Category Archives: Politics

One Veterans Take on Obama's Birth Certificate

PrideFor starters, I sure hope this adolescent poppycock does not get milked for the balance of the summer. And by adolescent, I do mean the content of the question, which will be settled soon, but the way it plays out in the media, and the cottage industry and frenzy it creates in the minds of already marginally sane ideologues.
With that as a preface, I say that if Obama is not a citizen of the USA, then we have to be gravely concerned about the skill set of the FBI, CIA, NSA, and INS, as all of these agencies are mandated to vet a United States Senator prior to their taking the Oath of Office. If he ain’t the real McCoy than he is bringing down four agencies in the process. Fat chance.
The indolence of the major media in not knowing or addressing this fact of process and protocol is a story in itself.
Media indolence, however, is abound. In the 2000 Presidential election there was story flying across America about how overseas ballots were not “postmarked,” and therefore invalid. Americans bought this poppycock too. As a one time contributor to the Stars and Stripes I can tell you with certainty that correspondence from men and women at war is not postmarked and never has been since WWl, It comes by way of the Armed Forces Postal System and is frequently not dated. No media outlet reported this simple truth and milked the story and lathered the people of this fine land for months.
If you take this country of origin issue to its extreme than George Washington’s Presidency should be annulled as we was not a citizen of the United States. He was born in a British Colony. Mitt Romney’ father was born in Mexico, John McCain in Panama, and Barry Goldwaters birth place was questioned. So what’s for breakfast?
And why in the world anyone thinks a Birth Certificate is sacrosanct is beyond reason. Have you ever been in to an OB.GYN ward when a child is born? They will write in the name of the parents you tell them to write. No one asks for ID! Doctors will pre-sign the Birth Certificate leaving the fathers name blank. And someone thinks that these un-notarized documents are some form of Divine Edict?
The newspaper announcements of a child’s birth are equally valid as they name time,and place. There are three announcements of Obama’s birth in local papers in Hawaii. I suppose those news outlets were part of some grand conspiracy that is tied into the predictions of Nostradamus! My word, lets bring back the Lacey Petersen Trial for the summer.
Get some professional genealogists on the evening news and close the case. Hard to do when you have to fill 24/ 7 cable news for Mr. Murdoch. I think I will hang with the Tucson Citizen bloggers myself. No one here is taking any “527” money.

Possible Reasons for Membership Troubles in Veteran Fraternal Organizations; VFW/American Legions/Vietnam Veteans of America/DAV

In the recent confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, Senator Jeff Sessions made a comment that was modestly disturbing to me.  He stated; ” to be sympathetic to one party, is to be prejudiced to another.” The disturbing aspect of this mindset is that  it is delivered in such an authoritative and declarative fashion, as if it is objective truth.

This style of polarized, ‘us versus them’ mentality,  that dominates most all editorial boards and certainly the mass of talk shows, has so divided the nation that I am not sure how we  can put Humty Dumty back together.  We seen to be in a permanent Red vs. Blue State  campaign mode and have forgotten how to stop campaigning and shift to governing.

I am of the ilk that it is this new, in your face zeitgeist that has become the dominant cultural thinking style  of our time,  and  is at the core of the waning membership in many of our venerated veterans organizations.

What returning soldier wants to place themselves in such an environment?  While the Charters of organizations like the VFW and  American Legion have clauses about  being  a  bit to raucous or one sided we nevertheless have created an environment where the young men and women who need the advocacy of the group do not want to associate with such charged personalities.  Especially with someone who would think that to be sympathetic begets the polar opposite of prejudicial behavior.

Is it possible that there are hidden forces in DC who would prefer to have Veteran organizations fade into the sunset?   If we continue with the divisive and extreme partisan behavior that blankets our daily lives, we will see an incremental  decline in the simple desire to associate  for common causes, so as to avoid confrontation, and the consequent weariness  it brings.

The diminished influence of  the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the  American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, DAV and others, would not  be a good thing, and I fault the elected leaderhip and the insatiable needs of 24/7  media with the lagging  membership rolls, as they feed on the polarity they created.

Memorial for John Mair

The Memorial for John Mair will be held at Abbey Funeral home on North First Ave. on Tuesday July 7th from 4-7pm. Since John had not been rated 100% Disabled for very long, his VA death benefits will not be able to transfer to his wife. In fact his last check went into the bank by way of automatic deposit and will need to be returned. His mortgage payment was taken out of that check, and his wife is now in jeopardy with their new home.
I know that there are many heartfelt stories out there in these trying financial times, yet it seems like such a miscarriage of justice that the man who helped everyone get their claims through is without assistance when it is needed most.
Donations can be directed to Bertha Mair c/o Don Barton at 380 S. Treston Ln. Tucson, Az. 85712.
If someone gets hurt in heaven, I am sure John will be there to pick them up.