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It seems that Norm Dicks has received $59,500 in campaign contributions from a defense lobbyist group that, in turn, received about $100 million in defense contracts for it’s clients

In case you hadn’t guessed already, I didn’t vote for him.  It does remind me of one of the funniest campaign stickers I’ve ever seen.  Someone tore off the ‘rm’ from one of his stickers and slapped it on the sidewalk at the Freedom Fair.

Since Dicks is a Democrat there will likely be nothing that becomes of this fact.  However, if he were a Republican you can bet he’d be investigated by every government agency with even the remotest interest in such things.

It’s kind of like Barry signing an executive order restricting the hiring of lobbyists, then turning around and filing for numerous exceptions to his own rules.  I’m guessing you didn’t hear much about it.  The media like to keep the facts about Barry quiet, just like they do for any other Democrat.  Republicans, of course, receive no such special treatment in the media.

Dicks among beneficiaries of suspect lobbyist firm

Another point to note about this story is that the congressman at the center of this investigation is none other than ABSCAM-bribe-recipient-caught-on-tape John Murtha.  Has anyone heard if he’s going to be prosecuted for accepting that bribe?  Oh, wait.  My mistake.  He’s a Democrat.

So where are all of the people who screamed about Dick Cheney and his former ties to a defense contractor.  All I hear are crickets chirping from that gallery.  No surprise there either.

I guess the anti-war activists who staged a protest on Tacoma’s Ruston Way waterfront didn’t check the news. There was a ceremony scheduled for today in which the U.S. military turned over control of Iraq’s Anbar province to the province’s elected leaders.

If that protest had actually been the tribute they claimed it was, maybe they could have included the fact that the American men and women who died there did not die in vain. They did their part to win that war, and the victory is almost complete.

In the ceremony Monday in the provincial capital of Ramadi, the top American commander in Anbar, Marine Maj. Gen. John Kelly, said Al Qaeda has not been entirely defeated in Anbar. But he said, “their end is near.” [Fox News]

This is a tribute to the men and women who lost their lives in Iraq. They did their part and we’re winning the war. Not only are we winning but we’re defeating both Saddam and his Baathists and as a bonus we’re defeating Al Qaeda on the battle front that they chose.
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Operation Back2School. First I’ve heard of it. Happy to hear it’s happening.

Organizers distributed more than 1,500 backpacks to children of service members from across Washington. Cool weather and the threat of rain didn’t drive people away; hundreds waited more than 90 minutes before the event began.

“They were just lining up around the building, around the corner,” said Susan Allen, the volunteer coordinator with Operation Homefront Washington. “People came from Fort Lewis, McChord (Air Force Base), Whidbey Island, Bremerton. I’m really excited about the turnout.”

Operation Homefront Washington started the backpack giveaway last year, but Saturday’s event was about three times larger, Allen said. Lakewood Ford offered use of its building on Pacific Highway SW.

We don’t pay our men and women in the military enough, especially the enlisted. Things like this can make a big difference in the lives of these families.

This one happened in Lakewood, which is no longer Tacoma. I’d like to see both residents of Tacoma as well as city government do more for the military, instead of just helping anti-war protestors.

Typical of liberals, they’re pretending to be something they’re not. Whether they’re pretending to be Republicans or claiming to support the troops, their disingenuous rhetoric knows no limits.

On the Ruston Way waterfront in Tacoma this weekend there are thousands of poster-board grave markers put up by an anti-war group called Veterans for Peace. I stopped by to speak with their representative and heard exactly what I expected. So let me address some of this and see if what they claim actually holds up.

“This isn’t an anti-war protest, it’s a tribute” - Let’s look at the definition of tribute in the American Heritage Dictionary (I’ve selected the relevant entries):

1. A gift, payment, declaration, or other acknowledgment of gratitude, respect, or admiration
2. Evidence attesting to some praiseworthy quality or characteristic

As I looked over these costume grave markers I didn’t see anything that showed any gratitude, respect or admiration. All I saw was an acknowledgment that they died in the war in Iraq. Most had name, rank, hometown, how and where they died. I saw nothing of their accomplishments although I was told that Gold Star recipients were acknowledge, though it wasn’t evident exactly how they were.
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A recent article in the News Tribune described the events leading up to the non-event protests in the Port of Tacoma as Stryker Brigade vehicles are off-loaded from ships. The army refused to pay for added security at the ports where military vehicles and supplies are being loaded and off-loaded. That left the city of Tacoma with a bill of about $661,000 for the March 2007 protests. Let me put it another way. That left us, the taxpayers, holding a bill for the added police presence needed for the army and the port to conduct business.

The army can’t be blamed for the protest. They’re a necessary part of the security and sovereignty of our nation. The police can’t be blamed, they’re doing their best to keep the peace. The protestors are certainly to blame, since they’re the ones causing the problems. But I think that there’s some blame that needs to be handed to the city, particularly the City Council and the Municipal Court Judges. The City Council for not pressuring the city attorney’s office to press charges and build better cases against protestors who violate the law. And the judges for their miscarriage of justice in handing out rulings that are less than a slap on the wrist and in most cases a complete dismissal of charges.

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A record 377,616 people showed up at McChord AFB this weekend to take in the sights illustrating the power of the U.S. military. Compare that to the number that showed up to protest the Iraq war at various times around the area.

I would have to say that the voices of anti-war loudmouths was officially drown out by the sheer numbers of people who support our men and women in the armed forces. It reminds me that the biggest protest I’ve seen was the support-the-troops rally outside Ft. Lewis that stretched for more than 8 miles of overpasses (as that 2003?). And that was actually a counter-protests. The protesters showed up and according to eye-witnesses didn’t even get off of the bus.

I wasn’t able to make the show because of other responsibilities. I heard it was great.

McChord AFB Air Show 2008 - fencecheck.com

Air Show Millitary Expo 2008 McChord AFB USA - YouTube.com

McChord AFB Air Show 2008 - Web site

I just want to take a moment in grateful remembrance of those who have fallen in defense of our country and our freedom. For those who have loved ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep all of us free and safe I hope you know that most Americans share the gratitude and the sorrow for your loss.

They will not be forgotten.

As a Christian minister I am keenly aware that those who have fought and are fighting to defend us are protecting each individual’s freedom to worship as each believes to be right. The freedom that I consider so vital is protected by those who have defended our country in the past and especially by those who are fighting in the War on Terrorism and it’s front lines in Afghanistan and Iraq..

Like enemies of the past our current enemies seek world domination. But what’s unique about these is that they do so in the name of their religion. Their religion seeks to subjugate or destroy all other faiths. I don’t know of a time in our nation’s history when freedom of religion was at greater risk.

While the freedom of religion is especially important to me, I am also grateful for all of the other freedoms that I enjoy.

A couple of important posts on NewsBusters.Org.

First, a post about negative media coverage hurting the economy:

BMI’s Gainor: Media Negativity on Economy Hurts Consumer Confidence

Dan Gainor, Vice President for the Business & Media Institute, blamed part of people’s gloomy perception of the economy on the “constant drumbeat” of negativity coming from the news media.

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It’s a good way to show appreciation for what these soldiers have sacrificed. It’s a small gesture, but I’m sure it will be appreciated. They’re accepting donations at the Lakewood City Hall.
TNT has details: Lakewood seeks donations for returning Fort Lewis Stryker soldiers

As a Christian minister I am keenly aware of just how important these soldiers are in my own freedom of religion and freedom of speech as they fight radical Islamics. In case you aren’t aware, one of the tenets of Islam is dhimmitude, the Islamic policy of dealing with infidels (other religions). They are instructed to either, a) convert us to Islam, b) oppress us so that we can’t spread our religion, or c) kill us. They’ve shown their desire to come onto our soil and kill Americans, so there’s little doubt that they are a direct threat to my personal freedoms here in this country.

But thanks to our military, these soldiers included, and our constitution I am free to practice my religion, to invite others to join me and to talk about it here.

Update: Just one example of what life is like for Christians living under dhimmitude:

Compass Direct News: Claim of ‘blasphemy’ in city market leads to looting, destruction.

Nnamdi Ike, a Christian who witnessed the disturbances, told Compass in Kano that Muslim claims that a Christian painted an inscription insulting Muhammad were false.
“Christians have always been attacked on false claims of blasphemy,” Ike said. “No Christian wrote anything against Muhammad or Islam. It is all a lie. They just made this up to find a reason to attack us.”

h/t Jihad Watch

A recent resolution by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which represents about 600 of Tacoma’s longshoremen, at a West coast meeting. The resolution calls for an 8 hour work stoppage to protest the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

There are several major problems with this resolution.
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