Smoke on the Water

Tonic For The Soul

After coming home from a truly crappy day on the job, I was needful of a boost to my flagging spirits. Don't tell me it wasn't Monday, I know better.

So after a desultory few bites passing for dinner, I sat down to read and catch up on a few blogs, and I began to see that the world was indeed a brighter place than presently existed under my own dark cloud.

The Governator rocks, friends. His speech will be the headline tomorrow, have no doubt.

And if anyone is so insane as to find any similarity between Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Heinz-Kerry, well, I guess that's why lefties love their drugs so much.

This convention isn't going to just give W a mere bounce, friends.

One caveat. Vote, y'all.

For goodness sakes, don't neglect to vote.

Homeport

I arrived back in Galveston last night at about 9 pm. After visiting with my neighbor and giving him a bottle of scotch for having taken care of my cats, I gratefully boarded the New Dawn after a six day absence.

You've never seen a welcome home until you've seen how my yellow (former) tomcat carries on. He puts an enthusiastic Labrador to shame for all the tail wagging and face washing.

But I didn't stay up late and get an update posted. After listening to McCain and Rudy's speeches on the radio, that aft berth called, and I answered. And the blanket monster damn near won the battle this morning as well.

This morning, I awoke to a pouring, driving rain. And it hasn't let up a bit in the past hour. I don't think anyone could not enjoy the warm, cozy feeling of laying abed of a morning, listening to the rain and feeling the subtle movement of the hull as the wind pushes it against taut lines.

It's going to be a busy week, both at work, and out in the world of news, blogs, Iraq, politics, you name it. And it's time for me to get back up to speed with it all.

But first, I've gotta shave n' shower n' drag my carcass off to work.

The Heart of the Matter

What you'll want to know first, is that I come bearing good news of my Dad's health.

The procedure was a success in every sense of the word. To say I've never been more impressed with a complete medical facility and it's incredibly positive and gifted staff would be the understatement of my lifetime.

Per the previous post, he was admitted to the Shands facility at the University of Florida Medical Center at Gainsville in order to have a hole in his heart repaired. All of the tests leading up to the actual procedure had indicated that the hole (in the septum dividing the right and left atrium) was about the size of a dime.

Odyssey to Orlando

With an 0630 hrs flight from Houston to Orlando tomorrow morning, I don't expect I'll get much sleep tonight, if any at all.

All of your goodwill and prayers for my Dad will be most appreciated. Without going into all the details, he's going to be attended to by the best-of-the best at the hospital at the University of Florida at Gainsville. I'll be doing the driving for he and my step-mom, from Orlando to Gainsville and back.

What they're going to do is fix a hole in his heart, by means of the long route up through the veins from his leg.

Blogging may be spotty along the way, but I shall endeavor to stay in touch here. I'm looking forward to posting good news of great success from the procedures, most of all.

In a related matter, I posted this gun for sale about a month ago. Sadly, there was lots of interest, but no buyers. If you're looking for an unfired gun which they quit making about fifteen or twenty years ago, well, here's your chance.

That Ruger urgently needs to find a good, loving home this time.

Same Song, Second Verse

Some intrepid Kerry aide needs to rip the phone away from Lurch's grasp before he hurts himself with it, again.

Oh wait, he just did!

From Drudge:

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX TUE AUG 24, 2004 11:09:31 ET XXXXX

KERRY PHONES SWIFT BOAT FOES

**World Exclusive**

Dem presidential hopeful John Kerry personally phoned anti-Kerry swift boat vets, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

Well, that didn't take long. In less than a day after being bitchslapped by Uncle Bob, Lurch tries to appear contrite and to maybe look like he's learned his lesson.

Kerry reached out to Robert "Friar Tuck" Brant Cdr., USN (RET) Sunday night, just hours after former Sen. Bob Dole publicly challenged Kerry to apologize to veterans.

I don't know why Lurch bothered with calling Commander Tuck. I mean after all, he didn't serve on the same boat as Lurch, right?

Brant was skipper of the #96 and # 36 boat and spent time with Kerry in An Thoi. Kerry and Brant slept in the same quarters, and Brant used to put Kerry back to bed at night when Kerry was sleepwalking.

Oh, wait. This is John effing Kerry we're talking about here. *tosses coin in air* Hmmm...tails. Guess that means that being assigned to the same squadron, living, eating and sleeping in the same facilities and jointly operating serval boats in formation on missions constitutes serving together, after all?

Gawd, I'm getting dizzzy already. Oh, and maybe Kerry sleptwalk into Cambodia after all. Just maybe?

Brant received a call from Kerry at his home in Virginia while he was watching the Olympics on TV.

The call lasted 10 minutes, sources tell DRUDGE.

He Can Really Dole It Out

News Max might not always get it right on the first salvo, but I don't see how anyone can call this anything but a true X-ring shot.

Monday, Aug. 23, 2004 4:42 p.m. EDT

Dole Defends Swiftees in Call From Kerry

Presidential candidate John Kerry telephoned former Sen. Bob Dole this morning to complain about Dole's demand a day earlier that he apologize to Vietnam veterans for protesting the war, the one-time Republican presidential candidate revealed Monday afternoon.

"John Kerry called me this morning, which surprised me," Dole told radio host Sean Hannity.

You'll want to go to NewsMax and read the whole (rather brief) transcript. Or better, just listen to Senator Dole and Mr. Hannity's on-air conversation.

Suffice to say, Kerry had his ketchup handed to him.

Dole said Kerry responded, "I haven't spent one dime attacking President Bush."

But the Republican war hero shot back, "You don't have to. You've got all the so-called mainstream media, plus you've got MoveOn.org and all these other groups that have spent millions and millions of dollars trying to tarnish Bush's image."

"Don't tell me you don't know what some of these people are doing," he told Kerry.

"Everybody likes quiet heroes," Dole added, saying he told Kerry, "John, everybody knows you were in Vietnam and the less you say about it, the better."

If Bob Dole can get in front of the alphabet media's cameras with that story, you can then declare that this was the moment that the Kerry campaign gave up the ghost.

Nobody today dares besmirch Senator Dole's combat record, nor the terrible injuries he sustained in combat.

Kerry ran crying and whining to Bob Dole concerning the Swiftie's ads, and Bob Dole laid the bitchslap of the century on the Botox Boy.

Is this how Kerry intends to work with the U.N.? How he intends to stand up to rogue nations? How he intends to fight terrorism?

Running and crying to Mum and Pop is not what we expect from a candidate for the highest office in the most powerful and influential nation on the face of the earth.

Way to go, Bob Dole. You handled that with class, poise and dignity. But you didn't suffer that fool gladly, nor were you obligated to. My hats off to you, sir, and you've once more rendered a valueable service to your country.

Read the whole thing, and listen to the audio.

On The Patio

Another of my local cigar-smokin', gun-shootin', whiskey-drinkin' friends has finally thrown his hat into the blogging arena.

If Marcus' first few posts are any measure, we're in for one hell of a good read in the months to come.

Join me in a hearty Welcome Aboard to the new blog, On The Patio.

By the way, he's also a skydiver. Damn, looks like I'm gonna get another hobby to take up what little free time I have.

Beneath Contempt

But not beyond scorn.

The shit-filled toilet which is the Kerry Campaign has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, seeking to halt the airing of the ads by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

No refutation of the SBVT's claims. No factual rebuttals.

Just. Complaints.

Why does this not surprise me, coming as it does from the Democrat party?

It's their standard operating procedure.

When you can't win with the facts, (or with the votes...yeah, you Al Gore), just find your nearest friendly judge and go a-cryin'.

Fine by me though. The only thing America hates more than a loser is a whiny loser.

Not quite the image that the kite-surfin', snow-boardin', road-bikin' bouffant haired poseur wants to convey, but it sure as hell is the image being projected.

Now will someone please give that brat a lollypop botox shot so we can get a peaceful moment around here?

West Houston Smoke and Powder Crawl

An introduction, history, announcement and invitation.

One of the finer groups of folks I've found via the 'net in my pre-blogging days are the folks from the AOL Cigar Forum. I initially came to know them through doing some research into the Houston & Galveston cigar scene.

I've had the pleasure of being on their e-mailing list for almost two years now. In that time, I've stolen several fine recipies, netted several wine purchases based on their reviews and have otherwise enjoyed many an informative and fun read.

And finally I now have the opportunity to return the favor.

Mr. Richard Senascac provides the initiative for their activities in the Houston area. Here, he gives us a history of the event:

When is the WEST HOUSTON SMOKE & POWDER CRAWL VIII? SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25,
2004 ("The First-and-a-Half Anniversary Crawl")

For the last seven years, I have put on the Annual S&PC! Generally, we start at American Shooting Center in far west Houston, and proceed, in a cloud of gun and cigar smoke, to stuff ourselves blind and smoke until we ca'na smoke no more.

This includes lunch at a cigar-friendly restaurant (usually Paul's Seafood Boat, where the seafood is fresh and tasty and we can have the top floor to ourselves), several local tobacconists (who always are so happy to see us that they have snakes and freebies -- or at least give us stuff to get us to leave) and dinner at an, again, cigar-friendly venue.

Because there is no "fee" for joining the crowd and this is not an organized club, people join and drop out as time and schedules permit but we usually have a dozen or so stick through the whole ordeal and have had nearly thirty attend all-told.

The schedule starts at 9:00 at American Shooting Center, where you have rifle and pistol ranges and for shotgunners, 25 Skeet, Five Stand or 50 Sporting Clays. Many of the range officers love cigars and join in the fun (and cigar mooching). A "Shoot-out," at a one cigar buy-in, is the last event at ASC.

Last year, after lunch at Paul's Seafood & Oyster Boat, (The cigar-friendly people who actually invited us back) we hit Tobacco Habana (where the owner had arranged for a Cuban roller to be there) with a 20% discount on cigars & accessories and got to meet some members of the weekly Chess and Cigar Club that
meets there. We then headed to the Cigar Vault, a nice shop sporting overstuffed lounging chairs and with a good selection of pipes and tobaccos as well as cigars; and a 10% discount for Crawlers.

Last was Village Liquor; not our average venue but a liquor store with a walk-in humidor. It was on the crawl because it has, flat out, the best everyday cigar prices in Houston, rivaling JR's, and a good selection. And freebies and a discount on some GREAT humidors (several of us snagged those).

Dinner was at Jillian's, a restaurant and bar with a pool-hall, bowling alley, jazz lounge and gaming arcade. Good, down-home pub food and entertainment that can't be beat.

In the past, we have been sponsored (with anything from cigar accessories to up to two boxes each of five different cigars) by Moore & Bode (still made by the entubar method), DiMeola cigars (by craftsman Richard DiMeola), Perdomo Cigars, Smokey Mo of CGars Ltd. in England, Wal Baranow in Australia and several
others. Many of the sponsors have been with us to five or more years but we always try to find new cigars for our attendees.

Sadly, I've not been able to personally attend a Smoke and Powder Crawl. A six-day work schedule with fewer than one-weekend a month off tends to put the quietas on most Saturday outings for me.

But, you can go and have fun for me, m'kay?

The extended post contains your invitation, and how to RSVP. And you need to RSVP to be eligible for the "goodies" that they'll be distributing.

Parlez Vouz Kerry?

Not much here, folks. Just a quick peek into the oh-so-French essence of the donk's doomed candidate.

Brought to you courtesy of dictionary.com

char·la·tan Pronunciation Key (shärl-tn)
n.
A person who makes elaborate, fraudulent, and often voluble claims to skill or knowledge; a quack or fraud.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[French, from Italian ciarlatano, probably alteration (influenced by ciarlare, to prattle), of cerretano inhabitant of Cerreto a city of Italy once famous for its quacks.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
charla·tanic (-tnk) or charla·tani·cal adj.
charla·tan·ism or charla·tan·ry n.

charlatan

\Char"la*tan\, n. [F. charlatan, fr. It. ciarlatano, fr. ciarlare to chartter, prate; of imitative origin; cf. It. zirlare to whistle like a thrush.] One who prates much in his own favor, and makes unwarrantable pretensions; a quack; an impostor; an empiric; a mountebank.

[Free Trial - Merriam-Webster Unabridged.]
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Given today's "Bring It On!" outburst by that vertical pervaricating pile of steaming feces, I'm only to happy to oblige.

The above definitions fit Kerry better than his two-thousand dollar bespoke suits.

Except that I won't play into J. effing Kerry's wish for we conservatives to join him in arguing about his service in Viet Nam. (did you know he was in Viet Nam? wow!)

First, other blogs out there are doing a superlative job in documenting the lies and exaggerations of his Viet Nam record. Perhaps none better than Captain's Quarters, which you would be wise to add to your daily reads.

Second, in the long run, I think that the aim of our rhetorical rifles should be aimed for a center-hold on the body of his record in the post Viet Nam era.

The feckless fakirs in the liberal media are already spinning the Swift Boat issues into a "I said / He said" quarrel, at best. Regardless of the depth and accuracy of documented instances of J. effing Kerry's brownwater lies and exaggerations, the alphabet and dead-tree media is hell-bent on securing an electoral victory for their annointed billionaire giggolo.

And so, they're focused on discrediting the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. But what they simply cannot repudiate is J. effing Kerry's legislative record, the Congressional Record and the collected archives of film and documents of his speeches and other public statements.

And believe me, it's a far more damning record than the worst of all of his Swift Boat Heroics Fairy Tales, combined.

That post Viet Nam record is more than enough to sink that traitorous liar's battleship.

I say Damn the Torpedos, Full Speed Ahead!

Time to sink the Charlatan.

Headlight Rally

Here's an idea sent to me by friend, reader and fellow shooter Yellowlegs.

If you support the policies and character of George W. Bush, please drive with your headlights on during the day on Friday.

If you support John Kerry, please drive with your headlights off Friday night.

Help spread the word!

One Paragaph

One. Single. Paragraph.

If the mark of a gifted engineer is to build the simplest effective structure; if the gift of the talented sculptor lies in removing all which is not the model, then Raging Dave must surely have sculpted one of the most efficiently engineered verbal slams I've ever had the pleasure to read.

It is indeed a thing of beauty. Behold:

I think that's the perfect analogy for today's modern liberals. They wail and gnash their teeth at the thought of genocide in Sudan, but should Bush send in the 101st Airborn Division to stop it, you can bet your bottom dollar there would be protests held nationwide. They do nothing but complain, but when someone else actually steps up and DOES something about, they screech and cry foul. They talk about women's rights, but when Bush removed the Taliban and their oppressive regime, which regularly enslaved women, killed them for appearing in public without a male family member, and prevented them from working or going to school, Michael Moore was out there denouncing Bush with his chins all a-quiver. They talk about world peace, but when Bush removed the dictator responsible for over ONE MILLION DEAD ARABS, he's called Hitler.

I won't say much, other than to strongly suggest that you go read the entire post.

Suitable Skies

Coming off of the most pleasant August weather I can remember in almost thirty years of Texas living, it seemed suitable I would awake today to a cloudy and rainy morning.

But as gloomy as it may seem outside, I actually am comforted by the change, and by the solace of the shrinkage of one's world that occurs when the veil of rain closes off the horizon.

I could easily stay home here aboard ship on days like this. But the job is a demanding taskmaster, as are the bills. And sadly, it is those same pressures on both Linda and I that will prevent us from making the long drive to Sassy's viewing tonight, or services tomorrow. We've communicated such with her family, and they're forgiving and quite understanding.

Finally, a word of thanks to all who wrote and left comments on the previous post.

It is good to have friends like you.

A Day of Mourning

Although Linda and I did indeed enjoy a tremendous weekend at Area .45 in the company of Mr. & Mrs. Airboss, the clan DuToit and Serenity, our bouyant spirits were dashed with terrible news this morning.

We lost a friend of ours sometime Sunday morning to an accident, the nature of which we're still waiting for news and details.

Compounding this sense of loss is the fact that we three tried to arrange a visit over the weekend, as her domicile and Area .45 were in close proximity. And sadly, the meeting didn't occur, and we've now lost forever the chance to meet our friend Cassie.

We only knew her from those years of communicating over the 'net. She and Linda had a lot in common, and their bond and mutual support counted for much through some very, very difficult times.

In spite of the fact that we'd never met Cassie face to face, we knew her to be bright, vivacious, witty and always a ton of fun. It didn't matter if the medium was e-mail, messenger or she and Linda on the phone, the friendship was true, and strong.

Cassie, all 4'11" of her, barely thirty-six years old, leaves behind her four young children, their father (her ex-husband) and her family, who Linda and I ask you all to keep in your prayers.

She was our friend, and we shall miss her, always.

Smoke Break

Well, gunsmoke actually.

Ninety minutes (or less) from now, I'll hang up the "away" sign here at the office, make that arduous one-mile commute back to the boat and shift the flag to the car for a short, hundred mile ride.

Yes, I'll be nicely loaded-out for the weekend, with guns, cigars, bourbon, ammunition and of course, my sweet and wonderful Linda.

Destination, Airboss' secret ranch, otherwise known as Area .45 for all you tinfoil-types out there.

And yes, it is a meeting of the Vast Right Wing Consipracy, as evidenced by the attendance of (it's only a coincidence, I swear!) these folks.

Anyway, posting will most likely be scant this weekend, but I'll try to get at least one update up for y'all.

Meanwhile, I hope you all enjoy your weekend as much as I intend to enjoy mine!

Honor Beyond Words

If you're a regular reader of Smoke on the Water or of many of the blogs linked on my sidebar, then you'll know that I'm the son of a U.S. Navy Submariner and a U.S. Air Force veteran myself.

You'll also be aware of the fact that I believe that there is no service more worthy of our respect than that which has been given, and which is being given today by the members of our Armed Forces.

Now then, one from the ranks of that aforementioned sidebar has stepped forward to take that Oath of Service which so many of us have besworn in years past.

And other plans are coming into play - you might remember my futile attempts to rejoin the Army, and how my eyes kept me out. Well, if the Lord works in mysterious ways, the US Army has him beat hands down.

At 1 PM this afternoon, I raised my right hand and joined the Army Reserve. I'll be placed into a unit based out of Spokane, WA. Traveling to and from drills will be somewhat boring for a few months, but I'll make do until I'm living closer to there.

Raging Dave, I salute you, sir.

I'm also proud as hell to call you my friend.

And hell yes, I'll meet up with you in San Antonio, Galveston or any point in-between. Be advised, sir, that your money will be no good at all in any bar we may visit.

I have absolutely no doubt that Raging Dave will make one hell of a fine Soldier.

Raging Dave has well-served the cause with his indomitable spirit; through his words, actions and the life that he leads.

Now then, he steps beyond mere words, and onto the Path of Honor trod by countless heroes before him.

Cherish every step, Dave. And enjoy the journey, too.

Olympic Security

In today's world of heightened security alerts, I ask you, how in the hell did this one slip through the cracks?

But Thanasis Kyriakou, who is coordinating the security efforts for the 2004 Olympics, said that the horse, while of unknown origin, posed no serious security threat to the Games, which are set to begin in three days.

They say to never look a gift-horse in the mouth.

Okay, fine. Just be that way, then.

Neighsayers.

*grins* to reader Airboss for the link

Chicken Little

Here's one you won't find in the New York Times op-ed pages. But then, when haven't they been scared to death of a Texas Woman, armed and skilled with both rifle and keyboard?

From Ms. J.R. Labbe of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, comes this incredibly clear, concise and powerful refutation of the cries and squawks of chickens, everywhere.

Chicken Little arrives every four years in a feather-ruffled flurry squawking about some kind of impending doom. This year she is incited to a level of hen-ish hysteria by the encroaching expiration of the federal "assault weapons" ban.

Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry is all for extending the ban on 19 military-style firearms, coos Chicken Little. He suspended his campaign back in March so he could go to Washington and cast one of the few Senate votes he found time to make in the past year. No one should read anything political into that.

That's just for openers. She also, in one short paragraph, leaves the core of the AWB plucked and bleeding, awaiting the demise it so clearly merits.

These firearms were classified by how they looked and not by how they operate. Cosmetic and ergonomic features like telescoping stocks, bayonet lugs, pistol grips and flash suppressors that give the firearms a military-style appearance were banned even though they are mechanically indistinguishable from traditional sporting rifles.

This is one you'll want to print out and casually leave laying on some GFW's desks. But you'll have to go read it all, first.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've a sudden urge to go to KFC for lunch.

Blog Cuba II

Defiant in the face of the oncoming storms, one hardy soul remains steadfast to an ideal, a committment and a true work of love. Last December, Blog Cuba I hit the blogworld with hurricane force.

I suppose that it's only fitting that Blog Cuba II is today, launched into the eye of the storm.

Val Prieto gives us Cuba, through the words of some of the finest writers in blogdom. And a stray work of indeterminate quality, written by yours truly.

Which for me is an incredible honor. The mere fact that Val asked me to submit an entry....me; who knows naught of Cuba proper, save for a knowledge from a mere handful of Cubans I'm proud to call friends.

I am both proud and humbled to be a part of Blog Cuba II.

Thanks for giving me this opportunity, Val. And yes, one day we'll sail the waters of a Free Cuba.

Pray the hastening of that day.

Stop What You're Doing

Right. NOW!

Bill Whittle has opened the door the meerest wee little crack.

But when he does that, light floods in and brightens even the darkest world.

No, it's not the long awaited essay, but there's wisdom there still.

And beauty, too. In more ways than one.

I'll be here when you get back. Have a nice flight!

I Kidnapped Allah's Guest

A few posts earlier, I had opined here, regarding a poll which reflected the Viet Namese-American communitys' nearly unamimous support of President Bush, and their corresponding disdain for Sen. Kerry.

This morning, while enjoying my daily read over at Allah's, I came across this gem in the comments to this post from the Diety of All Photoshops.

SK,
I am a South Vietnamese refugee living in America. Bush didn't kill a single Vietnamese but John Kerry and Jane Fonda helped the communist to butcher us. Should I thank John Kerry too? Yes he deserves a thank you for the 1st part. Now for the 2nd part, you god damn son of a bitch. Don't ever get your ass over Little Saigon and ask for our vote.

Posted by Lan Nguyen at August 10, 2004 06:17 PM

[rachellucas] Right. Between. The. Eyes. [/rachellucas]

Thanks, Lan. I wish I could have said it that succinctly. I'm glad I didn't have to suffer what you or your family did in order to have been able to bear such witness. I'm glad you're here now, too.

There can be no doubt that we failed in Viet Nam due to the erosion of our national resolve. There can also be no doubt that seditious, socialists such as Fonda, Kerry and their ilk desired that erosion, promoted that erostion and fought to accelerate that erosion.

And of course, it's the same crowd, promoting the same (lack of) ideas, with the same agenda today. Only they want us to fail in Iraq and Afghanistan, creating a whole new world of Lan Nguyens, but with names like Mustapha, Omar and Ali.

Now then, let's do our best to not let any Lan Nguyens down a second time.

Once was enough.

If The Shoe Fits

Or in this case, the tinfoil hat......

Tin Foil Hat: a ludicrous slander that's used to describe liberals who believe all of the perfectly reasonable facts in this list.

Thanks Ironbear, for the grin this morning.

Go read, and take notes. This material will be on the test.

Local Anchorages

While the title of this post might evoke thoughts of Galveston Bay's finer points on the chart, it's really the title of a New Category over on my blogroll.

In the scant few months that Smoke on the Water has sailed the 'net, I've met a fair number of the other bloggers who are on my blogroll. Yet, distance, logistics and sheer practicality makes it all but impossible to meet everyone of them.

And that's a shame, as I consider more than a few of them to be friends of the first order.

Now though, via my referer logs and a bit of sleuthing of the Houston blogworld, I'm proud to add two superb local blogs, under the category Local Anchorages.

Welcome aboard, Publius, TX and Houston's Clear Thinkers.

Both of these are excellent places, giving a concentrated view of events ranging from local to global. And if you want some truly insightful commentary on Houston's sports teams, these are the go-to guys, believe me.

Frankly, I'm a bit humbled that these guys have me on their respective blogrolls. These are both, truly Men of Letters, and that in the best meaning of the term. There once was a time when true educational accomplishments were beheld in respectful awe and appreciation. Both of these gentlemen merit such, and that in no small measure.

I'm looking forward to quaffing a brew or three with these guys.

For now, I'm going to leave the other local bloggers in their respective places in the main blogroll. I'll give some thought to a more comprehensive re-arrangement later on. But if you're wondering who's in the Greater Houston area, perhaps you'll enjoy a visit to Doc Russia and It's All About De.

Now then, let's get on with the day. You'll notice there was no new post from me yesterday.

Suffice to say it was a Monday, and we'll just leave it at that, m'kay?

Days of Future Passed

On December 7th, 1941, the Nation of Japan unleashed a strategic, comprehensive series of attacks and invasions on territories of the United States of America.

The following day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered one of the landmark speeches of all time, securing from Congress a Declaration of War against the nation of Japan.

A speech of few words, but of incredible power, clarity and determination; his words rallied a shocked and angered nation.

Japan had awakened the sleeping giant from it's peaceful slumber to a roaring, raging and unstoppable fury.

What then might such a speech sound like in just over a year's time from now, given not by our current President, but by John F. Kerry before a joint session of Congress?

I admit, here I give Senatory Kerry absolutely no benefit of the doubt, and stipulate clearly that I exaggerate the response to the lowest possible expectation.

Perhaps I shouldn't have reviewd his Senatorial voting record regarding military and intellegence matters and progams before I wrote this. But then, it's exactly that record which is the inspiration.

With no futher ado, join me at the television while we watch and listen, a mere thirteen months from now.......

Welcome Again, InstaGuests!

Once more, it's my pleasure to welcome y'all over from the highly esteemed InstaPundit's pages.

And as always, my heartfelt thanks to Glenn for the link.

While you're all here and hangin' out on deck, don't feel like you've got to rush off to other ports. No hurry, we sail at leisurly rate on this vessel.

Make yourselves at home, feel free to rummage around through the archives, (but keep yer mitts out of my spirits locker!), and most importantly go visit some of those superb blogs listed over in the Starboard column. (That's on the right side of the page, ya landlubbers.)

You'll find those under the categories titled Deep Waters and The Armada.

Comments are welcomed, but trolls shall be made to walk the plank.

Enjoy your sailing here, or your swim, as it suits you!

Forty Minute Flop

Fish. Barrel. Gun.

The fish being Kerry, the barrel suicidally aimed by his arrogant, childish "I would have .... " nonsense about President Bush's apparent reaction when first told of the WTC attacks. And the gun is Kerry's own account of that fateful day.

With the trigger brilliantly pulled by North Georgia Dogma.

No excerpt on this one, friends. Just go read it on it's own merits.

John Kerry, #10 G.I!

Another nail in the coffin of the Kerry campaign.

If a Vietnamese ever describes something or someone as being Number Ten!, be assured that it's not a compliment.

And recently it seems, the VietNamese-American population has rated John ("hey, did you know I served in Viet Nam?") Kerry as Numbah Ten! Or worse.

While perusing my blogroll this morning, I was reading this from Doc Russia's superb blog. He mentions having seen a TV report about the American-VietNamese vote beign overwhelmingly in favor of President Bush. And though Doc didn't have a way to link back to a TV story, one of his well-informed readers did.

More Coals on the Fire

Okay, let's set the stage here.

What started as a slow news day has just plain boiled-over as the day wore on.

And it's the whacked out liberal left that's boiling over. What's cool is knowing that almost every bit of that heat has been coming from internet-based sources.

We've got 'em so scared, they're even suing the Swift Boat Vets Against Kerry, attempting to quash this video. They're ridiculously accusing Instapundit and Frank J. of formeting racism, all over a funny tee-shirt.

Well, let's add one more coal to the fires now, shall we?

My blogdaughter in Orlando is turning up the heat, and I couldn't be prouder of her for so doing.

Seldom do I discuss politics...I typically speak on personal matters...using my blog as a journal. However, my silence is doing more harm than good at this point. The election is on my birthday, which leaves me feeling a sense of obligation. Being an American leaves me with a sense of obligation. May my actions speak louder than my words.

And hell, it makes me a bit ashamed that I've failed to see the same opportunity and to seize on it as a course of action. Lord knows the Republicans need all the help they can get in this rare, blue-county here in Texas.

I think I need to follow her lead here.

Perhaps we all should.

Who knows, maybe the Galveston County Republicans might need an Official Blog?

Thanks, Dana, for reminding us that we do make a difference.

Now let's go stoke those coals!

Cold Fury Heats Up

I'm sending this one to my local newspaper.

And I really, really wish I had written this fine piece. Every word of every line is a "yeah, that's what I wanted to say about that!" moment.

Standing applause to Mike of Cold Fury. Very, very well done. Literally, the writing, and figuratively, the press.

So I was having a conversation with a friend the other night, and I mentioned how much I like Cheney and Rumsfeld, mostly because they just don’t take a lot of crap from reporters. Once, just once, I’d love to see a press conference that went something like this:

Press: “Mr. Ridge, how do you respond to charges that this security alert is really a scare tactic being used for political purposes by the Bush administration?”

Now, go read Mike's superb rendition of the Ridge reply we'd like to see.

It's For The Children

A warning phrase which should alert you that bedwetting liberals and nanny-statists are after yet another of your rights and freedoms.

Here's a great example which the Crumudgeon Emeritus gives us over on Sondra K's always entertaining site:

Put your cursor on the image and click. You'll get a full-sized image in a new window.

The crayon drawing was allegedly drawn by a six year old. But some of Sondra K's readers suspect otherwise. See the comments there for details.

To me, whether it was really a tyke of six, or a GFW tyrant of twenty-six who drew that lovely bit of utopian propoganda, the root cause of either is just the same ol' same ol' liberal indoctrination. The bit of "art" (sneer quotes courtesy of the N.Y. Times) is merely the fruit of the poisoned tree.

But we're not without the tools to fight back from our side. In fact, we are Very. Well. Armed.

It would be cool if you'd load up your own evil VRWC attack palatte and fire back with a few artistic statements of your own.

Or, your six year old's.

Welcome, Instaguests!

Again, a hearty welcome aboard to all of you coming over from Instapundit.

This morning, I e-mailed Glenn regarding the post immediately preceeding this one, titled; Backfire. Of itself, it's a good news piece, reflecting on Nancy Reagan's endorsement of President Bush.

But in that note, I ribbed him a bit about the solid dial-up connection I enjoy here aboard the sloop New Dawn, commiserating about similar molasses-grade connections I've suffered over in my travels. Which of course, is what Glenn mentioned in his link.

So, just a bit of context for you. I've lived aboard this 30' Sovereign, center-cockpit, aft-cabin sailboat since August of '99. Just myself and two cats, and the occassional and very welcome visit of my lovely Linda.

If you're curious about life aboard ship here, I've written a bit about it here, and here, and in this post, too.

Here's hoping you enjoy the ride!

Backfire

It must really, really hurt to be a democrap drone these days.

Think of what it's like for 'em over on the dark side of the moonbat zone. Damn near every round of rhetorical ammo they've loaded to shoot at George Bush has either been a dud or a self-inflicted bitchslap of a backfire.

Both the official donk party and their quasi-official PR machine in the mainstream media bear a conceptual resemblence to Elmer Fudd with a gunsmoke scorched face, holding the remains of a double-barreled shotgun with it's tubes curled back like bananna peels after ol' Bugs adroitly plugs the bores.

A fitting image I think, what with Kerry's professed experience in crawling face down in the mud with his "twusty double-barrel."

Doubly so, in fact. That face down in the mud part must have come in quite handy given the cubic yardage of the stuff strewn around so liberally last week in Baaahstan.

And now, another massive backfire right in the donk's faces.

In a statement made Monday to NewsMax.com, Nancy Reagan said she was strongly endorsing President Bush's re-election and rejected a published Internet report that she was not backing his run for a second term.

Joanne Drake, the chief of staff for former President Ronald Reagan’s office in Los Angeles, said in a statement on behalf of the former first lady, “Mrs. Reagan supports President Bush’s re-election 150 percent.”

Some of you may remember the buzz in the mainstream media donk spin cycle about Mrs. Reagan's supposed opposition to President Bush's re-election, due to their differing views on stem-cell funding.

Drake, however, noted in her statement on behalf of Mrs. Reagan, “I think everyone would understand that while she may not agree with the president on every issue, this campaign is more than just one issue – it’s about leadership, and she believes that President Bush is the right man for the job.”

“The quote that appeared in Capitol Hill Blue is incorrect,” Drake said on behalf of Mrs. Reagan. “Further, I do not know where the information came from [indicating that] the former first lady went ballistic when she read the Bush campaign was test marketing new ads. She did not speak to Ed Gillespie on the telephone and demand the ads be destroyed ...”

Hell, ol' Fudd comes out looking good in comparison. But he's still just not clever enough to catch that Wabbit, no matter what.

Now go give it a read.