Sunday, October 29, 2017

Texans Take a Knee and I Take a Pass

Sometimes I read something so stupid that I have a hard believing that someone in America really believes what he is saying. Case in point - the outrage over Texans owner Bob McNair's comment on a conference call with other NFL team owners. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. 

McNair is a well-known Houston zillionaire and philanthropist. He owns the Houston Texans football team. He is an older white man and for that he must be punished. This is where we are in today's world. McNair used an expression that each and every one of us has heard come out of the mouths of our parents or grandparents. He said, of the mess that the NFL finds itself in over players taking a knee instead of standing for the National Anthem, "We can't have the inmates running the prison." First, some of the Texans threatened to walk out of practice, then McNair apologized. Twice.

"McNair released a second statement Saturday afternoon and insisted he wasn't referring to the players with his "very regretful comment." Instead he says he was "referring to the relationship between the league office and team owners and how they have been making significant strategic decisions affecting our league without adequate input from ownership over the past few years."
He then apologized to NFL players saying: "I am truly sorry to the players for how this has impacted them and the perception that it has created of me which could not be further from the truth. Our focus going forward, personally and as an organization, will be towards making meaningful progress regarding the social issues that mean so much to our players and our community."
As you may imagine, apologies are not good enough any more. The 79 year old owner is presumed racist and that will not be easy to overcome in our hyper-sensitive environment. I've heard reasoning that because a large percentage of players are African-American, this comment must be directed at those players - that McNair isn't sensitive to the life experiences of black men. I get it. There are a lot of black men and women in prison. There are also a lot of other demographics, too, including white Americans. 

So, then I read Sunday that the Texans were going to do a big protest against McNair before the game in Seattle. Left tackle Duane Brown led a call for the protest and successfully encouraged all but four players to take a knee before the game. I find it interesting that it happened at an away game, not in Houston. I have to think the response from the ticket holders would have been a bit different at home. I watched just enough of the broadcast to see that happen and listen to the announcers give me their hot takes on it and then I changed the channel. Yes, I only watched because I am writing this

Here's the thing - I say, the more protests, the better. I'm a political person and I like discourse. I encourage all people to get involved and make use of their God-given rights, within our Constitution. What better way is there to honor the sacrifices of those who came before us? I have lots of veterans in my family, both living and deceased, who fought for my right to speak up.

Here's the flip side of that - I utilize my right to protest with my feet and my pocketbook. Or, in this case, my remote control. I no longer support the NFL. When President Trump tweeted that players should be fired for not standing for the National Anthem and then the gesture escalated as the players reacted to that tweet, then I said, "I'm out." A handful of players taking a knee doesn't sway me one way or the other. This all began last season with a now unemployed social justice warrior disguised as a football player. Barack Obama was the president, if you remember. A couple of his teammates did the same and that was that. Now it's just all about being anti-Trump or, now, anti-McNair. 

I love politics. I love football. I hate politics taking over football. I watch sports to escape the current events of the day. I love competition. It's a game, it's not rocket science and it will not cure disease. It is grown men making lots of money playing a game for a living. Taking advantage of that high profile life to divide and not unite - the current cry from those doing the exact opposite - is wrong. I have stopped watching professional football and it makes me sad.

Thank God for the Houston Astros. I am a "bandwagon" fan as I watch the World Series. I was once a baseball fan, back in the day, but lost interest as the greats of my day retired. With this current Astros team, though, I have found renewed zest in watching them play. What a joyful team! These guys are young and talented and eager to win. It has been heartwarming to see the Astros and their opponents stand and sing the National Anthem, as is the custom. It is particularly wonderful to see all the players who are immigrants to America participate. 

Go Astros. And, thank you.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Congresswoman Wilson's Disgraceful History on Voting Against the Veterans


Four Green Berets, the story goes, were ambushed and killed in Niger after a meeting with local leaders. Sgt. La David Johnson, Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright were killed. Sgt. La David Johnson was the only African American soldier in this foursome. President Trump called all four families to extend his condolences yet only one call is making headlines. Now, why would that be?

Make no mistake about it. In the minds and hate-filled political agenda of the political left in America, this is Trump's America and it is a racist place led by a white supremacist. Florida Representative Fredrica Wilson took advantage of her friendship with the aunt who raised Sgt. Johnson and went to the press with her interpretation of a phone call placed to the aunt from President Trump.

In order to boost her own political profile with the public, Wilson not only vilified Four Star General Kelly after he told his own Gold Star Dad story to the White House Press Corps Thursday in response to Wilson's hideous interpretation of President Trump's phone call but she made it into a racial accusation. The ugly political left and their willing cohorts in the media were only too happy to take this accusation and run with it. Here are two examples, from Twitter, one from a Hillary Clinton mouthpiece and one from MSNBC: 



“Kelly isnt just an enabler of Trump. He's a believer in him. That makes him as odious as the rest. Dont be distracted by the uniform,” Hillary Clinton’s former spokesman and CNN contributor Brian Fallon tweeted.
“I am stunned by John Kelley's lies about a black woman who he called an 'empty barrel,'” MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell tweeted.

These are the only two examples I'll leave here. The others from celebrities, leftists and the #NeverTrump (an ever shrinking) brigade are all over social media and are brutally nasty. Mind you, the general was relaying his own story and taking the press through the process of how the fallen are taken from the battlefield through their return to America. The left, never known for supporting the military, showed their true colors once again. Believe them all when they tell you who they are.

The congresswoman has a poor record voting in support of military veterans and on funding the military.
The measures that Wilson opposed included a bill that could have ensured that families of four soldiers slain in Afghanistan in 2013 received death and burial benefits. […]Despite Wilson's claim to be “committed to honoring our service members, not only with words but with deeds,” she has voted against most bills ensuring continued funding for veteran benefits, including payments to widows of fallen soldiers, the vote-tracking site shows.She has also opposed measures designed to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs.In March 2013, Wilson opposed the “Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act,” which prevented a government shutdown and provided funds for the U.S. military and the VA.The bill, which passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law by the Obama administration, provided funding to the military and the VA until the next government shutdown showdown. […]Later in the year, Wilson again voted against a resolution aimed at ensuring benefits paid to the veterans and their families would not be affected by the government shutdown in October that year. […]The congresswoman also opposed numerous bills aimed at improving VA services provided the veterans and their families. (FoxNews.com)

The congresswoman claimed that General Kelly's use of the term "empty barrel" was a racist slur. Truth is, that phrase goes all the way back to Plato. 

For the left, it is all about identity and grievance politics, always. When the congresswoman first came to the U.S. House of Representatives, she was informed she would not be allowed to wear her hats on the floor. She called this a sexist rule, though it was put into place for men not to wear hats on the floor. Duh. It dates back to September 14, 1837. 

So, for the Florida congresswoman, it's all about the "isms". Perhaps a refresher history course is in order. Or, maybe just a few tips on simply using Google before lodging absurd, self-serving criticisms. 

President Trump called all four of the families. I wonder why this one phone call caused such a stir, don't you? Just kidding. We know.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Barack Obama Didn't Call General Kelly After Son Was Killed In Action


Thursday I watched the White House press  briefing and I saw an American hero emotionally walk the press corps through the process of transferring a fallen soldier from the battlefield to the delivery of the news to his or her family. His emotion was in check, to be sure, but he did tear up a bit as he spoke. I teared up as he spoke. He is a Gold Star Dad and the whole episode has caused him much pain. 




I now have Taking Chance on my to-watch list. 

What strikes me is the fact that General Kelly's Commander-in-Chief, President Barack Obama, didn't make a phone call to him or his family to express his condolences in the loss of their son in Afghanistan. There are not so many four star generals and even less who become Gold Star Dads so I find it disturbing that so little personal attention was given to the loss. If we are to believe the narrative promoted from the political left that Obama respected the military so much and Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Biden were so attentive to the needs of military families, surely a phone call from Obama to General Kelly would be a normal action. But, it wasn't and it didn't happen. Apparently General Kelly did sit at Michelle Obama's table at a breakfast one time. 


"A White House official said Obama did not call Kelly after his son’s death but did not say whether the former president reached out in some other fashion. White House visitor records show Kelly attended a breakfast Obama hosted for Gold Star families six months after his son died. A person familiar with the breakfast — speaking on condition of anonymity because the event was private — said the Kelly family sat at Michelle Obama’s table.

Tuesday, October 03, 2017

United Republicans of Harris County Invites Public to Event with RPT Chairman James Dickey



You Are Cordially Invited To A 
United Republicans' Meeting
With Special Guest

James Dickey,
Chairman,
Republican Party of Texas



TOPIC
"Update on the
Republican Party of Texas"

Plans for the 2018 Election Cycle

Tuesday, October 10, 2017
6:30 pm Coffee and Conversation
7:00-8:00 pm Program

 Trini Mendenhall Community Center
1414 Wirt Road
Houston, TX 77055
(Event and Parking are Free!)


*CLICK TO RSVP FOR THE EVENT 
PLEASE RSVP BY OCTOBER 7, 2017
Thank You