Saturday, May 31, 2014
Concrete Evidence
The following is a political metaphor. The author takes no responsibility for how long and rambling it might be.
The concrete slab under my pool pump and filter was deteriorating badly. It was badly cracked, and had finally made it to the top of my "to do" list. I figured one of several things had occurred:
The slab was not thick enough to support the weight.
The concrete was mixed poorly.
The concrete hadn't cured properly.
However, to my surprise, as I removed the old slab (which may not have been thick enough), I saw what looked like a tree root along the crack line. It was the rusted bit of steel cable in the picture above. The slab was done in by the very thing that was meant to strengthen it. The twisted wires presented about half again the surface area of a 1/2" piece of rebar, to rust, and whoever did the job initially must have thought: "This is steel. This will make it stronger."
Actually, the rest of the slab, although thinner than I would have poured it, was in pretty good shape. Had it not been for the rust magnet contained within, that slab probably would have lasted many more years.
So, where's the political metaphor? "The slab was done in by the very thing that was meant to strengthen it." I think that characterizes much of modern liberalism. Many programs, like the Great Society may have sounded like a good idea to those who started them. "Give money to poor people! Money is good, (steel is strong)...what could possibly go wrong?" Early childhood education and tinkering with school lunches fall into this category as well.
Except the manner in which the money was given created a class of people dependent on government. Unwed mothers no longer had to depend on their families or get married to support themselves and their children, and illegitimacy skyrocketed in the inner city. Without a strong paternal role model in the home, illegitimate youths turned to gangs for encouragement and support.
And like the fellow who poured my concrete slab, he probably didn't think about that cable for one second after that. After all, he'd made his contribution, now he could go on and "fix" other things as well.
Today's liberal, it seems, very seldom looks to see what the results of their past actions were. If they do take note of the problems caused, they suggest other solutions: "Too much gang violence in the streets? We need more gun laws!" (And not more stable, two parent homes.)
America may never have the luxury of tearing out the old broken system and redoing it from the ground up, as I was able to do. We may be condemned to forever cutting off one head of the hydra only to watch two more take its place. But the problems will not be solved strictly by good intentions. That's what got us into this mess in the first place.
Cross posted at LCR, Political Clown Parade
Best of the Web*
*…that I’ve seen all week!
Political/SocioEconomic
Mexican Drug Cartels vs Texas: A war has begun
IRS To Impose $36,500 Tax Per Employee On Businesses That Dump Workers Into Obamacare Exchanges
Obama’s Ad Hoc Foreign Policy -Krauthammer
Tea Party Wins Big In Texas
South Africa’s de Klerk: Israel not an apartheid state
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Krauthammer’s Take: Obama Must Give Vouchers To Waiting Vets
Krauthammer: Obama Afghanistan Announcement an Act of Narcissism
Krauthammer – Obama’s West Point Speech Was ‘Literally Pointless’
How West Point cadets responded to Bush, and to Obama
Culture
Remember… -the story behind a poignant Memorial Day photo
Memorial Day: Remembering those who gave all
Why we shouldn’t depend on mental health professionals to detect mass killers: Elliot Rodger’s slipping “under the radar” is hardly rare
Liberals Are Super Upset About A Few People Killed With A Gun…
Elliot Rodger Was Able to Legally Buy Guns, Despite Mental Illness — #UCSB
This Is the Best Psychological Profile of Elliot Rodger You're Likely to Read
New Jersey To Ban .22 Rifles?
Eric Holder's Money Shot -Mark Steyn
OBAMA'S WORDS: Like Sand Against the Wind
Science and Technology
Smart guns, electromagnetic pulse, and planning for unknown-probability dangers
Why I Support the Mutant Registration Act
Photoshops/Cartoons/Graphics
Cartoon of the Day – NRO Home page
Sunday Funnies
John Cox- KiRKWOOD, KiRKWOOD, KiRKWOOD, KiRKWOOD, KiRKWOOD, KiRKWOOD , KiRKWOOD
Earl of Taint - I Can See Where This Is Headed…
Another Trey Gowdy Shop
Legacy
Michael Ramirez Toon Skewers VA Scandal
Zero Accountability
Hump Day Humor
TGIF Toons
Some Democrats Talking Up ObamaCare On Stump
Linkfests:
The Paste -A Poor Mans Drudge Report....
Emilia Clarke Unleashes Dragons on Hollywood Boulevard
Rule Five Roundup:
(While all Rule Five posts may be NSFW, I generally only flag the ones that are certainly NSFW)
90 Miles From Tyranny - Morning Mistress, Girls with Guns, Girls with Guns, Rule Five Links, Morning Mistress
American Power- Charlotte Springer Diversion — #Rule5 , Hayley-Marie Coppin, Scout Willis Goes Topless in New York
Thursday Hotness
Gweneth Paltrow
By Other Means - Tuesday Tapp, Rack, and Bang , Short Attention Span Theater
, Seeing Red, Cosplay
The Daley Gator – Daley Babes - Dani Cooper, Adella Pasos, Elizabeth Deo, Elizabeth Tobar
Daily Mail –Gisele Bundchen
E.B.L. -Stacey Dash
Friday Night Babe – Jennifer Lawrence
Good Stuff's Cyber World #141
Grumpy Patriot Rule Five
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World -The Friday Pin Up
Hookers and Booze
Knuckledraggin' My Life Away - Good Morning Girl
Pirates Cove - Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup, If All You See…, If All You See…, If All You See…, If All You See…, If All You See…
PostalDog - Suzanne Pleshette
reaganite republican -'Miss São Tomé and Príncipe 2013'
Sex in Advertising -Victoria's Secret (video)
Kelly Brook
Theo Spark – Bedtime Totty, Teatime Totty, Bedtime Totty, Teatime Totty
The Other McCain- Rule Five Sunday
Vintage Babe of the Week – Peggy Dow
Women of PETA XXXVIII
Rule 5 Woodsterman Style
Jillian!
Your Crazy Uncle Bubba - Friday Nite Tite Dresses, Saturday Short Shorts!, Leg Day
Use the comments as an open thread on any of these topics. Please send links of news, commentary, choice humor or Rule Fivage to: Proof.Positive@Hotmail.com
Quote du jour
The Afghans may have the perfect solution to the "no voter ID" crowd! Anyone who doesn't show a valid ID has to stick their index finger into indelible or U/V ink. Anyone who isn't able to grow an index finger because of poverty or race, can substitute a thumb. Discrimination solved!-Proof
Friday, May 30, 2014
Shinseki Resigns, Jay Carney Resigns -Breaking News
Captain Obvious has accepted the resignation of VA director Eric Shinseki. About freaking time!
(Update: This picture is from April 20, 2012. Even then, it looks like Obama is checking the podium to see "Who is this guy, again?")
Update II: We won't have Jay Carney to kick around, either. C'mon, Mr. President! Make it a trifecta!!
Labels:
Barack Obama,
Eric Shinseki,
Jay Carney,
VA scandal
Quote du jour
For all the bloodshed, the spree lasted but ten minutes, and it ended only when, as is so often the case in mass shootings, he was pursued by armed people determined to stop him. It has become hackneyed to say it, but yes, the bad guy with guns was stopped only when he came up against the good guys with guns.-Jack Dunphy, on Elliot Rodger
And still there are those who entertain the childish fantasy that some act of legislation, some magical addition to California’s already voluminous gun laws, might have been the one that impeded Rodger from carrying out what he was determined to do.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Vintage Babe of the Week
Tonight's Vintage Babe* is Peggy Dow!
(*a.k.a. Rule Five Thursday)
Like fine wines, the ladies improve with age!
(*a.k.a. Rule Five Thursday)
Like fine wines, the ladies improve with age!
Labels:
Peggy Dow,
Rule Five,
Vintage Babe of the Week
Quote du jour
In New Hampshire, a police commissioner who called President Obama a racial slur has resigned. He also publicly apologized to New Hampshire’s entire black community, a guy named Steve.- Jimmy Fallon
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Medal of Honor
Chief Warrant Officer Frederick Edgar Ferguson
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. CWO Ferguson, U.S. Army distinguished himself while serving with Company C. CWO Ferguson, commander of a resupply helicopter monitoring an emergency call from wounded passengers and crewmen of a downed helicopter under heavy attack within the enemy controlled city of Hue, unhesitatingly volunteered to attempt evacuation. Despite warnings from all aircraft to stay clear of the area due to heavy antiaircraft fire, CWO Ferguson began a low-level night at maximum airspeed along the Perfume River toward the tiny, isolated South Vietnamese Army compound in which the crash survivors had taken refuge. Coolly and skillfully maintaining his course in the face of intense, short range fire from enemy occupied buildings and boats, he displayed superior flying skill and tenacity of purpose by landing his aircraft in an extremely confined area in a blinding dust cloud under heavy mortar and small-arms fire. Although the helicopter was severely damaged by mortar fragments during the loading of the wounded, CWO Ferguson disregarded the damage and, taking off through the continuing hail of mortar fire, he flew his crippled aircraft on the return route through the rain of fire that he had experienced earlier and safely returned his wounded passengers to friendly control. CWO Ferguson's extraordinary determination saved the lives of 5 of his comrades. His actions are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself and the U.S. Army.
CWO Ferguson: We humbly salute you and thank you for your service.
Hat tip Home of Heroes
There are fewer than a hundred living MoH recipients today. Their names and their stories should not be forgotten. My mission is to honor one of those heroes here each week, and salute them for their courage and sacrifice. In the words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy:
“A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors; the men it remembers.”
Quote du jour
In America, everyone leaps on a mass murder within seconds to find the political angle: Is he a Tea Party supporter angry at Obamacare? Is it Sarah Palin's fault? Something Rush said? And, as always, aside from the same old eternally neglected mental-health public-policy issues, there's no real political angle at all: The killer's a deranged loser, and that's that.- Mark Steyn
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Sex in Advertising
For all you connoisseurs of advertising...
I may not be exactly sure what they're selling, but, I'm pretty sure I'm in the market!
I may not be exactly sure what they're selling, but, I'm pretty sure I'm in the market!
Quote du jour
I have a beef with the “environmental movement”: I am pro-environment, and anti-pollution, and think we ought to be “good stewards of the earth.” But, in my lifetime, the environmentalists have been so extreme, I have been forced to be “anti-environmentalist.”-Jay Nordlinger
Monday, May 26, 2014
Women of PETA XXXVIII
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Quote du jour
A couple in Michigan is being sued for $2 million after they burned down their apartment complex while trying to cook a squirrel with a blowtorch. I’m not an accountant, but it SOUNDS like they might not have $2 million.-Seth Meyers
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Best of the Web*
*…that I’ve seen all week!
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Obama “madder than hell” that he’s done nothing about the VA since being told of the problems in 2008
FOOD PRICES SURGE AGAIN: Is the Inflation Genie Out of the Bottle?
The Administration's Frustration With Itself Has Gone On for Years!
Leftist Policies In California Chase PRATT & WHITNEY Division To Other States..
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As Vets Wait To Die, Obama Waits For IG Report
Videos
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Jake Tapper tries to interview Obamabot
Ever Notice President Obama Sure Gets 'Mad as Hell' Often?
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Andrew Klavan: Why Democrats Call You Racist
Culture
Fencing Foiled by Zero Tolerance Insanity
Did Obama Donate 5 Percent of His Salary?
Congressional Redistricting in Democratically Controlled Maryland
Adm. McRaven: Mandatory Palate Cleanser
Science and Technology
Climategate II And The Rise Of Climate McCarthyism
Boy Gets New, Prosthetic Hand For $200 With 3-D Printer in Argentina
Photoshops/Cartoons/Graphics
Cartoon of the Day – NRO Home page
Sunday Funnies
John Cox- KiRKWOOD, KiRKWOOD, KiRKWOOD, KiRKWOOD, KiRKWOOD, KiRKWOOD
Earl of Taint - A Government that works? That's Skynet!
Reaganite's Sunday Funnies
Linkfests:
The Paste -A Poor Mans Drudge Report....
Conservative Lynx!
Monday Linkfest: Getting the Lead Out
21st Century Minutemen...
Rule Five Roundup:
(While all Rule Five posts may be NSFW, I generally only flag the ones that are certainly NSFW)
90 Miles From Tyranny - Hot Pick, Morning Mistress, Girls with guns, Blogs With Rule 5 Links , Girls with guns, Hot pick
American Power- Maite Perroni, Sabine Jemeljanova and India Reynolds,
Bar Refaeli Wicked Hot
Toss the Bra Friday
Mariel Hemingway
Blackmailers Don't Shoot - Did Zombie Bride Kaley Cuoco Devour Six Wedding Guests?
By Other Means - Tuesday Tapp, Rack, and Bang , Beware: Sirens, Cosplay
The Hottest Women Of 2014
The Daley Gator – Daley Babes - Blondes
, Gemma Massey, Christine Hallauer, Danielle Lo, Alexia Viruez, Ai Uehara
Daily Mail –Michelle Rodriguez black bikini
E.B.L. -Women and Weather
Good Monday morning
Friday Night Babe – Emily Proctor!
Good Stuff's Cyber World #140
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World -The Friday Pin Up
Hookers and Booze
Knuckledraggin' My Life Away - Your Good Morning Girl
Pirates Cove - Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup, If All You See…, If All You See…
PostalDog - In my defense
Randy's Roundtable - Thursday Nite Tart
reaganite republican -Miss Italy
Sex in Advertising - Gisele Bündchen (video)
The Last Tradition - Elke
Theo Spark –Bedtime Totty, Teatime Totty, Teatime Totty, Teatime Totty, Wednesday Wenches, Teatime Totty, SaBo-FX - PrimaDonnaGirl , Teatime Totty
The Other McCain- Rule Five Sunday
Vintage Babe of the Week – Pat Clark
Rule 5 Woodsterman Style
Your Crazy Uncle Bubba - Friday Nite Dresses, Random Hottie Day, Tuesday
Use the comments as an open thread on any of these topics. Please send links of news, commentary, choice humor or Rule Fivage to: Proof.Positive@Hotmail.com
Quote du jour
Those who do not learn from history, primarily braindead, leftist ideologues (but I repeat myself!), are doomed to repeat it.-Proof
Friday, May 23, 2014
Like a Boss?
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Vintage Babe of the Week
Tonight's Vintage Babe* is Pat Clark!
(*a.k.a. Rule Five Thursday)
Like fine wines, the ladies improve with age!
(*a.k.a. Rule Five Thursday)
Like fine wines, the ladies improve with age!
Labels:
Pat Clark,
Rule Five,
Vintage Babe of the Week
Quote du jour
"Sheldon's just one lab accident away from becoming a super villain."-Leonard Hofstadter
Labels:
Big Bang Theory,
Leonard Hofstadter,
Quote du jour
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Medal of Honor
Captain Roger Hugh C. Donlon
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while defending a U.S. military installation against a fierce attack by hostile forces. Capt. Donlon was serving as the commanding officer of the U.S. Army Special Forces Detachment A-726 at Camp Nam Dong when a reinforced Viet Cong battalion suddenly launched a full-scale, predawn attack on the camp. During the violent battle that ensued, lasting 5 hours and resulting in heavy casualties on both sides, Capt. Donlon directed the defense operations in the midst of an enemy barrage of mortar shells, falling grenades, and extremely heavy gunfire. Upon the initial onslaught, he swiftly marshaled his forces and ordered the removal of the needed ammunition from a blazing building. He then dashed through a hail of small arms and exploding hand grenades to abort a breach of the main gate. En route to this position he detected an enemy demolition team of 3 in the proximity of the main gate and quickly annihilated them. Although exposed to the intense grenade attack, he then succeeded in reaching a 60mm mortar position despite sustaining a severe stomach wound as he was within 5 yards of the gun pit. When he discovered that most of the men in this gunpit were also wounded, he completely disregarded his own injury, directed their withdrawal to a location 30 meters away, and again risked his life by remaining behind and covering the movement with the utmost effectiveness. Noticing that his team sergeant was unable to evacuate the gun pit he crawled toward him and, while dragging the fallen soldier out of the gunpit, an enemy mortar exploded and inflicted a wound in Capt. Donlon's left shoulder. Although suffering from multiple wounds, he carried the abandoned 60mm mortar weapon to a new location 30 meters away where he found 3 wounded defenders. After administering first aid and encouragement to these men, he left the weapon with them, headed toward another position, and retrieved a 57mm recoilless rifle. Then with great courage and coolness under fire, he returned to the abandoned gun pit, evacuated ammunition for the 2 weapons, and while crawling and dragging the urgently needed ammunition, received a third wound on his leg by an enemy hand grenade. Despite his critical physical condition, he again crawled 175 meters to an 81mm mortar position and directed firing operations which protected the seriously threatened east sector of the camp. He then moved to an eastern 60mm mortar position and upon determining that the vicious enemy assault had weakened, crawled back to the gun pit with the 60mm mortar, set it up for defensive operations, and turned it over to 2 defenders with minor wounds. Without hesitation, he left this sheltered position, and moved from position to position around the beleaguered perimeter while hurling hand grenades at the enemy and inspiring his men to superhuman effort. As he bravely continued to move around the perimeter, a mortar shell exploded, wounding him in the face and body. As the long awaited daylight brought defeat to the enemy forces and their retreat back to the jungle leaving behind 54 of their dead, many weapons, and grenades, Capt. Donlon immediately reorganized his defenses and administered first aid to the wounded. His dynamic leadership, fortitude, and valiant efforts inspired not only the American personnel but the friendly Vietnamese defenders as well and resulted in the successful defense of the camp. Capt. Donlon's extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
Capt. Donlon: We humbly salute you and thank you for your service.
Hat tip Home of Heroes
There are fewer than a hundrehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifd living MoH recipients today. Their names and their stories should not be forgotten. My mission is to honor one of those heroes here each week, and salute them for their courage and sacrifice. In the words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy:
“A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors; the men it remembers.”
Labels:
Heroism,
Medal of Honor,
Military,
Roger Hugh C. Donlon
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