Metallic Pea

‘It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.’  ~ Proverbs 25:24

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As a recovering militarist myself, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Merle Haggard has finally seen the light and eschewed the jingoism so rampant in our society for a sensible advocacy of peace and Mind-Our-Own-Business-ism. Like myself, he was once a cheerleader for the Military-Industrial Complex and the projection of American Military Strength, as witnessed by his ode to Big Stick Diplomacy, ‘Fighting Side of Me’:

I hear people talkin’ bad about the way we have to live here in this country,

Harpin’ on the wars we fight and gripin’ ’bout the way things oughtta be.

And I don’t mind ‘em swithin’ sides and standing up for things they believe in.

When they’re running down the country, man

They’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me.

Thankfully, it appears that Mr Haggard has had changed his point of view. His latest album features the song ‘Rebuild America First’ with the following lyrics:

Why don’t we liberate these United States

We’re the ones who need it the worst

Let the rest of the world help us for a change

And let’s rebuild America first.’

Come on it, Hag–the water’s warm.

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In the War on Christianity, two powerful lobby groups have learnt the importance of the age old maxim, ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’

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(Courtesy of Political Inquirer)

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‘When are there situations when loyalty to a nation-state comes into conflict with loyalty to the Kingdom of God?’

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Vox Day discusses his new book, ‘The Irrational Atheist’: ‘I suspect the reason [atheists are in such an uproar] is related to the current state of physics and the increasing uncertainty scientists feel about the universe based on the very, very low probability that the universe randomly happened to turn out the way it is now observed to be. Atheists have felt that science was on their side ever since the Enlightenment, and now they see it slipping away from them. So, this recent explosion of atheist books is not a sign of strength; it’s a sign of desperation ...’

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General Robert E. Lee was, in my estimation, one of the supremely gifted men produced by our Nation. He believed unswervingly in the Constitutional validity of his cause … he was a poised and inspiring leader, true to the high trust reposed in him by millions of his fellow citizens; he was thoughtful yet demanding of his officers and men, forbearing with captured enemies but ingenious, unrelenting and personally courageous in battle, and never disheartened by a reverse or obstacle. Through all his many trials, he remained selfless almost to a fault and unfailing in his faith in God. Taken altogether, he was noble as a leader and as a man, and unsullied as I read the pages of our history.

 

From deep conviction I simply say this: a nation of men of Lee’s calibre would be unconquerable in spirit and soul …

 

Such are the reasons that I proudly display the picture of this great American on my office wall. ~ Dwight Eisenhower

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‘When it comes to illegal immigration, Dr. Paul has a leg up – his is one of the best programs.’

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To-day’s 1980’s Moment is brought to you by Madness:

‘Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.’  ~ Genesis 13:2

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‘What you [Ron Paul] said was, if we got rid of the income tax, the Government would still take about the same amount of money in as they had ten years ago. We looked into it and it’s accurate. Can you explain that and how do we get that message out to people?’ 

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Give Ireland back to the Irish

Don’t make them have to take it away

Give Ireland back to the Irish

Make Ireland Irish to-day

Great Britain you are tremendous

And nobody knows like me

But really what are you doin’

In the land across the sea?

~ Paul McCartney, Give Ireland Back to the Irish  

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‘I wish a buck was still silver and it was back when the country was strong.’ ~ Merle Haggard, Are the Good Times Really Over?

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Some 70 percent of economic growth over the past years was a result of consumption. Now that consumption is slowing down — with lower retail expenditure during the Christmas season and dropping charges to credit cards — a tax rebate will again fan consumption.

It will not do a thing to increase savings, from which future investments can be made, writes Wolfgag Grassl. We all know by now that the way out of a recession is through the building of capital goods, not through the temporary fattening up of American retailers and Chinese manufacturers.

Second, government can finance its largess only by either raising taxes — if for political reasons not now, then in future years — or by borrowing even more. Already today, total public debt amounts to over $9 trillion, or two thirds of annual GDP. About 44 percent of it is owed to foreign entities. It will have to be paid back — whether through years of lower consumption, or domestic inflation, or a reduction in the external value of the dollar.

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In the Internet Age, celebrities and media must be ever vigilant.  Things that were once brushfires to be stamped out with minimal embarrassment are now, with the advent of the blogosphere (ahem!), raging infernos that cannot be controlled.

ESPN anchor Dana Jacobson has learnt this lesson … and learnt it good.  However, it is much worse than this article lets on.  Not only was she swilling vodka and cussing like a sailor, she threw in a bit of blesphemy just for good measure.

Now, I believe she is genuinely contrite–not to mention embarrassed beyond measure–and I am quick to forgive her.  (After all, she is only acting according to her nature.)  However, I do think she should be held accountable for her actions.  After all, Don Imus lost his livelihood for less.  Ultimately, I hope God uses this incident to draw Mrs Jacobson to Himself.

Dana Jacobson at the Mike & Mike Roast.  (Instant Embarrassment–just add vodka.)

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‘Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.’  ~ H. L. Mencken

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A Coast Guardsman takes a brave stand against a vaccine derived from killing babies.

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Ron Paul was THE ONLY candidate at March for Life.

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It may be gross–but you have got to love their entrepreneurial spirit!

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‘A new report confirms what Christians in India already feared: 2007 was the worst year since their nation’s independence in 1947 for attacks on Christians.’

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Pat Robertson is beginning to sound increasingly like Joel Osteen.  I really used to respect him but I am very disappointed in the direction he has taken his ministry in recent years.

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To-day’s 1980’s Moment is brought to you by

Slowhand himself, Eric Clapton:

After all, in his practise as a Ob./Gyn, he has delivered in excess of 4,000 of them.

This just in: It appears that Norma Leah McCorvey, better known as ‘Jane Roe’ in Roe v. Wade–and who now opposes abortion and is a major player in the Pro-Life movement–will mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s abomination by holding a press conference to-morrow in which she will endorse Ron Paul’s candidacy for President of the United States. 

‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you…’  ~ Jeremiah 1:5a

‘[W]hoever gathers money little by little will increase it.’  ~ Proverbs 13:11b

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The economy’s slide into recession continues to gain momentum, catching the Powers That Be by surprise, although Ron Paul and others have been sounding the warning of just such an eventuality for years.  The Federal Reserve must bear a large share of the blame due to it’s interference in the market through arbitrary manipulation of the interest rates and reckless and increasing infusions of fiat money which only devalues the dollar and results in inflation.

The Washington government’s solution is to borrow more money from China, Kuwait, and other foreign nations while turning the money printing presses up to 11.  This will have the opposite of the desired effect, being nothing more than hair of the dog that bit us.  The cheques they want to send out to taxpayers will only add to the multi-trillion (trillion with a ‘T’) federal debt and encourage the wanton spending by consumers which also fans the recession.

After all, if printing more money–which is no longer backed by anything of value–is the answer to our economic woes, why can’t we just reduce the tax burden to 0% and print ourselves into prosperity?

 Here is warning number 1,001: Get out of debt and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE.  Regardless of what the misguided Keynesians will tell you, spending does not improve the economy–saving does.

Ron Paul–who has studied economics in excess of 40 years–is the only candidate who appears to understand what is needed to end the recession and ensure long-term fiscal stability: sound money, low taxes, renunciation of empire, and living within our means.

In this video, Dr Paul educates Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke on sound economic policy:

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‘[President Johnson] took [Federal Reserve Chairman] Martin to his ranch and asked the Secret Service to leave the room. And he physically beat him, he slammed him against the wall, and said, “Martin, my boys are dying in Vietnam, and you won’t print the money I need.”‘

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At one time, Republicans could be counted on to protect the Second Amendment.  (I wonder which part of ’shall not be infringed’ is so difficult to understand?)

Michael Kinsely (most certainly not a conservative) once made a very astute observation.  If liberals interpreted the Second Amendment as they do the First, it would be mandated by law that everyone carry a gun everywhere.

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Here is yet another example of a professing Christian with a low view of Scripture. I’m rendered speechless when someone says something as ridiculous as the following: ‘Over the years, though, [Dowd] said, a Passionist priest led him to find a more powerful narrative of God and discover a “God-glorifying, Christ-edifying view of evolution.”‘ Whaaa?

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A Scottish pastor has it partly correct in saying, ‘The definition of a Calvinist as being a person who is miserable at the thought that someone somewhere is actually enjoying themselves is sadly all too typical.’ However, methinks he flew too close to the sun in suggesting that the answer for the Scottish Presbyterians is to delve into the Harry Potter books.

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I sure am glad the U.S. spent so much in blood and treasure to ‘free’ Kosovo. Now they can enjoy the ‘Muslim [sic] terror campaign that has killed, raped and maimed countless Christians, burned down churches and ethnically cleansed the region in anticipation of statehood.’ This, as Ron Paul has been pointing out in the presidential campaign, is known as ‘blowback,’ or the unintended consequences of U.S. foreign policy.

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‘Let me see if I get this right. We need to borrow $10 billion from China, and then we give it to Musharraf, who is a military dictator, who overthrew an elected government. And then we go to war; we lose all these lives promoting democracy in Iraq. I mean, what’s going on here?“’ ~ Ron Paul

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‘To me, I confess, [countries] are pieces on a chessboard upon which is being played out a game for dominion of the world.’ ~ Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, in reference to Afghanistan, 1898

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If you are going to promote tourism for your town, please ensure that you have a qualified copy editor proof-reading your materials.  (Notice the young girl in the centre of the photo.)

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To-day’s 1980’s Moment is brought to you by Debbie Gibson:

 Languid eyes refuse to see

While wisdom falls to atrophy

Deafened tones of hymnody

And sentries bow to tragedy

Machinations thinly veiled

Yet our discernment clearly failed

He–for these very sins–was nailed

Agape writhes, thin and paled

Our bellies certain we to fill

And teach our children ‘tis blessed to kill

The blood of infidels we swill

Flesh into dirt we turn and till

Oh, Love for all—we sing thy praise

While warfare’s standard high we raise

Despising mercy, horror stays

With scythe we cut down in a craze

Gather at the tolling bell

And sing of God who loves us well

But those who cause our ire to swell

Shall swiftly find their way to Hell

Crowing so of peace and love

While raining havoc from above

In silence, darkness Death does move

On eagle’s wings and not the dove

Horsemen Four, arise and ride

With barren sheaths now at your side

It’s Them or Us he boldly lied

Mothers, your children cannot hide

Should we tell them of the Son?

Or wait until the war is won?

Will they to the true Word run?

Or move they only from the gun?

Foreign souls ours once to save

Lie out of reach once in the grave

In crimson flow our hands we lave

And with their bones our path we pave

Forbidden rest, denied safe haven

Feasted on by worm and raven

Why would they hold in reverent awe

A Gospel red in tooth and claw?

– R. M. Lee