LOTUS blog

This week I visited the shooting range at the National Rifle Association of America in Fairfax, VA.  Also visiting that day was a group of wounded soldiers from Walter Reed.  It was great to see so many volunteers from the NRA donate their time, ammo and firearms for the day. 

The NRA recently launched a program to provide free one-year memberships to those currently serving in the armed forces.  Click here for information on helping NRA provide these free memberships.

LOTUS takes aim…

Cindy Sheehan campaigns the same way she signs books.

The American Conservative Union recently launched its “Come Clean” Campaign:

ACU is taking the lead in pointing out what they say and what they mean are two different things and calling on them to “Come Clean.”

We are going to point out what they really mean, what their real agenda is for the American people and expose them when the truth is found. And, we need YOUR HELP NOW to get it done.

Liberal activists and leaders are raising millions to attack our values, we must fight back, now.  We need a grassroots army to rise up and take them on.

Click here to check out their first video of Rep. Maxine Waters telling gas companies that her goal is “socializing” the energy industry. 

Transcript:

[Text on screen]
Another Chapter from: The Liberal Congressional Playbook May 2008
Led by Maxine Waters
Member, Congressional Progressive Caucus
Member, Democratic National Committee
Chair, of the “Out of Iraq” Congressional Caucus
Chair, Congressional Black Caucus, 1997-1998

JOHN HOFMEISTER (Shell Oil President): I can guarantee to the American people, because of the inaction of the United States Congress ever increasing prices, unless the demand comes down and the five dollars will look like a very low price in the years to come if we are prohibited from finding new reserves, new opportunities to increase supplies.

MAXINE WATERS (D-CA): And guess what this liberal will be all about? This liberal will be all about socializ..uh..um.. would be about … basically taking over … and the government running all of your companies.

[Text on screen]
socializing =socialist
Tell the Liberal Congressional Leadership to “Come Clean” with the truth
Stop the Liberals Now
www.conservative.org

Hollywood is shocked that Lauren Hutton is criticizing how Sex and the City portrayed women.  She said:

“It’s written by guys, who happen to be gay, who are sluts. That’s what I think.

“Let’s face it most men are sluts. That’s what testosterone is supposed to do. As a hunter, if you stayed alive after 30, nature wanted your genes out there. Women were just trying to get the best sperm to make a masterpiece.

“You have a bunch a guys who are sluts, writing for women and telling them they are supposed to act like this.”

Hutton’s remarks reminded me of an article that Ann Coulter wrote for George Magazine when Sex and the City first aired.  The article is available in her book, How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must).  Coulter wrote:

Do you actually know girls who talk about sex using the d-word and c-word to describe specific body parts? No you don’t. You know gay men who do… Girls talking the way the do on Sex and the City is about as realistic as George Bush playing a gangsta rapper, talking about “ho’s’ and bitches.”

 I enjoy the show and I’ll eventually see the movie.  I’ve always that it was remarkable that after several years of watching the Sex and the City characters (or “three hookers and their mom”) through their failed hook-ups and relationships, in the end they all became happy once they got the guy and settled down into more traditional roles.  Even gay writers want their fairy tale ending. 

(Kudos to me for not making the obvious “fairy” joke!)

UPDATE:  I’m a Jen.

Two students at Chardon High School in Cleveland, Ohio are giving up on-stage diploma presentations so they can wear their hard-earned dress blue uniforms.  WTAM reports:

Will McDonnell, an active duty marine, and Tony Workman, an Army National Guardsman, are graduating from Chardon High School in Geauga County.

McDonnell took extra classes and met his graduation requirements last fall so he could attend a 13-week Marine Boot Camp in February.  Workman went through the Army’s 10-week basic training last summer. 

McDonnell tells Newsradio WTAM 1100 he was stunned when his dad told him the news. He says he and Workman had previously been told they would be allowed to wear their uniforms.

McDonnell says Principal Doug Delong did listen to their concerns, but says he doesn’t want to open the door for similar requests from members of other organizations. The two will be allowed to lead in the Honor Guard in their uniforms.

But Delong says if they don’t wear the robe and cap for the ceremony, they can’t walk on stage with the other students on Saturday.  McDonnell tells our Bill Wills they will wear their uniforms, but will simply stand at their seats when their names are called.

Good for them.  I understand if the school wants to have a “zero tolerance” dress code for their ceremony.  Life is about choices.  These young men are choosing to be recognized for their hard work in basic training and want to wear the uniform they earned.   I’d venture to say that getting through 13 weeks of basic training is more commendable than 13 years in a public school. 

Check out the entire statement from the school.  I can’t help but laugh at this silly ending, “We believe that wearing your school’s cap and gown to receive your diploma is a show of respect to your school, fellow classmates, and for the public education you have been privileged to receive.” [emphasis added]

Not that internet polls mean much, but readers of the news report (presumeably funders of their public education, as well) overwhelmingly voted that the students should be allowed to wear their dress uniforms on stage.

H/T Fark.com (those folks are the best despite never greenlighting me)

Every Sunday the first website I go to is PostSecret.  Several years ago Frank Warren asked people to anonymously send in postcards with secrets they want to get off their chests.  In a recent e-mail to his list, Warren poses with the orginal box he bought for storing the postcards.  He’s surrounded by boxes and boxes of the postcards he’s since received.

If you have a secret to share, send a post card to:

PostSecret
13345 Copper Ridge Road
Germantown, MD  20874

Nope, that’s not a typo.  After losing a couple special elections, House Republicans seem to be throwing in the towel and agreeing with the MSM that they’ve lost.  Oddly, none of these leaders have mentioned freshman Congressman Steve Scalise’s win in Louisiana (formerly Bobby Jindal’s seat) on May 3.  One insider tells me that conservatives are elated because Scalise is better than Jindal on many key issues, such as health care.  Maybe Republicans have a hard time winning, but conservatives are happy to take this victory.

Trevor’s recipe of the week is Honkin’ Hamburgers.  He wisely reminds his readers, “Restaurants can advertise fresh ingredients all day long, but if they don’t bother to season their food, what’s the point of eating it?”

Also, last week I neglected to post Trevor’s recipe of the week, a hearty Baked French Onion Soup.  Since he didn’t post a photo, I’ll post this one of him in his fancy apron.

The Other McCain points out this fine piece of journalism from The Washington Post:

EUGENE, Ore. — With temperatures hitting the 90s here today, Sen. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, paused his campaign for an ice cream break. . . .
Obama, sleeves rolled up and collar open, immediately began surveying options that included Banana Brownie and Muddy River. He asked his aide, Reggie Love, what flavor he wanted. The former Duke basketball player said, “Bubble Gum.”
“You’re showing your age,” Obama said with a smile, then asked for a taste of the Green Tea.
Michelle Obama didn’t need to study the cases. She went with Chocolate. “I’m a purist,” she said.
Obama settled on Mint Chip, “with a slice of Green Tea on the side.”

I can’t imagine that ordering “Green Tea” ice  cream will do much for Barack Obama’s elitist image.  Regarding Michelle Ohama’s choice, wouldn’t a purist order vanilla?