Americas Heart and Soul

I had the pleasure this weekend to watch America's Heart and Soul, a film made by documentary filmmaker Louis Schwartzberg and distributed by Disney.

This film is both visually stunning and emotionally moving. It pays tribute to the ordinary people around us who are doing extraordinary things.

The film takes us all across this great country of ours, from the beauty of the Rocky Mountains to the streets of New York. It gives us insight into some amazing people who make me proud to be an American.

We see a cowboy in the mountains trying to continue a dying tradition. We meet a farmer and his son in Vermont. We learn about some amazing people, among them a blind mountain climber and a man who went from prison to the Olympics.

One of the most inspiring stories deals with a man who is confined to a wheelchair but still runs in the Boston Marathon with the help of his loving father, who has dedicated his life to helping his son.

Perhaps the best compliment for this film is the fact that the elites didn't like it. They trash it as jingoism or patriotic (which in their minds is evil). Never mind that most of the movie was made before Bush even became President, they use it to slam anyone who disagrees with their world view.

And this brings me to an interesting point. While many in the media talk about the split between the right and the left, the fact is there is another split they don't look at. The split between those who love America and those who don't.

I think most people in the United States, regardless of where they are politically, love this country. They may disagree with or even hate certain political leaders, but they still love our country

This is a film that all who love their country can enjoy.

Lodi Terror Update

They arrested another man today and from what I hear it just may be the tip of the iceberg. As I said in my last post, the Lodi mosque has a reputation for being one of the more radical and violent in the region. Local Muslim friends of mine have admitted they are scared of some of the more extreme segments at this Mosque.

The news has seemed to support my earlier report that the FBI has had the Mosque and some of its members under surveillance for many years now. Obviously I don't have an inside look at the reports of these investigations, but they are normally much larger than this.

I would guess that we could see 5-10 more arrests in the coming weeks and months.

Al Queda Terror Cell in Lodi

Looks like terror has reached my neck of the woods. It's actually not a huge surprise, the Lodi mosque is known to be one of the more radical. I've heard for some time that the FBI has been keeping a close eye on it.

This investigation led to the arrests of a father and son who said he trained at an al-Qaeda camp in Pakistan for potential attacks on U.S. hospitals and supermarkets, authorities said. Federal investigators believe a number of people committed to al-Qaeda have been operating in and around Lodi, although no specific attack plans were known.

At the camp, photos of President Bush and other American political figures were pasted onto targets during weapons training.

Hamid Hayat and his father, Umer Hayat were arrested after the younger man allegedly acknowledged that he attended an al-Qaida camp in Pakistan in 2003 and 2004,

Neighbors described the elder Hayat as a nice man who sold ice cream during summer months from a Dodge van.

Hamid Hayat was trying to return to the U.S. on May 29 when the FBI told its Sacramento office that he was on the federal "no-fly" list. The plane was diverted to Japan, where Hayat was interviewed by the FBI and denied any connection to terrorism. He was allowed to fly to California, but was interviewed again on Friday and Saturday.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,158880,00.html

D Day Plus 61

Today is the 61st anniversary of D-Day and I can think of no better tribute that to repost the speech delivered by Ronald Reagan on this day in 1984.

It is a fitting tribute to those who fought for us 60 years ago and it is also amazingly relevant today, for the battle being fought by a new generation of heroes.

And it still makes me cry.

They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the Rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs, they began to seize back the continent of Europe. Two hundred and twenty-five came here. After two days of fighting, only ninety could still bear arms.

Behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them here.

These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war.

The full text is available here

Ronald Reagan Remembered

RIP Ronald Reagan 1911-2004

Today marks the first anniversary of the death of one of the greatest Presidents ever.

May God Bless Ronald Reagan and may we thank God for having him as long as we did.

Grim Outlook for Congressional Democrats

Normally, the sixth year of a 2 term Presidency is bad news for the President's party. The so called 6 year itch usually gives the opposition major gains

But several stories have come out in recent days discussing just how bad things are for the Democrats in 2006.

According to Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia and Craig Crawford of Congressional Quarterly, both good sources, in 2002 and 2004 there were only 30 competetive House races.

2006 looks to be even worse, with perhaps only 15 or 20.

To retake the House, Democrats need to gain 16 seats. If there are 30 competetive races, and 2/3 are GOP seats, that still means the Dems need to win 26/30 races, which is almost impossible.

The Senate is not quite as grim, but it isn't good.

If you look at the seats that aren't up in 2006, the GOP starts with a solid 40-27 edge.

If you then factor in the 'safe seats', giving the Dems the best possible outlook, you get a 48-41 edge for the GOP. My own analysis actually gives the GOP 51 secure seats, but lets give the Dems the best shot they have.

So we have 11 seats up for grabs, and the Dems need 10 of them to take the Senate back.

So barring a major shift, there is no chance for Dems to retake either house of Congress in 2006.