"Great Quotes from General George Patton"

I know many people are despondent today over the condition of our country. Tremendous unemployment, a wrecked economy, enemy nations lining up against us, and a federal government intent on ruling outside the confines of the Constitution. But don't give in or give up. Think about these two comments from a great leader of the past--General George Patton:

"The test of a man's character is how high he bounces back after he's hit bottom."

And this one: "Attack rapidly. . . without rest, however tired and hungry you may be. The enemy will be more tired and more hungry. Keep punching."

Today, keep punching. Not physically, of course, but mentally and spiritually. Be encouraged today. You cannot give up. Remember, 60 million Americans did not vote for socialism in the last election. And another 50 million voters just sat out the election. There are still plenty of people left in this country who see the threat of the socialist agenda, and we are still quiet active in doing the right things, the right way, to bounce back and reverse the course.

Great Quotes from Samuel Adams"

In discouraging times, I like to look back at the lives of great leaders who endured far worse than anything I've ever experienced. I am encouraged and inspired when I read their words and know they backed up their words with their lives--and they prevailed over unbelievable odds. Read and enjoy these lines from Samuel Adams, one of our Founding Fathers:

"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."

"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."

"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds."

"No Rhyme or Reason?"

So Chrysler wants to shut down almost 800 dealorships across our land. Never mind that the vast majority of the dealorships are turning a profit and are beneficial to Chrysler. Never mind that they are no economic burden to the corporation. Never mind that in the state of Ohio, this shut down of dealorships violates state franchise laws. This breaking of contracts by the "mother corporation" under the direction of bankruptcy courts throws thousands of innocent people out of a job by June 6, and none of this makes any kind of legal or economic sense at all.

There seems to be no pattern to this indiscriminate closing of dealorships. Those who deal only in Chrysler are closed and some who deal with a variety of brand names are "spared." Those who endorse policies across a wide diversity of the political spectrum are indiscriminately closed or "spared." No rhyme or reason. Or is there? Remember the word "spared." What image does that conjure up? For me, I think of the "lord of the manor" who wants to instill fear and obedience in his serfs as they toil for him. He indiscriminately punishes his peasants. After the punishment is over, those who were spared all breathe a sigh of relief and say, "Thank God I was. . . spared." Then the serfs live the rest of their time on the manor in fear of the next round of punishment, intimidated and cowed into subjection--hoping to be spared the next time. They work hard to make sure that the lord of the manor is pleased with their performance.

This is the tactic used by all tyrants--whether the medieval lord of the manor, or the fascist or marxist regimes of the 20th century. Creating chaos, indiscriminte intimidation, and enforcing new "rules" of the game is the rhyme and reason of expansive government. What they will do today will be the standing operating procedure for all their "reforms."

"Pray for Congress"

I just got back from a meeting with some members of Congress. It was one of those "revelational" moments in life. You know what I mean: the curtain pulls back and you see a few things in a different light.

My view of certain political realities hasn't changed. I'm still conservative and committed to restoring a limited Constitutional republic. But I saw to a greater degree the humanity of the people who are elected to represent us. They were overwhelmed. "Well, we're all overwhelmed and exhausted, Jeff! At least they have a job, but they're not doing it!", I can hear some people saying. Yes, the vast majority of us are tired, and we have little sympathy for professional politicians who swore to uphold the Constitution, yet trample it at every turn.

But there are others. Other men and women who take their vow seriously, and are truly burdened and overwhelmed. They do walk the walk. Not perfectly (none of us do), and there are not enough of them, but they are there. Do you pray for them?

What about the Senators and Representatives with whom you strongly disagree? Do you pray for them? I mean, do you pray for them? I don't agree with them politically, but if you only pray for those you love, what good is that?

Look for your Representative or Senator on the internet. Find out their birthday and send them a card to their office. Genuinely pray for them. They have family problems and illnesses just like the rest of us. In the middle of the night, they probably have the same questions and fears we all do. Pray for them. You never know what can happen next. . .