Two points:

1.  I have been a Palin supporter.  I am slightly disappointed that she decided to not run but if she can help cause everyday conservative values, along with honesty in Washington, to be focal points then she will be doing good work.  She can have a profound effect on the GOP candidates, and in a good way.

2.  Her positions and Cain's positions are nearly alike.  If Cain can stay near the top of the heap he can win.  His weakness is lack of D.C. experience.  He can address that effectively by choosing a running mate who has it.  Santorum and Gingrich come to mind.  He can win if he does that and Sarah throws her support to him.

I don't care a whit that she's not in the race.  I will continue to support her.

The internet serves one important function:  It frustrates liars like nothing else does.  If not for internet clips of President Obama's, "Lincoln was the founder of the Republican Party" gaffe, he would have gotten away with it with a simple denial - and PBS could have successfully rewritten it. 

We can see many examples.  It is no longer so easy to put words in someone else's mouth.  It was Tina Fey, not Palin, who said, "I can see Russia from my house". 

Trouble is those who believe the lies resist discovering the real truth.

"I sometimes fear that I sound like a nag while posting occasional safety reminders, but this is important.   The lack of attentiveness, if only for a second, can be the difference between life and death."

Dave,

Please help to instruct drivers that their duty is to be perfectly, 100% attentive to their job.  Their job is to bring their passengers, their freight, or just themselves to their destination safely.

When you are traveling at 25 mph you may be able to pick up your dropped cigarette, your spilled coffee, or whatever - for a while.  But it will eventually catch you in a moment where you are not paying attention.  That's all it takes.

If you multiply the speeds it reduces reaction times, making your job as driver unbelievably more difficult and dangerous. 

Please don't ever think that because you are a truck driver your insight is unimportant to those of us who take our responsibliities seriously.

Driving is a full-time job. 

Agreed.  Pistols are underpowered and difficult to shoot accurately.  Fifteen yards is a looong way away when things are coming down quickly and the adrenalin is surging.  I agree with the man who said a pistol is useful to fight your way to your long gun. 

They are better than a sharp stick but far inferior to either a rifle or a shotgun.  Their biggest advantage is their convenience. 

I'm worried.  This President has never before experienced this kind of opposition.  As today's press conference illustrated he doesn't have a clue how to deal with it either.  My fear is that his Chicago/Alinsky background will be what he falls back on. 

Could get very ugly.

Paules,

I have owned eight or ten 1911's, from a Remington Rand WWII relic to a Colt Gold Cup.  All worked OK with ball ammunition but none worked well with HP stuff.  They are a good basic design but the newer polymer framed pistols are more reliable out of the box, and carry more cartridges. 

I also never found myself comfortable carrying a 1911 cocked and locked.  A double-action only pistol is safer in that mode. IMHO

But, I share your reverence for the good Colonel.

Dave,

Try here:

http://www.gggaz.com/claymore-mine-trailer-hitch-cover.html

Kenneth,

You certainly do not emulate Reagan.  He did not engage in unfounded rants.  I suspect your assertion that you want another Reagan.

I agree.  Mamet's style may be a result of his being a screenwriter or, maybe something else.  Regardless, it is not a light read.  I find myself taking it in small bites in order to thoroughly understand each paragraph.  He puts more important, and sometimes intentionally disjointed, ideas in a paragraph than most writers put in a chapter.

Yes it is.  I spend a good deal of time in Mexico.  It being an Hispanic country I believe the vast majority of Latin America caught this infection from their forefathers on the Iberian peninsula.

Pat, the same can be said about 'Politically Correct' coverage such as women's basketball.  They believe that they must, out of fairness, give the women equal time but few people read the articles.

Palin is doing something that nobody else has ever done.  She is redefining how American politics operate.  Smart pols are watching what she is doing and making notes.  She has gotten an unbelievable amount of publicity for herself without paying for it. 

She has also reached behind her and helped women succeed - on their own merits.

Peter,

I know it has become common practice but Harry Truman's middle name was S with no period after it.  I was taught that in writing the English language putting a period after a letter means you are abbreviating a word.  The S is not an abbreviation of a longer middle name.

Everyone does it, even Wikipedia: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman

Maybe I should leave it alone but it seems to stand out every time see it.

The two, Cain and SWMNBN (Love that) are both anti-establishment candidates.  If Her history tells us anything expect 'She' to delay her declaration until the very last possible minute.  That is if she does declare.  I think she will. 

Delaying will cause two things:

1. The suspense will cause the media, and especially the blogosphere, to obsess over what she's doing and why she hasn't declared. 

2. When she does declare the stress relief will cause nonstop commenting.  She has the pundits and the people curious enough to be fascinated. 

She has done a masterful job to date of keeping the media talking about her - at no expense to herself.  We/they are in effect campaigning for her.

Brilliant.

The image was taken in Spain.  Here's the link. 

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/451117

The signs are in Spanish and the red an yellow banners are the color of the Spanish flag:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Spain

Still it's not a comforting image.

Pat,

Just lately I have seen several references challenges to false statistics.  Seems like the use of them is on the verge of being challenged by some.  Good for you to take up the cause.  You are an example to us all.

Love the DMUN acronym. 

Squishy Blue RINO is right.  Mrs. and I lived for twelve years on a sailboat.  You can remain connected out there, anywhere in the world, with the right gadgets.  But, if you choose to disconnect you can.  The problem is making the choice.  Once we get used to the instant communication we are enjoying here it is difficult to give it up.

The Brooks Range of Alaska is another possibility as J. C. Casteel points out. 

Again it requires effort and determination.