Chalk it up to age, nostalgia – or the current condition of our country. But when I woke up today, I wasn’t thinking of a day free from work. I was thinking of Rogers Leuallen Crawford, the uncle I never met. His dreams ended March 5, 1945, on Iwo Jima – 10 days after the American flag was raised on Mount Suribachi. He was 22.
To me, Uncle Rogers was a fresh-faced young man playing dress up in a Marine uniform and smiling cockily at the world from a cheap 8x10 frame center stage on Grandma’s dresser. The fact that his picture, draped with two purple hearts, was in Grandma’s bedroom spoke volumes. All the other family pictures were in the living room – to be shared with anyone who dropped by. But Rogers was a quiet, closely held loss. His picture was the first and last thing she saw every day.
Unlike many mothers, Grandma knew the horrible details of Rogers’ death. She had three other sons fighting in the war, and the oldest watched, helplessly, when his brother's foxhole was hit with a grenade. While she didn’t let herself dwell on it, Grandma sometimes wondered what Rogers would have accomplished had he lived. Most likely, something mechanical, she said. He was the fix-it guy of the Crawford clan. When she thought of him in the Marines, Grandma always pictured him working on a bicycle – one of his duties when his unit wasn’t fighting.
Rogers was one of 6,821 U.S. troops to die in a little more than a month at Iwo Jima. But when we think of Iwo Jima, we too often focus on the flag-raising without giving much thought to the sacrifice made by these men and their families, of the dreams that were snuffed out, of the future that would never be.
As we observe Memorial Day, let’s not just pay lip service to the lives lost. Rather, let’s make a commitment to their memory – and to the troops serving today – that we will ensure their sacrifices were not in vain, that we will maintain the values they fought for, that we will do our part to make our nation deserving of their service.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
End the Stupidity
It was with great sadness that I learned this past week that my campaign manager, Angus Hollis, had passed on. Like me, Angus was a rescue pup, and he proved that through hard work and training, anyone can achieve the American dream – even in tough economic times. That’s because for him, the dream wasn’t about McMansions, millions in the bank or the fame of notoriety. His dream was based on the simple things of life – a loving family, food in his dish and a run in the park.
True to his Scots heritage, Angus was no-nonsense. He could instantly size up the measure of a man and didn’t put up with people trespassing on his liberties. He also was rather impatient when it came to all things stupid. I can just hear what he would say about the following:
STUPIDITY #1: Soon after identifying the man behind the attempted Times Square fire bombing, DHS put him on the no-fly list and alerted only the domestic airlines. Arf! The guy is from Pakistan, has traveled to Pakistan numerous times in the past few years and – I would hazard a guess – didn’t usually fly the friendly skies of American airlines. This one should have been a no-brainer.
And did you catch the spin? In a media briefing after the arrest, Attorney General Eric Holder claimed Faisal Shahzad was taken into custody at JFK Airport in New York as he attempted to board an Emirates flight to Dubai. It was only following numerous media reports to the contrary that government officials admitted Shahzad was already on a plane headed toward the runway before the feds caught up with him. So much for building confidence – and integrity – in our government.
STUPIDITY #2: The administration refuses to “profile” extreme Islamists or call them terrorists, but DHS, in an intelligence assessment released last year in conjunction with the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, had no problem profiling what it considers right-wing terrorists. And who are these terrorists? Veterans, pro-lifers, people who hold to the Second Amendment, those who believe in states’ rights, workers who are concerned that the U.S. is losing its manufacturing sector to other countries, homeowners who have lost their homes and anyone who opposes the president’s stance on big government and immigration, according to the DHS assessment. (I can email you a copy if you haven't read it.)
STUPIDITY #3: The president and a slew of unions, organizations and various government officials have condemned Arizona for its law to deport illegals because of the growing violence along its border. The state had appealed to the federal government to fulfill its constitutional mandate to protect the borders, but DHS didn’t want to go there.
Meanwhile, DHS imprisoned hundreds of Haitian earthquake refugees because they were undocumented. The refugees were brought to the U.S. by our military in a compassionate effort to get them medical care or unite them with families. Instead of medical care, DHS provided them with handcuffs and a cell. (CNN)
And here’s the kind of stupidity we get from our “entertainment” industry:
STUPIDITY #4: Comedy Central recently censored a South Park episode because it made light of Mohammed. The network didn’t have a problem with the show’s incessant jabs at Jesus, Catholics and Jews or the occasional pokes at Mormons or Scientologists. Now Comedy Central is seriously considering a whole series, JC, to spoof Jesus. (CNN)
I’m Joey. I’m running for Congress because I think it’s time to end the stupidity.
True to his Scots heritage, Angus was no-nonsense. He could instantly size up the measure of a man and didn’t put up with people trespassing on his liberties. He also was rather impatient when it came to all things stupid. I can just hear what he would say about the following:
STUPIDITY #1: Soon after identifying the man behind the attempted Times Square fire bombing, DHS put him on the no-fly list and alerted only the domestic airlines. Arf! The guy is from Pakistan, has traveled to Pakistan numerous times in the past few years and – I would hazard a guess – didn’t usually fly the friendly skies of American airlines. This one should have been a no-brainer.
And did you catch the spin? In a media briefing after the arrest, Attorney General Eric Holder claimed Faisal Shahzad was taken into custody at JFK Airport in New York as he attempted to board an Emirates flight to Dubai. It was only following numerous media reports to the contrary that government officials admitted Shahzad was already on a plane headed toward the runway before the feds caught up with him. So much for building confidence – and integrity – in our government.
STUPIDITY #2: The administration refuses to “profile” extreme Islamists or call them terrorists, but DHS, in an intelligence assessment released last year in conjunction with the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, had no problem profiling what it considers right-wing terrorists. And who are these terrorists? Veterans, pro-lifers, people who hold to the Second Amendment, those who believe in states’ rights, workers who are concerned that the U.S. is losing its manufacturing sector to other countries, homeowners who have lost their homes and anyone who opposes the president’s stance on big government and immigration, according to the DHS assessment. (I can email you a copy if you haven't read it.)
STUPIDITY #3: The president and a slew of unions, organizations and various government officials have condemned Arizona for its law to deport illegals because of the growing violence along its border. The state had appealed to the federal government to fulfill its constitutional mandate to protect the borders, but DHS didn’t want to go there.
Meanwhile, DHS imprisoned hundreds of Haitian earthquake refugees because they were undocumented. The refugees were brought to the U.S. by our military in a compassionate effort to get them medical care or unite them with families. Instead of medical care, DHS provided them with handcuffs and a cell. (CNN)
And here’s the kind of stupidity we get from our “entertainment” industry:
STUPIDITY #4: Comedy Central recently censored a South Park episode because it made light of Mohammed. The network didn’t have a problem with the show’s incessant jabs at Jesus, Catholics and Jews or the occasional pokes at Mormons or Scientologists. Now Comedy Central is seriously considering a whole series, JC, to spoof Jesus. (CNN)
I’m Joey. I’m running for Congress because I think it’s time to end the stupidity.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
'Intolerant' Expression of Faith
I have a bone to pick with the self-appointed social and political leaders who have set themselves up as guard dogs tasked with “protecting” the rest of us from what they consider intolerant speech.
Last week, they went too far when they dragged the tolerance banner into the religious realm. They essentially said it is up to them to determine what is an acceptable, appropriate expression of faith.
Background: The Military Religious Freedom Foundation threatened to seek an injunction stopping a Pentagon prayer service next month in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer unless Franklin Graham was removed from the list of people who would offer a prayer. His offense? He’s not a Christian in name only. He actually believes the Bible – all of it, including that salvation is in Jesus Christ alone.
His offending remark? “I am not on a crusade against Muslims. I love the Muslim people. ... I want them to know that they don’t have to die in a car bomb, don’t have to die in some kind of holy war to be accepted by God. But it’s through faith in Jesus Christ and Christ alone.” Because of this declaration of faith, the Army “diss”-invited the evangelist from the event.
Col. Thomas Collins, Army spokesman, said Graham’s remarks were “not appropriate. We’re an all-inclusive military. We honor all faiths. ... Our message to our service and civilian work force is about the need for diversity and appreciation of all faiths” (Washington Post).
The irony: These same Army officials saw nothing inappropriate when Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan gave what was supposed to be a medical lecture to other military doctors at Walter Reed in which he said non-Muslims should be beheaded and have boiling oil poured down their throats. He added that they were infidels condemned to hell who should be set on fire (Telegraph.co.uk). Where were the protests from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation then?
I don’t know about you, but I feel much more comfortable with Graham’s “intolerance” than I do with the Army’s tolerance of Hasan’s hate speech.
The result: Last November, Hasan gunned down 13 people at the Fort Hood military base in Texas.
Graham responded to his disinvite with: “I want to express my strong support for the United States military and all our troops. I will continue to pray that God will give them guidance, wisdom and protection as they serve this great country.”
I’m Joey. I’m running for Congress. And I approved this message – even if some think it is intolerant.
Last week, they went too far when they dragged the tolerance banner into the religious realm. They essentially said it is up to them to determine what is an acceptable, appropriate expression of faith.
Background: The Military Religious Freedom Foundation threatened to seek an injunction stopping a Pentagon prayer service next month in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer unless Franklin Graham was removed from the list of people who would offer a prayer. His offense? He’s not a Christian in name only. He actually believes the Bible – all of it, including that salvation is in Jesus Christ alone.
His offending remark? “I am not on a crusade against Muslims. I love the Muslim people. ... I want them to know that they don’t have to die in a car bomb, don’t have to die in some kind of holy war to be accepted by God. But it’s through faith in Jesus Christ and Christ alone.” Because of this declaration of faith, the Army “diss”-invited the evangelist from the event.
Col. Thomas Collins, Army spokesman, said Graham’s remarks were “not appropriate. We’re an all-inclusive military. We honor all faiths. ... Our message to our service and civilian work force is about the need for diversity and appreciation of all faiths” (Washington Post).
The irony: These same Army officials saw nothing inappropriate when Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan gave what was supposed to be a medical lecture to other military doctors at Walter Reed in which he said non-Muslims should be beheaded and have boiling oil poured down their throats. He added that they were infidels condemned to hell who should be set on fire (Telegraph.co.uk). Where were the protests from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation then?
I don’t know about you, but I feel much more comfortable with Graham’s “intolerance” than I do with the Army’s tolerance of Hasan’s hate speech.
The result: Last November, Hasan gunned down 13 people at the Fort Hood military base in Texas.
Graham responded to his disinvite with: “I want to express my strong support for the United States military and all our troops. I will continue to pray that God will give them guidance, wisdom and protection as they serve this great country.”
I’m Joey. I’m running for Congress. And I approved this message – even if some think it is intolerant.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Joey's Take: A History Lesson
With every breath they take, every move they make and every vow they break, Congress and the president are proving how much they need a herding dog like me to police them – and keep them out of our pockets and the business of local government.
Last week, President Obama strayed out of the federal fence again when he weighed in on the fact that the Virginia governor’s traditional proclamation of April as Confederate History Month did not mention slavery, calling it “an unacceptable omission.” The incident serves as “a reminder that when we talk about issues like slavery that are so fraught with pain and emotion, that, you know, we'd better do so thinking through how this is going to affect a lot of people,” the president added (The Washington Times).
But Gov. McDonnell was not talking about slavery. He was talking about a war that started 150 years ago this month, that turned brother against brother and that almost destroyed this nation. Like it or not, that war – in and of itself – is a defining chapter in our country’s history. It is still the subject of college courses, movies, documentaries and books, many of which focus on personal narratives, military strategies and the politics at play, not on slavery. And here in Virginia, which is home to more than its share of Civil War battlefields and monuments, the war means business – and jobs. Real jobs, that is, for both black and white.
Contrary to what the president and media would have you believe, the proclamation is not a celebration of the war or slavery. Although it now includes an obligatory reference to slavery, the intent of the proclamation is that this part of “Virginia’s history should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered by all Virginians, both in the context of the time in which it took place, but also in the context of the time in which we live.”
It’s a lesson the president and Congress should take to heart. By studying the years leading up to the war – years marked by an increasingly divided nation, a political battle for states’ rights and an onslaught of nullification efforts – they could take the steps necessary to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.
I’m Joey. I’m running for Congress. And I approved this message.
Last week, President Obama strayed out of the federal fence again when he weighed in on the fact that the Virginia governor’s traditional proclamation of April as Confederate History Month did not mention slavery, calling it “an unacceptable omission.” The incident serves as “a reminder that when we talk about issues like slavery that are so fraught with pain and emotion, that, you know, we'd better do so thinking through how this is going to affect a lot of people,” the president added (The Washington Times).
But Gov. McDonnell was not talking about slavery. He was talking about a war that started 150 years ago this month, that turned brother against brother and that almost destroyed this nation. Like it or not, that war – in and of itself – is a defining chapter in our country’s history. It is still the subject of college courses, movies, documentaries and books, many of which focus on personal narratives, military strategies and the politics at play, not on slavery. And here in Virginia, which is home to more than its share of Civil War battlefields and monuments, the war means business – and jobs. Real jobs, that is, for both black and white.
Contrary to what the president and media would have you believe, the proclamation is not a celebration of the war or slavery. Although it now includes an obligatory reference to slavery, the intent of the proclamation is that this part of “Virginia’s history should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered by all Virginians, both in the context of the time in which it took place, but also in the context of the time in which we live.”
It’s a lesson the president and Congress should take to heart. By studying the years leading up to the war – years marked by an increasingly divided nation, a political battle for states’ rights and an onslaught of nullification efforts – they could take the steps necessary to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.
I’m Joey. I’m running for Congress. And I approved this message.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
An Easter Confession
I confess:
On this most holy of holy days, my thoughts were trained on family rather than on that miracle that shook the foundations of the earth, stretched the boundaries of human credibility and demonstrated for eternity God’s irrevocable love for His creation.
I confess:
In the rush and busyness of every day, I take that love for granted, pushing God to the fringes of the life He created.
I confess:
In the darkest moments, I have clung desperately, and victoriously, to God’s promises. But in the bright sunlight of His blessings, I too often stumble in the glare of self-pride.
I confess:
In this moment of quiet at the end of the most holy of holy days, I reflect again on that first Easter and am shamed by my nonchalance in the face of this great miracle – in the embrace of this all-forgiving love.
I pray:
Lord, teach me to live the joy of Easter every moment that I breathe.
On this most holy of holy days, my thoughts were trained on family rather than on that miracle that shook the foundations of the earth, stretched the boundaries of human credibility and demonstrated for eternity God’s irrevocable love for His creation.
I confess:
In the rush and busyness of every day, I take that love for granted, pushing God to the fringes of the life He created.
I confess:
In the darkest moments, I have clung desperately, and victoriously, to God’s promises. But in the bright sunlight of His blessings, I too often stumble in the glare of self-pride.
I confess:
In this moment of quiet at the end of the most holy of holy days, I reflect again on that first Easter and am shamed by my nonchalance in the face of this great miracle – in the embrace of this all-forgiving love.
I pray:
Lord, teach me to live the joy of Easter every moment that I breathe.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Joey's Take: Fur's a Flying
I want the president and all of Congress to know I’m barking angry at the direction our country is going. And it's time for fur to fly. That’s why I’m running for office. Somebody has to nip the heels of this runaway government before it plunges the nation – and the American dream – over a steep cliff to absolute financial ruin.
I also want them to know that my anger has nothing to do with Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh and any “vitriol” that duo may or may not be fomenting. I think for myself, thank you. And I can see that cliff getting ever closer.
Speaking of vitriol, I’d like to remind our president of his own vitriolic hate speech. Remember the talk he made on the eve of the Pennsylvania primary – the one at a private fund-raiser in Pelosi’s San Francisco? The one in which he accused people in small towns in Pennsylvania and across the Midwest of being “bitter.” Because of that bitterness, he said, “they cling to guns or religion or antipathy.” (I guess if you're not bitter, you don't need God!)
He didn’t get it then – he and his campaign staff made “bitter” an internal code word for the middle-class (Game Change).
And he doesn’t get it now. In his comments to Harry Smith on CBS’ Early Show Friday, the president tried to minimalize and marginalize those who disagree with him. He also tried to frame "demonizing" as a conservative phenomenon, conveniently ignoring the hate speech – and the damnations of America – that spewed from behind the pulpit of his Chicago church, the vitriolic hatred that continues to flow from the left whenever Bush or Cheney is mentioned and the spiteful trash that is daily heaped on non-liberals in blogs, chat rooms and other social media sites. He also ignored that he fans the rhetoric with his own arrogance and dismissive attitude toward any view but his own.
On another note: The White House ripped into Israel for “embarrassing” Vice President Joe Biden by announcing a new settlement on the West Bank during his visit to Jerusalem last month. What Biden forgot is that in a land where history is measured in millennia rather than a few centuries, memories run long – very long. It was payback time for when then-Sen. Biden tried to belittle Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin who was testifying before the Senate Finance Committee in 1982 about Israeli settlements. Raising his voice and banging on the table with his fist, Biden demanded that Israel immediately end its settlement program or the U.S. would cut its aid to the country.
Begin’s response: “This desk is designed for writing, not for fists. Don’t threaten us with slashing aid. Do you think that because the U.S. lends us money, it is entitled to impose on us what we must do? We are grateful for the assistance we have received, but we are not to be threatened. I am a proud Jew. Three thousand years of culture are behind me, and you will not frighten me with threats.”
I also want them to know that my anger has nothing to do with Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh and any “vitriol” that duo may or may not be fomenting. I think for myself, thank you. And I can see that cliff getting ever closer.
Speaking of vitriol, I’d like to remind our president of his own vitriolic hate speech. Remember the talk he made on the eve of the Pennsylvania primary – the one at a private fund-raiser in Pelosi’s San Francisco? The one in which he accused people in small towns in Pennsylvania and across the Midwest of being “bitter.” Because of that bitterness, he said, “they cling to guns or religion or antipathy.” (I guess if you're not bitter, you don't need God!)
He didn’t get it then – he and his campaign staff made “bitter” an internal code word for the middle-class (Game Change).
And he doesn’t get it now. In his comments to Harry Smith on CBS’ Early Show Friday, the president tried to minimalize and marginalize those who disagree with him. He also tried to frame "demonizing" as a conservative phenomenon, conveniently ignoring the hate speech – and the damnations of America – that spewed from behind the pulpit of his Chicago church, the vitriolic hatred that continues to flow from the left whenever Bush or Cheney is mentioned and the spiteful trash that is daily heaped on non-liberals in blogs, chat rooms and other social media sites. He also ignored that he fans the rhetoric with his own arrogance and dismissive attitude toward any view but his own.
On another note: The White House ripped into Israel for “embarrassing” Vice President Joe Biden by announcing a new settlement on the West Bank during his visit to Jerusalem last month. What Biden forgot is that in a land where history is measured in millennia rather than a few centuries, memories run long – very long. It was payback time for when then-Sen. Biden tried to belittle Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin who was testifying before the Senate Finance Committee in 1982 about Israeli settlements. Raising his voice and banging on the table with his fist, Biden demanded that Israel immediately end its settlement program or the U.S. would cut its aid to the country.
Begin’s response: “This desk is designed for writing, not for fists. Don’t threaten us with slashing aid. Do you think that because the U.S. lends us money, it is entitled to impose on us what we must do? We are grateful for the assistance we have received, but we are not to be threatened. I am a proud Jew. Three thousand years of culture are behind me, and you will not frighten me with threats.”
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Joey’s Take: Beholden to …
Last time I checked, it was the voters who elected people to Congress and the White House. It was not Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, Harry Reid or even Michael Steele. Our senators, representatives and president are not elected by a party, an agenda or special interest groups. They are elected by the people to represent the people and do the will of the people.
Yet, the POR Trio would have you believe the prime directive for a Democratic rep or senator is to blindly and unquestioningly fall in line with the trio’s agenda. Afterall, that’s what they were elected to do. Right?
Anyone who’s surprised by this tune wasn’t listening closely during the 2008 campaign. Obama summed up his view of a politician’s role in a speech that played to rave reviews in Iowa and helped him clinch the Iowa caucuses. “That’s why telling the American people what we think they want to hear instead of telling the American people what they need to hear just won’t do,” he said. While his words rang with rhythm and rhetoric, their true meaning was lost in the thunderous applause. No one questioned who would be the arbiter of what the American people NEED to hear.
Other fact-check failures from the campaign trail are coming back to bite the nation. As Game Change reminds us, the basic principles that shaped Obama’s campaign were a.) Americans were tired of divisiveness – they wanted a unifier; b.) they wanted an end to partisanship; and c.) they wanted leaders who would say no to special interests. Obama the candidate rode this rhetoric of change all the way to the White House. And yet, according to Washington Post vote tallies for the last Congress, his record in the Senate showed he was one of the most partisan, divisive voices there – coming in right behind Joe Biden. And his links to special interests ran deep.
Since the election, all we’ve heard from the POR Trio is strident partisanship as they demand that all reps and senators ignore the wishes of their constituents, who are too ignorant to know what’s good for them, and bow to the bidding of the all-knowing Democratic leadership and the special interests that fund their message.
This November, we need to show the POR Trio what change is all about. And in the meantime, remind your senators and representatives who they really answer to.
I’m Joey, and I want to bring real change to Washington.
Yet, the POR Trio would have you believe the prime directive for a Democratic rep or senator is to blindly and unquestioningly fall in line with the trio’s agenda. Afterall, that’s what they were elected to do. Right?
Anyone who’s surprised by this tune wasn’t listening closely during the 2008 campaign. Obama summed up his view of a politician’s role in a speech that played to rave reviews in Iowa and helped him clinch the Iowa caucuses. “That’s why telling the American people what we think they want to hear instead of telling the American people what they need to hear just won’t do,” he said. While his words rang with rhythm and rhetoric, their true meaning was lost in the thunderous applause. No one questioned who would be the arbiter of what the American people NEED to hear.
Other fact-check failures from the campaign trail are coming back to bite the nation. As Game Change reminds us, the basic principles that shaped Obama’s campaign were a.) Americans were tired of divisiveness – they wanted a unifier; b.) they wanted an end to partisanship; and c.) they wanted leaders who would say no to special interests. Obama the candidate rode this rhetoric of change all the way to the White House. And yet, according to Washington Post vote tallies for the last Congress, his record in the Senate showed he was one of the most partisan, divisive voices there – coming in right behind Joe Biden. And his links to special interests ran deep.
Since the election, all we’ve heard from the POR Trio is strident partisanship as they demand that all reps and senators ignore the wishes of their constituents, who are too ignorant to know what’s good for them, and bow to the bidding of the all-knowing Democratic leadership and the special interests that fund their message.
This November, we need to show the POR Trio what change is all about. And in the meantime, remind your senators and representatives who they really answer to.
I’m Joey, and I want to bring real change to Washington.
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