Harvard: July 4th Parades Are Right-Wing

A new Harvard University study finds that July 4th parades energize only Republicans, turn kids into Republicans, and help to boost the GOP turnout of adults on Election Day.

"Fourth of July celebrations in the United States shape the nation's political landscape by forming beliefs and increasing participation, primarily in favor of the Republican Party," said the report from Harvard.

(Click on the title for a link to the entire report)

While this may be generally true the authors of the report have never been to the 4th of July Parade and celebration in Ashland, Oregon a bastion of liberalism in Southern Oregon. This conservative has been attending for the last 30 + years and has a great time over there celebrating our common love of the founding of this country with both conservatives and liberals.

My favorite events is the reading of the Declaration of Independence, by one of the Ashland Shakespeare Festival, actors at the Lithia Park Band shell after the Parade.
People are encouraged to cheer of jeer the various parts as it is read.

We always jeer VERY LOUDLY the following lines:

"He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance....

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent"

Mr. Class Warfare

The United States is in a deep, deep financial crisis and does our President of the United States bring us together to as a nation to face this crisis ? NO ! he divides us and sets American vs American as the demagogue he is !

By Ron Fournier of the National Journal about President Obama's press conference today:

Kids versus corporate jets.

If President Obama's news conference accomplished anything on Wednesday afternoon, it underscored, in striking tones, his strategy for winning the debt ceiling fight with Republicans: Make it a clash of classes.

*Rich versus Poor.

*Us versus Them.

*Those who support children, food safety, medical research and, presumably, puppies and apple pie versus the rich fat cats who don't.

In Obama's world, Democrats are for kids and Republicans are for corporate jets. That is a sharp distinction that could help put the GOP on defensive, but it may not be enough to persuade Republicans to change their posture on the debt-ceiling talks......

( Click on title for a link to the rest)

Greg Sargent of the Washington Post points out Obama's true motives:

He also went out of his way to highlight GOP opposition to raising revenues by ending a perk for corporate jet owners. This proposal would raise only $3 billion, which means it’s trivial in the larger scheme of things, and Obama’s mention of it seemed deliberately designed to provoke howls of outrage and cries of “class warfare” from Republicans — with the obvious goal of maneuvering Republicans into the role of arch defenders of the interests of the wealthy.

Obama is picking this fight in order to reframe the deficit and debt ceiling debate as a battle not over government spending — losing turf for Dems —

John Lennon Closet Conservative

Imagine...... that !

"But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow"

John Lennon



(Click on the title for the news story)

For the Eugene, Oregon City Council !

The Pledge of Allegiance

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Summer 2011

It's finally Summer. I love it and the best part of Summer is the few weeks between June 21 and the 4th of July. It's the time when the entire summer is before you. There are always three mile posts on the march to summer; Memorial Day, school letting out with graduations and finally June 21 the official beginning of the season. Other than Christmas the 4th of July is my favorite holiday. Almost every year we go to Ashland, Oregon for their old fashioned parade and band concert in the park. The concert is always preceded by the reading of the Declaration of Independence. I then go home and play my DVD of the musical movie "1776", a home BBQ and then fireworks. Again this year for the 4th our adult son will come home for a few weeks. He has taken up long distance running and has signed up again for the 4th of July run over in Ashland just before the parade. We look forward to his coming home.
I do love Summer!

In Afghanistan Obama is "Placing politics over principle"

Tim Pawlenty:

"Placing politics over principle, President Obama's speech tonight is a continuation of his weak and ineffective foreign policy. I opposed President Obama's decision in 2009 to announce a timeline for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan and I oppose it again now. By overruling the best judgment of our military commanders in the field, the President has chosen to increase the chances that our mission may fall short of our goals. I am alarmed to see America’s national security interests taking a back seat to partisan politics. As President, I would draw down troops in Afghanistan as circumstances on the ground warrant, and I would respect the advice of our military commanders in the field. We are in Afghanistan to ensure that Afghanistan does not again become a terrorist sanctuary, and the greatest duty of a commander in chief is to provide for the safety and security of the American people."

Bill Kristal:

"it is really remarkable when our troop deployment schedule is being determined by David Axelrod, not by David Petraeus."


Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

“I would prefer not to discuss the specifics of the private advice I rendered with respect to these decisions. As I said, I support them. What I can tell you is, the President’s decisions are more aggressive and incur more risk than I was originally prepared to accept.”


Jim Wickre:

Give a Liberal a choice between standing firm and cutting and running when things get tough and they will run every time.

National Review:

President Obama flinched. Last night, he announced his decision to begin rapidly unwinding his Afghan surge. Of the 30,000 additional troops committed, Obama wants 10,000 out by the end of this year and the rest out by the end of next summer. This risks giving back to the Taliban all that’s been won over the last year with blood, sweat, and tears.

Waterfall on iPad & more.....

Now that summer has finally arrived, in southern Oregon, this weekend my wife and I put up our gazebo on our back deck. We had lunch out there both Saturday and Sunday enjoying the nice weather.The only think I missed was the sound of running water. In the past I build a waterfall but it is now too much trouble maintaning it to use once or twice a week. While on the back deck I was using my iPad to check my emails and then it came to me. There must be an app for waterfalls and after a little search I found several. I downloaded them and they are great. I can have waterfall sounds on the back deck, a crackling fireplace when I am down in my "man cave" (Movie room) and flickering candles as I sit at my desktop computer. In the middle of 100 degree weather, here in Medford, I can have a snow storm or rain. It's great !

Co-conspirators on Health Care ?

Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty on Thursday called rival Mitt Romney a "co-conspirator" in President Barack Obama's Obamacare. That's a catchy phrase that could catch on !

The Warren Tavern

After we left the Bunker Hill memorial we were walking down the hill looking for a place to eat. My wife asked a "local" who was walking his dog and he told us about this place just a few blocks away. It was a real winner. Here is what the owner says about it on it's web site:

The Warren Tavern was founded by Captain Eliphelet Newell in 1780. Newell had been believed to have been a participant at the famous Boston Tea Party and as an ardent patriot and admirer of Dr. (General) Joseph Warren, it is natural that he named his tavern after the fallen hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Warren, because of his untimely death, is little known today. But as head of the committee for safety, and the Sons of Liberty, he was the prime mover of the revolution. Lord North then Prime Minister of Great Britain, described Warren to King George as "the greatest incendiary in North America". Warren by his nature, was not a radical, and it was only after years of failure in attempting closer ties between Great Britain and the colonies that he began his work to build a separate nation.

Other famous visitors included Paul Revere, who had been a close friend of Warren's and stated often that the Tavern was one of his favorite watering places. Additionally, the first King Solomon's Lodge of Masons met here for twenty years. At which Grand Master Revere headed those meetings.

Later after the Revolutionary War, General George Washington, on a visit to Charlestown to see his old friend Benjamin Frothingham, stopped here for "refreshments". Come to the Warren Tavern and be part of the history. We are located just steps away from the freedom trail in Charlestown.

"Don't fire till you see the whites of their eyes !"

From Wikipedia:

The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War. The battle is named after the adjacent Bunker Hill, which was peripherally involved in the battle and was the original objective of both colonial and British troops, and is occasionally referred to as the "Battle of Breed's Hill."

On June 13, 1775, the leaders of the colonial forces besieging Boston learned that the British generals were planning to send troops out from the city to occupy the unoccupied hills surrounding the city. In response to this intelligence, 1,200 colonial troops under the command of William Prescott stealthily occupied Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill, constructed an earthen redoubt on Breed's Hill, and built lightly fortified lines across most of the Charlestown Peninsula.

When the British were alerted to the presence of the new position the next day, they mounted an attack against them. After two assaults on the colonial lines were repulsed with significant British casualties, the British finally captured the positions on the third assault, after the defenders in the redoubt ran out of ammunition. The colonial forces retreated to Cambridge over Bunker Hill, suffering their most significant losses on Bunker Hill.

While the result was a victory for the British, they suffered heavy losses: over 800 wounded and 226 killed, including a notably large number of officers. The battle is seen as an example of a Pyrrhic victory, as while their immediate objective (the capture of Bunker Hill) was achieved, the loss of nearly a third of their forces did not significantly alter the state of siege. Meanwhile, colonial forces were able to retreat and regroup in good order having suffered few casualties. Furthermore, the battle demonstrated that relatively inexperienced colonial forces were willing and able to stand up to regular army troops in a pitched battle.

The British had taken the ground but at a great loss; they suffered 1,054 casualties (226 dead and 828 wounded), with a disproportionate number of these officers. The casualty count was the highest suffered by the British in any single encounter during the entire war.

Cliff Harris: "immature, dumb and selfish".

George Schroeder of the Eugene Register Guard has an excellent column today about suspended University of Oregon football player Cliff Harris. Harris was cited for going 118 in a 65 mph zone on I-5 with a suspended license this last weekend. It has since come out that Harris owes over $8500.00 in traffic fines in various courts in Oregon and California.

Some points made by Schroeder:

Harris wasn’t cited for reckless driving, which will save him a few bucks. But he’s been suspended for reckless living. For being immature, dumb and selfish

Will he somehow begin paying the thousands of dollars he owes for those unresolved brushes with the law? Will he alter a lifestyle of casual disregard for authority?

But it’s clear Harris hasn’t learned to follow the rules. Since his arrival, he has apparently seen the standards and obligations of the football program — team meetings, studies, stuff like that — as optional, or at least as unimportant. There are reasons he didn’t crack the starting lineup until halfway through last season.

It is an honor to play football for and represent the University of Oregon and Cliff Harris is a stain on that honor ! Another football player this week tried to defend Harris by saying we fans cheer him when he makes a touchdown and turn on him when he makes a mistake,. We cheer the TEAM that makes a touchdown. Football is a TEAM sport and to Harris it is too much about him. I wonder if Ohio State has an opening for him. As some one who lives and dies with my Ducks we fans have for too long been making excuses for some of there off field violations. NO MORE !

For now he is a cancer on this team. He needs to go !


Oliver Cromwell said it best in another context:

"Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!"

(Click on the title for the full Schroeder column.)

" if they mean to have a war, let it begin here"

Captain John Parker:

"Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."

He witnessed his cousin Jonas Parker killed by a British bayonet. Later that day he rallied his men to attack the regulars returning to Boston in an ambush known as "Parker's Revenge."


The Lexington Battle Green, properly known as Lexington Common, is the site of the opening shots of the American Revolution in 1775 during the Battle of Lexington.
In 1775 local militiamen emerged from Buckman Tavern (picture above) adjacent to the common and formed two rows on the common to oppose British forces marching from Boston to capture guns and powder stored by the Americans in Concord.The militiamen suffered the first casualties of the American Revolution when the British troops opened fire. The Battle Green is located at the centre of Lexington, Massachusetts, and serves as the main staging area for the annual reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. A statue representing a common Lexington Minuteman stands at the eastern edge of the Common. It was erected in 1900 at the bequest of Francis Brown Hayes, and was sculpted by well-known Massachusetts artist Henry Hudson Kitson.(from wikipedia)

Jonathan Harrington was one of the militia under Captain Parker’s command who faced the British Regulars early in the morning of April 19, 1775 at Lexington Green. Harrington was shot during the fight. He managed to crawl to the doorstep of his home near the Green. Unfortunately, he perished right before his wife, who ran out of the house, was able to reach him.
The house of Jonathan Harrington is located just across the street from Battle Green. It is a private residence.

Read more: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/caee6/c2330/1/#ixzz1PSwuoVRO

CNN Job in His Future ?

I Love History

When every we go anywhere it drives my family nuts because I love to stop for every historical marker or statue I see and read the inscription. No matter how "insignificant" or out of the way it is I just can't walk by without stopping to read it.

USS Constitution

"Clear the decks for action" Old "Ironsides" in Boston harbor. Still on the United States Navy rolls and the oldest warship still afloat.

From Wikepedia:

USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest floating commissioned naval vessel.[Note 1] Launched in 1797, Constitution was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be the young Navy's capital ships, and so Constitution and her sisters were larger and more heavily armed and built than standard frigates of the period. Built in Boston, Massachusetts at Edmund Hartt's shipyard, her first duties with the newly formed United States Navy were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during the Quasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War.

Constitution is most famous for her actions during the War of 1812 against Great Britain, when she captured numerous merchant ships and defeated five British warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane and Levant. The battle with Guerriere earned her the nickname of "Old Ironsides" and public adoration that has repeatedly saved her from scrapping. She continued to actively serve the nation as flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons, and circled the world in the 1840s. During the American Civil War she served as a training ship for the United States Naval Academy and carried artwork and industrial displays to the Paris Exposition of 1878. Retired from active service in 1881, she served as a receiving ship until designated a museum ship in 1907. In 1931 she started a three year 90-port tour of the nation, and in 1997 she finally sailed again under her own power for her 200th birthday.

Home From Boston

and Newport, Rhode Island.

Last Monday my wife and I flew from Medford to Denver and then on to Boston to meet up with our daughter who was flying in from Washington DC to attend her graduation from the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. As a civilian employee of the United States House of Representatives she has been taking night classes in DC for the last three years to earn her Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. Since my wife and I have never been to Boston we took the opportunity to stay there a few days before we traveled on to Newport for her graduation.

From Logan airport we took a taxi to a hotel near Beacon Hill in Boston. We then spent the next two days traveling the "Freedom Trail"

"Why is it always Boston that breaks the King’s peace?”

Those lines spoken by the John Dickinson character in the musical movie "1776" have always stirred my imagination about the history of Boston and the American Revolution.

For two days we explored the "Freedom Trail" that twists through the streets of Boston that takes you to many historical spots significant in the history of the founding of the country. The "Freedom Trial" is marked by a red line painted on the pavement or red brick embedded in the pavement. We saw the location of the "Boston Massacre"; the graves of John Hancock and Sam Adams two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Paul Revere's home, old North Church (one if by sea and two if by land);the USS Constitution ( "Old Ironsides") and Bunker Hill (Breeds Hill). From Bunker Hill we found a old tavern and had lunch at a place frequented by Paul Revere and where President George Washington had a few drinks during his Presidency. The Tavern was named to honor the commander of American forces who gave his life at Bunker Hill.

We also took the MTA out to Harvard for a tour of campus.Overall we loved Boston and enjoyed our long walks through the city.

Boston and Massachusetts are very "blue" areas of the United States. Therefore,I thought it was very funny when we were crossing a crowded street in Boston a fellow tourist was almost hit by a car making a turn through a crosswalk and the tourist said "I almost got hit by a Democrat!"

“Oh Good God! Why can’t you acknowledge what already exists? It’s been more than a year since Concord and Lexington! Damn it man, we’re at war! Right now!”

John Adams to the Continental Congress debating independence from Great Britain in the movie 1776.

Upon leaving Boston for Newport, RI, we in our rental car, headed northwest through a town called "Medford", Massachusetts, to Lexington where the British army met up with the Minutemen at Lexington Green. We drove through a number of quaint towns till we saw the statue of the Minutemen and toured the site of "the shot heard round the world." We saw the house, across the street from the Green, where a wounded Minuteman crawled to die in his wife's arms on his front porch. I am not making this up. From Lexington we headed South to Newport, RI.

On July 25, 1965, Bob Dylan "went electric" when he performed with a rock band at the Newport Folk Festival. Some sections of the audience booed Dylan's performance. Newport is also famous for "The America's Cub" yacht racing, huge mansions of the rich and famous dating from the "Gilded Age" and home to the United States Navy including the U.S. Naval War Collage.

Ain't gonna study, study war no more
Ain't gonna think, think war no more

Lyrics from a popular 1960's song guaranteed to lead to war and slavery in an unsafe world.

Fortunately there are still Americans willing to learn the art of war or as Ronald Reagan said at Normandy:

We will always remember.
We will always be proud.
We will always be prepared, so we may always be free.

At her graduation I have never seen so many high ranking naval officers in dress whites. It was like a movie.The night before, at a dinner, I sat beside a former British Naval Officer who had served during The Falkland War in 1982. He is now a professor at the college. They gave the graduation speaker, the Chief of Naval Operations, a 21 gun salute. The U.S. Naval War College is located at a picturesque location on an island in Newport's harbor. The graduation was under a large tent with open sides so we could see the the harbor. The Navy Band even played "Victory at Sea" from the 1950's NBC documentary on World War II. Because she graduated with honors we were all invited to a party at the Rear Admiral's home,(College President) in his back yard. Not bad for this former Army E-5.

We are very proud parents !



On Saturday we drove back to Boston stopping for a two hour tour of John Adams homes in Quincy. When we entered the Visitors Center the movie "1776" was playing on the big screen TV. On Sunday we said goodby to our daugter and flew home via San Francisco.

After being on the East Coast, Medford, Oregon seems so quiet, calm and uncrowded !

James Arness RIP

Sad news today. James Arness the star of Gundsmoke has died at age 88. When they were casting the part of Marshal Dillon they wanted John Wayne but he turned them down and recommended a young friend of his named James Arness and the rest is....

Click on the title for a last message from Jame Arness.

One line from his ferwell letter struck me:

I was honored to have served in the army for my country. I was at Anzio during WWII and it makes you realize how very precious life is.

He was wounded in his right leg and received the Purple Heart.

U.S. Naval War College

Often referred to as the “Harvard of the Navy” the college has produced many of our nation’s great leaders

On Oct. 6, 1884, Secretary of the Navy William E. Chandler issued General Order No. 325 establishing “a College for an advanced course of professional study for naval officers, to be known as the Naval War College.” Founded in Newport, R.I., the Naval War College is the oldest war college in the nation

Graduates include Fleet Admiral King, Admirals Nimitz, Spruance, Fletcher, and Halsey of WWII fame, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartright, EUCOM Commander Adm. James Stavridis, and more than 160 present-day admirals and generals on active duty

Today, the U.S. Naval War College, is still located in Newport, Rhode Island, and is an educational institution within the Department of the Navy. The President of the Naval War College is accountable directly to the Chief of Naval Operation.,
Mid-grade and senior military officers from all branches of the armed services, as well as civilian government officials, are selected to attend the Naval War College.

Its principal courses of study are "Strategy and Policy", "National Security and Decision Making", and "Joint Military Operations". Students from all branches of the military and civilians work towards a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies.

The mission of the Naval War College is to enhance the professional capabilities of its students to make sound decisions in the highest command management positions, and to conduct research leading to the development of advanced strategic, warfighting, and campaign concepts for the future employment of maritime, joint and combined forces.

The College of Distance Education (CDE) represents the Naval War College’s outreach program. It exist to provide executive-level education to officers of the various military services and to senior Department of Defense and other Federal employees.

The Naval War College has been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) since 1 March 1984 to award the Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies to eligible resident students. Beginning in the fall of 2001, this accreditation was extended to the College of Distance Education’s (CDE) Fleet Seminar Program (FSP) in the Washington D.C. area.

The Fitz Brewer Duffin Fore the Ducks 2011

Today The Oregon Club of Southern Oregon has their annual golf tournament and dinner auction at the Rogue Valley Country Club here in Medford, to raise money for University of Oregon Athletics.

Last year the name of the event was changed to "The Fitz Brewer Duffin Fore the Ducks" to honor Fitz who died over a year ago and was know as "Mr Duck" in Southern Oregon. As I posted here when he died:

To generations of Southern Oregonians, and particularly many many local media reporters over the years, Fitz was the number one Duck fan in Southern Oregon who was always available for a quote, and often a humorous spiritual message about the importance of being a Duck. If there ever was a Duck 24 / 7, it has been Fitz. He was also a generous supporter of the Duck Athletic fund.....

Fitz has given much to this community, in volunteer time, money, enthusiasm, boosterism, arm twisting, and positive attitude. He has been more than a Tornado and a Duck.

On a personal note the meetings of the Oregon Club of Southern Oregon will be a duller place without his presence. He could light up a room with his stories and enthusiasm for the Ducks.

As a friend wrote in an email today "As Fitz steps inside the gates of Heaven, you can be guaranteed that God will hear about a team other than Notre Dame."

This morning A bus from Eugene will bring down coaches,(including head football coach Chip Kelley and former head football coach and Athletic Director Mike Bellotti) and administrators to golf with Southern Oregon Duck fans. While everyone is out golfing I and some other fans will set up and decorate for tonight's dinner/ auction at the Rogue Valley Country Club. This is the 26th year we have had this event. Go Ducks!

"We’re on the verge of a great, great depression."

Peter Yastrow, market strategist for Yastrow Origer:

"What we’ve got right now is almost near panic going on with money managers and people who are responsible for money,".....

We have many, many homeowners that are totally underwater here and cannot get out from under......

"We’re on the verge of a great, great depression. The [Federal Reserve] knows it.

UPDATE:

The last month has been a horror show for the U.S. economy, with economic data falling off a cliff, according to Mike Riddell, a fund manager at M&G Investments in London.

Weinergate

By Jonah Goldberg

Over the weekend I said that I suspect this will not end well for Congressman Weiner. I still think I’m right. Rep.Weiner stands accused of sending a lewd picture to a young girl via Twitter. He says he didn’t do it. At first his office said his Twitter account was “hacked.” Now he says it was all a “prank.” This is an important change in language because to claim his account was hacked is to claim he was a victim of a crime. Meanwhile a prank is something he can wave away.

Now he will not directly deny he sent the twitter picture or if it's his..........

We have had the culture of corruption now do we have the culture of debauchery ?

It's been duly noted in several quarters that the liberal mainstream media is attempting to protect it's own. If he was a Republican he would already be gone from Congress.


UPDATE:

From Michelle Malkin:

NBC’s Luke Russert asked the tweetaholic congressman point-blank this morning if the ***** shot was his, and his Clintonesque answer was:
“I can’t say with certitude” that the pic is mine.

UPDATE 2

By Jonah Goldberg

Hey look, Rep. Weiner’s a busy guy. Who can possibly expect him to keep track of every picture of his own ***** he’s ever taken? Sure, it could be his junk. But how can he possibly know with any certainty? I mean it’s not like he has an elaborate filing and labeling system for his ******* photography. He’s not some weirdo. This looks like one of his many, many bulge shots, it might even be one of them. But how can he be expected to be definitive?