Horse Pens 40

Horse Pens 40 is an absolutely awesome piece of geology and of earth's history.  It is home to some of the largest "Bouldering" competitions anywhere.  I had never heard of bouldering, but similar to mountain climbing, these guys will grab a handhold/foothold anywhere they can get it and climb any face of the rock that they think they can.  For this sport, HP 40 is the land of opportunity. 

I remember that at Fort Hunt park, we had guys who were free-running off the sides of the gun batteries-taking ridiculous risks.  What is it with our rally locations and dangerous sports!? 

This is worth a day's drive to see and explore-even if you're not into extreme sports and pain. 

I got a quick personal tour before I left and gladly offer up a few photos as a free publicity plug for HP 40 and the Schultz family.  He's a one of a kind character, a real mountain man. 

Let's get to the photos:

Mushroom Rock

Mushroom Rock is a 50,000 pound, free-standing boulder.  Yes, it was there before the tree.  The pedestal has a hole in the middle.  You can see a little of one side of that hole in the photo. 



Thunderbird Rock

 The Thunderbird's head faces left with the wings just below.  Mr. Schultz tells me that they have found miniatures of this rock all over the area.   Relics from the time of the Indians. 

Server is rejecting other photos for this post, so I guess you'll just have to make this trip yourself .  Trust me, it's worth it. 

Alabama RTC Speech: 10-30-10

The subject of freedom has been heavy on my heart lately. I would like to present some thoughts about freedom in the context of us as Americans and from my personal standpoint as a Christian. I would also like to tie that back to the ideal of Restoring The Constitution.

Where freedom and liberty are concerned, I am afraid that we are largely illiterate and inexperienced.

• We misunderstand what freedom is.
• We misunderstand the source of freedom.
• We don't know how it's obtained.
• We don't recognize what it costs.
• We don't know how it is upheld and sustained.
• And we don't know how to obtain more of it for ourselves.

First of all, what is it?
What is freedom?
Merriam-Webster's dictionary defined freedom as follows:

1. the quality or state of being free: as
   a) the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action b) liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence c) the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous; ;

For the purpose of this discussion, let's say that Freedom is liberation from slavery, restraint, or the power of another. It is the removal of a negative restraint.

Is Liberty the same thing as freedom? No. Liberty is defined thus:

1. the quality or state of being free:
   a) the power to do as one pleases b) freedom from physical restraint c) freedom from arbitrary or despotic control d) the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges 

Where freedom is the subtraction of a negative, liberty is the addition of a positive. There is a difference and a distinction to be made between freedom and liberty. We must be literate with regard to what these words mean.

What is the source of freedom for us as Americans? How is freedom obtained?How many of you at one time or another have rendered honor to our soldiers, saying of them that "they fight for our freedoms", or that they "stand up for our freedom?" Is that really true? If it is, then the source of your freedom is the military. Does it take an army to free you? No.

Is it our Constitution? No. Our freedom as Americans predates the Constitution.

Is it our Declaration of Independence? No. The Declaration of Independence provided a reading of the injuries and insults suffered. The Declaration served as the basis and justification for breaking the bondage Britain had imposed and for becoming free. But did The Declaration of Independence alone secure freedom? No. Because the bonds were not yet broken. I could tell you what I'm going to do, but until and unless I actually do it, my words are void.

The Declaration was valuable because it documented the founders' recognition of their slavery. Recognizing slavery is a prerequisite for gaining freedom. If a man never realizes he's enslaved, then how will he ever know that he's a slave?

Our founders realized they were enslaved, petitioned for redress within the rules to the very end of the rules and were unsuccessful. They addressed the King's policies.  Did they quit? They didn't!? (incredulously)

You mean they didn't Trigger the Vote and be tough like Chuck Norris!? You mean that just voting alone didn't work? Just protesting didn't work? Just picketing didn't work?

What now? They addressed the King's property. They tossed the King's tea into Boston Harbor. The Sons of Liberty broke their windows. Did that work? No, but it showed the resolve of the people that they were willing to escalate the conflict from mere protests.

What now? Well next, they harassed the King's persons. They threatened them. They tarred and feathered them. They assaulted them. Did that work? No, but it showed the resolve of the people that they were willing to escalate the conflict from mere protests to trashing property to assaulting people. After suffering a long train of insult and injury, these men decided that they were going to be free whatever the cost.

With each protest or grievance that was aired by the colonies, the King and Parliament tightened their grip and added new shackles and chains. It ultimately took a war to make good on the Declaration of Independence.

Don't miss sight of this. The Revolutionary War was not was not was not fought between America and Britain. We've been taught for a long time that this is the case. Wikipedia conveniently shows US and British flags and lists the US and Britain as "belligerents". The Revolutionary War was fought between British subjects who had revolted against the legal, rightful authority vested in the crown. While that authority was being used to increase tyranny, it was a legal authority. Your founding fathers made a conscious decision after much talk, debate, and prayer to break the rules. In short, they didn't become free by following the rules, they became free by breaking the rules. They did not simply wake up one morning and decide, "Let's fight for our freedom." Instead, they decided that to become free, they would have to act free.

What does freedom cost?

Rush Limbaugh's essay provides some insight as to the fates of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Of those 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence,

• 9 died of wounds or hardships during the war.
• 5 were captured and imprisoned, in each case with brutal treatment.
• Several lost wives, sons or entire families.
• 1 was separated from his 13 children.
• 2 wives were brutally treated.
• 12 signers had their homes completely burned.
• 17 lost everything they owned.
• 56 were-at one time or another, the victims of manhunts and driven from their homes.
• 0 defected or went back on his pledged word.

Where freedom is concerned, the short answer is that your very life is at stake. Obtaining freedom may cost everything. And don't miss this either, that you don't merely make a choice to be free. It must be a commitment. Freedom is not a choice that can be easily made and then later altered, adjusted, or withdrawn. Freedom requires an irrevocable commitment that is sustained over time.

How is freedom upheld-how is it maintained?
The burden passed on to the sons of the founders was simply this, do not go back into those chains of bondage. Period. Maintaining freedom is a whole lot cheaper than securing it for the first time.

Allow me to chase a rabbit for a moment. I love the story of Alvin C. York. A simple farmer and blacksmith from Pall Mall, Tennessee. He'd lived his life on the rowdy side, drinking and brawling. A revival meeting had changed his heart and his life for Jesus and he left all that behind. When York was called up in the draft during World War I, there was a tremendous battle in his own heart about what he should do. That battle continued even into his training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. At one point Major Edward Buxton gave York a 10 day leave to go home and think about it. He also handed him a book, The History of The United States. York sought out a high and remote mountain where he knelt and prayed for nearly an entire day and night seeking God's leading.

I think it's fitting that on this day, we should be here on this mountain retreat to consider a few things, to agonize over a few things, and perhaps settle a few things, to ask for the wisdom and leading of The Almighty.I believe the chief problem of America today is that we Americans fail to recognize the chains of slavery that are already upon us.

Look at this shiny gold bracelet. It's silk lined and has a very strong clasp so that it will never come off. In fact, it's part of a set that are all attached together to make sure you don't lose one. There's even a set of anklets and they're attached too. The chains used to be just a little longer, but they just got in the way and I was always tripping over them so I got them to remove a few links to shorten the chains. We raise our hands this high and think that we're free! We can move our feet only this much and think that we run in liberty!

If we can't recognize the shackles that we're in right now, then how would we recognize freedom? Our government seeks to be our master, and make us their servant. And we go right along with it. It's so easy to bash our government as crooked and inept-which they are. But our government is nothing more than the sum of what we allow and tolerate as a people. If we can't even see the bondage that we're in, how can we be free as a country? Let's make this personal:

Freedom is the absence of shackles and restraints against your life, your liberty, and your property. In order for you to secure your freedom, you must first recognize your condition. You must protest and ask for redress. And when they come back with more chains and shackles for you, then you must take action to avoid new chains, remove the old ones, and deny those who come to you with more chains. YOU must do this for yourself. You cannot rest upon what the founding fathers did. Their chains are not your chains. Their bonds are not your bonds. Though you've tasted the fruits of their labor, their victory is not your victory. You will have to go out and get your own. You cannot outsource the job of securing your freedom to someone else. Does it take an Army of One to free you? Yes. And You are the one.

Now what does all that have to do with Restoring The Constitution?
The Constitution is the solution the founders gave us. The Constitution was intended to serve as the shackles and chains that restrain government to preserve your freedom. Governments' restraints come from the Constitution, not the rights of the governed. If we intend to be free, then we must return government to their chains and shackles, keep them there, and set a watch-especially when your friends reach office. In discussing how one secures his freedom, we've also covered how to keep someone in chains. You must stand guard over them. You must not turn your back on them. You must not allow them to weasel their arms out of the chains for even a minute. Not when it makes government uncomfortable. Not when it inconveniences you. Not when government can relieve your burden or make things convenient. Not ever. Remember, your government is what you allow it to be and what you are willing to tolerate. Have you had enough?

My friend Bob Wright would have fit right in with the founding fathers. Earlier this year, he expressed a great thought which I would like to echo and endorse here today. We're going to see the Constitution Restored. It's just a matter of how rough we're going to have to get to make that happen.

My hope and prayer for each of you here today is that in your own heart and mind you better understand what freedom is and what you must do for your own freedom.

May America bless the Lord our God in repentance on our face so that we may again be united and that God may again bless these United States of America.

"We happy few..."

Pat-Downs may soon become the norm

Big Sis insists. 

Story here



"TSA: And what do we have here!?"
"Victim: Uh...it's my breast.  Quit smiling you perv." 
"TSA: Sorry, smiling is part of the rules since Miss Janet took over." 

A majority of the travelers who Dow (CBS2 Reporter) met at LaGuardia said they’re willing to subject themselves to the TSA’s new pat-down procedure, but they do have some concerns.

“At first it caught me off guard, but then, when I really think about it, it makes sense, because people can get so creative with trying to hide things now. So, like I said, it all comes down to safety,” Bridgeport, Conn. Resident Derya Sahin said.

“It is a little bit more intimate, but I’d rather you be intimate, and me get on the plane safely, then not,” Georgia resident Precious Broussard said.

I can understand the dwarf shim with the skunk streak telling us to expect more invasions of our privacy.  Dogs will be dogs. 
 
I can't understand people submitting to this nonsense as if they have no alternative.  Sheeple. 

Has air passenger traffic dropped significantly since 9/11?  No.  In fact it's increased in most years since then.  The only exceptions seem to be in the last couple of years as the economy crashed.  Statistics here.

The moral of the story: Your government will be what you tolerate. 

The Ruckus Part II

Ruckus Part II at Memento Mori. 

White House Insider: "They were in shock at the president’s behavior."

Story here.

Mike has taken a bite out of this one at Sipsey Street.

My turn. 

What do you mean by retribution? Punishment. Political punishment, and even personal punishment. The powers of a president extend far beyond the Oval Office – you know that. I make my living, and it has been a very good living, working within the system of politics. A president can create considerable…pressure if you will, to limit or even destroy my place in that system. Working with a president is an extraordinary and terrifying thing. In regards to my experience with Obama, it became far less extraordinary and far more terrifying. And it’s getting worse.


Terrifying? Yes, terrifying. To see one’s expectations so disappointed. To see a figure who wields such great power and influence fall so short of the responsibilities of that power and influence…that is terrifying to witness. Initially I developed great fear for my party – for the Democrats whose political careers were being destroyed by this administration and party leadership. Now I sincerely fear for my country.

So at this point you really don’t believe that President Obama can grow into a more effective leader? No.

But he could still be re-elected in 2012, right? Absolutely. He remains an effective campaigner – the best in politics, and these days, that can be enough to get elected. You don’t actually have to know what you are doing – you just have to look and sound like you know what you are doing.


But you don’t want to see Obama re-elected? I apologize if I’m repeating myself here, but I just want to clarify because in the past you still seemed hopeful that Obama could evolve and become a stronger leader, but that hope seems to have left you. If Barack Obama is the Democratic Party nominee, I will not participate in any way in his election. It will be the first time in some 20 years that I will have removed myself totally from the process of helping elect the Democratic Party candidate for President. (Leans toward me) I do not know if the country can survive another four years of Barack Obama, and frankly, I want nothing to do with helping us find out. The man is an incompetent. The man is a tool of the extreme far left that has utterly corrupted the Democratic Party. The man and those now closest to him in the administration appear to abhor America’s history. They detest anyone who does not fully subscribe to their positions. They are corrupt, they are increasingly paranoid, and they are taking this country down a path by which we may never recover.

(all emphasis, mine)

Read it all.

A few have opined that Obama is just a tool of the far left and not a great and terrible leader.  But he sure does scare those closest to him, doesn't he?  Perhaps he's exactly the cult of personality that I claim he is. 

Dear reader, don't be fooled that it is Obama that has corrupted the Democratic Party.  Obama IS the Democratic Party and the Democratic Party is Obama.  The White House Insider might have you to beleive in "moderate" Democrats.  I didn't beleive in them before and I won't start now.  There are no flying, rainbow pooping unicorns.  If they really existed, the government would tax their "rainbow", do a pre-flight pat-down, and remove their horn before they are allowed to fly. 

Do not forget that it is Democrats who, sick of the Clintons, conjured up Obama to be their nominee.  Do not forget Farsight's question from C.S. Lewis, "The Last Battle" (part of The Chronicles of Narnia series).

"There goes one who has called on gods he does not believe in. How will it be with him if they have really come?"

While they got rid of Clinton temporarily, they are now stuck with this cult of personality that they evoked.  Later, the White House Insider sounds practically giddy at the thought of Hillary Clinton running in 2012.  Great idea, replace one cult of personality with another one. 

To my friends, to all our foes, and even to the White House Insider, my thoughts on this are already settled under a previous essay, Fair Warning to the Collectivists.

This is not a threat. This is not a prediction. This is not a call to action. It is settled history that has been repeated many times. It has all happened before and will happen again. This time, it will happen to you.

The tyrant will eat his own, he just eats them last.

The Ruckus

The Ruckus at Memento Mori

A must read. 

It seems that many Patriots envision a modern conflict in America will follow models that have been seen elsewhere in time. References to Chechnya, the second American Revolution (aka the Civil War), even the current war in Mexico as the Drug Cartels challenge their Government for control all fail to properly connect the dots and form an accurate picture of a fresh conflict in America.

While we contend that a complete restoration of our Founding Principles is possible without any violence, it will be the Political Class that will choose the course.

Read it all and ponder, "What does Day One of the Restoration look like?"

Rahm opponent drops out

Tom Dart drops out.  So instead of becoming the capo of the city, he will remain on with the Cook County Sheriff's crime syndicate. 

Story here and here.

“I’ve been thoroughly exploring a run for the mayor, and it’s been an exciting idea to be mayor,” Dart said. “The unfortunate thing for myself, though, is that I have found it impossible for myself to make being a mayor and a candidate compatible with being a father and a husband.”

Dart is married and has five children — the youngest 1 year old, the oldest 9.

“The timing just isn’t right right now for my family, and there’s just no other way to put it,” Dart said.

Or maybe he got a special delivery

and recognized that he didn't want to end up like this guy...


"Dang, I knew I should have dropped out of the mayor's race."

 Expect more manipulation of this sort as we go along.  After all, this is Chicago.

Restore The Constitution 10-30-10

WRSA sends. 

Be there this Saturday at a variety of RTC armed rallies in several locations around the country:

Atlanta, Georgia

Luna, New Mexico

Brownsville, Texas

Horse Pens 40, Steele, Alabama

Restoring a Constitutional foundation to our Republic can't be done by just a few.  So don't just plan to come, invite others.

Another Great Comment.

In response to my post noting Pelosi's whine about the Democrats not getting enough credit...

Son of Sam Adams said...

Tariq Aziz is getting credit for everything he did, so why can't the Democrats?

Another Hall of Fame Comment!  Thank you for reading.  Straight to the great quotes section for you!

You know, Pelosi is at The Cliffs of Insanity too.  Most of us don't want to go over the edge, but if Pelosi insists on taking a plunge, then make sure she doesn't run out of bungee cord.  It's probably a 1000 foot plunge.  You reckon 1500 feet of bungee cord will be about right?

Proposed U2 Shootdown

Article here.

(A Clinton Cabinet member in 1997)... said to Shelton (Chairman JCS), "Hugh, I know I shouldn't even be asking you this, but what we really need in order to go in and take out Saddam is a precipitous event — something that would make us look good in the eyes of the world. Could you have one of our U-2s fly low enough — and slow enough — so as to guarantee that Saddam could shoot it down?"

"Of course we can …", which prompted a big smile on the official's face.

 "You can?" was the excited reply.

"Why, of course we can," (Shelton) countered. "Just as soon as we get your ass qualified to fly it, I will have it flown just as low and slow as you want to go."

America would do well to remember that the same kind of people who asked for a false-flag, staged provocation to incite a war are again in power and likely asking the same questions with just a slight modification.

I know I shouldn't even be asking you this, but what we really need in order to go in and take out (insert political opponent du jour here) is a precipitous event-something that would make us look good in the eyes of the world. Could you have (insert domestic provocation here) so as to guarantee that (political opponent) would open fire-even if it's in self-defense?"

Is there still a level head left in Washington that might prevent something like this?

While I can give Shelton credit for a good, quick, smart-ass answer, it's a fair question to ask what he did about the person who asked him the question. You know, have them outed in the media, maybe see what charges could get an arrest warrant and investigation going.

crickets.

Pelosi: We haven't gotten credit...

"We haven't really gotten the credit for what we have done"

A condition that will shortly be remedied. 

Here it comes....

Seen on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Vent

Reader submitted comments are fun to read-and in rare occasions pretty true. 

From the AJC.com vent.

Isn't the current fight between the Dems and the GOP sort of like two organized crime "families" fighting to control various activities and money?

Word.  Or in Jerseyspeak, "Fugghedaboudit."

Public Service Announcement

A friend sent this to me and I thought it was worthy of passing along. 

On This Date In History: 10-23-83

US Marine Barracks in Beirut Lebanon is attacked by a homicide bomber with a truckload of explosives.

Cost to US: 241 US Servicemen. 

Cost to Hezbollah: 1 driver, 1 truck, explosive equivalent of 12,000 pounds of TNT.

1 driver, 1 truck, 1 load of explosives, 241 US servicemen dead, little retribution, and the US retreated.  With math like that, why shouldn't the Islamists try it again?

Pan Am 103

 and again...

WTC, 1993

 and again...


Khobar Towers, 1996

and again...

Tanzania, Kenya, 1998

and again...


USS Cole (DDG-67), 2000

and again...

September 11th, 2001

and again...

I'm sure Iran is still years away from being able to produce a bomb..........right?? 

Some questions to ponder:

Why is it that the US has failed to deter or destroy these kinds of attacks?  This can be answered simply by checking the corresponding photo gallery of famous/infamous photos that document the retribution. 



Oh that's right, there isn't one.

For all of my lifetime, it seems that the US is incapable of adequately addressing these as the provocations and acts of war that they are.  But then, what have WE the people done?  Did we protest our government's sloth in responding?  Did we demand action?  Did 4 million of us take to the streets and cry out, "Death to Iran!"?  Do we erupt when people try to soothe us with euphemisms like "tragedy", "event", and "man-caused disaster"? 

Perhaps our government did exactly what we the people did (or didn't do).

Nothing.  

This high degree of tolerance and restraint has been a green light for power junkies in Washington to strip you of property and liberty.  After all, if you'll accept withdrawing in the face of the enemy, then you'll surely accept the 1986 Firearms Act, or Ruby Ridge, or Waco, or Kelo, or TSA, or full-body scans, or outlawing the incandescent light bulb, or stealing several trillion dollars through the mortgage and foreclosure mess, or stealing several billion dollars from Chrysler's secured debt holders, or government takeover of student loans, or government takeover of healthcare, or raiding a family farm for the heinous sin of consuming and selling unpastuerized milk and cheese, or taking newborns away from those who hold inconvenient political opinions. 

We are at The Cliffs of Insanity.  Which way are you facing? 

Anti-Rahm Alliance

Apparently, anytime that people gather to defeat a candidate that is universally disliked, they're part of an Alliance of Shadowy, Powerful Forces of Eeevil and Darkness. 

When a similar coalition of people gather to elect candidates of the same mold we like to call them, ACORN or DNC. 

Story here.

He puts the "MAN" in Emmanuel!

Cash Strapped Governments ramping up collections

Story here

In Fairfax County, Department of Tax Administration Director Kevin Greenlief said his agency was relying more on collection agencies to handle delinquent payments, and has a number of additional collection weapons in its arsenal. (emphasis mine)

"We can seize your income tax refund. We can put registration blocks on you at the [Department of Motor Vehicles] so you can't register your car. We can boot cars. Those are pretty aggressive tools," he said. "We don't want to take draconian measures unless we have to, but sometimes it's necessary."

At the bottom of ever stack of forms, papers, and false niceties, there are weapons in the arsenal.  This is what government is all about. 



Deficit Reduction Device

Let's see, a city wouldn't ever place one of those on your vehicle for some reason other than a parking ticket...right?  Maybe it would be handy to know how to remove the boot. 
This article is a little old, but tire boots can be defeated.  So can tyranny. 



Change you can BELIEVE in!

This election will make Obama more, not less, dangerous

From Malone Vandam

...with those majorities taken away in the House and perhaps just weakened in the Senate, what will come forward next is Obama’s narcissistic rage.

If his complicity with Pelosi and Reid in the abuse of the legislative process impressed you, wait until you see what he does when all he has at his disposal is executive power.

Looks like someone is all wee-weed up out there. 

Don’t expect Democratic survivors in the Congress to be of any help in putting the brakes on him because they’ll be under threat and will be the first ones punished if they do.

Read it all

The tyrant will eat his own, he just eats them last. 

Fair Warning to the Collectivists; This is not a threat. This is not a prediction. This is not a call to action. It is settled history that has been repeated many times. It has all happened before and will happen again. This time, it will happen to you.

If there's a silver lining, it may be that their true colors are finally unmasked for all to behold. 

Will America understand then? 

No More Free William Colbys (Update)

From a poser...sorry, poster:

Threats of retaliation from folks who have not to date projected force (and thus likely cannot) do not impress the government, I fear.

Especially members of the Senior Executive Service.


It's akin to the screaming fit of a three-year old. Somewhat loud, but meaningless.


Put another way, would the disappearance of Waldo and/or Zorro warrant action contrary to the sacred "No Fort Sumters" writ?


If not, people are just pulling on themselves.


Jerry Shriver's Ghost
October 16, 2010 10:23 AM

______________
If only I could be tough like you, Mister.....Anonymous 10:23 AM. 



POW #1: "What's the plan?  Attack at dawn and blow the guard tower?"
Braddock: "We're gonna trigger the vote and get registered." 
POW #1: "Is it too late to return me to the POW camp?"

There's a Chuck out there a lot tougher than Norris.  His name is Charles E. Yeager.  In his autobiography, he tells of a new fighter pilot in their unit who is clearly on one of his first missions with the group.  The squadron is at high altitude.  The kid is just astounded that their squadron is going to pass right by a German aerodrome rather than attacking it. 

Yeager: "If you want to go hit it, I'll give you top cover."

No More Free William Colbys

A very prescient piece of warning from Mike at Sipsey Street. 

Just as there will be no more free Katrinas and no more free Wacos, just as there will be no more free Oklahoma Citys and no free stolen elections, there will be no more free Bill Colbys.


They understand exactly what I'm talking about, even if some of you, gentle readers, do not.

You do understand...don't you?

Unexpectedly

An absolutely brilliant visual.  I just wish I'd have thought of it.  I don't know who made this, but I sure know of examples of what the creator had in mind:

• Unemployment unexpectedly rose 3% last month to just under 10%, which is only .025% higher than the previous month.  (i.e., the official number is always just under 10%)
• The dollar nosedived unexpectedly today on news that Ease and Tease Bernanke was going to keep printing money to cover the banksters instead of making them eat their losses like everyone else in the economy must. 
• Sgt. James Crowley was unexpectedly invited to the White House to have a beer and be lectured on race. 
• The Special Olympics were unexpectedly insulted by Obama on Leno the other night when Obama referred to his (insert sports action here) style.
• Obama's approval numbers unexpectedly dropped in the summer of 2009 when he told his SEIU thugnuts to punch back twice as hard (against people who weren't punching, just talking.)
• Obama's approval numbers unexpectedly dipped when he bowed to (insert foreign ruler here).

Though it's not Obama, here's a bonus illustration of how "unexpectedly" is becoming a universal modifier that is used far too often.   

• The jailer was startled when his weapon unexpectedly discharged and hit his friends wife in the ass. 

See, if you expected it to happen, then you're deliberately doing it.  But if it happens unexpectedly then it's okay.  Oh, my bad.  I didn't mean to.  Judge me only on my intentions, not the results. 

But when a long train of "unexpected" information is released by the administration who claim to be sooo much smarter than the rest of us, it should be patently obvious what is being done.  Unexpectedly is used as a mea culpa when delivering information.  This is part of the maskirovka which they will continue to use until.....such time as the maskirovka is no longer necessary. 

We're the Only "One of the two things had to happen" enough

Since Codrea is out of pocket for the weekend, I'll try to fill in with a tale of Only Ones that I saw this morning. 

Knox County jailer returns to duty after gun accident involving a longtime friend

Story here.

Lake Lowry was preparing to go out to dinner with his wife and another couple when all of the sudden...
 

The driver of the 4Runner (Lowry's friend), however, "expressed his objection to Officer Lowry bringing a loaded handgun into his vehicle," the OPS file states. So Lowry began to unload the weapon, which was in a holster.

Lowry couldn't specifically recall what he did wrong during the unloading operation, according to the OPS probe. He was unsure if he racked the slide with the magazine still in the weapon or if he removed the magazine without racking the slide to clear a round from the chamber.

"One of the two things had to happen because that's the only way a round could still be in the chamber," Lowry told the OPS investigator.

Uh...how many safe handling rules were violated? 

Clearly he had the gun in condition 1, round in the chamber.  So to unload, you must release the magazine then rack the slide to eject the chambered round.  Proper unloading? 

Fail. 

 Lowry told the investigator that it is "his belief that somehow he inadvertently pulled the trigger of the weapon while he was attempting to remove the ammunition."

Well...he did remove the ammunition......  Trigger discipline?

Fail.  

The round entered the back of the front passenger seat and struck Beverly Nicole Bradley, 26, in the left hip area. Bradley lives at the East Ashcroft Way residence.

She was treated at the University of Tennessee Medical Center and released the same night, records state.

Well bully for her.  She got off far lighter than others who have been on the wrong end of Only One misadventures.  (To keep this brief, I will not catalogue the list of victims, but instead direct you to Injustice Everywhere and War On Guns as a good starting point.)

Muzzle Discipline?

Fail. 

His punishment from the Knox County Sheriff's Office?

"His decision was to stay with the Knox County Sheriff's Office and never be a bonded deputy or go through the academy or carry a weapon with the sheriff's department," said Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones.

Think of all the lives that Sheriff Jones may have just saved.  Now if he can just convince other Sheriffs and police chiefs to do likewise and take the gun away when the Only One can't properly handle it. 

What do you call an Only One who has his gun taken away? 


A good start

There's some change you can believe in!

Restore The Constitution 10-30-10

What: Restore The Constitution Rally.  A peaceful, open exercise of rights enumerated by the First and Second Amendment.
Where: Horse Pens 40, Steele, Alabama
When: Saturday, October 30, 2010.  Noon - 4 PM
Who: YOU!

Contact Mike Vanderboegh at Sipsey Street Irregulars

If you can't make it to this one, then how about Little Five Points in Atlanta?  Or Brownsville, TX.

Spread the word. 

More Music

I've always liked the Who and finally decided to upgrade from my dad's old LP albums to digital.  Got my CD in today and listened to Eminence Front, enjoying the groove.  And of course, the gears kept turning and I went to find the lyrics.  Sure, it's probably about trying to live the high glitz life of superstardom, so surely none of this could apply to the present situation, could it? 

Use this tune if you need a little theme music to read about foreclosuregate.


Eminence Front, The Who
written by Pete Townshend

The sun shines
People forget
The spray flies as the speedboat glides
People forget
Forget they're hiding
The girls smile
People forget
The snow packs as the skier tracks
People forget
Forget they're hiding.

Behind an eminence front
Eminence front - It's a put-on.
It’s an eminence front
It’s an eminence front – It’s a put-on
An eminence front
Eminence front - put-on
Eminence front
It’s an eminence front
It's an eminence front – It’s a put-on
It’s a put-on
It’s a put-on
It’s a put-on

Come and join the party
Dress to kill
Won't you come and join the party
Dress to kill
Dress to kill.

The drinks flow
People forget
That big wheel spins, the hair thins
People forget
Forget they're hiding
The news slows
People forget
The shares crash, hopes are dashed
People forget
Forget they're hiding.

Behind an eminence front
An eminence front - it's a put-on
It is an eminence front
Eminence front – It’s a put-on
An eminence front
An eminence front - put-on
Eminence front
It’s an eminence front - it's a put-on
It’s a put-on
It’s a put-on
It’s a put-on

Come and join the party
Dress to
Come and join the party
Dress to
Come on join the party
Dress to
Come and join the party
Dress to kill
Dress yourself to kill.

Nonviolence Is For Civilians Only

Some more truedat from Dan Almond at Restore The Constitution.  Link here

[T]here are plenty of pacifist civilians claiming that nonviolence is “the most powerful weapon.” If this is so, wouldn’t some professional in some government, by now, have come up with the ingenious idea of using this “powerful weapon” to defend its borders or keep its citizenry in line?


Of course not, because nonviolence is for civilians only.

Read the whole thing.

If non-violence was so great, then Keith Gladney would not have been roughed up by SEIU thugnuts in Missouri.  Or Nathan Tabor in North Carolina.  Or a banker's son terrorized in his own home by thugnuts bought and paid for, bussed in, and escorted by the DC police.  But when you have a leader who directs his minions to punch back twice as hard, who brags about knowing whose butt to kick, or having boots on the throat of an enemy du jour, then let me be perfectly clear, non-violence has no page in their playbook.

More Undue Process: Showtime raid on a dairy farm over.....cheese?!

h/t to Randy Dye who notes the undue process outrage du jour. 

FDA multi-agency “guns drawn raid” on simple dairy farm, orders 50,000 lbs of cheese destroyed.

Original story at Hartke Is Online.

Just in case you need some background music to go with this read and the comments, here's a little John Ringer:



Once again, what will you do without due process? 

As we go forward and government misdeeds multiply and increase, here's something to consider; The government itself is creating the conditions that are conducive to multiplying and increasing the number of allies.  Many still can't get their brains wrapped around the idea that as bad as things seem, they're actually a thousand times worse.  

The fields are white unto harvest folks: What is being done to enlist them? 
 

We are everywhere

What will you do without Due Process?

I was supposed to be on a "holiday" this weekend but stuff keeps happening and the gears in my brain will continue to turn whether there's oil or not. 

I saw this piece from Denninger about Due Process or lack thereof. Apparently those at the Wall Street Journal think that due process is soooo 1779. Pete covered this a little at WRSA in this piece.

Today, Denninger notes that Obama is not in favor of a nationwide moratorium on foreclosures. In the referenced article, Obama had this to say:

"While we understand the eagerness to make sure that no American is foreclosed upon in error, we must be careful not to over-reach and apply a remedy that will make the underlying problem of foreclosures worse," he added.

Well, if this administration were to not over-reach and apply a remedy that makes the underlying problem worse, then I guess there's a first time for everything. Seems like I recall that in early 2009, Obama was wanting to take money from taxpayers to give it to those who couldn't make their mortgage payments to prevent them from being evicted. Now, that's okay though. Would you please make up your mind? Oh, no wait, you're a liberal and don't have a mind that can be changed. My mistake.

If you wanted to talk about other due process examples, then the case of Cheyenne Irish would be a prime example. While I know nothing personally of the parents or the circumstances, it boggles my mind to think of a case where the state can kidnap a newborn under color of law. Will Cheyenne be helped if I find my inner Norris?

Thanks to the overwhelming number of police-sleuth-law-order TV shows on today, it may be that America has been programmed to believe that the judicial branch exists only to provide a means of appealing bad acts by the state-rather than as a filter to preventing those acts through due process. Again through the miracle of programming, we're taught that exercising the right to remain silent and demanding due process is merely a shield for criminals rather than a right of free men.

Ask Len Savage about due process sometime.

Ask Dan Howley.

Ask Randy Weaver. Or his wife. Or his son. Or his newborn dead in his mother's arms. Or better yet, let's ask Lon Horiuchi. Or perhaps the American family of Elian Gonzalez. The case of Cheyenne Irish isn't the first time that the government has thrown due process out the window where a child is concerned and you can believe that it won't be the last.

Let's ask the secured investors of Chrysler about due process as it applies to their bankruptcy.

Ask the fellow in California who had his car GPS bugged by the feds.  

Ask David Olofson about due process.

Ask British Petroleum about the $20 billion dollar escrow that they were asked to fund for damages in this summer's oil spill.

Ask Sgt. James Crowley who was smeared by Pres_ent Obama as having acted stupidly-then "invited" to the Rose Garden for a beer and a "teachable moment". No word on whether Obama actually learned anything.

In the earlier piece, Denninger asks a question that has already been answered. I repeat it here for your benefit.  

Has anyone considered that if we no longer have a rule of law and we no longer have due process that there are 330,000,000 Americans who just became empowered, under the very standards put forward by The Journal's Editorial Board, The Banks and our Government, to issue their own declaratory judgments and carry out their own sentences?

Yes. Yes it has been considered.  It's called Waco Rules. If the law doesn't protect us as citizens, then it doesn't protect them as government officials either.

Karl Denninger is expressing the question that many Americans dare not even form in their brain. Because the answer only leads to one place.

For a time in man's history, the conflict between the two greatest powers was reduced to just a push of the button. Mutually Assured Destruction. Through the miracle of ballistic missiles, nuclear war could be delivered to any spot on earth with just the push of a button. So early warning systems were built. Intelligence was gathered. Fixed radar arrays, airborne platforms, sonar nets, satellites were deployed-all to detect a launch at the first second. Why? Because from the time the first launch was detected, you had about 30 minutes to impact. So 30 minutes was the maximum amount of time that you would possibly have to launch any counter attack. Delay is defeat. No chance for diplomacy or discussion. No due process. And that's how the world lived for 40 years. In an even uglier scenario, a submarine ballistic missile launch from close to the enemy coast would leave only a couple of minutes to decide.

We're seeing it again in America. Would you like a real world parallel? 

Let's go back to September, 2008 when the banksters told Congress that they had to have $787 billion. RIGHT NOW. Or else there would be tanks in the streets. The whole economic world would collapse. No time for discussion, debate, or delay. When the vote didn't pass on the first trip, why didn't it all collapse? Two years later they didn't even spend all of the money and it still hasn't collapsed. Yet. No due process. No discussion. No debate. But instead of fixing the problem, they used the money to spraypaint the roadkill and smear all banks as guilty so as to provide cover for their own misdeeds.  

End Result of TARP 1 and 2

Denninger is speaking a very powerful thought that most Americans can't even bring themselves to articulate even in the comfort of their own brains.  It is a dire and desperate thought for without due process, what can any one of us do? Deploy our early warning systems. Expand our networks. Increase our intelligence. Be ready to respond at a moment's notice. Why…it's like…1775 or something. All I can say is, "Welcome to the party, pal!"


On the one hand, the power junkies in an arrogant, overreaching government seek to take your liberty.  On the other, their friends the money junkies-whom they enable and encourage seek to take your property.  Will you let them? 

Someone has to say it. If there is no due process for us, then there's no due process for the ruling class either.  If a man has no expectation that due process would prevent him from being wronged by the government, then he would be foolish to reasonably expect to receive the benefit of due process from the government after he is wronged by that same government. This man would have nothing to left to lose to start shooting as soon as the battering ram blasts his door off the hinges.   

Someone also must say this. While defending the home and hearth is proper.  Some may decide that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Instead of playing defense, they may play offense.

More Profiles In Courage

Mark Roote, Scranton, Pennsylvania.

From the 4-19.ning site...

Well, the event is over and there were no problems at all. Apparently, someone told the Tea Party leader of the event to expect me.  She thanked me for coming and told me to hang the banner wherever I wanted :)  The only place I could find to hang it was between a couple trees since there was no fence available.


Unfortunately, I was the only openly armed person in attendance. All is good though, plenty of people stopped to talk to me and ask questions.  Some folks even came over and asked me why I was trying to scare the liberals (I didn't realize any were there).  Had some good conversations with some local names, including David Madeira who was my personal choice for congress.  He now has a radio show after he lost in the primaries.  He also has a website where he puts up a 2 minute audio clip related to liberty daily, http://www.underthelibertytree.com/ (you can get to his show site from there as well)

Wish more would have shown up, but you gotta start somewhere. I'll still be doing more of this and I'll post it when I know where/when.

Outstanding. Even more so for being an RTC Rally of One.  To step up and do this requires a certain level of courage.  To lead one even moreso.  But to do be the only one to rifle up?!  Wow!

Add another pennant to the RTC banner which has to the best of my knowledge been displayed in at least 4 states at 6 rallies.

Wilderness And Primitive Survival Weekend

When: October 23-24
Where: Gadsden, Alabama
Who: Darryl Patton, The Southern Herbalist
Website: Wilderness and Primitive Survival Weekend 

From the webpage:

If you have ever wondered what it would take for you to spend a weekend in the forest "roughing it" or to actually make it in a true survival situation while back packing or camping, October 23/24 is going to be just what you need to gain those skills.


If you have ever had a desire to learn some of the survival skills of your ancestors, this is going to be great fun and you will leave with a lot of useful skills and materials. Held at "The Farm" on Lookout Mountain outside of Gadsden, this class is designed to give you some of the practical, hands-on skills you can take with you to the woods.

I had this forwarded to me from a friend who has trained with Darryl before and spoke highly of him.  When Man vs. Wild filmed an episode in Alabama, Darryl prepared Bear Grylls for the show. 

I am seriously bummed that I won't be able to make it to this, but I asked about catching a later opportunity.  

Profiles In Courage

This is what courage looks like.


Daniel Almond - Restore The Constitution Founder

What Daniel Almond did in organizing the first Restore The Constitution rally has been a success on just about any level you want to consider. 

On a political level, it excited our excitable opposition into providing a ton of coverage.  It's like what Frank Abagnale tells his son in the movie, Catch Me If You Can.

Frank Abagnale Sr.: You know why the Yankees always win, Frank?

Jr.: 'Cause they have Mickey Mantle?
Sr.: No, it's 'cause the other teams can't stop staring at those damn pinstripes.

The press intelligentsia continues to return to this rally-if only to smear the participants.  Where the left is concerned, we are living rent free inside their heads.  The left has proceeded for decades down a path that leads to the destruction of the property and liberty of their opponents.  And during all this time, they have remained sure of their cause and blithely certain of the outcome.  The Restore The Constitution rally sows fear and doubt into the minds of the collectivists regarding the outcome as well as what it might really cost to achieve "victory".  Sowing doubt and fear in the opponent without bloodshed is a goodness thing.

In terms of images, the photos of free men with long arms just across the river in sight of the US Capitol will linger for a very long time-especially with liberals.  But try to do a news search for these images today and they're harder to come by.  The graphics that I personally contributed were both direct and subtle.  And the cameras could not resist it.  I was glad to see the impact that these had in delivering the message. 

In terms of follow-through, Almond has continued to push for others to take up the cause and hold rallies of their own.  In his own area, Restore The Constitution rallies are occurring on a nearly weekly basis in the Peach State.  The message is getting out, new audiences are being exposed to the message and new friends are being made. 

All because of the simple genius of publicly exercising our rights as granted by God himself to the fullest extent possible and making sure everyone sees it.  Almond recognized from the beginning that the media would not be able to take their eyes off of those damn guns (pinstripes) at Gravelly Point.  Subsequent rallies and discussions with press photographers have confirmed this. 

Seeds vs. Fruit
If you hand me an apple, then I can count the number of seeds that apple produced.  But hand me a seed and there's no way to count how many apples that seed might produce. 

The challenge is not whether we can have a hundred more Restore The Constitution Rallies.  The real challenge is whether a hundred more Daniel Almonds will step forward.  If the laws are friendly enough, will you be the one to start an RTC rally in your area?  Will you walk right up to the line of the law-and lead others to do likewise?  Will you be the face of your rally?  Can you handle the press and the police and do it with a smile?  Could this be you?

The difference between the apple and the seed is akin to the difference between addition and multiplication.  We can't win on additions alone.  There must be multiplication.  And multiplication must happen soon if it will happen at all. 

Many have already stepped forward-Tom Green, Randy Dye, Walter Seidel, Dennis Hendricks, and Mark Roote to name a few.  Are you next?  Why not you?  Why not now?  Be the leader you want to have. 

Dozens Fall Ill at Obama Rally

Story here.

What they don't say is that the rally ended at that point because there were only "dozens" there. 

Militia Discount: Some surplus items for sale purty durn cheep.

Mike-the scrounger identifies another source of great stuff at a great price. 

Surplus Items on the cheap.

It's great to live on Sipsey Street.

Even Dilbert Gets It

Saw this one on my desk calendar a couple of weeks ago and just kept forgetting to post it here. 




http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2007-09-25/

It's from 2007 by the way.

Hope and Change Cartoons

Hope and Change.  Lincoln The Dots

CHUCK THE NRA!

Since I thought of the motto, I needed a visual.  This will have to do for now. 

Unless I hear of something better, this will be it and onto the sidebar it will go to remain until the NRB gets their butt out of their head. 

Swap Clinton for Biden: Absolutely Not

Says David Axelrod.

"There's absolutely nothing to it," senior adviser David Axelrod said Tuesday night. "The president is blessed to have a spectacular vice president and an outstanding secretary of state. They're both doing great work, and he wants to keep them on the job."


Advisers to Clinton said the same, and another Obama adviser called the idea "nuts."

But just to be on the safe side, Hillary is probably starting a Listening Tour around the DNC. 

Guys, what normally happens to the person voted "second most likely to succeed" inside of a tyranny? 

You give them a job close to you that you can keep an eye on them, but of sufficient distance below you that you reinforce the message of who's the boss. 

The Vice Maximum Leader is seldom a position of great power or prestige.  Your entire job is to take one for the boss, make the boss look good, and otherwise stay the hell out of sight. 

With all the Friends of Clinton that have died under mysterious circumstances, if you were Pres__ent, would you promote Hillary to be your VP? 

DON'T TAZE ME, HO!

I didn't think so. 

NRB+

A B+ will get you the endorsement of the NRB-formerly the NRA. 

Even if you were a former gun grabber. 

Codrea sends

Epic Fail.

CHUCK THE NRA!

Denninger Gets It

For three years now, Karl Denninger has done a great job of pointing out what's wrong and how illegal it is. His site's motto might be summed up below:

STOP THE LOOTING!
START THE PROSECUTING!

Denninger takes a departure in this post: Buy Guns

We now have confirmed instances, including 911 calls, of banks hiring people to break into homes where the foreclosure has not yet taken place, and in some instances, they're breaking into the wrong house.  That's illegal - until the bank has a court order giving them possession, they don't have possession and they have no right to be there. 

It's not long-read it all

Denninger's conclusion won't surprise anyone who reads this blog. 

But for regular readers of The Market Ticker, this is a change.  And for anyone whose eyes are open, it is clear that if the government will not uphold the law and start the prosecuting, then it will fall to the people themselves (either individually or together) to defend their property and liberty against predators great and small.  What should be particularly enraging here to America-but fails to be reported by the press is that it is the government who is in bed with these banksters perpetuating, expanding, and profiting from the problem that they jointly created. 

Pray for Spray

Firefighters let home burn Tennessee house in ashes after homeowner 'forgot' to pay $75 fee

Cranick, who lives outside the city limits, admits he "forgot" to pay the annual $75 fee. The county does not have a county-wide firefighting service, but South Fulton offers fire coverage to rural residents for a fee.

Cranick says he told the operator he would pay whatever is necessary to have the fire put out.

His offer wasn't accepted, he said.

But when Obamacare comes, we'll all be able to sign up with whatever insurance we want without any regard to pre-existing condition.  Right?  Isn't that the same thing? 

Pressure

As regular Cliffs readers will note, I can sometimes pick up on a theme and run with it for a very long time. 

In the case of "No Pressure", we've not even exhausted half of the fuel in that tank. 

I bring back a classic that needs to go onto the Threeper's MPIII.



My talent for adjusting song lyrics is lost on this one because Joel hits it right on the head. 

You have to learn to pace yourself
Pressure
You're just like everybody else
Pressure
You've only had to run so far
So good
But you will come to a place
Where the only thing you feel
Are loaded guns in your face
And you'll have to deal with
Pressure

You used to call me paranoid
Pressure
But even you can not avoid
Pressure
You turned the tap dance into your crusade
Now here you are with your faith
And your Peter Pan advice
You have no scars on your face
And you cannot handle pressure

All grown up and no place to go
Psych 1, Psych 2
What do you know?
All your life is Channel 13
Sesame Street
What does it mean?
Pressure
Pressure

Don't ask for help
You're all alone
Pressure
You'll have to answer
To your own
Pressure
I'm sure you'll have some cosmic rationale
But here you are in the ninth
Two men out and three men on
Nowhere to look but inside
Where we all respond to
Pressure
Pressure

All your life is Time Magazine
I read it too
What does it mean?
Pressure

I'm sure you'll have some cosmic rationale
But here you are with your faith
And your Peter Pan advice
You have no scars on your face
And you cannot handle pressure
Pressure, pressure
One, two, three, four
Pressure