Blue Collar Muse

If you’re wondering why there have been SO many S&S posts lately, I’ve been a bit busy. I recently merged my company with another and we’re working LONG hours getting the actual merging of two locations completed. Some days all I have is time for my daily blog reading and then a Short and Sweet post. Today is one of those days.

But it’s a red letter day, too! Thanks to the fine folks over at RedState I was reminded that today, April 9th, is the 4th anniversary of the fall of Baghdad. Wonder how many MSM resources let us know about that? Check out the RedState post ‘The Day Saddam Fell’.

I remember sitting with my family on the couch watching that huge statue be pulled down. I was proud of the job our troops had done up until then and am even more proud now. Millions of Americans and Iraqis owe their freedom and safety to the selfless service of the American serviceman.

Thank you to all our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. May god bless and keep you and bring you all home safe!

Thinking today should be a national holiday in Iraq …

Blue Collar Muse

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While surfing the blogosphere this afternoon with the help of my handy-dandy Sphere It widget I ran across this.

Bad Idea Guy, blogging at ‘Target Rich Environment’, posted on the same news item I did yesterday - Danny Dietz’s monument. At the end of his post he included a quote from Winston Churchill that should be required reading for every American living today - especially those of the Liberal persuasion!

He wrote:

I believe that his statue should have the Winston Churchill quote: “We sleep soundly in our beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf” engraved somewhere on it.

Thanks BIG - you and Winnie said it perfectly!

Wishing leaders like Churchill and Reagan were as common as the Kennedy and Murtha variety are …

Blue Collar Muse

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Some of my all time favorite TV sketches are the old school Saturday Night Live skits featuring Gilda Radner as Roseanne Rosannadanna.

Roseanne routinely credited relatives like her musical cousin, Carlos Santana Rosannadanna, or her religious aunt, Hosanna Rosannadanna, with advice she passed on to her viewers. The advice followed monologues on topics Roseanne found fascinating but confusing such as ’Soviet Jewelry’ instead of ‘Soviet Jewry’ and, my personal favorite, ‘Violins on TV’ as opposed to ‘Violence on TV’.

Getting it wrong in a comedy sketch can be hilarious; getting it wrong in real life can have some very serious consequences!

Hegemonic Pundit’s post ‘Desired Gun Control’ started me thinking along these lines. The post is a tribute to fallen Navy SEAL Danny Dietz, killed in Afghanistan in 2005. Danny’s parents raised money to erect a memorial to their son near the two elementary schools he attended. Other local residents see the memorial as problematic since kids  may see a soldier holding a weapon.

One of the neighbors would not go on camera, but sent an statement saying, “We encourage the community to carefully consider the appropriateness of the proposed location. This has been, and will remain our sole intent.”

However, the city said these concerns are coming “at the eleventh hour.” A mock-up of the statue design was put on display at a city council meeting in January, and nobody voiced concerns at that point. The city will move forward with its plans.

The Pundit observes:

Guns are part of the problem in the normalized liberal doctrine. Up until recent years gun control had been a visible and cardinal part of the liberal dogma. …

The animus against this statue is based on the illogical theory that all violence is wrong.

When will the Left learn all violence is not created equal? The truth is, not only is all violence not wrong but some violence is incredibly right! Just this morning I read a story about an off duty, female sherriff shooting and killing a knife wielding man attacking her inside her home. As yet another SNL character, Mr. Robinson, might ask, “Can you say ‘Self Defense? Sure, I knew y’could!”

The appropriateness of violence routinely surfaces in discussions of Roseanne Rosannadanna’s topic, ‘Violins on TV’. The on-screen actions of Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, Sylvester Stallone and others are pilloried by hand wringing milquetoasts wailing, “What are we teaching our children?” I try to respond, “We are teaching them there are some situations that can only be effectively addressed with deadly force. We are teaching them to identify these situations and training them to deal with them.”

Cinematic violence for the sake of violence is something best left to adult viewing or simply left alone. I’m thinking of movies like ‘Natural Born Killers‘ or ‘Pulp Fiction‘. However, in a world increasingly filled with people blowing themselves up or opening fire in crowded stores and schools and otherwise violently assaulting the world around them with little discernable rationale, the violence brought to the screen by Norris, Seagal and others ought to be applauded.  They are, after all, fictionalizing the attitude thankfully possessed by those defending our country in real life.

Islamic terrorists spend their lives training to indiscriminately murder those around them. SEALs like Danny Dietz train to deal with them. Flopping Aces reports

[…]The Coloradan’s wife, Maria L. -Dietz, said in a statement released at his SEAL base in Virginia Beach, Va. …

… “The same day he left for Afghanistan, as tears rolled down my cheeks, he told me with sparkles in his eyes, ‘All the training I have (undergone) for years is going to pay off with this trip, and I am going to do something special for this country and for my team.’

She wrote further that her husband “probably wouldn’t have wanted to die any other way, but only trying to protect his fellow teammates and his country.

So spare me the liberal whining about violence. I know they think it’s bad and some of it is. It is bad when terrorists violently fly planes into buildings and bad when homicide bombers detonate themselves in crowds of children in Iraq. But when men like Danny Dietz bring devastating violence to bear on the world’s common enemy it’s not bad at all - unless you’re the bad guy.  Then, as they say on the street, “It sucks to be you!”

We won’t start the fight, but we’ll make you wish you hadn’t if you do. As one of my favorite IMAO t-shirts irreverently puts it in #3 on their ‘Top Ten U.S. Military Slogans’, “Trying to win hearts and minds but willing to splatter them if necessary.”

Thinking the world’s smallest violin playing ‘My Heart Bleeds For You’ is appropriate for the Left’s view of violence …

Blue Collar Muse

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Sometimes you run across something that simply must be shared.  Hat tip to the boys over at Flopping Aces for posting this. Hegemonic Pundit has the details on the story but the pic is definitely worth a thousand words. Speaking of the pic, the real credit goes to Chip Bok at BokBluster and the Akron Beacon Journal. Drop by his blog for more “cartoon-ical” goodness. Thanks, Chip!

Thinking that people should pay more attention to consequences of the unintended variety …

Blue Collar Muse

Popularity: 12% [?]

Hat tip to Tom D. for passing this on.

Regardless of whether you support or oppose welfare, there is really no arguing with the following:

Subject: Taxes & Urine Test

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I then pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as they see fit.

In order to get that paycheck I am required to pass a random urine test now and then. I have absolutely no problem with that.

What I do have a problem with, however, is the distribution of my taxes to people who don’t have to pass a urine test. Shouldn’t one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check since I have to pass one to earn it for them?

Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sit on their butt.

Could you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check.

Given that this is America and all and that many government officials legislate via polls, let’s give them some input for their next vote. Should welfare recipients be required to pass a urine test to receive benefits? Vote by posting a comment and feel free to explain your answers in detail.

Thinking a good follow up question would concern what to do if they fail the test …

Blue Collar Muse

Popularity: 8% [?]

Those of us here in Tennessee are getting bombarded day and night with stories about Fred Thompson running for President. It seems everyone is encouraging him to run. You can add me to the list of those glad to see him toss his hat in the ring.

The latest Tennessee blog to put out the call is Rob over at ‘VOLuntarily Conservative’. His sidebar carries a banner that directed me to another site, ‘Draft Fred Thompson 2008′. ALa, the site’s mistress, has supported Thompson for so long she claims that she’s not jumping on the bandwagon, she’s driving it! Her usual hang out is ‘Blonde Sagacity’. I’ve bookmarked ’BS’ and will be back to visit.

I mention ALa because over at ‘Draft Fred Thompson 2008′ she has some nifty sidebar banners for Thompson supporters. I think she designed them as well.  My favorite is

Remembering the last actor President we had didn’t do too badly …

Blue Collar Muse

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Rob, over at Flopping Aces, has posted several fascinating news stories from around the web in a recap of March news.  I’ve posted the first couple below and you can read the rest at his post, ‘March News Roundup’.  These were posted yesterday:

Planned Parenthood Leader invents Time Travel, Disappears

The Leader of Planned Parenthood, Cynthia Nixon, who had earlier claimed to have invented Time Travel, has disappeared hours after a press conference where she boasted she would go back in time to visit her mother before her birth and educated her on “a woman’s right to choose.” Planned Parenthood members are stunned and mystified at her disappearance. In other news, Rosie O” Donnell has came out and blamed the Christian Right for the recent stoning of her lesbian lover by Muslim Radicals. “Terrorists are good people too. I am sure Bush and the Nazi Christian/Republicans were the ones really behind it.” O” Donnell’s partner is still in the hospital recovering from her injuries.

New Setback for the Russian Space Program

Moscow- A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Igor Suvinsky, admitted problems with the new Russian Space Vehicle, Saylut, which may delay the completion of the International Space Station. The problem relates to Saylut’s new heat shield, which has failed numerous tests. The new heat shield , a combination of sucrose, embryonic cell whites, and corn syrup, melted “Like marshmallow” during recent tests. Russian scientists are already experimenting with a straw and petroleum based replacement.

There are several more excellent stories in Rob’s post including reports that bin Laden has joined the Democrat Party, a Dept. of Labor study on work hours and income and more.   Enjoy …

Wishing all the news that was printed was this fit …

Blue Collar Muse

EDIT:  After posting, I ran across this story as well, ‘IQ Study Caps Off Theory’. 

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I often run across things incredibly cool and interesting to do or to experience. Usually I find out too late or I don’t meet the requirements. I’d love to climb Mt. Everest, for example. However, I don’t have the necessary skills and I’m unwilling to risk becoming a human popsicle. In the same vein, I would have loved to have attended the recent Conservative Political Action Conference 2007 (CPAC2007) in Washington, DC but didn’t find out about it until it was almost over.

Not to worry, there is another Conservative Conference coming up later this year. The Conservative Leadership Conference 2007 (CLC07) will be held in Reno, NV October 11-13, 2007. The fabulous Nugget Casino and Resort will be THE place to be for Conservatives this Fall. If you further fancy yourself a Conservative blogger, it’s a gathering you won’t want to miss.

Confirmed attendees include Grover Norquist, Chris Simcox and Pamela Geller, better known to the blogosphere as Atlas! Check CLC07’s Speaker page for the latest on invites and confirmations.

CLC07’s theme is “Conservatives & the New Media”. As such, extensive emphasis will be given to bloggers and their role in the political process. Per the site’s blogger page:

CLC07 is geared so that a good deal of time is spent on new media and it’s impact on modern day politics. We’ll cover everything from blog design, to blog marketing, to using your blog to win elections. It will ALL be covered by the end of the three day event.

With all the attention being paid to bloggers at CLC07 itself, it’s only natural for the blogosphere to be well represented in promoting the event. To that end, CLC07 is holding a contest open only to bloggers. Details of the contest are as follows:

The CLC2007 Blogger Contest is designed to generate awareness. To do this, we need mentions in every “e-place” possible. Because our convention has a major focus on blogging, the blogosphere is where we prefer to have this viral announcement take place. First, let’s take a look at the prize shelf.  

Grand Prize: Includes Express Registration, Friday night Welcoming Reception, Saturday night Awards Banquet, Sunday morning Straw Poll Breakfast, Conference, Workshop & Exhibit Hall admittance, complimentary one-year Citizen Outreach membership and invitations to special VIP briefings and receptions.

Free Luxury Hotel Room (Tower Room) @ Venue

Award Presentation (presented during the convention “Awards Banquet”)

Blog Banner on Contest Page (This page will remain active until AFTER the event.  The winner will have a banner at the top of this page that remains live through the end of 2007)

Free Wall of Blogs Spot (One free ad on the official Wall of Blogs

More contest information, including other prizes, is available on the official contest page. What are you waiting for? Click over to the Registration page and sign up!

Hoping to see you all this Fall …

Blue Collar Muse

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