Looking at a picture of Virginia Tech’s Norris Hall one would think they were looking at some ancient fortress. Almost expecting to see a battery of howitzers arrayed along its upper rim. The irony is that it was totally defenseless on April 16^th. As Seung-Hui Cho was performing his evil at Norris the V-Tech Police were on the other end of the Campus at West Ambler Johnston Hall investigating the murders that Cho had committed earlier. But somehow they were supposed to astrally project themselves as in some out of body experience and float over to Norris and stop the carnage. Without any notification or indication that anything was even happening there out of the ordinary. Yet these first responders were the ones that the Main Stream Media began to pile the blame onto. Fortunately that line of reasoning quickly dissipated.

In fact the whole blame game seemed to come to a screeching halt early on. The whole of reporter talking points seemed to shift 180 degrees to “the healing process”. The Convocation. Wearing the Maroon and Orange of the Hokies at a candle light vigil. “A time for reflection . . . “ etc. Which is all wonderful and the MSM should be commended for altering the course of this particularly tragic news cycle. Right? Tending towards a more humane, sensitive accounting of the situation. This is admirable, correct? Can we be a little skeptical here? Especially when it comes to our biased, left leaning MSM.

Sometimes it seems that the MSM wants to paint a picture of our Nation as that of a failed experiment. And that there is really no one to blame for tragedies such as the V-Tech massacre. “Its simply the next logical step downward for our nation,” would be the implication, “and we should not assign blame for that! Tragedies such as this are inevitable.” This the view from the left. Logical-step-downward my behind! If you followed this kind of “logic” you would also say, “don’t bother to check the fluid levels in your automobile. Even though its “inevitable” that they will fall to levels that will endanger/damage your engine and transmission”. Just like the instructions in your cars owners manual regarding checking fluid levels, there are also laws on the books that would, absolutely, have prevented this V-Tech tragedy. Absolutely. Without a doubt. Had these laws been enforced. Lets have no talk about a “failed experiment” when we have excellent laws on the books. And judges on the bench who are too cowardly (and politically connected) to enforce them.

Someone once told me that if you want to get a persons attention “get in their back pocket”. Meaning their wallet. When folks have to pay for the gross, negligent errors they commit, they will quickly learn to become more responsible. And in this case the Commonwealth of Virginia (CoV) needs to suffer the ignominy of a public court case spectacle and the shame that it entails. And monstrous cash payments to the victims families. I know that there are those who will bring forth the argument about frivolous lawsuits, etc. but the CoV needs to pay and pay and pay for their irresponsibility that cost 32 innocent lives. The CoV was brought into this and had numerous opportunities to stop this tragedy as far back as December 2005 when Sueng-Hui Cho was brought before District Court Judge Justice Paul M. Burnett (appointed to a 6 year term by the General Assembly of the CoV, by the way) after a psychiatrist pronounced him “a danger to himself and others”. (LINK1) Cho had stalked a couple of female students on the V-Tech campus. This alone should have prevented Cho from being able to buy a gun. (LINK2) But for some reason this info did not get input into the national background check database (NICBCS). Now this was approximately 14 months prior to the massacre! It should have happened as Cho left the District Court House there in Montgomery County VA. How hard would it to have been to have a clerk input that small bit of info into a database? One can’t blame the poor gun shop owner, either. I’m sure he/she feels bad enough. But he/she has to go by the NICBCS database and Cho was not in it. And because the female stalkee’s decided not to press charges, Cho did not have a criminal record, either! I’m not trying to blame these poor young ladies but if they had only pressed charges it most likely would have stopped this whole calamity. This is not to excuse the court from its careless blunder.

And we’re not finished here with District Court Justice Paul M. Burnett (again, appointed by the CoV General Assembly). Cho Sueng-Hui was not a U.S. citizen. He carried a Permanent Resident Card or Green Card as it is usually called. Judge Burnett’s options were somewhat limited here in a sense because, again, the 2 victims of Cho’s stalking escapades refused to press charges against him. Had they done this the judge would have clearly been obligated to make ICE aware. For Cho’s deportation. The Judge, however, still had a clear obligation to turn the case over to ICE since the psychiatrists had proclaimed Cho to be a danger to others. Even if no actual charges had been filed. There is certainly precedent for long time Green Card holders to have been deported for much less. (LINK3) ICE must have some reg’s on the books regarding Green Card holders that are criminally insane and pose a danger to “our” society. Wouldn’t you think? Judge Burnett should have taken no chances, picked up the phone and called ICE to find out. I doubt he did that. Cho should have received a one way ticket to Seoul S. Korea for his 2005 Christmas present. This CoV court was negligent in seeing that this was done leaving the citizens of the Commonwealth unprotected from this maniac.

The borders separating the politicians from the judges on the bench have become nebulous and ill defined in our nation. Laws are too often enforced only for the purpose of political expediency. And for the same reason good, necessary laws are ignored and not enforced. Perhaps “if” the negligent Common Wealth of Virginia is forced to pay out several billion dollars to the 32 families, they (CoV) will start thinking about electing tough, independent minded jurists to the bench rather than a bunch of their own liberal cronies. This will be one time when its ok to cheer for the blood sucking lawyers. DD

 The great Yogi Berra said it like no other could; “its like Déjà vu all over again”. The truth. Like a 103 mph fast ball right across the plate. Strike Three! And looking back a year ago it still looks like the Dem’s have all the momentum on their side. We discounted the pollsters back then but they turned out to be exactly right. The Dem’s seem almost unstoppable. Their small base is enthusiastic like cheering fans on their feet in the stands. The players, Democrat Senators and Congresspersons, are bold. Recklessly pushing the envelope on issues that they believe in. The left biased Main Stream Media is doing their part, for sure.  This combination of forces is magnetic. It will congeal and attract the “fence sitters”. The whole mix will then snowball into an avalanche entombing their GOP victims until the spring thaw. Spring of ’09 that is. Ha!

So what should we expect once the Dem’s take the Presidency and both Houses? Well after their Triumphal Parade though the streets of D.C. complete with shackled GOP slaves for the bystanders to throw rotten fruit at, and after the 3 days of orgiastic, drunken partying, one might expect the Dem’s would get down to business. First order of business: insure that they never, ever lose power again. You see the most bitter, hateful pain eating at the inner guts of the Dem’s since 1994 has been their loss of the House and Senate. They can deal with losing the Presidency. But not the legislative houses. With these under their control they can block or frustrate just about any Presidential initiative and demand judicial appointments to their liking. But, of course, they’d much prefer to maintain both Legislative and the Presidency.

Accomplishing that in 2008 the Dem’s will then set about re-taking every Governors chair, State House and all the way down to dog-catcher. Actually this has already begun (link). Tom Delay and the Texas legislature have been accused of Gerrymandering in 2002 but in essence they were simply putting the finishing touches on the “undoing of gerrymandering” that the Dem’s had put into place over decades of control in Texas up until 1986. Because Texas, having become a red state, deserved to have that “redness” reflected. So the Dem’s are masters at gerrymandering and they will go from state to state and get control down to the lowest levels hence giving them the ability to better manipulate the election process in their favor. And they’ll accomplish this by any means. They will use any method or tool that they feel they can get away with. Legal or illegal.

Next will be to build a voting base that can match or exceed the GOP base. How will they do it? That’s easy! They will make a gift to convicted felons and non U.S. Citizens . The gift of the vote. You say, “knaw! Never happen”, as you give me a dismissing wave. And I reply, “its already happening! Wake up out of your pipe dream!” (link) And here’s the tragedy – this was initiated by a very weak, mixed up GOP Governor Charlie Crist in Florida. Trying to appease the liberal Dem’s, pandering to Black voters and kneeling before the ACLU. Even the Daily Kos (George Soro’s Blog) praised Florida Gov. Crist. You’ve got to get real liberal for that to happen. This makes it clear to see that even GOP leaders are resigned to the Dem’s 2008 victory and are already trying to suck up to them. In their mind they think they’re seeing the handwriting on the wall. And they’re preparing to deal with those in power so that they, too, can survive. Its so pathetic to watch.

And regarding the voting rights of non U.S. Citizens. You ask, “what rights?” Well the ACLU funded by the Ford Foundation is pushing very hard for totally open borders. (link) Ford Foundation has pumped over $57 million into the ACLU to fight for illegal alien rights and for non-U.S. Citizen voting rights. The Ford Foundation and the ACLU are making great progress, too! Non-U.S Citizens now vote in local elections in 6 towns in Maryland! And in Chicago school elections. It’s a foot-hold. But when Dem’s take over it will spread like a wild fire. And we’re not just talking non citizens . No! That wouldn’t be nearly enough for the Dem’s. We’re also talking about giving illegals the vote, too. (link)

Ok. Lets tally everything up here. Once the Dem’s take the Presidency and both Legislative houses in ’08 they will make darn sure that they never lose power for many decades by: 1) Gaining control of governors seats/state houses, gerrymandering congressional districts in all 50 states. 2) Expanding their, now small base by making it legal for Non-U.S. residents and convicted Felons to vote. 3) Lets also add the District of Columbia. Giving it state-like status hence creating a few more liberal Dem seats in the House. And lastly… 4) You fill in the blank. Reader participation time. I’m sure I’m leaving several other strategies out.

What does all this translate into? Something close to one party rule. If you are a conservative your life will change drastically. A Dem controlled government will pull out of the war and shrink our military down to an insignificant size. Too small to project any kind of strength as a world super power. (that also almost happened during the Clinton admin). They will “cave” to the Europeans, the greenies and the global warming crowd and sign off on the Kyoto Protocol. Which, over time, will destroy our economy. The borders will be flung wide open. The concept of U.S. sovereignty and National Identity will once and for all be tossed out. Those coming in from foreign countries, whether legally or illegally, will have rights that surpass those of the average, middle class American. But not the wealthy Americans. (that is almost a reality now!) The courts will once again be packed with judges that view the Constitution as a “Living Document” meaning what ever those powerful few in government want it to mean. Blogs like mine would become “hate crimes”. Conservative Talk Radio - out - will have to retreat to Satellite radio. The Fairness Doctrine, you know. And I ask, could anyone picture this scenario? Judge’s Alito and Roberts losing their seats on the Supreme Court? The Dem’s could reason that George Bush stole the election in 2000 and had no right to appoint judges. Does that sound outside the realm of possibility?

So what are our illustrious GOP Leaders doing to stop this? What a joke. Well we’ve already mentioned Gov. Crist-R Florida helping the ACLU get voting rights for convicted felons. And President Bush has  appointed Gov. Bill Richardson- D, New Mexico as a special envoy of sorts to North Korea. Did I point out that Gov. Bill is running for President? As a Democrat? (what a political feather in his cap) And during a recent trip to Mexico as President Bush was promising more American jobs and cash for Mexican workers he proclaimed that “Senator Kennedy is our best legislative senator”. Gosh actions and rhetoric like that will certainly put the Dem’s in their place won’t it?

Fact is we have a collection of weak, inept losers heading up the GOP. They are ready to become the minority party again. Being  the majority party is way too much work! We need to purge these from our Grand Old Party if we are to have any chance in 2008. Folks, especially the former GOP base, have lost all respect for the Republican Leadership. We need some fire breathers. Red meat eaters. Street fighters. “Where are they?” I shout. All I get back is an echo from the emptiness. Darvin Dowdy

 Recently Dr. James Dobson was asked about the possible presidential candidacy of Fred Thompson. The only thing Dr. Dobson could think of to say was, “I don’t think he is a Christian”. (link) This shocker of a statement was made to an interviewer from none other than U.S. News and World Report. A Main Stream Media biggie. Dr. Dobson must’ve known what a stir it would cause. Well Thompson’s spokesperson quickly shot back with a confirmation that he, Thompson indeed was a Christian. To which a Dobson/Focus on the Family spokesperson replied back (very self-righteously), “Thompson hasn't clearly communicated his religious faith, and many evangelical Christians might find this a barrier to supporting him.”

George W. Bush has proclaimed his faith publicly. Jimmy Carter, likewise. Even Bill and Hillary Clinton attended Bible studies. And Rosie O’Donnell has announced that she attends weekly Bible Studies! So would she meet with Dr. Dobson’s approval? And what about the “former” reverend Ted Haggard? He certainly was a big proclaim’er of the Lord. Hope he still is. Dr. Dobson’s org had this “lengthy” comment regarding Haggard (link). A better comment would have been to quote John 8:7 (“he who is without sin cast the first stone”) and told the press to mind their own business and that Haggard, being a Christian will work out his problems along with the Lords help. That’s what Christians do when they fall. They get back up and learn from their mistakes. Nuff said. And then tell the press don’t let the door hit you on your way out.

Apart from those in our own Congregation and our own family members we Christians are not required to continually dribble on and on about our relationship with the Lord. The fact is that it is better that we do not because it is a huge “turn off” for those unbelievers that we are trying to reach. So many Christians these days feel that they have to assume a “role” of what a Christian should act, talk and dress like. The Rosy Glow, Bible tucked neatly under the arm. The lips pursed in this self righteous smirk. Or even worse, the “pained” look of the stoic. Always complaining of their ailments. Continually spouting Bible verses that they really do not understand. “Don’t drink, don’t chew, don’t go with the girls that do!” Most have a half dozen sins that they do not commit and are, therefore, convinced that they are righteous and beyond reproach. Not even knowing that there are several categories of sin with long lists of individual sins such as mental attitude sins (hate/envy/bitterness), sins of the tongue (like gossip, etc) and then there are the “overt sins” that most folks regularly talk about. These are the folks who read their Bibles on the job and try to make their boss feel guilty when he asks them to stop and do their jobs. Were I in his shoes I’d fire ‘em on the spot.

I can tell you that some of the most trustworthy, solid righteous individual’s that I have known in my life were also some with, how can I say this; language problems maybe? Yes a curse word now and then and probably with a plug of tobacco in their cheek. And they’d have a beer every so often. Unashamedly. But in business their handshake was better than any legal document that a battery of lawyers could draw up. You could absolutely depend on them to stand up on their part of any bargain that they made with you. And they never lied. They spoke the truth even when you didn’t necessarily want to hear it. Nor would they ever speak ill of you behind your back. To your face, yes if need be! But never behind your back. And if you got this person cornered on rare occasions , he’d hang his head, as if praying, very humbly and proclaim the name of Christ; as if he was undeserving. As we all are. But this persons witness was his honorable life. We’ve all known these folks be they Ladies or Gentlemen. I believe a lot of righteous “acting” Christians could learn from these types of Christians. It is necessary to get below the surface. I believe that most Christians would certainly give Fred Thompson the same considerations. I mean, most Christians have watched while those in the government that have proclaimed their Christianity and have made a real mess of things. Like Carter and President Bush. Not that it isn’t important to elect a Christian. It definitely is. But one with “real” leadership capabilities.  And confidence in his/her realationship with the Lord.

I hope Dr. Dobson is not being judgmental in this situation. It almost seems as if he might be insisting that any GOP candidate must go through him for his approval and blessing. This almost reminds me a little of what Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are involved in. Something akin to blackmail in a milder form. I find too many religious leaders these days want to get in between an individual Christian and the Lord. This way they can have some control or power over them. Sometimes its overt and sometimes its more subtle.  Sometimes with a collection plate in their hands.  Also, there are some fantastic Pastors out there who understand their place. Seek and ye shall find.

I’d like to pose some questions to the Christian Moral/Spiritual Leaders of our time. Aren’t Christians supposed to be the “salt of the earth” (the preservative of our nation)? And it does seem obvious that our nation is rapidly declining both spiritually and morally. An accelerated downward spiral; under your watch! So before anyone tries to remove the “splinter from Fred Thompson’s eye shouldn’t they first remove the log from their own eye?” It is key that we Christians remember “if we exalt ourselves we will be humbled, if we humble ourselves we will be exalted”.

It is also wise and courageous for Thompson to stand his ground. He need not crawl or grovel before any Christian religious leader. Only before the Lord.  Thats what sets Christianity apart from other religions.             DD