"From my cold dead fingers!"

"I will make a deal with the gun grabbers. The first time I do ANYTHING illegal with my firearms, then we can talk about losing my right to own. Until that time, my guns are my property, legally obtained, legally stored and legally used." 

Interesting day yesterday. I went to a local sporting goods store to buy some "soon to be illegal" ammo. For a Friday, the place was really hopping. Why? Fear, mostly. I chatted with some of the staff, as well as some of the customers. ALL were very aware of what was going on in St. Paul. NONE liked it, not one bit. One gentleman I chatted with, was just finalizing a sale on a .40 cal sidearm. He told me he already owned ten other guns. I then asked him what he would do if Minnesota enacted some kind of confiscatory law against guns. He looked at me with an emotionless face and said, "If they come for my guns, they will have to pry them from my cold dead fingers."

Then it dawned on me. These were not common criminals, who were shopping in this store. They were law abiding citizens, exercising their God given right to own a firearm. As for myself, my record is spotless - only one minor traffic ticket from thirty years ago. In fact, my record is so clean, a CID officer told me after one of my SCI background checks, investigating me was "boring". And yet, if the Democrats have their way, I will soon be a criminal.

Come on Bird! Cut the drama! Drama? I wish it were so. In Oregon they just passed a bill where owning any mag which holds over five rounds is illegal. If you own one, you are a criminal. Five rounds? Where do you buy a mag like that? I have never seen one. Standard mags hold much more than five rounds. They have a similar law in New Jersey, only with mags holding slightly more than five rounds. Plus in Oregon, the amount of ammo you can have on hand in minuscule. So what does that have to do with Minnesota? Plenty. The gun grabbers in St.Paul already have bills in process which will turn tens of thousands of Minnesotans into instant criminals.

Only a snowflake could be this clueless. This clueless that to believe that disarming law abiding citizens would take care of gun violence. It will only make it worse. The age old adage of "when you outlaw guns, only the outlaws will have guns", will ring true in every corner of the state. Meanwhile, the most important right which is contained in the Bill of Rights is about to be sullied. Maybe sullied beyond repair.

I will make a deal with the gun grabbers. The first time I do ANYTHING illegal with my firearms, then we can talk about losing my right to own. Until that time, my guns are my property, legally obtained, legally stored and legally used. If the grabbers want to change the "legally" to "illegally" we are going to have a problem. Not just with me, with legions just like me. 

Paul Wellstone - a moderate?

"Folks, if you voted for Democrats this time around, I suggest you review your bidding. The new Democrats are not even close to being qualified to lead. Or to govern. Or anything. We need the adults back in charge, and soon."

It has been said many times by many people much smarter than I, that if John F. Kennedy were alive today, he would be either a conservative Democrat or a moderate Republican. That is how much the Democrat party has devolved in the past 60 years. That led me to thinking about our own Minnesota Senator from yesteryear - Paul Wellstone. How would he be viewed today?

Years ago when I was a road warrior, I would often fly back home on the 5:20 pm NWA flight. Some of the time, Senator Wellstone was also on that flight, as his work in DC was done for the week. Most of the team I traveled with got to know the Senator. Most of my team were moderate to conservative, so there was nothing really in common with Senator Wellstone. That is, except we all cared for our home state of Minnesota. Plus - putting politics aside, he was very engaging. A nice guy.

There is one thing I did admire about him politically. Even though we agreed on practically nothing, his views seldom if ever, changed. His views yesterday were the same as today, and would probably be the same tomorrow. Now contrast that with the Clown Car who runs the Democrat Party today. For example, what is their position on the wall? Depends on what year you ask them. Seems like they all were in favor of it at some time. Now they are death on it. There are many other issues they are also fickle on.

I wonder how Senator Wellstone, who was Jewish, would react to the recent addition of anti-Semite nut balls who were just sworn in. Heck, one is from Minnesota. So much for the "big tent" on the Left. How would he like dealing with these young and dumb ones who think we should become another Sweden?Just because some professor told AOC that it would be "cool" to live there. 

No, I think if Paul Wellstone were alive today and still in the Senate, he might look more moderate than progressive. Heck, even the nut ball Hillary is looking moderate compared to this new crop we now have. 

That led me to some serious thinking. If this one time firebrand, Paul Wellstone, would look somewhat normal compared to what we have today, and if this trend continues, what will the Democrats look like in twenty years? Will they be run by Antifa? Or worse? 

Folks, if you voted for Democrats this time around, I suggest you review your bidding. The new Democrats are not even close to being qualified to lead. Or to govern. Or anything. We need the adults back in charge, and soon. 2020 cannot come soon enough. In fact, the damage this crew might do before 2020 might be irreversible.  

What part of history don't they understand?

"As long as our schools refuse to teach true American history, or civics, we will be in trouble with the Second Amendment. We are "Common Coring" ourselves into the dust bin of history. It is up to us citizens and patriots to ensure that does not happen." 

I am back folks. Bit R. Clinger, in the flesh.The Bird asked me to help out this morning with my favorite topic. The one which the Left loves to hate. Yes, I am talking about the Second Amendment. The one which many true historians feel is the most important. The one which protects the other Amendments. The one with which people on the Left have no clue about. 

It seems the Loons are out in force already, down at St. Paul, protesting. Now they have red shirts on, so they can be easily identified. Plus they say "Mom's against guns" or something like that. You know, hit the heartstrings. How about logic? Like why does gun violence happen? The only answer they have come up with, the solution they are going to try and ride home on, is this - disarm innocent citizens and patriots. 

Well this is it in a nutshell. I have been a proud life member of the NRA since Moses. Not the real Moses silly - Charlton Heston. As the NRA President, Heston inspired me. I will never forget at the national convention, he held up a flintlock and said. "from my cold, dead fingers." Wow! Now there was a leader. I like having Ollie North as our current President,  but Charlton Heston - he could electrify a crowd.

Having some kind of a firearm in your house, or on your body, is a very simple God given, or natural, right. To some degree, it is like protecting the borders of our country. It is not that we hate those who are trying to illegally get in, we just love the ones we are protecting from them. The same with owning a firearm. It is to protect yourself and the ones you love. Hopefully in Minnesota, one day it can also be to protect your property rights. 

I have talked to liberals until I am blue in the face. About why the Second Amendment was put in by the Framers. Why this Amendment had language which sets it aside from the others. Why it is so short, so easy to read, even a liberal should be able to understand it. But they don't. In fact, many think having it in the Bill of Rights was either a mistake, a misinterpretation, or it is now obsolete. And therefore, should be removed. 

The Left's favorite response to a Second Amendment argument is, "Well, we have a militia. We have the military for foreign threats, and the police for domestic threats." My response is always is the same. I agree with them - to a point. I then ask how we police the police - if they become corrupt. I ask how we control our government, if it becomes tyrannical.

The reason the Second Amendment was put in by the Framers had nothing to do with hunting or sport shooting. It had everything to do with the last resort. The stop gap. Something we hope we never have to use. It is one of the important credos which sets us apart from the rest of the world.

History is replete with stories of counties whose citizens have allowed themselves to be disarmed by their government. And then, when their government becomes their master instead of their servant, things do not turn out well for the citizens. Nor for liberty.

As long as our schools refuse to teach true American history, or civics, we will be in trouble with the Second Amendment. We are "Common Coring" ourselves into the dust bin of history. It is up to us citizens and patriots to ensure that does not happen. Educate those who will listen. Resist those who will not. How much is riding on this? Everything folks. Just plain everything. 

Traffic jam on the Moon!

"Anyhow, we are getting ready to see a traffic jam on the Moon. We won't be in that jam, but we can watch everyone else get caught up in it. My view has not changed. NASA continues to under perform. Sure, there has been periods of excellence. But for the amount we spend on NASA, we get little in return."

I want to go back and re-visit China's space program. Why? What they did last month was pretty darned extraordinary. Landing a rover on the dark side of the Moon, when during the landing phase, the lander had to be totally autonomous (China's AI at work). That - was quite a feat! I mean heck, landing on the front side of the Moon has become almost passe. Just because we don't do it anymore, does not mean that others won't.

What others? We are still the "Mack Daddy" of space flight, are we not? We do after all, fund NASA around $35B annually for their science projects. Guess what folks? Other countries have figured out how to go into space and have fun for a whole lot less. For example, China, who just landed the CE-4 on the dark side of the Moon (something we cannot yet do), did so with a space budget with 1/7th of ours. And they are not done. They have plans for more and more travels as we get into the 2020's.

The Euro Space Agency (ESA) has a budget of $5.7B. The Russians a bit over $3B. Don't know what the budget of India and Japan are, but those two countries also want a bite of the apple. They also want to visit the Moon with rovers. In fact, China has been in talks with the ESA about a joint Moon base idea. Sooner rather than later. 

What about us? What is our next big shebang at NASA? I will put Blue Origin and SpaceX aside for the time being. I want to talk only about our $35B a year baby - NASA. For starters, another Mars rover is planned for July of 2020 (yawn). Then by 2025, NASA wants to have a Lunar orbiter launched. Much smaller than the ISS, it would spend much of its time uninhabited by us. However, it could be for rent to any other country who might want to use it.

A part time Lunar orbiter by 2025? That is it NASA? Hello? First country to the Moon fifty years ago? How about a Moon base? You are NASA for crying out loud! With the budget we have, we should have had Moon bases established decades ago. Meanwhile, Elon Musk is still planning to send a Japanese billionaire to the Moon by 2023 using his SpaceX program. Bezos on the other hand, is backing off a bit on near term Moon ambitions.

Anyhow, we are getting ready to see a traffic jam on the Moon. We won't be in that jam, but we can watch everyone else get caught up in it. My view has not changed. NASA continues to under perform. Sure, there has been periods of excellence. But for the amount we spend on NASA, we get little in return. My motto - Moon base or bust!

Wintering our discontent...

"We will forge ahead and try to hold on. The fact that we are right and they are still wrong seems not to matter to the minions. They have all taken their blue pills and entered the Matrix." 

Christmas is over, we are knee deep into January, the new Congress has been sworn in, as has the new Minnesota Legislature and Governor. And - so? Here is the "so". It has not taken me long to reach the end of my grace period. My "new year, blank slate" objective has taken a major hit. In other words, I have a whole lot of discontent. This thing on the southern border, - no, scratch that. I mean this thing with ALL OF IMMIGRATION, is driving me nuts. It is like the socialist democrats are hell bent on destroying our country, just by using illegal immigration.

For example, every clear thinking person knows that Donald Trump is spot on to build the wall. With securing our borders. Getting control of the tens of thousands of illegals who try and breach our borders each and every month. Then why in the world would the Lefties be so against the President? Why on this first day in office, would the new Governor of California want to give illegals even MORE rights? Why???

One of the biggest difference between conservatives and socialists has always been this simple. The conservatives, the patriots, like to be left alone. Live and let live (within the laws of the land, as well as our Constitution). The socialists on the other hand, love to get all up in your business. Force illegal immigration on us. Take the guns away from innocent gun owners. Raise taxes just for the hell of it. In fact, they got so much all up in our business under Obama, our economy slowed to a crawl. Our military could not fight a war without cannibalizing equipment. For a super power, we were a mess. 

I have never seen such dysfunctional leadership in Congress as we have now. I have never seen bigger radicals than we have in either the State House or Congress right now. What is the bright side to look forward too? You tell me. All I can see is fighting like crazy to keep what few rights we have left in this state. The socialists would love to drain our funds and make us all the same - all poor. Why do I say poor? No matter how rich our country is, we can spend more than we have. Just look at our national debt. 

I did not realize until the past few days just what a punch in the gut losing this past election was. I guess reality had not set in until the socialists were sworn in yesterday. And now they have power over us. This bunch of misfits and nut balls, many of whom cannot even turn on a flashlight in a dark room, will be running the state as well as the country. 

I long for the 1980's. I long for the days of Ronald Reagan. I long for how he would always tell us we were the bight shining city on the hill. No matter the time of day it was, it was always morning in America with Ronald Reagan. No matter the season, we never had the discontent of winter. The economy worked, the military worked, the people worked. Sure, we still had a bunch of Democrats running around - but they were sane compared to this bunch. 

We will forge ahead and try to hold on. The fact that we are right and they are still wrong seems not to matter to the minions. They have all taken their blue pills and entered the Matrix. Stay tuned folks, what is going to happen on the southern border this month could be a crucible moment in our country. If we lose that fight, we will really be lost.    

And which direction are we going?

"To really know which direction we are heading, we have some tough questions to be answered first. Hopefully, we elected people not to just run their yaps and act outrageously. I hope we elected people who should be able to lead. If not, the direction we will be headed this year will be straight to nowhereville - and fast."

Now that we are in the new year, most folks plan out the year ahead. Not in any great, nor excruciating detail, but a general direction would be nice. Like - where are we going? Not as a family, but as a country. Some think we are going over the cliff. That Donald Trump is taking us down the road to debauchery, decadence and defeat. Others think Donald Trump is taking us on the road to live in some of our greatest days. Prosperity, power and pride. 

I know. Starting off the year with the government shut down does not reflect well on anyone. Not to play Monday morning quarterback, but I hate the fact this shutdown came around Christmas and the New Year. Election be damned, it should have come on October 1st. Why? No budget. We were promised no more CR's, and we got one anyhow. All the funding documents AND the fence issue should have been resolved at that time. And if it resulted in the government be shuttered for a short time, better then than now.

The government shut down will be resolved, one way or the other. We need to, so we can go in a solid direction this year. To not solve it, would leave us going in circles with our immigration problem, like we have for so many years in the past. Once it is settled, I would love for our country to try to get along with each other - if just for a bit. We have some very important things to discuss, to agree on.

Like what? For starters - entitlements. We have swept that issue under the rug long enough. Most young people think it is more likely now to see Santa Clause riding in a UFO than to collect one dollar of their Social Security. And yet, the money keeps coming out of their checks, week after week, month after month, year after year.

We first need to fess up that this FDR Great Society program is really nothing more than a Ponzi Scheme, on the grandest of scales. Always has been. It needs to be scraped and re-worked into something sustainable. This year. Then while we are at it, Medicare and Medicaid also need to be addressed. Same issue. This year. 

Healthcare. BTW ICYMI - we still have ObamaCare. Warts and everything, it is the law of the land. Only now, since the mandate was scrubbed, a judge has ruled it unconstitutional. 
Why is it critical to fix it soon? Many people today are paying more for medical coverage than they are paying for their house payments. This is wrong. It needs to be fixed. This year. 

Which leads me to the final sticky wicket which needs to be fixed. Our national debt. It is getting ready to crest $22T. Some say not to worry about it. It is only money we owe ourselves and the Chinese. Others say this is a ticking time bomb. I side with that faction. This is a non-partisan issue. Both sides have run this debt up. So, somehow, somewhere, we need to get ahold of this issue. One more thing - our unfunded liabilities (That SS and Medicare are a part of), are almost $122T. Time to get serious about this issue. We have been living "off the card" long enough. We need a national discussion. This year.

One more tiny issue with regards to our national debt. Last year the Fed raised interest rates numerous times. Every time the interest rates go up, the cost to service this gargantuan debt also goes up. More money to service our debt, less money for everything else. And the Fed has threatened to keep raising the rates throughout 2019.

That is my two cents worth. To really know which direction we are heading, we have some tough questions to be answered first. Hopefully, we elected people not to just run their yaps and act outrageously. I hope we elected people who can lead on tough issues. If not, the direction we will be headed this year will be straight to nowhereville - and fast.   

Don't let the door hit you...

"Donald Trump wants us to build a wall to keep out people who are not vetted nor legal. This wall however, is one way. Anyone who wants to leave, may do so."

"Don't let the door hit you, where nature has split you!" Now that - is an old saying. Goes back many a year. However for today, we might have to pull it out of the closet. Seems that according to the HuffPost (a publication I NEVER lean on), sixteen percent of our snowflakes find living in Trump's America is so bad, so repugnant, they want to leave the country. Not like vacation leave - go live in another country leave. 

Why not? I did. I left the country for a year and a half and lived in another country. Gave me some great perspective. I have always loved my country, but when my tour in Okinawa was over, I loved it even more. Why? I saw how grim life can be elsewhere. Even though Okinawa was an American Protectorate at that time, life there was still grim compared to what it was in the United States. 

Many of the 16% who want to leave are socialist democrats. In other words - snowflakes. They hate Trump more than they love this country. So they want to quit - they want to leave. Even though it has been since the Reagan years that this country had hit on as many cylinders as it is now - they want to leave. Even though millions throughout the world would LOVE to come here either legally or illegally - they want to leave. Even though the American Experiment has tried to be emulated by many other countries, and the United States has proven to me the greatest country which ever existed - they want to leave.

Donald Trump wants us to build a wall to keep people out who are not vetted nor legal. This wall however, is one way. Anyone who wants to leave, may do so. Unlike North Korea, this wall is not to keep citizens in against their will.

Right now, I am thinking I might have to dig out my out bumper sticker from years ago - "America - love it or leave it". True back then, true today. If you don't want to be a part of the mix, if you don't want to assimilate, if you don't want to help this nation grow - then leave. Now. You can easily be replaced. Once you are gone, the real truth will smack you in the face. Living in these United States is a privilege. And now you have blown it. 

I have seen some representatives of the sixteen percent who want to leave. You can see them also - just drive into parts of Minneapolis. There you can find a cesspool of America haters, Trump haters, and freedom haters. Most big blue cities have these misfits. Comes with the territory.

One final word. As the kids will say while playing, "See ya, would not want to be ya!" My feelings exactly to this ungrateful mob. You have said your piece, you have shut down our streets, you have shown your coarseness when addressing our elected leaders. Now leave. And don't come back. The citizens here deserve better.