ED MCMAHON ~ March 6, 1923 – June 23, 2009

Rest in Peace, Marine!

From Wickopedia:

Edward Leo Peter "Ed" McMahon Jr. , was an American comedian, game show host, announcer, and television personality. Most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's announcer on The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992, also as the host of the talent show Star Search from 1983 to 1995, also co-hosting with Dick Clark on TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes from 1982 to 1986, he also became well-known as the presenter of the now-defunct American Family Publishers sweepstakes (not, as is commonly believed, its main rival Publishers Clearing House).

During World War II, McMahon was a fighter pilot in the United States Marine Corps serving as a flight instructor and test pilot. He was a decorated pilot (six Air Medals) and was discharged in 1946, remaining in the reserves.

After college, McMahon returned to active duty. He met his first girlfriend, Jenifer P Smith, on his first tour. He claims that she was the one to motivate him to become a better person. He was sent to Korea in February 1952. He flew unarmed OE-1 Bird Dogs on 85 tactical air control and artillery spotting missions. He remained in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1966 and was then commissioned as a Brigadier General in the California Air National Guard.

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Wesley J. Albert April 21, 1928 -- June 16, 2009

I just returned from my Father in law's funeral. He was a true example of "The Greatest Generation"; The third child of eighteen, He fought in Italy in WW2 as a member of the Army Air Corps and in Korea as a member of the newly formed Air Force. He retired as an E-7 after twenty years of service and then began his second career as a salesman for Sears, retiring for the second time after twenty years service. He and his wife of 54 years, Hazel, had three children, Lila, William, and Iris, and five grandchildren, Amber, April, Mariah, Anna , and Erin and two Great Grandchildren.

Wesley was born in Carabou, Maine, to Eugene and Eva Albert. He grew up on the family potato farm. He entered the Army Air Corps after Pearl Harbor. It was a family legend that he was the first one ever to wear the Air Force blue uniform because a quartermaster mix-up had resulted in all the uniforms ordered being made size small, and he was the only one in the first unit that was small enough to wear it.

He was a true Patriot in the real meaning of the word and he will be sorely missed by everyone that knew him.

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Open Letter to Neal Boortz

I have few people I really look up to for their opinions, I'm too damned opinionated as it is myself. One of the few people that I do consider as a teacher of my (hopefully informed) opinions is Neal Boortz.

That's why I was somewhat disappointed when he blew off one of his callers talking about pResident Obama's qualifications as POTUS.
His response was, essentially, "he won, he's President, get over it" and that 'by still questioning his qualifications, you are part of the right wing nut fringe' and thus hurting the Conservative/Libertarian cause.

I wrote Mr. Boortz a letter asking him about this. I doubt he'll respond to it, and I know he doesn't give a crap what some little blogger thinks, but it still felt good to try to communicate with someone who's opinions I respect, if not always agree with.

Here is my letter:

I was listening to the show today when the topic was government health care.
I agree wholeheartedly with your premise that we do not have a RIGHT to health care. During the discussion you had a caller who was a nurse, and he stated that he felt that there was a right to care in that he had chosen the profession voluntarily, ergo he had conveyed that expectation to his patients. You stated that 'ok, if you want to sacrifice the basic principle of individualism', or words to that effect.

That statement struck me because of a conversation you had had with another caller on a different topic several days earlier. The subject at that time was President Obama's refusal to allow his birth certificate/College records to be viewed by the public OR even a representative of the public.

I believe that YOU sacrificed on your own principles of following the rule of law when you told that caller essentially "He's elected,he's President, get over it".
The fact is that the requirements to run for President are certainly not onerous, those being he/she be a person older than 35 and a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN of THIS country. That's all.

Obama has refused to prove that he is, indeed, a naturally born citizen; moreover he has spent well over a million dollars and thousands of attorney man hours to prevent the public from being able to ascertain his true status, even though it would only take $20 and ten minutes to lay the whole issue to rest...I can see that you're trying to be practical and say "what's done is done and get over it", but if we are, indeed, a Republic based on the rule of law, doesn't it negate that principle to allow a legally unqualified person to rule?
By your statement you are saying "if he broke the law; he got away with it, so just ignore it".
WE are responsible as Citizens to ensure the law is followed,if we lose sight of that responsibility, we deserve what ensues.
Either we follow our Constitution or we no longer exist as a true Republic.

I would have thought that one such as you who expounds daily on the need of staying with basic principles wouldn't dismiss this out of hand as you did.

Thank you for being there to represent a lot of people that don't have the forum you do. Thank you for not being a member of the 'Amen!' choir that most of the media seems to have become these days.

Bert Meyer
June 10, 2009

Your Thoughts, Opinions,Questions?

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65 years

65 years ago today the Greatest Generation embarked on the operation that would CAUSE them to earn that title they carry to this day and forever after.

Most of them were young men, scared and unaware of what fates would befall by sunset of that day; yes they were scared, and the first wave of troop landing on the beaches in Normandy KNEW that they were into a virtual meat-grinder of an experience seldom seen in the annals of warfare, but they went onto those beaches, and despite extremely heavy casualties, they held those beaches and advanced yard by bloody yard until they had the foothold they needed to begin the reconquest of Europe. It was the beginning of the end for Hitler and his fanatical regime.

Now, looking backward through the mists of time, it seems incredible that so many ordinary people could be, and were, so extraordinarily heroic in their actions on this day. Take a moment and reflect on the events so long past, for they reverberate even to this day and still affect our world as it has unfolded since then. Set aside all your differences with your fellow citizens for a short time and give thanks that we had a 'Greatest Generation' willing to sacrifice their all to allow us our freedom to disagree with each other today. And take heart that the Sheepdog gene is still active in the young men and women willing to write that check to this great nation ;with their bodies and their honor, up to and including death, to defend those freedoms in the Armed Forces of the U.S.A..

I tried to make a small down-payment on the debt I owe to all those men and women today by participating in my 6Th PGR mission;riding a funeral escort and paying respect for one of the fallen.....what did YOU do?

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R.I.P. Memoriam

Ronald Reagan, 1911-2004

Today marks the fifth anniversary of President Ronald Wilson Reagan's death.

We should all take a moment and reflect what a legacy President Reagan left us...and in doing so realize just how far we have dishonored and strayed from that legacy, ESPECIALLY with our choices/victors in the last election.
This goes beyond party, this speaks to a fundamental shift in how we conduct our political business.

We need another man such as President Reagan who can rise and use the phrase "well, there you go again" in response to his opposition's premises; and expose the truism that, in today's politics, "everybody KNOWS so much that just isn't true" and that the best government is that which interferes the least.

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Because it's MY blog, and I'll post what I WANT to.

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