One last Memorial Day post

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Monday May 28, 2007 · 11:22 AM PDT

2007/05/28 · 11:22

Today is Memorial Day. To a lot of folks it is just another day off of work or a really good shopping day. To some (notably recent HS graduates) it marks the beginning of "adult" life. To others it marks the beginning of the official summer time BBQ and Bikini season. Then, to a reletivily small group of Americans, it is a day mixed with sadness and pride or even anger.

To me it is the latter. I have lost friends over the course of my time in the Marine Corps. Some died in Beirut in 1983. They will be nineteen, forever.

Then there are friends who died on active duty in training accidents, car wrecks, cancer etc. Thier loss is no less tragic. I also know Marines killed in Iraq during this war. So today is for the memory of all of them.

We will drink to thier memory and visit a local cemetary. We will look at the flag and realize that it is different things to different people.

pegwinn2

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Sunday May 27, 2007 · 8:10 PM PDT

2007/05/27 · 20:10

There are days when something comes out in the world that requires you to check it out. Today is the day. According to Ann at Truthout.org we are poised to steal the Iraqi oil. Never mind that we already have the power to simply take it, or destroy it, according to her the first benchmark in the new law is "Privatizing Iraq's Oil for US Companies" To put a point on it:

On Thursday, May 24, the US Congress voted to continue the war in Iraq. The members called it "supporting the troops." I call it stealing Iraq's oil - the second largest reserves in the world. The "benchmark," or goal, the Bush administration has been working on furiously since the US invaded Iraq is privatization of Iraq's oil. Now they have Congress blackmailing the Iraqi Parliament and the Iraqi people: no privatization of Iraqi oil, no reconstruction funds.

There isn't anything in the article to back up Anns commentary. And, normally an editorial in a big name website like truthout wouldn't draw much from me in the way of investigation. But, this resonated and after reading the gang at TalkAmerica hit this story to find out if it was true.

pegwinn2

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Saturday May 26, 2007 · 8:45 PM PDT

2007/05/26 · 20:45

I was taught as a young man that there were three holidays to explicitly honor the US Military and it's contributions to freedom. I have no sources and no proof that this is correct. But, it makes sense to me and I hope it will to you as well. BTW, if I am factually wrong, feel free to point it out.

The first is Armed Forces Day. It is celebrated to thank the contributions of everyone who has ever served in the Military whether in peace or war. It doesn't matter if they served three years or thirty. Just the fact that they served is enough.

Next on the list was Veterans Day. This was to celebrate the sacrifices and accomplishments of our military men and women who served in time of war. Not much more to say there.

Finally there is Memorial Day. Here we pause, reflect, and give thanks to those who died in service to the nation.

As you and I hit the holiday sales and enjoy a day off from work, please pause, only for a moment if you will, and let a little gratitude come out. Dwell for a minute or two on the men and women who gave everything they had in this world to ensure that you and I could do pretty much as we please. And if you get the chance to console someone who lost a friend, or a loved one in the service, try to help them as well.

Thanks.

Re: Alan Colmes Tuesday night radio show

pegwinn2

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Wednesday May 23, 2007 · 6:03 PM PDT

2007/05/23 · 18:03

I like listening to talk radio. Yes, I know, there are support groups for that. But, I am waiting for a federal subsidy and my own assigned social worker. One of the better shows is Alan Colmes of Hannity and Colmes fame. Most of the time that I have heard him, he's fairly rational.

Anyway, last night Mr Colmes was setting forth with a rep from the American Legion. The Legion opposes Mr. Edwards call to protest the war on Memorial Day. Alan of course was livid.

pegwinn2

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Sunday May 20, 2007 · 7:51 AM PDT

2007/05/20 · 07:51

Dedicated to the memory of Master Sergeant Kenneth Mack USMC

Mack was a brand new SSgt when I was a reasonably salty Gunny. He was the hardest charging young Staff NCO that I was charged with training. Since he was, at that time, a Reservist we only saw each other on drill weekends unless someone was visiting the others town. But he often came around the reserve center to keep up on traffic and made sure his Marines were always locked on. Over the three years that I was on the Inspector-Instructor Staff, Ken matured into a fine example of what Marines require in thier Staff Noncommissioned Officers. He was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant just before I rotated back into the FMF. I was (and still am) definitely proud to have known him.

pegwinn2

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Tuesday May 15, 2007 · 8:37 PM PDT

2007/05/15 · 20:37

I am sooooooo sick of politics. The election is well over a year away and it is all you hear about on the talk radio channels of any leaning. Tuesdays and Thursdays are usually my long driving days and so I get six to eight hours of Talk Radio ranging from the Bennets, Hughes, Gibson, Colmes, Samuels et al. Just check out Sirius dot com......... Today the big news was on the death of Jerry Falwell.

Y'know I didn't agree with nearly anything he said. He simply wasn't preaching the way I was taught Christians preach as a kid. But, like him or not, you had to respect a few of his points.

pegwinn2

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Sunday May 06, 2007 · 7:35 PM PDT

2007/05/06 · 19:35

We've now had a debate with most of the current wannabes on stage and dutifully making vacuous sounds in time with a moderators questions. If I were a pol looking to become President in 08 I wouldn't want to be near these guys. I would also be looking to steal a play from the Republicans playbook since they are not using anymore. You see, like the title says Size does matter...

when you are talking about the size of the .gov that is. Republicans all talk about shrinking the government and its' influence in our lives. But in fact ever since the 1930's our government has grown progressively larger, more complicated, and more intrusive. So if you are an independent running for President, or a Democrat looking to beat the RNC at it's own game one of your tenets should be to reduce the .gov to the right size.

pegwinn2

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Friday April 20, 2007 · 7:47 PM PDT

2007/04/20 · 19:47

I was listening to the radio today when they announced the funeral of Professor Liviu Librescu (a holocaust survivor) killed at Virgina Tech was taking place in Israel. According to the announcer, the widow of the professor blamed the easy access to guns in Virginia for his death. And yet I cannot find a google anywhere to back that up.

Surprisingly, our congress hasn't jumped on the blame the gun laws bandwagon as much as I expected. There is a bit here and there from various media outlets, but they are treading a slim line overall.

A reading of the second amendment ......

Poll

53 votes Show Results

How should we regulate firearms?

53 votes Vote Now!

How should we regulate firearms?

Not at all

5 votes

Just like now, no changes needed

8 votes

Tighter controls

28 votes

Ban all Guns

10 votes

Other

2 votes

After the long break

pegwinn2

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Tuesday April 17, 2007 · 6:58 PM PDT

2007/04/17 · 18:58

Wow what a week. My daughter and her husband came to visit and are still here. Both are also Marines and my son-in-law just returned from Iraq safely. As to news and scandals, there really isn't that much to tell.

Imus was canned because while rappers can say "nigger", "nappy", and "ho", white radio jocks cannot. And the rappers make more money. I guess that the last is why Sharpton and Company don't take on the gangsta gurus.

pegwinn2

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Friday April 06, 2007 · 8:30 PM PDT

2007/04/06 · 20:30

It's been a fairly dull week if you are big on the blood sport of politics. So, the best thing I can think of to do is compare the talking heads and see if anything worthy of your average American is in there.

pegwinn2

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Sunday April 01, 2007 · 10:27 AM PDT

2007/04/01 · 10:27

It's been about a week since I had time to post anything. Long hours at work (job security is great), and long hours at home fixing up the hacienda (home ownership is awesome)and little time to peruse the news. So this commentary is going to be a bit of week in review. We need to discuss taxation, corruption, and confrontation.

pegwinn2

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Wednesday March 21, 2007 · 8:10 PM PDT

2007/03/21 · 20:10

Cross posted from The Realist

The artificial scandal continues. Subpoenas are ready to fly, but will it work? Will the President cave in to Congressional demands? NPR has a fairly good story discussing what is going on and more importantly what should be going on.

The really amazing thing about this scandal is that President Bush could have simply said that they were fired, "Because I can". A couple of days of hysterical opeds and it would be over. Instead we have Washington declaring war between two of the three branches of the .gov. They really expect Rove and Miers to testify, under oath, and in public. I can't help but laugh.

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One last Memorial Day post

Mythbusting Truthout at TalkAmerica

Memorial Day

Re: Alan Colmes Tuesday night radio show

Semper Fi Mack

Tuesday Trivia

Size Matters

On

After the long break

Talking Heads Friday

Week In Review (Sorta)

Scandals and Money