From the Right

The American people spoke loud and clear last November when they overturned the status quo of both parties and voted in 87 new citizen legislators. These freshmen/women vowed to bring some sanity to the swampland known as Washington DC. These new legislators see what the budget really is:

Pentagon officials are admitting that the Pakistanis (our allies) may have let the Red Chinese(our friends) examine and possibly take with them, the wrecked remains of the top secret helicopter left behind by Navy SEALS on their raid into the Osama Bin Laden compound.

This helicopter stealth technology developed by us, represents hundreds of billions of dollars in development and years of research. If the Chinese paid the Pakistanis for our technology, you can bet they didn't pay hundreds of billions for our most advanced technology.

A few weeks ago, it was reported that 24,000 top secret files had been stolen by a foreign intelligence service, the nations of origin were assumed to be China or Russia.. According to Pentagon sources this is one of the largest security losses we have ever suffered.

On Thursday morning I appeared on Fox News to speak about the Shuttles final mission as it glided to final descent. Since I had written about how President Kennedy's vision for space had brought us to land on the moon, Fox wanted me to talk to their audience about it.

I was struck by the emotion of the momentous and somber occasion that closed this chapter on America's pioneering history. Afterwards, with reflection, I was struck by the thought that even though America had given the Kennedy family great wealth and power, the Kennedy's have given back...Greatly. It seems they struck a pact with America and honored their end of the bargain with the ultimate sacrifice.

Joe Kennedy Sr. was born in a land where intelligence, ambition and drive could make up for, a royal name, unlike his parents homeland, Ireland. America was a land of opportunity for him and he made his mark in a huge way, wildly successful and wielding great power.

Most people with a lick of sense, could tell you we have been insulating our children from the realities of life for far too long. The results of this over protective insulation are being reflected in our society.

The nanny state has gradually tried to ban dodge ball, tag and sports in general in some schools, because "educators" say they can be too "risky" & "dangerous". Additionally, these games can promote a winner and loser mentality and some children might feel "left out". So we can't have any losers in nanny state land.

A new study suggests that efforts to regulate playgrounds into "safety first" areas, may actually stunt children's development. The "new "risk free" playgrounds that have replaced the playgrounds of our youth reflect this attitude. Children are being deprived of challenges and a sense of accomplishment by not allowing them to face challenges on the playgrounds. This over protective mentality can leave children with a sense of anxiety and fear that is far more harmful than cuts, scrapes or broken bones.

There are a growing number of prominent and talented patriotic Irish Americans who have broken the stereotype of the Irish being in the sole realm of liberal Democrats.

http://www.irishrepub.org/members.htm

Five term Congressman Thaddeus McCotter, from the Detroit suburbs, is one of those conservative rising stars. McCotter recently announced that he will be running for President and America is in for a surprise when they get to know this man a little better.

Today's leadership in Washington seems determined to lower the tide in order to make everyone equal...It is so counter intuitive to what we have always known as a country of greatness. That attitude is so Carteresque, putting America in an economic and spiritual malaise....I am wearing my sweater as I write this.

The launching of the last shuttle, our last manned space vehicle, made me think of President Kennedy who challenged us as a nation to land mankind on the moon....and we did it!

Our charismatic, short lived leader made an indelible mark on our country. He had a vision for us and was able to state it in such a way that we could believe in ourselves. In his brief time, he inspired us to push beyond our limitations as a country to reach our full potential.

Last election saw the people of Ireland and in the U.S. for that matter, rise up and vote for as much sweeping change as they could.

Isn't it about time to take the next step? I say for both countries, but talking about Ireland particularly at this time. You had a person contemplating a run for President, with real world experience in the private sector, who knows what it's like to be on the other side of those laws written in the capitals.

When Niall O'Dowd floated his idea of running for President I was genuinely excited at the prospect of seeing someone without the trappings of a professional politician step forward to lead Ireland. But it seems the political powers that be, are not quite ready for such a steep transition. But are the people of Ireland ready?

The unfolding saga of the professional basket ball players association (NBA freedom fighters), took a sudden tragic turn yesterday. Team owners (cruel, greedy, private jet owners), announced their final offer at 5 million per average player salary. Of course better players on a team could earn more...much much more.

A tear rolled down my cheek making a faint splat on the sporting page, as the unfairness of it all settled on me. Somebody has to take a stand for these players, they give their all (for 8 months) for what? A measly 5 million per year?

The professional football players association of the NFL are suffering some of the same travails and indignities as their counterparts in the NBA. The scrappy players are fighting like a pack of hyenas over a wildebeest carcass (9 billion in television revenue) for their rights. But their plantation/private jet owners are equally tough and scrappy (aka: greedy).