I don’t think so…, Sir

    Many years ago as a young sergeant working weekend duty launching and recovering local training mission flights at Boondock AFB, I got a call from Base Operations asking if we could assist in recovering a Navy A-6 Intruder coming in IFE (In-Flight Emergency)… I told them, Sure.  There’s not a lot involved, guide it to the parking spot, chalk the wheels and help the pilot put the safety pins and covers on it, about the same on any jet.  I asked Ops. “What the IFE was” they told me the Pilot called in a loose panel.  OK, maybe some latches popped open or some screws backed out, should be a quick fix.

                                                                                       Not the same jet but the type

    When the Intruder landed I didn’t notice anything, it cleared the runway and began to taxi towards me. I raised my arms above my head signaling the pilot to follow my directions.  As he got closer I lowered my left arm while waving my right hand above my head signaling him to turn left now.  As the jet made the turn that’s when I saw the damage, the entire right side of the ray dome (the nose) was GONE… Not loose, not cracked, not split, It Was GONE!  I signaled for the aircraft to continue towards me and as it pulled onto the parking spot I crossed my arms over my head signaling him to stop and shut the engines down.  I went under the jet to place the wooden blocks in front and behind the wheels to keep the aircraft from rolling out of position.

     As I crawled out from under the Intruder the pilot was climbing down from the cockpit, he looked at me and said “Chief, Speed tape it and fuel her up… I’m out of here”.  Catching me off guard I replied “Speed tape what?”  thinking to myself you can tape over a small crack or split for a one-time-flight back to home-station but there’s nothing to stick the tape to, it’s a 3’ by 4’ gaping hole.  Guess he didn’t like my comment, that’s when he came back with “Just tape it sergeant… that’s an ORDER!”  Me, not being known for, say, sugar coating my thoughts came back with “I don’t think so…, Sir”.  I could see his face turn red and the veins bulge in his neck as he turned and stormed off towards Base Ops.  I took a moment to put the safety down-lock pins in the landing gear and headed back to my end of the flightline. 

I never heard a word about my disobeying an order.  

    You see, in the military you’re obligated to not follow an order that isn’t legal or moral.  Had I done as the pilot requested (then “Ordered”) I would have been guilty of allowing him to endanger himself, his aircraft and possibly others if it fell from the sky.  Personally I couldn’t live with the thought of what could have happened had I blindly done what I was “ORDERED” to do.  Even if it’s a written order it may not stand up as being legitimate.  Think back to 1942 Nazi Germany, “Endlosung der Judenfrage” (English:  Final Solution to the Jewish Question).  The order was written, administered by the civilian authority and carried out by the military branches “as ordered”, the systematic genocide of European Jews…

    At the end of the war during the Nuremberg War Crime Trials several of the officer and enlisted military participants’ tried to defend their actions by saying “We were just following orders”.  Their attempt to deflect responsibility failed…  They were guilty of allowing the harm to be done.  Many of the military participants’ paid for blindly following orders by spending years in prison, others paid with their lives.

     That brings me to one of my favorite documents, one that I’ve sited many times.  Its short (only 2 sentences long) and quite simple, almost beautiful in its simplicity.  I’m speaking of the military Oath of Enlistment.

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

    The part that many do not understand (and some fear) is; “I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me” but this is really only a very limited authority.  The true authority comes next: “according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  Like I mentioned before, military members are obligated not to follow an order that isn’t legal or moral.  There is only one hard and fast order that every military member is obligated to follow “I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic”.  I just love the sound, the cadence, the clarity. It’s simple and direct. Not obligated to this political party or that party, not in support of this agenda or that fad.  No, its “…support and defend the Constitution of the United States”, PERIOD!!!  

This brings me to the conversations of today.

    I’m not saying we shouldn’t be vigilant, history is riddled with individuals that thought they could succeed in dominating others, imposing their will upon the masses but each met with failure.  Just as others have tried I’m sure more will try in the future, only to fail as in previous attempts.  Where are the tyrants of history?  Did any succeed in developing a lasting society based on oppression?  So the next time the thought of massive forced gun control (confiscation) or rounding up and relocation of the population gives you worries’ as it crosses your mind or you hear rumors of oppressive government constraints on freedoms being considered (all of which would require an obliging military to allow or enforce).  Think back to the comment made by a young sergeant standing on the flightline at Boondock AFB…

“I don’t think so…, Sir”

 

Do you think maybe, there

are a few more like him?

The TOMCAT

 

Side Note: 9 months into this, 61 stories posted, 5,000+ page views by people in 32 countries…  Kind of cool. Thank You…

Manning-up (for myself) a dirty little story

    Hi All,   Did ya miss me???  Sorry about the absence, I have two computers and both went down L  I had to rebuild the program from the bottom up on my laptop and the tower had to be taken to a tech (software issues also).  Just didn’t see trying to write a post on my phone so I took a bit of a break (other than jumping in with a few tweets).  At least I did some constructive things over the past 12 days…

    I cut a hell of a lot of firewood (3 overflowing truckloads).  I ran into one of the local farmers a while back that had a lot of treetops in one of his pastures left from when the loggers went through. To the loggers and the farmer tops are trash, something not worth dealing with… To me its pure gold, I used one gallon of gas and a half gallon of chain oil and now I have enough seasoned wood cut and on hand to last me through December (and possibly through January).  An easy $1,000 saved this winter on heating, ya got to love that…

 

      This is just one of the four piles in the pasture and I’ve only gotten about

half way through it.  I’d say the next 2-3 years are covered…

 

     I also got my medical and dental checkups out of the way.  I’m getting old so I got to keep an eye on what’s happening, plus I’m not sure what is going to happen with health care in the future.   This brings me to something I’d like to share this week, one of the checks I had done was a colonoscopy.  Not that I was having any issues, no signs of any problems but I’m 51 years old and I’ve heard you should have one done when you turn 50.  To be honest with you, I had no clue what they would be looking for or what the procedure actually involved but I figured it was time to man-up and get it done.

     First I had a short consult with the doctor he told me about the basic procedure and how long it would take (15 minutes to 1 hour).  I wasn’t sure what a polyp was so he told that it’s a growth on the wall of the large intestine (sounded like he was describing something like a skin tag). Also he said I would be sedated during the procedure and would not feel any discomfort.  Then the nurse sat with me to go over the preparation, it sounded a bit complex until she gave me the written guide (the step by step guide was easy to follow).

    Starting 24 hours prior to the procedure I could only drink liquids, chicken/beef broth, soda, green tea and Jell-O (no red-dye).  I thought this would be rough (I love to eat) but a warm cup of broth really hit the spot when needed.  About 16 hours prior I started drinking the prep solution (MoviPrep) 8 ounces every 15 minutes for 1 hour (4 x 8 oz.).  Within an hour things began to move, there was no real discomfort but I stayed close to the bathroom (the urge hits fast and powerfully). 4-1/2 hours later I had to repeat the MoviPrep solution, another four glasses in an hour (again the urges hits fast and powerfully).  I wasn’t allowed to drink anything after mid-night (by that time the bathroom urges had subsided). 

   The day of the procedure I arrived at the hospital around 07:30, they checked me in, got me changed, checked my vitals and started an IV drip.  By 9:00 they rolled me into the procedure room.  I was given an injection in the IV drip and within 20 seconds I was GONE!!!  Next thing I remember was coming to in the recovery room at 10:15, feeling rested and alert.  No discomfort, I couldn’t tell anything had been done.  When the doctor came in to talk with me he said there was one polyp found and they were able to take care of it right away.  Nice to get it taken care of while it was a small growth vs. colon cancer.

    So Guy’s/Gal’s if your getting around 50 years-old get a colonoscopy done, its no big deal and maybe like me you can stop something before it does become a big deal…  For the rest of you if you have someone in your life turning 50 pass this along to them, maybe it will get them thinking.

 

There’s an additional bonus.

Despite what some of you may think, I AM NOT FULL OF S#!T…

I have a note from the doctor…J

The TOMCAT

 

Additional Information

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colonoscopy/

                   

…Before Self

    Today, I have the freedom to speak my mind, the freedom to tell other my thoughts, the freedom to listen (or not) to others.  I have these freedoms (and many others) because of a group of men and women who chose to blaze a trail that not all people would be willing or able to walk.  I owe my freedoms to the millions of men and women who were willing to put their lives on the line to obtain and preserve my (and your) freedoms.  I thank God there are still young men and women that are willing to stand the wall, lay in the ditch, sail the oceans and climb into the jets to defend my freedoms.  I know as I sleep they guard, as I work they have my back, as I relax they stay alert. 

    In 1776 it started with nothing more than a rag-tag group that stood against a well organized and financed army.  They had little more than an idea of how they would like to live their lives; they had little more than a vision of a free future.  On a foundation of an idea and a vision they built the greatest nation on Earth.  Through the years following 1776 our freedoms have been challenged, sometimes on our own doorstep, often in far-off lands but each time there have been people who stood-up to meet these challenges.  Sometimes the reasons they were called was clear, other times the connection wasn’t as clear.  These men and women have one thing in common, each of them have pledged an allegiance to the nation.  For many years now they have said, "I… do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same…”  Then they put on the uniforms of the United States military. At that moment they became “Veterans”.

    I have been amongst Veterans all my life, Uncles, Cousins, Friends, Co-Workers even my Wife.  To be honest with you, I don’t know the stories of what most of them went through or what they felt about their service, it’s something they may not want to relive and I respected that, so I didn’t ask…   But one time I was given a glimpse into a fellow veterans feelings.  Sitting with my Father-in-law watching a movie called “RED DAWN” a scene came up with a tank and infantry battle in snow covered hills and valleys, I could see he was shaken and tensed up.  I kind of quietly asked “You OK”.   That’s when he opened up “It looks like Korea” and he started to tell me about what he went through and saw.   The conversation went on for a few hours and then off and on over the years (more after I came back from the Middle East), I don’t know if he had ever spoken to anyone else.  He lived in south central Indiana in a fairly hilly area, from that time on during the winters I occasionally saw a look in his eyes and a tenseness in his jaw as he gave a dead gaze over the snow covered hills of his own home.  Others may have not noticed but I knew.  Even after all the years, in the safety and comfort of his own land he paid the price for answering the call of his Nation… And putting “Service Before Self”.  Art passed away December 15, 2002.

     Today is the day we set aside to thank the Veterans of our armed services, to pause for a moment and remember what they have given to ensure we keep what we have.  In times of conflict and upheaval many can become confused on why we ask troops to put “Service Before Self”, why do we send troops to fight in foreign lands.  I would like to answer that question.  We fight in the backyard of our enemy today so you don’t fight them on your front porch tomorrow.

 

Thank a Vet today for the battle you

don’t have to fight tomorrow

The TOMCAT

Giving…….(Till it HURTS!)

    I follow a rather conservative group of people on twitter (and a few liberals, just for a giggle at their naive views).  After the election it was ablaze with a wide range of emotions, depression, anger, confusion, even some joy (like I said I follow a few liberals).  I’ve heard calls for all kinds of actions from boycotts to violence (I don’t like that) there has been mention of red states succeeding from the blue states and I admit I did jump on that a bit “Would never be allowed….  Blue States feed off the Red States”.  In the larger picture its true, but not the entire story.

    Looking at the Solid “Blue” states like Michigan, Wisconsin, even California, less than 10 to 20% of the counties actually backed President Obama…  His support came from the densely populated urban areas; geographically speaking a very small portion of the nation were hardcore supporters.  He focused on urban areas with gifts and welfare programs (Obama Phones and EBT Cards).   In order to fund his policy of buying their support he drains rural America.  As long as rural America continues to produce he will continue to skim off their labor to subsidize the liberal voting base.

Red = Conservative Values

Blue = Liberal Dependency

Purple = Split

    The EPA is gearing up to step on the neck of “King Coal”; they also have their sites on the beef industry for supposed “Cow Flatulence” all the while hiding behind the ruse of climate change.  It has nothing to do with environmental issues; it has everything to do with extorting money from rural America to fund their urban base.  When it comes time to plant the crops and then harvest, the corn and wheat farmers will again be hit with exorbitant fuel cost, the harder they work the more they will pay in fuel and taxes again funding the liberal urban base.  All the while the Obama administration belittles the family values and work ethic of rural Americans, they openly criticize the religious beliefs of rural Americans, the Obama team label rural Americans as bigoted, backwards and “clinging to GOD and GUN’s”.

    Maybe it’s time to give Urban AMERICA just what it asked for!  They don’t like COAL, coal stops right now!  Let urban America flip the light switch through December and January…  What no lights, no heat, no TV?  Urban America doesn’t like cow farts, Fine!  Beef, pork, poultry and dairy farmers, holdback taking the livestock to market, let Los Angeles serve their EBT cards for dinner for the next two months.  They don’t like home produced oil and natural gas, FINE!  Let the UAW members huddle around a Chevy Volt and celebrate Christmas. 

  See no violence, rural America is just joining urban America in kicking back waiting on free Obama stuff…  What could the Obama administration do?  Call out the National Guard to make the farmer plow the field; those troops are the sons and daughters of that Iowa Farmer.  Will Obama call on the military to force the miners underground to pull out the coal; again those troops are the sons and daughters of the West Virginia coal miners.  Let his own base turn on him, all we have to do is sit back and take a break, maybe do a little deer hunting, chop some firewood, get ready to celebrate Christmas at church instead of at Wal-Mart and help the people in our own communities…  After all we’re just a bunch of “Dumb Hicks” what could we do to throw a wrench into the works?   We’ve always had the power to bend Washington and its politicians to our will; we just never had reason to be so forceful.  I think we have reason now, they just got too greedy.  According to Hank Jr. “A Country Boy Can Survive” Do you think they could make it through the winter (or past lunch)?  Georg Clooney never spent enough time in Kentucky to learn how to grow an ear of corn much less a few thousand acres.  Jay-Z wouldn’t now how to turn a chunk of coal into electricity much less supply it to an entire region, yet this is the “Presidential Brain Trust”.  

  We could stop the madness in two months (Dec.-Jan.) and easily restart the machine in February after they bend to our demands…  What are our demands?  Very simple, EPA is out of the business of bankrupting America’s energy resources.  The “Welfare State” becomes a WORK-Fair program!!!  Urban America funds its-self, no more threats to hold small business (FAMILY FARMS) hostage with increased taxes, EPA regulations and fines!  A national voter ID law will be enacted and enforced (with stout penalties).  No more “FREEDOM FROM RELIGION” go back to “FREEDOM OF RELIGION”, if someone doesn’t like the cross on the hill, they are free not to go to the hill.  And just for good measure SCRAP OBAMA CARE and go back to the drawing board with open hearings on a workable health care reform…  Feel free to add any other grievances you’d like, it would all be negotiable… 

    First a leader would have to be drafted; someone with national exposure that could be talked out of political aspirations. Someone that believes in the same values and has some brass to say SHUT-IT-DOWN when needed…  A Newt Gingrich kind of guy or woman.  Someone that rural America could unite behind and take coordinated action.  Next let’s avoid the commercialized holidays, avoid the liberal film/entertainment industry.  If you want to buy the family something for Christmas how about a nice generator (either way I think it will come in handy, soon).  Finally, think what you would have to do or have on hand to manage during a disruption (Hope for the best but prepare for the worst).        

  We could do this in two months using tried and true labor union tactics or wait two years for it to crash down on its own with no chance for a re-start.  Just remember “three meals away from revolution”.  I wonder how friendly Mr. Obama would find the streets of Chicago after a week of missed meals?   Too long we have listened to urban America scream “Give us what we want” its time to hear them scream “Give Them What They Want, Just Turn The System Back On”.

We can fall in with the TEA Party (Taxed Enough Already), I don’t care, might as well use their infrastructure.  If Nancy Pelosi wants to be degrading by calling us tea baggers that’s fine, she looks like a choice recipient of a good old-fashioned political Teabag’n.  San Francisco gets shortchanged on rural America’s products till they can send someone that can show a little common courtesy and respect to us.  

50+ million voted against the welfare state, what if they took a day off…

One less day of productivity, one less day of taxes…

I’m thinking November 15^th or 16^th would make a nice Conservative

“Call-in to work Day” I’m feeling the “RED” flu coming on.

How about twitter   #RedFlu  15 Nov. 2012

Maybe a relapse on December 13^th or 14^th…..

Just to put a hic-up into the system…. Just enough of a blip to be seen on the economic radar…  Do ya think an EBT card holder might climb off the couch to cover for me?

Myself, I’m looking forward to a two month vacation

Getting a bit tired of carrying the load

The TOMCAT

    From the news this week it sounds like small business and the aviation industry are already doing their part… “Layoffs Announced” Too bad they didn’t do it a week ago when it could have opened some eyes!

We The People…

We The People…

    Today is the day our nation makes a choice that will affect generations to come.  Today we choose between two very different men with very different visions of our future, two very different leadership styles and two very different ideologies.  For the first time in our nation’s history I believe our true colors will show.  Depending on who we elect we will have decided that either; Yes, We are a capitalist society that will continue to follow the original principles of the Constitution or As a nation we have decided to become dependent upon the government and abandon the 230+ year experiment we call the United States of America.  Either way I foresee massive changes coming over the next few years, we can’t have it both ways. 

    If Mr. Obama is re-elected by the very nature of his ideology every one who is a producer in his society must accept that you no longer work to achieve success but to support the system in a government imposed “soft” servitude.  All outcomes will be equal regardless of effort, no idea is any better than another, no skill valued more than another, no standard of living can be higher than the lowest within his society.  Above all, equality (His vision of equality).  Just at face value it almost sounds noble (in a child like way), that is until you listen to his words “Vote For Revenge” and “We will Punish Our Enemies”.  When they say “enemies” they are talking about American citizens that did not support him or contribute to his campaign.  Yep, I’m feeling just a bit threatened by the government.  Mr. Obama’s vision will come at a cost, there will be men and women like me who will buck the system, who believe what we build with our hands belongs to us, who believe the crops and livestock we raise is ours, men and women who believe we should benefit from the brilliant idea or the effort we put into something.  We will not fit in his society; we’ll have to be weeded out.  Even those willing to labor without reward will soon be crushed under the weight of the system, much like Boxer from Orwell’s Animal Farm.

     On the other hand if Mr. Romney is elected changes just as drastic will have to be made in the “Entitlement Programs” that have become bloated and abused.  Men and women that have made a career out of the welfare state will have to change jobs.  It seems many feel they are “Entitled” to benefits from the government not because of sacrifices they have made or years of service and effort, but just for being.  Entitlements need to be reserved for those who have earned them, hence entitled to benefits.  For the rest we will need to provide a limited hand-up but no more handouts… One willing to squander their life and potential has to be willing to live a squandered existence.  Along with individual responsibility corporations will have to be responsible stewards of the nation’s productivity and workforce, if they require public funding the repayment must come before profit taking. Government agencies/departments are going to have to present realistic achievable goals when proposing and administering rules/regulations and adhere to budgeting targets.  International aid needs to be limited to supplies and assistance; the transfer of cash seems to become too easily misdirected, also we become an equal partner in the UN, not the obligatory financier of the world.   

    We choose this one or that one, either way it scares the hell out of someone.  The nation has a choice; the decision will soon be made… I pray we can live with it.

I would like to give a special mention to a group of people I’ve met over the past two weeks on twitter, people who spoke out even after the Obama threats.  

I’m proud to have spent time with you, reading your little blocks of wisdom.

Thank You For Your Service… There are several thousands others out there but these are the ones I follow and the ones that helped spread my little stories around. The TOMCAT Blog had 1,000+ views in two weeks…  Again THANK YOU

@ Right_Knight         @TPO_Hisself            @ObamaDoctrine12   @RevjoeASondrup

@DrMartyFox                        @imsure                      @2lovepugs                @TOHODAD

@jamireynolds14        @Kriskxx                    @undergroundprof     @ruthana61

@backatone000          @mglatz0917              @eyes_wyde_open     @MarylandTrust

@drscott_atlanta        @betseyross                @falco1963                @ClaireRoseman       

@MGGNA                 @KathyPacey             @jsd808                      @RalphyBoyUSA

@TRCreamer              @BarbraLWP             @withthetroops         

   

In twenty-four hours “We the People…”

will know our future

The TOMCAT

A Song for Mao

    Just when you’d think they couldn’t get any lower the Obama re-election team pulls another page from Chairman Mao’s “Little Red Book”.  The new video (produced by Goodby Silvererstein and Partners) shows a children’s choir (sometime in the future) singing songs blaming parents for all the evils in the nation due to them electing Mitt Romney President in 2012.  This is not the first time the Obama administration and supporters have exploited the young minds full of mush for their own political/personal gain. 

    The use and indoctrination of children is nothing new and it’s fairly easy to do.  Children for the most part will not question the authority/wishes of dominant adults in their life and can easily be manipulated using actual or implied peer pressure.  Especially in today’s society that often requires both parents to work outside the home or in a single parent home that requires the parent to spend even more time away from the home.  This can expose children to “Group Think” individuals who will take the opportunity to forward their own agenda.  This tactic has been used several times in the modern era by African War Lords, South American Crime Syndicates and even leaders of nations, most notably the “Hitler Youth” and Mao’s use of children during the “Cultural Revolution” to inform on and destroy those with “Different Ideas” including family members (most of the time parents).  During both the “Hitler Youth” and “Cultural Revolution” movements the children started out with singing songs of praise about the “Supreme Leader”, the songs then took a turn and became battle cries against the leaders targets and finally the youth took up arms to become the main force, the executioners if you will, of any who would question the leader.  Not that you actually had to question, sometimes the kids just ran out of people to beat or kill so that made you next.

    So is it any wonder I become concerned as I watch videos of children singing about Obama as if he were a god come to save them?   Is it any wonder I become concerned as I watch videos of children singing songs of blame to parents for having ideas different than the ones directed by Obama?  Is it any wonder I become concerned when I’ve seen it all before repeated time and time again always ending in the death of millions.  Like it or not all three of them have been placed on a pedestal as god like beings, so far two of them have fallen and been proven to be nothing more than evil little men…  Will there be a third to spread the horror or will he be removed before the true extent of his damaging ways are played out?

The more you know of the past

The clearer you will see the future

The TOMCAT

    In addition the children also do a little ditty called “Big Bird is Sacked”.  They have a big problem if “Big Bird” is their argument for re-electing Mr. Obama, but it seems to be the main point they keep coming back to.  Is that really their priority?  We’ll have Big Bird but toss the children’s economic future in the debt heap.             

Poll This!

    I’ve spent the last few days listening to poll results on TV, reading about them on news sites on the web and listening to the experts break down what the polls mean…   Some polls in the “Blue States” (traditional Democratic voting states) show Mr. Obama with ridiculous leads.  You would wonder, have the people in these states had their eyes and ears closed for the past 4 years?  I don’t think so; Hang with me for a bit…

    Let’s look at Wisconsin, could just as well be Michigan or Minnesota but I’ve got a thing for Wisconsin (I’ll explain later).  Anyway reading the comment following one of the articles I came across one that caught my attention by a gentleman I’ll call “Mac”.  He’s been getting 3 to 4 call a day (sometimes as many as 8) over the past several weeks asking him who he will be voting for, each time Mac says “Obama of course” all the while he will be voting for Romney.  He thinks they keep calling because he’s giving the answer they want to hear…  That could be, but not very smart on the pollsters part.  Mac also said in his town there very few if any Obama signs or bumper stickers when they were everywhere in 2008.  I’ve seen comments like this over and over with many admitting that they had voted for Obama last time. 

    I could see this and let me tell you why.  The states of the upper mid-west have always been traditionally affiliated with the Democratic Party but that was the Democratic Party of years gone by.  The Democratic Party of today is nothing like the one their Fathers and their Grandfathers supported.  Today’s Democratic Party has become the party of individual failure, destruction of the family and dependency, this goes against the values of most in the region.  Folks in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota believe in giving an honest days work, being self-reliant, independent, they believe in family and God.  They also have a bit of smart-ass in’em, they watched as their values have been trampled and I think they have taken on that old “Fool-Me-Once” attitude.  Come November 6^th the Democratic Party is going to get a surprise from the people they turned their backs on and took for granted.   Come November 6^th while the Power Brokers of the Democratic Party sit back thinking to themselves “The people of the upper mid-west will just blindly follow and do what we say”, the people will vote their values not a letter that no longer holds any meaning for them (D).  Just remember the recall of Governor Walker, after outside agitators came into the state and told them they made a mistake by electing him.  After all the money spent and efforts of out-of-state forces, Governor Walker won the recall by a higher percentage than in the original election.  Folks in Wisconsin don’t like to be told what to think and do.    Mac, I salute you… Now go out and give’m hell

    Some years back me and the wife made the pilgrimage to Green Bay WI.  Lambeau Field, row 10 on the 50 yard line, Monday Night Football, Brett Farve and THE PACK against the Vikings (BOO, HISS), It was ice cold on those metal benches… One of the most memorable nights of my life.  Everyone should go once; you’ll meet some of the nicest and friendliest people in the world and you won’t even mind the cold.  I’ll always have a little something inside for Wisconsin.

The TOMCAT      

Sent to Time-Out

    I’ve been at this now going on 8 to 9 months and having a blast, posted 55 little stories with close to 3,300 page views and the audience is from every corner of the earth.  I’ve never held back on speaking my mind.  My wife half jokingly has said the “FBI’s going to show up on our porch one of these days.”  I never considered that to be a real threat, if they want to censor someone there are bigger fish out there than me.  Little did I know the web (or parts of it) is censoring the users all on its own. 

    Like most people my age I had a front row seat to watch the birth of the internet (both military and civilian sides).  I can’t even remember the first time I logged onto a web site but I managed to adapt to it.  Then came the e-mail account (now I’ve got 5, active). Followed by joining a few groups (now I’m a member of 40 to 50, mostly news outlets).  Then came E-bay, I really loved it when it was people instead of cookie cutter store fronts (with all the same stuff at the same price).  Toss in some retail merchant sites and various other sites.  Of course THE TOMCAT BLOG and Twitter. I think my plate is full.  So I never got into Face Book, but my wife did so I just kind of look over her shoulder now and again.  I’ve liked the results from Face Book, when one of my stories is shared on it I’ll see 20 or 30 hits within an hour or so (same with twitter).  I kind of figured Face book was a quicker but shorter version of a blog or a bigger/slower version of twitter.  Just didn’t peak my interest.  Come to find out I would most likely not be all that welcome in the Face Book world at lest not by its management.

On Saturday following the news that backup had been denied to the men fighting for their lives in Benghazi Libya, Special Operations Speaks PAC (SOS) posted a photo on Face Book criticizing Obama’s decision to let the Americans in Benghazi stand alone.  Within 24 hours (after a few hundred thousand views) Face Book sent out this warning:

The picture was re-posted (with the warning) and again within 7 hours the operators of Face Book removed the picture and suspended the SOS page for 24 hours (they sent the SEAL’s to TIME-OUT). 

    Yes their needs to be monitoring of the Face Book world, there have been too many sad stories of cyber bullying of children and others but this ventures into censorship of political speech.  The free and robust exchange of ideas, opinions and dissenting views is what America was founded upon.  During these times of politicians bent on misinformation and mainstream news outlets that have become nothing more than an outlet for the politician’s talking-points, social networks like Face Book should embrace their position of being the only haven for those willing to speak out, a haven for those who will call politicians on their missteps and over-reaches.  After all what good is a social media if you have to hide your true feelings and opinions?  Maybe they would like to post our updates for us to read so we know what our opinions should be…

If this get’s my wife sent to Face Book TIME-OUT my weekend’s going to suck.

The TOMCAT           

 What is SOS? Former Special Ops officers from four separate branches of the military have joined ranks for one specific purpose – to remove Barack Obama from office. 

For more information on Special Operations Speaks visit

http://specialoperationsspeaks.com/index

On Oct 31 Face Book relented and allowed the photo to stand. (They couldn’t stand the heat… Liberals…)