Early in the Obama administration Homeland Security and other intelligence gathering organizations warned of a dramatic rise in right wing extremist groups. Many ultraconservatives objected and claimed it was an attempt to stifle the people’s first amendment rights. They also claimed that it was the first step in violating our second amendment rights by laying the groundwork to confiscate the arms of the citizenry. Meanwhile people began showing up at conservative and Tea Bagger’s rallies carrying weapons in a display of supporting their rights. Things began getting even uglier as the congress began debating health care reform. Suddenly town hall meetings became a battle ground where right wingers shouted down civil discourse and basically denied those present the opportunity to exercise their own first amendment rights.

It came to past that these self proclaimed patriots began openly advocating sedition and the overthrow of a government that was duly elected by a majority of American citizens. They talk of secession and armed resistance. What kind of patriot plots and plans for the violent revolt against a legal change of power in the government? Meanwhile, the GOP silently ignores the threat and continues their lockstep march to resist any positive change in this country. Any attempt at passing legislation that would benefit all the citizens of this country are thwarted in the favor of their corporate masters. The sore losers have become the party of NO.

Well, come to find out the warnings of our intelligence organizations were correct. The rise of right wing militias and hate groups have flourished and grown in the past year.

At least 10 death threats have been leveled against members of Congress since the health care vote. Windows at four district offices or county party headquarters have been shattered with bricks.

A gas line was severed at the home of the brother of one Democratic congressman from Virginia, and a man was arrested for making death threats against Republican Minority Whip Eric Cantor and his family.

And Monday, nine members of a Michigan-based anti-government militia group called the Hutaree were charged with conspiring to kill law enforcement officers. (Source : CNN)

All the while members of groups like the Tea Baggers continue to foster anti-government sentiment and encourage their followers to resist any attempt to implement change. As they have become more vocal we’ve seen dramatic increases in their numbers. Republican radical like Sarah Palin fan the flames of these nut jobs by coining rethoric like, “don’t back down, reload” and others claiming to have politicians “in their crosshairs”. The entire movement has come up with another word being coined to describe them. They are now called Hatriots.

Today’s Hatriots are potentially even more dangerous because of their ability to recruit and radicalize people via the Internet. They have proliferated in an environment where fear and hate are used to pump up hyperpartisanship — including elected officials raising the specter of secession and talk radio hosts blurring the line between losing an election and living under tyranny.

There is an understandable impulse to dismiss the danger of the lone wingnut whose posts dot Hatriot Web sites. But in the last year, we have seen a half-dozen murders committed by unhinged individuals who drank deeply from Hatriot and anti-government conspiracy theory sites, including those implicated in the deaths of three Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, police officers and two Florida sheriff’s deputies. (Source : CNN)

One of America’s greatest strengths has always be that even though we are comprised of many different ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds we stand together as one. We have always been able to work out our differences with the goal of making a better world for all of our citizens. Our strength has always been in our solidarity. Yet today we have groups actively and vocally doing their best to rend the nation apart and further divide our citizenry through political extremism. A result has been the forming of right wing Christian extremist groups like the Hutaree in Michigan. A group who plotted to kill police officers and topple the order of society.

The group says on its Web site that Hutaree means “Christian warrior” and describes the word as part of a secret language that only a few people are privileged enough to know. The group quotes several Bible passages and states: “We believe that one day, as prophecy says, there will be an Anti-Christ. … Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment.”

The site also features a picture on the site of 17 camouflaged men, all holding large guns, and includes videos of camouflaged men toting guns and running through wooded areas in apparent training exercises. Each wears a patch on the left shoulder with a cross.

According to investigators, the Hutaree view local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel as a “brotherhood” and an enemy, and planned to attack them as part of an armed struggle against the U.S. government.

The idea of attacking a police funeral was one of numerous scenarios discussed as ways to go after law enforcement officers, the indictment said. Other scenarios included a fake 911 call to lure an officer to his or her death, or an attack on the family of a police officer.

Once other officers gathered for a slain officer’s funeral, the group planned to detonate homemade bombs at the funeral, killing scores more, according to the indictment. (Source: Military.com)

And this is going to help our country how? These are the anarchists in our midst. They are dangerous people, not only to those they target, but to the entire fabric of American life. If something is not done about them soon we will find our selves held hostage by right wing militias and religious extremist. You know, much like having our own little backyard Taliban. Their goal is to render our government as impotent as that of Somalia. They give me the creeps.

This is the best commercial I never saw.

A musician named Dave Carroll recently had difficulty with United Airlines. United apparently damaged his treasured Taylor guitar ($3500) during a flight. Dave spent over 9 months trying to get United to pay for damages caused by baggage handlers to his custom Taylor guitar. During his final exchange with the United Customer Relations Manager, he stated that he was left with no choice other than to create a music video for YouTube exposing their lack of cooperation. The Manager responded: “Good luck with that one, pal.”
So he posted a retaliatory video on YouTube. The video has since received over 5.5 million hits. United Airlines contacted the musician and attempted settlement in exchange for pulling the video. Naturally his response was: “Good luck with that one, pal.”

Taylor Guitars sent the musician 2 new custom guitars in appreciation for the product recognition from the video that has lead to a sharp increase in orders.

In the spring of 2008, Sons of Maxwell were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and my Taylor guitar was witnessed being thrown by United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago. I discovered later that the $3500 guitar was severely damaged. They didn’t deny the experience occurred but for nine months the various people I communicated with put the responsibility for dealing with the damage on everyone other than themselves and finally said they would do nothing to compensate me for my loss. So I promised the last person to finally say “no” to compensation (Ms. Irlweg) that I would write and produce three songs about my experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world. United: Song 1 is the first of those songs. United: Song 2 has been written and video production is underway. United: Song 3 is coming. I promise. (Source: Dave Carroll’s webpage)

Obviously United, after nine months of runaround and bullshit, finally agreed to take responsibility. Dave said thanks but no thanks. Meanwhile the incident has introduced a lot of us to one very talented musician. For that we can be grateful to United.

Corporate shills who call themselves patriots heckle Midge Hough. Mrs. Hough lost her uninsured daughter and granddaughter needlessly.

Her daughter, Jennifer,  ended up in an emergency room with double pneumonia that developed into septic shock, had a heart attack, a brain bleed and a stroke. The baby died and Jennifer died a few weeks later.

The Chicago Douche Bags heckled Mrs Hough and accused her of lying. It makes you ashamed to be an American when you witness this kind of display. These people do everything they can to stifle the democratic process as they do the dirty work of the health care industrial complex.

The Baggers are nothing more than today’s equivalent to the Brownshirts that plagued Germany in the 1930s. Hateful, disgusting cretins.

This is a classic. I hope you enjoy it.  Have a good Veterans Day, you’ve earned it.

A Little Something for Halloween. Enjoy!

There are a couple commercials to sit through, but the show is worth the wait.

In the early 1970s I was serving in Germany. At that time we had two dog handlers and their partners patrolling and protecting our missile site at all times. Everyone loved these wonderful animals and their devotion to the troops they protected was unsurpassed. But even though he was every troop’s friend, those he didn’t know approached at their own peril. Then one day a group of Bader-Meinhof gang members probed our tactical site and in the process shot one of our dogs. To this day I’ll never forget Rex and his warm nature. I also remember the tears we all shed when he died in the snow by our guard shack.

There is a movement here in the United States to finally recognize the contributions of man’s best friend.

These have always been the virtues against which soldiers are measured. For these distinguishing qualities, a soldier is given medals and the recognition of his country. Military working dogs also possess these qualities. They have served without compensation or recognition, nor been honored for their sacrifice. These gallant dogs have more than earned the right to be fully recognized for their service to this country. That recognition will be the National War Dogs Monument.

For nearly a century, an estimated 100,000 dogs have served in the United States military, doing jobs in explosive and mine detection, tracking, and scouting. Dogs have carried messages and stood watch as sentries. Early on, dogs were donated by the civilian population in order to fill military needs. Later they were specially bred for the job. Dogs have served all over Europe, Vietnam, Bosnia, Kosovo, and today, are serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. (Source: National War Dogs Monument)

Not only have these courageous animals protected and served along side our soldiers in combat, they have also been instrumental in helping our wounded heal. Therapy dogs have been visiting and comforting our returning wounded quietly across the nation.

VA hospitals nationwide are integrating service dogs into treatment plans for disabled vets, said Will Baldwin, a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the VA in Denver. The program was formed after Freedom Service Dogs, a Denver-based nonprofit, recently partnered with the VA.

Training takes up to nine months and costs $23,000. Service Dogs doesn’t charge its clients but relies on private donations and foundation grants.

“The population is growing exponentially down in Fort Carson with the Wounded Warriors program,” said Freedom Service Dogs’ Diane Vertovec, referring to the Army unit that prepares wounded Soldiers for civilian life. “We feel like a dog can help a vet meet physical challenges but, more importantly, can really, really help them overcome a lot of the mental instability that they’re feeling.” (Source: Military.Com)

At a VA hospital in Maine Petty Officer 2nd Class Johnson and his partner, Sierra, a Great Dane, visit and help wounded veterans recover. Not only do they bring joy to the wounded they visit, they also help heal.

“The interaction between the dogs and patients encourages healing, lowers blood pressure, and helps develop emotional relationships,” said Alice Workman, the administrator of Courtland Rehabilitation and Living Center in Maine. “Not only is this beneficial to patients, it is also a great way to strengthen the bond between the dogs and their owners.”

There are two types of animal-assisted interactions. Animal-assisted therapy, where the dog or other animal works with a patient to achieve set goals, and animal-assisted activities, such as visitation, in which the dog visits with the patient, stands quietly and allows the patient to pet it.

“Animals bring unconditional love and caring to the bedside,” Johnson said. “And patients, if they are animal lovers, truly respond.” (Source: Military.Com)

But it doesn’t stop there. These wonderful creatures help preserve the sanity of our men and women serving. Recently we’ve heard many tales of our troops befriending indigenous canines in Iraq. Sometimes they have managed to bring their faithful friends home with them. And then sometimes their beloved friends have come home without their masters. And they have helped the families of those who lost loved ones cope with the pain of that loss.

Over 100,000 dogs have served our country in war. They have saved thousands of lives and given comfort and friendship to many. If you, like I, believe that is time we honor these wonderful creatures then visit the National War Dogs Memorial and lets give them the recognition they deserve.

And to my old friend Rex, who sacrificed his life for us in Germany, you are not forgotten.

I was rummaging through some of my old favorites on You Tube the other day and came across this video bookmarked there. It is from Super Bowl XXXIX.

For years we’ve been subjected to god awful renditions of “The Star Spangled Banner” at sporting events. It seems like they always get some no-talent, dimwit celebrity to stand there and shriek  our Anthem at us  ruining this beautiful song.  From José Feliciano butchering it to Whitney Houston’s caterwauling, we’ve endured these disgraceful displays for years. Then this past week I rediscovered this video and  heard it sung the way it is supposed to be.

One of the things that made it even more enjoyable was the fact that these are our servicemen and women singing it. In this veteran’s mind the “National Anthem” can never be replaced by “American The Beautiful” or any other half assed, pantie waste song. When done right The Star Spangled Banner is the perfect national song.

God bless our troops.

A couple months ago I was run off the road by a big, black SUV. I was fortunately not riding very fast. I was making a right turn when out of nowhere the SUV turned in front of me forcing me to make a decision, become a hood ornament or evade and dump my bike. I choose the latter. The last thing I saw as I jumped the curb and plowed into a ditch was a young girl, behind the wheel of the SUV laughing as she texted a friend. Florida needs to pass a law prohibiting cellphone use while driving.

She did not stop. She did not offer assistance. She never slowed down. The girl drove off merrily on her way.

Over the past few weeks the media has obsessed about the death of a famous entertainer, Michael Jackson. A man who’s sole contribution to society was some music, videos and lurid gossip. Another rich man who managed to escape justice. Meanwhile a true American hero passed unnoticed.

On June 17, 2009 Darrell Powers died. He was the sharpshooter who’s sacrifices and service was immortalized in the series “Band of Brothers”.

Bravery – and dignity – was a constant, running thread in the life of “Shifty” Powers, both during and after his life as an Army sharpshooter in the actual “Band of Brothers.”

During the war, he fought brutal battles against the German army across France and Belgium.

After the war, Powers served as an eloquent representative for the men he fought with: At one point during the “Band of Brothers” mini-series, he appeared on camera to talk in moving, humane fashion about his grim but necessary task during the war – killing the enemy. (Source: Tri City News)

Sergeant Powers was one of those fortunate combat veterans who was able to make his peace after the war. He did not hold a grudge and he saw his enemies during World War II for what they were, young men called to serve, as he had been. Men who did the best they could to win a war.

In the second-to-last episode of “Band of Brothers,” an HBO miniseries that documented Easy Company’s wartime exploits, Powers spoke on camera about the soldiers he fought and also hinted at the intrinsic tragedy of combat.

“We might have had a lot in common. He might’ve liked to fish, you know, he might’ve liked to hunt,” Powers said. “Of course, they were doing what they were supposed to do, and I was doing what I was supposed to do.

“But under different circumstances, we might have been good friends.” (Source: Roanoke Times)

Rest in peace brother. The legacy you left behind will never be forgotten.