only snippet" taken from 20 years of his ministry.

While the main stream media may try to say the issue is over and lets move on, Barack Obama's campaign and image is now forever tarnished by  his own inaction and the words of his ex-pastor. What Obama verified today is that he could no longer spin and hide behind his 20 year relationship with Wright. Yesterday exposed the real Reverend Wright and the degree of racial hate he believes and the disrespect he holds for the American government. No one now believes Barack Obama did not know, condone and possibly sympathize with his ex-pastor. Obama's move today only proves to America that he is not the man he says he is, but a typical calculating politician. He is not the man that we need as President. He is a dishonest man who will say, do and throw any friend from the train if it will win him the nomination.

The Bush Derangement Syndrome within the Democratic Party

Friends have urged me to begin blogging for over five years, many think my opinion is worth sharing. I was reluctant because there are so many troubled people leaving comments on the web that remain anonymous and write profane, vulgar and threatening posts. We experienced much of that during the "Liberate Iraq - Support Our Troops" lawn sign campaign that my wife Deb and I conducted in 2003. I've been blogging for just over one week and I'm amazed at the number of comments that the desperate and detached people have graciously deposited on my site. Don't take me wrong, keep those coming, I need the humorous relief some of them bring.

I think it was Michelle Malkin who first coined the illness phase "The Bush Derangement Syndrome (BDS)." I've found it alive and well here on Minnesota. For the record, I'm a recovering Democrat. Yes, I was one until I served in Vietnam and took exception to being called a "baby killer" by the anti-war left that took over the Democratic Party in the early 1970s. Since then I have voted Republican ever since. I didn't become politically active until I retired from the military in 1998. The military has rules about active political involvement while on duty either active, guard or reserve status.

The BDS mantra runs "Bush Lied" (but we forgive those Democrats who also believed the intelligence reports), "Bush and the Supreme Court stole the election in 2000", "Bush rigged the Ohio vote in 2004", "The Iraq War was all about Oil", even "Bush knew about al-Qaida's plan on 9-11 and allowed it to happen while rigging the buildings with explosives."

Sadly, we do have people in America that are so filled with hate towards George W. Bush or America in general that they actually believe such rubbish. Many of them are in serious need of professional help to curb their anger issues. Their delusional state of mind allows them to really believe that if a Democrat, either Clinton or Obama, wins the White House in November that they will immediately withdraw from Iraq and the world will come together and hold hands and sing "Kumbiya". That's not going to happen!

Much of the world is watching what happens in America this fall. They wonder whether America will continue to lead in this struggle or will we turn into a bastion of protectionism as we did after World War I. We have seen a realization by many in Europe that there is a growing Islamic Fascist spread and threat to Western civilization. Too many, including those who suffer from BDS fail to see the threat or it's magnitude. They failed to understand the cost of ignorance that caused 65 million to perish in World War II. They think they can wish away hatred and despotism in the world by catchy phrases like "change" and "dialog."

Those who fail to understand the failings of mankind and the history of greed and power lust are sure to repeat the elitist errors of yesterday. We must carry a big stick and if necessary to preemptively use that stick. All the meetings with North Korea and Iran sound good, but you must have adversaries who are willing to compromise. Unfortunately, we have too many enemies who only seek our destruction for their glory in this life of an after life. Yes the Bush Derangement Syndrome is alive and well in the Democratic Party and after November I think I'm safe in my prediction that BDS will be replaced by the McCain Derangement Syndrome.

Did Reverend Wright Just Torpedo Obama's Campaign?

Reverend Jeremiah Wright, speaking to members of the national media at the National Press Club, just sent a batch of torpedo's into the USS Barack Obama, which is now listing severely to port and on the verge of sinking. Rev. Wright, Obama's pastor for 20 years at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago,IL, has been in the forefront of the news over numerous recorded comments made in pulpit speeches over the years that many take as unAmerican, unpatriotic and racially divisive.

Rev. Wright spoke for over an hour and a half then took written questions from members of the National Press Club. During his remarks, Rev. Wright attempted to place the blame on the national media for, in his words, "attacks" against the black church. He continued to attack the government, saying it was capable of anything. During questions he stated that Louis Farrakhan, of the Nation of Islam, is a great leader and refused to repudiate Farrakhan's hate speech against whites and Israel. Wright tried but failed to sway the press attendees to justify his comments that the US Marines are the modern day equivalent of the Roman occupiers of ancient Jerusalem.   

The damage that he inflicted to the Obama campaign, in my opinion, will cost Obama the Indiana primary and possibly the nomination. His speech will cause Obama to have to do damage control over Wright's comments and take him off message. This will continue to haunt the Obama campaign with undecided Democrats and Independents. The questions that will linger will be how much of Rev. Wright's core beliefs about distrust of government, belief that the government purposely developed the AIDS virus to kill blacks, and that the government on 9/11 got what it deserved are believed by Barack Obama himself?

Man the life boats and pass out the life preservers!

UPDATE #1, FOX News has posted a transcript of Rev. Wright's speech and answers to questions here.

John McCain's Reality Check - Democratic Style

John McCain went out of his way last week to try to not offend any Democrat or the Barack Obama campaign by speaking out against an ad being run by the North Carolina state GOP in their heated Governor's race. The ad made references to Obama's mentor and former Chicago pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wright, as an extremist.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) was quick to reward McCain's effort to keep the campaign respectful with a ad of their own (see here HOTAIR Allahpundit Post) that grossly mischaracterized and distorted comments made by Senator McCain during a town hall stop, the famed "100 years" comment. The ad, which may also be a violation of federal election law, takes a snippet of what McCain said and tries to pass it off as his intended policy if elected President.

What Senator McCain actually said was: "Maybe 100. As long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed, it's fine with me, and I hope it would be fine with you, if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where al-Qaida is training, recruiting, equipping and motivating people every single day." (The Associated Press 2-29-08)

Referring to the dishonest attacks on McCain's comment by both Senators Clinton and Obama, Washington Post's columnist Charles Krauthammer said, 'As Lenin is said to have said, A lie told often enough becomes truth.'  And as this lie passes into truth the Democrats are ready to deploy it." (TWP Op-Ed 3-28-08) The Democratic Party has never been one to let the truth get in the way of a good attack ad. If you drive around the Twin Cities you are bound to see the anti-war folks holding signs saying "No 100 Year War."

What is obvious from the Clinton and Obama camps and the DNC is that they are so power hungry that they are unwilling to play by any rules of decency and will lie and distort any statement, even when it defames at war hero of McCain's stature, to make political points. Senator McCain can try to keep the high road, but he has to accept the reality that the Democrats will sling the mud at him regardless which road he is on.

Riots in Denver? A Replay of Chicago - 1968

I grew up in Gary, IN some 30 miles from Chicago, IL and remember the summer of 1968 very well. It was a summer of turmoil marked with political assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. The Democratic National Convention (DNC) was held that summer in Chicago. Large groups of anti-war protesters, upset that the Democrats got America into the Vietnam War, gathered in a massive display of lawlessness intent on stopping the convention. Chicago's Mayor, Richard J. Daley declared that law and order would be enforced and unleashed the tear gas and police on the protesters.

Now fast forward to the DNC in Denver, CO this coming August. This time the anti-war thugs are angry at the Democrats for their bipartisan agreement to enter into the Iraq War in 2003. They are: "Mad as hell and they aren't going to take it anymore!" They feel betrayed by the Democrats who in the election of 2006 promised to get out of Iraq as soon as they took over Congress. Rush Limbaugh is under attack by the Left for speaking about this on his radio program. He pointed out he wasn't calling for riots and referred to one of the many radical website (Recreate 68 link here) which states, "All power comes from the people. This website was created for all the grassroots people who are tired of being sold out by the Democratic Party. Today they represent nobody, not even the party members, but only party bureaucracy. The people have been left without appropriate institutions for their representation. We intend to create those institutions!"

I agree with Limbaugh's assertion and I have stated for sometime now that the real rioting and destruction will take place in Denver. That is where the anger and passion will be on display. Sure we will get our share of anti-war and anarchist kooks in Saint Paul, but the real anger will be played out on the streets of Denver. The anti-war protesters of MoveOn.org and Code Pink have figured it out finally, that they have been played as "chumps" by the Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi Democrats once again.

The more things change, the more they stay the same!

Is Iran Next on the Target List?

Iran is the 800 pound gorilla that many think we should target next. Since 1979, Iran has been the number one sponsor of world terrorism. If not openly spreading terrorism, then through their surrogate Hezbollah. Iran has ignored the demands of the United Nations to stop enriching uranium, which most of the western world believes is for a nuclear weapons program. Iranhas now developed missile technology that allows their weapons to reach many European cities. Iran continues to call for the annihilation of Israel and makes threats to other Middle Eastern allies like Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Militarily, Iran has fermented civil war in Lebanon using their proxy Hezbollah.

However their most egregious hostile action has been their interference in the establishment of a free Iraq. During my tour of duty in Iraq in 2005 we began finding and identifying sophisticates explosive devises called EFP’s (explosive formed penetrators). Since their introduction into Iraq they have been responsible for about 60% of our coalition casualties. We also captured members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Qods Special Forces that were training Iraqi Shia from Muqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army in tactics, weapons employment and guerilla warfare. Although Iran continues to deny arming insurgents in Iraq, we constantly find mortars, rockets and EFP devises with Iran manufacturing stamps that reflect very recent production.

Al-Sadr, who is has been hiding in Qom, Iran since the Surge started a year ago is now threatening to unleash his Mahdi Army, believed to be between 40,000 to 60,000 fighters, against the coalition and the legitimate government of Iraq. Most of his militia army are untrained, however about 5,000 have received training from the Qods Forces and pose a serious military threat. Al-Sadr has attempted armed insurrection three times before, in 2004 in Najaf and Fullujah and recently in Basrah. On all three occasions he has taken enormous casualties. Since al-Sadr has failed to gain a foot hold of power in Iraq, he appears to be ready to join the ranks of an Iranian surrogate.

What can America do against Iran? We have long hoped that the Iranian people, over 75 million strong, would stand up and overthrow their fanatical leadership. The Iranian people feel overtly oppressed and suffer from a high rate of unemployment, as much as 30% to 50% in many major cities. Unfortunately, Iran’s leadership has been successful at silencing any opposition. Some feel a naval blockade could bring down Iran’s government within a six month period, others argue for air strikes against nuclear, armament and missile factories. Either would be viewed as an act of war by Iran.

What about Israel? The Israel factor will come into play. Israel’s government has made it perfectly clear to the world that they will not allow Iran to become a nuclear power. Some believe that Israel is waiting to see the outcome of the US Presidential race in November 2008. Many think that if the Democrats win, Israel will feel the need to strike Iran, alone if necessary, and attempt to destroy as much of their nuclear and missile production facilities as possible. With the location of some of those facilities in mountains and hardened underground sites the possibility of Israel using low yield nuclear bombs becomes all too real. Two things are perfectly clear however, Israel will not allow another Jewish Holocaust and America will be blamed for any attack by Israel.

LA Times Hit Piece on John McCain

My good friend Ed Morrissey had a great post yesterday at HOTAIR on the LA Times story attacking John McCain because he collects a disability pension from his Navy service. Senator McCain spent five and a half years in a North Vietnamese Prisoner of War camp. Injured when he ejected from his aircraft, beaten often in captivity, add neglect of his injuries by his captors, and you have a man who deserves the disability payment he receives. I'll gladly raise my hand in objection to the LA Times. I too have a service related disability from my three wars and 30 years of service, but not to the severity of John McCain's.

Let's look at why this story was written. There is an attempt by the Democrats, led by Howard Dean, to portray John McCain as too old or frail for the job of Commander in Chief. I find his age to be irrelevant since we are seeing people living longer as a current trend thanks to our medical advancements. John McCain has had skin cancer issues, but he has opened his medical records for review and everyone agrees that he does not currently have any problems.

Dean's attacks strike at a larger issue. Using Dean's standard, two of the Democrats most heralded former Presidents; John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt would not meet Dean's muster. It is time that Dean and other Democrats denounce this type of character attacks that causes so many of the electorate to be turned off by the political process. Could it be that the Democrats are afraid to wage a campaign on the actual issues facing our nation? I would suggest that Howard Dean spend more time trying to salvage his divided party and less time attacking a real war hero and wounded veteran. This issue does more to unite veterans behind McCain and shows the Democrats for the anti-military party they have become since the 1970's.

 

The Small but Vocal Anti-War Left

Today's Star Tribune has a Counterpoint written by Wes Davey here that attacks the mission of Vets for Freedom. It consists of the same tired whine of "we aren't winning, we should quit, no one knows what victory means, and the war costs too much." I've fired off a letter to the editor that I will post after tomorrows paper comes out. In all fairness I want them to have a chance to publish it first. The anti-war crowd is really besides themselves of late. Here in Minneapolis, a metro area of over 3 million, they recently couldn't muster a crowd of anti-Americans any larger then 600 to 800 for a protest that was planned for two months.

What really bugs these defeatists is that they managed to elect in 2006 Democrats who promised to stop the war in Iraq and now have turned their back on the anti-war movement. After Democrat leaders announced that the war was lost a year ago the Surge came along and now most American's believe we will ultimately win the Iraq War. It must give the anti-war crowd a considerable feeling of betrayal for the way they were used and abused. Perhaps Preparation H would soothe that burning feeling.

Lets face it folks, the Surge has worked, the Iraqi's are standing up militarily, politically, and economically to the chagrin for those cowardly sorts that demand we cut and run -starting today. Today we have even more confirmation of the winning direction with the announcement of General David Petraeus being named the new Commander of CENTCOM (Central Command). We currently have the right tactics and the right leadership executing this war. We in the Vets for Freedom only ask, "Let them Win!"

UPDATE # 1, The Star Tribune published part of my Letter to the Editor. I understand that the Tribune has the right to edit and reduce the size of letters for spacing purposes. Tim O'Brien  has always been fair and I repect him for that. Here is the letter published here.

All wars are detestable and have long lasting negative consequences. We combat veterans know that far too well. In war there are no unwounded soldiers. As part of the 250 plus members of the Minnesota Vets for Freedom all we ask is: "Let them Win!"

UPDATE # 2, I would like to add that Vets for Freedom is a 21,000 member, non-partisan group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans that has the support of Congressional Democrats, Independents and Republicans. We believe that when our nation is at war we must fund, equip and allow our troops the necessary time to do their job. For most of us who have fought in Iraq or Afghanistan, the thought of turning tail on our allies and running away is repulsive. 

The DFL is out for every penny you make!

On Saturday, April 19, I attended the Town Hall Meeting of my State Representative Sandra Masin 38A. This was my first attendance to one of her Town Hall meetings. My wife had previously attended one of Masin's meetings and came away unimpressed. I was disappointed with how the meeting was run and what I heard from the elected representatives present. What I thought was to be an opportunity to discuss local and state political issues with my representative turned out to be a three way DFL tag team match of Masin, Shelley Madore 37A and Will Morgan 40A. Nearly 50 people  attended and I must assume many were supported since they seemed to be the ones who were called on, and by a first name basis.

The 10:00 AM meeting started twelve minutes late. We were told that everyone would be allowed to ask only one question by Representative Morgan who was the moderator. No follow up or second question allowed until everyone else had a chance to ask their first question. Unfortunately, we were not told until 11:25 AM that they only had the room until 11:30 AM. At my count only nine questions were asked, because nearly every question was answered by all three representatives. They still found time to introduce the Minnesota Speaker of the House, Margret Anderson Kelliher, who spoke for about 15 minutes on that evil Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty and his attempts to stop the DFL from taking every penny they think they need from your pocket.

What troubled me more was what I heard from these first term officials. To sum up their rhetoric during the 1 1/2 hour meeting: Republicans who do not vote for tax increases are bad people, but the DFL is good since they need more of your tax money to spend. I nearly fell from my chair when Representative Madore said that the State of Minnesota must do a better job of educating special needs children so that the can hold future jobs, "because I need their tax moiney!"

Minnesota’s biennium budget is over 35 billion dollars and that is not enough money? Wisconsin, a state with 400,000 more residents, operates on a biennium budget of 28 billion. Our problem isn’t a lack of tax money; it’s a lack of proper spending priorities. These freshman representatives were elected in 2006 promising fiscal conservative values. Instead the DFL spent our surplus of 2 billion dollars, and have put us nearly a billion more in debt.

Minnesota is over taxed, plain and simple. Productive workers, retirees and companies are leaving our state in droves because of taxes! In November we need to elect Republicans who understand roads, bridges and jobs are far more important than bike paths, gorilla cages and super expensive light rail trains.

MN 2CD at a Glance

In October 2006 I returned from my two years of voluntary retiree recall to active US Army duty. The Minnesota Second Congressional District election was about to unfold in a massive lopsided victory by Congressman John Kline over the retired FBI agent and Time Magazine Person of the Year Coleen Rowley. With unprecedented name recognition Rowley should have been the Democrats best hope of winning, especially since the "Blue Tsunami" was gaining strength nation wide. One problem, the Democrats failed to understand what a terrible wing-nut candidate they had put up against Kline. 

It is hard to phantom that Rowley was once an gun carrying FBI agent entrusted with national security responsibility. Fortunately, she ran what the Hill Newspaper called one of the worse campaigns in 2006. Her protest at the Texas Ranch of President Bush to her campaign antics labeling Kline a Colonel Klink, were rewarded by the voters with a 16% victory for Kline.

This year the Democrats have taken another flawed approach by sending what appears to be a sacrificial lamb to the political slaughter house. Steve Sarvi, a likable enough Minnesota National Guard Captain, fresh back from Iraq, is their choice to confront Kline in this heavily Republican district. Sarvi has had some political experience as a small town mayor in Minnesota.

Already the Democrats are attacking Kline on his position on the War on Terror. A tactic that holds little chance of success since Kline, a retired USMC Colonel, married to a retired US Army Colonel (Nurse), and has a son who is a US Army Lieutenant Colonel helicopter pilot currently is serving in Afghanistan. I should also mention that his son served in my division, the 101st Airborne in Iraq in 2005. Kline like many in Congress supports the mission our troops. Unlike many in Congress, he understands first hand the sting of battle from his experience in Vietnam and has a son on the front lines of this war. This tactic of the Democrats won't work again this year. As I have often said on this issue, "that dog wont hunt."

Will we see another lopsided win by Kline in double digits? Likely not, but a substantial win just the same. Kline has done a good job for the district and will be returned to office. However, the Democrats do have a plan for the future. They are placing their hope on gaining and maintaining a majority in the Minnesota House and Senate, while winning in 2010 the Governor's office. At that time they plan to redistrict and eliminate one or both of Minnesota's Conservative Congressional office holders, John Kline and Michele Bachmann. Unfortunately, that just may be their best chance to succeed.