Wednesday Hero Blogburst 9-8-2010

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Mike


Pvt. Barney F. Hajiro
93 years old from Waipahu, Hawaii
442nd Regimental Combat Team


On September 16 Mr. Hajiro will turn 94 years old. His family immigrated from Japan during WWI and he had to drop out of school and work to help support his family. After Pearl Harbor was attacked he was drafted in the United States Army. In March 1943, he volunteered to join the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed of Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) like himself. He was shipped to Europe in 1944 first to Italy then to France where, over ten days in October, Pvt. Hajiro repeatedly distinguished himself in battle by exposing himself to enemy fire while assisting an allied attack. On October 29, 1944 Pvt. Hajiro single-handedly destroyed two German machine gun emplacements before being shot in the shoulder and wrist partially paralyzing his left arm. For his actions he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. In 1948 he was awarded the Military Medal by the British government, in 2000 was was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton and in 2004 he was awarded the Légion d'honneur by France. Barney F. Hajiro is the oldest living Medal Of Honor recipient.

From his Medal Of Honor Citation:

For The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Barney F. Hajiro, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 442d Regimental Combat Team, attached to the 36th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 19, 22, and 29 October 1944, in the vicinity of Bruyeres and Biffontaine, eastern France. Private Hajiro, while acting as a sentry on top of an embankment on 19 October 1944, in the vicinity of Bruyeres, France, rendered assistance to allied troops attacking a house 200 yards away by exposing himself to enemy fire and directing fire at an enemy strong point. He assisted the unit on his right by firing his automatic rifle and killing or wounding two enemy snipers. On 22 October 1944, he and one comrade took up an outpost security position about 50 yards to the right front of their platoon, concealed themselves, and ambushed an 18-man, heavily armed, enemy patrol, killing two, wounding one, and taking the remainder as prisoners. On 29 October 1944, in a wooded area in the vicinity of Biffontaine, France, Private Hajiro initiated an attack up the slope of a hill referred to as "Suicide Hill" by running forward approximately 100 yards under fire. He then advanced ahead of his comrades about ten yards, drawing fire and spotting camouflaged machine gun nests. He fearlessly met fire with fire and single-handedly destroyed two machine gun nests and killed two enemy snipers. As a result of Private Hajiro's heroic actions, the attack was successful. Private Hajiro's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit, and the United States Army.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

The Lord's Prayer (From an email I received)

LORD'S PRAYER

Rather cleverly done.

This is in two parts, the prayer (in blue type)

and GOD (in red type) in response.

It is very, very good.

*********

Our Father Who Art In Heaven.

Yes?

Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.

But -- you called ME!

Called you?
No, I didn't call you.
I'm praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.

There -- you did it again!

Did what?

Called ME.
You said,
"Our Father who art in Heaven"
Well, here I am..
What's on your mind?

But I didn't mean anything by it.
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord's Prayer.
It makes me feel good,
kind of like fulfilling a duty.
Well, all right.

Go on.

Okay, Hallowed be thy name .

Hold it right there.
What do you mean by that?

By what?

By "Hallowed be thy name"?

It means, it means . . good grief,
I don't know what it means.
How in the world should I know?
It's just a part of the prayer.
By the way, what does it mean?

It means honored, holy, wonderful.

Hey, that makes sense..
I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before.

Thanks.

Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.

Do you really mean that?

Sure, why not?

What are you doing about it?

Doing? Why, nothing, I guess.

I just think it would be kind of neat if you got

control,of everything down here like you have up

there..We're kinda in a mess down here you know.

Yes, I know;
but, have I got control of you?

Well, I go to church.

That isn't what I asked you.
What about your bad temper?
You've really got a problem there, you know.
And then there's the way you spend your money -- all on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read ?

Now hold on just a minute!
Stop picking on me!
I'm just as good as some of the rest

of those people at church!

Excuse ME..
I thought you were praying
for my will to be done.
If that is to happen,
it will have to start with the ones
who are praying for it.
Like you -- for example ....

Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.
Now that you mention it,
I could probably name some others.

So could I.

I haven't thought about it very much until now,
but I really would like to cut out some of those things.
I would like to, you know, be really free.

Good.
Now we're getting somewhere.

We'll work together -- You and ME.
I'm proud of You.

Look, Lord, if you don't mind,
I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.
Give us this day, our daily bread.

You need to cut out the bread..
You're overweight as it is.

Hey, wait a minute! What is this?
Here I was doing my religious duty,
and all of a sudden you break in
and remind me of all my hang-ups.

Praying is a dangerous thing.
You just might get what you ask for.
Remember, you called ME -- and here I am.
It's too late to stop now.
Keep praying. ( pause ... . )
Well, go on.

I'm scared to.

Scared? Of what?

I know what you'll say.

Try ME.

Forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those who sin against us.

What about Ann?

See? I knew it!
I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me.
I've sworn to get even with her!

But -- your prayer --
What about your prayer?

I didn't -- mean it...

Well, at least you're honest.
But, it's quite a load carrying around all that

bitterness and resentment isn't it?

Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her.
She'll wish she had never been born.

No, you won't feel any better.
You'll feel worse.
Revenge isn't sweet.
You know how unhappy you are --
Well, I can change that.

You can? How?

Forgive Ann.
Then, I'll forgive you;
And the hate and the sin,
will be Ann's problem -- not yours.
You will have settled the problem
as far as you are concerned.

Oh, you know, you're right.
You always are.
And more than I want revenge,
I want to be right with You . . (sigh).
All right, all right . ...
I forgive her.

There now!
Wonderful!
How do you feel?

Hmmmm. Well, not bad.
Not bad at all!
In fact, I feel pretty great!
You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven't been getting much rest, you know.

Yeah, I know.
But, you're not through with your prayer, are you?

Go on.

Oh, all right.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Good! Good! I'll do that.
Just don't put yourself in a place
where you can be tempted.

What do you mean by that?

You know what I mean.

Yeah. I know.

Okay.
Go ahead. Finish your prayer..

For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen.

Do you know what would bring me glory --
What would really make me happy?

No, but I'd like to know.
I want to please you now..
I've really made a mess of things.
I want to truly follow you..
I can see now how great that would be.
So, tell me . . .
How do I make you happy?

YOU just did.

Wednesday Hero Blogburst, 8-11-2010

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Greta

This weeks post is a little different from the norm. It's honoring the 13 Men and Women who were awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal. People like George J. Weiss Jr. A World War II veteran who has made it his mission to provide military honors to deceased veterans at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. And Susan Retik who, after she lost her husband on September 11, 2001, started an organization called Beyond the 11th to help women in Afghanistan. And the person Greta wanted to honor. MaryAnn Phillips of Soldiers' Angels Germanywho has made it her mission to help wounded service Men and Woman medevaced to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. You can read about MaryAnn Phillips's nomination here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Tom Emmer: NOW is the Time!

From an email received from 15A Representative, Steve Gottwalt:

Dear Friends:

Now is the time! With the primary behind us, and a clear field ahead, it is time for common sense conservatives to take back Minnesota and America. Democrats have been making promises we cannot keep with money we do not have, bankrupting our nation, killing jobs, and placing our and our children's economic security in jeopardy.

The Democrats' annointed candidate for governor, Mark Dayton, has pledged to take $4 billion out of our economy to feed more state government. He has pledged to "tax the rich," most of whom are actually small businesses filing their taxes on individual returns -- the same small businesses on which we rely to create the majority of new jobs. This is the same Mark Dayton whose goofy antics in Washington made him the laughing stock of the nation and embarassed Minnesota. This is the same Mark Dayton who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and uses his unearned millions to "buy" his way into politics. Mark Dayton may be able to afford Minnesota, but it's clear Minnesota cannot afford Mark Dayton!

Our candidate for governor, Tom Emmer, has pledged to rein-in state government, set good priorities, and make sure state government lives within its means, and enact real reforms. That's exactly what Minnesota needs! Fiscal restraint will help boost sustainable job growth, jump start Minnesota's economy, and stabilize state revenues. Do not be distracted by the ridiculous attack ads of the Democrats bent on preserving their entitlements and stranglehold on Minnesota taxpayers! Tom Emmer is the only candidate who has the determination and conviction to reduce and reform state government.

Let there be no doubt: Minnesota must elect Tom Emmer! So, let's each dedicate ourselves to that end, and win back this state for the people of Minnesota!

It's time for real jobs, real prosperity, real government reform, and a brighter future for Minnesota -- It's time for Tom Emmer!

- Rep. Steve Gottwalt

Can I hear an "AMEN!??"

Blame Bush Song

It seems they can't help it. The democrats, being morally, ethically, and intellectually bankrupt, have seen their ratings swirl downward in the toilet of public opinion. As panicked as rats on the Titanic, Obama, Pelosi, Reid, and their willing sycophants in the echo-chamber media, knowing that their policies are dismal failures, have done the only thing that any bunch of self-loathing, grossly incompetent and delusional boobs could do: Blame Bush.

In that spirit, I offer:

We Blame George Bush, That Liar!

(to the Tune of "We Didn't Start the Fire" By Billy Joel)

Home defaults, Job Loss, Deficit, National Debt,

Gays in the Military, Global Warming too.

Terrorism, Richard Nixon, lower ratings, lack of vision

North Korea, diarrhea, Stinky smelling poo--

CHORUS

We may have ruined the nation

But it's only burnin'

Cause George Bush is vermin.

It's a great big conflagration

But to save our tush

we'll just blame George Bush

Snail Darters, Water's Gone, Stubbed Toes and My Browned-Out Lawn

High School Dropouts, Pregnant Teens, Communist Plots

Rain Storms, Hurricanes, don't forget Katrina Blames

Immigration, Low Taxation, and the Chicken Pox

CHORUS

Shirley Sherrod, 'nita Dunn, Van Jones (Mao is Fun),

Sunstein, Springsteen, We Can't Get Olympic Teams-

Spotted Owls, Angry Kooks, Ahmadinejad's got nukes!

CHORUS

We dems have ruined the nation,

But we'll still blame Bush

And we'll go on, and on, and on, and on, and on...

(inspired by @ConservativeLA)

Wisconsin: The Gulag Across The Border

I lived in Wisconsin for 12 years; this is nothing less than abominable:

In the dark of night, behind closed doors, WI enacted the new Government Accountability Board – G.A.B. 128 Rule which silences political free speech 60 days prior to the election. Conveniently, this law goes into effect on August 15, 2010 with little to no time for successful legal challenges prior to the November 2010 election.

The entire text of the G.A.B. 1 Rule can be found here (Sections 1.10, 1.28, and 1.42 are most revealing).

Under this new law, individuals and groups must pay a $100 registration fee to the state of WI if they want permission to use political speech that totals at least $25 “cumulatively in a calendar year.” But it doesn’t stop there…

Individuals and groups must set up a separate depository account and file a report with the Accountability Board and Secretary of State. They then need to provide periodic reports of every communication – explaining the type of communication/action for each and every episode of political free speech.

The prime reason, among others, for the First Amendment, is to protect free political speech. This rule now in Wisconsin law renders political speech anything BUT free, either in the ability to express political opinions freely, nor in the sense of being able to express political opinions without paying a tribute to government.

I don't care if you're the most far-out-whacked liberal, or conservative. This should make anyone who values the freedom to speak out to bleed from their eyes.

BOYCOTT WISCONSIN.

Oh. My. God.

GAG ME--NOW.

Yep folks, your tax dollars at work. How's that hopenchange working for you. 40 miles of 'clean energy,' courtesy of electricity supplied from a local coal-fired plant. How environmentally...err..friendly.

When Iowahawk uploaded this video in December of 2008, little did he know how prescient he would be:



(h/t Legal In-sur-rec-tion)

Wednesday Hero Blogburst, 7-28-2010

Warrant Officer John W. Hermann (Pictured Right)
7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st MLG


A Marine warrant officer received the Silver Star on July 15 during a short ceremony in Afghanistan. On Feb. 26, 2008, then-Staff Sgt. John W. Hermann, an explosive ordnance disposal technician, accompanied a team with Company B, 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, on a combat reconnaissance patrol through Dahaneh, a village in southern Afghanistan held by Taliban forces.

While on the patrol, the team came under a barrage of fire from rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, machine guns and small-arms fire. Hermann, according to the award citation, jumped out of his vehicle with another Marine and ran toward a group of entrenched fighters.

You can read the rest of Warrant Officer John W. Hermann's story here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Why Does @E_Austin spread lies?

Yesterday, There were a number of sources that reported that Mexican cartels had taken over a number of ranches near Laredo, Texas.

This, to me, was not necessarily surprising, given that the AP was reporting violent unrest just across the border from Laredo.

So I happened to re-tweet a tweet from a Twitter friend who is normally a reliable source, @snooper1.

And then all hell broke loose.

First, I received a tweet from @Shabbosgoy correcting me that the information was inaccurate. But it wasn't so much that he told me the tweet was inaccurate; it was the smarmy, condescending manner (in multiple tweets) in which he told me. As a result, I correctly labeled @Shabbosgoy a jackass.

So sue me.

Enter asshat blogger, Eric Austin:

SD15 Republican Officer, @Leo_Pusateri, Repeats @LFRgary MEXICAN INVASION Lies

First of all, I hadn't even read Gary's blog before I posted my initial re-tweet. Hell--I had just set down to the computer after a long day spending time with the family, switched on Tweetdeck, saw what I thought was an interesting tweet (which didn't come from Gary), and re-tweeted it. But according to Austin, I repeated Gary's 'lies.'

Second of all, I'm not, as Austin states, an "SD15 Republican Officer." Hell, I haven't been an SD15 Republican Officer for over five months. Austin stated I had 'repeated a lie' because it was 'common knowledge' hours before I retweeted the post that the story (which DIDN'T originate with Gary) had been a hoax. Hell--it's been common knowledge around these parts for five months that I was no longer secretary of SD15 BPOU.

Therefore, the smarmy, condescending Eric Austin, according to his own standards, was perpetrating an inaccuracy, and was therefore in fact spreading a lie.

So, a question to you, Eric Austin--how long do you plan on spreading lies about people to advance YOUR agenda?

Peace out, jackass.

Wadena Tornado...

Some extreme footage, here:

Wednesday Hero Blogburst, 7-14-2010

This Weeks Post Was Suggested & Written By Mary Ann

Corporal Rodolfo P. Hernandez
Company G, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team


Cpl. Hernandez, a member of Company G, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. On May 31, 1951 near Wontong-ni, Korea his platoon, in defensive positions on Hill 420, came under ruthless attack by a numerically superior and fanatical hostile force, accompanied by heavy artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire which inflicted numerous casualties on the platoon.

His comrades were forced to withdraw due to lack of ammunition but Cpl. Hernandez, although wounded in an exchange of grenades, continued to deliver deadly fire into the ranks of the onrushing assailants until a ruptured cartridge rendered his rifle inoperative. Immediately leaving his position, Cpl. Hernandez rushed the enemy armed only with rifle and bayonet. Fearlessly engaging the foe, he killed 6 of the enemy before falling unconscious from grenade, bayonet, and bullet wounds but his heroic action momentarily halted the enemy advance and enabled his unit to counterattack and retake the lost ground. For his actions on that day, Cpl. Hernandez was awarded the distinguished Medal Of Honor on April 21, 1052. The indomitable fighting spirit, outstanding courage, and tenacious devotion to duty clearly demonstrated by Cpl. Hernandez reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Mark Ritchie Falls Short...

Minnesota's current Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie (D-ACORN), a direct recipient of George Soros' "Secretary of State Project," somehow has a habit of turning his back on his most sacred sworn duty as Secretary of State, that of ensuring fair elections.

State Representative Dan “Doc” Severson, candidate for Secretary of State, today responded to news reports that say enough felons were allowed to vote in Minnesota in 2008 to have swung U.S. Senate election in favor of Al Franken. (see http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/12/felons-voting-illegally-franken-minnesota-study-finds/)

“Where was Secretary of State Mark Ritchie?” asked Severson. “Before and after the election, Mark Ritchie claimed there was no voter fraud. He claimed we had a clean election system. He claimed there were checks in the system to prevent felons from voting. But now it is obvious: Mark Ritchie lied.”

“Worse yet, Mark Ritchie sat idly by and allowed felons to steal legitimate Minnesotans’ votes,” said Severson.

Then again, what can you expect from a dyed-in-the-wool Alinskyite, cut from the same cloth as the master.

Really, Minnesotans--I thought the era of Huey Long died a long time ago.

***UPDATE***

--Gary at Let Freedom Ring has a lot more info.