America ... the Beautiful

Check out David Kahane's article "I Still Hate You Sarah Palin". It's a witty satire on the leftist media subculture.

-Ray
NRA Life Member
Soli Deo Gloria!!

TO PB

PB is partly right, but it doesn't take away from RG's success. Nor do her excuses excuse her.

I am a writer and belong to a very large writer's group. Some get published and some don't. Part of it is talent, part persistant and part just blind luck and timing.

I wrote two WWII books that publishers wouldn't touch, then Brokaw wrote his Greatest Generation. Sheer luck brought me to a publisher who agreed the timing was right and voila - they were published.

I have two more that are not "timely". Even in novels, I write to say something. I could complain, but then it was my choice - I could write a romance for one of the popular lines, but am not interested.

So, life is a lot of small choices,...

thanks for sharing your "truth."

cynical, whether or not he/she thinks so. Also very envious of everyone that "got lucky". There are many that were born with the proverbial silver spoon, but many of those have done nothing with their lives. There are many more that have made it the way you made it as that is the American dream and the way of a free people. You are, or should I say were, free to succeed and also free to fail. Without the freedom to fail, there is no freedom to succeed either.

That ethic works only if everyone *Plays* by the same rules..I was born in the Mid-Depression days and grew up "Poor as a Church Mouse" (Whatever that Means??!!!)
I'm now Retired (Twice) and am being told "We have to spread the wealth around"..I have enough *wealth* to take care of myself and my Wife--WE PLANNED it that way..My Wife spends a good deal at her Church.. I support more than a FEW Hospitals and Veterans" Groups..I try to Help *Homeless* by offering work/meals, etc.. NO DICE..I don't OWE any Human Being ANYTHING, but I try..
CHEERS!!

**Cling to your American Dream! I prefer the truth.**

Pretty cynical, aren't you? Poor baby, can't get no satisfaction.

I may not be rich or famous but I made it in America on my own. Daughter of a postman, no mom, raised by a tired grandmother - no college, couldn't afford it. Started a temporary job as a lab receptionist and ended my 40 year career with the same company as a diagnostic ultrasonographer, making 6 figures with 5 weeks of vacation, 11 paid holidays, and a good retirement. Raised my two kids and my niece and nephew, and am now enjoying retirement with my dogs, going to herding trials.

Get off your rear and work for something and maybe you'll find the greatness in this country that's always been there...

Only in America can a poor black kid, grow up to be a rich white guy like Michael Jackson.

Psalm 12:8 says, " The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted." We see
today how this is evident in the media hype for
Michael Jackson. He was for sure a vile person.
No matter how good a performer he was, his morals left much to be desired. Quincy Jones said it right that Michael Jackson had no spiritual foundation to guide him and make sense out of his life. Reverting to Islam didn't seem to help either. I hope that his visit with Andre Crouch led to his salvation in Jesus Christ. Only eternity will tell!

Your husband sounds like an admirable guy. And I bet he considers himself 'lucky' to have you at his side.
I'm no cynic in that I don't believe for a minute that only selfishness motivates human behavior. I'm sure that Russert & his Pop were great guys... sorta like a lot of people I grew up with. My point was that what separated Tim from the fellows he grew up with was a stroke of luck, like winning the lottery -- not exceptionalism or 'hard work.' And that Galen is just flat-out wrong in suggesting that in America 'from whence you came' counts for nothing. I'm sure he has done everything he can to ensure that Reed has had a leg up -- pulled a few strings, made a few calls, etc. It's human nature, and like it or not, Americans...

Our dearleader and his wifie..both dumb as rocks academically but elitist snobs..educated fools but with the sly cunning of thieves and
despots.

There may be SOME who are as you cynically describe, but my husband is one who made it by his own initiative. Son of an uneducated baker, who was an alcoholic and abusive; he over came that and a learning disability..caused I believe by getting slapped upside the head by that father. He ended his career running a main plant and two satellites
for a family business. He began as a floor sweeper and became plant manager without a college degree. He is still an expert in his field as a paper industry equipment supplier.
He didn't get any help from anyone..it was his own dedication and hard work..long hours at times and willingness to go the extra mile.
He built the reputation of that part of the business because he demanded...

Well, it's pretty much agreed that most of the dot-com millionaires were born on third base... but for those who choose to believe that 'hard work' coupled with 'working smart' is what separated them from the pack, dream on! Bill Gates, for example, was fourth generation wealth in the Seattle area. His father had founded & was head of a successful law firm.

As for the comment on the futility of moving piles of dirt from here to there, I guess that's the definition of 'sanitation worker.' So, the comment appears at odds with the sentiment the author expresses. Go figure.

Russert attested to his luck... meeting Pat Moynihan. I just watched an interview with Dolly Parton in which she attests to hers. My experrience is...

I have noticed that Liberals tend to gravitate toward professions where hard work and skill are not measurements of success.

Take Hollywood. Every big time successful actor knows another actor who has worked harder, has more skill and yet has never achieved fame. Success in Hollywood has more to do with luck than any other factor.

Public Education: Excellent teachers get paid the same as bad teachers. Hard work and skill has nothing to do with success. In Big Cities, promotions are based on Affirmative Action not accomplishments. State University Professor don't care if a student passes or not. If they grow and develope or not. They are there to collect a paycheck and get tenure.

Medicial Profession. A bad...

Bill Gates didn't have connections. Steve Jobs and Wozinak didn't have connections, Donald Trump's dad was a small business contractor, Ted Turner didn't have connections.

But just incase you didn't know Ted Turner created more good paying jobs than all Federal programs combined.

So if you want more good paying jobs, encourage, nurture, beg, borrow and steal to help small businesses succeed.

Don't let Obama tax & regulate them back into the middle ages.

By the way, Only 2% of the Obama Stimulus package has actually gone to small business.

Only 2% has gone to the people who actually work hard and create jobs.

Now you know why the stimulus package is not working.

Atomic bombs are the only other thing that close does the job. The fallout can be as harmful as the boom. The corrupting the constitution conspirators are have not stopped liberty from being celebrated. It amaze me that those with the loudest voice about civil rights are the ones always attempting to destroy others civil rights. This 4th of July was special when the Vicci decision came done in favor of the CRA 1964, which was a victory for all Americans.

One, you don't even have to work hard or be smart to be entitled to a nice living. It is the responsibility of those that work hard and earn money to support the loafers and sycophants everywhere.

Unlike libs, most conservatives don't succeed by simple luck or inheritance. A little projection maybe?

pb writes:

"And since most Americans 'work hard,' it might be a little more honest to mention the luck factor, too. And don't overlook either that in America it can matter 'from whence you came' -- should your name be Kennedy or Fonda or Ford or Rockefeller."

So what??

I can manually move a ten foot pile of dirt over 25 feet and then move it back again and be working hard, but if someone is not willing to pay me a good living doing that, it doesn't matter much how hard I work at it.

News flash: You have to be willing to do more than work hard to make it in this country. You better be able to use your noodle as well.

Nowhere in the constitution does it say that if you JUST work hard, you will be...

"His show amounted to Tim Russert reading some article out of some newspaper then asking the person sitting in the hot seat to respond."

AMEN!! I was wondering if anyone else thought this technique was absurd.

A group of 8th grade girls have the ability to practice this type of journalism! They do it all the time.

"And don't overlook either that in America it can matter 'from whence you came' -- should your name be Kennedy or Fonda or Ford or Rockefeller.
Nepotism & connections are alive & well in America." Can you name a country in the world where this is not so? The difference is that in America, you have a much better chance of improving your condition in life than anyplace else.

"We were sobbing - this Jewish son of an upholsterer and the Irish son of a sanitation worker - because in America it just doesn't matter from whence you came. It only matters how hard you have worked to get where you are."

You're referring to your two Pops here, right? And since most Americans 'work hard,' it might be a little more honest to mention the luck factor, too. And don't overlook either that in America it can matter 'from whence you came' -- should your name be Kennedy or Fonda or Ford or Rockefeller.
Nepotism & connections are alive & well in America. Money greases rungs for next generations. 'Good luck' is still preferable to simply 'being good.'

Thank you for a beautiful picture of real men appreciating where they've come from.

When the wicked are in authority,the people mourn.

Dear Mr. Galen, thank you for the wonderful article. This is the first time I celebrate the 4th of July while being afraid what is going to happen to this country? Will it be enough for my son to work hard or he needs to be a wise Latina to achieve something?

In our little border town, the fireworks are always concluded in a traditional way unique to us. The Border Patrol supplies 55 gallon drums full of confiscated Mexican fireworks and sets them off by tossing a flare into the barrel. It may not be as spectacular as the aerial displays, but I have a special fondness for it.