Rep. Jamaal Bowman - You Lie!

Fire alarm puller New York Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman thinks we are stupid. Weeks after being video taped pulling the fire alarm he is still lying. He clearly pulled the alarm to delay an ongoing vote on the floor of the house. Are we really expected to believe a member of Congress didn't know what a fire alarm was or how it works? Will the BS ever stop? Our leaders should be held to a higher standard and when they blatantly lie to the American people they should be held accountable by law enforcement, House leadership and eventually the ballot box.

"I’m thankful for the quick resolution from the District of Columbia Attorney General’s office on this issue and grateful that the United States Capitol Police General Counsel’s office agreed I did not obstruct nor intend to obstruct any House vote or proceedings," he said. "I am responsible for activating a fire alarm, I will be paying the fine issued, and look forward to these charges being ultimately dropped." - Jamaal Bowman

$1000 fine and all of this goes away in three months? Are you kidding me? Maybe, if he told the truth but he hasn't come clean and has actually doubled down on his lie. Jamaal Bowman should be punished to the maximum extent of the law. I don't think Jamaal should be held in solitary confinement for a year but you bet he should be prosecuted for:

25 CFR § 11.430 - Falsely setting off a fire alarm.

18 U.S. Code § 1505 - Obstruction of official proceeding before the U.S. House of Representatives. 

18 U.S.C. § 1001 - Intentionally making false statements to a federal agent or investigator.

"Today, as I was rushing to make a vote, I came to a door that is usually open for votes but today would not open," he said on X at the time. "I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door. I regret this and sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused." - Jamaal Bowman

Radical 2nd Amendment?

 I've been going back and forth with my oldest daughter (The Army Major) regarding the 2nd Amendment and it's forced me to sharpen my Pro 2nd Amendment arguments. 

#1 The 2nd Amendment is NOT and NEVER was about hunting. Political leaders who say things like deer aren't wearing bullet proof vests etc. are uninformed or just lying. The right to keep and bear arms is about ensuring that our government thinks twice about tyranny. Absolute power leads to tyranny and history is ripe with examples of unarmed citizens being massacred.

#2 The Left is absolutely misinformed when they consistently go after long guns aka the AR-15 rather than everyday handguns. You are exceedingly more likely to be beaten to death with a hammer than you are being killed with someone's AR-15.

#3 The gun show loophole? It's not a thing and the people saying this have never attended a gun show or are just lying. Gun purchases at gun shows require background checks. Basically, if you sell a gun for profit anywhere in the U.S. (including out of your trunk at a gun show) you're a dealer and must comply with FBI background checks.

#4 Universal Background Checks? It's already the freaking law. Yes there are cracks in the system which are typically government employees not complying with the law or just not willing to do their job.

#5 Small arms versus the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines? I honestly don't think our military would turn it's awesome firepower upon the population. The FBI, ATF, IRS, DHS, etc... that is a whole other matter. Luckily, so far these agencies don't have tanks, assault helicopters or artillery.

#6 DC banned guns and armed home invasions became common. SCOTUS stepped up with the Heller decision affirming the right to keep and bear arms. Although guns and magazines (limited to 10 rounds) have to be registered with the local police department and physically reviewed every two years the subsequent reduction in home invasions was notable.

#7 For decades semi automatic rifles have proven very effective against modern militaries. Before the American Revolution armed militias proved effective against French Canadian and Indian attacks. It's important to understand "the most effective way to destroy a citizens militia was to disarm the citizens." - Anthony Scalia.

#8 Maybe the most important take away is the vast majority, I'm talking 95% plus of all gun related deaths, including suicides are with handguns. The leadership on the Left knows this so why do they continue to go after long guns?

If handguns are to blame then why is the media, the Left and the Democrats all going after long guns specifically AR-15 style weapons? Could it be as simple as feelings over facts? I find it hard to believe the motivation is more nefarious but I've been wrong before.

Bottom line... Guns don't kill people, people with guns kill themselves and others. The weapon of choice, hands down, is the handgun and yet the laws are aimed at the long gun, specifically AR-15 style weapons. True weapons of war like the M1 carbine below that I trained with are not even mentioned.

I hope these arguments ring true for you and as this debate continues those on the Left will take time to educate themselves on the details and nuances of guns and gun control. I find that arguing with people who do not possess the basic understanding of fire arms to be a complete waste of time.

Note: Is it possible that the federal government aka the permanent bureaucracy is fully aware that handguns are the real public safety issue? Is it possible the Democrats who keep pushing for the assault weapons ban really don't know that hammers kill more people than AR-15s? One possible conclusion I've never even considered... The permanent bureaucracy is not afraid of a population armed with hand guns. However, a population armed with millions of AR-15 type weapons could be exceedingly effective in steming government expansion, corruption and tyranny. The truth? Who knows, but anyone with an hour of dedicated training can become extremely deadly with an AR-15.

Hunter Biden - A Burisma Board Member?

No rational person questions Hunter Biden was paid between $50,000 and $83,000 a month by the Ukrainian Energy company, Burisma Holdings, to sit on their board. Furthermore, despite the BS assertions of 51 former intelligent experts, Joe Biden flat out lied that his son's laptop was Russian disinformation. This lie was coordinated and served up to the world during the 2nd Presidential debate.

Forget about everything "Hunter" and focus on one non-disputed thought:

While Joe Biden was Vice President, Hunter was making millions doing what?

Joe Biden has repeatedly said he never discussed his son's "business" activities. (Update - Effective 7/24/2023 The never discussed his son's business has changed to wasn't in business with his son) White House Press Secretaries have repeatedly said Hunter Biden is a private citizen and not part of the Administration. When millions are paid to Hunter by countries visited by Air Force Two, sometimes with Hunter aboard, it's absurd to pretend Joe Biden was completely out of the loop. Hunter was paid millions of dollars while offering no product or service other than access to his father and seemingly "protection" of some kind that is still being fleshed out.

The next big question:

Did Joe get paid? 

All Federal office seekers must disclose their families income, income sources and assets on FEC filings and once in office on OGE Form 278e. Take a look at President Biden's filings and ask yourself how did Joe become so wealthy? Middle class Joe, how did you become a multimillionaire on a senator and VP salary?

How many of Hunter's shell companies need to be exposed before those on the left are forced to admit that the Biden extended family business orbits around Joe Biden and is absolutely rotten to the very core and has been for decades?

The government has a record of every transaction exceeding $10,000 and hundreds of Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR) dealing with the Biden shell companies. However, Republican members of Congress use of subpoenas to follow the Biden money trail have been as effective as the subpoenas of Hillary's private email server. It's shocking that the flow of the money is still mostly hidden. However, even with the Department of the Treasury stonewalling and US Banks not cooperating the picture of a massive shakedown operation is slowly emerging.

Hunter Biden was infact being paid huge sums of money by a Ukrainian company, under investigation, while his father was Vice President and in charge of Ukrainian policy. Contrary to what fact checkers claim the prosecutor investigating Burisma was in fact fired after Vice President Joe Biden threatened to pull a billion dollar Ukrainian loan guarantee. Furthermore, it's now obvious the Biden's have been laundering money for years if not decades and in some cases not paid taxes on their ill-gotten gains.

Update: Yesterday both the House and Senate released the recently divulged and initially denied FBI FD-1023 Confidential Human Source Report that documents why Hunter Biden was hired by Burisma Holdings. Besides his outrageous board member salary, Hunter and "another" Biden were paid $5 million each and that "it would take them (investigators) 10 years to find the records (i.e. elicit payments to Joe Biden)." 

Not that we needed proof, but we also now know the "Big Guy" is in fact Joe Biden.

1,000 Mile Road Trip (France)

The month of June was spent in France. 

I woke up at 2:00 AM and flew out of Portland, Maine a few hours later. Due to a flight rescheduling our layover at JFK was about 10 hours. We had a nice flight to Nice, got through immigration & customs, got our car and started the road trip. 

We picked up fresh fruit and vegetables and stopped at the French equivalent to a super Walmart to get more food and a cooler which doubled as a seat. While doing our best to avoid highways we saw a few sights and even toured one of the best preserved Roman coliseums that is still used not for gladiators but concerts.

After many, many narrow winding mountain roads we finally made it to our first camping site on a mountain overlooking the Mediterranean. From getting up to going to bed a full 37 hours had elapsed. The start of our French trip was epic and I venture to say I WILL NEVER do anything that exhausting again in my life!

Our game plan was camp for a few days, stay at a hotel and then camp some more. We ended using our tent (yes we packed a tent) at three different camp grounds. For a few days we "glamped" in a modern two story canvas tent and stayed at four pretty nice hotels. The most relaxing time was the four days spent with a friend and her elderly mother who didn't speak English. 

You know your are off the beaten path when a few people you meet disclose they have never met an American. I'm not even going to try to explain what we saw.  Besides the amazing geology, I was absolutely blown away with all the monuments, streets, etc... commemorating the various wars in France. The French people haven't forgotten the World Wars. They may not remember what America did in the "Great War" but they absolutely remember what America did in World War II and are still grateful.

4,000 Mile Road Trip

4,043 miles, 15 days, 8 hotels, 11 different beds and 21 dead deer later...

I got to see my oldest and youngest daughter. Celebrated with mom who turned 89 on Mother's Day. There was a rare moment when she put her arm around me and with a tear in her eye said she loved me. We spent a evening with my wife's Peace Corps roommate and who was the boyfriend of my childhood friend's wife in Samoa. Saw my last remaining and favorite uncle @ 93, a Federal District Court Judge and middle school friend, my two brothers and their wives, my oldest nephew, his wife (due in early June) and their adorable daughter. My goddaughter, her husband and three slightly out of control little boys, and finally my last aunt (Noriko) who turns 87 in August... Yet another Leo in my life.

Finding out my uncle only grew corn and soybeans on his 1,000 acre Iowa farm (I spent a few summers there) raising 600 to 700 pigs a year for decades with a one-day piglet record of 64 was pretty cool. Hearing him recall his fishing trips with a tear in his eye and call me “Big D" was special.

Spending time with my wonderful 86 year-old Japanese aunt and 2nd wife of my mom's brother was great. Learning what it was like working on an American base and being married to an American in post war Japan is a slice of history we are not taught in America. Finding out my Uncle Bill didn't finish his training in time to fly in WW-II, but was instead the lead navigator of 65 B-29 bombing missions over Korea and in 1950 bombed Inchon on Christmas Eve just blew my mind.

DT doesn't stand for Drive Tour. This is likely the last visit to a few beloved members of my family. I'm so lucky to have spent it with my wife who continues to impress me with the depth of her knowledge and wisdom.

From driving through one of, if not the oldest river valleys on our planet (360 million years old), oddly named New River Gorge, hearing Willy Nelson perform live in Cedar Rapids Iowa, visiting three generations of Beemers at the Beemer gravesite in Hampton, Iowa, the Spam Museum in Austin Minnesota, a family reunion at my oldest brother's house in Hudson, Wisconsin, the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, checking out downtown Ottawa, looking over the awesome city of Montreal from Mount Royal while eating a fresh bagel from St. Viateur (not Fairmount Bagel!) to finally driving through the amazing North West corner of Maine, there is no doubt this trip was epic.

Diversity?

Diversity Equity and inclusion!

AKA "DEI"

Sounds good right?

Not so fast... DEI is an anti meritocracy movement forcing equal outcomes that I believe is shaking the very foundations of our society.

There is no doubt that diversity, at it's core is a good thing. You absolutely want diversity of thought when you are solving problems. However assuming you automatically get diversity of thought by focusing on physical attributes such as the color of one's skin, sex, etc... has resulted in the left becoming hostile to diversity of opinions and political beliefs.

How can the left scream for diversity while literally screaming at those with different political or "worse" religious beliefs? God forbid you support the 2nd Amendment, state the climate is changing but the change has been constant for the last 450 years or want to ban abortions after the fetus clearly has become conscious.

The right to think and believe differently than your fellow American is enshrined in our Constitution and First Amendment. We have a God given right to vehemently disagree with our fellow citizens. This does not give us the right to silence them under the cloak of DEI. 

The right to think and express yourself is under attack. All Americans need to step up and make it clear that diversity of thought, meritocracy and not discriminating against any group is what's protected.

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." - Ronald Reagan

The "Assault Weapons" Ban is Back

Over the next few days, maybe weeks, many of us will be hearing over and over that guns are now the number one killer of kids. 

First of all is that true? 

Secondly people kill people with guns. Guns don't typically kill people.

Yes, it's true guns are the number one killer of kids if you expand the definition of kids to include 18, 19 and 20 year olds and toss is suicide with a handgun. I honestly believe there is a special place in hell for people who manipulate data to push a narrative. No end justifies the manipulation of data and thus the American people.

It turns out that young black men are killing each other and young white women are killing themselves at all time highs. So sad in all cases but long guns are NOT the problem and they have never been. Regardless of the narrative rifles including "assault weapons" are only involved in 3% of murders and very few suicides. If the stated goal is saving lives why is the President and the Democratic party yet again pushing the "Assault Weapons" ban?

If our leaders cared about "KIDS" using guns to kill each other and themselves why not try laws that impact the weapons used 97% of the time... handguns? 

I believe most Americans would support requiring a concealed weapons permit to buy or possess a handgun based on the obvious concept that handguns are so easy to conceal. This would likely significantly reducing gun deaths. 

I think most Americans would support raising the age to own or possess a handgun to 21 and make possession of a hand gun under the age of 21 a felony while committing a crime an automatic felony. Establish a federal law that make the possession of a hand gun by someone under 21 illegal. No exceptions and if found guilty the federal sentencing mandatory guidelines require six months in jail.

Caught with a handgun under 21 and your going to spend 6 months in jail. Just like the "Assault Weapons" ban Congress could build in a sunset provision. If a universal handgun concealed weapons permit requirement and increasing the age to 22 didn't reduce gun deaths it would sunset. Just like the "Assault Weapons" ban did back in September 13, 2004.

PS I would seriously consider raising the age of handgun possession to 25. This has already faced pushback from the courts and not trying to be funny, I'm told raising the age of handgun ownership is racist?

206 House Democrats Vote Against Free Speech?

Just hours ago the Republican controlled House passed H.R. 140, THE PROTECTING SPEECH FROM GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE ACT. 

I have to admit that I'm as happy as an alligator chomping on a wayward child at Disney World. Why? Because this bill is just eight pages long and will at least expose the Democrats war on free speech and the American people. 

If a government employee colludes with anyone or any entity private or public to suppress free speech they maybe debarred from federal employment for a period not to exceed 5 years and pay a $1,000 or 10,000 civil penalty depending on if the person is a senior government official. 

Kentucky GOP Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Accountability Committee, sponsored the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act, which sets a standard that "employees acting in their official capacity should neither take action within their authority or influence to promote the censorship of any lawful speech, nor advocate that a third party, including a private entity, censor such speech."

What's almost impossible to believe is that 206 Democrats voted against this bill. The Dems yet again show their stripes. 

PS Do you think the Main Stream Media will cover this? There is little doubt this Bill will die in the Senate without even being discussed. Thank you Chuck Schumer & John Fetterman... NOT!

Kentucky Rep. James Comer - Hero of the Day!

Angus King You Just Don't Get It

Senator King, you say a video of you comparing January 6th to 9/11 was edited in such a way to make you look like a Democrat. Instead of fighting back you reach out to various social media companies and ask them to review aka takedown the video.

Clearly you and your staff (mostly lawyers) didn't see a problem with this.

Once the video was taken down you state the social media company(s) asked if you had any other issues and only then you supplied your "enemies" list... an Excel spreadsheet sheet of 500 plus "suspicious" accounts.

Again, didn't you see any problem with this?

Saying you are fighting "lies" this way because "... a lie can make its way around the world before the truth can get is boots on. In the Internet age, that’s accelerated greatly and all of us are still trying to navigate this new reality." is Orwellian.

Sir, one man's lie (Covid came from a lab) is another man's truth. The only tool in a free society to combat "lies" is more speech not less. You don't abuse your position as a sitting Senator by asking social media to do ANYTHING for you. Matter of fact this likely meets the classification of an in-kind campaign contribution. 

I call on you to review this situation, come clean (it's all going to all come out eventually), apologize and make it clear that you will not engage in activities like this egregious infringement on free speech ever again.

Update - You should absolutely support H.R. 140 the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act."

Democracy is fragile and we are only a generation away from loosing ours.

Angus King's Response Letter...

Senator Angus King Shame On You!

Angus King, what in the hell were you thinking when you compiled an enemies list and shared it with various social media companies? 

Update 3/12/2023 - The Bangor Daily News story is now 100% behind a paywall. I have never seen a paper put the title of a story behind a paywall. Here are another links to this story: 

The Maine Wire

Maine Public

Portland Press Herald

Washington Examiner 

I've heard that candidates loose 5 points of IQ every week during an election. Sir, you blew that out of the water and set the standard for stupid. Thank God you're not a Mainer. Born and raised in Alexandria Virginia, or as some would say where the swamp goes to sleep, you certainly showed your true colors with your Constitution crushing campaign efforts to suppress free speech.

You and your staff requested Facebook and Twitter (Google, Snapchat, etc...?) review hundreds of your fellow citizens social media accounts that you deemed suspicious. Suspicious for what? Retweeting your despicable 9/11 comments? Retweeting your opponent's tweets? Retweeting Herman Cain's tweets?

Is winning an election worth taking a big steaming dump on the Constitution?

Shame on you Senator King. Not only did you squelch the free speech of the citizens you swore an oath to protect you robbed me of hearing what those people had to say. How anyone could put a list like this together and submit it to the overloads at Twitter and Facebook is beyond me. That a sitting Senator I once admired would undergo such a despicable endeavor is frankly maddening.

Just a tiny example... Brakey was King's opponent

Update: Got a response from Senator King. According to the Senator there was an edited video that misrepresented his comparison of January 6th to 9/11. His campaign staff reached out to various social media companies and ask that this video be reviewed aka removed.

The social media companies did as suggested and then asked his campaign if they had any other accounts with issues. This was the opening that resulted in the Senator providing a freaking spread sheet of 500 accounts to be "reviewed" aka banned, suspended, throttled or shadow banned.

Of course it was just the suspicious accounts mind you... nothing to see here move along!