Cop The Truth

American Hero: Jeffrey Sahli

Occasionally you come across a story that makes you question your belief that the future of our great nation is very much in question.

For your Armed Forces Day pleasure:

Jeffrey Sahli noticed the faded, fraying American flag outside Evergreen Middle School soon after he started eighth grade last year.

"I thought the flag wasn't being treated with flag etiquette. I thought I needed to do that," the 14-year-old said. "I wanted to serve my country and I thought, heck, I'll start right here."

With the principal's permission, he began taking care of Old Glory. Every school day he carefully hoists the U.S. and Colorado flags before classes and takes them down before heading home. He folds the Colorado flag into a neat square, the U.S. flag into a triangle, and places them in a cabinet in the office.

[...]

"I stand for duty, honor, God and country."

Jeffrey doesn't come from a military background, though he hopes to attend West Point.

He wears a cross and a dog tag on a chain under his shirt. The bands on his braces are red, white and blue.

Outside Evergreen Middle School, the flag is clean and bright.

Jeffrey said the flag reminds him of the soldiers serving in Iraq.

"When they're coming home, I wanted them to see the flag flying high."

Maybe there's hope for America, after all.

Way to go, Jeffrey.

Voting: Why Bother?

And the insanity begins...

Michael Reagan nails it:

Reacting to the decision of the California Supreme Court to ignore Proposition 22, which declares that “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California," and was passed with a whopping 61 percent of the vote, an outraged Michael Reagan urged California voters to join him in refusing to vote for any ballot measures in the State of California in the 2008 November election since the courts can simply nullify their votes whenever they want to.

[...]

Reagan told Newsmax: "We have seen this time and time again, Democracy usurped, the voters wishes do not matter, whether its Proposition 187 or the Gay Marriage Ban, its no longer 'We the People,' it is now, 'They the Judges' who make the decisions in the Golden State. As the son of a former Governor of this state I am disgusted."

Noting that the courts have been thwarting the express will of the people, Reagan explained to NewsMax in an exclusive interview that “Proposition 187, a 1994 ballot initiative designed to deny social services, health care, and public education to illegal aliens that passed with 58.8 percent of the vote was overturned by a federal court, in effect telling the voters their will doesn’t count.

Let's recall recalled Gov. Gray Davis. He couldn't be any worse.

Related posts:

• Note to Self: Move Out of California!

Friday Funnies

Note to Self: Move Out of California!

Despite the wishes of the vast majority of Californians - and Americans - California's Supreme Court approved gay marriage today.

In its 4-3 ruling, the Republican-dominated high court struck down state laws against same-sex marriage and said domestic partnerships that provide many of the rights and benefits of matrimony are not enough.

"In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation," Chief Justice Ronald George wrote for the majority in ringing language that delighted gay rights activists.

Massachusetts is the only other state to legalize gay marriage, something it did in 2004. The California ruling is considered monumental by virtue of the state's size - 38 million out of a U.S. population of 302 million - and its historic role in the vanguard of the many social and cultural changes that have swept the country since World War II.

And since there is no residency requirement for marriage in California, these people will be coming from all over to get married here. And naturally, Republican Liberal Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger lacks the courage to amend the constitution to overturn the ruling.

I barely recognize this state any more. Thanks to people like Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein and Gavin Newsom - and all of their Liberal friends - it seems that the government here has come to support everything that I am against: sanctuary cities, illegal immigration, open borders, hatred of our troops and now, gay marriage.

Is nothing sacred?

More at Hot Air.

Are We in For a Measles Outbreak?

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is reporting an increasing number of measles outbreaks across the United States.

From January 1 through April 25, 2008, CDC received a total of 64 reports of confirmed measles cases in nine states — the highest number for the same time period since 2001. In four of the states — Arizona, New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin — outbreaks (3 or more cases linked in time or place) are ongoing. Outbreaks may occur when measles cases are imported into the U.S. Ten of the recent case-patients (5 US residents and 5 visitors to the U.S.) acquired measles abroad, and the remaining cases are considered linked to the imported cases.

Of the 64 people infected by the measles virus, only 1 had documentation of prior vaccination. Among the other 63 case-patients were 14 infants who were too young to be vaccinated. Many of the cases among US children occurred in children whose parents claimed exemption from vaccination due to religious or personal beliefs, or in children too young to be vaccinated. Disease transmission occurred in a variety of community and healthcare settings, including homes, childcare centers, schools, hospitals, emergency rooms, and doctors' offices.

These are the highest numbers since 2001.

DDG 112: USS Michael Murphy

The United States Navy will commission a new destroyer, DDG 112, in honor of Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient Michael Murphy:

Navy Secretary Donald Winter announced the new ship’s name at a ceremony Wednesday in Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y., a community on Long Island near Murphy’s hometown of Patchogue. The ship is scheduled to join the fleet in 2010.

A fitting honor for a true American hero.

Fair skies and following seas.

Related posts:

• Murphy Family Receives Medal of Honor
• Monsoor Family Receives Medal of Honor
• 'Lone Survivor' Movie Update
• Marcus Luttrell's 'Lone Survivor': the Movie

National Police Week 2008

May 11-17 is National Police Week.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day , and the week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week, in honor of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed Public Law 103-322, requiring that the American flag be lowered to half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day .

National Police Week is a collaborative effort led by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the FOP Auxiliary. Each year, the National Police Week Committee organizes a series of events in Washington, DC . There are also National Police Week observances across the country.

In 2007, 181 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. Of those, 68 were shot to death. That's a 31% increase over 2006. Here is a list of the officers that we lost in 2007, each of whom will be added to the memorial wall on May 15.

Here's a list of the scheduled events for the week.

Remember them and honor their sacrifice.

Friday Funnies - Clinton Lies

Sharpton Arrested at Protest

Al Sharpton continues to scrape the bottom of the barrel as he was arrested in New York today while organizing and "leading" a protest against the New York Police Department. Sharpton has again taken it upon himself to stir up racism and hatred, this time over the shooting of Sean Bell by three NYPD detectives - two black, the other white - who were acquitted last week of any criminal wrongdoing.

He has promised similar protests, again along racial lines, if his candidate for POTUS, Barack Obama, doesn't get the nomination of the Democratic Party.

Hopefully the local DA will have the courage to prosecute this clown, but I sincerely doubt it.

Related posts:

• Al Sharpton, Adam Henry (Yes, Again!)
• The 'Integrity' of Al Sharpton

Is Billary Finally Done?

Ben Smith at Politico.com notes that Senator Hillary Clinton has canceled at least some of her morning television appearances:

Tim Russert, a colleague reports, just said that Hillary Clinton canceled her scheduled appearances on the morning shows tomorrow.

It's a sign of weakness she can ill afford at a moment when questions about whether she can continue are mounting.

Is she ready to drop out of the race, do you think?

Exit question: can John McCain beat Barack Obama in the general election, especially amid unopposed election results like these from North Carolina and Indiana?

I doubt it. So much for your "base," there John.