Supermen

If Barack Obama killed Osama bin Laden, then Richard Nixon walked on the Moon.

Disappropriationessity

(I originally asked this in a politics forum to someone working for the census bureau but never received a reply.)

"Here's something that's bothering me. Illegal aliens get counted in the census. However, they are not legally allowed to vote. If there is no way to determine who's legal and who isn't by the census, aren't the census numbers skewed when determining representatives for an area?

It seems people who live in an area with heavy illegal concentrations will have more influence over those with less. (E.g. 1 U.S. rep / 690,000 people. If 1/3 of the people in a given district are illegal and can technically not vote, doesn't that give the other 2/3 greater influence than areas that have almost no illegals?)"

Happy Memorial Day

I again find myself wondering about the use of the word "Happy" to preceed "Memorial Day" in greeting.

I still contend that it is not only proper but appropriate as well.

This year I am going to "go one further." Other countries should be wishing us a happy Memorial Day. Especially those who we have "invaded."

We have made extraordinary efforts to keep civilian suffering to a minimum in Iraq and Afghanistan and often to our detriment. Countries that have been touched by American Servicemen in the last one hundred years are among the most prosporous and free in the world.

I will admit, there are exceptions. These are not the fault of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. These are the fault of politicians and a public so woefully ill-informed. These are the fault of moral cowards.

We have the ability to destroy cities from a far but instead remove our enemies by hand.

I know that there will be few outside of the United States that wish us a Happy Memorial Day. Instead of focusing on them, or on politicians, or journalists, or anyone else, I will choose to remember the fallen and be grateful that there are still free men who will die in our defense.

Three Words

Not my Vice President.

The Gospel According to Obama

I originally chuckled a bit at this. As I was writing it, though, it became less funny…

From the Gospel According to Obama:

14 For the kingdom of me is as a man travelling into a far country, who considers all his own servants, and counted unto them their goods.

15 And one had five talents, another had two, and another had one; every man had according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16 Then he that had the five talents went and traded with the same, and made himself another five talents.

17 And likewise he that had two, he also gained another two.

18 But he that had one went and digged in the earth, and hid his money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, I had owned me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21 His lord said unto him, hmmm, thou greedy and unpatriotic servant: thou hast been stingy over many things, I will make thee ruler over fewer things: suffer thou the wrath of thy lord.

22 He also that had two talents came and said, I had owned me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23 His lord said unto him, hmmm, thou greedy and unpatriotic servant; thou hast been stingy over many things, I will make thee ruler over fewer things: suffer thou the wrath of thy lord.

24 Then he which had the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a wonderful man, bringer of thine light, and giver of great wealth:

25 And I was rapturous, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to borrow more money from the exchangers, and then at my coming we should all have more.

28 Take therefore the talents from the others, and give it unto him which hath one talent.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be redistributed to, and they shall have great abundance: but from those that have been redistributed from shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the profitable servants into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Survivors of the Virus - Forums Update

I am building the forums for Survivors of the Virus and should have it and the blog engine integrated within the week. The ads are still a bit problematic but that is really only a problem for me.

Survivors of the Virus

One of the projects that I have been working is a fictional story:

Survivors of the Virus

It is a post-apocalyptic novel heavily inspired by the fictional worlds created by Richard Matheson (I am Legend), Steven King (The Stand), Terry Hayes (Mad Max series), among others.

I am still working through some of the technical issues with Wordpress, advertizing engines, and the layouts. (It is meant to be read as a story in a weblog format but the oldest entries appear at the bottom.) I am correcting these issues while posting the story.

My release schedule for entries tentatively is Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Anyone interested should read the entries in the following order:

Author’s Note
Narrator’s Note
The Worst Call
Bags
He’s Still Not Here
No title
Worldly Possessions

I will link them when I have the permalinks working. In the mean time, they can be read by going to http://www.survivorsofthevirus.com/wp_app/

The oldest is at the bottom. To read them as intended, you will need to scroll down then up as you finish each entry.

Cheers,
Shawn McManus

Joke

I have been “gently reminded” that not everyone may know or appreciate my sense of humor. I was told that those people may be slightly shocked that I would compare the DNC with Al Qaeda. For those that do not know my humor, please know that was a joke. For those who do not appreciate my humor, PTHPTHPTHPTHPTHPTHTPHT!

Here is one for you then:

Q: What is the difference between a Republican and a Democrat?

A: A Republican will, to your face, bribe you with your own money. A Democrat will, behind your back, bribe everyone else with your money.

Simple Question Time

Question: What is the difference between the Democratic National Committee and Al Qaeda?

Answer: One is a secretive organization Hell bent on destroying the United States and our way of life and conducting coordinated attacks against us costing trillions of dollars. The other is Al Qaeda.

Random Thoughts

I know it has been too long since I have posted. I have been busy and it looks like it is only going to get busier. Since I do not have any me clones lying around, I shall continue the sucking of it up.

Too many things have been happening as of late though to not make at least cursory mention.

The first: Many conservatives I know have stated that they harbor no ill-will toward Obama and that they wish him success.

If the measure of “success” is how much of his agenda is implemented as was enumerated on barackobama.com or change.gov, then I do not. I wish him little success at all. Outside of pursuing Al Qaeda, I cannot think of anything on his agenda I would like to see implemented. In fact, I wish him to be the failure that we have been told George W. Bush was/is by every TLA news agency for the last eight years.

The second: I do not much buy into the conspiracy theories around the oath of office being repeated. I have heard that the second oath was not taken with a Bible.

I am of the opinion that anyone who has as little regard of the Constitution as Obama has (see barackobama.com or change.gov for evidence of this) is not going to be bothered in the least by violating his oath of office.

It will probably be sometime before anyone finds a Bible in the White House now as well.

The third: Hey Republicans in Congress! Lock arms! We lost because we, as a party, are not conservative and you did not fight for our principles.

It is impossible to out-liberal democrats and we should not even try anyway.

One audacious hope that I have is that enough of you have discovered how this game is being played. Only allow those items that are solidly based in our Constitution to be made law. Block everything else. Even if it is for “the good of the country”, block it. Do not let the Democrats in Congress or the President receive credit for anything. Do not do anything about social security. Do not do anything about infrastructure.

This means sub-trillion annual budgets. This means states and local governments will have to take action during emergencies. This means you will finally be playing by the same rules as Democrats and for once, that might actually be good.

The fourth: Late night comedians, Pelosi, Reid, et. al. Give It Up! George W. Bush may well have fouled a great many things as President. However, he is more and will always be more like Abraham Lincoln than Obama.

Lincoln was extremely unpopular but held the nation together despite incredible difficulties.

George W. Bush has been berated and ridiculed globally by every media form imaginable. Yet, the United States has not been attacked* since 9/11 and has not become a police state. Many may argue the latter but the freedoms we still enjoy are undeniable.

I can only see both the United States being attacked as well as gross abridgements of our freedoms under an Obama administration.

Additionally, for the comedians… The “W” jokes are amusing at best but have long since lost their humor. At least try to develop some original material. Failing the latter, please choose a different mark.

George W. Bush deserves a lot of criticism but for entirely different reasons.

*I realize that the United States embassy in Yemen was attacked in September of last year and that the embassy is considered U.S. soil. When I say “has not been attacked” I am primarily referring to States and the Capitol. I should also be noted here that the organizer of the attacked was released from the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center in 2007.

Been a Bit Busy (or Perhaps Too Little Too Late?)

I have been busy working on a number of things that have been consuming my time.

That said, I would like to say – more late than never – that Kim du Toit has retired. His writings were one of the motivators that prompted my blog. Of course, there is no pension for blogging nor are there retirement benefits. If you have not already done so, please see his gun essays. After having read them, if you feel compelled to do so, please consider a tip for his “gold watch”.

I am still working on a number of projects that are going to eat most of my time. One of them is (distantly) related to this blog. When it is ready for “prime time”, I will make the announcement here.

No We're Not

Barack Obama told Joe the Plumber that we are all better when we “spread around the wealth.”

I have often stated that I generally believe that people are capable of spending their own money more wisely than politicians spending that same money.

Unless the wealthy are burying their money in mason jars in their backyards though, they are spreading the wealth around. Even if they put their money in a bank, that money is being spread.

I will engage in a bit of projection for a moment. It is another logical fallacy but, at least in this instance, is “safe” to use. Obama would take from those making more and give it to those who would not invest it but simply consume it. There will likely be the rare exception but most would spend it on bread and circuses.

If we look at what he literally said, “We are all better off…” we see that it is immediately false. Certainly, the five percent that had their taxes increased are not in any improved state. If you will pardon a cliché, it is all too often the case that those who have been given a nickel demand a dime. Most people whom are given a tax “break”, i.e. given money though they have not paid any taxes, come to expect it. That terrible five-percent crowd is losing more than money at this point.

Even if we disregard those evil, vile five-percent people, it serves people no good to reward bad behavior. We are free to make our own choices. We are not free to choose our own consequences. If we give any credence to Darwin, trying to modify this core tenet is self destructive.

Taking from those who have saved and invested, who have bettered their minds and their bodies, and who have made intelligence decisions to give to those who ignored prudence, shirked responsibility, and failed to make sacrifices, is repugnant and immoral.

This is not the treatment of free people who may succeed or fail in accordance with their own actions and abilities.

A government of free people should do for people what they cannot do for themselves. A government of free people should not do for people what they will not do for themselves.

Expected Reaction

What kind of reaction do you think you would get if you approached any police officer and tried to take his sidearm?

What reaction would you expect from police if you told them that you were going to require them to carry their pistols in their trunks and unloaded?

What would the police say if you told them they are not allowed to have a black rifle, or a rifle with a pistol grip, or a rifle with picatinny rails and flashlight?

With some exceptions, policemen are civilians. They deserve our gratitude and respect for doing the jobs many of us care not to do. They regularly face the worst that humanity has to offer. They are not, collectively, the lone recipients of society’s transgressions, though.

This is not a post advocating disarming police. This is a post against disarming the public.

I am a strong advocate for police. (Note: This is different from being an advocate for strong police – though I certainly see the need for them to maintain heavy arms and S.W.A.T.) When police – or “police chiefs” – start to lay claim to my rights, they quickly lose my respect, my gratitude, and my advocacy.

Policemen are integral parts of our communities. They are our neighbors, relatives, and friends. Police should not be a protected class of people. When they are, a police state naturally follows.

Saying people do not need “assault weapons” is as irrelevant as it is incorrect. When facing an armed mob, even so called assault weapons are inadequate.

I view with much disgust the “presidential position” of endorsing an assault weapons ban. I use the term “presidential position” because the current president and the president-elect both support it.

Saying “the police support it” is, if you will pardon the expression, a copout.

I will make a statement that is guilty of a logical fallacy but is very likely true all then same: Policemen are generally decent people who do not get violent without good reason.

Try to approach a policeman and take his sidearm from him and he will get violent very quickly. Try to approach the American population to take their weapons and the result will be very much the same.

Smart Money

Given the Democrats propensity to ban weapons and ammunition, people should forget investing in gold. Instead, invest in lead.

Speaking of which, I will be returning the range tomorrow with my new shooter. After some more coaching and shooty goodness, I will be teaching him how to clean weapons.

Is It Irony?

Is it not at least slightly ironic that Barack Obama’s pastor called on God to damn America and then Barack Obama is elected?

I wonder if HE did.

Perspective for My German Friends

I have relatives that are German. Although I do not know their thoughts on the United States elections, I know that one (very close relative) did not like George W. Bush. He could not give any particular reason why he did not. I think he simply took the news that was reported at face value. Of course, the European news agencies are never biased.

For him and those Germans who are my friends but do not understand my dislike for Senator Barack Obama let me draw an analogy:

First the roles of the German Federal Chancellor and German President have been combined into the role of the Federal Chancellor. German law requires that this person be native-born to Germany as well.

Imagine a councilman from the Bundesrat who, after less than a single year decided to run for Federal Chancellor. Furthermore, this councilman had not created any meaningful legislation with the possible exception of naming a stretch of the autobahn. He also told his constituents that he would be serving a full term before even considering another office.

Now imagine that there are nearly ten million Turks living in Germany illegally. Most of these Turks are refusing to learn the German language. Most of them work manual labor but a very high percentage is there for organized crime.

This councilman of your now tells you that it is inconsiderate for Germans to expect the Turks to learn the German language but instead, Germans should be teaching their children the Turkish language.

Now imagine that this council man is pledging five hundred billion Euros to the European Union to expand the Union’s influence.

This councilman then travels to the United States and gives a speech to hundreds of thousands. He tells them that Germans know that many view them as the source of the world’s problems. He says that the United States and Germany must stand together despite our differences. He says that Germany must work as the United States has toward lofty, yet incalculable goals.

In Germany, the ddp, KNA, German Press, French Press, Reuters, Associated Press, and even sid only report the favorable information about him. None of them ever report anything substantial regarding him or his past. None of them question his background.

A German court requires him to prove his citizenship. There is a (very legitimate) question regarding his place of birth. There is evidence he may have been born not only outside of Germany, but outside of Europe entirely (probably in Mexico). Instead of providing proof of his place of birth, his campaign works with the governments of his claimed birth state and the government of Mexico to secure all records.

This man accepts money for his campaign from outside of Germany. Indeed, he takes it from any source at all, contrary to German law. Ten percent is known to be illegally contributed and nearly half is suspect.

There are many other problems with this man. His allies in parliament are discussing taking privately owned accounts of German citizens and spending that money on any number of social programs, ostensibly to “buy votes.” In addition to the already high taxes, German people will be required to work for the state for two to three weeks of the year under this man’s legislative plans. He promises that Germany will be attacked and that German citizens will not like his response but they must support him. German citizens are not allowed to be cynical of this new government.

Had I heard of such a man taking the highest office in Germany, I would have heart-felt sorrow for Germany.

The man I describe is Barack Obama. This is his government in his own words.

Funny III

At work last Thursday, one guy, an Obama fan, was talking about a mid-night rally in Florida that drew a crowd of thirty-five thousand people.

"Barack Obama drew thirty-five thousand people in Florida! At mid-night! That many people!"

To which another guy, originally from Florida, asked:

"Were they wearing hoods?"

Funny II

On a forum that I often visit, there was a discussion thread about Obama's "Civil Defense Force" that is to be the same size, funding, and power as the United States Military.

I mentioned that the government would have trouble housing all of these people and that they would have to be boarded in the houses of American citizens. "...since [the security forces] are civilians, there's no worry about Constitutional violations there."

I then asked the forum moderators and regulars what their home addresses were and "are the beds suitably comfortable for His Agents?"

One of the regulars replied, "Probably not. Must buy more lime!"

Funny I

This got a chuckle from a few people who work with me:

Me: Barack Obama is promising a 50-inch plasma television in every household in the United States. In addition to being able to receive transmissions, these can also send them.

Difficult Question for Vote Fraud

…or maybe it is not so difficult.

Here is the situation:

You are an Ohio resident and you see ACORN shuttling a group of what look to be homeless people into the polls on Election Day. After casting your vote, you stay to watch them. Once they are through the lines, you follow them to another polling station where they then queue to vote again.

You tell a policeman about it but he refuses to do anything. “That’s a Federal thing.”

What do you do?

When I initially thought of this, I told myself that I would wait until they were back in their bus and then commit unspeakable acts of violence upon them.

Once I had given it a second thought – and upon realizing that I do not keep a Molotov cocktail for just such occasions in the truck – I determined that I would, to the best of my abilities, enact a citizen’s arrest. Here is what I would like to think I would do:

I would video the offense (does not every one have a camera phone nowadays?). I would block the shuttle with my vehicle. I would then announce to the driver and everyone on the shuttle that I was arresting them. Then, with that handy camera phone, I would call the Federal Bureau of Investigation and tell them what I had done. If they did not respond, I would keep going through the government alphabet soup agencies until I reached the correct one.

Should the driver, homeless people, or ACORN lawyers attempt to stop me or to escape, I would then brandish my firearm. If the situation turned “messy” after that, I would accept whatever the consequences may be.

When an individual commits voter fraud, it is a criminal act. When an organization does, at least to me, it is no different than a coup d’état.


(Something to note, deadly force is authorized for use in preventing escape from custody in the State of Texas. This does not mean that ACORN bus drivers may be summarily executed in downtown Dallas unless, of course, it is done solely for fun.)