War drums beating?

Looking at world events, there are some amazing and frightening parallels between the times and events leading to world war 1 and now.

Here is a list off of google that names some general events that are believed to have caused WW1. I will compare them to events happening now and let you decide for yourselves:

"World War 1 is actually much more complicated than a simple list of causes. While there was a chain of events that directly led to the fighting, the actual root causes are much deeper and part of continued debate and discussion. This list is an overview of the most popular reasons that are cited as the root causes of World War 1."

1. Mutual Defense Alliances

Over time, countries throughout Europe made mutual defense agreements that would pull them into battle. Thus, if one country was attacked, allied countries were bound to defend them. Before World War 1, the following alliances existed:

• Russia and Serbia
• Germany and Austria-Hungary
• France and Russia
• Britain and France and Belgium
• Japan and Britain

Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia got involved to defend Serbia. Germany seeing Russia mobilizing, declared war on Russia. France was then drawn in against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Germany attacked France through Belgium pulling Britain into war. Then Japan entered the war. Later, Italy and the United States would enter on the side of the allies.

Okay, currently we have NATO, OPEC, the UN, the "Axis of evil" between Iran Venezuela, Cuba and N.Korea. China and Russia are really behind those nations. We also have the European Union which is being influenced by many sides and is nearing collapse. America is generally allied with Canada, Israel, England and Germany but relations with all our allies are "strained" at the moment. There are also borderless alliances such as the Muslim brotherhood (Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas) as well as La Raza (MS 13, and the Latin American drug cartels.)

2.Imperialism Imperialism is when a country increases their power and wealth by bringing additional territories under their control. Before World War 1, Africa and parts of Asia were points of contention amongst the European countries. This was especially true because of the raw materials these areas could provide. The increasing competition and desire for greater empires led to an increase in confrontation that helped push the world into World War I.

Imperialism isn't happening now, right? The map hasn't changed since WW2. Think again...Russia showed the world how to build an empire using ideology and proxy war. Islamists are trying to take over Europe. Statists are trying to take over the US. Russia recently made the entire Polish government disappear forcing new elections that can be easily bought (Russia considers Poland its historical territory just as Mexicans consider the American Southwest theirs.) There is also Kyrgystan, Georgia (the nation) and the Ukraine where Russia is now exerting an increasing influence. China is trying to exert more and more influence on SW Asia.

3. Militarism

As the world entered the 20th century, an arms race had begun. By 1914, Germany had the greatest increase in military buildup. Great Britain and Germany both greatly increased their navies in this time period. Further, in Germany and Russia particularly, the military establishment began to have a greater influence on public policy. This increase in militarism helped push the countries involved to war.

Not happening now right? China and Russia have increased their Military spending by 1000% in the last decade. What do you think they do with all the money they get from that cheap stuff you buy? America has not decreased military spending , and the Islamists are awash in oil and opium money. What are they buying with that money? Since our cash is worthless, what do you folks think we trade for oil????

4. Nationalism

Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Austria Hungary but instead be part of Serbia. In this way, nationalism led directly to the War. But in a more general way, the nationalism of the various countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension of the war in Europe. Each country tried to prove their dominance and power.

Nationalism is on the rise in China, Russia, Europe, in the Islamic world and in S.America. We are the only nation that has a leader that feels we owe the world an apology and should let others take our lead.

5. Immediate Cause: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The immediate cause of World War I that made all the aforementioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism) was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In June 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated him and his wife while they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia which was part of Austria-Hungary. This was in protest to Austria-Hungary having control of this region. Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assassination led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to mobilize due to its alliance with Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia. Thus began the expansion of the war to include all those involved in the mutual defense alliances.

This was simply a flash point at a time when because of economic downturn, anger against european imperialism, and arrogance by world leaders led to a war no one could stop. America sold much of the Arms used in WW1 and ended up being owed billions by Europe which when was not repaid led to huge taxes and the Depression of 1920. We had a so called "progressive" President who swore to keep us out of war. Days after his reelection we jumped into WW1. Communism was able to take hold in Russia leading to it's exit of WW1 on an anti-war platform. By the start of WW2, Russia had the biggest, most advanced army in the world. We also had a "progressive" President who swore to keep us out of WW2. When attacked by Japan we invaded Europe first. Now we have another "progressive" President who ran on an anti-war platform but has increased the total number of troops currently overseas, yet has grossly mismanaged both Afganistan and Iraq to the point that victory (which was all but assured in both) is now all but impossible in Afganistan and looking less likely in Iraq. So you tell me, why should we not be worried about an impending world war?

Simple solution for Arizona immigration: Mexifornia

Yes. I have a simple solution for the immigration law protests in Arizona. We don't need to boycott Arizona. We don't need to make refried bean swastikas. The solution doesn't even involve Arizona. My solution is to give the illegals California. We can call it Mixifornia. Let them assume California's debt, sovreignty and grant them secession from the Union. We could keep our Flags the same by granting Puerto Rico statehood. After all, at least Puerto Ricans are proud to be American citizens. We could even give back all the californian representation in Washington DC. After all, once Pelosi dies (if she's not dead already) she has so much plastic and composite materials under whatever material NASA has created for her to call skin that she could be simply stuck on a pole and made a statue. She could be the Mexifornia national mascot known as the Chupacabra (a demon from Caribbean folklore). The illegals could migrate to California and get everything for free all the time. They could hate their gringos all they want and be free to smuggle all the coke, meth, and illegals to Mexifornia and leave them there, and the rest of us alone. After all, when you boil this dispute down to the real issues, it is about race pimping, bringing in a new working class to be government dependent and getting them hooked on drugs so that they can go through the revolving door of the legal system, further enslaving them. So let's start a petition drive for the foundation of Mexifornia, to stop the illegal immigration problem once and for all!!!!!

Viral of the day: Bernie Madoff vs. The Government

Bernie Madoff vs. The Government

Why did Bernie Madoff go to prison? To make it simple, he talked people into investing with him. Trouble was, he didn't invest their money. As time rolled on, he simply took the money from the new investors to pay off the old investors. Finally there were too many old investors and not enough money from new investors coming in to keep the payments going. Next thing you know Madoff is one of the most hated men in America and he is off to jail.

Some of you know this but not enough of you. Madoff did to his investors what the government has been doing to us for over 60 years with Social Security. There is no meaningful difference between the two schemes except that one was operated by a private individual who is now in jail, and the other is operated by politicians who enjoy perks, privileges and status in spite of their actions.

Do you need a side-by-side comparison? Well here's a nifty little chart.

BERNIE MADOFF	SOCIAL SECURITY
Takes money from investors with the promise that the money will be invested and made available to them later	Takes money from wage earners with the promise that the money will be invested in a "Trust Fund" and made available later.
Instead of investing the money Madoff spends it on nice homes in the Hamptons and yachts.	Instead of depositing money in a Trust Fund the politicians use it for general spending and vote buying.
When the time comes to pay the investors back Madoff simply uses some of the new funds from newer investors to pay back the older investors.	When benefits for older investors become due the politicians pay them with money taken from younger and newer wage earners to pay the geezers.
When Madoff's scheme is discovered all hell breaks loose. New investors won't give him any more cash.	When Social Security runs out of money they simply force the taxpayers to send them some more.
Bernie Madoff is in jail.	Politicians remain in Washington.

---

Viral of the day: Bernie Madoff vs. The Government

Bernie Madoff vs. The Government

Why did Bernie Madoff go to prison? To make it simple, he talked people into investing with him. Trouble was, he didn't invest their money. As time rolled on, he simply took the money from the new investors to pay off the old investors. Finally there were too many old investors and not enough money from new investors coming in to keep the payments going. Next thing you know Madoff is one of the most hated men in America and he is off to jail.

Some of you know this but not enough of you. Madoff did to his investors what the government has been doing to us for over 60 years with Social Security. There is no meaningful difference between the two schemes except that one was operated by a private individual who is now in jail, and the other is operated by politicians who enjoy perks, privileges and status in spite of their actions.

Do you need a side-by-side comparison? Well here's a nifty little chart.

BERNIE MADOFF	SOCIAL SECURITY
Takes money from investors with the promise that the money will be invested and made available to them later	Takes money from wage earners with the promise that the money will be invested in a "Trust Fund" and made available later.
Instead of investing the money Madoff spends it on nice homes in the Hamptons and yachts.	Instead of depositing money in a Trust Fund the politicians use it for general spending and vote buying.
When the time comes to pay the investors back Madoff simply uses some of the new funds from newer investors to pay back the older investors.	When benefits for older investors become due the politicians pay them with money taken from younger and newer wage earners to pay the geezers.
When Madoff's scheme is discovered all hell breaks loose. New investors won't give him any more cash.	When Social Security runs out of money they simply force the taxpayers to send them some more.
Bernie Madoff is in jail.	Politicians remain in Washington.

---

Deconstructing our Progress to Communism Pt. II – Commerce Clause

   We the People are engaged in a battle over our future.  Are we going to remain a Constitutional Republic, or are we going to devolve in a communistic tyranny ruled by a politburo of non -representatives elected through sham elections like Iran, Cuba, Russia, or Venezuela?   Yesterday the focus was on the faulty premise that the “General Welfare” clause allows congress to legislate anything and everything under the sun.  Today’s focus is on another clause that our current would-be Kings and Queens in Washington think gives them the power usurp all authority reserved to the states or the people.  The “Commerce Clause”, Article I section 8.3 which reads:

[the congress shall have power…] “To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes”

The part of that statement which so much debate has been centered upon is “To regulate commerce…among the several states." Luckily we do not have to be confused as to what the framers meant, as they clearly laid out their intent in their writings.  reading their correspondence, there should be no debate at all what the proper understanding of those words should be. But as was pointed out yesterday, the small minority of our non-representatives who would hazard a guess as to where their unlimited power is derived from, will likely quote this clause.
Indeed Speaker Pelosi issued a press release on her website in September 2009 where she expressly said just that: Health Insurance Reform Daily Mythbuster: 'Constitutionality of Health Insurance Reform'

“…  But the Constitution gives Congress broad power to regulate activities that have an effect on interstate commerce.  Congress has used this authority to regulate many aspects of American life, from labor relations to education to health care to agricultural production. Since virtually every aspect of the heath care system has an effect on interstate commerce, the power of Congress to regulate health care is essentially unlimited.”

So according to this widely held interpretation these 16 words nullify the tenth amendment.  IF congress can regulate the commerce that goes on within a state because the prices and availability of a product or service in one state impacts the prices and availability in another, then there is literally no end to what they can control.  How convenient  for them.  This is clearly not what the founders meant. The original intent of the framers is clear.  Madison said to Cabell :

“For a like reason, I made no reference to the "power to regulate commerce among the several States." I always foresaw that difficulties might be started in relation to that power which could not be fully explained without recurring to views of it, which, however just, might give birth to specious though unsound objections. Being in the same terms with the power over foreign commerce, the same extent, if taken literally, would belong to it.

Yet it is very certain that it grew out of the abuse of the power by the importing States in taxing the non-importing, and was intended as a negative and preventive provision against injustice among the States themselves, rather than as a power to be used for the positive purposes of the General Government, in which alone, however, the remedial power could be lodged.”
Allow me to translate into more easily understood language. 
I did not refer to the "power to regulate commerce among the several States."  [in my response].  I purposefully left that part out because I always thought that in the future people would misunderstand the meaning unless it was  put into context.  If not, it would be too easy to extend this power to the same level as the power reserved to the federal government to regulate relationships with other nations.  It is very clear that this language grew out of an abuse of power by states that had ports and harbors against states that did not. The language was intended as a protection to keep one state from harming another by restricting its trade, not as an additional power given to the Federal government over the states; however, the Federal government is the only agency we could give this authority to, and so we did.

   Remember, until the mid 20th century any goods received from a foreign nation were received by ship.  This put States without ports and harbors at a serious disadvantage to states who did.  Imagine Kansas or Oklahoma's vulnerable situation if they had to pay taxes  on every product imported to every state that was crossed en route to the final destination.  imagine a ship from China delivering products to the port in Long Beach, CA en route to Kansas.  California could then charge tariffs to Kansas, and every state subsequently after that could charge both CA, and KS, as the product moved across their borders.  What a nightmare that would be.  This is the reasoning behind the Commerce Clause.  The purpose of the Commerce Clause was to keep this internal turmoil out of trade, to allow all the states to access shipping and receiving points.  This is further explained in Federalist #42, and Madison mentions that one of the reasons for this language’s inclusion into the constitution was because it was a noted weakness of the articles of Confederation as well as several Nations in Europe at the time.
It was meant as a restriction on states from harming other states, not to create an  all encompassing evil overlord Fedzilla government. 
Unfortunately over the years the courts have wavered back and forth on this issue and the most recent passing of the buck by the court has been this:
Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority, 469 U.S. 528 (1985),

Of course, we continue to recognize that the States occupy a special and specific position in our constitutional system and that the scope of Congress' authority under the Commerce Clause must reflect that position. But the principal and basic limit on the federal commerce power is that inherent in all congressional action—the built-in restraints that our system provides through state participation in federal governmental action. The political process ensures that laws that unduly burden the States will not be promulgated.

The recent Firearms Freedom laws are set to test this theory, but it is unlikely from the above decision they will. Folks, if we don’t like Pelosi et. al. view of things, we have to vote them out, because the courts are likely going to take a pass on this.  This may be one of the most important litmus tests on a prospective candidate, “what is your opinion regarding the proper role of the Fed with respect to the Commerce Clause”
-KOOK

Deconstructing our Progress to Communism Pt. II – Commerce Clause

   We the People are engaged in a battle over our future.  Are we going to remain a Constitutional Republic, or are we going to devolve in a communistic tyranny ruled by a politburo of non -representatives elected through sham elections like Iran, Cuba, Russia, or Venezuela?   Yesterday the focus was on the faulty premise that the “General Welfare” clause allows congress to legislate anything and everything under the sun.  Today’s focus is on another clause that our current would-be Kings and Queens in Washington think gives them the power usurp all authority reserved to the states or the people.  The “Commerce Clause”, Article I section 8.3 which reads:

[the congress shall have power…] “To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes”

The part of that statement which so much debate has been centered upon is “To regulate commerce…among the several states." Luckily we do not have to be confused as to what the framers meant, as they clearly laid out their intent in their writings.  reading their correspondence, there should be no debate at all what the proper understanding of those words should be. But as was pointed out yesterday, the small minority of our non-representatives who would hazard a guess as to where their unlimited power is derived from, will likely quote this clause.
Indeed Speaker Pelosi issued a press release on her website in September 2009 where she expressly said just that: Health Insurance Reform Daily Mythbuster: 'Constitutionality of Health Insurance Reform'

“…  But the Constitution gives Congress broad power to regulate activities that have an effect on interstate commerce.  Congress has used this authority to regulate many aspects of American life, from labor relations to education to health care to agricultural production. Since virtually every aspect of the heath care system has an effect on interstate commerce, the power of Congress to regulate health care is essentially unlimited.”

So according to this widely held interpretation these 16 words nullify the tenth amendment.  IF congress can regulate the commerce that goes on within a state because the prices and availability of a product or service in one state impacts the prices and availability in another, then there is literally no end to what they can control.  How convenient  for them.  This is clearly not what the founders meant. The original intent of the framers is clear.  Madison said to Cabell :

“For a like reason, I made no reference to the "power to regulate commerce among the several States." I always foresaw that difficulties might be started in relation to that power which could not be fully explained without recurring to views of it, which, however just, might give birth to specious though unsound objections. Being in the same terms with the power over foreign commerce, the same extent, if taken literally, would belong to it.

Yet it is very certain that it grew out of the abuse of the power by the importing States in taxing the non-importing, and was intended as a negative and preventive provision against injustice among the States themselves, rather than as a power to be used for the positive purposes of the General Government, in which alone, however, the remedial power could be lodged.”
Allow me to translate into more easily understood language. 
I did not refer to the "power to regulate commerce among the several States."  [in my response].  I purposefully left that part out because I always thought that in the future people would misunderstand the meaning unless it was  put into context.  If not, it would be too easy to extend this power to the same level as the power reserved to the federal government to regulate relationships with other nations.  It is very clear that this language grew out of an abuse of power by states that had ports and harbors against states that did not. The language was intended as a protection to keep one state from harming another by restricting its trade, not as an additional power given to the Federal government over the states; however, the Federal government is the only agency we could give this authority to, and so we did.

   Remember, until the mid 20th century any goods received from a foreign nation were received by ship.  This put States without ports and harbors at a serious disadvantage to states who did.  Imagine Kansas or Oklahoma's vulnerable situation if they had to pay taxes  on every product imported to every state that was crossed en route to the final destination.  imagine a ship from China delivering products to the port in Long Beach, CA en route to Kansas.  California could then charge tariffs to Kansas, and every state subsequently after that could charge both CA, and KS, as the product moved across their borders.  What a nightmare that would be.  This is the reasoning behind the Commerce Clause.  The purpose of the Commerce Clause was to keep this internal turmoil out of trade, to allow all the states to access shipping and receiving points.  This is further explained in Federalist #42, and Madison mentions that one of the reasons for this language’s inclusion into the constitution was because it was a noted weakness of the articles of Confederation as well as several Nations in Europe at the time.
It was meant as a restriction on states from harming other states, not to create an  all encompassing evil overlord Fedzilla government. 
Unfortunately over the years the courts have wavered back and forth on this issue and the most recent passing of the buck by the court has been this:
Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority, 469 U.S. 528 (1985),

Of course, we continue to recognize that the States occupy a special and specific position in our constitutional system and that the scope of Congress' authority under the Commerce Clause must reflect that position. But the principal and basic limit on the federal commerce power is that inherent in all congressional action—the built-in restraints that our system provides through state participation in federal governmental action. The political process ensures that laws that unduly burden the States will not be promulgated.

The recent Firearms Freedom laws are set to test this theory, but it is unlikely from the above decision they will. Folks, if we don’t like Pelosi et. al. view of things, we have to vote them out, because the courts are likely going to take a pass on this.  This may be one of the most important litmus tests on a prospective candidate, “what is your opinion regarding the proper role of the Fed with respect to the Commerce Clause”
-KOOK

An Artist, A patriot, and the most beautiful paintings!!!!

Lately I have been meeting so many amazing people, I simply don't have time to write about them all but this one is special. Meet Susan. She has been up and down the corporate ladder, much like many of you, but has decided to take her amazing gift and use it to support the "liberty" movement. When I say her gift is amazing, that is doing her a horrid injustice as her talent as an artist is so good it's hard to put it into words. The only thing stronger than her artistic talent is her love for this country so she has gone into business selling her patriotic artwork. When I saw her stunning hand drawn poster, literally spent my last dime to buy one and get it customized with the blog name as well as friends I attended with included. Here is a link to her site: www.SusanLSmithArtist.com and her story about how she became inspired to use her talent to support the Tea Party Patriots. I will put up some pics of her art in this post and hope that you will support her, as her art is easily worth infinitely more than she charges.

Doesn't this rule? This rendition of the 9/12 protest will be on my wall once it is framed. The detail is magnificent.

It is my belief that the "Tea Party" will be considered a major historical event in the USA and buying a $20-50 piece of art will not only support a patriot doing her part but will get you a patriotic picture that will be the centerpiece of any room you choose to put it in. So check out her stuff and giver her some blogger love. If you can't buy one of her pics, then drop a Washington or a Lincoln so she can keep blessing us with her art. I'm sure for a small donation, she'd be willing to do a logo or a header for your blogs. So here is her story and some samples of her art to go with it!!!!

here is quite a story behind all this and Im sure the left would love to trash me for it so with that in mind Im not gonna make it easy for them to smear me - they have to work for it! But for my 912 experience it went like this

No doubt that the 912 March on DC was a phenominal and historical event, especially for all of those in attendance. The lack of 'lamestream' media coverage further reinforces that their heads are, well...., where they should not be! I am no mathematician, however, I can count and I have attended enough 500,000+ person events at the Ft Lauderdale Air and Sea Shows in days gone by, several 70,000+ person Professional Football games and many 100,000+ person Rock Concerts to know that the sea of people that Marched on Washington DC on 912 was far greater than 70,000, or even hundreds of thousands, it was a million plus, and plus more. I put the number at about 2.6m, that is 2,600,000 live breathing tax paying patriots! And, if you count the masses that protested all across the country that day, and, those that were stuck on the highways leading into DC well the number swells even more. So let this stand as a correction of sorts to those that thumbed their noses at us and turned a blind eye to our protests. "We the People,...We are Back"
********************
From where I perched on the stone monument walls that cloudy day ( just under the south end of Grants horse) I witnessed the green lawns and the granite malls fill with so many patriotic Americans that no matter what direction I looked to, north, south, east or west, was a sea of peaceful protesters, singing, chanting, waving signs and furling flags, etc......I get goose bumps just recalling the awe and exhilaration I felt then and there in the midst, and, middle of it all. One of the few published photos in the Washington papers actually has the top of my head (dont look at my roots) in the bottom of the photo. And thanks to "Bear" my traveling partner, and, Ron and Mary Rakovich for their generous accommodations, I was right smack dab in the middle of it all.
The many videos circulating and the thousands of posted photos each show a glimpse of 912, a small fraction of the million plus individuals who traveled there, each with their own message, question or concern. Each demanding to be heard and listened to. Not spoken down to or disparaged. Washington tried writing us off as Astroturf.....well I have a message for the most devicive person ever in DC ..... "I Am A 12th Generation American, my family goes all the way back to 1635, and, so help me God, DO NOT talk about me and my family in that way!"
Yes, my great,g,g,g,g,g,g,g,g,g, grandfather emigrated from the repression of England's monarhcy, loss of individual property rights and imposition of religious oppression arriving on the "Speedwell" in October 1635 (374 yrs ago) in New England. His name was Richard Smith. He became known as "BULL" Smith and he later founded Smithtown, NY on the Northshore of Long Island in 1665. Him and my other ancestors built this country before it was founded into the United States of America and they are all rolling in their graves at what is taking place in the country right here and right now. It is, therefore, incumbent upon me as their proud descendant to do something, to take charge, and make action happen.
So here I am America, I am here to do my part, to take charge of my destiny ( thats another story) and to get involved in the retaking of this great country back from the corrupt and insidious clenches of the twisted 'progressives.'
While my own history may be different than yours, we are all united on the issues and causes that are violating our constitution and belittling our bill of rights,and the out of control and wreckless spending that is bankrupting our nation into collapse. OUR issues are of equal importance to us all and will ultimately effect us all- and immeasurably so - if we do nothing. I am particularly concerned for my children and the future generations of this great nation for they are clueless as to what I see going on here. We must not become the United Socialists States of America, we must preserve the United States of America as the best and FREEIST of the FREE world.
Before I left my humble little apartment and set off with strangers for the trip to DC I said to my daughters (23 & 21 yrs) "this may be the most important thing I ever publicly do for you." And four months later after watching their mother work tirelessly, day in and day out on artwork that I was doing out of passion for my country, they are beginning to understand. Why is it taking so long for our youth to recognize what is going wrong....because the history they have been taught in school is minus a whole helluva lot of truth.
**********************
Well call me sentimental but as an artist I am often inspired by lifes experiences and moved by my emotions. I am blessed to have found some of my most worthy creativity through profound events in my life. Such is the case with my 912 experience.
With that in mind I embarked on a grand undertaking to accurately render, in pen, ink and full color, a montage of the events, venues, people, groups, messages, causes and questions representative of the 912 March on DC, that was not captured in any print media I have seen. The movement and my experience is what I wanted to preserve because we cannot count on the educators to do it, we must do it. Just as I was compelled to overcome huge obstacles just to get to DC and participate and be heard........I was compelled to do this "commemorative artwork," it is where my passion lies.
So I began sketching and I thought well maybe someone else may feel the same way, maybe there are others who are so irked by the lamestream media thumbing their noses at us and turning a blind eye towards us ( and I am not making fun of the blind by any means) that they too would want to relive this experience, perpetuate it for our posterity and remind congress, the administration and all elected officials that "We the People,...We are Back".
The "We the People,...We are Back" original is 3' high by 5' long and it contains renderings of the FreedomWorks meeting/speakers at the Armory, the Tea Party Patriots 912 Press Conference at Capitol Hill, the Physicians for Reform Rally, the FairTax rally at the IRS, and of course the 912 March on DC multiple views: West Lawn, North Lawn, South Lawn, views up Pennsylvannia Ave and East view to the Washington Monument.... I was going to solicit advertising space in the boarder because I desperately need to earn a living and then I thought more appropriately would the artwork be if it was wrapped in the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, the beginnings of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. And, Vahwhallah I did just that. Although I remained unemployed as a displaced construction exec/business owner going on a few years now (and never eligible for unemployment) I hoped, just maybe, my fellow patriots would see that I have reinvented myself as a serious artist, maybe even as a Political Protest Artist.

An Artist, A patriot, and the most beautiful paintings!!!!

Lately I have been meeting so many amazing people, I simply don't have time to write about them all but this one is special. Meet Susan. She has been up and down the corporate ladder, much like many of you, but has decided to take her amazing gift and use it to support the "liberty" movement. When I say her gift is amazing, that is doing her a horrid injustice as her talent as an artist is so good it's hard to put it into words. The only thing stronger than her artistic talent is her love for this country so she has gone into business selling her patriotic artwork. When I saw her stunning hand drawn poster, literally spent my last dime to buy one and get it customized with the blog name as well as friends I attended with included. Here is a link to her site: www.SusanLSmithArtist.com and her story about how she became inspired to use her talent to support the Tea Party Patriots. I will put up some pics of her art in this post and hope that you will support her, as her art is easily worth infinitely more than she charges.

Doesn't this rule? This rendition of the 9/12 protest will be on my wall once it is framed. The detail is magnificent.

It is my belief that the "Tea Party" will be considered a major historical event in the USA and buying a $20-50 piece of art will not only support a patriot doing her part but will get you a patriotic picture that will be the centerpiece of any room you choose to put it in. So check out her stuff and giver her some blogger love. If you can't buy one of her pics, then drop a Washington or a Lincoln so she can keep blessing us with her art. I'm sure for a small donation, she'd be willing to do a logo or a header for your blogs. So here is her story and some samples of her art to go with it!!!!

here is quite a story behind all this and Im sure the left would love to trash me for it so with that in mind Im not gonna make it easy for them to smear me - they have to work for it! But for my 912 experience it went like this

No doubt that the 912 March on DC was a phenominal and historical event, especially for all of those in attendance. The lack of 'lamestream' media coverage further reinforces that their heads are, well...., where they should not be! I am no mathematician, however, I can count and I have attended enough 500,000+ person events at the Ft Lauderdale Air and Sea Shows in days gone by, several 70,000+ person Professional Football games and many 100,000+ person Rock Concerts to know that the sea of people that Marched on Washington DC on 912 was far greater than 70,000, or even hundreds of thousands, it was a million plus, and plus more. I put the number at about 2.6m, that is 2,600,000 live breathing tax paying patriots! And, if you count the masses that protested all across the country that day, and, those that were stuck on the highways leading into DC well the number swells even more. So let this stand as a correction of sorts to those that thumbed their noses at us and turned a blind eye to our protests. "We the People,...We are Back"
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From where I perched on the stone monument walls that cloudy day ( just under the south end of Grants horse) I witnessed the green lawns and the granite malls fill with so many patriotic Americans that no matter what direction I looked to, north, south, east or west, was a sea of peaceful protesters, singing, chanting, waving signs and furling flags, etc......I get goose bumps just recalling the awe and exhilaration I felt then and there in the midst, and, middle of it all. One of the few published photos in the Washington papers actually has the top of my head (dont look at my roots) in the bottom of the photo. And thanks to "Bear" my traveling partner, and, Ron and Mary Rakovich for their generous accommodations, I was right smack dab in the middle of it all.
The many videos circulating and the thousands of posted photos each show a glimpse of 912, a small fraction of the million plus individuals who traveled there, each with their own message, question or concern. Each demanding to be heard and listened to. Not spoken down to or disparaged. Washington tried writing us off as Astroturf.....well I have a message for the most devicive person ever in DC ..... "I Am A 12th Generation American, my family goes all the way back to 1635, and, so help me God, DO NOT talk about me and my family in that way!"
Yes, my great,g,g,g,g,g,g,g,g,g, grandfather emigrated from the repression of England's monarhcy, loss of individual property rights and imposition of religious oppression arriving on the "Speedwell" in October 1635 (374 yrs ago) in New England. His name was Richard Smith. He became known as "BULL" Smith and he later founded Smithtown, NY on the Northshore of Long Island in 1665. Him and my other ancestors built this country before it was founded into the United States of America and they are all rolling in their graves at what is taking place in the country right here and right now. It is, therefore, incumbent upon me as their proud descendant to do something, to take charge, and make action happen.
So here I am America, I am here to do my part, to take charge of my destiny ( thats another story) and to get involved in the retaking of this great country back from the corrupt and insidious clenches of the twisted 'progressives.'
While my own history may be different than yours, we are all united on the issues and causes that are violating our constitution and belittling our bill of rights,and the out of control and wreckless spending that is bankrupting our nation into collapse. OUR issues are of equal importance to us all and will ultimately effect us all- and immeasurably so - if we do nothing. I am particularly concerned for my children and the future generations of this great nation for they are clueless as to what I see going on here. We must not become the United Socialists States of America, we must preserve the United States of America as the best and FREEIST of the FREE world.
Before I left my humble little apartment and set off with strangers for the trip to DC I said to my daughters (23 & 21 yrs) "this may be the most important thing I ever publicly do for you." And four months later after watching their mother work tirelessly, day in and day out on artwork that I was doing out of passion for my country, they are beginning to understand. Why is it taking so long for our youth to recognize what is going wrong....because the history they have been taught in school is minus a whole helluva lot of truth.
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Well call me sentimental but as an artist I am often inspired by lifes experiences and moved by my emotions. I am blessed to have found some of my most worthy creativity through profound events in my life. Such is the case with my 912 experience.
With that in mind I embarked on a grand undertaking to accurately render, in pen, ink and full color, a montage of the events, venues, people, groups, messages, causes and questions representative of the 912 March on DC, that was not captured in any print media I have seen. The movement and my experience is what I wanted to preserve because we cannot count on the educators to do it, we must do it. Just as I was compelled to overcome huge obstacles just to get to DC and participate and be heard........I was compelled to do this "commemorative artwork," it is where my passion lies.
So I began sketching and I thought well maybe someone else may feel the same way, maybe there are others who are so irked by the lamestream media thumbing their noses at us and turning a blind eye towards us ( and I am not making fun of the blind by any means) that they too would want to relive this experience, perpetuate it for our posterity and remind congress, the administration and all elected officials that "We the People,...We are Back".
The "We the People,...We are Back" original is 3' high by 5' long and it contains renderings of the FreedomWorks meeting/speakers at the Armory, the Tea Party Patriots 912 Press Conference at Capitol Hill, the Physicians for Reform Rally, the FairTax rally at the IRS, and of course the 912 March on DC multiple views: West Lawn, North Lawn, South Lawn, views up Pennsylvannia Ave and East view to the Washington Monument.... I was going to solicit advertising space in the boarder because I desperately need to earn a living and then I thought more appropriately would the artwork be if it was wrapped in the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, the beginnings of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. And, Vahwhallah I did just that. Although I remained unemployed as a displaced construction exec/business owner going on a few years now (and never eligible for unemployment) I hoped, just maybe, my fellow patriots would see that I have reinvented myself as a serious artist, maybe even as a Political Protest Artist.

Environmentalism, Conservation, Animal Rights, & Stewardship

The difference between Environmentalism/Animal Rights and Conservation/Stewardship is that one is espoused by Progressive Politicians, Neo-Hippies, and members of the Glitterati and the other is lived day by day by people with Jobs and Families and Taxes and Bills to pay.

Part 1- Natural Resources Conservation

  Al Gore wakes up in the morning in his palatial estate, no doubt filled with all the opulence and decadence that being the worlds first Green Billionaire can provide, He is driven in his gas guzzling Limousine to his private Jet and flown to his destination where another Limo invariably picks him up for his speech about our Carbon Footprints (whatever that really means).  Meanwhile, Joe Blow gets up in the morning in his 1200 sq. foot house that was built in the fifties and walks to the bus station to get to his job collecting trash on the back of a truck or works in  a recycling business for aluminum cans, or works for a business that converts used oil into a useful product.  Who is actually doing  more for the environment?

  

Environmentalists chain themselves to trees and lie down in front of logging equipment.  Conservationists know that unless the deadfall and diseased trees are harvested they pose a serious risk of spreading fires when a lightning strike happens and choke out new growth.  Environmentalists stage protests and wield megaphones; Conservationists plant saplings after logging an area.  Environmentalists scream save the bison, save the wolves, save the polar bears, save the seals.  Conservationists know that when humans start living in an area that animals are going to have to be controlled, that is part of our responsibility as humans.  In order to control the Bison herds we have to help their population.  Bison do not know that they are supposed to stay in the parks.  They spread, this brings them and the domestic cattle into contact which is not healthy for either side (bison carry diseases that we vaccinate for in cattle, and  yet cattle can give bison diseases that are not normally in a bison herd) 

Everyone loves wolves, but wolves want to eat things.

We control the herd animals that wolves like to eat, so wolves want to eat domestic cattle, so we control the wolf population because if we didn’t they would a) starve and b) get into trouble in towns and cities.

Look at the Mountain Lion situation in California, California in its’ vast wisdom prohibits hunting mountain lions and yet opens up bicycle and hiking paths in prime Mountain Lion real estate.  The result, Mountain Lions have killed several bikers, hikers, and kids in the last decade.  We don’t want the mountain lion to go extinct, but clearly we do not want them eating our citizenry.  We also like for people to have recreation in the outdoors.  It is called Risk Management: you have to weigh the situation out and make appropriate decisions.  If the available habitat can easily support X mountain lions and we have 2X mountain lions in the habitat alongside people, guess what, Kitties are going to eat Folks.  So the solution is remove the people or remove an appropriate number of cats.  California needs revenue and hunters would pay money to take care of their cat problem.  It would be a Capitalist solution.  Or, they can continue to do what they are doing which is to have the fish and game folks to live trap the cat and put it somewhere else or kill it themselves at an expense.  Control the population and make money doing it, or control the population and spend money doing it. Hard Choices.  Of course, if we let hunters do it, there will be people in the  California woods and trails with GUNS, and apparently that is scarier than getting eaten by a big cat.   The more looney of the environmentalist herd believe that the Human population is the one that needs controlled.  Clearly we do have choices to make: We can limit our population, or limit and manage wildlife populations.  I am not willing to kill humans so there can safely be more deer.  That is the difference between conservation/stewardship and animal rights/environmentalism.  

Same deal with Polar Bears and Seals and every other critter.  Common sense management goes a long way.  This is why we have deer seasons, left unchecked deer would become a pestilence and their genetics would seriously suffer.  Hunting is part and parcel of good wildlife management.

Part II- Food Production:

I watched a program on animal production recently and the whole thing made me so irritated that I have not even been able to process it until now.  Let me talk a minute about animal production, specifically Hog and Poultry.  In the old days of Hog farming a farmer turned all the hogs loose out on the open range.  You marked your hog’s ears with a knife so you could sort out yours and everyone else’s later and let them fend for themselves.  The result was that the meat quality was different than we are now used to, and it was a willy nilly business with the genetics being decided by the hogs.  Now hogs are raised in houses and due to improvements in their diet and genetics grow rapidly and can be turned into delicious bacon in a short period of time. Likewise, poultry farming is now a big business instead of something that the Farmer’s wife does.  All of this means that we can feed more people and do it cheaper than ever before.  It also means that since the animals are in close proximity they are a little more susceptible to disease so many times they are given antibiotics in their food as a preventative measure.  This has the Neo-Hippies in a major uproar.

They see the antibiotics as the reason little Billy and little Sally are fatso’s (like me)…and believe it has nothing to do with the preparation of the food or the lack of exercise in Billy and Sally’s lives.  So if you follow the (il)logic:  antibitoics are bad, only necessary because the animals are too close, cramming animals together is bad for their mental well being.  So they propose to make laws requiring a certain space for every animal and to prohibit feeding animals antibiotics.  The Danish have discovered that they can get a hog just a big without antibiotics if they don’t put them too close together and give them more food.  Wel…DUH! of course they can.  The goal is not to get the hog bigger than they would normally get.  The goal is the get them that way Faster, and Cheaper.  People don’t like pictures of hogs and chickens in houses, and yet, they don’t like 8 dollar value meals and 6 dollar a pound bacon either.  Europeans don’t know the difference, their bacon has always been 12 dollars a pound (don’t quote me on exact numbers I know meat is exorbitant in Europe and that is my only point.)

Which brings me to my last point on the Hog and Poultry rant portion of this post.   If you regulate that every hog has to have X amount of living space or Lebensraum (a nice Nazi German word there) that will also translate into transportation space.  Now instead of 100 hogs going to the slaughterhouse in a truck, we will have 25.  Meaning we will need 4 times as many trucks and 4 times as much oil being used.  But that won’t raise prices at all will it?  Remember…we are going to EAT them anyway.

I am NOT saying it is ok to mistreat animals.  I love animals, and when I hunt, I understand that I am killing something, and there is a responsibility when I remove something from the circle of life to do it in a beneficial and humane way.  I also do not want to see an animal made needlessly uncomfortable or injured even right before I shoot it in the head, cut its’ throat,  and cut it up into pork chops and nuggets…but for Pete's sakes it is FOOD.  While researching pictures for this post I found a graph by some Neo-Hippie group that claimed in all seriousness that Vultures kill more Cattle than Wolves and Bears.  Vultures…!  Vultures DO NOT predate on cattle, they are SCAVENGERS…ridiculous.  But other folks will see that crap and take it at face value because they do not know better.

Farmers,  Ranchers, Outdoorsmen, and Arborists have been and continue to do  more to further Wildlife’s wellbeing and Animal Science/Food Production than the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, PETA, or Pam Anderson’s big boobies ever will.  Why do we listen to people who don’t raise animals, and do not live near the wild when it comes to raising animals and managing wildlife?

  Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs says it very very well and I think has his finger right on the issue:

“Like my friends who espouse all things  Green, I want to live on a healthy planet. I really do. But I’m tired of the guilt; I’m suspicious of the manipulation. And I’m weary of being lectured by people who seem to care more about the planet than the people on it. Hollywood and Washington have shaped the issue, and now, all things Eco-friendly are up for sale. Well, that’s fine. But when it comes to jobs, the people who make a difference aren’t covered in green. They’re covered in Brown – dirt, mud, grime, grease, or maybe something worse. I’m no expert, but if we’re going to save the Earth, the color of Dirt makes a heck of a lot more sense than the color of Envy. The way I see it, if we really want to get clean and green, we’re gonna have to get down with brown. In other words, we’re going to have to get our hands dirty.”

Well said Mike, well said.

-KOOK