"He Fights."

The post title was Abraham Lincoln's famous response to reporters who wanted to know why he stuck with U.S. Grant even after blistering attacks by the press and members of his own party. I think the same response sums up the GOP rank-and-file response to Rand Paul. He fights.

And, he wins. Yes, so does Chris Christie, but he is the darling of the GOP establishment.

Me? As a pro-defense, pro-American exceptionalism, small-l libertarian Republican, I'm on the fence. Both Paul and Christie have a lot to offer the GOP, and I like - and get frustrated - with both. Both are playing very long games - something that the post-Reagan/W. crowd did not. Paul and Christie are the de facto leaders of the two main camps in the GOP now, and them finding unity is the only the GOP is going to win in 2016.

Equality.

If you listen to The Left / Mainstream Media narrative, you will learn that Concealed Carry is simply a very dangerous way for certain men (namely white, Christian, middle-class conservatives) to compensate for their inadequacies, and it has never stopped a single crime from happening. So clearly, this didn't occur.

A Scout Is Trustworthy, Right?

The Boy Scouts of America is selling this mini-keychain LED light, which looks an awful lot like one designed by my friend Doug Ritter and sold by Essential Gear.

Does it rip-off Doug? You decide.

Right now I'm willing to give the BSA product folks the benefit of doubt, that they didn't know about Doug's original when they bought the Chinese knockoff. I have faith the BSA will live up to the Scout Oath and Law and do the right thing now that they know about the conflict. Don't disappoint an old Eagle Scout, guys.

An Honorable Man.

It is physically impossible for Cajun native and former Kansas City Royals pitcher Gil Meche to ever become a politician. Here's why.

Back when America considered itself an exceptional nation, such a decision would have been expected. Nowadays, not so much.

Election Day.

GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!!

UPDATE: Poll watching today. Turnout is not (so far) heavy here in Baton Rouge. The rainy weather is likely a contributing factor, but I am worried about complacency here and in other parts of the country. Just because your humble blogger and many others are talking about a blowout, it won't happen if you do not GET OUT AND VOTE!

You won't melt in the rain, dear readers - get to the polls!

Well, Good.

The Internet is dragging Britain away from Europe and towards the Anglosphere:

The community of English-speaking nations is, potentially, the greatest force for freedom in the world. But, for the past 40 years it has been ignored by its constituent governments. Not any more. Truly the Internet is a wonderful phenomenon.

Yes, it is.

Good Guys 3, Bad Guys, 0.

I just love good news, and this time it comes from from Alexandria, Louisiana. Interestingly, the police did not release the names of the wounded, alleged suspects because the cases were "under investigation", but did release the names and addresses of the victims who defended themselves.

Do I Miss Him Yet? Why Yes, I Do.

And it takes a lot for me to say this, but oh, for the good old days when when presidents were, well, presidential, and not deferential. At least W had a pair:

"Yeah, we water-boarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed," Bush said of the terrorist who master-minded the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington. He said that event shaped his presidency and convinced him the nation was in a war against terror.

"I'd do it again to save lives."

How many Islamic terror attacks were there in the US between September 12, 2001, and January 20, 2009? And how many have there been since? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Time For School.

Mark Steyn on 'the end of the world as we know it'.
Watch it all. There will be a test - it's called the future.

Why The Second Amendment Matters.

It's not about protecting "sporting uses"; it's about protecting your rights and your life.

Pray For Haiti. (UPDATED)

They need it. And give. Christopher Johnson has some excellent suggestions about where you can donate. Also, Chris' comments about Pat Robertson's Haiti comments are spot on.

UPDATE: Pat Robertson should remember Mark Twain more often.

UPDATE 15JAN10: Danny Glover should remember Mark Twain, too. Plate tectonics and climates. Not exactly the same thing.