Archive for September, 2006

An industrial park near a border port in New Mexico has displayed the US Flag in a position lower than the display of the Mexican Flag.

The flags flying over Binational Avenue near the Santa Teresa Port of Entry have stirred up controversy with some people who pass through the area on a daily basis because the Mexican flag is higher than the American flag. (Sun-News photo by Shari Vialpando)

Rightly so there are a number of groups and people who are not happy about this.

“I don’t think the Mexican flag should be flown higher than the American flag,” said the 48-year-old naturalized American. “This is the American side and I just don’t think that’s right.”

The Verde Group of El Paso, owners of the industrial park, could not be reached for comment.

The Congressional Research Service on the U.S. Flag Code, Section 7, in part states: “No other flag should be placed above the United States of America” when flags of multiple countries are flown together. Later, the code states “When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.”

Las Cruces Sun-News – Display runs counter to flag etiquette

I found this story via The Stein Report via The Dustin Inman Society Blog. I find it sad to see businesses in our country honoring a foreign flag before our US Flag.

What a tragedy!  Can you believe it?

 

This morning I was supposed to be on my way to  

visit Lady Liberty.  Sadly, I had to cancel.  Why?  Because I’ve got a swollen and red big toe.  Do I sound like a wimp?  I think so but how can you be in NYC limping, sounds miserable to me.  The BF was also supposed to be with me but he’s off in strange lands training foreign troops.  Hopefully we’ll be able to reschedule for one of the next weekends.

However, now I will be able to attend a PGR mission in London, KY for Kentucky Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Jason Jones, 29, of Lawrenceburg, Ky., who died 20 September, 2006 , in Baghdad, Iraq.  Since the Kentucky judge temporarily overturned the KY law which prevented protesting within 300 feet of a military funeral the vile people from Kansas who protest at military funerals will be attendence at this funeral.  If you live in this area you should be there in suppport of the Jones family.  Go to the PGR site for information and BRING A FLAG!

Thomas Lifson outlines the Islamic Tragedy which non-Muslims are seeing unfold on the world stage. Saying we have moved beyond street theatre with political correctness silencing our responses.

Political correctness has cut off a vital source of feedback to both the Islamists and the so-called progressives of the West. They are blind to the realities of the American Street. Gradually, more and more Americans are beginning to entertain the concept that drastic measures may well be necessary to ensure our survival. It is only a half-thought position, outside of the circle of passionate advocates who write on the web or occasionally break into media notice on talk radio or a cable news channel. But it is part of a growing acceptance that we might need to go a bit Roman, or at least contemplate the exact mechanisms which brought an end to World War II, our most recent war fought against an existential threat.

America is generally slow to awaken to danger, but once roused it is a fierce fighter. A few voices are warning our potential foes. But they are not listening.

The American Thinker

I would hope the Left and Democrats would catch on soon but with their constant leaking of security secrets, attempts to placate and protect Islamic terrorists, defeatist attitudes, contempt towards our Military, politilization of anything having to do with National Security (NSA intelligence programs, Patriot Act, international banking tracking) my hope is slim to none with them.  As angry as I get with the Republicans, the Democrats have zero interest in securing our borders and going after Islamic terrorists within our own borders much less beyond our borders.

Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean are getting some assistance from Congress.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher yesterday asked Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales to investigate what he called “the exceedingly harsh prosecution” of two U.S. Border Patrol agents now facing 20 years in prison for shooting a suspected drug smuggler in the buttocks.
“This proceeding has garnered national attention calling into question the administration’s commitment to secure our borders,” said Mr. Rohrabacher, adding that the two agents — Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean — “were simply doing their jobs to guard our homeland by attempting to apprehend an illegal drug smuggler.”

snip….
Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., Wisconsin Republican and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has called for a congressional investigation and open hearings on the case. The investigation is expected to begin before the end of the year.

Rep. John Hostettler, Indiana Republican and chairman of the House Judiciary subcommittee on immigration, border security and claims, has said that if the arrest, trial and conviction of the agents resulted in a chilling effect on others, “then it’s definitely something we should know about.”

Gonzales asked to probe prosecution of agents?-Nation/Politics?-?The Washington Times, America’s Newspaper

Other postings on Ramos and Compean:
Hope is alive for Convicted Border Agents
Legislators intercede on Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean
Guard The Borders Blogburst
Followup on convicted border agents Ramos and Compean
Border Agents Convicted for chasing Mexican drug smuggler

Rich Lowry has an interesting article on how illegal immigration has affected politicians running for office this year.

This political state of play is the exact reverse of what was widely predicted earlier in the year when illegal immigrants were marching in the streets; Hispanic and church groups were decrying the harsh treatment of illegals in a pro-enforcement House bill; and the Senate was passing an amnesty bill euphemistically dubbed “comprehensive reform.” Back then, it was assumed that the crazies in the House would bend to a Senate bill endorsed by all the great and the good. But a funny thing happened on the way to “comprehensive reform” - the political marketplace worked.

snip….
The same dynamic applies in most other close Senate races. The public has long supported better immigration enforcement, but Washington has disdained and ignored it. Washington partakes of elite attitudes on immigration (Tancredo used to get sneered at even by fellow Republicans when he talked about a fence), and its strongest lobbies on both the right and left love a robust inflow of cheap, illegal labor. The high-profile debate on immigration, however, coupled with an election, has forced the Beltway to give public opinion its due.

As Lowry says this hasn’t changed all politicians but citizen activism has made a difference in this fight to secure our borders.

Rich Lowry on Immigration on National Review Online

Francisco Javier Serrano is an illegal alien who been aided and abetted by the limp wristed media who “feel” sorry for him.

The story starts back in Jan. of 2005. This guy is really quite the victim if you listen to the media.

Anatomy of an Illegal Alien:
This story starts back in January of 2005. This is a posting I made at that time.

1/21/2005 07:15:17 AM|||Toni|||Mpls,MN Star Tribune

This is so typical of not only the Strib reporting (cause we must ‘feel’ sorry for this poor, poor, 21 yr old ‘homeless’ man) and then the complicity of some of the school’s staff is unreal. They knew he was there and let him stay!! Then, we are to believe this is just a very sad story. WRONG! This is a story of a school with staff who should be fired.

The details of Serrano’s stay at a school in Minnesota can be found at the above link.

Let’s move forward to May of 2006. Serrano has now been caught trying to invade a home in Boston and attacking the home owner with a knife.

It takes the court system 4 more months to deport his butt back to Mexico.

Francisco Javier Serrano’s plea means his strange American odyssey will end where it began: He will be deported to Mexico.

snip…..
Yesterday, he pleaded guilty in Boston Municipal Court. Municipal Court Judge Raymond G. Dougan Jr. sentenced Serrano to one year in prison with six months suspended. Jailed for six months already, he was handed over to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

For Mexican, bid to succeed in US is over – The Boston Globe

I wonder how long it will take for Serrano to cross the border illegal again? Probably a day.

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Toni At Bear Creek Ledger

If you tell Army Staff Sgt. Paul Brondhaver he’s a hero, he’ll just laugh and shake his head. He’s heard it before, but he doesn’t think he’s any more of a hero than the millions of men and women who served before him or alongside him. Brondhaver, an Ohio National Guardsman, was severely wounded in a rocket-propelled-grenade and small-arms ambush in July 2004 in Samarra, Iraq, where his Guard unit was serving with the 1st Infantry Division. More than 300 pieces of shrapnel tore through his body, and a rocket-propelled-grenade that killed Pfc. Sam Bowen continued its mindless path and struck Brondhaver, causing his own weapon to explode and further ravage his body. On hand for yesterday’s Freedom Walk here commemorating the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and honoring the nation’s past and present servicemembers, Brondhaver made no effort to hide his tears as he showed the bracelet he wears in Bowen’s honor. “If we can stay together as a bunch of good guys in America, it’s going to be easier for us to keep our resolve and remind each other of the importance of honoring those (fallen troops) so that their lives weren’t given in vain,” he said. With a new lease on life as he steadily recovers from injuries that brought him to the precipice of death, the 20-year Guardsman said he has a responsibility to speak for those who now can’t speak for themselves. During his recovery, he has spoken in several states to spread his message. Walking with a cane, Brondhaver helped lead several hundred Freedom Walk participants on the mile-and-a-half trek from the future site of the Colorado Freedom Memorial to the Aurora Municipal Center. At his side was Fairfax County (Va.) Fire Department Battalion Chief John Everett, who was one of the first responders to the attack on the Pentagon. “All of our hearts were touched and damaged” by 9/11 and with the losses incurred in its aftermath, Brondhaver said. “We need to build our hearts back up to be full and strong,” he said. “And events like this can do that. Events like this hopefully can inspire and motivate others to tell their neighbors how important it is to stay strong. It will be a stronger America in the end.” Brondhaver said he intends to spend the rest of his life spreading his message of “faith, family and friends,” his belief in America and his appreciation for freedom one event at a time. Though he has suffered a personal tragedy with his injuries, Brondhaver said, he hopes to show people that the effect any tragedy has depends on how they react to it. “In the end, my cup is half full,” he said. “I have nothing negative to say. Life is positive.” Twice after he suffered his injuries, Brondhaver’s heart stopped beating. “I flatlined in Balad, Iraq, in surgery, and they revived me,” he said. “I had lost a lot of blood. Then I’m 30,000 feet in the air on the way to Landstuhl, Germany, to a medical facility there, and I flatlined again and they revived me. Having near-death experiences has really brought home the important things in life. If you have faith, family and friends, you have a strong America. That’s my message.” Needing and receiving his parents’ permission, Brondhaver joined the Ohio Guard at 17 because, he said, he wanted to help people. Serving in the National Guard has taught him how to live his life to help others, Brondhaver said. He’s been activated for prison riots, floods, tornadoes, snow emergencies and other missions that have allowed him to help his fellow citizens. He wears 21 medals, including the Bronze Star for valor, the Purple Heart, and Army Commendation medals. But he prizes his Humanitarian Service Medal the most, he said. “They’re all important; they’re all accepted with honor,” he said. “But a soldier doesn’t go to war saying, “Man, I hope I get the Purple Heart.” But it’s OK to say, “It would be nice if I can get the Humanitarian Medal, because that means I can help others.” Helping others is a habit for Brondhaver. When he deployed to Iraq, he noticed that many children had nothing on their feet. This led to “Socks for Paul,” a joint effort with his wife, Lisa — they were high school sweethearts — that collected more than 6,000 pairs of shoes and socks for Iraqi children. “We put them in a Humvee and went from school to school,” he said, his eyes dancing as if he were Santa Claus describing his favorite Christmas. “We delivered shoes and socks to those children, along with school supplies and Spaghetti-O’s and Girl Scout cookies.” Even as he faces various surgeries for the rest of his life, Brondhaver said that if he were 17 again and knew what lay ahead for him, he still would have signed on the dotted line. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” he said. “I wouldn’t even have to think about it. I never look back.” He pointed to the American flag on the right shoulder of his uniform and said people wonder why the field of stars is on the right side of the emblem. “The blue part always goes forward. America always goes forward. We don’t retreat. We don’t look back. We stay steady. We stay strong.”These brave men and women risk their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero. We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We’re In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don’t Know Where To Look.

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

I heard this on Phil Valentine’s radio program yesterday as I was driving in rush hour traffic. I have to tell you it didn’t help me much in controlling my traffic rage. Actually I was doing a slow burn while listening to the program.

The corrupt, moronic, Democrats of Louisiana thought $185 million of Federal taxpayer funds was best used to renovate a sports arena before hospitals, schools and other infrastructure. Why am I not surprised? Oh and before all is done, they expect to use $245 million of Federal taxpayer disaster funds to complete the renovation on the Superdome.

Amid the desolation, some residents could not bring themselves to celebrate the team’s return.

Irma Warner, 71, and her husband, Pascal Warner, 80, live in an apartment in suburban Metairie while working six days a week to restore a home flooded by 7 feet of water in New Orleans’ Lakeview neighborhood.

“We rode around through the Ninth Ward yesterday,” Irma Warner said. “When I saw that, I thought, how can they spend $185 million on the Superdome.

Las Vegas SUN: Team Makes Emotional Return to Superdome

A judge in Kentucy temporarily suspends a Kentucky law which forbids protesting within 300 feet of a military funeral.

U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell said Tuesday that the law goes too far in limiting free speech. The law aimed at Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., which is known for its anti-gay protests, is too broad, the judge said in issuing an injunction.

“The zone is large enough that it would restrict communications intended for the general public on a matter completely unrelated to the funeral as well as messages targeted at funeral participants,” Caldwell wrote in a 37-page ruling issued in Frankfort.

Response from the smarmy ACLU:

“We think Judge Caldwell reenforced the importance of freedom of expression,” Lutgens said. “We continue to support the commonwealth’s efforts to protect funerals, but we know it’s not necessary to violate the First Amendment to do that.”

I thought this was a great response to the ruling:

State Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, one of the sponsors of the law, said the 300-foot barrier is the same buffer zone used to keep people from campaigning at voting precincts during elections.

“It would seem we want to give at least as much reverence to a funeral as we do an election,” Buford said. “It seems like a sad day for our military.”

Kentucky New Era

I can’t wait to find out how many Democrats voted for PERA since the vote was held Tues., Sept. 26th.

If you haven’t heard of this murder case, it’s a bit strange. Here’s what you’ve got: a white upper class woman, her husband and an illegal alien who was living in their closet! Doesn’t every woman have an illegal alien lover living in their closet? When the hubby hears the SNORING of the illegal alien lover he follows the noise and finds him in the closet! Hubby of course gets irate and tells the illegal alien lover and his wife he’s leaving the house for a walk and upon his return he wants illegal alien (who by the way doesn’t speak any English) gone. Course, instead the illegal alien (allegedly) strangles and murders the hubby upon his return from the walk.

Just your normal everyday activity in upper middle class Nashville. Right? Can you imagine jury selection on this one? You can’t have a bias or predisposed ideas about illegal aliens.

Again, what we have is another Tennessean murdered who would be alive today if it were not for an illegal alien!

‘Closet’ murder case goes to trial – Nashville, Tennessee – Monday, 09/25/06 – Tennessean.com