Tom Brokaw: Blinded By The Light

By Semperpapa

In the wake of the shooting in Arizona, the Left did not miss the opportunity to use the tragedy in their ever present effort to kill the 2^nd Amendment of our Constitution.

Predictable, of course, yet disheartening.

The liberal media has had a field day with the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, never missing the opportunity to let a good crisis go to waste.

Film director Spike Lee puts his 2 cents in by calling for the banning of the National Rifle Association, a clear rejection of the constitutional right of the American people.

Revealing is the statement of Tom Brokaw regarding Arizona. The former journalist was on a MSNBC program where he stated that he would not feel comfortable going to a bar or restaurant in Arizona.

Here is part of Brokaw’s statement:

“Here is why I think there are a lot of Glocks being sold: because gun owners are worried that they're going to be outlawed. That's what happened when President Obama first took office is that people were buying ammunition and storing it in underground bunkers because they thought he was going to outlaw guns and ammunition. Gun control is too simple a phrase to define all the complications and nuances of it, frankly. In Arizona they have a wide open system. I would be nervous about going into a bar or restaurant in Arizona on a Saturday night where people can carry concealed without permits.”

One silver lining of the recent events is the increased knowledge of the Left regarding the gun lexicon. Already the progressives, anti-gun proponents have adopted catch terms like “assault rifle” and the always famous “AK47”. Everything that looks like a rifle is an AK47.

Still conveniently misused is the difference between automatic and semi-automatic, a distinction that, when ignored, makes for great sensationalism.

Today, the new term for the take-guns-away-eliminate-crime crowd is “Glock”.

I am sure Tom Brokaw had no idea of what a Glock was until last Saturday, even if the body guards that watched him over the years most likely safeguarded his safety with the very same weapon he is now using in vilifying terms.

But now, Mr. Brokaw has been blinded by the light of his own elitism. He now realizes the existence of the Glock.

Where Mr. Brokaw is still in complete dark is in his statement about going into a bar or restaurant in Arizona. His position is that the “liberal” weapon carry allowance in Arizona is frightening for his elitist taste. How wrong can the man be?!

In 1991, the law in Texas was that legally licensed CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) permit holders were not allowed to bring their weapon inside establishments like bars and restaurants.

On October 16, in the city of Killeen, a deranged man drove his pick up truck into a diner at the busy lunch hour. He got out of the vehicle and started executing people at random. When the police showed up and engaged the gunman, after being hit few times, the man killed himself, but not before he was able to take the lives of 23 innocent people.

Misguided liberals like Tom Brokaw would probably believe that more stringent gun control laws would have prevented the man from perpetrating his killing spree, but Suzanna Gratia Hupp is the proof of the falsity of that logic.

Suzanna was in the restaurant at the time of the crime, her only fault being that she was having lunch with her elderly parents. Suzanna was also licensed CCW holder, but in compliance with the law, she had left her weapon in her car.

Ms. Hupp witnessed her father being fatally shot. She witnessed her mother refusing to escape the establishment to remain with her dieing husband and subsequently being executed by the gunman herself.

The reality of that horrible day is that had the law preventing law abiding citizens to take responsibility for their own security not being there, Suzanna would have been able to defend herself and others and maybe save some lives.

Ms. Hupp was eventually successful in petitioning the Texas legislature into reversing the law. A small victory for common sense achieved at great cost.

It is obvious that Mr. Brokaw is conveniently forgetting and dismissing the lesson learned in Killeen, Texas.

Personally, I would feel much more comfortable in a restaurant or bar in Arizona or Texas than I feel every time I am in a similar situation here in California, where we are all sitting ducks.

Tom Brokaw can climb his omnipotent pedestal of self righteousness, he may feel important in his dismissal of the Constitution, he may even feel "in-touch" with the latest fad about "Glocks", but if he was in a bar or restaurant in Arizona, he would be as safe as if in his own mother's lap.

Just my thoughts!

So Much For Toning Down The Inflamatory Rhetoric

By Semperpapa

I believe that the memo from the Obama administration regarding toning down the hateful rhetoric about the Tucson shooting did not reach California Congressman Bob Filner.

Mr. Filner, a Democrat from the 51st district of the Golden State, was on, of course, MSNBC being interviewed by Lawrence O’Donnell. Granted that the statements of Mr. Filner were only witnessed by an abysmal number of viewers, the tone of his statements reflect the departure of the Congressman from the alleged guidelines set by President Obama in his memorial statement of January 12.

The host asked Filner if he, Filner, who is Jewish, felt that the attack against Gabrielle Giffords could have an anti-Semitic tone, mostly because of the information found that the shooter had listed Hitler’s Mein Kampf as one of his favorite books.

Filner responded:

”To me, I thought this was inevitable, Lawrence. And to me, I had been active in the civil rights movements, the ‘50s and ‘60s. I have been in mobs. I’ve been beaten up. These people were intent on violence. You didn’t hear the words about anti-Semitic comments there. But only the intervention of police rescued me at that point. And my son and my granddaughter were scared to death. They were in the audience there just trembling. I went back to my civil rights roots to figure out how I would lay down and curl up.”

What?

He than added:

“The next day, Lawrence, and also right after Gabby’s shooting, there were blogs to say that clearly politics doesn’t work for us because Filner the sneaky Jewish guy obviously defrauded us, and we have to go to violence. And here`s some AK-47s; here`s how you do sniper work. And that was repeated a couple days ago with — when they said this is the start of the revolution, the shooting of Gabby Giffords. So this is not an isolated incident. Everybody who tries to put it off on a deranged individual I think is — that’s a political statement in and of itself, because they are absolving themselves of the responsibility of their words and their actions.”

Again, what!?!?

Congressman Filner really believes the actions of a deranged criminal with a personal ax to grind with Rep. Giffords was the inevitable beginning of a revolution? And who would be at the leadership of this revolution? Oh, let me guess. Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh, right?
The truth is that the Left is not done with their attempt to politicize the tragedy in Arizona, just like the Left tried to capitalize on other national tragedies, from the Oklahoma City bombing to the mass murder at Virginia Tech and Columbine.

The only time the Left did not try to take advantage of other people’s suffering was in the case of Hasan and his massacre at Ft. Hood. In that instance, they were all too willing not to rush to conclusions, even after it had become known that Hasan had acted in the name of radical Islam Jihad.

The continuous beating from the liberal progressives against talk radio, conservatives and anyone who does not subscribe to their Marxist ideology will not subside anytime soon.

I wish someone would remind the congressman that it has been some of his ideological brethrens, Van Jones one of them, who have been calling for the Left to engage in civil violence as a reaction to the conservative victory in November.

I also find it interesting that Lawrence O’Donnell conveniently omitted, in his question, that the other favorite book of the shooter was Marx’s Communist Manifesto.

No, Mr. Filner, the shooting in Arizona was not the beginning of some sort of violent revolution, and even less the beginning of a Right Wing revolution.
Unless the revolution you speak of is the one that Francis Fox Piven has called for just couple of weeks ago all the way from France, the same revolution that regurgitated hippies like you and Hanoi Jane and Bill Ayers have been fomenting for the last 40 years.

Just my thoughts!

Reflections On A Memorial

By Semperpapa

When President Obama took the stage at the University of Arizona to memorialize the victims of Saturday's massacre, I was listening on the radio, unable to watch any images from work.

The first thing that struck me as odd was the reaction of the crowd as he took the podium. The applause, the "we love you" screams, caused me to have a strange reaction: is this a memorial or is this a campaign rally?

I was then able to only hear few of the first lines delivered by the President, and I could almost hear somewhat of an underlined call to order in the tone of Obama, as if the outburst from the crowd were so out of place in the context of the occasion that it caused the President a certain level of embarrassment. Again, those were gut impressions.

I did not have the chance of hearing or watching the rest of the speech, moreover I prefer to always read transcripts of Obama speeches than actually watch him speak. There is a level of arrogance in the man's delivery that I am not fond of.

From reading the speech, I must commend the President for the content of his remarks. He touched on the very core of the significance of the tragedy and of the moment.

There is one sentence of the speech that sort of encompass my thoughts about what has occurred in Tucson:

"If this tragedy prompts reflection and debate, as it should, let's make sure it's worthy of those we have lost."

Ultimately, the true essence of a Nation like the United States is the ability of its people to express their support or grievances in a peaceful manner. That is the single most significant reason why our great Country has been able to remain the international beacon of freedom for an entire planet, just as tyranny and oppression has swept every other part of the globe at one time or another.

From our Military bleeding and dieing on foreign soil for the freedom of others to the sacrifice of our own citizens on our soil, the omnipresent reality remains that the United States still remains the synonym of liberty and excellence.

I agree that we have not reached the ever elusive point of perfection, but in the race toward that unreachable target we are in a much greater position of achievement.

I was indeed positively impressed with the words of the President, as they were exactly what our wounded Nation needed to move forward from the darkness of the massacre in Tucson. My only concern, and what keeps me in a status of “wait and see”, is the real aftermath of the massacre.

Words are cheap and easy to speak, especially when formulated by a small army of speech writers, but what is important is the action that comes after the last echo of words is gone, when the emotions of the moment are toned down.

Only the future will answer my doubts. It is saddening to have lost the faith in elected officials, but the inflammatory and castigating words of the last few days from many who are in charge of preserving our constitutional rights, remain a looming testimony to a direction for the Country that is in stark opposition with the principles of our Nation itself.

Just my thoughts!

The Day The First Amendment Died In Arizona

By Semperpapa

And that day was January 12 2011.

Arizona State legislature passed a bill that would curtail the Westboro Baptist Church hate mongers from spewing their venom at the funerals of the victims of the Tucson massacre.
Utilizing the emotional component behind the upcoming funeral of Christina Taylor Green, the 9 year old victim of the attack, the legislature was unanimous in the passing of the bill.

The move by the Arizona legislature is the very first step toward the progressive nullification of the First Amendment rights of the American people, a clear success for those who have been polluting the media since the massacre with their attacks against the American conservative movement. This is a victory for Al Sharpton and Bill Press, Alan Greyson and James Clyburn.

Surely the decision is welcomed on its face value, because nobody is approving in the least the type of hate that the WBC has been bringing into the American socio-political discourse.
As a Patriot Guard Rider, I am very well aware of the internal fury that these people can provoke, but the victory in Arizona is for the censorship movement of the progressive liberals, not the decency of America.

The web site American Chronicle has a disgusting piece titled Tea Party Will Picket Christina Green's Funeral.

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/210649

The article is a pure piece of political assassination, because there is absolutely no connection under any circumstance, between the TEA Party and the miscreants tribe of Fred Phelps.
And yet, throughout the ugly piece, the writer continues to address the WBC protesters as TEA party activists.
The bill so adamantly passed in Arizona, together with rhetoric like that of the American Chronicle, will give the executioners of the Constitution the ability of using the same laws to stifle the right of real TEA Party activists to voice their grievances against the government in the future.

It is also heartwarming that the politicians finally found religion in regard to the vile protestations of the WBC, considering that these folks have been imposing their hurtful hatred upon the families of thousands of American soldiers, but up until now, the same politicians were unable to do anything about it. More like they were unwilling and uninterested in doing anything about it.
After all it was the families of some bloodthirsty Army murderer who was being distraught. Right!

Yesterday, Arizona legislature handed over to the enemies of America a victory that will resonate in the future of our Nation. Thank goodness this crisis did not go to waste!

Just my thoughts!

What Happened To Rep. Peter King?

By Semperpapa

I was dumbfounded when I heard that Rep. Peter King, Republican from New York, was planning to bring a bill in the House for additional gun control legislature.

Rep. King, usually one whose conservatism and adherence to the Constitution I thought could be counted on, wants to introduce a bill that would make it illegal to knowingly carry a firearm within 1,000 feet of members of the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches of government.

The first inkling about the stupidity of this action is the mere fact that New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is in support of King’s intention. Bloomberg is a progressive moron who only wants firearms in the hand of his salt police.

Is the insanity in Tucson, the media and the left wing portion of Congress contagious? Looks like it is an infectious disease spreading fast and King got it too.

So, if I understand it correctly, the new 22,947th gun control law will prohibit anyone from carrying a gun within 1,000 feet of someone like Rep. King. Such legislature would have prevented the actions of the gunman in Tucson. Really, Mr. King? Are you that stupid too?

Unless authorities are going to have a tight perimeter around the event with 500 feet radius and pat downs or metal detectors, the law is going to be just another waste of time. And if one has to get groped and molested by a TSA style approach to come and see you speak, you will have very few people at your events.

For some personal reasons, I believe that a piece of legislation like the one King is proposing if in place in Tucson, would have done not much more than nothing in deterring Jared Loughner from bringing his criminal act to completion. For some personal reason, I think that the possibility of a being fined or even jailed for couple of months would have not deterred the nutcase from “breaking” that law.
But maybe it is just me.

And if Peter King is set on introducing such stupid legislation, than he is not the Conservative I thought he was. Such legislation would only create just another defense-free zone where, just like schools and similar areas, criminally insane bastards are going to know that they will be able to conduct their “mission” without any interference.

Thank you, Peter King, in the name of all the future victims that such moronic legislation will cause. Hope your constituency will remember this on your next election.

Just my thoughts!

Smegma Brain Award For January 11, 2011

By Semperpapa

It’s time for a new Semper America Smegma Brain Award.

For today, January 11, 2001, the coveted Semper America award goes to (drum roll)…Howard Fineman.

Howard is the former editor for the dying magazine Newsweek, and by the caliber of this individual, one may ask “what took so long?”

Before the bodies of the victims of Saturday shooting in Tucson had reached room temperature, Fineman, who obviously has no intention or inclination to ever live up to his name, was busy compiling tips for President Obama to use in order to “maximize” the political advantages that the carnage in Arizona was offering.

Fineman, in his op-ed in the Huffington Post, of course, writes these nuggets of compassion:

"...Obama may be able to remind voters of what they like best about him: his sensible demeanor. Amid the din and ferocity of our political culture, he respectfully keeps his voice down, his emotions in check and his mind open."

Adding:

"That is the pitch, at least. The trick is to make it without seeming to be trying to make it. He will, after all, be speaking at a funeral."

And

"He and Giffords think of themselves as fellow travelers on a middle path of civility and compromise in a dangerous world. The president will likely argue that, implicitly if not explicitly."

So the Smegma Brain Award goes to Howard Fineman for his impersonation of a human being. The impersonation was a failure, but his fall back on depicting a true progressive liberal hack was a stunning success.

Congratulations, smegma brain!

Just my thoughts!

Selective Righteousness Of The Arizona Legislature

By Semperpapa

For those who are familiar with Semper America, I do not have to expand on my personal opinion of the evil cult called Westboro Baptist Church.
For those who are not, I will only say that while I consider these inbreds as the worst example of quasi human nature, their actions are protected by the US Constitution. Infringing upon that right, as feel-good and right as it might feel, is a road our Nation should NEVER embark on.

With this premise, I find highly hypocritical that Arizona State legislators are planning on introducing local legislation that would prevent members of the cult from conducting their hate festival at the funerals of those killed in Tucson.

Democrat Rep. Daniel Patterson, one of the proponents of the legislation, wants to spare the families the undue stress of having to witness the vile protests that the WBC is well known for.

So, where were these folks when the WBC went to many Military funerals, many of them in Arizona?
Where was their legislative heroism when these miscreants imposed undue stress on mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, sons and daughters who were saying their final goodbyes to their loved one who had died for our Country?
Yes, they were nowhere to be found. In the case of Military funerals, it was a matter of constitutional rights, and it also fit the agenda of the progressive, anti-Military movement.

Is the same federal judge who declared the WBC actions "protected speech" going to smack down the latest Arizona legislation? Is Eric Holder going to sue Arizona for this law just as he did for SB1070?
For some "mysterious" reason I highly doubt it!

The fact of the matter is that in the case of the funerals of the victims of Saturday massacre, it is a perfect opportunity for the Left to promote their bloody agenda.
Considering the progressive attack against Free Speech and against the Constitution that we have been treated to in the last few days since the massacre, an emotionally charge cause like the funerals of the victims fits perfectly in the scheme of the enemies of America.

There are different ways to deal with the evil of the WBC. I have had the misfortune of coming across these individuals as they spewed their venom at Military funerals and helped block the families from even having to lay eyes on them.
When in November the WBC protested at the funeral of a soldier in a small town in Missouri, the entire community showed up to counter protest, shielding the family with huge American flags and chanting patriotic songs to drown the virulent chanting of the protesters.
See, the best way for Americans to express their outrage toward such level of hate is to use the same tool that allows the scum to do what they do.

If the Arizona legislature really wants to protect the families, if that is their honest intention, they should allow the people to do so. Engage the assistance of the Patriot Guard Riders, of the American Legion Riders and all other common sense American that will just not stand for our country being insulted by such hate. The above mentioned organizations have been volunteering their time extensively for the last few years to protect the families of Fallen Heroes, many times having to contend with resistance from law enforcement that looked at them as just another motorcycle group. It has taken a lot of effort to break that image.

What should NOT take place is the hijacking of a tragedy like this to embark the Nation on the slippery slope of unconstitutionality.

Just my thoughts!