My Response to Mark

Hi, Mark- thank you for reading and posting your comment. I do appreciate it. Thank you also for voting- and I agree with you: McCain is not the best we could find for the position. However, I do believe Obama is the best the Democrats could find, since they all want the same thing- American Socialism. Follow your heart, my Friend.

That said, let me explain my position a bit more in-depth than I probably have in previous posts.

First: Maybe. I wonder about the 'middle class' in this country. They seem to be the very people who are in Obama's camp, hoping to elect a Socialist to the Presidency. If he does get elected and, with his Democrat cronies at his side, he will certainly destroy the middle class.

Have the Republicans really 'nearly exterminated the middle class'? I'm not so sure about that. Look at the alarm John McCain attempted raising in 2006 when he warned that Fannie and Freddie were going to have some serious problems- yet was shouted down by the Liberal Democrats headed by Nancy Pelosi.

If you think the GOP hates the middle class, do you think a Socialist Democrat will love it?

However- I digress from my main thought (again). And, yes, I do believe I've been 'hoodwinked' by the powers-that-be. No argument from me there. But not for the reason you think, trust me. Let me explain.

First, I think more people are using the middle class and economy as their primary concern for voting this year. I am not worried about the middle class or the economy. The economy will right itself if the government would get it's thieving fingers out of it. I believe this because if the Liberal Democrats hadn't forced banks to loan money to people who had no way to repay loans, the 'housing bubble' would not have grown so quickly, let alone burst. The people getting the loans from those institutions were not middle class citizens, that's why they got the loan. Now the middle class, thank you House and Senate for passing the bailout (sarcasm), will be bailing out the entire economy. We cannot honestly blame GWBush for the bailout since, like the Iraq war, he needed help: he has no power to enact either situation alone.

Confession time for me: I have never been 'middle class America' my entire life. I grew up poor, have lived my life poor. The only time I've ever had less money than now was the eight years after my divorce where I lived out of my backpack trying to get my head back together. Too, the profession I chose was not one conducive to getting someone into the middle class: news does not pay its lower echelons well, contrary to most people's beliefs.

But it isn't the middle class or the economy I am concerned with about this election.

Have I been 'hoodwinked'? Yes. Undoubtedly. I try crying it out with each writing.

I have been hoodwinked by a government I spent six years fighting for. I have been hoodwinked by politicians who are serving self rather than America. But most of all, I have been hoodwinked by people I thought believed in this country as much as I do. I have been hoodwinked by Americans. I have been hoodwinked by people who probably have no idea what the first three words of the Preamble to my Constitution are or what they mean. (As an aside- I have also been betrayed by 'Christian' people who don't even know the first three words in the Bible.)

But it isn't the hoodwinking that I am concerned with during this election, either.

My concerns this election are a Lady standing on an island in New York Harbor. But more, my concern is a sheet of paper laying under glass in Washington D.C..

The Constitution of the United States means more to me than the middle class or the economy. Without that single document, there would be no middle class or economy in this country. And more important still, is the document upon which that Constitution is based: the Bible, the Word of God, the Voice of Christ; the basis for our country's existence and its laws. Were it not for the Bible, this country would not exist nor would most of the world we live in. England would still be promulgating slavery; Europe would be under Hitlerian rule; Africa would still be supplying slaves to the world (as perhaps would the Irish, as Michael pointed out); China and the East would still be in the feudal stages. Call it narcissism, foolish pride, stupidity or whatever you want, but on my part, I am proud of my country's accomplishments. (I refuse to be put down for being an American who speaks only one language, has no desire to live outside the country of my birth. No, you're not putting me down: it's the liberals/democrats and their current Manchurian Candidate. who also said he speaks only one language- but that may be a lie as well as the rest of his rhetoric.)

Call me foolish for believing that were it not for the bravery of those first immigrants to this country who saw its possibilities, saw God's Hand in their being here, had the courage to declare it and rebel against the man-king that this country would not be what it has been and still is. Call me nuts for believing the American blood shed on every continent of this world is the very reason there is liberty and freedom in so many countries today. I do not believe we should be the world's police force but I do believe we are following the Great Commandment of Christ by proclaiming liberty to the masses. Not fully following it since we are not openly declaring Christ is Salvation, but the principles and ideas are there for all to see.

Many will probably call me narrow-minded and, as usual, opinionated for my beliefs- no skin off my nose. Doesn't bother me.

What bothers me is people who will vote for Obama thinking he will vow to defend the Constitution (thereby my country) from its enemies: he has already stated it's not a very good document and needs changing.

What bothers me is people who will vote for someone who has declared he will spread the wealth around- that alone will exterminate the middle class.

What bothers me is the constant outright lies being touted as truth by people who will vote for a Socialist agenda yet have no idea why they have that right.

What bothers me is being told I am destroying the world with my lifestyle by people whose lifestyle far surpasses mine with their 'carbon footprint'.

What bothers me is having my money stolen by taxation to support lavish lifestyles of politicians who care not one whit for my well being.

What bothers me is being told I am prejudiced against blacks (Chinese, Jews, Koreans, French, English- what have you) because I am not going to vote for a black candidate. Not that I'm not prejudiced: I am.

I am prejudiced against stupidity and ignorance, not skin color or nationality.

What bothers me is being told I have to accept a hedonistic lifestyle as normal, that 'alternative lifestyles' have to be legislated as normal lifestyles.

What bothers me is being told what I can or cannot write, speak, and think; that I must be 'politically correct'.

What bothers me is being told that my God is irrelevant in the very country He formed from the waters of the deep.

What bothers me is people blindly following a Pied Piper because they do not feel empathetic to the king.

Those, Mark, are some of the ways I've been hoodwinked and why I am going to vote for McCain and not Obama or another party. I'm going for the one who has a chance to win.

Bless God, God bless, Mark.

Oh- one last point. Praying about this, God told me this: "If My people who are called by My Name will repent of their evil ways and turn from their sin, I will hear from heaven and heal their nation."

I believe it whole heartedly.

Shy

Letter to Obama by Michael Master, McLean, Va.

To Barack Hussein Obama,

The New York Times carried a story on Saturday, October 4, 2008 that proved you had a significantly closer relationship with Bill Ayers than what you previously admitted. While the issue of your relationship is of concern, the greater concern is that *you lied to America about it.

The Chicago Sun reported on May 8, 2008 that FBI records showed that you had a significantly closer relationship with Tony Rezko than what you previously admitted. In the interview, you said that you only saw Mr. Rezko a couple of times a year. The FBI files showed that you saw him weekly. While the issue of your relationship is of concern, the greater concern *is that you lied to America about it.

Your speech in Philadelphia on March 18, 2008 about 'race' contradicted your statement to Anderson Cooper on March 14 when you said that you never heard Reverend Wright make his negative statements about white America. While your attendance at Trinity Church for 20 years is of concern, the greater concern is *that you lied to America on March 14*.

In your 1st debate with John McCain, you said that you never said that you would meet with the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, and North Korea without 'preparations' at lower levels ... Joe Biden repeated your words in his debate with Sarah Palin ... while the video tape from your debate last February clearly shows that you answered 'I would' to the question of meeting with those leaders within 12 months without 'any' preconditions. While your judgment about meeting with enemies of the USA without pre-conditions is of concern, the greater concern is that *you lied to America in the debate with McCain.

On July 14, 2008, you said that you always knew that the surge would work while the video tapes of you from more than a year ago show that you stated that the surge would not work. While your judgment about military strategy as a potential commander in chief is of concern, *the greater concern is that you lied to America on July 14.*

You now claim that your reason for voting against funding for the troops was because the bill did not include a time line for withdrawal while the video tapes of you from more than a year ago show that you voted against additional funding because you wanted our troops to be removed immediately ... not in 16 months after the 2008 election as you now claim. While your judgment about removing our troops unilaterally in 2007 is of concern, *the greater concern is that you lied to America about your previous position*.

You claim to have a record of working with Republicans while the record shows that the only bill that you sponsored with a Republican was with Chuck Lugar ... and it failed. The record shows that you vote 97% in concert with the Democrat party and that you have the most liberal voting record in the Senate. You joined Republicans only 13% of the time in your votes and those 13% were only after agreement from the Democrat party. While it is of concern that you fail to include conservatives in your actions and that you are such a liberal, the greater concern is *that you distorted the truth*.

In the primary debates of last February, 2008, you claimed to have talked with a 'Captain' of a platoon in Afghanistan 'the other day' when in fact you had a discussion in 2003 with a Lieutenant who had just been deployed to Afghanistan. You lied in that debate.

In your debates last spring, you claimed to have been a 'professor of Constitutional law' when in fact you have never been a professor of Constitutional law. In this last debate, you were careful to say that you 'taught a law class' and never mentioned being a 'professor of Constitutional law.' *You lied last spring.

You and Joe Biden both claimed that John McCain voted against additional funding for our troops when the actual records show the opposite. *You distorted the truth.*

You and Joe Biden claim that John McCain voted against funding for alternate energy sources 20 times when the record shows that John McCain specifically voted against funding for bio fuels, especially corn ... and he was right ... corn is too expensive at producing ethanol, and using corn to make ethanol increased the price of corn from $2 a bushel to $6 a bushel for food. *You distorted the truth.*

You and Joe Biden claim that John McCain voted like both of you for a tax increase on those making as little as $42,000 per year while the voting record clearly shows that John McCain did not vote as you and Joe Biden. *You lied to America.

You and Joe Biden claim that John McCain voted with George W. Bush 90% of the time when you know that Democrats also vote 90% of the time with the President (including Joe Biden) because the vast majority of the votes are procedural. You are one of the few who has not voted 90% of the time with the president because you have been missing from the Senate since the day you got elected. While your absence from your job in the Senate is of concern, the greater concern is that *you spin the facts.

You did not take an active roll in the rescue plan. You claimed that the Senate did not need you while the real reason that you abstained was because of your close relationships with the executives of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Countrywide, and Acorn ... who all helped cause the financial problems of today and they all made major contributions to your campaign. While your relationship with these executives and your protection of them for your brief 3 years in the Senate (along with Barney Frank, Chuck Schumer, Maxine Waters, and Chris Dodd) is of concern, the greater concern is that you are being deceitful.

You forgot to mention that you personally represented Tony Rezko and Acorn. Tony Rezko, an Arab and close friend to you, was convicted of fraud in Chicago real estate transactions that bilked millions of tax dollars from the Illinois government for renovation projects that you sponsored as a state senator ... and Acorn has been convicted of voter fraud, real estate subprime loan intimidation, and illegal campaign contributions. Tony Rezko has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to your political campaigns. You personally used your political positions to steer money to both Tony Rezko and Acorn and you used Acorn to register thousands of phony voters for Democrats and you. While your relationships with Rezko and Acorn are of concern, the greater concern is that you omitted important facts about your relationships with them to America.

During your campaign, you said: 'typical white person.' 'they cling to their guns and religion.' 'they will say that I am black.' You played the race card. You tried to label any criticism about you as racist. You divide America.

You claim that you will reduce taxes for 95% of America, but you forgot to tell America that those reductions are after you remove the Bush tax reductions. You have requested close to $1 Billion in earmarks and several million for Acorn. Your social programs will cost America $1 Trillion per year and you claim that a reduction in military spending ($100 billion for Iraq) can pay for it. While your economic plan of adding 30% to the size of our federal government is of concern, the greater concern is that you are deceiving America.

The drain to America's economy by foreign supplied oil is $700 Billion per year (5% of GDP) while the war in Iraq is $100 Billion (less than 1% of GDP). You voted against any increases to oil exploration for the last 3 years and any expansion of nuclear facilities. Yet today, you say that you have always been for more oil and more nuclear. *You are lying to America.*

Mr. Obama, you claimed that you 'changed' your mind about public financing for your campaign because of the money spent by Republican PACs in 2004.

The truth is that the Democrat PACs in 2004, 2006, and 2008 spent twice as much as the Republican PACs (especially George Soros and MoveOn. org). *You are lying to America.

Mr. Obama, you have done nothing to stop the actions of the teachers union and college professors in the USA. They eliminated religion from our history. They teach pro gay agendas and discuss sex with students as young as first grade. They bring their personal politics into the classrooms. They disparage conservatives. They brainwash our children. They are in it for themselves ... not America. Are you reluctant to condemn their actions because teachers/professors and the NEA contribute 25% of all money donated to Democrats and none to Republicans? You are deceiving America.

Oh, Mr. Obama, Teddy Roosevelt said about a hundred years ago that we Americans should first look at the character of our leaders before anything else.

Your character looks horrible. While you make good speeches, motivating speeches, your character does not match your rhetoric. You talk the talk but do not walk the walk.

1. You lied to America. You lied many times. You distorted facts. You parsed your answers like a lawyer.

2. You distorted the record of John McCain in your words and in your advertisements.

3. You had associations with some very bad people for your personal political gains and then lied about those associations.

4. You divide America about race and about class.

Now let me compare your record of lies, distortions, race baiting, and associations to John McCain: War hero. Annapolis graduate with 'Country first.' Operational leadership experience like all 43 previously elected presidents of the USA as a Navy Officer for 22 years. 26 years in the Senate. Straight talk. Maverick. 54% of the time participated on bills with Democrats. Never asked for an earmark. The only blemish on his record is his part in the Keating 5 debacle about 25 years ago. (For which he was cleared- Shy edit.)

Mr. Obama, at Harvard Law School, you learned that the end does not justify the means. You learned that perjury, false witness, dishonesty, distortion of truth are never tolerated. Yet, your dishonesty is overwhelming. Your dishonesty is tremendously greater than the dishonesty that caused the impeachment and disbarment of Bill Clinton. Your dishonesty is tremendously greater than the dishonesty of Scooter Libby. You should be ashamed.

Mr. Obama, it is time for us Americans to put aside our differences on political issues and vote against you because of your dishonest character. It is time for all of us Americans to put aside our political issues and vote for America first. It is time for America to vote for honesty.

Any people who vote for you after understanding that you are dishonest should be ashamed of themselves for making their personal political issues more important than character. Would these same people vote for the anti-Christ if the anti-Christ promised them riches? Would they make a golden calf while Moses was up the mountain? Would they hire someone for a job if that someone lied in an interview? ... of course not. So why do some of these people justify their votes for you even though they know you are dishonest? Why do they excuse your dishonesty? Because some of these people are frightened about the future, the economy, and their financial security ... and you are preying on their fears with empty promises ... and because some (especially our young people) are consumed by your wonderful style and promises for 'change' like the Germans who voted for Adolf Hitler in 1932. The greed/envy by Germans in 1932 kept them from recognizing Hitler for who he was. They loved his style. Greed and envy are keeping many Americans from recognizing you ... your style has camouflaged your dishonesty ... but many of us see you for who you really are ... and we will not stop exposing who you are every day, forever if it is necessary.

Mr. Obama, you are dishonest. Anyone who votes for you is enabling dishonesty.

Mr. Obama, America cannot trust that you will put America first in your decisions about the future.

Mr. Obama, you are not the 'change' that America deserves. We cannot trust you.

Mr. Obama, You are not ready and not fit to be commander in chief.

Mr. Obama, John McCain does not have as much money as your campaign to refute all of your false statements. And for whatever reasons, the mainstream media will not give adequate coverage or research about your lies, distortions, word parsing, bad associations, race bating, lack of operational leadership experience, and general dishonest character.

The media is diverting our attention to your relationships and ignoring the fact that you lied about those relationships. The fact that you lied is much more important than the relationships themselves ... just like with Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon ... Monica Lewinski and Watergate were not nearly as bad as the fact that those gentlemen lied about the events ... false witness ... perjury ... your relationships and bad judgments are bad on their own ... but your lies are even worse.

Therefore, by copy of this memo, all who read this memo are asked to send it to everyone else in America before it is too late. We need to do the job that the media will not do. We need to expose your dishonesty so that every person in America understands who you really are before Election Day.

Mr. Obama, in a democracy, we get what we deserve. And God help America if we deserve you.

Michael Master
McLean, Virginia

Bury Your Guns

Bury All Your Guns


Mike Kemp


"Listen my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.
TO ARMS! TO ARMS! To spades and hoes?!?
Bury ALL your guns, before the king knows!

Imagine the redcoats, filled with delight
Not one armed colonist stood ready to fight.
Lexington and Concord were burned to the ground
Crackling flames the only heard sound.

More taxes were levied, more rights denied;
For lack of arms, patriots died.
So listen my children, and you SHALL hear
No country was born, only suffering and fear.

So... if tyranny you want, then bury, and pray
For the speedy arrival of that brighter day.
But if liberty you love and you yearn to be free,
Then live by this motto... DON'T TREAD ON ME."

And thus we are told to hide weapons and ammunition, food supplies and clothing for the up-coming day the Jack Booted Thugs (AKA: JBTs) come knocking on our door and demand our weapons- all contrary the Constitution.
And what will the majority do? Dare I be so bold as to remark, "Hand them over." Of course, there will be whining and complaints about unConstitutional actions of search and seizure by the dotgov, but that's all it will be.
So common talk is to 'bury them'.
To which I ask: To what effect?
In this neck of the woods, anything buried in summer is going to remain there till the next summer, unless one uses a backhoe or Caterpillar to excavate said item(s). So burying supplies is a pretty silly thing for a lot of people. Unless, of course, one left a portion of the burial cask above ground- somehow concealed from sight of passers-by. Even in the wilds of the North Countree, this is a risky tactic. Slightly less risk of discovery would be to sink said packs in a lake or stream, though the same caveat appears for winter use. Not to mention, they'd better be better than water tight.
So what's a person to do? My boldness asserts itself again.
Keep the items in your home, your BOV and BOB. Don't have anything you aren't willing to lose because when the time comes, the Dark Lord and his JBTs won't give a shit what they take from whom. They want it all and will take all. Keep enough on hand loaded so you can run with it to the Hide, and that is broken into First and Second line gear. First Line is what you absolutely need, carried on your person, in pockets, on your pants belt. Second Line is that in your BOB/fanny pack. Third Line is anything you can live without if you have to leave it.
Just make certain when you leave, anything edible is no longer in that state; weapons are no longer usable, ditto with tools or anything else left. Destroy it. Do not let the enemy have use of it.
Drastic times call for drastic measures.
Bless God, God bless.
Shy III

---

Let's Vote Freedom Not Obama

The NRA vs Barack Hussein Obama

by A.W.R. Hawkins

With the 2008 presidential election upon us, the National Rifle Association is making their case against Barack Obama. They unflinchingly describe him as “the most anti-gun presidential candidate in American history” and have dedicated large sums of money to exposing his anti-gun agenda.

An in-depth look at his record justifies their position. Not only is Obama the economic socialist Rush Limbaugh has said he is, he is also a gun-banning associate of 1960s radicals who cannot wait to take away one of America’s greatest freedoms - - the right to keep and bear arms.

The NRA points out the fact that Obama supports handgun bans while Obama frequently excuses himself by saying he supports the Second Amendment but believes states, cities, and municipalities should be able to regulate types of handguns and implement local restrictions. (This convolution is an example of the type of reasoning he uses to explain how he can both find handgun bans and the Heller case, which banned handgun bans, to be “reasonable.”)

But Obama has missed the NRA’s point on this one. They are not simply saying he supports the kind of bans we’ve seen in D.C. and Chicago; they are saying he supports a complete ban on the manufacture, sale, and possession of a handgun. And they are right. On March 31, 2008, the Politico revealed that “Obama endorsed a complete ban on all handguns” in a general candidate questionnaire he filled out on September 9, 1995.

This is why the NRA keeps telling people that Obama talks out of both sides of his mouth. On one hand, he says, “I have always believed that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms,” while on the other he supports a complete ban on the arms they would bear.

In the same questionnaire he said he supported mandatory waiting periods for handgun purchases. “Waiting periods” mean that when you go to buy a gun you have to fill out paperwork, go through an FBI background check, and then after passing that, return to the store five days later to pick up your new gun. If you’re a woman being pursued by a potential rapist, you just have to hope the would-be rapist will lie low for five days while you wait to pick up your new means of self-defense.

Speaking of self-defense, Obama is completely opposed to that as well. In the decades before the Heller decision, many parts of Chicago put handgun bans in place that necessitated making the use of a handgun for self-defense illegal. (Think about it -- how could you legally use an illegal tool to protect yourself?) Proving he meant it when he said states, cities, and municipalities should be able to regulate and restrict the Second Amendment, Obama supported these unconstitutional bans when a 2003 case in Wilmette, Ill. provided him the opportunity to stand up for the “individual right” he also claims to support.

What happened in Wilmette was simple: a citizen “used a handgun to defend himself from a dangerous repeat offender.” He killed the attacker, and although the killing was ruled an act of self-defense, the innocent man faced jail time for having used a handgun to defend himself. Many Illinois lawmakers realized that such a charge was illogical and moved to change the law so as to allow the use of a handgun for self-defense. And guess what? -- Obama opposed the change in legislation (four times). Did you get that? -- OBAMA OPPOSED LAWS THAT ALLOWED USING HANDGUNS FOR SELF-DEFENSE.

It appears Obama would have us rely upon the government, via the police force, for our protection. And this is why the pro-gun organization, “Students for Concealed Carry on Campus,” is concerned about an Obama presidency. While writing this article I talked to their president, Michael Guzman, who cited the Wilmette self-defense case and said: “Senator Obama’s time in the Illinois legislature has shown his belief in full reliance upon the government to provide for one’s protection against criminals. We hope he comes to the realization that the police cannot be everywhere at once and that the individual is his or her own first line of defense against a would-be assailant.”

But if Obama’s record is any indication of things, he’s not going to come to the realization Guzman hopes for. Just think about other aspects of his record as an Illinois senator: He supported a proposal to ban gun stores within 5 miles of a school or park (which is tantamount to banning gun stores period); he supported H.B. 2579, which prohibited law-abiding individuals from purchasing more than one gun a month; he opposed laws that permitted law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for self-defense (i.e., he opposed concealed carry permits); he supported a ban on “junk guns” (cheaper guns that poor people could actually afford to buy and use for self defense); and he voted not to inform gun owners when the state of Illinois did records searches on them (S.B. 1936).

His U.S. Senate record is just as dismal: He supports the reintroduction of the assault weapons ban; he favors a ban on high capacity magazines; he voted with Ted Kennedy on ammunition bans (that included hunting ammunition); and most troubling of all, he voted against the confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito. Roberts and Alito are two of the five justices who upheld the Second Amendment in the Heller case. Just think, if Obama had gotten his way, they wouldn’t have been there, and the Second Amendment wouldn’t be there either.

The NRA is right to go after this gun grabber. And while political pundits continue to highlight Obama’s dangerous associations with vile humans like Jeremiah Wright and William Ayers, the NRA will be one of the few outlets reminding you that Obama has some equally dangerous anti-gun associations as well. They’ll trumpet the fact that “the Brady Campaign (formerly Handgun Control, Incorporated), [has] endorsed Obama for president.” Which means he can now boast of being endorsed by the same gun control organization that also endorsed “Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.), John Conyers (D-N.Y.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), and, of course, John Kerry (D-Mass.), to name [but] a few.”

Those of us who love freedom need to vote McCain/Palin on November 4, and we need go to the NRA website and add our voices to that organization’s cause by joining today.

We have to remember that freedom is not just something others give us: it’s something that we sometimes have to defend individually.

---

Gettin' Fit a Bit Late

Okay-OKAY!!! I get it!

Well, not really, but I'll pretend I do just to keep peace in the family.

I'm talking about a friend of mine who's getting worried about prepping and having a place to live. Currently, he's in a gov't Section 8 housing project- and been there a long long time. He's some kind of Social Worker who works with finding homeless some place to live. He's also one helluva lazy kind'a person who thinks 'fitness' is how many pencils he can push across a desk.

Anyway, we're on the phone and he's whining about his 'fibromyalgia' and how he can't 'do' anything without pain. Don't get me wrong, now, please- I also have 'fibromyalgia' according to the medics- but who can believe them? I'm close to 62 and aches and pains are part of growing old just as they are for teenagers. The thing I have about his fibromyalgia is I never hear the end of it. He can't lift a coffee cup or drive his car without 'extreme suffering' (he says). Personally, I told him it's cuz he sits on his ass all the time and won't do anything to help himself.

I digress again. Sorry.

He's looking for a place to live when 'it' happens. I told him not here, and started a war. "What kind'a friend are you?" he wants to know.

Well, I'm the kind that ain't gonna do all the work while you sit on your ass and I sure as hell ain't gonna listen to you whine about 'my fibromyalgia' hurts so much I can't do that (whatever 'that' is).

OOPS. Again, I'm digressing from the topic in mind: gettin' your bod where it should be- FIT.

(Oh, first, lemme apologize for the quality of the pix: rookie on the camera.)

Back 'in the day' the Army had what it called a 'daily dozen' exercises used to get the troops in shape. These were actually simple exercises every kid did in school- those days, anyway- with a twist. When teaching kick boxing, I used the same principal: activity-specific exercises. If it wasn't 'used in the activity, it was waste'. Today my thinking is the same: train for your particular sport using the muscles you'll be using in it. Everything else is waste. That said, here are a few exercises (I do them outside in 'nice' weather, but they're easy and great to do in an apartment while watching the Boobie-tube, too) every prepper can do.

First, though, think about going slow and easy, don't do the max if you can't. Instead, like all exercise, work your way slowly until the muscle can build. Too, if you think you need an aerobic workout as well, try these and don't pause between 'sets'. You'll be puffin pretty fast. If you aren't, then you're in pretty good shape and can just add reps/sets to get the workout. These aren't difficult or hard and they're a helluva lot more fun than a step-bench and grapevines.

Let's begin by warming up the torso a little, upper and lower body. Ready?

Ha! Caught you! First, grab your rifle or shotgun and B.O.B./pack. Now you're ready.

Two items we'll probably all be carrying- if we're prepped well- is our B.O.B. and a rifle. The idea here is to get the muscles used to wearing and carrying both.
The squat is done in the normal fashion: feet shoulder width, balanced, back straight and eyes forward. The differences: the BOB weight (pulling you backwards) and the rifle weight (pulling forward and maintaining balance).

As you bend your knees, inhale, raise the rifle- don't go above shoulder level cuz it won't do anything for you but aggravate the rotator cuff, and don't go beyond level thighs or you're going to injure your knees. Exhale on the rise. Do three sets of 50 (but don't let go of anything yet!- we're going to get some exercise!).

Without pausing from the last set of squats, reverse your grip on the rifle and begin doing three sets of 50 'curls' with your rifle. Don't get excited doing these- just go easy, slow, steady movements. Exhale when raising the weapon, inhale when lowering. Try to maintain a four-count movement: two up, two down. Here again, keep your feet shoulder width, weight even and knees relaxed, not locked, back straight. For variant, you can swap rifle position from butt-right to butt-left (exchanges weapon balance point). This is one exercise I do watching TV and don't waste time counting, just do them til I can't do any more. (Plus, when the bad guys are gettin' away, I help the good guys by shooting the tires outta the cars- fun while working out.)

Again, without pausing from the curls, go directly into the rifle-lunges. This is a modification of a bayonet lunge we did for countless hours in basic training. Hmmm...some of you Mosin Nagent fans just may have a use for this move- I'll demonstrate it later. These lunges should do two things for your muscles, besides relax them. First, there's the 'workout' aspect- good for legs and lungs; then there's the stretch factor. You want to take as long a 'step' as you can, really elongate that hamstring (back of your leg). Notice how the feet are facing: don't turn your back foot sideways more than 45 degrees. Doing more can lead to pulled groin (oh! my aching love-life!) and will lose much of the training effect of the lunge. While doing the forward step/lunge, elevate the rifle as we did in the squat. Again, watch the shoulder height, eyes forward.

From the lunges, go directly to the Front Leaning Rest position, rifle across the back of the hands and begin your pushups. Here again, keep the back straight (a challenge with the B.O.B. on- be sure it's buckled at the waist for all the exercises). Again, go for the four-count: two down (inhale); two up (exhale). Do three sets of 50 (thought I was gonna go easy on you, didn't you?). Okay: honestly, with the BOB on, I don't do all 50, either. Still, it's a goal. Also, when TSHTF, you just may need to low-crawl a lot and this is the exercise that gets you in shape for it.

(My preferred method of doing pushups is on my knuckles, hands close to the lower rib cage. Reason for this is punching: it strengthens the muscles used in punching techniques rather than the chest and shoulders, though it does exercise those muscles as well. Again- technique specific exercise. This is done by making a fist with the hands [duh! like we're gonna use our foot? ], inhale on the way down, exhale on the way up. Again, a four count move. Yup, you guessed it- do 50.)

Rising to our feet (panting like steam engines by now), keeping the rifle at hip level, stand in a walking pose. From there, drop to your right knee, elevating the rifle to sighting position (inhale). Take aim and lock on a target, pause two seconds (to shoot) and rise (exhale). Do 50, then change rifle position and repeat with your left/off hand side. Do 50 more.



From the kneeling position, rise to your feet and assume a walking stance (foot position). Now we're going to move to a sitting shooting position. Again, strive for good hold/lock on target- don't practice bad shooting position. All it'll do is teach you bad aiming habits. Again, do 50 reps both sides- never neglect training your 'weak' side muscles cuz you'll never know when the 'good' side will be disabled.


You can take twenty second's breather now and off-load the BOB and rifle. Go into a lunge step position- left foot forward for starters- raise your hands to a 'boxing' position in front of your body. Now, explode off your back foot/leg and bring it high as you can toward your chest. Exhale sharply while doing this and strive for speed- fast as you can. Inhale as you return the foot to the lunge/starting position. What you're looking for here is maximum output/speed of the rising leg/foot and nominal movement of the hands, head, and upper body. You guessed it: do 50 with each leg. The idea here is to imagine driving your knee into a groin or hip- an exercise that will come in handy for future classes.
We're going to conclude today's exercises with some fun: Pistol Practice. Here again, strive for doing the best you can. Only good practice produces good results. First: remove the magazine from your pistol or empty the cylinder of your revolver, then holster it. With your pistol/revolver holstered, spend half an hour practicing draw/target acquisition techniques. (Understand: I am no firearm instructor, just a participant in the sport, and am offering exercise ideas that lead to skill improvement.) The idea behind this exercise is to practice drawing/aiming from every position you can imagine- even laying on your back, target behind your head. (You never know when those blankety-blank Zombie's are gonna come at you!) If your range allows it, or you can find some 'alone time' there, it doesn't hurt to practice these drills 'live-fire', also. Just one more notch in your list of skills on your way to surviving whatever Fate and our infamous Uncle send our way.

Regardless of your fitness level, it can always be improved and I'm offering up some different ideas on getting exercise and trained- hopefully to everyone's benefit.

Coming up there will be some serious training blogs- if I can find a bettererererer photog to get clear pix and figure the best way to demonstrate my ideas. Hopefully they help someone.

Again: any and every time you pick up a weapon, insure it's unloaded, then check again. Never point at something you don't want to shoot, and never pull the trigger until you're sure of target and backstop. Safe practice makes for safe people.

Bless God, All. Have fun.

Shy

Answer To Anonymous

Reading through the blogs this morning, I end up- as usual- at Mayberry's. (Save for dessert.) Someone out there is, I think, feeling a moment of panic, frustration, desire and not a little fear- fear he/she's going to miss the next Revolution.

For brevity sake, here's the letter to Mayberry:
How the hell are we gonna get the army of Patriots together? Where's the rally point? What's the required TA-50? Who's in charge? Is there a password/counter password so we know who the hell is on the right side? Can we do another Boston Tea Party and throw the frigging lib dems overboard cause we KNOW we ain't going to vote them out! Voting for Baldwin ain't going to do more than be an objection vote and Obama's still going to win so it's wasted ink.

Thinking about this later, I decided I had to cross channels and (maybe) steal some thunder from Mayberry and post my thoughts on the topic. Here goes...

First, getting the Patriots together will be no easy chore. No more easy than it was in 1776. We'll have to watch the church tower and look for the lanterns- there will be many calls. My best guess, since we're doing a Constitutional revamping, it'll be some time around April 19 that the call goes out and you won't miss it.

TA-50. Methinks you've been military sometime in the last forty or fifty years. This, Dear Friend, is going to be a "come as you are" party. Bring whatever you think you'll need yet maintain flexibility and mobility all the while keeping a steady stream of interwoven fire. So far as arms are concerned: there'll be plenty on the battle field to pick and choose your fave.

Who's in charge? That's a tough one to answer as there are so many qualified Patriots out there (count me out: I can't get my dog to eat steak let alone lead men; but I'll be right beside you). My guess is someone we already know through the media or blogs, someone already in a position of power. Just be sure he's not advocating 'peace and safety' or 'everything's gonna be great' or any kind of social welfare programs- we have enough politicians like that already. As to the first couple, those are promises of the anti-Christ so let's ignore him.

The password is going to Liberty and Freedom; Constitution and Rights; Honor and Truth; all the nouns we can associate with what it means to be American.

The rally point is going to be Washington, D.C. where there will be a very substantial supply of one-inch thick hemp and a lot of lamp posts from which to dangle the traitors of our Constitution. It will be in D.C. we encounter the heaviest resistance. Not only from military forces, but the local welfare/nanny state inhabitants. However, having it in Philly might not be a bad idea, either- the Cradle of Freedom. Wherever it will be, you will know.

Yes, IMNASHO, Obama's going to win and woe unto us within the first six months. Aside from losing jobs and money through taxation without representation, we'll lose our gun rights- hopefully you have one or two and a goodly supply of ammo for each- as well as the First Amendment (and watch how the blogs you read suddenly disappear, as well as the A.M. radio stations).

Too, in MyNotAlwaysSoHumbleOpinion, this will be a small, if not very small army. Though there are many Patriots "out there", most will be unable or unwilling to come.

Why do I say that?

First, because of the awesome military power that is available to protect the evil people within the government, hearts will grow weak just thinking about it. For sure, the fire and zeal will be in the hearts and minds of those Patriots- all the way to the gas station/bus depot/plane ramp. Then the doubts will set in:

"What if we lose?"

"What if I'm the only one there?"

"How long will it take?"

"What if we don't have someone in charge who knows what to do?"

"What if Russia or China or England (put country in here) come to help them?"

"What if I'm the only one there?" (Asked twice because we'll be thinking of ourselves, our families, our associations: all those who will think differently of us.)

So, you see, Dear Friend- it's going to be a tough row to hoe. We'll have to be ready at any given time. We'll have to, as Patrick Henry, be unhesitant saying "Give me Liberty or give me death!" There will be no other way- so very many will, very very many, will undoubtedly die without knowing the result of the Revolution.

Will it be a success? Will it fail? How long will it take? What if I die, who will care for my family, my kids (my dog)? What will my mother think?

Unanswerable questions except that, "We will not know unless we go."

As to what Mom will think... I believe mine will stand proud at my funeral, knowing that the flag across my casket will be Old Glory. She knows my stand now as she always has, will shed tears because I stood for what I believe and took no compromising path to protect Her: my Mother, my son, my Country, my Flag, my Fellow Patriots, my God.

I close not with, "God Bless America", but with, "America, Bless God", for I believe that if we bless Him, He will bless us. For, "I pledge Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands: One nation, under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."

Take not that oath without giving it thought- serious thought. To pledge allegiance is to swear your life. When being inducted to the military, we swear our oath to "Protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America from all enemies, foreign and domestic". This, too, is to swear your life in defense of. Not to be taken lightly- and I know of some who took not that oath in '68- yet did give their lives for the liberty of others.

So, Dear Friend, consider what you ask. Take no oath or make no promise for which you will not shed your blood, surrender your life. Or worse: end in a POW camp that will make Guantanamo/Gitzo look like Paris Hilton's bedroom.

America- Bless God.

Shy

(I'm sure I can hear the thump of Jack Boots on my stoop even now as I ready to post this.)

Survivors and Doomers

It's very interesting, to me any way, that Prepper/Survivors have been getting compared to Doomers the last few weeks in the MSM. The really sad part of it is, they have no idea what they're talking about.

Seriously- there's a big difference in a Survivor and a Doomer, even Scripturally.

From the Scriptures, we hear the Doomer whining, "Oh! Woe is me! The end of the world is nigh!" These are the Doom and Gloomers, people who think there is no reason for living, no reason to 'keep on keeping on'. People who have lost hope, have given up, the kind who quits their job or doesn't work or, in worst case, commit suicide, because there is no hope anyway: the world is ending. These are the people the MSM is really thinking of when they do an article/newsreel on 'preppers'. Of course- we can leave it to them to "get it wrong" like they do everything else. They really, truely wish they could find some prepper wearing a sandwich board proclaiming the end is near.

Of course, they won't unless they hit the mainstreets of New York or Los Angeles where all the kooks live, so we are forced to ingest a diet of soft-porn stories of 'suburban preppers' and made to seem the fool.

Now, let me explain first that I am no 'prepper'. Honest, seriously: I am a Survivor. I have always 'prepped' for worst-case-scenario. Been doing it since the 70's and my Army discharge. At that time, 1972, I could see how shitty the world was turning from the world I knew to what it has become today. I fully and sincerely hoped for a Second Revolution in this country during it's Centennial year, 1976. I was truly disappointed when nothing happened beyond the norm. Well, kinda nothing happened- we did eventually elect Jimmy Cahtah and the world went to shit in a more rapid fashion.

Looking back from a 30+ year perspective, I think there was a revolution of sorts and my side lost.

Abortion was suddenly mainstream dialogue; poverty was elevated to a status symbol through the Social Service System; 'women's rights' was gaining a stronger and stronger following; the emasculation of men was gaining lots of steam; women were being denigrated at a higher rate; children were being indoctrinated into the socialist view through Sesame Street and its ilk; the A-rab countries were beginning to see how easily the United States could be controlled through its oil reserves; environmentalists (of which I was one- until I opened my eyes) were mainstreaming through the medium, especially through earth and adventure magazines- MARIAH comes to mind- the first of the tree-hugger medium and I, true to form, was a first subscriber.

(Let me say here that I am not against women's rights- I just look at it from a different viewpoint than 'feminists'. Every woman has the rights of any man in the country- that is a guarantee by the Constitution, that is the Proclamation of God and should be the law of the land. Nor am I against Sesame Street- I think it has possibilities of being even more great as an education system if it is used properly, not ideologically for socialist ideas. Environmentally, I am totally for cleaning it up, keeping it clean, and promoting 'green' schemes- if they are fully thought out, tested prior to mandating and certainly applied fully across the globe [which we know is not going to happen], and I most certainly believe the United States should be energy-independent by drilling for its own oil- rather than allowing foreign nations drill in our back yard and take the reserves we should be using- as well as allowing the free market system discover the alternatives we need- without the taxpayer having to foot the bill.)

However, again, I digress. My apologies. (Listening to the debate in the background and hear nothing but blather and Obama-sama is making all kinds of assumptions and lies, so I claim some distraction tonight.)

First, I have been a 'born again Christian' since 1986. I don't always do the right thing and quite often fall flat on my face when it comes to 'being Christian'. I make no apologies for it- that is an issue between God and me. Still, my perspective now comes from Scripture and I believe God is telling me to 'make ready'- present arms and prepare myself. That is where the 'prepper' comes in, where the 'survivor' lives.

Scripturally, I believe the United States is in a shit-storm and God is waving His hand over it, stirring the pot and the mixture is brewing according to His plan.

Politically I believe in the Constitution as originally written, that it is the most magnificent document written, standing close beside the Bible in its impact and significance.

Now...

A Survivor/prepper is someone who feels the same whether they understand or recognize the 'force' behind their thinking or not. A survivor is someone who sees a future, who sees hope beyond the horizon, who is a pioneer of the First Breed. A Survivor is someone who knows there is something better than being enslaved to government or a political system or an hierarchical rule of the monied people. A Survivor is someone who loves beyond themselves, who is concerned for others, ready to display this love by being ready. By 'prepping' for themselves, their family, their extended family, they are willing to forgo the pleasures around them and sacrifice for the freedom they feel in their hearts. A Survivor is someone who is willing to die for an ideal, put their life on the line for the love in their heart.

Scripturally, "A man who will not defend his home is worse than a non-Believer". A Survivor is one who is following the Scripture, knowingly or not. (Proverbs.) Therefore, I arm myself not just because I really enjoy shooting sports, but because I am willing to shed blood for my family, those others I love, those who are not able to protect themselves.

Scripturally, we are to "lay aside seven years food supply for the difficult times" (hence part of the LDS doctrine). Therefore, when the time comes, I will have food on hand for the hungry of my family first, others next.

Therefore, I prepare and am a 'prepper', but deep inside, I am a Survivor who goes beyond the preps and helps to begin something new, follows the Constitution as the second most wonderful writings in the history of man, and hopes for a regrowth of the original ideals, aspirations and hopes derived from the Constitution and the God Who inspired it. I am one who dreams of a new world out of the old, a world based on the Words of Jefferson, Franklin, Hancock, et-al, wherein all men are created equal- male and female- and endowed by God with certain rights as liberty, freedom and the pursuit of happiness- not guaranteed them, but allowed to find them in their own lives with the help of God.

Bless God, Preppers-

Shy

PONDERINGS

Now that I've quit crying about fool politicians I can get back to pondering about real things in my life.

Of course, we all think about things: 'How do I do this 'r that,' etc. Can't be human without doing it. For me, most thinking revolves around 'shortcuts' in thinking methods. I'm not sure anyone else has ever done it this way, but like most people I tend to think I'm the 'Lone Ranger' in thought. Still, I'll throw some of my thinking out, perhaps even expanding on the thought as I do after thinking. Such as...

Freedom is not inherited: each generation must win it for itself.

Two is one, one is none (the famous survivor maxim).

A gun on your belt when needed is better than two on a cop's belt in the coffee shop.

"Political intelligence" is an oxymoron.

A man in need is not your friend.

Dead men don't care what caliber killed them.

"Pro-gun & self defense Democrats" is an oxymoron.

War is a terrible thing and to be avoided at all costs, but is sometimes necessary.
Allow a liberal an inch and they'll steal a mile.

Train diligently and have no fear; be lax one day and forfeit the battle.

Your true family is not just of blood, but joy and respect in each other's lives.

Save now, want not later.

There is no understanding of the evil in men's hearts without understanding the Spirit in the man.

In TEOTW terms, lack of a CCW is the last reason to not carry.

Weather is not fashion conscious.

Someone unwilling to die for their beliefs doesn't believe their beliefs.

Self defense isn't a 'right', it's a duty.

Just because you can't see it doesn't negate it.

What is heard can be dangerous- what can't be heard can be more dangerous.

Adapt, improvise, overcome (Ranger creed).

To 'prep' or 'not to prep' isn't a question...

...and the reason you pay car/house/medical insurance but not 'prep' for disaster is...?

How fast can anyone half-asleep open a combination gunsafe to gain a weapon?

In a survival situation (anytime), how long will you wait after dialing 9-1-1 to begin defending yourself?

Augh! enough for now- my head is spinning! (Thinking does that to me.)

Ran into a pretty good, I thought, deal last week and picked up another thousand rounds of 9mm for $180, so I should have enough for a while- this winter, anyway. Unless Obama-samma gets elected, then I'll probably pick up another thousand or two early November and a few more magazines. The question will become 'Where do I store all this stuff?" The house is full of preps already, much more and I'll need a larger house. (No thanks: got enough bills!)
Surprisingly, the electric bill last month was less than it's ever been. I think they made a mistake. Oh, well: I'll catch up next month. Sure was a plesant surprise just the same. Gas is below $3 a gallon now as well. Tanks are topped off, spare cans are full, but need to fill the boat's tank though the water's nearly frozen. Thus endeth the night's ramblings.

God bless, All- and bless God.


Shy

Where Has She Gone?

So far as I'm concerned, the betrayal is so complete every person in the Congress and Senate should commit Seppuku.

Regardless of the gross number of phone calls, emails, personal contacts and prayers, the Senate and House have blatantly decried the wishes of their constituency and voted in the absolute worst bill they could have, short of totally negating the very Constitution they have sworn to uphold. These men and women have shown there truly is no honor remaining in the political world- from the President down, each and every one has shown their true colors, their total disdain for the populace who elected them, put their trust in them, hoped in them.

Today I truly felt there will not only be need for the 'survival preps', there will be a definite need for getting my mind 'right' in enabling "rule .308".

The 'time' is not 'appropriate' yet, but not far in the future. The time has come, nay- is well past, for the revolution I envisioned in 1976.

I love my country, can think of no place I've traveled the past 61 years that would be a better place to live. Always, regardless who was in office, I have honored the Man because of his position, even when I disagreed with it. From J. Kennedy to G.W. Bush, I have revered the office. From Walter Mondale to Norm Coleman, I have held their office in esteem. I have always believed in the Truth of the Constitution, of the tenets it exemplifies and for so many generations we Americans have endured, loved, fought and died for, have attempted to spread throughout the world.

No longer, no more.

Today, for the first time, I fully understand that I have been naive, have believed a dream, have mistakenly thought others, my leaders, felt the same about what I so dearly love. My tears are real, my heartache full as I listen to what my 'leaders' have so boldly done and so ballsily come forward on news to 'justify' their actions. How can anyone justify a wrong, justify a disobedience, for the sake of money? How can any who swears on their honor to uphold the Constitution so flagrantly disregard its tenets?

I have torn up my yard signs for McCain/Palin, for Norm Coleman. I will not support such scum as these, no more than I will support Saddam Hussein Obama...excuse me, Barack Hussein Obama. I have written Coleman and informed him of my intent to now pursue aiding his opponent and not voting for Coleman this November, not that I will vote for his opponent, yet I also will not vote for him. Nor will I vote for McCain no matter how much I believe Sarah Palin- not John McCain- for the lessor of two evils is still evil. Instead, I will write in Ron Paul and pray every person who would vote for McCain will write in Paul as well.

Not that it will make one iota of difference, but my heart will be appeased, my conscience clear, as I load the rifle and know I will soon be using it to defend my country on its own shores, my own back yard, against the very people who so lately have been my neighbors, my fellow countrymen, my loved Americans.

America, Bless God-

Shy

(As an aside: I've tried getting onto a few of the more 'radical' blogs tonight- to no avail. They will not load. Rather, I get an "error 404" page; one page began to load and stopped, the message coming "this page unavailable for viewing". Has it begun? Has our own government begun its campaign against its citizens? Has any other noted this 'phenomena'? [as in "it's my computer- being on "pony express" dial-up] Are we suddenly- after only the first day of attacks from our leaders- the new 'terrorists', the new 'un-Americans'? Has paranoia gotten to me after all these years, rotting my brain and causing me to think of quickly donning the tin hat? Or have I just gone crazy with the agony of the betrayal my own leaders have shown?)

[One more note, for those uncertain: 'Seppuku' is a ritual suicide performed when one has shown lack of honor, a disemboweling by one's own hands.]