Remember the Fallen

Happy Memorial Day, everyone.

NH Democrat Party Chairman Ray Buckley: "We've All Lost Things."

I first spotted this at Granite Grok, but since then This Ain't Hell picked up on it, as well.

During a debate between congressional candidates Jeb Bradley and Carol Shea-Porter, Bradley got on Shea-Porter's case for not contacting Gold Star Mother Natalie Healey back after she tried to talk with Shea-Porter, but only received standard form letters. Currently, Bradley has a radio ad running with Healey talking about the fact that she never received a return call from Shea-Porter. Debbie Lee, a Gold Star Mother herself, wrote the following e-mail to her family, friends, and members of the press:

One of the questions asked the candidates was about the importance of staying in touch with their constituents. The Bradley campaign had released a radio ad that Natalie had made exposing the lack of Carol Shea-Porter to return phone calls to Natalie after numerous attempts requesting to talk with her.

Jeb responded how important his constituents are and referenced staying in touch with Gold Star Mother Natalie Healey. Carol Shea responded that it was important to her and that she had in fact spoken with Natalie. Nat and I both could not believe what we just heard? Carol had just lied publicly on the platform.

...After the debate we approached the stage and confronted Carol about her bold faced lie. She responded that she had contacted Natalie and had just released a press release to counter the accusations in the radio ad. I told her that our sons had given up their tomorrows so that she could have her today and how dare her that she couldn't use 10 minutes out of her day to return a phone call to a Gold Star Mother. At that point she quickly went back stage.

Then, this is where NHDP chair Buckley comes in.

I turned around and in disgust commented that Carol had just lied. A man in the crowd chanted, "Where's the proof? Prove it. Prove it!" I pointed to Natalie who was speaking with media and said. "She's the proof. That's the Mother who Carol refused to call." I repeated to the man "Our son's gave their tomorrows, their futures, so that she could have her today's and she can't even return a phone call? That's disgraceful.

He then told me he had served in Viet Nam and had friends who were POW-MIA. I compassionately touched his arm thanked him for his service and told him I was sorry for his loss. I told him that no matter where you stood on the politics of the War on Terror that a Congressman or Senator out of respect should return a phone call to a Gold Star family member. He stated his disgust for what we were doing in Iraq and said "We've all lost things." THINGS????? My son is not a thing. He was a hero who stood out in the direct line of fire 3 times that day and gave his life for this man and he has the audacity to compare his sacrifice with a thing???? I was livid!!! How dare him.

At this point the man in charge of the debate came over and said we would need to take this outside. I could not believe what had just taken place. I knew I was wasting my time and started to walk away when the man I had the confrontation with told me "Your just being used by the campaign." Oh my goodness again, I can't believe the antics of this idiot. He obviously doesn't know that nobody uses me. I turn around and tell him "NOBODY uses me!" You don't raise a son to be a Navy SEAL by having a character that is used by people. Unbelievable! As I approached the other Blues Star Moms and campaign staff that was there they asked what had just taken place. I retold the confrontation with the condescending, heartless man. They asked me to point him out. I was informed that his name was Ray Buckley and that he was the Chairman of the Democrat Party in NH. I was even more appalled that the man who had disgraced my son and insulted me was a high ranking official in the Democrat Party.

And this is why I could never be a Democrat.

But wait! There's more!

Remember the part where Buckley said he was a Vietnam Vet? Well, John Lilyea of This Ain't Hell discovered that his being a Vietnam Vet would have been impossible according to his own Wikipedia page.

Raymond Buckley was born in Keene, New Hampshire in 1959, and is the eldest of nine siblings and half-siblings. He parents moved frequently to find work, and Raymond had attended a different school for each grade through the ninth. His parents divorced in 1972. By high school, his family had settled in Canterbury, where at the young age of 14, he served as the town's Democratic Party Chair (due to his young age, his mother held the post officially). He planned to go to college upon graduating high school, but lacking the finances, he accepted a job offer to work for then State Democratic Chair Joanne Symons. He has been a professional politician ever since.

Unbelievable. Truly unbelievable.

Update: I forgot that this was the guy who was accused of possessing child porn by a competitor, but was cleared of the charges. Here is a video up on YouTube that, if it had gotten wider play, might have derailed his chances at being the party chairman to begin with.

The Difference Between a Draft and a Volunteer Army

You can't go to Canada to avoid service and expect to be welcomed with open arms.

Unlike the 30,000 to 50,000 American deserters who were given legal refuge in Canada during the Vietnam War, this latest crop of runaways is viewed by Canadian immigration authorities not as conscientious objectors avoiding a draft but as volunteers unwilling to fulfill their promise to the military and undeserving of refugee status.

"These claims that are coming up now are different from those of the Vietnam era. These individuals were volunteers and were not subject to forced military subscription. That's the difference," Shadd said.

Corey Glass had gone to Canada because he was told that he would only have to serve if American borders were threatened. Then he got sent to Iraq for an 18 month stint. He had come home for a leave, and made the decision to hide out in Canada, thinking that he would be AWOL and would get arrested. Turned out that he didn't need to do that.

Since deserting his unit in Iraq and fleeing to Canada two years ago, Corey Glass has become the poster boy of the war resistors movement. Thursday in Toronto, supporters are planning to protest his scheduled deportation back to the United States.

But it turns out Glass has had little reason to be on the lam, ABCNews has learned.

Unknown to him and his legion of supporters, Glass, 25, was actually discharged from the U.S. Army shortly after he went AWOL in 2006.

..."I had absolutely no idea that I had been discharged," said Glass when ABC News informed him of his status. "This is insane. This is so weird. There are no warrants? No one is looking for me?"

According to U.S. Army documents and officials, Glass was discharged from the California National Guard Dec. 1, 2006, four months after he arrived in Canada and six months after he failed to show up to a required muster.

"He is not considered absent without leave. He is not considered a deserter," said Maj. Nathan Banks, an Army spokesman. "He is running for no reason. He is fully welcome in the United States. I cannot believe this is a big deal in Canada."

Sad thing is, this idiot will still get full military benefits out of this. Ugh.

Grandma Makes Troops Smile

By sending them "Dang-it Dolls."

CAYCE, S.C. — A South Carolina grandmother has become a sensation among stressed-out U.S. military men and women around the globe by sending the most incongruous of gifts: pliable, google-eye dolls.

Not that soldiers, Marines and airmen are doing much cuddling with her hand-stitched, foot-tall playthings. Carol Davis' "Dang-it-Dolls" are built to take punishment from homesick, frustrated troops and her work is getting rave reviews.

"The legs are shaped so you can grasp onto them," Air Force Staff Sgt. Rachel Staub wrote in a recent e-mail recalling her homesick days based in the United Arab Emirates. "It returned with me to the States with an eyeball missing and the stitching around the legs loose with some of the stuffing coming out."

The little doll "was used mostly for laughs and to keep my mind off being homesick," said Staub, of Melbourne, Fla. "It brought a smile to all our faces!"

Nearly 17,000 of the goofy dolls have been shipped around the world in the four years since Davis made her first one and sent it as a joke to her grandson, who was in the Air Force then in Aviano, Italy.

The dolls themselves are not a new concept. I had one that I had bought from another sorority when I was in college during one of their fundraisers (back then called a "Dammit Doll"), and I've seen these at craft fairs. But it's a great idea to be able to send these to the troops to give them a laugh.

"I'm Not Ready To End The Fight"

What it would sound like if the Dixie Chicks were remotely proud of their country.

Thanks to Allahpundit for posting the original link to the video.

Click on the picture to watch.

Boeing/Northrup From The Perspective Of An Armed Hiker

Full disclosure -- The Armed Hiker is my brother. But he has an interesting take on the recent Northrup/Boeing dustup in regards to government contracts that Northrup won.

Update on Wobbly Nomad

The "person" who owns the blog Wobbly Nomad on Blogspot has had his membership in Iraq Veterans Against the War suspended. He was confirmed to be Evan Knappenberger, a member of IVAW. From Michelle Malkin:

An IVAW official also issues an apology:

While this blog is not primarily an official blog, and often veers into the personal, I would like to put my official hat on and make the following statement on behalf of Iraq Veterans Against the War. The sentiments and official position are IVAW’s, the wording is mine. I am currently travelling with little internet access, and will be unable to respond to posted comments. If you would like a personal response or have questions or concerns about this post, please email armysergeant (at) ivaw (dot) org, and I will be able to email you a response promptly.

Iraq Veterans Against the War does not condone threats of violence or violence against idealogical opponents, for Winter Soldier or for any other event.

Iraq Veterans Against the War and I personally have invited a number of military and veteran bloggers to attend Winter Soldier, because it is an event for military and veterans. Some of those bloggers support the war in Iraq. Some do not. All of these bloggers will be safe and welcomed at Winter Soldier as fellow servicemembers and veterans. They will be blogging from an enclosed space with controlled access, and security personnel will be there for their safety and to help alleviate any concerns. I will also give my personal word of honor as a non-commissioned officer as a guarantor for the safety of any bloggers under my charge…

…Two members have been identified as making personal threats recently. One has been requested not to attend Winter Soldier, and the other situation is currently being handled internally.

Those of you who have served in the military know that you accept responsibility for all under your command, even actions specifically against your wishes or orders. As such, though the situations are far less exact than I would like, I would like to apologize both personally and professionally to Michelle Malkin, Robin, Nicki, Thus Spake Ortner, and Jonn Lilyea and others for the actions of these members, and assure the public that steps are being taken to ensure this does not occur again.

…Jonathan De Wald’s membership has been terminated, and he is no longer a member of IVAW.

Evan Knappenberger’s membership has been indefinitely suspended.

We are currently working on getting these people the peer support and assistance that they need to preclude future incidents from occuring. Peer support and assistance will also be available at Winter Soldier, for any members or veterans who may be suffering from PTSD or anger-related issues which are surfacing or worsening through this intense process.

At least THEY are doing something. I just hope that Blogspot removes his blog due to the threats and teach him a real lesson. And I hope that Knappenberger does get the help that he desperately needs before he really does hurt someone.

"Bomb Gathering of Smeagols"

Posted at MichelleMalkin.com:


This guy has his blog posted at Blogspot, where this blog is also hosted. Let them know about the threat since this violates the Terms of Use.

The thing is, this does not surprise me in the least. Each side has their extremes, but it seems that the entire left side of the blogosphere is more extreme than most, from what I have seen online. What this guy is referring to is the Gathering of Eagles counter-protest that is being planned Friday and Saturday in Washington, DC in support of our troops. The fact that he is even putting the thought out there is wrong. The fact that they have a different opinion than he does is not reason to condone the idea of bombing their activities.

Updated To Add: Here's the guy's full blog. It is really scary how much hate one person can hold towards one group of people who are defending his rights to hate them.

Another Update: Right on the Right is saying that a lot of Michelle's readers are reporting that this guy is claiming to be Evan M. Knappenberger, a member of an anti troop organization called Iraq Veterans Against The War. You see, that's the thing I can never fathom -- if you hate the military so much....WHY JOIN?

Judge Tries to Quash Teen's Dream of Joining the Military

The following story from the Los Angeles Daily News had me shaking my head when I read it.

SIMI VALLEY - Shawn Sage long dreamed of joining the military, and watching "Full Metal Jacket" last year really sold him on becoming a Marine.

But last fall, a Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner dashed the foster teen's hopes of early enlistment for Marine sniper duty, plus a potential $10,000 signing bonus.

In denying the Royal High School student delayed entry into the Marine Corps, Children's Court Commissioner Marilyn Mackel reportedly told Sage and a recruiter that she didn't approve of the Iraq war, didn't trust recruiters and didn't support the military.

"The judge said she didn't support the Iraq war for any reason why we're over there," said Marine recruiter Sgt. Guillermo Medrano of the Simi Valley USMC recruiting office.

"She just said all recruiters were the same - that they `all tap dance and tell me what I want to hear.' She said she didn't want him to fight in it."

Sage, 17, said he begged for Mackel's permission.

"Foster children shouldn't be denied (an) ability to enlist in the service just because they're foster kids," he said. "Foster kids shouldn't have to go to court to gain approval to serve one's country."

Mackel, a juvenile dependency commissioner at the Children's Court in Monterey Park, declined through a clerk to speak about any court case or comments she may have made in court.

That it happened in California is not surprising. But this judge should be disbarred – she’s letting her feelings about the war interfere in the dreams of a teenager who wants to serve our country.

What this decision has done, however, is get legislation introduced to address the issue.

After Sage submitted a winning entry to the lawmaker's Write a Bill Challenge, Assemblyman Cameron Smyth introduced legislation last month that would allow foster teens to enlist in the service without express permission from a judge.

Instead, AB2238 would allow foster children 17 or older to sign up with the consent of a foster parent or social worker.

"Here is one impressive young man who somehow made it through the challenge of the foster system, had a clear sense of a career path and was denied that opportunity by a judge basically because of her personal bias," said Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, who will honor Sage today at a Royal High assembly.

"I find that to be a horrific abuse of her power."

Right now, California already has its own public relations nightmare in Berkeley with the Code Pink folks who are trying to prevent a recruiting station from conducting its normal business, especially after city council members called the recruiters “unwelcome intruders.”

Like I stated in my very first post, I have tons of respect for those who go in the military. Plenty of my family has been in the military – my husband was in the Army, my brother recently retired from the Navy. My dad and two of my uncles were also Navy. My cousin was in the Marines, then switched to the Air Force. So I am more than willing to salute those who have served. They fight for our freedoms. And it’s because of them I don’t have to wear a burqua when I go out in public.

I have no respect for those who don’t respect those who fight for our rights. So to Code Pink, I say this to you: you better hope that your “friends” don’t decide to attack the United States, because they are not going to have the same respect for you as our US Military does.