More of that “religion of peace” in action

Click here, here, here, and here.

Just a little taste of what you are going to read:

An opening statement is not evidence, merely a preview of the case the prosecution will mount in coming weeks based on testimony, forensics, wiretaps, documents and a plethora of photos. The crux of it: That parents and 18-year-old brother planned and executed the murders from outrage over the intolerable, the defiance of daughters and the alliance with them of a woman treated for years as a burden and a slave.

A disgrace and shame to their family, though, for behaviour unbecoming to Afghan [Muslim] females — the boyfriends and the disobedience, the brazen disrespect for traditions and refusal to wear the hijab — violations of decorum so grievous that they needed to be killed, eliminated, to purify family honour, their “treachery’’ insupportable.

Mass murder committed, a court heard Thursday, by the mother and father and brother of the sisters, homicides staged to look like an accident during a family vacation, with Zainab at the wheel, on one of her furtive joyrides.

Mohammad Shafia, Tooba Mohammad Yahya and their son Hamed Mohammed Shafia have all pleaded not guilty to four counts each of first-degree murder. Their jury trial began here Thursday with a 90-minute opening statement from Crown Attorney Laurie Lacelle that left observers in the courtroom stunned over details finally revealed and allegations of a diabolical plot that defy imagination.

From a wiretapped conversation Shafia had with Tooba and Hamed, 20 days after the bodies were discovered, Shafia in a fury recalling the revealing cellphone pictures of Zainab and Shahar: “Curse God on both of them. Is that what a daughter should be? Would a daughter be such a whore? May the devil s–t on their graves.”

And later, not long before the trio was arrested in Montreal, Shafia tells Hamed, as Lacelle quoted from another wiretap transcript: “Even if they hoist me up on to the gallows, nothing is more dear to me than my honour.”

To his wife, Shafia allegedly assured that the right actions had been taken: “I say to myself, you did well. Were they to come back to life, I would do it again. No Tooba, they messed up. There was no other way. They were treacherous. They betrayed us immensely. There can be no betrayal worse than this. They committed treason on themselves. They betrayed humankind. They betrayed Islam. They betrayed our religion. They betrayed everything.”

From the sisters, there appears no words were left behind. But Rona wrote in her diary, the Crown told the jury, what she was thinking, fearing, in the weeks, even years, before her death, anxieties she also shared with siblings overseas when she was able to get out of the house and make phone calls.

This was the murder weapon:

This was the family:

These are the people who did it:

All in the name of Islam.

Now you tell me that Islam is a Religion of peace? I call you a liar.

(H/T to Pamela)

Cross-posted @ Alexandra

An American Patriot goes home to be with the Lord

Go Here and Here and read.

Rest in Peace Ruth. 🙁

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. (Psalms 116:15 KJV)

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57 KJV)

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8 KJV)

A little musical tribute to this woman:

BREAKING NEWS: Steve Jobs has died

Video via ABC News:

The Story:

Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple‘s iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, has died, Apple said. Jobs was 56.

Jobs died “peacefully” surrounded by family members, his family said in a statement.

Neither Jobs’ family nor Apple revealed where Jobs died or from what cause, though in recent years he had fought a form of pancreatic cancer and had a liver transplant.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,” read a statement by Apple’s board of directors. “Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.”

The homepage of Apple’s website switched to a full-page image of Jobs with the text, “Steve Jobs 1955-2011.”

Clicking on the image revealed additional text, credited in a separate memo to Apple employees to current Apple CEO Tim Cook.

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being,” the text read. “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

I own an iPod touch, I even blog from it. I love it and I thank Mr. Jobs for his contribution. May he rest in peace.

…and seeing that I am supposed to be a sarcastic Conservative blogger; I shall say this….. Maybe NOW they’ll finally put adobe FLASH in these silly things! 😉

Update: A nice video from Wired:

Hell, to tie this in to politics; if he had not has Steve Jobs or apple, we’d never have this video here:

It was made on an apple computer!

Update: Reactions from the tech world, which comes via TechMeme:

This is my next, TiPb, Ars Technica, Epicenter, Betabeat, The New Persuaders, AllThingsD, The Microsoft Blog, PC World, TechCrunch, @ap, AppleInsider, GeekWire, L.A. Times Tech Blog, Business Insider, GigaOM, GigaOM, Digits, VentureBeat, Social Markets, InfoWorld, Shiny Objects, Computerworld, Bits, CNET News, This is my next, Digital Trends, Podcasting News, The Next Web, The Register, 9to5Mac, Between the Lines Blog, AllThingsD, Business Insider, Daring Fireball, Bits, CBS News, eWeek, Ars Technica, Reuters, Mike Bloomberg, BGR, Engadget, Internet2Go, Bloomberg, TechEye, Runnin’ Scared, DealBook, msnbc.com, Time, FT Tech Hub, Electronista, The Snitch, Fortune, Mercury News, The Politico, BBC, Hillicon Valley, Mercury News, Variety, My Nokia Blog, @dylan20, The Tech Report, @jimmyfallon, @rachelsterne, Robert Scoble, @paulgallen, @youtube, @lock, @arnoldkim, @markmilian, FierceWireless, @jeffjarvis, Mashable!, TheUnlockr, @grg, @eldon, @thedavidmurphy, @parislemon, @acarvin, @sameerpatel, @robpegoraro, IntoMobile, Yahoo! Finance, @acarvin, PE Hub Blog, @mona, @erickschonfeld, @scottkarp, @harrymccracken, @mworch, @blagica, MobileSyrup.com, @acarvin, @dangillmor, @oreillymedia, @eholmeswsj, @sarahlane, @erikmal, @jeffjarvis, @scobleizer, MacStories, @michaeldell, Delimiter, Poynter, Techland, ifun.de/iPhone, UNCRUNCHED, @bill_gross, BENM.AT, VG247, NBC Bay Area, PhoneArena, Android Phone Fans, Tech Cocktail, @miketek, App Advice, @nyt_jenpreston, @alexia, @sameerpatel, @acarvin, @frijole, PhoneNews.com, Geek News Central, CrackBerry.com blogs, iPhone in Canada Blog, @joshuatopolsky, @dannysullivan, RazorianFly, @lanceulanoff, @matthickey, The Loop, @jsnell, GottaBeMobile, @joseiswriting, @jeffjarvis, @matthickey, @laurenweinstein, @hirokotabuchi, @mattmcgee, @stevesilberman, @dhinchcliffe, @jny, @ihnatko, @acarvin, @gizmodo, @danb, @robhof, @jason_pontin, Paul Kedrosky’s …, @techinciter, @reybango, @rafat, @arrington, FreakGeeks, Laughing Squid, @dhinchcliffe, @kevinrose, WPCentral.com, DailyTech and OS X Daily, more at Mediagazer »

 

Why does White on Black crime get more attention than Black on White Crime?

First, let me say this; I do not advocate what happened in this video to come.  Any sort of hate crime is awful and the guys who did this, ought to be sentenced to death.

The Video: (Via CNN)

Yes that above is horrible and the media rightly is bringing it to attention, But, when blacks attack whites or when Muslims shoot up a Military base; nothing it said by media outlets, nothing is said. I just do not understand it.

What I want to know is; how do they know this person was involved? That video was grainy. I did not see any definite proof that this man even did it! Not only that; how do we know this man did not provoke the attack? How can we trust the credibility of the witnesses; are they black too? Can we trust them?  I’m sure there are answers for all that; but the report did not include those answers.

Again, I do not justify this madness; I simply am pointing out the double standard. I guess you could say that I have “a dog in the fight.”

Again, let me state this; both crimes, the one above in the video and the one I linked; which is to previous posting of mine — are equally wrong, evil, immoral and should be punished as such. I just do not understand why the liberal media does not treat them equally. They should, but they do not.

 

Video: This is why we must not fail in the war on terrorism!

These are the Taliban and the men lined up are Pakistani Policemen: (Warning! Graphic Video!)

The Story via ABC NEWS:

In a new video which recently surfaced online, the Taliban appears to brutally and systematically execute 16 unarmed Pakistani policemen in what the terror group called a revenge killing.

The video of the massacre, which reportedly took place in early June, was posted online last week and confirmed by the Pakistani army today. It shows the policemen — who are not in uniform — standing in a line before a Taliban member who appears to be lecturing them. The man, who appears to act as the militants’ commander, accuses the policemen of executing six children in a previous operation and claims their imminent deaths are revenge, according to a summary posted with the video.

Several Taliban members then open fire on the group until all the policemen have fallen. A wailing cry is heard in the background after the initial volley. After reloading, a single fighter walks over each body and shoots them once more in the head.

But yet, President Barack Obama wants to try and negotiate with these monsters.

My friends, you do not negotiate with criminals and cold blooded killers; these people hate Liberty and Freedom. They hate Israel and Jews; kind of like the liberal left and some of the Paleo-Conservative and libertarian right.  They are not rational, sane, human beings — they are cold blooded killers. We did not negotiate with Charles Manson and his cult — so why the hell would we negotiate with people like this?

My friends, consider this hallow warning from someone who sat through hours of footage on 9/11 and almost ended up in the psych ward because of it:

IF WE DO NOT SUCCEED ON THE WAR ON TERRORISM, THIS COULD BE A SCENE IN AMERICA VERY SOON!

Dismiss me as an alarmist if you wish; I could not care less. But this is coming to America, if we fall down on the war on terrorism!

America must be protected; Israel must be protected, Liberty and Freedom are at stake! Radical Islam is a threat! Do not believe the lie of the Liberal-controlled, financed, and organized media — which is supplanted by the Government! The liberal media is in bed with the radical and no-so-radical Muslims!

Remember 9/11, Remember the Pentagon, Remember Flight 93 —– Remember America.

Remember this Video and Blog Posting come November 2012.

We need a President who will stand tall in the face of these bastards and not blink. Bush did it; and paid for it, with his Presidency — but he did not waver for a second. Mistakes were made, that is very true. However, in the end, we won in Iraq and we can win here too. We just have to not give up.

lan astaslem --- I will not surrender --I will not submit.

This is not a game, this is not fake; Ron Paul and his racist, Anti-Semitic friends, who hate Israel and everything related to it are the ENEMY! They must be kept out of the White House, at all costs! They are friends with these people!  Consider me a soldier in that battle too.

In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and of in the Name of the Lord GOD Jehovah — Master and Saviour of this World and KING of Kings and LORD of Lords of this World and in the great, wonderful, world to come:

I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!  

 

More Black on White Crime: Blacks attack Whites and Liberal media censors it

I sit here today with a decision; do I ignore this or do I write about it? After all, I have been called a racist by a jackass, who likes to stalk me.

It appears that our media is trying to censor the fact that black on white crime is happening.

Go read this… Now, go read this.

Watch this video:

After Jail Time for Contempt, Alleged Rape Victim Returns to Testify: MyFoxDETROIT.com

Now, go read this. and now go read this.

This is Obama’s world; and something is seriously wrong with it. I am not a White Nationalist, nor have I ever been. But, something is seriously wrong with America; something dreadfully sickening. It must be stopped.

Remember this come November 2012.

This posting is dedicated to the memory of my late Cousin, Michael Lydon Hill. Who was gunned down by two corrupt black Detroit police officers in 1994.

A Special Late Night Music Express: Remembering Harry Chapin

It’s been 30 years……

Since Harry Chapin left us.

Aaron Goldstein remembers:

I remember hearing about on the CBS Morning News the following day. What I distinctly remember about that report was that instead of the concert being cancelled, fans brought their guitars and went on stage to play Chapin’s songs. That has always stayed with me. In 2001, I comemorated what happened the day Chapin died with a poem called “A Thousand Guitars & A Cello” which would later appear in my first poetry chapbook, Oysters & The Newborn Child:

When it was announced that you would not perform

The observers and participants continued to arrive

Refusing to be deterred by the bitter storm

Determined to see that the music would survive

A thousand guitars ascended the stage

Accompanied by a single cello

Our stories would fill the blank page

For one night we all stood friend & fellow

In a land where hope is faint

Destiny and fate are still ours to choose

The portrait of ourselves we paint

Challenges us to better fill our shoes

Life will not be about loss and win

When we understand that the circle never ends or begins

*snip*

When Chapin wasn’t performing in concert or working on his latest album, he could be seen on Capitol Hill lobbying Senators and Congressmen about the issue of world hunger. Although Chapin leaned liberal (before he became famous he worked on one of Allard Lowenstein ‘s congressional campaigns in New York), he would talk to anybody about addressing world hunger – Democrat or Republican. Well, Chapin made an indelible impression. Then Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole eulogized him on the floor of the Senate. Dole was one of nearly forty Senators and Congressmen paid tribute to Chapin that day. When he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in December 1987 both Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch were on hand to sing Chapin’s praises. Chapin didn’t hate the people who didn’t share his politics. On the contrary, he wanted to persuade conservatives just as much as he wanted to persuade liberals.

Now a few thoughts of my own about Harry Chapin:

Harry Chapin was one who, unlike many of the entertainment industry, actually practiced what he preached.  Unlike many of the Hollywood and entertainment Liberal crowd in California, Chapin saw wrong and tried to fix it.  Was he a liberal?  Absolutely, however back in Chapin’s day, being a liberal meant an entirely different thing, than it does today.  I truly believe if he saw what the Democratic Party was about today; at the very least, he would be a libertarian.

Chapin was a part of the “thinking” artists and liberals of his era.  He fought for what he believed in, did what he loved and helped one hell of a great deal of people doing it.  He; like Gordon Lightfood, like Jim Croce and many more like them — inspired many in that era to not accept what the previous generation told them, but to think for themselves.

America is a much shallow place without him.

Rest in peace Harry — God knows, you earned in the short time you were here.

Breaking News: First Lady Betty Ford has died at age 93

Such a tragic thing to report, going into the weekend.

Gerald’s girl died.

One of my favorite pictures of Gerald Ford and the First Lady

I started to fire up Microsoft Word and write some nice sounding speech, with flowery words and nice phrases in it. However, I will just keep it simple.

First lady Betty Ford has passed on at 93.

Betty Ford was, to many, a symbol, of strength, of courage, of overcoming big obstacles and of; yes, Hope.

At 93, she lived a life that some only could dream of living. She was, in fact, thrust into the First Lady’s office, when Nixon resigned and our Nation was in turmoil for his so-called misdeeds.

I found this video on YouTube. I think it is most fitting:

Rest in Peace, Dear Lady. As God Knows, you have damned well earned it.

The Sunday Morning Music Express – Special Memorial Edition – Presents Clarence Clemons

We lost Clarence Clemons, a great sax player with the E-Street Band.

Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, whose jovial onstage manner, soul-rooted style and brotherly relationship with Mr. Springsteen made him one of rock’s most beloved sidemen, died on Saturday at a hospital in Palm Beach, Fla. He was 69.

The cause was complications of a stroke he suffered last Sunday at his home in Singer Island, Fla., a spokeswoman for Mr. Springsteen said.

In a statement released Saturday night, Mr. Springsteen called Mr. Clemons “my great friend, my partner.”

“With Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music,” he added. “His life, his memory and his love will live on in that story and in our band.”

Source

There’s only one thing that will unite left and right and that is Music: The Moderate Voice, Rolling Stone, Power Line, Gothamist, TalkLeft, Washington Post, PopEater, The Democratic Daily, Scared Monkeys, Pajamas Media and The Wire

Video: Anthony’s Weiner by Jack Hunter

I do not always agree with Jack, but more often than not; he is right on point.

Transcript Here

This Posting was crafted on my Apple iPod using WordPress Mobile Admin (Too Cool!)

Happy Memorial Day 2011

This weekend, America celebrates a holiday that ought to be the greatest of them all. Our military is the greatest of them all. I personally respect ANYONE who chooses to serve. This posting is dedicated to them.

20110529-121628.jpg

Sad News: WWE Star Macho Man Randy Savage dead at age 58

This is just awful:

Randy Savage Car Accident Dead

Randall Mario Poffo AKA Macho Man Randy Savage -November 15, 1952 – May 20, 2011

Macho Man Randy Savage — one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time — died today in a car accident in Tampa, Florida … TMZ has learned.

TMZ spoke with Randy’s brother, Lanny Poffo, who tells us the wrestling legend suffered a heart attack while he was behind the wheel around 9:25 AM … and lost control of his vehicle.

Earlier this month, Savage celebrated his 1-year anniversary with his new wife Lynn.

Savage was 58.

Macho Man began wrestling in the WWF in 1985 and became a superstar with his trademark catchphrase “Ooooooh Yeaahhhhh.” Savage was so popular, he became the spokesperson for Slim Jim in the mid ’90s … and became virtually synonymous with the brand.

UPDATE: Florida Highway Patrol tells TMZ … Savage was driving his 2009 Jeep Wrangler when he veered across a concrete median … through oncoming traffic … and “collided head-on with a tree.”

Savage was transported to Largo Medical center, where he died from his injuries.

Savage’s wife was a passenger in the vehicle during the collision — but survived with “minor injuries.” She was transported to a different local hospital where she was treated.

Such a sad story. The man never had a real chance to enjoy the success that he achieved. I used to watch this guy and Hulk Hogan when I was a kid in the 1980’s. I always knew it was fake. But just the same, I did always think it was kinda cool. The wrestling world just got a little darker and less fun; at least in this writer’s opinion.

May he rest in peace and my prayers to his new wife and family during this terrible time.

Others: Alan Colmes’ Liberaland, Ministry of Gossip, Washington Post, Gawker, The Daily Caller and newsfeed.time.com

Confirmed: President Barack Obama is an Anti-American, Asshole, Piece of Shit

I am sorry, but that is how I feel. This man, this bastard piece of shit; has not only bungled a major kill in the war on terrorism. He has refused to give the American people closure.

Now there is this:

Audio: (H/T Pat Dollard)

Video: (H/T Atlas)

The Story via Real Clear Politics:


Debra Burlingame, the sister of Charles “Chic” Burlingame (pilot of the plane that crashed into the Pentagon) met with President Obama today, along with other families who were victims of 9/11. Burlingame said she confronted Obama about Attorney General Eric Holder prosecuting the men who interrogated KSM, which may have produced intelligence leading us to bin Laden.

Burlingame describes the encounter with Obama: “As a former attorney I know you can’t tell the Attorney General what to do, he said, ‘No, I can’t.’ But I said ‘we — that shouldn’t stop you from giving your opinion. We wouldn’t be here today if they hadn’t done their jobs. Can’t you at least give them your opinion.’ And he said ‘no I won’t,’ and he turned around and walked away.”

There is not anything more than I can add to this. The man is an ASSHOLE and a piece of shit. An Internationalist Democrat, who does not give a damn about America, its people or its principles.

Quite frankly, here is hoping that President Obama rots in the Devil’s hell. Screw him, Screw. him. hard. 😡

Because obviously this President does not give a flying fuck about anyone, but himself. Especially white people, who have lost loved ones who lost family members on 9/11. He is an internationalist Democratic and a black man, who at the very least, has sympathies to the Muslim community and for all we know; radical Muslims as well. Why else would he do something like this? Again, I say, SCREW HIM, SCREW.HIM.HARD…. 😡

Others: protein wisdom

Update:  Let me say this as well; I could have dealt with the President nicely saying to this woman, “I will take it under consideration and speak with my advisers,”  and then,  not doing anything. But to just say, “No, I won’t.” That my friends, is pure asshole behavior.  It is beneath the office and it brings a reproach to the office. For this, as far as I am concerned; President Obama has lost any sort of credibility, that he might have had with me. I’m finished with him and I will be voting in 2012 against him and I hope you, the reader, are too.

 

The Saturday Afternoon Mental Health Break: Special Memorial Edition – Geraldine Ferraro RIP

Regardless of what one thought of her political leaning; you cannot argue this fact — Geraldine Ferraro was one hell of a woman. Pioneer, Glass ceiling breaker… all of that…

In that Spirit and in that Spirit alone, I present this…. Rest in peace Lady…. you’ve more than earned it.

Video:

Via LA Times:

WASHINGTON—
Geraldine Ferraro, the Democratic congresswoman who became the first woman on a major party presidential ticket as Walter Mondale’s running mate in 1984, died on Saturday at the age of 75, according to a statement from her family.

Ferraro died at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston of a blood cancer after a 12-year illness.

Geraldine Ferraro

Ferraro was a telegenic, articulate and fiery three-term New York congresswoman when Mondale picked her from the male-dominated U.S. House of Representatives. Ferraro’s presence on the Democratic ticket generated excitement on the campaign trail, particularly among females of all ages. 

Yet on Election Day, Republican President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George Bush defeated Mondale and Ferraro in a landslide, carrying every state except Mondale’s home state of Minnesota.

In delivering her concession speech that night, Ferraro urged Americans to support the re-elected president, and then saluted Mondale for helping women reach new political heights.

“For two centuries, candidates have run for president. Not one from a major party ever asked a woman to be his running mate — until Walter Mondale,” she said.

“Campaigns, even if you lose them, do serve a purpose,” Ferraro said. “My candidacy has said the days of discrimination are numbered. American women will never be second-class citizens again.”

She was a Democrat from a time, when the Democratic Party was still a respectable organization. May she rest in peace.

Prayers for the family. 🙁

Hollywood Legend Elizabeth Taylor Dead at 79

Needless to say, a Legend has left us….

Video:

The Story:

Oscar winning actress Elizabeth Taylor died today at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Hospital. She was 79. She was surrounded by her children: Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton,” Taylor’s publicist, Sally Morrison, said in a statement.In the same statement, Michael Howard Wilding, 58, memorialized his mother:”My Mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love,” he said. “Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. Her remarkable body of work in film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman, and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts.”

via Hollywood Icon Elizabeth Taylor Dies at 79 – ABC News.

Needless to say, the do not build them like that anymore. Hollywood was a different place in those days. Mrs. Taylor will be missed and my prayers are with her family. She was, an actress, an activist, a warrior for things that she loved.

May she rest in peace.

Others: The Jawa Report, Nice Deb, his vorpal sword, AOL News, Washington Post, The Gateway Pundit, People.com, PopEater, Pajamas Media, Firedoglake, Mediaite, Associated Press, AmSpecBlog, The Moderate Voice, skippy the bush kangaroo, TMZ.com, : PopSugar, Access Hollywood, Cele|bitchy, Gone Hollywood, MovieWeb, Bumpshack.com, RADAR, Associated Press, Perez Hilton, USA Today, Dlisted, Movieline, Sandra Rose, I’m Not Obsessed, The Hollywood Gossip, Hollywood Rag, poponthepop.com, Backseat Cuddler, The FABlife, StyleList, TV Squad, The Young, Black …, kenneth in the, Towleroad News #gay, Jezebel, New York Magazine, omg!, Digital Spy, CNN, Associated Press, Mirror.co.uk, msnbc.com, Hollywood Life, FilmDrunk, Bumpshack.com and In Case You Didn’t Know, omg!, Digital Spy, CNN, Associated Press, Mirror.co.uk, msnbc.com, Hollywood Life, FilmDrunk, Bumpshack.com and In Case You Didn’t Know, : Celebslam, Us Weekly, TVbytheNumbers, BellaSugar, Socialite Life and FirstShowing.net, CNN, The Blemish, Style News, What Would Tyler Durden Do and Pink is the New Blog,More via WeSmirch

Frank Buckles, The Last Doughboy from World War I has died

First Videos: (h/t HotAir)

An Awesome Trailer from an up and coming movie on Mr. Buckles life:

And, the story, from The Washington Post:

Frank Woodruff Buckles - February 1, 1901 – February 27, 2011

Frank W. Buckles died Sunday, sadly yet not unexpectedly at age 110, having achieved a singular feat of longevity that left him proud and a bit bemused.

In 1917 and 1918, close to 5 million Americans served in World War I, and Mr. Buckles, a cordial fellow of gentle humor, was the last known survivor. “I knew there’d be only one someday,” he said a few years back. “I didn’t think it would be me.”

Mr. Buckles, a widower, died on his West Virginia farm, said his daughter, Susannah Buckles Flanagan, who had been caring for him there.

Flanagan, 55, said her father had recently recovered from a chest infection and seemed in reasonably good health for a man his age. At 12:15 a.m. Sunday, he summoned his live-in nurse to his bedroom. As the nurse looked on, Flanagan said, Mr. Buckles drew a breath, and his eyes fell shut.

“We have lost a living link to an important era in our nation’s history,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said of Mr. Buckles, whose distant generation was the first to witness the awful toll of modern, mechanized warfare. “But we have also lost a man of quiet dignity who dedicated his final years to ensuring the sacrifices of his fellow doughboys are appropriately commemorated.”

As time thinned the ranks of those long-ago U.S. veterans, the nation hardly noticed them vanishing, until the roster dwindled to one ex-soldier, embraced in his final years by an appreciative public.

“Frank was a history book in and of himself, the kind you can’t get at the library,” said his friend Muriel Sue Kerr. Having lived from the dawn of the 20th century, he seemed to never tire of sharing his and the country’s old memories – of the First World War, of roaring prosperity and epic depression, and of a second, far more cataclysmic global conflict, which he barely survived.

Mr. Buckles, who was born by lantern light in a Missouri farmhouse, quit school at 16 and bluffed his way into the Army. As the nation flexed its full military might overseas for the first time, he joined 4.7 million Americans in uniform and was among 2 million U.S. troops shipped to France to vanquish the German kaiser.

Ninety years later, with available records showing that former corporal Buckles, serial No. 15577, had outlived all of his compatriots from World War I, the Department of Veterans Affairs declared him the last doughboy standing. He was soon answering fan mail and welcoming a multitude of inquisitive visitors to his rural home.

“I feel like an endangered species,” he joked, well into his 11th decade. As a rear-echelon ambulance driver behind the trenches of the Western Front in 1918, he had been safe from the worst of the fighting. But “I saw the results,” he would say.

Many great things have been writing about this man. But my one word or thought is this; History lost. Frank Buckles was the last of that great history of America.  He now is in his new body; and is most likely around the throne of grace. Mr. Buckles, may you rest in the eternal peace of the almighty God. Because, you have more than earned it.

May his memory live on through the lives of his children and through the lives of every American citizen that cherishes his or her freedom.

A small prayer tonight for the Buckles family.

Related:

Frank Buckles, last American veteran of World War I, dies at 110

Frank Buckles, Last World War I Doughboy, Is Dead at 110

Others Covering: The Moderate Voice, msnbc.com, No Sheeples Here, AOL News, New York Magazine, Patterico’s Pontifications, Swampland, TigerHawk, Pundit Press, Moe Lane, Outside the Beltway, Lean Left, The Daily Caller, RedState, Maggie’s Notebook, UrbanGrounds, The Mahablo, The Daily Dish, Runnin’ Scared

Quote of the Day

My Dad was a “peculiar duck” to use one of Dad’s favorite phrases.

And Josh was his peculiar duckling.

One of Josh and Dad’s favorite pastimes was to sit on the couch, with the volume on the TV all the way down as they talked and talked. A particular joy was brainstorming what sort of hats Norman, our Basset Hound, would look best in.

After nigh upon Talmudic debate of the question, they concluded that a Pickelhaube, the spiked helmet worn by the imperial soldiers of Kaiser Wilhelm, would be best.

And, really, who are we to argue with that?

Of course, Josh worshipped our father, which probably explains why one of my earliest memories is of helping Josh make a giant portable poster of the sort carried by political protesters, it read “Bring Back the Czar!”

And, then there’s Mom. Nobody who knew Josh and who knows my Mom (even by reputation), can doubt how much of her was in him. He got his fearlessness and irreverence from her, and his stubbornness too. He loved her and she him. I shudder to think of her loss for fear of being pulled down by it.

Yes, my Mom and Josh fought. And Dad and Josh fought, a lot. And Josh and I locked horns more times than I can count. Everyone who loved Josh fought with Josh, because we all saw so much in him, more than he ever saw in himself.

Josh’s last job was working for my mom. He created a web forum called “The Connection” – a name that is more apt than I realized because in the last 48 hours I’ve been inundated with email from people who knew him only electronically. They’ve told me how they lost a friend, a confidant, a conversationalist. He made a connection with so many people, because that was his gift.

Of course, the most important connection in his life was with Chantal, his wife and best friend. In the 20 years they’ve been married, I never heard him say an unkind word about her, even as a good-natured joke. In the swirling storms that buffeted his life, when he was plagued with self-doubt and beset with legions of demons, his one anchor, his one True North was Chantal. He never wavered from his devotion to her.

In our marriage vows we swear to stay together in sickness and in health, through good times and bad. And no two people I have ever met have ever stayed truer to an oath.

I cannot pretend that Josh was without more than his fair share of faults. He was the first to admit that he let himself down by letting others down from time to time. I think it is important to be honest about this because honesty about his shortcomings is what allows us to see his strengths so clearly.

And Josh’s worst fault was his failure to appreciate how truly wonderful he was when he was at his best.

On 9/11 when most of us were glued to our TVs awaiting the next development, Josh had already put on his boots and walked down to Ground Zero to help out any way he could. It simply hadn’t occurred to him that he should do otherwise. He spent days, without sleep, clearing rubble and, eventually, driving barely filled body bags from the site.

When Josh was at his best, he was simply the best person I knew. The Joys of Yiddish says that a mensch is “someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character. The key to being ‘a real mensch’ is nothing less than character, rectitude, dignity, a sense of what is right, responsible, [and] decorous.”

That’s the brother I will always strive to remember and it is the uncle I pray my daughter remembers, because he loved Lucy as if she were his own. Perhaps that’s because she shares the same fearlessness or perhaps simply because he was, always, obsessed with family, much like our cousin Lynne and uncle Ralph, to whom I am so grateful for their help during the worst week of my life.

I won’t lie. I’m furious with my big brother for leaving before his best days could be realized and before we could re-forge the closeness of our childhood. I’ve cried so much this last week, I feel like I’ve drained a hole in my soul. But now I’m afraid to stop for fear I’ll forget how I loved him so terribly much.

Joshua Goldberg — R.I.P.

I hate having to blog about stuff like this; because it is so damned sad.

It seems that Jonah Goldberg’s brother Joshua died.

The sad news via The American Thinker:

Joshua Goldberg, son of Lucianne, brother of Jonah, and husband of Chantal, died long before his time, following injuries resulting from a fall. Although he was less well-known than his mother and brother, Josh quietly edited the sites Lucianne.com, BlogsLucianneLoves, and The Connection, working mostly behind the scenes. That was his way. Following 911, Josh was one of those New Yorkers who put on his work boots and walked miles to the WTC site to help go through the rubble looking for survivors and victims’ bodies. That was the kind of man he was, quietly doing the right thing, and never seeking public credit for it.

For reasons only God knows, Lucianne, Jonah, and his wife Chantal, have suffered deep grief that will never go away. Our thoughts are with them, and with Josh, who is now with God. May they find some degree of solace in the condolences of the many, many people who have been touched by their kindness and by their untiring work.

Remembrances can be left here.

I will be the first to admit; that I do not agree with Mr. Jonah Goldberg on politics; especially when it comes to foriegn policy. However, politics is one thing and real life is another. Let us all say a quiet prayer for the Goldberg family today. 🙁

May God Bless the Goldberg family during this horrible time.

Video: Don Rumsfield on 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan, and More

Some good video here:

The Story via ABC NEWS:

More than four years after leaving public life, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld continues to believe the war in Iraq was worth the effort, and has no apologies for his decision-making in leading the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In an exclusive interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer, Rumsfeld concedes that “it’s possible” that decisions on how many troops to send into Iraq marked the biggest mistake of the war.

“In a war, many things cost lives,” Rumsfeld told Sawyer.

Pressed on the fact that President Bush has written that cutting troop levels in Iraq was “the most important failure in the execution of the war,” Rumsfeld called that “interesting.”

I do not much care for the man. He is, in my humble opinion, an ignoramus. But he does have his opinions and he is a human being.

Get the Book:

I also highly recommend George W. Bush’s book as well:

The Morning Mental Health Break: Thin Lizzy

This one is dedicated to the memory of Gary Moore, who we lost yesterday:

The renowned rock guitarist Gary Moore has died in a hotel room while on holiday in Spain.

Moore, 58, originally from Belfast, was a former member of the legendary Irish group Thin Lizzy.

Thin Lizzy manager Adam Parsons told the BBC he was found early on Sunday.

Moore was originally drafted into Thin Lizzy by its late frontman Phil Lynott. He later gained acclaim for his solo work and was a former member of the Irish group Skid Row.

The Northern Ireland guitarist was only 16 when he moved from Belfast to Dublin in 1969, to join Skid Row, which featured Lynott as lead vocalist.

He was later brought into Thin Lizzy by Lynott to replace the departing Eric Bell, another guitarist from Northern Ireland.

Lynott died in 1986 but a new line-up of Thin Lizzy continues to tour.

Bell told the BBC on Sunday he was still “in shock” at Moore’s death in the Costa del Sol.

“I still can’t believe it,” he said.

“He was so robust, he wasn’t a rock casualty, he was a healthy guy.

Urbanrounds Remembers:

This news is very sad personally, being about the same age and growing up with his music from his days with Skid Row and Thin Lizzy. However, it was his guitar virtuosity that appealed to me the most, as it did to many others.

Thus another person and a piece of my youth has departed this mortal plane. As one commenter on another site stated, “God needed a lead guitarist for a new band.” If that is so, he couldn’t have chosen any better.

Godspeed Gary Moore. Your talent and passion will be missed greatly.

Greg over a Greg’s Opinion sums it up rather nicely:

One of the many guitar players I learned from, ripped off, and wished I could play half as good as. Much of the appreciation for melodic solos can be heard in a lot of his early-mid-80s solo work.

I believe that about sums it up. I also play guitar; and when I saw the headline, I let out a gasp and a “Oh no!”

Gary Moore joins the line of great guitar players that we have lost — Hendrix, Terry Kath, and many others.

I am also a guitar player and this one was a shock 😮 and so very sad. 😥

LOCAL STORY: ‘Act of a mad man’ or an American who just ran out of hope?

The local liberal media around here is absolutely sickening. They know no bounds at all; smearing a dead man and not only that, someone who owned his own business. This is confirmed by reading the comments on The Detroit News and Free Press as well.

The Story via The Detroit News:

Novi— A man apparently killed his wife and two young sons Friday, then drove a few miles away and killed himself by breathing in poisonous fumes from a charcoal grill he had placed in his car, police said.

About 11:30 a.m., Novi police responded to the home of Mark and Jennifer Schons on Applebrooke Drive near Nine Mile and Napier roads because friends of 38-year-old Jennifer Schons were concerned that her two sons had not shown up for school. Schons, who was having marital problems, had missed a scheduled appointment with a friend, police said.

Shortly after noon, police entered the home and found three bodies in separate bedrooms, including Tynan, 6, and Camden, 4.

Initial police reports were that all died from gunshot wounds, but Novi Police Chief David Molloy said late Friday that was inaccurate. He wouldn’t comment on their cause of death.

Molloy called the deaths “the act of a madman.”

The couple were considering divorce, he said.

A typical open and shut case of a mad man gone crazy right?

Perhaps not. Let’s look a little closer…. Buried in the lead of this story, is this:

Their party supply store on East Grand River in Howell recently failed; Jennifer Schons was a paint engineer for General Motors for 14 years, working in Warren. They filed for bankruptcy in December, claiming $581,000 in debt.

Of course, the paper just had to get a shot of those rich white people’s house:

First off, let me say this; I do not excuse this man’s actions. What he did was absolutely horrible. Ending the lives to two kids, ages 4 and 6 is inexcusable. But the anti-Business, Anti-White bias on this story is unbelievable. For all these idiots know; this man most likely did this, because of the failing economy; which was brought on by the liberal Democrats who sought to game the system, by socially engineering the system.  The man bit off more than he could chew, and most likely the thought of him losing everything and his wife, and children — were just more than he could bear. To some people; especially those who have been wildly successful, going broke or losing it all, is a embarrassment to the point of wanting to die.

What really makes me want to throw up are the asinine comments at the Detroit News site:

That’s what happens when you listen to too much conservative talk radio.

D. Fientz, Pleasant Ridge, MI

Political bias, what political bias? 🙄 Who me?

The Detroit Free Press account of it, is a little less biased. But the comment section is just as sickening. Go read.

There is a Christian lesson here. People that do stuff like this, just have no hope. That hope is found in Jesus Christ. But the money is the man thought here:

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. —- (1 Timothy 6:6-19 KJV)

Obviously this man never read this.

This is also a sign of the times, as spoken of, by the Bible — Here the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ:

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” — (Luke 21:25-31 KJV)

The moral of this story is this; this man and his family owned a business, which failed, they had obviously lived well beyond their means and when it all came crashing down around him. He could not handle it and chose Murder and Suicide. That is because this family had no hope. Which only comes in Jesus Christ. We can expect to see more of this as time goes on.

For what it is worth; I happen to know that area very well. It is a upper middle class and yes, very white part of Southeastern Michigan area. Novi, Rochester Hills; where there are multi-million dollar homes — is all up in that area. Again, while this is a tragic event; what is even more tragic is the bias of the liberal media and also, it is a lesson in what is coming to America in the not-so-distant future, if America does not fix this broken economy. Not everyone has the hope in Christ and not everyone can cope with losing everything.

Video: Christina Green’s family shows Dignity, Grace, Courage, Strength, Patriotism in the face of tragedy

There just no words……

This comes via HotAir.com:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Plus Bonus video from the girl’s father on Fox News:

There are people out there, that get paid a whole bunch more money than I do to write nice, inspiring things about people like this man —- I just cannot think of anything more to say than, God Bless the man. He lost his daughter to some lone whack job with a grudge. I mean, what more can he say? I love the comment of the attack being “the price of a free society”, which is so damned true. I mean, as long as people are free, like we are; there is always going to be some lone nut, who is going to have the money to buy a gun and go crazy. Senator Barry Goldwater Sr. said it best, that “You cannot Legislate Morality.” Which is so true.

May God Bless this beautiful family and keep them during their time of loss.

Richard Holbrooke: The US Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan passes away

So very sad…. 🙁

Via the Washington Post:

Longtime U.S. diplomat Richard C. Holbrooke, whose relentless prodding and deft maneuvering yielded the 1995 Dayton peace accords that ended the war in Bosnia – a success he hoped to repeat as President Obama’s chief envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan – died Monday in Washington of complications from surgery to repair a torn aorta. He was 69.

A foreign policy adviser to four Democratic presidents, Mr. Holbrooke was a towering, one-of-a-kind presence who helped define American national security strategy over 40 years and three wars by connecting Washington politicians with New York elites and influential figures in capitals worldwide. He seemed to live on airplanes and move with equal confidence through Upper East Side cocktail parties, the halls of the White House and the slums of Pakistan.

Obama praised him as “a true giant of American foreign policy who has made America stronger, safer and more respected. He was a truly unique figure who will be remembered for his tireless diplomacy, love of country, and pursuit of peace.”

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a statement that the United States “has lost one of its fiercest champions and most dedicated public servants.”

The death could have a profound impact on the administration’s efforts to implement aspects of its strategy for the war in Afghanistan, which relies not just on military gains but development assistance and diplomatic initiatives with the governments in Kabul and neighboring Pakistan that had been his principal focus.

Mr. Holbrooke’s expansive career began in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, where he served as a field officer, and included appointments as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and as one of the youngest assistant secretaries of state in U.S. history. When Republicans were in power, he was a banker, a journalist and a best-selling author.

His most prominent role was as a presidential wartime problem solver, to which Mr. Holbrooke applied an unwavering energy, a flair for diplomatic improvisation and a hard-charging style that could yield dramatic breakthroughs but also generate bitterness and enmity, even among his American teammates.

Although the consequences of his forceful personality were laid bare in his efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and Pakistan, leading to tense disagreements with leaders of those nations and fellow U.S. officials, Mr. Holbrooke never stopped trying to address the insurgencies that threaten both countries.

Over the past year, he maintained a peripatetic existence, often subsisting on just a few hours of sleep at night, as he globe-trotted to shore up allied support for the war and a costly reconstruction program.

“As anyone who has ever worked with him knows – or had the clear disadvantage of negotiating across the table from him – Richard is relentless,” Obama said earlier Monday at a State Department holiday reception. “He never stops. He never quits. Because he’s always believed that if we stay focused, if we act on our mutual interests, that progress is possible. Wars can end. Peace can be forged.”

[….]

Why *I* personally respect him:

Mr. Holbrooke was sent to Vietnam in 1963, assigned to the lower Mekong Delta as a field officer for the U.S. Agency for International Development, a post that would later give him unique perspective on reconstruction efforts and provincial stabilization in Afghanistan.

His insights drew the attention of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, and he was soon moved there to serve as a staff assistant to two ambassadors, Maxwell D. Taylor and Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.

In 1966, he joined the Vietnam staff in the Johnson White House, where he had a front-row seat for what came to be considered an unwise escalation of U.S. military forces based on deceptive assessments.

“Our beloved nation sent into battle soldiers without a clear determination of what they could accomplish and they misjudged the stakes. And then we couldn’t get out,” he said this year at a State Department conference on the American experience in Southeast Asia. “. . . We fought bravely under very difficult conditions. But success was not achievable. Those who advocated more escalation or something called ‘staying the course’ were advocating something that would have led only to a greater and more costly disaster afterwards.”

He quickly developed a reputation for writing brash but influential memos, earning the nickname “the Bulldozer.” In November 1967, Mr. Holbrooke drafted one such document, a 17-page paper for President Lyndon B. Johnson in the name of Nicholas Katzenbach, then the undersecretary of state, that argued that North Vietnam was winning the battle for public opinion in the United States.

“Hanoi uses time the way the Russians used terrain before Napoleon’s advance on Moscow, always retreating, losing every battle, but eventually creating conditions in which the enemy can no longer function,” he wrote. “For Napoleon it was his long supply lines and the cold Russian winter; Hanoi hopes that for us it will be the mounting dissension, impatience, and frustration caused by a protracted war without fronts or other visible signs of success; a growing need to choose between guns and butter; and an increasing American repugnance at finding, for the first time, their own country cast as ‘the heavy.’ “

Mr. Holbrooke was a junior member of the U.S. delegation to the Paris peace talks aimed at ending the war, and he wrote a chapter of the Pentagon Papers, the government’s secret history of the conflict.

By 1970, he moved on – first to the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, where he was a fellow, and then to Morocco, where he served as Peace Corps country director – but the searing lessons of the war remained. “Leaving Vietnam behind did not mean getting it out of one’s system,” he said.

President Obama shows some class:

Statement by President Obama on death of Richard Holbrooke

Michelle and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Richard Holbrooke, a true giant of American foreign policy who has made America stronger, safer, and more respected. He was a truly unique figure who will be remembered for his tireless diplomacy, love of country, and pursuit of peace.

For nearly 50 years, Richard served the country he loved with honor and distinction. He worked as a young foreign service officer during the Vietnam War and then supported the Paris peace talks which ended that war. As a young Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, he helped normalize relations with China. As U.S. Ambassador to Germany, he helped Europe emerge from a long Cold War and encouraged NATO to welcome new members.

As Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs, he was the tireless….

…chief architect of the Dayton Accords that ended the war in Bosnia 15 years ago this week, saving countless lives.  As Ambassador to the United Nations, Richard helped break a political impasse and strengthen our nation’s relationship with the UN and elevated the cause of AIDS and Africa on the international agenda.  And throughout his life, as a child of refugees, he devoted himself to the plight of people displaced around the world.

When I became President, I was grateful that Richard agreed to serve as Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The progress that we have made in Afghanistan and Pakistan is due in no small measure to Richard’s relentless focus on America’s national interest, and pursuit of peace and security. He understood, in his life and his work, that our interests encompassed the values that we hold so dear. And as usual, amidst his extraordinary duties, he also mentored young people who will serve our country for decades to come.  One of his friends and admirers once said that, “If you’re not on the team and you’re in his way, God help you.”  Like so many Presidents before me, I am grateful that Richard Holbrooke was on my team, as are the American people.

Earlier this evening at the State Department, I met with Richard’s wife Kati and their family, David, Anthony, Lizzie, Christopher and Sarah, and I spoke to Kati after Richard’s passing. I expressed to them the gratitude of the American people for his lifetime of service.  They are in our thoughts and prayers tonight.  Tonight, there are millions of people around the world whose lives have been saved and enriched by his work.  As I said earlier this evening, the United States is safer and the world is more secure because of the half century of patriotic service of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke.

As does Hillary Clinton:

Tonight America has lost one of its fiercest champions and most dedicated public servants. Richard Holbrooke served the country he loved for nearly half a century, representing the United States in far-flung war-zones and high-level peace talks, always with distinctive brilliance and unmatched determination. He was one of a kind — a true statesman — and that makes his passing all the more painful.

From his early days in Vietnam to his historic role bringing peace to the Balkans to his last mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard helped shape our history, manage our perilous present, and secure our future. He was the consummate diplomat, able to stare down dictators and stand up for America’s interests and values even under the most difficult circumstances. He served at every level of the Foreign Service and beyond, helping mentor generations of talented officers and future ambassadors. Few people have ever left a larger mark on the State Department or our country. From Southeast Asia to post-Cold War Europe and around the globe, people have a better chance of a peaceful future because of Richard’s lifetime of service.

I had the privilege to know Richard for many years and to call him a friend, colleague and confidante. As Secretary of State, I have counted on his advice and relied on his leadership. This is a sad day for me, for the State Department and for the United States of America.

True to form, Richard was a fighter to the end. His doctors marveled at his strength and his willpower, but to his friends, that was just Richard being Richard. I am grateful for the tireless efforts of all the medical staff, and to everyone who sat by his side or wished him well in these final days.

Tonight my thoughts and prayers are with Richard’s beloved wife Kati, his sons David and Anthony, his step-children Elizabeth and Chris Jennings, his daughter-in-law Sarah, and all of his countless friends and colleagues.

To be fair to Mr. Holbrooke; he was handed a giant bag of crap from the previous administration. The Neo-cons who were in power, basically ran the clock out on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Afghan war was basically the one, that was put on the back burner, while Bush and Co. went to topple Saddam. Which, in this writers opinion was the stupidest move ever made. Richard was brought in to straighten out that damned mess. He died trying to do that, as he did not want to see another Vietnam.  For that thankless and patriot act of service to this Country, Mr. Holbrooke should be honored very highly by this Presidential Administration.

However, knowing this Administration like I do; I highly doubt that he will ever be honored like he should be — basically, because Mr. Holbrooke is the of the wrong ethnic background and skin color. That my friends, is a horrible and God-awful tragedy. Sorry, in this former-Democrat voting person’s eyes — a statement, is just not enough. However, I am glad to see Hillary and Obama showing a little bit of class and acknowledging the man for saving the President’s bacon and sorting out the mess.

Blogger Roundup Here

Elizabeth Edwards RIP

It was inevitable, just not expected this soon. She had just posted a facebook farewell last night:

Elizabeth Edwards, the political wife whose public battle with breast cancer, coping with marital infidelity and continued advocacy for the downtrodden raised her profile above that of her husband, died Tuesday, WRAL News has learned.

Edwards, 61, died at her Chapel Hill home, where family and friends had gathered in recent days after doctors informed her that her cancer had spread and recommended that she not undergo further treatment.

“Today, we have lost the comfort of Elizabeth’s presence, but she remains the heart of this family. We love her and will never know anyone more inspiring or full of life,” the Edwards family said in a statement. “On behalf of Elizabeth, we want to express our gratitude to the thousands of kindred spirits who moved and inspired her along the way. Your support and prayers touched our entire family.”

via Elizabeth Edwards dies :: WRAL.com.

May the Lord Jesus Christ be with the Edwards family; and yes, that does include John, in this hour of loss. May the Lord continue to be with them during this Holiday Season.

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:42-43 KJV)

God Bless her, this poor lady had to endure more than any woman, let alone mother should ever have to endure. Mrs. Edwards lost a son, and had an total idiot for a Husband, who could not even remain faithful to her. May She find the peace that she was searching for.

I do truly believe that John Edwards and his wife, before the ugliness and separation; were truly populists. They, unlike many of their Democratic peers, truly believed in the ideals that the Original Democratic Party stood for. That everyone, regardless of color, social stature and wealth status; deserved a fair shot at the American dream. When John Edwards was running, during that primary. I would have voted for him in the Democratic Primary. Instead, I voted, at the time, for “none of the above” which was the choice.

Admittedly, my politics changed, greatly, over the course of the 2008 election season, especially when the Democratic Party began to embrace the monster whom they elected. Obama could not hold a candle to the class, and grace that Elizabeth Edwards and at the time, John Edwards showed. The Edwards campaign coined the phrase “Change” and the Obama campaign stole it and used it for their purposes —- which utterly disgusted me.  Thus was one of the biggest reasons why I truly began to reevaluate my stance in politics.

May God Bless the family. I pray for the children. 🙁

Other Bloggers remember here.