SUPREME COURT GUN RULING SOUNDS GOOD, BUT IS NOT

SPECIAL POST

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor yesterday by a 5-4 vote of Ohio's ban on being able to purchase a gun for someone else, even if they are legally entitled to own a gun.  

On the surface, it sounds good; my initial reaction was that it would further close the ability of those with mental issues to buy guns.  But, here's the problem:  I want to buy my dad a hunting rifle, one he's always cherished, as a Christmas gift.  Or, I bought this pistol last year and after using it, I've decided it's too heavy for me and I want to give it to my son.  

Now, I suppose I could take the gun to a gun dealer and have him fill out paperwork for the transfer from me to my dad or son, but that is not made clear.  In California, they are trying to prevent me from doing that.  In other words, they are trying to force me to take my guns to the grave with me.  

I'm inclined to think the law was not well-thought-out and that the decision, therefore, is flawed.  But, I agree with the principle.  

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

CLUCK, CLUCK... SHUCK AND DUCK

SPECIAL POST

Some day, Obama is going to have to learn how to face problems and deal with them. As it is, every time someone or some thing turns up the heat, Obama leaves Washington.  He seems to be in the habit of procrastinating until he's literally forced to decide and then he inevitably fumbles the ball.  

When it comes to terrorism, Al Qaeda, Taliban and I.S.I.S., he's eventually going to have to face the stark reality that those butchering marauders in Iraq right now have every intention of lining all of us up and doing the same thing right here, on the streets of San Francisco and the halls of Yale.  

Shucking and ducking and clucking like a chicken sends the wrong message.  It tells the enemy that we are weak people who chose weak leaders.  Obama has to learn that burying our collective heads in the sand will not make problems go away.  Perhaps, since he climbed out from underneath a rock,  that's the only game he knows.   

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

IRAQ: FURTHER ANALYSIS

I stand by what I said yesterday.  

What I've heard the President say is that he might send in some drones or bombing attacks and there will be no troops on the ground.  He wants Iraq to come to the plate and start defending themselves; the mass defections from the Iraqi military have to stop.  And, I've heard a whole bunch of double-talk and spin about the reasons for what is happening. 

Now then, I pointed out there are two options: (1) stay out, or (2) go in and give them every thing we have, win the war and secure the country.  I suggest that there be no in-between solution or attempt; if we have to go to war, go to win.  I stand by that opinion. 

If we go for a partial "solution," we're never going to see the end to this problem in Iraq or anywhere else in the Middle East. We must deal those factions from an absolute position of power, or not deal at all.  If we choose not to get involved, we must understand that our homeland security risks are going to go sky high.  

This problem is so convoluted that it would take forever to explain it; it involves Iran, Syria, Shiites, Shia and centuries of war.  If it were my decision to make right now, I'd go in, win convincingly, and occupy the country for 20 or 30 years.  If we put our minds to it, we could have it all over and done with within 30 days and we'd have control of their oil fields and government.  We'd also send a clear message to the rest of those who would attack this country that we're not putting up with any guff. 

If we're not willing to do that, we need to stay home entirely and seriously build up our armed forces and homeland security, firmly close our borders and isolate ourselves.  

As for what our illustrious President is doing, he's left Washington for a weekend golf and campaign get away to California... so Iraq is obviously not that important to him.  That makes his record perfect: every time there's been a serious crisis, he's managed to leave town.  

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.   

IT'S THE END OF THE ROAD

SPECIAL POST

First off, let me suggest that leaving a paltry 10,000 troops in Afghanistan with the Taliban and Al Qaeda now on the march to gain total control of Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and probably Pakistan is a dumb move.  Yes, Mr. President, you've got the decimated, fractionalized impotent Al Qaeda and Taliban on the run all right... on the run to a complete victory.   And, yes they have been emboldened by your blind stupidity in the Taliban-Deserter swap.  That means that even as many as 10,000 of our troops left in Afghanistan are severely at risk.  You need to get them all out, and now is the time... unless you're willing to go back in there and finish the job that Bush started.  

That is a key question.  Obviously you think that trading one deserter for five Taliban terrorists is a fair trade.  Letting the lives of 4,500 dead American soldiers go down the drain may well be an acceptable price in your mind for us to pay in order for you to keep your precious Nobel Peace Prize.   

I've heard the argument: why don't we stay the hell out of there and let the Muslims and Shiites, Taliban and Al Qaeda fight each other to the death, then we won't have to worry about them anymore.  Frankly, if you will remember, that's kind of blaze' attitude we had leading into 9/11.  History teaches us that Hitler did not stop at Poland and Putin will not stop in the Ukraine.  Therefore, we must understand that Al Qaeda, I.S.I.S. and the Taliban will not stop with Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, Libya, Yemen, Qatar... Egypt or Israel, even if they decimate themselves in the process. 

Now, I'm not a war hawk.  I am of the opinion, however, that staying out of the Middle East will ultimately be more dangerous than going in and cleaning it up once and for all.  I don't understand how we can continually lose wars... Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan... and expect to remain safe in our own little cocoons here in the United States.  We're already allowing the illegal Mexicans to take over our country and we're not even firing a shot!  

What, Mr.President, do you intend to do if that missing 737 comes barreling in and nukes New York City?  Are you going to get a tee time at Pebble Beach? 

We're at serious risk.  Every single piece of national security put in place since 9/11 has been demolished.  The N.S.A. is so busy watching us, they'll never be able to catch a terrorist.  

It's the end of the road.  It's decision time.  It's do... or die, and putting a band-aid on it and pretending everything is going to be okay is tantamount to drawing another one of those ridiculous "red lines."   

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

ERIC CANTOR: WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN

SPECIAL POST

While the pundits and the House Republicans scramble to understand the meaning in Eric Cantor's primary defeat, there are those of us understand the message fully well:  He asked for it. 

We're sick and tired of the ragged and time-worn "business as usual" attitude of Congress as a whole, the flippant attitude of the Republican hierarchy toward the will of its members and the refusal of the GOB-GOP network to make peace with and assimilate Tea Party and conservative ideals into the party agenda.  For example, in the face of firm Republican membership resistance to wholesale amnesty for illegals, Cantor came out and inexplicably endorsed it.  

And for those of you high and mighty know-it-all establishment Republicans left in the halls of Congress, you're no better than the left-wing Democrats who are sending this country down the sewer; you're not part of the solution, so you must be part of the problem and you, too, are in our cross-hairs.  If you're not willing to jump on the bandwagon of patriotism and Americanism... get out of the way or you're going to get run over.  If we can get Cantor, we can get you.  

We owe this time and moment to those who came before us.  

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.  

YET ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING; 74 & COUNTING

SPECIAL POST

The 74th school shooting since the Newtown, Connecticut massacre has taken place, this one at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Oregon, a suburb of  Portland.  Both the shooter and one student are dead. 

This gun-owning Life Member of the NRA agrees: something has to be done about it.  Gun control is not the answer; in locales where there is strict gun control or guns are outlawed, violent crime rates are significantly higher.  I think putting cops in schools was a logical step, but let's face it: if someone is hell-bent on shooting or stabbing someone else, they'll find a way around the cops, the metal detectors and any other physical barrier we install.  

We simply must get at the root of the problem: Is it too much violence on TV and video games; is it single-parent homes; is it some internal need for love and recognition; is it drug-induced; is it a lack of religious, moral and ethical up-bringing; or is it some combination of these?  There's been a whole lot of lip-service paid to the issue by the Obama regime, virtually all of which has been directed at increased gun control.  But, there's no evidence whatsoever that any one of these measures would have or could have prevented these shootings. 

To my knowledge, there's no credible, comprehensive study of the issue, although two years have passed since Newtown.  Why not?  Could it be that Obama wants the shootings to escalate so he has an excuse for gun control?   When you look at the VA disaster and the lack of action there over years of passive oversight, it compares to the lack of studies and understanding of the real issues associated with these shootings... and there has to be a reason for that, too.  

One thing I do know, and I understand that the Internet is going to be burning up with hate mail to me when I say it but, it's a fact: This horrible surge in stabbings and shootings has all occurred during Obama's time in office.  Period.  

Let that soak in over the morning coffee. 

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

WHY

SPECIAL POST

Everyone is asking, "Why did Obama trade five top Taliban prisoners for one deserter," especially since there are surfacing allegations that a substantial cash ransom was paid as well? 

There is one credible theory making the circuit: Obama desperately needed to switch the national focus from Benghazi and the V.A. scandals and he thought, (incorrectly), that the nation would see it as a positive development.  But, is that the only possibility?

Remember back when the Benghazi Massacre first occurred and there was a credible theory that Obama had arranged with terrorists to conduct a "phony" attack on the Benghazi Consulate, kidnap the Ambassador and then exchange the Ambassador for Khalid Sheik Mohamed?  The working theory is that there would be no resistance... no Marines on the ground to defend the Consulate.  Indeed, the Administration had ignored pleas from Ambassador Stephens and others for increased security and denied requests for assistance as the attack was occurring.  In fact, there are statements to the effect that the three defenders who also lost their lives there had been told to "stand down."  But, they did resist and the attackers were not expecting that; they may have seen it as a trap, which led to the horrible way in which the Ambassador was killed.  

Suppose that this exchange of Bergdahl for the five Taliban was meant to serve as appeasement on the part of the White House, a sort of "peace offering?"  That possibility would certainly explain both the Benghazi cover up and the current frenzy to contain the furor over the switch, wouldn't it?  

One other thought in passing:  Why was the Bergdahl family allowed access to top military officials regarding the ongoing status of their son while the families of those killed in Benghazi were totally shut out?  

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.     

THE BLOOD OF 9/11 IS ON HIS HANDS

SPECIAL POST

It is with great sadness that I look upon what we have allowed our nation to become.  Although the lives of countless thousands of people were taken by their heinous acts, our President has released five top Taliban terrorists from Guantanamo against the will of the Congress, of the military, of top national advisers and of the American people.  He has adamantly said he will apologize to no one. 

It is as if he had the blood of 9/11 upon his hands. 

Congress simply must act.

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.  

"HONOR AND DISTINCTION"

National Security Adviser Susan Rice, in attempting to justify Obama's exchange of Army deserter Bowe Bergdahl for five top Taliban terrorists, again went to Sunday news talk shows and attempted to paint Bergdahl as being far more than what he is, even a military hero, by saying he had served his country "with honor and distinction."  This brought a firestorm of anger, particularly among veterans. 

Obama's White House can't come to grips with the uproar from America; they have no clue.  

She didn't use those words about any of those who died trying to locate the deserter after he left his post.  She didn't mention those words about any the the military members who lost their lives at the hands of the Taliban.  She didn't mention any of those words about the veterans who are being forced to wait for service at V.A. hospitals and clinics around the country.  She didn't mention any of those words about Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry who lost his life at the hands of a Fast & Furious gun.  She didn't mention those words about any of the four valiant defenders at Benghazi.  

She only mentioned them about a deserter.  

You'd think there was again a video to blame; another story, another fabrication, another insult to the American intellect; another oppressive boot trying to grind the real "honor and distinction" of real American heroes into the dirt. 

Is there no end to their disgraceful and shameful conduct?  

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

"I'M NOT APOLOGIZING TO ANYONE"

SPECIAL POST 

Thank you, Mr. President, you arrogant bastard. 

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

OBAMA IS A TERRORIST SYMPATHIZER?

SPECIAL POST

That's one helluva headline, isn't it?  

The Muslim Brother hood has been making visits to the White House on a regular basis for several years.   The White House confirmed to THE BLAZE in February that a Muslim Brotherhood lobbyist met with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House in late January, but deferred to the Iraqi government as to why the lobbyist was part of a meeting with an Iraqi delegation.  WND reported last month that an email released regarding the Benghazi Massacre included in distribution a figure with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Medhi Alhassani, who shares a similar background with Huma Abedin, the longtime aide to Hillary Clinton, reported former PLO-member and Arabic-speaking researcher Walid Shoebat; it suggests a Muslim request to list the infamous video as being responsible for the Benghazi attack. 

Obama has made several attempts to free supreme terrorist Khalid Sheik Mohammed from Guantanamo.  He also attempted to remove the Sheik from a trial by military tribunal and to bring him to New York for trial in a civilian court.   There was a suggestion that Benghazi was prearranged with the Administration, and the game plan was for the terrorists to seize and kidnap Ambassador Stephens and then to demand the release of the Shiek in a prisoner exchange; Obama guaranteed no resistance at the Consulate, but the plan went astray when others stationed at Benghazi put up a fierce fight.  The resistance caught the "attackers" by surprise, angered them and led to the deaths of the four Americans, which allegedly explains the reason for the cover up.  

In looking for a way to deflect the House Select Committee investigation into the Benghazi Massacre, other House hearings into the IRS targeting scandal and the delayed V.A. treatment of veterans, Obama may have seized the opportunity to trade Bowe Bergdahl for the five terrorists.  He did meet in secret with Hillary Clinton at the White House last week; Clinton also has a vested interest in sidetracking any investigation into the Benghazi Massacre as she wishes to clear the way for a Presidential campaign.  It is likely that the Bergdahl-Guantanamo deal had been percolating for several weeks, that Clinton concurred such a deal may accomplish the goals of deflection, and that Obama decided to grasp the opportunity to release five top terrorists in order to gain favor with the Muslim Brotherhood.  

One thing is certain: the release of the five terrorists directly aids and abets the Taliban and other terrorist organizations who have been declared enemies of the United States.  I do believe that to be treasonous and impeachable.  

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

Pardon my rant from yesterday; I'm obviously livid.  
 

STATE DEPARTMENT CALLS BERGDAHL WITNESSES "LIARS"

SPECIAL POST

Wouldn't you be interested in knowing how many American lives were lost due to actions of those five terrorists Obama just freed?  How many military lives were lost trying to locate, capture and transport these five pieces of scum to Guantanamo?

We already know of at least one death which can be attributed to the search for Bowe Bergdahl; he stepped on an I.E.D.  There may be six.  We now have a third-rate State Department bimbo flunky stepping forward to call soldiers who were at the front lines when Bergdahl disappeared "liars" for claiming Bergdahl deserted.  

From an American Veteran... Piss on this President and his fascist anti-American pigs who have seized control of our country.  Piss on them. 

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

VETERANS GET THE ROYAL SHAFT

SPECIAL POST

Here's the news of the day: 

• Regardless of the fact that the Inspector General provided sufficient information about the Phoenix V.A. to justify pushing Shinseki out the door, they're going to have more hearings before they decide what, if anything, to do about the V.A. Hospital problems.  

• We just arranged to trade five top Taliban terrorists for one American POW who is accused of deserting his post, leaving his base and falling into the hands of his captors:  A deserter.  

• UCLA is giving top speaking billing to Jane Fonda, the actress who in 1972 traveled to Viet Nam, met with the enemy and called American soldiers "war criminals." 

So, what's next?  Maybe they'll tear out Arlington National Cemetery and replace it with a Muslim Mosque.  

You're damned right I'm upset.  I'm an American veteran.  I'm flat PISSED OFF.  

 That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

OUR NATIONAL PARADOX

SPECIAL POST

When I was a lad, back in 100 BC... "back in the day"... the family would get together around the radio every night at 5:00 PM to listen to the evening news.  It was Edward R. Murrow, or Lowell Thomas or Walter Cronkite, and they had the news.  It was thirty minutes of the straight skinny on what the haps were at the time, follow by discourse between my parents with their opinions and what the news portended.  We young ones were allowed to join in the conversation as it wore on.  Through this process, of course, we became good citizens; these were subjects likely to be discussed in a school Civics or American History class the next day.  We would then sit down as a family unit to dinner where the conversation might continue. 

Now, I know you might think I'm blowing smoke, but I'm not.  

Today, it's different.  It's become a paradox: We're too busy with life to pay attention to the news about our government and yet, the number one concern we all have in our lives is government. 

The half-hour national news followed by 30 minutes of local and state news, sports and weather is gone.  What this time period has morphed in to is an entertainment and opinion hour with talking heads and screaming matches.  We're no longer the family unit engrossed in watching or hearing the events of the day; it's a rare occasion when we all sit down to eat together and when we do, we're all too involved in texting to pay any attention whatsoever to what someone else might think.  It's a day and age where, with all of this communications technology we have, we don't really communicate... a time when we could literally go to war and half the country wouldn't know about it for a week.  

We need to reorder our lives, restructure our routines and get our real priorities straight.  If our government really is our main concern, we need to put down the damned cell phone and discover for ourselves what is really going on in our government.  While we're at it, we might just look in Wikipedia to find out what a Senator and a Representative is and, if it's not too much to ask, why our government is so dysfunctional.  

Oh... as a matter of information and edification, Harry Truman is no longer President of the United States.  Please pass the mustard. 

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION submitted. 

WHY THE V.A. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED

Yes, Obama did say when he was running for the Presidency that there was a big problem with V.A. medical care and that he pledged to fix it if elected President.  So, why didn't he? 

Shortly after his inauguration, Obama proposed that veterans pay for their own medical care and buy their own medical insurance, and that the V.A. should be the payer of last resort.  That caused outrage from the VFW, American Legion and other veterans organizations.  Obama had to back off.  

I've said before that Obama wants his own way and, if he doesn't get it, he gets even; someone always pays a price.  I also said that the fact that the V.A. was not repaired appeared to me to be deliberate, but I couldn't figure out why.  Now it becomes clear: that was his way of getting even.  

He removed any concern with the V.A. problem from his agenda.   There was no longer any sense of urgency, any commitment to get the job done. 

Doesn't that make sense?

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION respectfully submitted. 

DO YOU SUFFER FROM IMPOTENCY?

SPECIAL POST
 
Here we sit, impotent.  Here we sit, jawboning about the fact that we have an American Marine sitting in a filthy Mexican jail, subjected to beatings and God knows what else... and that's it.  That's all we're going to do is... jawbone.  Wring our hands.  Please pass the buns.   

Sleep well, tonight.  Who really cares whether or not HE sleeps well?  I mean, what's the rush in getting him back, anyway; he can't get any medical treatment at the V.A. for a few months.  Maybe... perhaps Obama could intervene and see if Shinseki might be able to give the guy a line pass when... and if... he does come back.  Yawn. 

Okay, now I need the butter and... WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE CHANGE THIS FRICKIN' CHANNEL? 

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

AMERICANS ARE THE PROBLEM

SPECIAL POST

You've heard the old saying: "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."  Well, folks, we do have a problem and the problem is you.  The problem is you, because you have not been part of the solution. 

Think about it: You are the one who is responsible for those American vets who died waiting for medical treatment.  You are the one who is responsible for the fact that we do not have answers on Fast & Furious, for the fact that our Attorney General was held in Contempt of Congress and never called to task over it, for the I.R.S. targeting, for the N.S.A. domestic spying, for the failure of our press and media to tell us the news like it really is instead of how they want us to hear it... you are the ones responsible for those four deaths in Benghazi and the countless number of veterans who have died because they didn't get treatment. 

Why is that?  Why is it your responsibility? 

This government is yours.  It belongs to the people.  If you refuse... refuse... to exercise your duty and responsibility as an American citizen by holding Congress and the President accountable for their deeds or lack of them, then you are responsible for what goes wrong.  It's just that simple.  

You don't like the way the government is being run?  You're the government.  You have the tools to correct the problem.  You have a phone?  You have Email?  You have a FAX?  You have a piece of paper, an envelope and a postage stamp? 

Send your Senators and Representatives a message.  Tell them you're angry as hell about all of this.  Ask them when they're going to fix it.  Tell them to cut the bullshit speeches and political posturing and fix the damn problems.  If they hear from enough of us, they will get the problems fixed.  Don't put this simple task off until after dinner or after the video game... do it now.  

When you go to bed tonight, how will you be able to sleep if one more veteran dies because he or she did not get treatment... because you didn't act? 

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

I AGREE: THIS PRESIDENT IS THE WRONG COLOR

SPECIAL POST

Senator Jay Rockefeller came out last week and said the problem with Americans is that they think Obama is the wrong color.  

Well, Senator, I'm sure citizens of West Virginia are glad to see you are retiring, probably because there's no one left in West Virginia who would vote for you.  That having been said, I have to admit that you're absolutely correct. 

Where I come from, after my ancestors were all here in the 1600's and after they all worked their collective buns off to create this country and to establish our government and invent what was once the greatest country in the world until assholes like you came along, is that Presidents of this country have traditionally been red, white and blue true-blooded Americans who did everything possible in every moment, in every instance to build this nation and keep it strong.  

Yes, sir.  Obama is the wrong color.  He's fascist red. 

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

MORE B..S. ~ HOLDER TO "INVESTIGATE" V.A.?

SPECIAL POST

The Democrats are at it again.  Eric Holder has been assigned to investigate Fast & Furious and that's now in the Court system because he refused to turn over documents or answer a House Subpoena.  He was held in Contempt of Congress for that and logically should be removed from office.  

The Department of Justice was secretly, and illegally, monitoring members of the Associated Press and FOX NEWS, trying to figure out where they were getting the  information for their stories so they could put a stop to it.  That scandal "investigation" is now at a dead end.

I.R.S. targeting scandal?  Assigned to Holder to "investigate," it went nowhere.  Benghazi Massacre?  N.S.A. monitoring?  All of them were given to Holder to "investigate" and we have delay, cover-up, failure to investigate... you name it. 

So now the Dems want Holder to "investigate" the V.A. Medical scandal.  

Ladies and gentlemen: IF THIS ISN'T TYRANNY, WHAT IS?  
Why should be be putting up with this B.S.?  Lives are being lost, right now!  

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

A NOT-SO-HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

How many of these were on "wait lists?"

A NOT SO HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

IN AMERICAN HISTORY

V.A. SPEECH: OBAMA COMES UP SHORT...AGAIN

SPECIAL POST

It was a familiar speech, heard many times in the past as scandal after scandal after scandal has erupted from this wayward Administration: "We'll investigate it."  There were no apologies, no promises to fix it, no deadlines for action.  

In the meanwhile, lives continue to be lost as the delays continue to exist.

What about those whose names were on external lists not in the computer?  They don't know that; they don't know that their names have now been shredded; they don't know that they need to call the V.A. back for an appointment.  And WE don't know if there is really any sense of urgency or not.  

All we do know about Obama's intentions are what he said today: "I've done a great job in working with veterans and their families and blahhhh, blah, blah, blah."  He neglected to discuss his prior insistence, back in 2009, that veterans pay for their own medical care.  He failed to address the fact that he and his Administration have been aware of these problems since before they took office and have not responded.  

"If these allegations prove to be true, it is dishonorable, it is disgraceful, and I will not tolerate it, period."  Period as in ObamaCare "period?"  Period as in "If you want to keep your plan, you can keep it?  If you want to keep your doctor, you can keep him... period?"

If Shinseki is so great, as everyone claims he is, why hasn't he either resolved the issue or taken it to Congress?  It seems to me that, since they knew about the problem back in 2008 and have not done anything yet to fix it, that the failure to fix it is deliberate on the part of both Shinseki and the President.  

This is criminal negligence resulting in the deaths of American veterans.  And still no orders to stop it?  No overtime to reduce the backlog?  No reviews by efficiency experts to really get to the bottom of it?  Just another, "We're gonna investigate it?"  Just more lip service?


If I can contain myself and be polite about it, as an American veteran I will say:  "This is bullshit.  Pure, unadulterated bullshit.  Period."

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW CAN HURT YOU

SPECIAL POST

Do you think you, as a parent, should have a right to see what information your school system has regarding your children? Think again.  

John Eppolito from Lake Tahoe got a  real surprise when he tried to find out what information the school district was keeping on his four children.  They at first told him they could not produce the information, but finally relented and told him it would cost him over $10,000 to find out.  Eppolito is concerned about the Common Core education program and is trying to find out what information is maintained by the school system.  

Eppolito wonders why the state is collecting data that parents can't even view.  “This data is for everyone except the parents," Eppolito said. "It’s wrong.”  

Well, John, I hate to tell you this, but N.S.A., the F.B.I. and the D.O.J. won't tell you what information they have on you, either.  You see, if you find out what they know about you, then how can they use that information against you if they want to control what you say and do? 

Is this what you voted for when you voted for Obama?

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

V.A.: TOO BIG TO FIX?

SPECIAL POST

It oozed out like a bad case of E.P.A. prohibited cow flatulence yesterday that the problems at the V.A. Hospitals have been ongoing since at least 2001.  Some pundits, sympathetic to the Obama Administration, tried to say the problem was therefore not Obama's, but that it was Bush's.  Well, it may have originated during the Bush Administration, or even the Clinton Administration, but here's another fact that "oozed out" yesterday: Bush Administration officials warned Obama Administration officials that the problem existed during the transition back in 2008/2009 and the Obama Administration chose to ignore it.  That, my friends, is a deliberate dereliction of duty to American vets.  

You can measure the costs in tens of millions of dollars in V.A. settlements, but here are the real costs:

• 1,100 deaths due to delayed treatment since 2001

• 867 documented malpractice settlements

In the face of these facts, the new story coming out of the Administration is that yes, they did know about the problem, but that it was "too big to fix."  How do you reconcile that statement with the "too big to fail" excuse for bank bailouts in 2009?  How can the V.A. problem be "too big to fix?"  

WHAT ARROGANCE!!!  1,100 deaths of American vets?  This is beyond the pale.  It is criminal negligence resulting in death. 


I vote with California Representative Doug LaMalfa on this, even more so.  I say we should close V.A. hospitals... get rid of them completely.  Give every qualified vet a special health identification card and allow the vet to go to a doctor and hospital of his choice; let the V.A. then pay the bill.  Not only will that fix the problem, but it will save millions of dollars in administrative and operating costs as well as saving lives of our American vets. 

No, the problem is not too big to fix and I don't want to hear this frickin' excuse when ObamaCare resorts to the same delaying tactics, deaths and malpractice lawsuits. As much as I hate to say it, I do agree with Senator John McCain in this instance: Someone needs to go to jail... someone in the White House. 

I'm madder than hell.  It's now time to get even.  

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

MEANWHILE, BACK TO FAST & FURIOUS

SPECIAL POST

Lost in the flurry of I.R.S. emails, Benghazi committees and the V.A. scandal was the news last week that the U.S. District Judge overseeing the federal lawsuit regarding the claim of Executive Privilege over Fast & Furious documents believes the claim is valid. But, she hasn't ruled yet.  

You may recall that Congress was after documents regarding the botched Fast & Furious gun-running scandal down in Texas and Attorney General Eric Holder was refusing to pony them up.  Congress was rightfully concerned that the program might have originated with Holder or even higher up the ladder; the belief was, and still is in many quarters, that the Administration came up with the idea of having border gun shops sell illegal weapons to Mexicans so that they could be "caught" and used as a reason to close down gun shops across the U.S. 

The House did not appreciate Holder's refusal to cooperate, so they held him in Contempt of Congress.  This means that Holder could have been impeached and removed from office and the documents would have to be released, but Obama interjected and exerted "Executive Privilege," meaning they didn't have to turn the documents over if they didn't want to.  Congress sued and that's where we're at.  

Judge Amy Berman Jackson has indicated she believes that the Executive Privilege claim is legitimate and can be used by Obama even though the entire BATF operation was within Holder's department.  Now comes the question: Will the Congressional subpoena for the documents over rule the claim of Executive Privilege?  

Stay tuned as the drama mounts and she is expected to make a decision soon.  

Illegitimi non carborundum.

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

ANOTHER FEDERAL LAND DISPUTE

It seems that the Federal agencies are bound and detrmined to undermine anything and everything to do with ranching and farming in the country.  The E.P.A. wants to regulate cow flatulence and impose fines.  The B.L.M. and the U.S.D.A. Forest Service want all vacant land in the country to be theirs and all farmers and ranchers to dry up and blow away.  

The latest tiff is in Otero County, New Mexico where cattle are dying due to thirst, while the Forest Service has fenced off a spring claiming that the meadow jumping mouse is in danger.  The sheriff, to his credit, ordered deputies to open up the fence and allow cattle to get water. “We are reacting to the infringement of the U.S. Forest Service on the water rights of our land-allotment owners,” Otero County Commissioner Tommie Herrell says.  “People have been grazing there since 1956.”  

“The winds are blowing, we’re in a drought. Sacramento Mountains are dry. So whatever water sources these animals can find, they have to be able to get to it,” fellow commissioner Susan Flores echoes.  

At least they've been talking and the Forest Service says they don't see things escalating into another B.L.M. ~ Cliven Bundy confrontation.  Well, I'd bet 1,000 meadow jumping mice that there WOULD have been a confrontation if the B.L.M. ~ Bundy thing had not preceded the current standoff.  

Our government is running roughshod over the country, with agencies and departments that lie, coverup, obfuscate, over-regulate and oppress resistance.  Americans need to start doing right now what I have been diligently doing for over five years... speaking out to their friends and neighbors through blogs, social media, text messages and even, (gasp) face-to-face.  We need to stop this radicalization of our country and we need to do it in November through sending a clear message to Washington that we've had enough, by turning a whole bunkhouse full of culprits out of office.

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

MORE PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE

SPECIAL POST

Just when you think that U.S. foreign relations could not possibly be in worse shape, a new dump truck full of trouble comes around the corner.  With the U.S. suddenly no longer interested in being a major power, there is a power vacuum.  The laws of physics will tell you that when a vacuum exists, something always tries to fill it; in this case, there is a budding relationship in Chinese and Russian relations as they jointly seek to fill that power vacuum.  

Relations between the countries went sour back in 1954, but they are now warming up to each other.  It is entirely possible, at lest in the short term, that the relationship will bud into their joint dominance of the world stage.  Won't that just be a fine kettle of stew? 

In the meanwhile, Obama has America's head planted firmly in the sand. 

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

ANOTHER BLM FIASCO?

SPECIAL POST

Recreation enthusiasts in southeastern Utah are ticked off that the BLM has denied access for four-wheelers and others on federal land near Blanding.  The BLM says that the area and ancient, historic Native American sites have been degraded by too much land traffic in recent years.  

Protesters want the BLM to act more quickly on their demands to renew access for their four-wheelers; hiking and horseback riding are currently allowed.  There was an organized and peaceful protest in Blanding, but some of the crowd rode their four-wheelers onto the land anyway; one of those is alleged to be Ryan Bundy, son of Cliven Bundy at the now famous Bundy Ranch.  

According to Fox News, about 30 deputies and a handful of BLM law enforcement personnel observed the protest, organized by San Juan County commissioner Phil Lyman.  BLM has said they consider the general nature of the protest to be peaceful, but still intend to chase down and charge those involved with the illegal entry.  

Based on the facts as presented, I'm going to stand on the side of the BLM this time.  It does not appear to me that this is anything like a phony case of a non-existent desert tortoise decline or a land scheme designed to make some Chinese investors and their American representatives rich.  Instead, it appears to me that the BLM is legitimately trying to preserve historical archaeological sites of Native American origin.  

How would you like it if the Native Americans started wandering through Gettysburg or Arlington on their four-wheelers?  If the facts are indeed as stated, either the State of Utah or the Federal government should turn the land in question into a protected park... or, better yet, put it back in the hands of the Native Americans. 

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

RUSSIA THREATENS U.S.

SPECIAL POST

I always felt it was only a matter of time:Putin is now firmly in charge of the world situation.  

It all started when Obama played the pussy-foot game with North Korea and Iran over their nuclear weapon s programs; I think that's when Putin started to realize that our President was no Ronald Reagan or Jack Kennedy or Harry Truman or Dwight Eisenhower.  The confirmation came when Obama drew the infamous "red line" in Syria and then crapped his pants when Assad called his bluff.  Putin surely must have delighted in that moment, because it confirmed what he suspected: Obama is a left-wing, radical socialist weenie. 

"Well," Obama thundered when Russia invaded Crimea, "we're just going to have to put some sanctions against Russia."  And then, as Putin ignores Obama and starts refusing to take his telephone calls, as Putin prepares to take all of the Eastern Ukraine, now Obama has a snit fit and threatens that the "sanctions" are going to get really snotty. 

You certainly must have anticipated the Russian response: "Back off there tin-horn, or we're no longer allowing your astronauts into the International Space Station and we're no longer going to make rocket engines for your space ships." They've even threatened to shut down part of our GPS system.  

Well now, Mr. Smart Ass in the White House, what are you going to do next?  Do you have any more great punts left in your arsenal? 

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.  

A REAL EYE OPENER

SPECIAL POST

We should all be outraged at the way the Veteran's Administration is treating our vets... delaying treatment, hiding lists, cutting benefits.  These men and women served our country; whether not we agree with the battles they fought, they fought and they put their lives on the line for us.  For us to now turn our collective backs on them in their times of need is unconscionable. 

Having said that, what we are discovering portends where we are going with ObamaCare.  Just look at what people are discovering right now: what they thought they were covered for, they are not; they can't see their doctor because he's either retired or not "on the plan;" the available hospital is full; they're too old to be having this type of surgery.  If it is already that bad, how long will it take before the providers and hospitals have their own "hidden lists?"  

ObamaCare is to a large extent modeled after the V.A.  If you can live with this, if you can allow your parents to die on the vine because they can't get care or afford the deductibles, if you are willing to see your child suffer in pain because he or she can't get treatment right now when it's needed... then you come from a wholly different way of thinking than I do.  

We're allowing our veterans to be screwed and we're setting ourselves up to be screwed.  If we really want to do something about it, we have a whole bunch of politicians to turn out of office in November.  

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted.  

WHY?

SPECIAL POST

If it is true that there is nothing more in the story about the Benghazi Massacre, why are the Democrats doing everything in the world to torpedo hearings into the matter?  Why, if there is nothing to hide, wouldn't they show up on the Select Committee so that they could gloat at the end results?  Why, if there is nothing to hide, have they prevented key witnesses who were in Libya at the time from testifying, to the point of refusing to divulge their current whereabouts so that they could be subpoenaed?  

Why the manufactured cover story about the video in the first place?  Why did they put Susan Rice out to dry over her insistence that the massacre was a result of that video?  Why did they say that all emails regarding the subject had been turned over, when at least several had not?  Why wasn't Obama in the Situation Room; did he not want to be associated with what was coming down?  Why not?  

Why have they acted in obvious collusion... the State Department, the F.B.I., the C.I.A., the Pentagon and the White House to obfuscate and prevent a complete investigation to be had?  Why haven't they arrested or captured any of those who attacked the Consulate?  Why did they "fire" involved personnel in the State Department and then hire them back? 

Why didn't they send military assets into Benghazi to attempt a rescue or defense of those being slaughtered? 

I want to know... WHY?  WHY?  WHY? 

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

NORTH KOREA ATTACKS OBAMA

The North Koreans issued a dispatch the other day; written in Korean, it went after both the South Korean President and Obama.  A recent translation: "It would be better for him to live with other monkeys at a wild animal park in Africa ... and licking bread crumbs thrown by onlookers."  The lengthy diatribe called Obama a “clown,” a “dirty fellow” and somebody who “does not even have the basic appearances of a human being.”  

Well, as difficult as it is, let's set aside for the moment the proposition that the North Koreans might be correct.  It's one thing to rattle your saber and jump up and down like a little tyrant and threaten to nuke America.  That repeated stance by Kim Jong Un has had little or no reaction in official Washington; Obama has even refused to discuss North Korea's acquisition of nuclear technology and past bomb tests.  

Why then is every State Department official and White House flunky now coming unglued over this latest barrage of remarks directed at Obama?  Are they trying to tell us that it's okay for North Korea to threaten to nuke the United States, but it's not okay for them to insult President Obama?  

So the saying actually goes: "Sticks and stones will never hurt me, but words will?"

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

WHITE HOUSE MIGHT REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH SELECT COMMITTEE

SPECIAL POST

Press Secretary Jay Carney has refused to answer multiple questions about whether or not the White House will comply with requests for information or subpoenas from the new House Select Committee created to investigate the Benghazi Massacre.  "We have a long history of cooperating with [legitimate] oversight by Congress...I'm not going to go further than that," Carney repeatedly said, defaulting to the statement after repeated questioning on the subject. 

Look for the two words, "Executive Privilege" to become the new theme song of the White House Brigade.  

I guess the word "transparency" must be in the eyes of the beholder, and certainly not the eyes of Holder or even Obama.  

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

IS THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH DEAD?

SPECIAL POST

Let me begin by referring you to two different articles about two different incidents in American schools:

   http://bobbraunsledger.com/newark-parent-leader-arrested-jailed-after-criticizing-state-plan-to-close-schools/

   http://foxnewsinsider.com/2014/05/06/nh-parent-arrested-protesting-book-contains-graphic-sex-scene

Here are two people speaking out about what is going on in two different states with respect to educational issues.  In both cases, the person speaking out got arrested and charged for what really was non-violent protest.   

I'm outraged.  Since when in this country has it become illegal to say what you think in a public meeting or a public forum?  Since when in this country has it become an offense to question the authority or the propriety of the public servant?   These people "in charge" have no clue as to the fact that WE are in charge, and if THEY don't like it, THEY need to pack their damn bags and get out of the picture.  

Oh, and in case you hadn't figured it out, I will say whatever it is that is on my mind in any public meeting or forum and I don't give a damned who likes it or who doesn't.  This is America.  We have a Constitution.  It has a Fifth Amendment.  Get over it or get out of the way.  

I dare you to send in the B.L.M. stormtroopers. 

Illegitimi non carborundum.  

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

THE PAIN OF IT ALL

SPECIAL POST

I used to think there was nothing worse than a bad toothache or an attack of the gout.  In terms of level of pain, they are both about the same to me... intolerable.  Laying there in bed in the drugged aftermath of a tooth extraction, I tried to watch TV, but kept dozing off; yet, every time I jerked myself back into consciousness I heard some bad tale about what is going wrong with our country.  

I guess there IS something more painful than a toothache or gout attack.   

Obama simply will not give his agenda a rest.  Faced with growing angst about his dirty deeds of the past five years, this man has his own audacity and the hope of converting America into a totally, 100% socialist fascist state.  He has foisted his takeover of the health industry and 1/6 of the nations economy on what was an unwitting public and what is now an unwilling public.  He's told lies and made broken promises; he's flouted the law including the laws he was responsible for making; he's used government agencies to spy on us and to get even with those who dare to trespass against him.  

He's now on the march again.  A new and dire climate report from the Obama administration warns of a growing link between human activity and extreme weather across the country.  The National Climate Assessment, in a new and dire climate report from the Obama administration, warns of a growing link between human activity and extreme weather across the country.  

In other words, more government interference and regulation is coming. 

The White House already has its back up against criticism that any such regulations will be job or economy killers and amount to more government takeover of our individual freedoms and liberties.  White House Counselor John Podesta immediately warned that attempts by congressional lawmakers to block the administration's climate action plan will fail. Perhaps we should ammend his title to be "Chancellor" instead of counselor.  

How far are we willing to let Obama go this time?  We've seen what an outright debacle ObamaCare is.  Are we going to let our government require that we all wear masks to collect the carbon monoxide we breathe out, or will we have an uprising somewhere in between the current status quo and that eventuality?  

Do we even have to allow the S.O.B. to go in that direction at all?    

That's MY AMERICAN OPINION, respectfully submitted. 

MY MOUTH IS SHUT

No post today due to the dentist pulling a bad tooth.  Now I'm keepingmy mouth shut in case he comes after another one.