Obama says he is going to restore science to the process.

“Today, I’ve signed a memorandum that will help restore the scientific process to its rightful place at the heart of the Endangered Species Act, a process undermined by past administrations,”

If that were true, many of our troubles would be over. If we truly brought peer reviewed science back into the equation, we could put a stop to the senseless lawsuits brought against the federal government concerning Endangered Species Act issues.

There is a distinct possibility that we will see a reduction in lawsuits because more and more of the environmental community behind the lawsuits now work under the Obama administration. A better declaration of President Obama’s should more accurately state that HIS science will be restored to the process, not necessarily the best available science.

If we could truly get real science back in the process, it would be a great day. We should all hold the President at his word and challenge every move that defies the scientific community.

The President also says we should be looking for ways to improve the Endangered Species Act not weaken it. I and millions of other Americans couldn’t agree more with that statement and once again that strengthening of the Act can be accomplished by actually restoring the best available science and getting rid of the politics, abuse and environmental manipulation of the Act to achieve personal agendas.

We will be watching closely President Obama and we intend to hold you to your word, albeit I have very little faith that anything will change except that more politics will play a role while I and countless other Americans are conned into thinking government is saving our animals species.

Tom Remington

I hope you will also take some time from your busy to schedule to reflect back on all the things you are thankful for. And, by the way, make sure to share at least one of the thanks with someone else.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tom Remington

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

His bed was next to the room’s only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.

They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window..

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.

Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man could not hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.

She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.!

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, ‘Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

The newsletter has a strong concentration in the outdoor and recreational industry, especially hunting, fishing, shooting, and conservative politics but the Network is expanding their Internet presence every day. Signing up is simple. Browse to skinnymoose.com and fill in your name and email address in the form.

Jefferson was always adamant that the Constitution should contain a guarantee of rights to the citizens of America, that it should be spelled out clearly the freedoms guaranteed to each person. The debate on such ranged from it not being at all necessary and whether or not any “guaranteed” rights be done as amendments to the ratified Constitution or a stand alone document.

If Jefferson were alive today, he could make a fortune in consulting fees. He was the go-to guy for many when seeking advice on an array of topics. It seemed that while he was in the middle of receiving mailings from across the ocean about the drafting of a constitution, he was also consulting with many concerning the French Revolution and helping the French people to regain some of their lost freedoms.

James Madison was a protege of Jefferson’s. Jefferson thought highly of him and mentored him on many occasions throughout his life. The drafting of the Constitution was no different. But it should be said that even as close as Jefferson and Madison were, they didn’t always see eye to eye on issues, the Bill of Rights being one of them.

Don’t be confused, Madison was a firm believer in the rights of American citizens. The difference came in whether it was necessary to actually have those rights spelled out in a separate document or through amendments to the Constitution.

In March of 1789, Thomas Jefferson answered a letter sent him by James Madison about whether or not it was necessary to include a bill of rights and other concerns of the drafting of the Constitution. Some believe that in the following text of his answers, shows us some of the greatest thoughts that Jefferson had and why he felt compelled to create a Bill of Rights.

I cannot refrain from making short answers to the objections which your letter states to have been raised.

1. That the rights in question are reserved by the manner in which the federal powers are granted.

Answer. A constitutive act may certainly be so formed as to need no declaration of rights. The act itself has the force of a declaration as far as it goes: and if it goes to all material points nothing more is wanting. In the draft of a constitution which I had once a thought of proposing in Virginia, and printed afterwards, I endeavored to reach all the great objects of public liberty, and did not mean to add a declaration of rights. Probably the object was imperfectly executed: but the deficiencies would have been supplied by others in the course of discussion. But in a constitutive act which leaves some precious articles unnoticed, and raises implications against others, a declaration of rights becomes necessary by way of supplement. This is the case of our new federal constitution. This instrument forms us into one state as to certain objects, and gives us a legislative and executive body for these objects. It should therefore guard us against their abuses of power within the field submitted to them.

2. A positive declaration of some essential rights could not be obtained in the requisite latitude.

Answer. Half a loaf is better than no bread. If we cannot secure all our rights, let us secure what we can.

3. The limited powers of the federal government and jealousy of the subordinate governments afford a security which exists in no other instance.

Answer. The first member of this seems resolvable into the 1st. objection before stated. The jealousy of the subordinate governments is a precious reliance. But observe that those governments are only agents. They must have principles furnished them whereon to found their opposition. The declaration of rights will be the text whereby they will try all the acts of the federal government. In this view it is necessary to the federal government also: as by the same text they may try the opposition of the subordinate governments.

4. Experience proves the inefficacy of a bill of rights.

True. But though it is not absolutely efficacious under all circumstances, it is of great potency always, and rarely inefficacious. A brace the more will often keep up the building which would have fallen with that brace the less. There is a remarkable difference between the characters of the Inconveniences which attend a Declaration of rights, and those which attend the want of it. The inconveniences of the Declaration are that it may cramp government in it’s useful exertions. But the evil of this is short-lived, moderate, and reparable. The inconveniences of the want of a Declaration are permanent, afflicting and irreparable: they are in constant progression from bad to worse. The executive in our governments is not the sole, it is scarcely the principal object of my jealousy. The tyranny of the legislatures is the most formidable dread at present, and will be for long years. That of the executive will come in it’s turn, but it will be at a remote period.

Jefferson had witnessed first hand how without any charter or declaration of rights, the people of France had their liberties yanked out from underneath them. He feared the same for America and therefore spent a great deal of time and effort in convincing many others that the United States Bill of Rights was a necessary document.

His influence on Madison was great enough and over time it was James Madison who introduced the Bill of Rights (the first ten) into Congress as amendments to the Constitution.

Tom Remington

I saw the car pull into the drive, ’69 or ’70 model Cadillac Deville, looked factory-new. It pulled into the parking lot at a snail’s pace. An old woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed; she had a cane and a sheaf of flowers–about four or five bunches as best I could tell.

I couldn’t help myself. The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste: ‘She’s going to spend an hour, and for this old soldier, my hip hurts like hell and I’m ready to get out of here right now!’ But for this day, my duty was to assist anyone coming in.

Kevin would lock the ‘In’ gate and if I could hurry the old biddy along, we might make it to Smokie’s in time.

I broke post attention. My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch. I must have made a real military sight: middle-aged man with a small pot gut and half a limp, in marine full-dress uniform, which had lost its razor crease about thirty minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery.

I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk. She looked up at me with an old woman’s squint.

‘Ma’am,may I assist you in any way?’

She took long enough to answer.

‘Yes, son. Can you carry these flowers? I seem to be moving a tad slow these days.’

‘My pleasure, ma’am.’ Well, it wasn’t too much of a lie.

She looked again. ‘Marine, where were you stationed?’

‘ Vietnam, ma’am. Ground-pounder. ’69 to ’71.’

She looked at me closer. ‘ Wounded in action, I see. Well done, Marine. I’ll be as quick as I can.’

I lied a little bigger: ‘No hurry, ma’am.’

She smiled and winked at me. ‘Son, I’m 85-years-old and I can tell a lie from a long way off. Let’s get this done. Might be the last time I can do this. My name’s Joanne Wieserman , and I’ve a few Marines I’d like to see one more time.’

‘Yes, ma ‘am. At your service.’

She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone. She picked one of the flowers ou t of my arm and laid it on top of the stone. She murmured something I couldn’t quite make out. The name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC: France 1918.

She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one stone. I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek. She put a bunch on a stone; the name was Stephen X..Davidson, USMC, 1943.

She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman, USMC, 1944.

She paused for a second. ‘Two more, son, and we’ll be done’

I almost didn’t say anything, but, ‘Yes, ma’am. Take your time.’

She looked confused. ‘Where’s the Vietnam section, son? I seem to have lost my way.’

I pointed with my chin. ‘That way, ma’am.’

‘Oh!’ she chuckled quietly. ‘Son, me and old age ain’t too friendly.’

She headed down the walk I’d pointed at. She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted. She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman , USMC, 1968, and the last on Darrel Wieserman, USMC, 1970. She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn’t make out.

‘OK, son, I’m finished. Get me back to my car and you can go home.’

Yes, ma’am. If I may ask, were those your kinfolk?’

She paused. ‘Yes, Donald Davidson was my father, Stephen was my uncle, Stanley was my husband, Larry and Darrel were our sons. All killed in action, all marines.’

She stopped. Whether she had finished, or couldn’t finish, I don’t know. She made her way to her car, slowly and painfully.

I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin , waiting by the car.

‘Get to the ‘Out’ gate quick. I have something I’ve got to do.’

Kevin started to say something, but saw the look I gave him. He broke the rules to get us there down the service road. We beat her. She hadn’t made it around the rotunda yet..

‘ Kevin, stand at attention next to the gatepost. Follow my lead.’ I humped it across the drive to the other post.

When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best gunny’s voice: ‘TehenHut! Present Haaaarms!’

I have to hand it to Kevin ; he never blinked an eye–full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI proud.
She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send-off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice.

I am not sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that Cadillac .

Instead of ‘The End,’ just think of ‘Taps.’

As a final thought on my part, let me share a favorite prayer: ‘Lord, keep our servicemen and women safe, whether they serve at home or overseas. Hold them in your loving hands and protect them as they protect us.’

Let’s all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before in our thoughts. They are the reason for the many freedoms we enjoy.

‘In God We Trust.’

Sorry about your monitor; it made mine blurry too!

If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under!

According to an article from Politico, there has been an uprising in conspiracy theories pointing out the fact that things just “don’t add up”. In the current case, details are still being worked out but foul play seems to have already been ruled out by authorities. Police responded to a phone call from Kellermann’s home at 4:48 a.m. After arriving at the house, police found 41 year old Kellermann hanging in his basement.

We all know that it is difficult to pinpoint who all the depressed people are in the world. If it were easier there may be less deaths.

“Ninety percent of people who kill themselves have a mental disorder, the most common being depression,” says Dr. Paula Clayton, medical director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “Depression can be fatal: It’s the fourth-leading cause of death in men from age 25 to 60.”

Conspiracy theorists seem to think depressed people aren’t the first to hang out Christmas lights and be the first to pass out Valentine cards. Although he had worked for Freddie Mac for 16 years he was just recently appointed to a leading financial role to handle the current situation. Maybe the stress to resolve the current debacle was just too much to handle. Others think foul play. Maybe Kellermann was going to come clean with the numbers he crunched but was stopped before the truth was exposed.

It sounds like a great Tom Clancy novel. The truth is, all suicides are devastating. But being placed in the current situation it is easy to begin speculating. Maybe his suicide had nothing to do with his work place. Maybe he learned his wife was having an affair? Or maybe there were other issues with family or friends.

Whether or not those factors had anything to do with Kellermann’s death, they help form a narrative that could help make sense of an inherently unfathomable act. Frank Ochberg, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Michigan State University and a former adviser to the U.S. Secret Service, says the public often expects Washington stories to conform to certain archetypes they’ve internalized through movies and television. “The audience demands a certain kind of quick and superficial explanation,” he said.

Maybe Kellermann took Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) comment too literal. Back when AIG was paying themselves huge bonuses with bailout money, Grassley, who sits on the Senate Finance Committee, made the comment, “I would suggest the first thing that would make me feel a little bit better toward them if they’d follow the Japanese example and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say, ‘I’m sorry,’ and then either do one of two things: resign or go commit suicide.”

This flag proudly flies in a field overlooking a rural Maine farmhouse! Hope you Independence Day if a great one!

Tom Remington

Tom Remington

I am disgusted by the way the Democrat Congress is conducting itself regarding the war on terror. Their latest vote to impose an arbitrary deadline for troop withdrawals from Iraq is simply playing politics, and nothing else, and I am seriously incensed by this latest act which is equivalent to spitting on our Armed forces.

By setting a date to withdraw from Iraq at this stage, the Congress is declaring defeat, and telling our young men and women in uniform that their work doesn’t mean anything. They are making every combat death be for naught. Not only that, but they’re condemning more soldiers to die for nothing by keeping them in the combat zone for many more months, even after the politicians have signed the surrender papers.

If the war is truly lost, why the arbitrary deadline months in the future? Why not pull out right now, and save as many lives as possible? I’ll tell you why. It’s because the Democrats in Congress don’t give a damn about our soldiers. They care about having a talking point for the 2008 election. They want more of our soldiers to die in combat, so they can stand up on their soapboxes and snivel and whine about the poor, dying soldiers that they kept over there to die to win votes!

If the war is truly lost, pull the troops home now. No waiting, no timetable. Just get out! No pathetic half-measures, designed to prolong the suffering and add to the death toll.

With that said, I do not believe we have lost, yet. This war is still up in the air, but assigning an arbitrary deadline is a prescription for defeat. If we tell the enemy that we will be fleeing at a given date, we are letting them know that they will win if they just lay low and wait it out.

An arbitrary withdrawal also undermines the authority of our military strategists, who should be running this war. The greatest problem with this war, and several others in the past, is that arrogant politicians have been setting policy and running things from their cushy offices, rather than the generals in the field. Our military is not choosing how to run things so much as elected bureaucrats who have never seen combat. The Congress should stay out of the decision making process when it comes to military action.

I have two words to say to every Congressman who voted to create defeat in Iraq, but I will refrain from soiling these fine pages with such vulgarity. Instead, I will state the obvious, that they are cowards, and care nothing for the lives of our soldiers, so long as they can buy votes with the blood of Americans! They are utterly despicable, and everyone who voted for the withdrawal deadline deserves to be kicked out of office! How about we set a deadline for that? November 4th, 2008 sounds good to me!