The few, the proud

Happy Birthday Marine Corp.

Keep 'em close by

Bob makes a good point.

Weekend Menaces

I think it is pretty clear what menace is posed by those with the authority to prevent American citizens from having access to the means to defend themselves.

The menace of those who ignore obvious warning signs can not be ignored.

The greatest menace, though, is posed by psychopaths.

My thoughts and prayers are with those in Fort Hood.

Friday Night Music

If there's a band out there as Talented as Reckless Kelly, it's because the other two Braun brothers are in Mickey and the Motorcars. I had decided on Mickey and the Motorcars this week, and that's how I found this cover of my favorite Warren Zevon song. Presented for your enjoyment, here's Lawyers, Guns, and Money.

Hell in a Handbasket

Outside of Stephen F. Austin and the Old 300, Texas was originally settled mostly by belligerent people who showed up looking for a reason to tell a government to go to Hell. Given a little time and some help from God and Sam Houston, they eventually did so at San Jacinto. Texas Government up until then could best be described as quarrelsome. The politicians spent much of their time drunk or fighting duels with one another that. Other than Stephen F. Austin, who truly did what was in the best interest of Texas, they didn't get much done at all. It was a golden age for government, and a model all others should follow. After San Jacinto, the story of the politics in the Republic of Texas could be summed up as "Sam served his term as president, cut spending and the deficit. Then somebody else served, spending and deficit rose with ambitious government programs. Sam was again eligible for president, the process was repeated."

Texas entered the union on December 29, 1845. The agreement stipulated that the feds would protect Texas' border, and that if the partnership proved unsatisfactory, Texas could secede. Washington sent infantry troops to protect Texas' vast frontier from the most effective horseback raiders this side of outer Mongolia, the Comanches. That tactic worked about as well as you'd expect. The folks in D.C. also refused to acknowledge the ongoing banditry along the Rio Grande. To maintain any security, it was necessary to keep the Rangers patrolling on horseback, usually against the wishes of the federal government, who felt that a state controlled military force was a threat. Because of this and other factors, including the legacy of a belligerent people looking for a reason to tell a government to go to Hell, Texas exercised her right to secede. Many Texans were against succession, but once the die was cast, they stood by Texas. James Throckmorton was among the most notable of these.

I think we remember how that turned out.

Afterwards, Texans elected Throckmorton as governor. He went forward with attempts to rebuild his state. Due to a desire to punish the rebels, General Charles Griffin persuaded Phil Sheridan to replace Throckmorton with E. M. Pease. In a tough situation, Pease managed to make everybody mad, and resigned. We wound up with Edmund Davis, who abused his powers by institutionalizing his opponents, denying First Amendment rights to newspapers who reported what he disliked, and denying the vote to those he disliked. He's also known for raising property taxes to unheard of levels, and spending the public funds as if there were no tomorrow. He was empowered to do this by the occupying federal troops. Even though Texas had been largely untouched by the war, Pease managed to drag reconstruction out long after it was necessary, and even called on federal aid to keep him in office after he lost re-election.

All of these things lead to the State Constitution of 1876. It's one of the longest state constitutions, and the document's main theme is to LIMIT GOVERNMENT POWER. It's the reason our legislature meets every other year. It's why our governor's powers are limited. It's what prohibits statewide property taxes.

And so, in memory of all the trials and tribulations that our forefathers went through, last night, WE VOTED IN FAVOR OF ALL ELEVEN AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONSTITUTION. WHO THE HELL ARE THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE VOTING IN MY STATE? A couple of the amendments were good things. Some weren't.

I'm not sure why I've said all this, except, maybe, so that my point will be understood when I say this, to all Texas voters who have moved here from failing states.

There's a reason that California, New York, and Illinois are failing. There's a reason you've left those places. It all started at the ballot box. If you want to be governed the way you were back home, may I suggest that you move back? Don't make the same mistakes here.

Options

I'd heard some interesting things lately about Debra Medina that I had to check out for myself. The first place I looked came across in a misleading manner, stating that she stressed the importance of gun control. Even though that makes her sound like a Brady Buncher, the truth is she is more of a gun-control-means-using-both-hands type. She's for the importance of gun control as strictly laid out in the Constitution. She's also for states demanding the sovereignty guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment. And for restoring property rights to individuals.

Right now, my preference would be for her to win, with Perry coming in second and Kay Bailey nowhere to be found.

It just seems odd

Last week I went to get my grand dad's barn ready to paint. It seems that he and my great-uncle have wound up with a pet pheasant. Neither one of them knows where it came from. I've never heard of such a thing, but it seems healthy and friendly.

Here she is when she first walked up after my arrival, surprising the heck out of me.



And here she is hanging out on the roof of the barn with me. I think she's curious, if birds can be curious.

New Additions

Something from the Wish List is on its way. Stay tuned for details...

Nonsense

The other day I was in a cafe having lunch, and noticed a commercial on the tv showing wolves turning into people and fighting and what have you. I thought to myself “Cool.” Moments later, I found myself asking “What faggotry is this?” when I learned it’s supposed to be all about the angst of a teen girl and the metrosexual vampire she loves.

This nonsense has to stop. Monsters are scary. Scrawny metrosexuals are the opposite of frightening. Go read Larry Correia 's Monster Hunter International and help reverse this disgusting trend. Ann Rice should be ashamed of herself.

You don't go lookin' for trouble..

Ain't that what the old folks say?

Since I'm still on a Chris Knight kick, in honor of those bigfoot hunters out there looking for trouble, here's Mr. Knight singing Jack Blue

Weekend Menaces

Staying with last week's multicultural theme, we find out that, despite government intervention, even Canadians can be menaced. By coyotes. One more reason to fight gun control, and one more reason to support carrying guns in parks.

Also, as a potential menace, we have wacko hippies. I'm a little curious about their methods though. Not sure how the anti-gun folks are going hunting for the guys with guns.

And, in the spirit of looking for trouble, folks in West Virginia are searching for Bigfoot, but don't want to harm any wildlife they might find. Let me know how that works out when you're being held captive in a cave.

Blog updates

Hobie was the very first gun blog I ever read. I'd read a lot of his posts on leverguns.com and been impressed with the scope of his knowledge, so one day I followed the link to Shooting With Hobie. Yesterday I rediscovered leverguns.com, and was glad to be reminded that he's still around.

Friday Night Twofer

This week, how about a double shot of my favorite Kentuckian, Chris Knight?
First, Devil Behind the Wheel

And now, how about Love and a .45?

Texas really is better

Five of the top ten strongest metro area economies are located in Texas, including the top two, San Antonio and Austin. Plus, McAllen ranks twelfth. Could it be that having no state income tax is a good thing? Could a business friendly atmosphere help?

Hat tip to MattG

But it's for the children!

One of the current issues up for vote around here involves issuing bonds to pay for soccer fields. For the children. Because the current soccer fields aren't good enough, and besides that, are too far from the trendy southwest part of town where the most vocal soccer playing families live. For the children. So we can teach them that beggars can, in fact, be choosers. Did I mention that it's all for the children?

What gets me the most about it is how so many other wise respectable people believe it is alright to take money from others simply because it's for something they want, and because some other people of their acquaintance want it too. Other people have thought that same way, only they had the guts to do the dirty work themselves, and the honesty not to try and hide their motives behind some feel good catch phrase. Of course, history is full of common people of who tried it without getting their hands dirty. In their defense, I will say that those supporting the bond are unlikely to have a flaming, gas soaked tire put around my neck just for opposing them. Still, in this light, there is more to respect in the act of lurking in a dark alley to rob people at gunpoint than in using a ballot to send others to commit the act, at no risk to yourself, without the honesty to call your theft what it is. Theft by proxy may let you keep your hands clean and your conscience clear, but it is just as despicable.

The other thing that gets me about the whole thing is all the talk of community benefits. Supposedly the fields are going to be a great source of revenue for area restaurants and hotels. That's great, you know what else would benefit them? If I kept more of my taxes and went out to eat more often. That's what they call a win-win situation. Oh wait, I forgot, wouldn't be for the children.

Nobody has yet explained to me why the soccer fans can't pay for the new fields themselves. Maybe with the gas money they'd save not driving those extra five miles? Are they going to help me foot the bill when I build my fortress and dig my moat? Doubtful. So why should I pay for what they want? Because that's exactly what it is, a want, not a need. I don't recall anything in the Constitution about the God given right to conveniently located soccer fields. Did I miss that part? If it's going to be such a gift to local businessmen, why not solicit investment from them? They're in the business of making money after all, surely a moneymaker such as this would be something they'd put money into, since it's all to help them. And the children.

Sadly, if the bond passes, it's just going to go to prove all those quotes about the tyranny of the majority, bread and circuses, and democracies only living until they realize they can vote themselves money out of the public fund.

Two beer limit

He'd had a bad day. Just wanted to drink his beer in peace. And the bastards wouldn't even serve him, had to go and tranq him instead.

Hat tip to Tam

In the land of the brain eaters, the brainless is king

Woody Harrelson is many things. Son of a hit man. Moonbat hippie. Actor. Probably a lot of other things, too. The thing that I did not know about him until last night, is that he was born to portray a zombie killing savant.

That's right, I went and saw Zombieland, and I liked it. A lot. The chick from Superbad was in it. So was another guy, who wasn't in Superbad, but as far as I could tell was channeling the character of Evan from Superbad. And there were guns. And banjos. And a black number three Caddy with a zombie-plow on the front. Plus the greatest surprise cameo appearance ever thought up. All that, plus Harrelson carries a Mare's Leg. Do yourself a favor and go see it.