Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries BY A GOVERNMENT, which we might expect in a country WITHOUT GOVERNMENT, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer. — Thomas Paine, Common Sense, published January 10, 1776

“The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles.”— Colonel Jeff Cooper, The Art of the Rifle

I love Christmas lights. They remind me of the people who voted for Obama.
They all hang together; half of the little bastards don’t work; and the ones that do, aren’t that bright

— Mr. G’s, “Christmas Lights“

“Like and equal are not the same thing at all!”
– Madeleine L’Engle, A Wrinkle in Time

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. — Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863

A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.  — James Freeman Clarke

In America, we are sovereign citizens, not ‘subjects.’ Can it be said that too many of us, in and out of government, have forgotten that, and have all-too-willingly exchanged our individual magnificence for a few cheap handouts and a pack of smooth lies from the lips of those who couldn’t care less? — John S. Farnam, from his article “Your Own Magnificence!“

H/T to Kathy Jackson over at The Cornered Cat, who put this up on her Facebook today and graciously provided me with a link to the source.  BTW, Kathy has started blogging at her site, so go on over and give her a read.

The Good News: Valerie Jarrett made it back from Martha’s Vineyard alive, thanks in large part to her security detail of highly trained professionals. The Bad News: Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans were killed by Islamic Fundamentalists in Benghazi, primarily because the Obama State Department denied their requests for security. — Skook at Flopping Aces

 

I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country. – Nathan Hale  June 6 1755 – September 22, 1776