Born June 4, 1951 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Served in the U.S. Navy from 1970-1974 in both UDT-21 (Underwater Demolition Team) and SEAL Team Two. Worked as a commercial diver in the waters off of Scotland, India, and the United States. Worked overseas in the Merchant Marines. While attending the University of South Florida as a journalism student in 1998 was presented with the “Carol Burnett/University of Hawaii AEJMC Research in Journalism Ethics Award,” 1st place undergraduate division. (The annual contest was set up by Carol Burnett with money she won from successfully suing a national newspaper for libel). Awarded US Army, US Navy, South African, and Russian jump wings. Graduate of NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School, 1970). Member of Mensa, China Post #1, and lifetime member of the NRA and UDT/SEAL Association.
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." -- Thomas Paine (1737-1809)
Although my byline is attached to this article, in all honesty I would have to give JB Williams the lion's share of the credit for it -- you might say that I'm simply echoing his sentiments. In any event, here are some further thoughts on the "Restore the Constitution" rally being held on 11/11/11 in Washington DC.
"You would think that with all the talk about credit ratings, and S&P, this story would be a natural for the wire services and networks. But you would be wrong. This news is only being reported by a local radio station." Matt Augustine on Standard and Poor's upgrade of Florida to AAA credit rating
"My conscience is violated. I feel like I'm supporting the flag of whatever those Islamic countries are, and the rainbow flag, and not the red, white, and blue." --USAF Staff Sgt. Daryn Moran, Landstuhl, Germany
(Editor's Note: American hearts broken over yesterday's tragic loss of 30 American soldiers, most of them elite Navy SEALs, include those of SEAL-for-Life Jim O'Neill and Marine Jerry McConnell. From foreign soil, Courageous SEALS have kept us living in freedom for decades. Today marks the 69th anniversary of McConnell's arrival on Guadalcanal and the beginning of the epic World War II battle.)
"The circle of life begins at home midst family, then sometimes it ends away from home, but still in midst of family, now called friends. They were as much my brothers as if we shared the same last name. I couldn't have loved them more." Jerry McConnell -- First Marine Division, First Marine Regiment, 3rd Battalion, K Company
It is important that as many Americans as possible wake up to the dire straits we are in, and it is especially important that the young adults of America wake up to how they are being led down a path to servitude, poverty, and mediocrity by the political/banking/corporate elites.
[Gandalf said],"'Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again.' 'I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo. 'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. And already, Frodo, our time is beginning to look black. The enemy is fast becoming very strong.'" -- J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) "The Fellowship of the Ring"
"There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil." -- From the LOTR film trilogy "The Fellowship of the Ring"
John McCain, Maureen Dowd, "The Wall Street Journal" (WSJ), and others, have taken to referring to the Tea Party, and conservative members of Congress, as "hobbits" -- the wee folk from the "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy (LOTR). As Brian Wesbury notes, "This is not a term of endearment. What the WSJ editors [et al.] mean is that Tea Partiers live in a 'fantasy world.'"
"I heartily accept the motto, 'That government is best which governs least;' and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe -- 'That government is best which governs not at all;' and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which we will have." -- Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) From his essay "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" 1849
"Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." -- George Washington (1732-1799)