August 07, 2008

ITS A BOY!

Say hello to Cullen Gabriel Becker.  Future Conservative Republican President of the United States.  AND he just happens to be my grandson! 

UPDATE:  John's Gotta Be PROUD Too!

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June 14, 2008

Old Glory Still Flies High!

I am the Flag
                 Howard Schnauber

I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up ... and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,
my head is a little higher,
my colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped -- I am saluted.
I am loved -- I am revered.
I am respected -- and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war
for more then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge,
Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appamatox.
I was there at San Juan Hill,
the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest,
Anzio, Rome, and the beaches of Normandy.
Guam, Okinawa, Korea and
KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me.
I was there.

I led my troops.
I was dirty, battleworn and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me
And I was proud.
I have been burned, torn and trampled
on the streets of countries I have helped set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn
and trampled on the streets of my country.
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -- it hurts.
But I shall overcome -- for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth
and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space
from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness
to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips and used as bandages
for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent
at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.

My name is 'Old Glory'!
Long may I wave
o'er the land of the free
and the home of the brave.

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February 07, 2008

We Are Americans

The FOX NFL production of "We Are Americans" ran before the Super Bowl.  It is a moving rendition of our Declaration of Independence.   Here it is in case you missed it or would like to see it again. 

 

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.  .... 

...We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Authored by Thomas Jefferson

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December 26, 2007

While On Our Cruise...

... it occurred to me that the mightiest works of man cannot come close a simple work of God; examine if you will, Sunset in the Gulf of Mexico.

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November 22, 2007

From GM's Corner To All Of You

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November 09, 2007

Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps

Mustang at Social Sense has the message.  Go read it all!

SINCE THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION, OUR LIBERTY HAS BEEN PURCHASED BY VALIANT MEN AND WOMEN OF DEEP CONVICTION, GREAT COURAGE, AND BOLD ACTION...

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Fred to Feds: Stop Illegal Immigration!
Me to Fred: Good Idea, How?

I get tickled when someone proposes THE answer as opposed to having part of an answer.   And that observation gives rise to Roper’s First Law of Getting Things Done:  “The more profound, complicated, and lengthy THE answer is, the less likely it is to be acted on.”

This can be seen in, for example, Hillarycare circa 1994 and the recent attempt at “Amnesty” this past summer.  Now we have Fred Dalton Thompson putting out his plan to secure the border and lo and behold it consists of “Enforce Existing Immigration Laws.”  Well, that’s been tried before and it didn’t work very well Fred.  What is new this time?

As someone who has lived on the border almost half of my life I have a slightly different conservative perspective on Illegal immigration.  While I am against illegal immigration, I also know that it is a weighty problem that won’t be solved in any grand scheme of politicians, liberal, conservative or libertarian.  In fact, I have my doubts that short of an armed border, all 5114 miles of it (let alone some 2380 miles of boundaries on water we can fully police the borders of this country.

On the border, the population is largely Hispanic with close cultural if not familial ties to Mexico.  There is a natural bond there that no one is going to break.  Recognizing this is the first step to understanding the southern border.  Politico’s down here are against any “control” especially the fence because it might harm the economics of the area.  Since the majority of the people buying in this country or at least the majority of dollars spent, come across at check points or by air, it is hard to see how a fence would interfere with that, but that is the politico’s stance and most of the population listens to their politicos down here, not the other way around.  Recognizing that also is part of the solution.

Having said that, there is also no reason to give up trying to enforce immigration laws.  There are some specific things that can, and should be, done if we truly want to get a handle on the problem; politicians grandiose ideas not withstanding.  The solution ought to be fairly obvious to all but the most partisan of politicians and their supporters.  The sole reason the vast majority of illegal aliens come to this country is for the opportunity for the common man it offers, in other words, employment and the chance to improve one’s life financially.

Current sanctions on employers who hire illegal aliens however don’t amount to more than a slap on the wrist, more like paying a $5.00 fine for speeding at 50 miles over the speed limit.  Make the fine and penalty substantial enough and employers will think twice and make the extra effort to insure their employees are legal residents or citizens.

Fred doesn’t emphasize employer penalties enough.  In fact, what Fred does say is “Reduce the number of illegal aliens through increased enforcement against unauthorized alien workers and their employers.  Without illegal employment opportunities available, fewer illegal aliens will attempt to enter the country, and many of those illegally in the country now likely will return home.”  Oh yeah Fred, while I think I agree with you, where is the evidence?  What are you basing that on?

If we truly want, and I mean sincerely and truly, cross your heart and hope to live long enough to pay all your taxes sincerely, we are going to have to go to a biometric based national identity card.  I hear the libertarians, liberals and conservatives gnashing their teeth, see them clenching their fists and their eyes bulging, but the reality is we either want to halt illegal immigration or we don’t.  Half measures won’t work and haven’t worked in the past and if a recitation of that fact isn’t enough to convince the politicos running for the Presidency, nothing will be.

Part of the current problem is that federal and state laws regarding illegal immigration have not been enforced because it was to the benefit of some fat cat corporations and politicos not to do so; some for overly altruistic reasons, most for rather selfish reasons.  To solve the problem it will take honest people on both sides of the fence to come to a solution that may not meet all their criteria, but then half a loaf is better than no loaf at all.

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October 21, 2007

Cleveland Clobbered, Colorado Coming

 

The Cleveland Indians played one hell of a ball game for three games of seven, and even GM was rattled when the series was 3 games to one in favor of the Indians.  But Boston did what only Boston can do, come from way down and strike at the heart of the game - good pitching, good fielding, good hitting.

My condolences to Cleveland, they played well all year long but this is Boston's year and nothing, but nothing is going to keep them from drubbing the Rockies.  By the end of the world Series, the Colorado Rockies will be renamed the Colorado mole hills.  GM hath spoken!

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October 19, 2007

The Boys of October & Joe Torre

Way back in October of 1955 I sat on the couch with my dad to listen to the 1955 world Series on the Armed Forces Radio.  Dad was rooting for someone named the Brooklyn Dodgers against another team named the New York Yankees.  Why the Dodgers I wanted to know, "Because I always root for the underdog," said Dad.  And in the magic of a kid and his dad listening to the radio I became a baseball fan, and had a team to root for.

Next year I listened to every game I could on the radio, and the World Series was a reprise; once again the New York Yankees against the World Champion Brooklyn Dodgers and his time, in game seven, with both teams having won 3 games each, the Dodgers went down to defeat in a 9-0 loss at Ebbets Field. 

The following year, 1957 we returned to the United States and landed at La Guardia tired from what was to be our last of two European juants.  The second night of our stay in some New York hotel, dad asked if I wanted to go see a Dodgers game.  Did I ever.  What a thrill that was for a 10 year old.  I followed the Dodgers through the Sandy Koufax years and through the late 60s.  The Army, marriage, children and grad school all conspired to dampen my enthusiasm for the Dodgers and for baseball in general. 

Following a period of being a widower, I remarried in 1997 to a die hard Boston Red Sox fan and it was right smack in the middle of watching the Indian's take the American League Pennant.  Over the next few years I watched more and more Redsox games, by 1999 becoming a die hard member of the Red Sox Nation myself.  Each year though, it was equally rooting FOR the Red Sox and AGAINST those Damned Yankees with that evil Joe Torre at the helm.  This year was no different as the Mighty Red Sox started the season leading the Yankees by more than 12 games at one point, only to watch Torre bring his Yankees to within 2 games by season's end.  Then, a wild card, the Yanks played the really insurgent Cleveland Indians loosing the shot at the pennant and that madman George Steinbrenner announcing just after the 3rd game that Joe Torre could loose his job if he didn't take the series with the Indians.

Oh. My. G-D. I thought, is George Steinbrained out of his mind?  Joe Torre, one of the very best managers the Yanks EVER had?  The man who took them to four straight world series championships?  The frozen face of the Yankees?  Surely George Stainedbottom had been taking some recreational drug.  Now believe you me, I am not a Yankee's fan, I've disliked them ever since that first October radio show in 1955.  But I love to see a good game, I love to see a great play by a great player and those Damned Yankee's have given me and the rest of the world YEARS of that. 

For the next two weeks the world awaited the final decision of George Scheissforbrains thinking surely he will realize the stupidity of his actions.  The sports sections have been blazing with stories about the threatened departure of A-Rod, dour mutterings in the lockerrooms and outright incredulty in the rest of the world.  Then came the final word.  Amazing Joe Torre, had told George Strudelnoggin and his minions from hell to kiss his ... uhhh, kiss his ring finger (yeah, that's it).  Joe was presented with a contract that was an insult to one of the worlds great managers, an insult to 12 years of marvelous baseball, an insult to every individual that ever rooted for the Damned New York Yankees.

But Joe Torre won in the end, Joe showed class and showed George Stupidbumpkiss what the game is all about.  Good for you Joe, long may your banner wave and may some other great team pick you up.  Just not against the Red Sox.  OK?

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October 03, 2007

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, What My Country Means to Me

If you're going to come to the U.S. to benefit from our freedoms and economy but don't want to speak our language, observe our customs, assimilate into society, and honor our heritage, at least respect our laws and our flag.

Flag of Mexico Flown Illegally Over Business

I would have handled the situation differently than the person who stood up for our flag in the story, but his message was well intended and made clear. Now, this leaves the ACLU, which would consider flying these flags illegally as they were or any descreation of the U.S. flag as protected freedom of speech and even admirable.

I suggest to Mexican immigrants, especially those here illegally, that they join us like past immigrants rather than form a parallel society with a primary allegiance to their country of origin--the one which forced them to here for a better life.

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October 01, 2007

Final Bow

There are powers that be, and there are the powerful, and there is Power! Raw, Energetic Power of the Mind. Cox and Forkum have been that latter catagory for as long as I can remember being attracted to blogs. Today, they cease publishing their "Cox and Forkum" website, and the world of politics will be poorer for that.

With mixed emotions I announce: John and I will no longer be producing editorial cartoons. John will continue posting his work at his blog, John Cox Art, and he and I will continue working together on various projects, but there will be no more regularly scheduled editorial cartoons. The Web site will remain running indefinitely, as a means to market our books and as an archive of our work.

This decision is primarily mine. I will go into a little more detail below for those interested, but I want to first call attention to some closing matters:

1) The image above is the cover illustration for our final book collection. Black & White World IV will contain over 200 cartoons and caricatures. A special section will showcase the development of a few cartoons, from my rough, to John's pencial sketch, to the final product. As with our last book, signed copies are being offered for a limited time. Just click here to place your preorder. The book is slated to ship out by the end of October.

2) Signed, original art for many our editorial cartoons will soon be available for purchase. I hope to create a special Web page for the art eventually. In the meantime, if there's a cartoon you're interested in, send an inquiry to me at "contact -- at -- coxandforkum.com", and I'll let you know if it is available and at what price. Prices range from $250 to $500. Some cartoons are already gone or not for sale.

3) Be sure to visit John Cox Art daily. John has posted loads of excellent work since we launched his site in May. He's been painting, illustrating and cartooning for over 20 years. Currently you can see a page from a comic-book project he's working on. He'll be posting his Newsmaker Caricatures there too. Contact him at "johncee10 -- at -- hotmail.com" to inquire about commissions.

Let me start by saying that quitting editorial cartooning has been one of my toughest decisions. Having such a creative outlet for expressing my opinions is immensely satisfying. It's an art form I've admired for decades, so I do not take lightly having the opportunity to work in the medium and to have that work seen by others. One of my proudest moments came soon after 9/11 when I held in my hands our first published cartoon. It was easy to feel useless, even helpless, in the weeks and months following the attacks. But to be able to fight in the battle of ideas was empowering.[read the whole thing]

You will be sorely missed gentlemen, and the farewell bow is a sad thing to see.

Farewell friends, but not goodbye!

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September 17, 2007

Think Again!

Think the amnesty "fix" for illegal aliens is history? Think Again!

... Senator Richard Durbin (D–IL) announced on the Senate floor his intention to offer the Development, Relief, and Edu­cation for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act as an amend­ment to the defense authorization bill.
Think Cindy Sheehan is just an "anti-war activist? Think Again!
"You [Sheehan] give us hope and you show us that there are different Americans than those whom we know," stated Ramadan Adassi, chief of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror group in the West Bank's Anskar Refugee Camp.
Think that Pelosi and Kucinich's visits to Syria will help heel in state sponsored terrorism? Think Again!
It was not clear what the ship arriving from North Korea was actually carrying, although Israeli sources largely believed it was delivering nuclear equipment, the expert told the Washington Post.
Think Madaline Allbright learned the futility of diplomacy with tyrants due to her experiences with Kim from North Korea? Think Again!
"I don't think I have ever seen the world in such a mess," Albright said to a packed house at the West Des Moines Community Center.

Albright is advising Clinton on foreign policy and believes the U.S. needs to withdraw from Iraq, stabilize the country, help in reconstruction and use a diplomatic surge.

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September 16, 2007

The Freedom Concert

Angel, writing at Woman, Honor Thyself! has a terrific post up at her blog. She attended the Freedom Concert in New Jersey honoring those who have fallen in the War on Terror and setting up college scholorships for the kids they left behind. Great Pictures including one of Angel herself. Now, I get to see what she looks like, she always sends emails with a cheerful Hi and humorous spelling.

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September 07, 2007

A Fool And His Money

You've seen the lines of people waiting for hours, and hours and hours to be among the first to buy the new Apple IPhone. It cost $599.00 and required a lengthy contract with AT&T. Now, most of these folks, if not perhaps all of them had a cell phone, many had a camera on it and many had access to the internet. I would imagine more than a few had high-end Blackberrys or Treo 700's or better. So, why shell out more than $600.00 for a new gadget? Simple, because a fool and his money are soon parted, but they had to have the latest gizmo to show how cool they were, how with it, how modern, how...how... how foolish?

Then, Jobs and his crew look to take in MORE money with holiday spending so they drop the prices some $200.00 and those that spent $599.00 were LIVID. Now, any one who buys electronics knows about price drops, a very basic 66 hertz computer from Hewlett Packard cost almost $2000.00 in 1994 and now you can get one a "zillion" times faster, far more powerful, with a relative HUGE amount of memory and hard drives in the terrabit range for less than $1500.00 Ram that used to cost hundreds of dollars for a 256 bit chip now costs less than $100.00 for a gigabyte chip.

So, why are these folks griping because Apple dropped it's price? All they had to do was wait a little bit befor buying. But noooooooooooo! And now they want some money back. Give me a break!

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September 06, 2007

One Question Poll

Our good buddy Celeste Fremon over at WitnessLA has been on a field trip between L.A. and Montanna and asking people along the way one question and one question only:

"If you could ask America’s politicians—Democrats and Republicans alike—to accomplish one task, to get one problem solved for this country, what would you pick first….if it was left completely up to you?”

She has documented the results in a series of posts titled "Voices from the Road," which are found at that link provided and which I encourage you to read. She even has pictures! (Her original planning and discussion posts are found separately here, here, and here.) Under each of her five posts (so far) I have made comments about most of what she has reported, and most of my comments have not been favorable. Here are some of the problems.

I wonder if people think for themselves any more or if they just spit back what they are fed from the press, which spits back what it is fed by the Democrats. I wonder if people do not want personal responsibility and choice and would rather have the government to do everything for them. I wonder if people have enough knowledge about the problems that they want solved to speak intelligently about those problems. How many people give political correct answers rather than what they might normally say to friends? I wonder how Americans from all parts of the country and with a balance of political persuasions would answer her question.

Well, I'm here to find out. I got so put off with the answers that she received that I said that I would do my own poll. So, here it is and we need your help. I would like you to share your thoughts on her question, and then to ask one or two other people and to share their thoughts here. To remind you, here is the approach and the question again from Celeste.

"(he point is, I’m asking average people who are out there making a living and trying to raise kids, not folks who take three newspapers a day or stay glued to the web—like many of us.)

"If you could ask America’s politicians—Democrats and Republicans alike—to accomplish one task, to get one problem solved for this country, what would you pick first….if it was left completely up to you?”

Okay, what do you have to say and what does your "average friend who is not glued to the web" have to say? Get started and report back. Surely, there are many people in this country who are not dependent upon government and have a little bit of knowledge about problems. We just need to show that they are there.

Oh, just one limitation. The people you poll cannot live along I-15 or be half-drunk in beer joints. Celeste has already covered those areas.

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