The conversion of a liberal

In my readings I came upon this excellent column by former liberal Cinammon Stillwell who writes for the SFGate.com in California. I think she really states quite eloquently the difference between liberals and conservatives and the underlying reason why the two groups are so different. Despite what the left says, we conservatives are the party of tolerance and choice, while the liberals try to silence any who don't agree with them. Below are a few choice excerpts. You can read the rest <here>


As one of a handful of Bay Area conservative columnists; I'm no stranger to pushing buttons. Indeed, I welcome feedback from readers, whether positive or negative. I find the interplay stimulating, but I am often bemused by the stereotypical assumptions made by my critics on the left. It's not enough to simply disagree with my views; I have to be twisted into a conservative caricature that apparently makes opponents feel superior. They seem not to have considered that it's possible to put forward different approaches to various societal problems and not be the devil incarnate.
But in some ways I understand where this perspective comes from, because I once shared it. I was raised in liberal Marin County, and my first name (which garners more comments than anything else) is a direct product of the hippie generation. Growing up, I bought into the prevailing liberal wisdom of my surroundings because I didn't know anything else. I wrote off all Republicans as ignorant, intolerant yahoos. It didn't matter that I knew none personally; it was simply de rigueur to look down on such people. The fact that I was being a bigot never occurred to me, because I was certain that I inhabited the moral high ground.
Having been indoctrinated in the post colonialist, self-loathing school of multiculturalism, I thought America was the root of all evil in the world. Its democratic form of government and capitalist economic system was nothing more than a machine in which citizens were forced to be cogs. I put aside the nagging question of why so many people all over the world risk their lives to come to the United States. Freedom of speech, religious freedom, women's rights, gay rights (yes, even without same-sex marriage), social and economic mobility, relative racial harmony and democracy itself were all taken for granted in my narrow, insulated worldview.
So, what happened to change all that? In a nutshell, 9/11. The terrorist attacks on this country were not only an act of war but also a crime against humanity. It seemed glaringly obvious to me at the time, and it still does today. But the reaction of my former comrades on the left bespoke a different perspective. The day after the attacks, I dragged myself into work, still in a state of shock, and the first thing I heard was one of my co-workers bellowing triumphantly, "Bush got his war!" There was little sympathy for the victims of this horrific attack, only an irrational hatred for their own country.

House Passes Resolution Opposing Bush's Plan to Send More Troops to Iraq

I think this says it all doesn't it?
The Democrat party has officially declared they are against our military and DO NOT support them. HOW can you say you support our troops and even pass a toothless resolution like this that will only embolden our enemies that our MEN AND WOMEN are fighting over in Iraq. Notice I said MEN AND WOMEN not our children, not our boys and girls. Our president has sent over men and women that volunteered for military service, they weren't drafted, they enlisted willingly knowing that someday they may be called to protect our country.
Remember, that just 2 years ago the democrats were calling to raise our troop levels, and now that the president has done that, they are screaming about it. They are a party of obstructionists, and only care about remaining in power. Our founding fathers would be absolutely stunned to see what has happened to the brilliant system of government they have designed.
For a resolution to even come up like this is disgusting. The democrat party is made up of mostly far left leaning, america hating, moonbats. just watch c-span sometime and watch their speeches on the floor of the house and senate if you need any convincing.
It's also good for a laugh. It's pretty pathetic to think of the salaries these people get, and don't even pay income tax on. Explain that one to me. But that is a topic for another rant!

this is what steams me!

here is the body of an email I recieved showing the votes in the senate for a few issues that are near and dear to my heart. Namely english as America's official language, and should we as american, tax paying, law abiding citizens, allow illegal, non-english speaking, law breaking(just by the very fact that they are here illegally) aliens, to collect social security, which they have not paid into by the way. I find it quite telling that mostly democrats voted against and for these issues, but there are also a few republicans among the usual suspects. What do we do? Contact them and tell them how you feel. here for your viewing pleasure, are the 2 votes:

Shocking Senatorial Votes

The following senators voted against making English the official language of America :

Akaka (D-HI)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dodd (D-CT)
Domenici (R-NM)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Now, the following are the senators who voted to give illegal aliens Social Security benefits. They are grouped by home state. If a state is not listed, there was no voting representative.

Alaska: Stevens (R)
Arizona: McCain (R)
Arkansas: Lincoln (D) Pryor (D)
California: Boxer (D) Feinstein (D)
Colorado: Salazar (D)
Connecticut: Dodd (D) Lieberman (D)
Delaware: Biden (D) Carper (D)
Florida: Martinez (R)
Hawaii: Akaka (D) Inouye (D)
Illinois: Durbin (D) Obama (D)
Indiana: Bayh (D) Lugar (R)
Iowa: Harkin (D)
Kansas: Brownback (R)
Louisiana: Landrieu (D)
Maryland: Mikulski (D) Sarbanes (D)
Massachusetts: Kennedy (D) Kerry (D)
Montana: Baucus (D)
Nebraska: Hagel (R)
Nevada: Reid (D)
New Jersey: Lautenberg (D) Menendez (D)
New Mexico: Bingaman (D)
New York: Clinton (D) Schumer (D)
North Dakota: Dorgan (D)
Ohio: DeWine (R) Voinovich(R)
Oregon: Wyden (D)
Pennsylvania: Specter (R)
Rhode Island: Chafee (R) Reed (D)
South Carolina: Graham (R)
South Dakota: Johnson (D)
Vermont: Jeffords (I) Leahy (D)
Washington: Cantwell (D) Murray (D)
West Virginia: Rockefeller (D), by Not Voting
Wisconsin: Feingold (D) Kohl (D)

my first post

Today we finally got hammered with about 2 feet of snow!

After a very mild winter, it was bound to happen. we had extremely cold temps the last week or so leading up to this. So much for global warming I say!
Skiing next week will be great for all, after hitting the slopes with pretty much manmade stuff, it will be a real treat. I am hoping to take a snowboarding lesson next week. After growing up on skis, it's time to explore some new avenues...