Victory Day in Iraq

An interesting perspective on the conflict in Iraq from the Gay Patriot:

By any and all accounts of measuring success (including the American liberals’ ever changing goals), we can finally mark the day that America can finally declare “Victory In Iraq.” A number of bloggers were declaring 11/22/2008 (last Saturday) as “V.I. Day” — and that date is as good as any.
But it was this week that, militarily and politically, the Armed Forces of the United States of America Officially Won The War In Iraq.

BAGHDAD — The long, costly story of American military involvement in Iraq moved closer to an end Thursday when Iraq’s parliament approved a pact that requires all troops to be out in three years, marking the first clear timetable for a U.S. exit since the 2003 invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

The vote followed months of talks between U.S. and Iraqi negotiators that at times seemed on the point of collapse, and then days of dealmaking between ethnic and sectarian groups whose centuries-old rifts had hardened during the first four years of the war.

Three United States heroes are primarily responsible for Victory In Iraq: General David Petraeus, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and the Commander In Chief, President George W. Bush.

However… the ultimate credit and praise goes to the nameless and faceless: The many, many American heroes in uniform (some still fighting; some never coming home), the American civil servants in the Green Zone, the countless Americans volunteering in Iraq out of compassion, and millions of ordinary Iraqis stepping up out of the dust clouds and raising their voices for freedom.

The War Against Islamic Fundamentalism is far from over. But the forces of evil suffered a known defeat in the sands of Iraq at the hands of Western liberal democracies. It wasn’t pretty — but war is hell.

AMERICA SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THE VICTORY IN IRAQ. Yes, it came at a terrible cost, as all marches toward freedom do. But history shall be the ultimate judge of how the Post-9/11 world is safer because Saddam Hussein was not a part of it.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Now personally, I feel we "won" the war the day that statue came down. On that day, Saddam's government was toppled, and the rest has been mop-up and rebuilding. The primary mission was accomplished, to be replaced by a new mission of nation building.

It is much easier to defeat an enemy than to build a new nation, and the past several years have proven that out.

Either way, I like Bruce's perspective on this, and found it well worth repeating.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, thank you American warriors. Thank you to those Americans who supported them, and thank you to the President and the rest of our government who did whatever they did to bring about this victory.

Thanks and praise be to the God who watched over all of us. Annuit Coeptis

More Thanksgiving Fun

Thanksgiving just ain't Thanksgiving without Arlo Guthrie:

Happy Thanksgiving

A Good Article On Christian Universalism

Okay, I finally got my character to level 55 and made my Death Knight in WoW, so finally I may be able to begin posting again. To start things out I'll make up my usual Sunday posting on faith and the salvation of all with this adaptation of an article from the 1880s:

The Beauty of Christian Universalism

Christian Universalism appears to me very simple, consistent, and beautiful. It regards this world as God's, and the whole human family as His children. It accepts without distrust the fundamental fact of the gospel, that God, out of his great love to mankind, now alienated from him by sin, sent his only begotten Son to seek and to save that which was lost, and by redeeming men from sin, to restore them to their right relations with God, and thus fit them to glorify and enjoy Him forever.

It teaches that whatever mystery or difficulty there may be in the work of redeeming and saving souls, it is precisely the same in one and all. The truth, the grace, the love, the spiritual power, that can seize and transform one sinful soul, yours or mine, a Peter's or a Paul's is able to seize and transform all souls, for it can accommodate itself to all possible diversities of character and all conditions of life.

It is in virtue of this comprehensive power and fitness for the work it has in hand, that the gospel of Christ is qualified to be, and is to become, in fact, a universal religion. If there is one human soul in the universe that Christ cannot subdue and bring into willing subjection to his law, he is not "the Savior of the world," as inspiration proclaims him, and not the Savior the world needs.

Yet this redemptive work, let me add, is always carried on in perfect accordance with man's moral nature. Transcendent and divine as the power is, it operates in harmony with all human powers, so that, while Christ subdues our hearts to his will and brings them in subjection to his holy law, there is no violence done to our personality or our own will. We never act more freely than when we recognize the divine love, and sweetly yield our wills, ourselves, to its all-conquering power.

It was his prophecy and promise, as he stood in the immediate presence of the cross, that if he were lifted up from the earth, thus signifying by what death he was to die, he would draw all men unto himself (John 7:32). And this word "draw" expresses admirably the attractive forces of the Christian religion and Christ's method of accomplishing his work. Men are not driven to goodness and heaven, but are drawn thither. And we cannot properly consider the power of the divine love, as exhibited in the mission of Christ, without feeling convinced that it is sufficient to do all that Christ undertook. Prophecy assures us that he will not fail nor be discouraged in his work, but bring it at last to a glorious consummation.

As there is one God, who will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, so there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (I Tim. 2:3-6). And that Christian seems to me weak in the faith who does not see in his Lord and Master a will, a love, a patience, a persistence, equal to the great work he came to do.

Nor do the various punishments which necessarily befall the sinner, whether here or hereafter, in any manner interfere with Christ's redeeming purpose, or interrupt the processes of his grace. On the contrary, they may always be, as we know they often are, the means of breaking the stubborn will, and so preparing the heart for the readier reception of the divine love and law. And as Christ in his history has experienced all the states of human existence, having sojourned and suffered in this world, descended into Hades, and ascended into heaven, that as the Apostle says, "he might fill all things," so he embraces in the arms of his redeeming power and love the whole human family in all their possible states of being, whether alive upon earth, or whether they lived before the flood, or are to live in the ages to come. He tasted death for every man, and is therefore to be the Savior of the world.

In the language of the Apostle we say, "Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11). And it needs no argument to show that universal homage to Christ and this confession of him as Lord can be nothing else than a personal and individual act. No man can make this confession for his neighbor and the Apostle elsewhere assures us that these acts of homage and allegiance can be performed in no other temper than that of profound sincerity. "No man speaking by the spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed; and no man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost" (I Cor. 7:3).

In the realm of the spiritual, forms and ceremonies count little, and unmeaning or forced confessions, in which the heart does not utter its own feelings and convictions, count nothing at all. The Apostle, in declaring that every knee is to bow in the name of Christ, and every tongue to confess him Lord to the glory of God the Father, was surely not speaking of any mere outward service or any hypocritical homage, and quite as little of that confession which orthodoxy madly dreams will be extorted from the damned in hell.

The salvation of the whole human race is what God proposed in the creation. It is what Christ came into the world to effect, and for the accomplishment of which he was given all needed power in heaven and earth. To this end he died the death of the cross, and thus tasted death for every man; and I submit that such self-sacrificing love cannot suddenly cool, or readily give over to endless torment souls for which it thus willingly suffered.

I should be ashamed of myself, if, believing in God and in Christ, I still feared their ultimate failure in this great work of redemption, whose history fills the Bible. God never fails. I cannot associate failure with him even in thought. It is for him who inhabits eternity, and who is at once omniscient and omnipotent, to say, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure" (Isa. 46:10). And I beg those of the contrary part to reflect that the final issue of the divine government, whether it be in harmony with our theology or theirs, must be what God saw it from the beginning, and what, in his infinite wisdom and goodness, he himself proposed.

The above article was adapted, with slight editing, from the book "Endless Punishment In the Very Words of Its Advocates" by Thomas J. Sawyer, S.T.D., 1880

Some good stuff here, well worth pondering.

L.Neil Smith on Sarah Palin

I have long admired the books of libertarian sci-fi writer L. Neil Smith. People have often called him a proper heir to the works of Robert Heinlein, with his novels being full of fun-loving, gun-toting free thinkers. I'm not sure I would go that far, being I feel Heinlein's stature will probably never be matched, but I do love the guy's books.

He made some very interesting comments about Palin, liberals, and the election on his website:

Apparently liberals can't handle the idea of a woman with power if that woman isn't another liberal.

Enter Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. When Mad Jack McCain announced the choice he'd made of Palin as a running mate late last summer, I was delighted and surprised. It wasn't simply the only smart move the Hanoi Senator had made during his campaign, it was probably the only smart move any Republican had made since Eisenhower ended the Korean War.

High on the list of reasons I was delighted and surprised was that we'd have an excellent chance now to see clearly just how sisterly all those left-wing socialist feminists could be toward the third woman in American history likely to score herself a vote in the Electoral College.

The first, of course, being Tonie Nathan, a Libertarian.

What I saw and heard during the next three months exceeded even my wildest imaginings—and remember, I'm an imaginer by profession—a vitriolic spew of blind, visceral, dogmatic hatred that the nation's "progressives" hadn't lavished even on Randy Weaver, back when Ruby Ridge was in the headlines, nor on Timothy McVeigh after the explosion in Oklahoma City. Some feminists even claimed that, somehow, Palin wasn't a woman. Meaning, of course, that she dared to cherish values differing from those a woman, in their demented view, is supposed to cherish.

One so-called female so-called comedian referred to Palin as a "...little freaked out, intimidated, frightened, right-wing Republican, thin-lipped bitch", unintentionally describing herself by temperament, if not by political persuasion. She also warned the vice presidential candidate that she (Palin) would be gang-raped by her (the comedian's) "big black brothers" if she (Palin) visited Manhattan.

This to a real woman who, at least by implication, knows how to deal with a rapist the way a rapist ought to be dealt with, not with a little plastic whistle or a sisterly candlelight vigil, but with... well, let's just put it this way: there are places in Alaska where you're not allowed to venture unless you're carrying at least a .357 Magnum.

Same way the streets and subways of New York should be.

The so-called female so-called comedian also warned Palin to "stay away from the Old Testament", whatever that means, and referred to Palin's religion as "new goyish crappy shiksa funky bullshit!" Then, not realizing how funny she was being unintentionally, she added, "I'd just like [Palin] to explain to me how she can hold such outrageous views." I believe this calls for a new category of bigotry. How about "anti-Gentilism"?

Observers as disparate as freethinking liberal Camille Paglia and conservative Michael Barone have suggested that Palin became a target for bitter militant feminist hatred not simply because she opposes abortion, but because she declined to abort her own fifth child when she learned, in advance, that he would be afflicted with Down's Syndrome.

However not everything is about fetuses, and I believe there is a much wider and deeper reason that the left have unzipped and exposed themselves this way. There is a war going on, after all, between the so-called "dominant culture"—for which read the Parasitic Class—and the American Productive Class that clothes, feeds, and houses this country and much of the world and generally keeps the whole thing running.

The Parasitic Class decided for themselves long ago that we, the members of the Productive Class, should keep our places, work hard, turn over all our money to our "betters", and shut up. They, the Parasitic Class, for the most part alumni of Ivy League universities—alma maters of most of the morons who got us into, not only the current economic, military, and constitutional mess we find ourselves in today, but all of the economic, military, and constitutional messes of the 20th century, as well—would do the thinking, planning, and ruling.

Unannointed by such an Ivy League education or even the minimum requirement for membership in good standing in the Parasitic Class, a law degree (after trying other schools she graduated in media from the University of Idaho), Palin's an upstart, a usurper, a bounder, crimes that transcend even her protected status as a female. She isn't even from "Flyover Country"—nobody who's anybody ever flies over Alaska.

Perhaps as important, Palin isn't some pallid East-coast hotel dweller, accustomed to room service, but a real human being, a real live female who can do all of the things listed in the song "I'm A Woman"—she can handle a rifle, hunt, fish, clean and cut up wild game, make something edible out of it, keep house, raise five kids, keep her husband interested since they were in high school together, plus run a city and run a state—and most of the things any human being should be able to do, according to The Notebooks of Lazarus Long.

In short, she's a Heinlein woman.

That, I submit, is why she's hated by those females who are not Heinlein women, and by those Milquetoast males who are desperately afraid of the kind of real woman she is. That's why she was betrayed by her own party—Mit Romney's faction—which was the source, as it develops, of many of the most vicious falsehoods that were spread about her. That's why she's being blamed for McCain's pathetic failures, in an attempt to make sure she won't have a political future.

And that the peasants won't revolt.

The 2008 election is behind us now, a part of history, and the collectivists who triumphed are going to enjoy it while they can. The observations I've made here might be unimportant, except that, owing to the ascension of their god-king, we're going to be living with these animals for a while. In the end, it may be that the best thing Sarah Palin's candidacy accomplished is exposing them for what they are.

Gotta give props to Mr. Smith for his insightful commentary here.

/Hat Tip to the Libertarian Republican for this one.

Instead of the Usual Sunday Bible Study...

Been a real hard couple of days, grinding my tush off in WoW since the new expansion. here then in lieu of my normal Sunday sermon is something I pulled off of MMOFringe.com.

Commentary: All dogs go to heaven. God has reconciled the whole world in Christ, not just people and creatures with "souls." All existence "goes to heaven." Your pets, your rocks, and your pet rocks.

Watchmen Trailer

I am very much looking forward to this movie. One of my favorite graphic novels, I remember WAITING for these as Alan Moore first wrote them.

It's Here!

So there I was at midnight last night at my local Gamestop, waiting in line with forty other nerds as we chatted about what servers we play on, PvP, PVE, Hunters, Pallys, nerfs, the doom that came to SWG, and other geeky recondite matters, when I realized just how lame we all really are...

But I still got my copy of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion for WoW.

Here, once again, is the Cinematic trailer:


Death Knights FTW!

I, Robot

Wow check out this VERY realistic robot...



The article going with it:
Pictured: The robot that can pull faces just like a human being

Two Nerds Talking About Star Wars Games

Jedi Diggnation Discussion from Kevin Rose on Vimeo.

The guy on the left used to play a Wookiee on my server in Star Wars Galaxies. I was friendlier with his colleague Josh Brentano, aka the great Mantelo Mandalorean. These guys were all from TechTV back in the days before it mutated into G4.

Now they drink beer on the internet. Nice work if you can get it.

Honoring Our Veterans

Remember to thank them every chance you get. Freedom isn't free.

What Would Cap Do?

I often ask this question of myself, when deciding things, especially about freedom, force, and heroism. In this case, I am asking the question, what would Captain America do, if he could pick his own director for his movie?

Well, he'd probably pick a man like Joe Johnston. Joe shows he understands old-fashioned values, how to be corny-but-cool, and how to create that "I love America" with just the right combination of hip and sappiness.

As the director of The Rocketeer and October Sky he has shown that he UNDERSTANDS. He knows that sense of wonder and that American "can-do" spirit.

He is one of the few guys who started out as an effects artist and went on to become a really effective director.

Well, according to Hollywood Reporter, he has been selected as the director for Captain America: the First Avenger.

Joe Johnston has inked a deal to direct "First Avenger: Captain America," Marvel Studios' take on its classic comic book character. Marvel's Kevin Feige is producing.

No writers are on board, but the studio, which is hearing pitches, expects to hire shortly.

Johnston first met with Marvel two years ago. When the two parties clicked, general talks turned into Captain America-specific meetings, with much of the project's current direction resulting from those early conversations.

"This is a guy who designed the vehicles for 'Star Wars,' who storyboarded the convoy action sequence for 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' " Feige said. "From 'Rocketeer' to 'October Sky' to 'The Wolfman,' you can look at pieces of his movies and see how they lead to this one."

The article discusses the ultimate plan a bit more:

Kicking off with "Iron Man," Marvel Studios' slate of movies --including "Thor" and the "Iron Man" sequel -- is building toward an "Avengers" movie set for release in 2011, in which the characters from the films team for one big adventure. "Captain America" is scheduled for release May 6, 2011.

"Captain America" will be a World War II-set movie, and the character will appear in the modern day-set "Avengers." Executive producing on "Captain" are Louis D'Esposito, Stan Lee and Marvel Studios' chairman David Maisel.

Color me excited. Color me red, white and blue.

1 John 2:2

It was through His sacrificial death that our sins were atoned. But He did not stop there -- He died for the sins of the whole world. (The Voice)

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.(NIV)

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (KJV)

Here we have the Beloved Disciple discussing how we should not sin, but IF we do (and of course we do every day), we should not live in fear because Jesus was a fully proper and effective sacrifice NOT only for our sins, but for the sins of the world. Once again, we can see, as I have discussed before, the infinite power of an infinite Son of God atoning infinitely for finite sin.

No matter how much YOU and I sin, it is some finite number. Huge, but finite. No matter how much everyone sins, it is still some finite, although much greater number. No matter how many permutations of sin there are, they are limited within time -- therefore, some finite number.

Jesus, being of God and of man -- 100% of both, is the mathematical intersection of the finite and the infinite. As a finite man, he lived completely by faith and thus was sinless. He then was sacrificed on the cross as an offering for sin. His finite nature and his infinite nature combine, thus covering ALL men.

In fact, the whole world -- or even further -- all of existence. Even beyond what exists but all that is possible, since such is contained in infinity, with a few more left over.

Amen.

1,000 Visitors!

At least since I started keeping track with Sitemeter, which was on September 11th, 2008. Thanks for reading!


EDIT/Update: I did not know that Hollywood Reporter would be announcing the director of Captain America: the First Avenger when I posted this pic. Cap is just sort of my unofficial mascot for this site, since he is the "Sentinel of Liberty" and all that. Pretty neat "coincidence" that the info was released the very next day.

Iranian Dissident's Warning To Barack Obama: Negotiating Won't Work

You can't negotiate with evil. Compromising with evil merely emboldens and empowers it. I HOPE our President-elect actually listens to the people who understand the Jihadi regime in Iraq and CHANGEs his opinion:



Hat Tip to Pat Dollard

Aftermath

Machosauce's take on the election:
Although I certainly don't agree with everything the guy says, he has a very interesting analysis of how the election went down, and why McCain failed.

Obama Win Causes Obsessed Backers To See How Empty Their Lives Are

More on How the Conspiracy is Behind Obama

I just can never get enough of this stuff. Hat tip to the Libertarian Republican who found this at the Whole Truth Coalition:

Part 1:


part 2:

Ron Paul on Alex Jones

Now that the "sanity" of the election is over, it's time to turn to watching the Conspiracy:)

Ron Paul on Alex Jones, Part 1


Part 2:

Darth Vader Toaster!

Gotta get me one of these!

From StarWarsShop.com

Are These the NeoCOMs?

Michael Crichton RIP

Best-Selling Author Michael Crichton Dies
"Jurassic Park" Author And "ER" Creator Succumbs To Cancer. He Was 66.

(CBS) Best-selling author and filmaker Michael Crichton died unexpectedly in Los Angeles Tuesday, after a courageous and private battle against cancer, his family said in a statement. He was 66.

Crichton was a brand-name author, known for his stories of disaster and systematic breakdown, such as the rampant microbe of "The Andromeda Strain" or dinosaurs running amok in "Jurassic Park," one of his many million-selling books that became major Hollywood movies.

Crichton also created the hospital drama "ER" for television. His most recent novel, "Next," about genetics and law, was published in December 2006.

"While the world knew him as a great story teller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us -- and entertained us all while doing so -- his wife Sherri, daughter Taylor, family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes," the statement said. "He did this with a wry sense of humor that those who were privileged to know him personally will never forget."

Through his books, Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields, and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way all could understand.

"He will be profoundly missed by those whose lives he touched, but he leaves behind the greatest gifts of a thirst for knowledge, the desire to understand, and the wisdom to use our minds to better our world," the statement added.

Born in Chicago Oct. 23, 1942, Crichton graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College, received his MD from Harvard Medical School, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, researching public policy with Jacob Bronowski. He taught courses in anthropology at Cambridge University and writing at MIT.

Crichton's 2004 bestseller, "State of Fear," acknowledged the world was growing warmer, but challenged extreme anthropogenic warming scenarios. His views were strongly condemned by environmentalists, who alleged that the author was hurting efforts to pass legislation to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.

Crichton's first bestseller, "The Andromeda Strain," was published while he was still a medical student. He later worked full time on film and writing. One of the most popular writers in the world, his books have been translated into thirty-six languages, and thirteen have been made into films.

Crichton won an Emmy, a Peabody, and a Writer's Guild of America Award for "ER." In 2002, a newly discovered ankylosaur was named for him: Crichtonsaurus bohlini.

A private funeral service is expected, but no further details will be released to the public.

As I was gathering books for a display at work, I realized I had read quite a few of them: Terminal Man, Eaters of the Dead, Andromeda Strain, Rising Sun, Jurassic Park, Sphere, and Congo.

He was a giant of the literary world, the film world, and the world of science. His work against the false science of the global warming religion was admirable as well. A true Renaissance man, he will be missed.

Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

Remember Remember the 5th of November

Gunpowder treason and plot

I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot...

Why the Republican Party Has Failed

The Republican Party has fallen apart for two primary reasons over the past several years: big spending and corruption.

They have tarnished their reputation by spending more than democrats, and becoming beholden to lobbyists. The Contract With America generation betrayed the people who voted for them, and were rightly tossed out of office in 2006, and because they lost the base with their poor behavior, lost the game to an organized, energized opposition in the form of the Obama movement.

It is time for Republicans to find their roots in limited government and constitutionalism, once they have done that -- and convinced the people they mean it -- they will return to power.

I am already seeing some bad signs. The McCain campaign is beginning to blame Palin, instead of realizing that she helped more than she hurt -- and that after the September economic meltdown, there wasn't much anyone could do to help McCain win.

Instead of looking at the facts, they are looking for blame. Best way to divide a party, and the best way to fail. The Democrats successfully united after a bitter feud between Hillary and Barack, the Republican Party needs to learn the same lesson.

(Crossposted over at MMORPG.com)

Now That It Is Official

McCain has conceded with a gracious speech, it is time to celebrate a truly historical moment in our nation's great history. We have elected our first African-American president, and that is a truly wonderful thing.

At this moment I feel there are a few things that need to be considered.

We are a nation still at war. And, although the media and the Democrats have spent the last several years trying to undermine us in the war out of the petty hatred of President Bush, cheering every setback in Iraq, using every American death as an excuse to declare surrender, and otherwise endangering us in the biggest struggle in our history -- I hope and pray Republicans DO NOT DO THE SAME.

The time has come to set aside the crap and unite behind our new President and continue with this struggle, which will probably outlast him.

Hopefully, now that Democrats will own this war, this great struggle, they will really try and win it with the rest of us. I predict they will, and that will be the greatest thing about Obama and his super-majority.

I also hope and pray that Obama learns from Mr. Clinton, and does not over-reach as Clinton did in his first two years. I hope he governs as a pragmatic centrist, doesn't raise taxes enough to harm the economy, and doesn't over regulate us. I hope he isn't fooled by the global warming fascists, and avoids harming us over a chimera.

I have hope for a certain change. Let us unite and fight the evil we face. Please.

I Think I'll Call It For Obama

Now that Fox has given Ohio to Obama, I think it's safe for me to call the election. Unless there is some strange mavericky miracle, Obama is our next president.

Let us hope he is nothing like he has said he was going to be, and nothing like his record. Let us hope for hypocrisy, and not his apparent commitment to socialism. Pray for pragmatism, and start holding his feet to the fire.

He will have a super majority; if anything goes wrong, it'll be all the Democratic Party's fault.

Well, being a libertarian means never having to say you are sorry.

And So It Begins!

Will it be a long night or a short night? Close or a blowout? Only time will tell...

National Overview

Bach Bach Bach

Vote For Lando!

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Election Day Endorsement

Here we go, the moment you've all been waiting for (yeah, right). Who will I actually endorse?

Okay, let's start with Obama. No way. No F'in way. Most socialistic guy to ever get near the white house? No way, no how.

The man who thinks we are at war with al qaeda and not with something bigger? The man who thinks the war is in Afghanistan and not in Iraq, not in the Philippines, not in Africa, not in Europe, not in Kazakhstan, Not in the rest of the world? Obama is a non starter.

The man who will let the democratic congress give us the fairness doctrine? No way.

The man who would certainly appoint legislators from the bench supreme court justices? No way.

Now, McCain. Better than Obama at all levels, but still a big government republican, still a man who will destroy the economy for some bad environmental science.

He is marginally better than Obama on the economy, but only marginally. he, like Obama, are good on immigration. They want more legal immigration, and we need that.

On the war, McCain is right on, and if that were the only issue, I'd vote for him. But there's more, much more.

He's still no better than Obama on civil liberties, although he would probably veto a fairness doctrine. He certainly won't repeal the Patriot Act, which has been a nightmare.

Nader? Nope. See Obama. Although better on civil liberties, a nightmare on economics.

McKinney. See Nader and Obama.

Ron Paul. Right on everything but the war and immigration. My second choice.

Bob Barr: a clear winner. I don't agree with him on the war, but he seems more reasonable than Ron Paul. same thing with immigration. Like Ron, 100% on the economy and civil liberties. I've been voting Libertarian most of my life, because I agree with them on the basic issues.

This year, my hawkish disposition isn't gonna change me. If I lived in a battleground state, I'd probably be voting for Mccain, and if YOU do, I hope you vote for McCain, because I'd rather have him in the White House than Obama. But if you live in Obamaland like me, time to send a message again that you really want CHANGE, and not more of the same. I want FREEDOM.

Bob Barr for President 2008.

And now let me close with the best campaign video I have ever seen:

Flippin' the Bird at McCain

Priceless:

Prediction: Obama By a Nose; Republicans Cry Foul

Now, first off I have no idea how this thing is gonna go, but I may as well make a prediction so I can see how wrong I was after the fact. My GUESS is, Obama will win, but it won't be by a very wide margin.

I believe many states will be very close, and McCain's campaign will contest it at every level. I see a repeat of Bush/Gore from the other side, and four years of hate and Republicans, like Democrats before them, crying about a "stolen election."

Barr gets 1%, Nader about the same, maybe a little less -- pretty high for third parties.

Democrats keep both houses -- probably get that filibuster proof Senate they dream of. As some other pundit dude said, it probably won't matter since there are always about five RINOs who side with Democrats anyway.

If any of these predictions turns out to be right, remember who you heard it from. If wrong, I blame society ;)

Update: I'm sad I was right about Obama winning, but very glad I was wrong about the margin. A decisive victory will remove any excuses Republicans might have to undermine his presidency. Hopefully we can all put "country first" and face our challenges together, including winning the war against the Jihad and rebuild our economy.

Dalai Lhama Says China Handing His People a Death Sentence

In the midst of the election season, we may be tempted to forget that their is a world of tyranny out there, and China is a big part of that:

Chinese rule is handing down a "death sentence" to Tibetans, the Dalai Lama said Sunday, ahead of a meeting to decide Tibet's future approach to Beijing.

The region's exiled leader is on a week-long visit to Japan for talks on spirituality, just as a new round of talks between his envoys and Chinese officials was set to begin, and days after he said he had lost hope of any productive dialogue with Beijing.

"Tibetans are being handed down a death sentence. This ancient nation, with an ancient cultural heritage is dying," he told a group of reporters.

"Today, the situation is almost like a military occupation in the entire Tibetan area.

"It is like we're under martial law. Fear, terror and lots of political education are causing a lot of grievance," he added.

Evidently, the 73-year-old spiritual master is going into semi-retirement due to the stalled talks with his communist adversaries in Beijing. He claims to have all but given up hope for a meaningful solution, according to an article at Breitbart.com.

Free Tibet, however, has released a statement from the Dalai Lhama's Office that seems to say something else:

Clarifications on His Holiness' Tibet Remarks in Dharamsala on 25 October 2008

During celebrations of the 48th founding anniversary of the Tibetan Children’s Village on 25 October here in Dharamsala, His Holiness the Dalai Lama made some remarks on the issue of Tibet that are now being quoted out of context in some media reports. Consequently, to clarify the situation we are issuing the gist of His Holiness’ remarks below as well as a separate translation of a transcript of what he really said.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that Tibetans have long been pursuing a path to find a solution to the issue of Tibet that would be mutually acceptable to Tibetans and Chinese. This has received widespread appreciation from the international community, several governments included. More importantly, it has gained the support of many Chinese intellectuals.

His Holiness went on to say that, unfortunately, the Chinese leadership has so far not responded positively to our overtures and does not seem interested in addressing the issue in a realistic way. Beginning in March this year, a series of protests and demonstrations erupted in Lhasa and in many other traditional Tibetan areas. These were clearly a spontaneous expression of the Tibetan people’s deep-seated resentment and dissatisfaction over more than five decades of repressive Chinese communist rule.

Since the Chinese Government has accused His Holiness of orchestrating these protests in Tibet, he called for a thorough investigation to examine these allegations, even offering access to Central Tibetan Administration files and records here in India. So far, this offer has not been taken up, but the situation in Tibet becomes graver by the day. Therefore, His Holiness said that it is difficult for him to continue to shoulder such a heavy responsibility when the present Chinese leadership does not seem to appreciate simple truth, reason and common sense. In the absence of any positive reciprocal response from the Chinese leadership, His Holiness feels that if he cannot help find a solution, he would rather not hinder it in any way. His Holiness feels that he cannot afford to pretend that his persistent efforts to find a mutually satisfactory solution to the Tibetan problem are bearing fruit.

Therefore, on 11 September His Holiness called a special meeting of Tibetans from all parts of our community in exile to engage in wide-ranging discussions with the aim of identifying realistic and non-violent options for the future course of our struggle. His Holiness concluded that when all is said and done it is for the Tibetan people themselves to decide about their collective future.

Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Dharamsala
28 October 2008

In other words, he has lost faith in CHINA, and their sincerity (no surprise there) -- and is taking stock on what to do next. Let us all hope and pray for real change in this troubled area of the world.

WTF is UP With This?

Can someone explain to me what he means by this? Sounds pretty creepy to me.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Matthew 18: 12-14

A shepherd in charge of 100 sheep notices that one of his sheep has gone astray. What do you think he should do? Should the shepherd leave the flock on the hills unguarded to search for the lost sheep? God's shepherd goes to look for that one lost sheep, and when he finds her, he is happier about her return than he is about the 99 who stayed put. Your Father in heaven does not want a single one of the tripped, waylaid, stumbling little ones to be lost. (The Voice)

12"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. (NIV)

12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. (NKJV)

Okay, here we can clearly see that the Shepherd, who is God, is crazy. He appears to be willing to sacrifice all of His sheep to save ONE LOST ONE, and that he is happier about the one He finds than all his "loyal" sheep.

God is either a crappy, insane shepherd or an amazing, loving, very thorough God.

Luke 15: 3-7

Wouldn't every one of you, if you have 100 sheep and lose one, leave the 99 in their grazing lands and go out searching for the lost sheep until you find it? When you find the lost sheep, wouldn't you hoist it up on your shoulders, feeling wonderful? And when you go home, wouldn't you call together your friends and neighbors? Wouldn't you say, come over and celebrate with me, because I've found my lost sheep. This is how it is in heaven. They're happier over one sinner who changes his way of life than they are over 99 good and just people who don't need to change their ways of life. (the Voice)

3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (NIV)

3And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (KJV)

Okay, now, many people who do not hold to the eventual salvation of all, will try and claim that people need to repent and stop sinning to get into heaven, and that's a wonderful, fun debate for another time. What I am more interested in is focusing on the Shepherd here.

Notice how it is not the SHEEP who turns back to God, but God who grabs the sheep and puts it on His shoulders and takes the little one home. Free will? Looks like election, only ALL are elected. We have the sheep who are good, and the sheep who is bad, and God goes out, grabs that bad sheep and takes it HOME. The lost sheep has NO choice.

And there was much rejoicing.

We have every right to reject God, but as Gulley and Mulholland say in If Grace is True: Why God Will Save Every Person, God has an even higher right to reject our rejection.

When the infinite refuses the rejection of the finite, who wins? My money's on the Lord.

Third Party Debate

Longest video I have ever posted, but well worth watching!

Another Hat Tip to Muirin over at MMORPG.com. Thanks!

BTW I'm Voting for McCain/Palin

Not me, this guy...

Nice, smart, entertaining discussion of the issues.