The party holding the wooden end could kill the deal, ostensibly by smacking the other guy between the eyes with the steel end of the metaphorical hammer. The party holding the steel end had to be more cautious, as popping the other guy with the wooden end of the hammer wouldn’t damage him, it would just tick him off. In my years working with him, the first question he always asked was, “Are we holding wood or steel?”

I was often mystified when he would pursue a deal where we were clearly holding wood, but the other party was acting as if it was. In the beginning I would often ask, “Why don’t you just pop him between the eyes and get this over with?” He would reply, “Not just yet.” I would ask him, “Why not?” And his reply was usually, “Because that would kill the deal!” I would shrug my shoulders and mull it over, totally confused. We had the upper hand; we didn’t have to put up with this nonsense.

Over time I was drawn ever deeper into his confidence. One day we had a little time to chat and I told him I just didn’t get it. Why would we let someone act like they had the upper hand, when we knew and they knew that they didn’t? What was the point of the metaphorical hammer if we never used it? His explanation was very enlightening.

“I get paid to put deals together. Our company is well funded and has a great reputation, so there are plenty of opportunities for me to create deals. But don’t confuse my unwillingness to use the hammer with understanding the underlying concept. If I use the hammer, the deal is gone. I don’t get paid to kill deals; I get paid to put them together. This isn’t about ego, at least it isn’t for me; this is about getting the best deal for our side while still making the deal attractive enough to keep the other guy in tow.”

“If you have the wooden end of the deal, you can kill it anytime you want to. It’s like holding the ace of spades in your pocket. It’s golden, it will always win, and it will always work. So why sweat it? Why be in a big rush to lower the boom? Both sides know you can do it, so what’s the hurry? Why not just be nice, you can afford to be.”

“If you have the steel end of the deal, the other guy can kill it, so you don’t want to aggravate them. You can bluster, and cajole, and whine all you want, but you really don’t want to kill the deal; you just don’t want to give too much away to make it happen. So if you’re holding steel, it also makes sense to just be nice.”

So there you have it. It doesn’t matter whether you have the better end of things or not, the proper course is always the same: Just be nice! While knowing about the hammer is valuable, actually using it seldom is. So the next time you’re holding wood in the game of life, don’t be too eager to pop the other guy.

Scottie

If you are allergic to peanuts, don’t learn to deal with it. Why on earth should you do that? It’s much easier to whine about it and pretty soon, there are no peanuts on airplanes anymore and kids can’t bring peanut butter sandwiches to school anymore. Just a little wailing and gnashing of teeth and the whole world becomes a goober free zone to avoid inconveniencing you. Pretty neat, huh?

Coworker wearing perfume you don’t like? Take a page from the anti-smoking lobby and have a hissy-fit about it until the entire office is declared a perfume and cologne free zone. They can’t let you be inconvenienced by those hundreds of other people. They’re not as important as you are, are they? Just think of the office as your own private little world to shape however you wish and pretty soon you’ll find all kinds of things to be offended by. Calendars, cartoons, even the flowers a coworker gets on her anniversary are fair game.

Now we’re cooking. Can’t get around in your wheelchair? Well pitch a fit! Make every business and public building bow to your wishes. It’s not like the inconvenience and expense of changing the world around you is your problem to deal with, heck no. Keep it up and no matter the cost to society, no matter how many businesses go under, eventually you will have access to every place imaginable. Your whole crowd, what is it twenty or so of you, will have their way at the expense of everyone else. Of course, you’ll take a hit on sympathy and goodwill, but it doesn’t matter. It’s a small price to pay for changing the world, isn’t it? And while you’re at it, ask for a good parking spot as a kicker!

Don’t like the discomfort you experience when confronted about your lack of moral clarity? Well don’t just stand for it! Demand the removal of every vestige of religion in every place you find it. Don’t be concerned with providing a replacement, that’s not important. Just squall and babble until the whole world changes to prevent your discomfort. Now, demand schools teach the religious ideology of an enemy intent on destroying your nation and moan about how we have to tolerate and understand them. That’ll make it easier for them to finish changing the world after you get bored with it.

After those warm up exercises you’re ready for something more substantial like eliminating capitalism. Now that you've got that religion stuff suppressed, it's getting easier. Whip up a Global Warming boogie-man and demand the entire world start doing what you say on no real basis whatsoever. Of course, you don’t have to change your lifestyle, only the little people and anyone that disagrees with you will have to actually do anything. Isn’t this fun? Once you get some momentum started, pile on the “right” to healthcare for good measure. Don’t be concerned with the consequences; you haven’t been so far, why start now? Just jump in with your newfound power and start arbitrarily changing anything you don’t agree with or don’t understand and make the world in whatever manner suits your particular desire. Like God did.

Scottie

The left may think this is George Bush’s war, but the rest of the world doesn’t see it that way. The rest of the world is watching to see if the bloated, atrophied carcass of the world’s only remaining superpower can finish a fight it initiated with a backward third world country or not. And if we can’t or won’t finish it, it will have repercussions well beyond the Islamists. Every nation in the world will have proof positive that America doesn’t have the fortitude to honor its commitments anymore. We talk the talk, but we can’t be bothered to walk it anymore. We are in a contest of wills with an implacable enemy and the only thing they have that we don’t is the will to see it through, no matter how difficult, no matter the sacrifice.

A nation with a will can put a man on the moon in less than a decade with less computing power on board than today’s automobile has using slide rules to make all of the calculations. If this nation truly had the will, a fence along our borders could be built in a matter of months. The flood of illegal aliens could be staunched in short order if we only had the will to do so. It’s not lack of resources, or manpower, or even a matter of it being the right thing to do: it’s a lack of will and nothing less. We are fighting to maintain our sovereignty with about the same gusto as we are prosecuting the war against radical Islam; half heartedly with half measures in a half assed way.

This nation had better rediscover its backbone soon and drop a pair, or all we believe in will become a thing of the past. A nation that can’t or won't protect itself and its interests, that can’t or won't control its borders, is a nation that cannot long endure. Whatever the course this country is to take, let it take that course either with a will or with a sense of nostalgia for the ambition of generations past that were greater than, and failed by, their progeny.

Scottie

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." – Ben Franklin

“Why would you worry about the government having cameras at every corner if you aren’t doing anything wrong? They’re only recording what everyone can see anyway.” How does one respond to this seemingly sensible observation? Let me take a stab at it.

Our country was founded on the concept of limited government. The powers not specifically delegated to the government are reserved by the people. In other words, the people are at liberty while the government is held in check. That the government would record our every move is antithetical to the principles upon which this country is founded.

Our founders never contemplated a citizenry living under the constant watch of the government. In fact, it is far more reasonable to assume the founders intended a government constantly under the watchful eye of the people. The recent immigration debacle was cooked up behind closed doors and sprung on the country as a fait accompli. OSHA is circumventing the second amendment through administrative rule changes behind closed doors and quietly presenting these changes in the hope that no one will notice. Our government has demonstrated a penchant for operating in secret and inflicting rules upon us “for out own good”. Do we really trust them to act reasonably anymore? I don’t. They deserve our constant vigilance; and thanks to the internet, they are receiving it as never before.

As for street cameras, there is a huge difference between seeing something and recording it. Recording every move of the citizenry is documenting it. With no suspicion, no probable cause, and no compelling need to do so, the government seeks to create a permanent record of every action, by every citizen in the public square, at every hour. No police officer would be allowed to shadow us throughout our day to day activities in such a manner without the sanction of the court. Last time I checked, we still had a fourth amendment detailing when and how the government was allowed to engage in this sort of activity. Why is it OK for a technological Robocop to do this? The only difference between the two is efficiency, not intrusiveness.

While the government will proffer that it is “for our own good”, isn’t this action really for the benefit of the government itself and not for the citizens it serves? I think it is. It may come as news to the folks in Washington, but the government serves the people, not the other way around. As we slouch ever onward toward the Nanny State the socialist left dreams of, one of the most outward signs of their success will be the omnipresent government cameras on every street corner documenting our every move. They’re coming soon to a street corner near you. Don’t forget to smile for the camera. You’ll want to look good in the government’s dossier detailing every move of your life.

It seems George Orwell truly was a prophet; only his timing was off.

Scottie

Almighty God, as we gather to celebrate our nation’s independence, help us to be ever mindful of the sacrifices of our forbearers. We thank you for your divine providence, without which our nation could not endure. Extend your protection to those that fight to preserve this nation and its ideals on battlefields at home and far away. As our country long ago threw off the bonds of tyranny and rightfully took its place among nations, let us today reject the tyranny of complacency and remember our responsibility to preserve that place and to uphold those ideals. Give us the strength to make the sacrifices required of us to maintain the precious gift of liberty you have bestowed upon us. We humbly thank you for the prosperity, the freedom, and the majesty of a nation unlike any other ever created in the history of mankind. Watch over us and guide us, and help us to be ever mindful of the fragility of the gifts you have provided us. God, please continue to Bless America.

§ Build the infrastructure to handle the problem: This includes the fence, detention facilities, special courts, a transportation arm, and databases to keep track of who is here and who has left. Increase the size of our Border Patrol and quit tying them up with counterproductive restrictions. I don’t care about the cost so much as real world action and results here, not lip service. We’ll more than make up the expense in savings in our schools and hospitals. Demonstrate the will to build what is required to get the job done.

§ Sanction Employers: We don’t chase drug users, we chase drug dealers. In that same vein, quit chasing the illegal aliens and start rounding up the people that hire them. These cheaters will stop once there is a cost associated with it and word will get around, fast. The job market will dry up overnight. The private sector will find a way to determine whether someone is here illegally or not once the stakes affect rich employers instead of poor immigrants. Demonstrate a will to stop the gaming of the system without consequence.

§ Clarify the Fourteenth Amendment: Many legal scholars believe it is being misinterpreted and this has never been settled by the Supreme Court. If being born here by illegal parents doesn’t make you an automatic citizen, the anchor baby phenomenon goes away. I don’t think these “anchor babies” are citizens; let’s take it to the Supremes and find out. Whichever way the decision goes, let’s demonstrate a will to find the answer once and for all.

§ Enforce the Law: Withhold all federal funds from sanctuary cities. Whenever an illegal alien brushes up against the system, they are detained, have a hearing, and are deported. Second time through gets them a two year vacation with Joe Arpayo, and deported again. Once you’re discovered here illegally you are by definition a criminal; as such you can never become a citizen. Demonstrate the will to enforce the law.

Once we have the tools and facilities to do the job, dry up the job market, resolve the false assertions about ‘anchor babies’ and actually enforce the law, things will change. But before we can do any of that, we have to have the will to do it. Once we demonstrate the will to be serious about this issue, the illegal immigrants will have to find a new plan. Like maybe cleaning up the cesspools they come from instead of importing the dysfunction here at our expense.

Scottie

There is nothing more antithetical to the American ideal than celebrating victimhood. Are there victims in life, sure; but I posit that it’s largely a voluntary condition. Being a victim isn’t some kind of status symbol or anything to be celebrated in any case. There are always setbacks in life and challenges to overcome. That’s just life’s forge testing and improving your mettle. In my long life I’ve been abandoned, beaten, robbed, evicted, fired, jailed, and lived an altogether interesting life; but I’ve never been a victim. I guess if I wanted to feel sorry for myself and wallow in it, I could have been, but what good would that do? Victimhood is a mindset, and not a very productive one. Since so many people in this country today are members of some victimized group, it begs the question: "What benefit is there to being a victim?" Let’s explore that a little deeper, shall we?

As I see it, victimhood’s first and foremost benefit is that its claimants can shift responsibility from themselves to someone or something else. Can’t succeed? It must be because you’re a victim of some sort. Maybe you’re black, or a woman, or poor, or whatever. But if your failure were really caused by these factors, shouldn’t all blacks fail? How come other women have achieved what you cannot? And don’t even think about playing the poor card. This nation’s history right up to today is replete with rags to riches success stories. Belonging to these groups doesn’t prevent a person from succeeding; but claiming victimhood makes it all too easy to blame someone else for your own lack of fortitude.

The cancerous result of this mindset is that victimhood becomes the victim’s source of power. This power is a strong disincentive to getting well, to getting over the obstacles, to letting the failures go, and to moving on with life. If your victimhood is the source of your power, what incentive do you have to let it go? And since you are no longer responsible for your situation, you are perfectly free to expect others to cut you some undeserved slack. No one will dare confront you for your lack of motivation to get better.

Think about Rosie O’Donnell. I know it’s painful, but bear with me. She’s a screaming moonbat hiding behind the protective victimhood of homophobia. Any time she’s cornered, right on cue comes the accusation that she’s being attacked because she’s gay. She instantly becomes the victim and under the auspices thereof, is no longer responsible for anything. Oddly enough, I don’t think anyone really cares whether Rosie is gay or not. In fact if a vote were taken, I’m sure we’d all vote to never have that mental picture flashed at us ever again. As good as Rosie’s victimhood seems to work for her, the mindset that it fosters it has deeper ramifications.

How does Rosie’s victimhood differ from that of the Islamists? Muslims have become very adept at cultivating victimhood. As victims, whatever offends them is merely added evidence of that victimhood. And since they’re victims, how could we possibly expect them to shoulder the responsibility for their actions. That they literally leave half of their economic team in the locker room for the big game, haven’t managed despite massive oil wealth to show much economic progress since the seventh century, and revel in death and destruction isn’t their fault. It ‘s the Jews, it’s America, it’s those cartoons, it’s something the Pope said, it’s that movie, it’s that poster, it’s that statue. And once offended, their behavior also becomes the fault of others. Give me a break.

I have to give them some credit though, the Islamists have made me rethink this entire victimhood hustle. All the Islamists have done really is to take this idiotic victimhood sham to its logical conclusion in such a ham-fisted way that it can no longer be ignored or tolerated. I for one am sick of voluntary victims wielding this ridiculous and unwarranted power. I’m just not buying it anymore. It’s time for the perpetual victims to climb down from their crosses, use the lumber to build a bridge, and GET OVER IT.

Scottie

If our churches won’t press us to face moral issues and clearly delineate right from wrong, who will? Even the Jedi had the Force and an apprentice program. What do we have?

I know it’s Mississippi, but how the hell does Trent Lott manage to get reelected after dining on his foot so many times?

How do millions of “undocumented workers” cross our borders under Orange Alert while the nation is at war? Do we need to go to Super Duper Double Neon Red Alert before we get serious about securing our borders?

Can anyone give me a guideline as to which laws I can safely ignore and which I must obey? We seem to have become a “Nation of Suggestions” instead of a Nation of Laws.

What’s fair about the Fairness Doctrine? Would we label a bill for the euthanizing of puppies the “All Dogs Go To Heaven Act?” Or maybe we could codify open borders and amnesty by passing something like an “Immigration Reform Act”; oops, never mind.

Why do we have to show tolerance for Islam when there is no possibility of reciprocation? If Islam is so great, why do so many of its adherents live in mud huts? They’ve been working on this since the seventh century; shouldn’t there be more progress than this? Is belligerent self-pity really that overwhelming a force to be reckoned with?

Since we’ve been studying multiculturalism for a couple of decades now, how many students graduate with a working knowledge of a foreign language? Does anyone have an understanding of the political structure of Sudan? What are the cultural ramifications for a country accepting a quarter of its population in the form of illiterate foreign nationals? One would think by studying other cultures for a couple of decades, we would know more by now. Shouldn’t we?

We’ve had “Afro-Centric” studies for a couple of decades now. Any news? Pray do enlighten me with the brilliance derived from this massive effort. Meet me at the NAACP, if you can still find an open branch.

If the feminist movement were serious about its agenda, wouldn’t they be supporting the liberation of millions of women in the Middle East? If they were serious, I mean.

I’m just asking.

Scottie

Recently, our town fathers gathered to produce a law that will have the exact opposite effect than it purports to have. They seem to think that they can magically remove stray animals from existence by fiat. In Terre Haute, it is now illegal to own an unsprayed pet, illegal to give a pet away without a breeder’s license, and impossible to turn in an animal to the humane society without paying a stiff fine. This is supposed to stop the out of control population of feral animals in the city. How can that possibly work?

I took in a starving stray last winter out of compassion. I was surprised to find the little critter was preggers, but not overwhelmed by the turn of events. The kittens are fine, well socialized to humans, and all but one is currently pledged to a good home. The families adopting these kittens have pledged to have them spayed as soon as they are old enough and to have them vaccinated. As soon as the mother finishes nursing her babies, I will have her spayed, vaccinated, and licensed.

I will do this because I care about the little critter, not because of anything the law says. I just want her to be able to go outside without a repeat demonstration of fertility or maybe bringing home a disease to my other cat. Fortunately for this little mother and her kittens, I am perfectly willing to break the law and function in society’s, and her and her kitten’s best interests.

If I were to follow the law, the incentive is for me to rid myself of this creature and simply disown her outright. After all, that’s where she came from. All I would have to do is open the door and let her out and not let her back in. I don’t have to let her back in, and with winter over, her survival prospects are much better than they were. Solves all of my problems, puts me square with the law, and saves me a ton of money.

However, it doesn’t solve the inevitable problem of a litter of unsocialized feral kittens and their mother running the streets, does it? In fact, it would add considerably to the available uncontrolled breeding stock running free in the community. And what incentive would anyone else have to take her in and care for her and her kittens? And how would that person then deal with the kittens?

By passing these laws, the city fathers have ensured an increase, not a decrease, in the population of feral animals. They also prevent anyone from attempting to turn in these feral animals. These laws also criminalize responsible behavior and substitute wishful thinking in its place. If I’m caught, I think I’m going to call the cats a band of illegal immigrants. That’s exactly what they are after all. It should take the government all of the cat’s nine lives to sort that one out.

I started becoming dumber about a decade ago. I was just an old fogy with outdated clothing, questionable taste in music, and incomprehensible books to them. I didn’t have the slightest inkling of what was cool, what was popular, what terms in their hip new vernacular meant. And God forbid I should even try to bridge the gap. To them I was just too stupid to get it. I was often vindicated by their friends. Many times I overheard the other kids that came and went referring to me as a pretty cool guy, but the boys weren’t having it.

Now they are out of the house and running into the usual brick walls that we all must encounter in order to learn. They’ve been exposed to the facts of life that I patiently explained to them, but the lessons seem to be hitting home with a lot more clarity lately. If you don’t pay the light bill, they will come and shut the power off. If you spend all your money on the weekend partying, you will run out of groceries and smokes before your next paycheck arrives. Cars need more than gas to keep running dependably. Bosses don’t care why you aren’t at work on time, they care that you aren’t at work on time.

I’ve watched them struggle with these simple lessons with amusement, enjoying the knowledge that the lessons I imparted to them long ago come echoing back to them as they sit in one predicament after another. They never admit it to me, which is part of the amusement. I am far more connected to them than they know. I’ve studied them at great length for years. They don’t yet realize how predictable they are to me; just like I am to them I suppose. But they’re getting there.

They are realizing that ignoring the values I’ve taught them comes at a price. I’m becoming smarter by the day; my views are making more and more sense to them. Even the Missus (one of my more prolific information sources) worries less about them as the inevitable hard knocks they suffer has toughened them and built their confidence. The best part is they now come to me for advice and actually listen.

I was having a discussion (shooting the bull, really) with my eldest son the other night over a pool table and a pitcher of beer. He was bouncing a few ideas off of me and it dawned on me that he wasn’t so much asking advice as checking to make sure he was thinking the problem through properly. He’s starting to see the light. Being a single parent will do that to you.

The conversation turned to the age old question: "What I would have done differently if I were his age again, but knew what I knew now?" I wanted to say “I wish I had listened to my father more,” but I stifled the impulse and told him, “I really wouldn’t change a thing. Everything I have now is a result either directly or indirectly of decisions I made along the way. You are one of the results of those decisions I made a long time ago; and I certainly wouldn’t want to contemplate what my life would have been like without you in it.”

I think he was a little shocked to realize that I had already sifted this idea in much more depth than he had. I’m sure he had been mulling over his mistakes of the past few years, wishing he had done something different. I could see it cross his face as he realized that I was still a step or two ahead of him on the path to wisdom. But his shock was more than matched by mine when he said, “I wish I had listened to you more, Dad; it sure would have saved me a lot of problems. You really did know what you were talking about; at least on the important stuff.” Genetics? I don’t know, but I’ll drink to that.

Scottie

There’s been a lot of discussion lately on the Immigration issue here in the blogosphere, so I guess I’ll weigh in as well. A lot of emotion is masquerading as reason here, and a lot of name calling is displacing facts as a basis for sound decision making. I hope to clarify things as I see them here and start a discussion with some substance.

First, immigration to the United States is the gold standard for the entire planet. No other country is a more desirable destination. People from all over the globe want to come here; people that are here don’t want to leave. I think that speaks pretty well for America. The question here is who gets to decide who will be allowed to come here and who will be denied access? I say it’s our country after all, and membership and entrance requirements are rightfully up to us. It’s time to stop the current system of admission by geographic default and start exercising some standards and selectivity.

Historically, the standard for immigrants was first and foremost a desire on their part to become Americans. We admitted people from all over the world that wanted to become part of the great melting pot. Immigrants were expected to adjust their customs and traditions to fit within the framework of American culture. We expected people to show an understanding of our collective culture, to understand and obey the laws of our country, to speak the language, and to discard the parts of their native culture that were incompatible with ours. This seems reasonable to me. If you want to join our club, you have to play by our rules and make the effort required to become a full fledged member of the team.

The current debate is whether we should allow a large group of people from another country to come here and substitute their culture for our own. A vocal group of immigrants organizing groups like “La Raza”, “Mecha”, “Atzlan”, and “Reconquista” while waving the flag of a foreign country on our soil and loudly demanding benefits and accommodation from the rest of us doesn’t convey the spirit of assimilation to me. Demands for bilingual ballots and education don’t indicate it either. I’m sorry, but I don’t see a great desire on the part of the current group under consideration to become Americans first and foremost. I don’t think it’s racist to withhold membership on that basis; nor can any intellectually honest person.

Since it is our country, I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect something in return from the members we admit. It makes no sense to admit members that contribute less than they extract from public coffers. Since we have no shortage of applicants, doesn’t it make more sense to be selective in our admission requirements? We should select people that can and will carry their own weight. Shouldn’t we be choosing engineers, artisans and skilled tradesmen instead of uneducated low skilled laborers? Shouldn’t we be selecting the best and brightest from every corner of the globe instead of letting a single group displace everyone else through sheer volume? There is no shortage of people desiring membership in club America; we should be picking better members from the huge pool of available talent than we currently are.

In the current debate, the answer seems to be to throw up our hands and surrender to geography. The current crop of illegal immigrants is completely displacing every other candidate from consideration. Until we control our borders and start deciding for ourselves who we let in and who we exclude, we will continue to be overwhelmed by a huge group of largely uneducated, unskilled people that cost us overall more than they contribute to the exclusion of many more worthy candidates. We have to stop the gate crashing horde before we can begin to bring a sense of sanity to the system.

Finally, if we are a nation of laws, we must enforce the law. Laws that are as unenforced are just words on paper, and more words on more paper isn’t the solution. We need to summon the national will to enforce our laws instead of creating more of them. We don’t feel bad for a criminal that has eluded capture for years when he finally receives his comeuppance; nor should we feel bad for people that have knowingly built their lives in our country illegally. Building a life on an unstable and illegal foundation is not mitigated by the results achieved. For every “poor immigrant” uprooted, remember that there were also people of higher quality denied access through the legitimate process. I find it hard to generate any sympathy for those that knowingly cheat the system then accuse us of being the bad guys when the rules are ultimately enforced.

We are an open and welcoming country. Those that wish to come here through the legitimate process, assimilate, and with something to offer this great nation in return are as welcome as can be. Those that come here through stealth, take more than they put in, and demand that to which they are not entitled are not welcome. Our policies and priorities should reflect that. That is not unreasonable, nor is it racist; it is simply rational.

Scottie

I had a brief conversation with a co-worker this morning that startled me. I was changing some tires for a big truck and cleaning up the white letters on them when my co-worker said, “I bet if they made tires with ‘Bush Sucks’ on the sidewalls, they would be popular”. When I asked who he thought would buy those tires, he replied, “the soldiers returning from Iraq.”

I said, ‘I don’t think so. The military doesn’t hold that kind of animosity toward Bush.”

He went further, “So you think they’re happy killing people and raping women for Bush then?”

I replied, “That’s not what they’re doing. Those are Americans over there. They’re from the heartland of America. Those are the sons and daughters of friends of ours. Unless those are your values, how can you attribute them to people that are just like you?”

What a disconnect! Needless to say, the conversation died at that point. I knew without asking that this guy had never served in the military. Nothing dishonorable there, many do not choose that path. But it is stunning that someone so utterly ignorant about the military would presume to speak such garbage on their behalf. Let’s set the record straight here.

Our men and women in uniform serve this country with honor and distinction every day and night because they want to. They endure endless hardships in far flung places to defend our country and its interests. They do not come from the lower classes of society; they come from the broad middle. They are educated young people seeking to contribute to a country that offers more opportunity and freedom to its citizens that any other on the face of the earth. They are the guardians of that freedom and they know it.

While it may be popular to denigrate the War in some circles, it is unconscionable to slander our sons and daughters in such a fashion, especially while they remain in harms way. No one serving in the military would ever exhibit such irresponsibility and lack of discipline. That behavior is reserved for those that sleep safely at night and pursue their dreams and happiness under the vigilant care and protection of much more honorable people. When you hear these casual slanders of our young men and women in uniform, grow a backbone, drop a pair and speak up! It's far less than we are asking of our soldiers.

Scottie

I know it’s a hippy thing to say, but bear with me a minute. I see an undercurrent shaping up in the forthcoming election that seems to be missing from the current debate here at Townhall. I’ve been out in the trenches talking to a lot of people about the election coming up and offer the following unscientific results for your consideration.

Article 1. – The People are fed up with Standard Politics and Politicians.

We’re sick of the political machine and the candidates it produces and markets to us. We’re sick of people that have to pass every word they utter through a committee of handlers and consultants before they can answer a direct question. As Hawkeye Pierce chanted to uproarious support when the meal was liver for the fortieth day in a row, “WE WANT SOMETHING ELSE!”

Article 2.- The Mainstream Media is part of the problem.

I haven’t talked to anyone that thinks the MSM is giving us the whole story. This feeling comes from both sides of the political spectrum. Nobody believes we are getting the truth from these guys; Nobody.

Article 3 – The Stakes are too High for Politics as Usual.

Regardless of political persuasion, the folks blame the entire inside the beltway crowd for the mess we’re in. While the media trumpet George Bush’s poor job approval numbers, the Congress shares similar numbers.

From these precursors, I have concluded that a true populist movement is shaping up from both sides of the political spectrum. The grassroots support for Obama and Thompson isn’t a fluke, it is a repudiation of the status quo. The youthful and the idealistic Left love the fresh-face aspect of Obama. They are undeterred by his lack of experience; rather it is viewed as a plus. The right loves Fred Thompson for speaking directly to the issues without handlers and focus groups to tell him what he should say. Both of these candidates have something all of the others lack, authenticity. Call me crazy, but I think we’re going to see the People take a stand against the system next year, and not a minute too soon. What say you?

Scottie