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Frank Luntz reports

Friday Frolic: Updated With Video

Yes it is a "Range of Light", I know why John Muir chose that term to describe the High Sierra. I have bagged three named peaks and one unnamed crag so far.

On the way to Mt. Winchell, a Sierra sunrise

Well it appears the Shamnesty bill has been tabled for now until we can get real security first by simply enforcing the laws on the books now, an amendment to do just that , enforce the dang laws we have now, was defeated by the way. The McCain/Bush/Reid/Kennedy Quartet failed with jeers and catcalls from all sides. The elite politicos truly showed they have no interest in National Security or enforcing our laws and National sovereignty. Michelle Malkin has been live blogging from the Senate floor during the debates and has a complete round up.

We are kicking butt in Iraq and winning the confidence and help of the locals that once fought against us in the Sunni areas and taking out the Iranian backed Shia militias as well. Bill Roggio's Fourth Rail is always the best place to go for war news.
Mike Yon is back to his old prolific self with several new dispatches up on the rss feeder, I haven't read yet.
Update:
Mary Katherine, Townhall babe, has a fun new Hamnation up, "Sopranos" fans will enjoy the slant.



Update:
If you are at all interested in the plight of pampered pimp-gal Paris Hilton, Shep Smith adds some nice asides for those of us that aren't and don't care if Princess Paris has to go to jail for breaking the law. It is about time the tramp tease got her come uppance, darn shame, she is a cute girl. The same goes for the rest of her fembrat Hollywood loonytunes. In the video link Greta clearly described the delirium tremors of an alcaholic coke head, Shephard Smith adds a perfect amount of snarkiness.

Update:

My friend Gayle brings the humor with Fractured Friday and a connection back to another old friend.

A 2006 study found that the average American walks about 900 miles per year. Another study found that Americans drink an average of 22 gallons of beer per year. That means, on average, Americans get approximately 41 miles per gallon

Hear Hear, or better, Beer Beer!(B)(B)

Just Irony, Updated

I work for a top Clinton supporter, LOL, actually have worked for several of them, part of their California coalition. The house I am working in right now will probably be ready to host a big Clinton fundraiser next year and it's a real mansion, state of the art, traditional and craftsman solid. It will stand for centuries as it is steel and stone built. I keep my politics to myself and deliver the highest quality product on the market, their money is good as any. Oh and by the way, there are very few liberals in the trades at the journeyman or craftsman levels, even in the unions. That is why the unions have lost so many members from the private trades, we don't need their lordship to protect us. Quality tradesmen have become a scarce commodity, let alone trying to find custom craftsmen. I actually take pride that my craftsmanship will be viewed by some of the most powerful people in the world and he can write me far bigger checks than he can hand to Hillary. The style, modern Greco-Roman, impressive but not overdone, very euro-elegant, to much for me, I am a Greene&Greene bungalow person.
Update: Mary Katherine has a great D-Day tribute up at Townhall blog, some great video clips as well.
Nothing worth posting about the GOP debate or I would, nothing changed, Mitt Romney is the man and I like Rudy, Fred and Newt alot, the rest can save their money and go home.
Who would be most comfortable at a Barnyard BBQ? Mike Huckabee by a long ways, followed by McCain and Romney. Mitt needs to work on his tailgate charm bigtime and that is from an entrenched redneck supporter. The fact he has Iowa almost locked shows he knows this, Rudy and McCain running from the Ames straw poll is indicative. The Ames event is a fun indicator of a candidate's grassroots appeal and Mitt wins those hands down two months early. I have to thank the others for the capitulation so quickly, McCain will drop out, Rudy will have a real fight on his hands with Fred, Newt and Mitt on the later debate stages. When it comes right down to ideas and solutions I would love to see Mitt and Newt sit down and chat for an hour or two, they are the idea guys of the GOP, I know Hugh would host them on radio, though it needs to be on TV, Cspan is fine.

Monday Meander

More of the grounds around the residential area at the park, a nice botanical garden, the brick wall barely visible on the left is part of the ruins of the founders house.

The lodge where events are held, weddings, family reunions, etc, great spot for it for sure.

The Starr house, named for the early longtime superintendent, from the 1880s till 1929, George W. Starr. Its a conspiracy, grin, anyway its a great area to visit if are looking to tour gold country. There is even some excellent wine tasting nearby, big, bold reds and flowery whites, in Nevada City and Grass Valley.

-------

I see the Democrat freezer man congressman, cold cash William Jefferson just got indicted on 16 counts of racketeering, bribery, money laundering, etc. Cleanest most ethical congress ever they chimed. Don't blame me I never believed them, most of their leadership is under investigation for ethics violations and deeper corruption as well, and their front man is Lardhead Murtha. That is why the Dems are going after the Justice Dept. and AG Gonzales, they are about to be exposed right at the worst time for them. It has nothing to do with the firings until you root deeper, they weren't persueing Democrat corruption and their cronies have to protect them. A whole bunch of noise while they try to serve up amnesty and socialism under the din, it didn't work, they got caught. Folks, Bush doesn't matter anymore, it is up to us to keep up the heat under our repesentatives to win the war, secure our borders, confirm the Judges, lower the taxes and stop the crazy spending.

Weekend Roundup: Updated

For a Sunday drive I headed up into the foothill gold Country and Empire Mine SP in Grass Valley, in operation for about a century with a yield of 5.8 million ounces of gold from 367 miles of tunnels to many thousands of feet deep.

The Rowe headframe from a later side shaft, there is stiil alot of gold in this hill, estimates are at only 20% recovered but hard rock mining is expensive, difficult and not profitable at this time.

Another reason to visit this historic site this time of year

The office, click the pick to enlarge and read the signs

Offices and mine rescue headquarters

Part of the huge heirloom rose gardens and mine superintendant's house, the grounds are beautiful and a popular spot for weddings and other events.

Reflection pool

A medium sized stamp mill used to crush the ore and then the gold is recovered with a mercury and cyanide chemical process, every camp had one of some size, the main ones here were massive.

The main Empire shaft extending nearly a mile down some 4700 feet

Your ride to work, a dozen miners would crouch on the sled for the ride in and out which could take awhile to reach the depths.

What they were digging for, gold, some examples of rich ore

A very rich piece, this is vein gold, placer gold is what the nuggets found in streams are called, the result of erosion of a vein.

A couple must reads from The American Thinker , James Arlandsen on why the Muslims hate the Jews and Christions, because Mohammed did, and Ray Robison on the growing divisions in Islamist extremism. This is one of my favorite sites as a webzine/blog, always informative on a wide range of issues.

Plus, do not miss Dr. Spencer's series at HotAir on the Qu'ran, The Opening.

The comments are worth reading as well.

Update: John Wayne's "Chisolm"is on, the perfect movie for tonight, for the Goat at least.

Updated: My friend April has a couple great related posts up as well, here and here, a very good blog worth checking out.

Weekend Rambler: Updated

Last nights post has been edited, part of it was an open challenge to a moonbat troll that is obsessed with me, no need to leave it up for posterity. We went at it in the comment section and since I don't allow profanity, I deleted them, including my own foul words, again, no reason to preserve them. I am not taking them back, they are just off the record. The guy is clinically obsessively demented and very sick, and most likely a tweeker methhead. Nobody would spend that much time and energy in a continuous blog attack untill 4:00 am and arise at 1:00 pm to resume if they weren't and he did a good job of proving me correct. I sent him back to his stinky little hole in the bay.
Comment moderation is back on.
To be updated with some actual stuff worth typing about, I can't imagine a loser life like that, so full of hate that they spend their hours searching for people they disagree with to insult in the most degrading ways, sad, so very sad.

Update: I see we nailed a handfull more terrorists plotting to blow up fuel lines at JFK, of course Michelle Malkin and HotAir are all over it(hattip Hugh Hewitt) and our Congress wants to issue the illegals from know terrorist supporting countries a free pass to roam about. not to mention the TB flier. That is my main sticking point with the Immigration bill, security first, build the fence and man it, enforce penalties on employers while giving them a viable way to check residency. Onve the enforcement is in place then we can discuss those that are here to work and become Americans, the rest we deport. This bill has some of these provisions but it leaves out special examination of foriegn nationals from known enemies of the US that harbor and foster terrorism and gangster aged Latinos. Plus there is no mention of who or what agency will run these so called background checks to be run on millions of folks jamming the system along with those legally in line. I have many Mexican neighbors since I live in a small farming community and they are all good folks to have next door. This is not about decent economic refugees, the conservative dispute is with not profiling those from known terror and drug gang supporting countries.
The Mexican culture is very much a part of American culture, a vibrant, colorful and joyful part of our heritage especially out here and it always has been. We can work out something fair to the economic refugee and protect the US security if cooler heads can prevail and communicate that message well. Sen. McCain and Pres. Bush have not done that and resorted to calling us bigots, fine way to treat the base including those legal Mexicans that supported him. I have no problem with a workable regularization/guest worker program once proper border and National security is in place and the fence. Those details can be worked out as we buld the fence and secure the country.

On the lighter side of things, here's a fun piece about why we need more 'cowboys' from the American Spectator, as a redneck from bending my back to the sun, I appreciate the sentimate. The Cowboy is as good a representative of the American spirit as you will find, work hard, play hard and fight hard and the better man wins.

Friday Frolic

Well, I see a raving loonbat has decided to leave some guano behind in the comments, typical of the "I hate America" crowd. Like this NAMBLA supporting idiot thinks he can influence anybody with his turds,he calls his own site stinky, oh well that's his problem not mine. I bet the Democrats just love his type as their frontline offense, very flattering of them I would say.
OK now to something important, the War for Civilization as we know it, Amy Proctor has a great video up highlighting the myths of this war as pushed by the MSM and the loonbats. Her husband is serving our country and she is a great voice in support of our efforts to bring freedom to Iraq. I am honored to be considered a member of her 'Platoon'

Mike Yon, The Modern Day Ernie Pyle; updated

I have been devouring Mike Yon's dispatches since I chanced on his "Gates of Fire" post a couple years ago, he really deserves a Pulitzer Prize for independant journalism. His latest,"The Final Option", is typical of his style of being the fly on the wall while putting himself at enormous risk of being swatted in order to get out the truth, good, bad and ugly, this one is on some amazing progress being made on the ground and in the hearts and minds of the people of the Al-Anbar and the city of Hit. This is one of his best as it details the pacification of an overly zealous and powerful police chief that had crossed the line with the people and they requested our help to solve the problem. We did without a shot or a bruise to anybody. We are winning this war in a big way if only our MSM had the guts to cover it fairly. We get headlines that read"Ten Killed in Suicide-bomb Attack" instead of "30 Al Qaeda killed and 60 captured" , numbers are retorical but close.
There is so much information at Bill Roggio's Fourth Rail you can get lost in the high grass, especially if you explore his highlites and sidebars where I found this great piece from The Telegraph in the UK, by David Blair, good reporting with a lefty twinge, it is worth the read.

Update: Barnyard friend Amy from Bottom Line Upfront has some great posts up, check them out.

Must Read Words From a Founder

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!
March 23, 1775
By Patrick Henry
No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the house is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at the truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the numbers of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth, to know the worst, and to provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received?
Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlement assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation.
There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free--if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us! They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength but irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extentuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Editors note substitute Iran for Britain and read it again

Enter Fred Thompson; Updated

Today's must read is by Ramesh Ponurru at NRO, another look at the GOP debate. long but worth the read.

Fred Thompson has officially launched his "exploratory" committee so he can can start collecting money, so important today. I like him and welcome him into the race and believe he should be Mitt Romney's running mate. I have zero intentions of leaving the Romney camp through the primary season but have little problem voting for any of the others in the general should they win nomination, McCain, would require a strong nose clip to cover the stench. The race will be between Mitt, Fred and Rudy so that nose clip won't be needed except in Rudy's case to cover his lack of respect for the prolife position. I don't see Fred, Mitt or Rudy attacking a person for their ideas, just discussing them as ideas not as a platform for personal attacks. I look forward to a strong campaign by all parties involved and welcome it, I know, I am a wierdo political junky.
I saw the term "common sense" conservative used to describe Fred and I like it as my conservatism is not born from ideology but from Barnyard horse sense. I have not read the great tomes on conservative ideology nor desire to. I like a common sense approach to politics not a nuanced frenchied version, at least they woke up. My ticket through the primary season will be Romney F. Thompson .

Don't miss Mark Steyn's "Song of the Week" , my favorite hymn,
"The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
Mine eyes have seen the glory
Of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage
Where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning
Of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Chorus
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watchfires
Of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar
In the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence
By the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.

Chorus
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ
In burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with My contemners,
So with you My grace shall deal":
Let the Hero born of woman
Crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.

Chorus
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet
That shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men
Before His judgement seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him;
Be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.

Chorus
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies
Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom
That transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy,
Let us die to make men free;
While God is marching on.

Chorus
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

As today is the true Memorial Day, my prayers and thanks go out. Read those words close, that is America!

Tuesday Trails: Updated With Video

Another view, white peaches, naval oranges, grapes, and apricots in the background

I have seen several hits by those searching my real name on sitemeter over the last couple months, for their information, I am the author of this blog but I am not the ones that come up otherwise on a google search. We are probably related since my surname is old and distinctly rare, the main reason I hide it. I have researched this well, ID protection is clearly very important this day and age.

For new readers, an explanation of 'Goat' and "The Barnyard", and how I came about the names.

Goat: Given by friends at Bill O'reilly's forum yeasr ago for standing up to loonbat trolls, short for Goat Gruff, from "Aesop's Fables", such valuable morals are tought in those child's tales.

The Barnyard: It grew from a record setting thread at BOR's site till I was booted. It was in the 'Politics" section titled " Care to Enter the Barnyard?", it grew from there after the staff kicked me out for starting The Barnyard blog. I am coming up on two years now and I have met some wonderful folks and some scum and its been fun! Many thanks to those that stop by for a visit and some polite conversation.

Tonights must read is by Peter Berkowitz at the OPJ Online, which has more on lefty pathology, it appears to be contagious as in zombie like while debate on the right is as usual, bountiful and informative.

From my favorite Congressman John Cambell of the Green Eye Shade blog an endorsement for Mitt Romney.

Weekend Roundup: Updated

Goat's veggie garden

I plant perrenial wildflowers aound the border

My princess lily is going nuts

One of my very favorite flowers, I take alot of flower pictures to aid in stained glass design so why not share them.

In response to/inspired by David Plotz'z Slate piece "Blogging the Bible", Dr.Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch in coordination with Michelle Malkin and HotAir has started a weelky Sunday forum called "Blogging the Qu'ran" and the first installment is up. This will be a must read series as Dr. Spencer cuts right to the thick of it and is one of our top scholars on radical jihadi Islam. The commentary should be very interesting as well. He knows the Qu'ran and its acompanying books as well as if not better than most Islamic scholars and will go toe to toe in debate with them as they try to explain away jihad, dhimmitude, and the other corruptions within the religion. Thanks to his work and others like Serge Trifkovic we can understand why they don't just hate us they are commanded to convert us force us to submit as basically slaves or be killed as a takfir, infidel. Islam is not a very old religion so it's history is well documented. Trifkovic's book " The Sword of the Prophet" is a great look at the history of the early life of Islam and its prophet, Mohammed, a desert pirate by all accounts outside of Islam. Another couple good books to read are "A Concise History of the Crusades" by Thomas F. Madden and "The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Crusades" from Regnery.

The Goat understands fully what we are facing, I may be a redneck country boy but I ain't dumb nor ignorant. I have been a news junky for a long time, and avid reader of history, especially war and America. My addiction to politics is more recent as I saw history being rewritten by the socialist left that has invaded the DNC. I am a September 11 Republican and sought to know our enemy and I chose to fight. I fully honor and remember those that have carried the fight forward on behalf of this great Nation and watered the Tree of Liberty with their blood and that of tyrants.
God Bless Them and God Bless the USA

Update: Dang I am going to miss Tony Blair and David Cameron going nose to nose on Cspan when Tony steps down, these guys are real political lions when it comes to retorical oratory. I know only us wierdos watch "Questions for the Prime Minister" but the Brits are much more fun than our guys to watch and I wish them well with their coming leadership. Tony has been a good friend of the US and a is brilliant man, I have heard rumors of him being asked to lead the World Bank. It would be a good move, he is not a bureaucrat, and very reform minded.

Update: Ouch, a Hillary speech, on Road to the Whitehouse, this woman is a horrible speaker, no wonder Barack and Edwards have over taken her. her vote no on the Senate war funding bill is a direct result of that. Ouch, ouch, I can at least listen to the other two. Hillary Clinton will never be POTUS. All of the GOP nominees could destroy her in National debate, even our favorite punching bags, McCain and Paul. Mitt Romney, or Fred Thompson would totally annilate her as could Duncan Hunter or Mike Huckabee. Fred and Mike's slapdowns would probably be the most amusing for sure. I am proud of the GOP field as most are very capable of leading America, none of the Democrats are except maybe Bill Richardson as actually their most qualified candidate. I might add she got almost zero polite applause. Edwards/Obama or Richardson will be the DNC ticket. Hillary is done.

Update: I regained contact with an old friend of the Barnyard, Stan over at Free Constitution, he runs a good site. I lost contact when my blogroll was deleted changing over to blogger2. I am glad to have bumbed into him again on the internet speedway, friends of the Barnyard add him to your blogroll, Stan and his brother are right on the level, give them some blogger support.

Weekend Rambler

Ruh roh, the Goat has figgered out how to post video and he has a vidcam

This article at The American Thinker caught my eye as I rambled around the internet today, by Vasko Kohlmayer, attempting to explain the lunacy of the left, it seems those that turn their backs on God go mad according to Scripture and he makes a fine case for it I must say.

The other day we were once again warned about that dire danger to our existence - cow flatulence. It just so turns out that the gaseous emissions of the bovine digestive tract account for more greenhouse gasses than all the SUVs, airplanes, trucks and cars combined. In other words, as far as global warming is concerned cows pose a greater threat to our survival than transport. And this according to the UN no less.
All those worried about the future of our planet should be asked whether they really believe that cow flatulence can lead to an atmospheric meltdown.
If you are even remotely tempted to answer in the affirmative you have a serious problem. And don't think that citing Al Gore will get you off the hook; hiding behind the foolhardiness of others is a poor way of concealing your own. The truth is that Al Gore is an unbalanced man which should be obvious to everyone with the eyes to see. That he still enjoys any credibility is evidence of just how confused we have become.

I also was reminded of this great HotAir Vent by the lovely and talented Michelle Malkin while she was in Iraq and it underscores last nights Frolic, (hattip: a commenter at The Fourth Rail).



It is worth watching!

Have a safe Memorial Day Weekend and don't forget to thank those that made this day special, to paraphrase Gen. Patton " We should not mourn that these men have died, we should be thankful that such men have lived!" Those that die to set people free are the greatest Patriots of all and my prayers and joyful thanks goes out to those that serve in our Patriot Armed Forces and another special thanks to our folks in Law Enforcement here in America as they are also frontline defenders of the American Way.

Barnyard straw poll

Anti-Amnesty

As I am, here are a couple hotlines to the Senate, sponsored by moveon.org, hee,hee, for amnesty supporters to call. We can call too, Heh!?!
1-800-882-2005. (Spanish number)
1-800-417-7666. (English number)

From We Win/They Lose a petition:

Friday Frolic

Well this frolic lead me to a Smoking Gun report on an Al Qaeda torture room and torture manual (hattip: Dean Barnett) showing using drills, vises, electrocution and other just as gruesome techniques that was found this week. These are the folks the surrendercrats want to abandon the Iraqi people to by running away like a yellow dog. Do you think those Iraqis we rescued when we found this torture chamber were grateful? I could hazard a positive guess. The people beg our soldiers not to leave them in the hands of those brutal thugs once they aren't coerced by force and their brainwashing. Our soldiers are actually becoming the best propaganda force in Iraq with their exemplary and honorable demeanor and kindness towards the Iraqi people, they demonstrate all the traits admired in Arab culture and it is slowly winning the battle for the hearts and minds of the street. All of the street cred we have worked so hard to build will be lost in an instant the second we abandon the people we freed and promised to protect till they could protect themselves from the terrorists. James Taranto reports that the MSM is ominously silent on this as are other critics of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay.

Update: Frederick Kagen has a great piece at The Weekly Standard in this same vein, an absolute must read, a couple key 'graphs:

From time to time, nations face fundamental tests of character. Forced to choose between painful but wise options, and irresponsible ones that offer only temporary relief from pain, a people must decide what price they are willing to pay to safeguard themselves and their children and to do the right thing. America has faced such tests before. Guided by Abraham Lincoln, we met our greatest challenge during the Civil War and overcame it, despite agonizing doubts about the possibility of success even into 1864. The Greatest Generation recovered from the shock of Pearl Harbor and refused to stop fighting until both Germany and Japan had surrendered unconditionally. A similar moment is upon us in Iraq. What will we do?

And

What will happen if we abandon these children? Death will stalk them and their families. Al Qaeda will attempt to subjugate them. Shia militias will drive them from their homes or kill them. And they and their neighbors, and everyone in the Middle East, will know we left them to their fate. Everyone will know, "Never trust the Americans." Everyone will warn their children, "The Americans will only betray you." We will cement our reputation as untrustworthy. We will lose this generation not only in Iraq, but throughout the Middle East. And we will have lost more than our reputation and our ability to protect our interests. We will have lost part of our soul.

Read The Whole Thing!
He is a much better wordsmith than I and just returned from a tour of Iraq. There is lots of good news between the bombs and the blood that feeds our MSM consumed by BDS and determined to bring down an administration they loath. ABC recently ran an article about secret covert operations in Iran and Pres. Bush signing off on them. Everybody with a brain knows we are doing that so its a non-story to begin with and I would bet most Americans would support such measures. I read it and Brian Ross doesn't have a clue, weak reporting so he had to tag "secret" into it and give some vague sources to make it interesting enough to look at. Heck I know more about what we are doing than that piece of "news" let out. I know there are huge cracks in the mad Mullahs' foundation and millions of tiny hammers are chipping away, so what if we supply those hammers.
Dang, Pres. Bush is having to clean up problems left by three proceeding administrations in the Middle-East, that seemed to come to a head all at once then throw a couple hurricanes into the mix. I would say he has done an admirable job in the face of a highly negative press and truly vicious opposition. He is dealing with the results of Reagan's amnesty, His father's Iraq and Clinton's Afghanistan, not to mention the entitlement dilemma and taxation. The economy is booming, records in home ownwership, very low unemployment, if we would just tap our own oil and gas reserves, we have far more than the loonbats want us to believe, this country is doing well.

I take the much cited poll question "Is America headed in the right direction?" with a grain of salt as A conservative could cite the breakdown of the family, runaway spending and the assault on the Constitution and God, and loonbats could cite that we are not becoming gender-bender, limp-wristed socialists, devoid of God fast enough. I always ask the polster to what category they are referring to as there are many to consider. I say stagnate compared to what we could be once we get the government reduced and kick the Euro-socialists out once and for all.

Update: Mike Totten has another great piece up about Israel and Lebanon.

Base camp for most pictures, a paint and repair trip is scheduled, the park service wants us to paint it green. My buddy will comply as he wants another 99yr lease, besides it is an historic spot as the bakery/diner for the miners and shepherds in the area at the turn of the last century. Preserving history, I love it! I am glad I have so much enthusiasm for my make shift photojournalism, a passion of mine.
All I can say is stay tuned, and I hope my rambling commentary and lucky photography makes it so. I will be honest, upfront and real, as good as I am at my trade, I would love to break into the journalism market.

Base camp, yes it is a wood burner and who bakes the best loaf or chicken gets an extra shot.

View from the porch

Getting there ain't easy. (In route to Mt. Winchell)

Yosemite High Country (on the other side of that view from the porch)

A little later in the year, again Yosemite in the back ground, I am sitting on the border between NFS,NPS and BLM management.

Thank You!

Lone Pine peak,I know some great camping in that valley to the left, an old temple/nudist colony, a roof and big fireplace, in a perfect spot.
Busy,busy, life ain't all fun and games, many, many thanks to new friends and old for your support of the Barnyard! I ask for no money, just links, blogroll or otherwise. Conservatives in the GOP need to stick together so we can ride this storm on top of the waves, not crushed below them.

Tuesday Twitterings

The birth of a giant

You have seen the in betweens, no time lapse just different plants, the bloom is sort of time lapse. I checked and snapped a pic.

Today, fully open!

To keep a watchful eye on what the democrats are up to under the storm clouds of the immigration debate, including the largest tax hike in history along with uncontrolled socialist like spending in the latest budget, the Green Eye Shade and the RSC Blog are where to look. Take your heart medication before viewing. We can't let them use the immigration debate as cover to slip through even worse measures than that monstrosity. The Democrats are using every trick in the book to confuse voters this cycle and from the poll numbers, it ain't workin', heck even the Prez is doing better than the Dim congress elites.

>Don't miss the blurps and comments from the lefty base regarding the Rev. Falwell. I wonder what they think they will gain by insulting a majority of Americans?

Give the moonbats a piece of your mind as well, blast away with all barrels, visit the idiots and give them what they deserve , a serious smackdown. We can't be shy any longer, we must respond and in force, and make the moonbats play their hand as weak as it is, so the American people can see the difference in intolerant socialism and the free market of ideas that is America.

Monday Meanderings

Amaryllis watch: This morning

This afternoon

A larger view, front row suggestions are welcome?!?

Meanwhile a not quite so pretty 'Amnesty' blossom is trying to bloom in the "Swamp" we call Congress. I would more compare it to a trumpet vine, pretty to some and destructive as a whole.

Hugh Hewitt has read the initial proposal and has offered analysis as well as his cronies at Townhall. Hugh, teaches Constitutional law at a prestigious university and he has serious legal problems with the initial proposal, good enough for me. I have zero problems with my mexican neighbors, good folk and we manage to communicate at the base level by sharing our crops freely.

I am about border and National Security not treating decent folks harshly that only want a better life.

We need to help Mexico and others develope an economic policy built on private ownership and the free market so their citizens have a better chance at success at home than illegally coming here.

We need a border security initiative that does take into account sensitive ecological regions and migration patterns of the wild.

We can do this, just like we can win the GWOT, with patient thought and cool analysis.

My Senators are useless moonbats, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, my Congressman, (R)Wally Herger is on the right side in this debate and located in the heart of rural Ca.

In the Barnyard's humble opinion the Goat hopes the moonbats keep up the lunacy.

You would think two Jewish Senators would support a war against the islamo-fascists that want to wipe out Israel and the West in general, not so with those, Sen.'s mentioned above,(D)Boxer and (D) Feinstien.

SoCal universities, anti-semitism, jihad and a small taste can be found here.