The Big Three

Image sent in by a reader, too good not to share.

Related post:

President Bush Leaves Us with $17.4 Billion Auto Bill and Other Miscarriages of Justice
The Exiting President Bush
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Christmas Time

Anbetung der Hirten: Adoration of the Shepherds
Credit: Gerard van Honthorst, 1622
Copyright: Wikimedia Commons


Christmas Time

Christmas time affords us the occasion to rejoice over the Birth of our Savior, it is through Him our sins are forgiven. Jesus arrived for us! He died for our sins and a renewed hope for humanity. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation; that my friends is love from our Father. We all have reasons to be joyful for this promise of eternal peace.
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Bush Pardons 19 More

Bush Departs White House, 12,23,2008 for Christmas break.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Ramos and Compean Not Among the Christmas Time Pardons

Bush Pardons 19 More
President Bush pardoned 19 more, including smugglers of drugs and people, Bush continues to ignore Border Agents Ramos and Compean incarcerated for keeping the same out of a country he led.
View more »

Brit Hume Steps Down

The Stewardship of Brit Hume, a Man of Honor
For commentary by April Lorier and tribute video please:
View more »

President Bush Leaves Us with $17.4 Billion Auto Bill and Other Miscarriages of Justice

The Wrong Exit

Since my foray into writing for AC a year ago I learned a couple of things, sometimes the hard way, I discovered that writing can be salve for the soul and that some topics conjure up raw emotion.

I have followed the Ramos and Compean case closely and written about their plight. Please visit those articles to learn more about the miscarriage of justice:

U.S. Border Agents Ramos and Compean Need Our Support

Agents Ramos and Compean's Appeal is Heard

Ramos and Compean: One Year in Purgatory

I didn't have the stomach to write, blog, or talk much about the tragic results of their appeal, thankfully AC producer Shanika did. Please visit her article; Bush Pardons 14, Commutes 2; Ignores Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean

President Bush had the authority to right this terrible wrong since 2005, instead Mr. Bush averted his eyes. This miscarriage of justice was furthered and perpetrated by Mr. Bush's crony, Johnny Sutton, Texas US Attorney.

Last year, December 2007, Mr. Bush not only failed his Border Patrol Agents, the People of Texas, and the country, Mr. Bush pardoned actual criminals. You can read about that slap in the face here: President Bush Pardons Drug Dealers and Car Thieves

Shanika's article detailed this year's pardons and the continued ignorance of justice.

To add insult to injury, the outgoing president stiffs us with a 17.4 billion dollar bailout package for the crashing auto industry. Talk about sticker shock! This latest round of corporate welfare was doled out with "demands" that the fat cats in the industry shape up.

Yeah, right, and all the WIC mothers ensure they will fully support their next offspring. Some do, but many do not. Welfare is welfare folks, regardless if the recipient utilizes private jets for their transportation or the local A train.

Meanwhile, President-elect Obama and his sidekick Joe Biden are already calling for more money for the corrupt banking industry. Nothing like a couple of good ol' boys for the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac crowd. When is it going to end fellow taxpayer?

More on that here: Sex, Lies, and Video Tape Starring Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac

I tell you this, if in my industry I caused billions of dollars worth of damage to the country's financial health, you will not demand the feds to bankroll my industry or pension. You will call for my head while making sure my golden parachute is deflated.

Granted, the federal government was complicit in our current economical mess, so there should be some form of governmental penance, however it is still our penalty. Where is the justice and the safeguards to prevent a recurrence?

If a bank robber enters the bank and steals the deposits, your money is indeed backed up by federal funds, now to the tune of $200,000. Great we are protected, but if the loss were caused by a bank robber we would apprehend him, unmask him, demand repayment, and incarceration. In our current economic time, we should accept no less from the fat cats and politicians fleecing our economy.

Logic aside, it would warm this jingo's heart to see great Americans such as Anne Bryant, Aly Adair, the dastardly Snidely Whiplash, and so many others receive some of my hard earned tax dough to help their economy stimulating businesses run strong or stay a float.

But you see, Capitalism doesn't work that way. We thrive on competition, supply & demand, and hard work. Despite this hard work, many businesses go belly-up. The strong regroup, recoup and march on.

What we are witnessing here is a slow march, or goosestep, toward Socialism. Soon we will have government owned banks, real estate brokerages, and now auto companies. We are breaking our necks to get socialized medicine; I know Canada's system is touted. Before you jump on that Michael Moore bandwagon take a look at this liberal's perspective: Stronach went to U.S. for cancer treatment: report

Just in case you didn't read the report, I'll give you the short version. Canada's Liberal MP Belinda Stronach, who is battling breast cancer, traveled to California last June for an operation that was recommended as part of her treatment. The US treatment was recommended by the Canadian doctors.

Next thing you know we will be receiving free refrigerators, you know like the ones issued to the citizens under Castro's regime. Did I say free? I retract that, in fact the price is high; it is our Freedom.

The Advent Wreath

Advent Wreath created by Emily Vega

During this time of year we are blessed with beautiful images, some of which the deeper meaning goes unnoticed or forgotten. The Advent wreath is a circle of evergreens with four candles.

Symbols of the Advent Wreath are explored
View more »

2009 Presidential Calendar

By Tony Vega



Did you get yours? I received one today via email.

Martin Luther King on the same pages as Barack Hussein Obama? Sacrilege. There are 11 more months of the same and March featured the Kennedy brothers. I'll spare my fellow Patriots the travesty of such images. The calendar concludes with December 2009 and the words, "Free at last, free at last! Thank God Almighty, we're free at last!"

It is highly unlikely that MLK would have supported Obama. MLK was conservative and desired Freedom, equality, and shunned the radical oppressive tenets of Obama's policies and friends.

Free at last? MLK must be rolling over.

Here's a Free brother:
YouTube - a Random Rant



Many of you think that MLK would have been happy to witness an Obama presidency. Well, obviously we can't speak for the man (MLK), but history does reveal an icon that is substantive and Freedom loving; the opposite of Barack Obama. To state that MLK would have been happy merely for the historical significance is an indication that we still haven't learned much.

History for history sake...we could have elected any black guy for that matter. Why not Cool Breeze from the corner? He certainly understands about dispensing pharmaceutical aids to those in need, he certainly understands about the far reaching tentacles of law enforcement, the benefits of eliminating the Rockefeller drug laws, the benefits of abortion...hell, in his hood he is fully aware of the poor misfortunate mothers that sell their babies for narcotics, obviously he understands the need for a better prescription plan than what we have..

If we are lucky, we may get the same socialized medical care that Canada enjoys. Ladies can trust the liberals regarding delayed treatment for breast cancer. Well, here's one Canadian Liberal that didn't: MP Stronach went to U.S. for cancer treatment

Oh...if we are really lucky maybe we can get the same medical care as Cuba...


Cuban Hospital

I hear Castro gives his people refrigerators...no wonder why NO ONE risks their lives to flee to the evil USA.

Ahh... but Barack Obama is Ivy League educated....and speaks so well... and according to his VP selection, he is also clean. Is that a rarity for a brother? See first video: Barack Obama Chooses Joseph Biden as VP Candidate

Do you now who else speaks very well? The hot guy with a forked tongue. He articulated the glory of enlightened knowledge to a lady named Eve. I wonder if he would give Chris Matthews a thrill up the leg. Do you know who else inspired many with promises of redistribution of wealth and undefined change? Just about every socialistic, Marxist, despot.

Many of the lost also compare Obama to JFK. It would be laughable if not so sad. Unless we are referring to credible ties to thugs...but of course we are not...for those negative associations are not to be acknowledged if it relates to a Democrat. So then, we must be speaking of Patriotism, service, valor; foreign concepts to Barack Hussein Obama. Oh, you didn't get the memo? We are allowed to utilize the man's full name now.

JFK went out of his way to defend the Freedoms of this country. He didn't protest this nation's flag like the 2008 president-elect did. JFK was denied entry into the Army because of back problems. JFK used his connections to enlist NOT to avoid military service as Bill Clinton [endearingly referred to as the "first Black president"] did.

JFK went on to see action in WW 2. His PT-109 was rammed and sunk by a Japanese Destroyer. JFK was thrown across the deck, injuring his already bad back. In spite of his injuries, JFK swam and physically towed a wounded man to an island and later to a second island where his crew was subsequently rescued. JFK earned medals and accolades for his heroics, service, and Patriotism. To compare Barack Obama to JFK is shameful.

What was Obama's service to his nation and/or community? ACORN, Woods Fund with a domestic terrorist, the Chicago Annenberg Challenge with a domestic terrorist; putting forth failed, corrupt, and radical policies.

If anyone is like JFK in regards to service it would be the fella that lost; John McCain. But how would a pop culture addicted nation know this? And what the heck? It's history dude; the only reason why Obama's VP selection accepted the appointment in the first place. Biden begged not to be asked but said he would only do it for the "first African-American" president. History for the sake of history.

Check out fifth video: Barack Obama Chooses Joseph Biden as VP Candidate. Sad, no merit, no substance....just blind emotion and calculative selfishness.

Biden, Clinton, and many Democrats endorsed McCain! And then abandoned sensible reason. Why? Ideology and self-perseverance trumped Patriotism. These demagogues will never put country first. See videos 2, 3, and 4: Barack Obama Chooses Joseph Biden as VP Candidate

Do you folks really need to be reminded that not ALL history is GOOD history?



What path are you on?


Rails to Auschwitz

Remember not ALL history is GOOD history.



Yes, that is an image of Bull Connor and his Police dogs. And yes, Bull Connor was a Democratic politician and elected in 1960 as the DNC man for Alabama.

History for the sake of history.

Be mindful of the dangers of blindly and emotionally playing Follow the Leader. It is more than a game.

History is usually interesting and always relevant.


Jim Jones

And his people:



Jim Jones' Kool-aid killed nearly a thousand.

The Kool-aid being dispensed currently has the potential to poison an entire nation.

The truth is the anecdote.

Alan Keyes Suing to Prove Obama's Citizenship

The questions surrounding president-elect Barack Obama's citizenship and birth certificate is not going away with out a fight.



A former opponent of Barack Obama's has come back to haunt him over questions regarding his citizenship.

Read More>>

And still more...

(alert by AGB, that Great American)

FORENSICS here: Certificate is a fake!



Computer generated document. Known by the typeface. There were NO computers used for this purpose in 1961 in Hawaii...or elsewhere! How come no one thought about that?

Compelling content regarding this issue reported here:

Atlas Shrugs: ATLAS EXCLUSIVE: FINAL REPORT ON OBAMA BIRTH CERTIFICATE FORGERY CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN

certificate image source:

PolitiFact | Obama's birth certificate: Final chapter

Follow-up story: Mombasa Imam who confirmed Obama’s birth place arrives in the UK

(Alerted by AGB a great American)

Found on African Press International (API)

The Imam who came forward to assist in the search of Barack Obama’s identity left Kenya secretly last night, and will arrive in the UK this morning. He will meet with a US contact person who will assist him in recording an asylum statement in the UK after handing over the documents that caused the blessing of Obama when he was born and to confirm the origin of the name Hussein.

The man will join relatives in the UK because his life will be in danger if he were to return to Kenya after removing the documents from the Mosque’s archives and taking them out of the country. The man has been informed about the on-going case filed in the US Supreme Court by attorney Philip Berg challenging Barack Obama’s citizenship.

When the man heard that Jerome Corsi was in Kenya a few months ago, he took a decision to try and meet him, but had to travel back to Mombasa from Nairobi on hearing that Corsi had been bundled and taken to the airport on deportation orders.

The Imam is the grandson of the late Imam who blessed Barack Obama when he was born in Mombasa on the 4th of august 1961.

Read More>>>

The Election Is Over

By Tony Vega

As a Patriot, I will always put country first. I love my country more than the contempt I have for any of her temporary leaders. The office of the presidency is worthy of our respect, regardless of who occupies it. I will support and pray for our leaders; hoping they have and receive the proper guidance and wisdom to lead this great nation.

With that said, I will remain a watchdog and continue to respond when politicians trespass upon our Freedoms. Barack Obama has a terrific record of failed policies; from housing, the economy, national defense, and a camp filled with anti-Americans.

52% of American voters did not care about those things and elected him into office. I now have a clearer understanding of Jim Jones' influence over the lost. Obama's intelligence is certainly not in doubt; therefore, I hope his on the job training will be successful.

Obama's first decision to appoint another radical as his chief of staff provides a glimpse that Obama refuses to shed his radical ties. Why should he? My fellow Americans already proved that Obama's ties do not choke. Perhaps there were enough Freedom loving leaders with integrity, prior to the new pro-Soros/anti-Bush referendum, to have established enough safeguards preventing the nation from being entirely hijacked.

The fact that 52% of American voters, ACORN operatives, and Hamas controlled Gaza Strip residents supported Barack Hussein Obama doesn't negate the ugly facts about the president-elect. I will remain vigilant and equipped with the anecdote to the kool-aid.

We will declare victory in Iraq, no thanks to Obama-Biden. Our economy will turn around no thanks to Obama-Biden. Obama-Biden was complicit in the economic downturn by doing nothing and taking handouts from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac operatives.

Obama was too much of a rookie to actually vote for or against the Iraq war, but Biden wasn't. Biden voted against the first Gulf war and then voted for the Iraq war and the devil is in the details. Biden wanted to suppress Iraqi freedom by subjugating Iraqis into a tri-sectioned country.

Obama-Biden was against the very policy to rescue our Defenders of Freedom from defeat in Iraq by opposing the surge; they actually wanted to continue Bush's stats quo. Remember the guy with the cojones and vision to stand up to Bush's failed policies? Yep, he lost.

Historic significance is not lost on me and I've written about it during the DNC events. What is more important to me is not history merely for history sake, according to Biden that is the only reason why he accepted the VP selection, but the merit of such events.

I have always been colorblind so I don't see the first African-American president I see possibly the first Anti-American president. The historic president-elect also happens to be not qualified, not experienced, and exercised many years of poor judgment counter to America's interests. We couldn't find a worthy politician to lead us, black or white?

Regardless, I will support the president in the face of our enemies both domestic and foreign. Will the new president do the same for us? Time will tell and I desire his success if his purpose is in the best interest of this nation. I will even take the mourning band off my flag pin and help the new president in his endeavors to protect this nation...from his friends.

God Bless America.

Dear Mr. Obama from Old Glory

I will let the video speak for itself.

Roe v Wade's Jane Roe: Change of Heart

Found on April's site, a Great American and an even better Christian.
http://aprillorier.blogspot.com/

"I'm one hundred percent sold out to Jesus and one hundred percent pro-life," Norma says. "No exceptions. No compromise."

Who is this Norma, and what did she do?

Norma McCorvey was "Jane Roe" on whose behalf the Roe verses Wade lawsuit was originally filed, alleging that the abortion law in Texas violated her constitutional rights and the rights of other women. The defendant was the district attorney of Dallas County, Texas, Henry B. Wade.

Poor, pregnant, and desperate, Norma McCorvey fell into the hands of two young and ambitious lawyers. They were looking for a plaintiff with whom they could challenge the Texas state law prohibiting abortion, and Norma signed on. Little did she know that her signature would one day make her an international figure.

Though she was touted as a symbol of everything women could gain by being free to choose an abortion, the real Jane Roe was an embarrassment to the image that the Ivy League feminists tried so hard to project. Norma was uneducated, unskilled, a drug user, and an alcoholic. She became a helpless pawn in a powerful game.

Working inside the abortion industry, Norma saw how abortion degraded women; she was surprised at the exorbitant dollars that kept rolling into the doctors' pockets; she saw the blatant exploitation as abortion advocates put political rhetoric above safe medicine; and she eventually began to question the movement for which she once said she "lived and breathed."View More>>>

Are You Ready For the Future Under President Obama?

Covertress put together an excellent and fitting video....may it aid the willfully blind...and shed light into those dark corners where Barack Obama's nefarious designs, policies and cohorts dwell.

Covertress, thank you for doing your part and you're right it doesn't have to happen. Vote McCain/Palin 2008

Brave New Obamaian World

In his short seven-year tenure, Obama has cured almost all of society's ills and earned the love and adoration of every American. It almost seems too good to be true
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/e62444aa8c/brave-new-obamaian-world-from-ucbcomedy

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Barack Obama's Security Clearance

By Tony Vega

I've spent twenty years in the NYPD and during that time I've also been involved in the private security field. Currently, I am the chief instructor of a security institute. Required training and certifications by Homeland Security in terror awareness and disaster response was completed in two states for my public and private service ventures.

On October 27, I had to be recertified in order to maintain my private license. Before I entered the Homeland Security and State Police shared facility for the process, I had to reaffirm that my background and affiliations did not contain any subversive, illegal, or terrorist associations. I was able to honestly and successfully meet the requirements.

During the process, I reflected on my family and friends that have enlisted in the military and the thousands of men and women in uniform that reenlisted while still on the battlefield of Iraq. Our defenders of freedom were required to swear to an oath. Part of this oath was the pledge to protect you & me from all enemies both foreign and domestic.



I am not bragging or complaining just talking to ya.

Folks, millions of Americans are lining up to vote for Barack Obama; a man that on his own merits would not pass a background check for most law enforcement jobs; a man that would not be able to honestly swear to protect us from his friends both foreign and domestic.

How can you hire a candidate for the commander in chief position, when the candidate can’t take the same oath as the men & women he is endeavoring to lead? How can you hire a candidate to be in charge of our defense and security when he can’t successfully obtain the security clearance to become a beat cop?

Some reading and videos for you here and here.

The choice is clear.

John McCain was a favorite of both major Parties and the media. What happened? Partisan politics happened. In 2004, John Kerry wanted McCain to be his running mate. Joe Biden pushed the Kerry-McCain ticket so adamantly he refused to consider another VP choice during an interview with Tim Russert.

"I'm sticking with McCain"-Joe Biden 2004

Prior to bowing down to Pelosi, Reid, and Howard Dean, Hillary Clinton as late as March 2008 endorsed John McCain over Barack Obama. In 2007, Prior to Joe Biden going against his own desires to run as Obama's VP, Joe Biden endorsed John McCain over the top of his own ticket; a second endorsement for John McCain by Biden.

Check out some videos here, particularly the third one from the top prefaced with "fellow Democrats agree."

I ask you this O supporter, If John McCain was a Democrat and Barack Obama a Republican how would you vote? Now, ask yourself the same question while looking in the mirror.

Many of you have said,"I wish John McCain was a Democrat and not in the Party of Bush." As my Grandmother would say (no, not the typical white one): "If wishes were horses beggars would ride."

Folks, be advised that in a general election you may vote for anyone you want regardless of Party. Getting back to my last question, it is posed to the Republican audience as well.

The fate of this great nation is of paramount concern to me. Personally, I will not allow ideology or partisan politics to trump my Patriotism or good sense. How about you?

By the way, those questions I asked of you were private questions. Perhaps you should ponder them with the conscience of your soul.

Ready To Lead?

Here is a man with a performance record that any McDonald's manager worthy of the salt on his fries wouldn't hire:




The next commander in chief?



Not guilt by association....guilt by participation!



The choice is clear!

Computers?

(h/t Shawn, author unknown)

Barack Obama has put out an ad that simply reminded us John McCain cannot use a computer.

Well guess what ... Barack cannot land a jet plane on an aircraft carrier at night!

We Are Fundamentally Strong!

Read the article by Tony Vega and come back for the video by NakedEmperorNews

We Are Fundamentally Strong!
The bull needs more than a placebo and will be further damaged by weak handlers.
View more »

Happy Halloween

McCain Volunteer Attacked, Letter "B" Carved into Her Face

****UPDATE****


(image source: AP photo, Keith Srakocic)

McCain volunteer made up robbery story.

AP reported that Ashley Todd, admitted Friday that the story was false, said Maurita Bryant, the assistant chief of the police department's investigations division. Todd was charged with making a false report to police, and Bryant said police doubted her story from the start.

Police said the woman reported suffering from "mental problems" in the past, and that they do not believe anyone put her up to the act.

As this blogger wrote in the original post the campaigns cannot be responsible for the actions of their wacky and even criminal supporters. McCain has his fair share of crazy supporters as well (obviously) The difference is McCain doesn't support them.

The sentiment regarding Obama's subversive affiliations remain valid. Unfortunately Obama's radical ties have not been debunked.




image source: Sarah's Army

A 20-year-old woman who was robbed at an ATM in Bloomfield was also maimed by her attacker, apparently because of her political views, Pittsburgh police said.

Ashley Todd, of College Station, Texas, was using an ATM at Liberty Avenue and Pearl Street just before 9 p.m. Wednesday when a man approached her and put a knife to her throat.

Police spokeswoman Diane Richard said the robber took $60 from Todd, then became angry when he saw a McCain bumper sticker on the victim's car. The attacker then punched and kicked the victim, before using the knife to scratch the letter "B" into her face, Richard said.

The above was reported by thepittsburghchannel.com

This should anger ALL Americans. Here we have an American citizen exercising her basic rights when accosted by the predator. The McCain campaign personally reached out to the woman.

The Obama campaign issued a statement stating their wishes for a speedy recovery and apprehension.

Very nice of the Obama campaign.

Obama surrounds himself with subversives, Marxists, crooks, ACORN operatives, domestic terrorists, and a host of other anti-social individuals and institutions...perhaps Obama can check with some of them for a lead or two to help catch the bad guy.

Low blow? Perhaps. But true.

I certainly understand that the campaigns cannot be responsible for the actions of their wacky and even criminal supporters. McCain has his fair share of crazy supporters as well. The difference is McCain doesn't support them.

Tip of the day for the Pittsburgh PD: Check under the rock that Barack Obama sits upon.

OBAMA's TAX PLAN

OBAMA's TAX PLAN - Penn & Teller and gang return to comment on Barack Obama's socialist plans to turn the United States into a Marxist wasteland! ** FEATURING Plumber, Joe Wurzelbacher. *** Vett Barack Obama, NOT Joe the Plumber! ***

Dinner & Taxes

(h/t Zeeman)
Author unknown

Dinner & Taxes

I was having lunch with one of my favorite clients last week and the conversation turned to the government's recent round of tax cuts.

'"I'm opposed to those tax cuts," the retired college instructor declared, "because they benefit the rich. The rich get much more money back than ordinary taxpayers like you and me and that's not fair.'"

"But the rich pay more in the first place," I argued, "so it stands to reason that they'd get more money back."

I could tell that my friend was unimpressed by this meager argument. So I said to him, "let's put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand."

"Suppose that every day 10 men go to a restaurant for dinner. The bill for all ten comes to $100. If it was paid the way we pay our taxes, the first four men would pay nothing; the fifth would pay $1; the sixth would pay $3; the seventh $7; the eighth $12; the ninth $18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59."

The 10 men ate dinner in the restaurant every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement until the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily meal by $20." Now dinner for the 10 only costs $80. The first four are unaffected. They still eat for free. Can you figure out how to divvy up the $20 savings among the remaining six so that everyone gets his fair share? The men realize that $20 divided by 6 is $3.33, but if they subtract that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would end up being paid to eat their meal.

The restaurant owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same percentage, being sure to give each a break, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay. And so now the fifth man paid nothing, the sixth pitched in $2, the seventh paid $5, the eighth paid $9, the ninth paid $12, leaving the tenth man with a bill of $52 instead of $59.

Outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings. "I only got a dollar out of the $20," complained the sixth man, pointing to the tenth, "and he got $7!"

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got seven times more than me!"

"That's true," shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $7 back when I got only $2? The wealthy get all the breaks!"

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor."

Then, the nine men surrounded the tenth man (the richest one, paying the most) and beat him up. The next night the richest man didn't show up for dinner, so now the nine men sat down and ate without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They were $52 short!

"And that, boys, girls and college instructors, and political mental giants, is how America's tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up at the table any more. There are lots of good restaurants in Switzerland and the Caribbean."

The Greatest Movie Line Ever

John McCain Video Feature: Obama's Ties to ACORN

Dear Supporter,

Our campaign just released a new web video detailing the ties between Senator Barack Obama and ACORN, the organization currently under investigation for massive voter fraud in a number of battleground states.

Please follow this link to watch "ACORN."

As a result of Senator Obama's blind ambition, he has a long history with the group. Barack Obama trained members of the Chicago ACORN staff, and his campaign has paid more than $800,000 for "voter registration" to an ACORN front group.

We're asking you to take a few minutes this evening to watch the ad and learn more about the relationship between Senator Barack Obama and ACORN.

After watching the video, please forward along to at least five others. It's up to us to hold Senator Obama accountable for his questionable judgment and blind ambition.

Thank you,

The McCain-Palin 2008 Team

Senator John McCain Heroically Grants a Dying Mother Her Fin

Senator John McCain helped bring a soldier home from the Marines in time to say goodbye to his dying mother.

read more | digg story

Sex, Lies, and Video Tape Starring Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac

By Tony Vega

Everyone by now should know that Barney Frank, the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee was in bed with Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, literally. Frank resided with his boyfriend Herb Moses in a Washington love pad. Herb Moses was an executive at Fannie Mae.

The role of Frank’s boyfriend was to help develop many of Fannie Mae’s affordable housing and home improvement lending programs. Barney Frank has collected tens of thousands of dollars from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in campaign contributions since 1989[1]

"I am the only member of the congressional gay spouse caucus," Moses wrote in the Washington Post in 1991. "On Capitol Hill, Barney always introduces me as his lover."[2]

The willful failure to report Frank's complicity and to expose the failure of members in Washington while our once fundamentally sound economy is crashing along with government-sponsored enterprises speaks volumes as to the double standard of mainstream media and the cowardice of the GOP.

Ideology and the fear of discussing a homosexual relationship trumps sound reasoning. This isn't about Barney Frank's lifestyle, it is about the failure to protect our economy, it is about the complicit actions of a leading member of the Housing Banking Committee.

"These two entities, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, are NOT facing any kind of financial crisis."- 2003, Barney Frank (D-MA), the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee[3]

There is certainly enough bipartisan blame to go around regarding the current economic crisis. Our current president let us down by not properly utilizing his bully pulpit, by not effectively leading, by not grabbing the liberals by the ear and exposing their complicity, by having the poor judgment of surrounding himself with snakes.

What did President Bush do to stave off this economical turmoil? To his credit, no pun intended, "Bush introduced the most significant piece of regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry. Specifically, Bush introduced to Congress a plan for a new agency to supervise Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac"-2003, NYT[3]

What did Obama do? Avert his eyes and took second place behind Senator Dodd in receiving handouts from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Visit article and compelling video of the Fannie Mae CEO begging Obama and the Congressional Black Caucasus (CBC) to help him and his company.

Senator Chris Dodd Chairs the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Dodd, like Frank denied these firms were in financial crisis. He called the firms "fundamentally strong" said they were in "sound situation" and "in good shape" and to "suggest they are in major trouble is not accurate."[4]

Dodd is the number one recipient in Congress of campaign funds from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Critics also charge that Dodd ignored repeated warnings that the two firms were in need of major reform.[4]

Barack Obama holds the dubious distinction of being the number two recipient of campaign funds from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.[3] There is no hiding the stink of the number one and two Congressional members.

After the sub-prime mortgage crisis began, Barack Obama claimed that the mortgages that gave houses to people who could not afford them were a good idea. Even with hindsight and 20/20 vision, Barack Obama's judgment is clouded.
Watch compelling video here:


What did McCain do? Confronted the mess head on before he ran for president and during. McCain is on the record in 2006 and urged his colleagues to act. "If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole."[3]

Many Democrats politicized, lied, and refused to share any of the blame, many even went so far as to malign McCain's record of positive action, while ignoring Obama's inaction if not out right complicity with the CEO's of Fannie Mae. This transparent demagoguery is a continued effort to hoodwink the taxpayer and voter.

Not all Democrats toed the party line. During an ABC interview, Bill Clinton did not criticize McCain for going back to his post to address the crisis and nearly delaying the first presidential debate.

Bill Clinton said, "I presume he [McCain] did that [going back to Washington] in good faith since I know he wanted, I remember he asked for more debates to go all around the country and so I don't think we ought to overly parse that."[5]

McCain challenged Obama to appear at numerous townhall meetings together for off script meetings and debates. Obama refused. Check out side column on blog for Challenge Clock.

Clinton also had this to say, "I think the responsibility that the Democrats have may rest more in resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress or by me when I was president, to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."

Bill Clinton inspired the powerful ad Rein, check it out:


McCain was highly criticized by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, Chuck Schumer, and Obama, just to name a few. Obama later described McCain as being erratic. I guess a politician actually putting Country first is erratic behavior for that lot.

A common Obama claim is that McCain votes with Bush 95 percent of the time. The MSM repeats it and the sheep bleats it. What Obama is not telling you is that he (Obama) has voted pretty close to 100 percent in line with fellow Democrats during his brief Senate career.[6]

Bush has a very low approval rating, Nancy Pelosi has an even lower one.[7] A record of failed policies that Obama has nearly voted in accord 100 percent of the time. McCain has a clear record of challenging Bush on serious matters, including on the economy and the war.

1. Barney Frank - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2. FOXNews.com - Lawmaker Accused of Fannie Mae Conflict of Interest - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Politica..
3. Obama, McCain, and Banks Oh My!
4. Christopher Dodd - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
5. Political Radar: Bill Clinton: Don't 'Overly Parse' McCain Request to Delay Debate 6. FactCheck.org
7. CNN Political Ticker

Political Halloween Haiku

(abc_photo illustration)

Political Halloween Haiku
Three haiku, titled for the season
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Millions of Credit Union Members Affected

By Clark Richards

Credit Union Version of FDIC Raised to $250,000
The Senate passed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 contains benefits for Credit Union members
View more »

Interview by AC Producer Louisa Burgess

Tony Vega, Family Man, Patriot and Writer
Some insight in to one of my favorites, Tony Vega.
View more »

Text of $700 Billion Bailout Plan

Click here: POLITICO MAFIOSO: All 110 Pages of the 'Proposed' $700 Billion Bailout "Boondoggle" Bill

Obama, McCain, and Banks Oh My!

By Tony Vega

I wasn't going to write about this crisis, because I found it too serious to politicize and quite frankly I was too angry to put anything together other than a rant. After listening to the spiel of the candidates along the trail, I knew it was too serious not to.

As I listen to Barack Obama stump it out, I picture Millions of Obamabots across this great nation squeaking in delight, Obama’s words serving as oil for the bots. I envision this with a heavy heart, because I had much more faith in my fellow Americans.

I will acknowledge that both Parties let us down and both parties including the candidates received big bucks from fat cats. A focus on the presidential candidates will reveal that Barack Obama has a record of failed policies, whereas John McCain has a record of reform and leadership. Facts are stubborn things.

I will map those out for you, but first we need to go back a bit, not too far, we'll forgive the Clinton administration and start in 2003. Take a walk with me folks, don't worry I'll have you back before dinnertime.

On September 11, 2003, the New York Times reported that President Bush introduced the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry. Specifically, Bush introduced to Congress a plan for a new agency to supervise Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac (FM & FM).

It was clear that FM & FM manipulated its accounting to mislead investors. It was also acknowledged, by the Bush administration, that these irregularities have been going on for years.

The response of Congressional Democrats:

"These two entities, FM & FM, are NOT facing any kind of financial crisis."- Barney Frank (D-MA), the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. [emphasis my own]

''I don't see much other than a shell game going on here, moving something from one agency to another and in the process weakening the bargaining power of poorer families and their ability to get affordable housing.''- Melvin L. Watt (D-NC).

Full story: New Agency Proposed to Oversee Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae - New York Times

In 2005, CEO of Fannie Mae addressed Barack Obama and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) as "family & friends." The CEO appealed to the CBC for help, help for the company and help for him personally.

Compelling video:


In May 2006, John McCain had this to say on the Senate floor:

"[Fannie Mae's] quarterly reports of profit growth over the past few years were illusions deliberately and systematically created by the company's senior management, which resulted in a $10.6 billion accounting scandal."

"If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole." McCain went on to urge his colleagues to support swift action on reform legislation.

Proof not empty rhetoric: John McCain's Senate Record

Barack Obama knew of the pending turmoil and did nothing. Well, that is not entirely accurate. Barack Obama did plenty. He averted his eyes and lined his pockets.

Barack Obama with 143 working days to his credit has the dubious distinction of holding the number two spot, beating out politicians that spent decades in Washington, in receiving big bucks from FM & FM. The list: Obama is the second top recipient for FM & FM money.

Barack Obama’s judgment has also been criticized for including disgraced Fannie Mae executives Jim Johnson and Frank Raines in his campaign. Those connections have been the subject of two John McCain campaign ads. View videos:

Jim Johnson


Advice


More on the Raines connection can be found on Hot Air.

Obama also helped dole out millions in order for his cronies, now in jail, to establish low-income housing in Chicago. That endeavor was corrupt and abandoned. The government stepped in, many units were demolished, and many residents lost their homes. Sound familiar? Barack Obama has a clear record of failed policies.

Text and video: The many housing units that Barack Obama secured subsidies for

The choice is clear.

Obamonopoly

Original post by: http://directorblue.blogspot.com/

Obamonopoly

The Right Response to Left Field Slogan

By Tony Vega

OK folks here's the skinny; The vile site Daily Kos credits a reader with a "pithy" retort to Palin's "community organizer" jab. The comment is "Jesus was a Community Organizer. Pontius Pilate was a Governor" It spread like a virus. T-shirts are now circulating bearing that slogan (h/t Louisa364) Pithy indeed.

I trust you see the irony in it, if not the humor. Here we have a pack of radical Secular Progressives evoking the name of JC with feigned reverence to hit the Palinator. We all know what the Party to the left would do to JC if He was here today.

So in response to left field humor here is a double dose of the right response.
It has also been said that Hitler is a community organizer.....

Check out both videos, GREAT stuff!

Democratic Party War Room (by Copious Dissent)


Don't forget this one, a must see:

The Lying King Parody

Have You Forgotten?

By Tony Vega



Seven years ago today, on September 11, 2001, Islamic terrorists hijacked four passenger jetliners and murdered nearly three-thousand Americans, including visitors, on American soil.

The al-Qaeda terrorists illegally entered and remained in the United States after obtaining phony documents. These jihadists remained within American borders unchallenged and relatively undetected, until they accomplished their evil designs.

What they did not accomplish was destroying the American spirit.

In an act of war, terrorists in two separate jetliners intentionally slammed into the World Trade Center, another group of jihadists crashed a plane into the Pentagon. A fourth jetliner hijacked and on a deadly course to the White House or U.S. Capitol did not make the intended target. Heroic passengers began to seize control of that plane disallowing the terrorists of their evil desires. That flight ended in a field in Pennsylvania.

Prior to this act of war, America was slumbering and not paying attention to the grave criminality that was afoot. Well, the sleeping giant woke up and so did I. Millions of American’s became Patriots that day and rallied behind a sacred cause, the dogged pursuit of justice and the maintenance of Freedom.

As I responded to Ground Zero in my capacity as sergeant of police in the NYPD, I witnessed a side of humanity that makes my vow easy to keep, never to fall asleep again. It was a couple of days after the towers fell that I was on the rescue detail and bucket brigade. Shortly after that, the mission changed and we became the recovery detail. Today, twenty-four people remain missing.

We removed rubble and searched under precarious heaps of concrete and twisted steel, naturally formed by unnatural means. Conversation about the goal of our mission was limited, hope of recovery remained. I dare say even weeks into the mission hope of rescue remained. Hope, no matter how suppressed remained until the last responder ended his or her tour of duty.

From recovering bodies and undefined remains, from following swarms of flies to uncover their desired landing post before they did, to sipping from the bitter cloud that stained your throat and hurt your lungs, the reality of the task was banished to an after thought.

Reality exploded in snatches from otherwise innocuous discoveries. The tip of your boot bumping something soft in the rubble and a look down revealed a woman’s purse with the gloss of her families pictures glinting in the struggling sunlight, or spotting an officer sprinting to the make-shift morgue with hair from a recovered brush, in order to provide a DNA sample for closure.

I close my eyes and rewind those images with instant clarity and detect the acrid cloud that turned day into night. I open my eyes and still see those same images, for it is stenciled in the retina. The bone tainted soot will remain in my passages.

You see, my friends, I cannot forget nor do I want to. There are millions of Americans like me, regardless of where they were when those cowardly acts were perpetrated against our resolve. There are others however due to cynicism or blind ideology that will turn a blind eye to evil. Closing your eyes will not make the dark go away, trust me.

The casualty list created on 9/11/2001 did not end on 9/11. There are many of your neighbors still suffering and dying from that toxic cloud. Please, keep them in your prayers and memories.

Today is designated Patriot Day and Americans are implored to find those stored away flags and display them once again. Do you remember how proudly we hailed after that fateful day?

There are many holidays or days of recognition such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, just to name a few that inspires a common refrain; “we should give thanks everyday,” “we should honor and remember daily,” and more. Patriot Day should inspire the same cheer.

Patriotism is not a fleeting sentiment when the going is good or tough; it is a constant unwavering conviction. Patriotism and love of country will encourage and embolden the support and defense of our nation and way of life.

Honor our symbols of Freedom and Honor our Defenders of Freedom.

Never Forget.

NFL Players Wear GU 63 Patch to Honor Gene Upshaw

NFL Players Wear GU 63 Patch to Honor Gene Upshaw
Gene Upshaw, 1945-2008
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Happy Birthday "Uncle Sam"

Flagg's 1917 poster


By Tony Vega

On September 7, 1813, the United States adopted the nickname, Uncle Sam. It all began when Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from New York sent barrels of beef to U.S. soldiers during the War of 1812.

Samuel Wilson stamped all of the barrels "U.S." for the United States. Our time tested clever soldiers began referring to the arrival of Wilson's barrels of beef as "Uncle Sam's." A newspaper reported the story and soon thereafter Uncle Sam gained notoriety and acceptance, the rest is history.

Samuel Wilson died in 1854 at age 88 and buried in Troy, New York. The town calls itself "The home of Uncle Sam."

In 1860 Political cartoonist, Thomas Nast began to popularize the image of Uncle Sam. Nast gave Uncle Sam the white beard and stars-and-stripes suit (as seen in left image) Thomas Nast is also credited with developing the image of Santa Claus, the donkey for the Democratic Party(image to the right), and the elephant symbol(below) for the Republican Party. Thomas Nast (1840-1902) is considered the "Father of the American Cartoon."

(Nast, 1874 Harper's Weekly)

The most popular image of Uncle Sam was created by James Montgomery Flagg. In 1917, Flagg created the recruitment poster for the United States Army during World War I. The poster was inspired by a 1914 British recruitment poster showing Lord Kitchener in a similar pose.

In between the caption "Britons: Lord Kitchener Wants You. Join Your Country's Army! God save the King" was the image of Lord Kitchener. Kitchener was given the title Secretary of War and was responsible for recruiting a large army to fight the Germans. Over three million men joined the army.

The 1914 British recruitment poster inspired the creation of many other posters featuring the subject pointing a finger at the viewer. A popular United States poster of Smokey Bear using the famous gesture made an appearance in 1985 with the caption "ONLY YOU." The "Only You" refers to his famous quotation, "Only You Can Prevent
Forest Fires."

Smokey Bear and his message debuted in 1944. The first poster did not have Smokey pointing his finger at the viewer.

In James Montgomery Flagg's 1917 poster, Uncle Sam is pointing at the viewer above the caption "I Want YOU for U. S. Army." Four million of those posters were circulated during WWI and made the rounds again for WWII.

James Montgomery Flagg (1877-1960) used his own likeness to create Uncle Sam, adding age and the white goatee. He stated he simply wanted to avoid the trouble of arranging for a model. James Montgomery Flagg was born in Pelham Manor, New York and died at age 89 in New York City.

In 1961, the United States Congress recognized Samuel Wilson as “the progenitor of America’s national symbol of Uncle Sam.”


Sources:

1. history.com

2. wikipedia.com

3. associatedcontent.com

John McCain's Acceptance Speech

posted by Tony GOPrano


By John McCain

September 5, 2008

CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO

"Thank you all very much. Tonight, I have a privilege given few Americans -- the privilege of accepting our party's nomination for President of the United States. And I accept it with gratitude, humility and confidence. In my life, no success has come without a good fight, and this nomination wasn't any different. That's a tribute to the candidates who opposed me and their supporters. They're leaders of great ability, who love our country, and wished to lead it to better days. Their support is an honor I won't forget.

I'm grateful to the President for leading us in those dark days following the worst attack on American soil in our history, and keeping us safe from another attack many thought was inevitable; and to the First Lady, Laura Bush, a model of grace and kindness in public and in private.

And I'm grateful to the 41st President and his bride of 63 years, and for their outstanding example of honorable service to our country.

As always, I'm indebted to my wife, Cindy, and my seven children.
The pleasures of family life can seem like a brief holiday from the crowded calendar of our nation's business. But I have treasured them all the more, and can't imagine a life without the happiness you give me. Cindy said a lot of nice things about me tonight. But, in truth, she's more my inspiration than I am hers.

Her concern for those less blessed than we are -- victims of land mines, children born in poverty and with birth defects -- shows the measure of her humanity. I know she will make a great First Lady. When I was growing up, my father was often at sea, and the job of raising my brother, sister and me would fall to my mother alone. Roberta McCain gave us her love of life, her deep interest in the world, her strength, and her belief we are all meant to use our opportunities to make ourselves useful to our country. I wouldn't be here tonight but for the strength of her character."

As a longtime supporter and friend of JOHN MCCAIN, I couldn't have been prouder of him than I was last night. JOHN MCCAIN showed America why he should be the next President of the United States of America! The people watching the speech along with me agreed. JOHN MCCAIN has the courage and experience to lead us in these trying times. GOD BLESS JOHN MCCAIN!!!

Patriotism -- Loving America

By Andrew G. Benjamin

John McCain's son is in Iraq serving our nation so we can throw diatribes and curses at John McCain and call him an old fool.

Sarah Palin's son is leaving for Iraq next week to serve our nation so that we can throw insults and diatribes at Sarah Pelin and call her daughter a whore.

Baraq O'Bama's son is going to...wait, he has no son. He has no American Flag Lapel Pin either... it's too heavy and spoils the streamlined look of his empty suit.

Baraq O'Bama throws diatribes at McCain and Palin whose sons are in the line of fire and ready to die for you and he. And he speaks to us about patriotism. They tell us that we are "In the Wrong War; at the Wrong Time; in The Wrong Place.

Except that we are not.

The American people have been lied to. Obama and Biden have failed to acknowledge that 550 metric tons of Saddam-era yellowcake (the subject of Bush's Lies) was shipped to Canada in July. Enough to make over 150 nuclear bombs. Both have failed to inform Americans in their stump speeches that we are winning in Iraq; winning a war that they are ready to surrender after having spent over 4000 lives of our youth. In their world full of hate, they call it Patriotism.

Wrong war? I say, wrong O'Bama assumptions taken logically to wrong O'Bama conclusions from which O'Bama would make life and death decisions affecting every American. It is a matter of record.

How about plain unadulterated bull and pathetically poor judgment?

Nothing wrong recognizing that fact if one were just a little bit honest. O'Bama honest? Do YOU know anything about this man?

www.atimes.com/Front_Page

Transcript of Sarah Palin's RNC Speech

This post contains a written transcript of Sarah Palin's RNC speech and a 5 part YouTube video of the same. Prior to the commencement of this speech, the RNC was scheduled to show a video biography of Governor Sarah Palin. Visit that must see video bio here



Mr. Chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens: I am honored to be considered for the nomination for vice president of the United States.

I accept the call to help our nominee for president to serve and defend America.

I accept the challenge of a tough fight in this election against confident opponents at a crucial hour for our country.

And I accept the privilege of serving with a man who has come through much harder missions ... and met far graver challenges and knows how tough fights are won — the next president of the United States, John S. McCain.

It was just a year ago when all the experts in Washington counted out our nominee because he refused to hedge his commitment to the security of the country he loves.

With their usual certitude, they told us that all was lost — there was no hope for this candidate who said that he would rather lose an election than see his country lose a war.

But the pollsters and pundits overlooked just one thing when they wrote him off.

They overlooked the caliber of the man himself — the determination, resolve, and sheer guts of Sen. John McCain. The voters knew better.

And maybe that's because they realize there is a time for politics and a time for leadership ... a time to campaign and a time to put our country first.

Our nominee for president is a true profile in courage, and people like that are hard to come by.

He's a man who wore the uniform of this country for 22 years and refused to break faith with those troops in Iraq who have now brought victory within sight.

And as the mother of one of those troops, that is exactly the kind of man I want as commander in chief. I'm just one of many moms who'll say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm's way.

Our son Track is 19.

And one week from tomorrow — Sept. 11 — he'll deploy to Iraq with the Army infantry in the service of his country.

My nephew Kasey also enlisted and serves on a carrier in the Persian Gulf.

My family is proud of both of them and of all the fine men and women serving the country in uniform. Track is the eldest of our five children.

In our family, it's two boys and three girls in between — my strong and kind-hearted daughters, Bristol, Willow and Piper.

And in April, my husband, Todd, and I welcomed our littlest one into the world, a perfectly beautiful baby boy named Trig. From the inside, no family ever seems typical.

That's how it is with us.

Our family has the same ups and downs as any other — the same challenges and the same joys.

Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge.

And children with special needs inspire a special love.

To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters.

I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House. Todd is a story all by himself.

He's a lifelong commercial fisherman ... a production operator in the oil fields of Alaska's North Slope ... a proud member of the United Steel Workers Union ... and world champion snow machine racer.

Throw in his Yup'ik Eskimo ancestry, and it all makes for quite a package.

We met in high school, and two decades and five children later he's still my guy. My mom and dad both worked at the elementary school in our small town.

And among the many things I owe them is one simple lesson: that this is America, and every woman can walk through every door of opportunity.

My parents are here tonight, and I am so proud to be the daughter of Chuck and Sally Heath. Long ago, a young farmer and haberdasher from Missouri followed an unlikely path to the vice presidency.

A writer observed: "We grow good people in our small towns, with honesty, sincerity, and dignity." I know just the kind of people that writer had in mind when he praised Harry Truman.

I grew up with those people.

They are the ones who do some of the hardest work in America who grow our food, run our factories and fight our wars.

They love their country, in good times and bad, and they're always proud of America. I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town.

I was just your average hockey mom and signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids' public education better.

When I ran for City Council, I didn't need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and knew their families, too.

Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown.

And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves.

I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening.

We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.

As for my running mate, you can be certain that wherever he goes, and whoever is listening, John McCain is the same man. I'm not a member of the permanent political establishment. And I've learned quickly, these past few days, that if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone.

But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country. Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reasons, and not just to mingle with the right people.

Politics isn't just a game of clashing parties and competing interests.

The right reason is to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good, and to leave this nation better than we found it.

No one expects us to agree on everything.

But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and ... a servant's heart.

I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice president of the United States. This was the spirit that brought me to the governor's office, when I took on the old politics as usual in Juneau ... when I stood up to the special interests, the lobbyists, big oil companies, and the good-ol' boys network.

Sudden and relentless reform never sits well with entrenched interests and power brokers. That's why true reform is so hard to achieve.

But with the support of the citizens of Alaska, we shook things up.

And in short order we put the government of our state back on the side of the people.

I came to office promising major ethics reform, to end the culture of self-dealing. And today, that ethics reform is the law.

While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor's office that I didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for.

That luxury jet was over the top. I put it on eBay.

I also drive myself to work.

And I thought we could muddle through without the governor's personal chef — although I've got to admit that sometimes my kids sure miss her. I came to office promising to control spending — by request if possible and by veto if necessary.

Sen. McCain also promises to use the power of veto in defense of the public interest — and as a chief executive, I can assure you it works.

Our state budget is under control.

We have a surplus.

And I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending: nearly half a billion dollars in vetoes.

I suspended the state fuel tax and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress.

I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere.

If our state wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves. When oil and gas prices went up dramatically, and filled up the state treasury, I sent a large share of that revenue back where it belonged — directly to the people of Alaska.

And despite fierce opposition from oil company lobbyists, who kind of liked things the way they were, we broke their monopoly on power and resources.

As governor, I insisted on competition and basic fairness to end their control of our state and return it to the people.

I fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history.

And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly 40 billion-dollar natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence.

That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are opened, will lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart.

The stakes for our nation could not be higher.

When a hurricane strikes in the Gulf of Mexico, this country should not be so dependent on imported oil that we are forced to draw from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

And families cannot throw away more and more of their paychecks on gas and heating oil.

With Russia wanting to control a vital pipeline in the Caucasus, and to divide and intimidate our European allies by using energy as a weapon, we cannot leave ourselves at the mercy of foreign suppliers.

To confront the threat that Iran might seek to cut off nearly a fifth of world energy supplies ... or that terrorists might strike again at the Abqaiq facility in Saudi Arabia ... or that Venezuela might shut off its oil deliveries ... we Americans need to produce more of our own oil and gas.

And take it from a gal who knows the North Slope of Alaska: We've got lots of both.

Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America's energy problems — as if we all didn't know that already.

But the fact that drilling won't solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all.

Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to lay more pipelines ... build more nuclear plants ... create jobs with clean coal ... and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal and other alternative sources.

We need American energy resources, brought to you by American ingenuity, and produced by American workers. I've noticed a pattern with our opponent.

Maybe you have, too.

We've all heard his dramatic speeches before devoted followers.

And there is much to like and admire about our opponent.

But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state Senate.

This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting and never use the word "victory" except when he's talking about his own campaign. But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed ... when the roar of the crowd fades away ... when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot — what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make government bigger ... take more of your money ... give you more orders from Washington ... and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy ... our opponent is against producing it.

Victory in Iraq is finally in sight ... he wants to forfeit.

Terrorist states are seeking nuclear weapons without delay ... he wants to meet them without preconditions.

Al-Qaida terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America ... he's worried that someone won't read them their rights? Government is too big ... he wants to grow it.

Congress spends too much ... he promises more.

Taxes are too high ... he wants to raise them. His tax increases are the fine print in his economic plan, and let me be specific.

The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes ... raise payroll taxes ... raise investment income taxes ... raise the death tax ... raise business taxes ... and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars. My sister Heather and her husband have just built a service station that's now opened for business — like millions of others who run small businesses.

How are they going to be any better off if taxes go up? Or maybe you're trying to keep your job at a plant in Michigan or Ohio ... or create jobs with clean coal from Pennsylvania or West Virginia ... or keep a small farm in the family right here in Minnesota.

How are you going to be better off if our opponent adds a massive tax burden to the American economy? Here's how I look at the choice Americans face in this election.

In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers.

And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.

They're the ones whose names appear on laws and landmark reforms, not just on buttons and banners, or on self-designed presidential seals.

Among politicians, there is the idealism of high-flown speechmaking, in which crowds are stirringly summoned to support great things.

And then there is the idealism of those leaders, like John McCain, who actually do great things. They're the ones who are good for more than talk ... the ones we have always been able to count on to serve and defend America. Sen. McCain's record of actual achievement and reform helps explain why so many special interests, lobbyists and comfortable committee chairmen in Congress have fought the prospect of a McCain presidency — from the primary election of 2000 to this very day.

Our nominee doesn't run with the Washington herd.

He's a man who's there to serve his country, and not just his party.

A leader who's not looking for a fight, but is not afraid of one either. Harry Reid, the majority leader of the current do-nothing Senate, not long ago summed up his feelings about our nominee.

He said, quote, "I can't stand John McCain." Ladies and gentlemen, perhaps no accolade we hear this week is better proof that we've chosen the right man. Clearly what the majority leader was driving at is that he can't stand up to John McCain. That is only one more reason to take the maverick of the Senate and put him in the White House. My fellow citizens, the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of "personal discovery." This world of threats and dangers is not just a community, and it doesn't just need an organizer.

And though both Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden have been going on lately about how they are always, quote, "fighting for you," let us face the matter squarely.

There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you ... in places where winning means survival and defeat means death ... and that man is John McCain. In our day, politicians have readily shared much lesser tales of adversity than the nightmare world in which this man, and others equally brave, served and suffered for their country.

It's a long way from the fear and pain and squalor of a 6-by-4 cell in Hanoi to the Oval Office.

But if Sen. McCain is elected president, that is the journey he will have made.

It's the journey of an upright and honorable man — the kind of fellow whose name you will find on war memorials in small towns across this country, only he was among those who came home.

To the most powerful office on Earth, he would bring the compassion that comes from having once been powerless ... the wisdom that comes even to the captives, by the grace of God ... the special confidence of those who have seen evil, and seen how evil is overcome. A fellow prisoner of war, a man named Tom Moe of Lancaster, Ohio, recalls looking through a pinhole in his cell door as Lt. Cmdr. John McCain was led down the hallway, by the guards, day after day.

As the story is told, "When McCain shuffled back from torturous interrogations, he would turn toward Moe's door and flash a grin and thumbs up" — as if to say, "We're going to pull through this." My fellow Americans, that is the kind of man America needs to see us through these next four years.

For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words.

For a lifetime, John McCain has inspired with his deeds.

If character is the measure in this election ... and hope the theme ... and change the goal we share, then I ask you to join our cause. Join our cause and help America elect a great man as the next president of the United States.

Thank you all, and may God bless America."