Funk, Hopelessness and Change

Do you feel it? It’s all around. Hope and change has evaporated and there’s an unpleasant residue. After being drunk on “Yes We Can”, America has a hangover, experiencing the vile after taste of gullibility. Others, the resentment of “yes we KNEW”, but were not listened to.

America is in a funk.

Everyone makes mistakes in life. Some are worse than others. But the ones you look back on and say to yourself, “Yeah, I could have done more”, or, “Wow, what a fool I was”, they hurt. They hurt a lot.

Where did we go so wrong? There’s not a point in time; and, no, this isn’t simply about the last year and a half. This is about Americans who stopped paying attention, and began caring more about the Super Bowl – even the commercials – about BMWs and other status symbols than ensuring the freedoms long enjoyed in this country would be guaranteed for future generations the way they were ensured for us.



I was walking down the street in front of a restaurant earlier today. An elderly gentleman with a walker with wheels, dressed in old sweat pants and in his socks, scooted up to the edge of the street. Two women were watching from one of the restaurant’s tables. I moved slightly past him, observed momentarily to see if he was waiting for someone or about to move onto the street. There was no ramp, and the difference in elevation was easily six or so inches. I came around to one side and asked him simply, “Sir, would you like any help?” He said no and sort of laughed, then followed it up with, “Thank you. Now that’s the American spirit!”

Sad that we have arrived at a time when simple courtesy, truly looking out for one another in our day to day lives must be “the American spirit”. Or, if it is, that it’s so shocking when displayed. Of course, I did get the idea the two women at the table thought I might hurt him. Sadder still.

It’s painful now to be an American who “gets it”. Sad to see the vile lot now leading this country, and having any idea where it is they'd like to take us. I could never vote for these people. I am suspicious of my fellow citizens who helped to elect them, who still support them, who sit by while they tell us bills they vote on can’t be read, that they must be passed for us to know what is in them.



No, this did not happen overnight. Nor did it all happen in the last few years.
Most are familiar with the video of the woman who, overjoyed after Obama’s election in 2008, proclaimed she would no longer have to worry about paying her mortgage or putting gas in her car. Not, I believe, an extremely bright individual, yet she knew where we are headed. So many smarter people I know, however, were either in denial, or oblivious. Now many of them are residing with me and most of America in our funk. It’s not a pleasant place to be.

I do not have children, but I fear for the future. It pains me to hear my mother tell me of conversations she’s had with my sister, ones in which my sister expresses fears for the future of my niece. I see people with children who must worry, I see older Americans who knew very different times, many of them who’ve known many others who gave their lives for this country and so much which came to be taken for granted. I feel for them, worry with them. Often times, I hate to even now talk about the future, as I do not wish to add to their angst. I haven’t written here for many weeks for that same reason.

Now, however, I feel my own “funk” starting to fade. Underneath there is an anger which continues to build.

Of All The Nut Varieties, Constitutional Nuts Are My Favorite

When the United States is so upside down, you’d think all the “nuts” would fall out.

Naih, our supply is deep. In fact, there are plenty of new “nuts” around.



Congressman Paul Kanjorski of Pennsylvania – as in, WHAT has happened to that once great state? – commented as lawmakers were heading home for the July 4 recess that he wished to avoid those pesky constituents who prize such old-fashioned notions as small government, lower taxes and, yikes, the Constitution. Wow, how foolish, and, well, as he describes them, “nuts”, especially approaching Independence Day, we must surely be. Again, if you’re keeping track, we’re the nuts, not him.

This weekend, also, if you missed it, Lindsey Graham, the almost distinguished Senator from South Carolina, announced via a New York Times magazine piece that the tea parties would soon go the way of the dinosaurs. No staying power there. Move along peasants, we’re doing good work for you, moving your country closer to the edge of a cliff, you have no idea how smart we are, the great works we’re doing. Eat some cake, or tofu, or government cheese, and be glad we’re here for you. You're in good hands with the likes of us.

Anyone else royally PISSED OFF?

This damned fools do not know what they are in for; and, I believe, it’s significant.

The arrogance, the condescension, the duplicity is astounding. Nauseating. Marie-Antoinette had little on these aloof malcontents posing as reasonable stewards of our great country.

Make no mistake, it’s not just Democrats. Look to the idiot out-of-touch comments of Graham and his buddy in maverickville, the amnesty leopard John McCain who now seeks to change his spots as he wants to build “the dang fence”. How gullible do they think we are? And, well, ARE WE? I sure as hell hope NOT. I am not. I know many others who are not. Not gullible. Not nuts.

America, you are at a crossroads. Sitting back and thinking everything will simply work out is no longer a plausible strategy to ensure any sort of future you’d wish to be a part. Your tomorrows are getting bleaker while the people who are supposed to represent you and your best interests are looking down their noses at you despising that you challenge them, that you even have a voice.

Prepare America. If you are a nut, as I, difficult days are ahead. Difficult days are ahead, no matter.

If I take any solace, it is that I believe there are an increasing number of pissed off nuts in our bowl.

Happy Birthday, America

Two hundred and thirty four years ago today a country declared its independence, and the United States of America was born. In the last century, America has moved further and further from the ideals cherished by the founding fathers, the desire for true freedom unencumbered by an oppressive ruler or government, free to succeed or fail, to truly make his or her own path wherever he may wish it to lead.

Today, words of mine would surely pale in comparison to their's. So, this blog is simply about revisiting them. Happy Birthday, America.

Declaration of Independence

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.



We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Source: The Pennsylvania Packet, July 8, 1776
from www.EarlyAmerica.com

Who Was Ronald Reagan Waiting For?

Before the election of 2008 you would hear it on talk radio, in conversations with others, “It took Carter to get Reagan”. Even before then, it was a popular mantra among conservatively-minded Americans to proclaim: “We need another Ronald Reagan.”

Ronald Reagan, Great American Individual

Then, we can assume, they commenced waiting, one part passive observer, one part perpetual excuse-maker, an invitation for progressives to do as they wish as Conservatives waited for someone else to step up and correct the wrongs. Not exactly what Conservatives are supposed to be about, or a great showcase of that rugged American individualism spoken about by Reagan. Surely not how Conservatives -- strong believers in the individual – are supposed to behave. Yet it echoes from the television, the radio, and shows up on the internet: We need another Ronald Reagan.

While they may believe they are lauding who Reagan was and what he meant to the country, I suggest instead they are insulting the man and everything he stood for. Who was Ronald Wilson Reagan waiting for? No one.

When Reagan realized what was being done to his country, the blight of progressivism and political correctness taking hold on the American landscape, he stepped up and began re-landscaping. He stopped waiting and started doing. He was elected governor of California and went on to win two presidential elections, including a 1984 landslide election in which only one state, his opponent’s home state of Minnesota, would go for Robert Mondale. He did this on Constitutionally-based Conservative American values of freedom and opportunity, of smaller government and lower taxes. When his country needed him, Ronald Reagan started doing, battling for his ideals, for his vision of America.

No new images of Reagan have been printed or televised recently, no newly recorded audio or video has been played on youtube. The individual who was Ronald Reagan is gone. However, the principles he stood for, his vision of America, we’ve seen that, heard that, witnessed that more in the last year than maybe ever before in our nation’s history. From the participants at tea party rallies, to those marching last September 12 in our nation’s capitol, to youtube videos of them confronting their elected officials at town hall meetings, we have seen them. We have seen them doing, taking action on beliefs they may not have previously understood were so dear to them, until they were threatened.

And, yes, we now see many of them running for office at their local and state level because they are determined to make the change they seek, no longer waiting for others to do it for them. Some of them have been amazingly inspirational, spoken so poignantly you might get the feeling they’ve done this before. Yet, it is new to them. Yesterday, maybe they were waiting for someone else to step up. Today, they’ve stepped up, started doing, inspiring others to do the same. They’re not Ronald Reagan. But they share the principles which were dear to him. They are the ones who truly celebrate Ronald Reagan because they are raising their own voice and taking part in the American system, doing instead of waiting for others to do.

Wide Awake American Katy Abram

The mantra of “we need another Reagan” is more insult than compliment. It is not the celebration of the American individual and what it is each of us can do to impact our future. The true patriot, in the spirit of Ronald Reagan, waits for no one, does what he or she can to impact the future using his best skills and talents.

Ronald Reagan was just one such individual who embodies that ideal. He was one American who had strongly held beliefs, an amazing and quick wit, an ability to get to the crux of often purposefully overly-complicated matters with an unexpected comment or insight which was shocking because it removed the mask which had been placed upon it to make you think it was too difficult for the average citizen, more than you could handle on your own. You need government to help you do that, don’t you know? Rugged American individualism is as outdated as the Constitution, which has now been printed with a disclaimer alerting you to such. Patriots of all sorts are stepping forth to belie the lie, make real change, restore real hope.

The man who spoke about America as a shining city on a hill didn’t wait around for the windows to be smudged, her streets to be littered, her shine to be dimmed. Millions of individual Americans now realize the falsehoods they’ve been asked to buy into, the real freedom and lost opportunities which have been incrementally taken away over the years, and, in turn, the emboldening of the progressives to do more, do it faster. They know the truth and they are taking part in protests, organizing for candidates, making donations to candidates they believe in, writing to newspapers and in blogs, writing their representatives and calling them out on specifics, speaking up and educating their friends, family and neighbors. Millions of individual Americans have now stopped waiting for another Reagan, and have begun acting on the deeply held principles they share with him.

Ronald Reagan, no doubt, would be proud.

* * * * *

I would like to celebrate a long list of individuals I have met through facebook who are now doing, not waiting for others. They have my admiration and my appreciation for stepping up, for really being among the people who inspired this blog entry. I wish them well as they seek to impact the direction of our country in various roles. We need them. We need more like them. Just remember, if Barack Hussein Obama can be elected President of the United States, YOU can do whatever it is you set your mind to. Again, THANK YOU, American patriots for stepping up!

* Cathie Adams - Running for the U.S. Congress – from Texas - On the web @ cathieadamsfortexas.com

* Paul Avella - Running for State Representative in Massachusetts

* Matthew Burke - Running for U.S. Congress – from Washington - On the web @ matthewburkeforcongress.com

* David Carlson - Running for State Representative in Minnesota - On the web @ carlsonforsenate.com

* Don Castella - Lake Cty FL Republican Chair - Find him via facebook page

* Tex Christopher - Running for U.S. Congress from Texas - Find him via facebook page

* Tom Cole - Running for U.S. Congress from Oklahoma - On the web @ tomcoleforcongress.com

* Ari David - Running for U.S. Congress from California - Find him via facebook page

* Alexandra Dubart - Running for State Representatives in Pennsylvania - On the web @ alex4pa20.com

* Wade Emmert - Running for Judge – Dallas County, Texas

* Jason Fischer - Running for City Commissioner in Jacksonville, FL - Find him via facebook page

* Rick Green - Running for Supreme Court – Texas - Fine him via facebook page

* Dean Grose - Running for Republican Central Commmittee in California

* Deborah Honeycutt - Running for U.S. Congress from Georgia - On the web @ honeycuttforcongress.com

* Chris Howell - Running for U.S. Congress from Florida - Find him via facebook page

* Bill Hunt - Running for Sheriff of Orange County CA - Find him via facebook page

* Jeremy Hutchinson - Running for State Representative in Arkansas - On the web @ hutchinson4senate.com

* Patricia Lightner - Running for U.S. Congress from Kansas - On the web @ patricialightner.com

* Charles Lingerfelt - Running for U.S. Congress from Texas - On the web @ lingyforcongress.com

* Todd Long - Running for U.S. Congress from Florida - On the web @ toddlongforcongress.com

* Tom Lucero - Running for U.S. Congress from Colorado - On the web @ lucero2010.com

* Edward Lynch - Running for U.S. Congress from Florida - On the web @ electlynch.com

* Matt McCormick - Running for State Representative from Michigan - On the web @ macfor23.com

* Ron Miller - Running for U.S. Senate from Maryland - On the web @ teamronmiller.com

* Patrick Miranda - Running for U.S. Congress from Tennessee - On the web @ patrickmirandaforcongress.com

* Shawn Olson - Running for State Senate in Indiana

* Star Parker - Running for U.S. Congress from California - On the web @ starparkerforcongress.com

* Melissa Pehle-Hill - Running for State Representative in Texas

* Jeff Perry - Running for U.S. Congress from Massachusetts - On the web @ jeffperryforcongress.com

* Darryl Perry - Planning to run for President in 2016 - Find him via his facebook page

* Gerry Purcell - Running for Insurance Commissioner Georgia - Find him via his facebook page

* Bill Randall - Running for U.S. Congress from North Carolina - On the web @ randallforcongress.com

* Steve Rathje - Running for U.S. Congress from Iowa - Find him via his facebook page

* Wendy Rogers - Running for State Representative in Arizona - Find her via her facebook page

* Ron Schalow - Running for School Board in Leroy, Michigan

* Bob Schwartz - Running for U.S. Congress from Tennessee - On the web @ electbobschwartz.wordpress.com

* David Schweikert - Running for U.S. Congress from Arizona - On the web @ david10.com

* Brian Simpson - Running for State Representative in Kentucky - On the web @ changefrankfort.com

* Alexander Snitker - Running for U.S. Senate from Florida - On the web @ snitker2010.com

* Aaron Snodderly - Running for Republican County Chair, Cumberland County, Tennessee

* Anthony Tolda - Running for U.S. Congress from New York - Find him via his facebook page

* Israel Vasquez - Running for U.S. Congress from Illionois - On the web @ israel2congress.com

* Corrogan Vaughn - Running for U.S. Senate from Maryland - Find him via his facebook page

* Alberto Waisman - Running for State Representative in California - Find him via his facebook page

* Eric Wargotz - Running for U.S. Senate from Maryland - On the web @ wargotzforussenate.org

* Chris Widener - Running for U.S. Senate from Washington - Find him via his facebook page

* John Wieder - Running for U.S. Congress from Texas - On the web @ johnwieder.net