Evan Sayet at the Heritage Foundation / worth your time

ANOTHER great P.J. quote

From Australia this week:

Long term there's only one thing that gives me hope as a right-winger - the left-wing.

It's going to be hard to do a worse job running America than the Republicans did, but the Democrats can do it if anyone can.

The Left is the party of government activism - the party that says government can make you richer, smarter, slimmer, taller, and take a dozen strokes off your golf game.

The Right is the party that says government doesn't work. And then they get elected and prove it.

The US Government is going to take over the American car industry. I can predict the result - a light-weight, compact vehicle with a small carbon footprint using sustainable alternative energy. When I was a kid we called it a bike.

Washington DC April 2009

A picture of Jonathon on Sunday morning after spending the evening with my friend Mel and me. We stayed up WAY too late but it was worth it.

This is a pic of Jonathon at the Pentagon 9-11 memorial. We spent the day with Loriana and John Jacob, people I worked with at Crocker Bank(!) many years ago.

All my pictures of the trip are in a web album on the right. The Pentagon Memorial was very moving. The sunset pictures were taken from National Harbor where I was attending a trade show.

A GREAT trip with every weather (except snow) having been experienced.

Tea Party in El Segundo

Sam and Nate went with me to El Segundo for the South Bay Tea Party. Sam was sorely disappointed by the good behavior of the crowd, when we arrived and saw about 8 cop cars he had high hopes for excitement. He said he had hoped at least a few anarchists would show up.

We met Cris Molles there and ran into Carl Dreizler. The wind was blowing 20 mph + and it was FREEZING. But it was a great crowd and Tammy Bruce gave a great speech.

There were a lot of great posters, but the above is my favorite.

From Downtown Annapolis

2009 Guide to the U.S. Naval Academy

Nate and I went to a USNA recruiting meeting last weekend. And what to our wondering eyes does appear on page 55? The above picture, show actual size on the left and zoomed in to Midshipman Jonathon Yenny on the right.

Redistributionists ... Listen to P.J.

I think the Old Testament is quite clear about that. The Bible might seem to be a strange place to be doing economic research, but I have been thinking, from a political economy point of view, about the Tenth Commandment. Now the first nine commandments concern theological principles--thou shall not steal and kill and so forth. Fair enough. Then there's the Tenth Commandment: "Thou shall not covet they neighbor's wife. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's house, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's." I mean, here are God's basic rules for how we should live, a very brief list of sacred obligations and solemn moral precepts, and right at the end of it is: "Don't envy your buddy his cow." What is that doing there? Why would God, with just 10 things to tell Moses, choose jealousy about the stuff the guy next door has? Well, think about how important to the well-being of a community that commandment actually is. What that commandment says is that if you want a donkey, if you want a pot roast, if you want a cleaning lady, don't bitch about it, go get your own!

The Tenth Commandment sends a message to socialists, to collectivists, to people who believe that wealth is best obtained by redistribution, and that message is clear and concise: Go to hell! It's as simple as that.

THAT's what I'm talking about!

Econ 101 : even I get it.

It All Makes Sense Now

I finally realize why the Dems don't care about raising taxes.

IT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF PAYING THEM!

THIS is what I've been trying to say ...

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom.  What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.  When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. 

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

~~~ The late Dr. Adrian Rogers , 1931 to 2005 ~~~ 

And from me: The government is incapable of making the poor richer but very skilled at making the rich poorer. A lousy way to close the gap between rich and poor.

Trip to Victoria for Jamie's funeral

Another favorite picture

Here is the link that describes the above hug: http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/05/06/loc_moment06.html

My favorite picture of George W Bush

This moment defines his presidency. After 9-11, he stood in front of the world. He was saying: We are here. We don't back down. We aren't afraid of you.

Inauguration_Day

The first is a current picture of George W Bush. the 2nd is a picture of him at ground zero a couple of days after 9-11. Let no one doubt the sacrifice he has made and the toll it has taken.

I missed George W Bush leaving DC and getting on the helicopter. In a moment that would make him proud, I was taking an order on the phone. In a moment that would make President Obama proud, it was an order from MIT, so the money will ultimately come from my wallet.

Death Notice for Jamie Jackson

JACKSON, Jamie Donald Stanley Born September 10, 1989. Died suddenly in a motor vehicle accident January 03, 2009. Jamie was the much loved son of Donald and Gail Jackson and brother and best friend of younger sister Kelsie. He was born, raised and attended school in the Westshore area. As a young boy Jamie was active in local Karate and Lacrosse associations. He was a fine young boy in the process of growing into a fine young man. Jamie leaves to mourn, his grandparents Don and Margaret Jackson and Beverly Duncan of the local area, aunts and uncles Debbie, Gary, Alan and Christina of Victoria, Drew of Vancouver, Steven and Barbara and Brian of Edmonton, Alberta, cousins Shaun, Caitlin and Joshua of Victoria, best buds Cody and Daryl, countless relatives in California and overseas, and many friends and co-workers here. The family would like to thank friends and neighbours for all of their love and support through this difficult time. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the SPCA A memorial service followed by a reception will be held at 2:00 pm Monday January 12th, 2009 at First Memorial Funeral Chapel, 4725 Falaise Drive in the Royal Oak. 520534

I am leaving on Sunday to be at the funeral on Monday; returning home Wednesday evening. - Anne

Sad News

We found out over the weekend that a relative, Jamie Jackson, of Vancover Island Canada was killed in a car accident.

For simplicity, I have always described him as my cousin's son, but in reality he was my cousin's grandson (due to the largeness of my mother's family, there is much overlap in generations).

He was a funny, funny kid ... much like his father Donald as a teenager. Jamie stayed with us for a couple of days when we were at Lake Shawnigan and he kept us all laughing. Here is the link to the article describing the accident.

http://www.timescolonist.com/Langford+teen+killed+head+crash/1141794/story.html

From 2001 on why I voted for W

This interesting. I found this on an old hard drive. I wrote it right after 9-11-2001.

I voted for George W Bush in November 2000 similar to choosing a date for a wedding. You know two guys, and aren’t thrilled with either. One of them, however, is probably nice enough but you know by the end of the night you would be watching your watch and wondering who Jay Leno had on. So you choose the other guy.

I chose George W Bush mainly because I couldn’t bear the thought of listening to Al Gore talking to me like I’m an idiot for four years.

I was also dancing with a more conservative philosophy, but that had nothing to do with why I voted for W. I was voting against Al Gore, and not because I hated him. But the thought of him made me nauseous and listening to him irritated me.

I watched with interest W's speeches. Figured he was a good enough guy. And we got along fine for 9 months. Until 9-11.

On 9-11 my initial reation was not to pray for the victims of the horrible attack; it was to pray for W. I thought, “Good God, give this man the wisdom he needs”. And my next prayer was to thank God that it was W and not Al Gore who was the president. I was not certain W knew what to do, but I knew that Al wouldn’t.

I’m not sure that my prayer was answered. I’m beginning to think W didn’t need any wisdom—he had it all along.  

So it was kind of like less-than-enthusiastically choosing a guy for a date to a wedding, and then years later marrying that guy. And then years and years later being ever so grateful you went on that first date.

 

Last picture ... I promise. (Until next year)

A Great Picture!

The above is an official find-the-baby-photo (Lane is way to the right in the arms of a VERY handsome player, Joe is in the back with the trophy). Cade, Cas and Jack are near the front in the bottom right corner.

Mom and dad and Joe at LAX tonight when the mighty victors arrived home to a screaming crowd, cheerleaders, the CSUDH basketball team and, of course, Flanagans to the left and Flanagans to the right. As it should be.

2008 NCAA Soccer Champs! Yeah Toros!

Look close: there's Joe and Lane on the far right, Jack, Cade and Cas down in front! Did you notice that trophy????

3-0 win on Sunday December 7 makes The Mighty Toros the 2008 NCAA champs! Most of the Flanagans watched at Pat and Mike's with mom hiding in the back of the house until the score got to 3-0 and she felt it was safe to watch. Dad never moved from in front of the big screen.

I was in contact with Julie throughout the game via text, we took a picture of all of us in front of the TV and sent it to Julie via cell phone during half time. Maureen in San Francisco, Jonathon in Baltimore and Elle in Pasadena were kept up to date after every goal.

We saw Cade and Jack several times on TV but Cas' exact whereabouts are still a mystery. Joe gave a wonderful interview after the game dedicating the game to J.T., a previous player of Joe's who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly just a few months ago.

Julie is officially the stud of the family; she flew with all four kids on Friday morning for the game against Tampa on Friday night and flew home ahead of Joe early this morning. Did I mention with all four kids? Did I mention alone? With connections? Rumor has it she arrived home earlier today with all four kids but visual confirmation that they are HER kids has not happened.

She'll be back to the airport tonight along with mom and dad, Theresa and girls and Pat to greet Joe and the team coming off the plane.

It was a great weekend that even UCLA's loss couldn't ruin.

Here's a link to the highlights of Friday nights 3-2 win against Tampa. Would love to know who posted on YouTube, Joe and dad would love to see the full game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uknye4gg8k