Overlord at 65

Sixty-five years ago today, thousands of American, British, Canadian, French and Polish troops stormed ashore in the Normandy invasion that marked the beginning of the liberation of Europe from Nazi control. The carefully drawn battle plan, as usually happens, did not survive first contact with the enemy. But the courage and sacrifice of the men on the beaches was not in vain.

Those who are left are now in their 80s and even 90s. We owe them a debt that can never be fully repaid. Twenty-five years ago President Reagan concluded his remarks on the fortieth anniversary of the invasion with these words:

The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or on the next. It was the deep knowledge -- and pray God we have not lost it -- that there is a profound moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and so you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were right not to doubt.

You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One's country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you.

Where's the Gipper When we Need Him?

Five years ago today, the greatest president of my lifetime, Ronald Wilson Reagan, died at 93 years of age. He took office in a time of great economic chaos (much higher unemployemnt, inflation and interest rates than now) and by the use of free market principles and conservative philosophy ushed in an era of incredible growth and prosperity. In addition to forcing the Soviet Union to the brink (as Jack Kemp used to say, "Communism didn't fall, it was pushed") Reagan also revitalized America's spirit at home.

His heirs largely didn't share his vision for a strong and prosperous America that is inextricably linked to the values of individual freedom, and as a result, we're rapidly squandering both. Those who are too young to remember the 70s don't understand the pessimism and fear that gripped America in those days...but it's going to be back with a vengeance soon. If we don't get another leader like Reagan (and as much as I hate to say, there simply isn't one out there at the moment) we're going to find out where that road leads. And I don't think the "shining city on a hill" is going to like the answer very much.

I fear that, as they said of General George Patton, we shall not see his like again.

The Country's in the Very Best of Hands

As you look at the chart below (from the brilliant Geoff at Innocent Bystanders) keep this in mind: the blue lines are what President Obama's economic team told us was going to happen in order to convince Congress to spend nearly $800,000,000 we don't have. The red dots are what happens when "hope and change" meets The Gods of the Copybook Headings. It's not exactly a fair contest. We are way far up the creek with no paddle in sight.














The Treasury says the national debt is climbing to the sky
And govermnent expenditures have never been so high.
It makes a feller get a gleam of pride within his eye,
to see how our economy expands,
The country's in the very best of hands.


You ought to see the congress when it's drawing up a bill,
"Where as"'s and "to wit"'s are crowded in each codicil.
Such legal terminology would give your heart a thrill.
There's phrases there that no one understands.
The country's in the very best of hands.

from the musical "Lil' Abner"
Gene de Paul/Johnny Mercer
1956

I Wish it Was All a Joke

...but it's all very real.

1) President Obama has placed a 31 year old with no automotive experience in charge of General Motors. I'm sure my "investment" and "ownership" share is in good hands.

2) President Obama called America one of the "largest Muslim nations in the world."

3) More than half a million more people lost their jobs in May. So far President Obama's plan to "save or create" jobs is not working so good. In fact, he's averaging a job loss of 16,000 per day every day since he was inaugurated.

4) President Obama, who during the campaign said his father was "atheistic or agnostic" now says his dad was Muslim. Hope and change indeed.

5) A nutjob who claims to be a Christian kills an abortion doctor and the President issues a condemnation. A nutjob who claims to be a Muslim kills a US soldier at an Army recruiting station and the President issues....nothing at all. Not worthy of his notice.

Will the news media cover these things in depth and detail? Take a look at this photo and you tell me:



Yep, that's NBC "news" anchor Brian Williams bowing to the President at the conclusion of their White House interview.

Obama Takes US Off Car Standard

On April 5, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt made it illegal for most Americans to own gold when he signed Executive Order 6102, which ordered people to turn in their gold to the government for $20.67 per ounce. While there were some exceptions for dental use, jewelry, and artists and others who used gold in their jobs, most people were not exempted from this draconian order. Because of the economic crisis gripping America, most people were willing to give up what had previously been regarded as an essential liberty without complaint.

On June 1, 2009, President Barack Obama announced the death of the second of the "Big Three" automakers with the GM bankruptcy. Having already shattered the rule of law on the Chrysler bankruptcy to make sure to reward his union supporters, Obama is issuing directives and orders at least as far reaching as FDR's that are going to radically alter the way America lives. This may seem wildly speculatively today, but it is not beyond the scope of Mr. Obama's imagination:

Your ability to choose what car to buy and drive, already impacted by rising CAFE standards (which will kill thousands every year due to safety concessions required to increase mileage) and will now be affected by government control of design and manufacturing decisions by the automakers. But what comes next? What if we don't make the "right" choices? What if all those government cars sit in dealers showrooms (the ones that are left) month after month? Even worse, what if Fords, Toyotas, Hondas and BMWs keep selling? Will the President allow us to remain free, or will he take us off the car standard?

When will we start being offered incentives to do the "right thing? Or, more troubling, when will we start being required to? The government has already passed a law that will require you to buy the "right" light bulbs starting in a couple years. They're already required TV stations to broadcast the "right" signal. Why should cars be any different?