I Hear Snoring? WAKE UP MR. PRESIDENT!!!

N. Korea is testing nukes, launching missles, threatening its neighbors and threatening U. S. ships. It has stated that the 1953 armistice is void. The allied security level on the Korean border is at "2," the second highest level possible. Chinese fishing boats have been leaving the area of the Korean penninsula, and Russia has raised its security level in eastern Russia.

This morning, Associated Press published an article on the subject, which contained the following quote:

"I don't think that anybody in the (Obama) administration thinks there is a crisis," Gates told reporters aboard his military jet early Friday.

Yep, it seems that the (Obama) administration slumbers on. Or, is there a more nefarious reason for its inaction? Only time will tell.

Good Morning, Mr. President. Are You Awake?

By HYUNG-JIN KIM, Associated Press Writer Hyung-jin Kim, Associated Press Writer – 13 mins ago
SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea threatened military action Wednesday against U.S. and South Korean warships plying the waters near the Koreas' disputed maritime border, raising the specter of a naval clash just days after the regime's underground nuclear test.

Pyongyang, reacting angrily to Seoul's decision to join an international program to intercept ships suspected of aiding nuclear proliferation, called the move tantamount to a declaration of war.
"Now that the South Korean puppets were so ridiculous as to join in the said racket and dare declare a war against compatriots," North Korea is "compelled to take a decisive measure," the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said in a statement carried by state media.
Seoul's decision comes at a time when "the state of military confrontation is growing acute and there is constant danger of military conflict," the statement warned.
South Korea's military said Wednesday it was prepared to "respond sternly" to any North Korean provocation.

North Korea's latest belligerence comes as the U.N. Security Council debates how to punish the regime for testing a nuclear bomb Monday in what President Barack Obama called a "blatant violation" of international law.

Ambassadors from the five permanent veto-wielding council members — the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France — as well as Japan and South Korea were working out the details of a new resolution.

The success of any new sanctions would depend on how aggressively China, one of North Korea's only allies, implements them. "It's not going too far to say that China holds the keys on sanctions," said Kim Sung-han, an international relations professor at Seoul's Korea University.
South Korea, divided from the North by a heavily fortified border, had responded to the nuclear test by joining the Proliferation Security Initiative, a U.S.-led network of nations seeking to stop ships from transporting the materials used in nuclear bombs.

Seoul previously resisted joining the PSI in favor of seeking reconciliation with Pyongyang, but pushed those efforts aside Monday after the nuclear test in the northeast.
North Korea warned Wednesday that any attempt to stop, board or inspect its ships would constitute a "grave violation."

The regime also said it could no longer promise the safety of U.S. and South Korean warships and civilian vessels in the waters near the Korea's western maritime border.
"They should bear in mind that the (North) has tremendous military muscle and its own method of strike able to conquer any targets in its vicinity at one stroke or hit the U.S. on the raw, if necessary," it said.

The maritime border has long been a flashpoint between the two Koreas. North Korea disputes the line unilaterally drawn by the United Nations at the end of the Koreas' three-year war in 1953, and has demanded it be redrawn further south.
The truce signed in 1953 and subsequent military agreements call for both sides to refrain from warfare, but doesn't cover the waters off the west coast.
North Korea has used the maritime border dispute to provoke two deadly naval skirmishes — in 1999 and 2002.

On Wednesday, the regime promised "unimaginable and merciless punishment" for anyone daring to challenge its ships. Pyongyang also reportedly restarted its weapons-grade nuclear plant, South Korean media said. The Chosun Ilbo newspaper said U.S. spy satellites detected signs of steam at the North's Yongbyon nuclear complex, an indication it may have started reprocessing nuclear fuel. The report, which could not be confirmed, quoted an unidentified government official. South Korea's Yonhap news agency also carried a similar report.
The move would be a major setback for efforts aimed at getting North Korea to disarm.
North Korea had stopped reprocessing fuel rods as part of an international deal. In 2007, it agreed to disable the Yongbyon reactor in exchange for aid and demolished a cooling tower at the complex.


The North has about 8,000 spent fuel rods which, if reprocessed, could allow it to harvest 13 to 18 pounds (six to eight kilograms) of plutonium — enough to make at least one nuclear bomb, experts said. North Korea is believed to have enough plutonium for at least a half dozen atomic bombs.

Further ratcheting up tensions, North Korea test-fired five short-range missiles over the past two days, South Korean officials confirmed. Russia's foreign minister said world powers must be firm with North Korea but take care to avoid inflaming tensions further. The world "must not rush to punish North Korea just for punishment's sake," Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, adding that Russia wants a Security Council resolution that will help restart stalled six-nation talks over North Korea's nuclear programs and will not provoke Pyongyang into even more aggressive activity.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak urged officials to "remain calm" in the face of North Korean threats, said Lee Dong-kwan, his spokesman.

Pyongyang isn't afraid of any repercussions for its actions, a North Korean newspaper, the Minju Joson, said Wednesday.
"It is a laughable delusion for the United States to think that it can get us to kneel with sanctions," it said in an editorial. "We've been living under U.S. sanctions for decades, but have firmly safeguarded our ideology and system while moving our achievements forward. The U.S. sanctions policy toward North Korea is like striking a rock with a rotten egg."
___
Associated Press writer Steve Gutterman in Moscow and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.

Tell 'em I'm Coming!

Yesterday was Memorial Day.

As I have for the past several years, I appeared for the short but poignant service held at the Tombstone American Legion Post 24. I noted, as in years past, that in attendance were a handful of legion members. It was not all of our members. Although nearly two hundred citizens turned out for a recent tax protest, I noted no more than four or five of the locals and tourists had taken the 15 minutes of time set aside to honor the memories of the fallen. I was angry. Damn angry. I still am.

I am disgusted. I am incensed that Americans, less than 500 yards away, would continue doing business-as-usual, having their make-believe gunfights in their wannabe cowboy clothes and selling their cheap-assed trinkets, all within earshot of a bugle blowing taps for the dead. Gunny Bill even announced the service on Allen Street, giving everyone there full notice. What the hell is wrong with you people?

I considered the idea of heading downtown and causing a public ruckus, disrupting business-as-usual, like when Jesus overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the temple. I decided to postpone that plan, and post this to my blog instead. Blogging is great therapy.

Tombstone, which thrives on the freedom to travel, to be entertained and to make money, would not exist but for the sacrifices of our veterans and soldiers. I really would like to know why the *uck people will spend hours and hours working, acquiring, having fun and protesting tax increases, yet will not take even a quarter of an hour to honor those who gave some, or all, to allow them to do so. Indeed, I had one report of a local actor, who really thinks he's Doc Holliday, who continued arrogantly strutting down the street while the National Anthem was being sung right next to him. Somebody should have dropped his punk ass right there.

I invite you to help me manage my anger. I invite each and every one of you who, again, failed to appear to honor those who died for you, to post your reasons to this blog. Some of you may even have valid reasons, but I'm betting you don't. Before you do post your reason, though, why don't you take a side trip to a video posted by Capt. Bill. It may be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ervaMPt4Ha0&feature=related

When you come back here, which I doubt you will, tell us why you didn't think it important to honor those who graced you with your freedoms. You won't post your reasons, though, because you know them to be bullshit. The best I can hope for is that you now feel lousy and guilty and will resolve to not let this happen next year.

If ya'all don't show up next year, I will be really angry. If we have a repeat of this and former years, Ihave a message for Tombstone:

"Tell them I'm coming, and hell's coming with me."

Supreme Court?

Sen. Barbara Boxer was on television this morning whining that the replacement for Hon. Justice Souter should be a woman because, as she said, "...there is only one woman on the Court, and eight men." She went on to say that if it were the other way around, she would seek the appointment of a male justice. Hispanic politicians, La Raza and others are clamoring for the appointment of an Hispanic justice. Somewhere out there there are probably powerful people in high places manurevering for appointment of a Mexican-American, Jewish-American or some Norwegian-American. Whatever.

Will someone please tell me when sex, national heritage and race became proper factors to consider in the selection of any jurist, let alone a Supreme Court Justice? Jeez!

I have participated as counsel of record, on both sides, in hundreds of criminal jury trials. In a criminal trial, it is the duty of the jury to determine the facts, and apply the law to reach a result. The function of a judge is to review the findings of fact, and apply the law, to reach a result which is consistent with the Constitution.

In jury selection, called voir dire, the theoretical goal is to seat, from a venire of citizens, jurors who are not biased towards either side. After a panel of veniremen is seated, they are interviewed and motions to strike veniremen for cause (bias) may be brought. After the interviews and strikes for cause each side, the defense and the state, may excercise premptory strikes, removing veniremen until the proper number remain to sit as a jury.

Whether bringing motions to strike veniremen for cause, or exercising premptory strikes, neither the state nor the defense may use sex, national heritage or race as a reason for striking any venireman. Indeed, if either side believes the other HAS stricken veniremen for the reasons of sex, national heritage, race or other discriminatory reason, a Batson motion may be brought, which can test the motives of the party who may be trying to rig, if you will, the jury based upon sex, race or other discriminatory reason. If improper reliance upon sex, national origin, race or other discriminatory reason is found, then the process starts over. The intentional injection of such factors into the selection process cannot be tolerated.

Which brings us to the point of this...if it is improper to use sex, national heritage, race or other discriminatory test in the selection of those judging an individual in a DUI trial in Podunk, Iowa, why in the hell are sentators, the president, La Raza and others allowed to use sex, national heritage, race or other discriminatory tests in the selection of one judging the most important cases in America. Do you get it?

Unfortunately, I guess I do.

This is just more proof that the country we love is in deep trouble.

WHACKING TANGOS FASHION STATEMENT-I LOVE NY

You just have to love our new breed of American soldiers! Check out this article from Reuters, as posted to Yahoo! http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090522/lf_nm_life/us_afghanistan_gates_pink

Hooah!

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday praised an Army soldier in eastern Afghanistan who drew media attention this month after rushing to defend his post from attack while wearing pink boxer shorts and flip-flops.
In fact, Gates said he wants to meet the soldier and shake his hand the next time he visits Afghanistan.

"Any soldier who goes into battle against the Taliban in pink boxers and flip-flops has a special kind of courage," Gates said in remarks prepared for a speech in New York.
"I can only wonder about the impact on the Taliban. Just imagine seeing that: a guy in pink boxers and flip-flops has you in his cross-hairs. What an incredible innovation in psychological warfare," he said.

Army Specialist Zachary Boyd, 19, of Fort Worth, Texas, rushed from his sleeping quarters on May 11 to join fellow platoon members at a base in Afghanistan's Kunar Province after the unit came under fire from Taliban positions.

A news photographer was on hand to record the image of Boyd standing at a makeshift rampart in helmet, body armor, red T-shirt and boxers emblazoned with the message: "I love NY."
When the image wound up on the front page of the New York Times, Boyd told his parents he might lose his job if President Barack Obama saw him out of uniform.

"I can assure you that Specialist Boyd's job is very safe indeed," Gates said in the speech.
The U.S. defense chief was scheduled to deliver the speech at New York's annual Salute to Freedom dinner in Manhattan.

The Noose Tightens

OK, it's been less than five months since Obama was crowned our new president. Since that time, he and his congress have launched a blitzkreig upon individual rights , free choice and American liberty.

It's something new every day.

Let's recap: Since seizing power, Obama and Company have, continue to and plan to, through tax policy changes and/or direct legislation, affect[ed] the following;

Managment and existence of major automakers, banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions; medical choices; food choices; smoking decisions; border security; national security; where companies may do business; what we drive; how much we weigh; what we eat; whether the unborn may live; legal and contractual rights of investors; freedom of terrorists; how much people may earn; where and how much people may invest; how much carbon dioxide we may emit; how much energy we can afford...just to name some, but the list goes on and on. They have blatently used their power to intimidate corporate CEOs, boards of directors, investment fiduciaries, military officers and planners , the CIA and common people. So far, they have not addressed GHE (Gaseous Human Emissions, you know, farts), but that can't be far behind. (No pun intended.)

The socialist democrats are absolutely shameless! We are witnessing an open, blatant and world-changing coup by the left. They are consolidating their absolute power by pandering to the sheeple of this country, who happily lap up the government provided slop as they bleet with mindless joy.

Doesn't anyone else feel like their liberties are being attacked by a relentless army of Red ants? If you ask your liberal friends (that is, if you can still find some that will engage in discussion with your logical ass), things are going just hunkie-dorie. Who spiked the koolaid?

What next? Oh, yeah, I know, Waxman-Markey aka Cap and Trade! This one is one of the worst so far. This will raise individual family energy costs by about $3,000 per annum. Hell, they don't care...what's a few thousand dollars to people who spend trillions (read, millions of billions) like the world is ending. OK, so maybe it is. There's no reason to die broke.

Call your reps and senators and tell them to vote NO on Waxman-Markey. They don't care, they won't listen and it won 't do any good, but at least when you wake in the damn dark fumbling for your matches to light your campfire, you can face your shivering family and you won't hate yourself for doing nothing!

Stand Up for Free Speech

Dr. Michael Savage is the host of a popular, nationally syndicated radio talk show. If you have never listened to him, let me bring you up to speed. He rants...on everything. Dr. Savage holds Phd(s) in Nutrition and degrees in several other fields. He has authored 20+ books, none of which I have read. He is extremely well read and quite intelligent. Although his favorite topic is Michael Savage, he offers informed opinions on everything from the medicinal uses of herbs to the danger of socialism and the consequences of radical Islam. He was hard on G.W. Bush and is even harder on the Annointed One. Love him or hate him, the man certainly is not shy about sharing his opinions with his listeners. I listen to his show (Tucson FM104.1, 4pm-7pm). When listening, one quickly learns that he must carefully filter Savage's rants. His is a mixture of nonsense, wisdom and prophecy. Listening to The Savage Nation is a lot like panning for gold. Every so often you come up with a valuable nugget. I have never heard him advocate the use of violence. In the end, he is always entertaining.

Although the Michael Savage show is not aired in Great Britain, the British Home Secretary has put Dr. Savage on a blacklist of persons who are not welcome in that country. This was done solely because of his ideas and his sometimes politically incorrect speech. Others on the list include killers and advocates of Islamic jihad, hate and violence.

It is wrong.

The British action clearly is designed to chill free speech, not only in their own country, but in ours and around the world. The message is clear-say the "wrong" things, and there will be negative consequences. This represents a sanction against and suppression of ideas and speech which liberals find to be offensive. In short, the blacklisting of Michael Savage is an ominus omen.

Who is next and when will the liberals start imposing sanctions here, in America, on those who broadcast ideas contrary to the Obama administration. As you know, the libs are in the process of reviving the so-called Fairness Doctrine. Can a squeeze on bloggers, news organizations, right-wing organizations and truthful public speakers be far behind? Hell, as a veteran, Libertarian, gun-owner and open displayer of a Navy Jack on my car bumper, I already have been labelled as a potential domestic terrorist by USDHS.

We can act. We must act... not because we care about Dr. Savage, but because free speech is essential to a free country and we must defend against each and every assault on our free speech. Contact the embassy and consulates of Great Britain and lodge your objections to that country's action. E-mail our State Department and let Hillary Clinton know that the American people are not happy with her failure to respond strongly against Britain's action. Contact your Senators and representatives and object to revival of the Fairness Doctrine. Speak now, or you may have to forever hold your peace.

With regard to Michael Savage, the famous statement of Daniel Webster could not be more germane...

"Although I disagree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it."

If censorship takes root, where will it end? It ends with you.

This is WAR!

OK, now they've gone and done it.

The socialist administration led by Chairman Obama has consistently disrespected the people of this country. It has undermined the Constitutional foundation of our country. It has ignored our national principles, insulted our troops and endangered America's national security. All of these continue. If that wasn't enough, now it seeks to increase the taxes on our BEER. This is an outrage. We must act now to stop these bastards. I would advocate tossing cases of Bud into a harbor somewhere, in protest, but that would be alcohol abuse. Alas, emotionally, I couldn't handle it.

I have a better idea...how about we leave beer alone and increase taxes on the following; spandex, titanium bicycles, Starbucks coffee, sushi, Smart-cars, botox, feta cheese, man-purses, hemp, sandles, gerbils, small fluffy dogs, honorary degrees, PBS, MSNBC, San Francisco, abortions, Chinese products, households that refuse to own guns, Bluetooths, Blackberries, Twitter, ACORN, jet fuel used in AirForce One, snitches, Janet Napolitano, bathhouses, Western Union Moneygrams, employers of illegal aliens, UC Berkley, Harvard University and Portugese waterdogs.

Will the pain never end!?

On the Lighter Side, Courtesy of the Spotted Owl, Joe Biden to undergo Shock-collar training

http://spottedowlnews.com/2009/05/18/vp-reveals-location-of-secret-vp-bunker-obama-considering-shock-collar-training/

When the SHTF

Here's a quality link sent to me by Wild Bill.

http://members.cox.net/theprof/UrbanSurvival/Thoughts%20On%20Urban%20Survival.htm

Air Force One

OK, $300K+ for a this "promotional" photo of the president's plane. Who are they trying to kid? It is of poor quality. It is, however, well formatted. Right! Who wouldn't want a picture of Air Force One with the New Jersey port-scape in the background. Jeez!

Will someone please tell us the truth about why the VC-25 was aloft over New York being trailed by fighter jets? Where are the written orders authorizing the flight? Will POTUS identify one person in the chain-of-command who may be interviewed so some questions may be answered? Probably not.

If the mission really was to get this picture, then we are in bigger trouble than I had previously believed. The White House PR folks tipped their collective heads and the last marble fell out. If there is, as I suspect, another explanation, we have a right to know.

I am sure the MSM will get right on it.

Dick Cheney

I wasn't wild about the Bush administration and Dick Cheney. If, however, you want to see just how much trouble we are in, go to:L http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/10/bush-era-intelligence-saved-thousands-cheney-says/comments/
and see the left-wing attacks on his defense of the (successful) anti-terror actions of the Bush administration. No wonder we can't find ammo!

What's in an Oath

When each of us entered military service, we took an oath. It goes like this:

"I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Those of us who have been fortunate enough to be admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, each took an oath which begins like this:

"I, (state your name), do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arizona...."

Central to each is the obligation to support and defend the Constitution. Contrary to the reported quip by G.W. Bush, the Constitution is not just a piece of paper, it is the foundation of this great nation. The current administration offers even less respect, indeed, its actions demonstrate abject contempt for our Constitution. We are in trouble.

Article II, Section 1 of the Arizona Constitution provides, "A frequent recurrence to fundamental principles is essential to the security of individual rights and the perpetuity of free government."

Article II, Section 2 of the Arizona Constitution provides, "All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights."

It is beyond dispute that individual rights are in serious jeopardy in this country. Perhaps we should take guidance from the Arizona Constitution and return to and reaffirm our fundamental principles.

There is a group, OathKeepers, composed of military, police and veterans who, this June 13, will mass at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to reaffirm their oaths and their loyalty to the Constitution of the United States. Please take a look at their blog at;

http://oath-keepers.blogspot.com/

Perhaps it is time to organize local law enforcement, military and veteran's groups for locals who cannot make the trip to D.C. I'm in.

MUSTER CALL FOR PATRIOT-LAWYERS

We all have heard the jokes, the criticisms, and the derisive comments about members of our profession, lawyers. Some are warranted. Most are not.

Who are we? We are people. We are family members. We are crime victims. We are motorcyclists. We are veterans. We are fighters for freedom. We are patriots. Most importantly, we are the line which the government must cross to take away your individual rights. It is the line we are sworn to hold. It is a line that, overall, we hold well. If we do our jobs too well, of course, then we are not always popular. That doesn't mean, however, that we're not right to hold the line.

We, criminal defense lawyers, frequently are criticized for "protecting the guilty." In point of fact our job and, in my case, my passion, is to use our education, training and skills to ensure that the government, in every case, obeys it's own Constitution and laws. We understand that it is the law-breaker whose struggle protects the rights of all persons in this Country. Many of us have spent decades fighting in courtrooms across America to protect the bill of rights against aggressive, ongoing and seemingly never-ending assaults by federal, state and local government.

Today, the fight is getting tougher. We all know why. We are being called-out to do battle. We must take the battle to outside of the courtroom door...and, there will be no billable hours. We have a sworn duty, and we are patriots.

Depending upon which list you look at, some 25 of the 55 or so signers of the Declaration of Independence were lawyers. Nearly a majority of the Framers of our Constitution were lawyers. Most of those men lost nearly everything, some even their lives, for their participation in the creation of this great nation. Today, our Constitutional form of government is under assault by elitists who would put the common "good" before the individual rights of Americans. Limitations upon free thought, free speech and free assembly are being implemented. There are ongoing assaults on the right to bear arms. The Patriot Act and inumerable government programs seek to invade every aspect of our lives, essentially stripping the individual of his or her Constitutional protections of life, liberty and property.

When the colonies were oppressed, lawyers stepped up to help block the oppression. Today, the people of the United States are again in jeopardy. The purpose of this blog will be to attract the many "Patriot Lawyers," who I know are out there. Come, share with us your skills and thoughts on how we may help this country.

Let us make this blog a muster for all patriotic lawyers. Not only must we stand between the people and the government to protect the people, as we do each day, but we now also must work for peaceful solutions which will prevent the government from destroying our form of government.

Many people clamber for an insurrection. Please, let us apply our Constitutional rights in their given order. First, let us speak, assemble, and publish. Given this wonderful Constitution of ours, if enough of us demand that its protections remain in place, I believe we will reach that end.

Obamanomics