BROADSIDES

October 30, 2007

Thanks For Proving My Point, Dave
To leftist Democrats like Stark, children who manage to escape the abortionist are nothing more than stage props in their party's twisted campaign to peddle socialist snake oil. -- B. Sides, October 24, 2007

Our message sounds like an audit report on defense logistics ... Why are we defending the State Children’s Health Insurance Program instead of advocating a "Healthy Kids" plan? -- House Democrat staffer Dave Helfert, from an internal memo criticizing the House Democrats' salesmanship, as reported in The Hill, October 26, 2007

B. Sides @ 10:48 AM

October 24, 2007

Stark Treason
When Democrat Congressman Pete Stark took to the House floor on October 18 to support overriding the president's veto of Congress' attempt to massively expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, he just couldn't help proving what's been obvious for a long time -- that he's a modern day Benedict Arnold.

Addressing the Republican side of the House chamber, Stark slobbered and bellowed:

You don't have money to fund the war or children! But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement!

Think about that; a high priest of the pro-abortion party is worried about kids having a chance to grow old enough to do something. Stark certainly has no problem with kids having their heads torn off when they're in the womb. Such glaring hypocrisy should be kept in mind whenever you hear the Democrats' endless phony schmaltz about their concern for "the children". To leftist Democrats like Stark, children who manage to escape the abortionist are nothing more than stage props in their party's twisted campaign to peddle socialist snake oil.

As for Stark's slur that our military men and women are killed in Iraq for the president's amusement, is anyone really surprised that he made such a thoroughly treasonous accusation? (Check out the video of Stark's tantrum and note the reaction of the man -- whom, it's safe to assume, is either another Democrat congressman or a Democrat staffer -- seated directly behind Stark. The guy didn't bat an eye at Stark's comments.) After all, since 9/11 Stark has made a career out of openly aiding and abetting America's terrorist enemies. In 2003, shortly before the United States liberated Iraq, I noted this excerpt from a San Francisco Chronicle article:

In one of the most brutal critiques of the administration's policy toward Iraq by a member of Congress, East Bay Rep. Pete Stark said President Bush would be responsible for "an act of terror" by launching a massive bombing campaign to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. "I think unleashing 3,000 smart bombs against the city of Baghdad in the first several days of the war ... to me, if those were unleashed against the San Francisco Bay Area, I would call that an act of extreme terrorism," said Stark ...

When Pete Stark says that President Bush is amused by the deaths of American soldiers and that preemptive strikes against terrorists is an American "act of terror," he means it. That's why his crybaby apology yesterday (which he only made after narrowly escaping being censured by the House) is laughably transparent.

I'll give Stark credit for one thing, though. At least he doesn't claim to be a patriot while busily striving to ensure America's defeat -- unlike most of his fellow subversive Democrats. That's right, Stark proudly doesn't support our troops; and he even said so with this vote.

B. Sides @ 6:48 PM

October 12, 2007

A Real Hero
Much of the press today is giddy about a gaggle of European socialists giving a Nobel Peace Prize to an environmental charlatan. And yet, there's been scant mention that an authentic American hero who lost his life fighting for peace -- Lt. Michael P. Murphy, USN -- was posthumously awarded the nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Michael Murphy grew up in Patchogue, NY and was a gifted student and athlete. Though accepted at three law schools after his graduation from Penn State, Murphy opted for the Navy and was determined to become a SEAL. He was commissioned an ensign in 2000, qualified as a SEAL in 2002 and deployed to Afghanistan in 2005. The following is an excerpt of the Navy's tribute to Lt. Murphy:

On June 28, 2005, Lt. Murphy was the officer-in-charge of a four-man SEAL element in support of Operation Red Wing tasked with finding key anti-coalition militia commander near Asadabad, Afghanistan. Shortly after inserting into the objective area, the SEALs were spotted by three goat herders who were initially detained and then released. It is believed the goat herders immediately reported the SEALs’ presence to Taliban fighters.

A fierce gun battle ensued on the steep face of the mountain between the SEALs and a much larger enemy force. Despite the intensity of the firefight and suffering grave gunshot wounds himself, Murphy is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates. Murphy, intent on making contact with headquarters, but realizing this would be impossible in the extreme terrain where they were fighting, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own life moved into the open, where he could gain a better position to transmit a call to get help for his men.

Moving away from the protective mountain rocks, he knowingly exposed himself to increased enemy gunfire. This deliberate and heroic act deprived him of cover and made him a target for the enemy. While continuing to be fired upon, Murphy made contact with the SOF Quick Reaction Force at Bagram Air Base and requested assistance. He calmly provided his unit’s location and the size of the enemy force while requesting immediate support for his team. At one point, he was shot in the back causing him to drop the transmitter. Murphy picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy who was closing in. Severely wounded, Lt. Murphy returned to his cover position with his men and continued the battle.

As a result of Murphy’s call, an MH-47 Chinook helicopter, with eight additional SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers aboard, was sent in as part of the QRF to extract the four embattled SEALs. As the Chinook drew nearer to the fight, a rocket-propelled grenade hit the helicopter, causing it to crash and killing all 16 men aboard.

On the ground and nearly out of ammunition, the four SEALs, continued to fight. By the end of a two-hour gunfight that careened through the hills and over cliffs, Murphy, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz and Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson had fallen. An estimated 35 Taliban were also dead. The fourth SEAL, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SEAL) Marcus Luttrell, was blasted over a ridge by a rocket-propelled grenade and knocked unconscious. Though severely wounded, the fourth SEAL and sole survivor, Luttrell, was able to evade the enemy for nearly a day; after which local nationals came to his aide, carrying him to a nearby village where they kept him for three more days. Luttrell was rescued by U.S. Forces on July 2, 2005.

By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit and inspirational devotion to his men in the face of certain death, Lt. Murphy was able to relay the position of his unit, an act that ultimately led to the rescue of Luttrell and the recovery of the remains of the three who were killed in the battle.

Lt. Murphy was buried at Calverton National Cemetery less than 20 miles from his childhood home.

On October 22 at the White House, Daniel Murphy will accept the Medal of Honor on his son's behalf from President Bush.

B. Sides @ 6:21 PM