San Diego

My pal SheriLee's husband was quoted in the San Diego Union-Tribune yesterday ...

Outside the cathedral, a small crowd of people stood quietly in a light rain, catching snippets of the service on portable radios. They softly applauded the eulogies and laughed along with the world leaders inside.

"I've never felt such a sense of personal loss about the death of a public figure," said Jeff Norris, 46, who had taken an early-morning train from Baltimore to honor a former president he hailed as "candid, honest and decent."

Speaking of San Diego ... the California Republican Party Convention will be held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt August 6-8, 2004. I'd like to organize a blogger's brunch on Saturday, possibly with Ted Costa, the Father of the Recall. Would anyone be interested in attending?

Reagan Garden

I haven't had the stamina to watch the broadcasts or spend to much time on the net for the last 2 days, and I know I'll be in a total puddle by the end of the week if I don't ration my emotional opportunities. So I've thought of something very positive I could do to remember our great President.

I'm planting the Reagan Garden.

I've been to my favorite nurseries, Talini's, Fair Oaks Blvd. Nursery and the Capital Nursery in Elk Grove and purchased a bunch of plants for my Reagan Rose Garden. They'll be planted next week. If you're in Sacramento, stop by.

Ronald Reagan Rose


Nancy Reagan Rose


Spirit of Freedom Rose


St. Patrick Rose


Mr. Lincoln Rose


Bob Hope Rose


American Hero Honor Rose


America Rose


UPDATE: The roses are planted. We'll be having the dedication sometime later this summer. Hope you all can come.

My Dad and Ronald Reagan

My first political memory is walking precincts to elect Ronald Reagan as Governor with my Dad. WHY NOT AN ACTOR, WE'VE HAD A CLOWN FOR 8 YEARS. It's also my only policial activist memory with my Dad. He was a Barcalounge politician. Every night he'd watched the Huntley/Brinkley Report, every morning he'd read the Sacramento Union (the Bee was for liberals) and every night he'd pontificate at the dining room table. He thought that Nancy Reagan was one of the prettiest women he'd ever seen (besides my mom) and had his only brush with fame sitting next to her on a PSA flight to LA once.

In 1984, my Dad got cancer. We stepped up our travel schedule, cuz there were some places he needed to see or see one more time. We traveled to Ireland and drank a pint at the Ronald Reagan Lounge in Ballyporeen.

On October 17, 1984, just 2 weeks before the election, my Dad passed away. The day before he had asked my brother, his namesake, to go down to the polling place and cast his ballot for him, after all they had the same name. My brother said "Dad, that's a felony"

Perhaps they'll have a pint together now.



Thanks to All Posters for the photo.

I Can Name That Tune in 3 Notes

I've found another musical blogger! Stop by and visit him.

And in honor of our D-Day weekend Sing out:

The Marines' Hymn

From the halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli,
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea.
First to fight for right and freedom,
And to keep our honor clean,
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marines.

Our flag's unfurl'd to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun.

In the snow of far-off northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes,
You will find us always on the job -
The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve.

If the Army and the Navy
Ever gaze on Heaven's scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

THE ARMY SONG

First to fight, For the right,
And to build the Nations might,
And the Army goes rolling along.
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting till the battle's won
And the Army goes rolling along.

(Refrain)

Then it's Hi ! Hi ! Hey !
The Army on it's way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong,
(TWO! THREE!)
For Wher - e'er we go, you will always know,
That the Army goes rolling along.

Valley Forge, Custer's ranks,
San Juan Hill and Patton's tanks,
And the Army went rolling along
Minute men, from the start,
Always fighting from the heart,
And the Army keeps rolling along.
(Refrain)


Men in rags, men who froze,
Still that Army met its foes,
And the Army went rolling along.
Faith in God, then we're right,
And we'll fight with all our might,
As the Army keeps rolling along.
(Refrain)

United States Air Force

Off we go ~ into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing HIGH, into the sun
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, give 'em the gun!
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one Hell-uv-a roar!
We'll live in fame, or go down in flame,
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!

Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder,
Set it HIGH into the blue;
Hands of men blasted the world asunder,
How they lived God only knew.
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wing ever to soar!
With scouts before and bombers galore,
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!

There's a toast to the host
of those who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send the message of his brother, men who fly
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast,
The U.S. Air Force.

Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true,
If you've lived to be a gray-haired wonder,
Keep the nose out of the blue!
Flying men, guarding our nations borders,
We'll be there, followed by more.
In echelon we carry on!
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!

United States Navy

Stand Navy out to sea,
Fight our battle cry,
We'll never change our course,
So vicious foes steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll out the TNT,
Anchors Aweigh,
Sail on to victory,
And sink their bones
To Davy Jones Hooray!

Anchors Aweigh, my boys
Anchors Aweigh!
Farewell to college joys,
We sail at break of day-day-day-day.
Through our last night on shore,
Drink to the foam
Until we meet once more,
Here's wishing you,
A happy voyage home!

Stand Navy down the field,
Sail set to the sky!
We'll never change our course,
So Army you steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll up the score Navy,
Anchors Aweigh!
Sail Navy down the field,
And sink the Army,
Sink the Army gray!

Stand out Navy to sea,
Fight our battle cry.
We'll never change our course,
So vicious foes steer shy-y-y-y!
Roll out the TNT,
Anchors Aweigh,
Sail on to Victory
And sink their bones to Davy Jones
HOORAY!

United States Coast Guard

From North and South and East and West
The Coast Guard's in the fight.
Destroying subs and landing troops,
The Axis feels our might.
For we're the first invaders
On every fighting field
Afloat, ashore, on men and Spars
You'll find the Coast Guard Shield

Chorus
We're always ready for the call
We place our trust in Thee.
Through howling gale and shot and shell,
To win our victory.
"Semper Paratus" is our guide
Our pledge, our motto too.
We're "Always Ready," do or die!
Aye! Coast Guard, we fight for you.

Nancy

Nancy went to see the Pres yesterday

These Boots Were Made For Walking
by Nancy Sinatra

You keep saying you've got something for me.
something you call love, but confess.
You've been messin' where you shouldn't have been a messin'
and now someone else is gettin' all your best.

These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.

You keep lying, when you oughta be truthin'
and you keep losin' when you oughta not bet.
You keep samin' when you oughta be changin'.
Now what's right is right, but you ain't been right yet.

These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.

You keep playin' where you shouldn't be playin
and you keep thinkin' that you´ll never get burnt.
Ha!
I just found me a brand new box of matches yeah
and what he know you ain't HAD time to learn.

(spoken)
Are you ready boots? Start walkin'!


wonder what her Dad would say ...

The Bush Push

I spent yesterday morning laying on the couch and boo hooing. As Tony Snow interviewed all these handsome 80 year old veterans proudly wearing their service caps, I got emotional. Bob Dole is hilarious. The Toms (Brokaw and Hanks) were fine. Then President Bush's speech outlined the similarities between Iraq and WWII. When he said "Some of us were proud to call them Dad" he started to choke up and I was at full tilt. What a great ceremony!

Then came the Bush Push! What do you think Clinton said? A dirty joke? Clearly President Bush Sr. has still got it -- He looked like he could have knocked Clinton down if he wanted to. Maybe Clinton called him an old man. They all had smiles on their faces, but the fact that both 41 and 43 turned and left Clinton standing there alone indicated to me that there was some seriousness to it.

Thanks to freeper hole-n-one for the video

If you'd like to comment, scroll down. I don't know why there is such a big gap before the next post.

It's Wictory Wednesday

You know the drill. Today's the day when we ask our readers to donate and volunteer in the campaign to re-elect President George W. Bush.


And check out these fine blogs...

Why We're Going To Win

RED STATE, BLUE STATE - Blue state (Kerry supporters): Think that calling somebody a cowboy is a pejorative. Red state (Bush supporters): Built a Cowboy Hall of Fame.

- Mickey Edwards, a former Republican congressman from Oklahoma

Next they'll be trying to insult him by saying he was (shocking tone) a Rugby Player

or a lifelong baseball fan

Make New Friends

We've got a whole bunch of New Bearflaggers. Here's the roundup

Mad Mikey knows engineering
Nice Jewish Boy has photos of the mom and her four beautiful daughters
The rugby-playing Pirate's Blog doesn't like the Friends
Res Ipsa Loquitur does poetry
Ryan's Head has some interesting phone calls
Tan Horizons is no francophile
The Daily Spork has no plans to invite Lyndie to tea

Welcome!

and as we use to sing in Girl Scouts

Make new friends
But keep the old
One is Silver
And the other's gold

Boston Strangler

You gotta read this article from the American Thinker

Thomas Wright was one of John F. Kerry's fellow Swift boat officers in Vietnam. Since Wright outranked Kerry, he was Kerry's sometime boat group Officer-in-Charge, so Wright had occasion to observe Kerry’s behavior and attitudes, and the circumstances surrounding his early departure from the war zone. The intervening years have not dimmed his memories.

When the Swift boats of Coastal Division 11 sailed into harm’s way from their Phu Quoc Island base of An Thoi, for missions along the rivers of Vietnam’s southwesternmost Kien Giang and An Xuyen provinces, they communicated by radio. When they did, boat captains adopted distinctive, often humorous call signs for identification purposes. Eldon Thompson was “Mary Poppins,” William Schachte was “Baccardi Charlie,” James T. Grace was “Twiggy,” and Tom Wright was “Dudley Do-Right.” When John Kerry radioed another Swift boat, he used the call sign, “Boston Strangler.”

Read the article ... doesn't this deserve a google bomb? Someone give me the instructions please