From the Libertarian Party of Indiana

School Choice the Saving Grace of Special Session Disaster

Report from The Liberator Online

Indianapolis, IN – School choice and educational reform were at the center of the budget fight, and in the end, the taxpayer and students won. This budget ends the unquestioned support of the failing public education system, and creates a spark for alternative educational choices to be created. The General Assembly passed a pilot program for online virtual schools, and created a $2.5 million a year tax credit for private schools. The destructive caps for charter schools on charter schools have been removed, which may provide additional future funding through grants.

“The last 175 days of the General Assembly have been a disaster,” said Libertarian Party State Chairman Sam Goldstein. “It was a disgrace that over $150,000 went into the pockets of old party professional politicians who squabbled like children. In the end, there was at least one shining spot in all of this: a chance to educate our children in a proper and effective manner. Our public education system is totally broken, and should no longer be supported. This was a step in the right direction, but does not go far enough. The Libertarian Party of Indiana will run 100 State House and 25 State Senate candidates to ensure that total education reform is implemented.”

We have cause to give thanks on this Independence Day for the gain and hope school children now have in the Hoosier state.  Happy Independence Day to all my readers.

Go Galt on July 30th!

“Going Galt” with fellow Conservatives!

On July 30th, Conservatives are “Going Galt”. On that date, we are asking Conservatives all across the nation to “Call in Conservative”. On July 30th, Conservatives will not work, we will not buy. Instead, we will spend time with our families and friends. We will show President Obama and Congress who REALLY drives this economy. For more information on “A Day Without Conservatives , contact Judson Phillips at judson@teapartynation.com.

This is coming from Tea Party Nation.   What better way to show the Obama administration and Congress WHO drives the economy than this!  I would suggest that even if you must work, take your lunch,  don’t do any “free market business on this day”.  Make sure your tank is full on the 29th and don’t do any shopping of any kind, even on the internet.   This is a powerful way to demonstrate, that doesn’t require time away from your family… in fact you can enjoy an extra day with family and teach your children about peaceful dissent when government gets out of control and what the Constitution is really about and means to them.   I support this effort 100%. Please send a link to their site to everyone you know that is sick of the spend and tax policies of the Obama administration and Congress!   The inmates are running the asylum,  so it’s time for a shake down.

Important Update!!!

Message from Smart Girl Politics:

Give a shout out to all your friends to protest outside their US Representative or US Senators office this Friday, July 17th at 12 to 1 EST.

Hoosiers!  More data just in:

July 17 – Protest against Health Care Reform

I have only received a hand full of patriots that have confirmed they are marching on July 17.
With that in mind I have narrowed the locations to a few:

Sen. Evan Bayh – INDIANAPOLIS DISTRICT OFFICE:
1650 Market Tower,   10 W. Market St., Indianapolis, IN 46204

Sen.  Richard Lugar – INDIANAPOLIS DISTRICT OFFICE:
1180 Market Tower, 10 West Market St., Indianapolis, IN 46204

Congressman Baron Hll – SEYMOUR, IN – 301 North Chestnut

There is a nationwide rally protesting ObamaCare!   The Tea Party Patriots are sponsoring the event.   Pass it on! We have less than a week.

This is a last minute initiative.  My suggestion is that you get with friends and family in the Tea Party movement and ask them to spend their lunch time to show up at your local Senator or Congressman’s office and cover making a “protest presence” over ObamaCare.  This is to make a public message to go along with the petitions, faxes, and emails that they find easy to ignore.  One hour is all that is asked, but will make the end effect of the communication complete.  If you can help or give the hour of your time, your fellow freedom loving citizens will be grateful.  Thank you.

From Major Dick Winters’ WWII Memoirs

I personally think that this should be “required reading” along with the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and  Bill of Rights, for our House of Representatives and Senate.  In my opinion, they have continually demonstrated that most of them do not possess a modicum of spinal fortitude or leadership skills.

Leadership at the Point of the Bayonet

Ten Principals for Success

1. Strive to be a leader of character, competence, and courage.

2. Lead from the front.  Say, “Follow me!” and then lead the way.

3. Stay in top physical shape—physical stamina is the root of mental toughness.

4. Develop your team.  If you know your people, are fair in setting realistic goals and expectations, and lead by example, you will develop teamwork.

5. Delegate responsibility to your subordinates and let them do their jobs.  You can’t do a good job if you don’t have a chance to use your imagination and your creativity.

6. Anticipate problems and prepare to overcome obstacles.  Don’t wait until you get to the top of the ridge and then make up your mind.

7. Remain humble.  Don’t worry about who recieves the credit.  Never let power or authority go to your head.

8. Take a moment of self-reflection.  Look at yourself in the mirror every night and ask yourself if you did your best.

9. True satisfaction comes from getting the job done.  The key to a successful leader is to earn respect—not because of rank or position, but because you are a leader of character.

10. Hang Tough!—Never, ever, give up.

Major Dick Winters
Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division
“Band of Brothers”

From:  “Beyond Band of Brothers, The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters”

U.S. Marines launch major offensive in Afghanistan

This post is in support of our troops going in harm’s way in Afghanistan right now.  They are my heroes, and are on the top of my prayer list as they go forward to try to make a difference.

U.S. Marines launch major offensive in Afghanistan

From the article:

Officials described the offensive — dubbed Khanjar or “Strike of the Sword” — as the largest and fastest-moving of the war’s new phase and the biggest Marine offensive since the one in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004. It involves nearly 4,000 newly arrived Marines plus 650 Afghan forces. British forces last week led similar, but smaller, missions to clear out insurgents in Helmand and neighboring Kandahar province.

“Where we go we will stay, and where we stay, we will hold, build and work toward transition of all security responsibilities to Afghan forces,” Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson said in a statement.

You can read the entire news article by clicking on the title link above.

U.S. Marines launch key operation in Afghanistan

By Peter Graff — Reuter’s UK reporter

SORKHDOZ, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Thousands of U.S. Marines stormed deep into Taliban territory in an Afghan valley on Thursday, marking the start of a major new effort by the Obama administration to regain the initiative in the war.

The Marines met little resistance on day one of Operation Khanjar, or Strike of the Sword, to seize almost all the lower Helmand River valley, heartland of the Taliban insurgency and the world’s biggest opium poppy producing region.

One U.S. Marine was killed and several others were wounded during the day, the Marines said in a statement, adding that they had not received any confirmed reports of civilian casualties or damage to property.

Article continues…

Other news from Afghanistan:

Taliban nabs US soldier in Afghanistan

However the offensive was overshadowed by news of what the military said is the first capture of an American soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan in two to three years.

“A US soldier who has been missing since June 30 from his assigned unit is believed to have been captured by militant forces,” said US military spokeswoman Captain Elizabeth Mathias. “We are using all of our available resources to find him and provide for his safe return.”

A commander of the Taliban’s Haqqani faction, named Bahram, said his militia had captured the soldier in Paktika province, along with three Afghan guards.

He said the soldier had been taken to “a safe place” and demands would likely be made for his release.

“Our leaders have not decided on the fate of this soldier. They will decide on his fate and soon we will present video tapes of the coalition soldier and our demand to media,” he said.

The US military has described the al-Qa’ida-linked Haqqani network as one of the “most lethal Taliban organisations”.

The missing soldier was captured outside his base and was not part of the new US-led operation, in which about 4000 US marines and 650 Afghan troops mobilised yesterday with orders to clear the southern region of militants and restore government services.

The entire news article can be accessed by clicking on the title link above.

All who love America and our troops, please remember these brave men and women who are fighting, pray for the families of the fallen and wounded, and pray that the soldier being held captive, is safely released.  We cannot love and support our military enough right now.