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Donald Trump exploits the trouble in River City

Donald Trump knows there’s trouble, right here in River City.  Trouble with a capital “T” and it rhymes with “P” and it stands for Party.  That’s the Republican Party, folks.  The Republican Party and its politicians, Establishment, RINOs, Insiders and everyone else who failed to fight against President Barry Soetero, the Democrats, Mainstream Media, Hollywood and Academics hell bent on radically transforming America.  Trump captures the outrage, and more importantly, the disgust in those who didn’t do their duty to defend America and our way of life.

Trump’s power and potential rides a wave of passion like every good movement or revolution.  Yet, his leadership is more of the Music Man huckster, than Mr. Smith Goes to Washington virtue.  Meanwhile, his unmatched outspokenness is such a clear beacon to many, that any criticism of Trump is met with scorn.  His followers, “Trumpians”, respond with bitter, personal, vindictive accusations.  How unfortunate.

The Trumpian response is fueled by their contempt for the status quo.  Any criticism of Trump equals support of the same ‘stuff’.   Even if it is merely an unfavorable comparison with the other revolutionary pariah, Ted Cruz.  Such exclusive loyalty to Donald Trump is folly.

Granted, Trumpians have taken the true measure of their real opponents racing for the Republican nomination.  The Republican Establishment – for the lack of a universally-accepted label – mocks Trumpian and Cruz supporters in the preening arrogance of their superior, political pragmatism.   The political class fails to recognize, let alone concede, their feckless, impotent, fawning cowardice.  Or, their incompetent and traitorous failure to do their duty in Congress.  Their abject fealty is to politics as just business – in the business of power and money, money and power.

So, it’s the height of folly to bash Cruz and his cohort – who are the foundational and intellectual allies of Trumpians.

The fallacy is to put so much trust in Trump.

Trump isn’t a bad fellow as far as extreme narcissists go.  He actually may mean everything he says when he says it – today.  He may not mean it, remember it, or stick with it – tomorrow.  The liberal, progressive, pro-abortion, anti-gun, pro-socialized medicine, illegal alien amnesty positions Trump held a few years ago – and funded with millions of dollars to our detriment weren’t dropped because he had a conversion to Conservative ideas.   His positions changed based on opportunity.

Trump is posturing his positions.  Trump doesn’t have our principles.  He has never been encumbered by a Conservative principle as an anchor.  Or, values as a moral plumb line.  The single, life long principle of Trump is self-promotion.

Politics is a business – with severe consequences for your family, faith and freedom.  It’s also show business for people less than Hollywood beautiful.  Just as the Music Man hustled the folks in River City, Trump is acting in a new reality TV show.  His reality TV show was great practice for running for President.  Trump has a huge audience emotionally entrusted in himself.  Trump is a character, but not a man of great and good character.

Trump’s petty, childish and Alinskyite personal attacks on Cruz are equal to the R Establishment, and even the Dems, on their despicable days.  Yet, what Trump barks in bully and bombast should be compared to what Cruz has shown in courage and consistency.  The political enemies of the Trumpians themselves hate and fear Ted Cruz more than they worry about Trump.

While Trump and Cruz share many critics, when Thomas Sowell speaks, only fools fail to listen.  Thomas Sowell and other good men and women, who share Trump’s currently stated political objectives, don’t put their trust in Trump.

A Music Man with too much power can produce deadly mischief.

Huge crowds don’t mean good and right things are coming

Donald Trump isn’t the only one who can defeat HRH Hillary the First.  He isn’t the only one who can turn America around.  He just says he is.

 

Pride goeth before the fall.

 

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Rainbows follow the storms.

2015 was a Remarkable Year for me. Quite a contrast from 2014 which was A Very Different Year.

2014, that long year of anguish was the first full year after the death of my wife, Nellie Katherine. That was a year of foul, unwelcomed firsts that death bestows the still living. It was a year of unimagined physical pain. More tears than I knew a person, let alone a man, could cry. It was an awful, necessary year. A year of grieving needed by me and all who loved this woman, my wife, who were touched by her life – who missed her with great sorrow. A year in which her husband of over 38 years, who beloved her all of our entire adult lives, simply survived. I just did the best I could – to do my duties. Throughout it all, it was a year of the Lord’s continual tender mercies. Early in that year, He gave me a home I call “Sanctuary.”

2015 was a second year of grieving, but quite different. Grieving was healing. My health came back. My physical health rebounded so much that by Summer I was truly astounded. How good it feels to be alive in this flesh! How remarkable!

2015 was most remarkable in contrast to 2014. Even though 2015 still was a year of grieving. And, although it was not a year that lacked in new conflict, disappointment, problems and challenges. That’s called normal. That’s life. But, this year far exceeded the recent past in the explosion of living. In the blessing of life itself.

Katherine Bowden Buchanan was born to daughter, Maggie, on Maggie’s birthday.

Bonnie Kyle Buchanan and Katherine Bowden Buchanan – born Dec 1st, 2015

All three grown up kids moved. I traveled. A lot. I saw stunning visuals.

Ronda, Spain

I helped get a project envisioned in 2014 come to life in 2015 –the Virginia First Foundation. We’ve only just begun to transform Virginia’s culture for good. My colleagues are taking active, decisive roles to lead Virginia’s choice for President in 2016.

That election, the most important election since 1860, is the crucible for determining if Right half of America’s growing disgust with the Establishment becomes action at the polls. Or, if the Left’s election cheating pushes the majority closer to rebellion.

Meanwhile the world war of aggressive Islam against all, including peaceful Islam, grows. In 2015, I got to see one man, a few feet away in a small group, who can lead America, the West and the world to more security and stability – Ted Cruz. As the Bible says, I don’t put my faith in any man. But, we can find one man or woman at a time to do what is bold, right, and necessary.

The failure of professional Republican pols is so complete and abject that it approaches treachery. If elected Republicans continue clucking their cowardice is just ‘practical politics’, the cost of their impotence will look more like treason. Thinking and writing about this political soup is a significant part of my remarkable past year.

Finally, this remarkable year included the healing of healthy relationships.

Every relationship – faith, family, friend and personal – has premises, promises and hope. 2016 could be bursting with promises and is wide open to hope. The remarkable year of 2015 set the stage for a ‘boffo’ 2016.

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and

Bonnie Kyle Buchanan and baby Katherine Bowden Buchanan – born Dec 1st, 2015.

“God never wastes our sufferings.”

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Radical Indians practicing a, distorted, extreme Paganism attack.

The King Philip’s War (1675-1676) was the bloodiest war – per capita – in America. Twice as many casualties as a portion of the population than our American Civil War (a.k.a. The Recent Unpleasantness)! Seven times more bloody that WW II – FYI – for all “Greatest Generation” fans. Consider what happened and could happen again.

The pagan Indian tribes of New England were at peace with the English colonists for many years. The Indian tribes had historic conflicts, like the Sunni and Shia Muslims do, with each other. The Wampanoag tribe hated their traditional enemies, the Pequot, Narragansett, and the Mohegan and vice versa. A number of Indians had converted to Christianity, lived in English-style towns and were called Praying Indians.

The Indian tribes were Neolithic Pagans.  They were at least 2000 years behind Western Civilization – the English colonists.  They sold their land to buy the advanced goods of the West.  Islam is a Totalitarian Ideology and identity, which includes a barbarian religion, and is 800 years behind Western and American Civilization.

The death of John Sassamon started the awful war. Sassamon was an Indian, and Harvard graduate, who converted to Christianity. His “Indianophobic” Christian speech against their ancient pagan religion and culture – and warning the English of plots to attack – provoked his death. Since his murder was “wood (actually frozen pond) place violence” not terrorism, three Wampanoag warriors were tried in a criminal trial, where Indian elders were on the jury. The perps were found guilty and hung. That, and possibly other discriminatory actions, “radicalized” Chief Metacom – a.k.a King Philip.

The radicalized King Philip led the formerly moderate Wampanoag, Nipmuck, Pocumtuck (or Podunk), Nashaway and Narragansett tribes against the English and good, moderate Mohegan, Pequot, Massachusetts, Nauset Indian tribes.  Some Praying Indians, Christians, supported the English and some reverted to the perversion of their honorable pagan religion. Like the Middle East, where shifting alliances among Shia and Sunni Muslims and minorities like Muslim Kurds, Christians and others are common. The radical, “extremist” Indians – using their interpretation of their ancient pagan religion – attacked to murder, rape, and burn. Twelve frontier towns were destroyed.

Crime – terrorism – or war? When war comes, the people know.

The radical Indians used the tactical armor and assault weapons of the day to commit mass “gun and hatchet” violence. A few years earlier, the English had forced the Wampanoags the give up their guns– a form of early gun laws – but, like Muslim terrorists, they had the weapons they wanted. (Burning wagons instead of home-made pipe bombs, though).

Gun control didn’t stop the extremists then.

Old people, women and children were murdered by both sides. Both sides destroyed food stocks, production and animals to starve the other through the harsh New England winter.

While Christian and moderate Pagan Indians fought alongside the English, the English never felt compelled to praise Paganism, attend Pagan rites, stop proselytizing Christianity, or stop trying to civilize the Indians. It’s odd to imagine olde New England without Political Correctness.

The olde English custom of dismemberment and sending the body parts to the corners of the realm were in effect.

The Indians lost. When some Indians pleaded with the mighty Mohawks, their old enemies, to not be exclusive, celebrate Indian diversity and fight to help them create safe spaces to be Indian, the Mohawks laughed in their faces and told them to die. How could the Mohawks have done such – unless they wanted to exercise something like “White Privilege” against their fellow persons of color?

Bloodiest war ever – between neighbors – in American history.

One out of ten military-age Englishmen were dead. Every family in New England suffered a loss. The threat of radical, extreme Indian attacks in New England was over.

The next King Philip’s War in America could involve moderates of one culture and religion becoming “radicalized”, or just reverting to their actual, old teachings. It could include moderates of the same barbarian culture supporting the civilized, English-speaking culture and fighting as allies – serving as citizens. It could involve an enemy, like ISIS, Al Queda, or any branch office of Islamism instigating the murderous rampage, like King Philip did, to make sure all the moderates have to choose one side or the other. It’s what happens in wars.

A second King Philip’s War could lead to an eradication of any future threat of this type in the U.S. The violence and attacks against innocent people of both cultures could be awful.

A dangerous and distorted view of paganism wasn’t the problem, really, in the first King Philip’s War. “Radical” Islam won’t be the problem if there is a second such war. Gun control didn’t work then and won’t work now.

Let’s hope more of today’s barbarians come to be Praying Christians – and stay such – and prevent a Second King Philip’s War.  God Bless John Sassamon.

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Mortal remains resting place – Arlington National Cemetery.

Two Years Are Too, Too

Two years ago my wife, Nellie Katherine Kyle Bowden, had a bad stroke on the day after Thanksgiving. She never spoke or walked again. Ten days later two more strokes killed her on December 9^th, 2013. We were together, dating and married, for 41 years. It’s been 2 years without her.

She made a big deal about two years for the grieving process. She was an expert, gifted counselor for death and dying – as well as many other specialties. The two years, she said over and over, was needed for the survivors to come to the ‘new normal’.   Every holiday and memorial through the year had to be experienced twice for a person to come to grips with the loss of their beloved.

We talked about this in great detail and frequently enough – when friend, neighbors and associates suffered a death in the family. Nellie emphasized how people needed to NOT make major decisions for at least two years. I translated that as “don’t do anything dumb for two years.” I thought I really understood death and grieving.

My Daddy died when I was 29 and my Mama when I was almost 36. Other kin and dear friends, co-workers, neighbors and church family had died close enough to impact our lives. I had read Nellie’s books on grieving. I read the Bible – and have daily for 33 years. Yet, I had no idea what our two years would be like – really.

Our two years. Hers and mine, because we are one in marriage.   We shared the whole of our adult lives. When asked why I wear our wedding ring, I said, “My wife died. I didn’t divorce her.” Our past two years were too much and too little. Too long and too short. Too confusing and way too hard to believe.

The long, hard path of two years is mapped in my blogposts. The physical pain was more unforeseen. Unimagined. Consequently, the difference between year one and year two in my health was startling.

So, here we are at the new normal of life without Nellie Katherine. It sucks as much as it did two years ago. Death sucks. Regardless of her heavenly eternity and every promise to join her there, life here is far less for her family, too much so, without her. The fact that we have two years’ experience at living so doesn’t make it better. The fact that we will continue to do the best we can – especially to honor her life and be respectful of her legacy – in how we live, doesn’t make it okay.

And, I have a very personal issue that I must settle in the grieving process. We had 41 years together and 2 years apart. Consider the math, how 41>2. So, when I think about her being gone and me still breathing, I just don’t get it. I don’t understand how we can be separated. No, Dr. Freud, I don’t feel guilty, ashamed, angry, etc. etc.  I feel incredulous. It’s confusing. I just don’t understand how she can be gone and I’m not. I don’t get it. I can’t wrap my mind around it. How can this be?

I’ve done what I thought I should do – my duties as father, grandfather, kin, friend, etc. – to the best of my ability. Done what I believe is healthy – spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Sought counsel of my grown kids along the way. Prayed a lot. Been as ‘normal’ in relationships as I can.

It, my life, comes down to the Bible verses I spoke at Nellie’s services. Job 1:21 “the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

The Lord gives again. As I write, our youngest daughter is in the hospital giving birth to a baby to be named Katherine Bowden Buchanan.   Blessed be the name of the Lord! The baby will be born December 1^st – my daughter Maggie’s own birthday!

The sting of this season of death and loss will transform with the dual birthdays of Mother and second daughter. Both bearing the names and the blood of mother Nellie Katherine Kyle Bowden – in the love and pride of our Clan.

Through two years nothing has been too, too anything compared to God’s Grace. I’ll come to a better understanding of why “I ain’t dead yet” – until I’m called home. Now that two years are past, one day or the other, I’ll take off my gold band. I’ll still sing this song which was one of many I sang to my wife as her life ebbed away – two years ago.

I love you, Nellie.  Hope you can see this new baby girl bearing your name in such love.

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One life in icons. Mine minus marriage and offspring.

So, I turned 65 years old.  And the Universe replies So, what?  Well, age 65 is worthy of some retrospective.   I made this chart – and upgrade from 2013 when I tried to tell a tale in icons.  Because, that is what my life is – a story.  A breathing narrative.   I know my place in the scheme of things, so my telling isn’t the narcissism of a professional pol on any day for any occasion but just the sharing of a story.

Speaking of icons, on my birthday my youngest daughter gave me the most extraordinary cake of my life – a cake covered in icons from my life.  Pictures will follow in this blog post.

The graphic above tells much of my life – minus marriage, children and grandchildren.

Read from Left to Right.

My ancestry mattered much in shaping the culture I come from.  Cue: Country song, ‘Where I come from’.  Culture commands.  What happened in the past 400 years shapes what language I speak and think.  What is right and wrong.  What family, faith and freedom mean.  How to be a man.  Etc.

Like all good Southerners I was raised on oral history.  Then, I became a history nerd in my own right, reading to make connections between my life, family, and history.

The longest thread was a tale I was told when I was about 8.  The whole story was, “Once our Clan won a great battle.  We defended from a house on a hill and killed many of our enemies.”  That’s it.  No names, dates, places.  But, guess what, that thread I was told about 1958 came from the victory of the Highland Clan Gunn in 1586 where 140 enemies were slain.  1586 to 1958!  The story got thinner and thinner through the years.  Didn’t say if it was the always-hated Keiths or the neighboring, thieving Sutherlands or Mackays – who were continually shifting friend to foe and back again as the tides turned.  But, it was a point of pride for a distant victory – family valor in fighting.  That was the message.

So, on the icons on the far left indicate I’m from the Clan Gunn and other Highland and Lowland Scots and Scot-Irish.  Add English.  And a smidgeon of Welsh and French Huguenot.

Cool cake.

When the ancestors were kicked out of wherever, they all went to Virginia.  Then, Momma’s People went to upcountry South Carolina when it was frontier.   Daddy’s People went to West Tennessee when it was frontier.  The frontier experience shaped generations.

All defended their homes from invading Yankees during The Recent Unpleasantness.  That’s when the oral history really kicks in.

November 18th, 1950.  Daddy is an Officer in the 83rd Engineer Battalion, US Army.  Momma is awesome Momma. I have two older sisters and a huge German Shepherd who guards me and responds to my father’s commands in German.  I’m born a Bubba.   And, Atticus – 7 years older than the book.

Different names for different times and duties.

As a boy, I lived in Oklahoma, Arizona, France, Kansas, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, France again, Germany and Virginia again.

Step off the side of the world on July 1st, 1968 at West Point, New York.  Emerge from the United States Military Academy for 20 great years – Airborne, Ranger, Infantry Officer – at The Infantry School, 82nd Airborne, 2nd Infantry Division, 24th Infantry Division, Jungle Warfare School, Northern Warfare School, teach at West Point, 2nd Armored Division, 3rd Armored Division, finishing at Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).  Spend my youth serving as a soldier.  Still unswervingly loyal, faithful and dedicated to the United States Army.

Frozen chosen – Winter 72-73.

Earn graduate degrees at Harvard and Columbia.

Retire from Active Duty and work over 20 years as a contractor.  Mainly for the Army.  All about ‘Futures’.  Write a first novel.  Activist in Virginia politics.  Incorporate – BowdenHouse Inc.  Now, starting up Virginia First Foundation.  Teach Sunday School.

‘Rosetta 6.2’

At age 65 – I’m “Papa”.  I’m grateful for vigorous good health.

The background is the King James Bible.   Lord Jesus Christ is the truth, the light, and the way for family and me.

The cake and my graphic don’t mention marriage for over 38 years, 3 children and 4 – soon 5 – grandchildren.  Daughter Maggie spoke to all that in her toast.  And, anyone who knows my voice knows they are my all and all.  All of me.  Nellie Katherine is gone from here and alive in Heaven, but she isn’t really gone from me.

Now, at 65 a new chapter – actually a new book – begins.  More icons to come as the Lord Wills.  A voyage begun.  Committed to a different path – meaning the unforeseeable future – however long it is.  Life is hope.  Hope is life.

I live in a place that I call “Sanctuary.”

I’m telling one, wee tale.  Just speaking one story – and sticking to it!  Hopefully for the sake of the other characters – and the occasional reader.

“Life is short.”
“God is good. All the time. No matter what. NO MATTER WHAT.”

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Europe – including Russia will be majority Muslim by 2100. I’ll be gone. My grandchildren could be alive. What a world we give them.

Take a look below at what I wrote in 2005.

Let me add these comments.

I was in Spain last week.  Traveling a lap around Andalusia and thinking about the history of the almost 800 years of the Reconquista, I pondered the difference between 300 million Americans and 300 million Europeans.

• Europe is ruled by elites.  America is governed by elites and professional politicians, but it is still ruled by The People.  Our heartfelt ideas about individual freedom, responsibility and accountability don’t exist in Europe – except for, maybe, tiny minorities in the UK and Holland.
• The European elites are worse than the royalty that used to rule.  The royals understood Islam was the enemy of Western Civilization from Charles Martel to the French Revolution – and fought back.  The Crusades were strategic COUNTER-offensives.  Learned leaders from Napoleon to Winston Churchill understood how backward and barbarian Islam was to the West.   Islam’s glory days ended over 800 years ago.  Their long decline is theirs alone – not the fault of the West which rose from 1492 until very recently.
• European elites invited in Muslims.  Made criticism of Islam into ‘Islamophobia’ hate speech punishable by law.  Label critics as racists and Nazis – when the elites are, actually, traitors to their Civilization and what’s left of their country’s nationhood.   Also, apostates and Judas goats to Christianity, but the elites left long ago – especially after WW I.
• There is no European Right which is like Conservatives in the US – except for a tiny minority in the UK.  Their Right is statist.  Their Right tends towards fascism and their Left tends towards socialism.  But, their people do rise up.   In the Middle Ages it was called a “Jacquerie”.   The velvet revolution of 1989 which brought down the wall was the last rising of their People.
• Hard choices are at hand.  1 in 4 French under age 25 is Muslim.  In 20 years, half their youth is Muslim.
  • Will Europe secure its borders and stop the Muslim invasion – the so-called refugee crisis?
  • Will Europe build refugee camps in Muslim lands to keep them there?
  • Will Europe use its Armies and Navies to forcibly send many Muslims back to Muslim lands?
  • Will Europe change their speech codes – and allow freedom of speech?
  • Will Europe start having babies again?
  • Will Europe come back to Christ?
  •  And proselytize the Good News of Jesus Christ to Muslims for conversion?

or will European elites continue to betray all – until the Muslims do so many awful things that there is a more awful Jacquerie?

This cartoon isn’t funny.

From April 24, 2005

Why Europe deserves to die

The new Pope understands why Europe will die

By James Atticus Bowden

When Pope Benedict XVI was Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger he told Europe to recover its Christian roots “if it truly wants to survive.” Amen from an arch-Protestant whose ancestors included refugees who fled Catholic persecution for freedom in Virginia. The new Pope is a scholar who sees history unfolding into the future. We agree. Europe will be Islamic and subject to Islamist Totalitarianism by 2100, unless Europeans turn to faith and family. If Europe fails to live for faith and family, succumbing further to Socialist Human Secular Totalitarianism, then European culture deserves to die under Islamic culture.

Many Europeans hope that Muslims in Europe will abandon their faith, as so many Europeans left Christianity, to worship themselves in personal hedonism. Some Muslim immigrants become modern, pagan Europeans. Human Secularism is just a new face and form of empty Pagan religion. Meanwhile, Muslim proselytizers convert more Europeans to Islam. Believing in something always beats believing in nothing. Human Secularist worship of self, indeed, is believing in nothing.

Europeans support socialism to guarantee themselves small incomes, long vacations, and social services from all powerful governments. They can’t afford children and don’t want them when parenthood demands personal sacrifices. So, European population will decrease from 728 million (2000) to 630 million (2050). Muslim immigrants (15.2 million) and a million more every year added to Turkey (68 million) are a population exploding to double as soon as 2015. Demographics are destiny. Muslims will vote themselves into power.

If Europeans become people of profound Christian faith, Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox, they will marry more and have larger, happy families. But, faith will do more than foster family size competition with Muslims. Strong faith in greater ideas will challenge and convert lesser claims to Truth. Thus, Europeans must awaken to how vibrant Christian orthodox thinking offers a bright, better future than both Socialist Human Secularist Totalitarianism and Islamist Totalitarianism.

Socialism and Islamic cultures are based on obedience, peasantry, and the unity of theology and state. Then-Cardinal Ratzinger wrote that Europe is “moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as definitive and has as its highest own value one’s own ego and desires.” Christianity is built on love of God and others before self, intellectual inquiry, selfless good works and thrives when divorced from the state — which may be the way to make it rebound in Europe.

All the dead Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christian European churches are supported by the state more or less. The tiny, growing Evangelical (Protestant) populations are not. Maybe Pope Benedict XVI can take his great Church away from governments and give it back to The People. Consider how alive Roman Catholicism is in America, Africa and Asia where the state doesn’t support it. Meanwhile, the Protestant Reformation is sweeping Latin America where millions seek personal relationship and responsibility in faith. Christian ideas compete well where there is real competition. Offered in lovingkindness from an Evangelical Christian who lived in Europe 10 years and loves it.

First, Europeans must challenge their Socialist masters to criticize Human Secularism and Islam and promote Christianity honestly. Even if Christians dare call homosexuality a sin — without the Thought Police charging them for Hate Speech Crimes — as they do throughout Europe today. Free Europeans’ speech to have truly free religious speech or stay suppressed by Socialists and then, someday, oppressed by the Mullahs. If Europe continues to criminalize Biblical Christian speech, then the culture that produces such intolerance deserves to die.

When Europeans choose to follow Jesus Christ over Voltaire, Hegel, Marx, Nietzche, Darwin, Freud, Lenin, Hitler, and their statist EU cousins, they can confront the Muslims — again. Muslims repeatedly invaded Europe with ravaging Armies for a thousand years. Don’t blame the Crusades’ counter-attacks. The first invasion was stopped by Charles Martel (732). Later, a courageous Pope led the coalition which defeated another invasion at the Battle of Lepanto (1571). The Muslims came to conquer, kill, rape and rule until finally defeated at Vienna (1683). Now, after 400 plus years of declining civilization the Muslims bring their population bomb to Europe.

Europeans can enforce restricted immigration to keep from being overwhelmed. Christian believers can love the resident Muslims to Christ — just like the Muslim convert, Dr. Ergun Caner, new Dean of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, said it happened to him in America.

Pope Benedict XVI would be bold to end European church-state supports. Europeans should stand with the Pope, however bravely he chooses, for the eternal truths of Christianity or watch European culture die.

© James Atticus Bowden

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The Goddess of Justice, the Roman Justitia and Greek Themis, holds the balance scales for truth.  The Goddess of Justice became the symbol for our Lady Justice.

A single truth came out of Hillary Clinton’s Benghazi testimony and performance.  She, who would be Her Royal Highness Hillary I (HRH I), lied to the families of four dead Americans about why the men died.  She lied at their caskets.  She lied when their families first saw them as dead in boxes.  She knowingly, willfully lied.  She’s never apologized to the families for lying.  She’s never repented in public.

Americans can forget everything else about Hillary and Benghazi, if they remember her lie.  That’s what every American of every political stripe, persuasion and posture should never forget.  One truth came out about Hillary – her lie to the families of the dead.  That is the truth that matters.

There is truth – objective truth – at the essence of everything and everyone.  There can be more than one truth, like the many faces on a diamond, but there is only one diamond.  There aren’t competing, conflicting truths.  There aren’t versions of the truth.  Only pure, cleansing light is reflected by the diamond.  When we see the light, we see the truth.

The truth will out.

The truth may not triumph in the affairs of men and women, but it emerges.  Sooner or later.  Hillary will be elected HRH I if there is enough cheating in the swing state voting in 2016.  But, never forget her truth.  Never let others forget what she did.

It should matter to every American that a person who would be President – lied to families about why their sons died.  Lied to their grieving faces.

When Lady Justice holds the balance scales, the precise, accurate measure to weigh words is ‘truth’.

The truth is a heavy weight on Hillary.  Hillary Rodham Clinton has been weighed in the balance.  She is found wanting.

Hillary’s lie is despicable.  Her disgusting lie is the objective truth about who she is in her essence.

If Hillary will lie to people about why their loved ones died – right beside the caskets and in the moment of great grief and awful pain to their faces – what else will she lie about to any and all of us?

Every American should know the single truth about Hillary – what, when, where and to whom Hillary lied arrogantly.  Then, Lady Justice will weigh America in the balance – by what a horrendous, terrible lie means to us.

HRH I tires of the peasants’ questions.

 

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Big Stone Gap is better than the movie.

Went to see Big Stone Gap today to connect to Appalachia.  My late wife, Nellie, was from Beckley, West Virginia.  Born in Naoma on Coal River.  The movie was about 1978.   We’d been married 3 years by then.  Loved the scenery.  Love those mountains.  Love the people from those mountains.  The movie was something less.

The writer and director is a native of Big Stone Gap.  Her Italian family came down from Pennsylvania to Virginia.  Probably like the Italian families my wife grew up with in Beckley.

The story may have been taken from fact, but played a little too much to what could be mocked by an outsider.  I think.  And, I’m an outsider.   My family is Southern to the eyeballs.  We are rednecks, not hillbilly.  Nellie bristled whenever I said that.  She didn’t like such characterization at all.  She let me know in no uncertain terms.

I was proud of her being from West Virginia.  She had much better taste in all things artistic, culinary, and fashion than I did.  She acted more refined than me.  Yet, she was all mountain woman – courageous – when needed, passionate, loving, forthright, laughing and fierce, hard as nails – when needed.  Kind, giving, devoted to family and friends adopted as family – and devoutly Evangelical Christian.

That Christian root, strong Baptists, that runs deep into the hills didn’t come out in the movie.  The drinking that’s there did.

The movie got the speech patterns and the way words are put together very well.  Like, “duh-dn’t” which is Southern, going beyond the hills, means “doesn’t”.  But, the accents, while not bad, could have been better.  They weren’t quite authentic.  The best I’ve ever heard on film was Laura Dern in ‘October Sky’.  A real southern Appalachian accent is rich and natural.  It isn’t as twangy as Texas or as luxuriant as the Deep South.  It’s in almost every syllable of every word – when it’s the real thing.  The movie made a nice try.

The cameo by Jerry or Terry Kilgore was a hoot – when Delegate “Kilgore” was visiting the local bigwig.

They mentioned Melungeons a lot.  That was fun.  I’ve known about them since I was a young man.  Probably heard about them from my Mother.  I don’t recall.  Thought more were in Tennessee and Kentucky than Wise and Lee Counties, Virginia.  Learn something every day – when I looked it up again.  Melungeons are part-black, white and Indian.  Some claim to be descendants of Portugese sailors who were shipwrecked and traded by Indian tribes inland to the Appalachia.

My wife wasn’t Melungeon.  She was English, German, a whole lot of Scot-Irish and a little Indian.  You could see the Celtic in her always and the Indian in the Summer.  She was a proud West Virginian.  Even though her ancestors fought for the Union (making my kids the children of a ‘mixed’ marriage), she called the West Virginians from Wheeling and those parts, “Yankees.”

The movie meandered, still, I loved seeing the mountains.  Liked knowing the movie was about folks a few counties south of where Nellie was born and raised.  Loved it being in our time together.

Bruce Hornsby sang about an “Appalachian girl”. Three generations of women proud to be from those hills.

 

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Not running for Governor isn’t like jumping on a grenade.

 

Ed Gillespie is a nice man. He is a talented, experienced lawyer, lobbyist and money raiser. He is dedicated to his Republican principles. He aspires to elected office. However, he can’t get elected in Virginia.

Ed Gillespie is running for Governor of Virginia. Last year Ed was the standout loser in a historic national Republican tidal wave win. Republicans won in liberal Maryland and Massachusetts, but Ed lost in Virginia. He gets points for trying, but no “W” for the team.

It’s the team that matters.

When a coach says to an athlete, “Take one for the team,” we all know what that means. The gifted athlete sets aside personal gain and glory to sacrifice for the team. So, the team can win. So, we all can win.

Yeah, it’ll hurt for awhile. May leave a mark. Good for the team.  The team wins.

He won’t get elected Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2017. No matter how differently he feels these days, Ed is the poster child for Mr. Establishment Republican. He is a successful super lobbyist. He is the consummate Insider among the people who go from government to Washington lobbyist, back and forth. Virginia voters are fed up with Washington Insiders and the political ruling class. His track record, however successful, renders him unelectable.

Ed will be shredded for his help on immigration because he lobbied for Tyson’s Food.

Ed will be gutted for his views on ObamaCare and RomneyCare because he lobbied for Gov. Mitt Romney, and for what he wrote in his book regarding the “Individual Mandate.”

Ed will be smeared for Corporate Greed and Crony Capitalism because he lobbied for Enron and others.

Ed will be whispered against for his position during the Senate race to allow girls of any age to buy the “pill” over the counter without medical supervision.

Ed will be mocked for his connections to President Bush and Carl Rove, and his comment about being a “friennemy” (friend – enemy) to then DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe.

Ed will be branded as a Washington Insider with a Virginia address.

None of this makes him a bad person. But all of this makes him a bad politician.

The opposition commercials are already in the can – ready to go. Ed’s accomplishments will be used against him – again. That’s what happened last year and certainly will happen again. Ed couldn’t counter the perceptions.

What could Ed possibly say next year that is so different that he will win?

Voting is emotional, not intellectual. Candidates must connect with Virginia’s voters to win. Ed doesn’t connect with the average Virginia voter. If he had, he would be Senator Gillespie of Virginia.

The Republicans, who’ve fought so many good fights for so many years across the Commonwealth, need to politely and privately tell him, “Take one for the team, Ed. Don’t run for Governor and lose. Raise millions of dollars for a fresh, new face to win. Use your skills for good of the team.”

Seeking office for personal ambition is the dress coat of a career politician. Giving selfless service is the badge of honor for the armed forces and patriot public servants.

Kevin McCarthy stepped away from Speaker of the House. Ed can do likewise.

Ed Gillespie could make the difference in winning the Governorship next year, if he uses his skill set to raise enough money. His voice would be heard by the new Governor – giving good counsel for conservative policy.

I regret ruffling some Republican feathers for being so frank, but the truth needs to be told. Someone must tell the emperor he has no clothes.

The truth is Ed needs to take one for the team, like Congressman Kevin McCarthy. Earn a badge of honor. Help our Republican team win Virginia.

 

James Atticus Bowden

Poquoson, Virginia

Former Member State Central Committee, Chairman 1^st District and City of Poquoson, RPV