The Eagle's Nest Blog

Barack Obama & General Wes Clark Have No Shame!

My friend Ed Morrissey at Hot Air has a great post (here) on General Wes Clark's attack on John McCain's military record while on Face the Nation yesterday.

Barack Obama and the National Democratic Party should immediately denounce and dismiss General Clack from any future campaigning in this election year, but he and the Democrats will not! As Ed Morrissey points out, this is a planned attack on John McCain's character.

The Obama Campaign, using their surrogates, have attacked McCain's age, mental state, bravery and honesty. Is this the "change" that everyone wants in Washington? A ambitious young politician bent on personal destruction of an opponents record and accomplishments? How dare Obama and his minions attack the military record of John McCain. Where and when did Obama serve? What sacrifice has he or his family made on the battlefield? Unlike John Kerry, where are those who served with McCain in combat claiming anything other then his honorable selfless service?

It is time for America to stand up and denounce the tactics of the "New Democratic Party" under the leadership of MoveOn.org. Barack Obama doesn't hold a candle to John McCain when it comes to national security and military matters. To elect Barack Obama would, in my opinion, weaken this country at open us to further terrorist attacks.

Listen people, I have met General Wes Clark and I can tell you he is no General David Petraeus anymore then Barack Obama is the quality of John McCain!

Eugene Sit - A Minnesota Hero!

I first met Eugene Sit upon my return from Iraq in November 2005 when I was invited to attend the Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund (MMAF) Annual Dinner. After leaving Active US Army duty in September 2006, I was invited to become steering committee member of MMAF.

The Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund was the idea of Eugene and his wife Gail. It was their way of saying thank you to those who served and their families in Iraq and Afghanistan since the attack on America on September 11, 2001.

I had the honor of nominating Eugene Sit last year for KARE 11 TV's Eleven Who Care Award, which he won. Eugene and Gail had given over one million dollars of their own fortune to start MMAF. The program has raised over $7 million dollars and given our over 6,000 grants to Minnesota veterans and their families, many of those who have been killed or wounded.

Eugene Sit was born in southern China and was able to come to America in 1947 before the Communist revolution engulfed that country. His family lost all their land and fortune when the Communists came to power. Still, Although penniless, Eugene managed a scholarship and attended DePaul University. He went on to become the chief investment officer of IDS before starting his own company, Sit Investments, which employees 75 and manages assets of over $8 billion dollars.

In February of this year Eugene was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died Tuesday, June 24, at the age of 69. Funeral services will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, July 1, at 11 a.m. at Christ Presbyterian Church, Edina, MN.

He will be greatly missed by his family, employees and all of Minnesota's Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. A true Minnesota hero. 

The Eagle's Nest Blog

I'm currently away and will return to blogging next Monday, June 30. Old soldiers occasionally need R & R (rest and recuperation)!

UPDATE: June 30, 2008 - We are back at home now. Our friend Bear started chemotherapy for cancer today at the University of Minnesota's Vet Hospital. He is about to turn 14 (98 in people years). We are hoping this will help him live out the rest of his life in comfort.

What? Me Worry? Says Obama!

Newsmax has an interesting post on terrorists "actively" (here) seeking nuclear weapons.

It seems to me that it was only a few weeks ago that Barack Obama was telling us we didn't have to fear "little nations" like Iran and North Korea. How dumb can you be? If a nuclear bomb goes off in New York City of Washington DC, does it matter at all that it was sold to a terrorist group like Al Qaeda by someone like Iran? No, you are just as dead. That is why we must stay on the offensive and stop these killers before they strike again. This is "War" not a legal criminal habeas court action.

Obama's logic reminds me of cartoon character Alfred E. Neuman from the 1950's Mad Magazine saying, "What? Me Worry?" Ya, that is "Change" alright!

Saint Paul, Minnesota for the Taking!

There are groups that are planning to take Saint Paul by storm this September during the Republican National Convention. It appears that Mayor Chris Coleman is welcoming them with open arms. Don't you love the "Convention Goers and Protesters Welcome" signs that are going up?

Don't you wonder who is going to foot the cost of damage and clean up after this mob of anti-war, anti-Bush, anti-capitalism, & anti-Republicans leaves our fine city?

Someone better wake up and smell the Kool-Aid! Some of these groups wont be happy unless they see some or all of Saint Paul in flames. Word has it that Saint Paul's Finest are very concerned that the liberal politicians in Saint Paul "just don't get it."

The Ron Paul Movement

Last night Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul abandoned his presidential campaign. I was not a supporter of Congressman Paul. However I believe he exemplified the growing unhappiness of conservative and libertarian members of the national Republican Party. Although I wish he would have endorsed the GOP presumptive nominee Arizona Senator John McCain, as many of the other presidential candidates have, I can understand why he did not.

The test now before the GOP is can they graciously bring back into the fold for the 2008 election a portion of those energized and mobilized Paul supporters. I believe this is a movement that we have not heard the last from. Had they been treated with a little less ambivalence and a little respect, they could have proved to be an asset this November.    

NBC's Tim Russert Dead at 58

Tim Russert, NBC's iconic political reporter has died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 58. I had the pleasure to meet Mr. Russert during the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York. Although our politics were different he was a gracious individual and will be missed by his loved ones and his NBC Family.

A Very Sick Friend!

Sorry I haven't posted for the last 5 days but I've been consumed with caring for a very ill friend, Bear, my 13 year old Chocolate Labrador Retriever. Bear had surgery this afternoon and we hope that it will finally take care of his life threatening problem. Bear is an integral part of our family and while I served my recent two years away with the US Army, he did yeoman's service at protecting our home.

Internet Vandalism

Having been the recent recipient of an attack of “internet vandalism” I did what any respectable blogger would do and verified the story from both sides. Last week I received an e-mail piece from a military friend that is going around on the web attacking Martha Raddatz, the White House Correspondent for ABC. I happen to know her personally, since we met in Baghdad, Iraq in 2005. I immediately contacted her for her version on the e-mail I received. The e-mail in question is listed below:

My niece, Katelyn, stationed at Baluud , Iraq was assigned, with others of her detachment, to be escort/guard/ watcher for Martha Raddatz of ABC News as she covered John McCain's recent trip to Iraq . Katelyn and her Captain stood directly behind Raddatz as she queried GI's walking past. They kept count of the GI's and you should remember these numbers. She asked 60 GI's who they planned to vote for in November. 54 said John McCain, 4 for Obama and 2 for Hillary.

Katelyn called home and told her Mom and Dad to watch ABC news the next night because she was standing directly behind Raddatz and maybe they'd see her on TV. Mom and Dad of course, called and emailed all the kinfolk to watch the newscast and maybe see Katelyn. Well, of course, we all watched and what we saw wasn't a glimpse of Katelyn, but a hell of a view of skewed news.

After a dissertation on McCain's trip and speech, ABC showed 5 GI's being asked by Raddatz how they were going to vote in November; 3 for Obama and 2 for Clinton. No mention of the 54 for McCain.

The problem with the e-mail is it is not true. Ms. Raddatz was in Iraq at that time, but was traveling with Vice President Dick Cheney not Senator John McCain. She totally refutes speaking to 60 GI’s, and I believe her. I have found Martha to be a staunch supported of our military while she was ABC’s Pentagon Reporter and in her new role at the White House. She asks tough questions but is fair in her dealings with the Administration, unlike CBS or NBC.

It just goes to show you how fast a bogus story can travel thanks to this new media.

On to More Important Matters!

The DFL is gathering in Rochester to endorse a US Senate candidate this weekend. It's likely to be Al Franken, who may just be the DFL's worse decision since running Mike Hatch in 2006. Although there is talk of Mike Ciresi returning to the race as an alternative, and a darn good one, it will be interesting to see if the DFL delegates realize that Franken is mortally wounded. A Ciresi or a Betty McCollum (Mee Moua would be the likely replacement) candidacy would turn the tables on Senator Norm Coleman and likely guarantee his defeat in November.

As I have posted before, endorse Franken and the election will be about Franken. Any other endorsed candidate will make the election about Norm Coleman's record. If the DFL wants a victory and support from moderates, Independents and unhappy Republicans, they should get smart and endorse Ciresi or McCollum. Many political insiders have told me that this is Obama's year in Minnesota and the opportunity to retake the seat that was held by Paul Wellstone may never be better. Let's see if the DFL unites behind a winnable candidate this weekend. I bet they wont!