Vocabulary

Maladroit -- lacking in dexterity; clumsy

It felt rather maladroit when I tripped on the sidewalk.

Cogitate--to meditate; ponder; to think carefully about

I have asked you to clean your room--quite cogitating about it and just do it!

Humorous Quotes

"How many legs does a horse have if you call it's tale a leg? Four. You can call it a leg but it's still a tail."

"My wife is the only thing I'm afraid of that can't hurt me."

~both attributed to Abraham Lincoln

Forgotten President of Honor

Many of us know Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR and Ronald Reagan--but do you know Grover Cleveland?

Grover Cleveland had the unique experience of serving two terms as president of the United States but not together! His first term was 1884-1888. Then he lost an election to Benjamin Harrison only to run and win again in the election of 1892 four years later.

Grover Cleveland was a Democrat who valued his honor. His appointments and policies were about what was constitutionally right--not what was politically right. He refused to twist policies into political favors. Once he was approached by members of his own party who suggested he remove a worthy Republican from a position and replace him with a friendly fellow Democrat. He refused. When solicitied to buy documents that were devastating to his political opponent, he bought the documents and then burned them in front of the solicitor there on the spot.

Cleveland had no tolerance for corruption. His persistence brought the out of control pension corruption to a screeching halt. Pensions were healthcare benefits paid by the gov't for veterans of the Civil War. But, when veterans of the Civil War were beginning to die off of age, the claims continued to grow!! Claims were being filed long after the war was over by people who hadn't fought in the war!! Congress knew how much time it took for the president to review each pension claim. So they would send all the pension claims to the Whitehouse for the president to sign late on Friday nights with the expectation he would be too tired/busy to review them all and just sign them. Once 400 claims were sent in one night. Cleveland grew tired of the 'pension game' and vetoed as many as possible. Congress eventually gave up and the Civil War pension scams came to a halt.

Cleveland was loyal to the gold standard and sought to reduce taxes. He considered himself a 'guardian of the peoples money'.

So, here is to a fair and honorable Democrat President who presided over the country with conservative principles and revered Constitutional ideals.

So when you think of honorable men and capable leaders like Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Calvin Coolidge and Ronald Reagan--don't forget Grover Cleveland.

*A Patriots History of the United States pg 446-449

John Witherspoon

John Witherspoon was a cleric from New Jersey in revolutionary days. He was a spiritual man who took up arms to fight for the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence. His reason for fighting he expressed this way;

"There is not a single instance in history in which civil liberty was lost, and religious liberty preserved entire."

Translation--histroy proves that power hungry people seek power over everything and our right to worship will be lost sooner or later if we are not vigilant. Though many good and fair people have served in government it is still true that government is where the power hungry hide. Unchecked government allows these people to get their way. We must always be on our guard and be willing to fight.

Paul Revere gets Involved!

Paul Revere is famous for his midnight ride in which he warned revolutionary forces 'The British are coming, the British are coming!' But this midnight ride was not the only crucial role Paul Revere played. Revere was also effective in the organizing of revolutionary forces. Why--because Paul Revere was connected. He was part of many different organizations that connected him to many different people. He was a common thread that helped the flow of information among revolutionary allies and groups. His connections were a vital resource in planning resistance.

The more people you know--the more resources you have! So get involved!

Things that could destroy America

Some are saying unchecked capitalism could destroy America. Here are some other groups that could destroy America;

unchecked unions,
unchecked environmentalists,
unchecked lobbyists.....

AND my favorite...

unchecked government.

Something to think about.....

"The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain nuetral in times of great moral conflict."

~Martin Luther King Jr.